1.36. J PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 379 



have yet arrived at a conclusion satisfactory to all concerned. It is, 

 therefore, less to be wondered at that the eastern forms are still in a 

 state of considerable confusion. In this group extensive series of speci- 

 mens are indispensable, and as my material is quite scanty I can throw 

 •only little light on the subject; but, so far as it goes, it has some bear- 

 ings ; and, as for the rest, I can only formulate the questions and ask 

 my fellow-workers to furnish me with more material. 



1 have four birds from Japan before me. Two of these are October 

 birds collected by Mr. Jouy in Hondo — consequently, south of " Blakis. 

 ton's Line" ; the other two are from the island north of it, one au Octo- 

 ber specimen from Sapporo, Yesso, the other from " the Kurils," and 

 probably collected somewhat earlier. 



The two birds composing each set are identical inter se, but the 

 birds of the north differ from those of the south in the following par- 

 ticulars : 



The northern birds are slightly larger, The southern birds are slightly smaller, 



but the bill aud feet are of the same size but bill and feet are equal in size to the 



as in the southern birds. coiTesponding parts in the northern birds. 



The tail is proportionately longer aud The tail is proportionately shorter and 



more rounded; the middle pair of rec- less rounded; the middle pair of rectrices 



trices is longer than that following. perceptibly shorter than that following. 



The black of the cap does not extend The black of the head extends farther 



80 far backwards as iu the southern birds, back between the shoulders, being of a 



and is of a deep black, strongly glossed rather dull brownish black, without any 



with blue. bluish gloss whatever. 



The margins of the remiges aud rec- The margins of the remiges and rec- 

 trices are broader aud lighter. trices narrower and duller. 



The under side is slightly w^ashed with The under side pure white, the flanks 



pale brownish buif, the flauks and abdo- washed with pale brownish buff a shade 



men scarcely contrasted. deeper than iu the northern birds and 



pretty well contrasted with the pure 

 white of the middle portion.* 



It should be noted here, that Messrs. Blakiston and Pryer have 

 already pointed to the difference of the black cap in specimens from 

 the Main Island and Yesso (Tr. As. Soc. Jap., x, 1882, p. 150). This, 

 they say, may be attributable to season. Such is hardly the case, how- 

 ever, since the specimens compared above are of nearly exactly the 

 same date; and, as they are quite adult, no argument can be derived 

 from difference in age, the more so since it would be very strange that 

 only young birds should have been collected in Yesso, and old ones in 

 Hondo. Moreover, we know that a similar difference exists between 

 Pariis boreaUs and P. palusfris in Europe. 



By now comparing the Japanese birds with others, I find that the 

 southern birds are nearly identical with typical sj)ecimeas of P. horcalis, 

 both iu size, color, and i)roportions, aud with the present material, at 



* Since the above was set in type I have received another Hondo specimen (U. S. 

 Nat. Mus. No. 109355), the dimensions of which have been incorp )rated iu tiie table 

 below. It agrees with the other southern specimens in every particular. 



