1842.] Asiatic Society. 799 



yet seen a single individual in Bengal, but the Society possesses an example of H. 

 rustica, which was shot at no great distance from Calcutta. 



Mirafra Assamica : nestling plumage, which helps to affine this genus to the Larks. 



*Dicceum erythronotum : male and female. 



Tephrodornis super ciliosus, Swainson, v. Lanius Keroula, Hardwicke and Gray. 

 The female of this bird appears to present an extraordinary difference from the male. 

 I brought down two at a shot, from a small party on the higher branches of a tall 

 tree, where they were making much the same kind of noise as a family of young 

 Shrikes. One was a young male, retaining most of its nestling feathers, which on the 

 head and body resembled the corresponding garb of Muscicapa grisola, • while the 

 wing-coverts, tertiaries, and tail, were those of Lanius ; and this specimen, like the 

 adult male, has the two outermost tail-feathers almost wholly white ; the other bird 

 was an adult female, with no white whatever on the tail, which is besides shorter and 

 less rounded ; and the superciliary streak and dark colour of the ear-coverts are also 

 wanting : in other respects the two resemble ; but the diversity in the tail is so remark- 

 able, that 1 imagine few would incline to regard tbem as specifically the same.* 



Columba Javanica : interesting as proving the existence of this beautiful species 

 in the neighbourhood, where indeed (in the Botanic Garden,) it is not uncommon. 



Numenius arquata. 



Tringa subarquata : fine summer plumage. 



*Gallinula lugubris ; Horsfield, Lin. Trans. XIII, pt. I, p. 195: male. 



*Rallus rufescens, Jerdon, Madr. Jl. No. XXIX, 205 : female. 



A considerable number of skins have likewise been set up. 



I am, Sir, 



Your's obediently, 



Edward Blyth. 



Appendix to Report, No. I. The Asiatic Drongos (Edolius, Cuv.). Upon a 



former occasion (ante, p. 169 et seg.J, I was partially successful in my endeavour 

 to elucidate the various Oriental species of this group, which I am now enabled to 

 monograph, I think, satisfactorily : and to aid the student in determining the various 

 species with which I am acquainted, I annex a plate with figures of the beak of each of 

 them, and proceed to offer a conspectus of the series with their synonymes. 



Subgenus Criniger, Tickell, 1833; Cometes (olim Chibia), Hodgson, 1837. 



1. Edolius Crishna (Latham), Gould ; splendens, Tickell ; casia, Hodgson : 



ante, p. 171. Figs. 1 and 2. 



Subgenus Edolius (Cuvier), Nobis ; Cometes (in part), Hodgson. 



2. E. grandis, Gould ; malabaricus, Shaw and Stephens ; malabaroides, 



Hodgson : ante, p. 170. Figs. 5 and 6. 



3. E. retifer, Temminck ; platurus, Vieillot ; malabaricus Gould ; 



cristatellus, Nobis; grandis, apud Horsfieldf : ante, p. 170. Fig. 7. 



* I have since shot a female of this species not differing from the male, which leads me to 

 conclude that the female above noticed is distinct. 



t Identified as such by Dr. McClelland's drawing of the specimen ; and accordingly Dr. Hors- 

 field's remark is explained, that the Assamese specimens of supposed grandis "agree with the 

 specific character and description given by Mr. Gould in all points excepting the size, being about 

 one third smaller." The present is also Mr. Jerdon's species. 



