272 Mr. E. C. Stuart Baker on the 



thickly at the larger end, where they arc confluent and 

 form a cap. There is a distinct gloss and the surface is 

 very smooth with a strong compact shell — more stout in 

 proportion to its size than those of most Cgornis, which are 

 usually brittle. The shape is a broad oval, a little com- 

 pressed towards the smaller end, which is obtuse, and the 

 size is *93 by # 69 in. The egg was taken on the 25th of 

 June, 1902. 



The three eggs in the collection of Dr. Coltart are just 

 like mine. 



The nests were bulky structures of moss, and were said 

 to have been placed on the ground on the banks of a hill- 

 stream. 



113. Cyornis melanoleucus. 

 Oates, F. B. Ind. ii. p. 18. 



I obtained this Flycatcher's nest in North Cachar, but 

 it was not until 1 had been there many years and had almost 

 given up hope tbat at last I found it. 



The first nest which I took was a tiny cup of moss, 

 moss-roots, and stems of maiden-hair ferns, all neatly and 

 compactly interwoven, the moss alone shewing outside. The 

 lining was of the very finest hair-like roots alone, many of 

 these being of considerable length, yet wound round with the 

 iireatest possible neatness. It was placed on the ground on 

 the rocky side of a steep hill and was semi-protected both 

 above and on each side by stones, in the hollow between 

 which it was fitted. All around grew bracken, wild balsams, 

 and small ferns, and the nest was quite concealed from view, 

 but was found by a Naga through the actions of the parent 

 birds. 



By the time that I arrived both parents had been snared 

 in nooses, and I took the contents, two tiny eggs, so tiny 

 that I fear they must be abnormal, for they measure only 

 o 1 by "46 and "52 by 44 in. 



They are typical little Cyornis-eggs, pale stone in ground- 

 colour with numerous minute freckles of dull reddish. In 

 one egg these are numerous everywhere, though mostly at 



