454 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



With the Gulls were a few Terns, which I was unable to 

 identify ; they were about the size of the Indian River Tern 

 (Sterna seena), with short-forked tails, and of a nondescript 

 grey colour, with no particular markings, save a black 

 mark near the eye ; the bill was black. It is possible tbat 

 they were Gull-billed Terns {Sterna anglica) in non-breeding 

 dress. 



April 28th.— Arabian Sea. The only bird seen all day was 

 a small passerine, which followed the course of the ship for 

 for about half an hour against the wind ; by flight, appearance,, 

 and note jit seemed to be some species of Wagtail, yellowish in 

 colour, with white in the tail, and perhaps a chestnut head. 



April 29i/?. — Arabian Sea ; no birds seen. 



April dOth. — Arabian Sea. A few Black. and White Gannets, 

 namely, a party of three and a single bird, were doubtless the 

 Masked Booby (Sula cyanops). 



A good many Shearwaters (Puffinus sp, ?) were observed 

 during the day. 



May 1st. — Arabian Sea ; a party of three of the Gannets 

 seen, as well as one or two solitary individuals. Shearwaters 

 were plentiful. 



May 2nd. — Arabian Sea. Position at noon : Lat. 14°00V 

 long. 57 Ol 03' ; 358 miles to Aden. 



About 10 a.m. a Nightjar (Caprimvlgus sp. ?) came aboard,, 

 and flew about for some ten minutes, perching occasionally; 

 after this it disappeared, but must have hidden somewhere in 

 the ship, as it was flying about both in the morning and evening 

 of May 3rd. I did not see it on the 4th, but it was still with 

 us before breakfast on May 5th— a good example of an " assisted 

 passage." 



Shortly before dusk a party of nine Bee-eaters, which looked 

 like Merops philippinns, passed flying eastwards low over the sea 

 with the typical hesitating flight of the species. 



Fewer Shearwaters were noted than yesterday, and one or 

 two Gannets, in addition to a party of four, which were resting 

 on the sea. 



May 3rd. — Arabian Sea. A male Eose-ringed Parroquet 

 (Palaornis torquatus) was flying round the ship and settling on 

 the rigging ; it was doubtless one of the Lascars' birds. 



