1840.] 



nf the Peninsula of India. 



229 



•fdonally sallied forth for half an hour or so, making a great circuit be- 

 fore returning. These birds were most probably what had been spread 

 over great part of that country, now collected to migrate into a more 

 mrcoded region, during the approaching hot season when insect life is 

 ■srcarce. 



Like the last, this has a loud and pleasing sort of whistle, more full 

 and mellow than thai of its more common congener. 



Length to end of lateral tail feather.s 91 inches; two central feathers 

 beyond 2 inches j of wing 5:^; tail 3| j bill to front U. 



2AI.—M. qu'intkolerj Vieillot, EncyL Method, p. ^dS^—Chestnui- 

 headed bee-ealer. 



I have only seen this bird on two occasions, once at the foot of the 

 Coonoor pass in dense jungle, and again in an open forest on the Mala= 

 bar Coast. It pursued insects from a fixed perch, returning after hav- 

 ing captured one — was generally seated on a low bough, solitary, or two 

 t)r three together. Irides fine red. 



Length 9 inclies j wing 4 ^^^hs | tail 3| ; bill to front 1 J^ths. 



There is no elongation of the central tail feathers, 



242.— A/..* cyano'gularis.—^<ivf s^QQie^^.—Nyctiornis j5/m^» 

 throated bee-eater. 



Descr, — A broad blue stripe extends from the base of the lower 

 mandible down the throat and breast; upper part of the body, the 

 head and tail, green, with a bluish tinge ; belly of a butF colour, with 

 dashes of green ; eye, bright scarlet; bill and feet brownish black. 



Length 14 inches; wing 5| ; tail 6 ; tarsus | inch ; bill If. 



1 have two or three times obseiTed this fine species of bee-eater at 

 the foot of the Coonoor pass of the Neilgherries, in dense and lofty 

 jungle. One time it was alone, the other times I observed it in pairs, 

 perching on the tops of the highest trees, and flying before you from 

 tree to tree. I was not fortunate enough to obtain a specimen, owing 

 to their extreme wariness, but was kindly allowed to inspect and exa^ 

 mine a specimen procured by M. Delessert. I suspect from the shorts 

 ness of its wing that it is a Nyctiornis of Swainson, 



Genus CORACIAS, Ij.— Roller, 



243.—. C. Indica, L. — C, Bengalensis, Steph.— Cor. noevia, Vieill. and 

 L'ess., Edwards pK 326. — Subzuk and Neelkond, H., both words having 

 reference to its colours.— Ta*, Mahr. from its call.--/n<^ia?i Roller ^ 

 generally called Jay by Europeans, 



