AVIFAUNA OF CHOTA NAGPUR. 423 



gravelly soil. Its habits are so well known as not to require 

 notice here. 



197.— Calandrella bracliydactyla, Temm. 

 (761.) 



The Short-toed Lark is, according to Captain Beavan, " common 

 in Manbhum in the cold weather. Specimens killed at Kashur- 

 gurh have a large blackish patch on each side of the breast 

 above." 



I met with it in vast flocks in March and April on the grassy- 

 plains of Sirguja. 



Measurements in inches : — 



Sirguja, sex ? Wing 3'8 ; Tail 23 ; Tarsus -75; Bill from gape -65 

 ™ ' >» 3'7o „ 2* „ *75 „ „ ,, *65 



Alanda gxdgula very possibly occurs, but neither Captain 

 Beavan nor myself obtained it.* 



TRERONIM]. 



198.— Crocopus phcenicopterus, Lath. (772) 

 and C. chlorigaster, myth. (773.) 



Most of my specimens of Green Pigeons belong to the 

 latter species— if it be really a species distinct from phcenicop- 

 terus, which I am almost tempted to doubt ; as others, as well as 

 myself, have been puzzled to separate them and have endea- 

 vored to account for the transitional forms by supposing that 

 they are hybrids. 



Some few of my specimens are nearer the type of phcenU 

 copterus than of chlorig aster. I have, for example, one from 

 Sirguja which no one could hesitate to consider to belong to 

 the same species as a Sikhim bird also in my possession. 



Dr. Jerdon gives phcenicoptems as the species found by 

 Colonel Tickell in Chota Nagpur, and Captain Beavan accepted 

 this identification in reference to his Manbhum specimens, 

 though at the same time he points out his inability to distin- 

 guish them by the published descriptions. 



199.— Osmotreron bicincta, Jerd. (774.) 



The Orange-breasted Green Pigeon Captain Beavan found a in 

 some abundance near Ambeekanuggur (Manbhum) in December 

 1864." Two of his specimens are now in the Indian Museum. 

 I cannot account for my never having seen the bird. Indeed 

 until I saw Captain Beavan's paper, I had no idea that it 

 occurred in any part of Chota Nagpur. 



* See Addenda. 



