OF SOME BURMESE BIRDS. 457 



139 2i«^.— Cymborhynchus macrorhynchus, Gm. 



I have never been fortunate enough to obtain the eggs of 

 this species though I have found several nests but all with 

 young. The nest resembles that of E. javanus, and like it is 

 attached to the extreme end of a branch or bamboo overhanging 

 water. I have found the nests from April to June — three young 

 in each. 



345 bis.— Pitta moluccensis, P. L. S. Mull 



Vide S. F., V., 150, where Mr. Hume has already described 

 the nest and eggs obtained by me at Amherst. 



346.— Pitta cuculata, Eartl. 



On the 12th of July 1875 I found a nest of the Green-breasted 

 Thrush at Amherst. 



The nest was in rather thick tree jungle at the base of the 

 hills, placed on the ground at the root of a small tree and 

 partially hid from view by grass. It was composed of dry 

 twigs and leaves, resting on a thick foundation of dead leaves, 

 aud lined with fibres. It was a globular structure, with a 

 circular opening about mid way on one side ; the roof of the 

 nest projected over the entrance about 2-5 inch, forming a canopy 

 or portico over it. It was very loosely put together, at least 

 the outer portions of it, and measured 10 inches in diameter by 

 9 -5 inches in height — the entrance having a diameter of 3*5 

 inch. 



At the base of the entrance was a platform composed of 

 twigs and loosely put together, and about four inches wide, 

 which sloped gradually to the level of the surrounding 

 ground, the top of the platform being nearly on the same 

 level as the bottom of the egg-cavity. The nest contained four 

 eggs, very much incubated. 



" The eggs are of the pure Pitta type — broad ovals with a 

 spherical tendency, (not so strongly marked, however, as in 

 coronatus), glossy and with a pure white ground, more or less 

 thickly speckled, spotted, and marked with small angular, at 

 times hieroglyphic-like, blotches, streaks or lines of purple 

 redder, or again more lilac in some, or deeper aud more 

 chocolate in others. The markings, always apparently most 

 dense at the larger end, are occasionally almost entirely con- 

 fluent, and often form there an irregular, speckly, spotty cap. 

 At the small end the markings seem to be always fewer and 

 smaller, and in some eggs are almost wholly wanting." 



"In length the eggs vary from 1-04 to M, and in breadth 

 from 0-82 to 0-86." 



