LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. 5k 
Lahore to Yarkand, I think that you have never heard of this 
species so far inland.* 
I am certain in my identification of these birds, the ¢ has not 
a particle of black below as in the Dunlin, agrees in all dimen- 
sions, and has the peculiar curved bill of sub-arguata. 
Charadrius fulvus, $ in full summer plumage, killed 29th 
May. A ¥ killed close by on the Ist June was in changing 
plumage, and had eggs the size of B B shot in her. 
874.— Cirrepidesmus mongolicus, Pal., ?, killed 1st June. 
842.— Glareola orientalis, Leach, $ with six partially deyelop- 
ed eggs, 10th May. 
It would be impossible even on the wing to mistake this bird 
for lactea. The axillaries are bright chestnut, while in G. lactea 
they are jet black. 
J. CockBurn, 
Curator, Allahabad Museum. 
Sir, 
I write a line to tell you about the breeding place of 
Micropternus phaioceps, as some of your Kumaon correspsndents 
may be able, when you tell them where to look, to find eggs of 
it, and clear up what appears to me a most unusual occurrence. 
When I took my first egg of it, 1 was so much astonished that 
T began to think I was dreaming. About a week ago (on the 
20th April,) I took a few nests at Sitong, and was starting out 
of the jungle for home, when I happened to see this Wood-pecker 
leave an ant’s nest. You are aware that a species of small ant 
makes a nest, suspended from bamboos and branches, not un- 
like that of one of the home wasps. The nest was on a bamboo 
about ten feet up, and as I happened to notice a hole in the 
side of it, I had the bamboo cut. Theants were in thousands, 
so that this was rather a nasty job. Right in the middle of the 
nest, close up to the bamboo, which ran up the middle, there 
was one egg. ‘The Wood-pecker had gone only a little way off, 
and I shot her. The stomach was crammed full of this same 
small ant. Two days ago, on the 28th of April, I got another 
ant’s nest, suspended from a branch, with three M/. phaioceps’ eggs 
init. The ants had quite forsaken this nest, and [ have saved 
it for you. Iam uncertain whether this bird takes possession 
of deserted ants’ nests, or if it causes the ants to leave, but am 
inclined to think that the latter is the case. Ihave often re- 
marked the very strange smell that there is about this bird, and 
* Except at the times of passage, in April, May, and October, at these seasons 
every species that goes north to breed (even regular coast birds like Lobipes hyper- 
boreus) may be met with inland en route to its breeding quarters.—ED., 8. F. 
R Oo 
