THE BIRDS OF THE MADHUBANI SUBDIVISION. 133 



lay from May to August. I found a nest on the Ist of the latter month, but 

 most eggs are got in June. According to Mr. Scroope they are uncommon 

 about Madhubani, All nests were found on mango trees at from 7 to 30 feet 

 from the ground ; the majority being between 10 and 20 feet. Some nests are 

 Clip-shaped and gome cone-shaped according to the shape of the fork in which 

 they are placed. Four is the full complement of eggs, but many birds only 

 lay three. Usually the eggs have a warm back ground but I have a clutch 

 in which it is dull creamy white and the only markings on one of the eggs 

 of the clutch are one or two minute spots at the large end. Both sexes are 

 engaged in building and hatching. I have seen chestnut males with lengthened 

 tail feathers, parti coloured ones and white ones sitting on nests. Parti 

 coloured ones, I mean those which have one lengthened tail feather white and 

 the other chestnut, are seldom seen. Many nests of this species are deserted 

 and many destroyed by D. rufa. One of the notes of this species is very plea- 

 sant, the harsh notes are generally uttered on the wing. 



(57) Hypothymis azurea.— The Indian Black-naped Fly-catcher. 

 Oates, No. 601 ; Hume, No. 290. 

 Bather uncommon birds here. More are seen during the cold weather than 

 at any other time. I once shot a male in June which, according to the testes, 

 was evidently breeding, but failed to find the nest. Their note is exactly 

 similar to the less harsh one of T. paradisi. 

 (58) Ehipidtjea ALBirsoNTATA.— The White-browed Fantail Fly-catcher. 



Oates, No. 604 ; Hume, No. 292. 

 Exceedingly common. They don't start building here before the first week 

 in March, the earliest nest was taken on the let of April, the latest being on 

 the 30th July ; most eggs are to be found in June. The twig on which the 

 nest is placed is generally horizontal, but sometimes it is at an angle, in the 

 latter case of course one side of the nest is deeper than the other. Many 

 birds only lay two eggs, three being the full complement, I have taken two 

 joung and a perfectly fresh egg from the same nest, and very often nests are 

 found to contain two highly incubated eggs and a fresh one. Both birds 

 are engaged in building and hatching ; they are very close sitters almost 

 allowing themselves to be caught on the nest before moving off. 



Family Turdid^. 

 Subfamily Saxicolince. 

 (59) Pratincola caprata, — The Common Pied Bush-Chat. 

 Oates, No. 608 ; Hume, No. 481. 

 Locally common and probably resident, A nest built in June was latterly 

 deserted though the birds remained near it till the middle of July. 

 (60) P. MAURA. — The Indian Bush-Chat. 

 Oates, No. 610 ; Hume, No, 483. 

 Very common cold weather visitant. First arrival noticed on the 3rd of 

 September. I have no notes on the departure of this species. 



