1887.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 427 



The domesticated species belongs to that group of the subgenus Strep- 

 topelia, which has a comparatively short tail, with the outer tail-feather 

 entirely white in the outer web (pi. xxii, fig. 4), and it is entirely be- 

 yond all probabilities that these features which are the normal ones 

 of the genus should have been derived from the lengthened tail and 

 the blackish outer web of the outer tail-feather of T. douraca (pi. xxii, 

 fig. 3), features entirely unique. Besides, there are wild species which 

 in these characters are identical with the domesticated birds without 

 differing more from it in other respects than does the wikl T. douraca. 



Professor Bogdauow (II. cc.) has fully appreciated Schlegel's argu- 

 ment, but he is certainly mistaken when he asserts that Brisson (Oru., i, 

 p. 9o) described the wild bird, for Brisson expressly describes the up- 

 per parts as "roussatres, ou d'un blauc tirant vers le roux" and of the 

 tail-feathers he says : " la plus extdrieure de chaque cote a aussi ses bar- 

 bes exterieures blanches," the latter quotation being conclusive. How- 

 ever, Brisson's specific names being inadmissible under the A. O. U. code 

 of nomenclature, Professor Bogdauow will have to stand as the au- 

 thority for the name, since the Chinese and Japanese birds seem to be 

 fairly distinguishable as a race in need of a name to separate them for 

 the Indian true T. douraca. 



This difference has already been pointed out by both Schlegel aud 

 Bogdanow {U. cc), aud their statements are fully borne out by the ma- 

 terial at my command. I have only one Indian bird at hand, but as it 

 possesses the character pointed out by them I consider it quite safe to 

 admit the subspecific difference of the northeastern form. 



My Japanese specimens, as well as a number of Korean examples, 

 which Mr. Jouy kindly allowed me to examine, have the color of the 

 back nearly that of Eidgway's ^' Isabella color" (Nomencl. Colors, pi. 

 iii, n. 23), while the Indian bird has the back duller and darker, or 

 like his " drab " (pi. iii, n. 18). The latter which is the true T. do2iraca,* 

 seems also to be somewhat smaller. 



Measurements. 

 I. TURTUR TORQUATUS. 



II. TURTUR DOURACA. 



100349 Fairbank ... $ ad. Wadale, India j March, - 



22 



29 



* 1832.— Col timba risoria Sykes, P. Z. S., 183'2, ]>. 150 (aud most Indian writers, Jerdon, 



Blytli, Hume, &C., but not Linn.). 

 lSii.—Ti(7-tur donraca Hodgson, Gray's Zool. Misc. (p 85).— Schlegel, Mus. P.-Ba8, 



Columb., p. 123 (part). 

 1374.— f Tnrlur sfoJiczlw Hume, Stray Feath., ii, p. 519. 



