NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 149 



936. THE LITTLE BITTERN. 



Ardetta minuta, Lin. 



With the exception of Bind, the Little Bittern docs not occur any- 

 where in Western India. Mr. Doig, who found it breeding iu the 

 Eastern Narra, says: — 



" I took my first nest of this bird on the 26th. May; it contained 

 four fresh eggs. They are elongated ovals, pointed at both, ends and 

 pure white. The eggs vary from L3 to 1*4 in length and from 

 095 to LOS in width ; the average of seven eggs being 1*34 in 

 length and 100 in width." [Stray Feathers, Vol. VIII., p. 379.) 



937. THE NIGHT HERON. 

 Nyctieora.it griseus, Lin. 



The Night Heron is a common permanent resident in all suitable 

 localities in Western India. It is particularly common on the 

 islands in the Vehar Lake, where it breeds, as also in the island of 

 Elephanta in Bombay Harbour. 



They breed from June to August in colonies, on large trees, often 

 in company with other species. 



The eggs, four or five in number, are greenish-blue in colour 

 quite as deep as those of the Blue Heron. They vary a good deal 

 in shape and size, but typically they are ovals, measuring 1*92 

 inches in length by rather less than 1'35 in breadth, 



Bombay; Vehar, August. H. E. Barnes. 



Kind, Hyderabad, July and August. Do. 



Sina\ Eastern Narra, June and July. S. B. Doig. 



938. THE PELICAN IBIS. 



Tantalus lencocephalus, Forst, 



The Pelican Ibis is generally distributed throughout the Presidency, 

 with the exception of Ratnagiri and Kanara, where I believe it does 

 not occur, 



They are permanent residents, breeding at very different times in 

 different places. In the Deccan, Lieutenant Burgess records them 

 $s breeding in February ; Mr. Littledale found them breeding near 



