100 Captain R. ]Meiiiertzliagen on 



Sir Edward Newton (' Il)is/ 1861, p. 116) considered It to 

 helonf^ to the indigenous fauna. 



INIilbert ('Voyage Pittoresque a Tile de France/ vol. ii. 

 p. 256) definitely states that it was introduced from 

 Madagascar. 



The species is plentiful in suitable localities in Mada- 

 gascar, and I am inclined to believe that it was introduced 

 by human agency into jNIauritius. It is plentiful at La Lucie 

 on the Riviere Seehe, where it breeds. This locality appears 

 to be its stronghold. Wanderers only are obtained occa- 

 sionally on neighbouring ])icces of water. Formerly it 

 used to be fairly plentiful on the Tamarin and Black Rivers, 

 but it has been so persecuted there that it has probably 

 died out. 



At La Lucie Lake, where the birds are very tame, I had 

 good opportunities of observing them. They do not seem to 

 care about leaving the dense reeds. They are very clumsy 

 flyers. Their particular delight seems to be to lurk about in 

 thick sedge or grass and utter their weird screams and grunts 

 at frequent intervals. 



44. Stkepsilas interpres. 



Arenaria interpres Sharpe, Cat. Birds, xxiv. p. 92. 



Tourne Pierres. 



Turnstone. 



It is )iot surprising to find this wanderer occurring in 

 Maurituis. There are, indeed, few places in the world which 

 it has not reached. 



There are two stufj'ed specimens from Mauritius in the 

 Port Louis Museum, and from time to time specimens are 

 obtain d from Madagascar, Reunion, and Rodriguez. 



45. Squatarola iief^vetica. 



Sqti^atarula helvetica Sharpe, Cat. Birds, xxiv. p. 182. 



Grey Plover. 



This wariderer from northern climes appears to be an 

 occasional visitor. In the Port Louis Musermi is a specimen 

 shot at the lie d'Ambre on Feb. lo 1905. 



