629. Cercomela fusca.
The Brown Rock-Chat.
Saxicola fusca, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xx, p. 523 (1851) ; id. Cat. p. xi. Cercomela fusca (Blyth), Jerd. B. I. ii, p. 134; Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. xli, pt. ii, p. 240; Hume, N. & E. p. 319; Adam, S. F. i, p. 380; Butler, S. F. iii, p. 477; Hume, Cat. no. 494; Barnes Birds Bom. p. 206 ; Oates in Hume's N. & E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 54. Myrmecocichla fusca (Blyth), Seebohm, Cat. B. M. v, p. 360.
Shama, Cent. Prov.
Coloration. Upper plumage dull rufous-brown, the feathers of the upper tail-coverts darker; wings brown, every feather edged with rufous-brown ; sides of the head and lower plumage dull ferruginous ; tail very dark brown.
Legs and feet black; bill black; iris dark brown (Hume).
Length about 6.5; tail 2.6 ; wing 3.5; tarsus 1; bill from gape .85.
Distribution. A resident in a considerable portion of the central parts of the Indian peninsula. The western limits of this species appear to be a line drawn from Cutch through Jodhpur to Hardwar. Thence it extends to Chunar, near Benares, on the east, and to Jubbulpur on the south, and I have not been able to trace its distribution more accurately than this.
Habits, &c. Breeds from March to July, constructing a nest of grass and roots, lined with hair and wool, in holes of walls, quarries, banks, and cliffs, and laying three or four eggs, which are blue marked with rufous, and measure about .82 by .62.
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