OCR Text |
Show 432 THE MARQUIS OF TWEEDDALE ON BATRACHOSTOMUS. [May 15, tion (specimen referred to under the title of Otothrix hodgsoni, in Blyth's B. Burma, I. ci). This example has the general aspect of the three last described. The back has the rufous tinge of No. 5; but the white-banded nuchal feathers are not more apparent than in No. 6. The scapulars are coloured and marked as in the others; but on one or two of the tectrices, near the end, on either web, is a pure white spot. The white and the tawny rufous pectoral feathers are, here and there, tipped with a darker brown. The tail-feathers are marked as in examples 5 and 6 ; but the general tone is a shade more rufous or rusty. The markings on the quills are somewhat more rufous than in either of the Malaccan birds. O n the whole it is impossible to discern any character which differentiates this example from the other three, more decided than the small differences that distinguish each of the three Malaccan individuals from one another. Some of the dimensions, however, are greater. Wing 5 0, tail 5*5, tarsus 0*62, middle toe 0*75, bill from forehead 0*93, width of gape 1*12. The graduation of the quills and rectrices is as in the others, and the tarsus as much, but not more feathered. The bill is as powerful. The iris is stated by Lieutenant W . Ramsay to be marbled buff, bill light madder, legs the same tinged with violet. The auricular plumes are not more developed than in Malaccan examples. c? No. 8, (?), neighbourhood of Darjeeling. Type of Otothrix hodgsoni, G. R. Gray. The whole of the feathers of the head are much darker brown than in the foregoing ; each plume has a pair of fulvous subterminal spots, one on the outer margin of either web. These fulvous markings are very regular. Scapulars are all white or only so on the outer webs, some with broad black subterminal bands. Nuchal collar-plumes fulvous near the shaft, each terminated with a broad brown or black fringe, above which a broad white band, bounded by a narrow brown line. Dorsal plumage mixed rufous, brown, and black. Ground-colour of the caudal bands warm rufous and pale grey alternating, and all traversed with brown zigzag lines. The rufous bands are about double the breadth of the grev. The gular collar-plumes are white along the shaft; a brown transverse line, then a broad white band followed by a narrow brown terminal band fringed with fulvous. The most part of the pectoral and abdominal feathers are white with black subterminal triangular drops tipped white. Two outer pairs of rectrices indented with pure white on outer margin. Wing coverts brown with rufous marginal markings ; greater coverts tipped with white drops. Wing 5*1, tail 5.3, gape 1*1. Tarsus covered anteriorally a quarter of its length. No. 9, nestling. (Hodgson, Mus. Brit.). Above pale rufous, each feather with a subterminal straight brown transverse narrow band. White scapulars indicated. Below white, with a pale tawny brown transverse band on each feather. Gape 0*7. BATRACHOSTOMUS CORNUTUS. (Plate XLVI.). Podargus cornutus, Temm. Pl. Col. 159, " Bencoolen, Sumatra" (July 26, 1823). |