352



Mr. Frank Finn,



STRAY NOTES ON INDIAN BIRDS.


By Frank Finn.


{Continued from page 332).


Indian Roller. Coracias indica.


This bird usually hops when on the ground, but sometimes

walks a few steps; it stretches out the legs behind in flight. It

often moves its tail down, but not up. Nestlings are plantigrade,

though without well-marked heel-pad ; they move by alternate

steps, and can go backwards as readily as forwards. This Roller

has two calls, a single note like “ tchok” and a cackle, rather like

a laugh, uttered with head erect; even nestlings give this note.

This is one of the birds which cast pellets.


Indian Pied Kingfisher. Ceryle varia.


A specimen I kept had some white spots on the black tail-

band and some black on the white base of the tail, such markings,

according to Blauford, being characteristic of the African race.

I had it for a little time flying at large, having hand-reared it.

There were three in the batch I bought, all of which had two

gorgets—the sign of masculinity—but the second was a mere

line. This species runs when on the ground like our Kingfisher,*

and does not hop like the Laughing Jackasses (. Dacelo ). I noticed

the young birds moved their short tongues, which were fleshv-

red, freely, often licking their tips, as it were.


Common Kingfisher. Alcedo ispida.


I do not know where Howard Saunders got hold of the

information that this bird’s feet are “ reddish brown ” (Manual

of British Birds, second edition, p. 2S0); I should have thought

everybody knew they were bright vermilion-red, in the adult;

in the young they are dull black, as I have observed here as well

as in India, where this bird is very common and tame; one can

watch it as easily as one can a robin here.


Indian Stork-billed Kingfisher. Pelargopsis gurial.


Young birds have the beak, which is red in the adult,



* Of course Kingfishers seldom move about on their feet at all, but as I have noticed

the hopping- gait of the large species of Dacelo, I thought it as well to put on record the

difference in the movement of the others, as it seems strange that birds so much alike in

structure and general habit should show a difference in their gait, especially as they use

their feet so little.



