66 On the Nesting of Birds in Fohkien. 



but the natives will not allow them to be disturbed, so we 

 have not obtained the eggs. 



Ardetta sinensis (Gm.). 



A common summer-visitor. 



The only nest of which we have a note was taken by 

 Rickett's collector. It was placed in a bamboo some twelve 

 or fifteen feet from the ground. The materials used were 

 twigs, straw, and bamboo-leaves in great quantity, on the top 

 of which was a slight hollow for the eggs. The man, seeing 

 a large deep-looking nest, bent the bamboo downward, 

 with the result that the five or six eggs rolled out, and all 

 but one were smashed. The specimen saved measured 

 1*24 X '92 in. The nest was 10 inches wide by 6 inches 

 deep outside. 



DlTPETOR FLAVICOLLIS (Lath.). 



A common summer- visitor, arriving about the end of April 

 or beginning of May, and leaving in September. 



The nest is built at various heights in trees, bushes, or 

 bamboos. One from which Rickett took four eggs was built 

 high up in a large tree standing in the middle of a public 

 road, surrounded by houses and far from any water. 

 Another was in a clump of bamboos near a house in a 

 neighbour's garden. A pair of birds built in this clump every 

 year. As the bamboos kept the breeze off the house it was 

 decided to cut them down, and on July 14th the five downy 

 nestlings were transferred to a wine-case filled with straw and 

 placed in a neighbouring tree. The old birds reared the 

 brood in their new quarters, feeding them morning and 

 evening with small fishes. 



The eggs of this species are very pale bluish green, almost 

 white. 



Forty specimens average 1'67 x 1*24 in. 



Nettapus coromandelianus (Gm.). 



On July 22nd Rickett's collector shot a pair of these birds 

 near Foochow, and took from the oviduct of the female a 

 perfect egg, which measured 1"69 x 1*28 in. 



A specimen was obtained in Central Fohkien in May. 



