362 OKIOLIDJE.

The dozen eggs that I possess of this species vary from 1-1 to 1*2
in length, and from 0'78 to 0*87 in breadth, and the average is 1-14
by 0*82. Although the average is somewhat larger than that of the
preceding species, and although none of the eggs are quite as small
as many of those of 0. Jcundoo, still none are nearly so large as the
finest specimens of the latter's egg. Probably had I an equally
large series of the eggs of the present species, we should find that
as regards size there was no perceptible difference between the
two.

522. Oriolus traillii (Vigors). Tlie Maroon Oriole.
Qriolus traillii (Vig.\ Jerd. J3. 2nd. ii, p. 112; Hkime, Cat. no. 474.

Erom Sikbim Mr. Gammie writes:—"I took a nest of this
Oriole on the 24th April, at an elevation of about 2500 feet. It
was suspended, within ten feet of the ground, from an outer fork
of a branch of a small leafy tree, which grew in a patch of low
dense jangle. It is a neat cup, composed of fibrous bark and strips
of the outer part of dry grass-stems, intermixed with skeletonized
leaves and green moss, and lined with fine grass. Besides being
firmly bound by the rim of the cup to the horizontal forking
branches by fibrous barks, several strings extended from one branch
to the other, both under and in front of the nest, while other
strings from the body of the nest were fastened to an upright twig
that rose immediately behind the fork, thus most securely retain-
ing it in its position.

" Externally the nest measured 5 inches wide by 2*75 in height;
internally 3*25 wide by 2 deep. It contained three fresh eggs.

u The female came quite close, making loud complaints against
the robbing of her nest."

The nest is that of a typical Oriole, usually very firmly and sub-
stantially built, and of course always suspended at a fork between
two twigs. A nest taken by Mr. Gammie in Sikhim on the 20th
April, at an elevation of about 2500 feet, is a deep substantial cup,
nearly 4 inches in diameter and 2| in depth internally. It is
everywhere nearly an inch in thickness. The suspensory portion
composed of vegetable fibres ; towards the exterior dead leaves,
bamboo-sheaths, green nioss,,and tendrils of creeping plants are
profusely intermingled; interiorly, it is closely and regularly lined
with very fine grass.

A nest sent me by Mr. Mandelli was found on the 3rd April at
Namtehu, and contained three fresh eggs. It is precisely similar
to the one above described, except that in the lining roots are
mingled with the fine grass, and that instead of being suspended
in a fork, it was partly wedged into and partly rested on a fork.

A.s a rule, however, as I know from other nests subsequently
obtained, the nests are always suspended like those of the Common
Oriole.

Two eggs of this species obtained by Mr. Gammie closely