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BY
JOEN GOULD, Fas:
F.LS., V.P. AND F.Z.S., M.ES., F.R.GEOGRS., M.RAY S., CORR. MEMB, OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF TURIN; OF THE SOC. OF THE MUSEUM
OF NAT. HIST. OF STRASBURG ; FOR. MEMB. OF THE NAT. HIST. SOC. OF NURNBERG, AND OF THE IMP. NAT. HIST. SOC. OF MOSCOW ;
HON. MEMB. OF THE NAT. HIST. SOC. OF DARMSTADT ; OF THE NAT. HIST. AND THE NAT. HIST. AND MED. SOCS. OF
DRESDEN ; OF THE ROY. SOC. OF TASMANIA ; OF THE ROY. ZOOL. SOC. OF IRELAND ; OF THE PENZANCE
NAT, HIST. SOC.; OF THE WORCESTER NAT. HIST. SOC. ; OF THE NORTHUMBERLAND,
DURHAM, AND NEWCASTLE NAT. HIST. SOC. ; OF THE IPSWICH MUSEUM; OF
THE ORN. SOC. OF GERMANY ; OF THE DORSET COUNTY MUSEUM AND
LIBRARY ; OF THE ROYAL UNITED SERVICE INSTITUTION, ETC.
DEDICATED TO THE HONOURABLE EAST INDIA COMPANY.
IN SEVEN VOLUMES.
VOLUME I.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, 26 CHARLOTTE STREET, BEDFORD SQUARE.
1850—1883.
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OFT SUBSCRibPnnr
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YER NET OSS NEE EE ATE EE TA ANE TSHR ne RENNER
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EREFACEH.
Tue late Mr. Gould shortly before his decease told me his wishes with regard to such of his works as should
remain unfinished at the time of his death; and it is in accordance with these instructions that the ‘ Birds of
Asia’ has now been brought to a close.
The work was commenced in 1850, and during the thirty-three years that have elapsed no less than 530 species
have been figured ; but of course a large number of Asiatic species still remain unnoticed. The long connexion
which had existed between Mr. Gould and ornithologists in all parts of the globe enabled him to obtain an early
sight of rare and newly described species ; and consequently many birds are figured in the present work, illustrations
of which are not to be found elsewhere. Had the author lived he would doubtless have endeavoured to complete
the ‘ Birds of Asia’ in its entirety, as the subject was one in which he took the greatest personal interest. As
far as the writer is concerned, he has had but a small duty to perform, as the Plates for the concluding parts of the
work had nearly all been designed by Mr. Gould before his death, and have been faithfully produced on stone
by his old and valued coadjutor Mr. Hart.
I have endeavoured to write the concluding articles as I believe Mr. Gould would have wished them to have
been done, and as far as possible in harmony with the rest of the work. In every case thie initials “ R. B.S.” are
appended, so that any errors or omissions can be saddled on the right shoulders.
The work has been arranged according to the classifications adopted by Mr. Gould throughout his lifetime; and
in giving title-pages and indexes to the species, I have added the exact dates of publication, for the benefit of
ornithologists who wish to quote the work.
R. BOWDLER SHARPE.
August 18838.
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Ir having been suggested to us by Mr. Sotheran, the proprietor of the late Mr. Gould’s Ornithological
Works, that some few introductory remarks on the completion of the ‘Birds of Asia’ (one of the works
left unfinished at the death of the late Mr. Gould) would be acceptable to the Subscribers, we have
attempted to give a brief outline of the history of Asiatic ornithology during the past thirty years. It is
difficult for us, whose path has been smoothed by the labours of the excellent ornithologists who have
devoted themselves to the study of oriental birds, to carry our minds back to the year 1850, when Mr. Gould
commenced to write the present work on the Birds of Asia, at a time when such names as those of Hume,
Blanford, Davison, David, Prjewalsky, Severtzoff, and Swinhoe were unknown to fame. In 1850 the
golden age of ornithology was but commencing, ‘The Ibis’ was not yet published, and such an idea as the
calling into existence of a journal entirely devoted to Indian ornithology was undreamt of. Only one year
previously had Gray completed his great work on the Genera of Birds, which tabulated and placed in
order all the then known genera and species; and this was closely followed by the ‘Conspectus Avium’ of
Prince Bonaparte and the ‘ Catalogue of the Museum Heineanum’ of Dr. Cabanis. But although the three
last mentioned works will always be celebrated for the order which they introduced into the Class Aves,
their work did not affect Asiatic ornithology in particular, and the credit of. first setting in order the
ornithology of India rests with two naturalists—Jerdon and Blyth. Before Mr. Gould’s work commenced, the
former had finished his ‘ Catalogue of the Birds of the Peninsula of India,’ while for many years Mr, Blyth
had been engaged in publishing those important notes and synopses of Indian birds, in the ‘ Journal of the Asiatic
Society of Bengal,’ which even at the present day are studied with advantage by the ornithologist. Then,
B
2 LV rRopUCTION.
in 1849, appeared Mr. Blyth’s ‘ Catalogue of the Birds in the Museum of the Asiatic Society,’ wherein were
incorporated the results of all his previous labours, as well as those of Jerdon. Another writer, Lord
Arthur Hay, in future to be better known to the scientific world after his accession to the titles of Viscount
Walden and Marquis of Tweeddale, had also written one or two small papers on Indian Birds ; and Mr. Gould
had himself published his illustrated folio work entitled “A Century of Birds from the Himalaya
Mountains.”
99
s comatus
Hirundo filifera
Cecropis rufula
- Daurica
3 Sytnvopyeia
e hyperythra
Delichon Nipalensis
Hypurolepis domicola
Lagenoplastes fluvicola
Merops quinticolor .
> Niridis
» Philppinus.
Nyctiornis Athertoni
3 amictus .
Meropogon Forsteni
Actenoides Hombroni
3 Lindsayi
concretus
be}
Black Vulture
Bengal Vulture
Shaheen Falcon
Red-naped Falcon
Saker Falcon
Lanner Falcon
Jugger Falcon
White-winged Red-footed
Kestrel
Rufous- breasted Spilornis
Black-and-white Crested Eagle.
Govinda Kite
Celebean Elanus
Indian Scops Owl
Bay Owl
Brodie’s Owlet
Speckled Wood-Owl
Indian Screech Owl
Grass-Owl
Mahratta Nightjar
Palm Roof-Swift
Crested Tree-Swift .
Klecho Tree-Swift
Wallace’s Tree-Swift
Bearded Tree-Swift .
Hooded Tree-Swift .
Wire-tailed Swallow
Western Mosque-Swallow
Daurian Mosque-Swallow
Indian Mosque-Swallow .
Ceylonese Mosque-Swallow
Nepal Martin-Swallow
Bungalow Swallow .
Indian Cliff-Swallow
Pirik Bee-eater
Hurrial Bee-eater
Philippine Bee-eater
Blue-throated Nyctiornis .
Red-throated Nyctiornis .
Forsten’s Bee-eater .
Hombron’s Kingfisher
Lindsay’s Kingfisher
Sumatra Kingfisher .
Part
XII.
XXXII.
a,
XY.
IV.
XII.
MOT,
Date.
June 1860.
June 1851.
99 99
April 1868.
January 1850.
July 1880.
June 1860.
June 1863.
November 1852.
June 1860.
March 1870.
March 1872.
July 1850.
March 1872.
May 1859.
April 1866.
April 1868.
May 1856.
April 1855.
July 1850.
March 1873.
April 1877.
Lise OF PLAT Hs.
DATE.
Halcyon fusca ; . Indian Kingfisher May 1801.
gularis . . Manilla Kingfisher. . » >
A rcapillus . Black-capped Kingfisher June 1860.
fulgidus. _ Blue-and-white Kingfisher se
omnicolor . Many-coloured Kingfisher 2 .
Carcineutes pulchellus . . Banded Kingfisher : O04 July 1880.
> melanops . . Black-faced Kingfisher. ; ” ”
> amabilis : . Tenasserim Kingfisher 9
Dacelo Tyro . ; . Mantled Kingfisher : XI, June 1860.
Alcedo grandis . Great Alcedo . XXII. March 1870.
» Bengalensis - Incian Kinetisher . : XIV. May 1862.
Coracias indica. . Indian Roller . ; ; April 1869.
a affinis : . Burmese Roller
3 Temmincki . Temminck’s Roller
29. »)>)
399 99
Eurylaimus Javanicus. . Javan Eurylaime
< ochromelas . . Hooded Eurylaime
Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchus Great-billed Kurylaime
o Biamis |; . Allied Eurylaime
Corydon Sumatranus.. . Great Eurylaime
Serilophus lunatus . Lunated Eurylaime
. rubropygius . . Red-backed Eurylaime
Psarisomus Dalhousie . . Dalhousie’s Eurylaime . 9 -
Sarcophanops Steerli—. . Steere’s Broadbill . WX. October 1877.
Upupa nigripennis . Indian Hoopoe : ; KX IT July 1880.
Harpactes Duvauceli_. . Duvaucel’s Trogon . : XI. May 1859.
rutilus . . Malacca Trogon > 99 »
Hodgsoni_. . Hodgson’s Trogon . : XVII. April 1865.
Diardi . . Diard’s Trogon
Oreskios . Mountain Trogon.
Reinwardti_. . Remwardt’s Trogon
Mackloti . Macklot’s Trogon ; . a
Kasumba_ . Kasumba Trogon. May 1856.
fasciatus , Hasciated.( Trogon... . July 1854.
ardens . . Rosy-breasted Trogon : TY. May 1862.
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OTOGYPS CALVUS.
Black Vulture.
Vultur calvus, Scop. Del. Flor. et Faun. Insub., p. 85.
Le Vautour royal de Pondichéry, Sonn. Voy. aux Ind., tom. ii. p. 182, pl. 104.
Vultur Ponticerianus, Shaw, Nat. Misc., pl. 941.—Gray, Ill. Ind. Zool., pl. 15. fig. 1.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av.,
p. 10, Vultur, sp. 3.—Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. i. p. 7—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. vii. p. 25.—Temm. PI.
Col. 2; Ann. du Mus., tom. i. pl. 20.—Daud. Orn., tom. ii. p. 11.—Bonn. et Vieill. Encyc. Méth.
Orn., part iii. p. 1173, pl. 196. fig. 2.—Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. xxxv. p. 260.
Otogyps calvus, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 6, Otogyps, sp. 2.—Gray, List of Birds in Coll. Brit.
Mus., part i. Aceipitres, p. 4; Ib. 2nd. edit. p. 5.—Adams in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xxvii. p. 469.
—Tytler in Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 2nd ser. vol. xiii. p. 366.—Burgess in Proc. of Zool. Soc.,
pact xxi. pel,
Hemigyps ponticerianus, Hodgs. Gray, Zool. Misc. 1844, p. 81.
Pondicherry Vulture, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., p. 6.—Id. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 22.
Tur Otogyps calvus is a truly Indian species, for it inhabits every part of that great peninsula; but it is
not so gregarious, nor found in such great numbers, as the other members of the genus.
Dr. Adams states that “It is found in Bengal, the Deccan, and Lower Himalayan Range, but does
not travel any distance into the interior of the mountains. This species is easily distinguished from the
other Vultures by the red colour of the skin and neck. In size it is less than Gyps Bengalensis, the total
length being about 23 feet.”
But by far the most valuable account of this species is that given by Captain Burgess, in the ‘ Proceedings
of the Zoological Society of London’ for 1854, where he says :—
‘This Vulture, as far as I had opportunities of observing it, is much more common in the Deccan than
either the large (Vadtur indicus) or the small brown Vulture (Vudtur Bengalensis). JY have never, however,
seen more than two or three together, and these generally in the low ranges of hills which intersect that
part of the country. As this bird has doubtless been already figured, it is not my purpose in these notes
to enter into any description of it, but merely to state what I have observed of its habits, food, manner and
time of nesting, with any other information regarding it which I may have gained by actual investigation,
or learned from credible sources. In its habits this Vulture, I should certainly say, is not gregarious : I do
not remember to have seen more than four or five together; and then it has been for the purpose of
partaking of a social meal. It flies in circles, with the wings extended, apparently without motion, and
with their tips pointed upwards, the legs being stretched out beneath the tail. The food consists of
decaying animal substances: one which I shot drinking in a stream disgorged the entire leo Of a cat.
It breeds during the months of February and March. In my notes taken at the time I find the following :
—‘ March 7.—Found to-day, on the top of a rather low Peepul (a species of Banian tree), the nest of a
Black Vulture, on which one of the old birds was sitting. The nest, which was very large, was built of
small sticks ; it contained one egg. On the same tree, a pair of the Black-headed Ibis (Zuntalus melano-
cephalus) had also built their nest... ... . March 19.—Shot a male Black Vulture sitting on one egg;
the nest was about a yard in circumference, built on the top of a thorny tree; it was composed of the
thorny branches, and other sticks below it. Among the thorny twigs forming the nest were two small
nests, belonging to birds of the Passerine order, containing young.’ In both these cases only one ege was
found, of a pure white colour, 35% inches in length by 325 inches in width. In a third also only one egg
was found. The natives say the bird lays two eggs, containing a male and a female bird ; but these facts
seem opposed to such a statement.” :
I am indebted to J. H. Gurney, Esq., for permission to copy the drawing of this species of Vulture, made
for him by Mr. Wolf from a fine living example.
Base of the bill, face, and wattles naked and of a dull red; ruff at the base of the neck white; downy
feather on the fore part of the neck pale brown; the remainder of the plumage black, with a wash of grey
on the shoulders and the outer webs of the primaries ; legs and feet deep pinkish red; nails black.
The figure, which represents a fully adult male, is about one-third of the natural size.
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GYPS BENGALENSIS.
Bengal Vulture.
Vultur Bengalensis, Gmel. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 245, young.—Gray, Ill. Ind. Zool., pl. 15.—Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. i.
pl. 1.—Id. Supp., p. 3.—Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. 2nd Edit., tom. xxxv. p. 247.—Ib. Ency.
Méth. Orn., part iii. p. 1168.—Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. i. p. 3.—Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. vii. p- 30.
Changoun, Daud. Traité d’Orn., tom. ii. p. 14, adult.
leuconotus, Gray, Ill. Ind. Zool., pl. 14, adult.
Indicus, Scop. Del. Flor. et Faun. Insub., p. 85 ?—Sonn. Voy., tom. ii. p. 183. pl. 105 ?
Changoun, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. xxxv. p. 248 ?—Ib. Ency. Méth. Orn., part ili. p. 1169.
Gyps Bengalensis, G. R. Gray, List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., part i. p. 3, 2nd Edit. p- 6.—Gray and Mitch.
Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 6, Gyps, sp. 2.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p- 33.
Bengal Vulture, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. i. p. 24. pl. 4.
Tuts species, one of the smallest of the typical Vultures, is very abundant in all parts of India, and is a summer
visitant in Afghanistaun; specimens from the neighbourhood of Calcutta are contained in the Museum of
the Asiatic Society of that city, and it is figured in the Drawings of the late Hon. F. J. Shore from a speci-
men killed at Hurdwar. Latham and some other authors state that it also inhabits Africa, but I have never
seen any example from that country, and have therefore no doubt that they have confounded it with some
nearly allied species. The specific term of Bengalensis, too, is singularly inappropriate for a bird ranging so
widely over the country; but although in the first instance assigned to the young only, it must, according to
the rule of priority, be the one retained; otherwise the term J/euconotus bestowed upon the adult by
Mr. Gray would be very descriptive.
From the notes of the Hon. F. J. Shore I learn that the bird is called Gid or Geed by the natives of
Hurdwar, and Guroor by the Gubrwalles ; and Latham states that it is called Gurra in Hindostan and Kurges
in some other parts of India.
No account whatever has been given of its habits and economy, which has doubtless arisen from their
being so similar to those of the other members of the group, that a particular description of them has been
deemed unnecessary. My figure is taken from a fine adult specimen in the Gardens of the Zoological Society,
where it has resided for many years, and borne its captivity with the usual stolid indifference of its race.
Skin of the head and neck purplish brown covered with thinly dispersed hair-like brown feathers ; on the
lower part of the neck a ruff of white lengthened feathers, the ruff being broadest at the back of the
neck and decreasing in breadth until it meets in front; general plumage dark greyish slate-colour, becoming
of a silvery hue on the under surface, and some of the breast feathers margined with white ; back snow-
white, but not perceptible when the wings are closed; bill dark horn-colour ; irides dark brown; legs and
feet greyish purple.
The figure represents the bird somewhat more than half the natural size.
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Falco peregrinator, Sundev. Physiogr. Sellsk. Tidsk. 1837, 1838, p. 38.—Kaup, Isis, 1847, p. 74.—Jerd. Ill. Ind. q
Orn., pl. xxvii.—List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., Part I. 2nd edit. p. 50.—Cat. of Sp. and Draw. of
Mamm. and Birds pr. to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., p. 44.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds,
vol. i. p. 19, Falco, sp. 5.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 14.—Ib. Consp. Orn.
Ind. &c. Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. 1850, p. 321.
—— Shaheen, Jerd. Madr. Journ. Lit. and Sci. 1839, p. 81.—Ib. Il. Ind. Orn., pl xi.
—— Aldrovandi, Ib.
—— Sultaneus, Hodgs.—Gray, Zool. Misc. 1844, p. 81.
—— rhombeus, Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. i. p. 35?
ruber indicus, Aldrovand. (Blyth).
Bahari-bacha of the Indian Falconers.
Shaheen (Royal) Female,
Koela (Charcoal) Male,
Jawolum, Telugu.
Walhér, Tamul.
I Hindustanee.
Tuts species offers so many points of close resemblance to the Peregrine Falcon, that by the casual observer
it would be considered identical with that bird ; but notwithstanding its similarity, it will be found, as shown
by Sundevall, Kaup, and other writers, to possess characters sufficiently different to warrant its being con-
sidered distinct: it is very widely dispersed over the greater part of India, but does not appear to be
abundant in any particular locality.
Not having had the advantage of seeing the bird in its native wilds, I have ventured to extract the ereater
portion of the very interesting account of its habits and economy published by Mr. Jerdon in his “ Tllustra-
tions of Indian Ornithology.”
“The Shaheen,” says Mr. Jerdon, ‘appears to be spread throughout the whole of India, from the
Himalayas to the extreme south of the Peninsula. Of its range out of India we have at present no correct
information, but in several works on F alconry I have seen in this country, Persian, Toorkish and Arabic ob
names are assigned to it, so that it may occur in other parts of Asia. It is far from being a common bird, Ds
but I have had few opportunities of observing it in its wild state. It is, however, well-known to the native )
falconers, who have from time immemorial been acquainted both with its breeding-places and its most
favourite haunts. I have myself obtained it in the South of Travancore and in Malabar, and have seen it
on the Neilgherries, and on the northern Ghauts, at the celebrated hill-fort of Untoor, where I had long Ws
before been informed there was an eyrie.
“The habitual resorts of this Falcon are high rocky hills in the neighbourhood of jungle and forest
land, whether in a low or mountainous country, though the latter is always preferred. In the Carnatic,
which is nearly devoid of forest, the Shaheen is but seldom met with, yet there are certain spots even here
where individuals of the species resort to after the breeding-season, being chiefly young birds, and they are
known to breed in various parts of the range of Kastern Ghauts. Its habits in a wild state vary somewhat ih.
according to the kind of country frequented. If a denizen of a forest, it watches on some lofty tree at the
skirts of a glade, or hovers over it, ready to pounce on any unlucky bird that ventures to cross. In more |
open country it is necessitated to take a wider circuit in search of its prey, and is of course much more on |
the wing. Such birds are more highly prized for training than forest-bred birds, which are, therefore, |
seldom sought for. This Falcon destroys large quantities of game, partridges, quails, &c., and is said to be |
very partial to parroquets. This assertion is corroborated by the fact of my having first obtained a specimen |
of the rare Alexandrine Parroquet by the agency of a Shaheen, which pounced on a flock that was crossing a
glade of a forest in Malabar, and carried one off, but dropped it on my firing at it. Very lately too, one
belonging to me having lost a partridge at which it was flown, took a long though unsuccessful flight after
some parroquets it spied high up in the air. One I shot in Travancore just after sunset was busily de-
vouring a goatsucker it had captured. |
“The Shaheen breeds on steep and inaccessible cliffs. It lays its eggs in March and April, and the young i
fly in May and June, when they are caught by the falconers.
‘The Royal Shaheen of the East (as its Indian name implies) is very highly prized by the natives for use
in hawking, and it is esteemed the first of all the Falcons, or black-eyed birds of prey as they are called in
native works on Falconry, the large and powerful Bhyree (the Peregrine) even being considered only second
to it. Although hawking is now comparatively at a low ebb in India, yet many individuals of this species
are annually captured in various parts of the Peninsula, and taken for sale to Hydrabad, and other places I
where the noble sport of falconry is yet carried on, and they sell for a considerable price. The Shaheen and Hl
other Falcons are usually caught by what is called the Herwan. This is a thin strip of cane of a length
The ends of the stick are smeared with bird-
about equal to the expanse of wings of the bird sought for.
On observing the hawk, the bird,
lime for several inches, and a living bird is tied to the centre of it.
which has its eyes sewn up to make it soar, is let loose, and the falcon pounces on and attempts to carry it
off, when the ends of its wings strike the limed twig, and it falls to the ground. The birds usually selected
for this purpose are doves, either Turtur risorius or T. humilis.
“The Shaheen is always trained for what in the language of Falconry is called a standing gait, that is,
not slipped from the hand at a quarry, but made to hover and circle high in the air over the falconer and
party, until the game is started, and then to make its swoop, which it does with amazing speed. It is, indeed,
a beautiful sight to see this fine bird stoop on a partridge or florikin, which has been flushed at some con-
siderable distance from it, as it often makes a wide circuit round the party. As soon as the falcon observes
the game which has been flushed, it makes two or three onward plunges in its direction, and then darts
down obliquely with half-closed wings on the devoted quarry with more than the velocity of an arrow. This
is of course a very sure and deadly way of hunting, and, though infinitely more exciting than the flight of
short-winged hawks, is certainly not to be compared in interest to the flight of a Bhyree (Peregrine) from
the hand after the heron, or the douk (Tantalus leucocephalus). The Shaheen is usually trained to stoop at
partridges and florikin (O¢és aurita), and occasionally at the stone plover (Gidicnemus crepitans) and the
jungle fowl. It will not hover in the air so long as the Lugger, another large falcon used by the natives,
which, being of a more patient and docile disposition, will stay up above an hour.
‘In the works on Falconry before alluded to, the name Shaheen is said to be that by which it is known
in Persia, as well as among the Mussulmen of India. Ao/ee is the name given to it by the Hindoos of the
North of India, whence, in all probability, comes the name of the male bird in general use, viz. Koé/a or
Kohela,—though it is said to be called Shaheen Bucha in Persia; it is also said to bear the name of Laheen
in Toorkistan, and Kudursh in Arabic. Among the localities given for it in the native works on Falconry
are Koordistan, Khorasan, Moultan, and Cabool. Several varieties are enumerated, viz. the red, the white,
the blue, and the black; but these are merely shades of difference in the colours and in the more or
less distinctness of the markings. These variations, I may remark, are very considerable in this Falcon, as
well as in the Peregrines found in India, and are probably in some measure owing to the long domestication,
if I may so speak, of these birds, as it is well-known that birds moulting im confinement vary somewhat in
the shades of their plumage from those subject to the more vigorous actions of a wild state of life.”
The male has the head, line beneath the eye, the moustache, back, wings and tail dark slaty brown ; the
feathers at the back of the neck stained with rufous, forming a semi-collar; primaries and secondaries
slightly margined at the tip with dull reddish brown, and crossed on the basal three-fourths of their inner
webs with broad marks or bands of buff; rump and upper tail-coverts grey, with darker shafts; two centre
tail-feathers crossed with faint bands of greyish buff, the remainder with broader and more conspicuous
bands of buff, with a wash of grey on those nearest the base of the feathers; all the feathers tipped with
buff; throat, breast and ear-coverts white, gradually blending with the rusty red which occupies the whole
of the under surface ; the feathers of the breast, abdomen and flanks with a streak of brownish black down
the centre, becoming broader towards the tip, and gradually increasing in size, until on the flank feathers
the marks assume a triangular or transverse form; under surface of the wing deep buff, crossed by irregular
bands of blackish brown ; orbits, cere, and base of the mandibles pale yellow ; legs and feet deep yellow ;
bill dark horn-colour ; claws black ; irides dark hazel.
A young female in Mr. Jerdon’s possession differed from the male in having the chin, throat and cheeks
white, the rufous edgings of the feathers very indistinct, and the general plumage of a darker hue.
‘« After the first moult,” says Mr. Jerdon, “the markings of the lower surface disappear, except a few on
the lower part of the abdomen and legs, the plumage of the upper surface becomes of a more bluish tinge,
and the edgings and barrings disappear ; with further moultings the shade of the upper surface becomes still
lighter, and of a slaty blue, the markings beneath vanish entirely, and the rufous tint of the breast becomes
paler.”
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size, from a spirited sketch by Mr. Wolf; the figure of
the male being that of a bird not quite mature.
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FALCO BABYLONICUS, eur.
Red-naped Falcon.
Falco babylonicus, Gurney, Sclater and Irby in Ibis, 1861, p- 218, pl. vii.—Blyth, Ibis, 1863, p. 8.—Jerd. Birds
of Tndia, vol. 1. Dp. 02:
Tus fine peregrine type of Falcon has only been brought to light within the last few years ; for it is in
‘The Ibis’ for 1861, p. 218, that Captain Irby states «* Mr. Sclater has kindly supplied me with the following
remarks upon this hitherto undescribed bird :—
“«* Captain Irby’s specimen, which was obtained in Oude, seems to be referable to a new species or
distinct variety of true Falcon, most nearly allied to the Falco barbarus, for which Mr. Gurney proposes to
use the name &. babylonicus, the first specimen of it having been obtained in Babylonia by the Euphrates
Exploring Expedition. Besides Captain Irby’s specimen, I am acquainted with the following individuals
referable to F. babylonicus :—An example in partially immature plumage also procured by the Euphrates
Exploring Expedition in Babylonia, and presented by Commander Jones to the India Museum, and two
adult specimens in the Norwich Museum.’ ”
Since these remarks were published, I have been favoured by Colonel L’Estrange with the loan of a female ;
and a fine male was in my possession for some time from the collection of Major E. Delmé Radcliffe, of the
88th Connaught Rangers, both of which were obtained in the north-western portion of India; and Mr. Blyth
states that, in a recent communication from Dr. Jerdon, it is asserted that the / babylonicus is not uncommon in
Cashmere. The occurrence of the bird in the above-mentioned localities leaves no doubt on my mind that
part of Scinde, the north-western Himalayas, and Afghanistan form the true habitat of this species, and that
its range never extends so far east as the Bengal Presidency, or to the southern part of the Indian peninsula.
That it has many habits in common with the / peregrinus, and that it also assimilates to that species in
disposition, flight, and courage, there can be little doubt; but on this head I shall give some extracts from
a very valuable paper published in the ‘ Field’ for Nov. 16, 1867, by Major E. Delmé Radcliffe, a gentleman
who is evidently a careful observer and fully impressed with the interest which attaches to any information
respecting the fine Falcons of the part of India in which he is located (Kala Bagh, near Murree, in the
Himalayas) ; and it has seldom fallen to my lot to quote lines more to the purpose, and which I feel confident
may be strictly relied upon.
After a few preliminary remarks on the Shaheen Falcons of India, this gentleman says :— _
“I believe. there , are at,-least, three: kinds.. The two:1 am hest acquainted with are the Common
Shaheen, or Sultan Falcon (F. peregrinator), called by the falconers of India ‘kala Shaheen,’ or ‘kala
kohee,’ signifying black shaheen, or black kohee; and the Red-naped Shaheen (F. babylonicus), called
by the Indian falconers ‘sufaid shaheen’ or ‘kohee,’ or ‘lall sir shaheen’ (white shaheen or kohee,
or red-head shaheen). The latter has been erroneously called the Red-naped Lanner by some authors ;
and I am inclined to think that, in the very pale slate-colour which this Falcon always assumes on the back,
in the adult plumage, it has been mistaken by some observers for the Sultan Faleon in an undescribed state
of plumage: for the Sultan Falcon certainly never becomes light-coloured with age ; the head is of a very
dark slate-colour, almost black in some, the back darker than in most dark-coloured Peregrines, while the
breast is very deep rufous at an advanced age. The Red-naped Shaheen becomes very pale slate-colour on
the back, and its head red, ‘at the first moult, and the back perhaps a shade or two paler at the next
two moults; but the rufous colour of the breast, never so deep as in the Sultan Falcon, is maintained,
and, if anything, becomes a shade deeper, while the markings become finer, as in the Sultan Falcon and
Peregrine. [am at a loss to understand how the Red-naped Shaheen ever came to be confounded with
the Lanners or Desert Falcons—birds of a far inferior type,—as it has nothing in common with these
Falcons, possessing as it does all the characteristics of the Peregrine type; and a very handsome Falcon
it is, though not equalling the Sultan Falcon in beauty. I do not entirely admire its red head; some
individuals I have seen with the heads nearly as red as the Red-headed Indian Merlin.
‘Both F. peregrinator and F. babylonicus breed in the rocks in the hills surrounding our hut encampment,
chiefly towards the north and west. Many, I am told, breed in and about the Khyber pass and the
mountains of Affghanistan ; certain breeding pairs are well known to the native chiefs, from which they
obtain the young Hawks for training every year. I have a stuffed specimen of F. babylonicus, which was
shot close by; it is a bird of this year, which had apparently not long left the nest; and I almost daily
see young Hawks of the latter species flying over the hill we are on, though it is covered with pine trees, and
stooping at the Ravens (Corvus corav)—which are very abundant here, as wild as they are in England, and
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nearly as impudent as the C. splendens of the lower country,—and also at the hill-Crows (C. 7 )
By both of these they are evidently held in gr
is a dead silence which is very remarkable (owing to the ‘ncessant noise these rascals kick up all day long),
and they are all carefully stowed away in the pine trees. The Falcon often appears suddenly when they are
flying about croaking and cawing and enjoying themselves, and comes up amongst them, stooping right
and left, putting them all in; and then she rises and soars overhead. It is all play, I suppose; but I have
seen the Ravens on several occasions within an ace of being killed, which they must have been if actually
struck, from the velocity of the Falcon ; and once one was picked up which I believe to have been killed by
the Shaheen. I suppose she would not eat Crows ; but it is very evident to any one seeing her fly, that if
she stooped to strike, even in this place with all these pine trees about, she could easily strike a Crow,
or even a Raven, whenever she pleased. The Crows seem quite helpless before her; and though the
Ravens fly far better than the Crows, they are ‘1 mortal terror too. In these hills the Shaheen preys
principally upon Green Pigeons and Chukar Partridges.
“The flight of Shaheens is very fine. I do not think they are so active in repeating a stoop as the
Peregrine, or that they mount as quickly; but in a long rush slanting downwards, or straight down,
I think they excel the Peregrine in speed. They would make first-class game-Hawks, but they require a
great deal of room to fly. They are exceedingly docile and good-tempered, and are very easily broken to
the hood. They moult faster and better in confinement than any Falcons or Hawks I am acquainted with.
Shaheens are not adapted for ringing flights, which is the chief reason why they are not so highly
esteemed by the falconers in the lower country as they are up here, where Hawks are trained to wait on.
In their wild state, as I said before, they do not mount so quickly as Peregrines ; and when brought
into low condition, to make them fly at Herons &c., and for the rapid course of training practised by the
faleoners of Oude and Central India, who only get wild-caught Hawks to deal with, and a very short
hawking-season to break and fly them in, this defect is the more observable; and it is a common thing to
hear the falconers of Oude say that the Shaheen or Kohee does not stand training. The truth is, that
these Falcons are useless, or nearly so, unless they are flown in very high condition. The style of their flight
eat awe; and while the Falcon is soaring overhead there
does not admit of their being pinched.
‘Speaking of the plumage of Shaheens has reminded me that I have seen it stated that the varieties
noted are probably owing in some measure to domestication, ‘as it is well known that birds moulting
in confinement vary somewhat in the shades of their plumage’ from wild ones. (See Jerdon’s
‘Birds of India,’ vol. i. p. 38.) This is, speaking of the varieties of the Shaheen called by the natives, as
Jerdon says, white, black, blue, and red. Now their white Shaheen, or Kohee, as I before said, is the red-
naped Shaheen (F- Jabylonicus) ; their black Shaheen is the Sultan Falcon (I. peregrinator) ; and these two
species are sufficiently defined. I have met with another, more like the Peregrine than these two, which
is called ‘ Neela,’ or the blue Shaheen. The red or ‘lall’ Shaheen, I do not know; but I don’t think there
is any confusion, owing to variations in colour from domestication, with the more intelligent falconers
of India.”
The figures represent a male and a female, of the size of life.
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FALCO SACER.
Saker Falcon.
Accipiter falco sacer, Briss. Orn., tom. i. p. 337.
te = stlaris, Briss. 1b., p. 359.
Falco sacer, Gmel. edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p- 273.—Schleg. Rev. Crit. des Ois. ad Hur, pp. 2, 9.—Bonap.
Rev. Zool., 1850, p. 485.—Strickl. Orn. Syn., vol. i. p. 79.
—— stellaris, Gmel. edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p..274.
—— lanarius, Pall. Zoog. Ross.-Asiat., tom. i. p. 330 (excl. of syn.).—Temm. Man. d’Orn., tom. i. p:} 20, tom, ait.
p- 10.—Gould, Birds of Eur., vol. i. pl. 20.—Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p- 19, Falco, sp. 2.
—— eyanopus, Gesn., Thienemann, Rhea, tab.
Le Sacre, Buff. Hist. Nat. des Ois. édit. Sonn., tom. iii. p. 92.
I am unacquainted with any species of Falcon the synonymy of which is in such a state of confusion as that
of the present bird, familiarly known to most living ornithologists as the Saker. I might have greatly mul-
tiplied the list of names given above; but as a degree of uncertainty as to their really pertaining to this bird
would have rested upon many of them, I have thought it best to restrict their number. |] may state that the
Saker is considerably less courageous, and consequently of less esteem among falconers than the Peregrine,
the Jerfalcon, and its immediate allies. So ably have these and all other particulars respecting the bird
been treated by my friend Professor Schlegel in his admirable ‘ Traité de Fauconnerie,’ that I must advise ny
readers, and all who are interested in falconry, to consult it whenever they may have an opportunity of so doing,
and content myself with giving a brief sketch of its habits and range from the writings of those who have
had the advantage of observing the bird in its native haunts, never having myself seen it alive except ina
state of captivity. In size it considerably exceeds the Falco Jugger of India, to which it is nearly affined,
and which it also resembles in habits, disposition, and economy. In south-eastern Europe, in Asia Minor,
and in the intermediate countries as far as Afghanistan, this bird will probably be found in all situations
suited to its habits. It is known to breed in abundance in the low, flat, country of Bulgaria, and it is
doubtless also to be found in the sandy deserts of Asia Minor and northern Persia. In the Rev. H. B.
Tristram’s “Notes on the Ornithology of Palestine,” that gentleman says :— This splendid Falcon only |
came once under my observation in the oak-forests of Bashan, where I was close to it, as it perched in a
tree overhead. It seems to prefer the wide plains and deserts to the cliffs of the Jordan valley. The
Sheikhs of the Beni Sakk’r (sons of the Falcon) make it a point of distinction to possess several of these
birds trained for the chase of the gazelle; and the distinction between it and the Lanner is well known to
all the Arabs.”
«This very handsome Falcon,” says Mr. E. C. Taylor, “ appears to be rare in Egypt; for, with the
exception of a fine female obtained near Girgeh, I never saw it alive or dead, nor did I hear of any other
having been seen in Egypt. The legs and feet of the adult are yellow, and not blue as they are sometimes
represented.” ?
The following account of the nesting of this species, from the pen of W. H. Simpson, Esq., appeared in
the ‘Ibis’ for 1860 :—
“On the evening of the 29th of April last, we were strolling on a low flat island in the Danube, the
edge of which is well covered with tall poplars and other trees. Opposite this belt of trees, and across
the river, the Turkish shore rises pretty steeply to a level with the plateau of the Dobrudska, whilst behind,
toward the mainland of Wallachia, there stretches an immense tract of low ground, partly swamp, partly
forest, and partly open plain. On getting close to the river, in a place where the trees are very tall and
not thickly grouped, my attention was drawn to a good-sized nest which was placed about one-third of the
way up a tallish poplar. It was resting upon a large branch close to the bole of the tree, and appeared
exceedingly easy of access. Whilst my friend was climbing towards it, the bird slipped off and was shot
immediately. It proved to be a female Falco sacer. The nest was not much larger than that of a Hooded
Crow, but was deep and comfortably lined, and appeared externally as like a large Crow’s nest as one
bundle of sticks is like another. The eggs, four in number, were slightly incubated. In size they seem to be
intermediate between those of the Peregrine and Gyr Falcons, but are longer in proportion to their breadth.
Two of them are light in colour, the other two much darker.” One of the latter, accurately represented
on Plate XII. fig. 1 of the ‘Ibis’ for 1860, measures 2:2 inches by 1:6 inch, and is of a rich, bright, chestnut
red, minutely freckled with black, with a few hair-like marks of the same colour, and a number of small
light-coloured patches.
‘The male bird,” continues Mr. Simpson, “ was shortly afterwards observed sitting utterly motionless
his shoulder; he seemed so mournfully conscious of
on the top of a dead tree, with his head turned over
the catastrophe which had befallen his family that I felt utterly ashamed at having added murder to robbery
in my desire to possess myself of, as I supposed, an unknown bird. If the gun had still been in my hand,
I could have shot him easily, as he then seemed indifferent to his fate; but he flew away before the weapon
arrived, and thus escaped being involved in the ruin of his household.
‘This was the only pair of Falco sacer ever seen by me or by any of my friends in this part of the country ;
Iam inclined, therefore, to believe that the species 1s rare even here, though the bare and treeless chalk
downs of the Dobrudska are frequented by innumerable Bustards, both great and small, if that be the food
they covet.”
In the appendix at the end of the third volume of the ‘ Birds of India,’ Dr. Jerdon says :—‘ This rare
European bird, the Saker Falcon of old writers, is brought in tolerable abundance from the Hazara country
and the Alpine Punjab generally, and is much used for hawking the Indian Houbara Bustard, Hares, &c.”
