232 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. 



off snake-skins worked into the lining, which invariably consisted of horse hair. 

 I do not remember noticing any defined pattern such as the cross mentioned 

 by him. 



On referring to my rough notes on Indian Birds' Eggs, which I obtained 

 during the two years I was stationed at Bareilly, I find the following : — 



" June 4th, 1902. Nest of Brown-backed Indian Robin (T. cambaiensis) con- 

 taining 3 addled eggs. The nest, usual type, lined with horse hair, -with five 

 pieces of cast snake-skin interwoven, was placed between the stems of the 

 leaves of a low palm-tree about 2 feet from the ground. " 



" June 25th, 1902. iNest of T. cambaiensis s containing 3 eggs, slightly incu- 

 bated. The nest, usual type, lined with horse hair, contained two small pieces 

 of cast snake-skin interwoven, and was placed in a hole in a tree 4 feet from 

 the ground. On this occasion the bird sat so closely that it allowed me to 

 remove it from its nest." 



The habit of working cast snake-skins into the lining of nests is mentioned in 

 the 2nd Volume of Hume's " Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds," 2nd Edition, 

 with regard to this species, and also T. fulicata. 



STANLEY PERSHOUSE, 2nd Border Regt. 

 Middelburg, Teansvaal, Attchd. 5th Mounted Infantry. 



S. Africa, 1st October 1905. 



No. VIII— LATE BREEDING OF THE BLACK PARTE IDG E 

 (FRANCOLJNUS VULGARIS). 



It may be of interest to some of your readers to hear that we found 

 this morning, near Naini Tal, at an elevation of five thousand feet, a black 

 Partridge sitting on four eggs that appeared to be pretty hard-set. The nest 

 was placed in some low grass adjoining cultivation, and was rather a substan- 

 tial looking pad of dry grass. I have occasionally seen chicks lately hatched 

 in September, and imagine they have two broods, but this date (October 21) 

 seems most unusually late for eggs. 



Naini Tal, 21 st October 1905. S. L. WHYMPEB. 



No. IX— REPORT ON THE DESTRUCTION OF RATS IN 

 RANGOON DURING AUGUST 1905. 



The destruction of rats was continued with vigour during the month, and it 

 is to be hoped that the Municipality will not allow this most important work to 

 stop. The figures are — 



Pazundaung ... 714 



Theinbyu 1,452 



Eastern Division ... 2,297 



Central Division ... ... ... 4,175 



Municipal Office 83 



Western Division 2,627 



Kemmendine ... ... ... ... 854 



Balla 926 



13.128 



