(Sir) 
differs from the general run of Pittas by its large, heavy, more or less 
hooked bill; wings are short and rounded, 5th, 6th and 7th quills 
the longest. This bird and Pittas keep much to warm valleys in 
the district and seem to dearly love a tropical sky. They prefer 
locations, near banks of our big rivers, Great Runjeet and Teesta. 
At times they take up their abode in luxuriant forests. Like our 
Indian mynas they are found frequently feeding on the ground, and 
are not unlike these birds in habits. Lepchas call them “Coloured 
mynas.” This species is 10 inches. It has a bright and beautiful 
verditer-blue wing-patch, resembling the white mark on the mynas 
wings; plumage, above, is dingy green; yellowish brown on the 
wings ; upper neck and nape verditer-blue ; under parts are rufous. 
(346) Pirra cucuLuata, Green-breasted Ground-Thrush, (Pitta). 
This beautiful bird is found, frequenting banks of our hill rivers 
at a low elevation. Appreciating, evidently, low lying undulating 
country or straths, river sides and Jhoras. Its bill is stout, of mode- 
rate size, slightly forked at the tip, and notched round the base. 
In size Cucullata is about 7 inches. This bird displays a variety of 
colours, above, plumage on the back is dark green, with a deep 
gloss; bright verdigris-blue on upper tail coverts, and a little of the 
same colour showing on upper parts of the wings; primaries, black 
with a conspicuous white wing patch; breast and underparts light 
green; under tail coverts bright vermillion; head dark, chesnut ; 
sides of the head and neck black. 
(345) Prrra BENGALENSIS, Vellow-breasted Ground-Thrush, is the 
common Pitta of the plains, where it is often met with near forests, 
avenues, and in clumps of trees, or foraging on the ground near 
village cultivations. The Hindu name for this ground-thrush is 
“ : clas : Orr ns toes ° Seay: Bo 
naurang: nine-coloured bird,” this will give an idea of the bright 
display of colour found on birds of this group. 
GENUS HYDROBATA, Water-Ouzels, (Dippers) 
Here we have a more typical bird of the district, with interest- 
ing characteristics and habits. One species is familiar with our hill 
streams. These birds generally procure their food from below the 
surface of the water. They appear to love the rushing torrents 
so frequently met with in the Himalayas. They usually, seem to 
carefully calculate the strength of the currents before venturing a 
dive into the turbid waters. These birds are strong on the wing, 
both in flights in the air and progression through deep pools of 
water, caused by the flow of the river, where they propel themselves 
under, surface of the water with startling rapidity. After the dive, 
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