6 Notes on the Nidification of Indian Birds. [July, 



comprising a family. It breeds in May and June, placing the nest 

 sometimes on the branch of a tall oak tree (Quercus incana) ; at other 

 times in a thick bush. It is composed of a foundation of twigs, and 

 lined with fine roots of grass, &c, mixed with the long black fibres of 

 ferns and mosses which hang upon the forest trees, and have much the 

 appearance of black horse hair ; the nest is cup-shaped, rather shallow, 

 loosely put together, circular and about 4£ inches in diameter. The 

 eggs are sometimes 3, sometimes 4 in number, of a greenish stone-grey, 

 freckled chiefly at the larger end with dusky, — and a few black hair- 

 like streaks, which are not always present ; they vary also in the 

 amount of dusky freckling at the large end. Shape ordinary. The 

 nestling bird is devoid of the lanceolate markings on the throat, and in 

 this stage is the " Garrulus Vigor six' of Hardwicke and Gray.— - 

 " £iin-sarrah," of hillmen. 



No. 6. — Garrulax albogularis, (Gould.) 

 Cinclosoma albigula, Hodgson. 



Is very common at Mussooree at all seasons, and appears in large 

 flocks of several families united. It breeds in April and May, — placing 

 the nest in the forks of young oaks and other trees, about 7 to 8 feet 

 from the ground, though sometimes higher, and fastening the sides of 

 it firmly to the supporting twigs by tendrils of climbing plants. It is 

 sometimes composed externally almost entirely of such woody tendrils, 

 intermixed with a few other twigs, and lined with the black hair-like 

 fibres of mosses and lichens ; at other times it is externally composed 

 of coarse dry grasses, and leaves of different kinds of Orchis, and lined 

 with fibres, — the materials varying with the locality. Unlike the eggs 

 of Crater opus ^ which are stated to be white, — in this species they are 

 of a deep and beautiful green, shining as if recently varnished, and 3 in 

 number. In shape they taper somewhat suddenly to the smaller end, 

 which may almost be termed obtusely pointed ; the diameter 1^ % |£ 

 inches. The usual number of eggs is three, though they vary some- 

 times to one or two, — but only on one occasion out of more than a 

 dozen, have I found four eggs. The old bird will remain on the nest 

 until almost within reach of the hand. 



No. /. — " Trochalopteron ? rufigularis. (Gray's Catalogue.) 

 Crateropus rufimentum, (Hodgson.) 



This species differs from the lajst in not congregating into large and 



