274 V. Ball — Notes on Andaman Birds. [No. 4, 



man species, it furnishes almost conclusive evidence against others heing so. 

 Mr. Blyth has ahead}''' pointed out that Spilornis JElgini, Tytler = 8. bacha, 

 Bodd. ; Collocalia affinis, Tytler = G. Linchi, Horsf. ; Palaeornis affinis, 

 Tytler = 9 P. erytlirogenys, Blyth, and Herodias Andamnensis, Tytler 

 = H. concolor, Blyth. 



In so far as the present collection afforded material, I have endeavoured 

 to give full descriptions of those species which have hitherto only heen 

 partially described, and to amplify the information regarding others. 



According to the present state of our knowledge, the avifauna of the 

 Andamans includes 109 species ; possibly tbis number may have to be 

 reduced by four.* But it is made up in this way. The late Capt. Beavan's 

 list gives 94 species from which three, viz. — Hcematornis Gheela, Bodd., 

 PalcEomis affinis, Tytler, and Pericrocotus Andamanensis, Tytler, must, I 

 think, be subtracted, and 18, the number of additional species in the present 

 collection, added, or 18 + 94 — 3 = 109. It should be stated, however, 

 that five of the species mentioned by Capt. Beavan were introduced into the 

 Islands by Col. Tytler. The number of indigenous birds should therefore 

 stand at 100 -f- 4 ? Of this number twelve are local species and six ? are 

 known only from the Andamans and Nicobars. 



In the Nicobars there are about fifty-three species known at present, of 

 which number seven are local. 



Excepting the migratory birds, particularly the Grallce, from our con- 

 sideration, the bulk of the non-local species in the Andamans are Indian, 

 and in the Nicobars Malayan. 



Where there are two allied species, or two races or varieties of a species 

 in India, the Andaman, as a general rule, corresponds with the southern 

 form. To this rule there is an exception in the case of Graucalus Macei 

 which is the northern species, G. Layardi being the southern. However, 

 the Andaman bird seems to be intermediate between G. Macei and Javensis 

 from Java which two, according to Blyth, only differ in size. 



Judging from the number of species of birds known to occur in the 

 several groups of islands in the Malayan Archipelago we may feel confident 

 tbat much yet remains to be done both in the Andamans and Nicobars, 

 before a list approaching completeness can be prepared. 



The present, and to a certain extent, all previous collections were made 

 in the vicinity of Port Blair, throughout an area, probably not exceeding 

 30 or 35 scjuare miles, or by a rough estimate about one-hundredth part of 

 the total area occupied by these islands. 



* The species of Nectarinia, JEgialitis, Herodias and Querquedula of Col. Tytler's 

 and Capt. Beavan's lists may possibly be only the same species as four birds which 

 are given under other names in my list. 



