226 Remarks on the variation of affined species. [No. 3. 



cuius asiaticus, (Lath., v. indicus, Gmelin,) differs only from L. 

 vernalis of India, Burma, and Java, in having the crown deep red, 

 with an inclination to greater variation of hue on other parts. Hirundo 

 hyperythra of Ceylon, as compared with H. daurica> (like H. cahirica 

 as compared with H. rustica,) differs only in having the entire under- 

 pays very deep ferruginous. Megalaima zeylonica of Ceylon is merely 

 smaller than M. caniceps of India, with the lower parts decidedly 

 darker ; and the Cinghalese representative of the rufous or bay Wood- 

 peckers (Micropternus) is much deeper-coloured than those respective- 

 ly of S. India, Bengal, and the Malay countries. On the other hand, 

 Halcyon gurial of Ceylon perfectly resembles that of India generally 

 and of Burma, whereas the Malayan race (H. leucocephalus,) is smaller 

 and of deeper hue with a coloured shine on the crown. So, also, Ortho- 

 tomus longicauda is deeper-coloured in the Malayan peninsula than in In- 

 dia, but not so in Ceylon. In general, the Malayan species, unless obvious- 

 ly distinct, present no difference of shade from those of India and other 

 countries to the northward ; and the only additional instances we can 

 call to mind of their being thus distinguished are those of Trichastoma 

 olivaceum of the Malayan peninsula as compared with Tr. Abbotti of 

 Arakan,— Megalaima trimaculata and M. cyanotisoi the same countries 

 respectively, — and Picus moluccensis and P. canicapillus, ditto :* the 

 Tenasserim Hoopoe is very deep-coloured in comparison with that of 

 Arakan, Bengal, and Europe, and seen sometimes in the Nilgiris ; but 

 the ordinary Hoopoe of S. India and Ceylon is smaller with the excep- 

 tion of its beak, and likewise rather deep-coloured. f The common 

 Jungle-cock ( G alius ferrugineus) is again deeper-coloured in the Ma- 

 layan peninsula and archipelago, besides being coarser in the leg, and 

 wanting the conspicuous pure white cheek-lappet which so ornaments the 

 Bengal Jungle-fowl. Also (so far as I have seen), the Malayan Pavo 

 muticus is far more vividly coloured than that of Arakan ; the latter 

 being comparatively much darker. But we can neither generalize upon 

 these facts, so as to predicate the like in other instances, inasmuch as 

 the majority of species common to India and Ceylon or to India and 

 the Malay countries do not appear to vary in the least degree, nor can 

 we draw the dividing line as to what can be satisfactorily considered 



* Megalaima cyanotis and Picus canicapillus inhabit also the Tenasserim provinces, 

 t I have never seen a Hoopoe from the Malayan peninsula. 



