22 HABITS AND HAUNTS OF BIRDS 



and better wooded districts. Some of the blue red-breasts (Cyornis) 

 breed in the plains of south India. All the others breed in 

 the hills, and the greatest number breed in the Himalayas. Their 

 nests are all ingenious. Some of them most beautiful little structures, 

 seldom at any great height from the ground, and often resting on it. 

 The eggs are in all cases prettily marked and spotted. 



Wrens, (Tesia, PtuBopyga, Troglodytes, Rimator). — Are 

 only found in the Himalayas within the Indian limits. They frequent 

 moist forests and live in thick undergrowth. They are not migratory. 

 Very little is known of their breeding, but they probably all make domed 

 nests in thick creepers against trunks of trees. 



ShortwingS, ( Brachypteryai, Callene, Eodgsonius). — Are 

 found only in mountainous countries and like the wrens frequent 

 dense underwood in forests. Very little is known of them, but they do 

 not appear to be migratory. 



Whistling thrushes, (Myiophoms).— Are hill birds, though 

 they extend especially in the cold weather into the forests below. They 

 are seldom found far from water or in open country, and they breed in 

 retired places exclusively in the hills. The eggs are long, pointed, 

 and freckled all over with minute spots. 



Ground thrushes, (Bydromis, Pitta). — Are birds of very 

 retiring habits, keeping on or near the ground in tangled brushwood or 

 dense cover. They appear to be very local in their distribution, and some 

 of them migrate, but their shyness prevents much observation of their 

 habits. The eggs are white, more or less spotted and streaked. 



Water ouzels, {Bt/drobata). — Are only found in the Himalayas 

 frequenting streams of running water. The eggs are pure white. 



Long-billed thrushes, (Zooi!/4era).— Only one species is found 

 in India. It is confined to the Himalayas, and frequents tangled brush- 

 wood by streams in dense forest. Nothing is known of its nidification or 

 migrations. The eggs of Zoothera, as far as they are known, resemble 

 those of Pitta. 



Rock thrushes, {Petrocossyphus). — Are migratory birds fre- 

 quenting rocky plains. They are only known to breed in India in the 

 far north-west. The eggs are blue, slightly speckled. 



Chat thrushes, (Oroccefes). — Are found commonly on wooded 

 hills. They breed only in the Himalayas, but in the winter descend to the 

 warm valleys and even to the plains. They all build their nests on the 



