122 Observations regarding some species of birds. [No. 2, 



a brother sportsman in Kattywar, whence it had been received, to 

 show the species of which I wanted specimens. Now, I am sorry 

 to say, I can neither get the original specimen nor better ones out 

 of my friend, and my only hope is, that seeing this notice, he may 

 be conscience-stricken, and do me the favour of returning me my 

 own bird, with a good series of the same species. 



P. S. — I take this opportunity of intimating my dissent to the 

 propriety of elevating the Mahableshwar race of Alcippe poiocepliala 

 to the rank of a distinct species. 



To the kindness of Mr. H. E. P. Carterl owe a noble series of 

 the Nilgherry bird, and to the Rev. H. Bruce, two specimens of 

 the supposed A. Brucei. 



I admit freely that, as a rule, A. poiocepliala is somewhat smaller 

 than the specimens of Brucei which I possess, but some specimens 

 of the former are fully as large. Brucei, to judge from the speci- 

 mens before me, is certainly not darker as a rule, than the majority 

 of poiocepliala, nor is it less ferruginous, and these three points are, 

 what Mr. Fair bank in the original description which he sent me 

 chiefly relies on. 



The fact is the shade of colour varies in individuals. Brucei is 

 darker and less ferruginous, or lighter and more ferruginous than 

 some, and absolutely identical in colour with other specimens of 

 poiocepliala that I possess. 



The rounding of the tail, the wideness and firmness of the inner 

 webs (other points insisted on by Mr. Fairbank) varies in 

 individuals, and in these respects also, the specimens sent me of 

 Brucei are intermediate between those now before me of the Nil- 

 gherry bird. 



It may be said that Alcippe Nipalensis which I admit as a dis- 

 tinct species, differs only very slightly in plumage from poiocepliala 

 and this is true, but, the bill, legs and feet (the former conspicu- 

 ously) of this latter, are invariably larger than those of Nipalensis, 

 while they correspond exactly with those of Brucei. In the one 

 case (and I speak after comparing numerous specimens), we have a 

 constant and very material structural difference, while in the other 

 there appears to be an absolute structural identity. 



