BTjBULCtrs. 247 



Bubulcus coromandus (Bodd.). The Cattle-Egret. 



Buphus coromandus (Bodd.), Jerd. B. Bid. ii, p. 749. 



Ardea coromanda [Bodd.), Hume, Rough Draft N. 8f B. no. 929. 



The Cattle-Egret breeds throughout the Empire, except in 

 absolutely waterless and almost rainless tracts. In Upper ludia it 

 breeds from June to August in the rainy-season, which there is 

 brought by the south-west monsoon, but in those parts of Southern 

 India which mostly get their rains in the north-east or winter 

 monsoon, it breeds in November and December. In Ceylon it 

 breeds in April and May, and probably in the case of all these 

 Herons some birds may be found in one part or other of the 

 country breeding in every month of the year. 



As a rule, the Cattle-Egret breeds in company with the White 

 Egrets and the Pond-Heron. Sometimes, however, a colony of 

 them may be found breeding alone. 



They always, so far as my experience goes, breed upon trees, 

 tamarinds being, I think, their favourites in Upper India, and very 

 commonly on trees about village ponds, and they make the usual 

 stick nests and lay four or five eggs. 



Mr. Adam says, writing from the Sambhur Lake : — " The Cattle- 

 Egret is very common about this. It breeds in June and July. 

 In a village close to Sambhur I found a breeding-place in which 

 some hundreds of birds had their nests." 



Colonel Butler remarks : — " The Cattle-Egret breeds in the 

 neighbourhood of Deesa in July and August. They are later in 

 breeding than Ardeola grayi. I found a colony in the middle of 

 tiie Suddur bazaar at the end of the camp, on the 18th July, IfSTti. 

 There were in all about twenty or thirty pairs, and the nests were 

 about a yard apart, sometimes even closer, placed on the same low 

 trees upon which the nests of A. grayi were built that I robbed 

 earlier in the season (May 26th). The eggs were mostly fresh. 

 The nests are exactly the same as those of A. grayi. 



" Mr. Doig and I found large colonies breeding in the E. Narra, 

 Sind, during the last week in July, 1878, in company with other 

 Herons and Egrets. The eggs, "distinguishable at a glance from 

 all other Egrets that breed with us by their very pale colour 

 (almost white), varied in number from three to five, and were 

 nearly all fresh." 



Major Bingham, writing both of this species and of Ardeola 

 grayi, says: — "Two birds whose nests I have seen in greater 

 numbers than those of any other Indian bird. They breed \ery 

 commonly both at Allahabad and at Delhi in July, August, and 

 September." 



And Mr. George Eeid informs us that near Lucknovv he found 

 numerous nests in August, mostly occupied by young birds. 



Writing from the Deccan, Messrs. Davidson and Wenden say :— 

 " Numerous during rainy and cold seasons. D. knows two places 

 in the Sholapoor coUectorate where it breeds in the hot weather." 



The eggs of this species are, as a body, distinguished from 



