MISCHLLAMIOUS T07i^<S'. 107o 



arrive suddenly at Mvirree about the middle of June and at once set about 

 building, 3rd July was the earliest date on which I got eggs." Last 

 year (1911) I had to spend a couple of days in May at the Police Eest 

 House of Kotli, which is situated at about 0,400 feet in the hills south-east 

 of Murree, overlooking the River Jhelum. While I Avas there I frequently 

 noticed a flock of these birds in the neighbourhood of the bungalow and 

 shot a couple [Skin Register Nos. 37b & 374, Kotli, 26th May 1911], which 

 proved to be young birds that had only recently left the nest. The flock 

 contained 15 — 20 birds. 



These facts tend to show that after breeding early at a low elevation, the 

 birds migrate for a second brood at higher levels, a theory that should easily 

 be disposed oft' one way or the other. 



H. WHISTLER, 



Indian Police. 

 Rawal Pixdi, A2>ril 1912. 



No. XIV.— DISTRIBUTION, HABITS, AND NESTING 

 OF THE HIMALAYAN GREENFINCH 

 {HYPACANTHIS SPiyOIDES, Vigors.) 



A few years ago, when I first began to take an interest in this pretty 

 little Greenfinch, I noticed that in the neighbourhood of Simla and 

 adjacent ranges, it became tolerably common from about June (earliest date 

 on which seen here up to this 4th June), to the end of October, and then 

 seemed to disappear. Thinking that it was probably subject to a seasonal 

 movement along these ranges, like some other hill birds, I consulted various 

 books and papers on Ornithology, to which I had access, but found no men- 

 tion of this, and yet I was certain that this species was not a permanent 

 resident here. 



In order, therefore, to clear up all doubts I made an enquiry (J. B. N. 

 H. S. Vol. XX, p. oI7) as to whether this bird was a permanent resident at 

 moderate elevations. In addition to the replies received to this, and which 

 are recorded in the Journal {vide Vol. XX, pp. 852 and 1152, and Vol. 

 XXI, p. 262), I received the following from Mr. E. C. Stuart Baker, 

 F.L.S., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. 



" The bird breeds at Darjeeling at elevations between 8,000 and 10,000 

 feet, and perhaps as low as 7,000 feet. Like most hill-birds, it moves up 

 and down with the varying seasons, higher in the hot weather, and lower as 

 it gets colder. I do not think one could call them migratory." 



In view of the observations referred to above, I think there can no longer 

 be any doubt as to this species being subject to a seasonal movement along 

 these ranges, and it would, therefore, be more correct to give its distribu- 

 tion as follows : Common from about May or June to October along the 



