MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 579 



that time we were both living in Dharwar. Considering the way in which 

 the mantis' forelegs are armed, and that it weighs considerably more than the 

 bird, there is nothing inherently improbable in what occurred. 



C. A. R, BROWNE, Major, R.E. 

 Bombay, May, 1899. 



No. XIV.-THE PALM SWIFT. 



I noticed specimens of the Palm Swift (Tachornis hatassiensis) that were 

 circling round on the evening of the 13th instant, copulating in the air, so that 

 these Swifts behave in the same manner as the English Swift which Gilbert 

 White of Selbourne observed engendering during flight. 



F. WALL, Captain, I.M.S. 

 Rangoon, IQth May 1899. 



No. XV.— OCCURRENCE OF THE RUFOUS-BELLIED NILTAVA 

 (NILTAVA SUNDAE A) AT MURREE. 



In the "Fauna of British India'' CBirds), Vol.11, the distribution of No. 594, 

 Niltava sundara, the Rufous -bellied Niltava, is given as the Himalayas, from 

 Simla to Assam, but I have found it breeding here in Murree. It is fairly 

 common, but only in one place and in dense jungle at about 6,000 feet. I 

 found one nest with 4 fresh eggs on the 20th instant, and shot the female 

 ofE the nest and also saw another nest about 150 yards up the same nullah 

 ready for eggs. I also shot a male near the nest from which I took the eggs 

 so as to be sure of its identification. It did not belong to the nest but the 

 female did. Major C. L. Wilson, R.A., was with me and helped to identify 

 the bird. 



R. H. RATTRAY, Major, 

 22nd Punjab Infantry. 

 Murree, 2oth May 1899. 



No. XVI.— THE RED-TAILED CHAT iSAXICOLA CHRYSOPYGIA). 



A CORRECTION. 

 With reference to my note on page 225 of this Volume, regarding the Red- 

 taile ^ Chat, and to my list on page 330, in which I included it as occurring at 

 Thull, I should like to explain that I shot a number of birds and after a long 

 search in Oates and Blanf ord, came to the conclusion that they were Saxicola 

 chrysopygia. I sent one specimen to Mr. Cardew of Ootacamund, mentioning 

 my doubts as to its correct identification. He agreed with me, but as he 

 could find no other bird it could be, he came to the same conclusion as I had 

 done. I subsequently sent one of the birds to Mr. J. Davidson who being 

 unable to identify it sent it to Mr. Bowdler Sharpe of the British Museum 



