ORNITHOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS. 



143 



' Moultiiig. 



The difference iu the dimeiisious of the bills of the two groups is so 

 striking that no further comment is necessary. It will, however, be 

 seen that the eastern birds show quite a considerable difference too in 

 the bill, as the latter in the Chinese bird is not longer than in the Euro- 

 pean forms, while its height and breadth are almost identical with the 

 corresponding dimensions of my Bering Islajid birds. There is also an- 

 other difference. If the measurement of the total length (28 inches) 

 given on the label is reliable, the Shanghai bird is a considerably' smaller 

 bird, having, however, both wings and tail longer than even the male 

 bird from Bering Island. In the coloration I can see no tangible differ- 

 ence. 



I will not deny even the probability of these differences being only 

 individual variation within the same species, but I do not feel justified 

 in uniting them under the same name, as long as there exists a possi- 

 bility of their being distinct. Should this be proven, I would be rightly 

 blamed if adding to the present confusion by unnecessarily lumping 

 them together. This course is the safer one also for the reason that 

 most writers on the birds of Eastern Asia recognize two or more forms 

 of A. segetum. 



The next question is, what names shall be applied to the two forms. 



In the first place it may now be regarded as a well established fact 

 that Graeliu's and Pallas's grandis, which has the bill nearly 4 inches 

 long, is a bird quite different from either of the two forms here discussed. 

 That Middendorft''s grandis, however, is identical with the specimens 

 from Bering Jsland can hardly be doubted, so well do their measure- 



