“I once found a nest of the Rufous-tailed Babbler at Khandalla, I cannot tell the level precisely, but it cannot have been far from 2000 feet above the sea.  It was at the end of May or the very beginning of June.  The nest was in a small spreading tree in level, open forest country.  The situation was just such a one as A. malcolmi generally chooses—­the end of a horizontal branch with no other branches underneath it; but it was not so high as those of A. malcolmi usually are, for I could reach it from the ground.  The nest was rather flat and contained three eggs, almost hatched, of an intense greenish-blue colour.

“In Bombay, where it is far more common, I once, on the 1st October, saw a pair followed by one young one and a young Coccystes melanoleucus.  This was on a hill, and indeed these birds seem to confine themselves pretty much to hilly ground.”

Mr. Benjamin Aitken writes:—­“With reference to your remark that, as far as you know, the Rufous-tailed Babbler is confined to the strip of country beneath the Ghats, I can certainly say that they are plentiful on the slopes of Poorundhur hill, eighteen miles south of Poona.  It would be interesting to learn on which other of the Deccan hills it is found.  This species is decidedly fond of hilly country.  It is common on the two ranges of low hills that run along the east and west shores of the island of Bombay, but never shows a feather in the gardens and groves on the level ground.  I spent the greater part of two days, when I could ill spare the time, in searching for the nests, but the birds breed in the date-trees, and it would be hopeless to think of finding a nest without cutting away many of the branches or fronds.  Moreover, the bird is extremely wary, and it is by no means easy to guess on which particular tree it has its nest.”

114.  Crateropus rufescens (Blyth). The Ceylonese Babbler.

Layardia rufescens (Blyth), Hume, Cat. no. 437 bis.

Colonel Legge writes regarding the nidification of this bird in Ceylon:—­“This bird breeds in the Western Province in March, April, and May, and constructs a nest similar to the last [M. striatus], of grass and small twigs, mixed perhaps with a few leaves, and placed among creepers surrounding the trunks of trees or in a low fork of a tree.  It conceals its habitation, according to Layard, with great care; and I am aware myself that very few nests have been found.  It lays two or three eggs, very similar to those of the last species, of a deep greenish blue, and pointed ovals in shape—­two which were taken by Mr. MacVicar at Bolgodde measuring 0.95 by 0.75, and 0.92 by 0.74 inch.”

115.  Crateropus cinereifrons (Blyth). The Ashy-headed Babbler.

Garrulax cinereifrons (Blyth), Hume, Cat. no. 409 bis.