300 On the Oology of India. [ApRfi, 



13. Nettapus coromandelianus, v. girra.- — " Fixbaggonets" — " Gy- 

 ree" of the natives. Nest and eggs resemble those of preceding m 

 locality and all other respects, except size, which was not taken by 

 measurement, but is of course much smaller. Eggs very numerous, 

 once 14 were brought me. This duck builds more constantly in trees 

 than does the whistling teal. A pair built on a mangoe tree in the 

 town of Poorulia, and must have had to carry their young at least -| 

 mile to the nearest water ! 



14. Sarcidiornis regius. — (** Nukwa hunss/') " Knobbed Goose.'* 

 The eggs cf this bird have also frequently been brought me, but I did 

 not take the measurement ; they are about as large as those of the 

 domestic duck, pure white; from 8 to 10 or 12 in number. Nest fre- 

 quently on the hollow top of a decayed trunk, always in jungly coun- 

 try and near the water. They are hatched in August and the duck- 

 lings, which are early deserted by the parent birds, wander about 

 during the ensuing cold weather in a small flight by themselves ; they 

 are then of a dusky colour above and dull white beneath j the gander 

 has no trace of a frontal knob till after the cold season. I have had 

 this bird as well as the " fixbaggonets" and " whistling teal" hatched 

 by domestic hens, but they are never thoroughly tamed. 



15. Hemipodius bengalensis, Blyth, MS. ("Salooi goondroo.") The 

 larger Button Quail. No nest but a hollow scraped in the ground and 

 lined with a little hay ; generally in a field of " Goondlee" (a kind of 

 small grain like millet,) or in short jungle grass. Eggs 4 ; size y-f X j- ; 

 very round, but rather pointed at smaller end. Brownish white thickly » 

 mottled darker ; with larger spots and blotches of dark brown thickly 

 sprinkled over the large end half* and small specks of the same else- 

 where. 



16. Pratincola caprata. — (" Pidda.") Nest hemispherical ; 4 in. 

 diameter ; of fine grass, built on a bush in waste jungles or reedy spots. 

 Eggs 3 ; size £ * T 9 ^ shape ordinary ; colour pale greenish white, sprink- 

 led equally with brown spots. May. 



17. Cisticola eursitans. — (" Kher ghoosa.") Little common Grass 

 Warbler. Nest hemispherical; rather large ; 5 inches diameter ; thick. 

 Entirely of soft grass with its downy ears. Eggs 5 ; ordinary ; blunt, 

 f + i> opaque white, sprinkled with rusty specks, which conglomerate 

 in a zone round large end. Builds at the bottom of thick clumps of 

 lceds. June. 



