HOBOBNIS. 281 



The shape of the egg is peculiar, being rather flattened in out- 

 line at the sides and then suddenly rounded at the smaller end. 

 There is a considerable amount of gloss on the surface, which is 

 of a dull purple-brown, rather darker in tint at the large end. 

 There are a very few indistinct cloudy markings of brown scat- 

 tered here and there over the egg. In general appearance the egg 

 puts one in mind of a PrinicCs. 



The egg measured 0-64 by 0-49. 



451. Horornis pallidipes (Blanf.). BlanforcVs Bush-Warbler. 

 Horeites pallidipes (Blanf.), Hume, Cat. no. 527 quat. 



Mr. Mandelli sent me two nests of this species. The one was 

 found on the 24th May at (ring, near the Rungnoo River, Sikhim, 

 and contained four fresh eggs ; it was placed on the ground 

 amongst coarse grass. The other, which was similarly placed, was 

 found on the 29th June below Lebong at an elevation of about 

 4000 feet, and contained three fresh eggs. Both nesis are rather 

 coarse untidy little cups, some 3 inches in diameter, and 1'75 in 

 height exteriorly, lined and mainly composed of very fine grass, 

 but coated exteriorly everywhere with dry flags, bits of bamboo 

 spathes, and with one or two dead leaves incorporated at the 

 bottom of the structure. 



452. Horornis major (Hodgs.). The Large Bush- Warbler. 



Horeites major, Hodgs., Hume, Rough Draft N. $ E. no. 529 

 (err. 629). 



A nest said to belong to the Large Bush- Warbler was sent in 

 with one of the parent birds in July from near Lachong in Native 

 Sikhim, where it was found at an elevation of about 14,000 feet. 

 It was placed at a height of about a foot from the ground in 

 a stunted thorny shrub common at these high elevations. It was 

 a very warm little cup, about 3 inches in diameter, composed of 

 the finest fern and moss-roots, tiny fern-leaves, wool, and numbers 

 of the coarse white crinkly hairs of the burhel. It contained three 

 fresh eggs, regular, slightly elongated ovals, a little pointed towards 

 the small end ; the shell fine and compact, but with scarcely any 

 gloss. 



The ground-colour is white with a faint greenish-blue tinge, 

 and on the larger half of the egg excessively minute specks of 

 brownish red are thinly sprinkled, except just at the crown of the 

 egg, where the specks are denser and exhibit a tendency to form a 

 tiny cap. On the smaller half of the egg very few, if any, speck- 

 lings are to be traced. 



In length the eggs measure 07 and 0'71, and in breadth 0'53 

 to 0-55. 



