154 FALCONIDJE. 



It is circular, loosely toiade of thicker or thinner sticks and twigs, 

 and lined with fresh leaves or fine twigs and roots of grass ; it 

 varies in size from 1-5 to 2 feet in diameter, and from 4 to 8 inches 

 in thickness. 



They lay, I should say, usually only one egg, but in the Doon, 

 where they are plentiful, natives assert that they not unfrequeritly 

 have two young ones, and must therefore, if this be true, occasion- 

 ally at least lay two eggs. 



The late Major Cock sent me the following note in regard to the 

 nidification of this species : " I have taken, or rather found, four 

 nests of this species in the neighbourhood of Dhururnsala, at 

 heights of from 4000 to 4200 feet above the sea. The first, which 

 I found on the 3rd of April, contained one semi-incubated egg, and 

 was placed on a mango-tree, one of a clump of four, situated on 

 the banks of a stream in tolerably well-wooded country. The 

 second, found April 8th, contained one hard-set egg, and was also 

 in a mango-tree, one belonging to a small grove, overhanging a 

 tiny stream, in a dark well -shaded situation. 



" The third, found April llth, contained a perfectly fresh egg ; 

 it was in a thick grove beside which a stream runs, and in which 

 two old nests of this same species were also found. 



" The fourth contained no egg, but on the 19th of April was 

 complete and ready to lay in ; this, too, was in a grove overhanging 

 a stream. 



" The nest is about halfway up the tree, not on the top, but 

 placed, more like the nest of the common Kite, on some fork. 



" It builds a peculiar and not very large nest. The nests are 

 always made of the twigs of the tree on which it is placed, fresh 

 twigs broken off by the bird, and the liniug of the nest is of leaves 

 of the same tree. No feathers, mad, or other material are used in 

 the construction of the nest, which is about 1*5 foot across ; the 

 hollow in which the eggs are laid is rather deeper than is usual 

 with birds of this class." 



Captain Hutton sent me the following note : 



" Spilornis cheela. The nest was found on the 10th of March at 

 5500 feet of elevation ; it was composed of dry sticks and small 

 branches interlaced on a tall tree ; on visiting it again, we found 

 tha,t some mischievous urchin had pulled it to pieces, which they are 

 constantly in the habit of doing. This bird is common both in the 

 Doon and hills, and where a pair take up their quarters, no fowl 

 or pigeon can escape ; I have had a dove-cot cleaned out over and 

 over again by them. They are cunning hunters, one sweeping over 

 the hill-side at no great elevation, while the other takes a higher 

 line, so that let the pigeon ascend or descend, he always finds 

 himself between two fires, and unless he can find shelter in a tree 

 he is sure to be caught, as the pursuers decrease the distance 

 between their lines and meet the victim at the point." 



Mr. Thompson says : " This species breeds from April to June, 

 building a coarse circular nest some 2 feet in diameter, composed 

 of thick roots and stems, and lined with finer twigs and grass- 



