182 NOTES ON THE LIST OF THE BIRDS OF INDIA. 



and the same term is marked in the ^' Index. Universalis " of 

 Agassiz's '* Nomenclator " with an asterisk, to sig^nify that the 

 name has been correctly spelt. Now both Strickland and 

 Agassi z were good classical scholars, and I think their view 

 may be accepted. 



The subject of Greek compounds is one upon which I should 

 certainly not have the temerity to express an opinion. However, 

 1 have consulted one of the best classical authorities in India, 

 and he tells me that the Greek word voios, an equivalent 

 of the Latin qualis, and meaning " of some kind,^' might be 

 compounded with K£ipaA»), and that the resulting term would 

 signify some peculiar qualification of the head. In short, 

 as I understand it, the term should be written pcBOcephala, and 

 considered nearly equivalent to the Latin word capitalis. I 

 think we may fairly accept this view. 



461 to 462 ter. — Molpastes.— The same remark applies to 

 this genus as to Cyanocinclus. Neither genus has been defined, 

 nor any reason shewn for the distinction of the species compris- 

 ed under the name from other genera. Precisely as in the case 

 of Cyanocinclus, Pycnonotus pygceus and its allies, are classed in 

 Gray's Hand List in a separate sub-generic section, but this is 

 not a reason for making a new genus for the reception of these 

 species. The type of Pycnonotus of Kuhl {Ibis, 1826, p. 973,) is 

 Turdus capensis of Linnceus, and some of the species are certain- 

 ly very close to the Indian form, but there may be some struc- 

 tural distinction with which I am not acquainted. 



491 bis. — Saxicola kingi. — I consider that S. clirysopygia, 

 DeFiL, was founded on a specimen of this bird with worn plu- 

 mage. The original specimen was shot in August, and was pro- 

 bably about to moult or moulting. At this time, as I know 

 from seeing many skins of Saxicolce shot in summer, the plu- 

 mage is so much worn that the colour of the basal portion of 

 the feathers shews through, and under these circumstances 

 Saxicola kingi might very well be described as leaden-ashy. 



It is probable that all Mr. Hume^s specimens have been shot 

 in winter, when the bird is earthy brown. The plumage, how- 

 ever, I think becomes decidedly greyer in summer. I have a 

 specimen shot in March, much greyer than the skins obtained in 

 tne cold season, and in the monograph of Saxicola Mr. Dresser 

 and I described the birds from my Persian skins as greyish 

 earthy brown. There is an absured misprint in this description, 

 the bill and legs being put as white instead of black. 



The other distinctions pointed out by Mr. Hume, S. F., VII., 

 p. 59, between S. kingi and the original description of 8. chryso- 

 pygia, do not appear to me of much importance. Any one hav- 

 ing much experience in descriptions of birds' plumage knows 



