780 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII. 



then proceeded to inspect it. My shikari climbed the tree and commenced 

 opening up the hole, he told ine the bitd was on the nest. However, 

 when she flew ofE I found it was a Brahminy Mynah {Temenuchu» 

 pagidarum) whic^ had ousted these Ittle birds and taken possession. On the 

 26th June, T found a nest in a Casuarina trie about 8 feet fri m the ground. 

 As the bird was on the nest, I cut it open and was disappointed to find 

 only one egg. Early in July, I saw one of these birds flying ott' with some 

 material. I followed it into a Babul tree but before I came up, the bird 

 had been into its nest and flew away as I arrived: though I waited and 

 watched, the bird never returned. I visited the tree on several occasions 

 after this, but never saw the birds anywhere near. Being convinced that 

 there must be a nest somewhere, on the 12th July I climbed the tree and 

 searched but no sign of a nest could I see ; I however persevered and finally 

 came on a natural hole, on looking into which I saw a nest containing 5 eggs. 

 Next day I climbed the tree again, when I found the hen bird at home and 

 cut open the nest. I had the greatest difficulty in getting her off the nest, 

 she sat so close, in fact was quite covered by the debris found from the chips. 

 Though I have watched very carefully I have not succeeded in obtaining 

 another nest. They seem very wary birds. Since writing tiie above I have 

 seen many birds followed by a flock of young ones. Next year I shall pay 

 them much attention. 



Iickell's Fly-catcher {Cyornis tichelU). — I do oot think the nest of this 

 bird has been taktn in Poena, though Mr. Davidson found it breeding at 

 Basils. It is not surprising, therefore, that I should have had the luck to obtain 

 a nest here. In Mny, I began watching two pairs, one in the Empress Gardens 

 and the other along the banks of the canal. Tl e former pair disappeared, but 

 I sient many an hour wati hing the latter, for ] knew that if they did not 

 migrate they must breed where they were. I was rewarded for my patience. 

 On the 7ih July, I visited their h;.unt to see what they were up to, sure 

 enough I saw the hen building. I watched her and in due time the nest was 

 betrayed. Being afraid lest she should desert, I did not approach but took 

 my departure. On the 16th July, having given her what I considered suffi- 

 cient time, I again visited the spot in trepidation and was relieved to S' e the 

 hen slip ofE as I approached. It contained 4 beautid Uj fresh eggs (f a cream 

 or cafi au lait colour. I then proceeded to take the nest. For those who are 

 unable to see the nest, I will endeavour to describe it, and must ask my 

 readers to pardon my shortcomings. It was about 3 or 4ft. fr m the gioimd 

 placed in what I term " parasitic bamboo" that is a s< rt of bunch of bamboo 

 leaves and twigs ; the bamboo branch, instead of growing as usual, seems to 

 throw out a lot of small twigs and shoots, which form a dense ma^s, the nest 

 was wedged into the bottom of all this and so well assimilated to its sur- 

 roundings that it looked a portiqn of the mass. It consisted of dead leaves, 

 twigs, roots, etc., in which a lot of earth was incorporated ; the interior ia 



