WATERS OP WESTERN INDIA. 223 



of the Great Stone Plover, I am iudebted to Mr. Littledale's paper 

 in the fourth No. of this Journal. I have myself seen the bird all the 

 year round in this region, under circumstances which induced me to 

 believe it a native ; but I have not got the nest. This is by no 

 means my only obligation to Mr. Littledale and his collaborator, 

 Mr. Doig. 



The Turnstone, Crab-Plover, and Oyster -Catcher occur on the 

 coast, and probably breed there. 



The Snipes are the same as in the regions already treated of, 

 "only more so," or at least more of them. The Woodcock Wood 

 Snipe may occur in the Dangs. 



The Black-tailed Godwit is common in the cold weather ; its ally, 

 the Avoset Sandpiper, rather rare. Of the Curlews, the true curlew 

 is commonest on the coast; the Whimbrel is far more so inland, and 

 usurps its name in the sporting vocabulary of Gujarat. The Stints 

 are numerous,, especially an the coast. One species (Trimga minuta, 

 I think) is fairly abundant in sandy river-beds, even of moderate 

 size. For instance, I have found large flocks on the Wat-ak, near 

 the famous tomb of the Sayads, above MahmudabaJ. Small as 

 they are, the Stints are well worth pa wder and shot, being, for the 

 table, barely inferior even to S-nipas. Sandpipers are very com- 

 mon ; the Greenshanks and both Redsha nks hardly less so. Totanits 

 calidris, in a few places, occurs in immense flocks, especially 

 towards evening, when scattered foraging parties unite, and fly 

 towards a common roost. 



On one occasion, finding out their path to bed, I shot in a few 

 minutes enough te supply a large camp and might have killed 

 many more. The Stilt is common, and the Avoset not rare in 

 suitable places; but the great abundance of Ducks and Snipe causes 

 the sports-men of Gujarat to overlook almost all other water-fowl ; 

 and they really kuow less about them- as a rule than the shikaris 

 of less favoured land, who are obliged by necessity to be less 

 "proudful," and know something about eatable " Snippets." 



Of the Latitores, both Jacanas are common, and both breed. 

 The Rails and Water Bens are very numerous, and as yet by no 

 means worked out. I have little reliable information about them 

 myself. The Purple Coot and Bald Coot abound and breed. The 

 former, as seen strutting on the grass near the edge of a tank, 

 with the sun on its plumage, is a splendid bird, looking like a great 

 blue pullet. In hand its size shrinks, the plumage seems rather 



