358 Lieut. R. E. Vaughan and Staff-Surg. K. H. Jones 



so as to afford it excellent concealment; it contained one 

 fresh egg (see PI. V. fig. 19). 



The river paddy, it should be added, is a larger and 

 stronger variety than the common sort, with thicker stems, 

 which give very good support to nests placed in it. 



Amaurorxis akool. 



This species appears to be more common in the winter 

 than at other times, but it is quite possible that this is only 

 apparent, because at that time of year the undergrowth is 

 not so thick as in the summer. 



It breeds occasionally, and a nest with two eggs was 

 found on an island amongst paddy-fields at Howlik, and one 

 with four was discovered on the North River. 



Amaurorxis phcexicura. 



This Waterhen is a common resident, and during the 

 summer a very noisy one, for it commences its loud and 

 unmistakable call at sunset and continues it all through the 

 night until sunrise. It is often found on the lotus ponds, 

 where it runs on the surface of the leaves with amazing 

 rapidity and appears, at a little distance, to be running on 

 the top of the water. 



This bird breeds from May until August, and it rears two 

 broods, and perhaps sometimes three, in a season. The nest 

 is usvially placed in a small tree or bush in thick overgrown 

 scrub, and has been found as high as eight feet from the 

 ground. It is often quite well made of leaves, rushes, and 

 twigs, and on one occasion that oi Ardetta sinensis appeared 

 to have been appropriated. 



The eggs are usually six in number, but once seven were 

 found ; the young in down are quite black. The eggs 

 average l'56xl"13, and vary in length from 1'67 to 1'43, 

 and in breadth from 1-25 to r08. 



Gallinula chloropus. 



The AYaterhen is a resident species, the numbers of which 

 are probably increased by migrants during the winter 



