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BULLETIN
OF THE
BRITISH i cee a CLUB.
EDITED BY
Dr. G. CARMICHAEL LOW.
VOLUME LV. SESSION 1934-1935.
BON DON +
H. F.& G. WITHERBY, 326 HIGH HOLBORN, W.C, 2.
1935.
PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
PREFACK,
—+-——
THE number of attendances during the past Session of the Club reached a new record—407 members, 31 members of the B. O. U. and 167 guests—a total of 605, this beating the 1931- 1932 total of 558, the former record, by 47. This was in part due to the very large attendance at the annual dinner of the B. O. U. and B. O.C. in March, when 71 members of the Club, 27 members of the Union, 2 guests of the Club, and 93 guests were present.
Mr. David Bannerman, Chairman of the Club, gave his annual address at the November Meeting, dealing firstly with general matters and then with a Regional Review from October 1933 to October 1934. He also dealt with Aviculture and the Ornithological literature of the period in question.
Several interesting communications were given during the Session. Dr. P. R. Lowe described and exhibited a clutch of four eggs of Temminck’s Stint, taken in Scotland by Messrs. G. R. Edwards and V. 8. Crapnell in the summer of 1934, a new record for the British Isles ; Colonel R. Meinertzhagen read an interesting paper on the Parrot Crossbill; Dr. N. Tinbergen showed a series of slides, with illustrative remarks, of the courtship of the Red-necked Phalarope; Mr. H. F. Witherby read a paper on “ The Nesting-cavity of the Willow- Tit”; the Marquess of Tavistock one on “The Extent to which Captivity modifies the Habits of Birds”’; and the Rev. F.C. R. Jourdain described a journey made by Rear-Admiral Lynes and himself to Egypt and Palestine, illustrating this with lantern-slides.
Captain C. H. B. Grant and Mr. C. W. Mackworth-Praed continued their observations on type-localities of African birds, together with notes on races and distribution.
a2
Ly
New forms were described by Mr. D. A. Bannerman, Dr. P. R. Lowe, Mr. W. L. Sclater, Capt. C. H. B. Grant and Mr. C. W. Mackworth-Praed, Dr. C. B. Ticehurst, Mr. G. L. Bates, Mr. G. M. Mathews, Colonel R. Meinertzhagen, Professor Oscar Neumann, Mr. W. Thesiger and Mr. M. Meynell, Mr. R. H. W. Pakenham, Mr. N. B. Kinnear, and Mr. J. Vincent.
Of exhibits of interest may be mentioned a new Red-legged Partridge, exhibited and described by Dr. P. R. Lowe; a bi- coloured Budgerigar, exhibited by Dr. G. Carmichael Low ; type-specimens of Hmberiza janowskii and Locustella pleskei, shown by the Marquess Hachisuka; a new Crimson-Wing and White-eye, exhibited by Mr. W. L. Sclater on behalf of Mr. R. KE. Moreau; and a new genus of Woodpecker from Arabia, shown by Mr. N. B. Kinnear on behalf of Mr. G. L. Bates and himself.
The Annual Dinner, held in conjunction with the British Ornithologists’ Union, as already mentioned, was very well attended, and created a new record.
Mr. R. Chislett showed slides of the Hen-Harrier in its breeding haunts in the Orkneys; Colonel Meinertzhagen gave a lecture on Mallophaga; Mr. H. A. Gilbert showed a film of the Merlin at its nest; and Mr. Eric J. Hosking an interesting series of slides of different birds at their nests.
The Club entertained as distinguished guests during the Session : Mrs. A. A. Allen, Dr. N. Tinbergen, Mr. T. T. ter Pelkwijk, Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Lockley, Major Allan Brooks, and Mr. H. St. John Philby.
G. CARMICHAEL LOW, Editor. London, July 1935.
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB. (FounpEep OctoBER 5, 1892.)
<>
TITLE AND OBJECTS.
The objects of the Club, which shall be called the “ British Ornithologists’ Club,” are the promotion of social intercourse between Members of the British Ornithologists’ Union and to facilitate the publication of scientific infor- mation connected with ornithology.
RULES. (As amended, October 8, 1930.)
MANAGEMENT.
I. The affairs of the Club shall be managed by a Committee, to consist of a Chairman, who shall be elected for three years, at the end of which period he shall not be eligible for re-election for the next term; a Vice-Chairman, who shall serve for one year, and who shall not be eligible for the next year; an Editor of the ‘ Bulletin,’ who shall be elected for five years, at the end of which period he shall not be eligible for re-election for the next term; a Secretary and Treasurer, who shall be elected for a term of one year, but shall be eligible for re- election. There shall be in addition four other Members, the senior of whom shall retire each year, and another Member be elected in his place; every third year the two senior Members shall retire and two other Members be elected in their place. Officers and Members of the Committee shall be elected by the Members of the Club at a General Meeting, and the names of such Officers and Members of Committee nominated by the Committee for the ensuing year, shall be circulated with the notice convening the General Meeting, at least two weeks before the Meeting. Should any Member wish to propose another candidate, the nomination of such, signed by at least two Members, must reach the Secretary at least one clear week before the Annual General Meeting.
VI
II. Any Member desiring to make a complaint of the manner in which the affairs of the Club are conducted, must communicate in writing with the Chairman, who will, if he deem fit, calla Committee Meeting to deal with the matter.
III. If the conduct of any Member shall be deemed by the Committee to be prejudicial to the interests of the Club, he may be requested by the Committee to withdraw from the Club. In the case of refusal, his name may be removed from the list of Members at a General Meeting, provided that, in the notice calling the Meeting, intimation of the proposed resolution to remove his name shall have been given, and that a majority of the Members voting at such Meeting record their votes for his removal.
A Member whose name has been removed shall forfeit all privileges of Membership and shall have no claim on the Club from the date of his removal.
SUBSCRIPTIONS.
IV. Any Member of the British Ornithologists’ Union may become a Member of the Club on payment to the Treasurer of an entrance-fee of one pound anda subscription of one guinea for the current Session. On Membership of the Union ceasing, Membership of the Club also ceases. .
Any Member who has not paid his subscription before the last Meeting of the Session, shall cease, ipso facto, to be a Member of the Club, but may be reinstated on payment of arrears.
Any Member who has resigned less than five years ago may be reinstated without payment of another Entrance Fee.
Any Member who resigns his Membership on going abroad may be readmitted without payment of a further Entrance Fee at the Committee’s discretion.
MEETINGS.
V. The Club will meet, as a rule, on the second Wednes- day in every month, from October to June inclusive, at such hour and place as may be arranged by the Committee, but should such Wednesday happen to be Ash Wednesday, the Meeting will take place on the Wednesday following. At these Meetings papers upon ornithological subjects will be read, specimens exhibited and described, and discussion invited.
Vil
VI. A General Meeting of the Club shall be held on the day of the October Meeting of each Session and the Treasurer shall present thereat the Balance-sheet and Report ; and the election of Officers and Committee, in so far as their election is required, shall be held at such Meeting.
VII. A Special General Meeting may be called at the instance of the Committee, for any purpose which they deem to be of sufficient importance, or at the instance of not fewer than fifteen Members. Notice of not less than two weeks shall be given of every General and Special General Meeting.
INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS.
VIII. Members may introduce visitors at any ordinary Meeting of the Club, but the same guest shall not be eligible to attend on more than three occasions during the Session. No former Member, who has been removed for non-payment of subscription, or for any other cause, shall be allowed to attend as a guest.
‘ BULLETIN’ OF THE CuUuB.
IX. An Abstract of the Proceedings of the Club shall be printed as soon as possible after each Meeting, under the title of the ‘ Bulletiu of the British Ornithologists’ Club ’ and shall be distributed gratis to every Member who has paid his subscription.
Contributors are entitled to six free copies of the ‘Bulletin,’ but if they desire to exercise this privilege, they must give notice to the Editor when their manuscript is handed in. Members purchasing extra copies of the ‘Bulletin’ are entitled to a rebate of 25 per cent. on the published price, but not more than two copies can be sold to any Member unless ordered before printing.
Descriptions of new species may be published in the ‘Bulletin,’ although such were not communicated at the Meeting of the Club. This shall be done at the discretion of the Editor and so long as the publication of the ‘ Bulletin ’ is not unduly delayed thereby.
Any person speaking at a Meeting of the Club shall be allowed subsequently—subject to the discretion of the Editor—to amplify his remarks in the ‘Bulletin,’ but no fresh matter shall be incorporated with such remarks.
VIIlI
X. No communication, the whole or any important part of which has already been published elsewhere, shall be eligible for publication in the ‘ Bulletin,’ except at the discretion of the Editor; and no communication made to the Club may be subsequently published elsewhere without the written sanction of the Editor.
ALTERATION AND REPEAL oF RULES.
XI. Any suggested alteration or repeal of a standing rule shall be submitted to Members to be voted upon at a General Meeting convened for that purpose.
COMMITTEE, 1934-1935.
D. A. BANNERMAN, Chairman. Elected 1932. N. B. Kinnear, Vice-Chairman. Elected 1934. Dr. G. CarmicuakEL Low, Editor. Elected 1980.
C. W. Macxwortu-Prarp, Hon. Secretary and Treasurer. Elected 1929.
H. Wuistier. Elected 1982.
A. Ezra. Elected 19338.
Dr. J. M. Harrison. Elected 1933. Col. A. E. Hamerton. Elected 1934.
Officers of the British Ornithologists’ Club,
Past and Present.
Chairmen. P. L. ScrarEer, F.R.S. Lord RoruscHiLp, F.R.S. W. L. Scrater. H. F. WITHERBY. Dr. P. R. Lowe. Major S. 8. FLoweEr. D. A. BANNERMAN.
Vice-Chairmen.
Lord RoruscuHixp, F.R.S. W. L. ScuateEr.
H. F. WitHerey.
G. M. Matuews.
N. B. KInneEar.
Editors. R. BowpLER SHARPE. W. R. OGinvie-GRANT. D. A. BANNERMAN. D. Seru-SMITH. Dr. P. BR. Lowe. N. B. Kinnear. Dr. G. CarmicHakrEL Low.
1892-1913. 1913-1918. 1918-1924. 1924-1927, 1927-1930. 1930-19382. 1932-
1980-1931. 1931-1982. 1932-1933. 1933-1934. 1934-1935.
1892-1904. 1904-1914. 1914-1915. 1915-1920. 1920-1925. 1925-1930. 1930-
Honorary Secretaries and Treasurers.
HowarpD SAUNDERS.
W. E. pE Winton.
H. F. WiTHERsy.
Dr. P. R. Lowe.
C. G. TaLBot-PonsonsBy. D. A. BANNERMAN.
Dr. PHinip Gosse.
J. L. Bonnote.
C. W. Mackwortu-PRAED. Dr. G. CaRgMiIcHarEL Low. C. W. MackwortH-PRarEp.
a
1892-1899. 1899-1904. 1904-1914. 1914-1915. 1915-1918. 1918-1919. 1919-1920. 1920-1922. 1922-19238. 19238-1929. 1929-
b Ze)
T5
20
25
LIST OF MEMBERS.
JUNE 19935.
—>——_
Actanp, Miss C. M.; Walwood, Banstead, Surrey.
AcwortH, Capt. Bernarp, D.S.0., R.N.; 24 Essex Street, W.C. 2.
Atpxanper, H. G.; 144 Oak Tree Lane, Selly Oak, Birmingham.
ALEXANDER, W. B.; Dept. of Zoology, University Museum, Oxford.
Artin, Oniver Vernon; Stonehill House, Bloxham, Banbury, Oxon.
AscuErson, C.8.; 15 Phillimore Gardens, Kensington, W. 8.
AyitMER, Commdr. HE. A., R.N.; Wyke Oliver, Preston, Dorset.
Baxer, KE. C. Sruart, C.1.E., O.B.E., F.Z.8., F.L.S., H.F.A.0.U. ; 6 Harold Road, Upper Norwood, S.E. 19.
Bannerman, Davin A., M.B.E., M.A.(Chairman) ; British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, S.W.7; and 7 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, W. 8.
Barcray-Smitu, Miss P.; Park Lodge, Hervey Road, Blackheath, S.E. 3.
Barnes, Mrs. R. G.; 119 Sloane Street, S.W. 1.
Barrineton, Freperick J. F., M.S., F.R.C.S8.; University College Hospital Medical School, Gower Street, W.C. 1.
Batss, G. L.; Blasford Hill, Little Waltham, Chelmsford.
Best, Miss M. G. S.; Broadwater, Amport, Andover, Hants.
BrrHam, Brigadier-General R. M., C.1.E.; c/o The National
_ Provincial and Union Bank of England, 208-209 Piccadilly, Wel.
Braauw, F. E., C.M.Z.S. ; Gooilust, s'Graveland, Hilversum, North Holland.
Braker, Grorer B.; Gaveston Place, Nuthurst, Horsham, Sussex.
Boorman, S.; Heath Farm, Send, Woking, Surrey.
Bootu, H. B.; “ Ryhill,” Ben Rhydding, Yorks.
Boyp, A. W.; Frandley House, near Northwich.
BrapForp, A. D.; Garston House, near Watford.
Brown, Georer; Combe Manor, Hungerford, Berks.
Browne, Patrick R. E.; Firwood, Trumpington Road, Cambridge.
Bunyarp, P. F., F.Z.S.; 57 Kidderminster Road, Croydon.
Bureau, Dr. L.; 15 rue Gresset, Nantes, France.
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35
40
45
50
XII
Butter, Artur L.; St. Leonard’s Park, Horsham, Sussex,
Buxton, Antuony; Horsey Hall, Gt. Yarmouth, Norfolk.
CaMPBELL, James; Layer Marney Hall, Kelvedon, Essex.
Coarwan, F. M.; American Museum of Natural History, New York, U.S.A.
Cuarxzs, Mrs. Edith S.; Woodside House, Chenies, Bucks.
Cuarteris, Hon. G. L.; 24 Oxford Square, W. 2.
Cuasen, Frepericx N.; Raffles Museum, Singapore.
Currsman, Major R. E., O.B.E.; Tilsden, Cranbrook, Kent.
Ciarke, Brig.-General Gotanp van Hott, C.M.G., D.S.0O. F.Z.S. Wiston Park, Steyning, Sussex.
CruarkeE, Joun P. SrepHenson; Broadhurst Manor, Horsted Keynes, Sussex.
Ciarke,.Col. SrepHenson Roser, C.B., F.Z.8.; Borde Hill, Cuck- field, Sussex.
Creave, Henry P. O.; Mansfield . House, Kendrick Road, Reading.
Cocurane, Captain Henry L., R.N. (Retd.); Court Place, West Monkton, Taunton, Somerset.
Conover, H. B.; 6 Scott Street, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
Cox, Major-Gen. Sir Percy Z., G.C.LE., G.C.M.G., K.C.S.I.; 25 Kensington Palace Mansions, Kensington, W. 8.
Cunninenam, Jostas;. Drinagh, Kensington Road, Knock, Belfast.
Curtis, Freprrick, F.R.C.S.; Alton House, Redhill, Surrey.
Daniets, CuristopHeR; 75 Grosvenor Street, W.1.
Deane, Ropert H.; Seaford Head Golf Club, Seaford, Sussex.
Detacour, Jean; Chateau de Cleres, Cléres, Seine-Inféricure, France.
Dretmi-Rapcurrer, Lieut.-Col. A., D.S.0.; Cypress Lodge, Bridge Street, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.
Dewuorst, Captain F. W., Royal Marine L.I.; Elmwood, North End, Hampstead, N.W. 3.
Dosiz, Wittiam Henry, M.R.C.8. ; 2 Hunter Street, Chester.
Duncan, Arntuur Bryce; Gilchristlands, Closeburn, Dumfriesshire.
Evus, Ratpu; 2420 Ridge Road, Berkeley, California.
Ezra, A., O.B.E., F.Z.S. (Committee); Foxwarren Park, Cobham, Surrey. |
Ferrier, Miss Jupira M.; Hemsby Hall, Hemsby, Norfolk.
Fisner, Kennera ; School House, Oundle, Northamptonshire.
Frowrr, Major 8. 8S. (Chatrman, 1930-1982); 27 Park Road, Tring, Herts.
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60
65
7°
75
80
XIII
Fourxes-Roserts, Captain P. R.; Westwood, Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
Gitsert, H. A.; Bishopstone, near Hereford.
Gieee, W. E.; 2 Burlington House, King’s Road, Richmond, Surrey.
Guienister, A. G.; The Barn House, East Blatchington, Seaford.
Gopman, Miss Eva; South Lodge, Horsham, Sussex.
Gosnett, H. T.; The Boreen, Headley Down, Bordon, Hants.
Grant, Captain C. H. B., F.Z.8.; 58a Ennismore Gardens, 8. W.7.
GyiprENsroteE, Count Nits; Royal (Natural History) Museum, Stockholm, Sweden.
Hacuisuxa, The Marquess; Mita Shiba, Tokyo, Japan.
Hateu, Grorce Henry Caron, F.Z.S.; Grainsby Hall, Great Grimsby, Lincolnshire.
Warn, Rev. James R., M.A.; Yalding Vicarage, Maidstone, Kent.
Hamerron, Colonel A. E. (Committee); 1 Park Village West, Regent’s Park, N.W.1.
Harrison, Bernard Guy; 45 St. Martin’s Lane, W.C. 2.
Harrison, Dr. James M., D.S.C. (Committee); Bowerwood House, St. Botolph’s Road, Sevenoaks, Kent.
Harrisson, THomas H.; The Chase, Weeke, Winchester.
Heara, R. E.; 54 Brompton Square, 8.W. 3.
Hert, Grorrrey Sreccomsr, M.B., F.R.C.S., F.Z.8.; 86 Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, W. 1.
Hopexty, Mrs. T. Epwarp; Old Ridley, Stocksfield, Northumberland.
Hottom, P. A. D.; Birchfield, Addlestone, Weybridge, Surrey.
Hope, R. F.; Herons Ghyll, Uckfield, Sussex.
Horxinson, Emitius, C.M.G., D.8.0., M.B., F.Z.8.; Wynstay, Balcombe, Sussex.
Horson, Major H. P. W., R.E.; No. 1, Staff Quarters, Brompton Barracks, Chatham.
Inexis, C. McFaruane; Natural History Museum, Darjiling,
India,
Incram, Capt. Cortrnewoop; The Grange, Benenden, Cranbrook, Kent.
JABOUILLE, Prerrz; Chateau de Cleres, Cléres, Seine-Inférieure, France.
Jorpan, Dr. Kart; Zoological Museum, Tring, Herts.
Jourpain, Rev. F. C. R., M.A., H.F.A.O.U., H.M.S.O. de France ; Whitekirk, 4 Belle Vue Road, Southbourne, Hants.
Jory, Norman H., M.R.C.S., L,R.C.P.; 271 Kilburn Lane, W. 10.
85
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95
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105
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Kinnear, Norman B. (Vice-Chairman); British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, S.W. 7.
Kross, C. Boppy; Royal Societies Club, St. James’s Street, S.W. 1.
Kuropa, Dr. Naeamicur; Fukuyoshi Cho, Akasaka, Tokyo, Japan.
La Tovcur, J. D. D.; Kiltymon, Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Leacu, Miss E. P.; 17 Hereford Square, 8.W. 7.
Lewis, Jonn Spepan, F.Z.S.; North Hall, Mortimer Crescent, Greville Road, St. John’s Wood, N.W. 6.
Luioyp, Bertram; 4 Tavistock Street, W.C. 1.
Low, George CarmicoarL, M.A., M.D., C.M., F.R.C.P., F.Z.S8. (Editor of the‘ Bulletin’); 86 Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, W.1.
Lowe, P. R., O.B.E., B.A., M.B., B.C., F.Z.S. (Chairman, 1927- 1930); British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, D. Wi
Lucas, Narwanisr 8., M.B., F.Z.S.; 19 Westbourne Terrace, Hyde Park, “Ws 2:
Lynes, Rear-Admiral Houperr, R.N., C.B., C.M.G.; 23 Onslow Gardens, 8.W. 7.
Macxkenzig, Joun M. D., B.A., C.M.Z.S.; Sidlaw Fur Farm, Tullach Ard, Balbeggie, Perthshire.
McKirrricx, T. H.; Great Surries, Hast Grinstead, Sussex.
Macxwortn-Prarp, C. W., F.Z.S. (Hon. Sec. & Treasurer) ; 51 Onslow Gardens, S8.W. 7.
MacmiLuan, Captain W. E. F.; 42 Onslow Square, S8.W. 7.
McNett, J. H.; Nonsuch, Bromham, Chippenham, Wilts.
Macruerson, D. W. K.; P.O. Lilongwe, Nyasaland.
Maerata, Lieut.-Colonel H. A. F.; 43 Millbank, Westminster, We.
MansFietp, Muneo Davin, The Right Hon. The Earl of; Scone Palace, Perth.
Mancon-Batire, PoSH.. D:S:0%. M.A., MLD. EIR.C.P. EAS 149 Harley Street, W. 1.
Maruews, G. M., F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; Meadway, St. Cross, Winchester, Hants.
Mavrogorpato, J. G.; Mariners, Westerham, Kent.
May, W. Norman, M.D.; The White House, Sonning, Berks.
Mayavup, Nogx; | Rue de Bordeaux, Saumur, France.
MeIneRTzHAGEN, Colonel R., D.S.0., F.Z.S.; 17 Kensington Park Gardens, W. 8,
IIo
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120
125
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135
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Micuoutts, Mrs. Dorotruy; Silver Birches, Wentworth, Virginia Water.
Momiyama, Toxu Taro; 1146 Sasazka, Yoyohata-mati, Tokyo, | Japan.
Monn, P. W.; Puerto Alcudia, Majorca, Balearic Isles, Spain.
Morron, Mrs. C. D.; Cranbrook Lodge, Cranbrook, Kent.
MossE.wuitt, D. W.; 59 Mayford Road, Wandsworth Common, S.W. 12.
Musturs, James Lawrence CaawortH; Royal Societies Club, St. James’s Street, S.W. 1.
Naumsure, Mrs. W. W.; 121 East 64th Street, New York.
Newman, IT. H., F.Z.S.; Verulam, 46 Forty Avenue, Wembley Park, Middlesex.
Nicuorson, EK. M.; 61 Marsham Street, S.W.1.
OxpHam, Cuaas., F.Z.8.; The Bollin, Shrublands Road, Berk- hamsted, Herts.
Osmaston, Berrram BreresrorD; 116 Banbury Road, Oxford.
Paxennam, R. H. W.; Kingsley, Hurtis Hill, Crowborough, Sussex.
Parker, Eric; Feathercombe, Godalming, Surrey.
Pautson, C. W. G.; 10 King’s Bench Walk, Temple, E.C. 4.
Pratt, Mrs. Oscar; Oare, Marlborough, Wilts.
Prasr, H. J. R.; Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks.
Prrsuousr, Major 8.; c/o Lloyds Bank (Cox & King’s Branch), 6 Pall Mall, 8.W. 1.
Pirman, Capt. C. R.8., D.S.0., M.C.; Entebbe, Uganda.
Prayer, W. J. P.; Wernfadog, Clydach R.S.0., Glamorganshire.
PorHam, Hueu Leryzsorne, M.A.; Hunstrete House, Pensford, Somerset.
Ruopis, Miss G. M.; Hildersham Hall, Cambridge.
Ricxert, C. B., F.Z.S.; 27 Kendrick Road, Reading, Berks.
Rivirre, B. B., F.R.C.S.; The Old Hall, Woodbastwick, Norfolk.
Roruscartp, LionrL WattEr—Lord, D.Sc., F.R.S., Ph.D., F.Z.S. (Chairman, 1913-1918); Tring Park, Herts.
Sanpeman, R. G. C. C.; Dan-y-parc, Crickhowell, Brecon.
ScHAUENSEE, R. M. pp; Devon, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Scrater, Witrram Lurrzy, M.A., F.Z.8. (Chairman, 1918-1924) ; 10 Sloane Court, S.W. 1.
Sera-Smirn, Davin, F'.Z.S8.; Curator’s House, Zoological Gardens, Regent’s Park, N.W. 8.
Suareron, Wm., B.A., M.D.; 2 The Square, Buxton,
140
145
150
155
XVI
Stuonps, Major Maurice H., Fines Baylewick, Binfield, Berks.
Srapen, Major A. G. L., M.C.; Horsenden Manor, Princes Risborough, Bucks.
Sparrow, Col. R., C.M.G., D.S.0., F.Z.S., F.R.G.S.; The Lodge, Colne Engaine, Earls Colne, Essex.
Srares, J. W. C.; Portchester, Hants.
Stevens, Hersert ; Clovelly, Beaconsfield Road, Tring, Herts.
StonrHam, Lt.-Col. H. F., O.B.E., F.R.E.S.,. F.R.A.L., F.Z.S. ; Parknasilla, The East Surrey Coffee Estates, Kitale, Kenya Colony, East Africa.
Sruart-Menretn, W. G.; Bransfield, Godstone, Surrey.
Swrynnerton, C. F. Massy; Poste Restante, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanganyika Territory, Kast Africa.
Taxa-T'suxasa, Prince Nosusuxe; 1732 Sanchome, Kami-meguro, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Tatsot-Ponsonsy, C. G.; 5 Crown Office Rom Temple, E.C. 4.
Taytor, Miss D. L.; Bellefields, Englefield Green, Surrey.
Tavistock, Hastines Wrti1am Sackvitte, Marquess of, F.Z.S.; 76 St. James’s Court, 8.W. 1.
Tuomson, A. LanpssoroveH, C.B., O.B.E., D.Sc.; 16 Tregunter Road, 8. W. 10.
Toorpr, W. H., M.A., Ph.D.; Jesus College, Cambridge.
Ticenurst, Craup B., M.A., M.R.C.S.; Saxon House, Appledore, Kent.
Ticenvurst, N. F., O.B.E., M.A., M.B., F.R.C.S., F.Z.S.; 24 Peven- sey Road, St. Leonards-on-Sea.
Tucker, B. W., B.A., F.Z.S.; 9 Marston Ferry Road, Oxford.
Turner, Miss EK. L., F.Z.8.; The Half Way Cottage, 13 Storey’s Way, Cambridge.
Turtie, Lancetor J.; 17-21 Castle Place, Belfast.
Tyrwuitt-Draxe, Hueu G., F.Z.8.; Cobtree Manor, Sandling, Maidstone.
Uravuart, Capt. Anastarr, D,S.0., Latimer Cottage, Latimer, Chesham, Bucks.
vAN Someren, Dr. V. G. L.; East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society, Coryndon Memorial Museum, Nairobi, Kenya Colony, East Africa.
Vernay, A. 8.; 51 Berkeley Square, W. 1.
160 Vincent, J.; c/o The Bird Room, British Museum (Natural History),
Cromwell Road, South Kensington, 8.W, 7,
XVI
Wank, Major G. A., M.C.; St. Quintin, Sandy Lane, Newcastle-u.- Lyme, Staffs. , Warrr, Herserr Witiiam; c/o Messrs. Grindlay & Co., Ltd., Bombay. Watuis, H. M.; 110 Kendrick Road, Reading. Ware, R.; Leafwood, Frant, Tunbridge Wells. 165 Wart, Mrs. H. W. Borp; 90 Parliament Hill Mansions, Lissenden Gardens, N.W. 5. Wuistter, Hueu, F.Z.8., F.L.8. (Committee); Caldbec House, Battle, Sussex. Warrarsk, JosepH I. 8., F.Z.8.; Malfitano, Palermo, Sicily. Waurrr, S. J., F.Z.8.; 17 Philpot Lane, E.C.3 Wauttery, H.; Primley, Paignton, 8. Devon. 17o Wittramson, Sir W. J. F., C.M.G., F.Z.S. ; c/o Lloyds Bank, 6 Pall Mall, 8.W. 1. Witiovenrsy-Exus, H., F.Z.8.; Friary Hill, Weybridge, Surrey. Wine, J.Stapen ; 21 Cheyne Gardens, Chelsea Embankment, S W.3. Wisnart, K. E.; Marsh Farm, Binsted, Arundel, Sussex. WirnerBy, Harry F., M.B.E., F.Z.S. (Chairman, 1924-1927) ; 12 Chesterford Gardens, Hampstead, N.W. 3. 175 Wirnertneron, G.; Sumner Plat, Hayward’s Heath. Woop, Casny A., M.D.; c/o The Library of Ornithology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Workman, Wittram Houaeuns, F.Z.8.; Lismore, Windsor Avenue, Belfast. Worms, Caries DE; Milton Park, Egham, Surrey.
Total number of Members .... 178
NOTICE.
[Members are specially requested to keep the Hon. Secretary informed of any changes in their addresses, and those residing abroad should give early notification of coming home on leave. |
VOL .y, b
LIST OF AUTHORS
AND OTHER PERSONS REFERRED TO.
ACCOUNTS, (STATEMENT OW is .:. o.5 oo 0 o's seateien cpa lags nme. e.0) «
ACLAND, Miss. Exhibition of coloured plates .of birds from Brazil ......
ALEXANDER, W. B.
Additional remarks about the Isle of May Bird Obser- PRET OIE E Wa ewers snake Web eiehetaic veer easa ts’ bie (ote. » MaguSt NS ica wa able! hie fee
Exhibition of, and remarks on, the larder of a Little Owl (Carine noctua) from Skokholm Island, Pembrokeshire.
Described the results of operations at the Isle of May Bird Observatory inthe spring of 1935). 0. 3 te eee ee
ANAT Gna An IVER TING .. s.< s ledas Wiss «0 ad ahs ore tide s cee ee
BAKER, E. C. STUART.
Exhibition of slides, and remarks on, the breeding haunts OMBEVOLall DIGS I sere ta ee Sis Ne oak cet ak ce She a Glave eee set ine
BANNERMAN, D. A.
Description of a new race of the Ahanta Francolin (Francolinus ahantensis hopkinsoni) from Gambia and Portuguese Guinea, together with a note on the extension of range of Francolinus ahantensis ahantensis into Nigeria ....
Exhibition of, and remarks on, several species obtained by Mr. Willoughby P. Lowe in Ashanti, together with a note on Bycanistes subcylindricus and B. subquadratus, with text-figures of the heads of these two forms
Description of a new race of the Yellow-fronted Penduline Tit (Anthoscopus flavifrons waldroni)
Page
45
42-43
174
126-130
131 V
xXIx Page BANNERMAN, D. A. (cont.).
Extension of range of Andropadus curvirostris leoninus... 131-132- '
Exhibition of, and remarks on, an adult, young, and eggs of the Ahanta Francolin (francolinus ahantensis IE RCEUS ES | ys reine in ene Ge PIM tallest ta roche iavasta pe Bal el Boe awa th 132-134
Exhibition of, and remarks on, a Wattled Cuckoo-Shrike (Lobotos lobatus) and a Rufous-winged Akalat (Illadopsis rufescens), with further observations upon Mr. Willoughby Wowe s collection tronaAshanti. 66. ee he ce ee hae 154-155
Exhibition of, and remarks on, a Gabon Cuckoo (Cuculus clamosus gabonensis), this specimen being the first record from Iles Rte ee eens sno < oo oa vil cle ayeig eos 60.08. s a Blapere 155 Notes on the birds of Nigeria, including new records for RNa RRR le aoa nc 95 a's lala dso al wale letel a) c aoe) w sv a are wlese igs wd 170-172
Bates, G. L.
Remarks on, and description of, a new species, Hremalauda kinneart; also a new race, Merops orientalis meccanus, from EMME Le eter ilar tere ch al Metal Neat pichelelt vials Clelaieie 8 eps era d's = 19-21
Note on the races of the Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea). 46-49
Note on Pyrrhulauda eremodites Meinertzhagen and Eremaaugea hinneats Bates. i... Nea eles 102-103
Note on the type-locality of Pycnonotus x. xanthopygos .. 118-119 Note on two forms of Serinus angolensis in Arabia, one
being a new subspecies, Serinus angolensis philbyt ........ 119-120 Description of a new Sunbird (Cinnyris habessinicus
PECL Vy REOUEA LEED OUD 5s aleiesel suriy nhac ipias wie ells lea hie ats el ela dia 120-121
Remarks on the forms of Ammomanes cinctura in Africa and Arabia, with a description of a new race, Ammomanes PI ETIUMEN PALAU TUN Ge Fo sath «AA Surtees abe Bide ABR ale bla Siw Adio lg 139—140
Communication on the distinctions between Sazicola torquata maura and S. t. indica and the ranges of those Eh oo IL We ah pad fampetinideen: ete MONEDA i RA A boo a 158-159 ~
Bates, G. L., and N. B. KINNEAR.
Exhibition of, and remarks on, a new genus of Woodpecker from Arabia, which they proposed to describe es WICH MICILGI ORI Melacs 2 lg te sels cc's salle ce ciaa see ese ese. 156-157
Birp, C. G.
Note upon Charadrius liaticula septentrionalis C. L. RR ENRNRR eratere MME alia fe veld diols ale Uheiciwic oS yb kd des tele ens ves 8U
xx
Brooks, Major ALLAN.
Remarks upon certain subspecies .....6.........0000-
CHAIRMAN, THE. PAMnUal AGATGSS! os poccis cas Gb ade > es he ep Oe Proposed the health of the Royal Family .............. Introduced a guest of the Club, Mr. H. St. John Philby .
CHISLETT, R. Exhibition of slides of the Hen-Harrier in its breeding hauntsan the: Orkneys > i.hee peer ee. GL
COMMITMEHE HOR VOS4 Vos ais Meas sae tent eoateieueivioy sous, « <.oasete
DELACOUR, J. INotes*on:. the genus WMarornis. scutes «mais ss «ls ee
Additional form, Mixornis gularis cagayanensis, to be added, omitted from his previous note (antea, p. 99).....
Note on a new name (Stachyris chrysxa frigida) ........
EDITOR.
Editorial note on the correct name of the Long-legged LES 902110 [ONE ea PaO RAH ace eh dt Hee A eS. Siero oko Bea. ois os
GILBERT, H. A.
Exhibition of, and remarks on, a hybrid between a Black CROMsO mmMelna ee MCASATIb. ‘alas beatmeusis eis: suelo iwcne NEL None
GRANT, Captain C. H. B.
A communication on the remarks of Dr. C. B. Ticehurst _and Mr. G. M. Mathews (antea, pp. 53 and 80) ...........
GRANT, Capt. C. H. B., and C. W. MackwortH-PRAED. Descriptions of two new races of Francolin, Francolinus africanus friedmanni from 8. W. Abyssinia, Pternistis afer loangwe from Northern Rhodesia, a new race of Sarothura Rail (Sarothrura lineata lynesi) from N.E. Rhodesia, and a note on the type-locality of the Purple Heron...........
Notes :—
1. On a new subspecies of Francolin (Francolinus nobilis chapini) from Hastern Africa .........20+...-..040%
2. Further remarks on Pelecanus roseusS................
Page
99-100 113 121
105
15 eee
103-104
XXI
GRANT, Capt. C. H. B., and C. W. MackworTH-PRAED (cont.).
Notes :—
3. On the correct type-locality of the Demoiselle Crane CA TERUODOULER VITGO)? Society tic «ere as e516 osik Eisele se e'e's
4. On the type-specimen of Francolinus levaillantir NEM UA UCR SUSY sia eas Sitoe A co Ge ua OMe Gis PERO 9 a
5. On the exact position of the type-locality of Francolinus CR CIBA Ts CREME le aaamny ste eho 5. oo!'a 5. «lad sane SC ala |e: Sela acats eons
6. On the type-locality of the Cape Quail (Coturnix COMMEIPAIENCCOINE 0 oo 0 oe och so Mie ee See ace hee ws 7. On the type-locality of the South African Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum regulorum) ........-+46-
8. On the type-locality of Rouget’s Rail (Rougetius MPGEGE NED fst ic) aie bieci eis +o ale oA Era w 6 he S's ate Ee ARMOR
9. On the type-locality of Sarothrura rufa............4. Further Notes :—
1. On the relationship and distribution of Pternistis afer AE LORIUESUOS CVONMEIUUG sco 2 Sd caiars ahehe nels) 6 ehireugn
bo
. On the type-locality. of Choriotis arabs arabs .........
3. On the Eastern African races of Hwpodotis senegalensis SOU CMOLCHUSUSE My a yscern «Which a. efile hy « uSt cp elthahede’s s iis: he sesy'd cai”
4. On the type-locality of Hupodotis senegalensis barrowi.
5. On the exact type-locality of Lophotis ruficrista gin- CRITI COS aioe ROR PT ORO Ne EEE 0 OME a
6. On the status of Lophotis ruficrista hilgertt ..........
7. Correction to Note in last number of the ‘ Bulletin ’ COUT CO UNOS) teed eawa rate © ete) « eile) ee sve. 6c. sue) @ wietelln laire apeua-<
A correction to Note 6 (antea, p. 92) .......566 cece eeee
HacuisuKa, Marquess. Exhibition of type-specimens of Hmberiza janowski and GEM ARCHIE PL OSISCC mows 4,4 id 3 bake ta ldla oA) avejeue wis ee alp ald Olde s alee Exhibition of, and remarks on, a coloured drawing of ECO TE TOOSO Thala ds. = valetarn aval diel ee (0 0164 ee) N ese 9 0a a as oe Further notes on the type-specimens of Hmberiza janowskii and Locustella pleskei, and a note on the distribution of Phasianus colchicus mut. tenebrosus ..... 6. cece e eee eees
HoskKING, ERIc J. Showed a series of slides of several birds at their nests...
Page
67
67--68
68
68 68-69
84-89 39
89-91 91
91 *
92 *
92 *
123
44
60-62
69-72
117-118
XXII Page IREDALE, Tom, and G, M. MatHEws. Notes on Penguins, with a proposed new name, A ptenodytes excelsior, together with a new subspecies of Macaroni Penguin (Catadyptes chrysolophus redimitus) from Macquarie WISIN ONG scr akate sete aise sts a se aa/eraaiae oe scx 3. 3 4:0 64sec 101-102
JOURDAIN, Rev. F. C. R. Remarks on Mr. H. A. Gilbert’s exhibit................ 15 Exhibition of, and remarks on, a series of slides from
photographs taken by himself and Rear-Admiral H. Lynes during their recent visit to Egypt and Palestine........... 168-170
Joy, Dr. N. H.
Read extracts from notebooks of thirty to forty years ago on differences in bird life existing then compared with the present day 6... 6... cece eee cece reece ener eee eeenees 84
KINNEAR, N. B.
A note that, Drymocataphus tickelli olwaceus being preoccupied, Drymocataphus tickelli ochraceus be proposed ADEE PACE. Sos ss Ds neta sea O a EEN ee a RMN eet dd
Exhibition and description of a new species, Fulvetta
ludlowi, from Eastern Bhutan ...... ss san Be Spares iol ota ie 134-135. |
Exhibition of, and remarks on, several kinds of
iPigeon-wiistles\from Ching, |i. tciaee oli. a eneninie ana eile 135-136 °
Exhibition of, and remarks on, Arabian birds .......... 172-173
Kinnear, N. B., and G. L. BatTss.
Exhibition of, and remarks on, a new genus of Woodpecker from Arabia, which they proposed to describe SS IMCSETLUDICUS WOT? Precis tatttictabeNs! tists 'e"e'sla's! elgta te AP eee 156-157
La ToucueE, J. D. D.
A communication on Mr. G. M. Mathews’s proposal of new names (antea, pp. 23-24); also the latter and Dr. C. B. Ticehurst’s protest (antea, pp. 53 and 80) ................ 104
LITERATURE, List oF (referred to at Annual Address)........ 38-41
LocKLeY, R. M. Showed a film of the Gannets on Grassholm ........... 118
Low, Dr. G. CARMICHAEL. Exhibition of, and remarks on, a bi-coloured Budgerigar. 10-11
f
XXIII
Low, Dr. G. CARMICHAEL (cont.). Exhibition of, and remarks on, the nest of a Mistletoe Bird (Dicxum hirundinaceum) from Australia.............
Exhibited, on behalf of Mr. H. P. O. Cleave, two specimens of the Great Crested Newt (Triton cristatus) found in the gammrden or a Lawaiy, Opmllee ele ts vise y Goes ae ogi le ees
Lowe, Dr. P. R.
Exhibition of, and .remarks on, a _ well-authenticated clutch of four eggs of Temminck’s Stint laid in the British BNC te Ee Se ac ah: ahead ahi calls Gidt era Maceud iat oie bi
Description of a new form of the Red-legged porte (Alectoris greca philbyt) from Arabia ............ 0.0 eee
Remarks on Dr.C. B. Ticehurst’s exhibit described on p. 9. Remarks on Mr. H. A. Gilbert’s exhibit of a hybrid .
Exhibition of, and remarks on, a downy chick of a gack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) ..... 0.6.0 b ce cece
MACKWORTH-PRAED, C. W., and Capt. C. H. B. GRANT.
Descriptions of two new races of Francolin, Francolinus
africanus friedmanni from §8.W. Abyssinia, Pternistis afer
loangwe from Northern Rhodesia, a new race of Sarothura
Rail (Sarothura lineata lynesi) from N. E. Rhodesia, and a
note on the type-locality of the Purple Heron ............ Notes :-—
1. On a new subspecies of Francolin (Francolinus nobilis
chap) trom Wastern Afri¢a oy... ee lke
2. Further remarks on Pelecanis rosetis ..........6005:
3. On the correct type-locality of the Demoiselle Crane CABUGODOUMCS DUNGO) whereas Ne jai oad ovat as. 2 dnscecece! owed 2
4. On the type-specimen of fFrancolinus levaillanti AILS TESS eat SDM Be carl Adin billet ate Me Rae a AAPL
5. On the exact position of the type-locality of Francolinus ERA er CRONE Meters ter emt nna aid Sosa hohe ote eas o's
6. On the type-locality of the Cape Quail (Coturnix PERT CLITICDIUGY | chet ea a hed, caves Bo hoa Nie lees» Kosa ecae 08
7. On the type-locality of the South African Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum regulorum) .............
8. On the type-locality of Rouget’s Rail (Rougetius IMME Ne eR Py oNe als he es, 4 eee, cipisun oosuedin 6 8 8
9. On the type-locality of Sarothrura rufa .......,.46.5
Page
13
7-8
8-9 9-10 Pili
43-44
15-19 62-63 63-65 65-66 66-67
67 67-68
68
68 68-69
XXIV
MAcKWoRTH-PRAED, C. W., and Capt. C. H. B. GRANT (cont.).
Further Notes :— 1. On the relationship and distribution of Pternistis afer and Piernistis €ranchiv: in cos i: ee
2. On the type-locality of Choriotis arabs arabs .........
. On the Eastern African races of Hupodotis senegalensis SEMCOMMCHSIS | 0... setitelectinis 4, tio s'Siia + 0 <9 « pe
oO
. On the type-locality of Hupodotis senegalensis barrowii.
~
On the exact type-locality of Lophotis ruficrista gindiana. . On the status of Lophotis ruficrista hilgerti ..........
a te er
. Correction to Note in last number of the ‘ Bulletin’ (GNTCG GOO) sk. uae ine haem tM geass 05s. ode
A correction to Note 6 (antea, p. 92) ........ccecccoes
MANson-Banr, Dr. P. H. Exhibition of an early Chinese colour print published Ta NTO aya vai: opted See A ere eke aes ak COM aa ke
MatTHews, G. M.
Description of a new Fork-tail Petrel (Cymochorea castro helena) from St. Helena, and proposed new names for the following pre-occupied ones :—Davisona for Hydrornis, Trochalopteron touchena for T. yunnanensis, Poliospiza nancis for P. somerent, and Barbatula hildamariz for SUG ECIOSONUG Miles sends a cole cin, $n lus ss Shee adage 2 6G coer od ee
Descriptions of two new genera, Catadyptes and Dasycelis, with a revised classification of Sphenisciformes ...........
Reply to Dr. C. B. Ticehurst’s protest on the publication OLrmnew, WamMes (ANLCA. 5D. 99) cone = Se ws osiced whe vate chee alee
Note on the genera Dasyramphus and Acanthisitia, with two new names proposed, Pucheramphus and Chlorisitta....
Descriptions of a new Stitch-bird (Notiomystes cincta hautura) and a new Tit (Certhiparus albicilla hautura) from New Zealand ; also a new Prion (Heteroprion belcheri serventyi) from South-West Australia ...................
Comment upon Dr. Ticehurst’s remarks, on pp. 160-163, onsules of NWomeonelatitert.. Seie fete oats lots oie inked thes es 2 «6:00 Remarks on Apteryx australis and Stictapteryx owenii, with the necessary changes of nomenclature, together with a new description of Stictapteryx owenw iredaler.,..,. Mara
Page 84-89 89 89-91 91
91
92
92
123
110 23-24 74-75 80-81 112-113 159-160 163-164 179-180
XXV
Matuews, G. M., and Tom IREDALE.
Notes on Penguins, with a proposed new name, Apteno- dytes excelsior, together with a new subspecies of Macaroni Penguin (Catadyptes chrysolophus redimitus) from Macquarie eet OS ict <! «sia ay eet eee as ocP eens © anohe! a. dhosain 6 Sd duals ora
MEINERTZHAGEN, Col. R.
Note on the Parrot-Crossbill (Loxia pytyopsittacus) ......
Description of a new form of Sandgrouse (Péerocles orientalis koslovx) from Southern Russia .................
Exhibition of, and remarks on, two pale grey Sky-Larks .
A lecture, illustrated by lantern-slides, on some of the Mallophagaifound on different birds..........e-ce000000
Exhibition of, and remarks on, a large series of down taken off various British Duck and from their nests .......
MEYNELL, M., and W. THESIGER.
Descriptions of two new subspecies, Cercomela melanura ausse and Fringillaria striolata dankali, from Abyssinia... .
Description of a new race of Rock-Sparrow (Gymnoris pyrgita dankali) from Eastern Abyssinia .................
Moreau, R. E., and W. L. ScLATER.
