Part 26

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. 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 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 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 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 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 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 altitudes over 4000 feet.

THE TURDIDAE 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 FRINGILLIDAE OR FINCH FAMILY

32. Passer 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 grassy fields at the summit of the Palnis.

THE NECTARINIDAE OR SUNBIRD FAMILY