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GAMMÜLAX: BELE S SERTI 9 Jerd
GARRULAX DELESSERTI , je rd .
Delessert’s Garralax.
Crateropus Delesserti, Jerd. Madras Journ. o f Lit. and Sci., vol. x. p. 256.—Id. Ind. Om., pl. xiii.
— griseiceps, Deless. Rev. Zool. 1840, p. 101.—Id. Souv. d’un Voy. dans l’Inde, tom. i. pt. ii. p. 29.
Garrulax Delesserti, Jerd. Birds of India, vol. ii. part i. p. 37.
L i k e the Garrulax gularis, this species is rarely to be found in the museums o f Europe— a circumstance
somewhat surprising, since it inhabits a country which has long been known to Europeans and from which
numerous collections have from time to time been sent. It appears to evince a preference for hills o f
moderate elevation to living in the neighbouring dense forests, and, like the Pomatorhini, moves about in
small troops, composed probably o f the brood o f the year and their parents. I believe that it is more shy
and retiring than the members o f the genus Pomatorhinus, whose habit it is to show themselves in the more
open glades o f the forest, and to attract attention by their peculiar actions. Its food doubtless consists o f
worms, insects, and probably o f animals o f a higher order. Neither Mr. Jerdon nor Viscount Walden, who
shot it on the Coonoor Ghaut o f the Neilgherries, have given us any account o f its habits.
In his * Birds o f India ’ Mr. Jerdon sa y s:— “ T his is a somewhat rare bird. I first saw it in the possession
o f M. Delessert, who g o t it in the slopes o f the Neilgherries ; and I afterwards procured it in the same
locality at an elevation o f about 3 0 0 0 feet. I also saw it several times in the Wynaad, associating in large
flocks, wandering about the underwood and bamboos, and occasionally uttering a chorus o f peculiar, but
clear, chattering notes.”
I suspect that the sexes are very similar in plumage; but even this has not been sta t ed ; and it is much
to be regretted that so little has been recorded respecting the bird, its habits, and economy.
Head and nape dark greyish brown, inclining to black; upper surface generally dark reddish brown,
becoming brighter or more rufous on the rump and upper tail-coverts, and darker on the primaries and
secondaries; tail very dark or blackish brown ; chin, throat, neck, and breast white, gradually blending into
the grey o f the upper part o f the abdomen and flanks; lower part o f the abdomen, vent, thighs, and under
tail-coverts deep rusty r e d ; upper mandible dark brown; under mandible y e llow ; irides dull r e d ; legs
flesh-colour.
The figures are o f the natural s iz e ; the plant is the Sphcerostema propinqmm.