of the Indian and Australian Regions. 39 



young males of the two species, whether it belongs to N. zeylonica 

 or A. asiatica. And the same observation will apply to C curru- 

 caria, L. Old males from Bengal and Maunbhoom are larger 

 than those from Malabar. These again are larger than those 

 from Ceylon. In the northern race the metallic hood seems to 

 descend lower down the nape. In the colouring of the plumage 

 I can discover no difference. A specimen in the British Mu- 

 seum, presented by Mr. Swinhoe, but from an unknown locality, 

 is not only a larger bird, but differs from the examples already 

 mentioned by having the crown of the head and shoulder-coverts 

 coppery green instead of emerald green, the uropygium and 

 upper tail-coverts brilliant blue violet and not bright red violet. 

 Chin and throat-patch dark blue violet, and not bright ruby- 

 violet. These colours were contrasted during bright sun-light. 

 The comparative dimensions are here given : — 



Rost. a nar. 



N. zeylonica (L.), Ceylon '5 



„ „ Mauublioom .... 'SG 

 „ „ Brit. Mas '56 . . 



I refrain from giving this form a title until I have been able 

 to examine more examples. Is it the " variety " mentioned by Sir 

 W. Jardiue (/. c.) as being preserved in Mr. Strickland's collec- 

 tion*? Perhaps the British-Museum specimen came from Bom- 

 bay, where Mr. Swinhoe mentions having observed N. zeylonica 

 (Ibis, 1864, p. 416). The characters which denote the female and 

 distinguish her from the young male have not been, as yet, abso- 

 lutely defined. Information on this point, based on dissection, 



* [The Strickland collection contains two male specimens which seem 

 to belong to difterent species, though each is marked in Mr. Strickland's 

 handAvi'iting '■'■zeylonica''''; the only other information afforded by the 

 labels is in both cases " India. Mr. Askew, 1839." In one of these the 

 top of the head, seen against the light, is dark green, but crimson-violet 

 from the light ; the throat crimson-violet against the light, but from the 

 light bluish-violet ; the rump and upper tail-coverts, seen from the light, 

 are bluish-violet, but against the light the former is crimson-violet. In 

 the other example the top of the head is bright green in both lights ; the 

 throat, rump, and upper tail-coverts cdppeiy -violet against the light, but 

 from it crimson-violet. Both specimens are otherwise alike ; they are 

 unfortunately in bad condition, the first having lost its bill, and the last 

 its feet. — Ed.] 