Descriptions of two new races, a Crimson-Wing (Crypto- spiza salvadorii kilimensis) and a White-eye (Zosterops winifredx), from Tanganyika Territory
eoecece ee eee eer ee eee ee
NEumMaAnwy, Prof. O.
Descriptions of two new races of Sandgrouse, Pterocles lichtensteinia nigricans from Abyssinia and _ Pterocles orientalis enigmaticus from N.W. India
eoeeeee eee eee ee eee ee
Descriptions of four new races, Crypsirina varians longipennis from S.E. Siam, Cyanoderma melanothorax mendenit from Java, Bubo ketupu pageli from Borneo, and Bubo ketupu aagaardi from Siam
OBITUARY. Sir John Rose Bradford
PAKENHAM, R. H. W.
Description of a new subspecies, Hurillas virens zan- zibaricus, from Zanzibar
VOR, LY. Cc
Page
101-102
56-58
59 110
117
157-158
79
122
13-15
72-74
136-139
126
110-112
xXXvl1
Page PALUDAN, MAGISTER KNUD. Notes on birds seen and collected by the 1927 Danish- Sudan Hx pedition.,. sai ssive Ciperwwscics fas aoe sees abe eee 49-52 ScLATER, W. L. Remarks on his recent visit to Trinidad and Tobago .... 134 ScLaTER, W. L., and R. E. Morzav. Descriptions of two new races, a Crimson-Wing (Crypto- spiza salvadori kilimensis) and a White-eye (Zosterops winifredz), from Tanganyika Territory ...............e:0- 13-15 STONEHAM, Lt.-Col. H. F. Note upon the migration of White Storks (Ciconia c. ciconia) In Kenya Colony ie 08 2... ce eittives. © hoiraaet, a'c lien a we 22-23 Tavistock, Marquess of. Read a paper on “The Extent to which Captivity modinies the Habits of Bards.) oct aes. meinen) he ec ats 144-154 ‘THESIGER, W., and M. MryneELL. Descriptions of two new subspecies, Cercomela melanura aussx and Fringillaria striolata dankali, from Abyssinia ... 79 Description of a new race of Rock-Sparrow (Gymnoris pyrgita dankalz) from Eastern Abyssinia ................. 122 TicrHuRST, Dr. C. B. Exhibition of, and remarks on, a dissection of a head and neck of a Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)............ 9 Remarks on the Long-tailed Sibias of India and Burma, with a description of the Burmese form (Heterophasia picaoides burmanica) from Tenasserim .................. 19 A protest on the four new names proposed by Mr. G. M. Mathews (a@ntea, ppiwa—24). vice wit eiciras nies enn 6 eee ne Gop 53 Reference to his prior communication (antea, p. 53) and the two replies to it (antea, pp. 80 and 103), and drawing attention to the alteration of Rule 25 on Zoological Wommencla tare .t)/aisege lobes esos, seebo lee Ne osha ai wipe «a6 alee, 3 160-163
‘Notes upon the Phylloscopi, together with two new des- criptions, Phylloscopus trochilus yukutensis from Leningrad and Pomatorhinus ferruginosus stanfordi from Upper Burma. 177-178
XXVil TINBERGEN, Dr. N.
Exhibition of a series of slides of the Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) and a pair of Snow-Buntings Die COLLOPHCHOL NIUMIES)) Pada delele syne ord sa are oe 4 oes oo. we coe 6 «
‘TUCKER, B. W.
Remarks on Dr. Carmichael Low’s exhibit on a bi- Een OUred BUG PeCvigae sieleie pare ey oieveis a!» s|o,ohe ou sieisiasiete, «lo! 4° ls. 04
VINCENT, JACK. Note upon the occurrence of the European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europzus europxus) in Nyasaland .......... Notes upon some Nyasaland birds ........ ieee MMS dy Notes on the Lophoceros melanoleucos group of Hornbills. List of correct type-localities for fourteen African birds
A description of some incidents on Rear-Admiral Lynes’s Expedition to the Southern Congo Basin, 1933-1934.......
A communication on Apalis macphersoni, now to be iden- tied as a race of Apalis chariessa.... ees cccs cess eecees
Descriptions of a new Warbler from Nyasaland, Artisornis metopias bensoni, and of a new Babbler from Tanganyika Territory, T'urdoides hypoleuca kilosa, together with a note upon the occurrence of the Eastern Whitethroat in the MepIP UB E: COUMADIN 3 20 one aes. oe) c)icliel ocd) s'est bce. -u, wid) oe ob-ave Ge draenei eNel a ol a's
Wetmore, Dr. ALEXANDER.
Opinion as to the validity of Trochalopteron touchena proposed: ley Dir.G. Mia Mathews soo. acca aie eens so 6 oie
WITHERBY, H. F.
Exhibition of, and remarks on, two nesting cavities of the Willow-Tit (Parus atricapillus kleinschmidti) and one of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates minor com- EATS Mp Gy che aeoactie gis, age cy 0) Oc ee
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“A
BULLETIN
OF THE
PRI TISH, GRNITHOLOGISTS ~ CLUS.
No. CCCLXXX.
Tae three-hundred-and-seventy-fifth Meeting of the Club was held at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, 8.W. 7, on Wednesday, October 10, 1934.
Chairman: Mr. D. A. BANNERMAN.
Members present :—Miss C. M. Actanp; Dr. W. J. ADIE; E. C. Stuart Baker; F. J. F. Barrineton; Miss M. G. S. Bzst; Brig.-Gen. R. M. BetHAmM; Miss R. BLEzaRp; Mrs. E.S. CHARLES; Hon. G. L. CHartreris; Major R. E. CHEESMAN ; Brig.-Gen. G. v. H. CLARKE; H. P. O. CLEavE; Maj.-Gen. Sir P.Z.Cox; Miss J.M. Ferrier; H.A.GrInBert; W. E. GuEae; Miss E. M. Gopman; Capt. C. H. B. Grant; Rev. J. R. Haz; Col. A. E. Hamerton; Dr. J. M. Harrison; R. E. Heata; Mrs. C. Hopaxin; P. A. D. Hottom; Dr. E. Horxryson; Miss D. HorpERN; Rev. F.C. R. Journpain; N. B. KINNEAR (Vice-Chairman); Miss E. P. Leacu; Dr. G. CarmMicHAEL Low (Editor); Dr. P. R. Lowe; Rear-Admiral H. Lynzs; T. H. McKirrrick; C. W. MackwortH-PRAED (Hon. Sec. & Treas.); J. H. MoNere; Lt.-Col. H. A. F. Macrata; Dr. P. Manson-Baur; J. G. Mavrocorpato; T. H. NrEw- MAN; B. B. Osmaston; H. PEASE; H. L. PopHam; Miss G. Ruopes; W.L.Sciater; D. Serx-SmitH; Col. R. SPARROW;
[October 30, 1934.)} a VOL. LY.
Vol. lv.] 2
Miss D. L. Taytor; Dr. A. LANDSBoROUGH THOMSON; Dr. C. B. TickHurst; B. W. Tucker; Miss E. L. TurNnzr; J. Vincent; Major G. A. Wave; Mrs. H. Boyp Wart; H. Wuistuter; H. F. WitHEerRBy; C. G. M. DE Worms.
Members of the B.O.U.:—R. M. Brett; Miss C. Lone- FIELD; W. P. Low; Col. W. A. Payn.
Guests :—Mrs. EK. C. Stuart Baxer; Mrs. Betuam; J.S. CHarues; Miss 8. P. Coarztes; J. P. R. Hare; G. R. Huaues; K. K. Horn; P. E. C. Manson-Baur; Dr. P. Martin; J.J. Murray; Mrs. PELLEREAU; Miss P. Prrrarp; W. W. A. Puintures; Mrs. W. W. A. Puruuies; Mrs. SELBY ; Miss WALDRON.
Annual General Meeting.
This was held at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W.7, at 6.30 p.m., just before the Dinner. Mr. Davip BANNERMAN took the Chair, and twenty-six other members of the Club were present. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. |
Mr. C. W. MackworTH-PRAED then read his Treasurer’s Report. He said that the financial statement differed a little from the normal. A hundred pounds had been given to the VIlIth International Ornithological Congress, and arrange- ments had been made to entertain certain distinguished foreign guests if circumstances permitted. The last, however, was not found necessary. He thought that the Executive Com- mittee of the Ornithological Congress was to be congratulated on having organised the most successful ornithological gathering ever held.
As commitments were uncertain, the Committee had re- frained from making any donation to the ‘ Zoological Record ’ or to the British Trust for Ornithology. As regards the former, the Committee had now decided that the Club should make the usual annual payment. During the last session the Club had received a windfall in the shape of forty pounds from Dr. N. F. Ticehurst. This sum was the balance of funds of the British Ornithologists’ Club Migration Sub-committee,
3 [ Vol. lv.
appointed before the War. It was accompanied by a sug-— gestion from Dr. Ticehurst that it might be handed over to the British Trust for Ornithology. As the Club had, at that moment, just paid a donation of twenty-five pounds to that insti- tution, the Committee decided to put the forty pounds into the general funds of the Club for the time being, especially as at that time the commitments for the forthcoming Ornitho- logical Congress were not known. The Committee have now decided to donate a further sum of fifteen pounds to the Trust.
Mr. Mackworth-Praed said that the only other point worthy of note was that all ordinary expenditure had been reduced in view of the calls on the Club for the Congress and the Trust. The deposit account still stood at six hundred pounds, and the position, therefore, roughly, was that all calls had been paid out of income, leaving the financial position still a very strong one.
Mr. Mackworth-Praed then went on to make his Secretarial Report. He said the numbers of the Club remained constant. He regretted to announce the deaths of six members—Arthur F. Griffith, Ernst Hartert, E. G. B. Meade-Waldo, F. R. Ratcliff, Frederick W. Smalley, and G. H. Gurney. There were several resignations as well—Lt.-Col. H. Delmé-Radcliffe, Walter Bryce Duncan, Arthur Humble Evans, Horace W. Finlinson, James M. Fleming, Mrs. Rose Haig Thomas, Baron Snouckaert van Schauburg, and Victor Owen Williams. Thirteen new members had joined the Club. The statistics for attendance at the meetings during the last session had been very satisfactory—members of the B. O. C. 371, members of the B.O.U. 31, guests 137, making a total of 539, as compared with 525 in the previous session.
Both reports were carried unanimously.
Mr. N. B. KINNEaR was elected Vice-Chairman of the Club in place of Mr. G. M. Mathews, whose period of office had terminated.
Mr. C. W. MackwortH-PRAED was re-elected Honorary Secretary and Treasurer.
Col. A. E. HamERtTon was elected a member of the Com- mittee in place of the Rev. J. R. Hale, retiring through seniority.
a2
Vol. lv.]
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5 [Vol. lv.
Committee, 1934-1935.
Mr. D. A. BANNERMAN, Chairman (elected 1932).
Mr. N. B. Kinnear, Vice-Chairman (elected 1934).
Dr. G. CarmicHAEL Low, Editor (elected 1930).
Mr. C. W. MackwortH-PRAaEpD, Hon. Secretary and Treasurer (elected 1929).
Mr. H. WHuistLeEr (elected 1932).
Mr. A. Ezra (elected 1933).
Dr. J. M. Harrison (elected 1933).
Col. A. E. HamErRTon (elected 1934).
Mr. Davip BANNERMAN described a new race of the Ahanta Francolin from Gambia and Portuguese Guinea, which he proposed to name
Francolinus ahantensis hopkinsoni, subsp. nov.
This race, which has hitherto been overlooked by all authors, including myself (said Mr. Bannerman), is unquestionably separable from the typical species, originally described from the Ahanta country, which ranges from Sierra Leone to the Ondo Province of Southern Nigeria, the most easterly point from which it has yet been recorded. The Gambian—Portuguese Guinea bird is shades paler, and this paleness is as equally marked on the crown, back, and wings as on the neck, breast, and belly; while the general ground-colour of F'. ahantensis ahantensis is dark brown, that of /. a. hopkinsoni can only be described as pale brown. Moreover, there is less black on the neck of hopkinsoni, and both the wing-coverts and primaries are more reddish-brown than umber-brown. Fully adult birds killed at the same time of year have been compared.
The series (14 F’. a. ahantensis, 11 F. a. hopkinsonz) has been compared in conjunction with Mr. Rudyard Boulton, of the Field Museum, Chicago, and Captain C. H. B. Grant, who has recently been revising the East African species of Franco- linus, and both are in agreement that this race is outstanding and must be described.
Type in the British Museum, ¢ adult; Gunnal, Portuguese Guinea, 25. v.09. Dr. W. J. Ansorge coll. Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1910.5.6.20.
Soft parts—‘Iris dark brown; bill orange-vermilion, with horn-grey tip and red-brown on crest of upper mandible ”’ (Ansorge).
Vol. lv.] 6
Range.—Gambia to Portuguese Guinea (Gunnal).
Remarks.—It is with very great pleasure that I name this new race of Francolin after my friend Dr. E. Hopkinson, C.M.G., D.S.O., who during a long residence in Gambia has done so much to further our knowledge of the birds of that colony. The British Museum is indebted to him for many Gambian specimens, and th ewriter is under a special obliga- tion to him for allowing him to make use of his field-notes in ‘ The Birds of Tropical West Africa.’
Note on the Extension of Range of Francolinus ahantensis ahantensis into Nigeria.
Mr. Bannerman then continued :—
When writing the first volume of my ‘ Birds of Tropical West Africa,’ which appeared in 1930, I was unable to find any record of the Ahanta Francolin from east of Togoland (Misahohe). It had not, so far as I am aware, been reported from Dahomey; it was, therefore, with considerable interest that I recently received proof (in the shape of various feathers) that the species occurred in Southern Nigeria. A bird of this species was shot out of a party of four by Mr. J. A. Barclay on July 27, 1934, quite close to Government College, Ibadan . (44 miles from town centre), Oyo Province. The four birds rose out of standing maize in a small farm-clearing surrounded by fairly thick bush (the country in the neighbourhood is intermittent farm-land and fairly thick palm _ bush). Mr. Barclay tells me that when discussing the occurrence with other shooting men he learned that examples of this species had also been obtained, though not recorded, near Olokome, which it on the railway 16 miles west of Ibadan. Curiously enough, within aweek of receiving the feathers from Mr. Barclay I learned that Mr. Rudyard Boulton, of the Field Museum, Chicago, who has just returned from West Africa, collected a specimen of the Ahanta Francolin at Ifon, on the eastern boundary of the Ondo Province, which constitutes the most easterly record of Ff. ahantensis ahantensis as yet known.
The above are the first records of the Ahanta Francolin from Nigeria, and are, therefore, worthy of mention in our ‘ Bulletin.’
7 (Vol. lv.
Dr. P. R. Lowe exhibited what he had reason to think was the first well-authenticated clutch of four eggs of Tem- minck’s Stint to have been laid in the British Isles. He said that this clutch had been sent by Mr. George Edwards, of Halifax, Yorkshire, the finder, to the British Museum for an opinion as to its identity.
The opinion which he (Dr. Lowe) had come to, after a careful comparative examination of the material in the collection, was that the eggs were undoubtedly those of Temminck’s Stint ; and this opinion was supported by the description given by Mr. Edwards, in his first letter, of the appearance, mode of flight, call-notes, and general behaviour of one of the parents. Mr. Chaworth Musters, who is very familiar with the habits of this Stint in Norway, on being consulted, expressed the opinion that the description given by Mr. Edwards tallied with the habits of Temminck’s Stint.
Dr. M. Schoenwetter, who, fortunately, happened to be working in the Bird Room at the time of the recent Congress at Oxford, and who was asked to give an independent opinion as to the identity of the clutch, pronounced the eggs to be Stints’, and probably either referable to the Little Stint or Temminck’s. This was before comparing them with others in the collection.
The nest was found in Scotland, 8 feet from the margin of a swampy loch. In his letter Mr. Edwards described the call-note of the parent, which was unfamiliar to both him and his companion, Mr. V. 8. Crapnell, as ‘“‘a low reeling, very like a short performance by the Grasshopper Warbler, and continued for about three seconds at a time. It was always uttered immediately flight was resumed. Also, upon taking flight the bird would stand with upraised wings for at least two seconds, then take to the air.”
Speaking of the flight, the finder stated that this “‘ was at times almost as erratic as that of a Snipe. The wings were also occasionally vibrated quickly for several seconds and then held stiffly aloft, when the bird would glide almost to water-level and then resume its erratic flight. The speed was considerable, and at times reminded one of a Sand-Martin.”’
The measurements of the eggs, which Dr. Lowe took with a Vernier’s scale, together with their weight, had already
Vol. lv.] 8
been published by Mr. H. F. Witherby in Mr. Edwards’s description of this remarkable discovery in ‘ British Birds’ (xxviii, 1934, pp. 97-99). :
Mr. George Edwards, with a generous and far-seeing gesture, has presented this clutch to the British Museum, where, let us hope, it will be preserved for generations to come.
Dr. Lowe also exhibited a very interesting new form of the Red-legged Partridge of the A. grxeca group, which he proposed to name.
Alectoris greeca philbyi, subsp. nov.
The bird was sent by Mr. H. St. J. Philby in a small collection made by his collector in the Taif district, not far from Mecca (Arabia). The district is mountainous, and the altitude at which the birds were killed was about 5500 feet. This would seem to be too high for Alectoris melanocephala, which is found at lower levels which might be described as foothills, where it lives among rocks, mostly of an igneous character. Undoubtedly the conspicuous and remarkable character which differentiates Philby’s Chukor from all other species, or subspecies, of the genus is the wholly black throat ; and it — is interesting to note in this respect that A. melanocephala, while having a white throat and black gular gorget (as in all species of the genus), has a sagittal crest running down the vertex of the head, which is wholly black.
In the one species, therefore, you get—speaking roughly— black throat and light-grey head, in the other white throat and black head. It is also to be noted that in a mutation of the Red-legged Partridge (A. rufa rufa) which crops up in long-spaced intervals of time in the West of England, and which I described in ‘ The Field’ (March 15, 1923, p. 372), we find awholly black coloration of the top and sides of the head with a white throat.
There are other amazing aberrations of colour and colour- pattern about these mutants which I must not stop to describe now; but the outstanding interest about them is that when one does crop up after, perhaps, an interval of twenty years, it reproduces with an amazing degree of accuracy every detail of the extraordinary aberrations of colour and colour-pattern.
9 [Vol. Iv.
Description.—Similar to Alectoris greca greca, but with chin and throat, malar and auricular region deep jet-black instead of white ; top of head light grey ; colour of the feathers of the mantle, back, rump, and upper tail-coverts and tail considerably paler (not so concentrated as regards pigment) ; the colours of the chevron-pattern on the flanks not so rich and the barring not so broad ; breast greyer, not so vinaceous- pink ; rest of underparts more cinnamon-like. Bill, feet, and bare circum-ocular space probably coral-red in life.
Distribution —Taif district, near Mecca, Arabia. In moun- tains, altitude 5500 ft.
Type—tIn the British Museum. 4, Taif district, near Mecca, 6. vii. 34. Presented by Mr. H. St. J. Philby. Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1934.8.10.1.
Remarks.—Named in honour of the donor.
Dr. C. B. TicEHurst exhibited a dissection of a head and neck of a Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), and made the following remarks :—
Many years ago, on dissecting a Shag, I noticed that on the dorsal part of the upper neck there is an accessory bone. I put it aside, as I wished to verify its existence in the Cor- morant also. It was not till last winter that I was able to do this, and I exhibit the specimen I then dissected. You will see that articulating with the occipital region of the skull there is a long tapering bone with a central dorsal crest running from the occiput over the centres of and superficial to the first two bones of the neck, and just reaching the third. This bone is roughly triangular in section, and measures 29 mm. in length and 8 mm. in greatest width at the occipital end. The function is obviously that of an extra bone for the attach- ment of muscles. The muscles of the neck of the Cormorant are very large, and it would be interesting to know whether other birds with large neck-muscles, such as the Pelican and Gannet, also have this extra bone. In the Shag this bone is similar to that in the Cormorant but smaller, and measures 19 7 mm.
Dr. P. R. Lowe said that the little bone exhibited by
Dr. Ticehurst was of very great interest for, as far as he ao
Vol. lv.] 10
knew, it was only found in the genera Phalacrocoraz and Plotus ; although it might, a priori, have been thought that since its object was to increase the surface of attachment of certain cervical muscles in order to allow of increased efficiency and quickness in striking at fish, other birds might well have been provided with a similar aid.
The bone was a sesamoid bone apparently formed in the connective tissue of the septum separating the post-cervical or occipital muscles on either side. It was not connected to the occipital bone at its basal end, and the idea that it was comparable to the post-occipital of Dinosaurs, although a tempting suggestion, required further investigation before it could be accepted.
Dr. CARMICHAEL Low exhibited the skin of a bi-coloured Budgerigar, and made the following remarks :—
The bird in question, he said, had belonged to Dr. Elphick, the well-known aviculturist, and showed the extraordinary condition of being green on the right side and blue on the left, the division of colours being almost perfect. The specimen was obtained from Germany, with its pedigree, and Dr. Elphick showed it at the Cage Bird Show at the Crystal Palace in 1933, and again in 1934. It was hoped to breed from it, but nothing resulted. Ultimately death occurred on June 15, 1934, and the body was kindly given to him for dissection. This was carried out at the Natural History Museum by Dr. P. R. Lowe and himself, and the bird was found to be a male, two well-developed testicles with their vasa deferentia being present. There were no signs of any female organs or any sexual abnormality. The pedigree of the bird was as follows :—
Grandfather. Grandmother. Grandfather. Grandmother. Green-White. Cobalt. Cobalt. Green-White. Father. Mother. Green. Cobalt.
Bae ee ae
Bi-coloured bird.
Green on right and blue on left.
11 [Vol. lv.
Dr. Low said that he had shown the skin of the bird at the. meeting of the VIIIth International Ornithological Congress in Oxford last July, with another somewhat similar one, which the owner, Lord Rothschild, very kindly allowed him also to exhibit, and the specimens aroused a considerable amount of interest.
No definite decision was arrived at as to the cause of the peculiar condition, but it was pointed out that it was not a sexual aberration apparently, but due to some other chromo- some disturbance, and the fact of Dr. Elphick’s bird being a male supported this.
The condition is not, however, a very rare one, because on going into the subject in greater detail with Mr. Arnold J. Parker, the latter drew attention to another example described in ‘Cage Birds’ (1934, July 13, p. 4). Under the heading ‘“‘ Budgerigar News and Views”? Mr. W. Watmough says: “Mr. E. Holloway, of Cardiff, sent me last week the dead body of a young Budgerigar which was a perfect bi-colour—Cobalt and Blue. The line of demarcation between the Blue and the Cobalt went down both the back and the breast. It was unfortunate that the bird died, as it was a most interesting specimen. It was bred from a Blue cock and a Cobalt hen in the aviaries of a friend of Mr. Holloway.” There is no note as to whether the bird was dissected or not, however.
The condition, according to Mr. Parker, is also met with in other breeds of birds, as in a letter he says he has seen it in four Pigeons, two Fowls, and two Budgerigars. Further, he says, it is not confined to one sex, for he has known both a male and female (Pigeons) to be fully fertile, and in Fowls one pullet to lay, and a cockerel to have every appearance of being fertile, but this was killed without testing. Another example of a Green-Blue Budgerigar was also shown at the Cage Bird Show at the Crystal Palace in 1933, but its owner was not traced.
The conclusion one must come to, according to Mr. Parker, and in this Dr. Low said he agreed, is that these domestic bi-colours are something different from the sexual dimorphism that has been very rarely recorded in sex-colour-differing wild species, the so-called gynandromorphs.
Vol. lv.] 12
Mr. B. W. TucKER said that he saw no reason why the explanation of Dr. Carmichael Low’s bi-coloured Budgerigar should be fundamentally different from that usually adopted for the gynandromorph, and he recalled that when the bird was exhibited at the Ornithological Congress Dr. Mayer and he had suggested at least a formal explanation which would fit the facts perfectly well.
The gynandromorph is usually interpreted as due to an irregularity in the distribution of the chromosomes con- trolling sex, usually called the X-chromosomes. An individual whose body-cells contain a pair of X-chromosomes differen- — tiates (in the case of birds) as a male, while one having only one X-chromosome differentiates as a female. These minute bodies reproduce themselves at each cell-division, so that each daughter-cell has the same number of chromosomes as the original one, and this number is maintained throughout the body. But if at the first division of a fertilized egg-cell of 2X constitution an accident occurred so that an X was lost on one side, the result would be two daughter-cells, one. with 2X chromosomes (the male constitution) and one with 1X (the female). Hach of these cells would give rise to one half of the body, and the result would be an individual which was male on one side of the body and female on the other, both in respect of its organs and of its external characters. This explanation has actually been demonstrated micro- scopically to be the correct one in the case of some insect gynandromorphs, and it is probable that bird gynandromorphs can be explained in essentially the same way, though there are grounds for believing that the conditions cannot be quite so ideally simple as in the insects referred to.
However, if the general explanation of gynandromorphs in terms of an irregular distribution of the X-chromosomes is accepted *, it is easy to account for conditions like the Budgerigar under discussion by assuming that the characters affected are controlled by factors lodged, not in the X-chromo- somes, but in one of the other pairs of chromosomes which have nothing to do with sex. It is then easy to see how an irregularity in the distribution of these chromosomes,
* cf. Tucker, Bull. B. O. C. xlvii, 1928, p. 93-103.
13 [Vol. lv.
comparable to that described above, could produce a bi-partite division of the body in respect of certain characters without the sex of the bird being in any way affected.
Dr. CARMICHAEL Low also exhibited a nest of the Mistletoe Bird, Diczeum (Microchelidon) hirundinaceum, which had been sent to him from Australia by Mrs. H. L. Friend. The nest, he said, was a very pretty one and beautifully made. Neville W. Cayley in ‘ What Bird is that? A Guide to the Birds of Australia,’ 1933, p. 111, no. 10, describes the nest as follows :— ‘* Nest.—A neat, pear-shaped structure with a slit-like entrance in the side ; composed of Spiders’ egg-bags, downy plant seeds, and the sawdust-like excreta of various wood-boring insects, matted together with cob-webs. Usually suspended from a thin branch of a leafy tree up to 30 feet from the ground.”
There are usually three eggs, pure white. The birds, according to Cayley, usually in pairs, frequent the topmost branches of trees or the blossoms of different species of mistletoe (Loranthus). ‘They feed on insects and berries, chiefly those of the mistletoe, whence the name.
Mr. W. L. ScuatTER exhibited and described, on behalf of Mr. R. E. Moreau and himself, two new birds, a Crimson-Wing and a White-eye, from northern Tanganyika Territory.
Cryptospiza salvadorii kilimensis, subsp. nov.
Description.—Nearest to C. s. ruwenzori, but the crown a dusky grey without a yellowish or olive shade; under- parts more leaden grey and darker as compared with the lighter underparts of C. s. ruwenzori, which have a distinct yellowish tinge; the rufous on the flanks is also more con- spicuous and better developed.
From C. s. borealis of Mt. Urguess, in northern Kenya, it differs in the greater development and brighter shade of the crimson of the back. Bill black; legs dark brown to black. The female has much less crimson on the back and wings and no trace of crimson on the flanks.
Measurements.—Male, wing 54-55; tail 39-41; tarsus 17; culmen 9-10 mm. Female, wing 53 mm.
Vol. lv.} 14
Type.—A male (no. 1860) collected in forest near Neare, Nairobi, North River, west side of Kilimanjaro, at 5750 ft., February 7, 1934, by Mr. R. E. Moreau.
Remarks.—This is one of three males obtained the same day. Mr. Moreau also obtained a ¢ and @ at Bismarck Hut at 8800 ft., also in the forest, on February 26, 1934; five examples are, therefore, available for examination.
A single male example from Mt. Elgon in the British Museum is on the whole nearer the Ruwenzori race, but more material is required to settle its exact status.
The bird is not new to the Kilimanjaro range, as it was recorded from Mt. Meru, at 3900 metres, by Sjostedt in his report of the Kilimanjaro—Meru Expedition.
Zosterops winifrede, sp. nov.
Description.—Above green, with an olive tinge becoming yellow on the frontal region, the wing-quills and tail dusky edged with greenish, as in other species ; white ring round the eye conspicuous and well marked, and running forward to the base of the bill; chin and fore-neck pale yellow, the ear- coverts green like the back; chest and abdomen blue-grey, becoming white in the centre of the abdomen; under tail- coverts pale yellow, like the throat. Bill black; legs grey- black.
Measurements —Wing 57-59, of type 58; tail 44-46; bill 10; tarsus 15 mm.
Type.—A male (no. 2361) obtained at Chome, in forest in the South Pare Mts., at 6200 ft., Usambara district, Tangan- yika Territory, on July 9, by Mr. R. E. Moreau.
In all three males and three females were obtained at the same locality in July 1934.
Remarks.—This is the first grey-breasted White-eye obtained in East Africa. On the whole it seems to be most closely allied to Z. capensis atmorii Sharpe of the eastern portion of Cape Province, from which it differs in its more conspicuous eye-ring and the more bluish or leaden grey of the underparts ; these in Z. c. atmorii always show a brown tinge. Z. abys- sinicus has the back a duller, more leaden green and the under- parts paler.
15 [Vol. lv.
Until the distribution of the Grey-bellied White-eyes is better understood it seems preferable to describe this new race binomially.
With the series of the new race Mr. Moreau has sent some examples of Z. virens usambare taken at Kindokoro, on the northern slopes of the Pare Mts.
Mr. H. A. GitBert exhibited a hybrid between a Black Grouse and a Pheasant, and made some remarks upon the subject of hybridism between these two species.
Dr. P. R. Lowe and the Rev. F. C. R. Jourparn took part in a discussion which followed.
Mr. E. C. Stuart Baker exhibited some slides to show the breeding haunts of the Green Sandpiper, T’ringa ocrophus Linneus, together with nests of certain other birds frequenting and breeding in the same country and same kind of forest. Among these were photos of Cranes, Zimmermann’s Buzzard, Honey Buzzard, Goshawk, and Ortolan Bunting.
Of the seven nests occupied by the Green Sandpiper, two had been those of the Song-Thrush, two of Fieldfares, one of the Redwing, while two clutches of eggs had been laid in Squirrel’s dreys. The nests were at heights from the ground varying from 5 to 25 feet. Seven clutches of eggs in all were seen and two of chicks, while in one instance there were three chicks and one very hard-set but spoilt egg. The nests con- taining the chicks had ail been those of the Song-Thrush.
Of the eggs seen between May 25 and June 8 all were on the point of hatching, but these two months were at least a fortnight more advanced in weather than had been the case in 1933, when fresh eggs were obtained well into June.
Eggs and chicks of T’ringa ocrophus were shown by the exhibitor.
Captain C. H. B. Grant and Mr. C. W. Mackwortn- PRAED sent descriptions of two new races of Francolin, a new race of Sarothrura Rail, and a note on the type- locality of the Purple Heron :—
In Bull. No. 153, U.S. Nat. Mus. 1930, p. 114, Friedmann records six specimens of a Francolin from Bodessa (between
Vol. lv.] 16
Gardula and Tertale), South-western Abyssinia, under the name Francolinus africanus archeri W. Sclater (Bull. B. O. C. xlvili. 1927, p. 51: Mt. Daro, east of Harar, near Abyssinian— British Somaliland boundary), on the authority of Conover.
This identification carries the distribution of F. a. archeri across that of F’. a. ellenbecki, and, therefore, the points raised were, whether I’. a. ellenbecki was a good subspecies, and, if so, the Bodessa birds were unlikely to be F. a. archeri. We were unable to examine the type of F. a. ellenbecki Erlanger (J. f. Ornith. 1905, p. 151, Saemana*, on the Abera—Ginir road, Southern Abyssinia), but through the kindness of Dr. Mertens we have received photographs of the type. These photographs very clearly show that this race is similar to fF. a. psilolemus, and differs only in being greyer. We therefore have two recognizable races having a range from Shoa in Central Abyssinia southwards to the Abyssinian— Kenya Colony boundary, 2. e., the Boran country. Through the kindness of Dr. Friedmann we have been able to examine four of the specimens from Bodessa, and, as we suspected, it is not F. a. archeri or F. a. ellenbecki, but a new race. We informed Dr. Friedmann of our conclusions, who replied that we should name it. This we now do as follows :—
Francolinus africanus friedmanni, subsp. nov.
Description.—Similar to F. a. archer in coloration and mark- ings of whole head and neck, also in whole upper parts and flight-feathers, except that there is a slight grey wash on the mantle and wing-coverts. Chest-feathers with chestnut edges as in F’. a. archeri, but centres paler, with greyer tips, giving the chest a slight grey bloom ; feathers of breast and abdomen irregularly barred, tipped, and centred with black, not the almost clear breast and abdomen of F. a. archeri; flank- feathers more broadly streaked and barred. Bill as in F.. a. archeri, i. e., smaller than the other races of this group.
Measurements.—Wing 157; tail 66; culmen 24; tarsus 34 mm.
Distribution.—South-western Abyssinia.
Type.—In the United States National Museum, @ adult,
* 39° 45’ E. Long.
17 [ Vol. lv.
Bodessa, South-western Abyssinia; collected by E. A. Mearns, May 21,1912. U.S.N.M. no. 243203-21866.
Remarks.—Three adult females and one immature female examined.
Named in honour of Dr. Herbert Friedmann.
Pternistis afer loangwee, subsp. nov.
Description—Similar to P. a. melanogaster Neumann in having a black moustachial stripe, but differs from that race in having the mantle and wing-coverts pale umber-brown, with much less distinct shaft-stripes, 7. e., lacking the grey coloration and distinct shaft-stripes of P. a. melanogaster.
In the young bird the whole upper side is browner and warmer in colour than the young bird of P. a. melanogaster.
Measurements —Wing 187; tail 80; culmen 32; tarsus 47 mm. .
Distribution.—South-eastern Northern Rhodesia (Hast Loangwa District) east of the Loangwa River.
Type.—In the British Museum, ¢ adult, Petauke, Hast Loangwa District, Northern Rhodesia; collected by S. A. Neave, March 2, 1905. Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1907.12.30.1.
Remarks.—Two adult males and one young male examined.
The distribution of P. a. melanogaster Neumann (J. f. Ornith. 1898, p. 299, pl. ii. fig. 1: Tanga, N.H. Tanganyika Territory) is Tanganyika Territory from Tanga to the Rovuma, inland to Korogwe, Mkata Plains, and Mahenge; and Rovuma Valley area of Portuguese East Africa.
- Sarothrura lineata lynesi, subsp. nov.
Description.—A short-toed race belonging to the S. lineata group. Whole upper side deep black; feathers of head and neck with brown submarginal edgings; feathers of rest of upper side with submarginal very small white spots on apical half, coalescing on some of the greater wing-coverts and innermost secondaries to form broken white barring; tail deep black; primaries and all except innermost secondaries greyish-black, lores speckled black or brown; cheeks brown tipped with black; throat whitish buffy, with a few black tips; neck below black, with whitish or brown centres and
Vol. lv.] 18
submarginal edgings; centre of chest white with black bars or submarginal black edgings; flanks, abdomen, under tail- coverts, and under wing-coverts black, with submarginal small white spots and bars, almost absent on under tail- coverts.
Note.—General appearance deep black with white flecks, a brownish head and neck, and whiter throat and chest.
Soft parts—Iris dark brown; bill slate-grey or bluish-grey with dark sepia culmen ; legs and toes dark slate.
Measurements —Wing 71; tail 45; culmen 14; tarsus 19; middle toe, with claw, 24 mm.
Distribution —North-eastern Northern Rhodesia.
Type.—In the British Museum, 92 adult, Nsombo, N.W. corner Lake Bangweolo, N.E. Rhodesia, 3750 feet ; collected by Admiral Lynes and J. Vincent on November 18, 1930. Presented by Admiral Lynes. Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1931.12.21.1.
Remarks.—Two adult females almost exactly similar to each other examined. The other has the centres and submarginal edgings to the feathers of the neck below brown, as on the upper side of the neck. The measurements of the wing, tarsus, and middle toe are the same as in the type.
This new race is recorded in ‘ The Ibis,’ 1934, p. 37, as Sarothrura rufa subsp. ?, but it does not belong to this group, as S. rufa has a tarsus of 22 to 25 mm. and middle toe of 27to30mm. This race, therefore, comes into the short-toed group containing S. lineata, bohmi, somereni, and danet.
Mr. Vincent informs us that the males he saw had chestnut heads, but he could not note the colour of the tail. We should not be surprised to find that the male has a black tail as in S. bohmi, somereni, and danei, and not a chestnut tail as in S. lineata.
Remarks—Named in honour of Rear-Admiral Hubert Lynes, C.B., C.M.G., R.N.
On the Type-locality of the Purple Heron, Pyrrherodia purpurea purpurea (Linnzus). With reference to our note in the Bull. B. O.C. liii, 1933, p. 208, we have to thank M. Noél Mayaud and Mr. Hugh Whistler for having drawn our attention to
19 [Vol. lv.
Stresemann, Av. Mac. 1920, p. 226: Terr. typ. restr. Frankreich.
Stuart Baker, Faun. Brit. Ind., Birds, vi. 1929, p. 337: France.
Dr. C. B. TickHurst sent the following note for publica- tion :—
On examining the Long-tailed Sibias of India and Burma I find that the Burmese form is easily separable from the typical form, described by Hodgson from Nepal and inhabiting the Himalayas eastward to the Dafla Hills in Assam, by the much shorter tail. Out of 25 from Nepal and Sikkim, nearly all have a tail-length ranging between 195-225 mm. (excep- tionally 185), whereas a similar number of Burmese birds have a tail-length usually of 160-185 mm. (exceptionally 193); there is hardly any overlap. I propose for the Burmese Long-tailed Sibia the name
Heterophasia picaoides burmanica, subsp. nov.
Distribution —The hills of Eastern Burma southwards to Tenasserim.
Type.—tIn the British Museum. Taok Plateau, N. Tenas- serim, 9.1.24; collected by Mr. Willoughby P. Lowe. Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1924.12.22.41.
Remarks.—This form is of the same colour as picaoides, and not the paler grey bird described from Indo-China as cana. Another form of this species is wrayi from the Malay Peninsula, which, like cana and burmanica, has a short tail, but is albescent on the belly and has a smaller white wing- spot. Another race seems to be s¢millima from Sumatra.
Mr. G. L. BatEs sent the following note :-—
In the Bull. B.O.C. for October 1926 (xlvii. 1926, p. 28) Mr. W. L. Sclater proposed a new genus of Larks for the bird from Kordofan that Shelley had named Calendula dunni which was quite peculiar enough to form a genus by itself naming the genus Hremalauda. Now asecond species to go into this new genus has been discovered in Arabia by Mr. Philby—
Eremalauda kinneari, sp. nov.
Description.—Plumage of the upper side, where it isin a worn
Vol. lv.] 20
condition, of a sandy red colour, with only slight shaft-streaks of a darker shade of the same colour, closely resembling that of #. dunni (all the specimens of which are in more or less worn plumage), though a little paler, but the new feathers that are appearing from the moult on the head and mantle in several specimens with a vinaceous tinge and more distinct dark shaft-streaks; feathers of the crown also longer than in HL. dunni, forming more of a crest. Underside all sandy white, but with some tiny blackish spots, visible in most of these poor specimens, forming a faint interrupted moustachial streak below either cheek and ear-region. Size much larger than #. dunni.
Measurements ——The seven specimens all have the wings and tails entire and suitable for measuring. Since the sexes evidently differ in size, as they do in Z. dunni (in which the males have wing 82-87 and the females 76-78 mm.), the specimens can be divided between the sexes by size, thus :—
Three males :—
No. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. HOG M..4 5. 98 56 22 14 mm. A sedate 99 59 23 14 ,, Lh cee 96.5 56 23.5 14 _ ,, Four females :— No. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. OT 3.03035. 87 49 22 12.5mm. i Wy bi eae 87 50 21 Le ee DES sos 88 50 21.5 12.5 ,, E20" Ae. 3 87 50 21 E225? 45
Distribution—These specimens were shot on two different days near the end of June in or near Rakba Plain, “a vast desert of granite sand,” lying from 1° to 2° of longitude east of Mecca, and a little north. There they were numerous in places. The specimens are all in moult.
T'ype—No. 106, Philby’s collection. Samuda, June 25, 1934.
Remarks.—It is right, as well as being a pleasure, to connect Mr. Kinnear’s name with one of Mr. Philby’s discoveries, as he has taken endless trouble in helping to get specimens of the birds of unknown interior Arabia for the Museum, —- keeping his part in the matter unknown.
21 [Vol. lv.
Merops orientalis meceanus, subsp. nov.
Description.—Larger than NV. 0. cyanophrys; black throat- band wider and more diffused; the blue wash of the under- side perhaps even stronger than in that.
Measurements.—While the thirty specimens of Merops orientalis cyanophrys from Yemen, Aden district, and Muscat have the wing (when not worn off at tip) 90-94 mm., and four recently received from Hadramaut 89-92 mm., the seven secured in the Mecca district measure, wing 95-5, 96, 97, 97-5, 98, 99, 99-5 mm. The bills also of seven from near Mecca (including one with the wing too badly worn to measure, but excluding one with a blunted bill) run from 29-31 mm., while in the thirty of cyanophrys it is seldom as much as 30 mm., and never more.
Distribution.—Date-palm oases in Wadi Fatima, near Mecca.
Type.—No. 137 in Philby and Bates’s collection, 4; Tarith in Wadi Fatima, near Mecca, February 2, 1934.
Remarks.—Wadi Fatima, near Mecca, is some 7° of latitude farther north than the nearest previously known locality for the Little Green Bee-eater.
Mr. Jack VINCENT forwarded the following note upon the occurrence of the European Nightjar (Caprimulqus europeeus europzus) in Nyasaland :—
It has not been for one moment imagined that the European Nightjar is not of frequent occurrence in Nyasaland, since the species is known to be a common migrant throughout southern Africa, but the fact remains that no specimens have been recorded from the Protectorate. Furthermore, the species is not included in the * Birds of Nyasaland,’ wherein Sir Charles Belcher, when talking of the Caprimulgide, says that “ the European Nightjar might be expected to occur on migration, but has hitherto not been noted.”
It is of some interest, therefore, to put a first positive occurrence on record in the shape of a specimen which has, unfortunately, remained long undetected in the British Museum owing to its having been wrongly classified ; this example is an adult bird, unsexed, but without doubt a female, in view.
Vol. lv.] 22
of the absence of any white tips to the rectrices, collected at — Zomba on January 4, 1921, by C. C. Roberts (Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1922.6.17.126). With regard to the subspecies, the bird proved, on comparison, to be darker in coloration and larger in size than C. e. meridionalis (Hartert, Ibis, 1896, p. 370: Greece), which, I think, has not yet been recorded so far south, and it is undoubtedly attributable to the typical C. e. europzeus (Linnzus, Syst. Nat. ed. x. i. 1758, p. 193: Europe (Sweden)).
Lt.-Col. H. F. StonzHam sent the following note upon the migration of White Storks (Ciconia c. ciconia) in Kenya Colony, East Africa :—
With reference to the very interesting note sent by Captain C. R. 8. Pitman, D.S.O., published in the Bull. B. O. C. liv. 1934, p. 135, the following passage occurs :—‘‘ Normally most of the migrant White Storks have finished passing North by mid-February at the latest.”’
In Kenya Colony I have kept records of migrants for many years, and the following dates respecting White Storks (Ciconia c. ciconia) may, therefore, be of interest. In ‘The Ibis,’ January 1926, I recorded a male at Bombo, Uganda, on May 27, 1923, and a large flock as late as June 28, 1924, in Northern Karamoja.
11.4. 1927.—Large flock of White Storks passes north over the East Surrey Coffee Estates, Trans-Nzoia, Kenya Colony.
12. 4. 1927.—More White Storks passing north.
22.4.1927.—Vast numbers of White Storks between Nakuru and Kijabe, Kenya Colony.
9. 3.1928.—A big flock of White Storks seen between Eldoret and Soy, Kenya Colony.
13. 3.1928.—A_ big flock of White Storks on the East Surrey Coffee Estates.
16. 3. 1929.—A flock of Storks passes over high up.
11. 3. 1930.—Two White Storks near Kwoittobos River, Trans-Nzoia, Kenya Colony.
12. 3. 1930.—Many hundreds of Storks near Kitale Station, Kenya Colony.
23 [ Vol. lv.
27. 3. 1930.—Vast flock of many hundreds of White Storks pass north over the East Surrey Coffee Estates between 3.50 p.m. and 4.10 P.m., flying at low altitude. The flock took twenty minutes to pass.
9. 4. 1930.—Another large flock of White Storks passes north.
19. 2. 1931.—One solitary White Stork seen.
8-9. 3.1931—Vast flocks of White Storks pass west, most roosting on the East Surrey Coffee Estates last night.
22.4.1931.—A flock of White Storks on Cherangani— Kitale Road, Kenya Colony.
9. 3. 1932.—A flock of White Storks roosted on the East Surrey Coffee Estates, Kenya Colony.
9.3.1933.—A very large flock of White Storks moved north-west at great height, detachment circling and then moving on, followed by other detachments. The whole flock was several miles in length and passed between 8 and 8.30 A.M.
3. 4. 1934.—Flock of Storks moves south over the East Surrey Coffee Estates at very great height.
Mr. Grecory M. Matuews sent the following description of a new Fork-tail Petrel :—
The type-locality of Cymochorea castro is Deserta Island, near Madeira. A series of ten skins from this locality measures : wing 145-157 (151); tail 69-72 mm.
In specimens from St. Helena the wing measures 157-162 (160); tail 78-80 mm.
This larger form can be called
Cymochorea castro helena, subsp. nov. Description —Difiers from C. castro in its larger size, as given above. Type in the British Museum. Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1888.5. 18.16.
