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QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY. 


EDITED BY — 


OSBERT SALVIN, MA,, F.R.S., B.LS., F:Z,S., &c. 


——— 


VOL Hiy 31873: 


THIRD SERIES. 


Ibidis auspicio novus incipit Ibidis or 


x 


LONDON: ye 
d fx f 
JOHN VAN VOORST, 1 PATERNOSTER ROW, / oa 
£ ? Y 
1873. fw 


Cy 


PRINTED RY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, 
RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET. 


PREFACE. 


Mr. Satyrn’s continued absence in Guatemala 
renders it necessary for his substitute to write a few 
lines as preface to the third volume of the Third 
Series of ‘THE I[sts.’ 

When the British Ornithologists’ Union was in- 
stituted at Cambridge in 1858, who would have 
ventured to prophecy that the Society and its Organ 
would attain such dimensions and such success ? 
Yet our Union now comprehends ninety-four Mem- 
bers, and our Journal has reached its 15th volume. 
Nor does there seem any reason why our numbers 
should diminish or our volumes cease to appear. 
Though some of our original members have (I regret 
to say) become rather sparing of their contributions 
to ‘Tuer Isis,’ a new generation of ornithologists is 
arising who show no symptoms of falling behind 
their predecessors, either in field-work abroad or in 
cabinet-work at home. ‘To these, as well as to those 
of the older generation who have contributed to 
these pages and otherwise assisted us in our arduous 
undertaking, our best thanks are hereby offered. 


P. L. SCLATER, 
Acting Editor. 


11 Hanover Square, London, W. 
_ February 16th, 1874. 


eat Bie st « srehtao SER ‘ie 


Ti 


a Baer ah): fs oT born id ah peeling abe 


Sy ace a 
i . “ated. 2); to ae 
Bee: We ee vote ‘dare lot) het hin ont ona 
- es thy 4 bhisaee Other feel at aphined stn he hot eone 


ee roe rbeen€ Fn) Loe nea ont tail YMaoRe oe iia cK 
“ pete, roy ie gota ion rotted tira Ie Eley 
Senet Ut i: etc elena hs Ale iis. TTA ‘is EE 


Por Peuatul | s"t mies “3, > Fete ra wie Ten pra’ «i iat? a 
ee Pca Vibes Pe Be ae FiiG a cuts aon) ad be = 


se vert A) seme vorteie? ao co) stone COE eae og . 


m na Hiss: i RON ite as efitety Deetsatiy tate ie ae Rema b 

ee capiuiyis. “Shs: fsnhhte ae holga asebtentee conse Om ott i 

= E hoa ti! Bin! att eerie vig feat es MOA ar had go ntl gecey : aa 

a 1 oe oid O18 14,101 eas ot (Bo OLY < Wrenite (ibe sche 

_ et VO rade ean te esi): Eaten aaa ‘Sait 

aed ed hak a iren (7 Aah, een 1a syaedon clam 
. rs, heajudesivaes orcsil alae swodl anette , sdk eid it 


ce eyoubr4 ah pe aig \iaas, oH wrenite Gee eM Bias © 
Berets cfeeent maps? et ke etalk, i 


3 


SUE CARRE eh 
r PAL ees Nu ys ee 


es 
ee 
1 7. 
re HES Gl Be 
' ¥@ Sa 
‘ aA aaa i aes 


BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION. 
1873. 


[An asterisk indicates an Original Member. | 


Date of 
Election. 


1870. Anprew Anverson, F.Z.S.; Futtehgurh, North-West Pro- 
vinces, India. 
1872. Hansury Barctay, F.Z.S.; Churchill House, Handsworth, 
near Birmingham. 
1873. W. T. Buanrorp, F.Z.S., F.G.8.; Geological Survey of India, 
Calcutta. 
1870. Sir Vicror Brooxs, Bart.; Colebrooke, Fermanagh, Ireland. 
1871. Arraur Basit Brooke; Cardney, Dunkeld, N.B. 
1866. Henry Bucxktey, F.Z.8.; Edgbaston, Birmingham. 
1868. THomas Epwarp Bucxtey, B.A., F.Z.S.; Westwood House, 
Beverley. 
1872. Watrrr Lawry Buiter, Sc.D., F.L.S., &e.; New Zealand. 
1866. ArtHur Wittiam Cricuron, B.A., F.L.S., F.Z.8.; Broadward 
Hall, Salop. 
1865. Henry Exrres Dresser, F.Z.S.; The Firs, South Norwood, 
Surrey. 
* Henry Maurice Drummonp-Hay, C.M.Z.S., Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel, Royal Perth Rifles; Seggieden, Perth. 
1870. Dantet Grravup Extiot, F.Z.8.; New York. 
1866. Henry Joun Etwes, F.Z.S.; Miserden House, Cirencester. 
*THomas Campsett Eyton, F.Z.S.; Eyton Hall, Salop. 
1873. Capt. H. W. Fritpnn, Paymaster, Royal Artillery, Malta. 
1867. Gzuorer Gooca Fowter, B.A.; Gunton Hall, Suffolk. 
1865. Rev. Henry Extiorr Fox, B.A.; 7 Park Villas. Oxford. 
1873. Atrrep Henry Garrop, F.Z.8.; 11 Harley Street, W. 
*Freperick DuCane Gopman, F.LS., F.Z.S.; 6 Tenterden 
Street, Hanover Square, W. 


vi 
Date of 
Election. 


*Prrcy Sanpen Gopman, B.A., C.M.Z.8S.; Borregaard, Sarps- 
borg, Norway. 
1871. Roserr Gray; 2 Lawrence Place, Dowan Hill, Glasgow. 
*Joun Henry Gurney, F.Z.S.; Northrepps, Norfolk. 
1870. Joun Henry Gurney, Jun., F.Z.S.; Northrepps, Norfolk. 
1873. James Fernerstonnaven Hamitton, F.Z.8.; 27 Elgin Cres- 
cent, Notting Hill, W. 
1868. James Epmunp Harrine, F.LS., F.Z.S.; 24 Lincoln’s Inn 
Fields, London, 
1873. Joun A. Harviz-Brown; Dunipace House, Falkirk, N.B. 
*Rey. Wittiam Henry Hawker, M.A., F.Z.8.; Ashford, 
Petersfield, Sussex. 
1868. Rev. Herzert 8. Hawkins, M.A.; Beyton Rectory, Suffolk. 
1873. Cuartes B. Honeson, F.Z.S.; 13 Waterloo Street, Bir- 
mingham. 
*Witrrm Hupieston Huprxsron, M.A., F.Z.S.; 23 Cheyne 
Walk, Chelsea, London. 
1869. Arran Ocravian Hume, C.B.; Secretary to the Government 
of India. 
1873. Most Hon, Caries, Marquess of Hunrry; 41 Upper Gros~ 
venor Street, W. 
1870. Hon. Hepworth Hytron-Jotumre; Heath House, Peters- 
field, Sussex. 
1870, Major Leonarp Howarp Irsy, Hythe, Southampton. 
*ArrHur Epwarp Knox, M.A., F.LS., F.Z.8.; Trotton House, 
Petersfield, Sussex. 
*Right Hon. Tuomas Lyrrieron, Lord Litrorp, E.LS., F.Z:8., 
&e.; Lilford Hall, Oundle, Northants. 
1870. C. H. T. Marsuatt, F.Z.S.; Captain, Bengal Staff Corps. 
1870. G, F. L. Manswatt, F.Z.S,; Royal (Bengal) Engineers. 
1864. ALExaANDER Goopman More, F.L.S. &c.; 3 Botanic View, 
Glasnevin, Dublin. 
1872. Francis D’Arcy Wittr1am Croven Newcome ; Feltwell Hall, 
Norfolk. 
*Arrrep Newron, M.A., F.R.S., F.L.S., V.P.Z.S. ; Professor of 
Zoology in the University of Cambridge. 
*Epwarp Newton, M.A., F.L.S., C.M.Z.S8., Colonial Secretary, 
Mauritius. 
1871. Reeryatp Carew Pore, Lieutenant, Royal Navy; Yovilton, 
Ilchester. 


vil 
Date of 
Election. 


*Joun Wirtram Pow rett-Orpr, F.Z.8., late Captain, 42nd 
(Royal Highland) Regiment ; Auchnaba House, Loch Gilp 
Head, N. B. 
1872. R. G. Warpiaw Ramsay, 67th Regiment ; White Hill, Lass- 
wade. 
1868. E. J. Ruopes ; Exchequer and Audit Department, Somerset 
House. 
1865. Grorer Dawson Rowtey, M.A., F.Z.S.; Chichester House, 
Brighton. 
1873. Major O. R. C. St. Joun, R.A., F.Z.S.; 49 Victoria Road, W. 
*OsBERT Satvin, M.A., F.R.S., F.Z.S8., &c.; 6 Tenterden Street, 
Hanover Square, W. 
1870. Howarp Saunpers, F.Z.S.; 7 Radnor Place, Hyde Park, 
London. 
*Puitip Lutiey Scrater, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., &c.; 44 Elvas- 
ton Place, Queen’s Gate, London, W. 
1873. Henry Srrsoun; Oak Lea, Collegiate Crescent, Broomhall 
Park, Sheffield. 
1871. Ricuarp Bowpter Saree, F.L.S., F.Z.8.;. British Museum. 
1870. G. Ernest Suetrey, F.Z.S8., late Captain, Scots Fusilier Guards; 
Avington, Winchester. 
1865. Rev. Cuartes Witi1am SuepHerD, M.A., F.Z.S.; Trotters- 
cliffe, Kent. 
1864. Rev. ALrrep Cnartes Suita, M.A.; Yatesbury Rectory, Wilts. 
1867. Rowxzanp M. Sprertine, F.Z.8., Commander, Royal Navy. 
1864. Henry Srevenson, F.L.S.; Unthank’s Road, Norwich. 
1868. Hamon Styreman Le Srraner, F.Z.S.; Hunstanton Hall, 
Norfolk. 
*Kpwarp Cavenpisu Taytor, M.A., F.Z.8.; 74 Jermyn Street, 
8.W., London. 
1864. Grorce Cavenpish Taytor, F.Z.8.; 42 Elvaston Place, 
Queen’s Gate, S.W. 
1873, Wiit1amM Bernuarp Treermerer, F.Z.S.; Finchley, N. 
*Rev. Henry Baxer Tristram, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., &e., Hon. 
Canon of Durham, Greatham Vicarage, West Hartlepool, 
Durham. 
1864, Henry Morris Urcuer, F.Z.8.; Sherringham Hall, Norfolk. 
1872. Hersert Taytor Ussuer, C.M.G., Lieut.-Governor of Tobago. 
1864. Right Hon, Arraur Viscount Waxpey, F.R.S., F.LS., 
Pres. Z.S.; Walden Cottage, Chislehurst, Kent. 


Date of 


Election. 


1871. 


1860. 
1860, 


1860. 


1860. 
1860. 


1870. 
1860. 
1860. 


1869. 


1860. 


1862. 


1872. 
1872. 
1873. 
1872. 


1872. 
1872. 
1872. 


1872. 
1872. 
1872, 
1872. 
1872. 
1872. 
1872. 
1872. 
1872. 


Vili 


KE. Percrvat Wricut, M.D., F.L.S., F.Z.8., Professor of Botany 
in the University of Dublin. 


Extra-Ordinary Members. 
Epwarp Bryru, Hon. Memb. As. Soc. 
Aurrep Russe, Watzace, F.Z.8.; The Dell, Grays, Essex. 


Honorary Members. 

Professor Spencer F. Barrp, Assistant Secretary to the Smith- 
sonian Institution, Washington. 

Doctor Envarp Batpamus, Moritzwinger, No. 7, Halle a. S. 

Doctor Jean Casanis, Erster Custos am kéniglichen Museum 
der Friedrich-Wilhelm’s Universitat zu Berlin. 

Doctor Orro Finscu, Zoological Museum, Bremen. 

Doctor Gustav Harrnavus, Bremen. 

Epear Leopotp Layarp, F.Z.S., H.B.M. Consul in the Feejee 
Islands. 

Aveust von Prtzetn, Custos am k.-k. zoologischen Cabinete 
in Wren. 

Professor J. Reryuarpt, Kongelige Naturhistoriske Museum 
1 Kjobenhavn. 

Rosert Swinnor, F.Z.S., F.R.G.S., H. M. Consul at Chefoo, 


China. 
Foreign Members. 


Prof. J. v. Barsosa pu Bocagr, Royal Museum, Lisbon. 

Prof. J. F. Branpr, Imperial Museum, St. Petersburg. 

Rosert Cotterr; Christiania. 

Doctor Exxiorr Coves, U.S. Army, Smithsonian Institution, 
Washington, D. C. 

Atpnonsr Mitnr-Epwarps, Jardin des Plantes, Paris. 

Doctor Vicror Fario, Geneva. 

Prof. Henry Hittyer Gierrior1, Royal Superior Institute, 
Florence. 

Doctor Turopor yon Hevetr, Stuttgart. 

GroreEe N. Lawrence, New York. 

Baron Dz Szetys Lonecuamrs, Liege. 

Doctor A. J. Matmeren, Helsingfors. 

Doctor A. von Mippenporrr, Dorpat. 

Prof. Gustav Rappg, T%flis. 

Count Tommaso Sarvaportr, Royal Museum, Z'urin. 

Prof. Herman Scutecet, University Museum, Leyden. 

Prof, Cary Joann SunpEvALL, Stockholm. 


CONTENTS or VOL. III.—THIRD SERIES. 


(1873.) 


Number IX., January. 


~—~“T. Notes on the Zrochilide. The Genus Phaethornis. By 


Ospert Satvin, M.A. &., and D. G. Exxior, F.L.S., F.Z.8., &c. 


II. On the Birds in the Imperial Collection at Vienna ob- 
tained from the Leverian Museum. By A. von Pxtzexy. 
(Plate I.) 


III. Notes from Archangel. By Epwarp R. Atston, F.Z.S., 
and Joun A. Harviz Brown RN aR UAL, 5 ates 


IV. On a new Species of Little Bittern from China. By 
Ropert Swinnoek, F.Z.8S. &e. (Plate I.) See 


V. On the Nidification of certain Indian Birds. Part II. 
By Anprew AnvErson, F.Z.S. 


VI. Addenda to the Avifauna of India. By Epwarp Bryvu, 
F.Z.S., Hon. Memb. As. Soc. Beng. ert 


VII. Fragmentary Notes on the Guacharo or Oil-bird (Stea- 
tornis caripensis). By Dr. James Moris, F.L.S. &e.. : 


VIII. Notes on a supposed new ee of Prion. By Tuomas 
H. Ports, F.L.S. ee Sete 53 ty siyiiries nen ae 


IX. Descriptions of new Species of Nectarinia, Sitta, and 
Parus from Persia and Baluchistan. By Wittram T. Bran- 
ForD, C.M.Z.S. . 


X. Description of a new Species of Cormorant from the Chat- 
ham Islands. By Water L. Buiter, Sc.D., F.L.S., &e. 


Page 


14 


54 


74 


79 


81 


85 


90 


x CONTENTS. 


: Page 


XI. Notices of some recently published Ornithological Books 


XII. Letters, Announcements, &c. :— 


Letters from Mr. Swinhoe, Major Irby, Lord Lilford, Mr. 
Gurney, and Captain Hutton: References to Cyanocephalus 
wiedi, Bp., and Bonaparte’s ‘Conspectus Ptilopterorum Syste- 
maticus ;” Notice of Prof. Brandt's Memoir on the Alcide . 


Noumper X., April. 


XIII. On the Birds in the Imperial Collection at Vienna ob- 
tained from the Leverian Museum. By A. von Prnzetn. 
Part 12... 


XIV. On a new Species of Barbet from Western India. By 
Capt. J. Hayzs Luoyp. Uae red MOOS a ah 


XV. Note on the Pyranga roseogularis of Cabot. By P. L. 
perarer, MA...Ph.D., RS... (PlatediL) 2 « ‘ : 


XVI. On a new Chinese Owl of the Genus Ketupa. By R. 
SwinHor, H.M. Consul at Ningpo . ao psa et Rees 


XVII. Ornithological Notes from the Argentine Republic. 
By Wr11am Brackstone Lup, B.A. oy awtsicai ie 


XVIII. Descriptions of six new Species of West-African 

Birds. By Captain G. E. Saertey “ion enact eet 
XIX. Notes on the Ornithology of Sardinia. By A. B. 

Brooke, F.Z.S. . BA Sacre WeDo: daze ge eee me 
XX. On the Genus Platystira and its Allies. By R. Bowpier 


Suarpe, F.L.S., F.Z.8., Senior Assistant, Zoological Department, 
British Museum. (Plate IV.) . : cane 


XXI. On an apparently new Species of Hornbill from Angola. 
By D..G.. Evtior, F-0.8., B:Z:8., &¢... Len tcaiie 


XXIT. Note on Homochlamys luscinia, Salvad. By T. Sat- 
vaporI, U.M.Z.8. : ee we i eee 


XXIII. On the Upuprde and their Relationships. By Dr. 
James Mouriz, F.L.S. &. (Plates V., VL, VII.) . 


91 


127 
. 129 
. 138 


. 143 


CONTENTS. xi 


Page 
XXIV. Notes on ‘Stray Feathers.’ By W. T. Buanrorp, 
BGS CEM S eet )0 11!) aL Bete oso 


XXY. Descriptions of a new Jay and a new Woodpecker 
from Persia. By W. T. Buanrorp, F.G.S.,C.M.Z.8.. . . . 225 


XXVI. Letters, Announcements, &c. :— 


Letters from Mr. Swinhoe, Mr. J. H. Gurney, and Mr. Howard 
Saunders. Announcement of the Editor’s Departure for Gua- 
(RETO? IGG MPN Ree MeN ne Natit de ae R's un et eats 


Noumser X1., July. 
XXVII. Notes on the pease of Sardinia. By A. B. 


ROO KA VE ZS s co Tas, oa et ha EN ; fahame ey aac anes 5 
XXVIII. On the Rosy Ibis of China and Japan (Jdis ge ee 
By Rozsert Swinnor, H.M. Consul at Ningpo . . . . . 249 


XXIX. A Tenth additional List of Birds from Natal. By 
eebecGromnmars, BZ: 2, al teeta Mal one lee a ae ae Oe 


XXX. On rare or little-known Limicole. By James Epmunp 
Hapring, FoL.S. E4.8. (Plates Vil; and EX)... 5. 4-260 


XXXI. Notes on the Trochilide. The Genera Pygmornis, 
Glaucis, and Threnetes. By Osserr Satvin, M.A. &e., and D. 
Geen nOty Hol S:. EL0i, Cr .o5 eS eds len ents eS 9269 


XXXII. On two Species of Trochilide of the Genus Lo- 
phornis. By Ossert Sarvin, M.A. &e., and D. G. Exxioz, 
2 oI LES My fo ZAI ERR Cae 5 arias Oa, Ae 7 


XXXITI. Additional List of and Notes on Birds obtained 
in the Republic of Trans-Vaal. By Tuomas Ayres. (Commu- 
micated by, Joun: Henry GURNEY.) *.¢<).44 «fysl en sae 4 E1280 


XXXIV. Remarks on wircc pucherani and its Allies. 
By Grorce N. Lawrence... china ate: ONALinx ad te el ares 


XXXY. Note on the Fulica alba of White. By Osserr 
HaEVIN, MAW Gen! (Blate:X.)ioot sak ayoui.paas hk! & vey @oa 


xii CONTENTS. 


Page 
XXXVI. On a Collection of Birds recently made by Lieut. 
Rosert Warpiaw Ramsay, F.Z.S., in the Andaman Islands. 
By Axrruur, Viscount Waxpey, P.Z.S., F.R.S. (Plates XL, 
PROD OKT) 20 oe alse | on ca ae ule ae ne prec 


XXXVII. Notices of ee Be ares and forthcoming 
Ornithological Works. . . 5 AR. eae eee 


XXXVIII. Letters, Announcements, &c. :— 


Letters from Mr. J. H. Gurney, Mr. J. E. Harting, Mr. R. 
Bowdler Sharpe, Mr. D. G. Elliot, Mr. E. L. Layard, Mr. Robert 
Gray; Extracts from a letter received from Mr. Salvin . . . 324 


Numser XII1., October. 


XXXIX. Notes on the Ornithology of Sardinia. By A. B. 
Rooker ese viet: Jet tc. vale ore ee, A eee 


XL. On Rallus modestus of New Zealand. i hat Boa 
HUET ONG s sorutgts at vat 6 eo ik teu, <1 os Ue eas sa ie, eee 


XLI. Notes on the Zrochilide. The Genus Thalurania. By 
Ossert Satvin, M.A., F.R.S., &., and D. G. Extior, F.L.S., 
eee Cas iy. Ge ces) sale ae, tat elas SBN Wie cf: mys vooe 


XLII. Notes on Chinese Ornithology. By Roserr Swinnoez, 
BUS cho Aye bb. Soe: calc, Mead oy Oh ee TR eee 


XLIII. Additions to the List of Birds of goers By P. 
1, Senaren, Mt Ae tb. EEC. . teal rare ae «| aerate 


XLIV. Notes on Birds observed at Para. By E. L. Layarp, 
Esq., H.B.M. Consul.—With Descriptions of two new Species. 
By PR. L. Sctarer. (Plates XTV. and XYV.).....«)5 2 syed 


XLY. On the Birds of the Province of Kattiawar in Western 
India. By J. Hayrs Lioyp, Capt. Bombay Staff Corps . . . 397 


CONTENTS. Xiil 


Page 
XLVI. Letters, Announcements, &c. :— 
Letters from Mr. J. H. Gurney, Mr. R. Swinhoe, and Capt. 
F. W. Hutton ; Extracts from letters received from Mr. Salvin ; 
New Publications received; Recent discoveries in Fossil Or- 
BEMEMOLORY. is. isn, Ts. 3 ( 3) RO ee, ee See ite al 


SuppLeMENT, 1873. 


XIVII. Index to the Ornithological Literature of 1872. By 
P. L. Scuarer, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., and O. Frnscu, Ph.D.. . 431 


XLVIII. List of Periodicals in which Ornithological Papers 
have appeared in 1872. By F. H. Warernovusr, Librarian to 
the Zoological Society of London . . . . . ... . . 493 


Index . A RT oN, SON toe mete oh TRO, PNR 7 00 


PLATES IN VOL. III. 


THIRD SERIES. 


I. Trichoglossus pygmeeus 
II. Ardetta eurhythma . 
III. Pyranga roseigularis 
IV. ae 1. Diaphorophya HieeeHil 
Fig. 2, 3. Platystira peltata 
VY. Upupa epops and U. minor 


VI. Irrisor erythrorhynchus and I. pencoalones ; 


VII. Rhinopomastus, Promerops, &e. . 
VIII. Agialitis varius . Fay seer 
IX. Agialitis sancte-helene 
X. Notornis alba. : 
XI. Centrococcyx maihen iene - 
XII ace 1. Kittacincla albiventris 
Fig. 2. Sturnia andamanensis 
XIII. Ianthoenas columboides 
XIV. Picolaptes layardi 
XV. Thamnophilus simplex 


tS i ied Cae oi 


THE Tes 


No. IX. JANUARY 1873. 


_I.—WNotes on the Trochilide. The Genus Phaethornis. By 
’ Ossert Satvin, M.A. &c., and D. G. Extiot, F.L.S., 
F.Z.8S., &c. « 


Arter careful examination of the birds composing the genus 
Phaethornis, we find that there are fourteen species that can 
be fairly characterized ; and, judging from the ample materials 
at our service, we consider that only those enumerated in the 
following list can maintain any claim to specific distinction. 
The genus appears to be divisible into four sections or groups, 
each possessing sufficiently conspicuous characters, whereby it 
may be easily determined to which section any species of the 
genus should be referred. The four sections are as follows :— 


A. Species with curved bills, greyish or rufescent beneath, the central 
tail-feathers far exceeding the rest in length. 


B. Species with curved bills, grey or rufescent beneath, the rectrices next 
to the median very long. 
C. Species with curved bills, dark grey or iridescent green beneath ; adult 
males with the extremity of the median rectrices reduced to a point. 
D. Species with nearly straight bills. 
SER. LE VOL. LiL. B 


2 Messrs. Salvin and Elhot on the Trochilide. 


Division A. (Phaethornis, Sw.) 


a. Species with median gular stripe. 
a' Buff beneath. 


Rump narrowly edged with fulvous.... 1. P. superciliosus. 
Rump broadly edged with fulvous .... 2. P. longirostris. 
b' Grey beneath. 
Rump banded with grey.............. 3. P. hispidus. 
ce’ Rufescent beneath. 
Upper tail-coverts clear rufous ........ 4. P. syrmatophorus. 


b. Species with scale-like markings on the throat. 
d' Rufescent beneath. 


LATE G.... fills SOREN. SEE BE Shey: 5. P. eurynome. 
Malls... sak eeaceeangnUeened es core te 6. P. squaldus. 
é Whitishs beneath iinet. sei bie cele wise ee 7. P. anthophilus. 


Greyish white beneath .............. ie: apis 8. PB. august. 
utescomt DONeathy v6... ccc siniso eehera ee tee oieuan 9. P. pretrit. 


Division C. (Toxoteuches, Cab. & Hein.) 


iBasovorroctrices ‘black... .0i e400 wee cos stele 10. P. yaruqua. 
Rump and base of rectrices green .............. Ll. BP. geuye 
Rump and base of rectrices bluish green ........ 12. P. emilie. 


Division D. (Ametrornis, Reich.) 
Brae MOUE IDEM OMG 2% ro cep oho rmeteaue-aegausad emote te 15. P. bourcierc. 
Hosp Mutos HENEALN 8S. en ce eo vec bn ptee 14. P. philippit. 


Before proceeding to the details referrmg to the above 
species, we will attempt to show the amount of individual 
variation to which these birds are subject. As regards the 
bills, measuring from the posterior end of the nostril to the 
tip, along the chord, we find that, in Panama specimens of P. 
longirostris, one is 1°62 long, while another is only 1°45, 
showing a difference of ‘17 of an inch, others, again, being 
intermediate. Cayenne specimens of P. superciliosus vary 
in the length of their bills from 1°78 to 1°46, with interme- 
diate gradations. Rio-Janeiro specimens of P. squalidus 
vary from 1:02 to ‘90. Instances of similar variation are to 
be found in all the species, as regards their bills. The wing 
also varies in length, and we find that, m Panama specimens 
of P. longirostris, one is 2°1 in length, from carpal joint to tip, 


“ 


Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. 3 


another 1°88, while others are intermediate. Cayenne examples 
of P. superciliosus have the wing from the carpal joint vary- 
ing from 2°20 to 1°80. In the coloration of the tips of the 
tail-feathers, the specimens of P. longirostris before us vary 
from rich buff to nearly pure white, and the same is the case 
with the examples of P. superciliosus ; and as regards the shape 
of the rectrices, it would appear, in this group at least, that 
the younger the bird the more pointed are the lateral ones. 
As regards the group to which P. guyi belongs, the white tips 
of the lateral tail-feathers disappear with age, and in the adult 
of P. yaruqui these feathers become of a uniform black. 

The geographical distribution of this genus appears to be 
well and plainly marked, and extends from the southern con- 
fines of Brazil to the northern limit of the neotropical region, 
to the exclusion of the West Indies. Its members are inha- 
bitants of the depths of the warm tropical forests, being never 
found in the open country nor in elevated districts. In Brazil, 
as restricted, to the exclusion of the Amazonian valley, we find 
three, perhaps four species, viz. P. eurynome and P. squalidus, 
both of which are common in the southern provinces; in the 
Province of Bahia and parts of Minas Geraes P. pretrii is 
found; the fourth species is P. philippii, which may occur 
in the far interior on the confines of Bolivia. In the great 
valley of the Amazon we find but three species, viz. the widely 
ranging P. superciliosus, P.hispidus, and P. bourcieri, the latter 
being met with in the upper portion. In Guiana itself P. super- 
ciliosus alone is found. Passing to Ecuador we obtain P. syr- 
matophorus, which is probably restricted to the western slope 
of the Andes, and P. yaruqui; while on the Pacific coast P. 
longirostris appears at the southern extremity of its range. 
We now come to Columbia; and here we find two species oc- 
curring in the vicinity of Bogota, viz. P. anthophilus and P. 
emilie ; in the valley of the Magdalena P. longirostris and 
P. augusti also occur. In Trinidad and Venezuela P. guyi 
is the prevalent form, while the latter is the headquarters of 
P. augusti. Costa Rica and Veragua possess P. emilie, which 
is not shared by the rest of Central America, wherein P. lon- 
girostris is found universally distributed. 


B 2 


4 Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. 


1. PHAETHORNIS SUPERCILIOSUS. 

Trochilus superciliosus, Linn. Syst. Nat. (1766) tom. 1. 
p- 189; Vierll. Enc. Méth. Orn. 11. p. 549, sp. 5; Less. Hist. 
Nat. des Col. p. 35, pl. 6; Traité d’Orn. p. 288. 

Phaethornis superciliosus, Swains. Class. Birds, vol.i1. p.330; 
Gray, Gen. Birds, vol.i.p. 104; Gould, Mon. Troch. vol.i. pl. xvi. 

Phaethornis malaris, Nordm. Erm. Reis. Atl. p. 2 (1835) ; 
Gray, Gen. Birds, vol. 1. p. 104, sp. 2; Bonap. Consp. Gen. 
Av. tom. i. p. 67, sp.2; Cab. & Hein. Mus. Hem. Theil. im. 
p- 9; Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 41, sp. 17 (8vo ed.). 

Phaethornis moorei, Lawr. Ann. N. Y. Lyc. Nat. Hist. vi. 
p. 258 (1858). 

“ Phaethornis consobrinus, Boure.,’ Reich. Aufz. Colibr. 
p. 17; cf. J. f. Orn. 1853 ; Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 42. 

Phaethornis fraterculus, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. 1. pl. xvii. 

Colibri a longue queue de Cayenne, Briss. Orn. ii. p. 687 ; 
Buff. Pl. Enl. 600. 3. 

Brin blanc, male, Vieill. Ois. Dor. tom. 1. p. 37, pl. 17. 

Hab. Guiana; Para (Mus. J. Gould) ; Pebas (Hauxwell) ; 
Ecuador (Buckley) ; Columbia (Bourcier). 

This bird was originally described by Brisson from specimens 
sent to M. Réaumur by Mons. Atur, from Cayenne; and 
upon this description Linneus founded his Trochilus super- 
ciliosus. In 1835, Nordmann, in Erman’s ‘ Reise um die 
Erde,’ p. 2, bestowed another name upon the species, that of 
T. malaris, quoting Linnzeus’s name as a synonym. But the 
latter must of necessity take precedence, and that of Nord- 
mann become a synonym. In 1858 Mr. Lawrence described 
(J. c.) the Ecuadorian bird as Phaethornis moorei. This form 
is known to us from the fact of the type having been sent to 
Mr. Gould, and, on comparison, proved to be the same as the 
bird which we have been in the habit of receiving from the 
Upper Amazon and Ecuador, and which we now unite with 
P. superciliosus. The P. moorei of Lawrence has been placed 
by Mr. Gould, in his ‘ Introduction to the Trochilide,’ as a 
synonym of a species he calls P. consobrinus of Bourcier. This 
species has never been characterized, and the name only exists 
from the fact that Reichenbach, in his Aufzahlung der Colibris, 


Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilidie. 5 


placed it as a synonym of P. malaris, which is itself a synonym 
of P. superciliosus. Mr. Gould, in the first volume of the ‘Tro- 
chilide,’ described a bird from Cayenne and the neighbouring 
countries as P. fraterculus, stating that its differences from P. 
super ciliosus consist in its smaller size and its somewhat more 
curved bill. We trace this small bird into New Granada and 
the Upper Amazon, from specimens before us ; and we cannot 
separate it from P. superciliosus, the differences being such as 
belong to individuals and sex, rather than such as can be deemed 
specific. In 1860 Cabanis and Heine made some radical 
changes in the synonymy of this and one other species of this 
genus. They associated P. pretrit of Lesson and De Lattre, 
which is the Trochilus superciliosus of Price Maximilian, with 
the true 7. superciliosus of Linnzeus, giving Brazil as its ha- 
bitat ; but we can discover no authority for saying that the 
Linnean bird has ever been found there. For the Cayenne 
bird, which is the true superciliosus of Linnzeus, they use the 
name malaris of Nordmann. These conclusions Mr. Gould 
unfortunately adopted in his ‘ Introduction to the Trochihde,’ 
the synonymy having been previously almost correctly given in 
the text accompanying his plates. 

We notice, on comparing Cayenne with Upper Amazon and 
Ecuadorian specimens, that many of the former have dark- 
coloured throats, but on the other hand some have the ordi- 
nary pale-coloured gular stripe. This would seem to show that 
this character cannot be relied upon as specific. 

We have examined the following specimens :— 

Cayenne: two, Mus. P.L.8.; one, Mus. D.G. EH. (ex Deyrolle). 

Para: three, Mus. J. Gould. 

Pebas: one (Hauawell), Mus. D.G.E.; two (td.), Mus. 8.&G. 

Peruvian Amazon: one (Bartlett), Mus. D. G. E. 

Ecuador: one (e# J. Gould), Mus. D.G. E. Canelos: one 
(Buckley), Mus. 8. &. G. 

Columbia: one, Mus. P. L.S.; two (Bourcier), Mus. D.G. E. 


+-2. PHAETHORNIS LONGIROSTRIS. 
Ornismya longirostris, Less. et De Lattre, Echo du Monde 
Savant, 1843, no. 45. p. 1070, June 15th. 


6 Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. 


Trochilus cephalus, Boure. et Muls. Rev. Zool. 1848, p. 269. 

Phaethornis cassini, Lawr. Ann. N. Y. Lyc. Nat. Hist. vin. 
p. 347. | 

Phaethornis cephalus, Gould, Mon. Troch. pl. 19. 

Phaethornis longirostris, Cab. & Heim. Mus. Hein. Th. iii. 
p- 9; Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 42. 

Phaethornis boliviana, Gould, Intr. Mon. Troch. p. 42. 

Hab. The whole of Central America from Southern Mexico 
to the lower portion of the valley of the Magdalena and Western 
Ecuador. 

Lesson and De Lattre first described this species in the ‘ Echo 
du Monde Savant’ from a specimen obtained in Vera Paz. In 
the ‘ Revue Zoologique’ for 1848, Bourcier and Mulsant rede- 
scribed the species from Central-American specimens collected 
by Sallé, under the name of Phaethornis cephalus. This has 
long been acknowledged to be a synonym of longirostris. Inthe 
‘Annals’ of the New York Lyceum of Natural History for 1866, 
vill. 347, Mr. Lawrence described a specimen from Cartagena, 
collected by Mr. Schott, who was attached to the Atrato ex- 
pedition under Lieut. Michler, as P. cassini. This type has 
been examined by Mr. Gould, who pronounces it to belong to 
P. longirostris, thus adding another to the synonyms appertain- 
ing to this species. 

Through Mr. Gould’s kindness, we have had an opportunity 
of carefully comparing the type specimen of his P. boliviana, 
described in the ‘ Introduction to Trochilide,’ with the large 
series of P. longirostris now before us. The specimen in ques- 
tion is immature, and we cannot separate it from examples of 
the present species from Santa Marta and Costa Rica. We 
cannot but suppose that Mr. Gould is im error in giving Bo- 
livia as the habitat of this species. A second, similar speci- 
men in Mr. Gould’s collection, but of a more adult bird, and 
said to be from Brazil, we refer also to P. longirostris. In 
associating his P. boliviana with P. syrmatophorus, we think 
Mr. Gould to be clearly wrong, the bright rufous upper tail- 
coverts of that species being sufficient to separate it at a glance. 
The differences between P. superciliosus and P. longirostris 
are not very decided and; we are even in doubt whether speci- 


Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. 7 


mens of the two can always be discriminated. As an almost 
invariable rule the fulvous markings of the lower back and 
rump are much clearer in longirostris than in superciliosus ; 
nor do we see in the Central-American bird any tendency to 
assume the dark-coloured throat so prevalent, but not uni- 
versal, in the Cayenne bird. The specimens from which our 
conclusions have been made come from the following lo- 
calities :— 

Mexico: one (Sallé), Mus. D. G. E. 

Vera Paz, Guatemala: four, Mus. D.G. E. Choctun, Vera 
Paz: three (Salv. & Godm.), Mus.8.&G. Vera Paz: one 
(Salv.), Mus. P. L.S. 

Chontales, Nicaragua: two (Belt), Mus. 8. &G. 

Costa Rica: two (Carmiol & Endres), Mus. 8. & G. 

Bugaba, Chiriqui: one (drcé), Mus. 8. & G. 

Lion-Hill Station, Isth. Panama: four (McLeannan), Mus. 
S. & G.; one (#d.), Mus. P. LS. 

Santa Martha: one (Bourcier), Mus. D. G. E. 

Barranquilla: one (Rippon), Mus. P. L.S. 

Esmeraldas: one (Fraser), Mus. P. L.S. 

Bolivia? one, Mus. J. Gould (type of P. boliviana). 

Brazil? one (Campbell), Mus. J. Gould. 


3. PHAETHORNIS HISPIDUS. 

Trochilus hispidus, Gould, P. Z.S. 1846, p. 90. 

Phaethornis hispidus, Gray & Mitch. Gen. Birds, 1. p. 104, 
sp. 14; Gould, Mon. Troch. 1. pl. 22. 

Trochilus oseryi, Boure. & Muls. Ann. des Scien. Lyon, iv. 
1852, p. 139. 

Phaethornis oseryi, Gould, Mon. Troch. pl. 23. 

Phaethornis villosus, Lawr. Ann. N. Y. Lye. vi. p. 259. 

Hab. Bolivia? (Bridges); Rio Pastaza (Bourcier) ; Pebas 
(Hauxwell) ; Upper Ucayali (Bartlet?) ; Archidona, Ecuador 
(Jameson) ; New Granada (fide Gould). 

This species was first described by Mr. Gould from a speci- 
men brought home by the late Mr. Bridges, and stated to have 
been obtained in Peru or Bolivia. Six years afterwards M. 
Bourcier described a specimen from the banks of the Rio 


8 Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. 


Pastaza as 7. oseryi, comparing it with P. anthophilus and 
P. philippii. This species has generally been recognized as 
distinct from Mr. Gould’s P. hispidus ; but on comparing the 
type of that species with several specimens from the Upper 
Amazon, we do not find sufficient differences to separate them. 
Mr. Gould’s figures of both, in his monograph, show a distinct 
arrangement of markings on the throat; but we do not per- 
ceive this to be the case, as all the specimens before us agree 
in the coloration of this part, even Mr. Gould’s type having 
a white line down the centre of the throat, although the fea- 
thers are so disarranged that at first sight it appears to want 
this character. The only difference appreciable is that the 
type of hispidus has a somewhat longer bill, and a very little 
longer wing; but as the length of bill in this species is well 
understood to be of no specific value, we do not deem it in 
this case worthy of consideration. The general coloration 
of all the specimens is identically the same. Mr. Lawrence, 
overlooking M. Bourcier’s description of P. oseryi, and misled 
by Mr. Gould’s plate, redescribed this species as P. villosus. 
We have examined the following examples :— 

Pebas, Peru: two (Haurwell), Mus. 8.&G.; one (Hauzx- 
well), Mus. D.G. E.; one (2d.), Mus. P. L.S. 

Peru or Bolivia: one (Bridges), Mus. J. Gould (type of 
species). 


4, PHAETHORNIS SYRMATOPHORUS. 

Phaethornis syrmatophorus, Gould, Contr. Ornith. 1851, 
p- 189; id. Mon. Troch. pl. 20. 

Hab. Environs of Quito (Jameson) ; Pallatanga (Fraser). 

This is a very distinct and well-marked species, and has its 
nearest ally in P. pretriz. 

The following are our specimens :— 

Ecuador: one (ev Gould), one (Buckley), Mus. 8. & G.; 
one (ex Gould), one (Buckley), Mus. D. G. E.- 

Pallatanga: one, (Fraser) Mus. P. L.8. 


5. PHABTHORNIS EURYNOME. 
Trochilus eurynome, Less. Troch. p. 91, t. 31. 
Phaethornis eurynome, Gray & Mitch. Gen. Birds, i. 


Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilidee. 9 


p- 104, sp. 5; Gould, Mon. Troch. 1. pl. 16; Pelz. Orn. Bras. 
p. 27. 

Hab. Brazil, Mattodentro, Ypanema (Nait.). 

This very well-known species is found in almost every col- 
lection coming from Rio Janeiro, but, so far as we are aware, 
from none of the more northern provinces. 

Rio Janeiro: two (Youds), Mus. S.&G.; three, Mus. 
DeG. EB. 

Brazil: two, Mus. S.&G.; one, Mus. P. L. 8S. 


6. PHAETHORNIS SQUALIDUS. 


Trochilus squalidus, Temm. Pl. Col. 120. fig. 1 (1823), ex 
Natt. MS. 

Phaethornis squalidus, Cab. & Hein. Mus. Hein. Th. iii. p. 8. 

Phaethornis intermedius, Gould (nec Less.), Mon. Troch. 
pl. 30. 

Phaethornis squalidus, Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 45 ; Pelz. 
Orn. Bras. p. 27. 

Trochilus leucophrys, Nordm. Erm. Reise, p. 2 (1835). 

Hab. South-east Brazil. 

This species has been figured by Mr. Gould as the P. inter- 
medius of Lesson ; but in his ‘Introduction’ he has changed the 
name correctly to that of sgualidus of Temminck. With the 
former species, whatever it may be, the present has nothing 
to do; under the latter name it is sufficiently well figured 
by Temminck, who described it in the ‘ Planches Coloriées.’ 
It is an abundant and easily recognizable species, and is sent 
in quantities in collections from Rio Janeiro. Natterer pro- 
cured many specimens in the southern and interior portions 
of Brazil. 

Our specimens are the following :— j 

Rio Janeiro: two, Mus. 8.&G.; two, Mus. D.G.E; one, 
Mus. P.L.S. 

Santa Fé, Minas Geraes: one (Rogers), Mus. 8. & G. 


7. PHAETHORNIS ANTHOPHILUS. 
Trochilus anthophilus, Bourc. Rev. Zool. 1843, p.71; Boure. 
& Muls. Ann. des Sci. Lyon, 1843, p. 47. 


10 Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. 


Phaethornis anthophilus, Gray & Mitch. Gen. Birds, i. p. 104, 
sp. 15; Gould, Mon. Troch. 1. pl. 24; Uricoechia, Contr. a las 
Cienc. 1861, p. 7. 

Hab. Upper part of the valley of the Magdalena, temperate 
region (Bourcier) ; Tibacuy (Uricoechia) ; Venezuela (Goering) . 

Bourcier, in the ‘ Revue Zoologique’ for 1843, described 
this bird from specimens in his own collection, giving as the 
habitat the temperate region of the upper valley of the Mag- 
dalena. This article appears to have been reproduced in the 
‘Annals’ of the Society of Lyons under the authorship of 
MM. Bourcier and Mulsant, in which the precise habitat 
given above is omitted. Mr. Gould seems to have consulted 
the latter journal only, inasmuch as he states that M. Bour- 
cier was unaware of the locality from which his specimen 
came, and he (Mr. Gould) assigns it correctly to Columbia, 
though not for the first time. The extension of its range into 
Venezuela is based upon a single specimen sent direct from 
that country by Mr. A. Goering (P. Z.S. 1868, p. 628). The 
only other authority for the range of this species being greater 
than that already given depends on the fact that Pelzeln, in 
the Ornith. Brasil. p. 27, records one specimen from Engenho 
do Gama, collected by Natterer. It is just possible that this 
specimen may have been wrongly identified. 

We have examined the following specimens :— 

Venezuela: one (Goering), Mus. 8. & G. 

New Granada: three, Mus. D.G. E.; one (ew Gould), Mus. 
Pe. 5: 

Bogota: two, Mus. 8.&G.; one, Mus. P. L.S. 

Barranquilla : one (Rippon), Mus. P. L.S. 


8. PHAETHORNIS AUGUSTI. 


Trochilus augusti, Bourc. Ann. des Scien. Phys. &c. de Lyon, 
. p. 623 (1847). 

Phaethornis augusti, Gould, Mon. Troch. 1. pl. 29; Wyatt, 
Ibis, 1871, p. 376. 

Hab.Caraccas, Venezuela (Sallé) ; Ocaiia, Columbia (Wyatt). 

The position of this species is rightly indicated by M. 
Bourcier as being next to P. pretrii, of Brazil. Besides the 


—_- 


Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. ll 


country from which the type came, it has also been obtained 
by Mr. Wyatt at Ocaiia, in the valley of the Magdalena. 
The following specimens have been examined :— 
Venezuela: one (Sallé), one (Bourcier), one (Bouvier), 
Mus. D.G.E.; one (Sallé), Mus. 8. & G. 


9. PHAETHORNIS PRETRII. 

Trochilus pretrii, Less. et De Latt. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 20. 

Phaethornis pretru, Gray & Mitch. Gen. Birds, i. p. 104, 
t. 85. sp. 16; Gould, Mon. Troch. 1. pl. 28. 

Trochilus superciliosus, Max. Beitr. iv. p. 116 (1882). 

Phaethornis superciliosus, Cab. & Hein. Mus. Hein. Th. iii. 
p. 9 (1860) ; Gould, Introd. Troch. p. 45. 

Hab. Minas Geraes (Rogers) ; Bahia (Pr. Max. ; Wucherer). 

This species was first fully described by Prince Max., under 
the name of P. superciliosus, he having mistaken it for the 
species described by Linnzeus under that name. In 1839 
Lesson and De Lattre redescribed it in the ‘ Revue Zoolo- 
gique’ as P. pretrii, which name will of course be the one for 
it to bear. The types of these last-named authors were pro- 
cured from the Brazilian province of Minas Geraes. Cabanis 
and Heme in their ‘Museum Hemeanum,’ for reasons we 
cannot appreciate, assumed this species to be the P. supercili- 
osus of Linnzeus, a course which unfortunately was followed by 
Mr. Gould in his ‘Introduction to the Trochilide, though 
in the body of his work he figured it under its proper name. 
It is a well-known and well-marked Brazilian bird, being sent 
not unfrequently from Bahia; and we have also before us a 
skin from Minas Geraes, recently sent by Mr. Rogers. 

The following specimens have been examined :— 

Pernambuco: two (Bourcier), Mus. D. G. E. 

Bahia: one (Youds), Mus. 8. & G.; one, Mus. D. G. E. 

Brazil: two, Mus. D.G.E.; one, Mus. P. L.S. 

Santa Fé, Minas Geraes: one (Rogers), Mus. 8. & G. 


10. PHanrHoRNIS YARUQUI. 

Trochilus yaruqui, Bourc. Compt. Rend. no, xxxii. p. 187. 
Phaethornis yaruqui, Gould, Mon. Troch. pl. 27. 

Hab. Ecuador; environs of Yaruqui (Bourcier). 


ib Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. 


This fine species is easily recognized from its allies by having 
the entire tail-feathers of a uniform glossy black. It appears 
abundant in Keuador. 

Our specimens are as follows :— 

Ecuador: two (ev Gould), Mus. D.G.E.; one (Fraser), 
Mus. P.L.8.; three (ev Gould), Mus. S.& G.; one (Buckley), 
Mus. 8. & G. 

11. PHAErTHORNIS GUYI. 

Trochilus guyt, Less. Hist. Troch. p. 119, t. 44. 

Phaethornis guyi, Gray & Mitch. Gen. of Birds, 1. p. 104, 
sp. 6; Gould, Mon. Troch. pl. 26. 

Hab. Venezuela (Goering) ; Trinidad (Léotaud). 

This species, first described by Lesson in his ‘ Hist. Troch.,’ 
differs from the others of this section in having the base of 
the tail a bright glitterimg green. It is a native of Trinidad 
and Venezuela, having been procured in the latter country by 
Mr. A. Goering. 

We have examined the following examples :— 

Venezuela: one (Goering), Mus. 8S.& G. 

Trinidad: one (ev Gould), Mus. D.G. E. 

Trinidad: one, Mus. J. Gould; one, Mus. P. L.S. 

And others with localities of questionable authenticity. 
+12. PHAETHORNIS EMILIA. 

Trochilus emilie, Boure. Ann. Soe. Sci.de Lyon (1846), p.317. 

Phaethornis emilie, Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 44. 

Hab. New Grenada (Bourcier); Veragua (Arcé) ; Costa 
Rica (Arcé). 

This bird was described by M. Bourcier as distinct from 
the P. guyi; but Mr. Gould, in his article on that species, has 
thrown reasonable doubts upon its specific value. From the 
specimens before us we find that it is difficult, perhaps impos- 
sible, to distinguish many Columbian examples from those 
from Venezuela. The Central-American specimens are a little 
more blue; and though we doubt if ultimately the distinctness 
of the two species can be maintained, yet for the present we 
refrain from placing both forms under the same name*. 


* Since the above was in type Mr. H. Whitely has sent a specimen 
undistinguishable from P. guyi from Eastern Peru. It may be that the 


Messrs. Salvin and Elhot on the Trochilide. 13) 


Our examples are as follows :— 

New Granada: three, Mus. 8.&G.; four, Mus. D. G. E. 

Veragua: four (Arcé), Mus. S.&G.; three (Arcé), Mus. 
DG. HE vone (Arce), Mus: Pallas: 

Costa Rica: five (Arcé), Mus. S.& G. 


13. PHAETHORNIS BOURCIERI. 

Trochilus bourcieri, Less. Les Trochil. p. 62, t. 18 (1832). 

Phaethormis bourciert, Gray & Mitch. Gen. Birds, 1. p. 104, 
sp. 9; Gould, Mon. Troch. pl. 25. 

Ametrornis abnormis, Reich. Journ. fiir Ornith. 1853, p. 14; 
Pelz. Orn. Bras. pp. 27, 56. 

Hab. Pebas, Peru (Hauxwell) ; Marabitanas (Natt.). 

Lesson described this species from a specimen sent to him 
by M. Bourcier, and he says that it appears to live in Brazil. 
Its locality is satisfactorily fixed by specimens sent from the 
Upper Amazon by Hauxwell (from Pebas), and by Mr. E. 
Bartlett from Xeberos and Chyavetas. The Ametrornis ab- 
normis of Pelzeln, of which Salvin has examined the type in 
the Vienna Museum, is inseparable from this species. This 
extends the range of the species to Marabitanas on the Rio 
Negro, where Natterer procured his single specimen. Mr. 
Gould, and also Cabanis (Mus. Hein.), state that the species 
is found in Cayenne; but we have been unable to verify this 
assertion. 

We have examined the following examples :— 

Pebas, Peru: two (Hauxwell), Mus. 8.&G.; two (id.), Mus. 
DIG.E. 

14. PHAETHORNIS PHILIPPII. 

Trochilus philippii, Boure. Aun. Se. de Lyon, 1847, p. 623. 

Phaethornis philippi, Gray & Mitch. Gen. Birds, i. p. 104, 
sp. 18; Gould, Mon. Troch. 1. pl. 21. 

Hab. Bolivia (fide Bourc.). 


Columbian birds referred to above really belong to this species, and that its 
range extends southwards in the warm valleys of the eastern slope of the 
Andes, the range of P. emilie extending throughout the valley of the 
Magdalena northwards to Costa Rica. 

According to Heine (J. f. Orn. 1868, p. 177) P. apicalis, Tsch. F. P. 2438, 
described from a specimen in the Berlin Museum, is the same as P. emilie. 


14 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


The type of this species, which we believe still remains unique, 
is now in Elliot’s collection ; and though evidently allied (from 
its straight bill) to P. bourcieri, is eminently distinct from 
that species in coloration. We may remark that, although 
Mr. Gould expresses a doubt from what part of America this 
bird was procured, M. Bourcier, in his original description, 
without hesitation assigns Bolivia as its habitat. 

Bolivia: (Bourcier) Mus. D. G. E. (type of species). 


I1.—On the Birds in the Imperial Collection at Vienna obtained 
from the Leverian Museum. By A. von PELzELN. 


(Plate I.) 


Iv was in the year 1806 that the celebrated museum formerly 
in possession of Sir Ashton Lever and then of Mr. T. Park- 
inson, was sold by auctionin London. Rich as this collection 
was, its value was further increased by the circumstance that 
the types of a number of species described by various authors 
were therein included. The reigning Emperor of Austria, 
Francis I., resolved, on the report of Director von Schrei- 
bers, that some of the treasures of this collection should be 
acquired for the Imperial Museum at Vienna; and the well- 
known naturalist Leopold von Fichtel, bemg about to proceed 
to England, was commissioned with the negotiation of the 
purchase. In fulfilling his mission Herr von Fichtel bought 
at the auction no less than 82 mammals, more than 200 birds, 
60 reptiles, 73 fishes, and other objects of various classes of 
the animal kingdom*. Among the birds there were included 
a considerable number of types, especially of species described 
or figured by Latham in his ‘ General Synopsis of Birds’ and 
‘Index Ornithologicus,’ by White in the ‘ Journal of a Voyage 
to New South Wales,’ and by Shaw in the ‘ Museum Leveri- 
anum’ yt. 

Believing that it is of importance to science that the exis- 

* See Fitzinger, “Geschichte des k.-k. Hof-Naturalien-Cabinetes zu 
Wien, ii. Abth.,” in Sitzungsb. d. k. Akad. d. Wissensch. lvii. (1868) p. 1040. 


+ Musei Leveriani explicatio anglica et latina, 1792-1796. Published 
by James Parkinson, proprietor of the above museum. I regret that the 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 15 


tence of type specimens and the place where they are depo- 
sited should be known, especially in cases where only very 
few or no more specimens have been since collected, I pro- 
pose to give in the following pages a catalogue of the birds 
obtained from the Leverian Museum, with such remarks as 
seem called for respecting them. 

This catalogue is based on specimens still contained in 
the Vienna Museum, on the inventory of birds received 
through Herr von Fichtel of the Leverian collection, and 
on the old MS. catalogue of our ornithological museum. In 
the inventory it is said that the species obtained from dealers 
are marked with an asterisk; but as the whole acquisition is 
inscribed as from the Leverian Museum, it is probable that 
the birds marked in this way were bought by dealers at the 
auction and then purchased by Herr von Fichtel. Besides 
these, a number of species are contained in a separate inventory 
as purchased from Herr von Fichtel im the year 1806. As in 
a few cases it is said expressly in this catalogue that the spe- 
cimens are from the Museum Leverianum, and as other birds 
seem with the greatest probability to be from the same source, 
I have thought it useful, for greater completeness, to include 
also these species in the present paper. 

To separate, however, the certain from the probable, and 
with the intention of giving an account as accurate as possible, 
I have divided this paper into two parts, the first of which 
treats of birds obtained directly from the Museum Leverianum, 
the other of those obtained through dealers and purchased 
from Herr von Fichtel. 

In both lists I have added such synonyms from older works 
as seemed in some way useful for the determination of the 
species, especially the descriptions and plates, which were taken 
from the specimens here enumerated. 


Supplement ii. of Latham’s ‘General Synopsis’ is not in our library, and 
that therefore, respecting the species described therein for the first time, 
I am only able to compare the short descriptions in the ‘Index Ornitho- 
logicus’ and the quotations in Shaw’s ‘General Zoology.’ Under these 
circumstances it is not always possible to say whether specimens in our 
collection were Latham’s types or not. 


16 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


As the importance of typical specimens was formerly not so 
acknowledged as now-a-days, several of the types, being in bad 
preservation, were transferred to the duplicates. I have there- 
fore given an indication in every case where the specimens 
no longer exist in our collection. 


PART I. 


Birds enumerated in the inventory as obtained directly from the 
Museum Leverianum. 


VULTURID. 


1. SaRcoRAMPHUS GRYPHUS (Linné). (280, 51.) 

Condur, Latham, Gen. Synops. i. 4; Suppl. 1. p. 1. 

Vultur gryphus, Linné; Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 1. n. 1; Shaw, 
Mus. Lever. vi. (1796) t. 1; Humboldt, Rec. d’Observ. 1811, 
i, 26-45, t. 8, 9 (Mém. lu a P Acad. 13 Oct. 1806). 

Vultur magellanicus, Shaw, Mus. Lever. i. (1792) t. 1. 

Sarcoramphus cuntur, Duméril, Zool. Anal. 1806, 32. 

Vultur condor, Shaw, Gen. Zool. 1809, vii. 2, t. 2 et 3, t. 4 
(copied from Humboldt). 

Cathartes gryphus (L.), Temm. PI. Col. t. 183 (m. ad.) , 494 
(caput maris), 408 (fem. juv.). 

The male (280) is the type of the descriptions and figures 
of Shaw (Mus. Lever. vi. t. 1, and Gen. Zool. t. 2) and Tem- 
minck (Pl. Col. 133), where also measurements are given. 

The female (51) was bought by Herr von Fichtel; it was 
not enumerated among the birds from the Museum Leve- 
rianum, but in another inventory of birds which were purchased 
(1806) from Herr von Fichtel. Nevertheless, as at this time 
the Leverian collection was in possession of the unique pair of 
this Vulture, as Shaw (Gen. Zool. 7) remarks that it is said 
that both specimens were purchased for the Emperor of Aus- 
tria, and as this is confirmed by Temminck~*, it appears doubt- 

* “Te Muséum Impérial & Vienne est la seule collection en Europe ou 
se trouve un couple de ces oiseaux ; ce sont les mémes qui ont fait partie 
de la belle collection du Leverian Museum a Londres; ils ont été acquis 
par l’Empereur d’Autriche lors de la vente de cette brillante collection ; 


ces deux individus sont les senls apportés en Europe depuis la découverte 
de l’ Amérique.” —TEMMINCK, /. c. 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. a6 


less that this female is the type of Vultur magellanicus, Shaw 
(Mus. Lever. i. t. 1), and Vultur gryphus, fem. (Gen. Zool. 
t. 3). The male as well as the female were brought from the 
Magellan coasts by Captain Middleton, of the Royal Navy. 


2. SaRcoraMPuHus Papa (L.). (231.) 

King Vulture, Lath. Gen. Synops. 1. 7, n. 3. 

Latham mentions that this species was contained in the 
Museum Leverianum ; our specimen from that collection was 
transferred to the duplicates (1861). 


_FALCONID Zé. 


3. Mirvaco austrais (Gmel.).  (115.) 

Statenland Eagle, Lath. Synops. 1. 1. 40. 

- New Zealand Falcon, Lath. ibid. t. 4 (solum tab. nec descr.). 

Falco leucurus, Forster, Icon. ined. n. 34. 

Falco australis, Gmel. Syst. 259. n. 53; Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 
16. n. 23. 

Falco nove-zelandie, Temminck, Pl. Col. t. 192 et 224. 

Circaétus antarcticus, Less. Traité, 49. 

Vultur plancus fem., Forster, Descr. An. 323 (insula Novi 
Anni, ad Terram Statuum). 

Milvago leucurus, Gould, Zool. Beagle, ii. 13 et 15. 

The specimen was inscribed in the old inventory as Falco 
nove zeelandie, L. Latham’s plate 4 belongs to this species, 
but shows a much lighter colouring than the individual in our 
possession, which corresponds with Temminck’s t. 192; the 
inner web of one of the rectrices in our bird is pale ferru- 
ginous, which seems to indicate that the obscure plumage 
of the adult (female ?) is preceded by a dress with ferruginous 
tail. 


4. LeucorpTerNis ALBICOLLIS, Latham. (163.) 

White-necked Falcon, Lath. Gen. Syn. Suppl. 30. n. 101. 

Falco albicollis, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 36, 81. 

Falco picatus, Shaw, Gen. Zool. vu. 167. 

Spotted Eagle of the old inventory. 

The specimen from the Mus. Lever. is no longer in the 
collection. 

SER. UI.—VOL. III. c 


18 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


5. Tinnuncutvs sparvertius (Linn.). (265.) 

Male? (Tobago Hawk) not agreeing with Latham’s descrip- 
tion (New York Merlin, Synop. i. 107, 93, var. A; Little 
Falcon, /. c. 110. n. 94; St. Domingo Falcon, /. c. 111, 95). 


6. [ERACIDEA NOVH ZEELANDIZ (Gmel.). (1295.) 

New Zealand Falcon, Lath. Gen. Syn. 1. 57. 38 (nec tab.). 

Falco nove zeelandie, Gmel. Syst. 1. 268. 

Falco nove zelandie, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 28. 62. 

Falco harpe, Forst. Descr. 68 et Icon. ined. 36, 37, 38. 

Falco brunneus, Gould, P. Z.S. 1837, 139. 

Mieracidea nove-zealandie, Kaup, Isis, 1847, 80; Gray, 
Ibis, 1862, 214; Buller, Trans. and Proc. N. Zeal. Inst. i. 
106 (H. brunnea is the young of H. nove-zeal.) ; Hutton, 
ibid. 160; Finsch, Journ. f. Ornith. 1870, 243. 

Mieracidea brunnea (Gould), Gray, Gen. B. 11. 15. 

Hawk, S. Seas, Sale Cat. n. 2219 (old invent.). 

A young bird in the dress called J. brunnea. Its total length 
is 15"; the wing measures 9", the tail 7". 

7. AccrPiTeR Fuscus (Gmel.). (190.) 

Striated Hawk, Jamaica, Sale Cat. n. 4497. 

This specimen is no longer in the collection. 


STRIGID A. 

8. ATHENE ToRQUATA (Daud.). 

Spectacle Owl, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. i. 50. t. 107. 

Strix perspicillata, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 58, 24. 

The type of Latham’s description and figure, now in our 
museum, was originally in a collection of birds which was 
brought from Cayenne, and then transferred to the Leverian 
collection. The bird is in the transition from the white dress 
of the young to the plumage of the adult. 


9. SyRNIUM CINEREUM (Gmel.). (88.) 

Sooty Owl, Penn. Arct: Zool. ui. p. 232. n. 120. 

Cinereous Owl, Lath. Gen. Synops. i. 134. 19, et Suppl. 45. 

Strix cinerea, Gmel. Syst. 1. 291; Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 58. 22. 

Stria fuliginosa, Shaw, Mus. Lever. (1796) t. 

Strix cinerea, Gmel. (H. fuliginosa, Mus. Lever.), in the 
inventory. 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 19 


Latham’s description is taken from a type in the British 
Museum ; but Shaw, /. c., gives a representation of a specimen 
formerly in the Leverian collection. 


10. Epurarres asto (Linné). (306.) 
Our individual agrees well with Latham’s description of the 
Mottled-eared Owl (Synops. 1. 126. 11). 


EURYLAMIDA. 


11. CyMBIRHYNCHUS MACRORHYNCHUS (Gmel.). (78.) 
Great-billed Tody, Lath. Gen. Synops. i. 664. n. 14, t. 30. 
Todus macrorhynchus, Gmel. Syst. i. 446. 15. 

Todus nasutus, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 268. 14. 

Latham’s type (Todus nasutus). Locality unknown. 


TROGONID 4. 


12. Trocon viripis, Linné. (130.) 

Leverian Trogon, Lath. Gen. Syn. Suppl. u. 131. 

Trogon leverianus, Shaw, Mus. Lever. t. 177; Lath. Ind. 
Orn. Suppl. xxix. 1; Gray, Gen. 70. 

Couroucou albane mdle, Levaill. Hist. Nat. Couroue. t. 5. 

Trogon albiventer, Cuv. 

Trogon viridis, L.; Gray, Hand-l. i. 81. 

The male (Sale Cat. n. 4785) is the type of Shaw’s descrip- 
tion and plate; the abdomen has changed from yellow to 
white, probably by the influence of light. 


ALCEDINIDA. 


13. Hatcyon sacra (Gmel.).  (135.) 

Sacred Kingfisher, Lath. Gen. Synops. 1. 621. 12, excl. var. 

Alcedo sacra, Gmel. Syst.1.453; Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 250. 15. 

Halcyon sacra (Gmel.), Hartl. et Finsch, Orn. Central- 
Polyn. 82. 

The type of Latham’s description (Sale Cat. n. 6084) has a 
pale ferruginous superciliary stripe, and agrees therefore with 
the birds considered by MM. Hartlaub and Finsch younger 
individuals. 

Latham’s passage, ‘under the blue beneath the eye, a nar- 

c2 


20 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


row orange-ferruginous stripe,” is, as M. Finsch says, unin- 


telligible ; and on the type there is nothing corresponding with 
it, but a slight tinge of yellowish under the dark band over 
the ears. Latham gives Otaheite as habitat. 


14. Hatcyon sancta, Vig. et Horsf. (266.) 

Sacred King’s Fisher, Phillip’s Voy. New South Wales, 149, 
t. 29 (fide Cab.) ; White, Voy. New South Wales, tab. ad. 
pag. 193. 

Halcyon sanctus, Vig. et Horsf.; Gould, Hand-b. B. Austr. 
isl28. 

Sauropatis sancta, Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. 11. 158. 

A young bird. I am not quite sure whether this is the 
bird which was obtained from the Leverian Museum. 


15. ToprRAMPHUS VENERATUS, Gmel. (182.) 

Venerated Kingfisher, Lath. Gen. Synops. i. 623. 13. 

Alcedo venerata, Gmel. Syst. 1. 453. 29; Lath. Ind. Orn. 
1, 251. 16. 

Halcyon venerata (Gmel.), Gray, Gen. 79; Pélzeln, Sitzgs- 
ber. d. k. Akad. xx. (1856) 501; Ornith. Novara, 47. 

Latham’s type (Sale Cat. n.4251) is in our museum ; it is 
marked as having been brought from the Friendly Isles (from 
the island of Apye, as Latham says in his Synopsis). 


TROCHILIDA. 


16. PHAETORNIS sUPERCILIOsUS (Linné). (186.) 

Supercilious Humming-bird, Lath. Gen. Synops. ii. 747. 

The bird, Sale Cat. n. 6354, seems to have been the spe- 
cimen mentioned by Latham as contained in Leverian Mu- 
seum ; it no longer exists in the collection. 


17. LopHornis ornata (Bodd.). (189.) 

Hupecol, Buffon, Ois. vii. 14; Pl. Enl. 640. 3. 

Tufted-necked Humming-bird, Lath. Gen. Syn. 11. 784, 55. 

Trochilus auratus, Gmel. Syst. 1. 497. 

Trochilus ornatus, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 318, 58; Shaw, Mus. 
Lever. t. 130. 

A male (from Cayenne), the type of Shaw’s figure. 

Latham mentions that this species was represented in the 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 21 


Leverian collection; but his description is evidently a repro- 
duction of that of Buffon. 


MELIPHAGID A. 


18. Drepanis pacirica (Gmel.). (m. 112, f. 113.) 

Great Hook-billed Creeper, Lath. Gen. Synops. 11. 703. 3 
(Friendly Isles, Mus. Lever.), Suppl. 126 (Owhyhee). 

Hoohoo, Cook’s last Voy. i. 119. 

Certhia pacifica, Gmel. Syst. i. 470; Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 
281. 3. 

Hoho, Audub. et Vieill. Ois. Dor. ii. t. 63 (from a specimen 
from Mus. Lever., lent by Parkinson). 

Merops jaunoir, Levaill. Hist. Nat. des. Promer. t. 19 (err. 
New Holl.). | 

Drepanis pacifica (Gmel.), Temm. Man. d’Orn. 2nd ed. 1. 
Ixxxvi. 1820; Gray, Birds Trop. Isl. Pacif. Oc. 7; Reichen- 
bach, Handb. d. Sp. Orn. 253, sp.614; Gray, Hand-l. i. 113. 

We have two specimens from Owhyhee, marked male 
(no. 112) and female (118), Sale Cat. n. 2790, the types of 
Latham’s description, and one of them also the original of the 
plate of Vieillot, to whom it was lent by Mr. Parkinson. It 
seems probable to me that these birds are from Cook’s voyage ; 
I am not aware if, besides these, and the specimen formerly 
contained in Levaillant’s collection, other individuals are to 
be found in European museums. 

Mr. Peale (United States Expl. Exp. 1848, 149) asserts 
that he collected a bird, which he thought to be Drepanis pa- 
cifica, in the island of Kanai, one of the Sandwich group ;_ but 
Cassin (ibid. new edit. 1858, 172) refers it to his Mohoa 
braccata (Proc. Acad. Philad. vii. 1855, 440). I regret that 
I am not enabled to compare Cassin’s description of the 
latter species, this volume of the Philadelphia ‘ Proceedings ’ 
being incomplete in our library. 


19. Psrrrrrostra psirracea (Gmel.).  (79.) 

Parrot-billed Grosbeak, Lath. Gen. Synops. 111. 108. 3, t. 42. 

Parroquet, Cook’s last Voy. 11. 119. 

Loxia psittacea, Gmel. Syst. i. 844; Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 
371. 3. 


Qe A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


Psittirostra psittacea (Gmel.), Temm. Man. d’Ornith. 2nd 
edit. i. Ixx. 1820; Gray, Hand-l. i. 114. 

Psittacirostra icterocephala, Temm. Pl. Col. 457. 

We are in possession of the type of Latham’s description 
of the male and upper yellow-headed figure. It was marked 
n. 79 (Sale Cat. 4270) ; and a habitat is given, Sandwich Is- 
lands. Temminck (PI. Col. /.c.) states that he saw the two 
specimens in the collection of Sir A. Lever, and thought that 
they were doubtless collected during Capt. Cook’s expedition. 
The fate of the other specimen figured by Latham is unknown 
tome. In the year 1840 a male, and a young male collected 
at Enero, Oban, 1837, were acquired from M. Deppe, of Berlin. 
Even the older one differs from Latham’s male bird, the mid- 
dle of the breast and belly and the thighs being whitish. 


20. Meipuaca pHRyGIA (Lath.). (83.) 

Black and yellow Bee-eater, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. 1. 
154. 12; New Holland Birds, 13, pl. 4. 
- Merops phrygius, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1i., Suppl. xxxiv. 7. 

The specimen from the Leverian Museum (Merops phryguwus, 
var.) was in bad condition, and therefore not introduced into 


the collection. 


21. ANTHORNIS MELANURA (Sparrm.).  (292.) 

Mocking Creeper, Lath. Gen. Synops. ii. 735. 39 (Mus. 
Lever.), et Suppl. 129. 

Certhia melanura, Sparrm. Mus. Carls. t. 5. 

Certhia sannio, Gmel. Syst. i. 471; Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 296. 
48. 

Certhia olivacea, Forst. Descript. An. 79, et Icon. ined. 62. 

The specimen (Certhia sannio), probably Latham’s type, 
was rejected, being in bad state. 


ANABATIDA. 


22. Srrra pusiuna, Lath. (277.) 

European Nuthatch, var. C, Lath. Gen. Synops. ui. 651. 1. 
Least Nuthatch, Lath. ibid. Suppl. 118. 9. 

Sitta pusilla, Lath. Ind. Orn. 11. 263. 5. 

Brown-headed Tody, Carolina, Sale Cat. n. 6191. 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 23 


Latham says that he saw several specimens of this species 
at Mr. Humphries’s, of Long Acre, but does not mention that 
a bird of this species was contained in the Leverian Museum. 


LUSCINIID A. 
23. TaTaRE LonGrRosTRIsS (Gmel.). (267, 268.) 


T. corpore supra brunnescente olivaceo, uropygio (ob colorem 
marginum plumarum) flavescente, regione auriculari dorso 
concolori, tectricibus alarum superioribus majoribus et 
secundartis ultimis late flavo albido terminatis, remigibus 
reliquis margine angustissimo flavo, loris, superciliis et 
gastreo sulphurescenti-flavis (colore magis intenso quam 
in Tatare ex Otahiti), in gula et pectore parum olivaceo 
admixto, rectricibus mediis brunneis flavido terminatis, 
lateralibus utrinque 4-5 flavo-albidis, scapis concoloribus, 
rostro longo subcurvato, maxilla, exclusis marginibus, 
cornea, his et mandibula pallidis, pedibus flavo-corneis. 
Longit. 9", ale 4, caude 32", rostri a fronte 13”, a 
naribus 103", a rictu 18", tars. 15 (167)!". 

Differt a T. otaitiensi, Less.*, statura majore, rostro longiore 
subcurvato, corpore supra (ad uropygium usque) cum 
regione auriculari unicolori gastrzeo intensius flavo et 
rectricibus lateralibus utrinque 4-5 penitus albidist. 


Long-billed Thrush, Latham, Gen. Synops. 111. 67. 84 (Mus. 
Lever. from Eimeo). 

Turdus longirostris, Gmel. Syst. i. 823; Lath. Ind. Orn. 
1. 852. 92. 

Tatare longirostris (Gmel.), Gray, Birds Trop. Isl. Pacif. 
Oc. 14; Fimsch et Hartl. Orn. Central-Polyn. 66 (partim) ; 
Gray, Hand-l. 1. 194 (partim). 

Hab. Kimeo. 

A male (267, Large Flycatcher, then Turdus longirostris), 
probably Latham’s type, and another specimen (268, Large 


* Gray, B. Trop. Isl. Pacif. Oc. 14; Tatare longirostris, Finsch et Hartl. 
Orn. Central-Polyn. 66 (partim). 

t+ In our specimen five of the rectrices of one side are entirely yellowish 
white, with the shafts of the same colour, on the other side four are 
similar and one with brown basal and whitish terminal half, the two me- 
dian rectrices brown, one with a scarcely visible, the other with a 4—5'” 
broad terminal whitish spot. 


24 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


Flycatcher, f., then philedon) were, as in bad condition, not 
accepted for the-collection. 

We are, however, in possession of another specimen from 
Eimeo (contained in a different inventory of the year 1806), 
which was obtained through Herr von Fichtel, and which 
agrees perfectly with Latham’s excellent description of his 
Long-billed Thrush. It was probably purchased at a dealer’s 
or from a collection in London. Comparing this bird with 
the other specimens of Tatare in Our museum, all from Tahiti, 
the differences, principally of size, seem to me so considerable 
that I can scarcely believe in their specific identity. The 
measurements of the five individuals of 7. otaitiensis, Less., 


in our collection are as follows :— 
Bill from 


Length. Wing. Tail. gape. nostril. Tars. 


Maine ANS ne inwwee tin: lin. lin. 
1. Purchased by Natterer. 
Ta btlee evs cassie. Ars ee 7 10 3 8 3 2 15 8) 14 
2. From M. Parzudaki. 
MPahitigeics erates cet 7 10 3 9 3 9 16 94 14 
3. ? ? 8 0 3.8 33 152 9 14 
4, Et Novara Exp. M. , 3 3 10 34 163 94 143 
5. M. AN NO 45 gos i % 3 8 3 2 16 9 142 


In all these birds the upperside is more or less variegated 
by yellowish margins to the feathers, the underside is of a 
very pale yellowish, the auricular region being of the latter 
colour, all the rectrices are brown, with whitish tips; only in 
no. 4 there are some immature lateral! tail-feathers with white 
tips and yellowish inner webs. 

My friends MM. Finsch and Hartlaub, im their excellent 
book on the fauna of Central Polynesia, have maintamed with 
cogent arguments the identity of 7. longirostris and T. otai- 
tiensis; but could they compare the specimens cited above, 
which agree so remarkably with Latham’s description, I believe 
they would also agree with me that there are two species, as 
Mr. G. R. Gray formerly (Birds Tropic. Isl.) arranged them*. 

The species here described (Turdus longirostris, Gmel.) in- 
habits Eimeo ; but according to the descriptions given of birds 


* [But see Grandidier on the difference between the sexes in Bernieria, 
an allied genus from Madagascar. Rey. Zool. 1868, p. 50.—Ep. ] 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 25 


from that island in the Bremen Museum, it seems that both 
species would occur there*. 

To which species the birds in the possession of Sir Joseph 
Banks, said to have come from York Island, of which Latham 
makes mention, belong, cannot be decided. 


TURDIDA. 


24. Turpus Fiavirss, Vieill. (199, 200.) 
A male (199, Thrush, Christians’ Isle) is yet in the collec- 
tion, but not the female (200). 


25. Mimus orpHevs (Linné). (202.) 

Turdus orpheus, Sale Cat. 3603, Jamaica. 

Apparently a young bird, with pale bill, not fully adult re- 
miges, underside washed strongly with isabel. 

Shaw’s plate (Mus. Lever. p. 116) seems to represent 
another specimen. 


26. Mimus caro.inensis (Linné). (154.) 

Cat Flycatcher, Lath. Synops. 11. 353. 54. 

Our specimen is a typical one, with red vent. Latham says 
that a bird of this species, which came from Kamtschatka (!), 
and was then in the Leverian Museum, differed in not having 
the vent red. 


27. CopsycHuUS SAULARIS (Linné). (86.) 

Male (Gracula saularis, from Bengal). 

Latham, in describing this species (Gen. Synops. 11. 465, et 
Suppl. 91), made no mention of its presence in the Leverian 
Museum. 


28. CirracrncLa MacrourRA (Gmel.). (1388.) 

Long-tailed Thrush, Lath. Gen. Synops. ii. 72, t. 39 (from 
Pulo Condore). 

Turdus macrourus, Gmel. Syst. 1. 820; Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 
354, 100. 

The bird from the Leverian Museum, probably the type of 
Latham’s description and figure, is no longer in our collection. 


* In the nearly related genus Calamoherpe two very closely allied species, 
viz. C. arundinacea and C. palustris, also inhabit the same countries. 


26 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


PYCNONOTID 4. 


29. GARRULAX CHINENSIS (Scop.). (257, 288.) 

Le petit Geay de la Chine, Sonnerat Voy. Ind. 11. 188, t. 107. 

Black-faced Thrush, Lath. Gen. Syn. 11. 87. 86 (China). 

Lanius chinensis, Scopoli, Delic. Fl. et Faunz Insubr. iu. 
1786, 86. | 

Turdus shanhu, Gmel. Syst. 1. 814. 41. 

W hite-eared Jay, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. 83. 42. 

Corvus auritus, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 160. 25. 

Turdus melanopis, Gmel. Syst. 11. 829. 102. 

Garrulax chinensis (Scop.), Gray, Hand-l. 281. 

Male? (258) ; the other specimen (257, Sale Cat. 5943) was 
transferred tothe duplicates in the year 1832. A female (?) called 
Corvus auritus (un. 27), was bought from Herr von Fichtel. 

Latham (Syn. Suppl.) mdicates that this species was con- 
tained in the Leverian Museum. 


30. TurNAGRA cRassrRostTRIs (Gmel.). (259, 260.) 
Thick-billed Thrush, Lath. Gen. Synop. i. 34, t. 37. 
Tanagra capensis, Sparrm. Mus. Carls. t. 45. 

Turdus crassirostris, Gmel. Syst. 1. 815; Lath. Ind. Orn. 
1. 335. 30. 

Loxia turdus, Forster, Icon. ined. 145, et Deser. An. 85. 

Turnagra crassirostris (Gmel.), Gray, Birds N. Zealand, 
Ibis, 1862, 13. 

Turnagra turdus (Forst.), Gray, Hand-list, 1. 284. 

Keropia crassirostris (Gmel.), Finsch, Vog. Neuseel., Journ. 
f. Ornith. 1870, 322. 

The specimen yet in our Museum (male, 259, auct. 6834), 
is evidently the type of Latham’s description of the male 
(Synop. /. ¢.) ; a female (260) was in bad state, and therefore 
not retaimed in the collection. 


FORMICARIIDA. 


31. GRALLARIA BREVICAUDA (Bodd.). (204.) 

A specimen from Cayenne, Sale Cat. 5870. 

Mentioned by Latham (Syn. 11. 86, 118) as bemg im the 
Leverian Museum. 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 27 


TYRANNID. 


32. HiRuNDINEA FERRUGINEA (Gmel.). (139.) 

Ferruginous-bellied Tody, Lath. Gen. Synops. 11. 662. 11 
(Lever. Mus., from Cayenne ?). 

Todus ferrugineus, Gmel. Syst. 1. 446; Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 
267. 11. 

Hirundinea ferruginea (Gmel.), Pelzeln, Orn. Bras. 118 ; 
Sclater, Ibis, 1869, pp. 195-198, t. 5. f. 2. 

Latham’s type (Sale Cat. n. 6013), from Cayenne ? 


CORVIDA. 


33. STREPERA GRACULINA (Shaw)? (261.) 

Corvus graculinus, White, Journ. Voy. New-S. Wales, 1790, 
p. 251, pl. —. 

Coracias strepera, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 173. 21 (Ins. Norfolk). 

Noisy Roller, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. u. 121. 

Gracula strepera, Shaw, Gen. Zool. vii. 462. 

Corvus strepera, Leach, Zool. Misc. ii. t. 86. 

Strepera graculina (White),Gould, Hand-l. B. Austr. 1. 168. 

The bird marked Corvus graculinus was not in good condi- 
tion, and therefore not preserved ; it was perhaps the type of 
White’s plate. 


34. PirisorEus cANADENSIS (Linné). (203.) 

Cinereous Crow, Latham, Gen. Synops. 1. 389. 23. 

Black-headed Butcher-bird, Sale Cat. 3136. 

Latham, /. c., mentions the existence of a specimen of this 
species in the Mus. Lever. 


35. Cyanocorax cayanus (Linné). (82.) 

The specimen, Sale Cat. 5491, probably that mentioned by 
Latham (Cayenne Jay, Gen. Synop. 1. 388. 22), is no longer 
in the collection. 


36. Uroctssa stnensis (Linné). (205.) 

Long-tailed Jay of the Sale Cat. 3587. 

Latham says nothing about a specimen being in the Mus. 
Lever. 


28 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


37. Frecinus eracutus (Linné). (128.) 
This bird, (Sale Cat. 4267), was transferred to the duplicates 
in the year 1882. 


STURNIDA. 


38. CrEADION caRUNCULATUS (Gmel.). (307, 308.) 

Wattled Stare, Lath. Gen. Synop. 11. 9, t. 86 (Mus. Lever.). 

Sturnus carunculatus, Gmel. Syst. i. 805; Lath. Ind. Orn. 
1. 324. 6. 

Both specimens of the Sturnus carunculatus were, on 
account of their bad state, not retained; they were evidently 
the types of Latham’s description and figures ; and I suppose 
that they were collected by Forster. 


ICTERIDA. 


39. NeEsopsaR NIGERRIMUS (Osburn). (195.) 
_ Icterus ater, Natterer, MSS. in collect. 

Icterus nigerrimus, Osburn, Zoologist, pp. 6661, 6714 
(1859). Jamaica. 

Nesopsar nigerrimus (Osburn), Sclater, Catal. Coll. 139. 

Agelaius (Nesopsar) nigerrimus, Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philad. 
1866, 12. 

A specimen (Sale Cat. 587, var. Oriolus minor). America. 


a AGELAIUS HUMERALIs (Vig.).  (274:) 

A specimen marked Yellow-shouldered Titmouse, without 
indication of habitat. 

It agrees with D’Orbigny’s description (Sagra, Ornith. Cuba, 
114), except that the colour of the body is not black, but 
greyish brown, on the upper parts, wings, and tail glossed 
with metallic green, the throat almost white, a few of the 
greater wing-coverts and many of the rectrices showing a 
narrow rusty margin. According to Cassin (Proc. Acad. 
Philad. 1866, 11) the females and young males of A. humeralis 
are stated to be black (as in A. assimilis, also from Cuba); a 
specimen in Mr. Lawrence’s collection, which he regards as 
a young male of this species, is clear uniform black, the 
rufous of the shoulder beginning to appear. M. Gundlach, 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 29 


however (Journ. f. Ornith. 1856, 14), says the younger birds 

are similar to the adults, but the colours are fainter. I there- 

fore believe that our bird ought to be considered a young 

one. 
PLOCEID. 

41. HypHanrornis capiTatis (Lath.). (76.) 

Capital Tanager, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. 1. 162, t. 112. 

Tanagra capitalis, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 482, n. 44. 

Hyphantornis capitalis (Lath.), Gray, Gen. 351; Hartl. 
Orn. W. Afr. 124. 

Tanagra capitalis, Sale Cat. 4415. 

Latham says that he met with a representation of this bird 
among the drawings of Sir Ashton Lever, but mentions also, 
before describing the bird, its existence in Lev. Mus. I be- 
heve, therefore, that our specimen is with great probability the 
type of Latham’s description and plate. 


42. AMADINA ERYTHROCEPHALA (Linné)?. (276). 

The specimen called “ Sparrow of Paradise ” could not be 
found either in the collection or in the catalogue, though it 
is inscribed in the old inventory. Possibly it was the Para- 
dise Grosbeak mentioned by Latham (Gen. Synop. i. 122, 19) 
as in the Mus. Lever. 


43. HypocHeRA CHALYBEATA, Mill.? (nitens,Gmel.). (275.) 
Black Finch, in bad state, not retained. 


TANAGRIDA. 


44, SprinpALis ZENA (Linné). (77.) 
Orange Finch, Lath. Gen. Synops. i. 276. 
This bird is no longer in our Museum. 


FRINGILLID. 


45. ZoNOTRICHIA ALBICOLLIS (Gmel.)? (271, 272.) 
White-throated Finch, male and female, in bad condition, 
and therefore not preserved. 


BUCEROTIDA. 


46. Bucrros rHINocEROS, Linné. (70.) 
The specimen from Sir A. Lever’s Museum, which was said 


30 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


to have come from Java, and probably the original of Latham’s 
description (Gen. Synop. i. 843. 1), is no longer in the Vienna 
collection. 


47. Buceros coronatus, Bodd.  (289.) 

Calao des Philippines, Buff. Pl. Enl. 873. 

Pied Hornbill, Lath. Gen. Synops. i. 349, partim. 

Buceros malabaricus 8, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 148. 6. 

Buceros monoceros, Shaw, Gen. Zool. vii. 8. 

This bird, called “ Buceros malabaricus from East Indies,” 
was given in exchange to the Museum at Copenhagen in 1861. 


PSITTACID A. 


48. PLatyceRcUs TARUENSIS (Gmel.). (121.) 

Tabuan Parrot, Lath. Gen. Synops. 1. 214. 16. t. 7. Tongo- 
Tabboe and the other Friendly Isles i the South Seas. 

Psittacus tabuensis, Gmel. Syst. 1. 317; Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 
88. 19, excl. var. 

Psittacus atropurpureus, Shaw, Mus. Lever. ‘ p. 142. 
(N. Holl.) 

Platycercus tabuensis (Gmel.), Finsch, Papag. 11. 231. 

The bird, Tabuan Parrot, from Tongo Tabboe, Sale Cat. 
4747, is the type of Latham’s and Shaw’s descriptions and 
figures. 

49. PLarycERcus ULInTEANUS (Gmel.).  (126.) 

Society Parrot, Lath. Gen. Synop. 1. 250. (Ulietea, one 
of the Society Islands.) 

Psittacus ulietanus, Gmel. Syst. 1. 8328; Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 
103. 61. 

Platycercus ulieteanus (Gmel.), Finsch, Papag. 11. 271. 

Our specimen (called Psittacus fuscatus, then P. ulieteanus) 
is Latham’s type from Ulietea. As Dr. Finsch remarks, this and 
a second from Tanna, one of the New Hebrides, in the British 
Museum, which was formerly in Bullock’s collection, seem to 
be the only known individuals of this species. 


50. PLATYCERCUS NOVA-ZELANDIA£ (Sparrm.). (81.) 
Pacific Parrakeet, Latham, Gen. Synop. 1. 252. 56 (its 
locality is indicated, Otaheite). 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. dl 


Pstttacus pacificus, Gmel. Syst. i. 329; Latham, Ind. Orn. 
i. 104. 65. 

Sale Cat. n. 3510 is the type of the above description. 

Dr. Finsch (Papag. ii. 273-284) writes that Pl. pacificus 
(Gmel.) and Pl. cookit, Gray ,from N. Zealand, Pl. aucklandicus, 
Gray, from the Auckland Isles, Pl. rayneri, Gray, from Norfolk 
Isle, and Pl. erythrotis, Wagler, from Macquarie’s Island, 
belong to one species, viz. Pl. nove zelandie. TI believe that 
this question is not yet satisfactorily solved ; and thinking that 
any contributions tending to this end would be not unwel- 
come to ornithologists, I subjoin the measurements of the spe- 
cimens in our collection :— 


Bill along 
Wing. ‘Tail. the upper Tarsus. 
mandible. 
in. lin. in. lin. — lin. lin. 
. M. from Van Allen’s menagerie.. 5 6 6 9 103 | PL. cookii, 
- From Baron Hiigel’s voyage .... 5 4 6 9 12 93 
-latham’s' type’... V2.2 SSVE 50 6 8 84 73) Pl. pacificus 
- Novara exped. (Auckland, Dec.). 5 0 5 3 93 8 (Gmel.). 
-| New Zealand, presented by | 4 3 5 0 63 73 | Pl. auck- 
| Wrmldadstet se sek so. AKG: Vbe8 7 Te landicus. 


51. SrrracE HyacintHina (Lath.).  (253.) 

Psittacus hyacinthinus, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 84. 5 (Mus. 
D. Parkinson). 

Psittacus augustus, Shaw, Mus. Lever. ii. (1792) 57. 

Sale Cat. n. 6288 is the type of Latham’s and Shaw’s de- 
scriptions, and of the plate of the latter. The bird was intro- 
duced into the Leverian Museum by the late Lord Orford, who 
purchased it living (Shaw). 


52. TRichocLossus pyema#us (Gmel.). (273.) (Plate I.) 

Pygmy Parakeet, Lath. Gen. Synops. i. 256.60 (Otaheite?). 

Psittacus pygmeus, Gmel. Syst. i. 330; Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 
106. 72. 

Trichoglossus? pygmeus (Gmel.), Pelzeln, Sitzgsber. d. k. 
Akad. d. Wissench. xx. (1856) 165; Gray, List Birds Brit. 
Mus. Psittacidee, 65; Gray, Birds Tropic. Islands, 33; Finsch, 
Papag. i. 870. 

Latham’s type (Little Green Parakeet, P. pygmeus, Sale 


32 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


Cat. n. 5795) is the only known specimen of this species. In 
the oldinventory, Botany Bayis given asits habitat ; but Latham 
says “it inhabits several of the islands in the South Seas.”” The 
specimen above described is said to have come from Otaheite. 

Trichoglossus pygmeus is, as Dr. Finsch remarks, nearly 
allied to T. palmarum (Gmel.), T. placens (Temm.), and 
similar species. 


53. NESTOR MERIDIONALIS (Gmel.).  (122.) 

Southern Brown Parrot, Lath. Gen. Synops. i. 264. 70 (N. 
Zealand). 

Psittacus meridionalis, Gmel. Syst. 1. 333. 

Psittacus nestor, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 110. 85. 

Psittacus australis, Shaw, Mus. Lever. pl. p. 87. 

The type of Latham’s description and Shaw’s description 
and plate. 


54. PsITTAcUS MADAGASCARIENSIS (Less.), var. (94.) 

Mascarine Parrot, Lath. Gen. Synops. 1. 265. 72 (note). 

Psittacus mascarinus, Linné; Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 111. 87. 

Coracopsis mascarina (Briss.), Pelzeln, Verh. zool.-bot. 
Gesellsch. Wien, 1868, 934. 

Mascarinus madagascariensis, Less. Traité, 189. 

Psittacus madagascariensis (Less.), Finsch, Papag. 11. 306. 

The bird from the Leverian Museum (Sale Cat. n. 5828), 
which is affected by partial albinism, was described by Latham 
as a variety of the Mascarine Parrot. Further details were 
given by Dr. Finsch and myself as above cited. 


55. Pronras MEnstRuvs (Linné). (127.) 

Blue-headed Parrot, Lath. Gen. Synops. i. 211. 107. 

The Blue-headed Parrot, Sale Cat. n. 4945, was transferred 
to the duplicates in 1832. 


56. PsirracuLa puRPURATA (Gmel.). (123.) 

Purple-tailed Parakeet, Lath. Gen. Synops. 1. 315. 121 
(Br. Mus., Lev. Mus.). 

Psittacus purpuratus, Gmel. Syst. i. 350; Latham, Ind. 
Orn. i. 132. 150. 

Psittacula purpurata (Gmel.), Finsch, Papag. 11. 680. 

The specimen from the Museum Leverianum is not in the 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 33 


collection ; nor was it included in the old catalogue, though it 
is enumerated in the inventory. 


57. CaLyPTORHYNCHUS BANKsI (Lath.). (811.) 

Banksian Cockatoo, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. 63, t. 109; 
Cook’s Voy. 11. 18; Parkin’s Voy. 144. 

Psittacus banksii, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 107. 76, excl. var. ; 
Shaw, Gen. Zool. vii. 476, excl. var. 

Psittacus magnificus, Shaw, Nat. Misc. ii. t. 50 (nec Mus. 
Lever.). 

Sale Cat. n. 1097 is a younger bird according to Dr. Finsch’s, 
or a female according to Mr. Gould’s view. 

As this specimen agrees very well with Latham’s descrip- 
tion and figure, there is some probability that it is Latham’s 
type; but this naturalist mentions that the bird was in the 
collection of Sir Joseph Banks, who brought it with him 
from New Holland. 


.PICIDA. 


58. CAMPEPHILUS MELANOLEUCUS (Gmel.). (252.) 

Buff-crested Woodpecker, Lath. Gen. Syn. 11. 558, t. 25. 

Picus melanoleucus, Gmel. Syst. 1. 426; Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 
226. 7. 

Picus melanoleucus, Sale Cat. n. 1937 (a female from Suri- 
nam) is probably the type of Latham’s description and plate. 


CUCULIDA. 


59. Praya ptuviatis (Gmel.). (297, 298.) 

Sloane, Jamaica, t. 258. f. 1. 

Rain-Cuckoo, Lath. Gen. Synops. 11. 536. 33 (cum syn.). 

Cuculus pluviahs, Gmel. Syst. 1. 411; Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 
218. 37. 

Hyetornis pluvialis (Gmel.) : Sclater, Cat. Coll. 321; Cab. et 
F. Heine, Mus. Hein. ii. 80 (expos. synon.). 

Hyetomantis pluvialis, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1862, p. 253, note. 

Piaya (Hyetornis) pluvianus, Gray, Hand-list, i. 212. 

Two specimens (Sale Cat. n. 35, last day, Cuculus vetula). 

Not mentioned by Latham as contained in the Mus. Lever. 
SER. III.—VOL. III. D 


34 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


60. OxyLopuus cLtanparivs (Linné). (264.) 

Great Spotted Cuckoo, Lath. Gen. Synops. 1. 513. 3. 

Sale Cat. n. 6077 (Large Spotted Cuckoo, Africa) was in bad 
preservation, and is no longer in the collection. 

Latham describes a specimen from Gibraltar, but does not 
indicate that the bird was in the Mus. Lever. 


61. EvpyNamys NIGRA (Linné). (141.) 
A female (Sale Cat. n. 6095); no longer in the collection. 
Not mentioned by Latham as in the Lever. Mus. 


62. ScyTHROPS NOV HOLLANDIA, Latham. (98.) 

Psittaceous Hornbill, Phil. Bot. Bay, 165, ec. fig. 

Scythrops nove hollandie, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 141. 1. 

Anomalous Hornbill, White’s Journ. 142, c. fig. 

Channel-bill, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. 11. 96, t. 124. 

It seems not improbable that our specimen is the type of 
the figure in White’s Journal. 


COLUMBIDA. 


63. CarporpHaca, sp. (312.) 

Large Pigeon, South Sea?; rejected, not being in a good 
state. 

64. CoLUMBA (192.) 


Mercury Pigeon; in bad condition, therefore not retained 
in the collection. 


65. PaTaAGi@NAS LEUCOCEPHALA (Linné). (250, 251.) 

White-crowned Pigeon, Lath. Gen. Synops. iv. 616. 5. 

Columba leucocephala, Linné, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 594. 5. 

Sale Cat. n. 4478 (Columba leucocephala, 250) is perhaps the 
specimen mentioned by Latham as contained in the Mus. 
Lever. ; another bird (251) was in bad condition, and therefore 
not accepted for the collection. 


66. Gore ia stRIATA (Linné) (sinica, L.). (185.) 
Sale Cat. n. 3605 (Striated Turtledove) was referred to the 
duplicates, 1832 ? 


67. ZeNAIDA AMABILIS, Bonap. (119, 120.) 
Male (119; Sale Cat. n. 8131), Cinnamon Dove, Jamaica. 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 35 


The female (120; Sale Cat. n. 5880, Jamaica) is no longer in 
the collection. 
Does not seem to be mentioned by Latham. 


68. Leucosarcta picata (Lath.). (186.) 

White-faced Pigeon, Lath. Gen. Syn. Suppl. ii. 268. 4. 

Pied Pigeon, Lath. ibid. 2685. 

Columba melanoleuca, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. Suppl. lix. 1. 

Columba picata, Lath. 7. c. lix. 2. 

A female (White-fronted Dove from New Holland), perhaps 
one of Latham’s types. 


69. Cat@nas nicoparica (Linné). (111.) 
Sale Cat. n. 4828. 


PHASIANID. 


70. Gatius BANKIVA, Temm. (241, 242.) 
Two English Game-Cocks, one with iron spurs, no longer 
in the collection. 


71. Mexeacris Mexicana, Gould. (71.) 

American Turkey, Lath. Gen. Syn. iv. 676. 1 (only the 
description of the male). 

Meleagris mexicana, Gould, P. Z. 8.1856, 61; Baird, Birds 
N. America, 614 & 618; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1863, 125. 

The male from the Leverian Museum, which was said to 
have come from Georgia, agrees very well with Mr. Gould’s 
description, but is inferior in size, its measurements being 
as follows—length 3! 22", bill 2”, wing 183”, tail 13", 
tarsus 5" 9'"; but a comparison of the measurements given 
by Prof. Baird (/. c. 619) shows clearly that the dimensions 
vary to a considerable degree. 

Another point wherein our specimen differs both from M. 
mexicana and M. gallopavo, consists in the primaries being 
uniform olive-brown, unadorned with white bars, the secon- 
daries of the same colour, with a green gloss in the second 
half, and with a narrow white posterior margin; the inner 
webs of the secondaries are freckled with buff towards the 
margins. 

I had a suspicion that the wings might have been taken from 

p2 


36 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


another specimen; but a more accurate inspection proved 
such a supposition to be erroneous. 

As our Museum has received a pair of the true M. gallopavo 
in exchange from the late Prince Neuwied, bearing the locality 
“ Mexico,” it seems that the latter species also occurs further 
south. Mr. Allen (Bullet. Mus. Comp. Zool. vol. 1. n. 3. 
342) believes the Mexican Turkey to be not specifically dif- 
ferent from the more northern bird. 


TETRAONID/. 


72. Roiiutus coronatus (Lath.). (101.) 

Sonn. Vog. t. 100. , 

Lesser Crowned Pigeon, var. A, Lath. Gen. Synops. iv. 623. 
10; t. 58. 

Phasianus rouloul, Scop. Del. Flor. et Faun. Insubr. 93. 

Phasianus cristatus, Sparrm. Mus. Carls. t. 64. 

Columba cristata, Gmel. Syst. i. 774; Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 
596 et 597, var. 8. n. 10. 

Perdix coronata, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. Suppl. Ixn. 1. 

Sale Cat. n. 6100, is the type of Latham’s description and 
figure. 

In the old catalogue of the Vienna Collection “Sumatra” was 
given as the locality of this specimen; but as Latham says that 
the bird in the Leverian Museum was met with by accident at 
a sale, without the least history annexed, this habitat is evi- 
dently wrongly assigned to this specimen. 


73. TURNIX GIBRALTARICUS (Gmel.). (196.) 

Gibraltar Quail, Lath. Gen. Synops. iv. 790. 37. 

Perdix gibraltarica, Gmel. Syst. 1. 766 ; Lath. Ind. Orn. n. 
656. 45. 

Sale Cat. n. 6004, evidently Latham’s type, is no longer in 
the collection. 


74. Orryx cristatus (Linné). (87.) 
Mentioned by Latham (Crested Quail, Gen. Syn. iv. 784. 
26) as in the Leverian Museum. 


75. CaccaBis RUBRA (Briss.). (95.) 
Greek Partridge, var. A. 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 37 


Guernsey Partridge, Lath. Gen. Syn. iv. 768. 12 (Br. Mus., 
Mus. Lever.), et Suppl. 220. 

Perdiz rufa, B, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 647. 12. 

The specimen is without indication of habitat. 

76. PrpI@cETES PHASIANELLUS (Linné). (810.) 

Edwards, t. 117. 

Long-tailed Grouse, Lath. Gen. Syn. iv. 732. 2, et Suppl. 

212. 2. 
_ Tetrao phasianellus, Linné, Gmel. Syst. i. 747; Lath. Ind. 
Orn. 11. 635. 2. 

Female? Sale Cat. n. 5598 (Pin-tailed Grouse). 

Latham does not say that a bird of this species was in the 
Leverian Collection. 


STRUTHIONID. 


77. Ruea americana, Lath. 


A young bird. 
TINAMID A. 


78. TINAMUS BRASILIENSIS, Lath. (103.) 

Great Tinamou, Lath. Gen. Syn. iv. 724. 1. 

Tinamus brasiliensis, Lath. Ind. Orn. 11. 633. 1. 

Sale Cat. n. 6022 was transferred to the duplicates many 
years ago. 

Latham mentions the existence of a specimen in the Museum 
Leverianum. 


OTIDID “A. 
79. Oris, sp. (179.) 
A skin of an Ofts, called Barbary Bustard, was in bad con- 
dition, and therefore not received in the collection. 


CHIONIDID. 


80. Cutonts ALBA (Gmel.). 90.) 

White Sheathbill, Lath. Gen. Synops. v. 268. t. 89. 
Chionis, Forst.; Temm. Man. d’Orn. Anal. eviii. 
Vaginalis alba, Gmel. Syst. 1. 705. 

Vaginalis chionis, Lath. Ind. Orn. 11. 774. 1. 


38 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


Our bird (called Vaginalis australis, and said to be from New 
Zealand) differs from Latham’s figure in the circumstance 
that the warty excrescences of the face are less developed, as 
Latham mentions is the case in young birds. 


HAMATOPODIDA. 


81. STREPSILAS INTERPRES (Linné). (278.) 

Turnstone, Sale Cat. n. 5797. Adult. 

Latham (Gen. Syn. v. 188. 37) gives a description, made . 
probably from a specimen in the Museum Leverianum, which 
agrees in many ways with the above-cited bird; but the wing- 
coverts of the latter are not cinereous-brown, but ferruginous. 


GRUID. 


82. Grus cANADENSIS (Linné). 

Brown Crane, Lath. Gen. Synops. v. 43. 7. 
Ardea canadensis, Lath. Ind. Orn. 11. 675. 7. 
Specimen from N. America. 


83. Grus anTIGONE (Linné). (67.) 
Specimen from the East Indies. 


84. Scors vireo (Linné). (304.) 

Demoiselle Heron, Lath. Gen. Syn. v. 35. 2. 

Ardea virgo, Linné, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 673. 2 

A specimen without habitat. 

According to Latham this species was contained in the 
Leverian Museum. 


ARDEID Ai. 

85. ArpeEa pacirica, Lath. (801.) 

Pacific Heron, Lath, Gen. Synops. Suppl. 1. 305. 20. 

Ardea pacifica, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. Suppl. lxv. 2. 

The specimen was marked in the catalogue Ardea vittata, 
not A. pacifica. 

86. ARDEA CHRULEA, Linné. (299.) 

Blue Heron (Catesby), Lath. Gen. Synops. v. 78. 45 (Mus. 
Lever.). 

Ardea cerulea, Linné, Lath. Ind. or u. 689. 48, excel. 
var. B. 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 39 


Sale Cat. n. 6195 (Small Black Heron) is no longer in the 
collection. 


87. CANCROMA CocHLEARIA (Linné). (74, 75). 

Boatbill (Cancr. cochl. L.), Lath. Gen. Synops. v. 26 (Mus. 
Lever.), t. 76 (the male). 

Crested Boatbill, var. B, Brown Boatbill (C. cancrophaga, 
L.), Lath. ibid. (Mus. Lever.) (the female). 

Cancroma cochlearia, Linné, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 671. 1 
(cum. var. 6 et y); Shaw, Mus. Lever. p. 10, pl. (m. et f.). 

Male (Sale Cat.-n. 5140) and female (Sale Cat. n. 2229) 
from 8. America, perhaps Latham’s types, are no longer in 


the collection. They were also depicted by Shaw (Mus. 
Lever. 10). 


CICONIIDA. 

88. Mycteria austrauis, Lath. (Temm.?). (176.) 

New-Holland Jabiru, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. 1. 294. 
t. 138. 

Ciconia australis, Temm. Linn. Trans. v. 34. 2; idem, PI. 
Col. genre Ciconia, sp. 6. 

Mycteria australis, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. Suppl. lxiv.1; Shaw, 
Nat. Miscell. t. 601. 

The bird in our collection is probably Latham’s type. 


TANTALID A. 
89. TanTatus LocuLator, Linné. (8.) 
Specimen. America. 


90. GERONTICUS CAYENNENSIS (Gmel.). (305.) 

Courly verd de Cayenne, Buff. Pl. Eni. 820. 

Cayenne Ibis, Lath. Gen. Synops. v. 107. 3. 

Tantalus cayennensis, Gmel. Syst. 1. 652; Lath. Ind. Orn. 
i. 704. 3. 

Sale Cat. n. 6178 no longer in the collection. 

Not mentioned by Latham as existing im the Museum 
Leverianum. 


91. Geronticus caLvus (Gmel.). (109.) 


Courly a téte nue, du Cap de bonne Espérance. Buff. Pl. Eni. 
867. 


40 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


Bald Ibis, Lath. Synops. v. 116.16 (Br. Mus., Mus. Lever.). 

Tantalus calvus, Gmel. Syst. 1. 649; Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 
708. 17. 

The bird, probably that mentioned by Latham (Gen. Synops. 
v. 116. 16), was in bad condition, and not placed in the col- 
lection. | 


RALLID. 


92. Hyporznipia striata (Linné). (116, 117.) 

Rallus philippensis striatus, Briss. Orn. v. 167, t. 14. f. 2. 

Tiklin rayé, Buffon, Ois. ix. f. 72. 

Rallus striatus, Linné, Syst. i. 262.5; Gmel. Syst. 1. 714; 
Lesson, Traité d’Ornith. 536; Blyth, Catal. Cale. Mus. 285, 
sp. 1671; Swinhoe, Ibis, 1863, 427 (egg), et P.Z.S8. 1863, 
321; Jerdon, Birds of India, 11. 726*. 

Philippine Rail, var. C, Lath. Gen. Synops. v. 282. 

Philippine Rail, var. A, Lath. Gen. Synops. v. 231. 4, t. 86. 

Rallus philippensis, var. 8 et y, Lath. Ind. Orn. 11. 756. 4. 

Rallus gularis, Horsf. (secundum Blyth); ? Bernstem, Journ. 
f. Ornith. 1861, 190 (eggs). 

Rallus indicus, Verreaux; Reichenbach, Rasores, t. 201. 
f, 2575, 2576. 

Railus pectoralis, Gray, Birds Tropic. Isl.52 (partim); Finsch 
et Hartlaub, Ornith. Centr. Polyn. 157 (partim). 

Hypotenidia striata, Reich.; Bonap. Compt. Rend. xl. 
(1856) 599; Schlegel, Mus. Pays-Bas, Ralli, 24. 

Hab. Throughout India from the extreme south and Ceylon, 
to the foot of the Himalayas and the Punjab ; extends through 
Burmah to the Malayan islands (Jerdon); Malacca (Reichen- 
bach); Sumatra (Blyth); Java (Lesson, Schlegel); Cochinchina, 
China (Schlegel); Siam, Formosa (Swinhoe); Philippine Islands 
(Brisson); Lucon (Schlegel); Otaheite (Latham). 

Two specimens from the Leverian Museum, viz. 116, Sale 
Cat. n. 5384 (Rallus philippensis, var. otaheitensis) and 117 ; 
the latter probably the origmal of Latham’s description 
and figure. 

* The dimensions given by Jerdon surpass in some particulars those of 
our specimen. 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 41 


Both individuals agree very well together; their measure- 
ments are* :—Length 9" 3", wing 4! 8", tail 2! 1", bill from 
gape 18!" from the frontal plumes 12-122!", tarsus 19’, middle 
toe without nail 18", tertiaries 3! shorter than the longest 
primaries. 

H. striata is similar to the young male and female of 
H. celebensis, but differs in its inferior size, the slender tarsus, 
and longer toes. I am convinced that the Rallus philippensis 
of the older authors is a different species. Our collection is 
in possession of a specimen of the latter, which was obtained 
in the year 1815, in exchange, from the Paris Museum, as 
Rallus philippensis (Rale rayé des Philippines, Pl. Enl. 774), 
and which agrees very well with the figure of the Pl. Enl. 
I think it not impossible that it is the same individual which 
served as a model to Buffon. 

The bird differs from H. striata in its by far greater size, 
much stouter tarsi, and shorter toes, the tertiaries equalling 
in length the longest primaries ; the rusty red of the nape is 
not uniform, but streaked with dark brown, the feathers of 
the back are blackish brown, frmged with olivaceous, and 
adorned with very few white spots, these being also less 
numerous on the wings; the whole under surface has a tinge 
of yellowish. Length 11", wing 5" 4!" tail (incomplete) 1" 9!", 
bill from gape 18", from the frontal feather 14!", tarsus 21!", 
middle toe without nail 17!”. 


The synonymy would stand as follows :— 


HyPor@NIDIA PHILIPPENSIS (Linné). 


Rallus philippensis, Briss. Orn. v. 163, t. 14. f. 1; Linné, 
Syst. 1. 263, 7; Gmel. Syst. 1. 714; Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 756. 
4. (exel. var.) ; Lesson, Traité d’Ornith. 536; ?Gray, Birds 
Tropic. Isl. 51. 

Tiklin, Buffon, Ois. ix. 71. 

Réle rayé des Philippines, P\. Enl. 774. 

Phillippine Rail, Lath. Gen. Synops. v. 230, 4. 

? Rdle tiklin, Quoy et Gaimard, Voy. Uranie, 35. 


* The feet of n. 116 are wanting, and are replaced by those of some 
other grallatorial bird. 


42 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


Hab. Philippine Islands (Brisson) ; Marianne Isl., Guam 
(Quoy et Gaim.). 

A nearly allied but distinct species is represented by the 
bird designated by most authors, and formerly also by me in 
the Ornithology of the ‘ Novara,’ as Rallus pectoralis, Cuvier. 
Pucheran has already shown (Rev. de Zool. 1851, 277) that 
Cuvier’s and Lesson’s bird (= Rallus brachypus (Swains.)) is 
very different from that introduced by Gould under this 
name; and I would therefore propose for the latter species 
the name “ australis,” on account of its habitat. 

H. australis is in coloration very similar to H. philippensis, 
but even in the young bird marked with a buff collar; it has 
longer wings than H. philippensis, absolutely or comparatively 
shorter tarsi, and the tertiaries are considerably shorter than 
the primaries. The dimensions of the specimens in our Mu- 
seum are the following :— ' 


Bill from Tertiaries 


: : Middle shorter 
Length. Wing. ‘Tail. frontal Tars. “106. than the 


opener. primaries. 

1. From M. Dufresne, in. lin. in. lin. in. lin. lin. lin. lin. lin. 

1815. Australia.. 10 6 5 OF 72)6 133 173 15 4 
2. al Without fur- ee 3 5 9 3 0 15 20 16 6 
o-pl ether date...."(11 O- ~5 5 2 9 13 18 15 5 
4. F. Novara Expedi- 

TROT Sheet optoehh). © 10 6 5 6 2 11 122 18 14 Lt 
(5) tls bik One 10 35 44. 28 123 183 153 6 


* The feathers probably have vot attained their full length. 

+ Perhaps not fully grown. 

{ This specimen, purchased from M. Parreyss in 1883, is evidently very 
young: the wings are very short, the upper mandible is dusky, the colours 
are similar to those of the old bird; but the red of the nape and the white 
spots of the back appear little developed, the buff collar is pale, but 
broader, asin adult individuals. Whether the birds enumerated by Schlegel 
from the Philippines (Cuming) and from Celebes (Forsten et Rosenberg), 
and in like manner Lallina philippensis, Wallace (P. Z. 8S. 1863, p. 36), 
from Bourou and the islands eastward, belong to this or the foregoing 
species, I cannot decide. 

It is also doubtful to what species the birds mentioned as Rallus phi- 
Lippensis, found on the Keeling or Cocos Atoll, in the Indian Ocean (Gould, 
Voy. Beagle, p. 33), are to be referred. 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 43 


The synonymy would be :— 
Hypor#NIpIA AUSTRALIS. 


Rallus pectorals, Gould, Birds Austral. vi. t.76; Reichenb. 
Voég. Neuholl. 159, n. 478; idem, Naturg. Novit. t. cccv. 
f. 2465, 2466; Cassin, Unit. St. Expl. Exped. 303; Gray, 
Birds Tropic. Isl. 52 partim; Pelzeln, Orn. Nov. 134; Finsch 
et Hartl. Orn. Centr. Polyn. 157, partim, t. 3. f. 3 (egg). 

Rallus philippensis, Peale, Unit. St. Expl. Exp. 222. 

Hypotenidia philippensis, Bonap. Compt. Rend. xliii. (1856) 
599; Schlegel, Mus. Pays-Bas, Ralli, 23; Gould, Handb. 
Birds Austral. 11. 334. 

Rallus hypotenidia (Bonap.), Verreaux et des Murs, Rev. 
de Zool. 1860, 437. 

Hab. Australia (Gould, Peale) ; Samoa, Feejee, Tonga Isles 
(Peale) ; New Caledonia (Verr. et Des Murs). 

For comparison I add the dimensions of our specimens of 
the two nearly related species, H. torqguata and H. celebensis. 


Hypotenidia torquata (Linné). 


i Tertiaries 
Bill from p 
i i Middl hort 
Length. Wing. Tail. frontal Tars. ae © hae 
feather. 1an tf 
primaries. 
1. M. From M. Verreaux. in. lin. in. lin. in. lin. lin. In. lin, : 


Philippine Islands ..12 0 60 2 0 = 193 26 203 3 
2.M. From Paris Mu- 
TERNS Bag dono Ggupe LZ OT GO ON SO AAG 25 183 _ 


Hypotenidia celebensis (Quoy et Gaim.). 


l.M. Gorontalo, July, 
coll. by Rosenberg.... 11 6 5.3 a 1G 18 24 183 10 
2. F. Gorontalo, April, 


UROSCHBET Yo 2). sees s 10, OM, 4. 10"~ 2: 6 tf? y 19 153 10 
3, M.j. Gorontalo, April, 
PERGSEROET Gt. tc ate as 2 10 9 5 0 2 6 14 193 153 10 


M.? Celebes? From the 
Austrian Expedit. to 
Eastern Asia........ 12 OF 6. OF 2 Gira s 24 183 13 
93. Porzana, ?sp. (143, 144.) 
Male and female (small Waterhens), were not received in 
the collection, being in bad preservation. 


Ad A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


94. Porpuyrio parvus (Bodd.). (803.) 

Favorite de Cayenne, Buff. Pl. Enl. 897. 

Favourite Gallinule, Lath. Gen. Synops. v. 256, 8 (in Mus. 
Lever.). 

Fulica flavirostris, Gmel. Syst. 1. 699. 

Gallinula flavirostris, Lath. Ind. Orn. 11. 769, 10. 

Sale Cat. n. 1414 (Waterhen) was given to the collection of 
the Gymnasium at Agram in the year 1854. 


95. Notornis? atBA (White). (102.) 

White Gallinule, Callam, Bot. Bay, 1783 (teste Gray) ; 
Phillips’s Voyage to Bot. Bay, 273, cum fig. 1789; Latham, 
Gen. Synops. Suppl. 11. 327; Bennett, P. Z. 8S. 1869, 471. 

Fulica alba, White, Journal of a Voyage to New South 
Wales (1790), 238, c. tab. 

Gallinula alba, Wath. Ind. Orn. 768. 8; idem, Gen. Hist. 
ix. 428. 

Porphyrio albus, Lath. ; Temminck, Man. d’Ornith. ii. 701; 
idem, Pl. Col. genre Porphyrio, sp. 4; Steph. Gen. Zool. xii. 
261; Gray, Ibis, 1862, 240 (with details from Latham’s Gen. 
Hist.). 

Porphyrio melanotus, Temm. (albino variety) ; Gray, Zool. 
Erebus and Terror, 19; idem, Gen. of Birds, 598. 

Porphyrio melanotus, Temm., var.; Bonap. Compt. Rend. 
xliii. (1856) 599, (tabl. Gralle). 

Notornis? alba (White), Pelzeln, Sitzungsber. d. k. Akad. 
Wissensch. xli. (1860) 828; A. Newton, Ibis, 1866, 159 
(note) ; Salvin, Ibis, 1871, 443. 

White Bird, Hill, Lord Howe’s Island, Sydney, 1870. 

Porphyrio albus, Shaw ; Gray, Hand-l. 11. Suppl. 344. 

Our collection is in possession of White’s type (Fulica alba, 
Norfolk Isl.) ; the identity of the bird is proved by White’s 
remark in the preface to his book, that the birds from 
which the drawings were taken are deposited in the Leverian 
Museum. 

In a letter on Lord Howe’s Island (P. Z. 8S. 1869, p. 471) Dr. 
G. Bennett says that the White Gallinule figured in Phillip’s 
‘Voyage to Botany Bay,’ and found only in Norfolk and 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 45 


Lord Howe’s Islands, is now extinct, as it has not been seen 
recently on either of these islands. In Mr. Salvin’s record 
of Mr. Edward S. Hill’s paper on Lord Howe’s Island (Ibis, 
1871), mention is made of a white bird, like a Guinea-fowl, 
which, if not actually extinct, seems on a fair way to become 
so, and which is, as Mr. Salvin remarks, very probably the 
same as Gallinula alba, Lath. To Mr. A. Newton (Ibis, 1866) 
we owe the notice that, besides the specimen in the Imperial 
Museum at Vienna, there is a second in the Derby Museum 
at Liverpool, from Bullock’s collection*. 


ANATID. 

96. PLECTROPTERUS GAMBENSIS (Linné). (173.) 

The specimen, probably that figured by Lath. (Gen. Syn. 
vi. 452, t. 102), was transferred to the duplicates in the year 
1832. It seems also to have been the original of Shaw’s plate 
(Mus. Lever. 231, t. 56.). 


97. ANSER CHRULESCENS (Linné). (105.) 

Blue-winged Goose, Edwards, t. 152; Lath. Gen. Synops. 
vi. 469. 28 (Mus. Lever.). 

Anas cerulescens, Linné, Syst. 1. 198. 12; Gmel. Syst. 1. 
513; Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 836. 13. 

Anser cerulescens (L.), Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philad. viii. 
(1856) 12; Schlegel, Mus. Pays-Bas, Anseres, 108. 

Specimen from North America. 

This Goose was frequently believed to be the younger bird 
of Anser hyperboreus (Pall.) ; and even Baird (Rep. 761) doubts 
the specific difference of the two birds, a difference which 
seems to me to hold good. Latham mentions that this species 
was in the Museum Leverianum ; but his description seems to 
be taken from that of Edwards, with which our specimen 

agrees tolerably well. 

98. Brernicia supata (Lath.). (145.) 

Hawkesbury Duck, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. 11. 358, pl. 
in titlepage. 

Anas jubata, Lath. Ind. Orn. Suppl. lxix. 


* Herr von Pelzeln has just forwarded us a drawing of this species, from 
which it is our intention to have a Plate prepared for our next Number. 


46 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


Bernicla jubata, Steph. Gen. Zool. xii. 63. 

Chlamydochen jubata (Lath.), Gould, Handb. Birds Austral. 
li. 354. 

This bird, from the Museum Leverianum (Red-winged 
Duck), perhaps Latham’s type, is no longer in the collection. 

99. Cyenus atratus (Lath.). (288.) 

Transferred to the duplicates in 1832. 


100. Anas cristata, Gmel. (137.) 

Crested Duck, Lath. Gen. Synops. vi. 543. 81 (described 
from a plate of Sir Joseph Banks ; species from Staatenland). 

Anas cristata, Gmel. Syst.1. 540; Lath. Ind. Orn. 11.870. 93. 

Anas lophyra, Forst. Descr. Av. 340 (Terra Statuum). 

Anas, n. 1, Purple-winged Duck, Sale Cat. n. 5591. 

As Latham does not notice the specimen in the Museum 
Leverianum, our bird was probably a later acquisition, and 
perhaps from Forster’s voyage. 

101. Dariza BaHAMENSIS (Linné). (114.) 

Teal, Surinam, Sale Cat. n. 2572; not mentioned by 
Latham. 

102. CLancuLA ALBEOLA (Linné). (136.) 

Buffel-headed Duck, Lath. Gen. Synops. vi. 533. 75. 

Anas albeola, .; Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 866. 86. 

Gambo-goore, America. 


ALCIDA. 
103. Lunpa cirrwata (Pallas). (100.) 
Specimen from Kamtschatka. 
URIIDA. 


104. BracHyRAMPHUS MARMORATUS (Temm.). (80.) 

A younger bird of this species (auct. n. 5366, Uria marmo- 
rata) differs from Latham’s description and plate (Gen. Syn. , 
vi. 336, t. 96) in having the plumage of lighter hue, and in 
the throat and its sides being nearly unspotted white. 


PROCELLARIIDA. 


105. Purrinus xquinoctiatis (Linné). (256.) 
Black Petrel, Lath. Gen. Synops. vi. 398. 3 (Mus. Lever.). 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 47 


Our specimen, probably that mentioned by Latham as con- 
tained in the Mus. Lever., is no longer in our collection. It 
is also possible that the same bird was the original of the 
plate in White’s Journ. Voy. NewS. Wales, p. 251. 


106. Purrinus TENEBROSUS, Natterer.  (254.) 


_ P. corpore supra nigrescente brunneo, subtus albo: lateribus 
colli pectorisque plumarum limbis albis, tectricibus 
alarum anguste albo marginatis, tectricibus caudz in- 
ferioribus lateralibus nigricantibus albo terminatis, rostro 
obscure corneo, maxille basi infra nares et mandibule 
parte inferiore flavescentibus, pedibus flavidis, tarsis 
solummodo linea anteriore et posteriore, digitoque ex- 
terno extus obscuris. Longit. 123", ale 7" 8!", ab apice 
rectricum ad finem secundariarum 2" 6!; rectricum me- 
diarum longit. 33”, lat. 9!"; rectrices laterales 8! bre- 
viores; tarsi longit. 1” 5”, lat. 3!”; longit. digiti externi 
16", unguis 2”, digiti medii 16", unguis 3!", digiti in- 
terni 12", unguis 24!" rostri a fronte 11, a naribus 9", 
a rictu 17!" 

Dusky Petrel, Lath. Gen. Synops. vi. 416. 23 (only the 
smaller specimen in the Mus. Lever. ; said to have come from 
King George’s Sound, on the American coast); Arctic Zool. 
Suppl. 73 (?). 

Procellaria obscura, Gmel. Syst. 1. 559 (partim); Latham, 
Ind. Orn. ii. 828, n. 24 (partim)'; Vieill. Gal. Ois. t. 301 
(only the habitat from King George’s Sound). 

Puffinus tenebrosus, Natterer, Synops. MS. 

Hab. King George’s Sound, on the American coast (Lath.) ; 
Ins. Galéga (Lafr.)? 


Similis P. obscuro (Gmel.)*, sed minor, rostro tenuiore et 


7/-* PUFFINUS OBSCURUS, Gmel. 

Dusky Petrel, Lath, Gen. Synops. vi. 416. 23 (Christmas Island) ; Arctic 
Zool. Suppl. 73? 

Procellaria obscura, Gmel. Syst. i. 559; Lath. Ind. Orn, ii. 828. 24; 
Kuhl, Zool. Beitr. 147, n. 24, fig. 11 (Mus. Paris); Temm. Man. d’Orn. 
2nd edit. ii. 808 (Mediterrania), iv. 510 (Bretagne, Picardie); Atlas du 
Man. tab.; Vieill. Gal. Ois. ii. 230, t. 801; Gould, Birds of Europe, 
t. 444; Schlegel, Mus. Pays-Bas, Procellaria, 30 (et P. nugax Bailloni, 
Bonap.) (Atl. Ocean, Bourbon). 

Puffinus obscurus (Gmel.), Cuv. Reg. Anim. 1817, 516; Bonap. Synops. 
Birds Unit. St. 871; Audubon, Orn. Biogr. iii. 620 (southern coast of 


48 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


breviore, alis longioribus, cauda longiore, magis gradata, 
tarsibus extus, exceptis lineis duabus, flavidis, plantis 
margine obscuro nullo, plumis colli et pectoris laterum 
albo marginatis ; 

a P. nugaci (Soland.), ex Australia, statura majore, colore 
notzi nigricante brunneo nec schistaceo nigro, loris 
brunneis nec albis, tarsibus extus, exceptis lineis duabus, 
flavis et plantis haud nigro limbatis differt* ; 

‘a P. dichroo, Hartl. et Finsch, statura majore, hypochon- 
drus albis et pedibus non nigricantibus aut nigricanti- 
cinereis diversus. 


Specimen, Sale Cat. n. 6079 (Petrel, from King George’s 
Sound, N. America). 

This bird, mentioned as different by Latham himself, was 
separated by Natterer in his MS. Synopsis as belonging to 
a different species, under the name Puffinus tenebrosus. 

I add a translation of Natterer’s MS. description (dated 
19th May, 1839). 

“ Puffinus tenebrosus (from the Leverian Museum). 

“Tn form and colour strikingly similar to P. obscurus, but 
smaller, with thinner and shorter bill, somewhat longer wings, 
anda little longer, more cuneiform tail. The outside of tarsus 
light-coloured only a little above the articulation of the toes 
outwardly, and the outer side of the external toe dark brown, 
the margins of the webs light-coloured, the claws also not so 
black as those of P. obscurus. 

“On the entire side of the throat, from the ear as far as the 
side of the upper breast, the dark brown feathers are fur- 
nished with a broad white margin. P. obscurus has these 
margins only on the sides of the upper breast. 


Unit. St., Gulf of Mexico); Gray, Gen. 647, et App. 29; Bonap. Consp. 
ii. 204; Baird, Rep. 1858, 835; Gray, Birds Tropic. Isl. Pacif. Oc. 55 
(excl. syn.) ; Hartl. Fauna Madag. 84 (Bourbon, Mauritius, Madagascar). 
Puffinus nugax, var. bailloni, Bonap. Compt. Rend. xli, (1856) 8; Tabl. 
Longip. sp. 80; idem, Consp. ii. 205 (Ie de France). 
Puffinus bailloni, Bp.; Hartl. Fauna Madag. 84. 
_ ™* For comparison with P. obseurus I have referred to a specimen 
(probably from the American coast) received in exchange from the Paris 
Museum in 1815, and another (somewhat smaller) from Madagascar, 
purchased by Natterer. Of P. nugax I have compared a specimen from 
New Holland, obtained from M. Verreaux. 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 49 


‘The first, second, and third series of upper wing-coverts 
with a terminal whitish margin. 

“The bill is blackish brown, the basis of the upper mandible 
under the nostrils and the lower mandible on the under long 
shield lighter and verging to brownish. The entire under 
half of the lore, and from the margin of the upper mandible, 
in a straight line under the ear and upwards to the eye, dark 
brown-grey (in P. obscurus the under margin of the lore, and 
from there to the eye, white, behind the eye to the ear-region 
dark brown). 

“ The first of the remiges longest, on the right wing the first 
and second of equal length. 

“Tarsus broad, laterally much compressed, almost to a cut- 
ting-edge. 

“On the underside of the wing the dark brown margin on 
the forearm much narrower than in P. obscurus. 

“* Rectrices 12. 

** Middle toe entirely light-coloured ; no dark space on the 
web as in P. obscurus.” 

Measurements as above. 

_In the collection of the late Baron de la Fresnaye there 
was a Puffinus labelled “ Puffinus assimilis, Gould, de Vile de 
Galéga,” which seemed to Natterer to be identical with his 
Puffinus tenebrosus, and of which he made (Falaise, 2nd Oc- 
tober, 1840) the following description (translated from the 
German) :—‘‘ The lora and upper half of the cheeks, or the 
ear-region, in a line from the angle of the bill, blackish 
brown, as the entire upper body. Remiges and rectrices 
darker, the great tectrices of the secondaries (é. e. the first 
row of upper wing-coverts) with a narrow white terminal 
margin. Under tail-coverts blackish brown, with narrow 
whitish apices, the long anal feathers white, the sides or loins 
dark blackish-brown, under wing-coverts white, feathers on 
the margin of the wing dark blackish-brown. The sides 
of the breast, reaching forward towards the middle, of the 
colour of the neck, but with whitish margins, quite scaly 
(geschuppt), which colour rises on the sides of the neck ; where 

SER. I1I.—VOL. II. E 


50 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


the white mects with the dark, the colour on the sides of the 
neck and the breast is more greyish than on the back. 


Puffinus tenebrosus. 


“ Fifth and second primaries of equal length; from the end 
of the first to the last secondaries 2! 8" (?). 


Puffinus obscurus. 


“Length 11"; wing 7” 6", middle rectrices 3", the outer 74!" 
shorter ; bill 1” 34", from the nostrils 94!", from the front 1’; 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 5] 


tarsus 1” 31” its breadth 22”; outer toe 1” 34", claw 2"; 
middle toe 1" 3", claw 3"; inner toe 12”, claw 24!".” 

The island of Galéga, which lies north-east of Madagascar, 
is indeed a very remote habitat from that indicated by La- 
tham ; but Puffinus obscurus is also found in the South Seas, 
in the Indian Ocean, and on both shores of the Atlantic. 

I believe it also not impossible that Latham indicated erro- 
neously King George’s Sound on the American coast, and 
that King George’s Sound in Australia was meant. 

The dimensions of a specimen of P. obscurus, described by 
Natterer (19th May, 1839), are as follows :— 

Length 13", wing 7” 6", middle tail-feathers 2! 11” (their 
breadth 8"), the outer 5! shorter; from the end of the wing 
to the longest secondaries (in the folded wing) 2” 5!; bill, 
from angle of mouth 1" 7", from front 1" 4!", from nostril 1! 1"; 
tarsus 1” 64!" (ts breadth 3!"); outer toe 1” 6", claw 2"; 
middle toe 1" 5, claw 3"; inner toe 1" 4", claw 3!". 

Rectrices 11. 

Fifth primary the longest, second 1! shorter. 

A very narrow margin on the fore end of the web obscure. 

Puffinus dichrous, Hartl. et Finsch (Fauna Centralpolyn. 
244), from McKean’s Island (Phoenix group), of which 
there is a single specimen in the collection Godeffroy, seems 
very similar to P. tenebrosus, but smaller, with dark hypo- 
chondria, black bill, and blackish feet (only the interior side 
of the tarsus brownish, and the webs pale brownish). The 
accompanying sketches, made by Natterer, will show the shape 
of the bill of P. tenebrosus, from King George’s Sound, and 
of P. obscurus. 

107. DiomepeEa exuLAns, Linné. (281.) 

Chocolate Albatross, Cook, Voy. 11. 116. 150; Forst. Voy. 
1. 258; Parkins. Voy. 83, 84 (?); Lath. Gen. Synops. v. 308. 2 
(Mus. Lever.). 

Diomedea spadicea, Gmel. Syst. 1. 568; Lath. Ind. Orn. i, 
790. 2 (excl. var. 8, which belongs perhaps to D. brachyura). 

Our specimen (Sale Cat. n. 37, “last day but two, Diomedea 
exulans grisea”) agrees well with Latham’s description, of 
which it is perhaps the type. 

E2 


52 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


LARIDA. 


108. Lustris parasitica (Linné). (89.) 

Arctic Gull, Latham, Gen. Synops. vi. 389. t. 99 (Mus. 
Lever.). 

Larus parasiticus, Linné, Lath. Ind. Orn. 11. 819. 15. 

The bird, probably the type of Latham’s description and 
plate, was transferred to the duplicates. 


109. PacorHILa EBURNEA (Gmel.). (248, 249.) 


Ivory Gull, Lath. Gen. Synops. vi. 377. 7 (Mus. Lever.). 

Larus eburneus, Gmel.; Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 816. 10. 

248 (Sale Cat., last day, n. 25, Larus eburneus). It would 
seem to me probable that this bird is that mentioned by Latham 
as contained in the Museum Leverianum, were not the propor- 
tions different ; for Latham says that the wings exceed the tail 
greatly, whereas in our individual the tail is a little prominent 
over the wings. The other specimen (249) was sent to Tem- 
minck for the Museum at Leyden. 


PELECANIDA. 


110. PHarron zTHEREUS, Linné. (296.) 

Common Tropic bird, Lath. Gen. Synops. vi. 685. 1 (Pr. 
Max., Lever. Mus.). 

Phaeton ethereus, Linné, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 893. 1. 

Sale Cat. n. 1399, a specimen with long tail-feathers ; does 
not seem to be the type of Latham’s description. 


+ 111. Suna pLumicuta, Jos. Natterer. (255.) 


S. alba vertice et nucha ochrascentibus, plumis gule inter 
bases gnathidiorum in angulo acuto productis, dorso 
superiore, scapularibus majoribus, alarum tectricibus su- 
perioribus et plerisque inferiorum griseo brunneis, remi- 
gibus primaris, prioribus nigrobrunneis, subsequentibus 
et secundaris utroque vel uno pogonio cinereis, rostro 
pedibusque rubris? Longit. 1! 10", alee 14”, caudee (in- 
complete) 62”, rostri a fronte 3" 2", tars. 1" 6", digiti 
medii sine ungue 2” 3!" 

Sula plumigula, Jos. Natterer, in Mus, Vind. 
Hab. Nova Hollandia? 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 53 


Sale Cat. n. 1840, in bad state; was marked in the collection 
with the locality New Holland? 

The late Joh. Natterer, in his manuscript materials for a 
Synopsis of Birds (23rd January, 1840), says of this bird :— 
“A specimen, in very bad preservation, with only five tail- 
feathers—on one side three, on the other two, very much gra- 
duated ; the total number of rectrices is therefore unknown. 
The white tail-feathers, and the uniformly brown upperside 
of the wings, and the upper part of the back, show conclu- 
sively that the bird is an old one. It was determined as 
Pelecanus piscator, from which it is very different in the fol- 
lowing points. The skin of the throat is feathered forward, 
the feathers forming a point in it; the upper back, three 
fourths of the greater scapulars, upper and nearly all under 
wing-coverts obscure greyish brown.” 

In his manuscript Joh. Natterer designated the bird Dys- 
porus, without a specific name; the name “plumigula” is 
found on the label of the specimen and in the catalogue of 
the collection, and was probably given by Josef Natterer, the 
brother of the traveller, who also held an appointment in the 
Imperial Museum. Surely a species based on a single speci- 
men, -in bad condition, must rest very doubtful; but it is 
perhaps not useless to direct attention to further investiga- 
tions on the point. 


112. GracuLus punctatus (Sparrm.). (107.) 

Crested Shag, Cook’s last Voyage (1783), i. 151. 

Spotted Shag, Latham, Gen. Synops. vi. (1785) 602. 18, 
t. 104. 

Pelecanus punctatus, Sparrm. Mus. Carls. i. (1786) t. 10; 
Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 889. 19. 

Pelecanus nevius, Gmel. Syst. 1. 574. 

The bird from the Mus. Leverianum, undoubtedly Latham’s 
type, being in a bad state, was not inserted in the collection. 


113. PeLecanus conspicityatus, Temm. (282.) 
New-Holland Pelican, Lath. Gen. Hist. x. 402, 
Pelecanus conspicillatus, Temm. Pl. Col. 276. 
Pelecanus australis, Steph. Gen. Zool. xiii. i. 118. 


54 Messrs. Alston and Harvie Brown’s 


c A specimen which had no older label, is, without doubt, 
that from the Leverian Museum, and possibly the type of 
Latham’s description, to which I have not had access. 


114, Petecanus TRAcHYRHYNcHUS, Latham, (164) 

Rough-billed Pelican, Lath. Gen. Synops. vi. 586. 8 (Mus. 
Lever.) ; Phil. Trans. lxu. 419. 54; Fauna Amer. 17. 

Pelecanus erythrorhynchus, Gmel. Syst. i. 571. 

Pelecanus trachyrhynchus, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 884. 8; Shaw, 
Mus. Lever. 211, c. tab. 

It is not without doubt, but very probable, that the old 
specimen in our collection is that mentioned by Latham as 
contained in the Leverian Museum, and the original of 
Shaw’s plate. 


115. Prxecanus Fuscus, Linné. (104.) 

Brown Pelican, Lath. Gen. Syn. vi. 580. 3. 

Pelecanus fuscus, Linné, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 883. 3. 

Sale Cat. n. 1411, from North America (Catal.). 

This bird, which I believe to be from the Leverian Museum 
(though it is without label), is very young, and in bad con- 
dition. 


116. Tacuyrrres aquitus, Linné. (106.) 
This specimen is in dark plumage, and seems to have been 
obtained from the American coast. 


[To be continued. | 


III.—WNotes from Archangel. By Epwarp R. Axston, 
F.Z.S., and Joun A. Harviz Brown. 


Tue following notes, made during an excursion to the country 
round Archangel, are offered as an appendix to the fuller 
accounts of Herr Liljeborg (Naumannia, 1852, p. 87), Herr 
Forstmeister Goebel (Journal fiir Ornithologie, 1871, p. 20), 
and Herr Meves (Cifversigt af K. Vetensk. Ak. Forhand- 
lingar, 1871, p. 731). 

Various causes detained us longer in this country than we 
should have wished ; and we did not leave St. Petersburg till 
the 8th June, having been delayed there for two days: in 


5 


1 


Notes from Archangel. 


making the necessary preparations connected with our pass- 
ports and “ paderojna” (or posting-papers). We proceeded 
by steamer and canal-boat to Wuitegra (558 versts) vid the 
river Neva, Lake Ladoga, river Swir, and Onega canal. 
Thence we travelled in “ tarantasse”’” or country carts, and 
in a steamer on the river Dwina to Archangel, 546 versts 
further, reaching our destination on the 15th June, where, 
having been provided with letters of introduction by our kind 
friend Mr. H. E. Dresser, we met with a most hospitable 
reception. Here, once for all, we may be allowed to express 
our warmest thanks for all the kindness we met with during 
our stay at Archangel. More especially are our acknowledg- 
ments due to Mr. John Shergold and to Mr. Charles Birse, 
Her Britannic Majesty’s Consul. These gentlemen vied with 
one another in rendering us every assistance; Mr. Shergold 
had engaged collectors for us before our arrival, and Mr. 
Birse introduced us to the Messrs. Craemers; and to M. 
Piottuch, who gave us most valuable help in collecting. Such 
hospitality and kindness was shown to us on every side, that 
we never can forget our friends in the far north. We now 
proceed to give a short description of the country around 
Archangel. 

The Dwina is a noble river, of considerable breadth, but 
very shallow. Below Archangel it divides into imumerable 
branches, and thus forms the great delta of islands which 
extend about 40 versts further, to the White Sea. It is navi- 
gable for river-steamers and flat-bottomed lighters for over 
300 miles from its mouths; and almost all the grain shipped 
from Archangel comes down the river from the far-off central 
provinces of Russia. The Dwina teems with fish ; and amongst 
» these, perhaps, the most remarkable is the far-famed Sterlet 
(Acipenser ruthenus), which was formerly principally known 
as an inhabitant of the Volga. About 1861, however, a canal 
was formed in Vologda, connecting the head-waters of the 
Volga with those of the Dwina; and live sterlet may now be 
seen in numbers every market-day in Archangel. In St. 
Petersburg, we were told, this fish fetches three times the price 
of salmon. 


56 Messrs. Alston and Harvie Brown’s 


The innumerable islands of the delta present very varied 
features. Some of them are composed of alluvial soil, and 
others of dry sand. They are covered in some instances 
with low tangled thickets of alder, in others with tall, 
straight, large-leaved birch. Some bear old pine-woods; some 
are overgrown with low open scrub; while the outer islands 
are for the most part sandy, and covered with short grass 
which is cut for hay, and round their edges waves the long 
sea-bent. 

