G86 Notes on the Nidification of Indian Birds. [Dec. 



manners, or markings, so as to assist the naturalist not only in the 

 identification of species, but also lead him to the places where he might 

 expect to find them. But who would ever dream of seeking in the 

 forest's gloom for birds whose name pointed to the fact of their de- 

 lighting in rocky situations ? Yet, if misled by the generic name Pe- 

 trocossyphus, the naturalist should venture to some rock-bestudded 

 mountain in search of the species " citrinns" and " unicolor" — he 

 would have nothing but his trouble as his reward, for those species are 

 procurable only amidst the boughs and thickets of the forest. 



No. 26. — " Copsychus saularis" (L.) 



Gryllivora intermedia, Swainson. 

 Dahila docilis, Hodgson. 



Arrives on the hills up to 5,000 ft. and perhaps higher, in the be- 

 ginning of April. It returns to the Doon and plains in early autumn. 

 It breeds in May, on the 19th of which month I took a nest from a 

 bank by the road side ; it was composed of green mosses and lined with 

 very fine roots. Eggs 4 ; carneous cream colour. Somewhat blistered 

 at the larger end. Diameter if X T 8 F ins. 



This species delights to sit on the topmost branches of a tree, gene- 

 rally selecting some dry and leafless branch, from whence it utters a 

 pleasing song, which is replied to by another individual at no great dis- 

 tance ; when on the ground it hops with the wings half open or droop- 

 ing, and at each hop it stops to spread and flirt the tail. 



No. 27. — " Stoparola melanops." (Blyth.) 



Niltava ? melanops. (Gray's Cat.) 

 Muscicapa melanops. (Vigors. Gould.) 



This is a common species throughout the mountains up to about 

 12,000 ft. during summer, arriving about the beginning of March. It 

 breeds in May and June, making a neat nest of green moss in holes 

 of trees, in stumps, and in the holes of banks by the road side. The 

 eggs are 3 to 4 in number, dull white with faint rufous specks at the 

 larger end and somewhat inclined to form a ring. 



The bird has a pleasing song. Gould figures this species very faultily, 

 — as the black of the lores does not pass beyond the eye, as he repre- 

 sents it, and the under tail coverts instead of being uniform pale green- 

 ish, are dull blue green, each feather apically barred with dull white. 

 In the winter it leaves Mussooree. 



