1919-] from South Annam and Cochin China. 613 



The Cochin China birds have a smaller cicst than those 

 from Annam, and show an approach to the central iVlaiayau 

 race D. p. malayensis (BIyth). 



207. Oriolus melanocephalus (Linn.). 



Oriolus melanocephalus Oustalet, p. 41. 



1 (^ . Trang Bom, Cochin China. 5 June, 1918. 



1 (J, 1 ? , Tour Cham, Phanrang, S. Annam. 21 May, 

 1918. 



2^,1?. Daban, 650 ft., S. Aunam. 20 March, 1918. 



"Iris red, bill fleshy, feet dark dull plumbeous.'^ 



Males. T. L. 218, 230, 234, 230; W. 129, 137, 131, 

 137 mm. 



Females. T. L. 220, 220; W. 131,- 127 mm. 



Hartert, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, xxxviii. 1918, p. 63, has 

 described the Indo-Chinese form of this Oriole (type from 

 Koh Lak, S.W, Siam) as a new race under the name 

 0. luteolus thaiacous, basing his differences on smaller size; 

 wing average 133 against 133 minimum in the Indian form, 

 which ranges up to 140: the tail is said to have at most the 

 two outer feathers without bars across both webs, and this 

 accords with a series of five adults from the type-locality 

 (^Oriolus inelanocephalus himalayanus Kloss, Ibis, 1918, 

 p. 225). 



On the other hand, two adult birds from the islands of 

 Langkawi and Lontar, west coast of Trang, Peninsular Siam, 

 are typical O. melanocephalus, one having only patches of 

 black on both webs of the fonrth outer tail-feather, and the 

 other on the inner webs of the third and fourth outer 

 feathers. In the above series the Trang Bom bird has only 

 a patch on the outer web of the outer feathers and spots 

 on both webs of the fourth, the secoiul and third being 

 nnbarrcd. 



The Tour Cham bird has a patch on the outer web of 

 the outer feather, small patches on both webs of the third 

 feather, and the fourth barred ; the female has the third 

 feather entirely barred. 



One of the Dal)au males has only a large patch on the 



SER. XI. VOL. I. 2 X 



