554 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NA TUBAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol X. 



This is not a very rai*e species in North Cachar, but I have seen 

 more nests and eggs than I have obtained birds, as it is even more 

 noctm-nal than crepuscular in its habits and, moreover, lives much in 

 the interior of evergreen forests. It is found from the plains up to 

 five or six thousand feet. 



On the 24:th of March, 1889, I took my first personally identified 

 nest of this bird, and since then I have secured nearly a dozen. All 

 nests are of the same type, viz., pads formed of down, taken apparently 

 from the bird itself, and then completed by having the outside covered 

 with bits of bark and lichen in such proportions as may be required 

 to make the nest resemble the branch on which it rests. As a rule, 

 rather a stout bough is selected, in which case the materials of the nest 

 only cover the upper portion ; but where a smaller branch is chosen, 

 the materials often entirely surround it. The size of the nests vary 

 considerably, and I have taken them as large as 3" 2 inches in diameter 

 and as small as 2*1 inches, but the average-sized nest is rather under 

 3 inches. In the same way though the nest is always of extreme 

 toughness and clings to the bough witli great tenacity, yet there is a 

 wide difference in the substantiality of different specimens. Two nests 

 taken by me measured as follows : — • 



1. A very stout little nest built on a narrow branch of a wild carda- 

 mom. Diameters, externally 2'35" X 2*46"; internal diameter, l'o6" ; 

 depth of materials whei-e they surround the branch, TGo"; internal 

 depth of hollow, '5". The depth of the base where resting on the branch 

 is about •2", but the materials are exceedingly compactly woven. 



2. A thin, rather large, nest built on a biggish bough. External 

 diameter 3'2" X 3" ; internal diameter 2'l" ; depth of materials, very 

 strao-gly, 1'41" ; internal depth '4". Depth of base, well under "1", 

 and in many places it can be seen through. In spite of its flimsy 

 appearance, even this nest is very strong and would require no little 

 force to tear it from the bough to Avhioh it is fastened. In general 

 texture all nests are like soft, stout, and very flexible felt. 



The nests are seldom built at any height from the ground, 

 generally between 6 and 12 feet, sometimes lower than the former 

 height ; never, I believe, above the latter. Most of the nests have 

 been found on stoutish branches of small trees and may be placed 

 either close to some upright branch or well away from all support but 



