yOTJES ON THE BIRDS OF UPPER ASSAM. 253 



130. Campophaga melaschistus mela-ichistus ( Hodgs. ) [ oOo ]. — The 



Dark-grey Cuckoo Shrike. 



Campophaga melanoschista, Gates, F. B. I., Vol. i., p. 491. 

 Probably migratory ; secured at Rungagora, November, January, 

 February ; Margherita, January, February ; Panchnoi R, base of Daphla 

 hills, November. 



131. Graucalus macei macei, Less. [510]. — The Large Cuckoo-Shrike. 



A partial resident under the hills in North Lakhimpur, much more in 

 evidence in the cold season, particularly so in the plains. Komolabari, 

 August 1904 c5 $ ; Gogaldhubie, 15-12-05 $ ; Maijan, April 1902 J ? ; 

 Dejoo, 5-3-09""'; a party of eight, 6-9-08 ;* three in the vicinity of bun- 

 galow, they had been about for some days, very noisy. 22-4-10" ; single 

 20-7-10, ■"■ a single bird, noted again the following months and at the end of 

 August. 



132. Artamus fuscus, Vieill. [512].— The Ashy Swallow-Shrike. 



This Swallow-Shrike is a migrant. The following record for March and 

 April and again in October move interesting data. 



Thakurbari, Tezpur, Lower Assam, 15-3-11"', about fifty hawking for food 

 at evening. Dejoo, North Lakhimpur, 5-4-10* ; Rungagora, Dibrugarh, 

 16-4-03, J ; Silonibari, North Lakhimpur, 25-4-11''', half a dozen in palm 

 tree {Caryota urens, L.). A party seen at Thurbo in the Darjeeling district 

 on or about 18-4-11 •■; Komolabari, Sibsagar, 15/25-9-04 §; Dejoo, 

 North Lakhimpur, 3-10-10'', a pair near bungalow ; Silonibari, Lakhimpur, 

 3-10-11*, heavy rain about 10 a.m. 



I have made no other records for intervening dates, these records cor- 

 respond to the period when the south-west monsoon bursts and its termin- 

 ation, they certainly appear to be absent during the months of heavy rain, 

 though they undoubtedly nest in this area. 



133. Oriolous melanocephalus, L. [521]. — Indian Black-headed Oriole. 

 " Hokhi, hoti," Assam. 



Resident in North Lakhimpur, although not much in evidence during the 

 rains, throughout the plains in the cold season. 



Rungagora. November, January, February, March ; Komolabari, August : 

 Dejoo, February, May, (juv.) July. 



Dejoo, 11-5-10*, a pair in evidence, nowadays singles more often noted 

 possibly nesting in the vicinity, Dejoo, 11-9-10. The male svirpasses in 

 compass the female with his rich liquid notes, though the endeavours of 

 the female are by no means feeble in this direction, yet the difference 

 is appreciable. These productions are generally uttered as the male bends 

 low with the tail outspread to its full extent. This pair had been in this vici- 

 nity throughout the rains. 



134. Oriolus trailii (Vigors) [522]. — The Maroon Oriole. 



Fairly plentiful along the ^terai of the heavily forested hills in North 

 Lakhimpur, but nowhere common; Dejoo (December, January, April); 

 Margherita (August). 



Iris naples yellow ; orbital skin plumbeous ; bill pale-blue ; tarsus slaty. 



135. Gracula javana intermedia, Hay. [524]. — The Indian Grackle. 



Eulabes intermedia, Oates, F, B. I., Vol. i., p. 511. 

 Resident under the hills in North Lakhimpur, extends its range into the 

 plains in the cold season; and although nesting throughout the plains and 

 at the base of the hills is possibly more plentiful at this latter locality at 

 the nesting period. It appears to be a local migrant, as parties are 

 constantly observed on the move in the cold season. Guijan (Dibrugarh 

 District), July ; Margherita, February ; Dejoo, July, August, November ; 

 Maijan, April. Dejoo, 20-1-09, I counted thirty hill Mynahs in some 



