PETKOnilLA. 103 



and 2-25 in height, while the cavity was 3*5 inches in diameter and 

 1*5 inch in depth. They lay four somewhat biilf-coloured eggs ; 

 one measured about I'l by O'To inch. They breed only once a 

 year." 



Colonel Gr. V. L. Marshall writes : — "This bird is very common 

 at Naiui Tal, and I have often watched it feeding its young, but 

 never till this year have I been up early enough in the season to 

 tind the nest. Ou the 29th April I observed a male bird with a 

 large grub iu bis mouth. 1 watched him with binoculars, and after 

 a few feints he dived suddenly into the bank overhanging the road, 

 about 70 yards off on the other side of the valley, emerging shortly 

 afterwards empty-beaked. In a few minutes the female appeared, 

 also with a grub in her mouth, but instead of going to the nest she 

 watched me anxiously for a few moments, then notwithstanding 

 the long distance I was away, fear got the better of her and 

 she flew off in the opposite direction. The nest contained four 

 half-fledged young; it was iu a sort of cleft in the bank, about 

 seven feet above the road ; the bottom of the cleft projected 

 beyond the top of it, or rather the top receded ; the nest was 

 invisible from below. The nest was not large, neatly made of 

 moss and lined with a little fine grass and a few roots. It was 

 just far enough into the cleft to be protected from rain. In the 

 course of the next few days I found three other nests all with 

 the young just fledged. My experience as to the time of breeding 

 accords with Mr. Hodgson's, and making allowance for the later 

 summer in the western. Himalayas, it accords \\ith that of Mr. 

 Hume and Captain Cock. 1 think Mr. Thompson must have made 

 a mistake on this point, more especially as he gives no details, but 

 confines himself to general remarks." 



091. Petropliila cinclorhyncha (Vigors). The Bhte-l leaded 

 lioclc-Thrush. 



Orocetes cinclorbyiichu.s (Vi(/.), Jercl. B. Ind. i, p. 515. 

 Petropliila ciuclorbyuchus {Viy.), Humc^ Rough Draft ^. Sf E. 

 no. 353. 



The Blue-headed Eock-Thrush breeds throughout the Hima- 

 layas from Darjeeling to Murree, at elevations of from 4(>00 to 

 about 8000 feet. It lays during the last week iu April, May, and 

 part of June. The nest is placed at the roots of trees, in holes in 

 banks, and at the base of trees, or in hollows in banks overhung by 

 tufts of grass or weeds. The nest is a rather shallow cup, neatly 

 made of moss, grass, fir-needles, and dead leaves, and lined with 

 fine roots or a little hair, the materials varying according to the 

 taste of the individual bird or perhaps according to locality. It 

 measures externally from 4 to 5 inches in diameter and 2k to 3 

 inches in height, and has a neat, nearly hemispherical cavity, some 

 3 inches wide by I'o in depth. The eggs are four in number. 



AVriting from Murree, Colonel C. H. T. Marshall says: — "Builds 

 in banks under roots or tufts of grass a neat cup-shaped nest. 



