&46 MR. R. B. SHARPE ON THE [JuilC 17, 



edge of the body, with two intermediate row3 of smaller blotches. 

 There were also black marks at intervals along the dorsal and anal 

 fins. The scales are cousiderabl}- larger than in A. latertui, those 

 in the middle of the upjjer side being 3-5 mm. in breadth. As in 

 that species, the scales of the upper side have a single row of short 

 spines along the posterior edge, while in those of the lower side the 

 edge is entire. 



8. Notes on Specimens in the Hume Collection of Birds. — 

 No. 6. On the Coraciidfe of the Indian Region, with 

 Descriptions of some new Species'. By R. Bowdlek, 

 Sharpe, F.L.S., &c. 



[Received June 16, 1890.] 



During the time that my friend 3Ir. Gates has been engaged in 

 writing on the Passeres of the ' Fauna of British India,' I have 

 refrained from publishing any critical notices of the Hume Collection. 

 Since, however, every representation to the Government of India has 

 failed in procuring for Mr. Gates the extension of leave from his 

 duties in Burma, necessary for him to complete his work, which 

 has therefore come to a standstill at the end of the Passeres, I feel 

 myself at liberty to turn my attention once more to the study of the 

 Hume Collection. 



Since I wrote my last paper thousands of specimens have been 

 registered and incorporated in the cabinets of the British Museum ; 

 and the superb series collected by Mr. Humo enables one to 

 thoroughly work out every species of Indian bird ; but it is surprising 

 what a field still lies open for inquiry in the study of the Humo 

 Collection. Witness the discovery that three species of Eurystomus 

 have been confused under the heading of E. orientalis, to disentangle 

 which confusion is one of the objects of the present paper. 



As it is obviously impossible to publish a complete list of all the 

 Hume specimens in the ' Proceedings,' and as they will shortly 

 appear in their proper place in the ' Catalogue of Birds,' I ha%'e 

 thought it best to try and condense my few remarks into the form 

 adopted by Mr. Gates in his work, to which this paper may be 

 taken as a supplement. 



Fam. CoEACiiDJ). 



The front plantar leading to the hallux. Well-defined lateral 

 bare tracts on the neck. Spinal feather-tract forked on the upper 

 back. Oil-gland nude or absent. (H. Seehohm.) 



Subfam. Coraciinje. 



There are two genera of Comciime found in Africa and India. 

 They consist of the brilliant Roller, commonly called the " Jay " by 



> For No. .5, see P. Z. S. 1887, p. 470. 



