416 Capt. R. C. Beavan on various Indian Birds. 



the structure, and serves to hang it by. The interior of the 

 nest is lined with the softest cotton or other accessible material, 

 and is slightly larger at the bottom than the top. There is a 

 dome over the entrance. The eggs, as mentioned by Dr. Jer- 

 don, are of a greenish-grey tinge, with dusky spots. The usual 

 number is three. 



Having had so many nests and eggs of this species brought 

 to me in Maunbhoom, with the female bird in most cases 

 caught on the nest, I can assert with confidence that during the 

 breeding-season this sex does not put on the black livery of the 

 male, but retains her own sombre garb. I believe this species 

 migrates to Maunbhoom and the Chota Nagpore district for the 

 purpose of nidification. 



238. DictEum minimum. TickelFs Flower-pecker. 



Tolerably common in Maunbhoom, especially in the breeding- 

 season. It has a weak piping note, and is met with in heavy 

 jungles in thick trees, busily engaged seeking amongst the 

 leaves for insects. The plumage is of such a dull colour, and 

 the size of the bird so small, that it is not easy to get speci- 

 mens. It breeds earlier than the last two species. The first 

 nest was brought to me at Beerachalee on the 16th March, with 

 three pure white eggs, which measure "6 inch by '^ inch. The 

 nest is much like that of Arachnechthra asiatica, and of the same 

 description, being suspended by spiders^ web from a bough ; but 

 it is a good deal smaller, rather less oval and more round, and the 

 inside more carefully constructed. It is lined with the softest 

 materials, so as to put me much in niind of the cocoon of the 

 tusseh silk-worm {^Antlieraa paphia), it was so smooth and well 

 made. In length it was 3'5 inches; in breadth 2 inches ; and 

 the circumference 7 inches. Several nests, with young ones 

 fully fledged, were brought to me about the beginning of April. 

 There is no dome over the entrance of the nest. 



240. PiPRisoMA AGILE. Thick-billcd Flower-pecker. 



This bird cannot be considered common in Maunbhoom, 

 although it is certainly tolerably abundant during the breeding- 

 season, which is in March and the beginning of April. The 



