1870.] A Contribution to Malayan Ornithology. 329 



we have in these birds nothing more than local or geographical 

 races of the same species, and the present example appears to me 

 particularly illustrative of the gradual change in the size of 

 typical Malayan forms, when they extend northwards. Whether 

 such geographical races are for the advantage of science favoured 

 with separate distinct names, seems to me very doubtful. 



Fam. FRINGILLIDjE. 



81. MlJNlA RUBRONIGRA, HodgS. 



Jerdon, B. India, II, p. 353. 



A single specimen was obtained in the Wellesley Province. In size 

 it resembles M. sinensis, (? G m. apud Latham, not = maija) which, 

 according to Jerdon, has no dark abdominal streak, while this spe- 

 cimen has it distinct, though not black, but dark brown, as are likewise 

 the lower tail coverts. Other details of coloration agree exactly with 

 the Indian form, except size, the Malayan form being smaller, wing 

 li-f"; tail ll" ; bill at front not quite £" ; tarsus T 9 /. 



L ath am (Ind. Ornith. I, p. 386) quotes the true L. Malacca from 

 " China, Java, Malacca," and of the present species he says "habitat 

 cum prior e," but it does not appear certain that this last extends 

 southwards into the Philippine islands, wherefrom Wallace and 

 others mostly only quote M. Malacca. 



82. Mtjnia Maya, Linn. 



Latham, Syn. Ill, 151 ; Blyth, Cat. 116, No. 620 and ? 621. 



In style of coloration, this speeies very much resembles M. Malacca, 

 but the head and anterior part of neck are white, gradually paling, 

 the throat posteriorly albescent brown, the general color dull brown, 

 but the bright glistening color of the upper tail coverts is the same 

 as in Malacca, middle of breast, of the abdomen, tibial and under 

 tail-coverts deep brownish black ; wing 2", tail If", bill at front nearly 

 . T y ; tarsus T y. Apparently not common in the Wellesley Province ; 

 Latham gives it from Malacca, and it is no doubt identical with 

 leucocephala, B, a f f 1 e s, from Sumatra, as recorded by B 1 y t h. 



A Batavian specimen of this species is entered by Blyth in his 

 Catalogue as " M. ferruginosa," " Syn. Loxia ferruginosa, L a t h a m." 

 I do not know where Latham published that name, he has a 

 L. ferruginea (Ind. Ornith. I, p. 389), but that is not the same bird, 



