3. ANTHUS. 577 



this feather as in the adult, but with a blackish mark near the tip 

 of the outer web, evidently the remains of the dark line which runs 

 down the whole outer web in immature specimens. In this example 

 the two penultimate feathers are differently marked, the inner web 

 of one of them being blackish mottled with white towards the end, 

 showing that a gradual change of feather takes place. The bird in 

 question appears to be a bird of the previous year in winter plumage. 



After careful comparison of a very large series in the collections 

 of the British Museum, Capt. ShcUey, Mr. F. Mcholson, and Mr. 

 Seebohm, I find it impossible to draw a specific distinction between 

 Anthill cafferoi Africa and A. rufulusoi India. Mr. Oates has also 

 united A. malay easts ; and I am inclined not only u> agree with him, 

 but to unite even the Timor bird (^A. medius of Wallace). 



At the same time a curious variation is seen in the tail-feathers 

 of A. malayensis, the penultimate feather being blackish along the 

 outer web for its entire extent, with a narrow external fringe of 

 white. It is remarkable that this peculiarity should occur in most 

 of the Malaccau specimens ; but it is certain that it is only a stage 

 of the changes through which the feather passes, and other examples 

 show it in process of disappearance until the tail becomes the same 

 as in ordinary specimens of A. rufulus, perfectly typical specimens 

 of which are seen from Malacca. 



The Lombock skins are greyer than any of the others from the 

 neighbouring islands, being very white beneath, with a broad white 

 eyebrow. The absence of buff or tawny in the plumage of this speci- 

 men may, however, be exceptional, and it is desirable that others 

 from Lombock should be examined. 



Hah. The whole of Southern Africa, extending up the eastern side 

 of that continent to N.E. Africa, and even occurring in Egypt. 

 Throughout Lidia and Ceylon, the Burmese countries, Malayan 

 peninsula, extending to Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and the Philippines, 

 and even to Lombock and Timor. 



a. Pull. sk. 



b. Ad. sk. South Airica,{Andersson). R. B. Sharpe, Esq. [P.]. 



c. Ad. sk. South Africa. Pm-chased. 



d. Imm. sk. South Africa (Lai/ard). Salvin-Godman CoU. 

 c. Ad. sk. Swellendam (Layard). Sharpe Collection. 



f, g. Ad. sk. Port Elizabeth, Aug. Sharpe Collection. 



{Ortlejip). 

 h, i. cJ ad. sk. Elands Post ( T. C. Sharpe Collection, 



At7nore) 

 k. Ad. sk. Grahamstown, Jidy (T. Sharpe Collection. 



C. Atmore). 

 I. Ad. sk. Kmgwilliamstown {F. E. B. Sharpe, Esq. [P.]. 



A. Ban-aft), 

 m. Ad. sk. Kingwilliamsto-ivu, June Capt. Trevelyan [P.]- 



4 ( C. Neivby). 

 n. Ad. sk. S.E. Africa {F. Oates). W. E. and C. G, Oates, 



Esqrs. [P.]. 

 0. Ad. sk. Pietermaritzburg, May W. E. and C. G. Oates, 



(P. Oates). Esqrs. [P.]. 



VOL. X. 2 P 



