300 



A Contribution to Malayan Ornithology. 



[No.4, 



even apply to mysticalis, though it seems very probable that the two 

 species are identical. Temminck's original figure of mysticalis 

 in the PL Col. is not good. M ii 1 1 e r and Schlegel (Ver- 

 hand, Nat. G-esch. Nederl. Ind., Nectarinice, p. 55) re-describe the 

 $ of mysticalis, and from their account it is clear that this species 

 and Lathami are closely allied. The authors describe the vent as 

 ashy grey with greenish tinge, while T emminck's figure shews 

 it almost white. The inner webs of the outer tail feathers are said 

 to be reddish black, but in Lathami there is no red tinge on them. 

 In a note the authors state that the rump is yellow, not blue as shewn 

 inTemminck's figure, but I suspect the yellow must be of very 

 small extent, as its presence escaped not only Temminck's, 

 but apparently also E a f f 1 e s' notice. Turning at last to the 

 measurements given by M ii 1 1 e r and Schlegel, Tem- 

 minck's mysticalis is undoubtedly a much larger bird, its total 

 length being 5 inches, while that of Lathami does not exceed 4£", 

 The tail of mysticalis is 17 mm. longer than the wing which is 

 about 2 inches ; while in Lathami, the tail is shorter than the wing, 

 and the central feathers much less elongated, all the tail feathers 

 being regularly graduated. The central tail feathers in Lathami 

 are only about 3 mm. longer than the next, and these again from 

 10-15 mm. longer than the shortest feathers ; in mysticalis M ii 1- 

 1 e r and Schlegel give the corresponding proportions as 28 

 mm. and 1 1 mm. The black internal margin of the mustachial 

 streak also appears characteristic of Lathami, and is not mentioned 

 in mysticalis. I have little doubt that Cabanis' JE. eupoyon from 

 Malacca is the same bird as Lathami, but original specimens must 

 be compared in order to settle this question satisfactorily. 



37. Nectarophila Brasiliana, Gr m. 



Walden in Proc. Z. S. L., 1866, p. 543 and Ibis, 1870, VI, 

 p. 41. — Nectarinia Hasseltii, Temm. Blyth Oat. p. 226. 



Wing If", rarely 2"; tail Iff, rarely li"; bill at front %" or very 

 little longer ; tarsus very nearly or quite £". 



Blyth (1. cit.) quotes his N. Phayrei, (J. A. Soc. XII, non XI, 

 p. 1008), as a synonym of this species. Jerdon says (B. Ind. 

 I, p. 361), A. Phayrei, B 1., from Pegu, very close to Arachn. magna. 

 What does this last quotation refer to ? 



