ON A NEW SPECIES OF TRIBURA (DUMETICOLA.) 223 



and intermedia appear to be much of the same size. As in 

 the case of major, it is comparatively a short winged bird with 

 reference to its total length. Although one total length is on 

 record, I think this species will, as a rule, average fully 6 

 inches. The lower surface is very similar to that of major, 

 and considerably lighter than in affinis. As in affinis and 

 major, the tail is cross-rayed, but more conspicuously so than 

 in those two. The sides of the head, including the cheeks, 

 are very like those of major, but more tinged with rufous. 

 Some examples have a few minute cloudy pale brown spots on the 

 upper breast, similar to those of major, but much less conspi- 

 cuous and fewer in number. The bill is more slender, compres- 

 sed at sides towards tip, and straighter on culmen than in ajjinis. 



This species cannot be mistaken for D. mandellii, which is a 

 much closer ally of D. ajjinis, and even more decidedly rufous, 

 approaching D. luieoventris [Tribura lutteoventrn). 



I have endeavoured to be particular in comparative differ- 

 ences, as one description, apart from dimensions, would almost 

 apply to ajjinis, major, mandellii, luieoventris, and intermedia. 

 All are reddish brown above, greyish white below, with pale 

 brown on sides of breast and flanks ; the latter, however, very 

 reddish in luieoventris. Except luieoventris, all are sometimes 

 plain and sometimes spotted on the throat or upper breast. 

 D. major is well distinguished by its long bill ; but with 

 regard to the others, no one would be able to identify surely 

 any one of them by the best description that could be written. 

 They must be seen and compared to understand them. The 

 same remark may be made with regard to Phylloscopus, where I 

 have seen the most amusing mistakes made by very careful men. 



P. S. — The Editor, before publishing this note, desired to see 

 a specimen of the new species, and on receipt of a single and 

 not very typical example of D. intermedia, expressed doubts 

 as to whether it was properly separable from Tribura luieoven- 

 tris, of which, by the way, I had had no specimens to compare 

 it with. 



Mr. Gates, having again sent up the type and another speci- 

 men, I have carefully recompared these with Mr. Hume's series 

 of luieoventris, and can now say that closely-allied as the two 

 species undoubtedly are, the latter is always so much more 

 rufous in tone as to be fairly separable by colour alone, apart 

 from the fact that the bill of intermedia is somewhat longer, 

 as a rule, than that of luieoventris. 



As I rely a good deal upon the great difference of plumage, 

 it may be well to note that all the specimens of intermedia 

 were collected in the cold season, when as yet there can have 

 been but little weathering or fading of the plnmage. 



