NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 321 



They are permanent residents where the}' occur, breeding at leas^ 

 twice in the year, once during March and April, and again during 

 August and September. 



Some few nests may be found between these dates, but the majority 

 breed at the times stated. 



The nest, composed of grass stems and roots, is usually a mere pad, 

 very seldom is there any attempt at a dome ; it is usually placed under 

 the shelter of a tussock of grass or clod of earth. Sometimes it is 

 in a bare open plain, at others in grass or scattered bush jungle. 



The eggs, three in number, often only two, are oval in shape, and 

 are of a greenish-, or yellowish-white ground colour, thickly spotted 

 and speckled with various shades of reddish-, and yello\vish*brown, 

 and pale inky purple. 



The}' average 0*78 inches in length by about 0'56 in breadth. 



Deem, March and April, Aug. and September. H. E. Barnes. 



Net-much, do, do. Do. 



Baroda, June. H. Littledah, B.A. 



Khandesh, June to October. J. Davidson, C.S> 



Massick, do. Do. 



757.— THE SINGING BUSH LABK. 



Mirqfra cantillans, Jerd. 



The Singing Bush Lark has been recorded from Deesa, Neeinuch, 

 and Western Khandesh ; it doubtless occurs at other places within 

 the Presidency, but it is very locally distributed and not very coin* 

 mon anywhere. 



So far as I know they are permanent residents where they occur, 

 breeding like the preceding twice a year. The nests are composed 

 of dry roots and grass, and all that I have seen have been domed, 

 those found in the rains more perfectly so. They are usually placed 

 on the ground, amongst thin scrubby patches of Ber bushes, that 

 form so special a feature in the sandy and stony plains in these 

 districts. 



The eggs, from two to four in number, are longish ovals in shape, 

 measuring 0*73 inches in length by - 58 in breadth ; the ground 

 colour is greenish-, greyish-, or yellowish- white, thickly sprinkled, 



