FURREJiDPORE, eastern bengal. 315 



I shot the above out of a flock of about 50 birds, while 

 they were fishing in a jheel. There were a few grey ones 

 along with this species. Another evening a flock of near 40 

 alighted on some Casuarina trees in front of ray house, but 

 that very morning my gun had been sent off to Calcutta for 

 repairs aud I could only look at them, and bewail my ill-luck. 

 I, on several occasions, saw large flocks wheeling overhead, 

 but never again got a shot at any. 



1004— *Pelecanus philippensis, Gmel. 



When speaking of the last species I mentioned having seen 

 several grey ones, amongst a flock of them ; the grey birds 

 appeared to be larger, and on the 4th April 1878, a party of 5 

 Grey Pelicans flew overhead, which showed a deal of grey on 

 the wing feathers, and a grey tail. Now P. javanicus has a white 

 tail, so I am inclined to conclude that they belonged to philippen- 

 sis, though they may have been only the young of javanicus. 



1007.— Phalacrocorax pygmseus, Fall. 



Excessively common and a permanent resident. Breeds in 

 August on large trees in company with Pond Herons, Snake 

 Birds, &c. I have never noticed them in any of the rivers 

 in which there was much current. 



1008.— *Plotus melanogaster, 2mn. 



Common. Seen associating with flocks of the Little Cormo- 

 rant, in all the small rivers and u beels." The Buddeas, a race of 

 Gipsies who travel about the Eastern Bengal Districts in boats, 

 are very fond of keeping these birds. Every boat has one of this 

 species perched up on the stern. They are permanent resi- 

 dents and breed here in August. A small hamlet around which 

 grew several Tamarind and " Jeeul" trees was shown to me as 

 a place where several pairs of this species, together with nu- 

 merous Pond Herons and Little Cormorants buTlt their nests. 

 The whole country round it was submerged during the rains. 



