190 Mr. W. Jes^c—Birds'-iiestinff 



way as that of the European Nuthatch, and the eggs are 

 similar. In none of the nests of the Roller which I exa- 

 mined did I find any lining, and the Owlets, which inhabit 

 similar situations, often do not line their holes. 



The two species of Barbet, namely, Franklin^s Green 

 Barhct [Megalaima caniceps) and the Crimson-breasted 

 Barbet [XantJwlmna indica), which nest here, dig their holes 

 (of course unlined) in rotten branches, the latter species 

 generally choosing the under side. The Golden Woodpecker 

 [Brachypterwis aurantius) also breeds here, and probably 

 the Yellow-fronted Woodpecker [Picus mahrattensis) , for I 

 saw the latter several times during the season, though I was 

 unable to find a nest. 



The pretty little Bee-eaters, Merops viridis and Merops 

 jjhilippensis , lay their eggs just when the hot weather is 

 well started (April and May). It requires a large amount 

 of patience and perseverance, after having found a hole, to dig 

 it out. There you stand in your lightest clothes, the ther- 

 mometer at 150°, and probably a hot wind blowing, the 

 baked sand-hills radiating the heat like a furnace, and 

 the ground like iron. After perhaps an hour^s desperate 

 digging, you come upon the hen-bird in her boudoir. Alas ! 

 the wretched little hussy has determined that the first egg 

 is not to be laid till to-morrow, and there you are, the per- 

 spiration streaming down your face, fagged out, and in any- 

 thing but a Christian-like frame of mind, without a single 

 egg to reward you for your toil. From the second week in 

 April to the end of July is the nesting-season, ^jor excellence, 

 in Lucknow. The chief birds then breeding, besides many 

 before mentioned, are the various Cuckoos, Tailor-birds, 

 Warblers, Tree-Pies, Shrikes, Drongos, Crows, Mynahs, 

 Larks, Sparrows, Orioles, and Paddy-birds. 



The Tailor-bird {Orthotomus longicaudus) , though by no 

 means uncommon, does not attract much attention, except by 

 its call, which is loud. The nest is always diflficult to find, 

 and those which I have taken or had brought me have never 

 been composed of more than three leaves. The Indian 

 Golden Oriole [Oriolus kundoo), which is closely related to 



