412 AVIFAUNA OF CHOTA NAGPUR. 



Measurement in inches : — 



Sirgnja... Wing 5 - 5; Tail 3*5 ; Tarsus - 9; Bill from gape I'd 

 Satpuras ... „ 5*4 „ 35 „ "8 ,, „ ,, 1*4 



I have never seen 0. indicus in any of the parts of the country 

 which I have visited. 



138.— Oridlus melanoeephalus, Lin. (472.) 



The Common Golden Oriole is very abundant throughout 

 Chota Nagpur. -My experience does not accord with Captain 

 Beavan's, who says : — " Somehow one seldom or ever seems 

 to come across a female, unless the sexes are of exactly the 

 same color.''' Out of a large number I have fully as many 

 females as males. 



According to my specimens the Andaman race of this 

 species is somewhat smaller ; but Mr. Hume's approxi- 

 mate in size to that of ordinary continental examples. 



SYLVIAMI. 



139.— Copsychus saularis, Lin. (475.) 



The Magpie Robin occurs throughout Chota Nagpur. 

 Though often seen during the day it seems to become most 

 lively just before sunset and during our short Indian twilight. 



It and perhnps Buchanga albir ictus are the last species to dis- 

 appear before the Caprimulgidce, Owls, &c, begin to fly about. 



140.— Cercotrichas macrourus, Gm. (476.) 



The Shama is extremely rare in Chota Nagpur, I hiving met 

 with it on only two occasions — once in Lohardugga and once in 

 Gangpur ; but never in Manbhum, where Captain Beavan was told 

 that it breeds in April and May. I may add that it occurs 

 sparingly too in the Rajmehal hills where I have seen it on two 

 occasions. 



141— Thamnobia cambaiensis, Lath. Mota- 



cilla fulicata, Tickell. (480.) 



The Brown-backed Indian Robin is very common in Chota 

 Nagpur. With regard to its nidification I have the following 

 note : — 



25th April. — Found the nest of this bird with three eggs 

 in a hole in a bank by the side of a much -frequented road. 

 Ego-s Greenish white with olive brown spots. The nest consisted 

 merely of a few pieces of grass, &c, lining the bottom of the 

 hole. 



