CULICICAPA. 17 



From Sikhim Mr. Gainmie writes : "I have foimd this species 

 breeding in open forests in May and June, at about 5000 feet above 

 the sea. One nest found on the 10th June contained four fresh 

 eggs and was placed in a longitudinal scar on the underside of a 

 large leaning tree (not moss-covered), about four feet from the 

 ground. Outwardly it somewhat resembled the half of an inverted 

 cone split downwards, and measured externally 9 inches in length 

 by 3| across the top. Halfway down the breadth was 1 inch less. 

 The cavity was 1'5 inches in diameter by 1*3 in depth. It was 

 neatly made of moss bound together by cobwebs, and attached to 

 the rough scaly bark of the tree by the same material. The outer 

 moss was intermingled with a few lichens of the same colour as 

 those growing naturally on the tree, and the cavity was most 

 beautifully lined with the red fruiting-stalks of a small moss. I 

 did not know before that moss fruit-stalks were of any further use 

 (independent of their species) than being pretty to look at, but 

 here we have a charming use both for them and the much despised 

 cobwebs." 



Messrs. Davidson and Wenden, speaking of the Deccan, say : 

 " Very common in Satara, and undoubtedly breeds there." 



Mr. J. L. Darling, Junior, writes : " This species breeds from 

 April to May ; it is found all over the Xilghiris above 4500 feet, 

 and down in the Wynaad from (say) 3500 feet. It attaches its 

 nest with cobwebs to the faces of tree-trunks and rocks at heights 

 of from 7 to 30 feet above the ground. The nest is composed of 

 moss and cobwebs, and has no lining. The outline of the upper 

 surface is nearly semicircular, say about 5 or 6 inches in length, 

 where it joins the rock and projecting some 4 inches. The cavity, 

 which is in the middle of this, is quite circular and deeper than it 

 is wide. The profile of the nest is a quarter of a circle, and 

 externally it is from 4 to 6 inches deep. They lay from three to 

 four eggs ; more generally, I think, the former number." 



Mr, Davison remarks : " This bird breeds commonly on the 

 Nilghiris in April and May, choosing as a site for the nest souie 

 moss-covered trunk of a tree or rock, against which the nest is 

 placed ; it is composed entirely of green moss, lined with moss- 

 roots ; it is so constructed that it appears like an ordinary lump of 

 moss. The egg-cavity is very deep, the bird when sitting being 

 invisible at a distance of only a few paces. The eggs are three in 

 number: sometimes, though very seldom, four ; white, ringed at 

 the larger end with indistinct spots of a blackish grey, and with a 

 few spots of the same colour sparingly scattered over the entire 

 surface of the egg." 



Writing from Kotagherry, Miss Cockburn tells us that " these 

 Flycatchers generally choose the perpendicular sides of rocks on 

 which there is a quantity of green moss as places to build on, and 

 form their pretty little abodes (which in shape somewhat resemble 

 that of a swallow) of moss and cobweb, which makes them difficult 

 to distinguish and impossible to remove uninjured. They build in 

 the month of April and lay four eggs of a light grey, which have 



VOL. II. 2 



