196

3->3 Sittaleucopsis3G-ould. The White-cUelcel
rttta leucopsis, GoM, Jerd. B. Incl i, p. 385; Hume, Xou0h Draft
' X. $ H. no. 249.

Captain Cock took the eggs of the White-cheeked Nuthatch late
in lS -d early in June (?871) in Kashmir at Sgmu^

Captain Vardkw Bamsay says writing of A ghania la 11. 1
observed it hanging about a nest-hole on the 21st May, biit on
M-uniiiVto take the eggs some days later was unable to imd the
tree r and lie adds, « On the 21st of June I shot a young bird just
ilfd"vJ near the Peivrar Kotul." t .

"The ecffs of this species vary somewhat in size. In shape some
aiv moderately elongated, some are somewhat broad ovals, and all
•uv more or "less, compressed towards the smaller end, which,
howover, is obtuse and not at all pointed. The ground is white
and lias a slight gloss. The markings consist of small spots and
minute specks, some eggs exhibiting only the latter. In all cases
the markings are most dense towards the large end, where they
iCeiH'rallv form an irregular and ill-defined mottled cap or zone.
In colour the markings are red and pale purple, the red varying
from bright briekdust-red to brownish and even purplish red,
and the purple being sometimes lilac and sometimes grey, and
here and there in a single speck, almost black. In length the
eggs vary from 0*67 to 0*75 inch, and in. breadth from 0*54 to
0*55 inch.

325. Sitta frontalis, Horsf. The Velvet-fronted Blue Nuthatch.

Dendrophila frontalis (Horsf.)9 Jerd. J5. 2nd. i; p. 388; Hume, llouyh
Draft K $ K no. 253.

The Velvet-fronted Nuthatch lays from the middle of February
to the end of May. It breeds in the forest-tracts of the Sub-
Himalayan ranges, in the Central Indian forests, the Ghats of
Southern India, and the well-wooded slopes of the JSTilghiris,
Palnis, &c.

It builds a compact little nest of moss and feathers in a tiny
hole in a tree, selecting, I believe, generally a natural cavity,
but certainly trimming the entrance and interior itself.

Mr. E. Thompson says:—" This species is common in all the low
densely wooded valleys of the Sub-Himalayan ranges o£ Kumaon,

towards the small end, but elongated and more or less blunt-ended pyriforni
examples occur. Ihe shell is extremely fine and smooth, but has only
moderate amount of loss in a

. y ne an smoo, ut

moderate amount of gloss in any specimen that I have seen and

in some