birds in the Timaliidæ. In general appearance it is much like Pellorneum, differing from that genus in having a stronger bill with longer rictal bristles. The upper plumage is squamated, each feather being margined with black. Unlike nearly all the other members of the family but like Gampsorhynchus the adults in this genus differ from the young in becoming much more white on the head and lower plumage.
In spite of this peculiarity Oates appears to have properly placed it in the Timaliinæ, in which I retain it. The wing and tail are about equal in length, the former being short and rounded. The feathers of the forehead are soft and the rictal bristles highly developed; the bill is straight and about as long as hind toe and claw together; the nostrils are exposed and without overhanging hairs.
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Fig. 45.—Head of C. crispifrons.
(254) Cursonia crispifrons.
The Lime-rock Babbler.
- Turdinus crispifrons Blyth, J. A. S. B., xxiv, p. 269 (1855) (Tenasserim).
- Gypsophila crispifrons. Blanf. & Oates, i, p. 149.
Vernacular names. None recorded.
Description.—Adult. Whole head, neck and lower plumage pure white; upper plumage olive-brown, the feathers of the back margined with black; each inner secondary of the wing-quills minutely tipped with white.
Colours of soft parts. Iris pale red, red, light red, deep red-brown; upper mandible dark brown, lower pale plumbeous; legs, feet and claws dark purplish green (Hume Coll.).
Measurements. Total length about 190 mm.; wing about 78 to 83 mm.; tail about 74 to 77 mm.; tarsus about 28 mm.; culmen about 17 to 19 mm.
Birds of the first year have the forehead to back olive-brown, each feather margined with black; the rump, upper tail-coverts, tail and exposed portions of wing olive-brown; the sides of the forehead and a short supercilium are greyish white with black specks; chin, throat and upper breast white, streaked with dark brown, especially on the breast; remainder of lower plumage ochraceous olive-brown.
