The Black-throated Babbler breeds, according to Mr. Hodgson, in April and May, and builds a large deep cup-shaped nest, either upon the ground in the midst of grass, or at a short distance above the ground between five or six thin twigs; a nest which he measured was externally 4.5 inches in diameter and 3.5 in height, while the cavity was 2.5 in diameter and 2 in depth.  The nest is composed of dry bamboo- and other leaves wound together with grass and moss-roots, and lined with these, and is a very firm compact structure, considering the materials.  They lay four or five eggs, which are figured as very regular rather broad ovals, of a nearly uniform, very pale cafe-au-lait colour (these were the unblown eggs), measuring about 0.75 by 0.58.

Dr. Jerdon remarks:—­“A nest and eggs were brought to me at Darjeeling, and said to be of this species.  The nest was rather large, very loosely made of bamboo-leaves and fibres, and the eggs were of a pale salmon-colour, with some faint darker spots.”

There is no doubt that these must have been the eggs of some other species.

Major C.T.  Bingham tells us:—­“This little bird, though not at all common, breeds in the Sinzaway Reserve, in Tenasserim.  I took five hard-set eggs, placed in a beautiful little domed nest, at the foot of a clump of bamboos, on the bank of a dry choung or nullah.  This was on the 20th March.  The nest was composed exteriorly of dry bamboo-leaves, and interiorly of fine grass-roots, the entrance being on one side.  I shot the female as she crept off the nest.”

It does not seem that in the Himalayas this species domes its nest.  Numerous other nests that have been sent me from Sikhim, taken in May, June, and July, were all of the same type—­shallow or deeper cups loosely put together, exteriorly composed of coarse blades of grass, dead leaves, bamboo-spathes and the like, held together with a little vegetable fibre or fibrous roots, and interiorly of fine grass generally more or less mingled with blackish roots, which in some nests greatly predominate over the grass.

The eggs are broad ovals, somewhat compressed towards one end, in some cases slightly pyriform.  They are pure white, spotless, and fairly glossy.

They vary from 0.68 to 0.84 in length, and from 0.55 to 0.61 in breadth, but the average of thirty-four eggs is 0.76 by somewhat over 0.58.

170.  Stachyrhis chrysaea, Hodgs. The Golden-headed Babbler.

Stachyris chrysaea, Hodgs., Jerd.  B. Ind. ii, p. 22; Hume, Rough Draft N. & E. no. 394.

Mr. Blyth remarks:—­“The egg, as figured by Mr. Hodgson, is pinkish white, and the nest domed and placed on the summit of a sedge. S. praecognita lays a blue egg.” (Ibis, 1866, p. 309.)

There is no figure of either the nest or eggs of the Golden-headed Babbler amongst the drawings of Mr. Hodgson that I possess.