380 NOTES ON SOME BIRDS COLLECTED ON THE NILGHIRIS 
This point holds good in. one specimen of meridionale, in 
the other specimen the upper feathers of the ear-coverts (which 
are grey, strongly tinged with rusty), are tipped with dark 
brown, forming a small but distinct patch behind the eye, the 
same colour as the lores and crown. 
“(3) By the back and upper parts generally being much 
ereyer, and by the brown colour of the crown passing gradual- 
ly into the olivaceous tinge of the back, and not being sepa- 
rated by a distinct margin.” 
This is the best and most characteristic point of difference 
between the two species, but it is hardly “the back and 
upper parts generally being greyer.’” This would perhaps be 
better expressed by saying that these parts in meridionale want 
the rusty tinge they have in /airbanki; remove this rusty 
tinge, and the colour of the upper parts in both species would 
be identical. 
“\(4) By the tail feathers being browner, and more distinct- 
ly transversely barred above.” 
This point does not hold good as far as the barring is con- 
cerned. 
“ (5) By the striation on the throat and breast being more 
strongly marked.” 
This point does not hold good; two specimens of fairbanks 
ee the striation quite as much developed as in the Travancore 
birds. 
‘© (6) By the middle of the abdomen being white instead of 
ferruginous.” 
Several of our specimens of fairbanki show traces of white 
on the abdomen, while in one specimen of meridionale there 
is not a trace of white on the abdomen, it being uniformly 
rufous. 
““(7) By the rather stouter bill.” 
This point does not hold good; there is nothing to choose 
between the stoutest-billed meridionale, and five out of nine 
specimens of fairbanki in this respect. 
I obtained twelve specimens of jerdoni on the Bramagherries, 
hut unfortunately only two out of the ten measured were males. 
This does not so much matter, however, as these two males do 
not appreciably differ in size from the females. The follow- 
ing is a resumé of the dimensions, &c., of these ten specimens :— 
Length, 8:0 to 86; expanse, 9°9 to 10°7; tail, 3:3 to 3:7; 
wing, 3°05 to 3°4; tarsus, 1:2 to 1:3; bill from gape, 0:9 to 
1:01; weight, 1:5 to 1°82 oz. The bill is dull black ; the legs, 
feet, and claws dark plumbeous brown; irides in the adult 
crimson Jake, in immature birds deep red brown. 
Jerdon in his description (B. of I., Vol. II., page 49) omits 
