BIRDS COLLECTED BY DR. W. L. ABBOTT AND MR. C. B.KLOSS IN THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. i By Charles W. Richmond,Assistant Curator, Division of Birds. The followiug" li.st is based on a collection nunil)ering- about 520 spec-imens, obtained at various points in tlie Andaman and Nicobar islandsby Dr. W. L. A])bott and Mr. C. B. Kloss, during the months of Jan-uary, Februar}', and March, 1901. Most of this time was devoted tothe less-known islands of the last-named group, particularly Great andLittle Nicobar, as the Andamans have recently been more or lessthoroughly explored by Mr. A. L. Butler, who has published theresults of his work^ in a journal inaccessible to me.The collection forwarded to the United States National Museum byDr. Abbott contains nearly 100 species, of which 9 appear to be new,namel}^: Zosterops ventialis^ Sturnia erytkropygia JcatchaJens/'s^ Rhi-nomyias nicobarica^ Arachnechthra Mossi, Pitta abhotti^ SjjilornisMoss% Astur obsoletus^ Osmotreron chloroptera andamanica^ and Excal-factoria.trinhutensis.All of the specimens are supplied with accurate data, in addition towhich the collector has sent notes, in some cases quite extensive, onthe habits and distribution of the various species.Hume's elaborate paper on the liirds of these islands'^ gives in detailthe topography and phj^sical characteristics of the two groups, and itis unnecessary here to more than mention the localities visited byMessrs. Abbott and Kloss. ^These are as follows: Barren Island, Januar}^ 6 and 7; Henry Law-rence Island (anchored in Kwantung Strait), January 8 to 11; Mac-Pherson Strait, between South Andaman and Rutland islands (includ-ing adjacent mainland), January l-l to 17; North Cinque Island, Jan-uary 18; Little Andaman (Bumila Creek, at the north end of the island), ^Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, XII, 1899.2 Stray Feathers, II, 1874, pp. 1-324, with map.^See also a paper by Mr. G. S. Miller, jr., on the mammals collected l)y Dr. Abbott,in these Proceedings, XXIV, 1902, pp. 751-795, with map.Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol, XXV?No, 1288. 287 288 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. VOL. XXV.January 19 and 20. In the Nicobars, Car Nicobar (Mus, a village onthe northei-n peninsula of the i.sland), January 21 to 27; Tillanchong(a ba}^ on the west side, at foot of Maharani Peak), January 29 to Feb-ruary 1; Trinkut (in Beresford Channel, at southwest corner of theisland), February 1 to 5; Nankauri and Kaniorta (Nankauri Harbor andneighborhood), February 5 to 11; Kamorta (Dring Har])or, west coast),February 11 to 15; Katchal (West Bay), February 1(5 to 24; Little Nico-bar (anchorage back of Pulo Milu), February 25 to March 4; GreatNicobar (bay southeast of Pulo Kondul, March 5 to 10; Ganges Harbor,March 10 to 10; Pulo Kunyi, March 17 to 21; Pulo Nyer, March 21to 21; Pulo Rotan, March 24 to 26; Galathea Bay, March 27 to 30),March 5 to 30.The sequence of species followed in the present list is that of the"Fauna of British India" (Blanford and Oates).Measurements are given in millimeters, and have been taken fromthe dried specimens, except that of total length, which in all cases hasbeen supplied by the collector from the fresh bird.Family CORVID.E.CORVUS MACRORHYNCHOS Wagler.C'[orms] iiittcrorhyndiu.'^ Wagler, Syst. Aviuiii., J, 1827 [p. 313] (Sumatra andJava)."Pretty common at Lawrence Island and South Andaman." Threespecimens were obtained on the first named island. The total length,as given on the labels, varies from 482.5 mm. to 508 mm.^Family ZOSTEROPID.E.ZOSTEROPS PALPEBROSA NICOBARICUS (Blyth).Z[oste)'opK] nicoharicns Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, XIV, Pt. 2, 1845, p. 563(Nicobars) . "Common in Car Nicobar, less so in Trinkut, Kamorta, and Katchal.Not observed in the southern islands (Great and Little Nicobar)."' Inthe Andamans it was found to be "common on Nortjb Cinque," andon Barren Island it was "the conunonest bird."This form is readily distinguished from Z. jH(Ij)eh?'osa by its longer])ill, shorter tail, and generally lighter color above." The totai lengthranges from 108 mm. to 120.5 mm., the smallest examples being fromCar Nicobar. and the largest from the Cinque Islands.ZOSTEROPS VENTRALIS, new species.Ti/pe.?Adult female. No. 178798 U.S.N.M.; Car Nicobar, January24, 1901; Dr. W. L. Abbott. Entire upper parts, including sides of ^The collector's measurements have been reduced from inches to millimeters. * See also Hume, Stray Feathers, II, 1874, p. 242. No.iiSH. ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLAND BIRDS?RICHMOND. 289hetid and neck, and edges of wing feathers, olive green, the outerwe})s of basal half of tail feathers edged with the same color; tail andwing feathers clove ])rown; cheeks and throat olive yellow; breast,sides of body, thighs, and flanks, pale smoke gray; center of abdomenand under tail-coverts, canary 3'ellow; lores and feathers under e^^eblack; a narrow ring of feathers round the eye, white; under wing-coverts and axillaries, white; inner webs of wing feathers white onunder surface.Length (of fresh specimen), 111 nun.; wing, 53; tail, 37.5; tarsus,15; culmen, 11.5 (bill from gape, 15) mm. " Iris brown, bill and feetplumbeous."The single individual obtained dili'crs from Z. anrelventrU in itsdarker yellow throat, darker sides and upper parts, and uniformlydarker plumage. Family PYCNONOTID^E.IRENA PUELLA (Latham).[Cuvdrlax'] imella Latham, Index Urn., I, 1790, p. 171 (India).One specimen only, a male from .Henry Lawrence Island. Lengthof the fresh bird, 254 mm. ""Iris red." It was also observed onSouth Andaman. OTOCOMPSA EMERIA (Linnaeus).[Motdcilkt] cmeria Linn.eus, Syst. Nat., 10th ed., I, 1758, p. 187 (Benghala). '' Introduced. Common about the old convict settlement onKamorta; a few seen at Dring Harbor, same island." Two skins arein tlie collection from this island, and a third from Nankauri. At theAndamans it was "common on South and Little Andaman." Ninespecimens were collected, of which live are from the Cinque Islands.In plumage the birds from the Andamans and Nicobars are alike,but differ from Indian and Mala}^ peninsula examples in being ratherdarker and browner al)ove, with more extensive white tips on therectrices. The Andaman birds have somewhat larger bills than thosefrom other localities. The total length of birds in the flesh variesfrom ITS nun. to 203 mm.lOLE NICOBARIENSIS (Moore).Hyjhvjictfx nicohariensis Mookb, in Horsfield and Moore, Catal. Birds Mns. EastIndia Co., I, 1854, p. 257 (Nicobars)."Common in the central group of islands, Tillanchong, Trinkut,Nankauri, Kamorta, and Katchal. Not seen elsewhere. It occiision-alh' congregates in assemljliesof 50 or more, in some large tree, wherethey make a great chattering and uproar."Thirteen specimens.Proc. N. M.