Malacocircus Griseus. 



tVie branches of trees. They are familiar, if undisturbed, feeding often close to houses, 

 but if -watched or follo\yed, they become circum.spect, disperse, and hide themselves. 

 Their cry is a loud slbllous or whispering sort of chatter, which they repeat all at once, 

 sometimes when feeding, or when any unusual sight attracts their attention, and often with- 

 out any apparent object at all. They have no song. Their flight is slow and laborious, 

 performed by a few rapid strokes of the wings alternating with a sailing with outspread 

 pinions. I have often found the nest of this bird, which is composed of small twigs and 

 roots carelessely and loosely put together, in general at no great height from the ground ; 

 it lays three or four blue eggs. I have found them breeding at all times from January 

 to July, and even later, but do not know if they ever have two broods in the year. The 

 black and white crested Cuckoo, (oxxjlophus edoliusj appears to select this bird to act as 

 foster parent to her own progeny, and she lays a greenish blue egg. They are readily 

 caught by a spring trap baited with grain, with one of their kind put in the centre as a lure. 

 The Shikra or Chipka, ( Accipiter badiusj is sometimes flown at them, and causes a 

 a general consternation. After the first burst of alarm and gabbling, they cease their 

 chattering, separate, and disperse, and do not, like the bolder Mahratta Babbler, (M. mal- 

 colmi) come to the rescue of their unfortunte companion. This latter species often mobs 

 the Shikra. 



The white headed Babbler is called Keyr in Hindustani, Ckeenda or Seeda in 

 Teloogoo, in Tamool ' KuUee Kooravee' or ' hedge bird,' and in Malyalum the allied 

 species is called ' Kooleyan.' 



I add a brief description. General shade of plumage light brownish grey, head 

 and nape yellowish white, more marked in some than in others, — feathers of the back dark, 

 lightest on the shaft and the edges, rump feathers pale fawn, feathers of the chin and 

 throat dark in the centre, with the base and extremity blueish white, forming a band very 

 distinct from the surrounding plumage. Breast, abdomen, and under tail coverts pale 

 yellowish fawn colour. Most of the feathers especially the back and rump, are much 

 decomposed, and are blueish white at their base. Quills and tail brown obsoletely barred 

 with darker bands, central tail feathers light at their base. Length 9 to 9§ inches. Wing 

 4^, Tail 4J, Tarsus 1^, Hind toe and claw ^ths. Bill (at front) i^th. at gape about 7„ths. 

 Irides pale yellow white. Bill and legs pale yellowish with a tinge of flesh color. 



The other species of Malacocircus found in the peninsula are as follows 1st M. 



