Habits. Davison remarks:—"Occurs only at the Nicobars, where it is comparatively common; it keeps to the forest generally, but is also found in gardens, in the secondary jungle, and not infrequently in places where there are only a few scattered bushes; it is usually seen singly, in pairs, or in small parties of five or six; but I have seen them on several occasions in flocks of nearly a hundred. They have a chattering note, very similar to the other Hypsipetes, and when they are in flocks they make nearly as much noise as a flock of Mynas settling down for tha night."
Genus RUBIGULA Blyth, 1845.
The genus Rubigula contains species of small Bulbuls of handsome appearance with squamated phnnage. The bill is broader than high and shorter than the tarsus; the rictal bristles are strongl)^ developed and the nostrils are exposed and not hidden by bristles. The tail is well graduated. The only member of the genus found within our limits is a geographical race of Rubigula squamata of Java.
(424) Rubigula squamata webberi.
Webber's Bulbul.
Ixidia webberi Hume, S. F., viii, p. 40 (1879) (Tonka).
Vernacular names. None recorded.
Description. Head and neck black; back golden olive, shading into golden yellow on the upper tail-coverts; tail black with a broad diagonal white band on the end of the outer tail-feathers, decreasing in extent inwardly on each succeeding pair; visible portions of the wing like the back but greater coverts edged with brighter yellow; quills and bastard wing black; below, throat and sides of neck white, with tiny black striæ; breast and flanks black with white edges, giving a beautiful squamated appearance to these parts; centre of abdomen white; under tail-coverts deep bright yellow.
Colours of soft parts. Irides deep red; bill brownish black; legs and feet plumbeous brown.
Measurements. Total length about 150 mm.; wing 73 to 76 mm.; tail about 60 to 65 mm.; tarsus about 15 mm.; culmen about 14 mm.
Distribution. Peninsular Burma and Siam, throughout Malay Peninsula to Sumatra.
Nidification and Habits. Practically nothing recorded.
