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The Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, Volume 1 written by Allan O. Hume

A >> Allan O. Hume >> The Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, Volume 1



THE NESTS AND EGGS OF INDIAN BIRDS, VOLUME 1

by

ALLAN O. HUME, C.B.

Second Edition.

Edited by Eugene William Gates
Author of "A Handbook to the Birds of British Burmah and of the Birds
in the Fauna of British India,"

With Four Portraits.

London

1889






[Illustration: ALLAN OCTAVIAN HUME]


[Illustration: ALERE FLAMMAM]



AUTHOR'S PREFACE.


I have long regretted my inability to issue a revised edition of
'Nests and Eggs.' For many years after the first Rough Draft appeared,
I went on laboriously accumulating materials for a re-issue, but
subsequently circumstances prevented my undertaking the work. Now,
fortunately, my friend Mr. Eugene Gates has taken the matter up, and
much as I may personally regret having to hand over to another a task,
the performance of which I should so much have enjoyed, it is some
consolation to feel that the readers, at any rate, of this work will
have no cause for regret, but rather of rejoicing that the work has
passed into younger and stronger hands.

One thing seems necessary to explain. The present Edition does not
include quite all the materials I had accumulated for this work. Many
years ago, during my absence from Simla, a servant broke into my
museum and stole thence several cwts. of manuscript, which he sold
as waste paper. This manuscript included more or less complete
life-histories of some 700 species of birds, and also a certain number
of detailed accounts of nidification. All small notes on slips of
paper were left, but almost every article written on full-sized
foolscap sheets was abstracted. It was not for many months that the
theft was discovered, and then very little of the MSS. could be
recovered.

It thus happens that in the cases of some of the most interesting
species, of which I had worked up all the notes into a connected
whole, nothing, or, as in the case of _Argya subrufa_, only a single
isolated note, appears in the text. It is to be greatly regretted, for
my work was imperfect enough as it was; and this 'Selection from the
Records,' that my Philistine servant saw fit to permit himself, has
rendered it a great deal more imperfect still; but neither Mr. Oates
nor myself can be justly blamed for this.

In conclusion, I have only to say that if this compilation should find
favour in any man's sight he must thank Mr. Oates for it, since not
only has he undergone the labour of arranging my materials and seeing
the whole work through the press--not only has he, I believe, added
himself considerably to those materials--but it is solely owing to him
that the work appears _at all_, as I know no one else to whom I could
have entrusted the arduous and, I fear, thankless duty that he has so
generously undertaken.

ALLAN HUME.

Rothney Castle, Simla,
October 19th, 1889.




EDITOR'S NOTE.


Mr. Hume has sufficiently explained the circumstances under which this
edition of his popular work has been brought about. I have merely to
add that, as I was engaged on a work on the Birds of India, I thought
it would be easier for me than for anyone else to assist Mr. Hume.
I was also in England, and knew that my labour would be very much
lightened by passing the work through the press in this country.
Another reason, perhaps the most important, was the fear that, as Mr.
Hume had given up entirely and absolutely the study of birds, the
valuable material he had taken such pains to accumulate for this
edition might be irretrievably lost or further injured by lapse of
time unless early steps were taken to utilize it.

A few words of explanation appear necessary on the subject of the
arrangement of this edition. Mr. Hume is in no way responsible for
this arrangement nor for the nomenclature employed. He may possibly
disapprove of both. He, however, gave me his manuscript unreservedly,
and left me free to deal with it as I thought best, and I have to
thank him for reposing this confidence in me. Left thus to my own
devices, I have considered it expedient to conform in all respects to
the arrangement of my work on the Birds, which I am writing, side by
side, with this work. The classification I have elaborated for my
purpose is totally different to that employed by Jerdon and familiar
to Indian ornithologists; but a departure from Jerdon's arrangement
was merely a question of time, and no better opportunity than the
present for readjusting the classification of Indian birds appeared
likely to present itself. I have therefore adopted a new system, which
I have fully set forth in my other work.

I take this opportunity to present the readers of Mr. Hume's work with
portraits of Mr. Hume himself, of Mr. Brian Hodgson, the late Dr.
Jerdon, and the late Colonel Tickell.

