434 A TENTATIVE CATALOGUE OF THE BIRDS OF 



928.— Demi-egretta gularis, Bosc. The White- 

 throated Reef Heron. 



Occurs sparingly amongst the creeks along the Coast, and 

 according to Mr. Fairbank it is plentiful in the Deecan, though 

 Messrs. Wenden and Davidson have not included it in their 

 Deecan list. Mr. Laird also found it not uncommon along the 

 banks of rivers inland in the neighbourhood of Belgaum, and 

 Jerdon and Colonel Sykes also found it far inland on the banks 

 of rivers in the Deecan. It is, however, I believe, more of a 

 coast than inland species. 



929.— Bubulcus coromandus, Eodd. The Cattle 

 Egret. 



Common as a rule. Occurs throughout the region in the cold 

 weather, and breeds in some districts in the Sholapur collec- 

 torate in the hot weather. 



930. — Ardeola grayi, Sykes. The Indian Pond Heron. 

 Permanent resident in most districts. Common throughout 

 the region. 



931. — Butorides javanica, Eorsf. The Little Green 

 Bittern. 



Permanent resident. Common in Ratnagiri, especially in 

 the mangrove swamps, where it breeds, and not uncommon 

 throughout the regiou in suitable localities, frequenting well 

 wooded rivers, canals, &c. Always more or less crepuscular in 

 its habits. 



933.— Ardetta cinnamomea, Gm. The Chestnut 

 Bittern. 



Seasonal visitant probably. Common all about Belgaum in 

 the rains and breeds. In Ratnagiri it is scarce. Mr. Fairbank 

 procured it at Mahableshwar, where it is also rare. Sykes 

 remarks that it is rare in the Deecan. I have no other record 

 of its occurrence throughout the region. 



934.— Ardetta sinensis, Gm. The Yellow Bittern. 



Rare. Mr. Davidson procured a single specimen in some 

 reeds at Pandharpur west of Sholapur in October. I have no 

 other record of its occurrence throughout the region. It affects 

 tall reed-beds. 



936.— Botaurus stellaris, Lin. The Bittern. 



Cold weather visitant. Rare. Sykes says it is rare in the 

 Deecan. Mr. Inverarity mentions having shot two and seen a 



