33. 
POMATORHINUS MELANURUS 
(THE CEYLONESE SCIMITAR BABBLER) 
ADULT MALE 
Length 8.6 to 8.9 inches; wing 3.5 to 3.8; tail 3.5 to 3.7; tarsus 1.2; 
middle toe and claw .95 to 1.5; hind toe .6, its olaw (straight) .4; bill to 
gape (straight) 1.13 to 1.23. 
ADULT FEMALE 
Length 8.5 to 8.7 inches; wing 3.2 to 3.6; tail 3.4 to 3.6; tarsus 1.2; 
bill to gape (straight) 1.1 to 1.2. 
DISTRIBUTION 
The Scimitar Babbler, one of the most interesting Ceylon species, is wide¬ 
ly distributed thronghout tbe Central and Southern hills, but is Dy no means 
a mountain bird, being equally common in the Interior of the Western Province 
more especially in the bamboo district of Saffragam and the circumjacent c 
country, and likewise in the South-west hilly region. As regards the Kan¬ 
dyan Province, it is a very abundant bird in the main range up to the High¬ 
est altitudes, and is one of those comparatively fiew species met with in 
the woods in the Horton Plains. The same may be said of all the intermedi¬ 
ate coffee districts and the wooded ' patinas throughout the province. it 
Is common In the forests of the South-east, and on the-Batticaloa side, and 
Is scattered pretty freely throughout all the Northern forest tracts. Its 
numbers diminishing along the Central road, when the latitude of Kokalal on 
the East and Manaar on the West is reached. I have obtained it as close to 
Colombo as the neighbourhood of Borella. 
HABITS 
This wood loving bird frequents shady dark forests, patina woods (parti¬ 
cularly in the vicinity of streams), bamboo cheenas, low jungle, and every 
variety of thick cover. It usually associates in pairs, but occasionally 
goes about in small companies, searching for its insect food on low branches 
or clinging*, woodpecker fashion, to the trunks or large limbs of trees, a bo it 
which it jumps and 'twists itself with considerable ability, proceeding up¬ 
wards with active hops. 1 Early in-the morning, while searching among thick 
undefwood for its food, 1t repeatedly gives out its far sounding melodious 
call, which must be familiar to all who have travelled in the Ceylon jungle^ 
although few are acquainted with the owner of the remarkable voice proceed¬ 
ing,. as It usually does, from dense thickets, 
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