(SO NOTES ON THE NIDIFICATION 



20.— Microhierax coerulescens, Lin. (if. eutolmos, 

 Hodgs.) 



On the 14tli April, I found a nest of this little falconet in a 

 hole on the underside of a decayed bough of a mighty Pymma 

 tree (Lagerstrcemia Flos Regina.) 



I had noticed the bird about the neighbouring trees for two 

 or three days successively, and on the date above mentioned saw 

 her entering the hole in question. 



On my sending up a servant who was with me, she flew out 

 and perched on a low tree some thirty yards off; keeping my 

 eye on her, I desired the man to enlarge the entrance of the hole 

 and ascertain whether there were any eggs. In about ten 

 minutes he announced that there were four. I then shot the bird 

 which proved to be a female. The eggs are broad ovals, dirty 

 whitish yellow, and stained by resting on the broken 

 leaves, wings of dragon-flies, and bits of wood which composed 

 the nest. I don't think the hole was made by the little falcon, 

 but was probably an old nest belonging to a barbet. The branch 

 in which it was excavated was about 30 feet from the ground. 



[The eggs are regular, moderately elongated ovals. The shell 

 is very thin, and fairly close in texture, but has no appreciable 

 gloss. The original colour, as I ascertained by carefully wash- 

 ing a part of one egg, is a dead white, but the eggs as found 

 were all suffused with a dirty yellow tint, such as is often the 

 case with the very similar eggs of Centrococcyx and Taccocua, 

 Held up against the light the shell appears a very slightly yel- 

 lowish white. 



The eggs vary from 1*1 to 1*3 in length, and from 0'85 to 0*88 

 in breadth. They are equally unlike eggs of Falco, Asticr and 

 Circus. I know no Raptorial bird that lays at all similar eggs, 

 but probably Baza may. As to size and shape, I can match them 

 exactly with large eggs of Megalaima Franklini, or small ones of 

 M. Marshalorum ; but the texture is different ; as regards texture 

 and tint of discoloration, I can match them exactly with some 

 eggs of Taccocua affi?ris. 



It must not be supposed that I suspect any mistake about these 

 eggs ; on the contrary they only confirm our own experience in 

 regard to 



Microhierax fringiliarius, Drap., in regard to which I 

 quote a note of Davidson's, that I have had lying by me for 

 years. 



" On the 10th or 11th of March, while passing through an old 

 toungyah (clearing) I saw a falconet of the above species fly into 

 a hole in a dry tree ; on sending a man up he reported the hole 

 to be empt}'. 



