

1871.] A. C. McMaster — Notes on Central Indian Birds. 211 



alike in plumage ; on this point I agree with Mr. Blanford. The 

 sex of the specimen I shot at Chikalda was not ascertained, but 

 the two birds seen appeared to be a pair, and were alike in plumage. 

 (Berar Gazetteer, page 57). 



No. 342. Myiophontjs Horsfieldii. — Jerdon says that this fino 

 thrush is " found throughout the forests of Southern and "Western 

 India, from near the top of the Neilgherries (6000 feet) to almost 

 the level of the sea * * * * ; but it is not found in any of 

 the forests of the Eastern Ghats, nor in Central or Northern India. 

 It especially delights in mountain torrents ; and if there is a 

 waterfall it is sure to be found there." I got a pair of these very 

 handsome birds, being first attracted by their fine clear notes, in 

 a dry bed, which in the rains must become a torrent and waterfall, 

 a short distance beyond James' point, about three miles west of 

 Chikalda. Others will probably be seen. The birds at this sea- 

 son (May) are wary, and difficult to watch. (Berar Gazetteer, 

 page 57). 



No. 345. Pitta Bengalensis. — I killed one in my garden at 

 Kamptee on the 2nd of October ; I have known three cases of 

 these birds taking refuge in houses as described at page 504 of 

 Jerdon's work. 



No. 351. Petrocossyphus cyaneus. — One of these silent and 

 solitary birds may be seen in almost every village in the Wurda 

 district in December. Both of the houses I occupied at Kamptee 

 had one which sheltered itself under the eaves during the cold 

 season. In Burma, this is the tamest and most confiding bird I 

 have ever seen : it not only frequently enters the verandahs, but 

 the inner rooms of houses, and is almost startling in its noiseless 

 and uncanny familiarity. Whilst at Tonghoo, I had, every season, 

 one or two of them about my house, so fearless, that they might 

 almost have been handled. I saw one, in my verandah at Ean- 

 goop, kill and swallow a large scorpion. 



No. 359. Merula nigropiletjs. — Chikalda, April or May. 



No. 446. Hypsipetes Ganeesa. — At page 58 of the Berar 

 Gazetteer, I mentioned that I had got this bird at Chikalda and 

 remarked that its habits were exactly those of No. 446, H. Neil- 

 gherriensis. — I have since found in the Appendix, page 872, 

 volume 3 of Jerdon, that the birds are identical. 



