156 



NOTES ON ANDAMAN BIRDS WITH ACCOUNTS OF THE 

 NIDIFICATION OF SEVERAL SPECIES WHOSE NESTS 

 AND EGGS HAVE NOT BEEN HITHERTO DESCRIBED. 



By 



B. B. Osmaston, l.F.S. 

 4. Corvus macrorhynchus. — The Jungle-Crow. 



Common throughout the islands, but especially near Port Blair. Breeds in 

 March, frequently on Cocoanut Palms. 



20. Dendrocitta bayleyi. — The Andamanese Tree-Pie. 



Occurs throughout the Andamans, but is not very numerous. They go about 

 in small parties of half a dozen or so and frequent the densest forest. I failed 

 to find the nest. 



226. Zoster ops palpebrosa. — The Indian White-Eye. 



Fairly common, especially in Port Blair. They are late breeders, laying in 

 June and July. The nests and eggs resemble those taken in India. The mean 

 of the measurements of 5 eggs gave - 63"x0"49 '. 



254. Irena puella. — The Fairy Blue-bird. 



Fairly numerous around Port Blair, especially from September to March. 

 I did not find the nest, and in fact I rarely saw a bird between April and 

 August. I do not think they breed in the vicinity of Port Blair. 



288. Otocompsa emeria. — The Bengal Red- whiskered Bulbul, 



Common everywhere and especially in Port Blair where it frequently enters 

 the houses taking the place of the common sparrow. Breeds from March to 

 May laying 2 or 3 eggs only. 



312, Micropus fusciflavescens. — The Andaman Black-headed Bulbul. 



This species is decidedly rare. I have only come across it about half a dozen 

 times in 15 months. It frequents the outskirts of forest. It has no song but 

 a characteristic call. 



336. Dissemuroides andamanensis. — The Small Andamanese Drongo. 



Common, but restricted to well wooded and forest areas. Has a variety of 

 notes. Breeds from the middle of April to the middle of May. The nest 

 consists of a shallow cup or cradle suspended from the forked twig of some 

 usually dry or leafless tree, generally at a considerable height from the ground. 

 It is composed of fine twigs firmly woven together and attached to the support 

 by cobwebs and is scantily lined with black hair-like rhizomorph. The eggs, 2 

 or 3 in number, differ strikingly in colour, at least half a dozen, distinct types 

 being found. The commonest variety is perhaps one in which the groundcolour 

 is pale salmon-pink spotted all over with pale brownish markings and with some 

 underlying spots of pale grey. Jn another type the ground is white and the 

 markings consist of bold dashes and streaks of pinkish brown. Others again 

 are spotted and blotched with dark purplish brown in a zone at the large end, 

 or again they may be finely specked with black in a cap at the large end. The 

 eggs vary in length from 0"88 to 1*05 and in breadth from 065 to 0*76 the mean 

 of 31 eggs being 1-00" x 072". 



