Mr. A. Hume on Indian Orrlithologrj. 143 



classification of the MalurincE. According to him* all the true 

 species of Drymoeca possess only ten rectrices, while the species 

 of Cisticola have twelve. This circumstance necessitates and 

 clearly establishes the generic separation of the two forms. 



I cannot but greatly regret that the Malurina within my 

 reach for examination are for the most part injured by bad pre- 

 paration, and consequently it is impossible for me with certainty 

 to determine the number of rcctrices in all of them. 



On a further inspection of the North-east African species, I 

 find only ten rectrices in Drymoeca mystacea (no. 7). 



The following have twelve rectrices, and therefore must be 

 referred to the genus Cisticola: — Drymoeca rufifrons (no. 6), 

 D. damans (no. 8), D. iodoptera (no. 11), D. flaveola (no. 16), 

 D. rohusta (no. 17), D. luguhris (no. 19), D. rujiceps (no. 21) 

 with its allies, D . pacliyrhyncha (no. 25), D.cinerascens (no. 26), 

 with, of course, D. cisticola [= Cisticola schoenicola) (no. 27) 

 and D. ferruginea (no. 28). 



My examples of Drymoeca gracilis (no. 9), D. ynarginata (no. 

 (12), and D. inquieta (no. 24) are all injured in the tail. 



Lastly, I may mention that the species of the genera Catriscus, 

 HemipteryXy and Oligocercus have twelve rectrices. 



XI. — Stray Notes on Ornithology in India. 

 By Allan Hume, C.B. 



No. III. My first Nests of Bonelli's Eagle. 



About a mile above the confluence of the clear blue waters of 

 the Chambal and the muddy stream of the Jumna, in a range of 

 bold perpendicular clay clifi's that rise more than a hundred feet 

 above the cold-weather level of the former, I took my first nest 

 of Bonelli's Eagle [Nisaetus bonellii). In the rainy season, water 



* [I owe the knowledge of this distinction to the kindness of IVIi'. Swin- 

 hoe, and some years ago availed mj^self of it (Proc. Zool. Soe. 1865, 

 p. 48) ; but I am unable to say to whose discrimination its discovery is 

 orio-inally due. Dr. Jerdon was aware of it, as the diagnostic characters 

 given by him for the several genera of DrymoecincB (B. Ind. ii. pp. 164- 

 187) show.— A. N.] 



