63 The Andamans and Nicohars. — V. Ball. 



between it and the frontal band, the ifeathers are of the 

 same grey as those o-f the crown. The beak has the upper 

 mandible coral-red, with a white tip, and the lower mandible 

 black ; the form of the bill is both narrower and less deep 

 than in P. Alexandri, and angulates above towards the base. 



'^ The size approaches that of P. Alexandri, which at once 

 distinguishes it from all other known species of the group. 



" A female from the Malay Peninsula had the tail developed 

 to the usual length in this genus, and green above with 

 some blue on its middle feathers, and dull golden yellowish 

 below ; the head less pure grey than in the male, and the bill 

 wholly black.''^ 



Measurements in inches : — 



$ Wing 6- ; tail 6-5 ; bill at front 1-12 ; tarsus -5. 

 / „ 6-2; „ 5- ; „ „ ri2; „ -5. 



34, — (153). — Loriculus vernalis, Sparrm. 



Andamans.— T. and B., Ibis, N. S., Ill, iml ; Ball, J. A. S. B., 

 XLI,Ft.II,p.2n. 



35 — (157 Us). — Picus Andamanensis, Blyth. 



Andamans.— Blyth, J. A. 8. B., XXVIII, 1859, f. 412, Note; 

 TyUer and Beav., Ibis, N. 8., Ill, 1867, p. 321 ; Blytk, Ibis, 

 ]V. 8., IV, 1868, p. 31 ; Ball, J. A. 8. B., XII, Ft. II, p. 279. 



" Nearly affined to P. analis, Temm., of Java, which it re- 

 sembles in size and proportions, as also P. pectoralis, BL, all 

 three differing from the common P. Ilacei of Bengal by their 

 smaller size and white spotted middle tail-feathers ; in P. Macei, 

 as also in the affined Himalayan P. brunneifro7is, the four medial 

 rectrices, and in P. atratus, the six medial rectrices, are spot- 

 less blackj the lastnamed being the larg*est of this parti- 

 cular group ; in P. Andamanensis the middle tail-feathers 

 have three* distinct pairs of white spots, while in P. pec- 

 toralis they have four pairs of white spots of larger size. 

 But the Andamanese bird is specially characterized by the large 

 round black spots upon its breast, each margined with Avhitish ; 

 the ear-coverts also longitudinally streaked with black, and the 

 flanks are more conspicuously rayed than in the others. In 

 other respects, this bird resembles P. Macei. The lower tail- 

 coverts are bright crimson, and the crimson tips of the coronal 

 feathers of the male are less developed than in P. Macei, espe- 

 cially towards the forehead. Length of beak to gape 1 inch -, of 



* Out of five specimens M'hich I have recently examined, three have got four 

 pairs of spots.: — V. B. 



