144 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. 
April and May for the nesting season, the eggs being usually laid in May. I 
noticed birds as far north as Tapoban beyond which they probably do not go. 
In the outer ranges they breed in the sal forest, but in the central hills they are 
most numerous in the forests of ‘‘ banj ’’ oak, whilst in the forests to the north 
they seem to prefer above all those mixed strips of deciduous forest in which 
horse-chestnut, elm, birch and similar species abound. The nest is usually 
placed from 10 to 20 feet above the ground wedged in a half-suspended position 
into the fork of a bough. The material of which the nest is constructed is in- 
variably strengthened and more or less covered on the exterior (but especially 
the rim) with cobweb which is also used to bind the nest to its support. The 
nest is a lightly -built deep saucer composed outside of herbaceous stems and 
grasses, and for this part of the work the birds exercise considerable skill in 
selecting material which has a natural stickiness and is of suitable shape to 
conform to the curves of the nest. Thus where the tree Phyllanthus emblica is 
found these birds, like many others, use the curved leafless and discarded 
deciduous shoots which easily attach themselves by means of the numerous 
slightly raised leaf-bases on either side of the twig. Similarly in the forests 
beyond the region of Phyllanthus emblica these birds commonly use the dry 
fruiting spikes of Desmodiwm concinnum which not only possess a natural 
curvature suitable to the nest, but are also somewhat sticky owing to their 
hairiness. The interior of the nest is lined with fine grass stems or the heads 
of grasses or occasionally fine black rhizomorphs. Like most drongos they are 
extremely bold and the parents frequently make angry sallies at any person 
who approaches close to the nest. 
Anorthura neglecta (352).—The Kashmir Wren. 
Blanford says ‘‘I have seen no specimens of wrens collected between Simla 
and the Nepal frontier and cannot say which of the two species occurs in that 
portion of the Himalayas.”” I wish now therefore to record the occurrence of 
the above species in the northern ranges of Garhwal. 
Tribura thoracica (371).—The Spotted Bush-wren Warbler. 
This bird is fairly common in suitable localities throughout the high ranges 
north of the Pindar river. As I had some doubts about the identification of 
the species, I sent two skins to the British Museum where they were kindly 
identified for me. In summer it frequents open grassy places up to about 12,500’ 
elevation and is mainly found where the grass and other herbaceous growth is 
rankest. It is thus frequently seen round sites where sheep are temporarily 
quartered at this time of the year, and which are locally known as “ kharaks ”’. 
Here the well manured soil often produces a vigorous growth of a species of 
dock. The bird has a most persistent “see see’? note, and when uttering its 
song it usually rises a short distance above the ground dropping again out of 
sight into the grass and herbage. It may also occasionally be seen moving 
about amongst low shrubs. 
Phylloscopus affinis (405).—Tickell’s Willow-warbler. 
Between the Chor-Hoti pass and the border of Tibet there lies a valley of gently 
undulating slopes occupying an area some 6 miles long by 2 broad, much of which 
lies between 12,000’ and 14,000’ elevation. This valley forms the head- 
waters ofthe Girthiriver. The climate is Tibetan and the dry stony and sandy 
ground supports a scanty vegetation of dwarf loniceras, caragana, juniper 
and willow. It was in this valley that I found P. affinis breeding at 13,500’ 
elevation in considerable numbers, though I noticed no other member of the 
warbler family here. Two birds which I shot were identified for me at the 
British Museum, and I will give my own note on the freshly killed birds as it 
differs in some respects from Blanford’s description. “‘ Legs, feet and claws 
pale yellowish brown, the feet darker above but yellowish beneath. Irides dark 
brown. Upper mandible blackish turning yellowish brown at the gape, lower 
mandible yellowish brown.” The bird has a “‘tack-tack” note similar to that of 
