550 Notices and Descriptions of various new [No. 164. 



ing to the ground from its perch : it feeds and breeds on the ground, 

 making a compact saucer-like nest of moss. Eggs verditer." In form 

 it comes very close upon Calliope, and approaches still nearer to Cya- 

 necula, from which its principal structural distinction consists in the 

 more rounded form of its wings and tail, and the somewhat reduced 

 degree of firmness of its plumage ; besides which the yellow colouring 

 is a character of the present group. The wings have the fourth, fifth, 

 and sixth primaries subequal and longest, and the first about half 

 their length. 



Referring again to the first part of this paper (p. 182, ante), it may 

 be remarked that Mr. Jerdon now considers the Scops sunia and Sc. 

 pennata there described, to be different phases of plumage of the same 

 species. Until I obtain further data, I shall refrain from adding to 

 what I have already stated on the subject ; but may remind the natural- 

 ist reader, that I have described three distinct states of plumage of the 

 Sc. sunia, — viz. the first or nestling garb, an intermediate dress in both 

 sexes, and the mature livery which is almost uniform deep chesnut- 

 ferruginous : so that the variation to grey would certainly not appear 

 to be dependent either on age or sex.* 



Of Syrnium nivicolum (p. 185), a second specimen has been oblig- 

 ingly presented to the Society (with numerous other valuable bird 

 skins), by Mr. L. C. Stewart, of H. M. 39th Foot, believed to be from 

 the Western Himalaya, where many of that gentleman's specimens 

 were procured. It completely establishes the species, as distinct from 

 S. aluco ; and it differs from the specimen already described in the 

 general darker tone of colouring of its upper parts, occasioned by the 

 greater predominance of the fuscous ground-tint, while the scapulary 

 spots are whiter, and there is also an intermixture of white on the 

 facial disk, and the lower parts are less tinged with fulvescent. It is 

 probably a male, and the other a female. 



With respect to the species of Brachypiernusf (p. 194), I find that 

 a third occurs in the Scindian representative of the common Picus 

 (Br.) aurantius. With the dimensions of the latter, it differs from it 

 in the reduced quantity and intensity of the yellow on the upper parts, 



* Mr. G. It. Gray identifies Sc pennata with the- European species, and adopts 

 Ephialtes, K. and B., as the generic name. 



f Lord A. Hay thinks, judging from recollection, that P. micropus is the common 

 species of S. India, P. bengalensis apud Jerdon. 



