Page:Stray feathers. Journal of ornithology for India and its dependencies (IA strayfeathersjou11873hume).pdf/17



Vol.1.]    NOVEMBER, 1872. [No.1.

In placing on record, now and hereafter, supposed new species, must be clearly understood that I do not dogmatically assert that they are all positively new.

They are not to be found in Jerdon, nor are they amongst the 400 odd species omitted by him, but ascertained now to occur within our limits.

Nor have I been able to identify them with any known species of which I have plates or descriptions.

With only my own private library and museum however to consult, I am naturally peculiarly liable to error, and shall be grateful to all who will correct my inevitable mistakes.

The birds having occurred within our limits, it is of great importance to make sure whether they are new or not, and if not, to ascertain what name they should rightly bear; and no more ready means of attaining this object suggests itself to me than that of publishing descriptions such as follow:

Similar to P. Rupestris Scop., hut much paler and very considerably smaller. Wing, 4*4 to 4"75 inches..

I FOUND this new species very common along the course of the Gaj, the Nurrinai, and other small streams that issue from the bare stony hills that divide Sindh from Kelat. I found it again along with Cypseltts Apus, or C. BarbaMs, Tristram Temminck, if this species, which I doubt, be really distinct, off the rocky headland of Minora, at the mouth of the Kurrachee Harbour, and in similar localities along the Mekran Coast. The flight is rapid, and the birds are somewhat difficult, as some of our party found, to bring to bag. I think I heard of a whole flask of shot being fired away without any tangible results.