OBEOCTNCLA. 153 



and thence clown to the central parts of Tenasseriin. This Thrush 

 is also found in the plains of India, where it has been recorded 

 from the North- West Provinces, Behar, Bengal, Chutia Nagpur, 

 Orissa, and Central India, extending, according to Jerdon, as far 

 south as the Wynaad. 



It is doubtful to what extent this Thrush is migratory. It breeds 

 throughout the Himalayas, and also occurs in those mountains in 

 winter, and it is found throughout the year in the Dhoon. From 

 the plains of India and from Assam to Tenasserim I have seen no 

 specimens that were killed in the summer months ; but this is not 

 improbably due to the inactivity of collectors during the latter 

 part of the hot season and during the rains. On the whole I am 

 inclined to think that this bird is resident on all the hill-ranges 

 within its area of distribution, and merely descends to the adjoining 

 plains in the winter. 



Habits, 6fc. Breeds in the Himalayas in May and June up to 

 7000 feet at least. The nest is a ciip, constructed of moss and 

 lined with fern-leaves, placed in a tree. The eggs, probably three 

 in number as a rule, are greenish white, marked with brownish 

 and reddish purple, and measure about 1*23 by "91.* 



699. Oreocincla nilgiriensis. The Nilgiri Thrush. 



Oreocincla nilgiriensis, Blyth, J. A. 8. B. xvi, p. 141 (1847) ; id. 



Cat. p. 160; Jerd. B. I. i, p. 534; Hume, S. F. iv, p. 399; id. 



Cat. no. 372 ; Davison, 8. F. x, p. 374 ; Terry, 8. F. x, p. 474 ; 



Oatcs in Humes N. $ E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 107. 

 Geocichla nilgiriensis (Blyth), Seebohm, Cat. B. M. v, p. 157. 



Coloration. Resembles 0. dauma in general appearance, but has 

 the wing shorter and more rounded, the third, fourth, and fifth 

 quills being about equal and longest, the second rather shorter than 

 the sixth ; has a much larger bill, resembling that of Zoothera ; 

 has the upper plumage more rufous, with the subterminal pale 

 patches hardly indicated, and the lower plumage less tinged with 

 fulvous and whiter throughout. 



Legs, feet, and claws dark fleshy ; iris dark brown : upper man- 

 dible blackish ; lower mandible brown, palest at base ; gape yellow 

 (Davison). 



* 698 a. Oreocincla varia. Whites Thrush. 



Turdus varius, Pall. Zoogr. Eosso-As. i. p. 419 (1811). 

 Geocichla varia, Seebohm, Cat. B. M. v. p. 151. 



So similar to O. dauma as to require no separate description, but much larger 

 and with 14 tail-feathers. 



Iris brown ; upper mandible brown, lower pale ; legs whitish brown ( Wardlaw 

 Ramsay). 



Length about 12; tail 4-5 ; wing 6'4 ; tarsus 1"35 ; bill from gape 15. 



Distribution. South-eastern Siberia and North China in summer ; South 

 Japan, South China, and the Philippine Islands in winter. A male specimen 

 was procured by Wardlaw Eamsay at Toungngoo on January 11th, 1876. 



