Centrococcyx intermedius, Hume. 
The Burmese Coucal.

Centrococcyx intermedins, Hume ; Hume, Cat. no. 217 quat.

Mr. J. Inglis writes from Cachar : -"This bird is exceedingly common, frequenting tall reeds and other jungle along the banks of rivers and jheels ; breeds from June to September; remains all the year."

Mr. Oates records the following note on the nidification of the Burmese Coucal : -" August 24th. Nest 4 feet from the ground in thick elephant - grass, to several stalks of which the nest was attached. A domed structure 18 inches in height and 14 outside diameter. The bottom, 4 inches thick, and the walls and roof very strong but thin, and allowing everywhere of the fingers being inserted. Composed entirely of the leaves of elephant - grass, the living heads of the supporting stalks being bent down and incorporated with the structure to form the roof. Entrance oval, about 6 by 4, with its lower edge about 2 inches above the egg - chamber. Two eggs quite fresh, but the female incubating. Colour pure white, the shell very chalky and with very little gloss. Eggs measured 1.4 by 1.18 and 1.36 by 1.15.

" July 15th.  -  Nest in small bush - jungle in the centre of a dense shrub, 10 feet from the ground. Contained two young birds about a week old, covered with porcupine - like quills and smelling most atrociously. Nest made of dead leaves and grass, massive and cylindrical, about a foot long and 9 inches outside diameter.

"August 26th.  -  Nest with three eggs, fresh, built near the top of a tree about 20 feet from the ground. One of the eggs had blood - vessels in the inner lining, showing that it had been slightly incubated, whereas the other two were quite fresh. Dimensions: 1.4, 1.42, 1.4 m length, by 1.15, 1.12, 1.13 respectively in breadth.

“The above three nests were found near Pegu."

The eggs of this species are typically broad ovals, sometimes, however, rather more cylindrical, and occasionally slightly pyriform; the shell is fine and compact, not chalky; they are pure white, entirely devoid of gloss when first laid, but, as in other species of this family, as incubation proceeds the eggs get more or less covered with yellow or brownish - yellow gummy stains, which have more or less gloss.