-vol. XXV?02 19 290 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxv.The total length, in the tlcsh, ranges from 2lf) nun. to 22S.5 mm. ""Iris, brown; feet, greenish brown; bill, olive green, with 3^ellowedges." MICROTARSUS FUSCOFLAVESCENS (Hume).BrarJii/jiodliisfusmfiaresn-iis Hume, Stray Feathers, I, 1H73, p. L'?7 (S. Andaman).One adult male, from South Andaman. "Iris, blue; feet, leadenblue; bill leaden, blackish at tip. Several seen." Length, 178 mm.Family DICRURID.E.DISSEMUROIDES ANDAMANENSIS (Beavan).BIcniruK imdtnii-' "Tytler," Beavan, Ibis, 1867, p. 323 (Andanians)."Counuon on South and Little Andaman."Six specimens. Length ranges from 292 mm. to 343 nun.DISSEMURUS MALABARICUS (Scopoli).Muitrir NICOJlAJi ISLAND BJIU>,S?}U( JIMONJ). 2\)1Family SYLVIID.!^].LOCUSTELLA CERTHIOL.i (Pallas).Mutdcilla cerfliinht Fai.las, Zoo.-iT. Rosso-Asiat., I, 1811 (1S2(;), p. 509 (rc?,nonbeyond liike ]'>aikal):One male, from Kamorta, colleoted February 1". "Iris, l)ro\vn;leo's, fle^h-colored; feet and claws, pale brownish olive."Apparently no previous record for the Nicobars.CISTICOLA CISTICOLA (Temminck).Sylvia cisticola Temmisck, Manuel d'Orn., 2d ed., 1. LS20, p. 228 (Portugal).Four specimens, all from Trinkut. "Common in the grassy landsof Trinkut, Kamorta, and Nankauri.''CISTICOLA, species.On Great Nicobar a small bird, supposed to be a species of Oisficola^was found to frequent the grassy plains in the southern part of theisland, along the upper Galathea Kiver, but Messrs. Ab])ott and Klosswere so hurried in their trip up this river that no specimens wereobtained. ACANTHOPNEUSTE BOREALIS (Blasius).Phyllopneuste borealis H. Blasiuh, Naumannia, 1858, p. 313 (Helgoland).One adult, from Little Andaman.ACANTHOPNEUSTE TENELLIPES (Swinhoe).Phylloscopus tcnellijie!^ Swinhoe, ll)i!~, 18t)0, p. 53 (Amoy, China).A single adult male was captured at sea about 10 miles east ofGreat Nicobar. It tlew on board the vessel, April 1.This species appears not to have been hitherto recorded from theNicobars. ACANTHOPNEUSTE LUGUBRIS (Blyth).I'liyllopiwuxte layuhriv Blytu, Ann. Mag. Nat. lliHt., XII, 1843, p. 98 (near Cal-cutta).Two specimens from Henry Lawrence Island, and one from Mac-Pherson Strait, South Andaman.Family LANIID.E.LANIUS LUCIONENSIS (Linnseus).[Lanim'] lucionensis Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., 12th ed., I, 1766, p. 135 (Luzon).A male was shot at MacPherson Strait, South Andaman, and afemale was obtained at Car Nicobar. 292 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxv.Family CAMPEPHAGID^E.PERICROCOTUS ANDAMANENSIS Beavan.rericrucutus andamanensis "Tytler," Beavan, Ibis, 1867, p. 322 (Audamans).One specimen eacli from South Andaman and Henry LawrenceIsland, "Shot in thick forest."GRAUCALUS DOBSONI Ball.Graucalus dobsoni Ball, Jouni. As. Soc. Bengal, XLV, Pt. 2, 1872, p. 281 (Auda-mans).Two specimens, male and female, are in the collection, from SouthAndaman, and a number of others were seen. The iris is noted as darkbrown. Length of the female, 305 mm. The wing in the male is 170mm.; in the female, 172.5 mm.Family ORIOLID.E.ORIOLUS MACROURUS Blyth.0[ri(jlm] macronra-^ Blytu, .Journ. As. Sue. Bengal, XV, 184(i, p. 46 (Nicobars,central group).Fourteen specimens, from Trinkut, Kamorta, and Great and CarNicobar. "Common in all the islands visited."ORIOLUS ANDAMANENSIS Beavan.Orlolus aiidamdneiisis "Tytler," Beavan, Ibis, 1867, p. 326 (Andamans).Eleven specimens, collected in South Andaman, Henry Lawrence,Cinque Islands, and Little Andaman. It was reported to be "commonat all collecting places."Family EULABETID.E.EULABES ANDAMANENSIS Beavan.Eulabes nndamancnsk "Tytlek," Beavan, Ibis, 1867, p. 331 (Andamans)."Common in Great and Little Nicobar, also seen in Katchal, and afew in Kamorta." It was observed on South Andaman, and a femalewas obtained on Rutland Island. The latter measures: Total length,305 mm.; wing, 165 mm. "Bill and wattles reddish orange; feetyellow."A male from Little Nicobar measures, in the flesh, 32-1 mm.; wing,183 mm. "Iris, brown; feet, Indian yellow; wattles, bright yellow;bill, orange red, with yellow tip."Males from Katchal have Avings varying from 170.5 mm. to 177.5 mm. is8. ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLAND BIRDS?RICHMOND. 293CALORNIS TYTLERI Hume.Calornis tytleri Hume, Stray Feathei's, I, lS7r>, p. 4S0 (Port Mouat, SouthAndaman) . Twenty specimens from various islands in the Nicobar group. Intotal length these examples var}^ from ;^(?3 mm. to 228. 5 mm.'''Found in all the islands visited. The color of the iris varied; allof those shot in Car Nicobar had })rown irides, and all shot in thecentral group, Trinkut, etc., had white irides. It was certainly notthe result of age or sex." The birds from Great and Little Nicobarare also marked as having white irides. (On this point see Ilume^).Family STURNID.F.STURNIA ANDAMANENSIS (Beavan).Tenienudius andamatu'iisis "Tytler," Beavan, Ibip, 1867, p. 329 (Andamans).""Common at South Andaman and North Cinque.'"Six examples from the above localities are in the collection.Length in fresh birds varies from 222 to 228.5 nmi. Apparentlynot seen in the Nicobars.STURNIA ERYTHROPYGIA Blyth.Stumla erythropygia Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, XV, 1846, p. 84 (Nicobars). '?' Common in Car Nicobar, going about in Hocks with Calornistytleri. Especial!