THE BIRDS OF THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 567 



It is difficult to get really fine skins of this species ; the broad tail 

 feathers are almost always in a more or less ragged condition. I caught one 

 of these jungle crows by hand which bad moulted neurly all its primaries 

 at the same time and was quite incapable of flight. A number used to get 

 caught in the snares (unbaited) which I set on the ground in jungle for the 

 Eed Rails (Canningi) ; when handled they fought fiercely, pecking extremely 

 hard and uttering a most crow-like cawing. At these times they erect the 

 whole of the plumage of the head and face to a remarkable extent, their 

 beautiful red eyes gleaming like rubies under the ruffled bristly feathers. 

 The iris is usually of a shade between scarlet and crimson ; Mr. Hume 

 mentions an example in which they were buffy white. 



A pair of eggs taken by Captain Wimberley in June from a tolerably high 

 tree in secondary jungle, are described as "broad ovals, very obtuse at 

 both ends ; in color a dull much-soiled white with very little gloss, and 

 measuring 1-32 x ri2, and 1 '33 x I'l." (Hume.) 



1137. Pal^ornis magnirostris, Ball, Blanf., Ill, p. 249 ; " Str. Feath.," 

 II, p. 176. 



Plentiful in the Andamans and Cocos, The habits in no way differ from 

 those of its allies. The biU of this parrot is simply enormous. 



1145. Palj.ornis fasciatus (Miill.) Blanf., Ill, p. 256 ;" Str. Feath.," 

 II, p. 180. 



Common in the neighbourhood of Port Blair : from Davison's remarks 

 it appeal's to be scarce in the other parts of Ihe groups, the cultivation round 

 the settlement probably making that part of the islands its head-quarters. 



1146. Pal.eornis caniceps, Blyth, Blanf., Ill, p. 258,- "Str, Feath.," 

 II, p. 178. 



This fine large parrot apparently only occurs in the southern groups of 

 the Nicobars, as Mr. Hume only met with them on Condal Montschsill and 

 the Great Nicobar, According to Davison it frequents the highest trees 

 has a peculiar long screeching note, and is very partial to the ripe fruit of 

 the pandanus. Nothing else is known of its habits. 



1147. Pal.eoexis erythrogenys, Blyth. Blanf., Ill, p. 258 ; " Str. 

 Feath.," II, p. 181. 



The Nicobar Eed-cheeked Paroquet is extremely plentiful throughout the 

 islands of that group. Davison found them breeding in February and March. 

 Car Nicobarese ; " talaka" or " talahi." 



1148, Palj^ornis tytleri, Hume. Blanf., Ill, p. 259 ; " Str. Feath.," 

 II, p. 184. 



Occurs throughout the Andamans, including Barren Island, Narcondam, the 

 Cocos, and Preparis. In the Andamans it seemed to me by far the commonest 

 parrot occurring there ; in December, I saw it in vast flocks of thousands 

 about the fields of ripe paddy, which it would utterly destroy except for the 

 watch kept by the convict cultivators. I was told most positively by one of 



