Page:The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma (Birds Vol 1).djvu/306

262 (268) Thringorhina oglei. Austek's Spotted Babbler. Actinura oglei Godw.-Aust., J. A. S. B,, xlvi (2) p. 42 (1877) (Sadiya). Thrinyorhina oylii. Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 150.

Vernacular names. Chem-pitti (Trans-Dikku jVagas).

Description. Crown, nape and hind neck rich golden-brown; back, rump and upper tail-coverts the same but duller and obsoletely cross-rayed; wing and tail umber-brown, narrowly and closely cross-barred with a darker shade of the same; forehead and broad supercilium white, the former with black shafts; on the sides of the neck the supercilium breaks up into white spots bordered with black; forehead and supercilium also bordered above with black; lores and ear-coverts black; clieeks, chin and throat white; breast grey; remainder o£ lower plumage dull umber-brown.

Colours of soft parts. Iris crimson-lake; bill black above, grey on lower mandible; legs and feet umber-bro«'n.

Measurements. Total length about 180- mm.; wing 68 to 76 mm.; tail about 53 mm.; tarsus about 27 mm.; culmen about 16-5 to 17-5 nnn.

Distribution. Eastern Assam Xorth and South of the Brahma- putra.

Nidification. This bird, together with its nest and eggs, were brought in by Nagas on several occasions to Dr. H. N. Coltart and myself at Margherita. The remains of the nest seemed to be those of large globular affairs made of bamboo leaves and grass with a mixture of roots, small twigs and dead leaves and according to the Nagas was always placed on the ground in ravines in heavy forest with plenty of undergrowth. The eggs, three or four in number, are pure white and very like those of Scimitar-Babblers but more fragile and without gloss. They measure about 22'o x 17'0 mm. The breeding season is May and June.

Habits. Beyond the fact that this Babbler haunts thick, moist forests at elevations from 6,000 feet upwards, we know little of their habits. According to the Nagas they keep much to the heaviest undergrowth and are silent, skulking birds. Those we examined had eaten insects only.


 * Turdinus guttatm Blyth, J. A. S. B., xxvii, p. 414 (1859) (Muleyit Mt.).
 * Thrimjorhina (juttata. Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 155.

Vernacular names. None recorded.

Description. Lores and forehead white with black streaks;