204 VISCOUNT WALDEN ON THE BIRDS 



Le Merle dominiquain des Philippines, Montb. Hist. Nat. Ois. iii. p. 396 {juv.) ; D'Aubenton, PI. 



Enl. 627. fig. 2. 

 Tardus dominicanus, Boddaert, op. cit. p. 38 (1783), ex D'Aubent. 

 Tardus dominicanus, Gm. torn. cit. p. 836, no. 123 (1788), ex Montb. 



There can be no doubt that the Philippine bird described by Brisson (/. c.) and 

 figured by D'Aubenton, pi. 185. fig. 2, belongs to the same species as that figured in 

 tlie ' Fauna Japonica,' pi. 46. That the Japanese species is a winter resident in the 

 Philippines, we are assured by Mr. Swinhoe (P. Z. S. 1863, p. 302, no. 217). And Pastor 

 rujicollis, described by Wagler from a Manilla specimen, is also undoubtedly the same 

 as the Japanese species. I have already shown that it ranges as far as Celebes {I. c); 

 and Sclilegel (?. c.) notes it from Borneo. It has not, however, been observed in China 

 nor in the island of Formosa. 



The type of Turdus dominicamis, Bodd., was described by Montbeillard (I. c.) from 

 an individual said to have been obtained in the Philippines by Sonnerat. It may, how- 

 ever, have been in reality of African origin. This example, so indifi"erently figured by 

 D'Aubenton (I. c), and insufficiently described by Montbeillard {I. c), was clearly that 

 of an immature bird. Wagler {I. c. no. 20) appears to have been the first author who 

 referred Gracula sturnina, Pallas, =<SY«r««s dauricus, Pallas, to this species. He states 

 that it inhabits the Philippines and China, and that it nests in Dauria. G. sturnina, 

 Pallas, is known to winter in Java, Sumatra, Malacca, and Tenasserim, to occur during 

 its migration in North China, and to breed in Dauria. Does it also occur along with 

 <S'. violacea {=:])yrrhogenys) in the Philippines during the winter] If so, it may have 

 supplied the type of DAubenton's 627th plate. If iS'. sturnina is found not to migrate 

 to the Philippines, then S. dominicanus must become a synonym of S. violacea. One 

 of the salient differentiating characters of T. sturnina, even in the earliest plumage, is 

 the occipital spot formed by the black or purple-black tips of the occipital feathers. 

 In Mr. Blyth's description of Caloniis albifrons, taken from an undoubted but immature 

 Philippine individual [cf. Swinhoe, I. c), this spot is stated to be present. It is true 

 that Mr. Swinhoe identified it with S. pyrrhogenys, a species which I believe never 

 exhibits an occipital black spot. Unless T. dominicanus prove to be an African form, 

 it is a title that must fall, being junior to both 8. violacea and S. sturnina. 



The synonymy of Gracula sturnina is as follows : — 



Gracula sturnina, Pallas, Eeisen Russischen Reichs, iii. p. 695, no. 11, "South 

 Dauria" (1776). 



Sturnus dauricus, Pallas, Act. Holmiens. 1778, p. 197, pi. 7 ; Zoogr. Rosso-Asiatica, 

 i. p. 422, no. 72 (1811-31). 



Turdus striga, Raffles, Tr. Linn. Soc. xiii. p. 311, no. 8, " Sumatra" (1821). 



Pastor sturninus (Pallas), Wagler, Syst. Av. Pastor, no. 20 (1827). 



Pastor malayensis, Eyton, P. Z. S. 1839, p. 103, " Malaya ;" Blyth, J. A. S. B. 1846, 

 p. 35, " Common at Malacca." 



