THE LANIIDÆ OR SHRIKE FAMILY
THE LANIIDÆ OR SHRIKE FAMILY
17.Lanius erythronotus. The rufous-backed shrike.
18.Pericrocotus flammeus. The orange minivet. This beautiful bird occurs from the bottom to the top of the Palnis.
19.Pericrocotus peregrinus. The little minivet. This is a bird of the plains rather thanof the hills. But as Fairbank observed it in the Palnis as high as 5000 feet, it is given a place in this list.Cock: Head and shoulders slaty grey, lower back deep scarlet, wings black with red bar, tail black with red at tip, chin and throat blackish, breast scarlet; lower plumage orange yellow.Hen: upper parts grey, lower parts creamy white, wing brown with yellow or orange bar, tail black with red tip.
This species is smaller than a sparrow, but the tail is 3 inches long.
THE ORIOLIDÆ OR ORIOLE FAMILY
THE ORIOLIDÆ OR ORIOLE FAMILY
20.Oriolus melanocephalus. The black-headed oriole. This species has been seen as high as 5000 feet above the sea-level. The cock is bright yellow, with a black head and some black in the wings and tail. The hen is of a much duller yellow and has the back tinged with green.
THE STURNIDÆ OR STARLING FAMILY
THE STURNIDÆ OR STARLING FAMILY
Fairbank does not mention the jungle myna (Æthiopsar fuscus) in his list of the birds of the Palnis (Stray Feathers, vol. v, 1877). Yetthis is precisely the myna one would expect to find on the Palnis, and it should be looked for.
21. On the other hand, the Brahmany myna (Temenuchus pagodarum), which is essentially a bird of the plains, is said by Fairbank to occur "well up the hillsides."
Of the common myna (Acridotheres tristis), he writes: "This is common around villages at 4000 feet."
22.Temenuchus pagodarum. The Brahmany myna. Head and recumbent crest black. Wings black and grey. Tail brown with a white tip. Remainder of plumage rich buff. Beak blue with yellow tip. Legs bright yellow.
THE EULABETIDÆ OR GRACKLE FAMILY
THE EULABETIDÆ OR GRACKLE FAMILY
23.Eulabes religiosa. The southern grackle or hill-myna. This bird occurs in the forests of the Palnis between elevations of 4000 and 5000 feet. It is familiar to every one as a cage bird. A glossy black bird with a white wing bar. The wattles, legs, and bill are yellow.
THE MUSCICAPIDÆ OR FLYCATCHER FAMILY
THE MUSCICAPIDÆ OR FLYCATCHER FAMILY
24.Ochromela nigrirufa. The black-and-orange flycatcher.
25.Stoparola albicaudata. The Nilgiri blue-flycatcher.
26.Cyornis tickelli. Tickell's blue-flycatcher. Less common than on the Nilgiris.
27.Culicicapa ceylonensis. The grey-headed flycatcher.
28.Rhipidura albifrontata. The white-browed fantail flycatcher. Fairbank did not find this bird at altitudes over 4000 feet.
THE TURDIDÆ OR THRUSH FAMILY
THE TURDIDÆ OR THRUSH FAMILY
29.Pratincola atrata. The southern pied bush-chat or hill-robin. Not nearly so abundant on the Palnis as on the Nilgiris.
30.Merula simillima. The Nilgiri blackbird. In spring its delightful song gladdens the groves of the higher Palnis.
31.Copschychus saularis. The magpie-robin. Has been observed as high as 5000 feet. The cock is black, and the hen grey, with a white breast and white in the wings and tail. The distribution of the black and white is like that in the common magpie.
THE FRINGILLIDÆ OR FINCH FAMILY
THE FRINGILLIDÆ OR FINCH FAMILY
32.Passer domesticus. The common sparrow. Does not occur much above 5000 feet.
THE HIRUNDINIDÆ OR SWALLOW FAMILY
THE HIRUNDINIDÆ OR SWALLOW FAMILY
33.Hirunda javanica. The Nilgiri house-swallow.
THE MOTACILLIDÆ OR WAGTAIL FAMILY
THE MOTACILLIDÆ OR WAGTAIL FAMILY
34.Anthus nilgirensis. The Nilgiri pipit. Common on the grassy fields at the summit of the Palnis.
THE NECTARINIDÆ OR SUNBIRD FAMILY
THE NECTARINIDÆ OR SUNBIRD FAMILY
35.Arachnecthra minima. The tiny sunbird or honeysucker. Common from 4000 feet upwards.
THE DICÆIDÆ OR FLOWER-PECKER FAMILY
THE DICÆIDÆ OR FLOWER-PECKER FAMILY
36.Dicæum concolor. The Nilgiri flower-pecker. This frequents the flowers of the parasiticLoranthus.
37.Dicæum erythrorhynchus. Tickell's flower-pecker. This species does not appear to ascend the Palnis to any great height. It is abundant at the foot of the hills.
THE PICIDÆ OR WOODPECKER FAMILY
THE PICIDÆ OR WOODPECKER FAMILY
38.Chrysocolaptes gutticristatus. Tickell'sgolden-backed woodpecker. As in the Nilgiris so in the Palnis, this is the common woodpecker.
39.Brachypternus aurantius. The golden-backed woodpecker. This is the common woodpecker of the plains: it ascends the Palnis to elevations of 5000 feet. This is distinguishable from the foregoing species by its smaller size, and in having the rump velvety black instead of crimson.
40.Liopicus mahrattensis. The yellow-fronted pied woodpecker. This plains species ascends the Palnis to elevations of 5000 feet. It is much smaller than either of the two foregoing species. The plumage is spotted black and white, with a patch of red on the abdomen. There is a yellow patch on the forehead. The cock has a short red crest.