Professor Schlegel remarks that ‘“‘The name of Saker, used in Europe since the time of the Emperor
Frederick II. and Marco Polo, is evidently of Arab origin ; for it is by this name the Arabs designate Falcons
in general; it is consequently an error to render this word into the Latin “‘sacer,” which signifies, sacred.
This error has led to many others, even to the extent of the bird being regarded by some as identical with
the Sacred Falcon of the Egyptians.
‘This species,” continues the Professor, “‘ having been often confounded with some others nearly allied
to it, its geographical distribution has not been clearly defined. The late Mr. Natterer killed several in
Hungary; and the Dutch falconer, Mollen, tells us that when in Austria, in the service of Prince ‘Trautmans-
dorff, he received young Sakers, taken from the nest in the middle of May, from the frontiers of the
same country. Pallas indicates two varieties of this species—a larger kind from the Uralian mountains, and
a smaller from the deserts of Great Tartary. Both, he says, emigrate in winter. The smaller one appears
to be the true Saker ; he states that it constructs its nest upon the trees (or even the shrubs) which are found
in the desert. The young, two or three in number, often leave the nest before they are full-grown, and
follow their mother everywhere, uttering loud cries. Being easily caught, the natives take them at this
period, as they are much esteemed for hunting, particularly by the Kalmucs. The bird inhabits the eastern
parts of Europe and the western portions of Asia.”
The Plate represents a female, from the Collection of Lord Lilford, somewhat less than the natural size,
and a young bird in the distance.
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FALCO LANARIUS.
Lanner Falcon.
Accipriter lanarius, Briss. Orn., tom. i. p. 363.
Falco lanarius, Klein, Ova Av., p. 48.—Schleg. Rev. Crit. des Ois. d’Eur., pp. 2, 11.—Bonap. Rev. Zool., 1850,
p. 485.—Adams in Ibis, 1864, p. 10.
Feldeggu, Schleg. Abh. aus dem Geb. der Zool. &c., tabb. 10, 11; Rev. Crit. des Ois. d’Eur., io E2.
Le vrai Lanier, Buff. Hist. Nat. des Ois., tom. i. p. 243.
Brown Lanner, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. i. p. 86.—Id. Gen. Hist., vol. i. p. 84.
Tue remarks made at the commencement of my account of Falco sacer, as to the amount of confusion
which exists with regard to its synonymy, apply with equal force to the present bird, so well known to all
living European ornithologists as Fulco lanarius ; hence, for the like reasons, the list of names said to
pertain to it are sparsely given. The native country of the bird is Northern Africa, over which portion of
the globe it ranges from Morocco to Egypt, and proceeds still further eastward to Palestine, Asia Minor,
Persia, and, according to the late Mr. G. T. Vigne’s note to me, as far as the Punjab. That a bird enjoying
such vast powers of flight should not occasionally visit other countries would be contrary to probability; and
we find that it not only occasionally visits Spain, but there are recorded instances of its occurrence in
Greece and other European countries, and one at least of its being killed in England; indeed the Reviewer,
in the ‘Ibis’ for 1859, of Dr. Bree’s ‘Birds of Kurope not observed in the British Isles’ remarks that
‘The Lanner has a good claim to be included in the British list ; for Lewin’s figure in his ‘ British Birds,’
vol. 1. pl. 17, seems referable only to this species, and the subject of it was taken in Lincolnshire; but we
know of no other instance of its occurrence here unaccompanied by considerable doubt.”
Of all the Falcons I have had opportunities of becoming acquainted with in a living state, this is at once
the most beautiful and the most docile. My figure was taken with great care from a living example
perched on my arm, and which appeared to be as inquisitive and as interested in the delineation of his figure
as the draftsman himself. This fine bird is now (March 1868) living in the aviary of the Zoological
Society of London in the Regent’s Park.
A glance at my plates of Fulco sacer and Falco lanarius will furnish a better idea of the differences
of the two birds than any verbal description, however accurate. Like the former, the latter bird is
considered by the falconers a less powerful flier than the birds of the Peregrine form; and I believe it is
less courageous and sanguinary. The fact is, these two desert Falcons are of a different type, befitting them
for a different mode of life from that of the Peregrines, but equally suited for some special purpose, such as
preying upon the smaller quadrupeds as well as birds, which the Peregrine and its allies never do.
I shall now give some extracts from the writings of the ornithologists and travellers who have remarked
on this elegant bird,—a course I do not hesitate to adopt, as the furtherance of science and the promotion
of truthful knowledge is my constant aim.
‘* By far the most common of the large Falcons of Palestine,” says the Rev. H. B. Tristram, “is the
Falco lanarius. It is universally distributed throughout the rocky wadys on both sides of the Jordan and
the Dead Sea and as far north as the foot of Hermon, is a permanent resident, and, as we were told,
reoccupies the same eyrie year after year. A nest of four eggs was taken in the gorge of the Wady Kelt,
near Jericho, on the 29th of February; and the Lanner was breeding in four or five places in the Wady
Hamam and the Wady Leimun, near Gennesaret, in April. No region is too desolate or dreary for this
noble bird. On the stupendous rock of Masada, facing the Dead Sea, a Lanner dropped a Pochard Duck
on being fired at; and we also saw a pair at Jebel Usdum, the salt mountain at the south end of the lake.
It seems to avoid the forests; for though very common near the mouths of the ravines east of Jordan,
we never observed it in the vast forests of Gilead and Ajlun. It is in high repute among the Bedouins
for the chace; and trained birds are as valuable as in North Africa. But though we frequently saw it
in the possession of Arab sheikhs of high degree, we never had an opportunity of witnessing the sport, as
we only met them on the march.”
Mr. E. Cavendish Taylor says the ‘ Lanner is decidedly the most abundant of the large Falcons in Egypt,
where it breeds and is resident, I believe, all the year round. In the month of January 1864, I shot three
specimens within a short walk of Cairo.”
Mr. J. Clarke Hawkshaw informs me that when at Girgeh on the 19th of March, 1865, he “ saw a Lanner
eating a tame Pigeon on the sandbank by the water’s edge; on my approach it flew with its prey a quarter
of a mile further up the Nile, and, after being twice disturbed, retired to a mudebank in the middle of the
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The next day I observed a pair of Lanners about the rocks by the Nile,
river, carrying the Pigeon with it.
I shot the
opposite the Girgeh ; one of the pair was pursued and driven up a rocky valley by a Raven.
male bird while soaring near the top of the cliffs.”
Professor Schlegel remarks that
“Little is really known of the habits, manners, or distribution of the Lanner. As the Baron de Feldegg
killed four specimens of this bird in Dalmatia, we may reasonably conclude that it is a native of that country.
However this may be, it has rarely been seen in other parts of Europe, and would seem to be merely an
accidental visitor to its temperate portions. - With the exception of the three individuals described by Buffon,
Lewin, and Naumann, I do not know a single specimen which has been met within Central Europe. Dutch
falconers, who annually take a great number of Falcons, unanimously declare they have never seen this bird
in a wild state.
‘Tt appears that the Lanner was formerly much sought after by falconers, as they mention it in all their
works.”
My figure of the Lanner is of the size of life.
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FALCO JUGGER, Gray.
Jugger Falcon.
Jugger Falcon, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. i. p. 192.
Falco Jugger, Gray, Ill. Ind. Zool., vol. i. pl. 26.—List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., Part I. 2nd Edit. p. 52.—
Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 13.—Cat. of Spec. and Draw. of Mamm. and Birds
presented by B. H. Hodgson, Esq. to Brit. Mus., p. 43.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 19,
Falco, sp. 8.
lugger, Jerd. Madras Journ. Lit. and Sci. 1839, vol. x. p. 80.
—— thermophilus, Hodgs., Gray, Zool. Misc. 1844, p. 81.
—— (Gennaia) Jugger, Kaup in Oken’s Isis, 1847, p. 71.
Turis species, which was first described by Latham, under its trivial name of Jugger Falcon, appears to be
very generally dispersed over the whole of the peninsula of India, for we have many proofs that it imhabits
the entire country from its most southern parts to the Himalayan Range; Mr. Blyth states that it is com-
mon along the banks of the Ganges above the tideway, but is not so numerous in the lower portion of
Bengal; and we learn from Mr. Jerdon’s “ Catalogue of the Birds of the Indian Peninsula” that it is the
commonest of the large Falcons of India, and that it breeds in the neighbourhood of Madras, on trees,
during the hot weather: he adds, that it is one of the species trained for hawking, and is frequently flown
at crows, in the pursuit of which much sport is said to be afforded; but it is a bird of heavier and slower
flight than any of the other Falcons of India. It is usually flown at crows from the hand, but it is also
taught to stoop at partridges, florikins, &c.
I am indebted to Andrew Murray, Esq. of Aberdeen, for the loan of a very fine collection of Indian birds
formed by his brother, Dr. John Murray, Civil Surgeon at Agra; among which are the fine examples of
this Falcon from which my figures were taken: as will be seen by the accompanying Plate, they differ
considerably in size and colour, one being much larger and browner than the other, which is doubtless
indicative of a difference of sex. Mr. Jerdon informs us that the young birds are entirely brown on their
under surface, and that they lose the brown of the breast at the first, and that of the belly at the two
succeeding moultings.
It will be observed that the terms Jugger and Lugger have both been employed as specific appellations
for this bird; that of Jugger must however be the one retained, inasmuch as it has the priority and is the
name applied to the male by the Hindoos, that of Lugger being assigned by them to the female.
The adult male has the forehead, stripe over the eye, cheeks, chin, throat, chest, and edge of the
shoulder white; crown of the head and nape rufous, with a narrow stripe of black down the centre of each
feather; round the eye numerous fine lines of black, which increase in number beneath the eye, and are
continued downwards in front of the cheeks like a delicate moustache ; back brownish black, which colour
is continued on the sides of the chest in a semicrescentic form, all the feathers with a slight edging of
rufous; wings slaty brown, with paler edges; primaries barred with white on their mner webs; under
wing-coverts brown, spotted with white on their margins; under surface white, with a line of brown
becoming spatulate towards the tip, down the centre of each feather; on either flank a patch of brown
feathers, some of which are largely spotted with white; lower part of the back and tail greyish brown,
the latter crossed by numerous bars, and tipped with white; irides brown; cere, base of the bill, tarsi
and toes yellow ; remainder of bill and claws slaty horn-colour.
The female has the head dull rufous, largely striated with brown; all the upper surface, wings and tail
deep brown, with pale margins ; primaries barred with white on their inner webs; tail-feathers toothed
with dull white on their inner webs; moustaches more conspicuous than in the male; cheeks and throat
striated with brown; under surface brown, mottled with white; under tail-coverts white; cere and legs
slate-grey.
The figures represent the two sexes of the natural size.
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ERYTHROPUS AMURENSIS.
White-winged Red-footed Kestrel.
Falco vespertinus, Schrenck, Reis. Amurl. Vég. p. 230 (1860, nec Linn.).
Erythropus vespertinus, Swinhoe, Ibis, 1861, pp. 253, 327 (nec Linn.).—Id. P. Z. S. 1862, p. 315.—Jerdon, B. of
Ind. i. p. 40 (1862).—Swinhoe, P. Z. 8. 1863, p. 260.—Kirk, Ibis, 1864, p. 316.—Hume, Rough Notes,
i, p. 106 (1869).—Jerdon, Ibis, 1871, p. 243.
Falco vespertinus, var. amurensis, Radde, Sibir. Reise, ii. p. 102, Taf. 1. figs. 1-3 (1863).
Hypotriorchis concolor, Gurney, Ibis, 1866, p. 127.
Falco amurensis, Homeyer, J. f. O. 1868, p. 251.—David & Oustalet, Ois. de la Chine, p. 34 (1877).
Erythropus amurensis, Gurney, Ibis, 1868, p. 41, pl. 2.—Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1870, pp. 436, 448, 1871, p. 340.—Id.
Ibis, 1873, p. 96.—Gurney in Anderss. B. Dam. L. p. 17 (1872).
Tinnunculus amurensis, Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 23 (1869).
Falco raddei, Finsch & Hartl. Vog. Ost-Afr. p. 74 (1870).
Cerchneis amurensis, Sharpe, Brit.-Mus. Cat. B. i. p. 445 (1874).—Id. ed. Layard, p. 66 (1874).
Erythropus raddei, Dybowski, J. f. O. 1874, p. 334.—Tacz. Bull. Soc. Zool. France, 1876, p. 126.
Tue present species is closely allied to the Red-legged Hobby or Red-footed Falcon of Eastern and Southern
Europe (Lrythropus vespertinus), and represents it in Western Siberia and China. Dr. von Schrenck duly
noticed some differences between the bird which he procured in Amoor Land and those of Europe, but did
not separate them specifically ; while Mr. Radde, who obtained specimens from Amoor Land and on the
Ussuri, only deemed it worth while to recognize the bird from these localities as a mere race. In my own
opinion the eastern bird is quite distinct from the European Red-footed Falcon (which is also an inhabitant
of Western Siberia, but gradually disappearing on the eastward side of Lake Baikal), and differs not only
in the white under wing-coverts, but also in the very different plumage of the female bird, which is not
unlike a young Hobby in appearance.
In addition to the localities mentioned above, Dr. Dybowski has sent specimens from the Akscha, in
Daouria, and also from old Tsuruchaitui, on the Argun river. In China, according to Pere David, it is
not found in the south, but arrives in April in the plains of Northern China and Mongolia, flying in bands
which consist generally of the males and females in separate flocks. It is a very familiar bird, according
to the same observer, and takes up its residence in the large trees which are often in the neighbourhood of
dwelling-houses, or even in the midst of villages, often selecting for their homes the deserted nests of
Magpies or Crows. This Falcon is said by Pere David to be a bird of a pleasing and amiable temperament,
and very gentle and sociable in its ways, on which account it is not interfered with by the Chinese, all the
more because its food consists solely of insects and small reptiles (PArynocephalus caudivoloulus and Lacerta
argus). It particularly affects the open country, and never establishes itself in the mountains or among
rocks; and it may be seen near all the villages in the Pekin plain, sailing from early morning till night-time
in the air, when it sails about quietly or cleaves the air with a graceful motion. In autumn these birds
unite once more in large troops and go off to the south-west, the young birds being the last to quit the
country.
It occurs in India, where, Dr. Jerdon says, it is not common, but is generally spread throughout the
country ; and he has killed it himself in various places, but only in the rainy season. It is also numerous
in South-eastern Africa during the northern winter.
Mr. Swinhoe gives an interesting account of this Falcon near Chefoo, where it breeds in the nests of
Magpies ; but he did not succeed in obtaining the eggs. He states also that the food consists not only of
insects, but also of small birds, and for the capture of the latter they are trained for hawking.
The following description of the adult male bird is given by Mr. Sharpe in his ‘ Catalogue :—“Above
leaden black, a little paler on the lower back and-secondaries, the greater wing-coverts and primaries clearly
washed externally with silvery grey; tail greyish black above, paler beneath; under surface of body pale
grey; lower abdomen, thighs, vent, and under tail-coverts bright chestnut ; under wing-coverts pure white ;
cere and orbits orange; feet and tarsi dark orange, claws whitish; bill dark orange, black at tip; iris hazel.
Total length 9°5 inches, culmen 0°75, wing 9:0, tail 5:3, tarsus 1°15.
The female is very Hobby-like in plumage, and has the tail grey, banded with black, and the upper surface
broadly barred with black; the under surface creamy white, the breast broadly streaked and the flanks
barred with black; the abdomen, thighs, and under tail-coverts uniform pale rufous.
Young birds are like the old female, but have the feathers edged with rufous.
The figures in the Plate are drawn from specimens lent me by Mr. Henry Seebohm from the Swinhoe
collection ; they represent an adult male and female, of about the size of life.
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SPILORNIS RUFIPECTUS, Gow.
Rufous-breasted Spilornis.
Spilornis rufipectus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part. xxv. p. 222.
We are now acquainted with at least three or four species of this well-defined genus of Hawks, whose habits
and mode of life appear to be very peculiar ; it would seem, also, that their structure is especially adapted for
living upon snakes and lizards; at least, this is the kind of food upon which the common Indian species
(the Spelornis Cheela) is said to exist. Another bird of this form (the Spilornis holospilus) inhabits Manilla ;
and the well-known Spélornis Bacha frequents the islands of Java and Sumatra: the present bird, which
inhabits countries still further south, and which is the smallest member of the genus, was sent by Mr.
Wallace from Celebes, and was obtained by him in the vicinity of Macassar.
Before figuring this bird as new, I consulted Mr. J. H. Gurney as to the propriety of so doing, and of
assigning to it a specific appellation, when he unhesitatingly affirmed that it differed from every other known
species, and added that I should be quite right in so doing. I mention this because my friend M. Jules Ver-
reaux of Paris, in a conversation I had with him on the subject, appeared to be of a different opinion,
and stated that he had seen specimens intermediate in plumage between this bird and the S. Cheela, which
circumstance induced him to believe that they were of one species. I believe, however, that, great orni-
thologist as the latter gentleman undoubtedly is, in this instance he is in error, and that the birds are
really distinct.
It is probable that the sexes, when fully adult, offer little or no difference in colour; on the other hand,
as will be seen on reference to the accompanying Plate, a considerable variation exists in the young
state. My thanks are due to Mr. Gurney for his kindness and liberality in permitting me to enrich this
work with a copy of the beautiful drawing of this species prepared for him by Mr. Wolf.
Crown of the head and occipital plumes deep black, the occipital plumes margined at the tip with rufous ;
feathers at the nape black, conspicuously margined with rufous ; feathers of the upper surface and the wing's
dark chocolate-brown, with paler edges; chin, and sides of the neck, greyish-black ; chest deep cinnamon-
brown ; primaries and secondaries blotched with white at intervals on their internal web ; under wing-coverts,
abdomen, vent, thighs, and under tail-coverts cinnamon-brown, crossed by bands composed of two large spots
of white, bounded above and below with a narrow line of black; tail dark brown, crossed near the base by
a narrow and not very distinct band of greyish, and near the apex by broad bands of a lighter hue passing
into whitish on the edges of the internal webs, and narrowly edged at the tip with pale reddish-brown and
white; bill blackish brown ; the cere, naked orbits, legs, and feet yellow.
The figure is about, or perhaps rather less than, the natural size.
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SPIZAETUS ALBONIGER, Byrn.
Nisaétus alboniger, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. vol: xiv. p. 173.
Spizactus alboniger, Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 26.
borneonensis, Gray, List of Birds in Coll. Brit. Mus., 2nd edit. part 1, Accipitres, p. 16.
THERE is no one section of the Falconide respecting the habits and economy of which we know so little as
of the Crested Eagles forming the genus Spizaétus; the synonymy, too, of the various species has not been
so clearly defined as might be desired; I have not hesitated, therefore, to seek the aid of a gentleman
(J. H. Gurney, Esq.) who has devoted much of his attention for many years to the birds of the Raptorial
order; and this aid has been most courteously accorded to me, in the form of a monograph of the Indian
species, which I consider I may most appropriately publish as an accompaniment to my illustration of the
Spizaétus alboniger. I must, at the same time, thank Mr. Gurney for permission to copy Mr. Wollt’s spirited
sketch, which represents the adult and young of this species as nearly three-fourths the natural size as may be.
The followmg are Mr. Gurney’s observations :—
“* Spizaétus albonger, Blyth ; S. borneonensis, Gray.—This very distinct species, the smallest of the Asiatic
Spizaet? with which we are at present acquainted, was first described by Mr. Blyth (4. p. 1845) in the four-
teenth volume of the ‘Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal,’ p. 173, in the following terms :—‘ A
smaller species than either of those from India, measuring about 21+ inches in length; wing 13 inches,
and tail 93 inches; tarsus 3 inches; occipital crest 34 inches. Adult :—black above, with a purple gloss ;
the large alars embrowned, and distinctly banded with black ; tail black, with a broad, light greyish brown bar
occupying about its third quarter from the base; the longer upper tail-coverts have each two cross-bands of
the same; lower parts pure white, with a black mesial line on throat ; large intense black drops on the breast.
The belly, vent, lower tail-coverts, tibial plumes, and short tarsal feathers are throughout closely barred
black and white; beak black, and toes wax-yellow. A younger specimen has the drops fewer and smaller on
the breast, an admixture of rufous about the head, several unmoulted brown feathers among the wing-
coverts, and one unmoulted tail-feather which has three narrowish dark bars, with two or more at the base,
closer and less defined: a remarkably handsome species from Malacca, the Tenasserim provinces, and Borneo.
“The two specimens now figured are in the collection of the Norwich Museum; the adult was obtained
from Singapore through the intervention of H. F. Barclay, Esq.; the immature bird was presented by the
late Captain Glasspoole, who obtained it in the course of one of his voyages to the East, but the exact
locality from whence it was procured is not recorded.
‘The following species are also found on the continent of Asia and in the adjacent islands :—
‘‘ SPIZAETUS LANCEOLATUS, T'emminck & Schlegel, Fauna Japonica, p. 7.
“«_____ fasciolatus, Schlegel, Muséum des Pays Bas, p. 9.
Professor Schlegel, though citing the above synonym for this species, appears to doubt its being specifi-
cally distinct ; it is, however, a very well-defined species, differing from S. adboniger in its larger size, in the
absence of a crest, and in the strong rufous colouring of the upper portion of the breast in the adult bird.
It inhabits the Celebes, and, according to the authors of the ‘Fauna Japonica,’ is also found in Borneo.
This species, of which the British and Norwich Museums contain fine examples, brought from the Celebes
by Mr. Wallace, has not yet been figured.
‘«SprzarTus Krenert, De Sparre, Magasin de Zoologie, 1835, pl. 35 (adult).
‘A specimen in immature plumage, said to have been killed on the coast of Scotland, near Aberdeen, in
the year 1828, is figured in Jardine and Selby’s ‘Illustrations of Ornithology,’ pl. 66. This species has
been observed in Northern and in Central India, and it also occurs in the islands of Java and Borneo ;_ but
both there and in India it appears to be a bird of considerable rarity.
“SpizanTus Puitiprensis.—This specific name I would propose for a species of Spizaétus inhabiting the
Philippine Islands, which appears to me to be undoubtedly distinct, though not admitted as such by Pro-
fessor Schlegel, who is disposed to consider it as referable to S. Aveneri (vide Muséum des Pays Bas, p. 12),
an opinion in which I am unable to agree. As this Sprzaétus is at present unfigured, I add the description
of a specimen in the Norwich Museum, which I suppose to be an adult female :—
‘Total length 25 inches; wing, from carpal joint, 142; tail 114; crest 2!; tarsus 3s; middle toe and
claw 3.
‘The general colour of the upper surface in this species is a dark umber-brown ; but the base of the feathers
of the crest is white, and the margins of the other occipital feathers are of a light yellowish brown. Some
of the scapulars and upper alar feathers (especially the latter) are slightly tipped with the same; the tail,
which is of a somewhat lighter brown than the back, is tipped with a very narrow edging of white, and is
a oe swhat indistinc 1 the two
also crossed by seven blackish-brown bars, the upper one being, however, somewhat indistinct, anc
lower being separated by an interval which is twice the breadth of th
throat has a broad blackish band running down its centre, with two
all merging in a cluster of dark brown lanceolate
Vi
e spaces between the other bars. The
similar and nearly parallel bands pro-
ceeding from the corners of the mouth, the three bands
. le he : arkine’s { also the whole
marks upon the upper portion of the breast, the intervals between these markings and ¢
egions being tinged with a vellowish rufous; the under tail-
= ce x oe
plumage of the lower sternal and abdominal r
coverts are barred with brown and white, the former bars being much broader than the latter ; and the thighs
and tarsi are marked throughout their length with narrow equidist
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PHODILUS BADIUS.
Bay Owl.
Striw badia, Horsf. Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. xiii. p. 139.—Id. Zool. Res. in Java, pl. 37.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. 1.
p- 353.—Temm. Pl. Col., 318.—Less. Man. d’Orn., tom. i. p. 114.—Vig. App. Life of Raff., p. 651.
Athene badia, Hodgs. in Gray’s Zool. Misc., 1844, p. 82.
Phodilus badius, I. Geoff. Ann. Sci. Nat., tom. xxi. p. 201.—Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Beng., vol. xix. n.s., p. 513.—Gray
& Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 42, pl. 15. fig. 1.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., tom. i. p. 55.—Dillw. Nat.
Hist. Lab., p. 8.—Kaup, Mon. Strig. in Jard. Cont. Orn., 1852, p. 118.—Strickl. Orn. Syn., vol, i. p. 183.
--Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calc., p. 41.—Horsf. & Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East
Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 80.—Jerd. Birds of India, vol. i. Pp; 119 Blyth, This, 1866, p, 252 —-G. Kh. Gray,
Hand-list of Birds, vol, i. p. 53.
nepalensis, G. R. Gray, Hand-list of Birds, vol. i. p. 53?
Wowo-wiwi or Kalong-wiwi of the Japanese (Horsfield).
I am indebted to Captain Stackhouse Pinwill, of Trehane, in Cornwall, for the loan of a drawing taken from
life of the face, eyes, and disks of this highly curious Owl, which rather inhabits the confines than the penin-
sula of India, but which, nevertheless, appears to enjoy a wide extent of range, since Mr. Blyth enumerates
the following countries as frequented by it—namely, Nepaul, Sikim, Assam, Arracan, and the Malayan Penin-
sula and Archipelago ; that it also inhabits Java will be seen on reference to Dr. Horsfield’s note given below.
Hitherto it has been regarded as the sole representative of its genus ; but I observe that Mr. G. R. Gray con-
siders the Nepaulese bird distinct, and has named it Phodilus Nepalensis, in the recently published first
volume of bis ‘ Hand-list of Birds,’ p. 53; for my own part, I have not seen any reason for believing it to be
distinct. A mere glance at its peculiar physiognomy, its large eyes and bill, great wings, short body,
and huge feet, will fully justify the separation of the form from the genus Strix, to which, however, it would
seem to be nearly related; but Mr. Blyth remarks that, ‘‘ upon examination of the external ear and other
characters, I find it has no claim to belong the Screech-Owl subfamily (S¢rigine), but is distinctly one of
the Hooters (Syrnne). Messrs. Mottley and Dillwyn state that ‘it has only a single note, frequently repeated,
and which is much like the first note of the Wood-Owl’s cry.” (“ Ibis,’ 1866, p. 252.)
Mr. Jerdon informs me that ‘ this peculiarly coloured Owl has been very rarely found in India, having mostly
been obtained by Mr. Hodgson in Nepaul and Sikim. It appears to be more common in Burmah and
Malayana, especially in the Archipelago. It is said by the natives to be on good terms with the Tiger.”
“The Wowo-wiwi,” says Dr. Horsfield, ‘is rarely met with in Java. It never visits the villages, but
resides in the closest forests, which are the usual resort of the Tiger. The natives even assert that it
approaches this animal with the same familiarity with which the Jallah (Pastor jalla, Horsf.) approaches the
buffalo, and that it has no dread to alight on the tiger’s back. It is never seen in confinement; the few in-
dividuals I obtained were from the densest forests of the district of Pugar, and from the ranges of low hills
south of the capital of Surakarta. Like most other species of this family, it is a nocturnal bird.”
The sexes are alike in colour, and differ but little in size; the rich chestnut tint of their upper surface,
relieved with spangles of black and white, renders them very pretty objects. Their plumage is soft and
yielding, and their flight is probably noiseless.
Forehead light vinous buff; facial disks similar, but paler; before, above, and behind the eye a large
mark of deep chestnut ; edge of the facial disks white, each feather with a mark of chestnut varying in shape
near the tip; all the upper surface, wings, and tail rich deep chestnut, the scapularies and some of the wing-
coverts having a double spot of white and black near the tip; primaries and secondaries banded with black ;
the interspaces of the external web of the outer primaries white ; under surface fawn-colour washed with
vinous, and with a small spot of black near the tips of the feathers; irides full, lustrous, and black ; bill
yellowish born-colour ; bare part of the feet the same ; claws black.
The figures are of the natural size.
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ATHENE BRODIEL
Brodie’s Owlet.
Noctua Brodiei, Burt. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part iii., 1835, p- 152.
Athene Brodiei, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xi. p. 163.—Id. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calc., p. 40.
—Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 35, Athene, sp. 9.—Hutton, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xvii.
part i. p. 5.—Horsf. & Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East-Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 46.—Gray, Hand-list
of Birds, vol. i. p. 40.
Noctua tubiger, Hodgs. Asiat. Res., vol. xix. p. 175.
Athene badia, Hodgs. in Gray’s Zool. Misc., 1844, p. 82.
Tenoptyne Brodiei, Kaup, in Jard. Cont. to Orn., 1851, p. 1380; 1852, p. 104.—Bulger, Ibis, 1869, p. 155.
Glaucidium Brodigi, Jerd. Birds of Ind., vol. i. p. 146.—Blyth, Ibis, 1866, p. 258.
Ar a first glance, this diminutive Owl would appear to be the European Striv passerina of Linnzeus ; but on
comparison it will be found that not only is it quite distinct from that species, but it cannot be placed in
the same genus. In size, and in size only, do the two birds at all assimilate; for, besides differing in their
markings, the toes of 8. passerina are thickly clothed with dense warm feathers, while those of Brodie’s
Owlet are nude, or at most have only a few hairs thinly dispersed over their upper portion.
Were I to say that Brodie’s Owlet is the smallest of the Old-World Owls, I should, I believe, be stating an
untrath ; for I have now before me an Owlet from Assam which not only is more diminutive in size, but
also differs considerably in the markings of its plumage—that is to say, in the absence of bars on the back
and chest, those parts being of a uniform brown, the forehead alone being slightly spotted with fawn-colour ;
in all other respects it is very similar. I have compared this Assam bird with the smallest male examples
I have seen of 4. Brodie from the Himalayas, and find it to be considerably more diminutive than either of
them; and when compared with the females of the latter species it is not more than two-thirds of the size.
Believing it to be undescribed, I shall provisionally name this little Owlet Athene minutilla, and await the
arrival of other specimens, from Assam or elsewhere, before more fully characterizing it. As regards the
true 1. Brodiei, 1 find a difference occurs in the light portion of the throat and under surface, some spe-
cimens having those parts pure white; while in others they have a faint wash of sulphur-yellow.
Those who carefully examine this little Owl cannot fail to notice its lengthened and tubular nostrils, the
why and the wherefore of which is at present unknown. By Dr. Kaup this bird has been constituted the
type of his genus Ze@niuptynx ; but I do not see the necessity of separating it from Athene.
«This pretty little Owl,” says Captain Hutton, “ is exceedingly common in the Himalayas, in the neigh-
bourhood of Mussoorie and Simla, and may be heard at nightfall uttering its monotonous but not unmusical
whistle of two notes ofttimes repeated. It nidificates in hollow trees, without any preparation of a nest.
On the 11th of May, 1848, I found three young ones and an egg just ready to hatch, in a hole of a wild
cherry-tree. The egg was nearly round and pure white, but being broken I could take no measurement of
it. The young ones were clothed in a soft and pure white down. The old female remained in the hole
while we cut into the tree, and allowed herself to be captured.”
Mr. Jerdon informs us that this species ‘is found throughout the Himalayas, from 3000 or 4000 feet to
a considerably greater elevation. It is not rare about Darjeeling ; and its low monotonous call or whistle of
two notes may frequently be heard at nightfall, whence it is called ‘ the melancholy bird’ at some of the hill
stations. It lives chiefly on beetles and other insects.”
Major Bulger mentions that, while in Sikkim in the summer of 1867, he had two or three specimens
brought to him, he saw the bird himself in the forests near the station, and a hollow ringing sound, said
by the natives to be its call, was very common in the woods. (‘ Ibis,’ 1869, p- 155).
It may be as well to mention that this charming little Owl was dedicated by Mr. Burton to the late
eminent surgeon Sir Benjamin C. Brodie, Bart., ‘in token of high respect and ancient friendship.”
Head, all the upper surface and wings olive-brown, crossed by numerous bands of fulvous, which are
lightest or almost fawn-white on the forehead and over the eyes ; primaries very dark brown, with a row of
irregularly shaped spots of fulvous along the outer web; at the back of the neck a conspicuous deep fulyous
collar, with a spot of black on each side ; the scapularies next the wing dashed with fawn-white ; tail dark
brown, crossed by seven or eight narrow bands of fulvous, placed at regular intervals 3; facial disks spotted
and striated with fulvous and grey on a dark brown ground, and edged with a ring of white ; chin, centre
of the breast, and margins of the feathers of the lower part of the abdomen and flanks white, or faintly
tinged with yellow ; under surface dark olive, banded with pale fulvous and white ; bill and toes pale greenish
yellow ; irides pale yellow.
The figures are of the natural size.
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SYRNIUM OCELLATUM, Zess.
Speckled Wood-Owl.
Syrnium ocellatum, Less. Rev. Zool., 1839, p. 289.—Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 39, Syrnium, sp. 5.—
Jerd. Birds of India, vol. ii. part 2. p. 870.—Gray, Hand-list of Birds, vol. i. p. 49.
sinense, Jerd. Birds of Ind., vol, i. p. 193.
Striv sinensis, Hard. & Gray, Ill. Ind. Zool. phar
Bulaca ocellata, Blyth, Ibis, 1865, p. 29; 1866, p. 253.
‘“*Wuar’s ina name?” is a frequent exclamation to indicate that the matter referred to is of no moment ;
but if any of my non-scientific readers had to work out synonymies, they would find that in many instances it
would be precisely the reverse. Thus it would appear that the beautiful and well-known Owl, figured some
forty years ago, in Hardwicke and Gray’s ‘ Illustrations of Indian Zoology,’ under the name of Striv sinensis
has borne an appellation which does not and cannot belong to it, since it was applied by Latham to a bird
which he places among the Eared Owls both in his ‘Index Ornithologicus ’ and his ‘ General History of
Birds.’ Under these circumstances, we must agree with Mr. Blyth that Lesson’s specific appellation of
ocellatum should be retained for it. Moreover the term sinensis would be very inappropriate, inasmuch as
the bird is never found in China; while ocel/atum, as descriptive of its markings, is an excellent one: under
this appellation I have therefore figured it on the accompanying Plate, my drawing being taken from a
specimen obtained in India proper. The Syrnium ocellatum belongs to a small division of the Owls to which
the subgeneric name of Bulaca has been applied ; it will be seen, however, that I have preferred to retain
it under that of Syrnium.
I have stated that this bird is not found in China, and I may mention that Mr. Swinhoe did not meet
with it in any of his extensive wanderings in the Celestial Empire. Of its habits and economy little is
known. As far as we are aware, there is no external difference in the sexes. Its soft and moth-like plumage
renders it one of the most attractive members of its great family.
“This very beautifully plumaged Owl,” says Mr. Jerdon, “is found throughout the greater part of India.
It is only met with in well-wooded districts, at no great elevation. I have found it most numerous in the
Carnatic and in parts of Mysore, frequenting groves of trees and avenues ; it is rare in Central India and the
forests of Malabar, but does not occur in Lower Bengal. It emits a loud, harsh, dissonant hoot.”
““T never obtained a Bengal specimen,” remarks Mr. Blyth; “but I once picked up an unmistakable
feather of this bird in a mango-tope, some thirty miles above Calcutta. | have never seen it from the east-
ward. A specimen is noted by Mr. F. Moore from the Himalaya; but I doubt this alleged habitat, and be-
lieve that it was from one of the Subhimalayan valleys. Capt. J. Hutton has well remarked that an
ordinary collector at one of the Himalayan Sanitary Stations (say Masuri) employs three or four native
shikaris, and sends one or two of them far into the interior of the hills, and others down into the Subhimalayan
valley of the Deyra-doon ; and their gatherings of birds, insects, and so forth (from quite different faune or
assemblages of species) are alike brought to England as a collection from the Himalaya! Thus untravelled
students are apt to be misled.”
Upper surface rich tawny buff; each feather of the head and nape tipped with black, within which are two
or more irregularly shaped spots of white, which increase in size (and in some instances are mottled with
black in the centre) towards the mantle; feathers of the back, scapularies, wing-coverts, and upper
tail-coverts with a series of large patches of white, freckled with dusky on each web, the central line and the
lines dividing the patches being of a blackish brown ; primaries tawny at the base, and blackish brown for
the remainder of their length ; the tawny portion crossed by dark brown bands, the exterior webs by irregular
mottled bands, and the dark portion of the inner webs by faint irregular bands of a lighter tint; tail tawny
at the base, gradually deepening into dark brown near the tip, the whole crossed by broad, irregular, mottled
bands, dark on the basal portion and becoming nearly white towards the tip, which terminates in white ;
facial disks white, brown, and fulvous, the white occupying the shafts of the feathers ; the edges of the disks
white, surrounded by a dark brown ruff; chin white ; undersurface of the body beautifully banded with tawny
white and brownish black, each feather being tawny at the base, and white crossed with three bands
of brownish black for the remainder of their length; tarsal feathers similar, but the tawny tint prevailing on
the upper portion, and the grey or white on the lower part of the limbs ; bill black ; eyelids orange, irides
dark brown ; soles of the feet yellowish ; claws dusky.
The figure is somewhat smaller than the natural size.
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STRIX INDICA, Bytn.
Indian Screech-Owl.
Strix flammea, Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 41.—Gould, in Proc. of Zool. Soc., 1859,
p lob:
javanica, Jerd. Madras Journ. of Lit. and Sci., vol. x. p. 85.—Sykes, in Proc. of Comm. of Sci. and Corr.
of Zool. Soc., part ii. p. 81—Jerd. Birds of Ind., vol. i. De LEZ.
indica, Blyth, in Ibis, 1866, p. 250.—Gray, Hand-list of Birds, part i. p. 52.—Holdsw. Proc. of Zool. Soc.,
1872, p.
Karaya and Karail, Hind. ; also Buri-churi, i. e. the bad bird.—JERDON.
Chaao pitta, Telugu, and Chaao-Kuravi, Tamul, both meaning death-bird.—JERDon.
However far to the eastward from Europe the Common Owl (Striv flammea) may range, it does not appear
to extend to India, as was formerly supposed, its place in that country being occupied by the present species,
which may be easily distinguished by its larger size, longer tarsi, much larger feet, by the more buffy hue of
its plumage, and the smaller size of the spots with which it is ornamented. To what extent this bird ranges
over the islands of the Eastern archipelago, or if it is found there at all, is not known with certainty. Mr.
