96 Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Ornithology of Malacca. 



plumage. In the smaller species, Eurylahnus ochromalus, Raffl., 

 the bill is blue and pea-green. 



Besides the Megalaima versicolor, three other Barbets are not 

 uncommon, M. mystacophanos, Temm., M. chrysopoyon, Temni., 

 and M. trimaculatus, Gr. Notwithstanding their long rictal 

 bristles, these seem to be all fruit-eating birds; as in the 

 stomachs of dozens which I have examined, nothing else was 

 found. They are dull, slow-moving birds, and in their actions 

 much resemble the Toucans and Hornbills. I doubt if they 

 have any affinity to the Woodpeckers, next to which they arc 

 generally placed. In the weakness of the feet, the size and 

 shape of the skull and neck, and in the texture of the skin and 

 plumage, and even in their colours, they approach much more 

 nearly to the smaller Toucans. 



In the Picida I was very fortunate, obtaining nearly a com- 

 plete series of the Malacca species, as the following list vfiW 

 show : — 



1. Meiglyptes tristis, \\ovs,i. Singapore and Malacca. 



2. M. brunneus, Eyton. Common. 



3. Phaiopicus rufinotm, Mulh, Common. 



4. Tiga tridactyla, Gr. Scarce. 



5. T. Rafflesi, Vig. Scarce. 



6. Gecinus puniceus, Horsf. Common. 



7. G. mentalis, Temm. Common. 



8. Hemilophus Mackloti, Wagl. Not uncommon. 



9. H. Mulleri, Bon. ? distinct. 



10. H. javensis, Horsf. Scarce. 



11. i/. validus, Reinw. Singapore. 



12. Hemicercus concretus, Reinw. Mt. Ophir. 



13. H., n. s. ? Like H. conci'etus, but head and crest the same 

 colour as the body. 



14. Sasia ahnormis, Temm. Not uncommon. 



The Kingfishers of this part of the world are pre-eminent for 

 beauty ; the finest which I obtained were the Halcyon concreta, 

 Temm., H. pulchella, Horsf., H. gularis, Kuhl, the lovely little 

 Alcedo biru, Horsf., and a Ceyx which I cannot determine, the 

 specimen being young. The birds, however, which I found most 

 abundant and varied were the Thrushes, of the subfamily Ixodina, 

 and the various strong-legged birds forming the genera Timalia, 

 Macronus, &c. These latter birds are found to be abundant 

 both in species and individuals when carefully searched for on 

 the sides of roads and other places wdiere there is a thick low 

 jungle, while the former are found on every fruit-tree and about 

 the Malay villages. Their affinities are most intricate and 

 puzzling. 



I have eight species of birds, all of an obscure dusky olive 