}^ fre(iuents the cocoanuts and casuarinas. Not seenelsewhere."Seventeen specimens of this rare species were obtained, all fromCar Nicobar. Males measure 228.5 to 237 mm. in total length; females,from 222 to 251 mm.Colors of fading parts, as mentioned on the labels, are: Iris, palel)lue to china white; bill greenish yellow, base chalky cobalt; feet dullyellow to ochraceous; claws pale horny yellow.STURNIA ERYTHROPYGIA KATCHALENSIS, new subspecies.Stttmia a^ythrojyygia appears to be confined to the island of CarNicobar. The Hume party found it only on that island, and Dr. Abbottdid not meet with it elsewhere. ^. andamanensis, according to bothHume and Davison, was found on the Nicobars only at Kamorta, butDr. Abbott does not mention it from this group in his notes on thebirds observed there. Hume, in referring to the occurrence ofS. andamcmensis in the Nicobars, says:^I cannot feel at all certain that this species is indigenous in the Nicobars. Wenever saw it anywhere except in the immediate neighborhood of the settlement atKamorta, at which station I understand that some twenty were let loose many yearsago, havmg been brought ilown from Port Blair, where this species swarms. Even atKamorta it is far from plentiful, and it does not seem at present to extend to any of ' Stray Feathers, I, 1873, p. 480. ^ Stray Feathers, II, 1874, p. 249. 294 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxv.the closely adjacent islands of Nankanri, Katchal, or Trinkut, all of wliich Davisonvery thorouglily worked, or, indeed, even to the northernmost portion of Kamortaitself.At the present daj^, not thirty years after Hume's notable trip, thereexists on the island of Katchal a form of Sturnin which combines thecharacters of both S. midamfuiensis and S. ?ri/thro2)ygia; whetherthis is a descendant of the birds liberated on Kamorta 3^ears ag-o, andorig-inally from the Andamans, or a form long resident on Katchaland overlooked by previous collectors, is more than 1 am at presenta])le to explain. It seems more probable, however, that the Katchalbird has lieen derived from the Kamorta stock and has ])ecome fairlynumerous within recent years. It is not likely that Hume or Davi-son would have overlooked a bird of this character had it existed onthe island in 1873. As to the bird of Kamorta, does it now occur there,and is it still andamaneiuisf Hume w^ould have called attention to ithad it differed from true andamanensu at the time of his visit. Dr.Abbott did not see any traces of it there during his recent trip.The new form may be described as follows:r^j^t^?Adult male, No. 178629, U.S.N.M.; Katchal, Nicoliars, Febru-ary 20, 1901; Dr. W. L. Abbott. Whole head, neck, breast, sides, andupper al)domen white, with a slight grayish wash on crown; back, palesmoke gray, somewhat lighter on scapularsand passing- into wood brownon the rump and upper tail-coverts; lower abdomen, under tail-covertsand Hanks russet; thighs wood brown anteriorly, smoke gra}^ behind.Wings, black, with metallic green reflections, most pronounced oncoverts and secondaries; under wing-coverts and axillaries pure white;concealed bases of outer primaries and basal third of quill of secondprimary, white. Tail, black above, with metallic reflections as on wings;outermost pair of feathers russet on exposed portion of outer websand for about 20. 5 mm. on inner webs; the other rectrices tipped withrusset, the tips l^ecoming narrower toward the middle pair, which aremerely edged with this color. Length, 219 mm.; wing, 106; tail, 71;tarsus, 25.5; culmen, 21.5. " Iris pale blue; bill yellow, base blue; feetochraceous." Two females measure 209.5 mm. in total length.The six skins of this form all differ from *S'. erythropygia in havingthe pale rump and upper tail-coverts of S. andamcmensls., with thesmaller dimensions of the latter.ACRIDOTHERES TRISTIS (Linnaeus).{^Pamdism'X trisiis Linn.eus,. Syst. Nat., 12th ed., I, 1766, ]>. 167 ( "Philippinis").One adult female, from Kamorta." Introduced. Only met with al)Out the abandoned settlement atNankauri Harbor, where they were pretty niunerous."Evidenth' of recent appearance in this localit}', as Oates says^ thatit "does not extend to the Nicobars." 'Fauna Brit. India (Birds), I, 188!), p. 537. ANDAMAN AND NWOBAll ISLAND BIRDS-RWHMOND. 2^)5Family MUSCICAPID^E.MUSCITREA GRISOLA (Blyth).Tin,hrudorrm-\ grisola Bi.vt.i. Journ. A.. Soc. Bengal, XII, Pt. 1, 1843, p. 180*(near Calcutta).Six specimens, from Henry Lawrence Island, Barren Island. SouthAndaman, and Cintiue Islands.ALSEONAX LATIROSTRIS (Raffles).Mu^clcapa latiro^tris Kaffles, Trann. Linn. 8oc. Lend., XIII, Pt. 2, 1822, p. :!12(Sumatra).Five specimens, from South Andaman, Barren, Rutland, and Cinack,scapulars, and rump, brown (between liister and raw umber), brightest?n the back; upper tail-coverts and tail burnt umber; wings darkbrown, the feathers edged with the color of the back, lighter on theprimaries and burnt umber on the secondaries. Lores, and feathersabout eyes, buti'; cheeks, ear-coverts and sides of neck similar to thecrown "but lighter, the ear-coverts with light shaft streaks; throatand abdomeiC white; breast with a narrow band of wood brown(feathers of the breast l)uffy white, edged with wood brown); sidesand Hanks wood brown, the thighs drab; under tail-coverts, axdlars 296 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. voi,. xxv.and under wing-ooverts deep buflf, the latter darker along edge ofwing; inner webs of wing feathers with light buffy edges. Wing,7Y.5 mm.; tail, 61; tarsus, 18; cillmen, 14 (bill, from gape, 22).Length, 165 mm. "Iris, dark ])rown; feet, pale brownish fleshly;upper mandible dark horn brown, lower mandible pale fleshy.''There is some variation in a series of eleven specimens; in one theband across the breast is dee]) buff, with almost obsolete darker edgesto the feathers; in several examples the under tail-coverts are dullwhite; some have the top of the head and Ijack of the same shade ofbrown. In an inmiature specimen the middle and greater wing-covertsand feathers behind the eye have cinnamon spots, narrowly edgedwith ])lack; the tertiaries are tipped with pale cinnamon; the throat iswhite, with the feathers indistinctl}" edged with dusk3^This species appears to be most nearly related to Ji. pectoralis, fromthe Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, but differs from it in having nowhitish spots on the lores; the under wing-coverts, axillars, and undertail-coverts are not white; the white on the under surface is not sopure, and the upper parts are of a somewhat different shade of 1)rown.The genus Ridnomyiax. has not previously been recorded from theNicobars."Common in Great and Little Nicobar. Keeps close to the ground,on low l)ushes in heavy forest. Has a rather sweet song."HYPOTHYMIS AZUREA (Boddaert).ifM.sr/cfl^yxf r/swrcrf BoDDAERT, Tabl. PI. P]nl., 1783, p. 41 ("Philippines").Fifteen specimens, from Nankauri, Trinkut, Tillanchong, Kamorta,Great and Car Nico))ar."Conmion \w all the islands, frequenting dense jungle.'"HYPOTHYMIS TYTLERI (Beavan).My'mgra ti/tleri Beavan, Ibis, 1867, ]>. 