NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 5 



The eggs, four in number, often five, are moderately broad ovals in 

 shape and pointed at one end ; the ground colour is pale bluish-green, 

 freckled, speckled and streaked with brownish-red. The markings 

 are much more dense at the larger end, where they often form a 

 confluent cap. They vary much in size, but the average is 0'67 inches 

 in Length bv about 0'55 in breadth. 



Khaudalla, April to June. II. E. Barnes. 



Satara Ghats, April. J. Davidson, C.S. 



Nassick Ghats, March to May. ,, 



Kanara, May. ,, 



Eastern Narra, Sind, April to August. S. B. Doig. 



439.— THE PIED STONE-CHAT. 



Saxicola picata, Blyth. 



At present the Pied Stone- Chat can only be said to be a cold wea- 

 ther visitant ; common in Sind and the north generally, becoming 

 more and more scarce in the central portion of the Presidency, and 

 being altogether absent from the south. 



I found it to be a common breeder at Chaman, on the Khoja 

 Amran range of hills in Southern Afghanistan ; I have reason to 

 believe that it breeds also in the Bolan Pass, and would not be sur- 

 prised to learn that eggs had been taken in Northern Sind. 



They breed in holes in trees in March, making a pad-shaped nest 

 of grass, composed of dry grass and roots, lined with hair and 

 feathers. 



The eggs, four in number, are elongated ovals in shape, pinched 

 in a little at one end ; the ground colour is a delicate greenish-blue, 

 obsoletely speckled with rusty-brown or pale brownish-red at the 

 larger end, where the markings form an irregular zone. A few 

 specks of the same colour are scattered over the rest of the surface 

 of the egg. The average of twelve eggs measured is 081 inches in 

 length by 0*56 in breadth. 



Chaman, South Afghanistan, March. H. E. Barnes. 



492for.— THE GREY-BACKED WARBLER. 



JEdon familiaris, Mene. 



This is a very uncommon species, and only occurs as an exception- 

 ally rare winter visitor to Sind and Northern Guzerat ; further west, 



