98 TURDID^E. 



Colonel Gr. F. L. Marshall sends me from Nynee Tal the follow- 

 ing interesting note : 



" On the 22nd May I found a nest of this species at an elevation 

 of about 5000 feet above the sea. The nest, which contained four 

 hard-set eggs, was placed about 5 feet from the ground on a stump 

 of a bough that had been cut off, and between the twigs that had 

 sprouted round it. The bush was in a thicket in one of the khuds 

 close to running water. It was a compact cup-shaped structure, 

 very similar to that of M. unicolor, built of moss and dead leaves 

 and a little mud cemented together, and lined with roots. The 

 egg-cavity was 3 inches broad by 2 inches deep. The marks on 

 the eggs were not unlike in character to those on the eggs of 

 Lanius lahtora." 



The only egg I have yet seen of this species I also owe to 

 Colonel Marshall. It is a very regular, somewhat elongated oval, 

 only very slightly compressed towards the small end. The shell 

 is line, but glossless. The ground-colour very pale sea-green, 

 blotched, spotted, and streaked, most densely at the large end 

 (where also a number of small pale purple clouds and spots seem 

 to underlie the primary markings), with a moderately bright, 

 somewhat brownish red. 



This egg measures I'Ol by 0'74 inch. 



Two eggs subsequently obtained measured 0'99 and 0'95 inch in 

 length by 0'72 and 0'70 inch respectively in breadth. 



685. Geocichla eyanonotus (Jard. & S.). The White- throated 

 Ground- Thrush . 



Geocichla cyanotus (J. fy S.), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 517 ; Hume, Rough 

 Draft N. $ E. no. 354. 



Of the White-throated Ground-Thrush Dr. Jerdon states that 

 " Mr. Ward procured the nest in North Canara, made of roots and 

 grass, placed at no great height from the ground ; and the eggs, 

 three in number, were pale bluish, speckled with brown." 



Mr. Gr. W. Vidal writes : " This species is plentiful about 

 Dapuli in the Southern Konkan. It breeds in the gardens about 

 the station in June, July, and August. I have not myself taken 

 the eggs of this species, but Mr. A. Jardine of Dapuli. who knows 

 the birds well, and who at once recognized specimens in my col- 

 lection, has taken a great many nests and has given me several 

 eggs. He writes : ' The nest is made of roots, twigs, and grass, 

 with a good deal of mud. The egg-cavity is about five and a half 

 inches in diameter, and from two to three inches deep. The nest is 

 generally placed in the fork of a tree low down. The highest I 

 ever saw w r as about fifteen feet from the ground in a kinjal tree, 

 but they are mostly found in mango trees. When the Thrushes 

 have young they will not let any one go near the nest, but come 

 flying at you, and peck like fun.' The eggs vary greatly in colour 

 and markings, presenting two or three very distinct types." 



