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. . MISCELLANEOUS NOTES References Andersen,K.(1910):NewFruit-bats.Ann.Mag.Nat.Hist. Meester,J.A.J.,I.L. Rautenbach,N.J. Dippenar&C.M. 6:623-624. Baker (1986): Classification ofsouthern African Bates, Paul J.J. & D.L. Harrison (1997): Bats ofthe mammals. TransvaalMuseumMonograph27:1-14. IndianSubcontinent,pp.258. Ragni, B. & E. Randi (1986): Multivariate analysis of Blandford,W.T.(1888-91): TheFaunaofBritish India, carniometric characters in European wild cat, Mammalia.TaylorandFrancis,London617pp. domestic cat and African wild cat (genus Felis). Cheesman, R.E. (1921): Report on the Mammals of ZeitschriftfurSaugetierkunde51: 243-251 Mesopotamia: Collected by members of the Smithers, R.H.N. (1983): ThemammalsoftheSouthern Mesopotamian expeditionary force, 1915-1919. AfricanSubregion. Universityof Pretoria,Republic J. Bombaynat. Hist. Soc. 27\ 323-346. ofSouthAfrica,736pp. Ellerman, J.R. & T.C.S. Morrison-scott (1951): Thonglongya,K.(1972):AnewgenusandspeciesofFruit ChecklistofPalaearctic and Indian Mammals. 810 Bat from South India (Chiroptera Pteropodidae). : pp. J. Bombaynat. Hist. Soc. 69: 151-158. Kock, D. & H.R. Bhat(1994): Mammalia : Chiroptera- Wilson, D.E. & D. M. Reeder(1993): Mammal species HipposideridaeSenckenbergianabiol. 73:25-31 oftheWorld. 1207pp. 7. NIGHT HERONS AND LITTLE CORMORANTS IN THRISSUR, KERALA Night herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) and markets fortheir fish. Their cries and the stench little cormorants (Phalacrocorax niger) are ofthe droppings have made them a nuisance to communal nesting local migrants whichusually the local residents who are even contemplating build nests in trees that adjoin, or are actually shooting them! The disturbance of their standing in water bodies. These birds are seen traditional breeding grounds like Kumaragam in Southern India from November to February, and adjoining areas could be the cause of this their breeding season. When faced with water invasion. Aninquiry into the cause and a speedy scarcity or disturbance of the nesting grounds, solution are necessary to ease the problems of the birds are known to desert traditional nesting the residents and also ensure the safety of the sites and move to other suitable places. But this birds. year in Kerala, the birds were spotted in hundreds, nesting in tall mango and jackfruit March 30, 1998 LEELAMADHAVAN trees in the densely populated Keerankulangara Department ofZoology, area of Thrissur town, Kerala. With no large Madras Christian College (Autonomous), water body nearby, the birds had to depend on Chennai 600 059, the nearby ponds, water tanks and even local Tamil Nadu, India. GREY HERON WRESTING FISH FROM HERRING GULL 8. OnFebruary 14, 1998, 1 sawsomething so was being harried, but it soon became apparent unusual that it is worth reporting. Normally it is that it was the heron who was chasing the gull, gulls that chivvy other birds and deprive them who was being further harried and prevented oftheir prey. On this occasion, the tables were from making a getaway by the tern chivvying it effectively turned. My attention was drawn to a from above. The gull was weighed down by a greyheron (Ardeacinerea),aherringgull(Larus fish in its beak. The skirmish continued for argentatus and a gullbilled tern Gelochelidon several minutes, the three birds in the air a few ) ( nilotica) in turmoil. At first I thought the heron feet above the tidal mud. Finally, the gull let go 142 JOURNAL, BOMBAYNATURAL HISTORYSOCIETY. 97(1) APR. 2000