TEE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 503 



(624) Ph. fuscicollis. — The Indian Shag. 

 Bume, No. 1006 ; Blanfonl, No. 1527. 

 Rather more common than the last in the plains, but less so in the 

 hills. 



(625) Ph. javanicus. — The Little Cormorant. 

 Hume, No. 1007 ; Blanford, No. 1528. 

 This is the common kind of Cormorant everywhere from the plains 

 to the sources of the highest streams. Here it is almost always met 

 with in flocks, often numbering as many as two hundred and some- 

 times even more than that. 



Sub-Family Plotince. 



(626) Plotus melanogaster. — The Snake-bird or Darter. 



Hume, No. 1008 ; Blanford, No. 1529. 

 Nowhere very numerous, is distributed alike over hills and plains 

 everywhere where there is water, still or running, in small numbers. 

 No author seems to have noticed the peculiar wavy appearance of the 

 scapulars and inner secondaries, which gives them a look as if they 

 had been crinkled. This is not noticeable in birds in inferior plumage 

 but is very conspicuous in newly-moulted birds during the breeding 

 season. 



Family Phaethonid^. 



(627) Phaethon flavirostris. — The White Tropic-bird. 



Hume, No. 997 : Blanford, No. 1534. 

 A single straggler of this species caught by Inglis on the Barak in 

 Cachar is the sole record of a Tropic-bird occurring in Assam, nor is it 

 likely to ever occur again. 



Order XVIII— HERODIONES. 



Sub-Order— Platale^. 



Family Ihididce. 



(628) Ibis melanocephala. — The White Ibis. 



Hume, No. 941 ; Blanford, No. 1541. 



Rather an uncommon bird, and I h3,ve obtained very few, either 



myself or through my collectors. 



(629) Plegadis falcinellus. — The Glossy Ibis. 

 Hume, No. 943 ; Blanford, No. 1544. 

 Fairly common, resident and breeds. In the extreme south of the 

 district I am told it is very common. 



