Capt. R. H. Beddome on new Uropeltide. 177 
and vent varies in intensity, as also does the green of the upper parts; 
but these are chiefly distinctions of sex and age. I have one pale, 
almost yellow variety, procured by Capt. Blakiston at Canton. All 
- the adults have the black lore- and eye-line peculiar to so many of this 
group. I have specimens from Hong Kong, Macao, Canton, Amoy, 
Foochow, and Formosa; and they all agree in essential characters. 
ZOSTEROPS ERYTHROPLEURA, JL. Sp. 
Z. chloronotus, v. Schrenck (nec Gould). 
Lateribus utrinque saturate castaneo-rufis. 
Long. alee 23 poll., caudee 1°7. 
The distribution of this species extends from Shanghai into Amoor- 
land. I had, until lately, confounded it with the Z. japonica of 
Japan ; but while on a visit to M. Jules Verreaux at Paris, I had the 
pleasure of examining for the first time a veritable Japanese specimen, 
and of comparing it with North China skins. The difference in 
the two birds is striking. Both have, like the preceding, black mark- 
ings on the lore- and partly round the white eye-ring. The under 
parts of Z. japonica are a dull light brownish chestnut, while the 
flanks of this species are of a deep rusty chestnut. This bird is 
larger and longer-winged than our South China species, but is ex- 
ceeded in both by the Japanese. I here exhibit two specimens from 
Shanghai, kindly lent me by M. Jules Verreaux, and one from Tien- 
tsin. The two former are much brighter on the flanks than the 
latter ; but as they are both males, and our Tientsin bird is a female, 
the difference may be only a sexual one, and not one of locality. 
What could have induced M. v. Schrenck, in his ‘ Amoorland,’ to 
confuse this species with the Z. chloronota, Gould, of Australia, I 
cannot understand. Iam enabled to produce a specimen of this last 
from M. Verreaux’s collection, the shape of the bill and head. of 
which, as well as the dull sordid colour of the plumage, show at once 
a marked difference from the Chinese bird. Indeed there are many 
species from Asia and Africa far more closely allied to our species 
than is the Z. chloronota. For comparison with the two Chinese 
species, I am enabled to bring before the Society the Z. palpebrosa, 
Gray, of India, the Z. japonica, T. & S., and two Australian species, 
Z. chloronota, Gould, and Z. cerulescens, Blyth. I think all prac- 
tical ornithologists will agree with me in considering the three forms 
of Eastern Asia as distinct inter se, and from all others of this nu- 
merously represented group. As I have never met the North China 
species alive, except as a cage-bird, I have nothing special to relate 
regarding its habits. 
June 9, 1863.—John Gould, Esq., F.R.S., in the Chair. 
Descriptions or New Species oF THE Famity URoPELTIDE 
FROM SouTHERN InprA, wirH NOTES ON OTHER LITTLE- 
KNOWN Species. By Caprain R. H. BEDDOoME. 
Genus SILYBURA. 
1. StryBurRA SHORTII. 
Head-plates as in S. brevis, but vertical, 6-sided, and occipitals 
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 3. Vol. xiii. 12 
