A nest of this species sent me by Mr. H.R.P.  Carter, who took it at Coonoor on April 22nd (when it contained two fresh eggs), is externally a rather coarse clumsy structure, composed of roots, dead leaves, small twigs, and a little lichen, about 5 inches in diameter, and standing about 41/2 inches high.  The egg-cavity is, however, very regularly shaped, and neatly lined with very fine grass-stems and a little fine tow-like vegetable fibre.  It is a deep cup, measuring 21/2 inches across and fully 33/4 inches in depth.

A nest taken by Miss Cockburn was a much more compact structure, placed between four or five twigs.  It was composed of coarse grass, dead and skeleton leaves, a very little lichen, and a quantity of moss.  The egg-cavity was lined with very fine grass.  The nest was externally about 51/2 inches in diameter and nearly 6 inches in height, but the egg-cavity had a diameter of only about 21/2 inches and was only about 21/4 inches deep.

It was Jerdon, I believe, who gave the name of Laughing-Thrushes to this group, and this name is applicable enough to this particular bird, the one with which he was most familiar, for it does laugh—­albeit, a most maniacal laugh; but the majority of the group have not the shadow of a giggle even in them, and should have been designated “Screaming Squabblers.”

Mr. J. Darling, Jr., says:—­“This bird breeds from February to May.  I have found the nests all over the Nilghiris, at elevations of from 4500 to 7500 feet above the sea.  The nest is placed indiscriminately in any bush or tree that happens to take the bird’s fancy, at heights of from 3 to 12 feet from the ground.

“In shape it is circular, a deep cup, externally some 6 inches in diameter and 5 or 6 inches in height, and with a cavity 3 to 4 inches wide and often fully 4 inches in depth.  The nest is composed of moss and small twigs, at times of grass mingled with some spiders’ webs:  sometimes there is a foundation of dead leaves.  The cavity is lined with fur, cotton-wool, feathers, &c.

“The eggs are two or three in number.”

Mr. Wait, writing from Coonoor, says:—­“T. cachinnans breeds about May, and lays from three to five oval eggs.  The ground is bluish, with ash-coloured and brown spots and blotches, and occasionally marks.”  None of my other correspondents, however, admit that the bird ever lays more than three eggs.

Mr. Davison tells me that “this bird breeds commonly on the Nilghiris, just before the rains set in, in May and the earlier part of June, but it occasionally breeds earlier (in April) or later (in the latter end of June).  The nest is cup-shaped, composed of dead leaves, moss, grass, &c., and lined with a few moss-roots or fine grass.  It is placed in the fork of a branch about 6 or 8 feet from the ground.  The eggs are a bluish green, mottled chiefly towards the larger end, and sometimes also streaked with purplish brown.  The normal number of eggs is two; sometimes, however, three are laid.”