V. ON THE SPECIES OF MINIVETS 



(PERICROCOTUS) OCCURRING IN 



THE MALAY PENINSULA. 



By Herbert C. Robinson, C.M.Z.S., M.R.O.U. 



The species of the genus Pericrocotus or Flycatcher Shrikes 

 are amongst the most brilliant and attractive of Oriental birds 

 and much attention has, as a consequence, been paid to them 

 both by systematists and collectors. Owing, however, to 

 the fact that the characters relied on to separate the species 

 are, in many cases, variable within the species, the distinctions 

 between certain of the allied forms are by no means so clear 

 as might be desired, and a good deal of confusion exists as to 

 the actual range and occurrences of several of the Malayan 

 species. 



The F. M. S. Musenms possess very large series of all 

 the species from the Malay Peninsula, and in the present paper 

 I have attempted to arrange these and the synonymy belonging 

 them without in any way claiming any originality of treatment. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Bi. 



Plumage with no red or yellow — 



Plumage mainly red or yellow — 



a. The central tail feathers en- 



tirely black in the male : 

 quill lining yellow^ 



b. The central tail feathers partly 



red in the male, quill lining 

 red 



With no isolated red or yellow 

 marks on the outer webs of the 

 tertiaries 



With isolated red or yellow marks 

 on the outer webs of the tertia- 

 ries 



a. Larger, wing as a rule exceed- 

 ing 85 mm. 



Smaller, wing 

 mm. 



less than 85 



P. cinereus, p. 32. 



P. igneiis, p. 32. 



P. montaniis, p. 33. 



P. zanthogaster 

 flammtfer, p. 35. 



P. zanthogaster 

 zanthogaster, p. ^y. 



