Nidification of Indian Birds. 283 



In shape the eggs are broad ovals, but with one end dis- 

 tinctly pointed, though not compressed. 



In length they vary between *60 and '71 inch and in breadth 

 between 49 and "53 inch. The average of thirty is "(J3 by 

 '50 inch. 



119. Saxicola isabellina. 



Oates, F. B. Ind. ii. p. 77 ; Rattray, B. N. H. S. J. xii. 

 p. 339. 



In 1898 Col. Rattray was successful in finding the nest 

 of this bird at Thull : — 



" I was lucky enough on June 7th, 1898, to find a nest 

 with two eggs ; unfortunately the native with me handled 

 the nest rather roughly before I could stop him. I left 

 it three clays in hopes of more eggs being laid, but I found 

 it deserted ; I, however, originally saw the bird fly off the 

 nest. It was a neat cup of grass under a stone, with a 

 deep egg-cavity lined with finer grasses : eggs, two, of a 

 clear pale blue, marked all over with rusty-red spots like 

 dried blood ; shape, long narrow ovals, slightly pointed 

 at the small end : elevation about 4000 feet. I found a 

 second nest in a similar situation with young ready to fly on 

 the 24th July, 1898." 



I have a clutch of five of these eggs taken in Turkestan 

 on the 14th of May, 1902. They are very pale blue, indeed 

 they look white unless placed against really white eggs, and 

 the marks consist of minute specks of red dried-blood colour 

 sparsely scattered at the larger end. 



They are ordinary ovals, slightly pointed, and measure 

 •80 by -61 inch. 



120. Saxicola deserti. 



Oates, F. B. Ind. ii. p. 78 ; Marshall, B. N. II. S. J. xv. 

 p. 355. 

 The only note to hand on this bird's breeding is the fol- 

 lowing by Capt. Marshall from Quetta : — 



" I found a nest of this bird on May 24th. It was placed 

 on the side of a bare bank of mud about ten or fifteen feet 

 high, and was concealed under the root of a small dead shrub ; 



