Mr. E. Blyth's Drafts for a Fauna Indica. 49 



the three outer tail-feathers is much better defined. Irides co- 

 loured as usual ; the bill, and nude skin around the eye, livid, 

 and legs coral-red. Wing 7 to 7\ inches ; middle tail-feathers 

 5f inches. 



This species inhabits the Himalaya, and is, I believe, more 

 abundant in the south-eastern portion of the chain, as in Nepal 

 and at Darjeeling, though it is also common at Simla, Capt. 

 Ilutton writes from Mussoorie — " This species is very numerous 

 in the hills from April to June, when, having reared its young, 

 and the rains having set in, it becomes scarcer, and gradually 

 disappears during the rainy season. The nest is in high trees, 

 composed of dried twigs, a mere platform ; and the eggs are two, 

 and white. I heard the first Kooklah this year on the 12th of 

 April. ^^ It is greatly prized by the natives as a cage-bird, on 

 account of its singularly prolonged and varied musical note, 

 which is an improvement upon that of Tr, phosnicoptera and. its 

 allies. A few are even brought in cages to Calcutta, and sell at 

 a high price as song-birds. I have heard the notes of both this and 

 the next species, which I -think are absolutely similar : they bear 

 some resemblance to the human voice in singing, and are highly 

 musical in tone, being considerably prolonged and modulated, 

 but always terminating abruptly ; and every time the stave is 

 repeated exactly as before, so that it soon becomes wearisome to 

 an European ear *. 



Tr. cantillans : Vinago cantillans, nobis, Journ. As. Soc. 

 xii. 166 : Col. aromatica, var. A, Latham. Size and proportions 

 of last, but the green colour replaced by a delicate pearl-gray, 

 with a slight tinge of green here and there, more especially on 

 the under-parts : forehead and throat whitish ; the crown and 

 breast of the male tinged with ruddy or w^eak maroon ; and the 

 mantle marked, as in Ti\ sphenura, with deeper maroon : a 

 slight yellowish-white outer edging to the greater wing-coverts. 

 Irides as usual in this genus, or having a crimson ring encircling 

 a violet one : bill and bare skin around the eye glaucous-blue, 



* Tr. spheniirus. This bird, the Koohoo-fo of the Lepchas at Dar- 

 jeeling, is theie exceedingly common, but is not so extensively gregarious 

 as the common Hurrial of the plains. They frequent the highest trees, feed- 

 ing on their berries, and running along the branches with great agility. The 

 male has a most agreeable note, exactly resembling the music of a pastoral 

 reed or pipe. It breeds in June and July, making a large nest in high trees, 

 deeper than that of the common doves and wood pigeons. Bill pale livid 

 blue, nearly white at tip, and pale clear cobalt basaliy. The young resem- 

 ble the female ; and the ruddy tinge of the back and small wing-coverts of 

 the male is not assumed until the second year. — T. 



I have observed this red to be less developed in some specimens, but 

 still suspect that more or less of it would be obtained at the first moult. — 

 E.B. 



Ann. ^ Mag. N. Hist. Vol. xix. 4 



