376 NOTES ON SOME BIRDS COLLECTED ON THE NILGHIRJS 
399.—Pellorneum ruficeps, Sws. Swainson’s Wren 
Warbler. 
I have never found this bird very numerous. I have on 
one occasion shot it at Neddivuttum, and a few times in 
the station at Coonoor, but it is rare indeed at this elevation. 
It spreads through the Wynaad, and Ihave seen it on the 
Bramagherries. It is usually in flocks, but not unfrequently 
in pairs, and keeps almost entirely on the ground among 
brushwood or bamboo jungle. It has the same note as the 
other species of Pellorneum with which I am acquainted, a 
clear musical whistle resembling the words “pretty dear.” 
The whistle consists of four notes. This note is continually 
repeated while the birds are feeding or moving about undis- 
turbed, but when they are disturbed they utter another and 
quite different note, a harsh sort of “churr.” 
The following are dimensions, &c., of two fine males :— 
Length, 7:2 to 7°33; expanse, 9°3 to 9°6; tail, 2°6 to 2°65; 
wing, 2:9; tarsus, 1*1; bill from gape, 0:9; weight, 0°8 oz. 
Irides in the quite adult are crimson lake, in less mature 
birds cinnamon brown; legs, feet, and claws, and lower man- 
dible, fleshy white ; upper mandible dark brown. 
404.—Pomatorhinus horsfieldi, Sykes. The Southern 
Scimitar Babbler. 
his species is a common bird on the Nilghiris, many 
parts of Wynaad, and the Bramagherries, frequenting forests 
and gardens, almost always in pairs. Occasionally, however, 
it does occur in small parties, but in these cases I am inclined to 
think that the parties consists merely of a pair of adults 
and their young. Jerdon says it ascends the Nilghiris to 
above 6,000 feet. So it does, for it goes as high up as it possibly 
can without leaving the forest. I have myself shot it imme- 
diately below the summit of Dodabetta, the elevation of which 
is 8,727 feet. Jerdon also says it is very shy and wary; well 
that just depends upon circumstances. I have seen it remark- 
ably shy close to towns where every native boy in the place 
was continually amusing himself by either throwing stones, or 
firing with a pellet-bow at every small bird he came across ; 
and again in places not much frequented Ihave found it so 
tame as to allow me to approach within a few yards of it; but 
when it has been much disturbed, and is consequently shy, 
there is no bird more wary or successful in evading observa- 
tion. It must, I think, breed twice, as I found a nest on the 
10th of March with fully fledged young, and late in April 
another nest with perfectly fresh eggs. 
