160 TIMALIID^. 



Distribution. From Kumaon westwards through Kashmir and 

 the N.W. Himalayas. 



Nidification. Breeds in Garhwal and the Simla Hills in May 

 and June between 6,000 and 8,000 feet elevation. Nest and eggs 

 are like those of the Sikkim bird, but the former are made more 

 of twigs, and tendrils are not so invariably or plentifully used. 

 Six eggs average 26-3 x 18-7 mm. 



Habits. Like those of the other subspecies. Hutton found in 

 the stomach of a bird he examined " sand, seeds and the remains 

 of wasps." 



(146) lanthocincla austeni austeni. 

 THE CACHAE LAUGHING-THEUSH. 



Trochalopteron austeni Godw.-Aust., J. A. S. B., xxxix, ii, p. 105 



(1870) (Hengdang Peak, N. Cachar Hills). 

 lanthocincla austeni. Blanf. & Gates, i, p. 87. 



Vernacular names. Dao-gajao-i-ba (Cachari). 



Description. Forehead, crown, nape, hind neck and sides, and 

 the whole neck reddish brown with pale streaks ; rump paler, 

 without pale shafts ; upper tail-coverts and middle pair of tail- 

 feathers rufous ; other feathers black with white tips and with the 

 bases suffused with rufous on the outer webs ; wing-coverts and 

 inner secondaries reddish brown, the latter and the longer coverts 

 tipped with white and with subterminal dusky marks ; outer webs 

 of the earlier primaries grey, those of the other quills reddish 

 brown; lores dusky; ear-coverts dark rufous-brown with pale 

 shafts ; chin, throat and breast rufous-brown, indistinctly barred 

 with dusky and whitish; remainder of lower plumage rufous- 

 brown, with broad and distinct white bars preceded by a dusky 

 line; under tail-coverts narrowly tipped with white. 



Colours of soft parts. Iris brown or lake-brown; bill dark horny, 

 blackish at the tip, paler on lower mandible ; legs dull fleshy- or 

 livid-brown. 



Measurements. Total length about 250mm.; wing 100 to 

 105 mm. ; tail about 120 mm. ; tarsus about 35mm.; culmen 

 20 mm. 



Distribution. Khasia, Cachar and Naga Hills. Hengdang Peak 

 is on the watershed between the Cachar Hills and Manipur, and 

 doubtless it will be found also in the higher hills of the latter 

 state. 



Nidification. This rare Laughing-Thrush breeds throughout its 

 range between 4,000 and 8,000 feet, principally about 6,000 feet, 

 but it is not very uncommon on the higher hills about Cherrapunji 

 in the breeding season at little over 4,000 feet. It breeds in the 

 end of April and May, and possibly sometimes has a second laying 

 as I have a nest taken in August with fresh eggs. The nest is 



