146 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891. 



930. THE POND HERON. 



Ardeola grayi, Sykes. 



The Pond Heron is a common permanent resident in all parts of 

 the country, breeding from May to August ; making a platform- 

 nest of sticks and twigs on trees, sometimes isolated, at other times 

 in small colonies, and often in company with other species of herons. 



The eggs, four or five in number, are deep sea-green or bluish - 

 green in colour ; they are oval in shape, compressed a little at one 

 end, and measure P48 inches in length by about 117 in breadth. 



I found a small colony at Neemuch, in a large banian tree 

 growing over a small but deep masonn^ well in the middle of a 

 village and quite a mile from any other water. 



Deesa, May to August. H. E. Barnes. 



Neemuch, June to August. Do. 



>Sind, Hyderabad, July. Do. 



tiind, Eastern Narra. Jane and July. S. B. Doig. 



Baroda, May to July. H. Llttlcdale, B.A. 



931. THE LITTLE GREEN BITTERN. 



Batorides javaniea, Hors. 



The Little Green Bittern or Heron is a not uncommon permanent 

 resident throughout the district. 



They frequent secluded well-wooded nullas, banks of rivers and 

 mangrove swamps; they remain hidden all day in some densely-' 

 foliaged tree or other thick cover, coming out at sunset to feed ; 

 owing to this habit they appear to be much less common than they 

 really are. 



They breed from June to August, making a small stick nest whi< h 

 is always well hidden. Those I have found have always been placed 

 on trees or bushes overhanging water, but I believe they do 

 occasionally place them amongst tall reeds and rushes. 



The eggs, three or four in number, are pale sea-green or green ish- 

 blue in colour, oval in shape, compressed as a rule at one end, and 

 measuring 1'62 inches in length by P35 in breadth. 



Tliey arc, I believe, always solitary. 



Dt'esn. JI. E Barnes. 



Neemuch. Do. 



Sind, Hyderabad. S. B. Doig. 



