1839] 



of the Peninsula of India, 



245 



Fam. MERULID^E— Thrushes, 

 Sub-Fam. BRACHYPODIN^.— Short legged thrushes, or Bulhuls. 



Gen. HYP3EPETES, Yig.—Drovgo or Hack Bulbul. 

 67. — H. Ganeesa, Sykes Cat. No. 49. 



I have not yet been fortunate enough to meet with this bird (which I 

 see has been lately figured in Jardine's Illustrations of Ornithology, new 

 series No. 1), so transcribe part of Colonel Sykes' account. " Flight 

 very rapid, found only in the dense woods of the ghauts, stony fruit 

 found in the stomach." 



6$. — H. Neilgherriensh. — New species. — H. psaroides, Vig. — Gould 

 Cent. H. B. — Neilgherry Black Bulbul. 



This sppcies of Hypsepetes, though very strongly allied to the Hima- 

 layan species, I am inclined to consider distinct, as it varies perma- 

 nently in size and some markings. 



Descr. — It has the same glossy black lanceolate feathers of head and 

 hind neck, the same grey tint of the body, and blackish tail ; but differs 

 in having the quills entirely black, instead of being grey, tipped only 

 with black ; wants the small black streak running back from the eye, 

 and has the under tail coverts edged with white, 



Length about 10 inches; of wing 5 ; tail ^ ; tarsus x \ j bill 

 and legs orange red; irides brownioh red. 



If new, it may be named as above from its locality, or it might be nam- 

 ed Atripennis, in contradistinction to the Himalayan species it so 

 much resembles. I have hitherto only found this bird on the summit 

 of the Neilgherries, in the dense woods of which it is very abundant. 

 It lives in small flocks, feeding on various berries and fruit, generally on 

 the top of trees. I on no occasion found any thing but fruit of different 

 kinds, but chiefly stony, in its stomach. It usually keeps up a lively 

 and agreeable warbling, which it continues during its occasional flight 

 from one tree or patch of wood to another. Its flight is undulating, and 

 not very rapid. Its manners on the whole much resemble those of the 

 bulbuls, with which they have been classed, and justly so, I think by 

 awinson. 



