1843.] Asiatic Society. 179* 



into minute lappets. Plumage quite similar. Length ten inches and a quarter 

 by seventeen inches and a half in alar expanse ; of wing five inches and three quarters, 

 and tail two inches and seven-eighths. Bill an inch and one-eighth to forehead, 

 and nearly an inch and three-eighths to gape, being only three-eighths of an inch in 

 vertical depth. Its colour inclines to coral-red, or carrotty, with a yellow tip; 

 and the irides, naked skin, and feet, are similar in hue to those of the other. Des- 

 cribed from an old cage bird, which was brought tome dead, but in good plumage; and 

 on my suggesting to Mr. Jerdon that this is probably, from the dimensions he has given, 

 his species of Southern India, the anticipation proved to be correct. I am informed, 

 however, that it is likewise found in Bengal, but have never seen one among the 

 many of the other species constantly exposed for sale by the Calcutta bird-dealers. 



P. 586. Ganulax leucogenys, Nobis. The specimen, as I am now informed, was 

 brought from China; and it is evidently the Corvus auritus of the old authors, or 

 Garrulax auritus, hodie ; Spreo auritus, Lesson. Mr. Frith has favoured me with 

 an interesting notice of the individual, which was excessively tame and familiar, and 

 delighted (like a Cockatoo) in being caressed and tickled by the hand, when it would 

 spread out its wings and assume very singular attitudes. It was naturally a fine 

 songster, and a most universal imitator. Whenever chopped meat or other food was 

 put into its cage, it always evinced the propensity to deposit the bits one by one be- 

 tween the wires (a habit in common with the Shrikes, and which is also strikingly 

 manifested by the Kitta venatorius, and sometimes even by Mynahs); and when a bee 

 or wasp was offered, this bird would seize it instantly, and invariably turn its tail 

 round and make the insect sting this several times successively, before eating it. A 

 large beetle it would place before it on the ground, and pierce it with a violent down- 

 ward stroke of the bill : a small Snake (about a foot long) it treated in like manner, 

 transfixing the centre of the head, and it afterwards devoured about half the Snake, 

 holding it by one foot while it picked it with the bill, as was its common mode of 

 feeding. 



Erase Caprimulgus macrourus, for the species is distinct, and not of uncommon 

 occurrence in the vicinity of Calcutta during the cool season : besides this, the C. 

 Asiaticus is here common at that time (both sexes having the white marks on the 

 wings and tail) ; and I have procured one specimen of C. monticolus. 



P. 603. The Megalurus mentioned was designated Turdus toklao by Buchanan 

 Hamilton. 



P. 789. Vide note. " The small species of Hawk employed in the N. W. pro- 

 vinces for falconry," writes Mr. Jerdon, "is much more likely the male Accipiter 

 besra of my catalogue, or Dhootee (». e., a handful), which is used exactly as 

 described ; if not, the male Khandesra, also called Dhootee, a species which I am 

 confident is quite distinct, but which I have not yet procured." 



Genus lerax. The Assamese specimen of an lerax mentioned in the same foot-note 

 is distinct from /. coerukscens and new, being the fourth species of this well-defined 

 group of very diminutive Falcons, which are as follow: — 



1. I. melanoleucos, Nobis. This is the largest of the four, measuring six inches and 

 a half and upwards in length, with a powerful beak of considerable vertical depth. 

 Colour of 7. coerulescens, but the white of the under-parts, superciliary line, and 

 neck-spot, pure and unsullied; and what constitute ready distinctions, the tibial 



