358 



as follows : — " I have never succeeded in finding a nest of the White-breasted Blue Woodchat. 

 In the hills north of Simla they breed, I believe, very high up. Writing of the Sutlej valley, my 

 friend Dr. Stoliczka says, ' this species does not occur in summer to the west of Nachar, and not 

 below 8000 feet. It breeds near Chini, and even here almost only near the limit of trees, at about 

 12,000 feet. It is often seen about Korzog, in Rupshu, at an elevation of between 15,000 and 

 16,000 feet.' 



" But further west in Cashmere they breed as low as 6000 feet ; and I have eggs taken there 

 iluring the latter half of May and the first half of June. They breed there, it appears, in holes, 

 making a nest of moss and grass, lined with soft white grass. 



" From Cashmere Mr. Brooks noted that ' this bird, like Siphia leucomelanura, breeds in the 

 immature or female dress. I shot several pairs which were nesting, and saw others. Only one 

 pair had the male mature and differing from the female. It nests in holes in bank-sides, under 

 tree-roots, or fallen tree-trunks. The eggs, four in number, are bluish white, very faintly marked 

 towards the larger end with the palest reddish brown. Those markings can only be seen upon a 

 close inspection. Length - 74 by 0"56.' 



" He obtained, if I remember right, only a single nest ; and this was at Goolmergh, and on 

 the 2nd of June. Each of the three nests of which I have notes contained four eggs. 



" Mr. Brooks mentioned in epist., ' the shape of the egg is similar to that of other Robins, 

 but diminishes rather more rapidly from the centre of the egg towards each end. The texture 

 is smooth with a slight gloss, ground-colour pale greenish white, with some indistinct faint 

 mottlings of very pale red at the larger end with a tendency to form a zone.' 



" The eggs of this species are broad ovals, much compressed, and pointed towards the small 

 end, and at times somewhat pointed even towards the large end. They are white with a delicate 

 green tinge, and towards the large end exhibit a faint zone of the most minute reddish-brown 

 specks conceivable. The shell is very smooth and compact, has always a certain amount of gloss, 

 which in some cases is very bright and decided. In length they vary from 0*69 to 0*74, and in 

 breadth from - 54 to - 58 ; but the average of twelve is 0*71 by 0-56." 



Dr. Dybowski. in his notes on the ornithology of Dauria, communicated to Mr. Taczanowski 

 (J. f. O. 1872, p. 364), writes as follows: — "On the spring passage this bird is very common, 

 arriving late in April, soon after which they pair. It frequents steep rocky mountain-slopes 

 which are clad with a close dark forest-growth, and which always have a damp soil, which is 

 stony or rocky, and covered with moss, ferns, and saxifrage plants. This bird places its nest on 

 the ground, in a cleft or cranny amongst the stones on some rocky point. A small aperture 

 between moss leads to the nest, which is carelessly built of green moss, and well lined with roe- 

 hair. The nest is very difficult to take out, and also to keep uninjured. Should an intruder 

 approach whilst the female is sitting, the male at once comes and tries to entice him away, in 

 which it is usually successful. But should no notice be taken of it (for the female sits very 

 close), and should the intruder not leave the place, the male bird will leave and not return. 

 When the young are hatched the nest is easier to find ; but even then the parent birds are 

 exceedingly wary, and one must hide long and patiently, bearing as best one can the bites of the 

 mosquitoes, before one can see where the old birds take the food to the young ones. Late in 

 June many of the young were fully fledged, and we found others fully feathered but still in the 



