132



Mr. Pelham T. L. Dodsworth,



female looks quite dull compared with him. The prevailing

colours are dull leaf-green and yellow-green or orange, with a

sprinkling of ash and maroon above, but there is nothing gaudy in

the plumage : each shade blends wonderfully with the others, and

to really appreciate the bird, one must have it in the hand. In

my opinion, the descriptions of the Kokla, which are given in the

various text books on Indian Ornithology, convey only a faint

impression of the bird’s plumage, but I prefer Bianford’s account

to that of any other : “ Male. Head, neck, and lower plumage

yellowish green, tinged with rufous on the crown, and with

orange and a wash of pink on the upper breast ; upper back

greyish, passing into maroon-red on the middle of the back and

lesser wing-coverts ; rump, upper tail-coverts, median and large

wing-coverts, and exposed portion of tertiaries olive-green ;

primaries and secondaries blackish, both they and the greater

wing-coverts narrowly bordered outside with yellow; upper sur¬

face of tail olive green like rump, the outer feathers more and

more grey, lower surface of wings and tail dark grey; lower

flanks and thigh-coverts dark green with pale yellow edges;

lower tail-coverts varying from pale cinnamon to buff. The

female lacks the orange on the crown and breast, and the maroon

on the back and wings, the latter parts being dark green like the

rump ; under tail-coverts dark green with broad buff borders.”


The bill is dull smalt-blue, the horny portion pale blue;

the orbital skin pale smalt ; the hides with an inner ring of pale

bright blue, and an outer ring of buffy pink; the tarsi and feet

are coral red ; and the claws light-brown horny, darker at tips.


The following are the measurements of a large series of

birds : —



Length



varies from



I 3 "



to



14"



Expanse



5 > 55



VO


GO



to



21-3"



Wing



5 5 5 >



- 6 - 5 "



to



7 ' 5 "



Tail from



vent ,, ,,



•• 5 - 25 "



to



6'



Bill from



g a P e „



.9"



to



i*i'



Tarsus



J 5 5 > '



•84"



to



■9



Weight 7-8 ozs.


In this species the female is the slightly smaller bird.


The Paharee name for this bird is “Kainal,” and the Hindi

“ Kokla ” or “ Kokila.”



