52 CKATEROPODIDJE.

76. G-arrulax albigularis (Gould). The White-throated
Laugliiny-Tlirusli.

Garrulax albogularis (Gould), Jerd. B. 2nd. ii, p, 38; Hume, Rough
Draft N. # E. no. 411.

The White-throated Laughing-Thrush breeds throughout the
lower southern ranges oŁ the Himalayas from Assam to Afghanistan
at elevations of from 4000 to nearly 8000 feet. They lay from the
commencement of April to the end of June. The nest varies in
shape from a moderately deep cup to a broad shallow saucer, and
from 5 to 7 or even 8 inches in external diameter, and from less
than 2 to nearly 4 inches in depth internally. Coarse grass, flags,
creepers, dead leaves, moss, moss- and grass-roots, all at times enter
more or less largely into the composition of the nest, which, though
sometimes wholly unlined, is often neatly cushioned with red and
black fern and moss-roots. The nests are placed in small bushes,
shrubs, or trees, at heights of from 3 to 10 feet, sometimes in forks,
but more often, I think, on low horizontal branches, between two
or three upright shoots.

Three is, I think, the regular complement of eggs, and this is the
number I have always found when the eggs were much incubated.
I have not myself observed that this species breeds in company, nor
can I ever remember to have taken two nests within 100 yards of
each other.

Captain Hutton remarks :—" This is very common in Mussoorie
at all seasons, and congregates into large and noisy flocks, turning
up the dead leaves, and screaming and chattering together in most
discordant concert. It breeds in April and May, placing the nest in
the forks of young oaks and other trees, about 7 or 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 ten-
drils, intermixed with a few other twigs, and lined with 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
orchids, and lined with fibres, the materials varying with the locality.
The eggs are of a deep and beautiful green, shining as if recently
varnished, and three in number. In shape they taper somewhat
suddenly to the smaller end, which may almost be termed obtusely
pointed. The size 1-19 by 0-87 inch. The usual number of eggs
is three, though sometimes only one or two are found ; but only
on one occasion out of more than a dozen nests have I found four
eggs. The old bird will remain on the nest until within reach of
the hand."

From Murree, Colonel C. H. T. Marshall writes :—" This was
the most beautiful egg taken this season, being of a rich, deep,
glossy, greenish-blue colour. The nest is composed of fresh ivy-
twigs, with the leaves attached, tightly woven together. The birds
breed on small trees, not high up, at the end of a branch. While