94 ORATEECXPODIDJE.

others they are clear and distinct. Some of the eggs are miniatures
of some types of Pyctorhis sinensis, but many recall the eggs of the
Titmouse. They are much about the size of those of Parus cceruleus
and P. palustris, bnt a trifle less broad than either of these. The
eggs have a faint gloss.

' In length they vary from O63 to O7, and in breadth from 0'5
to 0-56; but the average of twenty-four eggs now before me is
0-67 by 0-53.

136. Dumetia alMgularis (Blyth). The Small White-throated

Babbler.

Dumetia albogularis (Blytli), Jerd. B. Ind. ii, p. 26 j Hume, Rowjh
Draft N. $ E. no. 398. •

Miss M. B. Cockburn, writing from Kotagheny, tells me that
" the White-throated Babbler builds its nest in the month of
June. One was found by my nest-seekers on the 17th of that
month in the year 1873. It was constructed on a coffee-tree, and
contained three eggs, which were white, profusely covered with
reddish spots of all sizes. The bird was very shy, and would not
return to the nest for some hours after it had been discovered;
when, however, she did so, she was shot. This year (1874) I
found another similar nest on the 9th of June, also containing
three eggs."

The nest with which she favoured me was small and nearly
globular (say at most 4 inches in external diameter), composed
entirely of broad flaggy grass without any lining or any admixture
whatsoever of other material. The nest was loosely put together,
and had a comparatively narrow circular entrance near the top,

From Mysore Mr. Iver Macpherson writes :—" This is an ex-
ceedingly common bird in parts of this district, and their nests are
so plentiful that I never now take them.

" I send you all the eggs I have at present, but can procure you
any number more next season.

" The birds are to be found in all kinds of wooded country ex-
cept the heavy forests, and appear to breed from the middle of
April to the end of July, and possibly later.

" The nest is a largish globular structure loosely made of either
bamboo-leaves or blades of grass, and all that I have ever seen
have been lined inside with a few fine fibres.

" [Four appears to be the usual number of eggs, but very often
there are only three.

" The nests are always built near the ground, sometimes almost
touching it, and are fixed in either small bushes, tufts of grass, or
young bamboo-clumps."

Mr. J. L. Darling, Jan., states that this bird is very common
in Culputty in the Wynaad, at an elevation of about'3000 feet,
and that he has found the nests from the end of May to the middle
of October. The nest is built in high grass nearly on the ground,