THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 192 
cubation; also a nest in which I found two young ones only. 
In shape my eggs are broad ovals, but little compressed at the 
smaller end, which is very blunt. They are white, and the markings 
consist of primary freckles and small spots varying in colour from pinky- 
red to pinky-brown, none of a very deep shade ; besides which, there 
are subordinate markings of pale pinkish-purple rather larger in size 
than the primary specks. As arule the spots are very sparingly scat- 
tered over the whole surface except at the larger end, where they are 
fairly numerous. In none of my eggs is there any indication of a ring 
at this end, but in some they form a very indistinct cap. 
In length they vary between °78" and -83", and in breadth between 
‘59" and 62"; the average of 14 eggs is ‘81" x -6!. They appear to 
breed in May and June and the latter end of April. 
(59) Turpinus ABBorTI.—A bbott’s Babbler. 
Oates, No. 160 ; flume, No. 387. 
Not rare in North Cachar, but, as far as I know, keeping entirely to 
densely-wooded valleys at a low elevation. I have never observed it 
over about 1,500 feet high. 
ms (60) ALCIPPE NEPALENSIS.—The Nepal Babbler. 
Oates, No. 163; Hume, No. 388. 
Extremely common from 2,000 feet’up to the summit of the highest 
peaks. The eggs of this bird vary most wonderfully, and I notice here 
a few of the most marked varieties :-— 
(1) Pure white, with most minute speckles of purply-pink, usually 
forming a dense ring round the larger end ; sometimes practically con- 
fined to this end, at other times fairly numerous all over. 
(2) Much the same, but with a pinkish ground and the markings 
somewhat larger, lighter, and even more numerous. 
(3) The same, but with the markings of pale reddish-pink, 
(4) Ground-colour pale to deep salmon and more or less covered with 
blotches and clouds of pink and underlying marks of greyish, with here 
and there a speck or short line of deep blood red. This type can be 
almost matched by many egos of Pyctorhis sinensis. 
(5) Ground-colour from pale pink to pure white with rather sparsely 
scattered marks of deep purple, ranging from mere specks to largish dots 
and lines. In this type the marks nearly always form a distinct ring or 
Cap. 
