STRAY FEATHERS. 



Vol. VII.] AUGUST 1878. [N os. 1-2. 



Semarfo on ifje feus §up. 



Having recently had to re-examine the enormous series of 

 Suyas in my museum, I think that a few notes recorded as 

 the result of this investigation may prove useful. 



In the first place, I notice that all the members of this species 

 vary very much in size and linear dimensions, partly according 

 to sex, (the males being very much larger than females) and 

 age, (the young being also notably smaller than adults ) and 

 partly according to season, the midwinter birds having most 

 commonly, as in Brymoipus inornatiis (S. F., IV., 407, et seq.), 

 longer tails than the midsummer ones. 



In the second place, all the species have a very distinct breed- 

 ing plumage, in the case of most of them far more distinct 

 than that of the species already alluded to. 



The Suijas readily divide themselves into two groups — those 

 with the head and back more or less (according to season) 

 conspicuously striated, and those which have these parts 

 unstriated at all seasons. 



The seasonal variations in the plumage of these little birds 

 has led to a considerable multiplication of species. 



Turning first to the species with striated heads and backs, 

 of which Suya ckinigera, Hodgs, is the type, (and as I now 

 believe, the only Indian species), it may be useful to clear 

 away a few spurious species. 



Suya striata of Swinhoe, (Journ. N. Ch. As. Soc, May 1859,) 

 is nothing else but & crinigera, pur et simple. I have two of 

 the types, a male and female, killed at Formosa, in February 

 1862, and I can match them precisely with Himalayan speci- 

 mens killed in the same month. The bird killed in March 1856, 

 described by Mr. Swinhoe, Ibis, 1863, 301, is a somewhat 

 more advanced bird than those I have. 



Swinhoe concludes his remarks, loc cit } as follows : — 



" This species has its nearest ally in Suya lepida, Hodgson, 

 of the Himalayas, but is at once distinguishable by its very 

 much larger size/' 



