147. Pellorneum fuscicapillum

147. Pellorneum fuscicapillum.

The Brown-capped Babbler.

Drymocataphus fuscocapillus, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xviii, p. 815 (1849); id. Cat. p. 340. Pellorneum fuscicapillum (Blyth), Blyth, Ibis, 1867, p, 301; Hume, S. F. i, p. 299 note; Legge, Birds Ceyl. p. 510, pi. 23, fig. 1; Hume, Cat. no. 399 quint.; Oates in Hume's N. & E. 2nd ed. i, p. 102. Scotocichla fuscicapilla (Blyth), Sharpe, Cat. B. M. vii, p. 523.
Batitchia, Ceyl.

Coloration. Forehead, crown, and nape dark chocolate-brown, the shafts fulvous ; upper plumage dark olive-brown, the tail tipped narrowly with ochraceous, the feathers of the wing-coverts and back with pale shafts, and the edges of the primaries tinged with rufous; lores, sides of the head and neck, and the whole lower plumage sienna-brown, the sides of the neck and breast with obscure dark striations on some of the feathers, the striations occasionally almost entirely absent.

Some birds have the crown and upper plumage paler, and these seem to be found in the northern part of Ceylon only ; others having these parts darker are found in the south-western and central portions of the island only.

The iris varies from light reddish to dark red ; eyelid olivaceous ; upper mandible deep brown with a pale margin, lower flesh-colour; legs and feet brownish fleshy; claws pale brownish (Legge).

Length about 6.5; tail 2.5; wing 2.6; tarsus 1.1 ; bill from gape .8.

Distribution. Ceylon, up to 6000 feet or more of elevation.

Habits, &c. A nest found in Ceylon, said to have belonged to this bird, was cup-shaped, loosely constructed of moss and leaves, and placed in a bramble about three feet from the ground.