MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 165 



No. XIV.— THE BREEDING HABITS OF THE BROWN-BACKED 

 INDIAN ROBIN {THAMNOBIA CAMBAIENSIS). 



1 append descriptions of two nests of the Indian Robin which were 

 placed in sites different to any described in Mr. Pitman's note on the 

 nesting of this species at p. 796, Vol. XXI of the Journal. Both nests 

 were found in the stony nullahs by the R. Sohan which is the favourite 

 haunt of the species near Rawal Pindi. In both the Rawal Pindi and 

 Jhelum Districts (and the same peculiarity has been noted at Kohat) the 

 Indian Robin is practically confined to the arid stony hills and nullahs, 

 clothed with coarse grass and scrubby bushes, being but seldom found in 

 gardens and cultivation which seem to be its natural habitat down 

 country. 



28iA April 1911. — C/3 slightly incubated eggs found in a nest built under 

 a large stone balanced on two others : to the front the nest was fairly open, 

 while at the back there was a small hole— almost a short tunnel — used by 

 the female as a " bolt-hole " when the nest was approached from in front. 

 The nest was very flimsy, built of coarse dry grass roots, and lined with 

 fur, horsehair, and portions of snake's slough. Many bits of earthern 

 cocoons were mingled with the foundations, possibly by way of binding the 

 grass. 



Ibth May 1911. — C/3 rather incubated eggs from a deep cup composed 

 of grass, roots, etc., and lined with fine roots and horsehair, which was built 

 under a stone behind a tuft of foliage on a steep bank, a few yards from 

 the water's edge. 



HUGH WHISTLER, m.b.o.u., 



Indian Police. 

 Jhelum, March 1914. 



No. XV.— THE OCCURRENCE OF THE BANK MYNA 

 {ACRIDOTRERES GINGINIANUS) NEAR MADRAS. 



On January 14th, an adult male specimen of A. ginginianus (the Bank 

 Myna) was captured at Vandalur, a village twenty miles South of Madras, 

 by one of the Museum suppliers. It was found feeding on a field near the 

 village in company with several common Mynas {A. tristis). It is now 

 preserved in the Madras Museum. 



According to Oates {Fauna of British India) this species is not found 

 South of the Nerbudda and Mahanadi rivers, while Jerdon in his ' Birds of 

 India ' asserts " It certainly does not occur in South India, notwithstanding 

 its specific name taken from Gingi, South of Madras." 



B. SUNDARA RAJ, m.a., 



Zoological Assistant. 

 Madkas Govt. Museum, February 1914. 



No. XVI.— A NEW SWIFT FROM BURMA. 

 THE BURMESE SWIFT {MICR0PU8 FACIFICUS COOKI). 



( With an illustration.) 

 Harington, B. B. O. C, XXXI., p. 57 (1912). Ibis 1914, p. 22. 

 Description. — Similar to M. pacificus, Latham, but smaller, the white band 

 across the rump narrower, about 10 mm. wide instead of 15 mm. ; only the 

 feathers on the middle of the throat white, with well-marked black shaft 

 stripes, those on the sides of the throat black fringed with white producing 

 a barred appearance ; the back and mantle deep glossy black with a 

 metallic sheen. 



