ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES. 471 



I now come to the first spurious species. 



Siphia tricolor, Hodgson. 



This is the young male and the female plumage of Siphia 

 lexicomelanxira, Hodgson. 



Like Ianthia rujilata, the bird breeds in the brown as well 

 as in the blue dress. I have shot both brown and blue males 

 from the nest, and have dissected many not shot at the nest, 

 and more brown males are met with than blue ones. As is the 

 case with many other species, eastern examples, from Sikhim 

 for instance, retain their brown colour better, and are much less 

 faded than examples from the dry North- West. This difference 

 of tone is also especially observable in Reguloides from the two 

 districts. 



Experiments, with nestling's of this species, would be valu- 

 able ; for here again there may be two close allies. 



My own firm conviction, however, is that we have but one 

 species, and that we should strike out Siphia tricolor from the 

 Indian list. Mr. Mandelli came to this conclusion before I did, 

 and directed my attention to it. The result of his observations 

 Avas that Siphia tricolor was not a species. 



ErythrOStema leUCUra, in Jerdon's list should be Erxjthros- 

 terna albicilla, Pallas. E. leucura, Gm., is South African. 



It is, I believe, generally well known now that we have both 

 E. parva and E. hypen/thra in India. The former is the 

 common bird of the North West, a few being- found as far east 

 as Dinapore. East of Benares, albicilla is the prevailing bird. 

 E. hyperythra appears to be a resident hill species. 



Erythrosterna pusilla, Blyth. 



This should be struck out of the Indian list, most decidedly. 

 It is the female (and young male probably) of E. maculata, 

 Tickell. This plumage changes much from the autumn to the 

 spring, the rufous portions wearing away, and becoming ashy 

 brown. Dr. Jerdon says : " In summer the male assumes a 

 bright ferruginous colour on the chin and throat." This is 

 a mistake, as in the case of Siphia tricolor; the identification is 

 due to my friend Mr. Mandelli, who took great pains with the 

 question, and sent me a good series killed at different times. 



Erythrosterna acornaus, Hodgson. 



A most mysterious bird, but, I think, it ought to be removed 

 from the Indian list. It is evidently a female Muscicapula, 

 perhaps astigma, but I am not certain. Only the examination 

 of the type would decide the matter. At all events in my Hima- 



