422 REMARKS ON THE GENUS IORA. 



I believe Sundeval to be in error, but in the absence of the 

 works of Vieillot above referred to, it is impossible for me to 

 speak positively on the subject. All depends upon whether 

 leucoptera or qnadricolor was the original type. 



For the present, relying on Mr. Gray, I propose to retain 

 the name of Iora. 



This latter genus was thus defined by Horsfield, Tr. L. S., 

 XIII, 151,1821 :— 



" Bill, middling, straight, rather stoutish, wide at the base, 

 slightly compressed towards the point, attenuated*; culmen, 

 rounded, feebly arched, continued behind the nostrils, point 

 scarcely inflexed, emarginate; cutting edges, sub-diaphonous, 

 sharp ; nostrils, oval, small, placed in an elongated little 

 depression, attenuated anteriorly ; wings, short ; quills, 1 

 spurious, 4-7 externally slightly sinuated, 3-8 longest, sub-equal, 

 the 2 suddenly, 9 and following ones by degrees shorter; tail, 

 elongated, truncated ; feet, middling, suitablef ; Tarsi longer 

 than the mid toes by half; acropodia obscurely scutellated ; toes, 

 the front ones feeble, the middle united at the base with the 

 outer ; hind toe somewhat stronger, equal to mid toe ; claics, 

 compressed ; those of the front toes, feeble ; that of the hind toe, 

 stout and strongly curved. 



" This genus is distinguished by the strength and conical 

 form of its bill from Sylvia and Motacilla. The nares are com- 

 paratively small. It has a peculiar character in the sharpness 

 and transparency of the cutting edges of the mandibles. 

 The anterior toes are small, and the claws strongly compressed ; 

 the posterior toe and claw are comparatively stout." 



After some little investigation of this genus, I have been 

 unable to establish more than four definable species. Of these, 

 one, which is also by far the most widely distributed, has the 

 plumage of one sex at one season very variable, and has a 

 tendency to exhibit one such phase more commonly in one, 

 another, in another locality ; but, so far as I have been able 

 to ascertain, birds, even of this one sex, and at this particular 

 season, that are absolutely identical, occur throughout its range, 

 and with these, in each province, intermediate links between 

 the characteristic local sub-type and other sub-types, and 

 under these circumstances, though it is desirable to note the 

 variations that occur, I cannot assume specific value for these 

 local varieties, which are in no case invariable, but at most only 

 prevalent, and which, though capable of being indicated, are not 



* In this, and all similar translations, I give the most literal version possible. 

 Especially, where a word seems to me capable of two interpretations, I try and represent 

 it by an English or Anglicized word having the same ambiguity. 



I I have no very definite idea of what Horsfield here means by the use of the 

 •Word '' congruus." 