He also proposed new names for the following pre-occupied ones :— Davisona for Hydrornis Milne-Edwards, 1867, not Blyth, 1843.
Vol. lv.] 24
Trochalopteron touchena for 7’. yunnanensis La Touche, 1922, not Rippon, 1906.
Poliospiza nanciz for P. somerent Gyldenstolpe, 1923, not Hartert, 1912.
Barbatula hildamarie for B. jacksont Sclater, 1930, not Sharpe, 1897.
NOTICES.
The next Meeting of the Club will be held on Wednesday, November 14, 1934, at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W. 7. The Dinner at 7 p.m.
Members intending to dine must inform the Hon. Secretary, Mr. C. W. Mackworth-Praed, 51 Onslow Gardens, London, S.W. 7, on the post-card sent out with the ‘ Bulletin.’
Members who wish to make any communication at the next Meeting of the Club must give notice to the Editor, Dr. G. Carmichael Low, 86 Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, W. 1, as soon as possible. The titles of their contributions will then appear on the Agenda published before each Meeting. All MSS. for publication in the ‘ Bulletin’ must be given to the
Editor before or at the Meeting.
Agenda.
1. Mr. David A. Bannerman, Chairman of the Club, will deliver his Annual Address.
2. The Marquess Hachisuka will exhibit type-specimens of Emberiza jankowskii and Locustella pleskei, loaned from the Polish Zoological Museum, Warsaw.
BULLETIN
7 ce * OF THE
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB.
«=. No. CCCLXXXtI.
f> oe | Aa. He : . THE three-hundred-and-seventy-sixth Meeting of the Club was held at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W. 7, on Wednesday, November 14, 1934.
Chairman : Mr. D. A. BANNERMAN.
Members present :—Miss C.M. ACLAND ; W. B. ALEXANDER E. C. Stuart Baker; Miss P. Barcuay-Smitu: F. J. F. BARRINGTON ; Mrs. E. S. CHARLES ; Hon. G. L. Cuarreris ; H. P. O. Cieave ; Maj.-Gen. Sir P. Z. Cox; A. EzRa ; W. E. Guzcc; A. G. GuenisteR; Miss E. M. GODMAN ; H.T. Gosnetu ; Capt. C. H. B. Grani: the Marquess Hacut- suKA ; Col. A. E. HamErton ; Dr. J. M. Harrison > Drak. Hopxinson ; Rev. F. C. R. Jourpatn ; N. B. Kryniar (Vice- Chairman); Miss E. P. Leach; Dr. G. Carmicwart Low (Hditor); Dr. P. R. Lowe; T. H. McKirtrick; C. W. MAcKWoRTH-PRAED (Hon. Sec. & Treas.); J. H. MoNste ; G. M. MatHews; Dr. W. Norman May; T. H. Newman: C. OLpHAM ; B. B. Osmaston ; H. Puase ; Miss G. Ruopgs ; W. L. Scrater; D. Sera-Surrn - Major M. H. Stmonps : Major A. G. L. StapEN; Miss D. L. (PASTOR. Bs: W. TucKER; Miss E. L. TurNER; H. Wuisttrr: H. F. WITHERBY ; C. G. M. pE Worms.
Guest of the Club :—Mrs. A. A. ALLEN. [November 30, 1934.] q VOL. LY,
Vol. lv.] 26
Guests :—G. Bopkin; Dr. CHARLES; Mrs. CHARLES ; Mrs. G. BrRNBAUM-TEN CaTE; Miss C. E. GopMAN ; Mrs. KEITH Kerr; E.S. May; Miss C. Reep; Mrs. W. L. ScLATER ; O. TuRNER ; Hon. Mrs. H. WHISTLER.
Mr. Davip A. BANNERMAN, Chairman of the Club, delivered his Annual Address :—
Chairman’s Address. General. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ,—
Before proceeding to give you an account of the year’s happenings in Ornithology, it is the melancholy duty of your Chairman to mention the losses which our Club has suffered through death during the last twelve months. We have sustained a grievous blow this last year by the death, in-his seventh-fifth year, of Dr. Ernst Hartert. Much has already been written in appreciation of his work which I am not going to recapitulate here. We, more than others, are entitled to mourn the loss of a very close personal friend, whose memory will be held dear for many years to come. Hartert served on the Committee of the Club from 1899-1902, and again from 1911-1913. He had been a member since May 1893.
Another very old and revered member we have to mourn is E. G. B. Meade-Waldo, who died in his eightieth year. He was a regular attendant at our meetings, and his interest in Natural History in all its branches enabled him to take part in many of our discussions. He had a passionate love for birds, and worked ceaselessly in the cause of protection. The older members of this Club will recall how he founded the Kite Fund, and for a number of years, when the fund was exhausted, Meade-Waldo paid the salary of a watcher out of his own pocket. He will be very sincerely missed by his many friends in this Club. Perhaps this is a fitting moment to announce that his very valuable collection of eggs of Canary Islands birds has been generously presented by his son, Colonel Meade-Waldo, to the British Museum,
27 [ Vol. lv.
F. R. Ratcliff, who died at the age of 61, was another ~ popular figure at our meetings. He seldom entered into our discussions, but his knowledge was wide, and to sit next to Ratcliff at one of our dinners was to learn something about birds that one did not know before.
Another member of long standing whose loss will be deeply felt is A. F. Griffith—best known, perhaps, for his enthusi- astic interest in the Booth Museum at Brighton. He often attended our meetings and exhibited rarities from Sussex. He was 77 at the time of his death.
Gerard Hudson Gurney, who died at the early age of 54, will be remembered chiefly as an aviculturist. He was, however, keenly interested in other branches of Ornithology, as is evidenced by his membership of this Club.
F. W. Smalley was a member of the Club for several years. He was an expert judge of Bantams and Pigeons, and always willing to put his unrivalled knowledge of these at the service of others. In his early years Smalley made a good collection of birds, which is now in the Royal Scottish Museum.
The principal event in the ornithological world has, of course, been the International Congress, held at Oxford from July 2-9, under the Presidency of Professor Dr. E. Stresemann. It was attended by at least 310 ornithologists, representing 25 nations—the largest of these Congresses ever held in any country. It is not my intention to give you an account of the proceedings, which were an acknowledged success, for a brief résumé has already appeared in ‘ The Ibis,’ and members of the Congress will receive the full report in due course. The lectures and debates at Oxford were well up to standard, and those of us who took part in the social gatherings, including the delightful visit to the islands off the Pembrokeshire coast, have nothing but the pleasantest recollections to dwell upon. The opportunity which these Congresses give us to meet our fellow ornithologists of other nations is unique, and the advantages which accrue therefrom cannot be over- estimated.
We all have a lively recollection of the hard work done by the Secretary of the Congress, our fellow member, the
a2
Vol. lv.] 28
Rev. F.C. R. Jourdain. If he did not spare others he certainly did not spare himself. The appreciation of everybody has been his reward.
A baby has been born to the Congress in the shape of another Committee on nomenclature. Some of us are wondering whether the baby is going to turn out black or white !
While it thus fell to our lot to entertain many distinguished ornithologists in England, our American colleagues have been celebrating the Fiftieth Anniversary Meeting of the American Ornithologists’ Union, held in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, where the first meeting of the organization took place in 1883. In connection with this meeting the A.O.U. issued a Memorial Volume containing a series of articles designed to show the progress of fifty years under the «gis of the Union, the subjects covered ranging from growth of study-collections and bird-protection to fossil birds.
As a further matter of general interest the great collection of photographs of ornithologists, gathered during a long life-time by the late Ruthven Deane of Chicago, has been placed for permanent preservation in the Library of Congress at Washington. Dr. Theodore 8. Palmer, Secretary of the American Ornithologists’ Union, whose knowledge of orni- thologists, living and dead, is unrivalled, is collaborating in arranging this material, and in preparing a series of index cards giving permanent information on the many persons included.
The Brewster Medal of the American Ornithologists’ Union, given every two years for the most outstanding work relating to the ornithology of the Americas, was awarded to Dr. Frank M. Chapman, to whom we may offer our sincerest congratula- tions.
Since last I addressed you the appointment of Mr. W. B. Alexander as Director for a period of the Oxford Institute for Ornithology, has been confirmed, and under his guidance the work of the Institute has commenced in earnest. From the first Bulletin issued we learn that the sample count of heronries in England and Wales has had a good response, and the returns show that the Heron population is well maintained,
29 [Vol. lv.
A Swallow enquiry has also furnished interesting data. A start has been made on a two-year investigation into the status of the Woodcock. A study of the breeding-habits of Short- eared Owls in connection with a vole plague is expected to have valuable economic results. A census of heath-land in parts of Great Britain, Ireland, and Iceland has also been made. I was surprised to see Iceland included in the area, as I understood that the work of the British Trust for Orni- thology—of which the Oxford Institute is a part—was to be strictly confined to Great Britain.
The programme of work for next year had not been decided upon when I was preparing this address, but it is rumoured that some attempt will be made to estimate the effect of two dry summers on water-birds. If, as seems possible, a recount is made of the Great Crested Grebes in order to arrive at some comparison with the last count, a word of warning may be sounded, for I cannot help feeling a certain anxiety when we consider the disturbance to the birds which must necessarily follow from a second census of their numbers. I know that I am not alone in thinking that the census question may be carried too far.
Considerable importance must be attached to the establish- ment of the new bird observatory on the Isle of May. Per- mission to establish the observatory has been given by the Commissioners of Northern Lights, who own the island, to the Midlothian Ornithological Club. Later this evening Mr. W. B. Alexander will give us a brief account of his visit to the island last month, in company with Mr. R. M. Lockley, in order to erect a bird-trap. The island is, I understand, easily accessible from Fife, and has been, as many of you will remember, the happy hunting ground of the Misses Baxter and Rintoul, who made several important additions to the British List when studying migration there. An appeal for funds has been issued, and. it is hoped that a satisfactory response will be received. The modest sum asked for was £50, which, | understand, has already been subscribed. Donations may still be sent to Mr. J. H. B. Munro, C.A., 20 Merchiston Gardens, Edinburgh.
Vol. lv.] 30
Towards the close of last year another appeal for the pro- tection of the Kite in Wales was issued by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. The appeal was issued, for private circulation only, in the form of a small pamphlet of seven pages, with an attractive coloured picture of the Kite on the cover and a short account written by Dr. P. R. Lowe. It was signed by the Lords-Lieutenant of the five counties and by the Presidents and Chairmen of other interested bodies. Copies may be obtained from the R.S.P.B.
Those of you who listened to my address a year ago will remember the gratifying announcement I then made that the valuable Witherby collection had been secured for the nation. The collection has now been removed to the Bird Room of the British Museum, and although the work of incorporation has not yet been done, it is satisfactory to know that the skins have all been received without damage or delay.
Another collection in course of being moved to the British Museum is the Stuart Baker collection of Indian birds’ eggs. Mr. Stuart Baker is presenting to the Museum the whole of his collection of Indian eggs (some hundred thousand speci- mens), with the exception of those of the Cuckoo, which, - we understand, the authorities of the Museum are eventually purchasing.
You may be interested to hear the latest news of the Rothschild collection in New York. I alluded last year to the fact that the specimens were still reposing in their packing- cases. I have just heard from Dr. F. M. Chapman that the type case, the first of 2000 ordered for the new wing of the American Museum, is momentarily expected to arrive, and the first cases will be placed on the Rothschild floor. ‘If all goes well,” Dr. Chapman writes, “‘ we should begin to unpack the Rothschild collection in December next,’ and continues, ‘““T am sure it is not necessary for me to attempt to describe to you what an aggravation it has been to us to have these birds within reach for the past two and a half years and still to have them inaccessible ; it was, of course, out of the question for us to unpack the collection until we had a place in which it could be properly stored. Add to this aggravation the position this delay has placed us in the eyes of our colleagues,
31 [Vol. lv.
and you will more fully realise how little we are to be envied. I hope, however, that before the new year is far advanced the collection will have been made so accessible that the past two and a half years will soon be forgotten.”’
Regional Review (October 1933 to October 1934).
Following the plan of my address last year, I will now give you an account of the principal field-work accomplished.
EUROPE.
One of the most important discoveries in our own islands has been the finding of Temminck’s Stint (Calidris temminckii) breeding in Scotland. The discovery was made by two young Yorkshiremen, G. R. Epwarps and V. 8. CRAPNELL, and was duly reported in ‘ British Birds’ (Sept. 1934). At our last meeting Dr. P. R. Lowe exhibited the eggs.
The breeding of both the Wigeon (Anas penelope) and Gadwall (Anas strepera) in Ireland in 1933 was not reported until after my address last year was in print, so I mention it now.
An outstanding piece of field-work recently undertaken has been a study of the Corn-Bunting (Emberiza calandra), by Lt.-Colonel and Mrs. B. H. Ryvzs, in which they prove satisfactorily, by intensive observation, that the bird is largely polygamous.
Mr. R. M. Lockey is continuing to, make observations of importance on his island home of Skokholm, which many of us had the pleasure of visiting last July. He recently published an article in ‘ British Birds’ in which he shows that the young Puffin (Fratercula arctica grabe) is deserted by its parents before it leaves its nesting burrow, and finds its way alone to the sea by night.
Of purely systematic work in connection with British birds mention must be made of the new subspecies described by Colonel MEINERTZHAGEN from the Outer Hebrides—a Twite (Acanthis flavirostris bensonorum), a Stonechat (Saxicola torquata therese), and a Hedge-Sparrow (Prunella modularis hebridium). These were described in‘ The Ibis’ for January 1934, pp. 55-57.
Vol. lv.] 32
Leaving our own islands, and going further afield, Colonel R. MEINERTZHAGEN, accompanied by Miss Cuay, has visited Kstonia and procured some most interesting birds, of which we Shall hear more shortly. He made time to visit the Petrograd Museum, and I understand that he found it very rich in Palearctic material, all in first-class condition.
The Hon. Guy CHarTerts and Mr. H. A. GILBERT made another ornithological trip to Hungary in June 1934, and as a result the latter has published an interesting account of the breeding-habits of the River-Warbler (Locustella fluviatilis) in the last October number of ‘ The Ibis.’
Mr. HucH WHISTLER made a short trip, in company with his wife, to Sicily in November 1933, but owing to adverse weather conditions and other factors was somewhat dis- appointed with the results.
Dr. C. B. Ticktnurst, Mr. Hugh WuHuistTLER, and the Hon. Mrs. HucH WuHIsTLER made a successful expedition to North Portugal in April and May last, the results of which will shortly be published in * The Ibis.’
There seems to be no end to the lure of the Arctic and Antarctic.
Mr. Brian Roperts and Mr. G. C. BERTRAM have sailed in the ‘ Penola’ with the British Graham Land Expedition, under the leadership of Mr. Joun Rymitut. They expect to be away for three years on this important Antarctic expedition. Mr. Roberts will act as surveyor and ornithologist, Mr. Bertram as biologist, but no doubt the latter will find time to attend to birds when his other duties permit. Mr. F. 8. Coapman, who lectured to us last March, has been to Greenland to buy the dogs for this expedition, but his whole time was naturally taken up with this quest, and no bird work could be under- taken.
On May 24 an expedition, under the leadership of Mr. J. M. WorptE, with Mr. C. T. Dateerry as ornithologist and Dr. Tom LONGSTAFF as medical officer, left Aberdeen with the intention of visiting Ellesmere Land and other islands in the Canadian Arctic. Owing to abnormally bad ice conditions, which were the worst for the past 18 years, the expedition was unable to get further up the west coast of Greenland than 75° N. lati- tude. At the end of July their former plans were discarded,
33 [Vol. lv.
and they went to Baffin Land. The last fortnight of August was spent there, between latitudes 70° and 72° N. An account of the birds met with will be published later in ‘ The Ibis.’
An Oxford University expedition to Ellesmere Land sailed on July 17 for the Arctic under the leadership of Dr. Nokn HuMpPHREYS, with the main object of mapping Grant Land. It carries Mr. Davin Haitc-THomas as ornithologist. The expedition will winter in the Arctic.
Messrs. E. G. Birp, C. G. Birp, and R. B. CoNNELL spent two months (July and August) on Jan Mayen Island collecting natural history specimens. Although the weather was very unfavourable, a fairly complete collection of birds was made, including a few species not previously recorded from the island. A paper on the birds will appear in‘ The Ibis’ in due course.
Capt. J. H. McNEILeE and Mr. E. S. Stewarp again visited Northern Spitzbergen to study the avifauna, and although unsuccessful in again meeting with the Knot, made other discoveries of considerable interest in the bird-life of that region.
ASIA.
Mr. F. LupLow and Mr. G. SHERRIFF have again visited Kastern Bhutan and Southern Tibet, and from reports received they are bringing back an interesting collection in spite of many climatic difficulties.
While expeditions sponsored by American museums have been curtailed to some extent, due to reduced income because of the prevailing business depression, at the same time there have been a number of importance.
In Siam Dr. Hucu M. Smiru has continued the gathering of collections for the U.S. National Museum, forwarding series of rare and unusual birds from localities not previously known.
Mr. T. D. CARTER is at present in Western China for the - American Museum of Natural History.
From the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia Mr. Brook Doan is absent on his second expedition to Western China, where rare birds will be sought as well as the Giant Panda,
~
ao
Vol. lv.] 34
ARABIA,
We may consider ourselves very fortunate in that Mr. St. JoHN PHILBY is now taking a lively interest in the bird-life of Arabia. Indeed, he has already discovered a wonderful new Chukor, which Dr. P. R. Lowe exhibited at our last meeting and named in his honour.
Mr. Philby’s interest was aroused in no small measure by Mr. G. L. Barres, who went out to Arabia at the beginning of this year on behalf of the British Museum. Mr. Bates arrived at Jidda in the middle of January last, and remained there as the guest of Mr. Philby till April 25. His own bird-collecting was mostly done on the coastal plain around Jidda, which is real desert, especially when, as this year, the occasional winter rains failed. But he had two or three opportunities of accompanying Mr. Philby into the mountainous interior, where the bare stony heights are the home of some birds ; in the valleys between them, with springs of water and palm groves, many more birds are found. Mr. Philby is continuing to send home collections of specimens, and Mr. Bates is now busily engaged in studying these in the British-Museum.
AFRICA.
As usual, this continent has been well patronised by orni- thologists, and several important expeditions have been undertaken.
Admiral Lynzs and Mr. Jack VINCENT, having been about eight months in the Southern Congo basin, in both Belgian and Portuguese (Angolan) territory, returned home last spring.
They toured the country in automobiles, and made a survey of that part of the Congo basin which lies to the southward and south-westward of the great central block of big forest in the bottom of the basin.
The kind of bird-population of the western part of this territory has really never yet been made known. It was not, however, the Admiral’s intention to acquire that knowledge ; he wished rather to see what could be done in the way of relating the physical geography and ecologic conditions to
35 [Vol. lv.
the distribution of the birds there, in the same general way which Dr. Chapin has so successfully done for the northern part of the Congo basin in vol. 1. of his recently published work on the ‘ Birds of the Belgian Congo’ (Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. Ixv. 1932). Admiral Lynes is now engaged in working out the bird collections, while the Jardin Botanique Bruxelles are doing the plants, and the Admiral hopes, when all the script has been co-ordinated, to be able to publish some intelligible results—with Dr. Schouteden’s accord— in the ‘ Revue Zoologique Africaine ’ (Bruxelles).
Mr. WitLoucuHBy P. Lowe visited the Gold Coast last winter on behalf of the British Museum, and made collections of birds, fish, and mammals in Ashanti. He is leaving again this month for the same destination. |
Two French ornithologists, Messieurs BLancou’§ and MaALBRANT, are continuing to send some rare birds to the Paris Museum from French Equatorial Africa (Ubangi-Shari regions), among which the rare Starling Grafisia torquata is, perhaps, the most notable acquisition to the Museum.
Mr. RupyaRp Bouton has recently returned from Western Africa, where, accompanied by Mrs. Boulton, he has been _ engaged under the auspices of the Field Museum, Chicago.
On behalf of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Mr. LoveripG£ has made collections in Kenya and Uganda.
Mr. Davip Lack has paid literally a flying visit to Amani, where he spent a short holiday under the guidance of Mr. Moreau.
In West Africa the best work has been accomplished by Mr. and Mrs. Ronaup SHUEL, who are steadily increasing our knowledge of the breeding-habits of Nigerian birds. <A fine collection of eggs, made in the Lokoja district, has been received from them, and will be reported upon by the Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain. Itis, as usual, accompanied by first-class field-notes.
Mr. W. A. FarRBarIRN is continuing his field-work in the forest of Benin, and constantly sends specimens and valuable information to the British Museum.
The numbers of working ornithologists in West Africa is rapidly increasing, and it is worthy of note that several ladies are taking an active scientific interest in ornithology. The
Vol. lv.] 36
pages of the ‘ Nigerian Field’ and of ‘ Sierra Leone Studies ’ bear witness to the increased interest evinced in bird-life in our West African colonies.
AMERICA.
Of important expeditions at work in America I have news of only three—all, of course, undertaken by Americans.
Mr. H. 8. Swartu, of the California Academy of Sciences, has continued his intensive investigation of the bird-life of British Columbia, and Mr. G. M. Surron, with Mr. JoHn SEMPLE, from the Carnegie Museum, have been occupied also in that same area.
Mr. M. A. CarrikER is making collections in Peru and Bolivia.
West INDIES.
Sir CHARLES BELCHER, from whom I had news only yester- day, has continued to make valuable observations on the birds of Trinidad and Tobago, particularly with regard to nesting habits. In conjunction with Mr. G. D. SMooKER he is pub- lishing a combined List of the birds of Tobago and Trinidad in the pages of ‘ The Ibis,’ the first part of which appeared in July.
PACIFIC.
Mr. Tom Harrison, who accompanied Mr. JoHN BAKER on a zoological expedition to the New Hebrides, has, we understand, made an interesting collection, with copious notes on the breeding habits and ecology of the birds. He has not yet returned to England.
Under the American Museum of Natural History the WHITNEY SoutH SEA EXPEDITION has continued its investigation of the bird-life of island groups in the Pacific, being engaged principally this year on New Britain.
Dr. JaMEs P. CuaPIn has left recently on the yacht ‘ Zaca,’ with Mr. TEMPLETON CROCKER, to visit Mangareva, Pitcairn, and other remote islands in the Pacific. The party is accom- panied by Mr. Jaquzs, the artist, and will arrange to collect material for an exhibition group illustrating the bird-life of this range.
37 [Vol. lv.
The ARCHBOLD-RAND EXPEDITION, which I mentioned in my last address, has continued to work in New Guinea on behalf of the same institution.
During the last twelve months no German expedition has been undertaken in search of birds, except that Dr. Hans NEVERMANN, of the Ethnographical Museum of Berlin, made a small collection in southern New Guinea, near Merauke, containing two new species.
Aviculture.
At the Zoological Gardens the collection of birds has been maintained at a high level, special interest having been shown in the collection of Humming-Birds in the Tropical House, some of these having lived in the Gardens for eighteen months.
At Whipsnade an Emu and two Sarus Cranes have been hatched and successfully reared, though the most interesting event there has been the breeding of Australian Brush-Turkeys (Alectura lathamz). The cock-bird of a pair kept in the Wood- lawn Bird Sanctuary commenced to build his mound by scratching together leaves, grass, twigs, and other vegetable matter early in the spring, forming a heap some twelve feet in diameter, which he has continued to add to, repair, and guard. The hen visited it only for the purpose of laying her eggs therein. How many eggs were laid is uncertain, but it is known that at least eleven young Brush-Turkeys have emerged, capable of leading an entirely independent life.
In Mr. Ezra’s fine aviaries and park at Foxwarren several rare birds have bred for the first time in confinement, and their breeding-habits have been duly recorded in the pages of the ‘Avicultural Magazine.’
From the progeny of a blue mutant of Psvitacula nipalensis, mated to a normal bird, Mr. Ezra has reproduced the blue mutant. He has also produced yellow mutants of P. krameri manillensis. Young have been reared of the Water-Dikkop or Thick-knee (Burhinus vermiculatus), the Stanley Crane (Tetrapteryx paradisea) of South Africa, and the Orinoco Goose (Alopochen jubatus).
In France Mons. JEAN DELAcOUR has successfully reared in his Tropical Bird House young of the Hooded Pitta (Pitta
a7
Vol. Iv.] 38
cucullata), the nesting-habits ‘of which ‘he described at the recent Ornithological ‘Congress.
While on the subject of Aviculture I want to allude for a moment to a question which has been exercising the minds of some of ‘us lately, 2. e., the danger of liberating birds from aviaries unless these birds have been ringed beforehand. The matter has recently been under consideration by the Council of the Zoological Society, and this body has under- taken to ring any bird which is intentionally liberated. It is sincerely to be hoped that other aviculturists, both in this country and ‘abroad, will bear in mind the trouble which may ensue by setting birds free without any distinguishing mark. The recent liberation of unringed Buff-backed Herons is a case in point. Several members of the Committee ofthe Avicultural Society are members of our Club, and I hope they will'see their way to bringing this important matter before the members-of their Society.
Interature.
As usual, an enormous number of papers have appeared in the various Bulletins and periodicals during the current — year. ‘These deal with every aspect of Ornithology, and as lists are published in ‘ The Ibis’ and its contemporaries I shall only allude to one or two of major importance.
Before doing so, however, I wish to touch for a moment on rather a delicate subject, but one which I feel we can no longer afford to ignore. Irefer to the unfortunate and growing habit some present-day authors have of using the writings of others unblushingly for their own ends. We must have every sympathy for those workers abroad who, owing to their distance from home and the difficulty of seeing specimens, have to make use of the systematic work of others more fortunately placed, and who give acknowledgment where acknowledgment is due, but we can have nothing but contempt for the author who uses the writings of others, be it descriptions, © keys, or general information, and by changing the con- struction here and there attempts to :pass it off as his own. More than one such case has recently been brought to my
39 [Vol. lv.
notice, and if Ornithology is to retain its integrity this practice must cease. There is, if I may say so, far too much copying going on, and in nine cases out of ten this must be attributed to laziness on the part of authors.
There is one other matter I wish to refer to. Why do authors of books on field studies and bird behaviour almost invariably have a hit at what they term the scientific orni- thologist ? They imply that scientific ornithologists are quite incapable of understanding the point of view of the field- naturalist, and even the best of these popular and pseudo- scientific writers seem to think that the systematic worker spends his or her time wrangling over nomenclature or plotting graphs of measurements. ‘These critics fondly imagine that the Museum worker has ‘no sympathy with, or interest in, such matters as bird preservation, nature reserves, or close seasons, quite apart from bird-behaviour, and thereby show their profound ignorance. The true ‘scientific ornithologist is never heard jeering at the field-watcher. Is it not time that the writer of such articles as I have alluded to refrained from gibes at another branch of his own study, to which he really owes a large debt of gratitude ?
Having touched on unpleasant subjects, I will now turn to a pleasanter one, namely, the outstanding literature of the year :—
Dr. ERWIN STRESEMANN. ‘ Aves’ (being vol. vii, 2, of Kukenthal’s ‘ Handbuch der Zoologie’) has now been .com- pleted, and ‘we must congratulate the author on bringing to a successful conclusion a fine piece of work. Yesterday I received from the author this monument of industry in book form, and‘it is not too much to say that it is a masterly com- pendium of knowledge.
Hernrzotu, Dr. O. and M., have published the ‘ Nachtrag-. band ’ to their work ‘ Die Végel Mitteleuropas.’
PETERS, J. L., has issued’a second volume of his ‘ Check-List of the Birds of the World.’
FRIEDMANN, Dr. HERBERT, has begun work on ‘the last two volumes of the ‘Birds of North and Middle America,’ ‘a monumental work left unfinished at the death of Mr. Robert Ridgway.
Vol. lv.] 40
Lowe, Dr. Percy R., has published a brief but important paper ‘‘ On the need for the preservation of the Galapagos Fauna ”’ in the Proceedings of the Linnean Society (Session 146,
1933-4, pp. 84-89).
Of literature of a more popular nature we have :—
Ricumonp, W. K.,‘ Quest for Birds,’ being a series of essays on various bird-haunts and habits, showing that the author has a true passion for his subject. His chapters on territory, balance of birds, instinct, and intelligence are touched upon lightly but critically ; the book is well written and interesting.
Lack, D., ‘ Birds of Cambridgeshire,’ issued by the Cam- bridge Bird Club, which has done a lot of work in adding to our knowledge of the status of birds in the country.
YuATES, G. K., ‘ Life of the Rook’ is a very complete and reliable history of that well-known bird.
MaRPLES, GEORGE and ANNE. ‘ Sea Terns’ has just been published, with photos of exceptional beauty. This book is a complete life-history of the British Sternide, and deals only with the British Sea Terns, and not with Terns generally.
‘ Scolt Head Island,’ published by the Norfolk and Norwich Natural History Society, describes the island from all points of view, and includes a chapter on the breeding birds by our fellow member, Miss E. L. TURNER.
HacuisuKA, Marquess, ‘ Birds of the Philippines,’ vol. ii. Parts i. and ii. have appeared, and part iii. is to be published this month.
La Tovucue, J. D., ‘ A Handbook of the Birds of Eastern China.’ The concluding part of this valuable work has now appeared, and we must congratulate the author on the successful completion of his task.
Priest, Captain C. D., ‘ Birds of Southern Rhodesia.’ Vols. i. and ii. have already made their appearance. The author’s own field-notes include much that is new, and are the most valuable part of the work.
Taka-TsukKaAsA, Prince, ‘The Birds of Nippon,’ vol. i. Parts iii. and iv. of this fine work have duly made their appear- ance.
4] [Vol. lv.
YAMASHINA, Marquess, ‘ Nippon no Chorui to Sono Seitai ’ (a Natural History of Japanese Birds—in Japanese.) Vol. i. has made progress.
Books in Preparation.
Much of what I said last year in my Annual Address is true to-day. None of the important works on African birds which I mentioned then have yet appeared, except Captain Priest’s book, and he has two more volumes of ‘ The Birds of Southern Rhodesia’ to come. I understand that these are well advanced, and Capt. Priest hopes to start printing volume iii. before the year is out.
Captain C. H. B. Grant and our Hon. Secretary, Mr. Mack- WORTH-PRAED, have made great strides with their proposed Handbook on East African birds. They continue to publish in the pages of our ‘ Bulletin’ and ‘ The Ibis’ most valuable systematic and taxonomic notes on the families with which they have already dealt in their manuscript.
The editing of the late Sir Frederick Jackson’s book on ‘ The Birds of Uganda and Kenya’ is nearing completion. I under- stand that Mr. W. L. ScuatTEerR has only two families left to deal with before the whole is completed.
My own fourth volume of ‘ The Birds of Tropical West Africa’ which is more than half completed, has, I regret to say, to suffer a delay in publication owing to financial stringency. I have been authorised by the Colonial Office to proceed with the work and the preparation of illustrations, but the actual printing is not to be put in hand until further notice.
Dr. Percy R. Lowe has been at work for some considerable time studying the relationship of the Struthionids to the Dinosaurs and the rest of the Avian Class. He read a paper on this subject before the International Congress, and. is shortly to publish his complete treatise in the pages of ‘ The Ibis.’ |
Concluding Remarks.
We can, I think, when we look back over all that has been accomplished these last twelve months, congratulate ourselves that Ornithology is in a very strong position, and that we,
Vol. lv.] 42
as a Club, have taken a prominent part in its progress both in the field and in the Museum.
But there is still one branch of our science which has been left in England almost entirely in the hands of one man— I refer to the study of bird-anatomy in relation to Classifica- tion. There must surely be some younger members coming along with a taste for research in this direction: the oppor- tunities are really immense. Dr. P. R. Lowe has accomplished a very great deal on his own account, but he will, I know, be the first to deplore the fact that this branch of Zoology is sadly neglected. Cannot someone make good this omission ?
In quite another direction there is a crying need at the present day for fresh bird-artists. Artists capable of illustrating scientific bird-books, and those of a more popular nature, in colour, line and half-tone, are, with three or four outstanding exceptions, almost impossible to discover. Here is a golden opportunity for someone, waiting to be seized.
I have now given you what I hope is a fairly complete résumé of the year’s happenings in the ornithological world, and I would take this opportunity of thanking those who have been so kind as to supply the details. In particular I am indebted to my friend Dr. A. Wetmore for all the informa- tion about American doings.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for listening so patiently to what, I regret to say, is the last address I shall have the honour to give you as your Chairman.
Mr. W. B. ALEXANDER added some details about the Isle of May Bird Observatory, which the Chairman had referred to in his address, and said :—
Having recently returned from the Isle of May I can inform you that the bird observatory and trapping station are now in existence.
The house, formerly a coastguard station, is well adapted for the purpose, actually having loopholes in the windows for telescopes, and so near the lighthouse that if birds appear there the light-keeper on duty can let one know within a few minutes. There is accommodation for six observers, who will have to take their own bedding and provisions and do their
43 [Vol. lv.
own cooking. The Midlothian Ornithological Club has secured. a lease of this house for five years, and will welcome offers of assistance in running the observatory next year.
The trap that has been constructed is as large as the largest on Heligoland. In the few days that elapsed between its completion and our leaving the island the weather was very bad—strong westerly winds and gales—and there were very few birds on the island. However, we captured and ringed birds of eleven species, including Brambling, Greenland Wheatear, and Greenland or Greater Redpoll (Acanthis linaria _ rostrata). The latter is a new record for the east coast.
Perhaps I may just mention a curious’ coincidence. One afternoon we planted a group of small gorse bushes in the trapping garden, and someone remarked that if they grew they ought to prove an attraction to Stonechats. Next morning there were at least three Stonechats on the island, two cocks and a hen, a greater number than has ever been recorded there on one day.
For the proper equipment of the bird observatory a small library is desirable, and a copy of the ‘Practical Handbook’ essential. Gifts of text-books or of works on migration would be welcome.
A small collection of skins is also essential for comparison, including authenticated skins of British and Continental races of Song-Thrush, Robin, Goldcrest, Stonechat, Tits, etc.—in fact of all species on the British List which include two or more races differing in colour, but not to be distinguished by measure- ment.
The Midlothian Ornithological Club has succeeded in raising about £50, almost all in Scotland, which has sufficed for the purchase of the materials for the trap and for necessary repairs and additions to the house, but if any member of the B.O.C. can help in the ways I have mentioned I shall be glad to receive offers.
Dr. Percy R. Lowe exhibited the downy chick of a Jack- Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus), which he ventured to think might interest members, as he had been unable to find a
Vol. lv.] 44
specimen in British collections. They had to thank Count Gyldenstolpe for the privilege of examining the specimen exhibited, which came from the Museum at Stockholm.
Nestling Chick of Jack-Snipe.
Description.—The outstanding character which differentiates the chick of the Jack-Snipe from that of the Common Snipe, and is almost diagnostic, is a conspicuous and well-defined inframandibular bar of white. This is carried forward and meets its fellow of the opposite side in the middle line, immediately under the chin.
Above this bar of white is a broad mandibular and auricular band of golden brown, and above that an infraocular white stripe which is continued backwards as a postocular stripe. Immediately above the eye is a narrow supraocular bar of ~ chestnut, followed by a thin supraocular stripe of white. This supraocular stripe of white is continued forwards to meet its fellow of the opposite side immediately above the base of the bill, and is also continued backwards some little way towards the nape.
The feathers of the vertex, which are mostly chestnut tipped with black, or occasionally spangled with minute silver star- like tufts, are thus margined laterally with a conspicuous line of white.
Lores: a conspicuous dark brownish-black patch, tri- angular in shape.
The upper parts are uniformly dark or rich chestnut, spangled with dust-like starry tufts of white.
The lower parts are of a uniform buffish-pink.
Remarks.—The colour-pattern characters of the chick’s plumage confirm the osteological characters of the skull. Both point. definitely to the conclusion that the Jack-Snipe belongs to my Scolopacine (vide Ibis, 1931, pp. 724-750).
The behaviour of the Jack-Snipe in the field is not what one usually associates with a typical Snipe, so that this colour- pattern of the chick satisfactorily clinches its true affinities.
The Marquess HacuisuKka exhibited type-specimens of Emberiza janowsku and Locustella pleskei, kindly lent to him by the Polish Zoological Museum, Warsaw,
45 [Vol. lv.
Miss AcLAND exhibited some coloured plates of birds from Brazil.
Mr. Jack VINCENT sent the following notes upon some Nyasaland birds :—
A small collection of birds collected by Mr. C. W. Benson of Nyasaland, at Mangoche Mt., contained the following uncommon examples of sufficient interest to be worthy of record :—
The first Nyasaland record of Mandingoa mtidula mtidula (Hartlaub, Ibis, 1865, p. 269: Natal). Mr. Benson’s two specimens were a male and a female, but, like the example which I secured near-by in Portuguese territory, they are, unfortunately, immature, and do not differ to any extent from the type subspecies.
The first record for the Protectorate of Cisticola [emini| lurio (Vincent, Bull. B.O.C. liu. 1934, p. 173: Mirrote, Northern Mozambique), of which I secured a good series from near-by rocky hills on the Portuguese side of the frontier.
The second Nyasaland record of Fringillaria capensis vincents (P. R. Lowe, Bull. B. O. C. lii. 1932, p. 144: Zobue, Northern Mozambique), which evidently extends throughout Southern Nyasaland and the rocky hills of the Portuguese country east of Lake Nyasa.
Also two examples of the Hill-Babbler (Pseudoalcippe sterling), which form the southernmost record for the species. In order to identify these last-named I was able to compare the six examples collected by Rear-Admiral Lynes, C.B., C.M.G., at Njombe, close by the type-locality of sterling, the typical race, of which the type-specimen was compared by Admiral Lynes in Berlin (vide J. f. Ornith. Sonderheft, 1934, p. 74). Hitherto there have been no Tanganyika examples in the British Museum, and the comparison of the Njombe series with the two new additions and with the original five Nyasa- land specimens mentioned in Sir Charles Belcher’s book (‘ Birds of Nyasaland,’ 1930, p. 184), proves the validity of the race stectagula (Shelley, Bull. B. O. C. xiii. 1903, p. 61: Mwenembe, North Nyasaland).
_P.s. stictigula differs from typical P. s. sterling: (Reichenow, Ornith. Monatsber. vi. 1898, p. 82: Iringa dist., Tanganyika
Vol. iv.] 46
Territory) in its greater intensity of coloration; the brown of the back and rump is warmer and less olive, in fact much more rufescent, the added redness being reflected, and even more obvious, in the sides of the breast and flanks. The head again, which is dark slate in stierlingi, is much darker in stectigula, and almost black on the chin and forehead.
There is one more racial name applicable to this species, namely, uluguru (Hartert, Bull. B.O.C. xlu. 1922, p. 50: Uluguru Mts.), unfortunately named on a single specimen, after it had been compared with the type of stierlingi, but I have not seen an example from anywhere near this locality. From the fact that the six specimens of stierlingi have wings of 66-1 mm., the seven of stictigula 66-2 mm., and uluguru is said to have a wing of 70 mm., coupled with the small affinity shown by Loveridge to exist between the central and southern mountain blocks of Tanganyika Territory, I think that uluguru should be kept up until more data are available. Our knowledge of the range of the type subspecies is increased by the nine specimens collected in the mountains of south-western Tanganyika Territory by Loveridge (Bangs & Loveridge, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Ixxv. 1933, p. 185). The distributions from recorded localities are as follows :—
Pseudoalcippe stierlings strerlingi. South Tanganyika high- lands: Njombe, Uhehe, Mahenge, Rungwe, Poroto, and Ubena.
Pseudoalcippe stierlings stactgula. North and Central Nyasa- land highlands: Nyika (Mwenembe and Kachere) and Mangoche. . :
Pseudoalcippe stierlings uluguru. East Central Tanganyika highlands : Uluguru. 7
Mr. G. L. Batss sent the following note on the races of the Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) :—
The distinction of eastern and western races of the Grey Wagtail must be based entirely on tail-length (see Ticehurst, Journ. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc. xxvii. p. 1090). In order to determine as nearly as possible where one race ends and another begins, I have measured carefully tails of all available specimens
47 [Vol. lv.
that came from the breeding range of the main body of the species (not Atlantic island races), with special reference to the three areas forming the typical countries of cinerea, caspica, and melanope.
These measurements were made slowly and carefully, pains being taken to get the point of the dividers always against the skin at the base of the middle rectrices, and not merely against a matting of coverts jammed in between the rectrices, which might make the measurement 2 or 3 milli- metres too short. Tails with the tips too badly worn were not used to measure, but where they seemed only a little worn a millimetre or two (never more) was added.
Tail-length of Grey Wagtails from the British Isles.
(1) Collected by C. H. B. Grant in the south of England in winter :— Nine males: 94, 97, 99, 99, 100, 100, 102, 103, 103. Average 99-7 mm. Eleven females: 93, 98, 99, 100, 100, 101, 102, 103, 108, 104, 104. Average 100-7 mm.
(Hereafter no regard will be paid to the sex of specimens.)
(2) Thirteen other winter birds from the south of Eng- land :—94, 95, 96, 96, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 1038, 104, 104 mm.
(3) Sixteen from Ireland, Wales, and northern Great Britain (mostly breeding birds). Average 99:25 mm. (tails a trifle more worn in summer than in winter birds).
Average of the whole 49 British birds 99-5 mm.
Tail-length of Grey Wagtails from countries between England and Persia.
France—only four (two breeding in Vosges). Average 95 mm.
South Germany, Carpathians, and Switzerland—ten (mostly breeding). Average 97-5 mm.
Italy and Malta—ten (winter birds). Average 97-5 mm.
Vol. lv.] 48
Turkey in Europe, Rumania, and the Volga—seven (some breeding). Average 97 mm. ;
Asia Minor and _ Palestine—thirteen (some breeding). Average 97 mm.
Tail-length of Grey Wagtails from the typical country of caspica.
J. G. Gmelin’s Parus caspicus is the Grey Wagtail, very well described, from Enzeli, on the shore of the Caspian Sea, in Persia.
Twelve specimens from Persia and Turkestan :—90, 91, 92, 93, 98, 94, 95, 96, 97, 97, 98, 100mm. Average 94-7 mm.
These were mostly summer breeding birds with worn tails : doubtless the average for new tails would be a little higher.
Tail-length of Grey Wagtails from the typical country of melanope.
)
‘““ Dauria’”’ is a geographical name seemingly only known from Pallas’s Travels. It is spelt in his book usually “ Dauurien’? and on his map “ Davurien.’” The name ‘‘ Davurien ”’ is placed on the map a little above the parallel of 50° N. latitude, and entirely east of Lake Baikal, extending over the forks of the Upper Amur River. For melanope from the typical area I found in the British Museum two old specimens from “ Dauria (Argun R.),”’ tails 94, 90 mm. ; two from Krasnoyarsk on the Upper Yenisei, tails 94, 93 mm. ; four from Amur Bay (i. ¢., Vladivostok), tails 86, 88, 91, 94 mm.; ten from Manchuria, tails 85, 87, 87, 87, 88, 89, 90, 93, 93 94mm. The average for these eighteen is 90 mm. There are also other specimens from Kamchatka, etc., and many from China and Japan. Grey Wagtails would seem to be commoner birds in that region than in Europe. Madame Kozlova says: “‘ The Grey Wagtail is a common breeding bird in the afforested areas of Kentei and Khangai.... near mountain streams ”’ (Ibis, 1933, p. 86). ‘These two names are marked on her map as mountainous regions south of Lake Baikal. |
Conclusions.
(1) There is in Grey Wagtails a regular decrease in tail-
length from west to east. As there is nothing else to
49 [Vol. lv.
distinguish subspecies, it would seem a very good idea to call all those breeding from Ireland. to Kamchatka Motacilla cinerea cinerea, without attempting to indicate the difference in tail-length by names.
(2) But if the geographical variation in tail-length is to be /
indicated by trinomials, we may do so most correctly and logically by dividing into three races instead of two, as we can do by using the three oldest names. Then we have :—
(i.) Motacilla cinerea cinerea: range, British Isles. The remark may be made here, however, that the few Spanish specimens seen, which are not breeding birds, have the tails as long as the British.
(ii.) Motacilla cinerea caspica: range, all continental Europe and Western and Central Asia, gradually passing into (iii.). |
(iii.) Motacilla cinerea melanope: range, Eastern Siberia and Manchuria.
It may be said that (i.) is a resident island race, moving in winter only from highlands to the near-by lowlands ; (ii.) is a widely-distributed continental race, which breeds not far north, and migrates usually not very far, or at least
not in great numbers; (ili.) breeds numerously in country |
having a very cold winter, and migrates in great numbers to south-eastern Asia and the Malay Archipelago.
Measurements of a certain number of wintering birds from northern India show that most are melanope, but a few have tails of the length of caspica. The same is true of birds from southern Arabia. In East Africa the proportion of caspica seems to be greater.
Magister KNup PALUDAN sent the following notes on birds seen and collected by the 1927 Danish-Sudan Expedition :—
In the year 1927 a Danish expedition traversed a large part of West Africa from west to east. The leader of this expedition was the late Professor O. Olufsen, who made ethnological investigations on the Tuaregs. Further, a botanist, Dr. O. Hagerup, and a zoologist, Konservator Masden, took part in the expedition, The zoologist collected material of
Vol. lv.] 50
the different groups, but especially birds, of which he brought home 556 specimens (209 species and subspecies). These skins and the rest of the zoological material are now in the Zoological Museum of the University of Copenhagen.
The members of the expedition landed in Dakar April 8, 1927, and started their journey by train to Bamako, con- tinuing with lorries to Mopti, from where river-boats were used. to convey them to Timbuktu, which was reached on July 5. They stayed here until Sept. 1, then continued their journey to Labezenga, from where (Sept. 30) they proceeded by lorries over Niamey to Zinder. A further stay was made here from Oct. 26 to Nov. 28. Onthe last part of the journey, from Zinder to Lagos, the expedition travelled by lorries ‘to Kano, and from there by railway to the coast.
