Capt. R. G. Tytler on the Fauna of Barrackpoore. 3G5 



some doubts whether I am right in placing it here — perhaps, in 

 many respects, it is more nearly allied to B. tamatia, &c. 



Spix^s specimens came from high up the Amazons, I expect, 

 as Tschudi found the bird in Eastern Peru. An example in my 

 collection has every appearance of a Bogota skin. 



[To be continued.] 



XXXI. — Observations on the Fauna of Barrackpoore. By Capt. 

 Robert C. Tytler, of the 38th Regiment Bengal Light 

 Infantiy. 



SixcE the following observations will in all probability be 

 uninteresting to most readers, I give them expressly for the 

 assistance and guidance of those who visit Calcutta from foreign 

 ports, and are desirous during perhaps a limited stay to procure 

 specimens of natural histoiy belonging to Bengal, and which 

 frequently without their own personal exertions they are unable 

 to do ; I therefore select the fauna of Barrackpoore (a pretty 

 mihtary' station) and its immediate vicinity, where I resided for 

 upwards of two y^ears, thus having ample opportunities to render 

 myself tolerably familiar with the birds and small mammalia 

 that belong to or occasionally visit this ])art of Bengal. 



The distance from Calcutta to Barrackpoore is fifteen miles. 

 The road is planted on both sides with tall superb trees, and it 

 is chiefly on this road and its ^icinity that I obtained or observed 

 the specimens which form the subject of my observations; other 

 genera and species besides those enumerated by me have been 

 occasionally collected, but these I shall omit mentioning as they 

 did not fall under my immediate observation, and solely confine 

 myself to those that did. 



I shall therefore begin with the Palaomis torquatus, the com- 

 mon ring-necked green or Mango Parrot of India ; it is very 

 common, as well as the elegant red-headed Palaornis cyano- 

 cephalus ; the latter is difficult to obtain, from being so con- 

 stantly persecuted by native bird-catchers ; the females have a 

 bluish-coloured head. The Palaomis barbatus is to be had, but 

 very rarely ; I only obtained two specimens ; besides these three 

 species, I have seen no other of this genus. 



I shall now proceed to the Raptores, and commence with the 

 Hypotriorchis severus, a beautiful little species and uncommon. 

 Tinnunculus alaudarius, which is the same as the European 

 Kestril, is common. The Elaniis melanopierus is often met with, 

 as well as Hamatomis cheeln ; this latter is a noble crested bird, 

 found near marshes, where abundance of the Circus <eruginosus, 



