57 ,[Vol. xlii. 



Pyctorhis sinensis saturatior, subsp.no V. 



Adult. Upper parts, especially head, saturated ; very dark 

 brown, paling only on the rump. Chestnut colour of wings 

 darker. Size as in typical P. sinensis. Large series 

 examined. 



Distribution. Bhutan and Buxa Doars, Sikkhim. 



Type. In the British Museum. Bhutan Doars, Jan. 1877. 

 Brit. Mus. Reg. No. 86. 10. 1.4661 {Mandelli). Hume coll. 



Otus bakkamcena deserticolor, subsp. nov. 



Adult. Birds from Sind and Beluchistan stand out at a 

 glance from the rest of the 150 Collared Scops Owls I have 

 examined. Ground-colour of upper parts very pale, a grey- 

 brown and the yellow on the collar and scapulars very pale ; 

 under parts very pale almost a white ground with hardly 

 any rufescent tinge. Wing 165-175 mm. (both sexes). 



Distribution. Sind, N. Beluchistan ; a young bird from 

 Muscat in the Bombay Mus. appears to belong here, and there 

 is an adult in the Kurachi Museum labelled " Bushire." 



Type. In the British Museum. ? , Hyderabad, Sind, 

 10 April, 1878 ; Brit. Mus. Reg. No. 86. 2. 1. 364 {E. A. 

 Butter). Hume coll. 



Col. R. Meinektzhagek, on behalf of Mr. P. A. Buxton, 

 asked some questions regarding 



Desert Ornithology. 



1. Whether birds which breed in hot deserts dislike 

 leaving their eggs exposed to the sun for any time ? 

 Col. Meinertzhagen presumed that both parents of Sand- 

 Grouse must come to water at some time, and that the eggs 

 must therefore be left to the rays of the sun — at any rate, 

 for u short period. 



Some birds in hot climates bury their eggs, notably 

 Pluvianus and Charadrius varius. Is this done for protec- 

 tion against the sun or against natural enemies ? 



2. Are the eggs of birds laid in deserts of a peculiar desert 

 type, or do they conform to the general type ol: the group to 



