1855.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 273 



and lower tail-coverts : a series of whitish terminal specks on the great 

 range of wing-coverts, and others tipping the secondaries and tertiaries. 

 Bill dusky above, pale below ; and legs pale, with whitish claws. 

 ^ These birds belong to a group which is pre-eminently difficult of classi- 

 fication, viz. the great Timalia series, which attains its maximum of 

 development in the Malayan peninsula. As a genus or sub-genus, it is 

 barely separable from Teichastoma, nobis, and this again from Mala- 

 copteron, Alcippe, nobis (exemplified by Brachypteryx sepiaria, 

 Horsfield, and numerous other species affined to it). Turdinus is distin- 

 guished by its robust form and especially by its peculiarly mottled 

 plumage, the feathers being mostly pale-shafted and black-edged. It is 

 not distantly affined to Pellornium.* 



Pomatorhinus hypoleucos, nobis, var. ? (J. A. S. XIII, 371 • XIV 

 59$). Specimen remarkable for having narrow white mesial streaks to 

 the feathers of the nape, chiefly towards the sides of the nape, which we 

 can perceive no trace of in Arakan specimens ; and similar well defined 

 but wider streaks on the dark ash-coloured sides of the breast, which are 

 little more than indicated in the Arakan specimens under examination. 

 Bill to gape 2 in. Perhaps a distinct variety, more probably merely a 

 particularly fine adult, of P. HYPOLEUCOS.f 



* In a preceding note, we cited a paper on Malacca birds, by Mr. A. R. 

 Wallace. The species which he remarked to be most abundant, were the different 

 Bulbuls, "and the various strong-legged birds forming the genera Timalia, Ma- 

 cronous, &c. These latter birds are found to be abundant both in species and 

 individuals, when carefully searched for on the sides of roads and other places 

 where there is a thick low jungle ; while the former are found on every fruit-tree 

 and about the Malay villages. Their affinities are most interesting and puzzling. 

 I have eight species of birds," he adds, "all of an obscure dusky-olive plumage 

 and nearly of the same size, which can only be distinguished by minute differences 

 in the bill, or obscure markings in various parts of the plumage. They appear 

 to belong to the genus Trtchastoma, Blyth ; and are mostly fruit-eating birds, 

 though they also feed freely on insects." Yet, although so common, we can rarely 

 glean a specimen from the Malacca collections got up by the Portuguese dealers, 

 which consist of the same ever recurring gaudy-coloured skins, usque ad nauseam. 

 It may be inferred that a large proportion of the Timalia and Malacopteron 

 series yet remain to be described. 



t With reference to this species, Capt. Tickell writes—" I must beg to demur I 

 about its being classed in Pomatorhinus. Examine narrowly the bill, which 

 Will be found softer in texture (this, however, in a dry skin cannot be well per- 

 ceived), and sub-cylindrical; whereas Pomatorhinus has tbe bill exceedingly 



2 w 2 



* g . 



