OBSERVED ON THE PALANI HILLS. 393 



100.— Cypselus affinis, Gray. 



Observed at 3,000 feet a dozen or so, hawking just above the 

 tree tops. Bat the bird is evidently rare about the Palanis at 

 this season. 



102.— Cypselus batassiensis, /. E. Gr. 



Observed about Palmyra trees in Periakulam, near the 

 Eastern base of the Hills. 



104.— Dendrochelidon coronata, Tick. 



Obtained the only one seen, at the Eastern base. It was 

 young and the feathers of the head and back were mostly 

 dull grey or ashy. A few shining greenish blue feathers of the 

 adult plumage had begun to show themselves. 



* 112.— Caprimulgus asiaticus, Lath. 



Obtained one specimen on the Eastern base, and it was the 

 only Night-jar I saw during my five weeks' stay on the Palanis, 

 nor did I hear their calls in the night. I am at loss to ac- 

 count for this paucity of Night-jars. 



* 115.— Harpactes fasciatus, Gm. 



While on my way up by the trace of the new road, at 3,500 

 feet, I shot a Trogon, but he struggled in falling and went so 

 far down the hill side that we were unable to find him. The 

 next I saw was a female at the Eastern base of the Hills. She 

 was sitting on a branch near the ground, and remained so entirely 

 motionless that I looked sharply to be sure that it was a bird 

 at all. The examination convinced me that it was a Trogon, 

 and 1 took such care to avoid another failure, that her tender 

 skin was much torn by the shot. I saw but one more and 

 bagged him. He was sitting quietly on a high tree, at about 

 5,000 feet. He fell down plump. But the place was steep and 

 covered with large dry leaves. One would think, on lookino- at 

 his glowing rosy red breast and white-edged tail and blue bill, 

 that he must be easily found. But three of us looked for a 

 long time among the leaves and were about to give up the 

 search as strangely in vain, when he was found a little beyond 

 the limits in which we had expected to find him. He lay back 

 up and looked very much like one of the leaves. I think that 

 practice would teach one to find Trogons, and to distinguish 

 them, even when sitting motionless in the dark shade, simulat- 

 ing dry leaves; and then they would seem more plantiful. 



$ Shemiganur, 1st June. — Length, 12*5 ; wing, 5*0 ; expanse 

 16*0 ; tail, 7'0; tarsus, 0*6 ; bill from gape, 1*1 ; weight, 2'4oz. 

 Bill and orbit delicate small blue ; feet a lighter but similar blue ; 



