464 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol, XXVIII. 
folds of a curtain hanging in a doorway, while another enterprising pair consid- 
ered the pigeon hole of an office writing desk an eminently satisfactory site. 
The Black-backed Indian Robin (7. fulicata), found breeding in cantonments 
about houses, selects a hollow in the ground or a suitable hole in the wall or the 
roof af a house, a nest of this species has been taken in a lamp hanging under 
aperch. The Magpie Robin (C. saularis) usually prefers a hole in a tree but will 
also build in walls or under the caves of a hut. A common and interesting spe- 
cies that may perhaps be tempted into using the nest box is our Indian Hoopoe. 
The bird usually selects holes in stone walls, in the hollow of a tree, or the rafters 
of house as a nesting site. Perhaps the strangest nesting site on record is one 
which has been observed in connection with the Hoopoe. Pallas records that 
he found a nest of one of these birds in the thorax of a human carcase. Of our 
Indian Tits, the Common Grey Tit (P. atriceps) nests among out-houses and 
stables selecting a hole in a tree, wall or roof. A hollow bamboo projecting 
from a thatched roof has been repeatedly used by the bird. It is recorded that 
these birds often make use of the deserted nests cf Barbets and Woodpeckers. 
While many species of birds that nest in buildings, etc., prefer deserted dwel- 
lings : there are others that seem preferably to select those that are inhabited ; 
an instance is found in the Common Swift. These birds, as is well known, 
build in colonies ; a common site is the rafters of a house; ora verandah; the 
nests are built in the crevices between the wall and the roof, while at times’ the 
nests are found attached to the roof itself. 
There are two aspects to the practice of putting out nest boxes. The first 
concerns the bird lover whose object is to attract birds to his garden. The 
other is the scientific and undoubtedly the more interesting side of the question. 
Intelligent observation of the nesting habits of birds will tend to increase 
our knowledge on this fascinating subject. Pyecraft in his book “‘ The History 
of Birds” says ‘“‘ It would seem that the ’’ Field naturalist “‘ as a general rule, for 
there are notable exceptions, finds more pleasure in nest ‘ robbing’ than in nest 
watching ; for though they have been assiduous in recording the number of eggs in 
a clutch, variation in colour and size, and in the choice of a nesting site the con- 
tributions towards our knowledge of the brooding habits cf Birds are singularly 
few and incomplete.”’ For the benefit of those who wish to avail themselves of 
the opportunity afforded I would suggest the numbering of all nest boxes. A 
dairy should be kept for each box showing how the inmates come to adopt the 
box? What rivalry there was over occupation of the box? How much time 
was spent over the nest building ? Did both sexes participate in the building 
of the nest ? At what periods were the eggs laid? the length of incubatien ? 
Was the work of incubation undertaken by both sexes ? With the great number 
of birds, incubation does not commence until the full complement of eggs have 
been laid but in some instances, as with some of the birds of preys incubation 
commences with the first egg laid so that the first nestlings help in the incu- 
bation of those that follow. Is the care of the young undertaken by the male 
alone or by the female alone or by both parents? What is the nature of the 
food provided for the young? It is believed that in the majority of birds the 
young are first fed on regurgitated food which is changed to insect food and fin- 
ally either continues as insect food, in the case of insectivorous species, or 
changes to a vegetable diet with the grain and seed eating species. 
A recent number of the journal contained an appeal by Dr. Ticehurst for nest- 
lings of various species of birds. So far there has been very little response to 
this appeal. An opportunity would here be afforded for obtaining material 
which would be of help to Dr. Ticehurst in his important work. 
The Society would be glad to receive from members accounts of any 
attempts made by them in putting up nest boxes, whether these have been 
successful or not. 