324 (Aiulanians).Three specuuens, from Henry Lawrence Island, Little and SouthAndaman. Family TLTRDID^E.GEOCICHLA ALBOGULARIS Blyth.Geodchla albogularif! Blyth, Joiirn. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, XVI, 1847, p. 146(Nicobars).Eight specimens, from Trinkut, Kamorta, and Katchal. Length,from 190.5 to 203 mm. "Iris dark brown; orbital skin olive; billblack, pale leaden beneath, at base; feet pale brownish fleshy; clawspale horn brown. Common in the central group, i. e., Trinkut, Nan-kauri, Kamorta, and Katchal. Frequents the darkest parts of thejungle, keeping close to the ground." NO. 1288. ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLAND BIRDS?RICHMOND. 297Family PLOCEID^.MUNIA SEMISTRIATA Hume.[J/m?/V<] semhiruiUi Hume, Stray Featliers, II, 1874, j). 257 (Kaiuorta, Nicobars).Seven .specimens, representing Kamorta, Trinkut, Tillanchong-, andCar Nicohar."Common in the islands with open grass lands. Not met with onthe southern islands, which are covered with dense forest. Goesabout in small flocks of six to ten."Family MOTACILLID^E.BUDYTES FLAVA (Linnaeus.)[MotaciUa] flam Linn.eus, Syst. Nat., 10th ed., Pt. 1, 1758, p. 185 (Europe).Three specimens, all from Trinkut."Common on Trinkut and Kamorta, frequenting the open grasslands and the shore." ANTHUS, species. "Kloss shot one on Kamorta." No specimens were sent, Humerecords AntJiKs ce/'/u'nuj^ from this island.Family NECTARINIID^.^THOPYGA NICOBARICA Hume.jEihopyga nicoharlea Hume, Stray Feathers, 1, 187:-), ]>. 41L' (Kondul and Meroe,south Nicobars. ) "Only met with on Great and Little Nicobar. It was commonestat Pulo Kunyi and other places on the west coast of Great Nicobar.'"'It appears to be confined to the southern islands of the group; Humemet with it only on Kondul and Meroe. The female is without a ti'aceof red on the throat, as Gates has predicted.^ Females have a totallength (in the flesh) of 111 mm. ; males are slightly larger, measuringfrom 116 to 122 mm. "Feet dark fleshy brown; ])ill dark hornbrown above, pale horny brown beneath." A series of ten skins, fromGreat and Little Nicobar.ARACHNECHTHRA KLOSSI, new species.Tijpe.?KdiwM male, No. 17878T, U.S.N.M.; Great Nico])ar, March9, 1901; Dr. W. L. Abbott. Upper parts (except forehead and ante-rior part of crown), including sides of neck, ear-coverts, and lesserwing-coverts, olive green, darker on the upper tail-coverts; wings,clove brown, most of the feathers (except those of primary' coverts)edged with olive green; tail, black, the middle feathers narrowh^ edged 1 Fauna Brit. India (Birds), II, 1890, p. ;550. 298 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vouxxv.with metallic o-reen, tho three outer pairs with white tip.s, the outermostwith white e-xtending- along- outer wel) for a])Out 14 nun. ; the next twopairs very narrowly tipped (about 1 nmi. only). Forehead, fore partof crown and throat, metallic purple, boixlered on sides (includingcheeks) and chest with metallic blue; just below the blue of chest, lat-erally, are a few burnt umber feathers. Breast, abdomen, sides ofbod}", and under tail-coverts, lemon yellow; flanks, pale olive green;thighs, dusky brown, yellowish on inner aspect; axillars, cadmiumyellow; longest under wing-coverts, white; lesser feathers, pale ja^low;feathers of outer edge of under win^-coverts dusk}", with yellowishtips. Length (fresh), 11-i mm.; wing, 51; tail, 33; tarsus, 15; cul-men, 18.5 (bill, from gape, 23). Other males have a wing- measure-ment of 52 to 53 mm., and a total length of 108 to 117.5 mm.This species ditlers trora A. pectorali^ m being slightly larger; thereis less white on the outer tail feathers, and the. lower part of the throatand chest is metallic blue instead of purple. The upper surface issomewhat darker than in A. iJectorali><. "Common on all the islandsvisited. Breeding in February and March; we found the nests onKatchal, Great and Little Nicobar, generally in mangroves overhangingthe creeks.'"Seventeen specimens from the following islands: Car Mcobar,Trinkut. Tillanchong, Great and Little Nicobar.ARACHNECHTHRA ANDAMANICA Hume.Amchnrfhihra andamanica Hume, Stray Feathers, I, 1878, p. 404 (Andamans)."Common at South Andaman and Cinque."Eight specimens from the above islands. Length of males (sixindividuals) in the flesh, 114 to 118 mm.Family PITTID.E.PITTA ABBOTTI, new species.7]/7>6'.?Adult male, No. 1T8506, U.S.N.M. ; Great Nicobar, March 30,lUOl; Dr. W. L. Abbott. Closely related to P. ciicullata,^ but darkerabove and below, with lighter blue upper tail- and wing-coverts; adark median line on crown; white patch on primaries much smallerand confined to six feathers instead of seven, P. ahhotfi is also smaller.Length, 184 mm.; wing, 110; tail, 39; tarsus, 39.5; culmen, 22 (bill,from gape 27). Other males have a wing measurement of from 103to 105 mm."Iris dark brown; bill black, gape pale orange; feet pale brownishfleshy." Hume^ saw several Pittas on Great Nicobar, which he ^ For permission to examine two Malacca specimens of P. cucuUatn. in the Elliotcollection I am indebted to the authorities of the American Museum of NaturalHistory.'Stray Feathers, II, 1874, p. 220. N...12S8. ANDAMAN AND NTCOBAR ISLAND BIRDS?RICHMOND. 299lliought to be P. induecenf. 412, note(Port Blair, Rontli Andaman).One adult female, from Bumila Creek, Little Andaman." Upper mandible dark horn brown, lower mandible leaden. Alsoseen at Lawrence Island and South Andaman.''Length in the flesh, 190.5 mm.THRIPONAX HODGEI (Blyth).Manlieripicus'] ho(Jgei'BhYTU,Jouru. Asiat. Soc. Beniiul, XXIX, LSGU, j). 105 (PortBlair, South Andaman).A pair from Henry Lawrence Island." Heard at South Andaman. Iris yellow.''Length of male, -iOO mm.: of female, 38-t mm.Family CORACHD.E.EURYSTOMUS ORIENTALIS (Linnaeus).[Corarias} orientalh Linn.eus, Syst. Nat., 12th ed., I, ITGd, p. 159 (India orientali).One female from South Andaman. Length, 8(?1.5 nmi. '' Iris dark brown. No others were seen."Family MEROPID^I^.MEROPS PHILIPPINUS Linnaeus.\_Mi'rops] philip2))nns Linnaeus, Syst. Xat., 12th ed., I't. 1, ITfiO, p. 18:1, [cM-rata]( Philippines ) . "Common in the open lands and scrul* jungle on Kanutrta." Threemales were obtained on this island.A bird identified l)y Dr. Abbott as a species of J/r/v>/>.s- was shot butlost on South Andaman.Family ALCEDINID.E.ALCEDO ISPIDA BENGALENSIS (Gmelin).