THE BIRDS OF SOUTH-WEST AND PENINSULAR SIAM. 187 



Estuary are more nearly the former ; while the series from Takua- 

 tuno- is closest to the latter. The birds are therefore strictly in 

 accordance with the geographical facts : their variation, as pointed 

 out by Baker, is mainly a function of latitude. It is of interest to 

 note that, when we get to Java and Bali, variation is a matter of 

 longitude. 



In Mr. Baker's paper referred to, Aracan is fixed as the type 

 locality of D. j. intermedia, and with this also we agree ; but for the 

 sake of definiteness would further restrict it to Ramree Island, for 

 the following reasons. The race was described in 1845 by Blyth, 

 and in his Catalogue of Birds in the Museum of the Asiatic Society, 

 Calcutta, p. 56, he listed seven specimens, viz., 



254 A. d, from Tenasserim (Rev. J. Barbe 1841). 



„ B. 6, from Ramree Id., Aracan (Capt. J. R. Abbott, 1844). 



„ CD. $ 9, from Aracan (Capt. Phayre, 1844-5). 



" ^" ^' [from Penang (Rev. L. Barbe, 1846). 



All these specimens are still extant, and have been examined 

 by us. Nos. 254 E. F. and G. need not be considered ; further, they 

 were received after the race was described, and do not as a matter of 

 fact belong to it: their wings measure, E. d 132, F. 9 127, G. ? 

 imm. 119.5 mm. 



No. 254 A., male from Tenasserim, has a wing 144.5 mm. 

 It probably came from the neighbourhood of Ye. 



No. 254 B. has a wing of 144 mm., bill from gape 34; we 

 select it as the d type of the species. 



No. 254 C. has a wing of 146 mm., bill from gape 33.5. We 

 select this as the 9 type of the species. 



It should be noted that Blyth, in his capacity of Curator of 

 the Museum of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, forwarded in 1844 and 

 1846 large collections of birds by several separate despatches to 

 London, c.f. Horsfield and Moore (Cat. Birds Mus. Eastlnd. Co., vol. i, 



l> Gyldenstolpe, Kungl. Sv. Vet. Akad. Handl. M. Baker, Joiirn. N. H. Soc. Siam, iii, 1919. 



66, No. 2, 1916. (first part). 



J. Eobinson, Journ. F. M. S. Miis. vii, 1917. Baker, Journ. N. H. Soc. Siam. iii, 1919. 



K. KIoss, Ibis, 1918. (second part), 



L. Eobinson and Kloss, .Joxirn. N. H. Soc. Siam, M. I. Baker, Journ, N. H. Soc. Siam, iv, 1920. 



iii, 1919. (third part). 



VOL. V, NO. 2, 1922. 



