142 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII, 
thus engaged they float about in graceful circles on almost motionless wings 
until attracted by the sight of some insect they suddenly dive headlong with 
rapid twists and turns in deft pursuit of the quarry. They may also be observed 
busily quartering the ground for insects, and should an insect be disturbed and 
take to flight on the approach of one of the birds, the chough will immediately 
take to its wings to continue the pursuit in the air. They may sometimes be 
seen sitting on the backs of barhal just as starlings sit on the backs of sheep in 
England. During the winter months they are commonly found as low as 6,000! 
elevation, but as the snow disappears they seem to prefer higher elevations and 
in July I did not find any birds below Juma in the Niti Valley which is at about 
8,000’ elevation. Moreover as early as the beginning of June I found them 
common up to 15,000’ elevation. The note of these birds closely resembles to 
my mind that of the common bank-myna of the plains. 
Aigithaliscus erythrocephalus (35).—The Red-headed Tit. 
This bird is widely distributed throughout the hills and may be classed as one 
of the common species though I have never seen them in large numbers together. 
Four nests which I found on different occasions were situated at elevations bet- 
ween 6,500’ and 8,000’, and eggs were laid during April or the first half of May. 
They were situated at varying heights from a few inches up to 10’ above the 
ground and were well concealed. The oval nest was in every case, of fine moss 
lightly held together or intermingled with either spider’s web (especially the 
cocoons) or vegetable down, and this was followed by a little bark, fibre, grass 
or hair. The interior was copiously lined with feathers. I notice that Blan- 
ford does not mention the feathers, but mentions roots instead, which I have 
never found. 
Aigithaliscus niveigularis (38).—The White-throated Tit. 
The only place where I have seen this apparently rather rare bird is in the 
forests of the Dhauli valley in Painkhanda Malla. Here in a mixed forest of 
birch (Betula utilis) and silver fir (Abies pindrow) I came across two old birds 
feeding a flock of young ones. This was at 11,000’ elevation on 24th June. in 
my notes on one of the old birds which I shot I recorded that the bill was black 
and the feet pale yellowish brown. 
Garrulax albigularis (76).—The White-throated Laughing Thrush. 
These birds are found practically throughout the hills at all elevations up to 
10,000’, and are fairly common wherever there is forest. I have taken eggs at 
7,500’ in April and again at 9,500’ in May. These two nests were placed from 5 
to 10’ above the ground in the midst of oak forest. On the three occasions 
when I have taken the eggs of this bird I have always been more or less surround- 
ed by quite a number of individuals of the same species who invariably showed 
their disapproval of my presence by loud and vehement hissing. From this, 
one might reasonably expect to find several pairs breeding in close proximity, 
and possibly they do so, though I have never found more than one nest in the 
same immediate neighbourhood. One of the nests I found was composed ct 
thin fibrous material and lined with a substantial layer of roots and rhizomorphs ; 
the other was constructed of masses of rhizomorphs mixed with feathery grey 
lichen and followed by a layer of dead ringal leaves with a thick lining of fine 
roots and rhizomorphs. : 
Trochalopterum variegatum (90).—The Eastern Variegated Laughing Thrush. 
This is the common laughing thrush of the high level forests, namely those 
situated above about 8,000’ elevation. ‘The only two nests I found contained 
eggs during the second week of June. They were placed in bushes from 3’ to 
5’ above the ground, and both were constructed of very similar material. On 
the outside there was dry grass and fibre, and this was followed by a thick layer 
of papery bark which in one case had been taken from the ‘ burans ” (Rhodo- 
dendron arboreum) and in the other from the “ bhuj ” (Betula utilis). In both 
cases there was a lining of fine roots. 
