118 CRATEROPODIDJE.

182. Sittiparus castaneiceps (Hodgs.). The Chestnut-headed
Tit-Babller.

Minla castaneiceps, Hodf/s., Jerd. JS. Ind. ii; p. 255; Hume, Hough
Draft N. $ R no. 619.

Mr. Hodgson's notes inform us that the Chestnut-headed Tit-
Babbler breeds in the neighbourhood of Darjeeling in May and
June, laying four eggs, which are figured as somewhat elongated
ovals, having a very pale greenish-yellow or dingy yellowish-white
ground finely speckled, chiefly at the large end, where there is a
tendency to form a zone, with red or brownish red, and measuring
0-75 by 0*52. The nest is said to be placed in a thick bush, at a
height of about 3 feet from the ground, in a double fork ; to be
very broad and shallow7, composed of twigs, grass, and moss, and
lined with leaves. One, taken on the 18th May, 1846, measured 6
inches in diameter and 2*5 in height externally; the cavity was
only 2-1 in diameter and 1 in depth.

Prom Sikhiin Mr. Grainmie writes :—" A nest of this bird, with
one fresh egg and female, w as brought to me in May. The man
said he found the nest in the Eungbee forest, at 6000 feet, among
the moss growing on the trunk of a large tree, a few feet from
the ground. It was a solid cup, made of green moss, with au inner
layer of fine dark-coloured roots, and lined with grassy fibres.
Externally it measured 4 inches in width by the same in depth;
internally 1*5 wide by 1*25 deep."

Three eggs sent by Mr. Garmnie measure 0*7 to 0-75 in length
and 0-55 to 0*59 in breadth.

Mr. Davison says :—" On the 20th of February, when encamped
just under the summit of Muleyit, on its N.W. slope, I found a
nest of this bird containing three eggs, but so hard-set that it was
only with the greatest difficulty that I managed to preserve them.

" The nest, a deep cup, was placed about 5 feet from the ground,
in a mass of creepers growing up a sapling. It (the nest) wasv
composed externally of green moss and lined with fibres and dry
bamboo-leaves.

"On the29thof the same month I took another nest, also con-
taining three eggs, precisely similar to those in the first nest; but
these were so far incubated and the shell was so fragile that they
were all lost. This nest was also composed externally of green
moss, beautifully worked into the moss growing on the trunk of
a large tree, and it was only with considerable difficulty, and after
looking for some time, that I found it. The egg-cavity of this
nest was also lined with fibres and dried bamboo-leaves.

"The first nest found \\as open at the top, and measured
5-5 inches in depth, 3 across the top externally, the egg-cavity
3*5 in depth by 1*8 in diameter at top.

" The second nest was completely domed at the top, and measured
externally 7 inches in depth by about 3*5 at top. The egg-cavity
was 2-5 inches deep by 1-5 across the mouth.

"Three eggs measured 0-7to 0-75 in length, and 0*55 to 0-59 in
breadth."