MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 1091 



Mr. Eden had no idea that he had shot a Baikal Teal till he had 

 gathered the duck shot, some 40 or 50. It was apparently amongst a 

 flock of Common Teal. 



Most of onr shooting is done in the fog starting at daybreak, as when 

 the fog lifts, all good ducks go off towards the Brahmapootra. It would 

 not be an easy matter to recognize birds under these circumstances ; you 

 hear the rush of wings and it takes you all your time to mark where they 

 are coming from, and if you are not very quick they pass before you realize 

 this. 



Dekhaki Tea Co. Deohall Divx., FEANCIS W. GORE. 



Assam, February 1912. 



Mr, Harrison has written to me with reference to a Clucking Teal 

 ( Nettion formos'wm) he shot near Lainekusi as follows : — " On the 24th of 

 February last, in company with Mr. R. S. Pearson, Forest Economist, 

 Dehra Dun, I visited a Bhil close by here to look for duck, a flock of 

 Gadwall ( Chaulelasmus streperus) got up and flew over Mr. Pearson ; one 

 solitary Teal flew in my direction which I shot. We both decided that 

 it was an uncommon specimen. The bird made no sound at all and flew 

 like a Common Teal." 



DiBRUGARH, Zrd May 1912. EVAN A. EVANS. 



No. XXIX.— INSECTS IN THE NESTS OF THE COMMON 

 SWIFT {CYFSELUS AFFINIS). 

 On examining the nests of these Swifts I noticed that some of them 

 swarmed with insects, which I thought were parasites of these birds. The 

 Hon'ble N. C. Rothschild has recently identified these insects as beetles 

 belonging to two species of Dermestidse ; the one being Anthrejiius 

 fasciatus, Hbst., and the other smAttayenus. This gentleman adds inepist: — 

 "' I do notthink that the specimens in question are i"eally parasites of the 

 Swift ; in fact, I feel sure, they are not, but the larvae feed on old feathers 

 and similar refuse, which explains their presence." 



P. T. L. DODSWORTH, f.z.s., Ji.E.o.ti. 

 Simla, S. W., 30^ April 1912. 



No. XXX.— DISTRIBUTION OF THE CRICKET 

 SCHIZODA CTYL US MONSTii UOSUS. 

 It may be of interest to note in regard to the distribution of Schixodac- 

 tylus monstruosus, I have frequently found this curious cricket whilst 

 digging in sandy soil in the vicinity of Campbellpur aud Nowshera. It 

 would seem, therefore, that it has a much wider distribution than given 

 by Lefroy in his '•' Insect Life in India." Natives have assured me that 

 this insect feeds on flesh. 



MuLTAN, 16^/jJfrtJ-c;il912, W. P. C. TBNISON, Lieut., k.p.a. 



