417 



NOTES ON THE INDIAN TIMELIIDES AND THEIR 



ALLIES 



(LAUGHING THRUSHES, BABBLERS, &c.) 



BY 



Lt.-Col. H. H. Harington, Indian Army. 



Part III. 



Family — Timeliid^e. 



'•Sexes alike; solitary or occurring in very small troops; not 

 noisy; legs and feet strong; wings short and rounded; habits, 

 skulking in bushes or on the ground ; evading observation ; colour 

 of eggs, with few exceptions, spotted." (Oates). 



The above is the only definition I can find which attempts to 

 define what should constitute membership of the Timeliidce, but it 

 does not cover all the numerous genera, which at present go to 

 make up this very mixed assembly of small birds. Many of these 

 have nothing in common, except that they are non-migratory and 

 conseqiiently have short rounded wings. ;S ff 



However Mr. Oates's definition is very good as far as it goes, and 

 covers a great number of genera which are thoroiT.ghl3r Timeliine 

 both in structure and in habits. Others on the other hand, are just 

 the reverse in habits, being gregarious, by no means shy or retiring, 

 and instead of haunting the ground, frecjuent trees and bushes. 

 Unfortunately these characteristics are not sufiicient to divide the 

 family, as we find nearly allied species in the same genera differing 

 greatly in habits, some being essentially Timeliine whilst others are 

 the reverse. This being the case in the Alcipjje, which contains 

 birds yevy similar in structiu^e, colouration, and nidification, but 

 differing remarkably in habits. 



As many of these genera appear to grade into each other and to 

 be nearlj^ related, I have attempted to group them together. By so 

 doing, I do not wish to imply that birds so grouped should belong- 

 to the same genus, but to try and show that a relationship appears 

 to exist, and thereby possibly forming sub-families. 



In some of these groups the relationship is well marked, the 

 grading of one genus into another most noticeable. In others this 

 is not so apparent, and I am probably wrong in groiiping some toge- 

 ther. I hope, any mistakes I have made in my attempt to sort 

 out the " Ornithological Waste-paper Basket " may be pointed out. 



Besides my attempt at Grouping, I have made out a " Key " 

 based on that of Mr. Oates in the Fauna. 



Note. — I think something should be done to give suitable English 

 names to the numerous small " Babblers " which are included in 

 this ver}^ large familj^. 

 5 



