300 AVIFAUNA OF CHOTA NAGPUR. 



Dimensions in inches : — 

 Palamow $ Wing 6' ; tail 9' ; tarsus 15 ; bill from gape 14. 



Captain Beavan seemed inclined to refer his Manbhum speci- 

 mens to this species. It will require a larger series than I 

 possess to settle the question whether there are really two 

 species or not, prima facie it is improbable that two distinct 

 species exist together in Palamow as my specimens would seem 

 to show. 



In some parts of Chota Nagpur these birds are rather 

 common. When flushed from the ground amongst grass and 

 low bushes they generally fly to the nearest tree, through 

 which they climb in the same way as the Crow Pheasant. 



NECTARINIDjE. 



79.— JEthopyga miles, Eodg.? (225.) 



The Red Honey-sucker obtained by Colonel Tickell in 

 Borabhum, and named by him Nectarinia seherice, belongs 

 probably to this species or to JE. Vigorsii, Sykes, according to 

 Dr. Jerdon. 



That an JEthopyga does exist in Chota Nagpur I can bear 

 witness, as 1 saw one closely on one occasion when travelling 

 between Ranchi and Purulia. The exact locality was on the 

 ghat east of Jona. 



Colonel TickelPs description was as follows : — 



(i Male. — Length 4 inches ; crown burnished copper with green 

 reflections ; neck, back, and breast a deep blood carmine color ; 

 a stripe on each side of the throat from the under mandible 

 brilliant violet ; lower part of back yellow ; tail-coverts bright 

 green ; tail violet and green, blended with metallic lustre ; 

 quills dusky brown ; belly and vent dusky ; eyes, bill and legs 

 dark. This rare and elegant subject was procured near Seheria 

 in Borabhum, flitting about the low willow bushes in the dried 

 bed of a stream. It has no song, but a shrill chirp/' 



80.— Leptocoma zeylonica, Lin. (232.) 



The Amethyst-rumped Honey-sucker was obtained by Colonel 

 Tickell in Singhbhum and by Captain Beavan in Manbhum, 

 where he found it to be tolerably common. It breeds in March 

 and April. Captain Beavan gives a full account of the nidifica- 

 tion which will be found quoted in full in Mr. Hume's work on 

 that subject. 



81.— Araclinechthra asiatica, Lin. (234.) 



The Purple Honey-sucker is common throughout Chota 

 Nagpur. It is nearly always to be found on the parasitical 



