100 Mr. J. H. Gurney's Notes on 



cimenSj and approaching, but not equalling, in this respect, 

 the dark race peculiar to the island of Java. 



I have recently examined eleven specimens of Spilornis 

 from Java, all adults, or very nearly so, with the following 

 results as to dimensions : — longest measurement of wing 16"6 

 inches, shortest 15*2 ; longest of tarsus 3*6, shortest 3'3 ; 

 longest of middle toe s.u. 2, shortest 1'9. 



The Spilornis of Java is readily distinguished from those 

 of Ceylon, Singapore, Malacca, and Sumatra (with the two 

 latter of which it is associated by Mr, Sharpe), by its much 

 darker ground-colouring ; this, with the exception of a tinge 

 of dark slate- colour on the chin and cheeks, is of a deep rich 

 purplish brown, upon which the white spots of the under- 

 parts show very conspicuously and distinctly. 



The specific name of bacha, under which Mr. Sharpe unites 

 the Spilornis of Java, of Sumatra, and of Malacca, is clearly 

 not applicable to that of Java, as may at once be seen by 

 comparing the Javan bird with Le Vaillant^s plate of " Le 

 Bacha.^^ His figure is more like the Spilornis of Sumatra and 

 Malacca, especially the latter ; but, in the absence of any 

 authentic information as to the locality of the specimen from 

 which it was drawn, I believe it is impossible to say with 

 certainty to which of the nearly allied races, other than that 

 of Java, the specific name " bacha" can correctly be applied; 

 and I think, under these circumstances, it will be best to 

 discontinue the use of that name altogether. 



The Spilornis of Java is already provided with a distinct 

 name, being the Falco bido of Horsfield. The Ceylonese Spi- 

 lornis should stand as spilogaster of Blyth, unless it should 

 hereafter be proved identical with albidus of Temminck and 

 with melanotis of Jerdon, or with one of these forms, if there 

 be any difference between the bird found in Pondichery and 

 that inhabiting the Neilglierries. 



The Spilornis of Sumatra, I am disposed to think, must be 

 referred to the same species as that inhabiting Ceylon ; and 

 between the Sumatran bird and S. davisoni of the Anda- 

 mans the birds found at Penang, Malacca, and Singapore 



