NUMENIUS PH^OPUS. 911 



example ( d ) given by Dr. Armstrong are :— " Length 17-5 inches ; expanse 28-0 ; tail from vent 3-8 ; wing 9-2 ; 

 tarsus 2-4 ; bill from gape 3-S. Males from the Andamans are set down by Mr. Hume as measuring in the wing 

 9-0 to 9-5, and in bill from gape 3-05 to 3-12 ; weight 12 oz. The dimensions given of the females are exceed- 

 ingly large .-—Length 18-0 to 18-5 inches ; wing 975 to 10-6 ; bill from gape 3-5 to 3-58 : weight 1 lb. My own 

 measurements are taken from a small series of only six Ceylon examples, and may not therefore correctly 

 represent the maximum size of examples visiting the island. A Heligoland skin in the national collection 

 measures : — wing 9-6 inches ; tarsus 3-5 ; bill to gape (straight) 3'5. 



Formosan examples of JSf. luzonensis, Gm.(=iV. urojnjyialis, Gould), collected by Swinhoe, resemble entirely immature 

 Ceylon birds, having the back marked precisely the same, as also the axillaries ; and the rump, instead of being 

 pure white, is white barred with brown. On this latter character Gould founded his species, but it is unquestion- 

 ably an immature sign. Herr Meyer writes me that he shares Salvadori's opinion that this Malayo-Australian 

 form is distinct, from which it may perhaps be inferred (he does not state the fact) that all the birds procured in 

 this region have barred rumps ; but unless this is the case the species cannot be considered a good one ; for in 

 the genus Numenius, of all others, it is unsafe to trust to a trifling character such as that in question. A 

 pronounced difference in ground-colour, or a constant type of axillary-marking or coloration, is necessary before 

 we can safely found a good species in this group of birds. 



N. minor, Miiller, from Australia, the representative of the small N. borealis of America, has the axillaries white, 

 distantly barred with pale brown, and the rump and upper tail-coverts are brown spotted with white, while the 

 underparts are buff. An example in Mr. Harting's collection measures 6-8 inches in the wing. 



N. tenuirostris, Vieill., conspicuous for its slender bill, has the rump and upper tail-coverts striped with black, and the 

 axillaries pure white. In an example before me, from Malta, the wing measures 9-0 inches. 



Distribution. — The Whimbrel arrives early in Ceylon in September, and leaves again in April. It is not 

 so abundant as the last species ; and is, I think, found in greater numbers in the Jaffna peninsula than on the 

 east coast. At Illipekadua, seven miles to the north of Manaar, as well as at this latter place, I have seen a 

 good many in March. They are first seen in the Trincomalie district at the end of September and the 

 beginning of October, and to the north of that port are tolerably common, as is also the case at Mullaittivu. 

 Mr. Hayes, of the Ceylon Public- Works Department, has seen it between the latter place and Vavonia 

 Velankulam ; but how far inland I am unable to say ; according to the experience of Layard and myself, it 

 does not wander inland at all. It extends down the east coast to the Hambantota district, throughout which 

 it is found, but more rarely than in the north. I have seen it at Chilaw and near Negombo, and also at the 

 mouth of the Kelani ganga, near Colombo. It may be heard not unfrequently, during the north-east 

 monsoon, flying over the Galle face at night ; and is, I have no doubt, met with here and there, though 

 rarely on the coast to the south of Colombo. I have not myself observed it in the Galle district. Among 

 other places not far from the sea-coast where it is likely to occur is the large tank at Kanthelai. 



Jerdon states that this species is found throughout India, and is more abundant than the Curlew. From 

 recent testimony in ' Stray Feathers/ the reverse would appear to be the case. It is almost entirely confined 

 to the sea-coast, and occurs probably all round the Indian sea-board. Dr. Armstrong procured it in Rainis- 

 serum Island; and in the Laccadives Mr. Hume found it more numerous than the Curlew, meeting with it on 

 the islands of Kiltan, Amini, and Betra Par. About Calcutta it is not so common as its larger relative, but 

 few specimens being seen in the market during the season. Mr. Hume writes as follows on its distribution in 

 the north-west : — " The Whimbrel is a good deal of a coast-bird, according to my experience, and is compara- 

 tively rare in India at any great distance from the sea. Mr. Adam never procured it at Sambhur, nor did I 

 see it there nor anywhere in Jodhpoor, nor in the interior of Sindh, nor has any of my correspondents sent 

 or recorded it from that entourage. Along the coasts of Sindh it occurs, is common on those of Cutch 

 and Kattiawar, and thence round the entire coast-line to Mergui." In Guzerat Captain Butler says it is rare ; 

 but he designates it as very common in Kurrachee harbour, some remaining all the year, but not to breed. 

 Major Le Messurier has noticed it in the delta of the Indus in August. Mr. Blanford met with a small 

 Curlew, thought to be this species, in the Persian Gulf. Eastward it has been obtained at Thayetmyo in 

 Burmah, and in the Irrawaddy delta Dr. Armstrong found it common. " It occurs," writes Mr. Hume, " in 

 Tenasserim ; but rather sparingly along and near the coast throughout the province." Mr. Davison has seen 

 it about the Tavoy river in July ; so that barren birds appear to remain in various places throughout the year. 

 In the Andamans and Nicobars it is, says this gentleman, oftener met with than the Curlew. It was seen at 



