182 MESSRS. ROBINSON AND KLOSS ON 



6, 23, 22, 23; 2, 23, 21 ; bill from gape cT, 29, 29.5, 30; 9, 27, 29 

 mm. 



Apart from the southern Indian M. h. gidaris, the Ceylon 

 representative M. h. lanka, the transitional M. h. mesos from Orissa, 

 the very distinct M. h. hadiosus from Borneo, and the southern 

 Chinese forms, which we do not propose to discuss, we regard the 

 following forms, Avorking from south to north (and disregarding 

 Oberholser's "Barussan" birds, of which we have no material or des- 

 cription to base an opinion on), as probably sufficiently distinct to 

 merit a name : — 



(a). Micropternus brachyurus brachyurus (Vieill.). 



Picus brachT/urus, Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xxv, 1818, p. 103 (Java). 



We have one example only, but it confirms Hargitt's state- 

 ment that " specimens from Java are larger than the Sumatran bird 

 and have the feathers of the throat blacker with white margins " 

 (Ibis, 1885, p. 12). These characters suffice to separate it from the 

 following : — 



(b). Micropternus brachyurus badius (Raffles). 



Picus badnis, Titans. Linn. Soc. xiii, 1822, p. 289 (Sumatra). 



(c). Micropternus brachyurus squamigularis (Sundev.) 



Picus squamigularis, Oonsp. Picin., 1866, p. 89 (INIalacca). 



Our south Malayan birds average lighter, more ochreous, 

 less chestnut bay, than the seven Sumatran birds that we have exa- 

 mined ; they may therefore be kept distinct under this name. Range, 

 from the extreme south of the Peninsula northwards to about 9° N. 



Between Bandon and Victoria Point birds, though very con- 

 stant in their characters, infer se, are quite intermediate and defy 

 even trinomial division (10 specimens examined). By the time we 

 reach Koh Lak (Lat. 12° N.) the birds have become larger, black 

 markings have diminished and the tail bars narrowed ; these birds 

 are : — 



A. Hume & Davison, Stray Feathers, vi, 1878. E> (). Grant, Fasciculi Malayonses, iii (Birds), 190.5. 



B. Miillor, Die Ornis dor Insel Salanua, 188-2. F. Hobinson and KIoss, Dms. 1910-11. 



C. Oatcs, Birds Brit. Burmah, Vols, i k ii, 1883. C Gairdner, Journ. N. 11. Soc. Siam, i, 1915. 



D. Bonhoto, P. Z. S. 1901, Vol. i. H. Kobinson, Journ. F. M.H. iluseunis, v, 191.5- 



JOURN. NAT. HIST. SOC. SIAM. 



