92 TTJRDID^. 



Internally they measure from 3| to 3| inches diameter by 2 deep, 

 neatly lined with fine grass-stems, roots, &c. ; the lining of one 

 nest consisted entirely of the spines of casuarina." 



Colonel E. A. Butler writes from Aboo : " It breeds at Aboo in 

 the rains, commencing nidification towards the end of the hot 

 weather, but I was never fortunate enough to find a nest." 



Mr. C. J. W. Taylor, writing from Manzeerabad, Mysore, says : 

 " Common all over the district. Eggs taken on the 25th May." 



The eggs of this species are, typically, moderately broad, very 

 regular ovals, but short broad, more or less pyriform varieties, and, 

 again, considerably elongated oval ones occur. The eggs are always 

 fairly glossy, and some have a fine gloss. The ground-colour 

 varies from greenish white to a delicate pale sea-green, the mark- 

 ings, usually most dense about one or other end, where they often 

 form a more or less regular cap or zone, are a rich brownish red 

 and pale purple, and consist of specks, spots, blotches, and streaks, 

 becoming sometimes quite confluent at one end of the egg, to 

 which in some eggs they are almost entirely confined, while in 

 others, with the exception of a slight tendency to conglomerate 

 round the large end, they are pretty evenly distributed over the 

 entire surface. 



The eggs vary from 1-02 to 1-17 in length, and from 0*78 to 0-88 

 in breadth ; but the average of 15 eggs is 1'08 by O82. 



672. Merula albicincta (Eoyle). The White-collared Ouzel. 



Merula albocincta (Royle), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 526 ; Hume, Cat. 

 no. 362. 



Colonel G. E. L. Marshall informs us that " near Nairn Tal 

 this Ouzel is only found on the top of Cheena 8000 feet above the 

 sea, and is rather an early breeder. I found the young just fledged 

 in the beginning of June, but was too late for eggs. Neither of 

 the parent birds that were with the young ones were in the 

 casfowea-plumage, both had the neck distinctly ringed." 



Two eggs of this species which, together with one of the parent 

 birds, were brought from Native Sikhim about the end of June, are 

 regular ovals, a little compressed towards the small end, and 

 slightly glossy ; the ground-colour is greyish white, and the eggs 

 are spotted and speckled all over, more densely towards the broad 

 end, with reddish brown and brownish red, and a number of 

 underlying markings of purplish grey ; they measure 1-23 by 0'87 

 and 1-22 by 0-85. 



673. Merula castanea, Gould. The Grey-headed Ouzel 



Merula castanea, Gould, Jerd. B. Ind. \, p. 526 ; Hume, Rough Draft 

 N. $ E. no. 363. 



Very little is known of the breeding of the Grey-headed Ouzel. 

 A nest containing five eggs was taken on the 20th April near 

 Kotegurh, and Colonel C. H. T. Marshall took a nest at Murree. 



