398 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIV 



sitting. I stood watching her for a few moments, her ears and great yellow 

 eyes, like two full moons, being visible. On her quitting the nest, I took the 

 eggs. She flew across some intervening water to commanding ground oppo- 

 site, where her lord and master joined her, and they both commenced hooting 

 me. The nest faced north. I came on another nest, which looked quite 

 ready, though eggs had not been laid. I got a second clutch towards the end 

 of November, taken by my man. 



The Indian Grey Shrike (^Lanius lahtora). — Three years ago, at the com- 

 mencement of June, I came on a family of grey shrikes, which I thought had 

 not long left the nest. On looking round I found it and came to the conclusion 

 that eggs must have been laid early in Apiilj consequently, about the middle 

 of March last year, I again visited the spot, and within a few yards of the 

 old nest I found the new one, which, to my disgust, contained unfledged young. 

 This year, however, I took steps sufficiently early, and found the nest very 

 close to the old spots, and got 2 eggs. Later on, I got another containing 4 

 fresh eggs, and a third, containing 3. This latter nest was placed in the same 

 tree, and within 6 inches of a nest that had been occupied last year. I am 

 sure that most birds breed every year in almost the same locality, unless dis- 

 turbed or otherwise frightened. I have had many experiences of it. The 

 grey shrike builds a very compact nest, usually in a densely thorny bush or 

 tree, which takes trouble to obtain. They are very fond of incorporating 

 rags in their nests and building on an old nest of the white-throated Munia 

 {Uroloncha malaharica). 



Tickell's Blue Flycatcher {Cyornis tickelli), — Last year I found several 

 more nests of this pretty little bird. The first was situated down a well 

 where a brick had been displaced, and contained 4 fresh eggs. I was looking 

 into the well when the bird flew up : thinking this peculiar, I instituted a 

 search, and was rewarded. Date 17th June. On the 26th June, I found 3 

 nests, each containing 4 eggs; two lots fresh and one incubated. One was 

 situated in a bank under a prickly-pear root, another in a crevice of a banyan 

 tree and the third in a rubbish heap of dry leaves, all well concealed. In 

 addition to the above I found two more, one in the hole of a tree and the 

 other in the face of a wall, where a brick had been displaced, quite exposed. 

 When the hen is sitting the male keeps up an incessant little song. I found 

 the best method to pursue was to follow him. In due time the hen, appar- 

 ently warned by him, leaves the nest ; once you catch a sight of her, do not let 

 her escape you, as very shortly she will return to the nest, and that is all you 

 want. Oat s says 3 is the normal number of eggs', but from the above 4 

 would seem more us al in these parts. The nest is very solid, built of rocts 

 in which a cirtain amount of earth is incorporated and embellished with 

 dried und skeleton leaves. 



The Skotted Monia {Uroloncha punctulatd). — After much waiting, I found 

 the nest of this little Munia last year, and obtained several clutches of eggs. 

 The first nest I came on was placed in a thorny tree, standing in water, 



