M. Sundcvall on the Birds of Calcutta. 303 



its anterior extremity, and three longitudinal rows of white spots, 

 one on each side and the other extending along the middle, which 

 diminish in size as they approach the spinners ; the under part 

 is yellowish white freckled with black, and the plates of the spi- 

 racles are pale yellow. 



The spider described above was captured in the neighbourhood 

 of Winchester in July 1846 by James Franklin Preston, Esq., of 

 Plas Madoc, near Llanrwst, Denbighshire ; and was comprised 

 among specimens of Araneidea which that gentleman was so 

 obliging as to collect for me in Hampshire and the Isle of 

 Wight. 



XXXII. — The Birds of Calcutta, collected and described by 

 Carl J. Sundevall*. 



[Continued from p. 261.] 



32. Gracula tristis, Lath., Cuv. — Pastor tristis, Temm., Wagl. 

 Rufo-grisea, capite lsevi colloque nigris ; ventre postico cum crisso, 

 apicibus rectricum basique remigum late albis. 



$ $ similes. Sturno paullo major ; ala 142 mill., tarsus 38, 

 cauda 92 ; rostrum ab angulo oris 30. Lingua apice bifida, non 

 lacera. Iris obscure rubra, circulo albo-punctato, circa pupillam. 

 Vitta lata nuda, lutea e rostro per oculos. Rostrum et pedes tota 

 lutea. Plumse capitis longse, acutae, paullo erectiles. Alse et cauda 

 nigra. Alarum tectrices primarice totse, remiges posteriores longe 

 ultra medium, albsef. (Testiculi mense Martii parvi.) 



This is one of the most numerous birds about Calcutta, and is 

 stationary there. They live in great noisy crowds, which however 

 do not form regular close flocks, but are continually assembled 

 and dispersed or interchanged with others. In their mode of 

 life they resemble both starlings and jackdaws ; indeed they are 

 quite like the latter when they walk upon the ground, nodding 

 their heads at every step. The nests are always seen near grazing 

 cattle. The flight is heavy, with a strong motion of the wings; 

 but when they wish to stop, the wings are held still and ex- 

 panded. The male is often seen to raise its tuft. In the morn- 

 ing and evening they sit in flocks on the trees, and make a fearful 

 noise with their chattering voices, which sound like tjati, tjati, or 

 tjo-i. No song was ever heard from them. They are not shy, 

 and often come into the town. They eat chiefly rice, but often 



* Translated from the ' Physiographiska Sallskapets Tidskrift' by II. E. 

 Strickland, M.A. 



-f* Gracula fusca e Java (Pastor fuscus, Wagl.) differt colore corporis ob- 

 scure fusco ; ala minus alba ; vitta capitis nuda paullo minore, cauda bre- 

 viore (75 mill.), rostroque paullo majorc. De ceteris similis etiam dimen- 

 sions 