[AlraJol hmijaIn I.s itt GuKLi^, Syst. Nat., I, 1788, i>. 450 (Ben.irai)."Met with on all the islands [NicobarsJ except C^ar Nicohar, and gen-erally common among- the mangroves." 300 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. VOL. XXV.Foiii- spec imens, are included in the collection, from Tillanchong,(xrefit iind Little Nicobiir. The differences mentioned l)y Hume^ arenot very plainly shown in this series.CEYX TRIDACTYLA (Pallas).Ahrdo tridaeti/Ja Pallas, Spic. ZooL, Pt. 0, 1769, p. 10, i)l. ii, fip;. 1. '"'"Conmion in Great and Little Nicobar, not met with elsewhere.Frequents the heav}^ forest, often at a distance from water, but iscommonest along small streams."Ten examples, all from Great Nicobar. In color the}^ resem))le liirdsfrom the Merg'ui Archipelago, but are of somewhat greater dimensions(wing from 57 to 02 mm.).PELARGOPSIS INTERMEDIA Hume.[Pelargopsis'] hitennediux Hitme, Stray Feathers, II, 1874, \). 106 (Kondnl,Nicobars ) . " Common among the mangrove^; and along the seashore in Greatand Little Nicobar. Do not think it is found in the other islands, aswe searched carefully for it and did not meet with it, although it is aveiy conspicuous and nois}' bird.""Five specimens, all females, from the two islands above mentioned." Iris, dark brown; e^^elids and feet red.''The total length, in fresh birds, varies from 36iJ to 387 mm.HALCYON SATURATIOR Hume.[Ilalnjin,'] Mlnraliur HuME, Stray Feathers, II, 1874, p. 168. (Port Blair, SouthAiidanian ).Four specimens, all from South Andaman, where it is reported tobe " comnK^n.'' In two of the specimens the stomachs were found tocontain the remains of small fish."Bill red, blackish at base above; eyelids, red; iris, brown; toes,red, front of tarsi and top of toes blackish.'"'Individuals vary in length from 2t>'J to 305 mm.HALCYON PILEATUS (Boddaert).Alccdn jVilmia BonnAERT, Tabl. PI. Enl., 1783, p. 41 (China). ''Met with on all of the islands [Nicobars], but apparentl}^ not ver}^common, except in Great Nicobar, where it was numerous along theGalathea Kiver."A single individual was reported as seen on Barren Island,Andamans.Tavo specimens were preserved. 1 Stray Feathers, II, 1874, p. 173. No.ijss. ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLAND BIRDS?RJCHMOND. 301HALCYON DAVISONI Sharpe.Ilalri/on darisoui Shakpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mas., X\'I1, 1892, p. 282 ( Andaiiian,s) . ??Common at South Andaman and Lawrence Island."Six specimens, from Cinque Islands and South Andaman.The females have no buif on the under parts; an immature male,hoAvever, has a butfy wash on the flanks.Two of the specimens had in their stomachs the remains of smalllish and crabs. HALCYON OCCIPITALIS (Blyth).Todiramplius occipitalis Blyth, Jourii. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, XV, 1846, p. 2o, note(Nieol)ars)." Found in all the islands visited, commonest in the northern andcentral groups, less plentiful in Great and Little Nicobar. It frecjuentsforest, clearings, and cocoanuts indiscriminately, and often found farfrom water."Eighteen examples from various islands of the Nico])ar group. Allof the females (seven skins) in this series are white below, having asmall patch of buff on the flanks only.The total length, as noted on the labels, varies from 241 to 273 nun. ""Iris brown; upper mandible black, lower white; feet greenish mauve,claws black" (female).Family MICROPODID.E. "Swift. A large flock of swifts seen on Barren Island."Genus SALANGANA Isid. Geoffrey St.-Hilaire.Salaiiyatm Geoffr. St.-Hilaire, L'P'.cho du ]M()nde Savant, III, 1837, i>. 74.Type, Hirundo escalenta Linnaeus.CoUocalia G. R. Gray, List Genera of Birds, 1840, p. 8.Type, Ilirundo esculodn Linnteus.SALANGANA INEXPECTATA Hume.\_CoUofnlia'] iiie.ij>ectata Hume, Stray Feathery, I, 187:!, p. 29(> (Bntton Island,Andmnans)."Shot at Kamorta, seen occasionally on the other islands." Threespecimens are in the collection, all from Kamorta. "'Iris brown; feetbrownish pink, claws black." Length. 120.5 mm.SALANGANA LINCHI ( Horsfield and Moore).('ulh)Cfilisfiell) and Moore, Cat. Birds Mas. East India Co., I, 1854,p. 100.Six examples, all females, from Little Nicobar." Met with on all of the islands [Nicobars], On Little Nicobar. nearthe anchorage and water hole back of Pido Milu, are some small 302 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxv.caves close to the seashore. These are inhabited by vast numbers ofbats and a hxrg-e colony of this swift. The largest cave was GO feetlong by 5 feet broad and 7 to 10 high. The floor was deeply cov-ered with guano. The nests were at the farther end, thickly clusteredupon the roof and upper parts of the walls. The nests were often soclose to one another that the edges were adherent?three or four nestsbeing stuck together in one mass."Family CLTCULID.E. ? SURNICULUS LUGUBRIS (Horsfield).Cuculus luguhris Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Sue. Lend., XIII, Pt. 1, May, 1821,p. 179 (Java)."A bird apparently of this species was shot in Katchal, but lost inthe dense jungle." ? EUDYNAMIS HONORATA (Linnaeus).[Ohcu?m.s-] honvratusLiNNJEVti, Syst. Nat., 12th etl., I't. 1, 1766, p. 1(59 (Malabaria).Six specimens, from Car Nicobar and Barren Island. At the last-named locality it is "very common and feeds on fruit." In threefemales the wings var}- from 11)8 to 208 mm. ; in the same numl^er ofmales from 198 to i209.5 mm.The males have a greenish gloss and the females are dark colored. ? EUDYNAMIS HONORATA MALAYANA Cabanis and Heine.Eludynamis'] malayana Cabanis and Heine, Mus. Hein., IX, Ft. 1, 1862, p. 52(Sunda Islands and Sumatra).Five specimens, from Great and Little Nicoliar."Common in all islands visited [both forms included]. Most proba-bly lay their eggs in grackles {Eulabes) holes, as it was a very commonsight to see a female koel pursued b}^ agrackte, both in a greatly excitedstate, shrieking and screaming with rage. They are generallj^ detestedb}!