The mainland is on the whole more densely wooded. 
Behind the town, a damp moor stretches back to the Urus 
river, covered with Iceland and Reindeer moss, mingled with 
short shrubs of juniper, dwarf birch, stunted pines, and small 
clumps of alder and willow, and on every side grow great 
quantities of “ maroushka” or cloud-berries. Here two 
families of Samoyedes have taken up their abode, and live by 
begging or working in the town, and feeding on the offal of 
the slaughter-houses, close to which they have pitched their 
camp of three filthy ‘‘ chooms,” covered with squares of birch- 
bark sewed together. Numbers of this curious race visit 
Archangel in winter; but all save these pauper families go 
further north in summer to find pasturage for their reindeer. 
At Waldushki, a village opposite Archangel on the south side 
of the river, the land gains an altitude of about 100 feet, and 
from here an extensive view can be obtained of the town and 
of the delta. Seen im the rich red glow of a northern sunset, 
all her gilded domes and minarets gleaming and changing in 
intensity of colour in the setting rays, Archangel appears to 
great advantage. Surely Mr. Hepworth Dixon cannot have 
stood on the heights of Waldushki on one of these glorious 
nights, and looked at the panorama stretched out beneath, - 
and then found it in his heart to describe the town as “a camp 
of shanties,” or the country around it as “a vast green 
marsh.” Verily the good folks of Archangel may well be 
annoyed at having their picturesque and pretty town so 
maligned. 

Making the town our head quarters, we undertook two 
trips to the outer islands of the delta, one to a village on the 


Notes from Archangel. 57 


river Ijma and to a secluded lake in the midst of tall pine- 
forest, one to Cholmogory, about 70 versts up the river from 
Archangel, one to Waldushki, and a sixth trip to Sujma, a 
village on the south shore of the White Sea, and distant from 
Archangel about 90 versts. 

Having thus given a rough outline of the country, we will 
now proceed to mention the birds which came under our 
observation during our collecting-trips, adding as we proceed 
such observations upon the more interesting species as may 
suggest themselves upon a reperusal of our journals. 

We have numbered in the list only such species as were 
procured by us in the Archangel district, or which came 
under our own observation there. Others, which are repre- 
seuted in the Museum or in private collections, or which we 
met with in our journey from St. Petersburg, are included 
under the headings of Odbservations*. 


We left the bar at the mouth of the Maimax Channel on 
the 3rd of August, and returned home round the North Cape. 


1. Fatco susspureo. Not uncommon. A male Hobby 
was shot and eggs taken by us on one of the outer islands 
of the delta on the 26th June. The nest was that of a 
Hooded Crow; and the eggs, three in number, were deeply 
incubated. 

Cbs.—We saw Falco esalon at Wosnesenskoi and Falco 
tinnunculus at Wuitegra and Kargopole. At the latter 
place Falco vespertinus was plentiful, perching on the fences 
and telegraph-wires, and flying along the road in front of 
us; we did not observe it ourselves at Archangel, but saw 
specimens in the Museum and in Herr Heinrich’s collection. 
In the Museum there are also examples of Falco gyrfalco and. 
Falco peregrinus. 


2. Panpion HALiantTus. No Ospreys were seen by us; but 
we visited an eyry, which was said, by our guide, to have 
been regularly occupied for the last ten years. This nest was 
a huge structure, evidently of great age, placed on the very 


* We have followed Blasius’s ‘List of the Birds of Kurope’ both as 
regards arrangement and nomenclature. 


58 Messrs. Alston and Harvie Brown’s 


top of a gigantic blasted pine—by far the largest tree we saw 
in Russia—and situated about 200 yards from the side of a 
woodland lake. Our guide said that he had seen the old 
birds there in the spring. 


3. Borro vutearis. Buzzards were common, and were 
often seen circlmg over the town. We procured the young 
in down and an egg on the 7th July. A female obtained by 
us has the general plumage very rufous, especially the tail 
and feathers of the thighs. 

Obs.—Pernis apivorus is represented by a specimen in the 
Museum, and Buteo lagopus was once seen sailing over the 
Swir river. 


4, Hatiarrus aupicitta. The White-tailed Eagle is com- 
mon on the Dwina: we saw it on several occasions, but never 
got within range. One which we watched for some time m 
the dusk of a northern midnight was much persecuted by a 
large Owl, probably Ulula barbata. 

Obs.—Of Aquila chrysaétus, we saw specimens in the 
Museum and in a private collection. 


5. Minvus recatis. Kites were observed at Cholmogory 
and elsewhere, usually near towns and villages. We did not 
obtaim any specimens, but believe them to have been of this 
species, which was the one procured by Liljeborg and Meves. 

Obs.—Astur palumbarius and A. nisus were represented by 
specimens in the Museum. 


6. Circus cyanus. The Hen-Harrier was not uncom- 
mon, and was seen often in the evenings skimming, owl-like, 
over the level country. 


7. Aicouivs BRAcHyotus. The Short-eared Owl appears to 
be the commonest species of Owl around Archangel in 
summer, and was the only one we obtained. 

Obs.—In the Museum are examples of Nyctale funerea, 
Ulula barbata, U. uralensis, Surnia passerina, S. ulula, 8S. 
nyctea, and Bubo maximus. We once saw what we believed 
to be the Lap Owl; but we were assured that the various 
species of Owl are much more abundant later in the year. 


Notes from Archangel: 59 


We were told of no less than seventeen Snowy Owls having 
been shot by a gentleman in one afternoon. 


8. Dryocorus Martius. We shot one Great black Wood- 
pecker, and heard its loud laughing note on several occasions. 
Like the rest of the family, this bird may be easily brought 
within range by an imitation of its “ tapping,” produced by 
rapping on the stock of one’s gun with a small stick. 


9. Picus Masor. Several were killed at Sujma, where 
they were very common in the pine-woods. 


10. Picus mtnor. A pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, 
with their nest and eggs, were obtained. 


1]. ArreRNuUs TRIDAcTYLUS. One Three-toed Woodpecker 
was shot in a large pine-forest at Ijma Ozéro ; its stomach 
contained ants and small beetles. 

Obs.—In the Museum there are specimens of Gecinus canus 
and Picus leuconotus. 


12. Cucutus canorus. Very abundant. 
Obs.—Of the Nightjar (Caprimulgus europeus) there are 
eggs in the Museum. 


13. CypseLus apus. The Swift was observed by us at 
Cholmogory. 


14. CHELIDON urzBica. House-Martms were seen at St. 
Petersburg, Wuitegra, and at Archangel, in which latter 
place they met among the stone carvings of the Imperial 
barracks. 


15. Hirunpo rustica. Seen at Wuitegra, and once at 
Archangel. 


16. Coryty riparia. Extremely abundant, nesting in 
large colonies in the low steep banks of clay or sand. We 
took fresh eggs on the nights of 17th-18th June. These 
Sand-Martins appeared to us to be darker im colour than 
British specimens; but, unfortunately, none were preserved. 


17. Muscicapa Grisota. The Spotted Flycatcher is com- 
mon. We received a nest with eggs on the 17th June. 


60 Messrs. Alston and Harvie Brown’s 


18. Lanius Excusrtor. Common in some localities, but 
always shy and difficult of approach. This Shrike seems to 
prefer perching on the tops of the highest trees near the 
borders of the forest. Near Waldushki one was seen to 
chase a Hooded Crow, at which it made repeated dashes. 

Obs.—One specimen of Lanius collurio is in the Museum. 


19. Amprtis GaARRULA. This very beautiful species is com- 
mon but local, both on the mainland and islands. We did not 
find it breeding, but met with it both in pairs and in flocks 
of from three to six. These small parties seemed to consist 
either of male or female birds exclusively ; and, strange to 
say, all the latter had the breast very bare. No bird can be 
handsomer than the Waxwing as it springs from twig to twig 
of a sombre pine, now fluttering on the wing, now flirting its 
silky crest, constantly in motion, and ever and anon uttermg 
its musical tremulous whistle. It is particularly fond of 
perching on the topmost twigs of the pine trees. A bird of 
the year is preserved in the Museum. 


20. Parus BoREALIS. Common, but not so abundant as in 
some districts of Norway. 


21. Parus cristatus. We shot one in the forest of Glu- 
boki, near Cholmogory, but saw no other specimens. 

Obs.—The Museum contains one example of P. sibiricus, 
and also one of Sitta europea. 


22. Turpus Piuaris. Very plentiful. 


23. Turpus iiacus. Very common in some localities. 
A young bird which we obtained is described im Dresser and 
Sharpe’s ‘ Birds of Europe,’ part xiii. 


24. TurpUS MERULA. Once seen. 

Obs.—In the collection of Herr Heinrich there is a speci- 
men of the black-bellied variety of Cinclus aquaticus, and 
also one of Oriolus galbula, both of which are considered very 
rare birds in this district. 


25. RurictLta PH@NicuRA. Redstarts are common, and 
nest in the gardens of the town. 


Notes from Archangel. — 61 


26. Cyanrecuta surcica. The Bluebreast is apparently 
rare; we obtained one specimen, which was the only one 
seen. 

Obs.—Sazicola enanthe was observed only at Wuitegra and 
Kargopole, and seemed to be a scarce species. 


27. PRATINCOLA RUBETRA. Common. 


28. SyLVIA HORTENSIS. Common. 
Obs.— Sylvia cinerea was heard not unfrequently at Wos- 
nesenskoi and at Wuitegra. 


29. PHYLLOPNEUSTE SIBILATRIX. Not very common. 


30. PHYLLOPNEUSTE EVERSMANNI. A small Warbler, which 
we found very commonly around Archangel, is identified by 
Mr. Dresser with this eastern form. So far as we could 
observe, its notes and habits are very similar to those of our 
own Willow-Wren. We obtained the newly fledged young, 
but found no nests. Herr Radde considers its song almost 
finch-lke. 


31. CataMopyta PHRAGMITIS. The Sedge-Warbler was 
common in suitable localities, but was the only aquatic 
Warbler which came under our observation. 


382. Moracitia aLBA. Common from St. Petersburg to 
Archangel, but not abundant. 


33. Bupyres cINEREOCAPILLUS. This Wagtail was exceed- 
ingly abundant, principally frequenting islands with low 
bushes interspersed with open ground. Young birds differ 
remarkably from the adults, being yellowish buff below, with 
a well-defined gorget of dark spots. 


34. AnTHUS cERVINUS. The Red-throated Pipit was not 
common, but was obtained by us on the outer islands, and 
also close to the town, frequenting the same kind of ground 
as the last-mentioned species. It is very distinct from 
Anthus pratensis, though Blasius (‘A list of the Birds of 
Europe’) considers it only a variety. 


35. ANTHUS ARBOREUS. One specimen procured. 


62 Messrs. Alston and Harvie Brown’s 


36. Ataupa arvensis. The Sky-Lark was common in 
suitable localities. A specimen preserved is very rufous on 
the breast, as compared with British-killed specimens. 

Obs.—Otocorys alpestris. This species is represented by 
one specimen in the Museum, where there is also a specimen 
of Euspiza melanocephala 3; but the fact of the latter having 
been procured in the Archangel Government is unauthenti- 
cated, and must be regarded as very doubtful. 

37. EmpBeriza aurnota. The Yellow-breasted Bunting is 
not found, or is extremely rare on the outer islands of the 
delta, according to our observation. Around Archangel, on 
certain islands, and higher up the river, it is extremely abun- 
dant, and is invariably to be found in hay-fields interspersed 
with low alder and birch bushes and overgrown with quan- 
tities of the broad-leaved Veratrum album mixed with horse- 
celery and long rank grass. So constantly is this the case, 
that whenever we noticed a patch of that weed, we always 

made certain of finding a colony of these birds. In this kind 
of ground it is extremely difficult to find the nest, all the 
more so because the female always runs some distance before 
taking wing; in one instance, we watched the female return 
to the nest, and found it to be quite six yards from the spot 
whence we had originally started her. Even when the birds 
were shot, and dropped amongst the long grass, it was next 
to impossible to find them without tearmg up, or cutting 
away, the grass around. The birds perched on the tall stems 
and broad leaves of the Veratrum, and, when disturbed, uttered 
rapid notes of alarm, somewhat resembling those of the 
Whinchat, but softer; and the males often flew close round 
us when their mates were killed. At other times, however, 
they evinced considerable shyness, and soon came to learn the 
deadly meaning of the reports of our stick-guns. 

We found several nests of this Bunting; but only one of 
them contained eggs. They were placed on the ground, and 
were simply composed of thin wiry grass circularly disposed, 
some having a few horse-hairs as linmg. One which we 
took on the 7th July, containing five eggs, is now before us ; 
it was placed on a dry raised bank in a marshy opening in an 


Notes from Archangel. 63 


alder-thicket, under the shelter of the broad leaves of a plant 
of Veratrum album; and nearly all the others which we exa- 
mined were similarly situated. Of this nest both birds were 
procured: the male (now before us) is not in perfectly 
mature plumage, the chestnut collar not being complete; we 
subsequently found other males breeding in the same imma- 
ture state. An excellent series of figures of the head of this 
species, in its various plumages, is given in Radde’s ‘ Reisen 
in Ost-Sibirien,’ vol. ii. pl. iv. All the nests we found on the 
13th and 14th July had newly hatched young; but we ob- 
tained one fully fledged bird on the latter date, and others 
soon after. 


38. EMBERIZA CITRINELLA. The Yellow Bunting was very 
abundant, and more generally distributed on the islands and 
mainland than most other species. 


39. Emperiza rustica. The Rustic Bunting is certainly 
much rarer than the next species. Those we procured were 
found in marshy pine-woods, and in openings in the forests. 
We had few opportunities of studying its habits. Its call- 
note resembles that of its congeners. 


40. Emperiza pusitta. ‘This pretty little Bunting is a 
very common species, but apparently somewhat locally dis- 
tributed. It frequents both pine-woods of large growth and 
thickets of underwood, but seems to prefer young woods with 
a mixture of pine, fir, alder, and birch. These birds were 
exceedingly tame at all times, but more especially so when 
their young were in the vicinity. We often heard their sweet 
_ low song, more resembling the warbling of some Sylvia than 
of an Emberiza, which was generally poured forth from the 
top of a tree; they had also a low cry of alarm, which may 
be expressed by the words “tick, tick, tick” repeated at in- 
tervals of about a second. We did not find any nests, but 
obtained the young in several stages. 


41. EMBERIZA SCcH@NIcLA. Very common and pretty gene- 
rally distributed. 
Obs.—Plectrophanes calcarata and P. nivalis are represented 


64 Messrs. Alston and Harvie Brown’s 


by specimens in the museum. Passer montanus we identified 
at Kargopole, but we did not meet with it at Archangel. 


42. Passur pomeEsticus was abundant in Archangel and 
in the villages. 


43. Frrveria catess. The Chaffinch was not very plen- 
tiful, but was observed by us at Wosnesenskoi, Wuitegra, and 
at Archangel; at the latter place it was much valued as a 
cage-bird. 


44, FRINGILLA MONTIFRINGILLA. Bramblings were com- 
mon, but not so abundant as in some parts of Norway. 


45. AiaiotHUS RUFESCENS. Perhaps the most abundant 
species of land bird in the Archangel district is the Lesser 
Redpole, which is to be found in all kinds of situations, fre- 
quenting alike pine and hard-wood forests, and breeding plen- 
tifully in the gardens in the town. We obtained nests con- 
taining fresh eggs during the whole time of our stay. 

Obs.—Chrysomitris spinus is represented in the museum. 


46. Carpopacus eryTHRiINvS. The Scarlet Bullfinch is not 
very abundant in the Archangel district ; and, curiously, we 
never met with the old males there, the only one we saw being 
at the side of the Onega canal. We found the females fre- 
quenting low underwood ; they are lively birds, constantly in 
motion, and have a cry closely resembling that of the Green- 


finch. 


47. CoryTHus ENUCLEATOR, This is avery abundant species 
in some localities, but was only obtained by us at Sujma. ‘Two 
Pine-Grosbeaks, which we brought home alive and placed in 
the Zoological Gardens, were fed upon canary-seed and hemp- 
seed, but on board ship took kindly to oats, of which our 
cargo was mainly composed. These birds were very rapidly 
losing their red plumage, the yellow appearing in patches on 
the head and back, and this by means of a regular moult. 


48. Pyrruuta ruBicittaA. We only obtained one speci- 
men, which seems to belong to the larger continental race 
(P. coccinea, De Selys). 


Notes from Archangel. 65 


49, Loxta curvrrostra. One common Crossbill only was 
shot, and not preserved. No others were observed by us; 
but they were said to be abundant in some places, 

Obs.—We did not meet with Lowia leucoptera ; but there is 
one in the museum. Wewere told that these birds are abun- 
dant during some seasons and are sold alive in Archangel ; 
other years very few are to be obtained. 


50. Corvus MonEDULA. Jackdaws were very common. ‘The 
grey of the nape was much clearer and better marked in all 
those we saw in Russia than it usually isin British specimens ; 
and in some the mark seemed almost white. 


51. Corvus corax. Very common close to Archangel. <A 
pair of Ravens were nesting in the town itself, and large 
numbers are attracted to the neighbourhood (like the Samoy- 
edes) by the proximity of the town slaughter-houses. Rows 
of these birds might be seen sitting, after a good meal, on the 
tops of the slaughter-houses, and exhibiting a fearlessness very 
different from the wariness they display on a wild mountain- 
side. 


52. Corvus rrucitecus. The Rook is considered very rare 
by the inhabitants ; but we observed a considerable number 
consorting with Hooded Crows near Cholmogory, and one of 
our party killed two specimens. 


53. Corvus cornix. The Hooded Crow is extremely abun- 
dant; in fact the ‘“ Verone” is one of the most characteristic 
birds of the district. Another name for the Hooded Crow is 
the “‘ Russian Nightingale.” 


54. Prcacaupata. The Magpie isnot very abundant. We 
observed it at Cholmogory. 

Obs.—There is one specimen of Corvus corone in Herr 
Heinrich’s collection, and also one specimen of Nucifraga 
caryocatactes. 


55. Prrisorreus rnraustus. The Northern Jay is common, 
and was generally seen by us in small flocks or family parties 
in the pine-woods. Very quaint-looking birds are these 
Northern Jays, with the nez retroussé, their bushy heads, and 

SER. I1].—VOL. Ill. F 


66 Messrs. Alston and Harvie Brown’s 


fluffy plumage. They generally perch close to the trunk of 
a pine, and mount up in cork-screw fashion, hopping from 
branch to branch, in search of beetles, which seem to con- 
stitute their principal food. hey will carry off a heavy shot, 
and when mortally wounded cling to the branches with great 
tenacity. We found one empty nest, built principally of 
lichens, placed close to the stem of a pine, not more than 
eight feet from the ground. 

Obs.—One specimen of Columba palumbus was seen at Wui- 
tegra, and another at Kargopole. 


56. Lacorus atpus.—The Willow-Grouse is very common, 
frequenting principally the pime-woods, where long narrow 
strips of marshy ground, covered with cotton-grass and cran- 
berries, and studded with alders and willows, run at intervals 
parallel with one another. We do not remember an instance 
of meeting with Willow-Grouse in any other kind of ground. 


57. Terrao vrocattus. Of this species we obtaimed the 
young in down. 


58. Terrao TETRIX is not apparently a very abundant species. 
We obtained the young. 


59. Terrastes BonastA.—This beautiful species does not 
appear to be so very abundant in the neighbourhood of Arch- 
angel, and is only found there in certain localities. We were 
informed that Hazel-Grouse are much more plentiful further 
to the north and east ; and the great numbers of this delicious 
game-bird which arrive at St. Petersburg later in the season, 
though sent from Archangel, are not, we believe, obtained in 
the first instance near Archangel, but at some distance from 
the town. The very peculiar whistle of the “ Raibchick” is 
imitated by the Russian sportsman on a small instrument 
made of a quill, and the bird thus seduced within range; but 
the principal destruction is by means of ingeniously laid snares 
of horse-hair. 

Obs.—In the museum is a specimen of Syrrhaptes pa-~ 
radoxus. 


60. OrtyGion coturnix. At Sujma we saw two Quails in 


Notes from Archangel. 67 


the flesh, which were brought in by a peasant, but which were 
too far gone for preservation. 


61. Orrycomurra rorzana. The peculiar “ whuit, whuit ” 
of the Spotted Crake first attracted our attention as our canal- 
boat crept slowly through the great marshes between Wos- 
nesenskoi and Wuitegra. We afterwards procured both old 
and young in down at Waldushki; and at many other loca- 
lities this curious cry sounded in the still nights, and was taken 
up and replied to on every side. This must be a very abun- 
dant species, especially in the great marshes above mentioned. 

Obs.—Crex pratensis was heard at Wuitegra and at Wos- 
nesenskoi. Though we did not meet with it at Archangel, 
an imitation of its cry was readily recognized by our boatmen. 


62. SquaTaRoLa HELVETICA. Grey Plovers in full breeding- 
plumage were procured out of a flock of five on one of the 
outer islands, on the 22nd of June. Our boatmen said they 
were very rare there and do not breed. 


63. CHaRApRIUS PLUVIALIS. Golden Plovers were common 
in some localities, especially on some large moors in the neigh- 
bourhood of Sujma. 


64. ANeraALiTIs HIATICULA. Notanabundant species. We 
found it breeding on the sandy outer islands. 
Obs.—Strepsilas interpres is represented in the museum. 


65. Hamarorus ostraLecus. Oystercatchers were very 
abundant on the outer islands, and also at Cholmogory. 


66. Toranus eiorris. The Greenshank is not common, 
and we only observed it at two different localities. 


67. Toranus Guarnota. The Wood-Sandpiper was very 
common in the same kind of ground as that frequented by 
the Willow-Grouse, viz. marshy ground in the pine-woods. 
We did not succeed in finding the nest, but obtained the young 
in down. 

Obs.—In the museum are'specimens of Totanus fuscus and. 
T. ochropus. 


68. Acritis HYPOLEUCA. Wemet with the common Sand- 
F2 


68 Messrs. Alston and Harvie Brown’s 


piper first at Suja, on the Dwina, and afterwards in great 
numbers on the banks of the Ijma river, where it was more 
numerous than the next species ; yet we never once met with 
it on the islands of the delta. Itseems to be a common species, 
but very locally distributed. 


69. Xunus cinereus. The Terek Sandpiper is very abun- 
dant on the delta of the river Dwina; and we met with it both 
on the sandy islands of the outer group, and on the closely 
wooded ones nearer to Archangel. We took eggs from the 
time of our arrival, on the 15th of June, on to the end of the 
month; and the young were obtained in all stages. By the 
21st of July the young birds of the year were going in flocks. 
We were much struck by the arboreal habits of this species, 
which perches freely upon bushes ocr low trees, and runs along 
the branches with great ease, uttering a rapidly repeated cry 
of alarm, which may expressed by the words “tluk, tluk, thuk.” 
When first started, or when flying from place to place, or 
dashing in and out amongst the alder thickets, the more 
musical double note is uttered, whence its Russian name of 
Kuleek’-*. 

The nest is simply a slight saucer-shaped hollow in the 
ground, lined with chips of wood and bits of thick reed, and 
is placed in open marshy parts of the alder thickets, by the 
sides of “ Kourias” or creeks, or in the sand amongst bent 
grass. 

The eggs in many instances closely resemble those of Ac- 
titis hypoleuca, but are a little larger. ‘They bear no resem- 
blance whatever to the eggs of Limose; indeed all this bird’s 
habits, motions, cry, and quick, darting, erratic flight show its 
affinities with the Sandpipers, and not with the Godwits. The 
length of bill in different individuals varies greatly, as is the 
case in Tringa cinclus, Numenius arquata, and other Waders. 
The young soon take on the dark markings on the back which 
are so conspicuous in the adult birds ; and these can be traced 
in the nestling of a few days’ age. The young birds have the 

* “Kuleeki” is the name applied by the natives to all kinds of Sand- 


pipers, but most directly to the Terek Sandpiper. The accent is on the 
second syllable. 


Notes from Archangel. 69 


legs and feet of a pale orange-colour ; in the adult they are of 
a dull olive-green. The full-grown birds of the year retain 
the yellowish margins of the feathers of the upper parts. 

Obs.—In the museum are specimens of Limosa rufa and L. 
egocephala. The latter appears remarkable for its great 
size—its dimensions in English inches being, tarsus 3°8, tibia 
nearly 2:8, middle toe 2°12, bill 4°87, wing from carpal 
joint 9°8. 

70. Puitomacnus pucnax. Ruffs and Reeves were very 
abundant, especially on the outer islands. We obtained eggs 
on the 22nd and 26th of June, nests having been found both 
in marshy ground and in sand amongst bent. Young birds 
with slight traces of down remaining on the neck were obtained 
on the night of 16th-17th July. 


71. Trinea suparquata. We bought a Curlew Sandpiper 
in full summer plumage in the Archangel market on the 18th 
of June, but did not meet with it on the islands. 


72. Trinca minuta. One Little Stint in full summer 
plumage was shot on the 2lst of June, on an island where 
numbers of the next species were nestmg. We searched dili- 
gently in the hope of finding it breeding, and identified every 
nest we could find, but failed in discovering another specimen 
of the rarer species. 


73. TRINGA TEMMINCKI. This pretty little Wader is plen- 
tiful on the outer delta, and breeds also sparingly on some of 
the inner islands. On the 28th of June we took several nests 
of eggs, much incubated, shooting the birds from four of 
them ; two of these incubating birds proved on dissection to 
be males. . 

We had good opportunities of observing the interesting 
habits of Temminck’s Stint, and especially of the way in which 
it rises and hovers with raised wings about 15 feet from the 
ground, uttermg at the same time a low trillmg note. This 
habit was well known to our boatmen; and Nikolai, when he 
wished to indicate this species to us, would hold out his arms, 
vibrating the fingers, and imitating the ery of the bird to 
perfection. 


70 Messrs. Alston and Harvie Brown’s 


The nests were not difficult to find by watching the bird’s 
return. They were simple hollows in the sand sparingly lined 
with dry grass, and generally placed in the shelter of over- 
hanging tufts of sea-bent. In no case did we find a nest more 
than twenty yards from high-tide mark; and most of those 
we saw were much nearer the sea. Two nests were found in 
the wrack left by some unusually high tide. The birds were 
very tame, often tripping along the wet sand and feeding un- 
concernedly within a few yards of where we were standing. 

Obs.—Calidris arenaria. There is one specimen of the 
Sanderling in the museum. 


74, TrLMaTras GALLINAGO. One Common Snipe was seen 
close to the town, but none were procured. 


75. TetMatias Mason. Great Snipe were not observed by 
us in great numbers, as they had not yet begun to flock to 
their autumn feeding-grounds in the islands. Family parties, 
however, were met with in marshy woods; and young were 
obtained with the down only partially replaced by feathers. 


76. Numenrus arquata. Curlews were common. We ob- 
served this species repeatedly perching on low bushes, and 
even on the very summit of high trees, especially on the open 
ground in the neighbourhood of Sujma, where they were very 
plentiful: m Scotland we have very seldom seen this bird 
alight on a tree. 


77. Grus cinerEA. ‘The first examples of this fine bird 
which we met with were paired birds, and were feeding within 
200 yards of the canal which leads through the great tract of 
marsh between Wosnesenskoi and Wuitegra, on the south 
shore of Lake Onega. Afterwards in the Archangel market 
we procured two young Cranes, and saw birds both at Chol- 
mogory and on the outer islands, but did not succeed im shoot- 
ing any specimens. The skeleton of one of the birds we ob- 
tained is now in the museum of the University of Cambridge. 


78. ANSER cINEREUS. We saw Grey Lag Geese in the 
market ; and a large flock of Grey Geese seen in the distance 
on one of the outer islands probably belonged to this species. 


Notes from Archangel. 71 


Specimens of wild Geese which we saw in the market had the 
left wing amputated at the carpal joint. We were informed 
that the peasants did this, owing to some superstitious motive, 
before bringing the birds to the market. Subsequently, how- 
ever, we saw a /eft wing in a peasant’s house which was used 
for sweeping out the oven*. 

Obs.—Specimens of the following species were in the Mu- 
seum, viz. A. segetum, A. albifrons, and Bernicla leucopsis. 


79. RuyNcHaspis cLypeEATA. Abundant. 


80. CYANOPTERUS QUERQUEDULA. We obtained specimens 
in the market, but did not observe it on the islands. 


81. QuErRQUEDULA creEccA. Plentiful on the outer islands. 
82. ANAS BoscHAs. Common. 


83. Dariza acuta. Very abundant. ‘This species and the 
Shoveller appeared to be the two commonest species of Duck 
at this season in the delta. We obtained several Pintails’ 
nests, and also the young in down. 


84. Mareca PENELOPE. Common. We found no nests, 
but procured the young birds. 


85. GLaucion cLancuLA. Only one Golden-eye was seen 
on the outer islands. 

Obs.—In the Museum the following species were repre- 
sented :—Chaulelasmus strepera, Fuligula ferina, F. nyroca, 
F. marila, F. cristata, Harelda glaciahs. 


86. CGipemtia Fusca. Velvet Scoters were seen on the Neva 
at St. Petersburg in June, and large flocks were observed on 
the south shore of the White Sea in the end of July. 


87. Cipemi1a nigra. A female Common Scoter accom- 
panied by her young ones was seen on the Swir river on the 
9th of June. Afterwards it was obtamed at Waldushki, and 
seen in immense numbers on the White Sea in July. 

Obs.—There is a specimen of Mergus albellus in the Mu- 
seum ; and Mergus castor and Mergus serrator were seen on 


* The Faroese also use birds’ wings for brushes; but they sew the twe 
wings together, back to back. 


72 Messrs. Alston and Brown’s Notes from Archangel. 


the river Swir; but we did not meet with any of these on the 
islands of the delta. 


88. Sterna HIRUNDO. This was the only Tern observed 
by us in the district. One pair of birds laid two eggs in a 
nest from which we had previously taken four eggs of Xenus 
cinereus. This species was abundant on the outer islands, 
and also further up the river at Cholmogory. 

Obs.—Chroicocephalus minutus. A few examples of this. 
lovely little Gull were observed on the Swir river; but we saw 
none near Archangel, where we expected to find them breed- 
ing ; nor did our boatmen seem to know the bird. There are 


specimens in the Museum. 


89. Curorcocernatus ripisuNDUs. The Black-headed Gull 
was only seen at Cholmogory, where a flock of about forty 
individuals frequented a small shallow pond behind the town. 


90. Larus canus. Very common, especially on the outer 
islands. 


91. Larus aARGENTATUS. Common. 
92. Larus Fuscus. Common. 


93. Larus Marinus. Common, but breeding in single 
pairs, not in colonies. 

Obs.—There is a specimen of Lestris pomatorhina in the 
Museum. . 


94. EupyvEs sEpTeNTRIONALIS. The Red-throated Diver is 
very abundant on all suitable islands; and we obtained both 
eggs and young birds. 


95. Eupyves arcricus. Even more abundant than the last, 
and often seen flying in flocks of a dozen or more. Further 
to the north great numbers of Black-throated Divers are 
killed by the Samoyedes for the sake of the skin of the neck, 
of which very handsome muffs and trimmings for ladies’ dresses 
are made. 

%6s.—One specimen of E. glaciais was seen on the Swir 
river, 


On a new Species of Ardetta. 73 


96. CoLymBus auritus. We saw large Grebes on several 
occasions, but never near enough for certain identification. 
In all probability they belonged to this species, which we saw 
both in the Museum and in private collections. 


IV.—On a new Species of Little Bittern from China. 
By Roserr Swinuog, F.Z.S. &e. 


(Plate IL.) 


Tue Ardetta figured by v. Schrenk (Reisen im Amurlande, 
Vogel, t. xii.) as the young of Ardetta cinnamomea has long 
been a puzzle to me. A. cinnamomea is a very common sum- 
mer bird in the south of China, and, knowing it in every phase 
of plumage, I found it impossible to associate with it v. 
Schrenk’s bird. What, then, could the Amoorland bird be? for 
no species could cross to the north of China without occurring 
in China itself. The doubtful bird was not A. sinensis ; with 
that also I was well acquaimted. I could not settle the ques- 
tion ; and it passed out of my mind until the other day, when 
a bird identical with v. Schrenk’s figure was brought to 
me—a beautiful bird, with its back all starred with white. 

The question solved itself at once. In my catalogue of the 
birds of China (P. Z. 8S. 1868, p. 821) mention is made under 
A. sinensis of a hybrid between it and A. cinnamomea pro- 
cured at Amoy. I obtained only asingle specimen ; and this 
so combined the characters of the two species, that I unhesi- 
tatingly put it down as a hybrid, though Mr. Gould protested 
at the time that it was a good species. Quite recently, whilst 
at Shanghai, I saw several of the same birds over a marsh 
close enough to distinguish them distinctly, and with the aid 
of Chinese boys I secured three sittings of their eggs com- 
posed of three eggs each. 

The adult is a beautiful bird, which, combined with the 
striking character of the immature dress (no common feature 
amongst birds), suggests the name Ardetta eurhythma for this 
species. I now describe it as follows :— 


74. Mr. A. Anderson on the Nidification 


ARDETTA EURHYTHMA, sp.n. (Plate II.) 
Ardetta cinnamomea, juv., v. Schrenk, Amurl. Vogel, t. xii. 

fig. 3, p. 447. 

Ardetta (hybrid), Swinh. P. Z. 8. 1863, p. 321. 

Supra leté castanea, pileo versus frontem et cauda paulo nigri- 
cantioribus ; capitis lateribus dorso concoloribus : subtus 
isabellina, gula et abdomine imo albicantibus; stria media 
gulari a mento ad pectus fusco-brunnea: alis plumbeo- 
nigris, rectricibus internis apicibus albicantibus, extima in 
pogonio externo flavicante : tectricibus humeralibus, alula 
spuria externe, et tectricibus attingentibus castaneis: tee- 
tricibus alarum reliquis flavo-cinerascentibus: alarum tec- 
tricibus inferioribus et campterio albis, hoc flavo tincto : 
rostro yiridescenti-flavo, culmine obscure brunneo: iride 

_ flava: long. tota 11 poll., alee 6, caudz 1:8, tarsi 2, dig. 
med. cum ungue 2°1, rostri a rictu 2°3. 
Hab. Amoy, Shanghai, China. | 
This bird is easily distinguished from A. cinnamomea, in that 

the plumage of that species is wholly tinged with cinnamon. 
The most noticeable difference is in the wings, which, in the 
new bird, have the primaries dark plumbeous and the coverts 
for the most part greyish buff. A. sinensis, on the other hand, 
has the head and tail dark plumbeous and the back dark buff 
instead of chestnut. This latter bird, too, is smaller in all its 
dimensions, and has a much more slender bill. 


V.—On the Nidification of certain Indian Birds. Part II. 
By AnpREwW AnpeERsoN, F.Z.S. 


EUDYNAMYS ORIENTALIS. 

As the history of birds breeding parasitically is of consi- 
derable interest, and the habits of the Koel do not appear to 
have been sufficiently studied by Indian ornithologists, I am 
desirous of recording the result of my own observations on 
the subject. 

The only information we possess concerning the domestic 
economy of this bird is extremely meagre, if not incorrect. 
The late Dr. Jerdon appears to have been led into error in 
supposing that this Cuckoo “lays* one egg (only) in each 

* Cf. ‘ Birds of India,’ vol. i. p. 343, 


of certain Indian Birds. 75 


Crow’s nest, and mostly, but not always, destroys the eggs of 
the Crow at the time of depositing her own ;” but he is correct 
in stating that the nest of the Common Crow (Corvus splendens) 
is the one almost exclusively used as a nursery for the found- 
lings,—this, however, not because the Koel can be said to 
have any partiality for this Crow in particular, but because 
the other species (C. cudminatus) does not lay simultaneously 
with herself. I firmly believe that if both species nested at 
the same time, they would be equally in demand as foster- 
parents. C. culminatus lays} as a rule, mm February and 
March; and I have sometimes, though rarely, seen them do so 
as late as May and June; C. splendens, on the other hand, 
does not generally commence to build till June, which suits 
the Koel to a nicety. 

Subjoined is a list of the Koel’s eggs taken in my presence 
at Futtehghur during the year 1871 :-— 

No. 1. Three Koel’s and four eggs of C. culminatus, 27th 
May. This nest was built in a tree at my garden gate, and 
was watched by me in course of construction. I frequently 
observed male and female Koels darting in and out of this 

shady tree, and during the heat of the day sitting in close 
- proximity to, and on terms of perfect friendship with, the 
rightful occupants of the nest. On the 24th May the nest 
contained one Crow’s and one Koel’s egg ; on the 25th I was 
agreeably surprised at finding that each species had laid a 
second egg; but on the following day, the 26th, I was amazed 
when my tree-climber from aloft reported that both birds had 
again done their duty. On the 27th I removed the contents 
of the nest, which contained the number above stated. The 
Crow on this occasion was on her nest, and the man who went 
up informed me that one of the small eggs (meaning the 
Koel’s) was placed above the other six, forming, as it were, 
the corner tier. 

The following eggs and young Koels were all taken from 
the nests of C. splendens :— 

No. 2. Two Koel’s and one Crow’s egg, 8th June—all per- 
fectly fresh. 

No. 3. One Koel’s and one Crow’s egg, 19th June—all 
perfectly fresh. 


76 Mr. A. Anderson on the Nidification 


No. 4. One Koel’s and two Crow’s eggs, 19th June—all 
perfectly fresh. 

No. 5. Three Koel’s and six Crow’s eggs, 19th June. I think 
two Crows must have laid in this nest ; for three of their eggs 
were of one type and quite fresh, while the other three were 
well incubated, and appeared to be the produce of another 
pair. | 

No. 6. One Koel’s and three Crow’s eggs, 23rd June—the 
former perfectly fresh, the latter well incubated. 

No. 7. One Koel’s and threé Crow’s eggs, 23rd June; the 
Crow’s were on the point of hatching, while the intruded one 
appeared to have just been laid. 

No. 8. One Koel’s and three Crow’s eggs, 5th July. In 
this case the Koel’s egg was on the point of hatching, while 
those of the Crow were quite fresh. 

No. 9. One Koel’s and one Crow’s egg, 9th July—both ap- 
parently laid that day. 

No. 10. One Koel’s and one Crow’s egg, 9th July—both 
apparently laid that day; but the latter was found broken in 
the nest. 

No. 11. Two young Koels and three young Crows, 25th 
August. 

No, 12. Three young Koels and three young Crows, 28th 
August. 

Before drawing any conclusions from the above data, I 
would observe with reference to nest No. 1, that the fact of 
C. culminatus laying in May was as exceptionally late for that 
bird as it was early for the Koel. I am consequently led to 
infer that these three Koel’s eggs were the produce of one 
bird. What still further strengthens this supposition is the 
result of numerous post-mortems made by me; for I lost no 
time in examining the ovaries of as many birds as could be 
procured, with a view of ascertaining whether I was correct in 
my surmise. 

It is quite clear that C. culminatus is easily imposed upon, 
and seems to be alike unaware of and indifferent to the decep- 
tion practised on her ; for I never once observed the above pair 
attempt to drive away the Koels from the tree on which they 
had built. C. splendens, on the other hand, is thoroughly 


of certain Indian Birds. 77 


alive to the trickery; and there is hardly a day, during the 
breeding-season, that Koels may not be seen making their 
escape from trees, hotly and unrelentingly pursued by one 
or more Crows of this species. I have twice rescued female 
Koels from the hands of these marauders, once on the ground 
when the victim was in the act of being mobbed by a horde 
of Crows, and on another occasion when the bird flew into 
the veranda of my house for protection. 

But the curious thing in connexion with this subject is that 
the male Koel is just as often the object of attack as the fe- 
male; and I have frequently observed both sexes flying out 
of the same tree simultaneously, though in opposite directions. 
From this it may be inferred that some strange instinct guides 
a male bird to the tree along with the female when she is 
about to deposit her eggs, the object presumably being to 
attract the attention of the rightful occupants of the nest 
while the egg is being laid. On one occasion a Koel dropped 
her egg on the ground whilst beating a rapid retreat ; and on 
another I extracted an egg which was ready for exclusion, 
from the oviduct of a bird I shot as she emerged from a tree. 
The Crow was following about a yard behind, and had evi- 
dently driven away her enemy before she had time to accom- 
plish the deed. 

Summing up the evidence before us, the following facts may 
be deduced :— 

Ist. That the same Koel may lay a number of its eges in 
the same nest. I infer this much from having found three 
eggs in nest No. 1, which may be apportioned to one bird. 

2nd. That she does not wittingly eject the eggs of the foster- 
parent ; and that when there is a deficiency in the normal 
number, it is in all probability due to accident, owing to the 
Koel’s hurried movements. Nest No. 1, again, supports this 
theory ; for C. culminatus had in this case laid her usual num- 
ber undisturbed. 

3rd. That C. culminatus is easily duped, while her cunning 
congener, C. splendens, is fully aware of the deception. 

4th. That when the female Koel is about to intrude her 
egg, she is frequently accompanied by a male bird. 


78 On the Nidification of certain Indian Birds. 


5th. That it is a common occurrence to find several Koel’s 
eggs as well as young ones in the same nest—the produce of 
one or more parents. 

The eggs of this Cuckoo have certainly a very corvine ap- 
pearance, and are well adapted to represent miniature eggs of 
the foster-parent. All those in my collection are of one type, 
and may be described as thickly blotched and spotted with 
reddish brown on a dark green ground, somewhat confluent 
at the obtuse end. They vary, however, in size and shape, 
the longest measuring 1'4x ‘9, the smallest 1:1x-9. Five, 
generally, and perhaps sometimes six, is the number of eggs 
laid by this bird. 

The young birds leave the nest in August, and are very 
helpless for fully two months afterwards. While young Crows 
follow their parents as soon as they can fly, young Koels seldom 
leave the tree on which they have taken a stand, and are com- 
pletely at the mercy of their foster-parents, demanding more 
food and attention than their legitimate offspring. 

It is a mistaken idea to suppose that the “female* Koel 
watches the nest in which she has deposited her egg ” &c. ; for, 
according to my experience, she does not evince the slightest 
anxiety for her progeny, and clearly delegates the care of her 
young to the foster-parents. I never once observed these 
“foundlings”’ receive the slightest attention from their “ va- 
grant” parents. 

The crop of a young bird recently examined contained slugs, 
earthworms, and garbage. That the young of a bird which 
is purely frugivorous in its habits should be reared and nou- 
rished on carrion food, is one of the most remarkable facts in 
connexion with the economy of this Cuckoo. 

* Cf. ‘Birds of India,’ vol. i. p. 344. 

[t Mr. Layard, in his “ Notes on the Ornithology of Ceylon” (Ann. & 
Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 2, 1854, xiii. p, 451), gives a brief account of the 
breeding of this species in Ceylon. It would appear to breed much earlier 
there than in the N.W. provinces of India, viz. in February and March, 
and to lay its eggs indiscriminately in the nests of both Corvus splendens 
and C. culminatus.—Ep. | 


Mr. K. Blyth’s Addenda to the Avifauna of India. 79 


V1I.— Addenda to the Avifauna of India. By Evwarp Brytn, 
F.Z.S., Hon. Memb. As. Soc. Beng. 


In the Zoological Society’s Gardens, Regent’s Park, there is 
now a fine specimen of Acridotheres mahrattensis (Sykes) of 
Southern India, as distinguished from A. fuscus of Northern 
India and Burma; and both species may there be seen alive in 
adjacent cages. Not only are the irides of A. mahrattensis 
white, and those of A. fuscus yellow (as duly noticed by 
Jerdon), but the bill of the former is wholly yellow, and the 
median tail-feathers are more broadly tipped with white, in 
which latter particular it again differs from the very nearly 
allied A. cinereus of Celebes (figured by Lord Walden in the 
‘Transactions of the Zoological Society,’ vol. vii. pl. 10). 
Furthermore, both in A. mahrattensis and A. cinereus the 
short frontal crest is conspicuously less developed than in 
A. fuscus. They must accordingly henceforward rank as 
sufficiently distinguished species. 

There is a Paleornis in the same collection, said to have 
been received from Kashmir, which is certainly a mistake ; and 
I find three specimens of the same race in the British Museum, 
obtained in the Tenasserim provinces. The living bird is 
labelled P. melanorhyncha, Wagler. As seen together with 
three living examples of P. ponticerianus, its distinctness as a 
species is sufficiently manifest to the eye, more so than would 
appear from description. The cap is bluish grey, without any of 
the ruddy tinge whichis always seen in the other; and itis partly 
bordered on the sides of the neck by a strip of red feathers 
of the same colour as the breast, which is a good distinguish- 
ing character. Moreover the irides are conspicuously white, 
whereas in the other they are dark. To the black colour of 
the bill I attach no importance, unless the specimen should 
prove to be a male; for in several kindred species the bill is 
black in the female sex, but never in the male, so far as ob- 
served hitherto. The same extension of the red colouring to 
the border of the grey cap is likewise seen in the large P. 
derbianus (P.Z.S. 1850, pl. xxv.)*. 


* T see that in the Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1872, p. 279, Mr. V. Ball states 
that in the female of Palzornis erythrogenys, nobis, “the moustache is deep 


80 Mr. E. Blyth’s Addenda to the Avifauna of India. 


In a specimen of Coracias garrula obtained in Kashmir, a 
trace of intermixture With C. indica is very discernible in the 
plumage, showing that the latter imterbreeds with C. garrula 
to the westward, as it does with C. affinis to the eastward. A 
similar hybrid Roller is noticed by Mr. Bell among some birds 
captured on the Red and Arabian Seas (Proc. As. Soc. Beng. 
1870, p. 249). 

A Jackdaw in the same collection, from Kashmir, has the 
distinguishing crescentic mark assigned to Corvus collaris 
tolerably well pronounced. 

Mr. W. E. Brooks is of opinion that Sylvia curruca should be 
expunged from the list of Indian birds, as he supposes that 
the larger S. affinis, nobis, has been mistaken for it. Several 
specimens, however, obtained by myself above the tideway of 
the river Hugli were undistinguishable from British examples, 
and I have only seen S. affints from Upper and Southern 
India. The two differ only in size, and in this much less than 
do the sexes of Chetornis striatus, Megalurus palustris, or the 
Australian Cinclorhamphus cruralis. Sylvia jerdoni, nobis, 
is distinguished by its conspicuously longer bill from the 
European 8S. orphea. 

In Lower Bengal I have seen many dozens of specimens of 
Rallus indicus, nobis (japonicus, Schlegel), but never the true 
R. aquaticus ; but Mr. Gould has several examples of the lat- 
ter from other parts of India, and not any of the former. 
Hence it is probable that the more eastern form does not 
range westward of the valley of the Lower Ganges, but is else- 
where replaced in India by the western form, as Hrythrosterna 
leucura (of Nipal, Lower Bengal, Assam, and Burmah) is re- 


green, not black as in the males.” Surely a green moustache indicates the 
young bird, as in the Malayan P. longicaudatus, supposed by me at one 
time to constitute a particular species, which I named P. viridimystaa. 
At a late auction at Stevens’s were sold a pair of P. erythrogenys, with 
red and black upper mandible respectively ; and certainly my impression 
is that the presumed female had black moustachial marks. Together with 
them were sold three specimens of P. caniceps, nobis, two of them with 
red and one with black upper mandible. Where procured, I could not 
learn; but previously only two examples of P. caniceps had been recorded. 


Dr. J. Murie on Steatornis caripensis. 81 


placed over India generally by E. parva—the Ralli, however, 
being permanently resident, whilst the Erythrosterne are 
winter visitants only. 

There appear to me to be two races hitherto confounded 
under Grus cinerea, both of which would seem to occur in 
Europe, but (so far as I have seen) only one of them in India. 
They differ much in extent of development (however old the 
bird, and in both sexes alike) of the crimson nude skin upon 
the head. In the Indian race this is confined to a narrow 
band crossing the vertex, whereas in the other it extends over 
the whole occiput and is somewhat peaked behind. There is a 
specimen of each form at present in the Zoological gardens. Not 
long ago, also, there were two specimens I then assigned to 
G. canadensis, which appeared to me to be of different races, 
a larger and a smaller. The larger (a male) had the crimson 
nude skin upon the head developed to exactly the same extent 
as G. americana, whereas in the smaller (a female, which still 
survives) it is continued much further backward. I have 
merely called attention to these diversities, which I have re- 
marked for many years past in several specimens assigned alike 
to G. cinerea. : 

What is the meaning of the name gingalensis as applied 
to the small Hornbill peculiar to Ceylon which is so desig- 
nated? I rather suspect that it origmated in a misprint for 
cingalensis. 


VII.—Fragmentary Notes on the Guacharo or Oil-Bird (Steat-- —— 


ornis caripensis). By Dr. Jamus Muriz, F.L.S. &c. 


I must refer the reader to the ‘ Personal Narrative’ of Baron 
Alexander von Humboldt for a vivid description of this remark- 
able bird in its native caverns, and other strange particulars con- 
nected therewith. The memoirs and notices of ’ Herminier*, 
Johannes Miiller+, Sclater{, and others contain much con- 

* Nouv. Ann. du Mus, 1834, p. 821; Ann. Sci. Nat. 1836, p. 60; and 
Rey. et Mag. Zool. 1849, p. 321. 

+ Monatsb. Berlin, 1841, p. 172; and his Archiv f. Anat. 1842, p. 1. 

t P.Z.S. 1866, pp. 125, 127, 130. 

SER. I1I1.—VOL. III. G 


82 Dr. J. Murie on the Guacharo or 


nected with its systematic place, anatomical structure, &c. 
My memoranda, as the title intimates, are but fringes to the 
warp and woof of its history. An adult specimen passed 
through my hands a few years ago; but I was only able to 
examine it exteriorly. The notes I made thereon have this 
value, that they are scrupulously exact, and may hereafter 
be useful to others investigating this odd form, as in some 
minutiz they do not coincide with previous statements. I 
make no comments or comparisons, the data being too trifling 
to justify positive deduction. 

Coloration.—The whole of the upper surface of the body, 
wing-coverts, secondaries, and tail are of a rich chestnut-brown 
—each individual feather, however, being barred or mottled, 
faintly or otherwise, according to the situation. The under- 
parts are lighter in hue, especially the throat and axillary 
regions ; but the same body-tint pervades the whole. Upon the 
back of the head, the throat, and the thorax the feathers possess 
each a double marking of white. These are in elliptical or 
transversely elongated patches, each white patch being sur- 
rounded by a narrow line of black. In the axillary region 
and sides of the thorax this gives a greyish tinge to the feather- 
ing, because of the bicolour patches being more plentifully 
distributed. The abdominal feathers are of a rich cinnamon- 
colour; they nevertheless, although partially hidden, have five 
white linear markings on the rachis of each feather. 

On the wing-coverts there are six or seven very distinct and 
well-defined white spots with black margins, each as large as 
a threepenny-piece. The outermost two are in advance of 
the others. The four outer primaries and two outer secon- 
daries present an external row of white spots; in the others 
there is an indistinct barring of brown edged with black. On 
the inner side of the vane of the remaining secondaries are 
more or less clear markings of white, brown, and black. The 
inner half of each wing-feather is much darker than its outer 
half. 

Every tail-feather has successive brown and black bars 
throughout, the brown being broadest beyond the middle of 
the tail. The two outer tail-feathers are distinguished by 


Oil-bird (Steatornis caripensis). - 83 


six small white finger-marks, situated upon their external 
borders. The under surface of the tail is. altogether lighter- 
coloured than the upper surface ; but the opposite is the case 
with the wings. 

The billis ofarich brown tint. Feet and legs flesh-coloured 
and without scales or feathering. 

The large round pupil of the eye is dark blue; the iris, only 
a narrow ring, in contrast is of a deep brown. 

Weight.—In this specimen the fresh body weighed but six 
and a half ounces. 

Admeasurements.—Greatest stretch of the wings 32 inches ; 
tail from root to its free end 64 inches; from the tip of the 
beak to the rump 11 inches, the neck being outstretched and 
the tape passed in a straight line. The head and beak, taken 
in the median line, by external measurement, are 3 inches, but 
appeared only 24 inches when using a pair of callipers. Beak 
barely 14 inch long. 

Pterylosis—Rectrices ten ; primaries ten; secondaries 
eleven or twelve. The third and fourth primaries are the 
longest, the remainder graduated. Tail fan-shaped. Ouil- 
gland large, bare, and possessing a long, filiform, featherless 
nipple. All the feathers throughout the body, and more no- 
tably those of the tail and wing, are acuminate. There are no 
powder-down patches. Very many lght downy feathers, 
however, are present—some parts, for example the external 
aspect of the thighs, beg almost destitute of other longer 
feathers. 

Legs and feet.—The legs are completely devoid of feather- 
ing and of scales, the only cuticular appendage being a few 
downy hairs, which are situated near the feet and chiefly 
above the posterior toe. The skin hangs loosely, the flesh 
shining through and producing their pale and characteristic 
colour. 

Length of tibia 18 inch, of the tarsus 1 inch. The three 
anterior digits are subequal in length, the middle one dis- 
playing a slight advantage. Length of the middle digit minus 
the claw 1 inch, the nail increasing it by 0°4 inch. The di- 
rection of the front toes is nearly straight forwards and pa- 

G2 


84. Dr. J. Murie on Steatornis caripensis. 


rallel to each other, whereas the short hind toe (0:4 inch 
without the nail) is set at right angles inwards ; but it freely 
bends backwards. 

From the dorsal surface of each anterior toe there are about 
a dozen rudimentary, soft and small, transverse, brownish pel- 
lieles or scale-like bodies. These are hardly worthy of the 
name of scutellz, so slight is their differentiation from the ad- 
* joining skin. 

It is very evident from the construction of the parts that 
this bird does not support itself on its toes, as do most birds, 
but, on the contrary, rests chiefly on the tarsi. The plantar 
surface of the foot is pale-coloured, and studded with minute, 
soft, but elevated hexagonal scales. The claws are slightly 
curved, scooped out inferiorly, without being pectinated. 

Head.—Viewed in profile this has some resemblance to the 
head of a Sparrowhawk, long and prominent rictal bristles, 
however, detracting from the likeness. Superiorly, or from 
above, it appears wedge-shaped ; whilst from the front or fa- 
cially the aspect inclines to what is presented by the Cariama. 
The eye is only of moderate size, nay, even relatively small. 
Around the orbit is a wide and partially bare space, which 
is ordinarily somewhat hidden by the feathering of the eye- 
lid. The rictal bristles or, rather, long dark-brown hairs are 
twelve in number on each side. 

The beak is sharply curved and with a fair-sized tooth be- 
neath and in front of the nostril. The nostril has an ellip- 
tical figure, widest in front, and obliquely set upwards and 
forwards: it is situate 0-4 mech from the beak’s root. The 
culmen presents a gothic-like arch, and proximally is about 
an inch in transverse diameter. 

The mandible, of only moderate strength and shallow, 
slightly overlaps the beak as far as the nostril, and thence is 
hidden by it. At the mandibular angle is a short tuft of mous- 
tache-like hairs, shorter than the rictal ones. There is a wide 
bare space on either side of the inframandibular median hne ; 
and the feathering of the throat comes up with sharp acumi- 
nation. 


Mr. T. H. Potts on a new Species of Prion. 85 


VITII.—Notes on a supposed new Species of Prion. 
By Tuomas H. Ports, F.L.S. 


A sHortT time since, amongst some birds which arrived at the 
Canterbury Museum from Foveaux Straits, were specimens 
of a Prion which, upon a careful inspection, could not be re- 
ferred to either P. turtur or P. vittatus. 

This wanderer over the Southern Pacific Ocean does not 
appear to be entitled to any special claim on the score of 
rarity ; it is known to the Maories of Ruapuke as the Paréra. 
Although the familiar name of the Grey Duck (Anas superci- 
hiosa) is spelt Parera, it must be understood that the two 
names are pronounced by the natives differently, as the accents 
used are intended to indicate. 

This Prion breeds in holes on Papatea, or Green Island, near 
Ruapuke, in Foveaux Straits; descriptions are given below of 
the adult bird, the young, and the egg. 

In considering this species it is to be noted that the bill is 
of remarkable size; it is considerably longer than the head, it 
is much broader than that of P. vittatus ; the pectinated ap- 
paratus of the upper mandible is very fully disclosed. Of 
the primaries the first is quite as long as, even if it has not the 
advantage when measured against the second quill; the total 
length exceeds that of P. vittatus by some inches. Should 
ornithologists deem this bird to be a new species, it 1s pro- 
posed to call it Prion australis, as one of its breeding-places 
or stations is at, or near, our southern boundary. 


PRION AUSTRALIS, n. sp. “ Paréra;”’ Southern Prion. 

Diagnosis of adult :— 

Head dark bluish grey, mottled sparmgly with black ; ear- 
coverts rather slaty blue, bounded above and below irregularly 
with white or yellowish white ; upper surface bluish grey ; sca- 
pulars clouded with slaty black ; upper tail-coverts tipped with 
the same, under surface white ; under tail-coverts white 
lightly tinged with delicate ash grey ; quill-feathers, of which 
the first two are longest and of about equal length, outer web 
black, inner web white more or less stained with ash-grey ; 
tail bluish grey tipped with black; chin naked, the skin 


86 Mr. W. T. Blanford on new 


marked with narrow furrows of angular form arranged in re- 
gular order, angle within angle. Bill longer than the head, 
measures in length from gape to poimt 1” 9", greatest width 
of bill 11", tarsus 1” 5!, middle toe and claw 1" 6", wing from 
flexure 8", tail 4”, total length 14!’ 3!" 

The young, taken from the nest November 25, clothed en- 
tirely with a dense covering of dark smoky grey down, 
lightest in colour on the neck and under surface; pectination 
of the upper mandible undeveloped; the length of the bill 
from gape to point 1”, greatest width 4!" The eggs, which 
give out a rancid submusky odour, are white, oval in form, 
and measure 2" through the axis, with a breadth of 1” 6!". 


Ohinitahi, New Zealand. 
June 7, 1872. 


IX.—Descriptions of new Species of Nectarinia, Sitta, and 
Parus from Persia and Baluchistan. By, Wituiam T. 
Buanrorp, C.M.Z.S. 


1. NECTARINIA (ARACHNECHTHRA) BREVIROSTRIS, Sp. NOV. 
N. affinis N. asiatice, sed minor, rostro breviore, pileo dor- 

soque maris viridioribus, feminz notzo magis griseo. 

Long. tot. 4°5, alee 2-2, caudz 1:4, tarsi 0°6, rostri a fronte 
0°54, a rictu 0°67 (poll. Angl. et dec.).. Femina vix minor. 
Long. tot. 4°25, ale 2:1, caude 1°25. 

Hab. in Baluchistan, circa Jalk, Dizak, Bampur, &c. 

Male in breeding-plumage—vUpper plumage, with the 
sides of the head and neck, very dark glossy metallic green, 
passing more or less into purple; in freshly moulted speci- 
mens almost as purple as in N. asiatica, but usually much 
greener; lores black, ear-coverts with less gloss than the 
adjoining parts. Wings and their larger coverts hair-brown, 
tail-feathers black with a faint purplish gloss, and sometimes, 
but not generally, with narrow pale tips. Chin, middle of 
throat, and upper breast rich metallic purple, with a shade of 
steel-blue, the latter separated by a narrow pectoral band, not 
always well marked, of copper-red, from the still darker bluish 
purple of the lower breast, abdomen, and under tail-coverts. 
On the flanks behind the axil is the tuft of yellow and scarlet 


Species of Nectarinia, Sitta, and Parus. 87 


feathers characteristic of the group to which this species 
belongs. 

The male in non-breeding plumage resembles the female, 
except that it has the usual purple stripe from throat to vent, 
the rest of the underparts being pale grey, whilst the wings 
and tail are rather darker than in females, and there is a tinge 
of purple gloss on the smaller wing-coverts and rectrices. 

Female.—Above, greyish brown, quills and wing-coverts hair- 
brown with pale margins, tail blackish brown, all the outer 
tail-feathers tipped with whitish, the amount being largest on 
the outermost feathers, on which it extends some distance 
up the outer web. Lower parts greyish white, with more 
or less pale yellow on the breast and throat, little or none on 
the ehin and abdomen. 

The measurements above given were taken from specimens 
in the flesh. The species may be easily distinguished from 
N. asiatica by its shorter bill. 

Besides the locality above mentioned, this form may inhabit 
Arabia, as I saw a Sun-bird closely resembling it at Maskat, 
on the Arabian coast, near the entrance to the Persian Gulf, 
in December. Unfortunately I did not obtain specimens. 


2. SITTA RUPICOLA, Sp. NOV. 
? S. syriaca, Ehr. apud Filippi, Viag. in Persia, p. 346 (nec 
Khrenb.). 

S. syriace, Khyr., similis (sive S. neumayeri)*, sed minor, 
fascia nigra oculari plerumque angustiore et breviore, et 
presertim rostro pedibusque multo gracilioribus facile 
distinguenda. 

Long. tot. 6, ale 3, caude 1:9, tars. 0°9, pedis 1:7, rostr. 
a fronte 0°8, a rictu 1. 


* (Until the publication of the fourteenth part of Messrs. Sharpe and 
Dresser’s ‘ Birds of Europe’ (Noy. 1872) this name had very properly been 
consigned to stand as a synonym of the far preferable title of S. syrtaca. 
It is true that Michahelles described the bird in ‘The Isis’ for 1830, some 
years before it was characterized in Temminck’s Manuel d’Orn. He, how- 
ever, did not think fit to latinize the uneuphonious specific name he 
selected, and, moreover, after saying that the bird was called Svtta syriaca 
in the Berlin Museum, he did not hesitate to commit a breach of common 
courtesy in setting aside a good name ready made to his hand.—Ep. } 


88 Mr. W. T. Blanford on new 


Had. in montibus Persicis presertim in Elburz saxa sco- 
pulosque frequentans. 

Upper parts slaty grey, the inner and basal portions of all 
the rectrices, except the centre and outer pairs, blackish; a 
narrow black stripe from the base of the bill on each side 
through the lores and above the ear-coverts to the side of the 
nape, varying somewhat in breadth and length, but less 
developed than in S. syriaca; chin and throat white, the 
same but less pure on the breast ; abdomen and lower tail- 
coverts dull pale rufous, the colour becoming gradually darker 
towards the vent; iris dark brown; bill blackish, except 
below near the base, where it is pale grey, almost white ; 
legs horny grey, soles pale and slightly yellowish. 

Of this small Rock-Nuthatch four specimens were collected 
by me in the Elburz mountains, north of Tehran, where this 
species was common, and one at Kohrad, north of Ispahan; a 
sixth specimen was obtained by Major St. John, R.E., near 
Shiraz, in Southern Persia, where the large pale race of 
S. syriaca, named 8. tephronota by Mr. Sharpe, is common. 
The specimens of S. rupicola from Kohrdad and Shiraz are 
much paler in colour than those from the Elburz mountains. 


3. PARUS PHAONOTUS, Sp. Nov. 

P.atro affinis, sed major, capite toto, preter nucham albam ma- 
culasque laterales pallide flavas (? interdum albas), nitente 
nigro; dorso olivascenti-brunneo, uropygium versus pal- 
lescente ; alis caudaque umbrinis, pennarum marginibus 
dorso concoloribus ; tectricibus alarum majoribus atque 
intermediis ad apices albo punctatis; gula nigra; pectore 
sordide albo, postice et ad latera fulvescente ; abdomine 
hypochondriisque fulvis. 

Long ale 2°7, caude 1:85, tarsi 0°77, rostri a fronte 0:4. 

Hab. in quercetis haud procul ab urbe persica Shiraz (Sé. 
John). 

Whole head and neck glossy black, except the white nuchal 
spot and the usual lateral patches occupying the cheeks, ear- 
coverts, and sides of the neck, which are yellowish white or 
pale yellow, perhaps becoming pure white in old birds; back 
olive-brown, becoming paler and more rufous upon the rump ; 
wings and tail hair-brown, the feathers with paler margins, 


Species of Nectarmia, Sitta, and Parus. 89 


and the median and greater wing-coverts tipped with rather 
small whitish spots, forming a double wing-bar; chin and 
throat black ; breast white, not very pure, and passing gra- 
dually into the fulvous or isabelline tint of the flanks and 
abdomen ; lower wing-coverts nearly white, slightly tinged 
with fulvous. 

Three specimens were collected in the oak-forests near 
Shiraz, in Southern Persia, by Major St. John, at an eleva- 
tion of from 5000 to 7000 feet above the sea. 

In size this bird is intermediate between the European 
P. ater and the large P. bokharensis, Licht. (Evers. Reise von 
Orenburg nach Bokhara, p. 131). It may easily be distin- 
guished from all described forms of the group of P. ater by 
its brown back. 


4. Parus (CYANISTES) PERSICUS, Sp. NOV. 


P. cerulco affinis, sed coloribus omnibus cbscurioribus ; dorso 
griseo-olivaceo ; pectore abdomineque pallide isabellino- 
flavis; apicibus albidis tectricum alarium majorum, fas- 
ciam transversalem prebentibus, latioribus; rostro mi- 
nore. 


Long. ale 2°55, caude 2, tarsi 0°65, rostri a fronte 0:3. 

Hab. cum precedente in quercetis prope urbem Shiraz 
(St. John). . 

Crown of the head dull verditer blue; forehead, sides of 
the head (except a black line from the base of the bill through 
the eye to the nape), and a narrow band uniting the super- 
cilia round the back of the head white ; nape dull dusky blue, 
with a small whitish spot behind it, separating it from the 
olive-grey back, which becomes rather lighter-coloured and 
greener on the rump; quills dusky brown, the secondaries 
and basal portion of the primaries with dull blue edges, ter- 
minal portion of the primaries narrowly edged with white ; 
wing-coverts dull blue, the greater coverts and the last 
secondaries broadly tipped with white, the former making a 
well-marked wing-bar, much broader than in P. ceruleus ; 
tail dull blue above, bluish grey beneath, the outermost pair 
of feathers with white margins externally, except near the 
tip; chin white and black mixed ; throat dull black ; breast and 


90 Dr. W. L. Buller on a new Species of Cormorant. 


abdomen yellowish buff, with a line of dusky black feathers 
down the centre of the lower breast, middle of abdomen 
whitish. 

Four specimens of this new Tit were obtained by Major 
St. John in the oak-forests of Southern Persia, near Shiraz. 
P. ceruleus is said by De Filippi to occur and breed at 
Kazvin, west of Tehran, in Northern Persia (Viag. in Persia, 
pp. 211, 346). I had not the good fortune to obtain speci- 
mens. It would be well to compare skins from Northern 
Persia with those now described. 


X. Description of a new Species of Cormorant from the Chat- 
ham Islands. By Wauter L. Buuier, Sc.D., F.L.S., &c. 


PHALACROCORAX FEATHERSTONI, Sp. Nov. 
Diag.—Pileo et collo undique indigotico-nigris, fronte et oc- 
cipite conspicue cristatis, collo postico filamentis albis 
paullo dilatatis ornato : dorso summo cum scapularibus et 
tectricibus alarum olivascenti-brunneis, plumis nigro 
conspicué apicaliter maculatis, tectricibus minimis sor- 
didé indigotico-nigris : dorso postico, uropygio et supra- 
caudalibus indigotico-nigris : remigibus nigricanti-brun- 
neis, secundariis extus canescentibus : caudé nigra: sub- 
tus pulchré canescens, abdomine imo cum subcaudalibus 
subalaribusque indigotico-nigris : iride cand viridi reti- 
culata: rostro saturate brunneo: pedibus aurantiacis. 
Head, upper portion of neck, and the whole of the nape, 
with the vertical and occipital crests, shining indigo-black ; 
sides and hind part of neck ornamented with scattered fila- 
mentous white feathers, having the tips produced and some- 
what spatulate ; the shoulders, mantle, and upper surface of 
wings olivaceous brown, glossed with green, each feather 
marked with a conspicuous terminal spot of black ; back, 
rump, and upper tail-coverts, as well as the small wing-coverts, 
dull indigo-black ; quills blackish brown, the secondaries 
greyish on their outer webs; tail black ; lower part of fore- 
neck, breast, and middle portion of abdomen beautiful grey ; 
sides of the body, flanks, under surface of wings, lower ab- 
domen, and under tail-coverts indigo-black. Irides grey 


ws 


Recently published Ornithological Works. 91 


streaked with green; bill dark brown; legs and feet orange- 
yellow. Length 22 inches; wing, from flexure, 9; tail 4; 
culmen 2°2; tarsus 1°6; longest toe and claw 3°25. 

Hab. Chatham Islands (H. Travers). 

A more detailed description, together with a coloured plate, 
of this beautiful species will appear in the forthcoming part 
of my ‘ Birds of New Zealand.’ 


XI.—WNotices of some recently published Ornithological Books. 


In the April number of last year’s volume of ‘The Ibis’ we 
gave a short account of several ornithological books then in 
course of preparation. We now propose briefly to draw at- 
tention to such of the promises then held out as have been 
redeemed during the autumn of the past year. 

Captain Shelley’s ‘ Handbook to the Birds of Egypt’ * makes 
a handsome volume in large octavo of 342 pages, illustrated 
by fourteen coloured lithographs by Keulemans. The greater 
portion of the work is occupied by the detailed account of the 
birds inhabiting Egypt between the Mediterranean Sea and 
the Second Cataract and between the Arabian and Libyan 
deserts ; but there is also a chapter of introductory matter, 
and some concluding remarks on birds said to occur in Egypt, 
but apparently upon questionable grounds. Each species is 
briefly described, and a reference given to some well-known 
illustrated work. Want of space prevents us entering upon 
a few critical remarks which suggest themselves; we will 
merely add that our attention has been called to the possible 
identity of Turdus sharpii with T. isabellinus of Bonaparte. 
There is nothing in 7. sharpii at variance with the description 
of T. isabellinus in Bonaparte’s ‘Iconographie des Pigeons ;7 
and as to the plates in that work, we know from experience 
how little reliance can be placed upon their accuracy. Refer- 
ence to the type in the Berlin Museum would set the ques- 
tion at rest. 

Mr. Gurney has also finished his task in editing and arran- 


* A Handbook to the Birds of Egypt. By G. E. Shelley, F.G.S. &e. 
London: 1872. Large 8vo, pp. 342, 14 plates. (Van Voorst.) 


92 Recently published Ornithological Works. 


ging Anderssou’s ‘Notes on the Birds of Damaraland’*, 
making a very important addition to the literature on African 
birds. The number of species mentioned is 428, a large num- 
ber when the character of the country is taken into considera- 
tion. Andersson’s notes chiefly refer to the localities where 
he found each species, the colours of the soft parts, as well as 
the general habits and food. Mr. Gurney has worked out 
the nomenclature and synonymy ; he has also added a number 
of useful notes of comparison with allied forms, distribution, 
&e. The work is full of accurate and valuable information ; 
and ornithologists are to be congratulated that Mr. Gurney 
has been able to publish these Notes, imperilled by the la- 
mented death of their author. Inthe employment of minute 
generic subdivision Mr. Gurney has, we think, gone further 
than a close attention to the definition of genera will allow ; 
bui this is a matter which must ere long force itself upon the 
nore serious attention of ornithologists. We also feel con- 
strained to enter our protest against some of the generic 
names adopted. We are far from indorsing the views of 
those who would admit only such names as have a so-called 
classic derivation, but Kaupifalco and Hagedashia are alto- 
gether too barbaric ! 

Dr. Buller has issued four out of the five parts of his work 
on the birds of New Zealand +, the last instalment consisting 
of two parts in one. 

These parts contain an account of a number of interesting 
species, including Notornis mantelli, of which a good illustra- 
tion is given. To nearly every species mentioned a very full 
life-history is supphed ; amongst them we would draw special 
attention to Mr. Potts’s account of the habits of Anarhynchus 
frontalis. Our readers will be well acquainted with this sin- 
gular form from the plate accompanying Mr. Harting’s ex- 
cellent paper on “ Rare or little-known Limicole,” published 


* Notes on the Birds of Damaraland and the adjacent countries of South- 
west Africa. By the late Charles John Andersson. Arranged and edited by 
John Henry Gurney. London: 1872. 8vo, pp. 394, 3 plates. (VanVoorst.) 

+ A Tistory of the Birds of New Zealand. By Walter Lawry Buller, 
Se.D. &e. London and New Zealand: Dec. 1872. to, plates. 


Recently published Ornithological Works. 93 


in ‘The [bis’ for 1869, p. 304. The bill of this bird is turned to 
the right; and, singularly enough, Mr. Buller finds that, cor- 
related with this character, the black pectoral of the male bird 
is unsymmetrical, being wider on the right- than on the left- 
hand side of the bird. Mr. Potts tells us that the bird obtains 
itsfood by probing under stones for the insects lurking beneath. 
It would appear that the peculiarly shaped bill would only be 
an efficient weapon for obtaining food in this way so long as 
the bird walked one way round the stone, 7. e. bearing to the 
off side or from west to east! The wider portion of the pec- 
toral band would thus be always next the stone, and more 
hidden than the narrower or left portion. Has running round 
stones always the same way been the cause which enabled 
those birds which practised it to survive and transmit this 
habit to their offspring? and has their success been further 
promoted by the tendency to reduce the exposed side of their 
pectoral band, a secondary sexual character? Or has the 
process been reversed and the protection given to those birds 
which ran one way round stones, keeping the prominent por- 
tions of their pectoral bands from sight, tended to produce the 
curvature of the bill? The development of both characters 
seems to hang upon the birds acquiring the habit of running 
only one way round stones. We hope Mr. Potts will watch 
these birds closely, and let us hear more of them and their 
singular habits*. 

We have mentioned this singular feature in Anarhynchus 
at length; but the rest. of these two parts are full of inter- 
esting matter. 

Mr. Elliot has finished his work on the Phasianide+; and 
a very complete monograph he has made of it. The issue of 

* Instances of asymmetry in the structure of birds are very rare. We 
can only recall the formation of the ear in some Owls—for instance Teng- 
malm’s Owl (Nyctale tengmalmi), well described by Collett, P. Z. S. 1871, 
p- 739. This may be produced by the constant habit of catching sound 
by always throwing the same ear forwards. The skull of the Woodpeckers 
is also unsymmetrical, arising perhaps from the birds’ being right- or left- 
handed workmen. 


+ A Monograph of the Phasianide or Family of the Pheasants. By D. 
G. Elliot, F.L.S. &c. 


le, 


94 Recently published Ornithological Works. 


the final part was somewhat delayed* in order to include il- 
lustrations of the two fine discoveries by Mr. Swinhoe near 
Ningpo, in China, which he described as Phasianus ellioti and 
Pucrasia darwini in the ‘ Proceedings’ of the Zoological So- 
ciety for April 1872. Mr. Elliot has spared neither pains nor 
expense in producing this by far the best of his works, and 
he deserves that every success should attend his enterprise. 

We spoke of the same author publishing a monograph of - 
the “ Birds of Paradise.” The first part + has just been issued, 
and gives promise of being a fit companion to the Phasianide. 
The plates are to our eye a little wanting in brillianey, and 
the birds look flat; but they of course far excel any thing of 
the kind yet published on this family. Is it possible to de-. 
pict adequately these marvellous birds ? 

The limits of the Paradisiide are not at present very well 
understood, as several other groups of birds seem to approach 
them. Mr. Elliot includes with them the Bower-birds (Chla- 
mydodera) ; how far he is justified in so dog remains to be seen. 

Messrs. Sharpe and Dresser continue the issue of their ‘ Birds 
of Europe’ { with probably as much speed and regularity as 
the subject will admit. Fourteen parts have now reached us ; 
and we have every reason to hope that the undertaking will 
be successfully carried through. The articles in some of the 
latter parts have been treated more concisely, with, we venture 
to think, great advantage tothe work. All possible attention 
should be paid to this important point. 

Mr. Harting has given us a usefut little work § on British 


* The date of the issue of this part is given, doubtless by an oversight, 
as March 1872. It should have been October, in which month it really 
saw the light. 

+ A Monograph of the Paradisiide, or Birds of Paradise. By D. G. 
Elliot, F.L.S. &c. Published, for the Subscribers, by the Author. Part i. 

{ A Handbook of the Birds of Europe, including all the species in- 
habiting the Western Palearctic Region. By R. B. Sharpe, F.L.S. &c., 
and H. E. Dresser, F.Z.S. &e. London: 4to. 

§ A Handbook of British Birds, showing the distribution of the resi- 
dent and migratory species in the British Islands, with an Index to the 
records of the rarer visitants. By J. E. Harting, F.L.S. &e. London: 
1872. 8vo, pp. 198. (Van Voorst.) 


Letters, Announcements, &c. 95 


birds, wherein he has separated the resident and regularly 
migrant species from the rarer stragglers. The former are 
treated almost entirely as to their distribution, whilst of the 
latter references are given to all the recorded instances of 
their occurrence within the limits of the British Islands. Mr. 
Harting has not instituted any investigations as to the authen- 
ticity of the records in question concerning the latter, but 
left that to others, merely directing them where to begin. 
Yet we fancy there is room for the exercise of a good deal of 
of judicial spirit when we call to mind how the recorded in- 
stances of the Harlequin Duck and Black Woodpecker in the 
British Islands melted like snow before asummer’s sun under 
Mr. Newton’s and Messrs. Sharpe and Dresser’s inquiries. 
At the end of the work we have a new list of British birds, 
which will also be useful to those studying the birds of our 
islands. But such a systematic arrangement as there em- 
ployed, in these times, cannot but be of an ephemeral nature. 


XII.—Letters, Announcements, &c. 


The following letters, addressed “To the Editor of ‘ The 
Ibis, ” have been received :— 


Srr,—While at Shanghai lately, I paid a visit to Pére 
Heude, of the French Jesuit Mission established at Sikawei, 
a village about 54 miles from Shanghai. This venerable 
gentleman is told off to collect the materials for a Natural- 
History Museum, which the priests propose to set up, illus- 
trating the natural products of the province of China wherein 
their field of work has fallen. The worthy father had visited 
me some months ago at Ningpo, and had invited me to inspect 
his birdskins during the month of August; should I happen 
then to be in Shanghai, as it is during that month that the 
priests from all the country round gather, for a vacation, at 
their headquarters. I looked over the collection with great 
interest, and will now state what to me were novelties. 

1. A charming little Hierax, probably the H. sericeus, 
Gray. He says he saw a pair sitting together, and shot one, 
taking it for a Finch until he picked it up. 


96 Letters, Announcements, &c. 


2. A Falcon of the size of a female Kestrel, but of the plu- 
mage of a Banded Saker Falcon. <A great beauty ! 

3. A Nettapus Goose, about a third larger than N. coro- 
mandelicus, coloured a good deal like it, but with a broad 
collar on the lower neck=N. coromandelicus of “ David’s 
list”? (seen, but not procured). 

4. Paradoxornis, with the curiously shaped and compressed 
bill of this group, but with the hind parts of Parus biarmicus— 
a gem of a curiosity. 

He had a pair of Erythropus amurensis, shot off a nest, 
in which there was also another pair of the same species. 

He had, of rare species, Aigialitis hartingi, mibi, in winter 
plumage, which, he says, is common about Nanking, and 
Chemarrhornis leucocephalus. 

I wanted him to give me descriptions of his novelties for 
publication in ‘The Ibis ;” but he seemed to fear a superior, 
who claimed all his discoveries for the glory of his own 
country and for the special glory of the J esuit Mission. I 
hope he may not be forestalled in priority of description. 

Pére David was here for a month some time back. He 
visited a brother priest up country, and brought back some 
good things. He had a Ceryle lugubris and an Aigialitis 
hartingi (summer). He is now away at Peking, whence he 
is going to travel in Shense Province. 

Yours, &c. 
RosBert SwINHOE. 

Ningpo, August 21, 1872. 


S1r,—Besides the seven species mentioned in my letter 
of 5th December 1871 (‘ Ibis,’ 1872, p. 199) as additional to 
Mr. Saunders’s ‘ List of the Birds of Southern Spain,’ I am 
able to add the following :— : 


8. Circus PaLLipus, Sykes. Swainson’s Harrier. 

I have seen specimens from the vicinity of Seville. It occurs 
also in Morocco ; there is a specimen thence in the Norwich 
Museum. 


Letters, Announcements, &c. 97 


9. Ruricitia MoussrErt, Olph.-Gall. 

I saw a male of this species close to Tarifa, in October, by 
the side of the road. Unluckily, I was riding along without 
a gun, some way in advance of my baggage, so could not 
secure it. Of course I do not consider that seeing a bird is 
sufficient evidence to include it in a list, and should have left 
it out; but as since, at Tangier on the 14th March, 1872, I 
obtained a fine adult male, killed close to the shore, evidently 
on passage (Saxicola wnanthe and S. aurita were then passing 
in some numbers), there is little doubt that this bird would 
have also crossed to the Spanish side of the straits, and that 
it is, though rarely, found in the south of Andalusia. The 
late M. Favier, whose MS. notes, I am happy to say, I have 
succeeded in purchasing, mentions “ one killed near Tangier 
in 1848;” he calls it “erythrogastra;” but his description and 
measurements sufficiently identify it as a male R. moussieri. 
He adds that “they migrate to Europe and return in October, 
but are excessively rare.” 

10. Ficrpuna patiipa (Gerbe). 

Obtained near Gibraltar, is more abundant on the African 
side, and is one of the latest birds to arrive. I sent a speci- 
men to Dr. Tristram for identification. 


11. Lrnora rurescens (Vieillot). Lesser Redpole. 
Very scarce, in the winter only, in Andalusia. It has 
been obtained in Morocco. 


12. PHatarorvus FuLicARivs (Linn.). Grey Phalarope. 
One killed at the Laguna de Janda, between Cadiz and 
Tarifa, on 29th November 1871. 
13. Furieuia Marita (Linn.). Scaup Duck. 
Once, Bay of Gibraltar, winter of 1870-71. 
+14. Lestris purront, Boie. Buffon’s Skua. 
Extremely rare, has been obtained twice in winter in the 
Straits, but not in adult plumage. 
++ 15. TuarassiproMa LEAcHI (Temm.). Fork-tailed Petrel. 
Rare in winter, according to M. Favier occasionally found 
dead on the sea-shore ; he mentions having picked up six at 
one time. 
SER. III.—VOL. Ili. H 


98 Letters, Announcements, &c. 


16. Popicers RuBRICOLLIS, Latham. Red-necked Grebe. 

Obtained in the Straits in winter. I saw two specimens 
from Tangier so young that they must have been bred in the 
vicinity. M. Favier asserts that they breed at Ras Dowra, 
in Morocco; but I did not obtain any there. 


1 17. Popicers cornutus, Gm. Sclavonian Grebe. 

Very scarce in the Straits in winter; I have seen three or 
four specimens. Possibly they may be found among the 
great numbers of Hared Grebes (P. auritus) which are 
seen in winter in the Bay of Gibraltar, and which nest m 
numbers in the Spanish and African lagoons. 


L. Howarp Irsy. 
Army and Navy Club, 
October 2, 1872. 


Lilford Hall, Oundle, October 3, 1872. 

Srr,—During my visit to the south of Spain last spring, 
I fell in, near Seville, with a Short-toed Lark, which I at 
once recognized as distinct from the ordinary Calandrella 
brachydactyla, from which species it is distinguished by its 
greyer shade of colouring as well as its distinctly striped upper 
surface and breast. Mr. Sharpe, to whom I submitted my 
specimens, has come to the conclusion, after careful com- 
parison, that the Lark is not new, but is C. reboudia in full 
breeding-plumage. 

I was also so fortunate as to obtain, on the 3rd of May, 
in the Coto de Dofana, a male example of Numenius 
hudsonicus. I am, &e. 

Lizrorp. 


Marldon, Totnes, 
December 4, 1872. 
Srtr,—In my letter of the 9th September last (printed in 
‘The Ibis’ for 1872 at p. 472) I spoke of the Imperial Eagle 
of Spain under the title of “ Aguila imperialis ;” this I did 
because I considered that the specific distinction between 
the eastern and western Imperial Eagles, though rendered 
highly probable by the remarks of Mr. Howard Saunders, 
published in the ‘ Proceedings’ of the Zoological Society for 


Letters, Announcements, &¢. 99 


1871, at p. 37, remained nevertheless an open question till a 
still larger series of skins had been examined. 

Through the kindness of Mr. H. E. Dresser and other or- 
nithological friends, I have quite recently had the opportunity 
of examining a larger series of these Eagles than I had pre- 
viously seen, including some splendid Indian Eagles lately 
presented to the Norwich Museum by Mr. W. E. Brooks and 
Mr. A. Anderson; and I am now quite satisfied that Mr. H. 
Saunders was right in considering the Imperial Eagle of the 
Spanish peninsula specifically distinct from its more eastern 
congener ; but as both species are, I understand, likely to be 
figured and described before long in Messrs. Sharpe and 
Dresser’s ‘ Birds of Europe,’ it will be needless for me here to 
recapitulate the distinctions which exist between them. 

The Spanish bird will stand as Aquila adalberti of L.: 
Brehm*, while the more eastern species should bear its oldest 
synonym (that under which its immature plumage was figured . 
and described by J. G. Gmelin) of Aquila mogiluik. This 
species is found in South-eastern Europe, whence it ex- 
tends eastwards to China ; and it also occurs in India, Egypt, 
and Abyssinia; but the geographical boundary between its 
western range and the eastern range of Aquila adalberti is 
still undetermined. 

Aquila bifasciata, Gray, isa third allied but distinct species, 
of which I have never seen specimens except from India. 
This species (though not in adult plumage) is well figured 
by Dr. J. E. Gray in his ‘ Illustrations of Indian Zoology from 
the collection of Major-General Hardwicke,’ and has been 
recently described in the ‘Proceedings of the Zoological 
Society’ for 1872, at p. 502, by Mr. W. E. Brooks, and at 
p- 619 by Mr. A. Anderson}; but there is one plumage of 
this Eagle to which neither of these naturalists has referred, 
and which I therefore think it well briefly to notice. The 
general appearance of the bird in this stage agrees with Dr. 
Gray’s plate above referred to, with the following exceptions :— 


* Vide Ibis for 1865, p. 359, second footnote. 
+ I may mention that the species referred to in both these papers under 
the name of “ Aquila crassipes, Hodgson,” is Aguila mogilnik. 
H 2 


100 Letters, Announcements, &c. 


The entire undersurface from the vent to the sternum is trans- 
versely barred with alternate bands of white and stone-coloured. 
brown, each band being from a quarter to half an inch in 
breadth; the tibiz are also barred with similar transverse 
bands, but much more narrowly ; and many of the feathers on 
the lower portion of the sternum have white points, forming 
small angular spots on that part of the plumage. 

I am yours &c., 

J. H. Gurney. 


Srir,—In the July number of ‘The Ibis’ a letter appears 
from Dr. Buller on the genus Hieracidea, in which he says, 
“with regard to the data furnished in Captaim Hutton’s cata- 
logue (Cat. N. Z. Birds, Wellington, 1871) I would simply 
remark that there is no evidence whatever of the sex having 
been in a single case determined by dissection.” As this 
- implies a doubt as to my scientific honesty, I should feel much 
obliged to you if you would allow me also to make a few 
“simple remarks” in reply. 

My catalogue was drawn up, as stated in the introduction, 
chiefly from the collection of 273 birds’ skins purchased from 
Dr. Buller by the New-Zealand Government; and the mea- 
surements of H. nove-zealandie were taken from his own 
specimens in that collection, from those obtained by Mr. H. 
Travers, an experienced collector, who always ascertais the 
sex of his specimens by dissection, and marks them, and from 
a pair shot together in the mountains of the South Island, and 
forwarded to this museum by Mr. Huddleston, so well known 
for the success that has attended his efforts to mtroduce birds 
into the Province of Nelson. 

Of these there can be no doubt as to the correctness of the 
sexes of both Mr. Travers’s and Mr. Huddleston’s specimens, 
and I never had any doubt about Dr. Buller’s before ; but as 
he says that there is no evidence of the sex having been de- 
termined in a single case, and as he must have been perfectly 
aware that the measurements of five of the birds were from 
his own specimens, I will not venture to contradict him; for 
he must know best about his own birds. However, just 


Letters, Announcements, &c. 101 


for the sake of comparison, I ‘will give the measurements of 
three of his birds together with the others in this museum. 
His two other specimens being fastened up in cases, I cannot 
get at them to remeasure them. I must, however, in fair- 
ness state that there is a possibility of my having made a mis- 
take with the sexes of Dr. Buller’s birds ; for although the sign 
commonly used to denote “ female” is correctly placed, that 
used for “male” is turned upside down (Pf). Seeing that all 
his male birds were marked in the same way, and that he had 
also placed it im a similar manner in the list of his birds that 
he supplied to Dr. Hector, I naturally thought that it was 
simply a mistake caused by his slight acquaintance with the 
signs ordinarily used by naturalists, and that he had intended 
to express “male” by it; but, after his explanation in ‘ The 
Ibis,’ I fancy that it may have been a private mark of his own 
intended to mean “sex undetermined.” 


Table of Measurements of H. novee-zealandie. 


ve a(S 2 
Collector. Wing.| Tail. : Tarsus. toe and toe and 
cere to 
ri claw. | claw. 
p- 
PeBullervad Ooo. 28 10:95 | 76 1:2 2°35 | 2:45 | 1:65 
2. Huddleston, 9 ad. ....}11°75 | 8:2 ita 2°4 2°85 | 1:85 
EL EAVOLS,, 2 BOs, 5.5.0.06 2 0 11:8 8°6 1:2 2°6 30 19 
AMitivers, Pade. so. 2. P2980 1:2 | 245} 2:75 | 1:65 
5. Huddleston, dg ad. ..../ 10-0 7:8 1-03) | 2:25 || 2:35 | 1:4: 
PE TAVOES, “GAG. «oc. a nu 10:0 74 1:05 | 2:3 2°35 | 1:45 
7. Buller, juv. 9 es Pn gO 7G, GED ‘95 | 2:05 | 2:25 | 1:2 
8. Buller, juv. P | sve 9:8 6-9 9 2:15 | 2:27 | 13 
HT, nove-zealandie’ \ § ..)11:25 | 825] 1:2 2°5 2:75 | 1:75 
From Buller’s book } Q ..)11°5 8:5 2:75 
HT, brunnea 8 oll SR 6:5 "8D | 2:25 | 2:3 1°3 
From Buller’s book Oe LO 80 2°5 


I will make no comment on these measurements further 
than to observe that the four birds marked as males have all 
slender legs and toes, while all those marked females have 
their legs and toes far more robust ; and the same is the case 
with the other two of Dr. Buller’s specimens already men- 
tioned, marked in his list ad. P [sic] and juv. ? respectively 
—that is, supposing the first sign to mean male. 


102 Letters, Announcements, &c. 


Of these birds those supplied by Messrs. Travers and Hud- 
dleston all came from the South Island. Where Dr. Buller’s 
birds came from I cannot say ; for not asingle bird in his col- 
lection has either date or locality upon it. 

Both Dr. Finsch and Dr. Buller seem inclined to laugh at 
me for attaching any importance to such a trivial character 
as the slenderness of a Hawk’s legs. By Dr. Buller, however, 
it seems to be only a “ worthless character” (Birds of N. Z. 
p- 4) when used by me; for three pages further on in his book 
(l.c. p. 7), im his observations on H. brunnea, he says, ‘ This 
species closely resembles H. nove-zealandie, but is decidedly 
smaller, and has more slender legs and claws.” Dr. Finsch, 
on the other hand, does not appear to find fault with me so 
much for mentioning this character (for he must be aware 
of what is well known to every falconer, that the Tiercel has 
always more slender legs than the Falcon) as for bemg ’so 
foolish as to measure dried legs. But, I would ask him, in 
what other way would he endeavour to convey to his readers 
an impression as to the amount of difference between the legs 
of the two? Every naturalist knows that measurements of 
all kinds are to be taken with considerable latitude ; and why 
Dr. Finsch should object to my measuring the circumference 
of legs because they may vary im size, while he gives such 
elaborate tables of measurements, all of which are variable, I 
cannot understand. The fact is, that the legs of dried skins 
do not shrink so very unequally (which is the main point), 
and the limits between measurements due to variation in size 
of living birds are far wider than those due to the shrink- 
ing of the skin on the tarsus. 

I still adhere to my opinion that the male of H. nove-zea- 
landie can be easily distinguished from the female by its more 
slender legs; and Dr. Buller’s book has not yet converted me 
to the opinion that that “worthless character,” slenderness 
of legs, is the chief characteristic of H. brunnea. 


F. W. Hurron. 
Colonial Museum, Wellington. 
September 6, 1872. 


Letters, Announcements, &c. 103 


In the last volume of ‘ The Ibis’ (p. 153) we confessed our 
inability to find the original reference to Cyanocephalus 
wiedi, Bp. We have since discovered it in a small brochure 
published by Bonaparte in Florence in 1842, and called | 
“Qsservazioni sullo stato della zoologia in Europa in quanto 
ai Vertebrati nell’ anno 1840-1841, lette li 27 Settembre 
alla terza riunione degli Scienziati Italiani da Carlo Luciano 
Principe Bonaparte,” Xe. P 

In speaking casually (p. 17) of Gymnorhinus cracenalliss 
Wied, he says :—“ L’ultima delle quali costituisce un genere 
a sé, per cul mi veggo costretto a proporre il nome di Cy- 
anocephalus come generico, quello datogl dal fondatore tro- 
vandosi gia impiegato.” No characters are given. 

We may here add a further reference to Bonaparte’s 
writings which has escaped Dr. Coues’s search, who, in 
reviewing the literature of the subject, m an exhaustive memoir 
on the Spheniscide, recently published in the ‘ Proceedings 
of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia’ (1872, 
p. 170 et seq.), writes as follows :— 

1850-56. BoNnaPARTE, ? Ido not know where this 
author has treated of the Penguins ; and none of the authorities 
quoted give any reference. According to quotations, he 
has instituted a genus Hudyptila upon Aptenodytes minor, 
Forst., and has renamed the two species of <Aptenodytes 
that Gray named fostert and pennanti, callig them imperator 
and rex respectively. There is no excuse whatever for this.” 

The reference is evidently to the ‘ Conspectus Ptilopterorum 
Systematicus,’ appended to the ‘'Tableaux paralléliques des 
Pélagiens ou Gavi,’ published in the ‘Comptes Rendus’ for 
1856, xl. p. 775. 

In this Conspectus the Spheniscidz are divided into two 
subfamilies—Spheniscinzee and Dasyrhamphine, the former 
being again subdivided into Aptenodytezx, with the following 
genera—l. Aptenodytes, 2. Hudyptila, 3. Chrysocoma, and 
4. Pygoscelys and Spheniscez with the genus Spheniscus,— 
the latter containing the Dasyrhamphece with the single genus 
Dasyrhamphus. 

Eudyptila (of which no characters are given) contains 


104 Letters, Announcements, &c. 


EF. minor (Forst.) and (doubtfully) H. wundina (Gould), which 
is the same species. 

We think, however, that Bonaparte must be acquitted of 
altering Gray’s names Aptenodytes forsteri and A. pennanitt ; 
for he adopts those names, and merely writes under the 
former, ‘imperator auct.,” as explaining that this is the species 
commonly known as the “ Emperor ;” so also under A. pen- 
nanti he writes “rex auct.,” the “ King Penguin” of authors. 

Prof. Schlegel (‘ Mus. des P. B., Urinatores,’ p. 3), seems 
to have fathered these two names upon Bonaparte. Even 
Gray takes the above view with respect to them. He omits 
them in his ‘ Hand-list’ (i. p. 99), though we see, from an 
inspection of the copy of Bonaparte’s paper formerly in his 
possession, that his attention had been called’ to the point. 


3 


_ We may further take this opportunity of callmg Dr. Coues’s 
attention, and that of our ornithological brethren generally, 
to an important paper on the Alcidz, recently published by 
Prof. J. F. Brandt in the ‘ Bulletin de Académie Impériale des 
Sciences de St. Pétersbourg,’ 1870, pp. 449-497—which has 
hitherto escaped our notice, as well as that of the contributors 
to the ‘ Zoological Record.’ This paper has been rearranged 
in octavo to form part of the seventh volume of the ‘ Mélanges 
Biologiques’ (pp. 199-268). The memoir itself appears to be 
very complete, as it contains descriptions of and references to 
all the species of this family, twenty-one in number. Each 
genus is also characterized. We may add that the celebrated 
Sagmatorhina lathami, Bp., about which such various opinions 
have been held, is here discussed and referred to the young of 
Lunda cirrhata. We have taken an opportunity of examining 
the type specimen of Sagmatorhina in the British Museum 
with reference to this point, and have no doubt as to the 
correctness of Prof. Brandt’s conclusion. 


bE Bae: 


THIRD SERIES. 


No. X. APRIL 1873. 


~ XIII.— On the Birds in the Imperial Collection at Vienna ob- 
tained from the Leverian Museum. By A. von PELZELN. 


[Concluded from page 54. | 


PART II. 
Birds not obtained directly from the Museum Leverianum. 


THe names of those birds marked with an asterisk were 
contained in the same inventory as the preceding; but the 
birds are said to have been obtained from dealers. They 
were probably bought by dealers at the auction, and after- 
wards purchased by Herr von Fichtel. 

The remaining birds were purchased from Herr von Fichtel 
and inscribed in a separate inventory. As in a few cases it is 
said expressly in the catalogue that the specimens were from 
the Museum Leverianum, and as other birds seem with the 
greatest probability to have been derived from the same 
source, I think it useful for greater completeness to enumerate 
these also. 


VULTURIDA. 


117. Sarcorampuus GryPuus, fem. (51.) 

I have already spoken of this bird (anted, p. 16), which is 
doubtless from the Leverian collection. 

SER. I1I,—VOL. III. I 


106 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


118. GypoHreRAx ANGOLENSIS (Gmel.). (152.) 

Angola Vulture, Pennant, Tour in Wales, 228, t. 19; Lath. 
Gen. Synops. i. 18. 14. 

Falco angolensis, Gmel. Syst. 1. 252. 

Vultur angolensis, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 7. 17; Shaw, Mus. 
Hever. tv."p. 153, pl. 

According to Latham this bird was described by Pennant 
from the fine collection of birds at Bryn y Pys, the seat of 
Richard Parry Price, Esq. There were two of them, which 
came from Angola. They were, says he, “ very restless and 
querulous, and more active than is usual with this sluggish 
race.” ‘These, Latham continues, “are now finely preserved 
in the Leverian Museum ;” and it seems that the specimen 
bought by Herr von Fichtel is one of these birds, and perhaps 
the type of Shaw’s figure. Our individual agrees pretty well 
with Latham’s and Shaw’s descriptions and the figure ; but the 
great remiges are white, as represented in Shaw’s plate, and 
not black tipped with white, as erroneously described by La- 
tham and Shaw. 


*119. IpycTER rormosus (Lath.). (269.) 

Red-throated Falcon, female, Latham, Gen. Synops. Suppl. 
26. 82 (nec t: 9. f. 82). 

Falco formosus, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 38. 92 (solum femina). 

Ibycter formosus (Lath.), Pelzeln, Uebers. Geier u. Falken, 
1862, 13. 

It is possible that this is the specimen described by Latham 
(Syn. Suppl.), which came under his inspection among a col- 
lection of birds brought from Cayenne. 


120. Burro tineatus (Gmel.). (36.) 

Our specimen agrees in general with Latham’s description 
of his Barred-breasted Buzzard (Gen. Syn. 1. 56. 36), which 
is taken from a bird in the Mus. Lever.; but there are not 
two but five white bars on the rectrices, and the unspotted 
space of the quills measures only 14". 


*121. Ictinia puumBEA (Lath.). (255.) 
Spotted-tailed Hobby, Lath. Gen. Syn. i. 106. 92. 
Falco plumbeus, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 49. 118. 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 107 


There is in our collection a bird from Cayenne, which is 
either from the Leverian Museum or, more probably, was 
acquired in 1815 from M. Verreaux, and which agrees well 
with the description quoted above. Latham’s type was in 
the collection of Miss Blomefield. 


122. AsTUR NOVH-HOLLANDIA& (Gmel.).  (5.) 

New-Holland White Eagle, Lath. Gen. Syn. 1. 40. 18 (com- 
municated by Dr. J. R. Forster). 

Falco nove-hollandie, Gmel. Syst. 1. 264; Lath. Ind. Orn. 
1. 16. 22. 

Falco albus, White, Journ. Voy. New S. Wales, 250. c. tab. 

A specimen in white plumage is perhaps the type of White’s 
description and plate; another (5), which, according to the 
catalogue, was of the normal coloration, is no longer in the 
collection. 


STRIGID Ai. 


*123. Srrix castanops, Gould. (182.) 
A specimen from New Holland. 


CAPRIMULGID. 


*124, PoparGus MEGACEPHALUS (Lath.). (184.) 
Great-headed Goatsucker, Lath. Gen. Syn. Suppl. 1. 265. 8. 
Caprimulgus megacephalus, Lath. Ind. Orn. Suppl. lviu. 3. 
Wedge-tailed Goatsucker, Lath. Gen. Hist. vii. 368 ? 
This bird was called in the inventory Caprimulgus crassi- 
rostris. 
*125, AEGOTHELES NOV#-HOLLANDI# (Lath.). (1381.) 
Crested Goatsucker, Phill. Bot. Bay, t. p. 270. 
Caprimulgus nove-hollandie, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 588. 18. 
Caprimulgus cristatus, Shaw in White’s Voy. 241, pl. 
New-Holland Goatsucker, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. 11. 261. 
Caprimulgus cristatus, Lath. Ind. Orn, ii. Suppl. lviii. 
Bristled Goatsucker, Lath. Gen. Hist. vu. 342. 


*126. MacropipTeRyXx LONGIPENNIS, Cuvier. (68.) 
Caprimulgus macrodipterus, Afzel. Descr. Sierra Leone, t. ; 
Lath. Ind. Orn. Suppl. lx. 
Caprimulgus longipennis, Shaw, Nat. Misc. t. 265. 
I2 


108 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


Leona Goatsucker, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. 11. 264. 8. 
Africa. 


*127. ANTROSTOMUS CAROLINENSIS (Gmel.). (198.) 
N. America. 

*128. Caprimuteus? (222.) 

From Dalrymple Bay ; not retained in the collection. 


CYPSELID. 


*129. CumTura caupacuta (Lath.). (92.) 

Needle-tailed Swallow, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. 11.259. 3. 

Hirundo caudacuta, Lath. Ind. Orn. 11. Suppl. lv. 1. 

? New-Holland Swallow, Lath. ibid. 259. 4. 

? Hirundo pacifica, Lath. Ind. Orn. 11. Suppl. lvin. 2. 

It seems to me probable that a specimen from Dalrymple 
Bay is the type of Latham’s Hirundo caudacuta. 


HIRUNDINIDA. 


130. PrTROCHELIDON ALBIVENTRIS (Bodd.).  (17.) 
Cayenne. Not mentioned by Latham as existing in the 
Mus. Lever. 


CORACIAD A. 
131. Eurystomus orientatts (Linné). 


No longer in the collection. Latham says nothing of the 
presence of a bird of this species in the Leverian Collection. 


MEROPID &. 
132. Merrops papius, Gmel. (43.) 
No longer in the collection. 
*133. Merops ornatus, Lath. (212.) 


Variegated Bee-eater, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. 11. 155. 
16; t.. 128: 


Merops ornatus, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. Suppl. xxxv. 11. 
A young bird from Botany Bay. 


GALBULID. 


134. GaLBuLA PARADISEA (Linné). (56.) 
A specimen called Alcedo paradisea, from Cayenne or Su- 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 109 


rinam. According to Latham this species was represented in 
the Leverian Collection. 


MELIPHAGIDA. 


135. MyzomxELa sANGUINOLENTA (Lath.). (217.) 

Botany Bay (Certhia, sp.). 

*136. ACANTHORHYNCHUS TENUTROSTRIS (Lath.). (148.) 

Slender-billed Creeper, Lath. Gen. Synop. Suppl. 11. 165. 
22, t. 129. 

Certhia tenuirostris, Lath. Ind. Orn. Suppl. xxxvi. 5. 

Male ? 


137. MetipHaca Nov#-HoLtanpi# (Lath.). (20, 34.) 

New Holland Creeper, White, Journ. Voy. New 8. Wales, 
p- 186, pl. 

Certhia nove-hollandie, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 296. 49. . 

The specimen, perhaps White’s and Latham’s type, is no 
longer in the collection. 


*138. Prinotis ruavieuLa, Gould. (220f.) 
Dalrymple Bay, Tasmania. 


139. PRosTHEMADERA NOVH-ZEELANDIA (Gmel.).  (57.) 

New-Zealand Creeper, Brown, Ilustr. 1776, 18, t. 9 (from 
a stiffed specimen in the possession of Marmaduke Tunstall, 
Esq.) ; Forst. Voy. 1. 519. 

Poé Bee-eater, Cook’s Voy. i. 48. 150; Lath. Gen. Syn. u. 
682. 17 (Mus. Lever.). i 

Merops nove-seelandie, Gmel. Syst. 1. 464. 

Merops cincinnatus, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 275. 18. 

Male (n. 3, Merops cincinnatus). New Zealand. 


*140. ANTHOCHERA INAURIS, Gould. (150.) 
Male? (Merops carunculatus). Erroneously entered with 
the locality New Zealand. 


+ There is in our collection a specimen of Ptilotis carunculata (Gmel.), 
which agrees well with Latham’s description of the individual without 
orange-colour under the throat (Gen. Synops. ii. 7. 33), and which may 
perhaps have been in the Leverian Museum. Our bird also corresponds 
well with Forster’s description (Descr. An. 165), except that the dimen- 
sions are smaller. I believe it not improbable that it was obtained during 
Cook’s Voyage. The old catalogue gives Tongataboo as its habitat. 


110 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


141. ANTHOCHzRA cARUNCULATA (Lath.). (34.) 

Female or young ; no longer in the collection. 

*142. TRoprpoORHYNCHUS CARUNCULATUS (Lath.)? (279.) 

Erroneously designated as from Otaheite. 

Another specimen (Merops, n. 1), bought by Herr yon 
Fichtel, does not appear to be that figured by White (Journ. | 
Voy. New 8S. Wales, 190, t.). 

*143. ManorHINA MELANOPHRYs (Lath.). (229.) 

Black-browed Thrush, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. 11. 185. 
24. 

Turdus melanophrys, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. Suppl. xi. 15. 

Female? (August, 1802). New Zealand. 

144, Metirureptus tunatus (Shaw). (41.) 

Certhia lunata, Shaw, Vieill. Ois. Dor. ii. t. 61 (drawing 
from the living bird in the collection of Mr. Shaw, and de- 
scription furnished by Mr. Parkinson) ; Shaw, Gen. Zool. viii. 
224. i 

Evidently a younger bird than that represented in Vieillot’s 
work. 

*145. Gen.? Sp.? (223.) 

Certhia, from Dalrymple Bay; not retained in the ,col- 
lection. 


DENDROCOLAPTID A. 


146. OxyRHAMPHUs FLAMMICcEPS (Temm.). (26.) 

Brazil. 

147. DENDRoRNIS PARDALOTUS (Vieill.).  (28.) 

Cayenne—called (Levaill. Prom. 1807, t. 30) Oriolus picus. 

*148. Drenpropiex picus (Gmel.).  (227.) 

Cayenne. 

149. Srrre.La cuRysopTeRA (Lath.). (16.) 

Orange-winged Nuthatch, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. u. 
146. 3, pl. 227. 

Sitta chrysoptera, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. Suppl. xxxii. 

A specimen from New Holland, perhaps the type of La- 
tham’s description and figure in the Suppl. 11., with which I 
have not been able to compare it. 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. lll 
MENURID. 


*150. Munura supersa, Davies. (286.) 

A female or young male (Parkinsonia superba), agreeing 
with Vieillot’s figure (Ois. Dor. ii. t. 16), but without the 
loose ends of the tail-feathers, and with 16 not 14 rectrices. 


TROGLODYTID/, 


151. CypHoruinus musicus (Bodd.).  (14.) 
Cayenne. Not mentioned by Latham as existing in the 
Mus. Lever. 


LUSCINIIDA. 


152. Maturus cyanzus (Gmel.). (58.) 

Motacilla cyanea, Ellis, Narrative Voy. performed by Capts. 
Cook and Clerke, 1776-1780, 22; Gmel. Syst. 1. 991. 165 
(incl. var. 8). 

Superb Warbler, Lath. Gen. Synops. iv. 501. 137. 

Sylvia cyanea, Lath. Ind. Orn. 11. 545. 142. 

Motacilla superba, Shaw, in White’s Journ. Voy. New 8S. 
Wales, 256, pl. (upper figure) ; idem, Nat. Misc. 1. t. 10. 

A specimen marked Sylvia cyanea. 

Latham says that this species was in the Museum Leveri- 
anum, and gives a figure of a specimen which does not agree 
with our bird, which seems more similar to the ingividual from 
the collection of Sir Joseph Banks, alluded to by Latham, 
and to the figure in White’s Journal (upper figure). La- 
tham’s figure and description seem, according to the measure- 
ments and the habitat, perhaps to belong to Malurus longi- 
caudus, Gould ; and if this supposition should be corroborated, 
the name of “cyaneus” must be transferred to the latter 
species, and for the other the next oldest denomination, 7. e. 
superbus, Shaw, would stand. 

153. Maturus LAMBERTI, Vig. et Horsf. (156.) 

Male; New Holland. 

154. Tatars Lonerrostris (Gmel.).  (10.) 

Of the specimen from Himeo I have already spoken under 
n. 23 of this paper. 


112 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


155. Perroica ERyTHROGASTRA (Lath.). (15.) 
A specimen (Muscicapa erythrogastra), apparently a male, 
badly prepared, was transferred to the duplicates. 


TURDIDA. 


*156. GrocicHLa RUBECULA, Gould. (118.) 
A specimen from Java (?) ; no longer in the collection. 


PYCNONOTIDA. 


*157. CrncLosoma PuNctTaTuM (Lath.). (210, 211.) 
Punctated Thrush, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. ii. 187. 32. 
Turdus punctatus, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. Suppl. xliv. 23. 


158. GaRRULAX SINENSIS (Scop.). 

Female (Corvus auritus, n. 27) already mentioned under 
Heo: 

Male and female from Dalrymple Bay. 


DICRURIDA. 


*159. Curpia HOTTENTOT?A (Linné). (100.) 

This specimen, not mentioned by Latham in his descrip- 
tion of the Hottentot Crow (Gen. Syn. i. 380. 10), was for- 
merly labelled Edolius setaceus, Natterer. 


ARTAMIDA. 


*160. Ocybrerus, sp.? (221.) 
Dalrymple Bay ; this bird was not placed in the collection. 


*161. PritonoruyNcuus HoLosERIcEUS, Kuhl. (219.) 
Female (or young ?), from Dalrymple Bay, shot in April 
1802. Iris black. ; 
ORIOLID A. 
162. Orrouus viripis (Lath.). (33.) 
Female (?) ; no longer in the collection. 
FORMICARIIDA. 


*163. GRALLARIA VARIA (Bodd.).  (129.) 
Latham does not say that a specimen of the King Thrush 
(Gen. Synops. iii. 89. 122) was in the Leverian Museum. 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. ds 


164. Prruys rurieuLa (Bodd.). 
No longer in the collection. 


MUSCICAPID 2. 


*165. Myiacra nitipa, Gould. (224.) 

Red-breasted Tody, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. u. 147, 
female. 

Todus rubecula, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. Suppl. xxi. 

Male from Dalrymple Bay. 


166. SavLoprocta MoTAcILLorpEsS (Vig. et Horsf.). (23.) 
Specimen (23), under the name Twurdus volitans, from New 


Holland. 


167. Tcuirrea paRapisi (Linné). (28.) 
This bird is no longer in the collection. 


*168. GraucuLus MELANOPS (Lath.). (157.) 
Black-faced Crow, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. u. 116. 
Corvus melanops, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. Suppl. xxiv. 1. 
This specimen not in the collection. 


TYRANNIDA. 


*169. ATTILA RUFIGULARIS, Pelzeln. (140.) 
Thamnophilus xanthopygus, Jos. (?) Natterer, in Collect. 
Attila rufigularis, Pelzeln, Zur Ornith. Bras. 96 et 170. 
Habitat not given. 


170. Exainga MArtTINicA (Linné). (40, 26?) 

Muscicapa martinicana cristata, Briss. Orn. 11.362, t. xxxvi. 2. 

Gobe-mouche huppé de la Martinique, Buff. Ois. v. 249; 
Pl. Enl. 568. f. 1. 

Muscicapa martinica, Linné, Syst. i. 325. 3; Gmel. Syst. 
i. 930; Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 483. 62. 

Martinica Flycatcher, Lath. Gen. Synops. ii. 352. 52. 

? Muscicapa albicapilla, Vieill. Ois. Am. Sept. i. 66 (St. 
Domingo), partim (vill. t. 37). 

Myiobius martinicus (Linné), Gray, Gen. Birds, 249, sp. on 

Tyrannula martinica (L.), Bonap. Consp. 1. 190; Cassin, 
Proc. Acad. Philad. 1860. 375 (St. Thomas). 


114 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


Elainea riisii, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1860, 313 (St. Thomas) ; 
A. Newton, Ibis, 1860, 307; Sclater, Catal. Collect. 217; 
Gray, Hand-list, i. 352 (St. Thomas, Barbadoes) ; Sclater, 
P. Z. 8. 1870, 834. 

No longer in the collection +. 


171. Prraneus suLpHURATUs (Linné). (81.) 
Cayenne ? 


COTINGID A. 


172. Trryra cayana (Linné). (12.) 

A female from Cayenne, no longer in the collection. 

Latham in his Synopsis only speaks of the existence of an 
old male in the Mus. Lever. 


*173. Corinea pompapora (Linné)? (226.) 

Grey Shrike, Lath. Gen. Synops. i. 184. 86 (female or 
young). 

Ampelis cinerea, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 867. 11. 

A bird from Cayenne, named Lanius, sp., and Coracina 
cinerea, Which is not to be found in our collection, belonged 
probably to this species. 


174. Curromacu#ris currurosa (Desm.).  (32.) 

Black-capped Manakin, Edwards, Lath. Gen. Synops. iv. 
521. 4, et var. partim (Br. Mus., Lever. Mus.). 

Pipra manacus, Linné; Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 556. 6, partim. 

Brazil. 


LANIIDA. 


*175, CoLLURICINCLA SELBII, Jardine. (215, 216.) 

Young male and female (Lanius, sp.), both from Dalrymple 
Bay. 

*176. Cracticus torquatus (Lath.).  (152.) 

Clouded Shrike, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. u. 73. 10. 

Lanius torquatus, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. Suppl. xviii. 4. 

Specimen called Lanius curvirostris, var. seu nova species. 

+ A specimen marked Musicapa martinica has been recently found ; but 


it does not belong to this species, being a young bird of Pachyrhamphus 
polychropterus (Vieill.). 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 115 


*177. Faucuncu.us rrontatus (Lath.), (151.) 
Frontal Shrike, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. 11. 75. 14, t. 122. 
Lanius frontatus, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. Suppl. xviii. 8. 


*178. ParpaLotus striatus (Lath.)? (155.) 
The specimen, marked Pipra striata, was in bad condition, 
and therefore not placed in the collection. 


*179. PacHYCEPHALA GUTTURALIS (Lath.). (154.) 

The bird named im the inventory Muscicapa pectoralis 
belonged probably to this species; it is no longer in our 
Museum. 


CORVID. 


180. Perisorrus rnraustus (Linné). (4.) 

Siberian Jay, Lath. Gen. Synops. i. 390. 26. 

Siberia (Corvus sibiricus). 

Latham says nothing of the existence of a specimen of this 
species in the Museum Leverianum. 


ICTERID A. 


181. XANTHOsoMUS IcTEROCEPHALUS (Linné). (80.) 
Cayenne ? 
PLOCEIDA. 


*182. TrexTorR pANnicivorus (Linné)? (138.) 
A bird with the designation Loxia panicivora was trans- 
ferred to the duplicates in 1806. 


*183. EsTRELDA BELLA (Lath.). (149.) 

Black-lined Grosbeak, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. 1. 198. 16. 
Nitid Grosbeak, Lath. ibid. 198. 17. t. 131. 

Lowxia bella, Lath. Ind. Orn. 11. Suppl. xlvi. 8. 

Loxia nitida, Lath. Ind. Orn. 11. Suppl. xlvu. 9. 

Male? 


*184. EsTrRELDA TEMPORALIS (Lath.). (218, 19.) 

Temporal Finch, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. u. 211. 15. 

Fringilla temporalis, Lath. Ind. Orn. 11. Suppl. xlvii. 4. 

Specimen 19 (Fringilla temporalis), from New Holland, 
was bought by Herr von Fichtel; the other (*218) was not 
retained in the collection. 


116 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


*185. Amapina Gurrata (Shaw). (147.) 

Spotted Grosbeak, Lewin, Birds New Holl. t. 9. 

Loxia guttata, Shaw, Mus. Lever. vi. (1796) 47. pl. 

? White-headed Finch, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. 1. 210. 
tele. 

Fringilla leucocephala, var., Lath. Ind. Orn. 11. Suppl. xlvui. 
1. var. . 

Shaw’s plate is taken from a bird in the Leverian Museum ; 
but our specimen does not seem to be the same. 


TANAGRIDA. 


186. EupHona LICHTENSTEINI (Cabanis).  (23.) 

? Golden Tanager, Lath. Synops. 11. 239. 35, partim (Mus. 
Lever.). 

? Tanagra violacea, Linné; Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 429. 33, 
partim. 

Female or young (Tanagra violacea) from Cayenne. The 
bird in the collection does not agree with Latham’s description 
of the female, and is in such a state of preparation that I 
believe that the old specimen has been replaced by some more 
recently acquired bird. 

COLIID &. 


*187. Coxrus striatus, Gmel. (99.) 
Specimen (C. senegalensis?) not mentioned by Latham. 


RAMPHASTIDA. 
188. PrrroeLossus viripis (Linné). (3.) 
Green Toucan, Lath. Gen. Synops. i. 131. 9 (Brit. Mus., 
Lever. Mus.). 3 
Ramphastos viridis, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 188. 9. 
Female? (n. 1), from Cayenne. 


PSITTACIDA. 


*189. PLatTycERCUS FLAVIVENTRIS (Temm.). (214.) 
Dalrymple Bay, Tasmania. 
*190. Brorocerys Tuipara (Gmel.). (124.) 


Red-fronted Parrot, Lath. Gen. Synops. i. 308. 115 (no 
specimen in the Mus. Lever.). 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 117 


Golden-winged Parrakeet, Lath. ibid. 309.116 (Mus. Lever.). 
Latham’s short description of the Golden-winged Parrakeet 
does not agree well with our specimen. 


191. Brorogrrys virescens (Gmel.).  (3.) 
Specimen from Cayenne? (Psittacus virescens) ; given to 


the Zoological Museum at Troppau, Silesia, May 1859. 


Latham (Gen. Synops. 1. 244. 43) indicates that this spe- 
cimen was in the Mus.’ Lever. 


192. Domicetya Tartrana (Gmel.). (29.) 
This bird is no longer in the collection. According to ha- 
tham this Parrot was contained in the Leverian Museum. 


*193. TRICHOGLOsSSUS CONCINNUS (Shaw). (809.) 
Psittacus concinnus, Shaw, Nat. Misc. ii. (1789) t. 87. 
Pacific Parrot, var., Phill. Voy. Bot. Bay, 155, pl. 
Psittacus australis, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 104. 66. 
Crimson-fronted Parrot, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. ii. (1802) 
87; idem, Gen. Hist. 1. (1822) 181, cum varr. A, B, C. 
Psittacus pacificus, Shaw, Gen. Zool. vin. 419. 
Botany Bay. 


*194. TRicHOGLOssUS DiscoLor (Shaw). (158.) 

Psittacus discolor, Shaw in White’s Voy. 263, t.; Lath. 
Ind. Orn. 1. Suppl. xxi. 6; Shaw, Gen. Zool. vii. 466. 

Red-shouldered Parrakeet, Phill. Voy. Bot. Bay, 269; Lath. 
Gen. Synops. Suppl. 11. (1802) 90. 

Our specimen differs somewhat in coloration from the plate 
in White’s Voyage. 


*195. TricHoGLossus PusitLus (Shaw). (153.) 

Psittacus pusillus, Shaw, White’s Journ. Voy. N. 8S. Wales, 
1790, 262; Lath. Ind. Orn. i. (1790) 106. 71. 

This bird does not agree well with the plate above quoted. 


*196. PronrAs MELANOCEPHALUS (Linné). (125.) 

This specimen is evidently that described by Latham (Gen. 
Synops. i. 3805. 112) as differmg a little from the author’s 
description ; in the black colour of the bill and the whitish 
ashy breast and belly this bird resembles Edwards’s pl. 169. 


118 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


*197. CaLYPTORHYNCHUS SOLANDRI(Temm.). (146a, 1460.) 

Psittacus banksti, varr. 8 et y? Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 107. 76 
B,y? 

Psittacus magnificus, Shaw, Mus. Lever. 1796. 17. 

Banksian Cockatoo, var. A, Lath. Synops. Suppl. 1. (1802) 
63, et var. B. 

Two males; it seems to me not probable that either of them 
was the original of Shaw’s plate. 


PICID A. 


*198. Camptas, sp.? (228.) 

Cayenne (Picus, sp.; P. pusserinus, juv.). 

199. CrLEus cINNAMoMEUS (Gmel.). (9.) 

Pl. Enl. 524, male. 

Ferruginous Woodpecker, Lath. Gen. Synops. 1. 592. 42 
(Mus. Lever.). 

Picus cinnamomeus, Gmel. Syst. i. 428; Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 
240. 45. 

Our specimen agrees very well with Latham’s description 
of the female, and seems to be his type. 


*200. CeLEUS MULTICOLOR (Gmel.). (91.) 

Male, from Cayenne ? 

Latham, in his description of the Black-breasted Wood- 
pecker (Gen. Synops. 11. 593. 43), does not mention a specimen 
in the Museum Leverianum; perhaps this specimen was a 
later acquisition. 


201. MrLanerPEs FLAVIFRONS (Vieill.).  (12.) 
This specimen is no longer in the collection. 


CUCULID. 

*202. CucuLus pattipus (Lath.). (208, 209.) 

Pale Pigeon, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. 11. 270. 

Columba pallida, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. Suppl. Ix. 5. 

Adult male from Botany Bay, and young bird from Dal- 

rymple Bay. 
*203. CucuLUS FLABELLIFORMIS, Lath. (207.) 
Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Lath. Gen. Synops. 11. 138. 11, t. 126. 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 119 


Cuculus flabeliformis, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. Suppl. xxx. 6. 
From Dalrymple Bay, Tasmania; perhaps Latham’s type. 
I have not been able to compare the plate. 


204. CucuLus mpEratus, Gould. 
Botany Bay (Cuculus, sp.). 


COLUMBIDZ. 


205. Leproprita ruFraxitua (Rich. et Bern.).  (11.) 
Brazil ? 


CRACIDA. 


— ¥206. Orratipa mormor (Linné). (300.) 
Cayenne (Phasianus motmot). 


PHASIANIDA. 


207. PotypLecrron cuinquts (Temm.). (55.) 

Pavo tibetanus, Briss. Orn. i. 294, t. xxviii. A, f.2; Linné, 
Syst. 1. 268; Gmel. Syst. i. 731; Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. 617. 4. 

Chinquis, Buffon, Ois. ii. 385. 

Iris Peacock, Lath. Gen. Synops. iv. 673. 3 (descr. nec 
synon.). 

Thibet Peacock, Lath. Gen. Synops. iv. 675. 4. 

Pavo bicalcaratus, Lath. Ind. Orn. 11.617. 3, partim; Shaw, 
Mus. Lever. (1792) 73, pl. 

Pavo tibetanus, Lath. Ind. Orn. 11. 617. 4. 

A male bought through Herr von Fichtel, is expressly said in 
the catalogue to be from the Museum Leverianum. It is cer- 
tainly the specimen mentioned by Latham (Jris Peacock, Gen. 
Synops. iv. 657. 3) as contained in the Museum Leverianum 
(though the description there seems copied from Brisson), and 
the type of the description of the male of the so-called Pavo 
bhicalcaratus, and of Shaw’s description and plate. 

“These birds (male and female) are indigenous to China, 
from whence they have been brought alive nto England, and 
were for some time in the possession of Dr. James Monro. 
[The male is now in the Museum Leverianum in the finest 
oreservation.”—LatTHAM. 


120 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


208. LopHorHorus impryANus (Lath.). (54) 

Impeyan Pheasant, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. 208. 11, 
t. exiv. (specimens of the male bird in the Leverian Mu- 
seum). 

Phasianus impeyanus, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 632. 11. 

Phasianus curvirostris, Shaw, Mus. Lever. iii. 191, plate. 

Male; no longer in the collection. 


TETRAONIDA. 
*209. Tetrao curipo, Linné. (96.) 
Male from Canada?; transferred to the duplicates. 
*210. TEetRao, sp. (325.) 
Grouse from North America; in bad state and therefore 


not retained in the collection. 
211. Corurnix cotnEnsis (Linné). (21, 227.) 
Male and female. 
STRUTHIONIDA. 
212. Dromaus Nova HOLLANDI# (Lath.). (50.) 
Young bird. 
TINAMIDA. 


*213. TinaMus vaRiecATuS (Gmel.). (97.) 
Latham does not mention the presence of a specimen of this 
species in the Leverian Museum. 


HAMATOPID A. 
214. Hamatorus unicoxor, Forst. (H. fuliginosus, Gould). 
(35.) 
New Holland. 
ARDEIDA. 


*215. ARDEA Nov# HOLLANDIA, Lath. (821, 41.) 

White-fronted Heron, Phill. Bot. Bay, 163, pl.; Lath. Gen. 
Synops. Suppl. un. 304. 

Ardea nove hollandie, Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 701. 88. 

One specimen (321) may possibly be Latham’s type; the 
other (41) was bought from Herr von Fichtel. 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 121 


*216. Arpra scapuLaris, Illig. (315, 316.) 

Two specimens from Cayenne ; one of which (315) was trans- 
ferred to the duplicates in 1832. Latham (Gen. Synops. v. 
68. 30) says that this species was represented in the Museum 
Leverianum. 


217. Ti@RISOMA BRASILIENSE (Linné). 

Specimen from Cayenne, possibly that mentioned by La- 
tham (Gen. Synops. v. 62, 25) as contained in the Museum 
Leverianum. ‘Transferred to the duplicates. 


218. Nycricorax vionaceus (L.).  (39.) 
Cayenne ; not indicated by Latham as being in the Mus. 
Lever. 


PLATALEIDA. 


219. Puarauea asasa, Linné. (8.) 

Latham (Gen. Synops. v. 16. 2) mentions no specimen from 
the Mus. Lever. ; his description and plate seem to be based 
on that of Brisson. 

The bird is no longer in the collection. 


TANTALID A. 


220. Isis ruBra (L.)  (53.) 
Latham (Gen. Synops. v. 106. 2) remarks that this species 
was in the British and in the Leverian Museums. 


SCOLOPACIDA. 


—- *221. Numenivus pumorus, Linné, var. hudsonica. (270.) 
‘Hudsonian Curlew, Lath. Gen. Synops. Suppl. 243. 11. 
Numenius hudsonicus, Lath. Ind. Orn. nu. 712.7; Baird, 

Rep. 744; Schlegel, Mus. Pays-Bas, Scolop. 100. 

Numenius pheopus, L.; Pelzeln, Zur Ornith. Brasil. 308. 

Cayenne. 

The differences between N. pheopus and N. hudsonicus, as 
exposed by Schlegel /.c., seem to me not sufficient for spe- 
cific separation, especially in a Wader of so wide a geogra- 
phical distribution. 

SUR. I1I.—VOL. II. K 


ponent 


122 A. von Pelzeln on Birds in 


« 


222. RECURVIROSTRA RUBRICOLLIS, Temm. (42.) 

Avosetta, Damp. Voy. iii. 123, pl. f. 8 (Sharks’ Bay, New 
Holland). 

American Avoset, Lath. Gen. Synops. v. 295. 2, t. 92, partim 
(Mus. Lever.). 

Perhaps the specimen n. 28 is that mentioned by Latham 
as being in the Leverian Collection. 


RALLIDA. 


*223. Ratuus Macutatus, Bodd. (142.) 
Cayenne? ; the bird agrees very well with Pl. Enl. 775. 


*224. ARAMIDES CAYENNENSIS (Gmel.). (313.) 

Cayenne. 

According to Latham this species was contained in the 
Museum Leverianum. 


*225. TRIBONYX MORTIERI, Du Bus. (197.) 
Dalrymple Bay, Tasmania. 


PARRID/AS. 


*226. HypROPHASIANUS CHIRURGUS (Scopoli). (262.) 
Young or in winter plumage ; from Bengal. 


ANATIDA. 


227. NETTAPUS ALBIPENNIS, Gould. (387). 

Female or young bird. In the imventory no habitat was 
given. In the collection it is indicated as ‘‘ India orientalis,” 
but probably only on account of the former descriptions of 
Anas coromandeliana. 

Besides this specimen, we are in possession of a male and 
female of N. albipennis from New Holland, purchased (1846) 
from Herr Parreyss. 


*228. DenpRocYGNA AUTUMNALIS (Linné). (314.) 

Female, Cayenne; no longer in the collection. 

According to Latham this species was represented in the 
Museum Leverianum. 


the Imperial Collection at Vienna. 123 


229. Aix GALERICULATA (Linné). (52a et 520.) 


Male and female ; the male does not appear to be the ori- 
ginal of Shaw’s plate (Mus. Lever. 89). 


230. ANAS sUPERCILIOSA, Gmel.  (7.) 

Supercilious Duck, Lath. Gen. Synops. vi. 497. 45 (from 
the drawings of Sir Joseph Banks ; New Zealand). 

Anas superciliosa, Gmel. Syst. 1. 537; Lath. Ind. Orn. 11. 
852. 51. 

Anas leucophrys, Forster, Drawings, n. 77; idem, Descr. 
An. 93 (New Zealand). 

Specimen from New Holland ; no longer in the collection. 


PROCELLARIID/A. 


*231. DiomeprEa ExuLaANs, Linné. (283.) 
An adult white Albatros without label is probably the 
specimen of the inventory. 


LARIDAL. 


*232. STERNA FULIGINOSA, Gmel. (213.) 

A specimen in the collection agrees very well with Latham’s 
description of the Sooty Tern (Gen. Synops. vi. 352); but 
it is not certain whether it is really the same as that from 
Dalrymple Bay, mentioned in the inventory. 


*233. Gyeis canpiIpA (Sparrm.). (84, 85.) 

Two specimens, on which Latham seems to have based the 

description of his White Tern (Gen. Synops. vi. 363. 17, et 
Suppl. 266). 
. Latham says it “imbhabits Christmas Island and other 
parts of the South Seas, seen also off the island of St. 
Helena.” It is probable that our birds are from the former 
island. 


PLOTID. 


*234. PLotus Nov#-HOLLANDIA, Gould. (293.) 


Male, Botany Bay ; no longer in the collection. 
K 2 


124 On anew Species of Barbet from Western India. 
PELECANID&. . 


235. GRACULUS SULCIROSTRIS (Brandt). (38.) 

Carbo sulcirostris, Brandt, Bullet. Acad. St. Petersb. in. 56 
(habitat unknown). 

Phalacrocorax sulcirostris, Brandt ; Gray, List Birds Brit. 
Mus. iii. (1844) 185 (habitat unknown); Gould, Birds Austral. 
Wile tb. ‘O77. 

Haheus sulcirostris, Bonap. Consp. 1. 178. 

Halieus (Microcarbo) stictocephalus, Bonap. Consp. 1i. 178. 

Graculus sulcirostris, Schlegel, Mus. Pays-Bas, Pelecani, 
1863, 13 (Australia ?, Borneo, Amboina, Halmaheira). 

Phalacrocorax stictocephalus (Bonap.), Gould, Hand-b. B. 
Austral. 11. 495. 

Carbo squamatus, Mus. Vindob. MS. 

New Holland. 


236. GRACULUS MELANOLEUCUS (Vieill.). (37, 6.) 
A specimen from New Holland im our Museum is probably 
that mentioned in the inventory. 


XIV.—On a new Species of Barbet from Western India. 
By Capt. J. Hayes Luoyp. 


By the kindness of Mr. R. B. Sharpe I have had an oppor- 
tunity of mspecting the collection of Megalzemide in the 
British Museum; and I find, as I have long suspected, that 
the small green Barbet of Western India is distinct from the 
Megalema viridis of Malabar and Southern India, being dis- 
tinguishable by its greater size and more pronounced mark- 
ings. In the Messrs. Marshall’s monograph of the Capito- 
nid, reference is made under M. viridis (the colour of the 
bill of which, by the way, is given correctly in the letterpress, 
but wrongly in the plate) to a bird obtained by Col. Sykes 
in the Deccan, the dimensions of which were too large for M. 
viridis and too small for WM. caniceps. To any one possessing 
local knowledge the locality quoted must sound vague ; but I 
have little doubt that Col. Sykes’s bird was the species of 


Note on the Pyranga roscogularis of Cabot. 125 


which I am now writing, and that it was obtained in the 
Mawuls, a tract of hilly country dividing the Deccan from 
the Western Ghauts, I therefore propose to distinguish the 
small green Barbet of Western India as 


MurGaL#MA SYKESI, sp. Nov. 

Description.—Very similar to M. viridis, but the brown 
of the head and nape paler, with a coppery gloss, the feathers 
of the head pale-edged, those of the nape with pale central 
streaks ; throat whitish; breast and sides of neck whitish, 
each feather broadly margined laterally with dark brown ; 
wing-coverts unspotted. Bill horny brown. 

Dimensions.—Length 9 inches, wing 4°3, tail 3. 

This species is abundant in most of the mountainous wooded 
tracts of Western India. I have obtained it in the Peint 
and Soorungun districts, which border the Khandesh Dangs, 
all along the Western Ghauts, and on the summit of Matheran 
and other detached hills im the Konkan, everywhere to the 
exclusion of M. viridis, which seems to bear the same rela- 
tionship to M. sykesi that M. zeylanica does to M. caniceps. 

How far south M. sykest extends I am unable to say. 


11 The Grove, Highgate. 
January 24, 1873. 


XV.—Note onthe Pyranga roseogularis of Cabot. 
By P. L. Scuater, M.A., Ph.D., F.RB.S. 


(Plate IIL.) 


In 1847 Dr. Samuel Cabot, of Boston, published in the 
“Boston Journal of Natural History”* a description of a 
new species of Tanager, of the genus Pyranga, which he had 
procured in Yucatan, “on the road from Chemax to Yalahao, 
on the 5th of April, 1842,” and proposed to call P. roseo- 
gularis. 

In 1856 (as already mentioned, P. Z.S. 1857, p. 6) I had 
the pleasure of examining this unique specimen at Boston, 


* Boston Journ. of Nat. Hist. v. p. 416 (1847). 


126 Note on the Pyranga roseogularis of Cabot. 


through the kindness of Dr. Cabot, and came to the conclusion 
that it belonged to a species distinct from any then known to 
me. ‘Time has rolled on, and our acquaintance with Central 
American ornithology has greatly increased ; indeed it may 
be almost said that there is now hardly any portion of the 
tropics of which the bird-life is better known to us; yet I 
believe no further information has yet reached us concerning 
the Pyranga roseogularis. I have therefore great pleasure 
in reproducing a figure of this rara avis, taken from the ty- 
pical specimen by Mr. Ridgway. The original coloured draw- 
mg was sent to Mr. Salvin by Prof. Baird, with a suggestion 
that it would be desirable to publish it. Prof. Baird states 
that the drawing is perhaps a little stiff, but that the details 
are rigidly correct. 

Mr. Ridgway adds to his drawing a full description of the 
typical specimen, which I think it desirable to give in extenso. 


PYRANGA ROSEIGULARIS. 

Sp. Char.—Prevailing colour brownish ashy, darker on the 
dorsal region, where it has a faint reddish cast, and paler on 
the lower parts. Lores, eyelids, cheeks, and breast with a 
dingy yellow tinge ; ashy beneath, deepest across the jugulum 
and along the sides, palish on the abdomen. Whole pileum 
(from bill to nape, and down to the upper edge of the lores and 
auriculars), wings, upper tail-coverts, and tail, dusky purplish 
red, in marked contrast with the ashy tints. Whole throat 
dilute vermilion or rose-pink ; liming of wing and crissum a 
paler shade of the same; tibia tinged with pmkish. Wing 
3°05, tail 2°75, bill from nostril -45, its depth *40, breadth °35, 
tarsus °80. 

I trust that this notice will result in some further infor- 
mation beg obtained concerning this interesting bird. It 
is singular that Dr. Arthur Schott durmg his scientific mis- 
sion to Yucatan does not seem to have come across it*. 


* See Report on his Bird-collections by Mr. Lawrence, Ann. Lye. N. 
Y. ix. p. 198 e¢ seq. 


On a new Chinese Owl of the Genus Ketupa. 127 


XVI.—On a new Chinese Owl of the Genus Ketupa. 
By R. Swinnor, H.M. Consul at Ningpo. 


On the 12th of November, while seated at breakfast, a coun- 
tryman walked into the room with a pair of huge dead Owls, 
and put them on the floor before me. They wore the rich buff 
colour and had the general appearance of the Eagle Owl; and 
I took them for that species, until my eye caught the bare feet, 
and I saw that they were of the genus Ketupa. I think this 
grand species well worthy of the name magnifica. 


KETUPA MAGNIFICA, 0. sp. 

Bill deep bluish black, lighter at the base, which is con- 
cealed by protruding feathers. Inside of mouth pale yellowish 
flesh-colour. Rim of eyelid deep purplish brown ; iris fine 
orange-yellow. Exposed portion of tarse and toes dingy, with 
a tinge of clay-colour, yellowish on terminal scutes of toes ; 
claws bluish black, fading to light leaden at their bases. 

General plumage rufous buff, and black. Feathers at the 
base of upper mandible of the bill between the eyes pure 
white, ending in black vidrisse ; facial disk rufous, ending 
in the same way; a semicircle at the back of ear of small 
white feathers ; feathers of the crown black, with broad buff 
margins narrowing to the tips, with occasional spots of the 
same on the black; ear-tufts formed of unequal feathers, 
longest 31 inches. Dorsals black, with broad basal buff mar- 
gins, and a few spots of buff (sometimes of white), increas- 
ing in size and frequency on the scapulars. Rump brownish 
buff, with large spots of black and buff. Tail black, with 
six (including the broader apical) rufous bands. On the 
scapulars and wing-coverts the spots and edgings begin to 
turn into bands, which on the quills are more regular and 
broader, though disconnected by the intervention of the stems 
of the feathers, and not evenly transverse, and the portions 
on the inner webs often brownerin hue. Axillaries buff, with 
with a few long drops of black. Chin white leading down- 


wards to a large white roundish patch which occupies nearly, 


the whole breast; a wash of buff with dark streaks divides 
the chin from the beast-spot, the feathers of the last being 


¢ 


128 On a new Chinese Owl of the Genus Ketupa. 


streaked centrally with long black drops bordered with buff. 
The rest of lower parts rufous buff, each feather with a long 
central drop of black, pointed at base and thickening towards 
tip, the feathers on the belly haying their buff sides banded 
with a paler hue of their colour, which does not extend across 
their central black. Crissum with narrower strie. Downy 
covering of tarse buff, whitish at back and low down near 
toes. 

The female looks rather larger than its male, and is perhaps 
an inch longer; but I find no appreciable difference im the 
other measurements. The male has more white behind the ears, 
and a larger white breast-patch ; and its tarse is plumed for 
a greater length ; but the fine down with which it is clothed 
seems to wear off. 

Measurements of the female :—Length 25 inches; wing very 
much arched, across are 16°75, pressed flat 174; im rounded 
state 3 inches short of tail-tip ; 3rd to 6th primaries equal and 
longest ; Ist 3:4 shorter than the longest; 2nd 1:2 shorter 
than the same. ‘Tail rounded, of twelve softish hog-backed 
feathers, 94 long; outer °75 shorter than centrals. Tarse 3°3 
long, feathered with down for 2 inches in front, a little lower 
behind, and + inch less on sides. Middle toe 1°8, its claw 
1:1; outer toe 1°5, its claw 1:05; inner toe 1°7, its claw 1°35 ; 
hind toe 1:2, its claw 1:1. 

The male has the tarse feathered in front to within 75 inch 
of where it meets the toes, at the back to ‘25. 

Dissection.—Thighs and belly and lower part of sternum 
with thick layers of white fat. Intestines and stomach also 
imbedded in fat. Lobes of liver small and thick. Stomach 
of female heart-shaped, empty ; epithelium thick and rugose, 
and slimed with a dark olive-green juice. Intestines long, 
thick, and white; ceca about 1°50 from rectum, about 3 
inches long, of uniform thickness throughout, and about half 
that of intestine; cloaca globular. <A large oblong cluster of 
eggs. 

