Taccocua leschenaulti * (Less.).
The Southern Sirkeer.

Taccocua leschenaultii, less., Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 352; Hume, Rough Draft N. & E. no. 219.

Miss Cockburn, writing from the Nilghiris, says : -" This species, the Southern Sirkeer, is only found on the lower slopes of the Blue Mountains. I have obtained only one nest; this is large and consists of sticks put together much in the style of the Crow - Pheasant's nest. As only two white eggs were found in the nest alluded to, I am not aware how many this bird lays. The nest was discovered in the month of March."

Mr. G. Vidal writes from the S. Konkan : -" Rare. Found in hill - side jungle. I obtained a nest with a single fresh egg on the 8th April. The nest, a thick loose cup of sticks and leaves, was in a fork of a jambul (Eugenia jambolana) tree, about 12 feet from the ground. The egg - cavity, about six inches in diameter, and very slightly depressed, was profusely lined with green jambul leaves.   The egg is a dull glossless white oval."

An egg kindly sent me by Miss Cockburn is of the usual Taccocua type. A broad very perfect oval in shape, the shell rather coarse and chalky in texture ; the colour white, with a dirty pale yellowish or creamy tinge, confined apparently to an exterior film of excessive thinness, which has here and there, especially about the two ends, worn off so as to show a nearly white underlayer. The egg measures 1.4 by 1.1, and was taken on the 1st of March.