212 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



of wings, the wings internally, under tail-coverts, and lower sur- 

 face of the tail, bufF. 



Bill bluish-plumbeous, with black tip ; legs and feet dusky- 

 greenish ; irides deep yellow. 



Length 14 inches ; extent 18 ; wing 5^ ; tall 6, 3^ inches beyond 

 wing ; bill at front 1^ to If ; tarsus y'^^ ; weight 3;^ oz. 



This fine bird is found in the large and lofty forests of India. I 

 have found it in Malabar in several localities ; well up the sides 

 of the Neilgherries at least to 3,000 ft. ; in the Wynaad jungles; and, 

 on one occasion, on the Nackenai'y pass, leading from the Carnatic 

 into Mysore, at about 1 ,400 ft. It does not appear to occur in Central 

 India, but is not rare all along the Himalayan range, from the 

 Deyra Doon to Assam, Arrakan, and Tenasserim. I got it at 

 Darjeeling, at about 4,000 ft. high. 



It is generally solitary ; perches on high trees, whence 

 it sallies forth after its insect prey, which it seizes on the wing, 

 and then returns to its perch, or sometimes passes on to another 

 tree, wandering about a good deal. Its food is bees and wasps, also 

 scarabsei, cicada, &c. In general, it keeps to the deeper part of the 

 forests; but I saw it at Darjeeling on a dead tree, at the edge of a 

 clearing. Hodgson says that " they are of dull, staid manners. In 

 the Rajah's shooting excursions, they are frequently taken alive by 

 the clamorous multitude of sportsmen, some two or more of whom 

 single out a bird, and presently make him captive, disconcerted as 

 he is by the noise." I never heard its note, that I am aware of; but 

 Captain Boys, as quoted by Gould, says, 'This beautiful bird has a 

 peculiarly wild note, and is very difficult of approach.' It is stated 

 by the natives at Darjeeling, that this bird makes its nest in a 

 hole in a tree. 



Swainson's name, Nyctiornis, was given to it from the informa- 

 tion supplied to Sir W. Jardine, when he first described the bird, viz., 

 that it was partly nocturnal in its habits, and had a loud note, heard 

 much at night. This is doubtless an error, and the call of the Mega- 

 laima zeylanica was probably mistaken for that of the Nf/ctiornis. 



The other well-known species, N. amictus^ from ]\Iala}ana and S. 

 Burmah, has the pectoral plumes of a beautiful peach-pink color. 



