MISCELLANEOUS XOTES. :369 



at the time of the subtle discrepancy between the two species, and as he had 

 obtained several ckitches of G pratincola with me at Jnngshahi, Sind, at the 

 commencement of the month he made no search for either eggs or young. 



The Collared Pratincole seems to breed ni the same place at Jungshahi 

 year after year. I have, however, never seen this bird there in the cold 

 weather months. 



Karachi, F. LUDLOW. 



2lst Juhj 1915. 



No. XIX.— A NOTE ON THE NIDIFIOATION OF THE GREEN 

 SHRIKE-TIT {PTERUTHIUS XANTHOCHLOBIS). 



As the nesting economy of this bird has apparently not been previously 

 recorded it may be of interest to record particulars of a nest I found near 

 Simla on June 112th, 1915. This nest was suspended from the angle where 

 two slender horizontal twigs on the Wild Laurel bifurcated, and was 18 

 inches from the ground. The locality is well wooded and has abundant 

 undergrowth. Elevation 8,000 feet. 



Materials of the nest, which is a very flimsy structure, are green moss and 

 very fine (hair-like) grass. This is smeared over with a fine layer of spiders' 

 webs and then exteriorly decorated with flakes of lichen. The lining con- 

 sists of black stems of the maiden-hair fern and flbrous grass. Suspension 

 is eftocted by spiders' webs. It is a deep purse-shaped structure, but the 

 edge where there is no suspension is much lower than where this has 

 been effected. 



Dimensions of the nest are: — Depth, exterior 4 inches by 2^ inches 

 (this at the points where suspension ceases). Depth, interior 2f inches 

 by If inches (also where suspension ceases). 



There were two slightly incubated eggs in the nest. They are broad 

 ovals very slightly pointed towards the small end. Ihe ground colour is 

 a pinky white, and is marked heavily at the large end, where they form 

 an irregular zone, with deeper and lighter red brown and inky-purple or lilac 

 blotches. The remainder of the surface is lightly blotched and speckled 

 with the same colours. 



Measurements of eggs — (a) 18.3 mm. by 14.5. 

 (b) 17.8 mm. by 14. 



Tatteksall House, Simla, A. B. JONES. 



lAth October 1915. 



No. XX..—PSEUDOGYPS BENGALENSIS, THE WHITE-BACKED 

 VDLTDRE BREEDING IN IMMATURE PLUMAGE. 



Hume was of opinion {vide " Rough Notes," page 26) that the solitary 

 nests of this species belonged to youncf birds. He, however, says nothing 

 regarding the plumage of the owners of these nests, and I think it may safely 

 be inferred that without exception they had assumed the adult dress. 

 That this bird does breed in immature plumage I have proved on two 

 occasions: (1) On November 17th, 1907. — In this instance there were two 

 occupied nests in the tree, a Banyan. The lower one, only 15 ft. from 

 the ground, was occupied by a bird in immature plumage and contained 

 one egg, slightly marked and much soiled. The other nest in this tree was 

 occupied by a fine mature specimen and also contained an egg, richly 

 marked. (2) On December 20th, 1914.— A solitary nest, 36 ft. up a Peepul 

 tree standing in fairly heavy " Dhak " jungle. The egg in this was 

 22 



