398 Capt. Beavan on various Indian Birds. 



where, but is so commonly mixed up with other kinds of 

 Egret that I regret that I have hitherto considered this group 

 to be too commonly distributed to make any observations on 

 them, an error whicli I hope to rectify by further research. 

 " ! it is only a ' Paddy-bird,' " is an exclamation too fre- 

 quently used in India ; and I hope hereafter to be able to pay 

 more attention than I have hitherto done to this much-neglected 

 group. 



930. Ardeola leucoptkra*. Pond-Heron. 



This is par excellence the " Paddy-bird " of Europeans in 

 India, and to it more especially the above remarks apply; for 

 it is the very commonest of common birds in India : not a pond 

 can be seen which does not contain one or two ; but I never yet 

 came across its nest, although doubtless where they do occur 

 they are common enough. 



936. BoTAURUs STELLARis. Bittern. 



I have procured this well-known bird, when out with Dr. 

 Jerdon, in the neighbourhood of Caragola Ghaut, on the Ganges, 

 and also near Julpigoorie ; but it is nowhere very common. I 

 cannot say that I ever tried this species on the table, although 

 he says it is excellent eating ; but brother officers have told me 

 it was just the contrary. As our ancestors liked it, I fancy 

 that the time of year when killed, or perhaps the tropical 

 climate of Bengal, may perhaps account for its being considered 

 disagreeable by some. 



937. Nycticorax griseus. Night-Heron. 



This bird is very common in the Maunbhoom district, and 

 about Julpigoorie in the district of Rungpore. The young of the 

 year differs very much from the old bird, and is not sufficiently 

 well discriminated by Dr. Jerdon. Its cry is loud and peculiar. 



938. Tantalus leucocephalus. Pelican-Ibis. 



Found in inmiense numbers about Moulmein, in Burmah, 

 as described more fully below. 



940. Anastomus oscitans. Shell-Ibis. 



I only met with this species on one occasion, of which I have 



* [Potius A.ffrayi. Cf. Ibis, 1867, pp. 172,173.— Ed.] 



