OF SOME BUEMESE BIRDS, II. 45 



98.— Syrnium seloputo, Horsf. (65 bis.) 



I have not been fortunate enough to get the eggs of this 

 Bpecies, but I have twice found the young birds. The eggs 

 appear to be laid on the bare wood in the fork of a large 

 peepul tree at no great distance from the ground. A young 

 bird, about one month old, and just able to fly, was taken on 

 the 20th April, and another one rather younger, on the 24th 

 March. Eggs should, therefore, be looked for at the end of 

 February and the commencement of March. 



99.— Ketupa ceylonensis, Gm. (72.) 



Nest in a fork of a large tree ten feet from the ground. 

 Two young birds about one month old. March, 31st (N. and 

 E. p., 64.) 



100.-— Scops lettia, Hodg. (75.) 



March 24:th. — This bird selects a small hole in medium- 

 sized trees. Two nests, each with three young birds, varying 

 in age from a fortnight to three weeks. (N. & E., p. 67.) 



101. — Dichoceros cavatus, Shaw. (140.) 



The mode of nidification of this and other Hornbills is now 

 so well known that, being unable to visit the forests where 

 these birds breed in great numbers, I felt no hesitation in 

 sending a Burman to take the eggs for me instead of going 

 myself. He brought me four eggs and the heads of two 

 females with the following account : He found many nests, but 

 could induce the Karens to climb only two trees. Both were 

 wood-oil trees. The nests in both cases were placed in a 

 decayed hole at the spring of the first branches, in one case 

 at about 60 feet from the ground, and in the other somewhat 

 higher. Pieces of the materials with which the holes were 

 closed appear to be composed of dung and earth, with which 

 are incorporated seeds of the peepul fig and bits of leaves and 

 sticks. The two sitting birds were captured, and the heads are 

 easy to identify with those of females of this species, the bills 

 of the males being different. Each nest contained two eggs, 

 one set quite fresh, the other on the point of hatching. They 

 measure, 2-84, 2"6, 2'4 and 2-75 in length by 185, 1-9, 1*8 

 and 1*8 in breadth, respectively. The shell is rough and 

 without gloss. One egg is pure white, two others, one fresh 

 and one incubated, are a uniform pale yellow, and the fourth 

 egg is white, with numerous small yellowish dots where the 

 outer shell is disintegrated. The eggs were taken on the 22nd 

 March. (N. & E., p. lll.j 