Stomach of male crammed with bones and other remains of 
fishes, the largest about 4imcheslong. Proventriculus 14 mch 
long, °75 thick at the chest. Testes °25 long, oval, and orange- 


Ornithological Notes from the Argentine Republic. 129 


yellow. Tongue about ‘8 long, shaped like a broad arrow, 
rounded and split at tip, its back horny, as also edge of front 
half, which is thin and turned up ; central surface velvety and 
thick ; back angles edged and dotted with horny papille. 
Sternum of female rather longer than that of male, shaped 
much like that of the Harfang or Snowy Owl (Cuv. An. King. 
Lond. 1849, p. 175). 

This species is more nearly related to Ketupa flavipes 
(Hodgs.) than to the other two known species, both in the 
markings of its upper plumage, and in the plumed state of 
its shanks; but it differs from all in its bill and claws being 
black instead of yellowish. The pair were procured on a 
branch of this river, about fifty miles distant to the south-west, 
where the country is mountainous, with dark woody ravines, 
and bush-covered rocks jut out into the water. Freshwater 
crabs and small fish abound ; and I presume it is after these 
they wade with their naked feet and partially exposed legs. 
But the winter is at hand, and the cold has driven the crabs 
into hibernation ; it is, then, on fish that they now chiefly sub- 
sist, as the maw of the male proves. But how can they pro- 
cure them? Their rough and aculeate soles will hold fish well 
enough, when they have got them between their claws; but 
I do not think so clumsy a foot could catch a darting mimnow. 
The head must be immersed for such a purpose, and during 
his search for food the bird must get very wet. Our winter 
evenings are foggy and raw, and Owls’ feathers are difficult 
to dry. Perhaps he contents himself with other food when 
crabs are in bed for the winter, and the time is not propitious 
for fishing ! 

Ningpo, November 28th, 1872. 


~~ XVII.— Ornithological Notes from the Argentine Republic. 
By Witiiam Buiackstone Lez, B.A. 


From February till July 1871 I was staying at an “ estancia” 
on the frontier of the Indian territory, about eleven leagues 
from Frayle Muerto and four or five from the small camp- 
village of Saladillo. On landing at Buenos Ayres I found it 


130 Mr. W. B. Lee’s Ornithological Notes 


would be very inconvenient to get to my destination in Entre 
Rios on account of the civil war then gomg on, and in the 
Hotel de la Paix I met two gentlemen who told me they were 
going up country to their “ estancia”’ near Frayle Muerto, and 
most kindly asked me to accompany them. The journey is not 
very interesting; the river from Buenos Ayres to Rosario is 
generally clothed on both sides with a jungle of long grass 
and thick scrubby trees, the home of quantities of large Storks 
and Herons and wildfowl of several kinds. Now and then 
a carpincho appeared on the banks or in the water; but this 
was the only beast to be seen; and altogether the journey is 
certainly monotonous. From Rosario the railway runs to 
Cordova; and Frayle Muerto is about halfway. The country 
is of course perfectly flat ; and the only things to be seen in 
the way of wild animals are a few deer and Ostriches. On 
the banks of the river at Frayle Muerto there is some rather 
pretty wood ; but this disappears directly you leave the banks, 
and out towards my friends’ “estancia” the only trees are occa- 
sional small patches of scrubby brushwood scattered often at 
distances of several leagues from each other over the endless 
flat plams. These scrubby trees are chiefly algarroba and que- 
bracho, the former being the best firewood I ever saw ; but so 
little wood is there that all our firewood had to be brought from 
Frayle Muerto, about thirty-five miles distance. A river runs 
just below the “estancia;” but there is no wood along its banks, 
only a strip of long grass on each side, some two or three hun- 
dred yards wide, in which the pumas take refuge after supping 
on the sheep of the “ estancia.” Occasionally, but much more 
rarely, a jaguar made his appearance. One was killed the 
Sunday before I got there, and one two or three years before. 
They were said to be plentiful some twenty or thirty leagues 
further along the river. We used to ride out with as many 
dogs as we could collect, and beat along the banks for these 
animals ; but I never saw a jaguar, and only shot one puma. 
Deer and Ostriches were plentiful, but shy. Durig the greater 
part of my stay here the river was almost dry ; but we had a 
little rain at last; and then there were plenty of Ducks and 
Blue-winged Teals, and not unfrequently Geese and Swans— 


from the Argentine Republic. 131 


the former white, with black tips to the wings—the latter white, 
with black necks. A small reddish Grebe was also common. 
Allover the camp the “small Partridge” was very abundant ; 
and in the long grass by the river there were always some 
“big Partridge.” These two birds are the only ones in the 
country that remind one of game, and are not bad shooting, 
but very dry and tasteless. The larger bird is about the size 
of a hen Pheasant, and rises very like one; the small is in size 
about halfway between a Partridge and a Quail*. Over the 
grass by the river there were always Harriers (Circus cinereus) 
beating along with Eagles and Chimangos. ‘These latter and 
the Caranchos were of course always to be seen wherever there 
‘was a carcass. On the whole the variety of birds here was 
small, as one would expect from the utter absence of wood. 
Besides Geese, Swans, Ducks, and Partridges, I shot the fol- 
lowing birds, which have been identified for me by Messrs. 
Sclater and Salvin from the skins which I brought home :— 


1. GERANOAETUS MELANOLEUCUS. 

A bird which I thought might be the female of this species 
came and sat on the chimney one night, where I shot it. It 
was just the same size, and the cere and legs the same colour, 
but the plumage dark brown, with barred markings. The 
natives, however, assured me that they had seen both parent 
birds at a nest in the same blue plumage; so perhaps this 
was a young bird. 


2. CIRCUS CINEREUS. 

Very common, a most graceful bird; the brilliant yellow of 
the eyes and legs is very striking. 
+- 3. HyporriorcHIs FEMORALIS. 

Not uncommon. 


4. 'TINNUNCULUS SPARVERIUS. 
Very common. 


5. PHOLEOPTYNX CUNICULARIA. 
To be seen everywhere on the plains. 


* {No doubt ‘Tinamous—the larger Rhynchotis rufescens, the smaller 
Nothura maculosa.—Ep. | 


132 Mr. W. B. Lee’s Ornithological Notes 


6. STURNELLA DEFILIPPII. 
Not so common, and generally in larger flocks. 


7. PSEUDOLEISTES VIRESCENS. 
Common in small flocks. 


Besides these I observed a bird something like a Golden 
Plover in shape and size, but with plumage more like a Sand- 
piper, called by the natives “ Chorlito.” Two kinds of Dove : 
—one like a very small Turtle Dove, roosting in the scrubby 
bush ; the other a blue Pigeon with small white spots, about 
the size of a Dovecote Pigeon, which only appeared now and 
then, in flocks. Lalso noticed a Woodpecker (Colaptes agri- 
cola) at a small wood about six miles from Frayle Muerto, - 
and another (Chrysoptilus cristatus) close to Frayle Muerto— 
at the former place also the Scissor-bird, Widow bird, 
and a little bird smaller than a Robin, with a most bril- 
liant red head and breast, called by the natives ‘Sangre 
pura.” I forgot to mention among the river-birds a ro- 
seate-coloured Spoonbill, and a long-legged black-and-white 
Plover. 


From July 1871 to February 1872 I was in the province 
of Entre Rios, on the banks of the Gato, about seven or eight 
leagues north-west of Gualeguaychu. The river here has a 
belt of wood on each side; and there are also considerable 
clumps of trees scattered here and there over the campo. The 
surface of the ground is much more undulating; and this, 
with the much greater extent of woods, makes the country 
more interesting than the country about Cordova. Deer 
are very scarce, and Ostriches not very common; Carpinchos 
very plentiful along the river ; there are no pumas or jaguars. 
One of these latter, however, was lassoed during my stay, at 
the time of a flood, about ten or twelve leagues off. The floods 
come down very suddenly; and any beast that has taken up 
his quarters in the thick wood, which in the turns of the river 
is often almost impenetrable, is often forced out by the water 
into the open plains. 

In the woods on the banks of the Gato I shot specimens of 


from the Argentine Republic. 133 


the following species, which have been likewise identified by 
Mr. Sclater and Mr. Salvin. 


1. PRoGNE CHALYBEA. 
This Swallow is very common. 


2. CYANOCORAX PILEATUS. 

This bird is common in the woods ; and one generally knows 
its whereabouts by its noise. It is not easy to procure good 
specimens, as the feathers are fine and loose, and the bright 
yellow breast and belly show the smallest stain of blood. 


3. TYRANNUS MELANCHOLICUS. 

Common. ‘The species, however, most frequently met with 
is a larger bird with a brown back, yellow breast, and a black 
stripe. through the eye, about as large as a Thrush; it may 
generally be seen near water, sitting on an overhanging bough 
and uttering at intervals a loud shrill ery. 


4, DRyMORNIS BRIDGESI*. 
This species is very common. It is said by the natives to 
suck the eggs of poultry; but I rather doubt this statement. 


+5. CERYLE TORQUATA. 

This Kingfisher is not very often met with. Its loud note 
kek-kek-kek is sure to catch the ear if one happens to fly past, 
so that it is not likely to escape observation ; but I have not 
seen many specimens. 


6. CERYLE AMERICANA. 
I do not think this species is rare; but at the same time I 
saw very few specimens, not more than three or four. 


+ 7. CERYLE AMAZONA. 
This species is very common. 


8. CaAMPEPHILUS BolmI (Wagl.). | 
This species is comparatively rare. It taps on the trees 


* [ Nasica bridgesi, Kyton, Contr. Orn. 1849, p. 130, pl. 38: Drymornis \ 
bridgesi, Kyt. 1. ec. 1852, p.23= Nasica gracilirostris, Burm. La Plata-Reise, 
ii. p. 446. Of this bird we have also received skins from Mendoza (Weiss- 
haupt). These are marked as being Dendrocolaptes brunneiceps of the 
Mus. of Santiago.—P. L. 8. & O.8.] 


134 Mr. W. B. Lee’s Ornithological Notes 


much louder than any other Woodpecker, and can be heard 
a long way off. I found on dissection that it is the female 
which has the head entirely red. 


9. CHRYSOPTILUS CRISTATUS. 
One of the commonest birds to be met with in the woods 
near Gualeguaychu. 


10. Picus cacrorum. 

This is a very pretty and a very common little bird. It 
and C. cristatus are more numerous than C. agricola; but all 
three species are frequently to be met with, while C. boii is 
always scarce. The “capitan” (head man) of one of my friends, 
on being shown C. dota, recognized the bird at once as having 
been seen by him on one occasion only, a year or two pre- 
viously, when he was struck by the black body and brilliant 
red crest; but he has never again met with it. 


11. CoLarrrs AGRICOLA. 

This Woodpecker is quite common, and is generally seen 
in open ground. It is often found hopping about over the 
grass in little parties of three or four. 


12. HypropsaLis TORQUATA. 

This bird may often be seen in the woods on summer even- 
ings; but it is difficult to procure a good specimen, as one 
must get near to distinguish the species, and then the shot 
often spoil the beautiful tail-feathers. 


13. NycripROMUS ALBICOLLIS. 


14. PopaGuR NACUNDA. 

Neither of these is uncommon ; and they may be found in 
much the same localities as Hydropsalis torquata. 'There is 
a larger kind of Night-jar which sometimes gets up in flocks 
off the camp when one is riding in the daytime ; it has a large 
white patch on the wings. 

15. BoLBoRHYNCHUS MONACHUS. 

One of the commonest birds in the country. I noticed 
three kinds of Parrots during my stay, viz. this species, a 
smaller variety, of a brighter green colour, and a rather 
larger bird, with an orange and red patch on the breast. The 


Jrom the Argentine Republic. 135 


latter I often met with in the province of Cordova, but am 
not aware of having seen it in Entre Rios. 


4-16. Rosrramus sociaRitis. 

So far as I know, I only procured one specimen of this 
species. It flew overhead by itself as we were lying on the 
grass. ‘The species appeared to be unknown to every one who 
saw it; but this evidence is not worth much, as hardly any 
one in the country took any interest in natural history. I 
believe, however, from my own observation, that this and 
Geranospiza cerulescens are very rare. 

The Geranospiza is such a remarkable-looking bird that 
even a native would have noticed it. 


17. AccIPITER ERYTHROCNEMIS. 

One specimen of this bird was shot by my companion. I 
am not aware of having seen any others, but think it would 
be a very likely bird to escape observation. 


+18. GERANOSPIZA CHRULESCENS. 

Of this bird I never saw but one specimen, which I shot ; 
and on showing it to one or two natives, they said they had 
never seen one like it; nor had my friend, who had been in 
the habit of shooting for several years in the country. The 
crop was full of bits of the unfledged young of some bird ; and 
as there were nests of Parrots and Caranchos near, I have no 
doubt they supplied the victims. ‘The slate-coloured plumage, 
orange-red legs, bright yellow eyes, and long brightly coloured 
tail make this a very handsome bird. 


19. 'TINNUNCULUS SPARVERIUS. 
This is another most beautiful little Falcon, and one of the 
commonest birds in the country. 


+ 20. Hyvorrrorcuis FEMORALIS. 

A beautiful and most graceful Faleon, reminding one 
strongly both of the Peregrine and the Hobby, especially the 
latter, though its wings are not quite so long as those of the 
Hobby. ‘This bird is not uncommon, and is oftener seen at 
some distance from the woods than any other Hawk I have 
mentioned. 


136 _ Mr. W. B. Lee’s Ornithological Notes 


21. AsTURINA PUCHERANI™. 

In a walk through the woods one was islerably sure to see 
two or three specimens of this bird. It has a very heavy 
flapping flight, and may be recognized by this peculiarity, 
and by the very rounded shape of its wings. It is nearly 
always to be seen perched on the very top of a tree, its 
blackish head contrastmg very distinctly with its lght- 
coloured breast. The very pale amber-colour of the eyes is 
unlike that of any other Hawk that I know. I once found a 
small snake in the crop, and on another occasion some whitish 
stuff which stank most abominably. 


22. BuTEO PTEROCLES. 

This species appears in immense flocks, remaining for a few 
days, and then disappearing entirely for weeks. I have seen 
the sky quite full of these birds ; and on one occasion, having 
shot several, I found their crops full of grasshoppers. 


;- 23. URvBITINGA MERIDIONALIS. 
This bird is not at all rare. It is readily known by the 
red plumage and the great breadth of the wings. 


24. GERANOAETUS MELANOLEUCUS. 

This bird is very common wherever I have been in the Ar- 
gentine Republic and in the Banda Oriental. It may nearly 
always be seen soaring over the campo. It will feed on any 
dead carcass; and I have also found its crop full of grass- 
hoppers. Why it should be called a “ Sea-Hagle” I cannot 
imagine. 

25. HARPYHALIAETUS CORONATUS. 

There were generally one or two of these about the country ; 
but I seldom saw more of them together. The first I saw killed 
had been feeding on some dead sheep, and was shot by a friend 
of mine. It was a female bird and very savage. We had to 
get a heavy log, and, having knocked the bird over backwards, 
put the log across her breast and pressed it down on each end. 
Her strength of grip was very great. The wounded bird 
showed great courage, with crest erect, striking at every thing 
near her. | 


* Sel. et Salv. Ex. Orn. p. 177, pl. Ixxxix. 


from the Argentine Republic. 137 


26. BuBo VIRGINIANUS. 
This large bird is not uncommon. I shot two specimens 
and saw one or two others; and it was well known. 


27. OTUS BRACHYOTUS. 

I only got one specimen of the Short-eared Owl, and am 
not aware of having seen any others; but I do not fancy that 
it is rare. 

-F 28. Scors BRAsILIANUS. 
I shot one of this species, and saw no others; but it is of 


course an unlikely bird to be met with, not only from its being 
an Owl, but from its small size. 


29. PHOLEOPTYNX CUNICULARIA. 
This bird may be seen all over the campo. It seems always 
to frequent the biscacho holes in the Argentine Republic. 


30. ARDEA SIBILATRIX. 

This species is decidedly scarce. I only had a chance of 
getting two specimens, male and female, both of which I was 
fortunate enough to secure. 


+ 31. Buroripes cyanuRvs. 
I only procured one or two specimens of this bird, and be- 
lieve it to be scarce. 


32. PARRA JACANA. 

I shot this bird on a large swampy laguna some four leagues 
from where I was living, and it may be common in such places ; 
but I never met with it on the lagunas near home, which were 
much smaller. 


+ 33. ERIsMATURA DOMINICA. 

I got one specimen of this bird, and am not aware of having 
seen any others. The long stiff tail-feathers seemed to me pe- 
culiar. It is a very expert diver; and I watched it in a deep 
part of the river diving and remaining under water a long 
time on each occasion. 


The above notes only apply to the banks of the Gato, seven 
or eight leagues from Gualeguaycht ; and such birds as Ardea 
sibilatrix or Butorides cyanurus mav verv likely be commoner 

SER. UI.—VOL. II. L 


138 Capt. G. E. Shelley on six new 


along the larger rivers, the Gato being a good deal smaller 
than the river one crosses to get from it to the town. 

In addition to the three Woodpeckers I have mentioned, I 
also saw on two occasions another species, apparently rather 
smaller than Chrysoptilus cristatus, but marked with large 
vatches of black and white. I also noticed very large Storks 
with white breasts and black wings, a bluish grey Heron, a 
bird the natives call Jaca, about the size of a Turkey, with 
two sharp spurs on each wing ; and occasionally I think I saw 
in Cordova a small black Vulture, which I afterwards saw 
often in the Banda Oriental, and which the natives call 
“Cuervo.” Of course Caranchos, Chimangos, and Teroteros 
or Spur-winged Plover swarmed everywhere. The egg of the 
latter is very like that of the Pewit. 

Snipes I don’t think I ever saw in Cordova; but I shot two 
or three in Entre Rios, and my companion said he once had 
a decent morning’s shooting at them. The Widow bird and 
little “Sangre Pura” were very common about the Gato, and 
of course a great variety of other small birds ; but I only at- 
tempted to collect the Hawks, Owls, Woodpeckers, and King- 
fishers ; and I think I must have got nearly all there were to 
be found in that part. 


XVIII.—Descriptions of six new Species of West-African 
Birds. By Captain G. E. SHEttey. 

1. Scops IcTERORHYNCHUS, sp. nov. 

Above tawny-brown, finely pencilled with dark brown; a 
few of the feathers of the forehead are nearly white, with black 
shafts; those of the crown are palest towards their centres, 
especially the ones forming the ear-tufts; and all are trian- 
gularly barred with narrow wavy streaks of dark brown; the 
feathers of the face above the eyes are buff, their ends narrowly 
edged with dark brown; those in front of the eyes have a 
rather more rufous tinge; and those on the cheeks and ear- 
coverts are similar in colour to the crown, but of a looser tex- 
ture; the frill of feathers round the face, towards the chin, 
is buff, with black ends fading into brown at their extremities. 


Species of West-African Birds. 139 


The feathers of the back are partially barred with arrow- 
headed spots narrowly edged with dark brown. Tail tawny- 
brown, partially barred towards the centre of the feathers with 
a shade of paler brown, these bars imperfectly edged with 
black. Wings similar in colour to the back; a few feathers 
on the shoulders (smaller scapulars) have their outer webs 
buffy white, with two or three distinct black bars; and one 
or two of the middle scapulars are similarly marked ; the pri- 
maries have on their outer webs five or six broad creamy white 
bars, most perfect on the outer primaries; the imner web of 
the primaries and both webs of the secondaries are barred 
with blackish brown, the intermediate tawny bars fading into 
white towards the basal portion of the mner webs, more es- 
pecially of the secondaries. The lesser coverts are similar to 
the back, but a shade darker; the primary coverts are barred 
with brownish black and buffy white, and a few of the larger 
coverts have a broad white bar on their outer webs. The 
throat and under surface of the body are brownish buff, the 
feathers similarly marked to those of the back, with the white 
and dark brown more distinct on the chest. Tarsi buff nar- 
rowly barred with brown; claws yellow, shaded with black 
towards their tips. Beak yellow. 

Entire length 7:5, culmen 1:00; wing, carpus to tip, 5°25; 
tail 3°20, tarsus 0°85. 

Hab. Fantee: collected by Governor Ussher. 


2. DRryoDROMAS NIGRICEPS, Sp. nov. 


Entire upper part of the head, lores, cheeks, and ear-coverts 
black, washed with slaty grey. Back and lesser wing-coverts 
yellow ; upper tail-coverts slaty grey. Wings black, with a 
narrow grey edging to a portion of the greater primaries ; 
outer web of the scapulars and secondaries edged with yellow. 
Tail slaty black with obsolete bars, and all the feathers broadly 
tipped with white, which colour runs some way down the ex- 
terior web of the outer one. Chin, throat, and underparts 
white, washed with yellow on the sides of the breast and flanks. 
Beak black; tarsi and feet brownish flesh-colour. Irides 
hazel. 

LQ 


140 Capt. G. HE. Shelley on six new 


Entire length 3°4, culmen 0°45; wing, carpus to tip, 1°80; 
tail 1°55, tarsus 0°65. 

Hab. Abouri in Aguapim. 

The description is taken from a single specimen, which I 
shot on the 22nd of February 1872, in the thick foliage of a 
large tree ; it was active in its habits, which resemble those 
of the Willow Warbler. 


3. BRADYORNIS MODESTA, Sp. Nov. 

Entire upper parts uniform hair-brown. Wings and tail 
brown, with narrow pale edgings to the feathers; inner web 
of the quills partially edged with rufous buff. A patch m- 
front of the eyes nearly white; sides of the head and neck 
pale hair-brown. Underparts white shaded with hair-brown 
on the breast; flanks, thighs, and under tail-coverts shaded 
with more rufous brown; under wing-coverts and edges of 
the interior web of the quills rufous buff. Beak brown, paler 
towards the base of the lower mandible ; tarsiand feet brown ; 
irides brown. 

Entirel ength 6°2, culmen 0°55 ; wing, carpus to tip, 3°3; 
tail 3, tarsus 0.85. 

Hab. Abokobi. 

The description is taken from a single specimen shot by 
myself on the 26th of February 1872, in a clearing in the 
middle of thick underwood, where it was perched on a bare 
twig, like a common Flycatcher. | 


4. HyPHANTORNIS SUPERCILIOSUS, Sp. Nov. 

a. Breeding-plumage.—Centre of the forehead and crown 
black, the feathers towards the nape being edged with olive- 
yellow; a broad yellow eyebrow commences at the nostril, 
where it is shaded with umber-brown and extends behind the 
ear-coverts ; cheeks, portion of the ear-coverts, chin, and 
upper part of the throat black. Nape and back yellowish 
olive, with brown centres to the feathers, shading into hair- 
brown on the rump and upper tail-coverts. Wings and tail 
brown, the feathers narrowly edged with brownish buff. 
Under surface of the body golden-yellow, with a deeper shade 
towards the throat, and shading into brownish buff on the 


Species of West-African Birds. 141 


abdomen, thighs, and under tail-coverts ; outside of the thighs 
shaded with darker brown; under wing-coverts brownish 
buff. Beak black, shaded with horn-colour on the mandible ; 
tarsi, feet, and claws pale brown. 

Entire length 4°9, culmen 0°6; wing, carpus to tip 2°5 ; 
tail 1:8, tarsus 0°75. 

b. Winter plumage.—Cenutre of the forehead and crown black 
shading into brown on the nape; a broad brownish buff eyebrow 
commencing at the nostril, where it is shaded with rufous ; 
feathers in front of the eye, upper part of the ear-coverts, and 
a few feathers on the chin black. Back and upper tail-coverts 
brown, with pale edges to the feathers. Wings and tail dark 
brown, feathers narrowly edged with brownish buff. Under- 
parts brownish buff, fading almost into white on the centre 
of the abdomen and shaded with rufous on the throat, sides 
of the head, flanks, and thighs ; a few of the feathers tinged 
with yellow, showing the coming breeding-plumage ; under 
wing-coverts rufous-buff. Beak horn-colour ; lower mandible 
shaded with buff, and with a large buff patch towards the gape. 
Tarsi, feet, and claws flesh-brown. 

Specimen @ is probably in nearly full breeding-plumage, 
the brownish buff of the thighs and under tail-coverts being 
possibly the remains of the winter dress. This specimen is 
in Mr. R. B. Sharpe’s collection, and was given him by Mr. 
W. Wilson Saunders. 6 comes from Accra, where it was 
shot in the beginning of March 1872, and is now in my own 
collection. 


5. LAGONosTICTA POLIONOTA, Sp. NOV. 

Very nearly allied to L. rubricata of South Africa. 

Centre of the forehead, crown, and nape slate-colour faintly 
tinged with ruby-red; sides of the forehead and head ruby- 
red, the basal portion of the ear-coverts slaty grey. Back 
and wings slaty brown ; upper tail-coverts bright ruby-red ; 
tail black, the basal half of the outer webs of the feathers 
washed with ruby-red. Chin, throat, and underparts ruby- 
red, with the centre of the abdomen, thighs, and under tail- 
coverts black washed with slate-grey towards the chest ; a few 


14.2 On six new Species of West-African Birds. . 


white specks on the sides of the chest. Beak slaty grey ; tarsi, 
feet, and claws slaty brown, irides dark brown. 

Entire length 3°70, culmen 0°45 ; wing, carpus to tip, 2°00 ; 
tail 1°50, tarsus 0°50. 

An immature specimen has the nape, back, and wings washed 
with yellowish brown, no white specks on the sides of the 
chest ; lower parts of the chest and abdomen yellowish-brown 
sparingly mottled with ruby-red. 

The descriptions are taken from three specimens collected 
by myself at Cape-Coast Castle on the 6th of March. 

This species is nearly as abundant as L. rufopicta, which 
it resembles in its habits, bemg met with in small flocks at 
the edge of thick brushwood, and often feeding on the paths, 
especially the wider ones, or in the clearings. 


6. CALANDRELLA BUCKLEY], Sp. Nov. 


Forehead, crown, and back of the neck rufous brown, each 
feather with a central stripe of brownish black; back and 
scapulars dark brown, with paler edges to the feathers ; rump 
nearly uniform brown, shading into rufous on the upper tail- 
coverts, the two centre ones of which are elongated and have 
a brownish black stripe down their centres. The tail has the 
two centre feathers rufous, with a nearly black stripe down 
their centres, of varying thickness; outer feather and outer 
web of the next one rufous buff, the former having the inner 
web partially edged with brownish black ; remainder of the tail 
brownish black. Wings brown, the feathers edged with buff ; 
most of the wing-coverts shading into brownish black towards 
their extremities, which have a partial bar of rufous with a 
broad buffy white edging. Sides of the head mottled with 
dark brown, border of the ear-coverts uniform buff. Under- 
parts buff, palest on the chim, throat, and centre of the abdo- 
domen, and shaded with yellowish rufous on the front of 
the chest, flanks, and tail-coverts ; the feathers on the front 
of the chest have a more or less perfect brown spot at their 
ends. Beak brownish flesh-colour, shading into dark brown 
towards the culmen and end of the lower mandible ; tarsi, 
{eei, and claws flesh-colour ; irides brown. 


Notes on the Ornithology of Sardinia. 143 


Entire length 5.00, culmen 0°50; wing, carpus to tip, 2°80; 
tail 2:00, tarsus 0°85, hind toe 0°25. 

Hab. Accra. 

The description is taken from three specimens shot close to 
Accra by Mr. T. E. Buckley and myself. In this part of the 
country it is by no means uncommon. We always met with 
it singly or in pairs on the sandy plain, which is much inter- 
spersed with bushes; it was never observed to mount in the 
air, but flew rather in a Pipit-like manner for ashort distance 
when disturbed. <A fourth specimen, in Mr. Sharpe’s collec- 
tion, was killed at Accra in May. 


XIX.—WNotes on the Ornithology of Sardinia. 
By A. B. Brooxg, F.Z.S. 


Havine paid four visits to the Island of Sardinia, during 
which I devoted much attention to its ornithology, I am in 
hopes the following remarks, based almost entirely upon per- 
sonal observation, may prove of some interest. My visits, 
which extended over the greater part of the months March. 
April, May, June, November, and December, of the years 
1869, 1871, and 1872, were exclusively confined to the south- 
west corner of Sardinia, which contains an area of about one 
sixth of the whole island, and is isolated from the remaining 
portion by the large flat plain which runs in a north-westerly 
direction from Cagliari to Oristano, a distance of nearly 
seventy miles. This plain, which has an average breadth of 
from seven to ten miles, remaining, as it does, in a great 
degree uncultivated, owing to its excessive unhealthiness, forms 
a marked feature in the physical geography of the island, with 
which are connected, as can be easily imagined, many zoolo- 
gical facts of considerable interest. In the uncultivated parts 
it is covered with a dense undergrowth, four or five feet in 
height, composed principally of cistus, myrtle, privet, heather, 
and lentiscus. In this sea of cover are found the haunts of 
very many of the smaller Warblers, the harsh grating call- 
notes of Melizophilus sardus, Curruca melanocephala, and 
Sylvia conspicillata becoming in early summer mornings, if 


144. Mr. A. B. Brooke on the 


possible, tedious from their incessant repetition. It is also 
here that Otis tetrax, the only Bustard as yet discovered in 
Sardinia, finds a congenial home, its unrelaxing watchfulness 
and wildness rendering it a task of some difficulty to secure 
specimens in such a stronghold. In winter the plain is the 
favourite hunting-ground of many of the Raptores,—hares, 
rabbits, Partridges, and the dead or sickly individuals of large 
flocks of sheep and goats (which are fed there during that 
season) affording them constant food. To the north and south 
of the plain the mountains rise gradually, those on the north 
forming the high chain of the Geimargentu, those on the 
south the less elevated range of Monte Limas. The scenery 
of the latter range is wild and picturesque to an extreme, pos- 
sessing a character peculiar to itself. The lower slopes of the 
mountains are covered with forests of ilex, and cork trees of 
vast age and growth. These decrease in size as a higher ele- 
vation is attained, becoming dwarfed and stunted into mere 
pigmy shrubs, which frequently present the most eccentric 
shapes, their irregular arms being covered with long pendent 
moss. In some instances the summits of the mountains, which 
reach 4000 feet, are overgrown with forest continuous with 
that which clothes the valleys and slopes ; but more generally 
they are bare, rounded in form, and covered with grass and 
herbs, which possess a considerable aromatic fragrance. The 
valley of Monte Marno intersects the Monte Limas range, 
dividing it into two very nearly equal parts. Immediately to 
the north of this valley the mountains are broken up into 
thousands of jagged pinnacles, varying in height from 100 to 
500, or perhaps 1000 feet, which jut up bare and naked from 
the rich forests surrounding their bases. These form the last 
refuge of the Moufion in this range ; and I trust that for some 
years to come the species may, amongst these in many places 
impracticable fastnesses, defy extinction. In the lower forests 
are found very diminutive races of the Wild Boar and Red 
Deer, the same law which I shall have occasion to allude 
to as affecting the avifauna of the island having apparently 
laid its mark upon the larger mammalia with still clearer 
impress. 


Ornithology of Sardinia. 145 


Round Cagliari and Oristano lie numerous large brackish 
lagoons, of which Scaffa and Quarto, at Caghari, and 8S. Giusto, 
at Oristano, are the most important. These, in winter, are 
the haunts of large flocks of Flamingos and innumerable 
Ducks and Waders of different species. My time, however, 
was, I regret to say, too short to do justice to either of these 
most interesting localities. At Cagliari there is a good local 
museum containing a very fair collection of the’ birds of the 
island. It is, however, nearly useless, begin miserable dis- 
order, and only open for a few hours twice a week; and al- 
though I several times asked permission to remain a little 
longer, or to have the cases opened, I was never allowed to 
do so. 

In order to make these notes as easy of reference and as 
perfect as possible, I have in a large measure adopted the no- 
menclature of Professor Blasius in his ‘ List of the Birds of 
Europe,’ and have, where my own experience fails me, bor- 
rowed information from Count Salvadori’s excellent list of the 
birds of Sardinia, published in vol. vi. “degh Atti della So- 
cieta Italiana di Scienze Naturali,’ m 1864, and also from 
Signor Gaetano Cara’s older work, ‘ Ornithologia Sarda,’ pub- 
lished in 1842—the only other treatise connected with the 
subject with which I am acquainted being Cetti’s ancient 
work published at Sassari in 1766. 

My best thanks are due to Mr. R. B. Sharpe for the kind 
trouble he has taken in advising me with respect to many 
poimts which I have submitted to his consideration, and also 
to Signor Gaetano Cara, of Caghari, for the courteous kind- 
ness shown to me by him during my stay there. 


1. Gyps FULVUS. 


This Vulture is by no means uncommon, is resident, and - 
breeds in the island. Their appearance, however, in some 
localities is uncertain, many days passing without one being 
seen. In Sardinia they are far from bold, but are extremely 
shy and suspicious ; and I have frequently seen them refuse 
to be attracted by the most tempting pieces of meat, after 
having soared round once or twice, and failed to satisfy them- 


146 Mr. A. B. Brooke on the 


selves of the perfect safety of the locality. The greatest 
number I ever recollect having seen together was on one oc- 
casion near Oristano, when I counted about eighty soaring 
over a dead carcass. For a long time previously I had been 
watching them floating in from all quarters, at a great height, 
with marvellous rapidity. Both this and the following species 
seem to have a habit of resorting, night after night, to the 
same place to roost. One of these roosting-spots I visited. 
It was on the top of a bare tolerably isolated hill, between 
3000 and 4000 feet in height. The highest point was composed 
of a cluster of precipitous rocks, with a few old stunted ilices 
growing along their face. Both in the rocks and trees there 
were evident signs of large numbers of Vultures resorting 
to this place to roost; and the goatherd who accompanied 
me told me he had frequently seen as many as thirty or 
forty fly out whilst passing with his goats early in the 
morning. On that occasion I remained till after dark, but 
only one bird came; this, no doubt, was on account of my 
visit being during the breeding-season, when the old birds 
were busy attending on their young, and the cock bird was 
probably roosting in the vicinity of the nest. 


2. VULTUR MONACHUS. 


This species is, I think, the commonest Vulture in Sardinia, 
one or more of these magnificent birds being constantly in 
sight, floating round at various heights, often looking like a 
mere dot against the sky. A nest I found, as late as the Ist 
of June, was built high up in the mountains, on the very top 
of an old stunted ilex, forming a large shallow platform, about 
5 feet long by 4 broad. It was roughly composed of dried 
sticks of considerable size, and lined with alittle goat’s-hair ; 
most of the latter, however, was probably the remnants of the 
food brought to feed their young. Numerous leg-bones &c. 
lying about testified to the ample manner in which this had 
been effected. There was only one young bird in the nest, 
covered with a very dark brown down ; the primaries and tail- 
feathers, Just beginning to show, were nearly quite black ; its 
legs, which were very large in proportion to its body, were a 


Ornithology of Sardinia. 147 


dirty white faintly tinged with pale lemon-colour. There 
were two or three other nests close by, from which the young 
birds had flown, suggesting the idea that this species is in the 
habit of nesting in small parties. The nests can be easily 
seen from a long distance by ascending the mountains, as on 
looking down over the forests they appear like large flat plat- 
forms, always being placed on the very summits of the trees. 
The rapidity with which these birds can devour the remains 
of a dead sheep or bullock is extraordinary. On one occasion 
I had placed the skinned carcass of a moderate-sized sheep 
in an open vineyard surrounded by thick cover, in hopes of 
attracting some birds of prey. I had sat by it for several 
hours without any thing having perceived it, and, getting tired 
of waiting, moved away 200 or 300 yards. I had scarcely done 
so when a common Kite (Milvus ictinus), flying by, caught 
sight of the meat, and, after soaring round once or twice, lit ; 
he was hardly down when a Cinereous Vulture appeared at a 
great height, rapidly descending in circles, which became 
smaller and smaller as he neared the ground ; he was followed 
in quick succession by two Ravens, another Kite, another 
Cinereous Vulture, and an Eagle (Aguila bonellii, I think), 
which latter, however, did not light, but kept soaring round and 
round. In the mean time I stalked to the spot as quickly as 
possible, and managed to kill a Vulture, and then, to my sur- 
prise, on looking at the sheep, found literally nothing left but 
the clean-picked ribs, backbone, and head. I feel quite sure 
that I am over the mark when I say six or seven minutes was 
the outside limit of the time the Vultures were on the ground, 
and one bird not more than half that time. The one I shot 
was a fine old female, weighing 16} lbs.; the weight of a male 
I afterwards shot was only 15 lbs. ; the length of the female 
in the flesh was 41 inches, from carpal joint to end of wing 
30 inches. Vultures do not appear to begin to hunt very 
early in the morning, but wait until the sun is well up; and 
few are to be seen during the extreme heat of the day, which 
seems to show that they rest at that time. Their power of 
going without food must be very great, as it is improbable 
that a comparatively small island like Sardinia supplies enough 


148 Mr. A. B. Brooke on the 


dead carcasses to give each bird a meal every day. These birds 
hunt over an enormous extent of country; the pace with 
which they soar through the air, when going from one point 
to another, can only be realized from the inconceivable rapidity 
with which they pass out of sight on a clear day when flying 
at great heights. 


3. GYPAETUS BARBATUS. 

This noble bird is decidedly common, a pair being in pos- 
session of every separate range of hills, which they appear 
to regard as their own territory, and from which they are sel- 
dom to be found far distant. They are generally seen single or 
in pairs ; but now and then I have observed three, and on one 
occasion four, together. As a rule they are most decidedly 
mountain-birds ; but occasionally a simgle bird may be seen 
hunting over the plains and cultivated lands, not flying more 
than 100 yards high. The nest of one found on the 18th of 
April, was built on a broad ledge of a precipitous cliff about 
300 feet high, within 20 feet of the top, and was completely 
sheltered from the severity of the weather by a large over- 
hanging piece of rock. After some trouble I discovered 
a way by which, with a little care, I managed to get on to 
the ledge, much to the discomfort of the solitary inmate, 
a young nestling, covered as yet with a pale yellowish brown 
down (figured in ‘ Birds of Europe, Sharpe and Dresser, 
part 15). The nest itself was an accumulation of dried sticks 
with a cup-shaped hollow in the middle, and had evidently 
been used for years. In it, and on the surrounding ledge, 
were great quantities of the leg-bones and feet of goats Xc., 
and a part of a fox’s lower jaw; these being in all stages of 
putrefaction, the smell was abominable. The old female, on 
my first visit to the nest, sat extremely close, and, although I 
was standing over her within 7 or 8 yards, would not leave 
her young until I fired a shot, upon which she dashed off, 
dropping almost perpendicularly, and was out of range before 
I could fire. She flew over the valley and lit on a high pro- 
jecting rocky pinnacle, upon which I could see her through 
the telescope, sitting quietly watching all my proceedings. 


Ornithology of Sardinia. 149 


She returned to the nest shortly afterwards, on my having 
retired to a little distance. Wishing to secure a specimen, I 
managed to obtain a difficult but unsuccessful shot as she 
repeated the same manceuvre. The male bird was in sight 
when I first found the nest, but disappeared almost imme- 
diately, and did not return. 


4. AQUILA CHRYSAETUS 

is the commonest Eagle in the island. A nest found on 
the 21st of April was built on a grassy ledge of a small pre- 
cipice, and contained two eggs. One was addled; but the 
other was just beginning to chip; so I took it home and had it 
hatched under a hen; but unfortunately the young bird died 
in less than a week, from having been overfed during my 
absence. The weight of the old female, which I shot, was 
11 lb. 90z.; her crop was full of mutton in a high state of 
decomposition. 


5. AQUILA BONELLII. 

Common. I have seen these birds repeatedly hunting over 
the plain and round the “ stagnos” of Oristano. They are also 
abundant in the mountains. 


6. HALIAETUS ALBICILLA. 

I never met with this bird myself; but it is mentioned in 
both Cara’s and Salvadori’s catalogues, the latter having seen 
one near Caghiari. I found what I took to be a nest of this 
species on the island of Vacca, off the S.W. corner of Sardinia ; 
it was very large, and built on the point of a precipice imme- 
diately overhanging the sea. This was on the Sth of May; 
and the young birds had flown. 


7. PANDION HALIAETUS 
is stated not to be uncommon along the sea-shore. I saw 
none during the winter. The nest above mentioned might 
have belonged to this species. 


8. CIRCAETUS GALLICUS. 

These birds seem to be rare on the island, only visiting it 
during their migration ; and I cannot find any mention of their 
having been discovered breeding. I saw one on the 8th of 


150 Mr. A. B. Brooke on the 


April near Villacidro, flapping slowly and heavily over the 
ground, not more than 100 yards off; and afterwards I saw 
two more in the vicinity of St. Antioco, but never met with 
it elsewhere. This Eagle is generally one of the first summer 
migrants to appear at Genoa; and some years they pass over 
this place in very considerable numbers, arriving as early as 


the end of March. 


9. BurEo Lacorpvus. 

There is one specimen of this bird, stuffed, in the museum 
at Caghari, which Cara mentions as having been killed near 
Iglesias in the winter of 1834. 


10. Burro vuLearis. 

Very common, breeding in the large forests. I was greatly 
struck with the small size of all the Sardinian Buzzards I 
saw, both alive and dead, compared with continental ones. 
The measurements of a male taken in the flesh, killed on the 
8th of March, were as follows :—Length 18:5, wing 13:7, 
tarsus 3°3, culmen 1:1. Their chief food in Sardinia consists 
of lizards, beetles, &c., occasionally varied with young rab- 
bits. Once I remember seeing one of these birds hovermg 
for a considerable time, head to wind, like a common Kestrel. 


11. Mitvvus ictinvs. 

Very common. A pair in the habit of regularly hunting 
round Villacidro were the terror of all the old fowl-women 
in the town, and, in spite of every precaution, frequently proved 
too quick for them, and carried off chickens from before their 
very door. 


12. Mitvus mMIeGRANS. 

There is one specimen, stuffed, in the museum at Cagliari, 
which I was assured positively by Signor Cara had been killed 
in the island. I myself, however, neither procured nor saw 
this bird in a state of nature. 


13. FaLco PEREGRINUS. 

Very common, breeding in the inland cliffs and along the 
sea-coast, in both of which localities I have seen their nests. 
These birds struck me as being very much smaller than con- 
tinental ones. 


_ Ornithology of Sardinia. 151 


Since writing the above, my friend, Mr. R. B. Sharpe, has 
communicated to me his opinion that the specimens procured 
by me in Sardinia are distinct from the Peregrine Falcon of 
continental Europe, and has done me the honour to name 
the species after me (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. January 1873, 
p- 21). 


14. Fanco SaKER. 

There is an immature Falcon in the museum at Cagliari, 
which Salvadori, in a note at the end of his list, refers to this 
species. It was killed on the banks of the “‘stagno” of St. Gilla 
in February 1842; and Cara mentions having received two 
other specimens. I was not able to satisfy myself with respect 
to this bird, owing to the careful manner (before mentioned) 
in which all the cases in the museum were kept locked, and 
the specimens stowed one behind the other in imextricable 
confusion. 


15. Fatco BARBARUS. 

I shot a pair of these Falcons on the island of Vacca, on 
the 5th of May 1871. They were immature birds, male and 
female, and had a peculiar worn and faded look, caused, I 
think, by bad health, as on opening them I found a number 
of some species of entozoon in their stomachs, which I see was 
also the case with two Barbary Falcons shot by Mr. Salvin 
in the Atlas Mountains (Ibis, 1859, p. 184). At the time I 
took them for a pair of young unhealthy Peregrines, but 
afterwards, bemg puzzled by them, showed them, amongst 
others, to Messrs. J. H. Gurney, Gould, &c., who agreed in 
considering them the true F. barbarus. 

The measurements of my birds do not agree entirely with 
those given by Mr. Salvin, the female being 154 inches in 
length, and the male 15, whereas his birds measured respec- 
tively 13} and 13 inches. In length of wings they agree 
with Mr. Salvin’s bird, the Sardinian specimens thus ap- 
pearing much shorter-winged birds in proportion to their 
length*. 


* [The difference is more apparent than real, the total lengths in onr 
specimens having been taken from the skins.—Hb. ] 


152 Mr. A. B. Brooke on the | 


16. Fatco ELEONOR&. 

“Toro” and “ Vacca,” two barren uninhabited twin rocks, 
rising precipitously out of the sea, off the S.W. corner of Sar- 
dinia, form perhaps the principal headquarters of these beau- 
tiful Falcons in the Mediterranean. Vacca (which I visited) 
hes eight miles from the Sardinian coast, and two miles 
south of the small thinly inhabited island of “St. Antioco.” 
Its length is about a quarter of a mile, its breadth not quite 
somuch. “Toro” is, I believe, rather the larger island of 
the two, and is situated seven or eight miles further south. 
Owing to the extreme difficulty of landing, except in the 
calmest weather, these islands are seldom visited, and then 
only by fishermen, who occasionally land to dry their nets. 

The precipitous cliffs of ‘‘ Vacca,” especially those on the 
east side of the rock, are the favourite haunts of the 
Eleonora Falcon; and here they pass the entire year and 
breed. It was early in May when I explored these cliffs ; and 
although this Falcon is not supposed to breed until much later 
in the year, yet I feel almost certain that they were nesting 
at the time of my visit. If this be not so, I do not know 
how to account for the large number of birds (about twenty 
or twenty-five pairs) that I found continually on the rock 
during the day-time persistently returning and flying into 
the same holes, and that after having been fired at, and 
wounded, as was the case with several individuals. The man- 
ner also in which they flew im circles, screaming over my head, 
exhibited a similar annoyance to that displayed by Peregrines 
when thew nest is disturbed. I also fancied several times 
that I heard the young birds squealing in their nests. I tried 
unsuccessfully to make this certain by reaching the breed- 
ing-holes, but found that it was absolutely impossible without 
the ropes and tackle necessary for such an undertaking. 
On the top of the cliffs I found numerous chosen places where 
the Falcons picked their prey previously to carrying it to 
their young. The remnants consisted solely of the remains of 
Insessores, which must have been obtained on the opposite 
shores of Sardinia, as the only species observed by me on 
Vacca was the common Wheatear (S. wenanthe), of which I 


Ornithology of Sardinia. 153 


saw a solitary pair. The stomachs of all the Eleonora Falcons 
examined by me (four in number) also contained the remains 
of small birds. Two old males that I obtained were in their 
beautiful adult dark slaty-blue plumage. A third, a young 
male, probably of the previous year, differed from adult fe- 
males in the much darker colour of its breast, and also in the 
colour of its feet, which were of a decided orange-yellow, in- 
stead of the pale yellow faintly tinged with green character- 
istic of the old female bird. The wings of the four specimens, 
as they lay before me in the flesh, reached almost exactly 
level with the end of their tails, not extending beyond. 


17. Fauco suBBUTEO. 

I only once saw this bird, in April, hawking high in the 
air for flies &c. over a nearly dried-up river-course. I think 
it is merely a bird of passage. 


18. Fatco vESPERTINUS. 
Passes annually in spring. 


19. Fatco msaLon. 
A winter visitor, during which season it is not uncommon. 


20. Fauco cencHRIs. 

I found a pair of these birds breeding in the high rocks 
behind Villacidro in company with great numbers of the com- 
mon Kestrel during the month of May. ‘They are not com- , 
mon, and this is the only occasion on which I observed them. 
They are very easily distinguished from F. tinnunculus by 
their cry, which is quite different, bemg much shorter, con- 
sisting of only three notes. Inthe stomach of a male I found 
the remains of a lizard and several grasshoppers. 

Canon Tristram informs me he observed a few pairs breeding 
on the south-east coast im 1856. 


21. Faco TINNUNCULUS. 

Extremely common all the year round. Their principal food 
during the summer is locusts ; and I have watched them flying 
into their nests, eight and ten at a time, each bird holding 
a locust in its claws. The amount of good they must do in 
thus helping to lessen one of the greatest curses of the island 

SER. I1J.— VOL. III. M 


154, Mr. A. B. Brooke on the 


is incalculable. They are also very fond of lizards; and the 
crop of one which I killed in March was crammed with their 
remains, both large and small. 


22. ASTUR PALUMBARIUS. 

Very common. One day, when stalking Moufflon, I came 
suddenly upon an old female in a wild rocky gorge, engaged 
picking a Woodpigeon she had just killed ; instead of leaving 
it, as I expected, she gave one look of defiance over her 
shoulder, seized it in her claws, and dashed off down the 
mountain, gliding and steering her way through the thick 
forest in the most marvellous manner. Another, a young 
male, which I shot, was on the point of taking a three-quarter- 
grown rabbit. This bird had the remains of a Short-toed Lark 
(Calandrella brachydactyla) in his stomach. Two males weighed 
respectively 1 lb. 6 0z. and 1lb. 40z. I mention these ap- 
parently insignificant details, as I believe that all facts tending 
to show that permanent differentiation of form that has been 
effected by isolation consequent upon an island life (even 
though that differentiation consists in many instances in a 
large change as to size accompanied by but slight changes of 
coloration) may lead, if carefully recorded and followed out, 
to fresh light bemg thrown upon some questions of the 
highest zoological interest. 


23. ACCIPITER NISUS. 
Not very common, and I have only observed them during 
the winter. 


24. CIRCUS ZRUGINOSUS. 

Very common about the plain; and round the neighbour- 
hood of Oristano these Harriers swarm. A nest I found in 
the end of April was built in the middle of a reedy marshy 
lake, placed halfway up the stems of the reeds, just clear of 
the water; the bottom was formed of rough coarse sticks, 
and the interior of dried. matted rushes, in some cases with 
their roots attached, the egg lying carelessly in the middle. 
Out of all the numbers that passed under my notice, I never 
observed any, excepting in the dark brown plumage with the 


Ornithology of Sardinia. 155 


yellow head, a few showing buff markings, more or less, on 
the scapulars &c. 


25. Circus CYANEUS. 

During the winter Hen-Harriers are tolerably common 
about the plains and “ stagnos ;” but I never remember seeing 
them in the summer, and I think few, if any, remain at that 
season. 


26. Circus CINERACEUS. 
There are two specimens in the museum at Cagliari, an 
adult and an immature bird. 


27. CARINE NOCTUA. 

Common all the year round. The Little Owl seems to in- 
habit mountains and plain alike, on the former frequenting 
the rocks, on the latter the old stunted ilex, cork trees, &e. 


28. Scops @1v. 

A few remain all the year round; but their numbers are 
considerably increased during the summer. I have seen spe- 
cimens killed near Oristano early in March. They are very 
common in the oak forests in the mountains; and their mo- 
notonous cry is to be heard on a still night from all quarters. 
A pair took up their abode in the old deserted bishop’s palace 
at Villacidro, and used to issue forth every evening at dusk, 
from which time their note could be heard uninterruptedly 
all the night through. 


29. AsIo OTUS. 

Not common. There are two specimens in the museum at 
Cagliari. 

30. ASIO ACCIPITRINUS. 

There are several specimens in the museum. Salvadori 
found them not uncommon in January in the salt-works near 
Cagliari. 

31. ALUCO FLAMMEUS. 

Common all the year round. 

[To be continued. ] 


M 2 


156 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the 


XX.—On the Genus Platystira andits Allies. By R. BowpLer 
Suarpg, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c., Senior Assistant, Zoological 
Department, British Museum. 


(Plate IV.) 


By all students of African ornithology the genus Platystira is 
admitted to be full of perplexities ; and any attempt at a mono- 
graphic revision of it must be a step in the right direction. I 
have taken some pains to examine large series of these birds, 
contained principally in the national and my own collections ; 
and by rejecting all statements which seem to be at all open to 
doubt, I trust that I shall be able to place the genus on a satis- 
factory footing, and so assist future research. Any record re- 
jected by me as untrustworthy at the present time will easily 
be reinstated afterwards, if found to be correct; or, on the other 
hand, my verdict will be confirmed by subsequent observation. 

The late Mr. G. R. Gray, in his ‘ Hand-list ’ (vol. 1. p. 329), 
admitted thirteen species which he considered to belong to 
Platystira, placmg them under the subgenera Platystira, 
Batis, Diaphorophya, Myiophila, Lanioturdus, and Stenostira. 
I have never seen the type of Myiophila; but it can scarcely 
be separable from Diaphorophya, and is, I suspect, the same as 
D. blissetti. The last two species placed by Mr. Gray in Pla- 
tystira, viz. no. 4951, P. plumbea, and no. 4952, P. semipar- 
tita, I can hardly allow within the limits of the genera now 
to be considered. No. 4951 is a Parisoma; and no. 4952 is 
not a Stenostira, but may be referable to Cassinia, where Dr. 
von Heuglin places it. The consideration of these two genera 
I must leave for a general paper on the African Muscicapide. 


Key to the Genera. 


a. Wing less than double the length of tail. 
a’, Eye surrounded by an erect wattle ........ 1. Platystira. 
b'. No eye-wattle. 
a''. Wing short, falling short of the tail by 
more than the length of the culmen; beak 
nL L(t REO Gioia aon Ao ator 2. Batis. 
b", Wing very long, reaching to the tip of 
the tail, or not falling short of it by the 


Genus Platystira and its Allies. 157 


length of the culmen; beak rather com- 

PYESSE Cpe ete vic erst sio/ ct wre ergiteheebatsialgta apets.« 3. Lanioturdus. 
6. Wing more than double the length of tail ...... 4, Diaphorophya. 
cea Darlee ual foi winp chee. «5 2 « 20s on operiniens eaten 5. Stenostira. 


Genus 1. PLAatystTrIRa. 


Platysteira (lege Platystira), Jard. & Selby, Il. Orn. iv 
Addenda (c. 1830) : type P. cyanea. 


Key to the Species. 


a. Vertical line of white down the wing. 


a’. Forehead black, like the crown .......++. 1. cyanea. 
BrpLOrenene WHE: <1: veils sissies cldaisieligern « €u%e 2. albifrons. 
Gaonwhiterat all: on Wing :. 4... 5 sinless see ones 3. peltata. 


1. PiarysTIRA CYANEA. 

Gobe-mouche a collier du Sénégal, Briss. Orn. 11. p. 370, 
Plaxxvin. fie)? (1770). 

Gobe-mouche a gorge rousse du Sénégal, Buff. Pl. Ent. v. 
pl. 567. fig. 3, 9 (1778). 

Muscicapa cyanea, P. L. 8. Miller, Syst. Nat. Suppl. p.170 
(1766) ; Cassin, Proc. Phil. Acad. 1864, P- 256. 

Collared Flycatcher, Lath. Gen. Syn. i. pt. 1, p. 330, 2 
(1783). 

Muscicapa melanoptera, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 939 (1788). 

Platyrhynchus collaris, Hahn u. Kist. Vog. aus Asien, &c. 
* Lief. xx. Taf. 1 (1822) ; Bonn. et Vieill. Enc. Méth. ii. p. 836, 

2 (1823) ; Jard. & Selby, Il. Orn. i. pl. ix. fig. 1, g (1880). 

Platyrhynchus melanoleucus, Boun. et Vieill. Enc. Méth. 
i. p. 835, ¢ (1823). 

Platyrhynchus desmaresti, Jard. & Selb. Ill. Orn. 1. pl. ix. 
fig. 2, 9 (c. 1830). 

Platysteira collaris et desmaresti, Jard. & Selby, Il. Orn. 
ui. Addenda (c. 1830). 

Platystera lobata, Swains. B. of W. Afr. 11. p. 49 (1837) ; 
id. Monogr. Flyc. p. 187, pl. xxii. 9 (1837); Jard. Contr. 
Orn. 1849, p. 8. 

Platystira melanoptera, Hartl. Orn. W. Afr. pp. 93, 272 
(1857) ; Cass. Pr. Philad. Acad. 1859, p. 50; Hartl. J. f. O. 


158 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the 


1861, p. 169; Finsch, J. f. O. 1869, p. 335; Sharpe, Ibis, 
1869, p. 189; id. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 567; Shelley & Buckley, 
This, 1872, p. 287. 

Platysteira cyanea, Gray, Hand-l. of. B.i. p. 329; Sharpe, 
Cat. Afr. B. p. 44 (1871) ; id. P. Z. 8S. 1871, p. 610. 

Adult male. Upper surface deep glossy blue-black, with a 
very slight greenish shade, inclining to grey on the rump, 
where the feathers are long and fluffy ; the nape indistinctly 
mottled with whitish, only seen on disarranging the feathers ; 
wing-coverts glossy black like the back, the median ones white, 
forming a distinct bar across the wing; quills greyish black, 
the primaries outwardly margined with a narrow whitish line, 
broader and more conspicuous on the outer secondaries, 
whence it is continuous with the alar bar described above, 
the inner secondaries glossed with dark green, one or two of 
the longer ones just tipped with whitish ; upper tail-coverts 
and tail-feathers glossed with dark rifle-green above, blackish 
below, all the feathers tipped with white, becoming broader 
on the outer rectrices, and forming a conspicuous lateral bor- 
der on the outermost ones; sides of the face like the upper 
surface of the body; cheeks and entire under surface of the 
body pure white, with a conspicuous band of blue-black across 
the breast, the flank-feathers long and silky; tibial plumes 
black, tipped with white; under wing-coverts as well as the 
bases of the primaries white, the small outer coverts glossy 
blue-black, with a little spot of white below the carpal bend” 
of the wing ; bill black; feet (in skin) blackish ; wattle over 
the eye semicircular in form and bright scarlet in life. Total 
length 4:8 inches, culmen 0°7, wing 2°5, tail 2:0, tarsus 0°75. 

Adult female. Above dusky cinereous, witha slight gloss of 
greenish, the rump lighter; quills and tail as in the male, the 
white edgings very broad and conspicuous ; chin white; throat 
and breast deep maroon, bordered below with a narrow band 
of glossy black ; rest of the under surface white ; under wing- 
coverts white, and the wing-lining a little hghter than in the 
male ; eye-wattle a little paler than in the male. 

Young male. Resembles the old female in the colour of the 
upper parts and in having more or less maroon on the throat. 


Genus Platystira and its Allies. 159 


As this gradually disappears the black pectoral band makes 
its appearance; thus specimens are met with in every change 
of plumage, as regards the amount of rufous on the throat. 
Immature birds, however, may always be told by the fulvous 
edgings to the wings and wing-coverts; the underparts are 
dusky white, the flanks conspicuously greyish. 

One specimen now before me seems to indicate that the 
very young birds of this species must have a mottled plumage, 
as the upper surface has remains of rusty cross-barrings, while 
the under surface is entirely whitish, with tinges of rufous on 
the upper breast. 

Hab. West Africa, from Senegambia to Gaboon. 

This is one of the commonest and best-known species of 
the genus ; but it was some time before the sexes were properly 
understood. It is also one of the oldest known; for it is de- 
scribed and figured by Brisson, and again by Buffon. ‘The 
latter, I suspect, has made up and coloured his figure from 
the old plate and figure of Brisson; for it is to be noticed that 
they both omit the white chin, which is rather conspicuous in 
the female. 

Specimens examined. 


Mus. Brit.—a, b, c. West Africa, purchased. d. West 
Africa (Sir Andrew Smith). e. Fantee (J. Gould). 

Mus. R. B. S.—a-g. River Gambia,.purchased. h. River 
Gambia (HE. L. Layard). 7. Sierra Leone (L. Fraser). j. 
Accra (Sintenis; cf. Finsch, l.c.). k,l. Fantee (Audinn). 
m, n. Sweet River, Gold Coast, Dec. 30, 1870, and Connor’s 
Hill, Cape Coast, Nov. 12, 1870 (H. T. Ussher). o. Yan- 
coomassie, Gold Coast, Dec. 1871 (H. F. Blissett). p,q. Cape 
Coast and Elmina, May 1872 (H. F. Blissett). 7, s. Cam- 
eroons (A. Crossley, cf. Sharpe, /. c.). 


2. PLATYSTIRA ALBIFRONS, Sp. 1. 

Platysteira melanoptera, Sharpe, P. Z.S. 1869, p. 566 (nec 
Gm.). 

Similar to P. cyanea, but a little more glossy blue-black, 
and distinguished by its white forehead. Total length 4°8 
inches, culmen 0°6, wing 2°35, tail 2:0, tarsus 0°75. 

Hab. Angola. 


160. Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the 


Specimens examined. 


Mus. J. J. Monteiro.—a. Angola (J. J. M.). 6. River 
Loge, Angola (J. J. M.; cf. Sharpe, /.c.). 


3. PLATYSTIRA PELTATA. 

Platystira peltata, Sundev. Ofy. Vet. Akad. Férh. 1850, 
p- 105; Layard, B.S. Afr. p. 142; Gray, Hand-l. of B. i. 
p. 829 (1869). 

Adult male. Above rifle-green, the lower back and rump 
rather more greyish ; wing-coverts rifle-green like the back ; 
quills blackish, primaries margined with grey, the secondaries 
with rifle-green; tail black, glossed with greenish above, 
just tipped with white; sides of face and pectoral band rifle- 
green; rest of under surface white, the flanks shaded with 
greyish; axillary tuft rifle-green ; under wing-coverts white, 
the edge of the wing rifle-green ; eye-wattle scarlet ; bill black ; 
feet brown; iris yellow. Total length 4-9 inches, culmen 0°6, 
wing 2°55, tail 2°2, tarsus 0°8. 

Adult female. Similar to the male, but more grey on the 
back ; the entire throat and upper breast dark rifle-green, the 
chin and a spot on the fore part of the cheeks white. 

Hab. Lower Caffraria (Wahlberg) ; Zambesi (Kirk). 

This is a very distinct species of Platystira, taking the 
place of P. cyanea in South-eastern Africa. The male ap- 
proaches somewhat to that of P. cyanea, but may always be 
distinguished by the absence of white on the wing; the female, 
however, differs at a glance in having the throat and upper 
breast rifle-green instead of chestnut. 


Specimens examined. 
Mus. Brit.—a, 6, 8 2. Zambesi (Dr. Kirk). 


Genus 2. Batts. 
Batis, Boie, Isis, 1833, p. 880: type B. capensis. 


Key to the Species. 
Males :— 


@: sPlanks ruroias Gs <.f'isaicovateretatoe ovens Meta nein stat , 1. capensis. 
6, Flanks white mixed with black. 
a’. With a white nuchal spot. 


Genus Platystira and its Alles. 161 


a", With a broad white eyebrow encircling 


the head. 
ay Head black. 2c ..u's. stews 2. senegalensis. 
6 7tlead, bluish Prey =. . «tetera sete iar 3. ortentalis. 

6". With a little white line from base of bill 4, molitor. 

to above the eye, not encircling the head.. (5. pririt. 
b’. With no white nuchal spot ................ 6. minima. 

Females :— 

AMEN TUT LEO MIS Sarees fa fia alsg = Sth =! wi Voi 9) w Serre enna 1. capensis. 


b. Flanks white varied with black. 
a', With a white nuchal spot. 
a", Throat white, with no spot; chest rufous. 


Gy DoLOH DIACK (o's 60 adress nis. ccepevgres 2. senegalensis. 
Giron Plead OMS NV ATC YE... sd oe so terns ara 3. orventalis. 
6". Throat rufous in the centr e, forming a spot: 
HOS TUM OUSI ge vs ache shen rete eds ceed Sins 4, molitor. 
ec", Throat and breast uniform orange-rufous 5. pririt. 
®. With no white nuchal spot .............+. 6. minima. 


1. Batis cAPENSIS. 

Le Gobe-mouche du Cap de Bonne Espérance, Briss. Orn. 
i. p. 372, pl. xxxvi. fig. 3 (1760); Buff. Pl. Enl. v. pl. 572. 
fig ST (1778); 

Muscicapa capensis, Linn, 8. N. i. p. 327 (1766, ex Briss.). 

Le Mélenar, Levaill. Ois. d’Afr. iv. pl. 160 (1805). 

Muscicapa pristinaria, Vieill. N. Dict. d@ Hist. Nat. xxi. 
p. 474 (1818, ex Levaill.). 

Saxicola thoracica, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 32 (1828). 

Muscipeta pristinaria, Less. Traité d’Orn. p. 385 (1881) ; 
Boie, Isis, 1833, p. 880. 

Platysteira pristinaria, Gray, Gen. of B. i. p. 256 (1846) ; 
Bp. Consp. i. p. 822 (1850) ; Layard, B.S. Afr. p. 143 (1867). 

Platysteira capensis, Gray, Gen. of B. 1. p. 257 (1846) ; Bp. 
Consp. i. p. 3822 (1850) ; Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 59 (1850) ; 
Grill, Zool. Anteckn. p. 26 (1858) ; Gray, Hand-l. B.i. p. 829 
(1869) ; Finsch & Hartl. Vog. Ostafr. p. 316 (1870) ; Sharpe, 
Cat. Afr. B. p. 44 (1871). 

Platystira thoracica, Licht. Nomencl. p. 20 (1854). 

Platystira strepitans, Licht. ut supra. 

Adult male. Entire head deep ashy grey, with a black line 
drawn from the forehead on each side, enclosing the eye and 


162 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the 


ear-coverts, and extending down on each side of the neck so 
as to form a border to the grey head; the rest of the back 
olive-brown, the rump irregularly mottled with white, which 
shows more conspicuously on the disarrangement of the fea- 
thers ; upper tail-coverts glossy greenish black, with a white 
tip ; least wing-coverts olive-brown like the back, the greater 
ones darker, the medium and the inner greater coverts bright 
orange-rufous ; quills dark brown, the ner secondaries tipped 
with white, the outer secondaries broadly edged with orange- 
rufous, continuous with the coverts, which are similarly 
coloured ; tail black, with a very slight greenish gloss, the 
feathers more or less broadly tipped with white, the outer 
feathers margined externally with a broad white line; entire 
throat and sides of neck pure white ; fore part of chest black, 
forming a very broad pectoral band, slightly tmged on the 
sides with olive-brown, some of the lower feathers shghtly 
margined with white ; centre of belly and under tail-coverts 
white; sides of body bright orange-rufous; tibial plumes 
blackish; under wing-coverts white, the outermost small 
coverts brown; bill and feet black; iris yellow. Total length 

3°9 inches, culmen 0°5, wing 2°2, tail 1°65, tarsus 0°65. 

Adult female. Forehead and eyebrow whitish, but otherwise 
very similar to the male on the upper parts. Underneath 
white, with a patch of orange-rufous occupying nearly the 
whole of the throat; upper part of breast and sides of body 
rich orange-rufous; deepening into rust-colour on the pec- 
toral band. 

Young female. Entirely olive-brown above, and having the 
rufous on the under surface much paler. In one specimen 
in my collection the bird is assuming the grey head, and the _ 
pectoral band is becoming deep rusty as in the adult. 

Hab. Cape Colony and Natal. 

Both sexes of this species are easily recognizable by their 
rufous flanks. 

_ Specimens examined. 

Mus. Brit.—a, 6. Cape of Good Hope. c. Cape Colony 
(S. Afr. Mus.). d. Cape Colony (Rev. H. J. Philipps). e. 
Cape Colony (Reginald Warren). f. Natal (7. Ayres). 


Genus Platystira and its Allies. 163 


Mus. R. B. S.—a, b, 3 2.8. Africa (EH. L. Layard). c,d,3d, 
e, 2. Knysna, Dec. 19, 1865, and Jan. 31st, 1866 (C. J. An- 
dersson). f,3. Swellendam (Cairncross). g,2. Grahams 
Town (E. L. Layard). h,i,d 2. Grahams Town, Jan. 1870 
(T. C. Atmore). 


2. Batis SENEGALENSIS, 


Le Gobe-mouche a poitrine rousse du Sénégal, Briss. Orn. i. 
p. 374, pl. xxxvui. fig. 2 (1760) ; Buff. Pl. Enl. v. pl. 567. fig. 1 
G73s) = 92 

Le Gobe-mouche a poitrine noire du Sénégal, Briss. Orn. ii. 
p. 375, pl. xxxviu. fig. 3 (1760); Buff. Pl. Enl. v. pl. 567. 
fig. 2 (1788) = 3. 

Muscicapa senegalensis, Linn. 8. N. i. p. 827 (1766, ex 
Briss. 3, 2). 

Le Gobe-mouche a bandeau blanc du Sénégal, Buff. Hist. 
Nat. Ois. p. 528, 6 9 (1788). 

Senegal Flycatcher, cum var. A., Lath. Gen. Syn. ii. pt. 1, 
pp. 328, 329 (1788). 

Platyrhynchos velatus, Bonn. et Vieill. Enc. Méth. 11. p. 835 
(1828). 

Muscylvia senegalensis, Less. Compl. Buff. viii. p. 386 (1837). 

Platystira succincta, Licht. Nomencel. p. 20 (1854). 

Platystira senegalensis, Hartl. Orn. W. Afr. p. 93 (1857) ; 
Gray, Hand-l. i. p. 329 (1869) ; Heugl. Orn. N. O. Afr. i. 
p- 447 (1870) ; Finsch & Hartl. Vog. Ostafr. p. 317 (1870) ; 
Sharpe, Ibis, 1870, p. 480; id. Cat. Afr. B. p. 48 (1871). 

Adult male. Crown of the head and nape dusky greyish 
black ; forehead and eyebrow white, produced backwards so as 
to form a border to the crown, and joining on the nape, form- 
ing a conspicuous white nuchal spot; lores and sides of the 
face, including the eye and the ear-coverts, glossy black, ex- 
tending down each side of the neck to the limits of the white 
nuchal patch ; back greyish, with the slightest tinge of ashy 
brown on the interscapular region, the white bases to the 
scapulars and rump showing through and producing a slightly 
mottled appearance ; upper tail-coverts glossy black; wing- 
coverts black, the median and inner greater ones broadly tipped 


164 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the 


with white, so as to form a conspicuous alar bar; quills brown, 
the secondaries darker and more inclining to blackish, the 
outer ones bordered with white, forming a narrow white line 
continuous with the alar bar above mentioned; tail-feathers 
black, obsoletely tipped with white, the two outermost feathers 
broadly bordered and tipped with white; under surface of 
body white, with a broad pectoral band of glossy blue-black 
feathers, the flanks also mottled with black; under wing- 
coverts black, the lower ones and the inner lining of the quills 
white ; bill and feet black. ‘Total length 3:8 inches, culmen 
0:5, wing 2°2, tail 1:6, tarsus 0°65. 

Adult female. Differs from the male chiefly in having the 
pectoral band deep chestnut instead of black; a slight tinge 
of rusty colour is also apparent below the nuchal spot. 

Young. Immature birds generally have the wing-coverts 
tinged with rusty. Young males at first resemble the old 
female, and afterwards gradually assume the black band on 
the breast. A specimen from Casamanze in my collection 
resembles the adult male except in haying the back clear 
brownish grey, with a decided fulvous tinge on the intersca- 
pulary region. Another bird, still younger, in the museum 
is olive-brown above, darker on the head, where it is begin- 
ning to get black; all the black parts of the plumage are 
much tinged with brown, and the white markings obscured 
by a wash of pale rusty fulvous; the outer tail-feather is ob- 
liquely white towards the tip. 

Hab. W. Africa, Senegambia to the Gold Coast; N. E. 
. Africa, Sennaar (Mus. Brit.). 

Buffon, in the ‘ Planches Enluminées,’ seems to have bor- 
rowed his figures from those of Brisson, and to have copied that 
of the female so badly as to render it almost unrecognizable. 

My list of synonyms is very meagre compared with the long 
array usually credited to this species ; but I believe that they 
are at least trustworthy. The so recent recognition of two 
species in North-eastern Africa precludes me from drawing 
up a proper account of their geographical range in that part 
of the continent; but my impression is, that the true B. 
senegalensis is a more southern bird; for I have seen many 


Genus Platystira and its Allies. 165 


specimens from Bogos Land, all referable to B. orientalis, 
while the British Museum contains a pair from Sennaar, pur- 
chased of Herr Parreyss. These are the true B. senegalensis ; 
and it is probable that the bird obtained by Captain Speke in 
the Somali country (cf. Ibis, 1860, p. 247) was also of this 
species. On the west coast it ranges from Senegambia to the 
eastern parts of the Gold Coast. 


Specimens examined. 

Mus. Brit.—a. River Gambia (Rendall). b,c. W. Africa 
(L. Fraser). d, e. Sennaar. 

Mus. R. B. S.—a, 3. Casamanze (Verreaux). 6. Accra (J. 
Smith, e don. G. E. Shelley). c, 3. River Volta (A. T. 
Ussher). 

Mus. G. E. Shelley.—a, 2 imm. Abouri (G. E. S.). 


3. Batis oRIENTALIS. 

Platystira pririt, Blanf. Geol. & Zool. Abyss. p. 345 (1870) ; 
Finsch, Tr. Z. 8. vii. p. 247 (1870). 

Platystira affinis, Finsch, Tr, Z. 8. vu. p. 815 (1870). 

Platystira orientalis, Heugl. Orn. N. O. Afr. i. p. 449 
(1876). 

Adult male. Crown of the head and back grey, more or less 
clear, but not blackish ; a broad white eyebrow extending 
backwards till it joms the nape, forming a nuchal spot; sides 
of face from base of bill inclosing the eye and the ear-coverts 
black, extending on each side of the nuchal spot ; back grey, 
the outer scapulars black, with concealed white bases, the 
rump also slightly mottled with white, where the bases to the 
feathers show through ; upper tail-coverts glossy black ; wing- 
coverts black, the median and inner greater coverts broadly 
tipped with white ; quills greyish black, the primaries nar- 
rowly edged with whitish, the outer secondaries very broadly 
bordered with white ; tail-feathers deep black, slightly tipped 
with white, the two outer ones also broadly bordered with 
white for nearly a quarter of their length ; under surface of 
body white with a broad pectoral band of glossy blue-black, 
the flanks sparingly streaked with black ; tibial plumes black ; 
under wing-coverts black, the tips of the lower ones and inner 


166 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the 


linings of quills white; biliand feet black ; iris yellow. Total 
length 4 inches, culmen 0°5, wing 2°05, tail 1°65, tarsus 0°65. 

Adult female. Resembles the male, but has the pectoral 
band chestnut instead of black. 

Young female——Similar to the adult, but having the white 
eyebrow, the nuchal spot and margins of the wing-coverts 
and quills tipped with rust-colour. 

Hab. N. EH. Africa, Abyssinian coast-land, the warmer parts 
of Abyssinia, Sennaar, Takah, Kordofan, and the country of 
the White Nile (Von Heuglin) ; Bogos Land (Blanford, Jesse, 
Esler). 

It is difficult to distinguish this form from B. senegalensis, 
as the shade of grey on the head varies very much as to its 
depth of colourmg. I am by no means sure that it is not 
referable to a seasonal plumage of the latter bird, as some of 
the West-African specimens exhibit a slight greyish tinge 
on the black head. 

As Dr. von Heuglin suggests, this species has doubtless 
often been confounded by authors with the true B. senega- 
lensis ; and it may therefore be the bird thus named by Riippell 
and himself in their respective lists of N.E. African birds ; but 
as I do not see how this can be proved without an actual ex- 
amination of specimens, I prefer to omit the references, in- 
stead of referring to them with a repeated query. Von 
Heuglin seems to have found the species pretty generally dis- 
tributed ; but I have only seen specimens from Bogos, where 
it appears to be by no means rare. 


Specimens examined. 
Mus. Brit.—a,g. Near Magen, Feb. 18, 1868 (W. T. 
Blanford). 6,9. Ailat, June 28, 1868 (W. T. B.). 
Mus. R. B. S—a,juv. Waliko, July 27, 1868 (W. Jesse). 
b,c, 6, d,e, 2. Achor, Bogos Land (Esler). 
Mus. G. E. Shelley.—a, 3. Achor, Bogos (Esler). 


4. Batis MOLITOR. 

Muscicapa molitor, Hahn & Kust. Vog. aus Asien, &c., 
Lief. xx. fig. 2 (1822). 

Platystira pririt, Cab. Mus. Hein. Th. i. p. 59 (1850) ; Grill, 


Genus Platystira and its Allies. 167 


Zool. Anteckn. p. 26 (1858); Gurney, Ibis, 1860, p. 210; 
Hartl. Orn. Madag. p. 45 (1861); Gurney, Ibis, 1862, p. 156; 
Kirk, Ibis, 1864, p. 319; Schl. & Poll. Faun. Madag. p. xiv. 
(1866); Gray, Handl. B. 1. p. 329 (1869); Finsch & Hartl. 
Vog. Ostafr. p. 314 (1870); Sharpe, Cat. Afr. B. p. 44 (1871) ; 
Gurney, in Anderss. B. Dam. Ld. p. 131 (1872). 

Platystira melanoleuca, Licht. Nomencl. p, 20 (1854). 

Platystira molitor, Licht. ut supra. 

Adult male. Above dull bluish grey, the nape whitish, and 
the rump also mottled with white; a narrow line from the 
base of the bill over the eye, running as far as the hinder part 
of the eye, but not joining the nape, white ; lores, feathers 
above and below the eye, ear-coverts, and sides of upper neck 
deep black, extending down the back to the limit of the nu- 
chal spot ; wing-coverts and scapulars black, the least coverts 
shghtly margined with whitish, the medium and inner greater 
ones broadly tipped with white, forming a conspicuous alar 
bar; quills dark brown, very narrowly edged with whitish, 
the secondaries black, more broadly margined, so as to form 
a line continuous with the wing-band ; upper tail-coverts and 
tail black, slightly tipped with white, the penultimate feather 
a little more broadly, the outermost altogether white on the 
external web ; cheeks, sides of neck, and under surface of the 
body white, with a broad pectoral band of glossy black ; 
thighs black ; flanks also mixed with blackish ; under wing- 
coverts black, the lower ones and those along the bend of the 
wing white ; bill and feet black; iris yellow. ‘Total length 
5:3 inches, culmen 0°5, wing 2°5, tail 2°2, tarsus 0°73. 

Adult female. Above similar to male, but differing below. 
Under surface white, sides of body mixed with grey: a patch 
in the centre of the throat and a pectoral band deep chestnut. 

Hab. From the eastern districts of the Cape Colony to the 
Zambesi. Found also in Damara Land. 


Specimens examined. 


Mus. Brit.—a, 6,2. Tette (Livingstone). c, 2. Shupanga 
(T. Kirk). d. Natal. 
Mus. R. B.S.—a. 8.E. Africa. 06, 3, c,d, 2. Eland’s Post, 


168 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the 


S.E. Africa (T. C. Atmore). e. South Africa. jf. Elephant 
Viey, Sept. 5, 1859 (C. J. Andersson). g,h,3,i1,2. Ova- 
quenyama, May 25th, June Ist and 4th, 1867 (C. J. A.). 
Jj. Natal. &. Zambesi (Meller). 


5. Batis PRIRIT. 


Le Gobe-mouche pririt, Levaill. Ois. d’ Afr. iv. p. 38, pl. 161 
(1805). 

Muscicapa pririt, Vieill. N. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. xxi. p. 486 
(1818). 

Muscipeta senegalensis, Less. Traité, p. 885 (1831). 

Platystira pririt, Gray, Gen. of B.i. p. 257 (1846) ; Bp. 
Consp. i. p. 322 (1850). 

Platysteira affinis, Wablb. Ofv. k. Vet. Akad. Forh. Stockh. 
1855, p. 214; id. J. f. O. 1857, p. 3; Gray, Hand-l. B. i. 
p- 829 (1869) ; Sharpe, Cat. Afr. B. p. 48 (1871) ; Gurney in 
Anderss. B. Dam. Ld. p. 181 (1872). 

Platysteira senegalensis, Mont. P.Z.S. 1865, p. 95. 

Adult male. Indistinguishable from B. molitor in colour, 
but a little smaller. 

Adult female. Above clear bluish grey, the rump mottled 
with white; sides of neck and nuchal spot clear orange-buff ; 
a narrow superciliary line of white from the base of the bill ; 
lores, feathers round the eye, ear-coverts, and sides of upper 
neck black ; wings and tail as in B. moltor ; throat and entire 
breast clear orange-buff; abdomen and under tail-coverts 
white; flanks mixed with blackish; thighs black; bill and 
feet black. Total length 3°8 inches, culmen 0°5, wing 2°2, 
tail 1°7, tarsus 0°7. 

After mature consideration I have come to the conclusion 
that Wahlberg’s P. affinis is really the true “ Pririt” of Le- 
vaillant, as represented in his plate; for the female agrees pre- 
cisely, except in the black tibiz not being represented, doubt- 
less an omission on the part of the artist. 

B. pririt seems to be a more western bird than B. molitor, 
as it has not yet been found in Natal or South-eastern Africa, 
while the Zambesi bird is also B. molitor. On the west coast 
it extends to Benguela, whence Mr. Monteiro has a specimen 


Genus Platystira and its Allies. 169 


(P. senegalensis, Hartl., /.c.) which I have myself examined. 
What the bird from Gaboon mentioned by Dr. Hartlaub 
(J. f. O. 1861, p. 169) may be, I am unable to say. 

Wahlberg describes his B. affinis as smaller than P. lee. 
I therefore add the measurements of some specimens for com- 
parison :— 


No. Sex. Locality. Authority. Length of wing. 

a. 3 S.E. Africa. Mus. R. B.S. 2°3 

b. rea Eland’s Post. T. C. Atmore. 2-55 

¢. 3 Ovaquenyama, C. J. Andersson. 2°35 
June 4, 1867. 

d. 3 do., June 1, 1867. do. 2°35 

e. 3 Swakop River, do. 2°15 
Jan. 51, 1864. 

os 3 Elephant Vley, do. 2:3 

Sept. 5, 1859. 
gy. 3 Damara Land. do. 2°15 


As the females of B. pririt measure also 2°15 in the wing, 
we may suppose that the two males above measured are really 
of this species ; but I see no other point of distinction. 

I am not aware of any other instance in ornithology of two 
birds being quite different as regards the females, the males 
being difficult to distinguish. 


Specimens examined. 


Mus. Brit.—a, 3, 6,2. Damara Land (C. J. Andersson). 

Mus. R. B. S—a,3. Swakop River, Jan. 31st, 1864 
(C.J.A.). 6,¢c,d,2. West of Tjobis, April 3rd, 1865 ; near 
mouth of Swakop River, April 12th, 1865; Otjimbinque, 
July 7th, 1866 (C. J. A.). e. Colesberg (Ortlepp). f. South 
Africa. 

Mus. J. J. Monteiro.—a. Benguela (J. J. M.). 


6. Batis MINIMA. 

Platystira minima, J. & HK. Verr. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 
e55, p. 219; Hartl. Orn. W., Air. p. 95 (1857) 5: id. J. £0; 
1861, p. 169. 

Adult. Above cindery black, the lower back and rump 
slightly mottled with white ; no perceptible nuchal spot ; lores 
white; sides of the face black like the crown; entire throat 

SER. I1I.—VOL. III. N 


170 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the 


and sides of neck white; a broad pectoral band of cindery 
black, rather more ashy in shade ; rest of under surface white, 
the flanks varied with greyish black; under wing-coverts 
white ; wing black, the quills slightly inclining to brown, the 
median and inner greater coverts white, as also the margins 
to the inner secondaries, forming a continuous bar of white 
down the-wing ; tail black, the outermost feather white along 
the outer web at the tip, running round on to the inner web, 
the two next slightly tipped with white; bill black; feet 
blackish brown ; iris yellow. Total length 3:5 inches, culmen 
0°45, wing 1°85, tail 1:3, tarsus 0°5. 

Young. Similar to the adult, but browner, and having a 
few of the feathers on the head and back margined with buffy 
white. 


Hab. Gaboon. 
Specimens examined. 


Mus. Brit.—a, ad. Gahboon (Verreauz). 
Mus. R. B. S.—a, juv. Gaboon (Verreauz). 


Genus 8. LANnroTuRDUS. 


Lanioturdus, Waterhouse, App. Alex. Exp. Int. Afr. p. 264 
(1833) : type L. torquatus. 
Moquinus, Bp. C. R. xl. p. 820 (1856) : type L. torquatus. 


LANIOTURDUS TORQUATUS. 

Lanioturdus torquatus, Waterhouse, App. Alex. Exp. Int. 
Afr. p. 264 (1838); Bocage, Jorn. Acad. Lisb. 11. p. 42 (1868) ; 
Sharpe, Cat. Afr. B. p. 48 (1871). 

Platystira albicauda, Strickl. Contr. Orn. 1852. p. 144. 

Moquinus tandonus, Bp. C. R. xn. p, 820 (1856). 

Moquinus albicaudus, Bp. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1857, 
p- 52, pl. 5. 

Platystira torquata, Gray, Hand-l. B. 1. p. 829 (1869) ; 
Gurney in Anderss. B. Dam. Ld. p. 182 (1872). 

Adult male. Head black, including the lores and ear-coverts, 
the latter produced backwards along the sides of the neck ; 
forehead and superciliary streak (not extending beyond the 
eye), cheeks, throat, sides of neck, and a large nuchal patch 


Genus Platystira and its Allies. 171 


white ; back dark grey, the rump mottled with white ; upper 
tail-coverts black ; tail pure white, the two central feathers 
longitudinally marked with black ; upper wing-coverts black, 
the primary coverts white at tip, as also the inner greater 
coverts, which form a conspicuous patch on the wing; quills 
black, tipped with white, the secondaries more broadly, the 
primaries white at base of inner web, and the outer ones also 
white at base externally ; across the breast a conspicuous band 
of black; centre of the body white, the sides of the breast 
and flanks grey; tibial plumes white varied with black ; a 
tuft of axillary plumes under the wing white; under wing- 
coverts black, the lower ones tipped with white; edge of the 
wing white ; bill almost black ; feet very dark brown, with a 
whitish or lead-coloured tint about the joints ; iris greenish 
yellow. Total length 5:5 inches, culmen 0°7, wing 3°3, tail 
1:6, tarsus 1°2. 

Hab. Damara Land (Andersson) ; Biballa (Anchieta). 

This bird, though not far removed from Platystira, is 
certainly not congeneric with any of the members of that 
genus or with Batis. It is of robust form, with a much 
thinner and more compressed bill, and has extraordinarily long 
wings, reaching almost, if not quite, to the tip of the tail. 
This character presents the bird with quite a peculiar aspect. 


Specimens examined. 


Mus. Brit.—a. Damara Land (Andersson). 6, c, d, e. Da- 
mara Land (C. J. Andersson). 

Mus. R. B. S.—a, b, c. Otjimbingue, Damara Land, June 
22nd, July 29, and Oct. Ist, 1866 (C. J. Andersson). d, o. 
Biballa, Feb. 1868 (Anchieta). 


Genus 4. DiapHoropHya. 
Diaphorophyia, Bp. C. R. xxxviii. p. 653 (1854) : type 
D. castanea. 
Agromyias, Heine, J.f.O. 1860, p. 183: type D. castanea. 
Myiophila, Hartl. Orn. Westafr. p. 95 (1857): type D. 
concreta. 
Stiphromyias, Heine, J. f.O. 1860, p. 133: type D. concreta. 


N 2 


172 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the 


Clavis specierum. 
a. Abdomen white. 


aq’. Rump ‘white or proyish) oc) .ceginigie cite o/s ns 1. castanea. 
b'. Rump uniform with the rest of the back ........ 2. blissetti. 
b. Underneath entirely orange-rufous ...............06- 3. conereta. 


1. DiaAPHOROPHYA CASTANEA. 

Platystira castanea, Fraser, P. Z.S. 1842, p. 141: Gray, 
Gen. B. i. p. 257 (1846); Allen & Thoms. Exp. Niger, u. 
p- 498 (1848) ; Fraser, Zool. Typ. pl. 34. fig. 2 (1849) ; Bp. 
Consp. p. 822 (1850). 

Platystira leucopygialis, Fraser, P. Z. 8. 1842, p. 142; Gray, 
Gen. B. i. p. 25 (1846) ; Allen & Thoms. Exp. Niger, i1. p. 499 
(1848) ; Fraser, Zool. Typ. pl. 34. fig. 1 (1849) ; Bp. Consp. 
p. 822 (1850) ; Strickl. Contr. Orn. 1851, p. 163; J. & EH. 
Verreaux, Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1851, p. 309; id. op. cit. 
1855, p. 418; Hartl. Orn. W. Afr. p. 95 (1857) ; Cass. Pr. 
Philad. Acad. 1859, p.50; Hartl. J.f.O. 1861, p. 169; Gray, 
Hand-l. B. i. p. 8329 (1869) ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1870, p. 480; id. 
P.Z.S. 1871, pp. 188, 610; id. Cat. Afr. B. p. 43 (1871). 

Diaphorophyia leucopygialis, Bp. C. R. xxxvill. p. 353 
(1854). 

Agromyias leucopygialis, Heme, J. f. O. 1861, p. 133. 

Adult male. Crown of head and nape, as far as the centre 
of the back, and wing-coverts glossy blue black ; cheeks, ear- 
coverts, scapulars, lower back, and rump pure silky white ; 
quills black, white at the base of inner web, the secondaries 
very narrowly margined with white externally near the base ; 
upper tail-coverts and tail glossy black ; under surface of body 
entirely pure white, with a broad blue-black band across the 
breast ; under wing-coverts externally black, the lower ones 
margined with white; axillary tuft white; bill black; feet 
brown; iris yellow, eye-wattle bright scarlet. Total length 
3°4 inches, culmen 0°5, wing 2°3, tail 1-0, tarsus 0°65. 

Adult female. Totally different from the male. Above 
chestnut, the rump greyish varied with white ; head bluish 
grey ; quills brown, externally margined with chestnut ; tail 
blackish ; chin white ; cheeks, throat, and breast chestnut; a 
little spot of white under the eye; rest of under surface silky 


Genus Platystira and its Allies. 173 


white, the flanks greyish ; outer under wing-coverts chestnut ; 
axillary tufts white. 

Young male. Chestnut like the old female, but having the 
head, back, and chest mixed with black, indicative of the ado- 
lescent plumage. 

Hab. W. Africa, from the Gold Coast to Angola: Fer- 
nando Po. 

MM. Verreaux consider that the male in black plumage 
with the white collar round the neck is the fully adult; but I 
believe that the bird with entirely black head and neck is really 
in the fully mature state. I am induced to believe this by 
the fact of a young bird, still retaining traces of its chestnut 
plumage, showing evident indications of the white collar. An 
adult bird in fully black plumage, with a broad white collar, 
also retains traces of chestnut on the wing-coverts. MM. 
Verreaux also state their conviction that Fraser’s P. leuco- 
pygialis is really the old male, and that his P. castanea is 
the young female; but I believe Fraser’s bird to be quite 
adult in both instances. 


Specimens examined. 


Mus. Brit.—a, 3 6, 2. Clarence, Fernando Po (Fraser: 
types of species). c. Gaboon (Verreauxr). d. Ashantee 
(J. Gould). 

Mus. R. B. S.—a, b,c, 3 2, d,3 guv. Fantee. e,3,f,9,2. 
Fantee (H. T. Ussher). h,i,3,7,k, 2. Cameroons (A. Cross- 
ley). 1,3. Gaboon (Du Chaillu). m. Angola (C.J. Hamilton). 


2. DiapHoRoPHyA BLISSETTI. (Plate IV. fig. 1.) 

Diaphorophya blissetti, Sharpe, Ann. N. H. (4) x. p. 451 
(1872). 

Platystira concreta, Hartl. J. f. O. 1861, p. 169. 

Adult. Above dark rifle-green, slightly metallic, the tail 
much brighter and more metallic, the rump-feathers white at 
the base, showing more plainly when the plumage is disar- 
ranged ; wing-coverts rifle-green, a little more metallic than 
the back; quills blackish, externally margined with metallic 
green, more especially the secondaries; throat rifle-green, 


174 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the 


slightly metallic; a tuft of feathers occupying the cheeks and 
sides of the neck bright chestnut ; under surface of body white, 
the flanks streaked with greyish; under wing-coverts black, 
axillary tuft white; bill black; feet brownish. Total length 
3°5 inches, culmen 0°6, wing 2°15, tail 0°95, tarsus 0°75. 

Young. Entirely grey above, the tail with a slight metallic 
green~ gloss ; underneath white, the cheeks bright orange- 
rufous, and the fore neck washed with the same colour. 

Hab. Gold Coast. 

The typical specimen in the British Museum is apparently 
a female, or a younger bird than the one described and figured, 
as it is not so brightly coloured and has the back greyish. 


Specimens examined. 


Mus. Brit.—a. Fantee (A. Swanzy: type of species). 5,juv. 
Ashantee. 
Mus. R. B. S—a. Wassaw, Gold Coast (H. F. Blissett). 


3. DIAPHOROPHYA CONCRETA. 


Platysteira concreta, Hartl. J. f. O. 1855, p. 860; Gray, 
Hand-l. of B. 1. p. 330 (1869). 

Myjiophila concreta, Hartl. Orn. Westafr. p. 95 (1857) ; id. 
J. f.O. 1861, p. 169. 

Stiphromyias concreta, Heine, J. f. O. 1860, p. 1383. 

Above cinereous, with somewhat of a greenish, slightly 
metallic, gloss ; underneath bright but deep orange-rufous, 
the chin and throat paler and yellowish; tail uniform with 
the back; lores black, marked with a small white spot; the 
bare skin round the eye red ; under wing-coverts white ; bill 
black, much broadened at the base ; tail very short, scarcely 
passing the folded wing; feet brown. Total length 3! 3!", 
beak 53", wing 2” 1", tail 83!" tarsus 8!". (Hartlaub.) 

Hab. Gold Coast (Mus. Lugd.). 

I have not had the pleasure of personally examining this 
species, which from the proportions of its wings and tail would 
fall, under my arrangement, into the genus Diaphorophya. I 
cannot help suspecting that a comparison of the types would 
prove its identity with my D. dblissetti; and this suggestion is 


Genus Platystira and its Allies. 175 


strengthened by the fact that soon after the publication of the 
‘Ornithologie Westafrika’s, when the recollection of the 
species would be tolerably fresh in his mind, Dr. Hartlaub 
identified a bird in the British Museum as his Myiophila con- 
creta, which is certainly referable to my D. blissetti. I have 
therefore, with some feeling of confidence, added the genera 
Myiophila and Stiphromyias as synonyms of Diaphorophya. 
How far this confidence is justified will be decided some day 
or other ; and though Dr. Hartlaub does not think the identity 
of the two species at all probable, I must confess that I expect 
to find them ultimately the same. On the other hand it must 
be noticed that we have apparently two sexes of D. blissetti 
in the Museum, one having a glossy green, the other a greyish 
back, and that they both possess the red tufts on the side 
of the head. 
Genus 5. STENOSTIRA. 

Stenostira, Cab. & Bp. in Bp. Consp. i. p. 316 (1850) : 
type S. scita. 

Empidivora, Reich. Av. Syst. Nat. pl. Ixvii. (1850) : type 
S. scita. 


STENOSTIRA SCITA. 
Le Gobe-mouches mignard, Levaill. Ois. d’Afr. iv. pp. 14, 


154 (1805). 

Muscicapa scita, Vieill. N. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. xxi. p. 474 
(1818). 

Muscicapa tenella, Licht. Verzeichn. Vog. Kaffernl. p. 12 
(184.2). 


Platystira longipes, Swains. Monogr. Flyc. p. 185, pl. xxi. 
(c. 1837) ; Layard, B.S. Afr. p. 143 (1867). 

Platystira scita, Gray, Gen. B.1. p. 256 (1846) ; id. Hand-l. 
of B. i. p. 330 (1869). 

Stenostira scita, Cab. & Bp. in Bp. Consp. 1. p. 316 (1850). 

Adult male. Above greyish, a little paler on the rump; 
wings black; the least wing-coverts greyish like the back, 
with a vertical line of white extending the whole length of the 
wing, beginning at the outer median coverts ; tail black, the 
outermost feather white, the penultimate white for its apical 


176 On the Genus Platystira and its Allies. 


half, and the next one with a little less white towards the tip ; 
a narrow superciliary line of white from the base of the fore- 
head to the hinder ear-coverts ; cheeks and ear-coverts black ; 
a narrow cheek-stripe and chin white, the latter with a de- 
licate blush of rose-colour ; lower throat and chest greyish ; 
lower breast, abdomen, and under tail-coverts white, with a 
beautiful blush of rosy on the former; outer wing-coverts 
whitish, the outermost ones slightly shaded with grey ; tibial 
plumes black ; bill and feet black ; iris black. Total length 
4°5 inches, culmen 0:5, wing 2°25, tarsus 0°8. 

Hab. South Africa, from the region of Nel’s Poort to the 
Transvaal Republic. 

The above description is taken from a beautifully prepared 
skin of Professor Wahlberg’s, received by me in exchange 
from the Stockholm museum. Another specimen in my col- 
lection, obtained by Mr. Atmore on the Orange River, is a 
little browner above and not so brightly coloured anywhere. 
It is probably the female. 


Specimens examined. 


Mus. Brit.—South Africa. 

Mus. R. B. S.—a, 8. Transvaal, Aug. 4, 1843 (Wahlberg). 
6. Orange River (7. C. Atmore). 

Supposing that my estimate of the number of species of 
Platystira and Batis turn out to be correct, the geogra- 
phical distribution of the birds treated of in the present paper 
bears out the natural subdivisions into which I have divided 
the African continent (cf. P. Z.S. 1870, p. 320). 


Subregio abyssinica.—Peculiar species 1: B. orientalis. 
B. senegalensis occurs also. 

Subregio mosambicana*.—No species at all known to occur 
as yet. 

Subregio capensis —Peculiar genera 2. Peculiar species 6: 
Platystira peltata, Batis capensis, B. molitor (said to occur in 
Gaboon ?), B. pririt, Lanioturdus torquatus, Stenostira scita. 

* The Zambesi district does not belong to this subregion, as from a 


study of the collections in the British Museum, I find its affinities lie 
rather with the avifauna of the Cape. 


On an apparently new Species of Hornbill. wr 


Subregio guineensis.—Peculiar genus 1. Peculiar species 
7: Platystira cyanea, P. albifrons, Batis senegalensis, B. mi- 
nima, Diaphorophya castanea, D. blissetti, D. concreta. 

Subregio madagascariensis.—P. molitor is stated to have 
been met with on the West Coast by Bojer in 1829, but has 
never been obtained since. 


XXI.—On an apparently new Species of Hornbill from Angola. 
By D. G. Exxiot, F.LS., F.Z.8., &e. 


BUcEROs SHARPII. 

Bill without casque, but the maxilla swollen into a promi- 
nent ridge, broad and corrugated at the base, becoming narrow 
at the anterior portion, and gradually falling into the outline 
of the culmen. The base, which ends abruptly about half an 
inch above the head, has four rather deep plaits. The man- 
dible is rugged and creased nearly to the end, with the cut- 
ting portion serrated. ‘The culmen and tips of bill yellowish 
horn-colour ; a broad stripe for about two thirds the length 
of the maxilla and nearly all the mandible (save the tip above 
mentioned) black. Base of maxilla beneath the nostril, and 
spot on base of mandible, yellowish white. 

Head covered with a long crest; feathers of cheeks and 
throat also long and loose; all these parts, together with the 
back, black, with a bright greenish lustre. Primaries black. 
Secondaries, with the exception of the three innermost ones, 
white for three fourths their entire length, greenish black at 
base ; the innermost ones same colour as the back. Under 
wing-coverts, lower part of breast, under tail-coverts, rump, 
and legs pure white. T'ail—the two median feathers black for 
their entire length, without any white; the ones next to the 
median on either side white from half their length from the 
tip, remaining portion like the central ones ; the lateral fea- 
thers pure white for their entire length, with the exception 
of the outermost ones, which have the basal half of the outer 
webs black. Total length 21 inches, wing 11, tail 9}. 

The above description is taken from an adult male specimen 


178 On an apparently new Species of Hornbill. - 


from Angola in the collection of Mr. R. B. Sharpe, who kindly 
placed it in my hands for examination and description ; and 
I have much pleasure in bestowing his name upon this species, 
as a mark of esteem, as well as in recognition of the valuable 
services he has rendered to ornithology. 

In the collection of the British Museum are two specimens 
of B. sharpii, from the Gaboon and Congo respectively. One 
I judge to be an adult male; and it differs from the specimen 
just described by having the entire bill yellowish white, with 
only a trace of black on the central portion of the maxilla 
near the cutting-edge, and tending upwards in the direc- 
tion of the base, but not reaching the nostril. The tail is 
like that of the type; but the outer feathers are entirely 
white, only the central ones and those immediately succeed- 
ing having any black upon them, ‘This specimen is from the 
Gaboon. 

The third example, from the Congo, is perhaps a female. 
It is much smaller than the others; the mandible is only 
slightly ridged, with a few black spots where the ridges are 
found in the other two specimens; the upper portion of 
the maxilla near the base black. The feathers of the tail are 
coloured like those of the Gaboon bird, save a black spot that 
is seen upon all, near the base, but not reaching to it. 

Buceros sharpii belongs to avery well-marked group of the 
great family Bucerotide, to which the term Bycanistes, Ca- 
banis, has been applied, and contains, so far as is known, 
six species, including the present one. Although in their 
general appearance all the species closely resemble each other, 
yet each presents sufficient characters to distinguish it easily 
from its relatives. 

The largest is 


1. B. cristatus, Riippell, from Abyssinia; distinguished by 
having the wings entirely black, the tail black, with the ex- 
ception of the extreme base and an apical band, which are 
white ; a spotted crest and enormous casque. 


2. B. cyzinpricus, Temm. West Africa. Resembles the 
first but is smaller; crest unspotted ; secondaries pure white 


M. T. Salvadori on Homochlamys luscinia, Salvad. 179 


from one-third their length from the tips, and the tail also 
white with a broad black band nearly in the centre. 


3. B. suspcyLinpricus, Sclater. Western Africa? Resem- 
bles B. cylindricus, but has fully one half of the secondaries 
white, crest spotted, and median tail-feathers black for their 
entire length. 


4. B. Buccinator, Temm. South Africa. Crest slightly 
spotted. Secondaries black tipped with white; and tail-fea- 
thers, except median, also white for about an inch and a half 
from the tip. All these four species have high casques in 
both sexes, those of the males projecting forward in a point 
nearly the entire length of the maxilla. 

I should place next, as being slightly larger in size, the 


5. B. soarpi, Elliot. Gaboon to Angola, West Africa. 
Bill strongly ridged on the culmen at base. Secondaries, 
excepting the three outermost ones, pure white. Tail pure 
white, with the exception of the median feathers, which are 
black, and the ones next to them, which have their bases also 
black. 


6. B. ristutator, Cassin. Fantee. Tail black, a narrow 
line at the base and the lateral feathers tipped with white. 
Secondaries black, except for about an inch and a half from 
their ends, which is white. 


XXII.—Note on Homochlamys luscinia, Salvad. 
By T. Satvaport, C.M.Z.S. 


Amone some birds which the Count Turati, of Milan, has 
sent me lately, I found a specimen of Calamoherpe canturiens, 
Swinh. The name was written on the label in Mr. Swinhoe’s 
handwriting, so that I think there can be no mistake in the 
exact determination of the specimen, which at the first sight I 
recognized to belong to my Homochlamys luscinia. The only 
difference is in the colour of the bill, which in Swinhoe’s spe- 
cimen is of a horny brownish, while in mine it is yellowish. 
This is of small moment, as in dried specimens kept for a 


180 M. T. Salvadori on Homochlamys luscinia, Salvad. 


long time the bill very often loses its dark colour and be- 
comes whitish or yellowish. There is no doubt, therefore, 
that the specific name Juscinia must sink to a synonym, but 
at the same time the new genus Herbivow, lately established 
by Swinhoe for the same bird and two other allied species, 
will be superseded by Homochlamys, which was published by 
me in 1870. 
I add the synonyms. 


Genus Homocnuuamys, Salvad. Atti R. Acc. delle Se. di 
Tor. v. p. 510 (1870). 
Herbivox, Swinh. P. Z.S8. 1871, p. 353. 


HoMmocHLAMYS CANTURIENS. 

Arundinax canturiens, Swinh. Ibis, 1860, pp. 52, 131, 357. 

Lusciniopsis canturiens, Swinh. Ibis, 1861, pp. 32, 328. 

Calamoherpe canturiens, Swinh. Ibis, 1863, p. 306, 1867, 
p. 418, 1870, p. 345; and P. Z.S. (1863) p. 294. 

Calamodyta canturiens, G. R. Gray, Hand-l. i. p. 207, sp. 
2933 (1869). 

Homochlamys luscinia, Salvad. 1. c. p. 511 (1870). 

Malacopteron luscinia, Finsch, MSS.; Salvad. /. c. 

Herbivox canturiens, Swinh. P. Z. 8. 1871, p. 353. 

Mr. Swinhoe also includes Salicaria cantans, Temm. et 
Schlegel, and Arundinax minutus, Swinh., in the genus Her- 
bivow. If these are really congeneric with H. canturiens, 
they will stand as Homochlamys cantans and Homochlamys 
minutus. 

Regarding the proper place which the genus Homochlamys. 
should hold in the avium systema, it will be noticed that 
Finsch and I have considered H. luscinia to belong to the Ti- 
maliide, while Swinhoe refers the genus to the Calamody- 
tine, which, I think, are much more allied to the Timalide 
than to the Sylviide. 


Zoological Museum, Turin. 
February 25th, 1873. 


Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 181 


XXIII.—On the Upupide and their Relationships. 
By Dr. James Muriz, F.L.S. &c. 


(Plates V., VI., & VIL.) 


I. Retrospect, embodying researches and opinions concerning 
the Hoopoes. 

1. As grouped in conjunction with or near the Hornbills.— 
Some five and thirty summers have come and gone since Mr. 
Gould originally suggested the relationship of the Hoopoes 
to the Hornbills, an idea which took root and fructified under 
its foster-parent, Mr. Blyth. With the observations and re- 
marks of the latter, then, I propose to approach the group. 
When treating of the “ Buceroides, or the Hornbill and 
Hoopoe tribes,” Mr. Blyth* introduces his topic by a suc- 
cinct résumé of the reasons which have caused him to look 
upon these as two allied tribal families. The skeleton, he con- 
ceives, separates them from the Cantores, as do the digestive 
and vocal organs. The heart-shaped tongue, the elongation 
of the beak, and the fetid liquid feeces show agreement be- 
tween the Hoopoe and Hornbill. Their first plumage resem- 
bles that of the adult, and is not renewed till after the follow- 
ing breeding-season. They are equally Old-World groups, 
and possess only ten tail-feathers. He then proceeds to treat 
of the special characteristics of the Appendirostres (Horn- 
bills), and subsequently reverts to the Arculirostres (Hoopoes). 
Of the latter he particularizes points in the sternal formation, 
alludes to the stomach as a membranous bag, short widish 
intestines destitute of czecal appendages, and infers from these 
characters and from the smaller number of rectrices that they 
must be separated from the Certhiade, Promeropide, &c. 
My. Blyth further goes on to show that the intelligence of the 
Hoopoe, its lively energetic manners, its Lark-lke gait, its 
habit of striking with the bill, together with the structure of 
the latter, its coenodactyle foot (¢.e. outer and middle toes 
only basally united), and propensity to climb, like the Wood- 
pecker, all carry it away from the Hornbills, and probably 
from all other Syndactyli. He appears to have watched 


* Mag. of Nat. Hist. (Charlesworth’s) New Ser. 1838, vol. ii. p. 589. 


182 Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 


and studied carefully the habits of the bird in question, and 
brings together within a short compass much information, 
quoting Temminck, Bechstein, the Bishop of Norwich, Smith, 
Selby, Buffon, and the Earl of Derby. To peculiarities and 
inferences from habits I shall again take occasion to refer. 

The most original researches of Nitzsch* mark an epoch 
in bird-lore ; and one never turns over a page of his imvesti- 
gations into plumage without feeling his debtor. He refers 
three genera to his family Lipoglossz, viz. Buceros, Upupa, 
and Alcedo. These agree in the absence of an after-shaft on 
the contour-feathers, and in the feathered tip of the oil- 
gland, but differ in tract-distribution and in other characters 
of plumage. Ten rectrices connect the two former ; twelve dis- 
tinguish the latter, as does a dense downy covering of the inte- 
gument. The feather-tracts in Upupa are narrow, resembling 
Galbula in this respect ; the dorsal tract is uninterrupted, but, 
dividing into two limbs, encloses an elliptical spimal space ; the 
neck below has posteriorly furcate lines with broader pec- 
toral offshoots ; the main lines abdominally run back to near 
the anus. Remiges 20, the Ist small, the 2nd equal to the 7th, 
3rd, 4th, and 5th longest. The oil-gland is peculiar and com- 
posed of two halves. In the 9, at the breeding-season, and 
in the nestlings a disagreeably odoured blackish fluid obtains 
in the gland. There is a broad snow-white skin at the angle 
of the mouth in the young, in which respect they resemble the 
Passerine and not the Picariz. He observes of U. africana and 
U. erythrorhyncha (=Trrisor) that, except that the former pos- 
sesses 19 remiges, the 4th, 5th, and 6th longest, the pterylo- — 
graphic characters coincide with those of U. epops. 

The Hoopoe, in the eyes of Nitzsch, seems to have been a more 
than usually interesting form; for he worked out its internal 
anatomy with some care in a memoir, which, after his demise, 
Giebel+ wisely gave to the world. Anatomical work by such 


* ‘Pterylographie,’ the English edition of which is that at my com- 
mand: Ray Soc. 1867. 

+ Zeitschrift f. d. ges. Naturwiss. Halle, 1857, Band x. p. 236. In 
vol. xi. (pl. i. fig. 34) of the same publication Giebel gives an outline of 
the Hoopoe’s tongue in comparison with other forms. 


Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 183 


an able ornithologist might well bear a full translation ; 
but for my purpose it is enough to cull the more impor- 
tant points. Of the muscular system, he records that it is 
uncommonly Passerine in kind, taken as a whole, with, how- 
ever, some distinctions. The disposition of the tendons and 
bony grooves predisposes the similitude above stated. He 
describes the short triangular tongue and the presence of a 
pair of glands at the sides of the chink of the glottis. There 
is no crop; the stomach is saccular and soft; cecal diverti- 
cula are absent; a single left carotid artery alone obtains. 
Other features of the lungs, liver, kidneys, nasal glands, &c. 
are passed in review. 

Bonaparte* held views widely distinct from Strickland on 
this subject, inasmuch as, whilst apparently regarding the Hoo- 
poe as affine to the Hornbill, he threw apart the Irrisors. 
Concerning the former the arrangement adopted runs—Muso- 
phagide, Upupide, Bucerotide, Rhamphastide, Leptosomide, 
Cuculidze. His Upupide embraces two genera, Upupa and 
Fregilupus, the first with three and the second with but one 
species. In another section come the families Cerebide and 
Promeropide, then the family Irrisoridz, and subfamily Irri- 
sorine, containing the genera Irrisor, Rhinopomastus, and 
Falculia ; then the families Epimachide and Paradiseidee. 

Upon purely osteological data, Mr. Eytont makes a 
family of the Bucerotide; and this contains three subfamilies— 
the Momotine, Upupine, and Bucerine. Jrrisor he takes 
no notice of; but his short characters of the cranium &ce. 
of Upupa (U. epops) are explicit enough—though, quoting 
others, I dispense with them. 

Huxley’s grand Balaclava charge at the birds{ led him to 
toss the Upupidee among Coecygomorphe, with group “ c} the 
second, third, and fourth toes turned forwards, the first back- 
wards.” He does not seem to have given much attention to 
Upupa, his remark thereon being confined to the following 
terse sentence :—‘‘ Here the postero-external angle of the 

* Conspectus Generum Ayium, 


+ Osteologia Avium, 1867, p. 59, 
{ P.Z.S. 1867, p, 447 and p. 467. 


184 Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 


palatine is elongated into a slender pointed process. The 
septum is ossified and unites with the maxillo-palatines, which 
form a transverse bony rafter across the palate.” 

Several other writers incidentally refer Upupa to the Horn- 
bill family ; but it is not necessary to refer to them. 

2. Considered in the light of a distinct group.—Under the 
present section I may as lief refer to the able paper of Mr. 
Strickland *—though, according to his own showing, the Upu- 
pide as consistently belong to the next. He first gives rea- 
sons wherefore the genus Jrrisor, Less., ought to be adopted, 
and then compares agreement and differences between Upupa 
and Jrrisor. The Hoopoe’s ground-habits are opposed to those 
of the arboreal Jrrisor ; but notwithstanding this and contrast 
in the plumage, he sees close links of affinity between them. 
The similarity in the structure of their beak and tongue, he 
holds, is important. The lower mandible is solid, not grooved 
for the reception of a lengthened tongue as in the Nectarimide. 
Both upper and lower mandible coincidently in the Hoopoe 
and Irrisor have apically and superficially a peculiar grooving, 
single, however, in the former, and double in the latter bird. 
They both nidificate in hollow trees. Wings similar, primaries 
graduated, 4th and 5th longest. There is a certain counterpart 
in the white patches on the remiges and rectrices, although the 
style of colouring and difference in the form of the tail suggest 
generic and, occasionally, specific importance. With the feet 
he admits a difficulty, though he thinks these neutralized by 
beak &c. He places Upupa and Irrisor in juxtaposition, 
family Upupidze, subfamilies Upupine and [risorine. 

In reply to the question of the position of Upupide he re- 
marks :—‘“ They certainly are a very insulated group, forming 
what in geology would be termed a remote outlier ; and it is 
not easy to say to which of the more continental masses they 
most nearly approximate.” He considers them to be remote 
from the South-American family Certhiidz, the likeness being 
only one of analogy. He concludes, “this question can- 


* “On the structure and affinities of Upupa, Linneus, and IDrrisor, 
Lesson,” Trans. Brit. Assoc. 1845, also Ann. Nat. Hist. vol. xii. p. 238, 
and collected works, “ Memoirs,” 1858, p. 418. 


Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 185 


not, I think, be answered satisfactorily till more facts are col- 
lected respecting the food, habits, and anatomy of this group 
and of others with which it may be compared. It may, how- 
ever, be conjectured that they are allied in one direction by 
means of Epimachus or Astrapia to the Paradiseide, and in 
another by Merops to the Alcedinidze, as shown in Ann. Nat. 
Hist. vol. vi. pl. 8*, and as originally suggested by Vigors in 
Linn. Trans. vol. xiv. p. 466. In a third direction they are 
perhaps connected through Lamprotornis with the Corvide.” 

L’Herminier has been credited with having characterized 
the Hoopoes by sternal formation ; but in my search through 
his articles in the ‘Comptes Rendus’ and ‘ Annales’ I failed to 
discover definite statements thereon. I may say, however, 
that his ‘ Recherches sur l’appareil sternal des oiseaux” I could 
not lay hands on in our London libraries, the memoirs ap- 
pended in the footnote having alone been examined by met. 

M. Blanchard { observes that the Hoopoes constitute a very 
restricted group, but so markedly characteristic that it is im- 
possible to join them to other types. Their sternum only dis- 
tantly resembles that of other birds, the Finches to wit. In 
his description of the sternum he points to its elongation and 
high keel, which quite posteriorly has a little (triangular) 
flattenig continued forwards some distance. The keel ante- 
riorly is rounded or arched; a salient episternal process or 
nipple-shaped rostrum surmounts it, having a most singular 
perforation at its root. The interior is shorter than the ex- 

* Map of the Alcedinidee, wherein Upupa is included, and in the above 
assigned position. 

+ “Recherches sur la marche de l’ossification dans le sternum des 
oiseaux,” &c., Comptes Rendus (1856), vol. iii. p. 12; Ann. Sci. Nat. vi. 
p- 107; Comptes Rendus (1837), iv. p. 565; Ann. Sci. Nat. (1887) vii. 
p- 181. Since the above sentence has been in print Mr. Salvin has laid 
before me for inspection L’Herminier’s memoir above alluded to. Therein 
(p. 60) the Epopsides (17th family) connect the Picidee and Passeres ; but 
so distinctive does L’Herminier consider the sternum of Upupa, that he 
separates it from the latter, giving rank accordingly. He concludes, 
“Les huppes d’une part, les promérops de l’autre, appartiennent a cette 
famille, 4 laquelle peut-étre se rapportent aussi les tichodromes, les épi- 
maques et les picucules.”’ 

{ Annales des Sciences Naturelles, 1859, 4th ser. tom. xi. p. 111. 

SER. III.—VOL. Il. ) 


186 Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 


terior ; a large pneumatic foramen is situate mesially forwards, 
a marked elevation bounding it anteriorly. In general con- 
tour there is a certain middle compression with regular curved 
sides. The coracoid facets are salient, with deep gutters, and 
are continuous but for the perforated rostral septum. The 
large obtusely pointed and obliquely set costal processes have 
a backward tilt and five rib-facets. There are only a pair of 
deep xiphoid notches, the external processes having enlarged 
tips ; and he specially calls attention to two pointed denticles 
at the posterior margin of the middle piece. Basing judg- 
ment on the posterior sternal configuration, excepting the two 
denticles above spoken of, according to Blanchard it agrees 
directly with the Finches; but anteriorly there are striking 
differences. ‘The development of the keel inclines to Finches, 
but there are other points in perfect contrast ; in the Hoopoe 
the rostrum is obtuse, in the Passeraux acuminate. 

In allusion to /rrisor he mentions that the skeleton exam- 
ined by him was in bad condition, but sufficient in his opinion. 
to justify assigning to this genus close affinity to Upupa. His 
remarks on the sternal characters I shall not quote, as further 
on I treat of this and other bones not hitherto described. 
Blanchard names the genera Fregilupus, Lamprolophos, Rhi- 
nopomastus, and Falculia as having great interest from pro- 
bable relationship to the Hoopoes and Irrisors ; but their os- 
teology he was ignorant of. 

The superior rank and isolated character of the Hoopoes 
have been indorsed by another excellent naturalist and coun- 
tryman of the above, Prof. Alphonse Milne-Edwards*. Re- 
serving for a future communication his reasons for adopting 
the subjoined classification, he thus subdivides the Pas- 
seres:—l. Aedornine (=Oscines, Bonap.); 2. Epopsine ; 
3. Ocyptiline (=Cypselide, &c.) ; 4. Syndactyline ; 5. Dys- 
campterine (= Musophagide) ; 6. Trogonine ; 7. Phle- 
odrominz (= Picide, Rhamphastidze, &c.). Respecting the 
Hoopoes he urges, “ Les Epopsine ont été parfaitement ca- 
racterisés par Lherminier, ils ne renferment que le genre 
Huppe, auquel M. Blanchard a adjoint les Irrisors.” 


* Oiseaux Fossiles, tom. ii. 


Dr. J. Murie on the Upupidee. 187 


Almost every segment of the skeleton of the Hoopoe has 
been descanted on by Milne-Edwards with a certain brevity 
as to characteristics compared with the Aedornine. I shall 
avail myself of his labours, inasmuch as they may abbreviate 
my own, adding, however, in another section such osteological 
items as he has omitted or cursorily touched on. The sub- 
joined is a free translation, and in a different order from his 
paragraphs. The paging after each quotation refers the reader 
to the original ; the subsidiary headings are my own. 

Skull.—In the Hoopoes, which on account of the form of 
the beak have been classed with Promerops by most zoologists, 
the osteological characters furnished by other parts of the 
cranium are, on the contrary, very different. The occiput, 
in place of being uniformly rounded, is bilobed, and the lon- 
gitudinal depression which separates them into two portions 
is continuous anteriorly with the frontal depression. The 
interorbital region is very large; but the supramandibular 
parts are still more so, and the descending branch of the la- 
chrymal bone detaches itself in a remarkable manner. The 
nasal orifices commence near to the frontals on the superior 
aspect of the beak, and afterwards descend obliquely upon its 
sides ; instead of being single, as ordinarily, they are divided 
into two portions by a transversely oblique lamina. As in 
the Aedornines, the temporal grooves are very shallow and 
the occipital crests feebly indicated (p. 360). 

Sternum and Shoulder-girdle—The remarks of Blanchard 
on these parts, already given, may supplant what Milne-Ed- 
wards curtly says thereon (pp. 334, 340, 343, 346). 

Humerus.—It differs much from that of the Aedornines : 
one never observes the median tubercle for the insertion of 
the long extensor of the manus; and the supracondylar tuber- 
osity, when it exists, is not surmounted by a little projection. 
These latter points suffice to characterize the humerus of 
the Hoopoes, which besides resembles much that of the 
Aedornines. 

Ulna.—This is very lengthened and rather slender. It 
presents a certain resemblance to that of the true Passeres, 
but it is distinguished by diminished prominence of the mus- 


02 


188 Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 


cular impressions and tubercles for the insertion of the large 
wing-feathers. The olecranon process is long and conical, 
and the articular carpal extremity is much less in size (p. 352). 

Metacarpus.—An intermetacarpal apophysis is absent (p. 
356.) 

Pelvis—The anterior portion is much flattened, and the 
vertebral gutters, open their whole length, are much enlarged 
anteriorly by following the internal curvature of the ila; the 
iliac fosse are remarkably small. The cotyloid segment is 
large and short ; there is a small median sacral crest ; and the 
ilio-sciatic surfaces bulge slightly above the supraischiatic 
crests ; the latter are salient and present behind their foramen 
a small denticular crest. The ischial blades spread out but 
slightly ; and their postexternal angle, marked by deflected 
outside, is prolonged only to a very moderate extent. The 
body of the anterior sacral vertebra is furnished below with 
a median crest ; and the renal fossz are completely confluent 
(p. 321). 

Femur.—Very short, and its extremities are comparatively 
narrow. The inferior condyles have a flattened character. 
Lastly the femoral head is almost sessile. 

Tibia.—In the Epopsines (that is to say, the Hoopoes and 
the Irrisors) the tibial crests superiorly have little prominence ; 
the shaft is cylindrical, its inferior extremity enlarged, but 
remarkable on account of the small development of its con- 
dyles. Finally, there appears only a trace of groove for the 
digital extensors, which run under a tendinous bridge; and 
this, tardily ossified, is always narrow and diminutive (p. 312). 

Tarso-metatarse.—The foot is constructed upon a different 
plan from that of the Aedornines. The tuberosity is ampler, 
and perforated by a single tendinous foramen. The knuckle 
of the internal toe, in place of conforming to the plan of the 
others, is thrust slightly backwards. The inferior end is large, 
open, and approaches close to the digital condyles (p. 303). 


3. Where and wherefore ranged with the Sparrow Tribes.— 
Among authorities the names of Linnzus and Brisson take 
us back quite a century, to the infancy of systematic ornitho- 


Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 189 


logy. In the 12th edition of the ‘Syst. Nat.’ we find the 
Picee containing Trochilus, Certhia, Upupa, Glaucopis, Bu- 
phaga, Sitta, &c., a subsection with gressorial feet including 
Buceros, Alcedo, &c. Brisson* puts Upupa and Promerops in 
his birds of the 7th order—“ le bec menu, et un peu courbé 
en arc;” and before it come the Beef-eaters and Starlings, 
and after it the Swallows. Illiger’s+ Ambulatores comprise 
Angulirostres (Alcedo, Merops), Suspensi (Trochilus), Tenui- 
rostres (Nectarinia, Tichodroma, and Upupa), and Pygarrhichi 
(Certhia, Dendrocolaptes). Vieillot { puts the Epopsides as the 
28rd family of this Tribe, Anisodactyles, after Anthomyses (Co- 
libri), and before the Pelmatodes = Bee-eaters and Kingfishers. 
Koch§ adopts as orders Picus, Sitta, Alcedo, Certhia, Upupa, 
Coracias, Oriolus, Corvus. Cuvier|| under his Tenuirostres 
ranges Upupa, Promerops, and Epimachus. These come after 
the Rollers and Birds of Paradise, and precede the Syndactyui. 
Temminck’s{ order Anisodactyles, in which Certhia, Ticho- 
droma, and Upupa find place, was followed by the Alcyones 
Merops and Alcedo. Latham’s** Pice nearly corresponds with 
that of writers of the period. With Wagler+}+ Epimachus and 
Upupa come after the Toucan &c., and before the Piapec. 
Lesson’s{t{ family “Les Upupées” contains of genera Epi- 
machus (Ptiloris), Falcinellus, Promerops, Upupa, Fregilupus, 
Fregilus, and Corcorax. 

In his classification of birds§§ Mr. Swainson places 
Upupa between Promerops and Epimachus, the three forming 
his subfamily Promeropidz, which follows the Humming- 
birds (Trochilide), and precedes the Paradise-birds (Para- 
diseadze), the whole constituting a family of the tribe of Te- 
nuirostres (Suctorial birds). He remarks, ‘‘the Hoopoes (Pro- 
meropide) betray so close a resemblance to the Bee-eaters, 


* ‘Ornithologie.’ tome il. p. 453. + Prodromus, 1811. 
{ Dict. d’Hist. Nat. 
§ System der Baierischen Végel, Zoologie, von Karl Ludwig Koch, 


1816. || Régne Animal. 
{ Manuel d’Ornithologie, 1820, 2nd ed. pt. i. p. 414. 
*& History of Birds, 1822. tt Systema Avium, 1827, 


tt Traité d’Ornith. vol. i. p. 319. 
§§ Cabinet Cyclopiedia, vol. ii. p. 143, and p. 331. 


190 Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 


that there can be no reasonable doubt of their affinity.” He fur- 
ther says that the Grand Promerops of New Guinea, inhabiting 
the same regions as the Paradise-birds, from analogy, may be 
thought to unite that beautiful family with the Hoopoes. 

In the well-known ‘ Genera of Birds,’ (1849), George Gray 
assigns the Upupide location as a group of the Tenuirostres, 
in proximity to the Meropide and Promeropide. His ‘ Hand- 
list of Genera and Species of Birds,’ 1869, pt.1., shows a slight 
alteration, inasmuch as the Galbulide intervene between the 
Upupide and Meropide. In his Upupide there are three 
groups—1. Upupine, 2. Irrisorine, 3. Epimachinze. The first 
contains Upupa; the second, Irrisor, with the rejected sub- 
genera Lamprolophus, Cyanepops, Scoptelus, and Rhinopomas- 
tus; the third gathers under its fold Ptilornis (and the dis- 
carded subgenus Craspedophora), Epimachus (Seleucides and 
Semioptera), and Falculia. 

In the ‘ Ornithologiska System’* of Professor Sundevall the 
Oscines ambulatores contain three :—1. Paradisides; 2. Epima- 
chides; 3. Corvides. As generain No. 2 there are Epimachus, 
Irrisor, Rhinopomastus, Arachnothera, and Upupa. ‘The same 
author, ‘Svenska Foglarna’ (1856) , groups subsidiarily by foot- 
structure, and looks upon the Hoopoe as allied to the Larks. 
My attention, furthermore, has been called by Dr. Sclater to 
a still more recent work+ of Sundevall’s. The publication 
in question is as yet incomplete; but that published con- 
tains sufficient for my present purpose. The order Oscines 
holds precedence and place. First come the series Lamini- 
plantares, divided and subdivided into cohorts, phalanxes, fa- 
milies,and genera. Its cohorts are Cichlomorphe ['Thrushes], 
Conirostres [inches],Coliomorphe { [Crows], Certhiamorphz 

* In K. Vet. Akad. Handl. Stockholm, 1835. 

+ Methodi Naturalis Avium disponendarum tentamen ; Forsék till 
Fogelklassens Naturenliga Uppstallning: Stockholm, 1872. 

{ Inignorance of Professor Sundevall’s having already adopted the term 
Coliomorphe for the Crows (as a group), I used the self-same term in 
recognition of the peculiarities and aberrance of the genus Colius (see 
‘This,’ July, 1872, p. 278). Priority resting with Sundevall, I herewith 
cancel my use of the name, and propose instead the term PaMPRODACTYLE 


=‘‘having all four toes in front” (wap=ras, omnis; mpd, ante, vel pre } 
daxrudos, digitus), for the Coliine group. 


Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 191 


[Creepers], Cinnyrimorphe [Sunbirds], Chelidonomorphe 
[Swallows]. The second series Scutelliplantares has for co- 
horts Holaspidez [Larks and Hoopoes], Endaspidez ['Tree- 
runners], Exaspideze [Tyrant Shrikes and Todies], Pycnas- 
pide [Chatterers], Taxaspideze [Bush-Shrikes and Lyre- 
bird]. By this collocation Sundevall clearly throws apart 
the Irrisors and Hoopoe, still associating the former with 
the Crows and Paradise-birds, the latter with the Larks. 

M. Le Baron de la Fresnaye* also regarded Upupa as having 
affinities with the Larks, but more strongly connected with 
Upucerthia, Irrisor belonging to the Sunbirds. Enough 
has been said to show how diverse are the opinions of orni- 
thologists+ on this subject. 


Il. Additional data, structural and otherwise, bearing on the 
Upupide and pseudo-genera. 


1. Upupa.—My copious allusions to and quotations of prior 
labours on the common Hoopoe, both as to its exterior and 
interior, plainly debar me from having much to say thereon. 
Withal a few points may bear annotation, and a word on U. 
minor may be of interest. 

As regards U. epops, specimens examined on my own ac- 
count indorse Nitzsch’s pterylographic remarks. In one 
adult ¢ I specially noted primaries 10 (5th the longest), 
secondaries 8, rectrices 10. Oiul-gland large, broader than 
long, and tipped with a considerable bunch of feathers. No 
trace of powderdowns.  Viscera, excepting length of gut, 
agreeing with what has been related. 

Of vertebre there are 12 tothe neck. The 13th bears a tiny 
riblet, and therefore may be reckoned along with the dorsal ; 


* P.Z.S. 1840, p. 124. 

+ I may further observe that Drs. O. Finsch and G. Hartlaub (Von der 
Decken’s ‘ Reisen in Ost-Afrika,’ vol. iv.) place the Hoopoes, Promerops, 
and Creepers among the Tenuirostres. Their Upupide comprise Upupa, 
viz. U. epops and U. africana; Irrisor=TJ. erythrorhynchus, I. minor, 1. 
cyanomelas, and I. aterrimus. They moreover do not recognize five species 
of Irrisor,—I. sibilator, Vieill., I. caudacutus, Vieill., I. lamprolophus, 
Wael., Z. caruleus, Vieill., and I. cyaneus, Vieill. 


192 Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 


including it and a rearward one partially anchylosed with the 
ilia, 7 necessarily belong to the back. There appear to be 
about 10 vertebral elements coalesced into the sacral piece, 
and behind that 6 caudal vertebrz. In this light the spinal 
formula would be C. 12, D.-L. 7, S. 10, Cd. 6=35. 

Eyton tabulates 11, 8, 10, 6 to the same species. 

The anterior riblet is slender, styliform, 0-2 inch long. The 
2nd rib, with better-defined head and offshoot to transverse 
process, has a length of 0-6 inch; its apex free. The 3rd, 4th, 
Sth, and 6th cost bear median recurrent processes. These 
are wanting in the 7th and 8th, the latter rib being very 
slender and shorter than that which precedes. 3rd to 7th 
ribs have a sternal union ; midway between the recurrent and 
transverse processes the same ribs broaden out considerably. 

I may specially call attention to the great length of the 
slender pubic rod, and to the terminal tail-vertebra, the spi- 
nous process of which is very high and tapering. 

The quadrate bone is also worthy of note; the limbs only 
moderate as to length. The upper articular or tympanic 
limb is distinguished by being longitudinally deeply guttered 
on its external border, a condition by no means of common 
occurrence. The lower articular or mandibular superficies, 
as more ordinarily is the case, presents three condylar 
knuckles; these, however, are nearly on the same plane, or 
with only very shallow sulci indeed between. Thus the 
two outer are in a manner fused together and form a back- 
ward scroll, while the single inner is laterally compressed and 
very narrow towards its junction with fellows. 

The tongue-bone or hyoid comprises its usual avine ele- 
ments. ‘The arrow-headed or A-shaped tongue-pieces apically 
are cartilaginous; the posterior terminal forks osseous. The 
middle continuous piece (glosso-, basi-, and urohyals) has a 
long tapering dagger-outline slightly expanded and indented 
for the articulation of the posterior side rods (ceratohyals). 
What markedly denotes the hyoid of U. epops from that of 
U. minor is not only a relative elongation of the median seg- 
ments, but its anterior end tapers, whereas in the latter it is 
more expanded and cleft (compare figs. 61, 62, Pl. VII.). 


Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 193 


Lengths of the bones of the extremities of the adult female 
Hoopoe (U. epops, shown in PI. V.) in inches and decimals :— 


Humerus. Ulna. Metacarpus. Mid phalanges. Tot. length. 
Wing .... l'4inch, 1-85 0:8 0:55 4-6 

Femur. Tibia. Tarso-metatarse. Mid-toe phalanges. Tot. length. 
er... 0 op.inch, * 1:5 0-9 0:8 4:15 


Through the goodness of Prof. Alfred Newton I am enabled 
to describe, compare, and, I believe, for the first time figure 
the sternum and shoulder-girdle* of the South-African Hoo- 
poe, Upupa minor (Gmel.). It distinctly exhibits variation 
from the common European species, whilst stamped with a 
like generic type. 

Bearing in mind the distinctive characteristics of parts in 
that of U. epops as expounded by Blanchard (anted, p. 185), I 
may state of the breast-bone of U. minor, that relatively it is 
a shade narrower, the slenderer xiphoid processes less hori- 
zontally placed, and the interior surface by no means so 
shallow. The posterior notches (xiphoid spaces) are a trifle 
greater and show no signs of forming foramina. The keel, 
with similar curvilinear outline, is most decidedly deeper 
throughout. As to the rostrum, perforation + at its base be- 
tween the coracoid grooves and in these gutters themselves, the 
tendency to change is appreciable, but difficult to define. The 
bones of the shoulder-girdle, including furcula, are not so 
strong in U. minor as in U. epops; but it is noticeable that 
while the scapula in each is of equal length, the coracoid of 
the former is both considerably shorter and less expanded 
inferiorly. 

The tongue-bones of U. minor I have already incidentally 
mentioned. 

* No 776a, Newton’s MS. Osteol. Cat. 

+ In allusion to this foramen Mr. Parker (Ray. Soc. Monog. ‘Shoulder- 
girdle and Sternum in the Vertebrata,’ 1868), speaking of Buceros albi- 
rostris, observes :—‘‘In the latter species we have a beautiful morpho- 
logical character—namely, a fenestra, tending to cleave the rostrum off 
from the rest of the entosternum—a character better developed in Upupa, 


and very constant in most of the Galline.” p.173. (See his pl. xiii. fig. 15, 
of fledgeling U. epops.) 


194. Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 


According to the researches of Messrs. Sharpe and Dresser*, 
made upon a large collection of European, African, and Asiatic 
birds, there are but five good species, to wit, Upupa epops, 
Linn., U. indica, Layard, U. longirostris, Jerd., U. africana, 
Bechst., and U. marginata, Peters. As regards specific dif- 
ferences and validity thereof.the subject is not one for me to 
notice; nor does their capital résumé of the Hoopoe’s migra- 
tions and habits strictly fall within the limits of the present 
paper. My old colleague, Mr. Bartlett, also relates to me 
many interesting observations on his part, which space com- 
pels me to omit. He believes Upupa to be related to some 
forms of the Bucerotide, if external characters, habits, &c., are 
_ to be relied on. 

2. Irrisor —In a living state, from the accounts of travellers, 
and in the skin, this purely African group is fairly known. 
The sternum likewise has been said to approach that of Upupa ; 
but in other respects, skeletally and anatomically, their struc- 
tural peculiarities have been a desideratum. It was with no 
small degree of pleasure, then, that I received from Mr. Sharpe 
material, though scanty in kind, enabling me indubitably to 
establish their relationship to the Hoopoes, a point hitherto 
rather inferred from limited data than absolutely proved. The 
adage of raining and pouring, in my case, applied ; for almost 
as soon as the above was acquired, there came to hand from 
Prof. Newton additional bones, the species and sex in each 
case being authenticated ; Sharpe’s having formed part of Mr. 
Jesse’s Abyssinian collection adds to accuracy. 

By consulting Pl. VI. and comparing it with Pl. V., the 
eye at a glance will perceive the similitude and discrepancy 
marking the individual bones of the two genera. 

The skull of the Red-billed Irrisor (J. erythrorhynchus) 
being injured behind, the occipital contour is necessarily 
faulty, although my restored outline, I venture to say, is pretty 
near the truth. In rough measurement the bill from tip to 
prefrontal suture (hinge-joint in some birds) is twice the 
length of the cranium from the latter point backwards. This 
agrees tolerably well with what obtains in Upupa, its fore 


* A History of the Birds of Europe, Part vii. Oct. 1871. 


Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 195 


region having the advantage, in the figured specimens—al- 
though in a second skull of J. erythrorhynchus I have found 
the premaxille quite, if not fully, as long as in the Hoopoe. 
Be this as it may, the rear cranial segment containing the 
brain of Jrrisor is relatively wider, though about the same 
height, asin Upupa. The frontal sulcus is shallower, almost 
obsolete ; hence the vertex is all but wanting in the bilobation 
peculiar to the Hoopoe, and so far resembles that of the Bee- 
eaters. The breadth of the prefrontal region by inscooping 
of the orbits is narrower than in either form compared, and 
vastly different from the condition extant in the Bucerotide. 
The premaxille carry their basal width more forwards than 
in Upupa; but the shape of the beak otherwise is not unlike, 
that of Jrrisor inclining to greater deflexion. The shape and 
position of the narial aperture and presence of supraorbital 
foramen almost agree in the two genera, the latter perfora- 
tion, however, being smaller in Jrrisor. In both the nasal 
septum is ossified, and the maxillo-palatines, with somewhat 
firm spongy bone, fill the body of the mouth below. A me- 
dian process pouts towards the postnares, but is not sunk 
and grooved as in the Alcedinidz and Meropide. The hori- 
zontal palatal plates are of moderate breadth, and have long 
postexternal spimous processes. The continuation of the 
palate-bones forward are more raised and outwardly tilted, 
leaving therefore a deeper superficial maxillo-palatine de- 
pression. Save this and a less spongy condition of the max- 
illary region generally, the baso-cranial formation in Jrrisor 
and Upupa are well nigh identical. I must not omit to re- 
mark, though, that Jrrisor is distinguished by possessing stouter 
pterygoids; and these are not only wider at their anterior ends, 
but do not meet ; the postinternal palatine angles hkewise 
are 0:1 inch short of union. 

As regards the quadrate bone, the auditory limb wants the 
characteristic gutter of that of Upupa. The orbital limb 
tapers more, and the mandibular knuckles are more pro- 
nounced, there likewise bemg an accessory cusp to the inner 
one. The vacuity of the orbit is somewhat less rotund in 
Trrisor ; but in ossification of the interorbital septum, solder- 


196 Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 


ing of the tear-bone (lachrymal) with the preeethmoid process, 
and brevity of the so-called zygomatic process, no sure line 
of demarcation can be drawn between it and Upupa. 

The lower jaw complies in general outline &c. with that of 
the Hoopoe; the posterior and internal articular processes 
are less pronounced ; and by a short grooving of the upper 
surface of the posterior end of the symphysis we have indica- 
tion of slight lengthening and lodgment therein of the tongue. 

The sterna of three species examined by me (J. senegalensis, 
I. erythrorhynchus, and I. aterrimus) differ inter se, and, while 
bearing the family stamp of Upupa, gradually diverge from 
that genus. 

In J. senegalensis the notches are converted into small fo- 
ramina, and the xiphoid bars peak outwards, thus giving greater 
posterior breadth to the sternum, which even mesially is 
wider. The keel is by far shallower, with a straighter free 
margin, sharper and less rounded, and wider emargination 
forwards. Rostrum narrower, pointed, and less deflexed. 
The basal rostral aperture, however, is very manifest, but the 
tuberosity above not so dominant. J. erythrorhynchus has a 
breast-bone like that of Upupa, inasmuch as the notchesare open 
though reduced. In keel &c. it is like its confrére ; but there 
is duplicity of the interior pneumatic foramina, and these are 
situate laterally. This same specimen of Prof. Newton’s bears 
additional value on account of the xiphoid cartilages (c, fig. 28) 
being in situ. From their disposition we recognize that by 
their ossification the notches are readily connected into fora- 
mina, and the median indented posterior border produced, as 
obtains in I. erythrorhynchus (figs. 26-27). Moreover part 
of the middle cartilage, ossified and dried, is what, I presume, 
Blanchard accentuates as the denticle peculiar to the sternum 
of Upupa; for in my specimens a tiny bit of dried cartilage 
was alone present at the spot indicated. The shoulder-girdle 
and sternum of the Black Irrisor (J. aterrimus) is smaller and 
more delicate than the preceding. The notches are deeper, 
xiphoid bars pedate, a bifid tuberosity above rostrum; the 
latter is very short, and the emargination below and produc- 
tion of keel almost perpendicular. In these particulars there- 
fore it manifests Passerie tendency. | 


Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 197 


In all the three above-mentioned species of the genus the 
scapula more or less agrees, viz. is straightish or very slightly 
curved. There is no backwardly developed episternal process 
to the furcula, though a tiny elevation marks the inferior 
union of the clavicles ; the upper end (so-called przecoracoid) 
presents a flattened discoid expansion as in Upupa. The co- 
racoid is short, with a moderate shaft, its inferior end (epico- 
racoid) broad and outwardly expanded. At the superior ex- 
tremity there is a full development of the inner extra process 
(mesocoracoid of Parker), and consequently a deep groove be- 
tween it and the head of the bone ; in Upupa an ossific bridge 
converts this into a foramen. 


