192 FALCON1DJE. 



but when first found many of them are, to an oologist's eye, 

 perfect pictures." 



In size they vary from 1*85 to 2*15 inches in length, and from 

 1'48 to 1-65 inch in breadth; but of ninety-eight eggs measured 

 the average size was 2*01 by 1'57 inch. 



Falco chicquera, Baud. The Red-headed Merlin. 



Hypotriorchis chicquera (Daud.), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 36. 

 Chiquera typus, Bp., Hume, Rough Draft N. fy E. no. 16. 



The Toorumtee or Red-headed Merlin breeds from January to 

 May, the majority, I think, laying in March. I have myself 

 as yet obtained no egg earlier than the 15th February, or later than 

 the 15th of May ; and all those obtained in May were from the 

 Punjab, where many birds breed later than in more southern parts 

 of the country. 



They nest, I believe, exclusively on trees. I have seen no record 

 of their building on rocks, as so many of the Falcons often do ; 

 and I once took a nest in the Sewaliks in a peepul-tree, at the foot 

 of a cliff, full of ledges and boulder-holes, which, had the bird any 

 sort of inclination for such localities, would have been sure to 

 have attracted it. 



Where such occur, they prefer large trees peepul, mango, and 

 tamarind (more commonly the two latter), usually selecting one 

 of a small group standing by itself. In the Punjab and E-aj poo- 

 tana, where large trees are scarce, their nests may be found on 

 mere bushes, not above 10 feet from the ground. 



The nest is generally firmly fixed in a fork near the top of the 

 tree, and is typically a very neat, compact, and characteristic 

 structure ; it is usually circular, some 12 inches in diameter, and 

 from 6 to 9 inches in thickness, with a deep egg-cavity, from 5 to 

 6 inches in diameter, and from 3 to 3*5 in depth ; but I have seen 

 some nests, comparatively thin platforms, with only a depression 

 of 1'5 to 2 inches in depth towards the centre. The lower portion 

 of the nest is constructed of pretty stout twigs, of various kinds of 

 wood, closely put together ; the upper portion of finer twigs still 

 more closely interwoven. The egg-cavity or depressien is lined 

 with fine roots or vegetable fibre, the roots of the khus grass 

 (Andropogon muricatum) being commonly chosen for this purpose, 

 along with straw, a few feathers, and occasionally a shred or two 

 of cloth, the lining being firmly intertwined with the twigs forming 

 the walls of the cavity. 



These birds make, I think, their own nests fresh and fresh every 

 year. I have repeatedly seen them building new nests in trees 

 containing very nice last year's nests of Crows and other birds, and 

 though I have very often looked them up again, I have not as yet 

 ever found a nest tenanted by the Toorumtee during two successive 

 seasons. Both sexes assist in building, and they make no little 

 fuss about the placing of each twig that is brought up. The 



