BOMBAY FERNERIES. 153 



94a. THE GLOSSY IBIS. 

 Falcinellus igneus, S. G. Grnel. 



The Glossy Ibis is not uncommon in Sind, and occurs in some 

 parts of Guzcrat and llajpootana. 



Mr. Vidal found them on the river near Satara, and Mr. Davidson 

 has recorded a single specimen from near Sholapur ; these are the 

 only instances that I can find of its occurrence in the southern half 

 of the Presidency. 



Mr. Doig found them breeding in June and July in the Eastern 

 Narra, and I am indebted to him for a clutch of their very beautiful 

 eggs ; he says : — 



" In May, 1878, I observed these birds in pairs, and sent men after 

 them to find their breeding grounds but in vain, and so being 

 unable to go myself, in consequence of work, I was obliged to give 

 up the search. This year (1879), however, in June I was able to 

 search myself, and found them breeding in great numbers on trees 

 along: the banks of the lar^e lakes inside the sand hills along the 

 banks of the " Narra." The nests were found in the tops of Kimdy 

 trees, and were constructed of sticks, about the size of those of 

 P lotus melanogaster ; on the same trees I found Inocotis papillosus and 

 Ibis melanocephalus breeding, while close by were numbers of nests 

 of Herons, Egrets, and Cormorants. 



" The eggs are of a beautiful green colour, roughly pitted over 

 with slight indentations giving the shell a rough appearance ; they 

 are oval in 6hape, pointed at both ends. 



" The normal number of the eggs is three, and they vary from 1:8 

 to 2*15 in length, and from 1*8 to 1'55 in width, the average of 

 thirty-five eggs being 2'01 in length and 1*4 in width." (Stray 

 Feathers, Vol. VIII., p. 377.; 



BOMBAY FERNERIES. 

 By G. H. Carstensen, Superintendent, Municipal Gardens. 

 {Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 31st March 1891.) 

 A few months ago, I had the honour to read before this Society a 

 paper, entitled " Bombay Gardens." The sirbject then dealt with 

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