Irrisor erythrorhynchus, 3. 


Humerus. Ulna. Metacarpus. Mid phalanges. Tot. length. 

BV NET 550s, 12inch, 1:6 0°75 06 4:15 
Femur. Tibia. Tarso-metatarse. Mid-toe phalanges. Tot. length. 

Leg .... O9inch, 2:0 0-9 1:15 4:95 


As respects the humerus of I. erythrorhynchus, its inferior 
internal condylar tuberosity is longer than in Upupa. The 
ulna and other bones of the wing agree, difference of size being 
taken into account. 

The tibia, a longer bone with enlarged extremities, is kindred 
in pattern to that of the Hoopoe. The tubercle below, bony 
bridge, and fibular projection are all there; but it is distin- 
guished by a greater prominence of the head, defined pouting 
tuberosity, and longer knife-lke supero-inner ridge—all tan- 
tamount to increased grooving of the muscular impressions. 

The construction of the tarso-metatarse is of exceeding in- 
terest ; in it we find a repetition of those characters which dis- 
tinguish and, indeed, isolate Upupa from other birds. Irrisor, 
notwithstanding, has pomts intimating commencement of di- 
vergence. ‘The calcaneal eminence is pronounced and deeply 
grooved. There are two foramina at its root; but the head is 
wider transversely than in Upupa. The tendinous grooves of 
the shaft are better marked, and this gives greater angularity 
to the bone. The knuckles of the mferior end are deeply 


we 


198 Dr. J. Murie on the Upupidee. 


scooped, and the inner one longer ; and, lastly, the metatarsal 
ossicle with which the hind toe articulates is lengthened com- 
pared with Upupa. 

The digits have the ordinary number of phalanges, a8 
distal claw-bearing ones stronger and with greater curvature 
than in the Hoopoe. 

I have examined the pterylosis, which substantiates 
Nitzsch’s observations. Concerning the toes I find there is 
adherence of the basal innermost phalanges ; and the bones of 
same, as in the Hoopoe, have a certain coadaptation of cur- 
vature fitting the one to the other. 

3. Rhinopomastus, &c.—In this form, irrespective of color- 
ation of plumage, I recognize points which seem to substantiate 
its generic separation from the preceding. Its osteology I shall 
briefly advert to; for in most particulars, size excepted, it 
agrees with Jrrisor. 

The wing-bones require no comment. ‘The tibia has shal- 
lower musculo-tendinous grooves; is likest therefore Upupa. 
The tarsal ridges are weaker than in Jrrisor; the inferior 
articular knuckles and the hind-toe metatarsal ossicle agree. 
The head of the tarsus is pushed a grade further from Upupa 
and Jrrisor in the minor prominence of the postcalcaneal 
eminence and shallowness of its sulcus, and in breadth to 
antero-posterior depth of the head. The following are the 
absolute lengths of the limb-bones in this specimen: — 


Rhinopomastns cyanomelas, 3. 


Humerus. Ulna. Metacarpus. Mid phalanges. Tot. length. 

VV cars 1Oinch, 1:25 105) 0-4 3:15 
Femur. Tibia. T'arso-metatarse. Mid-toe phalanges. Tot. length. 

Beep 0.2. (07 ainch,') 14:2 0:8 0:75 3:45 


The configuration of the skull has sensibly altered from 
that of Jrrisor, deflexion and tenuity of the praeemaxille bemg 
marked and simulating what obtains in Drepanus and like 
genera. This curvature is very apparent in the lower man- 
dible ; and this bone has its postarticular angle almost vertical. 
The brain-section of the cranium is full, globose, and without 


Dr. J. Murie on the Upupidee. 199 


longitudinal sulcus. The prefrontals and interorbital area are 
relatively broader than in J/rrisor, and altogether higher, while 
evidence of suture with the bill and production of premax- 
illary splints is obliterated. The small nostril has no groove 
behind leading to supraorbital foramen—the representative of 
the latter being reduced to a speck. The palatine formation es- 
sentially agrees ; but the spongy maxillo-palatines and ossified 
nasal septum are well nigh flush with the anterior palatine 
bars. The post-inner palatine angles are narrowed, leaving 
greater space between them and the long delicate external 
retrocurrent spines. The knuckles of the quadrate are more 
rounded and prominent than in Jrrisor. 

I subjoin a series of calculations affording evidence that the 
ratio.of the bones of the limbs present a certain agreement 
among themselves, but yet differ in the three genera. Jrrisor 
has proportionally the greatest tibia, and Rhinopomastus the 
relatively longest tarso-metatarse to metacarpus. In pro- 
portion of entire leg to wing they both exceed Upupa. 


Irrisor Rhinopo- 
Upupa erythrorhyn- mastus cyano- 

epops, 2. chus, @. melas, 6. 

Winaxtovhumerus. .)45 0005 4.0.0. 152 : 100 153 : 100 125 : 100 
Metacarpus to humerus ...... 57 : 100 62 : 100 50 : 100 
Mid digit to humerus ........ 59 : 100 50 : 100 40 : 100 
Dipiai to Mem uy i ysis 2 spas esis 157 : 100 222 : 100 171 : 100 
Tarso-metatarse to femur .... 94: 100 100 : 100 114 : 100 
Mid anterior toe to femur .... 84: 100 127 : 100 107 : 100 
Himmerus tO Wing - 2.15... 30 : 100 27 : 100 31: 100 
ROME EO: WANE, ose sow mops we « 40 : 100 38 : 100 39 : 100 
Metacarpus to wing.......... 17 : 100 18 : 100 15 : 100 
Mid digit to wing .......... 12: 100 14: 100 12: 100 
HeHMIEMO LOR) 2). SN. occas eh 22 : 100 18 : 100 20 : 100 
UGC ig 2) a eng ea I aa 34 : 100 40 : 100 35. 100 
Tarso-metatarse to leg........ 20 : 100 18 : 100 23 : 100 
Anterior mid toe to leg ...... 18: 100 23 : 100 22 : 100 
Femur to humerus .......... 60 : 100 75 : 100 70 : 100 
AUTORUN ES yen yoy cte) oxe'e-= 4 83 : 100 125 : 100 95 : 100 


Tarso-metatarse to metacarpus. 111 : 100 120 : 100 160 : 100 
Mid ant. toe to mid dig. of wing 145 : 100 191 : 100 187 : 100 
We ULE aie hon eels ety oe’ 94 : 100 119 : 100 109 : 100 


200 Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 


4. Fregilupus.—Of this remarkable form Prof. Schlegel* 
uses words to this effect :—The species, F. madagascariensis, 
has become so rare at the island of Réunion (Bourbon) that it 
has not been heard of for a dozen years. Coastwards it is de- 
stroyed ; but report says that it still exists in the interior forests. 
Old Creoles state that at one time they were common, stupid, 
and easily killed with a stick. Itis there known by the name 
of Hoopoe. Whether suggested by this local name or other- 
wise, some ornithologists, Bonaparte for instance, have ranged 
it among the Upupide. Later writers, however, George Gray 
for example, more judiciously placed it in the neighbourhood 
of the Sturnide. Its proper location it is not my intention 
at present to enter on, my object alone being to give succinct 
and good reasons for its separation from the Upupide. 

I understand that no skin of the form in question exists in 
this country, and that the only skeleton.is that in the possession 
of Professor Newton at Cambridge. The kindness of this gen- 
tleman, then, in forwarding the precious speciment for my 
examination, I duly appreciate. 

Osteologically the points of departure from Upupa and 
Irrisor are trenchant. The keel of the sternum is relatively 
shallower, and anteriorly sharper ; the rostrum deeply forked, 
large, and sharply upturned; the whcle sternum is broader ; 
xiphoid spaces longer ; costal processes very high and broad. 
Furcula with a large inflected process or interclavicle. Sca- 
pula curved ; coracoid long, narrow, and relatively slender. 
Pelvis with narrowed deflected ilain front and proportionally 
wide behind; ischia remarkably long, their pointed tuber- 
osities little short of the pubes. Postfrontal and occipital 
regions of skull full and rounded; the former relatively nar- 
rower, the latter with greater width to height ; there is a large 
interorbital vacuity ; narial orifice large, long, and elliptical ; 
a stout vomer present, truncated in front and cleft behind ; 


* Recherches sur la Faune de Madagascar et de ses dépendances d’aprés 
les découvertes de Frangois P. L. Pollen et D. C. Van Dam. Mammif. et 
Ois. par H. Schlegel. Leyden, 1868, Part 2, p. 104. 

+ Labelled Fregilupus varius 3, Réunion (J. P. Verreaux), No, 974a, 
Newton’s MS. Osteol. Col. 


Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 201 


septum of nares unossified ; no union of maxillo-palatines, and 
a large palatal cleft. Leg-bones long, the tarsus unusually 
so; two outer toes cleft to the root. ‘Tongue long, narrow, 
pointed, and lies in a groove in symphysis of mandible. 

Whatever supposed affinity Fregilupus bears to Upupa from 
tenuirostral character, thus we see, breaks entirely down by 
skeleton-evidence. 

5. Falculia.—My study of F. palliata, another of those cu- 
rious Madagascar forms, is unfortunately limited to a stuffed 
specimen in the British Museum, and to literature on the bird. 
Judging from the shape, more particularly the depth of the 
bill, from the relatively narrowed condition of prefrontals and 
eranial contour, from the structure of the foot with elongate 
tarsus (other than plumage &c., discoursed on by ornitholo- 
gists), I certainly agree with those who deny its having close 
affinity to the Hoopoes. It is quite possible that it may veer 
towards the preceding, Epimachus, or the next to be men- 
tioned ; but at all events outward character of itself precludes 
association with the Upupide. I must refer the reader to 
Geoffroy St.-Hilaire’s original description*, and to Schlegel’s 
account, where the young and sexual differences and the habits 
of the bird are dwelt upon. 

6. Heteralocha.—The anomalous Huia Bird of New Zea- 
land has been referred by its original describer, Mr. Gouldt, 
by Cabanis§, G. Gray ||, Sundevall, and others to the neigh- 
bourhood of the Crows, and in close proximity to the Starlings, 
though suggestions as to its alliance with the Hoopoes have not 
been wanting (to wit Gray**). In the latest monograph on 
the birds of New Zealand, Mr. Buller urges the latter position ; 
and accordingly H. acutirostris (Neomorpha, Gould) is consigned 
to the Upupidee+t+. The nidification of this bird is unknown ; 


* Mag. de Zool. 1856. + Op. cit. supra, p. 105, pl. 33. 
{ P.Z.S. 1836, p. 144; Birds of Australia, iv. pl. xix. 
§ Mus. Hein. Th. i. p. 218. || Hand-list of Birds, ii. p. 22. 


4] Meth. Nat. Avium dispon. tent. p. 40. 
** “ Birds of N. Zealand,” Ibis, 1862, p. 217. 
tt From a conversation with Mr. Buller I learn that his opinion is changed 
as regards the affinities of Heteralucha since the publication of Pt.i.; and 
his introduction rectifies this (Hist. of Birds of New Zealand, p. xvii.). 
SER, III.—VOL. III. Pp 


202 Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 


but some of its habits, well told by Mr. Buller, certainly recall 
peculiarities of the Hoopoes and Hornbills. On the other 
hand, possession of wattles, the remarkable difference in length 
of the beak in the sexes, &c. weaken even exterior characters 
where these are relied on for interpretation of relationship. 

The strongest evidence that its construction is unlike that of 
Upupa and Irrisor is given by its anatomy. Mr. Garrod’s* 
recent investigation shows that coracomorph and not coccygo- 
morph type prevails. According to him the dorsal feather-tract 
does not enclose an ephippial space ; remiges nineteen; rectrices 
twelve; uropygium naked. Tongue elongated, triangular, 
slightly bifid apically. There are two short czecal appendages, 
and a single left carotid artery. A forwardly truncate and pos- 
teriorly cleft vomer obtains; the maxillo-palatines do not meet; 
the nasal septum is unossified, the prepalatines leave an open 
wide cleft. Other pomts are noted; but the above in them- 
selves are sufficient to prove attributes at variance with what 
pertains to the Upupide. 


III. Disposition of the Upupide weighed by their organic 
build. 


1. To the Larks.—That so great an authority as Sundevall, 
under the present phase of ornithology, should see fit to con- 
join the Hoopoes with the Alaudinz, and separate the former 
from groups truly allied, receives explanation from the false as- 
sumption of single characters being the test of systematic 
relation. A resemblance in tarsal scutella, and even terres- 
trial habit, may coexist in two forms (adaptations to certain 
phases in modes of life, or scintillations of a once common attri- 
bute) without these overruling the more stable organic whole 
as related to kindred and descent. I am willing to cede every 
scrap of vantagc-ground to the worthy Swede, to acknowledge 
earth-lovig nabit, proneness to grovel in the dust, their crest, 
tenuous beak, long shank, elliptical space in spinal feather- 
tract, and plantar scutella, as numerical testimony that the 
Hoopoe has points in common with one or other of the Larks. 


* P.Z.S. 1872, p. 643. 


Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 203 


But that these should overmatch characteristics of colour 
of egg, nest-building, number of rectrices, of oil-gland, vocal 
organs, song, tongue, ceca, sternum and shoulder-girdle, 
pelvis, relation of wing to leg-bones, perforate condition of 
head of tarsus, construction of base of skull, &c. I can by no 
means admit. Yet the Larks and Hoopoes differ widely in 
all these respects. These structures are coadapted to organic 
function, and of necessity evince propinquity of type. To fling 
such evidence to the winds, as Sundevall’s late arrangement 
proposes, shakes my confidence entirely in its worth. 

2. To the Creepers and Sunbirds.—As in the last, with these 
forms outward resemblances have too long swayed ornitholo- 
gists in assigning a close proximity of Upupa to the Certhiade 
and Nectariniide. The moment we go more than skin deep 
the skeletal structure reveals a want of harmony between these 
forms and Upupa and its true allies. The usually long slender 
beak of the Creepers and Sunbirds deceives as to their Hoopoe 
relationship. This point kept in abeyance, I have but to re- 
peat what has been affirmed of the Alaudine, to show that 
in a whole mass of particulars they have no common tie. In 
the case of Certhia and Nectarinia, moreover, they have not the 
advantage of likeness in plantar scutella, pterylosis, or terres- 
trial habit, though their beak-elongation suggests analogy. 

3. Tothe Starlings and Crows.—W hat affinity thereis between 
the Corvine group and the Upupide has never been weightily 
insisted upon by reason of intense similarity in outward aspect. 
Neither the beak nor feet of the former suggest such decep- 
tive likeness as in the preceding groups. Strickland’s hint 
of filtration through Lamprotornis has but an outer garb of 
cogency ; for even our subsequent group 4 might stand be- 
tween. As what I have to say concerning them applies 
equally to the present, the latter are thus twofold removed 
in consanguinity. 

4. To the Rifle-birds and Birds of Paradise.—If Seleucides 
albus* he accepted as one (Epimachinee) and Paradisea papu- 

* For the use of a skeleton of this bird I am indebted to Prof. Newton. 
It bears his MS. Osteol. Cat. No. 795a. The Bird of Paradise I refer to 
is the skeieton in the gallery of the British Museum. 

P2 


204: Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 


ana (Paradiseidz) typical of the other, I can satisfactorily dis- 
pose of these as not being of nearest kin to the Upupide. In 
Seleucides, whilst the elongate preemaxilla is not unlike that 
of Irrisor, it yet differs most materially at the root, and espe- 
cially depression at junction with prefrontals. There is a 
large interorbital fenestra. The palate is passerine, 7. e. stout 
vomer and non-union of maxillo-palatines, therefore palatal 
cleft wide. Pterygoids long and slender. The mandibular 
symphysis is deeply grooved for the reception of a very long, 
delicate, tapering tongue, and the postarticular angle of the 
lower jaw truncate. 'Tongue-bones unusually long. ‘There 
is an episternal process to the furcula; sternal rostrum large 
and furcate ; keel sharp forwards ; middle much longer than 
external xiphoids. Pelvis narrow anteriorly. Leg-bones of 
great length ; four upper tarsal perforations for tendons, and 
other skeletal differences. _In Paradisea most of these points 
in the body and limbs bear out within certain limits the con- 
trast exhibited by Seleucides. The skull of Paradisea, more- 
over, as to general shape, and particularly premaxillary and 
mandibular peculiarities, is far more unlike that of the Upu- 
pide. Nitzsch has long ago shown there is a vast difference 
in their pterylosis. If, moreover, we supplement geographical 
distribution, habit, &c., distinction and separation from Jrrisor 
and Upupa is abundantly warranted in the face of Sundevall’s 
union. 

I may here observe there is great difficulty in proving what 
Passerine approaches nearest to the Upupide ; as regards the 
Syndactyle the problem is easier. 

The resemblances between Promerops, Upupa, and Irrisor 
in the form of the beak and, partly, tail have suggested their 
close alliance to many ornithologists. This similarity in out- 
ward aspect, however, is contra-indicated by their skeleton, 
which differs trenchantly. In Plate VII. I have delineated 
the skull and certain of the bones of Promerops as contrasted 
with Rhinopomastus. My notes thereon I reserve for another 
communication, as also the summary of characters distin- 
guishing the Epopomorphe, their insertion in this paper 
being deemed too lengthy. 


Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 205 


5. To the Bee-eaters, Kingfishers, Rollers, and Motmots.— 
Nitzsch’s Lipoglossz certainly combines Alcedo with Upupa 
through pterylosis ; but even in this respect important con- 
trast obtains. Giving plumage all due importance, the above 
four groups, though Desmognathous (united maxillo-palatines 
and slender anteriorly pomted vomer as in Upupa), still exhibit 
trenchant separation. ‘Their breast-bone is four-notched; and 
its shoulder-girdle and part of wing-bones manifestly show 
other morphological changes. The proportional length of 
limb-segments, difference in construction of the tibia, tarsus, 
and greater syndactylism, the shape and disposition of the 
nares, orbital, mandibular, and tongue-bone parts, and a host 
of such like osteological data are unlike. They usually have 
twelve rectrices and double carotid arteries, tongue and in- 
ternal viscera departing in type; and in egg, nidification, 
habits, food, &c. (and still more so the Rollers and Motmots), 
they do not coincide sufficiently to award them claim of 
nearest relationship. I must say, however, that in outline of 
skull, aud particularly disposition of bill and palate, species of 
Merops and Alcedo offer more than a mere passing likeness. 

Such characters are aberrant lines which approach similarly 
tangentially specific ones (videttes) of the Hoopoe group with- 
out closest alliance necessarily supervening. 

6. To the Hornbills.—Lastly, what in exterior appearance 
can be more opposed to each other than such a great unwieldy 
horned bird as the Rhinoceros Hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros) 
and the graceful Hoopoe? Yet patient mquiry leads apace 
to trace the steps of graduation. Admitting that exuberance 
of casque and many other external characteristics of the above- 
mentioned Hornbill can hardly be reconciled with the idea of 
family relationship to the Hoopoes and Irrisors it cannot be 
gainsaid that the Bucerotide present extremes. | When 
Toccus is reached, size and outward peculiarities dwindle till 
we have a form in which can be recognized semblance to 
certain of the Upupide. There is still a gap; but the very 
manifold structural agreements and adaptations thereof to 
habits &c. are strong evidence of congruity. Reiteration of 
what has been well told by others is superfluous ; it suffices 


206 Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 


to say that economy in general, pterylosis, geographical dis- 
tribution in part, and anatomy taken all in all, turn the scale 
in favour of the Hornbills as the group bearing the closest 
relation to the Hoopoes and Irrisors. Their palatal and 
premaxillary condition &c. vary; but withal this does not 
detract from the proposition as above expressed, neither does 
it militate against the notion that certain of the Bee-eaters 
and Kingfishers throw off spurs of affiliation towards the 
Upupide. 

I have spoken of a gap, and I shall trespass on the readers 
of ‘The Ibis’ by suggesting what probably may fill it—the 
missing link. The Cryptornis antiquus (Gervais), a fossil form 
discovered in the gypsum near Paris (tertiary formation of 
geologists), was originally referred by Laurillard* to the King- 
fishers, species of Alcedo. M. Gervais+ afterwards adjudged 
to it Cuculine affinity, and designated it Centropus antiquus. 
Alph. Milne-Edwards’s ¢ researches in the same field led to his 
regarding it as more closely allied to the Hornbills, and there- 
with adopting for it the generic title Cryptornis. The latter 
author bases affinity chiefly on tarsal formation and proportion 
of some of the wing- to leg-bones. ‘The first four lines of the 
accompanying Table are those of Milne-Edwards; the suc- 
ceeding three similar calculations are mine. 


Tarse. Tibia, Humerus. — Cubitus. 

Cryptornis antiquus .... 100 168 184 198 
Centropus philippinensis. 100 150 96 80 
Centropus affinis ...... 100 148 96 82 
Tockus erythrorhynchus 100 174 164 200 
Upupa epops........4. 100 166 155 205 
Lrrisor erythrorhynchus. 100 222 133 177 
Rhinopomastus cyanome- 

UES ice) tg Steed ave pein 100 150 125 156 


Acknowledging the justness of Milne-Edwards’s inference 
from proportions of limb-segments, I, moreover, may remark 
that the tarso-tibial relations of Upupa to Cryptornis are even 
closer than that of Toccus, though. the wing is a remove fur- 

* Dict. d’Hist. Nat. Atlas, Ois. fos. pl. 2. 
+ Paléont. frang, 2nd ed. p. 409, pl. 49, fig. 1. 
{ Oiseaux fossiles, vol. ii. p. 371, Atlas, pl. 175. 


Dr, J. Murie on the Upupide. 207 


ther. Studying the fossil remains in question, from delinea- 
tions given, and particularly Milne-Edwards’s admirable re- 
presentation, it seems to me that the contour of the orbito- 
cranial portion of the skull, the positive and negative evidence 
of a long, shallow, straight, pointed bill, and what is present 
of the rami of the lower mandible, all point as much, if not 
more, to Upupa and Irrisor than to the same parts in Toccus. 
The tarsal structure is quite as near Jrrisor as the latter. 
When I add that likewise the ribs, even though imperfect, and 
unusual elongation of pubis (of the latter I presume the rod-like 
bone thrown rearwards out of place), show further likeness, 
I believe I am justified in looking upon Cryptornis as an ex- 
tinct ornithic bridge betwixt the Bucerotide and Upupide. 
Whilst speaking of fossils I may mention that certain frag- 
mentary remains of long limb-bones, described by Milne-Ed- 
wards, are shown to be identical with those of Upupa. Lim- 
natornis paludicola, Milne-Edwards, is another form believed 
by him to approach the Upupide ; and Laurillardia longirostris 
evinces osteological affinities with Merops, Promerops, and 
Cryptornis. The paucity and imperfect nature of the ma- 
terial, however, is such that, although it permits recognition 
of bones as nearest to those of:certain living groups, restora- 
tions advantageous for systematic purpose are less secure. 


IV. Final Considerations on the Hoopoe. 


The conclusions arrived at by me thoroughly substantiate 
by osteological data Strickland’s juxtaposition of Upupa and 
Irrisor. Moreover his subfamilies Upupine and Irrisorine 
fitly serve to distinguish certain differentiation of character 
possessed by each—though, if an increased value of rank is as- 
signed the Hoopoes, Upupide and Irrisoride must be used. 
In the former I recognize but one genus, Upupa. The Irri- 
soridze contain two tolerably well-defined genera, Jrrisor 
and Rhinopomastus, although it is possible further research 
among the fossil specimens may bring out others akin to these 
or the preceding. 

I, likewise, am satisfied that Prof. Alph. Milne-Edwards’s 
estimate of the value of the osteological characters of the group, 


208 Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 


entitling them to a separate rank, is worthy of adoption among 
ornithologists. The Epopine or Epopomorphe would thus be 
segregated from Huxley’s group of Coccygomorphe, but in 
a linear arrangement still follow the Bucerotide as nearest 
allies. It is true 1 have endeavoured to show the passage- 
form which may break down the line of demarcation. It is 
lighly probable that some corresponding extinct bird may 
yet be found blending Upupine or Irrisorine characters with 
Passerine, and that in this way our present grouping may 
fall to nought. The formation of the group Epopomorphee 
must therefore be regarded only as a temporary expedient in 
the attempt to comprehend the natural classification of birds. 


DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. 
PLATE V. 


Skeletal segments of Hoopoes, viz. a female adult specimen of Upupa 
epops, Linn. (figs. 1 to 22), and three views (figs. 28 to 25) of the sternum 
of a male Upupa minor, Gmel., the latter drawn from a specimen in the 
osteological collection of Prof. Newton of Cambridge, and numbered 766a 
in his MS. catalogue. Figs. 5,6, 19, and 21 are enlarged two diameters ; 
all the rest are, as near as may be, of natural proportions. 

Fig. 1. A side view of the cranium. 
Fig. 2. Lower mandible, also in profile. 
Fig. 3. Skull, seen from above. 

Fig. 4. Palatal surface of the skull. 


Fig. 5. Under articular aspect of the left quadrate bone, magu ‘fied two 


diameters. 
. The same quadrate bone on its outer surface, magnified two dia- 
meters, 
Fig. 7. Occipital aspect or back view of the skull. 
Fig. 8. The lower jaw, seen from above or orally. 
9. The furcula or united clavicles, from in front: per, precoracoid 
expansion, 
Fig. 10. Under surface of the breast-bone. 
Fig. 11. The articular upper end of the arm-bone. 
. The same bone, viz. left humerus, its posterior face. 
Fig. 15. Its lower articular extremity. 
Fig. 14. Inner aspect of the remainder of the bones of the left wing. 
Letters applicable to the above figures run:—x, nostril; so 7, supra- 
orbital foramen, a bony plate dividing it from the anterior nares; p, pos- 
terior, ¢, exterior, and 2, inner quadrate knuckles, articulating with lower 
mandible ; o/, orbital limb; gy, groove on auditory limb of quadrate. 


Dr. J. Murie on the Upupidee. 209 


Fig. 15. Spine from the dorsum backwards, the pelvis, ribs, and shoulder- 
girdle attached: 1 & 2, foremost two free ribs; pe, pubis. 

Fig. 16. Upper or dorsal aspect of the pelvis. 

Fig. 17. The right femur or thigh-bone, from behind. 

Fig. 18. Shank, viz. right tibia (¢) and fibula (f), from in front. 

Fig. 19. Ankle-joint or upper articular surface of tarsus, about double 
natural size. 

Tig. 20. The right tarso-metatarse, its posterior aspect: m, metatarsal 


element. 

Fig. 21. Inferior knuckled end of the same bone, but magnified two 
diameters. 

Fig. 22. Bones of the right foot, seen from the inside: L, 11, II, Iv., digits 
respectively. 

Fig. 23. Side view of the sternum of the South-African Hoopoe, Upupa 
minor. 

Fig. 24. Interior (or upper) surface of the same bone. 


2 
Vig. 25. Outline or foreshortened anterior view of the same sternum, 
(No. 766a, Newton’s MS.) 

Letters referring to the three preceding :—r, rostrum; f, foramen at its 
root; p, process surmounting it for attachment of the coracoid ligaments ; 
cog, coracoid groove ; cp, costal process; e., external xiphoid bar; pn, 
pneumatic foramen; k, keel. 


PLATE VI, 


Various bones of species of Irrisor, of natural size, save figs. 36, 37, 44, 

and 47, which are enlarged about twice their real dimensions. 

Fig. 26. Ventral surface, sternum of Irrisor senegalensis. 

Fig. 27. Interior of the same breast-bone. 

Fig, 28, Under view, sternum of Jrrisor erythrorhynchus. No. 627a, 
Newton’s Osteol. Cat.; specimen forwarded him by the late 
Mr. Andersson from Damaraland. 

Fig. 29. Furcula or united clavicles of the same specimen. 

Fig. 30, Foreshortened anterior view of the sternum of J. erythrorhynchus. 
(No. 627a, Newton’s Osteol. Cat.) 

Fig. 31. Sternum of J. senegalensis in profile. 

Fig. 52. Shoulder-girdle belonging to the above. 

The lettering used in Upupa, P|. V., applies to the the same parts in the 
foregoing, with the addition of:—px, pneumatic foramen; «f, xiphoid 
foramen; s, scapula; c/, clavicle ; ep, epicoracoid. 

Fig. 33, Skull, from above, of an Irrisor erythrorhynchus 3 , specimen col- 
lected by Mr. Jesse (Abyssinian Expedition) at Kokai, 12th 
July, 1868. Specimen referred to by O. Finsch, Trans. Zool. 
Soe. vol. vil. p. 226, under 6 (No. 683). Occipital area in out- 
line. 

Fig. 34. Upper surface, mandible of the same specimen. 


210 Dr. J. Murie on the Upupide. 


Fig. 35. Lower basal view of said skull: map, maxillopalatine. 

Fig. 36. Outer surface, left quadrate, magnified two diameters. 

Fig. 87. Under articular aspect of the left quadrate bone, magnified two 
diameters. 

Fig. 38. Profile of cranium, same ¢ J. erythrorhynchus. 

Fig. 89. Its mandible, side view. 

Fig. 40. Part of the right humerus (lower end) of the J. erythrorhynchus 
from Kokai. 

Fig. 41. Inferior articular extremity of the same. 

Fig. 42. Remainder of wing-bones in connexion: wu, ulna; 7, radius. 

Fig. 43. Tibia (¢) and fibula (f) of the same bird. 

Fig, 44, Enlarged drawing, upper articulation of tarso-metatarse, mag- 
nified two diameters. 

Fig. 45, Right tarso-metatarse, from behind, natural size. 

Fig. 46, Bones of the right foot and tarso-metatarse: 1. to IVv., digits. 

Fig. 47. Diagrammatic representation of the inferior or distal end of the 
tarso-metatarse of ¢ Irrisor erythrorhynchus, double natural 
dimensions. 


Prats VII. 


Osteology in part, and the exterior feet-characters, of genera of the 
Upupidee, and of Promerops, representative of the Promeropidze. Figs. 46, 
57, 67, 69, and 70 are magnified, the others of natural dimensions. 


Fig. 48. Upper surface of the skull of Rhinopomastus (Irrisor) eyanomelas 
3, spec. ex Mus. Sharpé (labelled, Ojimbinque, June 17, 
1866). 

Fig. 49. Upper surface of the skull of Promerops caffer from South Africa, 
also a donation from Mr. R. Bowdler Sharpe. 

Fig. 50. Inferior or palatal aspect of the cranium of Rhinopomastus cy- 

anomelas. 

51. Similar view of the cranium of Promerops caffer. 

52. Side view of the skull of Rhinopomastus cyanomelas. 

53. Lower mandible of the same. 

Fig. 54. The skull of Promerops caffer, in profile. 

Fig. 55. Mandible of the same specimen of Promerops. 

x. 56, Right quadrate bone of Promerops caffer, from the outside, and 
twice natural size. 

Fig. 57. Its inferior aspect, showing knuckles for articulating with in- 
ferior maxilla. 

Fig. 58. Mandible of Phinopomastus cyanomelas, its wpper or oral surface. 

Fig. 59. A similar view of the inferior maxilla of Promerops caffer. 

Letters common to the foregoing figures:—map, maxillo-palatine ; 

vo, vomer ; ¢, cleft or fissure, maxillary and nasal; p, posterior angle of 

the mandible; oJ, orbital limb; 0, outer, 7, inner, and p, posterior knuckles 

of quadrate bone. 


Mr. W. T. Blanford on ‘Stray Feathers, 211 


Fig. 60, An upper view of the tongue, glottis, &c. of Upupa minor: 
g, gland, lateral and behind the orifice of the glottis. 
Fig. 61. The cleaned hyoid or tongue-bones of the same bird (U. minor). 
Fig. 62. Hyoidean apparatus of the common Hoopoe, Upupa epops. 
Fig. 63. Left humerus of Promerops caffer, shown from behind. 
Fig. 64. Left tarsus of the same bird, anterior aspect. 
Fig. 65. The same tarsus posteriorly. 
Fig. 66. Left tibia or mid leg-bone of Promerops caffer, its inner surface. 
Fig. 67. The knee-joint end or upper articular surfaces of this tibia and 
the fibula, enlarged two diameters: ¢, tibia; f, fibula; at, an- 
terior tibial eminence or cnemial tubercle ; e, external tibial 
tuberosity ; 7, inner tibial tuberosity. 
Fig. 68. A front view of the same tibia and fibula entire. 
. The upper end of the left tarsus of Promerops caffer, about twice 
the natural size. 
. The lower end of the same tarsus, also magnified two diameters. 
. Sternum of the Black Lrrisor, J. aterrimus. 
. Clothed tarsus and sole, right foot of Promerops caffer. 
. An inner view, in profile, of the same foot and tarsus. 
. Clothed tarsus and sole of right foot of Rhinopomastus cyanomelas. 
. Inner aspect of the same limb. 
. Sole of the left foot of the Red-billed Irrisor, I. erythrorhynchus. 
. The lower limb of the common Hoopoe, Upupa epops. 
. Sole and hinder surface of scutellate tarsus of the same Hoopoe: | 
I., IL, 0, and rv. denote the consecutive toes in the above 
seven figures. 


Fe 
= 

fon 
Oo 


Lg] 
= 
INN 
a) 


CS eS (MS eS fee fk | 
o> Ot H Co 


oN 


XXIV.—WNotes on ‘ Stray Feathers’*. By W.'T. Buanrorp, 
F.G.S., C.M.Z.S. 


Tue appearance of a new periodical, solely devoted to Indian 
ornithology, and edited by Mr. Allan O. Hume, deserves more 
than a passing notice. Mr. Hume is not only, as he modestly 
states on his titlepage, the editor, but also the author of the 
eleven different papers contained in the only number of his 
magazine which has hitherto reached England. Valuable as 
these papers are, and important as are the additions made by 
them to our knowledge of the avifauna of India, the first feel- 
ing with many Anglo-Indian ornithologists will probably be 
one of regret that the labour spent upon this number by Mr. 


* “Stray Feathers,’ No. 1. November 1872. Edited by Allan Hume. 
Calcutta: T. Black & Co. London: Bumpus. 


212 Mr. W. T. Blanford on ‘Stray Feathers.’ 


Hume has not been devoted to a further instalment of his 
most useful ‘Scrap-book,’ a work the real value of which is 
necessarily far less appreciated by European naturalists than 
by those who, im India, far from museums and libraries, are 
engaged in studying the avifauna of the country, and to whom 
a book pointing out what is already known, and what remains 
for inquiry, may save many an hour of useless toil spent in 
ascertaining facts already well known to others. 

The objects aimed at in ‘Stray Feathers,’ and the reasons 
for commencing a new journal, are stated in a short “ Avis au 
Lecteur ” on the cover of the present number, and in a few 
lines printed on the back of the titlepage. Mr. Hume com- 
plains that he has sent the descriptions of new species to 
Kingland for publication, and that his papers have been kept 
unpublished until he was anticipated by a brother ornitholo- 
gist ; and he invites all Indian ornithologists “ to secure the 
prompt publication of every new species by inscribing its name 
and diagnosis in some ‘ Stray Feather,’ which will freely open 
its pages to all comers.” I fear the labours of Indian orni- 
thologists, | mean those who care more for ascertaining facts 
than describing new species, will be increased if every collector 
living away from museums and books of reference is invited 
to give a name to each bird which he cannot ideutify. Most 
of us who have written on scientific subjects in India, or in 
other countries distant from Europe, know the disadvantages 
under which we suffer in sending MS. papers for publication 
in England; and although my own experience has not been so 
unfortunate as Mr. Hume’s, I should be very glad to be ob- 
liged to publish nothing at a distance. But I feel that whatever 
may be the inconvenience involved in sending papers to Europe, 
it will be but little diminished by intrusting them, instead, to 
the mercies of a Calcutta printer, and to the chances of a 
magazine described by its editor as one of those articles which 
“no one can expect .... to be very regular in their appear- 
ance.” ‘The success or failure of ‘Stray Feathers,’ will of 
course depend upon the amount of assistance received by Mr. 
Hume from his brother ornithologists ; and. the experience of 
a few months will decide better than any thing else whether 


Mr. W. T. Blanford on ‘Stray Feathers.’ 213 


such a periodical supplies a real want or not ; but it is only 
right to point out that the ‘ Proceedings’ of the Asiatic So- 
ciety of Bengal have, for some years past, been published re- 
gularly every month*, and that all short papers received by the 
Society are therein printed, so that, even without Mr. Hume’s 
periodical, there is no difficulty in securing the prompt pub- 
lication in India of all descriptions of new species. 

‘Proceeding to the different papers in detail, I may perhaps be 
allowed first to refer to one which relates to a species of Horned 
Lark, described by myself from Sikkim, and to ask pardon 
for my own sins of commission. After reading Mr. Hume’s 
account, and after the examination of several specimens of Oto- 
corys longirostris in Mr. Gould’s collection and elsewhere, I 
think it highly probable that O. elwesi, described by me in the 
P. A.S. B. 1871, p. 227 (and more fully in J. A. 8S. B. 1872, 
pt. il. p. 62), is merely a variety of the first-named species. 
The differences in coloration are certainly, as stated by Mr. 
Hume, merely seasonal; and so is, I believe, the change in 
the tarsus from brown to black ; for I find in a large series of 
O. penicillata collected in Persia and lying before me, that 
there is a perceptible distinction in the colour of the legs 
between young birds and adults, although the difference is 
much less than in the case of O. longirostris and O. elwesi. 
That the bill of a Lark should vary in length from 0°36 to 0°6 
inch is certainly very startling; and I must say that the spe- 
cimens of Otocorys belonging to this form which I have 
hitherto seen from Central Asia, Lake Baikal, &c. belong to 
the short-billed type ; but still variation appears to be the rule, 
and considerable difference in dimensions is common amongst 
Larks, as has been shown by Sharpe and Dresser in their 
article on Alauda arvensis in the ‘ Birds of Europe,’ and as 
appears to be the case in specimens of Galerida cristata which 
I have before me. 

It is only just to Mr. Hume to admit that, as he states in 
‘Stray Feathers,’ he wrote to me in 1871 to tell me that the 
Sikkim Horned Lark was identical with that from Cashmere ; 


* Except for two months in the autumn, in which the Society does not 
meet. 


214 Mr. W. T. Blanford on ‘Stray Feathers.’ 


but my description of O. elwesi was in print before I received 
his letter. ; 

I think that, so far as séparating a bird on insufficient 
grounds is excusable, my mistake in the case of O. elwesi may 
be pardoned ; for I find that better ornithologists than myself 
had long since considered the short-billed race distinct from 
O. longirostris. 'The former extends to Siberia; and speci- 
mens from that country have found their way into European 
collections under the name of “O. albigula, Brandt.” This 
name, however, does not appear to have been published by the 
great naturalist of St. Petersburg; and the O. albigula of Bona- 
parte’s ‘Conspectus,’ p. 246, is clearly O. penicillata, Gould 
(vel scriba, Bp.). 

Now, as one good turn deserves another, I must point out 
that some of Mr. Hume’s supposed novelties will accompany 
Otocorys elwesi to “ the limbo of synonyms.” The first paper 
in ‘Stray Feathers’ contains the descriptions of no less than 
eleven birds which Mr. Hume considers new to science. He, 
however, in a few paragraphs preceding the descriptions, points 
out that he does not dogmatically assert that all are positively 
new; he has been unable to identify them, and he considers 
the most ready means of ascertaining whether they are new 
or not is to publish descriptions. That this means will be 
successful is probable; whether it be the dest plan to name 
birds which it is found difficult to identify, on the chance of 
their being new, is, of course, matter of opinion. 

The first species described, Ptionoprogne pallida, from Sind, 
is Cotyle obsoleta, Cab., an African Rock-Martin. Like Mr. 
Hume, I obtained this bird in Sind and Baluchistan ; and I 
have compared my specimens with African skins in the British 
Museum. The second species, Savicola alboniger, a large 
form allied to S. picata, Blyth, is, to the best of my belief, 
new. It certainly is not S. leucopygia*, Brehm; nor is it 


* Mr. Hume says he cannot find the description of this bird. It will 
be found in the Journ. f. Ornith. 1858, p. 66, and is from Egypt, not Pales- 
tine. It is also described in Shelley’s ‘ Birds of Egypt,’ pp. 79, 80. The 
outer tail-feathers are entirely white, as in S. monacha, and the breast and 
abdomen black. 


Mr. W. T. Blanford on ‘Stray Feathers, 215 


a form of S. monacha,—both of which Mr. Hume suggests as 
possible. No.3, Pellorneum palustre, has been twice described 
before, fortunately always under the same name :—first, as 
mentioned by Mr. Hume in a foot-note, by Mr. Gould in the 
‘Birds of Asia,’ pt. xxiv. (Ibis, 1872, p. 188) ; secondly by 
Dr. Jerdon himself, in the paper published, after his death, 
in ‘ The Ibis’ for July 1872, p. 300. 

Puffinus persicus is described as a new species of Shear- 
water from the Gulf of Oman. Unfortunately I did not my- 
self obtain this bird when collecting in the same seas, and 
Mr. Hume has but a single specimen. It is very difficult, in 
so puzzling a genus as Puffinus, to determine the affinities of 
his bird from the description. It is said to be too small for 
P. anglorum and too large for P. obscurus—the length of 
the former being given by Yarrell as 15 inches, and the wing 
9°5, whilst the corresponding measurements in the latter, ac- 
cording to the same author, are 11 and 6°75, and in the new 
species 13 and 7; but the quill-feathers not being fully grown 
in the type example of P. persicus, it is suggested that the 
perfect wing probably measures 8 or 8°25 inches. Merely 
pausing to express my surprise that a veteran field-ornitho- 
logist like Mr. Hume places the smallest dependence upon 
the lengths of birds as given in European works on ornitho- 
logy, simce no one knows better than he does that these are 
nearly always taken from dried skins, I may mention that 
the P. obscurus of Gmelin is founded upon the Dusky Petrel 
of Latham, Syn. vol. vi. p. 416, the length of which is given 
as 13 inches, and which came from Christmas Island *—that 
the wings, in two specimens of P. obscurus in the British 
Museum, measure 7°3 and, 7°75 inches, and, in three skins of 
P. anglorum from the Mediterranean, two have the wing 8°75 
and the other 8°5 in length; specimens of P. anglorum from 
the British Islands agree better with Yarrell’s measurements. 


* There are two islands of this name—one in the North Pacific, about 
halfway between the Sandwich and Society Islands, the other S.W. of 
the coast of Sumatra. It is uncertain from which Latham’s tppe was ob- 
tained ; but in either case it came from either the Indian or Pacific Ocean, 
not from the Atlantic, 


216 Mr. W. T. Blanford on ‘Stray Feathers’ 


It is evident at once that there is but little room to insert a 
species between P. anglorum and P. obscurus on the score of 
size. Itis, however, clear that P. persicus is not P. anglorum, 
being distinguished, lst, by its much shorter tarsi and mid 
toe, which are given by Mr. Hume as measuring respectively 
15 and 1:45, whilst in several specimens of P. anglorum I 
find them to average 1°75 and 1:7; 2nd, by the coloration of 
the sides of the head. In P. persicus the white of the throat 
extends nearly up to the eye, and covers half the lores, whilst 
in P. anglorum the dark colour of the upper parts covers the 
lores, and extends some distance below the eye. In both these 
characters P. persicus agrees with P. ebscurus. 

A specimen of P. obscurus, from the New Hebrides, in the 
British Museum, measures, wing 7°75 inches, tarsus 1°6, mid 
toe 1:55, bill in a straight line from forehead to point 1:2, 
and agrees with Mr. Hume’s description of P. persicus in all 
characters except the two following :—In the latter bird there 
is said to be a white line round the eye prolonged backwards 
from the posterior angle for from a quarter to half an inch ; 
in the British-Museum specimen this is less developed, the 
white not appearing above the eye nor being prolonged so 
far backward. P. persicus is said to have the sides, axillaries, 
flanks, and under wing-coverts near the body deep brown, 
whilst in the New-Hebrides specimen they are white. But 
P. obscurus (if, as all writers seem to agree, both Atlantic 
and Pacific birds, despite slight differences in dimensions &c., 
belong to this species) is evidently very variable; and Atlantic 
specimens have the flanks and axillaries brown, as in the bird 
described by Mr. Hume. 

On the whole I do not think there is sufficient distimction 
shown to justify the separation of P. persicus, which will, I 
think, prove to be a variety of P. obscurus. 

To Puffinus persicus follow two species, Pomatorhinus 06- 
scurus, from mount Abu, and Ephialtes brucei, from Ahmad- 
nagar, probably well-marked forms. Then we have a sixth 
Indian species assigned to the genus Drymoipus, and called 
D. insiynis ; it is said to be allied to D. sylvaticus, Jerdon, 
but distinguished from Dr. Jerdon’s description of the latte 


Mr. W. T. Blanford on ‘Stray Feathers’ 217 


by the coloration of the tail. Mr. Hume says he has never 
seen D. sylvaticus. I am greatly mistaken if there be not a 
specimen in the Asiatic Society’s Museum in Calcutta, in bad 
condition it is true, but which should suffice to determine 
whether the tail resembles that described in D. insignis. Mr. 
Hume’s D. rufescens (Ibis, 1872, p. 110) has been shown by 
Dr. Stoliczka (J. A. 8S. B. 1872, vol. xli. pt. 2, p. 241) to be 
D. Jerdoni, Blyth (conf. Jerdon, Birds of India, vol. ii. p. 180). 
Both Mr. Hume and Dr. Stoliczka retain the genus Drymoipus 
for these Indian birds. It is greatly to be wished that they 
would define its characters and show how it is to be distin- 
guished from the African Drymeca. 

A new Ninox from the Nicobar Islands, N. odscurus, is 
next-described, followed by Mirafra immaculata, sp. nov., a 
species distinguished from M. assamica by being browner in 
colour above, with few and ill-defined striations, more rufous 
below, with scarcely any trace of spots on the breast. As 
only a single specimen from Deobund, a hill near Masuri, 
has been procured, it is impossible to help suggesting that 
this bird may be merely an individual variety of M. assamica, 
which occurs in the neighbourhood, but apparently at lower 
elevations, as we know that all Larks are liable to variation in 
precisely the characters pointed out—the greyer or more 
rufous coloration, and the distinctness of the dorsal striation 
and pectoral spots. Whether M. immaculata is a well-marked 
species or not can only be determined by a careful search for 
additional specimens. 

Of the last two novelties on the list, Procarduelis mandellii 
is my P. rubescens, published, with a figure, in the ‘ Proceed- 
ings of the Zoological Society ’ for 1871, p. 693, pl. Ixxiv.; and 
Eudromias tenuirostris is, 1 think, undoubtedly founded on a 
young specimen of Aigialitis hartingi, Swinhoe, P. Z. 8. 1870, 
p- 136, pl. xii., described from the Yang-tse-Kiang in China. 
Mr. Harting, to whom I am indebted for an opportunity of 
examining a specimen of Swinhoe’s species, agrees with me 
in thinking the two identical. 

In his remarks on Procarduelis mandellii, Mr. Hume says 
that both it and Propasser saturatus, W. Bl., were distin- 

SER. [11.—VOL. III. Q 


218 Mr. W. T. Blanford on ‘Stray Feathers’ 


guished by Mr. Mandelli from their allies, and leaves it to 
be inferred that I had not acknowledged the fact in the latter 
case. Imentioned in my description of the Procarduels that 
Mr. Mandelli had sent it and P. nipalensis to me, and had 
pointed out their distinctness ; but P. saturatus was sent to me 
by the same energetic ornithologist, together with a large 
number of other birds, for determination, and without any 
indication that its discoverer considered it a new species. 
Mr. Hume doubts whether P. saturatus may not, despite 
Moore’s description, be P. pulcherrimus, Hodgson. To deter- 
mine this question I have examined Mr. Hodgson’s type 
specimens of the species last named, in the British Museum. 
They differ completely from P. saturatus. But still I doubt 
whether the latter name can stand ; for the bird described by 
me appears to be the same as Carpodacus edwardsii, Ver- 
reaux, from Eastern Thibet (Nouv. Archives du Musée, Bull. vi. 
1870, p. 58). M. Verreaux’s paper, however, does not appear 
to have been received in London in time for mention in the 
‘Zoological Record’ for 1870 (vide Ibis, 1872, p. 465, and 
Zool. Rec. for 1871, pp. 40, 66), and certainly had not reached 
India when I published the description of P. saturatus in Sep- 
tember 1871 (Proc. A. 8S. B. 1871, p. 216); so I may, I think, 
be held excused for not having noticed the earlier description. 

The second paper in ‘Stray Feathers’ mentions the oc- 
currence of Falco barbarus in India, two specimens having 
been obtained, one by Dr. Stoliczka, in Kachh, the other by 
Mr. Blewitt, in the Narsingptr district of the central pro- 
vinces. I learn from Mr. Sharpe that there has for some 
years been an Indian specimen of this bird in the British 
Museum ; the locality, however, is not quoted in Mr. Gray’s 
Hand-list. Passing over a very interesting account of the 
breeding of Hlanus melanopterus (v. ceruleus) in India with 
the remark that Mr. Layard must be added to the number 
of those who have described this bird as laying white eggs 
(Ibis, 1868, p. 242), I must make a few remarks on Mr. 
Hume’s attempt to reduce into order the difficult question of 
Indian Pied Wagtails. I will preface what I have to say with 
the suggestion that Mr. Hume’s paper was probably written 


Mr. W. T. Blanford on ‘ Stray Feathers.’ 219 


some time before it was printed, and that this accounts for 
the omission of any mention of Mr. Swinhoe’s two papers on 
the Pied Wagtails of China, published in the Proc. Zool. Soe. 
for 1870, pp. 120 and 129, of Mr. Brooks’s description of Mo- 
tacilla cashmiriensis, Proc. As. Soc. Beng. 1871, p. 210, and 
J. A.S. B. 1872, vol. xli. pt. ii. p. 82, and of my own remarks 
on M. hodgsoni in the same volume, p. 59. In the latter I 
expressed my opinion that M. hodgsoni, with which I was 
much disposed to identify M. cashmiriensis of Mr. Brooks, is 
arace peculiar to the Himalayas and parts of Central Asia, 
and distinct from M. luzonica and M. japonica. Mr. Hume 
looks upon all these supposed species as varying phases of 
plumage more or less advanced towards the full breeding-dress, 
which he describes, and which appears to correspond with M. 
cashmiriensis, Brooks. But in case any one should be dis- 
posed to give a name to this full breeding-stage, Mr. Hume 
proposes to call it superciliaris. It appears scarcely necessary 
to add to the very extensive existing synonymy of the species. 

It is still far from clear that the opinion I expressed (J. c.) 
as to this black-chinned race being peculiar to the Himalayas, 
perhaps migrating in winter to those parts of the Indian 
plains which are near the hills, is not correct; for of all the 
forms of black-backed Wagtails from China described by Mr. 
Swinhoe, none agrees exactly with the Himalayan bird in full 
breeding-plumage, for which, in that case, the name M. hodg- 
soni would stand. I should mention that Mr. Swinhoe was 
apparently unaware that M. lwzoniensis, or at all events the 
Indian bird known by that name, has a black back in sum- 
mer plumage, and a grey one in winter garb; and I suspect 
that some of the species described by him are only phases of 
plumage. But without a series of specimens it would be hope- 
less to attempt to clear up the history of these birds. 

With Mr. Hume’s remarks on the identity of M. dukhu- 
nensis, Sykes, and M. alba, and the distinction of both from 
M. personata, Gould (=dukhunensis apud Jerdon), I quite 
agree, and I hope that Sykes’s name will be disused by all 
Indian ornithologists. I must, however, differ from the state- 
ment that “in winter both personata and dukhunensis entirely 

Q2 


220 Mr. W. T. Blanford on ‘Stray Feathers’ 


lose, in both sexes, the black of the head, which is replaced 
in the male by a dark, in the female by a lighter grey.” I 
cannot speak positively as to M. personata; but in M. alba of 
India I have always seen a black or blackish crown to the 
head of the male throughout the winter. Perhaps, after all, 
my “blackish” and Mr. Hume’s “dark grey” are the same 
thing. It is, however, confined to the crown, and is suffi- 
ciently well marked to be conspicuous at some distance. 

The fifth paper in ‘Stray Feathers’ is devoted to Flamin-. 
goes. Mr. Hume shows that the African Phenicopterus minor 
occurs in India, and that P. rubidus, Feilden (Ibis, 1868, 
p. 496), is the female in breeding-plumage, the brilliancy of 
the latter varying with the time of year, whilst the difference 
in the form of the bill, shown in Mr. Gray’s figures, Ibis, 
1869, p. 440, pls. xiii.,xv., is sexual. In the same way the 
head figured in pl. xiii. No. 2, by Mr. Gray, and said to be 
that of a very old Indian example of P. antiquorum, is stated 
by Mr. Hume to represent the form of bill peculiar to the 
female of that species. 

A note on “ anew (?) Polyplectron” describes some tail-fea- 
thers obtained from the Lushai country, and differing from 
those pertaining to either the Assamese and Bhotan species, 
usually known as P. chinguis, Temm., or the Malayan P. bical- 
caratum, L.: Mr. Hume considers it probable that the Lushai 
bird is the true P. chinquis of the ‘ Planches Coloriées,’ pl. 539, 
and that the Assam species must stand as P. tibetanum (L.) ; 
but in case the Lushai bird should be new, he proposes to call 
it “intermedius” *, The necessity for a new name is as little 
apparent here as in the case of the Black-backed Wagtail in 
breeding-plumage ; but Mr. Hume’s fear of being anticipated 
by some other ornithologist, as in the unfortunate instance 
which decided him upon becoming his own editor, evidently 
induces him to give names on the chance of their being per- 
petuated. The practice is common enough, it is true; but it 
is, I think, not followed by the best naturalists. 


* IT am indebted to Mr. Elliot for calling my attention to the fact that 
P. chinquis, Temm., i. e. P. thibetanum, L., has already been divided into 
three species by Mr. G. R. Gray (conf. Elliot, Phasianide, vol. i.). 


Mr. W. T. Blanford on ‘Stray Feathers.’ 221 


But there is something else to notice in the particular case 
of Polyplectron intermedium. Not only is the name given 
to a race which is, by the author of the title, believed to be 
the true P. chinqguis, Temm., but it is given to no complete 
specimen of the bird, but merely to a few tail-feathers. 
Against this practice I beg to protest. It is bad enough 
that, as in the Dicranoceras of Marsh, three generic names 
should be given to different bones of the same fossil mammal : 
but this is, to a certain extent, inevitable; for only fragments of 
extinct animals are usually found. But with living species 
it might at least be required that, to avoid confusion, each 
describer should have a complete specimen before him, and 
that names given to tail-feathers of birds and similar frag- 
ments should not be recognized. For if one name is ap- 
plied to the tail-feathers, why should not a second be given 
to the quills, and a third to the head or legs? and how is any 
one to identify a bird with a supposed species of which merely 
the tail-feathers are known? A well-known naturalist lately 
described as the type of a new genus and species the skull of 
a tortoise, on the carapace of which he had already founded 
another genus and species ; and I believe that no rule would 
be more worthy of general acceptance amongst naturalists 
than one specifying that all names given to imperfect speci- 
mens should be null and void, in the same manner as MS. 
names. The history of the supposed species of Argus Phea- 
sants recently founded on a few feathers believed to belong 
to birds unknown to science is instructive on this subject, 
since the original author of the name first given now seems 
to doubt whether any of the feathers in question belong to 
birds of the genus Argus at all, whilst some of the feathers 
figured in Mr. Ellot’s ‘Monograph of the Phasianidz’ as 
primaries of one of the unknown species are declared to be 
rectrices of Pavo muticus! (Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. July 1872, 
p- 67). 

To return to ‘Stray Feathers.’ In a note on the Skylarks 
of India, Mr. Hume considers that there are two well-marked 
species, one a form of Alauda arvensis, l., the other the bird 
(comprising several local varieties) commonly known as A. 


222 Mr. W. T. Blanford on ‘Stray Feathers, 


gulgula, Franklin, for which Mr. Hume adopts as the oldest 
name A. malabarica, Scopoli, under the belief that the figure - 
in Sonnerat’s book, upon which Scopoli’s name was founded, 
represents the rufous bird inhabiting the Nilgiri hills m 
Southern India. Against this use of Scopoli’s name I must 
enter a caveat.. Dr. Jerdon’s Alauda malabarica was, I be- 
lieve, Spizalauda deva (cf. J. A. 8S. B. vol. xxxviii. pt. 1. 
p- 188, and vol. xxxix. pt. ii. p. 119); and I am told by Lord 
Walden that Dr. Jerdon, after his return to England, on see- 
ing a copy of Sonnerat’s work with coloured plates, satisfied 
himself that his identification of Scopoli’s bird was correct. 
If this be the case, Spizalauda deva will become S. malabarica, 
and the Nilgiri Skylark will require a name, if it be necessary 
to separate it from A. gulgula, Frankl. ; but Jerdon, who knew 
both races well, did not separate them, and Mr. Hume’s 
opinion also tends towards union. 

I pass on to what I cannot but consider the most important 
subject treated in the whole number, the Ornithology of Sind. 
Mr. Hume’s short note is, so far as I know, the first attempt 
at any general account of the avifauna of one of the most 
remarkable parts of India, although a few of the most im- 
portant birds met with in Sind were mentioned in a letter 
from Mr. Hume, printed in last year’s ‘ Ibis,’ p.46. My own 
experience of the province is small; but so far as it goes, it 
entirely agrees with Mr. Hume’s description; and as regards 
the interest of the matter to myself, I can only say that for 
years I have been in hopes of making such a collection of 
Sind birds as Mr. Hume has succeeded in bringing together, 
and I sincerely trust that he will give, as he promises, a 
complete list of the birds he has obtained in the province. 
Meantime I have one or two brief remarks to make on the 
species mentioned. 

Blandfordius striatulus, which, however, is not described, 
is probably a new genus as well as species; at least I do not 
think I have met with the description of the genus elsewhere 
in ornithology. Ifthe generic name is, as I presume, a compli- 
ment to myself, and the d in the middle is one of the numerous 
additions with which, as every writer who has suffered knows, 


Mr. W. T. Blanford on ‘Stray Feathers.’ 220 


Calcutta printers have a wonderful habit of embellishing the 
works that come under their hands*, I must point out that 
for many years past there has been a genus Blanfordia of 
Arthur Adams established amongst the Mollusca, and that it 
will be better to use some other appellation. 

Pyrrhulauda affinis, Blyth, which I obtained near Ka- 
rachi, proves to be identical with P. melanauchen of Cabanis. - 
I have compared a specimen from Baluchistan with the type 
of Blyth’s species in Mr. Gould’s collection, and with speci- 
mens of P. melanauchen collected by myself on the coast of 
the Red Sea. I have no faith in the occurrence of this species 
in Madras. 

The last paper in ‘Stray Feathers’ merely announces the 
first draft of a conspectus of all the species of birds, so far as 
is known to the author, hitherto observed in any part of India 
—the latter name being used in a very wide sense, as Mr, Hume 
makes it to include not only Cashmere, Nepal, and Sikkim, but 
Ladak, and even Yarkand. I doubt if the admission of the lat- 
ter country is advisable, because, if Yarkand be considered part 
of India, why are Afghanistan, Kelat, and, for that matter, 
Persia left out? Surely Yarkand has no claim, either on 
zoological, geographical, ethnological, or political grounds, to 
be included in India, however little we may be desirous that 
it should be made part of Russia. I quite agree with Mr. 
Hume in thinking that a list of the avifauna of India should 
include the birds of all countries belonging to the government 
of British India or dependent upon it, together with Ceylon ; 
but since this limit is not coincident with the boundary of 
any marked zoological province, it would be, f think, well to 
omit all regions outside the line which marks the British rule. 

The conspectus promised will be no mere list, since Mr. 
Hume promises many most valuable notes on nidification, and 

* In the present work errors in the spelling of names are rather fre- 
quent; thus on p. 25, Captain Shelley’s name is spelt Shelly; pp. 31-35, 
Captain Feilden is called Captain Fielden; on p, 45, Melhizophilus striatus, 
Brookes, appears instead of Brooks; and on page 49, Sharp instead of 
Sharpe is quoted as the author of the ‘ Monograph of Alcedinide.’ Those 


who have had to do with Calcutta printers well know the extreme diffi- 
culty of avoiding such mistakes. 


224 Mr. W. T. Blanford on ‘Stray Feathers, - 


descriptions and measurements of all species not included in 
Jerdon’s ‘ Birds of India.’ That such a work will be a most 
valuable boon to the ornithologists of India there can be no 
doubt whatever. All that is needed to perfect the work, is 
that some European ornithologist, with the requisite leisure 
and access to books, should correct the synonymy of the Indian 
birds. How necessary a careful work of this kind is one in- 
stance may serve to show. Circus pallidus, Sykes, is quoted 
in two instances in ‘ The Ibis’ for last year, as the oldest 
name of the Pale-chested Harrier. The same mistake is made 
by Mr. Gray in his ‘ Hand-list of Birds.’ Yet Sir A. Smith’s 
name, C. swainsoni, has priority by two years, having been 
first published in the ‘South African Quarterly Journal’ for 
1830, p. 384, whilst Sykes’s name was not published before 
1832 (P.Z.S. p. 80). 


P.S. Whilst the preceding paper was passing through the 
press, I received, by post, the second part of ‘ Stray Feathers,’ 
comprising Nos. 2, 3, and 4, published together in February 
of this year. This part consists of no less than 273 pages, 
200 of which are devoted to a valuable paper by Mr. Hume 
on the ornithology of Sind, containing a diary of the author’s 
journey through the province, and of his voyage along the 
Makran coast to Muscat, in Arabia, together with copious 
notes of the birds coliected. For several of these, “ provi- 
sional” names are proposed. I can here only call attention 
to this paper, which I believe to be the most important con- 
tribution to Indian crnithology that has appeared for several 
years. . 

The other papers in the present part of ‘Stray Feathers’ 
are :—A list of the birds known to occur in the Andaman and 
Nicobar islands, by Mr. V. Ball; Notes upon some of the 
Indian and European Eagles (A. mogilnik, A. nevia, and the 
forms hitherto confounded with them), by Mr. A. V. Brooks ; 
Descriptions of the following novelties by Mr. Hume :—Col- 
localha innominata and Brachypodius fuscoflavescens, from the 
Andaman Islands; Pellorneum minus, from 'Thayetmyo, Pegu; 
Blanfordius striatulus, nov. gen. et sp. (a Malurine bird, near 


Mr. W. T. Blanford on two new Birds. 225 


Suya), from Karachi, Sind; Carpophaga palumboides and Ma- 
reca albogularis, fromthe Andamans. The remaining papers, 
all by Mr. Hume, are :—Additional notes on the avifauna of 
the Andamans ; notes on Spizaétus kienerit ; and shorter notes 
on the eggs of Megapodius nicobaricus, on Indicator xantho- 
notus, on an EKagle-Owl from Kulu, to be called Bubo hema- 
chalanus if distinct from B. maximus, on Archibuteo hemi- 
ptilopus, Procarduelis mandellii, recognized as identical with 
P. rubescens (Mr. Hume explains his mistake in redescribing 
this bird), on the occurrence of Poliornis liventer, Temm., 
at Thayet Myo, on a Spizaétus from Travancore, described 
as S. sphynx, on Chelidon urbica, from the Nilgiri hills, on 
a lutino of Paleornis rosa, and on the occurrence of Parus 
cinereus at Purneah. 


XX V.—Descriptions of anew Jay and a new Woodpecker from 
Persia. By Witwiam T. Buanrorp, F.G.S., C.M.Z.S. 


GARRULUS HYRCANUS, Sp. Nov. 


G. affinis G. glandario, sed minor ; tarso breviore ;_ pilei plumis 
nigris anguste rufescenti- vel rufo-schistaceo marginatis, 
haud albido ; gulé isabelliné in colorem saturatiorem pec- 
toris gradatim transeunte, remige secundario penultimo 
et plerumque antepenultimo macula ferrugineé magna ad 
pogonium externum signatis. 

Long. ale 6°5, caudz 5:2, tarsi 1°6, rostri a fr. 1°2. 

Hab. im sylvis Hyrcaniz, hodie Mazendaran dicte, in parte 
septentrionali regni recentis Persici haud procul a litore 
maris Caspil. 

Head above black, the feathers with narrow rufous edges, 
which are isabelline towards the forehead, rufous slaty behind, 
never white as in G. glandarius and G. japonicus, but rather 
resembling those in G. brandti; sides of head pale rufous, the 
ear-coverts being decidedly paler than the back. A black 
patch at the base of the lower mandible extending a short 
distance down the side of the throat, but not on to the lores. 
Hind neck and back vinaceous, with a grey tinge, upper tail- 
coverts white. ‘Tail brownish black, the central feathers and 
outer webs of some of the others with imperfect narrow bluish 


226 Mr. W. T. Blanford on two new Birds. 


grey transverse bars near the base. Quills brownish black ; 
all the primaries except the first with broad white margins ; 
basal portion of outer web of secondaries, except the five 
nearest the body, white, with a blue spot at the further end of 
the white portion and blue bands near the wing ; last secon- 
dary but four with blue, black, and white bands near the base 
of the outer web; last but three blackish brown throughout, 
the last three with an increasing amount of ferruginous brown, 
restricted to the outer web in all but the last, in which it ex- 
tends over both webs and only the tip of the feathers is black. 
Wing-coverts as in G. glandarius, those of the primaries banded 
blue and black. Chin and throat rufous white passing gra- 
dually into the rufous of the breast and abdomen, which are 
nearly of the same colour as the back. Vent and lower tail- 
coverts white. 


Pics SANCTI-JOHANNIS, Sp. NOV. 

P. affinis P. medio, sed pileo minus roseo, pectore albo haud 
fulvo, abdomine medio flavo, crisso subcaudalibusque solis 
coccineis, pectoris lateribus abdomineque striis nigris an- 
gustioribus signatis ; rectricibus extimis fascié unica alba. 
mediocri transversi, nec duabus latis notatis, penultimis 
extus albo maculatis, haud fasciatis, reliquis omnino ni- 
gris; remigibus e contrario maculis albis majoribus sig- 
nati. Long. ale 4°75, caudz 2°75, tarsi 0°8, rostri a 
fronte 1, poll. Angl. et dec. 

Hab. in quercetis prope urbem Shiraz, m Persia meridionali, 
ad alt. circa 4000-7000 ped. Angl. supra mare. 

Crown of the head scarlet, less crimson than in P. medius ; 
forehead, lores, and sides of the head, including the feathers 
above the eye, white, with a slight isabelline tinge, which is 
more pronounced on the forehead ; ear-coverts greyish, with 
a greyish white band passing from behind them to the side of 
the breasts, in front of which is a sooty black band, rather 
irregular in form, terminating in an imperfect pectoral gorget. 
Nape brownish black, back brown, rump and upper tail- 
coverts brownish black, the former and the lower back mixed 
with dark ashy grey, from the bases of the feathers showing. 
Tail dull black, without any white on the six central feathers, 
the penultimate pair with two white spots on the outer and 


Letters, Announcements, &c. 227 


one on the inner web, the latter corresponding with one of 
the former, but not meeting it as in P. medius ; perhaps in 
fresh moult these feathers may have a small white tip, of 
which, however, no trace remains in the specimens collected. 
The outermost rectrices have a white tip, a rather irregular 
white bar about half an inch from the end, much narrower 
than the black band beyond it, and one or two more white 
spots on one or both webs nearer their base. . Scapulars white ; 
wing-coverts brownish black, some of those next the scapu- 
laries edged and tipped with white ; quills brownish black, with 
white spots on both margins, those on the outer primaries 
being about as long as the intervening black spaces ; altogether 
these spots form six bands on the primaries and four on the 
secondaries, the band at the base being partly concealed by 
the coverts. These bands are conspicuously broader than in 
P. medivs. Breast dull white, with imperfect black gorget ; 
sides of the breast and flanks, which are greyish, and the ab- 
domen, with narrow, long, black streaks ; middle of abdomen 
yellow; lower abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts scarlet. 

Of this new Woodpecker three specimens were procured 
in the oak-forests near Shiraz by Major St. John, R.E., after 
whom I have named the species. 


XX VI.—Letters, Announcements, Sc. 


The following letters, addressed “To the Editor of ‘ The. 

Ibis,’ ” have been received :— 
Ningpo, December 1872. 

Dear S1x,—Last mail has placed ‘The Ibis’ of July in my 
hands. Mr. J. H. Gurney (p. 828) refers to my confusing 
Scops japonicus with a species of Lempijius. I regret the 
blunder and have been at some pains to clear up the matter. 
The bird I procured at ‘Tamsuy (N.W. Formosa) (noted in 
‘The Ibis,” 1865, p. 348) was the bird now in the Norwich 
museum, which Mr. Gurney discovered to be a Lempijius. 
I received it from the interior, in skin, and could not note 
the colour of its eyes. But the bird procured at a later date 


228 Letters, Announcements, &c. 


at Takow (S.W. Formosa) (noted in ‘The Ibis,’ 1866, p. 307) 
was a true Scops japonicus, as the measurements will, I think, 
show. I had it alive for some days. 

As regards Brachyotus accipitrinus (Gmel.), I once put up 
at the back of Apes’ Hill an Owl that I took for this species ; 
but as I was not sure of it I omitted all mention of the oc- 
currence. 

It is interesting to learn that the Merlin (F. lithofalco, 
Gmel.) has occurred in Formosa. It is a winter visitant to 
South China. I have had it from Amoy and Swatow. 

I think we are wrong in identifying Milvus melanotis with 
M. govinda. Our bird has bluish white or light leaden legs 
and feet, with sometimes a slight tinge only of yellow; 
whereas the Indian species has the yellow always well marked. 
In the ‘ Fauna Japonica’ the feet are painted bright yellow ; 
but this must be wrong, as I cannot believe the Japanese Kite 
to be distinct from ours. Radde (Reisen, Taf. 1) also paints 
his young Kite in the same way. 

I note what Mr. H. J. Elwes remarks on our two Henicuri. 
I am not in a position here to dispute the validity of the 
species. Among our hills H. sinensis, Gould, is a very com- 
mon species, and I am trying to learn all I can about it. The 
colour of the legs, feet, and claws, in all the Henicuri I know, 
is that of pale bloodless flesh, say veal; I fancy therefore that 
they are wrongly coloured in the plate of H. frontalis, which 
is otherwise excellent. 

On Mr. E. W. H. Holdsworth’s catalogue of Ceylon birds 
(P. Z.S. 1872, p. 404) I should like to make a few remarks. 
Mr. Holdsworth describes a new species of Zosterops from the 
Ceylon hills. I may mention that I have from Capt. Bulger’s 
collection a very similar species, marked Madras, which I 
showed Dr. Jerdon in 1871, and poimted out to him wherein 
it differed from Z. palpebrosus. Dr. Jerdon shrugged his 
shoulders and said that he did not believe in the small dif- 
ferences that people considered sufficient to separate the mem- 
bers of this group. The Madras bird appears close to Z. cey- 
lonensis, Holdsworth, in size and colour, but has no more 
yellow on the under neck than the ordinary species ; in fact 


Letters, Announcements, &c. 229 


you might take it for alarge Z. simplex of South China. My 
single specimen is in my collection at home, or I would now 
describe and dedicate it to our lamented friend, Dr. Jerdon. 

When at Galle (Ceylon) in the spring of last year (April), 
I shot a pair of the Z. palpebrosus. They seemed in habits 
and note to be very similar to the South-China bird. Their 
tongues were brushed at the tip. The male had small testes ; 
and the birds were still in little parties and had apparently 
not commenced to breed. 

I also got a male Arachnechthra lotenia, with a tongue long 
and brushed at the end. Its testes were large and white; and 
its gizzard contained a number of small Tipule (Harry Long- 
legs) entire. 

A large tree ran into a dead pole at its top. In a small 
hole in this dead wood, about 50 feet from the ground, a pair 
of small Barbets had their nest. The male flew to the tree 
and called to his mate, and she flew out and sat by his side. 
I procured the pair. They were Xantholema rubricapilla 
(Gmel.), and had dull coral-red legs and feet with black claws, 
soles ochreous ; iris brown; bellies bare. The stomach of 
the female was empty ; and she was evidently going to be re- 
lieved by the male, who by the bareness of his belly apparently 
took his share in incubation. In birds where the sexes are 
alike both parents seem to take a share in sitting on the eggs, 
so far as I have observed ; but where the males are hand- 
somer, they only do the gallant to the females by taking them 
refreshment while engaged in brooding. I do not state this as 
a law, but suggest it as an idea to invite further investigation. 

To another small hole in a smooth-stemmed tree, about 30 
feet from the ground, I watched a male Copsychus take food 
to a female on her eggs. They were common about the native 
huts in the gloom of cocoanut-groves. In habits and notes 
they reminded me entirely of our Chinese Magpie Robin, which 
is also distinguished for the extraordinary nuptial antics of 
the male, I shot a pair; but the bird is so rare here that I 
have not yet had a chance of comparing Chinese with Ceylon 
specimens. 

Babbling Thrushes (Malacocercus striatus) were often seen 


230 Letters, Announcements, &c. 


along the high road picking among the droppings of horses 
and cattle. They were in groups of half a dozen, and very tame, 
merely flying up to the branch of one of the trees lining the 
road, where they basked in the sun-light, sidling to one 
another with rounded back and drooped wings and tail, 
and talking amongst themselves in coaxing tones. I shot a 
pair. They were in worn and faded plumage, and very mangy- 
looking. They had the iris, beak, legs, and claws pale lemon- 
colour ; inside of the mouth orange-yellow. The male had 
the testes white and small; the female numerous small eggs 
in a backward state. The stomachs of both contained rice- 
and grass-seeds. They were often to be observed clustered 
at the base of cocoanut-fronds. 

I shot also a Buchanga leucopygialis (Blyth), and a small 
Centropus, which, as it certainly is not C. rufipennis, I took 
for C. chlororhynchus. Both the specimens I procured of this 
were females, and I thought possibly the female of this species 
might have the bill black. I find now that this is not so. 
Our bird differs from C. rufipennis in being much smaller and 
having a larger bill, in having broader tail-feathers, black, 
only lightly tinged and obscurely barred across. The beak 
between the scapulars is blue-black, like the neck; and the 
scapulars are a much darker and richer chestnut than the 
wings. Its differences are conspicuous when compared with 
C. sinensis, which was not the case with the Bengal C. rufi- 
pennis. The females are in adult plumage, which is much the 
same as that of the male. Length about 174 inches, wing 73, 
tail93. It is possible that the true C. rufipennis (so called) of 
Bengal, may be found in the north of Ceylon; but I should 
think the South-Ceylon form was worthy of distinction. 

At Penang I was so fortunate as to pick up a bright ex- 
ample of a pigmy Centropus of the rufipennis type, which I 
thought must be the true C. eurycercus, A. Hay, and that I 
had hitherto mistaken that bird; but Lord Walden’s article 
“on the Birds of Celebes” (Trans. Z.S. vol. viii. pt. 2), has 
come opportunely to hand, and teaches me (p. 57) that my 
Malacea bird is C. rectunguis, Strickland. 

In Galle Cecropis hyperythra was flying about im small 


Letters, Announcements, &c. 231 


parties; but in Penang the prevailing Swallow was the Hirundo 

javanica, Sparrm., a pair of which had a nest on a punkah- 
rope in the upper story of the small hotel near the waterfall, 
It was built on a narrow wooden girdle that encircled the 
rope, about a foot and a half from the ceiling, looked much 
like a Common Swallow’s nest, was open at the top, and 
contained three young ones. The eggs, the attendant told 
me, had been whitish, with pink spots. The punkah had not 
been pulled since the birds took to the site. 

Numbers of Cypselus subfuscatus and C. bataviensis were 
flying about overhead; and occasionally a Macropteryx co- 
matus dashed by the side of a hill, its lovely metallic colouring 
glistening vividly. 

We procured a Merops quinticolor . Bill black; tongue 
long and deeply cleft. Inner mouth yellowish flesh-colour. 
Testes small. Stomach contained small flies. Legs and feet 
dirty ight brick-colour, claws black. 

From a birdstuffer at Penang, among other birds, I bought 
a pair of Dacelo concreta,'Temm. The bills of these were a 
fine rich ochreous buff on the under mandible and edge of 
upper, and the female much like the figure given for a young 
bird in Sharpe’s monograph. 

At sea, off Cochin China, on the 14th May, a female Tringa 
salina (Pall.) flew on board, thin and half starved. Bill and 
legs, toes and claws, deep bronzed black. Eggs in the ovary 
fewandsmall. Land not visible. 

On the 15th May, off Hainan (still no land), a Calobates 
melanops (Pall.) appeared on deck and caught flies. Several 
Swallows about the ship (Hirundo gutturalis, Secop.).  Flocks 
of white Gannets about, stopping and hovering over disturbed 
water, roughened by the surface-gambolling of shoals of fish. 
The fish kept jumping, and the Gannets chargmg down 
amongst them. Some of the Gannets followed the ship. A 
specimen was captured, and shows the species to be Sula pis- 
catrix (L.). Yours, &e., 

Rosert SWINHOE. 


232 Letters, Announcements, &c. 


Marldon, near Totnes. 
15th February 1873. 

S1r,—I am desirous of availing myself of the pages of ‘The 
Ibis’ for the purpose of recording the existence in Damara- 
Land of a bird which was not included in my edition of the 
late Mr. Andersson’s Damara notes, but which subsequently 
to the publication of that volume has come to my knowledge 
as being entitled to a place in the fauna of that country. 

This is Graculus lucidus, Licht., as to which I am indebted 
to Mr. Malin, Curator of the museum of Gothenburgh, for 
the knowledge of the existence of two specimens presented 
by Mr. Andersson to that collection, and obtained by him 
in Walvisch Bay on the 2nd and 22nd October 1863. 

In connexion with the volume above referred to, I may 
perhaps, without impropriety, recur to the question (which 
seems to me to be raised by the editorial remarks in p. 92 of 
the last number of ‘The Ibis’) as to the use of generic names 
of a barbaric character, whether the rule of priority ought 
not to be applied as strictly to generic and subgeneric names 
as to those which are specific. 

My own view is that the rule of priority should be observed 
in all these cases, and for this reason—namely, that, so far as 
I can judge, it is impossible to define the degree of barbarism 
which ought to cause an only or an oldest existing name to 
be ignored. : 

I endeavoured to follow this rule in my edition of Anders- 
son’s notes, and in doing so I used “ Kaupifalco” as an older 
term than its synonym “ Asturinula,” and “ Hagedashia” as 
the only name yet published for the restricted subgeneric 
group of two species which it was intended to denote. 

I am yours, &e. 
J. H. Gurney. 


Sir,—The identification of the females and immature birds 
of the genus Circus has caused a good deal of perplexity ; and 
I would therefore call attention to some specific distinctions 
which I have recently noticed in the four Harriers found in 
Europe, and which, strange to say, do not appear to have 


Letters, Announcements, &c. 233 


been hitherto recorded in any work with which I am ac- 
quainted. The difficulty has been principally with the fe- 
males and young of the Hen, the Pallid, and Montague’s 
Harriers ; but I will go through the group. 

C. eruginosus (Linn.). There is little danger of mistaking 
this species in any stage; but I may remark that the outer 
web of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th primaries is emarginated. 

C. cyaneus (Linn.) has also the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th 
primaries emarginated on the outer web. This formation of 
the 5th primary would appear to be characteristic of nearly 
all the Harriers ; it appears in specimens labelled C. ranivorus, 
C. assimilis, C. wolfii, C. spilonotus, C. hudsonius, C. melano- 
leucus in the British Museum, and doubtless in others which 
I have not been able to examine. But as regards the two 
remaining European species, C. swainsonit, Smith (C. pallidus, 
Sykes), has the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th primaries, but not the Sth ; 
and the same holds good of C. cineraceus, Mont. 

Hence it follows that C. cyaneus can by no possibility be 
confounded with either of these two species, which in the 
formation of the 5th primary seem to stand apart from any 
others. Having thus reduced the elements of confusion to 
two species, let us apply another test, which this time will be 
found in the 2nd primary. In C. swainsonii the emargination 
of the 2nd primary begins on a level with the wing-coverts, 
so that the bulge or widening of the outer web is almost or 
entirely hidden; but in C. cineraceus this emargination com- 
mences nearly or quite an inch below the line of these coverts, 
and the bulge is visible at a glance. There are other points 
of distinction, such as the length of the 3rd primary, which 
is relatively longer in C. cineraceus than in C. swainsonii ; but 
where the wings are abraded this is often not available; and, 
indeed, the number of errors which I have discovered in the 
course of working out this point, in the labels of the speci- 
mens I have examined from various collections, would suffice 
to show that the rules hitherto laid down have not been in- 
fallible. No dependence can be placed upon the sexes and 
labels of immature birds from the Volga, many of which seem 
to have been designated C. cyaneus, C. pallidus, or C. cine- 

SER. I1I.—VOL. II. R 


234 Letters, Announcements, &c. 

raceus at the pleasure of the writer; the labels of adults are 
generally, although not always, correct, a large female C. cy- 
aneus being sometimes referred to C. pallidus, or a young male 
referred to a female C. pallidus, and this in spite of the blue 
tinge and fading bars on the tail, proving that the specimen 
in question can never have been properly sexed. But the test 
of the 2nd primary in separating the two nearly allied species 
has proved as constant as is that of the 4th and 5th primaries 
in distinguishing them from C. cyaneus ; it has never allowed 
of an instant’s vacillation in upwards of twenty specimens of 
each species from different localities ; at the same time it has 
never been admitted as settling the question until the decision 
was fully borne out by most careful examination and measure- 
ments where such were possible. 

It is interesting to notice that Bonaparte separated from 
C. erugimosus the Harriers with a facial disk like the three 
species in question, and erected them into a genus, Sévigiceps ; 
but it is doubtful whether the fact of the 5th primary bemg 
of a different shape in C. swainsonii and C. cinereaceus is not 
a still better generic distinction, although not a good one 
to my mind; at all events it seems to weaken the generic 
value of Strigiceps. 

Yours &e., 
Howarp SAUNDERS. 


Before this number of ‘The Ibis’ reaches its readers, Mr. 
Osbert Salvin will be far on his way across the Atlantic to 
his old collecting-quarters im Guatemala, where he proposes 
to spend the next few months. In the meanwhile the under- 
signed has undertaken to attend to the interests of this Journal, 
and will do his best to see that they do not suffer from the 
temporary absence of its legitimate Editor. 

P, L. ScxaTer. 


ELK > DB digs: 


THIRD SERIES. 


No. XI. JULY 1878. 


XX VII.—Notes on the Ornithology of Sardinia. 
By A. B. Brooks, F.Z.8. 


[Continued from page 155. ] 


32. YUNX TORQUILLA. 

I only on one occasion came across this bird during the 
months of April, May, and the early part of June, although 
one would imagine numbers must pass through the island on 
their migration, as they are exceedingly numerous at that 
season amongst the olive-groves along the Riviera. I think, 
however, the spring of 1871 must have been an unfavourable 
one for migration, as I met with very few species, and very 
few individuals of each species excepting the most common. 
The same remark was also made to me by Marquis Doria 
in reference to Genoa, which is in ordinary seasons one of 
the best spots on that coast. 


33. GECINUS VIRIDIS. 

I never saw or heard this bird during any of my visits to the 
south of the island; neither did Salvadori during his stay there. 
It is stated by Cara to be not uncommon in the north. 


34. Prous Masor. 

Extremely common in the forests, where his loud clicking 
note is always to be heard. 

SER. 111.—VOL. ILI. S 


236 Mr. A. B. Brooke on the 


35. Picus minor. 
Not uncommon, according to Cara. I never saw one. 


36. CucuLuUs CANORUS. 

Very common in summer. I heard the first on the 8th of 
April 1871, and on the 11th of April 1870. In the Riviera 
I have heard them as early as the 4th of April. 


37. CORACIAS GARRULA 
is stated by Signor Cara to frequent in small numbers cer- 
tain localities between Cagliari and Orre, and also near Ori- 


stano. I did not see any during my short stay in the latter 
place. 


38. ALCEDO ISPIDA. 

It is curious I never saw a Kingfisher during my stay in 
Sardinia, although I visited many likely localities. Cara and 
Salvadori, however, state it is not uncommon. 


39. Mmrrors APrasTER. 

From about the 17th of April large flocks of these birds 
began to appear, flying very high im a northerly direction. 
The first arrivals seemed all to pass on further north ; and it 
was quite a week later before they began to settle in the south 
of the island. On their migration they keep up their soft 
musical note, which can be heard a long distance off. Large 
numbers build in the island. 


40. Uprupa Epops. 

Common, arriving in considerable numbers in spring. Cara 
states that some stay during the winter, which I think doubtful. 
They arrive very early in April. I had a nestling brought 
to me on the 29th of May. 

41. CaPRIMULGUS EUROPKUS. 


I only once put up one of these birds, on the top of some 
high mountains, in the middle of April. 


4.2. CYPSELUS MELBA. 

On the 30th of March I first saw a pair of Swifts ; but they 
were flying too high to distinguish to which species they be- 
longed. 'The present species builds in great numbers in the 
high rocks and precipices about the mountains. 


Ornithology of Sardinia. 237 


43. CYPSELUS APUS. 

This and the preceding species arrive about the same time, 
viz. the end of the first week in April. During that month 
I constantly met small flocks flying rapidly and steadily in a 
northerly direction, over the large plain, extremely low, and 
taking advantage of every small dip and hollow to shelter 
themselves from the strong northerly wind which was blowing 
during the month. 


44, CHELIDON URBICA. 
First seen on the 27th of March. Very common and breed- 
ing in the island. 


45. Hinunpo RUSTICA. 

Arrives in small numbers about the end of February or 
early in March, from which time they keep gradually increas- 
ing in numbers. Young birds were hatched about the 9th 
of May. 


46. CoryLE RUPESTRIS. 
Common and resident, breeding in the rocks and cliffs. 


47. CoryLE RIPARIA. 
Arrives early in March, and is common. 


48. MuscicaPa GRISOLA. 
Common in summer, arriving in the middle of April. 


49. MuscIcAPA ATRICAPILLA. 
I procured a female of this species, the only specimen I ever 
saw, on the 24th of April. 


50. MuscicAPaA COLLARIS. 
Not common. 


51. Lanrus EXCUBITOR. 
Rare. There are two specimens in the Caghari museum. 


52. LANIUS MINOR. 

Dr. Salvadori mentions this bird as being very common. 
It certainly is not so about the south, where I never met with 
a single specimen. 

53. Lanius AURICULATUS. 

Most abundant. Began to appear on the 7th of April; 

$2 


238 Mr. A. B. Brooke on the 


from that date their numbers were increased rapidly by fresh 
arrivals; and towards the middle of the month the topmost 
leaf of every cactus hedge, which forms their favourite perch, 
was sure to be occupied by one of this species. They seem to 
prefer plains, as, although they extend occasionally into the 
low hills, I never remember seeing one in the high mountains. 


54. LANIUs COLLURIO. 

Arrives a great deal later than the preceding species (the 
first I saw not being till the 10th of May), and is not so nu- 
merous. They also differ considerably in their choice of lo- 
cality, preferrmg the low hills and mountains, and bemg 
rarely found on the plain. The stomach of one I shot was 
full of the elytra of beetles and a small lizard. 

Note.—Lanius meridionalis is cluded in Dr. Salvadori’s 
list of the birds of Sardinia; but he has since rectified his mis- 
take in Sharpe and Dresser’s ‘ Birds of Europe,’ in their ex- 
cellent article on the Southern Grey Shrike. It, therefore, 
cannot be included in this list. 


55. Parus Masor. 

By far the commonest Titmouse in Sardinia, where it is 
resident ; and during spring their loud call-note is to be heard 
ringing through every orchard. 


56. Parus ATER. 
Scarce; confined to the forests on the mountains. 


57. Parus CHRULEUS. 

Moderately common. In the winter they come down about 
the plains, where I never remember having seen them during 
summer. 


58. TicHoDROMA MURARIA. 
Rare. 


59. 'TROGLODYTES VULGARIS. 
Extremely common in the mountains; but I never remember 
hearing or seeing one on the plains. 


60. CINCLUS AQUATICUS. 
It surprised me very much to find this bird absent on many 


Ornithology of Sardinia. 239 


streams that I constantly examined both in the mountains 
and plains, though Cara and Salvadori consider it common. 
This certainly is not the case in the south of the island. 


61. TurpUs visctvorus. 
Common all the year round in the mountains. 


62. TurDUS PILARIS. 
A rare winter visitor. 


63. Turpus IL1Acus. 
A winter visitor, but never numerous. 


64. Turpus musicus. 
Extremely abundant in winter. Very few, if any, remain 
to breed. 


65. TurDUS MERULA. 
Common at all seasons; but their numbers are greatly in- 
creased during winter. 


66. Monricota cyanvs. 
Common and stationary all the year. I have heard their 
wild cheerful song early in March. 


67. MonTICOLA SAXATILIS. 
Included in Cara’s and Salvadori’s list as “not rare.” I 
never saw one. 


68. SaxIcoLA LEUCURA. 
A rare visitor. Salvadori mentions one having been killed 
near Cagliari during his visit there in winter. 


69. SAXICOLA STAPAZINA. 

70. SAXICOLA AURITA. 

I never saw either of these species ; but they are included 
in both of the above-mentioned lists. 


71. SaxIcOLA @NANTHE. 

First appeared on the 7th of April, after which date they 
were very abundant on the plains. Salvadori mentions having 
seen some during winter along the Scaffa of Maddalena in 
the north of the island. 


240 Mr. A. B. Brooke on the 


72. PRATINCOLA RUBETRA. 


Not common. ‘he only occasion on which I met with this 


bird was during the early part of May, in the extreme S.W. 
of the island. 


73. PRATINCOLA RUBICOLA,. 


Common and stationary. They are always very shy and 
hard to approach, 


74, ACCENTOR ALPINUS. 

My brother, Sir V. Brooke, who was with me in November 
1869, observed a small flock of this species amongst the rocks 
at the back of Villacidro; it is, however, a rare bird in the 
island ; and none remain during the summer. 

75. ACCENTOR MODULARIS. 


I do not consider this by any means a common bird in the 


island. I only met with it on one occasion; this was in the 
month of March. | 


76. RouriciLLa PHO@NICURA, 

I never saw this species till the beginning of April. Sal- 
vadori mentions having seen some during winter. 

77. Ruvici.ya virimys. 


Not uncommon during winter. I do not think they remain 
to breed in the south of the island. 


78. KnitmACUS RUBECULA,. 

Common. I have noticed a great accession of numbers in 
the plain during winter, but do not feel certain whether these 
are residents in the island, driven from the mountains by the 
severity of the weather, or whether they are fresh arrivals. 
I never saw Robins im Sardinia on any occasion resorting 


to houses, gardens, &c. in the same manner as on the 
continent. 


79. DAULIAS LUSCINIA. 

Arrives in great numbers during the month of April, ap- 
pearing generally about the 15th. From that date till the 
beginning of June the whole country is alive with their glo- 
rious song bursting forth from every hedge and bush. 


Ornithology of Sardinia. 241 


Note.—Daulias philomela. Signor Cara includes this 
species in his catalogue; but a supposed specimen shown by 
him to me, and now in my collection, belongs to the com- 
mon species (D. luscinia). 


80. CURRUCA ATRICAPILLA. 

Common and abundant, arriving in considerable numbers 
in spring. I think a few remain in favourite localities all the 
winter, as I have seen them early in March, long before the 
arrival of any species of Sylviidee. They are very partial to 
olive-groves. 


81. CurRUCA MELANOCEPHALA. 
Extremely numerous, both on the hills and plains, all the 
year round, 


82. SYLVIA CURRUCA. 
Not common ; there is one specimen in the Cagliari muscum. 


83. SYLVIA CINEREA. 
Common during summer. 


84. SYLVIA CONSPICILLATA. 

Very common in all the uncultivated parts of the plain, 
where it is found in company with C. melanocephala and M. 
sardus ; but I have never seen it on the hills. It is, I think, 
the most shy of all the Warblers. During the months of April 
and May the cock bird may generally be seen perched on the 
highest twig of cistus forty or fifty yards off; but the moment 
one tries to approach any nearer, it flies off low over the 
ground, lighting again in a similar situation ; and this is re- 
peated time after time in the most tantalizing manner. I do not 
think all, if any, of these Warblers migrate in winter, as I have 
seen as many early in March as at any other time of the year. 
Excepting during the spring, they are very hard to see, always 
keeping in thick cover ; and unless come upon unawares, they 
ercep away through the twigs, close along the ground, with- 
out showing themselves. ‘The young birds are able to fly by 
the middle of May; they have much broader rufous edgings 
to the feathers than the old birds. Their song is short and 
pleasant ; and the cocks often sing flying up in the air, return- 


242 Mr. A. B. Brooke on the 


ing and lighting again in the same spot—a habit so character- 
istic of the common Whitethroat, to which species this bird 
appears to bear a remarkable resemblance both in colora- 
tion and habits. 


85. SYLVIA SUBALPINA. 

I cannot say whether these Warblers remain in Sardinia 
during the winter. They are moderately common in summer 
on the low wooded scrubby hills and along river-banks. They 
seem to be more partial to trees than most of the other small 
Warblers, and are extremely shy and difficult to see. I saw 
young birds flying on the 12th of May. 


86. MeELIzoPHILUS SARDUS. 

This interesting little Warbler is very common on all the 
uncultivated parts of the plain, where the undercover (con- 
sisting chiefly of cistus) does not grow very tall or thick, 
but is scattered sparingly ; and I have never seen them in the 
woods. ‘They are, as far as my observations go, entirely con- 
fined to the plain, rarely, if ever, wandering, even to the ad- 
joining low hills, where their place seems to be taken by the 
following very closely allied species. I have only on one oc- 
casion met with these two species on the same ground. 

M. sardus is a bold little bird, often hopping and creeping 
about confidently within ten yards, trusting to escape obser- 
vation by its diminutive size, dusky colour, and quiet unob- 
trusive habits. Their flight is feeble and wavy, rarely extend- 
ing any distance; and on alighting it is often hard to see them 
again, as they creep off close to the ground along the stems 
of the cistus, and by the time the spot they disappeared in is 
reached they are thirty or forty yards off, perhaps in an op- 
posite direction. They sing either perched on the top of the 
cistus or, frequently, in the air, jerking themselves down again 
into the bushes. Their song is very like that of M. provincialis ; 
but I do not think it quite so grating; their alarm note is a 
single short ¢¢ck, unmistakable when once heard. I was 
unfortunate in never being able to find a nest, owing to the 
density and vastness of the undercover; but on the 19th of 
May I came on a brood of five or six young birds just able 


Ornithology of Sardinia. 243 


to fly, from which I secured some interesting specimens. They 
differ from, the old ones in being a much paler brown all over, 
their irides and legs the same colour ; in adult birds the irides 
are a yellow-brown, the legs a light orange-yellow. 

M. sardus can always be easily distinguished, even when 
flying, from all other Warblers, by its uniform dark dusky 
colour, and more especially from C. melanocephala (with which 
Dr. Bree seems to think it may be confounded), not only 
by its smaller size, but by the almost entire absence of the 
white edgings on the outer tail-feathers, which the latter shows 
very conspicuously when flying. 

Dr. Salvadori, in his late work on the birds of Italy, men- 
tions Corsica and Sicily as localities where this bird is found. 


87. MELIZOPHILUS PROVINCIALIS. 

Common in the low hills covered with cistus, heather, &c., 
but not so numerous as the last species. It is a good deal 
smaller than MW. sardus. 


88. REGULUS IGNICAPILLUS. 

Very common in the ilex forests on the range of mountains 
south of Villacidro, in which localities I saw them during the 
months of May and June. A very young bird shot on the 
29th of May showed already, strongly, the white striping on 
the face. 


89. ReGuLuUs CRISTATUS. 

I never saw one. Both Cara and Salvadori agree in say- 
ing it is commoner in the north than in the south of the island. 

I cannot say I have ever been able to detect any per- 
ceptible difference between the notes of this bird and the pre- 
ceding species, though on many previous occasions I have 
listened attentively to the two species singing simultaneously. 


90. PHYLLOPNEUSTE RUFA. 
Common. I think a few remain during winter, as I have 
seen them in February and March. 


91. PHYLLOPNEUSTE SYLVICOLA. 
Common, arriving in spring, when they frequent the or- 
chards and olive-groves. 


244: Mr. A. B. Brooke on the 


92. PHYLLOPNEUSTE TROCHILUS. 
Not so numerous as the last, but arrives in considerable 
numbers in spring. 


93. BRADYPTERUS CETTI. 

This is, without exception, the most difficult Warbler I ever 
came across, either to see or obtain, although in suitable lo- 
calities its loud bold song may be constantly heard. They 
love to secrete themselves in the very middle of the densest 
and most tangled mass of briars and creepers, and are very 
shy. On hearing any slight noise they often begin their short 
rich song, but, on the approach of danger, steal off rapidly 
and silently, bursting forth again thirty or forty yards further 
on, while one is still anxiously peering into the bush they 
were last heard in. They are extremely common in Sardinia, 
going generally singly or in pairs; and every bush that is thick 
enough along the river-banks or round the shores of the stagnos 
is sure to hold a pair. They prefer wet marshy places; in 
fact, I have never seen them except in the vicinity of water. 
Round Oristano they are particularly numerous. 


94. CALAMODYTA MELANOPOGON. 
There is one specimen of this Warbler in the Turin mu- 
seum, said to have been killed in Sardinia. 


95. CALAMODYTA AQUATICA. 

Arrives in spring, and breeds. Moderately common in the 
marshy swamps. 

96. SCH@NICOLA CISTICOLA. 

Extremely numerous about the large marshy swamps m 
the neighbourhood of Oristano, where they breed. It is also 
to be found, but more sparingly, in all suitable localities. 


97. LuscINIOPSIS LUSCINIOIDES. 
There is one specimen in the museum at Cagliari. 


98. CALAMOHERPE ARUNDINACEA. 
There are several specimens in the museum. I never met 
with it in the island. 


99. MoraciLLa ALBA. 
Common in winter. None remain during the summer. 


Ornithology of Sardinia. 245 


100. MoraciLia suLPHUREA. 

Common all the year. They breed in the mountains along 
the small streams. I saw a young bird flyimg on the Ist of 
May. 

101. BupyTEs FLAVA. 

Early in May I met several small flocks at St. Antioco on 


their passage northwards. Very few, if any, remain in the 
island to breed. 


102. ANTHUS AQUATICUS. 
Not uncommon in winter. 


103. ANTHUS PRATENSIS. 
Very abundant on the plain. 


104. ANTHUS ARBOREUS. 
I never saw one, although Cara says it is resident. There 
is one specimen in the Cagliari museum. 


105. ANTHUS CERVINUS. 
Rare. 


106. ANTHUS CAMPESTRIS. 

Passes in spring in small numbers; and, I think, some re- 
main to breed. They are very partial to semicultivated lands ; 
and I generally found them in old deserted vineyards &c. 

107. ALAUDA ARVENSIS. 

Extremely common, breeding in large numbers on the plain. 

108. ALAUDA ARBOREA. 

Very numerous all the year round. I found a nest finished 
on the 7th of April; and on the 16th the old bird was sitting 
on five eggs. 

109. CALANDRELLA BRACHYDACTYLA, 

Arrives in great numbers in the beginning of April, and 
breeds. None remain during winter. ‘These birds prefer the 


most barren and open parts of the plain, where they are ex- 
tremely numerous. 


110. MrtanocoryPHA CALANDRA. 
This fine Lark is extremely common on the plain all the 
year round. They seem to have a strong power of mi- 


246 Mr. A. B. Brooke on the 


micry, as I have several times most distinctly heard the notes 
of other birds mixed up with their songs, especially those of 
Passer salicaria and Falco tinnunculus. The sexes differ 
greatly in size. 

111. Emseriza MILIARIA. 

Extremely common. His most monotonous song is to be 
heard all over the country, especially shortly after sunrise. 


112. EMBERIZA MELANOCEPHALA. 
Of doubtful occurrence. 


113. EMBERIZA HORTULANA. 

Accidental. 

114. EMBERIZA CIRLUS. 

Very common, breeding both in the mountains and plams, 
but more especially in the former. 


115. Emperriza CIA. 
Cara states a few appear in winter. 


116. EmBERIZA SCHENICLUS. 
Not uncommon during winter along the banks of the stag- 
nos at Cagliari and Oristano. 


117. PassER MONTANUS. 

Very rare. There are two specimens in the museum at 
Caghari. 

118. PassER SALICICOLA. 

In Sardinia these birds build in small communities, gene- 
rally consisting of seven or eight pairs, in the groups of large 
wild olive-trees that are scattered about in different parts of 
the plain. A considerable number also build about the houses 
and towns ; but on the whole they do not appear to me as much 
attached to the dwellings of man as P. domesticus. The nests 
are very similar, being formed externally of dried grass and 
lined with feathers. 


119. PyreItTa PETRONIA. 

Arrive in considerable numbers about the middle of April, 
immediately resorting to the orchards and gardens round the 
towns; but I never saw them in the mountains. None re- 
main during the winter. 


Ornithology of Sardinia. 247 


120. FRINGILLA C@LEBS. 
Very common at all times. 


121. FRINGILLA CHLORIS. 
Extremely common all the year. 


122. Linota cANNABINA. 
Common at all times, but more numerous during winter. 


123. CaRDUELIS ELEGANS. 
The commonest Finch in the island, going in large fiocks. 
They begin to pair the first week in April. 


124. CHRyYSoMITRIS SPINUS. 
Cara states it is an annual bird of passage in autumn and 
spring. I never saw any at either season. 


125. SERINUS HORTULANUS. 

Salvadori says that he observed the Serin Finch at all times 
of the year, but their numbers are increased during spring. 
I never saw any in the southern part of the island. 


126. CoccoTHRAUSTES VULGARIS. 

I did not see any before the 9th of April, when they began 
to appear in considerable numbers; and durmg the summer 
they were common in all the orchards, where they bred. 


127. Loxia CURVIROSTRA. 
Of very uncertain occurrence during winter. There are 
two specimens in the museum that were killed in the island. 


128. STURNUS VULGARIS. 
Common in winter. I never saw any during the summer. 


129. STURNUS UNICOLOR. 

Very common, breeding in holes amongst old buildings in 
the towns. In habits &c. they closely resemble the common 
species. 


130. Pastor ROSEUS. 
Their appearance seems quite accidental and of rare occur- 
ence. There are two specimens in the museum. 


131. ORIOLUS GALBULA. 
Ayvrive in spring, but are not very numerous. 


248 Notes on the Ornithology of Sardinia. 


132. NuciIrRAGA CARYOCATACTES. 
There is only a single specimen in the museum, which was 
taken one winter near Aritzu, in the Gennargentu mountains. 


133. FREGILUS GRACULUS. 
Common in the higher ranges in the centre of the island. 
There are none in the Monte-Limas range. 


134. Corvus corax. 

Very common. On the 2nd of May I was witness to what 
must have been an unusual migration of these birds. When 
on the road, halfway between Iglesias and St. Antioco, I saw 
and counted more than 100 Ravens in one large straggling 
flock, tossing and tumbling about im the air, performing all 
kinds of curious antics, uttering incessantly their harsh croak. 
They were proceeding, as long as I could see them, rapidly 
and steadily in a north-easterly direction, not flying very high. 
One nest I found contained six young birds—an unusually 
large number. 


135. Corvus FRUGILEGUS. 
Common in winter. None remain during the summer, 


136. Corvus CORONE. 
A few observed in company with the following species. 


137. Corvus CORNIX. 

Extremely common all about the plain. At Oristano, du- 
ring the month of March, they used to collect in flocks to roost 
in the high reeds round the shores of the lakes, flymg in like 
Rooks from all quarters as it began to get dusk, until I am 
sure there were several hundred collected in one spot. 


138. Corvus MONEDULA. 

The only locality where I saw any Jackdaws was at Onis- 
tano, where they were very common, breeding in the steeples 
of the churches &c. I should imagine they occur pretty 
generally through the island. 


139. GARRULUS GLANDARIUS. 
Very numerous in the forests on the mountains at all 
seasons. 
[To be continued. | 


On the Rosy Ibis of China and Japan. 249 


XX VIII.—On the Rosy Ibis of China and Japan (This nippon). 
By Roserr Swinnor, H.B.M. Consul at Ningpo. 


Imacine my delight on learning, when I arrived at Ningpo, 
that the Rosy Ibis was a resident in the vicinity, and known to 
the natives as the Tien-go or “ Celestial Goose”! During the 
closing months of last year I saw small parties of them at dusk 
flying towards the hills; and on the 31st Dec., 1872, im the 
forenoon, a pair flew over me in a small valley ; and the male, 
perching on the broken top of a very tall pine, kept throwing 
his head forward and crying now, now, in a loud hoarse voice. 
It was his love-note. My comrade shot it; but it fell where 
it stood, and we could get no one to climb the giant smooth 
stem. In April I was told that they were putting on their 
dark breeding-feathers ; and on the 6th May, Pére David, 
who had returned from a month’s trip up country, assured 
me that he had got the same form of Ibis of a grey colour, 
and considered it of anew species. “He laughed at the idea of 
its being a young bird, as he had seen large numbers of them ; 
he said that the Chinese recognized them as distinct under the 
name Hwuy-go or “Grey Goose,” and he believed they were 
breeding among the high trees. A countryman had brought 
me five eggs of Ibis, and offered them as those of Crows. He 
had taken them from two Crow-like nests on the tops of high 
pines about the 16th of March. On the 10th of June I had the 
good fortune to get a wild Grey Ibis. It was a full-fledged 
bird of the year, and very tame, had apparently been kept a 
long time in captivity, refused to eat fish, and showed a pre- 
ference for raw beef. Its cheeks and over the eye were 
covered with small downy feathers, while the rest of its face 
was bare and coloured orange-yellow imstead of red. Its bill 
was deep brown, the tip light orange-brown. Irides light 
yellowish brown. Legs and feet light brown, with a tinge of 
orange flesh-colour. Its plumage was of a dusky cream- 
colour washed lightly with rosy, brighter on the concealed 
parts of the feathers. Primary quills blackish brown at their 
ends. It had the full occipital crest of the adult, which it 
delighted in expanding. It rarely raised itself to its full 


250 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the 


height, and then only as a preliminary to shaking and preen- 
ing itself. I sent this fine bird to the Zoological Society’s 
Gardens, where I hear it is now safely domiciled*. 

On the 23rd of August I was on our Western Lake and saw 
large parties of this [bis, white birds and dusky birds in com- 
pany together. 

On the 18th November I was there again, and came across 
very large flocks of them; but all were white and rose- 
coloured, not a grey birdamong them. I shot three—an adult 
male, a male of the year, and a female of the year. The lake- 
dwellers call them Hong- (Red) le, as they call the Heron 
Sah-le. We were moored near a shallow at one end of the » 
lake, and had the gratification of seeing a large party of Ibises 
alight about 100 yards off to feed. They settled in the muddy 
shallow water, which covered their legs up to their tarsal 
knees, and assumed a crouching position, looking as small as 
Curlews. After remaining perfectly still for'a few minutes, 
they put their bills into the water and advanced, brandishing 
their bills under water right and left, and thrusting them for- 
ward ; any thing caught was jerked into the bill by a few nods 
of the head. They must have felt their prey ; the water was too 
muddy toseeinto. There was no darting at it as with Herons, 
or walking about and probing mud as with Curlews, or slash- 
ing liquid mud with the beak as with Avocets. Every time 
I saw them feeding it was thus up to their knees in muddy 
water ; and their captures were small fish, as dissection after- 
wards proved. As each grew tired of feeding, or had had 
enough, he flew on to a ridge of earth close by, stretched him- 
self, yawned, shook his feathers, scratched and preened a little, 
and then sank to the usual contracted position, and remained 
quite still. As I approached they did not raise their heads 
to full length, as Ducks and Herons &c. do when disturbed, 
but sprang into the air direct from their crouching attitude, 
their flammeous wings making quite a glow as if under 
the light of the rising or the setting sun, their bills chattering, 
and uttering a “ gaw”-like murmur, ‘with cries of a guttural 
sound like gok, gok, as they flapped to a safer ground. They ~ 


* [It arrived in November last (see P. Z. 8. 1872, p. 862.), but unfor- 
tunately died April 23.—Ep. | 


Rosy Ibis of China and Japan. 251 


fly with steady flap, the legs stretched behind, reaching just 
a little beyond the tail, the head full forward, the bill and 
forehead looking black. 

Adult male.—Total length 31 inches ; wing 16}; tail 63. 
Bill to gape 7; tarse 34; middle toe 3, its claw -6; bare part 
of tibia 2. First five quills sinuated on the inner web. First 
primary quill 3 inches shorter than the third, the longest in 
the wing ; the second four tenths shorter than the same ; ter- 
tiaries extending 14 inch beyond tip of primaries. Legs 
Indian-red, with light-reddish-brown claws. Bill black, with 
13 inch of apex of upper, and } inch of lower mandible ver- 
milion. Face-skin like transversely wrinkled raw beef. Iris 
vermilion. 

Male after autumnal moult.—Face-skin as in the last; a 
few fibrous feathers still projecting over the ear from its front 
corner. Bill black, becoming red at tip. Iris scarlet. Legs 
paler, with front of tarse and toes blackened except at joints ; 
claws black. Outer quills still more or less brown. General 
plumage rosy ; wings shorter than in the adult, and wanting 
its flammeous lateral rectrices, moulting into the flame-colour 
of the adult dress. 

Female after autumnal moult.—Smaller bird, with shorter 
bill. Plumage asin the last. Iris paler. Legs and feet paler, 
without the black. 

The plumage of the adult is of a lovely rosy white, the fea- 
thers blushing deeper on their hidden portions; but, like the 
same tint in Terns, it fades away on skins. The wings and 
tail have vermilion stems, and webs glowing with “une jolie 
nuance aurore,” as the ‘Fauna Japonica’ aptly terms it. 

Dissection of male of first year.—Proventriculus granulated 
beneath the outer surface, 1 inch long, -9 at broadest. Sto- 
mach of an irregular oval, with strong lateral tendons, and 
gummy adnate epithelium, 24 inches long by 2: broad, full of 
half-digested little fish and a few small shrimps. Intestine 
white, 2-4 thick, about 6 feet long, with cca 3 inches from 
the anus, the right one about *4 long, the left little more than 
a pimple. Testes small and bluish black, the left twice the 
size of the right. . (I would here remark that most birds 

SER. II.—VOL, III. T 


252 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the 


of the year, in other groups that I have examined, have*small 
blackish testes during the winter.) I had some of its flesh 
cooked, and found it coarse and fishy to the taste. 

Dissection of female of the year.—Ovary small. Stomach 
containing fish and a few water-bugs (Naucoris). . 

Dissection of adult male.—Stomach containing the remains 
of small fish. Testes much larger than in younger bird, also 
unequal in size, of an ochreous yellow. The whole of the 
flesh, fat, cartilage, and bone saturated with the vermilion 
tint that appears on the wings and soft external parts of the 
bird. What the chemical nature of this permeating juice is 
I do not know. It does not occur in the younger birds ; and 
I have not noticed it in any other species. 

The trachea is the same in all these specimens, its length 
64 inches. It consists of a series of rings closely succeeding 
one another, alternately broad on one side and narrow on the 
other, until, just before reaching the bronchi, four or five uni- 
form rings occur, ending in a projecting semicircle of bone, 
the thickness of two of the broad parts of the upper rings ; be- 
low this two crescentic bony ridges commence the short 
bronchi. The trachea averages about ‘5 in. in breadth, becom- 
ink narrower towards its end. In a young Heron (Ardea 
cinerea) of the year the trachea attains the great length of 
154 inches, is of uniform breadth, not half that of the other, 
and consists of nearly uniform rings, separated from each 
other by a narrow membrane, with a small round perforation 
on the upper edge of each ring. 

The tongue of the Ibis is short (‘6 inch) and triangular, 
with a concave papillose base; the hyoids thick and curved, 
the first joint 1:4, the second °8 long. 

The tongue of the Heron is long (2 inches) and spear-lke ; 
its hyoids thin and nearly straight, the first 1:8, the second -4. 

I bring the Heron to the fore in comparison with the Ibis, 
because some suppose affinity between them (see Hewitson, 
Eggs of B. B.). But in the two important organs just ex- 
amined there appears to be no relationship. No more is there 
in the form of the sternum. 

The Rosy Ibis often breeds in company, but often also in 


Rosy Ibis of China and Japan. 253 


pairs by themselves. Their nests I have not examined ; but 
they must be warmly lined, as the older birds have eggs in 
January and even earlier, when the country is under hard 
frost, and there is often snow on the ground; for the young 
are fully fledged and have the appearance of adult birds by 
April. (N.B. Pére David mistook them in that month for birds 
breeding, and believed it even after he had procured a speci- 
men.) ‘The young retain their grey plumage throughout the 
summer, associating with adults, even while the latter are 
continuing their nesting-duties, and moult about October, 
when they change their attire for a white robe with a tinge 
only of rosiness, their wings and tail alone remaining the 
same; but these get abraded and the former fades, and occa- 
sionally some quills are cast, to be renewed by others of the 
early spring suit which these birds of the year put on before 
breeding. These must therefore be later in commencing op- 
erations, which dissection shows to be the case. Of the eggs 
before mentioned, three measured each about 2 mches in 
length by 1:25 in breadth; the other two were larger, mea- 
suring each 2°6 by 1-6. They had a rough surface, and were 
of a pale bluish-green colour. The man who brought them 
to me was positive that the larger ones were the eggs of a 
Crow, the smaller those of a Magpie. 

In its comportment the Ibis is not at alla Heron. I should 
think its affinities lay rather with the Spoonbills*, or with 
the larger Tantali, which connect it with the Storks. It has, 
however, peculiarities of its own, bearing off in different direc- 
tions; and I hope I shall be able to learn something more 
about it. The Chinese are evidently puzzled at its appear- 
ance when they style it a “ Heavenly Goose.” We might 
be nearer the mark if we said it was a “ queer Stork.” 


* [There can be no doubt, we believe, that the Ibises and Spoonbills 
should be united in one family (Plataleide). Cf. Nitzsch, Pterylography, 
Engl. Transl. p. 184. Tantalus, however, belongs to the Ciconiidee.—Eb., | 


Ta 


254 Mr. J. H. Gurney on additional Species 


XXIX.—A Tenth additional List of Birds from Natal. 
By J. H. Gurney, F.Z.8. 


[Continued from ‘The Ibis,’ 1868, p. 471. ] 


Tw consequence of some corrections in the synonymy of Dry- 
moica flavicans, to be subsequently noticed, the first two 
species in the present list will stand respectively as No. 3144 
and No. 315a. 


3144. HapatoperRMA NARINA (Vieill.). African Trogon. 

Sent by Mr. Ayres with the following note :—“TI have fre- 
quently seen this species in the bush around D’Urban, and 
have heard its melancholy note, leading one to suppose that 
the bird was at a great distance, when it was actually within 
twenty or thirty yards; the sportsman, labouring under this 
delusion, scrambles through the dense tangled underwood, 
thinking he will be more careful when he gets near the bird, 
and so seldom gets a shot. One first catches sight of the bird 
as it darts round some bush and is immediately lost to view. 
It is generally solitary, though sometimes two or three may 
be seen together or near each other. The sexes appear to be 
similar, their food consists of insects; the skin of this bird is 
excessively thin, reminding one of wet tissue-paper, the fall 
from the tree when shot frequently spoils the specimen, the 
feathers being very loose in the skin. Iris hazel, bill light 
ash-colour; length 12 inches, wing 5 inches, tail 7 inches.” 


3154. Drymoica suBRUFICAPILLA, Smith. Tawny-headed 
Drymoica. 

Sent by Mr. Ayres with the following note:—“ Shot in Sep- 
tember at the Karkloof, in Natal, amongst long grass at the 
edge of the forest that clothes the Kloof near the main road.” 


316. Hrrunpo semirvura, Sund. Rufous-breasted Swallow. 

Specimens of this and the twelve succeeding species, all 
obtained in Natal, are contained in the rich collection of Mr. 
R. B. Sharpe*, to whom I am indebted for the fact of their 
occurrence in that colony. 


* This fine collection is, I understand, about to be transferred to the 
British Museum, 


of Birds from the Colony of Natal. 255 


317. Merors nusicorpes, Des Murs. Carmine-throated 
Bee-eater. 


318. Crnnyris TaLaTaLa, Smith. Andersson’s Sun-bird. 
319. Moracinia vaiLiaNnti, Cab. Levaillant’s Wagtail. 
320. Pycnonorus rricotor, Hartl. Angola Bulbul. 
321. Turpus eurtatus, Vig. Vigors’s Thrush. 


822. Lanzarius atrococcingvs (Burch.). Southern Crim- 
son-breasted Shrike. 


323. Urotustes MELANOLEUcUS (Smith). South-African 
Long-tailed Shrike. 


324. HypHANToRNIs suBaUREUS (Smith). Algoa-Bay 
Weaverbird. 


825. Hypnanrornis nieRiceps, Layard. Black-headed 
Weaverbird. 


326. Eupiectes tana, Smith. Taha Bishopbird. 
327. CoryrHarx MusopHacus, Dubois. Cape Touraco. 
328. BarBaTuLa LeEucotis, Sund. White-cheeked Barbet. 


329. PaocrrHatus rosBustus (Gmel.). Levaillant’s Parrot. 

Mr. E. C. Buxton informs me that during a recent visit to 
Natal he saw two young Parrots in that colony which had 
been respectively taken from nests at ‘“‘Cremer’s, Unyent 
Falls.” One of these he identified as a specimen of P. ro- 
bustus ; the other, which was of a much smaller species, he 
was wnable satisfactorily to identify, in consequence of the bad 
condition of its plumage. 


330. Numipa verREAUKH, Elliot. Verreaux’s Guinea-fowl. 

Sent by Mr. Ayres with the following note :— 

“These fine Guinea-fowls I got in the month of July at 
D’Urban, Natal, where they were being hawked about the 
town by Caffre hunters as birds for the table, the fiesh bemg 
uncommonly delicate and good. 

“They frequent the densest bush immediately on the sea- 
range, and are difficult to get; the best method is with dogs 
accustomed to hunt the bush, as the birds, when chased, take 


256 Mr. J. H. Gurney on additional Species 


to the trees, and a good dog will bark until his master manages 
with much trouble to get to the spot through brambles, thorny 
bushes, and nettles innumerable ; and then, if due care is taken 
to approach without noise, the birds may be potted from the 
tree, a flying shot being totally out of the question. 

“These Guinea-fowls are to be found from the Bay of Natal 
northwards; but, so far as I can learn, not a single bird is to 
be found to the south, although the bush-range is precisely 
similar. The male bird measures from 23 to 25 inches in 
total length, the bill 14, the tarsus 34, the wing 103, and the 
tail 54. 

“The bare skin of the sides of the head, chin, throat, and 
upper neck is black, but whitish on the occiput; the iris is 
dusky ; tarsi and feet ashy. In the female the crest is rather 
smaller than in the male, as are also the spots on the plumage ; 
with these exceptions there is but little difference in the ap- 
pearance of the sexes.” 


331. Tanrauus rps, Linn. African Roseate Ibis. 


Sent by Mr. Ayres with the following note :— 

“This specimen was shot by my brother at Port Natal, 
amongst the mangroves at low water on the edge of the inner 
harbour; there were two of them; and others have been seen 
at the same spot subsequently. This bird was wounded by 
my brother’s shot; and as he approached it made a curious 
snapping noise with its bill, but did not attempt to defend 
itself.” 

I may take this opportunity of recording a note respecting 
a species which has been already included m my lists of birds 
from Natal, Buphaga erythrorhyncha (vide Ibis, 1863, p. 328). 
I am not aware that this species has been hitherto observed 
to consort with its congener Buphaga africana; but Mr. H.C. 
Buxton has been so good as to give me an adult specimen of 
each, which he shot in company on 28th August, 1872, near 
the Asuto river in Suari Land, a little to the north of the 
colony of Natal. Mr. Buxton writes to me, “The two Bu- 
phagas I shot at the same time on some oxen, one of each 
species off the same cow; and I could not distinguish them on 
the wing. There were several others shot at the same time, 


of Birds from the Colony of Natal. 257 


and in the proportion of one of the red-billed birds to two of 
the others.” 

Another subject as to which I am also desirous of record- 
ing an additional note, is the synonymy of the Cisticola from 
Natal, for which’ Dr. Hartlaub proposed the name of C. ayresia 
(vide Ibis, 1863, p. 325). 

The examination of numerous specimens of Drymoica ter- 
restris, Smith, of which a typical example is preserved in the 
British Museum, has convinced me that C. ayresii is identical 
with this species ; and I have further arrived at the conclusion 
that the latter is not separable from the Europeo-Asiatic Cis- 
ticola cursitans (Frankl.), although specimens from tropical 
and southern Africa are frequently rather brighter in their 
tints than those from more northern localities. 

In ‘The Ibis’ for 1871, p. 152, I gave the measurements 
of eight specimens of Cisticola from various localities ; and I 
am now able to furnish the measurements of several others, 
all of which I consider should be referred to C. cursitans. 


Middle toe 


Wing. Tarsus, withouclaks 
From in. lin. lines. _ lines. 
ilethyMonsexed: "hel sare nic tie ce ke PANO) 9 6 
PROV OSESIRESE OS te ae antes cee 1 10 9 6 
PAUP ETA MAGS 0s mista. mage ced ape 2 al 9 5 
TO Yeh cn¥rill SMe Snes Adenine EN oer tae a RCP Ditel 10 6 
WG penis esi. ch tee egestas sccyh ab. & 1 10 9 6 
/SRVAVAN OL Rs (OE ARI eal a eR Lo i) 5 
aaa ViLs COs tio saie tis caters 3.2 6 oes 1 10 10 54 
JDC CKO I a ae Cae, ee eel Da) 10 6 
Mopemanle (is aie ewe ae 2 0 10 6 
Si sV On Warren ep gSe pet a crs ice ana acaie 8) 9 54 
Wor twonmales nds s..< <>: iscisoy san eco 2; 0 9 53 
Oe PROTO ANG | cara. iA areca cea ay gals cies 1 10 9 52 
Drakenberg, Natal, Male............ 1 113 10 53 
Coast of Natal, typical specimens of C. 
ayresit, one male and one female.... 1 9 9 5 
Eland’s Post, South Africa, male .... 2 O 9 6 
Wie BOC SERCWN Siac caicicre ce scacesiaynisieil el 10 5 
* Accra, West Africa, not sexed........ 1 10 10 5 
@Mane-Coast 0.) G0. 0056... see ae 2. 9 5 
PUUVETE V OlUR OO, (A Ose rs) ais & oo 05 0 «ois ate 2 0 i) 5 
Meets, OM rarer chte ewiv ere o's es wen lige i 9 5 
Do., do., do. (two specimens) ........ 1 10 9 5 


258 Mr. J. H. Gurney on additional Species 
Wing. Tarsus. eae 
From in. lin. lines. _ lines. 
Damara Land, male ................ 2 0 9 6 
OPAC. Sho.) a ests. alae LASER G REE 2 0 9 6 
DOG CAA canes) an RFR AIRE 2 0 9 5 
BO Os: 3. oeicsaite wera cet can eee 2 0 10 o3 
M00. ons Saguenay en ete alt 9 5 
Dosromiale ke Mikel eons aan ok eee at 8 3) 
Doridosre eee PA Oil, ee ae ita 9 2) 
Don dO! ab conte dard slants comet 1 10 83 6 
1B (a8) (CKO SONG earn Nea in ea Sicamanys 5A 1 9 9 6 
Dos tyro demales! She. ss ke 1 10 9 6 
Doss S\C5 a SO. ARR ey RRR. 1 10 9 4) 
Corresponding measurements given in 
Smith’s ‘South African Zoology’ of 
“ Drymoica terrestris, male” ...... rf 10 44 


Eleven of the specimens from Damara Land included in the 
above Table were measured in the flesh by the late Mr. An- 
dersson ; the remaining measurements were taken by myself 
from dried skins. 

I may add that the coloration of different individuals of 
this species varies much both in Trans Vaal and Damara Land 
as regards the intensity of their tints, which I suppose to be 
owing to the plumage becoming faded as the season of moult- 
ing approaches. . 

To refer, in conclusion, to another matter, I regret to find 
that in the earlier portions of my list of Natal birds, pub- 
lished at various times in ‘The Ibis,’ some errors of identi- 
fication occurred, which a better knowledge of the ornithology 
of the district has enabled me subsequently to rectify in 
several instances (vide Ibis, 1864, p. 356, 1868, pp. 51, 147, 
151, 155, 157, and 265, 1869, pp. 296 and 299, and 1871, 
p- 103) ; and I am now desirous of recording the following ad- 
ditional corrections, which I give in the order in which the 
several species were included in my former lists. 


_ 6. Gyers rutvus should stand as G. kolbii (Daud.), as to 
the distinctness of which see Mr. Blyth’s remarks in ‘ The Ibis * 
for 1870, p. 157. 


54. ALCEDO QUADRIBRACHYS should be A. semitorquata, 
Swains. 


— 


of Birds from the Colony of Natal. 259 


36. Ispiprna picra should be J. natalensis (Smith). 
37. OxyLopuus seRRATUS should be O. jacobinus (Bodd.). 


40. Curysococcyx sMARAGDINEvs should be C. splendidus, 
Gray. 

52. ARDETTA MinuTA should be A. podiceps, Bon. To this 
species I erroneously applied, in ‘ The Ibis’ for 1869, p. 300, 
the specific name of pusilla, which properly belongs to the 
Little Bittern of Australia: conf. Fimsch & Hartlaub’s ‘ Vogel 
Ost-Afrikas,’ p. 709. 


71. DrymMoica mMELANoRHYNCHA should be D. flavicans 
(Vieill.), of which D. subflava, No. 151, and D. pallida, No. 
199, are also synonyms. 


77. PRATINCOLA RuUBICOLA should be P. torquata (Linn.), 
which, contrary to my former opinion, I am now disposed to 
regard as distinct from P. rubicola, in consequence of the 
somewhat greater extent of the white patch on the rump and 
upper tail-coverts, and the absence of any rufous tint from 
the white feathers in the centre of the abdomen and from the 
under tail-coverts. 


83. PLatysTrRA PRIRIT should pace as P. meliior. Cf. 
Sharpe anted, p. 167. 


102. Turtur semiTorquatus should be 7. capicola, Sund. 


149. Promeroprs carrer, should be P. gurneyi, Verreaux ; 
vide J. P. Verreaux in P. Z.8. for 1871, p. 135, pl. 8. 


223. CALAMOHERPE GRACILIROSTRIS should be C. babecula 
(Vieill.), as to which, and also as to the succeeding species, 
see Mr. Layard’s remarks in ‘ The Ibis,’ 1869, pp. 365, 366, 
and the editorial footnotes at p. 365. 


258. CALAMOHERPE ARUNDINACEA should be C. beticula 
(Vieill.), or, as according to Prof. Sundevall it should be 
spelled, C. beticata, see reference under preceding species. 

272. CHDICNEMUS SENEGALENSIS should be G4. vermiculatus, 
Cab. ; cf. Finsch & Hartlaub’s ‘ Vogel Ost-Afrikas,’ p. 624. 

296. Esrretpa cARMELITA should be Vidua principalis 


(Linn.), immature ; conf. Sharpe’s Catalogue of African birds, 
No. 600. 


260 Mr. J. E. Harting on rare 


XXX.—On rare or little-known Limicole. 
By James Epmunp Hartine, F.L.S., F.Z.S. 


(Plates VIIT., IX.) 
[Continued from ‘The Ibis,’ 1870, p. 392.] 


Ir frequently happens that a general description of form and 
colour intended to indicate a particular species applies so well 
to another for which it was not intended, that unless mea- 
surements are added, or some marked specific character 
pointed out, it is impossible to discriminate the two without 
reference to the type or types which furnished the description. 

A case in point is afforded by the Charadrius pecuarius of 
Temminck. 

When that eminent ornithologist described and figured 
(Pl. Col. 183) a little Plover from the Cape of Good Hope, 
he doubtless imagined that his plate would convey to the eyes 
of his readers what he might have failed to make clear by his 
text ; but unfortunately there are two species to which, in the 
absence of all measurements, the description and plate will 
equally well apply. Not unnaturally therefore they have 
been applied by different naturalists to different birds, some 
supposing that Temminck intended to refer to the smaller 
of the two species, sometimes known as Ch. kitilitzi, which 
is generally distributed throughout the continent of Africa, 
and does not visit St. Helena, others maintaining that the de- 
scription and plate sufficiently indicate the larger bird, which, 
strange to say, is exclusively confined to that remote island. 

To clear up the difficulty is the object of the present paper ; 
and, to plunge in medias res, I will first state the conclusions 
at which I have arrived, and then adduce the reasons which 
have led me to such conclusions. 

The bird upon which Temminck bestowed the specific name 
pecuarius is the smaller of the two allied species, which in- 
habits Africa generally, but is not found in St. Helena. An 
older name for it is Charadrius varius, Vieillot. 

The St.-Helena bird, popularly known in the island as the 
“Wire-bird,” is at present without a scientific appellation; and 
I propose therefore to name it Aigialitis sancte-helene. 


or little-known Limicole. 261 


Before I could form any opinion on this subject, it was of 
course material that I should examine the type or types of 
Temminck’s description. Accordingly I visited the rich mu- 
seum at Leiden, where, although a week was too short to 
admit of my inspecting all the ornithological treasures, I was 
enabled to satisfy myself conclusively upon this pomt, which 
was one of the chief objects of my visit. 

The types were found duly labelled in Temminck’s hand- 
writing, Charadrius pecuarius. They are from the Cape of 
Good Hope, and belong undoubtedly to the smaller conti- 
nental species. 

Further than this, I saw no specimens of the St.-Helena 
bird in the museum, and from the observations made to me 
at the time by Professor Schlegel I feel assured that Tem- 
minck was not acquainted with that species. On carefully 
taking the measurements of the specimens which he had 
labelled, I find that they correspond almost exactly with those 
of the figure of Ch. pecuarius in the ‘ Planche Coloriée’ 183, 
which may therefore be said to be of life-size, although not so 
characterized in the accompanying letterpress. 


Afgialitis varius seu pecuarius. 


Be Sex. | Locality. | Bill. | Wing.| BA? | vars. | MU. | Collection. 
i 3 Cape Verd. 6 4: AD. Ara) Ryness J. E. H. 
2. oh “ 6 39 5) 1) ‘7 ~+| Brit. Mus. 
3. Q Gambia. 5) 4: “4 SO ec di. Biel 
4, 3S 5 6 ACE AG as 2 e265 . 

5. a Ashantee. 6 39 6 11 ‘7 | Brit. Mus. 
6. iff Cape Lopez. 65 | 4. 45 | 1:2 ‘7° | Walden. 
ile ae Angola. a3) 4: 5 il cf J. HE. H. 
8. 3 Damaraland. ‘6 4-1 5 neat ah op 
nee é oie to) lalleo: by 7 

10. ie) . 5 4: “4 11 “7 _ 

ll. oe Cape-Town. ‘6 39} 6 Teh ass x 

12. 3 “6 G5" |) 422 EES as i 

13. Q |Port Elizabeth.| ‘6 4: 5 de es 

14. re Trans- Vaal. 3) 4] ‘5 1:2 °8 | Brit. Mus. 

15. ae Tette. 6 4: 5 1a eer ‘3 

16. is ae 6 39} °5 ele % - 

Abyssinia Z 

17. 3 Z ae 65 39 A. 1:2 we Jesse. 

18. 3 Egypt. 5 39 PAO) PIER 07% ol LOAN s B 

19, fe) m 65 | 4:2 <3 1-2 Shelley. 


262 Mr. J. E. Harting on rare 


Aigialitis sancte-helene. 


ia Sex | Locality. Bill. | Wing. e eS Tars ss Collection. 
1. | ¢.| St Helena, '| )-85.| 45 | +7) 15.) 129) ane 
2, > "BB | adic eyo ws Bebe! ie e 
8. i 8 | 44/1 65 | 145| 95] 
4, - 85 | 45 | 65 | 15 | 95 ¥ 
5. a 8 Cah nue 15 | als » 
eo Me i 85 | 44/7 | 15 | 9 sh 
lee 5 ‘Bi | dealt (AMM |) Ao 4 
8. as ps 8 4°5 | 6 15 1: | Brit. Mus. 
el aca a sg | 45] 6 | 15] 1: n 
HOAs, i 85 | 45 | -7 | 15] 1 $3 
11. 3 mn 85 4:5 6 15 1: |A. Newton. 
2 | g ” ‘Bo | 425) 2 Pool de a 


The preceding table of measurements will sufficiently indi- 
cate the discrepancy in size which exists between the two 
species, and will serve to distinguish them at all times, not- 
withstanding the similarity of their plumage. 

On placing the two species in juxtaposition, their relative 
sizes appear as follows :— 


Bill. Wing. Bare tibia. Tarsus. Mid. toe. 


in. in. in. in. mm. 
AG. varius 8. pecuarius 6 4:0 m3) 12 oth 
AL. sancte-helene .. 8 4:5 fi 1:5 ‘95 


I append descriptions of the two species, with such 
particulars of the life-history of each as I have been able to 
collect. — 


/Merauitis vaRiIvs. (Plate VIII.) 

Charadrius varius, Vieillot, N. D. xxvii. p. 143 (1818). 

Charadrius pecuarius, Temm. Pl. Col. 183. livr. 31 (1828) ; 
Lichtenst. Verz. Doubl. p. 71 (1823); Wagler, Syst. Av. 
Char. sp. 17 (1827) ; Lesson, Traité d’Orn. p. 544 (1831) ; 
Kittlitz, Kupf. Vog. p. 26, t. 34 (1832) ; Gray, Gen. B. ii. 
p. 544 (184449) ; Strickland, Ann. & Mag. N. H. 1852, 
p. 348; Schlegel, Mus. P. B. Curs. p. 34 (1865); Finsch, 
Trans. Zool. Soc. 1870, vii. p. 297; Heuglin, Orn. N. O. Afr. 
p- 1033 (1872). 


or little-known Limicole. 263 


Charadrius kittlitzi, Newton, Ibis, 1867, p. 251, note* ; 
Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 297 (1867) ; Ayres, Ibis, 1869, p. 300. 


Charadrius pectoralis et Ch. frontalis, Lichtenstem, No- 
mencl. p. 94. 

Charadrius pastor, Cuvier, Mus. Paris; Lesson, Man. d’Orn. 
li. p. 319 (1828). 

Charadrius isabellinus, Miller, Naumannia, 1851, iv. p. 29. 

Leucopolius pecuarius, Bonap. Compt. Rend. 1856, p. 417. 

Miaticula pecuaria, Ruppell, Syst. Uebers. p. 118 (1845). 

Aigialitis longipes, Heuglin, Syst. Uebers. p. 56 (1856). 

Aigialitis sennaarensis, Pr. Wiirt. Icon. ined. t. 71. 

Aigialitis pecuarius, Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philad. 1859, p.173; 
Heuglin, J. f.O. 1860, p.199; Hartlaub, J.f.O. 1861, p. 268 ; 
Orn. W. Afr. p. 215; Taylor, Ibis, 1867, p. 68; Shelley, Ibis, 
1871, p. 147; id. B. Egypt, p. 239 (1872) ; Gurney, Andersson, 
B. Damaral. p. 274 (1872). 


Descr. Supra fuscescenti-brunneus, plumis omnibus ochras- 
centi-rufo marginatis ; fronte et lined circa nucham 
puleum cingente albis: linea angustaé frontali et fascia 
infra oculum ad collum posticum ducté nigris; genis 
totis gulaque albis; uropygio medio cum supracaudali- 
bus nigris, laterali albo: tectricibus paullo pallidiori- 
bus, majoribus fulvescenti-albo terminatis, exterioribus 
nigricantibus; remigibus brunneis, scapis medialiter albis, 
secundariis albo terminatis, et primariis interioribus extus 
conspicué albo notatis, secundariis longissimis dorso con- 
coloribus: rectricibus mediis brunneis, proximis grada- 
tim albis, duabus extimis omnino albis: pectore pallide 
ochrascenti-ferrugineo: abdomine, hypochondrus, sub- 
caudalibus, subalaribus et axillaribus albis : iride fusca ; 
rostro pedibusque cinerascenti-nigris. 

Dimens. rostr.6; ale 4; tib. nud. °5 ; tars 1°2; dig. med. °7. 


Hab. Africa. 


* Prof. Newton (i.c.) ascribes this name to Reichenbach’s ‘Synopsis 
Ayium,’ on the authority of the late Mr. G. R. Gray; but on consulting 
two copies of the work referred to (Mr. Sclater’s, and that in the library 
of the Zoological Society of London), I have been unable to find any men- 
tion of it. It is true a figure of the bird, evidently copied from Temminck’s 
‘Planches Coloriées,’ is given (fig. 706) on a plate in the Society’s copy ; 
but no name is assigned to it, and no reference is made to this plate in the 
index. In Mr. Sclater’s copy, the entire plate (on which seven other 
species are also figured) is wanting. 


264 Mr. J. E. Harting on rare 


In the 27th volume of the ‘ Nouveau Dictionnaire d’His- 
toire Naturelle,’ published in 1818, Vieillot thus describes his 
Charadrius varius, giving it the same French name “le pluvier 
patre,” which Temminck a few years later bestowed upon his 
Charadrius pecuarius :— 

“ Le pluvier patre, Charadrius varius, Vieill., se trouve en 
Afrique. Le mile a le front blanc, de méme qu’une bande- 
lette qui passe au-dessus des yeux, et entoure la téte au- 
dessous de Vocciput ; une raie transversale d’un brun noiratre 
lui succéde sur le vertex; la gorge, le ventre et les parties 
postérieures sont d’un beau blanc; le devant du cou et la 
poitrine roussdtres; une bande noire part de dessous l’eeil, 
descend sur les cétés de la gorge, ot elle s’elargit et remonte 
sur la nuque, ou elle forme un demi-collier; le reste de la 
téte, le dessus du cou et le manteau sont variés de blanchatre 
et de gris sombre; les grandes pennes des ailes noires, ainsi 
qwune partie de celles de la queue; le bec et les pieds sont 
de cette couleur. Taille de pluvier a poitrine blanche (A. 
cantianus) . 

“La femelle, ou le jeune, n’a point de bande noire au des- 
sous de l’ceil, ni de taches noiratres sur le ventre, et le reste 
des parties inféricures est trés-peu prononcé.” 

There can be no doubt that this description applies to the 
species under discussion. 

Now, according to the dates of the livraisons of the 
‘Planches Coloriées’ given by Mr. Crotch, Ibis, 1868, p. 500, 
the 3lst livraison, in which Temminck’s Charadrius pecu- 
arius appeared, was not published until July 1828, or five 
years after Vieillot’s description in the ‘Nouveau Dictionnaire.’ 
Vieillot’s name is therefore entitled to precedence. 

