214 Major R. G. Wardlaw Ramsay on 



The fact of this paradoxical species having newly-hatched 

 young — for I cannot suppose the bird sent to me could have 

 been more than two or three days old — so late in the season 

 as the 8th of August seems to be especially remarkable. 



Magdalene College, Cambridge, 

 19 January, 1890. 



XXT. — On the Columbine Genus Macropygia and its Allies. 

 By Major R. G. Wardlaw Ramsay, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. 



The genus Macropygia is one about which but little has 

 been written. It is at first sight a perplexing group, and 

 this fact, perhaps, has prevented many ornithologists from 

 even attempting to identify the specimens which they may 

 have happened to find in local collections. Such are the 

 variations in plumage in this genus, and so closely allied are 

 many of the species, that it is only by an examination of a 

 large series that satisfactory conclusions can be arrived at. 



•The only systematic treatment which this genus has 

 received is that of Count T. Salvadori (Orn. Pap. vol. iii. 

 p. 132), and perhaps may be added that of Professor Schlegel 

 (Mus. d. Pays-Bas, Columbse). 



With a view to secure sufficient materials for a revision 

 of this group, I have endeavoured to collect as large a 

 number of specimens as possible ; and I here take the oppor- 

 tunity of acknowledging the kindness and courtesy of Dr. 

 A. B. Meyer for the loan of specimens from the Dresden 

 Museum, of Dr. Gestro, to whom T was introduced by Count 

 Salvadori, for an interesting series from the Museum at 

 Genoa, and, lastly, of Canon Tristram for placing his speci- 

 mens at my disposal. These examples, together with the 

 already large series in the National Museum, augmented, as it 

 has been of late years, by the collections of the late Marquis 

 of Tweeddale, and Messrs. Hume, Salvin and Godman, and 

 Seebohm, have given me an opportunity such as has not 

 been previously enjoyed by anyone for working out the 

 srenus. 



