46 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXIIL 



etc. By the use of trinomials, it at once becomes apparent that 

 all these different birds are nothing but the geographical representa- 

 tives of one species, which is very widely distributed in the hills, 

 extending from the N. W. Himalayas to the Malay Peninsula. 



I have therefore taken fiill advantage of the use of " trinomials " 

 to show, wherever I consider a relationship exists. The great majo- 

 rity of the birds so dealt with have been looked on as "good species", 

 and doubtless, so they are, when only a few specimens from different 

 localities are compared. However, when a large series of allied spe- 

 cies are examined it will be found, that they either grade into each 

 other, or show such a strong family likeness, that the presumption 

 is that the connecting links exist, or have existed, and by the use of 

 trinomials this relationship is at once apparent. 



Some may, however, consider that I have used " trinomials " 

 rather too freely, and that their use should be reserved to denote sub- 

 species or local forms not worthy of specific rank. It is often ex- 

 tremely difficult to say which are "good species," or which are only 

 a " local forms," when you find both occupying well marked areas. 



By the use of trinomials, I do not wish to degrade a bird from 

 specific to sub-specific rank, but only to show that they are the geo- 

 graphical representatives of a certain species, and have been guided 

 by the rule that no two sub-species of the same bird can be found 

 inhabiting the same area. 



Distribution. 



The Timeliides appear to me, to be of very recent origin, and 

 still in a state of evolution ; they are resident and non-migratory 

 and consequently a great many species have developed into numer- 

 ous geographical races. 



Their central stronghold seems to be about Burma, from whence 

 they have 'extended through Assam into India and the Island of 

 Ceylon,* eastwards they are found in China, Japan, and the 

 Islands of Formosa and Hainan. An astonishing number of birds 

 from these two Islands show a marked relationship to the Himala- 

 yan Fauna, indicating, I think, that these islands must have been 

 connected with the mainland up to a very recent date. Southwards 

 they extend down the Malay Peninsula to the numerous islands, in 

 fact, throughout the Oriental or Indian Region, and I think that 

 the sub-order Timeliides should be restricted to birds of this Region, 

 and not thrown open to all the waifs and strays of the bird world, 

 so that it has become a veritable " Ornithological Waste-paper 

 Basket." 



* Some Ceylon and S. Indian birds, such as Pomatorhinus, Arrenga and others 

 show a marked affinity to the Sumatran and Javan Fauna, possibly showing some 

 former land connection in this direction. 



