849 



nests measure externally only 4 inches in height by the same in diameter at the top, and conse- 

 quently are not very large for the size of the bird. In the next place, the fibrous materials, fine 

 grass stems and skeleton leaves, of which they are composed, are compactly and neatly inter- 

 woven ; and the nests are cup-shaped with an open top, instead of having the hole at one side. 



" ' The nest is so neat and so beautifully situated that the greatest admirer of Jerdon could 

 not help reproaching him for so sadly traducing this most accomplished architect. 



" ' The nest is suspended from about the middle of the under surface of a large plantain- 

 leaf by numerous threads (two hundred or so) of plantain-stem fibre, attached to rather more 

 than half the rim of the cup, put through the blade of the leaf and knotted on the upper side. 



" ' The holes are as neat, without a crack from them, as if they had been bored with a sharp 

 needle ; and as they are but barely large enough for the insertion of the threads, not a trace of 

 water can get through to the nest. It was a pouring wet day when I found my first nest ; and it 

 seemed so dry and comfortable that I could not help wishing that I was half as well sheltered 

 myself. 



" ' The cavity is lined with fine grass-stems, and measures about 2*5 inches in diameter by 

 the same in depth. 



" ' The full number of eggs appears to be three. Both my nests were found in May, at an 

 elevation of about 3000 feet ; but as the bird is very common up to at least 5000 feet, I have no 

 doubt it breeds up to that elevation.' 



" The eggs obtained by Mr. Gammie correspond precisely with others previously sent us by 

 Mr. Mandelli, but which, as they rested on native authority, I had not accepted. 



" The eggs are distinctly of the Arachnechthra type, but much darker, and of course much 

 larger. They are moderately elongated ovals, considerably pointed and compressed towards the 

 small end, have a fine compact shell, and a very fair amount of gloss. The ground is a drab or 

 sepia-brown with occasionally a decided purplish tinge ; and they are minutely stippled and 

 speckled all over, but most densely so about the large end, with a deep purple which is almost 

 black. 



"In length they vary from 0-85 to - 91 inch, and in breadth from 0-62 to 0-63. 



" The following are dimensions and colours of the soft parts taken from specimens in the 

 flesh :— 



" Male. Length 7-8 to 7-9 inches, expanse 11-25 to 11-62, tail from vent 2-12 to 2-25, 

 wing 3-55 to 3 - 75, tarsus 0-8, bill from gape T75 to T8, weight 1*2 to 1-25 ounce. 



"Female. Length 6"82, expanse 10-5, tail from vent T75, wing 3-25, tarsus - 75, bill from 

 gape 1*6, weight 0-8 ounce. 



" The legs, feet, and claws vary from bright to dull orange ; bill horny black, reddish at the 

 edge towards the base of the lower mandible ; irides dark brown." 



Messrs. Hume and Davison's very exhaustive notes, which I have here given in full, leave no 

 additional information to be extracted from other authors. 



I quite agree with Mr. Gammie that Dr. Jerdon probably never saw the nest, but, in my 

 opinion, must have mistaken the nest of some other bird as belonging to this species. 



Near Darjeeling, according to Captain Bulger, it is not uncommon in the warm valleys 

 below the station. 



