GRAMMATOPTILA, 185 
Nidification. The Striated Laughing-Thrush breeds throughout 
its range at heights varying between 3,500 and 7,000 feet, but is 
not often found nesting below 4,500 feet. The nest is a large, rather 
deep cup, about 9 to 10 inches in diameter by some 4 to 5 deep 
and is composed largely of moss with grass, leaves, roots and 
tendrils mixed and a compact lining of roots. It is generally 
placed some 6 to 12 feet up in small saplings and other trees. 
The eggs are almost invariably two in number and are long ovals 
of pale blue, in nearly every case spotless, but rarely with a 
few tiny specks of blackish or reddish. They average about 
33°8 x 23°2 mm. 
This is a very favourite fosterer for the Red-winged Cuckoo 
(C. coromandus). The breeding season lasts from April to July. 
Habits. This bird is a true Laughing-Thrush in its habits but is 
more arboreal than most, frequenting both bush and the lower 
trees alike. It is found in pairs and small parties and is very 
loquacious, some of its notes being hkened by Jerdon to those of 
a hen which has laid an egg. It feeds on insects and fruit and 
seeds, the latter to a greater extent than most of the family. 
(178) Grammatoptila striata austeni. 
AuSstTrEN’s SrriarTeD LAvuaGHinG-THRUSH. 
Grammatoptila austent Oates, Avifauna B, [., 1, p. 104 (1889) 
(Dafla Hills). 
Vernacular names, Daopa (Cachari). 
Description. Differs from the preceding bird in having two 
broad dark coronal bands meeting on the nape; no shaft-stripes 
on the crown, and those elsewhere narrower but better defined. 
Colours of soft parts. Iris red-brown to dark red; legs and 
feet pale slaty-grey, soles yellowish; bill dark slaty-brown or 
*‘bluish-horny ” (Stevens). 
Measurements as in G. striata striata. 
Distribution. Hills south of the Brahmaputra as far east as 
Margherita. Stevens procured this form on the eastern water- 
shed of the Sabansiri River, and Falkiner and Kemp both procured 
it on the Mishmi Expedition, so that it appears to work round the 
head-waters of the Brahmaputra, Dibong and Dihong as far 
west as this river. 
Nidification. I found this bird breeding freely above 4,500 feet in 
the IChasia Hills and more rarely so in the N.Cachar Hills. Nest 
and eggs like those of the last bird, but I have never seen any 
egg marked at all. Twenty eggs average about 31°5 x 23°5 mm. 
Habits. Frequents pine-woods as well as other forest, provided 
there is any undergrowth; otherwise its habits are like those of 
G. s. striata, 
