6 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1892- 



also more numerous— mucli as in the eg-gs of Pyctorhis — and a couple 

 of otlier clutclies in wMch the markings consist almost entirely of 

 lines. In nine out of ten eggs many of the spots will be found to be 

 in the shape of tiny horse shoes. 



The eggs are very glossy, the shell is compact and smooth^, and 

 decidedly stronger than the majority of bulbuls' eggs. 



In shape they are typically rather long, obtuse ovals, though fre- 

 quently rather drawn out towards the smaller end. Abnormal speci- 

 mens are rare, and, such as there are, are generally of a broader, more 

 obtuse shape. 



In length my eggs range between 8*9"' and 1*1," and in breadth 

 between '68" and '74". The average length of 35 eggs is -99" X -72". 

 In number they are generally two, very rarely three ;. never, that I 

 know of, four. 



I have only taken the eggs of this bulbul in May and June, the 

 earliest date I have recorded amongst miy notes being the 4th of May 

 ^ast year, 1891, and the latest the 24th of June, 1 888. I have, however, 

 found young, unfledged, in August, and I also once found a nest con- 

 taining young ones on the 2nd of May. They do not often seem to 

 breed in these Hills belo.w 3,000 feet, and I have found most of my 

 nests above 5,000 feet. 



This bird, like the greater number of species of this sub-family, is 

 gregarious throughout the cold weather, but is never found in very 

 large flocks ; as a rule they number some eight or nine individuals, 

 often only four or five and never m^ore than twelve ©•r fourteen ; they 

 keep very much to the smaller trees and bushess the ca,use of this- 

 doubtless being the fact that they are ntore exclusively fruit eaters 

 than most bulbuls, and find their food more plentiful and easily obtained 

 in such situations, for, they will ascend very lofty trees,, whea 

 these are in bearing, to feed on the berries. 



It is wonderful what enormous things these birds contrive to> 

 swallow whole : I took from the stomach of a bird, a short time ago,, 

 two large berries of a babool-like tree, Phyllant/ms emlica, which com- 

 pletely filled it, extending the walls to their utmost limit ; these 

 berries are of a sort very common in these hills, acid to the taste, 

 and in colour pale green; they form a favourite article of diet with 

 monkeys, deer, squirrels, etc, and many kinds of birds. 



