NOTES ON INDIAN TIMELIIDJES AND THEIR ALLIES. 32& 



Babax waddelli, Dresser. 

 The Giant Tibetian Babax. 



Babax waddelli.— BresseT, P.Z.S., 1905, i., p. 54 ; O. Grant, Bui. B.O.C., 

 XV., p. 94. 



lanthocincla waddelli. — Hartert, Pal. Vog., i., p. 628. 



Descnption. — " Upper parts dull ashy-grey, each feather with a broad 

 central blackish stripe ; the rump slightly less striped than the rest of the 

 upper parts ; wing blackish brown, most of the feathers externally mar- 

 gined with ashy-grey ; tail blackish brown ; much graduated ; under 

 parts similar to the upper parts, but somewhat paler and more narrowly 

 striped ; bill and legs plumbeous, iris dull orange. Wing 134-142 mm ; 

 tail 165 mm ; tarsus 42 ; culmen 35-37. 



Note. — This species differs from other members of this family by havini" 

 a much longer and more curved bill ; and having its tail less graduated. 

 These differences, I consider, are sufficient to give it sub-generic rank. It 

 has the following characteristics : Bill, longer than the hind claw and toe, 

 and much curved ; tail longer than the wing, and not greatly graduated 

 the outer tail feather falling short of the central pair by less than the 

 length of the tarsus : nostrils, oval, exposed and overhung by numerous 

 hairs ; rictal bristles well developed ; size large. 



Distribution. — Gyantze and Chaksam, Tibet. 



Nesting. — The eggs are like all other eggs of this genus ; texture smooth, 

 close, and fine, and the surface with a slight gloss. In shape they are 

 long ovals but the small end is seldom much i^ointed. They measure about 

 1-26" X 92". 



GROUP IV. 



AcANTHOPTiLA, Blyth (1855). 

 Gates, P. B. I., i., p. 385. 



Nothing appears to have been recorded of late about this genus 

 which contains only one species. Dr. Sharpe, I think, quite rightly, placed 

 it amongst the Cvateropodince, Mr. Gates, however, considered it a War- 

 bler. It is a very confusing bird as it appears to have two plumages 

 which Dr. Sharpe considered to be that of the young and the old bird, 

 whilst Mr. Gates took these two phases to denote seasonal changes and 

 therefore placed it amongst the Warblers {Sylmidce). 



To me it appears to be very much more a Babbler than a Warbler, and 

 to be intermediate between Aryya and Babax. The colour of its eggs, a 

 ^'verditer blue," is almost sufficient to place it amongst the Craterapodice. 

 None of the birds in the Museum, which are all very old and worn speci- 

 mens, have any dates or data of any sort, it is therefore hoped that mem- 

 bers who may come across this species will collect a sufficient number of 

 specimens to settle the question. 



Characteristics — Feathers of the upper plumage and breast stiff' shafted 

 which when they become worn are quite bristly ; bill fairly long and curved, 

 not notched : nostrils long lunar shaped slits : rictal bristles weak ; wing 

 rounded, the first four primaries graduated, the tail longer than wing, and 

 graduated. 



ACANTHOPIILA NEPALENSIS, HodgSOn 



The Spiny-Babbler. 



Timalia nipalensis, Hodgson, As. Res. xix., p. 182 (1836). 

 Acanthoptila nipale^isis, .Sharpe, Cat. B. M., vii., p. 380 ; Gates, F, B. I,, i. 

 p. 386. 



