Nesting of Birds in Fohkien. G5 



used also to breed near Foochow in company with the 

 commoner birds. 



Rickett had three eggs taken from the oviducts of birds 

 shot for their plumes. They resembled those of H. garzetta, 

 and measured 170 x 1-30, 1*74 x 1"36, and 1'83 x 131 in. 



Two of these eggs appear in Cat. Eggs Brit. Mus. vol. ii. 

 p. 123, under the heading of Demiegretta sacra (Gm.), an 

 identification with which Rickett does not agree (see 'Ibis/ 

 I. s. c). 



Herodias intermedia Wagler. 



A much rarer species than either of the foregoing. 

 Rickett had skins procured in April and July, and La 

 Touche (' Ibis/ 1892, p. 488) describes a bird shot at Foochow 

 on May 7th ; so that this species might possibly have bred 

 there in bygone days. 



BUBULCUS COROMANDUS (Bodd.). 



A common summer-visitor. 



La Touche has an egg taken from the oviduct of a female 

 shot on May 5th. It is biconical in shape, and measures 

 1*93 x 1*35 in. Two other eggs in his collection are fusiform 

 and oval respectively with rounded ends. They measure 

 2-07 X 1-29 and 1-80 x T38 in. 



All these eggs are very pale bluish green, almost white. 



ARDEOLA BACCHUS Bp. 



A very common resident. It nests in colonies on trees, 

 sometimes in company with Herodias garzetta. 



On May 31st La Touche took four clutches of three and 

 five eggs respectively, some being fresh and some incubated ; 

 several nests contained young birds. The eggs resemble 

 those of H. garzetta. 



Seventeen specimens average 1*56 X 1*17 in. : the largest 

 1'65 x 118, the smallest 1*47 x 1-15. 



The nests also resemble those of H. garzetta ; a few of 

 them had leaves on the outside. 



Nycticorax griseus (Linn.). 



Very common in summer. A few may be seen about in 

 the winter months. The birds nest in colonies on large trees, 



SER. VIII. VOL. V. F 



