OHAPTIA. 211

bamboo-clump to breed in. The nest is a compact cup, neatly
made of fine grass-stalks, with an outer coating of dry bamboo-
leaves plastered over with cobwebs; it is fastened to the support-
ing branches by cobwebs. Externally it measures 3-5 inches wide
by 2 inches deep, internally 2-5 by 1*5.

" The usual number of eggs is three."

Major M. Forbes Coussmaker, writing from. Bangalore, tells us:—
" I took the nest of this bird on 6th April in the Shemagah District,
Mysore. It was built on the fork of a bare branch about 20 feet
from the ground in big tree-jungle, and was composed of fine
grass, fibre, and a few dry bamboo-leaves woven together with cob-
webs, making a small compact cup-like nesfc which measured
3 inches in diameter externally, 2-5 internally, and 1-4 deep.

" From where I stood I saw the bird come and sit on the nest
and fly off again a dozen times at least. The eggs, three in num-
ber, measured *9 by -05, and were pinkish white with darker pink
and light purple blotches and spots all over, principally at the
larger end."

Mr. J. E. Cripps informs us that at Furreedpore, in Eastern
Bengal, this species is " rather common; generally to be found
perching on the dead branches of high trees overlooking water,
especially whenever there is a dense undergrowth of jungle. On
the 1st June, 1878, I secured a nest with three fresh eggs; it was
built on a slender twig on the outer side of a mango-tree which
was standing near a ryot's house, and was about 15 feet off the
ground. External diameter.3J inches, depth 2; internal diameter
2^, depth lg. Saucer-shaped ; the outside consisted of plaintam-
leaves torn up into slips, all of which were firmly bound together
by fibres of the plamtain-leaf and jute, which were wound round
the twigs and secured the nest. Inside lining was made of very
fine pieces of esone' grass. The pair were very pugnacious,
attacking any birds coming near their nest. These birds have a
clear mellow ringing whistle."

Mr. Dates writes from Pegu:—" I procured one nest on the
23rd April. It was placed at the tip of an outer branch of a jack
tree, and attention was drawn to it by the vigorous attacks the
parents made on passing birds. The nest was suspended in a fork;
the outside diameter is 4 inches and inside 3, total depth 2|, and
the egg-cup is about lg deep. The nest is composed of fine grass,
strips of plaintain-bark, and other vegetable fibres closely woven
together; the edges and the interior are chiefly of delicate branch-
lets of the finer weeds and grasses. It is overlaid at the edges,
where it is attached to the branches, with cobwebs, and a few
fragments of moss are stuck on at various points.

" There were two fresh eggs; the ground-colour is a pale salmon-
fawn, and the shell is covered with darker spots and marks of the
same. They are only very slightly glossy. The two eggs measure
0-85 by 0-62."

Major C. T. Bingham writes from Tenasserim :—" On the 10th
March, 1880, being encamped at the head-waters of the Queebaw-