400 



AVIFAUNA OF CHOTA NAGPUE. 



96.— Graucalus macei, Less. (270.) 



According to Viscount Walden Manbhum specimens of this 

 bird belong to Mr. Blyth's G. Layardi. At the same time he 

 states : — " Of the specific distinction of the last-named species I 

 am not yet quite satisfied, the question mainly turniug upon 

 whether the adult male (and female) always has the upper 

 part of the abdominal region barred instead of pure white." 



Mr. Hume, on page 204 of this volume, deals with the 

 question at length and expresses his disbelief in the distinctness 

 of G. Layardi. 



The Large Cuckoo Shrike is pretty generally distributed 

 throughout Chota Nagpur. Strange to say Captain Beavan does 

 not however record it. It seems to be fondest of mhowa trees 

 (Bassia latifolia). It readily flies from one tree to another in 

 order to escape danger. 



I have a good series of this bird from various localities. The 

 measurements and other particulars regarding some of which 

 are as follows : — 



Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill from gape. Breast plumbeous ; 

 (a) Hazaribagk<? 66 4-6 1" 



(6) Satpuras 



(c) Narsingpur 



(d) Manbhum 



66 51 

 6-85 52 

 63 5- 



•95 



•95 



(e) Narsingpur ? ? 65 53 



(/) Lohardugga? 

 {g) Assam S 



{h) Assam 



65 5-5 

 675 5-6 



58 



1- 

 11 



11 



1-4 



1-35 



13 



13 



1-3 



1-3 



1-6 



1-55 



abdomen and thigh-cov- 

 erts striated, passing into 

 albescent towards the 

 vent ; lores black. 



Similar. ■ 



Similar. 



Chin, throat, breast, 

 abdomen and thigh-cov- 

 erts striated, the ground 

 color being distinctly 

 white ; lores cbncolorous 

 with the top the head. 



Similar to d a« regards 

 striation, but the ground 

 color of throat and 

 breast is somewhat plum- 

 beous, not pure white ; 

 lores dark slaty. 



Similar to d. 



Throat, neck, and 

 upper breast plumbeous ; 

 lower breast, abdomen, 

 flanks and thigh-cove'-ts 

 striated ; lores very dark 

 slaty. 



Throat, neck, and 

 breast plumbeous, be- 

 neath pure white ; lores 

 dark siaty. 



