Mr. A. Hume on Indian Ornithology. 5 



four very distinct groups : the first is that just mentioned, the 

 second with a black crescent on the nape, the third with the whole 

 head black, and the fourth with the golden or canary colour (it 

 varies in different species) everywhere replaced by a rich deep 

 maroon-red. The branch was cut, and we soon had the nest 

 and eggs before us. The former was a most beautifully woven 

 shallow purse, hung from the fork of two twigs, made of fine 

 grass and slender strips of some tenacious bark bound round 

 and round the twigs, and secured to them much as a prawn- 

 net is to its wooden frame-work. This nest contained no ex- 

 traneous matters; but other nests that we had taken during 

 the previous week had all kinds of odds and ends, scraps 

 of newspaper, shavings, rags, and thread, interwoven in the 

 exterior of the purse, the interior always being neatly lined with 

 fine grass-stems. The eggs, two in number, were very beauti- 

 ful, glossy, with a delicate pink shade, pure white when blown, 

 and with a number of very well marked black spots and specks. 

 These two measured 1-187 in. by -812, but they vary a good 

 deal both in size, number, and in shade of markings. Some 

 eggs previously obtained measure as little as 1 inch by 'Zo 

 In some the spots are very small and few in number, and of a 

 deep red-brown instead of the normal black ; while in others, 

 again, where the black spots are well marked, they are sur- 

 rounded by a sort of reddish haze or halo. All the nests that 

 we have found have been situated similarly, and hung in the 

 same manner from between the fork of two or three twigs, as 

 that found this morning. In every case the bird had chosen a 

 spot where the leaves of the twigs used as a frame-work formed 

 more or less of a shady canopy above it. Four eggs are the 

 greatest number yet found in one nest. 



Whilst we were looking at the nest, my companion spied out 

 a Crow [Cuj-vus splendens) on a nest near the very top of the 

 tree. " Hallo," I said to my man, " you didn^t see that nest.'' 

 " Not see that nest ? " replied he, with a look of inefi'able 

 scorn. " Protector of the poor ! what is this slave's business, 

 that any bird should succeed in building a nest and I not 

 know of it? The truth is, I have watched it for long; but the 

 Crow — may she be accursed — though the time has fully come. 



