A LIST OF BIRDS FOUND IN THE SIMLA RILLS. 608 



38. The White-throated Tit — Mgithaliscus niveigularis, Gould, 



A specimen I obtained on 4th June 1937 was identified by 

 Mr. N. B. Kinnear as pertaining to this species. 

 42. The Yellow-cheeked Tit — MachldopMis xanthogenys, Vigors. 



Common up to 7,000 ft. Wonderfully capricious in its choice 



of habitat. In a large forest I knotv, which in every respect 



appears suitable to its economy, it is entirely absent. Breeds 



April to June and is, I think, double brooded. Eggs usually 



' four in number. 



44. The Crested Black Tit— LophopJianes mekmolophus, Vigors. 



Common from about 6,000 ft. upwards. Pine and Fir forests 

 are its principal habitat. Breeds end of March to June. 

 47, The Simla Black Tit — LophopJianes rufinuchulis, Blyth. 



Only observed beyond Narkanda from 9,000 ft. upwards where 

 it was apparently not uncommon. 



49. The Brown Crested Tit — LophopJmnes dichrous, Hodgs. 



I found this peculiar little bird fairly common in the Pine 

 forest between Narkanda and Baghi. Elevation 10,000 ft. 

 76. The White-throated Laughing-Thrush— (?armZaa;aZ6ig'MZam, Gould. 

 Not uncommon, but local. Breeds from 6,500 ft. to 7,500 ft. 

 in April and May. 

 82. The Red-headed Laughing-Thrush^TrocMo^^erMm eryihroce- 

 phalum. Vigors. 



Widely distributed in the cold weather. Never found far 

 from dense cover. Nests up to 8,500 ft. and probably higher. 

 May, June and July. Eggs two, rarely three. 

 90, The Eastern Variegated Laughing-Thrush — Trochalopterum va- 

 riegatum, Vigors. 

 Another species which wanders considerably in winter but 

 its nesting haunts are above 7,600 ft. up to at least 8,800 ft. 

 Eggs appear to be invariably three but, of course, may rarely 

 be more or less in number. A noisy bird. 

 99. The Himalayan Streaked Laughing-Thrush — Trochalopterum 

 lineatum, Vigors. 



As Hume remarks "one of the commonest birds about Simla." 

 Lays from end of March to August. Eggs usually 3 or 4. 

 Frequently victimised by Coccyses jacobinus, 

 101. The Striated Laughing-Thrush — Grammotoptila striata. Vigors. 



Usually seen only in pairs. Mostly observed between 7,000 

 and 8,800 ft. A female shot June 11th would have laid in a 

 few days. 

 105. The Common Babbler — Argya caudata, Dumeril. 



Dodsworth observed this species at 3,000 ft. in the cold 

 weather near Kalka. 

 110. The Jungle Babbler — Grateropus canorus, Linn. 



Common about cultivation up to 5,000 ft. The Pied Crested 

 Cuckoo often places her eggs in the nest of this species. 

 129. The Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler — Pomatorhinus erythrogenys. 

 Vigors. 



Not uncommon about the outskirts of forests where there is 

 abundance of undergrowth. An early breeder. All nests 

 found in April, though Dodsworth found one containing young 

 in June. Breeds up to 7,000 ft. at least. 

 174. The Red-billed Babbler — Stachyrhidopsis pyrrhops, Hodgson, 



Another lover of dense undergrowth. Ascends to 7,000 ft. 

 Young out of nest 23rd April. Not uncommon. 

 36 



