'iieO JOUIiXAL, BOMBAY NATURAL JUST. hiOClETY, Vol, XXI. 



No. XII.— THE PAliADISE FLYOATCHEll ( TEliFSiriTONE 

 FARADISI). 



It is a curious thing that hitherto, as far as I am aware, the statement in 

 the Fauna, Vol. II., p. 4o, regarding members of the genus Terpsijihonp 

 ''never descending to the ground," and their notes being " very harsh," has 

 remained uncontradicted. So long ago as 6 years I noted that the song 

 of the Paradise Flycatcher was in keeping with its aj^pearance, and 

 I regret that in notes on this species subsequently pviblished I have omitted 

 to correct the misstatement in the Fauna. 



The song of T. paradisi is a series of sweet liquid notes descending 

 the scale, then running up at the end and repeated o or 4 times. Al- 

 though short it cannot fail to give pleasure to all who hear it, and can 

 rank as a fine bird song. In Kashmir the song is continued up to the end of 

 September if not later. I have seen this flycatcher descend to the ground 

 on three occasions at least. 



I trust that this belated note will serve to vindicate the character of 

 T. jyaradisi at any rate . 



H. A. F. MAGKATH, Majoii. 



KASHiiiu, September 1911. 



Xo. XIII.— THE CRAG MARTIN (PTYOXOFIiOGXF JiUPFSTBIS). 



The fact that the Crag Martin is subject to a seasonal movement along 

 the Himalayas does not appear to have been noticed by Gates in the 

 Fauna, Birds, Vol. II, p. 274, but there is no doubt that it is so. 



Jerdon speaks of it as a " bird of passage," and writing more than 40 

 years ago Hume remarked that '•' on many of the higher hills south of the 

 snowy range, it seems to a great extent to be a permanent resident, not at 

 any rate migrating <??« maase from the country, but, as a rule, only retreat- 

 ino" lower down the valleys in the cold weather ; some few, however, during 

 the latter season being met with in the higher hills of Central India and 

 Raiputana. On the Neilgherries there appears to be a permanent resident 

 colony." (Lahore to Yarkand, p. 177). As regards Chitral it is said to be 

 a common summer visitor, appearing about the middle of April, and 

 remainino- till October. It breeds at all elevations there from 4,500 feet up 

 to 13,000 feet. (J. B. N. H. S., Vols. XVI and XIX, pp. 55 and 914 

 respectively). 



In the neighbourhood of Simla (7,000 feet), these Martins are usually to 

 be seen in immense flocks about the third week in March (earliest date 

 19th March), and then again about the middle of October. On their 

 arrival here, the Jungle Crows commit great depredations amongst them, 

 and literally speaking gorge themselves on these helpless birds. I should 

 think that very large numbers of them must come to grief in this way. 