EUGENE W. OATES.




SYSTEMATIC INDEX.


Order PASSERES.

Family CORVIDAE.

Subfamily CORVINAE.

1. Corvus corax, _Linn._
3. ---- corone, _Linn._
4. ---- macrorhynchus, _Wagler_
7. ---- splendens, _Vieill_
8. ---- insulens, _Hume._
9. ---- monedula, _Linn._
10. Pica rustica (_Scop._)
12. Urocissa occipitalis (_Bl._)
13. ---- flaviostris (_Bl._)
14. Cissa chinensis (_Bodd._)
15. ---- ornata (_Wagler_)
16. Dendrocitta rufa (_Scop._)
17. ---- leucogastra, _Gould_
18. ---- himalayensis, _Bl._
21. Crypsirhina varians (_Lath._)
23. Platysmurus leucopterus (_Temm._)
24. Garrulous lanceolatus, _Vigors_
25. ---- leucotis, _Hume_
26. ---- bispecularis, _Vigors_
27. Nucifraga hemispila, _Vigors_
29. Graculus eremita (_Linn._)


Subfamily PARINAE.

31. Parus atriceps, _Horsf._
34. ---- monticola, _Vigors_
35. Aegithaliscus erythrocephalus _Vig._
41. Machlolophus spilonotus (_Bl._)
42. ---- xanthogenys _Vig._
43. ---- haplonotus (_Bl._)
44. Lophophanes melanolophus _Vig._
47. ---- rufinuchalis (_Bl._)


Subfamily PARADOXORNITHINAE.

50. Conostoma aemodium, _Hodgs._
60. Sea orhynchus ruticeps (_Bl._)
61. ---- gularis _Horsf._


Family CRATEROPODIDAE.

Subfamily CRATEROPODINAE.

62. Dryonastes ruticollis (J.S.S.)
65. ---- caerulatus (_Hodgs._)
69. Garrulax leucolophus (_Hardw._)
70. ---- belangeri, _Lesson_
72. ---- pectoralis (_Gould_)
73. ---- moniliger (_Hodgs._)
76. ---- albigularis _Gould_
78. Ianthocincla ocellata (_Vig._)
80. ---- rutigularis, _Gould_
82. Trochalopterum erythrocephalum (_Vig._)
83. ---- nigrimentum, _Hodgs._
87. ---- phaeniceum (_Gould_)
88. ---- subunicolor, _Hodgs._
90. ---- variegatum (_Vig._)
91. ---- simile, _Hume_
92. ---- squamatum (_Gould_)
93. ---- cachinnans (_Jerd._)
96. ---- fairbanki, _Blanf._
99. ---- lineatum (_Vig._)
101. Grammatoptila striata (_Vig._)
104. Argya earlii (_Bl._)
105. ---- caudata (_Dumeril_)
107. ---- malcolmi (_Sykes_)
108. ---- subrufa (_Jerd._)
110. Crateropus canorus (_Linn._)
111. ---- griseus (_Gmel._)
112. Crateropus striatus (_Swains._)
113. ---- somervillii (_Sykes_)
114. ---- rufescens (_Bl._)
115. ---- cinereifrons (_Bl._)
116. Pomatorhinus schisticeps, _Hodgs._
118. ---- olivaceus, _Bl._
119. ---- melanurus, _Bl._
120. ---- horsfieldii, _Sykes_
122. ---- ferruginosus, _Bl._
125. ---- ruficollis, _Hodgs._
129. ---- erythrogenys, _Vig._
133. Xiphorhamphus superciliaris (_Blyth_)


Subfamily TIMELIINAE.

