216 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII. 



The following are some notes on the prevailing Wildfowl hereabouts : — 



The Barred-headed Goose (^Anser indicus). — This bird appeared last cold 

 weather iu considerable numbers, and was with us from November until the end 

 of February. This is a regular cold-weather visitor, but does not always 

 occur in such numbers as last season, I saw one flock of about 50, and five 

 birds were bagged and brought to me in one day by a " pot-hunter," 



The Cotton Teal (^Nettopics coromandelianuH). — 'E&iv\j common during the 

 cold weather until the end of April, but more so near Tinnevelly (about 30 

 miles inland) than in this neighbourhood. Probably the inland tanks, 

 smaller and more overgrown with water plants, suit their habits Letter, 



The Whistling Te^l {De)idrocyc7iajavanica). — Rarer than the preceding, but 

 apparently pretty plentiful in December, January, and February, 



The Spotted-billed Duck (^Anas popcilorhyncha) occurs in small numbers, 

 but apparently visits us after the cold weather is over, I saw none until 

 March, while two specimens were brought to me on the 12th July this year, 

 ' Thy Pintail Duck {^Dafila acuta). — By far the commonest duck in the 

 district, remaining with us from November to March in large flocks of 200 

 to 300, 



The Wigeon {Marcca penelope). — Fairly common, but not nearly so numer- 

 ous as the last species. They seem to come later and depart earlier. 



The Common Teal {Nettium crecca). — Plentiful throughout the district, 

 and remain with ua from November until May, 



The Gavganey Teal {Querquedula circia). — Apparently more plentiful iu 

 this immediate neighbourhood (Tuticorin) than the Common Teal ; but this 

 may be due to the fact that they consort in larger flocks, and the "pot-hunter" 

 consequently bags more of them. They arrive here about December, and remain 

 until the very end of April and even into May, Two males in full plumage 

 Wore brought to me on the 26th April this year. 



The Common Flamingo {PhcEnicopterus rosei'.s). — Fairly common through- 

 out the district. One large flock of quite 300 frequented a shallow piece of 

 water about three miles from here, all the cold weather, and remained until 

 the end of April, when the water dried up. This flock is still (July) in the 

 neighbourhood. 



The Banded Crake {Rallina superciliaris). — On the 14th November, 1896 

 after a very severe gale from the N, E, (in fact a cyclone), a bird was brought 

 to me alive, but much exhausted by the wind, which I identified as a male of 

 this species, I allowed it to rest in my garden, and it was sufEciently recovered 

 to fly off the next day. This bird Avas quite strange to the local shikarrics, 

 and I have little doubt was blown over in the gale from the coast of Ceylon, 

 where {vide Hume and Marshall) this species arrives in considerable numbers 

 in October. 



W. N. FLEMING. 

 TuTicoBiN, /uZ*/, 1898. 



