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DUMETIA ALBOGULARIS, Byta.

White-throated Dumetia.

Malacocercus albogularis, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xvi. p. 453.

Dumetia albogularis, Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 140.—Layard in Ann. and Mag. Nat.
Hist., 2nd. ser. vol. xii. p. 272.—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 403.

Timalia hyperythra, Jerd. in Madras Journ. of Lit. and Sci., vol. x. p. 261.—Id. Ill. Ind. Orn., 7th page of text to
pl. 19.

Pellorneum albogulare, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xxi. p- 357.

Timalia albogularis, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. iii. App. p. 10, app. to p. 228.

Shah Dumri of the Hindoos, Jerdon.

Pundt jitta (4. e. ‘ Pig-bird’) in Telugu, Jerdon.

 

To see this bird in a state of nature, one must pay a visit to the southern portion of the peninsula of
India; if looked for in the north, it would not be found. Like many other of the species inhabiting the
Madras Presidency, this bird is also found in Ceylon, but, I believe, not very abundantly, and it is somewhat
local there. We are indebted to Messrs. Jerdon, Blyth, and Layard for all we know of the habits and
manners of this bird; and it is only justice to those gentlemen to give their observations in their own words.

“This bird,” remarks Mr. Jerdon, ‘I have seen but very seldom ; once at the top of the Tapoor Pass in
thick jungle, and in the neighbourhood of Jaulnah in jungly district, in thick hedges and thickly wooded
nullahs. From the dense nature of the bushes it frequents, it is with difficulty observed and obtained. I
have generally seen it in parties of five or six, occasionally giving out a low and indistinct sort of chattering.

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Fragments of various insects were found in the stomachs of those I procured. It is called Pund jitta, or AG
Aancie ‘ ; : : : : - F Ney
Pig-bird, in Telugu,—a name given from its habit of making its way under the bushes, never showing itself tm
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above.” hed
Mr. Blyth states: “Its note considerably resembles that of Malacocercus caudatus, except in being pro- No

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portionally weaker. ne

‘In Ceylon,” says Mr. Layard, “it 1s confined to the vicinity of Colombo, and is not uncommon sit 1s
generally found in small flocks about the cinnamon and other low bushes, creeping about in search of
insects.”

There appears to be little or no difference in the colouring of the sexes, the numerous examples that
have come under my notice being all similarly coloured.

Forehead pale rust-colour, faintly striated with a lighter hue; all the upper surface, wings, and tail very
pale brown, the inner webs of the primaries somewhat darker, and the tail-feathers crossed by indistinct
bars of the same tint, only seen in certain lights; chin and centre of the throat buffy white, remainder of
the under surface deep fawn-colour.

The figures are of the natural size.