1834.] Insessorial orders in the Dakhan. 421 



alike, with the exception of the plumage of the female being a shade or two lighter 

 than that of the male. Length, inclusive of tail, 17 inches: tail 5 inches. One 

 of Colonel Svkes's specimens was captured alive while lying on its back on the 

 ground, defending itself against the attacks of a body of crows. Irides reddish 

 dark brown. 



20. Strix Indranee. Strix capife supra pallide bninneo, plumis albido marginal 'is ; 

 dorso imo, pteromafibusque rufescenti-brunneis, fasciis albisfusco marginatis notatis ; 

 dorso medio, ptilis, remigibus cauddque brunneis, his rufescentifasciatis, hdc faciis 

 albidis gracilibus notatd, ad apicem albo marginatd; guld crissoque albescenfibus ; 

 abdomine subrufo, brunneo graciliter faciato ; regione circumoculari nigrd ; disco 

 rufo, brunneo marginato. 



Irides rufo-brunneae. Longitudo corporis 21 unc, caudce 9. 

 Inhabits the woods of the Ghauts : rare. The specimen described is a young bird, 

 and a female. 



Genus Ketupa, Less. 



21. Ketupa Leschenaulti, Less., Traits d'Ornith. p. 114. Strix Leschenaulti, Temm. 

 PI. Col. 20. Scops? Leschenaulti, Steph., vol. 13. p. 53. 



A rare bird in the Dakhan. Independently of the naked legs of this bird, its aqui- 

 line aspect authorizes its separation from the genera with which it had been 

 placed previously to M. Lesson's arrangement. 



Genus Noctua, Sav. 



22. Noct. Indica, Frankl. Peenglah of the Mahrattas. 



Irides, King's yellow.' Sexes alike. Mice and beetles found in the stomach. An 

 exceedingly noisy bird, and frequently heard chattering during the day-time in 

 dense trees. The Mahrattas have a superstition respecting this species ; and a 

 class of persons, called from it Peenglah, live on the credulity of the people by 

 pretending to consult it, and predict events. Length, inclusive of tail, 9§ to 11 

 inches : tail 2§ to 3 inches. Numerous in the Dakhan, and found in families of 

 four or five. 



Order II. INSESSORES, Vigors. 



Tribus Fissirostres, Cuv. 



Fam. Meropidce. — Genus Merops, Linn. 



23. Merops viridis, Linn. Indian Bee-eater, Lath. Guepier a collier de Madagascar, 

 Buff. 



Fam. Hirundinidce, Leach. — Genus Hirundo, Auct. 



24. Hirundo filif era, Steph., vol. 13. p. 79. Hir.filicaudata, Frankl. 



Very abundant in Dakhan, and very beautiful, with its thread-like tail-feathers 

 floating behind when in flight. 



25. Hirundo Jewan. Mas. Hir. capite, dorso, tectricibus alarum, uropygio, rec~ 

 tricibus mediis fascidque latd pectorali metallice nigris ; corpore subtus rosaceo- 

 albo ; gutture rufo ; remigibus rectricibusque lateralibus fusco-nigris, his interne albo 

 maculatis. 



Fcem. et jun. Gutture magis rufo notato. 



Irides intense rufescenti-brunnese. Longitudo corporis 6 unc, caudce 3, s 5 . 

 This bird differs from the common English Swallow, (Hir. rustica,) only in its 

 somewhat smaller size, larger bill, and in the lateral tail-feathers not being 

 equally elongated. The tail is less forked, and the rufous colour of the throat 

 extends more on the breast. 



26. hirundo concolor. Hir. fuliginoso-brunnea, sericea •, caudd aquali, rectricibus, 

 externis mediisque exceptis, interne albo guttatis. 



Longitudo corporis 5 unc, caudce 2§. 

 These birds live on the banks of rivers. The plumage of the sexes does not differ. 



27. Hirundo erythropvgia. Hir. metallice nigra ,- uropygio collarique nuchali 

 rufis ; corpore subtus albo, pallide rosaceo tincto, plumis in medio graciliter brunneo 

 strtatis. 



Longitudo corporis 6 unc, caudce 3. 

 This species appeared in millions in two successive years in the month of March on 

 the parade-ground at Poona : they rested a day or two only, and were never seen 

 in the same numbers afterwards. 



Genus Cypselus, 111. 



28. Cypselus affinis, Hardw. Allied Swift, Hardw. 



These birds are so rare in Dakhan that Colonel Sykes obtained only two spe- 

 cimens. 

 Fam. Caprimulgidce, Vigors.— Genus Caprimulgus, Auct. 



29- Caprimulgus monficolus, Frankl. Great Bombay Goatsucker, Lath. 



30. Caprimulgus Asiaticus, Lath. Bombay Goat-sucker, Id. 



