MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 829 



think the birds excavate them themselves, though they may enlarge the nesting 

 chamber which is usually some 2 feet in. The holes are not as a rule straight 

 but -wind, and side passages or channels run from the main passage. In these 

 it is not unusual to find toads and beetles when digging up the nest. They are 

 early breeders and commence operations about the last week of March. The 

 only way to find the nest is to watch the bird building or feeding the young. I 

 have never succeeded in finding a nest in any other way. The nest is a conglo- 

 merate mass of hair, roots, wool, cotton, rags, feathers, etc., in the centre of 

 which is a depression, nicely finished off, in which the eggs are deposited. 5 is 

 the usual complement of eggs, although I have got 6 on occasions. They are of 

 a very pale blue, absolutely unspotted, and of oval shape. The dates of taking 

 are given below : 1-4-06, building. ll-4-0F>, young. 12-4-06, 5 incubated eggs 

 13-4-06, 2 nests. 5 and 6, fresh eggs. 16-4-06, young. 17-4-06, 5 incubated eggs. 

 26-4-06, 4 fresh eggs. 30-4-06, 4 fresh eggs. After this I got no more eggs, 

 though I came on birds feeding nestlings. I rather think there are two broods 

 a year. If I find I am mistaken in the identity of the bird, I will make it 

 known. 



Merops apiaster. The European Bee-Eater. 

 My remarks of last year apply to this. I noted that the nest holes all faced 

 east and attributed it to their desire to remain cool. I have another suggestion 

 to put forward, and that is a telegraph wire runs along the entire length of the 

 breeding ground, on this the male perches, and from it he can see the entrance 

 of the nest. If these faced west he could not do this. 



Hypolais rama. Sykes 1 Tree Warbler. 

 I visited the same locality as last year on 14th May, and found numerous 

 nests. Nothing fresh to add. 



Saxicola picata. The Pied Chat. 

 I noticed them building on the 1st April and took my first clutch on the 12th, 

 Normal number of eggs 5, most taken in one nest 6. The nesting habits of this 

 bird are very similar to those of Thamnobia, that is the Brown-backed and Black 

 Bobins, except that they do not haunt houses. The birds are very plentiful 

 round Quetta : the favourite nesting sites are holes in steep river banks or under 

 rocks and stones in the hills. The nest is of the usual robin type, made of roots 

 bent and lined with hair, wool and any soft material that may be handy. I 

 found numerous nests from early in April till about the third week in May. 

 after which only young were found. The eggs are of a light blue colour 

 speckled with dull brick red ; one clutch, however, was spotless. 



Anthus similis. The Brown Rock Pipit. 



Plentiful outside Quetta from about 6,000 feet upwards. The first nest 



I took was on the 19th April and contained three fresh eggs : most number 5 



usual number 4 iu one nest. The nest is of the usual Pipit type, built under a 



tussock or rock, usually well concealed, more occasionally not. Breeding season 



