432 JOVRNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXIIl^ 



Pellokneum ruficeps minus, Hume. 



The Burmese Spotted Babbler. 



Pellorneum minus, Hume, S. F., i., p. 298 (1873) and iii., p. 120; Gates, F.. 

 B. I., i., P- 141 ; Baker, Records, I. M., viii., part (3), p. 263. 



P. intermedium, Sharpe, Cat., B. M., vii., p. 519. 



This sub-species is intermediate between P. mandelli and P. subochraceum, 

 havinc the sides of the neck streaked, but not the brown markings on the- 

 back of the former. There are specimens in the British Museum, from the- 

 Chindwin, Mt. Victoria, Popa Hill, Meiktila and Thyetmyo. This is a broad 

 belt of country between the habitats of the above two sub-species. There 

 are also some unsexed specimens in the Museum from the Himalayas and 

 Assam which have not the brown markings on the back typical of P. mandelli.. 

 These I take to be young birds. There is only one immature specimen of P. r. 

 ruficeps from Cachar in the Museum. This has no traces of streaks on the 

 upper plumage, these are, therefore, anost probably only acqiiired at a later- 

 period. 



Mr. Stuart Baker in " Birds of the Abor Expedition " is inclined to- 

 suppress this sub-species, no doubt along the border line of two nearly allied 

 species intermediate forms must occur. In this case I think P. minus, 

 Hume, has a very wide range of country, and to be entitled to sub- specific 

 rank. The distribution of these two nearly allied sub-species is as follows: — 



P. r. mandelli. — Nepal to Assam, appearing again in the Bhamo District, 

 thence to the Shan States. 



P. r. minus. — -The Chindwui, Chin Hills to Mt. Victoria, Myingyan (Popa 

 Hill), Meiktila districts, and Central Burma to Thyetmyo, whence it was 

 first described by Hume. 



Description. — Intermediate between P. r. mandelli and P. r. subochra- 

 ceum, differs from the former in not having the upper back streaked with 

 dark brown to almost black. Differs from the latter in having the feathers of 

 the mantle and neck streaked, those of the back having pale brownish 

 streaks, those of the side streaked with the same colour as the breast 

 stripes. 



Habits. — -The same as those of P. subochraceum and has the same cry of 

 "Pretty Dear" often repeated. The nest and eggs also the same, the- 

 latter being slightly larger. 



Pellokneum ruficeps subochkaceum, Swinhoe. 



The Malayan Spotted Babbler. 



Pellorneum subochraceum, Swinhoe, A. M. N. H. (4), vii., j). 259 (1871) ;. 

 Sharpe, Cat., B. M., vii., p. 521 ; Gates, F. B. I., i., p. Q. 142. 



Similar to P. r. ruficeps, differs in having the crown chestnut, and being, 

 slio'htly smaller, and from mandelli in having the mantle not streaked, 



Description. — Lore fulvous white with black shafts ; forehead, crown and 

 nape light chestnut ; a broad supercilium to the nape creamy-white to buff, 

 the feathers immediately above the eye speckled with blackish ; ear-coverts, 

 pale rufous buff, with a surrounding darker line ; upper plumage, exposed 

 parts of the wings and tail, olive-brown ; outer edge of primaries olivaceous 

 to ochraceous ; tail narrowly tipped with white ; chin and throat white ; 

 lower plumage light fulvous, flanks darker ; breast and sides of the body 

 streaked with dark umber-brown; under tail-coverts fulvous with large- 

 central dark markings. 



Wing : average of 11 specimens, 64 mm, ; max., 68 mm. ; min., 62 mm. Males, 

 slightly the larger. 



Bill, " Iris red ; upper mandible dark brown, lower yellow at the base, 

 changing to light brown at the tip ; legs light brownish-yellow." (Gates.) 