134. Timelia pileata, _Horsf_
135. Dumetia hyperythra (_Frankl._)
136. ---- albigularis (_Bl._)
139. Pyctorhis sinensis (_Gm._)
140. ---- nasalis, _Legge_
142. Pellorneum mandellii, _Blanf._
144. ---- ruficeps, _Swains_
145. ---- subochraceum, _Swinh_
147. ---- fuscicapillum (_Bl._)
149. Drymocataphus nigricapitatus (_Eyton_)
151. ---- tickelli (_Bl._)
160. ---- abbotti (_Bl._)
163. Alcippe nepalensis (_Hodgs._)
164. ---- phaeocephala (_Jerd._)
165. ---- phayrii, _Bl._
166. Rhopocichla atriceps (_Jerd._)
167. ---- nigrifrons (_Bl._)
169. Stachyrhis nigriceps, _Hodgs_
170.---- chrysaea, _Hodgs._
172. Stachyrhidopsis ruficeps(_Bl._)
174. ---- pyrrhops (_Hodgs._)
175. Cyanoderma erythropterum (_Bl._)
176. Mixornis rubricapillus (_Tick._)
177. ---- gularis (_Raffl._)
178. Schoeniparus dubius (_Hume_)
182. Sittiparus castaneiceps (_Hodgs._)
183. Proparus vinipectus (_Hodgs._)
184. Lioparus chrysaeus (_Hodgs._)


Subfamily BRACHYPTERYGINAE.

187. Myiophoneus temmincki, _Vig._
188. ---- eugenii, _Hume._
189. ---- horsfieldi, _Vig_
191. Larvivora brunnea, _Hodgs_
193. Brachypteryx albiventris (_Fairbank_)
194. ---- rufiventris (_Bl._)
197. Drymochares cruralis (_Bl._)
198. ---- nepalensis (_Hodgs._)
200. Elaphrornis palliseri (_Bl._)
201. Tesia cyaniventris, _Hodgs._
203. Oligura castaneicoronata (_Burt._)


Subfamily SIBIINAE.

203. Sibia picaoides, _Hodgs._
204. Lioptila capistrata (_Vig._)
205. ---- gracilis (_McClell._)
206. ---- melanoleuca (_Bl._)
211. Actinodura egertoni, _Gould_
213. Ixops nepalensis (_Hodgs._)
219. Siva strigula, _Hodgs._
221. ---- cyanuroptera, _Hodgs._
223. Yuhina gularis, _Hodgs._
225. ---- nigrimentum (_Hodgs._)
226. Zosterops palpebrosa (_Temm._)
229. ---- ceylonensis, _Holdsworth_
231. Ixulus occipitalis, (_Bl._)
232.---- flavicollis (_Hodgs._)

Subfamily LIOTRICHINAE.

235. Liothrix lutea (_Scop._)
237. Pteruthius erythropterus (_Vig._)
239. ---- melanotis, _Hodgs._
243. Aegithina tiphia (_Linn._)
246. Myzornis pyrrhura, _Hodgs._
252. Chloropsis jerdoni (_Bl._)
254. Irena puella (_Lath._)
257. Mesia argentauris, _Hodgs._
258. Minla igneitincta, _Hodgs._
260. Cephalopyrus flammiceps (_Burt._)
261. Psaroglossa spiloptera (_vig._)


Subfamily BRACHYPODINAE.

263. Criniger flaveolus (_Gould_)
269. Hypsipetes psaroides, _Vig._
271. ---- ganeesa, _Sykes_
275. Hemixus macclellandi (_Horsf._)
277. Alcurus striatus (_Bl._)
278. Molpastes haemorrhous (_Gm._)
279. ---- burmanicus (_Sharpe_)
281. ---- atricapillus (_Vieill._)
282. ---- bengalensis (_Bl._)
283. ---- intermedius (_A. Hay_)
284. ---- leucogenys (_Gr._)
285. ---- lencotis (_Gould_).
288. Otocompsa emeria (_Linn._)
289. ---- fuscicaudata, _Gould_
290. ---- flaviventris (_Tick._)
292. Spizixus canifrons, _Bl._
295. Iole icterica (_Strickl._)
299. Pycnonotus finlaysoni, _Strickl._
300. ---- davisoni (_Hume_)
301. ---- melanicterus (_Gm._)
305. ---- luteolus (_Less._)
306. ---- blanfordi, _Jerd._


Family SITTIDAE.

