196 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Aug. 



Spizaetus cristatellus of Jardine and Selby above quoted. I possess 

 in my own collection a single specimen of the latter exceedingly rare 

 bird, which agrees with the description and figure in every respect. 

 The specimen* I present to the Society, shows a more advanced stage 

 of plumage, one exactly intermediate between Spizaetus cristatellus 

 and Limnaetus alboniger, Horsf., if I understand the latter aright as a 

 smaller form than Kieneri, but like it at once recognisable by the 

 deep shining black of the back in old birds, and the rufous tinge of 

 the breast and abdomen. 



The species must be considered as very rare, even at Malacca, 

 as I have only met with five specimens within a period of more 

 than four years. Of other Limnaeti I may mention the following in 

 my collection : — 



Limnaetus niveus, always showing the fawn-coloured bands on the 

 thighs, as noted by Jerdon. 



Limnaetus alboniger, Blyth, (Asiatic Society, Journal, 12th July, 

 1845,) closely banded on the thighs and flanks with narrow transverse 

 black bands, and with the back and crest black, the breast being 

 marked with large black drops. 



Limnaetus ? sp. of a dark hair brown colour on the back 



and with the belly, flanks and thighs showing narrow transverse brown 

 bands. Both the last mentioned species are so rare, that I have met 

 with only a single specimen of each. 



4. Sydrocissa n. sp. 



1 met with this fine hornbill, for the first time since I have been 

 in Malacca, only last December, when, singular to relate, it suddenly 

 appeared in large flocks along the coast, and from the direction of the 

 flight, I imagine the birds must have crossed over from Sumatra. They 

 remained about a month, during which period several living examples 

 passed through my hands. The Malays declared the birds had not 

 been seen in Malacca for twenty years, and so far as my own four 

 years' experience goes, I can corroborate their statements. They have 



* This specimen is certainly a typical Limnaetus Kieneri, de Sparre, (Jerdon, 

 Birds of India, I. p. 74) . Lim. cristatellus of Temminck, is certainly quite distinct 

 from this, and likewise quite distinct is Lim. caligatus, Ratn. (Lim. alboniger, 

 Blyth), being easily distinguished by the large dark blotches to the white 

 feathers of the breast, and by the white banded belly and thigh coverts. It 

 would be very interesting to examine Dr. Maingay's specimen which he be- 

 lieves to agree in every respect with Jardine and Selby' s description and 

 figure.— Nat. Hist. Secretary. 



