JOURNAL 



op titi-: 



BOMBAY 



fet0im ^(u% 



No. 2.] BOMBAY, 1891. [Vol. vi. 



NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 



By Lieut. H E. Barnes, F.Z.S. 



(With a plate.) 

 {Continued from page 25, Vol. VI.) 



863.— THE SARUS. 

 Grus antigone, Lin. 



ilougkly speaking, the Sams Crane does not occur in the southern 

 half of Western India ; is very rare immediately north of Bombay ; 

 becomes less uncommon in Khandeish ; is very common in Guzerat, 

 Cutch, and Rajpootana ; again becomes uncommon in Lower Sind, 

 and does not occur at all in Upper Sind. 



They are permanent residents where found, breeding towards the 

 middle of the rains, making a huge nest of rushes and reeds, in some 

 spot either surrounded by water, or in the centre of a marsh. Some- 

 times the nest is commenced in the water itself, in which case the egg 

 cavity is about eight or ten inches above the water. The eggs, almost 

 always two in number, are elongated ovals in shape, a good deal 

 pointed at one end, measuring from 3*8 to 4"48 inches in length, and 

 from 2'35 to 2 - 75 in breadth, but the average of a good many was 

 3-06 by 2-56. 

 17 



