172 M. Sundevall on the Birds of Calcutta. 



our magpies and jackdaws in their way of living ; the remaining 

 ones, which may be named by the Vieillotian name Dicrurus, are, 

 as far as I know, in these respects perfectly like Muscicapa. By 

 way of comparison one is reminded of almost corresponding re- 

 semblances in colour between Turdus mindanensis, Bethylus leve- 

 rianus and our magpie, also between Falco nisus and Sylvia ni- 

 soria, &c, which yet indicate no near relationship, because im- 

 portant differences of form forbid it. 



I saw Dicrurus ceneus several times in the neighbourhood of 

 Calcutta in February and March. It remained lonely and gloomy 

 in thick and shady groves between the branches of high trees. I 

 never saw it on the plain. Like the Muscicapce it sat at times 

 quiet and watched an opportunity to catch insects in its flight, 

 after which it returned to the same branch ; sometimes it was 

 seen restlessly hastening away between the thick branches. I 

 never heard any sound from this species. In its stomach were 

 found masses of insects, namely Achetce, Coleoptera, &c, but no 

 bees, which Levaillant considers to be the principal food of this 

 bird. 



11. Muscicapa par adisi, Linn., Lath. no. 54. — Vardiole, Buff. PL 

 Enl. 234. Tchitrec-be, Levaill. Ois.Afr. 144, 145, 146 (ex India). 



Var. a. Pyrrhocorax , Mcehr. Muse, cristata alba, Briss. Pica 

 papuensis, id. sec. Seba. Icterus maderaspatanensis, id. sec. Ray. 

 Todus paradiseus, Gm. 



Var. b. Curruca ? Mcehr. Promerops indicus cristatus et Muscic. 

 brasiliensis cristatus, Briss. sec. Seba. Muscic. cristatus capitis bonee 

 spei, id. Upupa paradisea, Linn., Gm., Lath. Muscicapa castanea, 

 Temm. in Kuhlii Nom. Syst. Buff. 



Crista elongata, capite colloque toto nigro-ameis, limite coloris 

 definite-, recto ; cauda gradata. 



a. Alba, alis caudaque nigro striatis. Palpebral coriacea?, incras- 

 satse, cseruleae ( $ Calcutta, 12 Apr. testiculis parum elatis, cauda 

 caret plumis longissimis). 



b. Cinnamomea, subtus cinerea, abdomine crissoque albidis. Ala 

 et cauda unicolores immaculatae. ( $ prope Ceylon, 14 Dec.) Cauda 

 simplex ; palpebrse vix incrassatse. Jugulum obscurius cinereum, 

 plumis paucis nigro- cseruleis. 



Long. 8 poll., ala 96 mill, (in indiv. rufo 90) ; tarsus 18. Lingua 

 plana, breviter triangularis, limbo membranaceo apice integro, sub- 

 acute Cutis orbitae in indiv. albo, coriacea, nuda, ut annulus latus, 

 elevatus oculum cingit. Rostrum obscure ca?rulescens ; pedes ni- 

 griores. Iris obscure rufescens. 



This beautiful bird is perhaps commonly to be met with in 

 India, at least it is common in our collections, and has been often 

 described before, which appears from its many synonyms. Bris- 

 son in his ' Ornithology ' has treated of it in six places under four 

 different generic names. The reason of this arises from remark- 



