1 70 Zoological Society : — 



Hoopoe Thrushes {Pomatorhinus) ; and in the lower region, by the 

 common Indian Crows (0. culminatus et splendens), Grackles *, Stares, 

 Vagabond Pies and Dirt-birds (Malacocercus). Thrushes proper 

 with Rock Thrushes, Ousels, Myophones, Zootheres, Tesias and 

 Hypsipetes are as abundant in the central and upper region as 

 Bulbuls, Orioles, Pittas, are in the central and lower. 



" In the Finch family, the Haw-finches, Bull-finches, Gold-finches, 

 and Cross-bills (Loxia) are as strictly confined to the upper regions 

 as are the corvine Conostomes, Nut-crackers, Choughs and Ravens. 

 The former are replaced in the central region by the Buntings, 

 Wood-finches {MontifringiUa)^ and Siskins ; and in the lower 

 region by the Weavers and Munias. The Raptorial birds are, in 

 general, too cosmopolitan to subserve the purposes of geographic 

 distribution. Still it may be remarked that the True Eagles belong, 

 quoad breeding at least, to the upper region ; the Crested Eagles 

 (Circaetus), the Neopuses and Hawk Eagles {Spisaetus) to the 

 central ; and the Pernes {Haliaetus et Pandion) and Haliasturs to 

 the lower. Among the Vultures the distinction is more marked : 

 for the Eagle Vultures {Gypaetus) belong exclusively to the upper 

 region ; the large European Vultures {fulvus et citiereus) to the 

 central ; and the Neophrons and the small Indian Vultures (Ben- 

 galensis et temiirostris) to the lower. The Himalaya abounds in 

 FalconidcB, all the occidental types and species being found there, 

 and many more peculiar and oriental ones ; and it deserves special 

 remark, that whereas the former {Imperialis, Chrysaetos, LanainuSy 

 Perpgrinusy Paliimbarius, Nisus, &c.) aifect the upper and central 

 regions, the oriental types {Hypoti'iorchis, HaliastuVy Hierax, 

 Hyptiopus, Elanus, Poliornis) are quite confined to the lower 

 region. 



** Those perfect cosmopolitans the Waders and Swimmers, migrate 

 regularly in April and October, between the plains of India and Tibet, 

 and, in general, may be said to be wanting in the mountains, though 

 most abundant in the Tarai. The great Herons {nobilis et cinereus), 

 the great Storks (nigra et purpurea) and great Cranes (the Cyrus 

 and Damoiselle) of the Tarai are never seen in the mountains, where 

 the Egrets alone represent the first group. But the soft-billed 

 smaller Waders {Scolopacidce) are sufficiently common in the moun- 

 tains, in which the Woodcock abounds, breeding in the upper region 

 and frequenting the central, and rarely the lower region, from 

 October till April. Geese, Ducks and Teals swarm in the Tarai, 

 where every occidental type (so to speak, for they are ubiquitous) 

 may be seen from October till April ; and many oriental non-migra- 

 tory types ; whereas in the mountains the Mergansers (orientalis) 

 and the Cormorants (sinensis et pygmceus) only are found, and that 

 very scantily, with a few Rails and Gallinules and Sandpipers from 

 the vast host of the Waders." 



* When Darjeeling was established there was not a Crow or Pastor to be seen. 

 Now there are a few Crows, but no Pastors. Enormously abundant as both are in 

 the lower region, this sutficiently proves that they are not native to the central 

 tract, though common in the great valley of Nepal. 



