248 Sir R. H. Schomburgk on the Birds of Siam. 



believe that this species is described, and am not sure whether 

 the bird so curiously spotted is not changing its plumage or is 

 a young specimen. 



7. Upupa nigripennis, Gould. (Nook mon quau.) 



Our European Hoopoe is an elegant bird ; but although the 

 species found in Siam is not so large in size, it does not lose 

 much in comparison. They visited us during our sojourn at 

 Rahaing (southern boundary of the Lao country) while we were 

 staying at a 'Svat/' and there they came in large numbers. 

 The "wat" possessed some majestic fig-trees, which were their 

 general abode. They hopped about here from branch to branch, 

 or came to the ground looking out for insects, and then they 

 raised their crests and made themselves more conspicuous. Our 

 presence did not seem to interfere with their occupation while on 

 the ground. There was one of those which were daily frequen- 

 ters which, by malformation, had its beak like our Crossbill 

 {Loxia), and I was perfectly astonished to see with what ease it 

 nevertheless picked up its food. 



8. Anthreptes lepida (Lath.). 



I will extract a passage from my journal up the Menam* re- 

 specting this beautiful bird : — " Since we left Consawan (literally, 

 * Place of Heaven ') I have not noted a single palm-tree ; on the 

 other hand, the coral-trees {Erythrina indica and E. fulgens) 

 abound, and, as they are just now in flower, offer a very gor- 

 geous appearance. This genus, like several other tropical plants, 

 has the peculiarity of clothing itself in masses of bright flowers 

 before any leaves appear ; in this instance scarlet and pink are 

 the prevailing colours, and not a green leaf is to be seen. 

 Numerous insects are buzzing around its flowers ; and splendid 

 Sun-birds {Nectarinice), the representatives of the Colibri or 

 Humming-bird of the western tropics, are flitting about, sipping 

 the honey of its blossoms. 



" The metallic lustre of the coat of this lovely bird is of a 

 greenish colour ; the secondaries of the wing the same, edged 



* A full account of Sir Robert Schomburgk's interesting journey to 

 Xiengmai, in the Laos States, will be found in the ' Journal of the Asiatic 

 Society of Bengal,' 1863, p. 387.— Ed. 



