THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 190 
stole the eggs, although I had ordered them not todoso. The eggs 
seem to be either four or three in number, and I think I have taken as 
many nests with the former as with the latter number. All my eggs are 
alike in coloration and the character of the markings, the latter merely 
differing slightly in amount. The ground-colour is a pale greenish- 
grey, in some few eggs rather more decidedly green than in others, and 
the markings consist of numerous freckles and irregular small blotches 
of pale reddish-brown, numerous everywhere, but more so, as a 
rule, towards the larger end, where in most eggs they form an ill-defined 
cap or ring ; besides these brownish marks, there are other underlying 
_ ones varying from the very palest bluish-grey to rather dark purplish- 
grey. In general appearence the eggs are very like small, dull- 
coloured specimens of the eggs of Copsychus saularis. In shape they 
are broad, blunt ovals, very slightly smaller, as a rule, at one end than 
at the other. ‘The shell is very fragile, but the texture is fine and close, 
in one or two eggs showing the very faintest perceptible gloss, but in 
most rather dull. 
Twenty-four eggs average in size 81" & 51" and vary in length from 
77" to 88", and in breadth from 58” to 66". The 29th of April, 1891, is 
the earliest date I have recorded as having taken eggs, and the 27th of 
June the previous year is the latest date. 
Hitherto, with only two exceptions, I have only found it breeding 
on the peaks round about Hungrum, all about 5,000 feet high and 
some above 6,000. During the cold weather1 have noticed it now 
and then very much lower down, occasionally as low as 2,500 feet. 
It is a very timid bird, avoiding observation and interference, haunt- 
ing low brushwood, bush jungle, bamboo and tree forest, or indeed 
almost any kind of ground where there is plenty of undergrowth to 
screen it, though the first-mentioned sort of place is that which it 
chiefly frequents, and during the breeding season it is in such places 
alone that there is any chance of finding it. I know but very little 
of their habits ; all that one ever sees of the bird is a small brown 
object squatting on the ground in front of one for a second or two 
before it suddenly dives into the nearest patch of grass or other 
shelter, when it at once becomes invisible. I have never seen the 
bird fly aboye a few yards at atime; even those which I trapped 
