290 BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



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stop at the foot of a range of wooded hills, some 800 feet high, 

 ending to the seaward in a low fortified peak, whereof we shall 

 have a better view later in the day. Due west, upon our right 

 hand, the Isle-fort ot Kolaba, at this state of tide, rises apparently 

 sheer from the water, a range of crumbling fortifications, about 

 twenty feet high in most parts, topped by abundant foliage, including 

 that of a few palm trees, and varied by a couple of temples. 



Over the highest northern tower a tall white flag-staff, with a 

 square yard, shines in the morning sun like a silver cross. This 

 marks the warning-signal station, where watch is kept day and 

 night in favour of the traffic of Bombay. It has saved many vessels 

 and many lives • and I seldom see that cross in the sky without 

 a mental quotation of the " In hoc signo vinces" But it is not 

 always victorious ; and on one very recent occasion its warning 

 was not attended to in time to prevent a serious accident. 



All round the fort, and beyond it for miles, the reefs lie hidden 

 under the flood-tide. Only to the southward, and almost on our 

 course, a black tower, rising straight from the water, marks one of 

 the worst — the Chaul Kadu reef. Just by its foot an occasional 

 wave breaks on the almost forgotten wreck of the P. & O. steam -ship 

 " Jeddo." 



Close before us the breach of the sea marks a sand bar forming the 

 other side of the creek, and we being by this timo embarked, steer to 

 cross it, where a cocoanut stem marks the passage over the bar. 



This, just at present, is in use as the perch of a sea-eagle (Ralicetus 

 leucog aster), who is so well aware that we will not hurt him, that he 

 lets the boat come close enough for us to see his eye, and admire 

 his snow-white head and breast, contrasted, sea-gull-like, with a 

 slate-grey back and wings. Then, rather as despising than fearing 

 our neighbourhood, he lazily flaps away upon over a fathom of wing # 

 Half-a-dozen handsome black and white birds head across the bow 

 and the men look to the stern sheets as if they expected the shot to 

 be taken ; but it is not well to spend time in shooting on this trip, 

 for we want all our daylight. These are Oyster-catchers,* or 



• I have in a former number noted the apparent error in Jerdon's Birds o 

 India, where the truncated beak, so common in European Oyster-oatohers is noted a 

 a generic distinction. I have examined many specimens in the British Museum and 

 here, and now believe it to be only the result of wear, having nerer found it in my 

 Indian specimens. None of these have the completely red bill of many European 

 birds, the coloration is that described by JerdoD) orange with black tip. Furtue 1 * 

 Indian observations are required. 



