1G4 NATURAL HISTORY. 



is not so often seen, although the flocks are larger than those of 

 Curlews. I have not myself seen the " Curlew-stir.t" on this coast. 

 The genus (Tringa) seems to be chiefly represented by the little Stint 

 {T. minuta\ which appears in considerable numbers in the cold- 

 weather. The Sand-pipers {Actitis glartola, A. ochropus, and 

 A. hypoleukos} are common at the .same season; the last less so than the 

 two first. The Greenshank is common, and stays till April. The Red- 

 shank comes in smaller numbers and for a shorter winter visit. The 

 Spotted Redshank, if it occurs at all, is rare ; but the Little Green- 

 shank is common throughout the winter, affecting fresh water and 

 creeks rather than the sea-shore. The Stint is common on tanks 

 rivers, and creeks. This bird and the Greenshank sometimes figure 

 on butlers' bills as " Woody kak" for which they are very fair 

 deputies. I have not seen the Avocet here. Most of the birds men- 

 tioned above go into the bag as " Snippets," or are contemptuously 

 let off, which is a mistake in the case of most of them (unless Snipe 

 happen to be plentiful), as they are good eating ai d quite as hard to 

 kill on the wing as Snipe. Certain shikaris indeed include in their 

 bags of " Snipe" pretty nearly everything that ha-; a tolerably long 

 beak. In one case I saw with mine eyes the murder of a Paddy-bird 

 for the bag as a ll Snipe" or " Plover ;" and indeed unless the term 

 were pretty elastic, there would be no room r<und Bombay Harbour 

 for the numerous sportsmen of the city. The firing there all Sunday 

 morning in the cold-weather is enough to make one think the country 

 up in arms. 



The Bronze-winged Jacana is common wherever there are weedy 

 tanks. Its ally, the Water -pheasant {Hydrophasmnus chirwgvs — why 

 bMrurgus ?) is much less so. I once saw one perched on a rock on 

 the sea-shore. When disturbed, it flew off over the water to an island; 

 but what brought it in such a place I cannot imagine. The Purple 

 Coot is usually found associated with, or in the neighbourhood of, 

 the two last birds, but is rare here. The Bald Coot is not very com- 

 mon. The tanks of the Konkan are too small for it. The White- 

 breasted Water-hen is very common on the banks of rivers and in 

 gardens, often at some distance from water. I have not seen the 

 English Water-hen here. Water-rails and Crakes are not unfrequently 

 shot amongst Snipe and Quail, especially by " griffins." I ha r e no 

 note of species observed. 



Of Storks, the Great Adjutant and Jabiru (Mycteria anstralis) are 

 rare. I have seen the former once below Ghat, and once in the 



