CEXTBOCOCCYX. 407 



bably breeds up to that elevation. It affects dense grassy jungle, 

 and fixes its nest, two or three feet from the ground, in the middle 

 of a large saccharum or other grass plant, by bending over a few 

 of the steins to make a resting-place for it. It is composed of 

 pieces of Ions; dry grass and bamboo-leaves, put rather loosely 

 together, and surrounded by the ends of the bent steins, which are 

 twisted right over it and partly worked in with the dry material. 

 In shape it is a roundish oval, measuring externally about 10 inches 

 in height by s inches in width. The cavity is 4 to 5 inches in 

 diameter, and is lined with a few green leaves. The entrance, 

 which is at the side, is :{ inches in diameter. 



" The usual number of eggs is three, and the breeding months 

 May and June." 



The eggs obtained by Mr. G-ainmie are broad ovals, obtuse at 

 both ends. White with a faint gloss, and a good deal stained 

 here and there with dirty brownish yellow. They measured 1-15 

 and 1-24 in length, and 0-96 and 0-99 in breadth. 



Mr. J. Inglis informs us that in Cachar " this Coucal arrives 

 here about the beginning of June and departs at the close of the 

 rains ; breeds from June till September. Like C. intermedius it 

 makes its nest in a clump of tall grass or reeds ; the nest resembles 

 a round ball of grass with a hole in the side as an entrance. The 

 eggs are generally sir in number, round, and perfectly white." 



Mr. Gates, referring to this bird, says : " Breeds commonly in 

 Lower Pegu throughout August. The nest is placed about two 

 feet from the ground in rank grass, chiefly between paddy-fields 

 on the bunds. It is shaped like an egg, about 10 inches high and 

 8 inches diameter. The entrance, 5 by 4, is placed midway between 

 the top and bottom. It is composed of elephant-grass, and the 

 surrounding grasses are bent down and incorporated with the 

 structure. The egg-chamber and sides are neatly lined with 

 thatch-grass. The walls are everywhere about 1 inch thick. In 

 one nest there was a distinct vertical slit at the back, but I failed 

 to notice it in others. 



" The number of eggs is either two or three, and I have found 

 both numbers well incubated. Egg-shell very chalky, but smooth 

 to the touch and fairly glossy ; colour white. Average of eight 

 eggs, 1*17 by I'Ol ; and the extreme dimensions are 1*18 to 1*12 

 in length and 1-08 to -94 in breadth." 



The eggs are moderately broad ovals, somewhat cylindrical, very 

 obtuse at both ends. The shell is finer than in the preceding 

 species, and seems to have a slight gloss at all times. They are 

 pure white when laid, but acquire, as incubation proceeds, brownish- 

 yellow stains and a greater general glossiness. 



The eggs vary from 1-13 to 1-25 in length, and from 0-91 to 

 0-99 in breadth.' 



