406 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV. 



(94) Copsychus saularis— The Magpie Robin. 

 Oates, No. 663 ; Jerdon, No. 475. 

 This is essentially a bird of the plains and frequents human 

 habitations. It has a fine song which may be heard as soon as the 

 light begins as the sun rises. 



It breeds in February and March. 



(95) Cittocincla macrura. — The Shama. 

 Oates, No. 664 ; Jerdon, No. 476. 

 The shama is not common in Travancore, it frequents jungle and is 

 decidedly shy. It does not ascend the hills. 



(Sub-family Turdina. 

 (96) Merula bourdilloni. — Bourdillon's Black Bird. 



Oates, No. 669. 

 This Black Bird is fairly common on the High Range and above 

 3,500 feet in the south. It may be found feeding on the jungle roads 

 in the twilight both morning and evening. As soon as the sun rises 

 it retires into the jungle. It is a shy and silent bird. Mr. Harley 

 informs me that he found a nest of this bird on the top of an old stump 

 in a tea clearing on the High Range. Mr. Bourdillon and I took a 

 nest at Chimunji in April, 1903, of which he gives the following 

 description : — " The nest was placed on an overhanging branch about 

 12 feet from the ground. It was composed almost entirely of fresh moss 

 with a few roots and small sticks interwoven in the structure. The 

 outside measurement was 8 inches long, 6 inches broad and 8 inches 

 deep. The cavity of the nest was 3 inches deep and 4 inches across, 

 the interior being lined with fine grass and roots neatly finished off. 

 The nest contained two fresh eggs measuring 1*18 X '90 inches 

 and 1*12 X '85 inches. The ground colour of the eggs was pale- 

 green, spotted and blotched with reddish-brown of two shades, 

 the markings having a tendency to collect at the larger end. One 

 egg is much brighter and its markings are much darker than the 

 other." 



(97) Geocichla wardi, — The Pied Ground-thrush. 

 Oates, No. 68'd; Jerdon, No. 357. 

 This is a rare bird, of which I have only one specimen shot in 

 February on the High Range. 



