A paper was read entitled " Sotes on certain species of birds from hfalacca," by H. E. Strickland, F.G.S. Having lately examined a collection of 1Ialacca birds belonging to the Torltshirc Philosophical Society, comparing them with specimens in riiy own cabinet, and vrith tlic descriptions given b y MiV. Temminck, Blyth, Eyton md other authors, I have thrown together such remarks as appeared necessary for the elucidation of their characters and synonymy. Fur some of the identifications of

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... I am indebted to h,Ir. Myth's letters t o rnyself *. Athcne scutulnta (Raff.), (Stria, hirsuta, Tcmm., l\7inos nitmlensis, Hodgs.) --?'his is the Athene naalnccensis of hlr. Eyton, Ann. Nat. Hist., v. xvi. p. 225. Caprinzzdy~s macrzcrus, Hors.-Differs from t!ie C. ulbonotntus, Tickell, of Inilia, iii its smaller size, 1:zing only about 11 inches in total length, xying i:, tail 5?j, :nid in its d;ulier colour. It appears to be t h same as tlie C . n~i c r / / r i~~ from S o r t h Australia figured by Mr. Gould, escept in wanting t!ic eecoiid wlii te p:ttch seen on tlie breast in his figure. Cypselns <finis, Gi-ay.-R:it!ier larger and of a deeper black than Indian specimens, but I do not venture to separate them. Wing 5 ) inches, tail 26. Ccy" triclnctyla, (Pall.)-hlucli confusion has existed in the synonyms of this and the next species. The ])resent one is distinguished by tlie whole back and wing-covers being black, each feather terminated with decp blue. It is well-figured by hlr. Jerdon iii plate 25 of his ' Illustrations of Indian Ornithology.' It is found in South India and the Malay Peninsula. ?'lie following synonyms refer to it :--.Ceys luzoniensis, Steph. ; Alcedo purprecc, Gm. ; A . erithacu, $. Lath. ; C e p microsoinn, Burton ; Sonn. Voy. Nouv. Guiii., pl. 3 2 ; Buff. PI. Enl., 778. f. 2.; Penn. Gen. Birds, pl. 5 . C. cupite, dorso, tectricibus cuudrique totis Iete riijs, splendoie lilncino vnriantibiis ; caryore subtus nui-ado-juua, niento ulbo, loris et niaculd aurinnt obscure ceruleo-niyrd. This species, which also occurs at Malacca, is very closely allied to the last, but difers in haring the beak larger in all its dimensions, * Since this paper was written I liaw seen some rectifications of synonyms by Ur. IIartlauh, Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 1, which iiearly aarce with those here arrived at.