24 HABITS AND HAUNTS OF BIRDS 
confined to the eastern Himalayas, and their nidification is un- 
known. They occur at low elevations and frequent brushwood. Of one 
kind, the white-winged shrike thrush (7. picatws), only one specimen has 
ever been procured. 
Tit babblers, (Pyctorhis, Trichastoma).—Only one of these, the 
yellow-eyed babbler (P. sinensis) is common. The other species are only 
found in north-east India. They frequent low jungle and brushwood, and 
are not migratory, breeding wherever they are found. The egg of the 
only species of which the breeding is known is beautifully marked with 
spots, clouds, and streaks. 
Quaker thrushes,  (Alcippe).—Are small birds frequenting 
dense forests and chiefly hilly countries. They are not migratory nor 
gregarious to any extent. The eggs are profusely spotted, and some- 
times lined or blotched. 
Wren babblers, (Stachyris, Mizornis, Timalia, Dumetia, 
Pellorneum).—Ave a Malayan family, and the greater number of the species 
are confined to the north-east corner of India. The genus Stachyris 
is confined to the Himalayas, and is a strictly arboreal genus. All the 
others frequent brushwood and low thick jungle, and are generally grega- 
rious. Mizornis and Timalia are eastern Himalayan forms. Dumetia 
is found in all India, but not very common anywhere. Pedlornewm has 
an equally wide distribution, but is more common in hilly than level 
countries. They do not migrate. They build on or near the ground 
in brushwood. The eggs of some are pure white, of others more or 
less thickly speckled, and in one case, that of the rufous-bellied wren 
babbler (D. hyperythra), the eggs are streaked as well as spotted. 
Scimitar babblers, (Pomatorhinus, Xiphoramphus.)—This 
is purely a hill genus. They are found at low elevations haunting under 
wood in open forest country. They do not migrate. One species is 
found in the Nilgiris. All the others are confined to the Himalayas and 
hill ranges of north-east India. They build on or very near the 
ground making a domed nest and laying very fragile elongated eggs. 
These are always, as far as is known, pure white, unspotted. 
Laughing thrushes, (Garrulax, Trochalopteron.)—A group 
of richly-colovred, noisy, and generally gregarious birds which do 
not migrate and are confined to hilly countries. The nests are solitary, 
but the birds even in the breeding season keep usually in small parties. 
They are never found far from forests and love densely wooded tracts. 
