60 Catalogue of the Birds [Jul* 



III.— Catalogue of the Birds of the Peninsula of India, arranged ac- 

 cording to the modern system of Classification ; with brief Notes on 

 their Habits and Geographical distribution, and description of new, 

 doubtful and imperfectly described Species. — By T. C. Jerdon, Assis- 

 tant Surgeon, 2d Madras Light Cavalry. 



Until a very few years ago we did not possess a single collective ac- 

 count of the birds of this vast country. In 1831 a Catalogue of birds 

 collected on the banks of the Ganges and the Vindhian range of moun- 

 tains by Major Franklin, was published in that useful compendium the 

 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. This comprised 156 

 species, of which more than 20 were described for the first time, many 

 of them very common birds, as Otus Bengalensis, Thimalia Chatarcea, 

 Alauda Gulgula, Mirafra phcenicura, fyc. fyc. Notwithstanding the dif- 

 ference of latitude in which these were collected, there are only 6 or 7 

 which I have not met with in Southern India, which shews the very 

 great similarity of the ornithology of this country throughout. In 

 1832 a catalogue of birds collected by Colonel Sykes in the Bombay 

 presidency was published, in the same work as the last. In this are 

 enumerated 226 species (I omit the domestic birds included), of which 

 above 40 are described for the first time, many of them common and 

 abundant birds. This catalogue is undoubtedly the most valuable ac- 

 count of the birds of India published, and contains, in addition to the 

 bare catalogue and descriptions, many highly interesting observations 

 on the habits, food and structure of many of the species there mentioned. 

 Of those enumerated by Colonel Sykes there are about 9 or 10 which 

 I have not yet observed, most of which are probably peculiar to the 

 more northern portion of the range of ghauts and neighbouring table- 

 land. During the short period I have been in this country I have 

 traversed a considerable portion of the Madras presidency, both on the 

 eastern and western sides of the Peninsula, and have been fortunate 

 enough to add a considerable number of species to the Indian Fauna, a 

 few of w hich are apparently new to science or but imperfectly known. 

 The total number of my catalogue is nearly 390; which, however in- 

 cludes those 10 of Sykes, not hitherto obtained by me, and nearly as 

 many more observed by Walter Elliot, Esq.,* Madras Civil Service, who 

 has kindly placed his valuable notes on the birds procured by him at 

 my disposal ; by which, in addition to the new species added, I have 

 been enabled to elucidate several doubtful points, to add some most 



* Mr. Elliot saw this catalogue previous to its submission to press ; and some re-: 

 marks of his M ill be found as foot-notes, bearing his initials, throughout the paper.— 

 Editor. 