The collection of birds (most of the passerines and a few
others) was worked out in the British Museum (Natural History), and I wish to thank the staff in the Bird Room for the kind assistance they gave me during my sojourn there. _ Asthe complete paper on the birds will probably be published in the. Danish periodical ‘ Videnskabelige Meddelelser fra Dansk naturhistorisk Forening i Kebenhavn,’ which is some- what inaccessible to most ornithologists, and as it may be some time before it appears, I hope by publishing these notes in the ‘ Bulletin ’ of the British Ornithologists’ Club to call attention to the expedition. In the following notes some of the more interesting discoveries are recorded. :-—
~ 1. Dendrocygna fulva (Gmelin).—In his standard work on ‘The Birds of Tropical West Africa’ (i. p. 154) Bannerman gives Lake Chad and Bornu as the known western limit of this species, but on the journey from Mopti to Timbuktu Konservator Madsen observed very big flocks of these ducks, and obtained two specimens from Lake Debo.
2. Falco biarmicus abyssinicus Neumann.—Some_ were seen at Timbuktu, where one was obtained. This species has never before been recorded from French Sudan, but only from northern Nigeria.
3. Buteo ferox ferox (Gmelin).—Neither Sclater © nor Bannerman (/.c.) mention this species from West Africa, though Millet-Horsin ©), according to Grote %), reports it from
5] [Vol. lv.
Dakar. We have now got a new record from West Africa, as Konservator Madsen on the last part of the journey obtained an immature female at Zinder (Nov. 7).
4. Porphyrio madagascariensis (Latham).—Neumann ®) mentions this species as doubtful from Senegal; Boyd Alexander reports it from Lake Chad. A third record has now to be added, as Konservator Madsen saw six to seven near Gao, and secured one of them.
5. Caprimulgus imornatus inornatus Heuglin—A male in immature plumage was shot at Niafounke (May 31). This species was previously unknown farther west than French Niger Territory, from where Bannerman described the sub- species C. «1. vinacea-brunneus, but as the specimen from Niafounke does not show the red-brown colour of this sub- species I name it C. 7. «nornatus.
6. Hirundo lucida clara Bates—In his description of this subspecies from Upper Volta Bates mentions four specimens from Timbuktu, and reports that they are still lighter on the throat than four specimens from the terra typica, but that this fact, perhaps, is owing to the more worn plumage. Konservator Madsen collected one specimen in Mopti and two in Timbuktu. The two later specimens, which were shot on Aug. 8 (two months earlier than Bates’s specimens from the same locality), are in rather fresh plumage. They are, however, distinctly lighter than the specimens from Upper Volta. It is, therefore, possible that the birds from Timbuktu are really different from those of Upper Volta. As the specimen from Mopti closely resembles the latter, 1 dare not give a new name to the northern birds until more material is at hand.
7. Petrochelidon preusst (Reichenow).—An immature male was shot at Timbuktu on Aug. 8. This record extends the distribution of the species considerably to the north-west. Formerly it only included northern Nigeria and the northern territories of the Gold Coast.
8. Lanius minor Gmelin.—Hitherto the most westerly records of this migrant from South Europe were made by Rear-Admiral Lynes in the Sudan, who noticed a small number on migrationin Darfur. Konservator Madsen has now secured
Vol. lv.] 52
a record from farther west, having obtained an immature female at Zinder on Oct. 29.
9. T’chagra senegala timbukiana Bates.—Three specimens from Timbuktu, shot in June and July, are more richly coloured than the specimens collected by Bates in October— November. The margins of the inner remiges are brownish, not “‘almost whitish.”” The back is not greyish, but more brownish, and one of the specimens is considerably greyish on the underparts. Judging from this 7. s. timbuktana is, without doubt, very closely allied to 7’. s. nothus from Damergu and Lake Chad.
10. Auripasser luteus tilemsiensis Bates—I am _ very sceptical with regard to the value of this subspecies. As to the difference in the feather-edgings of the inner remiges and rectrices, I cannot see them, and as to the light edgings of the wing-coverts, which should be almost absent in tilemsiensis, they are in two adult males from Timbuktu considerably more strongly developed than in the type of tilemsiensis (the two specimens were shot in June, so the plumage has probably been exposed to the weather for some time). Concerning the a or less strong development of the yellow and red-brown coleurs, I dare not speak with certainty, but I have at least seen just as dark yellow specimens from the Egyptian as from the French Sudan. In comparing these colours one must be careful not to compare specimens in first-year plumage with older birds, as the former are lighter in colour than the latter.
11. Urobrachya azxillaris batesi (Delacour)—A male in off-season plumage was collected at Mopti (May 26), and one in breeding-plumage at Ansongo (May 27). The latter agrees with specimens collected by Bates between Tillabery and Ansongo in having the lesser wing-coverts more reddish- orange than in U. a. mechowi from Angola. U. a. batesi was not previously known farther west than Ansongo.
(1) ‘Systema Avium Atthiopicarum,’ i. 1924, p. 66.
(2) ‘ Revue Frangaise d’Ornithologie,’ 1915.
(3) Mitt. Zool. Museum Berlin, 16. Band, 1. Heft, p. 69.
(4) ‘ Journal fiir Ornithologie,’ 65, Jahrgang, 2. Band, 1917, p. 208.
53 [Vol. lv.
Mr. N. B. Kinnear sent the following note :-—
Dr. C. B. Ticehurst has pointed out that Drymocataphus tickelli olivaceus (Bull. B. O. C. xiv. 1924, p. 11) from Tonkin, is preoccupied by Mixornis olivaceus, a synonym of Drymo- cataphus tickelli tickell4, and I therefore propose in its place Drymocataphus tickella ochraceus.
Dr. C. B. TicktHurst forwarded the following com- munication :—
In the last number of the ‘ Bulletin’ (antea, pp. 23-24) Mr. G. M. Mathews has proposed four new names to replace four which are said to be preoccupied. I must protest very strongly on the way in which this is done. In the first place three of the authors whose names are to be supplanted are, happily, still with us, and it is both common courtesy and an unwritten rule, which has been stressed in print over and over again, that under those circumstances the authors should be made acquainted with the fact that their names cannot stand, so that they can themselves amend them. In the second place it is very doubtful whether Mr. Mathews’s new names can stand. The Law on Nomenclature (25 a) decided on by the International Commission governing this case says that a name must be based on a description, definition, or indication. The only indication given by Mr. Mathews is, for example, “ B. jacksoni Sclater, 1930,’ and that seems hardly sufficient indication without a reference to the work.
As he must have looked up the references to all these names, surely it would be more useful to others if he were to have given them.
Vol. lv.] 54
NOTICES.
The next Meeting of the Club will be held on Wednesday, December 12, 1934, at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W. 7. The Dinner at 7 p.m.
Members intending to dine must inform the Hon. Secretary, Mr. C. W. Mackworth-Praed, 51 Onslow Gardens, London, S.W. 7, on the post-card sent out with the ‘ Bulletin.’
Members who wish to make any communication at the next Meeting of the Club must give notice to the Editor, Dr. G. Carmichael Low, 86 Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, W. 1, as soon as possible. The titles of their contributions will then appear on the Agenda published before each Meeting. All MSS. for publication in the ‘ Bulletin’ must be given to the Editor before or at the Meeting.
Agenda.
1. Mr. W. B. Alexander will exhibit the larder of a Little Owl from Skokholm Island.
2. Mr. H. P. O. Cleave will exhibit two specimens of the Great Crested Newt taken from the stomach of a male Tawny Owl.
3. The Marquess Hachisuka will exhibit a coloured drawing of Leonardina woodi and make some remarks upon the genus.
BULLETIN
OF THE
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB. No. CCCLXXXII.
THE three-hundred-and-seventy-seventh Meeting of the Club was held at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W.7, on Wednesday, December 12, 1934.
Chairman: Mr. D. A. BANNERMAN.
Members present :—Miss C. M. AcLAND ; W. B. ALEXANDER ; E. C. Stuart Baker; Miss P. Barcnuay-Smitu; F. J. F. BaRRINGTON ; Hon. G. L. CHartreris; Maj.-Gen. Sir P. Z. Cox; R. H. Deanet; Lt.-Col. A. DetmMn&-Rapciirre; A. B. Duncan; A. Ezra; Miss J. M. Ferrier; H. A. GILBERT ; W. KE. Gurae ; The Marquess HacuisuKa ; Miss D. HoRDERN ; Dr. Karu JornDAN ; Rev. F.C. R. Jourpatn ; Dr. NoRMAN H. Joy; Miss EK. P. Leacu; Dr. G. CarmicHaEn Low (Editor) ; Dr. N. S. Lucas; Rear-Admiral H. Lynes; C. W. Mack- WORTH-PraEtD (Hon. Sec. & Treas.); J. H. McNEILE; Dr. P. H. Manson-Baur; G. M. MatnHews; J. G. Mavro- GORDATO; Col. R. MEINERTzZHAGEN; E. M. NICHOLSON ; C. OtpHAM; B. B. Osmaston; H. LrYBoRNE POPHAM ; Miss G. Ruopss ; B. B. Rivizre; W.L.Sciater; Miss D. L. Taytor; B.W. Tucker; J. VINCENT; Mrs. W. Boyp Watt ; H. F. WirHersy ; C. G. M. DE Worms.
Guests :—F. CARPENTER ; C. T. Datcety; E. R. GILBERT ; Mrs. M. V. Ginpert; A. C. GLADSTONE; Mrs. C. W. Macxk- WORTH-PRAED; D. H. Manson-Baur; Mrs. C. OLDHAM ; W. E. Wait.
[December 31, 1934.] a VOL. LV,
Vol. lv.] 56
Colonel R. MEINERTZHAGEN read the following note on the Parrot Crossbill (Loxia pytyopsittacus) :
I have recently examined a large series of the Parrot Cross- bill, including the series in the Petrograd, Berlin, and British Museums and a few birds from the collections of Dr. Ticehurst and Mr. Whistler, and my own collection. These include 84 specimens from Scandinavia, North Russia, Finland, Germany and Scotland. Co-types of Loxia p. esti and the type of L. p. norwegica have also been examined, thanks respectively to Dr. Stresemann and Professor Laubmann.
Hartert in Vog. pal. Faun. i. 1910, p. 122, recognized L. pytyo- psittacus without geographical forms, including “‘ scotica’”’ as a race of Loxia curvirostra. In 1922 Piiper and Harms described L. p. estixe from Oesel Island in Estonia, and in 1927 Laubmann described L. p. norwegica from Voss in Norway. In 1815 Meyer described Crucirostra pinetorum from Latvia.
The type of Loxia pytyopsittacus is a matter of conjecture. The type almost certainly came from Germany, possibly Darmstadt. It certainly did not come from Scandinavia, and Hartert is wrong (op. cit. p. 122) in restricting the type-locality to Sweden. In the British Museum are two specimens from — Darmstadt, undated, both in fresh autumn plumage, and with the initials ‘“‘H. F. M.”’ on the original label. “‘ H. F. M.” is untraceable.
Continental specimens can be roughly divided into two types—a parrot-like, strongly-curved, coarse-billed form, and a slenderer, longer, straighter-billed form. Specimens of the former are few, but I have examined them from Muonioniska (Lapland), West Gothland, Vermland, and Darmstadt. Speci- mens of the slenderer-billed form are the more abundant, and have been examined from many localities in Scandinavia, North Russia, and Finland as far south as Moscow, Germany, and Estonia. Many specimens are intermediate, and one is forced to the conclusion that Loxia p. pytyopsittacus shows considerable variation in the strength and curve of its bill, but that this variation is not constant, and does not coincide with distribution. The names pinetorum, estie, and norwegica must, therefore, become synonyms of pytyopsittacus,
57 [Vol. lv.
The Scottish form is distinct, having an often shorter and always slenderer bill, but even in Scotland we find that some specimens are scarcely distinguishable from Lowia c. curvi- rostra. ‘The form anglica is unrecognizable.
Dr. Stegmann informs me that Loxia pytyopsittacus usually feeds on the Scotch fir (Pinus sylvestris), Loxia curvirostra on the spruce (Picea excelsa) and, incidentally, the small Lowa leucoptera on the larch (Larix). In Estonia we only once saw the Common Crossbill (L. curvirostra) away from spruce (Picea), though we observed them almost every day for a month. In Scotland I have seldom observed the Scottish Crossbill off the Scotch fir (Pinus sylvestris), and Lord Lovat’s keepers, who know the bird well, and have it under continual observation throughout the year, state that they feed on larch and Scotch fir. It must be remem- bered that neither the larch nor the spruce are indigenous to Britain, and that the Scotch fir is not a native of England, but has been introduced thither from Scotland.
The Crossbills are vagrants, wandering to whatever country supplies their particular food. They have no definite lines of migration, and it is believed that the small Crossbill in England is but a vagrant, occasionally visiting and breeding in this country in large numbers, but not a constant resident *. The Scottish Crossbill is, however, a constant resident in pine forest.
To summarise, Loria p. pytyopsittacus is the continental form of the Parrot Crossbill showing much variation in the strength of its bill. Loxia p. scotica is a recognizable Scottish form with slenderer bill and showing perfect intergradation between the two “species”? pytyopsittacus and curvirostra. It is, of course, known that curvirostra and pytyopsittacus breed in the same region throughout a large part of northern Europe, but, taking into consideration the vagrant habits of Crossbills, it is thought that when further knowledge of the group is brought to light that pytyopsittacus and curvi- rostra must eventually be placed under one species, forms,
* The food preferred by the small Crossbill in England is, therefore, no criterion regarding its natural food. It has to eat what it can get.
a2
Vol. lv.] 58
and even individuals, varying in the strength of their bills in accordance with the type of food they are accustomed to.
From the above remarks arises an interesting question which may modify the modern conception of a geographical race. We all know the old dogma that if two forms of apparently the same species are found breeding in the same area they must constitute two separate species. But dogmas and platitudes are dangerous applications to nature, which cannot be harnessed by artificial rules. If in some small part of Norway one was to find one hill-slope afforested by pine and inhabited by the Parrot Crossbill, and a con- tiguous hill slope afforested by spruce and inhabited by the small Crossbill, all breeding birds, and in some cases nesting within a few hundred yards of each other, are we to consider them as separate species or as geographical races of the same species? In the botanical and entomological world, where movement of the individual is usually more restricted than is the case among birds, one frequently finds true geographical forms living in close proximity, and it is recog- nized that different conditions (nature of soil, moisture, light and shade) will produce different reactions in the organism, no matter how close in distance those conditions are to each other. In Devonshire I have seen two very marked forms of a Scirpus in Braunton Burrows growing within a few yards of each other, the one in sand and the other in a wet, muddy bottom, and, if consistency has any value, we should try and apply what we know to occur in the botanical world to what is apparently happening in the ornithological world. Let me repeat, we cannot harness nature by rules, and every case must be decided on its merits. The tiresome repetition of time-old dogmas does not help. There is still a great deal to be learned about Crossbills, and I am quite prepared to believe that Lowxia pytyopsittacus and all forms of Loxia curvirostra are in truth only forms of one species, feeding habits having a fundamental influence on geographical races. But let me repeat that the small Crossbill in Britain is apt to give us misleading evidence, as it does not properly belong to our indigenous fauna,
59 [Vol. lv.
Colonel MEINERTZHAGEN also described a new form of Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) from southern Russia :—
In going through the large series of Pterocles orientalis in the Petrograd Museum it was apparent that there were several birds which had pure white on the lower breast between the narrow black breast-band and the black of the abdomen. These all came from the Ural River and neighbourhood. The name proposed for this new form is
Pterocles orientalis koslovee, subsp. nov.
Description.—Compared with P. o. orientalis from elsewhere in southern Russia, the female differs in having a pure white lower breast immediately adjoining the black of the abdomen, and not buff as is usual. Males do not differ from the typical form, though there is a single male in the Petrograd Museum with a whitish lower breast-band, and this was collected in the Kara Kum Desert north-east of the Aral Sea. The eleven females examined were obtained between mid-March and mid-September.
Distribution.—Country round the Ural River, Orenburg, whence it does not appear to migrate to any extent.
Type in the Petrograd Museum, 2, Emba River, March 3.
Remarks.—Material examined : eleven females and eighteen males from the Ural River, Emba River, the Tschu River (Issikul, May), and one from the Turko-Persian frontier in August. The Ural River is in the Orenburg District.
The whole of the series in the Petrograd, Berlin, and British Museums examined, the two latter institutions containing no examples of P. o. koslove.
Pallas’s type of T'etrao arenarius cannot be traced. It is not in the Berlin nor Petrograd Museums. A reference to the original description makes no mention of the distinct white lower breast, and the plate (uncoloured) is no help. The type came from the Lower Volga, whence all specimens examined (28) are P. o. orientalis.
Named in honour of Madame Koslova, whose help and kindness to me in Petrograd were so much appreciated.
Vol. lv.] 60
Mr. W. B. ALEXANDER exhibited the larder of a Little Owl (Carine noctua) from Skokholm Island, Pembrokeshire, and said :—
During a brief visit to Mr. R. M. Lockley on Skokholm Mr. H. J. R. Pease and I were walking across a field near the house on July 22, 1934, when I caught the characteristic smell of a Petrel. Following up the scent, I found a hole in the wall, and putting in my hand drew out the headless remains of a Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus). Further investigation brought to light a considerable number more, and Mr. Lockley decided to open up the hole completely. The result I now exhibit, together with a photograph taken by Mr. Lockley on the spot. The hole contained the remains of at least 167 Storm-Petrels, about half represented by headless corpses, the other half by wings, tails, and legs, more or less separated. The figure mentioned is based on the presence of 334 wings. A few pellets, undoubtedly those of Little Owls, were also present. A pair has nested, or attempted to do so, on Skokholm for several years past, and this year a brood of young was reared, the family being frequently seen during our visit.
The habits of the Storm-Petrels evidently make them easy victims for the Little Owls. When they come in from the sea after dark they constantly hover in front of the entrance before entering their nesting-holes. On the first night of our visit Mr. Lockley caught one by hand whilst it was hovering before a crack in one of the walls.
The late Mr. Meade-Waldo concluded a plea for the pro- tection of the Little Owl in the ‘ Zoologist,’ 1900, p. 596 :— *‘ Introduced species are not always a success, but no harm and much pleasure is to be got by encouraging this bird.” Mr. Lockley intends to discourage these birds in future by every means in his power.
The Marquess Hacuisuka exhibited a coloured drawing of Leonardina woodi Mearns, and made the following remarks :—
There are several genera of Timaliine birds resident in the subtropical mountains of Sunda and the Australian islands. They are of a very dull chestnut colour and super- ficially somewhat resemble our common Hedge-Sparrow.
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As their colour suggests, these birds as a rule are found near the ground,in thick virgin forest. In habits they are very shy, but their beautiful song attracts attention. In the early morning or before sunset one can sometimes find a number of them busily hopping about near fallen trees, somewhat in the manner of a Wren.
The picture I show here has been drawn by Mr. R. Bruce Horsfall, and through the kindness of Dr. Wetmore, of Washington, was made from the only existing specimen of Leonardina woodi. This bird was named after the late Governor-General Wood, in 1905, by Dr. Mearns, who dis- covered the type and the only specimen at an elevation of 3700 feet on Mt. Apo, in Mindanao. It is certainly the first time Leonardina woodi has been critically studied since it was first discovered, and until I received this drawing from America I had been unable to study the relationship of this strange bird.
The following is the summary of its allied genera :—
(1) Pseudotharrhaleus Ogilvie-Grant.
Wing 60 mm., much shorter than tail.
(2) Androphilus Sharpe.
Wing 58 mm., slightly shorter than tail.
(3) Leonardina Mearns.
Wing 90 mm., about equal to tail.
(4) Ptilopyga Sharpe.
Wing 70 mm., slightly longer than tail.
(5) Ptilocichla Sharpe.
Wing 85 mm., feathers of back developed into falcated shape.
(6) Minodoria Hachisuka.
Wing 60 mm., slightly longer than tail.
(7) Macronus Jardine & Selby.
Wing 70 mm., decomposed back-feathers fall over the tail.
The first three genera are closely allied among themselves; the general coloration of L. woodi strongly resembles Andro- philus castaneus of Celebes, while most of the otber genera are boldly streaked. In a systematic list the genera Amuropsis
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and Mixornis are placed next to some of the above, but they are distantly related to them.
Dr. G. CARMICHAEL Low showed, on behalf of Mr. H. P. O. Cleave, two specimens of the Great Crested Newt (Triton cristatus) which had been found in the stomach of a Tawny Owl. A note on this occurrence has already been published in ‘ British Birds’ (xxviii. 19384, p. 205) by Mr. W. A. Smallcombe. The bird was picked up dead in the road at Bristol, and on dissection the newts were found in its stomach.
Captain C. H. B. Grant and Mr. C. W. Mackwortu- PRAED sent the following notes :—
1. On a new Subspecies of Francolin from eastern Africa.
Chapin in Bds. Belg. Congo, i. 1932, p. 710, remarks that his Ruwenzori specimens of Francolinus nobilis Reichenow (Ornith. Monatsber. xvi. 1908, p. 81: Mt. Sabimyo, Birungo Volcanoes, Belgian Congo) do not agree with the plate in J.f. Ornith. 1908.
Through the very great kindness of Count Gyldenstolpe and Dr. James P. Chapin we have had an opportunity of comparing Kivu with Ruwenzori specimens, and find that the Ruwenzori bird is a new race, which we propose, with Dr. Chapin’s permission, to name as follows :—
Francolinus nobilis chapini, subsp. nov.
Description.—Differs from Fvrancolinus nobilis nobilis Reichenow in being generally much more red-brown below and less grey, 7. e., the feathers of the underparts red-brown with grey edges, whereas in Ff’. n. nobilis these feathers are grey with a broad red-brown centre at the tip.
Soft parts.—Iris rather deep but warm brown; whole bill, nasal opercula, eyelids, and orbit scarlet; bare spot above ear dull orange; feet scarlet, claws dusky brown, spurs scarlet washed with brownish.
Measurements.—Wing 207, tail 87, culmen 27, tarsus 65 mm.
Distribution —The Ruwenzori Mountains in Uganda and the Belgian Congo.
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Type.—In the American Museum of Natural History, New York: ¢ adult, Bugongo Ridge, West Ruwenzori Mountains, Belgian Congo (8800 feet, upper bamboo zone) , collected by Ruwenzori-Kivu Expedition, November 30, 1926; collector’s no. 1560; A.M.N.H. Reg. no. 261932.
Remarks.—Two adult males, one adult female, and two immature females examined, as well as one adult male and one adult female of Ff. n. nobilis from Mt. Sabinyo and Mt. Mikeno.
Named in honour of Dr. James P. Chapin.
2. On Pelecanus roseus of Gmelin.
In the Bull. B.O.C. liii. 1933, p. 188, we made some remarks on the subspecific status of this name.
Recently our attention has been drawn to the fact that only one species of Pelican occurs in the Philippine Islands, and only one is recorded by McGregor, Man. Phil. Bds. 1909, p. 208, and Hachisuka, Bds. Phil. Is. i. 1932, p. 398. Gmelin gave three names to the Philippine bird—Pelecanus roseus, Pelecanus manillensis, and Pelecanus philippensis. The two former were founded on Sonnerat’s Le Pélican rose de I’Isle de Lucgon and Le Pélican brun de I’Isle de Lugon (V6g. N. Guinea, 1776, p. 91, pls. liv. and liii.), the one being the young bird of the other. The latter was founded on Brisson, Av. vi, 1760, p. 527, no. 3, pl. 46. It would appear that Ogilvie- Grant in the Cat. Bds. B.M. xxvi. 1898, p. 466, was the first author to use roseus for Kuropean and African birds, and has been followed by all authors.
There can be no doubt that all three names were given to the Philippine Pelican, despite the fact that the colours of the soft parts do not agree with that bird, i.e., P. roseus and P. manillensis, bill and feet black, pouch yellow; P. philippensis, feet red and tail-feathers 18 only. (N.B. In the dried skin the pouch is parchment-yellow.) If we accept the latter, which has been done, we must accept the other two. There can be no doubt that P. roseus and P. manillensis are the same bird, and, therefore, the Philippine Pelican must in future bear the name of Pelecanus roseus Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. pt. ii. 1789, p. 570: Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands,
aod
Vol. lv.] 64
of which Pelecanus manillensis Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. pt. ii. 1789, p. 571: Insula Manilla, and Pelecanus philippensis Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. pt. ii. 1789, p. 571: Insulis Philippinis, are synonymous.
Distribution.—Luzon, Mindanao, India, Ceylon, Burma, Malay Peninsula, China, and Hainan.
Gmelin’s Pelecanus roseus must, therefore, be deleted from Europe and Africa.
There remains, however, the question whether there is actually a larger and a smaller Pelican in Europe, for which two names are available, i. e., Pelecanus onocrotalus Linneus, Syst. Nat. ed. x. i. 1758, p. 132: Caspian Sea, Russian Asia, and Pelecanus minor Riippell, Mus. Senck. ii. 1837, p. 185: Moldau, Bohemia, Zecho-Slovakia, Europe. Riippell gives characters as one-fourth smaller than P. onocrotalus, and crest on head starting at base of skull and not on crown. Ogilvie-Grant’s characters for the smaller form are: bill shorter, forehead devoid of any swelling, and tail composed of 22, not 24, feathers, and remarks that intermediates occur, that they no doubt interbreed, and that in the younger stages of plumage the two forms are inseparable. Domaniewski, Ann. Zool. Mus. Polon. vii. 1928, p.69, in his table of measure- ments of 22 specimens from 8.E. Poland, gives, in males, tail- feathers from 16 to 24, culmen 25-5 to 42-5, and wing 62 to 72 mm., and on p. 73 remarks that it appears impossible to distinguish the two forms. Riippell’s difference in crest does not hold good, the character of the tail-feathers is clearly not constant, and the character of the forehead seems a very doubtful one. We do not know how long the Pelican takes to become fully adult, or at what age the adult dress is assumed, and it is, therefore, probable that the difference in size is one of age, and not of race. We do know that they are indistinguishable in the field.
We are of opinion that there is insufficient evidence to support a small European race, and that only one form can be recognized, as follows :—
Pelecanus onocrotalus Linnzeus.
Pelecanus onocrotalus Linneus, Syst. Nat. ed..x. i. 1758, p. 132: Caspian Sea, Russian Asia, of which Pelecanus minor
65 [Vol. lv.
Riippell, Mus. Senck. ii. 1837, p. 185: Moldau, Bohemia, Zecho-Slovakia, Europe, becomes a symonym. In the Kat. Vog. Mus. Senck. Nat. Ges. 1891, p. 234, Hartert records the type of Riippell’s P. minor as “* jad. 2?”
Distribution.—S.K. Europe and Asia ; in winter to S. China, Burma, India, Persian Gulf, and Africa.
As regards Africa, Pelecanus rufescens Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. pt. ii. 1789, p. 571: West Africa, is the resident bird, and Pelecanus onocrotalus Linneus appears to occur there only on migration during the non-breeding season.
3. On the correct Type-locality of the Demoiselle Crane, Anthropoides virgo (Linnzus).
1929. Stuart Baker, Fauna Brit. Ind., Bds. vi. 1929, p. 57, gives ‘‘(In oriente. Restricted to India).”’
1924. Sclater, Syst. Av. Atthiop. i. 1924, p. 110, gives “in oriente.”’
1921. Hartert, Vog. pal. Fauna, ii. 1921, p. 1822, gives “in oriente ex Edwards and Albin.”
1760. LaGruede Numidie. Demoiselle de Numidie. Brisson, Orn. v. 1760, p. 388, gives ‘‘ Numidia.”
1758. Linneus, Syst. Nat. 1758, p. 141, gives ‘‘in oriente.”’
1745. Demoiselle de Numidie. The Demoiselle of Numidia, Edwards, iii. no. 134, 1745. Plate drawn from a captive bird at Blackheath.
1738-40. The Numidian Crane, Albin, Av. iii. p. 78, pl. 83. Plate presumably drawn from a captive bird.
1736. Demoiselle de Numidie, Dodart, Mem. Hist. Nat. Anim. Plant. Ac. Roy. Sci. Amsterdam, 1736, p. 321 (plate). Plate presumably drawn from a captive bird.
Stuart Baker has fixed a type-locality for this Crane, and this in its winter quarters, but apparently without regard to the published literature. The first author to give a restricted type-locality is undoubtedly Brisson.
From earliest times this Crane has been known as the Numidian Demoiselle and Numidian Crane, and Brisson in 1760 definitely gave the locality as Numidia. As Linnzus
Vol. lv.] 66
gives references to Edwards, Dodart, and Albin, it is clear that his Ardea virgo is the same as the Numidian Demoiselle or Crane of these authors.
There can, therefore, be no question whatever that the type- locality must be ‘‘ Numidia,’ and Stuart Baker’s restricted locality of India cannot be accepted.
In the third century B.c. Numidia covered that part of northern Africa from the province of Oran to Tunis, but about A.D. 193-211 it was restricted to the Constantine Province. In 1833 France took over the country, which is now known as Algeria.
The correct type-locality for Anthropoides virgo (Linnzus) is therefore Algeria, North Africa, and the bird breeds there.
4. Note on the Type-specimen of Francolinus levaillanti kikuyuensis Ogilvie-Grant, Bull. B. O. C. v. 1897, p. xxiii: Eldoret, Naivasha Province, western Kenya Colony.
A critical examination shows that this specimen is in moult, and that the new feathers appearing on the throat, neck-band in front, breast, and flanks agree perfectly with specimens from Uganda and Tanganyika Territory. The richer coloured appearance of this bird, therefore, is due to earth-staining. This supports van Someren’s decision respecting I’. 1. mulemx Ogilvie-Grant (see Jour. H.A. & U.N.H. Soc. no. 25, 1926, p. 46). The distribution of Fl. kikuyuensis is Uganda as far north as Mt. Elgon, western Kenya Colony, eastern Belgian Congo, and the Bukoba and Iringa districts of Tanganyika Territory. F. 1. mulemz is a Synonym.
Chapin, Bds. Belg. Congo, i. 1932, p. 702, has questioned the validity of F. l. crawshayi Ogilvie-Grant, Ibis, 1896, p. 482: Cheni Cheni Mt., Nyika Plateau, Western Nyasaland, but we have examined the type and one other specimen and find that, although it is very similar to F. l. kikuyuensis, it differs in having the barring on the median and lesser wing- coverts more obsolete, less sharp, more chestnut than buff in colour, giving the upper side of the wing a more russet and plainer appearance.
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' Pl. xii. in ‘ The Ibis,’ 1896, shows a distinct yellow band round the lower throat, divided from the speckled lower neck by white, which is so in the type, but this is not a diag- nostic character, and is not borne out by the other specimen from the Nyika Plateau; moreover, some specimens of F. 1. kikuyuensis show indications of this character. Wing- measurements of F’. 1. crawshayi, 166 to 170 mm.
5. On the exact Position of the Type-locality of Francolinus erckeli erckels (Riippell).
The type-locality is usually quoted as Taranta Mts., Abyssinia, but this is misleading, as the Taranta Berge as shown on Riippell’s map (pl. ii.) in his ‘ Reise im Abyssinien, Atlas,’ 1840, is just north of 15° N. lat. and 39° 22’ E. long., and is, therefore, in the Acchele Guzai district of Eritrea.
There are in the British Museum Collection three females from Senafe, which is also in the Acchele Guzai district of Eritrea, and a pair numbered 120 a and 120 b from Dr. Riippell, which, presumably, also came from Eritrea.
Only one of the females agrees with Mackworth-Praed’s fF. erckeli, subsp. 1. (Ibis, 1922, p. 135). The other two, and the pair from Dr. Riippell, agree quite well with specimens from Northern and Central Abyssinia, 2. e., Gondar and Lake Tana to south of Adis Ababa. As we can take the Senafe specimens as typical I’. e. erckeli, there would appear to be only two races, as follows :—
Francolinus erckel erckelt (Riippell). Perdix erckelt Riippell, N. Wirbelth. Vég. 1835, p. 12, pl. vi. : Taranta Mts., Acchele Guzai district, Eritrea. Distribution.—Eritrea, Northern and Central Abyssinia. Francolinus erckeli pentont Mackworth-Praed.
Francolinus erckelt pentonti Mackworth-Praed, Bull. B. O. C. xl. 1920, p. 141: Erkowit, Red Sea Province, Sudan. Distribution.—Red Sea Province of the Sudan.
6. On the Type-locality of the Cape Quail, Coturnix coturnix africana (Temminck & Schlegel). The usual type-locality given is South Africa. On p. 103 of the Fauna Jap. 1849, we read :—“‘ La pointe australe de al
Vol. lv.] 68
VAfrique nourrit une race Coturnix vulgaris africana,’ and we are, therefore, of opinion that the more exact type-locality of this race should be Cape Province, South Africa.
7. On the Type-locality of the South African Crowned Crane, Balearica regulorum regulorum (Bennett).
Sclater, Syst. Av. Aithiop. i. 1924, p. 110, gives South Africa, and we cannot find that a more restricted type-locality has been fixed.
Bennett, P. Z.S. 1833, p. 118, states that Professor Lich- tenstein’s father had given the name Grus regulorum to the Cape bird nearly thirty years since. This would be about 1803, but apparently Lichtenstein’s father did not publish it. On p. 119 Bennett gives “Grus Regulorum Lichtenstein. Hab. in Africa Meridionali.””’ The name next appears in 1842 on p. 19 of Verz. Samml. Séug. und Vog. dem Kaffern- lande. We, therefore, find that two localities have been given, i.e, “the Cape”? and “ Kaffernlande.” As both these undoubtedly refer to what was Cape Colony, and as we know that this race does not occur west of about East London, we consider the type-locality of Balearica regulorum regulorum (Bennett) should be Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. |
8. On the Type-locality of Rouget’s Rail, Rougetwus rougetiu (Guérin), Rev. Zool. 1843, p. 322. ) This has always been given as Abyssinia only. Rouget, after whom Guérin named this Rail, accompanied Ferret and Galinier as one of the naturalists on their expedition from Massaua through Eritrea and Northern Abyssinia in 1841 to 1843 (Voy. en Abyss., 1847, three vols.). As the farthest south of this expedition was the eastern shore of Lake Tana, we can fix the type-locality as Tigré and Simien, Northern Abyssinia.
9. On the Type-locality of Sarothrura rufa (Vieillot).
The type-locality of this bird has been given as Africa, and does not appear to have been fixed down to any definite area.
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The earliest references to this bird are:
1819. Le Rale roux. Rallus rufus Vieillot, N. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. xxviii. 1819, p. 564: Africa ; no references are quoted.
1831. Rallus dimidiatus Lesson, Traité d’Orn. 1831, p. 537: Africa (Levaillant) ; no other reference is quoted.
1831. Crex ruficollis J. EK. Gray, Zool. Misc. 1831, p. 13: Cape of Good Hope ?; no references are quoted.
1839. Gallinula dimidiata Smith, Ill. Zool. S. Afr., Aves, 1839, pl. 20: Cape Town. Smith gives references to Lesson, Man. d’Orn. i. 1831, p. 537, and Gray, Zool. Misc. 1831, p. 13.
Lesson founded the locality Africa on Levaillant, and, therefore, presumably saw this bird in the Levaillant Collection. It is not unlikely that Vieillot founded his Rallus rufus on a specimen which was also collected by Levaillant. As Levaillant’s travels extended only as far as about King William’s Town and the Orange River, we are of opinion that the type-locality of Sarothrura rufa (Vieillot) can be fixed as Cape Province, South Africa.
The Marquess HacuisuKa sent the following notes on the type-specimens of Emberiza janowski and Locustella pleskei, which he exhibited at the last meeting of the Club (antea, p. 44) :—
During my recent visit to Warsaw I had an opportunity of visiting the Natural History Museum of that city, and through the kindness of the Director, Dr. Domaniewski, examined a large number of important type-specimens, chiefly from the Far East, collected by Polish naturalists towards the end of the last century.
Among these specimens I would like to point out Lyrurus mlokosiewiczt, from the Caucasian Mountains. The type is a fine cock with well-developed tail-feathers. It is the only other species of the genus of Black Game known, and has a very restricted range compared with our common Lyrurus tetrix, which extends from Scotland in the west to Northern Korea in the east.
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Another interesting type-specimen was Haliaétus nigra of Korea. In my opinion this is a melanistic type of H. pelagicus, but most Japanese ornithologists still consider it as a race of H. pelagicus. Although I believe this Eagle to be a melanistic form, it has pure white tail-feathers when it becomes fully grown. The type is in this plumage, the legs being yellow and the bill greenish-yellow. Existing specimens are extremely rare, and there are no examples either in London or Norwich, although a bird was once kept in the Zoological Gardens at Regent’s Park, but the skin was not preserved after death. The only other example—a pure black individual— is now in the Marseilles Museum ; M. Lavauden has published an article, with a photograph, of this bird in the Museum publication. In Japan there are about half a dozen skins, and I myself have a live specimen from Korea.
Two type-specimens which I exhibit here were loaned to me by the Director of the Warsaw Museum, and neither has been previously seen in this country. Emberiza jankowski was collected at Sidemi in 1888, and only re-discovered within the last few years. The Marquess Yamashina recorded a few specimens from Bampo, N. Kankyodo, in North Korea, and coloured plates were published of this bird in ‘ Tori,’ while a Russian naturalist collected several specimens which are now in Moscow and Berlin.
One of the most pronounced characters of this species is the large brown patch on the underside, which somewhat recalls the ‘“‘ horseshoe ” of the common Partridge. In classification it should be placed near E’mberiza cioides.
When writing his book on the Palearctic Avifauna in 1921, Dr. Hartert, when in communication with me, expressed how puzzled he was over the status of Locustella pleskei, and suggested that it should be made a subspecies of Locustella ochotensis, e.g., L. o. plesker. This type was collected in Korea, but Japanese ornithologists also found them breeding in Niijima, Seven Islands of Izu, Chikuzen in Kiushiu, and Dagelet Island, as well as Chemulpo in Korea.
I have examined 43 skins of L. o. ochotensis in the British Museum, and they are all decidedly smaller in measurement
71 [Vol. lv.
than L. o. pleskei. Type and co-type are both males collected by J. Kalinowski on July 15, 1887, in Korea.
Type §.—Wing 74; tail damaged; bill (from nostril) 17; tarsus 27 mm.
Co-type g.—Wing 70; tail 65; bill (from nostril) 16; tarsus 25 mm.
Both specimens are identical with the exception of the type, which has the tail damaged, also the lower mandible. The coloration of the upper parts is dull olive-green, and that of the underparts dirty white.
The winter plumage of L. o. ochotensis is brownish on the upper surface, and on the under surface buffish-yellow, which becomes paler during the summer months, but has not the dull yellow tinge throughout the entire body of L. o. pleskev.
So far as I know, the breeding quarters of L. 0. ochotensis are confined to the far northern latitude, but we must remember a number have been secured by Styan in May and June in Shanghai and Shaweishan in Kiang-su Province, in China, near the southern limit of the Palearctic region.
This species is an uncommon winter visitor to the Philippines. and remains as late as April in Mindanao, and as late as May in Marinduque. JL. 0. ochotensis was collected by Dr. Steere in the Philippines, and his specimen shows exceptionally large measurements :—
Wing 73; tail 62; bill 13; tarsus 25 mm.
The specimen, however, belongs to the typical race, and not to L. o. plesket.
The Marquess HacuisuKA also sent the following note on the distribution of Phasianus colchicus mut. tenebrosus Hachi- suka in Kurope :—
During my recent visit to the Balkans I have had an opportunity of visiting Sofia to see King Boris’s Museum and the Zoological Gardens there. I have learned that Phasianus colchicus mut. tenebrosus Hachisuka has now been introduced into His Majesty’s shooting reserve, where they have multiplied splendidly. The stock was transferred from Hungary about four years ago.
Vol. lv.] 72
P. c. colchicus is still common in certain parts of Bulgaria, and I hope tenebrosus will not drive out this true breed of the native Pheasant, which is extremelyrare in museum collections.
According to Professor E. Lonnberg, my Pheasant has been introduced into Sweden for sporting purposes within the last two or three years *. Professor Ghigi, of Bologna, is carrying out some genetic experiments on these Pheasants, and for nearly five years tenebrosus has been introduced into Italy. The species has also been well known in France for several years, but I am not able to say whether the French bird is of English origin or not.
Most of you who are here to-night will remember the November Meeting in 1926 (only eight years ago), when I described Phasianus colchicus mut. tenebrosus from a specimen in the flesh. This was a female type which I secured at the Cambridge market. Several members took part in the discussion, and the general opinion was against my naming the bird, but a great deal has been written on this subject since. In ‘ The Ibis’ alone both Dr. P. R. Lowe and Mr. Seth-Smith share different opinions.
To-day, however, tenebrosus is a name which is generally accepted, as is also the mutational species, which is used in nomenclature under the abbreviation of “ mut.”
This communication is merely to record that Phasianus colchicus mut. tenebrosus is now found all over Europe, distributed by human agency during a period of about eight years, in places where the Pheasant had originally been introduced by the Romans.
Prof. OscaR NEUMANN sent the following descriphia of
two new races of Sandgrouse :— Pterocles lichtensteinii nigricans, subsp. nov.
Description.—By far the darkest of all races of Pterocles lichtensteinii, and still considerably darker than P. 1. sukensis Neumann. The barring is more regular than in sukensis and in the other races ; there are far more bars, though narrower ; the black bars are about twice as broad as the light bars,
* © Fauna och Flora,’ 1933, pp. 49-62.
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which are very light, almost white, both on the upper side and on the wing-coverts. Chin and breast are duller, more olive-yellow, and less reddish than in sukensis. The Q differs from that of P. 1. sukensis in about the same way asthe ¢. Wing (7) gg 173-192 mm., (4) 92 168-176 mm.
Distribution.—The northern part of the South Abyssinian lake-chain, viz., Lakes Zwai, Afdschafdo, Langana, and Garairobi.
Type.—In my collection: ¢, Suksuk River between Lakes Zwai and Afdschafdo, southern Abyssinia, April 6, 1925. . Remarks.—Material: 5 3g, 1 2, from the terra typica, which I collected from April 4 to 6, 1925, and 2 gg, 3 99, collected by Count A. Huyn near Lake Garairobi, from February 1 to 3, 1931, which are now in the Museum
Alexander Koenig in Bonn. This race has no similarity whatever with one of the other races of P. lichtensteinit, which are all far lighter.
Abyssinia is inhabited by no less than four races of P. lichtensteinii :—
(1) P. 1. lichtensteintt Temminck occurs from Upper Egypt to the northern Egyptian Sudan and reaches to north- western parts of Abyssinia. Intermediate specimens between the typical race and the next occur in Eritrea and the north-eastern parts of Abyssinia.
(2) P. l. abessinicus Geyr is distributed from British and French Somaliland to the foot of the Harar Mountains, viz., Dire Daua, whence it was described.
(3) P. l. hyperythrus Erlanger is distributed from the south of Ogaden, Abysssinia, across the border of Italian Somaliland, and to the utmost north-east of Kenya Colony.
(4) P.l. nigricans Neumann. Restricted, as it seems, to the northern part of the south Abyssinian lake-chain.
Pterocles orientalis enigmaticus, subsp. nov.
Description.—Far darker than 42 compared specimens from Spain, Algeria, Tunisia, Asia Minor, South Russia, Turkestan, and northern India. The ground-colour not sandy or olive- yellow, but more ochraceous or rufous, In the 92 the ground-
Vol. lv.] 74
colour of throat and breast is distinctly brown. Wing, 3 232, 2 230 mm.
Type.—In my collection: g, near Rann of Kutch, N.W. India, January 1, 1934, Sir Geoffrey Archer, leg. One 92 from the same locality and of same date.
Remarks.—It still remains a question to be answered as to where this extremely dark race is breeding. I shall not in the least be surprised if at last it is found to be a resident species in Kutch. Other winter birds from India, viz. the Punjab and Sambhur, differ but slightly from speci- mens from Algeria, Asia Minor, and Turkestan, though a good deal of variation is visible. The pair in question are so similar to each other in the ground-colour that there can be scarcely any question of an individual aberration.
I do not think that it is necessary to uphold Hremialector as a genus. Some recently named generic names for Sand- grouse from South Africa are still less justified.
Acknowledgments for kind loan of material for comparison are due to Dr. P. R. Lowe, Mr. Kinnear, Dr. Ticehurst, Prof. Koenig, Dr. v. Jordans, and Prof. Laubmann.
Mr. G. M. Matuews sent a description of a new genus for Catarractes chrysolophus Brandt, the Macaroni Penguin :—
Catadyptes, gen. nov.
Somewhat like Hudyptes, but with fourteen tail-feathers, not sixteen. A naked, somewhat tumid space at the base of the beak, which is of a light pink colour. The crest differs in construction in that it spreads across the forehead and joins the opposite crest. In Hudyptes the crest on each side is quite distinct.
Type, Catadyptes chrysolophus (Brandt).
Also in this genus is Catadyptes schlegelt.
He also proposed a new genus for Aptenodytes antarctica Forster :—
Dasycelis, gen. nov.
Differs from Dasyrhamphus, which has fourteen tail-feathers, and from Pygoscelis, which has sixteen, in having only twelve feathers in the tail in the adult stage.
Type, Dasycelis antarctica (Forster).
75 [Vol. lv.
Order SPHENISCI. Suborder SPHENISCIFORMES.
The families of Penguins would then be :—
Family Spheniseidge for the genus Spheniscus, containing demersus, humboldti, magellanicus, and mendiculus, whether treated as a single species, with subspecies, or as four species.
Family Aptenodytide for Aptenodytes patagonica and forstert.
Family Pygoscelidz for the three genera Pygoscelis (papua), Dasyramphus (adehx), and Dasycelis (antarctica).
