Blt Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 
20. Tue Kerxion (Képxuor). 
Lulabes religiosa, Linn; or £. intermedia, Hay.—The Hill Maina. 
By Alian®” we are told ‘‘there is another remarkable bird in India: 
it is the size of a starling, is parti-coloured, and is trained to utter 
the sounds of human speech. It is even more talkative than the 
parrot, and of greater natural cleverness. So far is it from submitting 
with pleasure to be fed by man, that it has rather such a pining for 
freedom, and such a longing to warble at will in the society of its 
mates, that it prefers starvation to slavery with sumptuous fare. It 
is called by the Makedonians, who settled among the Indians in the 
city of Boukephala and its neighbourhood, and in the city called Kuro- 
polis, and others, which Alexander the son of Philip built, the 
kerkion. This name had, I believe, its origin in the fact that the bird 
wags its tail in the same way as the water-ousels (oi KiyxAov).” 
Jerdon gives as the Hindustani name of £. religiosa in Southern 
India, kokin maina, which may be compared with kerkion. If this 
handsome and most accomplished musician and talker be not the bird 
referred to by Ailian, then I can only suggest some of the other less re- 
markable species of mainas (Acridotheres). 
21. GREEN-WINGED Dove (IleAcudés yAwpomrtidos). 
Crocopus chlorigaster, Blyth.—Green Pigeon. 
The green pigeons of India, which fly in flocks, and feed upon fruit, 
are often a puzzle to strangers now, as they appear to have been to 
Megasthenes, or whatever other author it was from whom lian 
derived his information. He says:* ‘‘One who is not well versed in 
bird-lore, seeing these for the first time, would take them to be parrots 
and not pigeons. In the colour of the bill and legs they resemble 
Greek partridges.” 
There are several species of green pigeons in India; but the one 
mentioned above is the commonest, and has the widest distribution. 
22. Cocks OF LARGEST SIZE (AAextpvoves peyioTot). 
Lophophorus impeyanus, Lath.—Monal. 
The monal pheasant must, I think, have sat for the following de- 
seriptive portrait by Ailian,* ‘‘ There are also cocks which are of extra- 
52 Hist. Anim., xvi. 1. Cf. J. W. M’Crindle. Megasthenes, p. 159. 
53 Hist. Anim., xvi. 1. 
54 Hist. Anim., xvi. 2. Cf. J. W. M‘Crindle. Megasthenes, p. 160; and 
Ancient India, p. 36. 
