204 VISCOUNT WALDEN ON THE BIRDS 
Le Merle dominiquain des Philippines, Montb. Hist. Nat. Ois. iii. p. 396 (juv.) ; D’Aubenton, Pl. 
Enl. 627. fig. 2. 
Turdus dominicanus, Boddaert, op. cit. p. 88 (1783), ex D’Aubent. 
Turdus dominicanus, Gm. tom. cit, p. 836, no. 123 (1788), ex Montb. 
There can be no doubt that the Philippine bird described by Brisson (/.¢.) and 
figured by D’Aubenton, pl. 185. fig. 2, belongs to the same species as that figured in 
the ‘ Fauna Japonica,’ pl. 46. That the Japanese species is a winter resident in the 
Philippines, we are assured by Mr. Swinhoe (P.Z.S, 1863, p. 302, no, 217). And Pastor 
ruficollis, described by Wagler from a Manilla specimen, is also undoubtedly the same 
as the Japanese species. I have already shown that it ranges as far as Celebes (U.c.); 
and Schlegel (7. ¢.) notes it from Borneo. It has not, however, been observed in China 
nor in the island of Formosa, 
The type of Turdus dominicanus, Bodd., was described by Montbeillard (/. ¢.) from 
an individual said to have been obtained in the Philippines by Sonnerat. It may, how- 
ever, have been in reality of African origin. This example, so indifferently figured by 
D'Aubenton (/.c.), and insufficiently described by Montbeillard (/.¢.), was clearly that 
of an immature bird. Wagler (/.c. no. 20) appears to have been the first author who 
referred Gracula sturnina, Pallas,=Sturnus dauricus, Pallas, to this species. He states 
that it inhabits the Philippines and China, and that it nests in Dauria. G. sturnina, 
Pallas, is known to winter in Java, Sumatra, Malacca, and Tenasserim, to occur during 
its migration in North China, and to breed in Dauria. Does it also occur along with 
8. violacea (=pyrrhogenys) in the Philippines during the winter? If so, it may have 
supplied the type of D’Aubenton’s 627th plate. If S. sturnina is found not to migrate 
to the Philippines, then S. dominicanus must become a synonym of 8. violacea. One 
of the salient differentiating characters of 7. sturnina, even in the earliest plumage, is 
the occipital spot formed by the black or purple-black tips of the occipital feathers. 
In Mr. Blyth’s description of Calornis albifrons, taken from an undoubted but immature 
Philippine individual (cf. Swinhoe, /.¢.), this spot is stated to be present. It is true 
that Mr. Swinhoe identified it with S. pyrrhogenys, a species which I believe never 
exhibits an occipital black spot. Unless 7. dominicanus prove to be an African form, 
it is a title that must fall, being junior to both S. violacea and S. sturnina. 
The synonymy of Gracula sturnina is as follows :— 
Gracula sturnina, Pallas, Reisen Russischen Reichs, iii. p. 695, no. 11, “South 
Dauria” (1776). 
Sturnus dauricus, Pallas, Act. Holmiens, 1778, p. 197, pl. 7; Zoogr. Rosso-Asiatica, 
i, p. 422, no. 72 (1811-31). ’ 
Turdus striga, Raffles, Tr. Linn. Soc. xiii. p. 311, no. 8, “ Sumatra” (1821). 
Pastor sturninus (Pallas), Wagler, Syst. Av. Pastor, no. 20 (1827). 
Pastor malayensis, Eyton, P. Z.S. 1839, p. 103, “ Malaya ;” Blyth, J. A. S. B, 1846, 
p. 35, “Common at Malacca.” 
