385.  Franklinia cinereicapilla (Hodgs.). Hodgson’s Wren-Warbler.

Prinia cinereocapilla, Hodgs., Jerd.  B. Ind. ii, p. 172; Hume, Rough Draft N. & E. no. 537.

Captain Hutton says[A]:—­“In this species the structure of the nest is somewhat coarser than in P. stewarti, and it is more loosely put together, but like that species it is also a true Tailor-bird.

[Footnote A:  I reproduce this note as it appeared in the ’Rough Draft,’ but I have no faith in the identification of this rare bird by Capt Hutton.  Mr. Hume is apparently of the same opinion, as he does not quote the Dhoon as one of the localities in which, this species occurs (S.F. ix, p. 286).  It may be well, however, to point out that Mr. Brooks procured this species at Dhunda, in the Bhagirati valley, so that it is not unlikely to occur in the Dhoon.—­ED.]

“In the specimen before me two large leaves are stitched together at the edges, and between these rests the cup-shaped nest composed of grass-stalks and fine roots, as in P. stewarti, and without any lining, while, being more completely surrounded by or enfolded in the leaves, the cottony seed-down which binds together the fibres in the others is here dispensed with.

“The eggs were three in number, of a pale bluish hue, irrorated with specks of rufous-brown, and chiefly so at the larger end, where they form an ill-defined ring.

“The eggs measured 0.62 by 0.44.

“The nest was found hanging on a large-leafed annual shrub growing in the Dhoon, and was placed about 2 feet from the ground.  It was taken on 22nd July.”

386.  Laticilla burnesi (Bl.). The Long-tailed Grass-Warbler.  Eurycercus burnesii, Bl., Jerd.  B. Ind. ii, p. 74.

Mr. S.B.  Doig appears to be the only ornithologist who has found the nest of the Long-tailed Grass-Warbler.  Writing of the Eastern Narra District, in Sind, he says:—­

“This bird is in certain localities very numerous, but invariably confines itself to dense thickets of revel and tamarisk jungle.  The discovery of my first nest was as follows: 

“On the 13th March, while closely searching some thick grass along the banks of a small canal, I heard a peculiar twittering which I did not recognize.  After standing perfectly still for a short while, I at length caught sight of the bird, which I at once identified as L. burnesi.  Leaving the bed of the canal in which I was walking and making a slight detour, I came suddenly over the spoil-bank of the canal on to the place where the bird had been calling.  My sudden appearance caused the bird to get very excited, and it kept on twittering, approaching me at one time until quite close and then going away again a short distance; I at once began searching for its nest, and out of the first tussock of grass I touched, close to where I was standing, flew the female, who joined her mate, after which both birds kept up