138 NEST AND EGGS OF THE JABIRU ; 
ing, even though from the point of view of their organiza- 
tion the birds were identical, and what habit more 
susceptible of comparison than that concerning incubation. 
We must also bear in mind the difficulty of access to any 
published description relating to the nidification and eggs 
of the Indian Jabiru. Not to overlook Latham’s meagre 
notice,* the only detailed description existing is that given 
by Hume in his “ Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds.”’t—a 
work scarcely to be met with in any library in Australia. 
[The nest of the Jabiru bears great resemblance to the nest 
of the eagle (Aguzlla audax) in both size and appearance, 
but it is always so situated that there is nothing above it. 
The bird selects a lofty tree, generally one with the top 
broken off, close to the margin of a swamp or lagoon, and 
on the highest point of it builds a pile of sticks about three 
feet in depth and four in diameter; a thin layer of grass or 
rushes is placed upon the sticks, and upon this surface, 
which is almost perfectly flat, the eggs (two in number) are 
laid. I am of opinion that the Jabiru, like the Native 
Companion, does not lay more than two eggs,{t and like 
most of the waders breeds during the rainy season. 
I am unable to say what the period of incubation is, but 
both sexes share in the process. 
The eggs were obtained in the neighbourhood of Ingham, 
on the Herbert ‘River, in the month of March last year. 
The nest from which they were taken was built of sticks in 
the very top of a tall tree growing near a marsh—W.T.W. ] 
The following is Hume’s description of the eggs of the 
Indian bird :— 
§ ‘In shape they are typically broad ovals, compressed towards 
one end, so as to have a slightly pyriform tendency ; elongated 
ovals and almost spherical varieties arenot uncommon. The eggs 
are dull and almost glossless, but though the texture is somewhat 
* “General History of Birds,’ Vol. IX., p. 17. Winchester, 1824. 
+ Op. cit., Vol. IIl., p, 607. Calcutta, 1875. 
¢ Concerning the number of eggs which the clutch of the Indian bird 
contains, Mr. Allan Hume remarks—“ Four is certainly the regular com- 
plement of eggs, and one of the four is often bad, so that they much more 
often rear three than four young ones.” (Op. cit. p.607)—H.T. 
§ ‘Nest and Eggs of Indian Birds.’-—Rough draft. Part —, p. 60. 
Calcutta, 1873. : 
