22 Notices and Descriptions of various New [No. 169. 



distinct upon comparison of specimens. M. coronatus has the tail 

 much more deeply forked, and its outermost feathers are much more 

 attenuated, being commonly prolonged two inches beyond the extremi- 

 ties of the next pair, and an inch and a half beyond the tips of the 

 wings ; whereas in M. klecho, the tail does not reach to the tips of the 

 wings, and both alars and caudals are considerably broader than in the 

 Indian species. The colour of the upper- parts is also much greyer in 

 the latter, with but a faint tinge of green, instead of being brightly 

 glossed with green ; and the chin and sides of the throat of the male, 

 besides the ear-coverts, are ferruginous. Colour greyish above, darker 

 in the male, and glossed with purplish-green ; the tertiaries more or less 

 pale, but never albescent- grey as in M. klecho: lower-parts ashy, with 

 a slight green gloss, and passing to white on the belly and lower tail- 

 coverts. Crest as in the other species, and structure in all respects 

 typical. Length eight inches, by thirteen in alar expanse ; of wing six 

 and a quarter ; and of outermost tail-feather five and a quarter. Com- 

 mon in Central and Southern India, and most probably the only species 

 met with in the country. 



We have accordingly now four species of this beautiful genus, which 

 appears to be peculiar to India and the Malay countries : — viz. M. coro- 

 natus, — M. klecho, — the very beautiful M. comatus, (Tern.,) — and M. 

 mrjstaceus, (Lesson,) of which last I have seen neither figure nor des- 

 cription : the three others are in the Society's Museum. 



Collocalia, G. R. Gray. Several specimens from the Nicobar Islands 

 differ a little from C. fuciphaga of Java, in having more white under- 

 neath, the crown and back darker and tinged with blue more than green, 

 and the wing somewhat longer, and straighter or less sickle- shaped. 

 These characters obtain, both in the old and young ; but separation of 

 them seems hardly justifiable. In specimens recent, or preserved in 

 spirit, the outer toe is as opposable as in other Swifts.* 



* Since the first portion of the present paper was printed off, the Society has been 

 favoured by Capt. Lewis with numerous specimens, of various classes, collected in the 

 Nicobars, and comprising several interesting novelties. In the class of birds, the most 

 remarkable discovery is that of a species of Megapodius, having the same extraordinary 

 habits as Mr. Gould's M. tumulus of Australia: there is also a new Macropygia, 

 more nearly resembling M. phasianella of Australia, than M. amboinensis of Java 

 and the Moluccas; specimens of anew Treron, previously however brought from thence; 

 also of a new Heron, which likewise inhabits Arracan; and some Insessores which 1 

 shall describe in their respective places in the present paper : but the following species 

 can only be introduced here, instead of in p. 11, passim. 



