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tew birds, I decided upon retracing my steps and making the best of my way to Gulmerg. I 

 did so ; but Capt. Cock continued his journey to Sonamerg, intending afterwards to join me at 

 Gulmerg. I arrived there on the 31st of May, at about 10 o'clock ; and by 4 o'clock in the 

 afternoon I had three nests of Reguloides superciliosus in my possession, each containing five 

 eggs. On the very same day Capt. Cock had also taken the eggs of this bird at Sonamerg. 



" Gulmerg is one of those mountain-downs, or extensive pasture-lands, which are numerous 

 on the tops of the range of hills immediately below the Pir Punjal range, which is the first 

 snowy range. It is a beautiful mountain-common, about 3000 feet above the level of Srinuggur, 

 which latter place has an elevation of 5235 feet. This common is about three miles long, and 

 about a couple of miles wide, but of very irregular shape. On all sides the undulating grass- 

 land is surrounded by pine-clad hills ; and on one side the pine-slopes are surmounted by snowy 

 mountains. On the side near the snow the supply of water in the woods is ample. The whole 

 hill-side is intersected by small ravines, and each ravine has its stream of pure cold water — 

 water so different from the tepid fluid we drink in the plains. In such places where there were 

 water and old pines Reguloides superciliosus was very abundant. Every few yards was the 

 domain of a pair. The males were very noisy, and continually uttered their song. This song 

 is not that described by Mr. Blyth as being similar to the notes of the English Wood- Wren 

 (P. sihilatrix), but fainter. It is a loud double chirp or call, hardly worthy of being dignified 

 with the name of song at all. While the female was sitting, the male continued vigorously to 

 utter his double note as he fed trom tree to tree. To this note I and my native assistants paid 

 but little attention ; but when the female, being off the nest, uttered her well-known ' tiss-yip,' 

 as Mr. Blyth expresses the call of a Willow- Wren, we repaired rapidly to the spot, and kept her 

 in view. In every instance, before an hour had passed, she went into her nest, first making a 

 few impatient dashes at the place where it was, as much as to say, ' there it is ; but I don't want 

 you to see me go in.' 



" When a nest was found by one of the natives, the eggs were not removed till I had seen 

 the bird come out of the nest, and had heard her well-known note. From the first few nests I 

 shot the females: but this was needless slaughter; for the note is so peculiar and decided that 

 no other mode of authentication is necessary. 



" In the woods frequented by this bird at Gulmerg, the only other Reguloides were 

 R. occipitalis and a few of R. proregulus. Of Phylloscopi the only species were P. magnirostris, 

 very scarce, and P. tytleri, described above, equally scarce. 



"The nest of Reguloides superciliosus is always, so far as my observation goes, placed on the 

 ground, on some sloping bank or ravine-side. The situation preferred is the lower slope near 

 the edge of the wood, and at the root of some very small bush or tree — often, however, on quite 

 open ground, where the newly growing herbage was so short that it only partially concealed it. 

 In form it is a true Willow-Wren's nest, a rather large globular structure, with the entrance at 

 one side. Regarding the first nest taken, I have noted that it was placed on a sloping bank, on 

 the ground, among some low ferns and other plants, and close to the root of a small broken fir 

 tree, which, being somewhat inclined over the nest, protected it from being trodden upon. It 

 was composed of coarse dry grass and moss, and lined with finer grass and a few black hairs. 

 The cavity was about two inches, and the entrance about one and a half inch in diameter. 



