372 H. GADOW. 



18. Sterna fuliginosa. Fauna Brit. Ind., IV, p. 324. The Sooty Tern. 



One immature specimen from Minikoi ; most of the feathers above have whitish or pale 

 brownish tips. Recorded by Hume from the Laccadives. 



19. Sterna melanauchen. Fauna Brit. Ind., iv, p. 322. The Black-naped Tern. 



The two adult specimens have the following measurements, which do not seem to agree 

 exactly with previous records: culmen 1"4 and 1'6 inches; wing 79 and 8'5 inches; tarsus 

 0-6 and 0-65 inch. 



The Terns preceding and following this species are both abundant in the Maldives, but 

 this is by far the commonest, sometimes large flocks almost completely covering the sand- 

 banks which are exposed at low tide. All three species were seen from October to Januaryi 

 but not subsequent to the latter month, seeming almost to leave with the full setting-in 

 of the north-east monsoon. 



20. Sterna bernsteini. Saunders, Cat. B. M., xxxv, p. 96 (1896). 



21. Eudynamis honorata. Fauna Brit. Ind., iii, p. 229. The Indian Koel. Maldivan 

 " kooveli." 



This Cuckoo — the male called by the natives kalu (black) kooveli and the female hudu 

 (light) kooveli — was constantly seen in the months of November and December in Mahlosma- 

 dulu, Miladumadulu and Fadifolu. A pair frequented the Banyan trees in Hulule, Male Atoll, 

 in January but disappeared at the beginning of February. The bird was not seen in April 

 in Addu or Suvadiva Atolls. 



The species in the Maldives keeps to the densest part of the jungle, frequenting the 

 Breadfruit, Banyan and Galophyllum trees. Males were much less numerous than females, 

 three or four of the latter being seen to one of the former. The natives of Mahlosmadulu, 

 even in the Maldives noteably unobservant, know the difference between the males and females, 

 and state that a few breed every year in their islands. 



Concerning outlying islands this cuckoo has been found also on the South Andamans, 

 on Little Coco Island, and by H. 0. Forbes on the Laccadives in the month of February. 



*22. Palaeornis calthropae. Fauna Brit. Ind., ill, p. 256. Layard's Ceylon Parakeet. 



A pair of gi-een parakeets a little bigger than a thrush and of a brilliant green colour 

 all over — were on two occasions at the end of January seen at Hulule, Male Atoll. The 

 birds were among the /una trees {Galophyllum inojjhyllum), the nuts of which they seemed 

 to be eating. They were probably driven down by the heavy north-easterly winds, at that 

 time experienced in the Maldives. 



23. Asio accipitrinus. Fauna Brit. Ind., ill, p. 271. 



A dead specimen of the Short-eared Owl was found in Furudu, Goifurfehendu Atoll, in 

 October and one was shot in Kendikolu, Miladumadulu Atoll, in December. In January and 

 February two or three were to be seen nightly flying over the low bushy land to the north 

 and east of Hulule, Male Atoll. In April the bird was also seen in Suvadiva and Addu 

 Atolls, and at Male Island. 



