Birds of the Indian Hills Part 17

THE SYLVIIDae OR WARBLER FAMILY

14. _Orthotomus sartorius_. The tailor bird. This has been seen as high as 5500 feet above the sea-level.

15. _Prinia socialis_. The ashy wren-warbler.

16. _Prinia inorata_. The Indian wren-warbler. This is very like the ashy wren-warbler in appearance. Its upper plumage is earthy-brown, and not reddish brown, and it does not make during flight the curious snapping noise so characteristic of _P. socialis_.

THE LANIIDae 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 than of the hills. But as Fairbank observed it in the Palnis as high as 5000 feet, it is given a place in this list.

_c.o.c.k_: 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 ORIOLIDae 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 c.o.c.k 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 STURNIDae OR STARLING FAMILY

Fairbank does not mention the jungle myna (_aethiopsar fuscus_) in his list of the birds of the Palnis (_Stray Feathers_, vol. v, 1877).

Yet this 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 paG.o.darum_), 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 paG.o.darum_. The Brahmany myna. Head and rec.u.mbent 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 EULABETIDae 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 MUSCICAPIDae 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 alt.i.tudes over 4000 feet.

THE t.u.r.dIDae 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 c.o.c.k 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 FRINGILLIDae OR FINCH FAMILY

32. _Pa.s.ser domesticus_. The common sparrow. Does not occur much above 5000 feet.

THE HIRUNDINIDae OR SWALLOW FAMILY

33. _Hirunda javanica_. The Nilgiri house-swallow.

THE MOTACILLIDae OR WAGTAIL FAMILY

34. _Anthus nilgirensis_. The Nilgiri pipit. Common on the gra.s.sy fields at the summit of the Palnis.

THE NECTARINIDae OR SUNBIRD FAMILY

35. _Arachnecthra minima_. The tiny sunbird or honeysucker. Common from 4000 feet upwards.

THE DICaeIDae OR FLOWER-p.e.c.k.e.r FAMILY

36. _Dicaeum concolor_. The Nilgiri flower-p.e.c.k.e.r. This frequents the flowers of the parasitic _Loranthus_.

37. _Dicaeum erythrorhynchus_. Tickell's flower-p.e.c.k.e.r. This species does not appear to ascend the Palnis to any great height. It is abundant at the foot of the hills.

THE PICIDae OR WOODp.e.c.k.e.r FAMILY