AVES. 371 



Hulule two or three birds used daily to visit our midden. In some islands the natives regu- 

 larly catch them by means of nooses, laid down in their runs. 



*12. Gharadrius fulvus. Fauna Brit. Ind., iv, p. 234. 



The Eastern Golden Plover is often tamed both in the Maldives and Laccadives. There 

 were two in Minikoi and several in Male and the various islands of Addu Atoll. In addition 

 a small flock was seen wild in Bodu Mandu, Miladumadulu Atoll. 



13. Numenius phaeojyus. Fauna Brit. Ind., iv, p. 253. 



The Whimbrel is a regular visitor to the Maldives from November to March, when it 

 proceeds northwards again. Three or four birds are occasionally seen together on the wing, 

 but single specimens are more often found and are then exceedingly shy of approach. The 

 species was frequently noticed in Mahlosmadulu and Miladumadulu, and a single bird frequented 

 the reefs of Hulule, Male Atoll. 



14. Gallinago coelestis. Fauna Brit. Ind., iv, p. 286. 



The Full Snipe was extremely numerous in April, 1900, on the mud-flats of Addu Atoll 

 at low tide. At high tide it frequented in jjarticular a large rush-covered swamp extending 

 along the middle of the north-eastern island between the \'illages of Huludu and Midu. The 

 bird is said to be plentiful in this Atoll at all seasons of the year. It therefore must breed 

 there, and indeed its nest — on tussocks of the rush — and eggs appeared on enquiry- to be 

 well-known to the natives. The species may have been seen, but it was never identified nor 

 shot in any other part of the Maldives. 



15. Totanus hypoleucus. Fauna Brit. Ind., IV, p. 260. 



The Common Sandpiper was observed at Minikoi in August and frequently in the Maldives 

 between, October and April. It generally occurs in single pairs or small flocks — seldom more 

 than six in number frequenting the rocky shores of the islands. 



16. Dramas ardeola. Fauna Brit. Ind., iv, p. 208. 



The Crab-Plover • was observed only in the middle of December, 1899, in Miladumadulu 

 Atoll. It was especially numerous round Fumadu, affecting a series of sand-banks along the 

 reefs. Several small flocks of four to about a dozen were seen, flying from place to place 

 and feeding, where the waves lap against the beaches, on small Ocypodes and other Crustacea. 

 The Maldivians say that the species does not breed in their Group, and indeed — assuming 

 that the accounts of its nesting are correct — as the sand is all very loose, it is difficult to 

 see where it could do so. 



The species ranges from Madagascar and East Africa to Ceylon, the Andamans and 

 Nicobars ; it has also been recorded on the Laccadives. 



17. Anous tenuirostris = leucocapillus Gould. Fauna Brit. Ind., iv, p. 326. 



The White-headed Noddy is nowhere common, but found throughout the whole of the 

 Maldives. It breeds in S. Mahlosmadulu and other atolls on the Screw Pine trees (Pandanus). 



One of the adult specimens, obtained on April 14, 1900, was moulting. An adult female 

 and nestling were taken from a Pandanus tree on Mabaru, S. Mahlosmadulu by Mr Forster 

 Cooper on Nov. 26, 1899. 



G. 48 



