Capt. Beavaii on various Indian Birds. 405 



994. Angus tenuirostris (Temm.). Wliite-lieaded Noddy. 

 On the same voyage I noticed, on June 3, 1865, that a specimen 

 of this species came on board the brig I was then in, and settled 

 on this forecastle, but was too wary to be caught, although its 

 leg had previously been broken. I fired at it, and, unluckily, it 

 just managed to fall overboard. It may possibly have been 

 A. STOLIDUS ; but the tail-plumage was much abraded, and the 

 white forehead distinctly visible {cf. Ibis 1867, p. 334). 



995. Rhynchops albicollis. Indian Skimmer. 



I recollect noticing several of ^ese peculiar birds when tra- 

 velling down the river Ganges from Allahabad to Rajmahal by 

 steamer in 1859, and subsequently on theTeesta River at Julpi- 

 goorie in 1860. It was often a puzzle to me as to the use of its 

 peculiar bill ; and I much doubt if that question has yet been 

 satisfactorily settled. 



996. Phaeton rubricauda. Red-tailed Tropic-bird. 

 Noticed by me on the voyage to the Audamans in 1865, but 



no specimens procured. 



998. SuLA fiber. Booby. 



On the same occasion I noticed, on the 3rd of June 1865, that 

 this species is numerous in the Bay of Bengal. They fly low and 

 very fast, skimming along the surface of the waves, apparently on 

 the look-out for flying fish, which are also numerous, and pay 

 no attention to the vessel ; and on the 8th of the same month 

 I noticed a large, pure white bird, which was probably a Sula 

 piscator, the White Booby, which was seen high in the air at some 

 distance from the vessel. At the same there was a rudely con- 

 structed towing-net overboard bringing up plenty of sea-lice, 

 and probably a species of Physalia, consisting of a triangular 

 bladder which supports a body of a deep blue colour, and ex- 

 pands into tentacles with yellow tips. This, when seen floating 

 in the water, is a most beautiful object, much more like a flower 

 than a living animal. 



1000. Attagen aquilus. Frigate-bird. 

 All I have got to say of this species is, that Dr. Jerdon is 

 evidently in error when he records this as figured at pi. 71 of 



