1872.] F. Stoliczka — Mammals and Birds inhabiting Kachh. 235 
234. Auaciinkcutra asiatica* = crrbtj c aeia, Linn. Common. 
On one occasion I shot a young male while sitting on the top of a tree, 
about 40 feet high, and engaged in occasionally darting after passing insects, 
which it appeared to catch, every time returning to its perch like a fly-catch- 
er. In four males, wing 2 05 to 2'2 inches, tail 125 to 15 ; bill 0 65 to 
0'7 ; tarsus 0'6. 
255. Uptjpa XTmupExxis, Gould, vel Ceylonensis, Reich. 
Comp. Jerdon, Ibis, 1872, p. 22. 
Wing 5’3, tail 3\8, bill at front 1'75, tarsus 0'8 inch. The posterior 
feathers of the crest have distinctly white preceding the black tip, but the 
first primary has no white and the succeeding have it on both webs. The 
4th primary is barely longer than the 5th, the 1st is 2 5 inches shorter than 
the 4th ; the 2nd is 0 7 inches shorter, and the 3rd OT shorter than the 4th. 
There is scarcely any ashy colour on the sides of the neck or breast. 
Jerdon says, that the ‘ white spot on the first primary is occasionally pre- 
sent,’ I may add, it is also the case as regards the white on the crest. What 
is then to remain to be the distinctive character between the present form 
and epops ? I have great doubts about the Indian hoopoe being separable 
as a sufficiently distinct and definable species. There is no distinction in 
plumage, and the only difference 1 can see, in comparing about half a dozen 
specimens of each, is, that nigripennis, or Ceylonensis, is a smaller and 
lighter bird, with the first primary shorter and narrower. Still I cannot 
but doubt, that even these characters are so far constant, as to be of any 
use in defining distinct species. I am sure the European, Indian and even 
the Barmese hoopoe are merely local races of one species, not possessing a 
single character constantly distinct in one from the other. 
I only saw few specimens at the end of October and in the beginning of 
November, but towards the end of the latter month, they became more 
numerous ; it is, however, not a very common bird in Kachh, and must be, 
to a certain extent at least, migratory. 
256. Lam us (Coi/LYBiof) lahtojia. Very common. 
Wing 4'1 to 4'4, tail 4'4 to 5 ; bill at front 0 6 to 07 ; tarsus IT 
to 1'3 inch. 
Some specimens have a distinct white superciliary edge above the black j 
others no trace of it ; the inner plumage on breast and vent sometimes has 
a very slight creamy wash, exactly as is often the case in the European 
* I do not see tho benefit of changing the name asiatica to that of currucaria as 
suggested by Jerdon, both being Linne’s names The former is retained by G. E. Gray 
in his Hand-list. 
t G. B. Gray adopts Collyno, Moehr., 1752, for the group of Lami as excubitor, 
reserving Linne’s name Lomus for the type of L. cristatus. 
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