82 The Marquis of Tweeddale on the 



authors for the Javan bird, must be altogether rejected, as 

 it was bestowed on the Malabar, Sumatran, and Javan species 

 in the belief that they were identical*. Terarainck's title, 

 setifer, is ignored by Mr. Sharpe, who leaves us to conclude 

 that it was first bestowed by Jerdon on the South-Indian 

 species. 



The Tenasserim race Mr, Blyth described as distinct from 

 the Malabar race ; and to distinguish it lie called it crista- 

 tellus. It has a less-developed crest than D. grandis, but a 

 much longer one than the Malabar species. Notwithstanding, 

 it will be found that in the Catalogue (p. 265) Blyth's title 

 is assigned and restricted to the S.W. Indian species. 



Under the new title of D. ceylonensis Mr. Sharpe has sepa- 

 rated the Ceylonese from the S.W. Indian species, on account 

 of the comparative smallness of its rackets. In all the speci- 

 mens that I have examined from both localities this distinc- 

 tion does not hold good. It is impossible to discover any 

 appreciable difference between mature specimens ; but even 

 if there were any, it is difficult to see how D. brachyphorus 

 can be united to D. grandis, as is done by Mr. Sharpe in his 

 synonymy, if the Ceylon bird merits a separate title. 



Irena. — The true systematic position of this genus has di- 

 vided the opinions of ornithologists ever since Horsfield founded 

 it. Temminck first classed it among the Dicruridse; and 

 so have other authors since, and Mr. Sharpe does the same. 

 Jerdon placed it (following Blyth) among the Short-legged 

 Thrushes, and made it constitute a separate subfamily, Ire- 

 nina, the third among the Brachypodidse, arranging it between 

 the Phyllornithino! and the Orlolina. In Jerdon's view I 

 must undoubtedly concur. The affinity between Irena and 

 Dicrurus is more apparent than real; it is an affinity of 

 mimicry at best. The contour of the bill has a superficial 

 resemblance ; but the margins of the commissure are inflected 

 in Irena-, in Dicrurus they are spreading. In the last the rictal 

 bristles are developed (a certain indication of insectivorous 

 habits) ; in Irena they are short, weak, almost aborted. In 



* In the series of Siimatran and .Tavan racket-tailed Drongos at Leyden 

 1 did ni)t observe a crested Suniatran or a non-crested Javan example. 



