14 MUSCICAPIDJE. 



surface of the egg. A few purple spots are intermingled with the 

 red markings of the zone. 



The eggs measure 0-72 by 0-53 and O75 by 0-55 *. 



591. Ochromela nigrirufa (Jerd.). The BlacJc-and-Orange 

 Flycatcher. 



Ochromela nigrorufa (Jerd.), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 462 j Hume, Rough 

 Draft N. $ E. no. 300. 



The Black-and-Orange Flycatcher breeds on the hills of Southern 

 India, at elevations of from 5000 to 7000 feet. It lays from 

 March to May, two being the normal number of the eggs, but three 

 being occasionally found. A nest of this species, taken by Mr. 

 Carter at Coonoor, in the Nilghiris, is a very remarkable structure 

 for a bird of this species. It is a huge coarse ball-like nest, made 

 of dry sedge-flags, and very coarse marsh-grass, on a foundation 

 of dead leaves. It is almost incredible at first sight that this 

 nest should really belong to this bird, but this is the normal type 

 of nest, of which I have now seen many. The nest itself has an 

 external diameter of at least 6 inches, and the egg-cavity, which is 

 near the centre of the nest, and which is devoid of lining, is about 

 2| inches in diameter, and fully 2| inches deep. Other nests 

 taken by Miss Cockburn and Mr. Davison are precisely similar in 

 character, regular balls of dry sedge and coarse grass, wedged in 

 usually to the centre of a bush, with a small entrance-hole at one 

 side near the top, and entirely devoid of lining, usually with more 

 or less dry leaves as a foundation to the ball. 



Mr. J. L. Darling, Junior, says : " I have taken the eggs in 

 March, April, and May in 1870-71-72, at Ooty, Coouoor, and 

 Kotagherry, at elevations of from 5000 to 7000 feet. The nest is 

 placed in thick clumps. The bird is fond of building in the cluster 

 of new shoots that rise from the stump of a tree that has been 

 felled. Usually, the nests are at heights of from 1 to 3 feet from 

 the ground ; but I have found one placed actually on the ground. 

 The nest is globular, higher than it is wide, with a small entrance- 

 hole at one side, below which the nest is a little drawn in and above 

 which the dome projects somewhat. The foundation of the nest 

 is almost always composed of dry leaves and fern, and the rest of 

 it is woven of reed-leaves and flags. There is no lining ; the eggs 

 rest upon the soft reed-leaves. The nest exteriorly is about 6 or 

 7 inches high and 4 broad, and the diameter of the central spherical 

 cavity is perhaps 3 inches. The eggs are always two in number, 



* ALSEONAX RUFICAUDUS (Swains.). 

 Cyornis ruficauda (Sw.}, Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 468. 



Major Ward law Karasay says, writing of Afghanistan : " Common, and 

 breeding as it was in May, June, and July, I never had the luck to find its 

 nest." 



