Birds of Lucknow. 51 



It breeds from March to May, making a hole in a decayed 

 tree, and usually laving four white eggs, which are glossless 

 and rather thin in the shell. The tree selected may be a 

 pipal, mango, babool, sheshum, or any that is sufficiently 

 decayed. 



Average of 14 Lucknow eggs l-18"x "88" 



Measurement of largest egg 1*21" X '89" 



„ smallest egg 1-12" x "84" 



No. 1019. Xanthol.ema hlematocephala. Crimson- 

 breasted Barbet or Coppersmith. 



Basunta [H.]. Small-caste Green Woodpecker [Anglo- 

 Indian boys]. 



The Crimson- breasted Barbet is a very common and per- 

 manent resident, inhabiting every grove and garden. Its 

 monotonous " tonk, tonk, tonk/' like the stroke of a mallet 

 on a piece of copper, is one of our most familiar sounds. It 

 feeds, like the last species, on fruit and berries, and probably 

 on insects as well. It breeds from the end of February to 

 the beginning of June, but most eggs are to be got in March 

 and early April. It excavates its own nest-hole, like other 

 Barbets and Woodpeckers, in a decayed branch. The eggs 

 are three in number, glossless, white, and fragile. 



Average of 15 Lucknow eggs *92" x "66" 



Measurement of largest egg -97" X •70'' 



„ smallest egg -75" X "61" 



No. 1022. Coracias indicus. Indian Roller. 



Nilkant [H.]. Blue Jay [Anglo-Indian boys]. 



One of our commonest birds and a permanent resident. 

 It frequents by preference gardens, groves, and thickly 

 wooded places, but is common enough in the open fields, and 

 even on the bare maidans. It is very noisy, particularly 

 during the pairing-season. Its evolutions in the air are 

 familiar to everyone who has been in India, and the 

 screaming that goes on during the performance is anything 

 but soothing. It nests in holes of trees or buildings during 

 March, April, and May, laying four glossy white eggs. I 

 once, however, found five. Sometimes the hole is lined with 



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