122 CHATEROPODIDJE.

between the ledges of some rock, often immediately overhanging
some deep gloomy pool."

" On the 16th June," observes Captain Hutton, writing from
Mussoorie, " I took two nests of this bird, each containing three
eggs, and also another nest, containing three nearly-fledged young
ones. The nest bears a strong resemblance to that of the GeocicJilce,
but is much more solid, being composed of a thick bed of green moss
externally, lined first with long black fibrous lichens and then with
fine roots. Externally the nest is 3^ inches deep, but within only
2| inches; the diameter about 4| inches, and the thickness of the
outer or exposed side is 2 inches. The eggs are three in number,
of a greenish-ashy colour, freckled with minute roseate specks,
which become confluent and form a patch at the larger end. The
elevation at which the nests were found was from 4000 to 4500
feet; but the bird is common, except during the breeding-season,
at all elevations up to the snows, and in the winter it extends its
range down into the Boon. In the breeding-season it is found
chiefly in the glens, in the retired depths of which it constructs its
nest; it never, like the Thrushes and Geoticlilce, builds in trees or
bushes, but selects some high, towering, and almost inacessible
rock, forming the side of a deep glen, on the projecting ledges of
which, or in the holes from which small boulders have fallen, it
constructs its nest, and where, unless when assailed by man, it
rears its young in safety, secure alike from the howling blast and
the attack of wild animals. It is known to the natives by the
name of ' Kaljet/ and to the Europeans as the 'Hill Blackbird.'
The situation in which the nest is placed is quite unlike that of
any other of our Hill-Thrushes with which I am acquainted. The
bird itself is as often found in open rocky spots on the skirts of
the forest as among the woods, loving to jump upon some stone or
rocky pinnacle, from which it sends forth a sort of choking, chat-
tering song, if such it can be called, or, with an up-jerk of the tail,
hops away with a loud musical whistle, very much after the manner
of the Blackbird (M. vulgaris)."

Sir E. C. Buck says:—" I found a nest at Huttoo, near Nar-
khunda, date 27th June, 1869, on an almost inaccessible crag over-
hanging a torrent. It contained three eggs, but two were broken
by stones falling in climbing down to the nest. Nest not brought
up; one egg secured and forwarded. I saw the bird well, and
have no doubt as to its identity."

"Writing from Dhurmsalla, Captain Cock informed me that he
had obtained several nests in May in and about the neighbouring
streams, up to an elevation of some 5000 feet. Erorn Murree,
Colonel C. H. T. Marshall remarks :—" Several nests found in
June, near running streams, about 4000 feet up."

Dr. Stoliczka tells us that " it breeds at Chini and Suugnurn at
an elevation of between 9000 and 11,000 feet."

The eggs are typically of a very long oval shape, much pointed
at one end, but more or less truncated varieties (if I may use the
word) occur. They are the largest of our Indian Thrushes' eggs,