198 BICRTJEIDJE.

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 0-57 broad."

Mr. Mandelli sent me a small pad-like nest of this species
found on the 4th May in Native Sikhiin. 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 Thoungyeen valley. On the 18th February I
found a nest in a hole in a branch of a pynkado tree (Xylia dola-
Irifomiis), but I was too early for eggs."

One egg of this very beautiful species was sent me by Miss
Cockburn. Ifc 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 Pccrus 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 0-08 by
0-55 inch.

Three other e^gs from the Sikhiin Terai measure 0-68 by 0-51.

Family DICRURIDJE,

327. Dicrurus ater (Hermann). The Blade Dronyo.

Dicrurus macrocercus (V.*), Jerd. JB. Ind. i; p. 427.

Buchanga albirictus, Hodgs., Hume, Rough Draft N. $ E. 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 tJie
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 c Melicc azadi-
rackta,' 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 King-Crow. Of this bird we have already taken