230 



t 



like a Crow's nest, but lined with a substantial layer of grass. On 

 the 12th September, I found another nest, about 18 miles from 

 Deesa, containing three incubated eggs. The first nest was nearly 

 at the top of a tall banian-tree, and the second on a tree (apparently 

 dead). 



" A nest I found on the 7th August was built on a tree growing 

 in the centre of a tank, and the old bird sat closely for several days 

 before laying. Sometimes four or five nests are built on one tree, 

 and most of the nests I have examined were lined with grass. I 

 believe that the majority of birds in this part of the country lay 

 at the commencement of the hot season, as out of the numbers I 

 saw in August, September, and October this year, I only found a 

 few pairs breeding." 



Mr. J. Davidson remarks : " Here, on the western Sholapoor 

 District, a pair or so of the Black Ibis are to be met with in every 

 village. I have this year already the following nests : 



" November 22nd. On a small tree, three young, about a fortnight 

 old (apparently). 



" November 28th. On a very tall tamarind, two young about the 

 same age as the last. 



" December 1st. Birds building on a small tamarind. 



" December 4th. Nest, three eggs, fresh, on a middle-sized neem- 

 tree among the small branches. 



" December 6th. Two small young ones, on a neem-tree in the 

 village. 



" December 9th. One containing one young about a day old, and 

 another prepared for eggs ; the birds busy making love on the side 

 of the nest ; a third nest with two eggs, the bills of the chicks 

 protruding, very pale blue, no markings, slightly larger than those 

 taken on December 4th." 



Dr. Jerdon says that this species lays from two to four white 

 eggs, but this is certainly a mistake. 



Messrs. Davidson and Wenden, writing of the Deccan, say : 

 " Common, breeding in May and again during the last three months 

 of the year. We do not think the same pairs breed twice." 



The eggs are normally moderately long ovals, more or less pointed 

 or compressed to wards one end. They are very Heron-like in their 

 appearance, of a beautiful sea-green, as bright as those of Ardeola 

 yrayi. As a rule, like the Herons' eggs, they are unspotted, but 

 occasionally, as is the case with those of Ibis melanocephala, speckled 

 varieties, thinly spotted and streaked with brown or yellowish brown, 

 occur. I have even obtained one or two with numerous dingy brown 

 specks, spots, and streaks. In texture the eggs are considerably 

 coarser than those of the true Herons, even more so than those of 

 the preceding species. 



In length the eggs vary from 2'24 to 2*77, and in breadth from 

 1*6 to I f 86 ; but the average of twenty-eight eggs is 2-43 by 1-7. 



