100 



56. Megalaima indica, Lath. Native name, Bassunta Lisora. 



Abounds in Rohilcund, and is also a visitant in the neighbour- 

 hood of Muttra. They generally occur in pairs, and I have seen 

 them in all high trees. 



The voice of this bird is certainly very remarkable : it begins in a 

 low tone, and gradually increases its pitct and its power until the 

 whole tree seems vocal with one full rich sound. This ubiąuity of 

 sound much deceives a person endeavouring to see the bird vvhich 

 causes it, as he may look to any part of the tree, and bis ear will 

 never guide his eye. Another deception is the smallness and green 

 colour of the bird, which hide it among the fohage ; and the lašt is 

 its immobility, for it remains fixed to one spot all the time it utters 

 its note. When not thus engaged, it runs up and down the tree likę 

 a Woodpecker, displaying its beautiful yellow and green clothing. 



57. Brachypternus aurantius, Linn. Native name, Sat- 

 Ranga. 



This "VVoodpecker is rather scarce here, but abundant in Bareilly. 

 It breeds once a year, in Asarh, laying three or four eggs of a light- 

 green colour in the hollows of trees. 



.58. Centropus rufipennis, lUiger. Native name, Mahūka. 



I have shot this bird in Muttra. Its flesh is good eating. It 

 is a very shy bird, and mušt be shot from an ambush. It movės by 

 hopping and sometimes walking stately as a crow. 



The Mahuha utters a ory in the moniing so likę that of an owl, 

 that I was long deceived by it. The only difference is, that the 

 kook, kook, kook, is pronounced a little more rapidly, and does not 

 end in a run likę that of the owl. The kook is uttered in a very 

 guttural tone, and one bird answers the other — malė and female. 

 The ory is uttered on trees : it makes it -vvith some effort, by swell- 

 ing out its throat and bending its head. 



On opening the stomach of a specimen shot, a lizard about the 

 length of the hand was fouud. This lizard was beautifuUy marked 

 with black bars, and is said to be intensely poisonous. My Bhustie, 

 a very respectable trustworthy man, said that he once knew of a 

 buffalo that died from the bite of this lizard, in its tongue. 



59. CoccYSTES MELANOLEucos, Gmel. Native name, Chdtdk 

 or Popiya. 



Visits the neighbourhood every hot season, and is now (May 22nd) 

 in the garden. It has been observed to rise high in the air long 

 before day, and utters its notes, which are very loud. I once shot a 

 specimen as it was sitting one evening on the bare ground, pecking 

 at some insects, while its mate sat on a low bushy tree close by. It 

 is not at all shy, for though my man and family stopped before it, 

 and though his gun flashed in the pan the first time, it did not fly 

 away. I have been informed that they go out for the day into the 

 jungle and return by evening. 