THE CAPITONIDÆ OR BARBET FAMILY
THE CAPITONIDÆ OR BARBET FAMILY
41.Thereiceryx viridis. The small green barbet. (The coppersmith does not ascend higher than 4000 feet.)
THE ALCEDINIDÆ OR KINGFISHER FAMILY
THE ALCEDINIDÆ OR KINGFISHER FAMILY
42. The only kingfisher found in the Palnisseems to be the white-breasted kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis), but this species is confined to the lower hills.
THE UPUPIDÆ OR HOOPOE FAMILY
THE UPUPIDÆ OR HOOPOE FAMILY
43. The Indian hoopoe (Upupa indica) occurs on the lower ranges, but does not appear to ascend the hills as far as Kodikanal.
THE CYPSELIDÆ OR SWIFT FAMILY
THE CYPSELIDÆ OR SWIFT FAMILY
44. Swifts are not abundant in the Palnis. The only one observed by Fairbank was the common Indian swift (Cypselus affinis), seen at an elevation of 3000 feet. This is easily distinguished by the white band across the rump.
THE CUCULIDÆ OR CUCKOO FAMILY
THE CUCULIDÆ OR CUCKOO FAMILY
45.Hierococcyx varius. The hawk-cuckoo.
46.Eudynamis honorata. The Indian koel. This species is not common on the Palnis.
47.Centropus sinensis. The common coucal or crow-pheasant. This is not very common.
THE PSITTACIDÆ OR PARROT FAMILY
THE PSITTACIDÆ OR PARROT FAMILY
48.Palæornis columboides. The blue-winged paroquet.
49.Loriculus vernalis. The Indian loriquet or love-bird.
THE STRIGIDÆ OR OWL FAMILY
THE STRIGIDÆ OR OWL FAMILY
50.Ketupa zeylonensis. The brown fish-owl. A large bird with aigrettes. The eyes are bright yellow. The legs are devoid of feathers. The call is a series of grunts.
THE VULTURIDÆ OR VULTURE FAMILY
THE VULTURIDÆ OR VULTURE FAMILY
51.Neophron ginginianus. The smaller white scavenger vulture. This occurs up to at least 5000 feet. Fairbank did not observe any other vultures on the higher hills, but it is unlikely thatPseudogyps bengalensis(the white-backed vulture),Gyps indicus(the long-billed vulture), andOtogyps calvus(the black or Pondicherry vulture) do not visit the higher hills. These three birds should be looked for, especially the first.
THE FALCONIDÆ OR FAMILY OF BIRDS OF PREY
THE FALCONIDÆ OR FAMILY OF BIRDS OF PREY
52.Ictinaëtus malayensis. The black eagle. Not very common.
53.Milvus govinda. The common pariahkite. Fairbank did not see this above 3000 feet.
54.Haliastur indus. The Brahmany kite. Occurs up to at least 4000 feet.
55.Tinnunculus alaudarius. The kestrel.
THE COLUMBIDÆ OR DOVE FAMILY
THE COLUMBIDÆ OR DOVE FAMILY
56.Alsocomus elphistonii. The Nilgiri wood-pigeon.
The spotted and the little brown doves (Turtur suratensisandT. cambayensis) are found only on the lower hills.
THE PHASIANIDÆ OR PHEASANT FAMILY
THE PHASIANIDÆ OR PHEASANT FAMILY
57.Gallus sonnerati. The grey jungle fowl. Not so common as on the Nilgiris.
58.Galloperdix spadicea. The red spur-fowl. Not common.
59.Microperdix erythrorhynchus. The painted bush-quail.
THE CHARADRIIDÆ OR PLOVER FAMILY
THE CHARADRIIDÆ OR PLOVER FAMILY
A few snipe and woodcock visit the Palnis in winter.
THE PODICIPEDIDÆ OR GREBE FAMILY
THE PODICIPEDIDÆ OR GREBE FAMILY
60.Podicipes albipennis. The little grebe or dabchick. This bird never leaves the water. It is smaller than a dove. It has no tail. It is dark glossy brown in colour with chestnut on the sides of the neck.
Abrornis superciliaris,
113
Accipiter cooperi,
171
Aceros nepalensis,
122
Acridotheres tristis,
60
,
199
,
240
Actinodura egertoni,
110
Ægithaliscus erythrocephalus,
41
,
106
Æthiopsar fuscus,
61
,
199
,
239
Æthopyga nepalensis,
119
— scheriæ,
76
Alauda gulgula,
210
ALAUDIDÆ,
210
ALCEDINIDÆ,
79
,
121
,
215
,
243
Alcedo ispida,
215
Alcippe nepalensis,
109
Alcurus striatus,
112
Alder,
22
Almora,
22
,
29
,
41
seq.
,
51
,
54
,
59
,
65
,
67
,
87
,
97
Alseonax latirostris,
63
,
115
Alsocomus elphistonii,
226
,
246
Amadavat,
205
Amaranthus,
25
Amaurornis phoenicurus,
230
Anamallis,
236
Andaman Islands,
217
Anemone,
18
,
25
"Animal colouration,"
171
Anthipes moniliger,
116
Anthus nilgirensis,
209
— rufulus,
209
Aquila helica,
125
Arachnecthra asiatica,
210
— lotenia,
212
— minima,
211
,
242
— zeylonica,
212
Arboricola torqueola,
104
,
126
ARDEIDÆ,
230
Ardeola grayii,
231
Argul,
92
Arisæma jacque-montii,
53
Astur badius,
224
Babblers,
42
seq.
,
48
,
107