BUBULCUS COEOHAJSTDTTS. 1149 



its stomach 60 whole grasshoppers and other orthopterous insects, besides which there was an equal bulk of 

 some digested heads and legs, so that this bird had breakfasted on about 120 grasshoppers." I have on more 

 than one occasion seen this Egret picking ticks from the legs of cattle ; but I have not observed it doing so 

 when standing on their backs, as Crows commonly do ; and this latter position seems to be one of rest merely. 

 It is an extremely silent bird as a rule ; but during the breeding-season it becomes noisy, and constantly 

 utters its cry (quak) , which is perhaps peculiar to it when nesting. 



Niclifi cation. — Layard found this Egret breeding with the larger species in May at a tank near Tangalle. 

 The nests are commenced or renewed about the beginning of April, and probably earlier in localities where 

 these large colonies commence at the beginning of the year to breed. At the several heronries which I have 

 visited I have not had the good fortune to find the Cattle-Egret nesting, and I rather incline to the opinion 

 that it nests by itself as a rule. The nests are built on trees in the water, and are platforms of sticks 

 lined with a few roots or creeper-tendrils. The eggs are four or five in number, and are, says Mr. Hume, to 

 be distinguished from those of all other Herons by their very pale colour, being white, with a faint green 

 tinge. They are broad ovals in shape. In length they vary from l - 6 to T85 inch, and in breadth from T22 

 to 1 -4. 



The breeding-season in North India lasts from June until August; but in Southern India it is in 

 November and December. 



Genus AEDEOLA. 



Bill stout at the base, much pointed, the gonys pronounced, commissure nearly straight. 

 Wing with the 1st quill almost equal to the 2nd, which is the longest. Tail very short. Legs 

 short ; tibia feathered more than in the preceding groups. Tarsal scales narrow and rectangular. 

 Middle toe slightly shorter than the tarsus ; inner toe slightly shorter than the outer ; hind toe 

 stout. 



Plumage of the neck elongated ; head crested and dorsal plumes decomposed and elongated 

 in the breeding-season, also a marked difference in the plumage at that time. 



7h2 



