Colours of soft parts. Iris deep, bright red; eyelids blue-grey; legs dark blackish or purplish brown, claws horn-colour; bill black.
Measurements. Total length about 170 to 180 mm.; wing 55 to 64 mm. : tail about 80 mm.; culmen about 15 mm.
Distribution. Lower hills and sub-montane tracts from Nepal to Eastern Assam.
Nidification. These little Babblers breed from April to July, probably often having two broods. They build either on the ground, or very close to it, in grass-land, cane-jungle and in low scrub and mixed jungle. The nest is domed and measures about 7″ × 4″ with an entrance near the top about 2″ in diameter; it is composed of bamboo leaves or grass, according to whichever is the most easily obtained and is lined with grass or, occasionally, a few fine roots. The eggs, which number either three or four, rarely five, in a clutch, are broad, obtuse ovals in shape and with stout, glossy texture. The ground-colour is generally a pure china-white, rarely pinkish, and they are densely covered all over with spots and blotches of umber and reddish brown. Forty eggs average 18·3 × 13·2 mm.
Habits. The Red-capped Babbler frequents plains and low hills of grass, reeds or bush-jungle, rarely, if ever, entering forest-land. It goes about in pairs, creeping about the lower cover and every now and then taking little flutters to the top branches or longest grasses, and then dropping down again after uttering a few sweet notes. They call constantly to one another but are not noisy birds. They are found from the plains up to about 3,000 feet, but more often below 1,000 feet than over.
(228) Timalia pileata jerdoni.
The Burmese Red-capped Babbler.
- Timalia jerdoni Walden, A. M. N. H., (4) x, p. 61 (1872) (Pegu).
Vernacular names. None recorded.
Description. The whole plumage more ferruginous than in T. p. bengalensis; the sides of the breast and flanks are more olive, but there is more white in the centre.
Colours of soft parts as in the preceding race.
Measurements. On an average this is a larger bird than the Bengal form, the wing measuring from 60 to 68 mm. and the other parts in proportion.
Distribution. Practically the whole of Burma in suitable localities from the plains up to some 2,000 or even 3,000 feet; Siam to S. China.
Nidification. Breeds from May to July, making a nest similar to that of the last bird, placed in the same kind of situation. The