Swinhoe does not notice it as a species found in China ; neither is it, I believe, identical with the Striv
javanica of Dr. Horsfield—that is, if the figure given of the latter by Gray and Mitchell, in their ‘Genera of
Birds,’ be a correct representation of the Java bird. Mr. Jerdon is the principal writer on this species ; and
he, I regret to say, has furnished but little respecting it; what he has said, together with a brief note by
Col. Sykes, will be found below—as also a short paragraph kindly furnished to me by Mr. E. W. H. Holds-
worth, who has recently returned from Ceylon, respecting its range and habits as observed by him in
that island, and which forms a part of his ‘‘ Catalogue of the Birds of Ceylon,” to be published in the
‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London’ for 1872.
‘The Indian Screech-Owl,” says Dr. Jerdon, “is found throughout India and Ceylon, ascending through
Burmah to Malayana. Sometimes it takes up its quarters in a grove of old trees, in the holes of which it
roosts during the day; at others it lives in deserted buildings, tombs, pagodas, mosques, &c.; and I have
often found them in the solitary cells and powder-magazines which are generally situate at a little distance
from the lower part of acantonment. It hunts entirely by night, not coming forth until it is quite dark, and
lives on rats, mice, shrews, &c. More than once, one has flown into a room in which I was sitting with open
doors and windows, after a rat that had entered. It breeds both in holes in trees and buildings.”
Col. Sykes remarks :—‘‘ One of my specimens was captured alive while lying on its back on the ground,
defending itself against the attacks of a body of Crows.”
‘“Strev indica,” says Mr. Holdsworth, ‘is very local in Ceylon, and is entirely confined to the north of the
island. Layard gave the Fort of Jaffna as the only locality for it; but I have since obtained it at Aripo,
where a pair of these Owls were resident. They frequented a Government storehouse in my compound,
each bird regularly perching in a dark corner under the roof at opposite ends of the long building, and
apparently living in harmony with the hundreds of Bats which hung from the roof and walls around. I
have never observed these birds out of doors until some time after sunset.”
Upper surface buff, minutely freckled with grey and with one or two small spots of brown and white
near the tip of each feather; quills and tail darker or richer buff, freckled with grey on the outer
margins, passing into white on the inner, and crossed with distinct bands of brown; facial disk white,
with a rufous patch at the inner corner of the eye; ruff mingled yellow and rufous ; undersurface, in-
cluding the under wing-coverts white in some, and pale yellowish buff in others; the feathers of the
breast and abdomen ornamented with a small brown spot at the tip of each; bill horny yellow ; irides
black; legs and feet yellowish brown.
I remark that in specimens of the European Strix flammea the presence of bands on the primaries
is only indicated on their undersurfaces by small spots near the shaft, while in S¢riv indica these marks are
much larger, and extend across somewhat more than half the breadth of the web.
The principal figure represents the bird, of the size of life,
47
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STRIX CANDIDA, Tickew.
Grass-Owl.
Strix candida, Tick. in Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. ii. p. 572.—Jerd. Tl. Ind. Orn., pl. 30.—Id. Birds of India,
vol. i. p. 118.—Gould, Supp. Birds of Australia, pl. 1.—Swinh. in Proc. Zool. Soc., 1871, p. 344.
—— longimembris, Jerd. in Madras Journ. of Lit. and Bers VOL. Xp So.
—— Walleri, Diggles, Orn. of Australia, part vii. pl. 1.
—— pithecops, Swinh. in Ibis, 1866, pp. 396, 397.
Scelostrix candida, Blyth, in Ibis, 1866, p. 251.
Glaux javanica, Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 42.
Strix javanica, Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East-Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 81.
—— (Glaux) candida, Gray, Hand-list of Birds, part:i.p. 43.
Tuar this fine Owl ranges over the greater part of the Old World, there can be no doubt, since I find little
or no difference between specimens collected on the peninsula of India and those from the great grassy plains
of Eastern Australia. It is supposed to inhabit the intermediate islands (Java included) ; and though I
have not seen specimens from Java, it is probable that it inhabits both that island and the Philippines ; for I
observe that Mr. Swinhoe, in his ‘ Revised Catalogue of the Birds of China and its Islands,’ mentions that it
frequents South-west Formosa.
Structurally, this bird differs from the rest of the typical members of the restricted genus S¢riv in the
much greater length of its tarsi, which was doubtless the occasion of Dr. Kaup’s proposing for it a separate
generic appellation—that of Scelostriv ; but I do not think this difference a character of much importance,
inasmuch as the tarsi of the Indian Screech-Owl (Strva indica) are directly intermediate in length between
those of this species and those of the Common Barn-Owl of Europe CS. fammea); at the same time I may
mention that the propriety of the separation would seem to be supported by the difference which is found to
exist in the colouring of the young of the Strix candida and the young of our well known Barn-Owl,—that of
the latter being snow-white, while that of the-former is tawny, as shown on the opposite Plate. Those who
may think proper to adopt Dr. Kaup’s generic appellation of Scelostrix for it are, of course, at liberty so to
do; for myself, I prefer to retain it in the genus Striv. The lengthened tarsi are admirably adapted for
standing upon the great grassy plains in the midst of which this Owl principally dwells, and for rising there-
from with much greater ease than the shorter-legged members of the genus, which generally frequent trees,
rocks, towers, and other buildings ; this character, therefore, may be regarded as a special means to an end,
and one which is as apparent as it well can be. The precise food of the Strix candida is not known ; small
quadrupeds, young birds, reptiles, and insects are doubtless what it lives upon in India, while the numerous
little rodents which inhabit the grassy plains, sandy glades, and ridges of Australia afford it an abundance of
food in that country.
I have not failed to observe that the plumage of the adult Indian birds is darker in colour, has the
brown washes more uniform or spread about, and the white speckles smaller and less diffused than that
of the Australian bird; still this does not induce me to believe they are other than one and the same species.
The adult specimen from which my figure was taken formed, I believe, a part of the collection made by the
Marquis of Blandford during his researches in India.
Respecting this species, Mr. Jerdon says :—‘‘ The Grass-Owl is found throughout the greater part of
India, but thinly scattered and by no means plentiful. I first procured it on the grassy side of a hill on
the Neilgherries, at about 6000 feet elevation. I afterwards obtained it in the Carnatic and in Central
India ; and it was procured by Tickell in the same district, and probably occurs also in the North-western
Provinces; for Mr. Philipps, in the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London,’ mentions its living
in long grass, and being found in abundance some miles from Hodal; Tickell, too, mentions its being
found throughout Bengal and the Upper Provinces.
‘Our species does indeed live almost exclusively in long grass, not frequenting jungles or coming
near the haunts of man. It is probably not rare in some localities ; for, on the occasion of the long
grass and reeds in the dry bed of a large tank near Nellore being fired to drive out some wild pigs,
I saw at least twenty of these Owls. It in general rises heavily and flies only a short distance, when it drops
down suddenly into the grass. Mr. Philipps mentions that it may sometimes be put up and chased by Hawks.
I presume he means by trained Falcons ; for I have heard that a favourite quarry for hawking in the Punjab is
a Grass-Owl, which gives an excellent and long chase. It must be remembered, however, that Otus brachy-
otus frequents similar localities, and may be the Owl alluded to, rather than this one.”
terminated with brown and a small white spot at the
tip, or brown with a white terminal spot and tawny at the base; primaries and secondaries fulvous yellow,
distinctly barred with brown, freckled on their outer margins with pale or greyish brown, and fadmg into
white on the margins of their inner webs; tail buffy yellow, fading into white on the outer feathers, or white
crossed by four dark brown bars and freckled with a lighter tint at the tip; facial disk whitish or buffy white,
ruff or margin of the disk dark fulvous ; under surface
Upper surface tawny yellow, each feather broadly
with a dark brown spot at the inner angle of the eye ;
yellowish white, with a small spot of brown at the tip of each feather ; irides very dark brown ; bill horny ;
legs yellowish.
In the youthful state the facial disk and markings are deep tawny ; the body is clothed in a lengthened
greyish buff down; and the feet.and claws are dull flesh-colour.
The Plate represents an adult and a young bird, of the size of lite.
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DELICHON NIPALENSIS.
Nepaul Martin.
Delichon Nipalensis, Hodgs., Moore in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xxii. (1854) pl. Ixiii—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of
Birds in Mus. East-Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 384.
Chelidon Nipalensis, Jerd. Birds of India, vol. i. p. 168.
os pretty little Martin,” says Dr. Jerdon, “ was only sent by Mr. Hodgson in 1853, from Nepaul.
I procured it at Darjeeling, at about 4500 feet of elevation, in the valley of the Rungnoo, near the mineral
springs. I found it flying over the jungles in large flocks, towards the close of the rains and during the
cold weather.” Mr. Moore remarks that it “ differs from the type of the genus Chelidon in its smaller and
more robust bill, in its shorter wings, and in its short and nearly even tail; from Cotyle it is at once distin-
guished by its plumed feet.”
The above is, I believe, all the information that has been recorded respecting this singular and beautiful
little Martin, of which there are several specimens in the British Museum, and one in my own, for which I
am indebted to Dr. Jerdon. The only difference I have observed in the plumage of the specimens that have
come under my inspection is, that the black colouring of the throat appears to be inconstant, some of
those in the national collection having that part interspersed with white.
I quite agree with Mr. Moore in the propriety of separating this bird from Chelidon, if I do not in the
anagrammatic character of the name he has proposed as a generic appellation; but as Dr. Leach’s transpo-
sition of the letters forming the word Alcedo into Dacelo among the Kingfishers has been admitted, why
should not that of Chelidon into Delichon be also allowed among the Swallows ?
As the native country of the Nepaul Martin becomes more known to ornithologists, we may hope to acquire
a detailed account of its habits, actions, and economy, all of which, I apprehend, will prove to be somewhat
peculiar.
Head, neck, back, chin, and lesser wing-coverts glossy bluish black; wings brownish black; breast,
abdomen, and a band across the rump white; upper parts of the flanks black; tail black, glossed with blue
on the edges of the feathers ; under tail-coverts bluish black ; bill black ; feet brownish black.
The figures are of the size of life.
- ———
“ ill i Mi te cet tit - - - >
INH
4
3
2
HA ITT
ITTANH UN
HYPUROLEPIS DOMICOLA.
Bungalow-Swallow.
Hirundo domicola, Jerd. Madr. Journ. of Lit. and Sci, vol. xiii. p. 173.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc.
Calcutta, p. 198.—Jerd. Birds of Ind, vol. i. p. 158.—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East-
Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 384.—Bulge. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., 1866, p. 568.—Moore in Proc. of Zool. Soc.,
part xxl. (1854) p. 264.—Mottl and Sclat. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., 1863, p. 217.—Blyth in Ibis, 1866,
p. 336.
Tr Bungalow-Swallow of India, and the bird (from the Feejee Islands) described by me, in the ‘ Proceedings
of the Zoological Society of London’ for 1856, as Hirundo subfusca, constitute a well-marked division of the
Hirundinde, for which Lesson’s generic appellation of Herse would have been adopted; but that term
having been previously employed, I propose in lieu of it that of Hypurolepis. The two birds above mentioned
differ from most of the Swallows, and particularly from the members of the genera Hirundo and Cecropis, in
the breadth of the bill, in the compact form of the body, and in the shortness of the tail. I conceive that
the Australian Welcome Swallow, Hirundo neoxena, should also be placed in this genus, an opinion which
is strengthened by the absence of any thoracic band, and the presence of spots on the under tail-coverts.
It is much to be regretted that but little information respecting the range, habits, and economy of
f1. domicola has been recorded by the various writers on ornithology. My own collection contains
two examples, one kindly forwarded to me from India by Dr. Jerdon; the other was obtained by Mr.
Wallace in the island of Lombock. It would be interesting to know if these are the extreme limits of the
range of the species north and south, and if the intermediate countries are favoured with its presence. It
would perhaps be an error to say that the sexes are alike in their plumage and marking; yet, judging
from the specimens above mentioned, I think it likely that such is the case.
“Hitherto,” says Mr. Jerdon, “I have only procured this little species on the Neilgherries, nor has it
been noticed in any other part of India; but in passing hurriedly through Bangalore I saw some Swallows
flying about, which I believe to have been of this species, and some nests in a verandah of a house there,
which must, I think, have also belonged to this bird. It is also found in Ceylon, at Penang and other parts
of Malayana, extending to Java. I found it breeding at Ootacamond, chiefly in deserted bungalows and
outhouses, and also at the Government wooden bungalow at the Avalanche. The nest was small, open at
the top, and profusely lined with feathers: the eggs were white, spotted with reddish brown, and two or
three in number. It also breeds in houses at Newera Elia in Ceylon.”
Captain Bulger states that he found this species ‘“tolerably abundant at Wellington in the Neilgherry
hills, at about 6000 feet above the sea-level, in April and May 1866.”
The late Mr. Mottley records that this bird was brought to him by his hunter from the Dyak in Borneo.
Forehead, chin, throat, and upper part of the breast cbestnut-red; remainder of the head, back of the
neck, back, lesser wing-coverts, scapularies, and upper tail-coverts deep steel-blue ; wings black, slightly
tinged with blue; tail the same, with a mark of white on the inner web, and near the tip, of al but aoe
centre feathers ; under surface light brown, the feathers on the centre of the abdomen with paler tips ;
under tail-coverts black, tipped with dull white; bill black; feet brownish black. | |
I may remark that but for the slight prolongation of the outer feather on each side, the tail of this bird
might be described as square.
The figures are of the natural size.
- cd
mee = ee om
—- ee
a
¢
H
LAGENOPLASTES FLU VICOLA.
Indian Cliff-Swallow.
Hirundo fluvicola, Jerd. Birds of Ind., vol. i. p. 161.—Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., 1855, p. 470.—Blanf. in
Ibis, 1867, p. 462.
Cotyle —— ? Adams in Proc. of Zool. Soc., 1859, p. 176. no. 58*.
Lagenoplastes empusa, Gould, MS.—Blyth in Ibis, 1866, p. 337.
As not one in twenty of the collections of birds made in India contains an example of this pretty little
Swallow, we may reasonably infer that it is extremely rare or very local in its habitat. It appears to have
been unknown to Colonel Sykes and Captain Burgess, and even to Mr. Blyth. Of the three specimens now
before me, one was obtained by Captain Julian at Kangra in the Punjab, another was kindly sent to me by
Dr. Jerdon, and the third was procured by Mr. W. T. Blanford at Nagpoor. It is doubtless the bird
described by Dr. Leith Adams as inhabiting Cashmere. In size, and in many of its habits, particularly its
mode of nidification, it so closely resembles the Lagenoplastes Ariel of Australia, that I have no hesitation
in regarding it as a second species of that genus. Both these Swallows live in societies, and the
individuals of each breed in close contiguity. The bottle-shaped nests, represented in the plate, have been
figured from description, and not from real nests; but, having had ample opportunities of observing the
nidification of the antipodean species, I believe that they are not very far wrong. 7
Some little diversity occurs in the three Indian examples above mentioned,—one having an obscure
greyish white spot on the inner web of the external feather, and a still fainter one on the next; two have
the red crown striated, while in the third the striae are obsolete: these may be sexual differences only.
“T first met with this species,” says Mr. Jerdon, “ near the rivers Sonar and Ken in Bundelkund, breeding
in company on the rocky cliffs overhanging the water; I afterwards found it in one or two localities not
very far from Saugor,—on the Nerbudda, near Jubbulpore,—and also on the Wurdu river, not far from
Chanda. It had not, I believe, been previously noticed by any observer, is both rare and local in its
haunts, and occurs only in small numbers. In several of their breeding-places, probably as many as fifty or
sixty of their retort-shaped nests were crowded close together. When I first discovered them (towards the
end of April or the beginning of May), the birds were busily engaged in breeding ; but I could not get at
the nests to procure any of their eggs.”
‘I thrice saw colonies of Airundo fluvicola, Jerdon,” writes Mr. W. T. Blanford in the ‘ Ibis’ for 1867 ;
“but it is a rare bird. The nests were in every case massed together, as described by Dr. Jerdon in his
‘Birds of India,’ beneath an overhanging bank, below which was deep water. My friend Mr. Fedden, who
was with me in the same district, told me that he met with a colony beneath a waterfall on the Pem Gunga —
river, and the birds flew in and out of their nests through the spray. In every case the nests were in
places which would be covered by the river during the wet season. I was told by the natives that the birds
keep about the same spot, and return again to their former nesting-place after the rains. This is highly
probable; for one of the localities was on the Wurdu river, west of Chanda, mentioned by Dr. Jerdon.
The birds appear never to go very far from their nests, and generally keep close to the river, beating for
about half a mile or so up and down, not, however, keeping to the river-bed itself. The eggs are white,
sparingly spotted with claret-colour or nearly pure white. I suspect the birds have two broods in a year—
one in February, the other in April. I found many young birds in the nests at the beginning of March ;
while in April there were eggs in the nests, and the young of the first brood, differing very little from their
parents, were flying about.”
‘A small striated Swallow,” says Dr. Leith Adams, “is common on the ates and streams in the Vale of
Cashmere during the summer months, and likewise in the Punjab at certain — Crown rufous,
speckled with narrow black lines; back glossy black ; wings bluish black ; rump inclining to white ; tail
black, slightly forked ; throat and breast white, with numerous black lines ; belly and eae white, with
the black lines more sparingly dispersed ; tarsus naked ; inner surface of wing brownish black.
Crown of the head rufous; back and scapularies deep steely black, some of the feathers of the former
edged with white; wings and tail brown; feathers of the lower part of the back and upper tail-coverts
brown, becoming paler at the tips; under surface white; chin, throat, breast, and flanks streaked with
brown ; under surface of the wing pale brown ; bill black ; feet blackish brown.
The figures on the opposite Plate are of the size of life.
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MEROPS
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MEROPS QUINTICOLOR, Ficeiu.
Pirik Bee-eater.
Merops quinticolor, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. 2de édit. tom. xiv. p. 20.—Ib. Ency. Méth. Orn. part i. p. 391.
—Le Vaill. Hist. des Guép. pl. 15.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 86, Merops, sp. 11.—
Gray, List of Birds in Coll. Brit. Mus. part ii. sec. i. p. 70.—Jerd. Madras Journ. Lit. and Sci. vol. xi.
p. 229.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. p. 163, Merops, sp. 15.—Horsf. Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind.
Comp. p. 88.—Moore, in Proc. of Zool. Soc. part xxii. 1854, p. 264.—Gray, Cat. of Spec. and Draw. of
Mamm. and Birds presented to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., p. 57.—Kelaart, Prod. Faun.
Zeyl. p. 99.—Layard, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. 2nd ser. vol. xi. p. 174.
—_—— urica, Horsf. Linn. Trans. vol. xiii. p. 172.—Swains. Zool. Ill. pl. 8.—Less. Man. d’Orn. tom. ii. p. 86.
—__— Leschenaulti, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. tom. xiv. p. 18.—Ib. Ency. Méth. Orn. part 1. p. 391. pl. 239,
fig. 3.—Le Vaill. Hist. des Guép. pl. 18.—Less. Traité d’Orn. p. 238.
~ erythrocephalus, Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 53.
Pirik, of the Javanese.
‘['u1s species, as its name implies, is conspicuous for the varied tints of its colouring ; and if it be less
elegant in form than some others of the Indian Bee-eaters, the greater beauty of its plumage is an ample
compensation for any deficiency in that respect.
I have not as yet seen examples of this bird from the western parts of India, and Mr. Blyth states that it
does not visit Lower Bengal: with these exceptions, it may be said to be universally dispersed over that great
country, the Island of Ceylon, and Java.
Mr. Jerdon states that he procured a specimen “at the foot of the Coonoor Pass, in dense jungle, and
another in an open forest on the Malabar coast. It pursued insects from a fixed perch, returning after
having catched one; was eenerally observed seated on a low bough, solitary, or two or three together.”
In Dr. Kelaart’s “« Prodromus Faune Zeylanice,” it is remarked that the ‘ MW. guinticolor, so like AZ. viridis,
‘s found in the north and north-eastern provinces, where the latter is the species most frequently seen.
It is very amusing to see these birds perched on branches of trees watching for small insects. They are
sometimes seen in small flocks of six or eight, searching for food, which chiefly consists of coleopterous
insects.” ; 7
Mr. Layard informs us in his interesting ‘‘ Notes on the Ornithology of a that ‘‘ the present species
affects the hilly forest region. Here it pursues its insect prey among the lofty tree-tops, seldom descending
to the ground, except in the breeding season, when it frequents steep LS for ihe purpose of providing a
suitable habitation for its young; this is generally effected by scooping a hole in the soil, to the depth of
about eighteen inches, terminating in a domed chamber, in which the young are hatched on the bare SHO
The eggs, two in number, resemble those of the Kingfisher in shape and colour ; they are hatched in April.
This species is also included in the list of Malayan birds collected by Dr. Theodore Cantor, and presented
by him to the Museum of the Honourable East India Company. oe : :
The sexes are so very similar that by dissection alone can they be distinguished with certainty. :
Crown of the head, back of the neck and shoulders dark chestnut-red ; lores and line beneath _ behind
the eye black ; chin yellow, passing into chestnut on the lower pat of the nS and abruptly terminated by
a narrow transverse line of black ; wings yellowish green, with a wash of orange-brown along the edge ;
primaries black ; rump and upper tail-coverts verditer blue ; tail dark green, with a wash of a on the
central tail-feathers; under surface light green washed with yellow on the breast, and with orange on the
flanks ; bill black; irides red ; feet brown.
The figures are of the natural size.
Pere
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Sees
MEROPS VIRIDIS, Linn.
Hurrial Bee-eater.
Merops viridis, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 182.—Lath. Ind. Orn., tom. i. p. 269.—Vieill. Ency. Méth. Orn., part 1.
p. 273. pl. 105. fig. 3.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 53.—Sykes, in Proc. of
Comm. of Sci. and Corr. of Zool. Soc., part ii. p. 82.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p- 86;
Merops, sp. 10.—Ib. Cat. of Birds in Coll. Brit. Mus., part ii. sec. 1. p. 69.—Gray, Cat. of Spec. and
Draw. of Mamm. and Birds presented to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq,, p. 58.—Bonap. Consp.
Gen. Av., p. 162, Merops, sp. 11.—Horsf. Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 84.—
Layard, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. xii. 2nd ser. p: 173.
Apiaster Madagascariensis torquatus, Briss. Orn., tom. iv. p. 049 ph du, fio, 2
Philippensis minor, Briss. Orn., tom. iv. p. 555. pl, xini, fig. 2°
Guépier a collier de Madagascar, Buff. Pl. Enl. 740.
Guépier a gorge bleue, Buff. Hist. Nat. des Ois., tom. vi. p. 497.
The Indian Bee-eater, Edw. Nat. Hist. of Birds, part. iv. p. and pl. 183.
Indian Bee-eater, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 672.—Penn. Gen. of Birds, pp. 16, 62. pl. vii.—Shaw, Gen.
Zool., vol. viii. p. 156.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. py Le:
_ Merops Lamarcki, Cuv. Régn. Anim. 1829, tom. i. p. 442.
——— Orientals, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. pe 1384
——— Coromandus, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 135.
——— Andicus, Jerd. Journ. of Lit. and Sci., vol. xi. p. 227.—Blyth, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. xii. p. 93.
——— torquatus, Hodgs., Gray, Zool. Misc. 1844, py 82.
—-_. ferrugineiceps, Ib. p. 82.
Le Guépier a gorge bleue, ou Le Guépier Lamarck, Levaill. Hist. Nat. des Guép., t. 10.
Le Guépier jaune, de la céte de Coromandel, Sonn. Voy., ii. p. 213. pl. 119 ?
Hurrial and Putringa, Hindoos, Jerdon.
Bans-puttur (“ Bamboo-leaf”’), Hindoos, Blyth, Dr. F. B. Hamilton.
Monagyee, Aracans, Blyth.
Putinga, Capt. Boys.
Tuts species of Bee-eater enjoys a far wider range of habitat than any other member of the family with
which I am acquainted. I have at this moment before me specimens from nearly every part of the Peninsula
of India, from the Himalayas to Cape Comorin, and others from the island of Ceylon; the Zoological Society
of London possesses a specimen from the Mauritius, which so closely accords with those from India, that I
cannot consider it to be different ; Dr. Rtippell includes it in his ‘ List of the Birds of North-Eastern Africa,’
and, as will be seen in the synonyms given above, Buffon figures it as a bird of Madagascar, from which
country, however, I have not myself as yet seen an example. Specimens from all these countries closely agree
in size and in their general admeasurements, but those from very distant localities offer some slight differences
in the colouring of their plumage : for instance, specimens from Nepaul have the crown of the head and the
back of the neck more strongly washed with reddish-brown than others from the more southern parts of the
Continent ; in like manner, specimens from Egypt accord with Indian ones in size, but have the filamentous
portion of the central tail-feathers longer, and no trace of the blue on the throat,—that part being of the
same rich golden-green as the head, a hue which also pervades the upper part of the tail.
Although so generally dispersed over India, the bird seems to be subject to the law of migration, or at
least, to a change of residence, according as circumstances may be favourable to the production of the
requisite supply of food; hence in Scinde, during the hot months of summer, when the vegetation is parched
up and insect life all but absent, the bird is not to be found in that country. In a note on Scindian birds
addressed to me by my son, Dr. Gould, dated Ghiznee, October 1854, he says, ‘The monsoon being now
over, birds are beginning to return, and Bee-eaters, Shrikes, Hoopoes, Stone-cliats, Wheat-ears, Willow-
wrens, and many other species are now appearing amongst the rocks, where a —_ since nothing but a lark
was to be seen; and Terns, which could only be found at sea, now come wandering over the land and hunting
up and down in search of dragon-flies and other insects, which are now mumaenoue.! ! :
“This bird,” says Mr. Blyth, ‘‘is extremely common, but disappears in the rainy a It breeds .
the neighbourhood of Calcutta, as I have had specimens brought me o eggs ready to lay, = the month of
March. The general habits of this bird are those of a Fly-catcher, but it frequently hawks for insects on the
wing, many together, like swallows.”
Mr. Jerdon states, that “This well-known and common bird is spread in numbers over all India. It
generally hunts, like the true Fly-catcher, from a fixed station, which is either on the top or upper branch of
shrub or hedge, a bare pole, a stalk of grain or grass, or some old
d, and on spying an insect, which it can do a long way off,
pill, and then returns to its perch, generally sailing
its head and wings shining conspicuously in the
rties, seated near each other. Frequently it
a high tree, or on the branch of a
building. Here it sits looking eagerly aroun
captures it on the wing with a distinct snap of its
slowly with outspread wings, the coppery burnishing of
sun-beams. Sometimes it hunts alone, at others in small pa |
before it returns to its perch; and in the morning and evening considerable
hawking actively about. The Bee-eater also
It has a peculiar, loud, yet rather pleasant
captures one or two insects
numbers are often seen, sometimes in company with swallows,
often changes its perch, taking up a fresh one at some distance.
whistling note, which it often repeats in the morning and evening
es to some secluded and jungly district for the purpose of breeding, which it is said
cks an insect off the ground, or off a flower or branch. I have
arties on a road, and roll themselves about in the sand
when gathered together. In the bare
table-land it generally retir
to do in holes in ravines. It sometimes pi
often seen this bird collect towards sunset in small p
and dust, evidently with great pleasure.”
From Dr. Horsfield’s valuable ‘ Catalogue of the Birds in the Museum of the East India Company,’ we learn
that “Mr. C. W. Smith, in his MS. notes, says, ‘Their time of incubation is the month of June; and for
months after they are hatched, the whole brood congregate, and swim about with the swiftest and most entire
movements through the air, making short dips, and returning to the topmost twig from which they took
flight: during these evolutions, they are busily employed in snapping up the insects.’”
Mr. Pearson informs us that “The Green Bee-eater has the power of gliding along for some distance
without closing its wings, so that its flight consists of two parts,—a rapid commencement, in which the wings
flap rapidly; and a quick glide, with the wings and tail fully expanded. Its motion, especially in this latter
position, is extremely elegant.”
I find a figure of this species among the drawings of the late Hon. F. J. Shore, and the following brief
remarks among the accompanying notes :—
«The sexes are alike: the young are all dull green: some have the forehead gilded.
“Common from Calcutta to the Himalayas, and in the Sagur and Nurbudda territories. Killed at
Allahabad, Mar. 19, 1832.”
Captain R. C. Tytler remarks that the little green Merops viridis is very common at Barrackpore.
The following notice of this bird occurs in the MS. of Capt. Boys :—
“The beauty of the plumage of this lively and active little bird tends much to enliven an Indian scene.
It darts with celerity on any passing insect, and returns with its captive to the twig whence it started, and
which in the earlier parts of the morning is usually on the sunny side of some tall shrub or tree, and on the
shady side during the heat. of the day. Its note is monotonous, between a chirp and a twitter, and only
emitted while the bird is on the wing. It is common all over the eastern parts of India, and as low down
as Sultanpore, where I shot examples at the end of September 184]. I have not seen it at Shirkarpore,
and only as low down the Indus as Gothku. I observed it to be numerous at Ferozepore in May 1846.”
And lastly, Mr. Layard, in his ‘ Notes on the Ornithology of Ceylon,’ informs us that there, ‘‘ This species
is confined to the open plains of the maritime districts. I have seen it at Trincomalee and Hambantotte,
and traced it from Chilau to Mulletivoe. JI am not aware if it be found near Columbo or in the interior,
where the MZ. Philippinus and M. quinticolor appear to replace it.
“It delights in the neighbourhood of water, over which it hunts for insects. I have even seen it take
them from off the surface, which it has struck with its breast in the endeavour. It is a much bolder bird
than either of the other two, often allowing of approach within a few feet before seeking its safety in flight.
“« Merops viridis roosts in large flocks, always returning to the same tree for successive months, and
usually retires before five o’clock in the evening, whereas 1. Philippinus flies till dark.”
Head, upper surface and wings green, with a wash of golden-brown on the crown and the back of the
neck ; primaries and secondaries rufous, washed with green on the outer webs and tipped with brownish-
black ; tertiaries green; under surface of the wing fawn-colour; lores and ear-coverts black ; under surface
grass-green, with a wash of blue on the throat and a conspicuous streak of black, ending in a point on each
side, across the chest; tail green, the lateral feathers margined internally with ashy; all with dark shafts,
and the elongated portion of the two central feathers black; irides crimson ; bill black ; feet purplish-grey.
The sexes offer no perceptible difference in their colouring, but the young differ in being destitute of the
filamentous prolongations of the middle tail-feathers.
The foremost figure in the Plate is of the natural size, the other is a little reduced.
oy
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MEROPS PHILIPPINUS, zi.
Philippine Bee-eater.
Merops Philippinus, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 183.—Ib. Gmel. Edit., tom. i. p. 461.—Lath. Ind. Ora., tom. ©
p. 271.—Vieill. Ency. Méth. Orn., parti. p. 275.—Gray, Cat. of Birds in Coll. Brit. Mus., part ii. sec. 1.
p. 69.—Ib., Cat. of Spec. and Draw. of Mamm. and Birds presented to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson,
Esq., p. 57.—Jerdon, in Madras Journ. of Lit. and Sci., vol. xi. p. 228.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus.
Asiat. Soc. of Calcutta, p. 52.—Horsf. Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 86.—Layard,
Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. xii, 2nd ser. pe bys.
Apiaster philippensis minor, Briss. Orn., tom. iv. p. 560. pl. xliii. fig. 1.
Grand Guépier des Philippines, Buff. Pl. Enl. 57.
Guépier vert a queue @azur, Buff. Hist. Nat. des Ois., tom. vi. p. 404.
Philippine Bee-eater, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. ii. p. 674.—Shaw, Gen. Zool , Vol. vill. p. 165.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol.
iv. p. 129.
Merops Daudini, Cuv. Regn. Anim. (1829) tom. i. p. 442.
typicus, Hodgs., Gray, Zool. Misc. (1844) p. 82.
——— Javanicus, Horsf. Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. xiii. p- 171.—Raffles, Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. xiti. p. 294.—Gray
and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 86, Merops, sp. 9.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p- 162, Merops,
sp. 14.
Javan Bee-eater, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 132.
Kachangan, Javanese, Horsfield.
Biri-uri or Barai-barai, Sumatrans, Raffles.
Berray-berray, Malays, Eyton.
Boro-putringa, Hindoos, Dr. F. B. Hamilton.
Bans-putter, Bengalese, Ib.
Putrainga, Capt. Boys. :
Kattalan cooroovt, Mal.; lit. “ Aloe Bird,” (from a fanciful resemblance in the tail of the bird to the aloe plant, )
Layard.
Tus species of Bee-eater, although less common than the Hurrial (Merops viridis), is nevertheless very
generally dispersed over the Continent of India, with the exception of Scinde and the North-Western
provinces, where I believe it is seldom and perhaps never seen; in the Madras Presidency and Ceylon it is
very common, and in Tenasserim and the Malay countries generally, it is still more numerous ; most of
the collections from Singapore contain examples; it is also found in Java and Sumatra, and, as its name
implies, in the Philippines. It is a very fine and elegantly formed species, and if its markings be less strongly
defined than in some other members of the genus, it must still be one of the most showy and attractive birds
of its native forests, particularly when seen in such numbers as are mentioned by Mr. Jerdon in the following
note, which, as well as the others I have taken the liberty of transcribing, I have thought it but right to give
in the words of the respective writers.
“This bird,” says Mr. Jerdon, “ prefers a well-wooded country, and I have seen it in Goomsoor in open
parts of the jungle, and on the west coast occasionally in similar situations. It is almost always found in
small parties seated on the tops of high trees, frequently among wet paddy-fields, and in general, perhaps,
making a much longer circuit than the MZ. viridis, capturing several insects before returning to its perch.
I have on one or two occasions seen it perched on a low palisade overhanging some water, and every now
and then picking an insect off the surface. I once saw an immense flock of them at Caroor, in the Carnatic
(Coimbatoor district), and in the beginning of March there were many thousands of them perched on
the lofty trees lining the road there, which sallied forth for half-an-hour or so, making a great circuit before
returning. These birds were most probably those which had been spread over great part of that ss
now collected to migrate into a more wooded region during the approaching hot season, when insect life is
scarce. Like the WZ. viridis, this has a loud and pleasing sort of whistle, but more full and mellow.”
“I first observed this bird,” states Capt. Boys, “at Mandoo in Malwa, in the month of May 1837; since
then I have seen it at Cawnpore, Sultanpore and at Ferozepore, where, on the 17 th of May 1846, I killed
tired from their transit, were packed close to each other on a prominent
This bird builds in holes of steep banks near rivers.
n the face of which it has perforated numerous holes.
It goes forth of a morning and returns
three at one shot, which, evidently
twig of a mimosa, in the compound of my garden.
At Cawnpore it has taken possession of a steep bank, 1
It flies exceedingly high, and frequently utters a little ehiruk-chiruk.
ght in great numbers, but does not fly in flocks, though many may be observed in the
to these holes at ni
air at one time.”
Mr. Layard, in his ‘ Notes on the Ornitholo
throughout the island during the period of its visitation 5
the middle of September.
‘Tt frequents open fields, perchi
twig from which to dart at any insect that may p
prey is devoured it is beaten against the perch till
it frequently pursues insects after the manner of swa
ey of Ceylon,’ informs us that ‘this Bee-eater is very common
it is the harbinger of the Snipe, and appears about
ng on fences, or on the tops of low bushes, always choosing a dry projecting
ass by, returning with an elegant sailing flight ; before the
sufficiently broken to be swallowed entire. In the evening
llows, uttering the while a pleasing chiruping note, and
soaring to a great height in the air.”
Capt. R. C. T ytler mentions that at Barrackpore, it ‘ is a well-known cold weather visitor, and is less
common than the JZ. verids.”
Mr. Blyth has “been informed that JZ. Philippinus may occasionally be seen in the vicinity of Calcutta,
but is rare.”
A figure of this species occurs among the drawings of the late Hon. F. J. Shore, with the following note :
«Futtehgurh, Oct. 11, 1833.—Does not appear to be near so common as M. viridis. The colours vary
“*
in every light between blue, green, bronzed, gilded, &c.” :
Latham mentions that “it is sometimes caught alive, and that attempts have been made to keep it in
cages; but it seldom -survives long, as it feeds only on the wing and on living insects.”
Head, neck, back and wing-coverts coppery-green ; lores, stripe beneath the eye and ear-coverts black,
bounded above, from the nostrils to the centre of the eye, by a narrow streak of verditer-blue, and below by
a broader streak of blue; rump and upper tail-coverts ereenish-blue; primaries dark brown, margined
externally with coppery-green at the base and blue-green towards the end, and tipped with brownish-black ;
secondaries rufous, margined externally with coppery-green and tipped with brownish-black ; tertiaries
bluish-green ; tail bluish-green with brownish-black shafts, the elongated portion of the two central feathers
black; chin yellow; throat deep chestnut ; sides of the neck and breast coppery-green, gradually passing
into grass-green on the abdomen, which again passes into pale blue on the vent and under tail-coverts ; under
surface of the wing deep fawn-colour ; irides deep red; bill black ; feet purplish-black.
So little difference occurs in the outward appearance of the sexes, that I question if actual dissection must
not be resorted to, to distinguish the one from the other.
The figures are of the natural size.
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HNATT|AI
NYCTIORNIS ATHERTONI.
Blue-throated Nyctiornis.
Merops Athertoni, Jard. and Selb. Hl. Orn., vol. ii. pl. 58.
Nyctiornis ceruleus, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 333.
Amherstiana, Royle, Ul. Him. Bot., vol. i. p. Ixxvii.
Bucia Nipalensis, Hodgs., Journ. Asiat. Soc., vol. v. p. 360.
Alcemerops paleazureus, Less.
Merops ? cyanogularis, Jerd. in Madras Journ. Lit. and Sc., vol. ii. p. 229.
—_—— Assamensis, McClell.
Nyctiornis Athertoni, McClell. in Proc. Zool. Soc., Part VII. p. 155.—Ann. Nat. Hist., vol. vi. p. 450.—Gray and
Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. 1. p. 87.—Cat. of Spec. and Draw. of Birds presented to Brit. Mus. by
B. H. Hodgson, Esq., p. 58.
Alcemerops Athertonit, Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 52.
