1865. ] CAPT. R. C. BEAVAN ON INDIAN BIRDS. 691 
second—the Blue-throated Barbet (Cyanops asiatica, Lath.), and 
the small Crimson-breasted one (Xantholema indica, Lath.). I 
have heard these birds compared to a parson in a pulpit, from their 
peculiar habit of taking up an elevated position on a tree and, when 
there, turning their heads from one side to the other at each note 
uttered, just as if they were addressing an audience below. The 
Small Barbet, although the rarest here, becomes the most abundant 
species of its race when we get out of Lower Bengal into the up- 
lands of the Bancoorah and Maunbhoom districts, to the westward 
of Calcutta. We look in vain for our common Green Bee-eater 
(Merops viridis, Linn.), which is so abundant in the cold weather 
that almost every dead bough bears one. A careful examination 
shows a Bee-eater, which is, however, rather rare and diffieult of 
approach: this is a nearly allied species (M. philippensis), which 
during the rainy months takes the place of the commoner species 
(M. viridis), but not in such numbers. 
August Ist.—A stroll with the gun in the neighbourhood reveals 
a common Paddy-bird (Ardeola leucoptera, Bodd.) which, though 
so numerous, generally appears during the rains to have almost en- 
tirely forsaken us. It is a curious and interesting subject of inquiry 
this periodical migration of some of our commonest birds. With 
the country under water, the Heron and Egret tribes cannot, perhaps, 
get at their finny prey so easily as in October and November, when 
the water begins to dry up; but where do they go? is the ques- 
tion; and where do the majority breed? Some, doubtless, nest in 
various parts of Lower Bengal; but no observer yet seems to have 
come across a sufficient number of their nests to account for the vast 
numbers of birds one sees during the cold weather—not in flocks, as 
my words would seem to imply, but here and there, every little pond 
with three or four round its edges. Our common Magpie, or, more 
correctly speaking, Tree-Pie, is Dendrocitta rufa, Scop., which stays 
with us all the year round and breeds here. A Dove (Turtur sura- 
tensis, Gmel.) is frequently seen about bamboo jungles near the 
villages ; it is not very plentiful yet, but probably gets an addition 
to its numbers a few weeks hence by the arrival of others. About 
this date I observed large numbers of Parrakeets (Paleornis tor- 
quatus, Bodd.) of an evening, flying about the palmyra trees near 
the railway-station. They had evidently assembled in such large 
flocks to roost only ; for an examination showed their stomachs to be 
filled with grain or chenna, of which none grows in this neighbour- 
hood, and, even if it did, could scarcely be ripe yet. Many were 
young birds, with undeveloped tail-feathers. 
August 6th.—The small yellow Bulbul (Jora typhia, Linn.) is 
plentiful, questing for insects amongst the flowers of the acacia; it 
has much of the habits of the English Tomtit in the way it creeps 
about from bough to bough. Associated with it on the same tree, 
but much more on the wing, is that gem of our Indian Honey- 
suckers, Leptocoma zeylanica, Linn., approaching in its metallic hues 
the gorgeous Humming-birds of America. The station parade- 
ground yields a Lark which has apparently only just arrived and is 
