MISCELLANEOUS NOIES. 98& 



tree, with absolutely no concealment, about 12 feet off the ground. I did not 

 think much about it, but as it was so accessible, I told my ordeily to go up and 

 investigate. To ray intouso pleasure and surprise, as he began to climb, out 

 flow a Prtta, and my search was rewarded. The nest contained (> partially incu- 

 bated e<'"S. 1 had the nest taken down atid examined it. First, a mass of 

 sticks is collected forming a foundation, on this the nest proper is built up. 

 It is compact and domed, oval in shape, with the entrance at one side. All the 

 material is welded together, skeleton leaves being largely employed. The in- 

 terior is neatly finished off and lined with roots, grass and such like. The whole 

 3tru!tiur3 is ab )u: tlie size oE a maa's haxd and placed, as those were that I 

 found, on a bare fork, they are not difficult to see. On the same day, my 

 orderly found another nest, similarly situated, but some .30 feet up. This also 

 contained 6 partially incubated eggs. Un the 4th July, I found two more nests 

 containing 3 and 4 eggs, respectively, which I left ; while on the llth July, 

 I got 5 eggs from them, and found another containing young, and another, 

 I think, being i)uilt. The hen sits close and only moves when the climber 

 approaches. The nest really louks like a collection of old sticks, and does not 

 give one the impression of being in use. I am recording this rather fully, 

 as ths re3ori ii *' N^srs aal E^gs " is SLt different. Possibly the bud's habits 

 differ in accordance with locality. 



Thb Bitow.N FlyCvtohek ( \Ueonax latirosirisi), — The breeding of this bird 

 has been reported before from Mhow. I only write to confirm its occurrence. 

 I found it very common on the ghats and discovered its nest by luck. I was 

 watching a Southern Yellow Pit {Mucldolophas huplcnctus) building, when 

 a little brown bird flaw over me and settled on a bough, on noticing it. I found 

 it was build. ng. Once the bird's habits are known, the discovery of the nest is 

 easy. It is usually situated soras 20 or more feet from tae ground, bi ing com- 

 pact and cup-shaped, a typical flycatcher's nest. Four eggs seem to be the 

 complement. I took nests on the iiOth and v7lh June and llth July. 



The Black Bdnting {^Mehphux ri/elunicterus.) — Very common on the 

 ghats, but I did not get many nests, as I looked in the wrong places. 1 

 seldom came on this bird building. It affects two sites, one well concealed 

 under leaves and grass, the other unconcealed alongside loads, in steep cuttings. 

 When I discovered the latter fact, it was too late, for though I found many 

 nests, the youug were there or had flown. 



The Cuckoo (Cuculu)? canorns).—\ have already reported that the Cuckoo 

 is very common on the ghats here during the monsoon. I had the pltasurto 

 of getting an egg this year from the nest of the Black Bunting (J/c/o/jAud 

 melunicterus). nn the i;-5th June, I found this bird building. The nest was 

 well concealed among some dry leaves on the ground I visited the nest 

 again on the "JOth, when I found it contained one Bunting's egg and one of the 

 Cuckoo. 



The Paradise Fi.vcvtchf.r (^Terpsiphone paradisi). — I found several 

 nests of this beautiful flycatcher. I fancy if I had laid myself out I conld 



