DISSUKA EPISCOPA. 
1123 
feeding on beetles, crickets, &c., or patrolling round the water-holes and capturing frogs, mud-fish, and so 
forth. In July I found a large flock at Hurulle tank, which roosted in a fine grove of trees at the upper end, 
■ and in the daytime frequented the grassy rushy bed of what was once, before the vast bund was broken through, 
iii times gone by, a magnificent sheet of water. It is not by any means a shy bird, and will often suffer itself 
to be approached within easy gun-shot. Occasionally after being disturbed a flock will rise into the air and 
circle round and round at a great altitude. Their wings are for the most part kept motionless during these 
gyrations, but now and then a fresh impetus is given by a few powerful strokes. Mr. Ball speaks of seeing a 
pair of these Storks flying backwards and forwards through a rising swarm of winged Termites, upon which 
Boilers and King-Crows were making great havoc, and noticed them repeatedly open and close their bills, 
from which it may be inferred that they were catching the ants on the wing ! The same writer mentions that 
the Black Stork is very fond of the society of this species, although of a much shier nature. The name of 
Beef-steak bird is applied to it on account of its flesh being palatable when cooked as steak ; and its Hindoo 
name, Manikjor, means, says Jerdon, the companion of Manik, a saint, in consequence of which some Mus- 
sulmen abstain from eating it. 
Nidification . — In Ceylon this Stork does not breed in company with other members of its order, nor with 
Pelicans &c. I have never discovered a breeding-colony, and I imagine that it nests in the very wildest parts 
of the jungles. Layard, however, was more fortunate; he says that it breeds on trees in company, “laying 
several pure white chalky eggs, the surface of which is curiously granulated.” The dimensions he gives are 
2-75 by 1-86 inches. In Upper India it breeds from the latter end of July to the end of August; but in the 
south it begins as early as March. Mr. Hume writes that “the nests are placed in large trees, Peepul ( Ficus 
reJigiosa), Burgot (Ficus iadica), Tamarind, and Sheeshum being the favourites. They are rarely above 20 to 
30 feet from the ground, and vary from 14 to 20 inches in diameter, and from 4 to 5 inches in depth. Thev 
are densely built of twigs and small branches, and have a considerable depression, sometimes thinly lined with 
down and feathers, and sometimes almost filled with straw, leaves, and feathers, amongst which the eggs are 
sunk as if packed for travelling. The full number is four.” They vary much in shape, being cither long- 
narrow ovals or broad ovals pointed towards one end. They are faint bluish white when fresh, becoming- 
stained and soiled into a yellowish earthy brown. In size they vary from 2'3 to 2 - 66 inches in length and 
from U75 to l - 92 in breadth [Hume). 
HERODIONES. 
Fam. AEDEIDflE. 
Bill more slender than in the Storks, very sharp ; nostrils placed at the basal extremity 
of a long groove ; loral region bare. Only the outer and middle toe connected by a web at the 
base ; hind toe on the same plane with the front ; middle claw pectinated. 
Sternum with a narroAv emargination as in the last family ; breast and lower flanks furnished 
with powdery tufts of decomposed feathers. 
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