1835.] Red-billed Erolia. 4GI 



the outermost tail feathers on either side having its outer web of a 

 white ground colour, instead of a blue one, like the rest of the tail 

 feathers and bodv above. Passins; now down the bird's inferior sur- 

 face, we have the chin black and the neck blue, as on the superior sur- 

 face at bottom of the neck or top of the breast ; a broad gorget of 

 black, confined on the side towards the neck with a narrower band of 

 white : rest of the body on this surface and wings and tail coverts, 

 pure white : quills on this surface, white towards their bases : iris 

 and bill, rich deep crimson : legs and toes, clear bluish grey, with a 

 strong but irregular purplish tinge. 

 Dimensions and weight as follows : 



feet. in. 



Tip of the bill to tip of tail, 1 4| 



Length of bill (in a straight line), 3^ 



Ditto tail 4§ 



Ditto a wing, 9^ 



Expanse of wings, 2 5 J 



Length of tarsi, 2 \ 



Ditto of central toe and nail, If 



Weight, 9J oz. av. 



The only specimen I have, been able to procure was shot on the 

 banks of a sandy stream in the valley, in October last ; and it was 

 apparently a mere passenger here, like the vast majority of the gral- 

 latorial and natatorial birds which visit us, and which make only a 

 stage of our valley on their way from the plains of Tartary to those 

 of India, and back again. 



[It is with much reluctance that we have been compelled to insert these two notices, 

 without the beautiful drawings that accompanied them : but the number of plates in- 

 serted in the Journal hitherto, has been so great as to involve considerable expence, 

 and to do justice to the present specimens, large and richly coloured, would have 

 entailed a heavy additional charge. We have however the less regret in omitting 

 them, now that we are informed of Mr. Hodgson's intentions to publish the whole 

 of his valuable illustrations of the Natural History of Nipal— a stupendous work, that 

 will require to carry it through, as we feel sure its merits will command, the patron- 

 ace of all cultivators and admirers of the Fauna of India, here and at home. 

 Having had enquiries from several quarters as to the probable extent, and as to the 

 contents, of Mr. Hodgson's proposed work, we have obtained from that Gentle- 

 man a Catalogue of the Drawings already sent home, to be put into the Publisher's 

 hands, which shall be inserted, if possible, in the next No. of the Journal.— Ed.] 



3 o 



