Capt. R. C. Tytler on the Fauna of Dacca. 171 



liastur indus, which I observed whilst sitting out in a field with 

 several others after sunset : — A solitary white ant or termite was 

 observed to tiy out of a small hole near us, and went almost per- 

 pendicularly into the air ; another and another followed in quick 

 succession ; till at length myriads formed a stream of living insects. 

 Notwithstanding the lateness of the evening, several crows {Corvus 

 splendens) observed the insects, and connnenced cawing and flying 

 about, but were too timid to approach, owing to our proximity ; 

 suddenly not less than fifty common kites (Milvus ater) made 

 their appearance, and in less than a few seconds afterwards at 

 least two hundred of these birds congregated together and at- 

 tacked the termites ; the birds flew within 20 feet over our 

 heads, and notwithstanding the number collected, so graceful 

 and exquisite were their movements, that no confusion, striking 

 of wings, or josthng of each other could be observed, the birds 

 passing and clearing themselves with the greatest nicety : the 

 insects were invariably seized with their claws and instantly de- 

 voured. During this singular spectacle a Brahminee Kite {Ha- 

 liastur indus) joined the party ; the motions and actions of this 

 bird, though equally graceful, were considerably more rapid than 

 the other kites which showed no symptoms of timidity, but con- 

 tinued their feast till almost every insect disappeared. The birds 

 now separated and flew ofi* in various directions, so that in a few 

 minutes scarcely one was to be seen. Where they came from and 

 how they congregated so rapidly appeared quite a mystery. 



I obtained a perfectly-formed a^^ from a female Eudynamis 

 orientalis shot near Jessore in April, at which station five young 

 Viverra zibetha were brought to me during the same month, as 

 the young of Canis aureus. They had been dug out of a hole in 

 the side of a bank, and appear not uncommon in this neigh- 

 bourhood or at Dacca, where several adult specimens were 

 brought to me, as well as of a Paradoxuru^, which I have 

 every reason to believe is P. musanga, although the ascribed ha- 

 bitat of this latter species is the Indian Archipelago. Specimens 

 of Herpestes griseus are occasionally obtained, but by no means 

 common ; the Pteropus edwardsii, Megaderma lyra, Nycticejus 

 castaiicuSy Cynopterus marginatus, and Taphozous longimanus 

 are very plentiful; the Kirivoula pictus, of which I obtained 

 and saw but two specimens, is excessively rare at Dacca. This 

 elegant Bat is found in thick jungle, and is only observed when 

 disturbed, by suddenly flying out of its retreat and taking almost 

 immediate shelter like a moth among the bushes; the pre- 

 vailing colour of this species is a bright orange, marked with 

 black on the wings ; this orange colour fades after the death of 

 the animal into a dirty yellowish tint. 



I have already mentioned that the Sciurus pabnarum is un- 



