MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 533 



No. XXVI. -THE NESTING- OP THE BI^CK-BACKED FORKTAIL 

 ( II ENWUR US I MM A CUL A TUS). 



{Contributed by James Marten.) 



On 15th May I found the nest of the Black-backed Forktail (Henicurus 

 immaculatus) in the extreme northern limit of the Pakokku district in Upper 

 Burma at an altitude of about 2.50'J feet. It was the usual cup-shaped form, 

 made of moss and strongly built on the vertical face of a recess in the bank 

 of a stream, and protected from sun and rain. It was at a height of about 

 5 feet from the bed of the stieam, which at that time of the year was 

 nearly dry. There were two fresh eggs, along with one of a cuckoo, of a 

 light blue ground colour with fine light brown dots, measuring U"75" x 0'63". 



I have always seen these birds in pairs and only along small rocky streams. 

 They have a habit of flying ahead when one is walking along, and after having 

 escorted one for perhaps half a mile they disappear into the forest and return 

 to their starting point. They are rather shy birds. 



No. XXVII— THE LARVA OF THE FIREFLY. 



On the 1 Oth May I found the larva of the firefly under a rose tree. I cannot 

 say whether it was feeding on the roots of the tree or on some other matter. 

 It put me in mind of the larva of a beetle, which feeds on potatoes in 

 Europe, only that it is more fleshy and the skin less chitinous. The colour 

 is light ochreous, head and last segment darker. The head is small, so that 

 it tapers to a point at each end. When moving it uses the last segment to 

 push itself forward. I have kept is in a bottle with soil and roots of plants. 

 I have not seen it feeding, but it has been growing and is still healthy. In the 

 day time it keeps under the soil, but sometimes in the evening it comes out 

 and shows a brilliant light. 



When glowing it lifts the last segments high up, so that the light is not 



covered and when disturbed it bends them down so that little or no light is 



visible. 



I hope to see it pupate and finally emerge. 



P. GERHARDT. 



Karla, 28th May 1906. 



No. XXVIII.— A WHALE NEAR BASSEIN (BOMBAY COAST). 



On the 11th April 1P06, a large whale was washed ashore near Bassein 

 (Thana District), which from its size probably belonged to the species 

 Balaenopteria indicq (The great Indian Fin- whale). Unfortunately information 

 was not obtained until some 14 da.ys after, and then when a visit was paid 

 it was too late to obtain any details as to the external characters, which accord- 



