110 ON DR. STOLICZKA'S " CONTEIBUTIOXS [1871. 



Ibis, 1871, 72. DissEMURUS MAL.\YEXSis (A. Hay). 



p. 174. 



Is D. ravf/oonensis distinct from D. malayensis'\ In other words, is the Burmese species 

 different from the inhabitant of the Malaccau peninsula 1 A want of examples has hitherto 

 prevented a decision being come to on this point. Edolius setifer, Temm., is the Javan 

 Dissemurus, and is distinct from the Malaccan. 



73. Pericrocotus fl.\mmecs (Forster) ■? 



From the account given it is impossible to decide what species is referred to. It must not 

 be forgotten that Mr. Blyth, after comparing Assamese examples of P. elegans (M'Clelland) 

 with P. flammeiis, from Western India, was unable to distinguish them (Ibis, 18G6, p. 3G9). 

 P.Jiammeus, ex Java, can only be distinguished from true P. flnmmcus, ex Ceylon, by its smaller 

 size, and by the outer edge of the last or<"mge and black secondary being entii'ely orange, and 

 not broken through with black. This distribution of colour, the OYimge-xeA. oi P.flammeus 

 and its affines being replaced by crimson, is observable in P. hremrostris. Should it hold good 

 in all Javan individuals, it wiU furnish a reliable distinguishing character, and the species 

 will require a new title, unless the Javan bird is identical with P. xaiithogaster (Raffles) ex 

 Sumatra. 



In all Burmese male individuals of P. spectosus (Lath.) which have come under my notice, 

 the middle pair of rectrices have the outer webs wholly red, the inner webs only being black. 

 I have never observed this peculiarity in either Himalayan or Central-Indian examples. The 

 Burmese form is also smaller. An Assam example in Major Godwin- Austen's collection also 

 exhibits this peculiarity. 



76. CorsTCHUS mindanexsis (Gm.). 



Mr. Blyth (J. A. S. B. 18-47, p. 139) was, I believe, the first author who identified the 

 Malayan D'hyal with the Philippine. Yet, so far as can be gathered, no comparison has ever 

 been made between Philippine individuals and those found either in the Malayan peninsula or 

 elsewhere. That a black and white D'hyal occurs in Mindanao may be inferred from wliat 

 Ibis, 18J1, Dr. V. Martens says (J. f. O. 18GG, p. 10). Montbeillard calls the species to which Gmelin gave 

 the above title Merle de Mindanao, and states that it was brought home by Sonnerat. Were 

 it not for the name bestowed, we should have no means of tracing its origin. 



Mr. Blyth (/. c.) separated the Ceylon and Malayan from the Indian Copsijchns, on the 

 ground that the female of this last was ashy above, while the females of the two former have 

 the back of a much darker blackish ash. This distinction appears to be well founded. The 

 Ceylon bird has received in consequence the title of C. ceijlonensis, Sclater. The Malabar 

 Copsijchus, however, would seem also to belong to the Ceylon form. In the generality of Ceylon 

 and Malabar examples the bill is extremely short ; but in some it is scarcely less than in true 

 C. sauJaris. 



From both the Ceylon and Indian forms the Malayan is said by Mr. Blyth to differ (/. c.) by 

 having only three (and not four) outer rectrices white. I have no jNIalaccan example to 

 compare ; but this distinction holds good in the Javan D'hyal, C. amcenus (Horsf.). And such 

 is the case also in C. pluto. The D'hyals I have examined from all parts of India, Malabar 



p. 175. 



