THE BIRDS OF TRAVANCORE. 15 



captivity. It was very pugnacious, and with one blow of its beak split 

 open the head of another bird newly introduced into its run as a com- 

 panion. On one occasion a jackal found its way into the run, and in 

 the morning was found dead with its skull pierced by the beak of the bird. 

 (313) Anastomus oscitans. — The Open-bill. 

 Blanford, No. 1553 ; Jerdon, No. 940. 

 This stork is very common, and large flocks may be met with on the 

 marshy borders of all the larger tanks and fresh water lakes. I have 

 seen numbers of them perching at sunset on the same trees with flocks 

 of Plotus melanogaster. I have not taken the eggs, but I conclude 

 that the breeding season must be in June, as all those I saw in January 

 were in the grey plumage. Natives say that they will feed on dead 

 bodies, but I have not seen this myself. 



Sub-order Ardb^e. 



Family Ardeidce. 



(314) Ardea manillensis. — The Eastern Purple Heron. 



Blanford, No. 1554 ; Jerdon, No. 924. 



Mr. F. W. Bourdillon records this heron as "abundant at the Vel- 



larney Lake, " seven miles from Trevandrum. This used to be a 



favourite resort for all kinds of water birds, but since the reeds, with 



which it was more or less covered have been removed, only a few 



whistling teal and some snake birds persist. No herons are to be seen 



there now. I have seen and shot the Purple Heron at Sastamcotta. 



It is a solitary bird and very shy, never to be seen in the open except on 



the wing, but always in sheltered bays where there are reeds or thickets 



of pandamus. It breeds in July and August. 



(315) Ardea cinerea. — The Common Heron. 

 Blanford, No. 1555 ; Jerdon, No. 923. 



The common heron frequents the backwaters along the coast 

 throughout Travancore, but is not found in the interior. One has lived 

 in captivity in the public gardens over seventeen years. 



(316) Herodias alba. — The Large Egret. 

 Blanford, No. 1559 ; Jerdon, No. 925. 



The large egret is by no means common in Travancore, and it is only 

 lately that the Museum has secured a specimen. It is a wary bird and 

 impossible to approach when feeding in the paddy fields at most 

 times solitary. At Sastamcotta they roost in company on the trees 



