42 THE BIRDS OF THE LUCKNOW CIVIL DIVISION, 
Unlike O. kundoo, the Black-headed Oriole is much more com- 
mon during the cold weather than it is in either the hot or rainy 
season; many evidently migrating for these seasons. In its 
habits it closely resembles the last species, and frequents the same 
localities. I have never found its nest. It probably does not 
breed here. 
475.—Copsychus saularis, Zin. Native name—Dhyal. 
The Magpie Robin is a permanent and familiar resident, 
frequenting compounds, gardens, guava and mangoe groves, as 
well as dhak jungles and ‘the trees and shrubs in the vicinity of 
villages. Its food must be very varied, for I found one feeding 
on a centipede about four inches long that I made it drop with 
difficulty, On examining the centipede I found that life was 
not quite extinct. 
During the pairing and breeding seasons this Robin sings 
sweetly, “particularly in the early mornings and at dusk. Tt 
usually nests in holes in trees, but occasionally in walls and 
deserted buildings, and generally lays four eggs, pale bluish 
green, spotted or blotched with brown. Of its nests I have thé 
following record:— 
May 22nd ... nest and 4 eggs (fresh) mangoe tree. 
July 9th ues 2 ar Ory fate) ” 
a Lou oo 7 4, *s, Chard. setyen 
» doth as af 4 young (unfledged),, 
Average measurement of 8 eggs ... ‘84 by *74 inches. 
Measurement of ! largest egg Se ee at el wig 
Measurement of smallest egg iE ae hes 
480.—Thamnobia cambaiensis, Da Native name— 
Shama.* 
5th October, Female.—Length, 6°50; expanse, 9°25 ; wing, 3 ; 
tail, 2°87; tarsus, 1°; bill, from gape, °62; weight, °75 oz. 
The familiar Brown-backed Robin is a permanent resident, and 
frequents the same localities as the last species. It is generally 
seen in pairs, and during the breeding season has a pleasing song, 
which it usually war bles forth at morn and even, dancing about 
all the time with its wings in a trailing position and its tail 
erect. It generally—almost invariably—nests i in holes in houses, 
inasonry or mud walls, and old deserted buildings of any kind ; 
occasionally in nullahs and ravines. The following is my record 
of its nests :— 
March 10th ee» nest and 4 eggs (incubated). 
May 24th is a a tdnes pliteshy 
June 15th wits Pay net ez) 
July 7th a 93S SD Se 
5 7th ca 99 Duca y .s Chand.sat Y, 
* Popularly so, though the name properly pertains to Cercotrichas: macrura, 
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