ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES. 4G9 



difference is 1*3 ; in another 1*5. In one Attock specimen (the 

 feathers are fully developed) it is 2*4 ; in another 10 only. In 

 one Murreebird it is 0'6 : in another 1'8. In one Andaman bird 

 it is 0-5 ; in another 1*6. In one Tenasserira bird it is TO ; in 

 another 2*0. These are all perfect tails of adults in full plumage, 

 and this shows of how little diagnostic value the extent of the 

 graduation of the tails (a character which has been a good deal 

 insisted on with regard to these Crows) really is. 



Some specimens show a very decided grey shade upon the 

 nape and upper back ; others from the very same localities killed 

 at about the same time show no trace of this. 



Some specimens have the whole breast and abdomen distinct- 

 ly greyish and with very little gloss ; others Lave these parts 

 almost pure black with a purplish gloss. 



I think this character is more noticeable, or perhaps, I should 

 say, more common amongst the birds from Attock, Abbottabad 

 and Murree, but still it occurs elsewhere, and is certainly of no 

 specific value. 



A. 0. H. 



toitjotocjicnl Jfotes,* 



By W. E. Brooks, C.E., &C. 



There are a few birds, included in Jerdon's Birds of India, 

 which do not appear to me to be good species, and I draw 

 attention to them, hoping that ornithologists, more favourably 

 situated than I am for observation of them in life, may direct 

 their attention specially to these birds, and give us ail the in- 

 formation they can about them. 



It is generally believed that a small sylvine bird matures 

 the first spring after it was hatched. Redstarts, Robins, and 

 Flycatchers have a spotted plumage when they leave the nest. 

 This is moulted the first autumn, and they then put on a 

 plumage like that of the adult bird. Now, the male of Ianthia 

 rujilata is a dark blue bird, with rufous flanks and white lower 

 surface ; the female is pale olive brown, with a trace of blue 

 on the shoulder, a greyish blue supercilium, and the tail is dull 

 blue. Now, I don't know how many pairs that I observed 

 breeding in the Himalayas had males exactly resembling the 

 females ; and it is the exception, not the rule, to meet with a 

 blue male. Have we two species closely affined, the females of 



* I have not been able to verify some of Mr. Brooks conclusions about some of 

 the Flycatchers he refers to. In fact my specimens lead me to rather different re- 

 sults.— Ed., S. F. 



