Birds of Luc know. 483 
May 5 nest and 3 eggs (hard-set). 
May 31 „ 3 „ (fresh). 
June 20 „ 3 „ „ 
July 20 „ 3 „ 
July 29 „ 3 young (just hatched). 
Average measurement of the above 12 eggs '81" X '62" 
Measurement of smallest egg '77" X '60" 
„ largest egg •88"x-75" 
The eggs, like those of A. malcolmi and Crateropus canorus, 
are glossy blue, without spots, and often very round. 
No. 107. Argya malcolmi. Large Grey Babbler. 
Bhaina [H. Lucknow], White-tailed Magpie [Anglo- 
Indian boys] . 
It is most curious that Reid should not have found this 
species in Lucknow. It seems very capriciously distributed 
over Northern India, being absent in many places and 
numerous in others without any apparent cause. It is 
not a bird that can be overlooked by an ornithologist, for 
its cry, which is very harsh and characteristic, betrays it at 
once, and, as it flies, the whitish colour of the lateral tail- 
feathers is most conspicuous. I find it common in certain 
spots — the La Martiniere Park being one — and take nests 
every season. I have found eggs on dates too numerous to 
mention between March 3rd and June 30th. The greater 
number of nests have been on babool-trees, in which case they 
are always solid structures of thorn carefully lined with grass. 
I have also found the bird breeding on the mango and the 
sheshum, when the nest lacked its outer covering of thorn, but 
was always a neater structure than that of Crateropus canorus. 
The full number of glossy blue eggs is four, but three young 
are not uncommon. 
On March 2Ist5 1896, I found a nest of this bird at 
the top of a mango, containing three fresh eggs and one 
hard-set. The latter was blunt at both ends like a Dove's, 
the blue tint was much deeper, and I am certain that it 
belonged to the Common Hawk-Cuckoo [Hierococcyx varius). 
Unfortunately it has mysteriously disappeared from my 
eollection. 
SER. vm. — VOL. II. 2 k 