Family Eudyptide for Hudyptes pachyrhynchus, sclateri, and cristatus ; Catadyptes chrysolopus and schlegeli; Mega- dyptes antipodes ; Hudyptula minor (and novehollandiz) and albosignata, whether treated as a species or a sub- species of minor.
Mr. Jack VINCENT sent the following notes on the Lophoceros melanoleucos group of Hornbills, with observations upon a recently described and closely allied species from S.W. Africa :—
Four Hornbills which have been kindly presented to the British Museum by Dr. K. Jordan of Tring, and which were collected by him at Waterberg, Damaraland, during his recent expedition to S8.W. Africa and Angola, immediately appeared to be much paler than any birds in the collection. They proved to be the first examples to arrive here of that interesting species Lophoceros bradfieldi (Rhynchaceros brad- fieldi A. Roberts, Ostrich, i. (2) 1930, p. 65: Waterberg, S.W. Africa), and are of added value in being topotypical specimens of the type subspecies. The species was also described as Lophoceros williamine by R. M. de Schauensee (Proc. Acad. Philad. Ixxxiii. 1931, p.5: Kachikau, Bechuana- land), who later (op. cit. Ixxxiv. 1932, pp. 179 & 203, pl. xix.) recognized Roberts’s description as antedating his own with regard to the species, but described his williamine as a race
Vol. lv.] 76
of it; Roberts in the meantime had described the bird in greater detail (Ann. Transv. Mus. xiv. 1931, p. 240). This species must undoubtedly be recognized, and although close to melanoleucos in general coloration, it is characterized by the lack of any white striping on the head, by the lack of any casque on the culmen-ridge, and by the fact that only two pairs of rectrices have white tips and not at least three pairs as in melanoleucos. In systematic order this species would seem to follow L. melanoleucos and precede L. fasciatus.
At the same time as investigating the above, I examined all the material of L. melanoleucos (89 examples) in the National Collection, and the conclusions here set forth were arrived at. It was first necessary, however, to determine the specific name, since Roberts (Ann. Transv. Mus. xv. pt. i. 1932, p. 26) adopts Neumann’s name of suahelicus, and says that Lichten- stein’s original description of melanoleucos (Cat. Rer. rar. nat. 1793, p. 8: Eastern Cape Prov.) does not refer to this bird, but to Bycanistes bucinator, “‘ except for the bill being red,”’ and that Neumann’s name is the next available. As this is a matter of some importance, I will set down Lichenstein’s description in italics and attach some criticisms in brackets :— “A new black and white Hornbill from Kafirland with red bill 43 inches long’”’ (the first part of the sentence is applicable to both the Trumpeter and Crowned birds, but the red bill is certainly applicable only to the latter; as for the length given, it is too large for the latter and too small for the former, and may be considered equally applicable) ; “‘ the horny crown on the upper mandible is the same colour and 3% inches long ”’ (it should be noted that the red coloration of the bill of the Crowned species is brought to notice a second time: the size is again applicable to both birds); “the wing-feathers are glossy black’”’ (the feathers are similar in both birds); “ the outer edges fringed with white”? (this word “fringed” is of importance, for further on we find that the word “tip” is used, showing that the author made a clear distinction between the two terms, and the Crowned bird is the only one with wing-fringes) ; “the two central rectrices all black, the remainder with white tups’’ (this is the same in both birds, but here we note that the term “tip” is used, which, to my mind, proves
77 [Vol. lv.
that if the Trumpeter species was meant the author would have said wings and tail with white tips, since that is the prominent characteristic ; whilst the most distinguishing point in the Crowned bird is that the wings are margined and the tail tipped) ; “‘ total length 2 ft. 1 in., tail 1 ft.” (this seems to agree well in part with the Crowned species, which has a total length in the flesh ofabout 555 mm., whilst the tail measurement is too large for either, the tail in both cases being in the region of 250 mm.). From these observations I maintain that Lichtenstein’s description is so evidently applicable to the Crowned Hornbill that melanoleucos should remain the specific name, just as it has done for so many years, with the type subspecies in South Africa. Roberts’s race australis (Ann. Transv. Mus. 1932, p.26: Bathurst) is, therefore, synonymous, in spite of the fact that he is correct in saying that South African birds are somewhat different from East African.
In examining the large series of the species melanoleucos I find that the white stripes on the head are in most cases no character whatsoever, although they have been frequently used as such; they certainly form no distinction between suahelicus (Neumann, J. f. Ornith. 1905, p. 187: Morogoro) and typical melanoleucos ; in the latter they have been described by Roberts, and again by Friedmann (Bull. 153 U.S. Nat. Mus. 1930, p. 426), as narrower, but there are specimens from Natal and Transvaal with more prominent, profuse, and wider striping than birds from coastal Kenya and Tangan- yika. South African birds are, however, slightly larger, and in the extreme south certainly slightly darker, at least sufficiently so to uphold the race suahelicus.
In Angola the birds have the white striping on the sides of the neck and nape considerably more prominent, and, in the aggregate, they are a good deal paler and more roman sepia than in the other races, and the form alboterminatus (Butti- kofer, Notes Leyden Mus. xi, 1889, p. 67: Gambos, Angola) should stand. Synonymous with it is angolensis (Reichenow, Vog. Afr. 11, 1908, p. 250: Angola), which obviously refers to the same bird, and since the author says it is found from Angola to Damaraland, the locality is the same in both cases ; the fact that Reichenow described angolensis as having the
Vol. lv.] 78
white head-striping obviates the possibility of its being
anything to do with L. bradfieldi.
Birds of the race geloensis (Neumann, J. f. Ornith. 1905, p. 187: Schekho, 8.W. Abyssinia) are immediately dis- ' tinguishable by reason of their much darker coloration of the upper parts, but I can find no difference in size between examples from Abyssinia, Uganda, and eastern Congo, and everywhere great variability. It is evident from the large amount of material in the British Museum that, as Friedmann suspectsd, steymannti (Neumann, Ornith. Monatsber. xxxi, 1923, p. 70%. Tschingogo forest, Kivu) is to be synonymized with geloensis. The approximate dividing line between the latter and suahelicus is one drawn from the north end of Lake Nyasa across to Kilimanjaro, and, as Friedmann says, the forms intergrade in central Tanganyika Territory. The distribution is given in the succeeding summary :— Lophoceros melanoleucos melanoleucos.__Males, wing 241-
267 (av. 253 mm.). EH. Cape, Natal, Transvaal, Zululand, and Swaziland. Southern Rhodesian and southern Port. © EK. African birds are intermediate between this and suahelicus, perhaps nearer the latter.
L. m. suahelicus.—Males, wing 230-251 (av. 238 mm.). East Africa from south Somaliland through east and south- east Kenya Colony, east of [Kilimanjaro into north- eastern and eastern Tanganyika Territory, Zanzibar, and northern Port. E. Africa.
L. m. geloensis.—Males, wing 248-273 (av. 258mm.). 8S. Abys- sinia to south-western Kenya Colony, and through Uganda and western Tanganyika, extending to N. Nyasa on the east side of Lake Tanganyika, also through Kivu and the extreme eastern Congo, thence pushing down into south-eastern Congo and N.E. Rhodesia.
L. m. alboterminatus.—Males, wing 219-245 (av. 235 mm.). Angola (Ambaca, Ndala Tando, Loanda, Rio Daude). Lophoceros bradfieldi bradfieldi—S:W. Africa, Damaraland,
Ovampoland, and, perhaps, eastern Bechuanaland.
L. b.wiliamine.—North and north-western Bechuanaland, east
to Bulawayo in Southern Rhodesia.
Y
79 [Vol. lv.
Mr. W. THESIGER and Mr. M. Mryne tt sent the following two new descriptions :—
Cercomela melanura ausse, subsp. nov.
Description.—Differs from C. m. hypura in being generally very much darker, especially on the upper parts. |
Measurements.—5 ¢g, wing 77-82, exposed culmen 12-13 ; 8 99, wing 70-76, exposed culmen 12 mm.
Distribution.—The Danakil country of eastern Abyssinia and of French Somaliland.
Type.—tIn the British Museum, W.T. no. 550: 4, Aussa Danakil, April 5, 1934. Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1934.8.9.2.
Remarks.—¥ourteen specimens obtained (2 Afdam, 2 Adau, 6 Aussa, 4 French Somaliland). Two specimens belonging to this race in the British Museum, Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1903.10. 20.106 (collected by Degen from Doba Danakil) and Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1934.10.18.2 (collected by Neumann from Dire Daua).
The much darker coloration of this new race is well shown by a comparison of the young birds, W.T. no. 755 (from Abhebad Aussa) and Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1915.12.24.956 (from
Suakim).
Fringillaria striolata dankali, subsp. nov.
Description.—Differs from Ff’. s. striolata in having the pale colouring of the head pure white instead of buff, in which
‘it resembles saturatior from the Abyssinian highlands. It
differs from both these forms, however, in having the chestnut back washed with sooty grey.
Measurements —5 3g, wing 73-76, exposed culmen 9-10 ; 2 29, wing 71-73, exposed culmen 8-5-10 mm.
Distribution._The Danakil country of eastern Abyssinia and French Somaliland.
Type.—W.T. no. 29%: g, Adau Danakil, March 9, 1934. Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1934.8.9.1.
Remarks.—Seven specimens obtained (4 Adau, 1 Kavaya Plain, 1 Aussa, 1 Tajura).
Vol. lv.] 80
Mr. C. G. Brirp sent the following note upon Charadrius hiaticula septentrionalis C. L. Brehm :—
C. L. Brehm, ‘ Végel Deutschlands,’ 1831, p. 548, gives the original description of ‘“‘ Der nordische Uferpfeifer,”’ Aigialitis septentrionalis Brehm (= Charadrius hiaticula Linneeus), in which he states the type-locality thus :—“ Er lebt von Island bis nach Kiel....’’ In the ‘ Novitates Zoologice,’ xxv. 1918, p. 52, Hartert states that the probable type of this species was a specimen (no. 287) obtained at Kiel (adult 4, 20. v. 1824). Hartert says “ Prob- able type’ and “ Probably collected by Boie. As there is no specimen from Iceland, I take it that the Kiel specimens are types, and that the Iceland birds may only have been seen by the author.” It is not clear why the Kiel specimen need be the type. Salomonsen, J. f. Ornith. 1930, pp. 70-72, proposes a new name for C. h. septentrionalis Brehm, i. e., C. h. psammodroma, subsp. nov. It is not, however, a subsp. nova, but a “nomen novum.” Salomonsen gives two reasons why he considers the name septentrionalis not valid :—(1) Because he maintains there is a contradiction in the descrip- tion, 2. e., that hiaticulais “‘schmaler und kiirzen”’ than septen- trionalis, and follows this by saying septentrionalis has “ etwas langeren Fliigel” than hiaticula, but this description is not given under septentrionalis, but under hiaticula. (2) Salo- monsen maintains that Brehm gives too wide a type-locality, but Brehm clearly states it lives in Iceland As neither of these reasons for changing the name appears adequate, the old name septentrionalis should be revived. I am satisfied there is a distinct race in Iceland, Jan Mayen,and East Green- land, and I am of the opinion that the type-locality for this race can be fixed as Iceland, as this is the first locality given by Brehm, and we know that the race occurs there.
Mr. G. M. Matuews sent the following reply to Dr. C. B. Ticehurst’s letter, published in the last number of the ‘ Bulletin,’ antea, p. 53 :—
In answer to Dr. ©. B. Ticehurst’s remarks in the last number of the ‘ Bulletin,’ I should like to say that the first part of his communication is quite contrary to my experience
81 [Vol. lv.
during the last active 25 years. Further, I cannot agree about his remarks upon the Law of Nomenclature (25 a), and believe they are entirely wrong. In view of Dr. Ticehurst’s position as Editor of ‘ The Ibis,’ I think it is very important that this should be stressed, as otherwise his statement may carry weight. In my opinion my names are sufficiently and accurately introduced.
NOTICES.
The next Meeting of the Club will be held on Wednesday, January 9, 1935, at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W. 7. The Dinner at 7 p.m.
Members intending to dine must inform the Hon. Secretary, Mr. C. W. Mackworth-Praed, 51 Onslow Gardens, London, S.W. 7, on the post-card sent out with the ‘ Bulletin.’
Members who wish to make any communication at the next Meeting of the Club must give notice to the Editor, Dr. G. Carmichael Low, 86 Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, W. 1, as soon as possible. The titles of their contributions will then appear on the Agenda published before each Meeting. All MSS. for publication in the ‘ Bulletin’ must be given to the Editor before or at the Meeting.
Agenda.
There is no set Agenda, so far, for the Meeting. Members having any exhibits of interest might bring them up, and the rest of the evening will be devoted to short discussions on matters of ornithological interest,
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BULLETIN :
OF THE
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB.
No. CCCLXXXIII.
-. ———<—_—_
‘#3 i.
oy
THE three-hundred-and-seventy-eighth Meeting of the Club was held at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W. 7, on Wednesday, January 9, 1935.
Chairman: Mr. N. B. KINNEAR.
Members present :—Miss C. M. AcLanpd; W. B. ALEXANDER; EK. C. Stuart Baker; Miss P. Barcuay-SmitH; F. J. F. Barrineton ; Hon. G. L. CHarteris ; Maj.-Gen. Sir P. Z. Cox ; J. CunnrincHam; A. Ezra; Miss J. M. Ferrier; W. E. GuEae; A.G. GLENISTER; Miss E. M. Gopman; Capt.C. H.B. GRANT; The Marquess Hacuisuka; Dr. J. M. Harrison; Mrs. C. Hopekin; P. A. D. Hottom; Miss D. HorpeErn; Rev. F.C. R. Jourpain; Dr. N. H. Joy; Miss E. P. Leacu; Dr. G. CarRmicHAEL Low (Editor); Dr. N. S. Lucas; T. H. MoKirrrick ; C. W. MAcKworTH-PRAED (Hon. Sec. & Treas.) ; J. H. McNere; Lt.-Col. H. A. F. Macratu; Dr. P. H. Manson-Banr; G. M. Maruews; T. H. NeEwmay; C. OtpHAM; B. B. Osmaston; H. Pease; H. LEYBORNE PopHamM; Miss G. RHopEs; W. L. Scuater; OD. SeEru- SmitH; Major A.G.L. Suapen; Marquess of Tavisrock ; B. W. Tucker; Miss E. L. Turner; J. Vincent; Mrs. W. Boyp Watt; H. F. WitHEeRBY; C. G. M. pz Worms.
Guests :—W. M. M. CuHarpman; A. T. Epcar; R. E. JENYNS; Mrs. LEYBORNE PoPpHAM; Miss VAN OOSTVEEN.
[January 28, 1935.] a VOL. LV.
Vol. lv.] 84
Dr. N. H. Joy read extracts from his old notebooks of thirty to forty years ago, drawing attention to some differences in bird life which existed then as compared with the present day. He also showed some interesting photographs. Other members present gave their experiences. A short discussion then took place on the question of how early in life young birds can breed.
Capt. C. H. B. Grant and Mr. C. W. Mackwortu-PRAaED sent the following notes :—
1. On the Relationship and Distribution of Pternistis afer (P. L. S. Miller) and Pternistis cranchi (Leach).
Bowen, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. Ixxxii. 1930, p. 149 has made the birds conspecific, including P. swainsoni (Smith), but not P. leucoscepus (Gray).
Chapin, Bds. Belg. Congo, i. 1932, p. 712, has followed Bowen, but does not include P. swainsoni. Sclater, Syst. Av. Aithiop. i. 1924, p. 90, has dealt with them as separate groups, and with this we are inclined to agree, as, having examined specimens of the cranchi group from the Kafue River, Songea, Iringa, and Kilosa, and of the afer group from the Loangwa River, Songea, Mahenge, and the Mkata Plains, we feel that further investigation of the country lying between these localities may show an overlap of the black-bellied group and the chestnut-bellied group.
It is possible that Bowen is correct in uniting P. afer and P. cranchi under one group, but we consider the experiment a dangerous one with our present knowledge, and for the present prefer to treat them as separate groups, especially as Kilosa and the Mkata Plains are within twenty miles of each other.
Bowen and Chapin have both used punctulatus of Gray. J. E. Gray gave a figure of his Perdix punctulatus in Il. Ind. Zool. ii. 1834, pl. xii. fig. 2, and G. R. Gray, on p. 32 of Spec. Bds. B.M. pt. 3, Gall. 1844, states that specimen ‘“‘ A, Congo Expedition ” is “ the original of Dr. Leach’s description and the figure in the Indian Zoology.”
Specimen “A” is the type of Perdix cranchit, and is in the British Museum collection. J. HE. Gray’s plate agrees quite
85 [Vol. lv.
well with the type-specimen, allowing for the age of the specimen and the art of printing in 1834. There is no question whatever that P. punctulatus is a synonym of P. cranchit, and was placed as such by G. R. Gray in 1844.
The type-locality of P. cranchi has been given as lower Congo River, but this may be even more restricted to the Congo River south of lat. 5°10’ S., for on p. 179 of the ‘Exped. to explore the Congo’ (Tuckey, 1818) we learn that Cranch was taken ill on August 23, 1816, and was sent back from Inga on August 24, 1816.
On p. 163 Bowen states that P. a. humboldtic (Peters) has “‘ cheeks and sides of face black,’ and so shows it in fig. A on p. 153. P. a. humboldti actually has cheeks and sides of face white—see Reichenow, Vog. Afr.i.1900-1, p. 463, and all other authors. This mis-statement is liable to lead to the greatest confusion, and has mixed up the distribution of two distinct races.
The races we are able to recognize in Eastern Africa are :—
PTERNISTIS AFER HUMBOLDTII (Peters).
Francolinus humboldtii Peters, Monatsb. Akad. Berlin, 1854, p. 184: Tete, Zambesi, Portuguese East Africa.
Moustachial stripe and cheek white, superciliary stripe mixed black and white. Wing 177-205 mm.
Distribution.—The valley of the Zambesi in Portuguese East Africa west of mouth of Shire River, throughout that part of Portuguese East Africa north of the Zambesi, except Zambesi Valley east of mouth of Shire and the Rovuma Valley area.
PTERNISTIS AFER LEUCOPARZUS Fischer & Reichenow.
Francolinus (Pternistes) leucopareus Fischer & Reichenow, J. f. Ornith. 1884, p. 263: Kipini, mouth of Tana River, Kenya Colony.
Moustachial stripe and cheek white, superciliary stripe mixed black and white, but has the white markings of the underparts very much narrower than in P. a. humboldtiu (Peters). Wing 184 mm.
N.B.—This race is cut off from P. a. humboldti (Peters) by P. a. melanogaster Neumann.
a2
Vol. lv.] 86
Distribution.—Valley of Tana River to 50 miles upstream, and coastal areas of Kenya Colony as far south as Vanga.
PTERNISTIS AFER MELANOGASTER Neumann.
Pternistis nudicollis malanogaster Neumann, J. f. Ornith. 1898, p. 299, pl. iii. fig. 1: Tanga, north-eastern Tanganyika Territory.
Moustachial stripe and cheeks black, superciliary stripe black, mantle and wing-coverts washed with grey. Wing 175-193 mm.
Distribution —Rovuma Valley area of Portuguese East Africa to the Songea District (Mbamba Bay, Mkiri, and Li- pumba), Mahenge, Mkata Plains, Dar-es-Salaam, Korogwe, and Tanga in northern and eastern Tanganyika Territory.
PTERNISTIS AFER SWYNNERTONI W. L. Sclater.
Pternistis afer swynnertoni W. L. Sclater, Bull. B. O.C. xli. 1921, p. 134 : Chirinda Forest, Melsetter District, Southern Rhodesia.
Moustachial stripe and cheeks white (white completely encircling bare throat), superciliary stripe white. Wing 174-201 mm. |
Distribution —Both banks Zambesi River east of mouth of Shire River, Portuguese East Africa south of the Zambesi as far south as Inhambane and eastern areas of Southern Rhodesia.
PTERNISTIS AFER LOANGWZ Grant & Mackworth-Praed.
Pternistis afer loangwe Claude Grant & Mackworth-Praed, Bull. B.O.C. Iv. 1934, p. 17: Petauke, East Loangwa District, Northern Rhodesia.
Moustachial stripe and cheeks black, superciliary stripe black, mantle and wing-coverts pale umber-brown Wing 182-187 mm.
Distribution.—South-eastern Northern Rhodesia (Hast Loangwa District) east of the Loangwa River.
PTERNISTIS CRANCHII BOHMI Reichenow.
Pternistes bohmi Reichenow, J. f. Ornith. 1885, p. 465: Igonda, 40 miles south of Tabora, Tabora Province, Tangan- yika Territory.
87 [Vol. lv.
Chest distinctly and broadly streaked with black, breast and abdomen distinctly streaked white, chestnut, and black. Wing 174-194 mm.
Distribution.—Tukuyu, Njombe, Iringa, and Tabora areas of Tanganyika Territory.
PTERNISTIS CRANCHII HARTERTI Reichenow. |
Pternistes hartertt Reichenow, Ornith. Monatsber. xvii. 1909, p. 41: Usumbura, north end of Lake Tanganyika, Urundi, Belgian Congo.
Chest greyer, with very narrow black streaks, black and chestnut on abdomen narrower. Wing 168-188 mm.
Distribution—The Rusisi Valley of eastern Belgian Congo down western side of Lake Tanganyika to about Baraka, and south-eastwards to the Kasula District of Tanganyika Territory.
PTERNISTIS CRANCHII INTERCEDENS Reichenow.
Pternistes cranchii intercedens Reichenow, Ornith. Monatsber. xvii. 1909, p. 88: Lake Rukwa, Ufipa District, Tanganyika Territory.
Nearly or entirely lacks the black streaks on underparts and chest. Wing 164-205 mm.
Distribution.—Northern Rhodesia, but not west of Kafue River or east of Lower Loangwa River, south-eastern Belgian Congo ; northern areas Western Nyasaland to Lake Rukwa and the Ubende area of Kigoma District, Tanganyika Terri- tory.
The type-locality of this race is, unfortunately, very close to the area of P.c. béhmi, and it is quite possible that inter- mediates will occur at the southern end of Lake Rukwa.
PTERNISTIS CRANCHII NYANZ& Conover.
Pternistes cranchu nyanzx Conover, Auk, xlvi. 1929, p. 345: Fort Ternan, Kisimu, Kenya Colony.
Has the narrow black chest-streaks of P. c. harterti, but lacks, or almost lacks, the black streaks and edging on belly. Generally rather paler below. Wing 170-192 mm.
Vol. lv.] 88
Distribution.—Southern end Lake Victoria ; north-western Tanganyika Territory (Bukoba District), Uganda, and western Kenya Colony.
PTERNISTIS CRANCHII ITIGI Bowen.
Pternistis cranchir itigi Bowen, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. Ixxxii. 1930, p. 86: Gwaos near Itigi, Central Railway line, Dodoma Province, Tanganyika Territory.
Similar to P. c. béhmi in markings of underparts, but with less chestnut, and with no cross vermiculations on feathers of centre of breast and abdomen, giving the bird a much whiter appearance below. Wing 165-201 mm.
Distribution From Itigi in western Dodoma _ District east to Kilosa and north to Singida and Kondoa Irangi, Tanganyika Territory.
PTERNISTIS CRANCHII TERTIUS Meise.
Pternistes afer tertius Meise, Ornith. Monatsber. xli. 1933, p. 144: Kitiniko, junction of Ngaka and Ruhuhn Rivers, S.W. Songea District, Tanganyika Territory.
Similar in general character to P. c. béhmi and P. c. itigi, but differs from the former in having no cross vermiculations . on feathers of centre of breast and abdomen, thus agreeing with P. c. itvgi in this respect, but differs from that race in having the central black shaft-stripe of the breast and abdomen very narrow and outer edges black, with a wash of chestnut. Wing 165-191 mm.
Distribution —The Ngaka and Ruhuhu River valleys, S.W. Songea District, Tanganyika Territory.
Meise, Ornith. Monatsber. xli. 1933, p. 141, has described P. a. tornowi (Mkiri, eastern shore Lake Nyasa, S.W. Songea District, Tanganyika Territory) and P. a. tertvus (Kitiniko, at the junction of the Ngaka and Ruhuhu Rivers, 8.W. Songea District, Tanganyika Territory).
Through the great kindness of Dr. Meise we have examined eighteen of these specimens and compared them with the long series of Pternistis in the British Museum collection. Dr. Meise in his article in the Ornith. Monatsber. xli. 1933, pp. 141-145, suggests that both his new races are intermediates. Four of these are P. c. tertius, which we consider to be a very good race, and not an intermediate. As we have shown above,
89 [Vol. lv.
it is closely allied to P.c. bohmi and P.c. itigi, representing the former in the Songea District. Twelve of the other fourteen specimens are typical Pternistis afer melanogaster. Two (no. 400, male, from Mkiri, and no. 445, male, from Lipumba) have cross-markings on the chest-feathers similar to those of P. c. bohmi, but in other respects are typical P. a. melano- gaster. Exactly why these two should have such markings when others from the same localities are normally marked is not clear, but we should not lay too much stress on these characters as being those of another and not necessarily closely allied race.
The flank markings mentioned by Dr. Meise are to be found in the other races, and although some of his specimens are more heavily marked than others, we do not consider them to be of any diagnostic importance.
We are, therefore, of opinion that these fourteen birds are P. a. melanogaster, of which P. a. tornowt becomes a synonym.
That intermediates do occur in closely allied races of the same species is an accepted fact, and is exemplified in a speci- men in the British Museum collection (Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1898.5.1.181) from Nyasaland (no exact locality given), and which is clearly P. c. intercedens S P. c. béhmi .
2. On the Type-locality of Choriotis arabs arabs (Linnzus).
All authors quote Linnzeus’s “ In oriente,’’ and we cannot find that a more definite type-locality has been fixed for this Bustard. Linnzus, Syst. Nat. ed. x. i. 1758, p. 154, gives one reference only, and that to Edwards, Av. i. 1743, p. 12, pl 12:
Edwards states that the live specimen from which he drew the plate came from Mocha in Arabia Felix. The correct type-locality for Choriotis arabs arabs (Linnzus) is, therefore, Mocha, Yemen, Southern Arabia.
3. On the Eastern African Races of Hupodotis senegalensis _ senegalensis (Vieillot), Tabl. Enc. Méth. 1820, i. p. 333, Senegal. We cannot see any material difference between birds from British Somaliland, Abyssinia, eastern Kenya Colony, and
Vol. lv.] 90
Mpapwa, Tanganyika Territory, and therefore, although we have been unable to examine the type of LH. s. canicollis (Reichenow), Orn. Centralb. 1881, p. 79: Bardera, Juba River, Italian Somaliland, there can be no doubt that Z. s. somaliensis (Erlanger), J. f. Ornith. 1905, p. 82: Metaker, about 65 miles south of Harar, Ennia, Eastern Abyssinia, must become a synonym.
There is, however, a series of birds in the British Museum cojlection from south-western Kenya Colony, and Itigi in the Tabora Province of Tanganyika Territory, which are clearly colder in coloration, 2. e., darker and much less tawny.
This darker race can bear the name of Hwpodotis senegalensis erlangert Reichenow.
We, therefore, are able to recognize three races in Eastern Africa, as follows :—
Eupodotis senegalensis senegalensis (Vieillot), Tabl. Ene. Méth. i. 1820, p. 333: Senegal. Distribution.—Senegal to the Sudan.
Eupodotis senegalensis canicollis (Reichenow), Orn. Centralb. 1881, p. 79: Bardera, Juba River, Italian Somaliland.
Distribution.—British Somaliland, central and _ eastern Abyssinia to eastern Kenya Colony (east of Machakos and Tsavo River) and eastern Tanganyika Territory (east of Mpapwa).
Eupodotis senegalensis erlangert (Reichenow), Voég. Afr. iii. 1905, p. 802: Machakos, Ukamba, Kenya Colony.
Distribution.—South-western Kenya Colony (west of Macha- kos and Athi) to central Tanganyika Territory (Itigi and Iringa).
Remarks—As regards pl. ii. J. f. Ornith. 1905, Prof. Neumann in a letter to us of December 1, 1934, remarks that the “ difference (between figs. 1 and 2) is far too much exaggerated.”’ It should be noted that fig. 1 is a bird from Tanganyika Territory, and not from Italian Somaliland ; it is, therefore, that of Hwpodotis senegalensis erlangert Reichenow, and Reichenow gives a reference to this plate under this name.
Twenty-three specimens examined.
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At Machakos, Kenya Colony, intermediates occur between Hupodotis senegalensis canicollis and Hupodotis senegalensis erlangert, and it is unfortunate that Reichenow’s type-locality should be at this place.
4, On the Type-locality of Hupodotis senegalensis barrowti (J. E. Gray) in Griff. Anim. Kingd., Bds. iii. 1829, p. 304.
The type-locality has generally been given as “Cape of Good Hope.”
J. E. Gray says: ‘‘ Perhaps the Wild Peacock of Barrow’s Travels, 1801, p. 139.”. The bird described by Barrow from Zwart Kop River had a wing-spread of 7 feet and a total length of 34 feet. It, therefore, could not have been the small H. s. barrowi, but refers to the larger Neotis cafra cafra (Lichtenstein).
But the point is that J. E. Gray’s Cape of Good Hope was obviously meant to cover the whole of what was then the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, and, therefore, the correct type-locality for Hupodotis senegalensis barrow (J. EK. Gray) should be Cape Province, South Africa.
5. On the exact Type-locality of Lophotis ruficrista gindiana (Oustalet), Bull. Soc. Philom. Paris, (7) v. 1881, p. 164.
The type-locality usually quoted is ‘“‘ East Africa between Somaliland and Zanzibar.” On p. 161 we learn that the 6 and @ type-specimens of this Bustard were obtained by an Egyptian traveller, Abdou Gindi, in “ le pays des Gallas et celui des Somalis.” Abdou Gindi is doubtless the Abden Gindi whom Reichenow mentions in Orn. Centralb. 1881, p. 78, as having collected the type of Hupodotis canicollis at Bardera. Under date November 28, 1934, Dr. Berlioz has kindly informed us that the locality on the type-specimens (which are in the Paris Museum) is “‘ Pays des Somalis, acqui 4 Abdou Gindi,”’ and that there is no record of Abdou Gindi’s travels. On this evidence we can safely presume that Abdou (Abden) Gindi obtained his specimens of L. gindiana at Bardera, where the bird is known to occur. We are, therefore, of opinion that the correct’ type-locality of Lophotis ruficrista gindiana (Oustalet) is Bardera, Juba River, Italian Somaliland.
aod
Vol. lv.] 92
6. On the Status of Lophotis ruficrista hilgerti (Neumann), J. f. Ornith. 1907, p. 308: Dadab, 23 miles north of Eastern Abyssinia.
An examination of the nineteen specimens in the British Museum collection shows that there is no real difference between birds from British Somaliland, Abyssinia, Kenya Colony, and Tanganyika Territory (Mpapwa and Kondoa). Wing- measurements give the following result: British Somaliland, eight males 252-267, five females 239-253; Abyssinia, two males 263-264; Kenya Colony, two males 270, one female 257; Tanganyika Territory, two males 277 mm. No measurements are given in the original description of L. r. hilgertt. We are of opinion that there is insufficient evidence to support L. r. hilgertt, which thus becomes a synonym of L. r. gindiana (Oustalet), Bull. Soc. Philom Paris, (7) v. 1881, p. 164: Bardera, Juba River, Italian Somaliland.
Capt. C. H. B. Grant and Mr. C. W. MackworTH-PRAED also sent the following correction :—
In the last number of the ‘ Bulletin,’ antea, p. 69, under reference to Smith, Ill. Zool. S. Afr., Aves, 1839, ‘‘ Lesson, Man. d’Orn. i. 1831, p. 537,” should read: ‘‘ Lesson, Man. d’Orn: (= ‘Traité d’Orn.) 1831; p: da.”
Mr. Jack VINCENT sent the following list of correct type- localities for fourteen African birds which in the ‘Systema Avium Aithiopicarum’ are listed with more unrestricted localities, such as ‘“‘Africa ”’ or “‘ South Africa’’; the author of the original description in each instance is the name under- lined :—
THe SoutH AFRICAN WHISKERED TERN (Chlidonias leuco- pareia sclatert).
1921. Mathews & Iredale, Man. Bds. Australia, i. p. 84, give this nom. nov. for C. 1. delalandii,“‘ ex Bonaparte MS.”
1856. Bonaparte, Compt. Rend. xlii. p. 773, mentions the bird as being “ ex Cap. B. Spei.”’
The restricted type-locality should read: the Cape Penin- sula.
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_ Tur BLACK-COLLARED BaRBeET (Lybius torquatus torquatus).
i. 1806. Levaillant, Hist. Nat. des Ois. ii. p. 65, pl. 28,
says the bird was sent from Brazil.
ii. 1806. Dumont, Dict. Sci. Nat. iv. p. 56, pl. 28, refers to i. and also says Brazil.
iii. 1817. Cuvier, Régne Anim. p. 428, refers to i.
iv. 1823. Temminck, Pl. Col. iii. pl. 138 (201), in describing it as Pogomas personatus, says it is found in the southern part of Africa, in the country of the Kafirs.
The restricted type-locality should read: the South-eastern Cape Province.
LEVAILLANT’S BaRBeET (Lybius levaillanti levaillanti), spelt erroneously with one “i.”
i, 1806. Levaillant, Hist. Nat. des Ois. ii. p. 85, pl. A, only says that he cannot say which part of Africa the bird comes from.
ii. 1815. Leach, Zool. Misc. ii. p. 146, pl. 117, refers to 1. and says “‘ inhabits Africa.”
iii. 1816. Vieillot, Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. iii. p. 243, merely says found in Africa.
iv. 1817. Cuvier, Regne Anim. i. p. 428 (note), refers to i. and says found in Africa.
v. 1876. Cabanis, J. f. Ornith. p. 92, pl. ii. fig. i. seems to be the next reference, wherein the bird is described as a new species under the name of Pogonorhynchus eogaster, from Chinchoncho on the Loango coast.
Levaillant’s bird must have come from the west coast, and I restrict the type-locality to the Portuguese Congo.
THE CRESTED BaRBeEt (Trachyphonus vaillanti: vaillantii).
i. 1806. Levaillant, Hist. Nat. des Ois. iii. p. 78, pl. 32, says he met with it near the frontier of Great Namaqualand, towards the Tropic.
ii. 1818. Vieillot, Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. xxvi. p. 102, refers to i. and repeats Great Namaqualand, near the Tropic.
Vol. lv.] 94
iii. 1821. Ranzani, Elem. Zool. iii. pt 2, p. 159, says it inhabits S. Africa, and that he is referring to the bird mentioned in i. The type-locality is, therefore, dependent upon where Levaillant could have secured his bird. His reference to Great Namaqualand is obviously erroneous, since he refers to the point farthest north reached in his travels in S.W. Africa, generally supposed to be on the lower Orange River, where this species does not occur. Levaillant goes on to say that Sonnini in his edition of Buffon’s Hist. Nat. mentions the bird under the name of the “ Pic de la Cafrerie,”’ after what he (Levaillant) had said about it on his second voyage. It is most probable that Levaillant secured his specimen at the farthest pgint east Ante iD his trip through the Eastern Cape. He himself said he had reached Port Natal, but it is generally supposed that he did not go much beyond the Great Fish River. The species is not known to occur so far south to-day, but it is found in Natal, and may be reasonably supposed to have extended to the South-eastern Cape a century ago.
I propose that the restricted type-locality should read : the South-eastern Cape Province.
SMITH’s GOLDEN-TAILED WOODPECKER (Campethera abingoni smithit), spelt erroneously with one “i.”
1845. Malherbe, Rev. Zool. p. 403, says it is found in S. Africa. The type-specimen; collected by Sir A. Smith, is labelled “ Cape of Good Hope,” but the species is not found so far south, and it must be surmised thatSmith collected the bird somewhere on his expedition north- wards from the Cape. The type agrees with examples from Bechuanaland and Damaraland, and from the fact that Smith did so much collecting in the former country, and none in the latter, it is evident that the bird came from the vicinity of Bechuanaland.
1836. Smith, Rep. Exped. C. Afr. p. 53, himself shows that this supposition is nearly correct, by saying that the
95 [Vol. lv.
species ‘‘ inhabits the country about Kurrichaine ” (which is between Mafeking and Zeerust on the Transvaal side of the frontier).
The restricted type-locality should read : the Marico district of W. Transvaal.
Tue CarDINAL WOoODPECKER (Dendropicos fuscescens fus- cescens). .
1818. Vieillot, Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. xxvi. p. 86, gives no locality, and only mentions that he is referring to Levaillant’s plate 253.
1808. Levaillant, Ois. d’Afr. vi. p. 25, pl. 253, says it goes very near the Cape, in fact as far as the forests go, and adds: “Thus it was at Groote vaders bosch where I saw it for the first time.” Reference to his map shows that the patch of forest mentioned is situated a little north-east of Swellendam and north- west of what is now Heidelberg, in fact on the southern slopes of the Lange Bergen.
The restricted type-locality should read: the Swellendam district, Cape Province.
THE BEARDED WoOODPECKER (T'hripias namaquus namaquus).
1793. Lichtenstein, Cat. rer. rar. Hamburg, p. 17, says from the inner part of 8. Africa beyond the Namaqualands. The preface shows that the collector and former owner of the bird mentioned in the Catalogue is unknown, so that the determination of the type- locality rest largely upon the meaning of the word “ beyond ” and upon how much of 8. Africa was known from the ornithological viewpoint in 1793. It does not seem to be known what collecting was carried out in 8.W. Africa between Levaillant (returned 1784) and 1793, but we may presume that Lichtenstein was acquainted with Levaillant’s travels, and that beyond the Namaquas must mean beyond from Cape Town, and in the ornithologically unknown areas which the latter had not penetrated. The species does not occur
Vol. lv.] 96
in the areas further south where Levaillant travelled, but Andersson tells us that it is common in parts of Damaraland, especially near the Okavango River, which is certainly ‘“ beyond” the Namaqualands, and there are numbers of specimens available from that area.
I suggest that the type-locality should read: Damaraland, S.W. Africa.
THE NATAL BROADBILL (Smithornis capensis capensis).
1839. A. Smith, Ill. Zool. S. Afr., Aves, pl. 27, says that he did not find the species beyond the forests which exist upon the south-east coast towards Delagoa Bay.
The restricted type-locality should read: the coastal forests of Northern Zululand.
THE FamiLiaR Cuat (Cercomela familiaris familiaris).
i. 1826. Stephens, Gen. Zool. xiii. pt. 2, p. 241, refers to ii. and iii.
ii. 1823. Latham, Gen. Hist. vii. p. 100, refers to iti. and says it inhabits various parts about the Cape Penin- sula.
iii. 1805. Levaillant, Ois. d’Afr. iv. p. 97, pl. 183, himself says that he saw the bird throughout his expedition from Cape Town; but, furthermore, refers to iv. and says there is little doubt that the bird Buffon men- tions is identical with his own.
iv. 1799. Buffon, Hist. Nat. (Lacépéde edit. in 18mo), Ois. ix, p. 280, says the bird was seen at the Cape of Good Hope.
The restricted type-locality should read: the Cape Peninsula.
THE WHITE-THROATED SwWALLow (Hirundo albigularis).
1849, Strickland, in Jardine’s Contr. Orn. p. 17-4 and pl., merely gives South Africa.
on) > [Vol. lv.
1831. Lesson, Traité d’Orn. p. 268, gives a description of a bird which is obviously the same under the name of Hirundo rufifrons, and says it inhabits the Cape of Good Hope.
1806. Levaillant, Ois. d’Afr. v. p. 154, pl. 245, fig. 2, mentions a bird which may be the same and also says it is seen at the Cape of Good Hope.
The restricted type-locality should read: the Cape Penin- sula.
THE Nata SCARLET-CHESTED SUNBIRD (Chalcomitra sene-
galensis gutturalis).
i. 1760. Brisson Orn. iii. p. 658, pl. 33, fig. 3, gives Brazil.
ii. 1766. Linneus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 186, no. 15, refers to i. and gives Brazil.
iii. 1773. P. L 8S. Miller, Syst. Nat. ii. p. 258, no. 15, gives Brazil.
iv. 1778. Daubent, Pl. Enlum. 578, fig. 3 (vi. pl. 44), gives Brazil.
v. 1778. Daubent, Hist. Nat. v. p.525, refers to i.. ii., and iv. and gives Brazil.
vi. 1782. Latham, Gen. Syn. ii. p. 723, no 24, refers to i., ii., iv., and v. and gives Brazil.
vii. 1788. Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 478, refers to i., iv., v., and vi. and gives Brazil.
viii. 1790. Latham, Ind. Orn. i. p. 291, no 32, refers to i., ii., iv., V., Vi., and vii. and gives Brazil.
ix. 1802. Audebert & Vieillot, Ois. Dor. ii. p. 65, refers to i. with no locality.
x. 1808. Levaillant, Ois. d’Afr. vi. p. 165, says that he has only known it in “la Caffrerie,’’ where the Dutch called it the “ pronke voogel.”
The restricted type-locality should read: the South-
eastern Cape Province.
THe SoutH ArricAN DiamMonpD SPARROW (Petronia super- ciliaris). i. 1845. Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xiv. p. 553, merely says it is presumed to be from South Africa.
Vol. lv.] 98
li. 1847. Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xvi. p. 880, refers to i. and gives no further locality.
ili. 1849. Gray, Gen. Bds. ii. p. 372, refers to i. and gives no locality.
iv. 1850. Bonaparte, Consp. Av. i. pp. 511-513, refers to i. and gives no locality.
v. 1850. Sundevall, Gifv. K. Vet.-Akad. Forh. p. 98, de- scribes the bird again as Xanthodira flavigula and says “‘in Caffraria superiori.”” The type in Stockholm is from Saltpannan.
The restricted type-locality should read: Saltpannan, near Limpopo, Transvaal.
THE ScaLy WEAVER (Sporopipes squamifrons squamifrons).
1836. A. Smith, Rep. Exped. C. Afr. p. 49, merely says “inhabits South Africa.”
1844. A. Smith, Ill. Zool. S. Afr., Aves, pl. 95, says the species was common north of Latakoo, and that he only once saw it south of that locality, namely, near the source of the Great Fish River; the correct type-locality depends, therefore, upon which of the two localities Smith first visited. Reference to the account of his expedition shows that he made his way from the coast to Graaf Reinet and subsequently on to Latakoo, which latter is between Kuruman and Taungs in Bechuanaland. It is evident that he first saw the species, and most probably collected it, near the source of the Great Fish River, which is in the Tandjes Berg of the Sneeuw Bergen Range, a little to the east of Graaf Reinet.
The restricted type-locality should read: the Graaf Reinet district, central Cape Province.
THe THICK-BILLED SEED-EATER (Poliospiza albogularis albogularis). | i. 1833. A. Smith, 8. Afr. Quart. Journ. ser. 2, p. 48, merely gives South Africa, but the locality whence came his type-specimen is divulged in ii.
99 [Vol. lv.
ii. 1871. Sharpe, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. viii. (4) p. 235, says that Layard secured examples “on the Berg River, the exact locality where Sir Andrew Smith obtained his typical examples.”
The restricted type-locality should read: the Berg River, south-western Cape Province.
Mr. J. DE“acour sent the following communication on the genus Mixornis :—
I have been recently engaged in a revision of the genus Mizornis (Timaliide), the detailed results of which will be published in ‘ L’Oiseau’ in the near future, but I thought that a preliminary note would not be out of place in the ‘ Bulletin.’
I have come to the conclusion that all forms of Mizornis, ranging from Eastern Bengal and Nepal to Yunnan, Tonkin, Java,and Palawan, can be classified within two species, viz. :—
Mizxornis gularis—Well-marked and coarser streaks on throat and upper breast; lores blackish ; supercilium, sides of the forehead, cheeks, and anterior part of ear-coverts either yellow, olive, or dusky, never of a uniform colour.
Mixornis flavicollis—Very fine and less well-marked streaks on throat and upper breast; lores, supercilium, sides of forehead, cheeks, and anterior part of ear-coverts of a uniform light grey colour.
Both species exist alongside in Indo-China and in Java at the least.
Here is a list of the forms which I have been able to recognize, after a careful examination of the large material in the British and French Museums, the position of some of the island forms, of which I have not yet seen specimens, still remaining doubtful :—
A. 1. Mixornis gularis rubicapilla (Tickell)—From Nepal and Eastern Bengal to western Burma; specimens from Mt. Victoria, Chin Hills and Chindwin Valley are inter- mediate between the present and the following races. M. chloris (Blyth) and M. ruficeps Hodgson are
synonyms.
Vol. lv.] 100
2. M. g. sulphurea (Rippon).—Pegu, S. Shan States, N. Siam, Kauri-Kachin and N. Tenasserim.
M. minor Gyldenstolpe is a synonym.
3. M. g. lutescens Delacour.—S. Yunnan, Laos, Tonkin, N. Annam.
4. M. g. connectens Kloss.—C. and S. Annam, Cochin- China, Cambodia, Pulo Condore, 8S. Siam, S. Tenasserim and Malay Peninsula, except the extreme south.
On the edges of its distributional area there are transitory forms between connectens and the neigh- bouring races, lutescens, sulphurea, and gularis.
M. kinneart Delacour & Jabouille, M. versuricola, M. inveterata, M. archipelagica and M. chersonesophila Oberholser, and i. condoriensis Robinson are synonyms.
5. M. g. gularis (Horsfield) —Extreme south of the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. ;
M. pileata and M. similis (Blyth) and M. sumatrana Bonaparte are synonyms, and probably, also, MW. zar- habdota and M. zaptera Oberholser.
6. M. g. everetti Hartert.—Bunguran Island (Natuna).
7. ?M. g. zaperissa Oberholser—Other Natuna Islands (needs confirmation).
