150 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



A simple explanation of the cause of some few birds breeding in the spring 

 might be that they are birds whose eggs have come to grief at the usual breeding 

 season, and had in consequence laid again later on ; but this theory is met by the 

 fact, that eggs have been found, both by myself and others, in nests from which 

 eggs had been taken two or three weeks previously, but it is not unlikely that they 

 may be birds whose half-reared young have fallen victims to one of the many ac- 

 cidents to which they are liable. The young of the Sarus remain with their 

 parents much longer than is usually the case with other birds. 



The time at my disposal is very limited, and at most I can only get out for a few 

 hours occasionally, and that three instances of this departure from the natural 

 course should have fallen under my personal observation, seems to point to its being 

 rather a common occurrence, but then, again, seeing that at this season of the year, 

 the marshes and lakes frequented by these birds are almost daily shot over for 

 snipe and duck, it does appear strange that such a prominent nest as that of the 

 Sarus usually is, should escape notice, or it may be that the fact is so common that 

 it fails to excite remark, although it appears to be unrecorded except in the note 

 previously quoted. 



COLLECTION OF BIBDS' EGGS. 

 Presented to the Society by Mr. W. M. Gibbs. 



No. of 

 Speci- 

 mens. 



English Name. 



Scientific Name. 



Jerdon's 

 No. 



1 

 1 

 2 

 2 



18 

 7 

 G 

 3 

 1 

 5 

 1 

 1 

 3 

 4 

 3 

 2 

 1 

 4 

 5 

 9 

 3 

 2 

 1 

 1 



23 

 2 

 3 

 7 

 1 



Indian King Vulture 



White-backed Vulture ..... 



Tawny Eagle 



Ring-tailed Sea Eagle , 



Pariah Kite 



Rock-horned Owl 



Spotted Owlet 



Common Indian Bee-eater. 

 Common Indian Kingfisher 



Rose-ringed Paroquet 



Rose-headed Paroquet .... 



Indian Koel 



Purple Honey-sucker 



Bay-backed Shrike 



Common Drongo Shrike .... 

 Rusty-breasted Ply-catcher 



Bengal Babbler 



Large Grey Babbler 



Striated Bush Babbler .... 

 Common Madras Bulbul.... 



Indian Oriole 



Magpie Robin 



Franklin's Wren Warbler , 

 M alabar Wren Warbler 

 Common Wren Warbler 

 The Jungle Wren Warbler 



Pied Wagtail 



Indian Corby 



Common Indian Crow ,,,,, 



Otogyps calvus 



Pseudogyps Bengalensis 



Aquila Vindhiana 



Haliaetus leuooryphus .. 



Milvus govinda 



Bubo Bengalensis 



Cariiie brama 



Merops viridis 



Alcedo Bengalensis 



Palaeornis torquatus 



Palaeornis purpureas 



Eudynamis honorata 



Cinnyris Asiatiaca 



Lanius vittatus 



Buchanga atra 



Siphia Erythaea 



Malacocercus terricolor... 

 Malacocercus Malcolmi .. 



Chatarrhaea caudata , 



Pycnonotus hsemorrhous 



Oriolus Kundoo 



Copsychus Sanlaris 



Pr inia gracilis 



Prima Hodgsoni 



Drymoipus inornata 



Drymoipus sylvaticus 



Motacilla Madraspatensis 

 Corvns maerorhynchus ... 

 Corvns splendens ,.<hm< 



2 

 5 



29 

 42 

 56 

 69 

 76 

 117 

 134 

 148 

 149 

 214 

 234 

 260 

 278 

 322 

 432 

 436 

 438 

 462 

 470 

 475 

 536 

 538 

 543 

 545 

 589 

 660 

 663 



