THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 151 
Said to occur in the Bay of Bengal, but I cannot find a record of its being 
procured in the islands since the specimen sent to Blyth from the Nicobars, 
Prion,sp.? Blanf., 1V. p. 358 ; “Str, Feath.,”” IT, p, 317, 
Mr, Hume mentions meeting with some blue and white petrels at sea 
between Preparis and the Cocos on the 4th of March, 
1536, OcEANITES OCEANICUS, Kuht.? Blanf., IV, p. 354; “Str. Feath.,” 
EE, S17. 
Some small dusky petrels were seen:by Mr. Hume on the same day. Pro- 
bably this species. 
1554, ARDEA MANILLENSIS, Sharpe. Blanf,, IV, p. 381; “Str. Feath.,” 
II, p. 303. 
The Purple Heron occurs in both groups, but is rather scarce everywhere, 
1560, HrRopiAs INTERMEDIA, Wagl. Blanf., 1V, p. 386; “Str. Feath,.” 
II, p. 303. 
Occurs in both groups, but is not so numerous as the next, I generally 
met with them in small parties sitting on the mangroves up the harbour 
beyond Viper. 
1561. Heropras carzerra, Linn, Blanf., ITV, p. 387 ; “Str. Feath.,” IT, 
p. 304. 
Common about paddy fields and marshes in the Andamans ; probably occurs 
in the Nicobars, 
1562. Busuxcus cornomanpDus, Bodd. Blanf., IV,p. 389; “Str, Feath.,” 
II, p. 309. 
The Cattle Egret is fairly common in the Andamans, 
1564, LEPTERODIUs SACER, Gm, Blanf., IV, p. 391; “Str. Feath.,’ IT, p. 304. 
The Reef Heron is common along rocky portions of the coasts of the Cocos , 
Andamans and Nicobars, 
The Port Blair birds all breed on Snake Island, Corbyn’s Cove Ze at the 
same time as the terns which also breed there, 
Snake Island is a tiny rocky islet a few hundred yards from the shore, 
about three miles outside Port Blair harbour. I paid a visit to this breeding 
place on the 14th of May. In the centre of this island the rocks form a 
craggy mound some twenty feet high, covered with a few stunted trees—a 
Hibiscus and a Ficus of sorts—and here and there about the island were grow- 
ing a few scrubby bushes (Pemphis acidula), The rest of the islet was bare 
rock strewn with coral débris. 
As I landed a crowd of terns rose and wheeled about me with startled cries, 
while with croaks of disgust the Reef Herons left their nests among the rocks 
and trees and betook themselves to a neighbouring reef, Wishing to make 
the most of this opportunity of observing the birds I immediately sent my boat 
away with orders to lie off at a distance until I fired a shot, and ensconced 
myself in a crevice in the rocks, where I was almost completely concealed by 
the foliage of the Ficus, 