8. MW. g. zophera Oberholser.—Anamba Islands.
9. M. g. javanica Cabanis.—Java.
10. M. g. borneensis Bonaparte.—S. and C. Borneo.
11. M. g. montana Sharpe.—N. Borneo.
12. M. g. argentea Chasen & Kloss.—Mallavalle Island, Banguey Island.
13. M. g. ruficoma Oberholser—Banka. _
14. M. g. pontia Oberholser.—Pulo Laut, S. Borneo.
The last three races I have not examined yet, and their validity still remains uncertain.
B. . Mixornis flavicollis flavicoliis Bonaparte.—Java. . 2M. f. frigida (Hartlaub)—Sumatra ; status uncertain. M. f. woodi Sharpe.—Palawan and Balabac Islands. M. f. prillwiten Hartert *.—Kangean Island. . M. f. kelleyr Delacour.—S. Laos, C. and 8. Annam.
* Not seen, but after description seems to be a form of flavicollis.
oR wD
101 [Vol. lv.
Messrs. GREGORY M. MatHEws and Tom IREDALE sent the following notes on Penguins :—
When G. R. Gray received a very large Penguin from the Antarctic he published a note declaring that two species had been confused by all early writers, that the names used for these two were “King” and “Emperor” and that the original Patagonian Penguin of Pennant in the Phil. Trans. lviii. 1769, p. 91, was the King ; that Shaw first used the name Aptenodytes patagonica in naming Miller’s figure (Illustr. pl. 33), which figure was copied from the drawings of Forster, and that the same figure was used in Pennant’s Genera and also by Forster in the Comment. Gotting. ; that this was the Emperor; that as two different birds had been called A. patagonica he would reject the name altogether, and proposed A. pennant for Pennant’s (King) Penguin and A. forstert for Forster’s (Emperor) Penguin. However, undoubtedly Forster’s Penguin, which is the basis of A. pata- gonica Miller, is the King, and that therefore it falls as an absolute synonym. Bonaparte did not consider Gray’s determinations correct, as he wrote “A. forsteri Gray= patachonica Forster=imperator auct.” and “A. pennanti Gray =patagonica Pennant=~patachonica Shaw=rex auct.’”’, and in Gray’s copy of Bonaparte’s essay these names are queried in his MS.
For many years the two names were reversed, and then, comparatively recently, they have been revived in the sense of patagonica Miller for the King Penguin and forster: for the Emperor.
This nomination does not appear sound, so we will provide
Aptenodytes excelsior, nom. nov.,
for the species figured and described by Mathews, ‘ Birds of Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands,’ October 16, 1928, p. 63, pl. 30, as Aptenodytes forsterr: collected at Cape Royds, McMurdo Bay. Bonaparte’s zmperator is a definite synonym of patachonica Forster, 7. e., Miller.
Vol. lv.] 102
Messrs. GREGORY M. MatHews and Tom [REDALE also named a new subspecies of Maccaroni Penguin
Catadyptes chrysolophus redimitus, subsp. nov.
Description.—Difters from C. c. chrysolophus (type-locality Falkland Island) in its smaller bill and flipper.
Measurements.—Bill 60 mm. long, 24 deep; flipper 197 ; cf. Buller, Bds. of New Zealand, 1888, ii. p. 297, and 1905, Supp. p. 94.
Distribution.—New Zealand seas, probably breeding on Macquarie Island.
Type.—In the British Museum. 9, Macquarie Island, November 22, 1901, Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1905.12.30.164.
Remarks.—Three specimens in the British Museum. This species seems to occur wherever the Rockhopper Penguin, Eudyptes cristatus, occurs, and to breed in the same rookeries, in small numbers.
Mr. G. L. Batss sent the following note upon Pyrrhulauda eremodites Meinertzhagen and Hremalauda kinneart Bates :—
The Lark described from Mr. Philby’s collection under the name of Hremalauda kinnears (Bull. B. O. C. Iv. 1934, p. 19) has turned out to be identical with Pyrrhulauda eremodites, described by Meinertzhagen from a single specimen obtained near Aden (Bull. B. O. C. xliii. 1923, p. 156). Besides the first specimens collected by Mr. Philby, six more have recently been received from him at the British Museum. These last are in good new plumage, and confirm the identity with Pyrrhulauda eremodites. An apparent discrepancy is, that whereas in the original description of eremodites the outermost rectrices are said to be black with only a yellowish fringe, all the Philby ones have them with the whole outer web light yellow ; but examination shows that in the type of eremodites these rectrices are missing, and it is the next pair that have been described as the outermost pair. The name of this Lark thus becomes Eremalauda eremodites (Meinertzhagen), with kinneart as a synonym ; its genus is certainly Hremalauda.
103 [Vol. lv.
Meinertzhagen’s specimen came from the vicinity of Aden ; Mr. Philby’s first ones from the Rakba plain, north-east of Mecca, and his most recent ones from places on the road to Riyadh, in the very centre of Arabia.
Captain C. H. B. Grant forwarded the following communi- cation :—
May I add a word to the letters of Dr. C. B. Ticehurst and Mr. G. M. Mathews (Bull. B. O. C. Iv. 1934, pp. 53 and 80).
(1) On p. 86 of the International Rules of Zoological Nomenclature (vide Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. xxxix. July 30, 1926) is the following :—
“‘ RESOLVED—That when it is noticed by any zoologist that the generic or specific name published by any living author as new is in reality a homonym, and therefore unavailable under Articles 34 and 36 of the Rules on Nomenclature, the proper action, from a standpoint of professional etiquette, is for said person to notify said author of the facts of the case, and to give said author ample opportunity to propose a substitute name.”
This is not a rule, but is a modern resolution, introduced since the 6th Session of the Congres International de Zoologie, 1904.
(2) To propose a new name for one preoccupied does not require a description or other backing; but to give full references in such cases greatly helps and saves the time of those who are concerned in such proposals. In the past we have suffered from a lack of data which has caused endless trouble and research. It is just as easy to give references in full to the preoccupied name, and where it is preoccupied, as only to give the year, as Mr. Mathews has done.
Article 25 reads :—
“The valid name of a genus or species can be only that name under which it was first designated on the condition :
(a) That this name was published and accompanied by an indication, or a definition, or a description ; and
/
Vol. lv.] 104
(6) That the author has applied the principles of binary nomenclature.”
This Article applies only to names given to new genera, species, and subspecies.
Mr. J. D. La Tovucue sent the following communication :—
With reference to Mr. Gregory M. Mathews’s communica- tion to the ‘ Bulletin ’ of October 1934 (antea, pp. 23-24), pro- posing new names for four birds with supposed preoccupied names, to Dr. C. B. Ticehurst’s protest in the November ‘ Bulletin ’ (antea, p. 53), and to Mr. Mathews’s reply in the December ‘ Bulletin’ (antea, p. 80), I beg to point out that so far as my bird is concerned Mr. Mathews need not have troubled to include it in his list of wrongly named birds.
On p. 52 of the ‘ Bulletin,’ xlii. 1921, the South-East Yunnan Huamei is described by me, and is named “ T'rochalopterum canorum yunnanensis.”” On the mention to me by a friend that I had overlooked Rippon’s 7’. elliots yunnanense I re- named the bird 7’. c. namtiense in my paper on the ‘ Birds of Yunnan,’ Ibis, 1923, p. 317.
In supporting Dr. Ticehurst’s reasonable protest as to the renaming of birds without first reference tothe original authors, if these should be still in existence, I must add a further protest to the distortion of my name by Mr. Mathews, who has not only inflicted a useless synonym on the subspecies, but has bestowed upon the unfortunate bird what the most indulgent of etymologists could hardly recognize as a Latinised form of my name.
The South-East Yunnan Huamei has now been called as follows :—
Trochalopteron canorum yunnanensis La Touche (nec Rippon) ;
Trochalopteron canorum namtiense La Touche (nom. nov., 1923) ;
Trochalopteron touchena (sic!) Mathews, 1934.
Most writers on Tongking ornithology now question the validity of the subspecies, and call it merely T'rochalopteron canorum canorum L. !
105 [Vol. lv.
EDITORIAL NOTE.
In the ‘ Bulletin,’ antea, p. 50, the name Buteo ferox ferox (S. G. Gmelin) is given by Magister Knud Paludan to the Long-legged Buzzard. Captain C. H. B. Grant points out that Buteo rufinus rufinus (Cretzschmar, Rippell’s Atlas, Vog. 1826, p. 40, pl. 27) is now the accepted name for this bird. To those interested in the subject reference should be made to the following works :—
Hartert, Vog. pal. Faun. 1914, p. 1189.
Kirke Swann, Mon. Bds. Prey, 1926, p. 378.
Mackworth-Praed and C. H. B. Grant, Ibis, 1934, pp. 643- 645.
NOTICES.
The next Meeting of the Club will be held on Wednesday, February 13, 1935, at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W. 7. The Dinner at 7 p.m.
Members intending to dine must inform the Hon. Secretary, Mr. C. W. Mackworth-Praed, 51 Onslow Gardens, London, S.W. 7, on the post-card sent out with the ‘ Bulletin.’
Members who wish to make any communication at the next Meeting of the Club must give notice to the Editor, Dr. G. Carmichael Low, 86 Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, W. 1, as soon as possible. The titles of their contributions will then appear on the Agenda published before each Meeting. All MSS. for publication in the ‘ Bulletin’ must be given to the Editor before or at the Meeting.
Agenda. Nothing settled at date of going to press.
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BULLETIN
co OF THE
No. CCCLAAXIV.
THE three-hundred-and-seventy-ninth Meeting of the Club was held at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, 8.W. 7, on Wednesday, February 13, 1935.
Chairman: Mr. D. A. BANNERMAN.
Members present :—Miss C. M. Actanp; KE. C. Stuart Baker; Miss P. Barctay-SmitH; F. J. F. Barrrneton ; Hon. G. L. CHarreris ; Maj.-Gen. Sir P. Z. Cox; A. Ezra ; Miss J. M. Ferrier; W. E. Guece; Miss E. M. Gopman ; Col. A. E. Hamerton ; Dr. J. M. Harrison; R. E. Heats ; P. A. D. Hottom; Miss D. HorpERN; Major H. P. W. Hutson ; Dr. N. H. Joy; N. B. Kinnear (Vice-Chairman) ; Miss E. P. Leacne; Dr. G. CanmicHAEL Low (Editor) ; Dr. P. R. LowE; C. W. MackwortH-PraEp (Hon. Sec. & Treas.) ; J. H. McNertz; Dr. P. H. Manson-Banr; G. M. Matuews ; Col. R. MernertzHacen; Mrs. D. Micuotts; E. M. NicHouson ; C. OLDHAM; Miss G. RHopzs; B. B. RIviERe ; R. G. C. C. Sanpeman; Major M. H. Srmwonps; Major A. G. L. SLADEN ; Col. R. SpanRow ; Marquess of TAVISTOCK ; Dr. A. LanpsBporovucH THomson; B. W. Tucker; J. Vincent; Mrs. W. Boyp Wart; H. F. WIirTHersy ; C. G. M. DE WorMs.
Guests of the Club :—Dr. N. TinspercEeN ; Mr. T. T. TER PELKWIJK.
[February 28, 1935.] VOL. LV,
Vol. lv.] 108
Guests :—Miss THERESA Cuay; R. H. CaLvert; Lady Constance Howarp; Lt.-Comm. A. M. Hugues ; J.D. Macponatp ; Mrs. C. W. MackworTH-PRAED ; Dr. P. H. MARTIN.
Dr. N. TINBERGEN showed a series of slides illustrating the courtship of the Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) in East Greenland in 1933. He also showed two slides of a pair of Snow-Buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis) at their nest. Mr. B. W. Tucker, Dr. Manson-Bahr, the Hon. Guy Charteris, and Mr. Stuart Baker took part in a discussion which followed.
Mr. H. F. Wirnersy exhibited two nesting cavities of the Willow-Tit (Parus atricapillus kleinschmidtr) and one of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates minor comminutus) - which had been prepared for exhibition at the British Museum (Natural History). Mr. Witherby made the following remarks :—
At a meeting some little time ago (Bull. B. O.C. liii. 1932, pp. 25-44) we had a full discussion on the Willow-Tit from various aspects, but at that time no one was able to describe | how the bird bored its nesting cavity. In 1933 I had the good fortune to see a Willow-Tit beginning to make a hole in a dead birch tree in my reserve at Gracious Pond, Chobham. I have described in ‘ British Birds’ (xxvii. 1934, pp. 320-324) in detail my observations on this bird, and I need only mention the main points here, namely, that the boring, which was deserted before it was quite completed, occupied a week. It was performed mainly by one bird, but both birds were observed to work on several occasions. The most interesting point, perhaps, was that the birds carried out from the cavity very small pieces, one by one, and crumbled these up to dust before flying back to work again in the nesting hole. In 1934 I found another nest, but, unfortunately, this was well started before I found it. It was, however, finished and occupied, and eventually the young flew from it. The method of boring was exactly the same as in the 1933 nest. I found the hole, as I have said, well started on April 8, and on the 15th the building of the actual nest started. It would seem, therefore, that the boring of the cavity takes something like ten days.
109 [Vol. lv.
I eventually cut down this nesting hole and presented it to the British Museum (Natural History), and Mr. Kinnear has been experimenting to try to preserve the wood. Unfortu- nately all these nests are in very rotten wood which very soon falls to pieces, and very often the birds themselves make a split by pecking too near the surface, and also gradually enlarge the entrance-hole by merely passing through it ; in fact in one case I have heard of the cock feeding the hen through a split at the bottom of the cavity instead of going into the entrance.
I have now examined five nesting holes of the Willow-Tit, and find they vary considerably in dimensions. The opening is usually ragged and from { in. to 24 in. in diameter and usually rather oval than round. The depth of the cavity from the base in a vertical line to the roof varies from 43? in. to 82 in., the greatest width also varies from 23 in. to 3+ in.
In general shape these cavities are the same, and all are more or less spherical, but some are much more symmetrical than others. It will be noticed from the diagrams I pass round that most of the cavities are much more bulged on the side of the opening, the back, as it were, of the cavity being usually nearly straight. No doubt the size and evenness of the hole depend a good deal on the nature of the wood, and if a hard piece is encountered the bird cannot remove it and has to go round it, as only the very rotten wood can be removed by this little bird.
Tamalso showing a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker’s hole, kindly sent to me by Mr. Stanley Lewis, for comparison. It shows a boring really very much like the Willow-Tit’s, but cleaner and more symmetrical, and evidently chipped out in longer flakes. In the Willow-Tit’s nesting hole you will notice innumerable small marks of the bill very close together, whereas the Woodpecker—even this small species—is evidently able to take out larger chips more evenly, though this bird also is unable to deal with a really hard piece of wood, as is evident from the projection of hard “spiny ’’ wood which appears in one side of the boring I am showing.
Mr. Lewis has sent me two further nesting holes of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker which are very similar indeed in shape, but one is much deeper than the other, the measurements
Vol. lv.] 110
being 7? in. in one case and 10? in. in the other ; the greatest width (3 in.) is the same in each. The entrance in one is 12 in. and the other 1} in. in diameter, and the neck leading from the entrance is considerably longer in one than the other.
I may add that I have also examined nesting holes which have been observed to have been pecked out by a Marsh-Tit (Parus palustris dresseri) and a Crested Tit (Parus cristatus scoticus) ; both of these were in very rotten wood, and the entrance was started where a bough had fallen out. Pieces of the most rotten parts had been taken out by the birds in an irregular way, and the cavities were very rough indeed, with many ridges and with no definite shape. They were thus very different from the smooth, spherical-shaped boring made by the Willow-Tit.
Colonel R. MEINERTZHAGEN exhibited two pale grey Sky-Larks shot from a flock of about thirty similar birds in South Uist on January 18, 1934. The birds agree best with the Persian form, Alauda arvensis schach, but Central Asiatic birds have been so split up on such small differences that a correct identification is impossible. For the moment it is best to call — them Alauda arvensis intermedia. The flock from which these birds were shot was no doubt of central Asiatic origin. They were considerably wilder than the many other flocks of western European Sky-Larks which abound in South Uist in winter.
Dr. P. H. Manson-Banr exhibited an early Chinese colour print published in 1701 in a collection entitled “ Treatise on Painting from the Mustard Seed Garden,” Nankin. The print was found in 1915 in Pekin, and is now in the exhibitor’s possession.
Mr. JAcK VINCENT gave a description of some incidents on Rear-Admiral Lynes’s Expedition to the Southern Congo Basin, 1933-1934.
Mr. R. H. W. PAKENHAM, who has been identifying certain of his collection of birds from Zanzibar at the British Museum, sent the following description of a new subspecies, two examples
Pil [Vol. lv.
of which, including the type-specimen, he has presented to the National Collection :—
Eurillas virens zanzibaricus, subsp. nov.
A variety of Hurillas virens (Cassin, Proc. Philad. Acad. 1857, p. 34: Gaboon) from Zanzibar, of which I have collected three examples, appears to me to be sufficiently distinct from the forms existing on the African mainland to constitute a new race. For this the name LHurillas virens zanzibaricus would be appropriate, as the bird seems to be a purely local form. Indeed, the only place where I have hitherto found it is the Jozani Forest, and even there it appears to be somewhat localised, though abundant in the actual vicinity where it occurs.
Description —On comparison with birds from Zomba (Andropadus zombensis Shelley, Ibis, 1894 p. 10: Zomba) and from Kilimanjaro (Andropadus marwitzi Reichenow, Orn. Monatsb. iii. 1895, p. 188: Marangu) the Zanzibar birds differ from both in the same general respects, namely, in being more grey-green and less brown on the upper parts, and greyer and far less yellow on the underside.
Uganda birds (H. v. holochlorus van Someren, Nov. Zool. xxix. 1922, p. 189: Lezibwa R.) are also quite different, inasmuch as they represent the darkest race of H. virens, whereas the peculiarity of the Zanzibar birds lies in their pale and greyer general tone.
In 1930 Dr. van Someren described a new race, which he called EH. v. shimba (Journ. E. Afr. & Ug. Nat. Hist. Soc. xxxvi. p. 197: Ganda Forest, Kenya coast), as different from A. marwitzi in being smaller and having the breast and flanks washed with a greyish tinge. My Zanzibar birds are nearer to A. marwitzi in size, the wing averaging some 4 mm. longer than that of H. v. shimba. Further, a comparison of the Zanzibar birds with a single example taken in 1910 by Mr. Kemp from the Shimba Hills, which may be considered a topotypical specimen of van Someren’s race, and which has a wing-measurement in accordance with the dimensions given
Vol. lv.] 112
for E. v. shimba, shows the Shimba bird to be much browner above and of a warmer general tone than all three Zanzibar birds, whose more detailed description is as follows :—
The entire upper parts, including ear-coverts, are greyish- olive, tending to the same, but paler, on the flanks and to olive- brown on the upper tail-coverts, wings, and tail. The chin, throat, breast, and underparts to the under tail-coverts are pale olivaceous-grey washed with cream, with a strong cream central streak on the belly. The stiff rictal bristles are typical of Hurillas, but the bill appears to me to have a more pro- nounced hooked tip than most examples of other races of E. virens; this suggestion may have no significance. The iris is brown, the feet light brown with yellow soles, and the bill brown, rather greyish in the lower mandible. The measurement (from three specimens) of the wing is 80 mm., the culmen (from base of skull) 15-5 mm., and the tarsus 20-21 mm.
Distribution.—Apparently confined to Zanzibar Island.
Type.——An adult male in breeding condition, taken by myself in the Jozani Forest, Zanzibar, at sea-level, on November 7, 1934. Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1935.2.6.1.
Measurements of type.—Total length 187 mm.; wing 85, tail 77, culmen (from base of skull) 15-5, tarsus 20 mm.
Remarks.—The three Zanzibar specimens are males, and were all taken in the Jozani Forest; as already mentioned, the November bird was breeding, the two taken on April 21 and 24 being in moult. The fact that these birds were met with from April to November (breeding) indicates that they are resident. The stomachs contained respectively small black berries, hard-shelled insects, and Arachnid-type insects.
Mr. G. M. Matuews sent the following note on the genera Dasyramphus and Acanthisitta :—
1. Gray in ‘ The Genera of Birds ’ vol. iii. July 1846, p. 640, uses the genus Hudyptes of Vieillot. A footnote says that this embraces Dasyramphus of MM. Hombron and Jacquinot, 1846. This is the first appearance of Dasyramphus, and it must be put as a synonym of Hudyptes.
113 [Vol. lv.
On p. 641 Gray makes Pygoscelis brevirostris a synonym of H. adeliz, which he makes the “type of Dasyramphus Hombron & Jacquinot, 1846.”
However, on page priority Dasyramphus is a synonym of Eudyptes, and I propose
PUCHERAMPHUS, nom. nov., with Catarrhacies* adelie Hombron & Jacquinot as type.
2. Acanthisitta Gray, 1842. Type, Motacilla longipes Gmelin, versus Acanthisitta Lafresnaye, 1842. Type, Sitta chloris Sparrman.
Acanthisitta Gray, Append. List. Gen. Birds, March 1, 1842, p. 6; logotype, szbid. 1855, p. 31, Motacilla longipes Gmelin, is older than the same genus of Lafresnaye, 1842, after March 1.
This necessitates the use of this genus for the Bush-Wrens, and we therefore have
Acanthisitia longipes longipes (Gmelin).
Acanthisitia longipes stokest (Gray).
Acanthisitia longipes gilviventris (Pelzeln).
_ As a new genus is required for the Rifleman, I propose
CHLORISITTA, nom. nov., with Svtta chloris Sparrman as type. We then have
Chlorisitta chloris chloris (Sparrman). Chlorisitta chloris granti (Mathews & Iredale).
Mr. J. DELACovR sent the following note :—
By an oversight the Cagayan Island form of Mizxornis was not mentioned in my note in the last ‘ Bulletin ’ (antea, p. 99). It should be placed as the last race of Mizornis gularis :—
15. M. g. cagayanensis Guillemard.—Cagayan Island (Sulu).
* [Brisson’s original spelling of this genus was Catarractes, Orn. i. 1760, p. 52, but later authors have incorrectly added an “h” (Catarrhactes). The genus is also sometimes wrongly attributed to Brandt, who wrote the name Catarhactes in describing the Macaroni Penguin as Catarhactes chrysolophus, Bull. Acad. St. Petersb. ii, 1837, p. 315.—Eb.]|
Vol. lv.] 114
NOTICES.
The next Meeting of the Club will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 1935, at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W. 7. The Dinner at 7 p.m.
Members are reminded that this dinner is held conjointly with the Annual Dinner of the British Ornithologists’ Union.
Members of the B.O.C. intending to dine should inform the Hon. Seeretary, Mr. C. W. Mackworth-Praed, 51 Onslow Gardens, London, S.W. 7, and not the Secretary of the Union. This notice is necessary in order that the seating may be arranged beforehand.
Agenda. The Meeting will be devoted to the exhibition of films and lantern-slides.
oe BULLETIN
OF THE
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB.
"7 » Bo. CCCLXXXV. 02 ” aa eae
THE three-hundred-and-eightieth Meeting of the Club was held at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W.7, on Wednesday, March 13, 1935, in conjunction with the Annual Dinner of the British Ornithologists’ Union.
Mr. H. F. Wiruersy, the President of the B. O. U., took the Chair during the Dinner, and Mr. D. A. BANNERMAN, Chairman of the Club, during the subsequent proceedings.
Members of the B.O.C. present :—Miss C. M. Actanp; W. B. ALEXANDER; C. S. ASCHERSON; Commdr. E. A. AYLMER; E. C. Stuart Baker; Miss P. Barcuay-SmMItH; F. J. F. Barrineton; Miss M. G. Brest; 8. Boorman; A. W. Boyp; G. Brown; N. G. BRownriae; P. F. Bunyarp; Mrs. STAFFORD CHARLES; Hon. Guy CHARTERIS; H. P. O. CLEAVE; Maj.-Gen. Sir P. Z. Cox; R.H. Deane; A. Ezra; Miss J. FERRIER; K. FisHer; H. A. GILBERT; W. E. GLEeae; Miss E. M. Gopman; Col. A. E. Hamerton; B. G. Harrison; Dr. J. M. Harrison; S. H. Hart; R. E. Heatu; P. A. D. Hottom; Major H. P. W. Hutson; Dr. K. Jorpan; Dr. N. Joy; N. B. Kinnear (Vice-Chairman); Miss E. P. Lacy; Dr. T. G. Lonestarr; Dr. G. CarmicHaEL Low (Editor) ; Dr. P.R. Lowe; Dr. N.S. Lucas; T. H. McKrirrrick ; C. W. MACKWORTH-PRAED (Hon. Sec. & Treasurer); W. E. Mac- MILLAN; J. H. McNertze; Lt.-Col. H. A. F. Maaratu; Dr. P. H. Manson-Banr; G. M. MatHews; J. G. MAVROGORDATO ;
{March 28, 1935.] VOL. Ly,
Vol. lv.] 116
Col. R. MEINERTZHAGEN; Mrs. A. H. Murton; B. B. Osmas- TON; R. H. W. PaxkenHam; C. W.G. Pautson; Miss G. M. Ruoves; B. B. Riviere; D. Sera-SmirH; Major A. G. L. SLADEN; J. W. C. Srares; C. G. TALBot-PONSONBY ; Miss D. L. Taytor; Dr. A. LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON ; Dr. C. B. TickHurst; B. W. Tucker; Miss E. L. TuRNER; J. VINCENT; Major G. A. Wave; W. E. Wait; Hueu WHISTLER; W. H. Workman; C. G. M. DE Worms.
Members of the B.O. U. present :—Mrs. M. D. BRINDLEY ; R. CHIsLETT; Miss T. CLay; Mrs. V. CRANFIELD; R. GREEN; A. G. HawortH; Miss A. HisBERT-WaARE; Lt.-Commdr. A. M. Hueurs; G. C. 8S. Incram; Mrs. H. M. Ratt Kerr; Miss E. M. Knopet; Mrs. M. L. Lemon; Miss C. E. Lone- FIELD; G. C. Morris; Lt.-Commdr. K. W. Newatz; Lt.-Col. W.A. Payn; Miss F. Prrr; Sir M. C. Seton; D. ABEL Smr1tTH; Mrs. F. K. Staunton; F. G. Swayne; I. M. THomson; N. Tracy; F. J. WaypELin; Capt. W. B. INCLEDON WEBBER; C. H. Weis; T. WELLS.
Guests of the Club:—Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Lock ey.
Guests :—Mrs. AScHERSON; Mrs. EK. D. Atkins; Mrs. D. A. BANNERMAN; Miss G. Bopkin; Mrs. A. W. Boyp; Miss B. BRAMWELL; Mrs. G. Brown; Miss M. BRownriae ; MissCaLkin ; H. Catkin; W.M.M. Cuapman; A. CHAMPION ; Mrs. J. CHARLES; J. CHARLES; Miss M. R. CHARTERIS; Mrs. J. Cuarkson; E. M. Fynes Cuinton; Lady Cox; Miss p’Aviegpor; H.H. Davis; M. L. Davis; G. pres Forass; L. Dunne; H. Farmar; H. T. Fotry; Mrs. H. A. GILBERT; Miss GILBERT; A. C. GLADSTONE; Miss C. E. GopMAN; Mrs. GRAHAM-VIVIAN; P. GRAHAM-VIVIAN; Miss Harman; Mrs. Hart; J. L. HAwkins; Mrs. HAwortH ; C. W. Hostey; E.J. Hosxina; Miss HuLsE; Capt. KNoBEL; Mrs. R. E. Monty Kyrie; Mrs. G. CarmicuarL Low; Mrs. P. R. Lowrt; H. G. Lowruer; Mrs. N. S. Lucas; G. McCartuy; Mrs. C. W. Mackwortu-Pragp; A. G. Morris; Miss M. Morris; D. M. Murray-Rust; Mrs. T,
117 [ Vol. lv.
NIGHTINGALE; 'T. NIGHTINGALE; Prince SERGE OPPOPOV ; L. PaRMENTER; Dr. R. V. PayNE; W. H. PERRETT; F. PIKE; Mrs. W. H. Potten; Capt. W. H. Potten; Mrs. B. B. Rivizre; Dr. D. W. Seru-SmitH; Mrs. A. G. L. SLADEN; Miss SuADEN; Miss D. SrerntHaL; O. R. Swayne; Mrs. A. LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON; B. THomson; A. TRacy; H. Tracy; Mrs. B. W. Tucker; Mrs. J. Vincent; Mrs. INCLEDON Wesser; Hon. Mrs. H. WuistteR; Miss WILKINSON; W. A. Wriutiams; Miss Z. Wittiams; Miss TaLBot WINTER ; Mrs. H. F. Wiruersy; T. F. WitHersy; Mrs. N. WYKEs; N. Wykes; Miss D. M. Wynne.
Members of the B. O. C. 71; Members of the B. O. U. 27; Guests of the Club 2; Guests 81; and 12 others. Total 193— a new record for the Dinner.
The evening’s programme consisted of the following items :—
(1) Mr. R. Catsterr showed a series of slides of the Hen- Harrier in its breeding haunts in the Orkneys. These very excellent photographs depicted many scenes of the home life of the Harrier at its nest.
(2) Colonel R. MEINERTZHAGEN gave a lecture, illustrated by lantern-slides, on some of the Mallophaga found on different birds.
(3) Mr. H. A. GiuBErtT showed a very interesting film, one taken by himself and Mr. A. B. Brook, of the Merlin at its nest.
(4) Mr. Eric J. Hoskine showed a series of slides taken from photographs of the following birds at their nests :—Jay (Garrulus glandarius rufitergqum), Hawfinch (Coccothraustes c. coccothraustes), Wood-Lark (Lullula a. arborea), Long-tailed Tit (Aigithalos caudatus roseus), Red-backed Shrike (Lanius c. collurio), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobaies major anglicus), Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates minor comminutus), Kestrel (Falco t. tinnunculus), Redshank (T'ringa t. totanus), Snipe (Capella q. gallinago), Ringed Plover (Chara- drius h. hiaticula), Waterhen (Gallinula chloropus), and Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps c. cristatus). Mr. Hosking is to be
Vol. lv.] 118
congratulated upon the excellence of his work, his photo- graphs being of the highest class and of great interest.
(5) Mr. R. M. Lockury showed a film taken by himself and Professor J. S. HuxtEy of the Gannets on Grassholm. Many of the members of the Union and Club would remember having seen this film at the VIIIth International Ornithological Con- gress at Oxford in July of last year. This film would also recall, to those who visited the islands off the Pembrokeshire
coast after that Congress, the very enjoyable and interesting day spent there.
Mr. G. L. BaTEs sent the following notes :—
1. On the type-locality of Pycnonotus x. xanthopygos (Hem- prich & Ehrenberg).
When Reichenow separated two races of this Bulbul in countries bordering the Mediterranean (Ornith. Monatsber. 1916, p. 181) he assumed that Syria was the typical country of Hemprich and Ehrenberg’s Ixus xanthopygos, and Hartert expressly says (V6g. pal. Fauna, p. 461) ‘‘ the authors describe the species from Syria.”” That this, however, is not the correct view of the case appears from the following considerations. The fact of the description of this bird being appended as a footnote to a list of birds observed in Syria is a mere accident from the arrangement of the lists whereby Syria comes before Arabia. ‘There is no evidence that the authors had any Syrian specimen, while they certainly had some from Arabia, which must have been the basis of their description. Moreover, the type-locality was virtually designated as Arabia by Bonaparte in 1856 (Comptes Rendus, xlii. p. 765) when he described his Ixos vallombrose provisionally with the words ‘“ Peut-étre identique avec le xanthopygios, Ehrenberg, d’Arabie,”’ and “Si, contre notre attente, cet Jxvos différait du xanthopygios, que nous ne possédons pas d’Arabie, on pourrait le nommer Ixos vallombrosz.”’
Bonaparte’s specimen was from Jaffa in Palestine, where, according to the evidence of a specimen from the same place in the British Museum, and most of the others from the coastal part of Palestine, is found mainly the darker northern
119 [Vol. lv.
(Syrian) race rather than the lighter and greyer Arabian one, though the latter is found in the valley of the Jordan. There- fore the name vallombrosxe should be applied to the Syrian race and xzanthopygos to the Arabian one.
Dr. Stresemann has kindly sent me the following informa- tion from the Berlin Museum :—‘‘All of Hemprich and Ehrenberg’s specimens of Pycnonotus xanthopygos (five in all) have been collected in Arabia, and none in Syria... three of them bearing the locality ‘Arabien,’ one ‘ Arab. merid.’ and one ‘Arab. sept.’ In choosing a particular part of Arabia as a restricted type-locality it will be well to avoid the south, from which the still doubtful race reschenowi was described. The name ‘Ixus xanthopygus’ appears in Ehrenberg’s list of birds observed ‘in Arabiae septentrionalis montibus sinai- ticus, in insulis sinus akabani, et prope Moileh.’ As this is not a mountain bird, the exact place where it was obtained may well be Moileh or Muwailah, on the Arabian coast near the north end of the Red Sea.”
Thus the two established races and one doubtful race of Pycnonotus xanthopygos, with their type-localities, are :—
(1) Pycnonotus xanthopygos xanthopygos (Hemprich & Ehrenberg), Muwailah near the north end of the Red Sea.
Distribution —From the Jordan Valley throughout Arabia (or all but the south-western part of it.)
(2) Pycnonotus xanthopygos vallombrosz (Bonaparte), Jafta. Distribution.—From the coast of Palestine to the Taurus Mts.
(3) ? Pycnonotus xanthopygos reichenowi Lorenz & Hellmayr, Yashbum in Hadramant, near the border of Aden Protectorate,
2. On two Forms of Serinus angolensis in Arabia.
A comparison of the Yemen series of Serinus angolensis rothschildt in fresh plumage (undoubtedly the same as the poor specimen from the typical locality north of Aden) with six specimens recently sent by Mr. Philby, of which the last two are in new plumage and killed in winter, like the Yemen ones, shows plainly that they are of different races. The new Philby specimens agree better than do those of S. a. rothschildi with the description of Carpodacus uropygialis Heuglin (Ornith. Nordost Afrika’s, 1871, p. 642) ; Reichenow’s identification of
Vol. lv.] 120
rothschildi with uropygialis was made with few and poor speci- mens for comparison. But even if the new specimens are of the same race as the bird Heuglin described (from Kunfuda, 200 miles down the coast from Jidda), his name cannot be used, as it was preoccupied (see Sclater, Syst. Av. Aithiop. | 1930, pp. 821 & 822). Therefore I propose
Serinus angolensis philbyi, subsp. nov.
Description.—Greyer and less heavily streaked than Serinus a. rothschildt; underparts whiter (less buffy); bill shorter and stumpier, with the upper mandible projecting less beyond the lower.
Measurements.—Length of wing 63-67 mm.
Distribution.—The localities of Mr. Philby’s specimens are Taif, places near it, and Ashaira, 75 miles north-east of Mecca. It may have been this race also which was collected at Kunfuda, as stated above.
Type.—No. 733 of H. St. J. Philby’s collection, Ashaira, January 13, 1935.
3. On a new Race of Cinnyris. Cinnyris habessinicus kinneari, subsp. nov.
Description.—Male in adult metallic plumage indistinguish- able from C. h. hellmayri from south-western Arabia, but female markedly different, thus :—Above much darker brown ; the underparts darker even than the upper, each feather being almost black, but with a light or whitish fringe, giving the throat and breast a scaly appearance. Under wing- coverts more black than white, the light quill-lining obscure. The six female specimens here described were killed in February and April and (one) in September ; the specimens of hellmayri killed in March are much lighter, especially beneath, and have more white than dusky under the wing and a distinct light quill-lining.
Distribution —The wadis among the mountains of the Mecca district, the farthest inland locality where it was obtained being Ashaira, 75 miles north-east of Mecca. In February these Sunbirds seemed about to begin breeding.
121 [Vol. lv.
Type-—No. 16 of H. St. J. Philby’s collection, 9, near Sail (east of Mecca), April 14, 1934.
Remarks.—A juvenile male secured by Mr. Philby at Ashaira September 1 is so dark as to be almost black, looking surprisingly different from one of the same age of the typical habessinicus from Somaliland (none of that age of hellmayri were found for comparison). There is the same sort of differ- ence between females of habessinicus and those of hellmayri, the latter being darker than the former, but not so dark as the new race.
Mr. J. DELAcOUR sent the following note :—
I have been lately able to examine, thanks to the kindness of the Authorities of the Leyden Museum, the type-specimen of the Sumatran bird which has been referred to by Finsch (Notes Leyden Mus. xxii. 1901, p. 221), and also by Sharpe (Hand-list of Birds, iv. 1903, p. 52), as Mixornis frigida (Hartlaub). Miller in MS. Mus. Lugd. called it Zosterops frigida, from which Hartlaub described it as Helewa frigida (J. f. Ornith. 1865, p. 24). Gray (Hand-list of Birds, i. 1869, p. 164) and Gadow (Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus. ix. 1884, p. 203) called it Zosterops frigida.
In his recent first volume of his ‘ Birds from the Island of Java,’ p. 286, Dr. N. Kuroda mentions it under the name of Mixornis flavicollis frigida, and I did the same (with ‘‘(?) status uncertain’”’) in a recent list of Mixornis which I gave in the ‘ Bulletin ’ (antea, p. 100). Since Miiller’s specimens, the bird has not been met with in Sumatra, and remained a mystery. None of the authors mentioned above, with the exception of Hartlaub and Finsch, seem to have actually seen the type-specimen and the two cotypes. I am now able to say that it is a well-preserved and normal specimen of the Sumatran form of Stachyris chrysec hitherto known as S. c. bocagii Salvadori, who described it in Ann. Mus. Civ. Genova, xiv. 1879, p. 223.
It will now have to be called Stachyris chrysxa frigida (Hartlaub, 1865).
Vol. ‘lv.] 122
Mr. W. TueEsiceR and Mr. M. MEYNELL sent the following description of a new race of Rock-Sparrow :—
Gymnoris pyrgita dankali, subsp. nov.
Description.—Decidedly greyer and with no brown on back—the head is also darker than in typical G. p. pyrgita. Much darker than G. p. pallida from country west of Nile, and smaller than G. p. massaica from Kenya.
Measurements—Type g, exposed culmen 12 mm., wing 86 mm.; 2 99, exposed culmen 12-13 mm., wing 81 mm..
Distribution.—Adau, Danakil country of Eastern Abyssinia.
Type.—In the British Museum, W.T. no. 270; ¢, Adau, Danakil, March 6, 1934. Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1934.8.9.3.
Remarks.—Three specimens were obtained, all from Adau, and no more were seen elsewhere. It is probable that this is the lowland form—G. p. pyrgita being found on the Abyssinia Plateau from Eritrea [Bogosland] to the high ground of British Somaliland.
Mr. Jack VINCENT sent the following communication :—
When describing a very unusual Apalis from Nyasaland as Apalis macphersoni (Bull B. O. C. liv. 1934, p. 177: Cholo Mt.), I unfortunately overlooked Apalis chariessa (Reichenow, Orn. Centralb. 1879, p. 114: Mitole, Tana R.), of which Reiche- now also gave a plate (Die Vog. Afr. Atlas, Taf. xxi. fig. 2, 1902). The latter species appears to be represented by two examples in the Berlin Museum (see Fischer & Reichenow, J. f. Ornith. 1879, pp. 288 & 354), and the Nyasaland birds must now be identified as a subspecies of it, with the name of Apalis chariessa macphersont.
This Nyasaland form differs from typical chariessa of coastal Kenya Colony in having a larger wing (54 against 47 mm.) and much longer tail (94 against 50-65 mm.), and has a darker suffusion of orange coloration on the upper breast below the pectoral band. I have already described the female of macphersoni, but the female of chariessa apparently remains unknown,
123 [Vol. lv.
Capt. C. H. B. Grant and Mr. C. W. MackwortH-PRAED sent the following correction :—
With reference to the Bull. B. O.C. Iv. 1935, p. 92, under note 6, “‘ Dadab, 23 miles north of Eastern Abyssinia,” should read ‘“‘ Dadab, 7 miles east of Harrawa Station, Eastern Abyssinia.”’
NOTICES.
The next Meeting of the Club will be held on Wednesday, April 10, 1935, at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W. 7. The Dinner at 7 p.m.
Members intending to dine must inform the Hon. Secretary, Mr. C. W. Mackworth-Praed, 51 Onslow Gardens, London, S.W. 7, on the post-card sent out with the ‘ Bulletin.’
Members who wish to make any communication at the next Meeting of the Club must give notice to the Editor, Dr. G. Carmichael Low, 86 Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, W. 1, as soon as possible. The titles of their contributions will then appear on the Agenda published before each Meeting. All MSS. for publication in the ‘ Bulletin’ must be given to the Editor before or at the Meeting.
Agenda. 1. The Marquess of Tavistock will read a paper on ‘“‘ The Extent to which Captivity modifies the Habits of Birds.”
2. Mr. W. L. Sclater will give an account of a recent visit to Trinidad and Tobago.
SP BULLETIN
we OF THE
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB.
No. CCCOLXXXVI.
Tue three-hundred-and-eighty-first Meeting of the Club was held at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W. 7, on Wednesday, April 10, 1935.
Chairman: Mr. D. A. BANNERMAN.
Members present :—Miss C. M. Actanp ; W. B. ALEXANDER; E. C. Stuart BaKer; Miss P. Barcuay-Smitu; F. J. F. BARRINGTON; Hon. G. L. Cuarreris; H. P. O. CLEAVE; A. Ezra; Miss J. M. Ferrier; Capt. H. A. GILBERT; W. E. GiEce; A. G. GLENISTER; Capt. C. H. B. Grant; Col. A. E. Hamerton; B.G. Harrison; Dr. J. M. Harrison; P. A. D. Hottom; H. P. W. Hutson; Dr. N. H. Joy; N. B. Kinnear (Vice-Chairman); Miss E. P. Leaca; Dr. G. CarmicHaEL
~ Low (Editor); W. P. Lowe; Dr. N. S. Lucas voit ein Ea,
McKirrrick ; C.W. MackwortH-PraxEp (Hon. Sec. & Treas.) ; Dr. P. H. Manson-Baur; Dr. W.N. May; G. M. MATHEWS ; C. OtpHAM; W.L.Scuater; D. Sera-Smiru; Major M. H. Stmmonps; Miss E. L. Turner; Mrs. W. Boyp Watt; H. F.
WITHERBY. Guest of the Club :—Major ALLAN Brooks.
Guests :—E. Barcntay-SmirH; Mrs. R. Hata-THOMASs ; Mrs. CHRISTOPHER Hawkes; A. P. Hay; Lt.-Comm. A. M. Hueues, R.N.; D. Lack; G. N. May; Mrs. W. L. Scuater; EK. G. Stmonps; N. Wuirts.
[April 30, 1935.] a VOL, LV.
Vol. lv.] 126
Before the Meeting began, the Chairman referred to the loss which the Club had sustained by the death, on April 7, of Sir John Rose Bradford, K.C.M.G., M.D., F.R.C.P., F.RB.S., a very old member of the Club and a past Vice-President of the Union.
Major ALLAN Brooks, guest of the Club, made some interesting remarks upon certain subspecies.
He protested against what he called the debasement of the species, and quoted as an example the placing of the Willow-Tit (Parus atricapillus kleinschmidti) as a subspecies of the Black-capped Chickadee of North America (Parus (Penthesies) atricapillus atricapillus). Though not disputing the distinction of the Willow-Tit from the Marsh-Tit (Parus palustris dressert), he could see nothing special in its resemblance to P. a. atricapillus. The song of the latter was utterly different—a three-syllabled whistle.
He did not think that all Nearctic species that were similar to Palearctic types were necessarily subspecies of the latter. The Redhead of America (Nyroca americana) was not more similar to the Pochard (Nyroca ferina) than was the Canvas- — back (Nyroca valisineria), and he thought that the Green- winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) and the Common Teal (Anas crecca) were deserving of full and separate specific rank.
He had also noted that J. L. Peters, in his recent list of the ‘ Birds of the World,’ had made Charadrius semipalmatus a subspecies of C. hiaticula, though these two were structurally distinct. There were many other instances in the work quoted where no consideration had been given to differences in the life-habits of the ‘‘ subspecies ”’ listed. He thought that if any doubt on the subject existed it was better to give full specific rank rather than subspecific.
Mr. David BANNERMAN exhibited a selection of birds of many species which had recently been obtained by Mr. Willoughby P. Lowe in Ashanti, and made the following remarks :—
I am exhibiting tonight a number of beautiful and interesting birds which Mr. W. P. Lowe and Miss F. Waldron have recently collected from the Gold Coast.
127 [Vol. lv.
It will be remembered that in the winter of 1933-34 the same travellers made a large collection in the forests of Ashanti on behalf of the British Museum. I made some mention of the results of that trip at our April meeting in 1934 (Bull. B.0O.C. liv. 1934, p. 122).
This year they again visited the Gold Coast in the hope of adding a number of species to their former collection. In this they have been successful. They have not only secured a number of interesting species which they failed to get the year previously, but have been instrumental in making two or three discoveries of particular interest which I propose to mention to you now.
I am pleased to say that Mr. Lowe is present with us this evening and will be glad to answer any questions which may be put to him about his experiences. The birds are exhibited in the cases on the table.
T am now engaged in selecting those birds which are required by the British Museum and the remainder will go to the Royal Natural History Museum in Sweden.
Note on Bycanistes subcylindricus (P. L. Sclater) and Bycanistes subquadratus Cabanis.
The discovery in the forests of Ashanti of the Grey-cheeked Hornbill (B. subcylindricus) finally settles the question of the type-locality of that bird, and proves the very striking dis- tinction between it and the Grey-cheeked Hornbill, which ranges from Southern Cameroon and Angola across Central Africa to Uganda, and which has erroneously been considered to be typical Bycanistes subcylindricus. The following is a short account of how this has come about.
