14 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVI. 



river in September. They had taken possession of an island in midstream, 

 where they had built their untidy nests on small trees about 20 feet 

 high, and there were fresh and hard-set eggs in them in all stages of 

 incubation, while half-fledged birds scrambled about the branches or 

 flopped into the water at our approach. The nests were about one foot 

 in diameter and roughly built of twigs. The eggs are white and covered 

 with a chalky coat and measure 2 inches by 1£. Some of the eggs 

 are rather larger at one end than the other, while others are truly 

 fusiform with pointed ends. — T. F. B." 



Order TUBINARES. 

 Family Procellariid^e. 

 (309) Puffinus persicus. — The Persian Shearwater. 

 Blanford, No. 1539. 

 A single specimen was taken at Valey, four miles from Trevandrum, 

 and was brought to me alive. 



Order HERODIONES. 

 Sub-order Platale^e. 

 Family Ibidce. 

 (310) Ibis melanocephala. — The White Ibis. 

 Blanford, No. 1541 ; Jerdon, No. 941. 

 I am doubtful whether this bird is a resident here. I have only seen 

 it in the cold weather at Sastancotta. They feed by day in the paddy 

 fields, and are difficult to approach ; but they generally roost in trees on 

 the banks of the lake, and specimens can be obtained by waiting for 

 them in the evening. 



Sub-order Ciconi^e. 

 Family Ciconiidce. 

 (211) Dissura episcopus. — The White-necked Stork. 

 Blanford, No. 1548 ; Jerdon, No. 920. 

 The Museum only contains one skin of this bird, obtained on the 

 banks of the river at Palode. Another specimen was brought in alive 

 taken on the banks of one of the tanks about Nagercoil. 



(312) Leptoptilus javanicus. — The Smaller Adjutant. 



Blanford, No. 1551 ; Jerdon, No. 916. 



This bird is by no means common, but may be found about the tanks 



in South Travancore. Live specimens have been brought in to the 



gardens from time to time. One of these lived for several years in 



