A COLLECTION OF BIRD-SKINS FROM SIAM. 181 
has a wing of 144 mm., and the young bird one of 138 mm, A care- 
fal examination of a larger series of this Cissw shews that many speci- 
meng of C. ehinensis have wings under 135 mm., whilst, on the other 
hand, many specimens of the so-called minoy have wings well over 
140 mm. 
I consider C. c. minor should be suppressed. 
3. DENDROCITTA SINENSIS ASSIMILIS. 
Dendrocitta assimilis, Hume, Str. Feath., v.. p. 117 (1877). 
¢ Chan Teuk, E. Siam, 11. 8. 15, 
6 Krabin, C. Siam, 8. 11. Lo. 
2 Krabin, C. Siam, 9. 11. 15. 
2 Krabin, C. Siam, 12. .11. 15. 
Mr. Herbert’s specimens are all of this race of Tree-Pie. 
Hume gives three features by which assimilis can be distin- 
guished from its nearest ally himalayensis ; (1) paler brown ear- 
coverts, contrasting with black ring round eye ; (2) brown of sides of 
neck and back concolorous with ear-coverts ; (3) comparatively pale 
throat. There is an enormous series of PD. sinensis in the British 
Museum, and using the above features, I find that it ia¢ quite impos- 
sible to divide assimilis from himalayensis, though the throat of the 
latter is generally decidedly darker than in the former. Assimlis, how- 
ever, can be distinguished at a glance by the much paler upper plu- 
mage, and this is quite sufficient to retain it as a good sub-species. 
The Chinese bird, D. s. sinensis, differs from the himalayensis 
group in its wholly dark tail. 
4. CRYPSIRHINA VARIANS. 
Corvus varians, Lath, Ind. Orn, Sup., p. xxvi (1801). 
2 3.1 2 Samkok, C. Siam, 21. 8. 1915. 
3 Samkok, C. Siam, 4. 7. 1915. 
2 5 Klong Wang Hip, P. Siam, 1. 10. 15. 
3 2 Klong Wang Hip, P. Siam, 5. 10. 15. 
S$ Krabin, C. Siam, 9. 11. 15. 
A fine series of these beautiful little Magpies, which Mr. Herbert 
records as common in many parts of Siam, breeding in practically 
every place where it occurs, making a rather shallow cup-shaped nest 
with thorny twigs on the outside and lined with the tendrils cf a vine, 
VOL. III. NO, IIT, 1919, 