Bucia Athertoni, Blyth in Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. x. p. 922.
Napophila Athertont, Blyth in Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xi. p. 104.
Tur fine bird forming the subject of the present memoir was first described and figured in the ‘“ Ornitho-
logical Illustrations ” of Messrs. Jardine and Selby, who assigned to it the specific appellation of Atherton,
as a tribute justly due to the memory of the late Lieut. J. Atherton, of the 13th Light Dragoons, for his
exertions in the cause of Ornithological science. According to the Notes of this gentleman, it inhabits
the interior of India, and feeds by night, at which time it is very noisy, frequently repeating the
short cry of eurr-curr. These nocturnal habits are, however, somewhat problematical, as neither Mr.
Hodgson, Capt. Boys, nor any other observer with whose notes I am acquainted, make mention of them.
The parts of Asia most frequented by the Mycteornes Atherton, are the warmer and temperate portions of
Northern India, the countries of Deyra Doon, Nepaul, Assam and Aracan: Mr. Blyth states that it is also
found in Tenasserim and Southern India, from which latter country, however, I have never seen examples.
Every account states that it inhabits the dense jungles, and justifies the conclusion that it is very solitary
in its habits, which, moreover, appear to be very similar to those of the Trogons. Mr. Hodgson, in his
Notes on this species in the ‘“ Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal,” speaking of the bird in the plural,
says they “‘are of rare occurrence, and are solitary woodlanders ;” they “are found in the lower and
central regions of Nepaul, but seldom or never in the northern. The Nepaulese call them Bukay-chera ;
chera being merely a corruption of chiria, or bird.
“These birds feed principally on bees and their congeners, but they likewise consume great quantities of
scarabeei and their like. They are of dull staid manners, and never quit the deepest recesses of the forest.
“In the Raja’s shooting excursions; they are frequently taken alive by the clamorous multitude of sports-
men, some two or more of whom single out a bird and presently make him captive, disconcerted as he is by
the noise.”
« This beautiful bird,” says Capt. Boys, ‘“ has a peculiarly wild note, and is very difficult of approach. I
never obtained but one specimen, and that was procured at considerable risk, as the khud up which I fol-
lowed it was a resort for wild animals of all kinds ; indeed, while engaged in its pursuit, a leopard set up
his hideous snarling from the opposite side of the khud; my servant quietly walked off unperceived, and it
was not until I had brought down the bird that I was conscious of being alone : ae no desire to meet
the leopard, who had been roused by the firing, I walked away as quietly but as quickly as possible. The
khud is an awkward one, N.W. of Bumourie, with a small stream running through it. Many species of
Woodpecker abound in the neighbourhood.” on a
The sexes, when they have attained their fully adult plumage, are so similar that they can only be distin-
guished by the smaller size of the female; the youthful dress, on the contrary, Is charactermed by a uni-
formity of tint on the upper surface, and by the absence of the blue gular plumes, which renders their im-
maturity very conspicuous.
Crown of the head verditer blue; cheeks, sides of the neck, all the upper surface, wings and tail sap
green; down the centre of the throat and neck a number of long pendent feathers, of which those on the
throat are verditer blue, and those on the breast deep bluish green margined with verditer blue ; under
surface of the wings and tail deep buff; under surface buff streaked with dull green; irides reddish brown ;
bill blue-grey ; legs pale green in front, light brown bles 7
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size, on the Déctamnus Himalayanus.
AUC
“SER
G
NYCTIORNIS AMICTUS.
Red-throated Nyctiornis.
Merops amictus, Temm. Pl. Col. 310.—Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 237.—Ib. Man. d’Orn., tom. ii. p. 85.
Nyctiornis amictus, Swains. Zool. Tl., 2nd ser. vol. ii. pl. 56.
——-— amicta, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 87.
Alcemerops amicta, Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 52.
Very few of the many gaily coloured Insessorial birds, of which the gorgeous Ind can boast, have greater
claims to our notice than the Myctiornis amictus, whose delicate blossom-coloured head, and lengthened gular
plumes of rich scarlet, offer a strong contrast to the green colouring of its body, and render it an object of
singular beauty. In size and form it so closely resembles the NV. Athertonz, that in the absence of all in-
formation on the subject, we may assume that the habits and economy of the two species are equally
similar; the countries inhabited by them are, however, distantly separate; the great stronghold of the
latter being in the northern, and that of the present in the southern provinces of India ; the Malacca penin-
sula and Sumatra being the only countries in India proper whence I have seen specimens. In Sumatra it is
common ; and it was from thence, according to M. Temminck, that the first specimens seen in Europe were
sent by MM. Diard and Duvaucel to the Museum at Paris ; two other examples being transmitted nearly at
the same time to the ‘‘ Musée du Pays Bas” by M. Van Den Berg, the Netherlands resident at Paddang.
Few of the many extensive collections, so frequently sent to this country from Sincapore, are without ex-
amples of this fine species, whence we may infer that it is very common in the forests where those collec-
tions are made, and which in all probability are in the immediate neighbourhood of the flourishing port
where they are shipped.
As is the case with the Myctiornis Athertoni, the adults of both sexes offer but little difference in their
plumage, while in the young of the year the forehead and throat are of the same colour as the upper sur-
face; of course in the transition state a parti-coloured plumage is the natural result, and in this state speci-
mens may be seen in the Museum at Leyden and elsewhere.
Base of the bill surrounded by a narrow mark of verditer-green ; forehead beautiful liliaceous, tinged
posteriorly with bluish; sides of the neck, all the upper surface, wings and tail grass-green ; down the centre
of the throat and breast a series of pendent feathers, of which those on the throat are rich scarlet, and those
on the breast very dark green, edged with rich scarlet ; under surface of the wings and tail yellowish buff,
the latter largely tipped with glossy black which is not perceptible on the upper surface, except on the edge
of the interior webs of the lateral. tail-feathers ; under surface pale green, becoming still paler on the vent.
The accompanying Plate represents two birds in the adult livery at the size of life, on the Gossypeum
herbaceum.
S
&
Sex
SCould/ 4H
IIIT
2 48
2
TUTTI
a
ITNTETTNIT
MEROPOGON FORSTENI.
Forsten’s Bee-eater.
Merops Forstent, Temm. in Mus. Lugd.—Schl. De Dierk., fig. at p. 53.—Idem, Mus. des Pays-Bas. Merops, sp. 8.
—Meyer, Journ. fiir Orn., 1871, p. 231.
Meropogon Forsten, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., tom. i. p. 164.—Wall. Ibis, 1860, p. 142.—Wald. Trans. Zool.
Sec, vol. Vill. pp. 42, 111.
Nyctiorms (Meropogon) Forsteni, G. R. Gray, Hand-list of Birds, part i. p. 98.
For many years a single specimen of this showy and fine Bee-eater graced the Museum at Leyden, and
remained the only individual that had reached Europe, until Dr. Meyer recently rediscovered it and added
additional specimens to our collections. That it should have escaped the researches of Mr. Wallace, whose
perseverance as a collector has been unequalled by any traveller who has braved the dangers of the islands
of the Eastern Archipelago and New Guinea, is very surprising, the more so as, to use his own words, he
had set his heart upon obtaining it. Much credit, therefore, is due to Dr. Meyer for supplying us with
additional examples, and for giving us a few brief details respecting its habits, which will be found below,
quoted from the ‘Journal fur Ornithologie’ for 1871.
A difference of opinion has arisen among ornithologists as to the propriety of separating this bird from
the genus Merops and making it the type of a new one. Some would place it with Myctiornis: but Lord
Walden has clearly shown that it possesses characters not found in that genus nor in Merops; and I for one
quite agree with the late Prince Charles L. Bonaparte and his Lordship in generically separating it from
both. Lord Walden’s remarks (comprised in his very valuable memoir on the birds known to inhabit the
Island of Celebes, published in 1872, in the eighth volume of the ‘ Transactions of the Zoological Society of
London ’) are as follows :—
‘This species has the first primary half the length of the second, which is a little shorter than the third.
The third and fourth are longest, and equal. The fifth is somewhat shorter than the third and fourth, but
longer than the second. In the structure of the wing, therefore, it differs from both Werops and Melitto-
phagus, but agrees with Nyctiornis. The grooved culmen of Nyctiornis is not present; but a shallow channel
extends from the base of the maxilla, on both sides of the culmen, for two thirds of its length. This cha-
racter is not possessed by either Nyctiornis, Merops, or Melittophagus. The rectrices are truncated, as in
Nyctiornis ; but the middle pair are elongated, as in Merops, and closely resemble in form and proportion
those of M. philippensis. The feet are those of the family. The elongated pectoral plumes resemble in
character the same feathers in Myctiornis. Altogether M. Fosteni may be regarded as a link uniting Myct-
ornis to Merops, but most nearly allied to Nyctiornis.”
Lord Walden remarks in addition that “the African species which most nearly resembles JZ. Forstenc in
the graduation of the quills and the formation of the rectrices, the middle pair excepted, 1s 4. bullockordes,
Smith.”
“Tn the year 1840,” says Dr. Meyer, ‘‘Forsten found at Tondano, in Northern Celebes, a bird which
° -Y ° : us S : S . < : :
Schlegel subsequently described as Merops Forstent. The single specimen which arrived at Leyden was the
only one that had then reached Europe; and this beautiful bird remained for a long time a desideratum to
ornithologists from its rarity, and especially on account of its resemblance to another species, from Western
Africa. The authorities at Leyden gav
specimens, Rosenberg remaining on the spot where the first w |
at last succeeded in killing several males and females in the
e themselves no end of trouble in endeavouring to obtain additional
as found for a considerable time with that
especial object, but all in vain. I have now
neichbourhood of Rurukan, where Wallace had established a collecting-station. In a state of nature the
oe
bird keeps in deep, hardly accessible woods, perches on the highest trees, and has all the habits of the Je-
ropide. It is by no means rare, but difficult to find, owing to its retreating into the thick woods. To the
natives it is unknown ; and it was only after many vain endeavours that I succeeded in obtaining the specimens
above mentioned.” a
The sexes, which are alike in colouring, may be thus described :—
of the crown, cheeks, throat, and breast rich deep blue; upper surface of the
: : ; tw » tail-feathers a somewhat richer green
body, wings, and upper tail-coverts deep grass-green ; two centre tail-fez é c g :
tinged with blue towards their tips ; lateral tail-feathers deep chestnut-red, narrowly edged throughout their
back of the neck dark brown; abdomen green, suffused with brown on the
The lengthened feathers
entire length with grass-green 5
vent and under tail-coverts ; bill black ;
The figure is of the natural size.
‘rides crimson; feet slate-colour.
3
7
J Gould & W Hart
IATA THT
2 5
TOU
ITNTHTTNUU
ACTENOIDES HOMBRONI.
Hombron’s Kingfisher.
Actenoides hombroni, Bp. Consp. i. p. 157 (1850).—Reichb. Handb. Alced. p. 36, t. ccccxxii. fig. 3147 (1851).
Bp. Consp. Volucr. Anis. p. 9 (1854).—Walden, Tr. Z. S. ix. p. 155 (1875).
- variegata, Hombr. & Jacq. Voyage Péle Sud, Zool. iii. p. 101 (1853).
Halcyon hombrom, Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 93 (1869).—Sharpe, Monogr. Alced. p. 221, pl. 84.
I wave the greatest satisfaction in presenting my readers with a figure of this beautiful Kingfisher, inas-
much as it is evident from the plate of the bird given in Mr. Sharpe’s ‘Monograph’ that he was unacquainted
with the adult plumage. We learn from his book that personally he had never seen an example of the
species, but had procured a drawing of the original type from M. Huet, and had reproduced it in his ‘ Mo-
nograph.’ Independently of this mode of procedure being somewhat unsatisfactory, the original
specimen appears to me to be immature; and hence I believe that I am now giving for the first time a figure
of the full-plumaged bird. For the opportunity of doing this I am indebted to Professor Steere, who shot
the specimen in the island of Mindanao. I am also indebted to Mr. Bowdler Sharpe for the following de-
scription of it, taken from his paper on Dr. Steere’s birds in the ‘Transactions’ of the Linnean Society :—
“Adult male. Head and nape bright blue, more brilliant on the sides of the head, over the eye, and on the
nape; round the latter a narrow line of deep black ; ear-coverts tawny chestnut ; along the lower line of
the lores a streak of black feathers reaching below the eye and widening behind the latter, being here
shaded with blue ; cheeks bright blue, forming a broad band; sides of neck and hinder part of the latter
deep tawny, varied with narrow black edgings to the feathers ; mantle blackish, mottled with tawny spots,
these being subterminal, with a narrow black fringe ; middle of back, and scapulars and wing-coverts, green
with a slight shade of verditer, each feather having a distinct subterminal spot of ochraceous buff; quills
blackish, externally washed with greenish, the primaries edged with ochraceous, the secondaries with the
same subterminal spot of ochre as on the wing-coverts ; lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts bright
silvery cobalt, the sides of the back and the lateral coverts blackish washed with blue; tail-feathers deep
blue with black shafts; throat white slightly washed with tawny; rest of under surface deep tawny,
whiter on the centre of the abdomen, the breast-feathers with narrow, nearly obsolete, blackish margins ;
thighs externally blackish, internally deep tawny; feathers at sides of vent, adjoining sides of lower back,
deep blue, the outer web more or less ochraceous ;_ under wing-coverts and axillaries deep tawny; the quills
blackish below, edged with pale tawny buff along the inner web; bill coral-red, the culmen black (in skin);
iris hazel.
“ Total length 11°3 inches ; culmen 2:0, wing 4°99, tail 4°15, tarsus 0°75.”
The bird is represented, in the accompanying Plate, of the size of life.
Annee
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INIT TI
ACTENOIDES LINDSAYIL.
Lindsay’s Kingfisher.
Dacelo lindsayi, Vigors, P. Z.S. 1831, p. 97.—Eyd. & Soul. Voy. Bonite, p. 100, pl. 7 (1841) —Schl. M. P.-B.
Alcea, p. 23 (1863).
fo essen, Vigors, P. Z.S. 1831, p. 97.
Halcyon lindsayi, Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 79, pl. 27 (1846).—Id. List of Fissirostres in B. M. p. 52 (1848).—Bp.
Consp. i. p. 154 (1850).—Cass. Cat. Hale. Phil. Mus. p. 5 (1852).—Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 93 (1869).—
Sharpe, Monogr. Alced. p. 217, pl. 82 (1874).
Paralcyon lindsayi, Reichenb. Handb. Alced. p. 36, Taf. cccexxi. figs. 3143-44 (1851).—Bp. Consp. Vol. Anis.
p. 9 (1854).
Astacophilus lindsay, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. i. p. 162.
Actenoides lesson, Hartl. J. f. O. 1854, p. 64.
Alcedo lindsayi, Martens, J. f. O. 1864, p. 18.—Id. Preuss. Exped. Ostafr. p. 189 (1865).
Actenoides lindsayt, Walden, Tr. Z. 8. ix. p. 156.
In size Lindsay’s Kingfisher is intermediate between Actenoides concretus and A. hombroni. Tn colouring
it also differs from both, and is to be distinguished at once by its scaly breast, the feathers of which are
white edged with green. Nothing has as yet been recorded concerning the habits of this Kingfisher, which
still remains a rare bird in our collections. It is, however, apparently an inhabitant of the island of Luzon,
whence come the very fine examples which I have figured in my Plate. The following description is taken
from Mr. Sharpe’s ‘ Monograph of the Kingfishers’ :—
‘Head olive-green, washed with clearer green, especially over the eye; forehead and lores, with a stripe
extending backwards over the eye, tinged with buff; sides and back of the head beautiful verditer, a mous-
tachial stripe also of the same colour; ear-coverts and a narrow line of feathers running round the back of
the head black; a line extending from below the eye and encircling the neck so as to form a collar, as well as
the entire throat, rich cinnamon; upper part of the back, scapulars, and wing-coverts dull green, each
feather spotted at the tip with ochre; lower part of the back and upper tail-coverts bright green, each
feather mesially streaked with ochre; quills brown, buff at the base of the inner web, externally edged with
buffy olive, especially on the secondaries ; tail olive-brown, tipped with ochre; under surface white, breast
and flanks broadly edged with greenish brown, giving a scaly appearance ; bill black, the lower mandible
and a line on the upper mandible yellowish ; feet olive-brown. Total length 9°6, culmen 1-8, wing 4:3,
tail 3-6, tarsus 3°6.
“ Female-—Head dull olive-green, with a circlet of verdigris encircling the head from above the eye; a
line of feathers from the base of the bill forming an eyebrow, and another running below the ear-coverts
fulvous; cheeks olive-green, washed with verdigris ; ear-coverts black ; feathers of the sides and hinder part
of the neck brown, mottled with buff; rest of the upper surface of the body brown, washed with green, and
spotted everywhere with fulvous, these spots being largest on the scapularies ; quills and tail brown, edged
with pale fulvous brown, the latter barred on the inner web with the same colour; rump dull green, washed
with brighter green, and longitudinally streaked with fulvous ; throat and lower abdomen white; the centre of
the breast white, each feather margined with brown and green, producing a mottled appearance ; bill black,
lower mandible yellow; feet reddish brown. Total length 10:7 inches, culmen 1:7, wing 4°3, tail 3:57,
tarsus 0°6. : : :
The figures in the Plate represent an adult male and female of this species, of about the natural size, drawn
from individual skins in my own collection.
ACTENOIDES CONCRETUS.
Sumatran Kingfisher.
Dacelo concreta, Temm. Pl. Col. 346 (1825).—D’Orb. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. t. 4 (1849). —Schleg. Mus. P.-B. Alced.
p. 26 (1863) —Id. Vog. Nederl. Ind. pp. 25, 27, pl. 8 (1864).—Swinh. Ibis, 1873, p. 231.—Schleg.
Revue Alced. Mus. P.-B. p. 18 (1876).
Halcyon varia, Eyton, P. Z.S. 1839, p. 101.—Cass. U.S. Expl. Exp. Aves, p. 223 (1858).
- concreta, Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 79 (1846).—Id. List of Fissirostres in B. M. p. 52 (1848).—Bp. Consp. i.
p- 154 (1850).—Cass. Cat. Hale. Phil. Mus. p- 11 (1852).—Pelz. Reis. Novar. Vog. pp. 41, 161
(1865).—Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 93 (1869).—Sharpe, Monogr. Alced. p. 219, pl. 83.
Todiramphus varius, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xv. p. 11 (1846).—Id. Cat. B. Mus. A. S. B. p. 47 (1849).
Paralcyon concreta, Reich. Handb. Alced. i. p. 36, Taf. cecexxi. fig. 3145, Taf. cecexxii. figs. 3145-46 (1851).
Caridagrus concretus, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. ii. p. 161 (1860).—Salvad. Ucc. Born. p. 102.
In the different countries of the world in which I have lived, it has been my lot to see and to study members
of the two groups of Kingfishers which Mr. Sharpe calls ‘ fish-eating ” and “ reptilivorous.” Our own 4/
cedo ispida is the most typical example of the former group, while perhaps the great Laughing Jackasses ol
Australia are the extreme representatives of the other forest-loving reptile-eating Kingfishers. These two
sections, into which the family has been divided by Mr. Bowdler Sharpe in his ‘ Monograph,’
appear to me to rest on natural grounds; but I cannot follow him in his arrangement of some of the
intermediate forms, such as the genus Halcyon &c. Nature has here provided us with several groups, each
possessing distinctive characters as regards colour &c., which seem to me to afford strong grounds for
generic separation. Thus I would follow Lord Tweeddale and Count Salvadori in separating the green
Kingfishers as Sauropatis ; and I feel justified in keeping the three species now figured under the one generic
heading of Actenoides, believing, as I do, that their peculiar coloration and the character of the feathers
point them out as being all closely and generically ailied.
I regret that there is nothing recorded of the habits of this fine Kingfisher, which is a native of Malacca,
Sumatra, and Borneo.
The following careful description is drawn from Mr. Sharpe’s ‘ Monograph,’ with the single alteration
that the bird which he describes as ‘“ young” is here considered to be the old female, Mr. Swinhoe (JZ. c.)
having procured a properly sexed specimen of the hen bird in this plumage at Penang.
‘Head dull green, with a line of brighter green from above the eye encircling the nape ;_ below this bright
green circlet a broad line of black; eyebrow and ear-coverts pale rufous; a line of feathers from base of
bill down the sides of the neck deep ultramarine ; back of neck deep sienna, below which the back 1s black ;
upper part of the back and scapularies rich ultramarine; lower part of the back very bright cobalt ; quills
brown, the inner web pale rufous at the base ; the whole of the wing-coverts and the outer web of the quills
rich ultramarine, uniform with the scapularies ; tail blue above, black beneath; under surface of the body
rich sienna, the middle of the abdomen white; upper mandible black, fine rich ochreous buff on the under
mandible and edge of the upper; feet yellow. Total length 9 inches, culmen 1:9, wing 4°5, tail 2-2, tarsus
0:5, middle toe 0°75.
« Female.-—Similar to the adult male, but has the wing-coverts and scapulars spotted with ochre.”
In the Plate are represented an adult pair of birds, of the natural size.
AI UT 6A.
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HALCYON FUSGA.
Indian King‘isher.
Martin-pécheur de la céte de M alabar, Buff. Pl. Enl., 894.
Alcedo fusca, Bodd. Tabl. Pl. Eni., p. 61: €.. 894.
ao smyrnensis var. y, Gmel. edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 457.—Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. i. p. 248.—Vieill.
Encyc. Méth. part i. p. 286, var. a.
Dacelo smyrnensis, Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 246.—Sykes, Proc. of Comm. of Sci. and Corr. of Zool. Soc., part ii.
p- 84.—M'Clell. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part vii. p. 156.—Jerd. Madras Journ. Lit. and Sci. 1840,
p- 230.— Pears. Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. 1841, p. 633.—Gray, Cat. of Spec. and Draw. of Mamm.
and Birds presented to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., p. 47.
Halcyon fusca, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 79, Halcyon, sp. 12.—Gray, List of Birds in Coll. Brit.
Mus., part il. p. 55.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 155, Halcyon, sp. 23.—Cass. Cat. of Hale. in Coll.
Acad. Sci. Philad., p. 8. sp. 3.—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. E. I. Comp., vol. i. p. 125.
Entomothera fusca, Reich. Handb., i. p. 12. 32. t. 404. 3088-89.
Alcedo erythrorhyncha, Licht. in Mus. Berol.
Entomobia fusca, Cab. Mus. Hein., Theil ii. p. 155.
Halcyon Smyrnensis, Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 47.—Layard in Ann. and Mag. Nat.
Hist., vol. xii, 2nd ser. p. 172.—Burgess in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xxiii. p. 28.
Kilkila of the Hindoos, Jerdon.
Sada-bak Match-ranga of the Bengalese, Blyth, and Dr. F. B. Hamilton.
Matsya-ranga, in Sanscrit, Wilson.
Calavy Cooroovt, Mal. ; lit. Large-mouthed Bird Layard.
Some ornithologists are of opinion that the Ha/cyon of Asia Minor is specifically distinct from the one figured
on the accompanying Plate, which is so very generally distributed over the whole of India that it has had
the trivial name of the Indian Kingfisher bestowed upon it. Now the only differences which I am able to
detect between it and the Smyrna bird, are a slight variation in size and in brilliancy of colouring, the Indian
species being somewhat smaller and more intense and beautiful in colour.
The Halcyon fusca is found in all parts of the Indian Peninsula, Assam, Aracan, Tenasserim, and Ceylon ;
and I have also seen specimens from Siam.
Captain Burgess informs us that ‘this Kingfisher is one of the most common of its tribe in the Deccan,
frequenting almost every stream and nullah. It breeds during the month of May, in holes of the banks of
rivers, laying as many as seven eggs, of a beautiful pinky tinge, owing to the colour of the yelk showing
through the thin delicate shell.”
“This,” says Mr. Jerdon, “is the most common and generally spread of the Indian Kingfishers, fre-
quenting not only the rivers and brooks, tanks, wells, and wet paddy-fields, but also dry cultivated ground,
eroves, old walls, and many other similar situations. It preys upon small fish (which it pursues below
the surface), frogs, tadpoles, and various water insects ; also on small lizards, grasshoppers, and various
other large insects. It has a very loud, harsh, rattling scream, generally uttered during flight. Is said to
breed in holes on the banks of rivers.”
Mr. Layard states that in Ceylon this bird is “ very common and widely distributed, feeding indiscri-
minately on fresh- or salt-water fish, crabs, beetles, and butterflies. I have seen them capture these last in
the manner of Flycatchers (Wuscicapide), darting from a sprig, and seizing them in the - their mandibles
closing with a snap, audible at the distance of some yards. One, which was unluckily introduced into an
aviary, destroyed most of the lesser captives ere he was detected as the culprit ; we ee at last caught in
the act of seizing a small bird in his powerful bill; he beat it for a moment against his perch, and then
swallowed it whole. The nest of this species 1s found in decaying trees ; the parent bird deposits two
white eggs (axis 15 lines, diam. 13 lines), beautifully smooth and shining. I have procured eggs in the
north of the island in Deceméer, in the south in April.”
Head, cheeks, sides and back of the neck, edges of the shoulders, under coverts of the wing, flanks,
tail-coverts and thighs dark chestnut-brown ; centre of the back and scapularies dull
lower part of the back and upper tail-coverts fine verditer blue; greater
green ; spurious wing green ; basal portion of the
abdomen, vent, under
green washed with verditer blue ;
wing-coverts black, the lowermost row tipped with deep oe
outer webs of the primaries pale green, passing into deeper green, basal portion of their inner webs white ;
the apical half of both webs deep black ; secondaries bluish green on their external webs, black on the
: : . : ; ac neath: chin, throat, and centre of the
inner; tail deep green, glossed with blue above, brownish black beneath; chin, thr
breast white; irides hazel; bill, legs, and feet deep orange-red. oe
The Plate is intended to represent both sexes of the size of life; it will be seen, therefore, that they do
: : ; See tees eee AEM unosa.
not differ in their colouring. The climbing plant 1s the Otostemma lac
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HITTIN
HALCYON GULARIS.
Manilla Kingfisher.
Grand Martin-pécheur de M adagascar, Buff. Pl. Enl. 239.
Alcedo sures var. 8, Gmel. edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 456.—Vieill. Ency. Méth. Orn., part i. p. 286.
——— gularis, Kuhl and Swind., Buff. Fig. Av. Coll. Nom. Syst., 1820, p. 4.
—— rufirostris, Meyen, Beitr., iii. p. 94.
— smyrnensis, Kittl. Kupf. Vég., p. 10. t. 14. 2. 239.
Halcyon ruficollis, Swains. in Lard. Cycl. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 335.
Alcedo melanoptera, Temm. Tabl. Méth., p. 75.
—— smyrnensis var. albogularis, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng. 1843, p. 998.—Id. 1844, p. 394.
Halcyon gularis, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 79, Halcyon, sp. 13.—Kaup, Fam. Eisv., p. 8.—Bonap.
Consp. Gen. Av., tom. i. p. 155, Halcyon, sp. 21.
Entomothera gularis, Reich. Handb., i. p. 13. 34. t. 401. 3082.
Entomobia gularis, Cab. Mus. Hein., Theil ii. p- 155.
A suPERFICIAL view of this Kingfisher would lead to the supposition that it is a mere variety of the Ftalcyon
Jusca so generally spread over India; but if a careful examination and comparison of the two birds be made,
they will be found to differ very materially, and to constitute two really distinct species. It is not only by
the lesser amount of white on its throat that the Manilla bird is to be distinguished from its Indian ally, but
other differences are also observable: in the first place, the entire plumage is of a much richer hue,
particularly the blue of the wings, which is truly beautiful ; in the next, there is a much larger mark of black
on the centre of the wing, and a greater amount of this colour on the tips of the primaries, so that, when
the wing is outspread, the white which occupies the base of the primaries is much more circumscribed, and
the white itself is much purer and more conspicuous ; the under surface, too, is wholly chestnut, with the
exception of that part of the throat termed the chin.
The only country from which I have seen or received specimens is the rich island of Manilla, where it
doubtless takes the place of the Halcyon fusca of India.
The sexes offer no perceptible difference either in colour or markings, in which respect they assimilate to
the Indian and many other Hadcyons ; their habits and economy, too, are said to be very similar, sometimes
feeding upon fish and lizards, and at others upon crabs and various crustaceans, to which insects are
frequently added.
Head, cheeks, back and sides of the neck, throat, under coverts of the wings, and the whole of the under
surface of the body rich reddish chestnut, darkest on the head and back of We ae ; back and scapularies
dull green washed with verditer blue; lower part of the back and upper tail-coverts fine verditer blue ;
wing-coverts deep black, a few of those near the shoulder dark green ; spurious wing greenish blue; basal
portion of the primaries greenish blue on their outer webs and white oe inner, apical portion of
both webs black; secondaries greenish blue on their outer webs, their ee webs belng green next the
shaft and black on the margin ; tail bluish green above, black beneath ; chin white; irides hazel ; bill, legs
and feet deep orange-red.
: ] sible. The plant is the Vamarindus
The Plate represents both sexes, coloured as accurately as possible. ple , ’
officenalis.
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HALCYON ATRICAPILLUS.
Black-capped Kingfisher.
Alcedo pileata, Bodd. Tabl. des Pl. Enl. de D’Aubent., p. 41.
— albiventris, Scop. Flor. et Faun, Insub., p. 90.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Bir
sp. 9, and vol. iii. app. p. 4 (app. to p. 79).
a atricapilla, Gmel. edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 453.—Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. i. p. 251.—Shaw, Gen. Zool.,
vol. viii. p. 70.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 30.—Bonn. et Vieill. Ency. Méth. Orn., part i. p. 289.
——— atricapilla, Less. Cent. de Zool., p. 36.
Halcyon atricapillus, Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xiii. p. 99.—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus.
East Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 124.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 47.—Temm.
Pl. Col. 613.—Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xxvii. pp. 150, 151.—Layard in Ann. and Mag. Nat.
Hist., 2nd ser. vol. xii.
Martin-pécheur a coffe noire, Buff. Hist. Nat. des Ois., tom. vii. p. 189.—Ib. Pl. Enl. 673.
Black-capped Kingfisher, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. ii. p. 624.—Shaw, Nat. Misc., pl. 465.
Dacelo atricapilla, Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 246.
Alcedo Brama, Less. Cent. de Zool., pl. 8.
Halcyon pileata, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 79, Halcyon, sp. 8.—Ib. List of Birds in Coll. Brit.
Mus., part. ii. sec. 1, Fissirostres, p. 54.—Cassin, Cat. of Halcyonide in Coll. of Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad.
—_—— atricapilla, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 155, Halcyon, sp. 20.
ds, vol. i. p. 79, Halcyon,
For a Kingfisher, the characteristics of which are a large bill and a short stumpy tail, this bird, from its more
lengthened form, may be considered a far from inelegant species, to say nothing of its rich colouring. Its
native countries are India and China, from both of which I have received specimens. Mr. Blyth states
that it is frequently seen on the eastern side of Bengal, but is rarely met with on the western; and that it
also frequents the Sunderbunds, the Malay Peninsula, and the Archipelago. Those who have consulted the
volume of the ‘Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London’ for 1859 will observe that it was sent
from Siam by Sir Robert Schomburgk, Her Majesty’s Consul-General at Bankok, who, besides paying due
attention to his official duties, has found time to do much for natural science. On the opposite page of the
same volume of the ‘Proceedings’ I have also recorded it as occurring among the birds collected in ‘Tavoy
by Captain Briggs, Deputy Commissioner of that province,—a gentleman nay assiduous in making us
acquainted with the natural productions of a district nearly parallel to that in which Sir Robert Schom-
burgk is pursuing his researches in Siam; thus it will be seen that mere lists of birds, like those referred
to, are of great value as showing the range of species, however uninteresting they may at first sight
appear. ‘This lovely Kingfisher,” says Mr. Layard, ‘has but a to ede my notice as an inhabitant
of Ceylon. The specimen in question was shot in the Jatina district, in the ae of Valenny. ) know
nothing personally of its habits.” As is the case with the Kingfishers generally, little perceptible difference
occurs in the colouring of the sexes.
Head, sides of the face, band across the upper part of the back, shoulders and wing-coverts black ;
upper part of the back, scapularies, outer webs of the secondaries, and upper surface of the tail deep ultra-
marine blue; lower part of the back and upper tail-coverts smalt-blue ; basal portion - the inner webs of
the primaries pure white; outer webs pale lilac to the same extent; the 7 portions black, ee
for some distance externally with smalt-blue; collar at the back of the neck, chin, = and centre of Oe
breast buffy white; sides of the neck, flanks, abdomen, co under surface of the wing and under tail-
coverts rich rust-colour, becoming paler where it blends with the He white on the sides of the neck;
under surface of the tail black ; bill coral-red; irides dark brown ; feet red.
The larger figure is of the natural size.
Kulimandd & Walton, Lop.
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HALCYON FULGIDUS, Gould.
Blue-and-white Kingfisher.
Halcyon fulgidus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xxv. p. 65.
I pusiisHep a description of this remarkably fine species of Halcyon in 1857, taken from specimens received
direct from Mr. Wallace, by whom they had been collected in the island of Lombock. It is very nearly
allied to the H. atrocapillus, but it is of considerably larger size, and, to my mind, is a still more beautiful
species, its snow-white neck and under parts offering a striking contrast to the rich deep blue of the
upper surface,—a colour interrupted only by the lengthened patch of bluish-white feathers of the rump,
which feathers have the appearance of having been broken or split up, and are altogether unlike those of the
remainder of the body; this mark must show conspicuously when the bird is alive, and particularly during
flight. Of this very fine and rare bird two beautiful specimens grace my collection. Of these, one is some-
what smaller than the other; there also occurs a slight difference in the tints of the upper surface, the blue
being less pure, and assuming a browner hue ; this specimen has white under tail-coverts, while in the other
the coverts are dark blue; in all probability, the one with the white under tail-coverts is a young bird.
The figure in the accompanying plate, and the following description, will convey a correct idea of this
new and valuable discovery of Mr. Wallace.
The following description and remarks are taken from the ‘Proceedings of the Zoological Society’ for
1857 :—
«Head, cheeks, back of the neck, back, wings, flanks, and under tail-coverts deep black, washed with rich
ultramarine blue on the back of the neck, back and wings ; rump-feathers glaucous or chalky-white, with
black bases, and with a narrow line of blue between the black and the white portion, which alone is seen ;
tail deep ultramarine blue ; chin, breast, and abdomen white ; bill and feet coral-red.
“This is an exceedingly fine species, of which I have not been able to find a description. I am therefore
induced to believe it to be new.”
The figures are of the natural size.
HALCYON OMNICO LOR.
Nullmunded & Walton In ip
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HALCYON OMNICOLOR.
Many-coloured Kingfisher.
Alcedo melanoptera, Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xiii. p. 174.
Halcyon melanopterus, Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xiii. p. 100.—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus.
East Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 127.
Alcedo omnicolor, Temm. Pl. Col., 135.
Dacelo omnicolor, Less. Traité d’Orn. p. 247.
Halcyon melanoptera, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 79, Halcyon, sp. 18.—Gray, List of Birds in Coll.
Brit. Mus., part i. sec. 1, Fissirostres, p. 54.
—— ommnicolor, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 155, Halcyon, sp. 22.
Alcedo cyanoventris, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. xix. p. 412.—Cassin, Cat. of Halcyonidze in Coll. Acad.
Nat. Sci. Philadelphia.
A more appropriate name than omnicolor could scarcely have been given to this wonderfully coloured species
of Kingfisher ; for, on looking at the fine specimen now before me, it appears almost questionable whether it
has not been manufactured by some clever taxidermist out of two or three species, instead of being as real
and natural as any other member of the great family of which it forms a part. Were I strictly to follow the
law of priority with regard to specific appellations, I ought, perhaps, to have retained that of melanopterus
for this species; but, as nearly all the Halcyonide have black shoulders, I have considered it advisable, like
Temminck and Bonaparte, to retain the more appropriate title of omncolor. It is somewhat remarkable that
there should be no recorded information respecting the habits, economy, and range of so fine a species ;
yet true it is that not a word has been written on the subject: we know that the island of Java is the
country whence the specimens in our museums have been sent ; and that is all. There appears to be little
or no difference in the colouring of the sexes; some specimens, however, have the brown of the throat, par-
ticularly that part of it nearest the bill, of a much lighter colour than others,—a feature which may be
sexual or a mark of immaturity.
Nothing can be more lovely than the colours of this bird, or more delicately white than the inner webs of
its primaries, which mark is of course most conspicuous when the wing is spread, and then offers a striking
contrast to the green and black of the other part of the wings and tail ; the upper surface is further varied
by the entire back and rump being of a smalt-blue, while the back of the neck is chestnut, with a narrow
band of blue separating that colour from the brownish-black of the head.
The following is a more minute description of this fine bird :— —
Head and face dark umber-brown, deepening into blackish brown on the nape, below which is a narrow
crescentic band of deep glossy blue; this is succeeded by a broad band of rich chestnut, which passes round
the sides of the neck, and unites with the lighter chestnut of the throat and front of the neck; back, scapu-
laries, upper tail-coverts, abdomen, and flanks smalt-blue ; breast-feathers chestnut, bordered with smalt-blue ;
greater wing-coverts black ; lesser wing-coverts verditer blue, edged with smalt blue; basal three-fourths of
: : : 6 oe : ir - y »pening’ into dark ereen
the primaries white on their inner webs, verditer green on their outer webs, deepening ¢ g
near the tips, which are black ; this latter colour decreases in extent as the feathers approach the body ;
above, and on both webs beneath, the upper surface of the outer
the feathers approach the body ; these bluer feathers
secondaries black on their inner webs
web being verditer green, passing into bluer green as oe : i
oa ae i mee the inner webs paralie
are crossed by indistinct bars of a deeper hue ; there is also a line of dark green on the pare
oc ; z eae ae ‘diter or n their outer
with the shaft, which is black ; tail-feathers bluish emerald-green, glossed with verditer green on their 0
webs; shafts and under surface black ; irides dark brown ;_ bill coral-red ; feet ra
The plate represents the bird (in flight) of the natural size, and a miniature figure in the distance.
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CARCINEUTES PULCHELLUS, forsr
Banded Kingfisher.
