194 Mr. E. C. Stuarl Baker on [Ibis, 



whole area. Nor is Mr. Kloss's bird any lai-ger than many 

 typical malaccensis from the extreme south. 

 This subspecies cannot be maintained, 



4.CHRYS0C0LAPTKS GUTTACRISTATU3. 



Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus has soinetiines been held to 

 be a mere subspecies of Chrysocolaptes strictus of Java. 

 This seems to me to be quite unnecessary^ for we have the 

 broad dividing line between tlie two in tlie fact that tl)e 

 females possess, the one a black crown, the other a yellow 

 one. Nor is -this difference anywhere bridged over by 

 intermediate forms, and though both birds probably came 

 from the same stock comparatively recently, nature has now 

 eliminated the useless intermediate forms and created a 

 definite species. 



Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus must^ however, be divided 

 into certain geographical races, a matter of even greater 

 difficulty, however, than is usual Avith such divisions. 

 I have had some 300 specimens for the purpose ot exami- 

 nation, and throughout the wdiole of its vast range, from 

 southern India to the south Malay Peuinsu]a_, I can find 

 no variation in plumage which in any way helps me to 

 define the subspecies. I am therefore thrown back upon 

 the size of the bird and comparative size of bill as the sole 

 features of distinction. 



Eliminating young and moulting birds, the measurements 

 have been taken of 193 specimens, divided as follows, 

 females and males being considered together, as there 

 appears to be no sexual difference in size : — 



Jsortli-west India .... 9 birds. AVings 177-190 mm. Average 184. 



Bills 50- (J3'o mm. 

 Nepal 10 „ Wings 172-182 mm. „ 177-8. 



Bills 60- 63-5 mm. 

 Sikkira and Uooars ..24 ,, Wings 164-177 mm. „ 1708. 



Bills 43- 50 mm. 

 Assam, N. and S 18 ,. Wings 164-177 mm. „ 171-5. 



Bills 43- 50 mm. 

 Chin to Shan States . . 6 „ Wings 163-178 mm. „ 169-0. 



Bills 50- 67 mm. 