^ other birds. I think the}^ also lay in nests of Carpo2>haga, as onecould often call them up by imitating the deep hoarse coo of the fruitpigeon."Two males from this series have wing measurements of 220.5 and227.5 mm.; they are large and bhiish compared with specimens fromBarren Island and Car Nicobar, and the females are pale-colored. Onemale from Little Nicobar is greenish in color, as in the individualsreferred above to K honorata; it has a wing only 198 mm. in length.There appear to be two forms represented in the Andamans andNicobars, ))ut our material is far too meager to allow of a satisfactorydisposition of the case, and I keep the birds apart here to direct atten-tion to the matttii'. N0.1288. ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLAND BIRDS?RICHMOND. H()8Family PSITTACID.E.PALiEORNIS MAGNIROSTRIS Ball.I\(il:i'stri>f Ball, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, XLl, I't. '1, 1S71^, j). L'7S( Andamans) . "Common at Lawrence Island and South Andaman. Heard at LittleAndaman," At the first-named localit}" it was numerous, ''llAin^a])out in flocks of three or four to a dozen."Five specimens. "Iris pale lemon; bill red, tips of mandibles yel-low; feet yellow to orang-e; eyelids orange.'" Length of males variesfrom 501.5 to 571.5 mm.; a female measures 458 nun.PAL^ORNIS FASCIATUS (Miiller).Psittacus fascintus Muller, Natursyst., Snppl., 1776, p. 74 (Poiidicherry)."Common at all places visited [Andamans]. Visits the cultivateddistrict alK)ut Port Blair in large flocks, causing- great damage to theripening paddy; large numbers are therefore killed amuially."Several specimens, from Henry Lawrence Island, and South Anda-man. PAL^ORNIS CANICEPS Blyth.Flaliiuniis'] cari'KX'ps Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, XV, lS4(j, p. 21!, note(Nicobars)."Common on Great and Little Nicobar. It goes about in smallerflocks than the smaller species, generall}^ keeping higher up in thetrees, and is harder to get. Usually there are only two or threetogether. They are ver}' noisy. '"Ten specimens, varying in length from 5-10 to OOinun. in mali\^, and ?144.5 to 533.5 mm. in females."Iris orange red; cere and lower ujandible black; upper mandiblered; tip horny yellow; feet dull greenish leaden."PALiEORNIS NICOBARICA Gould.Palicurnw nicobaricus Gould, Birds of Asia, VI, 1857, pi. vi (Nicobars)."This parrot was common upon all the islands [Nicobars], generallyin flocks, sometimes of twenty or thirt}' individuals. Very fond offruit of the casuarina. Native name, Talleh.''Twenty-six specimens, from Great, Little, and Cav Nico])ar. Kat-chal, Trinkut, and Tillanchong. The males in this series vary from431.5 to 480 mm. ; the females from 368 to 450.5 mm.The iris is said to have an inner green circle and an outer yellowone; in some specimens it is noted as greenish white, yellowish white,or pale yellow. 304 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM.PAL.EORNIS TYTLERI Hume.Plalxorms} tytleri Hume, Stray Feathers, II, 1874, p. 454 (Andamans)."Common on Lawrence Island and South Andaman."Three specimens from the above islands. Two females measured301). 5 and 343 mm. in the Hesh; a male, 406.5 mm. "Iris: Inner circle green, outer circle yellow; feet green; cere green;upper mandible red, lower black."LORICULUS VERNALIS (Sparrman).Ps;7/ac?.s rt'cnfflfe Spakrman, Mus. Carls., Pt. 2, 1787, No. XXIX.''None shot. Seen and heard everywhere in the Nicobors."Family BUBONID^.NINOX SCUTULATA (Raffles).Slrix scnluldla Raffles, Trans. Linn. Soc. Loud., XIII, Pt. 2, 1822, p. 280(Sumatra).Three specimens.A male from Car Nicobar measures 379.5 mm. It has a wing 206mm. in length. Hume records a male from the same island with awing measurement of 213.5 mm., and a total length of 286 nun.From Katchal we have a female measuring 286 mm., with a wing-barely 203 nun. Both of the above birds resemble in color those ofIndia.A male from Little Nicobar is not only smaller, but differs verymuch in color from the others. There is a fulvous suffusion of thelower surface, the white bars of the sides and abdomen and the whitestreaks on the breast being almost entirely obscured. The under tail-coverts are white, spotted, and barred with brown. In total lengththis specimen measures 273 mm.; the other dimensions are: Wing,198; tail, 118; tarsus, 30; culmen, 20 mm. In this individual the iriswas deep yellow ; feet pale yellow.The stomachs of two of the specimens contained beetles.Family FALCONID.E. 'SPILORNIS KLOSSI, new species.7}//>.'.?Adult male. No. 178429, U.S.N.M.; Pulo Kunyi, GreatNicobar, March 20, 1901; Dr. W. L. Abbott. General color above,including greater wing-coverts, secondaries, and tertiaries, drab,^ witha slight coppery sheen in certain lights, some of the feathers (espe-cially of the secondaries, tertiaries, and greater wing-coverts) with nar-row white tips; nape and sides of neck Isabella color;" top of head, ^Kidgway's Nomenclature of Colors, pi. iir. ^Idem, pi. iii. NO. 1288. ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLAND BIRDS?RICHMOND. 305including- long occipital feathers, black, the long-er feathers with nar-row tips of Isabella color; ear-coverts, cheeks, and malar region clearsmoke gray;' throat buffy white, with an indistinct median stripe ofsmoke gra}^; breast buffy wood brown, becoming much paler on theabdomen, sides, thighs, and under tail-coverts; lesser and middle wing-coverts dark drab, prominently edged with white; axillaries and underwing-coverts like the abdomen, the outer portion of the under wing-coverts pale buffy white. Primaries ])lack at the ends, some of theinner ones with narrow white tips; base of the wings (from below)white, the feathers with two dusky bars (onl}^ one bar on the outer-most primaries). Tail light drab, with a broad black subterminalband, and a second narrower one near the middle, less distinct on thetwo inner pairs of feathers. Wing, 257 mm.; tail, 165; tarsus, Yo;culmen, 33. '' Length, 431.5. Iris yellow; cere, base of bill, and nakedskin on side of head, yellow. Bill, tip black, middle bluish.'' This isa ver}^ distinct species, and one of the smallest of the genus. It iseasily recognized by its unspotted underparts, gray patch on side ofhead, and very small size. Ten of the eleven specimens sent by Dr.Abbott are adult, and show the characters given in the above descrip-tion. Some of them are a little darker below than the type, and inseveral the throat is more or less gniy. In one female, doubtless avery old bird, the underparts are consideral)ly darker than in thetype, and the lower breast and sides are faintly spotted with