264 FIRST LIST OF THE BIRDS OF 



together on Peepul (Ficas religiosa) trees when in fruit. Breeds 

 in June and July in holes in trees excavated by themselves, 



197— Xantholsema haemacephala, Mull. 



26th February 187 8, Male.— Length, 6*40; expanse, 10*50 j 

 wing, 3-08 ; tail from vent, 1*50 ; tarsus, 0*80 ; bill from gape, 

 0*92 ; at front, 0*70 ; closed wings fall short of end of tail, 

 1*25; weight, 1*75 oz. 



25th May 1878, Male.— Length, 610 ; expanse, 10-50; wing, 

 3*16; tail from vent, 1*83; tarsus, 0*70; bill from gape, 1*04; 

 at front, 060; closed wings fall short of end of tail, 1*16; 

 weight, 1*37 oz. Legs light coral red ; claws black ; irides 

 dark brown ; eyelids bluish ; bill, base below whitish ; basal 

 edges above, bluish white ; rest black. This latter is evidently 

 a young bird. 



Very common indeed ; to be found on any Ficus tree that 

 may be in fruit. It is surprising what quantities of that fruit 

 this species and the last are capable of eating. It is a per- 

 manent resident, and breeds from February to April, in holes 

 excavated by themselves, in any soft-wooded tree, selecting a 

 dead branch and boring a hole generally from the under side. 

 Every year a new hole is bored. I have never found more than 

 two eggs in each hole, and very often only a single young one. 

 A nest that I found in a "jeel" tree, on the 27th February 

 1878, contained one young about a week old, so that this egg 

 must have been laid in the latter end of January. 



203.— "Ciicultts micropterus, Gould. 



Far from rare. Their well-known cry is first heard in Feb- 

 ruary. Wary birds never allowing me to approach close enough 

 to risk a shot, so did not secure a specimen. 



205.— Hierococcyx varius, Vahl. 



25th January 1878, Male.— Length, 13*0; expanse, 22*0; 

 wing, 7-58 ; tail from vent, 7*50 ; tarsus, 1*0 ; bill from gape, 

 1*14; at front, 075 ; closed wings fall short of end of tail, 

 3*0. Irides yellowish brown. 



6tk March, Female. — Length, 13*08 ; expanse, 21*0 ; wing, 

 7*25 ; tail from vent, 6*83 ; tarsus, 1*0 ; bill from gape, 1*25 ; 

 at front, 0*78 ; closed wings fall short of end of tail, 2*25 ; 

 weight, 3*5 ozs. Legs greenish yellow ; irides stone colour — with 

 paler outer circle; claws yellow; orbits yellow; bill, above 

 black ; below, greenish. 



13th April, Female. — Length, 13*50 ; expanse, 22*0 ; wing, 

 7*50; tail from vent, 7*0; tarsus, 0*92 ; bill from gape, 1*22; 



