TURDINULUS ROBERTI

Robert's Pygmy Babbler.

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Pnoepyga, sp-, Godwin-Austen, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xxxix. p. 101 (1870)

roberti, Godwin-Austen & Walden, Ibis, 1875, p. 252.— Hume, Stray Feathers, 1876, p. 218
Turdinulus roberti, Hume & Davison, Stray Feathers, 1878, p. 234.—Hume op. cit. 1879 93 a

 

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Tue general aspect of this bird is so like that of a Pnoepyga that I am not surprised that its original
describers placed it in that genus; but its plumage is quite unlike that of a Wren, and jatiek
resembles that of a Zurdinus in colour. Mr. Hume has therefore, in my opinion, correctly indicated the
affinities of the bird in his name Turdinulus; and I find, on examining the structure of the specimen
before me, that it is a true Timeline bird, with easily distinguishable rictal bristles. I at once adopt
Mr. Hume’s generic name for it.

The original specimens were obtained at Chakha in the Munipur hills, and at Asalu, by Mr. William Robert.
It was observed also on Mooleyit in Tenasserim by Mr. Davison, at a height of 5500 feet and upwards. The
following note on the habits of the birds is from the pen of the last-named naturalist :—‘ Generally seen
in pairs, occasionally three or four together, hopping about on the ground or about the stems of the
undergrowth only in the densest portions of the forest, and not preferentially near water. When alarmed,
like 7. brevicaudatus, they all raise a note of alarm— chick-chick, chick ; chick-chick, chick, chick,’ —which
they continually and unceasingly utter, until either you have passed on or they think they have got out
of sight and danger. ‘They are not shy, and do not fly unless very closely pressed, and then only for a
short distance. As a rule, when disturbed, they leave the ground and thread their way with great rapidity
amongst the stems of the brushwood, clinging sideways to these as many birds do. They are entirely
insectivorous.” :

The following is a copy of the description given by Colonel Godwin-Ansten and Lord Tweeddale :—
« Above olive-brown, each feather pale-centred and fringed or tipped with dark brown. Lores albescent.
Between the eyes and the rictus black. A well-defined streak extending hop eo the eye down each
side of the head fulvous. Ear-coverts cinereous at base, brown towards the tips. Chin and throat pure
white, each throat-feather being terminated bya small black triangular drop 5 us - a oe ae
overlap, these drops form continuous black lines, the oe principal ones Se ee
under mandible. Cheeks ferruginous, each feather with a black terminal drop. | o : a ae
feathers pale brown, with broad pure-white or fulvous-white centres. Under Pa ae ba : s ie

: ar letely concealing the short tail, and being of an
yellow. Plumage on the rump loose, soft, and dense, completely z beown. inOst autenReonttle
Wings, when closed, dark chocolate- rown, : oe
tipped with almost pure white, so also the inne! ae ; :
Legs pale horn-brown. _ Bill from nostri ‘ef inch,

almost uniform ferruginous brown colour.
secondaries. Most of wing-coverts distinctly
Rectrices chocolate-brown. | Mandibles dark brown.
wing 2°15, tarsus °79, tail 1:15.”
The Plate, which represents two
Colonel Godwin-Austen. rR. B. S.J

cI nt me D
birds of the natural size, 1s drawn from a specimen kindly lent y