72.  Garrulax pectoralis (Gould). The Black-gorgeted Laughing-Thrush.

Garrulax pectoralis (Gould), Jerd.  B. Ind. ii, p. 39; Hume, Rough Draft N. & E. no. 412.

Mr. Oates tells us that he “found the nest of the Black-gorgeted Laughing-Thrush in the Pegu Hills, on the 27th April, containing three fresh eggs; the bird was sitting.  The nest was placed in a bamboo-clump about 7 feet from the ground, made outwardly of dead bamboo-leaves and coarse roots, lined with finer roots and a few feathers; inside diameter 6 inches, depth 2 inches.  Two eggs measured 1.04 by 0.83 and 0.86.  Colour, a beautiful clear blue.”

One of these eggs sent by Mr. Oates[A] seems rather small for the bird.  It is a very broad, slightly pyriform oval, of a uniform pale greenish-blue tint, and very fairly glossy.  It measures 1.05 by 0.87.

[Footnote A:  I fear I may have made a mistake in identifying the nest referred to.  With this caution, however, I allow my note to stand.—­ED.]

This egg appears to me to be an abnormally small one.  A nest sent me from Sikhim, where it was found in July, contained much larger eggs, and more in proportion to the size of the bird.  The nest I refer to was placed in a clump of bamboos about 5 feet from the ground.  It was a tolerably compact, moderately deep, saucer-shaped nest, between 6 and 7 inches in diameter, composed of dead bamboo-sheaths and leaves bound together with creepers and herbaceous stems, and thinly lined with roots.  It contained two eggs.  These are rather broad ovals, somewhat pointed towards one end, of a uniform pale greenish blue, and are fairly glossy.

These eggs measured 1.33 and 1.30 in length, and 0.98 in breadth.

Mr. Mandelli sent me two nests of this species, both taken in Native Sikhim, the one on the 4th, the other on the 20th July.  Each contained two fresh eggs.  One was placed in a small tree in heavy jungle, at a height of about 6 feet from the ground, the other in a clump of bamboos a, foot lower.  Both are large, coarse, saucer-shaped nests, 7 to 8 inches in diameter, and 3.5 to 4 in height externally; the cavities are about 4.5 inches in diameter, and less than 2 in depth; the basal portion of the nests is composed entirely of dry leaves, chiefly those of the bamboo, loosely held together by a few stems of creepers; the sides of the nest are stems of creepers wound round and round and loosely intertwined, and the cavity is lined with rather coarse rootlets, and in one case with fine twigs.

73.  Garrulax moniliger (Hodgs.). The Necklaced Laughing-Thrush.

Garrulax moniliger (Hodgs.) Jerd.  B. Ind. ii, p. 40; Hume, Rough Draft N. & E. no. 413.

Of the Necklaced Laughing-Thrush Dr. Jerdon says:—­“I procured both this and the last (the Black-gorgeted Laughing-Thrush) at Darjeeling, and have also seen one or both in Sylhet, Cachar, and Upper Burmah.  They both associate in large flocks, and frequent more open forest than most of the previous species.  The eggs are greenish blue.”