198 DICBTTBIDJE. 



always four in number, spotted with pinkish red on a white ground, 

 the spots being more numerous towards the larger end. They 

 breed in March. Dimensions, 0-71 inch long by 057 broad." 



Mr. Mandelli sent me a small pad-like nest of this species 

 found on the 4th May in Native Sikhim. It was placed in a 

 hollow of a trunk of a large tree about 3 feet from the ground. It 

 is composed of very fine moss felted together with a little fine 

 vegetable fibre, and the upper surface coated with a little fine 

 short silky fur, probably that of a rat. 



Major Bingham, writing from Tenasserim, says : — " Fairly 

 common in the Thou-ngyeen valley. On the 18th February I 

 found a nest in a hole in a branch of a pynkado tree (Xylia dola- 

 Iriformis), but I was too early for eggs." 



One egg of this very beautiful species was sent me by Miss 

 Coekburn. It is intermediate in size and colour between those of the 

 European Creeper and Nuthatch, while at the same time it strongly 

 recalls the eggs of Pants atriceps. In shape the egg is a broad 

 oval (not quite so. broad, however, as those of the European 

 Nuthatch are), slightly compressed towards one end. The ground- 

 colour is white, and the egg is blotched, speckled, and spotted, 

 chiefly, however, in a sort of irregular zone round the large end, 

 with brickdust-red and somewhat pale purple. The shell is fine 

 and compact, but devoid of gloss. The egg measures 0-68 by 

 - 55 inch. 



Three other ejgs from the Sikhim Terai measure 0-68 by 0-51. 



Family DICRURID^E. 



327. Dicrurus ater (Hermann). The Black Drongo. 



Dicrurus macrocercus (K), Jerd. B. 2nd. i, p. 427. 



Buehanga albirictus, Hodgs., Hume, Rough Draft N. fy 21. no. 278. 



The Black Drongo or Common King-Crow lays throughout 

 India, at any rate in the plain country ; it does not appear to 

 breed either in the Himalayas or the Nilghiris at any height ex- 

 ceeding 5000 feet. 



A few eggs may be found towards the close of April, and again 

 during the first week of August, but May, June, and July are the 

 months. 



It builds usually pretty high up in tall trees, in some fork not 

 quite at the outside, constructing a broad shallow cup, and lays 

 normally four eggs, although I have found five. Elsewhere I have 

 recorded the following in regard to its nidification : — 



" Close at our own gate is a pretty neem tree, the ' Melia azacli- 

 raeJita,' a species now naturalized in Provence and other parts of the 

 south of France. High up in a fork a small nest was visible, and pro- 

 jecting over it on one side a black forked tail that could belong to 

 nothing but the Xing-Crow. Of this bird we have alreadv taken 