Although mentioned by so many authors, but little has 
been published of the history of this bird. So far as we know, 
it appears to be distributed over the whole of continental 
Africa, and not confined to the coast, but to be met with often 
at a considerable distance inland. Specimens from Cape Verd, 
Gambia, Ashantee, and Angola are in my collection, with 
others from Damaraland and the Cape, obtained respectively 
by the late Mr. Andersson and Mr. EH. L. Layard. The 


or little-known Limicole. 265 


British Museum and other collections have enabled me to fill 
up blanks along the coast-line, and supply, as it were, a con- 
tinuous chain of localities from the N.W. vid the Cape to the 
N.E. Perhaps the most inland locality for the species, with 
which I am acquainted, is Kordofan, where it was met with 
by Mr. Petherick, as recorded by the late Mr. Strickland (0. ¢.). 
Mr. Andersson found it not uncommon in Damaraland, but 
did not think that it nested there. It was to be seen in flocks 
often composed of a considerable number of individuals, and 
feeding on the small insects which are to be found in the 
moist and humid localities to which it is partial. At some 
seasons he found it very abundant at Objimbinque, but he did 
not recollect ever to have observed it on the sea-shore. Further 
south this little Plover is common about the chain of lagoons 
formed by the Salt River, and along the sea-shore near Cape 
Tonen. Mr. Layard has also seen it in September on the 
rocks at Green Point and on Robben Island; and it is abun- 
dant near Zoetendal’s Vley. In the Trans- Vaal territory, Mr. 
Ayres says (/. c.), the species remains throughout the summer, 
and breeds. He observed it to frequent the muddy flats, run- 
ning with considerable swiftness, stopping suddenly and bob- 
bing the head as many of the Plovers do.. He describes the 
colours of the soft parts thus :—“ Hye large, iris very dark ; 
bill black , tarsi and feet ashy black.” 

This species is not included by Dr. Kirk in his notice of 
the birds of the Zambesi region (Ibis, 1864, pp. 331, 332); and 
Dr. Finsch says (Trans. Zool. Soc. 1870, vii. p. 297) “it seems 
not to have been observed on the Red Sea ;” but this must be 
accidental, because not only does it occur in Abyssinia, but 
Mr. Jesse procured a specimen at Zoulla, which borders upon 
the Red-Sea coast*. Moreover it is plentiful throughout Egypt 
and Nubia, as we are informed by Dr. Riippell (Syst. Uebers. 
p- 118), Hr. v. Heugln (Orn. N. O. Afr. p. 1035), and Capt. 
Shelley (Birds of Egypt, p. 239), “frequenting similar loca- 


* Since the above was in type, I have seen Mr. Jesse’s specimen in the 
collection of Viscount Walden, who agrees with me in referring it to the 
young of 42. marginatus (Vieillot) (Ch. nivifrons of Cuvier and Lesson), 
and not to &, pecuarius, as given by Dr. Finsch, /:e. 


266 Mr. J. E. Harting on rare 


lities to those of 4. cantianus and AL. minor, and generally 
met with in flocks.” Heuglin speaks of it as “rather a com- 
mon resident bird [Standvégel] throughout the whole of 
the Nile region.” Its numbers, however, appear to vary 
considerably in the same locality in different years; for in 
1870 Capt. Shelley only met with it once near Golosaneh, 
although he was then anxious to procure some specimens, 
while in 1868 and 1871 it was one of the most abundant of 
the small Plovers. 

It will thus be seen that it makes the whole tour of Africa, 
but, so far as we know at present, does not travel beyond these 
limits, not even to Madagascar. According to Heuglin it lives 
singly and in small flocks, always near water, more frequently 
near canals and lakes than near the Nile proper. It is on 
this account, perhaps, being out of the beaten tract, that it 
has been less frequently observed by travellers on the Nile. 
In habits and mode of life it is said not to differ from the 
common Ringed Plover (4. hiaticula). Its food consists of 
larvee, worms, flies, and small beetles livmg im the sand. The 
eggs, of which I have specimens procured in South Africa by 
my friend Mr. Layard, are most like the eggs of 4. tricollaris 
and AZ. nigrifrons (Australia). They are a trifle smaller than 
those of the well-known 4. cantianus, less pyritorm in shape, 
and with a smoother and therefore more glossy shell. In 
colour, though not in shape and size, they remind one of the 
eggs of Cursorius gallicus, being of a pale clay-colour closely 
freckled over with minute specks and scratches of umber- 
brown. 


ANGIALITIS SANCTE-HELENE. (Plate IX.) 

Charadrius pecuarius, Layard, Ibis, 1867, p. 251; Birds 8. 
Afr. p. 297 (1867) ; Newton, Ibis, 1867, p .251, note; Baker, 
Zoologist, 1868, p. 1475; Mellis, Ibis, 1870, p. 104. 

The “ Wire-bird” of the natives. 

Descr. Similis 44. vario (seu pecuario) sed conspicué major ; 
rostro et tarsis longioribus ; subtus albidior: scapis pri- 
mariorum brunneis, scapo primarii primi tantim albo, 
precipué distinguendus. Inide fusca ; rostro pedibusque 
nigerrimis. 


or little-known Limicole. 267 


Dimens. rostr. ‘8; ale 4°5; tib. nud. *7; tars. 1°5; dig. 
med. 95. 

Hab. In insula Sancte Helene. 

Independently of its larger size, longer and more robust 
bill and tarsi, the “ Wire-bird” may be distinguished from 
its continental ally by the colour of the primaries, in which 
the shaft of the first quill only is white, the other shafts being 
dusky brown; in the other species all the shafts are mesially 
white. 

When Mr. Layard published his ‘ Birds of South Africa,’ 
he was under the impression that this species, the “ Wire- 
bird,” which he had then recently obtained in St. Helena, 
' was the true Ch. pecuarius of Temminck, although upon what 
ground I do not know; for Temminck states that his bird: 
came from the Cape. Accordingly he gave Temminck’s name 
to this species, and called the true Ch. pecwarius, with which 
he was quite familiar in South Africa, kittlitzi. This I nowe 
propose to rectify, for the reasons above stated. 

It is very remarkable that a bird like the present, well 
formed for flight, and having to a great extent the habits of 
other Plovers, should be exclusively confined to a particular 
island : yet such, I take it, is the case; for I have seen no spe- 
cimens of this bird from any part of continental Africa. 

All that we know of its history, therefore, has been collected 
in St. Helena. Its haunts are thus described by Mr. Layard 
(1. c.) :—“ A plateau of arid burnt-up scoriz, rent by fearful 
ravines, in which a few cacti struggled for existence. Here 
and there an Asclepias looked green and inviting to the miser- 
able goats, and was frequented by little bands of a red but- 
terfly (Danais chrysippus) and the ubiquitous Cynthia cardui. 
Now and then a little flock of the Australian Geopelia tran- 
quilla rose and flew before us, or a Java Sparrow or Cape 
Waxbill (all introductions) chattered on the stunted vege- 
tation.” 

On shooting several specimens of the “ Wire-bird,” Mr. 
Layard soon found that he had a bird with which he was not 
previously acquainted; and he observes, “ on comparing my 
specimens with C. pecuarius, Temm., | found them to be larger 

SER. I1I1.—VOL. LI. U 


268 On rare or little-known Limicole. 


every way, and to be lighter on the breast and belly. They 
come, however, very close.” 

“ While sitting on the ground arranging the feathers of my 
bird, and wondering what it could find to eat in such barren 
spots, I detected some odd-looking excrescences on the blocks 
of scoria about us; and a closer examination showed these to 
be small shells of the genus Succinea. These, together with 
Coleoptera, form, as I discovered by their stomachs, their 
chief food.” 

Mr. Melliss informs me that they lay three or four eggs of 
a pale colour (whitish) dotted with black, in the centre of a 
mass of cow-dung, making no nest, that they remain in the 
island throughout the year, and frequent open plains ; water 
seemed no attraction to them. 

They are called “ Wire-birds,” says Mr. Layard, “ from the 
fact that their legs are long and thin. I suppose they ap- 

spear absurdly so to the aborigines of the island, who have so 
few birds to look at.” Another observer, however, Mr. Eden 
Baker, says (Zoologist, 1868, p. 1475), the local name of this 
species is taken from its haunt, the “ wire-grass,” a kind of 
couch grass that grows where the fertile parts of the island 
gradually change to the barrenness of the outer rocks ; and 
this view is taken by Mr. Melliss, who says (Ibis, 1870, p. 104), 
“This bird frequents chiefly the outskirts of the island, and 
is generally to be seen running about on the hot stony plains, 
more or less covered with ‘ wire-grass’ (Cynodon dactylon). 
It feeds upon beetles and a small animal (Succinea, sp. ?) 
found adhering to and hiding under the rocks and stones, with 
which the ground is partly covered. It is rarely, but occa- 
sionally, seen inland, sometimes in pairs, sometimes in flocks 
of five or six. It lays in the summer months of December 
and January, two eggs, in colour grey, with black markings. 
It is stated, on the pretty good authority of several persons 
long resident in the island, that this bird makes no nest, but 
lays its eggs in dry cow-dung on the exposed open ground ; 
it slightly covers them over, but does not sit upon them*, 

* This must be a mistake. The bird probably only covers its eggs to 


hide them in its absence, as is the case with Gallinula chloropus, Podiceps 
minor, and other species.—J. E. H. 


Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. 269 


merely returning occasionally to see that they are safe, and 
to take care of the young birds as soon as they are hatched. 
The colour of the eggs so much resembles the material in 
which they are laid that it is difficult to distinguish them from 
it without careful search. 

“After heavy rain the Wire-bird may be seen frequenting 
and running along the edges of the pools of water; but gene- 
rally it finds little water in the island to indulge its wading 
propensities. This deprivation does not appear, however, to 
interfere with its happiness; for it is very doubtful if it ever 
leaves the island.” 

There seems to be no appreciable difference in the colour 
of the sexes. The young remain to be described. 


~XXXI.—WNotes on the Trochilide. The Genera Pygmornis, 
Glaucis, and Threnetes. By Ospert Satvin, M.A. &e.,) 
and D. G- Exuior, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. 


{Continued from page 14. | 
Il. The Genus Pygmornis. 


THE species of this intricate group can be differentiated only 
by aclose study of the changes which take place in the plumage 
exhibited by individuals, both as regards their sex and age. 
Mr. Gould, in his article on Phaethornis adolphi (Mon. 1. 
p- 85), records M. Sallé’s observations as regards the rela- 
tionship between the colours of the sexes of this species as 
ascertained by him from actual dissection of specimens pro- 
cured near Cordova, Mexico. His conclusions were, that all 
the individuals with short and rounded tails were males, 
while the females had the two central rectrices more pro- 
longed, and the lateral with a dark zone between their bronzy 
bases and buff tips. Viewing the other members of the group 
with the light that these observations give us, we find that 
the males as they increase in age grow darker on their under 
surface, especially on the throat, that the tails in the same 
sex become shorter and more rounded, and that the light colour 
of the tips becomes evanescent—a similar fact to that which 
U2 


270 Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide.. 


we have already noticed in members of the allied genus Phae- 
thornis, especially in the group contaiming P. guy? and its allies. 
The females do not appear to pass through these changes, but 
retain the light colour of the under surface, the elongated 
rectrices, and the well-defined light tips of their tail-feathers. 

The geographical distribution of Pygmornis coincides with 
that of Phaethornis, except that we are uncertain about its 
range in western Ecuador, where, however, some one member 
of the genus doubtless occurs. Guiana possesses three species, 
P. longuemareus, P. pygmeus, and P. episcopus. In South 
Brazil we find the species P. pygmeus and P. idalie, neither 
going beyond the province of Rio Janeiro. P. nigricinctus 
is found on the Upper Amazon. P. longuemareus is the only 
species of this genus met with in Venezuela, Trinidad, and 
Tobago. Coming to the Andes we find P. striigularis, which 
spreads through Columbia and Ecuador ; and P. griseigularis 
is found in the same countries and also in Peru. In the great 
isthmus of Central America, together with Southern Mexico, 
P. adolphi alone is found. 

Weare able to separate the species of this genus into three 
groups :— 
A. Rump green, same colour as the back ...._ Pygmornis idalie. 


B. Rump rufescent or bright rufous. 
a, Tail-feathers very broad, and central ones 


RCULAM A eyadavelets sfataietes wit xt cveoe sieve eis salir Pygmornis longuemareus. 
6) Tail-feathers narvow,. oc 0. ¢ <0’: h0)cbeis pater s Pygmornis adolphi. 
c. Median tail-feathers subterminally black. Pygmornis griseigularis. 
d. Throat grey striated with black........ Pygmornis striigularis. 

C. With prominent pectoral black band in the 
male. 

a. Mandible basal half yellow ............ Pygmornis pygmaeus. 
b, Lateral tail-feathers black ............ Pygmornis episcopus. 
ce. Mandible three-fourths yellow ........ Pygmornis nigricinctus. 


PyGMORNIS IDALIZ. 

Trochilus idahe, Boure. & Muls. Ann. Soe. Linn. de Lyon, 
vol. il. (1856). 

Phaethornis obscura, Gould, P. Z.S. 1857, p. 14. 

Pygmornis idahe, Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 48. 

Phaethornis obscura, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. 1. pl. 38. 


Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. 271 


Phaethornis viridicaudata, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. 1. pl. 33. 

Pygmornis aspasie, Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 47. 

Hab. South Brazil. 

This species was first described by Bourcier, J. c., and the 
male a year afterwards by Mr. Gould as Phaethornis obscura, 
and the female in the same paper as P. viridicaudata. We 
have seen specimens of the male of this species much darker, 
and with the tail much more rounded than those figured in 
Mr. Gould’s plate as P. obscurus. 

Our specimens are as follows :— 

One, Brazil (Bourcier), one, Brazil (Gould), Mus. D.G. E.; 
one, Brazil (Verreaux), Mus. 8.-G. 


PyGMORNIS LONGUEMAREUS. 


Trochilus longuemareus, Less. Trochil. p. 15, pl. 11. 
Phaethornis longuemareus, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. i. pl. 31. 
Pygmornis longuemareus, Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 46. 

Hab. Guiana; Trinidad (Léotaud). 

We do not find any difficulty in the determination of this 
species, its broad tail-feathers, with the median ones quite 
acute, serving readily to distinguish it from its near allies 
P. adolphi and P. griseigularis. 

It ranges generally over Guiana, and has also been pro- 
cured in Trinidad by Léotaud ; while it is not at all impro- 
bable that it may also inhabit Venezuela, although we have 
no specimens from that country. 

Our specimens are as follows :— 

Five, Cayenne (Whitely, Bourcier, Deyrolle), Mus. D. G. E. ; 
one, Cayenne (Parzudaki), Mus. P. L.S. 


-+PYGMORNIS ADOLPHI. 

Phaethornis adolphi, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. i. pl. 35. 

Pygmornis adolphi, Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 47. 

Hab. Mexico and Central America to Panama. 

Bourcier never seems to have described this species himself, 
and though mentioned under his MS. name, it appears to have 
been first published by Mr. Gould in his monograph. It is 
extremely similar to P. griseigularis, the only tangible differ- 


272 Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilidee. 


ences consisting in the central tail-feathers being subter- 
minally green instead of black as in the latter species. 

The following are our specimens :— 

One, Coban (Salvin), one, Bogota (Parzudaki), Mus. 
P.L.S.; one, Cayenne (Parzudaki), Mus. P.L.S.; one, 
Vera-Paz (Salvin), one, Coban (Bourcier), one, Cayenne 
(Verreaux), Mus. D.G.E.; one, Costa Rica (Eudres), one, 
Veragua (Arcé), four, Vera Paz (Salvin), three, Panama 
(McClennan, Hughes), Mus. S8.-G. 


PYGMORNIS GRISEIGULARIS. 

Phaethornis griseogularis, Gould, P. Z. 8.1851, p. 115; id. 
Mon. Troch. vol. i. pl. 36. 

Pygmornis griseogularis, Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 47. 

Trochilus aspasie, Boure. & Muls. Ann. Soc. Linn. de 
Lyon, vol. iii. (1856). 

Phaethornis zonura, Gould, P. Z.S. 1860, p. 305 ; id. Mon. 
Troch. vol. i. pl. 34. 

Pygmornis zonura, Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 47. 

Hab. New Granada. 

This species was first described by Gould as above cited ; 
and a few years later Bourcier gave to it the name of aspasie, 
evidently not being aware that Mr. Gould had already charac- 
terized it. In 1860 Mr. Gould bestowed on it another name, 
that of zonura. ‘This, in our opinion, after the examination of 
the type, kindly lent to us by Mr. Gould, is in no way dis- 
tinguishable from P. griseigularis, of which we have a series 
of specimens before us, and amongst them Bourcier’s type of 
P. aspasie. 

Mr. Gould, in his remarks upon P. zonwra, states that one 
of its characters is the “deep black colouring of the tail-fea- 
thers.” We find in the specimens before us that this must 
not be relied wpon as indicating any specific distinctness, as, 
although some have these feathers black like Mr. Gould’s 
type, others exhibit a greenish shade, but in every other par- 
ticular are identical. 

We have examined the following specimens :— 

Two, New Granada (Bowrcier), one of which is the type of 


Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilidee. 278 


P. aspasiea, two, New Granada (Whitely), one, New Granada 
(Boucard), one, Bogota (Gould), Mus. D.G.E.; one, Peru 
(Cook), Mus. D. G. E.; one, Peru (Gould), type of P. zonura, 
one, Bogota (Triibner), Mus. P. L.8. 


PYGMORNIS STRIIGULARIS. 

Phaethornis strugularis, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. i. pl. 37. 
Pygmornis striigularis, Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 48. 

Pygmornis amaura, Boure. Rev. Zool. 1856, p. 522. 

Phaethornis atrimentalis, Lawr. Aun. Lyc. Nat. Hist. N.Y. 
. 260, vol. vi. (1858) ? 

Phaethornis amaura, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. i. pl. 32. 

Pygmornis amaura, Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 46. 

Hab. New Granada and Keuador. 

This species was first described by Mr. Gould in Part iii. 
of his monograph, and afterwards by Bourcier in 1855, as 
Phaethornis amaura. In 1858 Mr. Lawrence described his 
P. atrimentalis, which Mr. Gould refers to the P. amaura of 
Bourcier. In Elliot’s collection is the type of P. amaura, 
Bourcier, which proves to be the same as P. striigularis ; and 
the specimen called P. amaura by Mr. Gould is only an adult 
male of the same species. 

We have examined the following specimens :— 

One, Bogota (Triibner), Mus. P. L.8.; one, Ecuador 
(Buckley), Mus. P. L.8.; one, Napo (Bourcier), type of 
P. amaura, one, Bogota (Gould), one, Napo (Bourcier), Mus. 
D.G.E; one, Napo (Gould), one, Ecuador (Bourcier), Mus. 
J. Gould. 


— 
~ 


PYGMORNIS PYGMAUS. 

Trochilus pygmaeus, Spix, Av. Bras. 1824, p. 78, pl. 80. fig. 1. 
Phaethornis pygmeus, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. i. pl. 41. 
Pygmornis pygmea, Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 49. 
Phaethornis eremita, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. 1. pl. 40. 
Pygmornis eremita, Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 49. 

Phaethornis rufigaster, Less. Hist. Col. t. 9. 

Pygmornis rufiventris, Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 48. 

Hab. Brazil and Cayenne. 

Spix described this species in 1824, from a specimen pro- 


274 Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. - 


cured at Minas Geraes, and gave a very poor figure of it. 
We can find no differences in examples from various parts of 
Brazil, and also from Cayenne. We have compared also spe- 
cimens from Bahia, called P.eremita by Gould, with those from 
Rio Janeiro and other parts of Brazil, and find them identical. 

Our specimens are as follows :— 

One, Brazil (Gould), one, ditto (Cook), one, Bahia (Dey- 
rolle), Mus. D.G.E.; one, Rio (Youds), two, Brazil, Mus. 
S.-G.; one, Brazil (Leadbeater), Mus. P. L. 8. 


PyYGMORNIS NIGRICINCTUS. 

Phaethornis nigricinctus, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist. vol. vi. 
p. 260; Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. i. pl. 39. fig. 1. 

Pygmornis nigricinctus, Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 48. 

Hab. Upper Amazons, Pebas (Hauawell) ; Eng. do Gama, 
Brazil (Natterer). 

This species, although resembling closely the P. pygmaeus 
and P. episcopus, presents one constant difference—that is, in 
the extent of black on the mandible. In the allied species 
mentioned above, the black extends halfway from the tip ; 
in P. nigricinctus it is only the tip that is black ; and this cha- 
racter seems always to distinguish it from its relatives. In 
all other respects we find it resembles the two species with 
which we have compared it. 

Specimens examined :— 

Two, Pebas, Peru (Hauxwell), Mus. D.G.E.; three, Pebas 
(Hauxwell), one, Brazil (Natterer), Mus. 8. & G. 


PyYGMORNIS EPISCOPUS. 

Phaethornis episcopus, Gould, P. Z. 8. (1857) p. 14; id. 
Mon. Troch. vol. 1. pl. 39. fig. 2. 

Pygmornis episcopus, Gould, Intr. Troch. p. 48. 

Hab. Guiana. 

This species, although very closely allied to P. pygmeus, is 
apparently distinct from that species, the principal point of 
difference being in the tail, the feathers of which are much 
broader and blacker. This character is not exhibited in Mr. 
Gould’s plate of the species, his differences being the bronzy 
hue of the upper surface and tail, broad pectoral band, and 


Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. 275 


small wings. We find none of these characters wanting in 
P. pygmeus before us ; but the black colouring of the tail-fea- 
thers, not mentioned by Mr. Gould, we do not find represented 
in our specimens of P. pygmeus; and this fact alone induces 
us to consider it a species. Our comparisons have been 
made with the type of P. episcopus, kindly lent to us by Mr. 
Gould. 

Specimens examined :— 

One, Demerara (Gould), type. 


III. The Genus Glaucis. 


With ample materials before us, representing every so- 
called species of this genus, we are utterly unable to recognize 
more than one, if we except G. dohrni, of which more anon. 
The variation in the shape and coloration of the rectrices is 
very much the same as in the genera Phaethornis and Pyg- 
mornis, masmuch as these, with the advancing age of indi- 
viduals, lose the pointed character of their tips, and become 
more and more rounded. It would also appear that the 
subterminal black band becomes narrower, and even evan- 
escent. Upon these two characters, no less than four species 
have been founded. The males, upon the the underside, espe- 
cially the throat, are darker in hue than the females. 

There can be no doubt as to the first name applied to this 
species being hirsuta of Gmelin, based upon the Brazilian 
bird. Lesson was the first to divide the species, applying the 
term mazeppa to the form from Guiana. Mr. Lawrence next 
distinguished the bird from Ecuador as G. affinis, basing the 
species upon the sombre colour of the underparts, which we 
find to be indicative of old males. Then Mr. Gould, in 1860, 
described the bird from the Rio Negro and Rio Napo (the 
same country as that of G. affinis) as G. melanura; and in 
his ‘Monograph’ he gave to specimens from Para (admitted 
to be immature, which fact is demonstrated in the plate by 
the light tips of the whole of the wing-feathers, together 
with the sharply-pointed rectrices) the name of G. lanceolata. 
We may further add that Mr. Gould, though figuring all the 
above species, and describing some of them himself, does not 


276 Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide.. 


appear to hold positive views whether there are four or one 
species. As‘regards Glaucis enea of Lawrence, from Costa 
Rica, the type of which is before us, as well as another spe- 
cimen from the same country, skinned by the same hand, we 
find that the bronze colouring of the back and the rich rufous 
of the under surface can be matched without difficulty in 
our specimens from southern countries. The blackish man- 
dible of Mr. Lawrence’s type is not borne out by the other 
specimens from the same locality, which have the mandible 
yellow as in normal South-American specimens. 

The bird which has also been included in this genus as 
Glaucis dohrni we believe to be the female of Grypus spixi, 
as already suspected by Mr. Gould (P.Z.S. 1860, p. 304). 
Whether the species is really referable to the genus Grypus 
remains to be proved. The only known male specimen, the type 
of G. spizi of Gould, has the tip of the maxilla broken, and 
shows but a slight serration of the edges at the extremity of the 
bill, not more than is found in perhaps the majority of the 
so-called genera of Humming-birds. We do not observe in 
the unbroken mandible the peculiar hook, which forms so 
marked a character in both Grypus and Androdon. 

The geographical distribution of Glaucis is very similar 
to that of Phaethornis, except that it does not proceed further 
north than Costa Rica, nor have we seen any specimens of it 
from western Ecuador. On the east coast it goes as far south 
as Rio, and in the north to the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, 
and extends over the whole country lying between these 
points. 

+ GLAUCIS HIRSUTA. 

Trochilus hirsutus, Gm. Syst. Nat. tom. 1. p. 490. 

Glaucis hirsuta, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. i, pl. 5 ; id. Intr. 
'Troch. p. 38. 

Trochilus mazeppa, Lesson, Troch. p. 18, pl. 3. 

Glaucis mazeppa, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol.i. pl. 6; id. Intr. 
Troch. p. 38. 

Glaucis affinis, Lawr. Ann. Nat. Hist. of New York, vol. vi. 
p. 261; id. Gould, Mon. Troch. vol.i. pl. 7; id. Intr. Troch. 
p. 38. 


Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. 277 


Glaucis melanura, Gould, P. Z.S. (1860) p. 364; id. Mon. 
Troch. pl. 9; id. Intr. Troch. p. 39. 

Glaucis lanceolata, Gould, Mon. Troch. pl. 8; id. Intr. 
Troch. p. 39. 

Glaucis enea, Lawr. Pr. Acad. Phil. 1867, p. 232. 

Hab. Tropical South America, and Central America to 
Costa Rica. ; 

We have examined the following specimens :— 

Two, South Brazil (Youds), three, Bahia (Wucherer), Mus. 
S.&G.; one, Brazil (Whitely), Mus. D.G.E.; one, Eng. 
do Gama, Brazil (Natterer), Mus. S.& G.; two, Cayenne 
(Deyrolle), Mus. D. G. E.; two, Pebas (Hauawell), Mus. 
S.&G.; one Xeberos (Bartlett), Mus. D.G.E.; one, 
Barra do Rio Negro (Natterer), Mus.S.&G.; one, Trinidad 
(ex Gould), Mus. P.L.S.; two, Trinidad, Mus. D.G.E.; 
one, Merida (Goering), Mus. D.G. E.; one, Caraccas (Goer- 
ing), Mus. S.& G.; one, Venezuela (Sallé), Mus. D.G. E.; 
one, Bogota (ex Verdey), Mus. D. G. H.; one, New Gra- 
nada (Leadbeater) ; Mus. P. L.S.; three, Panama (McClen- 
nan), Mus. D.G.E.; four, Panama (McClennan), Mus. 
S.&G.; one, Panama (Arcé), Mus. S.& G.; one, Panama 
(Salvin), Mus. 8. &.G.; one, Costa Rica (Endres), Mus. 
S.&G.; one, Costa Rica (Endres), type of G. eneus. 


IV. The Genus Threnetes. 


This genus has generally been deemed to consist of three 
species— Thr. leucurus, cervinicauda, and antonie. We here 
unite with these a species heretofore included in the genus 
Glaucis as G. ruckeri, as beg in no way separable from them. 

The geographical distribution of this genus is restricted in 
South America to the northern portion of the continent, no 
species having been found south of the basin of the Amazon. 
Two species occur in Guiana alone, 7. leucurus and T. an- 
tonie; another, T. cervinicauda, spreads over the regions of 
the Upper Amazon westward to the roots of the Andes, while 
the fourth, 7. ruckeri, stretches through western Ecuador and 
the Isthmus of Panama as far north as Costa Rica. 


THRENETES LEUCURUS. 
Trochilus leucurus, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. 1. p. 190. 


278 Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. 


Threnetes leucurus, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. i. pl. 13. ; id. 
Intr. Troch. p. 40. 

Hab. Guiana. 

We have the following specimen :— 

One, Surinam (Gould), Mus. D.G. E. 


THRENETES CERVINICAUDA.. 

Threnetes cervinicauda, Gould, P. Z. 8. 1854, p. 109; id. 
Mon. Troch. vol. i. pl. 14; id. Intr. Troch. p. 40. 

Hab. Upper Amazonia, Ecuador, and Columbia. 

Our specimens are :— 

One, Ecuador (Gould), two, ditto (Buckley), Mus. D.G.E. ; 
one, Bogota (Gould), one, Ecuador (Buckley), one, asters 
Peru (Hauawell), Mus. 8. & G. 


THRENETES ANTONIA, 

Trochilus antonie, Boure. & Muls. asl oe d’Agric. de 
Lyon (1846), p. 329. 

Threnetes antonie, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. i. pl. 15; id. 
Intr. Troch. p. 40. 

Hab. Guiana. 

Our specimens are :— 

One, Cayenne (Verreauz), one, ditto (Verdey), Mus. D.G.E. 


~\THRENETES RUCKERI. 

Trochilus ruckeri, Boure. P. Z.S. 1847, p. 46. 

Glaucis ruckeri, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. i. pl. 11; id. Intr. 
Troch. p. 39. 

Glaucis frasert, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. 1. pl. 12; id. Intr. 
Troch. p. 39. 

Hab. Central America and Ecuador. 

This is not an uncommon species in the southern portion 
of Central America, and, according to Fraser, extends south- 
wards into Ecuador. Specimens from the latter country have 
been separated by Mr. Gould, and called Glaucis fraseri in 
his monograph of this family. We have compared Mr. 
Gould’s specimen of G. fraseri with those before us from dif- 
ferent parts of Central America, and consider it to be merely 
T. ruckeri in immature plumage, and in no way worthy of 


Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on two Trochilide. 279 


specific distinctness. A young specimen of T. ruckeri from 
Panama, in Salvin’s collection, is precisely similar. 

We have examined the following specimens :— 

One, Costa Rica (Carmiol), Mus. 8.&G.; two, Panama 
(Arcé), Mus.S.& G.; one, Costa Rica (Endres), Mus. 8.&G.; 
one, Panama (McLennan), Mus. 8.& G.; one, Panama 
(McClennan), Mus. D.G. E.; one, Ecuador (Fraser), Mus. 
Gould. 


~XXXII.—On two Species of Trochilide of the Genus Lo- 
phornis. By Ossert Satvin, M.A. &c., and D. G. Exxrort, 
F.L.S., F.Z.S., &e. 


In Schreibers’s ‘Collectanea ad Faunam Brasiliz,’ 1833, the 
species generally known to authors as Lophornis gouldi (Or- 
nismya gouldi, Less.) is described and figured as Trochilus 
regine. It is impossible to decide which of these names takes 
precedence, as Lesson’s work on the Trochilide extended over 
more than one year in its publication, and therefore the 
exact date at which his name was first given cannot be accu- 
rately ascertained. Rather than disturb, therefore, a name by 
which the species is everywhere known, by the substitution of 
regine of Schreibers, which possibly may have a slight priority, 
we have deemed it best to place Schreibers’s name among the 
synonyms of gouldi. In either case, however, whether regine 
or gouldi have precedence, it becomes necessary to give a 
new name to the very distinct species described as regine by 
Gould in 1847, many years after the term had been employed 
by Schreibers. 

The synonymy of the two species will be somewhat as 


follows :— 


LorHoRNIS GOULDI. 

Ornismya gouldi, Less. Troch. 1831-33, p. 108, pl. xxxvi. 

Trochilus regine, Schreib. Collect. Faun. Brasil. pl. 1 (1838). 

Lophornis gouldi, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. ii. pl. 118; id. 
Intr. Troch. p. 83. 

Hab. Northern Brazil. 


280 Mr. T. Ayres on Trans-Vaal Ornithology. 


Top of head and crest bright rufous. Front and throat 
brilliant green; elongated feathers on the side of the neck 
white, with small round spots of brilliant green. Back bright 
grass-green. Rump dark red crossed by a white bar. Tail 
rufous red, outer edges of the feathers dark green. Under- 
parts dark gray, greenish on the flanks. Bill red. 


LopHornIs STICTOLOPHUS. 

Lophornis regine, Gould, P. Z.S. 1847, p. 95; id. Mon. 
Troch. vol. m. pl. 122; id. Intr. Troch. p. 84. 

Hab. Columbia. 

Top of head and crest bright red, the latter having several 
rows of small round black spots. Throat and upper parts of 
breast brilliant metallic green. Back dark green. Rump 
dark red crossed by a white bar. Two central feathers glit- 
tering green, outer ones dark rufous edged with dark green. 
Underparts dark green. Under tail-coverts dark rufous. 
Bill red. | 


XXXII1I.— Additional List of and Notes on Birds obtained in 
the Republic of Trans-Vaal. By Tuomas Ayres. (Com- 
municated by Joun Henry Gurney.) 


[Continued from ‘The Ibis,’ 1871, p. 270.] 


[Inv communicating the followmg notes from the pen of my 
friend Mr. Ayres, I am desirous of correcting an error for 
which I am responsible, and which occurred in Mr. Ayres’s first 
paper on Trans- Vaal birds, on page 292 of ‘ The Ibis’ for 1869, 
The Zosterops there mentioned as Z. capensis should have 
been given as Z. sundevalli, Hartl., and not as Z. capensis.— 


TE | 


158. Eryruropus amurensis, Radde. Eastern Red-footed 
Hobby. 

In December 1870 my brother and I rode over to a lagoon 
on Loup-spruit, some six miles from Potchefstroom, duck- 
shooting, and there we found a lot of these pretty Falcons 
hunting with much assiduity ; they were coursing backwards 


Mr. T. Ayres on Trans-Vaal Ornithology. 281 


and forwards over the driest end of the swamp with an ex- 
ceedingly rapid flight, and were taking insects on the wing. 
Though the birds were plentiful, they would seldom come 
within range, and we only secured the specimen sent (an adult 
male). This is the only time I have noticed them in this 
part of the country. 


159. Mizvus rorskautr (Gmel.). Yellow-billed Kite. 


160. Circaktus PEcTORALIS, Smith. Black-breasted Har- 
rier Eagle. 

161. Aquita N&vIoIDES, Cuv. Tawny Eagle. 

162. Haiairus vocirer (Daud.). African Sea-Eagle. 

163. SERPENTARIUS SECRETARIUS (Scop.). Secretary bird. 


164. Hirunpo ALBIGULARIS, Strickl. Southern White- 
throated Swallow. é 
These Swallows breed sparsely in this part of the country. 


165. Hirunpo cucutiata, Bodd. Rousseline Swallow. 

A pair of these Swallows are now (380th December) breed- 
ing inmy bedroom. They have fixed their nest within a few 
feet of my head; and I hear them frequently talking to one 
another in the middle of the night ; and in the early morning 
it is pleasant to listen to their short but cheery song. The 
little white-rumped Swifts (Cypselus caffer) tried several times 
to turn them out when the nest was about half built ; and they 
certainly would have done so, had not I prevented the rob- 
bery. ‘There is no fighting over the matter ; the Swifts simply 
frighten the Swallows away by constantly flying close past, 
making harsh cries ; and then, entering the nest, they take 
possession. 


166. Coryte cincra (Bodd.). Brown-collared Martin. 


167. ALcEDo semITorQuATA, Swains. Half-collared King- 
fisher. 

168. Coryruornis cristata (Linn.). Malachite-crested 
Kingfisher. 

169. Sytvierra RuFesceNns (Vieill.). South - African 


Crombec. 


282 Mr. T. Ayres on Trans- Vaal Ornithology. 


170. Bupytes ravi, Bonap. Ray’s Wagtail. 

[The specimen sent (a male in full plumage) is the only 
South-African example of this species which I have yet seen. 
Mr. Ayres sent with it two specimens of B. flava, which he 
says has been “exceedingly scarce for the last two seasons.” 


—J. H. G.|] 
171. Macronyx capensis (Linn.). Sentinel Pipit. 
172. Pycnonorus niericans (Vieill.). Brunoir Bulbul. 
173. LANIARIUS QUADRICOLOR, Cass. Four-banded Shrike. 


174. HypHANTORNIS SUBAUREUS, Smith. Algoa-Bay Wea- 
verbird. 


175. Estretpa astritp (Linn.). Waxbill Finch. 
176. Hasropryea supriava (Vieill.). Sanguineous Finch. 


177. OrtycospizaA Potyzona (Temm.). Little Barred- 
breasted Finch. 


178. Srrepropenta caPicota (Sund.). Cape Turtle Dove. 

Tolerably common in Potchefstroom. 

[The specimen sent appears to agree with two in my pos- 
session, obtained by the late Mr. Andersson, one at the river 
Cunené and the other near the river Obavango, and may 
therefore be considered referable to S. damarensis (Finsch 
& Hartl.), if the latter be admissible as specifically distinct 
from S. capicola, which I greatly doubt.—J. H. G.] 


179. FRANCOLINUS GARIEPENSIS, Smith. Orange- River 
Francolin. 

[The eggs sent to the Rev. Canon Tristram, and referred 
to in ‘ The Ibis,’ 1871, p. 262, were subsequently proved, by 
an examination of the skin of the parent bird, to belong to 
this species, and not, as at first supposed, to F. levaillantt ; 
both species, however, are natives of Trans-Vaal. Mr. 
Ayres remarks, as to F, levaillanti and two of its conge- 
ners, “ F. afer and F. levaillanti appear to me to be gene- 
rally distributed all over the country where the localities are 
suitable to their habits ; F. pileatus I have only found in the 


Mr. T. Ayres on Trans-Vaal Ornithology. 283 


bush-country, frequenting the open glades, and I think it is 
a much scarcer bird.”—J. H. G.] 


180. ArpEA GoLIATH, Temm. Goliath Heron. 

Whilst out fishing I shot a fine specimen of this Heron ; he 
had just caught and gorged whole a cat-fish (here callel barbel) 
of at least two pounds weight, and with a head as broad as 
one’s hand; he had dexterously speared it right through the 
body behind the head, with one mandible, and had evidently 
clasped it with the other. 


181. ArpEa comata, Pall. Squacco Heron. 
This Heron is plentiful in the swamps in the neighbourhood 
of Potchefstroom. 


182. LoprvANELLUS LATERALIS (Smith). South-African 
Wattled Plover. 

A few of these Plovers occasionally find their way to Pot- 
chefstroom and the neighbourhood; they are, however, very 
rare visitants. 

The specimen sent (a female) was one of three which were 
observed outside the town of Potchefstroom in the month of 
April. 

The iris was ashy brown; the bill yellow, but black at the 
tip; the bare part of the thighs, the tarsi and: feet green- 
ish yellow; the basal part of the wattles red; the remaining 
portion and the eyelids yellow. 

[Mr. E. C. Buxton informs me that he obtained this species 
in the neighbourhood of the Labomba mountains, beyond the 
northern boundary of the colony of Natal_—J. H. G.] 


- 188. PHitomacuus puenax (Linn.). Ruff. 
[A female specimen in winter plumage.—J. H. G.] 


184. Toranus GLarEoLa (Linn.). Wood-Sandpiper. 


185. Gaxiinaco MAsor (Gmel.). Solitary Snipe. 
These Snipes were more plentiful than usual in the neigh- 
bourhood of Potchefstroom about the end of 1871. 


186. Ratius c#RULESCENS, Gmel. Caffre Rail. 


187. OrrycomretTra pyam@a, Naum.  Baillon’s Crake. 
SER. I1I,—VOL. III. x 


284. Mr. T. Ayres on Trans-Vaal Ornithology. — 


The following observations relate to species already recorded 
as occurring in Trans- Vaal :— 


108. HyPHANTORNIS MARIQUENSIS (Smith). Mariqua Wea- 
ver bird. 

In the beginning of August 1871 I noticed that a pair of 
these birds had commenced building, hanging their nest on 
the pendulous twigs of a weeping-willow right over one of the 
secluded back streets of the town of Potchefstroom, at a height 
of perhaps twenty feet from the ground, the tree being large 
and one of arow. At this period the cock bird had not as- 
sumed the yellow plumage, or the slightest symptom of it 
that I could see, but was in appearance similar to the female. 
The building of the nest proceeded very slowly, and by the 
beginning of September it was not more than one fourth com- 
pleted, the pair of birds still remaining in the same plumage ; 
but at this stage the nest was pulled down by some boys, and 
of course the birds left the place. 

At the same date (the beginning of September) I explored 
the reeds at the river and found many nests of this species 
in various early stages, and saw several cock birds in full yel- 
low plumage. 

About the middle of September I again went to the river 
and found a good many nests among the reeds, but none fin- 
ished or containing eggs; the nests are almost always hung 
between two reeds, sometimes where the water is knee-deep, 
at others where it is waist-deep, and sometimes where they 
can be only reached by swimming ; for the river, though nar- 
row, is very deep, and the reeds either shoot up from the 
bottom, or form a sort of overhanging bank not easy of ap- 
proach. 

On 20th October I again visited the spot, but of the nests 
which I then examined I only found one containing eggs ; I 
saw several cock birds in full plumage, and it is noticeable 
that the cock birds are more often to be seen at the nests than 
the hens. 

On Ist November I obtained three nests, with eggs, from the 
same locality, but could not get the birds belonging to them ; 


Mr. T. Ayres on Trans-Vaal Ornithology. 285 


and though, as far as I could judge, the males were in full 
plumage, I was never certain which birds belonged to the nests 
which I took. 

I think, however, that Mr. Layard’s correspondents are 
right in considering “ that many of these birds do not assume 
the yellow plumage in summer, and that they breed, or at all 
events commence building, before assuming the breeding- 
dress.” 

[The following are particulars of the plumage of five males 
of this species obtained by Mr. Ayres :— 

One shot in July, with no marks of breeding-plumage ex- 
cept a little black on the cheeks, throat, and chin, especially 
the latter, and a very slight tinge of yellow on the underparts. 

One shot in September in full breeding-dress. 

~ One shot 26th November, also in full breeding-plumage. 

Two shot 29th November, both in winter dress, except a 
slight tinge of yellow on the under surface. 

Of four nests obtained by Mr. Ayres, one contained three 
eggs of a light pink ground-colour sprinkled with spots of a 
dark pink over the whole surface, some of these spots being 
minute and others much larger. 

A second nest contained a single egg with similar spots on 
a pale blue ground. 

In another nest there were three eggs with pinkish spots 
of a fainter hue than the preceding ones, more thickly clus- 
tered, and on a dull green ground. 

In the fourth nest were two eggs with spots similarly clus- 


tered, but of a brighter and more rufous tint and on a pale 
ground.—J. H. G.] 


38. MEGALOPHONUS RUFIPILEUS (Vieill.). Fasciolated Lark 
(vide Ibis, 1871, p. 268). 

This Lark has precisely the peculiar habits of M. apiatus, 
mentioned in Mr. Layard’s Catalogue, p. 206. 

One of the birds sent (a male) had evidently, from the ap- 
pearance of the skin on the breast and belly, taken his share 
in incubation ; it was shot about the end of March. 

x2 


286 Mr. T. Ayres on Trans-Vaal Ornithology. | 


124, Mrcatornonus N&VIvS, Strickl. Dark-streaked Lark. 
This species is fond of perching on the tops of bushes; it 
has a short but pleasing song ; its feod consists of insects. 


125. MxrcaLoPHoNUs CHENIANUS (Smith). Latakoo Lark. 

This Lark somewhat resembles in its habits the English 
Skylark, rising in the air in the early morning, with the same 
fluttering flight and.singing sweetly all the time. I observed 
this in the middle of February, towards the end of our sum- 
mer; and the birds were then in pairs. 

The food of this species consists of small insects. 


146. BaLearica REGULORUM (Licht.). Southern Crowned 
Crane (vide Ibis, 1868, pp. 255, 256, 1869, p. 376, and 1871, 
p. 264). 

I have been fortunate enough to get two more eggs of this 
Crane ; they are precisely similar to those mentioned in ‘ The 
Ibis’ for 1868, p. 256, except that those now obtained were 
quite fresh, whereas the previous ones were much incubated, 
and in consequence had a dirty, glossy, and worn appearance. 

These last eggs have changed but little in colour since they 
were blown, but were perhaps scarcely so white before they 
were emptied of their contents, and then showed more of the 
pale green lining of the shell through the outer coating. 

One of these eggs measured 3;% inches by 2,%;, the other 
3y¢ by 27%. 

They were taken from the nest on 22nd December, 1871, 
by my friend Mr. J. C. Bodenstein, on whose statements I 
can implicitly rely, and who also shot one of the old birds, the 
skin of which I now have. 

The nest was found in an extensive swamp on the banks of 
the Movi river, about twenty miles from Potchefstroom, and 
was composed of rushes pulled and placed in a conical form 
on the rank long grass, which falls over from its own weight 
and forms a thick carpet of vegetation, often more than a foot 
thick ; the nest was built where the water was about ankle- 
deep, and contained two eggs only. 


On the Cuckoos of the Genus Neomorphus. 287 


_XXXIV.—Remarks on Neomorphus pucherani and its Allies. 
By G. N. Lawrence. 


I nave been much interested in the examination of two spe- 
cimens, male and female, of a Cuckoo sent me for determi- 
nation by Prof. James Orton : they were obtained in the Upper 
Amazonian region, near Pebas, by Mr. J. Hauxwell. 

I found them to be of the rare species Neomorphus pucherani 
(Cultrides pucherani, Deville), specimens of which few orni- 
thologists appear to have had the opportunity of examining; for 
I can find no record of any having been procured since the 
description of the types, figures of which are given in the 
Zoology of Castelnau’s Voyage. 

Mr. Sclater (P.Z.S. 1864, p. 249) has expressed a doubt 
of the specific value of this species. Having under examina- 
tion a specimen of N. rufipennis, from Demerara, he is in- 
clined to consider it identical with N. pucherani; he says, “ At 
least I have very little doubt that the species is the same, 
although I can say but little in praise of the figures of Cul- 
trides pucherani given in the ‘ Zoology of Castelnau’s Voyage.’ 
I may observe, however, that M. O. Des Murs’s supposition 
there expressed, that this species is the young of Neomorphus 
geoffroyt, appears to have very little foundation.” 

Subsequently Mr. Sclater (P.Z.S. 1866, p. 59) has de- 
scribed a new species of Neomorphus, viz. N. salvini, and again 
gives diagnoses of N. geoffroyi and N. rufipennis, and, under 
the latter, remarks “I am still uncertain as to whether the 
Cultrides pucherani of Deville, figured in ‘Castelnau’s Voyage,’ 
belongs to this species or not. If different it will form a 
second species of the same section ”’*. 

M. O. Des Murs (Castelnau’s Voyage, p. 18) gives as his 
opinion, that N. pucherani is one of the stages of plumage of 


* [It is quite true that in 1866 I questioned the specific validity of 
Neomorphus pucherant. But in 1868 I had an opportunity of examining 
the typical specimens in the Jardin des Plantes, in company with Mr. 
Salvin, and saw at a glance that there could be no doubt of its being an 
excellent svecies. Moreover, last year Mr. Hauxwell sent a pair of these 
birds to this country also; and one of these is now in my collection, and 
the other in that of Salvin and Godman.—P. L. 8. ! 


288 Mr. G. N. Lawrence on 


N. geoffroyi, Temm., which he considers also to be an imma- 
ture bird, and furthermore he decides that N. rufipennis, Gray, 
is no other than N. geoffroyi in mature plumage, thus re- 
ducing the three so-called species to one. He gives his rea- 
sons at great length to sustain these opinions; but they seem 
to me to be mainly conjectural, as he assumes that the very 
different markings on the throat-feathers are in a state of 
transition, and would finally become as they exist in N. ru- 
Sipennis. 

_ M. Des Murs further remarks that it is evident that M. 
Deville was ignorant of the existence, or had forgotten Mr. 
Gray’s description of Cultrides rufipennis, and that, if he had 
compared one with the other, he would have hesitated to esta- 
blish his species. 

M. Des Murs says in conclusion, that he has no hesitation 
in considering the two species the same, because his opinion is 
corroborated by Prince Charles Bonaparte in the ‘ Conspectus 
Volucrum Zygodactylorum,’ who only made asingle species of 
C. rufipennis and C. pucherani. 

It is thus seen that the specific validity of N. pucherani has 
been questioned by several distinguished ornithologists ; it is 
recognized, however, as a good species by Messrs. Cabanis 
and Heine (Mus. Hein. iv. p. 92) and by G. R. Gray 
(Hand-list, vol. 1. p. 212). 

Having been able to examine and make comparisons of 
specimens of the four species of this genus, I hope to make 
it evident that there are four well-marked and distinct species. 

The two specimens under examination are marked as male 
and female, and are well represented in plates 6 and 7 of the 
‘Zoology of Castelnau’s Voyage,’ taken from the types of 
Cultrides pucheram. Although the figures show some slight 
differences of coloration from the specimens, I think no one 
would hesitate a moment in deciding that they are alike. 

Mr. Sclater’s reason for supposing these figures of N. pu- 
cherani inaccurate arose no doubt from the fact that he con- 
sidered them as probably representing N. rufipennis. 

Prof. Orton’s specimen marked ‘“ male” corresponds well 
with the figure on plate 7, which is stated to be immature 


the Cuckoos of the Genus Neomorphus. 289 


(‘jeune age”) ; in this figure the blue-black colour extends 
quite down on the hind ‘neck, whereas in the specimen it 
is restricted to the occiput. There is also in the specimen a 
blue-black mark under the eye; this is absent in plate7. These 
are probably errors in colouring, as the black mark under the 
eye is shown in plate 6, in which the black also exists on the 
hind neck, but it does not extend so far down as in plate 7. 
Both of Prof. Orton’s specimens have the black under the eye, 
and the lower edge is just on a line with that of the same 
colour on the occiput. In plate 6 the black on the hind neck 
extends further down than on a line with the same colour 
under the eye. 

The specimen of the female is apparently more mature, and 
agrees quite accurately with plate 6 (“adult male”) in having 
the narrow black edgings on the feathers of the lower part 
of the throat, and in the central tail-feathers being of a lus- 
trous reddish purple; the difference of the extension of the 
black colouring on the hind neck I do not consider of much 
account. 

As supposed by M. Deville, the black edgings to the throat- 
feathers are probably evidence of maturity, they are clearly 
not sexual, as the female specimen is so. marked; on the 
throat-feathers of the male there are slight indications of these 
dark margins. Neither of the specimens has the appearance 
of immaturity ; yet one is quite likely older than the other. 
In general appearance and plumage both are exceedingly like 
the figures given in the ‘Zoology of Castelnau’s Voyage,’ 
both having the deep-red carmine bills; this character does 
not seem one likely to exist in immature birds. 

There are some differences between the specimens and the 
plates, in the grey, brown, and rufous colouring of the ab- 
domen and sides; but I do not regard these as of much 
importance. 

The following descriptions of the different species are taken 
from specimens which I have had under examination :— 


1. Nzomorruus GEorrroy! (‘Temm.). 
Female. Bill pale yellow, dusky at the base ; chin and upper 
part of throat grey, obscurely banded with dusky, lower part 


290 Mr. G. N. Lawrence on 


of throat grey, tinged with rufous; the throat-feathers have 
their ends rounded, and each feather has a submarginal 
brownish black mark shaped like the letter U, which con- 
forms to the shape of the feather ; there is an inner mark some- 
what similar in shape at the base of the feather; on the sides 
of the neck the dark colour is washed with greenish; the 
pectoral band is formed by three rows of feathers ending 
with blue-black, in addition to the two black marks on each 
feather, all the other throat-feathers having grey margins; 
breast and abdomen brownish ash, sides of the breast more 
brown, with darker brownish bars; the flank-feathers are 
dark rufous; the vent dark purplish brown; thighs hght dull 
rufous obscurely barred with brownish; the feathers of the 
front and crown are grey washed with rufous, each having a 
black bar at the base and at the end, this dark colour increas- 
ing towards the hind head, where it covers the entire ends of 
the elongated feathers, forming the blue-black crest; the 
feathers on the sides of the head, on the occiput and upper 
hind neck, are marked much as on those of the front and 
crown; lower part of hind neck and wing-coverts bluish 
green; back, tertiaries, and upper tail-coverts light bronzy 
green ; two central tail-feathers violet-purple ending with 
green, the next pair dark green on the inner webs, the outer 
webs like the central feathers, the other feathers are pur- 
plish black, more or less green on the outer webs ; the outer 
primaries are blackish purple, with their outer margins lightly 
tinged with green, the margins of the inner primaries are more 
green ; the innermost secondaries are entirely dark green ; 
some of the wing-coverts are edged with grey; the tarsi: 
and toes appear to have been dark plumbeous, claws pale yel- 
lowish. Wing 62 inches; tail 104; bill from front 13, from 7 
gape 21, high at base 11, wide at base +}, wide at nostrils 3 ; 
tarsus 2}. 

Hab. “Rio Jazoaripe, Province of Bahia, Brasil.” 

Mus. Amer. of Nat. Hist. Central Park, New York; from 
the Maximilian Collection. 

This example is apparently adult, and agrees well with 
Temminck’s plate (Pl. Col. 7). 


the Cuckoos of the Genus Neomorphus. 291 


~~ 2. NEomorpuus satvinI, Scl. P. Z.S. 1866, p. 59, pl. 5. 

In the museum of the Acad. of Nat. Sciences, Philadelphia, 
I found a fine specimen of this recently described species. 
It came in the Rivoli collection, and had on the original label 
of Coccyzus geoffroyi, Temm. ; it was relabelled by Mr. Cassin 
Neomorphus geoffroyi. On first seeing it I was struck with 
its resemblance to the plate of Mr. Sclater’s N. salvini, as I 
remembered it, and on comparison with the plate found it to 
agree exactly with it. My first impression was that Mr. 
Sclater had committed an error, supposing the specimen to be 
correctly labelled ; but on examining the bottom of the stand, I 
found in fine writing, “‘ Mexique.” From this I drew the con- 
clusion that it was not N. geoffroy?, which has only been found 
in Brazil, but in reality Mr. Sclater’s N. salvini. In the 
catalogue printed at the time the. Rivoli collection was offered 
for sale, this specimen is given as from Brazil. 

Thus this fine species escaped the scrutiny of the French 
naturalists as well as that of Mr. Cassin. 

“ Mexique” has so wide a significance in French speci- 
mens that, if noticed by Mr. Cassin, he probably did not heed 
it; but in this case it is undoubtedly correct. 

The bill is ight horn-colour, clouded in the middle and 
paler at the edges; front and crown, as far as on a line with 
the posterior angle of the eye, light rufous, beyond which the 
crest-feathers are bluish black, with pale rufous edges ; bare 
space around the eye blackish in the dried specimen; the 
throat-feathers are pale ochreous, with lighter or greyish mar- 
gins ; on the upper part of the breast there is a narrow band 
of bluish black ; breast and upper part of abdomen ochreous 
grey, lower part of abdomen and sides bright rufous, under 
tail-coverts dark brown; hind neck bronzy green, upper part 
of back and wing-coverts light bronzy green ; lower part of 
back and upper tail-coverts brownish rufous; the primary 
quills are dark green on the outer webs, blackish on the inner, 
the secondaries are of a lighter green on the outer webs, the 
tertiaries brownish rufous like the back ; central tail-feathers 
dark green, with their edges largely reddish purple, the outer 
tail-feathers changeable purple and green. Wing 7 inches ; 


292 Mr. G. N. Lawrence on 


tail 112; tarsus 28; bill from front tk from gape 2}, high 
at base 3, wide at band’g 3, at nostril 7% 

Hab. Central America. 

Mus. Acad. of Nat. Sciences, Philadelphia. 

As stated by Mr. Sclater, this species is nearly allied to 
N. geoffroyi; it is, however, quite distinct, differmg in the 
rufous front and in not having the black marks on the throat- 
feathers ; these last in shape are nearly even at the end, those 
of N. geoffroyi being strongly rounded ; in each of the species 
the shape of the throat-feathers is different, and it is a strong 
distinguishing character: the bill is not shorter than m the 
specimen of N. geoffroyi; but it is higher, as stated by Mr. 
Sclater, and also wider: the purple and green colours of the 
tail, I think, vary with age, being more purple in the adult. 

3. NromMorPHUS RUFIPENNIS (G. R. Gray), P. Z.S. 1849, 
p. 63, pl. 10. 

Bill black for three quarters its length, the terminal quarter 
whitish horn-colour clouded in the middle ; upper part of the 
throat greyish, narrowly edged with dusky blue ; front, crown, 
crest, a space under the eye, entire neck and upper part of 
the breast of a fine deep blackish blue ; this blue colour extends 
somewhat on the upper part of the back ; the throat and neck- 
feathers in front are obtusely lanceolate in shape ; the bases 
of the blue throat-feathers are grey; bare space around the 
eye whitish ; lower part of breast, abdomen, and thighs of a 
fine dark grey ; under tail-coverts dark brown ; middle tail- 
feathers fine purplish red, the others dark green, except the 
outer pair, which are deep violet-purple, as are the underparts 
of all the tail-feathers ; back and upper tail-coverts dark green ; 

the primaries are blackish violet-blue, the secondaries have 
their outer webs for two thirds their width bright reddish 
cinnamon, the remainder of webs next the shaft and the mer 
webs violet-blue. Wing 64 inches; tail 11; tarsus 2%; bill 
a front 1,%;, from gape 275, high at base +, wide at base 
15 wide at nostrils 74. 

Hab. No locality given*. 


* [The correct patria of this species is undoubtedly Guiana, Cf. P.Z.58. 
1864, p. 249.—P. L. S.] 


the Cuckoos of the Genus Neomorphus. 293 


Mus. Acad. of Nat. Sciences, Philadelphia. Labelled by 
Mr. Cassin as this species. ‘“ Bought from Bell, 1864.” 

This specimen corresponds closely with Mr. Gray’s plate, 
differing only in the central tail-feathers being purple instead 
of green. 


4. NromoreHus PucHERANI (Deville), Rev. Zool. p. 51; 
Cast. Voy. pls. 6, 7. 
> Female. Bill deep carmine, the ends of both mandibles and 
the cutting-edges pale yellow. In a note attached to the spe- 
cimen Mr. Hauxwell says, “ Iris brown, point of beak green, 
the rest and skin around the eyes red, skin behind the eye 
light blue.” The bill still retains its deep carmine colour ; but 
the bare space behind the eye is blackish, the blue colour 
having almost entirely faded out. 
Front dark brown, top of head, crest-feathers, occiput, and 
a mark under the eye from near the front angle deep blackish 
blue; chin and upper parts of throat light ash, with an ochreous 
tinge, feathers of the lower part of the throat dark ash, with 
paler margins, the extreme end of each marked with a very 
narrow but distinct black line; the throat-feathers are slightly 
rounded at their ends; there is a well-defined pectoral band 
of blue-black, formed by two rows of feathers having their 
ends of that colour, the concealed portion of these feathers 
is much paler than in those immediately above; breast and 
abdomen dark ash washed with ochreous, lower part of ab- 
domen, flanks, and crissum dark purple-brown; the feathers 
of the thighs are pale cinereous, with their ends light brown ; 
hind neck, back, and upper wing-coverts greenish olive ; lower 
part of back, rump, and upper tail-coverts olivaceous brown ; 
the central tail-feathers are of a fine reddish purple, in certain 
lights changing partly to green, the next pair green, with the 
edges of the outer webs purple, the third pair dark green, the 
fourth and fifth pairs dark purple, with a wash of green ; under 
surface of the tail blackish purple ; the primaries are bluish 
purple ; the larger wing-coverts and the entire outer webs of 
the secondaries are of a brownish maroon-colour, the inner 
webs are dark purple, except the ends, which are maroon- 
colour ; tarsi and toes dark fleshy brown, nails pale brownish. 


294 On the Cuckoos of the Genus Neomorphus. 


The male, which is probably younger, differs from the female 
in the black edges of the throat-feathers not being clearly 
defined, in the smaller wing-coverts and upper back being more 
green, the lower back and upper tail-coverts bronzy green, 
and the tail-feathers showing less of the changeable purple 
colour. In all other respects they are precisely alike. 

Length (skin) 20inches; wing 6}; tail10; bill from front 
13, from gape 2;;, high at base 7, wide at base +3, wide at nos- 
trils 9; tarsus 24. 

Hab. Pebas, Peru, Upper Amazons. 

Mus. Vassar College, Ploughkeepsie, New York. 

Mr. Hauxwell considered this species to be undescribed, and 
wrote to Prof. Orton as follows :—‘ The first of the kind that I 
have been able to obtain, although I have been trying and re- 
questing the Indians to bring me some, and have offered them 
a good price. The Oregones call them ‘ Sataicu ;’? some call 
them Huangana pisco or Hog-bird, they make a noise similar 
to the hog when he is excited.” Prof. Orton suggests that, 
“ Mr. Hauxwell refers here to the Peccary.” 

They would seem to be very rare or difficult to procure. 
Deville says that on the Yucayali it is called “ Vanvana pischo,” 
that they are in pairs in the large woods, that it is very wild, 
and its flight very swift. Yaguas Indian name “ Monasitan.” 

There is no need of comparing this species with any 
except N. rufipennis ; and to that there is little resemblance 
except in the reddish brown colour on the wings; this colour 
in N. rufipennis is brighter, and occupies but two thirds of 
the outer web of each of the secondaries, instead of the entire 
outer web as in N. pucherani; the throat-feathers of the two 
species are entirely unlike in shape; and in the coloration of 
the neck they are very dissimilar ; in the colours of the bill 
they are notably unlike ; and the bills also differ in form, that 
of N. pucherani being at the base seven eighths of an inch in 
height, whereas in N. rufipennis it is but five eighths ; yet in 
length the bills do not vary materially. 

The most salient points of difference in the several species 
may be stated as follows :— 

1. N. geoffroyi. Bull pale yellow, dusky at base; front 


Mr. O. Salvin on the Fulica alba of White. 295 


grey tinged with rufous and marked with black bars; throat- 
feathers with rounded ends, and having U-shaped marks on 
each feather ; tarsus 2} inches. 

2. N. salvini. Bill light horn-colour clouded in the mid- 
dle; front pale rufous ; throat-feathers with their ends nearly 
even, of a pale ochreous, with highter-coloured margin ; tarsus 
22 inches. 

3. N. rufipennis. Bill black for three fourths its length, 
the end whitish horn-colour; front blackish blue, of the same 
colour as the crown and crest; throat-feathers lanceolate in 
shape and of a blackish blue colour ; there is no distinct pec- 
toral band; tarsus 23 inches. 

4. N. pucherani. Bull deep carmine, yellowish at tip, much 
curved and very high; front dark brown; throat-feathers 
dark ash, their ends are slightly rounded, and the lower ones 
are margined with black; tarsus 24 inches. 


XXXV.—WNote on the Fulica alba of White. 
By Ossert Satvin, M.A., &c. 


(Plate X.) 


In a former number of ‘The Ibis’ for the current year 
(anted, p. 45), I referred to a Plate which I was having pre- 
pared from a coloured drawing, sent to me by Herr von Pel- 
zeln, of the typical specimen of the Fulica alba of White. 
This plate (Plate X.) is now given herewith. 

On comparing the coloured drawing with the specimens of 
Notornis mantelli in the British Museum, it appeared evident 
that the bird in the Imperial Cabinet at Vienna must belong 
to Notornis. The short wings and the short toes, as well as 
the outline of the beak, indicated clearly a far greater generic 
affinity with Notornis than with Porphyrio. 

I therefore (depending, of course, upon the accuracy of the 
drawing sent me, which has been placed on stone by Mr. 
Keulemans on a slightly larger scale than the original sketch) 
have little hesitation in adding this species to the genus No- 
tornis, thereby confirming the position pointed out for it by 
Herr von Pelzeln (anteda, p. 44). 


296 Lord Walden on a Collection of Birds 


XXX VI.—On a Collection of Birds recently made by Lieute- 
nant Robert Wardlaw Ramsay, F.Z.S., in the Andaman 
Islands. By Artuur, Viscount Wauprn, P.Z.S., F.R.S. 


(Plates XI., XII., XIII.) 


A youne member of the B.O. U., Lieutenant R. W. Ramsay, 
H.M. 67th Regt., having, in the middle of December 1872, 
been sent on duty to Port Blair, in the Andaman Islands, 
immediately after arrival, availed himself with great energy 
of his opportunities, and, being an excellent shot as well as a 
keen naturalist, collected in a couple of months 460 speci- 
mens of birds, representing 62 species. These he has been 
good enough to forward to me for identification ; and as many: 
of them are of considerable interest and are accompanied by 
useful notes, I venture to offer to the readers of ‘The Ibis’ 
the following list of them, together with some observations 
on the more important. species. 

Mr. Blyth and the late Colonel Tytler are the principal 
authors who, until quite lately, had investigated the ornitho- 
logy of the Andamans. But in February last, Mr. V. Ball* 
followed up two former and less complete papers on that sub- 
ject by publishing an admirable list of the birds known to 
occur in the Andamans and Nicobars, every species hitherto 
noted as inhabitants of these two insular groups being in- 
cluded. This list makes the total number recorded amount 
to 133; from which 24 must be deducted as being species 
as yet only known to inhabit the Nicobars, while 4 more 
are titles which doubtfully belong to Andaman species. To 
these 105 species of Andaman birds must be added some 18 
species sent to Mr. Humey after Mr. Ball’s paper was in 
print, thus raising the total to 113, less 5, which are not in- 
digenous, having been introduced by Colonel Tytler. Mr. 
Ramsay obtained two species, new to the Andaman fauna, 
which when added make the complete numbers of known 
Andaman birds at this date reach to about 110 species. 

The avifauna of the Andamans, while containing some pe- 
culiar species, appears to resemble in character that of the 


* Str. Feath. 1. p. 51. + Op. cit. p. 804. 


from the Andaman Islands. 297 


highlands of India south of the Himalayas and west of the 
Brahmapootra, rather than that of the Indo-Malayan or 
Indo-Chinese countries. 


1. Patzornis evpatTrius (Linn.), S. N. i. p. 140. no. 7, 
ex Briss; Finsch, Papag. i. p. 11. no. 89. 

Psittaca ginginiana, Briss. Orn. iv. p. 343, ex “ Ginginiano 
regno.” 

Paleornis alecandri, auct., nec Linn. 

Paleornis magnirostris, Ball, J. A.S. B. xh. p. 278, “ An- 
damans” (1872). 

“S$. Andaman, 9, iris straw-colour, a yellow rim round 
each eye.” 

Two females, do not differ from Ceylon, Indian, and Bur- 
mese examples of that sex. Bill not so large as in Ceylon 
and Candeish individuals. 


2. PALHORNIS MELANORHYNCHUS, Wagler, Monogr. p. 511. 
no. 4 (1832) ; Finsch, Papag. 11. p. 70. no. 98, 2 adult. 

Paleornis nigrirostris, Hodgs. Gray’s Zool. Mise. p. 85, 
“ Nipaul” (1844), 2 juv. 

Paleornis derbyanus, Fraser, P.Z.S. 1850, p. 245, pl. 25, 
ex patr. incog. ? adult. 

Paleornis javanicus (Osbeck), Jerd. B. of Ind. i. p. 262. 
no. 152, nec Osbeck; Ball. J. A.S. B. xli. p. 279. no. 14, g. 

Paleornis lathami, Finsch, tom. cit. p. 66. no. 97, 3 adult 
(1868). 

Six examples in perfect plumage. Two with the maxilla 
red, noted as males; two with both mandibles black, as fe- 
males. I agree with Dr. O. Finsch in considering P. alex- 
andri, Linn., =P. javanicus, Osbeck, known with certainty as 
an inhabitant of Java and Borneo only, totally distinct from 
the Indian, Burmese, Cambodjan, and Andaman Parrot ; but 
I cannot concur in his opinion that the black-billed birds 
belong to a species different from those with a red maxilla. 
These Andaman examples clearly belong to one species, the 
totally black bill being the chief distinguishing characteristic 
of the female. 


298 Lord Walden on a Collection of Birds 


3. PaL#orNIs ERYTHROGENYS, Blyth, J.A.S.B. 1846, p. 23, 

“ Nicobars.” 
* Paleornis nicobaricus, Gould, Birds of Asia, pt. ix. pl. 

(1857). , 

Paleornis affinis, Tytler, Beavan, Ibis, 1867, p. 320. no. 27, 
& juv. vel 2, “ Andamans.” 

“S. Andaman: , feet and legs bright olive-green.” 

Three males and seven females are in the collection. Males 
have the maxilla red and mandibula black ; in the females 
both mandibles are black, and the moustache is deep rich 
green and not black. 


4. LoricuLus vERNALIs (Sparrm.), Mus. Carls. pl. 29 (1787). 

“S. Andaman: <6, @, iris straw-yellow.” 

Four examples, in no respect differimg from Malabar and 
Burmese individuals. 


5. SPILORNIS RUTHERFORDI, Swinhoe, Ibis, 1870, p. 85, 
“¢ Hainan.” 

Spilornis davisoni, Hume, Str. Feath. 1. p. 307, ‘Anda- 
mans” (1873). 

Hematornis cheela (liatham), Beavan, Ibis, 1867, p. 314, 
no. 1, “ Andamans.” 

«S. Andaman: 9, Dec. 27.” 

A single individual in perfect (?) plumage and almost iden- 
tical, save in its dimensions, with an example of S. cheela, g, 
from Mussoorie, the only distinction being that the trans- 
verse striations on the throat and upper breast are not so dark 
nor as bold in the Andaman bird, and the chin and cheeks 
are concolorous with the throat and breast, and not dark brown. 

Wing 15 inches; tail 10; tarsus 3°37; middle toe, with- 
out nail, 1:50; bill from nostril in a straight line 1, from gape 
to end of mandible 1°67. 

It may be here added that S. spilogaster, Blyth (J. A.S. B. 
1852, p. 351), was described from Ceylon examples. It closely 
resembles Javan S. bacha; and I have never seen it from any 
part of continental India. The peninsular Indian bird, if dif- 
ferent from the northern form, S. cheela, must take another 
title, the oldest applicable being a/didus, Cuv., Temm. (1824). 


from the Andaman Islands. 299 


My examples from different parts of India, north and south, 
do not differ in plumage, unless the transverse striations of 
the pectoral plumage form a constant feature peculiar to the 
northern bird. This character I have found only in examples 
from the north and in those which inhabit the Indo-Chinese 
countries. 


6. Sprrornis EvGINI (Tytler), J. A.S. B. 1863, p. 87, “An- 
damans ;” Blyth, Ibis, 1863, p. 118. 

Spilornis spilogaster, pt. Blyth, Ibis, 1866, p. 243. 

Hematornis elgini, Tytler: Beavan, Ibis, 1867, p. 314, 
mow: 

“§. Andaman: 2, Jan. 15th; total length in the flesh 22 
inches.” 

A perfectly distinct species, of a deep rich brown. Chin 
and cheeks almost black. Upper breast and throat almost 
uniform ; three or four of the feathers only with one, two, or 
three white spots irregularly placed. Lower breast-feathers 
with three pairs of pure white almost round spots placed at 
regular intervals on each side of the shaft. Ventral plumage 
and thigh-coverts with four pairs of similar spots of a smaller 
size. Under tail-coverts traversed with three or four white 
bars almost, but not quite, running through, except the ter- 
minal white band, which is much narrower. Head and crest 
as in S. cheela and S. bacha, the black crest-plumes being nar- 
rowly fringed with bright ferruginous brown. Interscapular 
region and back uniform brown. Most of the scapulars with 
two small irregularly shaped white terminal dots. Secon- 
daries narrowly and partially fringed with albescent. Upper 
tail-coverts somewhat irregularly spotted with white. Shoul- 
der-coverts spotted as in 8. bacha. Quills very deep brown, 
almost black. First quill with a narrow white bar on the in- 
ner web near insertion ; a second and broader transverse mark 
an inch and a half lower down. The next three primaries 
with three or four narrow transverse grey or grey and brown 
marks. The remaining primaries with only two transverse 
marks ; the upper very narrow, irregularly formed, and white ; 
the lower about half an inch deep, and of a clouded grey- 

SER. I1I.— VOL, III. : Y 


300 Lord Walden on a Collection of Birds 


brown. Rectrices dark brown, with one very narrow, ill- 
defined, cloudy, pale band at about four inches from root of 
the tail; a broader, well-defined, pale band an inch and a half 
lower down and about three fourths of an inch deep. Rec- 
trices terminated with a narrow pale fringe. Shoulder-edge 
dark brown. Under carpals and axillaries of the same hue 
as the lower plumage and profusely spotted with white. 

Wing 15 inches; tail 10; tarsus 3; middle toe, without 
the nail, 1°50; bill from nostril to tip in a straight line 1. 

The rich brown colour of the general plumage, the al- 
most circular white spots of the lower plumage, which are 
sharply defined from the brown ground-colour, and not sur- 
rounded with a different shade as in S. bacha, the extreme 
narrowness of the alar and caudal bands, and the shortness of 
the tarsus and middle toe distinguish this beautiful species 
from all other known members of the genus. Seen from 
above it closely resembles adult Javan specimens of S. bacha, 
the narrow banding of the rectrices alone distinguishing it, 
and the dimensions of the wings and tail being about equal. 

Whether it was examples of this species or of S. rutherfordi 
that were sent by Mr. Grote to the Zoological Society in 1865 
must remain in doubt until Mr. Gurney has compared this 
Andaman skin with the specimen at Norwich*. 


7. Picus ANDAMANENSIS, Blyth, J. A. S. B. 1859, p. 412, 
«Port Blair.” 

«“S. Andaman: 92, od, ins dark brown; bill dark slate- 
colour; darkish on maxilla; legs and feet dark olive-green.” 

Represented by six individuals, four males and two females. 
All possess three pairs of distinct and prominent pure white 
spots on the middle rectrices, and a fourth pair, more or less 
indistinct, towards the apex. 


* Mr. Gurney intends to make the necessary comparison when he next 
visits Norwich. It is impossible to read Mr. Blyth’s original description 
of S. elgint (1. c.) without recognizing the bird above described. In the 
mean time I add the references on the disputed point :—Sclater, P. Z. 8. 
1865, p. 466; op. cit. 1871, p. 495; List of Vertebr. Z. S. Gard. 1872, 
no. 620; Beavan (/.¢.); Blyth, Ibis, 1868, p. 131. 


from the Andaman Islands. 301 


8. THriponax Hope (Blyth), J. A. 8. B. 1860, p. 105, 
“Port Blair.” 
S. Andaman. 


9. Meroprs quinricotor, Vieillot, N. Dict. xiv. p. 81 (1817), 
ex Levaillant. 

Le Guépier quinticolor, Levaillant, Hist. Nat. Guépiers, 
pe ol ple 15, “Ceylon.” 

“S$. Andaman: January and February, ¢, 9, iris lake, 
legs and feet greenish black, bill black.” 

Appears to be very common. In no respect different from 
Ceylon, Malabar, and Burmese examples. 

Mr. Swinhoe has pointed out (P. Z. S. 1871, p. 348. no. 81) 
that the Javan form is specifically different from the Indian. 
One character mentioned by him is not peculiar to the Javan 
bird, namely the blue tail. The Javan species, however, ap- 
pears constantly to want the chestnut triangular throat-mark, 
the yellow throat being sharply separated from the green breast 
by a well-defined black band. Mr. Swinhoe further remarks 
that the Indian species must take the title of Merops erythro- 
cephalus, Briss. This is Gmelin’s title (S. N. i. p. 463. 
no. 13), founded on Merops indicus erythrocephalus, Briss. 
(Ornith. iv. p. 563), a species which Brisson never saw, and 
which he described from a drawing made by Poivre of a bird 
said to have come from the East Indies. It is impossible 
from Brisson’s account to determine the species; and Gmelin’s 
title must therefore be suppressed. Vieillot bestowed the 
title of guinticolor on a species figured and described by Le- 
vaillant (/.¢.), and of which Levaillant states that he had 
received eight individuals, dried, from Ceylon. The plate 
and description are, notwithstanding, taken from a Javan bird. 
At page 55 of the same work Levaillant figured and de- 
scribed a second species, said to have been brought from Java 
by Laichenot. An immature example of either the Javan or 
the Indian species is represented ; but as Levaillant describes 
the throat as being covered by “ une plaque triangulaire d’un 
roux jaunatre,” I suspect that the subject of his description 
was either a Ceylonese or a continental example. On it 

¥ 2 


302 Lord Walden on a Collection of Birds 


Vieillot (tom. cit. p. 17) founded his title of Merops leschenaulti. 
Unfortunately no title has ever been given since Levaillant’s 
time to the Indian species; and rather than disturb the re- 
ceived nomenclature Vieillot’s title is here retained. 


10. Eurysromus ortentatts (Linn.), 8. N.i. p. 159 (1766). 
“S$. Andaman, December 31.” 


1]. Savroparts cutoris (Bodd.), Tabl. Pl. Enl. p.49 (1788). 
“S. Andaman: 6, iris reddish brown; 9, iris bright 
brown; Ross Isl.” 


12. ENromosra sMyRNENsIs (Linn.), 8. N.1. p. 181. no. 11 
(1776). 

“S$. Andaman: iris dark brown, legs and feet dark red, 
bill coral-red.” 

The six examples obtained by Mr. Ramsay in South An- 
daman differ from individuals from all other parts of Asia 
in the intensity of their colouring. Instead of chestnut- 
brown, the plumage of the head, shoulder-coverts, flanks, and 
under surface is deep chocolate-brown ; and the blue portion 
of the plumage is much deeper in shade. I have compared 
these six individuals with forty-three examples from all parts 
of India, from Ceylon, Formosa, Burma, Malacca, Cambodia, 
aud from Syria; and the differences above mentioned at once 
distinguish the Andaman race. 


13. CaLtatcyon coroMANDA (Lath.), Ind. Orn. i. p. 252 
(1790). 
“8S. Andaman: g, 9, iris brown, legs and feet red.” 


14. ALcEDO BenGALENSIS, Gm. 8. N.1. p. 450. n. 20 (1788). 
“S. Andaman: @, bill above and tips of both mandibles 
black, lower coral-red ; legs and feet vermilion; Ross Isl.” 


15. Cottocatra arrinis, Tytler: Beavan, Ibis, 1867, 
p. 318. 

“Chatham Island: iris brown, feet light brown, bill black.” 

A numerous series was obtained by Mr. Ramsay on Ross 
and Chatham Islands during the months of January and Feb- 
ruary. ‘The species is apparently the same as C. linchi, Horsf. 
and Moore, and which I have very little doubt is the bird 


from the Andaman Islands. 303 


described from Java by Thunberg under the title of Hirundo 
fuciphaga. Collocalia innominata, Hume, Str. Feath. 1. 
p. 294, ‘Port Blair,’ as described, agrees well with Sikim 
and Malaccan examples of so-called C. fuctphaga (Thunb.), and 
named brevirostris by McClelland (P.Z.S. 1839, p. 155), 
the type specimen of which was identified as being that of a 
Collocalia by Mr. Moore. 


16. Eupynamis MALAYANA, Cab. Mus. Hein. iv. p. 52, “Su- 
matra” (1862-63). 

Eudynamis honorata* (Linn.), Ball, Str. Feath. i. p. 63, 
no. 38 “ Andamans.” 

““S. Andaman: 4, iris red, bill greenish white, legs slate- 
blue; @, iris lake. Ross Island, 3.” 


* Written horonata at page 178, by Mr. Hume (a quaint blunder), with 
the suggestion that I had written honorata through a “ clerical oversight.” 
The Calcutta printers, in this instance at least, are not responsible; for 
they have been made to reproduce, not correct, the palpable misprint in 
the ‘Tand-list,’ No. 9068, Surely, if there is not a copy of a Linnzus, 
or even of a Gmelin or a Latham, in any Calcutta library, there must be 
a Latin dictionary accessible. For the reason why Linneeus entitled the 
species Cuculus honoratus, cf. Walden, Ibis, 1869, p. 327; in addition to 
which I may quote Gmelin, i. p. 413. no. 7, “ Cuculus honoratus. Habitat 
in Malabaria, reptilibus victitans, hine forte incolis sacratus,” which is only 
a repetition of Latham’s remarks, Sacred Cuckoo, C. honoratus, L. (Syn. i. 
p- 526), “ Inhabits Malabar, where the natives hold it sacred. It feeds on 
reptiles, which, perhaps, may be such as are the most noisome ; if so, this 
seeming superstition may have arisen from a more reasonable foundation 
than many others of the like sort.” This is an indifferent rendering of 
Montbeillard’s observations on the “ Cuil” (Hist. Nat. Ois. vi. p. 876), “1 
est en vénération sur la cote de Malabar, sans doute parce qu'il se nourrit 
Winsectes nuisibles. La superstition en général est toujours une erreur, 
mais les superstitions particuliéres ont quelquefois un fondement raison- 
able.” We have here an interesting illustration of the crescendo growth of 
a fallacy. Brisson simply stated that the Koel was held in veneration 
by the natives of Malabar, a story Linnzeus perpetuated by the title he 
bestowed. Montbeillard not only repeated the statement, but added as 
a reason, that it was because the Koel destroyed noisome insects. Latham 
improved on the insects and raised them to the rank of reptiles—a view 
Gmelin adopted ; while Stephens, under Cuculus honoratus, Linn. (Gen. 
Zool. ix. pt. 1, p. 104), as a climax, credited the bird with killing both 
noxious reptiles and insects. 


304: Lord Walden on a Collection of Birds 


The two males in full black plumage. The female pecu- 
liarly coloured and marked, and different from all peninsular 
‘Indian and Ceylon individuals I have had opportunities of 
examining. They agree well with Naga-Hills, Thayetmoo, 


and Malaccan examples, which I assume to be identical with 
Sumatran. 


17. Cucu.us microrrervus, Gould, P.Z.S. 1837, p. 187, 
“ Himalayas.” 


“S. Andaman: g, December 31; 9, January 9; not 
sexed, January 24, iris yellow, legs and feet yellow ochre, 
bill dark brown above, yellow below; ¢, January 29, iris 
yellowish brown, legs and feet yellow, bill dark brown, yellow 
at base.” 

These four examples belong to one species. Two ¢ and 
one not sexed are, above deep bluish slate-colour ; chin, 
throat, and upper breast pale ash, with tawny brown fringe to 
some of the feathers ; the remainder of lower surface broadly 
barred in all four alike. The fourth example (@) differs by 
having the upper plumage of a rich brown, with traces of 
plumbeous on the uropygium only, by the head being ashy 
brown, by the skin and throat only being ashy, much tinged 
with tawny rufous, and by the rectrices having the charac- 
teristic dark brown terminal band. That the first three are 
not in completely full plumage is shown by several of the 
secondaries being brown, more or less tipped, fringed, and 
indented with pure white and with pale ferruginous, and 
by the tawny fringings to the breast-feathers. The female 
(as sexed) also exhibits signs of immaturity, many of the 
secondaries and of the nuchal feathers being banded or 
otherwise marked with pale ferruginous and tawny. Provi- 
sionally I refer these Andaman individuals to C. micropterus, 
Gould ; for a far more more comprehensive examination 
and comparison of the Cuckoos of the Indian region than 
I have had opportunities of making would be requisite to 
determine the species with any degree of certainty. It has 
been suggested to me by my friend Mr. Blanford that the 
brown plumage of the example (sexed as a female) I have 


from the Andaman Islands. 305 


just described, is a phase of the young male plumage, and 
the ultimate adult dress of the female ; and there is much 
evidence in favour of this view. 


Long. ale. Caude. 
Gi inhrateta he Retest wrest 7:00 6:50 
Pee n Seti s 7:00 6:50 
Lio A eee re 7:00 6:50 
CME GRE ed scicwre : 7°37 6°37 


18. CenrRococcyx ANDAMANENSIS. (Plate XI.) 

Centropus andamanensis, Tytler: Beavan, Ibis, 1867, 
p- 821. 

“S$. Andaman : iris red; bill, legs, and feet black.” 


19. Broperipus ANDAMANENSIS (Tytler): Beavan, Ibis, 
1867, p. 326. no. 52, “ Andamans.” 

The series sent by Mr. Ramsay is so complete that I have 
thought it best to give the results in the following Table. 
All the examples, with the exception of the one not sexed, 
were killed in the month of January; and all are from the 
S. Andaman. 


Alx., Caudee. | Tarsi. | Rostr. 


BecalsoOoah, 44 Waal 0-81 |Perfect plumage; quills jet-black ; 
no alar spot; depth of yellow 
crown 0-91, of black 0°75; “iris 
red; bill pinkish red; legs and 
feet plumbeous.” 

Des) O20n | AD | iol 0-81 |Perfect plumage ; quills as above, 
but with some of the secondaries 
slightly tipped with yellow; no 
alar spot; depth of crown 0°91, 
of black 0-41. 

664 012) 4 1 0:81 |Perfect plumage; wing as in last; 
no alar spot; proportions of yel- 
low and black on head as in last. 
d, 3 | 525} 4:12 1 0-81 |Perfect plumage ; tertiaries slightly 
tipped with yellow, thus forming 
an alar spot; secondaries as above; 
yellow crown 1, black 0:25. In 
these four examples the middle 
pair of rectrices are black nar- 
rowly tipped with yellow. 


306 Lord Walden on a Collection of Birds 


Ale. Gaudes: Tarsi. | Rostr. 


ed | 525). 4 1 0-76 Jan. 25; Mantle yellowish olive- 
green; one tertiary slightly tip- 
ped with yellow ; secondaries not 
yellow-tipped, but washed with 
olive ; middle rectrices at base 
washed with olive-yellow; quills 
and rectrices more brown than 
black ; crown and nape as in d. 
fd | 488] 4 1 0:76 |Young ; above olive-yellow ; be- 
neath yellow and white ; feathers 
brown-centred ; chin and throat 
turning from white to yellow; 
under tail-coverts pure yellow; 
quills and rectrices pale brown 
tinged with olive-yellow ; all the 
tertiaries edged with albescent 
yellow ; no coronal ring. Jan. 18. 


g,d | 488] 4 i 0:75 |Younger; Jan. 10; chin and throat 
pure white, otherwise like f. 

h,Q | 525 | 4 ] 0:75 |Full golden plumage ; does not dif- 
fer from d. 

A 2 ig 4:25 | 1 0:75 Jan. 25; like e, one or two terti- 


aries being tipped; “iris red.” 
5 Jan. 27; exactly like 7. 
5 |Not sexed; Dec. 27 ; young, like f, 
but with indications of the black 
coronal ring appearing behind 
the eyes. 


jy Q | 512 | 4:25 
hy? | 5 4 


— 


‘The Andaman black-naped Oriole is readily distinguishble 
by its almost totally black primaries and secondaries, from 
B. indicus, B. coronatus, B. chinensis, and B. celebensis. It 
is also smaller than any of these species. Its affinities are 
with B. acrorhynchus, B. frontalis, and B. formosus, which, 
however, greatly exceed it in size. 


20. Irena puetua (Lath.), Ind. Orn. i. p. 171, “ India ” 
(1790). 

“S$. Andaman.” 

Four males and as many females were obtained, and they 
perfectly agree with Malabar and Cambodian examples. 


21. Bracnyvopius FuscorLavescens, Hume, Str. Feath. i. 
p- 297, “ Andamans” (1873). 

Brachypodius melanocephalus (Gm.), apud Ball, J. A. S. B. 
1872, p. 284, nec Gm. 


from the Andaman Islands. 307 


One example was obtained. It appears to be a distinct 
species, having for its adult dress the immature plumage of 
B. melanocephalus. 


22. Orocompsa Jocosa (Linn.), 8. N.i. 1388.no. 24, “China” 
(1766). 

“S. Andaman: ¢.” 

Barely distinguishable from Bengal and Burmese examples. 
The Chinese bird is stated by Mr. Swinhoe (Ibis, 1861, 
p- 39; P.Z.S. 1863, p. 277) to be identical with those from 
Calcutta. 


23. KiITTAcINCLA ALBIVENTRIS, Blyth, J. A. S. B. 1858, 
p.209,4 Port Blair?’ \-(Plate XII. fig. 1,) 

© S, Andaman : iris brown; legs and fect skin-colour ; bill 
black.” 


24. CopsycHus SAULARIS (Linn.), S. N. i. p. 165, “ Asia ” 
(1766). 

“S. Andaman: 6, iris brown; legs, feet, and* bill black. 
Ross Island, 3, 2.” 

An adult and an immature male from 8. Andaman have 
the two outer pairs of rectrices pure white; the third pair 
white, with a black inner margin; the fourth pair white, with 
both outer and inner margins black. Another S. Andaman 
male has the fourth pair almost entirely black. A male from 
Ross Island has the first and second pair pure white ; the third 
white, with a black margin to inner web ; the fourth, like re- 
maining pairs, jet-black. The under shoulder-coverts have a 
tendency to dark centres. A female from Ross Island has the 
rectrices marked as in the first S. Andaman male. 


25. ARUNDINAX AEDON (Pallas), Reise Russ. Reichs, iii. 
p- 695. no. 11, “ Dauria” (1776). 

Arundinax olivaceus, Blyth, J. A. 8. B. 1845, p. 595. 

“S. Andaman: Jan. 3; Feb. 2, 2, maxilla dark brown, 
mandible whitish brown. Ross Island: Jan. 7, d, iris dark 
olive-brown, legs light slate-colour.” 

Sexes alike. 


308 Lord Walden on a Collection of Birds 


26. Bupyrtss viripis (Gm.), 8. N. 1. p. 962 (1788). 

“S. Andaman: Dec. 27 and Jan. 16; iris brown; feet dark 
brown; maxilla dark brown; mandible, at base light horn- 
colour, dark at tip.” 


27. Ausronax LATIROsTRIS (Raffles), Tr. L. 8. xii. p. 312, 
“ Sumatra” (1821), descr. princ.; Jerd. Birds of India, 1. 
p- 459. no. 297; Blanford, J. A.S.B. 1869, p. 173. no. 297, 
“ Chanda.” 

Muscicapa poonensis, Sykes, P.Z.S. 1882, p. 85. no. 42, 
“ Dukhun.” 

Muscicapa latirostris, Swains. (mot. propr.) Nat. Libr. Mus- 
cicapide, p. 258, “ India” (1838). 

Muscicapa grisola, Linn., var. 6, Pallas, Zoogr. Rosso-As. 
i. p. 461, “ Dauria.” 

Muscicapa cinereo-alba, Term. & Schl. Faun. Jap. Aves, 
p- 42, pl. xv. “Japan” (1842) ; Schrenck, Amur-Lande, i. 
p. 879. no. 106; Radde, Ost-Sibirien, i. p. 273. no. 147, 

Muscicapa pondiceriana, Licht. ex Gm.: Bp. Consp. 1. 
p- 318, nec Gm.*; nec v. Middendorf, Sibir. Reise, 11. pt. i1. 
p- 188. no. 106, “ Uds ’k6j’ Os ’trég and Schantar islands,” 
=M. sibirica, Gm. tom. cit. p. 936. 

Hemichelidon latirostris (Raftles), Horsf. & Moore, Cat. Mus. 
Reale Cap. Loz, no. 177Z. 

Butalis latirostris (Raffles), Swinhoe, P. Z.S. 1871, p. 379. 
no. 325. 

«“S. Andaman: Dec. 27, d, Jan. 16, Feb. 5; iris dark 
brown; legs and feet brown; maxilla brown; base of man- 
dible yellow.” 

Not to be distinguished from Malaccan, Malabar, Lake 
Baikal, Japan (Hakodadi, May 5), and China (October) 
individuals. 


98. HyvornyMis TyTLERI (Beavan), 1867, p. 324. no. 45, 
‘Andamans ;” Ball, Str. Feath. i. p. 68. no. 58. 
“§, Andaman: g, iris brown; maxilla dark brown; man- 


* Muscicapa pondiceriana, Gm. S.N. i. p. 989. no. 45, was founded on 
Sonnerat’s Gohe-mouches de Pondichéry, and is a Tephrodornis. 


from the Andaman Islands. 309 
dible and legs dull blue: sex?, bill black; legs and fect bluish 


slate; iris dark brown.” 

Two examples, both of young birds. Entire head, chin, 
and throat dark blue. Breast and abdominal region dark 
ashy, paler on under tail-coverts. Remainder of plumage 
brown. Identical with Malabar and Burman individuals. 
Mr. Ball, who has compared adult birds, seems to consider 
the Andaman form distinct from H. azurea. 


29. TcniTrea arrinis, A. Hay, J. A.S. B. 1846, p. 292, 
< Malacca.” 

“S. Andaman, Jan. 17: ¢, iris dark blue ; bill, legs, and 
feet bluish slate ; interior of mouth yellow.” 

In black and white plumage. 


30. Hirunpo currura.is, Scopoli, Del. Fl. Faun. Insubr. 
i. p. 96. no. 115 (1786). 
“S$. Andaman, Jan. 27: bill and legs black.” 


31. ArramMus LrucorHyncHus (Linn.), Mantissa Plant. 
p- 524, “ Manilla” (1771); Walden, Tr. Zool. Soc. viii. p. 67. 

Artamus leucopygialis, Gould, Walden, P. Z.S. 1866, p. 17, 
« Andamans.” 

“S$. Andaman, Ross Island, g 9: iris brown; legs and feet 
greenish black ; bill bright slate-blue.” 

The sexes, as ascertained by Mr. Ramsay, do not differ in 
either dimensions or colouring. 


32. Lanrus Lucronensis, Linn. 8. N. i. p. 184. no. 10 
(1766). 

“S. Andaman, ¢, Jan. 12, 29; Ross Island, ¢, Dec. 15, 
Jan. 4.” 

Four examples, undistinguishable from Philippine indi- 
viduals. 


33. PERICROCOTUS ANDAMANENSIS, Tytler: Beavan, Ibis, 
1867, p. 322. no. 41. 

«S$. Andaman, ¢ 2: iris dark brown; bill and feet black.” 

Of six examples three are adult males, two adult females, 
and one a young male in yellow and grey plumage here and 
there turning to deeporange. They belong to the same group 


310 Lord Walden on a Collection of Birds 


as P. speciosus, but are much smaller in size, their chief if 
not sole distinguishing character. P. ardens, apud nos, ex 
Sumatra, Malacca, and Borneo, belongs to the same section, 
but is still smaller and more deeply coloured. 


Long. ale.  Caude. 


Pr, SPCCUOBUB. «ie se oe vais 4 ‘37. gad. Valley of Nipaul. 
A ' 4:60 4:50 »,  Maunbhoom. 
P. andamanensis ...... 3°50 387 » . Andaman. 
” ” 3°60 375 ” 9). 
” ” 3°50 3°60 ” ” 
EF 5 3°56 375  juv. - 
= = 3°60 375 & adult. ‘ 
” ” 350 3°50 ” ” 
IE UTES SO Ce 3°50 3 3 adult. Sumatra. 
here 3°10 3°10 s Malacca. 
A Ae 3°18 387 4 Marup (Borneo). 


34, Prricrocotus PeREGRINUS (Linn.), S..N. i. p. 342. 
no. 10, 9, patr. incog. (1766). 

“S$. Andaman: gd, bill and feet black ; 9, iris brown.” 

Not to be distinguished from continental examples. 


35. BucHANGA ANDAMANENSIS (Tytler): Beavan, Ibis, 1867, 
p. 38238. no. 42. 

“S. Andaman, ¢ 9.” 

A distinct species. 


36. Dissemurus arrinis (Tytler) : Beavan, [bis, 1867, p.323. 
no. 43. 

S. Andaman ; Jan. 12,65 17, 9; 18,02.” 

The Andaman Dissemurus possesses a short but cistinct 
frontal crest, not so much developed as in the Malabar and 
Ceylon species, but more so than in the almost crestless Ma- 
laccan form. It is larger than either the Javan, Malaccan, or 
Malabar species, but smaller than all others, D. brachyphorus, 
of course excepted. 


37. GraucaLus MAcEI, Lesson, Tr. p.349, “Bengal” (1831). 

Grauculus nipalensis, Hodgs. Ind. Rev. 1837, p. 327, “ Ni- 
paul.” 

«“S, Andaman: iris red; bill and fect black.” 


from the Andaman Islands. 


dll 


Graucalus macet. 


Ale. |Caude.) Tarsi. | Rostr. 

*a,5?| 7:37 | 6 1 0-75 |Deyra Doon: full plumage ; lores 
black; breast plumbeous ; abdo- 
men white, unstriated. 

69°F: G86 | 6 1 0:75 |Valley of Nipaul: lores dark slate ; 
breast plumbeous; upper part of 

' abdomenand thigh-coverts barred. 

G6?) 675 | 5:37 1 0-87 |Tongoo: like a. 

d, 2 6°50 | 5:65 it 0:75 |Moulmein: lores slate; similar to 6, 
but entire abdomen barred. 

63d 6:62 | 5:50 1 0-86 |S. Andaman: identical with a. 

ese 6:62 | 5:50 il 0:86 |tS. Andaman: identical with a. 

One 6:62 | 5:50 1 0:80 |S. Andaman: lores barely indicated ; 
throat, breast, and thigh-coverts 
fanitly striated; abdomen white. 

fe ion || O60 1 0°86 |S. Andaman: either a young male 

: or female ; lores, chin, throat, 
breast, and thigh-coverts faintly 
striated ; abdomen white. 
Graucalus layardi. 
Alx. |Caude.| Tarsi. | Rostr. 

1,3 63 5:75 | 1 0:87 |Maunbhoom: similar to a, but the 
abdomen and thigh-coverts stri- 
ated. 

j,5?| 660 | 5:50; 1 0:87 |Maunbhoom: lores intensely black; 

identical with 7. 

ky ? 6°30 | 5:25 |] 1 0:75 |Maunbhoom: lores dark slate; chin, 
throat, breast, abdomen, and thigh- 
oe boldly marked with dark 

ars. 

dane 6:12 | 560 | 1 0:75 |Candeish : similar to k, but the bars 
not so decided. 

m, ? 6 4:75 | 0-87 | 0:75 |Coorg: similar to k. 

Nie 5:67 | 4:50 | 0:87 | 0:75 |Ceylon: similar to k. 

Onder) 6:66) |.5 560i), -1 0:75 |Southern India: identical with 2. 

po°| 6 5 0:87 Coorg: identical with 7, 


The dimensions of the 


four 


Andaman individuals in the 


collection are less than those of G. macei from Northern 
India, about equal with those of the same species from Burma, 


* Where the sex is not determined by the collector it is noted with 


doubt. 


+ This skin is marked by the collector as being that of a female ; if cor- 
rect, adult males and females do not differ. : 


312 Lord Walden on a Collection of Birds 


and greater than in so-called G. Jayardi of Central and Southern 
India and Ceylon. Of the specific distinction of the last- 
named species I am not yet quite satisfied, the question 
mainly turning upon whether the adult male (and female ?) 
always has the upper part of the abdominal region barred 
instead of pure white. 


38. GraucaLus possonI, Ball, J.A.S.B.1872, p.281.no. 238, 
« Andamans.” 

«S$. Andaman: 9, iris lake; bill and feet black.” 

An excellent species ; perfectly distinct from G. concretus, 
Hartl., and G. striatus (Bodd). The example, sent as a female, 
has the entire under plumage barred across. A second in- 
dividual, not sexed, has the chin, throat, and upper breast 
uniform plumbeous. Seen from below it recalls the beautiful 
G. lineatus (Swains.) = G. swainsoni, Gould; but the dark bands 
are not as decided and well defined, nor so intensely black as 
in the Australian species. In all other characters it entirely 
differs. 


39. ? ARACHNECHTHRA FLAMMAXILLARIS (Blyth), J. A.S. B. 
1845, p. 557. 

Arachnechthra frenata, Ball, Str. Feath. 1. p. 65 (nec S. 
Miller). 

«S$. Andaman, Jan. 3, 9; 18, 2.” 

Two examples of a female Arachnechthra are in Mr. Ram- 
say’s collection, but unfortunately no males. Provisionally 
I refer them to the well-known Burman species, as Mr. Ball’s 
description (/. c.) of the male agrees best with that Sunbird. 
That gentleman states that in all the male specimens “ there 
are more or less distinct traces of a maroon pectoral band,” 
which character is at once decisive against their belonging to 
A. frenata. With Tenasserim examples of A. flammazil- 
laris 2 these Andaman individuals fairly agree. 


40. Corvus LEVAILLANTII, Lesson, Tr. p. 328, ‘‘ Bengale,” 
(1831) ; Pucheran, Rev. Mag. Zool. 1853, p. 547. 

Corvus culminatus, Sykes, P. Z.S. 1882, p. 96, “ Dukhun.” 

“<“S. Andaman, Jan. 1.27. 

The only example, a female in full plumage, sent by Mr. 


from the Andaman Islands. | 313 


Ramsay does not differ in colouring from the Indian bird ; 
but the dimensions of the wings and tail are less, while those 
of the bill and tarsus are about equal. Wing 10°37; tail 7; 
tarsus 2°25; bill from forehead, in a straight line, 2°36. 


41, AcRIDOTHERES TRISTIS (Linn.), 8S. N. 1. p. 166. no. 3 
(1766). 

“ Ross Island.” 

Introduced by Colonel Tytler (Ibis, 1867, p. 329). 


42. STURNIA ANDAMANENSIS. (Plate XII. fig. 2.) 

Temenuchus andamanensis, Tytler: Beavan, Ibis, 1867, 
p. 329. no. 67. 

“S. Andaman: @, iris white; bill and legs gamboge ; base 
of mandible bluish slate.”’ 


43. HULABES ANDAMANENSIS, Tytler: Beavan, Ibis, 1867, 
p. 331. no. 71, “ Andamans.” 

Eulabes intermedia (A. Hay), apud Ball, Str. Feath. 1. 
Wen 7 TO. 50) 

“S$. Andaman, January: ¢ 9, iris dark brown; lobes, legs, 
and feet orange ; bill vermilion, yellow at tip. A young bird, 
not sexed: lobes, legs, and feet yellow.” 

No difference to be observed between the sexes. A series 
of eight examples confirms my opinion that Colonel Tytler 
was justified in separating the Andaman Euladbes from the 
Indian E. intermedia. Whether it can only rank as a “ geo- 
graphical race of the same species,’ must depend on the 
sense in which that elastic phrase is applied. 


44, ? OSMOTRERON CHLOROPTERA (Blyth), J. A.S. B. 1845, 
p- 852,  Nicobars.” 

«“S. Andamans: iris red; bill at base greenish slate, at 
point greenish white.” 

A single example, unfortunately not sexed, of a large species 
of Osmotreron. I provisionally identify it with the Nicobar 
form, which I have never seen. Crown beautiful French grey, 
very pale on the forehead, and shading darker on the occiput. 
Under tail-coverts pale creamy white, broadly centred with 
light green. Wing nearly seven inches. 


314 Lord Walden on a Collection of Birds 


45. CarpopHaca ©NEA (Linn.), 8. N. 1. p. 283, (1776), 


ex Briss. 
Palumbus moluccensis, Briss. Orn. 1. p. 148, “ex Moluccis 


insulis.” : 

Columba sylvatica, 'Tickell, J. A. S. B. 1833, p. 581, “ Jun- 
gles of Borabhtim and Dholbhiim.” 

“S. Andaman: 9, iris brown ; eyelids with a red margin ; 
feet and legs pink.” 

Seven examples, all killed in the month of January, and 
identical with Indian. I have elsewhere shown that Indian, 
Ceylon, Burmese, Javan, Bornean, and even Philippine in- 
dividuals cannot well be specifically separated. Young birds 
in this species appear to have the under tail-coverts of a 
lighter shade than adults. 


Al. |Caude. 
GG) | BO 6:50 |Sides of head, breast, and abdomen pale bluish grey 
intensely suffused with vinous; ventral region 
and thigh-coverts pure grey; on the nape a tri- 
angular chocolate-brown mark; throat pure 
white. 
9:25 | 6°65 Similar to a, but without the nuchal mark: chin, 
throat, and forehead pure white. 
9 6:37 Similar to 6, but the vinous shade on breast not so 
intense; total length in the flesh 15°50. 
d, 2 | 9:25 | 625 |Identical with c; length in the flesh 15-50, 
9 
8 


e, 9 6°25 Identical with ¢ and d. 
Ase ‘50 | 5-67 Grey plumage without a tinge of vinous, ashy rather 


than bluish grey ; under tail-coverts light chest- 
nut; green plumage brilliant. A young bird? 
6:50 |Similar to f. 


Ss 
ba U) 
wo) 


46. ? Macroryeta RUFIPENNIS, Blyth, J. A. 8S. B. 1846, 
p- 871, “Southern Nicobar ;” Ball, op. cit. 1872, p. 287. 
no. 47, “ Andamans.” 

“S$. Andaman: ¢, bill, legs, and feet purplish pink: De- 
cember and January.” 

The Nicobar and Andaman birds have yet to be compared. 
Von Pelzeln (Voy. Novara, Vég. p. 109) describes the iris 
in the Nicobar Macropygia as being white surrounded by 
cherry-red, the bill chestnut-brown, the fect dark violet-red, 
and the claws dark brown. From Mr. Blyth’s original de- 
scription (/. c.) it is to be mferred that in the Nicobar bird 


from the Andaman Islands. 315 


the feathers of the under surface are not transversely striated, 
in fact that it is arepresentative form of M. phasianella. But 
the Andaman Macropygia, which is represented in the col- 
lection by seven examples, differs from M. phasianella in 
having the head bright rufous, and not cinereous shaded with 
violet-—in the nape and interscapulary region being clothed 
with rufous feathers very finely marked with black, more 
evident in some individuals than in others, and not pure cop- 
pery green or violet as in the Australian species—and in the 
feathers of the pectoral and abdominal region being traversed 
by distinct dark brown narrow lines, whereas in M. phasianella, 
as in M. tenuirostris, M. emiliana, and others of that group, 
the plumage of the under surface is uniform, without a trace 
of striation, at least in the adult males. It is therefore just 
possible that the Andaman is a species distinct from the Ni- 
eobar. M. leptogrammica, ex Java, is nothing but a minia- 
ture form of M. tusalia; the wing measures 6°75 inches as 
against 8, and the tail 7°75 as against 9°25. M. amboinensis 
(L.) vera has the lower plumage of M. leptogrammica and 
the upper of M. phasianella. 


47. [ANTH@NAS PALUMBOIDES. (Plate XIII.) 

Carpophaga palumboides, Hume, Str. Feath. 1. p. 302, “ Port 
Mouat” (1873). 

“S. Andaman: 4, iris reddish yellow; feet pink, claws 
white; bill pinkish lilac at base and white at tip; length 
16 inches.” 

Classed by Mr. Hume as a Carpophaga, but clearly be- 
longing to the Columbide. It has twelve rectrices. 


48. CHatcopnars rnpicus (Linn.), S. N. 1. p. 284. no. 29 
(1766). 

“S, Andaman: 4, bill reddish brown; legs and feet pur- 
plish pink.” 

One male in perfect (?), one in imperfect plumage, and one 
female in the collection ; shot in January. The male, although 
apparently in full plumage, wants the broad bluish grey stripe 
descending from ‘the crown to the interscapulars, which is 

SER, I1I.—VOL. III. y) 


316 Lord Walden on a Collection of Birds 


present in Ceylon, Malabar, Malaccan, Javan, and Philip- 
pine individuals. Is this peculiar to the nuptial dress ? 


-+-49. CHaraprivs FuLvus, Gin. 8. N.1. p. 687 (1788). 
“S. Andaman: ¢, Dec. 18; not sexed, Dec. 21.” 
In winter plumage. 


+-50. Alerauitis curonica (Gm.), 8S. N. i. p. 692. no. 29 
(1788), ex Beseke, Schr. der Gesellschaft naturf. Freunde z. 
Berlin, vi. p. 464. no. 49 (1787). 

“«“S. Andaman: Jan. 7, ¢; Feb. 4: iris brown; legs and 
feet orange; bill brown.” 

Two individuals in non-breeding plumage. I have never 
met with examples of this European bird from Southern Asia 
in full breeding-dress. Burgess (P. Z.S. 1855, p. 80) states 
that he believes the egg he described belonged to Charadrius 
minor, and that, if so, that bird breeds in the Deccan in the 
month of April. But C. minor, ap. Burgess (J. ¢.), is probably 
the 1. minuta (Pallas), ap. Jerd. no. 850. On the other hand 
I have never seen adult Indian specimens of the smal! Indian 
Ring-Plover (4. minuta, ap. Jerd.), except in full or nearly 
fullsummer plumage. The correct title of this smaller species 
cannot be determined until it is ascertaimed whether 4. cu- 
ronica ever occurs in Luzon in full breeding-plumage. If 
it does not, 4. dubia (Scop.) will be the oldest title for 
the smaller species. If it does, and the smaller species is 
also found to occur in Luzon in breeding-plumage, then 
Sonnerat’s bird must remain for ever undeterminable. The 
title of cwronicus was given by Gmelin to a bird which Beseke 
(J. c.) described from a drawing, but on which he bestowed 
no title. 


51. Aieratitis GEoFFROyI (Wagler), Syst. Av. Charadrius, 
no. 19, “ Pondicherry, Java” (1827). 

«S, Andaman, Jan. 20, 24: 9, iris dark brown; legs and 
feet green; bill dark brown.” 

In winter plumage. Two examples, one sexed as being a 
female, with the whole under surface uisullied white. A 
third (@, as sexed) with a broad ashy-brown pectoral band. 


from the Andamun Islands. 317 


+52. Aeiatitis MonGoua (Pallas), Reise Russ. Reich. iii. 
p- 700. no. 29 (1776). 
“S$. Andaman: Jan. 7, 2;, 24, d 2 ; 27, 9; iris (in both 
sexes) dark brown ; legs and feet ashy green ; bill dark brown.” 
In winter plumage. 


+53. STREPSILAS INTERPRES (Linn.). 
“S$. Andaman, Feb. 1, ¢.” 


54. Gatnicrex cinprevus (Gm.), S. N. i. p. 702, no. 20 
(1788), ex Lath. 

Gallinula cristata, Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. p. 773. no. 23 (1790), 
ex Lath. 

Crested Gallinule, Lath. Syn. v. p. 267. no. 22, “China?” 

“S. Andaman, Dec. 15: 9, iris brown; legs and bill olive- 
green.” 


+ 53. Numenius puaopus (Linn.), 8. N. 1. p. 243 (1766). 
[—Seeantiaman, dan. 3.7 


56. Actitis HypoLeuca (Linn.), 8. N.1. p. 250 (1766). 
“Ross Island, Dec. 15, 9; S. Andaman, Jan. 3, 9, 29,9.” 


57. AcTITIS GLAREOLA (Gm.), S. N. p.677. no. 21 (1788). 

“S. Andaman: Dec. 31,¢; Jan. 22,6: legs and feet yel- 
lowish green; bill dark brown.” 

Winter plumage. 


58. TRINGA ALBESCENS, Temm. Pl. Col. 41. fig. 2, “V’Océanie” 
(1823). 

“S$. Andaman, Jan. 24: iris dark brown; bill black; legs 
and feet greenish black.” 

In winter plumage. Mr. Harting inclines to the opinion 
that 7. ruficollis, Pallas (Reise, ui. p. 700. no. 31, 1776), is 
this species in full breeding-plumage, relying on the expression 
“subtus collum totum ad pectus usque intense ferrugineum.” 
T. salina, Pallas (Zoogr. 11. p. 199. no. 809), Mr. Harting iden- 
tifies with 7. subminuta, v. Middendorf. Of that species Pallas 
says, “ Jugulum ferrugineo-nebulosum album, punctis fuscis, 
in masculo crebrioribus ; reliqua subtus alba.” Mr. Harting’s 
hypothesis can only be maintained on the assumption that 
Pallas described examples of two distinct species in the full 

Z2 


318 Lord Walden on a Collection of Birds 


belief that they belonged to one and the same. For Pallas 
(Zoogr. l.c:) identifies T. salina with the T. ruficollis of his 
earlier work, although, curiously enough, he attributes the 
title of ruficollis to Latham, the English author having only 
borrowed that title and the description from Pallas. It may 
be here observed that the Japanese specimen mentioned by 
Mr. Sharpe (Dresser’s Birds of Eur. 7. minuta, p. 5) as bemg 
T. albescens is nothing but T. minuta. 


59. GaLiinaco stenuRA (Kuhl), Bp. Annali di Storia Na- 
turale, Bologna, iii. fase. 14, ‘Sunda Islands” (1830) ; Isis, 
1833, p. 1077. 

“S, Andaman: 3, Dec. 19, 23, 27; ob, Feb. 5: iris bright 
brown ; legs and feet greyish horn-colour ; bill, basal half light 
horn, remainder brown: 9, Feb.6; iris brown; legs and feet 
pale green ; bill light horn, remainder brown. Port Mouat, 9? , 
Feb. 5: iris bright brown; legs and feet greyish green.” 


60. Demircrerra sacra (Gm.), S. N.1. p. 640 (1788), ex 
Lath. Synop. v. p. 92, “ Otaheite.” 

Demiegretta concolor, Blyth, J. A. S. B. 1846, p. 372, “ Ar- 
racan, Nicobars.” 

Herodias andamanensis, Tytler : Beavan, Ibis, 1867, p. 333, 
“* Andamans.” 

Herodias concolor (Blyth), Ball, Str. Feath.1. p. 87. no. 122. 

Demiegretta greyt, G. R. Gray, ap. Hume, op. cit. p. 307. 

“ Ross Island, Dec. 20, Feb. 4: iris pale yellow ; bill brown, 
mandible tinged with yellowish green; legs bright green, 
soles yellow.” 

Moulting from ferruginous brown into uniform ash-colour, 
a narrow white line extending from the chin down the neck 
for about one and three quarters of an inch. 

Ithas recently beenasserted by Mr. Hume (Str. Feath.1. p.254) 
that the Ardea asha, Sykes (P.Z.S. 1832, p. 157, “ Dukhun’”’), 
and the species described by Dr. Jerdon (Birds of India, 11. 
p- 747) belong to Ardea gularis, Bose (Actes de la Societé 
d’Hist. Nat. de Paris, i. pt. 1. p. 4, pl. 2, “ Senegal,” 1792*), 


* Only the first part of this work, edited by Aubin-Louis Millin, and 
published in “ ’an quatriéme de la liberté,” appeared. It consists, in ad- 


from the Andaman Islands. 319 


the well-known Madagascar and tropical African form, and 
not to Ardea sacra, Gm.,= A. jugularis, Forst. (Wagler, Syst. 
Av.). Mr. Hume, in his valuable paper on the ornithology 
of Sindh (/. c.), states that he observed the African species at 
Muscat, along the Makran coast, at Kurrachee, and on the 
Bombay coast at Teetul. As Sykes does not mention the 
characteristic white cheeks of A. gularis, nor give the wing 
and tarsal dimensions, and as I have never seen Deccan indi- 
viduals, nor Sykes’s type, I cannot venture to assert with any 
confidence which of the two species migrates to the Deccan ; 
and the question must remain open until Deccan examples have 
been examined. ‘The dimensions given by Dr. Jerdon are 
nearer those of the African bird; but his description, while 
sufficient for A. sacra, will not apply to A. gularis; for he 
likewise omits all mention of the white cheeks. The species 
identified by Mr. Blyth on all occasions as A. asha, Sykes, 
seems to have been the African bird. For mstance (Cat. 
Cale. Mus. no. 1642), its range is stated to be the “ peninsula 
of India and Sindh, nec (?) lower Bengal.” Later (J.A.S.B. 
1855, p. 264) that author identified A. asha, Svkes, with A. 
gularis, Bosc, and also doubtfully with H. pannosa, Gould. 
And Mr. Blyth states (Ibis, 1865, p. 38) the range to be 
South India and Ceylon. The Ceylonese bird has long since 
been identified by von Pelzeln, in his exhaustive article on 
the general subject (Novara Exp. dves, p. 122), as belong- 
ing to Ardea schistacea, Hempr. and Ehrenb.,= A. gularis, 
Bose ; and Mr. Blanford (Geol. Zool. Abyssinia, p.435. no. 270, 
1870) mentions that he had compared an Abyssinian example 
with Indian specimens in the Calcutta museum, and that there 
can be no question of their identity. 

Mr. Blyth, having some time previously detected the dif- 
ferences which distinguished Arracan examples of the Demi- 
egret from those he had identified as belonging to Ardea asha, 


dition to an introductory discourse by the editor, of 129 pages of letter- 
press, embracing many branches of natural history, and 18 plates. Of birds 
it contains the description of A. gularts by Bosc, and of Buceros africanus 
by Geoffroy, fils, and also a catalogue by MM. Richard and Bernard of 
birds collected in Cayenne by M. Blond. 


320 On a Collection of Birds from the Andaman Islands. 


Sykes, on receiving similar individuals from the Nicobars, 
described it under the name of Demiegretta concolor (I. c.), 
the chief differences he relied on being the shorter tarsus and 
the absence or almost entire absence of white about the throat. 
Subsequently Colonel Tytler named the Andaman bird He- 
rodias andamanensis (l.c.) ; and this, Mr. Blyth (Ibis, 1868, 
p. 183) identified with his D. concolor, a species, he added, 
which he had never seen in white plumage. 

The two examples obtained by Mr. Ramsay agree perfectly 
with Malaccan and Celebesian individuals, and fail therefore 
under true Ardea sacra, Gm. But according to Von Pelzeln 
(/.c.), D. concolor is a good and distinct species, and inhabits 
the Nicobars as well as D. jugularis (=sacra,Gm.). Of this 
last the Novara Expedition obtained one Nicobar example, 
which Von Pelzeln correlates with two from Tahiti and two 
from Panypet, together with three from the Carolines, one 
from the East Indies, and one from Java, in the Berlin mu_ 
seum. Of D. concolor, the same expedition obtained at the 
Nicobars, and there only, three individuals (?) im adult 
plumage, two in dark plumage, with white throat, and one in 
snow-white dress. Dr. Finsch (Orn. Central-Polyn. p. 206) 
does not admit the specific distinction of the Nicobar ex- 
amples, and states that examples from Amboina are nearly as 
small as those included by Von Pelzeln under D. concolor. 


|Middle! Bill | 
toe from 
without) fore- | |. 
| nail. | head. Bape. 


Bill 
Wing.| Tail. ‘Tarsus. | from 


D. sacra. .| 10°50} 4 Zor \ 2 325 | 4 Ross Island, Dee. 20: partly 

| developed dorsal train. 

é 1:75 | 2:89 | 3°37 |Ross Island, Feb. 4: ditto. 

2 3 3°66 |Malacca, August: uniform 

ash-colour ; throat-streak 

as above; no dorsal train. 
yl | 3 3°60 |Malacca, Sept. : ditto. 

S| STs 3°63 |Celebes: ditto. 

2:37 | 3:95 | 4°37 |, Massuah, Aug. 24: full 
crest and dorsal train ; 
uniform slate-color; chin, 
cheeks, and throat white. 


3°75 
epee 10:25} 3:50 
D. gularis | 11 4 


Notices of Ornithological Works. 321 


61. Buroripes savanicus (Horsf.), Tr. Linn. Soc. xiii. p. 190, 
“Java” (1820). 

“S$. Andaman, Feb. 4: 2, iris yellow; legs and feet dark 
green ; soles of feet yellow.” 

A single example. Does not differ from Indian individuals. 


62. Mareca cipperirrons, S. Miller, Verhand. p. 159, 
“ Celebes ” (1889-44) ; Walden, Tr. Zool. Soc. viii. p. 102. 

Querquedula andamanensis, Tytler, Ibis, 1867, p.333. no.89, 
sine descr. . 

? Mareca punctata, Cuv.: Ball, J. A. S. B. 1872, p. 290. 
no. 62, “ Andamans ;” Str. Feath. 1. p. 88. 

Mareca albogularis, Hume, Str. Feath. i. p. 803, “ An- 
damans ” (1873). 

“S$. Andaman, ¢ 2, February; iris brown; bill plum- 
beous ; legs and feet greenish: 9, January. 

The collection contains three males and two females. One, 
a female, is absolutely identical with an authentic Celebesian 
example. While equal in dimensions with Timor examples, 
they all somewhat exceed in size Celebesian individuals, which, 
as is well known, are generally smaller than the races that 
inhabit other areas. 


XXX VII.—Notices of recently published and forthcoming 
Ornithological Works. By the Eprror. 


SEVERAL important works bearing on Ornithology have been 
published within the last few months, concerning which a few 
words may not be unacceptable to our readers. 

‘Lahore to Yarkand’* contains an account by Mr. Hume 
of the birds collected during Mr. Forsyth’s celebrated expe- 
dition into Central Asia. Specimens of about 158 species 
were obtained altogether ; but only 59 of these were collected 
actually in Yarkand. They appear to have been well worked 


* Lahore to Yarkand. Incidents of the Route and Natural History cf 
the Countries traversed by the Expedition of 1870, under T. D. Forsyth, 
Esq., 0.B. By G. Henderson, M.D., and A, O. Hume, C.B. London : 
Reeve & Co., 1873. 1 vol. 8vo. 


322 Notices of Ornithological Works. 


out by Mr. Hume; and no less than 22 coloured plates are 
devoted to the illustration of the new and rare species. The 
most interesting discovery is certainly that of two new species 
of Podoces, called P. hendersoni and P. humilis, both of which 
are figured. 

Another well-illustrated volume* recently published gives an 
account of the expedition of the ‘ Curacoa’ among the South- 
Sea Islands in 1865, and a résumé of the numerous novelties 
obtained on this occasion. .For this work Mr. J. L. Brenchley, 
whose untimely death took place just before the publication 
of the volume, has put together the results arrived at by 
various naturalists from an examination of his collections. 
The birds were originally described by the late Mr. G. R. 
Gray in the ‘ Annals of Natural History’ for 1870. In the 
present volume, of which the ornithological part is likewise by 
Mr. Gray, the descriptions are repeated, with some additions, 
and are accompanied by 21 coloured plates drawn by Mr. 
Smit. 

The second portion of Prof. Sundevall’s ‘ Methodi Natu- 
ralis Avium disponendarum Tentamen ”’ +, which we have just 
received, completes this most important work. It contains 
a complete ornithological system, and gives Latin diagnoses 
of all groups down to the families and their principal subdi- 
visions, and should be carefully studied by every ornithologist. 

The original preface and introduction to Prof. Sundevall’s 
work are written in Swedish; but a French translation is 
added, which will still further extend their usefulness. Prof. 
Sundevall’s primary division of the class of birds is into two 
“agmina,” Psilopedes and Ptilopedes, with reference to 
the state of the young when first excluded from the egg. This 
is a well-known division, used by several other authors, but 
not so exactly characterized as by Prof. Sundevall, and not 
so appropriately named. These two agmina, according to our 
author, contain the following seven Orders :— 


* Jottings during the Cruise of H.M.S. ‘Curacoa’ among the South- 
Sea Islands in 1865. By Julius L. Brenchley, M.A., F.R.G.S. London : 
Longmans, Green, & Co., 1873. 

+ Stockholm, 1872-73: 1 vol., 8vo, pp. 188. 


Notices of Ornithological Works. 323 


1. Oscines. 3 5. Gralle. 

2. Volucres. sf shouuaus 6. Palmatze: } Ptilopedes. 
3. Accipitres. : 7. Proceres. 

4. Galline. Es. 


Some of Prof. Sundevall’s collocations will surprise his 
brother ornithologists, such as his reference of Panurus (sive 
Calamophilus) to the Viduine, of Upupa to the vicinity of 
the Larks, of Dasycephala to the Tityrine, and of Glareola 
to the Caprimulgide! But Prof. Sundevall is not one of 
those persous who do things without giving some good reason 
for them. , 

We have also received, addressed “To the Editor,” copies 
the first two parts of a new American ornithological work 
entitled ‘The Birds of Florida,’ containing original descrip- 
tions of upwards of 250 species, with notes on their habits by 
C. J. Maynard, with 5 plates drawn and coloured from nature 
by Helen 8. Farley: Salem, Naturalists’ Agency, 1872-73 : 
and No. xiv. of the ‘ Journal de Sciencias’ of Lisbon, con- 
taining a seventh paper by Prof. Barboza du Bocage on the 
birds of the Portuguese possessions in Africa. 

As regards forthcoming works on ornithology we may 
mention that a new edition of Mr. Layard’s work on the 
birds of South Africa, under the supervision of Mr. Sharpe, 
is in preparation, and that Mr. Shelley is engaged on a book 
relating to the birds of the western portion of the same con- 
tinent. 

Mr. Gould is preparing to issue the final numbers of his 
great work ‘The Birds of Great Britain,’ which will, we 
believe, be completed before the end of the year. 

A new work on the Birds of the New World, consisting 
of a catalogue of the species known to occur in the Neotro- 
pical Region, and an account of their distribution, is noticed 
in our advertising columns. 

A reprint of Boddaert’s excessively rare work, ‘Table des 
Planches Enluminées,’ which ornithologists are constantly 
requiring for reference, has been undertaken by Mr. Teget- 
meier, F.L.S. We have seen proofs of the reprint, which is 
a verbatim et literatim copy of the original, every word, line, 
and page being reproduced in fac-simile, even to the typo- 


324 Letters, Announcements, &c. 


graphical errors of the old edition. The reprint will be issued, 
to subscribers only, at 5s. a copy. Specimens of the work 
may be obtained by application to Mr. Tegetmeier, 346 
Strand, London, W.C. 


XXXVIII.—Letters, Announcements, &c. 


The following letters, addressed “To the Editor of ‘ The 
Ibis, ” have been received :— 
Marldon, near Totnes. 
20th March 1875. 
Sir,—In ‘The Ibis’ for 1862, p. 207, I recorded the dates 
at which a female of Vultur auricularis in my possession had 
laid an egg during four successive years ending 26th Feb- 
ruary 1862; and I think it may now be interesting to record 
the dates of the eggs which the same individual has subse- 
quently produced, viz. :— 


24th February 1863, 2nd March 1868, 
21st 1864, 3rd.) 3. eee 
20th it 1865, TSth Po eye 
24th 1866, 7th 5. els roe 


This bird has never laid more than one egg m the same 
year; her eggs are white, but sometimes, especially in the 
case of the earlier eggs, more or less sprinkled and clouded 
with rufous, chiefly towards the obtuse end. 

I am yours, &c. 
J. H. Gurney. 


Sir,—Mr. Blanford has recently directed my attention to 
a supposed new species of Plover from Burmah, described by 
Mr. Hume in his new periodical, ‘Stray Feathers’ (No. 1, 
November 1862, p. 17), under the name of Eudromias tenui- 
rostris. I imagine that it was by a /apsus calami that Mr. 
Hume wrote Hudromias for Atgialitis; for his description 
shows that the bird belongs to the latter genus, and in one 
paragraph he speaks of it as not belonging “ to any of the 


Letters, Announcements, &c. 325 


species of Afgialitis above enumerated.” As he has given a full 
description and measurements, there is no difficulty in iden- 
tifying it; and I have no hesitation therefore in saying that 
it is the Mgialitis hartingi of Swinhoe, figured and described 
in the ‘ Proceedings ’ of the Zoological Society for 1870, p. 136, 
pl. xn. One of the peculiarities of this species is that the 
shafts of all the primaries are of a uniform hair-brown colour, 
which distinguishes it at once from others of the genus; the 
rectrices also are barred in a remarkable manner; and both 
these characters are pointed out by Mr. Hume. In other 
respects, as regards colour, it comes very close to 4. hiaticula, 
but is a larger bird, with the bill nearly twice as long, much 
longer tarsi and toes, and a slight web between the middle 
and outer toes, as in 4. semipalmata of the New World. 

I should not be surprised to learn that this is also the 
Charadrius longipes* of Pére David (Nouv. Archiv. 1867, 
Bulletin, p. 38), obtained at Pekin, and described as ‘ close 
to C. hiaticula, but with longer legs.” 

Mr. Swinhoe, I observe, has referred Pere David’s bird, 
with hesitation, to C. hiaticula (P.Z.S. 1871, p. 404); but as he 
mentions no other instance of the occurrence of our Euro- 
pean bird in China, I should doubt if it is found there, espe- 
cially as it is unknown in India and the Malay peninsula. 

I am aware that Heuglin, in his ‘Ornithologie Nordost- 
Afrikas,’ p. 1027, cites amongst the localities for C. hiaticula 
“the Himalayas,” and, “during the migration, western and 
southern Asia ;” but he does not say upon what authority this 
statement is made. Jerdon does not notice the species in his 
‘ Birds of India ;’ neither does Mr. Holdsworth inelude it in 
his recently published ‘‘ Catalogue of the Birds of Ceylon” 
(P. Z. 8S. 1872, pp. 404483). I can only suppose that, 
as regards the Himalayas, Heuglin may have relied upon 
an observation by Mr. Blyth, who in a commentary upon 
Jerdon’s ‘ Birds of India,’ published in ‘ The Ibis’ for 1867, 
adds to Dr. Jerdon’s list thus (p. 165) :—“ Aietaites H1A- 

* Nec C. longipes, Temm. & Schleg., qui fu/vus, Gmelin ; nec C. longipes, 
Heuglin, qui C. pecuarius, Temm. 


326 Letters, Announcements, &c. 


ticuLa (L.), Charadrius placidus, G. R. Gray, B. M. Cat. 
Hodgson’s ‘Coll. 2nd ed. p. 70. 

“Two examples of what I consider to be the common 
British Ringed Plover are among the skins sent by Mr. Hodg- 
son to the British Museum.” 

Now the two examples above referred to, which Mr. Blyth 
thought were C. hiaticula, and which Mr. Gray had named pla- 
cidus*,are undoubtedly 4. hartingi, Swinhoe, 4. tenuirostris, 
Hume, the very bird now under consideration! Of this I have 
satisfied myself by a recent examination of the specimens in 
the British Museum. How Mr. Blyth could have overlooked 
the very marked specific characters of this bird, I know not ; 
but possibly there was no specimen of Ch. hiaticula close at 
hand for comparison. 

Mr. Gray thus described the species :— 

““ CHARADRIUS PLACIDUS. 

““Greyish fuscous ; quills fuscous black ; front throat, collar 
round the neck, beneath the body, and margins of wing-coverts 
white ; tail greyish fuscous, the outer feathers marked near 
the tips with black, and tipped with white; the outer web of 
outer feather also white ; lore and band across the breast a 
mixture of black and greyish fuscous. Bill black; feet pale. 

“ Length 8’ 9", wings 5! 8!" tarsi 1" 3!" bill from gape 10!".” 

There is a coloured drawing of this bird, of the natural size, 
in Mr. Hodgson’s collection of drawings in the British Mu- 
seum ; and on the same plate isa sketch in pencil of the wing, 
tibia, tarsus, and foot, and the stomach, with the name “ can- 
liana?” written by Mr. Hodgson also in pencil. 

It follows, then, that for this well-marked species Mr. Gray’s 
is the oldest name, and must have priority, while Mr. Swin- 
hoe’s (I am sorry to say) will smk mtoasynonym. This 
must also be the fate of Mr. Hume’s fenuirostris, it having 
been bestowed two years after Mr. Swinhoe’s hartingi. 

Should Pere David’s bird prove, as I suspect, to belong to 
the same species, his name for it (longipes), bestowed in 1867, 
must also give way. Not only is his description insufficient 

* Cat. Hodgson’s Coll. 2nd ed. p. 70 (1863); cf also ‘ Handlist,’ iii. 
p. 15, No. 10001 (1871). 


Letters, Announcements, &c. 327 


to enable one to identify the species, but the name proposed 
by him had already been bestowed by Temminck & Schlegel 
(Faun. Japon. p. 104, t. 62, 1842) upon another species of 
the genus in which Pére David has placed it. gialitis lon- 
gipes, of von Heuglin (Syst. Uebers. Vog. N. O. Afr. 1856), 
is, as stated above, Temminck’s Charadrius pecuarius. 

Mr. Swinhoe, it will be remembered, obtained his specimens 
of 4. hartingi (with one of which he has most kindly pre- 
sented me) from the flats of the Upper Yangtsze, Szechuen, 
in spring*; and he has quite recently recorded it (Ibis, 1873, 
p. 96) from Nanking, where he was informed that it is com- 
mon in winter. We may now add to the habitat Pekin 
(David) ? doubtless therefore the whole of China, Burmah 
(Jerdon, Hume), and Nepal (Hodgson). 

The species thus appears to have an extensive range; and 
now that attention has been directed to it, we may expect to 
hear of the acquisition of many more specimens. 

Yours &c. 
J. EK. Harrine. 


[This letter was received in time for publication in the last 
number of ‘The Ibis,’ but accidentally omitted.— Eb. ] 


British Museum, 
February 12th, 1873. 

Sir,—There is something still to be done before we shall 
thoroughly understand the vexed question of the two species 
of Hieracidea in New Zealand. Dr. Buller deserves all praise 
for his conscientious attempt to elucidate the matter ; but that 
he has not succeeded in dispelling the surrounding difficulties 
is shown by Captain Hutton’s letter in the last ‘Ibis.’ After 
examining our series in this museum I rather share Captain 
Hutton’s dilemma as to the distinctive characters of Hieracidea 
australis. (N.B. The small bird, if ultimately proved to be 
distinct, must bear this title, the name of Falco brunneus, of 
Gould, being already preoccupied by Bechstein, who thus 
called the common Kestrel of Europe.) 


* Cf, P.Z.S. 1870, p. 136, and 1871, p. 404, 


328 Letters, Announcements, &c. 


The New-Zealand Hieracidee are rather abnormal members 
of the Falconine series; for it is rare to find a bird which, 
when young, is uniform above, and becomes barred when it 
is old; nor do they here closely comcide with their Australian 
congeners, excepting as regards their uniformly cloudy breasts 
’ when young. The sexes of the Australian Hieracidee do not 
appear to differ very markedly in size, an inch in the length 
of the female’s wing bemg in the Australian species of the 
genus as much as the male yields to his more powerful con- 
sort; therefore the fact recorded by Dr. Buller that the fe- 
male of H. brunnea exceeds the male by 2 inches in length of 
wing (and that too in the smallest species of the genus) is 
surprising, and will require ratification. Thus the analogy 
of the Australian species, to say nothing of the matured 
opinions of Dr. Buller and Mr. Gurney (and, I gather from 
his letter, of Captain Hutton also), would almost preclude us 
from believing that a bird measuring 13°5 inches in length, 
with a wing of 9°45, can be the mate of a female measuring 17°5 
inches in length, with a wing of 11-5, were it not for the gra- 
dual gradation shown below. The difference would appear too 
great; but then what shall be said of the species after com- 
paring the following table of measurements, drawn from the 
published writings of Dr. Buller, Mr. Gurney, and Captain 
Hutton, and added to those of fifteen specimens in the national 
collection (nearly all of the latter. bemg I regret to say, with- 
outrecord of sex)? Still they ought to have beenapproximately 
determinable if Dr, Buller’s proportions of the birds hold 
good; and this is apparently ,the gist of Captain Hutton’s 
measurements, on which he makes “no comment.” This, 
however, I feel bound to do, as it is the duty of the cabinet 
naturalist to weigh well the labours of practised observers in 
the field, while the latter should receive with equal respect the 
results placed before them by the workers at home, who are 
often in a position, from the examination of large series in 
the museums and private collections, to arrive at very sound 
conclusions concerning the relations of birds. I thus venture 
to give the measurements of the wing in our national series, 
adding those of the authors above mentioned. 


Letters, Announcements, &c. 329 


Wing. 
inches. 
ie Buller, Vo merunntea =) AOR Re es age ee 9-0 
2) Gumey, fio 6, “9 [?]. immature 2.2.02 020 . aedis 9:25 
USS sbrinE HOR GELE Sts «6 wisedstak Add) alah ig weaea bo etae 9°35 
ESL US EDIE OS bec nol Nchaes se tyP kbs oxcss soefbstvecbaees 9°45 
Sree EMEC TO. Olecs ahsiuiie cccue 0) + se, a attifehshs, 5c 2 Geta tle Wape ae 9-5 
GarEMGCLONN MO, ( Aceieties os os es che nies ack ne ne atte 9-6 
los JANE BSR OO (ek aod ge ek oa ie ele O47 
SPER LOMy MON Sieniowe. css 2 Wee claws oak obs 9:8 
Sep viniss ESE) 190%, 51 ipl. Fa.5 ate trevor ar Rae als Slo sateen 9-9 
10. Mus. Brit. nos. 1, 4 ’ 
La ae ae ee eee 10-0 
sets IHS Ba 676 AS? lien lai aaa are re aA Rt 10°3 
HTPC STUGE MO! Oi ss sete ait ee Se ete bo ecgte eae ae deh ok 10:5 
Pesekinttony: meh POM aut dae elias Ris aol 10:95 
plea ule eC On EE, GUMREd. -rcwecateraaid chia wanna akaaue 11-0 
Gs Eloritons 054. [, Oa ice a dea tesa ayoiten «ace Wanelae 2_0 dui 11:2 
17. Buller, “ ¢ H. nove zealandi@” ........260.000ce 11:25 
MSeMNISMe ESTO. NO: LOFT cuss cotiels seteice ice a meets esa 11°35 
HST MUS SH btity no. 12) Ee A EE RS Ae Oe 11:4 
20. Buller, “ 9 HZ. nove zealandi@” 0... ccc ceca 115 
21-24, ) Mus. Brits nosy Ll, 13) V4 ABs us) hd nin’ aaa 115 
25, Hutton, no. 2 SE 
5 cA REPS ANS END EOE SR Deed. cA 5 BR 8 11-75 
PAEREULOME TOs [Oe | sc arriciticisie, cele sl seitin elec siete is yas OS 


Thus we have the measurement of the wing in twenty-seven 
specimens. Those in the museum are numbered as above 
indicated, in case of future verification ; I have not recorded 
the exact locality of the specimens, which are from both the 
north and south islands of New Zealand and from the Auck- 
land Islands, as my object in this communication is to show 
the gradual gradation from one bird to the other as regards 
the length of wmg. Leaving out of the calculation Nos. 7 
and 8 of Captain Hutton’s last list (Ibis, 1873, p. 101), con- 
cerning which Dr. Buller can doubtless give us a satisfactory 
explanation, and taking into account only those which offer 
evidence of having been carefully sexed, the question for de- 
termination seems to be, whether, if there are two species, 
a large female of H. dbrunnea may overlap a small male of 
H. nove zealandie, and, therefore, what is the maximum 
length of wing attained by the sexes of these birds? For in- 


330 Letters, Announcements, &c. 


stance, if Dr. Buller is correct in his estimate of the sexes of 
each species, No. 16 is a large ? of H. brunnea, and the ¢g 
of this species must vary so much that its wing ranges be- 
tween 9 and 10 inches in length, and thus Dr. Buller got hold 
of an exceptionally small bird, which accounts for the great 
disparity in the sexes of the smaller Falcon. 
I am, &c., 
R. BowpLer SHARPE. 


8rd June, 1873. 


S1r,—In the last number of ‘The Ibis,’ Mr. Blanford, in 
his article in ‘Stray Feathers,’ makes some remarks upon 
Argus ocellatus, and helps to continue a very erroneous im- 
pression regarding that species. When Mr. Wood stated in 
the ‘ Annals and Mag. Nat. Hist.’ last year, that some of the 
feathers in my plate of this species were the same as the rec- 
trices of Pavo muticus, I did not make any’ reply, because 
I thought that when one had studied a family of birds suffi- 
ciently long to attempt to write a monograph of the group, 
it might at least be supposed he would not be unable to 
discriminate the tail-feathers of one species from those of 
another, especially such conspicuous ones as belong to our 
Argus Pheasant and the Javan Peacock! But it seems 
I was mistaken; and therefore, when a conscientious natu- 
ralist like Mr. Blanford gives credence to such a statement 
without having, so far as I am aware, ever investigated the 
subject himself, it seems time that I should say something in 
the matter. Both before the publication.of my plate and also 
since, I have carefully compared the feathers in question, pre- 
served in the museum here, with the rectrices of P. muticus ; 
and neither in form, structure, nor colour do they resemble 
each other in any degree. At no age does P. muticus possess 
rectrices like those figured in my work ; and I was greatly 
surprised that any one should have thought of confounding 
them. As to these feathers and the single one of P. bipunc- 
tatus belonging to birds of another genus, it is hardly neces- 
sary to add that I do not concur in that view. 

In regard to Mr. Blanford’s remarks about the madvisability 


Letters, Announcements, &c. 331 


of describing species from fragments, there is doubtless much 
truth in what he says; but he might with equal reason go a 
little farther, and object to an ornithologist describing a bird 
before all the phases of plumage assumed in its life are known 
to him. I need only cite the family of Hawks, to prove 
that more errors have been committed by describing as dis- 
tinct the same species in different stages of plumage (each of 
which was only, so to speak, a fragment of the entire subject), 
than is ever likely to result from descriptions founded solely 
upon heads or tails. 

Great benefits have been bestowed already upon natural 
science by the discoveries made from fragmentary remains, 
and they far outweigh the comparatively few errors committed 
from the same cause ; and until we arrive at that blissful period 
when mistakes shall be no more, it would be a great pity to 
neglect even piecemeal evidence in the study of a subject. 

Every naturalist knows how easy it is to commit mistakes ; 
happy is the man whose quiver holds the fewest of them. 

Yours &c., 
D. G. Exxior. 


Srr,—In my letter of June 1872 (Ibis, 1872, p. 336) I 
noticed the singular dearth of birds in that region of the ocean 
traversed by me. I have again passed over much the same 
route, sailing from Para on the 17th of March, and touching 
at Madeira en route for Lisbon and England. The line we 
described had a considerable northern curve, as our visit to 
Madeira was only determined on when we found ourselves 
short of provisions. 

