OEIOLUS. 355

internal cavity 3| inches in diameter and over 2^ deep. I have
seen others scarcely over 2| inches in diameter and not 2 in depth,
which you could have put bodily, twigs and all, inside the former.
As ci rule, the purse is strong and compact, the material closely
matted and firmly bound together; but I have seen very flimsy
structures, through which it was quite possible to see the eggs.

Pour is the greatest number of eggs I have ever found in one
nest, but it is quite common to find only three well-incubated
ones.

Colonel C. H. T. Marshall reports having found several nests
of this species about Murree at low elevations.

Mr. W. Blewitt tells me that he obtained two nests near Hansie
on the 1st and 14th July respectively. The nests (which he kindly
sent) were of the usual type, and w^ere placed, the one on an
.acacia, the other on a loquat tree, at heights of 10 and 12 feet
from the ground. Each contained three eggs, the one clutch much
incubated, the other perfectly fresh.

Dr. Scully writes :—" The Indian Oriole is a seasonal visitant to
the valley of Nepal, arriving about the 1st of April and departing
in August. It frequents some of the central woods, gardens,
and groves, and breeds in May and June."

Colonel J. Biddulph remarks regarding the modification of this
Oriole in Grilgit:—u A summer visitant and common. Appears
about the 1st of May. Nest with three eggs hard-set, taken 8th of
June; several other nests taken later on."

Writing from near Eohtuk, Mr. F. E. Blewitt says:—" The
breeding-season is from the middle of May to July. The nest is
made on large trees, and always suspended between the fork of a
branch. I have certainly obtained more nests from the tamarind
than any other kind of tree.

"The nest is cup-shaped, light, neat, and compact. The ave-
rage outer diameter is 4-8 inches ; the inner or cup-cavity about 3*6*
Hemp-like fibre is almost exclusively used in the exterior structure
of the nest, and by this it is firmly secured to the two limbs of the
fork. Cleverly indeed is this work performed, the hemp being
well wrapped round the stems and then brought again into the
outer framework. Occasionally bits of cloth, thread pieces,
vegetable fibres, <fec. are introduced. On one occasion I got a
nest with a cast-off snake-skin neatly worked into the outer
material.

" The lining of the egg-cavity is simply fine grass, if we except
the occasional capricious addition of a feather or two, an odd piece
of cotton or rag, &c. Three appears to be the regular number of
eggs. This bird is to be found in small numbers all over the
country here ; its habits are well described by Jerdon. It is, as I
have observed, hard to please in its choice of a nest site. I have
watched it for days going backwards and forwards, from tree to
tree and from fork to fork, before it made up its mind where to
commence work."

23*