550 Mr. W. Jesse on the 



It breeds in June and July, as I have seen the eggs. 

 Unfortunately the only nest 1 actually found myself was 

 destroyed by heavy rain. It was in a mango-tree about 

 ten feet from the ground. Reid, however, got the eggs here, 

 and says : — "On the 6th of June last (1881), I took a nest 

 and four eggs from a low branch of a mango-tree. The eggs, 

 of a delicate white salmon-colour, were minutely spotted with 

 red, and ringed with similar spots at the large e\\&." These 

 four eggs averaged "SO" X "oS". 



No. 601. Hypothymis azurea. Indian Blach-naped Fly- 

 catcher. 



I am very ignorant concerning our migratory Flycatchers, 

 as, during their stay here, whenever I have spare time, I 

 am on the jheel shooting rather than in the tope collecting. 

 According to Reid this species is not common. " It does 

 not seem to care for mango-topes, in which I have never 

 seen it ; but in forest-looking tracts, with plenty of under- 

 wood or shrubs, it may occasionally be seen, generally two 

 or three together.^^ 



No. 604. Rhipidura albifrontata. White-browed Fan- 

 tail-Flycatcher. 



This pretty little bird with its plaintive note is common 

 all over the Division, chiefly, I think, in mango-groves, but 

 also in avenues and gardens. It is, of course, a permanent 

 resident. It is interesting to watch it darting from a 

 branch after insects, returning to its perch and spreading 

 out its tail. It breeds, I think, twice — in March or 

 early April, and again in the " rains. '^ The nest is a most 

 delicate little inverted cone of fine grass, coated with cobwebs, 

 and is placed on the branch of a tree — generally a mango, 

 but sometimes a guava or other species. Reid has given an 

 excellent account of the nest-building, which is worth 

 quoting : — " The place selected was a horizontal and slender 

 mango branch about six feet from the ground, at a point 

 where the branch terminated and three slender uprights 

 started. In this fork they commenced the nest by twisting 

 spiders-webs round the main or horizontal stem upon which 



