IN SOUTHERN INDIA. 



97 



thoroughfare, and very few seem aware of its existence. The 

 villagers hold an agreement, from the ancient Nabob's government, 

 which continues in force by a renewal from the British Grovern- 

 ment, that no one is to shoot over the tank, which is strictly en- 

 forced to the present day ; and the birds contiaue in undisturbed 

 possession of this place as a favourite breeding-resort every winter 

 or monsoon. 



The natives understand the value of the dung of the birds in 

 enriching their rice-fields ; and when the tank becomes dry, the 

 silt deposited in its bed is taken up to the depth of a foot, and 

 spread over the rice-fields ; consequently they are careful not to 

 disturb the birds. 



When I first discovered the locality, I was under the impression 

 that the birds were venerated from some superstitious motives, 

 but an acquaintance with the villagers undeceived me as to this 

 point. Anxious to examine the nests, I visited the locality at 

 various periods when the tank was full of water, first in January, 

 and subsequently on the 8th of March, 1864. I caused a raft of 

 wood to be constructed for the occasion. On the last excursion 

 I was accompanied by some of the European and native officials 

 of the district ; and we were pushed along on the raft by two 

 fishermen swimming one on either side, their heads only visible 

 above water, whilst the tank bund was lined with the villagers, 

 who witnessed our operations with great curiosity. As we ap- 

 proached the trees the birds at first remained quite unconcerned, 

 but as we got nearer they began to look on with amazement 

 at a scene which was evidently new to them ; then they rose 

 en masse over our heads, and uttering piercing cries, some, with 

 threatening gestures, rested a moment on the adjoining trees, and 

 then took to their wings again : although so crowded, they per- 

 formed their evolutions with the greatest nicety and dexterity, 

 never interfering with each other's movements. Some ascended 

 to a great height, and were hardly perceptible in the air, while 

 others gyrated immediately above our heads ; many crowded on 

 adjoining trees, and witnessed our intrusion with dismay. On 

 the first occasion, in January 1861, 1 was alone on the raft ; most 

 of the young of the Water-crows, Storks, Herons, and Darters 

 were fully feathered, and were able to scramble to other nests, 

 and some to the tops of trees ; a few nests contained eggs, and 

 others callow young. The Water-crows and Darters, young as 

 they were, immediately took to the Avater and dived out of sight. 

 On the second occasion, in March last, the young of the Ibises 



