PYCNONOTINiE. 93 



shaped, of moss, lichens, and small roots, lined with hair and down. 

 The eggs are barely distinguishable from tlio.sc of the next bird, 

 being reddish white with spots of purplish or lake-red all over, larger 

 at the thick end. It lives chiefly on fruit and seeds, on the Neil- 

 gherries, robbing the gardens of peas, strawberries, &c. ; now and 

 then it takes insects ; and I have seen it come to the ground to 

 secure them. 



An affined race or species is found in Burmah and jMalay ana, 

 which dillers in having the rod whiskers shorter, truncated, and 

 of a much deeper crimson colour. It only reaches the basal third 

 of the white ear-coverts, whilst, in the Indian bird, it measures | 

 of an inch or more, and passes beyond the ear-covcrts. 



Bonaparte, in his Conspectus, applies the name of Linnaeus to 

 the race of Burmah and China ; and to the Indian species Ilod"- 

 son's name pyrrhotis ; he has also a third species, erythrotis, Bonap., 

 from Java. McLelland's Ix. vionticolns, which I procured from 

 the Khasia hills, does not appear to me to dilier from tlie Indian 

 race. 



Gen. Pycnonotus, Kuhl. 



Syn. Hcematoniis partly, Swainson. 



Char. — Bill moderately long, strong, tolerably curved, with 

 strongish rictal bristles ; legs and feet stout ; tail barely rounded, 

 almost square ; under tail-coverts red. 



With Gray, I have kept the genus Pycnonotus for the common 

 Bulbuls of India. These differ from the last in their darker plu- 

 mage, and in the want of the pointed crest. 



One of the following species is to be seen in every part of India, 

 and a nearly allied race in Burmah, and the Malayan provinces. 



461. Pycnonotus pygseus, Hodgson. 



HoRSF., Cat. 239— P. Bengalensis, Blyth, Cat. 1261— P. 

 cafer of India, auctorum — Bulhul, Hind. — Kala bulbul, Beng. — 

 Mancliph-pho, Lepch. — PaJclom, Bhot. 



The Common Bengal Bulbul. 

 Descr. — Head, nape, hind neck, chin, throat, and breast, glossy 

 black ; ear-coverts glossy hair brown ; from the hind neck dark 



