138 JlMELIiD^E. 



Hab. The whole of the Burmese province, extending over the whole of 

 Pegu and ranging through Tenasserim to the Malay peninsula as far as 

 Tonka. Dr. Tiraud records it from Cochin-China. According to Gates, it is 

 found in every description of jungle, in gardens, orchards and compounds. 

 It keeps entirely to the ground and feeds on various insects. It nests during 

 May and June, making a domed structure of dry bamboo leaves, lined with grass 

 and fine roots. It is always placed on the ground, and half the nest is often 

 embedded in dead leaves accumulated on the ground. Eggs three in number, 

 white, and speckled with reddish brown and purple. 



607- Pellorneum palllStre, Gould, B. Asia, part xxiv. (1872, e 

 Jerd. MSS.); Hume, Sir. F. 1873, p. 4 ; id. Sir. F. 1879, p. 96 ; Jerd., Ibis, 

 1872, p. 300; Blanf., Ibis, 1873, p. 215; Sharpe, Cat. B. B>\ Mus. vii. 

 p. 522 ; Oates, B. Br. Burm. i. p. 68. The ASSAM GROUND-BABBLER. 



Uniform dark olive brown above, including the wing coverts ; quills dusky 

 brown, edged with dark olive brown ; upper tail coverts and tail a little 

 darker brown ; a streak across the forehead and a streak above the lores to 

 above the eye light rufous ; lores white, also the cheek, which is washed with 

 fulvous and tipped with blackish brown, the hinder portion being deep 

 ochraceous buff ; throat and centre of abdomen white ; foreneck and breast 

 white, washed with ochraceous, and broadly streaked with brown ; sides of the 

 body rich ochraceous buff, also streaked with brown ; thighs and under tail 

 coverts rich fawn brown ; under wing coverts and axillaries the same. 

 (Sharpe.) 



Length. S'7 inches; wing 2*35; tail 2^65; tarsus O'95 ; culmen O'6. 

 (Mus. R. G. Ward law- Ramsay.) (Sharpe.) 



Hab. Assam and the foot of the Khasia Hills. Nothing is known of its 

 nidification. 



Gen. Stachyris. Ilodgs. 



Bill somewhat long, much curved, higher than broad at nostrils ; cutting 

 edge of mandible decurved or faintly notched at the tip ; rictal bristles small, 

 not very evident ; nostrils nearly concealed ; wing short, rounded ; the 5th, 6th 

 and 7th quills equal and longest; tail shorter than the wing, slightly graduated ; 

 tarsus moderately long ; lateral toes nearly equal ; claws moderately curved ; 

 head with a semi-crest, divergent feathers, or crested. 



608. Stachyris nigricepS, Ilodgs., Icon, inedin Br. Mus. Passeres, 

 App. PI. 87; id., J. A. S. B. xiii. p. 378 ; Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. As. Soc. 

 p. 150; Bp. Consp. i p. 332; Jerd., B. Ind. ii. p. 21, No. 391; Godwin- 

 Austen, J. A. S. B. xxxix p. 103 ; Hume, Nests and Eggs, Ind. B. p. 242 j 

 Blvth and WaJd., B. Burm. p. I 16 ; Hume and Oates, Sir. F. 1876, p. 117; 

 Oates, Sir F, 1877. p. 152 ; Audit's., Zool. Yunnan, p. 636; Hume and 



