280 SYLVIIDJE.

panicle-sterns of flowering grass, and then inside this the lining
of moderately fine grass mingled with feather s.^ The nests vary
a good deal in size, according to the thickness of the coarse outer
layer and the extent to which this straggles; hut they seem,
to be generally from 4 to 5 inches in diameter, and 2-5 in height,
whilst the cavity is ahout 2 inches in diameter, and 1, or a little
more than 1, in depth.

The eggs (each nest contained four) are sui generis^ moderately
broad regular ovals, with a decided but not brilliant gloss, and of a
nearly uniform chocolate-purple. The eggs of one nest are of a
a slightly deeper shade than those of another, probably in con-
sequence of one set being more incubated than the other. They
vary in length from 0*66 to 0-69, and from 0-49 to O52 in
breadth,.

I do not entertain the slightest doubt of these nests and eggs.

Mr. Mandellihas sent me many more eggs of this species, mostly
deep chocolate-purple, but here and there an egg somewhat paler,
what might be called a pinkish chocolate. They vary from O61 to
0-70 in length, and from 0*48 to 0-53 in breadth; but the average
of fifteen eggs is 0*67 by 0-51 nearly.

450. Horornis pallidus (Brooks). The Pale Busli-Warller.
Horeites pallidus, Brooks, Hume, Rough Draft N. fy E. no. 527 bis.

The Pale Bush-Warbler breeds in Cashmere, according to
Mr. Brooks, during May. I know nothing either of the bird or
its nidification myself. I have never even closely examined a
specimen, and merely accept the species on Mr. Brooks's authority.

He tells me that he found a nest on the 25th May at Kangan in
Cashmere.

Mr. Brooks writes :—" The nest of Horornis pallidus, which I
found near .Kangan in Cashmere, up the Sind Valley, was placed in
tangled brushwood, and about five feet above the ground. It was
on a slightly sloping bank, and close to the edge of a patch of jungle,
not far from the right bank of the river.

"It was composed of coarse dry grass externally, with fine
roots and fibres towards the inside of the nest, and was profusely
lined with feathers. It was large for the bird, being 7 or 8 inches
in external diameter, of a globular form, with the entrance at the
side. I don't remember the size of the cavity of the nest, but its
walls were very thick.

"In^ external appearance it was rough and clumsy, and looked
more like a Sparrow's nest than that of a small Sylvine bird. The
entrance was about 1| inch in diameter, and was with the interior
of the nest neat and strong. Horornis pallidus occurs at from
5600 feet elevation up to 7000 and even 8000 feet. It was
abundant at Suki up the Bhagirutti Valley, and I heard of one even
at Gj-angootree."