1868.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 197 



since all disappeared as mysteriously as they came, and I- have not 

 met with any for the last three months. I am quite at a loss to 

 account for so singular and unusual a migration, and the only plau- 

 sible conjectures are : either that it was produced by a very unusually 

 strong monsoon, or from a failure in the supply of fruits. So bold 

 and fearless were the birds on their first arrival, that a few actually 

 roosted, out of gun shot, however, on a very lofty and bushy Ptero- 

 carpus tree, within the precincts of the town. 



The following descriptions were taken from living individuals of 

 both sexes. 



(5 • Body and wings shining black, occiput with four inches of 

 the dorsal surface of the neck black, the feathers slightly elongated. 

 Throat, sides and a small ring at the root of the neck white, 

 verging when in contact with the black neck patch into yellow- 

 ish or even deep shining rufescent, though this last character is 

 not always well marked. Tail black at the base, for about a third, 

 the remaining two-thirds pale chrome-yellow. Skin round the 

 orbits splendid clear blue. Gular pouch pale yellowish white. 

 Irides a very clear dark brown approaching to crimson in certain lights. 

 Bill in the upper mandible whitish at the tip, gradually becoming 

 yellow towards the centre, and crimson for about one inch from its 

 base. Casque crimson throughout, with four or more vertical shallow 

 depressions anteriorly, its anterior edge inclined obliquely from behind 

 forwards. Distal half of the lower mandible from the tip yellowish 

 white, becoming clearer towards a very narrow black basal band, 

 and marked with 4-8 linear curved grooves, extending from behind 

 forwards. Feet dull lead colour ; length of dried specimen, 2 feet 

 9^ inches ; length of wing, 15 J inches ; of tail, 10 J inches ; of tarsus, 

 2i inches. Bill at gape, 6f inches. 



$ . Body black throughout, except the distal § rds of tail which 

 are of the same pale chesnut or creamy yellow as in the male. Bill 

 throughout dirty yellow, becoming brownish or reddish brown for 

 about half an inch from the base. Casque with a sharp anterior edge, 

 inclined from behind slightly forwards, without the shallow grooves 

 found in the male, the lower mandible also wanting them. 



Flight undulating, rapid. Habits gregarious, in Mocks of from 5 to 

 8 individuals. 



