1839] 



of the Peninsula of India, 



257 



Genus THIMALIA, Horsf. 



90. — T. Malcolmi, Sykes. — Large Babbler.— Ghoghoye, H. — Gougya, 

 C&n.—Kokuttee, M. 



This large Thimalia has a peculiar distribution. In the South of In- 

 dia it is only found on the elevated table lands. I have observed it on 

 the Neilgherries near Coonoor and Kotagherry, in low bushy ground, 

 and seen specimens from the Shevaroy Hills near Salem. It is not found 

 in the Carnatic, Northern Circars, nor in the more southern parts of the 

 Decean, but towards the north begins to occur more frequently, and at 

 Jaulnah is very common. The Ghoghoye frequents topes in the neigh- 

 bourhood of villages and cultivation, also occasionally low and open 

 jungle. Lives in small troops, feeding chiefly on the ground, especially 

 around the trunks of large trees. It keeps up a continual chattering, oc= 

 casionally changed to a louder cry, resembling ' quey, quey, quey, quo, 

 quo,' pronounced very gutturally. Its flight, like that of all the species 

 of Thimalia, is feeble and struggling. Mr. Elliot says 1 'when the Shikra 

 {F. Dukhunensis) is flown at them they defend each other with great 

 courage, mobbing the hawk, and endeavouring to release the one she 

 has seized." Lives on various grains, seeds, and insects, chiefly grasshop- 

 pers; I have seen one attempt in vain to catch a grasshopper on the wing. 



Irides light yellow. Length 1U inches; -wing 4 T ^ths^tail 5 -i ; tar- 

 sus l T 3 -g-ths. p 



91. — T. Somervillei, Sykes.— Jungle Kelr or Kayr t H. — Jungle grey 

 babbler, 



I have always found this species of Thimalia m tolerably dense jungle, 

 and never in open country, like the next one which much resembles it. 

 It is far from being uncommon in most jungles. I have seen it in 

 Goomsoor, in the Tondiman's country, in the Carnatic, and in most of the 

 jungles of the West Coast. I have also lately procured it in a densely 

 wooded nullah in low jungly country in the neighbourhood of Jaulnah. 

 It has similar habits to others of the genus living in tolerably numerous 

 and noisy troops, and feeding on various grains and insects. 



Irides pale yellow; bill and feet dirty yellow. Length 9 inches ; of 

 wing 4-J-g-th, tail 4£ ; tarsus l T 3 ^hs : . 



I may here remark that my specimens from two localities differ some- 

 what from each other in the shade of their plumage, and also slightly 

 from Colonel Sykes' description. This may depend on difference of 

 age. A specimen from Goomsoor, however, has a bill remarkably differ- 

 ing from those of the others, in having the edge of both mandibles, es- 

 pecially of the under one, scooped out, as it were, from the centre to the 

 tip of the bill, so as, when they are closed, to leave an open space. I pos- 



