Letters, Announcements, ^c. 357 



To a most remarkable species that I have met with in the 

 intei-ior of the Hiiiialayahs, and of which I have also sent a 

 specimen, I provisionally give the name of Phyllopneuste 

 MACRORHYNCHA ; but it wiU have to be generically separated. 

 It resembles P. raina in size and plumage ; but the bill is enor- 

 mous, reminding one of Rhinochetus. 



I must also mention that I entertain no doubt of the Sa^i- 

 cola so common in Upper India, and heretofore identified with S. 

 cenanthe, being really S. isabellina, Riipp., S. saltatrix, Menetr. I 

 have, however, another nearly allied species which may be the 

 true S. cenanthe. 



I think I ought to notice that Rollulus superciliosus * is not 

 very uncommon in the cold weather in the immediate neighbour- 

 hood of Capt. T. Button's house at Jerepanee, Mussouri. That 

 gentleman procured three specimens this year. They frequent 

 high grass, are exceedingly difficult to flush, and drop again within 

 three or four yards ; so that the only way to shoot them is with 

 a pistol. I owe this information, as well as the specimens that 

 adorn my collection, to Capt. Hutton. He further mentions that 

 they are migratory, only remaining a month or so, but that 

 whence they come — whether from the north or the south, from 

 the interior of the hill-country or the Dhoon — he has, as yet, 

 been unable to satisfy himself. 



The species of Budytes are most troublesome. I hope M. 

 Verreaux may be able to do something with them ; I have sent 

 him five species at least, and I have two others. It seems that 

 B.flavus, B. rayi, B. auricapillus, B. melanocephalus, B. chiereo- 

 capillus, and B. viridis all occur here ; but without a good series 

 of European examples with which to compare ours, it is impos- 

 sible to be certain. 



Lastly, Dr. Jerdon writes to me that he has found Tadorna 

 scutellata common in the Burrampooter, shy and wary, keeping 

 to the middle of the river, in flocks of from twenty to forty. 



Yours, &c., 



A. O. Hume. 



* [C/. Ibis, 1867, p. 313, 1868, p. 472.— Ed.] 



NT. S. VOL. V. 



2b 



