72 RECENTLY-DESCRIBED SPECIES. 



993. — Anoiis stolidus, Lin. 



{Neighbourhood of Malacca ; — Voy. Novara, Salvad. U. di B., 379. J 



*998. — Sula australis, Steph. 



[Between Malacca and Penang.] 



1004. — Felecanuft phiUppensis, Gm, 



[Malacca, Maingay, Salvad. U. di B., 363.] 



feccutlg^bcscnbcb Species. 



Republications. 



Acridotheres melanosternus, Legge. 



A comparison of the entire series of Acridotheres tristis in 

 the national collection, from all parts of India, as well as from 

 localities into which the Indian species has been introduced, 

 such as the Mauritius and Bourbon, has convinced me of the 

 propriety of separating the Cejlonese race j and for it I propose 

 the above title. 



Messrs. Blyth and Jerdon pointed out many years ago that 

 the Ceylon birds of this species were darker than the Indian. 

 The former, in his Catalogue of the Birds of the Asiatic 

 Society's Museum (1849), has the following remark: — "No. 

 574, Dark variety from Ceylon. Presented by Dr. Templeton." 

 Jerdon follows, in his " Birds of India,'' Vol. II., with " those 

 from Ceylon appear to be always darker.'' It is true the 

 Ceylon race is much darker, both as regards the colouration 

 of the upper surface and the hue of the flanks ; but the 

 writers in question appear to have overlooked a feature in the 

 plumage of the bird, which is constant in the Ceylon race 

 and always absent in the Indian, viz., that the black of the throat 

 descends down the centre of the breast, and passes above the 

 white abdomen, forming a sort of border to this region. 

 In the Indian race this part is somewhat lighter than the 

 surrounding plumage, instead of being darker. Specimens 

 from the northern parts of the Peninsula are less albescent 

 down the centre of the lower breast, and the sides of it are a 

 pale, though suUied-looking, isabelline colour. 



The nearest approach to the colouration of the Ceylonese 

 bird is found, as one would naturally expect, in those from 



