48 NATURAL HISTORY. 



variations occur. They measure 0'73 inch in length by about 0*6 

 in breadth. 



432. — Malacocercm terricolor : Hodgs. 

 I only came across one undoubted nest of the Bengal Babbler. This 

 ■was in April, and it contained four eggs. Both nest and eggs are 

 absolutely indistinguishable from those of a Malcolmi. 



436. — Argya malcolmi : Sykes. 

 The Large Grey Babbler is very common, and I have found nests in 

 each month from January to December. They have, I believe, several 

 broods in the year, and even when nesting associate in small parties 

 of seven or eight. The nests, composed of grass roots, are loosely 

 but neatly woven together, and are placed amongst the smaller 

 branches of babool trees, at no great height from the ground. The 

 eggs, four in number, are rather broadish ovals, of a very glossy 

 greenish-blue colour. They measure 1 inch in length by about 0*78 

 in breadth. 



438. — Chatarrlma caudata : Dum. 

 The Striated Bush Babbler breeds from March to July. The nest 

 is usually placed in a low thorny bush, and is composed of grass 

 roots and stems ; it is deep cup-shaped, neatly and compactly built. 

 The eggs, three or four in number, are longish ovals, slightly com- 

 pressed at one end, and are of a pure, pale, spotless, blue colour. 

 They measure 0-85 inch in length by about 0*64 in breadth. 



462. — Molpastes Immorrhous : Gm. 

 The Common Madras Bulbul breeds from April to September. Nests 

 arc occasionally found even earlier than this, but they are exceptions 

 to the general rule. The nest is usually placed in a fork in a bush 

 or small tree, and is of a neat cup-shape, composed of grass, roots, 

 &c, lined with hair, fine grass and fibres. The eggs, three or four in 

 number, are normally longish ovals, slightly pointed at one end, and 

 vary very much in colour. One type is pinkish white, thickly speckled 

 and stippled more or less over the whole surface with blood red ; in 

 another type, the ground colour is pink with large blotches of deep 

 red and smaller ones of inky-purple. Between these two types 

 almost every combination occurs. They measure # 9 inch in length 

 by about 0*65 in breadth. 



468. — lor a tiplda : Lin. 

 The White-winged Green Bulbul or Iora breeds at Neemuch in 

 April and August. I only found two nests: one in April contained 

 three unfledged nestlings, and the other in August contained three 



