1871.] ON- NEW SPECIES OF BIEDS FROM SOUTHERN ASIA. 97 



in length, while in /. cyanca the coverts do not quite equal the rectrices. The bill of /. turcosa 

 is also stouter than that of /. cyanea. But the Javan Irena is most distinguished by the blue 

 colouring of the upper plumage being light turquoise. When compared together, the Malabar 

 Irena is dark blue, inclining, in some lights, to purple ; the Malayan is of a somewhat lighter 

 shade of blue ; the Javan is light blue. In all three species the length of the wing is equal. In 

 the Malabar bird the tail exceeds that of the other two by a quarter of an inch. The females of 

 the Malayan and Javan species closely resemble each other in the colour of their plumage ; the 

 female of the Malabar bird is much darker, and easily recognizable. 



Latham's Fairy Roller (Syn. Suppl. i. p. 87) was described from a drawing by Lady Impey. 

 If the subject of that drawing was from Eastern India or the Malay peninsula (in itself most 

 highly probable), the Malayan species will bear the title of I. jniel la (Latham), and the Malabar 

 bird that of /. indica, A. Hay ; but, as the point is seemingly beyond the reach of proof, it will 

 be best to adhere to the titles given above. 



Ephialtes jerdoni, n. sp. 



Ephialtes lempiji, Horsf., Jerdon, in part, B. of Ind. i. p. 138. 



This title is suggested for the larger Scops owl of Malabar. Mr. Gurney, to whom I have 

 submitted a large series of E. lem^iijl (Horsf.) and its affined species, concurs with me in the A. II. N. H. 

 propriety of bestowing a separate title on the species inhabiting the Western Ghauts of India. *®^' \7q ' ^' 

 It is chiefly characterized by the ruddy ground-colour of its plumage, and the tarsal feathers 

 being nearly, if not quite, immaculate. This and Scofs griseus, Jerd., form two well-marked 

 species, both differing from Javan examples of E. lempiji (Horsf.), the first inhabiting the 

 W^estern Ghauts, the second the Eastern, and also the forests in the vicinity of Maunbhoom. 



1871. 



Letter on Prinia albogularis and Ephialtes jerdoni, /rom Viscount Walden, P.Z.S., to the Ibis 1871, 



Editor q/" 'The Ibis' (January 1871). 



Cliislcliurst, Jan. 11, 1871. 

 SiE, — Dr. Jerdon has kindly informed me that he considers Prinia albogularis, nob., Ann. Nat. 

 Hist. ser. 4, vol. v. p. 219 *,=.Prinia Itodgsoni, Blyth, J. A. S. B. vol. xiii. p. 376. And I wish to 

 add that EpJnaltes jerdoni,-noh., torn. cit. p. iVl '\,= Scops malabaricus, Jerdon, Madras J. L. & S. 

 xiii. p. 119. I remain. 



Yours obediently, 

 Walden. 



* lAntect, p. 94.— Ed.] t [FtcZe swjjra.— Ed.] 



