Nidification of Indian Hints. 107 



but size. I described at length the nidification of Cory- 

 thocichla on p. r>;> of 'The Ibis' for 1895, and it is 

 unnecessary to add more here. 



Three seems to be the ordinary number of eggs Laid, 

 though sometimes as many as four are found, and about 

 equally often only two. 



My eggs average '71" by "50", and vary in length between 

 •80" and '67" and in breadth between -53" and -58". Ab- 

 normal eggs seem to tend towards a lengthened oval shape, 

 considerably compressed towards the smaller end, which is 

 always blunt. 



88. Laevivora brunnea. 



Blanford, F. B. I ml. up. 182; Osmaston, B.N. 11. S.J. 

 xi. p. 71. 



The description of the nidification of tliis bird, as given in 

 Hume's 'Nests and Eggs' (vol. i. p. 127), is, as is now well 

 known, erroneous. The eggs arc, of course, pale blue, 

 quite unspotted, and have been taken by Davidson, Rattray, 

 Wilson, Buchanan, Ward, and many others in Cashmere and 

 other parts of the Himalayas. 



The nest is a cup, rather bulky for the size of the bird, and 

 is generally placed on a bank or some sloping piece of ground, 

 but often on the bank bordering a well-used footpath. The 

 full complement of eggs is almost invariably four, and they 

 are, as already mentioned, uniform pale blue, varying in 

 shade from a rather deeper tint than that of a Hedge- 

 Sparrow's to that of the palest laid by a Starling. The 

 texture is very smooth and fine, but not particularly hard 

 or close. There is generally a certain amount of gloss. In 

 shape the eggs arc a very regular oval, but little compressed 

 towards the smaller end, and sometimes almost elliptical. 

 My eggs and those which I have seen from other collectors 

 vary in length between '?" and '78", and in breadth between 

 •55" and '(>". Osmaston's eggs are a good deal larger 

 averaging "80" by '60" and varying between '81" by "60" 

 and '78" by 58". 



This nest is a very favourite place for Cuculus mkrapti'vus 

 to lay its eggs in. 



