360 Mr. J. H. Gumey's Notes on 



continental forms, Scelospizias polyzonoides, S. sphenurus, S. 

 badius, S. poliopsis, and S. brevipes, all of which are treated 

 by Mr. Sharpe as being severally subspecies of one and the 

 same actual species, to which he applies, in a comprehensive 

 sense, the name of Astur badius. I am, however, of opinion 

 that at least two of the above list, S. polyzonoides and S. bre- 

 vipes, differ sufficiently from their immediate congeners to be 

 well entitled to rank as fully distinct species. 



It may be useful, for the sake of comparison, to give a few 

 measurements of these nearly allied forms, taken from some 

 of the specimens in the Norwich Museum, commencing with 

 those of S. polyzonoides : — 



Wing from Middle 



carpal joint. Tarsus. toe, s. u. 



in. in. in. 



From the Zambesi. Presumed c? . . G-7 1-7 1 

 From Elephant's Vley, Damara- 

 land. Mai-ked by Mr. Andersson 



as cJ 6-8 1-7 1 



From Trans Vaal. Marked by Mr. 



Ayres $ 7-5 1-8 1-1 



The following are measurements of S. sphenurus : — 



Wing from Middle 



carpal joint. Tarsus. toe, s. u. 

 in. in. in. 



From the Gambia. Presumed c? . . 7 1-8 1 



From Bissao. Presumed cS 7*4 1'7 1"1 



From Casamanze. Presumed $ . . 7'10 1-8 1 



Mr. Sharpe speaks of very old birds of this race gradually 

 losing the transverse bars on the upper portion of the breast ; 

 but I have never seen one in which some slight trace of these 

 bars did not still remain. 



I will now add the measurements of five specimens of the 



true S. badius : — 



Wing from Middle 



carpal joint. Tarsus, toe, s. u. 



in. in. in. 



From Travancore. Presumed c? I 7-2 l •« 1 -1 



From Oudh. Presumed c? i 



From Cashmere. Presumed c5' 7*8 1'9 1*2 



From Northern India. Marked by Mr. 



Hume as $ 81 2-2 12 



From Malabar. Presumed $ 8 21 1-3 



