WATERS OF WESTERN INDIA. 165 



Konkan-Gha't-Ma"ta', to the best of my memory, and the latter only 

 once below Glial. The Black and the White (European) Stork 

 I never saw in the Konkan at all. Hero, as in the Deccan, the White- 

 necked Stork (Ciconia leucocephala) takes the place and name of the 

 former, and is pretty common. 



The Herons are the same as in the Deccan, but far more numerous 

 in individuals, especially in the creeks and salt marshes. Only the 

 Purple or Grass Heron is uncommon, as there are few extensive 

 waters with grassy banks. Most of them frequent the sea-shore : 

 the exceptions are the Night Heron and (naturally) the Cattle Egret. 

 Natives shoot the White Egrets (Herodias) a good deal for their 

 dorsal plumes, which are marketable in Bombay. I do not think 

 that any true Bittern occurs in the Konkan. 



The Ibises, however, are pretty well represented by the Pelican 

 Ibis and White Ibis ; the former on fresh waters ; the latter usually 

 on the estuaries, where it associates with Curlews. The Shell Ibis 

 is locally common on fresh water only. The Black Ibis (Geronticus 

 papillosus) is rather rare ; and I have not seen the Glossy Ibis 

 (Falcinellus ignms) at all. " Korle" is the Maratha name for both Ibises 

 ar.d Curlews. 



The Spoonbill is decidedly rare. It is a bird of opener waters 

 than we have here, where even the creeks are fringed (generally) with 

 rock or mangrove. Now the Spoonbill does not like either rocks or 

 trees. With it terminates the list of Fowl merely associated with water, 

 and begins that of the Waterfowl proper. It leads up, in fact, to the 

 Flamingo. In our last number I gave reasons for treating this bird 

 as a Duck, and need not repeat them here. It is a migrant on the 

 Konkan coast, but remains till June, in which month I have seen 

 a flock flying north. I am rot personally acquainted with the species 

 or variety called by some writers Phcenicopterus minor. 



No Swans and no true Wild Geese occur in the Konkan. The 

 Black-backed Goose and its duodecimo edition, the so-called Cotton- 

 teal (Sarkidiornis melaiionotus and Nettapvs coroniandelicus), are found 

 throughout the region, though both are rather uncommon. The 

 climate suits them ; but the waters do not. . They do not like salt 

 water ; and the tanks and river-pools are not big enough for them ; 

 hut both may breed in favoured spots. 



Of the next group of Ducks, the Tadornince, the Lesser Whistling- 

 teal is found ; but it is not common ; and I have only seen it myself 

 in the cold-weather. I was much surprised to find a small flock 



