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Mr. Frank Finn,



of which are but very rarely imported, though the large Sulphury

Tyrant used to be fairly common, and some of this species have

come into the trade again of late.


Another is the Grey-backed Ouzel (Merula carbonaria),

which resembles a small blackbird with a grey back and the legs

yellow as well as the bill.


Mr. W. Frost has returned from the Aru Islands, with 50

Greater Birds of Paradise (.Paradisea apoda) collected, with other

specimens, for Sir William Ingram. These have remained at

Southampton, as it is intended to send them to Sir William’s

estates in Trinidad for liberation, but two fine males, an adult

and a young bird, are on deposit at Regent’s Park, together with

the rest of the collection, which includes some very good things.


Especially notable is a Flame - breasted Flower - pecker

(.Dicaeum ignicolle ) from Aru, a minute creature, blue black above

and cream-coloured below, with a wash of orange-red on the

breast. This species is new to the collection, as also appear to

be two Honey-eaters as yet undetermined. Another charming

novelty is a tiny Fruit Pigeon, the Eilac-crowned (Ptilopus

coronulatus), not larger than a Thrush, and having green for its

prevailing colour.



STRAY NOTES ON INDIAN BIRDS.


By Frank Finn.


( Co?iti?iued ftom page 301).


Himalayan Goldfinch. Carduelis caniceps.


This specimen was seldom to be had in the Calcutta

Bazaar in my time ; but on one occasion a number were on sale,

and I sent some to the Rondon Zoo ; these were, I believe, the first

to reach England alive.


Eastern Rinnet. A cant his fringillirostris.


This race—I cannot see that it deserves to be called a

species—has dark brown legs and bluish bill like our Rinnet ;

it also loses the red in captivity in India, as our bird does here.


The Himalayan Greenfinch. Hypaca?ithis spinoides.


I found the bird common at Darjeeling in April, 1898,

going in flocks.