Dacelo pulchella, Horsf. Trans. Linn. Soc. xiii. p. 175.—Id. Zool. Researches in Java, pl.—Temm. Pl. Col. 277.
—Blyth, Cat. Birds Mus. As. Soc. Beng. p. 46.—Moore, P. Z. S. 1854, p. 268.—Horsf. & Moore, Cat.
Birds Mus. E.I. Co. 1. p. 122.—Schl. Mus. Pays-Bas, Alced. p. 21.—Id. Vog. Nederl. Indié, Alced.
pp. 15, 50, pl. 5.
Dacelo buccoides, Temm. Pl. Col. 586. |
Halcyon pulchella, Gray, Gen. Birds, i. p. 79.—Id. Cat. Fissir. Brit. Mus. p. 52.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. i.
p. 154.—Cass. Cat. Halcyonide Philad. Mus. p. 7.—Pelz. Reis. Novara, Vog. p. 44.—Gray, Hand-l. B.
1. p. 94, no. 1137.
Lacedo pulchella, Reichenb. Handb. Alced. p. 42, Taf. cccexxix. figs. 3168, 3169.
Carcineutes pulchellus, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. ii. p. 163.—Sharpe, Monogr. Alced. pl. 96.
Tuts Kingfisher is the oldest known member of the genus Carcineutes, having been discovered in the island
of Java by the late Dr. Horsfield sixty years ago. It is also an inhabitant of Sumatra and the peninsula of
Malacca. Specimens from all these localities appear to me to be inseparable, although no one can examine
a large series of males without noticing certain differences. I have seen, for instance, considerable variation
in the shade of blue on the upper surface, while the presence or absence of a rufous collar round the hind
neck is also a character which has not yet been thoroughly explained. Young birds may be generally told
by their brown bills ; but even when this still lingers in the bird, the remainder of the plumage appears to
be fully adult, the blue and black coloration being quite as vivid as in old birds. At the same time none
of the species examined by me come near the Siamese C. amabilis for brilliancy of coloration, or for the fine
crest which is such an especial characteristic of the latter species.
The rarity of the present bird in Java seems to be affirmed by the few specimens which reach us from
that island; and Dr. Horsfield remarks :—* This is a very rare and local bird ; and I found it once only, in
a low range of hills about 20 miles south-east of Samarang, known in the central parts of the island by the
name of the hills of Prowoto.” To Mr. Sharpe’s ‘ Monograph’ Mr. Wallace contributed the following
observation :—‘Carcineutes pulchellus is found in the thickets near streams, where it seems to feed chiefly
on small crabs, which it picks up off the mud.” It will be seen by Mr. Davison’s observations on C. amabils
that he did not find the Banded Kingfisher of Tenasserim near streams, but sometimes many miles away
from water. It is doubtless the Tenasserim C. amabdilis which Mr. Blyth refers to as being met with at
Mergui.
The following description I take from Mr. Sharpe's ‘ Monograph of the Kingfishers : a |
“Adult male. Head, nape, back, and wing-coverts black, each feather banded with white and tipped with
shining blue; tail black, banded with blue and white ; primaries black, the secondaries spotted and tipped
with white; forehead, cheeks, and a collar below the nape deep chestnut ; throat white ; upper part of the
breast and flanks pale brownish red, centre of abdomen and under wing-coverts lighter ; bill deep red ;
eyes brown-olive ; feet buffy ochre-yellow. Total length 9 inches, culmen 1-4, wing 3°4, tail 2°7, tarsus 0°4.
“Female. Above black, broadly banded with ochre; under surface white, with the upper part of the breast
and flanks banded with black.”
The figures in the Plate represent both sexes of this beautiful Kingfisher, of the natural size, from speci-
mens in my own collection.
———- 5
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CARCINEUTES MELANOPS.
Black-faced Kingfisher.
Halcyon melanops, Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 154 (1850, ex Temm. MS. in Mus. Lugd.).—Cass. Cat. Halcyo-
nide Philad. Mus. p. 7 (1852).—Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 94, no. 1138.
Lacedo melanops, Reichenbach, Handb. Alced. p. 42 (1851).—Bp. Consp. Vol. Anis. p. 9 (1854).—Salvad. Ucc.
Born. p. 104 (1874).
Carcineutes melanops, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. ii. p. 163, note ( 1860).—Sharpe, Monogr. Alced. pl. 97.—
Id. Ibis, 1879, p. 249.
Dacelo melanops, Schl. Mus. Pays-Bas, Alced. p. 21 (1863).—Id. Vog. Nederl. Indié, Alced. pp. 16, 51, pl. 5 (1864).
Tuis is the Bornean representative of the common C. pulchellus ; and although it is not so rare in collections
as it was when Mr. Sharpe wrote his work on the Kingfishers, it is still a sufficiently scarce bird. At the
time alluded to, Mr. Sharpe was unable to describe the female bird, and only a single skin, and that one not
fully adult, was known in any museum in this country. Even such ardent collectors as the Marquis Doria
and Dr. Beccari were unable to obtain more than one female bird in the course of their explorations in the
province of Sarawak, while neither of the Messrs. Everett has furnished it as yet from that locality. As
it does not seem to have occurred to Dr. Fischer in Central Borneo, and only once to Schwaner at Banjer-
massing, it may be considered a rare bird even in some parts of Borneo, to which island it appears to be
restricted.
The north-western province of the island is apparently the head quarters of the species, as most of the
recent collections from Lumbidan and Brunei made by Governor Ussher and Mr. Treacher contained one or
more examples. The latter gentleman also procured it on the Lawas river.
Such I believe to be the extent of our knowledge of this handsome Kingfisher, nothing having been
recorded concerning its habits. In plumage it closely resembles the Malaccan Carcineutes pulchellus, from
which it is distinguished at a glance by its black forehead, face, and collar round the hind-neck. It should
be noted that in Mr. Sharpe’s figure the black collar is omitted, though it is duly mentioned in the descrip-
tion. It would appear to be gradually assumed, though when the bird is fully adult it forms a very conspicuous
feature, as will be seen by a reference to my Plate. The female, as might be expected, is so like that of
C. pulchellus that it is almost impossible to distinguish them ; and I fancy that young males of the two birds
must be very similar, as in some of the immature males from Borneo the cheeks are rufous, mottled with
black, as if the bird commenced with a rufous face, and gradually put on the black one of C. melanops.
Having detailed the principal differences between these two nearly allied species, it is unnecessary for me
to give a full description, and I must refer my readers to the Plates of the two birds accompanying the
present articles. : :
The figures in the Plate represent the two sexes of the natural size, and are drawn from specimens in my
own collection.
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JARCINEUTES AMABILIS, Flume.
Venasserim Kingfisher.
Carcineutes amabilis, Hume, Stray Feathers, 1873, p. 474,
a —Sharpe, op. cit. 1874, p. 484.—Hume, op. cit. 1875,
ps 51.
Carcineutes pulchellus, Hume (nec Horsf.), Stray F. 1874, p. 470.—Blyth & Walden, Birds of Burma, p. 70.—
Hume, Stray Feathers, 1878, p. 79.
For many years I had in my collection a fine male of the present species from Siam; at the time that
Mr. Sharpe was writing on the family I over and over again brought it under his notice; and [I still
maintain that it is not specifically the same as the Malaccan C. pulchellus. Nor was I surprised when, in
1873, Mr. Hume described the Banded Kingfisher from Upper Pegu as a new species, as I felt sure that
it would turn out to be the same as my Siamese specimen—a conclusion I have since verified, thanks to
Lieut. Wardlaw Ramsay, who very kindly lent me some birds from Tenasserim, which, on comparison,
turned out to be identical with the Siamese example in my collection.
Mr. Hume, when be characterized the species, described it as similar to C. pulchellus, but the males
entirely wanting the rufous collar on the nape, while the females have the upper surface ochraceous
comparatively narrowly banded with black. Now Mr. Sharpe, when he challenged Mr. Hume respecting
the distinctness of the Pegu bird from the Malayan, was doubtless right in disposing of the presence or
absence of a nuchal collar as a valid specific character ; and he impugns also the distinctions accorded to the
female. I can only say that with regard to the latter I consider Mr. Hume to be right and Mr. Sharpe
wrong, as I imagine every one who consults my figure will be prepared to admit. The late Lord Tweeddale,
in his notes to Mr. Blyth’s ‘Birds of Burma,’ agrees with Mr. Sharpe in considering that C. amadilis is
specifically the same as C. pulchellus ; and he speaks of birds from the Malayan peninsula without any rufous
collar as ‘very common.” Mr. Hume states that he had at the time examined twenty males from Malacca,
all of which had a rufous collar, but he has since come to the conclusion that, after all, the Banded
Kingfisher from Tenasserim and Pegu is the same as the Malayan bird.
Deserted by Mr. Hume as I am at present, I still venture to maintain the distinctness of Carcineutes
melanops as a species, but on different grounds. C. amadilis, in my opinion, cannot be separated from
C. pulchellus on account of the presence or absence of the nuchal collar, but on account of its larger size,
more splendid crest, and different shade of blue coloration. In addition to the larger crest, it will be seen,
on carefully examining the feathers of the latter, that they are grey for nearly the full extent of the feather.
In addition to this the female is paler in colour and more narrowly banded than the same sex of
C. pulchellus.
The localities mentioned by Mr. Hume for this species in Tenasserim are as follows—Meetan, Amherst,
Mergui, Palaw-ton-ton, Bankasoon, and Malaroon, where they were obtained by Mr. Davison, who
observes :—‘‘I did not meet with this species to the north of Amherst; but there and to the southward it
occurred sparingly. Of course, as is well known, this species is not a water Kingfisher. It frequents the
forest, avoiding the dense parts. I have killed a good number, both in Faye and the Straits ; but I
have not, as described by Mr. Wallace (in Sharpe’s ‘Monograph’), met with them specially frequenting
thickets near streams. 1 have found them in all kinds of localities im the forest, sometimes, 1t Is trae, near
streams, sometimes many miles away from water. Their food, I found, consisted chiefly ee lizards and
various insects, such as wood-lice etc.” Mr. Eugene Oates shot a pair of birds near Thayetmyo in the
evergreen forests; and Lieut. Wardlaw Ramsay procured the species in the Karen Hills. As already
mentioned, I possess a skin from Siam. ee
Ihave stated above the characters which induce me to consider the present bird distinct from C. pulchellus :
ly. Mr. Oates describes the soft parts as toons > Bill
eyelids and orbital region pale salmon-red ; iris yellowish
Hume’s description of the soft parts runs thus :—‘ Legs
and my Plate will demonstrate them quite clear
bright red; inside of mouth somewhat pale red ;
e ° : ? e
white; legs greenish brown; claws horny.” Mr. dihis Hicceace cole
and feet dull pale green; claws black ; bill vermilion-red ; base of lower man : rownis : sal ,
a . os n ale yarts of the same colour as the
: : ei ay »male has the soft pz
generally yellowish white ; irides purplish grey. The female he I
male. .
‘c taken fr siamese specime
In the Plate the figure of the male is taken from my Siamese s]
bird in my own collection also.
n, and that of the female is from a
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DACELO TYRO, @ RB. Gray.
Mantled Kinge'fisher.
Dacelo tyro, G. R. Gray, Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xxvi. p. 171, Aves, pl. cxxxii:—J- E. and G. RR. Grays Cat. of
Mammalia and Birds of New Guinea in Coll. Brit. Mus., p: F9.
I nave in my collection two very fine specimens of this bird, both of which were procured by Mr. Wallace:
one of them is much smaller than the other, and is also much darker in all its fulvous tints both of the
spottings of the head and the under surface generally: this individual is marked a male, while the larger
and more delicately coloured specimen has the feminine indicative on the label. The colouring of the tail
in the male specimen is also dark bluish-green, while that of the female is pure green; these differences in
the colouring of the tail were also pointed out by Mr. Gray. For a long period I have fancied that the
male of our own Kingfisher (d/cedo ispida) was smaller than the female; and a question of some interest
has now to be solved,—whether or not the same law reigns through the entire family. The two specimens
referred to above are both figured in the accompanying plate, the hinder figure representing the male, and
the front one the opposite sex.
The spotted feathers of the head from the nape downwards are elongated and spread out, forming a kind
of mantle over the back; hence the trivial name I have given to the bird.
The Dacelo tyro must be regarded as one of the finest of Mr. Wallace’s discoveries. Its true habitat is
the Aru Islands, to which it is probably restricted.
The following is Mr. Gray’s description :—
Male.—* Top and sides of the head and back of the neck black, spotted and banded with fulvous white ;
nape and upper part of the back fulvous white, banded and margined with black; scapulars black ; wing-
coverts black, broadly margined with shining blue; quills and tail black, margined externally with dull
blue; upper part of the back black, the lower part glossy silvery blue; under surface pale fulvous, lightest
on the throat ; upper mandible black, the lower one pale horn-colour.”
Female.—* Quills and. tail greenish blue.”
Young.—‘‘ Beneath each feather margined with black ; bill black, tipped with pale horn-colour ; other-
wise the same.”
The figures are of the natural size.
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ALCEDO GRANDIS, Blyth.
Great Alcedo.
Aiceao grants, Blyth, Journ. of Asiat, Soc, Beng., vol. xiv. p. 190.—Id. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calc.,
p- 49.—Id. Ibis, 1865, pp. 30, 31; 1866, pp. 348, 363.—Gray, Hand-list of Birds, vol. i. p. 96—Sharpe,
Mon. of Alced., vol. . pl.
Tue recent discovery and examination of a second specimen of this extremely rare and fine species of Alcedo,
of which only a single example was previously known, enables us to fully confirm Mr. Blyth’s accuracy in
characterizing it as distinct from all its congeners ; indeed it now seems surprising that it could ever have
been thought identical with any one of them, and the only reason that can have given rise to such an
opinion must be that the type specimen, in the Museum of the Asiatic Society at Calcutta, is very imperfect.
On reference to the accompanying Plate it will be seen that the /cedo grandis fully merits the specific
appellation assigned to it, inasmuch as it is not only the largest member of the genus to which it pertains,
but fully equals, if it does not excel, any of its generic allies in the brilliancy of its plumage. Its native
country is, undoubtedly, the little-trodden parts of the Nepaulese Terai, and probably, as believed by
Mr. Blyth, those portions of Sikhim and Bhootan that are of a similar character.
Of course it would be a mere surmise to say that the sexes are alike in colour; yet it is probable, nay,
almost certain, that they are so. Now that a second specimen has been obtained, and the country of which
the bird is a native has been ascertained, examples will doubtless ere long find their way into our collections,
and an account of its habits and economy be recorded by some one or more of the enterprising naturalists
who are now scouring the Asiatic continent for novelties. At this early period of our acquaintance with
the species my readers must excuse my copying what has been written respecting it by others, particularly
by Mr. Sharpe, the publication of whose Plate and description just precedes my own.
“This truly magnificent species,” says the last-mentioned author, “‘ has as yet only been met with in the
neighbourhood of Darjeeling. It was first described by Mr. Blyth in 1845, and the type specimen is still in
the Calcutta Museum. Mr. Jerdon has certainly made a mistake in considering it to be the young of
A. euryzona, which was, moreover, described as a distinct species by Mr. Blyth, under the name of 4. n-
gricans. It was hardly possible, therefore, that so acute an observer should have separated 4. grandis, and
not have united it to 4. nigricans, if they had both been the young of 4. euryzona. Mr. Blyth has, however,
himself written in defence of the species, and I can only state my full concurrence in his views.
“The type specimen came from Darjeeling, and the one from which the figure and description are now
taken was also shot in the Darjeeling Terai, by a Shikaree in the employ of Dr. John Anderson, the well-
known Curator of the Calcutta Museum, to whom I beg to tender my most hearty thanks for his great kindness
in allowing this extremely valuable specimen (the only perfect one known) to be sent to England for
the enhancement of my work.” ;
The remarks by Mr. Blyth, alluded to above, are to the following effect ee grandis, nobis, from
Sikhim, has been erroneously assigned to A. euryzona, Temm., of which 4. nigricans, nobis, from Malacca,
is the young. 4. euryzona has white under-parts, crossed by : broad dark-green pectoral ao (whence the
name, which is quite inapplicable to the other), much as mm a small 4. beryllina (v. baru) ; mhencus
A. grandis is like A. ispida and A. bengalensis, but much larger, with the coronal spots of a paler and dif-
ferent blue, and no rufous on the ear-coverts.” (¢ Ibis,’ 1865, p. 30.)
I would here remark that Mr. Sharpe is himself in error when he states that Mr. Jerdon considered the
Sens mG Sei Se 9) ee : 9 :
A. grandis to be the young of A. euryzona ; for, upon turning to the ‘ Birds of India,’ vol. 1. p. 231, I find
that he regarded it as an adult of that species, an error which be corrected, on the authority of Mr. Blyth,
Cc 5 Cc C
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in the appendix to the same work, Vol, me pt. W. p. O70. | |
Head and nape bluish black, crossed by a series of narrow interrupted bands of pale greenish cobalt, each
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with a small streak of silvery white in the centre; ear-coverts and stripe from the angle of the mouth down
each side of the neck bluish black, striated with a pale tint of dark blue; on each side the neck a patch,
dge, and orange-buff on the remainder ; back and upper tail-coverts glanicous
black, with a small spot of greenish blue at the tip of each; pri-
enish blue, and with rufous on the inner webs
which is yellow on its upper e
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tail dark indigo-blue above, black beneath ; throat bully white ; the
bill black, inclining to horny at the tip; feet orange.
ze. was taken from the perfect example above mentioned.
of the secondaries ;
under surface rich chestnut-red ;
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ALCEDO BENGALENSIS, Gmel.
Indian Kingfisher.
Alcedo bengalensis, Gmel. Edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 450.—Bonn. et Vieill. Ency. Méth., Orn part i. p. 291
: oe ” -» part 1. p. 291.
—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. part i. p. 102.—Id. § a8 *.
of Comm. of Sci. and Corr. cc Zool. Soe ae ee a i - - LOD eee BOS
—Jerd. Madras Journ. of Lit. and Se ale eee ee ie ae part vu. p. 156.
Je Comet and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 81.—Gray, Cat. of coed oe 7
part li. sec. 1. p. 63.—Id. Cat. of Spec. and Draw. of Mamm. and Birds pres. to Brit. Mus 3 5 a
eo Esq., p. 57.—Blyth, Journ. of Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. xv. p. ira Cat of Birds M ;
au Soc. Calcutta, p. 49.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., tom. i. p- 158 —Dr. F B. eee eon
rol i. p. 27.—Cass. Cat. of Hale. in Mus. Acad. Sci. Philad., p. 3.—Horsf. scares Cat of Birds
in Mus. East Ind. Comp., vol. i. p. 129.—Kittl. Kupf. Vog., t. 29. fig. 2.—Cab. et ne “hie Fiecin,
Theil ii. p. 144.—Irby in Ibis, vol. iii. p. 228.—Swinh. in Ibis, vol. iii. pp. 31 & Pe Spe a
Consp. Vol. Anisod. in Ateneo Italiano, no. 11, Agosto 1854.—Sieb., Temm. and Schlee. Faun Ja |
tab. Xxxvill. cs gai
Alcedo hispidioides, Less. Compl. Buff., tom. ix. p. 345.
hispidula, Cat. of Rivoli Coll., pp. 2, 3.
Bengalensis, var. Indica, Reichenb. Handb., tom. i. p. 3, 34, tab. 393. fig. 3047.
Ispida Bengalensis, Klem, Av., p. 34, no. 2.—Briss. Orn., tom. iv. p. 475. Bale Hist. Nat. des Ois., tom xiii.
De 297.
minor, Briss. Orn., tom. iv. p. 477.
Alcedo ispida Bengalensis, Sieb., Temm. et Schleg. Faun. Jap., p. 76.
japonica, Bonap. Consp. Vol. Anisod. in Ateneo Italiano, no. 11, Agosto 1854.
The Little Indian Kingfisher, Edw. Nat. Hist. of Birds, vol. 1. pl. 11.
Chota Kilkila of the Hindoos (Jerdon).
Chota match-ranga of the Musselmans (Dr. F. B. Hamilton).
Seeta koona, Malwa (Boys).
Match-ranga of the Bengalese (Blyth and Hamilton).
Rajah whodan, Malay (Blyth).
Mal-pilli hudua (piuchi or “ small”), in Ceylon (Blyth).
Tow-yii-long of the Cantonese (Swinhoe).
Ir I were writing the history of the British Kingfisher (Alcedo ispida), I should state that the middle portion
of Europe was probably the centre of its area of range, and that from thence it radiated westward to the
British Islands, northwards to Norway and Sweden, southward to Morocco, and eastward to Asia Minor,
and that, in the latter country, it inosculates with another species, the A/cedo Bengalensis, the subject of
the present memoir. Here, then, the two species meet ; but this appears to be the western Jian of the
Indian bird, its true habitat being Scinde, Bombay, and the whole of the Peninsula of India, wherever
abits occur; thence it advances eastward to China and Japan, and southward through
the Indian Islands to Timor, according to the authors of the ‘Fauna Japonica.’ Specimens from these
widely extended localities present certain trifling differences both in size and colour, but not to the extent
observable between the Indian and European species,—the Alcedo Bengalensis differing from the 4. ispida
but more brilliantly coloured, and in the more decided cha-
being so apparent that the experienced
situations suited to its h
not only in being considerably smaller in size,
racter of the markings of its head and wing-coverts, these features
e no difficulty in deciding at a glance to whicl
I have said this much on the subject in order to prove the right of Asia to claim
her avi-fauna; but as the subject has been most carefully
it is only justice to him to transcribe his
ornithologist would hav ) country a specimen belonged, were
iologist wou
his opinion required.
a true and distinct species of this form among
-. >
investigated by my friend Schlegel in the ‘Fauna Japonica,
remarks :— cage
“ The common Kingfisher of Bengal.—This bird, which takes the place of the ordinary Kingfisher
: ‘ ‘ ‘fer from that species except in
throughout a great part of southern and eastern Asia, does not appear to ae ; ‘ ee ‘ a
e 1 i age > modern < s ¢
its smaller size, and occasionally by the depth of the tints of its plumage. Some mn : z i
; ific disti jave considere Se
these differences of too little importance to serve as a means of specific ae ‘ pepe
i i se existence of several races of this :
irds ine 1e 8 > have not even admitted tl
birds as belonging to the same species, and he
P i I “selves -ecord the observations we
i i 1 stl f nomenclature, we shall limit oursel\ Bevo
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have made upon these different birds, which offer to one another a striking ee with respect to the
distribution of their tints. The ordinary Kingfisher (/cedo ispeda of authors—a species known throughout
the whole world) is of the following proportions :—Length of wings, 2 inches 10 lines ; length of beak,
from the front, 1 inch 4 lines; breadth of beak, near the front, 3} lines; length of tail, 1 inch 4 lines;
tarsi, 32 lines.
“The ordinary Kingfisher of Bengal (4lcedo Bengalensis, Gmelin, figured by Edwards, pl: rele and by
Kittlitz, Kupfertafeln, pl. 29. fig. 1) may be constantly distinguished from the common species by its less
robust size and less squat form, although its beak may be a little longer than in the former. This little race
has been observed at Bengal; our travellers have obtained a great number of individuals from Japan and
Timor ; and Kittlitz says that it is common in the Isle of Lugon, and that its habits are identically the same
as those of the European race. We have before us a complete series of individuals received from Bengal,
from Japan, and from Timor; these all exhibit slight but perceptible differences.
“Those from Bengal present the same gradation of tints as those of the common Kingfisher of Europe ;
but their wings do not exceed 2 inches 7 lines in length, the tail is 1 inch 4 lines, and the beak 1 inch 5 to
6 lines long.
“The individuals from Japan still more closely resemble those from Bengal with regard to the gradation
of their tints; but they have the wings constantly a little longer, in that they measure 2 inches 8: lines long.
‘Lastly, the individuals from Timor resemble those from Japan in the length of their wings; but they
differ from them, as well as from those of Bengal, in the tints of the upper part of the bird, which are much
more lively, of an almost perfect blue, and very little inclining to green, as seen in individuals from Japan
and Bengal, as well as in the common European species.”
I may here remark that the late Prince Charles Bonaparte regarded the Japanese bird as distinct, and
that he therefore designated it A/cedo Japonica (see his paper in the ‘ Ateneo Italiano’ for August 1854).
Colonel Sykes says, ‘“ This species affects brooks; it is never seen in gardens.”
Mr. Pearson informs us that “It is frequently seen seated on a stick standing upright in a paddy-field,
watching for small fishes in the shallow water.”
From Dr. Francis Buchanan Hamilton’s MS. we learn that “It builds its nest in holes, which it excavates
in abrupt banks and mud walls.”
The following brief notice of this bird occurs in the notes of the late Captain Boys :—« Frequents the
mountain-streams and shady spots; is more frequently seen on the branch of a tree overhanging the water
than on any projecting stone or stump init. It flies with great rapidity and ease, generally very near the
water. It is abundant near the cantonments at Nibon, each rivulet having a pair in about every two miles.
It constantly remains at the same spot, unless forced to remove by necessity and the want of food. The
sexes are alike in plumage; but that of the female is of a somewhat duller hue.”
Mr. Swinhoe states that it is sometimes seen, but is not common, between Takoo and Pekin, in North
China.
The male has the crown and nape and a stripe from the angle of the lower mandible deep-bluish green,
transversely barred with bright verditer-green ;_ plumage of the upper
surface and wings bluish green ; each
of the wing-coverts with a spot of verditer-green at the tip ;
back and upper tail-coverts beautiful verditer-
-coverts, and under surface of the body reddish
primaries and secondaries brown, margined ex-
feet orange ; bill black, lighter at the base of the under
green; lores, space below the eye, ear-coverts, under wing
chestnut; behind the ear-coverts a streak of silky white ;
ternally with green ; tail deep blue; irides brown ;
mandible.
The female is very similar; but the markings of the head and wings are not so fine, the base of the
under mandible is lighter, and her general hue is duller than that of her mate.
In the immature bird the general colouring is less brilliant, and the upper surface and breast are clouded
with olive-brown.
The figures represent two fully adults, of the natural size.
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CORACIAS IN DICAS haan
Indian Roller.
Coracias Indica et C. Bengalensis, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i p. 159, et auctor
j ; - 1. p. 159, ‘torum,
Blue Jay from the East Indies, Edw. Glean. of Nat. Hist. pl. 326
Indian Roller, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. i. p. 412. .
Bengal Roller, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. i. p. 410.
Garrulas (Galgulus) nevius, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. xxix. p. 431
Galgulus nevus, Vieill. Ency. Méth. Orn., part ii. p- 868. 7
Coracias nevia, Wagl. Syst. Av., sp. 3.
Subzak G. e. greenish-bird) and Nylkhant (blue-throat) of the Hindoos.
Tas of the Mahrattas.
Palu pitta G.e. milk-bird) of the Telugus.
Katta-kade, in Tamul.
Towee, by the Mahris
Jay, Europeans in India.
To quote all the synonyms of the present species, and all that has been published respecting it is quite out of
the question, inasmuch as the references to the various authors would occupy space which may be devoted
to a more useful purpose, while much that has been written regarding its nidification, the adlour of its eggs,
and the extent of its range is erroneous ; besides which there is much repetition in the accounts of hose
who have made it their theme. Why and wherefore so many persons have wielded the pen respecting
it, is attributable to three causes :—First, its universal distribution over the whole of the Indian peninsula,
from the base of the Himalayas to Cape Comorin, Afghanistan, and, according to Dr. Leith Adams, Ladakh
and Thibet ; that it is also a very common species in the Scinde valley I can testify, as I possess several
specimens collected by my son, the late Dr. J. H. Gould, during his residence therein ; and Mr. Layard tells
us that it is widely distributed over Ceylon. Secondly, its extreme familiarity, and its habit of perching
in some prominent position—such as the top of a pole, the bare branch of a tree, or on some low bush in
groves and gardens in the immediate vicinity of villages ; and, lastly, to the great beauty of its plumage, and
the loveliness of the hues it displays during flight. If my readers will call to mind the habits and actions of
the Common Flycatcher, Butalis grisola, and of some of the smaller Halcyonide, they will be able to form a just
notion of those of the present bird, since they resemble both, particularly in the upright manner in which it sits
on its elevated perch, and sallies forth thence when any living object for which it has a preference attracts
its eye, whether it be a grasshopper on the ground, or an insect in the air; after capturing which it
generally returns to eat its prey on the site it has just left. Like all other Rollers, a portion of its food
consists of insects, caterpillars of various kinds, and occasionally mice, small lizards, and other creeping
reptiles.
In confirmation of what I have said as to the abundance of this bird, I may mention that between three and
four hundred flat skins were shown to me on the 10th of March, 1869, by a plumassier of Oxford Street,
which, he said, had just arrived from India, adding that these were only a continuation of former sendings,
T ae a ? 7 “ce “pore
and that hundreds more would probably follow. Now it must be a source of regret | ae Pe
persons, as it is to myself, to learn that, under such a course of destruction, the annihilation of this beautifu
bird is almost certain, unless a law be promulgated in India simil
to be passed for the protection of some of our own birds.
I have averred that some of the statements respecting the nidification coo ; ;
J may mention that by one writer It 1s said to make a nest of
t to all right-minded
ar to that which we may hope is about
and colouring of the eggs of the
Indian Roller are erroneous ; in proot of which oes
while by another they are described as green, profusely
ogist would naturally expect, they are, really, pinky
r upon which I am writing, after the yelk
twigs and grasses, and to have Antwerp-blue eggs 5
speckled with dark brown spots. But, as every ornithol
white before being blown, and enamelled white, like the glazed pape
has been removed, and are deposited in the hollows of trees.
: : : ee > sexes. During the
As with all other Rollers, there is but little, if any, difference in the colouring of the sexes During
: SA ate heres S de silv
es ; f a. ¢+ance which renders its whereabouts easily
breeding-season the bird is very noisy and garrulous, a Cae:
detectable.
T . ; 635 of universal distrib
“ The Indian Roller,” says Mr. Jerdon, ‘1s of universa
] rde S -ees in the ope
alike, open jungles, groves, avenues, gardens, clumps of tree | se
sane , met with about every village.
ution throughout the country. It frequents,
n country, and, except in thick forest,
It generally perches on
is to be found everywhere, and is sure to be
the top or outermost branch of a tree; and, on spying an insect on the ground, which it can do a a very
great distance, it flies direct to the spot, seizes it, and returns to its perch to swallow Ms A favourite perch
is a bowrie pole or some leafless tree, whence it can see well all around; also old ee hay-stack, or
other elevated spot ; sometimes a low bush, or a heap of earth, or of stones. When seated ft puffs out ee
feathers of its head and neck. I have, on several occasions, seen one pursue an insect in the air for some dis-
tance ; and when the winged termites issue from their nest after rain, the Roller, like almost every other bird,
catches them on the wing. It flies, in general, with a slow but continued flapping of its wings, not unlike the
Crow, though more buoyant ; but it has the habit of occasionally making sudden darts in the air in all directions.
Its food is chiefly large insects, grasshoppers, crickets, mantide, and even beetles, occasionally a small field-
mouse or shrew.
“The Roller has a very harsh, grating cry or scream, which it always utters when disturbed, and often at
other times also. It is frequently selected for the quarry of the Zwrumti Falcon (Falco chicquera) which pursues
it most closely and perseveringly, bat is often baulked by the extraordinary evolutions of the Roller, who
now darts off obliquely, then tumbles down perpendicularly, screaming all the time, and endeavouring to
gain the shelter of the nearest tree or grove. But even here he is not safe, the Falcon follows him from
branch to branch, drives him out again, and, sooner or later, the exhausted quarry falls a victim to the
ruthless bird of prey.
“It breeds towards the end of the hot weather and beginning of the rains, in holes of trees, old walls, old
pagodas, laying three or four round rather pure white eggs. Captain Irby says it breeds in the roofs of
houses in Oudh, as well as in holes of trees, and that it sometimes makes a hole for its nest in the thatch of
bungalows. I have not seen it so familiar in the south of India; but Adams also states that it breeds in the
thatch of bungalows, and in chimneys. It is very pugnacious and quarrelsome in the breeding-season.
“The Milkhant is sacred to Siva, who assumed its form ; and at the feast of the Dasserah, at Nagpore, one
or more used to be liberated by the Rajah, amidst the firing of cannon and musketry, at a grand parade
attended by all the officers of the station.
‘Buchanan Hamilton also states that before the Durga Puja the Hindoos of Calcutta purchased one of
these birds, and, at the time when they throw the image of Darga into the river, set the Midkhant at liberty.
It is considered propitious to see it on this day ; and those who cannot afford to buy one, discharge their
matchlocks to put it on the wing. The Telugu name of the Roller, signifiying Milk-bird, is given, because
it is supposed that when a cow gives little milk, if a few of the feathers of the bird are chopped up and given
along with grass to the cow, the quantity will greatly increase. It is one of the birds on whose movements
many omens depend. If it cross a traveller, just after starting, it is considered a bad omen.”
Mr. Blyth states that it is very “ common in the vicinity of Calcutta, but for the most part disappears
at the time of the rains. Its flight is buoyant, but sustained by constant flapping ; and I have now and then
seen one or a pair, when seeming about to alight on a tree, make a rapid dive downwards to near the ground,
re-ascend, and perform this manceavre several times successively, as if in play. It sits very upright on its
perch, with the body-feathers appressed and those of the head and neck puffy. Its usual note is harsh ;
but in spring the male utters a very pleasing dissyllabic cry, repeated at intervals.”
The Rev. J. Philipps, as quoted by Messrs. Horsfield and Moore, says, ‘‘ When attacked by a Hawk it
shows great agility, by twisting itself at the moment of the Hawk’s stoop, and, when caught, often seriously
wounds the legs of its captor with its powerful beak. The natives say that it sometimes breaks the Hawk’s
legs ; and it certainly has done so in the case of the Shikra (Micronisus badius).
“T once observed this bird flying steadily forward, when presently it dived with a sudden twist after an
insect which had attracted its attention some yards beneath, seized it, and pursued its course.”
Crown and nape dull bluish green, passing into bright verditer blue over each eye; forehead tawny
purple, washed with purple above; back of the neck vinous brown ; back, scapularies, interscapularies, and
tertiaries greyish-brown, glossed with green; lower part of the back and upper tail-coverts blue; lesser
wing-coverts deep cobalt blue, middle coverts bluish green ; greater coverts bright light blue; primaries
deep blue at the base, crossed by a band of verditer blue in the middle, with black shafts, tips black, washed
with blue on the outer webs; under surface of the wing light verditer blue,
crossed at the base of the pri-
maries by an oblique band of deep rich blue; two centr
e tail-feathers green, the remainder deep blue at the
base and tip, the intervening space being verditer blue, with black shafts ; chin, throat, and breast vinaceous
purple, with a stripe of pale fulvous down the centre ; lower part of the abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts
light blue ; bill dark brown ; legs dull orange-yellow ; irides dark reddish-brown ; eyelids yellow.
The figure is of the natural size.
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CORACIAS AFFINIS, ecru.
Burmese Roller.
Coracias affinis, McClell. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., 1839, p. 164.—Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. i p. 62, pl. xxi.C j
; : s, vol. i. p. 62, pl. xxi.Coracias,
sp. 8.—Blyth, J iat. S i
ea, Ee ee ou Soc. Beng., vol. xiv. p. 190, and vol. xix. p. 228.—Id. Cat. of Birds in Mus.
siat. Soc. a, p. 51.—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East-Ind. Comp., vol. il. p. 574.
Br and: : é :
E - ir in India, vol. i. p. 217.—Cab. et Heine, Mus. Hein., Theil ii. p. 118.—Gould in Proe. of
ool. 50c., 1859, pp. 150, 151.—Schomb. Ibis, 1864, p. 246 |
——— katnas, F. (B.) Hamilton, MS., vol. ii. p. 123.
Katnas, Gualpara, F. (B.) Hamilton.
Nghet-kha, Avracan, Capt. Abbott.
Boru Mr. Blyth and Mr. Jerdon believe that, where the Coracias Indica and C. affinis inosculate, an inter-
breeding frequently takes place, since specimens partaking of the colouring of both are often met with. We
know that such an intermixture occasionally occurs with some few other species ; but this must be regarded as
quite exceptional, and not the rule. When it does, it is mostly among the Gallinacez, whose hoi blood
renders them more salacious than insessorial birds. On the interbreeding of the C. Indica and C. affinis
Mr. Blyth has published some remarks which I take the liberty of transcribing, as I also do the neCounts
given of the latter species by Mr. Jerdon, Dr. Francis Buchanan Hamilton, and Sir Robert Schomburgk.
“The numerous specimens of Rollers from Assam, Arracan, and Tenasserim which I have seen,” says
Mr. Blyth, ‘all pertain strictly to this species, having the upper parts greener than in C. Indica, the neck
and breast, devoid of the reddish-brown colour proper to the latter species, being purplish-dusky, varied
with bright purple on the fore neck; and the entire under surface of the wing,
except near the tips of the
primaries, is deep purple; but I have obtained several specimens in the vicinity of Calcutta, and some from
Tipperah, which present every gradation of plumage from one to the other of these species, and also some
in the pure C. afinis plumage ; from which I infer that, where found together in the same locality, they not
unfrequently interbreed, and tend to merge into a single blended race. It may be further remarked that I
have never seen an example of the true C. affinis with the broad purple terminal band to the tail, which distin-
guishes the adult of C. Indica; but I have seen this imperfectly developed in the mixed race, which latter
has also commonly the fore part of the under surface of the wing intermingled purple and verditer.”
Dr. F. Buchanan Hamilton mentions, in his MS., that “ this bird is very common at Gualpara throughout
the year, the natives considering it as distinct from the Nil-khant.”
“This species,” says Mr. Jerdon, “ chiefly differs from the Indian one in the upper parts being greener,
the neck and breast without any reddish-brown, being dusky purplish varied with bright purple, and in the
wing being deep purple ; it also wants the broad terminal purple band to the tail.
