278 SYLYIIDJS. lined with feathers. Externally it measures about 6 inches in depth by 4 in width. The egg-cavity, from lower edge of entrance, is 2| inches deep by If wide. The" entrance is 2 inches across. The usual number of eggs is three." The eggs sent by Mr. Garnmie are very regular, rather broad, oval eggs, with a decided but not very strong gloss. In colour they are a uniform deep chocolate-purple. In length they vary from 0-63 to 0*69, and in breadth from 0-49 to 0'52.* * I cannot identify the following bird, which appears in the 'Bough Draft' under the number 552 bis. I reproduce the note together with some additional matter furnished later on by Mr. Garamie. Neoniis assimilis is nothing but Horornis forti-pes; but I cannot reconcile Mr. Gamnrie's account of the nest with that of H. fortipes, inasmuch as nothing is said about a lining _ of feathers, which appears to be an unfailing characteristic of the nest of H. for- JS.—ED, No. 552 bis.—NEORNIS ASSIMILIS, Bodgs. Mr. Gfammie sent me a bird unmistakably of this species—Blyth's Aberrant Tree-Warbler—together with the lining of a nest and three eggs. He says :—"The nest, eggs, and bird were brought to me on the 18th May by a native, who said the nest was placed in a shrub, about 6 feet from the ground, in a place filled with scrub near Bishap, at about 3500 feet above the sea. I noted at the time the man's account, but as I did not take the nest myself, I kept no account of it. All I know about it is written on the ticket attached to the nest sent to you. The bird was snared on the nest. Though I did not take it myself, I have little doubt that it is quite correct." The lining of the nest is a little, soft, shallow saucer 2£ inches in diameter, composed of the finest and softest brown roots. The eggs are somewhat of the same type as those of N. flavolivaceus, but in colour more resembling those of some of the ten-tail-feathered Prinias. They are very short broad ovals, pulled out and pointed towards one end, approxi- mating to the peg-top type. They are very glossy and of a uniform Indian red; duller coloured rather than those of the Prinias ; not so deep or purple as those of N. flavolivaceus. They measured 0-65 by 0-52. From Sikhim Mr. Gamniie writes further:—" This bird, I find, does not build in bushes, but on the ground, or rather on low leaf or weed heaps. It not ^infrequently takes advantage of the small weed heaps collected round the edges of native cultivations. On the tops of these heaps it collects a lot of dry leaves, and places its nest among them. It sits exceedingly close, only rising when almost stepped on. " The nest is a rather deep cup, neatly made of dry grass and a few leaves, and lined with fine roots, and the bare twigs of fine grass-panicles. It measures externally about 3'2 inches in diameter by 2*8 in depth; internally 2 inches by 1-75. *' The eggs are three or four in number, and are laid in May from low eleva- tions up to about 3500 feet." The eggs of this species, of which Mr. Gainrnie has now sent me two nests, are of the regular Prinia type—typically broad ovals, approximating to the peg-top type, but sometimes more elongated and pointed towards the small end. They are very glossy and of a uniform dull Indian red, deeper coloured than any Prinids that I have seen. They vary from 0*65 to 0*69 in length, and from 0'48 to 0*52 in breadth.