176 Journal of the F.M.S. Museums. [VoL. VII, 
It would seem to be a fact, however, that the majority of 
southern birds are dull, therein conforming with the diagnosis 
of M. a. olivacewm (Strickl.) while the majority of those from 
the north are bright, agreeing with 7. abbott: abbott: (Blyth). 
This is not, however, universally true in the present series, as 
the pair from Langkawi, one from Terutau and one from P. 
Lontar, the most northerly locality visited, areas dullasany from 
Kuala Lumpur and other parts of Selangor. The remainder, 
and also specimens collected in 1915 1n Langkawi are brighter 
birds, having the undertail coverts rich buffy rufous, the rufous 
buff of the flanks carried up high on the sides of the chest. 
Birds from Trang vary and ones from Perlis are brighter than 
Selangor and Pahang skins. We have a topotype of M. a. 
olivaceum from Malacca, but it is a native skin so old and 
deteriorated that no reliable comparison can be made with it. 
None of the specimens are quite so bright as those obtained 
by Mr. Kloss on the coasts and islands of SE. Siam and listed 
by me in the Ibis for 1915. 
Gyldenstolpe (Joc. cit.) is in error in stating that these 
specimens were referred to 7. a. olivaceum, though a reference is 
given to Hartert’s discussion of the question under that heading. 
Pending the collection of a large series from topotypical 
localities I have not placed these birds under any subspecific 
name. I haye little doubt however that if M. a olivaceum is 
shown to have any real existence, which for the present must 
remain an open question, we shall have to call in the aid of a 
quadrinomial or even quinqenomial system, as is already 
used in some cases by Hartert, Stresemann and Parrott. 
If this comes into use at all extensively it becomes an open 
question whether a return to a bald binomial system is not, 
after all, the simplest and most convenient plan. 
go. MIXORNIS RUBRICAPILLA RUBRICAPILLA, or subsp nov. 
Mixornis gularis, Sharpe, tom. cit. p. 576; Robinson and 
Kloss, p. 62: Robinson antea, vol. v, p. 106 (1915); Gyldenstolpe, 
. 60. 
° Mixornis gularis rubricapillus, Robinson antea, vol. v, 
p- 149 (1915). 
Mixornis gularis rubricapilla, Robinson, Ibis, 1915, p. 
A ic 
i a. %. Burau, N.W. Langkawi, 14th December 
1916. No. 3643. 
b-g. 3 6 3 %. Telok Wau, Terutau, 18th—26th 
December. Nos. 3655, 3676, 3703, 3726, 
3747-8. 
h-i. &, % W. side Pulau Telibun, Trang, S.W. 
Siam. ist-2nd January 1917. Nos. 3803, 
3819. 
“Tris whitish, whitish yellow or yellowish white, pale 
yellow or pale orange, bill bluish slate, black on culmen, feet 
sage green or yellowish green, orbits bluish slate.” 
