828 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV 11. 



fired but missed. The panther took no notice of the shot but moved closei 

 to the goat when B again fired and missed again. This time he saw the 

 bullet strike the ground just beyond the panther, it having passed over her 

 back. She still took no notice and continued moving slowly towards the goat. 

 B then fired a third time and killed her. The panther proved to be a small 

 female, and as she had killed and eaten a goat tbe previous night, she cannot 

 have been very hungry. B was using a single shot '303 and cordite powder. 



J. R. J. TYRRELL, Capt., i.m.s. 

 Ajmere, 26</i October 1906. 



No. XVIII.— FURTHER NOTES ON BIRDS' NESTING ROUND 



QUETTA. 



In continuation of my notes which appeared in Vol. XVI, No. 4, page 747 

 et seq, I will add this year's experience. 



There is a large scope for egg collectors in these parts. I have clone a 

 certain amount, but have been handicapped by professional duties, and not 

 knowing the localities which the birds haunt. The season is of short duration; 

 nesting commences about the middle to end of March, and few eggs can be 

 obtained after the middle of June. If one could arrange to get these tbree 

 months to oneself and also knew the best places to go, I am sure a lot of 

 eggs of species new to India would be added to one's collection. I regret to 

 say I leave Quetta this fall, so will not have another season here. 



Coccothraustes humii. Hume's Hawfinch. 



My last year's experience was repeated through. The bird seems to commence 

 to lay about the last week in April, and to finish by the end of May, few eggs 

 being found before and after these dates. I found several nests this year in 

 vineyards. These are cut down annually as they commence sprouting ; the 

 stumps are clothed in leaves, among which the birds build their nests. By 

 searching a vineyard thoroughly, one can obtain any number of nests. 5 to 

 6 eggs is the usual complement, though I have found as many as 7 on occa- 

 sions, and at other times 4 incubated eggs. 



Sa.cicola isabellina. The Isabelline Chat. 



Mr. Stuart Baker on the nidification of Indian Birds, page 283, a copy of 

 which he has kindly sent me, quotes Colonel Rattray as having taken the eggs 

 of this bird. As his account of the nest and the colour of the eggs is so 

 totally different to my experience, I have sent two birds, which I take to be 

 Isabelline Chats and to which the note below refers, to Mr. Baker for his 

 opinion as to what they are. 



This bird, whatever it may be, is very common round Quetta in the spring. 

 It sticks to the plains and does not go up into the hills. Though so plentiful, 

 I have not met with much success, as they are most astonishingly cunning. 

 To begin with, they nest down natural holes, which have the appearance of 

 ordinary rat holes, and give no indication that tbey are occupied. I do not 