buff"; thelower sides and thighs are also narrowly barred with buffy woodbrown.The immature bird differs from the adults in having buffy tips tothe feathers of the back, wing-coverts, top of head, and to the uppertail-coverts; the wing feathers are tipped with white, the tail is lessprominently barred, and has three narrow bars instead of two. Inthis specimen the iris was "brownish gra}"; feet, dirty yellow; cereand orbital skin, 3^ellow, with a greenish tinge."The males measure (in the flesh) 419 to 431.5 mm.; Iavo femalesare 457 mm. The stomachs of those shot contained the remains oflizards, rats, a small bird, and a pigeon {Chalcophaps indlca).This species is named in honoi- of Mr. C. Boden Kloss, who accom-panied Dr. Abbott on his Nicobar and Andaman trip, and preparedmany of the specimens of the present (jollection. S. Mossi was foundonly on Great Nicobar, where it was common and quite tame.SPILORNIS MINIMUS Hume.Spilornis iiilitiimis Hume, Htniy Feathers, I, 1S7:^, p. 46-1 (Kamorta, Xicobars)."One wounded but lost upon Trinkut, a pair shot on Kamorta, andhalf a dozen shot on Katchal, where they were common. On LittleNicobar we failed to secure any, although we saw several." ^Ridgway, pi. ii. No. 12.Proc. N. M. vol. XXV?02 20 306 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxv.The stomachs of three specimens contained the remains of lizards,another had portions of a fowl, and one a small crab. The malesmeasure (in the liesh) 447.6 to 463.5 mm.; the females 457 and i70mm. The Kamorta specimens are: Male, 470 mm.; female, 482.5mm. The wings of the females measure 288 to 202 mm. ; the males,2511.5 to 284.5 mm.Most of the specimens were shot in dense nmgle.SPILORNIS, species. "Heard on South Andaman. None shot."HALI^ETUS LEUCOGASTER (Gmelin),[Faico] lenco(jaxter C4melin, Syst. Nat., I, V\. 1, 1788, p. 257.''Common along the sea-coast everywhere [Nicobars]." No speci-mens were preserved. ASTUR BUTLERI Gurney.Astnr hutleri Gxtrney, Bull. Brit. Oni. Cluli, Vll, 1898, p. xxvii (Car Nicobar).Adult male. Length, 286 mm. *' Iris orange yellow; feet yellow,claws black. Bill leaden, cere greenish. Stomach contained lizards."Adult female. Length, 817.5 mm. "Iris orange 3"ellow; cere black,bill black, leaden beneath at base; feet yellow, claws black. Shot inheavy forest, where it appears to be common." This species wasfound only on Car Nicobar, "where it appeared to be pretty counuonin a patch of heavy forest; not met with in the open ground or in thescrub jungle. The place was a long way from the anchorage, and weonh' visited it twice." The male is very indistinctl}' barred below, andthe middle and outermost pairs of tail feathers are entirely unbarred;the three pairs of rectrices next to the central ones have three l)ars.The female is much more prominently marked below, and the middlepair of rectrices has a subterminal black bar; the next three pairs havefour bars. ASTUR OBSOLETUS, new species. .Typc.?Ai\n\t female. No. 17S448, U.S.N.M.; Katchal Island,Nicobars, February IS, 1901; Dr. W. L. Abbott. General cofor ofupper parts (including middle and greater wing-coverts, secondaries,and upper tail-coverts) gray\ paler ^ on crown, nape, sides of neck,cheeks, and ear-coverts; lesser wing-coverts slate gray, becomwigdarker (slate color) on primary coverts and primaries, the latter beingblack on the inner webs at the tips. Lores, an ill-defined stripe overthe eyes, throat, malar apex, thighs, abdomen, under wing- and tail-coverts, and axillaries white; breast and sides white, with obsoletebars of pale fawn color. Tail gray, narrowly tipped with white, themiddle and outer pairs of feathers without bands, the others with five ^Hidgway'a Nomenclature of Colors, pi. ii, No. 8. ^Idem, No. 10. NO. 1288. ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLAND BIRDS-RICHMOND. 307iiidi.stinct bars, more prominent on the inner webs. Inner webs ofprimaries and secondaries (except at tips) white, obscurely mottledwith dusky. Wing, 192 nmi.; tail, 157 mm.; tarsus, 52 nun.; culmen,21.5 mm.; length, 330 mm. '""Iris dark crimson; feet yellow; billblackish at tip, horn blue at base; cere greenish; eyelids greenish.Stomach contained lizards." A second female measured 343 mm. '' Iris crimson!! Stomach contained insects. Shot in dense jungle."A third individual, also a female, has a total length of 3-1:3 nmi. ''Iris red. Stomach contained lizards." This specimen has traces ofimuiaturity in some ))lack-tipped ferruginous feathers on sides of neckand on the scapulars.This interesting hawk closely resembles ^1. hatler! above, ])ut ispaler on the nape and sides of head; it differs also in the indistinctwhite superciliary line and white lores and throat. Below it resem-))les A. hnflerl in pattern, l)ut with the reddish color on breast almostentirely absent. In ^1. oh'. 52(Nicobars)."Common in all the islands except Car Nicobar; whether it existshere we could not find out. We did not see any, but Solomans, theMadrasee catechist, said he had seen some in the heavy forest north ofKemios, and near the middle of the island. The natives gave con-tradictory accounts. We first met with them at Tillanchong, whereat first we thought the}^ were scarce, but they proved to be very com-mon. Many of their nest mounds Avere on a sandy strip by the seashore. The largest mound was 30 feet in diameter and 8 feet high,composed almost entirely of sand, with very few dead leaves. Thetemperature in the interior is much raised and feels hot to the hand,when one is engaged in digging out the eggs. This was an exception-ally large mound, and, having seen hundreds of mounds since that,should say the average diameter is 10 to 15 feet and 4 feet high.The megapodes are not exactly shy, but they are diflicult to shoot, ^Eidgway's Nomenclature of Colors, pi. iii, uo. 22. ANDA3IAN AND mCOBAR ISLAND BIRDS?RICHMOND. 