658 Mr. J. D. D. La Touclie on the [Ibis, 



without gloss. Tlie sliape is ovate, occasionally oval or 

 oval-ovate. 



They vary in size from 075x0'55 in. to 083 x 061 iu. 

 Thirty-four eggs average 0'77x 0"57 in. 



The nest is a well- made, neat, and deep cup of soft dry 

 grasses, thickly and strongly bound with strips of grass- 

 skins, and much })lastered over exteriorly with hair, cobwebs, 

 and cocoons. It is not unlike that of SutJiora webbiana. 

 The natives who brought me the nests told me they were 

 placed in bushes. The inside measurements in nine cases 

 are : depth 2 to 2^ in., average 2"20 in. ; diameter 3 to 

 2^ in., average 2'20 in. The outer measurements are : 

 depth 2\ to 3 in., average 2| in.; diameter 3^ to -i in., 

 average 3*64 in. 



47. Dicrurus ater cathcecus Swinhoe. 



Bicrurus cathcecus D. & O. p. 108. 



Buchanga atra La T. p. 567. 



The Black Drongo is an uncommon migrant in spring. 

 I have very few records of its occurrence at that season, 

 aud but one or two birds might he seen at anytime between 

 the 20th of May and the 1 1th of June. It is extremely 

 abundant in September, passing with the myriads of 

 Swallows, Pipits, and Wagtails, which during that mouth 

 stream down the coast. While travelling it often tarries on 

 the plains, perching on the kaoliang and catching insects on 

 the wing. Sometimes it forms huge noisy parties on some 

 solitary tree in the fields. The calls while thus resting 

 and i'eeding are cheerful and musical. The birds when 

 passing fly in very scattered order, and appear to come from 

 an easterly or north-easterly direction. I have noticed this 

 Drongo migrating from the first week iu September to the 

 end of that month. I have seen one on the 24th of August. 



Four nests, containing respectively four hard-sat, two 

 incubated, three fresh eggs, and one broken egg, were 

 brought to me on the 25th of June from the njouutaius 

 north of the port, and two more nests from the same 

 locality on the 15th of July containing two and three 



