99 



November 11, 1846. 

 George Gulliver, Esq., F.R.S., in the Chair. 



A paper was read entitled " Notės on certain species of birds from 

 Malacca," by H. E. Strickland, F.G.S. 



Having lately examined a collection of Malacca birds belonging 

 to the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, comparing them with speci- 

 mens in my own cabinet, and \vith the descriptions given by MM. 

 Temminck, Blyth, Eyton and other authors, I have thrown together 

 such remarks as appeared necessary for the elucidation of their cha- 

 racters and synonymy. For some of the identifications of species I 

 am indebted to Mr. Blyth's letters to myself *. 



Athene scutulata (Raff.), {Strix hirsuta, Tėmm., Ninox nipalensis, 

 Hodgs.)— This is the Athene malaccensis of Mr. Eyton, Ann. Nat. 

 Hist, v. xvi. p. 228. 



Caprimulgus macrurus, Hors. — DiiFers from the C. albonotatus, 

 Tickell, of India, in its smaller size, being only about 1 1 inches in 

 totai length, wing 1\, tail 5^, and in its darker colour. It appears 

 to be the šame as the C. macrurus from North Australia figured by 

 Mr. Gould, except in wanting the second white patch seen on the 

 breast in his figure. 



Cypselus affinis, Gray. — Rather larger and of a deeper black than 

 Indian specimens, but I do not venture to separate them. Wing 5^ 

 inches, tail 2į. 



Ceyx tridactyla, (Pall.) — Much confusion has existed in the 

 synbnyms of this and the next species. The present one is distin- 

 guished by the whole back and wing-covers being black, each feather 

 terminated with deep blue. It is well-figured by Mr. Jerdon in 

 plate 25 of his ' Illustrations of Indian Ornithology.' It is found in 

 South India and the Malay Peninsula. The following synonyme 

 refer to \t:—Ceyx luzoniensis, Steph. ; Alcedo purpurea, Gm.; A. 

 erithaca, Įj. Lath. ; Ceyx microsoma, Burton ; Sonn. Voy. Nouv. Guin., 

 pi. 32 : BufF. PI. Enl., 778. f. 2. ; Penn. Gen. Birds, pi. 5. 



Ceyx rufidorsa, Strickland. C. capite, dorso, tectricibus cau- 

 ddgue totis IcEte rtifis, splendore lilacino variantibus ; corpore 

 subtus aurantio-flavo, mento albo, loris et maculd aurium obscure 

 ccBruleo-nigrd. 



This species, which also occurs at Malacca, is very closely allied 

 to the lašt, but differs in having the beak larger in all its dimensions, 



* Siuce this paper was \vritten I bave seen some rectifications of synonyms by 

 Dr. Hartlanb, Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 1, ■ohich uearly agiee with those here arrived at. 

 No. CLXV. — Proceedings of the Zoological Society. 



