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



to rufescence on the rump, upper tail coverts, under tail-coverts or tail fea- 

 thers, as is so distinctly marked in the Nicobar birds. 



I observe too, though I doubt its being a constant character, that the 

 bill of the Nicobar bird is somewhat more slender and less conical than in 

 the Andaman specimens. 



$ "Wing 43 ; tail 3"2 ; bill at front 1*1 ; tarsus 1 inch. 



42. Etjxabes Ajstdamanensis, Tytler. 



In my previous paper I simply confined myself to pointing out 

 that the Andaman and Nicobar birds are identical, feeling that without a 

 larger series for comparison, and in the state of opinion on the subject of the 

 different races of Eulabes, my safest course was, to follow Lord Walden, who 

 has pronounced the Andaman bird to be a distinct and good species. Since 

 that time, Dr. Stoliczka has discussed the subject at length (J. A. S. B, 

 XXXIX, pt. II, p. 826) and has been replied to by Lord Walden (Ibis, 3rd 

 Series, Vol. I, p. 177). Dr. Stoliczka believes the Nepal, Arracan, Anda- 

 man, Nicobar, Wellesley province and Malacca birds to be " geographical 

 races of the same species" viz., JE. Javanensis, Osbeck. 



Lord Walden maintains not only the distinctness of intermedia and 

 Andamanensis ; but from recent examination of specimens from Malacca cpj.es- 

 tions then* identity with the true Javanensis from Java. 



I have before me two specimens from a dealer's collection from " the 

 Straits" which I take to belong to the large Malacca species generally 

 known as Javanensis. In these the bill is well curved and high ; the naked 

 space below the eye is quite disconnected with the wattles. 



The Andaman and Nicobar specimens are smaller and have the bill 

 lower and straighter. The bare patch underneath the eye is not absolutely 

 disconnected from the wattles. So far as I can see the colour of the bill and 

 the size of the lappets are extremely variable in specimens from the same 

 locality. In my Nicobar specimen, the commencement of the wattles behind 

 the eye is broader than in either of the Andamanese, but in other respects, 

 the size and shape of the bill, feet &c, there is no perceptible difference. 



Measurements in inches of a specimen in Dr. Dobson's collection. 



Wing 63 ; tail 325 ; bill from gape 15 • tarsus. 14. 



Mim. rEIN&ILLID^l. 



43. Mtjnta leuconota, Tern. 



Two specimens. Feathers not striated. 



Fam. Trebontd-s;. 



44. OSMOTEEEON CHLOEOPTEEA, Blyth. 



This bird is said to be common, the collection contains only one speci- 

 men however. There are grave suspicions that the bird-skinner made the 



