Letters, Amiouncemenis, &;c. 147 



Plover [Lubivanellus goensis) , which breeds there abundantly, can 

 be distinguished from them by : — 1st, the nest, the Plover never 

 making any; 2nd, the size, which is slightly smaller, and 

 the shape, which is more attenuated at one end ; and, 3rd, by the 

 markings, which are less numerous and more clearly defined. I 

 may add that the eggs of the Stilt, of which we collected nearly 

 one hundred, appear to want entirely those faint inky purple 

 secondary markings so conspicuous in the eggs of most of our 

 Indian Plovers and Terns. 



Yours, &c., 

 Allan Hume. 



Shillong, 24th October, 1869. 



Sir, — Among other interesting specimens seen by me in 

 Upper Assam was a living specimen of a Ceriornis which I be- 

 lieve to be C. temmincki. It is found in the hill-ranges towards 

 the head of the valley, descending (it is asserted) occasionally 

 to a rather low level. It is called " Sun-suria" by the natives, 

 which means the " Golden bird.^' The specimen subsequently 

 died, and I obtained the skin, which I will describe in a short 

 paper I am preparing on some of the birds of Assam for your 

 journal ; but I wish to send this note off at once. 



Another still more interesting species, brought alive from the 

 Mishmi hills, is a species of Monaul or Lophophoras. When I 

 first saw it, it was in such wretched plumage that, although I 

 considered it to be distinct from the Himalayan species, I was 

 unable to describe it. It is now here at Shillong, on the Khasia 

 hills, alive and in good health, though not in my possession, and, 

 as it has very recently assumed its tail-feathers, I am able to pro- 

 nounce it decidedly to be distinct from L. impei/anus. I have 

 not seen the description of L. Ihuysi, lately discovered in 

 Northern China, and therefore I cannot speak positively as to 

 its distinctness from that bird ; but I will give a brief descrip- 

 tion of it, which will enable you to say whether it be L. Ihuysi 

 or no. The crest in this example is entirely wanting ; bul the 

 feathers of the head are much abraded and the skin injured. 

 The whole upper surface of the head, neck, upper part of the 

 back, and wings is glossy blue-green, wanting (at present) the 

 rich golden and pale green feathers of the hind neck of L. im- 



