CEYLON WATER BIRDS. 311 
Habits.—This species, commonly but erroneously called the 
Pelican Ibis, is a Stork, with the usual habits of the rest of the 
family. It is sometimes met with in large flocks, but is 
usually found alone or in small parties about secluded tanks 
and brackish lagoons. The birds breed in small colonies 
during the early months of the year. The nest is the usual 
platform of sticks placed in a tree. The eggs are generally 
three or four in number, but sometimes more, dull white in 
colour, and measuring about 2°77 by 1°88. 
ANASTOMUS OSCITANS (Blanford, Vol. IV., p. 377; 
Legge, p. 1103). 
The Openbill, or Shell Ibis. 
Description.—In breeding plumage mainly white; the 
longer scapulars, the greater wing coverts, the wing quills, and 
tail being glossy green-black. After the breeding season the 
white is replaced by smoky gray, which changes without a 
moult into white again as the breeding season approaches. 
Young birds resemble adults in the off season, but are 
browner on the back, the face and throat are more completely 
feathered, while the edges of the mandibles meet throughout 
instead of gaping in the middle. 
Bill greenish or grayish, tinged underneath with red ; 
naked skin of face and throat almost black ; iris gray or light 
brown ; legs flesh-coloured. 
Length 32; wing 16-5; tail 7; tarsus about 6; bill from gape 6. 
Distribution.—Oceurs in flocks round tanks and lagoons in 
the dry low-country. It is found all over the plains of India 
by large rivers and marshes, but in Burma its range is very 
restricted. Further eastwards it reappears in Cochin-China. 
Habits.—This is our smallest and commonest Stork, though, 
like the last species, it is popularly mistermed an Ibis. It 
lives chiefly on freshwater molluscs, crushing the shells with 
its powerful beak. The constant attrition of the shells is 
said to cause the gap between the mandibles. It breeds in 
colonies during the rains of the north-east monsoon. The 
nest is of the usual type. The eggs vary from two to five, 
are white in colour, and measure about 2:25 by 1°6. 
5 6(7)17 
