88 FIRST LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE SOUTH KONKAN. 



swamp on the Vashishti, and this year have shot one in some 

 swampy land near Malvan. Rails are always troublesome birds 

 to find. The large area of mangrove swamps throughout the 

 Coast section should attract and keep a number and variety 

 of Kails, but somehow, if they occur, they manage to keep in 

 wonderfully close hiding. 



920.— Dissura episcopa, Bodd. 



| Mahapral. | 



Scarce near the Coast, more common inland beyond the limit 

 of the tidal waves, but everywhere uncertain in its occurrence. 

 It is one of many species which the large rivers of the Deccan 

 seem to attract in much greater numbers than do the streams 

 of the sub-ghat littoral. 



923. — Ardea cinerea, Lin. 



I Mahapral. | 



Common on all the large tidal rivers. 



924.— Ardea purpurea, Lin. 



| Chiplun. | 



Common on the Vashishti and Savitri rivers, but less often 

 seen than cinerea, as it keeps more closely to the cover of man- 

 grove swamps, and seldom feeds on the open mud banks. 



925.— Herodias torra, B.-Ham. 



Peve. | Mahapral. 



12th April 1878, Male.— Length, 34; wing, 14£ ; bill from 

 gape, 4^ ; tarsus, 5| ; mid toe, 3f. 



2bth April 1879, Male.— Length 37| ; to end of dorsal train, 

 43 ; wing, 14| ; tarsus, 6 ; bill from gape, 4| ; mid toe and 

 claw, 4. 



Legs, feet, and claws black "; bill yellow, mixed with dusky ; 

 orbital skin greenish yellow. 



Common throughout the cold weather on all the creeks, stay- 

 ing till late in May, by which time the dorsal train is in its full 

 development. 



927.— Herodias garzetta, Lin. 



Peve. 1 I 



30th March 1879, Female.— Wing, 10| ; tail, 3| ; tarsus, 31 ; 

 bill at front, 3£ ; expanse, 38^. Legs black ; feet mixed yellow 

 and black. 



Very common everywhere, and not restricted as torra to the 

 large tidal rivers, but straying far inland to fresh- water streams 



