202 



" June 11, 1875. A nest containing 4 fresh eggs. 



" June 13, 1875. 3 fresh eggs. 



4 fresh eggs. 



" July 8, 1875. 4 fresh eggs. 



" July 12, 1875. 4 fresh eggs. 



" The nest consists of a broad shallow saucer about 3| inches in 

 diameter measured from the inside, composed of dry twigs and 

 fine roots, and is invariably fixed in the fork of a tree. The bottom 

 of the nest, though strongly woven, is often so thin that the eggs 

 are visible from below. The eggs, usually four in number, are of 

 the Oriole type, being white or creamy buff, sparingly spotted and 

 speckled with deep chocolate or rusty brown, with, occasionally, 

 markings of inky purple. The markings of the eggs of this species, 

 like those of the Oriole, are apt to run if washed." 



Messrs. Davidson and Wen den, writing from the Deccan, say : 

 " Common and breeds." 



Mr. Vidal remarks of this bird in the South Konkan: "Abun- 

 dant. Breeds in May." 



Mr. Rhodes "W. Morgan, writing from South India, says in ' The 

 Ibis ' : " Breeds from March to the end of May, constructing a 

 slight cup-shaped nest in a tree. The nest is composed of fine 

 twigs bound together with cob \vebs, and is rather a flimsy concern, 

 the eggs often being visible from below. It is generally placed in 

 the fork of a branch, at from 10 to 30 feet from the ground. The 

 eggs are three in number, occasionally only two, and vary very 

 greatly in colour, some being almost of a pure white, whilst others 

 again are spotted and blotched, especially at the larger end, with 

 claret and light purple on a rich salmon-coloured ground. The 

 birds are very noisy in the breeding-season, keeping all intruders 

 off, not hesitating to attack Kites and Crows. They seem to have 

 an especial antipathy to the latter." 



Mr. Benjamin Aitken states that in Madras " the King-Crow, so 

 conspicuous on the backs of cattle, telegraph-wires, &c., all through 

 the cold and hot seasons, is conspicuous by its absence during the 

 breeding-season. Many of them retire to woods and gardens to 

 breed, but even when they do not, they keep very quiet while they 

 have their nests. Last June there was a nest in a tree in the Thieves' 

 bazaar at Madras, but the birds hardly ever showed themselves out 

 of the tree." 



Mr. J. Inglis informs us that in Cachar " this King-Crow is ex- 

 tremely common. It breeds all through the summer. It lays four 

 or five pure white eggs on the top of a few grasses placed in the 

 fork of a tree. It is very pugnacious, and attacks birds of all sizes 

 if they approach it." 



There are two very distinct types of this bird's eggs. The one 

 pure white and spotless, the other a pale salmon-colour, spotted 

 with a rich brownish red. These eggs unquestionably both belong 

 to the same species, as I have taken them times without number 

 myself and can positively certify to their parentage ; moreover, 

 connecting Jinks are not wanting in a large series. I have one egg 



