254 BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



The nest is a deep purse-like cup, carefully suspended between two 

 twigs forming a fork, to which it is firmly attached by strips of bark, 

 grass, and, occasionally, even bits of cloth. 



It is strongly and compactly made, and is well lined with fine 

 grass. From below the nest looks very small, and is usually partially 

 hidden by foliage, above it must be invisible, although placed rather 

 high up, and almost at the extremity of a bough. 



The eggs, three in number, occasionally four, are moderately long- 

 ish ovals in shape, pinched in a good deal at one end, but other 

 forms are not uncommon; they are of a glossy china-white colour* 

 thinly sprinkled at the larger end with spots and specks of blackish- 

 brown, mostly confined to the larger end ; these markings are some- 

 times almost entirely black, but occasionally they are reddish, or 

 even yellowish-brown, but this last type is very uncommon. 



They vary a great deal in size, but the average is rather more 

 than l'l inch in length by about 0'8 in breadth. The eggs forming 

 a clutch often differ conisderably both iu size and shape. 



As soon as the eggs are laid, the birds seem to lay aside their usual 

 timorous disposition, and boldly attack any bird that ventures near 

 the nest ; this habit often leads to its discovery. If nestlings are 

 found within a reasonable distance, say a mile or so, and are placed 

 in a cage, in a position accessible to the parent birds, they will 

 attend and feed them, until long after they are able to fly and feed 

 themselves; but as a rule, when the old birds cease to visit them, 

 they refuse food, pine away and die. 



471.— THE BLACK-NAPED INDIAN ORIOLE. 



Oriolus indicus, Jcrd. 



Occurs very rarely in Kanara ; I kuow nothing of its breeding. 



472.— THE BLACK-HEADED ORIOLE. 

 Oriolus melanocephalus, Lin. 



I have never met with a nest of the Black-headed Oriole. 

 Mr. Davidson, C.S., has kiudly furnished the following note : — 



"This bird is common throughout the ghats from Khandesh down 

 to Egutpoora, inhabiting all the warm valleys. 



" It is also very common all the year in the Kanara jungles below 

 the ghats, but leaves the part above the ghats, at all events, to a 

 great extent in May, 



