ACANTHOPNETJSTE. 269 



They do not always, however, select 3uch situations as those 

 referred to in the above accounts. Sir E. C. Buck, C.8., says : — " I 

 found a nest on 11th June in the roof of Major Batchelor's bungalow 

 at Nachar, in the Sutlej Valley ; it contained young birds. I was 

 not allowed to disturb the nest, which was composed externally of 

 moss. I noticed a second half-made nest near the other." 



The eggs of this species are, as might be expected, somewhat 

 larger than those of P. humii, and they are of a different character, 

 being spotless, white, and slightly glossy. In shape the eggs vary 

 from a nearly perfect, moderately elongated oval to a slightly 

 pyriform shape, broad at the large end, and a good deal compressed 

 and somewhat pointed towards the small end (vide the represen- 

 tation of the eggs of Ruticilla tiihys in Hewitson's work). 



In length they vary from - 63 to 068, and in breadth from 0*48 

 to 0-53 ; but the average of fifteen eggs measured is 0-65 by 0-5. 



430. Acanthopneuste davisoni, Oates. The Tenasserim 

 White-tailed Willow-Warbler. 



Reguloides viridipennis (Blyth), apud Hume, Cat. no. 567 *. 



It was on the 2nd of February, just at the foot of the final cone 

 of Mooleyit, at an elevation of over 6000 feet, that Mr. Davison 

 came upon the nest of this species. He says : — 



"In a deep ravine close below the summit of Mooleyit I found a 

 nest of this Willow-Warbler. It was placed in a mass of creepers 

 growing over the face of a rock about 7 feet from the ground. It 

 w as only partially screened, and I easily detected it on the bird 

 leaving it. I was very much astonished at finding a nest of a 

 Willow- Warbler in Burmah, so I determined to make positively 

 certain of the owner. I marked the place, and after a short time 

 returned very quietly. I got within a couple of feet of the nest ; 

 the bird sat still, and I watched her for some time ; the markings 

 on the top of the head were very conspicuous. On my attempting 

 to go closer the bird flew off, and settled on a small branch a few 

 feet off. I moved back a short distance and shot her, using a very 

 small charge. 



" The nest was a globular structure, with the roof slightly pro- 

 jecting over the entrance. It was composed externally chiefly of 

 moss, intermingled with dried leaves and fibres ; the egg-cavity was 

 warmly and thickly lined with a felt of pappus. 



" The external diameter of the nest was about 4 inches ; the 

 egg-cavity 1 inch at the entrance, and 2 inches deep. 



" The nest contained three small pure white eggs." 



The three eggs here mentioned measured - 59 and 0'6 in length, 

 by 0-49 in breadth. 



* Mr. Hume is of opinion that this bird is the true P. viridipennis of Blyth. 

 I have elsewhere stated nay reasons for disagreeing with him. — Ed. 



