MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 747 



Some years ago, in Russia I obtained three little bears not more than two 

 or three days old. I have not here a note of the exact date, but I believe it 

 to have been the 11th of January, and in any case it was during the first 

 half of the month. We turned the mother out of her " Berloga,"— she was 

 very unwilling to leave — and there lay three little cubs, which I took but 

 failed to rear. 



I understood from the peasants that winter was the usual breeding season. 



D. B. THOMSON, Major, I.A. 



London, 11th July 1905. (Retired). 



No. XIII —FOOD OF PREDACEOUS FLIES. 



I send a box with several large flies and shall be glad if you can tell me 

 what they are ? 



Last night after heavy rain there was a large flight of flying ants at about 

 9-30 p.m. After the swarm appeared we heard a loud humming noise and 

 went out into the verandah to see what it was and found these flies in swarms. 

 We at first thought from the noise, until we caught some, that it was bees 

 swarming, although it was so late at night. We found these flies were hunting 

 the flying ants, regularly hawking at them in the air. When a fly seized an 

 ant it proceeded to devour the soft hind quarters. 



This swarm was noted all over our quarters : every house our Officers were 

 present in at that time reported them. 



We none of us have ever come across a case like this during our service 

 in the country, and would be obliged if you could give us any information 

 on the subject. 



K. E. NANGLE, Captain, 

 Tarbund, Secunderaijad, 96th Berar Infantry. 



18th July 1905. 



No. XIV.— NOTES ON BIRDS' NESTING ROUND QUETTA. 



My lines are now cast in Quetta, which, from a birds' nesting view, suits me. 

 I have been enabled to add several new species to my collection, amongst 

 which are some not mentioned by Oates in his " Nests and Eggs." 



Before proceeding further, I must acknowledge the great assistance I have 

 obtained from the " Notes on Birds near Quetta," contributed to our Journal, 

 Vol. XIV, by Captain T. E. Marshall, R.A. 



For the benefit of any of our readers, who may not know, I would explain that 

 Quetta is situated in Baluchistan, on the N.-W. Frontier and not far from the 

 Afghan border. The country is excessively bare, consisting of considerable sized 

 valleys, over which rugged hills keep watch. Here and there a few oases and 

 green places occur, where some trees may grow, but the general aspect is barren 

 with next to no vegetation, save scrub. Quetta itself lies some 5,500 feet above 

 sea level, while the surrounding hills maybe anything from 7 to 11,000 feet. 



