1870.] Observations regarding some species of birds. 119 



488. Saxicola opistholeuca. — This species will not stand, the 

 points relied on by Blyth, Strickland and Gr o u 1 d are not 

 constant, as the examination of a large series shows. 



515. Acrocephalus brunnescens. I have specimens from numerous 

 parts of India. The proportions of the primaries vary a good deal, not 

 locally but individually, and the tone of coloration also varies greatly. 



645. Parns cinereus. — I have specimens from all parts of India, — 

 from Cashmere to Oomillah, and from Kotgurh to Oonoor. Indivi- 

 duals differ ; the species is one and the same ; Javanese specimens 

 do seem to be persistently smaller ; I have not, however, seen a 

 sufficient number of examples to make sure that this difference is 

 really constant. 



604. Agrodroma sordida. — As I have pointed out in a paper 

 which will appear in an early number of the Ibis, neither of our 

 Indian birds known as A. sordida and cinnamomea, can well be 

 identical with Ruppell's birds. It is needless to discuss the matter 

 here, but if I am correct and with Eiippell's careful Latin and 

 German descriptions of both, and his plate of sordida before me, I 

 can scarcely be in error ; the Indian birds will stand, the supposed 

 A. cinnamomea as A. similis, Jerdon, and the supposed A. sordida 

 as A. griseo-rufescens, nobis. 



768. Alauda Malabarica ? Unless I am much mistaken (which 

 I very likely may be) this bird of Mr. Blanford's is the true 

 Spizalauda Deva. 



The Eev. Mr. Fairbank favoured me with three specimens 

 of a lark killed at Khandalla, which he (or perhaps Mr. B 1 a n- 

 f o r d) had named Alauda Malabarica. On examination, they proved to 

 have hind claws only 0*4 in length, and the 1st primary 0-6 in length. 

 It was quite clear that these were not true (restricted) Alauda. 

 On closer examination there remained no doubt that these were the 

 true Spizalauda Deva of S y k e s, although the dimensions somewhat 

 exceeded those given by Jerdon. On comparing these with the 

 Upper Indian race which I had hitherto confounded with Sykes's 

 bird, and of which it is not impossible that Jerdon owing to a 

 similar error, gave the dimensions, I found that conspicuous dif- 

 ferences existed, rendering the separation of the Upper Indian 

 race as a distinct species necessary. 



