THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 119 



light reddish-brown, these marks being principally confined to the 

 larger end. The nest I did not see, but it was said to have been taken 

 from a Babool tree, about five feet from the ground. 



(217) 0. melanocephalus.— The Indian Black-headed Oriole. 

 Oates, No. 521; Hume, No. 472. 



Common everywhere. 



(218) 0. trailii.— The Maroon Oriole. 

 Oates, No. 522 ; Hume, No. 474. 



Rather rare here, but still to be met with pretty frequently in suit- 

 able places. In the cold weather I have seen it in the plains of 

 Cachar and I have taken its nest at Hangrum, at a height of nearly 

 6,000 feet. 



It always seems to build its nest at an immense height from the 

 ground, and generally amongst the small outer branches of the tree 

 selected. Twice I have only managed to save one out of three eggs 

 contained in the nest, twice two out of three, and but once have I 

 brought (or, I should say, had brought) down all three eggs in safety. 

 The four I have measured are V2" X -8", 1*14" X '76", 1'12"X'77" and 

 1-17" X *82". 



The eggs are just like rather deep coloured ones of O. Jcundoo or 

 0. melanocephalus, but one has one or two most peculiar long wavy lines 

 of a dark greenish-brown colour and also a few blotches of the same. 

 This is, most likely, altogether abnormal, for neither of the other two 

 eggs in the same nest possessed any such ; for, though one was too 

 broken to keep, I examined it carefully in order to ascertain if such 

 was the case. 



Family Euldbetidce. 

 (219) Eulabes intermedia. — The Indian Grakle. 

 Oates, No. 524 ; Hume, No. 693. 



This grakle is very common in North Cachar, breeding freely every- 

 where up to some 3,000 feet. The eggs are in general colour the same 

 as those of Sturnopastor, rather brighter and perhaps less glossy ; in 

 most eggs the markings consist of large blotches and spots of chocolate- 

 brown, with others underlying them of pale inky and lavender. In 

 some eggs, however, the marks are all of the secondary type, and even 

 these are very faint, one egg in my collection appearing entirely blue 

 unless closely looked into. 



