144 
THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR 
ISLANDS. 
ByvAy Ly BUriERs mz...) M,B:0.U.sHECs 
Curator, Selangor State Museum. 
(Continued from Vol, XII, page 696.) 
Parr IV. 
1401, AMAURORNIS PH@NICURUS, Penn, Blanf., IV, p. 173 ; “Str, Feath.,” 
WE, fe axut0) 
Extremely common throughout both groups, breeding, J think, throughout 
the year, Speaking of the difference between Andaman and Nicobar birds 
and Indian ones Mr. Hume says :—‘ Jn the full breeding plumage the whole 
head in some birds, as far back as the occiput, becomes perfectly white, while 
in some even the feathers of the nape are mingled with white.’ This descrip- 
tion applies to the Nicobar birds exactly, but personally I did not see a single 
Andamanese specimen anywhere approaching the Nicobar birds in this respect, 
And I examined a great number—over 150—as they would go and strangle 
themselves wholesale in the snares I intended for the Andamanese Rail. 
On Car Nicobar I saw one beautiful specimen of this bird which certainly 
appeared to have the whole head and neck white ; it walked past me within a 
few feet in thick cover, too close to shoot, and ee it was far enough off. 
to kill, I Jost sight of 1t and failed to find it again. 
This water-hen, a bird lke Homer’s sea ln “ many-sounding,’’ 
has, in the Andamans, amonga large and varied répertoire of uncouth and 
objectionable noises, an extraordinary duck-like quack. I never heard it 
utter this note in Ceylon, and am unaware whether it is usual with Indian 
birds, The quacking is very loud and can be heard a long way ; the first time 
I heard it I certainly thought I was coming upon a piece of water hidden in 
the forest and tenanteca by some remarkably noisy species of duck, 
Car Nicobarese, “ takoor.” 
1403. GALLICREX CINEREA,Gm. Blanf., IV, p.176 ;“‘Str, Feath.,” II, p. 300, 
Fairly common, I think, in the Andamans, but very seldom seen, Mr, Davi- 
son remarks:—‘ The watercock found at the Andamans belies its name by never, 
as far as I have observed, being found near water ; the only places in which 
T have observed it are the sugar-cane fields.’ The two or three that I met with 
did not belic their name, and were flushed from the reeds and grass surround- 
ing small pools of water. 
1420. Esacts magnrrostRis, Geoffr, Blanf., IV, p. 207; “ Str. Feath,”” 
I, p. 290. 
This fine Australian form is apparently rare, but resident in the Andamans 
and Cocos, Mr. Hume obtained a couple of specimens, and took an egg on 
the Little Coco on March 24th, Previously Mr. Mason had obtained an egg 
at Corbyn’s Cove, Port Blair, on April 15th. 
