ABQYA. • 73

"It is in the nests of this species and oar Common Laughing-
Thrush (T. cachinnans) that I have chiefly found the eggs of the
Pied Crested Cuckoo."

Of this species Colonel G. F. L. Marshall remarks :—" I have
taken eggs on the 20th JuneinCawnpoor, the 31st July in Bohmd-
shuhur, and the 25th August in Allyghur. The nest is almost
always in a keekur tree in a fork about halfway up, and near the
end of a branch. It is composed of keekur-twigs and lined with
roots. It is thinner in structure than that of M. terricolor, but
has an outer casing of thorns which the latter wants. They lay
four blue eggs, larger and paler than those of M. canorus"

Lieut. H. E. Barnes writes that in Eajputana the Large Grey
Babbler is " very common. I have found nests in each month from
January to December. They have, I believe, several broods in. the
year ; and even when nesting associate in small parties of seven or
eight."

Messrs. Davidson and Wen den say :—" Common, and breeds in
the Dec-can."

Major C. T. Bingham says:—" Breeds both at Allahabad and
at Delhi from March to quite the end of August, placing its loosely
constructed (rarely firmly built) nest of twigs and fine grass-roots
generally at no great height in babool-trees. Twice only I have
found them in dense mango-trees at about thirty feet from the
ground. The nests are not, I think, as a rule, so deep as those of
Orateropus terricolor • once or twice 1 have found the soft clown of
the Madar (Oatatropes hamiltonii) incorporated into the lilting of
grass-roots. The eggs are generally three or four in number."

Mr. Benjamin Aitken writes:—" All the nests which I have
seen of the Large Grey Babbler have been on babool-trees. At
Akola (Berar) in 1870, a great many had their nests during the
month of July. I have recorded two instances of nests placed at
a height above the ground of 15 feet and 20 feet. These were at
Poona, one on the 21st April, and the other on-the 10th May. 1
could not go up to the nests, but the birds in both cases were sitting
closely. I have twice found nests with only three newly-hatched
young ones."

Colonel Butler informs us that " the Large Grey Babbler breeds
in the neighbourhood of Deesa during the rains. Both the nest
and eggs closely resemble those of C. terricolor, but the latter
differ slightly in being less elongated, not so pointed at the small
end, rounder at the large end, and somewhat paler in colour. I
have taken nests on the following dates :—

c July 19, 1875. A nest containing 4 fresh eggs.

« June 30,1876. „ „ 4 fresh eggs.

' July 15, 1876. „ „ 4 fresh eggs.

c July 20, 1876. „ „ 3 fresh eggs..

' The nest in every instance was similar to that described by
Jerdon, viz. :—a loose structure of dend roots, twigs, and grass, the
interior being neatly lined with closely-woven roots of 4 khus-khus.'
The old birds generally select some thorny tree (Mimosa &c.) to