KUNGL. SV. VET. AKADEMIENS HANDLINGAR. BAND 56. N:0 2. 141 
at the top of a large tree while the male was making court to her. It was almost dancing 
round the female with outstretched wings, now and then making a short flight around 
the tree. The whole time it was producing a grunting noise, now and then even making 
some snapping sounds with its huge bill. Then suddenly the male — still with out- 
stretched wings — went up on the back of the female and the act was finished. 
300. Leptoptilus javanicus. Horsr. — The Smaller Adjutant. 
Leptoptilus javanicus: Robinson & Kloss p. 16 (partim.). 
@ Koh Lak */11 1914. L = 1250 mm. — Irides: whitish grey. Legs: black. 
The Smaller Adjutant inhabits more southern Districts than the Large Adjutant, 
nor does it feed on carrion as its large relative does. 
During my journey I only got a female specimen shot at the neighbourhood of Koh 
Lak in the Siamese Malaya. At this same place a few more specimens were observed, but 
as they are very shy they are rather difficult to get. 
They are most often to be found on small open places among the mangrove vege- 
tation, a region which is almost impenetrable. Their food chiefly consists of frogs, reptiles 
and fishes. 
A few specimens were also observed in the swampy country along the railway line 
south of the town of Ratburi, always in company with specimens of Leptoptilus dubius GM. 
Fam. Gruide. 
301. Antigone sharpei. Brianr. -- The Burmese Sarus. 
Grus sharpei: Gyldenstolpe I p. 68; Gairdner p. 152. 
Grus antigone: Gairdner p. 30. 
The Burmese Sarus is generally distributed over the whole country, though 
nowhere abundant. 
When I was camping together with the late Mr. T. B. CuatTreris at the neigh- 
bourhood of Muang Fang in Northwestern Siam a native brought a light-set egg of the 
»Nok kien», which is the native name of the Sarus. The man had found the nest at the 
vicinity of our camping place. It contained a single egg which was of a bluish white colour 
without any spots at all. The nest constituted a large structure of about half a metre 
in diameter and was made of grass and vegetable matter. It is generally placed on a tuft 
and about 30cm. from the ground. The native told me a rather curious story about the be- 
haviour of the Sarus during the breeding season which I count in full. »The huge, massive 
nest is always placed on a fairly open place and the female does not sit on her eggs the 
whole day long. She is very coquettish and must every morning and evening corect and 
clean her plumage. In the morning she then is always standing on the western side of 
her nest so that the hot rays of the sun may keep her eggs warm. In the afternoon, 
