﻿322 m'gregor. 



Nycticorax manillensis Vig.* 



An adult specimen from Sevilla, March 19; not uncommon. The natives of 

 Bohol are extremely afraid of a spirit which they call the "cuak cuak" and at 

 night they carefully close doors and windows to shut it out. When the night 

 herons fly over in the early evening uttering their weird call the natives say: 

 "There is the 'cuak cuak,' be careful." 



Butorides javanica (Horsf.).* 

 Abundant. 



Bubulcus coromandus (Bodd.). 



Bubulcus coromandus Tweeddale, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1878), 712. 



Oates 7 in his description of the summer plumage of this species says : "The 

 whole plumage white except the head, neck, breast and dorsal plumes which are 

 rich golden buff." In Philippine specimens, however, the dorsal plumes are much 

 lighter than the head and of a different color, being delicate .vinaceous pink 

 washed with brown. Sharpe 8 points out this difference in the following words : 

 "The entire head, neck, throat, and fore-neck bright orange; the dorsal plumes of 

 a distinct vinous sienna, with a golden tinge, the feathers of the fore-neck also 

 tinged with the same color." 



I have heard natives relate a number of fanciful tales respecting the nesting 

 habits of this species ; some aver that it does not lay eggs and other say 

 that its nest is to be found only under the water. An egg of this species is 

 reputed to bring the possessor good luck and the finding of a nest brings riches 

 to the finder. The most elaborate story I have heard is current among Tagalogs 

 and runs as follows: 



The "ta-gac ca-la-bao" builds its nest in high trees over water. The nest can 

 only be seen by its reflection in the water. To secure an egg, supposing you have 

 found a nest, climb the tree always looking at the aqueous image. In this way 

 you may reach the nest and secure the eggs which confer upon the possessor the 

 power of becoming invisible. 



Several hundreds of these birds nested in a patch of giant grass near Guin- 

 dulman. The nests examined were flat and 8 to 10 inches in diameter and were 

 supported by grass stems at about 6 feet above the water. The natives rob this 

 colony several times a year, but the eggs are a poor article of diet. From a large 

 series obtained June 13, twenty eggs have been selected and measured; the length 

 varies from 1.58 inches to 1.96 and the width varies from 1.20 to 1.39. Five eggs 

 taken at randum measure: 1.86 by 1.38; 1.88 by 1.33; 1.82 by 1.25; 1.79 by 

 1.36; 1.61 by 1.20. In color the eggs are very pale blue. Hume 9 gives interesting 

 notes on the nesting habits and Oates 10 describes and figures eggs of this species 

 from India and Ceylon. 



Ardetta cinnamomea (Gm.).* 



A female from Guindulman, June 16. 



Dendrocygna arcuata (Horsf.). 



Dendrocygna vagans Tweeddale, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1878), 712. 



The "ga-klt" occurs in small numbers at Sevilla, Guindulman and probably at 

 other localities on the island where conditions are favorable. 



Circus melanoleucus (Forster).* (Plate 1.) 



An adult specimen of this fine marsh hawk from Sevilla. 



7 Bds. Brit. Burmah, London (1883), 2, 251. 



8 Catalogue Bds. Brit. Mus. (1898), 26, 218. 



"Nests and Eggs Ind. Bds. (1890), 3, 247. 



10 Cat. Eggs Brit. Mus. (1902) 2, 130, pi. v., fig. 2. 



