74 



EARLY NESTING NOTES. In spite of the awful cold weather, 

 nesting has commenced. In a letter dated April 14th, our esteemed member, 

 Mr. Teschemaker, informs me he has had nests and eggs from Cirl 

 Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks (first time in captivity I think), and Scaly- 

 fronted Weavers ; these have yielded no result, the two former being 

 evidently disturbed and their fellow captives were removed when too late; 

 the eggs of the Scaly-fronts were infertile owing to the somewhat unfit 

 condition of the male bird. Mr. T. has again succeeded inbreeding Sennits 

 ingoleusis, and it is worth noting that his success again occurs very early in 

 the year, for at above named date he had young out of the nest. None 

 of my Finches have yet nested — in respect to the awful weather of this 

 month I have kept nesting material strictly out of the way. The only ones 

 yet with young being Diamond Doves and Cockateels. 



A CONSIGNMENT OF RARE INDIAN BIRDS. On Satur- 

 day, May 2nd, I had the privilege of looking over the fine series of birds, 

 just brought over by our esteemed member, Captain Perreau. What with 

 weather, difficulty of keeping up a supply of live insects, etc., many choice 

 avian gems have "departed" during the voyage; nevertheless over a 

 hundred have been safely landed, among which aremany rarities and I only 

 regretted that all the really rare ones were not coming my way. When 

 one has heard all the difficulties of trapping, meating off, the long laud 

 journey to the coast and the voyage over, one is able to understand a little 

 what an achievement and also an endless toil and labour, bringing over 

 such a series really is. Apart from frayed tails, etc., nearly all were looking 

 very fit. I will briefly pass a few of them in review. 



Br„UE-FRONTKD Redstart {Rulicilla f> ontalis) : It was a revelation 

 to see this dainty creature flitting about, fearless, confiding, while his grace- 

 fulness of form and general deportment must be seen to be appreciated. 

 Briefly, as far as my memory serves me, its plumage is as follows : Fore- 

 head and over the eyes, bright blue; remainder of head, throat and breast, 

 bluish-dusk}- ; wings, blackish ; rump, tail and under-surface, rufous 

 brightest on the rump and under-surface ; bill, black ; legs and feet, brown. 

 About 6in. to 63111. long, and of very elegant build. It is found in the 

 Himalayas and Khasi Hills. 



PLUMBEOUS Rkdstart {Rulicilla Jitligiuosa) : Equally vivacous and 

 pleasing as the preceding, which in form and deportment it resembles. Mv 

 notes were largely mental and very rough, but the upper surface was slat}-- 

 or dusky-blue, and the under surface and tail very largely of a rufous line. 

 Its tail was a fair example of perpetual motion, and was being opened and 

 shut fan-wise. An exquisitely beautiful bird, though not richly clad. I 

 shall hope to give a fuller description later as one of the three landed I 

 have been fortunate enough to procure. Jerdon calls it the Plumbeous 

 Water Robin. 



