BEGumm 223 



356. Pnoepyga albiventris (Hodgs.). The Scaly -breasted Wren. 

 Pnoepyga squamata (Gould), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 488. 



Prom Sikhim, Mr. Gammie writes : — " I found two nests of the 

 Scaly-breasted "Wren this year within a few yards of each other. 

 They were in a small moist ravine in the Hishap forest, at 5000 

 feet above sea-level. One was deserted before being quite finished, 

 and the other was taken a few days after three eggs had been laid. 

 The two nests were alike, and both were built among the moss 

 growing on the trunks of large trees, within a yard of the ground. 

 The only carried material was very fine roots, which were firmly 

 interwoven, and the ends worked in with the natural moss. These 

 fine roots were worked into the shape of a half-egg, cut length- 

 ways, and placed with its open side against the trunk, which thus 

 formed one side of the nest. Near the top one side was not quite 

 close to the trunk, and by this irregular opening the bird entered. 

 Internally the nest measured 3 inches deep by 2 in width. 1 

 killed the female off the eggs ; she had eaten a caterpillar, spiders, 

 and other insects." 



Mr. Mandelli found a nest of this species at Pattabong, elevation 

 5000 feet, near Darjeeling, on the 19th May, containing three 

 fresh eggs. The nest was placed amongst some small bushes pro- 

 jecting out of a crevice of a rock about three feet from the ground. 

 It was completely sheltered above, but was not hooded or domed ; 

 it was, for the size of the bird, a rather large cup, composed of 

 green moss rather closely felted together and lined with fine 

 blackish-brown roots. The cavity measured about 2 inches in 

 diameter and 1 in depth. 



The eggs of this species seem large for the size of the bird ; they 

 are rather broad at the large end, considerably pointed towards 

 the small end. They are pure white, almost entirely devoid of 

 gloss, and with very delicate and fragile shells. 



The eggs varied from 0-72 to - 78 in length, and from 0-54 to 

 - 57 in breadth. 



Family REGULID^. 



358. Regulus cristatus, Koch. The Ooldcrest. 



Kegulus himalayensis, Blyth, Jerd. B. Ind. \\, p. 206 ; Hume, Bough 

 Draft N. Sf E. no. 580. 



All I know of the nidification of this species is that Sir E. C. 

 Buck, O.S., found a nest at Eogee, in the Sutlej Valley, on the 8th 

 June, on the end of a deodar branch 8 feet from the ground and 

 partly suspended. It contained seven young birds fully fledged ; 

 no crest or signs of a crest were observable in the young. Both 

 the parent birds and the nest were kindly sent to me. 



