436 AVIFAUNA OF CHOTA NAGPUR. 



In the Rajmehal hills I shot a specimen, in which the parts 

 usually ashy-grey are pure white. 



267.— Threskiornis melanocephalus, Lin. 

 (941.) 



The White Ibis is found in all parts of the Division, but in no 

 great abundance anywhere. 



In the adult bird the head and neck are nude and black. In 

 the young the head and neck are more or less clothed with 

 short white feathers, as pointed out by Dr.. Jerdon ; but there is 

 a phase of plumage which he does not mention. In this the 

 head* and neck are well clothed with black or very dark-ashy 

 feathers. One in this phase, which I shot (7th April 1867), 

 evidently a young bird, had only some of the quills tipped with 

 black, and the bare skin of the wing bones was black, not blood- 

 red as is the case in the adult. 



This specimen contained twelve frogs in its stomach. 



268 — Geronticus papillosum Temm. (942.) 



The Black Ibis is common in Chota Nagpur. It generally 

 occurs in flocks of from four to about twenty individuals. 



I have on more than one occasion seen this bird hotly pursued 

 by Kites on account of food which it had picked up. 



269.— Falcinellus igneus, Gm. (943.) 



The Glossy Ibis must be of very rare occurrence in Chota 

 Nagpur, as I only once saw a small flock of them on the wing. 

 In the neighbourhood of the Ganges close to Rajmehal it 

 appeared to be common. 



I have not heard of the Flamingo being obtained in Chota 

 Nagpur ; but it may very possibly occasionally occur there. 

 ANSERID^E. 



270.— Anser cinereus, Meyer. (945.) 



The Grey Goose is a rare visitor to Chota Nagpur. I have 

 only on a few occasions seen stragglers, never a flock. 



271.— Eulabeia indicus, Gm. (949.) 



I have only once seen and shot the Barred-headed Goose 

 in Chota Nagpur, in the Damuda river, December 1872. It 

 has been observed, I believe, in other parts of the Division, but 

 must be of rare occurrence. 



* There is a specimen of this phase in the Indian Museum, besides one in my 

 collection. 



