108 TTJRDID.^. 



Neilgherries, almost invariably on some low tree, some 6 or 8 feet 

 from the ground. The nest is very like that of Merula simittima, 

 and usually contains three eggs, of a pale greenish-blue colour, 

 minutely speckled with rusty brown. They average in size 1/21 

 inch in length by 0*82 in breadth. This Thrush may usually be 

 seen seated on the topmost branch of some large sbola-tree late in 

 the evening. It utters every now and then a single clear warbling 

 note, but appears to have no song."' 



Captain Horace Terry remarks : " On the 7th June, 1883, I 

 obtained a nest with two fresh eggs and the female bird at Kodi- 

 kanal. Nest placed in fork of tree in a thick shola about 15 feet 

 from the ground, composed of green moss lined with fine roots, 

 with some fern mixed up in the foundation. A large shallow cup, 

 compactly put together, 3- 75 inches across and 1*75 inches deep 

 inside, 6 inches across and 3 inches deep outside. Eggs rather 

 peg-top in shape, and in colour much the same as an ordinary 

 Jay's." 



701. Oreocincla mollissima * (Blyth). The Plain-backed 

 Mo untain-Thrush . 



Oreocincla mollissima (-#/.)> Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 533 ; Hume, Cat. 

 no. 370. 



The nest of this species is a most lovely one. It is a deep, large, 

 massive cup, composed entirely of beautiful green moss firmly 

 felted together, the cavity thinly lined with extremely fine black 

 fern- and moss-roots. Externally the nest is about 5'5 inches in 

 diameter and 3*3 in height ; the cavity is 3-5 in diameter and 2 in 

 depth. 



The eggs are elongated ovals, sometimes excessively elongated, 

 generally rather obtuse at both ends, occasionally pyriformed. The 

 shell is fine and close-textured, but seems usually to have but little 

 gloss. The ground-colour is a nearly dead white. The markings, 

 very densely set about the large end, where they are nearly con- 

 fluent and fairly thickly set everywhere else, consist mainly of 

 specks, spots, and moderate-sized and irregular blotches of two 

 shades of red one more of blood, the other browner or yellower. 

 Intermingled with these are a few specks, spots, and clouds of pale 

 purple. 



These eggs, brought from Native Sikhira about the end of June, 

 vary in length from 1-27 to 1-42, in breadth from 0-84 to 0-90, the 

 average being 1*35 by 0'88. 



* The following note is incomplete, and the remainder of the manuscript has 

 apparently been lost. ED. 



