Vol. XXXV,] 66 



pattern had also remained constant^ wliile the distinctive 

 generic features were very conspicuous. 



From these general considerations. Dr. Lowe then passed 

 to the more practical side of the question of colour-pattern 

 as a factor in generic differentiation ; and the next po-int 

 discussed was : — 



(4) The co-relation of colour -pattern; with other generic 

 characters. 



He did not say that colour-pattern was invariably so co- 

 related, but, whether it was used as a factor in generic 

 differentiation or whether it was not so used, it was, as a 

 fact, co-related in such a very great number of instances 

 that one could not help being impressed. 



Dr. Lowe then described his experience of applying the 

 test of colour-pattern to various genera among the Babblers, 

 e.g., Minla, Schoeniparus, Pseudominla {Psittiparus), Lio- 

 parus, Yuhina, Ixulus, Atcippe, etc. ; and the long and short 

 of it was that, as regards Indian birds, his genera were, as 

 regards species, very nearly identical with Oates's (' Birds 

 of India^). On the other hand, as regards the ' Catalogue of 

 Birds' (British Museum), he found himself constantly in 

 disagreement. He found, for instance, that a good many 

 species which he would have considered worthy of generic 

 distinction from the point of view of colour-pattern were 

 not so considered in the Catalogue, but were included with 

 various genera which had a quite distinctive colour-pattern. 

 "To make a long story short,''' he said, "if Gates had not 

 luade new genera, which included these distinctively coloured 

 species, someone else had. That he thought was a con- 

 siderable point for colour-pattern." 



Another point which he would like to make there was — 

 Why fight shy of the very constant colour-patterns so 

 conspicuously characteristic of such genera, for example, 

 as Tringa, Erolia, or Geospiza, and swallow the many 

 and variable structural variations in the form of the bill, 

 which have been impressed on such genera through purely 

 functional stress,? Which was the most ancient, the most 