315. Sitta himalayensis, _J. & S._
316. ---- cinnamomeiventris, _Bl._
317. ---- neglecta, _Walden_
321. ---- castaneiventris, _Frankl._
323. ---- leucopsis, _Gould_
325. ---- frontalis, _Horsf._


Family DICRURIDAE.

327. Dicrurus ater (_Hermann_)
328. ---- longicaudatus, _A. Hay_
329. ---- nigrescens, _Oates_
330. ---- caerulescens (_Linn._)
331. ---- leucopygialis, _Bl._
334. Chaptia aenea (_Vieill._)
335. Chibia hottentotta (_Linn._)
338. Dissemurulus lophorhinus (_Vieill._)
339. Bhringa remifer (_Temm._)
340. Dissemurus paradiseus (_Linn._)


Family CERTHIIDAE.

341. Certhia himalayana, _Vig._
342. ---- hodgsoni, _Brooks_
347. Salpornis spilonota (_Frankl._)
352. Anorthura neglecta (_Brooks_)
355. Urocichla caudata (_Bl._)
350. Pnoepyga squamata (_Gould_)


Family REGULIDAE.

358. Regulus cristatus, _Koch._


Family SYLVIIDAE.

363. Acrocephalus stentoreus (_H. & E._)
366. ---- dumetorum, _Bl._
367. ---- agricola (_Jerd._)
371. Tribura thoracica (_Bl._)
372. ---- luteiventris, _Hodgs._
374. Orthotomus sutorius (_Forst._)
375. ---- atrigularis, _Temm._
380. Cisticola volitans (_Swinhoe_)
381. ---- cursitans (_Frankl._)
382. Franklinia gracilis (_Frankl._)
383. ---- rufescens (_Bl._)
384. ---- buchanani (_Bl._)
385. ---- cinereicapilla (_Hodgs._)
386. Laticilla burnesi (_Bl._)
388. Graminicola bengalensis, _Jerd._
389. Megalurus palustris, _Horsf._
390. Schoenicola platyura (_Jerd._)
391. Acanthoptila nepalensis (_Hodgs._)
392. Chaetornis locustelloides (_Bl._)
394. Hypolais rama (_Sykes_)
402. Sylvia affinis (_Bl._)
406. Phylloscopus tytleri, _Brooks_
410. ---- fuscatus (_Bl._)
415. ---- proregulus (_Pall._)
416. ---- subviridis (_Brooks_)
418. Phylloscopus humii (_Brooks_)
428. Acanthopneuste occipitalis (_Jerd._)
430. ---- davisoni, _Oates_
434. Cryptolopha xanthoschista (_Hodgs._)
435. ---- jerdoni (_Brooks_)
436. ---- poliogenys (_Bl._)
437. ---- castaneiceps (_Hodgs._)
438. ---- cantator (_Tick._)
440. Abrornis superciliaris, _Tick_
441. ---- schisticeps (_Hodgs._)
442. ---- albigularis _Hodgs._
445. Scotocerca inquieta (_Cretzschm._)
446. Neornis flavolivaceus (_Hodgs._)
448. Horornis fortipes _Hodgs._
450. ---- pallidus (_Brooks_)
451. ---- pallidipes (_Blanf._)
452. ---- major (_Hodgs._)
454. Phyllergates coronatus (_Jerd. $ Bl._)
455. Horeites brunneifrons, _Hodgs._
458. Suya crinigera, _Hodgs_
459. ---- atrigularis, _Moore_
460. ---- khasiana, _Godw.-Aust._
462. Prinia lepida, _Bl_
463. ---- flaviventris (_Deless_)
464. ----socialis, _Sykes_
465. ----sylvatica, _Jerd_
466. ----inornata, _Sykes_
467. ----jerdoni (_Bl._)
468. ----blanfordi (_Walden_)


Family LANIIDAE.

Subfamily LANIINAE.

