86 R. B. Sanyal — Note on the breeding of varioufi Birds, [April, 



Both the coins in weight approximate that of the dam of Akbar. 

 The dams of Akbar abounded in some of the lower Hills some years ago. 



I iiave seen several specimens of each of these Nahan coins, but no 

 others from that mint. 



5. Note on the breeding of various Birds (Herons and Cormorants) in 

 a wild state in the Alipur Zoological Gardens. — By Ram Brahma Sanyal, 

 Superintendent, With a plate. 



The picturesque island with its wealth of vegetation in tlie middle 

 of the broadest part of the ornamental waters of the garden has, for 

 many years past, been the favourite resort of various kinds of animals. 



But tlie aspect of Nature on the island has, of late, considerably 

 changed. The trees have- gradually become more and more bare of 

 leaves, and the ground denuded of vegetation. All this has been brought 

 about by large flocks of Night-herons {NycUardea nycticorax, (L.) ), 

 and latterl}' of Cormorants, having taken possession of the island. Early 

 in the winter of lb92-93, a few Night-herons were observed among the 

 large number of Pond-herons, or Paddy-birds, {Ardeola grayi, (Sykes) ) 

 that hitherto inhabited the island, but their movements were not parti- 

 cularly watched. With the exception of a few Pond herons that remained 

 to breed, they all left the place about the middle of February, 1893. At 

 the beo"inning of the next cold weather the Night-herons began to re- 

 appear. As far as it is remembered, one forenoon about the beginning 

 of November, 1893, a large number of these birds were observed hover- 

 ing round over the lake as if undecided where to settle. In fact, it took 

 them three or four days before they could finally make up their minds 

 to settle down on the island ; choosing, the meantime, some of the 

 densely-foliaged trees of the garden, mostly around the lake, as their 

 hiding places daring the day. With the approach of the hot weather 

 their number began to diminish, till they again deserted the island about 

 the middle of March, 1894, to find fresh fields and pastures new. It is, 

 however, believed that some of them must have remained with the 

 Paddy-birds to nest and breed ; but as iheir nests were not visited nothing 

 can be said with certainty about their breeding in that year. 



In the winter following a still larger number of them re-appeared 

 and took so complete a possession of the island that the Paddy-birds 

 were obliged to retire in their favour, until the time for migration came, 

 and the majority of the Night-herons left the place, affording the 

 Paddy-birds opportunity to retrieve their lost ground. But it was to a 

 limited extent only, as a great many Night-herons remained behind for 

 the purpose of breeding. About this time a few Cormorants (P/mZa- 

 crocorax pygmwus, Pall.) appeared on the scene, and became, as will 



