pabtis,	33
Lieut. H. E. Barnes notes from Chaman in Afghanistan:—
" This Tit is very common, and remains with us all the year
round. I found a nest on the 10th April, built in a ho]e in a tree ;
it was composed entirely of sheep's wool, and contained three incu-
bated eggs, white, with light red blotches, forming a zone at the
larger end. They measured -69 by *4S."
Mr. Benjamin Aitkin says:—
" When I was in Poona, in the hot season of 1873, the Grey
Tits, which are very common there, became exceedingly busy about
the end of May, courting with all their spirit, and examining every
hole they could find. One was seen to disappear up the mouth of
a cannon at the arsenal. Finally, in July, two nests with young
birds were discovered, one by myself, and one by my brother. The
nests were in the roofs of houses, and were not easily accessible,
but the parent birds were watched assiduously carrying food to
the hungry brood, which kept up a screaming almost equal to that
of a nest of minahs. On the 27th July a young one was picked up
that had escaped too soon from a third nest, Tke Indian Grey
Tit does not occur in Bombay, and I never saw it in Berar."
Speaking of Southern India Mr. Davison remarks that " the
Grey Tit breeds in holes either of trees or banks,* when it builds in
trees it very often (whenever it can apparently) takes possession of
the deserted nest-hole of Megalcema viridis; when in banks a rat-
hole is not uncommonly chosen. All the nests I have ever seen or
taken were composed in every single instance of fur obtained from
the dried droppings of wild cats."
Eroni Kotagherry, Miss Cockburn sends the following interesting
note:—
" Their nests are found in deep holes in earth-banks, and some-
times in stone walls. Once a pair took possession of a bamboo in
one of our thatched out-houses—the safest place they could have
chosen, as no hand could get into the small hole by which they
entered. These Tits show great affection and care for their young.
While hatching their eggs, if a hand or stick is put into the nest
they rise with enlarged throats, and, hissing like a snake, peck at
it till it is withdrawn. On one occasion I told my horse-keeper to
put his hand into a hole into which I had seen one of these birds
enter. He did so, but soon drew it out- with a scream, saying a
^1 snake had bit him/ I told him to try again, but with no better
success; he would not attempt it the third time, so the nest was
left with the bold little proprietor, who no doubt rejoiced to find
she had succeeded in frightening away the unwelcome intruder.
The materials used by these birds for their nests consist of soft
hair, downy feathers, and moss, all of which they collect in large
quantities. They build in the months of February and March;
but I once found a nest of young Indian Grey Tits so late as the
10th November. They lay six eggs, white with light red spots.
On one occasion I saw a .nest in a bank by the side of the road ;
when the only young bird it contained was nearly fledged the road
had to be widened, "and workmen were employed in cutting clown
VOL. I.	"3