NILTAVA. 19 



When the nest is placed on the cleft of a rock, the shape of the 

 nest is accommodated to it, so that I have seen the nest shaped like 

 a parallelogram, long, quite flat on the sides, and the two ends just 

 slightly rounded." 



In Nepal, according to Mr. Hodgson's notes, this species lays 

 during April and May, building a more or less massive nest of 

 green moss and lichen, lined with fine moss-roots. The dimensions 

 of one nest are recorded as exterior diameter 4-5 inches, height 

 2'5, diameter of cavity 2'6o, depth 1 -5 inches, but they are said to 

 be often larger. They are placed on the branch of some tree, 

 between three or four slender shoots, at an elevation of a few feet 

 above the ground, or at other times in some hole of a decaying tree 

 or on some ledge of rock. They lay four buffy eggs, measuring 

 about 1 inch in length by about 0*73. They have only one brood 

 in the year, and the young are fledged and ready to fly about the 

 middle of July. 



From Sikhim Mr. Gamtuie writes : " 1 have seen several nests 

 of this bird, but have only once taken the eggs. It breeds in May 

 and June, in forests from 4000 to 7000 feet of elevation, and lays 

 four eggs. A favourite position for the nest is against the side of 

 a gigantic buttressed tree, about four or five feet up, in the angle 

 formed by two of the buttresses. It also builds in clefts of rocks 

 and similar positions. The nest is made of green moss lined with 

 black fibrous roots, and measures externally 4-5 inches in width by 

 3'2 in depth ; internally the cavity is 3 inches in diameter by 1'9 

 deep. 



" Though this Flycatcher is often seen about Darjeeling, yet 

 numerically it is rather rare. It is very solitary : except at the 

 breeding-season, rarely more than one individual being seen at a 

 time. It is naturally a shy and silent bird, but becomes bold and 

 noisy when its nest or young is approached, at such times both 

 male and female will come quite close to the intruder, uttering 

 their plaintive whistling complaints." 



A beautiful nest of this species taken on the 21st May by Mr. 

 Gammie at Rishap, at an elevation of 5000 feet, contained three 

 fresh eggs. It was built about 4 feet from the ground on the side 

 of a large moss-covered tree between two small buttresses. It is 

 a massive structure of green moss closely felted together every- 

 where, fully 1 inch in thickness. The cavity is entirely lined with 

 black fern-roots strongly felted together, and measures 2-5 inches 

 in diameter by 1*5 in depth. 



The general character of the eggs is much that of those of 

 JV. suudara, Stoparola melanops, and >S'. albicaudata. I have never 

 taken the eggs myself, but those that I have received from Dr. 

 Jerdou and Capt. Masson from Darjeeling differ slightly in size, as 

 well as in intensity of colouring. 



Those that Dr. Jerdon gave me are larger than those sent me 

 with nests and female birds by Captain Masson, averaging T04 inch 

 in length by 0*73 inch against 0-96 in length by 0'72 inch in breadth, 

 which is what Captain Masson's eggs average. 



2* 



