114 NOVELTIES. 



This list too includes only the representatives of Himalayan 

 forms, and only those representatives, which, though they may 

 straggle into the lowlands at some seasons, belong essentially to 

 the Tenasserim Hills. Thus, to give some of the most conspicuous 

 the examples, it excludes 



Astur poliopsis, Hume, the representative of A. badius. 

 Carine pulchra, Hume „ C. brama. 



Thriponax Graiufwdi, J. E. Gr. „ T. Hodgsoni, 



Pitta Davisoni, Hume „ P. carulea. 



Sturnopastor superciliaris, Blyth „ S. contra. 



Then many of the Tenasserim Hill forms, though I do not as 

 yet separate them, are so far distinguishable races that any one 

 can tell at a glance whether any particular specimen is from the 

 Himalayas or Tenasserim. 



Take Arboricola rufogularis. In 35 specimens from the 

 Himalayas, 33 have a well marked black line dividing the 

 rufous of the base of the throat from the grey of the breast ; in 

 the other two, this line, though indicated, is imperfect. 



In 40 Hill Tenasserim specimens, 36 show not the faintest 

 trace of this. Not one single specimen has the line even fairly 

 well marked, but 4 show traces of it. 



In other respects the birds do not differ. 



There are several other species in which similar small almost 

 (but not quite) absolutely constant differences are noticeable. 



Then again there are fully a dozen species, in which I have 

 detected what appear to be constant diff evences, but which I wait 

 to describe until I get really large series so as to make sure that 

 the differences observable in 3 or 4 specimens, are constant in 20. 



Now, as I shall hereafter show, this extraordinary specializa- 

 tion of the Tenasserim Hill Birds may be of the utmost im- 

 portance, and in order that this extreme specialization may be 

 clearly appreciated, it is necessary to separate as distinct species, 

 those forms that constantly differ, even though in a small parti- 

 cular only from well-known Himalayan, Javan, &c, species. 



And now to return to Allotrius intermedins, it will be observed 

 that it is really and truly intermediate between the Himalayan 

 and Javan forms. This is quite according to the rule that seems 

 to obtain in this too little explored province. 



Take Pteruthius aralatus; this is half way between the 

 Himalayan erythropterus and the Javan fiavicapis. It has the 

 same yellow on the wing as the latter, but it has the grey back 

 of the former. 



naming it. I think Lord Walden vory right in separating it under a distinct name.— 

 Ed., S. F. 



