4 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. X. 



grass, do not alight on the higher pieces, but squat in amongst the 

 roots very much in the manner of the quail, though, of course, they 

 soon give themselves away by at once mounting up higher in the grass 

 and so showing themselves, as well as by uttering their note. 



Family Nectar inndce. 



(354) -^THOPTGA SCHEEI^.— The Himalayan Yellow-backed 



Sun-bird. 



Hume, No. 225 ; Oates, No. 882. 



The common form of Sun-bird in Cachar,both in the hills and plains, 

 < nough it is, of course, only found during the cold weather In the latter, 

 and it breeds only on the highest peaks in the hill portion. 



The nests I have taken have been composed chiefly of cotton down, 

 and, compared with those of other birds of the genus, are somewhat 

 bulky. My eggs vary in length between "54" and '64" and in breadth 

 between -42" and '48". 



(355) iETHOPYGA IGNICAUDA."— The Fire-tailed Sun-bird. 

 Hume, No. 228; Oates, No. 887. 



This is a very rare bird, the most rare of all the Sun-birds in this 

 district with the exception, perhaps, of Arachnecthera Jiasselti. 

 During the cold months of the year a few birds may be met with 

 scattered here and there about the district, and a few, very few, remain 

 and breed about Hungrum. 



I have seen but two nests, both of which were taken near this place, 

 and were found in evergreen forest, attached to tall fern fronds grow- 

 ing in a thick undergrowth of ferns and small bushes. They were in 

 shape somewhat between a pear-end and egg, perhaps more like an egg, 

 with the small end drawn out, than anything else. The only article 

 used was the very finest seed down, held together by cobwebs, and half 

 a dozen fine, but very long, shreds of grass, all joined together at the 

 extremity where the nests were fastened to the supporting fronds. In 

 size they were about 4*5" in length by some 2'5" broad, the cavity 

 being about 2-5" X I'O" 



The two nests contained two and three eggs respectively, which were 

 all five exactly alike, though I regret to say that I have lost the 

 notes 1 made on one pair and the eggs themselves have been given 



