NOTES ON ANDAMAN BIRDS. 159 



its weaker, though handsomer relative, Sturnia andamaneinms. Breeds in 

 March and April in holes in trees and in houses. 



582. Muscitrea grhola. — The Grey Flycatcher. 

 This bird occurs throughout the islands but is not common, though fairly 

 numerous in open jungle and clearings near Port Blair, especially between 

 Haddo and Navy Bay. It has a fine loud and clear whistle, repeated 3 or 4 

 times or prolonged and drawn out, followed suddenly by a higher (or lower) 

 note in a different key, reminding one somewhat of the call of JEgithinw 

 tiphia, and unlike that of any flycatcher. It is a quiet, unobtrusive bird 

 usually seen alone or in pairs. It frequents mangroves and other small trees 

 and catches insects sometimes on the wing and at other times on the branches 

 or trunks of trees. It breeds in May and June, and 2 eggs only are laid. 

 I found five nests between May 17 and June 10. The nest is rather a thin 

 flimsy, cup-shaped structure made of roots, which are attached by means of 

 cobwebs to the twigs supporting it. The eggs could be seen from below 

 through the nest, which was unlined and somewhat resembled that of a Bulbul. 

 The nests were all in small trees from 6 to 12 feet from the ground. The eggs 

 are slightly glossy, dark cream or pale cafe-au-Iait spotted with dark yellowish 

 brown and sepia. The spots are rather small and not numerous and they 

 tend to form a zone towards the big end. The eggs remind one a little of 

 those of Rhipidura albicollis. They vary very little in size, the mean of 8 eggs 

 being 0"85" x 0'62". I brought up a nestling of this species but it died just 

 as it was about to fly. It never showed any vestige of spotted plumage at any 

 stage. Even when in the nest the breast was pure spotless white and the 

 back and wings a warm reddish brown. This looks as if it had been wrongly 

 placed in the Mtiscicapidce and I would suggest that it may have more affinity 

 for the Sylviidce. 



588. Aheonax latirostris — The Brown Flycatcher. 



A common winter visitor, of dull plumage and quiet unobtrusive habits. 

 602. Hypothymis tytleri. — The Andaman Black-naped Flycatcher. 



Common both in the forest and in and about Port Blair. It is wonderfully 

 active as well as fearless. I found many nests between April 8 and June 1. 

 They were all similar in structure and position to those of H. azurea. They 

 were invariably decorated outside with white spider egg-cases. The eggs, 

 3 in number, are white or faintly pinkish, speckled with rufous brown chiefly 

 in a zone towards the large end. 



They vary in length from 0-G4" to 0-75" and in breadth from 053" to 0'57"> 

 the mean of 16 eggs being 0'72" y 0*54". 



610. Pratincola maura. — The Indian Bush-Chat. 



A rare winter visitor. Saw one only near Stewartganj in March. 

 663. Copsychus saularis. — The Magpie-Robin. 



Common, especially in and around Port Blair. Breeds from March to June 

 chiefly iu holes in trees about 6 feet from the ground, laying 4 eggs of the 

 usual colour. 



