392 Mr. J. H. Gurncy's Notes on 



expression of doubts amongst the synonyms of F. peregrinns ; 

 but having had an opportunity, through the kindness of ]\Ir. 

 Huntiej of examining the type specimen of F. atriceps, I am 

 enabled to state that it is quite distinct from F. peref/^'inus, 

 and that it should, as it seems to me, be considered a geo- 

 gi'aphical race (probably entitled to subspecific rank) of F. 

 peregrinator . 



Having contributed detailed notes on F. peregrinator and 

 F. atriceps to vol. viii. of ' Stray Feathers ' (pp. -l.'iS-iS?), I 

 would refer my readers to what I have there written, only 

 quoting from p. 439 of that article the following expression 

 of my opinion, as the result of the examination of sundry 

 specimens there described, viz. : — " that F. atriceps is a geo- 

 graphical race of F. jjeregrinus, chiefly distinguishable by its 

 abundant transverse markings, lack of rufous colouring, and 

 prevalent grey tints on the abdominal and tibial plumage ; 

 and thus differing considerably from specimens (of F. 2)ere- 

 grinator) like those I have examined from Ceylon, in whicli 

 these parts are decidedly rufous and almost immaculate ; but 

 that the two phases of plumage are so much connected by 

 the occurrence of individuals of intermediate and amljiguous 

 coloration, that they do not admit of the races being defined 

 with sufficient precision to merit the position of separate and 

 distinct species. I may add that SundevalFs type specimen 

 of F. peregrinator appears to me, from his description, to have 

 been a specimen of this intermediate character as to markings 

 and coloration. The typical F. atriceps appears to be limited 

 to North-western and Northern India, and towards its eastern 

 limit to inosculate with the race which has the underparts 

 more rufous and more nearly immaculate, and of which the 

 range extends from Nepal to CJeylon.^' 



It is to this latter race that the specific title of "peregri- 

 nator" has been customarily (and, I think, justifiably) applied ; 

 and it is probably this race which is found in Teuasserim, 

 judging from an unpublished figure of an adult bird by the late 

 Col. Tickell, presumably taken from a Tenasserim specimen, 

 and now in the library of the Zoological Society. 



Some years since an adult male of F. atriceps, from the 



