FROM KORTH-WEST CEYLON. 483 



902.— Porphyrio poliocephalus, Lath. 



January and February. — Ceylon eggs are smaller than Indian 

 ones, the average size of 20 being- 1*89" x 1'34<". The almost 

 newly-hatched young conceal themselves by sinking beneath the 

 surface of the water.* In Ceylon flhe Coots do not breed simul- 

 taneously ; young birds, eggs in all stages of incubation, and 

 partly built nests are found in the same tank. In some cases 

 the eggs are laid at considerable intervals ; I have met with a 

 nestling, partly incubated eggs of different ages, and fresh egg, 

 in the same nest. According to my experience six is the maxi- 

 mum number of eggs laid. 



905— Gallinula chloropus, Lin. 



January and February. — The Moorhen, hitherto supposed to 

 be one of our rarest birds, is a regular cold season migrant to 

 the Mannar district, and is moderately plentiful in all the tanks. 

 In habits and nidification it differs in some respects from Indian 

 or European birds. It frequents the middle of the tanks, and 

 conceals itself so skilfully that it may easily be overlooked, its 

 favourite haunt being the thickest sedge, out of which it is 

 only to be flushed with difficulty. 



The nest is always placed in a low, partly submerged, thorny 

 tree or bush, at heights above the water varying from one foot 

 to eight feet. As a rule, it is close to the stem, but occasionally 

 it is situated at some distance from the trunk, on the lateral 

 branches, and one was found among the leaves at the edge of 

 a thick bush. Few of the nests are within 150 yards of the 

 margin of the tank, and I have examined some a quarter of a 

 mile from the shore. The bird deserts the nest for almost no 

 reason ; even to look at one without touching it was quite 

 enough to ensure its abandonment. The male takes part in 

 the incubation, one being shot off the nest for me. The eggs 

 are of the usual number and colouration, and are slightly 

 narrower than English specimens, the average size of 20 beiug 

 1-62* X 1-15". 



The birds seem to be identical with Indian ones ; but the 

 casque extends back to a line joining the centres of the eyes. 

 I did not observe when the birds first arrived ; I was unable to 

 find any after the beginning of March, when the sedge was 

 left almost dry by the lowering of the water. 



916.— Leptoptilus javanicus, Horsf.. 



February to April. — At length I can give some trustworthy 

 information regarding the breeding of the Hair-crested Stork 

 in Ceylon. A nest was found by three native hunters in 



* This is noteworthy ; it is not a habit of the adults, so far as I know. 



