140 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891. 



five eggs at Milana, 18 miles from Deesa, and I have also tak< :n eggs 

 at Saugor, in the Central Provinces. 



I think they have two broods in the season — the first in May and 

 June, the other later on in August and September. 



The nest is not unlike that of the Common Water Hen. but is, 

 of course, much smaller, and is placed in similar situations. 



The eggs, from four to eight in number, are broad ovals in shape, 

 slightly compressed at one end ; they measure 1*49 inches in length 

 by about 1*18 in breadth. The ground-colour is white, with a 

 barely susceptible tinge of salmon-pink, which is very evanescent ; 

 the markings consist of streaks and spots of purplish and reddish- 

 brown w T ith underlying blotches of faint purple. The texture of the 

 shell is fine, but they have scarcely any gloss. They are similar in 

 their habits to the Common Water Hen, skulking amongst long 

 grass and bushes, and are with difficulty flushed. They occur on the 

 hills as in the plains. 



Milana, near Dersn, Au>just. II. E. Barnes. 



9,]0. THE PIGMY KAIL, 



Porzftivi bailloni. Vieili. 



Baillon's Crake, or the Pigmy Pail, appears to be not uncommon 

 in most parts of the Presidency, but appears to be verv loyally 

 distributed. Most of the birds are probably cold- weather visitants, 

 as the nest has been taken so seldom. At Milana, near Deesa, they 

 are very common, breeding from July to September. 



The nest is similar to that of the Water Hen, but is very much 

 smaller, and is placed amongst the bulrushes, two or three feet above 

 I lie water; others are placed just above the water, amongst rank grass 

 and reeds. 



The eggs, six to eight in number, arc oval in shape, slightly 

 pointed at one end; the ground-colour is pale olive-stone or greenish- 

 drab with faint dusky clouds and streaks, chiefly aij tin- hn-ger * aid ; 

 they men -ai'' i I inches in length by neatly 0-81 in breadth. 



Milana., Deesa, July to September H E. Bon'. 



