CALLIOPE. TABSIGER. 67 



greater fineness of texture and glossiness of surface help to separate, 

 them. Abnormal as they may appear for a bird hitherto classed 

 as a Redstart, such are truly the eggs of the present species. I 

 may add that the colouring of these eggs somewhat recalls that of 

 those of the sub-Alpine and Sardinian "Warblers as figured by 

 Mr. Bree. In some eggs the markings are much redder, and 

 these eggs of course approach nearer to those of the Common 

 Robin. They are, however, always browner, more dingy, and 

 smaller than the eggs of this latter bird. The markings have a 

 strong tendency to become confluent at the large end, where they 

 are always most dense, and often exhibit a strongly marked but 

 mottled and irregular cap. The eggs vary from 0-7 to O8 in 

 length, and from O56 to 0-64 in breadth ; but the average of 

 eighteen eggs is 0*76 nearly by O6. 



651. Calliope pectoralis, Gould. The Himalayan Riiby-Throat. 



Calliope pectoralis, Gould, Jerd. B. Ind. ii, p. 150 ; Hume, Rough 

 Draft N. 8f E. 110. 513. 



Of the nidification of the Himalayan Ruby-Throat nothing very 

 authentic is known. A nes%, said to belong to this species, was 

 sent me from Native Sikhim, where it was found in June in a deep 

 crevice in a rock, at an elevation of about 12,000 feet. The nest 

 is only a warm saucer-shaped pad of very fine moss and fern-roots 

 closely felted together. 



The eggs, of which it contained two, are regular ovals, slightly 

 compressed towards the small end. The shell is fine, but exhibits 

 scarcely any gloss. In colour the eggs are a uniform pale salmon- 

 buff. 



As these were brought in by native collectors, much reliance 

 cannot be placed on them. At the same time all the eggs brought 

 in by the same men with which we were previously acquainted 

 were correct, and it is quite as likely as not that these may be so 

 also, though Pallas says that those of the nearly-allied C. camts- 

 cJiatkensis are greenish. 



The eggs measure 0*9 and 0'91 in length, and 0-67 and 0'66 in 

 breadth respectively. 



Mr. Brooks remarks : " Found beyond the Pir Panjal Pass, 

 frequenting large beds of broken rock on the grassy hill-sides 

 where they breed. The song is pretty and Accentor-like" 



Colonel J. Biddulph writes from Gilgit : First seen on May 1, 

 by which time it was in full breeding-plumage. It breeds at 

 10,000 feet. Evidently two broods are produced in the year." 



653. Tarsiger chrysaens, Hodgs. The Golden Wood-Chat. 



Tarsiger chrysseus, Hodgs., Jerd. B. Ind. ii, p. 149 ; Hume, Rough 

 Draft N. 8f E. no. 511. 



The Golden Wood-Chat, according to Mr. Hodgson's notes, 

 breeds in the central regions of the mountains of Nepal, and is 



5* 



