Review of Dr. Finsch’s ‘ Die Papageien .’ 293 
these words, “ an der Malabarkuste, hei Madras, im Decan, bei 
zum 17°nordlich, selten in den Neilgherries, bis anf Hohen yon 
5000'” [t. c. p.76). The Himalayas are not included. But even 
here, notwithstanding Mr. Hume magniloquently has said that 
he has “ not taken in hand to catalogue Dr. Finsch’s errors ” 
{t. c. p. 18), the little slip of the pen “ bei Madras ” is not 
overlooked. For, big as the beam is which intercepts the 
reviewer’s critical vision, he is here able to espy this small 
mote in his brother naturalist’s eye, and it is seized upon with 
all the charitable avidity compatible with “ friendly relations.” 
Cf Finsch tells us that this species is found in Madras; if he 
means the town or district of Madras (Chingleput) then he is 
certainly in error—if he means the presidency of Madras, then 
since the places he enumerates, the Malabar coast and the 
Nilghiris are both in this Presidency, it is, to say the least, 
surplusage, calculated to mislead; ” and so on (t. c. p. 23). To 
an old Madrasee, one who has shot along with Jerdon many 
a specimen “in the flesh,” to say nothing of Snipe in the paddy- 
fields of the Chingleput district, this phrase “ district of Ma¬ 
dras (Chingleput) ” seems strange thunder. Madras was, and 
I believe is, a district by itself, with an area of some 30 square 
miles—bounded on the north by the Nellore district, to the 
west by the Arcot districts, and on the south by the Chingle¬ 
put district, from which it is separated by the Adyar river. 
But this may be all changed, and the Madras and Chingleput 
districts may have been amalgamated*. If so, this local and 
parochial erudition in a high Bengal official is to be com¬ 
mended ; but can it be reasonably expected from a European 
naturalist ? 
Of this species it may be also asserted that at the time 
Dr. Finsch wrote there was no published concurrent and 
convincing evidence on the moot point, the colouring of 
the bills in the two sexes. In the absence of adequate con¬ 
clusive proof, Dr. Finsch maintained (l.c.), although with 
perfect deference to Dr. Jerdon, that the bills in the two sexes 
* As a matter of fact I am informed in epist. by Sir Walter Elliot, the 
well-known and eminent Indian naturalist, that u Madras is certainly not 
included in Chingleput, but is a district by itself.” 
