334 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XI. 



No. XIX —NESTING OF THE LITTLE FOEK-TAIL. 

 (MICROCICHLA SCOULERI.) 

 I was lucky enough to find two nests of No. 637 (Oates), MicrociMa scouleri 

 the Little Fork-tail, at Mussoorie this year. The first nest was found in a 

 hole in rock on the bank of the Aglar Eiver,at an elevation of about 3,500 

 feet, the female bird being shot off the nest. The nest was very loosely made 

 of a little moss and a few skeleton leaves. I took it out, but it fell to pieces 

 in my hand. The nest contained three fresh eggs, large for the size of the 

 bird, long and oval in shape, and a good deal pointed at the small end ; colour 

 white, with a faint pink tinge covered with numerous tiny pale red 

 specks, most numerous at large end ; very little gloss, but fine and satiny to 

 touch ; this nest was found on 17th June. The second nest was found on 

 21st June, at Kemptee Falls, at about 4,000 feet, and was on a small shelf of 

 rock under a waterfall : nest and eggs exactly similar to first. Hume in "Nests 

 and Eggs " states that Jerdon had nest and eggs brought to him, and describes 

 them as similar to Henicurus maculatus, but smaller. I am of opinion that the 

 eggs of some other bird must have been brought to him, as mine are not 

 in any way like a large series of H. maculatus in my possession. I am 

 certain of my eggs, as the female was in each case shot off the nest. I am 

 sending one clutch, with skin, for you to show at the next meeting, but please 

 return them to me afterwards. 



Size, largest egg - 84" X '63" 



„ smallest,, *79" x '58" 



Average of six eggs '82" x "61" 



This is, I believe, the first time authentic eggs have been taken. 



E. H. EATTEAT, Major, 

 Jhelum, 21ih July, 1897. 22nd Punjab Infantry. 



No. XX.— CATS AS A PEOTEOTION AGAINST SNAKES. 



It is well known that the presence of a dog in the house, in this country, 

 constitutes a considerable protection against snakes, as our canine friends 

 appear to have a strong antipathy to all reptiles. Their sight is not 

 particularly good in the dark, but their sense of smell generally enables them 

 to detect the presence of a snake, and one frequently hears of cases in 

 which dogs have rendered very valuable service in this manner. Until lately, 

 however, I should not have included cats as being of much use in the same 

 direction, but the following circumstance shows that their presence is a 

 considerable safeguard. 



Last night I was disturbed by the noise made by two cats at the back of 

 the house, just outside the dining-room. They kept rushing across the foot- 

 path and generally attracted attention by their unusual behaviour. One of 

 the servants went to see what was the cause of the disturbance, and he found 

 a Daboia (Vipera russellii), which he promptly killed- 



