692 Notes on the Nidification of Indian Birds. [Dec. 



Motacilla longicauda. (Gm.) 



M. sutoria. (Gm.) 



Sylvia guzuratta. (Lath.) 



O. lingoo. (Sykes) young. 



0. senium. (Skyes) young apud Blyth. 



O. sphce.nurus. (Swain.) 



Sylvia ruficapilla. (Hutton.) 

 It is very evident from the accounts given hoth by Mr. Hodgson and 

 Captain Tickell, of the colour of the eggs of supposed O. longicauda, 

 that there must either be more than one species confounded under that 

 name, or that they have erroneously attributed to it the eggs of some 

 other species. In the J. A. S. No. 22, for Oct. 1833, 1 described the 

 nest and eggs of true O. longicauda, under the name of Sylvia rufica- 

 pilla, and similar nests and eggs agreeing in every respect have since 

 fallen under my observation ; in all of these the nest was composed of 

 cotton, wool, vegetable fibre and horsehair, formed in the shape of a 

 deep cup or purse enclosed between two long leaves, the edges of which 

 were sewed to the sides of the nest in a manner to support it, by threads 

 spun by the bird ; — the eggs are 3 to 4, of a white colour, sprinkled 

 with small specks, chiefly at the larger end, of rufous or tawny. Captain 

 Tickell gives the eggs " pale greenish blue, with irregular patches, espe- 

 cially towards the larger end, resembling dried stains of blood, and 

 irregular broken lines scratched round, forming a zone near the large 

 end." These cannot be the eggs of 0. longicauda, any more than the 

 "unspotted verditer blue eggs" mentioned by Mr. Hodgson, P. Z. S. 

 1845. p. 29. 



The true O. longicauda occurs in the Doon along the southern base 

 of the mountains, but does not ascend even in summer. 



(Note.^-I fear that in many instances Capt. Tickell has trusted solely 

 to native information, in which case the chances are he has often been 

 deceived ; — ^1 have noted no nest that I did not either take myself, or 

 examine before I allowed it to be touched.) 

 No. 39. — " Drymoica criniger." (Hodg.) 



Suya criniger. (Hodg.) 

 This little bird appears on the hills at about 5,000 ft. in May. A 

 nest taken much lower down on 22nd June was composed of grasses 

 neatly interwoven in the shape of an ovate ball, the smaller end upper- 



