1877.] THE ISLAND OF ZEBU. 541 



The two examples obtained by Mr. Everett do not quite agree with Ceylon and Continental- 

 Indian uidividuals, inasmuch as the dark banding below appears much blacker, broader, and 

 more decided, and the dorsal colouring is browner. Still, smce it is impossible to select any 

 marked characteristic difference, and as this Kail is probably a migrant, as in Ceylon, I refer these 

 Philippine birds to the Indian species. Mr. Blyth was of opinion that the race found in the 

 Philippines was barely distinguishable (Jerd. I. c). 



Brown {1. c.) described and figured, under the title of The Bail, this species from a Ceylonese 

 example obtained by Governor Loten. At p. 96 he also described, and on plate xxxviii. he 

 figured, a distinct bird from the same source imder the title of Rail. Gmelin (/. c.) copied 

 Brown's description of his Bail, and bestowed on it the title of Ballus zei/lauicus. But Gmelin, 

 while correctly quoting p. 96 of the Illustrations, incorrectly referred to plate xxxvii., on which is 

 depicted Brown's The Bail. On Brown's description of The Bail GmeUn founded no title ; but 

 when incorporating the Linntean species Ballus capensis (Mantissa, p. 525) in his edition of the 

 'Systema' (/. c. No. 11) and more or less transcribing the Limuiean diagnosis, he followed Latham 

 (Synop. iii pt. i. p. 234. no. 8) and referred the Linnsean bird to the one described by Brown at 

 p, 94 as well as to the one figured by Brown on plate xxxviii. Latham made the identification 

 with a note of interrogation. Gmelin in both cases associated the wrong plate with the pages 

 containing Brown's descriptive remarks, and called both species Bail. As Gmelin's diagnosis of P.Z.S.1877, 

 his Ballus zeylaniciis does not apply to the ferruginous-breasted Rail of Ceylon, The Bail of ^' 

 Browii, we must adopt the next title, that of Lafresnaye. I cannot with certainty identify the 

 bird described and figured by Brown under his title of Rail [Ballus zeylanicus, Gm.) ; but it is 

 apparently a gallinaceous bird — possibly Galloperdix spadiceus (Gm.). 



67. Amaueornis olivacea (176). 



[Cebu, male, March. Iris crimson, bill dark green, paler at tip, legs yellow-brown. 

 b. Cebu, female, March. Iris crimson, bill grass-green, legs and feet brownish dull yellow.] 



68. Hypot^otdia tokquata (177). 



[Cebu, male and female, March. Iris crimson, feet and nails lead-grey, bill black.] 



The series sent consists of thirteen examples of both sexes, some being from Luzon. In 



plumage the males do not difier from the females. Every variety occiu's in the colouring and 



extent of the pectoral band, which is dark pure maroon in the full plumage. 



69. Htpot^nidia striata (179). 



Hypotcenidia ohscuriora, Hume, Str. F. 1874 (January), p. 302, "Andamans." 

 Hypotcenidia ferrea, Walden, Ibis, 1874, April, p. 147, "Andamans." [Antea, p. 267.] 



[Cebu, male, March. Iris burnt-sienna brown, bill blackish brown, base carmine, legs 

 greyish brown, h. Cebu, male, April. Iris Indian red ; bill purplish brown, base dull crimson ; 

 legs brown.] 



These Zebu specimens may be regarded as being typical ; and from them Andaman and 

 Rangoon examples cannot be separated ; consequently the titles founded on the Andaman race 

 must fall. A recomparison made with Continental-Indian and Malaccan examples does not 



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