96 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology of Hainan. 



it is distinguishable by its shorter wings and tail, and by the 

 differences about the head, throat, and neck. The dark spots 

 on the throat are wanting, or merely indicated by light yel- 

 lowish-brown edging to the dull chestnut-brown feathers, while 

 the elongated feathers of the head and hind neck are brown, 

 with light yellowish-brown margins. The head and neck of 

 M. fokiensis are lighter, with central black markings, deep 

 chestnut-brown in the immature bird. I have five specimens 

 of the Hainan race, which I have compared with five of M. foki- 

 ensis from Foocbow and Tingchow ; but so variable are the birds 

 of this group, that I would scarcely attempt to separate them, 

 wei'e it not for the uniform shortness of the wings and tail in 

 the Hainan bird. Both these races are readily sepai-able from 

 M. brachyurus (Vieill.), of Sumatra, M. badius (Horsf.), of Ma- 

 lacca, M. badiosus (Temm.), of Borneo, and M. pha^oceps 

 (Blyth), from Pegu, of all of which I have authentic examples, 

 received from Prof. Schlegel and Mr. Blyth ; and, from Dr. 

 Jerdon's description (B. Ind. i. p. 294), no comparison is needed 

 of mine with his M. gularis of Malabar. 



S Length of wing 4*4, of tail 2'75. 

 2 „ „ 4-7, „ 2-8. 



Irides ochreous-white. Bill deep bluish-grey, with the greater 

 part of the lower mandible, and edge of the upper, greenish- 

 yellow. Legs and claws slate-colour, tinged with green. 



I have named this species in honour of Captain Holroyd, of 

 H.M.^s 73rd regiment, who accompanied us on the Hainan expe- 

 dition, and gave me great assistance in collecting specimens. 



31. MegalvEma faber, sp. n. (Plate IV. fig. 1.) 

 Like Formosa, Hainan has also its peculiar species of Barbet ; 

 and from the almost identical colouring of the under parts, and the 

 similarity of build and stature in the two birds, one must neces- 

 sarily come to the conclusion that the one has been derived 

 from the other, or that both are of common lineage. From its 

 loud peculiar call, the Hainan species has earned among the 

 natives of the island the appellation of " Ironsmith," whence I 

 have derived its specific name*. Among the woods of the in- 



* " The ' Ironsmith/ so called because its voice sounds like hammering 

 the metal." — Kinng-shan-IIeen Che. 



