AND TYPES OF EGGS. 37 



wOdwitS, (Macroramphns, Limosa, TereHa),'—kre only winter 

 visitants. None of them breed in thia country. 



Curlews, {Numenius, Ihidorhynclms). — Are cold weather visit- 

 ants and breed beyond the border. 



Stints, [Philomachus, Tringa, Eunnorhyvchis,^Calidms, Phala- 

 ropus). — Are merely cold weather visitants. 



SdilldpiperS, {ActUis, Totanus, Himantopus, Eemrvirostra) . — Are 

 all migratory. The stilt {H. candidus) congregates for breeding purposes 

 in one or more localities in the plains. The common sandpiper {A. 

 hypoleiicus) breeds in considerable numbers in the beds of rivers in 

 Kashmir ; but all the other birds of this class go beyond the border to 

 lay their eggs. The eggs are spotted or blotched on a bufFy ground. 



Ja>C£inaiS, {Hydropkasianus, Metopidus). — The water pheasants are 

 permanent residents, frequenting weedy marshes. In the cold weather 

 they retire to the moister districts, but in the rains they wander wherever 

 there are marshes. They lay deep bronze-eoloured eggs. In one species 

 unmarked, in the other scrawled all over with fine black lines. 



Coots, (Porphyrio, Fulica, Gallicreai, Gallinuia). — Are all per- 

 manent residents, frequenting marshes and ponds or dense thickets near 

 water. They breed both, in hills and plains. Their eggs are spotted. 



RSiilS, {Porzana, Eallus). — Of these birds very little is known. 

 They frequent dense weeds and thickets near water. They breed both in 

 the hills and plains, but are flushed with difficulty, and it is not known' 

 whether they migrate. The eggs typically are spotted. 



Storks, {Leptoptilus, Mycteria, Cioonia, Melanopelargus) . — The 

 true storks {Ciconia) are cold weather visitants, and do not breed in India. 

 The adjutants {Leptoptilus) have special breeding places to which they 

 resort. While the other storks [Mycteria and Melanopelargus) breed 

 throughout India on high trees near water. Their eggs are dingy 

 white unspotted. 



Herons, [Ardea, Herodias, Bemi-egretta, Buphus, Ardeola, 

 Butorides). — Are permanent residents, breeding on trees near water in all 

 parts of India. They all lay unspotted blue eggs. 



Bitterns, {Ardetta, Botaurus\. — 'It is not as yet ascertained 

 whether the common bittern (Botaurus stellaris) is a permanent resi- 

 dent, but probably it, as well as all the other bitterns, breeds in India. 

 They frequent thick reeds in swamps, are very difiioult to flush, and lay 

 unspotted greenish eggs. 



