472 CERIORNIS BLYTHI, JERD. 



become known, he will have more than he is able to supply- 

 copies to. 



The work appears to me a perfect model of what such a work 

 should be, admirably written, admirably arranged, saying just 

 so much as is necessary of each species, free from all useless 

 repetitions, above all not overloaded with quotations from in- 

 numerable writers, all saying the same thing, the great fault 

 of most modern books on ornithology— my own " Nests and 

 Eggs" being amongst the very worst in this respect. 



And here I take the opportunity of saying this much in my 

 defence. ic Nests and Eggs" are only intended as a record of 

 materials, from which whoever writes (as I once hoped to do, 

 and might yet, were I spared long enough) the History of the 

 Ornithology of our Indian Empire may safely, and without 

 fear of captious contradictions, generalize. It is in fact (si 

 licet, 8fc.) like one of those volumes of data published under 

 the direction of Herbert Spencer, to exhibit the grounds and 

 evidence on which his more abstract conclusions are based. 



Of course, in a work of this magnitude, there are points in 

 which I do not agree with Captain Legge. He uses names for 

 instance here and there which, according to my views, have not 

 priority; he makes some identifications in which I do not 

 concur ; I miss many important synonyms that I think apply, 

 from amongst the lists of these which head the articles on each 

 species and so on, but quot homines, tyc, he is just as likely to 

 be right as I am ; and though I must, in the interests of 

 science, to ensure a thorough thrashing out of moot points, 

 gradually notice these, it will only be in view to this and not 

 with any pretence of finding fault, since, to my mind, this 

 History of the Birds of Ceylon merits all possible praise, and 

 Captain Legge himself the support and gratitude of all Indian 

 as well as merely Cingalese ornithologists. 



Allan Hume. 



No sufficient or satisfactory description of this fine species 

 has, it seems to me, as yet been published ; but, having carefully 

 examined the type which Dr. Jerdon deposited for some time 

 in my museum, and having, by the kindness of Gr. Damant, 

 Esq., C.S., been furnished with fine specimens of adult and 

 young males and females, I am able, to a certain extent, to 

 supply the deficiency. 



This species in the breeding season, and when fully adult, 

 exhibits the horn-like wattles, and probably also the long, 



