BIRD-NESTING ON THE GHATS.- 177 



about the 8th of June, and breeding all along the scrub-jungles which 

 stretch between the Nasik and Khandesh Collectorates. It appears 

 particularly partial to the Angan f6rest, and, as far as I remember, all 

 the many nests I have seen have been in forks of Angan trees. The 

 nest is a pretty firm platform, composed of fine roots ; and the eggs, 

 which much resemble those of the Magpie Robin, are three in number* 



Tho only bird I noticed specially at Dhulia was a single Alpine 

 Swift (O. melba). In that most useful book Barnes's "Hand-book of 

 Birds of Bombay," he states that this bird only occurs as a somewhat 

 rare cold-weather visitant. In this I think he is mistaken, and that 

 C. melba is a permanent resident in all parts of the country where there 

 are high enough cliffs to afford safe breeding-places. I have been told 

 that it breeds in Kanara at the Grairsoppa Falls ; and I find in my 

 note-book records of having seen it in Nasik and Khandesh in every 

 month except October and November, so have no doubt that in this 

 part of the country it is found throughout the year. Last May I saw 

 flocks of hundreds flying into and out of fissures in the cliffs at Sap- 

 tashring near Nasik, and though I could not get near the places, 

 I have no doubt they were then preparing to breed. If they breed there, 

 their presence anywhere within 200 miles would be nothing extra- 

 ordinary, judging from the pace they fly at. 



In the afternoon, about 4 o'clock, I left Dhulia and drove due west to 

 Sakri, 33 miles, noticing on the road another Roller, apparently also 

 indica. As it grew dai-k, occasionally a pair of Painted Sand-grouse 

 passed across the road, and the cries of many Nightjars (mostly asia- 

 ticus, the others monticolus) were heard on every side. These birds 

 are all common inhabitants of the scrub-jungle here which adjoined 

 the road on each side. 



1 rose early on the morning of the 12th and by 8 o'clock had reach- 

 ed my destination, a rather dilapidated bungalow or tool-shed, belong- 

 ing to the P. W. P., situated on the edge of the pass. On the road 

 great numbers tf males of a pure Yellow Moth(a bombyx apparent- 

 ly) were flying about. I had however no net with me, and did not 

 attempt to catch them. 



On arriving at Kondabhari I at once took a short stroll down the 

 Ghat. The place is an admirable one for bird-nesting. The hills in 

 the neighbourhood are very steep and slope down on the Nowapur 

 Pergunnah, a sort of northern edition of the Daugs, with the same 

 unhealthy climate and water. At this pass a small stream runs down 

 and forms a valley seven miles long and in no place at all steep. 



