274 
V. Ball — Notes on Andaman Birds. 
[No. 4, 
man species, it furnishes almost conclusive evidence against others being so. 
Mr. Blyth has already pointed out that Spilornis Biff ini, Tytler = 8. bacha, 
Bodd. ; Collocalia qffinis, Tytler = C. Linchi, Horsf. ; Palwornis qffinis, 
Tytler = 9 P. erythrogenys, Blyth, and Herodias Andamnensis, Tytler 
= II. concolor, Blyth. 
In so far as the present collection afforded material, I have endeavoured 
to give full descriptions of those species which have hitherto only been 
partially described, and to amplify the information regarding others. 
According to the present state of our knowledge, the avifauna of the 
Andamans includes 109 species ; possibly this number may have to be 
reduced by four.* But it is made up in this way. The late Capt. Beavan’s 
list gives 94 species from which three, viz. — Hcematornis Cheela, Bodd., 
Palceornis qffinis, Tytler, and Pericrocotus Andamanensis, Tytler, must, I 
think, be subtracted, and 18, the number of additional species in the present 
collection, added, or 18 + 94 — 3 = 109. It should be stated, however, 
that five of the species mentioned by Capt. Beavan were introduced into the 
Islands by Col. Tytler. The number of indigenous birds should therefore 
stand at 100 4- 4 ? Of this number twelve are local species and six ? are 
known only from the Andamans and Nicobars. 
In the Nicobars there are about fifty-three species known at present, of 
which number seven are local. 
Excepting the migratory birds, particularly the Grallce, from our con- 
sideration, the hulk of the non-local species in the Andamans are Indian, 
and in the Nicobars Malayan. 
Where there are two allied species, or two races or varieties of a species 
in India, the Andaman, as a general rule, corresponds with the southern 
form. To this rule there is an exception in the case of Graucalus Macei 
which is the northern species, G. Layardi being the southern. However, 
the Andaman bird seems to be intermediate between G. Macei and Javensis 
from Java which two, according to Blyth, only differ in size. 
Judging from the number of species of birds known to occur in the 
several groups of islands in the Malayan Archipelago we may feel confident 
that much yet remains to be done both in the Andamans and Nicobars, 
before a list approaching completeness can be prepared. 
The present, and to a certain extent, all previous collections were made 
in the vicinity of Port Blair, throughout an area, probably not exceeding 
30 or 35 square miles, or by a rough estimate about one-hundredth part of 
the total area occupied by these islands. 
* Tlie species of Nectarinia, JEgialitis, Herodias and Querq'uedula of Col. Tytler’s 
and Capt. Beavan’s fists may possibly be only the same species as four birds which 
are given under other names in my fist. 
