^Notes on some Ceylonene Birds. -i3'9 



posed to extend to Southern India; while I received a perfectly 

 black backed male from Mr. Oates^ from Thayetmyo_, where 

 tt/phia only should occur. 



473.— Oriolus ceylonensis, Bonaij, 



There is no doubt that typical ceylonensis from Ceylon are 

 very diiFerent, from typical melanoeeplialus from Calcutta. The 

 former are much smaller birds^ with the wing-^ in the male, averag-- 

 ing about 4*9j against 5*4 in the Calcutta birds. There is not 

 nearly so much yellow on the primaries and tertiaries^ and the 

 black does not extend nearly so far down the breast as in mela- 

 noeeplialus ; but when you come to compare an extended series 

 from, all parts of India, it becomes exceedingly difficult to draw 

 the line between the two species, and not only this but even from 

 Northern India you will find specimens which, except as regards 

 size, correspond exactly with some Ceylon birds, and of a vast 

 number of Southern Indian birds it is impossible to decide 

 whether the}'' should be classed as ceylonensis or melanocepJialtis. 

 Alike in size and iii other supposed distinctive characters, they 

 are exactly intermediate between typical examples of the two 

 forms. In cases where an unbroken series of connecting- links 

 exist between two forms, I cannot but doubt the propriety of 

 separating these two as distinct species. 



543.— Drymoipus inornatus, Syhes. 



Ceylon birds are identical in color with typical Southern 

 Indian birds of the above species ; they are however sex for sex 

 somewhat smaller, and appear to have slightly more slender bills. 

 They are of course like the Southern Indian birds quite distinct 

 from the grey Northern Indian bird, terricolor, nobis, so long 

 confounded with Sykes^ bird, and which in Lahore to Yarkand 

 I erroneously figured as inornatus. 



539.— Cisticola schoenicola, Bonaf. 



One specimen received from Mr. Nevil is absolutely identical 

 with some of my innumerable Indian specimens, and is certain- 

 ly not larger than many of them. This bird is somewhat varia- 

 ble both in size and color, not according to locality as far as I 

 can make out, but according to individuals. I have Indian 

 specimens that would answer very well to Blyth/s diagnosis of 

 liomalv,ra, and I have no doubt that Mr. Holdsworth is right in 

 considering this latter as one and the same with schoenicola. 



556.— Phyllopseuste magnirostris, Blyth. 



This species miist be added to Mr. Holdsworth^s printed list ; 

 he has already added it in manuscript to the copy which lie 



