Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 6 (1902).djvu/526

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
450
THE ZOOLOGIST.

Anastomus oscitans, Bodd. (Open-Bill).—Fairly common by the sides of large pieces of water, and in rice-lands.

Ardea cinerea, Linn. (Common Heron).—A common winter visitor.

A. manillensis, Sharpe (Purple Heron).—Not so common as A. cinerea, but fairly plentiful in the cold weather.

Herodias alba, Linn. (Great Egret).—Scarce. I shot one in January, 1900, and saw another in February.

H. intermedia (Lesser Egret).—Several snared by fowlers in April, 1901.

H. garzetta, Linn. (Little Egret).—I saw one at Dalsingh Serai in August, 1900. It was in full breeding plumage.

Bubulcus coromandus, Bodd. (Cattle Egret).—Very common. It assumes breeding plumage in April. They breed in August in mango trees. Are very seldom seen fishing like other Egrets, and are often seen perched on the backs of cattle, or feeding near them.

Ardeola grayi, Sykes (Pond Heron).—Extremely common by nearly every piece of water. This bird is known to Europeans in India as "Paddy Bird." They breed in April in mango-groves, usually near water. From four to five is the full complement of eggs.

Butorides javanica, Horsf. (Little Green Heron).—Fairly common. It keeps to dense reed-beds during the day, and feeds chiefly at night. Breeds in colonies in May, June, and July.

Nycticorax griseus, Linn. (Night Heron).—Rare. I have very seldom come across any, and only possess a single specimen.

Ardetta sinensis, Gmel. (Little Yellow Bittern).—Very rare. I procured only one specimen at Dalsingh Serai in December, 1900.

A. cinnamomea, Gmel. (Chestnut Bittern).—Fairly common. I found one nest in August, 1900. The nest was simply a pad of rushes, and placed on the ground near a small pond; it contained five fresh eggs.

Dupetor flavicollis, Lath. (Black Bittern).—I shot one pair at Bunhar Factory, Samastipur, in February, 1899, and Mr. Inglis procured another pair near Darbhanga.

Botaurus stellaris, Linn. (Bittern).—I shot one pair of this