NESTING IN WESTERN INDIA. 305 



they measure 2 - 4 inches in length by 1'55. They are covered with 

 a friable chalky deposit, which is easily removed, and frequently falls 

 off partially in the nest, giving the egg a mottled appearance ; the 

 colour of the shell beneath being of a pale bluish-green, approximating 

 to those of the Heron family. 



I do not think that any of them breed on rocks within our limits, 

 but in other parts of India they do so. 



Mr. P. W. Mackinnon, of Masuri, informs me that he has often 

 seen them breeding on the cliffs overhanging the river Ganges, a good 

 way up near the snow. 



Eastern Narra, Sind, November. S. Doig. 



1006.— THE LESSER CORMORANT. 



Phalacrocorax fuscicollis, Step. 



There still seems to be a great deal of doubt as to whether the 

 Lesser Cormorant occurs permanently in Western India anywhere 

 outside of Sind. I have shot birds at Neemuch, Deesa and Aboo, at a 

 time when they ought to be breeding, which, I at the time, identi- 

 fied as Phalacrocorax ftiscicollis, but I may have been mistaken. 



There is no doubt about its being a permanent resident in Sind, 

 as Mr. Doig found them breeding abundantly in the Eastern Narra, 

 in company with the Snake Bird (Plotus melanogaster), and the Small 

 Cormorant [Phalacrocorax pygmceus). 



The nests are similar to those of the Large Cormorant, but are 

 rather smaller ; the eggs 4 or 5 in number are exact counterparts, in 

 regard to shape and colour, of those of its larger relative ; they are 

 much larger than one would expect from the size of the bird, and are 

 barely distinguishable from those of the Indian Snake Bird which is 

 a larger and heavier bird. 



They measure from 1*98 to 2 - 25 inches in length, and from 1*28 

 to 1*6 in breadth. 



Eastern Narra, Sind, July to December. S. Doig. 



1007.— THE LITTLE CORMORANT. 



Phalacrocorax pygmceas, Pall. 

 The Little Cormorant is, I believe, a permanent resident in most 

 parts of the Presidency ; Mr. Vidal was of opinion that they leave the 