We did not see a single bird after leaving the mouths ot 
the Amazon till we came within a hundred miles of Madeira ; 
then a solitary Petrel turned up, also we were visited by a 
cock Greenfinch, a Sky-Lark, a Redpole Linnet, and two young 
Red-headed Shrikes. I never saw so deserteda region! And 
the captain of our ship and another of the other line of 
steamers plying between Lisbon and Para, who happened to 
be on board, both assured me they never saw birds on their 

SER. III.—VOL. III. 2A 


332 Letters, Announcements, &c. 


transit. This may certainly be called the birdless region of 
the ocean. 

I take this opportunity of saying a word with reference to 
Mr. W. T. Blanford’s remark (Ibis, 1873, p. 218) that I 
“must be added to the number of those who have described 
this bird (Elanus melanopterus) as laying white eggs.” I re- | 
ceived the egg described (Ibis, 1868, p. 242) from my friend 
Mr. William Atmore, and I have no doubt he correctly iden- 
tified it ; but, from the experience I subsequently acquired, I 
believe that white is not the normal colour of the eggs of this 
bird. Mr. Kotze, my son, and myself took many specimens 
on the Berg river in 1869; all were coloured, some more, 
some less. 

My impression is that the amount of colour depends on the 
strength of the bird, and that the white egg sent to Atmore was 
laid by a sickly bird. My son took a nest of Circus maurus 
within sight of our windows; the eggs were nicely coloured. 
A few days afterwards, seeing the birds still about the nest, 
he again visited and found another clutch of eggs, but much 
lighter in colour ; a third time he robbed the nest, and the 
eggs were pure white. I think this shows exhaustion on the 
part of the bird, each successive laying being whiter than the 
preceding. 

I am, Sir, yours &c., 


E. L. Layarp. 


Sir.—It may interest the readers of ‘The Ibis’ to know 
that during the present winter the Firth of Forth has been 
visited by an extraordinary flock of Sea-Gulls of various species 
and evidently of arctic parentage. Between the towns of 
Kincardine and Alloa the estuary has been frequented by 
swarms of Kittiwakes, the surface of the water being at times 
literally covered with birds. While on wing the multitude 
was so great as to appear, when seen against the opposite 
woods of Dunmore, like a heavy fall of snow. These Kitti- 
wakes were principally in immature plumage, not more than 
4 per cent. of adult birds being observable. On the 27th 
December last, accompanied by one or two friends, I visited 


Letters, Announcements, &c. 333 


the estuary, and found on that occasion between 150 and 200 
Glaucous Gulls flymg about in the immediate vicinity of 
Kincardine, besides a number of Iceland Gulls, the two species 
_ being easily recognized as they flew past. The first-named 
bird has a soft Owl-lke flight, which is very different from 
that of the Great Black-backed Gull; while the Iceland Gull 
is distinguished by its quick flapping motion, resembling the 
flight of some of the larger Terns. After examining upwards 
of twenty Glaucous Gulls, shot in the Firth between the date 
I have given and the 4th of January, I find the following 
results :—I. Size extremely variable, the total length ranging 
from 254 inches to 30 inches, and the breadth from 58 to 64 
inches. II. The birds were chiefly in the plumage of the 
first year, the proportion of adult birds being even less than 
in the case of the Kittiwake. The same variation occurs in 
the measurements of the Iceland Gull, so far as I can judge 
from an examination of four or five specimens which have 
been shot by my friend Mr. Harvie Brown. 

This unprecedented influx of Sea-Gulls is evidently due to 
the presence of shoals of sprats or garvies (Clupea sprattus) , 
which at full tide swarm near the surface. . The fish are taken 
in very large quantities in the firth, and disposed of in cart- 
loads to the farmers in the neighbourhood, who use them as 
manure. No doubt, I think, need be entertained as to the 
origin of the invading Gulls. They can scarcely be regarded 
as offshoots from British nurseries ; indeed the presence of 
so many Glaucous and Iceland Gulls clearly shows that they 
are migrants from arctic waters. 

I am, Sir, yours, &c., 
Ropert Gray. 
Glasgow, January 9, 1873. 


The following extracts are from a letter received from our 
Editor, dated “‘ Off St. Domingo, May 3rd.” 

“We have had a first-rate passage, so far as regards weather, 
but one very destitute of ornithological terest. Starting as 
we did, in the middle of April, I certainly thought we should 
come across a good many migratory birds in the Channel and 


‘ 
ye AL 


334 Letters, Announcements, &c. 


some days beyond it, and that I should find some materials 
out of which to concoct an ornithological letter. All the 
birds I saw, however, were a Yellow Wagtail (¢), which stayed 
with us all one day. It came on board when we were about . 
400 or 500 miles from land; and we carried it another 150 
miles from home. Another bird was a Swallow, which turned 
up 250 miles or so from the Azores, and staid about all one 
day; next morning we were off Terceira, and it was gone. 
On the 26th of April I saw several ash-coloured long-winged 
Shearwaters and some Petrels (black with white rump) ; but 
they were too far off to make them out. This was about 1200 
miles from Barbadoes. On the 27th, 900 miles from Barba- 
does, I saw more Petrels, and a beetle flew round the stern of 
the ship for some time, but I could not catch it. On the 28th 
there were more Petrels about. 

“We reached Barbadoes on the 80th; and we went on shore 
for an hour or two, and took a drive of a few miles along 
the eastern shore of the island. I saw more birds than I ex- 
pected, but, my guns being packed away, I did not get any 
skins. There were two species of Humming-birds, one doubt- 
less Orthorhynchus cristatus, the other a Eulampis (I think, 
E. holosericeus, not E. jugularis). I also saw a Certhiola. 
It had no white on the wing, and no yellow on the rump, so 
far as I could make out*. + Myiodioctes pusillus was there, 
and a Dendreca, I think D. estiva. A small Quiscalus, with 
white eyes, hopped about the road, and a little Finch I took 
to be Lowigilla noctis. I could have spent a few days very 
profitably even in Barbadoes ; but we had to be on board at 
4 o’clock, and started for St. Thomas’s the same evening. I 
expect to have a day in Jamaica the day after to-morrow, to 
reach Colon about the 7th or 8th, and to leave Panama on 
the 10th. 

* [I have lately obtained a specimen of the Certhiola of Barbadoes, 


which is C. martinicanu. The Quiscalus, which I have likewise received, 
is Q. fortirostris, Lawr. Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1868, p. 360.—P. L. 8.] 


A, Eugi thal As: 


THIRD SERIES. 


No. XII, OCTOBER 1873. 


XXXIX. Notes on the Ornithology of Sardinia, 
By A. B. Brooks, I.Z.S. 


| Concluded from page 248. | 


140. CoLuMBA PALUMBUS. 
Very common. Great numbers collect during autumn in 
the oak forests to feed on the acorns. 


141. CoLuMBA LIVIA. 
Common all the year, breeding round the coast, and also 
im many localities on inland rocks. 


142. CoLUMBA G@NAS. 
Not uncommon. 


143. Turrur avritus. 
Arrives im great numbers during the month of April. 


144, Prrpix PETROSA. 

Is the only Partridge in the south of the island, where it 
is still common in many parts, and is found both on the low 
mountains and plains. The cry of the cock bird during the 
months of April and May is very remarkable, loud and me- 
lancholy, and can be heard always in the early mornings and 
late evenings. I have heard several rumours of a different Par- 

SER. I11.— VOL, 11. 2B 


336 Mr. A. B. Brooke on the 


tridge existing in the north of the island, and I was assured 


by a good sportsman that he had shot P. cinerea there; but I 
never saw a specimen. 


+145. Corurnix coMMUNIS. 

A few remain in the island all the year. Large numbers 
arrive in spring. 
+146. Crux PRATENSIS. 

I never saw or heard any, although they are stated by both 


Cara and Salvadori to pass annually in spring, the former 
affirming that some remain all the year. 


/- 147. OrvrYGOMETRA PORZANA. 
Passes during the spring. 


148. OrryGoMETRA PYGM#A. 
Of rare occurrence. 


149. OrtYGoOMETRA MINUTA. 
Passes on its migration. 


150. RaLius aquaticus. 
Common, and resident in the island. 


151. GaLLINULA CHLOROPUS. 
Very common at all times. 


+152. Furica atra. 

Extremely abundant during winter, going in large flocks 
of several hundreds on the different lagoons round Cagliari 
and Oristano. By far the greater number migrate ; but a few 
remain and breed. 


153. Furica cristata. 

There are several specimens of this species in the museum ; 
but I was never able to identify or secure any. They are not 
numerous, and appear more abundantly some winters than 
others. 


154. PorPHYRIO VETERUM. 

Their appearance seems accidental. Some years they are 
much more numerous than in others. ‘This species has not yet 
-been discovered breeding in the island. 


Ornithology of Sardinia. 337 


155. Oris TETRAX. 

Moderately common in some parts of the large plain be- 
tween Cagliari and Oristano, and also in the smaller one which 
runs up towards Iglesias. I found them chiefly in the flat 
stony places, where the cistus was only sparingly scattered 
and not very high. They were extremely shy and hard to 
get at, rising very wild, and flying generally from a quarter 
to half a mile, and running rapidly on alighting. Their flight 
is peculiar, consisting of short quick flaps of the wings; and 
the tertiaries, being very long, give the bird a peculiar appear- 
ance. The weight of a female was | lb. 13 oz. 


156. CipIcNEMUS CREPITANS. 
Moderately common and resident. 


7-157. VANELLUS CRISTATUS. 
Very common in winter. None remain during summer. 


+158. SquaTAROLA HELVETICA. 
A winter visitor, not very numerous. 


+159. CHARADRIUS PLUVIALIS. 
A spring visitor but not plentiful. 


-+- 160. EupROMIAS MORINELLUS. 


_ According to Cara is a regular bird of passage, spending 
the winter in the island. 


+-161. AXGIALITES HIATICULA. 


Common, and some are stated by Cara to breed in the 
island. 


4-162. AXGIALITES MINOR. 

I shot at the hot spring of Acqua Cotta on the 30th of 
May the only specimen I saw. Its stomach was full of the 
elytra of small aquatic beetles and insects. 

They pass in considerable numbers along the coast of the 
Riviera during the early part of April. 

163. ANGIALITES CANTIANUS. 

Very common all the year round along the sea-coast and 
low sandy shores of the lagoons, where they keep in small 


flocks of seven or eight. When on the ground they are ex- 
2p 2 
2B2 


338 Mr. A. B. Brooke on the 


tremely hard to catch sight of, as, except when feeding, 
they sit perfectly motionless in a little round ball, closely 
resembling in colour the surrounding sand. 


164. GLAREOLA PRATINCOLA. 
Sometimes met with during the migration, but rare. 


165. STREPSILAS INTERPRES. 
Not common ; a few pass in spring. 


~166. HaMarorus OsTRALEGUS. 
According to Cara to be met with at all seasons, but only 
in small numbers. 


167. ReEcURVIROSTRA AVOCETTA. 
Not uncommon in winter. 


168. Himanrorus MELANOPTERUS. 
An occasional winter visitor. 


+-169. Limosa ®GOCEPHALA. 
Common during the migration. 


4-170. Totranus GLOoTTIS. 
Not uncommon in winter. 


171. Totanus sTAGNATILIS. ‘ 
Is stated by Salvadori to occur in Sardinia m spring on its 
passage northwards. 


172. Toranus FUSCUS. 

A few single birds were about the “stagnos” of St. Giusta 
near Oristano during the begmning of March. ‘They are 
wild and independent, never seeming to care much for the com- 
pany of the other Sandpipers, but when disturbed separating 
at once, and generally flying a long distance before lighting. 
Their note is very different from that of 7. calidris. 


173. Toranus CALIDRIS. 
Extremely common during winter. 


174. Toranus GLAREOLA. 
A flock of fifteen or twenty of these birds used to keep 
about a small lake near S. Gavino, in the middle of the plain ; 


Ornithology of Sardinia. 339 


and I saw them there repeatedly until the end of April, when 
they disappeared. I hardly think any remain to breed in 
the island. 


+175. Toranus OcHROPUS. 
Not uncommon in winter. 


176. ActTITIS HYPOLEUCA. 
I met with one specimen during the month of March. They 
are common in summer. 


+177. MacHErveEs PUGNAX. 

On the large wild sandy plain dotted over with small stag- 
nant pools, between the stagno of S. Giusta and the sea, I 
met with numerous flocks of Ruffs, varying in number from 
three or four up to as many as twenty, during the first week 
in March. They were very restless, flying backwards and 
forwards from one pool to another, feeding hurriedly in a close 
compact body. ‘Their flight is extremely rapid, turning and 
twisting, showing alternately the light and dark sides in the 
same manner as Dunlins &. None of the specimens I shot 
showed any sign of a ruff; they were al! males. 


+178. Trineca CANUTUS. 
Occurs during the winter. 


4-179. TRINGA MARITIMA. 

Has been killed several times near Capo St. Elia (Cara). 
This Sandpiper is not very uncommon round the Gulf of 
Genoa; and therefore I can see no reason for doubting the 
accuracy of Signor Cara’s observations on this species (Sal- 
vadori, Catalogue, p. 89). 


/ 180: TRINGA SUBARQUATA. 
Common in winter. 


4-181. TRINGA CINCLUS. 

Very common in winter round the sandy shores of the la- 
goons. 

182. TRInGA MINUTA. 

Not wncommon during winter.. I saw several near Oris- 
tano in company with Dunlins. 


340 Mr. A. B. Brooke on the 


183. TRINGA TEMMINCKII. 
Salvadori mentions a specimen in the museum at Turin, 
received from Sardinia. It is of rare occurrence. 


+184. CaLiIpRIS ARENARIA. 
Not uncommon. 


185. GALLINAGO GALLINULA. 
Common during winter. 


186. GALLINAGO MEDIA. 
Extremely abundant m the marshes round Oristano and 
Cagliari, and in all suitable localities. 


187. GALLINAGO MAJOR. 
Passes in spring. 
188. ScoLopax RUSTICULA. 
Used to be much more numerous than of late years, but 


still is to be found in considerable numbers in. certain favour- 
ble localities. 


+-189. NuMENIUS ARQUATUS. 
Moderately common in winter. 


190. NUMENIUS TENUIROSTRIS. 
Occurs in the island, but is not very common. 


+-191. NuMENIUS PHZOPUS. 
Common in winter. 


+192. [Bis FALCINELLUS. 
Occurs not uncommonly during the winter. There is a 
good series in the museum at Cagliari. 


193. GRUS CINEREA. 
A few pass durmg both migrations; and some remain 
through the winter. They leave in March or early in April. 


-4.194, ARDEA CINEREA. 

Very common during winter amongst the large shallow 
lagoons full of fish, which are most suitable and favourite 
breeding-places. 


195. ARDEA PURPUREA. 
There are specimens in the museum killed during the mi- 


Ornithology of Sardinia. SAL, 


gration. This species is not very common, being merely a 
bird of passage ; none remain to breed. 
os 


196. EGRerra ALBA. 
Very common in winter. 


197. EGRETTA GARZETTA. 


Common all the year, frequenting the large lagoons. Their 
numbers are increased durimg winter. 


198. BurHus BUBULCUS. 
Of rare and doubtful occurrence. 


199. BuPpHUS RALLOIDES. 

Passes im spring. 

200. ARDEOLA MINUTA. 

Like the preceding species passes in spring, but is not 
common. 

201. Boraurus sTELLARIS. 


A winter visitor. JI never met with any myself; but I be- 
heve they are not uncommon. 


202. Nycricorax GRISEUS. 
Passes in spring. A few remain during winter. 


203. @1conrA ALBA. 
Of rare and accidental occurrence. 


204, CICONIA NIGRA. 
Commoner than the preceding species. Salvadori mentions 


having seen some in January at the mouth of the river Fan- 
gario, near Cagliari. 


205. PLATALEA LEUCORODIA. 
Not uncommon during winter. There are several speci- 
mens in the museum. 


206. PH@NICOPTERUS ROSEUS. 

Large flocks of Flamingos are to be seen all the winter 
through on the “ stagnos ” of Scaffa and Quarto, which lie one 
on each side of Cagliari, moving backwards and forwards from 
one to another, according as they are disturbed. They also 
visit in considerable numbers some of the larger lagoons round 


34.2 Mr. A. B. Brooke on the 


Oristano. I was greatly surprised to find, as late as the 7th 
of June, 1871, a flock of from five to six hundred of these 
birds, still remaining about the stagno of Quarto, near Cag- 
hari; and during the several days I watched them, they showed 
no signs of restlessness, nor any desire to change their quarters, 
but seemed in every way to have settled for the summer. I 
was informed by Signor Cara(whom I always found most cour- 
teous and obliging in giving me any information he possessed) 
that it was extremely unusual for such a large number to re- 
main during the summer, but that a few invariably did so. 
They certainly do not breed there now, as a sharp look-out is 
kept for their nests, and they could not escape observation. 
Amongst the flock I noticed nearly as many adult birds as 
young ; otherwise I should have imagined it was only the 
young birds of the previous year that remained during sum- 
mer. larly in the day the flock was scattered all about the 
stagno in small parties of forty or fifty, feeding round the 
shores ; but towards three or four o’clock in the afternoon 
they all collected in one long line, extending quite a quarter 
of a mile, near the centre of the stagno, where they slept with 
their heads under their wings. They were extremely wild 
and shy, rising a long way off, with loud harsh cries. 


207. PH@NICOPTERUS ERITHACUS. 

I noticed a great difference in size in many individuals of 
the flock above mentioned ; perhaps some might have been of 
this species, which is included in Salvadori’s list. 


+208. Cyenus Musicus. 
There are no specimens in the museum at Caghari; but 
they are, I believe, not uncommon during winter. 


209. CyGNus OLOR. 

Varies in numbers according to the severity of the winter. 
Is the commonest wild Swan that visits the island. 

210. ANSER FERUS. 

A common winter visitor. 
+~ 211. ANSER SEGETUM. 

Common in winter. During the autumn migration large 


Ornithology of Sardinia. 313 


flocks of either this or the preceding species pass over Genoa, 
generally during the night, flying very high, with much loud 
cackling. 

212. VULPANSER TADORNA. 


Not uncommon in winter. Cara states they breed in the 
island. 


+ 213. RuyncHAsPIS CLYPEATA. 
Very common in winter. 


214. QuERQUEDULA CIRCIA. 
I saw several pairs on the stagnos at Oristano in March, but 
I do not know whether any remain to breed. 


4 215. QUERQUEDULA CRECCA. 
Extremely numerous during winter, going in flocks of forty 
or fifty. Considerable numbers remain and breed. 


216. ANAS MARMORATA. 
A rare visitant; but Salvadori mentions two well-authen- 
ticated instances of its occurrence. 


+ 217. ANAS STREPERA. 
Common in winter. 


+ 218. ANAs BoscHAs. 
Very numerous, being found during winter in large quan- 
tities on all the stagnos. Numbers remain and breed. 


— 219. Darina acuta. 
1 saw a few at Oristano; but they are by no means nu- 
merous. 


-+~~ 220. Mareca PENELOPE. 

Extremely common in winter ; but the greater number left 
long before any of the other Anatide. Several times during 
the first week in March, when camped out on the top of the 
mountains, on fine clear nights I heard the wild whistle of 
several flocks of Widgeon as they flew over me very high in 
a northerly direction. 

221. ERIsMaTURA LEUCOCEPHALA. 

I frequently saw this bird near Oristano in company with 
large flocks of Tufted Ducks &c., but never succeeded in se- 


344: Mr. A. B. Brooke on the 


curing a specimen. They were not numerous, and seemed to 
go singly or in pairs; and I never saw more than two together, 

more frequently single birds. I watched a fine old male one 

day, for a long time, feeding by himself in the middle of a 

small lake, but always safely out of shot; he was diving 

strongly and vigorously, dashing himself under the water, 

where he remained a considerable time. Their peculiar atti- 

tude in the water, along with their short, broad, pale-blue 

bill, gives them a most quaint appearance. 


+ 222. FuLIGULA RUFINA. 

This bird, I think, arrives with the other other Ducks and 
spends the winter in the island: as early in March they were 
moderately common at Oristano. The males have a peculiarly 
handsome appearance on the water, with their bright-red 
bills and black breast-plates shining and glistening in the sun 
as if they were polished. ‘‘ Some breed on the little island of 
the stagno of ‘Scaffa’ amongst the reeds and canes” (Sal- 
vadori). 


223. FULIGULA FERINA. 
Abundant in winter. 


224. FuLIGULA NYROCA. 

Amongst the crowds of Ducks on the different stagnos I 
never could distinguish this species, and I think it is one of the 
rarest. It is included in both Cara’s and Salvadori’s lists. 


\ 225. FuLIGULA MARILA. 
Of accidental occurrence. 


226. FULIGULA CRISTATA. 

This, [ think, is the most numerous of the Anatide in Sar- 
dinia: they are to be seen sitting by hundreds on all the 
stagnos, generally mixed up with Mallards, Pochards, Com- 
mon Teal, Garganeys, Pintails, Gadwalls, Coots, &c., with 
occasionally a single Hrismatura leucocephala bobbing up 
and down with his white shining head in the middle. 


227. GLAUCION CLANGULA. 
This Duck is not very common. I saw a few fine adult 
males near Oristano. 


Ornithology of Sardinia. 345 


228. CHDEMIA FUSCA. 

Very rare. There is a single specimen in the museum at 
Cagliari. 
~{-229. MERGUS ALBELLUS. 

Of not uncommon occurrence in winter. 


230. MERGUS CASTOR. 


The rarest of the genus. There is one specimen in the 
museum, a female or young male. 


& 231. MERGUS SERRATOR. 
Common in winter. 


232. PELECANUS ONOCROTALUS. 
Of very rare and accidental occurrence. 


-+- 233. PHALACROCORAX CARBO. 

Extremely common. I one morning early in March 
counted forty-three in one flock flying like wild Geese from 
the sea to feed during the day on the stagno of “ Scaffa.” 
Many of them had the white spot on the hip. 


234, PHALACROCORAX DESMARESTII. 

There are several named specimens of this very doubtful 
species in the museum. ‘They are all in immature plumage, 
with one exception, and differ from the young of the following 
species in having the breast and belly of a more decided 
white, with a definite median stripe of still purer colour, about 
an inch in breadth, running down the front of the throat. 


235. PHALACROCORAX GRACULUS. 
If the former species is indeed distinct, the occurrence of 
the Shag in this island is, I think, doubtful. 


236. PHALACROCORAX PYGMRUS. 
Rare. There is one specimen preserved in the museum. 


+. 237. STERNA CASPIA. 

I did not meet with this Tern during any of my visits; but 
it is stated by Cara to be not uncommon, and Temminck 
mentions its having been found breeding in the north of the 
island (Man. Orn. iv. p. 454). 


346 Mr. A. B. Brooke on the 


+ 238. STERNA ANGLICA. 

Salvadori mentions having received two specimens from 
Sardinia, that were killed there in May 1868. Two others, 
killed at the same time, were presented to the museum at 
Cagliari. 

239. STERNA CANTIACA. 

Very common, and breeds in the island. 


240. STERNA FLUVIATILIS. 

Common in summer. I am not sure that any remain 
during winter. 

241. STERNA MINUTA. 

A small flock passed over my head one day early m May 
near St. Antioco, the only time I ever saw them. “'RKhey 
breed in the island ” (Salvadori). 


- 242. HypROCHELIDON LEUCOPTERA. 
Passes in spring, but is not common. 


243. HybDROCHELIDON FISSIPES. 
Not uncommon during summer. 


t+ 244, Larus MINUTUS. 
Found at all seasons, but not numerous. 


245. Larus MELANOCEPHALUS. 

From the Straits of Bonifacio and northwards this Gull was 
extremely common, following in the wake of the steamer, and 
several pairs were always in sight. By the 15th of March a 
great number had already assumed their black head, and the 
tips of their primaries were pure white; after that date along 
the coast of Genoa and Leghorn, where they are extremely 
numerous, few are to be seen in their winter dress. 

On one occasion I saw a pair commit an atrocious piece of 
cruclty on an unfortunate small bird (a Wagtail, I think, by 
its flight), which was vainly trying to overtake the steamer, 
evidently nearly exhausted, having only sufficient strength 
left to clear the waves. It was at once seen by a pair of 
these Gulls that were hovering hungrily round the stern, 
and they immediately gave chase. After one or two unsuc- 
cessful swoops pluckily and skilfully evaded by the Wagtail, 


Ornithology of Sardinia. 347 


one of the Gulls knocked it into the sea, lighting beside it, 
got up, and flew away with it in his bill; but he did not go 
far before he dropped it, and the poor exhausted little bird 
made a dying attempt to reach the steamer, his only refuge ; 
but it was of no use, as he was almost immediately caught 
again and killed. I dare say this is by no means an uncommon 
fate of many of our smaller summer migrants. 


246. LARUS RIDIBUNDUS. 
Very common all the year. 


247. LARUS GELASTES. 
There are three very fine specimens in tlie museum. I 
never saw any. Cara states it is not uncommon, and resident. 


+ 248. Larus cCANus. 
Not wncommon along the east coast. 


249. Larus AUDOUINI. 

Cara mentions a specimen killed near the island of Madda- 
lena in the north of Sardinia in 1858. I think it is extremely 
rare ; and [ never succeeded in securing a specimen. It is 
said to be not uncommon about the Straits of Bonifacio. 

There is a very fine adult specimen in the Museo Civico at 
Genoa, which was taken near Savona. The measurements of 
this specimen are as follows :—Wing 14:5 inches, tarsus 2:2, 
beak from gape 2°4, extreme depth of beak when shut °5. 


250. Larus LEUCcOPH&US. 

Extremely common about the lagoons of Cagliari and 
Oristano, going generally in pairs. I one day saw a very 
exciting chase between this Gull and a Common Bald Coot, 
which he had after a good deal of trouble singled out of a 
large flock. The chase lasted for fully five minutes, the Gull 

. bemg much the fastest of the two, and the Coot only escaping 
by the most marvellously rapid doubling and turning, some- 
times (when he got a chance) dashing himself into the middle 
of a large flock, which always deserted him in a most cowardly 
manner, scattering in all directions. At last, getting tired, 
he was overtaken by the Gull when a considerable height in 
the air, and knocked senseless into the water with a splash ; 


348 Notes on the Ornithology of Sardinia. 


the Gull then seemed perfectly satisfied and content, and flew 
away, taking no further notice of him. The Bald Coot gra- 
dually recovered ; and after swimming about for a few mo- 
ments, his senses being evidently in a confused condition, he 
got up and flew away as if nothing had happened. It is 
curious that a few moments before I had wounded a Coot— 
which fell dead about a quarter of a mile from me, and, before 


I could reach the spot, was nearly devoured by a pair. of 
these Gulls. 


251. Larus Fuscus. 
Not uncommon in autumn (Cara). 


+. 252. Larus MARINUS. 
Not common. 


253. Rissa TRIDACTYLA. , 
The occurrence of this Gull is doubtful. 


254. THALASSIDROMA PELAGICA. 
Common round the coast. 


255. OcEANITES OCEANICA. 

There is an undoubted specimen of this rare European 
visitant in the museum at Cagliari, first identified by Dr. Sal- 
vadori. It is stated to have been killed near the town. 


L. 256. Purrinus CINEREUS. 


Very common all round the coast. I have noticed them 
especially off the 8.W. corner of the island. 


- 957. PuFFINUS ANGLORUM. 
Common round the coast at all seasons. 


258. ALCA TORDA. 
Of rare occurrence. 


259. FRATERCULA ARCTICA. ° 
Rare and accidental. 


+ 260. FRATERCULA GLACIALIS. 
There is a specimen under this name in the museum; but 


I think it is nothing but an ordinary variety of the preceding 
species. 


Capt. Hutton on Rallus modestus of New Zealand. 349 


4. 261. CoLyMBUS SEPTENTRIONALIS. 
Not uncommon during winter. 


++ 262. CoLYMBUS GLACIALIS. 
Very rare. There is a specimen of an immature bird in 
the museum, 


263. PopicEPs CRISTATUS. 

Visits the large lagoons in great quantities during winter, 
where they are hunted and shot down systematically. None 
are allowed (at any rate near Cagliari) to remain to breed. 


264. PopicrPs LONGIROSTRIS. 

There is an extraordinary-looking specimen of a Grebe in 
the museum under this name; but as I was unable to handle 
it, I could not examine it satisfactorily. 


265. PopICcEPS NIGRICOLLIS. 

Extremely numerous during winter, remaining until the 
end of March, when they nearly all leave. I am not sure 
whether any remain to breed. 


266. PopIcEPS MINOR. 
Extremely common, but not so numerous as the preceding 
species. ‘They are resident in the island. 


XL.—On Rallus modestus of New Zealand. 
By Capt. F. W. Hurron. 


In his remarks on Rallus dieffenbachii (‘ Birds of New Zea- 
land,’ p. 180) Dr. Buller says, “after carefully comparing 
therewith [7.e. with the type of R. dieffenbachii| the type 
specimen of Hutton’s Rallus modestus (forwarded to me by 
Dr. Hector), and submitting the matter to the judgment of 
other competent ornithologists, I have no hesitation in con- 
sidering it the same species in an immature state of plumage.” 
It is to be regretted that Dr. Buller has not given the names 
of the “other competent ornithologists ;” for naturalists do 
not generally give anonymous opinions on scientific subjects ; 
but whoever they may be, I venture to think that they have 
in this case made a very serious error, and I trust that I may 
be allowed to state my reasons for thinking so. 


350 Capt. Hutton on Rallus modestus of New Zealand. 


T labour under the difficulty of never having seen the spe- 
cimen of R. dieffenbachii; but I presume that it is closely 
allied to R. philippensis—in fact, that it represents that bird 
in the Chatham Islands. I judge so from both species haying 
been put into the same subgenus (Hypotenidia), from both 
being of about the same size, and from both having the colour- 
ing similar in style, and nearly so in tint; in fact so similar 
are they that it appears to me doubtful whether R. dieffen- 
bachii should be retained as a distinct species. Now Rallus 
modestus belongs to a different subgenus (or genus, as I 
should prefer to call it) from A. philippensis, and approaches 
more nearly to the true type of Ra/lus as exhibited by R. aqua- 
ticus, although it differs from that bird also sufficiently to 
form at least another subgenus. The bill is rather stronger 
than in R. aquaticus, and more arched ; the nostrils are oval, 
and placed in the middle of the groove, instead of being linear 
and subbasal. The wings are very short, with only about 
fourteen remiges, the inner of which are very small, soft, and 
downy, while the outer webs of the outer quills are as soft as 
the mner webs, as in Ocydromus ; the fourth and fifth quills 
are the longest, and the first is nearly as long as the second. 
The thumb is very long and carries a small compressed claw 
at the end, which is shaped like the claws on the toes. The 
inner toe is nearly as long as the outer; the hind toe is short, 
very slender, and placed on the inner side of the tarsus; the 
claws are short, compressed, and blunt; the tongue is long, 
narrow, and fringed at the tip. 

From R. philippensis it differs still more, as the following 
table of measurements will show :— 


Mit ier Behe 3|¢ 3 

ee = ap & 2 g 3 = = Ss a 

= é a |e le & = q aig 3s 

as ie Wr =2 an =f PY =a eS SUI ec eperesh 

R. deeffenbachii . .| 12°25)... .| 4°75} 3°25) 15 | 1:45) 1:5) -6 |... 2) 1°75)... 
R. philippensis ..| 12:0 | 17:5) 5:5 | 2°56 | 1°75) 1:6 | 1:5] -65 | 1-58) 2-0 | 1-65 
Ditca, youn, ... o). Oro le. - sine wee OT eer) 12d 48) 7 Ges 
R. modestus ....| 8°75) 8:5) 3:15] 1:15] 1-4 | 1-35) 1-0] °35) 1-11) 1-4 11:13 
IDiungoprclanolie As Sail GES) em bislinns ulleawe LT ae ON TO Ss) “OSes | ‘98 


| 
{ 
| 
| 
} 
| 
| 


Capt. Hutton on Rallus modestus of New Zealand. 351 


The bill is much more slender (see fig. 1), and longer in 
proportion to the size of the bird than in R. philippensis ; the 
wings are of an entirely different structure ; and the tail is very 
short and soft, and hidden by the coverts; the hind toe also 
ismuch more slender; and R. philippensis has no claw at the 
-end of the thumb. The sterna also show a great contrast, 
that of R. modestus beimg very short but comparatively broad 
(see fig. 2a), with the crest feebly developed, the furcula 
being almost obsolete, and the scapula making a slightly 
obtuse angle with the coracoid, as in Ocydromus* (see 
fig. 26); while that of R. philippensis resembles in form the 
sternum of Crex pratensis. 


Sternum and head of Rallus modestus. 


Two full-grown specimens and a chick of R. modestus have 
been obtained. The one from which the skeleton in the 
colonial museum was prepared was caught in March 1871. 
Dr. F. Knox, who prepared the skeleton, informs me that it 
was a female, and contained well-developed ova, and that he 
considered it an adult bird. The other specimen, the skin of 
which was sent to Dr. Buller, was caught by Mr. H. Travers 
on the 5th of January, 1872, together with a chick that was 
running with it. Mr. Travers informs me that both parent 
birds were with the chick, that no birds of other species were 
about, and that when he caught the chick it cried out, the 
mother then ran up, and he caught her also. The peculiar 
claw at the end of the thumb, as well as the general dimen- 


* The sternum, however, is much smaller in proportion to the size of 
the body in R. modestus than it is in Ocydromus. 
SER. I11.—VOL. III. 2C 


352 Capt. Hutton on Rallus Modestus of New Zealand. 


sions of the birds, are also conclusive evidence that the chick 

is the young of the older bird. The bird caught in March is of 

the same size as the one caught in January; and the plumage 

of both is identical. The chick has a greyish patch on each 

ear, the rest of the body beg covered with brownish-black 

down, under which feathers are beginning to come forth - 
similar in colour to those of the old bird; the quills have 

not yet begun to shoot. 

Now the bird caught in January must have been at least 
a year, and the one caught in March probably fourteen months 
old; yet neither of them shows any approach to the plumage 
of R. dieffenbachii, while both have the tarsi and feet much 
smaller, whereas the bill is nearly as long as in that species. 
But the dimensions given above show that the legs and feet in 
young Rails attain the same dimensions as in the the adult 
before the bill does; for the measurements given of the young 
R. philippensis are from a recently fledged specimen in the 
colonial museum, which, except in the head and neck, shows 
already a marked approach in colours to the adult, although 
the quills are not yet developed. 

Laying aside therefore all the generic differences between 
the two birds that I have pomted out, we must assume, if R. 
modestus is the immature R. dieffenbachii, that this species 
differs from its nearest allies, as well as from all other Rails, 
in the young not assuming any signs of the adult dress until 
it is more than a year old and has bred, also that the legs 
of the chick grow to the same size as those of the immature 
bird in about a month, and that growth then stops for at 
least a year or until the adult plumage commences to be 
acquired—any of which suppositions, I venture to think, 
not many ‘ competent ornithologists” will believe. For 
my part, I think the bird is quite entitled to form a sepa- 
rate genus. 

The weight of the bird is 1*4 ounce; it inhabits rocky 
places on the island of Mangare, one of the Chatham group. 
It is worthy of remark that the Morioris call this bird “ Ma- 
tirakahu,” whils the Maoris call R. dieffenbachii “ Mohoriki.” 

Wellington, N. Z., March 12, 1873. 


Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. 353 


—-XLI.—Notes on the Trochilide. The Genus Thalurania. 
By Ospert Satvin, M.A. &c., and D. G. Exxior, F.L.S., 
F.Z.S., &e. 


[Continued from page 279. ] 


THE genus Thaluraniais one of the most clearly distinguished of 
those composing the family of the Trochilidz ; and its members 
are always easily recognizable by the distribution of their 
colours, which exhibit great similarity among the species. 
Their geographical range is confined to the more tropical por- 
tions of America, no species extending south of the central 
provinces of Brazil, or reaching as far north as Nicaragua. 
Thalurania is essentially a lowland genus, none of the species 

being found in the higher mountain-ranges. The members 
of the genus are also forest-loving, and hence they are 
absent from the sterile regions of Western Peru. In Brazil 

T. glaucopis, T. eriphile, and T. wagleri are found, the 

second of these extending across the Amazonian valley to the 

head-waters as far as the eastern slopes of Columbia. Para 

gives us one species, the 7. furcatoides, barely distinguishable 

from the Cayenne bird, 7. furcata. Guiana produces, besides 

the last mentioned, the 7. watertoni, a rare and beautiful 

species. In Columbia the 7. colwmbica is found, which extends 

northwards through the Isthmus of Panama to Nicaragua. 

A single species, T. lucie, from the Tres Marias Islands, by 

far the most northern locality in which any member of the 

genus has been found, and as much out of its range as "Psit- 

tacula cyanopygia among the Parrots, has been described by 

Mr. Lawrence. The type is in the Smithsonian Institution, 

Washington. To the island of Trinidad a single species appears 

_restricted ; at least we have no knowledge of its occurrence 
on the mainland; it is the 7. refulgens. Another species, 
the T. nigrofasciata, ranges apparently through Ecuador and 
portions of Peru; and the T. hypochlora is also found in the 

former country, while Columbia is given as the habitat of 

T. lerchi. 
On carefully comparing the various birds composing the 


genus Thalurania, we find that eleven species can be fairly 
202 


. 


354. Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochildee. - 
distinguished, one of which, however, 7. lucie, appears 
somewhat doubtful; but beyond those given in the present 
paper, we see at present no grounds for maintaining other 
species. 

The genus Thalurania is apparently divisible into five sec- 
tions, with sufficient characters to enable each species to 
be readily referred to the one to which it properly belongs. 
The sections are :— 


A. Species with the top of the head purplish blue. 

B. Species with top of the head dull green. 

C. Species with top of head and back jet black. 

D. Species with top of head brilliant metallic green. 

K. Species with head and neck deep rich purplish blue. 


Division A. 
A. Species with entire underparts green. 


a’. “Bill entirely black ; thighs dark brown, 
tipped with white ; feet brown above, yel- 


Uaweloalowy” 293 Matas sae niet Ser Phat 1. 7. glaucopis. 
b'. “ Bill partly yellow; thighs nearly pure 
white; feet very pale” !!.............. 2. T. lucia. 
Pa pdOMeNn Prissian DIME gos. ayelse ess eee ae 3. T. columbica. 


Division B. 


Underparts rich purple. Tail much forked ...... 4. T. furcata, 
Underparts purplish blue. Tail slightly forked .. 5. 7. furcatoides. 
Wrderparts pmissian= ble eee. nena aes 6. T. nigrofasciata. 
Back blue, STail'deeply forked’ ©... 0... ea... 7. T. watertoni. 


Division C. 


Size large. Tail deeply forked; underparts prussian 
Leva ets ceee sata mantiore tesco sane ee oyere eee ase rere 8. 7. refulgens. 


Division D. 


Back green; underparts prussian blue............ 9. T. ertphile. 
Wuderparts green ©)... 0. banat aie 10. 2. hypeochlora. 


Division FE. 


Body brilliant metallic green. Tail forked ...... 11. 2 wagleri. 


Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. 355» 


1. THALURANIA GLAUCOPIS. 

Trochilus glaucopis, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i. p. 497. 

Thalurania glaucopis, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. ii. p. 99; 
Intr. Trochil. p. 76. 

Hab. Brazil. 

This well-marked species, one of the largest of this genus, 
is an inhabitant of Eastern Brazil, where it is apparently very 
common, — 

We have examined the following specimens :— 

Rio Janeiro: one (Youds), Mus. S.& G. Bahia: one 
(Wucherer), Mus. S.& G. Brazil: two, Mus. 8. & G.; two 
(ex Gould), Mus. D. G. E.; one (Verr.), Mus. P. L. S. 


+2. THALURANIA LUCIA. 

Thalurania lucie, Lawr. Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y. (1862), 
vol. vil. p. 2. 

Hab. Tres Marias Islands. 

Of this species we have never seen a second example, the 
type being in the collection of the Smithsonian Institu- 
tion. It is the most northern species of the genus—the 7. 
eriphile (venusta, Gould) having been, before the discovery 
of the present bird, always considered as going further north 
than any of its relatives, viz. to Nicaragua. According to 
Mr. Lawrence 7. lucie closely resembles T. glaucopis! the 
differences being that the Brazilian bird has “the bill en- 
tirely black, the covering of the thighs dark brown tipped 
with white, and the feet brown above and bright yellow 
below, whereas in the new species the bill is partly yellow, 
the thighs nearly pure white, and the feet very pale.” We 
should hardly consider the characters thus given by Mr. Law- 
rence sufficient to establish a species. * 


+-3. THALURANIA COLUMBICA. 

Ornismya columbica, Boure. & Muls. Rev. Zool. 1843, p. 2. 

Thalurania columbica, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. ii. pl. 106 ; 
Intr. Troch. p. 78. 

Thalurania venusia, Gould, P. Z. 8. 1850, p. 163; Intr. 
Troch. p. 78. 

Hab. Costa Rica, Veragua, and Columbia. 


356 Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. ~ 


With numerous specimens before us from all the different — 


localities, we do not find that the form named by Mr. Gould 
T. venusta is separable from the present bird. In the original 
description 7. venusta is compared to 7. furcata, from which 
it certainly differs. But the latter does not appear to be its 
closest ally. Mr. Gould describes his specimen of 7. venusta, 
from the volcano of Chiriqui, as having the head, neck, and 
back a “ beautiful shining ultramarine blue,” which renders 
it “unlike every other member of the genus. In specimens 
before us from Veragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, we do not 
find this coloration to exist, but, on the contrary, the back of 
the neck, behind the blue cap, and the upper portion of the 
back are black, precisely as in 7. columbica. There seems to be 
a slight variation in length of bill; but this is not confined to 
any particular locality, as we find examples from the same 
place possessing bills of different lengths; so that this can 
only be looked upon as an individual peculiarity. The range 
of the species seems to be from Nicaragua southward through 
the Isthmus of Panama into Columbia. 

We have examined the following specimens :— 

Costa Rica: three (Arcé), Mus. 8.& G. Veragua: five 
(A4rcé), Mus. S.& G.; one (Arcé), Mus. D.G.E. Panama: 
one (Arcé), one (Hughes), three (McLennan), Mus. 8.& G.; 
one (McLennan), Mus. P.L.S. Columbia: two (Stevens), 
three (Nelson), Mus. 8.& G.; three, Mus. D. G. E. 


4. THALURANIA FURCATA. 

Trochilus furcatus, Gmel. Syst. Nat. vol. 1. p. 486. 

Thalurania furcata, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. ii. pl. 101; 
Intr. Eroch. p. 77. 

Hab. Cayenne. 

This species, described long ago by Gmelin, is very distinct 
from all others of this genus. It is an inhabitant of Guiana, 
where it is very common, and hundreds of specimens are 
shipped annually to Europe. 

Our specimens are as follows :— 

Cayenne: one (Hdinburgh), Mus. P. L. S.; one (Gould), 
three (Verreaux), Mus. D.G. E.; three, Mus. S. & G. 


* 


Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. 307 


5. THALURANIA FURCATOIDES. 

Thalurania furcatoides, Gould, Intr. Mon. Troch. p. 77. 

Thalurania forficata, Cab. & Hein. Mus. Hein. p. 24, Th. i. 

Thalurania subfurcata, Heine, Journ. fiir Ornith. 1863, 
py lst. 

Hab. Paya. 

This is the Lower-Amazonian form of 7. furcata, and while 
closely resembling that species, apparently differs constantly 
in possessing a much shorter and less forked tail. In the dis- 
tribution of the colours of its plumage and their hues, it assi- 
milates closely to 7. furcata. 

We include among the synonyms of this species the T. sub- 
furcata of Heine, as we do not recognize any characters 
given by him in his description to lead us to consider it 
distinct from 7. furcatoides from the same locality. 

Para: one (Verr.), Mus. D.G. E. 


6. THALURANIA NIGROFASCIATA. 

Trochilus nigrofasciatus, Gould, P. Z.S. 1846, p. 89. 

Thalurania nigrofasciata, Gould, Mon.'Troch. vol.ii. pl. 104; 
Intr. Troch. p. 78. 

Thalurania tschudi, Gould, P.Z.8. (1860), p. 312; Intr. 
Troch. p. 78. 

Thalurania viridipectus, Gould, P. Z.S. 1848, »P- 13. 

Hab. Keuador and Peru. 

This species was first described by Mr. Gould in 1846 from 
specimens obtained in Ecuador. In 1860 Mr. Gould named 
a bird contained in the museum at Neuchatel, collected by 
Dr. Tschudi in Peru, 7. tschudii. Specimens of this form 
have also been procured by Mr. Hauxwell at Pebas, and by Mr. 
Bartlett at Chyavetas and Chamicuros; and Mr. Hauxwell 
has also sent from Pebas examples of 7. nigrofasciata. 'The 
chief difference between these forms, as stated by Mr. Gould, 
and which has induced him to give them each specific rank, 
is, that the green of the throat in 7. nigrofasciata is carried 
down upon the breast somewhat to a point, and surrounded 
by a narrow black band, while 7. ¢schudii has the throat-mark 
truncated in shape and destitute of a black band. That the 


358 Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. - 


black is not always present, however, is evidenced by the fact 
that Mr. Gould had named examples among his T. nigrofas- 
ciata destitute of this band, viridipectus. This mark therefore 
cannot be taken as an indication of specific value. The shape 
of the throat-mark also varies greatly in a number of indi- 
viduals ; and two are now lying before us, from Elliot’s col- 
lection, obtained by Mr. Bartlett at Chyavetas and Chami- 
curos respectively, of which the former has the green of the 
throat extending well down on the breast, with a slight indi- 
cation of black edging, while the latter has a square truncated 
mark destitute of any black band whatever. It would there- 
fore appear that these two forms cannot be separated speci- 
fically, but that the single species should stand as T. nigrofas- 
ciata, the name first applied to it by Mr. Gould, and that it 
extends through Ecuador into Peru. 

We have examined the following specimens :— 

Rio Napo: two (ex Gould), Mus. P. L.S.; one (ex Gould), 
Mus. D.G. E. Ucayali: one (er Gould), Mus. D. Gok: 
Ecuador: one (Buckley), Mus. 8. & G. Pebas, Peru: two 
(Haurwell), Mus.S.&G. Chamicuros: two (Bartlett), Mus. 
D.G.E. Chyavetas: two (Bartlett), Mus. D.G.E. Guiana, 
Oyapock : five (Verr), Mus. D. G. E. 


7. THALURANIA WATERTONI. 

Trochilus watertoni, Bourc. P. Z.8. 1847, p. 44. 

Thalurania watertoni, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. 1. pl. 100; 
Intr. Mon. Troch. p. 76. 

Hab. British Guiana. 

This very distinct species was described by Bourcier from 
a specimen in the Loddiges collection obtained by Mr. Water- 
ton on the Mibiri creek, near the river Essequibo. It is re- 
markable for its very long and deeply-forked tail. But few 
specimens of it'are known, and it still remains a desideratum 
to our collections. 


8. THALURANIA REFULGENS, Gould, P. Z. 8. 1852, p.9; id. 
Mon. Troch. vol. ii. pl. 102; id. Intr. Mon. Troch. p. 77. 

Hab. Trinidad. 

This bird, among the largest of this group, is apparently a 


Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. 359 


valid species, and seems restricted to the island of Trinidad, 
where it is not uncommon. It may probably also be found 
in Venezuela; but we have not seen any specimens from that 
country. 

Our specimens are :— 

Trinidad: one (Bourcier), one (Whitely), Mus. D. G. E. 


9. THALURANIA ERIPHILE. 

Ornismya eriphile, Less. Hist. Nat. Colibris, p. 148, pl. 25 

Thalurania eriphile, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. i. pl. 108 ; 
Intr. Mon. Troch. p. 79. 

Trochilus verticeps, Gould, Jard. Contr. Ornith. 1851, p. 79, 
pl..71. 

Thalurania verticeps, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. ii. pl. 107 ; 
Intr. Mon. Troch. p. 78 

Trochilus fannyi, Bourc. et Delatt. Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 310. 

Thalurania fannie, Gould, Intr. Mon. Troch. p. 78. 

Hab. Brazil, Ecuador, and Columbia. 

This species was described and figured by Lesson ‘in his 
‘Histoire Naturelle des Colibris’ from specimens obtained in 
Brazil ; and Mr. Gould gave to the same bird from Ecuador the 
name of verticeps. We say the same bird; for, with speci- 
ment from both localities before us, we are unable to detect 
any difference whatever between them, and therefore have no 
hesitation in placing Mr. Gould’s name as a synonym of eri- 
phile, bestowed upon the species by Lesson. It will probably 
be found to range from Brazil up the Amazonian valley into 
Keuador. 

In 1846 Messrs. Bourcier and Delattre described a bird 
from Columbia as 7. fannie. It is apparently inseparable 
from the present species. Mr. Gould compared a specimen 
from the “ Andes of Quindiu,” collected by Warscewicz, 
with Bourcier’s type, and found the only differences to be 
that Bourcier’s specimen was a little smaller, and the abdo- 
men purple-blue instead of cold prussian blue. Regarding 
these slight variations of no specific value, we have placed 
T. fannie among the synonyms of T. eriphile. 

Our specimens are :— 


360 Messrs. Salvin and Elliot on the Trochilide. - 


Brazil: one (Leadbeater), Mus. P.L.S.; one, Mus. 8.&G. ; 
one (Bourcier), one (Verr.), Mus. D.G.E. Ecuador: one 
(ex Gould), Mus. P. L. S.; two (ev Gould), Mus. 8S. & G.; 
two (Whitely), one (Bourcier), one (ex Gould), Mus. 
DG. E: 


10. THALURANIA HYPOCHLORA. 

Thalurania hypochlora, Gould, P. Z.S. 1870, p. 104. 

Hab. Citado, in Ecuador. 

This species was lately described by Mr. Gould from a 
single specimen brought from Ecuador by Mr. Buckley. It 
is very distinct, having T. eriphile for its nearest ally, but 
differing materially from it in having the underparts green 
instead of blue. 


4-]1. THALURANIA WAGLERI. 

Ornismya wagleri, Less. Hist. Nat. Ois. Mouch. pl. 203, 
pl. 73. one 

Thalurania wagleri, Gould, Mon. Troch. vol. ii. p. 109; 
Intr. Mon. Troch. p. 79. 

Hab. Brazil. 

This species may be at once distinguished from all the 
members of this genus by the male having the entire head 
and neck of a brilliant purplish blue. It is a native of 
Brazil. 

Our specimens are :— 

Brazil: one (e# Gould), Mus. 8S. & G.; one (Bourcier) , one 
(Sallé), one (Whitely), Mus. D.G. E. 


Besides the species above mentioned, there remain two 
others, on which we can give no opinion, These are :— 

(1) THALURANIA LERCHI. 

Thalurania lerchi, Muls. & Verr. Ann. Linn. Soc. Lyons 
(1868). 

Hab. Columbia. 

This bird was described by Messrs. Mulsant and Ver- 
reaux, in 1868. We have not seen the type, which we 
believe to be unique, and are unable to give any opinion 
regarding it. 


Mr. R. Swinhoe on Chinese Ornithology. 361 


(2) THALURANIA IOLEMA. 

Thalurania iolemus, Von Pelz. Ornith. Bras. p. 57. 

Hab. Ypanema, Brazil. 

Not having seen the type of this species, we are unable to 
form an opinion regarding it. 


XLII.—Notes on Chinese Ornithology. 
By Roserr Swinuog, F.Z.S. &c. 


Tue last good thing I got at Ningpo was a very fine female 
specimen of Ceryle lugubris, shot by a friend near a stream 
at the foot of the mountaims. The strangest part of the 
plumage of this bird is the pretty russet-coloured axillaries 
tinted like salted salmon. Curiously enough, Sharpe makes 
no mention of this in his ‘ Monograph of the Kingfishers,’ 
thereby leading me to consider I had got a new species, until 
I was put right by a reference to Jerdon’s ‘ Birds of India.’ 
In the monograph the Himalayan bird is described in the 
text as having brownish-black legs; but the plate shows them, 
together with the claws, of a tile-red. My specimen is smaller 
than the Nagasaki bird, whose measurements are given, 
though not so small as the Himalayan; and I agree with Mr. 
Sharpe that it is not possible to put the two birds apart. 

I have only seen Ceryle guttata up the country here on 
one or two occasions. It is fond of streams and canals flanked 
by trees and thick bushes, among which its sits watching for 
its prey. When disturbed it starts silently and flies down 
stream, keeping within a yard or so of the water. I have 
never seen it hover, like its congener, at a good height above 
the water. In fact, it more nearly resembles in manners the 
King of the Shrimps (Alcedo bengalensis) than any of our 
other species. 

Ceryle rudis is a very rare bird in Ningpo; and I have only 
seen it on one or two occasions. On the Yangtse it did not 
occur till we were nearly up in Szechuen, where the river was 
well south. 

I was relieved of my charge at Ningpo, and took up my 


362 Mr. R. Swinhoe on Chinese Ornithology. - 


residence in Shanghai on the 7th February. Here I shall 
remain till the middle of the month (April), when the weather 
will have sufficiently moderated in the north to allow of my 
going to my new post at Chefoo. In Shanghai, in spite of 
my paralytic infirmities,I have been able to get about on the 
wheelbarrows that serve the natives of the settlement for 
hansom-cabs. I take a wheelbarrow to market every other 
morning, and have done so for the whole two months I have 
spent in this very pleasant town. By this means I have 
studied the wild fowl which pass the shooting-grounds that 
provide the market, and have gained some tolerable additions 
to my collection. I had not been in Shanghai more than a 
week, when one sunny morning, with the thermometer at 
freezing-point, as I was passing under a group of willows which 
overhang the road, my attention was attracted by a strange 
noise overhead, and, looking up, I saw a party of Waxwings. 
There were about fifteen of them, sitting like Hawfinches 
about the trees, with ruffled plumage, as if nipped by the cold. 
They were all engaged in the chorus, which consisted of a 
series of jingling notes like the sound produced by tight pieces 
of metal shaken together, with a slight additional noise of 
sniffing. Is this the garrulousness indicated by the name 
Ampelis garrula? If so, the author of the name must have 
had a very sensitive ear. They flew away in small parties, 
those remaining continuing the song, until all had taken wing. 
On the 1st March I was delighted to see a number of them 
on a tree in wy own garden, dropping down on to the lilac 
trees and feeding on their black berries. I secured three 
specimens, two males and a female. These were tinged with 
soot-colour, like, but not so strongly as our Sparrows, which 
arises in these last from their habit of repairmg for warmth 
to the chimney-stacks on the tops of our houses. A Wax- 
wing, shot in the country, was given me which was free from 
such stain. I took down the following notes on my first three 
specimens :— 

Ampelis garrula, 6. Spee. A. Length 7°4 inches. Wing 
4-6; first quill -12 shorter than second, the longest, falls °87 
short of tip of tail, 1:6 longer than tip of tertiaries. Tail 


Mr. R. Swinhoe on Chinese Ornithology. 363 


2°5, of twelve nearly equal feathers ; under tail-coverts } inch 
short of tail-tip; upper tail-coverts ‘92 short of tail-tip. Six 
vermilion wax tips on each wing. 

B, 9. Length7-4inches. Wing 4°42, first quill °10 shorter 
than second. Yellow terminal spots on outer webs of quills 
pale and washed out. Five wax tips on left side, seven on the 
right. Slightly more yellowish on the belly. Under tail- 
coverts reach to end of tail. 

C, o. Length 7:2 inches. Wing 4:4, first and second 
quill equal and longest. Terminal quill-spots pale and mixed 
with white, but yellower than in B. Red wax tips, four on 
each side. Under tail-coverts reach to ‘14 from tip of tail. 

The sexes were determined by dissection. The stomachs 
contained seeds of berries, and a few larve of insects. The 
trachea of the male is larger and broader than that of the 
female. 

A look into ‘The Ibis’ for January 1873 takes me back 
for a few minutes to Ningpo. Mr. Blyth (page 80) speaks 
of the occurrence in India of both Rallus indicus and R. aqua- 
dicus. At Tientsin I got the former, as recorded in my last 
catalogue. I was therefore not a little surprised to get at Ning- 
po, on the 20th November, a veritable R. aguaticus. It was 
a male, with yellow iris and red bill, wanted the facial mark, 
and was of somewhat small size. 

On the 26th February I found a fine male specimen of the 
Solitary Snipe hanging up in the Shanghai market. As this 
is the first imstance of my procuring this species in China, I 
will give a short account of it. 

Gallinago solitaria, 3. Length 11°8 inches. Wing 6:3, 
reaching to 3 an inch of end of tail; first quill slightly longer 
than the second and longest, °3 longer than the longest ter- 
tiary. Tail 2°9; outer rectrix 1:35 shorter than centrals and 
about “12 broad; second rectrix rather broader and longer ; 
third double the breadth and about °22 longer ; fourth broader 
again, and -28 longer; fifth much broader than the last, and 
‘31 longer than the first or outer; the sixth and some five 
or seven others (number imperfect in the specimen) ordinary 
scolopacine tail-feathers. Bull from forehead 3 inches, from 


364 Mr. R. Swinhoe on Chinese Ornithology. 


gape 2°9, depth at base ‘38, colour yellowish brown, black on 
apical third, greenish at base. Lar large, °25 below eye in 
direct line. Tibia bare for *32; length of tarse 1:4, of mid- 
dle toe and claw 1°65; outer toe longer than inner; colour 
of toes yellowish brown strongly tinged with green; claws 
black. The black of the upper part of the plumage is glossed 
with purple. 

Dissection. Stomach oval, flattened at its sides, lined with 
a movable thick rugose epithelium, containing small young 
Vivipare and remains of freshwater insects. Intestines thin ; 
czeca at some distance from the anus, very long and bulging 
at ends as in G. scolopacina. 

The plumage of this specimen answers to the description in 
the ‘ Fauna Japonica’ of the Solitary Snipe, but differs in the 
colour of the rump, and in the want of bars on the tertiary 
quills. Ifthe authors of that work took their description from 
a Japanese specimen, then we must suppose that the species 
varies greatly. But I cannot help suspecting that the account 
is taken in fact from a Nepalese specimen as well, especially 
as Bonaparte separated the two birds. I must wait till I get 
more specimens; but I half believe that our bird is a con- 
species of the Himalayan, and will have to stand as G. ja- 
ponica, Bp. A friend from Ningpo, who was visiting me the 
other day, recognized the bird at once. He said he had shot 
them at Ningpo m winter. He has sprung them im retired 
places at the foot of the hills. When flushed they only fly a 
short distance and then drop. ‘They are so large that they 
are sometimes mistaken for Woodcocks. There was a pair 
in Pére David’s museum at Pekin. 

Snipes have been abundant in the market throughout my 
stay here; but G. scolopacina has been the only species. I 
have not detected a single G. horsfieldi. On the 4th April 
the first spring Snipes, G. megala, were offered for sale. 

Archibuteo aquilinus is a commoner bird here than Buteo 
japonicus ; I have procured two of the former to one of the 
latter. From the market I have also got Circus cineraceus, 
several of Accipiter nisus, and one young male Falco esalon. 
I find that Pére Heude’s new Hawk (see ‘Ibis,’ January, 


Mr. R. Swinhoe on Chinese Ornithology. 365 


p- 96) is nothing but this species in young plumage. The 
market-men are unfortunately given to cutting off the claws 
of rapacious birds, that they may pass together with Rooks 
Jackdaws, Blue Magpies, Laughing Thrushes, &c. &c. for 
gibier ; and if one is not sharp, one’s servants are apt to serve 
up as game some curious species. 

On the 26th March I was delighted to find a fine male 
specimen of Gould’s “ Post-horse Dotterel,” Hudromias ve- 
redus, in nearly complete summer plumage, hanging in the 
market. This was also the first specimen of this species that 
I had procured. Why it was so far advanced in summer suit, 
when Sand-plovers generally are so late in changing, I can- 
not make out, unless this species is an earlier breeder. I took 
down the following notes from the fresh bird :— 

Eudromias veredus, 6. Length 9 inches. Wing 6:4, ex- 
tending half an inch beyond the tail, and -7 longer than the 
tertiaries. Tail 2°45, of twelve nearly equal feathers, the two 
centrals -15 longer. Bull deep olive-brown, blacker on the 
terminal portion; length from forehead ‘98, from gape 1°25. 
Hyelids greyish black. Legs light brownish flesh-colour ; feet 
washed with grey, blackish on joints; claws black. Bare 
tibia 1 inch; tarse 2; middle toe ‘9, its claw 2. Throat and 
forehead pure white. Nape, eyebrow, and cheeks whitish, 
washed with buff and somewhat mottled and shaded with 
olive-brown. (In full nuptial plumage the whole head, except 
the crown, and neck become white ; at least this is so in Pére 
David’s specimen in museum at Pekin.) 

Dissection. Testes long ovate, about 4 imch long, and 
white. Czeca long, thickening at ends. Gizzard small and 
oval, with strong lateral muscles, containing only a few small 
whitish worms, fragments of small mollusk-shells, and a few 
small pebbles. | 

I have fortunately a fine pair of Hudromias asiaticus, kindly 
presented me by Dr. Leopold v. Schrenck, of St. Petersburg, 
to compare with my Shanghai bird. The Russian specimens 
are marked, the male in full summer plumage, “ shot June 
1853, on the river Syr-Parja,” and the female in winter 
plumage, “shot 30th January, 1858, on the river Syr-Parja.” 


366 Mr. R. Swinhoe on Chinese Ornithology. 


The female has shorter wings than the male, and longer toes. 
The labels bear the name Charadrius caspius, Pall., and I 
suppose the river named is somewhere near the Caspian Sea 
(I cannot find it on any map I have access to*). Both the 
Russian specimens have the basal white patch on the outer 
web of the remiges, so that there can be no doubt that Mr. 
Harting is right, and Dr. O. Finsch, wrong in their iden- 
tifications of two species (‘ Ibis, 1870, p. 201, and 1872, 
p- 146). The Russian bird is the true C. astaticus of Pallas. 
The characters given by Dr. Finsch for discriminating the 
species are excellent, except that he has guessed the colour of 
the legs of our bird from a dried skin. Neither of the illus- 
trations to Mr. Harting’s paper on these Charadrii (‘ Ibis, 
1870, p. 201) gives the complete summer plumage; and the 
colour of the legs of his Eudromias veredus is of course also an 
unfortunate guess. The pale collar round the neck, and the 
white wing-spot, both of which are unaccountably omitted, 
would in a drawing be far better distinctive characters. Where 
Mr. Harting found my authority for the occurrence of the 
western representative in “ Northern China,” I am unable to 
divine. Such an error ought to have been corrected long ago. 
Out of our China list should be expunged the “ White-eye,” 
or “ Ferruginous” Duck, Atthya ferina; for I now find that 
I took for it a female of Baer’s Duck, Fulix baeri, and with- 
out sufficient scrutiny admitted the species. In spite of Mr. 
G. R. Gray, who insisted that it was a cross between Anas 
boschas and Fulix cristata, Baer’s Duck turns out to be a 
good species; but it is by no means common, for I have only 
found four males and two females in the market. In my 
description of the male in P. Z.S8. 1871, p. 419, I have given 
“‘ oreater wing-coverts white.” It should be ‘secondaries 
white.” And in the line above, where the head and neck are 
stated to be “black reflecting deep green,’ “and purple” 
should be added. The description is otherwise correct; but 
it is as well to mention that the vent is pure white, and the 
abdomen mottled across with brownish, and that in all my 
specimens, both male and female, the angle of the chin is 


* Should not the name be Syr-Daria 7.e. the Jaxartes P—P. L. 8. 


Mr. R. Swinhoe on Chinese Ornithology. 367 


white, showing a distinct spot. As I have not before given 
dimensions, I will do so now :— 

Fuliz baert (Radde), ¢. Length 18°5inches. Wing 8°25; 
first quill -1 longer than second, and largest. Tail 3-0, of four- 
teen stiff feathers, pointed, and nearly uniformly graduated, 
outer °82 shorter than centrals. Wing falls 1°75 short of 
tail-tip. Bill from forehead’s protruding angle 1:45, to gape 
2; uniform breadth ‘82. Small piece of tibia bare; tarse 
1:48; middle toe and claw 2°45. In this specimen the head 
and neck are deep black reflecting purple, with a patch of 
deep chestnut on each side of crown. 

Fuliz baerit (Radde), 9. Length 17°5 inches. Wing 7:7 
from flexure to tip, 1:2 longer than tertiaries, 1°5 short of 
tail-tip. Tail 2°8, much graduated; laterals ‘9 shorter than 
centrals ; under tail-coverts ‘95 shorter than tail-tip, upper 
tail-coverts 1:1] shorter. Bull 1:55 to forehead, 2 to rictus; 
height at base *78; breadth -90, alittle narrower at base, and 
darker in colour than in the male. ‘Tibia bare at joint; tarse 
1:5; middle toe and claw 2-4. 

Head and neck blackish brown with dull reflections; a 
patch of reddish brown on each side at base of bill; chin 
white mottled with reddish brown. Breast yellower and 
more diluted than in male, the colour not reaching down so 
low. Flanks brown. The rest as in male, but duller. 

The commonest diving Duck in the market has been the 
Crested Duck (Fulix cristata), then Baer’s Duck, then the 
Scaup (F. marila), and lastly the Golden-eye (Bucephala clan- 
gula). A few Velvet Scoters, Hidemia fusca, were offered. I 
bought an adult male, and was surprised to find what a large 
and hugely muscular stomach it had, containing bits of thick 
bivalve shells. A Meretrix, one inch in width, was in its ceso- 
phagus. I have not seen a single Black Duck, neither @. 
nigra, nor Ci. americana. The latter is the species the Rus- 
sians have sent me from the Aleutian Isles, though they call 
it Gi. nigra. They do not distinguish the two conspecies. 

The ordinary wild Ducks of the market have been the Mal- 
lard, the Yellow-nib (A. zonorhyncha), the Teal, the Shoveller, 
the Pintail, the Widgeon, the Falcated Teal, and the Spectacle- 

SER. I1I.—VOL, Il. 2D 


368 Mr. R. Swinhoe on Chinese Ornithology. 


Teal (Eunetta falcata and E. formosa), all about equally com- 
mon. The Gadwall is sometimes exposed, but may be called 
a somewhat rare Duck. It was not till nearly the end of 
March that I saw the first Garganey ; and then they became 
the commonest species in the market. The Sheldrake I saw 
only on one or two occasions. The Mandarin Duck is also 
brought for sale, but oftener alive than dead. Other Ducks 
are very seldom brought alive; and I could not induce the 
marketmen to get me live samples of the species I sought, 
though I offered tempting prices for them. The females of 
the Pintail and the Widgeon rarely have the male-like specu- 
lum on the wing—a fact which is not noted in Yarrell’s 
‘ British Birds.’ 

Of Geese Anser albifrons has been the commonest, then A. 
segetum, then A. cygnoides (ferus). A. cinereus and A. ery- 
thropus did not show at all. I found them last year in the 
early winter. There have been also only afew Swans (Cygnus 
bewicki), and no Cranes, but two or three Bustards (Otis 
tarda). 

In the first week in April the market was cleared of game 
by order of the Municipal Council; so now a few shore-birds 
are all that one sees hanging up in a stall here and there. 
Of these the most numerous have been the Dunlin, next the 
large Stint (Tringa crassirostris), and then the Knot (7. ca- 
nutus), all in more or less summer plumage. The Limosa 
uropygialis has also been brought in large numbers, some in 
the unspotted winter coat, some with zigzag bands on the 
underparts, apparently the intermediate plumage of early 
spring, and some with bright yellowish-red underparts. The 
males differ from the females in their much smaller size and 
much shorter bills. I subjoin the measurements of the two :— 

Limosa uropygialis, Gould, 3. Length 15:25 inches. Wing 
9, surpassing tail by 4 an inch, 1} longer than tertiaries. Tail 
3°25, °9 longer than upper tail-coverts, *2 longer than under 
tail-coverts, 1:1 shorter than tip of toe extended backwards— 
of twelve rectrices, all equal, except the two centrals, which 
are ‘2 longer than the rest. Bill recurved, 3:1 from forehead, 
1:25 from gape; basal portion flesh-coloured tinged with grey, 


Mr. R. Swinhoe on Chinese Ornithology. 369 


blackish brown on more than apical half. Bare part of tibia 
12; tarse 2°25; middle toe and claw 1:42; colour greyish 
black, whitish on reticulations. 

Limosa uropygialis, Gould, 2. Length 18 inches. Wing 
9°6, surpassing tail by ‘6; 1:4 longer than tertiaries. Tail 
3°6, 1:9 short of tip of toe. Bill recurved, 4°85 from fore- 
head, from gape 4°93; colour olive-grey, flesh-colour near 
base, blackish brown on culmen and for greater part of length. 
Bare tibia 1:25; tarse 2°5; middle toe and claw 1°7. 

Dissection of female. Mass of small eggs. Czea ‘9 from 
anus,.nearly equal, ‘6 long, uniformly thin and somewhat 
pointed. False caecum twice as thick, curled, also ‘6 long, 
10°50 inches from anus. Intestine 12°75 inches long. Giz- 
zard of an irregular heart-shape, with ‘9 of proventriculus ; 
length 1:4, breadth -9; epithelium bright indian yellow, 
containing a few flat flask-shaped small seeds of some shore- 
plant. 

Of the other Godwit, Limosa brevipes, G. R. Gray, I have 
seen but one specimen, and that a male, picked up on the 
28th March. Its neck is washed with reddish, and its under- 
parts obscurely barred. I give my note from the fresh bird. 

Limosa brevipes, G. R. Gray, g. Length 15°50 inches. 
Wing 7:4, reaching to end of tail, ‘68 longer than tertiaries. 
Tail 3:1, °95 longer than upper tail-coverts, ‘25 than lower 
tail-coverts, 2°75 short of tip of toes extended backwards—of 
twelve rectrices, the two outer on each side and the two cen- 
trals being 15 longer than the rest. Iris deep brown. Bill 
straight, from forehead 3°7, same length from gape; under 
mandible -2 shorter than upper; colour blackish brown on 
apical third, the rest pale yellowish brown. Bare tibia 1:48 ; 
tarse 2°7; middle toe 1:4, its claw ‘5, curved outwards and 
broadly pectinated; colour olive-black, with pale reticu- 
lations. 

Dissection. Trachea simple with close-set narrow rings. 
Intestines large and watery, with thick pointed ceca, right 
one longer than left, which is about °78 long, and about -7 
from anus; too far gone to seek for the false cecum or to 
measure length. Gizzard an irregular oval about 1°35 long 

202 


370 Mr. R. Swinhoe on Chinese Ornithology. 


by 1:1 broad, with strong lateral tendons, epithelium dark, 
containing bits of silica and a few small white worms. 

Of Sandpipers I have met with from time to time one or 
two specimens of the following :—Tringoides hypoleucus, To- 
tanus fuscus, T. calidris, T. ochropus, and T. glareola. The 
T. brevipes has not appeared. _ 

The Great Stint differs more in point of size between the 
sexes than perhaps any other Stint. The female is also less 
spotted on the underparts than the male at this season ; and 
red feathers are appearing on the backs of both, like those seen 
on that of Tringa cinclus on the approach of summer. I have 
the following jottings on the two sexes :— 

Tringa crassirostris, T.&8., 6. Length 10°5 inches. Wing 
7, surpassing tail by °2, and tertiamies by °7. Tail 2°85, of 
twelve rectrices, the two centrals exceeding the rest by °1. 
Bill from forehead 1°78, from gape the same ; colour olive- 
black, browner near base of lower mandible. ‘Tibia bare for 
‘7; tarse 1:55; middle toe 1 inch, its claw °25; colour yel- 
lowish olive-grey, blackish grey on toes, with black claws. 

Tringa crassirostris, T. & S., 2. Length 11°25 inches. 
Wing 7-4, first quill the longest, -28 longer than second, half 
an inch longer than the tail, 1-1 longer than the tertiaries. 
Tail 3°15. Bill 1:73. Tarse 1:43; middle toe 1 inch, its 
claw °25. 

Dissection of male. Trachea simple with narrow close rings. 
Testes, one *2 long, the other very minute, both pure white. 
Czeca situate } an inch from anus, unequal in length, the 
larger ‘8 long, broad at base, tapering to a point. The false 
cecum about 9°50 from anus, curled, -4 long, °15 thick at 
base, ending in a point. Intestine thick and white, 24 inches 
long. Gizzard 1:3 long by ‘9, oval, and flattish at the sides, 
with powerful tendons, empty, with a thick yellowish epi- 
thelium. 

The market of Shanghai, carefully watched the winter 
through, would yield a fine collection of Chinese sea-birds. 
It is not supplied from the lakes of the interior, but from the 
neighbouring sea-coast, and especially, I am told, from the 
mud flats outside the sea-wall that girts the city of Fung Hien 


Mr. R. Swinhoe on Chinese Ornithology. 371 


on Hangchow Bay, with which there is direct canal communi- 
cation from this. 

Before leaving Shanghai for the present, it would be as well 
to say a few words on the birds that frequent her gardens 
during the winter. ‘The commonest resident is of course the 
little House-Sparrow (Passer montanus),as familiar and as noisy 
as its congener at home, and certainly as dingy and as soot- 
bedaubed as its cousin of London. It roosts and breeds under 
the eaves of houses as elsewhere; and I cannot say that I can 
detect from recollection any difference between the manners 
and notes of the two species. The bird of the gardens is the 
large variety of the Green Bulbul (/vos sinensis), with its rich 
loud notes. It feeds on the berries of the many cultivated 
bushes in winter, cats insects In summer, and breeds in as 
exposed places as the Hedge-Sparrow in England. The 
“Family Bird” (Munia acuticauda) is the next common, 
chirping and swinging its tail violently from side to side as 
it peers at you from the branches above. They build their 
large round nests in the evergreens, usually about 20 feet from 
the ground, in which the parent birds roost the winter through. 
A pair are building a nest in a creeping-rose over my veranda. 
They have been a week at it, and it is now all but finished. 
The Tomtit (Parus minor) is singing out lustily his double 
love-note, very like that of his large brother (P. major) at home, 
as all his other notes are also. He has been here all the win- 
ter, and will no doubt stay to breed. You find him in most 
of the gardens. Picking about at the roots of bushes may be 
seen an occasional Thrush (Twrdus pallens) and the little winter 
Blue-tail Robin (lanthia cyanura) ; but the Blackbird seldom 
enters the town, and it is only now and then that you see a 
pair of Magpie Robins chasing and screeching after each 
other*. A Blue Magpie (Cyanopolius cyanus) or a Shrike 


* A Magpie has its nest in a large tree in the compound of a mercantile 
firm. The same birds and the same nest infested a tree in a garden a few 
doors off, where the birds reared their young from year to year until last 
year, when a cat destroyed the progeny. The birds carried away the 
nest twig by twig and set up on the tree which they now occupy. Swal- 
lows have been here since the beginning of this month, and are looking 
up their last year’s nests in the rafters of the Chinese shops. 


O72 . Mr. P. L. Sclater on Additions to 


(Lanius schach) sometimes shows itself, with a crowd of small 
birds crying after it; and among the Sparrows of the road 
you occasionally see an odd Bunting (Emberiza spodocephala) 
or two. On the trees of some of the larger inclosures I have 
noted, when cold, Bulfinches, Hawfinches, Mountain-Finches, 
Redpolls, and Hophona melanura, and, as I have mentioned, 
Waxwings, sometimes also an odd party of Bottle-Tits (Me- 
cistura glaucogularis) and Suthora webbiana. But the country 
around, with its alluvial soil, its cultivated lands, and tall- 
growing willows and other trees encircling villages and ceme- 
teries, abounds im all the birds that frequent the level country 
of this latitude of China, and affords quite a contrast to the 
flat land about Ningpo, with its marine soil and stunted vege- 
tation. The Chinese Rook (Corvus pastinator), which im 
Ningpo is a winter visitant only, remains about Shan- 
ghai; and to my delight I have just discovered a rookery a 
few miles out of town, at the lounge at the end of the Bub- 
bling-Well Road, the great evening drive of this place. The 
Rooks are building on the tall Salisburia trees about the 
temple. One tree has as many as nine nests. This is the 
first year of the establishment. 


Shanghai, 14th April, 1873. 


XLIII.—Additions to the List of Birds of Nicaragua. 
By P. L. Scuater. 


In ‘The Ibis’ for last year (p. 311), Mr. Salvin has given us 
a valuable article on the birds of Nicaragua, based principally 
upon the collections of Mr. Thomas Belt, lately resident at 
the gold-mines of Chontales. Mr. Belt has recently asked me 
to determine for him the specimens in another small collection 
which he has made in the same district. As this contains ex- 
amples of several species not reprsented in the former series, 
I have thought it desirable to record their names, in order to 
complete our knowledge of the ornithology of this interesting 
district as far as possible. 2 
These additional species are :— 


C2 
2 
os 


the List of Birds of Nicaragua. 


-—-]. Troeiopytes rurvus (Gm.). 
2. Eupnonta minuta, Cab. 
_, 3+Gurraca cH@Rutea (Linn.). 
4, Pyreisoma LEucoTis (Cab.). 
5. Ictervs pectorauis, Wagl. 
+6. IcrERus GiRAuDI, Cassin. 
7. CYANOCITTA MELANOCYANEA (Hartl.). 
(8. SYNALLAXIS PupDICcA, Scl. 
_ 49. Mytoprus suLPpHuREiPyetvs, Sel. 
/10. Tyrannus MELANCHOLICcUs (Vieill.). 


(11, Prruys sicotor, Lawr. 


_j-12. GRALLARICULA PERSPICILLATA, Lawr. 

}13. Eumomorta supercitiaris (Jard. et Selb.). 
414. HEeRPETOTHERES CACHINNANS (Vieill.). 
15. GLaucipium PHALANoIDES (Daud.).! 
).16. Tiarisoma caBantsi, Heine. 

_j-17. Porzana concotor (Gosse). 


Most of these seventeen species are well-known forms preva- 
lent throughout Central America. But it may be remarked 
that the occurrence of Cyanocitta melanocyanea and Humo- 
mota superciliaris so far southis new tous. The former does 
not seem to present any point of distinction from Guatemalan 
specimens. But the Humomota differs slightly from my skins 
of this bird (obtained in Guatemala and Honduras) in having 
the green colour much paler both above and below, and the 
chestnut of the back and belly lighter and of a more buffy 
tinge. 

There remains, however, still much to be done to complete 
our knowledge of the avifauna of Nicaragua, and it is very 
desirable that some one should continue Mr. Belt’s inves- 

. tigations. 


4 


374 Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. 


XLIV.—WNotes on Birds observed at Para. By ¥. L. Layarn, 
Esq., H.B.M. Consul—With Descriptions of two new 
Species. By P. L. Scuater. 


(Plates XIV. & XV.) 


Tux collection on which these notes are founded was got to- 
gether chiefly in my early morning walks, from sunrise to 9 
o’clock or a little later. It was commenced at the end of 
June 1872, and therefore only includes such: birds as I could 
get during the dry season; this terminates in December. 
Last year our rains began about the 15th January, and up to 
the date on which I write (January 28th) have been pretty 
continuous. Some fine days have certainly intervened ; and 
then the temperature has been lovely, and the early mornings 
in the forest inexpressibly delightful. Now, however, the 
early mornings break with the sun behind clouds, and the 
forest is wet and heavy with mist, while underfoot it is mire 
up to one’s ancles. Of course in case of the least brush through 
the bushes in search of a wounded bird, you are drenched 
from head to foot. 

Mr. Hayes, an American gentleman, who, though not a 
naturalist, is very observant of the ways of birds &c., told me 
that all the large fruit-eating birds, Parrots, Toucans, &c., 
come up from the southward at the end of December, or be- 
ginning of January, fleemg before the rainy season, and 
return in a similar manner from the north about June, 
when the dry season sets in. This I have found to be the 
case, as I daily see flocks of Parrots pass high overhead, my 
attention being directed to them by their shrill cries. Tou- 
cans, except the two small Aracaris sent, I have not yet seen. 
These the natives do not call ‘ Toucans,” but “ Aracari,”’ 
confining the former appellation to those species with the 
large bills. 

I fancy this (January) must be the spring of the year, as 
all the trees are getting their new bright-green foliage, and I 
see very many birds are breeding, though such a thing as 
finding a nest is next to impossible. 

With few exceptions very little can be learnt of the habits 


Mr. KE. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. 375 


of birds in this country. It is singular how barren of life the 
forests really are, and the paucity of individuals, as compared 
with species, is likewise remarkable. I have shot almost every 
thing I have seen, and skinned most of them; and yet, to the 
215 specimens sent, there are 115 species. Then, too, the 
gloom in the forest is so great that rarely can you tell what 
bird you see and fire at, till it is actually in yourhand. The 
most gaudy species appears simply a dark opaque body against 
the semitransparent tapestry of green. You fire, dodge round 
the smoke, which always hangs in the bushes, just in time to 
see a body heavier than a leaf fall to the thick carpet of Ly- 
copodium and other low shrubs. You mark the exact leaf it 
struck in its fall, cut your way into the spot, and in three 
instances out of five don’t find your bird!! The least mistake 
of a leaf where all are so similar, the least struggle of your 
prize, and you may as well “hunt for a needle in a pottle of 
hay.” Only as late as yesterday I shot a fine Hawk close to 
my house; my servant and myself saw it fall, and marked the 
place accurately ; but we hunted in vain for it for more than an 
hour, climbing the bushes, shaking them, and questing about 
like hounds, but all to no purpose. I have saved my chickens 
from the marauder, but would willingly give him a couple 
(though they are 4s. 6d. or 5s. a piece) for his maw, if I could 
bring him to life, and have another chance at him! 

Under these circumstances how can the habits of our fea- 
thered friends be studied? In this neighbourhood there are 
no open spaces, all is forest-clad. On the 21st inst., how- 
ever, I paid a visit to a Fagenda some 10 miles up the river 
Acard, the next stream to the Guama. Just below the house 
was an open swampy piece of ground; and here for the first time 
I saw a flock of Plovers, probably Hoplopterus cayanus, and a 
Snipe (Scolopax frenata?). Iregret to say that my companion 
failed in getting the first, and that I missed the second. 

On the voyage I was much struck with the absence of life 
along the river’s banks; with the exception of a solitary 
small white Heron and a pair of Swallows (Progne chalybea), » 
we did not see a single bird. The tide was low, and the mud 
banks extended some distance ; not a wader tenanted them. 


376 = Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. 


The forest came down to the tidal range; not a Kingfisher or 
Jacamar flashed in the sunlight from spray or tree-top! How 
different from the animation of such a spot in Ceylon, the east 
coast of Africa, or even the Cape of Good Hope ! 

Another thing strikes meas singular; the Gulls and Terns 
are conspicuous by their absence! Here is a splendid reach 
of water several miles wide, extending right down to the sea, 
about ninety miles; and yet not a Gull or a Tern has been 
visible on it, to my knowledge, the whole time I have been 
here! I always look out anxiously for a sight of their lovely 
soft grey colours, but in vain | 

(June 20, 1873) I had written thus far and packed my spe- 
cimens and notes for transmission to England, when I received 
instructions to return home immediately, in order to proceed 
to take charge of the British Consulate in the Fiji Islands, 
where I shall probably be before this article reaches my 
brethren of the B. O. U. Of course I brought home my own 
collection, and now have to thank Mr. Sclater for his kind- 
n «3 in identifying my specimens*. 

It is singular that at the moment of embarkation I should 
have seen two new birds to add to my list, namely a Swallow 
(Hirundo albiventris) and a Tern (Phaethusa magnirostris ?). 


1. Turpus pHxopyeus, Cab. 

Shot from a small flock of perhaps half a dozen individuals 
that flew across an open road in the forest, the Strada Bra- 
ganza. Stomach contained seeds. I could not make out the 
sex, but fancied it a d. 


2. Turpus rumieatus, Licht. 

Kept as singing birds in cages, called “‘Sabia”’ by the people. 
Found in the neighbourhood of Para. Feeds on berries. Shot 
one Ist October, 1872. 

26th January, 1873. I daily hear a bird singing in the early 
morning, with a note just like the European Thrush. I am 
told this is the “Sabia;” and though I have not myself seen 
it singing, I have no doubt that this is really the songster 
that produces the only music I have heard in the forest. 

* The names and arrangement used are those of the new Nomenclator 
Avium Neotropicalium.—P, L. 8. 


Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. — 377 


3. Donacosius arricaPiLuus (L.). 

A pair of these curious birds were shot by me on the 21st 
of January, 1873, at a farm some ten miles from Para, up the 
river Acaré. ‘They had a clear loud piping whistle, and fre- 
quented dense bushy swamps, where I saw several more. 
Stomachs contained insects. 

4, TrocLopytres rurvus (Gm.). 

Generally seen in pairs, creeping along fences and chasing 
each other through the orange-trees in my garden. It is 
a noisy, restless bird; and its song and actions at once re- 
minded me of the European Wren. I once killed this species 
from the summit of a high tree at the side of a forest-road ; but 
this was the only instance where I saw it ascend to any height. 


, 


+5. Vireosyivia ourvacea (L.). 

This solitary specimen was shot from a tree in flower; and 
the stomach was full of the comminuted petals and other por- 
tions of the flowers. 


6. Hytorninus semicineregus, Sel. & Salv*. i» 
Shot in the forest. Stomach contained insects and berri. :. 


+-7. PRogne cuatyBra (Gm.). 

I first saw this large Swallow on Christmas-day. A little 
flock of them were flying to and out ofa hole in a hollow tree 
in the square near my house ; some of them carried dry grass 
bents, apparently, and portions of soft lichens gathered from 
trees. Onthe 28th I shot one, a 2 , with the ovaries much dis- 
tended. No others were about that day ; but I subsequently 
procured them in the same locality, and at a farm-house near 
Para. They perch readily and habitually on trees. 


+. 8. STELGIDOPTERYX RUFICOLLIS (Vieill.). 

This Swallow is not uncommon; but, except in a few favoured 
localities in the town, I never saw it in any numbers together. 
It feeds on minute flies, and perches readily on trees. It is 
certainly resident in Para all the year round, though it is 
very scarce from September to December, on the 27th of 
which month I procured a pair, d¢ and @, after noting their 
absence since September. 

* This rare species was originally described from specimens obtained by 
Mr. Wallace in the same district, see P, Z.8, 1867, p, 570,—DP. L. 8. 


378 Mr. E. L. Layard on Bards observed at Para..- 


9. Hirunpo aLBiventRIs, Bodd. 

As I was going off to the steamer to embark for England, a 
pair of Swaliows (which I at once recognized in Mr. Sclater’s 
collection as of this species) flew about our boat for some time, 
and gave me every opportunity of observing them closely. 


+10. Hirunpo erytHroegastra, Bodd. 

This species keeps about the church-towers in the town of 
Para, and never seems to go into the country. I did not, there- 
fore, secure one ; but I am satisfied of its identity from seeing 
specimens in Mr. Sclater’s cabinet. 


11. Dacnis cayana (L.). 

A few specimens of this lovely species were procured in 
different parts of the forest; their stomachs contained vege- 
table matter and insects. 


12. Creresa cyanea (L.). 

Native name for 9 ‘ Spirito Santo.” 

These lovely birds are found generally scattered from fruit- 
to forest-trees. I am told they only make their appearance 
in the early morning or after sun-down. They are not un- 
common, and a fine male shot by me on the 16th of October 
was evidently under the breeding-influence. Stomach con- 
- tained insects. 


13. Crrepa cHruea (L.). 

Two of these lovely little birds, both males, were shot on 
the blossoms of an “ Ingah” tree in my neighbour’s garden, 
in company with Dacnis cayana. Their stomachs contained 
comminuted flowers. The ¢ showed the breeding-ctopy7 to 
an immense extent. I obtained the 2 in a grove of Urania 
trees near Charmont ; but the species is rare. 


14. CurtHroLa cHLoRopyGa, Cab. 

This little Creeper is not uncommon in gardens; but I never 
saw it in the forest. A pair made a domed nest in an orange- 
tree close to my window, in July, but deserted it. They 
completed it in three days; it was lightly built, being quite 
transparent, and composed of grass bents dry. They feed on 
insects. 


Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. — 379 


15. Evpnonia vioracea (L.). 
Shot up the Acara river, about ten miles from Paré; its 
stomach contained mucilaginous seeds. 


16. Evpnonia cayana (L.). 
Shot in a deserted garden (August 4th). Stomach con- 
tained seeds. 


17. TaANAGRELLA VELIA (L.). 

I shot this pretty species feeding on the dark purple berries 
of a forest-tree left in some cleared land. Another, probably 
a d, was in company with it, but it flew off to the forest 
(October 16th, 1872). These are the only two I have seen ; 
they must be rare. 


18. CALLIsTE FLAVIVENTRIS (Vieill.). 
One or two specimens procured round Pard, frequenting 
high trees, on the seeds of which they were feeding. 


19. TanaGra Episcopus, L. . 

These birds fly in small flocks of five or six individuals, 
feeding on berries, seeds, insects, and such like. They breed 
about July or August, to judge from the testes of the ¢ killed, 
and are not at all uncommon and widely distributed. 


20. TANAGRA PALMARUM (Max.). 
Shot from a forest-tree, 16th October. Stomach contained 
purple berries. 


21. Rampuoca@vs sacapa (L.). 

Common in all gardens and open places overgrown with 
Solanum (such as the Travessas, or cross roads) about Para. 
Feeds on seeds and berries; breeds, I think, about June and 
July, from the young birds procured. 

Its native name is “ Pipill,” from the cry. It is the com- 
monest of all our birds, and oftenest falls a victim to the gun, 
being shot by mistake for other species. 


22, TACHYPHONUS MELALEUCUS (Sparm.). 
Shot in my garden at Nazaré, 27th Nov., 1872. Stomach 
contained insects and seeds. 


380 Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. - 


23. ARREMON SILENS (Bodd.). 

Shot in a Travessa overgrown with Solanum (7th Dec.). 
Stomach contained small seeds. A second specimen (male) 
afterwards shot in the forest. 


24. SaLTaTorR MAGNUS (Gm.). 
Several specimens procured in the forest, feeding on pur- | 
ple berries in the month of September. 


25. ORyzoBorvus ? 

Shot in an old piece of cleared land fast returning to forest. 
In the stomach were a number of grass-seeds. 

The specimen procured is a female of some species of this 
genus, probably O. crassirostris, but, not being in good order, 
cannot be identified with certainty. 


26. SpermMopHita minvtTaA (L.). 

This pretty little species frequented the long grass in my 
garden at Nazaré, in conjunction with the other little Spermo- 
phile; but it is scarce and very difficult of approach. It 
efeeds on the grass-seeds. 


- 27. SPERMOPHILA GUTTURALIS (Licht.). 

These little Finches are common on all cleared lands and 
gardens, feeding on grass-seeds. ‘Two or three are generally 
found together; and in my garden at Nazaré a considerable 
flock of them inhabit the grass in front of my windows. They 
climb up the stalks to devour the seeds. 

A single rather large white egg was brought to me as the 
egg of this species ; it was found in my garden in December. 


28. VoLATINIA JACARINA (L.). 

A large flock of these birds frequented the long grass in 
my garden at Nazaré, feeding on the seeds, for which they 
climb up and cling to the long stalks. I see many old couples 
feeding their young ones (which resemble the female in colour); 
so the breeding-season must be nearly at its close. The skins 
of these little birds are extremely tender, rendermg them very 
difficult to preserve. 

29. CorypHosrrneus cristatus (Gm.). 

Shot in a deserted garden on some low shrubs. Stomach 
empty. August 5th, 1872. 


Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. 381 


30. CoTURNICULUS MANIMBE (Licht.). 

These Linnets are generally seen in pairs, hopping about 
in the grass or in the road in front of my house. They devour 
grass-seeds and insects, and are very expert in catching the 
latter, darting at them like Wagtails. I feel sure I have seen 
these birds walk as well as hop. 


31. Ostinors viripis (Bodd.). 

Procured in the neighbourhood of Para by Sefi. Penna 
and presented to me. I also saw it once on the wing (a small 
party of three) near the Strada Braganza. 


32. CAssiIcUSs AFFINIS, Sw. 

Not uncommon in certain localities about Para, breeding 
in companies and forming long bag-shaped nests hanging from 
the branches of trees. They are very noisy near their nesting- 
places ; and their voices are very harsh and loud. Their food 
is berries. 

An egg, taken from a tree on which this and the next were 
building in company, was a bluish white speckled with black. 


33. Cassicus Ppersicus (L.). 

The “ Japim” is abundant round Para, nesting in commu- 
nities, and forming large purse-shaped structures. I have 
seen them nesting from early July to November. The bird 
has a strong disagreeable smell, which clings to the skin after 
preservation. It feeds on fruits, berries, seeds, Indian corn, 
and such hike. Its call is very loud and uttered on the wing 
as well as,when the bird is resting. It is a very active, rest- 
less creature, always on the move. Its eggs are large, bluish 
white, blotched, spotted, and streaked with dark brown (black). 


34. IcreRus croconotus (Wagl.). 
I shot a specimen of this, bird, the only one seen ; but it fell 
into the river and I could not secure it. 


35. LEIsTES GUIANENSIS (L.). 
Procured by Sefior Penna in the neighbourhood of Para ; 
but I never saw it alive. 


36. ToprRostRUM MACULATUM (Desm.). 
The only specimen procured of this species I shot on the 


382 Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. 


18th of September, 1872. Its stomach contained a large 
seed, or berry, swallowed whole. 


37. CoLorTERUs GALEATUS (Bodd.). 

Shot on the 4th of January, 1873, darting at insects at 
rest on the underside of leaves, the snap of its bill being au- 
dible at several yards distance. Unfortunately my charge, 
small as it was, cut it all to pieces; so I could not distinguish 
the sex. 


+ 88. Mionscres oLgacinevs, Cab. 

_ The only specimen procured of this little bird was shot on 
the Ist of October, 1872, from ahigh tree. Its stomach con- 
tained insects. 


39. Puytiomyiras semirusca, Sel. 

This little Tyrant is common in gardens, generally in pairs, 
frequenting the orange-trees and feeding on insects. I found 
them here, at San Juaé, in July ; and they are still here while 
I write (beginning of November). They probably re 
during the rainy season. 


40. ORNITHION INCANESCENS (Max.). 
Killed in my garden at Nazaré (November 11th)—a single 
specimen. 


41. TyRANNISCUS GRACILIPES, Scl. 
Found in gardens. Feeds on insects. 


42, Exvainea pacana (Licht.). A 
Shot in my garden (4th of August). Stomach contained 
large green seeds. 


+ 43. Lecatus atBicoxis (Vieill.). 
This broad-billed Flycatcher I killed on a forest-tree on the 
4th of August, 1872. Its stomach contained insects. 


44, MyiozeTEtes sIMILis, Spix. 

The lesser ‘‘ Bem-te-vie” has just the same habits as the 
larger bird, Tyrannus melancholicus, but is scarcer. It feeds 
indiscriminately on seeds and insects. I shot one on the 
eround by the side of a pond, picking up flies. 


Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. 383 


45. RayncnocycLus MEGACEPHALUS (Sw.). 
Shot from a tree in the forest on the 25th of J une, 1872, 
its stomach being full of small coleoptera. 


46. Musctvora rxcia (Gm.). 

When first observed, this beautiful Flycatcher was darting 
at flies and small insects (with which its stomach was after- 
wards found filled) from a bare twig, to which it frequently re- 
turned. It captured them on the wing as well as reposing 
on the leaves or branches; and the snap of its bill was quite 
audible at fifteen or twenty paces. On my firing it fell 
wounded ; and when I ran forward to pick it up, the crest was 
thrown open in the most beautiful manner, as if in defiance, 
and, uttering a harsh scream, it seized my fingers with bill 
and claws, fighting vigorously (10th December, 1872). 

Two days after this, I fancy I saw another, in a different 
and most gloomy part of the forest of Braganza, not far from 
Nazaré. The present specimen was killed about half a mile 
from my house, in the forest. 


47. Myiosius nxvius (Bodd.). 

I shot this pretty little Flycatcher (27th November, 1872) 
in my garden at Nazaré, from the top of a cajeu tree. Its 
stomach was crammed with insects. 


48. Emprponomus varius (Vieill.). 

Shot in my garden at San Juad; others seen at different 
times. They perch usually on the top of the trees, on a bare 
branch, from which they sally out after insects. Seeds were 
also found in the stomach of one examined. They utter a 
harsh note. (16th October, 1872.) 


49. 'TYRANNUS MELANCHOLICHUSs, Vieill. 

The “bem-te-vie” is common all round Pard. It fre- 
quents alike the forest and the garden, perching on the sum- 
mits of trees, and usually selecting a bare branch whence 
to utter the loud cry from which it gets its name. It de- 
vours indiscriminately insects, leaves, seeds, &e. 


4-50. Mitvuxus ryrannus (L.). 
This Flycatcher appeared first on the 7th of August, 1872. 
I found a small flock, on going out at daylight, on the top- 
SER. I1].— VOL. III. 2 


384 Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para, 


most branches of a tall tree in my garden. Though fired at 
several times, and hit with the first shot, the best-tailed bird 
returned again and again to the same branch, till I secured 
him. The flock kept about for a month, and then disappeared. 
Other flocks were in various places in the neighbourhood at 
the same time. 

They hawked after flies, sallying out from their resting- 
places, turning over and twisting about very nimbly and 
gracefully, spreading their tails, and making them assume 
a pretty lyrate form. Sometimes before rain, when swarms 
of flying ants would be issuing forth from the nests m the 
trees, these birds would be very active; then, when darting 
about, their brilliant white undersides contrasted beautifully 
against the dull leaden blue of the storm-clouds “ big with 
wind and rain.” 


++ 51. Prpra Levcociiya (L.). 
- Shot on the 27th of September, 1872, off a forest-tree. 
Stomach contained one huge seed, undigested and swallowed 


whole. 


+- 52. Prpra auricaPILua, Licht. 
I saw a single specimen of this bird in the forest near Na- 
zaré, but failed to secure it. I received skins from Pebas. 


53. CHIROXIPHIA PAREOLA (L.). 
A single specimen shot in dense forest, 27th September, 
1872. Stomach full of dark blue vegetable matter. 


54, CHIROMACHARIS MANACUS (L.) 

On the 29th of September I shot several of these little 
birds, male and female, from a forest-tree, on the fruits of 
which they were feeding. Had I stayed at the tree, I believe 
I could have shot fifty. They kept dropping in singly every 
moment, as did other species, quite unmindful of my presence 
and of the noise of the gun. ‘They make a curious rattling 
noise (I suspect, by some movement of the oddly shaped wing- 
feathers), which constantly betrays their presence in the forests. 


55. PACHYRHAMPHUS ATRICAPILLUS (Gm.). 
Very scarce about Para; inhabits the forest. 


Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. 385 


56. ATTILA THAMNOPHILOIDES (Spix). 


Shot in the forest (27th September, 1872). Stomach full 
of comminuted berries. 


57. IopoPLEURA ISABELL@ (Parz.). 

This curious bird, both when sitting on the tree in com- 
pany with its mate, and when in the hand, reminded me of 
a Martin ; indeed, when I fired at it I fancied it actually was 
a hen Swallow. Its stomach contained a large berry, swal- 
lowed whole, which filled the centre cavity. I never saw but 
the two here named. 


58, PHa@NICOCERCUS CARNIFEX (L.). 
Shot in a forest about ten miles from Par4é. Stomach con- 
tained seeds. 


59. SYNALLAXIS GUIANENSIS (Gm.), 

A single specimen of this elegant little bird occurred to me 
along the side of a road, creeping about low bushes and ut- 
tering a mewing note. I watched itsome time before I could 
get a shot, as it wound its way through the densest tangled 
mass of sticks &c., every now and then darting on an insect 
(4th January, 1873). 


60. XENOPS GENIBARBIS, II]. 
Caught in the house. 


61. GLyPHORHYNCHUS cUNEATUS, Licht. 

This singular bird I shot creeping up the stem of a forest- 
tree (14th August, 1872). It was very nimble, dodging me 
round the trunk: only with the greatest difficulty I killed 
it. It remained clinging to the tree after death, and I was 
obliged to cut a long sapling and detach its death-hold. The 
stomach contained insects. 


62. DENDRORNIS EYTONI, Scl. 

Female, shot from the trunk of a huge tree in the most 
damp and gloomy forest I have yet visited. Another, pro- 
bably the male, was in company, but flew off on the discharge 
of the gun (6th February, 1873). 

2E2 


386 Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. 


63. DenpRoPLEX Picus (Gm.). 

Ishot this Creeper (21st September, 1872) on a forest-tree 
on which was a large ant’s nest. When opened its stomach 
was found full of ants. 


64. Picotarres LAYARDI, Sclater, sp.nov.* (Plate XIV.) 

Bill and feet horn-coloured. Iris brown. 

A single example of this bird was shot on the 21st of Au- 
gust, running up the trunk of aceiba tree. I think it was 
feeding on the ants that had constructed huge clay nests on 
several branches. Its stomach contained the remains of 
insects. On the 20th of December I saw one on a fence; he 
hopped sideways from post to post, sometimes 12 or 18 inches 
apart. At length he caught a large spider and began ham- 
mering and beating it on the fence, I suppose to get rid of 
its long legs, as he swallowed the body when he had effected 
this. 


65. TuamMNnorpuitus Masor, Vieill. 
Shot on the Quama side of the town by Mr. Englehart. I 
know nothing of its habits; and its stomach was empty. 


66. THaMNOPHILUS PALLIATUS, Licht. 
Shot in dense scrub, mewing just like a cat (7th December, 
1872). Its stomach contained insects. 


67. THAMNOPHILUS AMAZONICUS, Scl. 
Generally found in pairs, creeping about the underwood in 
the forest, searching for insects and uttering loud cries. They 


* [This apparently new species may be described as follows :— 
PICOLAPTES LAYARDI, sp. nov. 


Supra terreno-fuscus feré unicolor, capite obscuriore : alis extus et cauda 
tota cum uropygio rufis: subtus cineraceus, striis latis albis, utrinque 
nigro marginatis omnino aspersus; gula alba pura: subalaribus cin- 
namomeis; remigum primariorum parte apicali intis obscuriore : 
rostro corneo, subtis pallidiore, pedibus plumbeis: long. tota 7:3, 
alee 3°3, caudze 2°9, rostri a rictu lin. dir, 1:2. 

Hab. in vicin. urbis Para imp. Brasil. (Layard). 

Mus. P. LS. 

Obs. Sp. aff. P. fuscicapillo, et, sicut heec, pileo unicolori insignis, sed 
minor, rostro breviore et debiliore et striis corporis inferi latioribus et magis 
albis distinguenda.—P, L. S. | 


Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. 387 


spring up at insects on the underside of leaves; and the snap 
of their bills is audible for a long distance. 


+68. THAMNOPHILUS DoLIATUS (L.). 
Shot on the ground while harrying a swarm of Eciton ants 
(Sept. 18th, 1872), with which its stomach was filled. 


69. THAMNOPHILUS SIMPLEX, Sclater,sp.nov.* (Plate XV.) 

I shot these two birds (male and female) close together in 
the woods near the Lazar Hospital, Para (10th January, 1873). 
Their stomachs contained comminuted insects. Before I shot 
them I saw the female creeping about the branches of the 
low underwood, seizing her prey off the underside of leaves. 
The male did not show himself till I had reloaded and placed 
the female in my collecting-bag: he then darted across the 
path; but I was too quick for him, and dropped him as he 
pitched on the opposite side. 


~--70. CERCOMACRA TYRANNINA, Scl. 
Shot on the ground in the forest, feeding upon ants (Sep- 
tember 18th, 1872). 


71. Formicivora erisEa (Bodd.). 

Shot in the “ travessa” (or cross street) near my house in 
Nazaré, creeping about the bush in search of insects, at which 
it darted when at rest under leaves (9th December, 1872). 


72. PyRIGLENA ATRA (Sw.). 
Shot on the ground feeding on a foraging army of Saiiba 


* [I have not been able to find any described species of Thamnophilus 
which agrees with this pair of birds, and I therefore characterize them as 
follows :— 


THAMNOPHILUS SIMPLEX, Sp. Nov. 

d. Cinereus feré unicolor, alis caudaque interne obscurioribus : campterio 
et punctis paucis tectricum alarium necnon rectricum externarum 
marginibus angustis albis: tectricibus subalaribus et primariorum 
marginibus interioribus albicantibus: rostro et pedibus nigris: iride 
castanea: remigibus quarto et quinto longissimis: long. tota 5:5, ale 
2°6, caudee 2:2. 2. Rubiginosa, pileo intensiore, ventre magis cin- 
namomeo, medialiter pallidiore: alis et cauda ints nigricantibus. 

Hab. in vicin. urbis Para, imp. Brasil. (Layard). 

Mus, P, L. 8. 

Obs, Sp. Th. stellato, Spixi, proxima, sed crassitie minore et alis extus 
feré immaculatis diversa.—P. L. 8. ] 


888 Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para: 


ants, 10th August, 1872. Male shot 14th December, 1872. 
Many of these birds accompanied an army of Eciton ants, 
feeding on the insects they disturbed. 


4-73. Guaucis HiIrsutTA (Gmel.). 
Shot while probing the flowers of a parasitic plant very 


early in the morning. Common in my jugha tree (13th No- 
vember, 1872). 


74, PYGMORNIS PYGMRUS (Spx). 

This minute species I shot in my kitchen, hunting spiders. 
Its humming was singularly loud. I also obtained a speci- 
men hovering over the ‘‘ingha” flowers, 13th November, 1872. 
It is not uncommon in the forests, about low shrubs, especially 
Strelitzia, and is found in the darkest and gloomiest recesses, 
where the sun’s rays never penetrate. 


4-75. Frorisvea MELLIvora (L.). 
Common about Parad, in October, and hovers much in the 


air to capture minute flymg ants as they emerge from their® 
nests in the trees. 


76. CAMPYLOPTERUS oBscURUS, Gould. 

This “ Sabre-wing” is not uncommon about Paré when 
the “ingha” tree is in blossom, about November. Like the 
preceding it hovers much in the air, capturing ants. 


4.77. Lamprornis vioticaupA, Bodd. 

Three of these lovely little birds, seen 27th November, 
1872, m my garden at Nazaré, hovering over the flowers of 
the arrowroot. I killed a pair, which proved to be male and 
female. Their stomachs contained small flies ; but when held 


up by the feet at least a tea-spoonful of honey dropped from 
their bills. 


78. THALURANIA FURCATOIDES, Gould. 

Shot on ingha trees, to which they seem very partial ; in- 
deed all our Humming-birds may be found on this tree when 
in flower. 


79. KucrPHALA CERULEA. 
Shot in my neighbour’s garden at San Jua6, while probing 


Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. 389 


the flowers of the ingha (23rd September, 1872), also several 
in my own garden-(13th November, 1872). About the com- 
monest Humming-bird we have when the ingha is in flower. 


+80. PANYPTILA CAYENNENSIS (Gm.). 

This lovely Swift, the only one I have seen, dashed into 
my dining-room and was captured on the 19th of September, 
1872. 

Ist December, 1872. Several Swifts seen this day flying 
very high above the common Spring-tail (C. poliura). I 
think, from their shape, they must belong to this species. 


+ 81. Cua#rura potiura (Temm.). 

From the 16th of June to the 3rd of September I contin- 
ually saw small parties of these birds high up in the air, but 
never by any chance within gunshot. On the 3rd of Sep- 
tember they suddenly became more plentiful, and descended 
to earth; since that date they fly low, and I see them every- 
where. Their best times are early morning and late in the 

“evening, when they make successful raids on the swarms of 
flying ants which then emerge from their nests. 
+ 82. CHmruRA sPINIcAuDA (‘Temm.). 
Common throughout the year. 
_+-83. Nycriptus JAMAICENSIS (Gm.). 

I captured this species at sea off Maranham, but saw many 
flying about Para during June, July, and part of August ; then 
they disappeared. They generally fly in parties, keeping wide 
apart, each on his line, and hawk after insects. Their flight, 
when high in the air, is just like that of a Gull; when they 
descend it is like that of Caprimulgus. 

84. NycTIDROMUS ALBICOLLISs (Gm.). 

Shot on the evening of the 29th November, 1872, sitting 
under a mango-tree in the road. Watched it for some time 
flymg up at beetles, of which it had several entire in its sto- 
mach, which chiefly contained stinking plant-bugs. This bird 
had a chigo embedded in its leg—not the first instance I have 
met with where this parasite had established itself on birds. 
A Thamnophilus which 1 shot had about a dozen on its thighs, 
and must have suffered greatly. 


& 


390 =Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. 


85. LurocaLis seMitorquaAtTus (Gm.). 
Shot in Strada Braganza. Stomach contained comminuted 
insects. — 


86. CAMPEPHILUS TRACHELOPYRUS (Malh.). :; 

This fine Woodpecker I shot on the 6th Feb. 1873, in a 
“travessa,” not far from my house. When wounded it had 
a loud harsh scream. Its stomach was full of large yellow 
grubs and the pupze of some wood-borer. 


87. Dryocorus tineatus (L.). 

Shot in the neighbourhood of Para. Their stomachs con- 
tamed small insects and the ants which frequent trees and 
make large clay nests on them. They rap with great violence 
and rapidity ; and the sound they cause may be compared to 
the springing of a watchman’s rattle. 


88. CreLrus citrinus (Bodd.). 

Walking one morning on the road to Una, soon after day- 
break, a bird darted across the road from some Assaige palms,. 
and pitched in a mango-tree. I instantly threw up my gun 
and fired; but nothing fell. On going to examine the spot, 
I saw a queer object sitting huddled up on a thick branch, 
which presently fell; and on lifting it I found I had killed 
this strangely coloured Woodpecker. It had been feeding ~ 
on ants and their eggs. The smell of this bird is most offen- 
sive, and, I find, permanent in the dried skin. 


89. CeLeus suMANA (Spix). 

While placing some Aragaris in my collecting-bag, this 
Woodpecker flew into a tree over my head, and was there 
and then added to my spolia. I was surprised to find its 
stomach filled with the same fruits as the Aracaris had 
been feeding on, berries as large as peas, swallowed whole. 


90. CHLORONERPES RUFICEPS (Spix). 

A single pair, male and female, shot on a dead tree in 
the Charmont Road. Their stomachs contained numbers of 
a naked, yellow, wood-boring caterpillar, doubtless obtained 
from the tree on which they were killed. Another was in 
company, but escaped. 


Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. 391 


91. MELANERPES RUBRIFRONS (Spix). 

I found several of these Woodpeckers frequenting a lot of 
dead trees in the square not far from my house, and succeeded 
in obtaining a pair. I was surprised to find that they went 
inside the tree-trunks and hammered away. This accounts 
for my having frequently traced the hammering of Wood- 
peckers to what I felt sure must be the tree where the work- 
man was engaged, and yet not being able to find him. 

The stomachs of those I shot were full of grubs, insects, 
ants, and yellow hard seeds. I frequently saw them fly off 
into the air and catch insects, returning again to the dead 
limb from which they started. In their flight at these times 
they were very Swallow-like, so much so that I often mis- 
took them for the large Swallow, Progne chalybea, which was 
flying about at the same time. 


92. Bucco HYPERRHYNCHUS, Bp. 

I watched this powerful bird for some time before I shot 
it, on 4th January, 1873. It was hopping about the thick 
branches of a large tree, and in all its actions reminded me 
of a “ Kinghunter” (Halcyon). In its stomach I found a 
large green Cetonia, just crushed and swallowed whole. I 
subsequently obtained two more, and was struck with their 
extreme stupidity. 


Three birds were in company on a very high tree. I had 
only my little collecting-gun, with a quarter of a dram of 
powder and dust-shot, but, selecting the lowest, fired at him. 
He swung round on his twig and hung suspended. I loaded 
quickly and aimed at the next, who never moved; at the first 
report he fell dead, and the third remained. I fired again, 
without effect ; but the next shot brought it down. On firing 
again at the clinging bird it dropt into a lower tree, and lodged 
where I could not get it. 


93. Bucco rectus, Bodd. 

I found three of these birds on some low trees in an aban- 
doned clearing covered with second growth. Though I shot 
“one, the other two remained quietly on the tree and allowed 
me to load again and fire. Even when wounded, the last one 


392 Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para: 


merely flew off, took a circle, and returned. Their stomachs 
contained insects torn into fragments—I presume, by the cu- 
rious double hook of the powerful bill. 


94. CHELIDOPTERA TENEBROSA (Pall.). 

Several shot at a plantation about ten miles from Para. 
They frequented the topmost twigs of some mangos and the ends 
of the palm-fronds, flying off in quest of insects, and return- 
ing to the same spot on effecting a capture. When I first 
saw them flying I involuntarily exclaimed “an Artamus!” 
so closely did they resemble them im all their actions. Their 
stomachs contained insects. I subsequently obtained this 
species at Para. 


95. UrocgatBa AMAzoNUM, Sclater. 
I once saw this species in the forest, and shot at it; but it 
escaped wounded. It was in February. 


+96. CrotopHaca Ant (L.). 

Found in small flocks about the edges of the forest and in 
deserted gardens. Unless killed on the spot, they creep away 
and climb up the bushes so that it is next to impossible to 
find them. They feed on fruit and insects, especially Grylle, 
which they swallow whole. A small flock inhabit my garden 
at Nazaré. They mew like a cat, and utter a call just like 
that of the Curlew, which is so well indicated in their French 
name “ Courlis.” In the mornings, early, I see them sitting 
on the summit of a small mango-tree, each with its wings 
expanded, and with their backs turned to the sun, to catch 
all its warmth. When uttering the before-named cry, pa 
depress the head and elevate the tail and wings. 


+97. DieLoprerus na&vius (Gmel.). 

On the 27th of September, 1872, soon after daylight, I 
shot one of these Cuckoos in the act of drying its plumage on 
the top of a small bush. It sat with all its feathers ruffled 
out, wings drooping, and tail expanded. In the stomach were 
the remains of small grasshoppers. I am told that, when its 
plumage is damp, it cannot fly at all and is easily captured 
by the hand. 


Mr. BE. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. 398 


+98. Praya cayana (L.). 

‘A pair shot (several others beimg seen) in a forest about 
ten miles from Paré. Stomachs filled with insects and soft 
fruits. One was shot at the gas-works, lst December, 1872, 
a female, with ovaries very small. Stomach containing a whole 
large locust. The bird is called here ‘alma di gatto” (soul 
of the cat); its Indian name is “ tiquarra,” 


+- 99. Praya mrinuta (Vieill.). 

The first specimen of this Cuckoo was given me in a bad 
condition by Mr. Englehart, shot on the Guama side of the 
town. The stomach was too decomposed to reveal its contents. 
The next I shot about ten miles from Para, in a garden. It 
crept through the bushes and trees just like a Colius, always, 
on my approaching it, flying out on the opposite side. Its 
stomach contained spiders and caterpillars. 

100. PrEeRogtossus rnscriptus, Gould. 

This rare Aracari I shot from a small flock in the forest 
along the Strada Braganza on the 5th of September. The 
flock consisted of this and the next species, one of which I 
killed at the same time. They frequented the tops of the 
highest trees, and clung to the branches even after death. 
A native hunter with me divested himself of his clothes, and 
in a few moments climbed up to an immense height by means 
of the pendent hans, and threw down the dead birds. The 
ease with which the Indian mounted to the great height was 
a sight to see and admire. 


101. SELENIDERA GouLpI (Natt.). 

This Aragari was shot in company with the last, which the 
Indian with me declared to be its female; dissection, how- 
ever, showed them to be both males. Stomach contained 
fruits. 

I have lately (January 1873) found this species nesting in 
holes of dead trees in company with Woodpeckers ; but their 
“ procreant cradles” are quite inaccessible to any thing but a 
flying creature. I shot several woodpeckers from the tree ; 
‘and at every discharge the Toucan would come to the entrance- 
hole, cautiously and with a slow deliberate movement pro- 


394 Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. 


trude its head, and take a survey round; then, on catching 
sight of me below, the head would be as cautiously withdrawn. 
The deliberation of the whole affair was most ludicrous. 


102. BrotrocErys TuUIPARA (Gm.). 

Shot on the 14th February, 1872, one of a pair. Stomach 
contained berries. The wood-cutters declared the birds had 
a nest in a huge tree standing in the clearmg making for the 
railway-station, and that the female frequented the spot for 
days, calling for its mate. 


103. AsTURINA MAGNIROSTRIS (Gmel.). 

This pretty Sparrow-Hawk was shot near the. gasworks, 
Para, on the 24th of November, 1872. Its stomach con- 
tained locusts. 


+ 104, Naucierus FURCATUS. 

27th November, 1872. Walking this morning behind my 
house, I watched a Fork-tailed Kite for about ten minutes 
soaring over the trees about 100 yards from me. Having 
only my long collecting-gun and No. 10 shot, I could not fire 
with any effect. Ist December, 1872. Six of these beautiful 
Kites about my house today; by the time I had loaded my 
large gun they had sailed out of range. Since this date they 
all disappeared. 


“105. Burgona sracuyura (Vicill.). 
Shot off the summit of a dead tree in the “ Largo San 
Braz,” the square near my house in Nazaré. Stomach empty. 


+106. Spizanrus Tyrannus (Max.). 

A single specimen (male) of this fine Hawk, shot near the 
gas-works at Para on the 12th October, 1872. Stomach 
empty. Testes very small. 


+-107. Fatco prerrotevucus, Temm. 

Shot on 3rd February, 1873, near the Para gas-works, from 
the summit of an immensely high tree. It suffered three 
shots to be fired at it with a small revolver; at length a ball 
struck it in the throat and came out through the top of the 
head. Its stomach was empty. 


Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. 395 


+108. Urusitinca SCHISTACEA. 

This fine Hawk was also killed near the gas-works at Para, 
on the 11th of August, by Mr. Wilson, the superintendent. 
I know nothing of its habits$ and its stomach was empty. 


+109. CaTHARTES ATRATUS. 

This hideous but useful bird was the first that greeted my 
sight when I landed at Para. Before daylight, asis my wont 
in tropical climates, I was up and out of doors. We had 
landed at 10 o’clock the previous night. I saw a strange- 
looking object, resembling a bird with outstretched wings, 
on the end of a neighbouring house. It was still too dark to 
distinguish objects ; but I went into the house and got my 
faithful companions, my binocular glasses. On my return 
there were two; and while I tried to make out what they 
could be, up came a third, and a fourth, and a fifth, till a whole 
row sat on the ridge awaiting the daylight and the sun’s rays 
to dry their wings. This is the way they sit on trees; and 
more ungainly brutes cannot be imagined. ‘They are the great 
scavengers of the place, and most useful in that respect. 

They roost in company, and begin their disgusting duties 
as soon as the sun is up. About 9 or 9.30 they sail away 
into the upper regions of the air, where they remain till 3 or 
4 o’clock, when they again descend to earth. They retire to 
rest long after sundown, at the end of the brief twilight. 

About ten miles from Para, on a sugar-estate up the river, 
I saw a species with yellow about the head ; but speeding along 
in a steamboat I could not stay to shoot one. 


110. ZENAIDA MACULATA. 

T have seen but few specimens of this Dove ; the first I found 
one morning just after daylight, on a tree by the roadside near 
my house in San Juad. Its stomach contained berries. They 
feed much on the ground, and run with great ante | as do 
the little Chamepelia. 


+111. CHAM#PELIA PASSERINA. 

This pretty little ground-Dove is not uncommon in open 
places along roads, gardens, &c. It is generally found in 
pairs, male and female ; and from the appearance of the organs 
of the male, and also from finding young birds not fully fledged, 


396 = Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para: 


T should think they breed about June and July. It feeds on 
grass-seeds. 


112. CHAMAPELIA TALPACOTI. 


Killed in my garden at Nazaré. The stomach contained 
seed. 


+ 113. Cryprurvs PILEATUS. 

Shot alongside a native path at the back of my house in 
Nazaré; one also seen in my garden, 18th December, 1872. 
It is called “ Inambu” by the Brazilians. 


~~ 114. ArprEa acami, Gm. 

A single specimen, in young plumage, killed by a native 
on an igaripé near Para, was purchased by me in the flesh. 
-+-115. TiGRIsoMA BRASILIENSE. 

These curious birds are often kept tame about houses, to 
destroy the mosquitos and other insect plagues ; but they are 
too dirty in their habits for companionship. I saw two spe- 
cimens on a bank of mud not far from Para, but could not 
stop the steamer to get them. 


116. Toranus soxitarius, Wilson. 


Shot on the margin of a pond near Para. Stomach full of 
insects. 


f- 117. Trineca MINUTILLA, Vieill. 

I once saw a small flock of these little Sandpipers cross a 
boat in which I was seated. Sen™ Penna subsequently ob- 
tained a specimen in the neighbourhood. 


118. PorzANA MELANOPHAA. 

This little Rail was shot on the river Guama near Para, 
and was given me in a state of decomposition ; so I could not 
ascertain the colour of the iris or the contents of the stomach. 


119. Parra JACANA. 

Two specimens procured—one in adult, the other in young 
plumage. The latter flew into the veranda of my neighbour, 
Mr. Hayes, who kindly presented it to me. 


Sd 


120. SteRNA MAGNIROSTRIS. 
The day I left Para several of these birds were in the river 
opposite the town. 


On the Birds of Kattiawar, Western India. 397 


XLV.—On the Birds of the Province of Kattiawar in Western 
India. By J. Haves Luoyp, Capt. Bombay Staff Corps. 


SurastrENE of the Greeks, Saurashtra of Sanskrit literature, 
and Kattiawar of the present day, is'a peninsular-shaped tract 
of country on the west coast of India, situated between 69° 5! 
and 72° of east longitude and 23° 10! and 20° 40! of north 
latitude. It is bounded on the north and north-west by the 
waste tract of the Runn and by the Gulf of Kuchh, on the 
south-west and south by the Arabian Sea, and on the east 
by the Gulf of Cambay ; while on the north-east it is con- 
nected with the mainland of Gujerat by the district of Ahme- 
dabad. Speaking generally, the country presents an undu- 
lating surface, with a gradual rise towards the centre, whence 
a number of streams taking their rise flow in opposite direc- 
tions and empty themselves respectively into the Gulf of 
Kuchh, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Cambay. Near 
the coast on the north-west occurs a cluster of hills—the 
highest rather over 1500 feet—known as the Burda hills, for 
the most part thinly covered with brushwood, but with some 
of the inner and more sheltered valleys moderately wooded. 
In the opposite or south-eastern extremity of the peninsula 
the country again presents a rugged broken surface, much 
intersected by streams, and rising in some parts into bold 
rocky hills, the principal elevation bemg Mount Shuttroonjai, 
sacred to the first Tirthunker of the Jain hierarchy, and a 
great place of resort for pilgrims. In the south are two re- 
markable tracts. The smaller of these consists of a range of 
wooded hills disposed in a semicircle, from the base of which 
towers to the height of 2500 feet the granite peaks of Mount 
Geernar, a hill renowned in Sanskrit literature, its summit 
crowned by temples dating far back into the past, and its 
base bearing the rock-cut inscriptions of Pryadarse. The other 
and larger tract lies a few miles further south, and consists of 
a succession of ranges and lofty hills running in irregular di- 
rections, the whole thickly wooded and known as the Geer. 
Excepting these last-mentioned tracts of the Geernar and 
the Geer, with the country in their immediate vicinity, the 


398 Capt. J. Hayes Lloyd on the 


province of Kattiawar may be described as treeless; and a 
traveller entering the country by any of the ordinary routes, 
such as Jooria on the north, Wudwan and Gogo on the east, 
and Porebundor on the west, might, unless his business or 
pleasure took him to the southern portion, traverse the country 
in most directions and finally quit the province without having 
learnt the existence of any thing in the shape of a forest. He 
would pass over extensive plains of black soil with intervening 
tracts of stony sterile undulations and occasional sandy wastes, 
diversified in parts by low-lying districts, where, during the 
hot-weather months, the surface is covered with a saline efflor- 
escence, and the rivers and wells supply only brackish water ; 
but in the way of trees, a few poor-looking specimens in the 
neighbourhood of villages, together with an occasional Ficus in 
the corner of a field, and a garden or grove in the vicinity of 
some of the large towns, are all that he is likely to meet with. 
If the traveller happened to be of an ornithological turn of 
mind, he would, after encountering such birds as Aquila nevi- 
oides ( fulvescens) , A. bonellii, Lanius arenarius, Butalis grisola, 
Erythrosterna parva, Otocompsa leucotis, Saxicola picata and 
S. deserti, Citrinella huttoni, Houbara macqueenti, and Chet- 
tusia gregaria, probably consider that he had acquired a good 
idea of the character of the avifauna of Kattiawar, and proceed 
to describe it as having European and African affinities, with 
an admixture of desert forms. After a more lengthened resi- 
dence, however, he could not fail at certain seasons of the 
year to meet with forms for the occurrence of which, until he 
had discovered the existence of the Geernar and Geer forests, 
he would be greatly puzzled to account. In the earlier period 
of my own experience of the province, the southern districts 
were unknown tome. I had traversed the country in every 
other direction and come to the conclusion that Kattiawar, 
so far as looks went, was not unlike Kuchh, with a very simi- 
lar avifauna. This opinion was first shaken by meeting with 
a solitary example of Corvus levaillanti—not that the bird 
was beyond the limits of its range, but because I had pre- 
viously only seen it in the neighbourhood of hills and forests, 
or in districts more or less wooded, and felt puzzled by its oc- 


Birds of Kattiawar, Western India. 399 


currence in a treeless district near the shores of the Gulf of 
Kuchh. My surprise, however, was still greater on succes- 
sively encountering in the most unlikely-looking places ex- 
amples of Paleornis rosa, Buchanga cerulescens, Copsychus 
saularis, Cyornis jerdoni, C. tickellie (so-called), Graucalus 
macei, and Zosterops palpebrosus, while my feelings amounted 
to consternation at sight of Crocopus phenicopterus on a pee- 
pul-tree in the dreary salt-districts of the east. It was im- 
possible to reconcile the occurrence of such forms with the 
physical features of the country, as known to me; and a solu- 
tion of the problem was anxiously looked for. In course of 
time an opportunity offered for a short trip; and I at once set 
my face toward the south, marching hurriedly to where, on 
clear days, the peeks of the Geernar loomed faint and blue on 
the horizon. I spent two days on that wonderful hill; and 
then tearing myself reluctantly from a contemplation of 
ancient palaces, Buddhist temples, and 2000-years-old in- 
scriptions, all speaking silently of creeds, dynasties, and races 
long past away, I pushed on and wandered for three days in 
the forests of the Geer, returning from my trip with but few 
birds actually added to my collection, but with the mystery 
of the Malabar forms explained. 

Any one who has travelled westwards from the plains of the 
Deccan will be able to recall the changes which occur in the 
aspect of the country as the Ghauts are approached—how the 
black cotton-soil becomes a loam, getting lighter im quality 
and colour as the surface of the country rises—how trees 
gradually appear, at first stunted and dotted about on low 
hills and then more numerously, until the traveller finds 
himself at last riding through a hilly woody country over a 
laterite soil, the soft red dust of which, stirred up by his pro- 
gress, floats round him and settles on the bushes on either 
side of the track. Very similar was the approach to the Geer ; 
in a ride of a few miles I seemed to have passed from Katti- 
awar to the Mawul country bordering the Ghauts or to parts 
of the Konkan. Even the trees helped to complete the illusion ; 
for, with the exception of one or two strange forms numerous 
enough to be a feature in the scene, the bulk of the trees in 

SER. III.— VOL. III. 2 F 


4 


4.00 Capt. J. Hayes Lloyd onthe 


the Geer were of the same species as those forming the Kon- 
kan and Ghaut forests—Tectona grandis, Terminalia glabra, 
T. belerica, Nauclea parviflora, Garruga pinnata, Odina nodier, 
Cassia fissula, Pongamia glabra, Diospyros exsculpta, Sterculia 
urens, Emblica officinalis, Schrebera swietinioides, and many 
others—not such fine trees as their brethren further south, but 
still of the same species I had become so familiar with years 
before in the Konkan and Ghaut districts. Of course, with 
the discovery of a tract of country presenting such physical 
conditions as above described, much of what had previously 
puzzled me was accounted for. Any number of Buchanga 
cerulescens, Crocopus phonicopterus, Cyornis jerdoni, &c. 
would not have astonished me; their absence in fact, would 
have been unnatural. 

But though the presence of these isolated wooded and 
mountainous regions in Kattiawar explains the occurrence of 
certain unexpected forms in the avifauna of the province, 
there are other questions suggested by them of great interest, 
to which I will briefly allude before passing on to the enu- 
meration of species. 

One of these questions is the extent to which the laws of 
geographical distribution are dependent on physical condi- 
tions—a subject referred to by Dr. Stoliczka*, and in illustra- 
tion of which these Geernar and Geer jungles, in their bear- 
ing on the avifauna of Kattiawar, offer a marked instance, 
supplying a parallel to that of Mount Aboo, quoted by him 
as modifying the avifauna of Rajpootana. Another and little- 
understood subject is that of restricted migration. Many of 
our Indian resident species are known to move from one part 
of the country to another, quitting certain districts and ap- 
pearing in others, or moving from plains to hills at different 
seasons of the year. Sometimes this is for the purpose of 
breeding—as in the case of the Kites, which leave the neigh- 
bourhood of Bombay, and some Shrikes, which leave Katti- 
awar, to breed in other districts. At other times it seems to 
be connected with the question of food-supply, as im the case 
of many of the Insessores, which visit the open country during 

* J.A.S. B. xvi. p. 218. 


Birds of Kattiawar, Western India. 401 


some of the cold-weather months and retire to wooded regions 
for the hot weather and rains; or lastly, it may be due to a 
desire for lower temperature, as exemplified, apparently, by 
Gallus sonnerati, which in the Southern Konkan, where the 
species 1s common, invariably quits the lowlands on the ap- 
proach of hot weather and betakes itself to the forests on the 
summit of the Ghauts and other elevated ranges. In Katti- 
awar many instances of this migratory impulse are observable. 
Thus Lanius arenarius, L. vittatus, and L. erythronotus quit 
the country when the breeding-season approaches; while Acri- 
dotheres ginginianus and Ploceus baya arrive in numbers to 
breed, and disappear afterwards; Paleornis rosa appears in 
flocks in the plains during the rains and cold season, retiring 
to the Geer for the hot weather; while Corvus levaillanti, 
Cyornis gerdoni, Graucalus macei, and many others visit the 
plains in the cold weather, but spend the hot weather and 
rains in the Geernar and Geer forests. 

It has been stated by one who has contributed much to- 
wards our knowledge of Indian ornithology, that the cha- 
racter of the avifauna of a country is determined as much by 
the forms absent as by those present ; and he has so far acted on 
the theory as to record the forms which he failed to meet with 
in his somewhat restricted experience of a particular district. 
In view of the curious impulse which leads many species to 
quit districts at different seasons of the year, any generaliza- 
tion of the nature referred to must, I think, be taken with 
much reservation. An experience ranging over every season 
of the year and extending to every part of Kattiawar would 
alone justify an observer in recording the absence of a parti- 
cular form from the province; and the same may be said, I 
believe, of every other district in India. 

In order to furnish as complete information as possible of 
the avifauna of a tract of country so little known to ornitho- 
logists as Kattiawar, I have included in the following list all 
species met with during my residence in the country, distin- 
guishing those of which I never actually shot an example. 
My thanks are due to Mr. R. B. Sharpe for assistance in 
identifying some of my specimens and for the kind mainer 


Pa ahr 


402 Capt. J. Hayes Lloyd on the 


in which he has facilitated generally my study of the collec- 
tions in the British Museum. 


The nomenclature and numbers are those of Jerdon’s ‘ Birds 
of India.’ 


2. OroGyPs CALVUS. 


Not uncommon ; but, as a rule, only solitary individuals are 
met with. I once saw four sitting about on a low rocky hill. 


4, Gyps INDICUS. 

A Vulture that I believe to be of this species is common ; 
but I never shot one. 

On several occasions I noticed about the cliffs and valleys 
of the Geerwar, and once out in the plains, a large Vulture of 
a rich rufous or bay-colour, which seemed very distinct from 
G. indicus. It may possibly have been Mr. Hume’s Gyps 
fulvescens ; but I never succeeded in getting at one, whilst 


its evident partiality for hills and forests is against the sup- 
position. 

5. Gyps BENGALENSIS. 

This is the commonest Vulture in the province, breeding 
in the cold season. A pair in my garden at Limree were 
busy building their nest in the middle of September. 

The town of Gondul is a favourite locality with this Vul- 
ture, almost every banian- and tamarind-tree in the neigh- 
bourhood being occupied in the season by one or more pairs ; 
and the hoarse cries they utter in copuld, as also the constant 
shrieking and cackling of the young, used to be a source of 


great annoyance. 
6. NEOPHRON GINGINIANUS. 
Not uncommon, but somewhat locally distributed. 


16. HyrorriorcHis CHICQUERA. 
Common. 


17. TINNUNCULUS ALAUDARIUS. 

Common. 

29. AQuILA NAVIOIDES. 

Much has been written as to the specific distinctness of the 
African A. nevioides from the Indian A. fulvescens vel fusca. 


Birds of Kattiawar, Western India. 403 


All observers, I believe, admit that they are very closely 
allied; but some would separate the two races, mainly, it 
would seem, on the grounds of a supposed difference in size. 
Mr. Blyth, Mr. Blanford, and others insist on the African 
bird being larger and more robust than the Indian ; and if 
this difference were constant, it would, in conjunction with 
geographical distribution, entitle the two forms to rank as 
separate species. But of late specimens have been obtained in 
India which are admitted to be true A. nevioides, and we 
have therefore the somewhat remarkable fact of two distinct 
species with exactly similar phases of plumage, and only dif- 
fering in point of size, both inhabiting India. On examining 
specimens of the two forms, however, it is at once apparent 
that African examples of A. nevioides differ as much in the 
matter of size, inter se, as they do, taken in a body, from the 
Indian A. fulvescens, while some African specimens are ac- 
tually smaller than average Indian examples. My own belief 
is that African and Indian birds are referable to one and the 
same species, viz. 4. nevioides of Cuvier, which in north- 
western India attaims the development of the typical African 
form, but runs gradually smaller as it extends to the east- 
ward. Parallel instances of decrease in size with extension 
of range might easily be quoted. In Kattiawar, where the 
species is common, the large form prevails. A pair of these 
birds once joined me in pursuit of a mongoose; but, luckily 
for the latter, there were a number of bushes about, and by 
dodging in and out and round these he finally escaped. The 
Eagles seemed to enjoy the fun ; and as they always followed 
each other quickly in their stoops, and as I was always on the 
other side of the bush ready for the mongoose as he scudded 
round with his tail stuck out like a bottle-brush, the unfor- 
tunate little wretch had, for about five minutes, rather a bad 
time of it. 


33. NISAETUS BONELLII. 
Not common. 


38. CIRCAETUS GALLICUS. 
Common, 


404. Capt. J. Hayes Lloyd on the 


42, HALIAETUS FULVIVENTER. 

Not uncommon in the vicinity of large sheets of water, 
such as the Null, the Ajuk Ghair, and similar places. A pair 
of these birds had their nest in a peepul tree opposite my tent 
at Baolee, near the Null; and I had daily opportunities of 
watching their actions, which have been well described by 
Mr. Hume (‘ Rough Notes,’ pt. 1. no. 2). Before leaving the 
place, in February, I secured the two young birds, and kept 
them for some time in an aviary at Rajkote. Whilst still in 
the immature plumage (dark brown above, rather paler below) 
they were liberated by a servant during my temporary ab- 
sence ; by mistake ! he said. 


48. PoLIoRNIS TEESA. 

Very common. On one occasion a bird of this species 
surprised me by pursuing and striking down a hen Florikin 
(Sypheotides auritus) that I had wounded. 


51. Circus SWAINSONII. 
Very common, 


52. CiRcUS CINERACEUS. 

Very common. 

These two species make their appearance in great numbers 
before the close of the rains, C. cineraceus arriving in the 
middle of September, and C. swainsonii about a fortnight 
later. A young female of C. swainsonii, killed on the 11th 
November, is in the immature plumage, with the whole under- 
parts a,uniform unstreaked rufous buff colour. A fine series 
of specimens that I possessed of both these species was un- 
fortunately destroyed*. 


* My collection suffered greatly from the risks ordinarily attending 
residence in India, aggravated by constant travelling. Negligence of ser- 
vants on the march, upsetting of carts, depredations by dogs, cats, and 
insects, have all at times wrought woe to me; but amongst my greatest 
losses I count the destruction by white ants of a number of Kattiawar 
bird-skins: many of these I found no opportunity of replacing, though the 
birds were not rare; others represented species which I had never met 
with but once during three years’ residence in the country, 


Birds of Kattiawar, Western India. 405 


54, Circus mRUGINOSUS. 
Common in the neighbourhood of marshes and lakes, and 
frequently met with hunting along rushy streams. 


55. Hariastur InDvus. 

Common along the shores of the Gulf of Kuchh and in the 
vicinity of large inland lakes. A specimen, killed on the 
25th of October, on the shores of the Gulf of Kuchh, is in 
the pale brown immature plumage. 


56. Mitvus Govinpa. 

Notwithstanding the number of Kites seen, I am obliged 
to confess I never shot one. They did not, however, appear 
to me to differ in any way from ordinary M. govinda. 


59. ELANUS MELANOPTERUS. 

I never met with this species, except on one occasion, when 
I shot an example at a place called Togana, in the west ; un- 
fortunately the specimen was one of those afterwards de- 
stroyed ; but the details given in my notes are :—Length 12°5 
inches, wing 10°25, irides crimson, cere yellow, legs pale yel- 
low, second quill longest. 


68. OTus BRACHYOTUS. 
I have met with this species in the cold weather when shoot- 
ing in the grass preserves. 


69. ASCALAPHIA BENGALENSIS. 
Common. 


76. ATHENE BRAMA. 
Very common. 


82. Hirunpo Rustica. 

Hirundo javanica, Scopoli. 

Common. 

In November of 1871 there was some very unseasonable 
weather in Kattiawar. Three days of heavy rain, with a cold 
east wind, destroyed an immense quantity of grain collected 
in the village thrashing-yards, and killed numbers of sheep,, 
goats, and cattle all over the province. On one of these days 
I observed a party of Swallows sittig about on the ground, 
and shot one, which, at the time, I took to be H. rustica, and 


406 Capt. J. Hayes Lloyd on the 


on account of the draggled state of the plumage was on the 
point of throwing away. This specimen has been identified 
by Mr. R. B. Sharpe with Hirwndo javanica of Scopoli. The 
ferruginous colouring of the throat comes lower down than 
in H. rustica; and the black pectoral band is reduced in front 
to a narrow line; while the underparts are white, with a faint 
tinge of rufous. Length of wing 4:3. 


84. HiruNbDO RUFICEPS. 
Common. 


86. HiruNnbo FLUVICOLA. 

I shot two out of a small party of these Swallows flying 
about the rocky bed of a river near the town of Dhrole; and 
on another occasion, when lying out on the shores of the Gulf 
of Kuchh waiting for Waders, a single bird of this species 
flew round close tome. I have not noticed it on any other oc- 
casion. Length of wing 3:5. 


90. CoryLE CONCOLOR. 

Occasionally met with. A pair built their nest against the 
rafters of the veranda of my house in Rajkote. Length of 
wing 4°]. 

100. CypsELUS AFFINIS. 

Common. 


112. CaPRIMULGUS ASIATICUS. 
Not uncommon. Length of wing 5°6. 


113. CapRIMULGUS MAHRATTENSIS. 

I have only met with this species in the rushes along the 
bed of the river near Gondul, where it was not uncommon. 
Length of wing 6°5. 

114. CapRIMULGUS MONTICOLUS. 

Common. Length of wing 7°5. 


117. Merrops yIRIDIS. 

Very common. I found them breeding in a bank near 
‘Sirsai in April. 

123. CoRaciIAs INDICA. 

Common. 


Birds of Kattiawar, Western India. 407 


129. Hatcyon sMYRNENSIS. 
Common. Wing 4:6, bill at front 2-4. 


134. ALCEDO BENGALENSIS. 

Not common. A specimen shot at Gondul has the bill 1°6 
along the culmen, with the wing 3, and is scarcely distin- 
guishable from A. ispida. 


