262 
Bi)-(l.s In anri Ahont the Sfafion. 
expected consignment of mealworms did not arrive, maggots 
were not too plentiful, and in any case these latter (our kind 
at any rate) are only a help. I grasped the shadow and kept 
my prized captures. They died in about ten days, after con- 
suming enougii live food to have fed far more than the birds 
I let go. AVhat is one to do in such a case? ■ Had I been 
successful I should barely have regretted my loss. Of course 
one answer would be to make better arrangements for live 
food. With a little less bad luck my arrangements would 
have worked perfectly. To coniplote'y e'iminate the .^loment 
of luck one should be a bit of a millionaire. As it was my 
financial resources were stretched to nearly the limit. I now 
rather shudder to think of what kind of furlou.<,''h we should 
have had in 1913 if I had lost my birds. At Charing Cross 
I had notliinf? in the bank, no pay "to come for two months, 
and only two sovereigns and some silver in my pockets. 
I had not even my return ticket to India, an incidental loss. 
However, thanlcs chiefly to our Editor, I about cleared all 
tangible expenses. I'm rather glad I did not keep careful 
accounts, they might put me off trying a collection again, 
still I got my full share of pleasure out of it, though some 
people might call it hard lahoui'. Poor people. They can't 
iinderstand! Next time (1 hope there will be a next time) 
financially I shall have a freer hand and shall be able to 
make better arrangements. I fear I have rather got off the 
sul)ject, more like an instalment of " My Indian Consignment," 
a series I have left alone too long to I'C -continue. 
I have never seen this liird in its breeding ground. 
It is a dainty bird, greyish brown above and greyish white 
beneath, with a " Robiny " chestnut breast. The tail is black 
with a good deal of white on it. Length about f) inches. 
The Slaty-blue Flycatchkk (Cj/ornis lencomeJan- 
nniti): Like the next species and the Verditer these arrive here 
on thei) way down towards the end of duly, leaving at the 
end of Novembei', passujg up again from the middle of 
February to the end of April. This species pays slightly 
longer visits, and the Verditer rather shorter visits than the 
above. Most of the eaidy autumn viJiiLors are, I fancy, young 
birds. I caught one stragglei' late in Decciuber, 1912. 
This bird took rc;a(lily to confinement in a cage, but 
