GLEANINGS FROM THE CALCUTTA MARKET. 483 



During the greater, part of the cold season they are brought 

 in almost daily, but only in small bunches. I find that on 

 the 26th of April, I noted " enormous numbers of Golden 

 Plover, all iu full breeding- plumage are still coming in ;" but 

 after the first week in May they had altogether disappeared. 

 Where these birds breed is still a puzzle. I have watched them 

 in several parts of the country, Blewitt in others, the Khan 

 Saheb in others, Cripps in others, &c, &c. ; in every case this 

 species, after assuming the full breeding plumage, has disappear- 

 ed before the 15th May, generally by the 1st May. We have 

 eggs, supposed to be theirs, though I think this doubtful, from 

 the Mekran Coast. But all the millions that throng our Indian 

 meadows and uplands don't go to the Mekran Coast to breed 

 we may be sure. Do any really breed anywhere in India, or 

 in the Indian portion of the Himalayas ? 



846. — jEgialitis geoffroyi, Wagler. 



This is only very rarely brought into the market. 

 847, 848, 849. — JE. mo?igola, cantiana, dubia. 



A few of each at least every other day. jE. minuta I have 

 never met with in Calcutta. 



854. — Chetfusia cinerea, Blyth. 



These are brought in occasionally, chiefly during the early 

 part of the season. The seasons, too, vary ; some years this 

 species comes in, in numbers, while in others very few are seen. 



855. — Lobivanellus indicus, Bodd, and 857. — Hoplopterus 

 ventralis, Cnv. 



Are both often brought in, but in much smaller numbers 

 on the whole than the preceding. 



858. — Esacus recurvirostris, Cuv., and 859. — (Edicnemus scolo* 

 pax, S. G. Gm. 



Both extremely rare. Some years none are brought, and 

 probably 10 or 12 of each are the greatest number ever brought 

 in during one season. 



860. — Strepsilas interpres, Lin. 



Blyth got this in the Calcutta Bazaar. I have looked for it 

 for years in vain. 



867. — Scolopax rusticola, Lin. 



I saw one specimen in the Calcutta market many years ao-o 

 in the first week of November. I have never seen another there. 

 870 & 871. — Gallinago sthenura, Ktihl, and gallinaria, Lin. 



Of both species large numbers are brought in daily. Takino- 

 the season through, I believe that about as many come of one 



