THE BIRDS OF TRAVANCORE. 461 



(69) Graucalus macii. — The Large Cuckoo-shrike. 



Oates, No. 510 ; Jerdon, No. 270. 

 Not uncommon in the low country in thin jungle ; ascends the hills 

 to about 1,500 feet. Travancore birds vary from 10 to 11 inches in 

 length, wing 6 inches, tail 4 5/8 to 5 inches. 



(70) Artamus fuscus. — The Ashy Swallow-shrike. 



Oates, No. 512 ; Jerdon, No. 287. 

 Common in the low country throughout Travancore, more especially 

 in the extreme south, where the palmyra palms predominate. It 

 ascends the hills in the dry weather. 



Family ORIOLID^. 



(71) Oriolus indicus. — The Black-naped Oriole. 

 Oates, No. 514 ; Jerdon, No. 471. 

 An occasional winter visitor to the low country. I have only one 

 specimen obtained in Trivandrum. 



(72) Oriolus kundoo.— The Indian Oriole. 

 Oates, No. 518 ; Jerdon, No. 470. 

 This oriole is by no means common, but may be sparingly met with 

 both in the plains and in the hills up to 3,000 feet elevation. It is a 

 resident. 



(73) Oriolus melanocephalus. — The Indian Black-headed Oriole. 

 Oates, No. 521 ; Jerdon, Nos. 472-473. 

 The Black-headed Oriole is by far the commonest of the three orioles 

 that are found in Travancore. It is a permanent resident in the low 

 country and does not ascend the hills. 



Family EULABETIDJS. 



(74) Eulabes religiosa. — The Southern Grackle. 

 Oates , No. 523 ; Jerdon, No. 692. 



This is one of the commonest and noisiest birds and is found in the 

 hills up to 3,000 feet elevation in the south and up to 5,000 feet on the 

 High Range in the north. Towards evening especially it makes itself 

 heard. 



u Breeds most abundantly at elevations of 1,500 to 3,000 feet, 

 generally choosing for the site of its nest a hole in a dead tree on the 

 outskirts of the forest or in the middle of a clearing. The tree selected 

 is generally of a large size, and the nest is placed at 25 to 50 feet from 



