MASON AND LEFROY. 273 



Stomachs examined 



15-10-09. A few small snails (No. 29.) 



Of the Limicolae most species are migrants as a rule visiting 

 plains or the neighbourhood of the sea coast in the cold 

 weather. 



(Edicnemidae and Glareolidae are mostly plains residents. 

 They are generally distributed, the various species haunting dif- 

 ferent localities, being found on dry plains, the sea shore, hill and 

 forests tracts. Some are resident and some migratory. 



The Parridae or Jacanas are found in the neighbourhood of 

 tanks and rivers in the plains of India and in Burma. 



Charidriince or Plovers are mostly found in the plains as 

 winter visitors, these migrants being more numerous in the 

 North-western portion of the Empire. Three or four species are 

 residents in the plains, some extending into Burma. The 

 members of the genus Mgi litis are all winter visitors to the 

 plains, two species, however being confined to the coast, namely, 

 geoffroyi and mongolica ; all are migratory. 



Hcematopodince. The Oyster Catcher frequents the sea coast 

 only, while the Stilts and Avocets are met with in various parts of 

 India, the Ibis-bill even in hill tracts. 



Totaniince. All the sandpipers (Totanus) are winter migrants 

 to India, and though generally distributed are more numerous 

 in the more Northern parts of India ; one or two species are con- 

 fined to the coast. 



The Stints (Tringa) are most numerous on or near the coast. 

 Some extend inland along river beds and all are winter visitors. 



Scolopacjice. The Wood-cock and Wood-snipe breed in hill 

 tracts the Himalayas, the former occurring generally throughout 

 hill tracts in India in the cold weather. Other snipes are mostly 

 winter visitors, haunting wet or damp localities, and but rarely re- 

 corded as breeding on the plains. G. solitaria, however, haunts 

 high lands and R. capensis is a local migrant. 



This order is of considerable economic importance. The 

 Plovers are certainly beneficial in one or two cases, but from a 



18 



