258 Mr. E. C. Stuart Baker on the 



My eggs taken in Lakhimpur are on average a good deal 

 larger than those taken in North Cachar, being about 1-05 

 by '75 in. 



96. DlCRURUS NIGRESCENS. 



Oates, F B. Ind. i. p. 315. 



Dr. Ernst Hartert, after a comparison of the Ashy Drongo 

 of Eastern Assam with the types of various species, lias 

 come to the conclusion that our bird is D. nigrescens and 

 not D. cineraceus as determined by Oates. 



This species breeds fairly freely throughout the Province, 

 though not so common a bird as the Common Indian Ashy 

 Drongo is within its own limits. 



I can see no points of difference in the breeding of 

 1). nigrescens and D. longicaudatus either as regards nests or 

 eggs, nor do I think that they could in any way be dis- 

 criminated one from the other. On the whole, the eggs of 

 D. nigrescens may be more richly and darker coloured than 

 those of D. longicaudatus, eggs with a white ground being- 

 uncommon. 



It breeds throughout April, May, June, and July, and I 

 believe that Dr. Coltart has taken eggs in March. It seems to 

 prefer the plains near to the foot of the hills for nesting- 

 purposes, and is seldom to be found during the breeding- 

 season far from them. 



The number of eggs laid by D. nigrescens is quite as often 

 three as four, although D. longicaudatus seems generally 

 to lay the latter number. 



97. Phylloscopus affinis. 



Oates, F. B. Ind. i. p. 401 ; Osmaston, B. N. H. S. J. xi. 

 p. 68. 



Although this little Warbler is exceedingly common in 

 certain localities in Kashmir above 10,000 feet, its nest for 

 long escaped observation. Mr. B. B. Osmaston, of the 

 Forest Department, was the first collector to take it 

 in the Tons Valley ; he records loc. cit. : — " On June the 7th 

 (1896) I noticed a small greenish-yellow bird frequenting 

 the low scrub on the mountain side at about 12,000 feet 



