88 BULLETIN 159, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



It will at once appear that the expression "dessous du corps gris 

 cendr^" can not by any stretch of the imagination apply to the 

 Orthotomus ruficeps of authors; but the whole description is an excel- 

 lent characterization of Orthotomus cineraceus Blyth,^^ even to the 

 phrase "milieu du ventre blanch^tre," as contrasted with "dessous 

 du corps gris cendr6." Since, therefore, Edela ruficeps Lesson applies 

 to the same species as Orthotomus cineraceus Blyth, and antedates 

 the latter name by 15 years, it must supplant the latter, which, by 

 an unfortunate transfer of name, will therefore become Orthotomus 

 ruficeps (Lesson). The locality originally given, as above quoted, 

 is the northwestern coast of Australia, which is, of course, erroneous; 

 we therefore designate Malacca, Malay Peninsula, as the type 

 locality of Edela ruficeps Lesson, which disposition makes Orthotomus 

 cineraceus Blyth a strict synonym. 



It may be worth while also to mention that the generic name Edela 

 Lesson,^^ the type of which is, by monotypy, Edela ruficeps Lesson, 

 has consequently now for its type the species heretofore known as 

 Orthotomus cineraceus, instead of that called by mistake Orthotomus 

 ruficeps. Since these two species are, however, apparently con- 

 generic with the type of the genus Orthotomus Horsfield, this involves, 

 at least for the present, no change in generic name. 



By reason of the above-discussed transference of the name Ortho- 

 tomus ruficeps to a different species, the bird currently thus known 

 must be otherwise provided for. The only other available name for 

 the species is Orthotomus sericeus Temminck,^^ described from Borneo. 

 This species, therefore, heretofore known as Orthotomus ruficeps 

 (Lesson), will become Orthotomus sericeus Temminck. 



2. Orthotomus sericeus ruhicundulus Chasen and Kloss. 

 Orthotomus ruficeps ruhicundulus Chasen and Kloss, Nov. Zool., vol. 36, no. 2, 

 p. 279, Apr. 22, 1931. ("Sirhassen Island, South Natuna Islands.") 



Subspecific characters. — Similar to Orthotomus sericeus sericeus, but 

 bill decidedly larger. 



Measurements. — Two males: Wing, 52.5-53.5 (average, 53) mm.; 

 tail, 41-44.5 (42.7); exposed culmen, 16.5; height of bill at base, 4; 

 tarsus, 22; middle toe without claw, 11-11.5 (11.3). 



Two females: Wing, 50-51.5 (average, 50.7); tail, 36.5-39 (37.8); 

 exposed culmen, 15.5-16.5 (16); height of bill at base, 3.5-4 (3.8); 

 tarsus, 21.5-22 (21.8); middle toe without claw, 10.5-11 (10.8). 



Geographic distribution. — Natuna Islands. 



" Journ. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, vol. 14, pt. 2, do. 164, new ser. no. 80, p. 589, for August, 1845. (Malacca.) 

 " Traite d'ornithologie, p. 309, Sept. 25, 1830. 



M Orthotomus sericeus Temminck, Nouveau recueil de planches colori6es d'oiseaui, texte to livr. 101, p. 

 [5], 1836, after August 30 ("Bomfeo"). 



