224 THE AVIFAUNA OF MOUNT 



to be Pliilomachus pugnax in dull mid-winter plumage, my re- 

 marks about T. cinerea occurring inland between Deesa 

 and Ahmedabad must be expunged, but the species doubtless 

 occurs on the coast. 



The winter and autumn plumage of P. pugnax is so very 

 different that I did not recognize the birds observed and shot 

 in the cold weather as Ruffs. Hence the mistake. 



905.— Gallinula chloropus, Lin. 



The Water-hen is very plentiful in the tanks at Milana, 18 

 miles S. E. of Deesa, breeding in all of the large rush beds 

 during the rains. 



907.— Gallinula phoenicura, Penn. 



I found this species tolerably common also at Milana, but only 

 took one nest, as most of the young broods were hatched off 

 before' my arrival at the end of August. The chicks are 

 black. 



908 — Porzana akool, SyJces. 



Very common at Milana, where I took any number of nests 

 during the rains. These birds are closely allied to the Water- 

 hens and remind one much of G. chloropus in their habits, es- 

 pecially in the mornings and evenings, during the breeding 

 season, when they come out into the open ground to feed, and 

 walk about jerking their tails exactly in the same manner as 

 that species. 



928. — Demi-egretta gularis, Bosc. 



I observed several specimens of the Ashy Egret whilst march- 

 ino- this year between Deesa and Mandavee. The first I saw 

 was feeding in a river bed between Summow and Ooudra, about 

 18 miles S. W. of Deesa, after which I noticed it on the mud 

 banks of nearly every river we crossed. It was very common 

 at Mandavee, and many of the birds I saw bore evident traces 

 of the immature plumage, showing white feathers in different 

 parts of the body, more especially on the wiugs, which in many 

 instances had at least half of the primary and secondary 

 feathers pure white. 



974.— Podiceps cristatus, Lin. 



A pair of Crested Grebes were shot by a soldier in my Regi- 

 ment this year on a tank between Babra and Rajoo, about 80 

 miles S. W. of Deesa, and were brought to me in the flesh to 

 identify. 



