APPENDIX I. 1223 



Page 1096. — Platalea leucorodia. Mr. Seebolim observed this species, during the recent nesting-season in Holland, 

 breeding in great numbers on the ground. As many as fifty nests were placed within a space of twenty square yards. 

 They were made on large tussocks of grass, the foundation being of sticks, and the body of the nest of reeds, lined 

 with grass. 



Page 1103. — Anastomus oscitans. Mr. Parker finds the " Shell-eater " common in the vicinity of the Giants' tank. 



Page 1109. — Plegadisfalcinellus. Mr. Wickham, of Holmwood Estate, Lindoola, informs me that he has seen the Glossy 

 Ibis on the Bopatalawa Patnas, and lately procured four specimens ! These birds must have been on passage north from the 

 south-east coast ; but it is singular that they should cross the mountains and be found at such an elevation, 5000 feet. 



Page 1147. — Bub ulcus coromandus. This species was procured in Sumatra in 1878 by Mr. Carl Bock. 



Page 1153. — Butorides javanica. Governor Ussher remarks that this Bittern is moderately common on rocks along 

 the sea-shore of Labuan. Its native name there is " Ulun tukugong." 



Page 1162. — Ardeiralla cinnamomea. This Bittern has again been recorded from Sumatra, where Mr. Carl Book 

 recently procured it. 



Page 1182. — Plialacrocorax carbo. An interesting account of the training of Cormorants in China has recentlv 

 appeared in ' The Ibis,' 1880, p. 375. The Editors remark that, though the Chinese species is called P. sinensis, it is 

 doubtful whether the bird is " distinct from the P. carbo of our seas." I have no doubt but that it is the same ; it is 

 united with it by Messrs. Swinhoe and David ; and in my treatment of the species I have considered it merely a small race 

 like the Indian bird. I append the following extract from the article in question, which originally appeared in the ' Special 

 Catalogue of the Ningpo Collection in the International Fishery- Exhibition at Berlin ':-- " The young birds are at first 

 fed with a mixture, in equal parts, of beancurd and raw eel's flesh cut fine. If eels are not procurable, the flesh of the 

 Hei yii (Ophiocephalus niger) is used instead, in the form of small pills. At the end of a month the down begins to be 

 covered by the larger feathers, and the quantity of fish-flesh given to them is increased, while that of beancurd is reduced. 

 A second month elapses, and the young birds, having grown to double their original size, are fit for the market ; a male 

 fetches 1 or 2 dollars, and a female half as much. 



" The birds are now fed with young fish thrown to them. When they have attained their full size, a string is tied 

 to one leg, the other end of it being fastened to the bank of a pond or canal. They are then made to go into the water, 

 the trainer whistling a peculiar call and using a bamboo to force them. Small fish are thrown them, upon which they 

 pounce greedily, as they have been kept on short allowance of food. They are now called back by a different whistle- 

 call, and forced to obey by means of the string ; as they reach the shore more fish is given them. This teaching having 

 been gone through daily for a month, another four or five weeks are spent in training the birds from a boat; at the end 

 of this period the string is generally dispensed with. When old and well-trained Cormorants are made to accompany the 

 young ones, the time required in training is reduced one half. Birds not properly trained after all the trouble thus taken 

 are pronounced stupid and not fit for use. 



" The teaching being completed, the Cormorants are fed sparingly every morning with fish. A small ring of hemp 

 is tied around their necks to prevent them swallowing large fish, and they are taken on board the small punt called 

 ' Cormorant-boat ' to the number of ten or twelve. They are now as docile as dogs, and sit perched on the side of the 

 boat until they are sent into the water by a mere whistle from their master. They dive after fish, and bring their prizes 

 to the boat, firmly held in their hooked beaks. When a fish is too large for one bird, three or more join their forces and 

 capture it together. Sometimes the fisherman signals them to dive by striking the water with a long bamboo. If any 

 Cormorant i s inclined to be disobedient, his legs are connected by a short piece of string ; this forms a loop, by means of 

 which the bird may at any moment be brought on board, nolens volens, with a long bamboo hook. 



"After fishing two or three hours the birds are allowed to come on board and rest. At the end of the day the 

 hempen ring is loosened or removed altogether, and they are either allowed to fish for themselves, or are fed by the hand 

 of their master. Seizing the birds one after another by the upper mandible, the fisherman thrusts into their throats a 

 handful of small fish and a ball of beancurd as large as his fist, the ingurgitation of which he helps with the other hand 

 by stroking the neck of the bird, who seems to enjoy it, as he promptly returns for a second supply. The entire scene 

 is most ludicrous. At night the birds are brought home and caged. A Cormorant holds out for five years, at the end of 

 which time these birds lose their feathers and soon after die. The females, being weaker than the males, only catch 

 small fish, hence their lower value. Very good birds reach a value of Els. 10 a pair, a well-trained male being worth 

 6 or 7 dollars. The females lay when one year old." 