469. Lanius lahtora (_Sykes_)
473. ---- vittatus, _Valenc_
475. ---- nigriceps (_Frankl._)
476. ---- erythronotus (_Vig._)
477. ---- tephronotus (_Vig_)
481. ---- cristatus, _Linn_
484. Hemipus picatus (_Sykes_)
485. ---- capitalis (_McClell._)
480. Tephrodornis pelvicus (_Hodgs_)
487. ---- sylvicola, _Jerd_
488. ---- pondicerianus (_Gm._)
490. Pericrocotus speciosus (_Lath._)
494. Pericrocotus flammeus (_Forst._)
495. ---- brevirostris (_Vigors_)
499. ---- roseus (_Vieill._)
500. ---- peregrinus (_Linn._)
501. ---- erythropygius (_Jerd._)
505. Campophaga melanoschista (_Hodgs._)
508. ---- sykesi (_Shield._)
509. ---- terat (_Bodd._)
510. Graucalus macii, _Lesson_


Subfamily ARTAMINAE.

512. Artamus fuscus, _Vieill_
513. ---- leucogaster (_Valenc._)


Family ORIOLIDAE.

518. Oriolus kundoo, _Sykes_
521. ---- melanocephalus, _Linn._
522. ---- traillii (_Vigors_)


Family EULABETIDAE.

523. Eulabes religiosa (_Linn._)
524. ---- intermedia (_A. Hay_)
526. ---- ptilogenys (_Bl._)
527. Calornis chalybeius (_Horsf._)


Family STURNIDAE.

528. Pastor roseus (_Linn._)
529. Sturnus humii, _Brooks_
531. ---- minor, _Hume_
537. Sturnia blythii (_Jerd._)
538. ---- malabarica (_Gm._)
539. ---- nemoricola, _Jerd_
543. Ampeliceps coronatus, _Bl_
544. Temenuchus pagodarum (_Gm._)
546. Graculipica nigricollis (_Payk._)
549. Acridotheres tristis (_Linn._)
550. ---- melanosternus, _Legge_
551. ---- ginginianus (_Lath._)
552. Aethiopsar fuscus (_Wayl._)
555. Sturnopastor contra (_Linn._)
556. ---- superciliaris, _Bl_




ERRATA.


Page 103. _After_ Drymocataphus tickelli _insert_ (Blyth).

Page 126. _For_ Bhringa tenuirostris _read_ B. tectirostris.

Page 223. _For_ Pnoepyga albiventris (Hodgs.), _read_ Pnoepyga
squamata (Gould).

Page 311. _After_ Lanius vittatus _Insert_ Valene.


[Illustration: THOMAS CAVERHILL JERDON.]


[Illustration: BRIAN HOUGHTON HODGSON.]


[Illustration: SAMUEL RICHARD TICKELL.]






Order PASSERES. Family CORVIDAE. Subfamily CORVINAE.


1. Corvus corax, Linn. _The Raven_.

Corvus corax, _Linn., Jerd. B. Ind. ii_, p. 293.
Corvus lawrencii, _Hume_; _Hume, Rough Draft N. & E_. no. 657.

I separated the Punjab Raven under the name of _Corvus lawrencei_
('Lahore to Yarkand,' p. 83), and I then stated, what I wish now to
repeat, that if we are prepared to consider _C. corax, C. littoralis,
C. thibetanus_, and _C. japonensis_ all as one and the same species,
then _C. lawrencei_ too must be suppressed; but if any of these are
retained as distinct, then so must _C. lawrencei_ be[A].

[Footnote A: I think it impossible to separate the Punjab Raven
from the Ravens of Europe and other parts of the world, and I have
therefore merged it into _C. corax_.--ED.]

The Punjab Raven breeds throughout the Punjab (except perhaps in the
Dehra Ghazee Khan District), in Bhawulpoor, Bikaneer, and the northern
portions of Jeypoor and Jodhpoor, extending rarely as far south as
Sambhur. To Sindh it is merely a seasonal visitant, and I could not
learn that they breed there, nor have I ever known of one breeding
anywhere east of the Jumna. Even in the Delhi Division of the Punjab
they breed sparingly, and one must go further north and west to find
many nests.

The breeding-season lasts from early in December to quite the end of
March; but this varies a little according to season and locality,
though the majority of birds always, I think, lay in January.

The nest is generally placed in single trees of no great size,
standing in fields or open jungle. The thorny Acacias are often
selected, but I have seen them on Sisoo and other trees.

