322 Mr. R, W, Morgan on the Nidification 



32. Drymoipus inornatus (Sykes). 



Builds a neat pendent nest in long grass on the Neilghcr- 

 ries. The nest is composed entirely of short pieces of grass 

 felted together^ and is very compact. The eggs are three in 

 number, aud are of a blue colour, with large blotches and 

 hair-like streaks of a dark reddish brown at the upper end. 

 An egg measured '69 inch by '5. 



33. ZosTEROPS PALPEBROsus (Tcmminck) . 



Builds a pretty little cup-shaped nest of golden-coloured 

 moss and thistle-down, lined with silk-cotton. The nest is 

 generalh^ built low down. The eggs are two in number, 

 rarely three, and are of an exceedingly pale bhie; "71 inch 

 in length by '51 in breadth. 



34. Parus cinereus, Vieillot. 



Breeds in March and April in holes of trees, laying from 

 two to four eggs, which are white with a few pink spots at 

 the larger end. The nest is composed entirely of soft fur. 

 This little Tit may frequently be seen in the vicinity of stables, 

 in the breeding-season, where it comes for the sake of the 

 horse-hair which is thrown out after the horses are groomed 

 in the morning. I have found many nests entirely composed 

 of this substance, with a few stray bits of wild cat^s dung. 

 An egg I measured was "7 inch in length by '51 in breadth. 



35. ACRIDOTHERES MAHRATTENSIS (Sykcs) . 



Breeds on the Neilgherries in holes of trees. The hole is 

 filled up with sticks to within about a foot of the entrance, 

 and a smooth lining of paper, rags, feathers, &c. laid down, 

 on which are deposited from two to six light-blue eggs. The 

 young are fed on small frogs, grasshoppers, and fruit. An 

 egg measured 1*2 inch by "88. Breeds in May. 



36. ESTRELDA AMANDAVA (LinUSeUs) . 



Breeds on the Neilgherries in August and September, build- 

 ing a large domed nest of grass, with the entrance in the side. 

 Several females seem to lay in the same nest ; for I have found 

 as many as fourteen eggs in a nest, and have seen five birds 

 fly out. The eggs are pure white, and average "62 inch in 

 length by "45 in breadth. 



