388 PYCNONOTID2. 
Description. Differs from MJ. h. hemorrhous in having the black 
of the head gradually shading into the blackish brown of the lower 
back und the lower breast. ‘The ear-coverts are dark chocolate- 
brown and the whole plumage is much darker than in M. h. 
hemorrhous and a fortiort than that of M. h. pallidus. 
Colours of soft parts. Iris hazel or dark brown ; bill and legs 
black, the latter rarely with a brownish tinge. 
Measurements. This is the largest of the Indian races and larger 
than any of the other races except chrysorrhoides. Wing 103 to 
111 im. 
Distribution. The Himalayas and Sub-Himalayan terai and ad- 
joining plains from Kumaon to East Assam; Oudh, Northern 
Behar ; East Bengal from about Chota Nagpur; : leprae Hills and 
Naga Hills East. to Lakhimpur; N.W. Cachar. In Manipur 
and in East Cachar the common type is burmanicus, though here, 
as one would expect, many birds are halt-way between the two. 
In Central Cachar the birds are quite intermediate but here and 
there. even as far West as the Khasia Hills, birds of the Burmese 
type are not uncommon. 
Nidification. The Bengal Red-vented Bulbul breeds freely 
throughout its range from “the level of the plains to at least 7,000 
feet. In the plains it begins in March and continues until May, 
many birds having a second brood after the rains break in aaunie 
and July. Inthe Hills May seems to be the great breeding month 
but eggs have been taken in practically every month of the year. 
The nest is the usual cup-shaped affair made by all Bulbuls but is 
possibly rather bigger and bulkier than those made by its more 
southern cousins. It is placed in bushes or trees in gardens, 
roadsides, orchards ete. and also in the scrub round villages. In 
the Khasia and Cachar Hills it also breeds in thin jungle and the 
extreme outskirts of forest. 
The normal full clutch is three or four eggs and rarely even five 
may be laid. ‘Typically they are rather broad obtuse ovals but they 
vary considerably in shape. In colour again typical eggs are white 
to strong pink or lilac-pink profusely spotted, s speckled ame blotched 
with various shades of brown or fedairens brown with sparser 
secondary markings of pale lavender and neutral tint. They, 
however, vary enormously and many eggs are extremely richly and 
handsomely “marked, whilst others are not. 200 eggs average 
22-9 x 16-9 mm. and the extremes are 25:0 x 17-0; 24-0 XK 1iso 
and 20:9 17-5; 21-8<15:3 nm. 
Habits. The Benoa Red-vented Bulbul is not gregarious in the 
true sense of the word but it is so common that it will be seen in 
numbers wherever the country is at all suitable and there is no 
garden of any size which does not have several resident pairs as well 
as innumerable casual visitors. They are charming and sprightly 
birds in their ways and actions and most of their notes are very 
pleasant. Like many other Bulbuls they are very pugnacious and 
during the breeding season no other Bulbul is allowed within the 