The type of “ Buceros subcylindricus”’ P. L. Sclater was purchased alive by the Zoological Society of London in July 1870 from a certain M. Nathan, without its locality of origin being known. It lived in the Zoological Gardens until May 29, 1878, when it died, and the skin came into the possession of the British Museum. The bird was, unfortunately, a female ; but, even so, while still alive its difference from any known Hornbill in those days was remarked by Dr. Sclater, who, in the Proc. Zool. Soc. 1870, p. 668, described it as a new
a2
Vol. lv.] 728
species under the above name, and gave an excellent coloured plate (xxxix.), drawn from life by Keulemans. For some reason unexplained (for Dr. Vevers assures me there is no record of the country from which this bird came in the Zoological Society’s records) Dr, Sclater gave as its habitat “Africa, occidentalis,” and ‘‘ West Africa ’’ appears on the label. Presumably he had some reason for doing so, and, however much we should like to do so, we cannot get away from the fact that ‘‘ West Africa’’ in 1870 usually meant the coast of Guinea. Another female specimen, also without place of origin, came into the hands of the Zoological Society in 1879, and this bird, which was purchased from Cross—a Liverpool dealer—is also preserved in the British Museum. It is very unfortunate that the characters of this race do not show in the female; moreover, both the type and the other bird from the Zoological Gardens had their wings clipped, so that measurements are impossible to ascertain ; the casque of the type-specimen is also damaged.
From 1879 until 1935 no specimen of the Grey-cheeked Hornbill has been found in Upper Guinea, but in 1880 Cabanis described and figured a Hornbill which had been obtained by the traveller Otto Schitt at Mona Hongolo, Angola. Noticing how this bird differed from the figure of B. sub- cylindricus, Cabanis named it Bycanistes subquadratus in the ‘Journal fir Ornithologie,’ 1880, p. 350, pointing out the great amount of white in the casque and giving an excellent plate (i.) of the bird in colour.
Thence it seems to have been generally assumed that the type of subcylindricus must have come from Angola or S. Cameroon, for the bird which Cabanis named subquadratus was soon found to range right across Africa to Uganda. The name subguadratus was sunk into the synonymy of subcylin- dricus, and from that day to this it has been agreed that there is only one Grey-cheeked Hornbill in Africa.
Mr. Willoughby Lowe’s discovery in Ashanti that a Grey- eheeked Hornbill actually does exist in the Gold Coast forests, and is quite common there, has put a very different complexion on the matter. Four specimens were shot, three males and one female, and it was at once apparent to Mr. Lowe that his birds differed from the Angola-Uganda Grey-cheeked Hornbill in (i.) the small amount of white on the casque;
[Vol. lv.
129
TrExtT-ria. 1,
Bycanistes subcylindricus subcylindricus (P. L. Sclater).
FIG. 2.
TEXtT-
Bycanistes subcylindricus subquadratus Cabanis.
Vol. lv.] 130
(ii.) different shape of the casque in the male, protruding as it does in a point instead of being cut off square; (iii.) in its smaller dimensions generally (for which see below).
We must, therefore, accept for the Gold Coast bird the name Bycanistes subcylindricus (P. L. Sclater), and for the bird hitherto known as such, which extends from Angola and Cameroon to Uganda and Niam-Niam, the name Bycanistes subcylindricus subquadratus Cabanis must be employed.
This will necessitate an alteration in my book, ‘ Birds of Tropical West Africa,’ vol. iii. p. 326, where the whole of the notes, and also text-fig. 90, should refer to the Lower Guinea bird, Bycanistes subcylindricus subquadratus, and the addition, under a separate heading, of Bycanistes subcylindricus sybcylindricus as occurring also within our area.
We shall then have the following races of the Grey-cheeked Hornbill in Africa :—
1. BYCANISTES SUBCYLINDRICUS SUBCYLINDRICUS.
Buceros subcylindricus P. L. Sclater, P. Z.S. 1870, p. 668, pl. xxxix.: “Africa occidentalis ”’ as the restricted typical locality I designate Ashanti.
Range.—tThe forests of Ashanti in the Gold Coast.
2. BYCANISTES SUBCYLINDRICUS SUBQUADRATUS.
Bycanistes subquadratus Cabanis, J. f. Ornith. 1880, p. 350: Mona Hongola, Angola.
Range.—Angola and Southern Cameroon, extending through the gallery forests of the Belgian Congo to Uganda, Niam- Niam, Kenya (Mt. Elgon), and Lakes Albert and Victoria.
Comparative Table of Measurements (in mm.).
B. s.subcylindricus.|B. s. subquadratus.
Male. lame Male. | Female.
| Bill (from base of casque) ....|/149-166| 133 | 160-176 | 140-152
| Height of casque above nostril. 43— 50, — 59— 63 —
| WV GRE joke os Wane gusvatay aus tanals tenets 315-335 305 350-364 | 328-340 Tet’ 1) ee eee 2 a eee te ton ste 238-250 234 269-290 | 255-283
WY! MiSs) bt Rye ee SE me AL 54— 57 50 54— 58| 52-— 57
3 3, 192 measured :|9 g,4 9 measured | Ashanti, Gold S. Cameroons & Coast. | Uganda.
131 (Vol. lv.
Mr. BANNERMAN next described a new race of the Yellow- fronted Penduline Tit from the Gold Coast, which he proposed to name
Anthoscopus flavifrons waldroni, subsp. nov.
Description (adult male).—Differs from A. flavifrons flavifrons in the brighter, more yellowish-olive plumage of the crown, mantle, back, rump, and wing-coverts, and in the paler underparts, which are more yellow, particularly on the breast, than in the typical species. Eye dark brown, bill black, the base of lower mandible and edges of both mandibles bluish-white.
Measurements of type—-Bill 10, wing 55, tail 28, tarsus 13-5 mm.
Distribution.—The forests of Ashanti, Gold Coast.
Type.—3 adult, Goaso, Ashanti, Dec. 15, 1934. Collectors: W. P. Lowe and Miss F. Waldron.
Remarks.—The discovery, after many years, of a race of Anthoscopus flavifrons flavifrons in Upper Guinea is of great interest. The typical species inhabits the Cameroon forests, and no other race of this bird had previously been discovered. I have much pleasure in naming this bird after Miss Fanny Waldron, who accompanied Mr. Lowe to the Gold Coast and who has been instrumental in obtaining many valuable specimens—particularly of fish—for the Zoological Depart- ments of the British Museum.
There is a second species of Penduline Tit in Mr. Lowe’s collection, which he obtained at Bole, Northern Territories of the Gold Coast. A cursory examination shows it to agree best with Anthoscopus parvulus parvulus, the Egyptian Sudan race, rather than with the more brightly coloured specimens collected by Mr. G. L. Bates on the Upper Volta, French Sudan, and referred by him to A. parvulus senegalensis. This is the first time that A. parvulus has been recorded from the Gold Coast. This distribution is very puzzling.
Mr. BANNERMAN then drew attention to an extension of range of Andropadus curvirostris leoninus.
The presence in Mr. W. P. Lowe’s Ashanti collection of five examples of the Sierra Leone Sombre Bulbul (A. c. leoninus Bates) extends the range of this race from eastern Sierra
Vol. lv.] 132
Leone to the Gold Coast, in which latter country Mr. Lowe secured examples at Mampong and Goaso.
In appearance it is very like Andropadus virens grisescens, but may be distinguished in the hand from that bird by its more slender, longer bill and by having the plumage of the underparts browner below, with more of a fulvous wash and hardly any trace of pale yellow on the belly.
It was only within the last five years that the presence of a race of Andropadus curvirostris in Upper Guinea was made known by Mr. G. L. Bates, who secured specimens in Sierra Leone and French Guinea.
Mr. BANNERMAN finally exhibited an adult, young, and eggs of the Ahanta Francolin (Francolinus ahantensis ahanten- sis), and made the following observations :— |
Although the Ahanta Francolin has such a wide range in West Africa, Mr. W. P. Lowe is the first collector to secure specimens of the young and at the same time a clutch of eggs_
Description of Eggs of F'. ahantensis ahantensis.
A single egg sent to me by Col. W. R. Thompson from Sierra Leone was described in my first volume of the ‘ Birds of Tropical West Africa,’ p. 331, as probably that of F’. ahantensis ahantensis, and although that egg differs in its paler colour from the eggs secured by Mr. Lowe in Ashanti, I believe it to be merely another type laid by the same species. Exactly similar differences are shown in two clutches of eggs of Francolinus squamatus squamatus obtained by Mr. G. L. Bates in Cameroon. With regard to Mr. Lowe’s clutch, here exhibited, the bird was seen to leave the nest at Goaso, Ashanti, on Dec. 17, 1934; the nest was placed in a dense weedy patch in a depression and was lined with grass and leaves. There were five eggs in the nest, and probably that was not the full complement. The eggs are all very much alike, of a uniform rich, rather deep pinkish-buff colour (the single egg from Sierra Leone was pinkish pale creamy buff, a much paler egg than those in the Gold Coast clutch). The shell is closely and finely pitted and in shape somewhat pointed at the narrow end. In colour, shape, and texture they match very closely one of the clutches of Francolinus squamatus squamatus
133 [Vol. lv.
in the British Museum, but the Scaly Francolin’s eggs are rather more brownish-buff than those of the Ahanta Francolin. That the Scaly Francolin occasionally lays eggs of a more creamy-buff colour is shown in a second clutch obtained by Mr. Bates, which eggs closely resemble the pale type of egg of F. ahantensis ahantensis already referred to.
Another incomplete clutch (4 eggs) was sent to the British Museum recently by Mr. F. C. Holman, who secured them at Kumasi. In these eggs the shell is smoother, more glossy, and less coarsely pitted than in the other eggs of F. ahantensis. In colour they vary slightly from creamy buff to pinkish-buff, and are rather darker than the single egg from Sierra Leone.
It is evident that both the Scaly and Ahanta Francolins lay two distinct types of eggs. There is no room for confusion of the species, as the Ahanta Francolin ranges from Senegal to Nigeria, while the Scaly Francolin inhabits the forests of Equatorial Africa from Cameroon, Gabon, and Portuguese Congo eastwards across the Belgian Congo; their respective range is not known to overlap.
Kgg-measurements of Francolinus ahantensis.
Clutch A.—Goaso, Ashanti, W. P. Lowe coll.: 42x 32-5, 42x 33, 41-5 x 32-5, 42°5 x 33, 42-5 33 mm. |
Clutch B.—Kumasi, Ashanti, F. C. Holman coll.: 43x33, 40 x 32-5, 41-5 x 32-5, 41 x 32 mm.
Clutch C.—Samba Sere, Karina District, Sierra Leone, Col. W. R. Thompson coll. : single egg, 41 x 32 mm.
Description of Chicks of F’. ahantensis ahantensis.
Chicks of the Ahanta Francolin were obtained at Mampong, Ashanti, between February 10 and 16, 1934, and as they have never been described before I append the following description.
Crown and nape chocolate-brown, bordered on either side by a broad cream-coloured band slightly tinged with brown, which passes from the base of the bill above the eye and, narrowing, continues down the neck. Lores and cheeks creamy buff, a streak behind the eye and ear-coverts brown. Feathers of the mantle and scapulars brown, with pale shafts,
Vol. lv.] 134
each with a triangular-shaped whitish tip and a large oblong- shaped black spot on the inner web; the same markings continued on the inner secondaries. Wings brown, the inner coverts with black terminal spots on one web and cream tips. Primaries dark brown on the inner web, reddish- brown on the outer. Tail reddish-brown, finely vermiculated with darker shades. Chin and throat cream. Underparts brown, each feather of the breast and sides with a white triangular-shaped tip and a few subterminal black spots. Under tail-coverts uniform umber-brown. Iris brown; bill brownish-horn colour, lower mandible paler; legs and feet pinkish-yellow.
Mr. W. L. ScuaterR spoke on his recent visit to Trinidad and Tobago, where he had been the guest of Sir Charles Belcher, the Chief Justice, for three weeks. He mentioned some of the more conspicuous birds he had seen with Sir Charles, and gave an account of a visit to the cave or ravine in the Arima Valley, Trinidad, where he met with the Oil-Bird or Guacharo (Steatornis caripensis). He also described an excursion to a small islet off the coast of Tobago where the Shearwater, Puffinus lherminiert, nests. He exhibited four of its eggs taken on that occasion, which had been presented to the British Museum (Natural History) by Sir Charles Belcher.
Mr. N. B. Kinnear exhibited, and made some remarks on, some of the birds collected in Eastern Bhutan last year by Messrs. F. Ludlow and G. Sherriff, and also described a new species of Fulvetta collected on the expedition, viz. :—
Fulvetta ludlowi, sp. n.
Description (male and female)—Head chocolate-brown, sides of head and nape reddish-brown; mantle slightly paler than head; rump, scapulars, and upper tail-coverts ochraceous brown; tail the same colour as back and edged with ochraceous on the outer margins. Throat white heavily streaked with brown, rest of underside grey, with the exception of the flanks, thighs, vent, and under tail-coverts, which are pale ochraceous brown.
135 [Vol. lv.
A juvenile is similar in colour, but slightly paler.
Colour of soft parts —Bill dark horn, fleshy at base of lower mandible ; feet fleshy brown ; iris brown.
Measurements Six gd, wing 59-64; eight 99, wing 56-60 mm.
Distribution.—The extreme east of Bhutan, at elevation of 7500 feet (October) to 11,000 feet (early September).
Type—g, October 20, 1934, Sakden, Eastern Bhutan, 9000 feet. Collected by F. Ludlow. Collector’s no. 3066. Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1935.4.5.1.
Remarks.—This species differs principally from Fulvetia vinipectus vinipectus, found in Sikkim and Bhutan to about 91° E., in the absence of a white line, bordered above by. a black one, which extends from above the eye to the nape, and the very much more pronounced marking on the throat and upper breast.
Mr. N. B. KInnEaR also exhibited several kinds of Pigeon- whistles from China, and made the following remarks :—
These Pigeons’ whistles, which are made out of gourds reeds, and bamboo, were presented to the Museum by Mr. David Landale at the suggestion of Mr. Hugh Gladstone.
Major Allan Brooks has kindly drawn my attention to Robert Swinhoe’s remarks on these whistles in the P. Z.S. for 1870, p. 431. Swinhoe, writing from Pekin, says :—‘‘ I was tired of watching the Rooks and Sparrows disporting them- selves among the trees of the Legation, and the myriad Swifts that were constantly skimming the air above, and of listening to the melancholy moaning of the Pigeons that flew in flocks round and round. (The Chinese attach little hollow gourds or light reed-pipes slit at their tops, to the base of the Pigeon’s tail. These face the wind and produce eolian music as the bird flies. In every flock two or three Pigeons carry these whistles.)”’
Mr. C. B. Rickett has also kindly supplied some further information, and writes as follows :—*‘ The object is to protect the Pigeon from Hawks. I know what a heavy toll the Pere- grines about Foochow levied on Pigeons, both tame and wild. The Chinese bankers used to have baskets containing Pigeons
Vol. lv.] 136
hung on the poles of their sedan chairs when they came in to Foochow from their native city. As soon as they had transacted business with a European bank a note was attached to a bird’s leg and the bird sent off. I noticed that none of their birds carried whistles, and was told that it impeded the birds’ flight, so they always sent off two birds in case of ‘accidents.’ The whistles were only put on when their birds were let out of the lofts for their morning and evening flights.”’ |
Projecting below the whistle is a small piece of bamboo with a hole in it. This is inserted between the Pigeon’s two central tail-feathers, which are then tied together and a piece of quill passed through the hole in the bamboo to keep the whistle in its place.
- Professor Oscar NEuMANN sent the following descriptions of four new or hitherto unnamed geographical races from the Indo-Malayan region :—
Crypsirina varians longipennis, subsp. nov.
Description.—Similar in every respect to C. v. varians (Latham) from Java (Sumatra, Borneo, Malacca), but with longer wings and tail.
Measurements.—Wing (adults) 118-127 mm., as compared with 105-118 mm. in about fifteen specimens from Java ; tail 180-200 mm., as against 170-195 mm. (cf. Jabouille and Delacour, ‘Oiseaux de l’Indo-Chine Frangaise,’ vol. iv. p. 289).
Distribution.—Siam and French Indo-China.
Type.—In my collection: 9, Chantaboon, south-east Siam, 21.2.1930. C.J. Aagaard, leg.
Remarks.—Specimens from Sumatra, Borneo, and Malacca seem inseparable from Java (terra typica) specimens. ‘The difference in the intensity of gloss, to which Sharpe refers in the Catalogue of Birds Brit. Mus. vol. iii., seems due to freshness or abrasion of the plumage. |
Cyanoderma melanothorax mendeni, subsp. nov.
Description.—Very distinct from the four hitherto de- scribed races of C. melanothorax, but nearest to C. m. albigula Stresemann from Mt. Papandajan (Ornith. Monatsber. 1930,
137 [Vol. Iv.
p. 148). The upper side is, however, lighter and olive without any reddish wash. The cap is much lighter than in any other race, almost sand-coloured. The throat is white as in C. m. albigula, with a slight grey wash. The underside below the black crop-bar is lighter grey. There is scarcely any indication of the yellowish-brown colour of the belly which is so strong in C. m. melanothorax and still remarkable in C. m. albigula. There is no difference in size. Wing 56-58 mm.
Distribution.—Hitherto only known from the type-locality.
Type.—In my collection: g ad., Indromajoe, east of Cheri- bon, north coast of West Central Java, 17.12.1929. J. J. Menden, leg. Named after Herr J. J. Menden, of Cheribon, Java. |
Remarks.—Three specimens were compared with the types of C.m. albigula and with about twelve topotypical specimens of C. m. melanothorax from Mt. Gedeh, near Buitensorg and Mt. Pangerano. C. m. intermedia Robinson & Kloss and C. m. baliensis Hartert were also compared in the Bird Room, British Museum (Natural History).
The population which occurs on Mt. Tjerimai, south of Cheribon, is somewhat intermediate between my new race and ‘C. m. albigula, but nearer to the latter.
The hitherto known races of C. melanothorax are, from west to east :—
1. C. m. melanothorax Temminck. Mt. Gedeh and Mt. Pangerano.
2. C. m. albigula Stresemann. Mt. Papandajan.
(Intermediate specimens between this and the next one occur on Mt. Tjerimai.)
3. C. m. mendent Neumann. Forest of Indromajoe, north coast of West Central Java.
4. C. m. intermedia Robinson & Kloss. Idjeh Mt., Eastern Java. . . 5. C. m. baliensis Hartert. Lowland of Bali.
As Cyanoderma melanothorax seems to be a very plastic species, other races may still be expected on the extinct volcanoes of Eastern Java and, perhaps, in the forests of the south coast.
Vol. lv.] 138
Bubo ketupu pageli, subsp. nov.
Description.—Similar to B. k. ketuwpu (Horsfield) from Java, but far more reddish or brick-red.
Measurements.—Wing 310-330 mm.
Distribution.—North-east Borneo. The race seems to be restricted to the mountainous parts. ,
Type.—In my collection: ad., Marudo Bay, Benkoeka River, east coast of British North Borneo, 2. 5.1893, Pagel, leg.
Remarks.—Named after Herr Pagel, who in 1893 and 1894 sent large collections of birds from Marudo and Darvel Bay to the Berlin Museum.
There is one more adult specimen of this race from Darvel Bay and a young specimen from Kina Balu in the Berlin Museum and one specimen from the Lamuk River in the British Museum (Natural History).
Bubo ketupu aagaardi, subsp. nov.
Description.cSimilar to B. k. ketupu from Java, but much paler, especially on the underside.
Measurements.—Wing 315-345 mm. : Distribution.—From Peninsular Siam to Annam in the north-east and to Burma and South Assam in the north-west.
Type.—In my collection: 9, Bang Nara, Peninsular Siam, 25.7.1932. R. Gereke, leg.
Remarks —Named. after Herr C. J. Aspaard, the well- known author of the ‘ Birds of Bangkok.’ I have compared twenty odd specimens from Java with four specimens from Siam in my collection, and later I studied the whole material in the Bird Room, British Museum (Natural History). Specimens from Sumatra and southern Malacca appear to be somewhat intermediate between B. k. ketupu and B. k. aagaardt. Specimens from western and southern Borneo ought to be carefully compared.
Dr. Meise has shown (Ornith. Monatsber. 1933, pp. 169- 173) that the genera Bubo and Ketupa cannot be separated because there are several intermediate stages as regards the character on which they have been separated, viz., the feathered tarsus in Bubo and the bare tarsus in Ketupa. Meise has, in my opinion, missed the point in this
139 [Vol. lv
matter, viz., that very heterogeneous species were hitherto united in the genus Ketupa. While there seems to be a rela- tionship between “‘ Ketupa’”’ zeylonensis and the yellow-billed Bubo coromandus and Bubo blakistont, a far stronger relationship exists between the four named races of Bubo ketupu, viz., B. k: ketupu, B. k. minor, B. k. pagel, and B. k. aagaardz, to all races of Bubo bubo.
In my opinion one may be entitled to treat the Bubo ketupu group as a highly modified section of the species Bubo bubo, of which they are the geographical representatives in the Indo-Malayan region. |
I shall explain this in full in another place.
Mr. G. L. Barus sent the following description of forms of Ammomanes cinctura in Africa and Arabia :—
Leaving out of account the typical form A. cinctura of the Cape Verde Islands, and also A. zarudnyi of East Persia (and counting A. phenicura of India as a distinct species), there is only one certainly recognizable form of the Bar-tailed Sand-Lark in Africa north of the Tropic of Cancer and in Arabia. The difference in appearance of specimens is accounted for by difference in the amount of wear of plumage, the bird looking greyer while the new feathers still retain _ their greyish tips, and redder when these are worn off and the warmer-coloured lower parts of the feathers are seen. This is the view of recent authorities generally, who consider the names Ammomanes pallida Cabanis, 1851*: Kunfuda, Arabia, and Ammomanes regulus Bonaparte, 1857: Algerian Sahara, as synonyms of Alauda arenicolor Sundevall, 1850: Lower Egypt. Arabian birds cannot be separated from North African, though a good series recently sent by Mr. Philby from the interior of Arabia, being in new plumage, are very grey ; a longer average wing also in the recent Arabian series is probably due to a large proportion of them being males.
But the specimens in the British Museum from the desert parts of the Sudan, Omdurman, and the Red Sea Province
* The date of this is wrongly given as 1850 in Sclater’s Syst. Av.
Aithiop. p. 322, where the page reference should be Mus. Hein. i. p- 125 (not p. 12).
Vol. lv.] 140
show a constant difference in colour from N. African and Arabian ones, even when birds of the same time of year are compared, being sandier in all parts. This is seen even in the sandier colour of the underside of the wing and in the more golden shafts to the remiges, and in the buffish (instead of white) flanks and underparts generally.
The name Ammomanes phenicura pallens Le Roi cannot apply to this sandier Omdurman form since the description does not fit it and, moreover, pallens is said to be confined to the Bayuda steppes, the birds found in the Nile Valley above as well as below Bayuda not being A. pallens (Ornith. Montasber. 1912, p. 7). Another name cited by Hartert (V6g. pal. Faun. p. 224) is Melanocorypha elegans Brehm ; this was considered by Hartert, who must have had the type at Tring, to be a synonym of A. arenicolor, and it is more likely to be the Egyptian form, even at Abu Hamed on the Nile where this type came from, than the Sudan form, since specimens in the British Museum from the Second Cataract, and from “‘Abu Fatma” (d.e., Ras Abu Fatima on the Red Sea coast, about 22° N. lat.) are of the Egyptian form. Thus we may describe the sandy Sudan form as new.
Ammomanes cinctura kinneari, subsp. nov. -
Description.—As above.
Distribution.—The specimens belonging to this new form in the British Museum are, seven from the vicinity of Omdur- man, collected at different times by Dunn, Butler, and W. P. Lowe, and four from the Red Sea Province, collected by Rear-Admiral Lynes.
Type.—, 50 miles south of Omdurman (October 9, 1902); collected and presented by Capt. H. W. Dunn. Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1903.2.4.19.
Remarks.—Mr. N. B. Kinnear has gone to a great amount of trouble to procure material of this Lark for comparison, and has had two specimens sent from the Giza Zoological Museum, collected on the ‘‘ Suez Road,” in order to have them for comparison from the very type-locality of Sundevall’s Alauda arenicolor, 1. e., Lower Egypt.
141 [Vol. lv. NOTICES.
The next Meeting of the Club will be held on Wednesday, May 8, 1935, at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W. 7. The Dinner at 7 p.m.
Members intending to dine must inform the Hon. Secretary, Mr. C. W. Mackworth-Praed, 51 Onslow Gardens, London, S.W. 7, on the post-card sent out with the ‘ Bulletin.’
Members who wish to make any communication at the next Meeting of the Club must give notice to the Editor, Dr. G. Carmichael Low, 86 Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, W. 1, as soon as possible. The titles of their contributions will then appear on the Agenda published before each Meeting. All MSS. for publication in the ‘ Bulletin’ must be given to the Editor before or at the Meeting.
Agenda.
1. Mr. David Bannerman will exhibit a rare Passerine Bird from Ashanti.
2. The Marquess of Tavistock will read a paper on ‘“‘ The Extent to which Captivity modifies the Habits of Birds,”’ unavoidably held over from the last meeting.
3. Colonel Meinertzhagen will exhibit the down of certain Ducks and make some remarks thereon.
o BULLETIN ww OF THE
BelllsH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB.
No. CCCLAXAAVII.
THE three-hundred-and-eighty-second Meeting of the Club was held at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, 8.W. 7, on Wednesday, May 8, 1935.
Chairman: Mr. D. A. BANNERMAN.
Members present :—E. C. StuART BAKER ; Miss P. Barcuay- Smit; F. J. F. Barrineton ;5 Mrs. E. STarrorpD CHARLES ; Hon. G. L. CHarteris ; Capt. H. A. GipBert; W. E. Guiza ; Miss EK. M. Gopman ; Capt. C. H. B. Grant; Rev. F.C. R. JOURDAIN; W.H. Joy; N. B. Kinnear (Vice-Chairman) ; Miss E. P. Leacu; Dr. G. Carmicnarnt Low (Hditor) ; Dr. P. R. Lowe; Rear-Admiral H. Lynes; C. W. Mackwortu- PRAED (Hon. Sec. & Treas.); W. EK. F. Macmititan; The Earl of Mansrretp; G. M. Matuews; Col. R. MEINERTZ- HAGEN; T. H. Newman; E. M. Nicwouson; C. OLDHAM ; B. B. Osmaston; Miss G. Ruopres; W. L. Sctater; D. SETH-SMITH ; Major M. H. Stmonps; The Marquess of Tavt- stock ; Dr. A. LanDSsBoRovucH THomson ; B. W. TUCKER ; JAcK VINCENT; Mrs. Boyp Watt; H. F. WITHERBY.
jwests :—Sir GEOFFREY ARCHER; Miss THERESA Chay ; Mrs. GILBERT; Miss C. E. Gopman ; H. Exviot Howarp.
[May 28, 1935.]} a VoL, LV.
Velie. . 144
Before the Meeting started, to mark the occasion of the Silver Jubilee, the Chairman, after the toast of the King’s health had been honoured, proposed the health of Her Majesty the Queen and the other members of the Royal Family. This was responded to with great enthusiasm.
The Marquess of Tavistock read the following paper on “The Extent to which Captivity modifies the Habits of Birds ” :—
Captivity modifies the habits of birds in some respects very little ; in others a good deal. In the presence or absence of modification striking differences are apparent between closely allied species and also between individuals of the same species, and, as a rule, the modifications are of a nature that makes them very easy to detect as being not a part of normal wild behaviour. For this reason, where the behaviour of wild birds in captivity 7s normal, it throws very valuable light on problems difficult to study under con- ditions of freedom.
The effect of captivity on the migrating instinct is peculiar and variable, especially when migratory birds are taken from — one part of the world and artificially introduced into another part. Sometimes the migratory instinct is retained ; some- times it is lost. The Canada Goose when introduced into Europe appears entirely to lose the strong migratory instinct it possesses in the United States. In the case of the Snow Goose, however, also an American bird, the majority retain the migratory instinct when imported into Europe, but a small minority lose it. The American “ Robin,’ judging by unsuccessful experiments to acclimatize it in this country, appears to retain the migratory instinct, but I have been informed that the European Nightingale loses its migratory instinct when introduced either into New Zealand or into the Southern States of America, but I am not entirely convinced as to the reliability of my information on this point.
The European Crane may have been migratory when it inhabited these islands. A pinioned pair bred two young at Woburn Abbey, and the latter remained for three years until they were mature and reared two young of their own.
145 [Vol. lv.
But that same autumn the four flying birds left and were seen no more. Later, however, a full-winged breeding pair has stayed.
Tropical or sub-tropical birds show a rather curious variation in their readiness to adapt themselves to our seasons. Species which breed during the greater part of the year in their native country usually attempt to do so in this, unless the conditions of their winter existence are sufficiently unfavourable so to lower their vitality as to throw them out of breeding condition. Normally these unseasonable efforts end in the chilling of the eggs and young and in some cases in the death of the hens from egg-binding, but now and again some remarkable successes are achieved in the teeth of most adverse circumstances. The most successful winter breeders are the African Lovebirds Agapornis personata, fischeri, and nigrigenis. These, indeed, often breed better in winter than in summer and show more disposition to do so. They are curious creatures, for even in severe weather they usually thrive if able to live and sleep in a wet log filled with wet nesting material—the wetter the better—but if deprived of their logs and driven into a dry shelter at night they are likely to contract fatal chills.
Most Australian Finches are as ready to nest in our summer as at less favourable periods, but the Gouldian Finches (Poéphila g. gouldie and P. g. mirabilis) are rather obstinate autumn breeders, although a few pairs will nest earlier in the year.
The majority of Australian Parrakeets are very adaptable. If imported in winter they moult soon after arrival and again in late summer, after which they observe our seasons just like our native birds. Brown’s Parrakeet (Platycercus venustus), however, from Northern Australia, is apt to give trouble to the aviculturist, moulting off and on the whole summer and only properly coming into breeding condition in October. This may happen even with individuals bred in England at the correct time.
The Brown’s fellow-countryman, the Hooded Parrakeet (Psephotus dissimilis), is even more obstinate about sticking to
a2
Vol. lv.] 146
Australian seasons. I know of three females of this species— one of which took six years to learn our seasons, another eight, while the third seems determined never to alter her domestic arrangements at all.
Two other very unadaptable Australian birds are the Emu (Dromiceius n. hollandiz) and the Cereopsis Goose (Cereopsis n. hollandiz). Both commonly nest in the middle of our winter and never change their habits, but individual: and exceptional pairs occasionally delay their start long enough to give their young a chance.
It may be noted that the Australian Brush Turkey (Alectura lathami), although a percentage of its young leave the nest- mound too late to survive the winter, constructs its “incubator ”’ in our spring and summer months.
Birds are far more powerfully affected by mental, as distinct from purely physical, impressions and impulses than are the majority of mammals, and it is probably partly for this reason that it is in the sphere of sexual and breeding activities that the disturbing influences of captivity produce the most curious and far-reaching effects.
Captivity, or, perhaps one should say, domestication | or semi-domestication, produces a tendency to polygamy in male birds, usually most marked in the case of those species which do not assist in the care of the young. The domestic drake is virtually as polygamous as the domestic cock, and will even molest a duck accompanied by young ducklings, which the Wild Mallard, whose morals in most directions are no better than they should be, will never do.
The domestic gander, descendant of the Grey-Lag, which is normally strictly monogamous, and pairs for life, although willing to accept a harem of two or three geese, will usually refuse to associate with a female that is a stranger to him. A gander in my possession which had been paired with two geese for some years would mate with a younger bird that joined the flock, when she was in breeding condition, but normally made a half-hearted pretence of pecking her and driving her away, apparently to impress his official wives, and to show his respect for the Victorian traditions of his ancestors !
147 [Vol. lv.
While the Barbary Dove shows a marked tendency towards polygamy, the male domestic Pigeon still shows comparatively little, probably because the wild Rock Doves appear to have a disposition to pair for life, while the Turtle Doves pair for a season only.
Polygamy in the Mute Swan is very rare indeed, and I have only heard of one instance, in addition to one case of a female Swan that paired with two males, all three living together on harmonious terms. There was for many years at Woburn Abbey a breeding trio of Trumpeter Swans, but I was never able to discover whether the odd bird was male or female. Bearing in mind the jealous and pugnacious habits of swans, as well as their normal strict monogamy, such examples are very extraordinary, and are on a par with the few records of tame male deer, gentle and docile at all seasons.
Any tendency to polyandry on the part of female birds is very rare, even among thoroughly domesticated species. It occurs sometimes with Budgerigars, for not only are individual cocks often polygamous, but individual hens will sometimes pair with cocks who are not their “‘ official’’ mates.
Curious friendly associations between birds of the same sex are sometimes met with, especially among captive Waterfowl. I have known of cases where a female Egyptian Goose has associated with a female Sheldrake, and both have laid -clutches of infertile eggs in a common nest and incubated them together.
In some cases two drakes or two ganders will associate, and refuse to have anything to do with unmated females of their species. Many years ago a ludicrous instance occurred at Abbotsbury, where two male swans not only associated together, but even built a nest every year, upon which they took turns in sitting !
Extraordinary attachments are sometimes developed in captivity, by wild Geese, for Cranes that may share their enclosure. I have known a Brent Goose attach itself to an American Whooping Crane and a Lesser Snow Goose adopt a pair of Sarus Cranes. In each case the attachment was wholly one-sided, the crane ignoring its admirer, and in each case the goose had company of its own kind, had it preferred
Vol. lv.] 148
a more natural and less exhausting life to that of racing after its long-legged idol. |
Some members of the Parrot family, even when untamed, wild-bred, and not closely confined, show extraordinary aberrations and modifications of natural habit and instinct. The Australian Parrakeets of the genus Platycercus are normally strictly monogamous, and pair for life. A male temporarily separated from his mate shows great pleasure at her return, and an unmated male in good condition shows pleasure and excitement when introduced to a female at almost any season, except perhaps during the actual moult.
One Yellow-bellied Parrakeet (Platycercus caledonicus) I had, though an untamed bird and kept at complete liberty, proved to be polygamous, abandoning his mate as soon as she began to sit, and trying to associate with every other unmated hen in the collection whether of his own species or any other and whether in breeding condition or not.
Barnard’s Parrakeet (Barnardius barnardt) is peculiarly subject to odd aberrations of conduct. One tame male would have nothing to do with females, but devoted his whole time, when at liberty, to human beings; not because he was fond of them, but because he was fond of biting them, and his dislike of humanity dominated all his other activities. Another male was friendly with all parrot-like birds except the females of his own species, which he disliked dintensely. Another was friendly with all parrot-like birds of either sex except those of his own genus, which were intolerable to him! Another, if his hen was removed from him, always fell into a furious rage with her when she was returned. This was not because he failed to recognize her, as his behaviour to a strange hen, though unfriendly, was quite different. A Brown’s Parrakeet I once had possessed the same peculiarity, and would try to kill any hen when first introduced to him, or his mate if she was returned to him after an absence. It was necessary to cut his wing, and on each occasion it took nearly a year to reconcile him to his companion. This same cock, strange to say, was an unusually gentle and devoted parent, and tolerated the presence of his offspring long after they were independent.
149 [Vol. lv.
Broad-tailed Parrakeets are extraordinarily fond of fighting, and, notwithstanding the fact that they sometimes inflict fatal injuries on one another, seem to fight for the sheer pleasure of doing so, and not merely for territory. At liberty, even out of the breeding season, three or four pairs, even of different species, will meet together and engage in a general méléc. When kept in confinement in a state of enforced peace I am inclined to think that the lack of an outlet for their pugnacious instincts may induce an abnormal mentality in individual males. I had a Yellow-rumped Parrakeet (Platycercus flaveolus) which for many years proved an excellent breeder and an unusually gentle and affectionate mate to his hen. Suddenly, when they had been together for eight years, he turned on her and inflicted fatal injuries, although both were in moult after rearing their usual two broods of young. The Brown’s Parrakeet, already alluded to, was on one occasion given his liberty, after he had been kept alone and unmated for some time. Although there were two unmated hens of his species in other aviaries, he ignored these and went off and started a fight with two of the largest and most powerful cock Broadtails he could find, one being at liberty and the other confined in an aviary. He fought with each one, alternately, off and on for two days, continuing after he had received an injury to his tongue which nearly proved fatal, and only stopping when weakened by loss of blood and lack of food. There was absolutely no necessity for all this warfare on his part, as his rivals made no attempt to interfere with him as long as he minded his own business. His behaviour indicated that his nature was simply starving for a fight, and neither the interests of new liberty nor the attractions of the opposite sex were powerful enough to distract him. The psychological effect of close confinement on cock Broadtails is rather peculiar. If tamed, they rarely exhibit any affection for human beings, but become spiteful and aggressive, yet if introduced to females of their species they show fear of them, and allow themselves to be bullied by them, which is the exact reverse of the behaviour of normal males. They are generally useless for breeding.
Vol. lv.] 150
The not infrequent hostility of tamed birds to their own species is usually explained by the hypothesis that they transfer to their human friends the attachment they would usually show for their mates. This, however, does not explain the behaviour of the cock Broadtails, just alluded to, which do not like human beings, although they have lost their fear of them: nor does it fully explain the extraordinary propensity of male Banksian Cockatoos, even when kept with their own kind and given no special encouragement, to develop an attachment for human beings often much stronger than their affection for their own companions. Although the display is usually only performed by birds when in excellent spirits and perfect health, I have seen a Banksian Cockatoo, when dying of a fatal illness, display when greeted by a favourite human acquaintance.
Female birds, it is interesting to note, far more rarely exhibit temperamental peculiarities than males; they seem more controlled by purely physical impulses, and their mental constitution is more primitive. Captivity is apt to have a very disturbing effect on the attitude of birds towards their eges or young, which they are apt to neglect or destroy. The particular form of abnormal treatment, as well as the frequency of such treatment, varies enormously in different orders and genera. Gallinaceous birds frequently drop their eggs about anywhere, and refuse to sit, and egg-eating is not uncommon. But if a female does hatch her young, subsequent neglect or ill-treatment is practically unknown, save in the case of the domestic fowl, which occasionally destroys her newly-hatched chicks. Pea-hens are very devoted mothers, and will even continue to care for their young when suffering from fatal illness, a condition under which most birds lose interest in all domestic duties.
Ducks are liable to scatter their eggs, refuse to incubate them, or desert them, but they, too, never neglect or abandon their young. Geese and Swans rarely fail in their parental duties at any stage.
Birds of Prey are very apt to devour their young ; corvine birds are apt to eat both their eggs and their young, and may
151 [Vol. lv.
turn upon the latter prematurely and kill them before they are able to feed themselves.
Many species of pigeons are good parents in captivity, but the Australian Crested Ground Dove (Geophaps) will rarely sit, and other species may abandon their young, par- ticularly when they leave the nest but are still too young to feed themselves. Birds of the Finch family vary greatly. Some species are usually successful in rearing their young, but desertion of the eggs and of the young at various stages of rearing is common with others, as is the custom of throwing the young out of the nest. This last-mentioned habit is often due to the excessive desire of the parents, and especially of the male, to nest again. Some Australian Grass-Finches and other species will refuse to feed their young unless provided with insect food that appeals to them, but the curious thing is that their prejudice against a seed diet for their offspring is in some cases groundless, for if their eggs are placed under the domestic Bengalese, which rear on seed only, the foster parents prove as successful as the real parents receiving a different diet.
Insectivorous and fruit-eating birds neglect or kill their young so frequently that it is the exception, rather than the rule, for most species to rear offspring in confinement. In some cases it is possible to avert a tragedy by removing the male and leaving the hen to rear single-handed.
Gulls rarely neglect either their eggs or their young, although they show the same gastronomic interest in those of their neighbours as they do in a wild state. Cranes occasionally desert their eggs, but are very devoted parents to their young. I did, however, know a female Australian Crane that had the habit of killing the partly-grown young of her first brood, nesting again and allowing those of the second brood to mature. Struthious birds sometimes refuse to sit, but seldom or never neglect or ill-treat their young.
Birds of the Parrot family are usually good parents, but Lories and Lorikeets often eat their eggs and sometimes kill their young, as also do Conures. I have never known a Platy- cercine or Aprosmictine Parrakeet eat its eggs or injure its
ad
Vol. lv.] 152
young, and cases of desertion of healthy young are very rare. A friend of mine has a wild-bred Barraband’s Parrakeet which, if allowed, kills his male offspring the moment they leave the nest, and later becomes spiteful with the females. Such behaviour is, however, most unusual in a species which is normally gentle and tolerant towards its young, even when the latter are completely independent.
Male Parrakeets of the Ringneck (Psittacula) family, Conures, and male Pionus Parrots sometimes mutilate and kill their young by biting off their beaks and toes, and unmated females which have often incubated infertile clutches are prone to the same vice if given fertile eggs. Apparently they grow so accustomed to eggs not hatching that they think something has gone wrong when they do, and the nasty, pink, squirming monstrosities are better consigned at once to decent oblivion !
The only Parrakeet known to me which is apt to throw its young out of the nest in order to breed again is the Princess of Wales Parrakeet (Polytelis alexandrx). Females of this species mated to cocks that feed them usually behave in this way, but may rear the young successfully if the cocks are removed. A not uncommon vice in birds of the Parrot — family, especially Lovebirds (Agapornis), is the eating by the parents of all the small body-feathers of their young while still in the nest, with the result that they leave the log with flight- and tail-feathers only. Some deficiency in the diet is probably the cause in many cases, but the habit is said to be hereditary on Mendelian lines.
The conditions of captivity afford interesting chances of observing what is probably also a natural wild trait, viz., the anger and distress of certain male birds, especially Parrakeets, if their mates do not take to their nests within a reasonable time or neglect or abandon their eggs. This distress is of purely psychological origin, and cannot possibly be due to physical causes, and it would be most interesting if its exact nature and evolution could be discovered. I witnessed last summer an instance of a somewhat analogous kind in the case of a male Roseate Cockatoo; only it was the abnormal behaviour of his offspring, and not of his mate,
153 [Vol. lv.
that upset him. In previous seasons he had reared strong young ones, but last year, owing to an error in the feeding, the young bird was rickety and on leaving the nest fell to the ground, unable to fly. Birds of the Parrot family, while not actually teaching their young to fly, often show them by example how to extricate themselves from an uncomfort- able or difficult position. The Cockatoo in this case spent a long time flying up and down from the ground to the perch and endeavouring to induce the young one, by voice and gestures, to follow him. At times, apparently attributing his offspring’s inactivity to laziness or effeminacy, he would peck him or play roughly with him, afterwards resuming his demonstration of the art of flying until his patience again wore out. His whole behaviour bore a ludicrous resemblance to that of a very robust human father who, to his infinite distress, finds himself the parent of a timid and backward boy, and is at his wits’ end to know what to do to make a man of him !
Birds, as the scientific field naturalist is well aware, are in many respects strangely enslaved by blind, unreasoning instincts, as when the Meadow-Pipit contentedly broods the nestling cuckoo, while her own offspring perish of cold a few inches away. Yet now and again a bird, especially in captivity, will startle one by a display of apparent adap- tability and intelligence which makes one wonder if we have as yet any real grasp of the scope of the avian mind at all.
The male Many-coloured Parrakeet (Psephotus varius) feeds the sitting female and helps to feed the young, but never takes any part in the duties of incubation and brooding. A year or two ago a pair in a friend’s collection had newly- hatched young, and, while they were still far too small to be able to dispense with brooding, something apparently dis- turbed the hen and she refused to return to the nest. My friend expected to lose the brood, but late in the evening the cock went into the nest and spent the night there, saving the situation and his family. He never did so before and has never done so since.
The same friend had a device in his aviaries for separating
Vol. lv.] 154
husks and dirt from the seed. To operate this a small tab of zine about three-quarters of an inch long by half an inch wide projected from the side of the aviary shelter, and was attached on the inside to the invisible seed dish. If the tab was pulled the cleaning process took place inside and a few grains of seed dropped on the ground outside. The tab was too small and awkwardly placed to attract a bird to perch on it, and too smooth and inclined for seed to lodge on it, yet a wild cock Chaffinch learned to hover opposite the tab and at the same time pull it with his beak, a feat I have myself seen him accomplish. The act astonished me, because it involved the performance of unnatural actions upon a wholly artificial mechanism, and how the bird ever acquired the knowledge that a pull of the tab would cause seed to fall (unless he observed my friend very closely) altogether passes my comprehension.
Mr. Davip BANNERMAN exhibited a specimen of a rare Cuckoo-Shrike from West Africa, and made some further observations upon Mr. Willoughby Lowe’s collection from Ashanti. He said :—
I have now completed the examination of the Passerine species in the collection which Mr. W. P. Lowe and Miss Waldron made in Ashanti last winter, and the following are worthy of record.
LoBoros LOBATUS (Temminck).
A fine male specimen of the Wattled Cuckoo-Shrike was obtained at Mampong, Ashanti, on Feb. 22, 1935. Examina- tion of the sex-organs showed that it was in breeding condition.
The following notes appear on the label :—
“Total length in the flesh 197 mm.; expanse 308 mm. Iris dark red ; wattle below the eye pale orange ; bill black ; feet brown.”
This species was said by Temminck to have been found for the first time in Sierra Leone, but despite the work of a number of naturalists in that country it has never been found again. ‘The only country in which the bird is definitely
155 [Vol. lv.
known to occur is the Gold Coast, and it is much more likely that the type came from there. There are two Gold Coast specimens in the British Museum, both males apparently, labelled respectively “‘ Ashanti’ and the “‘ interior of Fanti,” but with no further data. It has also been recorded from Angola, but there is considerable doubt about that specimen also, and we must ignore that record without more proof.
