LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. 299 



Swinhoe asserts, it probably is. I merely expressed my doubts 

 upon this point from the manner in which the specimen was 

 set up, but as regards the label being marked Columba livia 

 when I examined the specimen, I am prepared to swear to the 

 fact, whatever Major Swinhoe may say to the contrary, other- 

 wise I should never have got hold of the idea. 



In the latter part of his letter he mentions having taken a 

 nest of JEsacus recurvirostris at the Hubb river. I may add 

 that whilst in Sind I also saw one or two pairs of these birds 

 in the hot weather on an island in the Kurrachee harbour 

 that were evidently breeding, though I failed to discover their 

 eggs. 



Yours faithfully, 



E. A. Butler, 

 Captain, H. M's 83rd Regt. 



Belgaum, 

 20^ October 1880. 



Sir, 



I send a few notes in regard to nests that I have 

 recently met with : — 



22. — Lophospiza trivirgatus. 



A nest with two nearly-fledged birds, taken 14th April. 

 The nest was placed in a tree at a distance of 30 to 40 feet 

 from the ground. It was loosely constructed, and lined with 

 leaves which must have been fresh when the eggs were laid. 

 The young birds flourished for two or three weeks, when I 

 gave them to the Trevandrum gardens. When youno- the 

 iris is quite dusky, but becomes lighter as the young birds grow 

 up. Five years ago I took an exactly similar nest containing 

 two eggs, which I could not identify, but 1 have very little doubt 

 that they were those of this bird. They were like large speci- 

 mens of Potior nis teesa ; eggs not so rounded and with a slightly 

 bluer tinge. I have not the measurements with me, but will 

 send them to you. 



300. — Ochromela nigrorufa. 



Two nests, each containing two fresh eggs, and a new nest, all 

 found in dense jungle at an elevation of 3,700 to 4,000 feet. 

 The bird is not uncommon here. The nests were composed 

 of the leaves of the « eeruV (a reed peculiar to the Western 

 Ghats, which has been called Beesha travancorica ,, and domed. 

 From 3 to 8 feet from the ground. Size '65 x '50.— 29th March 

 1880. 