136. CERYLE RUDIS. 
Very common. 


144. MENICEROS BICORNIS. 
Only met with in the neighbourhood of the Geerwar and 
Geer forests. 


148. PALAZORNIS TORQUATUS. 
Very common. 


'149. PaLmorNIS ROSA. 

Common. Large flocks of this species are met with in all 
parts of the province durimg the rains and cold season; but 
in the hot season they leave the plains and retire to the 
wooded regions of the Geernar and Geer. 


160. Picus MAHRATTENSIS. 

I shot a female, of this species in the Geer, the only ex- 
ample I ever met with in Kattiawar; but I cannot now trace 
the specimen. 


180. BRacHYyPTERNUS AURANTIUS. 
This species is common in the Geernar and Geer forests. 


197. XANTHOLZMA H#MACEPHALA. 

Common. I have repeatedly seen these birds fly down to 
the trunk of a tree and cling like a Woodpecker; but I never 
saw them climb. 


205. Hirrococcyx VARIUS. 
I have only met with this Cuckoo in the neighbourhood of 
the Burha hills at the commencement of the rains. 


212. CoccysTES JACOBINUS. 
I have obtained this species in a grass preserve near Rajkote 
during the rains. 


408 Capt. J. Hayes Lloyd on the 


214. EKupyYNAMYS HONORATA. 
E. orientalis, Jerdon. 
Very common. 


217. CENTROPUS RUFIPENNIS. 

Common. A pair built a great untidy-looking nest in a 
lime-bush in the Durbar Garden at Gondul, and brought up 
five young. 


222. Taccocva AFFINIS ? 

A bird of this genus was common about twenty miles east 
of Rajkote; but unluckily the tract they inhabited was alsoa 
favourite haunt of panthers, and every time I saw the bird I 
was, rifle in hand, searching for the nobler game. On each 
occasion I made up my mind that I would visit the place for 
the express purpose of shooting a Taccocua; but somehow, 
as soon as I got there, some evil spirit entered into me and 
compelled me to exchange the gun for the rifle, and I finally 
quitted the province Taccocua-less. 


934. ARACHNECHTHRA ASIATICA. 
Very common. 


255. Upupa NIGRIPENNIS. 
Common. 


256. LANIUS LAHTORA. 
Very common. 


257. LANIUS ERYTHRONOTUS. 
Rare. 


260. LANIUS VITTATUS. 
Very common. 


262. LANIUS ARENARIUS. 

Not uncommon. 

Of these Shrikes LZ. /ahtora is a permanent resident ; the 
others ‘disappear during the hot weather and rains, to breed 
elsewhere. 


265. TrEPHRODORNIS PONDICERIANA. 
Common. 


Birds of Kattiawar, Western India. 409 


270. GRAUCALUS MACEI. 

Common. This is one of the species visiting the plains of 
Kattiawar during the cold weather, and retiring to the Geernar 
and Geer forests for the rains and hot season. It is some- 
what remarkable that of the numbers of this bird that I have 
seen and shot, not only in Kattiawar, but in the Konkan 
province, not one should have had the throat and breast un- 
barred. The measurements also were in all cases less than 
those given by Dr. Jerdon in his ‘ Birds of India,’ and by 
Mr. Blanford (J. A.S. B. xli. p. 157). My specimens ranged 
from 10°5 to 11 inches in length, wing 6°2 to 6°4. 


278. BucHANGA ALBIRICTUS. 
Dicrurus macrocercus, Jerdon. 
Very common. 


281. BucHANGA CHRULESCENS. 

Not common. Chiefly confined to the wooded regions of 
the Geernar and Geer, but visiting the plains in the cold 
season. Wing 4°9. 


288. TCHITREA PARADISI. 
Not common. Only met with in the Geer. 


292. LEUCOCERCA AUREOLA. 
L. albofrontata, Jerdon. 
Not uncommon. Wing 3:2. 


299 bis. Buraris GRIsoLa. 
Rare. I obtained one specimen at Rajkote in the cold 
season. 


305. CyorNiIs JERDONI. 

Common in the neighbourhood of the Geernar and Geer, 
and visiting gardens and groves in the open country. Ona 
former occason I expressed an opinion (Ibis, 1872, p. 197) 
that C. tickellie, Blyth, was the female of C. jerdoni (san- 
guineus). In reply to this, Lord Walden stated (Ibis, 1872, 
p- 330) that C. tickellie was distinguishable by having white 
lores. Now, not only is no mention made of white lores in 
Mr. Blyth’s original description of C. tickellie (J. A.S. B. xii. 
p. 941), but this feature is present insome of my female spe- 


410 Capt. J. Hayes Lloyd on the 


eimens of C. jerdoni, the said specimens presenting other and 
very evident signs of immaturity. Since my arrival in Eng- 
land I have had the pleasure of looking through Lord Walden’s 
series and of discussing the subject with him; and I believe 
he is now satisfied that C. tickellie is not a distinct species, 
but only the female of C. jerdoni. 


323 bis. ERYTHROSTERNA PARVA. 

Rare. A male, shot in November, has the rufous throat, 
but not quite so bright as another shot at Matheran in Jan- 
uary. This species, like the last, is to be met with occasion- 
ally in groves and gardens in the open country. 


345. Pirrs BENGALENSIS. 

During my short trip to the Geer I was one day stalking 
a lion, and saw several of what I believe were this species. 
One, in particular, surprised me by perching on the branch 
of a leafless tree and emitting a succession of loud double 
notes, giving me while so employed a good opportunity of 
studying his markings. Under the circumstances I thought 
I might put off securing a specimen, and accordingly sacri- 
ficed science to sport. Of course I never saw a Pitta again, 
and should not be at all surprised if the Kattiawar bird turn 
out to be a new species. 


351. PrTROcOSSYPHUS CYANEUS. 
Not common. I shot a female and saw the male near the 
top of the Geernar mountains in the middle of April. 


385. PycroRHIS SINENSIS. 
Rare. 


434. MALACOCIRCUS MALABARICUS. 

Common. Length of wing 4:1. 

This species and M. terricolor seem to me very doubtfully 
separable. 


436. MALAcociRCUS MALCOLMI. 
Common. Length of wing 4°6. 


438. CHATARRHAA CAUDATA. 
Common, Length of wing 3. 


Birds of Kattiawar, Western India. A411 


459. OrocoMPsa LEUCOTIS. 

1 only once met with this bird, in a grove at Mahdoopoon, 
on the west coast ; and my specimens were subsequently de- 
stroyed ; but I believe it is common in the Oakhammandel dis- 


tricts in the extreme west, and also in the neighbourhood of 
the Burda hills. 


462. PyYCNONOTUS PUSILLUS. 


P. hemorrhous, Jerdon. 
Very common. 


467. Iona ZEYLONICA. 
Common in the neighbourhood of the Geernar and Geer. 


472. ORIOLUS MELANOCEPHALUS. 


I once saw in the Geer a Black-headed Oriole, which I 


think was more likely to have been this species than O. cey- 
lonensis. 


475. CopsycHUS SAULARIS. 


Only met with in the neighbourhood of the Geernar a 
Geer, where it is not uncommon. 


480. THAMNOBIA CAMBAIENSIS. 

Common. Many specimens are intermediate in colouring 
between T. cambaiensis and T. fulicata. 

481. PRATINCOLA CAPRATA. 

Common. Wing 2°6 to 2'8. 


483. PRATINCOLA INDICA. 

Very common. In most of my specimens the tail-fea- 
thers show some white at the base, not visible until the upper 
tail-coverts' are pulled aside. Length about 5°15; wings 
average 2°7. 

489. SaxIcoLa PICATA. 

Common. Average length 6:4; wings average 3°6. 

491. SaxicoLa ISABELLINA, Ruppell. 

S. enanthe, Jerdon. 

Very common. Length 6 to 65. Wing 3°6 to 3°8. 

492. SaxiCOLA DESERTI. 

Very common. Wing 3°6 to 3°75. 


S12 Capt. J. Hayes Lloyd on the 


497. RuTicILLaA RUFIVENTRIS. 
Not common. 


516. AcROCEPHALUS DUMETORUM. 
Very abundant in the cold season in gardens and groves. 


530. ORTHOTOMUS LONGICAUDA. 
Common. 


535. PRINIA STEWARTI. 
Not common. Length 5 inches; wing 1°9. 


539. CisTIcoLA SCH@NICOLA. 
Common. 


543. DrymMa@ca INORNATA. 
Very common. 


553. PHYLLOPNEUSTE RAMA. 
Common. In appearance this bird resembles a miniature 
Acrocephalus dumetorum. 


582. SyLvIA AFFINIS. 
Not uncontmon in the cold season. 


596. PrpastEs arBoREUS=P. agilis, Sykes. 
Common. A grove near the town of Dhorajee was much 
frequented by this species. 


631. ZostEROPS PALPEBROSUS. 

Common. This bird is, I think, a permanent resident in 
the province. I have shot it in gardens in the plains during 
March, and in the Geernar and Geer jungles towards the 
close of the hot weather. 


645. Parus CINEREUS. 


Only obtaimed in the Geernar and Geer jungles, where it 
is common. 


660. Corvus LEVAILLANTI, Lesson. 

C. culminatus, Jerdon. 

Common in the Geernar and Geer jungles, and met with 
occasionally in the open country. It is the only Crow on the 
summit of the Geernar. 


Birds of Kattiawar, Western India. 413 


663. Corvus SPLENDENS, 
Very common. 


674. DrnpRociTTa RUFA. 
Common where there are gardens, as at Gondul and 
Dhorajee. 


684. ACRIDOTHERES TRISTIS. 
Very common. 


685. ACRIDOTHERES GINGINIANUS. 

About the first or second week in May this species appears 
in great numbers, taking possession of all the old wells and 
building in the holes and crevices. According to my obser- 
vations their nidification is at least a fortnight earlier than 
that of A. tristis. After the rainy season is over their num- 
bers gradually diminish, until only an occasional pair are met 
with where before there were hundreds. 


687. TEMENUCHUS PAGODARUM. 

I do not remember to have met with this bird in the western 
parts of the province. In the eastern districts it was occa- 
sionally seen ; and at the Pandree talao, near Licuree, I found 
it comparatively numerous. 


690. Pastor ROSEUS. 
Very common in the cold season. 


694. PLocEUs BAYA. 

During the monsoon these birds are met with breeding in 
colonies in all parts of the country ; but they disappear after 
nidification is over. For a long time I did not know what 
became of them; but when in the neighbourhood of the Geer, 
in April, I saw a large flock of plain-coloured Finch-hke birds, 
which, from a near view, appeared to be this species in non- 
breeding-plumage. Kattiawar examples are referable to the 
small race. Wing 2°75, bill at front 0°65. 


703. MuNIA MALABARICA. 
Common. 


706. Passer INDICUS. 
Very common. 


414 Capt. J. Hayes Lloyd on the 


711. PassER FLAVICOLLIS. 

The only place I ever met with this species was Liniree, 
in the eastern division, where I twice obtained specimens, 
which, however, were subsequently destroyed. 


716. CriTRINELLA HUTTONI. 
Common. 


756. MIRAFRA ERYTHROPTERA. 
Shortly before and during the rainy season this species is 
very abundant ; afterwards it almost entirely disappears. 


758. AMMOMANES PHENICURA. 
Common. 


760. PyRRHULAUDA GRISEA. 
Common. 


765. SPrIzALAUDA MALABARICA, Scopoli. 

Spizalauda deva, Sykes (Cf. Blanford, Ibis, 1873, p. 222). 

Lord Walden has kindly shown me a copy of Sonnerat’s 
work, containing a figure of Scopoli’s bird, and I have no 
doubt the above identification is correct. A specimen in my 
collection is much mottled with white. 


772. CROCOPUS PH@NICOPTERUS. 
Common in the wooded regions of the south, and extending 
occasionally to other parts of the country. 


788. CoLUMBA INTERMEDIA. 
Very common. 


794. TurRTUR CAMBAYENSIS. 
Very common. 


795. TuRTUR SURATENSIS. 
Abundant in the wooded tracts of the south. 


796. TuRTUR RISORIA. 
Very common. 


797. TuRTUR HUMILIS. 
Obtained in all parts of the country, with the exception of 
the forest-tracts, but nowhere abundant. 


Birds of Kattiawar, Western India. 415 


800. PreRocLEs FASCIATUS. 

Common. The first time I met with this species was in 
the Than districts, where, one evening, a small party of four 
or five came to drink after dusk, alighting silently on the 
shingle in front of my tent. It was too dark to make out 
what they were; but I set them down in my mind as Goat- 
suckers, and was much surprised on taking a random shot to 
find I had got this Sandgrouse. As a rule, they are met with 
on low rocky hills or amongst cactus-bushes, and seem to avoid 
the bare plains. 


802. PreROcLES EXUSTUS. , 
Very common. 


803. Pavo cRISTATUS. 
Very common. 


819. FRANCOLINUS PICTUS. 
Common. 


822. ORTYGORNIS PONTICERIANA. 
Common. 


827. PERDICULA ASIATICA. 
Common. 


829. CoruRNIX COMMUNIS. 
A fair bag of Grey Quail can be made in some parts of the 
province ; but they are by no means generally distributed. 


836. EupopoTIs EDWARDSI. 
Common. 


837. HouBARA MACQUEENI. 
Rare. Met with occasionally in the north and north-west 
of the province. 


839. SYPHEOTIDES AURITUS. 
Abundant in the rains. 


840. CurRsorIUS COROMANDELICUS. 

Common. According to Dr. Stoliczka (J. A. S. B. xi. 
p- 250), all the Courier Plovers found in Kuchh are referable 
to C. jamesonii, Jerdon. The same species will probably be 

SER. I1I:—VOL. III. 2G 


416 Capt. J. Hayes Lloyd on the 


met with in the Kattiawar districts adjoining the Runne, a 
part of the province I was unfortunately never able to visit. 


844. SQUATAROLA HELVETICA. 
I have obtained this bird on the coast in winter plumage. 


845. CHARADRIUS LONGIPES. 
Not uncommon. 


846. ARGIALITIS GEOFFROYI. 
Very common along the Gulf of Kuchh. 


847. ANGIALITIS MONGOLICUS. 
44. pyrrhothorax, Jerdon. 
Associating in large flocks with the above. 


850. /EGIALITES MINUTUS. 
Common. 


852. CHETTUSIA GREGARIA. 
I have twice obtained this species, once near Wodwan, and 
again near Gondud; but the specimens have been destroyed. 


855. LoBIVANELLUS GOENSIS. 
Very common. 


856. SARCIOPHORUS RILOBUS. 
Common. 


858. Esacus RECURVIROSTRIS. 

I have only once obtained this bird, getting a single ex- 
ample out of a small party that were running about the stony 
bed of a river near Togana. 


859. CEpICNEMUS CREPITANS. 
Very common. 


860. STREPSILAS INTERPRES. 
Not common. 


862. HamMarTorus OsTRALEGUS. 

Common. Jerdon gives the bill as 4 inches long! A spe- 
cimen in my collection has it 38 inches—considerably longer 
and thinner than European examples. 


863. GRUS ANTIGONE. 
Common. 


Birds of Kattiawar, Western India. 417 


865. GRUS CINEREA. 
Common in the cold weather. Py 


866. ANTHROPOIDES VIRGO. 
Very abundant in the cold season. 


871. GALLINAGO SCOLAPACINA. 
Abundant in the séason. 


873. RHYNCHAA BENGALENSIS. 

Not common. I believe it to be a permanent resident, as 
I have shot it during the early part of the rains in some of 
the rushy tanks of the Than district. 


875. LimMosa ZGOCEPHALA. 
Common. A winter visitant. 


877. NuMENIUS LINEATUS, Cuv. 
Common. 


878. NuUMENIUS PHZXOPUS. 
Common. 


882. TRINGA SUBARQUATA. 


883. TRINGA CINCLUS. 
I found these two species associating in large flocks on the 
shores of the Gulf of Kuchh during the cold season. 


888. CALIDRIS ARENARIA. 
I found this species not uncommon along the Gulf of Ruchh 
in the cold season. 


892. AcTITIS OCHROPUS. 
Common. 


893. ACTITIS HYPOLEUCOS. 
Very common. 


897. ToTaNUS CALIDRIS. 
Very common. 


898. HIMANTOPUS CANDIDUS. 
Common. 


899. RecuRVIROSTRA AVOCETTA. 
The Avocet is very abundant on the Null and other sheets 
of water. I have frequently observed them swimming. 
242 


418 Capt. J. Hayes Lloyd on the 


901. HypRoPHASIANUS CHIRURGUS. 

Not uncommon in weedy tanks. Near Baolee, on the 
Null, several could always be shot on a small sheet of water 
a little to the west of the village. 

902. PoRPHYRIO POLIOCEPHALUS. 

Common. Great numbers of this species are to be found 
in the acres of sedge and rush round the Null, also at the 
Lake of Saela, and in some of the rushy streams on the west 
coast. 


903. Furica aTRA. 

Very common. 

907. GALLINULA PH@NICURA. 

I have seen this species on several occasions, and once 
watched a pair feeding a few yards off on the bank of a little 
stream that ran past my tent-door; but I never shot an 
example. 

915. LEPToPTILOS ARGALA. 

I have never shot one of these birds, though I have seen 
them frequently. 


917. MycTERIA AUSTRALIS. 
Common. 


923. ARDEA CINEREA. 
Common. 


924. ARDEA PURPUREA. 
I have met with this Heron frequently in marshes and 


rushy streams on the west coast. 


926. HERopiAs EGRETTOIDES. 
Common. 


927. Heropias GARZETTA. 
Common. 


928. DEMIEGRETTA ASHA. 
Common by the sea-side. At Balacherry, on the Gulf of 


Kuchh, H. egrettoides, H. garzetta, and Demiegretta asha 
were equally abundant. 


Birds of Kattiawar, Western India. 419 


929. BurHUS COROMANDUS. 
Very common. 


930. ARDEOLA LEUCOPTERA. 
Common. 


937. NycTIcoRAx GRISEUS. 
Common. 


938. TANTALUS LEUCOCEPHALUS. 
Very common. 


939. PLaTaLEA LEUCORODIA. 

Not uncommon. At the village of Warodea, a few miles 
west of Limree, is a small tank much frequented by Spoon- 
bills; and I have often watched them sitting on a particular 
tree, balancing themselves awkwardly on the branches and 
keeping up a curious creaking noise, quite unlike the note of 


a bird. 


941. THRESKIORNIS MELANOCEPHALUS. 
Not uncommon. 


942. GERONTICUS PAPILLOSUS. 
Common. 


943. FALCINELLUS IGNEUS. 
Common on all the large lakes, and met with at such of 
the small tanks as were overgrown with rushes or weeds. 


944. PHa@NICOPTERUS ANTIQUORUM. 
Immense flocks are to be seen on all the large lakes and 
also on the coast. 


950. SARKIDIORNIS MELANONOTUS. 
Common. 


951. NurraPus COROMANDELIANUS. 
I obtained this species on the lake at Bullol, east of Limree. 


952. DENDROCYGNA AUSUREE. 
Not common. 


954. CasARCA RUTILA. 
Not common. 


957. SPATULA CLYPEATA. 


4.20 On the Birds of Kittiawar, Western India.” 
959. ANAS PHCILORHYNCHA. 
961. CHAULELASMUS STREPERUS. 
962. Darita acuta. 
963. MarecA PENELOPE. 


964. QuUERQUEDULA CRECCA. 
All very common. 


965. QuUERQUEDULA CIRCIA. 
I have shot this species only on the Null. 


968. AYTHYA FERINA. 
Once obtained on the Null. 


969. AYTHYA NYROCA. 
Common. 


971. FULIGULA CRISTATA. 
Not uncommon. I have shot many in the neighbourhood 
of Baolee. 


978. Larus ruscescens, Licht. 

(See Blyth, Ibis, 1867, pp. 176, 314.) 

Common on the shores of the Gulf of Kuchh. Back and 
wings pale brownish grey; primaries grey, with a blackish 
band confined to the tip of the innermost primary, but in- 
creasing in width to the outermost, which is almost entirely 
blackish brown, with a white spot near the tip. Bull yellow, 
red at the lower angle; legs and feet yellow. Wing 18°5 
inches, bill at front 2°2. 


980. XEMA BRUNNEICEPHALA. 

(See Stoliczka, J. A.S. B. xl. p. 256). 

Quills in the adult white, with a black band, narrower on 
the inner primaries, increasing in width to the outer; the 
4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th primaries are white-tipped, the 8rd has 
no white tip; the 1st and 2nd have a large subterminal white 
spot. Wing 13°5 inches. A young bird shot in October has 
the wing-coverts mottled with brown ; the quills brown, with- 
out the white subterminal spot, and the tail with a dark 
brown terminal band. The white of the head and neck is 


Letters, Announcements, &c. 4.21 


mottled with dusky, and the brown spot behind the ear-coverts 
is very distinct. Wing 13. 


983. GELOCHELIDON ANGLICUS. 
Very common. 


985. SEENA AURANTIA, 
Very common, 


989. THALAssEus 

At Balacherry, on the Gulf of Kuchh, I frequently noticed 
a sea-Tern, which I believe to have been Th. bengalensis, 
but which may have been the larger species. I never ob- 
tained a specimen. 


1004, PeELEcanus 

Pelicans, both grey and rite, are not uncommon both on 
the coast and on the large inland lakes, but they take good 
care to keep out of shot. 


1005. GRACULUS CARBO. 
Common on the Null. 


1008. PLotus MELANOGASTER. 
Common. 


XLVI.—Letters, Announcements, &c. 


The following letters, addressed ‘To the Editor of ‘ The 
Ibis,” have been received :— 


Sir,—In the ‘ Proceedings’ of the Zoological Society for 
1865, p. 823, I described the Harrier of New Caledonia under 
the name of “ Circus wolfi.’ Since that time some eminent 
ornithologists have expressed the opinion that this Harrier is 
not really distinct from C. gouldi of Australia and New Zea- 
land; I am therefore desirous of calling attention to a recent 
corroboration of my view as to the specific distinctness of 
these two Harriers, which will be found in page 16 of the in- 
troduction to Mr. Buller’s valuable ‘ History of the Birds of 
New Zealand.’ 


422 Letters, Announcements, &c. 


Mr. Buller and I carefully compared the adult males 
of C. wolfi and C. gouldi, and were both convinced that the 
two species are quite distinct. 

Mr. Buller writes respecting C. wolfi, “it appears to me to 
be readily distinguishable from our bird (C. gouldi) by its 
blackish crown and ear-coverts, and likewise by the much 
darker colour of its wing-coverts.” 

I may add that C. wolfi is equally distinct from C. spilonotus, 
to which Professor Schlegel was disposed to refer it, but which 
I have never seen from any locality south of Singapore. 

I am yours, &c. 
J. H. Gurney. 


Northrepps, Norwich, 
August 11, 1875. 

Sir,—In ‘The Ibis’ for 1870, p. 67, Messrs. Elwes and 
Buckley quote a letter written by me in which I express 
an opinion that two Eagles obtained by those gentlemen from 
M. Alléon, who procured them during their northward vernal 
migration near the Bosphorus, were specimens of Aquila ne- 
vioides in an unusually dark phase of plumage. 

I was confirmed in this opinion by finding in one of these 
specimens two small particoloured scapular feathers, which 
appeared to me to indicate that the bird was commencing the 
assumption of the particoloured plumage which always dis- 
tinguishes adult South-African specimens of Aquila nevioides, 
and in which the great majority of the feathers are coloured 
partly rufous and partly purplish brown, the two tints being 
both present and sharply defined and contrasted on the same 
feather. 

This specimen is now in the hands of Mr. W. E. Brooks, 
of Assensole, Bengal, who has been so good as to inform me 
that it is identical with the Indian Aguila bifasciata in fully 
adult plumage—a stage in which A. bifasciata was unknown 
to me until I became acquainted with it from the result of Mr. 
Brooks’s zealous investigations in India. 

Mr. Brooks has further been so good as to me send two small 
particoloured feathers, plucked from a specimen of Aguila bi- 


Letters, Announcements, &c. 423 


fasciata shot at Futtehgurh, in Northern India, by Mr. A. 
Anderson, which closely resemble the particoloured feathers 
of Aquila nevioides, and prove that this phase of plumage 
also occurs in A. bifasciata, though, I apprehend, only occa- 
sionally, and not as the invariable form of adult dress, which 
it is in the case of South-African specimens of A. nevioides. 
Under these circumstances I have now no doubt that I was 
wrong in considering the two Eagles brought from the Bos- 
phorus to be dark specimens of Aquila nevioides. 

My. H. E. Dresser, in a paper recently communicated to 
the Zoological Society, stated that he has lately examined one 
of the Bosphorus Eagles procured from that locality by Capt. 
Elwes, and considered it to be “an adult or, rather, a very 
old specimen of Aquila orientalis.” 

Mr. Brooks, however, as already mentioned, positively 
identifies the Bosphorus Eagle in his possession with Aquila 
bifasciata. 

Are then A. orientalis and A. bifasciata one and the same 
species? I can hardly think so, as, though undoubtedly very 
nearly related, the specimens of A. orientalis which I have 
examined are on the average smaller and darker birds than the 
examples of A. bifasciata which have come under my notice. 

This bemg the case, I concur with Mr. Dresser in the 
opinion which he has expressed in the paper above referred 
to, that the question of the identity or otherwise of A. orien- 
tatis and A. bifasciata must remain an open one till a larger 
number of specimens (and especially immature specimens of 
A. orientalis) have been obtained for comparison than we have 
at present access to for that purpose. 

I am yours, &c. 
J. H. Gurney. 


Chefo, 80th April, 1873. 
Sir,—I have a few more words to say of my doings in or- 
nithology at Shanghai. I did not leave Shanghai till the 
23rd of April, and so had several more opportunities of visit- 
ing the market since I last wrote*, On the 14th I procured 


‘ * Vide supra, p. 364. 


424, Letters, Announcements, &c. 


another male Post-horse Dotterel (Hudromias veredus, Gould), 
in more advanced plumage than the last, with the crown of 
its head changing also into white; so I really believe, as I 
imagined from a view of a specimen in Pere David’s museum 
at Pekin (v. P. Z.S. 1870, p. 430), that in the fully mature 
summer plumage the male has the whole head white. On 
the 19th I got a pair of the same species. The female was 
much less developed in change of dress. Her upper plumage 
was all bordered with buff, like that of a young bird; and her 
breast was olive-brown moulting into chestnut, many feathers 
broadly margined with yellowish grey, the black line below 
the breast-band showing not very conspicuously. She had 
longer wings than any of the three males procured, and 
longer tarsi. 

The 16th April was a day of great luck for me. Baskets 
on baskets of Knots (Zringa canutus, L.), Chinese Knots 
(T. crassirostris, T. & 8.), and Tip-tilted* Godwits (Limosa 
uropygialis, Gould) filled every dealer’s shop; and among 
these there was great choice of specimens. ‘The first were 
for the most part in summer plumage, the females being 
larger than the males. The second were in summer dress on 
the underparts; but the upper feathers were only reddened 
here and there. Of these the females were a good deal larger 
than the males. Of the Godwits, the small-sized birds, or 
males, were nearly all in summer plumage; but I could not 
find the large long-billed female in any dress more advanced 
than the zigzag-banded intermediate style; plenty of them were 
still in winter costume. A basket of little birds was then 
shown me; and from among a number of the Common and 
Broad-billed Stints I was delighted to pick out a pair of Tip- 
tilted Sandpipers, two male Curlew Stints, several Australian 
Stints (Tringa acuminata, Horsf.), two Mongolian Sand- 
Plovers, and, best joy of alltwo Spoonbill Stints! The Broad- 
bills (Tringa platyrhyncha, Temm.) were some in winter and 
some in summer costume, and some in intermediate. I could 
distinguish no constant difference in size between the sexes. 
The Tiptilted Sandpipers (Terekia cinerea) were in summer 


* Thanks to the Poet Laureate for this much-wanted adjective. 


Letters, Announcements, §c. 425 


dress, and showed no difference between the sexes (deter- 
mined by dissection). I took down the following details from 
the fresh male :— 

Terekia cinerea, 3. Length 9°5 inches. Wing 5-15, reach- 
ing to end of tail; first quill longest, -3 longer than tip of 
tertiaries. Tail 2-2, of twelve slightly graduated feathers, 
outer °25 shorter than centrals. Feet, stretched backwards, 
slightly exceeding tail, say by °2. Bare part of tibia -75; 
tarse 1:15; middle toe °85, its claw -2. Legs orange clay- 
colour. Bill recurved, from forehead to tip 1:9, from gape 
2°05 ; yellowish olive-brown at base and rictus, blackish brown 
on the rest. 

Dissection. Intestine thick, 11 inches long; cxcoid appen- 
dage 5 inches from anus, *5 long, and curled inwards at tip ; 
ceca ‘75 from anus, 1°6 long. Stomach an irregular oval 1 
long by ‘6 broad. Epithelium firmly fixed, containing dry 
mud and bits of small black beetles. 

The two Curlew Stints (Tringa subarcuata) were both males 
and only partially moulted. The Australian Stints were all 
males in summer plumage. 

The two Mongolian Plovers, Afgialites mongolus (Pall.), 
were also both males: one was just beginning to acquire the 
summer dress; the other retained its winter peculiarities. 

Of the two Pigmy Spoonbills, one is in winter plumage, 

the other commencing to blush into its summer redness. Both 
proved males. I took the ‘following note from them while 
fresh :— 
}- Eurynorhynchus pygmeus, 3. Length 6} inches. Wing 
3°85, not exceeding tail; first quill little longer than the 
second, exceeding the tertiaries by 2. Tail 1:75; outer 
rectrix ‘2 longer than second and third, *1 longer than fourth 
and fifth, °15 shorter than centrals; thus is the tail doubly 
forked. Bare part of tibia °55 ; tarse °85; middle toe °71, 
its claw °15; all olive-black. Bill from forehead -90, also 
olive-black. 

Dissection. Bones of the head soft and easily broken. Tra- 
chea simple. Stomach circular, flattish at sides, about } inch 
broad. Epithelium thick and loose, containing fragments of 


426 Letters, Announcements, &c. 


small bivalve shells and two entire minute univalves. Intes- 
tine thick and whitish, narrower near rectum, 10°5 inches 
long; ccoid appendage 4°75 from anus, °3 long, ‘1 thick ; 
ceca *75 from anus, 1:2 long, bulging towards ends, and end- 
ing in a point. 

These birds were perfect strangers to the marketmen; and 
they had no name for them. 

On the 17th I noticed a few of the eastern Little Stint (7. 
salina, Pall.), and of Temminck’s Stint (7. temmincki); but 
these are too small to meet much attention from the pot-sup- 
pliers. Spring Snipe (Gallinago megala, mihi) were just ar- 
riving from the south, and mixed with them a few Pin-tailed 
Snipes (G. horsfieldi, Gray). I had hunted in vain for this 
last species before. ‘The only Snipe obtainable during winter 
about Shanghai is the common G. scolopacina. The Pin-tail 
does not appear to remain in that Bese soul as it does 
about Amoy, Canton, and in Formosa. 

On the 18th I found a solitary Pigmy Curlew (Numenius 
minutus, Gould); and almost every day afterwards there were 
one or two in the market. I took notes on the first male. 

Numenius minutus, 8. Length 12°5 inches. Wing 7°5, 
‘13 longer than tail, *85 longer than tertiaries; first quill 
longest. Tail 3-2, -6 longer than under tail-coverts, 1:2 longer 
than upper tail-coverts ; outer rectrix *3 shorter than centrals. 
Bare part of tibia 1 inch; tarse 2°23, middle toe 1:3; its 
claw *2; colour light yellowish grey, dark on joints of toes, 
claws black. Bull from forehead 1°88, from gape 2°18, curved 
downwards, fleshy buff on basal two thirds, blackish brown 
on apical third and on culmen. 

Dissection. Male with small testes. Intestine thick, -19 
inch long ; cca 1] inch from anus, ‘75 and ‘65 long, *15 thick, 
and pointed ; czcoid appendage 8°5 inches from anus, ‘5 long, 
and pointed. Gizzard oval, with very strong lateral tendons, 
1:15 long by ‘9 broad ; epithelium thick, containing fragments 
of shells and some rice-like seeds. 

I got two more males, one the same size as the above, the 
other smaller, with shorter legs and toes. No females were 
brought. 


Letters, Announcements, &c. 427 


With the small Curlew a few of the eastern Black-tailed 
_Godwit, Limosa brevipes, came in. These were all males, 
and in nearly full summer plumage. 

The Eastern Golden Plovers (Charadrius fulvus) were now 
frequent. I give the measurements of a fresh male in nearly 
complete summer dress :— 

Charadrius fulvus, g. Length 9°5 inches. Wing 6:5, 
exceeding tail by °5; tip of wing °85 beyond tertiaries, first 
quill longest. Tail 2°6, of twelve slightly graduated fea- 
thers ; the two centrals longest by *2.. Bare part of tibia -7; 
tarse 1:78; middle toe 1:3, its claw -18. The legs stretched 
backwards reach beyond the tail 1:3. Beak from forehead ‘9, 
from gape 1:1. 

One bird Iwas constantly on the look-out for but never 
found—to wit, the Eastern Grey Snipe, Psewdoscolopax semi- 
palmatus, Blyth. 

Yours, &e. 
R. Swinyoe. 


Wellington, N. Z., Ist July, 1873. 


Srrk,—In the introduction to Dr. Buller’s ‘ Birds of New 
Zealand’ a specimen of Tribonyx mortieri is mentioned as 
having been brought from New Zealand by Mr. Bills, which 
bird Mr. Bills stated was captured near Lake Waihora, in 
Otago. On reading this I remembered that I had seen a 
specimen of Tribonyx mortiert in the gardens of the Otago 
Acclimatization Society shortly before Mr. Bills left New 
Zealand ; and suspecting that this was the bird that Mr. Bills 
took home, I wrote to Mr. A. C. Purdie, Curator of the Otago 
museum, and asked him to find out for me the history of this 
bird. The following is an extract from his answer :— 

“The Rail (Tribonyx mortiert) that you say is described 
by Dr. Buller as from New Zealand, is the same that you 
saw in the Society’s gardens. It was brought from Hobarton 
by Mr. Clifford, and was presented to the Society by Sir 
Morton Allport, of Hobarton, when Mr. Clifford was there 


+} - 


4.28 Letters, Announcements, &c. 


on a visit. This was the only bird of the kind taken home 
by Mr. Bills last year. 

“How Mr. Bills could think of stating that the bird had 
been caught on the shores of any lake in New Zealand, he 
can best explain, as I have no doubt that he knew its whole 
history.” 

I remain, &c. &c., 
F. W. Hourron. 


The following extracts are from letters received from our 
Editor :— 

“ Guatemala, 20th June. 

“Since we arrived here I have had no opportunities of 
collecting birds, as Guatemala lies in the middle of an open 
plain, and we have not yet secured horses so as to be able to 
make excursions. The only bird-work I have done has been 
overhauling a small museum kept by the Sociedad Economica 
de Guatemala, and where they are trying to make a collection 
of all the natural-history products of this country. The lead- 
ing spirit is Don Juan Rodriguez, who has done some good 
work for foreign collectors of Coleoptera, and who is a very 
excellent fellow. Of course the society have a good deal to 
do before they can boast of any thing like a complete collec- 
tion of birds; but I found a few interesting species in their 
cases. They have a Dendreca I believe to be Coues’s D. 
gracie, which I never obtained myself, and a specimen of 
Threnetes ruckeri, also new to Guatemala. I saw also a mottled 
specimen of Buteo albonotatus. 

“T have had no time yet to look up any of my old shooting- 
places at Duefias; but I hear that considerable changes have 
taken place, and that a large amount of land has been put 
under cultivation. The slopes of the Volcan de Fuego, which 
in former times were all brushwood, are now cultivated for 
corn crops. The upper forests remain much the same, so far 
as I could see. However, I hope to look them up shortly.” 


“Guatemala, August 5th. 


“Two days ago I got several specimens of Panyptila mela- 


Letters, Announcements, &c. 429 


noleuca from the old place. Oreophasis has turned up in 
Vera Paz. I have seen several skins from there, but have 
not yet asccrtained exactly where they were shot.” 


Publications received.—Mr. Claude M. Wyatt sends us the 
ornithological portion of the ‘ Report of the Ordnance Survey 
of the Peninsula of Sinai,’ which contains short notes on the 
species of birds met with by Mr. Wyatt and other recent ob- 
servers. Several of Mr. Tristram’s recent novelties were ob- 
tained, e.g. Sylvia deserti, Drymeca eremita, and Amydrus 
tristrami. The list will be useful for local reference. Six 
large lithographic plates (uncoloured) give illustrations of 
some of the rarer species. 

Dr. A. M. Ross forwards the first number of the ‘ Canadian 
Ornithologist’ (Toronto, 1873), a new monthly record of in- 
formation concerning Canadian ornithology, of which he is 
Editor. 

Dr. O. Larcher, of Paris, sends the first fascicle of a new 
serial entitled ‘ Mélanges de Pathologie Comparée et de Té- 
ratologie,’ which contains several articles relating to the pa- 
thological anatomy of birds—a branch of the subject not 
hitherto much studied. 

From Baron Droste we have received the Report of the 19th 
meeting of the German Ornithologists’ Association*, which 
took place at Cassel in May of last year. Here will be found 
much to interest students of the Palzearctic ornis. 

Hr. F. Leybold has lately published at Santiago, Chili, a 
very interesting account of a month’s excursion from that 
city over the Andes into the Argentine Republic+, and has 
been kind enough to send a copy to the Acting Editor of this 
journal. Many notes are introduced respecting the birds ob- 
served and obtained. Not only this, but descriptions of two 

* Bericht tiber die Versammlung der Deutschen Ornithologen-Gesell- 
schaft zu Cassel abgehalten am 23. und 24. Mai 1872. Herausgegeben von 
dem Geschiiftsfiihrer der Gesellschaft Ferd. Baron Droste und dessen 
Stellvertreter Dr. Bernhard Borggreve. Minster: 98 pp. 8vo. 


+ Escursion a las Pampas Argentinas. Hojas de mi diario. Por Fe- 
derico Leybold. Santiago: 1875. 108 pp. 8vo. 


430 Letters, Announcements, &c. 


new species are given, proposed to be called Columbina auri- 
squamata and Conurus glaucifrons. The latter, Dr. Finsch 
informs us, is Conurus acuticaudatus, Vieillot. The former 
remains yet to be recognized in Europe. 

We have likewise received copies of a reprint of Mr. Black- 
wall’s ‘ Researches in Zoology’ (London, 1873), presented by 
the author, and of the ‘ Report of the Commissioner of Agri- 
culture for the year 1871, presented by the Department of 
Agriculture of the U.S. A. 


Some remarkable additions have recently been made to our 
knowledge of the extinct forms of bird-life. Not to speak of 
the completion of Prof. A. Milne-Edwards’s ‘ Ornithologie 
Fossile, which has made us acquaimted with so many new 
genera of fossil birds, Prof. Owen has recently published 
in the ‘Transactions’ of the Zoological Society the descrip- 
tion of an Australian Struthious form allied to Dromeus 
(Dromornis australis*), and has communicated to the Geolo- 
gical Society + that of a still more wonderful ornithic type pro- 
vided with teeth (Odontopteryx tolpiacus), founded upon a 
skull exhumed from the Sheppey clay. As a pendant to the 
latter, Prof. Marsh has lately { described a new “subclass of 
fossil birds” (OpontorNitTHES), founded on two “ dentiger- 
ous” forms from the upper cretaceous shale of Kansas—Ich- 
thyornis dispar and Apatornis celer. Lastly a new gigantic 
fossil egg has been discovered in Southern Russia, and its un- 
known producer called Struthiolithus chersonensis§ by Dr, 
A. Brandt. 


* Trans. Zool. Soc. viii. p. 381. 

+ See ‘Nature,’ July 10th (p. 215). 

t Am. Journ. of Science and Art, vol. v. 

§ Bull. Ac. Sc. St. Pétersbourg, xviii. p. 159. 


fel Hoe BEL: S, 


THIRD SERIES. 


SUPPLEMENT, 1873. 


XLVII.—Index to the Ornithological Literature of 1872. By 
P. L. Scuater, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., and O. Finscu, Ph.D. 


AIKEN, C. E. 
[See Hotpen, Jr., C. R.] 


~ ALLEN, J. A. 


1. Remarks concerning the Geographical Variation in Mam- 
mals and Birds. Proc. Bost. Soc. N. H. xv. pp. 156-159. 


These remarks relate principally to the general laws of de- 
crease in the size of individuals of the same species with de- 
crease in latitude, and of their comparatively darker plumage 
in the southern than in the northern borders of their habitats, 
of which instances are given. 


2. Geographical Variation in North-American Birds. Proc. 
Bost. Soc. N. H. xv. pp. 212-219. 


Mr. Allen seeks to give the general results that have fol- 
lowed upon the investigation of the large series of specimens 
of North-American birds in the Smithsonian Institution 
and Museum of Comparative Zoology. These results, as al- 
ready shown by the author in previous papers (Bull. Mus. 
Comp. Zool. ii. no. 3, and iii. no. 6), prove that “ intergrada- 

SER. I1I.—VOL. III. 28 


432 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the - 


tion has been frequently traced between widely different forms, 
a gradual coalescence in scores of instances having been posi- 
tively established, and rendered extremely probable in a large 
number of others.” 

There can be no question of the importance of Mr. Allen’s 
investigations, or, in our opinion, that he is perfectly right 
in regarding the so-called “ hybrids” between representative 
species as in fact transitional forms. 


3. Ornithological Notes from the West. Am. Nat. 1872, 
pp. 263-275, 342-351, 394-404. 

Résumé of observations of birds made during the author’s 
expedition to Kansas, Colorado, and Great-Salt-Lake Valley 
in 1871. 

4. Notes of an Ornithological Reconnoissance of portions of 
Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. Bull. Mus. 
Comp. Zoology, 11. no. 6 (1872). 

Contains the results of field-work, on the western plains and 
in the central portions of the Rocky Mountains, achieved by an 
expedition sent out by the Cambridge Museum in 1871 and 
1872. The expedition commenced work at Fort Leavenworth, 
Missouri, and collected at intervals thence westward to the 
Great-Salt-Lake Valley. Lists are given of species collected 
at eight different stations, with remarks on the different local 
forms and variations of the species, besides habits and plu- 
mages. A summary shows that examples of 228 species were 
obtained. The general result is the confirmation of Mr, Allen’s 
conclusions arrived at in his well-known “ Winter-Birds of 
East Florida” (Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. ii. no. 8), and the dis- 
covery of several well-marked geographical races not previ- 
ously chronicled. . 


Aturs, T. 
On the Skeleton of the Apteryx. Journ. Linn. Soc. xi. p. 5238. 
Notice of the exhibition of two photographs of a mounted 
skeleton of this bird. 


Attu, Pror. 


Der weissriickige Buntspecht (Picus leuconotus) Brutvogel 
in der Mark Brandenburg. Zool. Gart. 1872, pp.369-371. 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 433 


A case of the breeding of this rare Woodpecker in Bran- 
denburg is stated, and the young bird described. 


AnpeERson, A. 
1. Notes on the Raptorial Birds of India. Partu. P.Z.S. 
1872, pp. 68-81. 

Continues notes commenced in P. Z. 8. 1871, and gives de- 
tailed descriptions of “ Aguila hastata, Less.,’’ in various 
plumages. 

2. Additional Notes on the Raptorial Birds of North-Western 

India. P.Z.8. 1872, pp. 619-628. 

Principally relates to the Imperial Eagles, of which the 
author recognizes two Indian species—A. crassipes (Hodgs. 
MS.) and A. bifasciaia, Gray. 

3. Letter from. Ibis, 1872, pp. 81-83. 

On the nidification of the Whiskered Tern, Sterna leuco- 
pareia (Hydrochelidon indica of Jerdon). Contains an account 
of this bird’s breeding in Oudh. 

4. On the Nidification of certain Indian Birds. Part i. 
Ibis, 1872, pp. 2387-239. 

Describes the nidification of Burnesia lepida, Blyth (= Ma- 
lurus gracilis) in the tamarisk-covered islands of the Ganges. 


ANDERssoN, C. J. 


Notes on the birds of Damara Land and the adjacent Coun- 
tries of South-West Africa. By the late CHaries JoHNn 
Anpersson. Arranged and edited by Jonn Henry 
Gurney. London: 1872, 8vo. pp. 394. 


[See Gurney, J. H.] 


ANTINORI, A. 
[See Sanvavort, T.] 


Austen, Mason Gopwin. 
Exhibition of a Skin of Ceriornis blythu, P.Z. 8S. 1872, 
pp. 496-497. 
This rare bird was obtained near Sima-Goding, in the Naga 
Hills, at about 7000 feet altitude. 


Baxopy, Dr. THEopor. 
Ueber das combinirte Vorkommen der Trichina spiralis im Ver- 
9 12 
~ H ~ 


4.34 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the. 


dauungs canal der Hiihner. Zeitschrift fiir wissenschaftl. 
Zoologie von v. Siebold und Kollker, vol. xxii. 1872, 
pp. 422-427, with 1 plate (Taf. xxxiv.). 
An interesting account of the occurrence of Trichina in the 
intestinal canal of our common House-hen, but not in the 
muscular flesh. 


Bana avs 
Notes on a Collection of Birds made in the Andaman Islands 
by Assistant-Surgeon G. E. Dopson, M.B., during the 
months of April and May. J.A.S. B. 1872, pp. 273- 
290 (abstracted Pr. A. 8. B. 1872, pp. 150, 151). 


The collection contained 184 specimens belonging to 62 
species, of which 19 had not previously been recorded from 
the island. Graucalus dobsoni is described as new. 


Berine, ForstMEIstTEr. 


Der Fischreiher und die Sternschnuppen. Zool. Gart. 1872, 
pp. 141-148 (and p. 284). 


Refers to the evacuations produced by Herons after di- 
gesting frogs. ' A further notice on this subject is given by 
K. Miller (/.c. p. 222). 


Bett, Tuomas, 
[See Savin, OsBerrt. ] 


BEMMELEN, A. A. VAN. 


Fortpflanzung des gemeinen Pelikans(Pelecanus onocrotalus) 
in Gefangenschaft. Zool. Gart. 1872, pp. 264, 265. 


Gives an account of this Pelican breeding in the zoological 
gardens of Rotterdam. 


Brenepven, P. J. Van. 
Oiseaux de? Argile Rupelienne et du Crag @ Anvers. Journ. 
de Zool. i. pp. 284-288. 

Describes various birds’ bones found in the above-mentioned 
formations of Belgium, and refers them to the following 
species :—Larus raemdonckii, Vanellus selysii, Anas creccoides, 
Rupelornis definitus, Fulica dejardinti, Anas scaldi, and Cyg- 
"nus herrenthalsi. 


Branconl, G. G. 
Ulteriorit osservazioni intorno al Femore, alla Tibia ed al 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 435 


Metatarso di Apyornis. Mem. Ac. Bologn. ser. 2. iii. 
pp. 141-165 (6 plates). 


A continuation of previous papers of the author on the same 
subject. His former opinion that pyornis must be re- 
ferred to the Vulturide and not to the Struthiones, is 
maintained. 


Buanrorp, W. T. 

1. Letter from. Ibis, 1872, pp. 84-87. 

On Prinia adamsi, which is referred to Drymeca and de- 
scribed, with its nest and eggs, from specimens obtained by 
Mr. Fairbank on the Upper Godavery. Also mentions the 
occurrence of Buteo plumipes in Sikim. 


2. Account of a Visit to the Eastern and Northern Frontiers 
of Independent Sikkim, with Notes on the Zoology of the 
Alpine and Sub-alpine Regions.—Part Il. Zoology. J. A. 
S. B. 1872, pp. 30-73. 


The second part of Mr. Blanford’s paper here given is de- 
voted to an account of the Vertebrata collected or observed 
during his recent journey in Sikkim, a few remarks being 
added on Tibetan animals, the “ principal object of his visit 
having been to examine this almost purely Palearctic Fauna.” 
A fine series of the birds was obtained; and numerous notes 
are given. A new genus, Rhyacornis, is formed for Ruticilla 
fuliginosa. New species described are Otocoris elwesi and 
Montifringilla ruficollis. 

3. Notes on a Collection of Birds from Sikkim. J.A.S.B. 

1872, pp. 152-170, pls. vii. and viii. 

Gives an account of a collection made in Sikkim by Mr. L. 
Mandell, to which are added notes on species obtained by 
Mr. Blanford himself at low elevations. New species de- 
scribed are Phylloscopus pallidipes, Pellorneum mandellii, and 
Propasser saturatus. These are all well figured. 


Biytu, Epwarp. 

Letter from. Ibis, 1872, pp. 87-90. 

Denies the occurrence of Haliaetus albicilla in Lower Bengal, 
and gives a list of Khasia birds obtained by the botanist 
Samuel Griffith, and erroneously stated in Moore and Hors- 


436 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the- 


field’s Catalogue to be from Afghanistan. Suggests that 
Yunex indica of Gould is not Indian, but is founded on a spe- 
cimen of the African Yunzx pectoraiis. 


Bocace, J. V. Barsoza pv. 
Aves das possessées Portuguezas da Africa occidental. Jour. 
Se. Lisb. 1872, pp. 66-71. 

Contains an account of a new collection of birds made by 
Sr. Anchieta on the river Coroca, south of Mossamedes. 
There were 99 skins, referable to 46 species. A Dryoscopus 
is regarded as new but not named; and a Turtur described is 
doubtfully referred to T. decipiens. 


Borcereve, Dr. B. 
[See Droste, Ferpinanp Baron. | 


Branpt, Dr. ALEXANDER. 

Ueber ein grosses fossiles Vogelei aus der Umgegend von 
Cherson. Bull. Ac. Imp. St. Pét. xvii. p. 158; Mel. 
Biol. vin. p. 730. 

See translation of this paper in ‘The Ibis’ for January 1874. 

Breum, A. E. 

1. Gefangene Vogel. Lrster Theil, Erster Band: Pfleger 
und Pfleglinge, Sittiche und Kérnerfresser. 1 vol. pp. 620, 
tab.iv. Leipzig und Heildelberg: C.F. Winter, 1872. 

In conjunction with Bodinus, Bolle, Cabanis, Finsch, Girt- 

anner, and many other ornithologists, the well-known popular 
author gives a full history of birds kept in confinement, and 
of the manner of feeding and keeping them, &c. The first 
volume of this very useful work contains the Parrots and 
Grain-eaters, of which 628 species are described, most of them 
by Dr. O. Finsch. 


2. Remarks on the Breeding of Textor alecto and other Birds 
in the Berlin Aquarium. J.f. O. 1872, pp. 239. 


Breum, REINHOLD. 
Remarks on the Rapacious Birds of Spain. J.f.O. 1872, 
p-. 395. 
These remarks were addressed to a special meeting of the 
Deutsche ornithologische Gesellschaft, and are accompanied 
by a discussion on the much-disputed Aquila adalberti. 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 437 


— Brewer, Dr. T. M. 
-1. Letter from. Ibis, 1872, p. 334. 
~ On the oceurrence of Dendreca castanea near Boston in 
_ May 1872. 


