240 Nidification of some Indian Falconidee. [Ibis, 



The only writer who has written at all fully about these 

 birds' breeding is Mr. A. E. Jones, whose interesting notes 

 are worth quoting : — 



" As the breeding oE this Hobby within Indian limits is 

 of somewhat rare occurrence, I venture to give an account 

 of a nest which I found on August the 16th. 



'' Tliis nest Avas in a Deodar Forest, at an elevation of 

 6000 feet, and within two miles of Simla. 



"The situation was on three horizontal branches, and. 

 forty feet up in the Deodar {Cedrn.s deodura). It was oblong 

 in shape, measuring ai)i)roximately 12" X 10" X 2h" in depth, 

 with a central depression of 2". The nest was composed 

 entirely of fine twigs which did not exceed the diameter of 

 an ordinary pencil. 



" There were three young in the nest, about 16-18 days 

 old. I was attracted by their cries, which closely resemble 

 those of the Kestrel (7". alaudarius). At the same moment 

 I saw one of the old birds leave the nest. 



" Sitting down I watched their proceedings during a vigil 

 of two hours, and had repeatedly the pleasure of seeing the 

 parents bring food which must have consisted of small 

 insects (chiefly beetles, judging from a pellet disgorged by 

 a young one I took in the hopes of rearing it), though they 

 occasionally indulged in a flesh diet. The old birds brought 

 food at intervals of from ten to fifteen minutes, their 

 approach being heralded by the hungry cries of the brood. 

 As the parent bird alighted on the nest the young greedily 

 rushed to rescue the food which was always carried in the 

 feet. The duration of these visits lasted but a few seconds. 

 The food being disposed of, a hasty glance round, and the 

 parent stepped quietly off", mounting to feed in mid-air 

 500 feet above the level of the nest. When food was 

 secured, the bird dropped with marvellous velocity to the 

 nest. After some time I ordered my climber to go up and 

 bring one of the young ones down, and also to lift the re- 

 maining two to ascertain if by any chance there was an 

 addled egg. Immediately he extended his hand over the 

 side of the nest, the young Hobbies threw themselves upon 



