196 
ORNITHOLOGY. 
three inches to 3*5 in diameter, and from 2 25 inches to 
2*75 in depth ; the walls immediately surrounding the nest 
are very compact, and the compact portion rarely exceeds 
from '75 to 1 inch in thickness, beyond which the loose 
ends of the materials straggle more or less, so that the 
external diameter varies from 5 "5 inches to nearly 10. 
The normal number of eggs appears to me to be three, 
although Captain Beavan cites an instance of four being 
found. They are usually of a pale, slightly greenish blue, 
but vary somewhat in shade and intensity of colour. In 
shape they vary even more than in tint, since, although the 
common type is a rather long, slightly pyriform oval, some are 
nearly round, and one was almost as slender as a Swift's. 
The texture is only moderately fine, the surface fairly glossy. 
In size I have found them vary from 0*8 to 1*13 inch in 
length, and from 0*7 to 0 8 of an inch in breadth, but the 
average dimensions are 1 by '75 inch. 
Neither Dr. Jerdon's dimensions nor his description 
appear to me to represent our bird quite correctly, and I 
therefore subjoin* others taken by myself, which possess at 
least the merit (?) of pleasing me better ! [A. O. if.] 
* TrocJialojpteron Lineatum. 
Dimensions. {Sexes do not differ in size; individuals do). — Length, 
8'1 to 9'1 ; expanse, 9 to 10 ; wing, 2*9 to 3'25. Fifth and sixth primaries 
longest or 6 , and 5 , up to 01 shorter — first I 'l to 14 shorter. Tail 
from vent, 2*7 to 3*8. Central tail-feathers exceed exterior laterals by 
from 0-45 to I'S. Tarsus, 0 9 to 1'12. Foot— greatest length, 1'6 to 
1-7; greatest width, I'l to 1-3. Mid toe to root of claw, 0 65 to 0 8; 
its claw, straight from rout to point, 0*2 to 0*3. Hind toe, 0-2 to 0*45 ; 
its claw, 0*3 to 0"4. Bill, straight from forehead to point, 1*42 to 0*6 ; from 
gape, 0 75 to 0*9. Closed wings fall short of end of tail by from 1*7 to 2'5. 
Description. — Bill dusky brown, pale, and in some yellowish ; in 
some fleshy on lower mandible. Legs and feet pale or fleshy brown, 
soles yellow, or whitish. Irides a paler or darker brown. Plumage. — 
The whole of the top of the head, back, and sides of the neck, and a small 
portion of the upper back, are greenish ashy, each feather so broadly 
centered with reddish orange brown as to leave in many feathers but a 
faint margin of ashy, the shafts glistening dark brown ; the greater 
portion of the back rich orange brown, feathers faintly darker centered, 
and with conspicuous yellowish white shafts, reminding one somewhat of 
Grammatophila striata; rump and upper tail-coverts uniform dull 
olive brown ; tail-feathers, orange brown (deep golden brown in some 
