464 THE LACCADIVES AND THE WEST COAST.: 
848.—Aigialitis cantianus, Lath. 
We saw, I think, only two of these—one at Cardamum and one 
at or near Bingaroo in the Aucuttee atoll. 
860.—Strepsilas interpres, Zin. 
The Turnstone is the commonest bird in the Laccadives. 
We found it on every reef and on the shores of every island 
without exception. They were nowhere in large numbers in 
any one place, but they were dotted about everywhere in ones 
and twos, and occasionally we saw small parties. 
The Turnstone, I find, swims about a great deal. At Cherbani- 
ani I passed three small birds swimming about merrily just 
outside the breakers, outside the atoll. Ishot two, and after much 
trouble (as we dared not take the steam launch too close to the 
breakers, as huge rollers were coming in) succeeded in secur- 
ing them. I made sure that they must be Phaleropes, and was 
naturally vastly disgusted at finding they were merely Turn- 
stones. Subsequently we repeatedly saw them swimming about 
in similar localities—never in the stilllagoons. They rose out of 
the water with the greatest ease, took short flights, and dropped 
down again into the sea, in which they appeared to be perfectly 
athome. Ihave seen many Turnstones before, but never saw 
them thus affect the water. 
861.—Dromas ardeola, Payk. 
We only once met with this species in the group, and that 
was at Pere-Mull-Par, where we saw a small flock of ten or a 
dozen individuals. 
877.—Numenius lineatus, Cuv. 
A rare bird in theislands. Wealtogether saw (and shot) 
two—one at Cardamum, the other at Aucuttee. 
878.—Numenius pheopus, Lin. 
This Whimbrel is decidedly less rare than the Curlew, we 
shot it at Kiltan, Amini, and Betra-Par, and probably saw 
not less than six or seven from first to last. 
881 is.—Tringa crassirostris, Tem. and Schl. 
I only once met with this species in the Laccadives ; a single 
pair at Betra-Par ; I did not shoot either, but I am familiar with 
the species, of which I procured numbers in the Kurrachee 
harbour. I examined this pair with binoculars from a distance 
of about 100 yards before trying to get at them. 
