Nidification of Indian Birds. 53 



some bamboo-clump, where it is half buried amougst the 

 fallen spathes and leaves ; it also prefers to place its nest on 

 sloping ground, and not on ground at all level. 



I have taken no nest later than May, and even more eggs 

 are laid in April than in that month, some few being laid 

 in March. 



11. Gampsorhynchus rufulus. [Oates, op. cit, i. p. 135 ) 

 I have but one note on the nidification of this bird. This 



refers to a nest found about two miles from Gungong, taken 

 from a bamboo-clump growing beside a road, at about six 

 feet from the ground. It was a massive semiglobular affair, 

 much like many nests of the Pomatorhini, made of bamboo- 

 leaves and lined with fern-roots, narrow strips of ekra-bark, 

 and grass. It contained four young, and the egg of this 

 bird I have never yet seen. The Cacharis inform me that 

 it more nearly approximates to the eggs of the genus Tro- 

 chalopterum (the marked type) than any of this subfamily, 

 but of course not much reliance can be placed on what the 

 natives assert. 



This Babbler sometimes breeds in immature plumage, as 

 the male bird of this nest was in the semirufous stage, and 

 I do not think the complete adult stage is always attained 

 before the second autumn. 



12. Pellorneum palustre. [Oates, op. cit. i. p. 143.) 



I have found this bird breeding in the extensive grass- 

 lands to the north of the subdivision. The nest cannot be 

 distinguished from those of P. ruficeps and P. mandellii, but 

 it is more often placed on grass-land than in any other 

 situation, seldom, if ever, in the bamboo- and bush-jungle 

 so much affected by those birds. The eggs only differ in 

 being somewhat smaller, averaging about 0''"87 by 0"*64. 



13. Pellorneum ignotum. (Oates, op. cit. i. p. 144.) 

 This is one of the most common birds to the north-east 



and east of the North Cachar Hills, breeding everywhere 

 above 3000 feet in great numbers. The nest is of the same 

 character as that of P. mandellii, i. e. a rather massive struc- 



