54 Mr. C. F. M. Swynncrton on the 



They were constructed externally chiefly of roots, but these 

 were usually intermixed with a few dry herb-stems^ particu- 

 larly those of Mucuna coriacea, while in one or two cases a 

 little grass, the tendrils and leaves of the above-mentioned 

 Rhoicissus, or a strip of bark were worked in ; they were 

 lined entirely with reddish-brown roots, compactly arranged, 

 or the midribs of some pinnate leaf. External diameter of 

 nest 4 to 5'1 inches ; depth from 1-85 to 2*5. Diameter of 

 cup about 3 inches and depth 0-8 to 1-4 inches. The eggs 

 were always two in number, pale greenish-blue, or white very 

 faintly tinged with greenish-blue in ground-colour, with 

 numerous spots and blotches, sometimes longitudinal, of 

 violet-grey, brown-madder, and deep chestnut-brown, the 

 markings usually larger and most numerous about the larger 

 end, where they sometimes form a zone and at others tend to 

 stray over the pole and form a cap; the variation is so 

 consideral)le that, of the two extreme types in my collection, 

 one resembles the English Moorhen's e^^ in its scheme of 

 coloration, while the other approaches that of Laniarius 

 quadricolor. They measured from 23 to 25 mm. long by from 

 17 mm. to 17-8 broad. 



The behaviour of the birds at the nest is most interesting, 

 and may be best illustrated by one or two quotations from 

 my diary : — " On waiting for the birds to return I was 

 treated to quite a pretty performance. After ten minutes' 

 wait the female appeared at some distance to my right and 

 was followed shortly after by the male, who took up his 

 position in some thick scrub immediately below her. She, 

 however, was in full view, and commenced the duet : ' kda- 

 kea-kea ' {anglice ' care '), notes like the tearing of cloth 

 and with a low bow at the end. These three notes she 

 would repeat three or four times and then come out 

 with a loud 'Quarel'to which the male replied 'Woh!' 

 (the 'Quare' longer-drawn and bolder than the preceding 

 ' Care,' and the male's ' Woh ' hollow and resonant, 

 like the loud musical croak of certain frogs). I could 

 not observe the actions of the male well, as he was 

 more or less hidden by the scrub, but the third ' Care ' and 



