the ground; they are very compact, massive little cups, about 3.25 inches in diameter and 2 in height exteriorly; the cavities are about 2 inches in diameter and 1.25 in depth.  The chief materials of the nests are dry blades of grass and bamboo-leaves; but these are only seen at the bottom of the nests, the sides and upper margins being completely felted over with green moss.  Apparently there is a first lining of fine grass and roots; but very little of this is seen, as the cavity is then thickly covered with black and white hairs.

184.  Lioparus chrysaeus (Hodgs.). The Golden-breasted Tit-Babbler.

Proparus chrysaeus, Hodgs., Jerd.  B. Ind. ii, p. 256; Hume, Rough Draft N. & E. no. 621.

The Golden-breasted Tit-Babbler breeds, according to Mr. Hodgson’s notes, near Darjeeling and in the central region of Nepal.  It lays from three to four eggs, which are figured as somewhat broad ovals, measuring from 0.7 by 0.5, with a pinky-white ground, speckled and spotted thinly, except towards the large end, where there is a tendency to form a cap or zone, with brownish red.  The nest is oval or rather egg-shaped, and fixed with its longer diameter perpendicular to the ground in a bamboo-clump between a dozen or so of the small lateral shoots, at an elevation of only a few feet from the ground.  One, taken near Darjeeling on the 12th June, measured externally 6 inches in height, 4.5 in breadth, and 3 inches in depth, and on one side it had an oval aperture 2.5 in height and 1.75 in breadth.  It appeared to have been entirely composed of dry bamboo-leaves and broad blades of grass loosely interwoven, and with a little grass and moss-roots as lining.

Hodgson originally named this bird Proparus chrysotis, but as the bird has silvery ears Hodgson himself rejected this name and adopted the one given above.  Mr. Gray, however, retains the specific name chrysotis.  Now, I think a man has a perfect right to change his own name; what I object to is other people presuming to do it for him.

Subfamily BRACHYPTERYGINAE.

187.  Myiophoneus temmincki, Vigors. The Himalayan Whistling Thrush.

Myiophonus temminckii, Vig., Jerd.  B. Ind. i. p. 500:  Hume.  Rough Draft N. & E. no. 343.

The Himalayan Whistling-Thrush breeds throughout the Himalayas from Assam to Afghanistan, in shady ravines and wooded glens, as a rule, from an elevation of 2000 to 5000 feet, but, at times, especially far into the interior of the hills, up to even 10,000 feet.

It lays during the last week of April, May, and June.  The number of eggs varies from three to five.