200 DICRlTIilD.^. 



somewhat glossy, warm piuky grounded oue, with numerous well- 

 marked spots and specks of maroon colour, dull-red, and red-brown 

 or even dusky, every possible gradation is found. Each set of 

 eggs, however, seems to be invariably of the same type, and we 

 have never yet found a quite white and a well coloured and marked 

 egg in the same nest. 



" These birds are very jealous of the approach of other birds 

 even of their own species to a nest in which they have eggs, and 

 many a little family would this year have been safely reared, and 

 their ovate cradles have escaped the plundering hands of my shi- 

 karies, had not attention been invariably called to tlie whereabouts 

 of the nest by the pertinacious and vicious rushes of one or other 

 of the parents from near their nest at every feathered thing that 

 passed them by." 



Captain Hntton says : — " This species, which appears to be gene- 

 rally diffused throughout India, is not uncommon in the Dehra 

 Doon, but does not ascend the hills ; it breeds in June, laying four 

 eggs of somewhat variable size. They are pure white, thus differing 

 widely from those of the supposed D. lomjicaiulaius of Mussoorie. 



"It is evident likewise that the eggs which Captain Tickell 

 assigns to this species do not belong to it. (Vide J onvnal As. 

 Soc. vol. xvii. p. 304.) 



" The nest differs froui that of our hill species, being larger and 

 far less neatly made ; it is placed in the bifurcation of the smaller 

 branches of a tall tree, and is composed exteriorly of the hard 

 semi-woody stalks of various plants, plastered over with cobwebs. 

 Another one was constructed entirely of fine roots, like tiie khus- 

 khus used for tatties, and plastered over like the former with cob- 

 webs. It is flattened or saucer-shaped, and about 5 inches in 

 diameter." 



Mr. P. E. Blewitt remarks : — " It breeds from the middle of 

 May well into August. I do not think it has two broods in the 

 year, at least close observation has not ]H-oved the fact. Trees of 

 various sizes are chosen indiscriminately for the nest, from the lofty 

 mango and tamarind to the low -growing roonji, &c. 



" The nest is a peculiarly slight-formed structure (occasionally I 

 have seen it otherwise, but this is the exception), ah^ays neatly 

 made. The exterior of the nest is composed of small fine twigs, 

 roots, and grass, with generally a good deal of spider's web round 

 the outer surface. The average exterior diameter of the nest is 

 about 5"5 inches. The cavity is frequently lined \\'ith liorsehair. 

 On three or four occasions 1 have seen very fine khus substituted 

 for the hair. The average inner diameter of the nest is about 3--1 

 inches. 



" The regular number of eggs is four ; in colour they are a light 

 reddish white, with a few spots or blotclies, here and there, of a 

 purplish red or red-brown. The eggs often differ much in size. 



" 1 liappened to find in one nest two eggs, one of the usual size, 

 the other only about one third of the size. Wluit is more sur- 

 prising, it was perfectly formed, as regards the white and yolk. 



