364 Zoological Socieiij. 



Genus Turtur. 



TuRTUR Cambayensis. 



Of this Dove, Dr. Jerdon says in his notes, — " This Httle dove 

 abounds over most of India, both in low jungles and near vil- 

 lages and cantonments, being found, especially towards the north, 

 in every garden, and frequenting stable-yards, houses, &c." It is, I 

 believe, the same as the small Dove to which — not knowing that it 

 had been pre^■iously named — I gave the name of the Vinous-necked 

 Turtle, on account of the colour of its neck. If this be the case, it 

 breeds during the month of March, building its nest in low bushes, 

 and laying two white eggs, rather more than Y%ths of an inch in 

 length, by nearly j^ths of an inch in breadth. 



TuRTUR RISORIA. 



This Dove is considerably larger than the last, and is easily dis- 

 tinguished by the white crescent on its neck, like the Wood Pigeon 

 of this country. It abounds in every place ; amongst the prickly- 

 pear hedges and thickets near villages, in groves of babool trees, and 

 bushes. Its half plaintive, half laughing note, is heard as soon as 

 it becomes light, and if the trees over your tent happen to be its 

 resort, it is anything but conducive to sleep. This Turtle breeds 

 during the cold season, building in low babool trees ; its nest is com- 

 posed of a few twigs and pieces of grass. It lays two white eggs, 

 l^ths in. in length, by rather more than ^ths in width. 



Order Grallatores. 



Family Ardead^. 



Genus Grus. 



Subgenus Anthropoides (Vieillot). 



Grus Virgo. Demoiselle Crane. 



This Crane Aisits the Deccan during the cold weather, but some- 

 times remains as late as May. I saw a large flock of them on the 

 river Seena, near Waterphul, as late as 24 th INIay, and was told that 

 one had been brought into the cantonments of Ahmednuggur as late 

 as 12th June, but I never heard of any remaining to breed. It 

 would be most interesting to find out their breeding haunts, their 

 manner of nesting, and the number and colour of their eggs. The 

 greater portion leave the Deccan at the end of March or beginning 

 of April, and return at the end of November. They feed in the 

 grain fields, retiring to the larger rivers about ten o'clock, where they 

 may be seen standing in large flocks in the shallows. 



Genus Ardea. 

 Subgenus Ardea. 

 Ardea cinerea (Lath.). Common Heron. 

 A tolerably common bird in the Deccan, frequenting tanks and 

 rivers. I found two nests in a tall pcepul tree on the 27th February ; 



