( -i'S I 



Pkih'iitoma ■pyrrhopte.nim (Temm.) from Malacca aud Borneo, but differ from 

 all that I have been able to compare by a shorter wing; and whiter under parts. 

 In the mnles the abdomen is whitish, bulf towards the breast and on the under 

 tail-coverts, but almost pure white in thr middle ; tl;inks ertrthy brown. In the 

 ■male of Ph. pi/rrhopterum Temm., the abdomen is rufous butf, deepest towards the 

 breast aud on the under tail-coverts. The females of Ph. pyrrhopterum have 

 the under parts " rnfous buff, whiter towards the vent," as Rliarpe justly describes 

 it {('lit. B., iv., p. 307; ; in Ph. (hthium the under j)arts arc l)uffy wliite, whitest 

 on the middle of the abdomen and throat, while the jemcli' of Ph. p'jrrhopterum 

 has the throat darkest. 



I have been doubtful indeed whether tiie Bnnirunui liird should fonu a 

 distinct species or not ; but the above stated differeni!es are obvious and not to 

 be overlooked, so I thought it best to give the form a name. As I hope to 

 receive further material I will give in due time further information as to the 

 constancy of the character of Philcntoma (/uhium. whicli at ])resent I have no 

 reason to doubt, as they are clear enough in four sjiecimciis. Perhaps Ph. diihium 

 may turn out to be of subspecific value. 



Adult male. — Above gre\Tsh blue, somewhat like a pale indigo blue, a little 

 lighter and brighter on the forehead and above the eyes, merging into an earthy 

 brown towards the rump. Primaries deep blackish brown, margined with rufous 

 grey ou the outer webs : first secondaries with the greater j)art of the outer webs 

 liright chestnut : this latter colour increases until the innermost secondaries are 

 entirely chestnut. Quills bordered with rufous buff ou the inner webs, first 

 jirimaries on their basal part only. Primary coverts and lesser wing-coverts blue. 

 primary coverts centred with black ; rectrices and upper tail-coverts bright 

 chestnut. Sides of head, wliole neck, chin, throat, and breast blue like tlie head : 

 abdomen buffy white, pale rufous buff towards the breast and ou the under tail- 

 coverts ; sides of body and flanks washed with earthy brown. Total length about 

 6 inches ; wing, ."5 ; tail, 2(i ; tarsus, O'O : culnieu, about UOT (damaged by shot in 

 both males). 



Adult female. — Forehead, top aud sides of the hitul dark slaty brown, with 

 a faint bluish tinge, which is more developed on the lores aud ear-coverts and 

 very obvious on the feathers round the eye. Lesser wing-coverts, interscapular 

 region, back aud rump earthy brown, fading into ])ale eartliy brown ou the ruuiji. 

 Primaries and secondaries as in the male ; tail and upper tail-coverts bright 

 chestnut as in the mule. Under surface buffy white, almost pure white on the 

 throat and abdomen, washed with pale rufous buff across the breast. Sides of 

 l)reast and body greyish brown. Total length about 'i inches ; wing, 2'9.") atid S ; 

 tail, 2-0 ; tarsus, 0-() ; culmeu, 0'G6. 



The closely allied species Ph. pyrrhopterum differs in colour as described above. 

 It is also larger. Two males from Borneo in the museum at Tring have the wings 

 :5-2'J and 3-3 inches long, the tails 2-78 and 2-8 ; one female from Borneo has 

 the wings, 3-15 ; tail, 2-8. Sliarpe (Cat.B., iv., pp. 36(5 aud 307) gives the measure- 

 ments as follows : J. Total length, 0-5 inches ; culmen, 0-7u ; wing, 3-2y ; tail, 2'8 ; 

 tarsus, 0-65. ?. Total length, 5-8 inches ; culmen, 0-7 ; wing, 3; tail, 20; tarsus 0-6. 

 Oates (Faun. Brit. Ind., B. ii., p. 44) gives for the species (j)r()balily including males 

 ■.iXiiX fem'ile.'i) : length about 7 inches ; tail, 2-8 ; wing, 3-2 ; tarsus, ii-Oo ; bill from 

 gape, O'lt. Oates gives a fairly good description. While in the Cat. B. we tind 

 the female described with the usual accurateuess we appreciate so much in the 



