LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. * 333 



The Acheen Otocompsa, described in Stray Feathers, 

 Yol. I., p. 456, and for which, if new, I proposed Davison's name 

 personata, is I find Ixos analis, Horsf. I said at the time that I 

 doubted whether it should not be placed as an Ixos, but taking 

 the bird as a whole, I am still inclined to think that it is quitt, 

 as near Otocompsa. 



to to tlie €Miox. 



Sir, 



Through the courtesy of Hen* Yon Pelzeln, I have 

 been enabled to examine the specimens of Nicobar birds brought 

 to Europe by the Novara Expedition, and which are now pre- 

 served in the Naturalien Kabinet at Vienna. 



I have put together the following notes upon them, and 

 allied or identical' species from other localities, as a contribution 

 to our knowledge of the Avifauna of the islands. 



Micronisus soloensis. 



Nicobars, (Car Nicobar) wing, 7"*5 ; 



ava, ,, ( o ; 



Celebes, „ 7 //- 3 ; 



Ninox liirsuta. 



The Nicobar specimen of this bird was lost. Herr Pelzel is 

 of opinion that the following are only local varieties or races. 

 East India (? from the peninsula) : — 



Wing, 7";1- tail, 4"'12 ; tarsi, 1". 



A small bird resembling in coloration my specimen from the 

 Nicobars, vide Stray Feathers, Yol. I, p." 54. 



Deccan. Wing, 8 /A 5 ■ tail, 4"-8 ; tarsi, 1". 



Looks like a small* example of N. scutellatus, but except that 

 it is less rufous than most of the others. I can see no o-ood 

 reason for separating it. 



Japan (?) Wing, 8"'4 ; tail, 4"-4 ; tarsi, 1"-1. 



A very rufous individual resembling my Andaman specimen. 



Malacca (?) Wing, 7"'5 ; tail, 4"- 2 ; tarsi, 1". 

 » T'-&5; „ 4'-3; „ 1. 



* I don't understand what is meant by this remark, because scutellatus, Raffles, is 

 much smaller than Iiirsutus, and has a total length of only 10 inches. — (Vide supra, 

 p. 152.) Ed., Steax Feathees. 



P 1 



