on Dr. Jerdon's 'Birds of India* 173 



have to be adopted for the latter. A. malaccensis is a distinct 

 race (Ibis, 1865, p. 38). 



931. BuTORiDEs JAVANicus is Icss noctumal in its habits 

 than the Ardetta and Botauri. I have many times come upon 

 it watching for fish in the day-time, generally in muddy places 

 nearly of its own colour. It prefers shade, and occurs nume- 

 rously in swampy localities *. 



934. Ardetta sinensis (Gmelin) ; " Ardea melanophis et A. 

 mclanotis, Cuv.,^* Pucheran, Eev. Zool. 1851, p. 375. 



938. Tantalus leucocephalus, Gmel. ; Vieill. Gal. des 

 Ois. pi. 247 ; Gould, B. As. pt. xiv. pi. 



On the eastern side of the Bay of Bengal I observed a flock 

 of nine or ten of this species, associating with a large herd of 

 tame white Buffalos, on the banks of the Tavai River, Tenas- 

 serim ; but it appears to be replaced by T. ladeus, Temm. (PL 

 Col. 352) in the Malayan Peninsula. The late M. Mouhot 

 procured it in Siam. The curious habit it has, in common with 

 its congeners, of putting forth its foot to feel in the mud for 

 anything there moving, must be familiar to those who have had 

 opportunities of observing it tame. 



939. Platalea leucgrgbia. 



The convolution of the trachea is not of constant occurrence 

 in this species. According to my experience, the Spoonbill is 

 less common in Lower Bengal than Ciconia alba. 



940. Anastgmus oscitans (Bodd.) ; A. coromandelianus, 

 Vieill. Gal. des Ois. pi. 251 (white adult). 



The white birds mentioned by Dr. Jerdon are, for certain, 

 adults in breeding-plumage, which reassume, by moulting, the 

 colouring of the young. At the time the latter leave the nest 

 there is no indication of the future opening betweeu the man- 

 dibles ; and the bill long continues to increase in size. More 

 than one young specimen, showing the non-emarginated tomia 



* With reference to my remarks on Gorsachms (Ibis, 1865, p. 38), Mr, 

 Swinhoe's observations on the seasonal changes of the crest-feathers (Ibis, 

 1866, p. 403) seem to indicate that there is only one species, which should 

 stand as G. melanolophus (Raffles), with Ardea c/oisagi, Temm., as a 

 synonym. 