The nest, placed in a stout fork as a rule, is a large, strong,
compact, stick structure, very like a Rook's nest at home, and like
these is used year after year, whether by the same birds or others of
the same species I cannot say. Of course they never breed in company:
I _never_ found two of their nests within 100 yards of each other,
and, as a rule, they will not be found within a quarter of a mile of
each other.

Five is, I think, the regular complement of eggs; very often I have
only found four fully incubated eggs, and on two or three occasions
six have, I know, been taken in one nest, though I never myself met
with so many.

I find the following old note of the first nest of this species that I
ever took:--

"At Hansie, in Skinner's Beerh, December 19, 1867, we found our first
Raven's nest. It was in a solitary Keekur tree, which originally of no
great size had had all but two upright branches lopped away. Between
these two branches was a large compact stick nest fully 10 inches deep
and 18 inches in diameter, and not more than 20 feet from the ground.
It contained five slightly incubated eggs, which the old birds evinced
the greatest objection to part with, not only flying at the head of
the man who removed them, but some little time after they had been
removed similarly attacking the man who ascended the tree to look at
the nest. After the eggs were gone, they sat themselves on a small
branch above the nest side by side, croaking most ominously, and
shaking their heads at each other in the most amusing manner, every
now and then alternately descending to the nest and scrutinizing every
portion of the cavity with their heads on one side as if to make sure
that the eggs were really gone."

Mr. W. Theobald makes the following note of this bird's nidification
in the neighbourhood of Pind Dadan Khan and Katas in the Salt Range:--

"Lay in January and February; eggs, four only; shape, ovato-pyriform;
size, 1.7 by 1.3; colour, dirty sap green, blotched with blackish
brown; also pale green spotted with greenish brown and neutral; nest
of sticks difficult to get at, placed in well-selected trees or holes
in cliffs."

I have not verified the fact of their breeding in holes in cliffs, but
it is very possible that they do. All I found near Pind Dadan Khan
and in the Salt Range were doubtless in trees, but I explored a very
limited portion of these hills.

Colonel C.H.T. Marshall, writing from Bhawulpoor on the 17th February,
says: "I succeeded yesterday in getting four eggs of the Punjab Raven.
The eggs were hard-set and very difficult to clean."

From Sambhur Mr. R.M. Adam tells us:--"This Raven is pretty common
during the cold weather, but pairs are seen about here throughout the
year. They are very fond of attaching themselves to the camps of the
numerous parties of Banjaras who visit the lake.

"I obtained a nest at the end of January which contained three eggs,
and a fourth was found in the parent bird. The nest was about 15 feet
from the ground in a Kaggera tree (_Acacia leucophloea_) which stood
on a bare sandy waste with no other tree within half a mile in any
direction."

The eggs of the Punjab bird are, as might be expected, much the same
as those of the European Raven. In shape they are moderately broad
ovals, a good deal pointed towards the small end, but, as in the
Oriole, greatly elongated varieties are very common, and short
globular ones almost unknown. The texture of the egg is close and
hard, but they usually exhibit little or no gloss. In the colour of
the ground, as well as in the colour, extent, and character of the
markings, the eggs vary surprisingly. The ground-colour is in some
a clear pale greenish blue; in others pale blue; in others a dingy
olive; and in others again a pale stone-colour. The markings are
blackish brown, sepia and olive-brown, and rather pale inky purple.
Some have the markings small, sharply defined, and thinly sprinkled:
others are extensively blotched and streakily clouded; others are
freckled or smeared over the entire surface, so as to leave but
little, if any, of the ground-colour visible. Often several styles of
marking and shades of colouring are combined in the same egg. Almost
each nest of eggs exhibits some peculiarity, and varieties are
endless. With sixty or seventy eggs before one, it is easy to pick out
in almost every case all the eggs that belong to the same nest, and
this is a peculiarity that I have observed in the eggs of many members
of this family. All the eggs out of the same nest usually closely
resemble each other, while almost _any_ two eggs out of different
nests are markedly dissimilar.

They vary from 1.72 to 2.25 in length, and from 1.2 to 1.37 in width;
but the average of seventy-two eggs measured is 1.94 by 1.31.

