DISSUEA EPISCOPA. 1123 



feeding on beetles, crickets, &c, or patrolling round the water-holes and capturing frogs, mud-fish, and so 

 forth. In July I found a large flock at Hurulle tank, which roosted in a fine grove of trees at the upper end, 

 and in the daytime frequented the grassy rushy bed of what was once, before the vast bund was broken through, 

 in times gone by, a magnificent sheet of water. It is not by any means a shy bird, and will often suffer itself 

 to be approached within easy gun-shot. Occasionally after being disturbed a flock will rise into the air and 

 circle round and round at a great altitude. Their wings are for the most part kept motionless during these 

 gyrations, but now and then a fresh impetus is given by a few powerful strokes. Mr. Ball speaks of seeing a 

 pair of these Storks flying backwards and forwards through a rising swarm of winged Termites, upon which 

 Rollers and King-Crows were making great havoc, and noticed them repeatedly open and close their bills, 

 from which it may be inferred that they were catching the ants on the wing ! The same writer mentions that 

 the Black Stork is very fond of the society of this species, although of a much shier nature. The name of 

 Beef-steak bird is applied to it on account of its flesh being palatable when cooked as steak ; and its Hindoo 

 name, Manikjor, means, says Jerdon, the companion of Manik, a saint, in consequence of which some Mus- 

 sulmen abstain from eating it. 



Nidification. — In Ceylon this Stork does not breed in company with other members of its order, nor with 

 Pelicans &c. I have never discovered a breeding-colony, and I imagine that it nests in the very wildest parts 

 of the jungles. Layard, however, was more fortunate; he says that it breeds on trees in company, "laying 

 several pure white chalky eggs, the surface of which is curiously granulated." The dimensions he gives are 

 2'75 by 1"86 inches. Iu Upper India it breeds from the latter end of July to the end of August; but in the 

 south it begins as early as March. Mr. Hume writes that "the nests are placed in large trees, Peepul (Ficus 

 religiosa), Burgot (Ficus indie a) , Tamarind, and Sheeshum being the favourites. They are rarely above 20 to 

 30 feet from the ground, and vary from 14 to 20 inches in diameter, and from 4 to 5 inches in depth. They 

 are densely built of twigs and small branches, and have a considerable depression, sometimes thinly lined with 

 down and feathers, and sometimes almost filled with straw, leaves, and feathers, amongst which the eggs are 

 sunk as if packed for travelling. The full number is four." They vary much in shape, being either long 

 narrow ovals or broad ovals pointed towards one end. They are faint bluish white when fresh, becoming 

 stained and soiled into a yellowish earthy brown. In size they vary from 2"3 to 2 - 66 inches in length and 

 from 175 to l - 92 in breadth (Hume). 



HERODIONES. 

 Fam. ARDEID^E. 



Bill more slender than in the Storks, very sharp ; nostrils placed at the basal extremity 

 of a long groove ; loral region bare. Only the outer and middle toe connected by a web at the 

 base ; hind toe on the same plane with the front ; middle claw pectinated. 



Sternum with a narrow emargination as in the last family ; breast and lower flanks furnished 

 with powdery tufts of decomposed feathers. 



7e 



