412 Mr. R. Svvinhoe on Amorj Ornithology. 



tops. They remained till dayliglit^ when they made off, appa- 

 rently in a northerly direction. The weather was calm and 

 misty. It is curious that these birds should prefer to make 

 their migrations over sea^ when the land is so near and so 

 much easier for them to travel along. 



Poliornis j)oliogenys, ? nearly adult. Length 17*5 in.; wing 

 13'4 in., almost extending to tip of tail. Tail rounded, of 

 twelve feathers, 8 inches long. Tarse 2*5 in., feathered for about 

 •3 in. down; middle toe and claw 1*75 in. ; inner toe shorter 

 than outer with largest of fore claws; hind claw somewhat 

 larger. Legs and toes orange, sole-pads dingier; claws blue- 

 black and sharp ; middle claw with the inner edge projecting 

 and cutting. Iris bright clear yellow, with a black outer circle. 

 Eyelids, culmen of cere, base of upper mandible, rictus, and 

 basal sides of lower mandible fine chrome-yellow, tinged with 

 orange. Lores advancing on bill, greenish-yellow, scattered 

 with fine blackish bristles. Bill brownish-black, with a central 

 zone of whitish at edge of cere, distinct, and not blending with 

 apical black. Roof of mouth bluish, rest of the inside flesh- 

 coloured. Tongue sulcated, narrowed towards tip, fleshy above, 

 bluish-horn below. Feathers supported a large louse somewhat 

 similar to that on the Milvus melanotis above mentioned. 



Rump, thighs, and belly covered with orange-coloured fat. 

 Trachea and bronchi with rings set well apart, membrane be- 

 tween ; on latter only half rings ; larynx composed of several 

 fine rings coalescing in rear and disconnected in front. Ovary 

 with large cluster of eggs ; oviduct wide and laid nearly straight. 

 Two white minute oval cseca, about "l in. long, occur on the intes- 

 tine, about 1*4 in. from anus. Intestine about 22*5 in. long, 

 from "1 to '25 in. thick. Proventriculus long and smooth. 

 Stomach oval, somewhat flattened at sides, greatest diameter 

 about l'3in. ; lateral tendons pretty strong. Epithelium fur- 

 rowed lengthwise, and coated with bright green oozy matter, 

 otherwise empty. 



Poliornis teesa (Franklin) has, according to Dr. Jerdon (B. Ind. 

 i. p. 92), the "iris pale brown or dun in the young bird, stone- 

 white in adults." Compare this with the colour of the iris as 

 above noted in our bird. 



