summer plumage is assumed is apparent at this time of the year, judging from this specimen. Another male 

 bird shot at the same place on the 2nd of February of the same year is in full winter dress. A third specimen, 

 also a male, killed in the north-west of the island on the 16th of August 1866, has nearly lost its summer 

 plumage, and is very dusky underneath, owing to the brown mottlings and edgings which are left as the black 

 disappears from the feathers. Total length 8 - 5-9 - inches, culmen 0-9-LO, wing 5-9-6-1, tail 2-2—2-4, tarsus 

 1-55, middle toe 1-0-1-05. 



Malacca. In Lord Walden's collection is one of the late Dr. Maingay's specimens from this country. 

 It still retains considerable remains of summer plumage, having the white band along the sides of the head 

 and neck still plainly indicated, and has a good deal of black left on the breast. In this skin the legs for the 

 first time, instead of appearing blackish, are of a dull ochre-colour. Whether this obtains in the living bird 

 must be determined from the observation of recent specimens. Total length 9 inches, culmen 1-0, wing 6 - 25, 

 tail 2 - 35, tarsus 1-55, middle toe 1-0. 



Java. Five specimens from this island are now before us ; three are in full winter plumage, and the other 

 two are changing into it • out of the five, three appear to have yellowish-brown legs. Total length 8 - 0-9'0 

 inches, culmen 0-95-1-05, wing 6-25-6 - 4, tail 2 - 3-2 - 4, tarsus 1 -5-1-55, middle toe 0-95-1 "0. 



Banka. An example in Mr. Swinhoe's collection, received in exchange from the Leiden Museum, is in 

 winter dress, and measures as follows : — Total length 8 - inches, culmen TO, wing 6 - l, tail 23, tarsus 1"5, 

 middle toe TO. 



Borneo. One specimen, lent to us by Lord Walden, seems to be a young bird of the year, as there is very 

 little mottling on the breast, this part being almost uniform smoky brown, some of the feathers edged with 

 white. Total length 8 - 9 inches, culmen TO, wing 6'05, tail 2-4, tarsus T6, middle toe T05. The legs are 

 much inclined to ochre-brown. 



Timor. One of Mr. Wallace's specimens, obtained in Eastern Timor, is now in Mr. Harting's collection, 

 and has been lent to us by him. It is in full winter plumage, the brown centres to the feathers of the neck 

 being, however, rather distinct. Total length 9 inches, culmen 1, wing 6 - 4, tail 2-5, tarsus 1-6, middle toe 1. 



Batchian. Mr. Harting has a specimen from this island, from which we have taken our description of the 

 winter plumage. Total length 8 - 5 inches, culmen 0-95, wing 6*25, tail 2 - 5, tarsus T6, middle toe 1. The legs 

 in this specimen seem to be brownish, as they are also in another example collected by Mr. Wallace in 

 Batchian, and now in Mr. Swinhoe's collection. This bird has the cheeks, neck, and breast thickly mottled 

 with brown, the remains of the black summer dress. Total length 9 - 5 inches, culmen 1, wing 6 - 2, tail 2 - 3, 

 tarsus 1'6, middle toe 0-95. 



Australia. Mr. Harting's collection contains two specimens from this country, both in winter plumage, 

 although one of them still retains the remnants of brown mottlings on the breast and flanks. Lord Walden 

 also possesses a skin from Queensland, which has not lost the whole of the black plumage on the under 

 surface ; in this specimen the legs appear to have a tinge of ochre, and the other two are certainly tinged 

 with brownish. Total length 8-3-9*0 inches, culmen 0-9-1-0, wing 6-4-6-65, tail 2-3-2-5, tarsus 1-6, middle 

 toe 0-95-1-0. In Mr. Gould's plate of the species in the ' Birds of Australia ' the legs are depicted as greyish ; 

 and as he had the advantage of examining fresh specimens, too much stress must not be laid on the brownish 

 shade visible in the legs of winter-killed specimens, as this may only exist in the dried skins. 



Obs. The absence of any dates to most of the specimens above examined prevents us from drawing any 

 satisfactory conclusions as to the changes of plumage exhibited by them. A series of careful observations will 

 have to be instituted before a complete life-history of the present species can be prepared. We now proceed 

 to examine specimens from Eastern Asia, having hitherto followed the range of the species along its western 

 course of migration to its southern winter residence. 



Hainan. Mr. Swinhoe, during his recent expedition to this island, collected a single specimen of the 

 present species. Although this bird was killed in April it does not exhibit any signs of the approaching 

 breeding-dress, beyond the appearance of a few bright golden spots on the back and a slight tinge of the same 



