NOTES ON THE BIRDS Oi VPPER ASSAM. 725 



385. Amaurornis ]}hmnicura cUnensis (Bodd.) [1401].' — The White-breasted 



Water-hen. 



Amaurornis phcenicurus, Blanford, F. B. I., Vol. iv., p. 173. 

 One of the most common Water-hens, to be found everywhere through- 

 out the plains in marshy or low-lying ground. Clutches of five and six eggs 

 taken in May, June and July. Iris red-brown ; bill sap green ; frontal shield 

 red or greenish brown ; tarsus dark yellow or yellowish-olive ; claws horny. 



386. Gallinula chloropus orientalis, Horsf . [1402]. — The Eastern Moor-hen. 



Gallinula eUoropus, Blanford, F. B. I., Vol. iv., p. 175. 



Equally as common as A. 'phcenicura, but is more confined to the open 

 sheets of water " bhils " and streams '' jans." 



Iris red ; bill orange red ; tip yellow ; tarsus green with a tinge of yellow 

 and red above joint. 



387. Gallicrex cinerea (Gm.) [1403].— The Water Cock. 

 Distributed in suitable localities throughout the plains. 



Dejoo, 3-12-08, $ *, actually flushed out of grass on road during a dry 

 spell of weather. Fulica atra must undoubtedly occur though I have 

 personally overlooked it. 



388. Forpliyrio poliocepJiala (Lath.) [1404]. — The Purple Moor-hen. 

 " Kham serai," Assamese. 



Specimens collected at Bhimpoora bhil (Grogaldhubie) in North Lakhtm- 

 pur, no doubt occurs on the most of the large "bhils.'" Iris red brown; 

 bill reddish horny of various depths ; tarsus pale pinkish-horny. 



Heliopais personata (Gray) has been recorded in recent years from Upper 

 Assam. 



389. Megalornis antigone antiyone (L.) [1409]. — The Sarus. 



Grus antigone, Blanford, F. B. I., Vol. iv., p. 188. 

 Recorded by Blanford " eastward as far as Lakhimpur in Assam." Mr. 

 J. Lindsay Alexander was well acquainted with this crane and the Assamese 

 know it by the name of " Khur-sang ". Repeated enquiries and every 

 opportunity made use of on frequent journeys up and down the Subansiri 

 from Dhunsirimukh to Boduti have failed to produce any satisfactory 

 evidence of its occurrence though the "'serang" led me to understand it is 

 seen at times on this river's banks. 



390. Sypheotis bengalensis (Gm.) [1417]. — The Bengal Florican. 



More plentiful in Lower Assam, several seen near Tezpur, February 

 1910. In the upper limits of the province confined to the vast 

 expanses of grass land, particularly on the north bank of the Bramapootra 

 in the vicinity of Sadiya (Lali Chopra), one secured at Rungagora, 29-2-04, 

 5 . Records from Nokhroy, Panitola, Kharjan, but only a very few birds 

 turn up at these localities on odd occasions. 



391. Esacus recurvirostris (Cuv.) [1419].- — The Great Stone Plover. 



" Baligura,'''' Miris of the plains, Assam, 

 Confined to the sandy beds of the large rivers in the plains. Rungagora; 

 R. Dibru, rare, 3-12-03, single, 8-2-04, $ ; Hessamara, Subansiri, 7-1-06, $ ; 

 Boduti, 13-1-11, several pairs seen together. Mr. J. L. Alexander found a 

 clutch of two eggs near Derpai on the Subansiri on 23-10-05, which hatched 

 out on 13-11-05. Two clutches of two eggs, each found - at Hessamara on 

 the Subansiri, 28-12-05. In one case incubation fresh, in the other inclined 

 to be hard set. This river rises at an earlier period than some of the other 

 rivers which have their source in the nearer ranges probably due to its 

 waters being augmented with the melting snows. This factor may account 

 for the various waders and terns which nest in its bed accommodating them- 



