Nidijlcation of Indian Birds. 59 



A semi-domed nest, that is to say, one shaped like an egg 

 from which half the small end has been removed. — Height 

 over 5", diameter about 2"-7 outwardly, and about 1""8 in- 

 wardly. Cavity 2" deep from the edge of the outer wall. 



A cup-shaped nest measured externally 3"'2 by 2"-l in 

 diameter, and internally 2"-l in depth by V'Q in width at 

 the top. 



The nest is generally rather well made, the bamboo-leaves 

 being well matted together, but, from its very nature, it can 

 stand little handling, and the bird also seems peculiarly fond 

 of building it in some damp position, which increases its 

 tendency to rot and come to pieces. I have found it both in 

 thin evergreen-forest and in bamboo-jungle ; in the former 

 sort of ground it is generally placed by a pathway or on the 

 borders of an open piece of ground. 



The number of eggs laid varies greatly. I have once taken 

 two hard-set eggs, and have also taken five eggs from a 

 nest ; probably the number is normally three or four, fre- 

 quently the former number. 



In shape the eggs are ratlier regular broad ovals, rarely 

 somewhat pointed at the smaller end ; they are very smooth 

 and glossy, and fine and stout in texture, far stronger than the 

 eggs of Stachyrhidopsis. They measure from 0""59 to 0"'()7 

 in length, and from 0"'14; to 0""50 in breadth, the average of 

 22 eggs being 0"-61 by 0"'48. Gates seems much struck 

 by the smallness of the eggs of S. chrysaa found by 

 Gammie, and of which he remarks : — " Their cubic contents 

 are not half those of the average eggs of S. nigriceps." 

 These eggs measured 0""63 x 0"'48, whereas the average of 

 forty eggs of this bird measured by myself is only 0""62 x 

 0"*46. Gates does not seem to consider that the cubic con- 

 tents of the two birds are probably just about in proportion 

 to the size of their eggs. 



17. Stachyrhidopsis rufifkons. (Oates, op. cit. i. 

 p. 165.) 



I have seen but six nests of this species ; of these three 

 were globular and three were in shape like an egg placed on 



