of certain Indian Birds. 221 



Although the Nuktas nest by preference in trees, I have 

 known their doing so in holes of old ruined forts ; as a general 

 rule they select localities in close proximity to water. 



I have no actual proof of their appropriating old nests, as 

 is frequently done by the Whistling Teal; but it is worth 

 mentioning that a nest of Haliaetus leucoryphus, which I had 

 examined last winter for the eggs of Ascalaphia bengalensis, 

 and which was at the time tenanted by this Owl, actually con- 

 tained seven or eight rotten eggs which are, in my opinion, 

 referable to this Duck. 



The number of eggs seems to vary considerably; fifteen 

 and twenty have been brought to me from one nest, the ad- 

 vanced state of incubation clearly indicating that in all cases 

 the full complement had been laid. I was present, however, 

 at the capture of a female Nukta on her nest, which yielded 

 the extraordinary number o^ forty eggs ! Of course it is just 

 possible, though highly improbable, that this may have been 

 the joint produce of two birds; but the emaciated condition 

 of the one captured, coupled with the fact that one egg was 

 an abnormally small one, and evidently her last effort, do 

 not favour such a supposition. 



The tree selected was an ancient banyan [Ficus indica) 

 which overlooked a large sheet of water, several miles in cir- 

 cumference ; the nest-hole was at an elevation of some 20 

 feet, 3 feet deep, and 2 in circumference. 



The eggs (incubation was barely commenced) were laid 

 several tiers deep, and those at the bottom were a little soiled 

 from resting on the damp wood. It is highly probable that 

 a large proportion of these eggs are never hatched, and that 

 they all become discoloured as the process of incubation 

 progresses. 



The thirty-nine full-sized eggs average 2y x If inches ; 

 they are long obtusely pointed ovals ; and in feel, polish, and 

 texture they resemble a white billiard ball. 



The boss or fleshy protuberance of the drake gets greatly 

 enlarged during the breeding-season, frequently measuring 

 2*2 X 2*4 inches at the base. 



SER. III. VOL. IV. R 



