WATERS OF WESTERN INDIA. ^7 



oyster- shells, I think that a parasitic sponge attacks the oyster, but 

 I hav'n't caught him at it. This vermin would probably be allied to 

 the northern Cliona, which does the same thing at home. 



The true Sea-weeds {Algce) are scarce and small here, and most of 

 them not attractive in appearance. Nor do I know of any alga being 

 used on this coast as human food or for manure; or in fact for any- 

 thing at all. I don't know much about them ; and Dr. Kirtikar 

 and Mr. Birdwood have made the submarine flora of these seas 

 their own. 



Many years ago, Dr. Carter reported the organism which colours 

 salt red in our Bombay Salt-pans as apparently identical with that 

 which reddens snow in the Alpine and Arctic Regions (Protococcus 

 Nivalis). This is now generally considered to be vegetable ; though 

 the embryo is free and locomotive. 



The hot springs all down the Konkan contain peculiar Algae, pro- 

 bably allied to those which Dr. Kirtikar found at " Wazrabai." 

 They are most abundant, I think, at Unhere, one march from Nagotna, 

 and not far from Pali. Northerly gales bring a drifting Sargassum 

 with little bladders that look like berries (and are not) like S. 

 lacciferum. Like it, too, this species seems to live afloat. 



Since I began these papers, Mr. Aitken has added to my list of 

 birds one duck, Mergus merganser , from Bombay harbour, which , 

 as he justly observes, is probably its most southern record. 



Mr. Inverarity (in accordance with his promise), has added 

 two ducks, the tufted pochard, which I had but doubtfully recorded, 

 and the scaup. This last is probably also a most southern record. 

 The truth is that we shall never know all about our ducks until 

 somebody comes with a punt-gun ; and this applies particularly to 

 the more marine species. I got a young duck alive in September, 

 which I think must have been a spot-bill ; but before the question 

 could be settled the badger broke loose and ate it up. 



Mr. Inverarity also notes the ' true bittern, the little chestnut 

 bittern, of both of which I have seen local specimens, since I began 

 these papers, the black-tailed godwit (of which I find a very doubtful 

 undated note in my copy of " Jerdon " as perhaps shot in Bombay 

 Harbour), and the golden plover, which he has found in the sort of 

 ground where I thought it might be, but in far greater numbers 

 than I should have thought possible.* Clearly it is a regular visitor 



# I hare shot this bird since in the Kundlira Valley, 7th April 1887. 



13 



