^rISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 753 



The habit is therefore evidently a widespread one, the origin and meaning 

 of wliich however I am quite at a loss to explain. It would be interesting to 

 know if others have observed this strange habit, and if so in the case of what 

 kinds, and also if they can suggest a reason for such behaviour. 



B. B. OSMASTON. 



Naini Tal. Jtme 1909. 



No. XVI.— THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO YOUNG BIRDS 



IN THE J^EST. 



I do not know that any one has ever recorded an observation to the effect 

 that parent birds supply water to their young in the nest. Mr. Dewar on 

 pages 227-228 of his interesting book " Birds of the Plains " discusses this 

 question at some length. 



While thinking it not improbable that birds should store water in their 

 crops for a short time and ' bring it up" for the benefit of their young, he 

 points out that it would be a very difficult process to detect. 



A few days ago a particularly favourable opportunity was afforded me of 

 observing the feeding of young birds in the nest. 



A pair of white-eyes (Zosterops palpelrosa) had constructed their nest in a 

 creeper in the front of the verandah of the Rest-house I was stopping in, and 

 the nest was so placed that I could watch the feeding of the half fledged young 

 from a distance of about 4 feet in the verandah. On one occasion I observed 

 one of the parent birds place rather a large insect into the wide open mouth of 

 one of the young, which in spite of many efforts appeared to be unable to 

 swallow it. The other parent who was watching operations from above 

 seemed to grasp the situation at once, for he or she bent down and put a small 

 drop of liquid into the widely-gaping mouth. 



This process of giving small drops of liquid was repeated in front of me 

 quite four or five times, and I was so close that there could be no mistake. 

 Eventually the insect became softer and more manageable and the little bird's 

 efforts were crowned with success. 



This seems to prove that some birds at any rate supply water to their 

 young in the nest when they appear to want it. 



B, B. OSMASTON. 

 Naini Tal. June 1909. 



No. XVII.— BIRD NOTES FROM DUNG A GALI. 



34. A loud and pretty double note of The Green-backed Tit (^Parus 

 monticola) heard this year was like the word " Wheat-ear," twice repeated. 

 The note is an uncommon one and was evidently used by one of a pair nesting 

 hard by. 



204. In addition to its characteristic note of a very high-pitched and quickly 

 repeated " Ting," •■ Ting," " Tmg," " Ting." The Black-headed Sibia {Liopiila 



