Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org

176 Journal of the F.M.S. Museums. [Vol. VII,
It would seem to be a fact, however, that the majority of
southern birds are dull, therein conforming with the diagnosis
of M. a. olivaceum (Strickl.) while the majority of those from
the north are bright, agreeing with T. abbotti abbotti (Blyth).
This is not, however, universally true in the present series, as
the pair from Langkawi, one from Terutau and one from P.
Lontar,the most northerly locality visited, are as dull as any from
Kuala Lumpur and other parts of Selangor. The remainder,
and also specimens collected in 1915 in Langkawi are brighter
birds, having the undertail coverts rich buffy rufous, the rufous
buff of the flanks carried up high on the sides of the chest.
Birds from Trang vary and ones from Perlis are brighter than
Selangor and P.ihang skins. We have a topotype of M. a.
olivaceum from Malacca, but it is a native skin so old and
deteriorated that no reliable comparison can be made with it.
None of the specimens are quite so bright as those obtained
by Mr. Kloss on the coasts and islands of SE. Siam and listed
by me in the Ibis for 1915.
Gyldenstolpe (he. cit.) is in error in stating that these
specimens were referred to T. a. olivaceum, though a reference is
given to Hartert's discussion of the question under that heading.
Pending the collection of a large series from topotypical
localities I have nut placed these birds under any subspecific
name. I have little doubt however that if M. a olivaceum is
shown to have any real existence, which for the present must
remain an open question, we shall have to call in the aid of a
quadrinomial or even quinqenomial system, as is already
used in some cases by Hartert, Stresemann and Parrott.
If this comes into use at all extensively it becomes an open
question whether a return to a bald binomial system is not,
after all, the simplest and most convenient plan.
go. MlXOKNIS RUBKICAPILLA RUBKICAPILLA, «/" subsp HOV.
Mixornis gularis, Sharpe, torn. cit. p. 576; Robinson and
Kloss, p. 62 : Robinson antea, vol. v, p. 106 uo.15); Gyldenstolpe,
p. 60.
p. T4