158 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV 11. 



than a dove's nest. It is usually quite exposed to view from above and more 

 or less also from below. The parent birds are very bold and defend their 

 property with much spirit. The full complement of eggs is 3. They are white 

 spotted with light brown or fawn, chiefly in a zone, with numerous underlying 

 grey markings. The mean of 5 eggs gave 0'^3"x0'61". 



517. Oriolus andamanemis . — The Andaman Plack-naped Oriole. 



Very common and conspicuous, being found both in forest and open country. 

 They breed from April to June, laying 2 or 3 eggs only. The nest is the usual 

 cradle suspended from the leafy branch of some tree, and is usually decorated 

 outside with sprays of a small climbing Asclepiad with orbicular leaves. The 

 eggs are fairly glossy. The ground is white generally more or less tinged 

 with claret with dark purplish brown spots which appear to have " run" from 

 the edges, and with a few underlying grey spots. *] he mean of the measure- 

 ments of 7 eggs gave l-lC'xO'82." 



521. Oriolus melanocephalus. — The Indian Black-headed Oriole. 



This species is not uncommon in the hot weather ; I saw none, however, in 

 the winter. 



524. Eulabes intermedia. — The Indian Grackle. 



Common throughout the Andamans. Large numbers were snared and ex- 

 ported to Calcutta until quite recently but the trade has now been forbidden. 

 527. Calornis chalybeius. — The Glossy Calornis. 



These birds appear in Port Blair about February and remain till June, feed- 

 ing chiefly upon small figs and honey out of flowers. They are exceedingly 

 numerous during these months. Where they go to for the rest of the year I 

 could not ascertain. 



528. Pastor roseus. — The Rose-coloured Starling. 



This species was recorded from the Andamans many years ago by Col. 

 Tytler, but as no one had subsequently seen the bird here, Mr. A. O. Hume 

 and others were doubtful whether it should be included in the Andaman avi- 

 fauna or not. This year, however, I saw flocks of this bird on two Occasions 

 in March and April, and shot three specimens, two males and a female. It is 

 possible that they only visit the Andamans in very severe winters such as was 

 experienced in India this cold weather. 



540. Sturnia andamanensis. — The Andaman Myna. 



Very common both in forest and in the open. Gregarious. They breed 

 towards the end of April and in May. The nest is placed in a hole in a tree 

 at any height from 6 to 30 feet or more. The nest is composed of small, 

 pliant twigs with an occasional stiff feather, ard is lined with small green 

 leaves. The eggs, four in number, are of a uniform blue, about the same 

 shade, as or slightly darker than, those of Acridotheres tristis. They vary in 

 length from T14" to 0-97" and in breadth from 0'78" to 0-72", but the mean 

 of 22 eggs gives l'02"x0-76". 



549. Acridotheres tristis. — The Common Myna. 



This objectionable bird which was introduced some years ago by an officer of 

 the Settlement has now become firmly established, and is doing its best to oust 



