BIRDS OF EASTERN AND SOUTHERN ASIA. 



luzoniensis and M. dukhunensis) are specifical- ' 

 ly dilfeient from those of Europe (M. alba and 

 M. Yarrellii), however similar in appearance 

 and habits ; but the Grey Wagtail of Britain 

 (Calobates sulphurea) is identically the same in 

 India and Java, and a specimen has been seen 

 in a collection from Australia. This delicate 

 little bird, so clean and bright in its appearance, 

 is of very general diffusion over Southern Asia 

 during the cold season, being indeed much 

 commoner than in Britain. The most abund- 

 ant lark, however, on the plains of Upper 

 India and table land of the Peninsula, is the 

 Chandul or Crested Lark, (Galerida cristata), 

 which is also a European species, though of 

 rare occurrence in Britain ; and the song of 

 this bird, also its mode of delivery of it in the 

 air, are not very unlike that of the Sky Lark, 

 although it does not soar to so lofty an altitude 

 The community of species among the birds in- 

 habiting or visiting India and the British is 

 lands is most remarkable among the diurnal 

 birds of prey, and, as might be expected, among 

 the wading and swimming tribes ; but as these 

 are mostly rare in Britain, and do not fall 

 much under common observation, their presence 

 in India fails to convey any sort of rerainis 

 cence of home. The relentless persecution by 

 gamekeepers has now very nearly extirpated, as 

 a permanent inhabitant of Britain, that fine 

 bandsome bird, the common European kite 

 (Milvus regalis) ; though, were it as numerous 

 in England now as in the days of the Tudors 

 the Scavenger Kites of India (M. Govinda) 

 might help to remind the British exile in thi 

 country of his distant home in the west. But 

 whatever may be the amount of British species 

 of birds actually obtained, in Lower Bengal for 

 instance, there is nought in the ensemble of the 

 various birds under daily observation in Eas 

 tern and Southern Asia, to remind us of tl 

 present familiar ornithology of Great Britain. 

 In Bengal, the newly-arrived observer from 

 that region will particularly be struck with the 

 number of birds of large size which he sees 

 everywhere, even in the most densely populated 

 neighbourhoods ; flocks of vultures, huiie 

 * Adjutants' in their season, swarms of kites in 

 their season too, for they disappear during the 

 rains, — and all three soaring and circling high 

 in air as commonly as at rest, — Brahmini kites, 

 various other birds of prey, among which four 

 kinds of fishing eagle, including the British 

 Osprey, are not uncommon, — water-fowl in 

 profusion in all suitable localities, Herons es- 

 pecially of various kinds very abundant, — 

 several sorts of Kingfisher, mostly of bright hues, 

 the common Indian Holler, also a bird of great 

 beauty, and the little bright green Bee-eater 

 (Merops viridis) conspicuous everywhere, — the 

 eommoa crow of India, of unwonted fami- 



liarity, impudence, and matchless audacity, — 

 the different Mainas remarkable for their tame- 

 ness, the Drongo or ' King Crow,' the Sat- 

 bhais (or ' seven brothers') with tlieir discor- 

 dant chattering, two sorts of melodiously chir- 

 uping Bulbuls, the bright yellow ' Mango- 

 bird' or Black-headed Oriole, the pretty 

 pied Dhyali, the only tolerably common syl- 

 van songster worthy of notice, the brilliant 

 tiny Honey-suckers — also with musical voices, 

 the lively and loud Golden-backed Wood- 

 pecker, and two monotonously toned species of 

 Barbet,the pleasingly coloured Rufous Tree-mag- 

 pie {Dendrocitta rufa)^ the noisy koel, remark- 

 able for the dissimdarity of the sexes, and for pa- 

 rasitically laying in the nests of the Crow ;' the 

 Crested Cucoo (Oxi/lophus) during the rainy 

 season (parasitical upon the Sat-bhais), with 

 other cucuUne birds, especially the Coucol or 

 'Crow- Pheasant,' another noisy and conspicuous 

 bird wherever there is a little jungle ; and last, 

 but not least characteristic, in Lower Bengal, 

 is the harmonious cooing of two or more kinds 

 of Dove, soothing to repose and quiet, and 

 the loud screaming of flocks of swift-flying 

 green Parakeets, with sundry other types all 

 strange to the new-comer. While he misses 

 the familiar types of home, the various 

 Thrushes, Finches, Titmice, &c., wbich are 

 feebly or not at all represented in the ordi- 

 nary observed ornithology of the Bengal part 

 of India : the bright little lora may perhaps 

 seem to represent the Titmice, and the tiny 

 ' Tailorbird' the wren ; while the northern 

 forms of Finches are replaced by the Bai/a 

 or ' Weaverbirds,' with their curious pensile 

 nests and the dirainuiive thick-billed Munia : 

 but a stranger will be struck with the prevailing 

 silence of the jungle, and the paucity of small 

 birds even in the cold season, so different from 

 the woods and gardens and hedge rows of 

 Britain, teeming with small feathered inhabit- 

 ants, among which are so many pleasing 

 songsters of all degrees of merit : of the swal- 

 lows, occasionally and somewhat loctdly, a 

 few of the Hh^undo rustica, may be seen 

 chiefly over water, and young birds of the 

 past season ; and alot)g the river-banks, where 

 hiifh enough, the small Indian Bank Martin 

 (H. Sinensis) will occur abundantly ; but tlie 

 swallows are replaced by two non-migratory 

 swifts, the common House S^-ift (Cijpselus 

 afinis) and the little Palm ^wih{C.bal'asiensis). 

 the Roller and the ' King Crow' habitually 

 perch on the telegraph wire to watch for their 

 insect prey : the firmer displaying his gaily 

 painted wings to advantage, as he whisks and 

 flutters about, regardless of the fiercest sun. 

 Ttie small white Vidturine bird, Heopliron per- 

 cnopterus, the ' Rachamah' or ' Pharaoh's 

 chicken,' is abuudaut and has been ialroduced 



