A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 255 



Female in hepatic phase of plumage, Valley, August. — Length, 

 \\'2 ', expanse, 18'5; wing, 6*7; tail, Q'O; tarsus, 0*7; bill 

 from gape, i'15; bill at front, 0*77 ; closed wings short of tail, 

 2-25. 



Upper mandible black ; lower mandible greenish horny, 

 yellowish at base ; mouth and gape bright orange ; margins 

 of eyelids deep yellow ; irides brownish golden ; feet ochre 

 yellow. 



Female, in a very dark stage of plumage representing Hbc?^- 

 sow'* saturatus, Valley, July. — Length, 11"7; expanse, 19'3j 

 wing, 6-9 ; tail, 6'3 ; tarsus, 0'76 ; bill from gape, 1'15 ; bill at 

 front, 0'74- ; closed wings short of tail, 2*5. 



Upper mandible black, lower green horny, dusky at tip ; 

 gape orange ; edge of eyelids green ; irides greyish brown ; 

 feet pale waxy yellow ; claws brownish yellow, horny. 



The Himalayan Cuckoo is fairly common in the valley from 

 May to September, but is found in far fewer numbers than 

 the common species. I do not know whether it resides there 

 permanently or not, but my impression is, that it migrates to 

 lower levels in the cold season. In May and June it is found 

 in tree forests, at elevations of over 7,000 feet, frequenting 

 the tops of high trees and continually uttering its peculiar call, 

 which the Parbatias render as " Kaifal pakyo^' (the Kaiphal 

 fruit is ripe) — a very good imitation of the cry. In August 

 and September the birds (principally young ones) are found 

 in the woods of the central part of the valley. 



205.— Hierococcyx varius, Vahl. 



Male, Adult, Bhawaniptir (Plains), December. — Length, 13'5j 

 expanse, 23*1 ; wing, 8 ; tail, 7*7 ; tarsus, 09 ; bill from gape, 

 1"2 ; bill at front, 0*85 ; closed wings short of tail, 3*3. 



Irides golden yellow ; feet pale yellow; claws yellowish 

 horny. 



Female, Adult, Valley, February.— -hength, 13 ; expanse, 22*5 ; 

 wing, 7*65 ; tail, 7*2 ; tarsus, I'O ; bill from gape, 1"25 ; bill 

 at front, 0*85 ; closed wings short of tail, 2'9; weight, 4 ozs. 



Bill green horny ; culmen and anterior part of upper mandible 

 black ; margin of eyelids gamboge yellow ; irides orange ; 

 feet yellow ; claws yellowish horny. 



Male, Young, Valley, April. — Length, 14; expanse, 23-5; 

 wing, 8 ; tail, 7*9 ; tarsus, 1 ; bill from gape, 1-3 ; bill at front, 

 0'95 ; closed wings short of tail, 3*3. 



Bill black on culmen and at tip, the rest green ; iris brown 

 yellow ; feet yellow. 



In this specimen the whole upper parts, including the outer 

 webs of the primaries and secondaries, are barred with rufous, 



33 



