84 TUKDID^E. 



9 feet from the ground, containing 4 fresh eggs. The nest consisted 

 solely of the stems of dry leaves. Another nest, exactly similar, on 

 the 6tb April, about 12 feet from the ground, containing 3 fresh 

 eggs ; probably four would have been laid if the others had been 

 left, as the hen bird was not sitting or near the nest. Another nest 

 on the 23rd April in a hole of one of the masonwork pillars that 

 are substituted for gateposts in this part of the country, containing 

 4 fresh eggs. 27th April, three more nests in holes of trees, each 

 containing 4 fresh eggs. 7th May, another nest containing 4 fresh 

 eggs. 13th May, 4 fresh eggs. As a rule, the nest is usually built 

 in holes of trees varying in height from 4 feet to 15 feet from the 

 ground. 



" 17th May, 3 fresh eggs. 27th May, 4 incubated eggs. 28th, 

 4 fresh eggs. 10th June, two nests, each containing fresh eggs. 

 12th May, a nest containing four eggs, two of which were quite 

 fresh and the other two much incubated ; the nest was built in a 

 hole from w r hich I had taken four eggs about a month before, and 

 apparently by the same pair of birds." 



Mr. J. Darling, Jun., informs me that on the 29th March, at 

 Vythery, S. Wynaad, he took a nest at an elevation of about 

 2300 feet. 



" The nest was placed in a hole in a black wood tree about 

 6 feet from the ground. The aperture of the hole was about 

 6 inches in diameter, and the hole ran downwards for about 

 8 inches. The nest was at the bottom of the hole. A few twigs 

 served as a foundation, and on these was placed a circular pad of 

 fibres, roots, and moss, 5 inches in diameter and 3 inches in thick- 

 ness, with a shallow central depression lined with finer fibres, in 

 which rested five eggs." 



Mr. C. J. W. Taylor states that in Mysore, at Manzeerabad, this 

 Robin is common everywhere, breeding in April and May. 



From Ceylon Mr. Layard tells us that it is seldom seen far away 

 from human habitations, about which it commonly builds, though 

 the nest is often placed in a thick bush or hollow tree. The eggs, 

 four in number, are bright blue thickly spotted with brown at the 

 obtuse end. 



Colonel Legge writes : " In the west and south of Ceylon this 

 Robin breeds between the months of February and July, having 

 apparently more than one brood in the season." 



Writing from Eurreedpore, Eastern Bengal, Mr. J. R. Cripps 

 says: "Yery common, and a permanent resident; affects the 

 haunts of man ; nests in cavities and holes in trees and holes in 

 buildings, In the Dacca district I once saw a nest in a bunch of 

 the 'Kuch kela' (Musa sapicutum) ; two of the smaller bunches 

 were about four inches apart, and in the cavity thus formed the 

 bird had made its nest and reared three young ; the nest was only 

 seven feet from the ground. Another nest was placed in a hole in 

 a date-tree, and was only three feet from the ground. Although 

 they always build in holes, in every one they form a pad of fine 

 grasses and roots with a tiny depression for the eggs, of which I 



