DROMAS ARDEOLA. 
993 
the ‘Novara' Expedition; while in the Andamans it was procured by Capt. Ramsay at South Andaman, Port 
Blair, and Macpherson Straits, at which latter place Mr. Hume likewise procured it. It is further recorded 
by Capt. Beavan as being very common on those islands. On the east coast of the Indian peninsula Jerdon 
observed it far from rare near Nellore at the mouths of rivers and along backwaters. It was met with on the 
east coast by Mr. W. Elliot, and in the Laccadives Mr. Hume saw a flock at Pere-Mull-Par in February. 
On the coast of Kattiawar it has been procured, and in Kurrachee harbour it has been seen in January, and 
during the hot season by Capt. Butler, who likewise obtained it at Mandavee. Writing in ‘ Stray Feathers,' 
1878, p. 186, he says, it is not very uncommon at Kurrachee, and breeds in the Persian Gulf, as a young 
bird was caught in June on one of the islands opposite Bushire. It was also procured at Baba Island, west of 
Sindh, by Major Le Messurier. Along the south coast of Arabia it must needs occur, as in the Gulf of Aden 
and southern portion of the Red Sea it is, according to Yon Iieuglin, common. This is one of its great 
breeding-grounds ; but northwards of the tropic, this writer says, it only occurs as a straggler. It is resident 
here on the low-lying parts of the coast and on the coral islands, living in pairs and families, except in late 
autumn and winter, when it assembles in flocks. 
On the Abyssinian coast Mr. Blanford likewise discovered it; he writes that it is not uncommon, 
associating there in flocks ; it was obtained by Salt on the coast of this country, behind the village of Madir, 
in the Bay of Amphila, from which he took its specific title of amphilensis. It extends down the entire coast 
to Natal, where Mr. Ayres procured it. In this region Layard says, in his f Birds of South Africa,' that its 
favourite localities are sand banks far out to sea ; it is apparently, however, rare so far south as Natal. From 
Madagascar Hartlaub, Schlegel and Pollen record it ; the latter authors write, in their ‘ Reclierches sur la 
Faune de Madagascar,' that it is not rare in the north-west of this island, being found along the coasts m 
flocks of from six to twelve. In the Seychelles, Mr. E. Newton procured it on the island of Curieuse, and 
was told that it was not uncommon there, but that seldom more than two or three were seen together. This 
was in the month of February. 
Habits. This remarkable bird, concerning the true position of which there has been so much difference 
of opinion, is strictly an inhabitant of the sea-shore, frequenting sand banks, beaches, the edges of salt lagoons 
and backwaters, and, in some places, coral reefs, to which it appears to be especially partial. In its flight, its 
sociable habit of collecting in little flocks (which rest in close company on rocks, sand banks, or other spots at 
the ed-rn of the tide), its mode of feeding, and finally in its note, and the way this is sometimes uttered in 
consonance, it closely resembles the Oystercatcher. Layard, who followed Schlegel and Blytli in considering 
it allied to the Terns, appears to have observed it flying past him out at sea ; but it is not its habit to leave 
the sea-sliore, unless flying to some given point ; and if he met with it off the island of Manaar, it was pro- 
bable that the birds seen were flying from the sand batiks of Adam’s Bridge to the mainland. Though sociable 
at times when feeding, they are often seen singly or two or three together, walking about with quick short 
strides and erect carriage, stopping every now and then to make a peck at some object of their search. When 
solitary it is very wary, and invariably gets up before one is within gunshot ; but when in little troops it is not 
so shy, and may be approached tolerably close. Its highly webbed feet enable it to swim well ; and one which 
I winged swam so fast that it nearly escaped into deep water before I could stop it with a second shot. 
When feeding they are silent ; but when packed in flocks and alarmed by the approach of some one, or when 
being joined by some of their fellows, they utter a loud and not unmusical note in consonance, which, mingled 
with the roar of the surf, has a peculiarly wild and pleasant sound. I have always found the remains of crabs 
in the stomachs of those I have examined ; but V on Heuglin says they also feed on worms, spawn, and small 
fish, which is the diet spoken of by Schlegel ; Salt, however, states that the pair he shot in the Bay of Amphila 
had their stomachs full of locusts. The curious calling-crab ( Gelasinus ) and the burrowing sand-crab 
(. Ocypode ) form the main portion of their diet in Ceylon; their powerful bills are well constituted for the 
disposal of such prey, and, judging by the scratched appearance of the mandibles, the hapless crustaceans often 
show fight before they are dismembered. The body of the crab is broken by a stroke of the heavy bill, and 
the contents devoured, after which the Crab-Plover swallows the claws whole. As above remarked, they are 
sociable birds ; and Mr. Hume has noticed them at high water, collected together in a dense crowd, as closely 
packed as they could stand on a single isolated rock. They consort but little with other species, according to 
my experience, the Greenshank being the only bird I have seen in company with them. Von Heuglin, 