«The Burmese Roller is the only one found to the east of the Bay of Bengal, and in Assam, but it spreads
into the Sunderbunds, Tipperah, and even the neighbourhood of Calcutta itself, where it mingles and inter-
breeds with the Indian Roller. Blyth has procured many specimens, which present every gradation of
; intermingling of affined species takes place in the Green
plumage from one to the other. The same ae
It does not differ in its habits or voice
Pigeons of the south and north of India, and in several other birds. Ee :
: : : a 3 Ps oy cide -e wary and less familiar than the
from the Indian Roller; those which I saw in Burmah were decidedly more wary ¢ amilia
Indian bird.” : i en
andsome bird, the ook tackah of the Siamese, is dressed in
Sir Robert Schomburgk states that “this h 2
‘ 1 i 1, shading into @reen and grey. Is greates
blues of all shades, azure and smaragdinous included, shading off into green ¢ grey 7 g '
The bird is by no means uncommon in the gardens attached to the houses in
in the vicinity discovered one be
now by making gyrations 10 the air, and then by
nor are bis tormentors satisfied until
enemies are the Crows.
Bangkok; but scarcely have the Crows
attack upon him. The Roller endeavours to avoid them,
uttering all the time pitiful cries ; itors:
: s of this bird, principally the primaries and scapu-
also manufactured in Siam, but they are not
fore they make a simultaneous
alighting upon the branch of a tree,
The beautiful blue wing-feather
he leaves the grounds.
fans; into which they are
laries, are exported to China for tiny
= 99
ee Ree se that come from China. . ee
BP tied figured i é from Assam specimens, will be readily recognized as a
The bird figured on the accompanying Plate, from As: vo ee
distinct species by every ornithologist. It will be seen that there is no ghte:
: : : e . . . = - ms ; ee at
fl which is so conspicuous 1 Coracias Indica; the throz M
yi e . a . . < 2 > eS. > 7 or oT oreen.
also visible on the abdomen, while 1m others it is inclined to verditer 2
C se y
also is more blue, and in
terminal band on the tai
certain positions that colour 1s
|
IIN)ITAH ANI if. a |
= . M re
Crown of the head and nape bluish green, bordered over the upper mandible and along the lores with
buff, and above the eyes with bright verditer; back of the neck, back, and scapularies olive green; lower
part of the back deep blue, each feather tipped with verditer blue ; upper tail-coverts verditer blue ; lesser
wing-coverts deep blue; greater coverts of the primaries and spurious wing bright verditer blue ; coverts
of the secondaries dull greenish blue, becoming of a purer blue at the base ; primaries deep rich blue,
crossed towards the tip with a broad band of verditer blue, which is brightest on the external web, beyond
this the tip is blue, shading into dull black at the extremity, shafts black ; secondaries deep blue, with a
band of verditer blue on the middle of the outer web only; tertiaries olive green; lores and throat
purplish brown, passing into fawn-colour on the breast; the darker feathers of the sides and base of throat
have a stripe of buff, and those in the centre of the throat a line of bright blue down the shaft;
under wing-coverts deep blue; lower part of the abdomen greenish blue, passing into the dull verditer
blue of the vent and under tail-coverts ; two middle tail-feathers dull green; the remainder deep blue,
largely tipped with pale verditer blue; shafts black ; bill black ; legs and feet dusky yellow ; irides reddish-
brown.
The sexes present no appreciable difference in their colouring
The figure of this fine species is of the size of life.
Oe we ..
Bn hn he SEDO) EN 0 0) A
nj
a ‘|
J CX S
ax
oY ro Oxo
Cy
9 @h9'e
5
Ol
IWLp
alter fh
Ht
res
wu Lik
wer ded
ee eee ae
CORACIAS TEMMINCKI, wet
Temminck’s Roller.
Coracias Temmincki, Wag]. Syst. Av., p. 215.—Gray, Gen. of Birds. vol. ;
; 8, vol. i.
Spec. of Birds in Coll. Brit. Mus., part ii. p. 62, Coracias, sp. 5.—Id. List of
sect. 1 . Fisswy St) és p 33 ae -Be p C | 1 .
) Cy » OW. nap. onsp. Ge 0 JAN 1
l 67 Con acias Sp. 8.—Cab et I le e M US. I Le In. | el ] l l Bi G R G : : a
p- 9 > | ¢ ’ 9 . p- Oo. . . rT
Soc., 1861, p. 433.—Wall. Ibis, 1864, p. 41.
Rollier Temminck, Levaill. Hist. Nat. Prom. et Guep., tom. ili. p. 46, tab. D
Garrulus (Galgulus) Temminckii, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. Be co 435
Galgulus Temmincki, Vieill. Ency. Méth. Orn., part 11. p. 869. ae
ay in Proc. of Zool.
Coracias Urvillet, Quoy et Gaim. Voy. de l’Astrol. Ois., tab. 16
> or Pee: : i .
a Papuensis, Quoy et Gaim. ib., p. 220.—Sclat. in Journ. of Proc. of Linn. Soc., Zool. vol. ii. p. 155
: : : : 9 fA . ° . . ve.
——— pileata, “ Reimw.” Bonap. Consp. Vol. Anis., p. 8. Gen. 87. no. 210
—_——— pileata, Reinw.? Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta p. 50
vutta, p. 50.
In reply to an inquiry ‘‘ After whom was this very beautiful bird named?” the Professor of Natural History
to future generations will say, ‘‘ Conrad Jacob Temminck, a Dutch gentleman who lived in the latter part
of the eighteenth and the early part of the nineteenth centuries, who devoted his whole life and much of his
private fortune to the advancement of the science of ornithology, and under whose direction and fostering
care the fine Museum at Leyden was rendered so rich in zoological stores as scarcely to be surpassed, if
equalled, by any other in existence ;” and he may add that ‘whatever was done by Temminck for the
national Museum of his native country, no less a share of merit is due to his German coadjutor and suc-
cessor, the more profoundly learned Dr. Hermann Schlegel, who laboured so assiduously that he rendered
that celebrated collection one of the most perfect extant at the time.”
It rarely happens that one of the finest species of a genus is selected to bear the name of a scientific man
as its specific designation ; but such is the case in the present instance ; for it may be truly said that not a
finer species of Coracias has yet been discovered. Its native countries are the Celebes and Moluccas, whence
fine examples were brought by Mr. Wallace, one of which, now in my own collection, is from Macassar. I regret
to say that, although more than fifty years have elapsed since the discovery of this bird, very little information
has been placed on record respecting its habits, manners, or economy; in fact, the only reference to them
that I can find is comprised in the following extract from Mr. Wallace’s “« Remarks on the value of Osteological
Characters in the Classification of Birds,” published in ‘The Ibis’ for 1864 :—‘“‘For determining the true affini-
ties of isolated groups we must have recourse to those characters which, having no direct dependence upon
habits &c., are often persistent in a remarkable degree. Of these, no doubt the sternum is of the greatest
value; but there are many others of almost equal importance. Such are :—the texture of the plumage ; the
form of the feathers, and their arrangement over the surface of the body; the form of the nostrils; the
scutellation of the tarsi; the mode of nidification, with the form, colour, and texture of the eggs; the
: : . wa Ral cereit sharacteristic habits and
covering of the young bird, and its change of plumage ; peculiarities of food, characteristic he a
As an instance of the value of such apparently trifling characters as the last,
a Roller (Coracias Temminck?) alive I was at once satisfied that it
ad and tail when it alighted, which is common
peculiar attitudes and actions.
J may mention that the first time I saw
rking motion of the he
but never seen in the typical Passeres.”
Coracias Papuensis of Quoy and Gaimard among the
yaper on the * Zoology of New Guinea,” read at
nd published in the Journal of their
amined and compared before
was a fissirostral bird, from a peculiar je
to Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, and Motmots,
I have followed most of my confréres in placing
but Mr. Sclater, in his |
on the 17th of December, 1857, a
«the two species must be accurately ex
synonyms of the present species 5
the meeting of the Linnean Society
Proceedings above referred to, remarks,
. ° ”
their identity can be considered unquestionable. aT
Mr. G. R. Gray in his ‘‘ Remarks on, and Descriptions of, new Species of Birds lately sent by Mr. A. Kh.
. : i ‘Proceedings of the Zoological Society ’
Wallace, from Waigiou, Mysol, and Gagie Islands,” published in the * Ps se . 2 ee eee
: ° : Recieeal resume, 1S
for 1861. vives New Guinea as the habitat of this species 5 but this, I p Re ne ‘
Lae i - and Mr. Blyth states emphatically that it is Celebes,
Mr. Wallace’s specimens were obtained at Macassar, and MY. y
and not New Guinea.
Crown of the head, nape, and upper
er parts of the back dee
aching to bl
back and scapularies brownish olive-
1 7 iter green ;
tail-coverts verditer green 5
shoulder ; back of the neck and
p blue, brightest on the
ack, the feathers of the throat having a fine line
green; wings, tail, and low
all the under surface dark greyish blue, appro
bill black ; feet brown.
of blue down the centre ; | S
Sire oi lite, salhenioemts
The Pl birds, of the the Hyla Reinwardtii, and the plant the
The Plate represents two birds, ¢
Hoya fraterna.
Oe)
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oe im
pet een
=u al "al “a's
i
Billrande & Walton, /ny)
A
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© ‘ t ‘ “eg CAS eho: tie Ca Cro Ot CIS OS "fo" OF" CHO oh
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ee
EURYLAIMUS JAVANICUS, Horsf.
Javanese Hurylaime.
Eurylamus a GES ldlorsie wl Hm, Weis. Ol, sat, jo, WMI, Wook Res. sin Jan l 0
Hist., vol. iv. p. 96.—Vig. App. to Mem. of Sir S. Raffles, p. ee: Re ie oe
fe 175,—Ib. Traité @Orn,, p. 261.—Blsth, Cab. of Hinds ua een ee
eee cou Gen. Av., p. 168.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. . 65 ne ee fs ae
List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., part ii. sec. 1. p. 36.—Horsf. Cat. of pues ae ae ae
p. 116.
Eurylaimus Horsfieldi, ‘Temm. Pl. Coll. 130, 131.—Swains. in Jard. Nat. Lib. Orn.. vol. x Flycatchers, p. 240
pl. 30. ? ee s, p. 240.
Platyrhynchos horsfieldi, Vieill. Gal. des Ois., tom. i. p. 200. pl. 125.
Tamplana Lilin, Malays.
Aurnouas the singularly fine bird figured in the accompanying Plate
the type of Dr. Horsfield’s genus
Eurylaimus—has now been known for many years, nothing has yet been recorded respecting its habits
and economy.
The only note respecting it which has come under my observation is the one by Dr. Horsfield in the
13th volume of the Linnean Transactions, where he remarks, “I discovered this species in one of the
most distant and inaccessible parts of Java, covered with extensive forests, and abounding with rivers and
marshes.”
Independently of Java, it is now known to inhabit the great island of Borneo on the one side, and the
Malayan peninsula, from Singapore to Tenasserim, on the other; future research will probably inform us
that it enjoys a still further range.
Among the specimens at the East India House is an immature one from Tenasserim, presented by
Mr. Helfer, which exhibits a state of plumage quite different from that of the adults: it is described
below.
Fully adult individuals also differ, some being entirely destitute of the black pectoral band. This con-
spicuous band is doubtless a sexual characteristic; in all probability the specimens in which it is wanting
are females.
“The colouring of the head and neck,”
blended as not to admit of an easy definition.
“The top and sides of the head are of a chestnut black, graduating into a shade of cinereous on the
nape, and of vinaceous red on the ears and sides of the throat; this changes to dark brown on the lower
part of the neck above and then into deep black, which is the ground colour of the remaining upper
plumage ;” down the centre of the back a series of yellow feathers narrowly edged with black ; upper tail-
othened scapularies yellow with black
k, the feathers of the secondaries with a lengthened mark of
hen the wing is closed; at the base of
says Mr. Swainson, “is very peculiar, and is so mixed and
coverts largely tipped with yellow ; len bases; edges of the shoulders
and the under wing-coverts yellow ; wings blac
yellow along their outer web near the tip, formi
the primaries a mark of yellowish white; tail blac
a broad band of sulphur-white ; the next four on each side with a |
the feathers approach the two middle ones, !
line of black, posterior to which is a wash of olive; under
inaceous yellow ; bill apparently
ng a broad band w
k, the outer feather on each side crossed near the tip by
arge spot of yellowish white on the inner
i : Se ee a which are entirely black ;
side near the tip, decreasing In size as
throat vinous red, bounded below by a narrow
surface dark vinaceous blood-red ; thighs black ; under tail-coverts dull v
deep bluish green.
In the young bird above referred to,
under surface; all the feathers, particularly
with yellow.
The Plate represents a male, a female,
s vinous brown, becoming paler on the head and
the general colour 1 .
ail-coverts, conspicuously streaked
those of the back, wings and t
and the young of the size of life.
HN} ITNH UMN
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EURYLAIMUS OCHROMALUS, rag
Hooded Eurylaime.
ne rey At ees Lee ;
Eurylaimus och guns Raff raga es ooee vol. xiii. p. 297.—Vig. App. to Mem. of Sir S. Raffles, p. 653.
—Blyth, Cilio oF Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 195.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i.
p. 65, Eurylammus, sp. 2.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 168, Eurylaimus, sp. 2.—G. R. Gray, List of
Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., part i. sec. 1. p. 36.—Horsf. Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp.,
ee laliG:
cucullatus, Temm. Pl. Coll. 261.
Raffles, Less. Compl. Buff., tom. vii. p. 463
capistratus ? Mus. Lugd.
Tamplana gilin, Malays.
Turis elegant species, like the Javanicus, is a typical Eurylaime, and moreover inhabits all the countries
mentioned as the native haunts of that bird, namely, Tenasserim, Malacca, Java and Borneo.
As in the E. Javanicus, I find some of the adults of this species with and others without a black pectoral
band; the specimens in the latter state in my own Collection are marked as females, it therefore seems
pretty certain that the black chest-mark is a characteristic of the opposite sex.
The delicate tint which pervades the breast and the contrasted black and yellow of the upper surface
must render this species a most conspicuous object in its native woods. Judging from the form of its bill,
it would appear to feed upon berries and fruits, to which insects and their larvae are doubtless added.
The male has the head and chin, shoulders, collar across the breast, sides of the back, wings and tail
black; around the neck, between the black chin and the black pectoral band, a band, broad in front and
narrow behind, of a very delicate pinky white, the pinky hue increasing on the lower edge ; down the centre
of the back a series of sulphur-yellow feathers occasionally streaked with black; upper tail-coverts mingled
black and yellow; scapularies streaked with black and yellow, the latter colour predominating ; secondaries
margined externally with yellow ; at the bases of the primaries a spot of yellowish white ; all the tail-feathers
with a large spot of white on the inner side near the tip; under wing-coverts yellow, with a spot of black
near the insertion of the primaries; breast vinaceous lilac, becoming gradually deeper on the abdomen ;
flanks, vent and under tail-coverts yellow ; thighs black ; upper mandible very dark green, merging into
blue at the base and inclining to dark brown on the edge; under mandible blue; eye very pale yellowish ;
legs reddish flesh-colour.
The colouring of the soft parts is taken from a
correct ; if so, it appears that the bill changes fr
skin.
In the female the black pectoral band is wanting ;
face ; and the spots on the tail-feathers are smaller and of a yellow hue.
drawing at the East India House, which I believe to be
om green in the living bird to reddish in the preserved
there is a smaller amount of yellow on the upper sur-
The figures are of the size of life.
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CYMBIRHYNCHUS MACRORHYNCHUS.
Great-billed Eurylaime.
Todus macrorhynchus, Gmel. Edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 446.
Todus nasutus, Lath. Ind. Orn., tom. 1. p. 268.
Cymbirhynchus nasutus, Vigors’s App. to Mem. of Sir S. Raffles, p. 654.—Swains. in Jard. Nat. Lib., vol. x. Fly
catchers, p. 237, pl. 29.—Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., 1846, p- ae ay a a : ' a
As. Soc. Calcutta, p. 195.—G. R. Gray, List of Birds a Brit. Mus. Coll. a i . 1 : o ane
Eurylaimus lemniscatus, Raffi. Linn. Trans., vol. xiii. p. 296. a
Eurylaimus nasutus, Temm. Pl. Col. 154.—Less. Man. d’Orn., tom. i. p. 175.
Platyrhinchus ornatus, Desm. Hist. Nat. des Tangaras, &c.
Erolla nasica, Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 260.
Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchus, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 66.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 169.
Great-billed Tody, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. ii. p. 664, pl. 30.—Ib. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 94, pl. lxv.—Shaw’s Gen.
Zool., vol. vill. p. 122.
Tus beautiful species was probably the first of the Eurylaimine sent to Europe; for although apparently
unknown to Linneus, it was described by Gmelin towards the end of the last century ; subsequently Latham
and Shaw may be enumerated among the older writers who have noticed it; when the Leverian Museum
was in existence the specimen contained therein was supposed to be unique; and such is the recorded
history of a species of which specimens are now to be found in every Maseum. From its singular structure
and rich colouring few of the birds of Tropical India are more conspicuous and interesting than the
Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchus. ts range extends over the rich country of Sumatra, the Malayan Peninsula
and Malacca, few collections being sent from the latter country which do not contain examples; and Mr.
Blyth states that it is also found in the more northern country of Tenasserim, specimens from whence, pro-
e the collection at the East India Company’s House in Leadenhall Street. Sir T.
cured by Mr. Helfer, grac
of Sumatra, frequenting the banks of rivers and
Stamford Raffles states that it “‘is found in the interior
lakes, and feeding on insects and worms. It builds its nest pendent from the branch of a tree or bush
which overhangs the water, and is said to lay only two eggs.”
Mr. Blyth says it “is common in Tenasserim, in watery situations, and suspends its nearly elobular nest,
s of trees growing directly out of the water. The eggs
which is constructed of small twigs, from the branche
former fading
are four in number, and pale spotless blue. The beak and eyes are very beautiful blue, the
within a day or two after death.”
I am indebted to the Honourable E
drawing of the soft parts of this specie
upon; the bill is there represented of
instead of being blue, is of the richest deep grass-green.
death, and that the colouring of the pills and legs of the specimens W
different from those of the living birds; in most instances the upper mandible :
the under one is inclined to blood-red ; in other examples both mandibles are of a uniform dark hue; in all
H ints according 2 season < he age of the bird.
probability the richly coloured bill assumes different tints according to the season and the ag |
Head upper surface, w cross the breast deep black, obscurely glossed with
| , , . aq > Trerte
se band across the throat, ear-coverts, all the under surface, rump and upper tail-coverts
d project on the sides below the ear-coverts, where
-coverts straw-yellow ;
the longest narrowly ec
ast India Company for permission to take notes from a well-executed
s, which having been made in India, may, I presume, be depended
a beautiful blue, as stated by Mr. Blyth; but the full round eye,
It is said that these hues fade immediately after
hich reach this country is altogether
s have become black, while
ings, tail, chin and a band a
green; transver
deep crimson ; the feathers of the throat are rigid an
they are slightly fringed with pearly white ; under wing
edge of the shoulder ; lengthened lanceolate scapularies white,
their posterior webs; the three lateral tail-feathers on each side have
white near the tip of their inner web.
The Plate represents two birds of, I believe,
that little or no difference occurs In their plumage.
a line of orange along the
Jeed with white on
the opposite sexes ; if this opinion be correct, it will be seen
an obliquely placed oblong spot of
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CYMBIRHYNCHUS AFFINIS, poyva.
Allied Eurylaime.
Cymbirhynchus afinis, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc., vol. xv. p. 312.—Ib. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Caleutta
elie: » SOC. Lc a,
‘Tur discovery of a second species of a form only one of which had been previously known is always
interesting; hitherto the Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchus stood alone, and it is to Mr. Blyth that we ae
indebted for the description, if not for the discovery, of another species of this singular form.
The example from which my figure was taken was obligingly lent to me by H. E. Strickland, Esq., to whom
it had been presented by Mr. Blyth. This latter naturalist has so ably pointed out the characters distin-
guishing the C. affinis from the C. macrorhynchus, that 1 cannot perhaps do better than transcribe the entire
passage from one of the many valuable papers communicated by him to the Journal of the Asiatic Society
of Bengal, with the trifling alteration of substituting the original appellation of macrorhynchus for the more
recent one of nasutus employed by him.
«In this, while the general character and colouring are the same as in C. macrorhynchus, the bill is
invariably much smaller and flatter, as in the restricted Ewrylame, but the nostrils are placed forward as in
the other. The general dimensions are also less, the usual length of wing in C. affins being three inches
and a half, rarely three and five-eighths, and the middle tail-feathers three inches; in C. macrorhynchus the
wing measures three and seven-eighths to four inches, and the tail three and five-eighths to three and three-
quarters. C. affinis has also, constantly, an oblong red spot margining the tip of the outer web of two of
its tertiaries, and a third margining the inner web of the uppermost tertiary; in what appear to be the
females the latter spot is red, as in the supposed males, while the former are white; these spots do not
occur in C. macrorhynchus. Lastly, the white upon the tail is more developed in C. afins, and placed
nearer the tips of the feathers: a white spot at the base of the inner primaries is also larger and more
conspicuously shown.”
At present Mr. Strickland’s specimen is the only one in this country,
0 ' n ‘ Ure 2OPe 7 f >
most welcome to the Collection at the East India House from any of the Company’s officers who- may have
According to Mr. Blyth, Aracan is the natural habitat of the species.
consequently examples would be
an opportunity of procuring then.
The figures are of the natural size.
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CORYDON SUMATRANUS.,
Great Eurylaime.
Coracias Sumatranus, Rafi. Linn. Trans., vol. xiii. p. 303.
Eurylaimus Corydon, Temm. Pl. Col. 297.—Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 261.—Atlas, pl. 50. fig. 1.
Eurylaimus ? Hay, Journ. As. Soc., vol. x. p. 575. :
Corydon Sumatranus, Strickl. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. vi. p. 417.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. of As. Soc.
Calcutta, p. 195.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 168.
Corydon Temmincki, Less. Man. d’Orn., tom. i. p. 177.
Eurylaimus Sumatranus, Vig. App. to Mem. of Sir 8. Raffles, p. 653.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 65,
Eurylaimus, sp. 6.—G. R. Gray, List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., part ii. sec. 1. p. 37.
Eurylaimus Corydon Swmatranus, Horsf. Cat. of Birds in Mus. in East Ind. Comp., p. 117.
Kung-quait, Malays.
Tue tropical portions of India and the adjacent islands are without question the head quarters of the Hury-
laimine, for like EF. Javanicus and E. ochromalus, the present extraordinary bird is there found, the provinces
it inhabits being Tenasserim, the Malayan peninsula generally, Sumatra, and I believe Borneo. It is the
largest species of the family yet discovered, and also differs from all its congeners in the absence of adorn-
ment in its plumage, the sooty black hue of which is merely relieved by a large blood-coloured patch on
the back and the dingy brownish white patch on the throat.
The female is said so nearly to resemble the male in colour as not to be distinguished.
broad and strong bill, its greatly dilated margins and other peculiarities naturally
s bird from the other members of the family, and of making it the
stands alone, no other species of the form having
seem to indicate some great
The extraordinarily
suggested the propriety of separating thi
type of a new genus, Corydon, in which at present it
been discovered. The singularly formed mandibles and enormous gape would
of life, with which it would be interesting to be made acquainted.
peculiarity in its mode
s bird, but of what kinds is uncertain, for we
Insects and fruits doubtless constitute the food of this curiou
have everything yet to learn respecting its habits and economy. .
General plumage brownish black ; on the throat a large patch of brownish white, each feather with a
crescent mark of reddish brown at the tip; on the centre of the back a small patch a red feathers with
black tips, and a whitish line down their centres ; lateral tail-feathers crossed near the tip with an oblique
irregular mark of white; orbits and bill fleshy red.
The figure is of the natural size.
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SERILOPHUS LUNATUS, Gould.
Lunated Eurylaime.
Eurylaimus lunatus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part i. p. 133,—Ib. in Trans
—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 65,
Brit. Mus. Coll., Part II. sec. 1. Pare
Serilophus lunatus, Swains. in Jard. Nat. Lib. Orn., vol. x, Flycatchers, p. 242.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus
Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 196.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p- 169, Serilophus, sp. 1. |
Eurylaimus serilophus lunatus, Horsf. Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp., p. 118. |
Serilophus lunulatus, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 262.
Zool. Soc., vol. i. p. 175. pl. 25.
Kurylaimus, sp. 3.—G. R. Gray, List of Birds in
I wap the pleasure of making this beautiful species known to science twenty years ago, in a paper read at
the meeting of the Zoological Society held on the 10th of December 1833, my characters being taken from
specimens which had been shot in the neighbourhood of Rangoon by Major Godfrey. This paper, with
some observations on the other members of the genus, was subsequently published in the first volume of
the Society’s Transactions, on reference to which ‘it will be seen that I pointed out the several characters
in which it differs from them; I did not at the time, however, consider these of sufficient importance to
warrant its separation into a distinct genus; other naturalists have taken a different view of the matter,
and it now stands in all recent works as Serilophus lunatus.
Major Godfrey informed me that it inhabited; the thickest jungles, and that its food was found, upon minute
examination, to consist entirely of berries and fruits; he did not ascertain any particulars respecting its
nidification.
«Dr. Helfer informs us, in his MS. notes,” says Dr. Horsfield, “ that he observed these birds in societies
of thirty to forty, upon the loftiest trees of the forests in the Tenasserim provinces, and that they are so
very fearless that the whole flock can be shot down one after the other. They are of rare occurrence, he
having observed them only once.”
Head and crest dull chestnut-brown, beneath which a black band, commencing just above the base of the
bill, passes over the eye and extends to the occiput; cheeks and ear-coverts dull chestnut ; throat greyish
white, passing into the delicate grey of the under surface; on the sides of the neck the grey is interrupted
by a beautiful semilunar mark, consisting of silvery white feathers, elevated above the rest, and abruptly
terminated as if clipped by scissors; upper part of the back bluish grey, pase aoguie the bright chestnut
of the rump and upper tail-coverts ; wing-coverts and spurious wing black ; ipa and Secenuadles lazu-
line-blue at the base and along the basal half of the external web; on their inner web, opposite the blue, a
large patch of white; their apical half black; first four primaries tipped ee white, the Est of a
edged along the tip of outer web with white, and cn the inner web
hree last secondaries; tail black, the three
black; thighs black; upper mandible blue ;
i and toes green, behind fleshy brown ;
primaries and secondaries slightly
largely with chestnut, which is the colour of the whole of ihe t
lateral feathers largely tipped with white, narrowly edged with
under mandible greenish blue, edges greyish white ; front of tars
eyelash orange-yellow.
In some specimens the first four primaries have th
giving them a remarkably pointed appearance ; the rem
on the contrary, a broad indented and abrupt termination. he sides of the neck: these I had re-
In some specimens I find no trace of the beautiful lunate mark on the sides 0 :
: th sexes, I presume
garded as females ; but as Mr. Blyth states that he believes the mark to be common to both 1
Cc 9 °
those without it must be immature birds.
The habitat of this fine species is Rangoon and the
The figures are of the size of life.
e shafts prolonged in the form of slender filaments,
ainder of the primaries and all the secondaries have,
Tenasserim provinces.
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SERTLOPHUS RUBROPYGIUS.
Red-backed Eurylaime.
Raya rubropygia, Hodgs. Journ. As. Soc., vol. viii. p. 36.
Eurylaimus lunatus, Horsf. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VII. Dp: L566:
Serilophus rubropygia, Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Brit. Mus. As. Soc. Calcutta, p. 196.—Bonap. Consp- Gen. Av., p. 169
Serilophus, sp. 1.—Cat. of Sp. and Draw. of Mamm. and Birds presented to Brit. Mus. by B. I, oe
son, Esq., p. 56, and App., p. 150. 3
Eurylaimus rubropygius, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 65, Hurylaimus, sp. 4. pl. xxiii.
Simornis (Raya) rubropygia, Hodgs.—Gray, Zool. Misc. 1844, p. 82.
Serilophus rubropygius, G. R. Gray, List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., Part II. see. i. p. 38.
Eurylaimus serilophus rubropygius, Horsf. Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp., p. 119.
Rai Stiga, Nepaulese.
Tue native habitat of this species is said to be the south-eastern Himalayas, Assam, Sylhet and Arracan,
where it doubtless takes the place of the S. /unatus of Rangoon and Tenasserim. It was first made known
to science by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., who some years since forwarded examples to this country, which with
his drawings of the species may be found in the national collection. Although bearing a general resem-
blance to the §. dunatus, it may at all times be distinguished by the absence of the black stripe above the
eye, by its more grey colouring, by its less developed crest, by its longer and more squarely formed tail, and
by the almost total absence of the lunate mark on the sides of the neck. Like the S. /unatus, it is a rare
bird in the collections of Europe, and as is the case with that species, little or nothing is known respecting
its habits and economy ; it would therefore be a real boon to ornithological science if this blank could be
supplied by some one resident in the native country of these birds paying attention to the subject, and
forwarding the result of his observations to the scientific journals of India or Europe.
The sexes appear to differ but little in their colouring; the lunate mark on the sides of the neck is
obsolete in some individuals, and is not very conspicuous at any time in the adult.
Head, crest, back and scapularies brownish grey, under surface paler grey; on each side of the neck a
small semilunar mark of silvery white elevated feathers as in S. Zunatus, but much less developed; wing-
coverts black ; primaries and secondaries lazuline-blue at the base : |
patch of white extending on to the shaft ; the remainder of
on the four outer feathers, which are slightly tipped with
ening oblique mark of white on their outer web and
and along the basal third of the outer
web; on their inner web opposite the blue a
their length velvety black, passing into blue
white, the remainder blue at the tip, with an interv
the three innermost scapularies, the rump
ith white, and the two next on each side with a large mark of
black ; under tail-coverts white; bill blue, bright on the upper
tarsi and toes green in front, fleshy brown
0° and upper tail-coverts rich chest-
chestnut on their inner web ;
nut; tail black, the outer feather tipped w
white on the inner side near the tip; thighs
mandible ; under mandible greenish, with greyish white edges ;
behind ; irides reddish brown.
Habitat. Central and lower regions. Hodgs.
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PSARISOMUS DALHOUSIA.
Dalhousie’s EKurylaime.
iim Pi Ime i Enh ew Pr i HW as Rah
alaya } ains, vol. 1. p. 76, vol. il. pl. 7. fig. 2.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds,
} vol.-i. p. 65, Eurylaimus, sp. 5.—Horsf. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part VIL. p. 156,
Psarisomus ae Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 261.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., p. 169.—Blyth, Cat. of
Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 195.—G. R. Gray, List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., Part II.
sec. 1. p. 37.—List of Spec. and Draw. of Mamm. and Birds presented to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson,
Eisq., p. 55.
Eurylaimus (Crossodera) Dalhousia, Gould, Icones Avium, vol. i.
Eurylaimus psittacinus, Mull—Temm. PI. Col., 598.
Raya Nipalensis, Hodgs.
Simornis (Raya) sericeogula, Hodgs.—Gray, Zool. Misc. 1844, p. 82.
Raya sericeogula, Hodgs. Journ. Asiat. Soc. Beng., vol. vill. p. 36.
Eurylaimus psarisomus dalhousie, Horsf. Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp., p. 117.
Rai, Nepaulese.
Iv nearlv every group of birds there is one species rendered conspicuously different from its fellows, either
J 5 | J
by an excessive development of some part of its plumage, or by the beauty of its colour and markings :
among the urylaimine the present species is the one thus distinguished, and certainly bears the palm both
for beauty and elegance from all its congeners. This charming bird is, I believe, confined to the continent of
Asia, where it enjoys the temperate and intertropical climates of Upper India, and those countries which
stretch along the base of the Himalayas from Nepaul to Affghanistan. Dr. Royle procured specimens at
Mussoree at an elevation of 6500 feet, while numerous others have been sent to the National Collection by
Mr. Hodgson from Nepaul.
The first specimen that arrived in this country was brought home by the Countess of Dalhousie, to whom
it was soon after dedicated by Professor Jameson. It is unquestionably the most splendid species of the
family, and differs from all its congeners, not only in the more brilliant colouring of its plumage and greater
elegance of form, but in its lengthened and graduated tail, in the beautiful frill of silky feathers which
nearly surrounds the neck, and in the tuft, which springing from above each eye, gives the bird the appearance
of having horns: these differences induced me to regard it as the type of a new wenus, and, unaware that
Mr. Swainson had assigned to it the name of Psarisomus, to propose for it the
Crossodera: Mr. Sey eanis name, however, having the priority, my own sinks into a synonym. |
louring of the sexes; but the young are very different, having
generic appellation of
We look in vain for any difference 1n the co , sie oo
i ; -esenting indicé » rich colouring 0
none of the contrasted markings of the adult, and only presenting indications of the rich colo
maturity.
A large patch on the crown of the head, and a smaller one
of the head black, with the exception of a lengthened tuft on each side | sae .
sides of the neck beautiful yellow, edged with white below, an¢
primaries black, margined with
at the nape glossy light blue; the remainder
of the occiput of a yellowish green 3
throat and projecting frill of feathers on the
surface fine deep grass-green ;
with a wash of green on the chin; upper . —
‘i to which on the inner web is a spot of pure white ;
metallic blue at the base of the external web, opposite
beyond the blue base of the external web the primaries are ma ae 2 ore ee
inged 1 “mens with blue; bill green é g
tinged in some specimens
arsi and toes pea-green, their hinder and under parts fleshy
Cc Ss Cc eC $
roined with bluish green ; tail greenish blue ;
eine
under surface lively verditer-green,
below with lighter edges; forepart of the t
OO . : 2 E Jee ash.
brown ; irides reddish brown, with a yellowish lash ten
~ birds > natural SIZe.
The Plate represents two adults and two young birds of the natt
2 _
3)
HEETETUTN ATTN
4
i
5
ee
on ww
mae
Pa
cc
m4
wy ee CO xs Oxi CxS Sxs "ef Jo" OF G
we 7S: : -
NPR Ae
SARS Te ONS) ee ote
SARCOPHANOPS STEERIL
Sharpe.
Steere’s Broadbill.
Eurylemus steert, Sharpe, Nature, August, 1876, Deore
Sarcophanops steertt, Sharpe, Transactions e Linne: iety, i il
7 fi ,» Sharpe, Lransactions of the Linnean Society, 2nd series, Zoology, vol. i. part 5, pl. li.
Wuen the Marquis of Tweeddale (then Lord Walden) wrote his well-known memoir on the birds of the
Philippine archipelago, the absence of Broadbills was a feature noticed by him, since the predominance of
the family in the Malayan archipelago might have led us to expect to find it represented in these
neighbouring islands. We have this want supplied in the subject of our Plate, which represents
one of the most beautiful of the Eurylemide, a bird discovered by Dr. Steere during his Philippine
expedition. It is a remarkable species in many ways—the diverse colourmg of the sexes and the
peculiar arrangement of the colours being very striking, while the prominent eye-wattle justifies its
generic separation from the other Broadbills. Its home is apparently the island of Basilan, which lies to
the southward of Mindanao. This island had never been visited bya collector before Dr. Steere went there ;
and it was therefore to be expected that some novelties would be found ; but of all the fine new species
discovered by the above-named naturalist in the Philippines, this is undoubtedly the most interesting. He
writes as follows :—
““T only fell in with this species on one single occasion in the island of Basilan, when I found a little
flock of about seven individuals in the thick deep jungle towards the centre of the island. They were
feeding ov fruit, and were very tame, having probably never been disturbed before by a gun, and did not
take flight until I had secured three of their number. Of all the birds I ever saw, this one has the most
beautiful eye. I can only describe it as being of the colour of gold-stone; that is to say, it was like a piece
of clear crystal crowded with specks of gold. All three specimens had the iris exactly the same.”
The following is a transcript of Mr. Sharpe’s description of this bird — 8
Adult male.—Above dark grey; the rump and upper tail-coverts shining purplish re tail bright
chestnut ; top of the head shining dark purplish brown; a ring round the neck ae sides of ibs latter
‘th the same colour as the head; sides of face and entire throat black; rest of
inaceous, the lower abdomen whitish ; under tail-coverts
wings black, the inner secondaries white
white; lores white, tipped w
the body underneath lilac, the flanks slightly v
buffish ; thighs grey; axillaries white ; under wing-coverts blak; a ae
at the base, the outer ones externally orange-yellow, showing a transverse alar bar; the zs Laat
narrowly edged with white towards the base of ibe outer web; round tae : arcane
indigo ; bill and feet pale indigo. Total length 6°8 inches ; culmen 0-9, ne : ae ae :
Adult female.—Similar to the male, but distinguished by its white (instead of lilac-colout ;
: : aa vacate : size of life.
The figures in the Plate represent the typical pair of this species, and are of the siz
i i i .
Lf?
fy Tet
7.
5
Peso OX y OY, xX & OK ES OS: o« 2" eR CK OX Oy Ps, 5 OTS Oe a at ho Cr ar Ce
: ; : OS SKS cs Soe AY SF
‘ f *
gis “ab
ine aa
Sa
er Se
res)
a
wel
fa
ADS tom Ac WO kee) ee
UPUPA NIGRIPENNIS,
r0uld,
Indian Hoopoe.
Upupa minor, Sykes, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1832, p- 97 (nec Shaw).
Upupa senegalensis, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xiv. p- 189 (mec Sw
p. 46.—Layard, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. xii. oumlee
Upupa nigripennis, Gould, MSS. 1853.—Horsf. & Moore, Cat. Birds East-Indi
Birds of India, i. p. 392.—Gray, Hand-list Birds, i. p. 102—Holdsw.
Hume, Nests and Eggs Indian Birds, p. 163.—Leg
1876, p. 458.—Legge, Birds of Ceylon, p. 278.
Upupa ceylonensis, Reichenb. Handb. Scansorie, p. 320, tab. 595. fir. 4036.—
Chine, p. 79.
ains.).—Id. Cat. Birds Mus. As. Soc. Beng.
a Co. Mus. ii. p. 725.—Jerdon,
Proc. Zool. Soc. 1872, p. 435.—
ge, Ibis, 1875, p. 286.—Hume, Stray Feathers,
‘David & Oustalet, Ois. de la
Upupa mdica, Bp. Consp. Vol. Zyg. p. 12.—Reich. Handb. Scansorize, p. 320, Taf. 596. fic. 4037.—Finsch &
Hartl. Vog. Ost.-Afr. p. 198.—Sharpe & Dresser, Birds of Europe, art. on U. epops, in pt. viii—Anders.
West-Yunnan Exped. p. 578.
