58 CKATEROPODID^E. 



to conceal completely the rest of the materials of the nest, and in all 

 the nine nests before me the extent to which the moss is used varies. 

 The eggs of this species are typically somewhat elongated ovals, 

 some are much pointed towards the small end, others are somewhat 

 pyriform, and others again are subcylindrical. The shell is fine 

 and soft, but has only a moderate amount of gloss. The ground- 

 colour, which varies very little in shade, is a delicate pale, slightly 

 greenish blue, almost precisely the same colour as that of TrocJia- 

 lopterum erythrocephalum. The eggs are sparingly (in fact, almost 

 exclusively about the large end) marked with deep chocolate. 

 These markings are in some spots and blotches, but in many assume 

 the form of thicker or thinner hieroglyphic lines. As a rule, three 

 fourths of the egg is spotless, occasionally a single speck or spot 

 occurs towards the small end of the egg. One or two eggs are 

 almost spotless. In length the eggs vary from I'l to 1'23, and in 

 breadth from O73 to 0-87, but the average of sixteen eggs is 

 1-17 nearly by 0'82. 



87. Trochalopterum phoeniceum (Gould). The Crimson-winged 

 Laughing- Thrush. 



Trochalopteron phcenicemn (Gould), Jerd. B. 2nd. ii, p. 48 ; Hume. 

 Rough Draft N. $ E. no. 422. , 



Mr. Grammie says: "I have found altogether seven nests of 

 the Crimson-winged Laughing-Thrush in and about Eishap, at 

 elevations between 4000 and 5000 feet, and on various dates be- 

 tween the 4th and 23rd May. The locality chosen for the nest is 

 in some moist forest amongst dense undergrowth. It is placed in 

 shrubs, at heights of from 6 to 10 feet from the ground, and is 

 generally suspended between several upright stems, to which it is 

 firmly attached by fibres. It is chiefly composed of dry bamboo- 

 leaves and a few twigs, and lined with black fibres and moss-roots. 

 A few strings of moss are twisted round it externally to aid in 

 concealing it. It is a moderately deep cup, measuring externally 

 about 5 inches in diameter and 4 inches in height, and internally 

 3^ inches in width and 2 inches in depth. 



" The eggs are almost always three in number, but occasionally 

 only two. Of the seven nests taken by me, five contained eggs and 

 two young birds." 



The Crimson-winged Laughing-Thrush, according to Mr. Hodg- 

 son's notes, breeds in Sikhim, at elevations of from 3000 to 5000 

 feet, during the months of April, May, and June. The nest is 

 placed in the fork of some thick bush or small tree, where three or 

 four sprays divide, at from 2 to 5 feet above the ground. The 

 nest is a very deep compact cup. One measured in situ was 4*5 inches 

 in diameter and the same in height externally, while the cavity w 7 as 

 3 inches in diameter and 2-25 deep. It was very compact and was 

 composed of dry leaves, creepers, grass-flowers, and vegetable fibres, 

 more or less lined with moss-roots and coated externally with dry 

 bamboo-leaves. They lay, we are told, three or four eggs. 



