Page:The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma (Birds Vol 1).djvu/402

358 Nidification. Breeds at Fao from the last few days of May to the end of July, making a cup-shaped nest of roots, palm fibre and grass, lined with grass, wool or hair. It is placed generally on a leaf of a date-palm at any height from 3 to 10 feet from the ground; it has also been found in cactus-hedges and, very rarely, in thorny bushes. The eggs number either four or five, occasionally only three, and are a dull white with pale grey blotches and spots of grey. The texture is fine and close but almost glossless and, in shape, they are fairly broad ovals with the smaller end distinctly compressed. The eggs measure about 26⋅2 × 18⋅7 mm.

According to Cumming "the male assists the female in building the nest and sitting on the eggs.

"The nest is completed in three to four days; one egg is laid daily till the full number is completed, i.e., four or five and about 14 days are taken in incubating."

Habits. Apparently the Hypocolius is locally migratory, leaving the hilly country during the breeding season and taking to the date-gardens and semi-cultivated country.

"The call of these birds is a very pleasing liquid note, nothing like the harsh cry of the Shrikes. The female has only the one call; the male has a diiferent call, but often imitates the female, especially when alarmed; he has also the habit of erecting the feathers of his head when excited. They are more arboreal, at least in Fao, than the Shrikes. They live chiefly on fruit, but also indulge in a little insect diet, as several stomachs I have examined contained legs and wings of beetles etc.

"They become very tame if reared from the nest " (Cumming.)