292 
ORNITHOLOOY. 
others a reddish olive brown, and in some a very deep 
rafous, or even olive brown. The markings are chiefly 
blackish brown, here and there paling to a deep reddish 
brown, and they consist almost exclusively of finer or 
coarser lines, intertwined and entangled, as it were, one 
within another in inextricable confusion. Here and there 
a few spots and even blotches are observable, but the 
general character of the markings is as above described. 
Now, if H. sinensis and H. indicus are so very nearly 
allied as even Schlegel considers them, is it not extra- 
ordinary that their eggs should differ so absolutely in shape, 
texture, colour, markings, number, and manner of disposi- 
tion in the nest, and that the former should have a 
distinct winter plumage, while the latter has none ? The 
two skeletons require careful comparison. I should be 
inclined to suspect that these two species are derived from 
very different stocks, although a similarity of external 
conditions may have led to a similar superficial modification 
of external forms. Having said so much about Metopodius 
indicus, I may note that its eggs vary in length from 1'35 
to 155, and in breadth from 0*97 to 108, the average of 
fifty being 1*48 by 1'03, and I add the following remarks 
by my friend Mr. F. E. Blewett : — 
" Breeds from June to about the middle of September. 
The nest is made of weeds, roughly put together : of 
various sizes, and from one to near two feet in diameter, 
it is often made on the water surface, at other times, in 
any island near to the water^s edge. In each situation a 
sheltered spot is chosen, offering concealment — among thick- 
growing lotus leaves is a favourite resort. 
This Jacana runs with wonderful facility over the 
floating weeds, ^ lotus-leaves, &c. It is rather a shy bird, 
and when alarmed will conceal itself by lying close on the 
weeds or plants, with its head and neck well stretched out 
on a level with the body. When it can do so, for more 
effectual concealment, it will half-sink its body into the water. 
The bird is likewise an expert diver. The boatmen on the 
Tabbuhut Lake told me that the bird moults once in each 
year just before the rains, in April and May.'^ [_A, 0. H.] 
