70 



BULLETIN 159. UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Measurements are given in Table 22. 



Doctor Abbott found this bird very common in the thick jungle 

 on Pulo Kombeh, near Bunguran Island, and the commonest bird 

 on Pulo Laut. 



Table 22. — Measurements of specimens of Mixornis rubicapilla zaperissa 



' Measured in the flesh by the collector. 



' Type. 



As Robinson has indicated,^ Mixornis gularis is but subspecificalh' 

 related to M. rubicapilla, and therefore all the forms heretofore ranged 

 as subspecies of the former are to be considered races of the bird 

 commonlj' known by the latter name. 



There may be some difference of opinion regarding the tenability 

 of the name Mixornis rubicapilla Tickell, since in the original descrip- 

 tion ® the specific name is spelled rubicapilla, although subsequent 

 authors have spelled it rubricapilla, and there is a prior Motacilla 

 rubricapilla,'^^ to wliich Dr. Charles W. Richmond has called my atten- 

 tion. Of course, if Tickell's Motacilla rubicapilla be considered but 

 a typographical error or some other equivalent of Alotacilla rubri- 

 capilla, the former is preoccupied and can not be continued in use for 

 the Indian bird at present under consideration, which lacking any 

 synonym would have to be rechristened. On the other hand, it seems 

 reasonable to consider the term rubicapilla sufficientlj'' different from 

 rubricapilla, by reason of other derivation, to warrant its retention 

 in spite of the prior Motacilla rubricapilla. 



We are therefore using Mixornis rubicapilla as the specific name 

 for the present group. 



• Joum. Federated Malay States Mus., vol. 7, pt. 3, p. 177, Sept., 1917. 



• M[oiacUla]. rubicapilla Tickell, Journ. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, vol. 2, no. 23, p. 576, for Nov. (Doc), 1833. 

 ("Borabhiim and Dholbhiim.") 



w Motacilla Rubricapilla Moser, Allpemoine Praktische Forstnaturgoschichte Deutschlands. vol. 2, p. 

 258 (in text). 1794. 



