Dumetia hyperythra, Franklin.
397 :- Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 26 ; Butler, Deccan ; Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, p. 399; Swinhoe and Barnes, Central India ; Ibis, 1885, p. 67.
THE RUFOUS-BELLIED BABBLER.
Length, 5.25; wing, 2.1 ; tail, 3.2 ; tarsus, 0.8. Bill horny ; irides pale yellow-brown ; legs fleshy-yellow. Above brownish-olive, the tail obsoletely barred with dusky; forehead and whole body beneath rufous.
The Rufous-bellied Babbler is a permanent resident in parts of the Deccan, and occurs also in the vicinity of Mhow.
It breeds from June to August ; the nest is globular in shape, composed of coarse grass blades, sparingly lined with fine grass. It is frequently placed on the ground amongst coarse grass or dead leaves, with which it is frequently incorporated, but sometimes in low scrub-bushes, only a foot or so from the ground. The eggs, four in number, are broad oval in shape, white in color, spotted, freckled, streaked, and blotched with brownish-red and reddish-purple ; the markings are sometimes clearly denned, at others they are smudgy ; in others again they are speckly. They measure 0.67 inches in length by about 0.53 in breadth.
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