BIRD NOTES BY THE WAY IN KASHMIR. 1309 



contained. While removing these both birds reappeared close above me 

 uttering the ' tewtya ' note. 



The eggs were blunt ovals measuring about "TSx'SGand in other 

 respects were more or less similar to those described by Colonel Ward, 

 mine being white fairly densely speckled with reddish brown with super- 

 imposed purplish brown spots in a zone round the larger end. The shells 

 were somewhat fragile, smooth, and fine grained in texture. 



The nest though smaller was not unlike that of 'The European Bullfinch.' 

 A platform of twigs on which was built a shallow cup of fine rootlets and 

 a little dried grass. A few goat hairs completed the lining. 



The close sitting of the female on the 4th August was decidedly 

 strange. She could hardly have been incubating, for although some birds 

 are known to commence this from the laying of the first egg, notably 

 species that lay early in the year and in exposed situations, the Bull- 

 finches are not of this group. I can recall too the fact that on this date 

 she was not sitting down into the nest as she was on 8th August when 

 only the top of her head was visible to one standing by it. The only 

 explanation of her behaviour on the 4th that occurs to me is that she was 

 in the act of laying as we arrived. This was about 8-30 a.m. As she was 

 not kept more than quarter of an hour ofi' the nest on this occasion I am 

 inclined to be sanguine that she had time to get back to lay her egg and 

 did not drop it outside in her extremity. 



August nests must, I imagine, be second broods. From the second 

 week in June, when I first met with these Bullfinches, they were always 

 in pairs and the males singing vigorouslj'. Moreover in the beginning of 

 August I came across parties of 3 or more. One party was for certain a pair 

 with 1 young. This latter had been out of the nest for some time as it 

 was exactly like the female and the male. kept hunting it away when it 

 persisted in following him. It was not till June the 28th that I first saw 

 signs of nesting when I observed a female with a twig in her bill, but as 

 she flew far away with it I never succeeded in locating the nest. 



Like the European Bullfinch, this species is secretive at nesting- 

 time only, choosing for the nesting site the quietest and remotest corner 

 of a wood within the limits of elevations given. As far as I could gather 

 the densest portion is not selected, but parts more or less on the level are 

 preferred. 



The Orange Bullfinch is a charming little bird in every way. The 

 affection with which the male treats his partner is quite pretty to watch. 

 Rarely does he let her out of his sight, and while she feeds, drinks, or 

 bathes he is never more than a yard or two away seemingly too utterlj^ 

 absorbed in admiration of her charms, to follow suit, and constantly burst- 

 ing into his melodious little song. While she builds the nest he sits on a 

 twig close by, now and again looking to see how the work is progressing, 

 26 



