AND IN PARTS OF WYNAAD AND SOUTHERN MYSORE. 377 
There does not seem to be any material difference in the 
size of the sexes :— 
Length, 9°3 to 9°7; expanse, 11-8 to 12°25; tail, 3:5 to 42; 
wing, 3°8 to 4:0; tarsus, 1:2 to 1:3; bill from gape, 1:21 to 
1:35 ; weight, 1:5 to 1°38 oz. 
Lower mandible and part of upper mandible yellow, vary- 
ing from a very pale to a moderately dark orange yellow; 
rest of upper mandible blackish ; irides crimson in the adults, 
dark wood. brown in the immature; legs and feet dark plum- 
beous brown. 
409.—Garrulax delesserti, Jerd. Delessert’s Bab- 
bler. 
This species is, as remarked by Jerdon, rare. I have only 
seen it, and, on but few occasions, on the slopes of the Nilghiris, 
and on the Bramagherries. It has the habits of the other 
Babblers, associating in parties and working about on the 
ground, and amongst the brushwood, the whole party at intervals 
giving vent to their harsh unmusical laugh, 
Two specimens I measured in the flesh were as follows :-— 
Male.—Length, 10:2 ; expanse, 13°5 ; tail, 3°75 ; wing, 4:05; 
tarsus, 1°45, bill from gape, 1:3; weight, 3:2 ozs. 
Female.—Length, 10:2 ; expanse, 13-2 ; tail, 3°75 ; wing, 4:2 ; 
tarsus, 1°45; bill from gape, 1°3; weight, 2°75 ozs. 
In both sexes the irides are crimson ; lower mandible, legs, 
feet, and claws fleshy white ; upper mandible blackish brown. 
423.—Trochalopterum cachinnans, Jerd. The Nil- 
ghiri Laughing Thrush. 
Exceedingly numerous on the plateau of the Nil¢hiris, and 
occurring on the slopes as low down as 4,000 feet, but not 
lower I think. 
This bird is one of the most characteristic birds of the 
Nilghiris. It is found everywhere in forests, gardens ; in fact 
wherever there are a few bushes or a little scrub the bird is 
sure to be found, and its pleasant noisy langhis one of the com- 
monest sounds one hears about Ootacamund, Coonoor, &c. 
Jerdon gives a very good description of its food and_ habits. 
The male is rather larger than the female. The following are 
the dimensions of a few of both sexes :— 
Males—Length, 9:2 to 9:5; expanse, 11-1 to 11°53; tail, 
3°9 to 395; wing, 3°75 to 3:8; tarsus, 1:4; bill from gape, 
0:9 to 0°92 ; weight, 1:4 to 1:6 oz. 
Females.— Length, 8°3 to 8-6; expanse, 10°2 to 10°5; tail, 3:6 
to 3°75 ; wing, 3°32 to 3°5; tarsus, 1:2; bill from gape, 0°78 to 
0°89; weight, 1:12 to 1°5 oz. 
48 
