100 - Mr. J. H. Gurney^s Notes on 
cimenSj and approaching, but not equalling, in this respect, 
the dark race peeuliar to the island of Java. 
I have recently examined eleven speeimens of Spilornis 
from Java, all adults, or very nearly so, with the following 
results as to dimensions :—longest measurement of wiTig 16‘6 
inches, shortest 15'2; longest of tarsus 3*6, shortest 3'3; 
longest of middle toe s.u. 2, shortest 1’9. 
The Spilornis of Java is readily distinguished from those 
of Ceylon, Singapore, Malacca, and Sumatra (with the two 
latter of whieh it is associated by Mr. Sharpe), by its mueh 
darker ground-eolouring; this, with the exception of a tinge 
of dark slate-colour on the chin and cheeks, is of a deep rieh 
purplish brown, upon whieh the white spots of the under¬ 
parts show very conspieuously and distinetly. 
The speeific name of bacha, under which Mr. Sharpe unites 
the Spilornis of Java, of Sumatra, and of Malaeea, is clearly 
not applicable to that of Java, as may at once be seen by 
comparing the Javan bird with Le VaillanCs plate of Le 
Bacha.^^ His figure is more like the Spilornis of Sumatra and 
Malacca, especially the latter; but, in the absence of any 
authentic information'as to the locality of the specimen from 
whieh it was drawn, I believe it is impossible to say with 
certainty to which of the nearly allied races, other than that 
of Java, the specific name bacha can correctly be applied; 
and I think, under these circumstances, it will be best to 
discontinue the use of that name altogether. 
The Spilornis of Java is already provided with a distinct 
name, being the Falco bido of Horsfield. The Ceylonese Spi¬ 
lornis should stand as spilogaster of Blyth, unless it should 
hereafter be proved identical with albidus of Temminck and 
with melanotis of Jerdon, or with one of these forms, if there 
be any difference between the bird found in Pondichery and 
that inhabiting the Neilgherries. 
The Spilornis of Sumatra, I am disposed to think, must be 
referred to the same speeies as that inhabiting Ceylon; and 
between the Sumatran bird and S. davisoni of the Anda¬ 
mans the birds found at Penang, Malacca, and Singapore 
