942 JO URNAL, B 0MB A Y NA TURAL RIST. SOCIETI, Vol. XX VII. 



about twenty feet up in a dead Erylhrina lithospsrmi. The entrance hole 

 was about 6" in diameter I observed the birds at work for a few days but 

 they unfortunately abandoned the nest. 



Early on the morning of the 7th March I noticed a female Black Woodpecker 

 emerge from a hole in a dead GreviUea robust a. Hoping to get the eggs (or 

 egg) I told a cooly to go up and if there were any eggs to bring them to me. 

 On my return in the evening from a distant Estate which I visited, I found 

 two half dead naked nesthngs the man had brought to me, much to my 

 disgust. However it was useless putting them back so I have made a spirit 

 specimen of one and carbolized the other and send them to the Society. The 

 nest was some twenty feet up the tree again and the entrance hole had a 

 diameter of over 6". The hole was 2 J" deep and unhned. There wore two 

 nestlings, it will be noted. The "Fauna" thought only one was likely to be 

 found. 



These grand woodpeckers are quite common up here. They move about 

 as a rule only in the early morning and late evening. They appear always in 

 pairs and call to one another in a curious, plaintive, metallic clang, which is 

 I'emotely reminiscent of a seagull's note. They also possess a laugh, only 

 uttered in flight. 



46. Hemicercus canente. — The Heart-spotted Woodpecker. Common. 



47. Thereicerijx viridis. — The Small Green Barbet. Very common. 



48. Xantholcema malabarica. — The Crimson-throated Barbet. Very common. 



49. Merops philippinus. — The Blue-tailed Bee-eater. Very common on 

 the Northern slopes. 



50. Mellitophagus swihoeii. — The Chestnut-headed Bee-eater. Common 

 on the Northern slopes. 



51. Dichoceros bicornis. — The Great Hornbill. Very common. Occasionally 

 flies at a great height for very considerable distances. 



52. Anthracoceros coronalus. — The Malabar Tied Hornbill. Very common. 



53. Lophoceros griseus. — The Malabar Grey Hornbill. Verv common. 



54. Alcedo ispida. — The Common Kingfisher. Very rare. The few perrenial 

 streams of the plateau country are the only places where an occasional King- 

 fisher may be seen. 



55. Upapa indica. — The Indian Hoopoe. Not common, they usually haunt 

 certain favoured localities, in pairs. 



56. Cypselus melba. — The Alpine Swift. Common during the cold weather. 



57. Chcetura indica. — The Brown-necked Spine-tail. Common during the 

 cold weather. 



58. Macropteryx coronata. — The Indian Crested Swift. I have found it 

 during the cold weather. 



59. Harpactes fasciatus. — The Malabar Trogon. Common. I notice that the 

 Malabar Trogon has a curious habit while perched, of expanding and elevating 

 its tail giving voice the while to a low twittering creak. As I have not 

 observed this before it is possibly a courting display. The tail of course is often 

 expanded in flight. I noticed this bird the other day pecking some insect off 

 the leaves of a jak (Ariocarpus integrifolia), while so employed, it hovered for 

 a few seconds like a huge honeysucker and was a glorious sight. 



60. Palceornis colomboides. — The Blue-winged Paroquet. I believe the only 

 paroquet up here. 



61. Loriculus vernalis. — The Indian Loriquet. Very common. 



62. Asio accipitriniis. — The Short-eared Owl. Very rare indeed. We have 

 an owl which I have been unable so far to indentify, known to the coolies as 

 the Pisasi or devil. It's shrieks are indeed diabolical and heard for the 

 first time are truly terrifying. 



63. -Ictinaetua malayensis. — The Black Eagle. Very common. 



