They measured 0.65 by 0.52.

From Sikhim Mr. Gammie 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 unfrequently 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 elevations up to about 3500 feet.”

The eggs of this species, of which Mr. Gammie 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 Prinia’s that I have seen.

They vary from 0.65 to 0.69 in length, and from 0.48 to 0.52 in breadth.]

448.  Horornis fortipes, Hodgs. The Strong-footed Bush-Warbler.

Horornis fortipes, Hodgs., Jerd.  B. Ind. ii, p. 162. 
Dumeticola fortipes, Hodgs., Hume, Rough Draft N. & E. no. 526.

According to Mr. Hodgson[A], this Tree-Warbler breeds from May to July in the central region of Nepal.  They build a tolerably compact and rather shallow cup-shaped nest of grass and dry bamboo-leaves, mingled with grass-roots and vegetable fibre and lined with feathers.

[Footnote A:  This note of Mr. Hodgson’s refers to his plate No. 900.  The birds in his collection bearing this number are Neornis assimilis, and are the same as Horornis fortipes.—­ED.]

A nest taken on the 29th May measured externally 3.5 in diameter and 2 inches in height, and internally 2 inches in diameter by 1.37 in depth.  It contained four eggs, which are figured as deep dull purple-red.  Dr. Jerdon gave me two eggs, as I now feel certain, belonging to this species; there is no mistaking them, as they are the most wonderful coloured eggs I ever saw; but as he was not certain to what species they belonged, I unfortunately threw them away.  Mr. Hodgson figures the egg as a moderately broad oval, a good deal pointed towards one end, slightly glossy, and measuring 0.65 by 0.47.

Two nests and eggs, together with one of the parent birds, of the Strong-footed Bush-Warbler were sent me from Sikhim.  Both nests were found in thick brushwood or low jungle, at elevations of 5000 to 5500 feet—­the one at Lebong on the 12th June, the other on another spur of the same hill in July.