THE BULBULS OF NORTH CACHAR. 9 
the dead dry fronds of a species of fern moss, and another one had a number 
of dead leaves mixed with the lining of grass-stems. 
Most nests are placed in between two or more horizontal twigs in a semi- 
pendant position, not like the nest of the genus Oriolus but more like the nests 
of the genera Hemixus, Zypsipetes, &c., having little more than half the depth 
of the nest below the supporting twigs. About one nest in three is placed in 
an. upright fork, and in such cases they are rather less strongly built, and 
fewer cobwebs are used for attachment purposes. As a rule, the nest is 
very neat, but some few have the outer surface covered with scraps aoe 
hanging on by a cobweb or two. 
The eves appear to be of two fairly distinct types. In the most common the 
ground varies from very pale cream to a reddish-cream, deep tinted egys being 
exceptional. Most of the spots are very small, and in colour a dark reddish- 
brown; intermingled with these are sometimes a few streaks and short irregular 
lines of brown, so dark as to appear black unless closely looked into. The 
second type of ege has the ground-colour a clear pale cream, and the whole 
surface blotched and mottled with reddish and reddish-brown, and again with 
others, beneath these, of pale purple and lavender. 
These last eges show a strong resemblance to some badly-marked, dull- 
coloured eggs of Criniger flaveolus. In shape they are a long, pointed oval, or a 
long regular oval, hardly compressed at all towards the smaller end. The shell 
is fairly close grained and smooth, but rather delicate. About two eggs in three 
show a faint gloss. Fifteen eggs taken in North Cachar average °94” x °69”, 
and vary in leneth between 86” and 1°1”, and in breadth between *62” and 69”. 
They commence breeding in the end of May or beginning of June, and their 
nests may be found throughout June and July up to nearly the end of August. 
The earliest date I have recorded as having taken eggs is the 12th May, 1891, 
and the latest the 16th of August, 1892, This bird is the most common 
Chioropsis to be met with here, and is found in great numbers all the year 
round, descending in the cold weather to the plains, and sometimes, if but 
rarely, remaining there to breed, for in July, 1891, I had a nest sent to me 
containing two eggs, undoubtedly belonging to a bird of this genus and, I think, 
this species, which was taken at the foot of the hills to the north-west of 
Cachar. As a general rule, they keep much to the higher trees, small saplings, 
&c., in their quest for food ; but they do sometimes come down to low bushes, 
even quite close to the ground, ‘They are nearly always to be seen in my 
compound any time from November up to the end of March, or even later, 
clambering about some tall shrubs which are covered during these months with 
clusters of red flowers—the attraction for numerous insects of all kinds and 
also for many other birds, besides those of this species. Unfortunately, this 
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