690 CAPT. R. C. BEAVAN ON INDIAN BIRDS. [Nov. 28, 
grain out of the ears, for which its short, thick bill seems wonderfully 
well adapted. Its flight differs slightly both from that of Anthus 
and Cincloramphus, but in some respects approaches nearer to that 
of the latter; it is very undulating. When the bird is about to 
descend, it quivers with its wings, and sails down with a peculiar 
tremulous motion. This may also be observed between each undu- 
lation when the bird is flying quietly : but when suddenly flushed or 
flying to any distance, this peculiarity is not noticeable; at other 
times it immediately attracts attention and renders this species con- 
spicuous among all the other Larks—with which, during October 
and the three following months, the fields literally swarm, as they 
rise before you in numbers at every step you take. 
The nests of Mirafra horsfieldi are usually found during the 
months of November, December, and often as late as January and 
February. They are loose ragged structures, and not finished off 
nicely, like those of Anthus australis. They are cup-shaped, and 
are composed wholly of grasses, without any particular linmg. The 
situation chosen is a little hollow scraped out by the side of a tuft of 
grass or straw, or behind a clod of earth; the front edge of the nest 
alone is smoothed down—the back part being left ragged, and often 
drawn forward as if to help to conceal the eggs. The nest is about 
22 inches in diameter by 1 inch in depth. On the 4th of February, 
1861, we took a nest from a hay-field at M‘Quarie Fields containing 
three eggs, which is the usual number. These are in length from 
8 to 10 lines by from 6 to 7 in breadth, and of a light earthy brown, 
thickly marked over the whole surface with freckles of a much 
darker hue. Some specimens are darker in colour than others ; and 
after a time the ground-colour becomes of a more yellowish tint, 
and the markings much duller and more indistinct. 
7. InpIAN ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES, CHIEFLY ON THE MIGRA- 
TION OF Species. By Capt. R. C. Beavan, Lizut. BENGAL 
Survey, C.M.Z:S. 
July 28th, 1864, Barrackpore, near Calcutta.—The Black-headed 
Oriole (Oriolus melanocephalus, Linn.) is common about the 
station, flying from tree to tree, and uttering his cheerful whistle. 
It is curious that one hardly ever sees the female of this bird, the 
proportion of males to females in collecting skins being generally 
as six to one. The Bengal Babbler (Malacocereus terricolor, 
Hodgson) is the characteristic inhabitant of the bamboo-groves 
in the neighbourhood; and small parties of them seem to keep 
much to particular spots near villages, but not, I think, with the 
dirt-devouring intent ascribed to them by some. In gardens the 
curious Tailorbird (Orthotomus longicauda, Gmelin) may be seen 
flitting from bush to bush in amorous pursuit of its mate, or dili- 
gently searching the creepers near the house for insects. The bare 
summit of a lofty Casuarina tree is generally frequented by a Barbet, 
of which two species are common, the first more so than the 
