“I shot the female, which I sent to Mr. Brooks for identification.

“I forgot to add that this nest, the only one I ever found, was taken early in June.”

The egg of this species closely resembles that of some of the species of Abrornis—­a moderately broad oval, slightly pointed at the small end, pure white, and almost glossless.  The only specimen I have seen measures 0.58 by 0.45.

410.  Phylloscopus fuscatus (Blyth). The Dusky Willow-Warbler.

Phylloscopus fuscatus (Blyth), Jerd B.I. ii, p. 191. 
Horornis fulviventer, Hodgs., Hume, Rough Draft N. & E. no. 523.

Mr. Blyth long ago stated in ‘The Ibis’ that Horornis fulviventris was identical with P. fuscatus[A].

[Footnote A:  It is with considerable hesitation that I reproduce this note. Horornis fulviventris with which Jerdon identified the bird, the nest of which he describes, is certainly P. fuscatus.  The only doubt I have is whether Jerdon, who apparently had not seen a specimen of H. fulviventris, rightly identified his bird with it.  With this explanation the note is republished as it appeared in the ’Rough Draft.’—­ED.]

Subsequently I procured several specimens which were quite distinct from P. fuscatus, structurally as well as in plumage answering perfectly to Hodgson’s description.

I wrote to Dr. Jerdon mentioning this fact, and he replied:—­“I also am not satisfied of the identity of this species (H. fulviventris) with Phylloscopus fuscatus.  I have recently got at Darjeeling what I take to be Horornis fulviventris, and it is somewhat smaller in all its dimensions, but I had not a typical P. fuscatus with which to compare it.  Specimens measured 43/4 to 4-7/8 inches; expanse 61/2 inches; wing 2 to 2-1/16 inches.  I procured the nest and eggs in July; the nest, cup-shaped, on a bank, composed of grass chiefly, with a few fibres; and the eggs, three in number, pinky white, with a few reddish spots.”

It is certainly not P. fuscatus (though possibly some specimens of P. fuscatus in the British Museum may bear a label formerly attached to a bird of this species), nor any other Horornis or Horeites included in Dr. Jerdon’s work, all of which I have.  Mr. Blyth possibly went by Mr. Hodgson’s specimens in the British Museum, but some confusion has, it is known, somehow crept in amongst these; and I have no doubt myself that Horornis fulviventris is a good species, and that it was the nest and eggs of this species which Dr. Jerdon found[A].

[Footnote A:  I omit the article on Abrornis chloronotus, Hodgs, which appeared in the ‘Rough Draft’ under number 574 bis.  There is no manner of doubt that Hodgson got the wrong nest, a nest of a Sunbird, and figured it as that of this bird.—­ED.]

415.  Phylloscopus proregulus (Pall.). Pallas’s Willow-Warbler.