Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 6 (1902).djvu/248

202 Dendrocitta rufa, Scop. (Common Tree-Pie).—Very common. Frequents mango groves and gardens. It is very fond of eating eggs and young birds, and does great damage to peas when they are ripe. It breeds in April and May, building in mango and sisoo trees. The usual complement of eggs is three.

Parus atriceps, Horsf. (Indian Grey Tit).—Fairly common. Though some do remain to breed, the majority are cold-weather visitors.

Argya caudata, Dum. (Common Babbler).—I have not found this bird at all common anywhere in the district.

Crateropus canorus, Linn. (Jungle Babbler).—Very common everywhere. Seen always in small flocks. This bird is known to Europeans in India as the "Seven Sisters." They breed nearly throughout the year. The nest is made of dried grass, and contains from four to six deep blue eggs. These birds may often be seen mobbing Hawks and Owls, keeping up the while their noisy chatter.

Zosterops palpebrosa, Temm. (Indian White-Eye).—Very common. Found during winter in small flocks. They build during May, making a very neat little nest of grass lined with thistledown and small feathers. The nest is usually placed on a mango tree a few feet from the ground, and is well concealed by leaves. Three is the full complement of eggs.

Ægithina tiphia, Linn. (Common Iora).—Very common in all the well-wooded parts of the district. This bird is silent, as a rule, during winter, but as soon as the warm days begin to set in its curious ringing cry is heard in nearly every mango grove. It is on the whole a shy bird, and keeps well out of sight among the thickest part of a tree. They breed from April to July, laying three eggs.

Molpastes bengalensis, Blyth (Bengal Red-vented Bulbul).—Exceedingly common. Breeds from March to August. Three is the full complement of eggs.

Otocompsa emeria, Linn. (Bengal Red-whiskered Bulbul).—I have always found this bird rare. I have only one pair, shot in a garden.

Sitta castaneiventris, Frankl. (Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch).—Common in all well-wooded parts of the district. Breeds from March to April. It lays its eggs in the holes of trees. The hole