The Brown •haelccd Indian "Robin. 
the nes* was fairly opon, while at the back thorc was a small holo— almost a 
a short tunnel — used by the female a '' bolt hole " when the nest was 
approaohed from in front . The nest was verj- flimsj-, built of coarse dry 
grass roots, and lined with fur, horsehair, and portions of snake's slough. 
Many bit.^ of earthen cocoons were minjilcd with the fovindations, possibly 
by wa\' of binding the gra-ss." 
" 15th May, 1911. — C 3 rather incubated eggs from a deep cup 
con'poseo of grass, roots, etc., and lined with fine roots and horsehair, 
which was built under a stone behind, a tuft of foliage on a steep bank, a 
few yards from the water's edge." 
' Both nests were found in the ston}' nullahs by the E,. Sohan 
which is the favourite haunt of the species near Rawal Pindi. In both 
the Rawal Pindi and Jhelum districts the Indian Robin is practically con- 
fined to the arid stony hills and nullahs, clothed with coarse grass and 
scrubby bushes, being but .seldom found in gardens and cultivation whic'h' 
seem to be its natural habitat down country." 
By Dr. L. Lovell-Keays, F.Z.S. 
Being a.sked by the Editor for a few notes on the 
Brown -backed Robin, I comply somewhat reluctantly, as I find 
Mr. Whistler, that keen and accurate observer, is giving a very 
full and interesting description. However a few notes on my 
birds, whose portraits figure on our fronti.spieco, may possibly 
prove of interest to some. 
I purchased my pair of birds from Mr. Bainbridge in 
the winter of 19i;-s-14. I had very little difficulty in keeping 
them while caged up. Their requirements were simple, viz.: 
a little of the best possible insectile mixture and a few meal- 
worms each day. 
In the spring of 1914 I let them out into a well- 
sheltered aviary. Up to then I had kept them caged separ- 
ately. For the first few days the birds took but little notice of 
each other, but about May 12-19 I noticed they took an evident 
interest in rush nest.s, and also the cock bird would take every 
mealworm he could get straight to the hen and feed her till 
she was satisfied. Just when my hopes were raised to fever 
pitch and, when both birds seemed in the pink of condition, 
I found the hen dead on the aviary pathway. A post mortem 
examination showed acute inflammation of the ovary and 
there was very definite evidence of active ovulation. This 
was a sad blow to me and seemed to be an end tO' all my 
hopes. However, Mr. Seth- Smith of the Zoological Society 
