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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 



No. I -HYBRID FRANCOLINS. 



In 1876 Captain (now Lieutenant-Colonel) E. A. Butler, 83rd Begiment, 

 while stationed at Deesa, shot six or seven specimens of Francolins which were 

 apparently hybrids between Francolinus vulgaris, the northern form or Black 

 partridge, and F.pictus, the Painted partridge and southern form. 



These hybrids have been described in volume II, page 26, of Hume and 

 Marshall's " Game Birds of India," and one has been figured in the same plate 

 as the Eastern Francolin. 



Both species, F. vulgaris and F.pictus, are known to occur near Deesa, and 

 I shall be glad if any member of the Society can kindly assist me in getting 

 authentic information as to whether hybrids of the above species are now met 

 with at Deesa or elsewhere, and, if possible, in procuring specimens of the 

 same. Any information on the subject later than Colonel Butler's record will 

 be gratefully received. 



G. W. VIDAL, I.C.S, 



Poona, 10th October, 1894. 



No. II.— NESTING OF THE BROWN FLY-CATCHER. 



I am forwarding to you to-day by rail a nest and four eggs of the brown fly- 

 catcher (Alseonax latirostris) as I understand that the eggs of this bird have not 

 hitherto been recorded. These eggs I obtained near here on the ghauts. The 

 first nests were taken by Sergt. Kemp, of the Barrack Department, and myself 

 on the 17th ultimo, on which occasion the eggs were perfectly fresh; the last were 

 taken on the 30th, when fresh and hard set eggs and young birds were met 

 with, from which I infer that the period of incubation lasts about a fortnight. 

 With one exception all the nests have been found on the dwarf teak trees, 

 which grow so plentifully on the ghauts. They are, as a rule, built on thick 

 bare horizontal branches, at some little distance from the trunk and, on an 

 average, eighteen feet from the ground. The bird seems to prefer the more 

 secluded nullahs to breed in, generally selecting for this purpose a tree close to 

 the bank. The nest, as you will see, is rather a large one for so small a bird, 

 and, except for being so high, would not be difficult to find. Four seems to be 

 the full complement of eggs, though three hard set eggs have been found. 



I also enclose a skin of a bird shot from the nest ; the bird was only shot 

 for purposes of identification and the skin was unfortunately spoilt. 



I trust you will receive the eggs safely. 



BERTRAM A. G. SHELLEY, Lieut., R.E. 

 Mhow, C. I., 1st July, 1894. 



P. S.— The eggs were taken on the 30th, not the 29th. Three were obtained 

 from one nest, and the other, the dark specimen, was obtained from a second 

 nest. I regret I could not send you a complete clutch as I have only one. 



B. A. G. S. 



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