286 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol, XX VIII. 
certain a pair of yellow and black Himalayan Grosbeaks were building a nest 
as he had noticed the birds near the tree on two consecutive mornings. We sat 
on a culvert about ten yards from the tree and waited. In a minute or two, both 
birds appeared, and we were able to locate the nest, which was well hidden amongst 
the leaves of the tree about fifteen feet from the ground. The tree is alongside 
the road which is a busy one. There are houses on both sides of the tree, and the 
culvert on which we were sitting is a resting place for numerous coolies as they 
trek between Kashmir Point and the bazaar. Considering how shy these birds 
are, and in what dense jungles they usually build their nests, the site selected 
by this particular pair may be of interest to bird nesters. 
In March of this year a pair of sparrow-hawks built their nest and hatched 
their young in a chir pine tree in my compound in Rawal Pindi. Col. Lindsay 
Smith tells me that he has never before heard of the sparrow-hawk nesting in the 
plains of India. There is no doubt as to the identity of this pair that built its 
nest in my compound. 
A. R. B. SHUTTLEWORTH, 
Lieut.-Con. 
MureeEe, 27th April 1921. 
No. XXIV.—DESTRUCTION OF BIRDS’ NESTS. 
Yesterday I found a nest, with eggs, of the Streaked Wren Warbler (Prinia 
levida), though I was not at the time able to identify the bird. I had no gun, 
and, after putting a finger in the nest to satisfy myself that there were eggs, I 
decided to visit the nest again next day in order to be able to secure the bird and 
make sure of the identification. 
To-day, accordingly, I again visited the nest, and this was what I found. Nearly 
the whole roof of the little egg-shaped nest was torn off and lying alongside of it 
on the top of the Kana grass tuft in which the nest was, also the eggs were com- 
pletely gone, a close search round about revealing no trace of them. 
This complete disappearance of the eggs is not my first experience of the sort 
with the Sylviidez. What accounts for the disappearance of the eggs, and, 
especially, what is the reason tor the destruction of the nest ? 
Human agency may, I think, in the cases which have come to my notice be 
eliminated. In this case, as in others, no human being saw me at the nest. 
Even if I had been seen, the ordinary countryman, or country boy, in Northern 
India, has no interest in small birds and eggs. Nor would any Indian have found 
the nest independently of me. I once saw a sinister looking lizard, about a foot 
in length, in a bush in which a nest was, the eggs of which had disappeared ; do 
such creatures, if enemies of birds, take and destroy eggs, especially where un- 
protected by the birds ? If so, one would at least expect to find broken egg- 
shells in the neighbourhood, Birds have been known, I think, to transfer 
their eggs to or from a nest. Supposing that the birds resent the violation of their 
nest, is it possible that a bird that builds as elaborate a nest as Prinia lepida can 
find another nest to which to transfer undamaged eggs, or will build another for 
their reception ? Surely not. If, on the other hand, the bird itself destroys its 
eggs, why, as before, are the broken eggs not there to show ? And, last of all, 
if the bird can take the trouble to remove its eggs, what reason has it for 
destroying its nest ? Fright, despair, anger, etc., would seem to point to 
destruction of both eggs and nest. 
Perhaps some member may be able to enlighten me. 
I should add that I found to-day another nest, with eggs, and, after 
shooting the bird, was able to identify it as Prinia lepida. I also found a 
completed nest without eggs . The time—late July—would appear to be unusual 
