122 CIIATEEOPODID^. 



between the ledges of some rock, often immediately OA'erhanging 

 some deep gloomy pool." 



"On the 16th June," observes Captain Hutton, writing from 

 Mussoorie, " I took two nests of this bird, each containing three 

 eggs, and also another nest, containing three nearly-fledged young 

 ojies. The nest bears a strong resemblance to that of the GeociMa', 

 but is nuich more solid, being composed of a thick bed of green moss 

 externally, lined first with long black fibrous lichens and then with 

 fine roots. Externally the nest is 3| inches deep, but within only 

 2^ inches ; the diameter about 4| inches, and the thickness of the 

 outer or exposed side is 2 inches. The eggs are three in number, 

 of a greenish-ashy colour, freckled v\ith minute roseate specks, 

 whicli become confluent and form a patch at the larger end. The 

 elevation at w hich the nests were found was from 4000 to 4500 

 feet ; but the bird is common, except during the breeding-season, 

 at all elevations up to the snows, and in the winter it extends its 

 range doun into the Doon. In the breeding-season it is found 

 chiefly in the glens, in the retired depths of which it constructs its 

 nest ; it never, like the Thrushes and GcocicMo', builds in trees or 

 bushes, but selects some high, towering, and almost inacessible 

 rock, forming the side of a deep glen, on the projecting ledges of 

 which, or in the holes I'roni \\ hich small boulders have fallen, it 

 constructs its nest, and w hei-e, unless when assailed by man, it 

 rears its young in safety, secure alike from the howling blast and 

 the attack of wild animals. It is known to the natives by the 

 name of ' Kaljet,' and to the Europeans as the 'Hill Blackbird.' 

 The situation in which the nest is placed is quite unlike that of 

 any other of our Hill-Thrushes with which I am acquainted. The 

 bird itself is as often found in open roclyv spots on the skirts of 

 the forest as an)ong the woods, loving to jump upon some stone or 

 rocky pinnacle, from which it sends forth a sort of choking, chat- 

 tering song, if such it can be called, or, with an up-jerk of the tail, 

 hops away \\ith a loud musical whistle, very much after the manner 

 of the Blackbird (M. vahjaris)." 



Sir E. C. Buck says : — " I found a nest at Huttoo, near Nar- 

 khunda, date 27th June, 1869, on an almost inaccessible crag over- 

 hanging a torrent. It contained three eggs, but two were broken 

 by stones falling in climbing down to the nest. Nest not brought 

 up ; one egg secured and forw arded. I saw the bird well, and 

 have no doubt as to its identity." 



Writing from Uhurmsalla, Captain Cock informed me that lie 

 had obtained several nests in May in and about the neighbouring 

 streams, up to an elevation of some 5000 feet. From Murree, 

 Colonel C. H. T. Marshall remarks : — " Several nests found in 

 June, near running streams, about 4000 feet up." 



Dr. Stoliczka tells us that " it breeds at Chini and Sungnum at 

 an elevation of between 9000 and 11,000 feet." 



The eggs are typically of a very long oval shape, much pointed 

 at one end, but more or less truncated varieties (if I may use tlie 

 word) occur. They are the largest of our Indian Thrushes' eggs, 



