PYCNONOTIN.E. 95 



Bill black ; legs greenish slaty ; irides deep brown. Length 

 about 8 inches; extent 11; wing 3 t 6 q ; tail 3^; tarsus T 8 ^ ; bill 

 at front ^. 



It differs from the Bengal Bulbul in only having the head black, 

 the nape being of the same colour as the back ; also in the black 

 of the lower parts only reaching the upper part of the breast, 

 whilst in the Bengal one the whole breast is black. It is also 

 decidedly a smaller bird. 



This is one the of most common and generally spread birds in 

 the South of India. It extends throughout the southern part of 

 the Peninsula to the Nerbudda river, and beyond it, apparently, 

 in the North-west. A specimen from Wuzeerabad, in the Punjab, 

 resembles this species in having only a black cap, but the wing is 

 longer ; it is altogether a larger bird, and the ear-coverts are shinino- 

 dark brown, not so conspicuous as in the Bengal bird, more so than 

 in the Madras species. The plumage, too, is generally lighter, 

 and more deeply edged pale. This may be a hybrid between the 

 two races, but it is probably a distinct race, and will perhaps 

 be found to be the common species throughout the Punjab and 

 other parts of the North- Western Provinces, but I do not like to 

 give it a distinct specific rank at present on the faith of one speci- 

 man. I see, however, that Lord A. Hay considered it distinct, 

 and suggested for it the name of P. intermedins. Mr. Blyth 

 moreover states that our present bird is also found in Arrakan, 

 and one specimen from thence, in the Asiatic Society's Museum, 

 certainly very closely resembles the species from Southern India ; 

 but two others, one from Arrakan and another from Tonghoo, 

 have the decidedly brown ears of the Bengal species, and are 

 more probably a peculiar race, replaced in the South of Burmah by 

 P. nigropileus. 



It frequents gardens and cultivated ground, and low bushy juno-Ie, 

 but is never found in forests, and it ascends the Neilgherries to 

 about 6,000 feet only. It is usually seen in pairs, or in small 

 families, flying briskly about, restless and inquisitive, feeding 

 chiefly on fruits, but occasionally descending to the ground, and 

 even hopping a step or two and picking up insects. It destroys 

 various buds and blossoms also, and is very destructive to peas, 



