1848.] Notes on the Nidification of Indian Birds. 693 



most and forming the mouth or entrance ; it was lined first with cottony 

 seed down and then with fine grass stalks ; it was suspended among high 

 grass and contained 5 beautiful little eggs of a carneous white colour, 

 thickly freckled with deep rufous, and with a darkish confluent ring of 

 the same at the large end — Diameter J-^>c T ^ins. — I have seen this spe- 

 cies as high as 7,000 ft. in October. It delights to sit on the summit 

 of tall grass or even of an oak, from whence it pours forth a loud and 

 long continued grating note, like the filing of a saw. 



No. 40. — " Pyrgita indica." (Jard. Selb.) 



This, if really distinct from the European Sparrow, does not appear to 

 be a common bird on the heights, — -nor is it nearly so common at 5,000 

 ft. as it is in the Doon ; yet it cannot be called scarce, It breeds in 

 the caves of buildings and in bushes, making a loose slovenly nest of a 

 round form with lateral entrance ; it is of large size and constructed chief- 

 ly of dry grasses or hay externally, and plentifully lined with feathers, 

 bits of cotton and wool. The eggs are pale ash colour, moderately 

 sprinkled with specks and dashes of neutral tint, clustering rather thick- 

 ly at the large end. Diameter -j-f X -£$ ins. Eggs usually about 6 in 

 number. Breeds several times in the year. 



No. 4 1 .— - " Francolinus vulgaris" (Steph.) 



This is a common bird in the Doon, and by no means rare in warm 

 cultivated valleys far in the hills ; it breeds in the hills in June ; and a 

 nest taken by a friend on whose accuracy I can rely, and who shot the 

 old bird, contained 6 eggs of a dull greenish white colour ; the egg ap- 

 pears very large for the size of the bird, and tapers very suddenly to the 

 smaller end ; diameter \\ % 1^ ins. 



There is no preparation of a nest, the eggs being deposited on the 

 bare ground. Called " Kala-teetur" by the natives. 



No. 42. " Muplocomus albocristatus" (Vigors.) 



This species, the " Kalich" of the hill men, is found in the hills at all 

 seasons, and is common at every elevation up to the snows. It breeds 

 in May and June. In the latter month I found a nest, by the side of a 

 small water course, composed merely of a few dead leaves and some dry 

 grasses, which had very probably been accumulated by the wind and 

 tempted the bird to deposit her eggs upon them. The spot was con» 

 cealed by large overhanging ferns, and contained the shells of 8 eggs of 

 a sullied or faint brownish-white like some hens' eggs ; the tops of all 



