1080 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HJST. SOCLETY, Vol. XXI. 



blackish-brown spots forming the irregular rings or caps, some specimens 

 have specks of various shades of reddish-pui-ple. 



After a very short time the blown specimens unfortunately change colour, 

 and the ground colour becomes " a very delicate pale sea-green," but the 

 blackish-brown and reddish-purple specks remain unchanged. 



With reference to fresh eggs, I take this opportunity of mentioning that 

 when blowing the specimens, great care should be exercised, as the spots 

 are liable to run. 



The general shape of the eggs is an oval, a good deal pointed towards 

 the small end ; but a few (and these are rare) are somewhat elongated, 

 with bkmt ends. One or two of my specimens, apparently deformities, are 

 almost eliptical in shape. 



In size they varied from "67" to -68" in length, and from -5:^" to •58" in 

 breadth ; but the average of 46 specimens measured was -73" x "ob". The 

 average weight of 25 fresh eggs was 29'94 grains. 



P. T. L. DODSWORTH, f.z.s., m.b.o.u. 

 Simla, S. W., 12;^/* June 1912. 



No. XV.— THE LONG-TAILED GRASS WARBLER 

 {LATICJLLA BURNESL, "Blyth.) 



The distribution of this species is given in the Fauna [Vol. II, p. 380,] as 

 " LTpper Sind from the junction of the Chenab and Indus rivers to 

 Larkhana, and also on the Eastern Nara, where Doig found this species 

 breeding. Jerdon records it from Monghyr on the Ganges in March." 



Hence I was somewhat surprised to find that this curious little bird is a 

 very common resident in the grass jungles that border the River Sutlej on 

 its passage through Ferozepore District. 



They are to be met with both in pairs and in small parties and habitually 

 frequent the lower portions of tufts of grass which they tread in a mouse- 

 like manner, but before entering the tuft they usually perch on an outer 

 stem for a few seconds, which renders the task of securing specimens fairly 

 easy. The song is short but quite sweet, and in addition they have 

 several scolding notes with which to greet the intruders. 



I failed to secure eggs, but on April 8th fotmd a nest containing 3 half- 

 Hedged young. This nest was large for the size of the bird, cup-shaped, 

 ■and placed low in a grass tangle, growing round some dwarf tamarisk. It 

 was made of grass and grass down, the latter being welded into a somewhat 

 I'elt-like lining. Two similar nests were found and attributed to this species, 

 but they had obviously been used and left. The nests are very difficult to 

 find. 



On occasion these little warblers can be confiding enough. One evening 

 I was lying in a thick patch of jungle at the edge of the river watching a 



