464 NOTES. 



Jerdon, which ranges through the peninsular of India and is 

 also found in Madagascar." 



The specific title fulva (Gra. S. N., I., 530, 1788) haa of 

 course precedence. 



In my notes on the Swan3 of India, p. 101, I accepted 

 Mr. Brooks' statement that the Swan obtained by Mr. Hodgson, 

 in Nepal, was Cygnus ferns. The drawing taken from the fresh 

 bird was not accessible at the time, and I saw no reason to 

 question my old friend's verdict. 



Having now obtained and examined this drawing, I am 

 constrained to say that in my opinion he is in error, and that 

 the species represented is G. bewickii and not C. ferus. 



In the first place the bill is shorter and deeper than that 

 of the latter ; in the second place the distribution of colour on 

 the bill is conclusive. 



Nearly the whole bill is black ; the terminal half of the bill is 

 entirely black ; on the basal half, the whole of the lower man- 

 dible is black, also the culmen and a broad band on either 

 side ; remain the triangular spaces in front of the eyes, and 

 similar triangles on the sides of the upper mandible (the two 

 triangles, base to base, forming a not very regular diamond,) 

 fleshy yellow. 



The entire plumage is snowy white, showing that the bird 

 was adult ; only the forehead and crown tinged with ferrugi- 

 nous buff- — a peculiarity commonly observable in these swans. 



Of course no adult ferus ever had the bill thus colored. I 

 have laid the drawing beside the heads of both ferus and 

 bewickii, and there can be no possible doubt that it refers to 

 the latter. 



While then bewickii must be admitted into our list, there 

 is no sufficient reason, at present, for including ferus. 



Besides the Clangula glaitcion which was obtained in Oudh, 

 (S. F., IV., 225) I see that Blyth remarks, " C. glaucion, was 

 obtained by Sir A. Burnes on the Indus, and is figured among 

 his drawings in the possession of the Asiatic Society." 



I have several times heard of Crex pratensis being obtained 

 in India, but I have never yet seen an Indian-killed specimen. 



Blyth says : (i The Crex pratensis is stated by the well-known 

 Indian sporting writer " Purdy" to have been once shot by 

 him in Oudh. I know of no other authority, for it as an 

 Indian bird, but have seen specimens from Afghanistan." 



Can any one give me any further reliable information as to 

 its title to be included in our List of the Birds of India ?" 



