1-&1 



hood of Calcutta throughout the year, the male retaining its bright colours at all seasons. The 

 young in nestling-garb resemble the female, but have the throat and flanks as yellow as the 

 breast, a streak over the eye more distinct and yellow." The statement, indorsed by Dr. Jerdon, 

 that the male retains its bright colours at all seasons, appears to me highly improbable, although 

 I am unable positively to refute it, and must acknowledge that specimens in transitional plumage 

 are rare in collections. 



The slight variations in plumage observed in certain specimens have been dwelt upon at 

 some length by Viscount Walden (Ibis, 1870, p. 38); and those of my readers who may wish 

 to enter more deeply into this subject I would refer to that article as one deserving special 

 attention. It will be seen from the foregoing descriptions that I consider Dr. Jerdon to be 

 correct in the plumages he assigns to the adult female and young male. In support of this I may 

 refer not only to the description given by Mr. Blyth of the " young in nestling-garb," but also to 

 the specimen from which I have described the " young male " in the present work : that specimen 

 was labelled " <$ juv. Malabar " (Mus. Walden), and has one metallic-coloured feather on the 

 throat, indicating that it would have assumed the adult male plumage ; and in none of the white- 

 throated specimens do I find such symptoms. 



Out of the Indian specimens which I have examined I find the measurements vary as 

 follows — culmen - 55 to 0'70 inch, wing 2'05 to 2"25, tarsus O60 to - 75. These smaller mea- 

 surements agree well with those of Ceylonese specimens. " Old males," writes Viscount Walden, 

 " from Bengal and Maunbhoom are larger than those from Malabar. These again are larger 

 than those from Ceylon. In the northern race the metallic hood seems to descend lower down 

 the nape. In the colouring of the plumage I can discover no difference." These slight varieties 

 are certainly not, in my opinion, of specific value, but merely what we might expect to find by 

 the study of a large series of specimens from many different localities. 



Of the places not previously mentioned here where this bird has been noticed, I must 

 remark : — Mysore {Day) ; Coorg (Mus. Walden) ; Pondicherry, where M. Leschenault collected 

 the type of Cinnyris sola, Vieill. ; Tranquebar, whence came the types of Certhia Jlaviventris 

 and C. citrinella, Herm. ; Colonel Sykes collected his Cinnyris lepida in the Deccan ; Singbhoom 

 (Tickell) ; Maunbhoom and Kushghar (Beavan) ; Kamtee (Dr. Hinde, Mus. Brit.) ; Sumbul- 

 pore and Raipoor districts (Blewitt); Khasia Hills (Godwin- Austen). It is incorrectly entered 

 by Hahn as inhabiting the Philippine Islands. 



