168 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NA TURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. X. 



of the es'S' but more numerous towards the larger end. In some 

 eggs the spots are rather paler, a brownish-purple ; and one or two 

 clutches I have seen have the ground-colour a pale delicate pink, 

 with spots of purple- brown and secondary ones of lavender and grey, 

 these latter often surrounding the darker ones as with a nimbus, but 

 not making them look as if they had run. 



The few specimens of this type in my collection all have the markings 

 almost confined to the larger end, and even there not very numerous. 



Taking the whole series I have seen — probably over a hundred — I 

 should say that an equal number of eggs of very few other birds would 

 show as little variation either in size, shape or coloration. Forty eggs 

 average •96"X*72", but I have kept no record of the largest and 

 smallest eggs taken. 



The shape is a broad oval, rather pointed. The texture is close and 

 fine, shewing a slight gloss. 



Far from being the bold bird as it is stated to be by Dr. Heifer 

 ( Jerdon), I have found it to_ be rather wild and shy, and that when 

 frightened it often takes flight to some distance. When, however, it is 

 in one of the deep shady nullahs to which it is so fond of resorting, 

 it is often loathe to leave, and a flock, if followed up in such a place, 

 may be almost exterminated before it will do so. 



I have sometimes heard this bird uttering a low warbling note, 

 rather a musical sound, and very different to the harsh " tin-kettly " 

 cry which seems to be that most indulged in by this family. 



The Cacharis assert that there is a third species of Broad-biU 

 inhabiting these hills, and they describe a bird which would seem to be 

 Cymborhnchus maGrochncliivS^ though that bird is most unlikely to be 

 found here. The Cacharis are, however, such close observers, some 

 of them also such keen naturalists, that I think their report may have 

 some foundation. They brought me a nest and eggs once belonging 

 to this unknown bird, which corresponded in every detail, except as 

 regards size, with the nests and eggs of Fsarisomus, but they were 

 much smaller. 



