200 
XY.) of S. Alboniger (S. Borneonensis, Gray,) I have to re- 
mark that the species common in Lower Bengal (and there the 
only one) is S. Limnaetus (Kalco Caligatus of Raffles,) identical 
with the common Malayan race, similarly assuming the black 
plumage with full maturity, and very rarely exhibiting more 
than the rudiment of an occipital crest, as distinguished from S. 
Cirrhatus of other parts of India and Ceylon. ‘The latter never 
attains the black plumage, and has always along occipital crest. 
Horsfield’s type specimen of his alco Limnaetus from J ava, 18 
identical with the Bengal bird, but Professor Schlegel (Mus. P. 
B. Astures, pp. 10, 11) “describes a long-crested specimen from 
Western Java which seems to agree with S. Cirrhatus of India, 
while his other Javan specimens are clearly S. Limnaetus. Hven 
the large and very conspicuously distinguished S. Vipalensis, 
Hodgson, is considered by Professor Schlegel to be merely a 
variety of this S. Cirrhatus. Yet he discriminates Spilornis 
Cheela from S. Bacha, which most assuredly are less strongly 
characterized apart, than are Spizaetus Nipalensis and S. Cirr- 
hatus. S. Nipalensis should occur rarely in the mountainous parts 
of Southern India, as it was obtained by the late Dr. Kelaart, 
at an altitude of about 4000 feet in Ceylon. Professor Schlegel 
notes S. MKieneri from the Philippines. It may be remarked, 
that the black, final plumage of S. Limnaetus is analogous to 
that of the North American <Archibuteo Sanctijohannis, if not 
also to that of Astur MMelanoleucus, A. Smith (Zool. 8. Africa, 
Aves, pl. 18); but see Mr. Gurney’s remarks (Ibis, 1864, 
. 357 m\ 99 
: The, following are Mr. Gurney’s observations, which I 
transcribe from Mr. Gould’s magnificent work. 
“Spizartus ABonicer, Blyth; S. Borneonensis, Gray. 
This very distinct species, the smallest of the Asiatic Spizacti 
with which we are at present acquainted, was first described by 
Mr. Blyth (A. D. 1845) in the fourteenth volume of the 
‘Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal,’ p. 173, in the 
following terms :—‘ A smaller species than either of those from 
India, measuring about 214 inches in length ; wing, 13 inches, 
and tail, 95 inches; tarsus, 8 inches; occipital crest, 3+ inches. 
Adult : black above, with a purple gloss ; the large alars embrown- 
ed, and distinctly banded with black ; tail black, with a broad, 
light greyish brown bar occupying ‘about its third quar ter 
from the base ; ; the longer upper tail coverts have each two 
cross-bands of the same, lower parts pure white, with a black 
mesial line on throat; large intense black drops on the breast. 
The belly, vent, lower tail coverts, tibial plumes, and short 
tarsal feathers are throughout closely barred black and white ; 
