208 DICRTOID^.

example. In shape it is excessively long and narrow, of the type
of the eggs of Chibia liottentotta, but its coloration and character
of markings are unlike those of any Shrike or Drongo with which
I am acquainted, and exactly resemble those of many types of the
eggs of the several Bulbuls. The ground-colour is pinkish white,
and is thickly speckled and spotted throughout with primary mark-
ings of rich brownish red, and feeble secondary ones of excessively
pale inky purple. This egg, moreover, possesses a degree of gloss
never observable in those of the Dicruri, and therefore, well
assured though Mr. Brooks is of the parentage of this egg which
he took with his own hands, I feel confident, having since obtained
many eggs of Hypsipetcs psaroides which are exactly similar to
this last described egg, that in, perhaps, indifferent light he mis-
took this bird for a Dicrurus. I may add that the first described
type, of which I have procured numerous specimens from different
parts of the Himalayas, taking several nests with, niy own hands, is
most characteristic of this species.

In the type with the pinky-white ground, large or small spots
often occur about the large end of a deep purple colour, so deep
as to be almost black, and but for the absence of gloss some of
these paler eggs are very close to those of some of the Orioles.
Intermediate varieties between the two types above described occur,
but in not one of more than sixty specimens that I have examined
has there been any perceptible gloss.

The eggs vary in lengtii from 0*85 to 1*01 inch, and in breadth
from 0*7 to 0*75 inch, but the average of fifty-one eggs is 0-95
by 0-74 inch.

329. Dicmrns nigrescens, Gates. The Tenasserim Ashy Drongo.
Dicrurus nigrescens, Oates; Oates, B. I. i, p. 315.

Mr. Oates found the nest of this Drongo in Pegu. He says:—
" I found one nest on the 27th April at Kyeikpadein, near the
town of Pegu, on a small sapling near the summit. It contained
four eggs * ; they are without gloss; the ground-colour in all is
white. In three eggs the whole shell is marked with spots of pale
purple i these are perhaps more numerous at the thick end, but
not conspicuously so. The fourth egg is blotched, not spotted,
with the same colour.

" The nest is composed of fine twigs and the dry branches of
weeds; it is lined very firmly and neatly with grass. Exterior
diameter 5 inches and depth 2; egg-chamber 3.| inches across and
1| deep. The outside of the nest is profusely covered with lichens
and cobwebs. The eggs measure from *83 to '95 in length, and
•68 to -71 in width."

* I recorded the nest and eggs of this bird under the name of B-ucha/nga
intermedia (S. F. v, p. 149). The parent birds of these eggs are fortunately still
in the British Museum, and I am able to identify them with this species, which
occurs generally throughout Tenasserim and many parts of Lower Pegu.—ED.