82 Proceedinrjs. 



of dry grass, and shaped like an extinguisher; it is ten inches 

 in length ; at the bottom it measures six inches by four 

 inches. There are two openings at the bottom, each about 

 two inches across, with a bridge of grass between them, 

 which may form a perch for the bird, but could not hold the 

 eggs, as it is only an inch wide. These nests I take to be 

 places of shelter, not places to breed in. 



When we approached the tank, probably a hundred birds, 

 of one kind or another, were in sight. Nearest to us, on the 

 rough ground, were several Common Eing-Doves [Turtur 

 risuria), of a grey colour, with a black ring on their necks. 

 A rather smaller Dove is spotted with black on the shoulders, 

 and tinged with vinous colour on the breast. There were 

 also a number of Eufous-tailed Finch-Larks with grey backs, 

 and ruddy breasts and tail-coverts. These Larks are inclined 

 to be bullies, and chase the Doves and Bee-eaters about. 

 Along with them was a smaller bird, the Black-bellied Finch- 

 Lark ; it is pale brown, with a white forehead and white 

 cheeks, and black lines above and below the cheeks, and 

 black on the throat and breast. The most striking birds in 

 sight were three large Sarus Cranes, which were feeding at 

 the water's edge. They had lavender-grey backs, white 

 necks, black breasts, and bright I'ed on the back and sides of 

 the head, the foreheads being grey ; the note may be rendered 

 by the word "grus." Two flocks of large Ducks were 

 resting on the mud-banks. Between them they numbered 

 about fifty birds. Later, I counted sixty-two on the wing at 

 one time. These are the Nukhta or Comb Duck, also known 

 as the Black-backed Goose. Along with the Ducks was a 

 Heron, our English bird. Two Ibises were nearer at hand, 

 wading in the water and thrusting their long, black, curved 

 beaks into the mud. They were white, except for dark grey 

 on their heads. To the left were eighteen Egrets in snowy 

 white plumage. An hour later they had gone to roost in a 

 Tamarind overhanging the water. One of these Cattle 

 Egrets perched on the back of a Bullock. Two Small Pond- 

 Herons were standing in the shallow water. Their backs 

 were brownish grey, and their sides and breasts were streaked 