Upupa longirostris, Jerdon, Birds of India, i. p. 9/8.—Sharpe & Dresser, Birds of Eur. pt. vii.—Blyth & Walden,
Birds of Burma, p. 69.—Hume, Stray Feathers, 1875, p. 89.—Armstrong, Stray Feathers, 1876, p. 315.
—Hume, tom. cit. p. 458.—Id. Stray Feathers, 1878, p. 202.
Ir is now many years since I first noticed the difference existing between the Hoopoe of Southern India and the
Common Hoopoe of Europe; and in the name of nigripennis, which I admit now to be somewhat inappro-
priate, I desired to point out the absence of a white bar on the crest, which is one of the distinguishing
characters of the species. Another Hoopoe from the Burmese countries also wants the white subterminal
bar on the crest-feathers, and, on account of its long bill, has been called Upupa longirostris by Dr. Jerdon,
who also supposes that the presence of a white spot on the primaries is an additional character for the
Burmese bird. The recent researches of naturalists, however, have tended to prove that it is difficult, if not
impossible, to separate the Burmese Hoopoe from the species of Southern India and Ceylon; and the remarks
of both Captain Legge and Mr. Hume show that this is the case. The latter gentleman writes respecting
U. longirostris :—‘ Whether this species is a good one may be doubtful. In size typical males equal or
exceed Upupa epops, but are more rufous and absolutely want even a trace of white on the crest, which
U. nigripennis, Gould, our commonest Indian Hoopoe, often has, and have bills a larger than
this lattter species. I have seen no specimen of U. epops with a bill of more than piece ; the largest
bill of U. nigripennis that I have ever yet noticed was 2:1 inches ; the bull of one speoniey of the present
species, sent by Captain Feilden, measures 2°5 inches from forehead i point. Se bills of ue alle Hoopoes
are always longer than those of the females; but, sex for sex, J ae that typical U. Oe ae
young bird, sent by Mr. Oates, has the bill at front 2°2 inches) will be found always to have a bill conspi-
: : + te further -ated by the entire absence of white
cuously longer than U. epops, from which, moreover, it 1s further sepat ou Mie
much ereater size at once divides it. But then my experience
5
on the crest, while from U. nigripennis its es
which it is very hard to separate
is that the majority of the birds are not typical, but intermediate forms,
from U. nigripennis.
‘¢ As for the presence or absence of the white spot on the first primary, ereeee
specimens of each are before me, exhibiting the
on neither of them.”
often have bills as long as those of the
on which Dr. Jerdon lays some
stress, it is worthless as a diagnosis of all three species :
spot on both first primaries, on one of them only, and, lastly,
\ a
Captain Vincent Legge also states that Ceylonese specimens
BFS ten, | f the Indian Hoopoe as throughout Southern India, extending through part
Dr. Jerdon gives the range of the Indie f
; §
; -ding to Captain Legge it is an
of Central India to the north-west provinces and the Dehra Doon. oa a a te oe
, i ine th m the n é -eas
inhabitant of many of the dry districts m Ceylon, bemg v 0
: ; i rmese YF
island, but is not found in the south-west. The Burt
: : : inan.
Burmah to Siam, and is also found in the island of Haine
3 Bes ies 18 cont ;
The best account of the habits of the present ee harming bird frequents, in theisland of Ceylon,
, : : wing extracts:—‘* £ his ¢ 5 a ee 3 A lag arte
A ae oa d ite plains cultivated fields, dry grazing-land in the jungles of the
ub-dott ains,
ery common b
ace extends from Pegu, Tenasserim, and
O Q sale © Ririaec -
ained in Capt. Vincent Legge’s ‘ Birds of
open sparsely-timbered ground, ser
S 3 ‘ S oe 7 mane © aan anes area ‘ > sere mo for 1
interior, and patnas in the Central Province. In its nature it is a tame bird, and when scratching for insects,
with its handsome crest depressed, allows a near approach without taking flight ; when flushed it does not
usually fly far, but takes refuge in a neighbouring tree, where it will sit quietly, giving out its soft and
mclourene call, hoo-poo, hoo-poo, accompanied by a movement of its handsome crest and an oscillation to and
fro of its head at each note. In Jaffna it may be seen close to the houses of the English residents; and I
have known it breed in the garden of a bungalow within a few yards of the verandah. It feeds entirely on
the ground, strutting about with an easy gait, and scratching vigorously for insects in dry soil. It often
pecans the ordure of cattle, beneath which it finds an abundance of food. .... There is something very
striking in the soft tones of this bird’s note when heard amidst the chatter and chirping of the numerous
Passerine birds which inhabit the Ceylon coast-jungles. Though perhaps uttered tolerably close to the
listener, it seems to be wafted on the wild sea-breezes from afar off, and tends to rivet the sportsman’s
attention as he is returning to his bivouac beneath the already burning rays of an 8-o’clock sun, after a
long morning’s shooting in the parched-up scrubs of the northern coast. The flight of this Hoopoe is
buoyant but undulating ; and when pressed it is able to show considerable powers of wing ; for in India a
trained Hawk is said generally to fail in seizing it.
“The breeding-season in the north of Ceylon lasts from November until April; and possibly a second
brood may be reared later on in the year, as Layard mentions the shooting of young birds in August. It
breeds in holes of trees, showing in this respect, as well as in its anatomy, its affinity to the Hornbills. It
sometimes, however, chooses a hole in a wall, in which I have known it to nest in the garden of an English
residence in the Jaffna fort. Burgess writes, with reference to its habit of building in walls in India, that
‘it breeds in the middle of April and May, constructing its nest in holes in the mud walls which surround
the towns and villages in the Deccan.’ The nest is composed of grass, hemp, and feathers. In the same
district a nest made of soft pieces of hemp was found in a fort-wall. Miss Cockburn, again, tells us that at
Kotagherry it selects holes in stone walls and in earthern banks to build in, making a mere apology for a
nest of a few hairs and leaves, which in a short time has a most offensive smell. This, it is asserted, arises
from the oily matter secreted by the sebaceous gland on the tail-bone, which, in the female, at the breeding-
time assumes an intolerable stench, whence obtains the idea, according to Jerdon, that the bird constructs
its nest of cow-dung.”
The eggs of the present species are generally five or six im number; but they vary from three to seven.
Mr. Hume states that they are of a pale greyish blue tint; but many are of a pale olive-brown or dingy
olive-green, and every intermediate shade of colour is observable.
In the Plate I have figured a specimen from Southern India, and another from Burmah, to show the
difference in the length of the bill. Both figures are of the natural size, and are drawn from specimens in
my own collection.
O_GY¥a |
n
7
-3 i
MO Ye:
Aer tor
& , an
CO Ga Ave .of)
~
Hillnandd & Walton lng
—
e
c I
if
Hy
fi
a
4
i
j
0
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i H
=
=— |
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=a f
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A
oa (4
SY
a
PARC LEROY SOS oS
od a Aan.
ZPPRG CAS)” OTRG* of
i a Ne eS * | J wt |
I a AN i SR Y ! :
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2
re ;
~ a
zt
“
HARPACTES p UVAUCELI.
Duvaucel’s Trogon,
Trogon Duvaucelii, Temm. Pl. oul
gen i. : Col. 291. Gould, Mon. of Trogons, pl. 32.
rutuus, Viel. 2nde édit. du Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. y
p. 1358.—LeVaill. Hist. Nat. des Courouc., pl. 14 .
—— fasciatus, var. 8, Lath. Gen. Hist. of Birds, vol. iii. Deze
—— cimmamomeus, Temm. Mon. of Trog. in Pl. Col .
e ( pe 8) RGSS Gould, Mon. of Trogons, List of Plates, sp. 32.
arpactes Duvaucelit, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii, Dass
fneren es rutilus, Gray, List of Spec. of Birds in Coll. Brit. Mus., p. 44.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i.
p. 71, Harpactes, sp. 5.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 80.—Bonap. Consp.
ae p. 150, Harpactes, sp. 1.— Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East Ind. Comp., vol. ii.
———— Duwauceli, Gould, Mon. of Trogons, 2nd edit. pl.
Ramguba of the Natives of Malacca.
Hie persis line Ency. Méth. Orn., part iii.
By most ornithologists the present species is considered identical with the bird figured by LeVaillant in his
“Histoire Naturelle des Couroucous” under the name of Trogon rutilus; but as that figure does not
agree with any member of the family, and must have been coloured after the artist’s fancy, I consider
M. Temminck perfectly justified in giving a new specific name to the bird here represented. Vieillot’s
description is equally as faulty as LeVaillant’s figure: for he commences his description by stating that the
head of the bird is of a sombre green; the back, scapularies, rump, and upper tail-coverts of a lively red,
and the six middle tail-feathers of the same hue ;—whereas the head is jet-black, the back and scapularies
of a light cinnamon-brown, the upper tail-coverts fine scarlet, and the two middle tail-feathers only of a
cinnamon-brown. LeVaillant’s artist doubtless had this or some nearly allied species in view; but the
colouring could not have been copied from a real specimen ; and Vieillot’s description was probably taken
from the defective drawing. Not wishing to increase the specific names of the family, I have figured in the
following Plate a species which I believe to be distinct from the bird under consideration ; and as it has a
uniformly-coloured back, and more nearly approaches to LeVaillant’s figure, I have retained the name of
rutilus for it, trusting that ornithologists will in future adopt this view of the subject. Had I given a new
name, I might have been excused, and even commended for so doing.
For brilliancy of colouring nothing can surpass the tints that adorn the plumage of this little Trogon,
which, unlike every other species of the family that has come under my notice, has the rump and lower
portion of the back of a scarlet colour, vying in every respect with the rich and fiery hue of the breast.
The admiration with which these birds must be viewed even when seen in preserved collections will enable
us to form some idea of their still greater beauty in a state of nature, when darting meteor-ike through the
dark recesses of the dense and gloomy parts of the forests; when so seen, they cannot fail to call forth
the admiration and increase the enthusiasm of the naturalist who has ventured to seek their haunts in those
primitive districts.
I believe the true habitat of the present species, which is
perhaps the most highly and beautifully coloured
o which it belongs, is Sumatra and Borneo, w hile the other (rw¢ilus) is fror
member of the group of birds t
Malasia.
The sexes of the 7. Duvauceli present the usual
as may be clearly perceived by consulting the above d
accompanying Plate, where both are figured of the natural size. ee
The male has the head and throat jet-black ; breast, under surface, rump, anc upper te
oe and secondaries crossed by numerous
ish ci n-brown 3 wing coverts
finest scarlet ; back reddish cinnamon-brown ; wings black, the rt eee
I ir : vebs wi ‘ ‘ ’
gined at the base of their external webs ;
the two next on each side blackish brown ; the three outer ones on
tipped with white; bill, gape, and a naked space over the
difference in the less brilliant colouring of the female,
escription, or more readily by glancing at the
fine lines of white ; primaries mar
dark cinnamon-brown, tipped with black ;
each side blackish brown at the base, and largely
; i -eddi ; ; blue.
eye ultramarine blue; irides reddish brown; feet won: fetoainps tee
The female has the head dark brown ; back dark cinnamon-brown, bec g lig
é Tere arts secondaries alternately barred
i Fee | vart of the back and upper tail-coverts ; wing-coverts and ce i : j ne
scarlet on the lower pa a ; ‘th greyish white; under surfac
: La eee cternally with grey 5
; ‘ ll black, margined ex
with ochreous and black; primaries du Z , f the abdomen and under
‘no lighter and washed with scarlet on the lower part 0 €
orange-brown, becoming lighter ;
i i : -oughout their enti
tail-coverts ; two centre tail-feathers light cinnamon-brown throug
d washed with
re length ; the remainder as
in the male.
L
nay I
rm Fi mei
[yp
Water
MMMM)
1
)
ae a
H
. Me Ay § mS SA o ae eee & 3o CxO OS
aya
ee Oke WOR ROR’ Bee ee _
Inn
(my ni meni
HARPACTES RUTILUS.
Malacca Trogon.
Harpactes rutilus, Gould, Mon. of Trogons, 2nd edit. pl.
Enoven has been said in my description of Harpactes Duvauceli respecting my reasons for applying the
term ruti/us as a distinctive appellation for this bird, which is a native of the Malayan Peninsula, and which,
so far as I am able to judge from an examination of a vast number of specimens, never has the fine scarlet
mark on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; independently of this difference, the present species is a larger
and more robust bird than the H. Duvaucel; it moreover has a thicker bill, and the whole of the upper
plumage much more dense. Specimens frequently occur in collections sent from Singapore, but which I
believe are generally made in Malacca; at this moment I have several of both sexes before me which I am
sure are fully adult, and yet there is not the slightest trace of the scarlet on the rump of either of them ;
neither have I seen any indications of it in the specimens contained in the Collection at the British Museum,
nor in those in the Museum of the East India Company, and in those in the possession of T. C. Eyton, Esq.,
and others. In a letter transmitted to me by A. R. Wallace, Esq., that gentleman says, “I think there are
four species of Trogons in Malacca; but as I only obtained males of two of them, I cannot be certain 3 two
of them are of the average size, and the other two smaller. Of the smallest I have only a female in a bad
state of plumage; I believe it is H. rutilus. The bill and the skin of the gape are deep cobalt-blue ; the
culmen broadly, and the margins narrowly bordered with black or horn-colour. The bare skin above the
eye is pale sky-blue; the irides dark brown, and the feet dusky blue.” The bird referred to by Mr. Wallace
is the bird here figured, and not the 1. Duvauceh.
The usual difference is observable in the colouring of the sexes, which are correctly represented on the
accompanying Plate, of the natural size. eae
The male has the head and neck black; all the upper surface rich reddish cinnamon ; WEE black, the
ous fine, irregular, wavy lines of white; primaries margined
surface, and under tail-coverts fine rosy scarlet ; two centre
the two next black; the three outer ones on each
the culmen broadly, and the
coverts and secondaries crossed by numer
externally with white; breast, all the under
tail-feathers cinnamon-brown, slightly tipped with black ;
side blackish brown, largely tipped with white; bill and gape deep cobalt-blue ; eee
margins narrowly bordered with black or horn-colour ; bare skin above the eye pale sky-blue ; irides dark
brown; feet dusky blue.
The female has the head and throat reddish brown; upper sur
light ‘cinnamon-brown, W
two centre tail-feathers cinnamon-
face as in the male, but darker; breast
i ry ashed with a rosy hue;
cinnamon-brown ; abdomen and under tail-coverts very
Sari : : bands ;
primaries and secondaries black, crossed by narrow ochreous 5
brown, the remainder as in the male.
ele a ad re ee ee ee hs A
Lip
‘alter
Tie
]
Gould.
]
9
Ss
‘
ih
ia
HARPAC T]
p>
achier, del. & lath
CK Oe Gwe ee 6 @) Cy i; oS fo” Oyo Oe
ee eee LP SAL PRGA PS
AS ek a Py ae "
i WEN) ee awOn )
HARPACTES HODGSONTI, Gould.
Hodeson’s Trogon.
Trogon Hodgsonn, Gould, Mon. Trog., pl. 34.
Harpactes Hodgsonii, Gould, Mon. Trog., syn. spec. Harpactes, sp. 6—McClell. Proc. Zool. S
3 . : i A . : : Soc.,
Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 71, Harpactes, sp. 3.—lid. C eet
at. of Spec., and Draw. of Mamm.
and Birds presented to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., p. 56.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat.
Soc. Gallows, (D. 80.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., tom. i. p. 151, Harpactes, sp. 3.—Horsf
Cat. of Birds in Mus. East-Ind. Comp., vol. ii. p. 713. -
Hodgsoni, Jerd. Birds of India, vol. i. p. 202.
Trogon (Harpactes) Hodgsonii, Gould, Mon. Trog., List of Plates, no. 34.
Harpactes erythrocephalus, Gray, List of Spec. of Birds in Brit. Mus., part ii. sect. i. p. 45.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds
in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, app. p. 322. =o )
Pyrotrogon Hodgson, Bonap. Consp., vol. Zygod. p. 14. gen. 5 e. 39.—Cab. et Heine, Mus. Hein., Theil iv. p- 160.
Trogon dilectus, F. B. Hamilton’s MSS., vol. i. p. 63.
Suda sohaghin, Bengalese (male), Dr. Hamilton.
and Moore,
Hummesha Peeara (‘‘ always thirsty”), Hindoos (male), Hamilton.
Cuchcuchea, Bengalese (female), Hamilton.
Sakvor pho, Lepchas, Jerdon.
Mr. Jerpon and some other ornithologists are of opinion that the Trogons to which I have assigned the
specific appellations of erythrocephalus and IHodgsonii are identical; but, as I have pointed out in my
‘Monograph of the Trogonide,’ they differ considerably in size, and somewhat in their colouring ; and, until
I have further evidence than has yet been adduced of their identity, I shall continue to regard them as con-
stituting two species. However this may be, the accompanying figures were taken from specimens killed in
the great Himalayan range, and consequently represent the two sexes of the true Harpactes Hodgson.
The following interesting extract from Mr. Jerdon’s valuable work the ‘Birds of India’ comprises
nearly all that has been recorded respecting the history of this fine bird :—
“This handsome Trogon,” says Mr. Jerdon, “ is found in the Himalayas, from Nepaul eastward, in
Assam, Sylhet, Arrakan, and Tenasserim. It prefers hilly places at from 2000 to 4500 feet. At Darjeeling
I found it chiefly at about 4000 feet, frequenting dark-shaded valleys and flying from tree to tree at no great
elevation, or a few of them together, keeping near the same spot, making sallies every now and then, and
seizing insects on the wing. It feeds on Coleoptera chiefly. Tickell, who ey ones it on the
Tenasserim hills, about 3000 feet and upwards, says that it flies in small troops, is active and vociferous in
the morning, solitary and quiet during the heat of I had the eggs of the Trogon brought me at
Darjeeling: they were said to have been taken fro ere two in number, white and
somewhat round, ‘There was no nest, it was stated ;
The male has the head, neck, and breast deep blood-rec
back and upper tail-coverts cin
s of black and white ; primaries black,
tipped with black; the next on each
line down the shaft on the inner web,
the day.
m a hole in a tree; and w
only some soft scrapings of decayed wood.”
1, separated from the rich scarlet of the under
namon-brown, brightest on the rump ; wing-
surface by a narrow line of white ; hee
coverts and tertiaries striated with fine wavy line margined on thei
ail-feathers rich chestnut-brown,
ase, of the outer web, and a fine
k, with the basal half of the outer we
hite, which extends some length down the
outer webs with white ; two centre t
side black, with two thirds, from the b
rich chestnut-brown ; the next on each side blac
the three lateral feathers on each side black, largely tipped with w
outer web; “bill deep smalt-blue, becoming black along ee and
orbital skin deep lavender-blue ; legs and feet pale lavender (Jerdon).
- he Cc C 3 I 9
1 > WI ack and brown instead of black
and the undulations on the wing black <¢
b rich chestnut-brown ;
at the tip; irides chestnut-brown ;
yn-brown, palest on the
breast, >]
: on, separate
rump and upper tail-cove cl
the male, by a narrow crescent of white ;
and white.
Phe P he t The plant is the Benthamia fragiferd.
The Plate represents the two sex
es, of the natural size.
er - Fs 4) “ N3
ee ee oe i
|
Us
ML)
2
my
3
mn
jp
T Walt
Sea 2y, : ie
oy : a <<
Fetes
$2 2%
OSs & Be OS
< 4x
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Age
iw. ast » % i 9 *
Pere zs
se
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ange
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HARPACTES DIARDL
Diard’s ‘Trogon.
Trogon Diardii, Temm. Pl. Col. 541.—Gould, Mon. Trog,, pl. 30
eee) . .
Harpactes Diardi, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 337.—Gould, Mon. Troe. syn. spec. gen. Harpactes 9
Gray & Ne. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 71, Harpactes, sp. 6.—Tid. Tet cee Cee
Mus., part ii. soon 1. p. 44.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 80.—Bona ) on :
Clete BN tom. 1. p. 151, Harpactes, sp. 5—Horsf. & Moore, Cat. of Birds fri Nie fae fee
vol. ii. p. 716. ts
Trogon (Harpactes) Diardi, Gould, Mon. of Trog., List of Plates, no. 30.
Pyrotrogon Diardi, Cab. et Heine, Mus. Hein., Theil iv. p. 156.
Tuts is one of the most magnificent of the Trogons inhabiting the Old World, and is distinguished from
all its congeners by the freckled markings of the outer tail-feathers—a character in which it assimilates to
some of the American members of the family.
The Harpactes Diardi must be a most conspicuous object among the leafy branches of the trees in the
parts of the Old World wherein it is destined to dwell. ‘These are Malacca, where it was obtained by
Mr. Wallace; the island of Sumatra, specimens from whence, formerly in the collection of the Baron
Laugier, are now in the British Museum; and Borneo, where it appears to be very numerous—that is, if
we may conclude so from the many examples which are sent to Europe, either direct or by way of
Singapore. Some slight differences occur in the colouring of specimens from the various localities above
mentioned, but are not of sufficient importance to entitle them to be regarded as distinct. Some have
the crown of the head of a deep red, while the same part in others is reddish black ; some have a faintly
indicated crescent of white separating the black of the throat from the scarlet of the abdomen, while in
others the black and scarlet meet abruptly. I at one time considered that the Malacca birds could be
at all times recognized by the lighter colouring of the upper part of the breast; but I have a specimen
from Borneo in which it is as apparent as in those from the Malayan peninsula.
The female, as will be seen on reference to the Plate, has the head and chest brown, in lieu of the deep
black colouring of the opposite sex, and freckles of brown and yellow on the shoulders and wing-coverts,
instead of black and white ; in other respects her colouring is very similar.
I am indebted to Mr. Wallace for a knowledge of the colouring of the soft parts of this species, the parti-
culars of which he kindly transmitted to me in a letter dated Singapore, September 30, 1854 ; unfortunately
he did not at the same time furnish me with any account of the bird’s habits and economy, which will
doubtless, when known, prove highly interesting.
The male has the crown of the head deep blo
and chest black; on the nape a band of rose-pink; back and upper
minutely barred with wavy lines of black and white ; primaries black 5
1 1 ack roa an obscure crescent 0
separated in some specimens from the black of the throat by e ane
with a bar of black at the tip, the next on each side black, the remé
der of their length with black and white ; bill blue, with the
od-red in some specimens, reddish black in others ; throat
tail-coverts dark sandy brown ; wings
breast and under surface carmine-red,
f white; two middle tail-
feathers rich chestnut-brown,
black at the base, and freckled for the remain ee
culmen and tips of the mandibles black; gape and orbits purplish violet.
The differences of the female have been pointed out ee nee
The Plate represents the two sexes, of the ce otalites mule plant is the “oy g
J
Wadéer, [mp
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4
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am
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ys A SS AS Heo Wo yf Po NY YAO AL OOP OO OS
Se S78 AS Ee ae 7 ; ey ; ee "7 K PEAK ee Zee eee aS ae
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bial
HARPACTES ORESKIOS.
Mountain Trogon.
Trogon oreski
ui skios, Temm. Pl. Col. 181.—Id. Gen. Courouc., sp. 8.—Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xi
s : . y = XLVe
part 1, p. 220.—Less. Traité d’Orn
; +» p. 121.—Gould, Mon. Trog :
Harpactes Gouldit, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 337 ee
—_— oreskios, Gould, ae Trog., syn. spec. Harpactes, sp. 8.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 7
epost, sp. 8.—lid. List. of Spec. of Birds in Coll. Brit. Mus., part ii. cn ; ) a : be i‘
Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 80.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av ae ee ce a
sp. 8.—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East-Ind. Comp., vol i ) 716 ee
Trogon (Harpactes) oreskios, Gould, Mon. Trog., List of Plates, no. 36. a
Oreskios Gouldi, Bonap. Consp., vol. Zygod. p. 14, gen. 5 d. 41.
Orescius Gouldi, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein., Theil iv. p. 161.
Ir is somewhat eu that neither Sir Stamford Raffles nor Dr. Horsfield has furnished us with any
particulars respecting this species of Trogon, since it is an inhabitant of the island of Java, to which the
researches of both those departed gentlemen were principally directed. I believe that the East-India
Museum, which is so rich in many other birds from that island, does not contain a single example of the
present one. ‘That it is tolerably common there, is certain; for a large number of skins have been from time
to time transmitted thence to Europe; and at the present moment I have four very fine skins from that island
lying before me, and it is from these that my figures in the accompanying Plate have been taken. I mention
this because Mr. Blyth, in a note to me, says the specimens of “ #. oreskios in Mr. Wallace’s collection
from Java are distinct from the Burmah specimens figured in your Monograph of the Trogonide” ; I think,
however, that Mr. Blyth must in this mstance be mistaken ; for if a comparison be instituted between the
figures alluded to and those in the opposite Plate, it will be seen that they do not differ. Java is certainly
the country of the bird here represented : if the bird from the Malayan peninsula should, after a careful
comparison, prove to be sufficiently different to warrant its being considered specifically distinct, a figure
of it will be found in the present work.
The Harpactes oreskios differs from all its congeners in the absence of any naked skin round the eyes ;
it is also markedly different in its colouring, orange taking the place of scarlet in the other members of the
On the whole it is a richly coloured bird, and must
genus, particularly on the breast and under surface.
parture of life the glory of its plumage disappears,
be very beautiful in a state of nature ; but with the de
never again to be seen in dried skins.
The sexes offer the usual differences, the fem
yellow and brown instead of black and white.
When treating of this species in the ‘Planches Coloriées,
MM. Diard and Reinwardt for the first knowledge of its existence 5
woods and mountains, and subsists on insects.
The male has the crown of the head, throat, an
deep chestnut ; wings black, their centres rayed with strong
tail-feathers rich deep chestnut, crossed
three outer feathers black at the base |
thighs black ; bill black at the tip, yellow at the
ale being less brilliant, and having the wings barred with
> Temminck states that science is indebted to
and Kuhl informs us that it inhabits
d chest greenish yellow ; back and upper tail-coverts rich
bars of white ; primaries margined externally
at the tip with a narrow band of black,
with white; two centre .
and white at the tip; breast and
the two next on each side black ;
flanks rich orange, becoming paler
base; legs and feet flesh-colour.
The female has the head, chest,
of the back and the two middle tail-feathers ; the transver
on the belly and vent;
fOW scomine richer on the lower part
and all the upper surface dull brown, becoming richer ¢ 0 |
se marks on the centre of the wings yellow instead
of white, and the under sur
The figures represent the two sexes,
x Cy :
[OO 7
"<4 / D | . D RS CaS
a'r ; : & Cay OO xe e Ce
3 | CK OND
ee ns SS
rae AS
HARPACTES REINWARDTI.
Reinwardt’s Trogon :
Trogon ee ee 2, Coll, 194 idl, Gen, Courouc., sp. 5.—Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 122.—Gould, Mon.
—— Reinwardtii, Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xiv. part 1, p. 221.
Apaloderma Reinwardit, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. Passe
Reinwardtu, Gould, Mon, Trog., syn. spec. Apaloderma, Spee
Trogon (Apaloderma) Reinwardtii, Gould, Mon. Trog., List of Plates, no. 27.
Harpactes Reinwardiu, Hartl. Verz. Mus. Brem., p. 12.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, v
sp. 9.—hid. List of Spec. of Birds in Coll. Brit. Mus.
tom. 1. p. 151, Harpactes, sp. 9.
Apalharpactes Reinwardtu, Bonap. Consp., vol. Zygod. p. 14. gen. 5e. 43.
Trogon sulphureus, Begbie, Bonap. ibid.
Hapalarpactes Reimwardti, Cab. et Heine, Mus. Hein., Theil iv. 1),
ol. i. p. 71, Harpactes,
» pt. 1. sect. i. p. 45.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av.,
Ir gives me great pleasure to assist in perpetuating the names of two of the scientific travellers of Holland,
by directing attention to very interesting species of Trogons which have been named after them, Harpactes
Reinwardti and H. Mackloti. With Professor Reinwardt (to whom the present species has been dedicated) I
enjoyed a long personal acquaintance ; with Macklot, however, such was not the case, for I never saw him.
It would seem at first sight that these two island species offer a very close alliance to the Hapaloderma
narina of South Africa, and to a certain extent they do, but it is more in the general similarity of the
colouring of their upper surface, than in structure ; the whole of the Asiatic, continental and insular Trogons
cannot in fact be separated, for they are all very similar in their form. Some differences are observable in
the colouring of the sexes of the green-backed species; but they are all of a trivial character.
The native country of this fine bird is Java, where it was discovered by Professor Reinwardt, and where
Mr. Wallace informs me it inhabits the western parts of the country, up to an altitude of 6000 feet above
the sea. ;
In the account of the H. Retnwardti given in my ‘ Monograph of the Trogonide,’ I stated that I was in-
debted to my late valued friend Temminck for an example of the young, a figure of which is given in mie
accompanying Plate, and, as illustrating the change the bird undergoes bee ee and HEIL will
; It will be seen that although, in this immature state, it exhibits a similarity to the
not be uninteresting. ' aoe
adult, particularly in the colours of the back and tail, it differs in the markings of the wings and in the
rufous-brown tint of the breast. a i
Lam indebted to the trustees of the Derby Museum at Liverpool for the loan of the examples from which
the accompanying figures were taken.
The male has the crown of the head, back, wing-, and upper tail-co rk sh | ae
arrow wavy lines of dull yellow ; primaries greyish black, marginec
a
oreen; the three lateral feathers on each side of
5
verts dark shining green; centre of the
wing dark green, crossed by numerous n
externally with white ; six middle tail-feathers dark glossy
the same hue at the base of the outer web, and greenish sl
gined with white throughout the entire length of its ona ae ae vit (He oe
1 1 , C re ! 3 5
the tip, and the third for about half its length from the tip, a Py
E br ; ‘r surface rich
ellow; across the breast a broad band of yellowish olive-brown ; breast and all Hees ne
ve B c c d ) ‘ . ea-oreen : et
Be scllow “bill deep red; orbits cobalt-blue; space between the orbits and bill pea-g ;
: :
ate-colour on the inner, the outer feather mar-
he next on each side from near the base to
orange.”
For a knowledge of the colour
traveller, A. R. Wallace, Esq.
ae ae
The female has a similar arrangement of colour! 5 nee
across the breast 1s greyish Drown, !
and the wavy lines
{ | > ft t Ss ah en al ove C j G (CO sb if |
but the green of the head is duller; the throat is
without any of the yellow suffusion seen
pale yellowish white; the band ecient eats
i ler ;
in the male; the orange of the abdomen 1s much paler 5
i icuous.
wing are broader, paler, and more consp!
|
IHNITH ANI im -_ M |
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HARPACTES MACKLOTL
Macklot’s Trogon.
Trogon Mackloti, Mill. Tijdschr. Nat. Gesch., 1835, p. 336. tab. 8. fig. 1.
| Harpactes Mackloti, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. iii. App. p. 4.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Ay., tom. i p. 151
Harpactes, sp. 10. 2
| Apalharpactes Mackloti, Bonap. Consp., vol. Zygod. p. 17. gen. 5e. 44.
| Hapalarpactes Mackloti, Cab. et Heine, Mus. Hein., Theil iv. p. 163.
«T wave named this species,” says Dr. Mller, ‘in memory of my unfortunate friend and companion for
many years, Macklot. It is smaller than the Trogon Reinwardti of Temminck, but very much resembles it.
The chin, the throat, the whole of the belly, and the under tail-coverts are yellow, on a white ground; the
remainder of the head and neck, and a broad band across the chest, olive green; the back has a beautiful
metallic lustre of bottle-green, with a large rust-coloured spot on the uropygium, The middle and larger
upper wing-coverts, the tertiaries, and the outer margins of the secondaries are adorned with fine transverse
golden-yellow stripes; tail dark green, with a steel-blue tint ; the six middle feathers equal in length, and
uniformly-coloured ; the three outer on each side have white terminal points, and each has a white margin
along the outer edge; toes and nails red; eye blackish brown; naked orbits beautiful blue; space
immediately behind the angle of the mouth light green ; lower eyelids with a yellowish-white spot.
«Total length 10 4 in., French measure; tail 54; the coral-red bill, from the angle of the mouth to the
, 7 lines broad at the base; expanse of the wings 1 foot 2 inches and 9 lines.
point, 9 lines long
but has not the rusty-brown spot on the uropygium, and the
“The female is much the same as to colour,
yellow stripes on her wings are smaller and fainter.
“The bird was found in the woods on the southern
Thus much has been written respecting this bird by
distinct from. H. Reinwardti, I fully concur ; as yet, however,
the rusty-brown mark on the uropygium. Can this be a mark of immaturity, and Dr. Miller uncon-
sciously have taken his description from a specimen which had not yet completed Hs second moult ?
The H. Mackloti is much inferior in size to the H. Reinwardti. By some they might be considered races
of the same species; but I have never seen races differing u size to such an a That ae
each other in the respective islands they inhabit is certain, and that we are right in considering
side of the mountains of Singallang in Sumatra.”
Dr. Miiller, with whose opinion in considering it
I have never met with an example bearing
distinct species there can be no doubt.
. ‘ i of the Derby Museum at
As in the case of the H. Reinwardti, 1 have been obliged by the ee : y
1 i 1 ° work.
Liverpool with the loan of examples of this species, 1 furtherance of the ee
the Plectocomia Assamica.
The figures are of the size of life. The plant 1s
a ae oe
MT
- 5
[sal ‘al "al
HARPACTES KASUMBA.
Kasumba Trogon.
Trogon Kasumba, Raffi. in Linn. Trans. vol. xiii. p. 282.
fasciatus, Temm. Pl. Col. 321.—Less. Traité d’Orn. p: Loe
Temmincku, Gould, Mon. of Trog. pl. 29.
—_—— flagrans, Kuhl, Tydsch. Nat. Gesch. 1835, p- 336.
Harpactes Kasumba, Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 80.
Temmincku, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. xi. p. 337,—Gray, List of Birds in Brit. Mus. part ii i
p. 44. —Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 71, Harpactes, s ieee ea
De 7le
Kasumba, of the Sumatrans.
p. 4, and vol. iii. App. p. 4. App. to
Great confusion respecting the name of this species has existed from the days of the lamented Raffles to
the present time, and instead of its being cleared up, it would seem to have been added to by every writer
who has had occasion to mention the bird; I myself, among others, have fallen into error én: he subject ;
and even Mr. Blyth, after enumerating it under the name of Aasumba in his “ Catalogue of the Birds in the
Museum of the Asiatic Society of Calcutta,” states in an appendix that perhaps that name ought to give
place to that of Aondea, which name, I may remark, would seem not to be a scientific appellation, but merely
a trivial one applied to specimens in the Paris Museum. It will be seen that I have retained that of
Kasumba, which 1 think it likely was the one first assigned to it.
The countries inhabited by this species are Malacca, Sumatra, and Borneo, from all of which I have
specimens in my own collection.
In a letter lately received from Mr. Wallace, now (1856) engaged in exploring the Islands of the Indian
Archipelago, that gentleman, writing from Singapore, says, “‘ You will think I have forgotten to write to you
about the Trogons, but I have not neglected the subject. I remained two months on this island, where the
jungle is now only to be found in small patches, but did not meet with any, and I doubt if there be a Trogon
in the island. At Malacca, however, from whence I have just returned, I met with them. I think there
are four species, but as I only obtained males of three, I cannot be certain. Two are of an ordinary size, and
two are smaller. One of the larger I take to be Harpactes Kasumba: 1 send youa coloured sketch of the
soft parts that you may make a correct drawing for your work. The habits and economy of the Indian
Trogons assimilate closely to those of the American.”
As nothing can exceed the beauty of this noble bird, the appearance the males must present in their
native forests cannot fail to be attractive in the extreme, especially when the rich scarlet colouring of their
breasts is contrasted with the equally brilliant green of the luxuriant vegetation of Malacca.
The sexes present a marked difference in the colouring of their plumage, as will be seen on reference to
the opposite Plate, where they are accurately depicted.
I believe that the habits of the Harpactes Kasumba are somew
the secluded parts of the forests which are its favourite place of resort.
The male has the head, throat and chest jet-black ; breast, abdomen, and under tail-coverts deep rose-red,
separated from the black of the chest by a crescentic band of white ; ; -
the neck a narrow band of red; back and upper tail-coverts yellowish brown ; wings black, the coverts
and tertiaries transversely rayed with fine irregular lines of white,
the base; two middle tail-feathers chestnut-brown, tipped with :
black, the remainder black at the base, and white for the rest a their
violet-blue, becoming of a more fleshy hue near the eyes ; bill blue ;
brown; feet brown. ;
The female differs in having the head and throat greyish
the breast being much less conspicuous, the under surface ane ee
bolder, and of a sandy hue, instead of pure white ; In other respects she
less brilliant.
The Plate represents the two sexes
hat solitary, and that the bird seldom quits
and the shafts of the primaries white at
black ; the two rest on each side wholly
length, with dark shafts ; orbits light
gape light violet-blue; irides dark
brown instead of black ; in the white band on
brown; and the markings of the wings
is very similar, but the colours are
of the size of life.
from below the eye round the back of
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HARPACTES FASCIATUS.
Fasciated Trogon.
Trogon fasciatus, Gmel. Edit. Linn. Syst. Nat. tom. i. par. i
Syn. vol. ii. p. 492.—Penn. Ind. Zool. Person pleniye
Trogon Ceylonensis, Briss. Orn. 8vo, vol. ii. p. 91.
ANGLE ENS pone in Proc. of Zool. Soc. part iv. p. 26.—Ib. Mon. of Troe pl. 31.—Gray and Mi
of But vol: 1. p. 71, Trogon, sp. 1.—Jerdon, Mad. Journ. of Sci a “Al 933 ae
Harpactes Malabaricus, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii, p. 337.—Ib. List of iad vecine,
. 337.—Ib. Lis rds in
fasciatus, Blyth, Drafts of a Fauna Indica (third tribe of the Picee )
Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 80.
Kufni Churi, of some Hindoos.
Kurna, of the Mahrattas.
Kakerni Hukki, of the Canarese.
Rantvan Kondea, of the Cingalese, Blyth.
p. 405.—Lath. Ind. Orn. tom. i. p. 200.—Ib. Gen.
Coll. Brit. Mus. part ii. p. 44.
p. 8.—Ib. Cat. of Birds in Mus.
