



Mr. W. Jesse on the 



were white and measured respectively '70" x •§§" and 

 •70 // x-52 / V 



No. 986. Brachypternus aurantius. Golden-backed 

 IJ oodpecker. 



Golden Woodpecker [Martiniere boys]. 



A common and permanent resident, frequenting gardens, 

 avenues, and topes. Its shrill scream is a familiar sound 

 and is uttered as it flies. The bird is said to breed twice a 

 year — once in March and April, and again in the rains. I 

 have no proof of the second nesting-season. T have only 

 found the nest on two or three occasions — March 23rd and 

 April 1st, with eggs; and late in May, with young. The college 

 boys apparently never get the eggs in the " rains." The nest- 

 hole may be excavated by the bird or may be a natural hollow. 

 On one occasion the eggs were laid in a hollow of a decayed 

 branch exposed to the sky, nevertheless the bird had cut a 

 hole on the under side, though it was quite unnecessary. 



The eggs are, of course, pure glossy white, and are usually 

 three in number. 



Average of 4 Lucknow eggs '99' ' X '77" 



Measurement of largest egs; l - 0o" x '80" 



"6S 



smallest egrer - 97" X "75" 



-r 



No. 1003. Iynx torquilla. Common Wryneck. 



Reid stated that this bird was fairly common during the 

 cold weather. I have only seen it on two or three occasions, 

 once in a mango-grove and again in some babool-trees near 

 the river. Possibly it may be sometimes overlooked. 



No. 1008. Thereoceryx zeylonicus. Common Indian 

 Green Barbet. 



Large-caste Woodpecker [Martiniere boys]. 



This bird is a permanent and common resident, particularly 

 where banian and pipal trees abound. It is rather a silent 

 bird during the cold weather, but on the approach of spring 

 recovers its voice and makes excellent use of it — the notes 

 being perhaps expressed by the syllables " kotur, kotur, kotur, 

 koturuk, koturuk, koturuk" — until the iron enters into your 

 soul and vou dream of murder. 



