264 SYLYIID2E.

Elsewhere Mr. Brooks has remarked:—" Goolmerg is one o
those mountain downs, or extensive pasture lands, which are name
rous on the top of the range of hills immediately below the Pir-Pinja
Eange, which is the first snowy range. It is a beautiful mountah
common, about 3000 .feefc above the level of Sirinugger, whicl
latter place has an elevation of 5235 feet. This common is abou
3 miles long and about a couple of miles wide, but of very irregula:
shape. On all sides the undulating grass-land is surrounded lr
pine-clad hills, and on one side the pine-slopes are surmounted ty
snowy mountains. On the side near the snow the supply of water ii
the woods is ample. The whole hill-side is intersected by smal
ravines, and each ravine has its stream, of pure cold water—wate:
so different from the tepid fluid we drink in the plains. In. sucl
places where there were water and old pines P. Tiumii was ven
abundant: every few yards was the domain of a pair. The male;
were very noisy, and continually uttered their song. This song ii
not that described by Mr. Elyth as being similar to the notes of th<
English Wood-Wren (P. sibilatrioc) but fainter—it is a loud doubl*
chirp or call, hardly worthy of being dignified with the name o:
song at all. While the female was sitting, the male continuec
vigorously to utter his double note as he fed from tree to tree. Tc
this note I and my native assistants paid but little attention; biv
when the female, being off the nest, uttered her well-known 4 tiss-
yipj as Mr. Blyth expresses the call of a Willow-Wren, we repairec
rapidly to the spot and kept her in view. In every instance, bef or<
an hour had passed, she went into her nest, first making a few im-
patient dashes at the place where it was, as much as to say—' Ther<
it is, but I don't want you to see me go in.'

"The nest of P. hwnii is always, so far as my observation goes
placed on the ground on some sloping bank or ravine-side. The
situation preferred is the lower slope near the edge of the wood
and at the root of some very small bush or tree; often, however, 01
quite open ground, where the newly growing herbage was so shor
that it only partially concealed it. In form it is a true Willow
Wren's nest—a rather large globular structure with the entrance
at one side. Regarding the first nest taken, I have noted that i
was placed on a sloping bank on the ground, among some low ferni
and other plants, and close to the root of a small broken fir tree
which, being somewhat inclined over the nest, protected it front
being trodden upon. It was composed of coarse dry grass and moss
and lined with finer grass and a few black hairs. The cavity was
about 2 inches, and the entrance about 1| inch in diameter. Abotn
20 yards from the nest was a large, old, hollow fir tree, and it
this I sat till the female returned to her nest. My attendant the*
quietly approached the spot, when she flew out of the nest and sal
on a low bank 2 or 3 yards from it: then she uttered her ' tiss-
yipl which I know so well, and darted away among the pines
My man retired, upon which she soon returned, and having callec
for a few minutes in the vicinity of the nest, she ceased her not*
and quickly entered. Again she was quietly disturbed, and sat 01