88	CBATEBOPOiDIDJE.
ground. It is very common near Kotegurh and below JSTarkunda,
where we found nearly a dozen nests, almost all, however, con-
taining young ones. Typically the nest is domed, and is loosely
constructed of the materials at hand—coarse grass, dry fern, dead
leaves, moss-roots, and the like, some 6 or 7 inches in diameter
and 5 or 6 inches high, with a broad entrance on one side, a good
deal above the middle. In some cases, however, where a dense
bunch of grass or fern completely curves over the spot selected for
the nest, the latter is a mere broad, shallow saucer. There is no
regular lining to the nests, but a good many fine roots are at times
incorporated in the interior of the cavity. All the nests that I
have seen were placed near the edges of clumps of brushwood or
scrubby jungle.
I ought here to mention that I am by no means certain that the
ISTepalese and Sikhira, in fact the eastern race of this species
(P. ferrugilatuS) Hodgs.), will not have to be separated from the
more western P. erythrogenys of Gould. Long ago Elyth remarked
('Journal Asiatic Society/ 1845, p. 598) that "there seems to be
two marked varieties of P. erytlirogenys, one having white under-
parts, with merely faint traces of darker spots, the other with the
throat and breast densely mottled with greenish olive," or, as I
should call it, dingy olive-grey. This is perfectly true, and, as far
as I can make out, the latter variety is not one of sex or age, but
is local and confined to Ivumaon (where the other form also occurs)
and the hills eastward of this province. My own remarks above
given refer to the true P. erytJiroyenys, and so do Hutton's; but
Hodgson's and Mr. Gammie's birds both appear to have been, and
the latter's certainly were, grey-throated examples. The eggs are
undistinguishable, as, indeed, though they vary somewhat in shape
and size, are those of most of the PomatorMni.
Captain Hutton says that this species is " common from 3500
feet up to 10,000 or 12,000 feet, always in pairs, turning up the
dead leaves on copsewood covered banks, uttering a loud whistle,
answering and calling each other. It breeds in April, constructing
its nest on the ground of coarse dry grasses and leaf-stalks of
walnut-trees, and is covered with a dome-shaped roof, so nicely
blended with the fallen leaves and withered grasses, among which
it is placed, as to be almost undistinguishable from them. The
eggs are three in number, and pure white ; diameter 1-12 by 0-81
inches, of an ordinary oval shape. When disturbed, the bird sprung
along the ground with long bounding hops, so quickly that, from
its motions and the appearance of the nest, I was led to believe it
a species of rat. The nest is placed in a slight hollow, probably
formed by the bird itself."
According to Mr. Hodgson's notes, this species would appear to
breed at heights of from 2000 to 8000 feet. It lays in May and
June. On the 20th May, and again on the 6th June, Mr. Hodg-
son found nests of this species in thick bushes 3 or 4 feet above
the ground. They were broad saucer-shaped nests of coarse
vegetable fibres, grass, and grass-roots, 7 inches "or so in diameter,