Birds of the Indian Hills 



sandpiper (^Totanus glareola) — tarries on until 

 after the beginning of summer. This is a bird 

 as large as a dove ; its plumage is speckled 

 brown and white. It looks somewhat like a 

 snipe with a short bill. It lives on the margins 

 of ponds and constantly wags its apology for 

 a tail. 



THE RALLID^ OR RAIL FAMILY 



The rails are not well represented on the 

 Nilgiris. 



The water-hen (Gallinula chloropus) is com- 

 mon on the lake at Ootacamund. This is an 

 olive-green bird about the size of a pigeon. 

 Its bill and forehead are red ; there is a patch 

 of white under the tail. This species swims 

 like a duck. 



Another rail which may be seen sometimes 

 in the Botanical Gardens at Ootacamund is the 

 white-breasted water-hen (Amaurornis phceni- 

 curus). This is a black bird with the face, 

 throat, and breast white. There is a chestnut- 

 hued patch under the tail. 



THE ARDEID^ OR HERON FAMILY 



Almost the only member of the heron family 

 230 



