374 Capt. R. C. Tytler on the Fauna of Barrackpoore. 



as well as the other well-known common species, G. stenura; 

 the only observable difference between these two species is the 

 curious pointed thin feathers under the tail of the latter. The 

 Jack Snipe of England, G. gallinula, is also abundant. The 

 next bird I have to mention is the pretty and beautifully marked 

 Rhynchea bengalensis ; they are called Painted Snipes : the habits 

 of this bird partake more of that of the Woodcocks than the 

 Snipe ; I have often shot them in bush jungle at some distance 

 from water ; they are excellent eating. I was fortunate in ob- 

 taining the egg of this species. The Metopidius indicus is also 

 common : the young of this bird differs much in colour from 

 the adult, so much so that they might easily be taken for dif- 

 ferent birds. The next closely allied genus is the beautiful Hy- 

 d?'ophasianus chirurgus ; this elegant bird is known as the Water 

 Pheasant ; they are very plentiful in marshes, where they may 

 be seen in company with the Metopidius indicus, running lightly 

 over the surface of the lotus leaves and other aquatic plants ; they 

 are always a timid bird. 



The curious Threskiomis meJanocephalus, the black-headed 

 white Ibis of sportsmen, is rare and is considered pretty good 

 eating; the adults have a naked black head and neck, whilst 

 the young arc feathered in those parts. The Tantalus leucoce- 

 phalus with its (jlegant pink feathers is also not unconmiou ; as 

 also the common Spoonbill, Platalea leucocephala ; this bird is 

 the same as the English species. I obtained a great many Ana- 

 stonia oscitans ; the young of this singular bird alone have their 

 mandibles entire, the edges of the mandibles of the adult being 

 invariably destroyed from their constantly breaking shells of the 

 AmpuUaria and other things they feed on. I only procured one 

 specimen of the Mycteria australis ; they are very rare, and one 

 of the finest birds we have of this group. The Ciconia leucoce- 

 phala is also found, but rare. The next I have to mention are 

 those well-known birds called Adjutants, from the circumstance 

 of their frequenting the vicinity of barracks, picking up bones 

 and offal thrown out to them ; the most common species is Lep- 

 toptilos argala ; they frequent towns and villages : Calcutta is full 

 of them, and they constantly visit Barrackpoore. The next of 

 this genus is Leptoptilos javanica ; 1 only saw one of this small 

 species, in a field near cantonments ; they invariably keep in open 

 country and seldom approach towns or villages ; they are distin- 

 guished from the other species by their inferior size and the 

 scale-like appearance of the feathers on their back. 



The Herons found here are but two, Ardea cinerea and A. pur- 

 purea, both common and identical with the English species. We 

 now come to the Egrets : Herodias alba, the largest species, is not 

 common, but Herodias intermedia, the next in size, is more so. 



