208 Notices and Descriptions of various new [No. 159. 



5. C. indicus, Lath., Jerdon : &'ciiierascens, Vieillot. This hand- 

 some species appears subject to considerable variation, in its dimensions, 

 depth of colouring, greater or less development of the black on its 

 upper-parts and inversely of the fulvescent-white upon the scapulariesi 

 wing-coverts, &c, and also in the amount of the rufous barring 

 upon the primaries, which I think is generally less developed in the 

 smaller specimens of both sexes : its tarse is feathered ; and all the 

 caudal feathers of the male, except the middle pair, have a white 

 spot near the tip, which in the female is scarcely indicated. In ge- 

 neral, these white spots have only a slight dark margin, tipping 

 the feather ; but in one variety before me, with wings as much as 

 eight inches and a half long, the white on the tail-feathers is some- 

 what contracted in quantity, and has a dark border fully half an 

 inch in breadth, tipping each feather*. This species is, I think, 

 commonest in the sub-Himalayan region, but it extends sparingly over 

 India generally, and I have once known it to be shot in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Calcutta. 



6. C. monticolus, Franklin : Great Bombay Goatsucker, Latham. 

 In this the male is distinguished by having its two outer tail-feathers 

 on each side wholly white, to near the tip, whereas in the female these 

 are barred throughout rufous and black. The female is also paler than 

 the male ; and both sexes are, throughout, more uniformly, minutely 

 mottled ashy, than in either of the other species, this plainness of colour- 

 ing being relieved by the pale rufescent hue of the borders of the 

 middle scapularies, by a white throat-band in the male, considerably 

 less bright and contrasting in the female, and by the white on the 

 primaries and tail of the former. With C. asiaticus it accords in hav- 

 ing the tarse naked, and a sort of collar surrounding the neck. I have 

 twice obtained it near Calcutta, and it appears to be sparingly diffused 

 throughout the country from the Himalaya southward ; Capt. Abbott 

 has also sent it from Arracan. 



* The specimen here adverted to is probably not Indian, but from the eastward ; 

 and may prove to be of a distinct species : and one Neilgherry specimen forwarded by 

 Mr. Jerdon has also much the appearance of being distinct ; in this, the ashy portion 

 of the plumage is much more albescent than usual, contrasting strongly with the 

 black, and there is scarcely a trace of rufous, except some broken bars of this colour at 

 the base of the primaries ; a row of whitish spots bordering the scapularies shew very 

 conspicuously ; the white spots on the tail-feathers are larger than usual ; and the 

 wing measures but seven inches and a quarter long : it is a remarkably handsome 

 bird. 



