1877.] INHABITING THE INDIAN EEGION. 451 



Batrachosfomus javancnsis, Ilorsf., Walden, J. A. S. B. 1875, pt. ii.ex. no. p. 84, "ex Java." 



Hah. Java. 



Bernstein (/. c), who give.s an account of the nesting of the Java bird, states tliat the iris is 

 pure sulphur-yellow. Careful examination of an authentic Javan example in rufous plumage 

 {mus. nostr.), though lacking all the rectrices, has led me to doubt the specific identity of typical 

 B. javensis with Sumatran and Borncan individuals. The bill, on comparison, is less massive, 

 and the gape narrower. The dimensions of the wing and tarsus are less. Horsfield's type 

 specimen still exists, but in a deplorable condition, in the Indian Museum at South Kensington. 

 With the exception of one or two broken rectrices and a few scattered plumes, the whole of the 

 webs have been destroyed by the moth. Yet enough of the type remains to show that the width 

 of the gape, the form of the bill, and the dimensions of the wing and tarsus agree with my 

 authentic Javan example ; and I feel therefore justified in separating the Sumatran and Bornean 

 species from that inhabiting Java. Still they ai'e but representative forms of one another, and 

 along with B. affinis constitute a small characteristic group. 



? C?) not in quite perfect plumage C?), ex Java {mus. nostr.). Bright rufous or chestnut. 

 Lengthened auriculars brown for the greater part of their length. Frontal long imperfect plumes 

 brown, almost black. A yellow, chestnut-tinged superciliiim. Feathers before the eye pale 

 rufous-yellow at base, with a transverse rufous or else brown line near the tips, which are bright 

 rufous. A series of nuchal plumes pale rufous white, then an irregular transverse rufous-brown 

 narrow bar, followed by a broad white band, terminated with rufous-brown. Shorter scapulars P. Z.S.I 877, 

 white-centred towards the end, the white being separated from the rufous edging by a brown ^' 

 mark. Longer scapulars with all the outer webs and a small part of the inner, near the shaft, 

 white, which colour is more or less enclosed by a brown or rufous-brown irregular line, edged 

 with rufous, inner webs rufous. Chin tawny rufous. A patch of featliers commencing at the 

 middle of the throat, and expanding lower down the throat, pure white and rufous-white, each 

 feather being traversed by an ill-defined narrow pale-brown line ; a brown subterminal line 

 fringed with rufous. Many of the concealed pectoral feathers marked in a similar manner, but 

 without the transverse narrow line. Longer pectoral plumes whity brown, edged with a rufous 

 fringe. Back and abdominal feathers paler rufous, centred with white, and with an outer white 

 terminal double or single spot, or with outer webs only white. Ventral region pale tawny-rufous. 

 Quills rufous-brown, outer webs pale rufous, with faint brown marking. Wing-coverts uniform 

 chestnut-colour. Under wing-coverts pale rufous faintly barred with brown. Wing 4"85, tarsus 

 0-50, middle toe 0-68, bill from forehead 0-87, width of gape 1-12. 



The tarsus is not feathered much below the knee ; otherwise the structure is normal. In 

 Horsfield's type the dimensions are, wing 5-75, tarsus 0-50, width of gape 1-12, bill from 

 forehead 0'87. 



The male has not been described, nor have I succeeded in meeting with an example ; but 

 if Prince Bonaparte had authentic Javan individuals before him, we may infer from the passage 

 above quoted {I. c.) that it possesses the grey and brown mottled plumage of B. cornutus and 

 B. affinis. Indeed, if the specimen in the Calcutta Museum, described by Dr. Jerdon (/. c), really 

 came from Java, there can be no doubt on the point. Dr. Jerdon even states that this specimen 

 was " barely (if indeed at all) distinguishable from Ototkrix hodgsoni." It may even be doubted 



