404 CTTCULID^:. 



newly-built nest, with one fresh-laid egg, found as late as 20th 

 July." 



Mr. Khodes W. Morgan, writing from South India, says : " It 

 breeds in dense thorny bushes, building a domed nest with an 

 aperture in the side. The nest is composed of green leaves and 

 twigs carelessly woven together. The eggs are from two to three 

 in number, and of a dull white. They are covered with a chalky 

 epidermis, which, when removed, leaves the shell of a pure white, 

 and not of a beautiful blue as in the case of Crotopliaya ani. The 

 dimensions of an egg in my collection are 1*5 inch in length by 

 1-21 in breadth." 



In Ceylon, we are informed by Colonel W. V. Legge, this species 

 breeds from May to September. 



The eggs vary little in size or shape broad regular ovals, almost 

 perfectly symmetrical at both ends ; they closely resemble, so far 

 as size and shape go, those of our Common Blue Pigeon (C. in- 

 termedia). In texture they are rather coarse and somewhat 

 chalky, and are normally of a dull pure white, but they are not 

 unfrequently covered, when first found, with a pale yellowish- 

 brown glaze or size, which readily washes off, but which, so long 

 as it remains on them, imparts to them a certain amount of 

 gloss. 



One specimen from Tipperah, sent me by Mr. Irwin, is very 

 nearly spherical and of a very pure white. 



In length the eggs vary from 1*3 to 1*55 inch, and in breadth 

 from 1'12 to 1'25 inch ; but the average of a large series is 1'44 

 by 1*16 inch. 



Centrococcyx andamanensis (Tytler). The Andaman Coucal. 



Centropus andamanensis (7y/.), Hume, Rough Draft N. 4' E- 

 no. 217 bis. 



The Andaman Coucal breeds (of course in the Audamans) during 

 the latter part of the hot weather and the beginning of the rains. 

 I have no detailed information as to its nidification, but Captain 

 "VVimberley, who sent me two eggs which he took in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Port Blair, informs me that he took them in June, 

 and that the nest was composed of sticks and placed in a tolerably 

 high tree in secondary jungle. The eggs are of the usual Coucal 

 type, broad ovals, very obtuse at both ends ; in colour a dull, 

 much-soiled white, with very little gloss; and measuring 1'32 by 

 1-12 inch, and 1-33 by 1-1 inch. 



Centrococcyx intermedius, Hume. The Burmese Coucal. 

 Centrococcyx intermedius, Htime ; Hume, Cat. no. 217 quat. 



Mr. J. Inglis writes from Cachar : " This bird is exceedingly 

 common, frequenting tall reeds and other jungle along the banks 



