"378 Notes on the Birds of the SambJinr Lake Sf its vicinity. 



385. — Pyctoris sinensis, Gmel. 



I have obtained specimens of this bird from the hills near 

 Koochamunj but during my numerous excursions in the neigh- 

 bourhood I have never myself seen it. 



436. — Malacocircus Malcomi, Syhes. 



Very common. This species commences to breed about the 

 end of March. 



438.— Chatarrhaea caudata, Bum. 



This bush -babbler is veiy common about the lake. I have 

 noted it breeding from the beginning of March till the 

 beginning of July. The first nest which I discovered here was 

 deserted by the birds, but it was at once taken possession of 

 by a pair of munias, Munia rtialabarica, who built a very neat 

 roof over it. Although this species generally prefers building 

 in the hedges of prickly pear, I have taken the nests in orange 

 trees, the karounda, the babool, &c. 



459. — Otocompsa leucotis, Gould. 



This s'oeeies is seldom seen about Sambhur, but towards Nawa 

 and Mata Pahar it is very abundant. It seems to prefer low 

 , scrub jungle. I am told that it breeds here, but I have never 

 seen its nest. Irides, dark brown. 



452. — Molpastes* chrysorrhoides, Lafr. 



This species is very common. It breeds during June and July. 



468.— ^githeria flora) tiphia, L. 



This species is very rare. I have only shot it on two occasions 

 here. I do not know whether zeylonica, Gm., and tiphia, L., are 

 really distinct, but both my specimens are of the tiphia type. 

 From the hills near Koochamun, I have obtained a male of 

 the zeylonica type. 



470.— Oriolus kundoo, Sykes. 



The Indian oriole is common here. During the cold season 

 it keeps very quiet, but as the breeding season approaches, the 

 birds are incessantly calling to each other. It breeds in June 

 and July, and generally builds on the neem, siris, or sisoo. It 

 selects a fork on a slender branch difficult of access, and on this, 



* I propose the subgeneiic name Molpastes for the small group of bulbuls 

 comprising chrysorrhoides, Lafr. (=pusilliis, Bly.) type ; py^H?«M«, Hodgs, 

 erocorrhous, Stricldaud ; and, if distinct, intermedius, Hay ; and nigropileus, 

 3o,.c1._Ed., Stray Feathers. 



