221 
Birds of Kuhat and Kurram. 
alarm-notes, too, are very similar. The two nests that I came 
across might well have been those of the Redbreast. The first 
was placed on the ground under shelter of a juniper-root 
(not in a hole) at 11,000 feet, and contained three eggs just 
hatching; they were cream-coloured, with a darker zone near 
the larger end, and differed a good deal in size. The second 
was in a similar position at 8000 feet, and had four eggs of 
similar type, but very faintly tinged with green and slightly 
smaller, averaging *68" x *48". 
[661.] Thamnobia cambaiensis. The Brown-backed 
Indian Robin. 
Rattray, J. B. N. H. S. xii. p. 340 (a common resident) ; 
Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 481. 
686. $ ad. Kohat, 1760 ft., 16th March. 
A fairly common resident in the plains. As Major 
Magrath notes, it differs from its down-country relatives in 
shunning gardens and cultivated spots, preferring arid stony 
localities, and shewing a marked partiality for graveyards. 
It does not ascend the hills to any height, and in the 
Kurram Valley we did not find it above 3000 feet. 
[666.] Meiiula maxima. The Central Asian Blackbird. 
Ward, J. B. N. H. S. xvii. p. 482 (breeds in Kashmir at 
high altitudes). 
295. Juv. Safed Koh, 10,500 ft., 1st July. 
Bill, gape, and eyelid brownish yellow; tarsus fleshy 
brown ; iris brown. 
Apparently very rare, this example being the only one 
met with. In July 1908 I found this fine bird fairly 
common outside our limits near the head of the Kaghan 
Valley (Hazara, N.W. F. P.), between 12,000 and 
13,500 feet, either in parties of from three to ten, or 
occasionally alone. It was very wild, and it was with 
difficulty that I procured three examples (now in the British 
Museum). 1 never heard it utter the rattling alarm-cry of 
M. vulgaris, but only the low chuckle characteristic of the 
genus. Usually found feeding on small white caterpillars, 
which were very common on the grassy slopes, or amongst 
rocks, but sometimes in juniper-scrub. 
