A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 299 



Its note greatly resembles that of 0. kundoo, but is louder and 

 less musical ; it also occasionally utters a rather harsh cry, 

 not Oriole-like, which is monotonously repeated. 



The occurrence of this Oriole, hitherto, only recorded from 

 the Burmese countries, in the valley of Nepal, is very interest- 

 ing. It seems strange that such a bird should have escaped 

 Mr. Hodg-son's researches ; and the fact that he never obtained 

 it is all the more remarkable, inasmuch as both my specimens 

 were shot in the Residency grounds where Mr. Hodgson dwelt 

 for so many years. 



472.— Oriolus melanocephalus, Lin. 



Female, Sal Forest between Bichiakoh and Semrabasa, Decem- 

 ler. — Length, 10 ; expanse, 16*3 ; wing, 5*45 ; tail, 3-9 ; tarsus, 

 0*97; bill from gape, 1-4; bill at front, 1-18; closed wings 

 short of tail, 1*2. 



Bill brownish red, paler at base ; irides carmine ; feet dark 

 plumbeous ; claws dusky. 



A young male shot at Parwanipur, in the plains of Nepal, 

 on the 20th December, agreed well with Jerdon's description 

 of the young of this species. 



The Bengal Black-headed Oriole was very common, in winter, 

 from the Hetoura Dun to Parwanipur in the plains. It was 

 common throughout the Sal forest, solitary or rarely in pairs, 

 and flew away before one from tree to tree. In the plains it 

 principally frequented mangoe-topes and pipal trees. It never 

 strays up to the valley of Nepal, I believe. 



474.— Oriolus trailli, Vig. 



Specimen shot at Nimhoatar in December. — Length, 10'8 ; 

 expanse, 17'1 ; wing, 5'95 ; tail, 4*3; tarsus, 1*0; bill from 

 gape, 1*45 ; bill at front, 1*3 ; closed wings short of end of 

 tail, 1-75. 



Bill pale bluish grey ; irides pale buffy yellow ; feet plumbeous ; 

 claws blue at base, pale horny at tip. Identical with specimens 

 from Darjeeling. 



The Maroon Oriole was only found at Nimboatar, in winter. 

 It frequented dense jungle on the bank of the Rapti, and only 

 single birds were observed. 



475.— Copsychus saularis, Lin, 



Three males, March and April. — Wing, 3*9 to 4*1 ; tail, 37 

 to 3'8 ; tarsus, 1'13 tol"2; bill from gape, I'O ; bill at front, 

 0'7 ; closed wings short of tail, 2*3. 



The third lateral tail feather has some black on the inner web 

 at the extreme base ; in the fourth tail feather the black runs 



