M. Sundevall on the Birds of Calcutta, 109 



thought I saw C. helveticus and Strepsilas collaris. There were 

 swarms of shore-birds, but I had unfortunately only a short hour 

 to stay in the place and had no assistance. Ibis Macei and the 

 Charadrius above- described were procured here. 



91. Larus ridihundus, var. remigibus 3 anticis nigris, basi albis. 

 $ d. 20 Aprilis (habitu perf. sestivali). Iris alba. Nigredo capitis, 

 colore et limite, picturaque totius corporis exacte ut in individuis 

 Suecanis tempore sestivo. Rostrum, pedes, palpebrae, remigum pro- 

 portio etc. coUata et simillima inventa; sed remiges P et 2* nigrae, 

 basi et macula oblonga ante apicem alba (in aliis indiv. macula paullo 

 major vel minor) ; 3* nigra, basi latius alba, omnino caret macula 

 alba ; 4* — 6^ albse apice late nigrae ; sequentes et omnes cubitales 

 dilute incanse. Tectrices primariae albae, reliquae colore dorsi. Longit. 

 15J poll. Ala 320 miUim., tarsus 45, digitus medius cum ungue 43, 

 Cauda 118, rostrum e fronte 34. 



Juniores ? eodem tempore, ptilosi hiemali ; capite albo, maculis 

 solitis fuscis. 



I did not see this bird before the middle of March, or at least 

 it was not common ; but in April and the beginning of May it 

 was very abundant, so that whole flocks often made their appear- 

 ance over the river. They seemed to live chiefly on the maggots 

 which swarmed in the dead bodies in the river. The female de- 

 scribed had her throat full of them, some of which were still living. 

 Remains of fish were also found in the stomach. The cry, re- 

 sembling laughter, was heard occasionally. The Bengalese name 

 is gangtjeel (river-hawk), which is common both to gulls and 

 terns, like the word Fisk-mase with us. 



Obs. Another Larus, somewhat larger, much like L. canus, was 

 seen sometimes on the river as well as in the sea off the coast. 

 Of Sterna two or three species occurred, and one of them was 

 common for a short time in April. It was larger than S. hirundo, 

 with a shorter tail and white front, probably S. cantiaca of 

 Raffles (Linn. Trans, vol. xiii.), but none such were procured. 

 Another, seen in the Bay of Bengal, seemed like S. minuta, but 

 of a grayer brown above ; perhaps S. panayensis, as it could 

 scarcely be S. infuscata, Licht., which is larger. 



92. Halieus q/'ncanw^.— Pelecanus africanus, Gm., Lath. P. gra- 

 culus /3. Lath. Mus, Carlss. tab. 61 (?gula lutea). P. javanicus, 

 Horsf. 



Niger, gula alba, plumis scapularibus, tectricibusque minoribus 

 cinerascentibus, atro- margin atis, acutis. Rostrum longitudine fere 

 capitis. Rectrices 12, mediae rostro quadruplo longiores. 



^ adultus (d. 24 Mart. testicuHs parvis). Supra subtusque niger, 

 gula sola alba. Collum antice, pectus et dorsum antice plumis gri- 

 sescenti-marginatis. Plumae scapulares oblongse, elongatae, acutae, 

 margine atro latit. 1 J millim. Ala subtus atra : tantum caudae basin 



