THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 369 



(434) CoccYSTES JACOBiNUS. — The Pied -crested Cuckoo. 

 Hume, No. 212; Blanford, No, 1118. 



A. rare bird everywhercj but I have been rather lucky in taking 

 two eggs of this bird, both of which 1 believe to be authentic. 



In both cases the egg was in a nest of Alcippe nepalensisy and in 

 both cases I disturbed the bird, in one case shooting it. 



The two eggs measure I'OO" X '90" and -99" X -79", both being 

 rather larger than most eggs of this species, and had I not got one 

 of the birds and that one the layer of the larger egg of these two, I 

 should have been rather doubtful about them. 

 (435) CoccYSTES COEAMANDUS. — The Red-winged Crested Cuckoo. 

 Hume, No. 213 ; Blanford, iVo. 11J9. 



This form is somewhat more common than the last in the hill 

 portion of tlse district, less so in the plains portion. 



I have been most lacky in obtaining eggs of this species, and have 

 now six authentic eggs in my own collection besides others which I 

 have given away. 



My eggs are as follows : — ■ 



1st, An egg taken from a nest of Garrulax moniliger which con- 

 tained three Garrulax eggs, oue of which was broken by the cuckoo 

 in its struggles to escape. 



The cuckoo's egg is of a most beautiful soft blue-green colour, not 

 unlike that of the Laughing -thrush's eggs themselves, but the texture 

 is utterly different, being extremely fine, close, and of a satiny texture 

 like that of the eggs of the Capitonidce. There is a very faint gloss. 

 The shape of the egg is very spherical, and it measures 1*13" X 1"00". 



2nd. The second, which was found in an empty nest of G, pec" 

 toralis, only differs in being smaller, 1'05"X*81". 



3rd. This was in a nest of G. moniliger and measures ri2" X '90". 



4th and 5th. Again ia a nest of G. moniliger with three eggs of 

 that bird and tivo of the cuckoo's, which bird was shot as it got off the 

 nest. Of these two eggs one was congealed and bad, impossible even 

 to blow, and the other was quite fresh. They measure 1*09" X '92" 

 and 1-04" x-87". 



6th. This, the only egg not taken from the nest of a Garrulax, was 

 found in that of Copsychus saidaris ; the female was shot by a Cachari 

 with slugs, and smashed all to pieces, and an egg just ready to be laid 



