446 



f^rnis afawwtolit, Sum 



{Note on a Malayan species of Pernis distinct from P. 

 ptilorhynchus.) 



By J. H. Gurney. 



In Stray Feathers, Vol. IX., pp. 122, 123, Mr. Hume has 

 described, under the heading of Pernis brachypterus, Blyth, a 

 male and female Pernis from the Malay Peninsula, which may 

 possibly be of the same race as the young bird formerly 

 described by Blyth under the title of Pernis brachypterus* 

 but subsequently referred by him to P. ptilorhynchus, and 

 has given it as his opinion that, whether the two specimens 

 are or are not identical with Blyth's P. brachypterus, they 

 are, in either case, " quite distinct from ptilorhynchus." 



Mr. Hume's specimens appear to be an adult female, and 

 a male not fully adult ; the latter he has been so good as to send 

 for my inspection, and through the kindness of Lieut. R. G. 

 Wardlaw Ramsay, I have been enabled to compare it with 

 the late Lord Tweeddale's specimen from Sochedana in south- 

 eastern Sumatra described in the Ibis for 1877, p. 286, and 

 for 1880, pp. 213, 214 and 216. Mr. Hume, in his article 

 already referred to, expressed his opinion that his birds and 

 the Sumatran specimen above-mentioned were probably refer- 

 able to the same species, and such I find, on comparison, to 

 be the fact ; but the Sumatran bird agrees more closely with 

 Mr. Hume's description of the adult female than with the 

 younger male. The following are comparative measurements 

 of the three specimens : — 



Wing. Crest. Cere. Culmen. Tarsus. Mid-toes. 



Malny (assumed <? ) f 156 '3 5 "9 *2 19 



Malay (assumed ?) % 161 



S.E. Sumatra (assumed ?) § 167 21 5 1' 22 21 



On comparing Mr. Hume's Malay male with the female 

 (evidently an older bird) from south-eastern Sumatra, I 

 find the markings and coloration agree closely with the follow- 

 ing exceptions. 



In the Sumatran specimen the lores, together with a space 

 above, behind, and below the eye, are all brownish grey, thus 



* Vide Journ. As. Socy , Bengal, Vol. for 1852, pp. 436 and 440; also Vol. for 

 1875, Part 2. Extra >"o., p. 60. 



f Mr. Hume gives this as 1475, his mode of measurement being probably 

 different to mine. I measure the wing along the curve outside, which gives a 

 result of 15 '4 for one wing and 15 6 for the other. 



t As given by Mr. Hume. 



§ I quoted this in the His as 17, which I find, on re-measurement, is rather 

 too much. 



