THE BIRDS OF THE NATUNA ISLANDS 



87 



The use of the name Orthotomus sericeus Temmiiick ^* for this spe- 

 cies, in place of Orthotomuft ruficejpa, is exphiined below. 



Table 31. — Measurements of specimens of Orthotomus sericeus rubicundulus 



' Measured in the flesh by the collector. 



The apparent necessity for changing the specific name of the species, 

 has made desirable an examination of birds from various parts of the 

 range to determine the status of the Natuna Islands form, and this 

 has brought to light two additional subspecies, which are herewith 

 characterized in a synopsis of all the four races : 



1. Orthotomus sericeus sericeus Temminck. 



Orthotomus sericeus Temminck, Nouveau recueil de planches coloriees d'oiseaux, 



vol. 3, texte to livr. 101, p. [5], 1836, after Aug. 30. ("Borneo.") 

 Orthotomus ruficeps Auct., part, nee Lesson. 



Subspecific characters. — ^Size rather large; gray of upper parts rather 

 light and clear. 



Measurements. — ^Six males: Wing, 49-54.5 (average, 52.4) mm.; 

 tail, 41.5-46.5 (43.3); exposed culmen, 15-16 (15.2); height of bill at 

 base, 4; tarsus, 20.5-22 (21.5); middle toe without claw, 10-11.5 

 (10.8). 



Three females: Wing, 47.5-51 (average, 49); tail, 36-40.5 (38): 

 exposed culmen, 14-15.5 (14.7); height of bill at base, 4-4.5 (4.3); 

 tarsus, 19.5-22 (20.3); middle toe without claw, 10-11 (10.5). 



Geographic distribution. — ^Borneo. 



This species has almost always been called Orthotomus ruficeps 

 (Lesson). Examination, however, of the original description of 

 Lesson's bird, Edela ruficeps '■*" shows that it does not fit the present 

 species. This description is as follows (italics ours) : 



Tete et joues rousses; dos gris roussStre; dessous du corps gris cendre; miUeu 

 du ventre blanchatre. Queue rousse. 



Habite la cote nord ouest de la Nouvelle-HoUande (Labillardidre). 



" Orthotomus sericeus Temminck, Nouveau recueil de planches colorites d'oiseaux, vol. 3, 18.36, texte to 

 livr. 101, p. [5], 1836, after Aug. 30. (" Borneo.") 



'« Traite d'ornithologie, p. 309, Sept. 25, 1830. ("la cote nonl-ouest de la Nouvelle Ilollaude.") 



