384 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. X11. 
use to me, On referring to Hume’s “ Nests and Eggs,” I find the eggs of 
this bird have not been often found, so it was a disappointment. On seeing 
the condition of the eggs, my friend was more or less convinced that they 
must have been laid some time! They were deposited on the ground, there 
being no attempt ata nest, under a shrub, in scrub jungle,and were ofa 
salmon-pink colour, speckled with lilac and brownish spots, The measurements 
of one egg were 1°08 x 83. 
Tue InpiaN Hoopor (Upupa ceylonensis)—Although a common bird, its 
eggs are not often obtained. I was fortunate enough on the 12th April 
to obtain a nest containing five fresh eggs, which was placed in a hole ina 
building at Poona, The nest was just a little coir and odds and ends, 
nothing much for the bird to be proud of; a sickly odour pervaded it, and the 
eggs, although fresh, had a disagreeable smell, which disappeared on their 
being cleaned and disinfected. It is curious that this clean-looking bird 
should have such a dirty house. be 
Tur Common Woop SuHrikxe (Tephrodornis pondicerianus) is to be met 
with pretty generally. It commences nesting towards the end of February. 
Its nest is not difficult to find during construction, as the birds, (they usually 
move in pairs), draw attention to themselves by their funny little call, They 
usually select afork of a tree and wedge their nest in ; the outside is composed 
of twigs covered with bark and cobweb to assimilate it with the tree, and it 
is lined with thread and such like material, Itis‘a very pretty little nest, but 
not big enough for the bird. It is wonderful how well the tree, nest, and bird 
harmonize: the tree usually selected is a babul; the bird isa kind of olive- 
brown and grey, with a white eyebrow. It is amusing to watch the bird 
trying to deceive you as you approach the nest ; when she is sitting, she sits 
absolutely motionless, with her head stuck up in the air. On several occa- 
sions I have all but been deceived, taking her and her nest for a stump that 
had been cut away, the resemblance has been so near. This may seem 
incredible to those who have not seen it, but itis nevertheless true. I find 
two or three is the full complement of eggs, 
While wandering about the Sahyadris, a nest of some bird of prey was 
spotted in the chief fork of a tree, On sending a man up the bird flew off ; 
owing to the denseness of the jungle, I was unable to shoot. The nest 
contained two eggs. I left them intending to return next day to shoot the 
bird and take the eggs. On coming again, I found the nest deserted, the 
bird absent, and the eggs broken on the ground below. They appeared to be 
of a bluish-white colour, speckled with yellowish-brown, I think the bird 
was the Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela), but of course cannot be 
sure: she was of a lightish brown, but the glimpse I got of her was very 
transitory. It was a disappointment as the bird was new to me, 
R. M. BETHAM, Caprain, 
Poona, April, 1900. . 8th Bombay Infantry. 
