46 NOTES ON THE NIDIFICATION 



102.— Hydrocissa albirostris, Shaw. (142.) 



The same man on the 20th March procured one egg of this 

 species. The egg was hatched a few moments before it reached 

 me. It measured 1;8 X 1*3, and was a deep reddish brown. 

 Its natural colour was originally white I should think. On the 

 22nd March, my man again took a nest, killing the 

 female and bringing me the head. The eggs were three in 

 number, pure white and rather glossy. They were well incu- 

 bated and difficult to blow. The nest was also in a wood-oil 

 tree about 90 feet from the ground in a cavity among the 

 lower branches. These three eggs measure 1*81, T76 and 

 1-75 by 1*35, 1-3 and 1-25, respectively. (S. F., V., p. 84.) 



103.— Aceros subruficollis, Blyth. (146 bis.) 



The same man on the same date, viz., the 22nd March, found 

 a nest of this species. Like the others it was placed in a 

 wood-oil tree about 70 feet from the ground. It contained only 

 one egg, which was nearly hatched. In color it is a dull white 

 without any gloss, and the shell is rather rough to the touch. 

 It measures 2- 25 by 1*5. These dimensions agree well with 

 Mr. Theobald's. (N & E., p. 115.; 



104.— Palseornis bengalensis, Gm. (149 bis.) 



Nest with four eggs well incubated in a hole of a tree about 

 six feet from the ground. The hole was a foot deep, very 

 roomy, but the entrance, which had been enlarged by the bird, 

 was only large enough to admit its body. The eggs were laid 

 on the bare wood. Although the sitting bird was poked at with 

 a stick, and it took fully half an hour to enlarge the hole in order 

 to take the eggs, yet the bird could not be induced to quit the 

 nest, and eventually had to be dragged out. When disturbed 

 with the stick the female made a noise like the hissing of 

 a snake. These eggs were taken on the 22nd February. 



On the 2nd March two fresh eggs were taken from another 

 hole, and on the 16th March another nest was found also with 

 two eggs well incubated. 



The eggs are of course pure white, rather glossy when fresh, 

 but becoming dull with incubation. The eggs measure from 

 •97 to -95 nTlengtb, and from "85 to '8 in breadth. 



105 .— Dicaeum cruentatum, Lin. (236.) 



I have taken many nests of this bird from the 2nd March 

 to the 9th April. The number of eggs is either two or three, 

 just as often one as the other. The eggs are pure-white with- 

 out any gloss, and are rather pointed at one end. They vary 



