74 OR ATBBOPODID JE,

build on, and the nest is usually from 8 feet to 20 feet from the
ground.

" Even in the nesting-season these birds are gregarious, joining
a flock generally as soon as they leave the nest."

The eggs of this species do not appear to me to differ perceptibly
from, those of Crateropus canorus. When one first takes a nest or
two of each of them, one is apt to draw distinctions and fancy that
the eggs of the two species can be discriminated ; but after taking
forty or fifty nests of each species, it becomes obvious that there
is no variety of the one in either colour, shape, or size that cannot
be paralleled in the other. All I have said of the eggs of 0. canorus
is applicable to the eggs of this species, and the only differ-
ence that, with a huge series of each before me, I can discover is
that, as a body, there is less variation in the colour of the eggs of
Argya malcolmi than in those of 0. canorus.

In length they vary from OSS to 1-1, and in breadth from 0*73
to 0-85; but the average of fifty eggs measured is 0*99 by 0-77.

108. Argya subrufa (Jerd.) *. The Large Rufous Babbler.
Layardia subrufa (Jerd.)f Hume, Cat. no. 437.

The nest is a deep massive cup placed in the fork of twigs,
coarsely and roughly but still strongly built. The body of the
nest is chiefly composed of leaves, some of \vhich must have been
green when used. Outside, the leaves are held in position by
blades of grass, creepers, and stems of herbaceous plants, carelessly
and roughly \vound about the exterior. The cavity is rather more
neatly lined with tolerably fine grass-bents. Exteriorly the nest
is about 7 inches in height and 5 in diameter. The cavity is about
3| inches deep by 3 in diameter.

The eggs are precisely like those of the several species of Argya,
moderately broad ovals rather obtuse at both ends, often with a
pyriforrn tendency. The colour is a uniform spotless clear blue
with a faint greenish tinge, and the eggs have usually a fine gloss.
The eggs measure 0'98 by 0*75.

110. Crateropus canorus (Linn.)_f. The Jungle Babbler.

Malacocerciis"terricolor (flodgs.), Jerd. H. 2nd. ii, p. 59 j Sume, Hough

Draft N. $ JE. no. 432.
Malacocercus malabaiicus, Jerd., Jerd. t. c. p. 62; Hume, t. c. no. 434.

C. terricolor.
The Bengal Babbler breeds throughout the plains of the Bengal

* The accompanying in complete account of the nidification of this bird is
all I can find among JVlr. Hume's notes. I cannot ascertain who was the dis-
coTerer of the nest and eggs described.—E».

t In the'Birds of India,'I haTe united C. mctlatiarictts and C. terricolor.
Mr. Hnme probably still considers these two races distinct, and others may agree
with him. To a\oid confusion, therefore, I have kept the notes appertaining to
these two races distinct from each other.—ED.