311 ill most places, as the jungle is so dense. Afterwards, in the denseforest in Katchal and in Great and Little Nicobar where the jungle ismore open, we easilj^ obtained all we wanted.At lirst we thought Megapodes delicious eating, but we soon gottired of them. Their excrement is very foul, owing to their animal(insect and land shell) diet. The eggs are excellent when fresh.A writer in the Government Gazette (of Port Blair) speaks of theimpending extermination of the Megapodes from the practice of thenatives rol)bing the nest mounds. There iy not the slightest dangerof this. Many of the mounds are in impenetrable j ungles. The nativesare but few and dying out rapidly in the southern and middle groups.The coast people are well-nigh extinct in Great and Little Nicobar.Even where the mounds are visited, all the eggs are not found, andthe mounds exist in hundreds. Even on Pilu Milu, a very small islandoff Littl(> Nic<)})ar, there are plenty of Megapodes and mounds, and theisland IS and has always been inhabited."Twenty-five specimens, from various islands, show little variation,in total length, males vary from 381 to 400 mm.; females from 371.5to 109.5 mm.' Females weighed 30 ounces to 2i pounds (the latterlieing the one 109.5 mm. in length).The fresh colors are noted as follows: "Eyelids red; sides of headvermilion; skin of throat pale mauve pink; iris clear brown; liillgreenish horn; legs dull reddish, brown in front; soles dull ochra-ceous, claws black."A female obtained on Tillanchong was "shot while digging a holefor its Qgg in the nest mound. The mound was situated just withinthe edge of the jungle by the seashore, and had several small cocoanuttrees growing upon it. The dimensions of the mound were 8 feethigh and 30 feet in diameter. It was composed almost entirely ofsand, few leaves apparently. This bird's mate?was shot a few momentspreviously on top of the same mound. " The native name of the Mega-pode is "Konguh."In addition to a good series of the birds, Dr. Al)))ott sent over 30eggs. Family TURNICID.E.TURNIX ALBIVENTRIS Hume.T^urvu--] alhl renins Himk, Stray Feathers, I, 1S7;^,, p. 310 (Port :srouat,South Amlaiium). " Common in Kamorta, in the open grass."One adult male, from the above island. " Feet pale yellow lirown;bill dark horn brown, vellow at base beneath." Length, 158.5 mm. 312 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM.Family RALLID.E.HYPOT^NIDIA OBSCURIOR Hume.[HypotirnkUn-] ohsruriora Hume, Stray Featliers, II, 1874, p. 302 (Andamans).Two were " seen, and one shot on a patch of coarse ^rass by the sea-shore on South Andaman. One was seen on Little Andaman. '' Lenothof an adult female, 260.5 mm.A dark-colored rail was seen on Kamorta, in the Nicobar group, andthought ])y Dr. Abbott to be of this or a closely related species.AMAURORNIS INSULARIS Sharpe.Amaurornis insularis Sharpe, C!at. Birds Brit. Muh., XXIII, 1S94, p. 162 (Anda-mans and Nicobars).An adult male, " shot at the hot spring ^^ in Barren Island, measures326.5 mm. "Iris umber; bill pale green, base of upper mandibleorange brown."In the Nicobars it is reported to be ''common on all the islands, in^iT ji"ig'le as well as in swampy ground."Specimens were sent from Great Nicobar, Trinkut, Katchal, andTillanchong. An adult from the last-named island measures 343 mm.''Iris reddish brown; feet yellow; bill greenish yellow, part betweenthe eyes and nostrils orange-vermilion.'"Family CEDICNEMID^E.ORTHORHAMPHUS MAGNIROSTRIS (Vieillot) .(Edkmmm iiwgnlrostris Vieillot, Nouv. Diet, d'llist. Nat., XXIII, 1S18, p. 231."A single pair seen at North Cinque." ^ One female, from the above island. This measures 520.5 mm." Iris yelloAv; feet pale yellowish, claws dark horn brown."Family DROMADID^E.DROMAS ARDEOLA Paykull.Dromas ardeola Paykull, K. Vet.-Akad. Handl., XXVI, 1805 p 188 pi vm(East Indies?).No specimens collected. "Two were seen in Katchal, and twicelarge Hocks were seen in Great Nicobar."Family SCOLOPACIDiE.NUMENIUS ARQUATUS (Linnaeus).iScolopo.x-\ arquata Linn.kus, Syst. xVat., 10th ed., Pt. 1, 1758, p. 145 (Europe).No specimens preserved. Noted as "seen in Katchal and GreatNicobar." NO. 1288. ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLAND BIRDS?RICHMOND. 313NUMENIUS PHiEOPUS (Linnaeus).[Scolopaaf\ phxopm Linn^kus, Syst. Nat., lOtli ed., Pt. 1, 175S, ].. 146 (Knrcpe).Five skins; three from Nankauri and two from Kamorta. Theleng-th, in fresh birds, ranges from 438 to 444.5 mm."Common amono- the mangroves in all of the islands; many seen atWest Bay, Katchal."It was also observed at South Andaman.ACTITIS HYPOLEUCOS (Linnaeus).[Tringa-] hypoleucos Linn.eus, Syst. Nat., 10th ed.,Pt. 1, 175H, p. 149 (Europe).One male, collected at MaePherson strait, South Andaman. It isreported as "common along the seashore" in l)oth the Andamans andNicobars. TOTANUS TOTANUS EURHINUS Oberholser.Totanus totanus enrhinm OBF^Rnohi^KR, Pmc. U. S. Nat. Uns., XXII, 19(X), ].. 207(Lake Tsomoriri, Ladak).Two males, from Kamorta and Car Nicobar. Total length, 263.. 5 and 279.5 mm."Generally distributed."GALLINAGO, species. " We several times flushed snipe on Trinkut?none shot."Family ARDEID.F. ? ARDEA MANILLENSIS (Meyen).Ardea purpurea var. mamUensi^ Meyen, Acta Acad. Leop.-CaroL, XVI, suppl.,p. 102."A smaller heron [than A. mmatrana] with a rufous neck was sev-eral times seen on Great Nicobar."ARDEA SUMATRANA Raffles.Ardea mimatrana Raffles, Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond., XIII, Pt. 2, 1822, \). 325(Sumatra).None obtained."One flushed in a jheel in Trinkut; also seen in Katchal and GreatNicobar." BUBULCUS COROMANDUS (Boddaert).Canrromacnrom<.nm\v.RT, Tal.l. PI. Enl., 1783, p. 54 (Coromandel).An adult from Tillanchong.DEMIGRETTA SACRA (Gmelin).[Ardeit:] xmra (tMELIN, Syst. Nat., I, Pt. 2, 1788, p. (140 (Tahiti)."Seen at South Andaman," but no specimens were obtained. Onthe Nicobars it was "generallv to l)e seen along the seashore." 314 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM.BUTORIDES SPODIOGASTER Sharpe.Bvioi'ides spodiogaster Sharpe, Bull. Brit. (>ni. Cliil), III, 1894, p. xvii (Aiula-raans and Nicobars)."Common in the mangroves everywhere" throug-hout the Nicol)ars.An immature female was collected on Little Nicobar. This individual,which is full grown, measured 450.5 nuu. in the flesh,ARDETTA SINENSIS (Gmelin).[Ardea] .s/nfns/.'; Gmelin, Syst. Nat., I, Ft. 2, 1788, j). 642 (China),An adult female from Trinkut, "Iris, yellow;" length, 381 mm.ARDETTA CINNAMOMEA (Gmelin).[AiyJca] cin ))(imomea GMEhis, Syst. Nat., 1, I't. 2, 1788, ]>. 643 (China).One adult female, obtained in Kamoi'ta. "Iris, yellow;" length, 387 mm.Family ANATID.E,DENDROCYGNA JAVANICA (Horsfield).Anas javanicd Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond., XIII, Pt. 1, May, 1821, p.199 (Java).A pair obtained in Kamorta, where they were found in a small jheel. "Iris, dark brown; ej^elids, yellow."