370 H. GADOW. 



It especially frequents the mangroves at the edges of swamps, and breeds in the same places. 

 It is never seen on the shores nor in the open, unless flushed. 



5. Ardea cinerea. Fauna Brit. Ind., iv, p. 382. 



The Common Grey Heron is found in Minikoi and in all parts of the Maldive Group. 

 Solitary birds frequent the shore, the boulder zone and those parts of the reef which are 

 exposed at low tide. The species feeds largely on the beach crabs (Ocypode), with the shells 

 of which it strews the shores. The bird is especially numerous in the west of North Mahlos- 

 madulu, roosting in the south island of Bodu-faro and in Limbo-Kandu. The nest is placed 

 in the crown of a tall coconut tree. One bird reared its young during my visit to Minikoi 

 on Wiringili island (July and August, 1899). 



*6. Herodias garzetta. Fauna Brit. Ind., iv, p. 387. The Little Egret. 



A single bird appeared in the clearing round the lighthouse at Minikoi in July, 1899, 

 and I saw a second in Hedufuri, S. Mahlosmadulu. There were also two tamed birds in 

 Huludu, Addu Atoll. The presence of one of these birds in any island — their colour, white, 

 being beloved of Mahommed — is considered a lucky sign. Neither my companion nor I hence 

 cared to shoot a specimen. 



*7. Nettium crecca. Fauna Brit. Ind., iv, p. 443. The Common Teal. 



A pair of these birds were seen in a small pool at Maduwari, S. Mahlosmadulu. Several 

 were also observed in Miladumadulu, seeming to frequent a series of large fresh-water lakes 

 in the islands of the east rim between Furnadu and Landu. In Kendikolu, one of these 

 islands, Mr Forster Cooper found two old birds and three young ones. 



8. Falco tinnunmdus. Fauna Brit. Ind., Ill, p. 428. 



The two female specimens of Kestrel brought home are rather long winged. 



Wing, 9'8 inches and 10'5 inches. Blandford gives 9'5 inches. 

 Tail, 6-5 „ „ 7-3 „ „ „ 6-75 „ 



Tarsus, 1"5 „ „ 1'6 „ „ „ 1"5 „ 



9. Circus macrurus. Fauna Brit. Ind., iii, p. 381. The Pale Harrier. 



10. Circus cineraceus. Fauna Brit. Ind., iii, jj. 383. Montagu's Harrier. 



The Kestrel and these two Harriers were all very common from October to February 

 in the northern part of the Maldives. None, however, were seen in Addu, Suvadiva or else- 

 where in April. Although only a few specimens of the Harriers were preserved, a very large 

 number were shot by request of the natives, whose chickens are often killed and carried off 

 by them. 



11. Gallinula {Amaurornis) phoenicura. Fauna Brit. Ind., iv, p. 173. Native Maldivian 

 name " kambili." The White-breasted Water-hen. 



This Rail is found sparingly right through the whole Maldive Archipelago, being observed 

 even in Midu and Maradu Islands in Addu Atoll. A few inhabit the jungle of the south 

 end of Minikoi, and at the end of July, 1899, a young bird was taken from the nest, a 

 mere hollow in the ground among some dry rushes. In Kendikolu, Miladumadulu Atoll, the 

 species is very numerous in the mangrove swamps around some fresh-water pools, and in 



