GARRULAX. GALBANUS, Godwms-Austai/.
GARRULAX GALBANUS, Godwin-Austen.
Black-chinned Garrulax.
Garrulax galbanus, Godwin-Austen, P. Z. S., 1874, p. 44, pi. x.
T h i s species is intimately allied to Garrulax gularis, figured by me in the present work; the general style
o f colouring is the same, and these two yellow-breasted species stand out conspicuously as regards the latter
character from the other members of the gerius. The present bird is the smaller of the two, and differs in
its black chin and white-tipped tail-feathers, to say nothing of the white under tail-coverts, grey forehead,
and other minor characters. One would wish that such tangible differences as these would occur more
frequently in this genus.
I t will be noticed that this is yet another o f the discoveries of Major Godwin-Austen, whose courtesy in
lending me so many of his novelties I have great pleasure in acknowledging. He gives the following
account o f the species:—
“ I.first obtained this very handsome bird in the Munipur valley, under the Koupru range, in February
1873. I t associates in large flocks of from fifty to eighty or more, very noisy, following each other in a long
string through the high grass, which they seem to frequent and prefer to the denser forest. When on the
flio-ht their white tail-feathers and under tail-coverts make them very conspicuous. I observed it also on
the headwaters of the Barak and other streams that flow into the Munipur valley on the north-east.”
I append also the original description by this gentleman.
“ Above pale pure olivaceous on the head, with a brown tinge on the b ack; tail pale ashy brown, the
four central feathers tipped umber-brown and barred, the four outer of the same colour in middle and
broadly tipped with white; wing concolorous with back ; quills pale umber-brown, edged grey. Very
narrow frontal band; base of lower mandible, lores through eyes and ear-coverts rich black; beneath
dull yellow, purer on the throat, passing into olivaceous on the flanks; under tail-coverts white.
“ Bill black; legs ash-grey; irides red-brown.
“ Length 9 inches, wing 3 ‘65, tail 4*1, tarsus 1'35, bill at front 0'8 .”
The figures are of the natural size, and are taken from the specimen lent me by Major Godwin-Austen.