448 LAEVIVOEA BEUNNEA. 



or branches when disturbed. It feeds after the manner of a Thrush, pecking quickly at insects on the ground 

 or on rotten moss-covered timber ; and such a great variety does it devour, that Hodgson applied to it its 

 generic name of Larvlvora. From pecking in the soil its bill is frequently coated with earth like that 

 of a Thrush. It is usually of silent habit ; but the male has a lively little song, composed of a few sibilant 

 notes, which it suddenly warbles out from beneath the dense underwood in the forest. Hodgson remarks 

 correctlv that it perches freely, but is usually on the ground ; and Jerdon states that it has a low chuckling 

 note like that of certain Stonechats. 



Nidification. — Little is known of the nesting of this Chat. Its home is probably in Cashmere and the 

 Himalayas ; but some remain in the south of India during the breeding-season, and rear their young in the 

 Nilghiris. Mr. Davison, in writing to the author of ' Nests and Eggs/ alludes to two nests found in March 

 and May respectively, the first of which was in a " hole in the trunk of a small tree about 5 feet from the 

 ground, and was composed of moss mixed with dry leaves and twigs." This nest contained three young 

 birds. An egg found in the latter nest was an elongated, slightly pyriform oval, with but little gloss, and 

 the ground-colour of a pale greyish green, thickly mottled throughout and chiefly at the large end, where 

 the markings were almost confluent, with pale brownish red. Dimensions 0'98 by 067 inch. 



Genus TUEDUS. 

 Bill moderately long and straight, compressed towards the tip. IUctal bristles feeble. 

 "Wings with the 1st or bastard primary equal to the primary-coverts, or slightly exceeding them ; 

 the 4th or 5th the longest, and the 2nd longer than the secondaries. 'I ail and tarsus typical in 

 their characters. 



