262 FIRST LIST OF THE BIRDS OF 



in the factory compound in March, but they abandoned it. 

 This bird's note has a sharp metallic sound like " click" " click." 



171.— Gecinus striolatus, Blyth. 



8th December 1877, Male. — Length, 10*12 ; expanse, 14-25 ; 

 wing, 4*58 ; tail from vent, 3*66 ; tarsus, 1* ; bill from gape, 1*33 ; 

 at front, 1*12 ; closed wings fall short of end of tail. 2*16. 



10th March 1878, Female.— Length, 10'25 ; expanse, 14*0 ; 

 wing, 4'58 ; tail from vent, 3*50 ; tarsus, 0*80 ; bill from gape, 

 1*80 ; at front, l'lO ; closed wings fall short of end of 

 tail, 2*16; weight, 3*12 ozs. Iridesred; legs dingy green ; bill 

 yellow, with a dusky tinge above. 



23rd March 187 8, Female.— Length, 10*75; expanse, 15*0; 

 wing, 4*75 ; tail from vent, 3*58 ; tarsus, 0*83 ; bill from gape, 

 1*30 ; at front, 1*04 ; closed wings fall short of end of 

 tail, 2*08; weight, 2*87 ozs. Iridesred; legs dusky green; 

 bill, below orange, tip, dusky, above horny. 



Rather common and a permanent resident, as I have noticed 

 them all the year round. None of the three birds secured 

 showed signs of breeding on dissection. In the cold weather, when 

 passing a date tree from which the juice was running out, I 

 saw one of this species in company with a A. tristis and M. 

 terricolor, deliberately drinking the juice. The birds were so close 

 that bad I had a hunting whip by me, I could have knocked 

 them down. Although so close, the Woodpecker, who, I observed, 

 was drinking and not feeding on the flies and insects, generally 

 to be seen hovering over the juice pots, never noticed me, although 

 the other two birds flew away. They are very partial to date 

 trees. 



178. — Micropternus phaioceps, Blyth. 



14dh June 1878, Male. — Length, 9*75 ; expanse, 15*25 ; wing, 

 4*50 ; tail from vent, 3*08 ; tarsus, 0*68 ; bill from gape, 1*15 ; 

 at front, 0*86 ; closed wings fall short of end of tail, 

 1*83 ; weight, 2*87 ozs. Irides dark brown ; eyelids light plum- 

 beous ; legs greyish brown ; claws horny ; bill pale horny 

 black ; base of lower mandible plumbeous ; mouth, inside fleshy. 



14:ih June 1878, Female. — Length, 9'25 ; expanse, 15*25 ; 

 wing, 4*50 ; tail from vent, 3*0 ; tarsus, 0*70 ; bill from gape, 

 1*15; at front, 0*92; closed wings fall short of end of 

 tail, 1*50; weight, 2*5 ozs. Irides dark brown; eyelids light 

 plumbeous ; legs greyish brown ; claws horny ; bill blackish 

 horny ; base of lower mandible plumbeous ; mouth, inside 

 fleshy. 



Far from common. The above-mentioned pair I shot while 

 flying about the garden. The call is like the first two notes of 



