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In а paper on birds' nesting in the Tons Valley, Mr. В. В. Osmaston (J. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc. 
xi. p. 66, 1897) observes :—'* No account of the nidification of this Ouzel seems on record, and all 
that we know of the eggs is from Hume's description of two specimens brought from Native Sikhim 
in June. This fine Ouzel is fairly common in the Karshu oak-zone from 8000 to 10,000 feet, 
where its fine mellow-noted song may be heard daily in the spring. І found two nests near Deoban 
at about 9000 feet elevation оп May 23rd and 24th. Тһе first, containing four fresh eggs, was 
placed іп a dense bushy * Karshu’ oak-tree about 10 feet from the ground, and the second, with 
three slightly set eggs, was on the ground at the root of an old stump in oak-forest. The nests were 
massive structures, made of moss and lined with fine grass, not unlike those of the Mistle-Thrush. 
The eggs were very pale blue, mottled all over with reddish-brown, and with some inconspicuous pale 
grey markings as well. They measured as follows :— 
mo m. 
ee OOE TONER 1:20 x 0:85 
Smallestierg N 1:14 x 0:84 
Average of five eggs .................. 1:16 x 0:85 > 
Тһе Tons River where Mr, Osmaston collected is said by him to ђе “a large branch of the 
river Jumna, rising in the snowy ranges of the Himalaya, and winding its way southward through 
Tehri-Garhwal and Jannsar, traversing a forest-clad country from the zone of the juniper and the 
birch at 13,000 feet to that of the long-leafed pine at 3000 feet.” | 
Dr. Scully writes from Nepal:—* I found this Ouzel common in the Sheopuri Forest in 
February. It was not social like М. boulboul, being always found singly or in pairs. It frequented 
the moss-covered branches of the trees, or flew up from a bush to the nearest tree on being alarmed. 
It is rather a noisy bird, and its note in winter is harsh, something like that of М. atrigularis 
when alarmed, but lower and more full" (Str. F. viii. p. 285). In Upper Sikhim Dr. W. T. Blanford 
says that it appears to haunt the banks of streams, and he found it common in the Rhododendron 
scrub on the skirts of forest in the Chola Range from 11,000 to 13,000 feet (J. A. S. Beng. xli. 
pt. 2, p. 49, 1872). ' | 
'The following notes on the breeding of the species appear in Mr. Oates's edition of Hume's 
* Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds; ii. p. 92 (1890) :— 
« Colonel G. F. L. Marshall informs us that “near Naini ТАЈ this Ouzel is only found on the 
top of Cheena 8000 feet above the sea, and is rather an early breeder. I found the young just 
fledged in the beginning of June, but was too late for eggs. Neither of the parent birds that were 
with the young ones were in the castanea-plumage, both had the neck distinctly ringed.’ 
“Two eggs of this species which, together with one of the parent birds, were brought from 
Native Sikhim about the end of June, are regular ovals, a little compressed towards the small end, 
and slightly glossy; the ground-colour is greyish-white, and the eggs are spotted and speckled all 
over, more densely towards the broad end, with reddish-brown and brownish-red, and a number of 
underlying markings of purplish-grey ; they measure 1:23 by 0:87 and 1:22 by 0:85." 
Adult male in breeding-plumage. General colour above glossy black, including the wings and 
tail; crown of head and sides of face black, separated from the back by a broad white collar, which 
extends round the hind-neck and over the upper mantle; chin blackish; throat and sides of neck 
white, joining the white collar of the hind-neck; remainder of under surface of body black from the 
fore-neck downwards, and including the under wing-coverts and quill-lining ; under tail-coverts black, 
with a white shaft-stripe. Total length 10:5 inches, culmen 1:0, wing 5:7, tail 4:0, tarsus 1:35. 
Adult female in breeding-plumage. General colour above reddish-brown; the cap also brown, 
hoary on the forehead; wings and tail brown; sides of face ashy-brown ; throat, sides of neck, and 
hind-neck ashy-white, so that the collar round the latter is not so distinct as in the male; remainder 
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