KUNGL. SV. VET. AKADEMIENS HANDLINGAR. BAND 56. N:0 2 111 



at tho top of a large tree while the male was making oourtto her. h wasalmosl dancing 

 round the female with outstretohed wings, now and then making a short flight around 

 the tree. The whole time it was producing a grunting aoise, now and then even making 

 some snapping sounds with its huge bill. Then suddenly the male - -still with out- 

 stretohed wings - went up on the back of the female and the acl was finisliccl. 



300. Leptoptilus javanicus. Horsf. The Smaller Adjutant. 



Leptoptilus javanicus: Hobinson å Kloss p. lti (partim.). 



2 Koh Lak 24 /n 1914. L = 1250 mm. — Irides: wliitisli 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 Kne 

 south of the town of Ratburi, always in company with specimens of Leptoptilus duhius Gm. 



Fain. Gruidae. 



301. Antigone sharpei. Blanf. The Burmese Sarus. 



Grus sharpei: Gyldeiistolpe I p. 6s; Gairdner p. 152. 

 Grus antigone: Gairdner p. 30. 



The Burmese Sarus is generally distributed över the whole country, though 

 nowhere abundant. 



When I was camping together with the late Mr. T. B. Chatteris at the neigh- 

 bourhood of Muang Fång in Northwestern Siarn 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 af the 

 vicinity of our camping place. It contained a single egg which was of a bluish white colour 

 without any spöts 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 tuf t 

 and about 30 cm. 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, 



