24 HABITS AND HAUNTS OF BIRDS 



confined to the eastern Himalayas, and their nidifieation is un- 

 known. They occur at low elevations and frequent brushwood. Of one 

 kind, the white- winged shrike thrush {T. picatus), only one specimen has 

 ever been procured. 



Tit babblers, {PyctorMs, Trickastoma). — Only one of these, the 

 yellow-eyed babbler (P. sinensis) is common. The other species are only 

 found in north-east India. They frequent low jungle and brushwood, and 

 are not migratory, breeding wherever they are found. The egg of the 

 only species of which the breeding is known is beautifully marked with 

 spots, clouds, and streaks. 



Quaker thrushes, (Aldppe). — Are small birds frequenting 

 dense forests and chiefly hilly countries. They are not migratory nor 

 gregarious to any extent. The eggs are profusely spotted, and some- 

 times lined or blotched. 



Wren babblers, {Stachyris, Mixomis, Timalia, Sumeiia, 

 Pellorneum). — Are a Malayan family, and the greater number of the species 

 are confined to the north-east corner of India. The genus Stachyris 

 is confined to the Himalayas, and is a strictly arboreal genus. All the 

 others frequent brushwood and low thick jungle, and are generally grega- 

 rious. Mixomis and Timalia are eastern Himalayan forms. Dumetia 

 is found in all India, but not very common anywhere. Pellorneum has 

 an equally wide distribution, but is more common in hilly than level 

 countries. Thej do not migrate. They build on or near the ground 

 in brushwood. The eggs of some are pure white, of others more or 

 less thickly speckled, and in one case, that of the rufous-bellied wren 

 babbler (D. liyperytlira\ the eggs are streaked as well as spotted. 



Scimitar babblers, {PomatorUnus, Xiphorampfius.)— This 

 is purely a hill genus. They are found at low elevations haunting under 

 wood in open forest country. They do not migrate. One species is 

 found in the Nilgiris. All the others are confined to the Himalayas and 

 hill ranges of north-east India. They build on or very near the 

 ground making a domed nest and laying very fragile elongated eo-o-s. 

 These are always, as far as is known, pure white, unspotted. 



Laughing thrushes, {Garmlax, Trockalopteron.) — A group 

 of richly-coloured, noisy, and generally gregarious birds which do 

 not migrate and are confined to hilly countries. The nests are solitary, 

 but the birds even in the breeding season keep usually in small parties. 

 They are never found far from forests and love densely wooded tracts. 



