142 LANIAN.E. 



with black ; wings black ; the coverts black, with two large 

 white bars ; the primary quills with a white spot or bar near the 

 tip, on the first on the inner web only, on the others upon both 

 webs ; the secondaries and tertiaries with three, and finally four, 

 white bands ; tail with a broad white oblique band, about the 

 middle ; beneath the chin whitish ; the throat and breast pale 

 rufous-fawn, ashy on the sides of the breast ; abdomen white, 

 with black streaks and dashes ; under tail-coverts white. 



The European Hoopoe is a common cold weather visitant, 

 throughout our limits. 



Upupa ceylonensis, Reich. 



255. Upupa nigripennis, Gould. Jerdon's Birds of India, 

 Vol. I, p. 392 ; Butler, Guzerat ; Stray Fathers, Vol. Ill, 

 p. 462 ; Deccan, Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, p. 391. 



THE INDIAN HOOPOE. 



Length, 10'5 ; expanse, 18 ; wing, 5 to 5 '5 ; tail, 4 ; tarsus, 0'87 ; 

 bill at front, T8. 



Bill blackish, paler at base ; irides brown ; legs dusky-plum- 

 beous. 



Very similar to the last, but smaller, and distinguished by 

 the generally darker hue of the rufous of the head and crest, 

 and there is no white on the crest, the white wing-bands being 

 also smaller and less conspicuous ; the hind-neck and inter- 

 scapulars are deeper rufous, inclining to brown and less to ashy ; 

 the rump is dusky-black, with a downy- white ending to the fea- 

 thers ; the chin is rufous, and this color extends along the abdomen 

 to the vent with only a few dusky streaks on the lower abdomen ; 

 vent and under tail-coverts white. 



With the exception of Sind, the Indian Hoopoe is a not 

 uncommon permanent resident throughout the district. 



They nest from February to May, in holes in trees, banks, or 

 walls under the rafters of houses, and such like places ; the eggs 

 are five or six in number, and are of a pale greyish-blue color, some- 

 times olive-brown or dingy olive-green and intermediate shades ; 

 in shape, they are lengthened ovals, occasionally pointed at both 

 'ends. They measure 0'97 inches in length by 0*66 in breadth, 



FAMILY, Laniadse. 



Bill strong or of moderate length, notched or toothed at the 

 tip ; gape rather wide with rictal bristles ; tarsus short, strong, 

 usually with large scutse in front and on the toes. 



SUB-FAMILY, Lanianae. 



Bill strong, deep, more or less abruptly hooked, and the tip 

 strongly notched; wings moderate; tail moderate or long; 

 tarsus rather short, stout ; feet short, strong ; lateral toes nearly 

 equal; middle-toe short; claws sharp. 



