This species is smaller than a sparrow, but the tail is 3 inches long.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

32. Passer domesticus. The common sparrow. Does not occur much above 5000 feet.

33. Hirunda javanica. The Nilgiri house-swallow.

34. Anthus nilgirensis. The Nilgiri pipit. Common on the grassy fields at the summit of the Palnis.

35. Arachnecthra minima. The tiny sunbird or honeysucker. Common from 4000 feet upwards.

36. Dicæum concolor. The Nilgiri flower-pecker. This frequents the flowers of the parasitic Loranthus.

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.

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.

41. Thereiceryx viridis. The small green barbet. (The coppersmith does not ascend higher than 4000 feet.)

43. The Indian hoopoe (Upupa indica) occurs on the lower ranges, but does not appear to ascend the hills as far as Kodikanal.

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.

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.

48. Palæornis columboides. The blue-winged paroquet.

49. Loriculus vernalis. The Indian loriquet or love-bird.

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.

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 that Pseudogyps bengalensis (the white-backed vulture), Gyps indicus (the long-billed vulture), and Otogyps calvus (the black or Pondicherry vulture) do not visit the higher hills. These three birds should be looked for, especially the first.

52. Ictinaëtus malayensis. The black eagle. Not very common.

54. Haliastur indus. The Brahmany kite. Occurs up to at least 4000 feet.

55. Tinnunculus alaudarius. The kestrel.

56. Alsocomus elphistonii. The Nilgiri wood-pigeon.

The spotted and the little brown doves (Turtur suratensis and T. cambayensis) are found only on the lower hills.

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.

A few snipe and woodcock visit the Palnis in winter.

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.

APPENDICES

I. VERNACULAR NAMES OF HIMALAYAN BIRDS

II. VERNACULAR NAMES OF NILGIRI BIRDS

INDEX