THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 565 



seen three or four at the same time hanging downwards in this way, their 

 mates holding them by the tips of their outspread wings. 



When at roost they cling together like a swarm of bees. 



They breed at least twice a year, Mr. Hume found them breeding in 

 March ; they were breeding m the Nicobars during my stay in August and 

 September, and in Port Blair in December and January. 



Car Nicobarese.: " tulikoop." 



1094. Caprimalgus andamanicgs, Hume. Blanf., Ill, p. l?Oj " Str. 

 Feath,,"' II, p. 162. 



This Xightjar seemed to me very scarce in the Andamans. The first time 

 I saw it was in May, when a bird rose from some dead leaves at my feet in 

 thick jungle and disappeared among the trees before I cculd fire. I did not 

 come across it again till January, then I foimd a few at Bamboo Flat, Port 

 Blair, and shot a couple of males. The note is a liquid monosyllabic ' clook ! 

 clook ! clook ! ' The bird is not so n<isy as most Nightjars. It keeps almost 

 entirely to jungle, being in habits very like C. laicrurua (atiij^mni.i'). I have 

 seen it perch transversely on slender t\iigs in jungle. Eggs were obtained by 

 Davison in April. Mr. E. M. Buchanan of the Forest Department told mo 

 he once found, but did nut take, two eggs in March. My birds shot in 

 January were not breeding. 



1096. Lyncornis cerviniceps, Gould. Blauf., Ill, p. 192 ; " Str. Feath.," 

 p. 162. 



Mr, Hume thinks that a large Nightjar seen by several of his party on the 

 Southern Jolly Boy in March 1873 may have belonged to this species. The 

 claim of a Lyncornis to a place in the Andaman list seems to be very doubt- 

 ful. BatracJtostomtis auritus seems to me as likely to occur in the islands 

 and far more likely to escape observation than a Lyncornia. 



1104. Cdculus canorus, Linn. Blanf., Ill, p, 205 ; " Str. Feath.," IV, 

 p. 288, 



Hume received a specimen of this Cuckoo from the Andamans killed on 

 October 16th, 1876, 



1105, CucuLUS SATURATUS, Hodgs. Blanf., Ill, p. 207 ; " Str. I'eath.," II, 

 p. 190. 



Not uncommon in both groups during the summer months. Davison says 

 that he first met with ic on March 14th. He remarks that the bird is much 

 more often heard than seen — -like so many other Indian cuckoos, 



1107. CucuLDS MrcROPTERU.s, Gould. Blanf,, III, p, 210 ; " otr, Feath.,'' II, 

 p. 191, 



What I took to be this cuckoo, judging by its call — a loud musical whistle 

 of four syllables — was extre:i]ely common in the Andamans during the 

 summer months, being especially noisy in June and July, when its melodious 

 notes are ringing through the forests all day, and when there is any moon 

 throuijhout the night as well. Mr. Hume siys that Lord Walden 

 17 



