6 



790 EKYTHEA PHCENICUEA. 



eggs of what appear to be the same clutch in this species as in those of Gallinula chloropus ; some of them 

 I have seen long and pointed at both ends, some oval, and others stumpy and pointed at the smaller end, being 

 somewhat pyriform in shape. 



" The ground-colour is yellowish grey or reddish white ; some are marked all over the surface and in a zone 

 round the obtuse end with yellowish-brown and light-red spots and blotches over others of bluish and greenish 

 grev, while others are marked more sparingly with large blotches of the same hues. I have never found more 

 than four eggs in one nest. Two specimens from the same nest measure respectively 1 - C5by 1"23 and T57 by 

 T18 inch; others I have range from 1*5 to 1"52 in' length, and from 1"1 to 1*25 in breadth." 



To this I would add that the breeding-season in the Western Province is in May, June, and July ; but at 

 Kurunegala I have obtained young chicks in December, by which I infer that two broods are reared in the year. 



In India it breeds from July until September, nesting sometimes in trees, as in Ceylon. Mr. Aitken 

 describes the position of a nest as in the top of a date-palm, the outer structure appearing to consist of an old 

 Crow's nest ; the old bird made its way up to it after he had replaced the eggs, " not flying, but running up 

 the rough bark of the date like a ladder." The eggs of this bird are described by Mr. Hume as being of a " dull 

 stone-coloured ground, with rather bright slightly brownish-red spots, specks, and streaks, most numerous 

 towards the large end, where, besides these, there are a number of faint inky-purple spots and streaks, which 

 appear to underlie the brighter markings." 



Mr. Oates recently, writing on Burmese birds, says this Waterhen always makes "its nest in trees, at 

 heights not below 10 feet. It selects a creeper-grown tree, either in paddy-laud or on the outside of forest. 

 .... A bamboo bush, the leaves of which are well entangled, is also much affected. The nest is merely an 

 irregular platform of dead and green leaves resting on a few twigs." The number of eggs found by him 

 was four in each nest. 



Genus GALL1CKEX. 

 Bill longer than in Erytlira ; the base of the cnlmen prolonged back upon the forehead 

 more than in that genus, and developed, in the male, at breeding-time, into a fleshy crest or 

 comb. Wings with the 2nd and 3rd quills subequal and longest, and the 1st shorter than the 

 6th. Tertials nearly equal to the primaries. Tail short and rounded. Legs long ; tibia bare 

 considerably above the knee. Tarsus equal to the middle toe ; toes slender, the outer exceeding 

 the inner ; hind toe moderately long. 



