418 Catalogue of Birds of the Raptorial and [Aug. 



X. — Catalogue of Birds of the Raptorial and Insessorial Orders, (systematically 

 arranged,) observed in the DaJchan, by Lieut. -Colonel W. H. Sykes, Bombay 

 Army, F.L.S., F.G.S., F.Z.S. M.R.A.S. 



In the first volume of the Journal, page 161, we presented Col. Sykes' s catalogue 

 of the Mammalia of South India. This officer's fame as a naturalist has, we are happy 

 to see, raised him to a Vice President's chair in the Zoological Society of London, In 

 the proceedings of this active institution for April, 1832, (the arrival of which in India 

 was by some accident delayed,) we perceive the following useful catalogue of the birds 

 of the same country, which we hasten to transfer to our Journal. The list is prefaced 

 by the following remarks : 



Lieut. -Colonel Sykes, having brought before the Committee at previous meetings 

 various Birds of the Raptorial and Insessorial Orders, collected by him during his re- 

 sidence in Dakhan, completed on the present evening the exhibition of his collection 

 of those orders. He limited his observations on the several species to brief extracts 

 from the copious notes which he had made in India respecting their habits, internal 

 anatomy, aDd geographical distribution. In bringing them in succession under the 

 notice of the Committee, he observed the order adopted in the following catalogue : 



Order 1. RAPTORES, III. 

 Fam. Vulturidce, Vigors. — Genus Vultur, Auct. Vulture. 



1. Vult. Indicus, Lath. Vautuur Indou, Temm., PI. Col. 26. Mahah Dhoh of the Mah- 



rattas. 

 Irides deep brown. Length 42 inches, inclusive of tail of lOf inches. A stone half 

 an inch in diameter was found in the stomach of one bird. The proportional 

 length of the intestine to the body in these birds is 3 to 1 , while in the Neophron 

 Percnopterus it is 5' 20 to 1. They congregate in flocks of twenty or thirty. On 

 a dead camel, or horse, or bullock being thrown out on the plain, numbers of 

 these Vidtures are found assembled round it in an incredibly short time, although 

 they may not have been seen in the neighbourhood for weeks before. Col. Sykes's 

 specimens are no doubt referrible to M. Temminck's species, although the latter 

 hird is described as having whitish irides. 



2. Vult. Ponticerianus, Lath. Vautour Royal de Pondicherry, Sonn., p. 182. pi. 104, 

 The irides are describedby Shaw as red, while in two of Colonel Sykes's specimens' 



they were of a deep brown, and in the third of a bright straw-yellow ; but as the 

 last had allowed itself to be captured by hand, had only grass and stalks of her- 

 baceous plants in the stomach, and was evidently ill, the pale colour of the irides 

 may be attributed to disease. Sexes alike in plumage. Mostly solitary. Colonel 

 Sykes seldom, if ever, saw more than two together. The remarkable flatness of 

 the crown, and very great width of the cranium, would seem to indicate a generic 

 difference between this species and the Vult. fulvus and Bengalensis. Length of 

 hird 36 inches, inclusive of tail of 11 inches. 



3. Vult. Bengalensis, Gmel. Bengal Vulture, Lath. Geed of the Mahrattas. 



Of a smaller size, and with shorter and stouter legs than Vult. Indicus. Habits 

 similar. Sexes alike. Length 30 inches, inclusive of tail of 10 inches. Colonel 

 Sykes was induced to consider this species of Gmelin as distinct from Vult. cine- 

 reus, with which it has been classed by M. Timminck, in his Manuel d'Ornitho- 

 logie, p. 4. 



Genus Neophron, Sav. 



4. Neophron Percnopterus. Vultur Percnopterus, Linn. Rachamah, Bruce, Trav. 



Append, p. 163. 

 Irides intense red brown. Gregarious. Sexes alike in adult birds ; but non-adult 

 birds vary in plumage from fuscous to mottled brown and white. These birds are 

 always found in cantonments and camps. For the most part of the day they 

 continue on the wing, soaring in circles. When on the ground, they walk with 

 a peculiar gait, lifting their legs very high. They are efficient scavengers. 

 Length 29 inches, inclusive of tail of 11 inches. 



Fam. Falconidce, Leach. 



Sub-Fam. Aquilina. Eagles. 



Genus Haliaetus, Sav. Sea Eagle. 



5. Hal. Ponticerianus. Falco Ponticerianus, Lath. Aigle de Pondicherry, Buffon, p. 



136, PI. Enl. 416. Called Brahmany Kite by Europeans in India. 

 Irides reddish brown. It is seen constantly passing up and down rivers at a con- 

 siderable height, but prepared to fall at an instant on its prey. Usually it seizes 

 while on the wing, but occasionally dips entirely under water, appearing to rise 

 a?ain with difficulty. It is quite a mistake to suppose it feeds on carrion. Colo- 

 nel Sykes has examined the contents of the stomach and craw of many specimens, 

 and always found fish, and fish only, excepting on one occasion, when a crab was 



