1873.] FEOM THE AJSTDAMAN ISLANDS. 237 



6. Spiloenis ELQixi (Tytler), J. A. S. B. 18G3, p. 87, "Andamans;" Blyth, Ibis, 1863, 

 p. 118. 



Spilornis spilogaster, pt. Blytli, Ibis, 18GG, p. 243. 

 Hcematornis eUjini, Tytler: Beavan, Ibis, 1867, p. 314. no. 2. 



" S. Andaman : ? , Jan. 15th ; total length in the flesh 22 inches." 



A perfectly distinct species, of a deep rich brown. Chin and cheeks almost black. Upper 

 breast and throat almost uniform ; three or four of the feathers only with one, two, or three 

 white spots irregularly placed. Lower breast-feathers with three pairs of pure white almost 

 round spots placed at regular intervals on each side of the shaft. Ventral plumage and thigh- 

 coverts with four pairs of similar spots of a smaller size. Under tail-coverts traversed with three 

 or four white bars almost, but not quite, running through, except the terminal white band, which 

 is much narrower. Head and crest as in *S'. clieela and S. hacha, the black crest-plumes being 

 narrowly fringed with bright ferruginous brown. Interscapular region and back uniform brown. 

 Most of the scapulars with two small irregularly shaped white terminal dots. Secondaries 

 narrowly and partially fringed with albescent. Upper tail-coverts somewhat irregularly spotted 

 with white. Shoulder-coverts spotted as in S. hacha. Quills very deep brown, almost black. 

 First quill with a narrow white bar on the inner web near insertion ; a second and broader 

 transverse mark an inch and a half lower down. The next three primaries with three or four 

 narrow transverse grey or grey and brown marks. The remaining primaries with only two 

 transverse marks ; the upper very narrow, irregularly formed, and white ; the lower about half 

 an inch deep, and of a clouded grey-brown. Eectrices dark brown, with one very narrow, ill- Ibis, 1S73, 

 defined, cloudy, pale band at about four inches from root of the tail ; a broader, well-defined, ^' ^'^^' 

 pale band an inch and a half lower down and about three fourths of an inch deep. Rectrices 

 terminated with a narrow pale fringe. Shoulder-edge dark brown. Under carpals and axil- 

 laries of the same hue as the lower plumage and profusely spotted with white. 



Wing 15 inches; tail 10; tarsus 3; middle toe, without the nail, 1-50; bill from nostril to 

 tip in a straight line 1. 



The rich brown colour of the general plumage, the almost circular white spots of the lower 

 plumage, which are sharply defined from the brown ground-colour, and not surrounded with a 

 different shade as in S. hacha, the extreme narrowness of the alar and caudal bands, and the 

 shortness of the tarsus and middle toe distinguish this- beautiful species from all otlier known 

 members of the genus. Seen from above it closely resembles adult Javan specimens of *S'. hacha, 

 the narrow banding of the rectrices alone distinguishing it, and the dimensions of the wings and 

 tail being about equal. 



Whether it was examples of this species or of ;S^. rutherfordi that were sent by Mr. Grote 

 to the Zoological Society in 1865 must remain in doubt until INIr. Gurney has compared this 

 Andaman skin with the specimen at Norwich *. 



* Mr. Gurney intends to make the necessary eomparison wlien he nest visits Norwich. It is impossible to read 

 Mr. Blyth's original description of S. elgini (I. e.) without recognizing the bird above described. In the mean time I add 

 the references on the disputed point : — Sclater, P. Z. S. 18G5, p. 400 ; oj). cit. 1871, p. 495; List of Vertebr. Z. S. Gard. 

 1872, no. o20; Beavan, I c; Blyth, Ibis, 1808, p. Ul. 



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