These nests vary just in the same way as do those of Trochalopterum nigrimentum; some show only a sprig or two of moss about them, while others have a complete coating of green moss.  They are cup-shaped, some deeper, some shallower; the chief material of the nest seems to be usually dry leaves.  One before me is composed entirely of some Polypodium, on which the seed-spores are all fully developed; in another, bamboo-leaves have been chiefly used; these are all held together in their places by black fibrous roots; occasionally towards the upper margin a few creeper-tendrils are intermingled.  The whole cavity is lined more or less thickly, and the lip of the cup all round is usually finished of with these same black fibrous roots; and then outside all moss and selaginella are applied according to the taste of the bird and, probably, the situation—­a few sprigs or a complete coating, as the case may be.

Two eggs of this species sent me by Mr. Gammie are regular, slightly elongated ovals, with very thin and fragile shells, and fairly but not highly glossy.  The ground is a delicate pale sea-green, and they are profusely blotched, spotted, and marked with curious hieroglyphic-like figures of a sort of umber-brown; while about the larger end numerous spots and streaks of pale lilac occur.

These eggs measure 0.98 in length, by 0.65 and 0.68 in breadth.

Other eggs obtained by Mr. Mandelli early in June are quite of the same type, but somewhat shorter, measuring 0.85 and 0.93 in length by 0.68 and 0.7 in breadth.  But the markings are rather more smudgy and rather paler, and there are fewer of the hair-like streaks and hieroglyphics.

213.  Ixops nepalensis (Hodgs.). The Hoary Bar-wing.

Actinodura nipalensis (Hodgs.), Jerd.  B. Ind. ii. p. 53; Hume,
Rough Draft N. & E. no. 428.

The Hoary Bar-wing is said in Mr. Hodgson’s notes to breed from April to June in Sikhim and the central region of Nepal up to an elevation of 4000 or 6000 feet.  The nest is placed in holes, in crevices between rocks and stones; is circular and saucer-shaped.  One measured externally 3.62 in diameter by 2 inches in height; the cavity measured 2.5 in diameter and 1.37 in depth.  The nest is composed of fine twigs, grass, and fibres, and externally adorned with little pieces of lichen, and internally lined with fine moss-roots.  The birds are said to lay from three to four eggs, which are not described, but they are figured as pinky white, about 0.85 in length and 0.55 in width.  Mr. Blyth, however, remarks:—­“One of Mr. Hodgson’s drawings represents a white egg with ferruginous spots, disposed much as in that of Merula vulgaris.”

Clearly there is some mistake here.  Most of the drawings I have are the originals, taken from the fresh specimens when they were obtained, with Mr. Hodgson’s own notes, on the reverse, of the dates on and places at which he took or obtained the eggs, nests, and birds figured, with often a description and dimensions of the two former, and invariably full dimensions of the latter.  On the other hand, the drawings in the British Museum are mostly more finished and artistic copies of these originals; so how the spots got on to the eggs of the British-Museum drawing I cannot say; there is no trace of such in mine.