70 TURDID.E. 



nest, which contained five fresh eggs of a dull cream-colour, with 

 a broad zone of the same colour, but darker near the thicker end." 

 Colonel J. Biddulph informs us that in Gilgit this species is " a 

 summer visitor. It appears in April and breeds at about 10,000 

 feet." 



059. Notodela leuciira (Hodgs.). The White-tailed Blue Robin. 



Myiomela leucura (Hodgs.}, Jcrd. B. 2nd. ii, p. 118. 



Notodela leucura (ZfodV/s.), Hume, Rough Draft N. fy E. no. 477. 



The White-tailed Blue llobin, according to Mr. Hodgson's 

 notes, breeds in the central regions of Nepal, amongst brushwood 

 or low jungle, during the months of April and May. The nest is 

 generally placed on some ledge of rock, more or less sheltered by 

 grass or bushes, and is a deep massive cup composed of mosses 

 and moss-roots. Four eggs are said to be laid, and these are 

 figured as moderately broad ovals much pointed towards one end, 

 measuring 0*9 by 0-65 inch, and of a uniform mottled or curdled 

 pinkish-clay colour. 



Dr. Jerdon tells us that at Darjeeling the Lepchas brought him 

 a nest and eggs, alleged to belong to this bird, exactly resembling 

 those of Niltava sundara. 



I have never taken the nest myself, but I have little doubt that 

 the Lepchas were correct. A nest of this species, containing two 

 fresh eggs, was taken by Mr. Gammie at Rishap, near Darjeeling, 

 at an elevation of about 4000 feet, on the 1 4th May. It is a large 

 somewhat shallow cup, about 5 inches in external diameter and 

 2 inches in height, composed externally chiefly of dead leaves and 

 dry grass, but internally of the finest possible moss-roots compactly 

 fitted together. A good deal of green moss is incorporated in the 

 body of the nest, and shows out here and there amongst the dead 

 leaves with which it is almost entirely coated. 



From Sikhim Mr. Gammie now writes : " Tw^o nests of the 

 White-tailed Blue Robin, taken in May at 5000 feet elevation, 

 \vere placed in the face of banks, among scrub near large forest. 

 They were both hooded, with lateral entrance, and each contained 

 three set eggs. They were composed of fine roots intermixed with 

 a few leaves, and a few pieces of green moss were stuck here and 

 there on the outside to aid in concealment. Externally they mea- 

 sured 5^ inches wide and the same deep ; the egg-cavity is 2-5 

 inches wide by 1 deep, with an entrance of 2 - 2o diameter. 



" I got two nests of Notodela leucura, both globular, with en- 

 trance at side, but the eggs are identical with those I sent you 

 before. Many birds, I find, which naturally build a covered-in 

 nest (hooded) do not trouble to make the hood part, if the situation 

 is w r ell sheltered by a closely overhanging rock, where the hood 

 would be a superfluous part of the nest." 



Numerous nests of this species sent me from Sikhim show that 

 the nest is always a compact, more or less deep cup, more or less 



