THE BIRDS OF TRAVANCORE. 261 



Case constructing a rather loosely put together nest of roots and coarse 

 fibre with a little green moss intermixed. The female lays two to 

 four eggs in April, and both birds assist in the incubation/' 



Mr. T. F. Bourdillon writes :■— " The Malabar whistling thrush builds 

 a firm compact nest exactly resembling an English black-bird's or 

 thrush's nest, and chooses a site always close to water. I have found 

 many nests and this is the invariable rule. Sometimes it is on the 

 ledge of a rock in midstream. Some times year after year the parents 

 return to a crevice in a rook on the river bank, and sometimes a hole in 

 a tree 15 or 20 feet from the ground is chosen. But whether in heavy 

 jungle, or in a coffee clearing, or on a grass hill there is always water 

 to be found close at hand. The breeding season is April and May, and 

 the number of eggs is usually three. The colour is a very pale greenish- 

 white with light green and red spots sprinkled all over it, especially at 

 the larger end where they generally run together and form a cap. 

 The ground colour recalls that of one type of the English jay's eggs. 



The average size is 0*95 X 1'25." 



(22) Larvivora brunnea. — The Indian Blue Chat. 

 Oates, No. 191 ; Jerdo?i 1 No. 507. 



The Blue Chat is only a visitor to South Travancore where it may 

 often be seen feeding on the paths in open forest on the hills from about 

 1,000 feet elevation. It is a shy and silent bird and does not now 

 appear to be as common a3 it was some years ago. 



On the high range I have obtained it as late as May ; it may there- 

 fore possibly be a permanent resident as it is on the Nilgiris. 

 (23) Brachyptbryx albiyentris. — The White-bellied Short-wing. 



Oates, No. 193. 



This is a very shy bird and has to be looked for as it frequents 

 dense undergrowth in the forests at elevations over 3,000 feet. Oates 

 says it is found from 1,000 feet upwards, but I have never seen it as 

 low as this. Towards dusk it may often be met with feeding on 

 the ground at the side of a road. Most of my specimens have been thus 

 obtained. It is not confined to South Travancore, but is found 

 throughout the whole rauge. 



Sub-family Sibiince. 

 (24) Zosterops palpebrosa. — Tho Indian White-eye. 

 Oates, No. 226 ; Jerdon, No. 631. 



This is one of the commonest birds on the hills from 1,000 feet 

 upwards, but more especially so at high elevations. I have never 



