924 
HIMANTOPUS CANDIDAS. 
from April to June; and the only localities where they are known to breed are the salt-works in the Goorgaon 
district near Delhi, a locality called Toomulgoodiun near Secunderabad, and the salt lake of Sambhur. 
Mr. Hume says “they collect together small pieces of hunker , or the broken lime lining of the pans, into a 
circular platform, from 7 to even 12 inches in diameter, and from 2 to 3 inches in height ; on this, again, 
they place a little dry grass, on which they usually lay four eggs." These nests are situated on small strips 
of ground from a foot to five or six in width, which divide the salt-pans or collecting-spaces from one another, 
and they are placed close together, as many as twenty-seven being found in one strip 100 feet long. “So 
accustomed,” writes the author in question, “ were the birds to the workmen walking up and down the middle 
of this strip that many of the birds never moved, though we passed within inches of them ; and those that 
did move merely stalked leisurely a few paces away into the salt-pans on either side.” The eggs varied as 
much as they do in Ceylon, and the average of a large series was 164 by T21 inch. 
Eggs of this species, which I have examined in Mr. Dresser's collection, and which were taken in Europe, 
are similar in marking to mine — oclireous stone and olivaceous stone in ground-colour, and handsomely 
marked with blackish sepia, taking, in some specimens, the form of large handsome blotches, and in others 
of smaller, rather streaky-edged spottings. Dimensions as follows: — 1'72 by T28 inch ; 171 by T26; 
174 by 1-25. 
Genus RECURVIROSTRA. 
Bill long, slender, hard, curved upwards to the tip, which is very thin and pointed ; both 
mandibles channelled. Nostrils linear. Wings long and pointed. Tail rather short. Legs long 
and slender ; tibia bare much above the knee ; anterior toes united by a moderately-developed 
web, which is notched in the centre ; hind toe minute, but perfect and with a claw. 