THE island of Ceylon and the southern part of the Peninsula of India are the true habitat of the Harpactes
fasciatus ; it there represents the H. Kaswnba of the opposite peninsula of Malacca. It has been long
known to writers on natural history ; a description of it being included in Gmelin’s “ Systema Nature” and ‘
figure in Pennant’s “Indian Zoology,” published in 1790. It is, however, to more recent observers that we
are indebted for the little that is even now known of its habits and economy. Mr. E. L. Layard informs
me that in Ceylon ‘it inhabits the high tree-jungle which the natives call Mookoolaney ; it there frequents
the summits of the loftiest trees, and feeds on spiders, Mantidze and Coleoptera; it sits across a branch
with the head drawn down between the shoulders; it is by no means a solitary bird, being found in small
parties of three or four in number, which always follow each other when one takes wing. It does not
appear to extend its range beyond Kandy. Dr. Kelaart says it is sometimes very numerous at Newera Elia ;
eS mo) Ce
he likewise states that the Cingalese call it Ratwon Kondea, but the natives in the neighbourhood of the
/ localities in which I found it were ignorant of its existence and had no name fOnatiage
So much for the bird in Ceylon. I now proceed to give the interesting note respecting it included in
Mr. Jerdon’s “ Catalogue of the Birds of the Peninsula of India” :—
“This very richly-plumaged Trogon is of rare occurrence in Southern India, and I have only found it in
the densest portions of the jungle in Malabar and the Wynaad. It is usually seen seated motionless on
the branch of a tree, occasionally flying off to capture an insect, and sometimes, though rarely, returning to
the same perch, generally taking up a new position, and wandering much about from tree to tree. I almost
airs, and on one occasion four or five were seen together. In
The Hindodstanee name Koofnee
}9
iy
)“e ee
_—
—
NS i, ae
AG
yt ae
o =)
~ oo
“ene
always observed it solitary, occasionally in p
the stomach I have always found fragments of large Coleopterous insects.
chooree is given (says Mr. Elliott) ‘from the bird sitting with its head sunk in the shoulders, as if it had
9 e219)
a
a) a
a
no neck, or as if dressed in a faqueer’s koofnee. ae x
Mr. Blyth remarks that this species is enumerated in Mr. Elliott’s ‘Catalogue of Birds inhabiting the
South Mahratta country,” and no doubt it is the species obtained by Captain Tickell at Dampara in
Dholbhim, which would give it an extensive range in the Indian peninsula. ;
The male has the head, neck and breast sooty black, bounded below by a narrow crescent of white,
I ° ° “ich carmine-r the under surface ; upper surface orange-
separating the sooty black of the breast from the rich carmine red at ' i Bh ae
ighter on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; wings black, é
ars of white, and the primaries narrowly edged externally
narrowly tipped with black, the next on each side
wir) omy Oyo Cw
Ce? i
ok
Ey
a>, Cw CON), (ow
a al
i? f ,
FUT Us ry i
Sef Ne oo
brown, becoming paler and br
secondaries crossed by numerous fine irregular b
with the same hue; two centre tail-feathers chestnut,
ing in a bi p ar tip of the
chestnut. at the base and black at the tip, the chestnut advancing 1n a bifurcated form tow irds the P a
black; the three lateral feathers on each side black at the base,
; the
outer web; the next on each side entirely
. ‘no on the margin of the outer web nearly to the base, and the
z legs light blue.
largely tipped with white, the white advanci 1 cleanness ae anines
Ey in: If brown; bill and orbits 10 g ’
agate: the shaft to she ps a with a yellowish tinge on the chest ; the under
The female differs in having the head and neck brown, eae
ing : rown 10 .
and the bars on the wings ochraceous
CW) Ow
surface rich ochraceous ;
The figures represent the two sexes of the natural size.
fag
Coal "al "al “a's
HARPACTES ARDENS.
Rosy-breasted ‘Trogon.
Trogon ardens, Temm. Pl. Col. 404.—Gould, Mon. of Tros plese
Oe lees ia
——— (Harpactes) ardens, Gould, Mon. of Trog., List of Plates.
Harpactes ardens, Gray, List of Spec. of Birds in Coll. Brit. Mus., part iii. sec. i. p. 44 —Gray and Mitch. G f
mind ae e . Gen. 0
Birds, vol. i. p. 70, Harpactes sp. 7.—Bona i
; ; ale p. Consp. Gen. Av., tom. i. p. 151, Harpact —Cassi
Unit. States Expl. Exp., Mamm. and Orn., 1858, p. 229. : ee
Pyrotrogon ardens, Bonap. Consp. Vol. zygod. in Ateneo Italiano, no. 8, Maggio, 1854
. :
Harpactes rodiosternus, Peale, Zool. Unit. States Expl. Exp., Birds, Ist edit. 1848 p. 166
’ . O 5 é f
Stvce 1838, when I published the first edition of my ‘ Monograph of the Trogonide,’ wherein I stated that
my late friend M. Temminck’s figure of the female, published in his ‘ Planches coloriées des Oiseaux,’ was
taken from the then unique individual in Baron Laugier’s collection, and my own from a specimen of each
sex transmitted to the Zoological Society by H. Cuming, Esq., numerous examples of both sexes have
reached this country; and I have also personally examined the specimens in the Museum at Washington,
which had been obtained by the United States Exploring Expedition in the Island of Mindanao —the locality
whence came Baron Laugier’s specimen.
The researches of the American naturalists enable me to give a more correct representation of this beautiful
bird than I could when my Monograph was published, since they have carefully noted the colouring of the
soft parts. The information respecting this species of Trogon is still, however, extremely meagre, the
following short note, transcribed from the ‘Mammalogy and Ornithology of the United States Exploring
Expedition, 1858,’ being all that has been recorded :—‘ Both Dr. Pickering and Mr. Peale mention the
occurrence of this fine species on the Island of Mindanao, one of the Philippines. The latter remarks,
‘Our specimen was killed on the 31st of January, near Sambuanga, in the Island of Mindanao. It sits
crosswise on the small branches of trees and bushes, and is very active in taking insects on the wing. The
clear sunlight, at three o’clock in the afternoon, did not appear to incommode it, or others observed at the
,
same time.’ ’ ‘
The male has the head, back of the neck and ear-coverts dark blood-red, approaching to black on the
overts; throat black ; back and upper tail-coverts cinnamon ; wing-coverts oo secon-
lines of white ; primaries black, margined externally with white ;
black; the two next on each side wholly black ; the
the shafts and a series of tooth-like
the remainder of the undersurface
forehead and ear-c
daries black, crossed with fine irregular
two centre tail-feathers reddish chestnut, tipped with
three outer ones blackish brown at base, largely tipped with white ;
markings on the inner webs blackish brown ; chest delicate rose: colour, nee ae
scarlet ; “bill bright yellow, the base green; ophthalmic region ultramarine blue; inside o
a -
and claws yellow ; irides brown.
e head, cheeks, and upper surface dark cinnamon-brown ;
> : :
surface light sandy brown, becoming of a yellower
ies blackish brown, crossed with lines of sandy
yellow; feet olive-green ; the palms
The female has the crown of th
clouded with blackish brown; breast and all the under
hue on the under tail-coverts ; wing-coverts and secondar
throat
brown; tail as in the male.
: aa Oe | mnamomifolia.
The Plate represents two sexes, of the size of life. The plant is the Hoya cinn oft
a
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—
1850—1853.
PARTS I.—V.
LONDON
D BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS,
JOHN GOULD,
PRINTE
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, 26, CH
BIRDS OF ASIA.
VOLUME I.
LIST OF PLATES
IN THE FIRS
THE FIRST FOUR TEMPORARILY ARRANGED VOLU
VOLUME II.
2 Plate f.
Fee elon part 3t ee Nectarinia Asiatica. part 8+ ioe
ogyps CHUANG Cece ac. |e Osea 19 ee 1.
Faleo Babylonicus. p. 20 ... eo. i Tao Dee ee
Mepercemmatons piS.-....-....... 4iv | eco Es ee ge e
Meesacer, pa 20 -1............. Re | 2 ee Daa eae et
Merercr Dl ee. Ow | i ets a ae a
UBS a Cee » SOG aD ee 6.
Pyolanarius. (p.20 .................. 7. Gouldi:
Baie ae i . | » HOUNGHED, 5 WD) oc souno Fo
Spizaétus alboniger. p. Sie cen, 8h | Ratna 1 eens
Spilornis rufipectus. p. 12 ........... oD | ‘ Wi meee Z 5 ee
Milvus Govinda. p. 4.................. lOV | Goal see aoe 9..
Blanus hypoleucus. p. 12 ee ne Vic Parreusls 220: eee:
5 . p 5 ” igorsil. p. 2
Caprimulgus Mahrattensis. p. Dera alos Dicweum cruentum : one i
Dendrochelidon coronatus. p. 11... is; | Myzanthe cPricaciee! 6 oe i
Klecho. p. 11 LEE pes cee ee aos
’ lecho. p. ..... 14 | Phyllornis Javensis. p. 13 14
e Wiallacerse py lle 2 lbs || Hardwicki. p. iS oe 1b.
. mystaceus. p.1l... 16. | A Hodgsoni. p. 18 ayn
© comatus. p. 11 fo | Malabaricus. 1S oe 17.
Cecropis rufula, p. 20..... eee lse | ‘ Jerdoni ce ae 18.
Pee Daunicae p)20).............. 19) | és cyanopogon. ie ot
» erythropygia. p. 20..... 20. Ixulus occipitalis. “D Tape es 20.
Meeehypenythra. p.20).......... 21. | Teer cue ae oe area 91.
Hirundo filifera. p. 18 22 4 PA ay ae eae ay
lt It ee eee ty) CAaStaMICepS- peloy se. 22.
Hypurolepis domicola. p. 20......... 28. Yuhina occipitalis. p. 15 ees:
Lagenoplastes fluvicola. Dees 24. | Spizixos canifrons. yp. 18 eee 24.
Delichon Nipalensis. p. DO ede | » semitorques. p. 18 25.
Merops viridis. p. 7.......----0-10e 26. | Pomatorhinus erythrocnemis. “p. 16. 26.
, Philippinus. p.7 ..........- 27. | Myzornis pyrrhoura. p.8 ..........-. 27
Ree Athortont p. 8 KE a8 | Leiothrix argentauris. p. 14 . 2S
I Athe De, 20 | _ luteus) pyisk. 29.
. amictus. p.2........-...... 80.V | Siva strigula. p. 141 |
Alcedo Bengalensis. p- VA, Sule BS porns Fe 1s 2 a
Haleyon fusca. p.13 ..... pees Stachyris pyrrbops. p. 15 ... ....... 32.
it gularis. Usenet ener == 33. Dumetia albogularis. p. 12......... 33+
ss atricapillus. p. 12 fe On: : hyperythra. p- 12 ee 34.
» fulgidus. p. 12...........-. 35. Allotrius melanotus. p.8 ........... 85+
ie TENN CO LOTS Sel eter eee 30. - reenanilareydullosatst, YO (3 co0000 000 36.
Dacelo Tyro. p.12...............-..:- 37. Alcippe brunnea. p. i6..... 37.
Harpactes Hodgsoni. p.17 ......... 38. Nilterarcrandisn: pies eee os
i SID) eric men ee lt eee tou Sundara. p. 2....... os
- Oreskios. Dele 3. 40: MacGrigorie. p. 2 , 40.
= Reinwardti. Dele cen... 41. Grandala ccelicolor. p. 14 ... , 4d.
. Mackloti. p. Ieee eZ. Saxicola capistrata. p.17 ... . 42.
i fasciatus. 78> @ oeaancoosesc 43. » Jeucomela. p.17 ... . 43.
- Gan Aen GPs) sss --= 4A. - montana. py l/...... 1. 44.
5 ardens. p.14.......... _,. Ads eeeeiroonl sri sei ee eeereeeee Ce
” Wmnyencelice pe ll eeresse29) 40. Dromolwa picata. Pp. 17 sc... seseeees 46.
. ment See eels. ANZ a opistholeuca. p. 17 . 47.
Psarisomus Dalhousie. p.5 ......... 48: Ruticilla erythogastra. p.3 ..... 48.9
Eurylaimus Javanicus. p. 9 , erythroprocta. p.8......... 49:
: 5 ochromalus. p. 5 Rhodophila melanoleuca. p. 18...... 50-
Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchus. p. 5. Pratincola Indica. p. 15.........+++++ 51.
5 affinis. p. 5 Bee O25 - leucura. p. 18 ........... 52
Serilophus lunatus. p.9.........:---- 53. Myiophoneus insularis. p.16 ...... 53
rubropygius. p- 5 54 Petrocinela erythrogastra. p.15 ... Be
Corydon Sumatranus. p. 5... 55 Callene albiventris. p. 20 ..........5 55.
Pteruthius erythropterus. .... 56 Pipastes agilis. p. 17.1. seseeseeere 56.
: mufiventer. p> o.-..-------- 57, Bnicurus maculatus. p. 18.. Olle
Cutia Nipalensis. p.- 8 ie guttatus. p. Bete ae Coca 58.
Cochoa viridis. p. 1...... Oi ne isin pael Oimeeen eres
Aeepurpurea, p.1 ... , Scouleri. p-18..... . 60-
Picus insularis. p.16 ..... Motacilla Dukhunensis. p-13 ...... 61.
, Cabanisi. p-9 » _ personata. pe 1B .....se- 62.
Chrysophlegma flavinucha. , Maderaspatensis. p. 5... 68»
Yunx Indica. p. 1 ee Limonidromus Indicus. p. AG Se 64.
Cuculus strenuus. p-8 ........-..---- Budytes citreoloides. p- Wiese 65.
_,,_ hyperythrus. p. Cie 2 ee 6G, Melanocorypha maxima. p- LO Ee Sie. 66.
Sitta formosa. p.1 ......-..-....--.--+ 67. Cinclus Asiaticus. p- 12........-+0+ 67.
» cinnamoventris. p.1........... 68. es Pallasi. p. Ldn -, 08
» castaneoventris. p.1l...........- 69. sordidus. Pp. 12 ......srse.-.
Pevleucopsis, p-L -2........ Os leucogaster. | P- Wes. .
, Himalayensis. p.1 ........... 71. , Cashmeriensis. Pp: 12. es
Certhia Nipalensis. p- 2.........----+- 12. Accentor Nipalensis. P- 7 +---+++1-++ 72.
» Himalayana. p.2 ........---- 73. Altaicus. p- 10 : tab
Troglodytes Nipalensis. p.4........- 7A. » immaculatus. is
Actinodura Egertoni. p.18 ...... ib: 3 rubeculotdes. ie
oy, Nipalensis. p.18......... 76. » _ Strophiatus. a
Xiphoramphus superciliaris. p.9 ... We » _ atrogularis. ees
Salpornis spilonota. p. 20 .........--- 78. Copsychus saularis. Pp. aaa es te
Tesia cyaneiventer. p.10 .........-: 79. » Mindanensis._ P- ae a
,» castaneo-coronata. p.10 ..... 80. . SUE sh [9b IBD convaoovecn000- a
PART I.—January 1st, 1850.
PART I1.—July 1st, 1850.
PART I11.—June 2nd, 1851.
PART TV.—November 1st, 1852.
PART V.—October 1st, 1853.
PART VI.—July Ist, 1854. —
PART VII.—April 2nd, 1855.
May 1, 1868.
The parts were published
PART XJJ.— June
PART XI11.—May
+ The number after the name in
{ These numbers refer to the plates as
PART VIII.—May Ist, 1856.
PART LX.-—May Ist, 1857.
PART X.—June 1st, 1858.
T XI.—May 1st, 11859"
PAR y @ lat, 1860.
ist, 1861.
PART XIV.—May 1st, 1862.
dicates the part in which
temporarily arrange
v> > od
MES.
VOLUME Iii.
Muscipeta Padraisi. part 4+ oa J|
. Ince ye eee 2. |
Pericrocotus speciosus. p. 9 ee 8,
= HEMATITE 7D) B) seocoo 4.
solaris. p. 1 ree 5.
is griseogularis. p. 16 _ 0
3 erythropygius. p.1... 7.
a peregrinus. p.9 ...... 8.
ee Toseus. p.9 ............ OF
se cinereus. p.
Merula castanea. p. ee in
» albocincta. p. 11 12.
ieee Sol) oll euro tan oleae 18)
i mmedion, p> 10... Fe 14,
Murch ASCENT, FD: 4h coocesoo0coonen0%: 15.
» Tuficollis.
Ea poe 16."
Pitta Nipalensis. p.1...... ee
PG ico ames Dteeneee
» cyanura. p. 15
Pee chiyiatle ries ial eeeneeeeeneneee 20.
_» (atricapillla. p. 4...... 21,
Urocissa occipitalis. p. 18 22,
a Sinensis. Daeloies 23.
= magnirostris. p.13.. 24.
oy Mwnm@St, — Do WB. coo a
» GCuculllaia, J 13 ccocccccsss AD:
cerulea.
Cissa pyrrhocyanea. p. 1 oor
” yenatoria. DO eee coe
Crypsirhina C@moullly~a, 7 WH coosocce BO,
Pica) Bactrianay ps LOs-tss... sees Pasie
» Bottanensis. p. 165 ..... OOF
_,, leucoptera. p. 14........1..e000 33.
Garrulax ruficeps. p. 16........-..+. 34
» pecilorhyncha. p. 16.
is Delesserti. p.19....... v8
. gularis. p. 19 .............. Bile
Paradoxornis flavirostris. p. 6 . 88.
2 unicolor. p. 6 So
% gularis. p.6......... . 40.
5 ruficeps. p.6......... . 41,
Parus cinereus. p. 10....... . 42.
3) minor: | p+ LO) ee... pee
» monticolus. p. 10.........++ 4A,
» xanthogenys. p. QE aces 45.
» Sspilonotus. p.9.. Soo Ges
» derdoni. p.9.....-. . 47,
» dichrous. p. 1l......... , 4g)
, vrubidiventris. p. 11... . 49.
» Tufonuchalis. p- Ese Oe ees
melanolophus. p. 11.........--. 51.
- castaneoventris. p. 16 ......... 52.
Acanthiparus niveogularis. _p. Wises 53.
5 2 Jouschistos. p.7 ... 54.
Psaltria exilis, p. 7s... 55.
, erythrocephala. p. 56.
» concinna. p. 7 Bao
» ?leucogenys. — P- Ties eee 58.
Mecistura glaucogularis. p- LA Reece 59.
Melanochlora Sultanea. p. 20. ..... 60.
Hesperiphona icterioides. p.3 ....+ 61y
= affinis. p. 20 ......+ 62.
Mycerobas melanoxanthus. p.3 ... 63.
a carnipes. P+ B verses 64.
Carpodacus rubicilla. p. 4... . 65.
0 rhodochlamys. p-4...+++ 66.
Béphona personata. Pp. Stee 67.
» melanura. P- Opes . 68:
Hematospiza Sipahi. p- Ai acne 69. v
Pyrrhula orientalis. p. 5 ; 70.
erythrocephala. _p- 5
ss Nipalensis. p. 5
» aurantia. p- 10..
Fringilla Burtoni. Pp. ieee
Montifringilla arctoa. p. 3 75
% hematopyg!a. p.3 .- 16. v
5 prunneinucha. p. 4... 44
E Adamsi. p- 19....++++ 78.
Bmberiza caniceps. Pp: 0... 2 79.
pusilla. p- i eee eirecieone= 80.
as under :—
PART XX.—April Is
* Specie
the species was published.
d in the first four yolumes.
VOLUME IV.
on
Palzornis columboides. part 10+ ie i
3 schisticeps. p. 10 oie 2.
i, Derbianus, p.10 ....... 3.
; Malaccensis. p.10......... t
: afinis’= po l0leee ae 5.
rf Luciani. Dues ae 6.
y Camiceps. pi 9).............46 te
om, Wht Jo) oo. 8
Prioniturus setarius. p. 14......... a 9.
5 flavicans. p. 14 ee 10.
si spatuliger. p. 14......... 11
% Gbisemmas yo) WE sooo 12
Palumbus Elphinstonei. p. 6......... 13.
i pulchricollis. p.6 . eae
Phlogeenas cruenta. p. 18 ............ 15.
: crinigera. p. 18..... }
Phasianus Colchicus. a 21 en
a torquatus. "p.8)............ Ld.
Mongolicus. p.10 ...... itis).
WECSICOlORS sO) aeeceerremea)
Reevesi. p. 21 2
Semmerringii. p.19 ... 22.
SCIUUILAN Ss | PslO)seesseee aoe
Cnn Vem, pW oa 24:.
Pucrasia macrolopha. p. 6. 25.
a castanea. p.6 .... 26.
2 Nipalensis. p.6 . QT.
» Xanthospila. p. 21 *28
Thaumalea picta. p. 18 ......... p20:
r Ambherstie. p. 18......... 30.
Genneus Nycthemerus. p. 11 ...... 3.
Diardigallus prelatus. p. 12 ......... 82.
Euplocomus Vieilloti. p. 4............ 38.
i SWAMHOT sss pie Onmereceasees 34.
@eniomis Satyray ps ZO! saeseseenys 35.
melanocephala. p.7 ..
i Temmincki. p. 21.....
ei Cabotieas pil Olenesecesene
Lophophorus Impeyanus. p. 2 ...... 39.
Tetraogallus Caspius. p. 5.........+ 40.
a Himalayensis. p.5 ... 41.
PNT tA COS en DOM 42,
Tibetanus. p. 5 43.
Ithaginis cruentus. p.3... . 44,
Lerwa niyicola. p. 7 .. 45.
Perdix Hodgsoniea. p.9........-..+. 46.
Bambusicola sonorivox. 47.
Ammoperdix Bonhami. LS.
‘ Heyi. p. a. 49
Malacoturnix superciliosus. p. 20... 50.
Galloperdix Zeylonicus. p. 6......++. 51.
spadiceus. p- 6 .... 5
)
lunulosa. p. 6............ 03.
I
5
Microperdix erythrorhyncha. p. 14. 5
Perdicula Asiatica. p. 15 ....... 5be
Argoondah. p. 15 ......... 96.
Coturnix Coromandelicus. p.6...... 57.
Axealfactoria Chinensis. p. 19 ...... 58.
5 Tima Peo) seeeyauee 59.
Turnix fasciatus. p. 13 ...........++- 60.
» Dussumieri. p. 21 .......+.0-#
Syrrhaptes paradoxus. p. 19 ........, 62,
5 Mibetans. P. 2... Od.
Pterocles guttatus. p- Bs... vee G4
- Coronatus. P. B seeee-seeees 65,
exustus. P- 2 ....0..--seeeee 66,
> fasciatus. p. 2.....+-
Otis MacQueeni. p. 3
Sypheotides auritus. p- 18.
Cursorius Coromandelicus.
Pluvianus Agyptius. p. 17
Ibidorhyncha Struthersi. p. 8
Glareola melanoptera. Pp. 2 «se+++++
yy lactea. p- 21... erevseerereee
Tantalus leucocephalus. p- 14 ......
Numenius rufescens. p. 16
Hydrophasianus Sinensis. p. 7 «+++ ffi
Aix galericulata. P- 4..+-.ecereeereers 78
Sterna melanogaster.
Uria Carbo.
PART XV.—June 1st, 1863.
PART XVI.—April 1
PART XVII.—April 1st, 1865.
PART XVILL.—April 1st, 1866.
PART XIX.—May Ist, 1867.
t, 1868.
5 from Part xxi, insertec
st, 1864.
1 to complete this volume
Ps Meccccesereepereccenen eee 80. «
* TT
oR
=
“oh 7
"eho ‘e
mh «ho ite A
@"°
mS ©)
9
“ef }e
9)
>
Sar-\ ery a Be a
CONTENTS,
PARTS I. vo VY.
PART I.—January 1] 5
é y Ist, 1850.
PART IIT.—JUNE § -
Falco Jugger. Eee meol
| Gyps Bengalensis.
|
Pitta Nipalensis. Falco Peregrinat
Q regrinator.
,, cyanea. inl
Ithaginis cruentus.
Pericrocotus solaris. ;
Ammoperdix Bonhami.
9 erythropyeius
y ee S Heyi.
Chrysophlegma flavinucha. Pterocles euttatt
g 1s.
Sitta formosa. t
. coronatus.
» cinnamoventris. i i
; ; Otis MacQueeni. ;
» castaneoventris. 0
Eophona personata.
,, leucopsis.
e 3 melanura.
Jimalayensis. |
3 . ay sis Mycerobas melanoxanthus.
Cochoa viridis. i
iS carnipes.
yurpurea. r 101
a », purpurea Hesperiphona Icterioides. :
jissa pyrrhocyanea. Montifringilla arctoa. i No;
Fringilla Burtoni i ] ¢
g urtoni. Pa heematopygia. .
i :
s fous: N
‘ents Indica. Ruticilla erythrogastra. y
Nucifraga multipunctata. Leiothrix luteus.
»)
co)"
mm x y
PART Il.—July 1st, 1850. PART IV.—November Ist, 1852. ,
Caprimulgus Mahrattensis. Milvus Govinda. y
Nyctiornis Athertoni. Museipeta Paradisi. \
‘ys
amictus. . Incei.
”?
Niltava grandis. Pitta atricapilla.
Sundara. Aix galericulata.
»”
» MacGregori. Troglodytes Nipalensis. b
eee i OP
Lophophorus Impeyanus. Montifringilla brunneinucha. a S
Nectarinia ignicanda. Euplocomus Vieilloti. D)
s Goalpariensis. Suthora Nipalensis. joy 2°
: Fe : ir) wg
Vigorsil. » fulvifrons. ee E-
ra oe
- Nipalensis. »> Webbiana. ry
| PY —
6
Syrrhaptes Tibetanus. Heematospiza Sipahi.
Pterocles exustus. Carpodacus rubicilla.
fasciatus. 5 rhodochlamys.
Glareola melanoptera. Turdus fuscatus. S\\ haa |
Certhia Nipalensis. Peenniicolise il
» Himalayana. Uria Carbo.
PART V.—October Ist, 1853. 7
y
Tetraogallus Caspius. E
| - Himalayensis.
e Altaicus.
a Tibetanus.
Burylaimus Javanicus.
- ochromalus.
Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchus.
ms affinis.
Corydon Sumatranus. !
Serilophus lunatus. | pF
. rubropygius.
Psarisomus Dalhousie.
Pyrrhula Orientalis.
erythrocephala.
Nipalensis.
a?
2?
Conostoma eemodium.
Motacilla Maderaspatensis.
; = ~ a) ea’ «a TE x
Se 2 Ry e Dd Ce BA ee ohvs . 7;
FA ye 4 . Ee i ps y
z h = he) z c* Pa Ga co ie 4 ~
| Temporary Title.)
=e
THE
BY
BIRDS OF
JOHN GOULD,
PRINTED BY TAYL
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHO!
PARTS VI
ja
LONDON:
OR AND FRANCIS, REI
2,26; CHARL
) LION COURT,
OTTE
1854—1858.
Lid OC
F.R.S.
FLEET STREET.
STREET, BEDFORD SQl
A.
TARE.
Yo
3%
A
; at ae
P i ae
“oe @ xe sr ar
ya”
y Dat a. “
ey’ @L®@ “¢ Or
-
fe.
-
aN
es
ee, > ora | cs
Ls se CXS aA) ‘e o"
.
a
oe
*
—
A) ty
_- .
5 os “pe oh ox = on
rs OF
Seho-4<)-"¢
ae eee +. = ad
5 . ay
e
“on
ss
Try
Seats 655 Ait tS ONS >
.,
a a
PART VI.—July Ist, 1854.
Harpactes fasciatus.
Galloperdix Zeylonicus.
x. spadice us.
- lunulosa.
Pucrasia macrolopha.
Me castanea.
ss Nipalensis.
Coturnix Coromandelicus.
Paradoxornis flavirostris.
unicolor.
oularis.
- ruficeps.
Palumbus Elphinstonei
- pulchricollis.
Myzanthe ignipectus.
Diczeeum cruentum.
Emberiza caniceps.
PART VII.—April 2nd, 1855.
Merops viridis.
Philippinus.
Hydrophasianus Sinensis.
Accentor Nipalensis.
immaculatus
”
Rubeculoides.
ss strophiatus.
Lerwa nivicola.
Ceriornis melanocephala.
Suya lepida.
Psaltria exilis.
7 erythrocephala.
- concinna.
» 2 leucogenys.
Acanthiparus niveogularis.
? Jouschistos.
»
Mecistura glaucogularis.
CONTENTS,
PARTS VI. vo X.
Phasianus torquatus.
Nectarinia Asiatica.
” Lotenia.
Harpactes Kasumba.
Myzornis pyrrhoura.
Cutia Nipalensis.
Allotrius melanotus.
Merops quinticolor.
Cuculus strenuus.
Phasianus versicolor.
Perdix Hodgsoniz.
Cissa venatoria.
Picus Cabanisi.
Paleeornis Luciani.
caniceps.
of
33
Parus xanthogenys.
| , spilonotus.
Jerdoni.
PART X.—June lst, 1858.
Phasianus Mongolicus.
Ceriornis Caboti.
Pyrrhula aurantia.
Parus cinereus.
minor.
monticolus.
Palzeornis Columboides
schisticeps-
Derbianus.
Malaccensis.
affinis.
‘Pesia cyaneiventer.
castaneo-corol vata.
Accentor atrogularis.
Altaicus.
Merula unicolor.
Tbidorhyncha Struthersi.
Pteruthius erythropterus.
9 rufiventer.
», xanthochloris.
» hyperythrus.
Ruticilla erythroprocta.
PART IX.
Pericrocotus speciosus.
2 flammeus.
‘ peregrinus.
3 TOseus.
- cinereus.
Nicobaricus.
ON OE Od
Cursorius Coromandelicus.
Xiphoramphus superciliaris.
| PART VIII.—May Ist, 1856.
—May lst, 1857.
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| Temporary Title. |
THE
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BIRDS
Ks
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JOHN
PARTS XI.-XV.
LONDON
\ND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
rAYLOR
bt
ARE.
ORD SQU
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26, CHARLOTTE STRI
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THE
PUBLISHED BY)
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PART XI.—May
Gennzus Nycthemerus
Dendrochelidon coronatus.
Klecho
Wallace
mystaceus.
comatus.
Harpactes Duvauceli.
rutilus.
Amydrus ‘Tristram.
Merula castanea.
albocincta.
Boulboul.
Parus dichrous.
rubidiventris.
rufonuchalis.
melanolophus.
PART XIL.—June
Otogyps calvus.
Spilornis rufipectus.
Elanus hypoleucus.
Diardigallus prelatus.
Cinclus Asiaticus.
;
Pallasi.
sordidus.
leucogaster
Cashmeriensis.
Dacelo 'T'yro.
Halcyon atricapillus.
fulgidus.
omnicolor.
Loxia | fimalay ana.
Dumetia albogularis
hyp rythra
CONTENTS,
PARTS XI. ro XV.
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CONTENTS,
PARTS XVI. vo XX.
ee
PART XV I.—April Ist, 1864,
Urocissa cerulea.
EKuplocamus Swinhoii,
Bambusicola sonorivox.
Pomatorhinus erythrocnemis.
Gecinus Tancolo. |
Picus insularis.
Garrulax ruficeps.
peecilorhyncha.
Myiophoneus insularis.
Megalwma nuchalis.
Pericrocotus griseovularis.
Garrulus ‘Taivanus.
Numenius rufescens,
Hypsipetes nigerrima.
Parus castaneoventris.
A | ippt brunnea.
PART XVIT.—April Ist, 1865.
H irpactes H \dgsoni.
Diardi.
Oreskios
Reinwardti
Mackloti.
Catreus Wallichii.
Dromolea picata.
opistholeuca.
Saxicola capistrata.
leucomela.
montana.
atrogularis.
Pluvianus 2gyptius.
Budytes citreoloides.
Pipastes agilis.
Phyllopneuste tristis.
PART XVIII.—April 1st, 1866.
Sypheotides auritus.
Actinodura Egertoni.
- Nipalensis.
Spizixos canifrons.
= semitorques.
Thaumalea picta.
Amherstie.
Phlogcenas cruenta.
35 crinigera.
Enicurus maculatus.
guttatus.
a Chinensis.
= Scouleri.
Hirundo filifera.
Rhodophila melanoleuca.
Pratincola leucura.
PART XIX.—May Ist, 1867.
Phasianus Scemmerringii.
i scintillans.
Nectarinia Osea.
y Zeylonica.
insignis.
A Gouldie.
5 saturata.
Melanocorypha maxima.
Emberiza pusilla.
Montifringilla Adamsi.
Syrrhaptes paradoxus.
Excalfactoria Chinensis.
minima.
Garrulax Delesserti.
gularis.
Sterna melanogaster.
PART XX.—April Ist, 1868.
|
. Falco Babylonicus.
| sacer.
lanarius.
Ceriornis Satyra.
Salpornis spilonota.
Malacoturnix superciliosus.
Hesperiphona affinis.
| Cecropis rufula.
| 5 Daurica.
erythropygia.
, hyperythra.
Delichon Nipalensis.
Hypurolepis domicola.
Lagenoplastes fluvicola.
Melanochlora Sultanea.
| Callene albiventris.
| Zemporary Title.
cnet
THE
BIRDS OF
BY
JOHN GOULD,
ASTA.
F.R.S.
PARTS »@.4 Kap. 0.85
LONDON:
LOR AND FRANCIS,
6, CHARLOTTE
PRINTED BY TAY
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, 2
1869—1873.
RED LION COURT, F
LBET STREET.
STREET, BEDFORD SQUARE.
fin mm
fe mm a
J
CONTENTS,
PARTS
PART XXIJ.—April Ist, 1869,
Coracias indica,
affinis.
Temmincki.
Phasianus Reevesii.
- colchicus.
Ceriornis Temmincki.
Pucrasia xanthospila.
Turnix Dussumieri.
Drymochares stellatus.
Anthus cervinus.
Emberiza fucata.
rustica.
Glycyspina Huttoni.
Regulus himalayensis.
Glareola lactea.
PART XXII.—March Ist, 1870.
Alcedo grandis.
Stumus purpurascens.
Scops pennatus.
Athene Brodiei.
Syrnium ocellatum.
Phodilus badius.
Crossoptilon auritum.
Polyplectron bicalcaratum.
Euspiza melanocephala.
_ luteola.
Emberiza cinerea.
Megalema Franklinii.
Vivia innominata.
Sasia ochracea.
abnormis.
”
timator malacoptilus.
DOM ro NOE
PART XXIII.—March Ist, 1871.
| Polyplectron chinquis.
| Perdix barbata.
| Pitta bengalensis.
| 3 OLeass
| Psaropholus Trailli.
< ardens.
Otidiphaps nobilis.
Accentor montanellus.
‘ rubidus.
s erythropygius.
| Zosterops simplex.
| erythropleura.
Parus venustulus,
Staphida torqueola.
Pterorhinus Davidi.
PART XXIV.—March Ist, 1872.
Strix indica.
5, candida.
Trochalopteron phceniceum.
| ss formosum.
| Pitta arquata.
| ,, megarhyncha.
| Ithaginis Geoffroyii.
| Ceriornis Blythii.
Turdinus brevicaudatus.
Yuhina diademata.
| Pellorneum palustre.
| Gallinula pheenicura.
Eurinorhynchus pygmeus.
Passer ammodendri.
Cypselus infumatus.
PART XXV,—March Ist, 1873.
Pitta Boschii.
Turdus Gouldi.
Lophophorus l’Huysi.
Chalcophasis Sclateri.
Meropogon Forsteni.
Garrulax chinensis.
Ianthocincla ocellata.
nO ee
es Artemisie.
f lunulata.
i Austeni.
Trochalopteron Elliotii.
Rhopophilus pekinensis.
Phlogeenas tristigmata.
Stachyris ruficeps.
Orthotomus longicaudus.
Says y sr
FO OK 6)
ce es 2
al ee / ae
ed nae
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F.R.S.
STREET, BEDFORD SQUARE.
RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
1873—1877.
PARTS XXVI-XXX.
LONDON
JOHN GOULD,
PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS,
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, 26, CHARLOTTE
BIRDS OF ASTA.,
Hug
Ta my
—_—
CON area
PARTS XXVI. vo XXX.
PART XXVI.
August Ist, 1874. | PART XXVIII.—July Ist, 1876.
Paleeornis Calthropz. | Phasianus Shawi
rosa. Re chrysomelas.
Myiophonus (Arrenga) Blighi.
Trochalopteron affine.
cyanocephala.
Paradoxornis Austeni.
Heudei.
. variegatum.
Ixus sinensis.
Dasylophus superciliosus.
Calophasis Ellioti. eee
alophé illiot Lepidogrammus cumingi.
Tetraophasis obscurus :
etraophasis obscurus. Hemicercus cordatus.
Columba rupestris
¢ I 8. ae concretus.
leuconota. i Hartlaubi.
Aigithalus consobrinus. Suthora brunnea.
Trochalopteron Blythii. Leptopeecile sophie.
Garrulax picticollis. Pteruthius eralatus.
Pericrocotus cantonensis.
Sylvia nana. PART XXIX.—April Ist, 1877.
Rhodopechys sanguinea.
PART XXVII.—March Ist, 1875. ethos Lae
rythrospiza obsoleta.
Podoces Biddulphi. - incarnata.
», Hendersoni. Pitta Baudii.
9 Panderi. 5 Gurneyi.
| > humilis. » Steerii.
| Lobiophasis Bulweri. ,, Ussheri.
Euplocamus lineatus. Actenoides Hombroni.
Pucrasia Darwini. Fe Lindsayi.
Diceeum retrocinctum. 5 concretus.
Trochalopteron cineraceum. Sturnus unicolor.
| s virgatum. ellie
Garrulax galbanus. | Suthora munipurensis.
ae
AO,
5
Actinodura Walden. |
Pyrrhula cineracea.
- AN -
Sie
—
Montifringilla ruficollis.
5
i ORO
Sitta nagaensis.
-~ ©
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> 3 d
PART XXX.—October Ist, 1877.
CS
ag
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ear
Pitta ceerulea.
|
a e)
cucullata.
Chalcites Hodgsoni.
xanthorhynchus.
>)
ZS
”
Lobiophasis castaneicaudatus.
CAS)
>
2)
Gallus Sonnerati.
Chrysocolaptes xanthocephalus.
Sarcophanops Steer.
Oriolus chinensis.
Carduelis orientalis.
Parus elegans.
ABgithalus flammiceps.
Diczeum dorsale.
GENCE
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