NESTING IN WESTERN JNDJA. 81 



nest, hung over a twig, at a short distance from the end ; the 

 entrance hole is in front, at right angles to the twig, never in the 

 side. The materials composing it are soft, fluffy vegetable down, 

 spider webs, and flower petals, firmly felted together ; it is very soft 

 and pliable, and is of a dull uniform pinkish colour. I have never- 

 seen any other type than this, but my experience is not a very 

 extensive one, being confined to Saugor, C, P., where the bird is 

 common, and where I have taken many nests. The nest, although 

 so neat and compact, does not take long to make. I watched a 

 bird with a small piece of spider's web in its beak, and it stuck it 

 above my head on a twig — in fact, I saw the foundation laid. The 

 next day at about the same hour the nest was shaped, and on 

 the fourth day the first egg was laid. The eggs, three in number, 

 are longish ovals, measuring O'Qo inches in length by 0'4 in breadth ; 

 in colour they are rosy-pink, streaked, blotched, and speckled with 

 claret and brownish-pink ; the markings are usually much more 

 numerous at the larger end. Occasionally the ground colour is white, 

 but the markings are the same. Twice I have found a pure white 

 egg in the nest, with two others of the usual colour. 



Baroda, May. H. Littledale, Esq. 



Nassich, End of February, March, April. J. Davidson, C. 8. 



Saugor, C. P., 18th Feb. to 10th May. H. E. Barnes. 



253,— THE VELVET-FRONTED NUTHATCH. 



Dendro'pliila frontalis, Horsf, 



This beautiful Nuthatch occurs in the most southern portion of 

 the district, where it is very rare. Mr. Davidson says that it is not 

 uncommon in the Dangs and broken country west of the ridge of the 

 Ghats in Nassick. I can find no record of any eggs having been 

 taken within our limits ; the eggs in my collection were taken on the 

 Shevaroy hills, still further south. 



They are broadish ovals in shape, measuring 0*67 inches in length 

 by about 055 in breadth, and are white speckled and blotched with 

 rusty red. 



Shevaroy Hills, March. W. M. Daly, Esq. 



255.— THE INDIAN HOOPOE. 



TJpupa ceylonensis, Reich. 



The Indian Hoopoe is a common permanent resident in the Deccan 

 and southern portion of the district generally, becoming much 



