108 Mr. E. C. Stuart Baker on the 



89. HODGSONIUS PHCENICUKOIDES. 



Blanford, P. B. Ind. i. p. 190; Osmaston, B. N. II. S. J. 

 xi. p. 67. 



Though I have never seen a nest of this bird, I have 

 eggs in ray collection taken by Davidson in Cashmere, where 

 they have been also found by numerous other collectors. 

 They are dec]) blue, considerably darker than any other blue 

 eggs that I know, except those of Garrulux albiyularis, and 

 are without spots. 



Osmaston gives the following description of the nests 

 which he found. He says of the bird : — " It is very common 

 in the Tons Valley at elevations of from 10,000 to 1 1,000 feet, 

 but is rarely seen owing to its being of shy and retiring 

 habits. 1 found twelve nests between June 5th and lltli, 

 all of which contained either two or three eggs, mostly fresh, 

 and three seems to be the normal complement. They were 

 placed in low bushes from one to three feet from the ground 

 in open scrub-forest. They were deeply cup-shaped, com- 

 posed of brown grass without, and lined with finer grasses. 

 The eggs arc of a pure dark blue, about intermediate in shade 

 between those of Crateropus canorus and Garrulax albigularis, 

 and give the following measurements : — 



"Largest egg *89" by "03" ; smallest egg -80" by '58". 

 Average of 7 eggs '85" by -01"." 



My eggs agree well with these, but average larger, viz. 

 •91" by '6". In shape they are long ovals, well com- 

 pressed towards, and pointed at, the smaller end. The 

 texture is very smooth, fine, and close, and there is a certain 

 amount of gloss. The shell is medium, neither stout nor 

 thin. 



The internal colouring is paler than the external. 



The birds breed from the beginning of June to the middle 

 of July. 



90. Oligura castaneicoronata. 



Blanford, P. B. Ind. i. p. 193; Osmaston, B. N. H. S. J. 

 xv. p. 51 1. 



The eggs of this little Short-wing have been taken both 



