THE BIRDS OF THE NATUNA ISLANDS 15 



-contour feathers are in process of molt. Its measurements are as 

 follows: Wing, 165.5 mm.; tail, 59.5; exposed culmen, 59; height of 

 bill at base, 14; tarsus, 44.5; middle toe without claw, 42. 



The Natuna bird belongs apparently to the Malay Peninsula race, 

 W'hich differs from the typical Javan Butorides javanicus javanicus in 

 larger size and paler coloration. 



Apparently the only name heretofore given to this form is Egretta 

 chloriceps Hodgson,^^ which is unfortunately unavailable for use, 

 since it was proposed as follows: 



"Egretta chloriceps v[el]. virescens auct." 



This would seem to make the specific name chloriceps a synonym 

 of Butorides virescens. The Malay Peninsula bird, therefore, requires 

 to be named. 



The 14 apparently recognizable races of Butorides javanicus are as 

 follows : 



1. Butorides javanicus javanicus (Horsfield). 



Ardea Javajiica Horsfield, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, voL 13, pt. 1, p. 190, 

 May, 1821. ("Java.") 



Geographic distribution. — Java. 



2. Butorides javanicus actophilus Oberholser. 



Butorides javanicus actophilus Oberholser, Smithsonian Misc. Coll., vol. 60, 

 no. 7, p. 1, Oct. 26, 1912. ("North Pagi Island.") 



Geographic distribution. — Pagi Islands, Barussan Islands, western 

 Sumatra, 



3. Butorides javanicus icastopterus Oberholser. 



Butorides javanicus icastopterus Oberholser, Smithsonian Misc. Coll., vol. 60, 

 no. 7, p. 1, Oct. 26, 1912. ("Simalur Island.") 



Geographic distribution. — Simalur Island, Barussan Islands, western 

 Sumatra. 



4. Butorides javanicus albidulus Bangs. 



Butorides albidulus Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 26, p. 93, May 3, 

 1913. ("Suvadiva Atoll, southern Maldives.") 



Geographic distribution. — Maldive Islands, off southwestern India. 



5. Butorides javanicus abbotti Oberholser. 

 Butorides javanicus abbotti Oberholser, antea, p. 14. 



Geographic distribution. — India and the Malay Peninsula, north to 

 southern China, Nepal, and Kashmir; west to Sind and the Laccadive 

 Islands; south to Ceylon, Sumatra, and Nias Island; and east to the 

 Natuna Islands and Cochin China. 



6. Butorides javanicus spodiogaster Sharpe. 



Butorides spodiogaster Sharpe, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club., vol. 3, no. 14, p. xvii, 

 Jan. 25, 1S94. ("Andaman Islands and Nicobars.") 



Geographic distribution. — Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands. 



" Cray's Zoological Miscellany, p. 86, 1844. 



