Birds of Celebes: Ouculidae. 
219 
In some parts of its range — perhaps in all — C. hengalensis is not a 
strictly stationary species. Thus, in Cachar, Mr. Inglis says “this Concal arrives 
ahont the beginning of June and departs at the close of the rains; breeds from 
June till September” (I 4)\ in Upper Pegu Mr. Oates found it “during 9 months 
of the year rather an uncommon bird” {IS)\ in East Bengal Mr. Cripps “can- 
not recollect ever having noticed this species in the cold weather”, hut has ob- 
served it from the beginning of May {I 6). Mr. Gammie remarks that it has 
increased largely of late in Sikkim. It is resident in South China, according 
to Swinhoe (o 1)\ resident in Hong-Kong, a straggler to Amoy (f2)\ seden- 
tary, according to David and Onstalet, in Hainan and Formosa (e 2)\ “|)len- 
tifnl” as Kelham says (I 8) “at all seasons throughout Perak, Larut, Port 
Wellesly, Johore, and all the Settlements”. 
It is not, therefore, surprising that in the East Indies, as the measurements 
of Hume, W. Blasius and Salvadori tend to show, the species should differ 
slightly in size from those found from Malacca to India; but there appears to 
be sufficient stir going on within the species as a whole to prevent the deve- 
lopment of any well marked local differences of coloration. In Malacca, Su- 
matra and Borneo a form, which we believe to be only an occasional variety 
of this species, has the under wing-coverts black, and is separated by Capt. 
Shelley as a distinct species, C. rectunguis}) 
What is known about this species is not yet sufficient for deciding whether, 
and where, trinomials might be judiciously conferred, and this must be left to 
the future, when the form is better known. 
Mr. Gammie gives an excellent description of its habits in Sikkim. 
“Among the grassy scrub, up to 3500 feet,' it is now abundant, where, only a 
few years ago, it was rarely to be found. In the earlier part of the rainy 
season its odd, monotonous notes are to be heard in every direction. I am not 
sure that the male calls, but have shot the female — as I found by dissection 
— when calling. It has a call of a double series of notes: pvhoot, whoot, 
whoot, whoot ; then often a pause of four or five seconds, kurook, kurook, kurook, 
kurook. The whoot is ventriloquistic, sounding as coming from a distance of 
six or eight yards from the bird. Before calling, it seats itself about five feet 
from the ground, then you see it draw its neck and body together, slightly puffing- 
out its body-feathers, raising its back and depressing its tail, and for every whoot 
there is a violent throb of the body as if the bird was in great pain, at the 
same time the motion of the throat is scarcely perceptible and its bill is closed. 
Then, as if greatly relieved, it stretches itself out, the feathers fall smooth, and 
with open mouth and throbbing throat comes the kurook without the slightest 
attempt at ventriloquism. When searching for the caller one must take no notice 
ij It can liai-dly be Centropus rectunguis Strickl., since -that species has “a deep bine tint on the 
head, neck and breast”, and no mention is made by Strickland of black under wing-coverts; but these, 
and a bright gloss of “green on the head, back and lower breast” are the chief means of distinguishing- 
C. rectunguis Shelley. 
28 * 
