1897.] F. Finn — On some noteworthy Indian Birds. 523 



On some noteworthy Indian Birds. — By F. Finn, B.A., F.Z.S., Deputy 

 Superintendent of the Indian Museum. 



[Received April 1st, Read April 7th, 1897.] 



In the present paper I deal with a few occurrences of Indian birds 

 noteworthy either on account of the rarity of the species, or by reason 

 of their presence outside their usual limits. Most of the specimens 

 alluded to are in the collection of the Indian Museum. 



I follow the nomenclature and arrangement of the British Museum 

 Catalogue of Birds. 



Bhytidoceros narcondami. 



When at the Andamans in April, 1896, I obtained, through the 

 kindness of Majors Temple and Graham, and Lieutenant E. C. Doughty, 

 fonr specimens of this rare species, which had been recently obtained 

 on Narcondam. The skins had been only roughly prepared, and not 

 sexed, but the plumage and dimensions show them to be those of two 

 males and two females. They are all moulting. 



The colouring corresponds well with that given by Mr. Blanford 

 (Fauna of British India, Birds, Vol. iii, p. 149), and Mr. W. R. Ogilvie 

 Grant (Gat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. xviii, p. 386). The tails are dirty, 

 this no doubt being the grey stain noted in the British Museum catalogue 

 description. 



I take this opportunity of expressing my obligation to the Andaman 

 residents for the kind hospitality and assistance afforded me on my visit 

 to the Islands. 



Phasianus humide. 



In December last Lieutenant-Colonel H. St. P. Maxwell, of the 

 Indian Staff Corps, very kindly presented to the Museum a skin of this 

 rare Pheasant, which lie had obtained in the preceding mouth at Kairong 

 in Manipur. 



The specimen, which is in the plumage of the adult male, agrees 

 very well with the description in the British Museum Catalogue of Birds, 

 Vol. xxii, p. 336, and with Mr. Hume's original description (Stray 

 Feathers, Vol. ix, p. 461), except in that the longer upper tail-coverts 

 are not plain grey, but are crossed by narrow dull chestnut bars. 



Colonel Maxwell's specimen differs much more from a fine male 

 from the Ruby Mines, the only other example of this species which the 

 Museum possesses, being that mentioned by Mr. W. L. Sclater (see Ibis, 

 1891, p. 152). 



J. ii. 66 



