240 No. 3 



Notes on Birds observed in the neighbourhood of Port Blair, 

 Andaman Islands, during the month of August, 1869, — by 

 V. Ball, B. A., Geological Survey of India. 



(Received 2nd March, 1870 ; read 1st June, 1870.) 

 The following are brief notes upon some of the birds which I 

 observed in the vicinity of Port Blair, while staying there for a few 

 days in August last. I have not attempted to draw up any com- 

 plete list of the birds occurring in the Andamans, as that has 

 already been done by the late Capt. B e a v a n, in a paper in the 

 Ibis for 1869, N. S., Ill, p. 314 et seq. When no special reference 

 is given, the names of the species quoted correspond to those 

 recorded in Br. Jerdon's" Birds of India." 



1. HiEMATORNis Cheela, Daud., H. undulatus, Vigors. 



Two specimens which I obtained, one in young and the other in 

 adult plumage, appear to belong to this species, and not to II. Elgini 

 which, according to Col. T y 1 1 e r, is the more common species at the 

 Andamans. In the types of II. Elgini the length of the wings does 

 not exceed 14 inches,* whereas in both my specimens it is 15. 

 I was told that these birds are very mischievous about Port Mouat, 

 constantly carrying off' live fowl. 



2. Ninox sp. ? I received from Mr. Homfrayan old skin of a 

 species of Ninox, which had been shot by him at Port Mouat. 

 The measurements of it are so much greater than those of N, 

 affinis given by the late Captain Be a v an,f from a skin in Col. 

 T y 1 1 e r ' s collection, that I am doubtful about referring it to that 

 species. 



Length. Wing. Tail. Bill at front. Tarsus. 

 N. affinis, 9-5-10 675 4'36-4-5 -75 '75 



N. sp. ? 12 £5 475 -75 1 



The colour corresponds to that given for N. affinis, and the mea- 

 surements very nearly with those of N. scutellatus. I hope to receive 

 other specimens of this bird. 



3. Halcyon fuscus, Bodd. 



4. H. atricapillus, Gr m e 1. 



5. TODIRAMPHUS COLLARIS, S C p O 1 i ? 



* Ibis, N. S., Ill, p. 314. f Ibidem, p. 316. 



