Centrococcyx maximus, Hume.
Hume's Coucal.

Centrococcyx maximus, Hume ; Hume, Cat. no. 217 quint.

Mr. Scrope Doig, writing from the E. Narra river, in Sind, says : -" Got several nests of this species in July and August, greatest number of eggs in one nest being three. All the nests, except one, were built in tussocks of grass growing up in the middle of either a kundy or tamarisk tree or bush. They were domed at top with an aperture at the side, and were formed entirely of the grass belonging to the tussock itself. The one instance in which the nest was different was where the bird had taken possession of an old nest of the White - breasted Water - hen, and out of which very nest I had, some twelve days previously taken three eggs belonging to the Water - hen. In every other instance the nest was a domed one, in clumps of grass out in the water, and made about 3 feet over water - level, or about 2 feet over the usual high - water level."

The eggs sent me by Mr. Doig are very similar to those of 0. rufipennis, but, as might be expected, run larger. Some are very spherical, others rather elongated cylindrical ovals, but all are extremely blunt at both ends; they are pure white, with a certain amount of gloss in places, dependent on a thin, slightly yellowish glaze, which, when first laid, covers the whole egg, but which soon and easily wears off and scratches away, leaving a snow - white rather chalky shell below.

The eggs vary from 1.3 to 1.53 in length by 1.08 to 1.23 in breadth.