MALACOCEECUS EUFESCENS. 
(THE EUrOUS BABBLER.) 
(Peculiar to Ceylon.) 
Layardia 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 Red Rung-Thrush, Red Jungle-Thrush, Europeans in Ceylon. 
Rattu demelitchia, Parandal Jcurulla (Saffragam), also Pander ella, Kala farandal, 
Sinhalese. 
Supra sorclicle fulvescenti-brunneus, tectricibus alarum dorso concoloribus : remigibus brunneis extus dorsi colore lavatis, 
secuudariis magis rufescenti-brunneis : rectricibus sordide rufescenti-brunneis, fulvescenti-brunneo marginatis : 
pileo nuchaque magis grisescenti-brunneis ; loris rufescenti-fulvis ; facie lateral! et gula rufescenti-brunneis vix 
vinaceo layatis : pectore fulvesceuti-rufo : corpore roliquo subtus saturate brumieo vix rufescente : subalaribus 
fulveseenti-rufis : remigibus infra brunneis intiis fulvescentibus : rostro aurantiaco, basaliter saturatiore : pedibus 
saturate flavis : iride alba ; palpebrit viresconti-ilava. 
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 I'l ; bill to gape I'O to !•! ; hind toe 0'55, claw (straight) 0‘37. 
The above limit of length is that of an exceptional bird, as 10'5 inches is rarely exceeded- 
Iris white, yellowish white, or greenish white ; bill orange-yellow, deepest on the basal haK ; legs and feet dull chrome- 
yellow ; claws yellowish horn ; orbital skin and eyelid pale greenish yellow. 
Porehead 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. 
Ohs. This species is closely allied, as regards colour, to the South-Indian Layardia, siibrufa, 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 in 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 in proportion to the tail. The Ceylonese bird, however, 
does not differ from t3-pical Malacocercus sulficiently to be separated as Layardia, M-hich 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, in an example of L. suhrufa 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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