170 Mr. Blyth's Commentary 



quite similar to certain Bengal examples* {cf. Ibis, 1865, 

 p. 35). 



900. Metopidius indicus (Lath.); Parra melanochloris et 

 P. melanoviridis, Vieill., Gal. des Ois. pi. 264. 



Adults of this species are similar at all seasons, unlike those 

 of Hydrophasianus sinensis. This I can assert positively from 

 long-continued observation of the numbers of both species which 

 are brought almost daily during the greater part of the year 

 (more or less) to the bazar. I am unable to perceive any affi- 

 nity to the Rallida, on the part of the Parrida, in structure or 

 in habits, plumage, or the character of the eggs or chickf ; 

 and the Palamedeidce appear to me to approach rather the Spur- 

 winged Geese, and especially Anseranas. The anatomy and also 

 the eggs and young of the ParridcB indicate considerable rela- 

 tionship to the Snipes and Plovers, but most assuredly not to 

 the RallidcE. They stand, however, very much per se as an 

 isolated and strongly marked group. The eggs of both of the 

 Indian species of Jacana have been figured (Contrib. Orn. 1852, 

 pi. 89). 



901. Hydrophasianus sinensis (Gmel.) ; Vieill., Gal. des 

 Ois. pi. 265. 



This bird carries the back horizontally, the head sunk between 

 the shoulders (so that the crown is commonly on a level with 

 the back), and the long arched middle tail-feathers are well 

 raised, often more so than in Mr. Gould's figure (B. As. pt. vii.), 

 as may be seen in a stufied specimen which I sent to the Indian 

 Museum. 



* The whole of the Scolopacidoi enumerated by Riippell as occiu'ring in 

 North-eastern Africa, twenty-two in number (Syst. Uebers. p. 125), are 

 likewise met with in Lower Bengal, excepting J\%?«e/M«s arcuafus (replaced 

 by N. Kneati(s), Trim/a miiiuta (replaced by T. damacemis) , Calidris are- 

 narin, Gallinar/o major, and G. (equinoctialis ; of his twenty-four species 

 of Charadriadce, only GLdicnemus crepitans (?), jEgudites lescheiiaidti, JE. 

 indica (?), JE. cantiana, and ^. curonica, — Hcematopus being presumedly 

 different ; but the genera and subgenera are the same, excepting only that 

 of the Dottrel. ^. indica, Rlipp. (nee Charadrius indicus, Lath.), is C. 

 tricollaris, Vieill. (cf. Schlegel, Mus. P.-B. Cursores, p. 24). 



t Cf. P. Z. S. 1863, p. 613 : Ibis, 1864, p. 3G0. 



