180 MESSRS. ROBINSON AND KLOSS ON 



Bornean birds are distinctly smaller (four specimens measure 

 85-91 mm.), and have been named by Hesse M. t. rnicropterus, 

 Ornith. Monatsb. xix, 1911, p. 182. Oberholser has also named the 

 Nias bird M. cjraininithorax micropterus, as resembling " M. g. gram- 

 mithorax, but smaller." (Smiths. Misc. Coll. 60, No. 2, 1912, p. 6.). 

 We do not know how it is to be distinguished from the Bornean 

 bird, the name for which has priority. 



It has by some authors been assumed that birds of this genus, 

 and especially of this species, possess two phases of plumage, a 

 greyer and a browner one. From an examination of our large series 

 we are enabled to state, with some confidence, that this is largely a 

 post mortem change, skins even when kept away from light gra- 

 dually becoming huffier on their light area and more rufous brown 

 in their dark parts. Freshly collected birds in fresh plumage have 

 the light parts delicate creamy and the dark parts greyish black, the 

 whole bird appearing as if washed over with very pale glaucous 

 green or gvey. 



This also is an evergreen forest bird, common wherever it is 



found. 



278. Meiglyptes tukki tukki (Less.). 



Pic IS tukki, Less., Rev. Zool. 18.39, p. 167 (Sumatra). 

 Hemicercus hrunneus, Eytoh, P. Z S. 1839, p. 106 (Malacca). 

 Meiglyptes tukki, A., p. 132 (Bankasoon) : C. ii, p. 61 ; D., p. 71 

 (Patani) ; E., p. 98 (Patani). 



2 c^, 2. Tasan, Chumporn, Peninsular Siam, 16-26 March 

 1919 (Nos. 4633, 4805, 4853). 



"Iris reddish brown: upper mandible black, lower pale 

 greenish slate or greenish black ; feet greenish j'^ellow, greenish olive 

 brown or greenish slate." 



Total length d, 203, 208; 9, 210; wing d, 101, 101 ; 2, 101 ; 

 tail d, 70, 64; 2, 73; tar.sus d, 21, 21 ; 9, 21 ; bill from gape c^, 28, 

 27 ; 9,28 mm. 



These are the most northerly specimens hitherto recorded. 



A. Hutno & Davison, Stray Featliers, vi, 1878. E- O. Grant, Fasciculi Malayensos, iii (Birds), 1915. 



B. IMiiller, Die Ornis der Insel Salantfiv. 188-2. F. Robinson and Kloss, I>>is, 1910-11. 



C. Oatos. lairds Brit. Hnrniah, Vols, i i: ii, 18H.V C. (iairdiior, .lourn. X. If. Soc. Siam. i, 1915. 



D. I$onhote. P. Z. S. lfX)l, A'ol. i. H. Robinson, Journ. F. M. S. Museums, v, 1915. 



JOUEN. NAT. HIST. SOC, SIAM. 



