416 NOTES. 



In the Annals and Magazine of Nat. Hist, for 1875, p. 

 236, Mr. Sharpe points out that the bird described by him after 

 consulting*Dr. Sclater [see P. Z. S., 1874, p. 427 ; figured pi. 

 LI V.). &s a new species belonging to a new genus from Jamaica 

 under the name Phcenicomanes iora, is uo other than the com- 

 mon Malayan species Jora Lafresnayi. A good figure and full 

 description of this latter were much needed, and ornithologists 

 may be grateful for the mistake which has given them these. 

 Such mistakes must occur to the best and form no sort of ground 

 for reproach, but when such errors do occur with the first author- 

 ities in Europe with the libraries and museums of the world at 

 their backs, and in regard to a species with which we here are 

 as familiar as they at home are with Turdus musicus, it is to be 

 hoped that we shall hear no more in future of the very similar 

 and certainly not more serious errors into which field naturalists, 

 out in India, have unavoidably at times fallen. 



At page 327, I noted having received two specimens of 

 Ketupa flavipes, from the valley of the Bhaghiratti, which was 

 the most westerly locality from which I could remember to have 

 heard of its occurring ; but referring to the Ibis for 1871, p. 346, 

 I find that Dr. Jerdon notes having obtained a specimen on the 

 banks of the Towy River, on the march from Mussouri to 

 Simla. He adds that he gave this specimen to me, and this is 

 possible, but the label it bears is Great Runjeet near Darjeeling 

 in his own handwriting — but no name, so that the label 

 must have been intended for, or belonged to, some other speci- 

 men. Certainly West of Nepal flavipes is almost as much of a 

 straggler as ceylonensis is in Palestine. 



Referring to Mr. Blanford's interesting paper, supra, p. 358, 

 on Hypocolius ampelinus, I must say that so far as a mere exa- 

 mination of the skin enables me to form an opinion I should con- 

 sider this species more nearly allied to Graucalus than to any 

 other genus represented in India. 



Many people still seem to doubt the specific distinctness of 

 Mallus aquaticus, L. and R. indicus, Blyth. As far as I have 

 been able to investigate the question, the European bird always 

 has a longer and much slenderer bill, but then, as far as I can 

 make out, the European bird also occurs in India. I am very 

 anxious to work this question out, and specially to ascertain 

 the limits of distribution of both species in India, and I shall 

 be thankful for any information on this subject and any speci- 

 mens (^Indian-killed,) of either species, that can be furnished me. 



