Nesting of Birds in Fohkien. 41 



are fine dry grass, dead leaves, roots, and moss bound 

 together with cobwebs, and plentifully spangled on the 

 outside with spiders' egg-cases, lichens, cocoon-silk, bright- 

 coloured moss, and sometimes small scraps of white paper. 

 The lining materials are pine-needles, fine grass, roots, 

 human hair, coir, and seeding grass-spikes. 



The eggs are three or four in a clutch. They are more or 

 less broadly ovate in shape, and average (eleven specimens) 

 '77 x '59 in. The ground-colour is light orange, speckled 

 with burnt-sienna, over underlying lilac-grey specks. The 

 markings are thickest at the larger end, where they form 

 a cap or broad zone, the rest of the shell being very lightly 

 marked, often with only a few scattered specks. 



In one instance La Touche found a male (in red plumage) 

 sitting on three eggs, his long tail-feathers floating in the 

 breeze ! 



Microcichla scouleri (Vigors) : Ibis, 1899, p. 195. 



A resident species in all suitable localities, but it does not 

 appear to be common. We have not taken the eggs near 

 Fooehow, and so have nothing to add to what La Touche 

 has already said on the subject. 



Henicurus sinensis Gould : Ibis, 1899, p. 193. 



A very common resident in all suitable localities. 



A nest taken by our collectors in Central Fohkien on 

 May 10th was a mere hollowed pad of dead and skeleton 

 leaves, dry grass, and roots, with a few bamboo-leaves. 



Henicurus schistaceus Hodgson : Ibis, 1899, p. 194. - 

 This species is far less common than the last. 

 A nest with two eggs taken in Central Fohkien on 

 May 6th was composed of moss and roots, lined with fine 

 dry grass, roots, skeleton leaves, and one feather. It was a 

 neat firm cup. 



Rhyacornis fuliginosa (Vigors) : Ibis, 1899, p. 202. 

 A common resident on the plains as well as on the moun- 

 tains of the Province wherever there are suitable streams. 



