74 CEATHEOPODID^B. 



build on, and the nest is usually from 8 feet to 20 feet from the 

 ground. 



"Even in the nesting-season these birds are gregarious, joining 

 a flock generally as soon as they leave the nest." 



The eggs of this species do not appear to me to differ perceptibly 

 from those of Crateropus canorus. When one first takes a nest or 

 two of each of them, one is apt to draw distinctions and fancy that 

 the eggs of the two species can be discriminated ; but after taking 

 forty or fifty nests of each species, it becomes obvious that there 

 is no variety of the one in either colour, shape, or size that cannot 

 be paralleled in the other. All I have said of the eggs of C. canorus 

 is applicable to the eggs of this species, and the only differ- 

 ence that, with a huge series of each before me, I can discover is 

 that, as a body, there is less variation in the colour of the eggs of 

 Argya malcolmi than in those of O. canorus. 



In length they vary from 0-88 to 1-1, and in breadth from 073 

 to 0-85 ; but the average of fifty eggs measured is 0-99 by 0-77. 



108. Argya subrufa ( Jerd.) *. The Large Bufous Babbler. 

 Layardia subrufa (Jerd.), Hume, Cat. no. 437. 



The nest is a deep massive cup placed in the fork of twigs, 

 coarsely and roughly but still strongly built. The body of the 

 nest is chiefly composed of leaves, some of which must have been 

 green when used. Outside, the leaves are held in position by 

 blades of grass, creepers, and stems of herbaceous plants, carelessly 

 and roughly wound about the exterior. The cavity is rather more 

 neatly lined with tolerably fine grass-bents. Exteriorly the nest 

 is about 7 inches in height and 5 in diameter. The cavity is about 

 3| inches deep by 3 in diameter. 



The eggs are precisely like those of the several species of Argya, 

 moderately broad ovals rather obtuse at both ends, often with a 

 pyriform tendency. The colour is a uniform spotless clear blue 

 with a faint greenish tinge, and the eggs have usually a fine gloss. 

 The eggs measure - 98 by - 75. 



110. Crateropus canorus (Linn.) f. The Jungle Babbler. 



Malacocercus terricolor (Hodgs.), Jerd. B. Ind. ii, p. 59 ; Hume, Bovgh 



Draft N. 4} E. no. 432. 

 Malacocercus malabaricus, Jerd., Jerd. t. c. p. 62 ; Hume, t. c. no. 434. 



C. terricolor. 

 The Bengal Babbler breeds throughout the plains of the Bengal 



* Tbe accompanying incomplete account of the nidification of this bird is 

 all I can find among Mr. Hume's notes. I cannot ascertain who was the dis- 

 coTever of the nest and eggs described. — E». 



t In the 'Birds of India,' I haTe united ft malaliaricws and C. terricolor. 

 Mr. Hume probably still considers these two races distinct, and others may agree 

 with him. To ai oid confusion, therefore, I have kept the notes appertaining to 

 these two races distinct from each other. — Ed. 



