MALACOCERCUS RUFESCENS. 



(THE RUFOUS BABBLER.) 



(Peculiar to Ceylon.) 



Laijardia rufescens, Blyth, J. A. S. B. 1847, xvi. p. 453 ; Jerdon, B. of India, ii. p. 67 



(1863); Holdsworth, P. Z. S. 1872, p. 449; Blyth, Ibis, 1867, p. 300; Legge, ibid. 



1874, p. 18 ; id. Str. Feath. 1875, p. 368. 

 Malacocercus rufescens, Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. A. S. B. p. 141 (1849); Kelaart, Prodromus, 



Cat. p. 122 (1852); Layard, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 1853, xii. p. 271. 

 The Bed Bung-Thrush, Bed Jungle-Thrush, Europeans in Ceylon. 

 Battu demelitchia, Parandal kurulla (Saffragam), also Panderella, Kala parandal, 



Sinhalese. 



Supra sordide fulvescenti-brunneus, tectricibus alarum dorso eoncoloribus : remigibus brunneis extus dorsi colore lavatis, 

 secundariis niagis rufescenti-brimneis : rectricibus sordide rufescenti-brimneis, fulvesceuti-bruuneo marginatis : 

 pileo nuchaque magis grisescenti-brunneis ; loris rufescenti-fulvis : facie laterali et gula rufescenti-brimneis vix 

 vinaceo lavatis : pectore fulvescenti-rufo : corpore reliquo subtus saturate brunneo vix rufescente : subalaribus 

 fulvescenti-rufis : remigibus infra brunneis intus fulvescentibus : rostro aurantiaco, basaliter saturatiore : pedibus 

 saturate flavis : iride alba ; palpebra virescenti-flava. 



. Adult male and female. Length 9'3 to 10-8 inches ; wing 4-0 to 4-2 ; tail 4-2 to 4-6 ; tarsus 1-3 to 1*4 ; mid toe and 

 claw 1-05 to 1-1 ; bill to gape 1-0 to 1-1 ; hind toe 0-55, claw (straight) 0-37. 



The above limit of length is that of an exceptional bird, as lOo inches is rarely exceeded. 



Iris white, yellowish white, or greenish white ; bill orange-yellow, deepest on the basal half ; legs and feet dull chrome- 

 yellow ; claws yellowish horn ; orbital skin and eyelid pale greenish yellow. 



Forehead and head greyish brown, deepening on the hind neck into the brownish rufous of the whole upper surface 

 and wings ; quills edged with greyish ; tail deeper rufous than the back, and crossed, as are likewise the tertials, 

 with faint rays ; beneath dull ferruginous, slightly greyish on the chin and the flanks ; sides of belly and under 

 tail-coverts shaded with brown ; lores and cheeks concolorous with the throat ; ear-coverts brown, with 

 pale stria?. 



Young. Birds of the year have the chin and gorge greyer than adults, and the lower parts are pervaded with a 

 brownish hue. Iris as in the adult. 



Obs. This species is closely allied, as regards colour, to the South-Indian Layardia sitbrnfa, which has the upper 

 mandible brownish, the forehead ash-colour, and the upper surface rufous-brown, with a tinge of olive in it ; the 

 tail is darker rufous, and the throat and fore neck brighter than in the Ceylonese bird. Besides having the 

 frontal feathers remarkably stiff, it has the bill more curved than iu either the Grey Babblers of India or 

 the present species, and is quite worthy of being placed as a subgenus of Malacocercus, as, in addition to the 

 characteristics alluded to, it has the wings much shorter iu proportion to the tail. The Ceylonese bird, however, 

 does not differ from typical Malacocercus sufficiently to be separated as Layardia, which has usually been done, 

 the only differences existing being that the bill is slightly deeper and the 3rd quill a little shorter ; I have therefore 

 removed it into the former genus. The wing, iu an example of L. subrufa in the national collection, measures 3 - 5 

 and the tail 5"0 inches. 



Distribution. — This Babbler was discovered by Dr. Templeton, R.A., a gentleman who, as before remarked, 

 did considerable work in the ornithology of the island during his tour of service in it prior to 1850. Its 

 range is somewhat restricted, extending over the western and damp portion of the Southern Province, and 

 through the western highlands to the main range. In the Colombo district it is not found nearer the sea 

 than Killapana, at which point the country becomes wooded ; from there, throughout the whole interior of 



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