Lieut. Burgess on the Habits of some Indian Birds. 457 



preparations are here described, which, together with four others 

 published in the previous volume, afford us an intimate knowledge 

 of the minute structure of the endo-skeleton of this interesting form. 

 Prof. Quekett states that the structure of its bone, as well as those 

 portions of its skeleton which do not become ossified, are more closely 

 allied to the corresponding tissues of the Batrachia than to those of 

 any Fish yet examined ; and as it undoubtedly possesses many cha- 

 racters peculiar to Fishes, a subdivision of the order Batrachia has 

 been proposed for it, and that of Ichthyo-Batrachia appears to be 

 most expressive of its peculiar affinities. 



To the anatomist, palaeontologist, and geologist engaged in micro- 

 scopical research, this volume is of inestimable value, superseding as 

 it does the necessity of obtaining a costly series of objects for exa- 

 mination and comparison. Few persons could have undertaken the 

 preparation of a work requiring so much labour and nice manipula- 

 tion of the numerous specimens illustrative of the various subjects, 

 with any fair chance of equivalent remuneration. By the publication 

 of this Catalogue, the Council of the College have afforded a boon 

 to microscopical science, prepared as it has been by an author who 

 has devoted so much time to, and prosecuted with such zeal and 

 success, the practical bearings of histology. 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



July 25, 1854.— John Gould, Esq., F.R.S., in the Chair. ' 



Notes on the Habits of some Indian Birds. — Part V. 

 By Lieut. Burgess. 



Family Sturnid^. 



Subfamily Sturnin^. 



Genus Pastor. 



Pastor Roseus, Temm. The Rose-coloured Pastor. 



This bird visits the Deccan in immense flocks to feed on the grain 



cdX\edi jowaree which begins to ripen in the month of November, and 



is cut about March. The arrival of these birds is uncertain, in some 



years being earlier, in others later. On referring to notes made at 



the time, I find that in the year 1848 the first Rose-coloured Pastor 



was seen on the 28th of November, and the last on the 5 th of April 



1849. The first which I observed in the autumn of that year, was 

 on the 16th of November. In the year 1850, I saw a large flock as 

 early as the 24th of August ; I transcribe the note : " August 24, 



1850. Saw a large flock of the Rose-coloured Starlings with their 

 broods to-day feeding in an open field, evidently on insects, as they 

 were constantly in chase of them, flying." I never saw this bird so 

 a rly as it was that year, and they arrived long before the jowaree 

 was ripe. This grain when ripe, and before it is ripe, is their staple 



