298 On the Oology of India. [April, 



jengths of the long and short axes in inches and fractions of an inch, 

 and the term " ordinary" is applied to the shape of the common hen's 

 eg^ t as typical. 



1. Haliaetus Macei.— The " Kokna" or " Oogoos" of the natives. 

 Nest large — massive— about 3 feet in diameter— composed of sticks, 

 twigs, and lined with hay ; concavity shallow ; usually in the fork of a 

 Peepul or Bur tree, and near water ; eggs two ; shape ordinary ; ra- 

 ther blunt ; color plain white ; long axis 2 |f. This Eagle never makes 

 the slightest attempt at defending its nest — a striking contrast to the 

 marvellous tales we read of, concerning the Golden Eagle in the High- 

 lands of Scotland, &c. ! Lays in December and January. 



2. Gijps bengalensis. — " Gid" or " Girnee." Nest very large, mas- 

 sive, shapeless, irregular in size, being sometimes disproportionally small, 

 composed of branches and twigs lined with hay and down, placed high 

 up on large trees, near or quite at the summit. Egg usually one — ordin- 

 ary shape, or rather lengthened ; size 3f X, 2 T 7 ¥ ; colour dull brownish 

 white. Lays in December or January. 



3. Strix longimembris, Jerdon : Sir. javanica apud Latham. Little 

 or no nest — at most a little grass scattered and smoothed down — in the 

 midst of heavy grass jungle, always on the ground. Eggs usually four 

 in number, round, pure white ; size If x If. November or December. 



4. Orthotomus longicauda. — Nest the size of an orange; globular, of 

 fine hay, scantily lined with a cobwebby cottony substance, attached to 

 the stalk of an annual weed, the adjacent leaves of which are made to 

 adhere to the sides by numerous irregular stitches, formed by passing 

 the hay in and out through* the leaves, one of which is usually bent 

 over as a roof to the entrance. Eggs 4 in number. Size ^-| X 2 % blunt 

 shape ; colour pale greenish blue, with irregular patches, especially to- 

 wards large end, resembling dried stains of blood, and irregular broken 

 lines scratched round, forming a zone near the large end. August. 



5. Hydrophasianus sinensis. — (" Dulkookra.") Nest large, flat, 

 thick, of weeds and coarse water mosses placed on reeds and floating 

 on the water ; upwards of 1 J- foot in diameter. Eggs 4 to 6 or 8. Spindle- 

 shaped, being very broad at big end and tapering at smaller size ; l T \x 

 l_i_ ; color plain bronze or olive brown. August. 



6. Bucco asiaticus, v. cyanops. — (" Suttra.") Nest hemispherical, 

 5 inches in diameter, coarse ; outer covering of tendrils and dry grass, 



