368 TURNICID^E. 



circular hollow scraped out at the base of a thick shrub, and had 

 absolutely no lining. The eggs, four in number, were laid on the 

 bare earth. I send the eggs." 



Mr. "W. Theobald makes the following remarks on the nidification 

 of this species in Monghyr : " Lays in the first week of June. 

 Eggs, four in number, round pyriforin. Size, 0-88 by 0*74. 

 Colour, yellowish grey, closely freckled with dark yellowish grey, 

 blotched with deep reddish umber, with a few dots of neutral. 

 On ground." 



Captain Hutton remarks : " On the 30th July the eggs were 

 taken in the Dhoon near the foot of the mountains. Colour, 

 stone-grey, irrorated with small specks of brown interspersed with 

 larger spots of neutral tint, which form an irregular ring at the 

 larger end. They measured rather less than an inch by 0-75. 

 The number of eggs was four only, but the proper number, 

 according to Jerdoii, far exceeds this. There was no nest, but 

 merely the usual scratched spot on the ground, with a little dry 

 grass and leaves, beneath a few stunted bushes. The bird ascends 

 in the summer to about 5500 feet and breeds there also. It has 

 a pleasing ringing note, and is brought in large numbers for sale. 

 It is very pugnacious, but is easily tamed." 



From Sikhim Mr. Gammie writes : " I have found this bird 

 breeding in May and June in the Darjeeliug District from 2000 to 

 4000 feet. It builds on the ground in open, cleared, country, by 

 the sides of small shrubs or tufts of low grass. It sits very close 

 and can easily be caught on the nest. The nest is usually, though 

 not always, hooded, loosely made of dry, half-rotten grass, and 

 measures externally about 4 inches in height, to the top of the 

 hood, by the same in width. The cavity is about 2f inches in 

 diameter and an inch in depth from lip of cup. The eggs are four 

 iu number, and the young leave the nest directly they are hatched. 

 The bird is common in the tea and cinchona plantations, and (in 

 wet weather especially) greatly frequents the roads, only rising 

 when almost stepped on. It is a source of great annoyance to timid 

 ponies, rising as it does with a whir from under their noses. It 

 is a very solitary bird, rarely more than one being seen at a time. 

 I am not certain that it is migratory, but cannot recollect ever ob- 

 serving it during the cold season." 



Mr. J. Davidson informs us that in Western Khandesh this 

 bird is a permanent resident. A few pairs bred round Dhulia in 

 the rains. 



Colonel Butler writes : " Belgaum, 15th Sept. 1880, a nest con- 

 taining 4 fresh eggs. In the same locality, nests were found as 

 follows : 



" Sept. 22nd, 1880. 2 fresh eggs. 



25th, 3 fresh eggs. 



3 incubated eggs. 



3 incubated eggs. 



26th, 3 fresh eggs. 



3 fresh eggs." 



