DISSTJEA. 269 



" Four was the largest number of eggs found in any one nest, 

 and, as in more than one instance when this number was found, 

 the eggs were more or less incubated, this would seem to be the 

 normal complement." 



Writing from Sholapoor District, Mr. J. Davidson remarks : 

 " I found a nest of the White-necked Stork on the 18th of De- 

 cember ; the nest was on the very highest branch of a banyan tree 

 in a grove. It was a broad platform made of small light-coloured 

 sticks. I saw the birds carrying the sticks the day before, so did 

 not expect eggs ; but noticing one bird sitting upon the nest, I 

 sent a man up, and we found one egg." 



And writing from the Deccan, Messrs. Davidson and Wenden 

 say : " Common ; generally seen in pairs. D. got nests in Shola- 

 poor District in December and January, and observed birds 

 breeding at Satara in February .'' 



Colonel Butler remarks : " I found a White-necked Stork's 

 nest about 30 miles from Deesa on the 14th October, 1876, con- 

 taining three slightly incubated eggs. The nest was built near 

 the top of a large tamarind-tree, and looked from below very like 

 a Crow's nest, but larger. The interior was thickly lined with 

 dry grass. The eggs when washed are white, of a chalky nature, 

 and more or less discoloured from incubation. Before being 

 washed they were all covered with dirt from the feet of the parent 

 birds. In leaving the nest one of the old birds (for they were 

 both present) broke one of the eggs, I fancy with its foot. There 

 were two Vultures' nests (Pseudogyps benyalensis) in the same 

 tree.*' 



The eggs of this species vary much in shape, but there are three 

 predominant types the one a regular, somewhat flattened ellipse 

 with perfectly similar obtuse ends ; another a broad oval, pointed 

 and pyriforin towards one end ; and the third a long narrow oval, 

 more or less pointed towards both ends. 



The shells are dull and glossless. When perfectly fresh, of a 

 faintly bluish white, but becoming stained and soiled as incubation 

 proceeds, so that an egg nearly ready to hatch is very commonly 

 of a yellowish earthy-brown colour throughout. They are quite 

 devoid of any natural markings. Held up against the light, the 

 shell of freshly-laid eggs is a delicate pale green ; while in those 

 which have been long sat upon it is a dingy yellowish green. The 

 eggs, as might be expected, are usually considerably smaller than 

 those of the White Stork, and average somewhat less than those 

 or the Black Stork. 



In size they vary from 2-3 to 2*66 in length, and from T75 to 

 1-92 in breadth ; but the average of fifty eggs measured was 2-5 

 by 1-83. 



