STRAY FEATHERS. 



Vol. I. ] FEBRUARY, 1873. [ Nos. 2 & 3. 



List of Birds known to occur in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 

 hy V. Ball^ B. A.J Geological Survey of India. 



The following is an attempt to present a complete list of all 

 the species of birds which are at present known to occur in the 

 Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The association of the two 

 faunas in one list is to be defended rather upon political than 

 zoological grounds; for, if we except a few species which occur in 

 both groups of islands, the avifaunas may be regarded as dis- 

 tinct. The Nicobarian avifauna has a Malayan facies_, while 

 that of the Andamans is decidedly Indian. 



Of the 133 species included in the following list, 106 occur in 

 the Andamans, and 51 in the Nicobars. Such of them as are 

 to be found in Dr. Jerdon^s "Birds of India ""^ are not here de- 

 scribed ; but of all Others the original descriptions are given in 

 full, together with any observations, measurements, &c., which 

 may have been subsequently recorded. 



Many of the species are, I am fully aware, susceptible of 

 more critical treatment than they have received at my hands. 

 But, whatever faults it may contain, I am inclined to be- 

 lieve that the publication of this paper will be of some service, 

 as bringing together a number of original descriptions which, 

 being scattered through various publications, are not readily 

 accessible. 



The principal contributors to our knowledge of the ornitho- 

 logy of the Andamans and Nicobars are — 



E. ^istTR, Journal, A. S. B., Vols, xiv to xix; — Ibis, 1863 

 and 1868; and Appendix to Mouat^s Adventures and Besearches. 

 Colonel^TYUS^, Journal, k.. S. B., Vol. xxxiii, and Proc, 

 A. S. B., 1865. 



Captain Beavan, Ibis. N. S., II, 1866, and N. S.,III, 1867. 

 Viscount Walden, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1866. 

 Herr v. Pelzeln, Reise der Novara, Vogel. 



