WATERS OF WESTERN INDIA. 1G3 



has recorded the occurrence of the rare Caspian Plover {CEgialitis 

 asiatica) ; and Lieutenant Barnes gives CE. geojfroyi^ mongola, and 

 cavtiana as coast-birds, and CE. dubia and minuta generally for 

 the Presidency. The last ought to be the dubia. It is a very dubious 

 species indeed. 



The European Lapwing is extra-tropical, and its nearest allies, 

 the Cliettusue,, are rare cold-weather visitors here. Their place is 

 taken by the Red-and-yellow-wattled Lapwings, or " Did-ye-do-its" 

 (LobivaneUus goensis and Sarciophorus bilobus). The first is on every 

 stream : the latter is less aquatic and rarer. The Stone-plovers CEsa- 

 cus recurvirostris and CEdicnemus scolopax are not very common. 

 The former deserves its name, frequenting sheet-rock and shingle in 

 the beds of rivers and creeks (preferring fresh water). The latter 

 ought to bo called the Grass-plover, as its favourite quarters are in 

 open grass-lands, and it is so independent of water as hardly to deserve 

 a place here. It is the "Bastard Florican" of sportsmen, and does 

 really seem by its habits to mark the connection between the Bus- 

 tards and the Plovers, birds not widely separated by anatomical 

 characters. 



Of the riamiantopodida 1 , or Pied Pea-plovers, the Turnstone and 

 Crab-plover may be looked for, and I think I have seen the latter- 

 The Oyster-catcher is a permanent resident, and probably breeds here 

 in small numbers. 



There are absolutely no Wild Cranes in the region, probably because 

 there are few cold-weather crops. 



The Common and Pin-tailed Snipe are frequent cold-weather visi- 

 tors, though the snipe-skooting of the Konkan is a poor affair to 

 a man of Sind or Gujerat. The Pin-tailed appears to increase in number 

 southward, which must be only an appearance, as both are undoubtedly 

 immigrants from the north. The Jacksnipe is less common here than 

 above Ghat ; they are all usually known as " Ishna'p;" but the true 

 Maratha name is '' Slush." The Painted Snipe is a permanent resi- 

 dent, and breeds here in the rains, but has a curious habit of shifting 

 its quarters in May, in small " wisps" of five to ten individuals, who 

 are very careless of cover, perhaps because there is so little left them 

 that they cannot afford to be particular. 



Like the resident Ducks, the Painted Snipe is at this season fittest for 

 the table, and no doubt for the same reasons as given in my last paper. 



The Curlew remains on the coast all the year round ; but its little 

 brother, the Whimbrel, seems to be only a cold-weather visitor, and 



