145



In tlie last instalment of his interesting paper, at page 126,

I think Mr. Goodfellow has allowed his pen to slip. The

Canary-winged Parrakeet is not Brotogerys viresceus but B. chiriri.

I11 the Zoological Society’s List it is called the Orange-winged

Parrakeet, B. xanthopterus, the latter scientific name being the

more common. Brotogerys viresceus is the rare White-winged

Parrakeet, or the Yellow - winged Parrakeet as it has been

unhappily named by the Zoological Society.



NOTES ON THE PLOCEIDZE.


By F. Finn, B.A., F.Z.S.,


Deputy Superintendent Indian Museum.


1. PLOCEUS RUTLEDGII, THE SUMMER PLUMAGE

OF P. MEGARHYNCHUS.


In the Proceedings of the Asiatic Society for July 1899, p.

77, will be found the diagnosis of an Indian species of Weaver-

bird which I there named, believing it to be new, Ploceus

rutledgii , after Mr. Rutledge, from whom the types were

obtained. Mr. Rutledge would not sell the birds until assured

that they would not be killed, and I am glad to sa}^ that his

humanity has been justified by a very interesting occurrence.

The birds, being kept alive, have in due course assumed an

undress plumage very similar to that of the ordinary Bayas (P.

baya and P. atrigula ) but differing from this in most of the points

whichfMr. Hume pointed out as distinctive of his P. megarhynchus.

As they also agree closely with this form in measurements, and

were obtained from Nynee Tal (the types of P. megarhynchus

having come from Kaladoongi, below that place) it seems to me

obvious that my P. rutledgii is merely the summer plumage of

that species, hitherto unknown, no doubt, by reason of the

unhealthiuess of its Terai habitat in the season when the birds

are in full feather. Under the circumstances the promised plate

seems to me unnecessary, and therefore I merely append below

a description of this summer or breeding-plumage


General colour bright yellow (brightest 011 L h ea d and dull

impure on rump), with the following exceptions :—lores, round

the eye below, and ear coverts, dark brown ; a dull-black patch

on each side of the breast before the shoulder ; nape and hind

neck, dull blackish brown ; upper back, wings, and tail blackish

brown, each feather edged, entirely or externally, with light

brown, on the uppermost part of the back with yellow; under

wing-coverts dirty white.



