10 Major II. H. Haringtoii on the 



Argya gularis. 



Arpja gularis (Blyth) ; Oates, Fauna, i. 1889, p. 107 ; 

 Macdonald, Bombay Journ. xvii. 1906, p. 185. 



Although the White-throated Babbler is such an extremely 

 common bird in the dry zone of Upper Burma, the only 

 mention of its nesting I can find is that of Mr. K. C. 

 Macdonald in the above quoted Journal. 



The "^ seven-sisters, ''' as these birds and their nearest 

 relatives are popularly called from their habit of always 

 going about in family parties, are very familiar birds, being 

 found alike around houses and villages, as well as in the 

 juugles. They seem to breed almost throughout the year, 

 bat more especially during the hot weather, in March and 

 April, building their nests in any convenient bush or clump 

 of bamboos, even taking advantage of the trellis-work round 

 verandahs. If the nest is in an exposed situation — and it 

 is often placed in leafless bushes, it is a very flimsy cup- 

 shaped affair of grass, through which the eggs are easily 

 visible ; if placed in a well concealed spot it is more sub- 

 stantial and compact. Three or four eggs of the beautiful 

 dark blue shade peculiar to the family are laid. 

 Average of seven eggs = •88x"68. 

 Largest = "93 x *7. 



Smallest = '85 x -67. 



Pomatorhinus macclellandi gravivox. 



PomatorJiinus gravivox David ; Oustalet, Bull. Mus. Paris, 

 1898, p. 255 ; Harington, Bombay Journ. xix. 1909, p. 115. 



David^s Scimitar-Babbler is another Chinese species, which 

 just finds its way across the border to within Indian limits, 

 and is fairly common in the hills east of Bhamo, at about 

 6000 feet ; it seems to prefer the more or less open hill-sides to 

 the dense evergreen jungles. I found several nests ; all were 

 placed on or near the ground, and were untidy dome-shaped 

 structures composed of grass and leaves. They seem to be 

 early breeders for those parts, as the first nest I found early 

 in April contained two eggs on the point of hatching, and a 

 little later in the month there were several voung birds about. 



