BIRDS' NESTING IN THE TONS VA.LLEY, U9 



off the nest, I can now state positively that they do belong to Larv'vora 

 brunnea. 



This being the case, the nests and eggs described in Hume for this 

 bird must belong to some other species, for the eggs are there described 

 as being spotted, whereas these are of a uniform pale blue. 

 They gave the following measurements : — 



Largest egg -80" X '58" 



Smallest egg .. *71" X *55" 



Mean of 31 eggs -77" X "58" 



19. (219). Siva strigula. — The Stripe-throated Siva. 

 This bird is fairly common in mixed forest at from 10,000 to 12,000 

 feet, where its melancholy call of three notes may be constantly heard 

 in June. The nest and eggs are described by Hodgson, but apparently 

 by no one else since, and as his description differs to some extent from 

 what I ha^e seen, I think it as well to add my description. I found three 

 nests on the 3rd, 8th and 24th June containing two, three, and three fresh 

 eggs, respectively. The nests were placed in shrubs or small trees at vary- 

 ing heights of from 4 feet to about 12 feet from the ground. Thev are 

 very pretty, rather solid nests, composed of lichens ( Usnea), birch bark, 

 and thin black fern stalks, and are lined entirely with the latter. 



The eggs are perfect little miniatures of those of the English Song 

 Thrush {Tardus musicus), being blue (not pale blue), spotted rather 

 sparingly with black or very dark reddish-brown specks. 

 They measure as follows : — 



Largest egg -80" X '60" 



Smallest egg -75" X *57" 



Mean of 6 eggs -77" X '58" 



20. (241). Pteruthius xanthochloris. — The Green Shrike Tit. 

 Another nest of this species was found at an elevation of 8,000 feet 

 in thick fir and oak forest. The nest was suspended from a horizontal 

 branchlet of a silver fir sapling about two feet from the ground. It 

 contained four fresh eggs similar in size and colour to those described in 

 my former letter. 



21. (352). Anorthura neglecta. — The Kashmir Wren. ' 

 This bird is common in the birch and silver fir forest, as well as in 

 open rocky ground from 11,000 to 13,000 feet. I was too early for 

 the eggs, but found several nests in course of construction during June. 



