Page:The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma (Birds Vol 1).djvu/314

 270 timaliiDjE.

Measurements. Total length about 115 to 120 mm.; wing 50 to 53 mm.; tail about -IS mm.; tarsus about 18 mm.; culmeii about 10 mm.

Distribution. Shan States to Teuasserim, Burma, North-East Siam *. Nidification not recorded.

Habits. Apparently those of the next race. A low-level bird found from the plains up to 3,000 feet or so and haunting both dense forest and the more open bamboo-, grass- and scrub-jungles.


 * Stachurliiilopsis niJifro?i>< amhirjua Ilarington, J, B. N. H. S., xxiii, p. 631 (lijirj) (Gunjong, N. Cachar).

Vernacular names. Dao-pere-gajao (Cachari).

Description. Differs from the last bird in having the white of the throat grading into the fulvous of the lower pluujage. The black shaft-stripes on the crown and nape are very conspicuous and the upper plumage is less grey and more olive-green; the flanks and thighs are strongly washed with olive-brown.

Colours of soft parts. Irides reddish brown; bill slaty-bhie; legs and feet pale yellowish brown, claws darker.

Measurements. Total length 115 to 120 mm.; wing 48 to 53 mm.; tail 4(5 to 48 mm.; tarsus about 17 to 18 mm.; culmen 9 to 10 mm.

Distribution. Sikkim, Assam North and South of the Brahma- putra, Manipur.

Nidification. The breeding season of Harington's Red-fronted Babbler commences in the end of March in the plains to the end of June or even July in the hills. It breeds everywhere up to 2,000 feet and occasionally higher than this and nests of both rujlceps and amhujua may be found in the siime jungle. Nest and eggs are quite indistiguishable from those of the Red- headed Babbler and, as with that bird's eggs, pure white ones may sometimes be taken of this bird. One hundred eggs average 16-1 x 12-4 mm.

Habits. This species differs from the last in being a bird of much lower levels. It extends well into the plains and is more plentiful below 2,000 feet than over this height, though it wanders frequently as high as 3,000 feet or a little over. It is more a bird of com- paratively open bamboo- and scrub-jungle, grass-lands and thin deciduous forest than of the deep evergreen forests, though it will be found in these also. It is a companionable, cheery little bird, collectino' in quite big flocks and having much the same manners, voice and diet as the Golden-headed Babblers. 5. r. obscura and this form maj possibly be found in extreme S.E. Teuasserim.
 * Specimens from S.W. Siam have been separated by me under the name