260 



Catalogue of the Birds 



[Oct. 



Descr. — Above darkish brown olive, below rufous, darkest on the 

 neck and breast; forehead pale bluish ash colour ; frontal feathers rigid; 

 bill brown above, yellow below. Legs yellow, irides bright yellow. 

 Length 9h ; wing 3 f^ths; tail 4±-, tarsus l-^ths. 



o 



94. — T. Chatarcea, Frankl. Cat. — Gen. Malacocircus, Swainson ? — 

 Doomree, H. — Hoonee, Tam. ?— Striated Babbler. 



Before entering on the account of the bird, I may here introduce some 

 excellent remarks of Mr. Elliot. He says, speaking of the Thimalia 

 " there is another group, the Doomrees, differing somewhat in habit, less 

 noisy, still in companies and flying along woody nullahs, hedge rows, 

 bushes, &c. where they ensconce and conceal themselves." In the 

 three species next described there is certainly a slight difference both 

 in structure and habits from the more typical species of Thimalice. 

 Whether this is sufficient to entitle them to sub generic distinciion or 

 not cannot be satisfactorily determined, till a complete analysis has been 

 made of the whole family of the Crateropodinm, of which Swainson con- 

 fesses that enough is not yet known to enable him to arrange them per- 

 fectly. 



The Doomree is found all over the peninsula, in the open plains when 

 covered with a few scattered bushes, or in low but thin jungle. It is a 

 shy and wary bird, flying before you from bush to bush, and having a 

 whistling sort of cry which it is frequently heard repeating. It flies low, 

 and like others of the genus, alternately with a few rapid beats of the 

 wing, and a sailing with outstretched wings. Feeds on various insects, 

 caterpillars and grubs. Irides reddish brown; bill brownish ; legs dirty 

 yellow. Length9 to 9^; wing about 3; tail 4; tarsus 1. 



95.—- T. hypoleuca, Frankl. — White bellied or singing Babbler. — Shu- 

 kiir Doomree, H. ? 



This neatly clothed little Thimalia, is far from being common towards 

 the south of the Peninsula. I have seen it in a bushy tract at the edge of 

 the Wulliar jungle ; also in hedges on low jungly districts near the base 

 of the Shaudee mungalum hills in the Salem district, and again at Roya- 

 cottah in similar situation. Near Jaulnuhit is generally to be met with 

 in the low jungle in the neighbourhood, also in woody nullahs and thick 

 hedges. It is not unfrequently to be seen alone, but generally in small 

 parties of four or five, which fly before you, and manage to conceal them- 



