NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA, 135 



breeding also near Baroda, and on all the tanks and jhecls of any 

 size near Ncemuch they breed in great numbers. 



The nest, eoraposed of weeds and aquatic plants, is placed on a 

 floating mass of decaying vegotable matter, amongst thick reeds and 

 rushes ; sometimes the nest is smaller and is placed on a lotus leaf. 

 The eggs, four in number, are peg-top shape, and arc of a glossy- 

 rufous or greenish-bronze colour ; often they are almost black. 

 When hard-set they lose their glossy appearance and become much 

 paler in colour. They measure 1*46 inches in length by about 

 11 in width. 



Dcesa (Milana), July to September. H. E. Barnes. 

 Neemuch, August to September. Do. 



Baroda, September. H. Littkdak. B,A. 



Sind (E. Narra), July to August. S. B. Doig. 



902. THE PURPLE COOT. 



Porphyria poliocephalus, Lath. 



The Purple Coot appears to be uncommon m the Deccan, and 

 only occurs as a straggler in other parts of the southern half of 

 the Presidency. Further north, in Rajpootana, Guzerat, Sind, and 

 the northern half generally, they are very abundant (in suitable 

 localities), breeding freely from June to the beginning of October. 

 Eggs may be found both earlier and later, but the majority lay in 

 the months named. 



They frequent reedy, rushy, and lotus-covered jheels and swamps. 



In the early morning they come out to feed, and may be seen on 

 the borders of the jheels or edges of the tanks, sometimes on the 

 shore, walking about sedately and jerking their tails at every step, 

 just like the water-hens do ; at other times they keep in the shallow 

 water, but as soon as the sun is well up they all retire to their usual 

 haunts in the dense beds of rushes and reeds that fringe the border 

 of the jheels and lakes. Here they keep up such an incessant row 

 that it gives one the idea that they arc quarrelling and fighting. 



The nests, built of rushes and reeds, are floating, but not free ; 

 occasionally on the ground, often they merely trample down the 