Mandelli's men found four eggs of the larger Sikhim bird in Native
Sikhim, high up towards the snows, where they were shooting
Blood-Pheasants.

These eggs are long ovals, considerably pointed towards one end;
the shell is strong and firm, and has scarcely any gloss. The
ground-colour is pale bluish green, and the eggs are smudged and
clouded all over with pale sepia; on the top of the eggs there are a
few small spots and streaks of deep brownish black. They were found on
the 5th March, and vary in length from 1.83 to 1.96, in breadth from
1.18 to 1.25.


3. Corvus corone, Linn. _The Carrion-Crow_.

Corvus corone, _Linn., Jerd. B. Ind._ ii, p. 295; _Hume, Rough Draft
N. & E._ no. 659[A].

[Footnote A: Mr. Hume, at one time separated the Indian Carrion-Crow
from _Corvus corone_ under the name _C. pseudo-corone_. In his
'Catalogue' he re-unites them. I quite agree with him that the two
birds are inseparable.--ED.]

The only Indian eggs of the Carrion-Crow which I have seen, and one of
which, with the parent bird, I owe to Mr. Brooks, were taken by the
latter gentleman on the 30th May at Sonamerg, Cashmere.

The eggs were broad ovals, somewhat compressed towards one end, and
of the regular Corvine type--a pretty pale green ground, blotched,
smeared, streaked, spotted, and clouded, nowhere very profusely but
most densely about the large end, with a greenish or olive-brown and
pale sepia. The brown is a brighter and greener, or duller and more
olive, lighter or darker, in different eggs, and even in different
parts of the same egg. The shell is fine and close, but has only a
faint gloss.

The eggs only varied from 1.67 to 1.68 in length, and from 1.14 to
1.18 in breadth.

Whether this bird breeds regularly or only as a straggler in Cashmere
we do not know; it is always overlooked and passed by as a "Common
Crow." Future visitors to Cashmere should try and clear up both the
identity of the bird and all particulars about its nidification.


4. Corvus macrorhynchus, Wagler. _The Jungle-Crow_.

Corvus culminatus, _Sykes, Jerd. B, Ind._ ii, p. 295,
Corvus levaillantii; _Less., Hume, Rough Draft N. & E._ no. 660.

The Jungle-Crow (under which head I include[A] _C. culminatus,_
Sykes, _C. intermedius_, Adams, _C. andamanensis_, Tytler, and each
and all of the races that occur within our limits) breeds almost
everywhere in India, alike in the low country and in the hills both of
Southern and Northern India, to an elevation of fully 8000 feet.

[Footnote A: See 'Stray Feathers,' vol. ii. 1874, p. 243, and 'Lahore
to Yarkand,' p. 85.]

March to May is, I consider, the normal breeding-season; in the plains
the majority lay in April, rarely later, and in the hills in May; but
in the plains a few birds lay also in February.

The nest is placed as a rule on good-sized trees and pretty near their
summits. In the plains mangos and tamarinds seem to be preferred, but
I have found the nests on many different kinds of trees. The nest is
large, circular, and composed of moderate-sized twigs; sometimes it is
thick, massive, and compact; sometimes loose and straggling; always
with a considerable depression in the centre, which is smoothly lined
with large quantities of horsehair, or other stiff hair, grass,
grass-roots, cocoanut-fibre, &c. In the hills they use _any_ animal's
hair or fur, if the latter is pretty stiff. They do not, according to
my experience, affect luxuries in the way of soft down; it is always
something moderately stiff, of the coir or horsehair type; nothing
soft and fluffy. Coarse human hair, such as some of our native
fellow-subjects can boast of, is often taken, when it can be got, in
lieu of horsehair.

They lay four or five eggs. I have quite as often found the latter as
the former number. I have never myself seen six eggs in one nest, but
I have heard, on good authority, of six eggs being found.

Captain Unwin writes: "I found a nest of the Bow-billed Corby in the
Agrore Valley, containing four eggs, on the 30th April. It was placed
in a Cheer tree about 40 feet from the ground, and was made of sticks
and lined with dry grass and hair."