Other eggs obtained by Mr. Gammie correspond with those given me by Dr. Jerdon. They are as like the eggs of L. lutea as they can possibly be, and if there is any difference, it consists in the markings of the present species being as a body smaller and more speckled than those of L. lutea.
The six eggs that I have vary in length from 0·82 to 0·9, and in breadth from 0·6 to 0·65.[A]
[Footnote A: There is in the Tweeddale collection a skin of a young nestling of this species procured by Limborg on Muleyit mountain in Tenasserim in the second week of April. On the label attached to the specimen is a note to the effect that the nest from which the nestling was taken was made of moss.—ED.]
258. Minla igneitincta, Hodgs. The Red-tailed Minla.
Minla ignotincta, Hodgs., Jerd. B. Ind. ii, p. 254: Hume, Rough
Draft N. & E. no. 618.
The Red-tailed Minla, according to Mr. Hodgson's notes and figures, breeds in the central region of Nepal and near Darjeeling, during May and June. It builds a beautiful rather deep cup-shaped nest of mosses, moss-roots, and some cow's hair, lined with these two latter. The nest is placed in the fork of three or four slender branches of some bushy tree, at no great elevation from the ground, and is attached to one or more of the stems in which it is placed by bands of moss and fibres. A nest taken on the 24th May measured externally 3·28 inches in diameter and 2·25 in height; internally the cavity was 2 inches in diameter and 1·62 in depth. They lay from two to four eggs, of a pale verditer-blue ground, speckled and spotted pretty boldly with brownish red. An egg is figured as a regular rather broad oval, measuring 0·78 by 0·55.
On the other hand, Dr. Jerdon says:—"Its nest has been brought to me, of ordinary shape, made of moss and grass, and with four white eggs, with a few rusty red spots."
260. Cephalopyrus flammiceps (Burton). The Fire-cap.
Cephalopyrus flammiceps (Burt.), Jerd. B. Ind. ii, p. 267; Hume,
Rough Draft N. & E. no. 633.
Writing from Murree, Colonel C.H.T. Marshall tells us:—"On the 25th May we found the nest of this species (the Fire-cap) in a hole in a rotten sycamore-tree about 15 feet from the ground. The nest was a neatly made cup-shaped one, formed principally of fine grass. We were unfortunately too late for the eggs, as we found four nearly fledged young ones, showing that these birds lay about the 15th April. Elevation, 7000 feet."