FTJRREEDPORE, EASTERN BENGAL. 305 



front, 106 ; closed wings fall short of end of tail, 075 ; weight, 

 4*87 ozs. Irides yellowish brown ; bill leaden ; legs green in 

 winter plumage. 



2nd April 1878, Female. — Length, 16-75; expanse, 25*50; 

 wing, 8*16 ; tail, 3*75 ; tarsus, 2*16; bill from gape, 1*22; at 

 front, 1*15 ; closed wings fall short of end of tail, 0*66 ; weight, 

 5*87 ozs. Irides yellow ; bill leaden ; legs green. 



Very common during the rains, when it is found in every 

 swamp. From October to March it is not observed, and has 

 evidently left the district. The female above mentioned has a 

 good deal of ferruginous about the head and wing coverts, 

 showing the juvenile stage. Both the above birds have the 

 pointed appendage on the tips of the 1st and 4th primaries. It 

 breeds here during the rains on masses of floating vegetation 

 in swamps, making a rude nest of aquatic plants. 



902— Porphyrio poliocephalus, Lath. 



Ihtk June 1878, Female. — Length, 17'0; expanse, 30*0; 

 wing, 10*0; tail, 3*50; tarsus, 3*60; bill from gape, 1*52. 



17^ June 1878, Male. — Length, 16*60 ; expanse, 31*0 ; 

 wing, 9'83 ; tail, 4*0 ; tarsus, 3*33; bill from gape, 1*56. Bill 

 and legs red ; irides red. 



Very local in its distribution. Some places hold dozens of 

 these birds, while others, which are just as suitable, cannot show 

 one. They frequent paddy fields and swamps covered with 

 long grass ; a deal of paddy is destroyed by these birds ; they 

 cut the stalks from just above the roots and eat the tender pith ; 

 breed in June and July, for the female above mentioned had 

 fully formed but soft eggs in the oviduct. The natives affirm 

 that during the cold weather these birds lose the flight feathers 

 and then lay up in holes under ground in " Sun 1 ' grass fields, 

 but whether the cavities are made by the birds or have belonged 

 to jackals, &c, they could not say. One of my peons told me 

 that he caught over 20 birds one season from a grass field ; they 

 however run well and are not caught without a good chase. I 

 am inclined to believe the man ; he had no object in telling a 

 falsehood ; and it was on my showing him the skins that he men- 

 tioned the fact.* 



904.— Gallicrex cinereus, Gmel. 



ilth June 1818, Female. — Length, 14*30; expanse, 24*25; 

 wing, 7*16; tail, 2*75 ; tarsus, 2*75; bill from gape, 1 "42 ; at 



* I don't think that there is any foundation for this native story. At any rate I have 

 shot numbers in perfect plumage, in December, January and February. They are 

 very poor fliers, and if caught out in the middle of a large grass field, might, perhaps, 

 be run down ; but I disbelive their losing the flight feathers during the cold season, and 

 u fortiori tho " hole" part of the story. — Ed. 



