THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 3 



appears to be four. In shape they are a rather long oval, but slightly 

 pointed. The texture is close and hard, and the surface smooth 

 and highly glossed. The most common type seems to be a pure 

 white egg with rather numerous, small spots of dull, dark red. In 

 some eggs these spots are merely tiny specks, in others they are 

 almost large enough to be called blotches, and in the last mentioned 

 nest the eggs were quite boldly marked with rather light reddish. 



The average of the only six eggs I have measured is , 70">C , 56", and 

 they differ from one another very little in either size or shape. 

 (124) S. nagaensis. — Austen's Nuthatch. 

 Oates, No. 318 ; Hume, No. 248 Ter. 



I got a male of this species in May, 1891, at Hungrum. I also had 

 a shot at the female, but, most unfortunately, I missed and, though 

 I followed it up a long way, failed to get another shot, and so missed 

 getting a female, as yet undescribed. 



(125) S. Formosa. — The Beautiful Nuthatch. 

 Oates, No. 324 ; Hume, No. 252. 



Oates records this as having been killed at Asalu in the Khasia Hills. 

 I have made careful enquiries, but can find no trace of any place 

 of this name in the Khasia and Jaintea Hills district, and I think the 

 place referred to may be Asalu, the old head-quarters of the North 

 Cachar Hills. 



(126) S. frontalis. — The Velvet-fronted Blue Nuthatch. 



Oates, No. 325 ; Hume, No. 253. 

 Common up to about 4,000 feet. This species does not appear ever 

 to lessen the size of the entrance to its nest hole with clay. On the 

 other hand I have known them enlarge portions of cracks in order 

 to effect an entrance into a desirable hollow. 



Family Dicrurido3. 



(127) Dicrurtjs annectens. — The Crow-billed Drongo. 



Oates, No. 326; Hume, No. 279. 

 In April and May,1891, 1 found this bird breeding very freely in these 

 hills. The nest is much like that of D. uter, but is smaller and even 

 more flimsy, yet neater, than that bird's. Half a dozen nests average 

 under 4" in internal diameter, and out of 20 nests I don't think I have 

 seen any over 4*5". The materials are chiefly very fine elastic twigs 



