Catalogue of the Birds of Japan. 31 



difference, however, is not sufiScient to found even a sub- 

 species upon. 



176. Cypselus pacipicus (Lath.). 



The skin sent (No. 2188) is correctly identified. 



181. CORVUS CORAX, L. 



The skin sent (No. 2304), from Eturup, one of the Kurile 

 Isles to the north of Japan, is quite as large as our Raven. 

 It measures 17 inches in length of wing, and has quite as 

 large a beak. I cannot detect any difference in the colour or 

 degree of gloss of either the upper or under parts. It has, 

 however, the wing-formula of a Crow, and not of a Raven. 

 The first and second primaries are too short for those of the 

 Raven. The skin is dated September ; and the wings have 

 not yet completed their full growth since the autumn moult, 

 the first and second primaries in both wings being still " in 

 the pen.^^ The probability is that the skin is correctly 

 named. 



182. CoRVUS PASTINATOR, Gould. 



The skin sent (No. 2182) is correctly identified, 



195. Lanius excubitor, Vig. ? 



This bird will most likely prove to be L. major, Pall., a 

 subspecies of L. excubitor. 



197. BUTALIS LATIROSTRIS (Rafflcs). 



The skin sent (No. 2407) is Hemichelidon latirostris 

 (Raffles). 



202. Pericrocotus cinereus, Lafr. 



The skin sent (No. 2218) is correctly identified. 



205. Parus ater, L. 



The Japanese Cole Tit appears to be the same species as 

 the European bird. One skin in the Swinhoe collection (No. 

 1152) has some of the occipital feathers longer than usual, 

 and forms an intermediate link between P. ater and P. 

 pekinensis. The latter bird was described by David in ' The 

 Ibis ' (1870, p. 155) ; and a skin collected by him is in the 

 Swinhoe collection. At best it can only rank as a sub- 

 species, and that a somewhat doubtful one. Two skins in 

 the Swinhoe collection from the Ussuri river, and one col- 



