108 CBATEROPODID^E. 



Length about 10-5 ; tail 5-5; wing 3'2 ; tarsus 1'4; bill from 

 gape 1. 



Distribution. The valley of the Irrawaddy river from Proine to 

 Bhamo. 



Habits, fyc. This species is very common round Thayetmyo, living 

 in bamboo-jungle and entering compounds and gardens. It associates 

 in small flocks, feeds on the ground, and is as noisy as its congeners. 



107. Argya malcolmi. The Large Grey Babbler. 



Timalia malcolmi, Sykes, P. Z. 8. 1832, p. 88. 



Garrulus albifrons, Gray, in Hardiv. III. Ind. Zool. ii, pi. 36. fig. 1 



(1834). 

 Malacocercus malcolmi (Sykes), Blyth, Cat. p. 141 ; Horsf. 8fM. Cat. 



i, p. 218; Jerd. B. I. ii, p. 64; id. Ibis, 1872, p. 310; Barnes, 



Birds Bom. p. 180. 

 Argya malcolmi (Sykes), Hume, N. fy E. p. 273 ; id. Gat. no. 436 ; 



Sharpe, Cat. B. M. vii, p. 398 ; Davison, 8. F. x, p. 382 ; Gates in 



Hume's N. $ E. 2nd ed. i, p. 72. 



Ghogoi, Hind. ; Gangai, Hind, in the N.W. P. ; Gongya, Can. ; Kokatti, 

 Mahr. ; Verri-cMnda and Gowa-sida, Tel. ; Bhaina, Luckuow. 



Coloration. Upper plumage dull brown, the feathers of the mantle 

 with dark centres ; forehead bluish grey with fine white shaft- 

 stripes ; lores dusky ; ear-coverts brown with pale shafts ; the three 

 outer pairs of tail-feathers white, the fourth pair with the outer 

 web whitish, and the remainder of the tail pale brown ; the central 

 tail-feathers cross-rayed ; wings dark brown, the earlier primaries 

 hoary brown on the outer webs, the others edged with the colour 

 of the back ; entire lower plumage, cheeks, and sides of neck 

 fulvescent, the throat and breast darker and washed with glaucous. 



Iris bright yellow ; upper mandible dark brown ; lower mandible, 

 legs, and feet fleshy, slightly tinged blue (Davison}. 



Length about 11; tail 5*5; wing 4'6 ; tarsus 1*2; bill from 

 gape 1. 



Distribution. A great portion of the peninsula of India. In the 

 north-west this Babbler appears to be rather rare. I have seen 

 specimens collected at Umballa in the Punjab and Sehwan in ISind. 

 At Sambhar and Abu it commences to be common, as also at Delhi. 

 Its extension to the east is not well indicated by the specimens I 

 have been able to examine, but it appears to be common at Allahabad 

 and it is probably found some distance further east. Southwards 

 it is spread over the whole peninsula as far at least as Mysore and 

 the Nilgiris. It, however, seems to be absent from certain tracts of 

 country, its distribution being, as Jerdon remarks, peculiar. 



Habits, <Sfc. In the south of India this bird appears to be confined 

 to the jungle, but in the north it is found chiefly in fields and gardens. 

 It is a noisy chattering bird, associating in small flocks and taking 

 refuge in trees when disturbed. It breeds pretty well throughout 

 the year, constructing its nest in low branches of trees and shrubs 

 and laying four eggs, which measure '99 by *77. 



