218 DICETTBIDA 



not distinctly see how many. The nest was fixed towards the end 

 of a branch of a tree, at a considerable height from the ground, and 

 was almost impossible to get at. Had there been eggs in it I 

 could not have taken them. 



" The breeding-season I should say was from the beginning of 

 April to the end of May. 



" Three nests, each containing three eggs, were brought to me 

 this season on the 10th and 26th April, and 9th May, 1880, by 

 Cooroobahs (the jungle-tribes in these forests); and although the 

 eggs in each nest vary considerably from one another, there is no 

 doubt in my mind that the eggs belong to one and the same species 

 of bird. 



" It is a bird so well known in these forests that it would be 

 impossible to mistake it for any other. 



"In one case only was the nest brought to me, and this, which 

 unfortunately I did not keep, was loosely made of twigs and 

 roots." 



Professor H. Littledale, quoting Mr. J. Davidson, informs us that 

 this species breeds in the east of Godhra, and therefore probably 

 throughout the Panch Mehals. 



Mr. J. Inglis, writing from Cachar, says : — " The Bhimraj is 

 very common, frequenting thick jungle ; it often goes in company 

 with other birds, which it mimics to perfection. It lays about four 

 eggs in a shallow nest made of grass similar to the above ; it is very 

 easily tamed. The hill-tribes use the long tail-feathers for orna- 

 menting their head-dresses." 



Mr. Oates writes from Pegu : — " I have taken the eggs of this 

 species on all dates, from the 30th April to the 16th June. 



" The nest is placed in forks of the outer branches of trees at all 

 heights from 20 to 70 feet, and in all cases they are very difficult 

 to take without breaking the eggs. 



" The nest is a cradle, and the whole of it lies below the fork to 

 which it is attached. It is made entirely of small branches of 

 weeds and creepers, finer as they approach the interior. The egg- 

 cup is generally, but not always, lined with dry grass. 



" The outside dimensions are 6 inches in diameter and 3 deep. 

 The interior measures 4 inches by 2. In one nest the sides are 

 bound to the fork by cotton thread in addition to the usual 

 weeds and creepers. 



"The eggs have very little or no gloss, and differ among them- 

 selves a good deal in colour. In one clutch the ground-colour is 

 white, spotted and blotched, not very thickly, with neutral tint 

 and inky purple, chiefly at the larger end. Other eggs are pinkish 

 salmon, and the shell is more or less thickly or thinly covered with 

 pale greyish purple or neutral tint, and brownish-yellow or orange- 

 brown spots and dashes. 



" They vary in size from 1-2 to 1-06 in length, and "85 to -8 in 

 breadth." 



Major 0. T. Bingham has the following note : — " About five 

 miles below the large village of Meplay, in the district of that name, 



