LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. 331. 



tail-coverts pale ferruginous ; tail dark brown with narrow pale 

 tippings ; the third tail feather from the centre on one side only 

 has a large white spot on the basal half of the inner web. There 

 are indications of similar spots coming on the other feathers ; 

 wings the same colour as the tail, with a broad white patch on 

 the centre of all the primaries (except the first) and the 

 secondaries forming a most conspicuous wing bar very different 

 to the wing spot of P. inclica. The under parts are sullied 

 white, the bi'east being washed with rufous. 



Length, 6'5 ; wing, 3*5 ; tail, 2*4; tarsus, 1*1. 



Some months ago we noticed the occurrence of 6. maha- 

 vattensis in Bundlekund. We have now received a well-marked 

 specimen of this Goatsucker shot by Mr. Dale, C.S., near 

 Cawnpore. It was found among the clumps of rank grass upon 

 the dried up borders of a large jheel. It sat so closely that it 

 was only after beating three times through a small patch of 

 jungle with eight beaters that Mr. Dale succeeded in flushing 

 it. Two were seen, but only the male secured. We have care- 

 fally compared this and the Bundlekund specimen with all the 

 allied species, and have come to the conclusion that if they are not 

 C. maliarattensis, with which we identify them, they belong to 

 a species as yet undescribed. The measurements are identical 

 in both. Length, 9*1; wing, 6*8 ; tail, 43 ; expanse, 21*5. 

 It belongs to the group with bare tarsi, and the two outer tail 

 feathers tipped white. 



In his description of Meniceros bicornis Doctor Jerdon omits to 

 mention the difference in plumage between the adult males and 

 females and immature birds. 



The description given only applies to the adult male, and is 

 even in this case slightly incorrect. He mentions that all the 

 primaries are tipped with white, and the first three have a white 

 streak. From a large series now before us we find it an invari- 

 able rule that the two first primaries are blackish brown 

 throughout. It is the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th primaries that 

 are broadly tipped with white, and have a brownish white streak 

 on the outer webs. The head, face, and tail get blacker with age. 



In the female and immature birds the first six primaries and 

 sometimes the 7th want the white tips entirely, while on all, but 

 the first two, the whitish streaks are much more developed and 

 conspicuous than in the adult male. The casque also is lower 

 and more depressed lacking the sharp pointed horn. 



The specimens we have examined are from Umballa, the 

 Dhoon, Alighur, Muttra, Cawnpore, Bundlekund and Mysore, 

 most of them collected and carefully sexed by ourselves. — 

 C. H. T. and G. F. L. Marshall. 



