878 Drafts for a Fauna Indica. [No. 168. 



By the Oorias it is called Sona Kubootra [i. e. Golden Pigeon: it is also termed in 

 some parts Burra (or great) Hurrial.] 



»' Chalcophaps indicus. Common in the deep forests, always in the vicinity of 

 streams ; and generally upon the ground, in the shelter of beds of reeds and rank grass. 

 When flushed, it takes a short but exceedingly rapid flight, alighting as abruptly with 

 a sudden plunge into the herbage ; so that it is a most difficult bird to shoot. Its fa- 

 vourite food consists of the seeds of the castor-oil plant. 



Columba intermedia. Exceedingly common in Chota Nagpore, breeding in all the 

 steep lofty rocks of that country. 



" C. punicea. Length sixteen inches, by two feet spread ; wing eight inches and 

 three-quarters. Bill greenish-yellow, with basal half livid. Iris amber-yellow, in an 

 orange-red circle. Legs and feet dull lake. The female is similar to the male, but 

 rather smaller and duller in plumage. This species is not uncommon to the south of 

 Singbhoom, going in small parties of four or five, and always along the banks of rivers, 

 which are shaded by large forest-trees. Up and down these noble avenues, which 

 the green shades of mingling boughs above, and the clear rippling stream below, pre- 

 serve at all hours and seasons pleasantly cool ; these Pigeons fly, rarely taking, when 

 disturbed, to the more open tracts distant from the stream. In January 1842, 1 killed 

 five specimens on the Bytarnee river in Singbhoom. They were feeding principally on 

 thejamoon. These birds feed chiefly in the morning and again at evening; and 

 during the heat of the day, roost on the uppermost branches of the huge derris trees, 

 common in that country. They are wary and difficult of approach." 



The above excellent contribution from Capt. Tickell, exemplifies exactly what I 

 hope to be favoured with by many other correspondents.-— E. B. May 22nd, 1846. 



A Fourteenth Memoir on the Law of Storms in India; being the Bay 

 of Bengal, Ceylon, Malabar Coast, and Arabian Sea Storms of 29th 

 November to 5th December, 1845. By Henry Piddington, President 

 of Marine Courts of Enquiry. 



The Storms which are the subjects of this Memoir ; are of very con- 

 siderable interest, for taking their rise so near to the Equator as 7° North 

 latitude, they travel up on the usual WN. Westerly track, crossing the 

 Island of Ceylon, the Southern extremity of India and the Laccadive 

 Archipelago, are finally lost for us, in the Arabian Sea, the last notice 

 we have of them being that of the ship Monarch, which met hers in lati- 

 tude 13£° North, longitude 69° East. 



This is the second instance of storms, which have been traced on the 

 North side of the Equator, originating in so low a latitude, the first being 