~——2. On the remarkable abundance of the Bay-breasted War- 
bler, Dendroica castanea, both in the vicinity of Boston 
and in Southern Wisconsin. Proc. Bost. Soc. N. H. xv. 
pp. 192, 1938. 


~~~. Notice of the occurrence of Empidonax pusillus in Wis- 
consin. Proc. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. p. 3038. 


4. Notice of specimens of Oporornis agilis obtained near 
Cambridge, Mass. Ibid. p. 4. 


> 


Brewster, W. 
[See Maynarp, C. J.] 


Brooxs, W. E. 
1. On the Imperial Eagles of India. P. Z. 8.1872, pp. 502- 
504, and Pr. A. S. B. 1872, p. 64. 
Mr. Brooks recognizes two species hitherto united under 
the name Imperial Eagle, and describes them as Aquila cras- 
sipes and A. bifasciata. (Cf. ANDERSON, A.) 


2. Onanew Species of Phylloscopus. Ibis, 1872, pp. 22, 23. 
Describes P. tytleri from Cashmere and Simla, allied to P. 
viridanus. 
3. On the Breeding of Reguloides superciliosus, Reguloides 
proregulus, Reguloides occipitalis, and Phylloscopus tyt- 
leri. Ibis, 1872, pp. 24-31. 
Describes the nidification of these birds as observed by the 
author at Gulnterg, in Cashmere, “ a beautiful mountain-com- 
mon about 3000 feet above Srinugger,” in May and June. 


4. On a new Sylvia from India. Ibis, 1872, pp. 180, 181. 

Melizophilus striatus, discovered at Naoshera, Punjab, by 
Capt. Cock. [=Drymeca inquieta, Riipp. See Blanford, 
Ibis, 1874, p. 76.] 


5. Letter from. Ibis, 1872, pp. 469-470, 
Contains remarks upom Mr. Hume’s six new species de- 
scribed in ‘The Ibis’ for April 1872, p. 107. 


438 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the - 


6. Notes on the Ornithology of Cashmir. J.A.S. B. 1872, 
pp. 73-86. 


Contains short notes on birds met with in Cashmir in 
May and June 1871. Certhia hodgsoni, Sitta cashmirensis, 
Dumeticola major, Horeites pallidus, Phylloscopus tytleri, 
Motacilla cashmirensis, and Alauda guttata are described 
as new. 


7. On two undescribed Cashmir Birds. J.A.S. B. 1872, 
pp: 827-829. 


These are called Accentor jerdoni and Troglodytes neg- 
lectus. 


8. The Swans of India. Proc. A. 8. B. 1872, pp. 63, 64. 
Gives reasons for including Cygnus olor and Cygnus ferus 
amongst the birds of India. 


9. On a new Indian Sylvia. Proc. A. 8S. B. 1872, p. 66. 

[See No. 4.] 

10. On a new Species of Reguloides. Proc. A.S. B. 1872, 
pp. 148-150. 

Reguloides subviridis, from the north-west provinces, ‘ not 


uncommon,” but hitherto wrongly referred to R. viridipennis, 
Blyth. 


Bruce, H. J. 
Some of the Familiar Birds of India. Am. Nat. 1872, 
pp. 460-471. 
Notes on birds observed by the author at or near Rahiru, 
on the bank of the Mula river, in the broad valley of the 
Godavery. 


Bruun, Tu. A. 


1. Unsere gefiederten Wintergdste. Zool. Gart. 1872, 
pp. 157, 158. 


Notice of a few birds of Wisconsin, but far from being 
what one would expect from the title. 
2. Zur nordamerikanischen Vogelsprache. eal Gart. 1872, 
pp. 187-188 and 221-222. 
An endeavour to express the call-notes of certain North- 
American birds in words. 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 439 


Buckiey, Henry. 
On some new or rare Bird’s Eggs. P.Z.8. 1872, pp. 625- 
626. 
The species referred to are Falco polyagrus, Elanoides fur- 
catus, and Ictinia mississippiensis, all from North America. 


Bucwiny, TB. 
[See Surettey, G. E.] 


bBuiier, Watrer L. 


1. A History of the Birds of New Zealand. London: Van 
Voorst, 4to. 


Of this important work (since completed) four parts were 
issued in 1872. Part I. contains figures of the following 
species :—Hieracidea nove zealandie, Circus gouldi, Spilo- 
glaux nove zealandie, Sceloglaux albifacies, Stringops habro- 
ptilus, Nestor meridionalis, Nestor notabilis, Platycercus nove 
zealandie, Platycercus auriceps, Heteralocha acutirostris. 
Part U1. :—Eudynamis taitensis, Orthonyx albicilla, Orthonyx 
ochrocephala, Pogonornis cincta, Prosthemadera nove zea- 
landie, Xenicus longipes, Xenicus gilviventris, Sphenceeacus 
punctatus, Spheneacus rufescens, Turnagra hectori, Turnagra 
crassirostris. Parts Ill. & IV.:—Creadion carunculatus, 
Glaucopis cinerea, Glaucopis wilsoni, Carpophaga nove zea- 
landie, Coturnix nove zealandie, Ocydromus australis, Ocy- 
dromus earl, Rallus dieffenbachit, Rallus philippensis, Orty- 
gometra affinis, Ortygometra tabuensis, Notornis mantelli, Thi- 
nornis nove zealandie, Ardea sacra, Ardea nove hollandie, 
Casarca variegata, Spatula variegata, Fuligula nove zealandie, 
Hymenolemus malacorhynchus, Larus bulleri, Larus domi- 
nicanus. 


2. Letter from. Ibis, 1872, pp. 332, 333. 
On the species of Hieracidea, advocating the existence of 
two species in New Zealand. 


3. Trans. & Proc. N. Z. Inst. vol. v. 1872 (ass. 1873), p. 405. ; 
Some remarks on Stringops greyi, Hieracidea brunnea, and 
Nestor occidentalis. 


4.40 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the - 


Burmeister, Dr. H. 
Synopsis of the Lamellirostres of the Argentine Republic. 
P.Z.S8. 1872, pp. 364-370. 
Twenty-four species are enumerated, and notes given on 
their localities, frequency of occurrence, and other matters. 


Capantis, Dr. JEAN. 

1. Journal fiir Ornithologie. XX. Jahrgang. Dritte Folge, 
3. Band, mit 1 schwarzen u. 1 farbigen Tafel. (Leipzig, 
1872: L. A. Kittler.) 

The coloured plate represents the beautiful Tanager Ne- 

mosia rourei, Cab.; but no letterpress is given. The species 
was described two years ago (J. f. O. 1870, p. 459). 


2. Remarks on Falco lanarius, F. jugger, and F. mexicanus. 
J.f.O. 1872, p. 156. 
The new generic term, Pingohierax, is proposed for these 
species. 


3. Remarks on Turdus. auroreus, Pall. This is said not 
to be the young of 7. sibiricus, as hitherto believed, 
but the young of the American 7. nevius, for which Ca- 
banis has proposed the generic name Hesperocichla. 
Jit. O. 18725 p. 157. 


4, Remarks on the male of Centurus polygrammus, Cab., 
from Tehuantepec. J.f.O. 1872, p. 157. 


Or 


. Descriptions of Agialitis occidentalis, nov. spec., and 
“gialitis gracilis, nov. spec., the latter from Tehuan- 
tepec; the habitat of the formerisnot mentioned. J. f. 
Ol 1872, p. lo7. 


6. Remarks on the Thamnophiline genus Diallactes (major, 
Vieill. &c.), of which are characterized as new Diallactes 
semifasciatus, from Para, Guiana, and Venezuela, and 
Diallactes granadensis, from Bogota. J. f. O. p. 283. 
(On the former, vide Finsch, P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 567, Tham- 
nophilus major.) 


7. On Cuculus canorus, its non-occurrence in Siberia, where 
it is represented by C. indicus and C. canorinus. Radde’s 
C. canorus is said to be C. striatus, Drap. Ibid. p. 235. 


8. On Oreocincla lunulata, O. heinei, and O. macrorhyncha, 
all from Australia and Tasmania. Ibid. p. 236: 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 441 


__|—9. Remarks on Pyrrhula cassini, Baird,as a Siberian species, 
of which the specimen first described from Alaska by 
Baird is considered to be an American straggler, and 
description of Pyrrhula cineracea, a new species from 
Siberia. Ibid. p. 315. 


10. Descriptions of the following species, of which the 
names were published in the Journ. f. Orn., 1866 :— 
Strix amauronota, Cab., Gerygone simplex, Cab. (mo- 
desta, Cab., l. c. 1866, p. 10), Cisticola semirufa, Cab., 
Dermophrys jagori, Cab., Oxycerca (Uroloncha) jagori, 
Cab., Gallinago heterocerca, Cab. (=heterura, Cab., l. ec. 
1866, p. 28), all from Lugon, Philippines. Ibid. p. 317. 


11. Description of Oriolus formosus, nov. spec., fron Siou, 
Sangir Islands. Ibid. p. 392. 


Cotuiert, Rosert. 


1. Remarks on the Ornithology of Northern Norway. For- 
handl. Vidensk. Selsk. Christiania, 1872, pp. 189-228. 


This memoir embraces the ornithological facts resulting 
from the author’s researches during the summers of 1871 and 
1872 on the northern and central portions of the Norwegian 
coast, the results of 1870 having been already published* else- 
where. ‘The notes are ample and of much value to students 
of distribution. Full details are given respecting the “ Ry- 
peora,’ usually supposed to be a hybrid between Tetrao tetrix 
6 and Lagopus albus 2, but, according to our author, be- 
tween the male Ptarmigan and Greyhen. Mr. Collett calls 
this form Lagopus tetrici-albus. 
~ 2. Om Kraniets Assymetri hos Nyctala tengmalmi. Vi- 

densk. Selsk. Fordhandl. Christiania, 1872, pp. 68-73 
(with woodcuts). 

For the most part a translation from the paper of the same 

author (P.Z.S. 1871, p. 739). 


Coves, Exxiort, Assistant-Surgeon U. 8S. Army. 

1. Key to North-American Birds: containing a concise ac- 
count of every species of living and fossil bird at present 
known from the continent north of the Mexican and United- 
States boundary. Salem, 1872, 1 vol. 632 pp. large 8vo. 


* Ornithologiske Bemzerkninger til Norges Fauna (Nyt Mag. f. Natury. 
xviii. p. 161). 


449 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the ° 


This important work consists of three parts :—(1) the Intro- 
duction, containing a popular elementary treatise on the lead- 
ing principles of ornithology ; (2) the Key, being an artificial 
analysis of all the genera and subgenera in one continuous 
table; (3) the Synopsis, containing a systematic synopsis of 
all the North-American species. The orders, families, and 
genera are all characterized, and every species shortly de- 
scribed. Few references and no synonyms are given. Many 
woodcuts are introduced. ‘This is, in our opinion, by far the 
best popular handbook on the birds of any part of the world 
yet published. 


2. Observatinns on Picicorvus columbianus. Ibis, 1872, 
pp. 52-59. 


An introductory article upon the life-history of this little- 
known species. Its synonymy is appended. 


3. Contributions to the History of the Blue Crow of America. 
Ibis, 1872, pp. 152-158. 


A similar article upon Gymnokitta cyanocephala. 


4. Studies of the Tyrannide. Part I. Revision of the Species 
of Myiarchus. Proc. Acad. Phil. 1872, pp. 56-81. 


Dr. Coues acknowledges 9 species of this difficult genus, 
dividing some of them into varieties, but is of opimion “ that 
there are only four fgrms that do not intergrade.” We may 
remark that Tyrannus irritabilis of Vieillot, was not founded 
on Azara’s Suiriri pardo y roxo, as Dr. Coues will see by 
turning to the original reference*. Dr. Coues should there- 
fore alter his Myzarchus crinitus, var. b, irritabilis, l. c. p. 65, 
to var. erythrocercus. But in our opinion this “ variety” is 
sufficiently distinct for specific rank. 

5. Material for a Monograph of the Spheniscide. Proc. 

Acad. Phil. 1872, pp. 170-212, plates iv., v. 

A valuable contribution to our knowledge of the Penguins, 
but deficient from non-access to specimens from properly de- 
termined localities. Dr. Coues acknowledges 2 species of 
Aptenodytes, 3 of Pygoscelis, 5 of Hudyptes, and 2 of Sphe- 
niscus—one of the last-named being divided into 2 “ varieties.” 


* Cf. Scl. et Salv. P. Z.S. 1868, p. 631. 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 4.43 


Dr. Coues can never have seen the true Spheniscus humboldti ; 
or he would not have united it to S. magellanicus. 


6. Osteological notes on the Spheniscidze. Proc. Bost. Soc. 
IN; Ee saw. pe 202: 


[See Hyarr, Pror. ALPHEUS. ] 


Darwin, F. 
[See Garrop, A. H.] 


Davin, Le Pere ARMAND. 


1. Rapport adressé a MM. les Professeurs-Administrateurs 
du Muséum d@ Histoire Naturelle. Nouv. Arch. du Mus. 
d’Hist. Nat. vu. Bull. p. 75. 


An interesting narrative of Pére David’s travels and im- 
“portant zoological discoveries in the interior of China. 
2. Observations Zoologiques faites dans la province de Tché- 
Kiang. C.R. lxxv. (1872) pp. 64-65. 

Contains remarks on an Jdis allied to I. nippon, which he 
proposes to call Jé¢s sinensis; on an Elanus, very shortly de- 
scribed as EH. sinensis ; and on a Falco sacroides, not described 
at all! 


3. Note sur une espéce nouvelle de Paradoxornis, découverte 
en Chine, sur un lac du Kiangsou. C. R. Ixxiv. p. 1449, 
et R. Z. 1872, p. 359. 


Paradoxornis heudei, named after its discoverer Pére 
Heude, missionary priest at Shanghai. 


4. Quelques Renseignements sur 1? Histoire Naturelle de la 
Chine Septentrionale et Occidentale. J. N.China Branch 
Roy. Asia. Soc. 1871-72, pp. 228-229. 


A letter, dated August 1872, containing an outline of the 
writer’s travels and discoveries in China, and of his principal 
discoveries in every branch of natural history. 


Drareavux, LAvRENT. 

La Puissance de Vaile, ou ? Oiseau pris au vol, classification 
alaire, précédé d’une préface de Charles Poncy. 1 vol. 
8vo: Marseille et Paris, 187]. 

We only know this work from the notice of it, R. Z. 1872, 

p- 238. 


444 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the - 


Devic, Marcet. 

Sur quelques passages Wun écrivain arabe du X° siecle, re- 
latifs aux oiseaux gigantesques de V Afrique sud-orientale. 
Compt. Rend. Ixxv. (1872) pp. 1782-1784. 

Contains extracts from the “ Merveilles de ’Inde” of an 
Arab writer of the 10th century relating to a gigantic bird on 
the Zanzibar coast, of which portions of the quills were used 
as water-pots ! 


Ditton, J. F. 

Letter from. bis, 1872, pp. 470, 471. 

On a specimen of Hlanus melanopterus, said to have been 
killed in Ireland. 


Dopertein, Pierro. 
1. Avifauna del Modenese e della Sicilia, _ascicolo quarto, 
pp. 178-264 (Palermo, 1872). 
(See Ibis, 1872, p. 422.) 
2. Alcune Generalita intorno la Fauna Sicula det Vertebrati. 
Ann. Soc. Mod. anoo vi. (1872). 
Contains some general remarks on the Sicilian avifauna. 


Dorner, Dr. H. 
1. Nachrichien aus dem zool. Garten in Hamburg. Zool. 
Gart. pp. 97-107. 

Relates to the Manu-mea, Didunculus strigirostris. Pre- 
vious observations on the habits of this rare bird are collected 
and compared with those of a living specimen brought over 
by Dr. Graffe, and now in the zoological gardens at Ham- 
burg. A woodcut illustrates the bird. 

2. Die Papageien-Ausstellung der zoologischen Garten zu 

Hamburg. 8vo, pp. 48. Hamburg, 1872. 

This seems to be entirely extracted from Finsch’s mono- 
graph of the Parrots, as are also the short descriptions of the 
78 species of living Parrots which were exhibited—a fact which 
the compiler ought to have mentioned. 


Dresser, H. E. 


1. Exhibition of, and remarks on, some Skins and Eggs of 
various Species of Reguloides and Phylloscopus. P.Z.S 
1872, pp. 25, 26. 


The species are those mentioned by Mr. Brooks in his 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 4.45 


paper in ‘The Ibis’ (g.v.), and also Phyllopneuste brehmi, 
Homeyer, obtained by Mr. Robson near Constantinople, which 
is considered by Mr. Dresser to be the same as an Indian 
species, P. tristrami, Brooks, MS. 


2. Exhibition of, and remarks upon, the Skins of various 
Eagles (Aquila). P.Z.S. 1872, pp. 863-865. 


Mr. Dresser’s remarks relate to the Imperial and Tawny 
Eagles and their allies. The Spanish Imperial Eagle is recog- 
nized as distinct from A. mogilnik and called “A. adalberti, 
R. Brehm.” 

[See also Suarper and Dresser. ] 


Drostzr, Ferpinanp Baron. 
Die Vogelschutzfrage. Minster: 1872 (E. C. Brunn). 
An essay on what birds are useful and what injurious in 
agriculture, horticulture, and forestry, and in general. A 
systematie catalogue of 110 principal species shows their dif- 
ferences in these various respects. 


Droste, Frerprnanp Baron, and Boraereve, Dr. B. 


Bericht tiber die19.Versammlung der deutschen Ornithologen- 
Gesellschaft zu Cassel. Miinster: 1872 (EK. C. Brunn). 


This report contains, besides the general account of the pro- 
ceedings of the German Ornithologists’ Society, several special 
essays, noticed under the heads of their authors’ names. 


Enters, Pror. 


Die Entwickelung des Luftréhrenwurmes der Vogel Syn- 
gamus trachealis. Zool. Gart. pp. 25-28 (from the 
Sitzungsb. der phys.-med. Soc. zu Erlangen, 1871). 


An interesting account of the development of this parasite, 
which is so dangerous to birds. 


Exior, D. G. 
1. A Monograph of the Phasianidee or Pheasants. Part vi. 
This part (which concludes this splendidly illustrated work) 
contains figures of Calophasis ellioti, Pucrasia darwini, Pha- 
sianus semmerringi, var. scintillans, and a male hybrid be- 
tween Thaumalea amherstie and T. picta, besides the title- 
pages, index, introduction, &c. of the two volumes- 


A446 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the - 


2. On Nyctale kirtlandi. Ibis, 1872, pp. 48-52. 

Maintains that this so-called species is the young of N. 
tengmalmi, and that N. richardsoni, the North-American 
representative of N. fengmalmi, is not really specifically dis- 
tinguishable. 

[But see Rineway, Am. Nat. 1872, p. 283. ] 


3. Descriptions of two Genera of Paradiseide, with remarks 
on some of the Species. Ibis, 1872, pp. 111-114. 


The genera described are Xanthomelus (proposed by Bona- 
parte in 1854) for Oriolus aureus, Linn., and Amblyornis, gen. 
nov., for Pitlorhynchus inornatus of Schlegel. Mr. Elliot also 
refers Sericulus xanthogaster of Schlegel to the genus Chla- 
my dodera. 


4. Description of a supposed new Species of Humming-bird 
of the Genus Eriocnemis. Ibis, 1872, pp. 293-295. 


Describes EL. dyselius, sp. nov., from an unknown locality. 


5. The Humming-birds of the West Indies. Ibis, 1872, 
pp. 345-357. 

Gives a complete list, with critical remarks, of the Trochi- 
lide of the Antilles. The name Chrysolampis chlorolemus, 
Elliot, is changed to Lampornis calosoma. <A table showing 
the geographical distribution of the West-Indian Trochilide 
in the different islands is appended. 


Ewes, H. J. 


A Revision of the Genus Henicurus. Ibis, 1872, pp. 250- 
262, plate ix. 


A concise but complete account of the species of this well- 
marked genus, of “ doubtful affinity,” though usually placed . 
with the Wagtails. Nine species are recognized, and full 
particulars given of each of them. 


FrrLpEen, Carr. Henry W. 
The Birds of the Feroe Islands. Zool. pp. 3210-3225 and 
3245-3257. 
Contains some interesting notes, but mainly based on 
Miiller’s excellent article “ Feroernes Fuglefauna” (Vid. 
Medd. ser. 2. iv. p. 1). 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 447 


Finscu, Dr. Orto. 
1. Remarks on some Birds of New Zealand. Trans. & Proc. 
N. Z. Inst. vol. v. 1872, pp. 206-212. 

Short notices of 43 species, chiefly as regards their specific 
value and systematic position: Petroica longipes and P. al- 
bifrons are referred to the genus Myioscopus, Reich., and 
Petroica macrocephala and P. toitoi to Myiomoira, Reich. 
Ocydromus australis, Sparrm., is said to be different from O. 
troglodytes, Gm. Larus melanorhynchus, Bull., L. jamesoni, 
Hutt., and L. bulleri, Potts, are referred to L. pomare, Bruch, 
of which the author has examined the types in the museum 
of Mayence. 


2. On Charadrius asiaticus and C. damarensis. Ibis, 1872, 
‘pp. 144-147. 


Dr. Finsch’s view is that the larger of these two Plovers, 
which is called by Mr. Harting (Ibis, 1870, p. 209) Eudro- 
mias veredus, is the true Charadrius asiaticus of Pallas. 
(But see what Mr. Swinhoe says, Ibis, 1870, p. 365.) The 
smaller, Dr. Finsch would call Charadrius damarensis. 


3. Remarks on the “ Synopsis of the Genus Chettusia (Lo- 
bivanellus), with a description of a new Species, by J. A. 
Ogden.” Proc. Acad. Phil. 1872, p. 32. 

Shows that Mr. Ogden’s supposed new species, Chettusia 

nivifrons, is Limnetes crassirostris (De Filippi), and gives other 
critical remarks on Mr. Ogden’s paper. 


4. Zur Ornithologie der Samoa-Inseln. Journ. f. Orn. 
1872, pp. 380-58. 

A revised list of the birds of this Pacific group, enumerating 
51 species. Phlegenas samoensis and P. vitiensis are names 
proposed for the species of these islands respectively, in case, 
as the author believes, they prove to be different. 


5. Revision der Vogel Neuseelands. Journ. f. Orn. 1872, 
pp. 81-112, 161-188, et 240-274. 


A continuation of former papers on the Ornithology of 
New Zealand. Of 149 species enumerated as inhabiting these 
islands, 14 are considered doubtful. Apteryx mantelli is re- 
garded as only separable as a race of A. australis. 

SER. III.—VOL. III. 21 


448 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the. 


6. Ueber eine Vogelsammlung aus den Kiistenliindern der chi- 
nesisch-japanischen Meere. Verhandl. k. k. zoolog.-bot. 
Gesellsch. Wien, vol. xxii. pp. 253-272. 


Contains an account of 57 species of birds, mostly collected 
by Capt. Paul Conrad in Japan. Three species from Corea 
(Scops japonicus, Anthus pratensis, and Phalaropus cinereus) 
are, so far as we know, the first recorded birds from this part 
of Eastern Asia, if we except some rather problematical species 
of Schlegel. As usual, the author gives many valuable notes 
on identifications and on other points. 

7. Ueber die von Frau Amalie Dietrich in Australien gesam- 


melten Vogel. Verhandl. k. k. zool.-bot. Gesellsch. Wien, 
vol. xxii. 1872, pp. 315-340. 


Enumerates 205 Australian birds, mostly collected im 
Queensland by Frau Dietrich for the Museum Godeffroyanum. 
Many remarks and descriptions of unknown stages of plumage 
are added. 

8. Zur Ornithologie Nordwest-Amerikas. Abhandl. des 

naturwiss. Vereins zu Bremen, Band i. 1872, pp. 17-86. 

Contains an account of 55 species of birds from Alaska, 
which the Lubeck museum received from Mr. Heller, of San 
Francisco. Many valuable notes on synonymy are given. 
The species collected by Von Kittlitz at Sitka are included, 
and a useful list is added of the species figured in the unpub- 
lished plates of J. F. von Brandt, which are often referred to 
as “ Brandt, Orn. Ross.” or “ Brandt, Icon. Av. Ross.” 

[See also Harriavus, Dr. G.] 


Finscu, Dr. O., and Harrtavs, Dr. G. 


Kritik tiber : Giebel’s ‘ Thesaurus Ornithologiae’ Journ. ft. 
Orn. 1872, pp. 225-2380. 


A free but truthful criticism on this important publication, 
giving many references to the numerous and dreadful blunders 
which it contains. 


FiscHER, JOH. VON. 


Verzeichniss der Vogel des St. Petersburger Kreises. Journ. 
f. Orn. pp. 3885-390. 


An enumeration of 147 species of birds observed in this 
district of Russia by the writer. 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 449 


Fraser, Hon. Carrain T. 


A description of the Earnsclough Moa Cave. ‘Trans. & Proc. 
N. Z. Inst. vol. v. 1872 (iss. 1873), pp. 102-105. 


Records an interesting discovery of Moa-bones along with 
parts of the skin and egg. 


FRAUENFELD, Grore, RiTTER VON. 
Die Frage des Vogelschutzes. Ein Vortrag gehalten im 
Verein zur Verbreitung naturwissenschaftlicher Kentnisse 
in Wien, 1872. 
The author is well acquainted with the subject, and answers 
the questions relating to it very satisfactorily. 


FREYBERG, BARON VON. 


Beobachtungen iiber die Gefrissigkeit unseres Kukuks, Cu- 
-eulus canorus. Zool. Gart. 1872, pp. 339, 340. 


Interesting facts concerning the quantity which a young 
‘Cuckoo needs for daily food. 


Fritscu, Dr. ANTON. 
Die Végel Béhmens. (Schluss.) Journ. f. Orn. 1872, 
pp. 366-384. 
In the last part of this paper a special enumeration of the 
species of birds inhabiting and visiting Bohemia is given, 
raising the total number, including the stragglers, to 297. 


Garrop, ALFRED Henry. 
1. On the Mechanism of the Gizzard in Birds. P.Z.S. 
1872, pp. 525-529. 

The author propounds a new view of the action of the gizzard 
in birds, which he regards asa simple crushing organ, without 
any (or with very little) lateral or grinding movement. 

2. Notes on the Anatomy of the Huia Bird (Heteralocha 

gouldi). P. ZS. 1872, pp. 643-647. 

Shows that Heteralocha is truly Passerine, allied to the 
Sturnide, and not related to Upupa, as usually supposed. 

3. Note on the Tongue of the Psittacine Genus Nestor. 

P.Z.S. 1872, pp. 787-789. 

The author shows that the tongue of Nestor is by no means 
fashioned like that of the Lories, and concludes that this genus 
should not be referred to the 'Trichoglossine. 

212 


450 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the - 


4. Note on some of the Cranial Peculiarities of the Wood- 
peckers. Ibis, 1872, pp. 357-860. 


Mr. Garrod describes a small median bone between the 
palatines.in Woodpeckers, and supported like a yomer on the 
basisphenoid rostrum. This he believes to be the vomer, 
which Prof. Huxley believed to be wanting in this group. 
The bone is figured in a woodcut of the palate of Gecinus 
viridis, p. 359. 


Garrop, A. H., and Darwin, F. 


Notes on an Ostrich lately living in the Zoological Society’s 
Gardens. P.Z.S. 1872, pp. 356-863. 


Contains remarks on the anatomy, and in particular de- 
scribes and figures a new bone attached to the anterior border 
of the pubic portion of the os innominatum. The bird ex- 
amined died from copper-poisoning, caused by swallowing a 
large number of copper coins. 


GIEBEL, Dr. C. G. 


1. Thesaurus Ornithologiae. Repertorium der gesammten 
ornithologischen Literatur und Nomenclator stéimmtliche 
Gattungen und Arten der Vogel nebst Synonymen und 
geographischer Verbreitung. 1 vol. in 2 Halbbanden. 
Lexiconf. pp. 868. Leipzig: F. A. Brockhaus, 1872. 


The well-known Professor of Halle, who has already fur- 
nished zoological literature with many works on various 
branches, has now entered on ornithology, and with a work 
which all ornithologists would salute with the utmost pleasure 
and thankfulness if it had been carried out in a somewhat 
better way. The title promises very much; but the work 
itself proves to be merely a compilation of a laborious 
writer who has collected an enormous mass of names and 
synonyms, without such understanding of the subject as the 
author of such a pretentious work ought to have. Some of 
the numerous and indescribable blunders and errors in the 
bibliographical part are corrected in the reprint of pp. 193- 
212 appended to the second half-volume. To this volume the 
author also appends a reprint of his “defence” (Zeitschr. f. 
ges. Naturw. 1872, pp. 130-137) against the criticisms which 
appeared in ‘ Literarisches Centralblatt fur Deutschland’ von 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 451 


Prof. Fr. Zarnke (No. 9, 2 Marz, 1872, pp. 215-217), and 
directs his attacks chiefly against Dr. Hartlaub, although the 
author of these criticisms is really Dr. Finsch (/. c. p. 318). 


2. Thesaurus Ornithologiae. Selbstanzeige des Verfassers. 
Journ. f. Orn. 1872, pp. 65-67. 


A Report of the author on his own work and on the mode 
of its preparation, explaining that he did all he could to make 
it as complete as possible. As regards this point we need 
only refer to the criticisms of Drs. Finsch and Hartlaub (v. 
ant. p. 448), which give a good idea of the imperfections and 
errors of the work. 

3. Uber die Gattung Peltops, Wagl. Zeitschr. fiir die ge- 

_ sammten Naturw. neue Folge, 1872, Bandv. pp.481—485. 

Compares and distinguishes the characters of Peltops and 
Cymbirhynchus. According to his pterylographical researches 
the author is led to believe in a relation between Peltops and 
Todus. But compare Sclater’s remarks, Ibis, 1872, p. 177. 


4. Vogelschutzbuch. Die niitzlichen Vogel unserer Aecker, 
Wiesen, Garten und Wiilder. Nothwendigkeit ihrer 
Pflege und Schonung u. ihre hohe Bedeutung fiir die Ver- 
tilgung schédlicher Thiere. 8. Auflage, Berlin, 1872. 
Wiegand und Hempel, 8vo, pp. 162, with 88 woodcuts 
(heads and feet). 

After some general remarks on this subject, descriptions of 
75 species of birds considered “useful” are given, together 
with notes on their habits, distribution, &c. 

5. Zeitschrift fiir die gesammten Naturwiss. Neue Folge, 

1872, Band v. 

Merely as a matter of curiosity we notice that p. 429 in- 
cludes a criticism on Finsch and Hartlaub’s ‘ Végel Ost- 
Africas’ (see Ibis, 1870, p. 433), which characterizes this 
elaborate work as scarcely of any use, &c., a subjective opinion 
in which no working ornithologist will agree. 


GiRTANNER, Dr. A. 
Ornithologischer Streifzug durch Graubiinden ausgefihrt im 
Juni 1871. Verh. der St. Gallischen naturw. Ges. 1870— 


71; and Separatabdruck : St. Gallen, 1872 (Zollikofer) 
pp. 72, 8vo. 


J 


452 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the - 


A very interesting and attractively written account of 
several excursions in the high Alps and of the birds observed 
amongst them, especially Aquila fulva and Fregilus graculus. 
Some new evidence that Gypaetus barbatus sometimes attacks 
mankind is given. 


GLASER, Pror. L. 
Zur Sperlingsfrage. Zool. Gart. 1872, pp. 292-801. 
After a recapitulation of the pros and cons whether our 
Passer domesticus is a useful bird or not, the author comes 
to the conclusion that the question is not yet to be settled. 


Gopman, F. Du Cane. 


Notes on the Resident and Migratory Birds of Madeira and 
the Canaries. Ibis, 1872, pp. 158-177, 209-224. 


Mr. Godman visited Teneriffe, Palma, and Gran Canary in 
the spring of 1871, and subsequently Madeira. After a short 
account of his ornithological experiences, he gives a complete 
list of the resident and regular migratory birds of Madeira 
and the Canaries, with remarks principally on their time of 
occurrence and distribution. 'The species included in the list 
are 85 in number. ‘The two species of Columba, C. laurivora 
aud C. trocaz, which have been much confounded together, 
are carefully discriminated, and a third of the group (from 
Teneriffe) described as Columba bollit. 


Gopwin-Avsten, Masor H. H. 


Third list of Birds obtained in the Khasi and Garo hill- 
ranges, with some corrections and additions to the former 
lists. J.A.S. B. 1872, pp. 142-148. 


Gives 25 species additional to former lists, and notices 
several alterations in nomenclature. 


GorBEL, H. 
Ueber Aquila pennata und minuta. Journ. f. Orn. 1872, 
pp. 454463. 

After an extensive and systematic report on the eggs, nests, 
colour and call of the parent birds observed and collected by 
him near Uman, in Russia, the author comes to the conclu- 
sion that, after all his researches, he is unable to say whether 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 453 


A. minuta is distinguishable as a species from A. pennata 
or not. 


Goutp, Joun. 

1. The Birds of Asia. Part xxiv. London: 1872. 

Mr. Gould’s yearly part contains figures of the following 
species: Strix indica, Strix candida, Trochalopteron pheni- 
ceum, Trochalopteron formosum, Pitta arquata, Pitta mega- 
rhyncha, Ithaginis geoffroyu, Ceriornis blythii, Turdinus bre- 
vicaudatus, Yuhina diademata, Pellorneum palustre, Gallinula 
phenicura, Eurinorhynchus pygmeus, Passer ammodendri, 
Cypselus infumatus. 


2. The Birds of Great Britain. Parts xxi.,xxii. London: 
1872. 

These two parts (bearing the dates August and September) 
contain figures of the following species: Neophron percno- 
pterus, Anas boschas, Nyroca leucophthalmos, Cygnus olor, 
Cygnus ferus, Cygnus minor, Tetrao urogallus, Calamoherpe 
palustris, Euspiza melanocephala, Curruca orphea, Melano- 
corypha calandra, Squatarola helvetica, Falcinellus igneus, 
Machetes pugnax, Falco gyrfalco, Falco islandus, Falco can- 
dicans, Milvus migrans, Petrocossyphus cyanus, Budytes cine- 
reocapilla, Actiturus bartramius, Botaurus lentiginosus, Rho- 
dostethia rossii, Ancylocheilus subarquata, Actochelidon can- 
tiaca, Phalacrocorax graculus. 


_— 8. Exhibition of, and Remarks on, a Specimen of Ross’s Gull 
(Larus rossi) in Adult Summer Plumage. P.Z.S. 1872, 


Dp. &: 
4. Descriptions of two new Species of Humming-Birds. Aun. 
& Mag. N. H. ser. 4. ix. pp. 195, 196 (1872). 

The two species here described are called Heliangelus mi- 
craster, from St. Lucas, near Loxa, in Ecuador ; and Chloro- 
stilbon pumilus, from Citado and Pallatanga, in Ecuador. 

5. On a new Species of Thrush pertaining to the Genus Oreo- 

eincla. Ann. & Mag. N. H. ser. 4. ix. p. 401 (1872). 

Oreocincla iodura, from ‘‘ Queensland and Northern Aus- 

tralia.” 


454 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the - 


6. On two new Species of Birds. Ann. & Mag. N. H. ser. 4. 
x. p. 114 (1872). 
Diceum retrocinctum, from the Philippines, and Colluricincla 
parvissima, from ‘ Rockingham Bay, East Australia.” 


7. Descriptions of three new Species of Humming-birds. 
Ann. & Mag. N. H. ser. 4. x. pp. 452-453 (1872). 

The three species here described are called :—Jolema white- 
lyana, from Cosnipata, province of Cusco, in the Peruvian 
Andes ; Adelomyia chlorospila, from San Antonio, in the Pe- 
ravian Andes; and Adelomyia cervina, from near Medellin, 
in Columbia. 


Gray, Rosert. 

1. Letter from. Ibis, 1872, pp. 201, 202. 

On a specimen of Balearic Crane (Grus pavonina) shot near 
Dalry, in Ayrshire. 


2. Letter from. Ibis, 1872, pp. 335, 336. 
On Pallas’s Sand-Grouse seen in Ayrshire. 


Grayson, Cot. ANDREW J. 

On the Physical Geography and Natural History of the 
Island of the Tres Marias and of Socorro, off the Western 
Coast of Mexico. By Col. ANpREw J. Grayson. Edited 
by Gro. N. Lawrence. Proc. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. 
pp. 261-802. 

Contains an account of the late Col. Grayson’s expeditions 
to the islands of Tres Marias and Socorro, off the western coast 
of Mexico, and Catalogues of their birds. In Tres Marias 
53 species were met with, amongst which was a new Hum- 
ming-bird of the genus Pyrrhophena, named by Mr. Lawrence 
P. graysoni. Other species, peculiar but already described, 
are Granatellus francesce, Baird, and Icterus graysoni, Cassin. 

Socorro, belonging to the Revillagigedo group, was visited 
by Col. Grayson in 1867. Here 14 species were obtained, 
amongst which were the new species described by Lawrence 
and Baird in 1871. (See Ibis, 1872, p. 440.) 


GULLIVER, GEORGE. 


On the (Esophagus of the Pied Hornbill (Toccus melano- 
leucus) : being an Appendix to a paper on the Taxonomic 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 455 


Character of the Muscular Sheath of that Tube as regards 
Sauropsida,. P.Z.8. 1872, pp. 16-18. 


Mr. Gulliver shows that this bird has no transversely stri- 
ated muscular fibre on the cesophagus, and agrees in this re- 
spect with the rest of the class Aves. 


-Gunp.acu, Dr. Jean. 


Neue Bettrage sur Ornithologie Cubas. Nach Eigeners 30- 
jahrigen Beobachtungen zusammengestellt. Journ. f. Orn. 
1872, pp. 401-432. 


A continuation of this highly valuable paper, mentioned in 
our last Index (Ibis, 1871, p. 431), treating of the species of 
Turdide, Sylviidee, Sylvicolide, Tanagride, Tyrannidze, Mus- 
cicapidee, and Hirundinide. 


GuntuHer, Dr. A. 


Note on a Deformed Example of Cariama cristata. Ann. & 
Mag iN oid. ser. 4.x. p: 67. 


The specimen described is in the British Museum: it has 
an abnormally short neck and legs. 


GuRNEY, JoHN Henry. 


1. Notes on the Birds of Damara Land and the adjacent 
Countries of South and West Africa. By the late 
Cuarxtes Joun Anpersson. Arranged and edited by 
Joun Henry Gurney. London: 1872. 8vo, pp. 394. 


A valuable contribution to our knowledge of South-African 
ornithology. Besides Andersson’s notes, remarks on questions 
of synonymy, distribution, &c. are added by the editor. The 
species commented upon are 428 in number, “ observed either 
as residents, as migrants, or as accidental visitors in that part 
of South-western Africa, of which Damara Land is the central 
portion,” identified in most cases by the editor from personal 
examination. The frontispiece gives a map of the district ; and 
three lithographic plates are added of the sternum and trachea 
of Machirhamphus anderssoni. 


2. Letter from. Ibis, 1872, p. 83. 

On a supposed Indian specimen of Athene noctua, which is 
identified as A. brama, and on Otus brachyotus from the Sand- 
wich Islands. 


456 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the 


3. Letter from. Ibis, 1872, p. 827-330. 

Notes on certain Accipitres from the island of Formosa, on 
Aguila clanga, Oreocincla, on the incubation of the Ostrich, and 
on the occurrence of Somateria stelleri in the North Pacific. 


4. Letter from. Ibis, 1872, pp. 472, 478. 
Refers the Spanish Eagles typical of Aquila adalberti in the 
Norwich Museum to Aquila imperialis. 


Hanr, P. Buastvs. 

Ornithologische Beobachtungen am Furtteiche zu Mariahof 
4 im Jahre 1871. Verhandl. der k. k. zool.-botan. Gesell- 
, sch. Wien, Band xxii. 187%, pp. 399-404. 

Pater Hanf gives notices of the birds observed by him during 
their migration in spring and autumn on the Furt lake, near 
Judenburg, in Styria. Amongst these are Anthus richard 
and A. rufogularis. 


Hansman, Dr. A. : 
Unter den Cormoranen. Journ. f. Orn. 1872, pp. 310-314. 
A record of an excursion to the breeding-places of Cormo- 
rants in the neighbourhood of Stettin. 


Hartine, JAMES EpMUND. 

A Handbook of British Birds, showing the Distribution of 
the Resident and Migratory Species in the British Islands, 
with an Index to the Records of the Rarer Visitants. 
London: 1872. 8vo, pp. 198. 

This is a list of British birds, with an account of the time 
of occurrence and distribution of each Species in the British 
Isles. The first part contains “ British birds, properly so 
called, being residents, periodical migrants, and annual visi- 
tants.” The second enumerates “the rare and accidental 
visitants,” and is likely to be exceedingly useful to students 
of the British ornis, as giving under the head of each species 
an exact account of the place and time of every occurrence 
and a reference to the work in which it is recorded. 


Hartiavus, Dr. G. 
Bericht iiber die Leistungen in der Naturgeschichte der Vogel 
wihrend des Jahres 1871. Wiegm. Arch. Jahrg. xxxviii. 
1872. 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 457 


Dr. Hartlaub’s report on the progress of our favourite 
branch of biology in 1871 is drawn up with his usual care 
and accuracy. We regret to have to add that after twenty- 
five years’ performance of this arduous task, Dr. Hartlaub 
cannot undertake to continue it longer. We believe Herr 
August von Pelzeln, of Vienna, is to be his successor. 


[See also Frnscu, Dr. O.] 


Harrravs, G., and Frnscu, O. 
On a Fourth Collection of Birds from the Pelew and Mac- 
kenzie Islands. P.Z.S. 1872, pp. 87-114. 

Contains an account of a collection formed in the Island of 
Uap, of the Mackenzie group, by Mr. Kubary (a traveller in 
the service of Mr. Godeffroy of Hamburgh), and of birds col- 
lected by Capts. Hemsohn and Peters (masters of vessels be- 
longing to Mr. Godeffroy) partly in the same island and 
partly in the Pelews. Eleven species are thus added to the 
fauna of the Pelew Islands, making 53 in all, and 14 to that 
of the Uap, the only explored island of the Mackenzie group, 
where only 6 were previously known. The new species de- 
scribed are 9:—WNoctua podargina and Caprimulgus phalena 
from the Pelews; Zosterops hypolais, Z. oleaginea, Rhipidura 
versicolor and Campephaga nesiotis from Uap; Campephaga 
monacha and Phlegenas canifrons from the Pelews, and 
Phlegenas yapensis from Uap. 


“Hever, TH. von. 


1. Reisen nach dem Nordpolarmeer in den Jahren 1870 und 
1871. Erster Theil. 1 vol. 8vo. Braunschweig: 1872. 


This volume contains the narrative of the expedition. 
Many incidental allusions to birds are introduced. The 
second volume will contain an account of the scientific results 
of the expedition. 

2. Ornithologie Nordost-Africas, der Nilquellen, und Kiis- 

ten-Gebiete des Rothen Meeres und des nordlichen Somali- 


landes. lexiconf. (Cassel : Theodor Fischer). 1872, 
Lief. 32—? (pp. 853-1044). 


_ We fully agree with the many complaints of the irregular 
appearance of this large work, and are not able to state how 


458 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the 


many parts were issued in 1872, as they bear no sign of date 
or number. As far as we can ascertain, pp. 850-1044 were 
issued, containing the Gallinz, Struthiones, and Grallz as far 
as Dromas ardeola. The following birds are figured :— 
Tab. i. Falco semitorquatus ; ui. Circaétos zonurus, ad. et 
jun.; vi. Merops cyanophrys; vii. Atticora griseopyga; 1x. 
Catriscus apicalis; x. Tricholais elegans; xi. Eremomela gri- 
seo-flava ; xiil. Bessornis heuglini ; xv. Elminia longicauda 
minor ; xvi. Muscicapa minima, M. aquatica; xvii. Stenostira 
plumbea, ad. et jun. ; xix.a. Hyphantica hematocephala ; xxii. 
Geocoraphus modestus; xxiv. Corythaix leucolophus; xxv.b. 
Schizhoris personata; xxvi. Psittacus citreicapillus ; xxvii. 
Heads of Pogonorhynchus rollettii, P. leucocephalus, aud P. 
diadematus ; xxvii. Barbatula uropygialis ; xxx. Francolinus 
schlegelit. 

3. Notes on the Birds of Novaja Zemlia and Waigats Island. 

Ibis, 1872, pp. 60-65. 

A short account of the ornithological results of the author’s 
voyage to Novaja Zemlia in 1871. The list of birds of Wai- 
gats Island and Novaja Zemlia appended contains 43 species, 
besides others seen but not obtained during Hr. v. Heuglin’s 
expedition. 

4. Die Rosenthal’ sche Expedition nach dem Nordpolarmeer. 


Ornithologie von Novaja Semlja und der Waigatsch-Insel. 
Journ. f. Orn. 1872, pp. 1138-128. 


An enumeration of the birds of Novaja Semlja, 31 of which 
were observed by the author himself during his last arctic 
voyage, the others by Von Baer and Gillett, amounting alto- 
gether to 43 species. 

5. Nachtrag zur Ornithologie von Novaja-Semlja und der 

Waigatsch-Insel. Journ. f. Orn. 1872, p. 464. 
Falco esalon is added to the avifauna of this arctic region. 
6. Nachrichten tiber Novaja-Semlja. Auszug aus einem 
Schreiben an Hrn. v. Middendorf. Bull. Ac. Imp. St. 
Pét. xvi. p. 566; Mél. Biol. viii. pp. 220-225. 

Gives a short account of the above-mentioned visit to 
Spitzbergen and Waigatsch, and of the birds observed and 
obtained. 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 459 


Hocker, J. 


Schwarze Eier Hausenten, Anas boschas. Journ. f. Orn. 
pp. 282, 233. 


On a case of a Duck laying black eggs. 


SHOLDEN, Jz., C. H. 


Notes on the Birds of Wyoming and Colorado Territories ; 
with additional Memoranda by C.K. Aiken. Proc. Bost. 
Soc. N. H. xv. pp. 193-211. 


Contains observations on 142 species, mostly collected near 
the Black Hills in the northern part of Colorado and Southern 
Wyoming. Eggs of many interesting species were obtained. 


Hoxtpsworru, E. W. H. 


1. Catalogue of the Birds found in Ceylon, with some Remarks 
on their Habits and Local Distribution, and Descriptions 
of two New Species peculiar to the Island. P.Z.S. 1872, 
pp. 404-483, tt. xvil.—xx. 


A very complete catalogue, preceded by explanatory remarks 
on the general character of the Ceylonese avifauna. The range 
of the species and critical notes on their affinities and habits 
are given. ‘The new species described are Arrenga blight and 
Zosterops ceylonensis. ‘These are both figured, as are also Ery- 
throsterna hyperythra, Brachypteryx palliseri, and Zosterops 
palpebrosus. The total number of Ceylonese birds enumerated 
is 823, of which 37 are restricted to the island. 


2. Letter from. Ibis, 1872, pp. 473, 474. 
Relates to the occurrence of Emberiza huttoni in China. 


Hortz, Lupwie. 


1. Ueber Molobrus-Hier, zu Cantagallo in Brasilien von C. 
Euler gesammelt. Journ. f. Orn. 1872, pp. 193-201. 


A continuation of the author’s former paper on this subject 
(Journ. f. Orn. 1870, pp. 15-19) and in the same tedious style, 
but curiously enough without naming the species. The figures 
of “ Molobrus-Kier ” on tab. i. (figs. a-e) belong to this paper, 
although they are not cited at all. 


2. Aquila pennata. Journ. f. Orn. 1872, p. 286-305. 
In his usual lengthy manner the author describes a series 
of this species and their eggs, taken by him near Uman, in 


460 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the 


Russia, and comes to the conclusion that Aguila minuta, 
Brehm, is not a good species. 

3. Die Raubvogel Neu-Vorpommerns und der Inseln Rigen, 
Usedom und Wollin. Mittheilungen aus dem naturw. 
Verh. von Neu-Vorpommern und Riigen, 3. Jahrg. 1871, 
pp. 12-89. 

This paper was overlooked in our last Index; 28 species of 

- diurnal and nocturnal Rapaces are recorded, with notes on 
their nest, breeding, &c.; a single instance of the occurrence 
of Vultur fulvus is stated. 


Homeyer, E. F. von. 
1. Die sibirischen Laubvigel. Journ. f. Orn. 1872, pp. 201- 
239. 

Relates to 9 species of Warblers obtained from Siberia by L. 
Taczanowski, and their distinctive characters; but the deter- 
minations of the species and their synonyms are apparently in 
some cases wrong. Thus Phyllopneuste indica (p. 203) has 
nothing to do with P. magnirostris, Bl.; P. eversmanni (p. 204) 
is the true magnirosiris, Bl., and not eversmanni of Bonaparte ; 
P. coronatus, “T. & 8.” 1s P. viridanus, Bl., &c. 

2. Ferd. Baron Droste, Bericht iiber die xviii. Versammlung 

der deutschen Ornithologen- Gesellschaft, 1870. Journ. f. 
Orn. 1872, pp. 805-309. 


A correction in respect of the occurrence of a number of 
species mentioned in the aboye-cited pamphlet. 
3. Bemerkungen tiber einige Vogel Norddeutschlands mit 


besonderer Riicksicht auf die Vogel Pommerns. Journ. 
f. Orn. 1872, pp. 382-340. 


Short remarks on the occurrence of a number of species in 
this part of Germany. 


Hupson, W. H. 
1. On the Birds of the Rio Negro of Patagonia; with Notes 
by P. L. Sctater. P.Z.S8. 1872, pp. 534-550, t. xxxi. 


A very interesting series of notes on the birds obtained by 
the author during a visit to Carmen, on the Rio Negro of Pa- 
tagonia. Altogether 126 species were procured, 93 of which 
are also found on the pampas of Buenos Ayres. The species 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 461 


are determined and notes are added by Mr. Sclater. One 
species (Cnipolegus hudsoni) is described by Mr. Sclater as 
new, and figured, pl. xxxi. 


2. On the Habits of the Swallows of the Genus Progne met 
with in the Argentine Republic; with Notes by P. L. 
Scirater. P.Z.S. 1872, pp. 605-609. 


The Swallows spoken of are three of the genus Progne, on 
the species of which Mr. Sclater gives a note. 


_. 3. Notes on the Habits of the Churinche (Pyrocephalus ru- 
bineus). P.Z.S. 1872, pp. 808-810. 


~ 4. Further Observations on the Swallows of Buenos Ayres. 
P.Z.S. 1872, pp. 844-846. 


Gives notes on the habits of Atticora cyanoleuca and Hi- 
rundo leucorrhoa. 


Hume, ALLAN. 


1. Descriptions of Six new Species of Indian Birds. Ibis, 
i372, \pp.L07—l4 1. 


The species described are:—Chrysomitris thibetana and 
Dumeticola cyanocarpa, from Sikim; Horornis erythrogenys 
and Horeites brunnescens, from Darjeeling; Siphia minuta, 
from Sikim; and Drymepus rufescens, widely diffused in 
Northern India. 


2. Letter from. Ibis, 1872, pp. 468-469. 
Contains a list of birds obtained in Scinde. 


3. Notes on a few Species of Barmese Birds. Proc. A.S. B. 
1872, pp. 70, 71. 


These were collected by Capt. Fielden at Thayetmyo, and 
include Lithofalco fieldent [see Walden infra, p. 491] and 
Micropternus barmanicus, “a race” of M. phaioceps. 


4, Novelties. Str. Feath. i. pp. 1-10 (1872). 

Ptionoprogne cinerea, from Sindh ; Sazxicola alboniger, from 
Sindh; Pellorneum palustre, from the Khasia Hills; Puffinus 
persicus, from the coast of Kurrachee ; Pomatorhinus obscurus, 
from Mount Aboo; Ephialtes brucei, from near Ahbmednuggur; 
Drymoipus insignis, from Saugor, Mount Aboo, and Raipoor ; 
Ninowx obscurus, from the Nicobars ; Mirafra immaculata, from 


462 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the 


the neighbourhood of Mussoorie ; Procarduelis mandellii, from 
Darjeeling ; and Eudromias tenuirostris, from Burmah. 


5. Falco barbarusin India. Str. Feath.i. pp. 19-21 (1872). 
A male of this species procured by Dr. Stoliczka in Cutch 
and a female from Central India are described. 


6. On the Breeding of Elanus melanopterus. Str. Feath. 
1..pp. 21-26 (1872). 
Describes the breeding of this species as observed by Mr. 
F. R. Blewitt im the Sumbulpoor district, and by Mr. Adam 
near Sambhur in Rajpootana. 


7. The Wagtails of India. Str. Feath.1. pp. 27-31 (1872). 
Remarks on the grey and black Wagtails allied to Mota- 
cilla alba. 


8. Phoenicopterus minor, Geoff. St. Hil. Str. Feath. 1. 
pp. 31-35 (1872). 
Identifies Phenicopterus rubidus, Feilden (Ibis, 1868, p.496) 
with the female of P. minor, and gives Mr. Adam’s notes on 
its occurrence at the Sambhur Lake, in Rajpootana. 


9. A New? Polyplectron. Str. Feath.i. pp. 35-36 (1872). 

Describes some tail-feathers (!) of a Polyplectron obtained 
in the Looshaie country, and proposes, if the bird be really 
new, to name it intermedius ! 


10. Otocaris (ste!) elwesi, Blanford. Str. Feath.i. pp. 36- 
38 (1872). 
Identifies this species with O. longirostris. 


11. The Skylarks of India. Str. Feath.1. pp. 388-41 (1872). 
Comes to the conclusion that there are only two good Indian 
species, Alauda arvensis and A. malabarica. 
12. Fringilauda nemoricola, Hodgson, Fringilauda sor- 
dida, Stol. Str. Feath. pp. 41-43 (1872). 
States reasons for identifying Dr. Stoliczka’s species with 
that of Hodgson. 
13. Contributions to the Ornithology of India. Str. Feath. 
1. pp. 44-49 (1872). 
States the main results of the author’s expedition to Sindh 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 463 


and up the Mekran coast. 1200 skins were obtained, represent- 
ing 250 species, of which 18 were new to the Indian avifauna. 
14. First Draft of a Conspectus of the Avifauna of India 
and its Dependencies. Str. Feath. 1. pp. 49-50 (1872). 
Announcement of an intended work under this title. 


Huron, Carr. F. W. 

1. Letter from. This, 1872, pp. 83, 84. 

Contains the synonyms of two of Foster’s Petrels, Procel- 
laria tristis and P. gavia. 


| 2. On the Flight of Birds. Ibis, 1872, pp. 189-143. 


3. Letter from. Ibis, 1872, p. 201. 
States that his supposed new species, Colluricincla concinna 
= Graucalus melanops. [But see below, No. 6.] 


4. On the Flight of the Black-backed Gull (Larus domini- 
canus). Trans. & Proc. N. Z. Inst. vol. v. pp. 140-144. 


5. Notes on some of the Birds brought by Mr. Henry Travers 
from the Chatham Islands, with Descriptions of new 
Species. Trans. & Proc. N. Z. Inst. vol. v. pp. 222-224. 


Relates to nine species, of which Miro traversi and Rallus 
modestus are considered new. ‘The species previously called 
Phalacrocorax africanus is now also considered to be new 
(i.e. P. featherstoni, Bull.). 

6. Notes on Colluricincla concinna. Trans. & Proc. N. Z. 

Inst. vol. v. pp. 226, 227. 

The bird in question is not Graucalus melanops, as previously 
stated by the author, but a good species, which should stand as 
Graucalus concinnus. A few more instances of the occurrence 

_ of this species in New Zealand are recorded. 
_-—~7. On the Geographical Relations of the New-Zealand Fauna. 
Trans. & Proc. N. Z. Inst. vol. v. pp. 227-256. 

The birds in this excellent article are treated of at pp. 231 
—239; and many interesting facts are noticed. 

[See also Travers, H. H.] 


“Hyatt, Pror. ALPHEUS. 
1. Catalogue of the Ornithological Collection of the Boston 
SER. III.— VOL. IIT. 2K 


464, Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the 


Society of Natural History. Proc. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. 
— . pp. 2387-251. 
__Treats of the Spheniscidz in the collection, commencing 
with remarks on the general characters of the family, espe- 
cially on the pterylography. | Spheniscus demersus is united 


with S. magellanicus, we believe, quite erroneously ; but it 


seems that there is only one young specimen of the former 
and one adult of the latter available for comparison. Some 
osteological notes by Dr. Elliott Coues are added. 


2. Annual Report as Custodian of the Museum of the Boston 


G 


Society of Natural History. bid. xv. p-. 164. 
A notice of the state of the collection of birds and eggs and 
of the principal additions thereto is given, p. 179. 


Irsy, L. Howarp. 

Letter from. Ibis, 1872, pp. 199-201. 

Contains several additions to Mr. H. Saunder’s “ List of the 
Birds of Southern Spain,” and a list of the Sylviidee of the 
vicinity of Gibraltar. 


Jervon, T. C. 
Supplementary Notes to the ‘ Birds of India” This, 1872, 
pp. 1-22, 114-139, 297-310, plates i. and vii. 

A series of notes accumulated by the late lamented author 
of the ‘ Birds of India’ from all quarters, with a view of ulti- 
mate incorporation in a new edition of his well-known work. 
They relate to the Accipitres and Insessores as far as the end 
of the Merulidee (vol. i. and vol. ii. to p- 75) of Dr. Jerdon’s 
arrangement. Polyphasia passerina and Turdus dissimilis 
are figured. 


JEssE, W. 
[See Lasoucuers, H. M.] 


J OBERT. 


Recherches sur la Structure intime du bec de la Spatule 
(Platalea). Compt. Rend. Ixxy. (1872) pp. 1780-1782. 


Abstract of a description of the minute anatomy of the bill 
of the Spoonbill. 
Kocu, Gorriies von. 

1. Die Stellungen der Vigel.  Fiir Priparatoren, Ausstopfer 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 465 


und Freunde der Vogel. 1. Heft. Mit 130 Figuren auf 
10 Tafeln. 8vo, 1872. Heidelberg: C. Winter. 


We have received several excellent recommendations of 
this little book on taxidermy, but have not seen it. 
2. Briefliches von den Moorweihern bei Erlangen. Journ. 
f. Orn. 1872, pp. 138, 189. 
Sixty-one species of birds were observed during a three 
days’ stay on the swamps of Erlangen. 


Kroeger, Dr. Tu. 


1. Ueber den Zwergadler, Aquila pennata, Brutvogel in Ma- 
cedonien. Journ. f. Orn. 1872, pp. 59-64. 


Observations on the breeding of Aquila pennata and A. 
nevia in the woods of Neochori, near Salonica. 

2. Ueber den kurzfiissigen Sperber, Nisus badius, Brutvogel 

in Macedonien. Journ. f. Orn. 1872, pp. 129-131. 

The species observed by Dr. Kriiper is Nisus (sive Accipiter) 
brevipes, Severzow, and not N. éadius. The well-known 
collector writes of the nests and eggs found by him in the 
neighbourhood of Salonica. 


LasoucHere, H. M., and Jessz, W. 


Bird-Life. By Dr. A. E. Brehm. Translated from the 
German. London: 1872. Parts iv., v., vi. Large 8vo. 


Three parts of this work were published last year. See 
Ibis, 1872, p. 193, for a notice of the work. 


Lanpors, Dr. H. 


Jahres-Bericht 1872, des Westfalischen Vereins fiir Vogel- 
schutz, Gefliigel- und Singvogelzucht. 8vo. Munster. 


Report of a local Society, not containing much of general 
interest. 


__LLawrence, Georce N. 


Descriptions of new Species of Birds of the Genera Icterus 
and Synallaxis. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. x. pp. 184-186. 


These are Icterus formosus, from Tehuantepec, and Syn- 
allaxis maculata, from Western Peru. [The latter =S. stic- 
tothorax, Sclater. | 

[See also Grayson, Cort. ANDREW J.| 


466 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the 


Layarp, E. L. 

Letter from. Ibis, 1872, pp. 336-338. 

Contains remarks on the birds seen during a voyage to 
Para. 


Ler, Dr. R. J. 


On the Sense of Sight in Birds, accompanied by a descrip- 
tion of the Eye, and particularly of the ciliary muscle in 
three Species of the Order Rapaces. Proc. Roy. Soe. 
and Ann. & Mag. N. H. ser. 4. x. pp. 142-150 (1872). 


Lecce, VINCENT. 
[See Scuater, P. L.] 


Lirse, Dr. K. Th. 


Die der Umgebung von Gera angehirigen Brutvogel. Ver- 
handl. der Gesellsch. von Freunden der Naturwiss. in 
Gera. III. Band, 1868-1872, pp. 26-55. 


The considerable number of 129 species are noticed as 
breeding-birds near Gera and its environs. Turdus pilaris 
becomes more common every year. 


Luoyp, J. Hayes. 

1. Letter from. Ibis, 1872, pp. 197, 198. 

Gives reasons for belief that Cyornis tickellie is the female 
of C. banyumas. [Cf. Watven, Viscount, infra, p. 490.] 


2. Letter from. Ibis, 1872, p. 202. 
On Hypsipetes neilgherriensis and H. ganeesa, giving a de- 
scription of the latter. 


Lorwis-KvupLine, O. von. 
Friihzeitiges Erscheinen der Zugvogel in Liefland im Friih- 
jahr 1872. Zool. Gart. 1872, pp. 282, 2838. 
Gives dates of the arrival of 18 species of birds in Livonia 
in the spring of 1872, and comparisons with the dates in 
former years. 


Linper, WILHELM. 
Uber die Raben Neu-Vorpommerns und Riigens. Mittheil. 
aus dem naturw. Vereine von Neu-Vorpommern und 
Rigen. 3. Jahrg. 1871, pp. 40-52. 


Nine species are spoken of in this paper, which was omitted 
in our last Index ; i¢ contains besides some good observations. 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 467 


Marr, Masor, W. G. 
Notes on Rurima Rocks. Trans. & Proc. N. Z. Inst. vol. v. 
1872 (iss. 1873), pp. 151-153. 
The locality lies in the Bay of Plenty; Graculus varius and 
Anthornis melanura were the only birds observed here. 


Manrett, W. B. D. 
On Moa-beds. Trans. & Proc. N. Z. Inst. vol. v. 1872, 
(iss. 1873), pp. 94-97. 
An account of several localities where Moa-bones have been 
found by the author. 


—MarcHanp, A. 
Notes sur les Poussins des oiseaux d’ Europe. R. Z. 1872, 
pp- 91-96, 161-164, 192-197. 
‘Descriptions of the down-stages of plumage in various Euro- 
pean birds. Those of Sterna caspia and Haliaetus albicilla 
are figured. 


Marey. 
Mémoire sur le Vol des Insectes et des Oiseaux. Ann. Sc. 
Nat. 5° sér. xv. art. 13. 


A learned disquisition upon the mode of flight im insects 
and birds. 


Marsu, Pror. O. C. 


1. Discovery of a remarkable Fossil Bird. Silliman’s Journ. 
n.8. 1. p. 56, and Ann. & Mag. N. H. ser. 4, ix. p. 326 
(1872). 

Hesperornis regalis. (See below.) 

2. Description of Hesperornis regalis, with notices of Four 
other new Species of Cretaceous Birds. American Journ. 
Sc. & Arts. ser. 3, vol. 11. p. 860, and Ann. & Mag. N. H. 
ser. 4. x. pp. 212-217. 


Hesperornis is made the type of a new family allied to the 
Colymbide. The remains, belonging to five individuals, were 
discovered in the grey shale of the Upper Cretaceous of 
western Kansas. ‘The other species described are Graculavus 
velox, G. pumilus, and G. anceps (belonging to a new genus 
of Cormorants), and Paleotringa vagans, allied to P. littoralis 
previously described. 


468 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the 


3. Notice of some New Tertiary and Post-Tertiary Birds. 
Am. J. Se. ser. 3. iv. pp. 256-262. 


The species described are Aletornis nobilis, A. pernix, A. 
venustus, aud A. gracilis, from the Lower Tertiaries of Wyo- 
ming; Uintornis lucaris, from the same strata; Catarractes 
affinis, Meleagris altus, M. celer, and Grus proavus, from the 
Postpliocene of the Atlantic coast. Aletornis is a new genus 
of “ Wading-birds”! Uintornis, a new genus of Scansores, 
“probably allied to the Woodpeckers ”’ ! 


Marsnatt, C. H. T., and Marsuatt, G. F. L. 
Letter from, Ibis, 1872, p. 827. 


Remarks on Megalema marshallorum and Calorhamphus 
hay. 


Marsuat., G. F. L. 
[See Marsuatu, C. H. T.] 


_Marsyaru, W. 
1. Ueber die knichernen Schidelhicker der Vogel. Niederl. 
Arch. Zool. i. pp. 133-179 (2 plates). 

A well-ordered essay upon the bony protuberances of the 
skull in certain birds. These are discussed as exhibited in 
the Lamellirostres, Pigeons, Gallinacee, Grues, Cassowaries, 
and finally Hornbills, where the formation attains its most 
extraordinary development in Buceros scutatus, s. galeatus. 
Two plates are devoted to the illustration of some of these 
structures, including that of the last-named species. 

2. Beobachtungen tiber den Vogelschwanz. Niederl. Arch. 

Zool. i. pp. 194-210 (plate). 

An essay upon the bird’s tail and its component vertebre, 
as observed in the various modifications presented in different 
forms of birds. Two well-executed plates are given in illus- 
tration. 


Martens, E. von. 


Ueber die Hocker am Schidel eimiger Vogel. Zool. Gart. 
1872, pp. 209-216. 


An abstract of the paper of Hr. W. Marschall (vide supra). 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 469 


Martin, Pu. L. 


Chr. Ludw. Brehm’s Vogelhaus und seine Bewohner, oder 
Pflege und Ziichtung der in Kifigen und Volieren zu hal- 
tenden einheimischen u. tropischen Schmuck- und Singvogel. 
3. Aufl. 8vo, pp. 162. Weimar, 1872: Voigt. 


A new edition of this useful work, which may be recom- . 
mended to all who are interested im keeping and breeding 
cage-birds. 


~~Maynarp, C. J. 


A Catalogue of the Birds of Coos Co., N. H., and Oxford 
Co., Me.; with annotations relative to the Breeding- 
Habits, Migrations. By C. J. Maynarv.—With Notes 
by Wit11am Brewster. Proc. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. 
pp. 3856-385. 

A local list of the birds of two adjacent districts of Maine 


and Newhaven; 164 species are enumerated. 


Meyer, Dr. R. 
1. Notice of the occurrence of Somateria mollissima in No- 
vember near Assenheim in Hesse. Zool. Gart. pp. 56, 57. 


Further instances are given by Jackel (/. ¢. p. 1238). 

2. Zwei Kukukseier in einem Neste des Rothkehlchens (Lus- 
ciola rubecula). Zool. Gart. 1872, pp. 185, 186. 

On the same subject, vide Beling (/.c. p. 318). 

3. Ankunft und Abzug der Schwalbenarten in diesem Jahre. 
Zool. Gart. 1872, pp. 837-339. 

On the extraordinarily early arrival of the Swallows in 

several parts of Germany. 


Mitne-Epwarps, ALPHONSE. 
1. Résumé des Recherches sur les Oiseaux Fossiles. C. R. 
vol. lxxiv. p. 1030, and Ann. Sc. Nat. 5° sér. xvi. art. 2. 


A résumé of the principal discoveries made since 1856 in 
fossil birds, which the author has embedied in his great work 
on this subject, now completed. 

2. Investigations on Fossil Birds. Ann. & Mag. N. H. 

ser. 4. x. pp. 72-75 (1872). 
A translation of the above-mentioned article. 


470 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the 


Mosivs, Pror. K. 

Norderoog, ein Brutplaz der Brand-Seeschwalbe, Sterna 
cantiaca, im Schleswigschen Wattenmeere. Zool. Gart. 
1872, pp. 202-204. 

The number of Sterna cantiaca breeding on this small island 

is believed to amount to 20,000. 


Moosr, Epwarp S., Ph.D. 

On the Tarsus and Carpus of Birds. Aun. Lye. N. Y. x. 

pp. 141-158 (2 plates). 

An important contribution to the questions raised by the 
recent discoveries (of Huxley, Gegenbauer, and Dana) of the 
existence of tarsal bones in birds and of their exact homologies. 
The embryos of many American species are examined, and the 
bones of their legs and wings described and figured. 


Morton, JAMES. 


Notes on some of the New-Zealand Birds. Trans. & Proc. 
N. Z. Inst. vol. v. 1872, pp. 225, 226. 


Three species are recorded, amongst them a Platycercus, 
which Mr. Morton thinks to be different from P. auriceps. 
According to an appended note by Capt. Hutton this is P. 
alpinus. 


Moris, JAMEs. 
1. On the Skeleton of Todus, with remarks as to its allies. 
P.Z.S. 1872, pp. 664-680, t. lv. 


An exhaustive description of the skeleton of Todus, with 
well-drawn figures of details (pl. lv.). The Todide are finally 
characterized as a family of ‘ Coceygomorphs.” 


2. On the Cranial Appendages of the Horned Tragopan. 
P.Z.8. 1872, pp. 7380-736, tt. 1x.-lxi. 

These singular structures are fully described and figured. 

23. On the Genus Colius, its Structure and Systematic Place. 
Ibis, 1872, pp. 262-280, pl. x. 

After a résumé of the views of former writers concerning 
the correct position of this anomalous genus, Dr. Murie de- 
scribes at full length the skeleton of Colius leucotis, and dis- 
cusses the affinities of the group. The conclusion arrived at 
is, that it is necessary to constitute for it an order, Colio- 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 471 


morphe, “ annectent between the Coceygomorphe and Cora- 
comorphe.” 

[It may be remarked that Hypocolius, Bp., mentioned by 
Dr. Murie as “admitted by some” as a genus of Colies, has 
really nothing whatever to do with them, having been founded 
on a true Passerine form allied to Campephaga. See Ibis, 
1868, p. 181.] 


4, On the Motmots and their Affinities. Ibis, 1872, pp. 388 


—412, pls. xiii.—xv. 

The author commences by describing more or less com- 
pletely the skeletons of Momotus lessoni, M. ruficapillus, and 
Eumomota superciliaris. The alliances of the Momotide are 
then discussed at some length, considered osteologically, and 
a résumé of known facts and opinions concerning them is 
given. The conclusion arrived at is that along with the To- 
dide, the Momotide constitute a section of the “ Syndactyle 
birds,” which is proposed to be called “ Serratirostres.” 


Naruusius (KonigsBorn), W. von. 

Ueber den inneren Bau einiger Ginse-Hier mit doppeltem 
Dotier, nebst einigen weiteren Bemerkungen iiber Species- 
Unterschiede bei Kierschalen. Journ. f. Orn. 1872, 
pp. 321-3882, with a plate (t. 11.). 

An important contribution to the anatomy of the bird’s egg 

and an account of further microscopical researches in exam- 
ination of the shells as regards distinction of species. 


Newton, ALFRED. 


1. A Mistory of British Birds, by the late William Yarreld, 
V.P.L.S., F.Z.S. Fourth edition. Parts in. & iv. 8vo. 
London: February and July 1872. 


These two numbers finish the Owls and carry us as far as 
the Sylviide of the Order Passeres. Like the preceding 
numbers, they are replete with additional information from 
modern and ancient sources alike. The variations from the 
usual nomenclature employed are in some cases rather start- 
ling (e.g. Scops giu and Aluco flammeus) ; but Prof. Newton 
gives us good arguments (in most cases almost incontrover- 
tible) for the usage adopted. 


472 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the 


2. Exhibition of, and remarks on a specimen of Ross’s Gull 
(Larus rossi). P.Z.S. 1872, p. 1. 


3. On an undescribed Bird from the Island of Rodriguez. 
Ibis, 1872, pp. 31-34. 

The bird is a Parrot of the genus Paleornis, proposed to 
be called P. exsul. Unfortunately only one female specimen 
has yet been obtained. 

4. Osteology of the Solitaire. Ann. & Mag. N. H. ser. 4. ix. 

pp. 168, 169 (1872). 

Remarks on a footnote in Prof. Owen’s article on this sub- 
ject in the Trans. Zool. Soc. vii. p. 519. 

5. Osteology of the Solitaire. Ann. & Mag. N. H. ser. 4. 

ix. p. 821 (1872). 

A rejoinder to Prof. Owen’s reply to the above-mentioned 
remarks. 

6. On the Specific Name of the Black Redstart. Ann. & 

Mag. N. H. ser. 4. x. pp. 227, 228° (1872). 

Discusses the origin of the specific term tithys, which seems 
to have sprung from titis, and which Prof. Newton now writes 
titys. 


OxrtiacHER, Dr. JosEr. 


Die Vertnderungen des unbefruchteten Keimes des Hih- 
nereies im Hileiter u. bei Bebriitungsversuchen. Zeitschr. 
f. wissensch. Zoologie, vol. xxii. 1872, pp. 181-234, with 
Tafel xili., xiv., & xv. 


A physiological essay upon the development of the egg in 
the oviduct, based upon very careful and minute researches. 


Ocpen, J. A. 
[See Finscu, Dr. Orro]. 


Orto, Hr. 


Ueber die Stimme iind Stimmwerkzeuge der Vogel. Sitzungsb. 
der naturw. Gesellsch. Isis in Dresden. 1872, p. 107. 


A slight notice of some verbal remarks on this subject. 


OweEN, PROFESSOR. 
1. On Dimornis (Part xviii.): containing a Description of 
the Sternum and Pelvis, with an attempted Restoration of 
Aptornis defossor, Ow. Trans. Z. 8. viil. pp. 119-126, 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. — 473 


plates xiv.-xvi. (Read June 6th, 1871; published Sep- 
tember 1872.) 


- Aptornis defossor was a large Ralline bird allied to Notornis. 
Pl. xvi. gives the restoration of the entire skeleton, with a 
skeleton of Ocydromus australis introduced for comparison. 

2. Osteology of the Solitaire. Aun. & Mag. N. H. ser. 4. 
ix. pp. 241, 242 (1872). 
Prof. Owen’s reply to Prof. Newton’s remarks in the same 

volume of the ‘ Annals,’ p. 168. 


_—PELZELN, AUGUST VON. 
1. Ueber eine neue Schleiereule. Journ. f. Orn. 1872, 
pp. 23, 24. 

The species is called Strix insularis, and is carefully de- 
scribed from a specimen in the Vienna collection from the 
“Tsland St. Vincent,’ which Von Pelzeln suspects to be that 
of the Cape-Verd group. 


2. Ueber Geschlechtsdifferenzen bei den Meliphagiden der 
Sandwich-Inseln. Journ. f. Orn. 1872, pp. 24-30. 


In this very interesting paper the author shows, from the 
rich materials in the Imperial Cabinet at* Vienna, that in 
most of the species belonging to the genera Mohoa, Drepanis, 
Himatione, Hemignathus, and Loxops both sexes are coloured 
precisely alike. 

3. Ueber eine Sendung von Vogeln von den Aru-Inseln und 


Molukken. Verhandl. der K. K. zoolog.-bot. Gesell- 
schaft. Wien, Band xxii. 1872, pp. 425-430. 


Notes on 28 species, one of which is new, Pachycephala 
senex (p. 429). 


Ports, THomas H. 


1. Notes and Descriptions of some Birds lately added to the 
Museum, Canterbury, New Zealand. Ibis, 1872, pp. 
35-39. 


The new species described are Antec haasti, Rallus pictus, 
and Larus bullert. (See Buller’s ‘ Birds of New Zealand’ on 
these species.) 

2. Letter from. Ibis, 1872, p. 325. 

Relates to a supposed new Gerygone observed in the middle 


474 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the 


island of New Zealand, and requests a description of the egg 
of Hudynamis taitensis. 
3. Notes on Keropia crassirostris, Gmel (“ Piopio”). Journ. 
Linn. Soc. xi. pp. 505-509. 
Describes the habits and nesting of this bird. 


4. Notes on Birds of New Zealand. Zool. 1872, p. 3052. 

Some interesting observations on Anarhynchus frontals. 

5. On the Birds of New Zealand (Part ii.). With Illus- 

trations. Trans. & Proc. N. Z. Inst. vol. v. pp. 171-205. 

A continuation of the former papers of the author, who 
must be regarded as one of the best workers on the New- 
Zealand avifauna. ‘Thirty-two species are treated in this 
valuable paper. 

The nests (pl. xvi.) of Certhiparus nove zealandie and 
Creadion carunculatus, and (pl. xvii.) heads of Rallus pictus 
and R. pectoralis are figured. Gerygone sylvestris, Himan- 
topus picatus, and Prion australis are described as new. 


PreEEN, C. 
Die Ausrottuny der Singvigel. Journ. f. Orn. 1872, pp. 
209-224, & 275-286. 

A very clear and excellent essay, written to show that laws 
intended to stop the catching of singing-birds altogether go 
too far, and that it ought to be permitted to keep them in 
confinement in limited numbers. 


PRZEWALSKI, CAPTAIN. 
Briefliche Mittheilungen aus Ost-Asien. Journ. f. Orn. 
1872, pp. 137, 138. 
Enumerates 19 species of birds observed during a voyage 
from Kiachta to Peking, amongst them Falco islandicus and 
Buteo japonicus. 


ReicHenow, Dr. ANTON. 


Briefliche Reiseberichte aus West-Africa. Journ. f. Orn. 
1872, pp. 390-392. 


A letter to the Secretary of the German Ornithological 
Union, containing observations on birds seen in the environs 
of Accra. 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 475 


-~—REINHARDT, J. 
Et Tilleg til Grénlands Fiiglefauna. Vid. Medd. 1872, 
pp. 132-134. 

Two species, Pandion haliaétus and Botaurus stellaris, are 
added to the author’s former list of Greenland birds. The 
avifauna of Greenland now consists of about 125 species, of 
which 56 are accidental visitors. 


Rey, Dr. Evcene. 

1. Synonymik der europdischen Brutvigel und Gdste. Syste- 
matisches Verzeichniss nebst Angaben iiber die geogra- 
phische Verbreitung der Arten unter besonderer Beriick- 
sichtigung der Brutverhiltnisse. Gr. 8vo, pp. 257. 
(Halle: Schwedtschke, 1872.) 

This little work will be of value to those ornithologists who 
have no access to a good library, as it gives references to the 
principal works on European ornithology, but by no means 
a full synonymy, as the title would lead one to believe. It 
is to be regretted that a lot of species which certainly never 
did occur in Europe, for instance, Podoces panderi, Neophron 
pileatus, Phyllopneuste javanica, Horsf. (which is really a 
Zosterops), are included; otherwise the book might have 
become a good successor to Schlegel’s ‘ Revue critique’ of 
1844. 


2. Zur Ornis von Portugal. Journ. f. Orn. 1872, pp. 
140-155. 
In 1869 the author visited Portugal, and gives his observa- 
tions made in the Provinces of Estremadura and Algarve dur- 
ing a stay of two months; 111 species are enumerated. 


8, Ueber die Eier der Ulula lapponica. Journ. f. Orn. 
1872, p. 233. 


Description of the eggs of this species, received by Mr. 
Schliiter, of Halle, from Kittila, in Lapland. 


4. Aus meinen Erfahrungen im der Vogelzucht. Zool. Gart. 
1872, pp. 87, 88. 


Notes on the power of reproduction in certain birds, and 
on a new kind of food for species of Estrelda, &c. 


A76 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the 


5. Zur Fortpflanzungsgeschichte unseres Kukuks. Zool. Gart. 
1872, pp. 241-248. 
Relates rather to the eggs of Molothrus sericeus than to 
those of the. Cuckoo. 
6. Fiinf neue Birger von Halle. Zool. Gart. 1872, pp. 
270-276. 
Pernis apiworus, Turdus pilaris, Emberiza hortulana, Mus- 
cicapa atricapilla, and M. albicollis are given as birds breed- 
ing near Halle. 


Ripeway, R. 

1. On the Relation between Colour and Geographical Distri- 
bution in Birds, as exhibited in Melanism and Hyper- 
chromism. Am. J. Se. ser. 3. iv. pp. 454-460. 

The author maintains that the two chief modifications of 
colour met with in North America in the case of widely dis- 
tributed species are:—(1) a melanistic tendency, and (2) a 
greater brightness or increased prevalence of the three pri- 
mary colours. Examples are given of the operation of these 
laws, as shown by the modifications in colour of the species 
of Chrysomitris, Myiarchus, Geothlypis, Cardinalis, Carpo- 
dacus, Cyanura, &c. 

2. Relationship of the American White-fronted Owl. Am. 
Nat. 1872. pp. 283-285. 

Mr. Ridgway controverts Mr. Elliot’s conclusions (Ibis, 
1872, p. 50) that Nyctale albifrons sive kirtlandi is the young 
of Nyctale tengmalmi, and that the latter is not distinguish- 
able from N. richardsoni. He shows that the first-mentioned 
bird is the young of Nyctale acadica, a much smaller species, 
and separates the two last-mentioned birds as geographical 
varieties. 


Kirpan, T. G. F. 
Letter from, containing Remarks on the True Locality of 
Tanysiptera riedeli. P.Z.S. 1872, p. 1. 
The correct locality is “ Kordo,”’ an island in the Bay of 
Geelvink. 
Rrva Fru Ropotro, AnTonro. 


Rapporto sopra una Sylvia rarissima, presa nel circondario 
di Lugano. Atti Soc. Ital. xv. pp. 106-108 (1872). 


{ 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 477 


Reports the occurrence of Cyanecula suecica near Lugano 
in September 1869. 


Ropp, FE. H. 


Notes on the Ornithology of Cornwall, for the years 1871- 
72. J. Inst. Cornw. 1872, pp. 85-87. 


Gives an account of the occurrence of the North-Ame- 
rican Totanus flavipes in Cornwall, and of several other lesser 
rarities. 


~ Ross, A. M. 


A Classified Catalogue of the Birds of Canada. Toronto: 
1872. 8vo, pp. 9. 
A list of the scientific names only. 


-Rowtey, G. Dawson. 


Exhibition of a Specimen of the North-American Zonotrichia 
_ albicollis, taken near Brighton. P.Z.S. 1872, p. 681. 


Russ, Dr. Karl. 

Die gefiederte Welt. Zeitschrift fiir Vogelliebhaber ,-Ziichter 
und -Hindler. Berlin (Louis Gerschel): 1. Jahrg. 
1872. 

A new fortnightly periodical, which will interest all those 
engaged and connected in any way with keeping and breeding 
cage-birds and domestic fowls. The contents of the first 
volume are too varied and miscellaneous to permit special 
mention here. We may notice, however, that the keeping of 
small exotic cage-birds in Germany apparently increases. 
The periodical also contains reports on living birds on sale in 
several places, as well as on exhibitions of birds, &c. 


SALVADORI, T'omMAso. 


1. Fauna dItalia. Parte seconda. Uccelli. Milano. 
Fase. 2-15, 8vo. 


The bird-parts of this work (which forms part of a larger 
undertaking entitled ‘L’Italia, sotto Vaspetto fisico, storico, 
artistico e statistico’) are now all issued, and form a volume of 
352 pages. The total number of species attributed to the 
Italian fauna is 414. In the introduction a very complete 
and useful list of publications and authorities on Italian orni- 
thology is given. 


478 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the 


2. Nota intorno al Garrulus lidthn. Atti Ace. Tor. vii. 
pp. 473-476 (1872). 

This note gives an account of two living specimens of Gar- 
rulus lidthii, Bp., obtained by Cav. Botto, of Genoa, from the 
interior of Japan, and placed in the Zoological Gardens of 
Florence. One of these specimens died in January 1873; 
the other was sold to M. Vekemans, of Antwerp. [This bird 
is now in the Jardin d’Acclimatation at Paris.] The discovery 
of the true habitat of this species is of much interest. 


Satvaport, T’., ed AntTinorI, A. 
1. Intorno ad un nuovo genere di Saxicola. Atti Acc. Tor. 
vill. p. 32 (1872). 
Sazxicola leucolema from the Bogos country, allied to S. 
leucomela. 


2. Intorno al Cypselus horus. Atti Acc. Tor. viii. pp. 94— 
96 (1872). 
Revives Cypselus horus, of Hartlaub and Finsch’s MSS., 
of the Blue Nile, as a distinct species from C. affinis. 


SALVIN, OsBERT. 
1. Remarks on the Mniotiltine Genus Geothlypis. Ibis, 
1872, pp. 147-152. 

A diagnostic table of the known species is given ; and a new 
form belonging to the group of G. equinoctialis is described 
as G. chiriquensis. Very full details as regards range and 
distribution are added. 

2. A further Revision of the Genus Leucopternis, with a 

Description of a new Species. Ibis, 1872, pp. 239-243, 
pl. viii. 

The new species, described and figured as L. plumbea, is 
from Ecuador. It makes the tenth of this peculiar Neotro- 
pical genus, to which Asturina schistacea, Sund., is now pro- 
posed to be referred. 

3. Notes on the Birds of Nicaragua, based upon a Collection 

made at Chontales by Mr. Thomas Belt. Ibis, 1872, 
pp. 311-823. 

Mr. Belt’s collection contained 130 skins, referable to 73 

species. Other authorities (Delattre, Sallé, Holland, Wick- 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 479 


ham, &c.) raise the total number of known Nicaraguan birds 
to about 150. The general character of the avifauna, as de- 
duced from the list, is rather that of Costa Rica than Guate- 
mala and the north. No known species appears to be re- 
stricted entirely to Nicaragua. 


Saunpers, Howarp. 


1. On a new Species of Green Woodpecker from Southern 
Europe. P.Z.8. 1872, pp. 153, 154. 


The species is described as Gecinus sharpei. It is from 
Southern Spain, and is a form of G. viridis. 
2. On the Occurrence of Falco barbarus and Cypselus pal- 
lidus on the Continent of Europe. P.Z.S8. 1872, p. 356. 
Specimens, referred to these two species, were obtained at 
Granada, in Spain. 
~ 3. On the Introduction of Anser albatus, of Cassin, into the 
British Avifauna. P.Z.S. 1872, pp. 519-521. 
Two Geese, shot on the south coast of Wexford, are referred 
to this species. 


4, Letter from. Ibis, 1872, pp. 79-80. 
Account of a specimen of Larus melanocephalus killed near 
Barking Creek in 1866. 


5. Letter from. Ibis, 1872, pp. 80, 81. 
Remarks on the question of the present existence of Fran- 
colinus vulgaris in Sicily. 


Scuiecet, H. 
Jaarboekje van het Koninklijk Zool. Genootsch. Natura 
Artis Magistra, 1872 :-— 
1. De Satijnvogel, Ptilonorhynchus holosericeus: pp. 154— 
158. 
2. De Witte Kraanvogel, Grus leucogeranus: pp. 173-175. 
The usual popular descriptions are given by Prof. Schlegel 
in this almanack. Both species are illustrated by two plates, 
of which we cannot speak with much approbation. 


Scumipt, Jacos. 
Notice of a male Oidemia nigra shot in April near Frank- 
fort on the Main. Zool. Gart. 1872, pp. 253, 254. 


SER. III.—VOL. III. Pe i 


480 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the 


~Scumipt, Dr. Max. 
Fortpflanzung des Monchsittichs (Bolborhynchus monachus) 
in Gefangenschaft. Zool. Gart. 1872, pp. 257-263. 
An interesting account of the breeding and hatching of this 
nest-building Parrot, and of their successful wintering in an 
open aviary in the zoological garden at Frankfort. 


SciaTer, P. L. 
1. A Revision of the Species of the Fringilline Genus Sycalis. 
Ibis, 1872, pp. 89-48, pls. nu. & in. 

Nine species are recognized as known to the author, and are 
fully described. Sycalis pelzelni is a new name for a species 
previously referred wrongly to S. chloropsis. S. chrysops, 
S. lutea, and S. aureiventris are figured. A tenth, apparently 
valid species (S. citrina, Pelz.), is not known to the author. 


2. Observations on the Systematic Position of the Genera 
Peltops, Eurylemus, and Todus. Ibis, 1872, pp. 177-180. 


\ Peltops is stated to be a “ Muscicapine” form allied to 
Monarcha. The Eurylemidz are Passerines,—probably “ pa- 
leogean representatives of the Cotingide.” Todus is certainly 
a Coccygomorph allied to Hylomanes (Momotide). — 


3. On a new Parrakeet of the Genus Loriculus from the 
Philippine Islands. Ibis, 1872, pp. 823-825, pl. x1. 

The new species is L. chrysonotus from Zebu, Philippines, 
described and figured (pl. xi.) from specimens living in the 
Zoological Society’s Gardens. It is represented in Luzon by 
L. culacissi, and in Negros and Panay by L. regulus. 

4. Report on Additions to the Society’s Menagerie for De- 

cember 1871. P.Z.8. 1872, p. 23. 

Notices arrival of Ramphastos cuviert and Turdus peci- 
lopterus. . 

5. On Kaup’s Cassowary (Casuarius kaupi), and on the 
other known Species of the Genus. P.Z.S. 1872, pp. 
147-150, t. 1x. 

Identifies a Cassowary living in the Zoological Society’s 
gardens with Casuarius kaupi of Rosenberg. Dr. Schlegel 
has referred specimens of the same bird (which is from New 
Guinea) to C. bennetti, but incorrectly, both species being now 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 481 


represented in the Zoological Society’s living collection. The 
whole bird is figured (pl. ix.), and cuts of head are likewise 
given. 

6. Report on Additions to the Society’s Menagerie in January 

1872. P.Z.S. 1872, p. 183. 

Notices arrival of Aptenodytes pennanti and Stringops ha- 
broptilus. 

7. Report on Additions to the Society’s Menagerie in Febru- 

ary 1872. P.Z.8. 1872, pp. 4938-496. 

Notices arrival of adult Casuarius bicarunculatus, which is 
figured (pl. xxvi.). 

- 8. Exhibition of a Skin of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus 

_ americanus) from Buenos Ayres. P. Z. 8.1872, p. 496. 

\(6f. Capants, J. f. O. 18783, p. 73. Coccygus euleri is no 
doubt the same bird. Nha 

~9. Notes on the Birds of the Rio Negro of Patagonia. P.Z.S. 

_ 1872, pp. 584-550. 

These are attached to Mr. Hudson’s paper on this subject 
(see above, p. 460). Cnipolegus hudsoni is described as new, 
and figured, pl. xxxi. A list of Mr. Hudson’s collection is 
given, p. 548, and general remarks added. ” 

10. Report on Additions to the Society’s Menagerie in March 

TSee. 2. Zi, 1872,.p: GOL. 

Notices arrival of Centropus phasianus, Struthidea cinerea, 
Chauna chavaria, and Spheniscus humboldti. 

11. Note on the Swallows of the Genus Progne. P.Z.S. 


1872, p. 605. 
Recognizes only four species. (See Hupson, W. H., above, 
p. 461.) ~ 
12. Notes on the Birds of St. Lucia. P.Z:S8. 1872, pp. 
_ 647-653. 


Footnotes to Mr. Semper’s paper (qg.v.) and list of addi- 
tional species to former list, P. Z.S. 1871, p. 263. — 
13. Exhibition of a Specimen of Coccyzus erythrophthalmus 
killed in Ireland. P.Z.S. 1872. p. 681. 
_ 14. Additional Notes on rare or little-known Animals now 
or lately liviny in the Society’s Gardens. P.Z.S. 1872, 
pp. 688-690. 


Pam by 


482 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the 


ya new Crax is described, from a specimen living in the 
gardens, as Craxv incommoda. The locality is not known. / 
15. Report on Additions to the Society’s Menagerie in May 
1872. ~P. ZS. 1872, pp. 728, 729. 
Notices arrival of examples of Anas pecilorhyncha and 
Argus giganteus. 
16. Exhibition for Mr. Vincent Legge of a pair of a new 


Species of Ceylonese Bird, proposed to be called Pricno- 
chilus vincens. P.Z.S. 1872, pp. 729, 730. 


17. Report on Additions to the Society’s Menagerie in June, 
July, August, and September, 1872. P.Z.8. 1872, 
pp. 789-795. 


Notices arrival of examples of Numida vulturina, Loriculus 
chrysonotus (vide supra), Callipepla gambelli, Nestor notabilis, 
and three species of Cyanorhamphus from New Zealand, 
amongst which is C. alpinus (Buller), a disputed species. 

18. Report on Additions to the Society’s Menagerie in Oc- 

tober and November 1872. P.Z.S. 1872, pp. 860-862. 

Notices arrival of Apteryx australis (verus), Tribonyx mor- 
tiert and other birds. 

19. Exhibition of a Nest of the Tijereta (Milvulus tyrannus) 


containing eggs of Molothrus bonariensis. P. Z. 8. 1872, 
pp. 862, 863. 


The nest was forwarded by Mr. Hudson in reference to his 
remarks, P.Z.S. 1870, p. 548 et seg. Additional remarks 
are now given. 


Scort, W. D. 


Partial List of the Summer Birds of Kanawha County, 
West Virginia; with Annotations. Proc. Bost. Soc. N. H. 
xv. pp. 219-227. 


A list, with short notes, of 86 species obtained during two 
months’ field-work in this locality. 


Semprr, J. E. 
Observations on the Birds of St. Lucia; with Notes by 
P. L. Sclater. P.Z.S. 1872, pp. 647-653. 
A series of notes on the birds mentioned in Mr. Sclater’s 
list, P. Z.S. 1871, p. 268, and also on some additional species 
now determined by Mr. Sclater. 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 483 


SHarpg, R. B. 


1. Exhibition of Specimens of Blue Rock-Thrushes (Petro- 
cossyphus). P.Z.S. 1872, p. 496. 


The author’s view is that the blue and red P. manilla of 
China is simply the immature form of the blue P. solitarius 
sive cyanus, and that P. affinis, Blyth, of India, is the same 
bird in an intermediate stage. 

(Cf. Suarre and Dresssr, B. of Europe, pt. x.) 


2. Contributions to the Ornithology of Madagascar. Part iii. 
P.Z.S. 1872, pp. 866-869, pl. Ixxiii. 

Describes a collection of Mr. Crossley from the country 
south-east of Antananarivo, containing examples of 14 
species. Of Oxylabes madagascariensis the adult and young 
are figured. 


3. On Recent Collections of Birds from the Fantee Country, 
in Western Africa. Ibis, 1872, pp. 66-74. 


Contains an enumeration of species additional to former 
lists of Fantee Birds published in ‘ The Ibis’ (1869 and 1870), 
making in all 271 species. 


4. Description of some new Species of Birds in the National 
Collection. Ann. & Mag. N. H. ser. 4. x. pp. 450, 451 
(1872). 

These are Sttta tephronota, from Central Asia; Diaphoro- 

phyia blisseti, from the Gold Coast; and Trichastoma rufi- 
pennis, from Gaboon. 


SHarpe, R. B., and Dresser, H. E. 
A History of the Birds of Europe, including all the 
Species inhabiting the Western Palearctic Region. Lon- 
don. 4to. Parts x.-xv. (1872.) 


Part x. Petrocossyphus cyanus, Turdus merula, Turdus tor- 
quatus, Monticola saxatilis, Parus cyanus, Turdus pilaris, 
Emberiza hortulana, Picus syriacus. Parts xi. & xu. Parus 
lugubris, Picus lilfordi, Picus minor, Gecinus canus, Picoides 
tridactylus, Parus borealis, Emberiza cia, Emberiza melano- 
cephala, Lanius lahtora, Telephonus erythropterus, Surnia 
ulula, Surnia funerea, Parus ledouci, Parus ater, Parus britan- 
nicus, Sterna hirundo, Tringa minutilla. Part. xin. Vultur 


484: Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the 


monachus, Lanius minor, Gecinus sharpii, Sitta krueperi, 
Turdus iliacus, Alauda arborea, Otis tetrax, Anas angusti- 
rostris. Part xiv. Nyctala tengmalmi, Sitta neumayeri, Loxia 
curvirostra, Nyroca ferruginea, Acredula tephronota, Acredula 
rosea, Acredula caudata, Cossypha gutturalis. Partxv. Gyp- 
aetus barbatus, Acredula irbyi, Larus marinus, Loxia pityo- 
psittacus, Limosa lapponica, Limosa egocephala, Plectro- 
phanes lapponicus. 


Suarpr, R. B., and Ussuer, H. T. 


On Three new Species of Birds from the Fantee Country. 
Ibis, 1872, pp. 181-188. 


The species described are Hapaloderma constantia, Pholi- 
dornis rubrifrons, and Huhua shelleyt. 


SHELLEY, G. E. 
A Handbook to the Birds of Egypt. London: 1872. Royal 
8vo, pp. 342. 

After introductory chapters containing a sketch of the 
author’s travels in Egypt, a complete account of its known 
birds is given. Each species is shortly described, and 
notes as to times and places of occurrence are given. The 
species included are 352. The following species are well 
figured :—Crateropus acacia, Saxicola monacha, Calamodyta 
melanopogon, Emberiza intermedia, Erythrospiza githaginea, 
Centropus egyptius, Merops egyptius, Merops viridis, Capri- 
mulgus egyptius, Buteo ferox, Turtur auritus, Turtur sharpit, 
Rhynchea capensis, Erismatura leucocephala, Rhynchops fla- 
virostris, Larus ichthyaetus. There was much need of such 
a work as this, which will be most useful to the numerous 
inhabitants of more northern climes who now prefer to pass 
their winter in the sunshine of the Nile. 


Snexwey, G. E., and Bucxtey, T. E. 


Two Months’ Bird-collecting on the Gold Coast. Ibis, 1872, 
pp. 281-293. 


The two months were passed by these enterprising col- 
lectors at Cape-Coast Castle and Accra. A list of 37 species 
not included in Mr. Sharpe’s papers is given, raising the 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 485 


total number of known Fantee birds to 308. Many notes 
are given of other species observed and their habits. 


——-SPERLING, Row.anp M. 
_ Letter from. Ibis, 1872, pp. 74-79. 
On certain Procellariide observed in the Antarctic Seas, 
and on birds noticed on the River Plate. 


STEENSTRUP, JAP. 

Om de Merker, som Knoklerne i fuglenes ophulkede Foder- 
boller bere af Opholdet i fuglenes Maver, samt om disse 
Merkers Betydning for Geologien og Archeologien. 
Vidensk. Medd. 1872, pp. 218-236, with a plate. 


The author believes that some of the bone-caves in Southern 
Europe may have originated from the remnants of meals left 
by Birds of Prey, and describes the manner in which bones 
passing through bird’s stomachs are acted upon by the gastric 
juice. 

SroriczKa, F. 

Notice of the Mammals and Birds inhabiting Kachh. J. A. 
S. B. 1872, pp. 211-258. (Abst. Pr. A.S. B. 1872, pp. 
120-122). 

Of birds 160 species were collected during a recent official 
visit. These are enumerated, and many good notes given. 
Pratincola macrorhyncha is described as new from two “ pro- 
bably female” specimens. [N. B. Kachh is the new-fashioned 
way of spelling Cutch. | 


StoLKerR, Dr. Cart. 

1. Beitradge zur Pathologie der Vogel. Journ. f. Orn. 1872, 
pp. 1-19. 

Account of various cases of diseases of birds observed by 
the author, and of interest chiefly to those who keep birds in 
confinement. 

2. Ueber Aufzucht des Reissfinken in Gefangenschaft (Padda 
[Oryzornis] oryzivora, Rchb.). Journ. f. Orn. 1872, pp. 
19-23. 

A careful account of the breeding and hatching of this well- 

known exotic cage-bird and of the development of the young 
birds. 


486 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the 


3. Nachtrag sur Vogel-Fauna der Kantone St. Gallen und 
Appenzell. Verhandl. der St. Gallischen naturw. Ges. 
1870-71, und Separatabdr.: St. Gallen, 1872. Zolli- 
kofer.  8vo, pp. 18. 


Eighteen species are added to the number of birds observed 
in this part of Switzerland, of which the total amounts to 230 
species. 


4. Gutachten iiber Vogelschutz im weitesten Sinne. 8vo, 
pp. 38. 

The author, invited by the ‘Thurgauische Thierschutz- 
verein,’ gives his views on the question of the protection of 
birds, which are very practically treated of in this small 
brochure. Our copy, we may remark, has no notice of date 
or publisher. 


Stone, J. 
Le Faisan de lady Amherst. Bull. Soc. d’Accl. 1872, 
pp. 1-3. 
An account of the introduction of this bird and its reproduc- 
tion in this country. 


SUNDEVALL, C. J. 


Methodi Naturalis Avium disponendarum Tentamen. Stock- 
holm. 1 vol. 8vo. (1872.) 


The nature and contents of this important work have been 
explained in a previous number of this journal (anted, p. 322). 
The following is a list of the new genera proposed, and of 


the alterations in generic names suggested by Prof. Sun- 
devall :-— 
Page 
» 4, Penthodyta: emend. pro Pentholea, Cab. 
»» Pinarochroa, g.n. Savricola sordida, Riipp. 
5. Thamnocicla: emend. pro Thamnolea, Cab. 
6. Cistodyta, g. n. Drymeca scotoptera, Sund. 
‘4, Drymodyta, g.n. Malurus tinniens, Licht. 
», Spiloptila, gn. DMalurus clamans, Rupp. 
7. Scotocerca, g.n. Malurus inquietus, Riipp. 
» Chlorodyta, g.n. Drymeca flavida, Strickl. 
,, Herpystera, g.n. Drymeca bairdi, Cass. 
8. Sylviella: emend. pro Sylvietta, Lafr. 
,, Aéthorhynchus, g.n. ora lafresnayit, Hartl. 


33. 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 487 


. Drymeedus: emend. pro Drymodes, Gould. 
. Timelia: emend. pro Timalia, Horsf. 


Mannothera, g.n. Brachypteryx sepiaria, Horsf. 
Hadropezus: subst. pro Turdinus, Blyth. 


. Antimimus, g.n. Turdus rufus, Linn. 

. Cyanolestes: emend. pro Cyanolanius, Bp. 

. Entomoletes: subst. pro Chaptia, Hodgs. 

. Pachyprora, g.n. Muscicapa capensis, Linn. 


Hypsipus: subst. pro. Lanioturdus, Waterh. 


. Empidodothera: subst. pro Cryptolopha, Blyth. 
. Agriospiza, g.n. Fringilla flavirostris, Linn. 


Corydospiza, g.n. Fringilla alaudina, Kittl. 


. Lophopsarus: subst. pro Fregilupus, Less. 

. Gymnocorax: emend. pro Gymnocorvus, Less. 

. Melitograis, g.n. M. striata, sp. nov. 

. Spizocorys, g.n. Alauda conirostris, Sund. 

. Colorhamphus, g.n. Myvobius parvirostris, Gould. 
. Hylocosmia: subst. pro Cotinga. 

. Paictes: subst. pro Philepitta. 

. Camptolophus: subst. pro Plyctolophus, Vieill. 


Rhodurus, g.n. Pstttacus ertthacus, L. 
Anoplorhynchus: subst. pro Anodorhynckus, Spix. 


. Coriophilus: emend. pro Coriphilus, Waph. 


Calliptilus: subst. pro Phigys, Less. 


. Mesospilus, g.n. P. rafflesii, auct. 

. Smilorhis, g.n. Megalema leucotis, Sund. 

. Eurostopus: emend. pro Eurostopodus, Gould. 
. Phapiscus: subst. pro Phapitreron, Bp. 


Nesopelia, g.n. Zenaida galapagensis, Gould. 


. Stigmatopelia, g.n. Columba senegalensis, L. 


Spilopelia, g.n. Columba chinensis, L. 
Cosmopelia, g.n. Phaps elegans (Temm.). 


. Leuchybris: subst. pro Nyctea, Thunb. 


Smilonyx: subst. pro Ketupa, Less. 


. Nyctihierax: subst. pro Surnia, Dum. 
. Asturisca: subst. pro Asturina, Vieill. 
. Hamirostrnm: emend. pro Rostrhamus, Less. 


Gypiscus, g.n. Vultur pileatus, Burch. 


. Hyloperdix: subst. pro Arboricola, Hodgs. 

. Opetioptila: subst. pro Aburria, Reich. 

. Limnobeenus, g.n. Gallinula rubiginosa, Temm. 
. Porphyriola: emend. pro Porphyrula, Blyth. 

. Calopetes: subst. pro Daption, Steph. - 

. Lipocentrus: subst. pro Phcenicoparrus, Bp. 


Brenthus; emend. pro Branta, Scop. 


488 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the 


146. Hyonetta: subst. pro Cairina, Flem. 
‘ 147. Dendronessa: emend. pro Dendrocygna, Sw. 
5, Pseudocycnus: emend. pro Pseudolor, Gray. 
149, Melonetta: subst. pro Harelda, Leach. 
155. Toxocorys: subst. pro Certhilauda, Sw. 
The only new species described seems to be Melitograis 
striata from New Guinea, belonging to the Meliphagine. 


Swinuog, R. 
Descriptions of two new Pheasants and anew Garrulax from 
Ningpo, China. P.Z.S. 1872, pp. 550-554. 

The Pheasants are named Phasianus ellioti, from the moun- 
tainous region of Che-kiang, and Pucrasia darwini, from the 
same district. The Garrulaz, called G. picticollis, is also from 
these mountains. 


TaczanowskI, L. 

1. Notiz iiber die ostsibirischen rauhfiissigen Bussarde. 
Journ. f. Orn. 1872, pp. 189-192. ° 

The birds are described; but the determination of the species 
seems not to be exactly decided upon. 

2. Bericht iiber die ornithologischen Untersuchungen des Dr. 
Dybowski in Ost-Sibirien. Journ. f. Orn. 1872, pp. 840- 
366, und 433-454: 

An enumeration of the birds collected and observed by Dr. 
Dybowski between Irkutsk, Kultuk, and the Kosogal Lake, 
in the Baikal district, and near Darasun, in Dauria, in- 
cluding the notes of the collector on breeding, eggs, migra- 
tion, &c. The first two parts of this very interesting and 
valuable paper relate to 120 species. Probably new are Turdus 
hyemalis, Dybowski (p. 439), and Pecilia brevirostris, Dy- 
bowski (p. 444). The very interesting, if substantiated, occur- 
rence of Turdus alicia, Baird, is mentioned (p. 440). 


TayLtor, GEORGE CAVENDISH. 
Ornithological Observations in the Crimea, Turkey, Sea of 
Azov, and Crete, during the years 1854-55 ; with Remarks 
on the Sivash, or Putrid Sea. Ibis, 1872, pp. 224-237. 


Taytor, Rev. RicHarp. 
An Account of the First Discovery of Moa-remains. ‘Trans, 
& Proc. N. Z. Inst. vol. v. 1872 (iss. 1873), pp. 97-101. 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 489 


The author states that he was the first who discovered Moa- 
bones and sent them over to Professor Owen, but that they 
did not reach their destination so soon as those given by a 
sailor to Mr. Rull. 


Travers, H. H., and Hutton, F. W. 
Notes on some Birds from the Chatham Islands, with De- 
scriptions of two new Species. Ibis, 1872, pp. 243-250. 
Gives an account of Mr. Travers’s collection during an eight 
months’ residence on the islands, which lie 475 miles east of 
New Zealand. The new species are Petroica traversit and 
Rallus modestus. 


Travers, W. T. L. 


On the Birds of the Chatham Islands, by H. H. Travers ; 

- with Introductory Remarks on the Avifauna and Flora of 
the Islands in their relation to those of New Zealand. 
Trans. & Proc. N. Z. Inst. vol. v. 1872, pp. 212-222. 


Observations and notes on 38 species of birds made by Mr. 
H. H. Travers during his recent visit to these islands. N.B. 
“ Graculus africanus” should stand as G. featherstoni, Buller ; 
[see also Hutton, F. W.]. 


Tripre, T. M. 


Notes on the Birds of Southern Iowa. Proc. Bost. Soc. 
N. H. xv. pp. 229-243. 


A list with short notes of 162 species observed during two 
years’ residence in Southern Iowa. 


Tristram, H. B. 
1. On anew Sylviad from Palestine. Ibis, 1872, pp. 296-297. 
The new species is Sylvia melanothorax, from the Jordan 
Valley, allied to S. melanocephala. Other rare species, ob- 
tained during the recent expedition to Moab, are mentioned. 


2. Letter from. Ibis, 1872. pp. 334, 335. 
On a small flock of Pallas’s Sand-Grouse (Syrrhaptes para- 
doxus) observed on the coast of North Northumberland. 


TscHUSI-SCHMIDHOFEN, Victor, Rirrer von. 
1. Schiitzet und heget dieVogel. Hin Mahnruf an alle Land- u. 


490 Messrs. Sclater and Finsch’s Index to the 


Forstwirthe, Jager und Freunde der Vogel. 8vo, pp. 36, 
with 7 woodcuts. Wien: 1872. (Faesy & Frick.) 


The protection of birds, a subject at present so much talked 
about, is very carefully treated, and all the questions con- 
cerned with it satisfactorily answered. The useful birds and 
those which do damage are enumerated. We may remark, 
however, that the usefulness of birds is modified by the country 
wherein they live; so, e.g., Corvus cornix, which is correctly 
enumerated amongst the useful birds, cannot be considered so 
in Scandinavia, being a great destroyer of the eggs of Water- 
fowl in that country. 


2. Ornithologische Mittheilungen aus Oesterreich (1871). 
Journ. f. Orn. 1872, pp. 131-137. 

Observations on 18 species of birds, the most interesting of 
which are Acanthis linaria, found breeding in the Salzbur- 
gian Alps, Nucifraga caryocatactes, in Upper Styria, and the 
occurrence of a flock of hundreds of Pastor roseus near Po- 
nowitsch, in Carinthia, in the beginning of June. ~ 


Vian, JULES. 
Causeries Ornithologiques. R. Z. 1872, pp. 33-48, 81-90, 
321-330. 

Treats of Aquila leucorypha, from the Ural, Emberiza 
cioides, Anthus cervinus, Parus lugubris, Alauda pispoletta, 
A. sibirica; of the so-called “spurious” primary in birds ; of 
Falco peregrinoides, Lanius phenicurus, and L. superciliosus. 


VoGEL, GEORG. 

Die Fortpflanzung des Tannenhihers im Jura Solothurns. 
Verhandl. der St. Gallischen naturw. Gesellsch. 1871-72, 
and Separatabdruck : St. Gallen 1873. Zollikofer. 8vo, 
pp. 382. 

A full account of the nesting, breeding, and habits of Nuci- 


fraga caryocatactes in the Jura. 


Ussuer, H.. 'T. 
[See Suarre, R. B.] 


Watpen, ArtTHUR, VISCOUNT. 
1. Letter from. Ibis, 1872, pp. 330, 331. 


Ornithological Literature of 1872. 491] 


Remarks upon Cyornis tickellie and C. Jerdoni, and the 
question of their identity. 


2. On a Collection of Birds recently made by Mr. A. H. 
Everett in Northern Borneo. Ibis, 1872, pp. 360-383, 
Nieecti 

Mr. Everett’s collection contained examples of about 50 

species, of which the most interesting are Argusianus grayi, 
Pityriasis gymnocephalus, and Setornis cringer. Of the last a 
figure is given. A short account of the authorities on Bornean 
ornithology is given, and full remarks on the synonymy and 
range of the species in the collection. 


3. Letter from. Ibis, 1872, pp. 471, 472. 

Identifies Lithofalco fieldenit, Hume, with Polihierax in- 
signis, Walden, and specimens named “ Hrythrosterna parva, 
in nuptial plumage” by Mr. Hume, with Siphia (Menetica) 
hyperytira, Cabanis, of Ceylon. 


4. Description of a new Species of Porzana from the Hima- 
layas. Ann. & Mag. N. H. ser. 4. ix. p. 47 (1872). 


Porzana bicolor, obtained near Darjeeling. 


5. Description of a supposed new Species of Cuckoo from 
Celebes. Ann. & Mag. N. H. ser. 4. ix. pp. 305, 306 
(1872). 

Mierococcyx crassirostris, from the northern part of the 

island. 


6. On some supposed new Species of Birds from Celebes and 
the Togian Islands. Ann. & Mag. N. H. ser. 4. ix. pp. 
398-401 (1872). 


These are Loriculus quadricolor, from the Togian Islands ; 
Myzomela chloroptera and Hyloterpe sulfuriventer, from Ce- 
lebes ; Criniger aureus, from the Togian Islands ; and Cisti- 
cola grayi, from Celebes. 


7. On a new Species of Timalia from Eastern India. Ann. 
& Mag. N. H. ser. 4. x. pp. 61, 62 (1872). 


Timalia jerdoni, from the Khasia Hills, hitherto referred to 
T. pileata of Java, but distinct. 


8. On two new Species of Birds from the Philippine Islands. 
Ann. & Mag. N. H: ser. 4. x. pp. 252, 253 (1872). 


492 Index to the Ornithological Literature of 1872. 


These are Hyloterpe philippinensis, from Luzon, and Ortho- 
tomus castaneiceps, from Guimaras. 
9. A List of the Birds known to inhabit the Island of Ce- 


lebes. -Trans. Zool. Soc. vii. pp. 23-108, pls. iii.—x. 
(Read May 2nd, 1871; published May 1872.) 


A complete treatise on what is yet known of the birds of 
this debatable land between the Indo-Malayan and Austro- 
Malayan regions. After a general disquisition on the 191 
known species and on the results to be arrived at from an 
examination of them and the genera to which they belong, a 
complete list of the species is given, with synonyms and critical 
remarks. Three species are described as new—Lalage leucopy- 
gialis, Munia brunneiceps, and Calornis neglecta. The following 
species are figured—Trichoglossus meyeri, Buceros exaratus, 
3 et 9, Artamus monachus, Geocichla erythronota, Myiolestes 
helianthea, Hypothymis puella, Cyornis rufigula, Volvocivora 
mori, Lalage leucopygialis, Munia brunneiceps, Zosterops in- 
termedia, Zost. atrifrons, Acridotheres cinereus, and Aigialites 
peronit. Special accounts are given of the known species of 
Centrococcyx and Calornis, and much information about Phe- 
nicophaes and about the Hornbills of Celebes. 
10. Appendix to a List of Birds known to inhabit the Island 
of Celebes. Trans. Zool. Soc. viii. pp. 109-118, pls. xi.- 
xi. (Read May 7th, 1872; published May 1872.) 
Appendix to the previous memoir, giving an account of Dr. 
A. B. Meyer’s recent collections in Celebes. After additional 
observations on species already included, in the course of which 
Broderipus celebensis is described as new, particulars of 12 
additional species are given. Teraspiza rhodogastra, Grau- 
calus temminckii, and Hierococcye crassirostris are figured. 


Watpen, Artuur, Viscount; and Layarp, E. L. 
On Birds recently observed or obtained in the Island of 
Negros, Philippines. Ibis, 1872, pp. 93-107, pls. iv.—vi. 
Mr. L. C. Layard’s collection from this hitherto ornitho- 
logically unexplored island contains examples of 17 species. 
Chrysocolaptes xanthocephalus, Dicrurus mirabilis, and Tan- 
thena griseogularis are described as new and figured. Impor- 
tant rectifications are given as to the synonymy of other species. 


List of Ornithological Periodicals. 493 


Woop, T. W. 


On the two (?) unknown Species of Argus Pheasant. Ann. 
& Mag. N. H. ser. 4. x. p. 67 (1872). 


Remarks on the feathers of these supposed species as figured 
in Elhot’s monograph. 


Woop, Wittiiam, M.D. 


Instructions for preparing Birds’ Eggs. Am. Nat. 1872, 
pp- 281, 282. 


Recommends an egg-blowing instrument invented by Mr. 
E. W. Ellsworth, of East Windsor, Hill., Conn., and gives 
sound advice to inexperienced collectors. 


XLVII.— List of Periodicals in which Ornithological Papers 
have appeared in 1872. By F. H. Waternovuss, Librarian 
to the Zoological Society of London. 


I wave drawn up the following list at Mr. Sclater’s request. 
The titles are arranged nearly in the same order as that in 
which they occur in the Society’s Library Catalogue. Copies 
of all of them, with very few exceptions, are in the library 
under my charge. 
AMSTERDAM. 
Jaarboekje van het Koninklijk Zoologisch Genootschap Na- 
tura Artis Magistra. 1872. pp. 175. 
BERLIN. 


Zeitschrift fiir die gesammten Naturwissenschaften : neue folge 
(Giebel). Band v. and vi. 1872. 


Zeitschrift fir Vogelliebhaber, -Ziichter und -Handler. 1872. 
Archiv fiir Naturgeschichte. Jahrgang xxx., 1872. 


BowoeGna. 


Memorie dell’ Accademia di Scienze dell’ Istituto. Ser. 2, 
vol. iii. 1872. 


Boston. 


Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History. Vol. 
xiv. p. 420, xv. p. 256. (1872.) 


494. List of Ornithological Periodicals. 


BREMEN. 


Abhandlungen herausgegeben vom naturwissenschaftlichen 
Vereine. Bandi. (1872.) 


CALCUTTA. 


Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. Vol. xli. 1872, 
pp. 351. 


Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. January to 
December, 1872. 


Stray Feathers. Vol. i. no. 1 (1872), pp. 50. 


CamBrinGE, Mass. U.S.A. 
Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Vol. i. 
no. 6, 1872. 
CHRISTIANIA. 
Forhandlinger i Videnskabs-Selskabet. 1872. 


CopPpENHAGEN. 


Videnskabelige Meddelelser fra den naturhistoriske Forening 
i Kj6benhavn. 1872. 


DRESDEN. 


Sitzungsberichte der naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft 
Isis in Dresden. 1872. 


Frankrurt-aM-Marn. 
Der zoologische Garten. Jahrg. xii. pp. 388. 


GERA. 


Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft von Freunden der Naturwis- 
senschaften in Gera. Band ii. 1868-72. 


GREIFSWALD. 


Mittheilungen aus dem naturwissenschaftlichen Vereine von 
Neu-Vorpommern und Rigen. Jahrg. 3, 1871. 


HAARLEM. 


Niederlandisches Archiv fiir Zoologie (Selenka). Vol. i. 
Heft 2. (1872.) 


List of Ornithological Periodicals. 495 


LEIPzic. 


Journal fiir Ornithologie (Cabanis). .Dritte Folge, Band 111. 
1872. 


Zeitschrift fiir wissenschaftliche Zoologie (Siebold & Kolliker). 
Vol. xx; - 1872. 


LisBon. 
Jornal de Sciencias Mathematicas, Physicas e Naturales. 
No. 132) 1872. 
Lonpon. 


Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Ser. 4, vols. ix. 
& x. January to December, 1872. 


The Ibis. 1872, pp. 491. 
The Zoologist. Vol. xxx. 1872, pp. 2877-3340. 


Journal of the Linnean Society of London. Vol. xi. no. 55, 
pp. 425-492. 


Transactions of the Zoological Society of London. Vol. viii. 
pts. 1-3. 1872, pp. 234. 


Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1872, 
pp. 927. 


MI.an. 


Atti della Societa Italiana di Scienze Naturali. Vol. xv. 
fasc. 1 & 2. 1872. 


MopeEna. 
Annuario della Societa dei Naturalisti. Anno vi. 1872. 


MUnstTER. 


Jahres-Bericht 1872, des westfalischen Vereins fiir Vogel- 
schutz, Gefliigel- und Singvogelzucht. 


Bericht iiber die xix. Versammlung der deutschen Ornitho- 
logen-Gesellschaft zu Cassel. 1872. 
New Haven, Mass. U.S.A. 
The American Journal of Science and Arts. Ser. 3, vols. iii. 
& iv. 1872. 
New York, U.S.A. 


Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York. 
Vol. x. nos. 1-7. 1872. 


SER. I1I,—VOL. III. 2M 


496 List of Ornithological Periodicals. 


Paris. 
Annales des Sciences Naturelles. 5° sér. tomes xv. & xvi. 
(1872.) 
Comptes Rendus hebdomadaires des Séances de l Académie 
des Sciences. Tomes lxxiv., lxxv. (1872.) 


Bulletin de la Société Zoologique d’Acclimatation. 2° série, 
tome ix. 1872, pp. 944. 


Revue et Magasin de Zoologie. Vol.xxiv. 1871-72, pp.503. 
Journal de Zoologie (Gervais). Vol. i. 1872, pp. 548. 
Puiapevruis, U.S. A. 
Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Phila- 
delphia. 1872, pp. 322. 
St. Galen. 


Verhandlungen der St. Gallischen naturwissenschaftlichen 
Gesellschaft. 1870-71. 


St. PETERSBURG. 


Bulletin de ’ Académie Impériale des Sciences de St. Péters- 
bourg. Tomes xvi. & xvii. 1872. 


Mélanges biologiques tirés du Bulletin. vin. 1872. 
SaLem, Mass. U.S. A. 
American Naturalist. Vol. vi. nos. 1-12. 1872. 
SHANGHAI. 


Journal of the North-China Branch of the Royal Asiatic So- 
ciety. 1871-72, pp. 260. 


TRURO. 

Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall. 1872, pp. 112. 
TURIN. 

Atti della R. Accademia deile Scienze di Torino. vii. 1872. 
VIENNA. 


Verhandlungen des zoologisch-botanischen Vereins in Wien. 
xxl. 1872, pp. 742. 


WELLINGTON. 


Transactions and Proceedings of the New-Zealand Institute. 
Vol. v. 1872, pp. 487. 


Acanthis linaria, 490. 

Acanthorhynchus — tenui- 
rostris, 109. 

Accentor alpinus, 240. 

jerdoni, 438. 

modularis, 240. 

Accipiter erythrocnemis, 
Ish... 


fuscus, 18. 

nisus, 154, 364. 

Acipenser ruthenus, 55. 

Acredula caudata, 483. 

irbyi, 483. 

rosea, 483. 

tephronota, 483. 

Acridotheres cinereus, 79, 
492. 

fuscus, 79. 

——  ginginianus, 

— mahrattensis, 79. 

tristis, 813, 412. 

Acrocephalus dumetorum, 
412. 

Actitis glareola, 317. 

hypoleuca, 67, 68, 

317, 339, 417. 

ochropus, 417. 

Actiturus bartramius, 453. 

Actochelidon cantiaca, 
453. 

Adelomyia cervina, 454, 

chlorospila, 454. 

/Bgialites cantianus, 337. 

hiaticula, 337. 

—— minor, 337. 

—— mongolus, 425 

—— peronii, 492. 

Aigialitis cantianus, 264, 
266. 

curonica, 316. 

—— dubia, 316. 

geoffroyi, 316, 416. 

gracilis, 440. 

hartingi, 96, 217, 

325, 326, 327. 


401, 


TN DB ok. 


| Afgialitis hiaticula, 67, 


266, 325. 

longipes, 263, 327, 

—— marginatus, 265. 

—— minor, 266. 

—— minuta, 316. 

— minutus, 416. 

— mongola, 517. 

—— mongolicus, 416. 

—— nigrifrons, 266. 

— occidentalis, 440. 

pecuarius, 261, 262, 

263, 265. 

pyrrhothorax, 416, 

sanctz-helenx, 260, 

2, 266. 

semipalmata, 325. 

sennaarensis, 263. 

tenuirostris, 326. 

tricollaris, 266. 

varius, 261, 262, 
266. 

/Kgiothus rufescens, 64. 

Aigolius brachyotus, 58, 

Aigotheles novee-hollan- 
diz, 107. 

Agelaius assimilis, 28. 

humeralis, 28. 

(Nesopsar) nigerri- 
mus, 28. 

Agromyias leucopygialis, 
172. 


Aithya ferina, 366. 

Aix galericulata, 123. 
Alauda arborea, 245, 483. 
arvensis, 62, 213, 
221, 245, 462. 
conirostris, 487. 
gulgula, 221, 222, 
-—— guttata, 458. 
malabarica, 222, 462. 
pispoletta, 490. 
— sibirica, 490. 

Alcea torda, 348. 


| Aleedo bengalensis, 302, 


361, 407. 


pm ispida, 236, 407. 
paradisea, 108. 
—— quadribrachys, 258. 
sacra, 19. 
semitorquata, 258, 
1 


venerata, 20. 
Aletornis gracilis, 468. 
nobilis, 468. 
pernix, 468. 
venustus, 468. 
Alseonax latirostris, 308. 
Aluco flammeus, 155, 471. 
Amadina erythrocephala, 
29: 


guttata, 116. 
Ametrornis abnormis, 13. 
Ammomanes pheenicura, 
414. 
| Ampelis cinerea, 114. 
garrula, 60, 362. 
Amydrus tristrami, 429. 
Anarhynchus frontalis, 
92, 474, 
Anas albeola, 46. 
angustirostris, 483. 
— boschas, 71, 343, 
366, 453, 459, 
—— cerulescens, 45. 
—. coromandeliana, 122. 
creccoides, 434, 
cristata, 46. 
—— jubata, 45. 
leucophrys, 123. 
— lophyra, 46. 
marmorata, 343. 
ria peecilorhyncha, 420, 


scaldi, 434. 

strepera, 343. 

—— superciliosa, 85, 123. 

—— zonorhyncha, 367. 

Ancylocheilus subarquata, 
453. 

Anser albatus, 479. 


albifrons, 71, 368. 
2Mez 


498 


Anser czerulescens, 45. 
—— cinereus, 70, 368. 
cygnoides, 368. 
erythropus, 368. 
ferus, 342, 568. 
hyperboreus, 45. 
segetum, 71, 342, 
368. 
Anthochera carunculata, 


inauris, 109.* 

Anthornis melanura, 22, 
467. 

Anthropoides virgo, 417. 

Anthus aquaticus, 245, 

arboreus, 61. 245. 

campestris, 245. 

cervinus, 61, 245, 
490, 

—— pratensis, 61, 245, 
448 


richardi, 456. 

rufogularis, 456. 

Antrostomus earolinensis, 
108. 

—— imperator, 103, 104. 

Apatornis celer, 430. 

Aptenodytes forsteri, 104. 

fosteri, 103. 

— minor, 103. 

Sa 1038, 104, 


rex, 103, 104. 

Apternus tridactylus, 59. 

Apteryx australis, 447, 
482. : 

haasti, 473, 

mantelli, 447. 

Aptornis defossor, 472, 
473. 

Aquila adalberti, 99, 436, 
445, 456. 

— bifasciata, 99, 422, 
423, 433, 437. 

— bonellii, 147, 149, 
398. 

-—— chrysaetus, 58, 149. 

clanga, 456. 

crassipes, 99, 433, 

437. 

fulva, 452. 

— fulvescens, 398, 402, 
403. 

——— fusca, 402. 

—— hastata, 433. 

imperialis, 98, 456. 

leucorypha, 490. 

minuta, 452, 453, 
460. 

—— mogilnik, 99, 224, 
445, 


INDEX. 


Aquila neevia, 224, 465. 
nevioides, 281, 398, 
402, 408, 422, 428. 
orientalis, 423. 
pennata, 452, 453, 
459, 465. 
Arachnechthra 
408. 
flammaxillaris, 312. 
frenata, 312. 
lotenia, 229. 
Aramides cayennensis, 
122. 
Archibuteo aquilinus,364. 
hemiptilopus, 225, 
Ardea agami, 396. 
asha, 318, 319. 
— cerulea, 38. 
canadensis, 38. 
cinerea, 252, 340, 
418. 
comata, 283. 
goliath, 283. 
gularis, 318, 319. 
jugularis, 319. 
nove hollandiz, 120, 
439. 
pacifica, 38. 
purpurea, 540, 418. 
sacra, 319, 320, 439. 
scapularis, 121. 
schistacea, 319. 
sibilatrix, 137. 
virgo, 38. 
vittata, 38. 
Ardeola leucoptera, 419. 
minuta, 341. 
Ardetta cinnamomea, 73, 


r 


74 


asiatica, 


MELT 


eurhythma, 73, 74. 
minuta, 259. 
—— podiceps, 259. 
sinensis, 73, 74. 
Argus giganteus, 482. 
ocellatus, 330. 
Argusianus grayi, 491. 
Arremon silens, 380. 
Arrenga blighi, 459. 
Artamus leucopygialis, 
309. 
leucorhynchus, 309. 
monachus, 492. 
Arundinax aedon, 307. 
— canturiens, 180. 
— minutus, 180. 
olivaceus, 307. 
Ascalaphia bengalensis, 
405. 
Asio accipitrinus, 155. 
otus, 155. 
Astur nisus, 58. 


Astur nove-hollandiz, 
107. 


palumbarius, 58, 


Asturina 
394. 
pucherani, 136. 
schistacea, 478. 
Athene brama, 405, 455. 
noctua, 455. 
torquata, 18. 
Atticora cyanoleuca, 461. 
griseopyga, 458. 
Attila rufigularis, 113. 
thamnophiloides, 


magnirostris, 


385. 
Aythya ferina, 420. 
nyroca, 420, 


Balearica regulorum, 286. 

Barbatula leucotis, 255. 

uropygialis, 458. 

Batis affinis, 168, 169. 

capensis, 160, 161, 
176. 

— minima, 161, 169, 
Marte 

molitor, 161, 166, 

168, 169, 176. 

orientalis, 161, 165, 

176. 

pririt, 161, 168, 169, 


76 


senegalensis, 161, 
163, 164, 165, 166, 169, 
176, 177. 

Bernicla jubata, 45, 46. 

leucopsis, 71. 

Bessornis heuglini, 458. 


Blandfordius — striatulus, 
222, 224. 
Bolborhynchus mona- 


chus, 134, 480. 
Botaurus lentiginosus, 
453. 
stellaris, 341, 475. 
Brachyotus accipitrinus, 
228. 
Brachypodius —_ fuseofla- 
vescens, 224, 306. 
melanocephalus, 
306, 307. 
Brachypterus aurantius, 
O7 . 


Brachypteryx __ palliseri, 
459. 

sepiaria, 487. 

Brachyramphus marmo- 
ratus, 46. 

Bradyornis modesta, 140, 

Bradypterus cetti, 244. 


Broderipus acrorhynchus, 
306. 
— andamanensis, 305. 
celebensis, 306, 492. 
chinensis, 306. 
coronatus, 306. 
formosus, 306. 
frontalis, 306. 
indicus, 306. 
Brotogerys tuipara, 116, 
394, 


—- virescens, 117. 

Bubo hemachalanus, 225. 

—— maximus, 58, 225. 

virginianus, 137. 

Bucco hyperrhynchus, 
391. 


tectus, 391. 
Bucephala clangula, 367. 
Buceros africanus, 319. 
albirostris, 193. 
—— buccinator, 179. 
coronatus, 30. 
cristatus, 178. 
—— cylindricus, 178,179. 
-—— exaratus, 492. 
fistulator, 179. 
galeatus, 468. 
—— malabaricus, 30. 
-—— monoceros, 30. 
— rhinoceros, 29, 205. 
— scutatus, 468, 
sharpu, 177, 178, 
179. 
subcylindricus, 179. 
Buchanga albirictus, 409. 
andamanensis, 310. 
cerulescens, 399, 
400, 409. 
leucopygialis, 230. 
Budytes — cinereocapilla, 
453. 
cinereocapillus, 61. 
flava, 245, 282. 
rayi, 282. 
—— viridis, 308. 
Buphaga africana, 256. 
erythrorhyncha, 
256. 
Buphus bubuleus, 341. 
coromandus, 419. 
ralloides, 341. 
Burnesia lepida, 433. 
Butalis grisola, 398, 409. 
latirostris, 308. 
Buteo albonotatus, 428. 
ferox, 484, 
japonicus, 364, 
4. 


lagopus, 58, 150, 
lineatus, LO6. 


INDEX. 


Buteo plumipes, 435. 

pterocles, 156. 

vulgaris, 58, 150. 

Buteola brachyura, 394. 

Butorides cyanurus, 
137. 

javanicus, 321. 


Caccabis rubra, 36, 
Calamodyta aquatica, 
244, 


—- canturiens, 180. 
—— melanopogon, 244, 
484 


phragmitis, 61. 
Calamoherpe arundi- 
nacea, 25, 244, 259. 
babzecula, 259. 
—— beticata, 259. 
— beeticula, 259. 
canturiens, 179, 


gracilirostris, 

259. 

palustris, 25, 
453. 

Calandrella brachydac- 
tyla, 98, 154, 245. 

buckleyi, 142. 

reboudia, 98. 

Calialeyon coromanda, 
302. 

Calidris arenaria, 70, 
340, 417. 

Callipepla gambelli, 
482. 


Calliste flaviventris, 
379. 

Calobates melanops, 
231. 

Calcenas nicobarica, 35. 

Calophasis ellioti, 445. 

Calorhamphus hayi, 468. 

Calornis neglecta, 492. 

Calyptorhynchus banksi, 
33 


solandri, 118. 
Campephaga monacha, 
457. 
nesiotis, 457. 
Campephilus boii, 133. 
melanoleucus, 33. 
trachelopyrus, 590. 
Campylopterus obscurus, 
388. 


Cancroma cancrophaga, 
39 


‘ cochlearia, 39. 
Caprimulgus egyptius, 


asiaticus, 406. 


499 


Caprimulguscrassirostris, 
107. 

eristatus, 107. 

europzeus, 59, 

236. 

longipennis, 107. 

macrodipterus, 
107. 

——- mahrattensis, 406. 

megacephalus, 


monticolus, 406. 
— novex-hollandiz, 
107. 
phalena, 457. 
Carbo squamatus, 124. 
sulcirostris, 124. 
Carduelis elegans, 247. 
Cariama cristata, 455, 
Carine noctua, 155. 
Carpodacus edwardsii, 
218, 
erythrinus, 64. 
Carpophaga, sp., 34. 
eenea, d14. 
novee-zealandiz, 
439. 
palumboides, 225, 
315, 
Casarca rutila, 419. 
variegata, 439. 
Cassicus affinis, 381. 
persicus, 381. 
Casuarius bennetti, 480. 
bicarunculatus, 
481. 
kaupi, 480. 
Catarractes affinis, 468. 
Cathartes atratus, 395. 
gryphus, 16. 
Catriscus apicalis, 458. 
Cecropis hyperythra, 
230. 


Celeus cinnamomeus, 
118. 

citrinus, 390. 

jumana, 390. 

multicolor, 118. 

Centrococcyx andaman- 
ensis, 305. 

Centropus segyptius, 
484. 


— affinis, 206. 
—— andamanensis, 305. 
—— antiquus, 206. 
— chlororhynchus, 
230. 
eurycercus, 230. 
—— phasianus, 481. 
—— philippinensis, 
206 


a . 


500 
Centropus rectunguis, 
230 


— rufipennis, 230, 


sinensis; 230. 
Centurus polygrammus, 
440. 


Cercomacra tyrannina, 
387. 
Cereba cerulea, 378. 
cyanea, 378. 
Ceriornis blythii, 433, 
453. 
Certhia hodgsoni, 438. 
lunata, 110. 
melanura, 22. 
—— nove-hollandiz, 
109. 
—— olivacea, 22. 
pacifica, 21. 
sannio, 22. 
tenuirostris, 109. 
Certhiola chloropyga, 
378. 
martinicana, 334. 
Certhiparus novze- 
zealandiz, 474. 
Ceryle amazona, 133. 
americana, 133. 
— guttata, 361. 
——- lugubris, 96, 361. 
rudis, 3861, 407. 
torquata, 133. 
Chiemarrhornis leucoce- 
phalus, 96. 
Cheetornis striatus, 80. 
Cheetura caudacuta, 108. 
—— poliura, 389. 
spinicauda, 389. 
Chaleophaps indicus, 
315. 


Chamezpelia passerina, 
395. 

talpacoti, 396. 

Charadrius asiaticus, 366, 
447. 

cantiana, 326, 

caspius, 366. 

damarensis, 447, 

frontalis, 263. 

fulvus, 316, 325, 
366, 427. 

—— hiaticula, 325, 326. 

isabellinus, 263. 

—— kittlitzi, 260, 263, 
267. 

longipes, 325, 326, 

416. 

minor, 316. 

—— nivifrons, 265. 

——— pastor, 263. 


INDEX. 


Charadrius pectoralis, 
263. 

pecuarius, 260, 261, 

262, 264, 266, 267; 325, 

327. 

placidus, 326. 

—— pluvialis, 67, 337. 

— varius, 260, 262, 
264. 

Chatarrheza caudata, 
410. 

Chaulelasmus strepera, 


streperus, 420. 

Chauna chayaria, 481. 

Chelidon urbica, 59, 225, 
237: 

Chelidoptera tenebrosa, 
392. 


Chettusia gregaria, 598, 
416 


— nivifrons, 447. 

Chibia hottentotta, 112. 

Chionis alba, 37. 

Chiromachzeris gutturosa, 
114. 

manacus, 384. 

Chiroxiphia pareola, 
384. 

Chlamydochen, 46. 

Chloronerpes ruficeps, 
390 


Chlorostilbon pumilus, 
453. 


Chroicocephalus minutus, 
72. 

ridibundus, 72. 

Chrysococcyx smaragdi- 
neus, 259 

splendidus, 259. 

Chrysocolaptes xanthoce- 
phalus, 492. 

Chrysolampis chlorolz- 
mus, 446. 

Chrysomitris spinus, 64, 
24. 


_ 


thibetana, 461. 
Chrysoptilus agricola, 
154 


-— boiei, 134. 

cristatus, 132, 134, 
138. 

Ciconia alba, 341. 

australis, 39. 

nigra, 341. 

Cinclorhamphus cruralis, 


Cinclosoma punctatum, 
112 


Cinelus aquaticus, 238. 
60. 


Cinnyris talatala, 255. 
Cireaetos zonurus, 458 
Circaetus antarcticus, 


—— gallicus, 149, 403. 
pectoralis, 281. 
Circus xruginosus, 154, 
233, 234, 405. 
assimilis, 233. 
— cineraceus, 155, 233, 
234, 364, 404. 
cinereus, 131. 
cyaneus, 155, 233, 
234. 


cyanus, 58. 
—— gouldi, 421, 422, 
439. 
hudsonius, 233. 
—— maurus, 332. 
melanoleucus, 233. 
pallidus, 96, 224, 
233, 234. 
ranivorus, 233. 
spilonotus, 233, 
429. 
swainsoni, 224, 233, 
234, 404. 
wolfi, 421, 422. 
wolfii, 233. 
Cisticola ayresii, 257. 
cursitans, 257. 
—— grayi, 491. 
scheenicola, 412. 
semirufa, 441. 
Citrinella huttoni, 414, 
398. 
Cittacincla macroura, 25. 
Clangula albeola, 46. 
Cnipolegus hudsoni, 461, 
481 


Coccothraustes vulgaris, 
247. 

Coccystes jacobinus, 407. 

Coccyzus americanus, 
481. 
erythrophthalmus, 

481 


geoffroyi, 291. 
Colaptes agricola, 1382, 
134 


Colius leucotis, 470. 
senegalensis, 116. 
striatus, 116. 
Collocalia affinis, 302. 
brevirostris, 303. 
— fuciphaga, 303. 
innominata, 224, 
303. 
linchi, 302. 
Colluricinela concinna, 
463. 


Colluricincla parvissima, 


selbii, 114. 
Colopterus galeatus, 382. 
Columba, sp., 34. 
bollii, 452. 
chinensis, 487. 
cristata, 36. 
intermedia, 414. 
laurivora, 452. 
leucocephala, 34. 
livia, 335. 
—— melanoleuca, 35. 
—— enas, 335. 
pallida, 118. 
palumbus, 66, 335. 
-—— picata, 35. 
senegalensis, 487. 
sylvatica, 314, 
trocaz, 452. 
Columbina aurisquamata, 
430. 
Columbus auritus, 73. 
glacialis, 349. 
—— septentrionalis, 349. 
Conurus acuticaudatus, 
430. 
glaucifrons, 430. 
Copsychus saularis, 25, 
307, 399, 411. 
Coracias affinis, 80. 
— garrula, 80, 256. 
indica, 80, 406. 
strepera, 27. 
Coracina cinerea, 114. 
Coracopsis mascarina, 
32. 
Corvus auritus, 26, 112. 
collaris, 80. 
— corax, 65, 248. 
cornix, 65, 248, 
490. 
— corone, 65, 248. 
culminatus, 75, 76, 
77, 78, 312, 412, 
frugilegus, 65, 248. 
graculinus, 27. 
levaillanti, 398, 
401, 412. 
levaillantii, 312. 
—— melanops, 113. 
— monedula, 65, 248. 
pastinator, 372. 
sibiricus, 115, 
splendens, 75, 76, 
77, 78, 412. 
strepera, 27. 
Coryphospingus crista- 
tus, 380 
Corythaix leucolophus, 
458. 


| 


INDEX. 


Corythaix musophagus, 


a“ 


Corythornis cristata, 281, 


Corythus enucleator, 64. 
Cossypha gutturalis, 484. 


Cotinga pompadora, 114. 


Coturniculus manimbe, 
381. 

Coturnix chinensis, 120. 

communis, 3386, 

415, 

nove zealandiz, 
439. 

Cotyle cincta, 281. 

concolor, 406. 

—— obsoleta, 214. 

riparia, 59, 237. 

rupestris, 237. 

Cracticus torquatus, 114. 

Crateropus acaciz, 484. 

Crax incommoda, 482, 

Creadion carunculatus, 
28, 439, 474. 

Crex pratensis, 67, 336, 
3ol. 

Criniger aureus, 491. 

Crocopus pheenicopterus, 
399, 400, 414. 

Crotophaga ani, 392. 


Cryptornis antiquus, 206. 


Crypturus pileatus, 396. 
Cuculus canorinus, 440. 
—— canorus, 59, 236, 


440. 
—— flabelliformis, 118, 
119; 
honoratus, 3035. 
imperatus, 119. 
indicus, 440. 
micropterus, 304. 
pallidus, 118. 
pluvialis, 33. 
striatus, 440. 
—— yetula, 33. 
Cultrides pucherani, 287, 
288. 
rufipennis, 288. 
Curruca atricapilla, 241. 
melanocephala, 
148, 241, 243. 
orphea, 455. 
Cursorius coromandeli- 
cus, 415. 
gallicus, 266. 
jamesonii, 415. 
Cyanecula suecica, 61, 
ATT, 
Cyanocephalus wiedi, 
103 


Cyanocitta melanocya- 
nea, 373. 


501 


Cyanocorax cayanus, 27. 
pileatus, 133. 
Cyanopolius cyanus, 371. 
Cyanopterus querque- 
dula, 71. 
Cypnemiampie alpinus, 


Cygnus atratus, 46. 
bewicki, 368. 
ferus, 438, 453. 
—— herrenthalsi, 434. 
—-- olor, 342, 488, 453. 
—— minor, 453. 
—— musicus, 342. 
Cymbirhynchus macro- 
rhynchus, 19. 
Cynthia cardui, 267. 
Cyornis banyumas, 466. 
jerdoni, 399, 400, 
401, 409, 410, 491. 
rufigula, 492. 
sanguineus, 409. 
tickelliz, 399, 409, 
410, 466, 491. 
Cyphorhinus musicus, 
111 


Cypselus affinis, 406, 
478. 

apus, 59, 237, 

bataviensis, 231. 

caffer, 281. 

—— horus, 478. 

—— infumatus, 453. 

—— melha, 236. 

pallidus, 479. 

—— subfuscatus, 231. 


Dacelo conereta, 231. 
Dacnis cayana, 378. 
Dafila acuta, 71, 343, 420. 
bahamensis, 46. 
Danais chrysippus, 267. 
Daulias luscinia, 240, 
241. 
philomela, 241. 
Demiegretta asha, 418. 
concolor, 318, 320. 
greyi, 318. 
—— gularis, 320. 
—— jugularis, 320. 
sacra, 318, 320. 
Dendrocitta rufa, 412. 
Dendrocolaptes brunnei- 
ceps, 133. 
Dendrocygna ausuree, 
419, 


autumnalis, 122. 
Dendreeca zxstiva, 334. 
castanea, 437. 
gracie, 428, 
Dendroica castanea, 437. 


502 
Dendroplex picus, 110, 
386. 


Dendrornis eytoni, 385. 
pardalotus, 110. 
Dermophrys jagori, 441. 
Diallactes granadensis, 


—— major, 440. 

semifasciatus, 440. 

Diaphorophya __blissetti, 
156, 172, 178, 174, 175, 
177. 

castanea, 171, 172, 


iiie 
— concreta, 171, 172, 
174, 177. 
Diaphorophyia blisseti, 
483 


leucopygialis, 172. 

Diceum retrocinctum, 
454, 

Dicrurus macrocercus, 
409. 

mirabilis, 492. 

Didunculus strigirostris, 


Diomedea brachyura, 51. 
exulans, 51, 123. 
exulans grisea, 51. 
spadicea, 51. 
Diplopterus nzevius, 392. 
Dissemurus affinis, 310. 
brachyphorus, 310. 
Domicella taitiana, 117. 
Donacobius atricapillus, 
377. 
Drepanis pacifica, 21. 
Dromeus nove-hollan- 
dix, 120. 
Dromas ardeola, 458. 
Dromornis australis, 430. 
Drymeeca bairdi, 486. 
eremita, 429. 
flavida, 486. 
inornata, 412. 
—— inquieta, 437. 
scotoptera, 486. 
Drymeepus rufescens, 
461. 
Drymoica flavicans, 254, 
259. 
melanorhyncha, 
259. 
pallida, 259. 
subflava, 259. 
subruficapilla, 254. 
terrestris, 257, 258. 
Drymoipus insignis, 216, 
217, 461. 
jerdoni, 217. 
rufescens, 217. 


INDEX. 


Drymoipus sylvaticus, 
216, 217. 

Drymornis bridgesi, 133. 

Dryocopus lineatus, 390. 

martius, 59. 

Dryodromas nigriceps, 
139. 


Dumeticola cyanocarpa, 
461. 
—— major, 438. 


Edolius setaceus, 112. 

Egretta alba, 341. 

garzetta, 341, 

Elainea martinica, 113. 

pagana, 382. 

riisii, 114, 

Elanoides furcatus, 439. 

Elanus melanopterus, 
218, 3832, 405, 444, 
462. 

sinensis, 443. 

Elminia longicauda mi- 
nor, 458. 

Emberiza aureola, 62, 

—— cia, 246, 483. 

— cioides, 490. 

cirlus, 246. 

citrinella, 63. 

hortulana, 246, 476, 

483. 

huttoni, 459. 

—— intermedia, 484. 
melanocephala, 246, 

483 


—— miliaria, 246. 

pusilla, 63. 

rustica, 63. 

scheenicla, 63. 

schceniclus, 246. 

spodocephala, 372. 

Empidonax pusillus, 437. 

Empidonomus varius, 
383. 

Entomobia smyrnensis, 
302. 

Eophona melanura, 372. 

Ephialtes asio, 19. 

brucei, 216, 461. 

Eremomela griseo-flava, 
458. 

Eriocnemis dyselius, 446. 

Erismatura dominica, 
137. 

— leucocephala, 343, 
484. 

Erithacus rubecula, 240. 

Erythropus amurensis, 
96, 280. 

Erythrospiza githaginea, 
484. : : 


Erythrosterns hypery- 
thra, 459. 
— leucura, 80. 
parva, 81, 398, 410, 
491. 
Esacus 
416. 
Estrelda astrild, 282. 
—— bella, 115. 
carmelita, 259. 
temporalis, 115. 
Eucephala cxrulea, 388. 
Eudromias asiaticus, 365. 
morinellus, 337. 
—— tenuirostris, 217, 
324, 462. 
veredus, 365, 366, 
424, 447. 
Eudynamis honorata, 
303. 
—— malayana, 303. 
taitensis, 439, 474. 
Eudynamyshonorata,408. 
—— nigra, 34. 
orientalis, 74, 408. 
Eudyptila minor, 104. 
undina, 104. 
Eudytes arcticus, 72. 
—— glacialis, 72. 
septentrionalis, 72. 
EKulabes andamanensis, 
313. 
intermedia, 313. 
Eulampis holosericeus, 
oot. 
jugularis, 334. 
Eumomota superciliaris, 
373, 471. 
Eunetta falcata, 368. 
formosa, 368. 
Euphona lichtensteinii, 
116. 
Euphonia cayana, 379. 
— minuta, 373. 
violacea, 379. 
Euplectes taha, 255. 
Eupodotis edwardsi, 415. 
Eurinorhynchus pyg- 
meus, 453. 
Eurynorhynchus pyg- 
meus, 425. 
Eurystomus orientalis, 
108, 302. 
Euspiza melanocephala, 
62, 453. 


recurvirostris, 


Falcinellus igneus, 419, 
453. 

Falco xsalon, 57, 153, 
364 


albicollis, 17. 


Falco albus, 107. 
angolensis, 106. 
australis, 17. 
barbarus, 151, 218, 
462, 479. 
brunneus, 18, 327. 
— candicans, 453. 
eenchris, 155. 
deiroleucus, 394, 
eleonore, 152. 
formosus, 106. 
gyrfaleo, 57, 453. 
harpe, 18. 
islandicus, 474. 
islandus, 453. 
jugger, 440. 
lanarius, 440, 
leucurus, 17. 
mexicanus, 440. 
nove-hollandiz, 
107. 
—— nove-zelandix, 17, 
18. 


peregrinoides, 490. 


picatus, 17. 

—— plumbeus, 106. 
—— polyagrus, 439. 
—— sacroides, 443. 
— saker, 151. 

—— semitorquatus, 458, 
subbuteo, 57, 153. 
tinnunculus, 57, 
1538, 246. 

vespertinus, 57, 


Falculia palliata, 201. 

Falcunculus frontatus, 
115. 

Ficedula pallida, 97. 

Florisuga mellivora, 
388. 

Formicivora grisea, 387. 

Francolinus afer, 282. 

gariepensis, 282. 

levaillanti, 282. 

—— pictus, 415. 

— pileatus, 282. 

schlegelii, 458. 

vulgaris, 479. 

Fratercula arctica, 348. 

glacialis, 348. 

Fregilupus madagascari- 
ensis, 200. 

varius, 200. 

Fregilus graculus, 28, 
452, 248. 

Fringilauda nemoricola, 
462. 

sordida, 462. 

Fringilla alaudina, 487. 


peregrinus, 57, 150. 


INDEX. 


Fringilla chloris, 247. 
celebs, 64, 247. 
flavirostris, 487. 
leucocephala, 116. 
—— montifringilla, 64. 
temporalis, 115. 
Fulica alba, 44, 295. 
atra, 336, 418, 
cristata, 336. 
dujardinii, 434. 
flavirostris, 44. 
Fuligula cristata, 71, 
344, 420. 
—— ferina, 71, 344. 


novee zealandiz, 


rufina, 344. 

Fulix baeri, 366, 367. 
cristata, 366, 367. 
— marila, 367. 


Galbula paradisea, 108. 
Galerida cristata, 213. 
Gallicrex cinereus, 317. 
Gallinago gallinula, 340, 
heterocerea, 441. 
—— heterura, 441. 
— horsfieldi, 364, 
426. 
—— japonica, 364. 
—— major, 285, 340. 


media, 340. 
megala, 364, 426. 
scolopacina, 364, 
417, 426. 
solitaria, 363. 
stenura, 318. 
Gallinula alba, 44, 45. 
chloropus, 268, 
336. 
cristata, 317. 
flavirostris, 44. 
pheenicura, 418, 
453. 
rubiginosa, 487. 
Gallus bankiva, 35. 
sonnerati, 401. 
Garrulax chinensis, 26. 
picticollis, 488. 
sinensis, 112. 
Garrulus affinis, 225. 
brandti, 225. 
—— glandarius, 225, 
226, 248, 
hyreanus, 225, 
japonicus, 225, 
lidthii, 478. 
Gecinus canus, 59, 483. 
—— sharpei, 479. 


marila, 71, 97, 344. 


503 


Gecinus sharpii, 484. 


viridis, 235, 450, 
479. 

Gelochelidon anglicus, 

9 

Geocichla erythronota, 
492. 

rubecula, 112. 

Geocoraphus modestus, 
458. 

Geopelia striata, 34. 

tranquilla, 267. 

Geothlypis zquinoctia- 
lis, 478. 

chiriquensis, 478. 

Geranoaetus melanoleu- 
cus, 131, 136. 


Geranospiza czrulescens, 


Geronticus calvus, 39. 
cayennensis, 39. 
papillosus, 419. 
Gerygone modesta, 441. 
simplex, 441. 
sylvestris, 474. 
Glareola pratincola, 
338. 
Glaucidium phalnoides, 
373. 


Glaucion clangula, 71, 
344. 


Glaucis senea, 276, 277. 
affinis, 275, 276. 
dohrni, 275, 276. 
fraseri, 278. 

hirsuta, 275, 276, 
88. 


lanceolata, 275, 
277. 
—— mazeppa, 275, 276. 
melanura, 275, 277. 
ruckeri, 277, 278. 
Glaucopis cinerea, 439. 
wilsoni, 439. 
Glyphorhynchus cunea- 
tus, 385. 
Gracula saularis, 25. 
strepera, 27. 
Graculavus anceps, 467. 
pumilus, 467. 
velox, 467. 
Graculus africanus, 489, 
carbo, 421. 
featherstoni, 489, 
— lucidus, 232. 
—— melanoleucus, 124, 
—— melanops, 113. 
—— punctatus, 53. 
—— sulcirostris, 124. 
varius, 467. 
Grallaria brevicauda, 26, 


504: 


Grallaria varia, 112. 
Grallaricula perspicil- 
lata, 373. 
Granatellus francesce, 
454. 
Graucalus concinnus, 
463. 
coneretus, 312. 
—— dobsoni, 312, 434. 
layardi, 311, 512. 
— lineatus, 312. 
macei, 310, 311, 
399, 401, 409. 
melanops, 463. 
—— nipalensis, 310. 
striatus, 312. 
swainsoni, 312. 
temminckii, 492. 
Grus americana, 81: 
antigone, 38, 416. 
canadensis, 38, 81. 
—— cinerea, 70, 81, 
340, 417. 
—— leucogeranus, 479. 
pavonina, 454. 
proavus, 468. 
Grypus spixi, 276. 
Guiraca cerulea, 373. 
Gygis candida, 123. 
Gymnokitia cyanoce- 
phala, 442. 
Gymnorhinus cyanoce- 
phalus, 153. 
Gypaetus barbatus, 148, 
452, 483. 
Gypohierax angolensis, 


Gyps bengalensis, 402. 
— fulvescens, 402. 
fulvus, 145, 258. 
indicus, 402. 
kolbii, 258. 


Habropyga subflava, 282. 

Hematopus fuliginosus, 
120. 

ostralegus, 67, 338, 
416. 

— unicolor, 120. 

Hezmatornis cheela, 298. 

elgini, 299. 

Halcyon sacra, 19. 

sancta, 20. 

sanctus, 20. 

smyrnensis, 407 

venerata, 20. 

Haliaetus albicilla, 58, 
149, 435, 467. 

—— fulviventer, 404. 

vocifer, 281. 

Haliastur indus, 405. 


INDEX. 


Halieus sulcirostris, 124. 

(Microcarbo) _ stic- 
tocephalus, 124. 

Hapaloderma constantia, 
484. 

marina, 254. 

Harelda glacialis, 71. 

Harpyhaliaetus corona- 
tus, 136. 

Heliangelus 
453. 

Hemichelidon latirostris, 
308. 

Henicurus frontalis, 228. 

sinensis, 228. 

Herbivox canturiens, 180. 

Herodias andamanensis, 
318, 320. 

concolor, 318. 

egrettoides, 418. 

garzetta, 418. 

— — pannosa, 319. 

Herpetotheres cachin- 
nans, 373. 

Hesperornis regalis, 467. 

Heteralocha acutirostris, 
201, 439. 

gouldi, 449. 

Hiaticula pecuaria, 263. 

Hieracidea australis, 327. 

brunnea, 18, 101, 

102, 328, 329, 330, 439. 

noyexe-zealandix, 18, 
100, 101, 102, 329, 
439. 

Hierax sericeus, 95. 

Hierococcyx crassirostris, 
491,492. . 

varius, 407. 

Himantopus candidus, 
417. 

— melanopterus, 338. 

picatus, 474. 

Hirundinea ferruginea, 


micraster, 


2 


Hirundo albigularis, 281. 
albiventris, 376, 378. 
—— caudacuta, 108. 
— cucullata, 281. 
—- erythrogastra, 378. 
—— fluvicola, 406. 
fuciphaga, 303. 
— gutturalis, 231, 309. 
javanica, 251, 405, 
406. 
leucorrhoa, 461. 
pacifica, 108. 
ruficeps, 406. 
rustica, 59, 237, 405, 
406. 
—— semirufa, 254. 


Homochlamys cantans, 


canturiens, 180. 
—— luscinia, 179, 180. 
minutus, 180. 
Hoplopterus cyanus, 375. 


Horeites brunnescens, 
461. 
pallidus, 438. 
Horornis erythrogenys, 
461. 


Houbara macqueeni, 415. 
macqueenii, 398. 
Huhua shelleyi, 484. 
Hydrochelidon _ fissipes, 
346. 
— indica, 433. 
leucoptera, 346. 
Hydrophasianus chirur- 
gus, 122, 418. 
Hydropsalis _ torquata, 
134. 


Hyetomantis _ pluvialis, 
33. 

Hyetornis pluvialis, 33. 
Hylophilus semicinereus, 
377. 
Hyloterpe 

sis, 492. 
sulfuriventer, 491. 
Hymenolemus malaco- 

rhynchus, 439. 
Hyphantica haematoce- 

phala, 458. 
Hyphantornis capitalis, 

29. 


philippinen- 


mariquensis, 284. 

nigriceps, 255. 

subaureus, 255, 282. 

superciliosus, 140. 

Hypochera chalybeata, 
29. 


Hypotenidia australis, 


‘celebensis, 41, 43. 
—— philippensis, 41, 42, 
43 


striata, 40, 41. 

torquata, 43. 

Hypothymis azurea, 309. 

puella, 492. 

tytleri, 308. 

Hypotriorchis chicquera, 
2 


fombralis 131, 135. 
Hypsipetes ganeesa, 466. 
neilgherriensis, 466. 


Tanthia cyanura, 371. 
Janthenas griseogularis, 
492. 


Tanthenas palumboides, 
315. 
Ibis falcinellus, 340. 
—— nippon, 249, 443. 
rubra, 121. 
sinensis, 443. 
Ibycter formosus, 106. 
Ichthyornis dispar, 430. 
Icterus ater, 28. 
croconotus, 381. 
formosus, 465. 
giraudi, 373. 
graysoni, 454. 
—— nigerrimus, 28. 
pectoralis, 373. 
Ictinia mississippiensis, 
439. 
plumbea, 106. 
Teracidea brunnea, 18. 
novie-zeelandiz, 18. 
Indicator xanthonotus, 
225. 
Todopleura isabelle, 


Tolema whitelyana, 454. 
Tora lafresnayii, 486. 
zeylonica, 411. 
Trena puella, 506. 
Irrisor aterrimus, 
196, 211. 
cxeruleus, 191. 
— caudacutus, 191. 
cyaneus, 191. 
cyanomelas, 191, 
210. 
erythrorhynchus, 
191, 194, 195, 196, 197, 
199, 206, 209, 210, 
211. 
—— lamprolophus, 191. 
—— minor, 191. 
senegalensis, 196, 
209. 
sibilator, 191. 
Ispidina natalensis, 259. 
picta, 252. 
Ithaginis geoffroyii, 453. 
Txos sinensis, 371. 


191, 


Keropia crassirostris, 26, 
474. 

Ketupa flavipes, 129. 

magnifica, 127. 

Kittacinela albiventris, 
307. 


Lagonosticta polionota, 
141. 


rubricata, 141. 
—— rufopicta, 142. 
Lagopus albus, 66, 441. 


INDEX. 
Lalage leucopygialis, 
492. 


Lampornis calosoma, 
446 


violicauda, 388. 

Laniarius atrococcineus, 
255. 

quadricolor, 282. 


Lanioturdus — torquatus, 
170, 176. 

Lanius arenarius, 398, 
401, 408. 


auriculatus, 237. 
chinensis, 26. 
collurio, 60, 2388. 
curvirostris, 114. 
erythronotus, 401, 
8. 


excubitor, 60, 287. 
frontatus, 115. 
—— lahtora, 408, 483. 
lucionensis, 309. 
— meridionalis, 238. 
— minor, 287, 483. 
—— phenicurus, 490. 


schach, 372. 
superciliosus, 490. 
torquatus, 114. 
vittatus, 401, 408. 
Larus argentatus, 72. 
audouini, 347. 
— bulleri, 439, 447, 
473. 
— canus, 72, 347. 
— dominicanus, 439, 
63. 


eburneus, 52. 
fuscescens, 420. 
— fuscus, 72, 348. 
gelastes, 347. 
ichthyaetus, 484. 
jamesoni, 447. 
leucopheeus, 347. 
marinus, 72, 348, 
483. 
—— melanocephalus, 
346, 479. 
melanorhynchus, 


— minutus, 346. 
parasiticus, 52. 
pomare, 447. 
raemdonckii, 434. 
ridibundus, 347. 
rossi, 453, 472. 
Laurillardia longirostris, 
207. 
Legatus albicollis, 382. 
Leistes guianensis, 381. 
Leptoptila rufaxilla, 119. 


Leptoptilos argala, 418 


505 


Lestris buffoni, 97. 

parasitica, 52. 

pomatorhina, 72. 

Leucocerca albofrontata, 
409, 


aureola, 409. 
Leucopolius pecuarius, 
OF 


Leucopternis albicollis, 
17 : 


plumbea, 478. 

Leucosarcia picata, 35. 

Limnatornis paludicola, 
207. 

Limnetes crassirostris, 


Limosa xgocephala, 69, 
338, 417, 484. 

brevipes, 369, 427. 

lapponica, 484. 

rufa 69. 

—— uropygialis, 368, 
369, 424. 

Linota cannabina, 247. 

rufescens, 97. 

Lithofalco feildeni, 461, 
491, 


Lobivanellus goensis, 
416. 

lateralis, 283. 

se era he impeyanus, 


Lophornis gouldi, 279. 

—— ornata, 20. 

—— regine, 280. 

—— stictolophus, 280. 

Loriculus chrysonotus, 
480, 482. 

— culacissi, 480. 

quadricolor, 49]. 

——— regulus, 480. 

—— vernalis, 298. 

Loxia bella, 115. 

—— curvirostra, 65, 247, 
483. 

—— guttata, 116. 

leucoptera, 65. 

nitida, 115. 

—-— panicivora, 115. 

—— pityopsittacus, 483. 

psittacea, 21. 

—— turdus, 26. 

Loxigilla noctis, 334. 

Lunda cirrhata, 46, 
104. 

Lurocalis semitorquatus, 
390. 


Lusciniopsis canturiens, 
0. 


—— luscinioides, 244. 
Lusciola rubecula, 469. 


506 
Machetes pugnax, 339, 
453. 


Machirhamphus anders- 
soni, 455. 

Macrodipteryx longipen- 
nis, 107. ; 

Macronyx capensis, 282. 

Macropteryx comatus, 
231. 

Macropygia amboinensis, 
315. 

emiliana, 315. 

leptogrammica, 315. 

—— phasianella, 315. 

rufipennis, 314. 

tenuirostris, 315. 

—— tusalia, 315. 

Malacocercus striatus, 
229. 

Malacocircus malabari- 
cus, 410. 

malcolmi, 410. 

terricolor, 410. 

Malacopteron luscinia, 
180. 

Malurus clamans, 486. 

cyaneus, 111. 

gracilis, 433. 

Inquietus, 486. 

lambertii, 111. 

—— longicaudus, 111. 

tinniens, 486. 

Manorhina melanophrys, 
110. 

Mareca albogularis, 225, 
321. 

—— gibberifrons, 321. 

penelope, 71, 343, 

420. 

punctata, 321. 

Mascarinus madagascari- 
ensis, 32. 

Mecistura glaucogularis, 
372. 

Megalema caniceps, 124, 
125. 

leucotis, 487. 

—-— marshallarum, 468. 

sykesi, 125. 

viridis, 124, 125. 

zeylanica, 125. 

Megalophonus apiatus, 
285 


a 


chenianus, 286. 

—— neyvius, 286. 

-—— rufipileus, 285. 

Megalurus palustris, 40. 

Megapodius nicobaricus, 
225. 

Melanerpes flavifrons, 
118. 


INDEX. 


Melanerpes rubrifrons, 
391. 

Melanocorypha calandra, 
245, 453. . 

Meleagris altus, 468. 

celer, 468. 

gallopavo, 35, 36. 

mexicana, 3). 

Meliphaga nove-hollan- 
dize, 109. 


phrygia, 22. 
Melithreptus lunatus, 
110. 


Melitograis striata, 487, 
488. 
Melizophilus provincialis, 
249, 248. 
sardus, 143, 241, 
242, 243. 
—— striatus, 223, 437. 
Meniceros bicornis, 407. 
Menura superba, 111. 
Mergus albellus, 71, 345. 
castor, 71, 345. 
serrator, 71, 345. 
Merops egyptius, 484. 
apiaster, 256. 
badius, 108. 
carunculatus, 109. 
cincinnatus, 109. 
eyanophrys, 458. 
erythrocephalus, 
301. 
indicus, 301. 
jaunoir, 21. 
leschenaulti, 302. 
novee-zelandix, 109. 
—— nubicoides, 255. 
ornatus, 108. 
— phrygius, 22, 
quinticolor, 231, 
301. 
viridis, 406, 484. 
Micropterus barmanicus, 
461. 
phaioceps, 461. 
Milvago australis, 17. 
leucurus, 17. 
Milvulus tyrannus, 383, 
482. 
Milvus forskahli, 281. 
govinda, 228, 405. 
ictinus, 147, 150. 
melanotis, 228. 
—— migrans, 150, 453. 
regalis, 58. 
Mimus carolinensis, 25. 
orpheus, 25. 
Mionectes oleagineus, 
382. 
Mirafra assamica, 217. 


Mirafra erythroptera, 414. 
immaculata, 217, 
461. 
Miro traversi, 463. 
Mohoa braceata, 21. 
Molothrus bonariensis, 
482. 
sericeus, 476. 
Momotus lessoni, 471. 
ruficapillus, 471. 
Monticola cyanus, 239. 
saxatilis, 239, 483. 
Montifringilla ruficollis, 
435. 
Moquinus albicaudus, 
170. 
tandonus, 170. 
Motacilla alba, 61, 219, 
220, 244, 462. 
cashmiriensis, 219, 
438. 
— cyanea, 111. 
— dukhunensis, 219. 
hodgsoni, 219. 
hudsoni, 219. 
japonica, 219, 
— luzonica, 219. 
luzoniensis, 219. 
—— personata, 219, 220. 
sulphurea, 245, 
superba, 111. 
vaillanti, 255. 
Munia acuticauda, 371. 
brunneiceps, 492. 
malabarica, 413. 
Muscicapa_albicapilla, 
3 


albicollis, 476. 
aquatica, 458. 
atricapilla, 237, 
476. 

capensis, 161, 487. 
cinereo-alba, 308. 
collaris, 237. 

-—— cyanea, 157. 
erythrogastra, 112. 
grisola, 59, 237, 
308. 

latirostris, 308. 
martinica, 113, 114. 
martinicana cristata, 
113. 

melanoptera, 157. 
— minima, 458. 
molitor, 166. 

—— pectoralis, 115. 
pondiceriana, 308. 
poonensis, 308. 
pririt, 168. 
pristinaria, 161. 
scita, 175. 


Muscicapa senegalensis, 
163. 

sibirica, 308. 

tenella, 175. 

Muscipeta pristinaria, 


161. 


senegalensis, 168. 

Muscivora regia, 388. 

Muscylvia senegalensis, 
165. 

Mycteria australis, 39, 
418. 

Myiagra nitida, 115. 

Myiarchus crinitus, 442. 

erythrocercus, 442. 

irritabilis, 442. 

Myiobius martinicus, 113. 

nevius, 383. 

parvirostris, 487. 

—— sulphureipygius, 
373. 

Myiodioctes pusillus, 334. 

Myiolestes helianthea, 
492. 

Myiophila conereta, 174, 
175. 

Myiozetetes similis, 382. 

Myzomela chloroptera, 
491. 

sanguinolenta, 109. 


Nasica bridgesi, 133. 
eracilirostris, 133. 
Nauclerus furcatus, 394. 
Nectarinia affinis, 86. 
asiatica, 86, 87. 
—— (Arachnechthra) 
brevirostris, 86. 
Nemosia rourei, 440. 
Neomorphus geoffroyi, 
287, 288, 289, 291, 292, 
294. 
pucherani, 287, 288, 
293, 294, 295. 
rufipennis, 287, 288, 
292, 294, 295. 
salvini, 287, 291, 
295. 
Neophron ginginianus, 
402 


ae 


percnopterus, 453. 

pileatus, 475. 

Nesopsar nigerrimus, 28. 

Nestor meridionalis, 32, 
439: 

—— notabilis, 489, 482. 

occidentalis, 439. 

Nettapus albipennis, 122. 

——— coromandelianus, 
419. 

coromandelicus, 99. 


INDEX. 


Ninox obscurus, 217, 
461. 

Nisaetus bonellii, 403. 

Nisus badius, 465. 

brevipes, 465. 

Noctua podargina, 457. 

Nothura maculosa, 131. 

Notornis ? alba, 44, 

mantelli, 92, 295, 
439. 

Nucifraga caryocatactes, 
65, 248, 490. 

Numida verreauxii, 255, 

Numenius arquata, 68, 
70 


arquatus, 340. 

hudsonicus, 98, 
121. 

—— lineatus, 417. 

—— minutus, 426. 

—— pheopus, 121, 317, 
417, 340. 

tenuirostris, 340. 

Numida vulturina, 482. 

Nyctala tengmalmi, 441, 
483. 

Nyctale acadica, 476. 

—— albifrons, 476, 

— funerea, 58. 

— kirtlandi, 446, 476. 

richardsoni, 446, 

476. 

tengmalmi, 93, 446, 
476. 

Nyctibius jamaicensis, 
389 


Nycticorax griseus, 341, 
419. 

violaceus, 121. 

Nyctidromus albicollis, 
134, 389. 

Nyroca ferruginea, 483, 

leucophthalmos, 

453. 


Oceanites oceanica, 348, 
Ocydromus australis, 
439, 447, 473. 
earli, 439. 
troglodytes, 447. 
Odontopteryx tolpiacus, 
430. 
G£demia americana, 367. 
fusea, 71, 345, 
367. 
nigra, 71, 567. 
(idicnemus crepitans, 
337, 416. 
senegalensis, 259. 
vermiculatus, 259, 
Oidemia nigra, 479. 


507 


Oporornis agilis, 437. 
Oreocincla heinei, 440. 
iodura, 453. 
—— lunulata, 440. 
—— macrorhyncha, 


Oriolus aureus, 446. 

ceylonensis, 411. 

formosus, 441. 

galbula, 60, 247. 

— melanocephalus, 
411 

— minor, 28. 

—— picus, 110. 

viridis, 112. 

Ornismya columbica, 
355, 356. 

eriphile, 359, 

— gouldi, 279. 

longirostris, 5. 

wagleri, 360. 

Ornithion inecanescens, 
382. 

Ortalida motmot, 119. 

Orthonyx albicilla, 439. 

ochrocephala, 459. 

Orthorhynchus cristatus, 
334, 

Orthotomus castaneiceps, 
492. 

longicauda, 412. 

Ortygion coturnix, 66. 

Ortygometra aflinis, 439. 

minuta, 336. 

porzana, 67, 336. 

—— pygmea, 283, 336. 

tabuensis, 439. 

Ortygornis ponticeriana, 
415. 


Ortygospiza polyzona, 
282. 


Ortyx cristatus, 36. 

Oryzoborus crassirostris, 
380. 

Osmotreron chloroptera, 
313. 

Ostinops viridis, 381. 

Otis, sp., 37. 

tarda, 368. 

— tetrax, 144, 337, 
483. 

Otocaris elwesi, 435, 
462. 

—— longirostris, 462. 

Otocompsa jocosa, 307. 

leucotis, 398, 411, 

Otocorys albigula, 214. 

alpestris, 62. 

elwesi, 213, 214. 

longirostris, 213, 

214. 


508 
Otocorys penicillata, 213, 
214, 


Otogyps calvus, 402. 

Otus brachyotus, 137, 
405, 455. 

Oxycerca (Uroloneha), 
jagori, 441. 

Oxylabes madagascari- 
ensis, 483. 

Oxylophus glandarius, 
34. 


jacobinus, 259. 

serratus, 259. 

Oxyrhamphus flammi- 
ceps, 110. 


Pachycephala gutturalis, 
115. 


senex, 473. 

Pachyrhamphus atrica- 
pillus, 384. 

—— polychropterus, 
114. 


Padda (Oryzornis) ory- 
zivora, 485. 
Pagophila eburnea, 52. 
Palzornis affinis, 298, 
alexandri, 297. 
caniceps, 80. 
derbyanus, 297. 
erythrogenys, 79, 
80, 298. 
—— eupatrius, 297. 
exsul, 472. 
javanicus, 297. 
lathami, 297. 
—— longicaudatus, 80. 
magnirostris, 297, 
melanorhyncha, 


79 


“melanorhynchus, 


79. 
nicobaricus, 298. 
—— nigrirostris, 297. 
—— ponticerianus, 79. 
rosa, 225, 399, 401, 
407. 

torquatus, 407. 
viridimystax, 80. 
Paleotringa littoralis, 


vagans, 468. 

Palumbus moluccensis, 
314. 

Pandion haliaetus, 57, 
149, 475. 

Panyptila cayennensis, 
389. 


—— melanoleuca, 429. 
Paradisea papuana, 
203. 


INDEX. 


Paradoxornis heudei, 


Pardalotus striatus, 115. 
Parkinsonia superba, 
Ue 
Parra jacana, 137, 396. 
Parus ater, 89, 238, 483. 
biarmicus, 96. 
—— bokharensis, 89. 
—— borealis, 60, 483. 
britannicus, 483. 
—— cexruleus, 89, 90, 
2838. 
cinereus, 225, 412. 
eristatus, 60. 
cyanus, 485. 
— ledouci, 483, 
—— lugubris, 485, 490. 
major, 238, 371. 
— minor, 371. 
—— pheonotus, 88. 
sibiricus, 60. 
(Cyanistes) persi- 
cus, 89 
Passer ammodendri, 453. 
domesticus, 64, 
246, 452. 
flavicollis, 414. 
indicus, 413. 
montanus, 64, 246, 
371. 
salicaria, 246. 
salicicola, 246. 
Pastor roseus, 247, 413, 
490, 
Patagicenas leucocephala, 
34. 
Pavo bicalcaratus, 119. 
bipunctatus, 330. 
cristatus, 415. 
— muticus, 221, 330. 
tibetanus, 119. 
Pedicecetes phasianellus, 
37. 
Pelecanus australis, 53. 
conspicillatus, 53. 
erythrorhynchus, 


—— fuscus, 54. 

nevius, 53. 

—— onocrotalus, 345, 
434. 

—— piscator, 53. 

punctatus, 53. 
trachyrhynchus, 

4 


Pellorneum mandellii, 
435. 

—— minus, 224. 

—— palustre, 215, 453, 
461, 


| Perdicula asiatica, 415. 
| Perdix cinerea, 336. 


coronata, 36. 

—— gibraltarica, 36. 

petrosa, 335. 

rufa, 37. 

Pericrocotus ardens, 
310. 

andamanensis, 309, 


—— peregrinus, 310. 
speciosus, 310. 
Perisoreus canadensis, 


27. 


infaustus, 65, 115. 

Pernis apivorus, 58, 
476. 

Petrochelidon albiventris, 
108. 

Petrocossyphus affinis, 
483. 

cyaneus, 410, 483. 

—— cyanus, 453. 

— manilla, 482. 

“solitarius, 482. 

Petroica bifrons, 447. 

erythrogastra, 112. 

longipes, 447. 

macrocephala, 


—— toitoi, 447. 

traversi, 489. 

Phaethornis adolphi, 269, 
270, 271. 

amaura, 273. 

anthophilus, 2, 3, 8, 

9, 10. 

apicalis, 13. 

—— atrimentalis, 273. 

augusti, 2, 3, 10, 

boliviana, 6, 7. 

bourcieri, 2, 3, 13, 


14. 

cassini, 6, 

cephalus, 6. 

— consobrinuzs, 4. 

—emilix, 2, 3, 12, 
18 


episcopus, 270, 274, 
Ds 
eremita, 273, 274. 
eurynome, 2, 3, 8, 
fraterculus, 4, 5. 
griseigularis, 270, 
272. 
guyi, 2, 3, 12, 270. 
—— hispidus, 2, 4, 7, 8. 
idaliz, 270. 
intermedius, 9. 
longirostris, 2, 3, 5, 


3 b- 


Phaethornis longuema- 
reus, 270, 271. 
malaris, 4, 5. 
— moorei, 4. 
—— nigricinctus, 270, 
274. 
—— obscura, 270, 271. 
— obscvrus, 271. 
: oseryi, 7, 8. 
— philippii, 2, 3, 8, 
13 


pretrii, 2, 3, 5, 8, 
—— pygmeus, 270, 273, 
274, 275. 
rufigaster, 273. 
squalidus, 2, 3, 9. 
striigularis, 270, 
273. 
superciliosus, 2, 3, 
4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 20. 
syrmatophorus, 2, 
3, 6, 8; 
villosus, 7, 8. 
viridicaudata, 271. 
yaruqui, 2, 3, 11. 
zonura, 272, 
273. 
Phaethusa magnirostris, 
376. 
Phaeton zthereus, 52. 
Phalacrocorax africanus, 
463. 
— carbo, 345. 
desmarestii, 345. 
—— featherstoni, 90, 
463. 
graculus, 345, 
53. 


—— pygmeeus, 345. 
stictocephalus, 124. 
sulcirostris, 124. 
Phalaropus cinereus, 


— fulicarius, 97. 
Phaps elegans, 487. 
Phasianus cristatus, 36. 
curvirostris, 120. 
ellioti, 94, 488. 
impeyanus, 120. 
— motmot, 119. 
rouloul, 36. 
scintillans, 445. 
scemmerringi, 445. 
Philomachus pugnax, 69, 
288... 
Phlegeenas canifrons, 
457. 
samoensis, 447. 
—— vitiensis, 447. 
yapensis, 457. 


INDEX. 


Pheenicocercus carnifex, 


Pheenicopterus antiquo- 
rum, 220, 419. 

erithacus, 342. 

—— minor, 220, 462. 

roseus, 341. 

rubidus, 220. 

Pholeoptynx cunicularia, 
131, 137. 

Pholidornis rubrifrons, 
484, 

Phyllomyias semifusca, 
382. 

Phyllopneuste brehmi, 
445, 


— coronatus, 460. 
—— evyersmanni, 61, 
60 


—— indica, 460. 
—— javanica, 475, 
magnirostris, 460. 
rama, 412, 
rufa, 243. 
sibilatrix, 61. 
sylvicola, 243. 
tristrami, 445. 
trochilus, 244. 
viridanus, 460. 
Phylloscopus pallidipes, 
435. 


-—— tytleri, 437, 438. 

—— viridanus, 437. 

Piaya cayana, 393, 

minuta, 393. 

— pluvialis, 33. 

(Hyetornis) pluvia- 

nus, 33. 

Pica caudata, 65. 

Picicorvus columbianus, 
442 


Picoides trida ctylus, 
483 


Picolaptes fuscicapillus, 
386. 

layardi, 386. 

Picus andamanensis, 


300. 
cactorum, 134. 
—— cinnamomeus, 

118, 
leuconotus, 59, 

432. 


—— lifordi, 483. 

-~——— mahrattensis, 407. 

—— major, 59, 235. 

medius, 226, 227. 

melanoleucus, 33. 

—— minor, 59, 2386, 
483 


— passerinus, 118. 


509 


Picus sancti-johannis, 
—— syriacus, 483. 
Pionias melanocephalus, 
ile 
——- menstruus, 32. 
Pipastes agilis, 412. 
arboreus, 412. 
Pipra auricapilla, 384. 
leucocilla,384. 
manacus, 114. 
striata, 115. 
Pitangus sulphuratus, 
114 


Pithys bicolor, 373. 

rufigula, 113. 

Pitta arquata, 453. 

bengalensis, 410. 

—— megarhyncha, 453. 

Pityriasis gymnocepha- 
lus, 491. 

Platalea ajaja, 121. 

leucorodia, 341, 
419. 

Platycercus alpinus, 


—— aucklandicus, 31. 
—— auriceps, 439, 470. 
cookii, 31. 
erythrotis, 31. 
—— flaviventris, 116. 
—— nove-zelandiz, 30, 
31, 439. 
pacificus, 31. 
rayneri, 31. 
tabuensis, 30. 
ulieteanus, 30. 
ee aig velatus, 
é: 


Platyrhynchus collaris, 
157. 
desmaresti, 157. 
melanoleucus, 157. 
Platysteira affinis, 168. 
capensis, 161. 
—— concreta, 174. 
cyanea, 157, 158, 
159, 160, 177. 
melanoptera, 159, 
—— pristinaria, 161. 
senegalensis, 168. 
Platystera lobata, 157. 
Platystira affinis, 163. 
——. albicauda, 170. 
albifrons, 159, 
177. 
castanea, 172, 


———— concreta, 173. 
leucopygialis, 172, 
173. 


510 


Platystira longipes, 175. 
melanoleuca, 167. 
—— melanoptera, 157. 
— minima, 169. 
molitor, 167, 177, 
259. 
orientalis, 165. 
—— peltata, 160, 176. 
plumbea, 156. 
pririt, 165, 166, 168, 


On 


259. 

—— scita, 175. 
semipartita, 156. 
senegalensis, 163. 
—— strepitans, 161. 
—— succincta, 163. 
— — thoracica, 161. 
—— torquata, 170. 
Plectrophanes calcarata, 


lapponicus, 484, 

nivalis, 63. 

Plectropterus gambensis, 
45. 

Ploceus baya, 401, 415. 

melanogaster, 421. 

nove-hollandiz, 
1238. 

Podager nacunda, 154. 

Podargus megacephalus, 

O7 


Podiceps auritus, 98. 
cornutus, 98. 
cristatus, 349. 
longirostris, 349. 
—-— minor, 268, 349. 
nigricollis, 349, 
rubricollis, 98. 
Podoces hendersoni, 322. 
humilis, 322. 
panderi, 475. 
Peecilia brevirostris, 488. 
Pceocephalus robustus, 
255. 
Pogonorhynchus dia- 
dematus, 458. 
— leucocephalus, 458. 
rollettii, 458. 
Pogonornis cincta, 439. 
Polihierax insignis, 491. 
Poliornis liventer, 225. 
teesa, 404. 
Polyphasia passerina,464. 
Polyplectron bicalcara- 
tum, 220. 
chinquis, 119, 220, 
221. 
intermedium, 221, 
—— intermedius, 220, 
462. 
—— thibetanum, 220. 


INDEX. 


Polyplectron tibetanum, 
220. 
Pomatorhinus obscurus, 
216, 461. 
Porphyrio albus, 44. 
melanotus, 44. 
parvus, 44. 
poliocephalus, 418. 
-—— veterum, 336. 
Porzana, sp.?, 43. 
bicolor, 491. 
concolor, 373. 
melanopheea, 396. 
Pratincola caprata, 411. 
indica, 411. 


— macrorhyncha, 485. 


rubetra, 61, 240. 
rubicola, 240, 259. 
torquata, 259. 
Prinia adamsi, 485. 
stewarti, 412. 
Prion australis, 85, 474. 
turtur, 85. 
vittatus, 85. 
Prionochilus vincens, 
482. 
Procarduelis mandellii, 
217, 225, 462. 
—— nipalensis, 218. 
—— pubescens, 217. 
rubescens, 225. 
Procellaria gavia, 463. 
nugax, 47. 
—— obscura, 47. 
tristis, 463. 
Progne chalybea, 133, 
375, 3877, 391. 
Promerops caffer, 210, 
211, 259. 
gurneyi, 259. 
Propasser pulcherrimus, 
9 


o_ 


— saturatus, 217, 218, 
435 


Prosthemadera nove- 
zeelandiz, 109, 439. 
Pseudoleistes virescens, 
132. 

Pseudoscolopax semipal- 
matus, 427. 

Psittaca ginginiana, 297. 

Psittacirostra icteroce- 
phala, 22. 

Psittacula cyanopygia, 

53. 


purpurata, 32. 
Psittacus atropurpureus, 
30. 


—— angustus, 31. 
—— australis, 32, 117. 
—— banksii, 33, 118. 


Psittacus citreicapillus, 
4, 


concinnus, 117. 
~—-— discolor, 117. 
erithacus, 487. 
— fuscatus, 30. 
— hyacinthinus, 31. 
madagascariensis, 


2 


magnificus, 33, 118. 

mascarinus, 82. 

— meridionalis, 32. 

—— nestor, 32. 

pacificus, 31, 117. 

—— purpuratus, 32. 

—— pusillus, 117. 

—— pygmeus, 31. 

—— tabuensis, 30. 

— ulietanus, 30. 

virescens, 117. 

pl: psittacea, 21, 

Pterocles exustus, 415. 

fasciatus, 415. 

Pteroglossus inscriptus, 
393. 

viridis, 116. 

Ptilonorhynchus holose- 
riceus, 112, 479. 

—— inornatus, 446. 

Ptilotis carunculata, 
109. 

—— flavigula, 109. 

Ptionoprogne cinerea, 
461 


pallida, 214. 

Pucrasia darwini, 94, 
445, 488. 

Puffinus eequinoctialis, 46. 

anglorum, 215, 216, 

348. 

assimilis, 49. 

—— bailloni, 48. 

—— cinereus, 348. 

—— dichrous, 48, 51. 

—— nugax, 48. 

— obscurus, 47, 48, 50, 
51, 215, 216. 
—— persicus, 215, 216, 

461 


—— tenebrosus, 47, 48, 
49, 50, 51. 

Pyenonotus hemorrhous, 
411. 

—— nigricans, 282. 

—— pusillus, 411. 

—-— tricolor, 255. 

Pyctorhis sinensis, 410. 

Pygmornis adolphi, 270, 
271. 


—— amaura, 273. 


Pygmornis aspasix, 271, 

"379, 273. ? : 
episcopus, 270, 274, 

275. 

eremita, 273, 274. 

—— griseigularis, 270, 
271, 272. 

—— idalix, 270. 

——  longuemareus, 270, 
271. | 

—— nigricinctus, 270, 
274. 

—- pygmea, 273. 

—— pygmeeus, 270, 273, 
274, 275, 388. 

—— rufiventris, 273. 

striigularis, 270, 
273. 

Pyranga roseogularis, 
125, 126. 

Pyrgisoma leucotis, 373. 

Pyrgita petronia, 246. 

Pyriglena atra, 387. 

Pyrocephalus rubineus, 
461. 

Pyrrhophna_ graysoni, 
454. 


Pyrrhula cassini, 441. 
cineracea, 441. 
coccinea, 64, 

* rubicilla, 64. 
Pyrrhulauda affinis, 228. 
grisea, 414. 

— melanauchen, 223. 


Querquedula andamanen- 
sis, 321. 

circia, 343, 420. 

erecea, 71, 343, 420. 

Quiscalus fortirostris, 
334. 


Rallina philippensis, 42. 

Rallus aquaticus, 80, 336, 
350, 363. 

brachypus, 42. 

—— cexrulescens, 283. 

—— dieffenbachii, 349, 
350, 352, 439. 

—— gularis, 40. 

—— hypoteenidia, 45. 

indicus, 40, 80, 

363. 

maculatus, 122. 

—— modestus, 349, 350, | 
351, 352, 463, 489. 

— pectoralis, 40, 42, | 
43, 474. 

philippensis, 40, 41, 

42, 43, 350, 351, 352, 

439, 


SER. III.—VOL. III. 


INDEX. 


Rallus philippensis stria- 
tus, 40. 

pictus, 475, 474. 

striatus, 40. 


| Ramphastos cuvieri, 480. 


viridis, 116. 
Ramphocelus jacapa, 
379. 


Recurvirostra avocetta, 
338, 417. 

rubricollis, 122. 

Reguloides occipitalis, 


proregulus, 437. 
subviridis, 438. 
superciliosus, 437. 
viridipennis, 438. 
Regulus cristatus, 243. 
ignicapillus, 243. 
Rhea americana, 37. 
Rhinopomastus cyano- 
melas, 198, 199, 206, 
210, 211. 
Rhipidura versicolor, 457. 
Rhodostethia rossii, 453. 
Rhynchzxa _bengalensis, 
417. 


capensis, 484. 


Rhynchaspis clypeata, 71, | 


343 
Rhynchocyclus 
phalus, 383. 
Rhynchops flavirostris, 
484. 
Rhynchotis rufescens, 
131 


megace- 


Rissa tridactyla, 548. 

Rollulus coronatus, 36. 

Rostramus_ sociabilis, 
135. 

Rupelornis definitus, 434, 

Ruticilla fuliginosa, 435, 

moussieri, 97. 

—— pheenicura, 60, 240, 

rufiventris, 412. 

tithys, 240. 


Sagmatorhina lathami, 


Salicaria cantans, 180. 
Saltator magnus, 380. 
Sarciophorus bilobus, 416. 
Sarcoramphus cuntur, 16. 
gryphus, 16, 105. 
papa, 17. 
Sarkidiornis melanono- 
tus, 419. 
Sauloprocta motacilloi- 
des, 115. 
Sauropates chloris, 302. 
sancta, 20. 


511 


Saxicola alboniger, 214, 
461. 

-—— aurita, 97, 239. 

deserti, 398, 411. 

isabellina, 411. 

—— leucolema, 478. 

leucomela, 478. 

—— leucopygia, 214. 

leucura, 239. 

— monacha, 214, 215, 
484. 

— enanthe, 61, 97,152, 
239, 411. 

picata, 214, 398, 

411. 

sordida, 486. 

stapazina, 239. 

thoracica, 161. 

Sceloglaux albifacies, 
439, 

Schizhoris personata, 
458. 

Scheenicola cisticola, 244. 

Scolopax rusticula, 340. 

Scops brasilianus, 137. 

giu, 155, 471. 

icterorhynchus, 138. 

japonicus, 227, 228, 


J 
Z 


virgo, 38. 
Scythrops nove-hollan- 
diz, 34. 
Seena aurantia, 421. 
Selenidera gouldi, 393. 
Seleucides albus, 203. 
Sericulus xanthogaster, 
446. 
Serinus hortulanus, 247. 
Serpentarius secretarius, 
281. 
Setornis criniger, 491. 
Siphia minuta, 461. 
—— (Menetica) hypery- 
thra, 491. 
Sitta cashmirensis, 438. 
chrysoptera, 110. 
——- europea, 60. 
—— krueperi, 483. 
—— neumayeri, 87, 483. 
pusilla, 22. 
—— rupicola, 87, 88. 
—— syriaca, 87, 88. 
—— tephronota, 88, 483, 
Sittace hyacinthina, 31. 
Sittella chrysoptera, 110. 
Somateria stelleri, 456. 
Spatula clypeata, 419. 
variegata, 439. 
Spermophila gutturalis, 
380. 


— minuta, 380. 
2N 


512 


Spheniscus demersus, 
464 


humboldti, 443, 

481. 

—— magellanicus, 443, 
464. 

Spheneacus punctatus, 
4: 


rufescens, 439. 
Spiloglaux nove zealan- 
diz, 439. 
Spilornis albidus, 298. 
bacha, 298, 299, 300. 
—— cheela, 298, 299. 
davisoni, 298. 
—— elgini, 299, 300. 
rutherfordi, 298, 
300. 
spilogaster, 298, 
99 


Spindalis zena, 29. 
Spizaétus kienerii, 225. 
sphynx, 225. 
tyrannus, 394. 
Spizalauda deva, 222, 
414. 
—— malabarica, 222, 
414. 
Squatarola helvetica, 67, 
337, 416, 453. 
Steatornis caripensis, 81. 
Stelgidopteryx ruficollis, 
377. 
Stenostira plumbea, 458. 
scita, 175, 176. 
Sterna anglica, 346. 
cantiaca, 346, 470. 
caspia, 345, 467. 
— fluviatilis, 346. 
—— fuliginosa, 125. 
—— hirundo, 72, 483. 
leucopareia, 433. 
— magnirostris, 396. 
minuta, 346. 
Stiphromyias concreta, 
174. 
Strepera graculina, 27. 
Strepsilas interpres, 38, 
67, 317, 338, 416. 
Streptopelia capicola, 
282. 
damarensis, 282. 
Stringops greyi, 439. 
habroptilus, 439, 
481. 
Strix amauronota, 441. 
candida, 453. 
castanops, 107. 
cinerea, 18. 
fuliginosa, 18. 
indica, 453. 


INDEX. 


_ Strix insularis, 473. 
perspicillata, 18. 
Struthidea cinerea, 481. 
Struthiolithus chersonen- 
sis, 430. 
Sturnella defilippi, 132. 
Sturnia andamanensis, 
313. 
Sturnus carunculatus, 28. 
vulgaris, 247. 
unicolor, 247. 
Sula piscatrix, 231. 
plumigula, 52. 
Surnia funerea, 483. 
nyctea, 58. 
-—— passerina, 58. 
—— ulula, 58, 483. 
Suthora webbiana, 372. 
Sycalis aureiventris, 
480. 
—— chloropsis, 480. 
—— chrysops, 480. 
—— citrina, 480. 
—— lutea, 480. 


—— pelzelni, 480. 

Sylvia affinis, 80, 412. 

—— cinerea, 61, 241. 

—— conspicillata, 143, 
241. 


curruca, 80, 241. 

cyanea, 111. 

deserti, 429. 

hortensis, 61. 

jerdoni, 80. 

—— melanocephala, 
489 


melanothorax, 489. 

orphea, 80. 

subalpina, 242. 

Sylvietta rufescens, 281. 

Synallaxis guianensis, 
385. 

maculata, 465. 

pudica, 375. 

— stictothorax, 465. 

Sypheotides auritus, 404, 
415. 


Syrnium cinereum, 18. 
Syrrhaptes paradoxus, 


? 


Taccocua affinis, 408. 
Tachypetes aquilus, 54. 
Tachyphonus melaleu- 
cus, 379. 
Tanagra capensis, 26. 
capitalis, 29. 
episcopus, 379. 
palmarum, 379. 
violacea, 116. 


| Tanagrella velia, 379. 


Tantalus ecalyus, 40. 
cayennensis, 39. 
ibis, 256. 
leucocephalus, 419. 
loculator, 39. 
Tanysiptera riedeli, 
476. 
Tatare longirostris, 23, 


otaitiensis, 23, 24. 
Tchitrea affinis, 309. 
paradisi, 113, 409. 
Telephonus erythropte- 
rus, 483. 
Telmatias gallinago, 70. 
major, 70 
Temenuchus andaman- 
ensis, 313. 
pagodarum, 413, 
Tephrodornis pondiceri- 
ana, 408. 
Teraspiza rhodogastra, 
492. 


Terekia cinerea, 424, 
Tetrao cupido, 120. 
phasianellus, 37. 
tetrix, 66, 441. 
—— urogallus, 66, 
453. 
Tetrastes bonasia, 66. 
Textor alecto, 436. 
panicivorus, 115, 
Thalasseus bengalensis, 
421. 
Thalassidroma leachi, 


pelagica, 348. 
Thalurania columbica, 
358, 304, 355. 
eriphile, 353, 354, 
355, 359, 360. 
fanniz, 359. 
forficata, 357. 
—— furcata, 353, 354, 
356. 
—— furcatoides, 353, 
354, 357, 388. 
glaucopsis, 353, 
354, 355. 
hypochlora, 353, 
354, 360. 
iolema, 361. 
lerchi, 353, 360. 
lucie, 353, 354, 
355. 
nigrofasciata, 353, 
354, 357, 358. 
refulgens, 353, 354, 
358. 
subfureata, 357. 
tschudii, 357. 


Thalurania venusta, 355, 
356. 
—— verticeps, 359. 
viridipectus, 357, 
358. 
wagleri, 353, 354, 
360. 


watertoni, 353, 
354, 358. 

Thamnobia cambaiensis, 
411. 

fulicata, 411. 

Thamnophilus amazoni- 
cus, 386. 

doliatus, 387 

major, 386, 440. 

palliatus, 386. 

simplex, 387. 

xanthopygus, 113. 

Thaumalea amherstiz, 
445. 

picta, 445, 

Thinornis novz zealan- 
dix, 439. 

Threnetes antoniz, 277, 
278. 

cervinicauda, 277, 
278. 

— leucurus, 277, 278. 

ruckeri, 277, 278, 
428. 

Threskiornis melanoce- 
phala, 419. 

Thriponax hodgii, 501. 

Tichodroma muraria, 
238. 

Tigrisoma brasiliense, 
121, 396. 

cabanisi, 373. 

Timalia jerdoni, 491. 

pileata, 491. 

Tinamus brasiliensis, 37. 

variegatus, 120. 

Tinnunculus alaudarius, 
402. 

sparverius, 18, 131, 


Tityra cayana, 114. 

Toccus melanoleucus, 
454. 

Tockus erythrorhynchus, 
206. 

Todiramphus veneratus, 
r9) 

Todirostrum maculatum, 
381. 

Todus ferrugineus, 27. 

macrorhynchus, 

19 


ae fnasutus: 19. 
rubecula, 113. 


INDEX. 


| Totanus brevipes, 370. 


calidris, 338, 370, 

417. 

flavipes, 477. 

fuscus, 67, 338, 
370. 

— glareola, 67, 285, 
308, 370. 

— glottis, 67, 338. 

ochropus, 67, 339, 

370. 

solitarius, 396. 

stagnatilis, 338. 

Tribonyx mortieri, 122, 
427, 482. 

Trichastoma rufipennis, 
483. 

Trichoglossus concinnus, 


—— discolor, 117. 
—— meyeri, 492. 
palmarum, 32. 
—— placens, 32. 
—— pusillus, 117. 
pygmeus, 3], 32. 
Tricholais elegans, 458. 
Tringa acuminata, 424. 
albescens, 317, 318. 
canutus, 339, 368, 
424, 
cinclus, 68, 339, 
370, 417. 
crassirostris, 368, 
370, 424. 
—— maritima, 339. 
— minuta, 69, 318, 
339. 


— minutilla, 396, 


—— platyrhyncha, 424. 

ruficollis, 317, 

318. 

salina, 231, 317, 

318, 426. 

subarcuata, 425. 

subarquata, 69, 

339, 417. 

subminuta, 317. 

— — temmincki, 69, 
426. 

temminckii, 340. 

Tringoides hypoleucus, 
370 


Trochalopteron formo- 
sum, 453. 

pheeniceum, 453. 

Trochilus anthophilus, 
9 


—— antonizx, 278. 
aspasize, 272. 
augusti, 10. 


513 


Trochilus auratus, 20. 
bourcieri, 13. 
cephalus, 6. 
—— emiliz, 12. 
eurynome, 8. 
fannyi, 359. 
—— fureatus, 256. 
—— glaucopis, 395. 
uyi, 12. 
Rater: 276. 
hispidus, 7. 
— idalix, 270. 
— leucophrys, 9. 
leucurus, 277. 
longuemareus, 271. 
malaris, 4. 
—— mazeppa, 276. 
nigrofasciatus, 
357. 
ornatus, 20. 
oseryl, 7. 
—— philippii, 13. 
pretri, 11. 
pygmeus, 273. 
reginz, 279. 
ruckeri, 278, 279. 
squalidus, 9. 
superciliosus, 4, 5, 


verticeps, 359. 
—— watertoni, 358. 
yaruqui, 11. 
Troglodytes furvus, 373, 
377. 
neglectus, 438. 
vulgaris, 238. 
Trogon albiventer, 19. 
leverianus, 19. 
viridis, 19. 
Tropidorhynchus carun- 
culatus, 110. 
Turdinus brevicaudatus, 
453. 
Turdus alicix, 488. 
auroreus, 440. 
crassirostris, 26. 
dissimilis, 464, 
flavipes, 25. 
—— fumigatus, 376. 
guttatus, 255. 
hyemalis, 488. 
iliacus, 60, 239, 
483, 


isabellinus, 91. 

longirostris, 23. 

macrourus, 25. 

—— melanophrys, 110. 

—— melanopis, 26. 

— merula, 60, 239, 
483. 


——— musicus, 239. 


514. 


Turdus neeyvius, 440. 
orpheus, 25. 
pallens, 371. 
—— pheopygus, 376. 
—— pilaris, 60, 239, 
466, 476, 485. 
—— peecilopterus, 480. 
—— punctatus, 112. 
rufus, 487. 
shanhu, 26. 
sharpii, 91. 
— sibiricus, 440. 
— torquatus, 483. 
viscivorus, 239. 
volitans, 113. 
Turnagra crassirostris, 
26, 439. 
hectori, 439. 
turdus, 26. 


Turnix gibraltaricus, 36. 
Turtur auritus, 335, 484. 


cambayensis, 414. 
capicola, 259. 
—— decipiens, 436. 
humilis, 414. 
risoria, 414. 


— sharpii, 484. 
suratensis, 414. 
Tyranniscus gracilipes, 
vOn. 
Tyrannula martinica, 
13. 


Tyrannus irritabilis, 
>) 
mle 


melancholicus, 


133, 373, 382, 385. 


Uintornis lucaris, 468. 
Ulula barbata, 58. 
lapponica, 475, 


semitorquatus, 259. 


INDEX. 


Ulula uralensis, 58. 

Upupa africana, 182, 
191, 194. 

— epops, 182, 183, 
191, 192, 193, 194, 
199, 206, 208, 211, 
236. 
erythrorhyncha, 

82. 


indica, 194. 

—— longirostris, 194. 

—— marginata, 194. 

— minor, 191, 192, 
193, 208, 209, 211. 

nigripennis, 408. 

Uria marmorata, 46. 

Urocissa sinensis, 27. 

Urogalba amazonum, 
392. 

Urolestes melanoleucus, 
255. 

Urubitinga meridionalis, 


schistacea, 395. 


Vaginalis alba, 37. 
australis, 38. 

— chionis, 37. 
Vanellus cristatus, 337. 
selysii, 434. 
Veratrum album, 62, 63. 
Vidua principalis, 259. 


Vireosylvia olivacea, 377. 


Volatinia jacarina, 380. 
Volvocivora morii, 492. 
Vulpanser tadorna, 343. 
Vultur angolensis, 106. 
auricularis, 324. 
condor, 16. 
fulvus, 460. 

—— gryphus, 16, 17. 


THE END, 


Vultur mageilanicus, 16, 
Wie 
—— monachus, 146, 


— pileatus, 487. 
plancus, 17. 


Xantholema hzemace- 
phala, 407. 
rubricapilla, 229. 
Xanthosomus icteroce- 
phalus, 115. 
Xema brunneicephala, 
Xenicus gilviventris, 439. 
longipes, 459. 
Xenops genibarbis, 385. 
Xenus cinereus, 68, 72. 


Yuhina diademata, 453. 
Yunx indica, 436. 

—— pectoralis, 436. 
torquilla, 235. 


Zenaida amabilis, 34. 

galapagensis, 487. 

maculata, 395. 

Zonotrichia albicollis, 
29, 477. 

Zosterops atrifrons, 492. 

capensis, 280. 

ceylonensis, 228, 
459. 

—— hypolais, 457. 

— intermedia, 492. 

| —— oleaginea, 457. 

| palpebrosus, 228, 
229, 399, 412, 459. 

—— simplex, 229. 


| —— sundeyalli, 280. 


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OOTHECA WOLLEYANA: an Illustrated Catalogue of the Collection of 


Birds’ Eges formed by the late John Wolley, Jun., M.A., F.Z.8. Edited from the 
orem otes by ALFRED NEWTON, M.A., FLS., &e. Part I. ACCIPITRES. Royal 
vo, £1 lls. 6d. 


BIRDS OF JAMAICA. By P. H. Gossz, F.R.S. Post 8yo, 10s. 


COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS, 


with Descriptions of their Nests and Nidification. By WiLtL1AM C. HEWITSON. 
Third Edition, 2 vols. 8vo, £4 14s, 6d. 


SYSTEMATIC CATALOGUE OF THE EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS, 
arranged with a view to supersede the use of Labels for Eggs. By the Rey. 8. C. 
MaAtan, M.A., M.A.8. On writing-paper, 8vo, 8s. 6d. 

BIRD LIFE.. By Dr. E. A. Breum. Translated from the German by H. 
M. Labouchere, F.Z.S8., and W. Jesse, C.M.Z.8., Zoologist to the Abyssinian Hxpedi- 
tion. Parts, royal 8vo, 2s. 6d. each. 

A NATURAL HISTORY OF CAGE-BIRDS. By J. G. Knurrmays, late 
Assistant to the Museum of Natural History of Leyden. Imperial 8yo. In parts, 
each containing Six Coloured Plates, 5s. each. 

A DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF THE RAPTORIAL BIRDS IN 
THE NORFOLK AND NORWICH MUSEUM. By JoHN HENRY GURNEY. 
Part I., royal 8vo, 5s. 

MONTAGU’S DICTIONARY OF BRITISH BIRDS, containing a full 
account of the Plumage, Weight, Habits, Food, Migrations, Nest, and Eggs of every 
Bird found in Great Britain and Ireland. Edited by Epwarp Newman, F.L8., 
F.Z.8., &c. 8vo, price 12s. 

ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES IN SUSSEX, with a Catalogue of the 


Birds of that County, and Remarks on their Local Distribution. By A. E. Knox, 
M.A., F.L.8., F.Z.8. Third Edition, 7s. 6d. 


JOHN VAN VOORST, 1 PATERNOSTER ROW. 


CONTENTS OF NUMBER X.—THIRD SERIES. 


XITI. 
XIV. 
XY. 
XVI. 
XVII. 
XVIII. 
XIX. 
XX. 
XXI. 
XXII. 
XXIII. 
XXIV. 
XXV. 


XXVI. 


On the Birds in the Imperial Collection at Vienna obtained 
from the Leverian Museum. By A. von Petzuxy. Part II. 


On a new Species of Barbet from Western India. ae Capt. 
J. Hayes Lroyp . o? ieee 


Note on the Pyranga Phe of Cabot. ia P. L. ScratEr, 
M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S. (Plate III.) . TP se 


On a new Chinese Owl of the Genus Ses By R. Swiy- 
HOE, H.M. Consul at Ningpo . é Bra | 5: 


Ornithological Notes from the Axpetne Repent ad Wit- 
LIAM Buackstone Len, B.A. . nae 


Descriptions of six new Species of West-African Birds. a 
Captain G. E. Saertey Rieets 4 


Notes on the Ornithology of Sardinia. ee A. B. Brooxs, F.Z.8. 


On the Genus Platystira and its Allies. By R. Bowp1Er 
Suarpr, F.L.S., F.Z.8., Senior Assistant, estore De- 
partment, British Museum. (Plate TV) os. 


On an apparently new Species of Hornbill from Angola. = 


D. G. Extiot, F.LS., F.Z.8., &c. 


Note on Homochlamys luscina, Salvad. By T. Sarvavort, 
C.M.Z.S. 


On the Upupide and their Relationships. By Dr. James 
Mortg, F.L.S. &. (Plates V., VI., VII.) Sug ave 


Notes on pati Feathers.’ ABE Wea ili eae 
C.M.Z.S. . ‘ 


Descriptions of a new Jay and a new Woodpecker from Persia, 
By W. T. Branrorp, F.G.S., C.M.Z.S. Pee ae 5 


Letters, Announcements, &e. :— 


Letters from Mr. Swinhoe, Mr. J. H. Gurney, and Mr. Howard Saun- 


ders. Announcement of the Editor’s Departure for Guatemala . 


Page 


105 


124 


. 125 


Be | 


. 129 


. 188 
143 


. 156 


.-211 


225 


. 227 


Covers for binding last year’s Volume may be had on application to the 


Publisher, at 1s. 4d. each, 


Communications may be addressed to the Eprror, OsBERT SALVIN, Esq., 
6 Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, W. Books for Review, Subscriptions, Ad- 
vertisements, &c. to the Publisher, Joun Van Voorst, 1 Paternoster Row, 
London, E.C. 

Members of the B. O. U. are Side to keep the Secretary, F. Du Cane 
GopMan, Esq., 6 Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, W., informed of any change 
of Residence, that the Numbers éf‘ The Ibis’ may be nent them without delay. 


ae 


Vot. III. No. 11. JULY 1873. Price 6s. 


THIRD SERIES. ye 


Pee IB 1S, 


A 


QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY. 


EDITED BY 


OSBERT SALVIN, M.A., F.LS., F.Z.S., &c. 


LONDON: 
JOHN VAN VOORST, 1, PATERNOSTER ROW. 


Annual Subscription, payable before 31st March each year, £1 1s. 


6 TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, PRINTERS, ] (RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET Ne 
SS SS Sse SSS SSS SSS 


A MONOGRAPH OF THE PARADISEIDA 


OR 


BIRDS OF PARADISE. 
BY 
D. G. ELLIOT, F.L.S, F.G.S., &. 


Unver the above designation it is proposed to publish a work to contain 
figures of all the various members of the Family of the Paradiseide, than 
which, among the feathered tribes, there is none more remarkable for 
gorgeous and extraordinarily developed plumage. 

The Plates will be the production of Mr. J. Wolf’s pencil; and in stating 
this fact, the Author feels that he can give no higher guarantee that the 
species will be faithfully and truthfully represented. 

The work will be finished in six Parts. Five to contain six Plates each, 
the sixth to include the remaining four, with the Introduction, Preface, &c. 

All the plates will be coloured by hand. Price, to subscribers only, 
£1 17s. 6d. a Part. 

Only 150 copies will be printed, and the drawings erased from the stones. 

Intending Subscribers are requested to send their names to the Author, 
care of Messrs. Baring Brothers & Co., 8 Bishopsgate Street Within, E.C. 


The following works, by the same author, can be obtained by applying 
to him by letter at the same address :— 


A Monoerarn or THE PITTIDH.... 0... 0.0. cece ee eee LP ABO 
A Monoerara oF THE TETRAONINE .......000c0ce cues £01050 
A MonoGRAPH OF THE PHASTANIDAD \.'s'0°). 5 be ee ee 2d TOG 
Himps-or Werte Ameria so. ade. SO ol 10-59 


Just published, post 8vo, price 6s. 


THE BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 


BY 
JOHN CORDEAUX, 


OF GREAT COTES. 


“We must now take leave of this, the latest contribution to the avifauna of 
the British Islands, which, as a careful and painstaking record of the arrival 
of our migratory birds on the shores and flats of the wild and interesting region 
to which the author’s remarks have been limited, may be regarded as almost 
exhaustive ; and we heartily recommend, as a model for future monographers 
with similar tastes and equal o portunities, this charming little volume on the 
‘birds of the Humber District.’”—Annals § May. of Nat. Hist. May 1873. 


Part V., price 2s. Gd. . 
PROFESSOR NEWTON’S REVISED EDITION OF 


YARRELL’S HISTORY OF BRITISH BIRDS. 


Post 8vo, with four illustrations by Wolf, price 6s. 
AUTUMNS ON THE SPEY. 
BY 
A. E. KNOX, F.LS. 


“ He is not only an accurate naturalist and a skilful sportsman, but possesses 
a happy faculty of conveying with his pen his varied experiences in an easy, 
chatty way, often with considerable graphic power.”—The Times, Jan. 8, 1873. 


JOHN VAN VOORST, 1 PATERNOSTER ROW. 


In the press, and will shortly be ready, ae 10s, 
NOMENCLATOR AVIUM NEOTROPICALIUM: 


Sive avium, qu in Regione Neotropica hucusque reperte sunt, 
nomina systematicé disposita, adjecta cujusque speciei patria. Ac- 
cedunt generum et specierum novarum diagnoses. 


AUCTORIBUS 
PHILIPPO LUTLEY SCLATER, A.M., Phil. Doct., 
ET 
OSBERTO SALVIN, A.M. 


This list, which will give the name and range of every species of Bird cer- 
tainly known to have occurred in America south of the United States, is issued 
by the authors preparatory to their ‘Index Avium Americanarum’ now long in 
preparation. It will be printed in foolscap folio, with wide margins, so as to 
leave room for MS. notes and corrections, and will be published by the authors 
at the Office of ‘The Ibis,’ 


6 TENTERDEN STREET, HANOVER SQUARE, W. 


Complete in Thirteen Parts, imp. 4to, each 21s.; Large Paper, royal folio, each 
£2 2s., 1866-69. 


EXOTIC ORNITHOLOGY, 


BY 


PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A., Pu.D., F.B.S., &c., 
| AND 


OSBERT SALVIN, M.A., F.ZS., &c. 


Unver this title has been completed a series of One Hundred Coloured Litho- 
graphic Illustrations of New or hitherto Unfigured Birds, to form a Supplement 
to Burron’s ‘ Planches Enluminées,’ Paris, 1770-86 ; to TEMMINCcK’s ‘ Planches 
Coloriées,’ 5 vols., Paris, 1838; and to Des Murs’s ‘ Iconographie Ornithologique,’ 
Paris, 1845-49. ? 

The first series of this work contains One Hundred Plates. Each Part contains 
eight coloured plates and two sheets of letterpress. The thirteenth part contains 
the four last plates, and the Title and Index to the volume. 

Only One Hundred and Fifty copies of the work, in imperial 4to, have been 
printed. The price of each part is £1 1s., to be paid for on delivery. 

Fifteen copies have been printed on Large Paper, royal folio, to match the 
Large-Paper issues of Temminck and Des Murs. The subscription price of these 
copies is, each part, £2 2s, 


PUBLISHED BY B. QUARITCH, 15 PICCADILLY, LONDON, W, 


CONTENTS OF NUMBER XI.—THIRD SERIES. 


Page 


. Notes on the CE Or ery. of Sardinia. Bh a. Bs; eae 
| es Beco 


. 235 


XXVIII. On the Bae Ibis of China and Japan ee Be By 
Rozsert Swinnor, H.M. Consul at Ningpo ; . 249 

XXIX. A Tenth additional List of Birds from Natal. Py J. H. 
Gurvey, F.Z.S. Bes 5 Ree aa ie: 


XXXII. 


XXXII. 


XXXITI. 


XXXIV. 


XXXYV. 


XXXVI. 


XXXVII. 


XXXVIII. 


. On rare or little-known Limicole. 


a James EpmMunb 
Harting, F.L.S., F.Z.8. (Plates VIII. and IX.) . . 260 


Notes on the Trochilide. The Genera Pygmornis, Glaucis, 
and T'hrenetes. By Ospurt Savin, M.A. &ec., and D. G. 
Exxtot, F.LS., F.Z.8., &c. ae 


On two Species of Trochilide of the Genus . eee 
By Osserr Satyin, M.A. &c., and D. G. Exxror, F.LS., 
F.Z.85., &e. . 279 


Additional List of and Notes on Birds obtained in the Re- 
public of Trans-Vaal. By Tomas Ayres. (Commu- 
nicated by Joun Henry Gurney.) . . 280 

By 
ainsi 


Note on the Fulica alba of White. By Ospert * Sy 
MLA? &e.”) (Plate aad edie . . 295 


On a Collection of Birds rollin made by Lieut. RoBEert 
Waropitaw Ramsay, F.Z.8., in the Andaman Islands. 
By Artur, Viscount ae P.Z.S8., F.BS. Saige, 
et Ad XUL. es : 


Notices of recently ee and foihconing Ornitho- 
logical Works . . . 321 


Letters, Announcements, &c. :— 


. 269 


Remarks on Meomorphus pucherani and its Allies. 
GrorcE N. Lawrence . . 


. 296 


Letters from Mr. J. H. Gurney, Mr. J. E. Harting, Mr. R. Bowdler 
Sharpe, Mr. D. G. Elliot, Mr. E. L, Layard, Mr. Robert Cay 
Extracts from a letter received from Mr. Salvin ase 324 


Covers for binding last year’s Volume may be had on application to the 


Publisher, at 1s. 4d. each. 


Communications may be addressed to the Ep1iror, OsBERT SaLvin, Esq., 
6 Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, W. Books for Review, Subscriptions, Ad- 
vertisements, &c. to the Publisher, Joun Van Voorst, 1 Paternoster Row, 
London, E.C. 


Members of the B. O. U. are requested to keep the Secretary, F. Du Cant 
Gopman, Esq., 6 Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, W., informed of any change 
of Residence, that the Numbers of ‘ The Ibis’ may be sent them without delay. 


; 
: 
. 


6G Vor IIL. No. 12. OCTOBER 1873 
inp 4 


‘f 


oe 
A THE IBIS, 


RLY JOURNAL OF ORNIP 


EDITED BY 


OSBERT SALVIN, M.A., F.R.S., F.LS., F.Z.8., &c. 


LONDON: 
JOHN VAN VOORST, 1, PATERNOSTER ROW. 


Annual Subscription, payable before 31st March each year, £1 1s. 


) TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, PRINTERS, ] : (RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET. 


Price 6s. 9 


CS 


mS 


A MONOGRAPH OF THE PARADISEIDA 


OR 


BIRDS OF PARADISE. 


BY 
D. G. ELLIOT, F.L.S, F.G.S., &c. 


Unver the above designation it is proposed to publish a work to contain 
figures of all the various members of the Family of the Paradiseide, than 
which, among the feathered tribes, there is none more remarkable for 
gorgeous and extraordinarily developed plumage. 

The Plates will be the production of Mr. J. Wolf’s pencil; and in stating 
this fact, the Author feels that)he can give no higher guarantee that the 
species will be faithfully and truthfully represented. 

The work will be finished in six Parts. Five to contain six Plates each, 
the sixth to include the remaining four, with the Introduction, Preface, &e. 

All the plates will be coloured by hand. Price, to subscribers only, 
£1 17s. 6d. a Part. 

Only 150 copies will be printed, and the drawings erased from the stones. 

Intending Subscribers are requested to send their names to the Author, 
care of Messrs. Baring Brothers & Co., 8 Bishopsgate Street Within, E.C. 


The following works, by the same author, can be obtained by applying 
to him by letter at the same address :— 


A Monocrapn oF THE PITTIDM........ 0... cee ee eee BoA Depa by 


- 


0 
A Monoerarn oF THE TETRAONINE .......-0ceccecees 10 10 O 
A Monograph OF THE PHASIANIDE .........0000eeeue 2) AOL 
RRS aie NOE A MIERTOA ici oe eccta Pears ee wee ok. 10:58 


Just published, post 8vo, price 6s. 


THE BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 


BY 
JOHN CORDEAUX, 
OF GREAT COTES. 


“We must now take leave of this, the latest contribution to the avifauna of 
the British Islands, which, as a careful and painstaking record of the arrival 
of our migratory birds on the shores and flats of the wild and interesting region 
to which the author’s remarks have been limited, may be regarded as almost 
exhaustive ; and we heartily recommend, as a model for future monographers 
with similar tastes and equal o portunities, this charming little volume on the 
‘birds of the Humber District.’”—Annals § Mag. of Nat. Hist. May 1873. 


Part VI, price 2s. 6d. 
PROFESSOR NEWTON’S REVISED EDITION OF 


YARRELL’S HISTORY OF BRITISH BIRDS. 


Post 8vo, with four illustrations by Wolf, price 6s, 
AUTUMNS ON THE SPEY. 
BY 
A. E. KNOX, F.LS. 


“ ¥fe is not only an accurate naturalist and a skilful sportsman, but possesses 
a happy faculty of conveying with his pen his varied experiences in an easy, 
chatty way, often with considerable graphic power.’’—The Times, Jan. 8, 1873. 


JOHN VAN VOORST, 1 PATERNOSTER ROW. 


In the press, and will shortly be ready, price 10s. 
NOMENCLATOR AVIUM NEOTROPICALIUM: 


Sive avium, que in Regione Neotropica hucusque reperte sunt, 
nomina systematicé disposita, adjecta cujusque speciei patria, Ac- 
cedunt generum et specierum novarum diagnoses. 


AUCTORIBUS 
PHILIPPO LUTLEY SCLATER, A.M., Phil, Doct., 
ET 
OSBERTO SALVIN, A.M. 


This list, which will give the name and range of every species of Bird cer- 
tainly known to have occurred in America south of the United States, is issued 
by the authors preparatory to their ‘Index Avium Americanarum ’ now long in 

reparation. It will be printed in foolscap folio, with wide margins, so as to 
fea’ room for MS. notes and corrections, and will be published by the authors 
at the Office of ‘The Ibis,’ 


6 TENTERDEN STREET, HANOVER SQUARE, W. 


Complete in Thirteen Parts, imp. 4to, each 21s.; Large Paper, royal folio, each 
£2 2s., 1866-69. 


EXOTIC ORNITHOLOGY, 


BY 


PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A., Pu.D., F.R.S., &c., 
AND 


OSBERT SALVIN, M.A., F.Z.S., &. 


Unver this title has been gta ts a series of One Hundred Coloured Litho- 
graphic Illustrations of New or hitherto Unfigured Birds, to form a Supplement 
to Burron’s ‘ Planches Enluminées,’ Paris, 1770-86 ; to TemMtncx’s ‘ Planches 
Coloriées,’ 5 vols., Paris, 1838; and to Des Murs’s ‘ Iconographie Ornithologique,’ 
Paris, 1845-49, 

The first series of this work contains One Hundred Plates. Each Part contains 
eight coloured plates and two sheets of letterpress, The thirteenth part contains 
the four last plates, and the Title and Index to the volume. 

Only One Hundred and Fifty copies of the work, in imperial 4to, have been 
printed. The price of each part is £1 1s,, to be paid for on delivery. 

Fifteen copies have been printed on Large Paper, royal folio, to match the 
Large-Paper issues of Temminck and Des Murs. The subscription price of these 
copies is, each part, £2 2s, 


PUBLISHED BY B, QUARITCH, 15 PICCADILLY, LONDON, W. 


CONTENTS OF NUMBER XIJ.—THIRD SERIES. 


Page 
. Notes on the Ornithology of Sardinia. By A. B. Brooxr, 


. On Rallus modestus of New Zealand. By Captain F. W. 
AMOR gic he Wee eS Sale re le tae ee 


. Notes on the Trochilide. The Genus Thalurama. By 
Ossrert Satvin, M.A., F.R.S., &e., and D. G. Exxiort, 
‘ OE Ale, Clea ining: 6, 8 come aien is Se ae Geen eae 


XLII. Notes on Chinese Ornithology. By Roxserr Swiyuoz, 
Bees, Foti cssi ah ceite <oonk” gah ahs ut > eee es cee 


XLII. Additions to the List of Birds of Nicaragua. By P. L. 
pecans OA. PRDS FORSi >. ben reedtes alte) baa 


XLIV. Notes on Birds observed at Para. By EH. L. Layarp, 
Ksq., H.B.M. Consul.— With Descriptions of two new 
Species. By P. L. Scuarer. (Plates XIV. & XV.). . 374 


XLY. On the Birds of the Province of Kattiawar in Western 
India. By J. Hayzs Luoyp, Capt. Bombay Staff Corps. 397 


XLVI. Letters, Announcements, &ec. :— 


Letters from Mr. J. H. Gurney, Mr, R. Swinhoe, and Capt. F. W. 
Hutton; Extracts from letters received from Mr. Salvin; New 
Publications received ; Recent discoveries in Fossil Ornithology. 421 


A Supplementary Number, to conclude the present volume, will be issued 
subsequently (gratis to Subscribers). It will contain the Index to the Ornitho- 
logical Literature of 1872, together with the Title, Index, and Contents of the 
volume for 1873. 


Covers for binding last year’s Volume may be had on application to the 
Publisher, at 1s. 4d. each. 


Communications may be addressed to the Eprror, Ospert Satvin, Esq., 
6 Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, W. Books for Review, Subscriptions, Ad- 
vertisements, &c. to the Publisher, Joun Van Voorst, 1 Paternoster Row, 
London, E.C. 


Members of the B. O. U. are requested to keep the Secretary, F. Dp 
Gopman, Esq., 6 Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, W., informed of any ¢ ee 
of Residence, that the Numbers of ‘ The Ibis’ may be seat them without dgjay. 


bid fe lg ig Lal Sco 


A 


QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY. 


EDITED BY 


OSBERT SALVIN, F.R.S., M.A., F.LS., F.Z.8., &c. 


LONDON: 


| JOHN VAN VOORST, 1, PATERNOSTER ROW. 


Annual Subscription, payable before 31st March each year, £1 1s. 


AG Weer ie ot SUPPLEMENT, 1873. Price 2s. 


PRE 


y 


{RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET, 


Bi 


In the press, and will be ready soon, price £1. 


CATALOGO SISTEMATICO DEGLI UCCELLI 
DI BORNEO 


DI 


TOMMASO SALVADORI, 


con note ed osservazioni dei Signori Giacomo Dorra ed Opoarpo 
Beccari intorno alie specie da essi raccolte nel territorio di Sa- 
rawak durante gli anni 1865, 1866, 1867. 


Turs work will form a volume in 8vo of between 400 and 500 pages. It will 
contain the account of about 400 species Inown to inhabit the Island of Borneo, 
besides 50 other species, which, although not yet found in Borneo, most probably 
exist there. Full references will be given to every species, and critical remarks. 
All the new and little-known species will be described; several of these will be 
illustrated with coloured plates. There will be an Introduction containing an 
historical account of the Ornithology of Borneo, its Bibliography, and a discus- 
sion of its ornithological relations. 

This work will form the fifth volume of the ‘Annali del Museo Civico di 
Genova.’ A very limited number of copies will be printed for circulation, and 
can be had by applying to the Author at the Zoological Museum, Turin, or to 


H. LOESCHER, BOOKSELLER, TURIN. 


Just published, post 8vo, price 6s. 


THE BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 


BY 
JOHN CORDEAUX, 


OF GREAT COTES. 


“We must now take leave of this, the latest contribution to the avifauna of 
the British Islands, which, as a careful and painstaking record of the arrival 
of our migratory birds on the shores and flats of the wild and interesting region 
to which the author’s remarks have been limited, may be regarded as almost 
exhaustive ; and we heartily recommend, as a model for future monographers 
with similar tastes and equal opportunities, this charming little volume on the 
‘birds of the Humber District.’”—Annals § Mag. of Nat. Hist. May 1873. 


JOHN VAN VOORST, 1 PATERNOSTER ROW. 


Part VII., price 2s. 6d. 

PROFESSOR NEWTON’S REVISED EDITION OF 
YARRELL’'S HISTORY OF BRITISH BIRDS. 
JOHN VAN VOORST, 1 PATERNOSTER ROW. 


Post 8vo, with four illustrations by Wolf, price 6s. 


AUTUMNS ON THE SPEY. 
A. E. KNOX, F.L.S. 


‘He is not only an accurate naturalist and a skilful sportsman, but possesses 
a happy faculty of conveying with his pen his varied experiences in an easy, 
chatty way, often with considerable graphic power.’’— The Times, Jan. 8, 1873. 


JOHN VAN VOORST, 1 PATERNOSTER ROW. 


See 


=. Fs 


Now ready, price 10s, 
NOMENCLATOR AVIUM NEOTROPICALIUM: 


Sive avium, que in Regione Neotropica hucusque reperte sunt, 
nomina systematicé disposita, adjecta cujusque speciei patria. Ac- 
cedunt generum et specierum novarum diagnoses. 


AUCTORIBUS 
PHILIPPO LUTLEY SCLATER, A.M., Phil. Doct., 
ET 
OSBERTO SALVIN, A.M. 


This list, which gives the name and range of every species of Bird cer- 
tainly known to have occurred in America south of the United States, is issued 
by the authors preparatory to their ‘Index Avyium Americanarum ’ now long in 
preparation. It is printed in foolscap folio, with wide margins, so as to leave 
room for MS. notes and corrections, and can be obtained from the authors at the 
Office of ‘The Ibis,’ 


6 TENTERDEN STREET, HANOVER SQUARE, W. 


Complete in Thirteen Parts, imp. 4to, each 21s.; Large Paper, royal folio, each 
£2 9s,, 1866-69. 


EXOTIC ORNITHOLOGY, 


BY 
PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A., Pa.D., F.R.S., &., 


AND 


OSBERT SALVIN, M.A., F.Z.8., &c. 


UnpeEr this title has been completed a series of One Hundred Coloured Litho- 
graphic Illustrations of New or hitherto Unfigured Birds, to form a Supplement 
to Burron’s ‘ Planches Enluminées,’ Paris, 1770-86; to TEmMMInckK’s ‘ Planches 
Coloriées,’ 5 vols., Parzs, 1838; and to Des Murs’s ‘ Iconographie Ornithologique,’ 
Paris, 1845-49. 

The first series of this work contains One Hundred Plates. Each Part contains 
eight coloured plates and two sheets of letterpress. The thirteenth part contains 
the last four plates, and the Title and Index to the volume. 

Only One Hundred and Fifty copies of the work, in imperial 4to, have been 
printed. The price of each part is £1 1s., to be paid for on delivery. 

Fifteen copies have been printed on Large Paper, royal folio, to match the 
Large-Paper issues of Temminck and Des Murs. The subscription price of these 
copies is, each part, £2 2s. 


PUBLISHED BY B. QUARITCH, 15 PICCADILLY, LONDON, W. 


We understand that M. O. Des Murs, the well-known French 
Oologist, is anxious to dispose of his valuable collection of eggs, 
containing examples of upwards of 1400 species—the materials 
upon which his ‘ Oologie Ornithologique’ and other works have 
been based. His address is Nogent-le-Rotrou. 


§) 


CONTENTS OF SUPPLEMENT, 1873. 
THIRD SERIES. 


Page 
XLVII. Index to the Ornithological Literature of 1872. By P. L. 


Scrater, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., and O. Finscu, Ph.D. . 431 


XLVIII. List of Periodicals in which Ornithological Papers have 
appeared in 1872. By F. H. Waterunovsz, Librarian to 
the Zoological Society of London . . . . . . . . 493 


Index . . 497 


Title-page, Preface, Contents, &c. to Volume ITI. of Third Series, 1873. 


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