374 



Dacca ; Tipperah ; Manipur ; the neighbourhood of Bhamo ; 

 Chittagong ; Arrakan ; the southern portion of Pegu ; the whole 

 of Tenasserim, thence extending down the Malay peninsula to the 

 large islands. 



habits, fyc. Breeds in Southern Pegu from May to August. The 

 nest is suspended from the tip of a branch at any height from the 

 ground and well surrounded by leaves. It is a pear-shaped 

 structure constructed of hair-like fibres and roots and ornamented 

 outside with various substances. The entrance is about midway 

 up the nest and protected by a very ample portico which extends 

 to the base of the nest. The eggs, two in number, are pinkish 

 white marked with brown and purple ; they measure about -64 

 by -45. 



Family 



The intrinsic muscles of the syrinx fixed to the end of the 

 bronchial semi-rings ; both mandibles finely and evenly serrated 

 on the terminal third of their edges ; bill short and triangular ; 

 primaries nine or ten ; the nestling resembling the adult female; 

 one moult in the year ; rectrices twelve ; rictal bristles short. 



The Dicceidce form a very compact and natural family of birds, 

 which may be known at once, and separated from all other Passeres 

 except the Nectariniidce, by the peculiar serrations on the edges of 

 both mandibles, as shown in the accompanying cut. 





Fig. 103. Bill of D, cruentatum (enlarged), to show serrations on mandibles. 



This character holds good in all the species of this family 

 without exception. A lens is generally necessary to observe the 

 serrations, but frequently they may be seen with the naked eye, 

 especially if the open bill is held against a sheet of white paper. 



The Dicceidce are all small birds, generally of brilliant plumage. 

 In most species the sexes differ in colour, in some they are alike. 

 The young resemble the adult female. They are all resident, not 

 even migrating locally. 



