270 A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 



move about in the dark o^reea trees. During the breeding sea- 

 son (May and June) this Miuivet is found in forests on the hills 

 up to an elevation of 7,500 feet. A nest was found in the 

 Sheopuri forest on the 17th June, which contained two very- 

 young birds, and one egg. 



278.— Buchanga atra, Herm. 



Six males. — Length, ]1*7 to 12'6 ; expanse, 17 to 18*6 ; wing, 

 5-9 to 6-2 ; tail, 6-3 to 7*1 ; tarsus, 0-85 to 0-9; bill from gape, 

 1*05 to I'lS ; bill at front, 0*75 to 08 ; closed wings short of tail, 

 3-7 to 4*1 ; weight, 2-35 ozs. 



Bill, feet and claws black ; irides brown and deep red. 



Three females. — Length, 11 "7 to 12; expanse, 16 to 17"5 ; 

 wing, 5*5 to 6'0 ; tail, 6-3 to 7*0 ; tarsus 0"85 to 0'9 ; bill from 

 gape, 1*05 to I'l ; bill at front, 0*8 ; closed wings short of tail, 

 3-25 to 3-9. 



In all these specimens the white rictal marks are very promi- 

 nent, and measure in length from 01 to 0'2. 



The Common Kingcrow abounds in the JSepal Valley during 

 the whole year, and is common in winter in the Nawakot dis- 

 trict, the lower hills, and the plains. In the valley it is very tame 

 and familiar, frequents the skirts of woods, gardens, hedges and 

 fields, and often perches on the backs of cattle. It not only 

 descends to the ground to capture its prey, but very commonly 

 stands on the ground, both in fields and on banks. During the 

 winter, when the fields are mostly bare, it certainly passes the 

 greater part of the day, when not on the wing, standing on some 

 bank or little mound ; and from thence sallies along every now 

 and then to seize an insect, and again takes up a position on a 

 clod of earth. In "Nests and Eggs" Mr. Hume doubts whether 

 this species ever breeds at any elevation exceeding 2,000 feet : 

 in Nepal it certainly breeds freely at elevations of from 4,000 to 

 5,000 feet. Three nests were taken in the Valley in May and 

 June ; these contained each three or four pure white eggs. 



280. — ^Buchanga longicaudata, A. Bay. 



Four males, April and September. — Length, 11 '3 to ll*9; 

 expanse, 16 to 16*6 ; wing, 5*55 to 5*6 ; tailj 65 to 6'8 ; tarsus, 

 0-65 to 0-75 ; bill from gape, M to 1*16; bill at front, 09; 

 closed wings short of tail, 3"4 to 4* \ . 



Two females, JpriL—-hength, ll'2andll"3; expanse, 15*8 

 and 16 ; wing, 5*4 and 5*5 ; tail, 6'4 ; tarsus, 0*73 and 076 ; bill 

 from gape, I'l and 1*15 ; bill at front, 09; closed wings short 

 of tail, 4. 



Bill, feet and claws black ; irides brownish red, blood red 

 and crimson. 



