1104 A Monograph of the Indian and [No. 131. 



glossy greenish-black, with obscure cross. striae appearing at particular 

 angles of reflection, but those which have not been shed are barred 

 with rufous, for the terminal half in the middle pair, and on a succes- 

 sively smaller portion to the outermost ; the upper tail-coverts are 

 remarkably long, have a bright green gloss, and are more narrowly 

 barred to near their base with rufous ; the exposed whole upper sur- 

 face of the partially spread tail thus appearing barred, while the un- 

 barred part of the feathers is concealed by those which overlap them : 

 the head, neck, and sides of the breast, are fulvescent-brown, with 

 dusky lateral margins to the feathers, and rigid whitish stems, which 

 thicken a little towards the extremity ; scapularies similarly white- 

 shafted, as also the fore-neck and breast, whereon the dusky lateral 

 margins disappear ; throat and middle of the breast and belly whitish ; 

 the flanks dusky ; and sides, thighs, and lower tail-coverts, pale ful- 

 vescent with numerous blackish cross- rays : the new unbarred tail- 

 feathers retain a whitish tip. 



This appears to be a species of rare occurrence in India, as Dr. 

 McClelland's Assamese specimen, and that here described from Chye- 

 bassa in Central India, are the only instances of its having been ob- 

 tained with which I am acquainted. It would seem to be more 

 common in the Malayan Archipelago. 



33. C. Bengalensis, Latham, Ind. Orn, II, 114, — Gen. Hist. Ill, 

 248. (Pygmy Coucal.) Another rare species which is thus described 

 by Latham. " This is a trifle larger than a Lark [[eight inches long, 

 Drapiez]. Bill dusky ; head, neck, back, and wing-coverts ferrugi- 

 nous, marked with short white lines, bounded by black, pointing 

 downwards; belly yellowish-brown; quills reddish-brown, the first 

 and second primaries plain, the rest barred with black; tail very 

 long, and cuneiform ; its outer feathers dusky, with brown tips, the 

 other marked with bars of black, and narrow ones of brown ; legs 

 black; the inner hind-claw straight. Inhabits Bengal". In this brief 

 description may be recognised, with little hesitation, a transitional 

 state of plumage analogous to that described of the two last species, 

 and style of marking similar to that of C. lepidus. Mr. Jerdon, 

 in his Supplement, remarks — " On the authority of Mr. Elliot, 

 I insert this as a peninsular species, that gentleman having observed 

 it in the Southern Mahratta country." 





