216 Major R. G. Wardlaw Ramsay on 



on being flushed it only flies a short distance and alights on 

 some convenient branch, spreading out its tail like a fan as 

 it does so. Its food is composed of seeds and berries, one 

 very favourite fruit being the Chilli [Capsicum fastigiatum) , 

 of which it consumes an enormous quantity. 



A very great difficulty which I have experienced in work- 

 ing out this genus, has been caused by the lack of reliably 

 sexed specimens. I regret to find that the symbols on the 

 labels of even the best collectors are not to be implicitly 

 trusted. Collectors are too ready, and I do not except 

 myself from the category, to trust their native taxidermist 

 to determine the sex ; indeed, this is often unavoidable. 

 Natives are quite capable of doing it if they will ; but 

 I know from experience that, if they have preconceived 

 ideas as to what sex a specimen ought to belong to, 

 very often down goes the symbol on the label without 

 any dissection. It is also impossible to make a native 

 understand that, if the sexual organs, from mutilation or 

 otherwise, are not distinguishable, it is far better to record 

 no sex than to guess it. But no, that is not " Rama- 

 sawmy's " way of reasoning ! " Master " has told him to be 

 sure and sex every bird, and " Master " will be " plenty 

 angry " if he doesn't ; and so one or other symbol, as likely as 

 not the wrong one, is put down to perplex the unfortunate 

 naturalists at home. If field-naturalists would append their 

 initials to the sexual symbol, as a guarantee that the dis- 

 section was made by them personally, the value of their 

 collections to the worker at home would be much enhanced. 

 For the above-mentioned reasons I have had considerable 

 difficulty, in some cases, in determining which are adult 

 females ; and it is just possible that some of my con- 

 clusions may be found to be erroneous. 



There is one specific title in the genus which has caused a 

 good deal of difficulty — CoJumba macroura, Gmel. The 

 late Lord Tweeddale has satisfactorily cleared this up, and 

 his views will be found recorded by Capt. Legge (' Birds of 

 Ceylon/ p. 699). 



The specimens so marked in the British Museum belong 

 to the true M. amboinensis, Linn. 



