2 
IN SAMBALPUR AND ORISSA. 233 
Although stated by Captain Beavan to occur in Manbhum, I 
did not insert it in my list of Chota Nagpur birds, as I might 
doubtless have done with perfect safety. 
284.—Dissemurus malabaroides, Hodgs. 
The large Racket-tailed Drongo or Bhimraj occurs very 
abundantly in Sambalpur and Western Orissa, though it is so 
rare further north in Chota Nagpur. 
As much interest attaches to the subject of the distribution 
of the different races of this bird, I give a series of measure- 
ments from some of my specimens :— 
Length. Wing. Tail. Bill from gape. Tarse. Frontal crest. 
Rehrakole a eA 92" q”: fio +9" 1”-5 1”-2 Oy 
Sambalpur fg... 1975 6725 6” +675 17°75 Ul 21 
Ungule) @ 184, 67251, 6% . +64, 15 es ee Cai 
Talchir OheseamlSce GCS 6"°8 +6” SY f del EA, 
Ungul Or 2028) 1625 © 6" +77-9'. 16 17 oe 
Rehrakole 2 ... 20%15 675 676 +7755 175 1 15 
a 16” 3 6”: 6”: fe Al’& 1-5 1 TRS 
99 
2 2 E ' 16”°8 6”: 6-25 +48 12 5 \” 1”°6 
shot in January, and are probably birds of the previous 
season. 
It will be observed that the dimensions, though variable 
between individuals, do not appear to be influenced in any 
marked degree by sex. 
440.—Megalurus palustris, Horsf. 
Within the limits of the Sambalpur district, the Striated 
Marsh-bubbler is by no means uncommon; but it is, so far as 
my observation has gone, exclusively confined to the Tamarix- 
clad islets in the bed of the Mahanadi river. Towards 
evening numbers may, in some places, be seen hovering over 
the bushes, or seated on the exposed sprays and_ twigs. 
The vigorous chattering note of this bird can scarcely fail 
to attract notice. 
The feet and claws are, for the size of the bird, singularly 
powerful and raptorial-like. A wounded bird used his sharp 
claws with considerable effect and much in the same way 
that a Kestrel would have done under the same circumstances. 
512.—Calliope kamtschatkensis, Gme/. 
I shot one specimen, a female, of the common ruby throat, 
in the Ebe river in Sambalpur. Cyanecula suecica, though rare 
in Chota Nagpur, is common in Sambalpur. I obtained it both 
in the beds of the rivers and in paddy-fields. 
