288 Mr. H. E. Dresser on 



outer and inner toes, is absolutely worthless, as may be seen 

 by comparing a Scotornis with a species of the genus Capri- 

 mulgus. But fortunately the shape of the tail in the type of 

 Scotornis is so different, and so easy to describe and to recog- 

 nize, that it may be wise to retain the genus Scotornis, for 

 it is very convenient to isolate some of the numerous Goat- 

 suckers which inhabit the Old World. 



In my opinion there is only one species of Scotornis. The 

 Scotornis nigricans of Salvadori is certainly very different 

 in colour from the common phase of the West-African 

 Scotornis, and at first sight seems to be founded on good 

 grounds. But after a rather large number of specimens from 

 different localities have been compared, it becomes obvious 

 that Scotornis varies considerably in coloration, and that if 

 S. nigricans is admitted there should, with almost equal right, 

 be created a " S. rufescens " from the Niam-Niam country, a 

 " S. pallida '" from Khartoom, Accra, and other localities, 

 and perhaps others. All the characters, such, for instance, as 

 the differently barred tail of S. nigricans (which Dr. Finsch 

 considers to be so important), will be found to have abso- 

 lutely no value after a close comparison of a large series, 

 and there remains nothing but the darker colour, which cannot 

 be regarded as important in such variable birds. Should a 

 certain country produce such dark forms only, then it would 

 be probably an adaptation to the darker colour of the soil, 

 and might be considered a subspecific form ; but this does 

 not seem to be the case. I therefore admit only one species 

 of Scotornis. 



XXII. — Remarks on Lanius lahtora and its Allies. 

 By H. E. Dresser, F.L.S., F.Z.S. 



In collecting materials for my Appendix to the ' Birds of 

 Europe,' I have lately been busily employed in a careful re- 

 examination of examples of Lanius lahtora and its allies. It 

 may be of interest to ornithologists if I report progress and 

 give them the results of my investigation. 



