The Common Birds of the Palni Hills 



of the hills. But as Fairbank observed it in 

 the Palnis as high as 5000 feet, it is given a 

 place in this list. Cock : Head and shoulders 

 slaty grey, lower back deep scarlet, wings black 

 with red bar, tail black with red at tip, chin 

 and throat blackish, breast scarlet ; lower 

 plumage orange yellow. Hen: upper parts 

 grey, lower parts creamy white, wing brown 

 with yellow or orange bar, tail black with red 

 tip. 



This species is smaller than a sparrow, but 

 the tail is 3 inches long. 



THE ORIOLID^ OR ORIOLE FAMILY 



20. Oriolus melanocephalus. The black- 

 headed oriole. This species has been seen as 

 high as 5000 feet above the sea-level. The 

 cock is bright yellow, with a black head and 

 some black in the wings and tail. The hen is 

 of a much duller yellow and has the back 

 tinged with green. 



THE STURNID^E OR STARLING FAMILY 



Fairbank does not mention the jungle myna 

 {J&thwpsar fuscus) in his list of the birds of the 

 Palnis (Stray Feathers, vol. v, 1877). Yet 

 239 



