Illush-ations of Indian Ornilhologij ; 



afinis, new species. This is the one before alluded to, as being very closely allied to grtseus. 

 It differs most remarkably in the form of ihe bill, which is shorter, higher at the base, 

 and if any thing more compressed. With regard to coloration it is very similar indeed to the 

 Carnatic one. The white on the head is perhaps less pure, and the band on the tliroat less 

 dark, but these are the chief points of difference. The feet and claws are however some- 

 what larger in this, more especially the hind foot and claw, which is about one tenth of 

 an inch longer than griseus. Length 9 to 9^, Wing 4,',, Tail 4^, Tarsus Ip,, Hind toe and 

 claw -sths, Bill at front hardly ";, at gape 8 Jjths, height at base nearly ^. 



I have at present two specimens of this bird from Travancore, but they agree 

 with each other very closely in the form of the bill and in the structure of the legs, 

 the most essential points of difference from griseus. 



This may be the same as the Canarese variety which I long ago pointed out from 

 ]\Ir. Elliot's M. S. S. notes as being probably distinct from griseus, but tlicre are certain 

 points of difference in the description, and it is pos^sible that this may constitute another 

 species. Mr. Elliot describes the species as follows. Plumage above, chin, and throat 

 brown cinereous, shaft of the feathers lighter ; head and nape whitish ; rump cinereous ; 

 tail brown with indistinct darker bars ; belly whitish like the head. Irides silver white. 

 Bill and legs white, Length 94 inches. Should it prove distinct 1 would propose the 

 name of EllioUi. 



!3nd M. Malcomi, Tkimalia 3Ialcomi Sykcs, Jerdon Cat. No. 90. Gai-rulus albi- 

 frons, Gray and Hardwicke. On my pointing out to Mr. Blyth that the figure under the 

 above name in Gray and Hardwicke was probably that of a Malacocircus, that gentleman at 

 once agreed with me, and moreover pointed out its probable identity with jt/. Malcomi of 

 which I had sent him specimens. It is possible however that the drawing may represent 

 an allied species of Northern India.* This large babbler is found, though rarely and only 

 in jungles, in the Carnatic, and here chiefly towards the range of Eastern ghauts ; I saw it 

 atCoonoor on the Neilgherries, and M. Delessert showed me specimens from the Siiervaroy 

 hills near Salem, but its chief metropolis is the North western portion of tlie Deccan or 

 Table land, including the Southern Mahratta country, the Deccan of Sykes, and generally 



• 1 may here remark Uiat the late exceUei)t rules for Nomenclature drawn up bj (Jray Strickland and others do not provide 

 for a case like the present, viz, whether the name attaehed to a published Jlgure hold precedence or otherwise, of a name attached 

 to a published descTiptwri. On this point depends the correct fpceific name of many of the birds figured ^in Gray and llardMicko, and 

 1 beg to draw the at tentiun of the above named Zoologists to it. 



