Malacocircus Griscus. 



Swainson's figure, much resembles my malabaricus, but differs in the paler and more 

 cinereous hue of the feathers of the head and back, in the rufous of the lower parts being 

 more uniform, in wanting the pale longitudinal central markings of the feathers of the back 

 and breast, and in the very distinct striation of the tertiaries and tail. ' Length 9|, Tail 44, 

 Tarsus Ij . Bill to gape 1 inch' (Blyth.) It was founded on a Ceylon species which Mr. 

 Swainson identified with a bird in the Paris Museum labelled Gracula striata. It is, 

 Cossyphus striatus oiDmnetA (Blyth), and Philanthus striatus of Lesson. 



It is not impossible however that the striatus of the French museum is one of 

 the allied species, either terricolor, malabaricus, or orientalis, which Swainson might have 

 readily enough mistaken for it. Lesson says it was from Bengal ; if so it is probably terri 

 color. Mr. Strickland in his notice of Gray's Genera of Birds says ' the earliest synonym 

 of malac. striatus is Turdus griseus' but that this is erroneous there can be little doubt 

 after what has been stated above, though it is a mistake which might easily have occurred 

 to any one. 



Another species, M. Earlei, has been described by Mr. Blyth J. A. S. 1844 

 p. 369. Its colouring allies it something to M. SomerrilJei Sykes, but in form it more 

 resembles malcolmi or Thimalia chatarhcBa of Franklin. It is found in heavy reed and grass 

 jungle in Bengal, and extends also to Nepal, but I have not yet procured it in Southern 

 India. 



Other species probably will be found in the North of India; M. Somervillei is said 

 in Boyle's list to be found as far North as the plains near Saharunpore, but it is probably 

 distinct. 



A somewhat aberrant species, intermediate to malacocircus and rnegalum-s exists in 



the Thimalia chatarhcea of Franklin, Jerdon Cat. No 94. It is the Gracula caudafa of the 



Paris museum, Thimalia caudata De la. Fresnaye, megalurus caudatus Lesson, cossyphus 



eaudatus Dumeril, and 7negalurus isabelliiius of Swainson. It certainly differs somewhat 



in form from the typical ni'ilacocirci, as well from the true megaluri. It perhaps resembles 



the former more in its habits, frequenting low bushy jungle in large flocks, and the latter 



in the tone of its plumage, and dark irides. Its note is a pleasing sort of low whistle. It 



has an extensive distribution, having been sent to the Calcutta museum from Scinde 



It is called Doomree in Hindustani from its long tail. Mr. Blyth remarks that the little 



Thimalia hyperythra Franklin, Jerdon Cat. No. 96, is ' so closely allied to Malac. subrufus 



