480 REMARKS ON THE GENUS MICROPTERNUS, Blyth. 



This, however, must be altogether exceptional, as in our large 

 series, from all parts of the Neilgherries, the Malabar Coast, the 

 Assamboo Hills, and Ceylon, not one single specimen exhibits 

 one single speck of red above a line drawn through the two 

 angles of the eye. 



As to the Chinese species I have only seen the Foochow form, 

 but I think that, according to Mr. Swinhoe's own showing, his 

 two supposed species are not separable from brachyurus and 

 phaioceps unless we agree to break our Indian and Burmese 

 phaioceps up into five or six species, and similarly sub-divide 

 Tenasserim, Malaccan, Sumatran and Javan races. As for the 

 single Foochow specimen that I have examined I am unable to 

 separate it from some of the Southern Tenasserim brachyurus. 



I would reduce the number of the species of this genus to 

 three or at most four. 

 Pale margined I. — Nearly concolorous with 



feathers of Breast, (head usually more 



the throat. or less iufuscated) ... phaioceps. 



II. — Markedly darker than breast. 



1 . Stripe of pale margined throat feathers 



not extending laterally beyond the 



rami of the mandible (head usually ■, 



more or less infuscated) ... ... CjUlariS, 



2. Stripe of pale margined throat feathers 



extending laterally over the rami of 

 the mandible up towards the eye (head 

 usually not infuscated). 



(a) Male with no red above a line , j 

 drawn through angles of eye ... OraCliyWUS. 



(b) Male with eye entirely surrounded 



with red points ... ... badiosUS. 



Dimensions and amount of markings in all these species very 

 variable, not only according to sex and age, but also according 

 to locality, the majority of specimens in one small tract running 

 much smaller, in a neighbouring one much larger ; the general 

 tone of colour in one locality much brighter, in another much 

 duller ; the adults of both sexes in one place retaining almost 

 universally much more, aud in another much less, of the bandings 

 characteristic in their fullest intensity of immaturity, and so on, 

 but these variations being nowhere, when really large series are 

 examined, so constant or so susceptible of exact definition as to 

 warrant their acceptance as a basis for specific separation. 



The specific snonymy would, according to my view, be some- 

 what as follows : — 

 1. M. Phaioceps, Bly., J. A. S. B., XIV, 195, 551, 1845. 



rufus, apud J*. E. Gray, 111. Ind. Zool., I. t. 29, f. 2, 



1832. 

 badius, Hodgs., Gr. Zool. Miscl., 1844, 85, No. 169, 

 nee. Rnffl, 



