FURREEBPORE, EASTERN BENGAL. 307 



Far from common. A few couples seen during the cold season 

 when they are found in the beds of jheels wherever there is a 

 little water. The one I shot was alone, and had alighted on a 

 " Bombax" tree at dusk when I knocked her over. 



920.— *Dissura episcopa, Bodd. 



Pretty common during the rains. The Natives (who call the 

 bird (i Manickjor") say the bird breeds in high trees. During 

 August and September they are very shy, keeping to the pools 

 of water in large open plains, and consequently very difficult 

 to shoot. 



923.— -*Ardea cinerea, Linn. 



Pretty common. I once saw about a dozen of this species in 

 amongst some cattle that were grazing about 200 yards away 

 from a swamp. This is the only instance I can recollect of 

 ever having seen this Heron feeding out of water and slush. 

 I have repeatedly tried to stalk them, but to no purpose ; for as 

 soon as I would be about 100 yards from them, away they 

 would go. This, with the open spots in swamps that they 

 frequent, renders it very difficult to secure a specimen. 



924. — Ardea purpurea, Linn. 



15th June 1878, Male. — Expanse, 57*50 ; wings, 15'0 ; tail, 

 5*16; tarsus, 5'75 ; bill from gape, 6*30 ; at front, 5*37. Irides 

 yellow ; orbital skin bluish purple ; legs, from knee above, yellow ; 

 below, in front, blackish brown ; behind light yellow ; soles 

 bright yellow ; bill, for two inches of the anterior portion of 

 upper mandible, black ; rest yellowish, with a tinge of dusky. 



Very common and a permanent resident. It must breed in 

 July and August, for the above bird's generative organs were 

 increasing in size ; they are very shy ; frequents swamps. 



927.— *Herodias garzetta, Linn. 



Common during the cold season. Where this species gets 

 away to during the rains I do not know, but all the birds I 

 have shot during the winter had the legs and bill black, so 

 were not to be mistaken for B. coromandus. 



929.— *Bubulcus coromandus, Bodd. 



Common and a permanent resident. A small hamlet situated 

 in a large plain and surrounded with water during the rains 

 was pointed out to me as a place where these birds used to 

 breed j^early. There wero several Tamarind trees there on which 

 the nests used to be built. 



