486 Mr. W. Jesse on the 



No. 226. ZosTERors palpebrosa. Indian JF/iile-ci/c. 



Babooua [H. Luelviiovv]. Yellow-Hammcr [Anglo-Indian 

 boys]. 



The White-eye is a very common bird and a permanent 

 resident. It is of a sociable disposition and may be found 

 in any mango-grove, avenue, or compound in small parties 

 diligently searching the leaves for insects. 



This species breeds with us from the beginning of April to 

 the end of July, but, according to my record, June is the best 

 month to search for their eggs. The nest, which is usually 

 very difficult to find, is a lovely little basket of tine grass, 

 cobwebs, and fibres, and is a perfect miniature of that of the 

 Golden Oriole. Four is the greatest number of eggs that I 

 have found, but three are more usual. All that I have 

 found have been pale unspotted blue, but occasionally they 

 are marked with darker shades of the same colour. 



Average of 14 Lucknow eggs -58" x "40" 



Measurement of largest egg -63" x "46" 



„ smallest egg -53" x •45" 



No. 243. iEoiTHiNA TiPHiA. Common lora. 



Yellow-bird [Anglo-Indian boys]. 



This lovely little species is common, but is very shy and 

 comparatively seldom seen. The note is very rich and loud 

 for so small a bird, and once known is not easily forgotten. 

 By following up the call — not an easy matter, for the lora is no 

 mean ventriloquist, — you may be able to catch a glimpse of a 

 beautiful little black-and-yellow bird, with a white bar across 

 the wing due to the white median wing-coverts. 



The nest is one of the most difficult to find of any, both 

 on account of the shyness of the parents, and also from its 

 being most carefully hidden. So far I have only taken the 

 eggs myself twice [June 17th, 1898; July 26th, 1901]. 

 Nests and eggs have been brought me in April, May, and 

 June, and Mr. George Reid took a nest and three eggs on 

 July 16th. 



This April a pair bred near my bungalow. All the regular 

 egg-collectors were on the search for weeks, but though the 

 Martiniere boy has a genius for discovering well-hidden 



