the Birds of Mauritius. 107 



09. Phaethon lepturus. 



Pha'ethon lepturus Sbarpe, Cat. BirJs, xxvi. p. 453. 



Paille en queue a brins blancs. 



White-tailed Eo'sun Bird. 



Resident in Mauritian waters, breeding in tiie forests in 

 Savanne and other suitable localities. 



This species was observed at Flat Island, Gunner's Quoin, 

 and Round Island, but no evidence of its breeding at these 

 places was found. Oustalet C^ Birds of Mauritius,' p. 119) 

 states that it breeds in these places side by side with 

 P. rubricauda. 



The only nests that 1 saw were far inland, and placed on a 

 tangled mass of fern and creepers about twenty feet from 

 the ground. 



70. Phcenicopterus minor. 



Phteniconaias minor Salvadori, Cat. Birds, xxvii. p. 18. 



Flaminant. 



Flamingo. 



This bird was probably once a resident in Mauritius. 

 INIonsieur Emmerez de Charmoy tells me tliat large baskcts- 

 ful of their bones have been collected from a marsii. 



In 1870 about fifty visited the island. About 1880 two 

 Avere shot at Flacq, and this appears to be the last recorded 

 instance of the bird's presence in the island. 



It is resident in Madagascar. 



71. * Dendrocycna viduata. t 



Dendrocycna viduata Salvadori, Cat. Birds, xxvii. p. 11-5. 



Sarcelle. 



This Tree-Duck, so common in Madagascar, has been 

 lately introduced into Mauritius, but is nowhere plentiful. 

 It does not wander inland very much. A few can generally 

 be found in the quiet pools near Flacq and Mahebourg. 



It is a common belief among certain local naturalists 

 that this bird is not an introduced species, but I can find 

 nothing to support this theory. 



t Dendrocycna fiiloa Salvadori has been frequeully introduced from 

 Madagascar, but is always kept in captivity. 