The specimen [ am exhibiting tonight is the first which has been obtained accompanied by full data, and is, therefore, of considerable value. Mr. Lowe tells me that the bird was sitting alone and silent in a Kola-nut tree in a cleared patch of the virgin forest.
JLLADOPSIS RUFESCENS (Reichenow).
A specimen of the Rufous-winged Akalat was shot by Mr. Lowe at Mampong, Ashanti, on February 9, 1935.
The species was hitherto known to occur only in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Its presence on the Gold Coast proves that it is likely to range throughout the whole of the forest region of Upper Guinea.
Mr. BANNERMAN next exhibited a specimen of Cuculus clamosus gabonensis—the Gabon Cuckoo—which had _ been sent to the British Museum. It was obtained at Ibadan, Nigeria, on April 12, 1935, by Mr. F. S. Collier, of the Forestry Department, and is the first example of the Gabon Cuckoo to be obtained anywhere in Upper Guinea. When dealing with its range in my book, vol. iii. 1933, p. 94, I believed that it was restricted to a comparatively small area embracing the forested parts of Cameroon, Gabon, the Uele River district of the north Belgian Congo, and extending south to Portuguese Congo. Its occurrence in Nigeria proves this assumption to have been incorrect.
Mr. Collier informs me that the bird was shot in a secondary forest farm, and was one of a pair. Its call-note, “ three deliberate whistles on an ascending scale,” is to be heard in the forest, and in Mr. Collier’s opinion, judging from the number of times the call is heard, cannot be uncommon. The present record, which definitely extends the bird’s range into Nigeria, is, therefore, of considerable interest.
Vol. lv.] 156
Mr. N. B. Kinnear exhibited, on behalf of Mr. G. L. Bates and himself, a new Woodpecker from Arabia, and made the following remarks :—
Some time ago Mr. H. St. J. Philby sent a young Woodpecker from Arabia, which appeared to belong to an undescribed form. Recently several adult specimens have arrived at the Museum, and, after a careful comparison with the Woodpeckers of the Palearctic and Ethiopian regions, we have come to the conclusion that it agrees with no described genus, but appears to be intermediate between Dryobates, Mesopicos, and Den- dropicos. We therefore propose to describe it as
DESERTIPICUS, gen. nov.
A medium-sized Woodpecker with wing-markings as in Dryobates, but differing from that genus in the absence of the characteristic malar stripe and white on scapulars and back. In the uniform colour of the back this genus resembles some species of Mesopices, but differs in the absence of the green or yellow in the plumage and the colour of the spots on the wing being pure white, not tinged with yellow or green. From Dendropicos the new genus is distinguished by the comparative longer tail and bill, as compared with the wing.
Type of genus, Desertipicus dore Bates & Kinnear.
Desertipicus dore, sp. nov.
Description. Forehead, hind neck, back, and rump earthy-brown ; upper tail-coverts blackish-brown ; a crimson patch on the back of the head ; wings blackish-brown with white spots on both webs, those on the outer reaching the shaft, while those on the inner web, as a rule, are separated from the shaft by 1-6 mm. of black. Throat very pale earthy- brown ; breast slightly paler than back; belly, thighs, and under tail-coverts greyish-brown, faintly barred with whitish ; middle of the belly tinged with crimson.
©.—Similar to g, but lacking the crimson on the head, which is entirely brown, and of a slightly paler shade than the back.
Measurements.—2 3g: wing 113-115, tail 65-66, tarsus 19-20, fourth toe without claw 16-17, bill 24-25 mm.
157 [Vol. lv.
499: wing 108-112, tail 60-64, tarsus 19, fourth toe without claw 15-16, bill 20-22.
Distribution.—From the valleys of the Taif area (east of Mecca), at elevations from 4000-6000 ft., wherever there are any Acacia trees.
Type—¢, January 14, 1935, Ukadh (Taif-Mecca Road), 5000 ft. Collected by H. St. J. Philby.
Remarks.—Specimens examined : two males, four females, and a young bird. Named in honour of Mrs. Dora Philby, wife of Mr. H. St. J. Philby.
Colonel MEINERTZHAGEN exhibited a large series of down taken off various British Duck and from their nests. In almost every case the down taken from the bird was distinctly paler than the down taken from the nest, though in some cases the down was taken from the bird during the month when eggs should be in the nest.
This difference in colour cannot be accounted for by bleaching, and as yet no satisfactory explanation can be offered, but it seems that there may be some especial down grown for a short period during the nesting season for the special purpose of covering the eggs, or that there is some chemical change on the pigment of the down, brought about by the brooding of the Duck.
In any case, the present series of down, and the dried specimens of breeding Duck available in this country, are quite inadequate to decide the question. What we require is a close examination of some wild species of Duck in captivity for a period before and leading up to incubation, to see if the body-down changes during the incubation period, together with specimens of down taken from the same bird’s nest. All specimens of down should be kept in light-proof boxes, as they are very liable to bleaching.
Since writing the above, Mr. Witherby has kindly pointed out to me two papers in ‘ British Birds’ (ix. p. 34, and xii. p. 98) where my late wife not only studied but solved the very question which has been puzzling me. If reference is made to these papers, it will be seen that moult, and moult
Vol. lv.] 158
alone, is responsible for the difference in colour between the down in the nest and the down on the Duck.
Mr. G. L. Bates sent the following communication on the distinctions between Sazicola torquata maura and S. t. indica, and the ranges of these forms :—
The Stonechats inhabiting countries from Russia eastwards were long ago distinguished from rubicola of Europe. Then indica of India and maura of the Urals were separated, maura as having much of the base of the tail white, indica scarcely any. But, as Hartert says, maura often has very little of this white, and is then hardly to be distinguished from indica. I wish to point out that there is a better distinction, namely, a slight difference in measurements, maura having nearly always, with very little overlapping, a greater length of wing than indica.
From the probable breeding range of maura I find seven males in the British Museum—from N.W. Persia, the Caucasus and Armenia, partly shot in summer, which vary much among themselves in the extent of the white base of the tail. The wing-measurements of these are 70, 70-5, 71, 71:5, 74, 74-5, 76 mm. Nine males from Syria, Mesopotamia, and the Persian Gulf, the dated ones being shot in March and August, have wing 73 to 764mm. The majority of the above 16 birds have the wing over 73 mm.
For the measurements of indica I have taken 29 males from northern India (Kashmir, &c.), Chinese Turkestan, and Dzun- garia, most or all of them breeding birds, and find their wing- lengths to be 65 to 71 mm.—one 74 and 23 out of the 29 not more than 68 mm.
Four males obtained in March and April 1934, in the Jidda- Mecca district of Arabia, with two more in September in the same district, and four more in the middle of Arabia and at Riyadh in September and October (10 males in all), though varying in the amount of white at base of tail, have the wings 70:5 to 76 mm., the majority over 73. I think they are all S.t. maura. The same is true of the series obtained in Yemen by Bury; their wing-measurements show that they were correctly listed by Sclater (Ibis, 1917, p. 165) as maura, though
159 [Vol. lv.
some of them have since been considered to be indica. The 40 or 50 specimens of winter migrant Stonechats in the British Museum from Abyssinia, Somaliland, and Sudan, that have been divided doubtfully between indica and maura according to the more or less white at the base of the tail, all agree with the measurements of maura given above, and may all be called that.
There is little material in the British Museum for determining the breeding range of maura; but the abundance of winter migrants of that form in Hast Africa and Arabia suggests an extensive breeding range in Russia. Grote gives a note in the Ornith. Monatsber. (1928, p. 178) about the forms of Sazxicola torquata in Russia, asserting that indica goes far to the west- ward in N. Russia, giving information of the occurrence of indica from Bianchi, though stating that ‘‘ Bianchi calls the form maura.” I would suggest that this northern Russian form really is maura—or at least that the question can be decided by measurements.
I may add that S. ¢. rubicola has recently turned up in Arabia also.
Mr. Grecory M. Matuews sent the following descriptions of a new Stitch-bird and a new Tit from New Zealand, and of a new Prion from Australia.
Notiomystes cincta hautura, subsp. nov.
Description.—Differs from NV. c. cincta (Du Bus) in its smaller wing-measurement, and in being more yellow on the band below the black throat. The type-locality of cincta Du Bus and auritris Lafresnaye is designated the mainland of the North Island of New Zealand.
Measurements.—These birds have a wing-measurement of from 110 to 117 mm., while fifteen birds from Little Barrier Island have a wing-measurement of from 96 to 107, the average being 101 mm.
Distribution.—Little Barrier Island.
Type.—In the American Museum of Natural History, New York. Rothschild collection.
Vol. lv.] . 160
Certhiparus albicilla hautura, subsp. nov.
Description. —Differs from C. a. albicilla (Lesson et Garnot) in having a larger wing-measurement and with the sides of the body and flanks a deeper buffy-brown. The type-locality of albicilla is Bay of Island, and this is also the designated type-locality of sentlis Du Bus.
Measurements —The wing-measurement of the _ typical birds is 69-70 mm., while Little Barrier Island birds have a wing-measurement of 77-78 mm.
Distribution.—Little Barrier Island.
Type.—In the American Museum of Natural History, New York. Rothschild collection.
Heteroprion belcheri serventyi, subsp. nov.
Description.—Differs from H. belchert in having the bill wider at the base.
Measurements.—The bill of the typical bird measures 25 mm. by 8 wide. The new subspecies has a bill 26 mm. by 11 to 12 wide, and the wing-measurements are 182-185.
Type.—From Cottesloe, South-West Australia, Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1920.7.15.1. ;
Remarks.—The birds from Cottesloe agree with two birds from Kerguelen Island, which measure: bill 25:5 to 26-5 by 11 to 12mm. wide. Askin from South Australia measures : wing 183, bill 26 by 10 mm.
Dr. C. B. Ticrenurstr forwarded the following com- munication :—
May I revert to my prior communication (antea, p. 53) and the two replies to it (antea, pp. 80 and 103)? Capt. C.H. B. Grant quotes Rule 25 as it originally stood, but it does not seem to be widely known that this important rule was altered in 1927, and since this alteration is not easily referred to I append a copy of it.
Upon unanimous recommendation by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, the International Zoological Congress, which met at Budapest, Hungary, September 4-9, 1927, adopted a very important amendment
161 [Vol. lv.
to Article 25 (Law of Priority), which makes this Article, as amended, read as follows (aalicized type represents the amendment ; Roman type represents the old wording) :—
‘* Article 25.—The valid name of a genus or species can be only that name under which it was first designated on the condition :—
(a) That (prior to January 1, 1931) this name was published and accompanied by an indication, or a definition, or a des- cription ; and
(6) That the author has applied the principles of binary nomenclature.
(c) But no generic name nor specific name, published after December 31, 1930, shall have any status of availability (hence also of validity) under the Rules, unless and until it is published evther :
(1) with a summary of characters (sew diagnosis ; seu definition ; sew condensed description) which differentiate or distinguish the genus or the species from other genera or species ;
(2) or with a definite bibliographic reference to such summary of characters (seu diagnosis; seu definition ; sew condensed description). And further,
66
(3) wm the case of a generic name, with the definite unambiguous designation of the type species (seu genotype ; seu autogenotype ; seu orthotype).
The purpose of this amendment is to inhibit two of the most important factors which heretofore have produced confusion in scientific names. The date, January 1, 1931, was selected (instead of making the amendment immediately effective) in order to give authors ample opportunity to accom- modate themselves to the new rule.”
It is quite clear, then, that no name introduced after December 31, 1930, can have any standing if it is based on an indication. The Rule is quite definite and quite clear that there must be a summary of differentiating characters, or a definite bibliographical reference. Since a _ reference
Vol. lv.] 162
like “‘La Touche, 1922” might refer to one of many publications, it cannot be considered to be a definite reference. Hence it is obvious that names introduced by Mr. Mathews (e. g., on pp. 23-24 and 113) without a definite bibliographical reference cannot have any standing and are nomina nuda. Mr. Mathews seems to think that the proposal of a name for one preoccupied is not governed by the above Rule, but the wording “‘ no name ”’ must include every name whether a substitute one or not.
The following names which Mr. Mathews has published in the ‘ Bulletin’ have, therefore, as I pointed out before, no standing :—
Colena ; Pherocraspedon, vol. lii. p. 25. Davisona, vol. lv. p. 23. T'rochalopteron touchena, t.c. p. 24. Polhiospiza nanciez, t.c. p. 24. Barbatula hildamariez, t.c. p. 24. Pucheramphus ; Chlorisitta, t. c. p. 113.
This is not, as Mr. Mathews has suggested, merely the opinion of the ‘ Editor of the Ibis,’ and, therefore, counts for nothing, but a question of the International Rules which he purports to uphold and follow.
Dr. Karl Jordan, of the Tring Museum, who introduced the amendment to Rule 25, writes to me as follows :—
“The amended Article 25 of the Rules demands that (in the case in question) a definite bibliographical reference be given. ‘La Touche, 1922,’ is not a definite bibliographical reference.”
At the same meeting in Budapest the International Commission unanimously adopted the following resolution [to Rule 2] :—
‘““ (a) It is requested that an author who publishes a name as new shall definitely state that it is new, that this be stated in only one (7. €., in the first) publication, and that the date of publication be not added to the name in its first publication.
(b) It is requested that an author who quotes a generic name, or a specific name or a subspecific name shall add
163 [Vol. lv.
at least once the author and year of publication of the quoted name or a full bibliographical reference.
The foregoing resolution was adopted in order to inhibit the confusion which has frequently resulted from the fact that authors have occasionally published a given name as ‘new’ in two to five or more different articles of different dates—up to five years in exceptional cases.”’
As regards this Dr. Jordan writes :—
‘“The Resolution is quite independent of Article 25. It is a request addressed to taxonomists and others to be more precise in quoting old names and to state that a new name proposed is new. It is an editorial matter and does not refer to Art. 25 at all. The Resolution has nothing to do with the validity of names. A conscientious Editor will not pass the quotation of a scientific name without the addition of its author’s name ; the Resolution goes a step further in asking for the addition of (at least) the year of publication of the scientific name. If an author complies with the Resolution, he will, in many instances, save the reader of his paper a good deal of unnecessary trouble.”’
Mr. Grecory M. MatHews, to whom Dr. Ticehurst’s communication was sent for comment, contributes the following :—
It is very interesting to have this point, brought up by Dr. Ticehurst, settled, especially as Dr. Karl Jordan at first considered my names “ sufficiently and accurately introduced.”’
What is a “definite bibliographical reference ?”’ We are working on the ‘ Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club ’ only—all the names mentioned are from that periodical. “La Touche, 1922,” is quoted ; in the index to that year’s * Bulletin ’ we find the reference given.
So the question arises: Is not “‘ yunnanensis La Touche, 1922,” a definite and sufficient reference? Or do we have Trochalopteron touchena, correctly introduced by La Touche, as a synonym of a subspecies that is not admitted ?
Vol. lv.] 164
Has not Dr. Ticehurst run too fast re Pucheramphus ? It is a substitute name for Dasyrhamphus Gray, ‘ Genera of Birds,’ vol. iii. July 1846, p. 641, as stated on p. 113, a genus that has been defined years ago, and the genotype has been ‘unambiguously designated.”
1935. Chlorisitta Mathews, Bull. B. O. C. lv. p. 113, is a sub- stitute name for Acanthisitta Lafresnaye, 1842, Mag. Zool. pl. 27. (Where else did Lafresnaye introduce this genus ?)
1931. Colena Mathews, Bull. B. O. C. lil. p. 25, is a substitute name for Coleia Mathews, 1912, Austral Av. Rec. p. 116.
1931. Pherocraspedon Mathews, Bull. B.O.C. lii. p. 25, is a substitute name for Mathewsiella Iredale, ib. xiii. 1922, p. 39.
Are we to understand that when a substitute name is introduced the generic characters must be again given ?
Dr. Alexander Wetmore, Assistant Secretary, Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum, Washington, D.C., to whom Mr. Mathews referred the matter, writes as follows :—
“In reply to your recent communication, while it would have been better usage for you to have given a complete citation in connection with your proposal of the name T'ro- chalopteron touchena in the ‘ Bulletin of the British Ornitho- logists’ Club’ for October 30, 1934, page 24, there can be no question as to the validity of the name touchena as proposed.
While the matter is obvious, in accordance with your request I have laid it before Dr. Stejneger, and also before Dr. E. A. Chapin, Curator of Insects in the National Museum, who is expert in matters of nomenclature, both of whom concur in my statement as made above.”
[This correspondence is now closed.—ED,]
165 [Vol. lv.
NOTICES.
The next Meeting of the Club (the last of the season) will be held on Wednesday, June 12, 1935, at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W.7. The Dinner at 7 p.m.
Members intending to dine must inform the Hon. Secretary, Mr. C. W. Mackworth-Praed, 51 Onslow Gardens, London, S.W. 7, on the post-card sent out with the ‘ Bulletin.’
Members who wish to make any communication at the next Meeting of the Club must give notice to the Editor, Dr. G. Carmichael Low, 86 Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, W. 1, as soon as possible. The titles of their contributions will then appear on the Agenda published before each Meeting. All MSS. for publication in the ‘ Bulletin’ must be given to the Editor before or at the Meeting.
Agenda. 1. Mr. David Bannerman will exhibit a rare Eagle from Nigeria. 2. The Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain will give an account of a recent expedition paid by Rear-Admiral Lynes and himself to ' Palestine.
BULLETIN
OF THE
Prehitsh JORNITHOLOGISTS: CLUB.
No. CCCLAAXVITI.
THE three-hundred-and-eighty-third Meeting of the Club was held at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W. 7, on Wednesday, June 12, 1935.
Chairman: Mr. D. A. BANNERMAN.
Members present:—W. B. ALEXANDER; KH. C. Sruart Baker; F. J. F. Barrineton; Hon. G. L. CHarteris ; H. P. O. Crnave; A. Ezra; W. E. Guzac; Capt. C. H. B. GRANT; Col. A. E. HAmerton; P. A. D. Hottom; Dr. E. Hopkinson; Dr. K. JORDAN ; Rev. F. C. R. Jourparn ; N. B. Kinnear (Vice-Chairman) ; Dr. G. CarmicHAEL Low (Hditor) ; Dr. N.S. Lucas; C. W. MackwortH-PrRarEp (Hon. Sec. & Treas.); Lt.-Col. H. A. F. MaaratnH; Dr. P. H. Mawnson-Baur; G. M. MatHews; Mrs. O. Peatt; H. J. R. Prase; H. LEYBoRNE PorpHam; Major A. G. L. SLADEN ;
B. W. Tucker; Mrs. Boyp Watt; C. G. M. DE Worms.
Guest of the Club :—Mr. H. St. Jonn Puitpy.
Guests :—H. F. I. Extiot; Miss L. Lopart; Miss M. STRICKLAND; Mrs. R. Hatc-THomas.
[July 3, 1935.] 7] VOL, LV,
[Vol. lv. 168
Before the Meeting began the Chairman read a post-card which he had just received sending greetings to the B. O. C. from four of the members of the Club—Mr. W. L. Sclater, Miss Phyllis Barclay-Smith, Mr. D. Seth-Smith, and Dr. Percy R. Lowe—who were assembled in Brussels for the Meeting of the International Committee for the Protection of Birds.
The Guest of the Club for the evening was Mr. H. St. John Philby.
Introducing him to the members present, the Chairman said :—
Mr. Philby’s name is known throughout this and many other countries as the intrepid explorer of Arabia. His adventurous crossing of the Rub’-al-Khali is still fresh in our memories. To night we welcome him here in a different capacity—that of a fellow ornithologist who is fast bringing to light the ornithological secrets of one of the least-known parts of the globe. I am later going to call upon Mr. Kinnear to tell us something of what Mr. Philby has been doing in Arabia, and to exhibit some of the birds which he has collected. Before doing so, however, I am sure you will wish me, on your behalf, to extend avery hearty welcome to Mr. Philby and our thanks, to him for honouring us with his company to night. If he cares to address the meeting I am sure everyone will be delighted.
The Rev. F. C. R. JourDAIN showed a series of slides from photographs taken by himself and Rear-Admiral Lynes during their recent visit to Egypt and Palestine, and gave an account of the trip.
Leaving England on February 12, Shey arrived at Port Said on the 16th and proceeded to Cairo. Practically the whole of the Delta is under irrigation and intensively cultivated, much of the country producing three crops in the year. Bubulcus ibis and, to a smaller extent, Garzetta garzetta were prominent in the landscape. Corvus cornix was also very generally distributed, and Milvus m. zgyptius very common in most of the towns, while Streptopelia s. xgyptiaca and Ceryle rudis were also very frequently seen. Falco tinnunculus
169 [Vol. lv.
was common, Prinia to be heard and seen almost everywhere, while Hoplopterus took the place of the Lapwing at home and Merops viridis was plentiful in the valley south of the Delta. At Cairo we received much help from Mr. R. H. Greaves and Kadry Bey, but our first objective was the northern part of the Red Sea, and on the 21st we left Suez, and from then to the 28th worked the islands and adjacent coast of the Red Sea. Here the two characteristic birds were the Osprey (Pandion halixtus) and the Brown-necked Raven, (Corvus c. ruficollis), but the most interesting bird seen was the Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath), not hitherto recorded from Egypt proper, and only once from Sinai. Sula leucogaster and Phaéthon were also met with. Returning to Qena, and thence down the river to Cairo, visits were paid to Lake Menzaleh (March 4-9), where an enormous flock of Larus genet was seen; Alexandria (March 17-21), where a strong migration of Caprimulgus xgyptius was noted ; and the Fayim (March 22-25). Short excursions were also made to many places of interest nearer Cairo.
Besides the well-known collection of skins, formed largely by M. J. Nicoll, at the Zoological Gardens in Cairo, there is a very fine collection presented by King Fuad to the Ento- mological Society. These are excellently set up, and many of the records are of great interest, some being new to the Egyptian list or only recorded on very few occasions.
As compared with the other countries in Northern Africa, the extreme dearth of life in the Libyan Desert was very noticeable, and is, presumably, due to the small amount of precipitation as compared with that in the countries nearer to the Atlantic. Chats were very few in number in com- parison with such districts as the northern Maroccan and Algerian Sahara. The migratory movements through the Nile Valley deserve fuller investigation, but this can only be carried out satisfactorily by residents.
Leaving Egypt (where every assistance had been rendered to us during our visit, both by the Government officials and also by private residents), we crossed over to Palestine on March 26 and remained there till April 14. It is needless to go into detail as to our work there, except to mention
a2
Vol. lv.] 170
that we explored the mountain range along the north-west side of the Dead Sea and found Corvus rhipidurus breeding there side by side with C. corax ruficollis. We had good opportunities of watching these interesting birds, and located three nests of C. rhipidurus and obtained eggs from one nest. We again noted the scarcity of Gyps fulvus as compared with its status in Tristram’s day, and it would be interesting to ascertain why Neophron holds its own in Palestine, although Gyps has largely disappeared, and in Egypt Neophron has been reduced to very small numbers while Milvus is present in thousands.
‘We hope to give a fuller account of the points on which we have been able to add something to the knowledge of the Egyptain avifauna later on. The Nile Valley furnishes such wonderful opportunities for the study of migration that it is much to be hoped that a ringing station will be established there soon, and in all probability valuable results could also be obtained from organized work in connection with the lighthouses on the Red Sea.
Mr. Davip BANNERMAN communicated the following four notes on the birds of Nigeria, including new records for West Africa. He said :—
I have to record the occurrence for the first time in West Africa of a Wigeon (Anas penelope), which was shot on February 17, 1935, at Wamako, Sokoto Division of Sokoto Province, Northern Nigeria, by Capt. W. Halswell (Royal Scots Greys). The skin, which was much damaged by grease, was sent to the British Museum for me to confirm the identity, about which there can be no doubt. The bird was shot while flying in company with Garganey.
I have also to record a specimen of Reichenow’s Buff- spotted Pigmy Rail (Sarothrura elegans reichenovi) from Southern Nigeria—the first example to be obtained from Upper Guinea. The bird, a female, was caught by Mrs. H. F. Marshall, wife of the District Officer, at Ubiaja, Benin Province on April 2, 1935. It was found running about under her bed, which is a most astonishing place to discover a Pigmy Rail. Mrs. Marshall, who is a keen bird-observer, and has already sent me some valuable notes on Benin birds, writes
171 [Vol. lv.
to me that there had been a slight storm earlier in the evening, but not enough to blow the Rail into the building. As there is at least a hundred yards of cleared land all round the house, it is perhaps another piece of evidence that these Pigmy Rails are less sedentary than is generally supposed. Mr. R. E. Moreau was led to this conclusion owing to stray records of these Rails—belonging, of course, to other species—having been found in isolated bungalows in East Africa, attracted, so he believed, by the lights, from which he concluded that a certain amount of migration takes place—a suggestion which has not found much support from other naturalists.
I next exhibit a fine female specimen of the rare Beaudouin’s Harrier-Eagle (Circaetus beaudouini), obtained by Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Thomas at Bauchi, Northern Nigeria, on April 2, 1935, and presented by them to the British Museum. It is only the fourth specimen in the National Collection, and is the first record from Nigeria. It is known to have occurred, however, in French Adamawa.
I should also like to mention another West African record of considerable interest communicated to me by Count Nils Gyldenstolpe: thisis of a Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus), which had been “ringed” in South Sweden, in the north- eastern part of the Province of Skane, on July 15, 1930, and was shot by a native of the Mambila tribe in the Yola Province of Nigeria near Kuma Village, 6° 52’ N., 11°21’ E., at an altitude of about 5000 feet. Count Gyldenstolpe, who comments on the length of time the bird carried the ring, was informed of this occurrence by Mr. D. A. Percival, who has sent him the following note :—‘‘ The bird is one of various species known to the Hausa as ‘Shafa.’ The local tribe, Mambila, however, differentiate it from other Hawks, recog- nizing it as a regular dry-season immigrant, whose arrival they regard as a sign that rain is over and corn can be harvested. Their name for it is ‘ Kulau,’ and they say it arrives in this district in December and leaves in March, and does not build a nest.’ Montagu’s Harrier has seldom been recorded from West Africa, a pair having been taken at Zaria and one at Lake Chad. Ornithologists should be extremely grateful to
Vol. lv.] 172
Mr. Percival for communicating this interesting record to a responsible ornithologist.
EXHIBITION OF ARABIAN BIRDs.
Mr. N. B. Kinnear showed a series of Arabian Birds, and made the following remarks :—
From time to time specimens collected in Arabia by Mr. Philby have been exhibited at various Meetings of the Club. As you are no doubt aware, Mr. Philby has travelled more extensively in Arabia than any other European. During his early journeys he confined his attention to collecting plants, but later he turned his energies to other branches of natural history. It was not, however, till he made his famous journey across the Rub’-al-Kali that he began to collect birds. I think it says a great deal for Mr. Philby that he attempted to make a collection during his desert journey. Unfortunately, however, he was unable to do as much as he wished, since he found that skinning interfered with his many other more important duties, such as taking observations, writing up diary, etc. He taught one of his Arab, companions to skin, but as his own knowledge of skinning was slight, the instruction was, as he himself says, a case of the blind leading the blind.
Nevertheless, some thirty-seven specimens were brought back to this country, which have given us an idea of the birds found in these arid wastes.
Before Mr. Philby returned to Arabia, in 1933, Mr. W. L. Sclater asked him if it was possible for Mr. G. L. Bates to go to Jidda and make a general collection in natural history there for the Museum. Mr. Philby not only arranged for Mr. Bates to be allowed to go, but he most generously offered to have him stay with him while at Jidda. Thanks to the Godman—Thomas Fund and Mr. Philby’s generosity, we were able to send Mr. Bates for about three months, during which time he made collections in various branches, including, with the assistance of Mr. Philby, some 550 birds. He also taught an Arab servant of Mr. Philby’s, so that after his departure the latter was able to continue collecting not only at Jidda, but in many places further inland—indeed, right into the very heart of
173 [Vol. lv.
Arabia. In all, Mr. Philby has collected some 900 birds, and I am showing a small selection of these to-night. They include the two most striking new species which have already been exhibited here, viz., Philby’s Chukar (Alectoris greca philbyi) and Mrs. Philby’s Woodpecker (Desertipicus dore). In addition, there is a new race of the Shining Sunbird (Cinnyris habessinicus kinneari) and a Serin (Serinus angolensis philbyi), both of which were described by Mr. Bates, who is working out the collection, in a previous number of the ‘ Bulletin. Then there are a number of birds new to the avifauna of Arabia—the Pale Merlin (Falco xsalon pallidus), Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug cherrug), Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata caudacutus), Imperial Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis orientalis), Thick-billed Lark (Rhamphocorys clot-bey), only known. before from North Africa and Syria, the European Song-Thrush (Turdus ericetorum philomelos), and Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris). I would also draw your attention to the small Sand-Lark (Hremalauda eremodites), previously only known from a single example collected by Colonel Meinertz- hagen near Aden, the two interesting Wheatears (Wnanthe leucopyga ernesti and O. mesta brooksbanki), the different Finch-Larks (Ammomanes), and the Grey Hypocolius (Hypo- colius ampelinus), that erratic wanderer which, though common in Lower Iraq during the date-ripening season, has not been recorded from Arabia before.
Thanks now to Mr. Philby’s efforts, assisted by Mr. Bates, as well as those of many distinguished travellers and naturalists, including Sir Percy Cox, Douglas Carruthers, Major Cheesman, Lieut. Barnes, Colonel Boscawen, Wyman Bury, Colonels Meinertzhagen, Miles, Nurse, Jayaker, and Yerbury, and Messrs. Percival and Dodson, we have in the British Museum the finest collection of Arabian birds.
When Mr. Philby returns to Arabia in the autumn we are hoping to arrange for a skinner from Cairo to travel with him for several months. This, of course, will cost money, and that is very difficult to get at the Museum, as there are many calls on the Godman—Thomas Fund, so I am appealing to members of the Club to come to our help in order to assist Mr. Philby’s good work.
Vol. lv.] 174
Mr. W. B. ALEXANDER described the following results of operations at the Isle of May Bird Observatory in the spring of 1935 :—
Volunteers were not sufficient to maintain a continuous succession of observers during April and May, but the trap was operated on 50 out of the 61 days possible. In that period 248 birds were ringed on the island, though not quite all of them were caught in the trap. The 248 birds included representatives of 40 species and subspecies. They comprised :
40 Blackbirds.
32 Willow-Warblers (Phylloscopus t. trochilus). 18 Northern Willow-Warblers (P. ¢. eversmannt). 18 Whitethroats,
18 British Robins,
14 British Goldcrests (Regulus r. anglorum),
11 Continental Goldcrests (R. 7. regulus), and
10 Greenfinches.
Other interesting migrants ringed were: two Bramblings, one Yellowhammer, one Tree-Pipit, one Red-backed Shrike, one Chiffchaff, eight Sedge-Warblers, four Garden-Warblers, six Blackcaps, one Continental Thrush, one Redwing, one Greenland Wheatear, six Redstarts, one Black Redstart, one Continental Robin, six Wrens, one Long-eared Owl, and one Corn-Crake.
Interesting species observed, but not captured, included an Ortolan Bunting, several White Wagtails, a second Red- backed Shrike, several Black Redstarts, a Dotterel, an Iceland Gull, and a male White-spotted Bluethroat, the last being a new record for the island. 3
Mr. JAcK VINCENT sent the following description of a new Warbler from Nyasaland, and of a new Babbler from Tan- ganyika Territory, together with a brief note upon the occurrence of the Eastern Whitethroat in the former country :—
Artisornis metopias bensoni, subsp. nov.
The most recent collection of birds received at the British Museum from Mr. C. W. Benson of Nyasaland contains
175 [Vol. lv.
three examples of an uncommon bird concerning which a considerable amount of literature has been published during recent years. The typical form was described as Prinia metopias (Reichenow, Orn. Mon. xv. 1907, p. 30: Usambara) ; it was next redescribed as Apalis ruficeps (Reichenow, Orn. Mon. xvi. 1908, p. 119: Mlalo) ; and later an additional race was described under the name of altus and in a new genus, Opifex (Friedmann, Proc. N. Engl. Cl. x. 1927, p.4: Nyingwa, Uluguru Mts.). The last-named was then placed in another genus, Artisornis (Friedmann, Ibis, 1928, p. 93), whilst further notes were published by the same author in ‘ The Ibis,’ 1928, p. 476, and by Bangs in Bull. Mus. Comp. Zodl. Ixx. 1930, p. 337. Of more recent date some remarks and detailed field-notes have been published by Sclater and Moreau (Ibis, 1933, pp. 27 & 437), who describe its “ tailored ’’ nest.
Mr. Benson’s examples show a large extension of the range of this “island ’’-mountain, forest-haunting species, and I propose to name this new local form as a compliment to the collector.
Description.—Conspicuously different from other known forms in that the rufous chestnut coloration of the head is uniformly suffused over the entire chin, throat, and upper breast and, although thereafter paler, is continued in diminishing degree over the remainder of the underside, no part of which is wholly white. The upper side also differs widely in that the back is grey, not olive-brown, and in con- spicuous contrast with the rufous head-top and hind neck.
Colours of bare parts (taken from collector’s labels).— Trides pale yellowish red-brown ; bill black ; feet pallid flesh.
Type.—Coll. no. 3, an adult male with organs shrunken after recent breeding ; collected by Mr. C. W. Benson on Chongoni Mt., Nyasaland, at an elevation of 6000 feet, on February 10, 1935. Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1935.3.11.3.
Measurements of type —Wing 51 ; tail 51 ; culmen from base of skull 15; tarsus 18; total length in flesh (from label) 123 mm.
Remarks.—The three specimens, all obtained on Chongoni Mt., comprise an adult male, an adult female, and a juvenile. The sexes are alike, but the juvenile differs from the adult
Vol. lv.] 176
in having the rufous head and throat of a paler hue, and in having an olivaceous green wash over the back, breast, and abdomen. In a letter Mr. Benson tells me that he has secured the same bird on the Vipya Range, and that in the forests found thereon, where there are few really large trees, the birds keep to the canopy rather than to the undergrowth. He adds: “‘ The only time I have met with them they have been moving about in the tops of the smaller trees, and never less than 15 feet above ground-level.
Measurements of the female-—Wing 50; tail 47; culmen from base of skull 15; tarsus 18; total length in flesh (from label) 121-5 mm.
To bring Dr. Friedmann’s conclusions (Ibis, 1928, p. 478) up to date it is evident that three races have now to be recognized, and the final summary is as follows :—
Artisornis metopias metopias : Usambara Mts.
Artisornis metopias altus : Uluguru Mts.
Artisornis metopias bensoni: Mountains west of Lake Nyasa; at present known from Chongoni and the Vipya.
Turdoides hypoleuea kilosa, subsp. nov.
A small collection of birds received at the British Museum from eastern Tanganyika Territory, collected by Mr. N. R. Fuggles-Couchman, contains a new southern race of a species hitherto known only from south-central Kenya Colony, with the exception of a single example recently obtained by Mr. R. E. Moreau at Ngare Nairobi, on the west side of Kilimanjaro, which, although nearer the typical race, has some indication of the characters of this new bird.
Description.—Similar to typical hypoleuca (Cabanis, J. f. O. 1878, pp. 205, 226: Kitui, Ukamba, Kenya Colony), but greyer. The feathers of the head are dark grey edged with pale grey, in marked contrast with the warm brown coloration of the typical race, a difference which is constant throughout the remainder of the upper parts. The rump again is con- spicuously grey and not warm sepia; whilst the tail, which in hypoleuca is brown and does not contrast to any extent with the upper parts, is distinctly blackish.
Colours of bare parts (taken from collector’s label).—Irides white ; bill and feet black.
177 [Vol. lv.
Type.—Coll. no. 6, an adult female, not breeding; collected by Mr. N. R. Fuggles-Couchman at Kibedya, Kilosa, ‘Tan- ganyika Territory, at an elevation of 3600 feet, on June 22, 1934. Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1935.5.11.1.
Measurements of type—Wing 110; tail 105; culmen from base of skull 22; tarsus 34 mm.
Remarks.—That this species has nothing whatever to do with 7’. hindet (Sharpe, Bull. B. O. C. xi. 1900, p. 29: Athi River) has been already pointed out by Dr. V. G. L. van Someren (Nov. Zool. xxxvii. 1932, p. 338).
In view of what has been written concerning the winter distribution of the Eastern Whitethroat (Sylvia communis icterops) in the ‘Systema Avium Aithiopicarum,’ it is of interest to note that a Whitethroat received from Mr. Benson and shot at Lilongwe, in western Nyasaland, on March 12, 1935, is indubitably applicable to that eastern race. Perceiving that it was such an unusually dark-coloured bird, I sought the opinion of Mr. H. Whistler, who subsequently compared it with examples in his own collection, and I am grateful for his confirmation of its identity.
This southward extension of its winter range denotes that this race should occur throughout Eastern Africa.
Dr. C. B. Tickenurst forwarded the following communica- tions :—
In working at the Phylloscopi it has become obvious to me that the group Phylloscopus trochilus has been incorrectly divided. Put briefly, we have in western Europe Phylloscopus trochilus trochilus (type-loc. England); this is the most saturated form, with olive-green upper parts and sulphur- yellow on the underparts. In the east and north of Europe the species becomes paler and brighter and forms a recognizable population of Willow-Warblers which should bear the name Phylloscopus acredula (L.) (type-loc. Upsala). In the far north-east of Europe and north-western Asia one finds typical acredula, and among them specimens in which the olive-green and yellow is largely replaced by brown and white—a mixed population. For some reason this brown and white Willow-
Vol. lv.] 178
Warbler has been selected by all workers as typical eversmanni, but a series from Kazan and Orenburg, the type-locality, tallies well with Eversmann’s description, and does not show any differences to a series from Upsala. Hence eversmanni is a synonym of acredula. In the extreme east of its range this Willow-Wren exhibits a cold grey-brown colour with only just a trace of olive on the rump and wings, and the under- parts are white, stippled with grey on the breast. The only yellow is in the under wing-coverts. From the Taimyr Peninsula east to the Kolyma Delta this form is stable, so far as I have seen (fourteen specimens examined), and since it is the extreme form to trochilus it should be recognized. I pro- pose to name it, therefore,
Phylloscopus trochilus yakutensis, subsp. nov.
Type——2¢, Verkhoiansk District, Yakut Land, May 23. No. 109 in coll. Zoolog. Mus. Acad. Science, Leningrad.
In ‘ The Ibis,’ 1935, p. 47, I referred to a Pomatorhinus ferruginosus obtained by Mr. Stanford’s collector at Kambaiti, on the Yunnan border east of Myitkyina, Upper Burma, as — probably belonging to a new form. I have since received a precisely similar specimen from the same district, and, therefore, have little hesitation in now describing it as
Pomatorhinus ferruginosus stanfordi, subsp. nov.
Description.—Underparts as in P. f. marix, but whole of upper parts olive, not brown; differs from P. f. phayrer (Mt. Victoria) in the paler underparts and white chin and throat ; from P. f. orientalis (Tonkin) in the olive, not brown, upper parts and in being paler below.
Distribution —Only known from the hills east of Myitkyina, Upper Burma.
Type.—3, Sadon-Sima Road (6000 ft.), east of My:tkyina, Upper Burma, Dec. 24, 1934. No. 13 in Stanford Collection.
Remarks.—I feel doubtful if P. f. mariz and P. f. albigularcs are really separable ; the only differences might be accounted for by different states of wear. Further material from the Karen Hills and Northern Tenasserim alone can settle the
point.
179 [Vol. lv.
Mr. G. M. Matuews sent the following remarks on Apteryx australis and Stictapteryx owenii, with the necessary changes of nomenclature :—
APTERYX AUSTRALIS.
When Lesson was in the North Island of New Zealand he was given a Kiwi mat, and his record is the first intimation of the Maori name Kiwi-kiwi into literature. He regarded it as representing a small form of Emu, and, therefore, named it Dromiceius nove-zelandiz#, and this name has been cited as a synonym of australis, but obviously it must come into use for the North Island Kiwi, which is definitely distinct from the South Island one.
When Bartlett distinguished between the birds from the North and South Islands he pointed out correctly the differences and gave the locality of his new bird, yet certain workers denied this nomination, and Sharpe even renamed the North Island species bullert. It is possible that the bird from the south of the North Island may differ from that of the north, so that mantelli Bartlett may come into use for the former. Wellington Province is herewith selected as the type-locality of mantelli Bartlett and of bulleri Sharpe & Buller.
The stiff feathering of the bird’s back and the imperfect scuting of the front of the metatarsus of the North Island bird are definitely distinctive, and sufficient to separate it from the typical form, and it must be called
Apteryx australis nove-zelandiz (Lesson, 1828).
The Stewart Island form is more massive, especially in the tarsi, and it also has a longer bill, and must be called
Apteryx australis lawryt Rothschild, 1893, the typical form being Apteryx australis australis Shaw, 1813. STICTAPTERYX OWENII.
Apteryx owen Gould, 1847, is from “‘ New Zealand.” The actual type-locality has not been fixed. It is now designated ‘as the Nelson district of the South Island, as that was the first place whence it was definitely reported,
Vol. lv.] 180
In the fifth part of vol. iti. of the Trans. Zool. Soc. Lond. April 22, 1848, when Gould figured the type of A. oweni, he said that ‘‘it formed part of a small collection of New Zealand birds all of which had, I believe, been procured on the Middle Island.”
Apteryx mollis Potts is from Martin Bay, on the west coast of the South Island (44° 25’ S., 168° E.), and is a synonym.
Apteryx occidentalis Rothschild is from the west coast of the South Island, and is also a synonym. The type has been selected by Hartert (Nov. Zool. xxxiv. Aug. 1927, p. 31) as “a male obtained by a Mr. Bills at Dusky Sound.”
We then have this Kiwi named only from the South Island. A form of owen occurs in the North Island which differs from the South Island bird in being darker and in having a longer bill, tarsus, and toes, which can be called
Stictapteryx owenii iredalei, subsp. nov.
Type.—In the British Museum, Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1875.7.2.34 ; sent over by Dr. Hector, of Wellington, North Island. |
A subspecies is Apteryx owentt maxima Hutton, from the alpine regions of the South Island ; Apteryx maxima appears as a nomen nudum from Bonaparte, 1856, till Hutton, in 1871 (Cat. Birds New Zeal. p. 23), gave a description of a bird. A synonym of maxima is Apteryx haasti Potts, from near Okarita, South Island.
Corrigenda to Volume LV.
P. 21, line 2, for N. 0. cyanophrys read M. o. cyanophrys.
P. 86, line 4, for malanogaster read melanogaster.
P. 159, line 9 from bottom of page, for auritris read Meliphaga (Ptilotis) auritus.
P. 160, line 6, for senalis read Parus senilis,
18] [Vol. lv. NOTICES.
The next Meeting of the Club will be held on Wednesday, October 9, 1935, at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W. 7. The Dinner at 7 p.m.
Members intending to dine must inform the Hon. Secretary, Mr. C. W. Mackworth-Praed, 51 Onslow Gardens, London, S.W. 7, on the post-card sent out before the Meeting.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
This. will also be held at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W.7, on Wednesday, October 9, 1935, at 5.45 p.m. An Agenda and Balance Sheet will be issued in September.
Members who wish to make any communication at the next Meeting of the Club in October should give notice to Capt. C. H. B. Grant at 58a Ennismore Gardens,S.W.7. The titles of their contributions will then appear on the Agenda published before the Meeting. All MSS. for publication in the ‘ Bulletin ” must be given to the Editor before or at the Meeting.
INDEX.
[ Names of new species and subspecies are indicated by clarendon type under the generic entry only ; vernacular, or common, names are shown in ordinary type. |
aagaardi, Bubo ketupu, 138, 139.
abessinicus, Pterocles lichtensteinit, Tas
abingoni smithii, Campethera, 94.
abyssinicus, Falco biarmicus, 50.
, Zosterops, 14.
Acanthis flavirostris bensonorum, 31.
linaria rostrata, 43. Acanthisitta, 112, 113, 164. longipes gilviventris, 1138. longipes, 113. stokes, 113. acredula, Phylloscopus, 177, 178. adeliz, Catarrhactes, 113.
» Dasyramphus, 75.
, Hudyptes, 113.
Aigialitis septentrionalis, 80. Afgithalos caudatus roseus, 117. zgyptiaca, Streptopelia senegalensis,
168. zgyptius, Caprimulgus, 169.
, Milvus migrans, 168.
zsalon pallidus, Falco, 173.
afer humboldtii, Pternistis, 85.
leucoparzxus, Pternistis, 85.
loangwx, Pternistis, 17, 86.
melanogaster, Pternistis, 17, 85, 86, 89.
——.,, Pternistis, 84.
— swynnertoni, Pternistis, 86. tertius, Pternistes, 88. tornowt, Pternistis, 88, 89. africana, Coturnix coturnix, 67.
‘ vulgaris, 68.
africanus archeri, Francolinus, 16. ellenbecki, Francolinus, 16. friedmanni, F'rancolinus, 16. psilolemus, Francolinus, 16,
VOL. LV,
Agapornis, 152.
fischeri, 145.
nigrigenis, 145.
personata, 145.
ahantensis, Francolinus ahantensis, 5, 6,.132, 133.
hopkinsoni, Francolinus, 5.
Akalat, Rufous-winged, 155.
Alauda arenicolor, 139, 140.
arvensis schach, 110.
albicilla, Certhiparus albicilla, 160.
hautura, Certhiparus, 160.
albigula, Cyanoderma melanothorax, 136, 137.
albigularis, Hirundo, 96.
» Pomatorhinus ferruginosus, 178.
albogularis, Poliospiza albogularis, 98
albosignata, Hudyptula, 75.
alboterminatus, Lophoceros melano- leucos, 77, 78.
alchata caudacutus, Pterocles, 173.
Alectoris greca, 8.
greca, 9.
——— —— philbyi, subsp. nov., 8, 173.
melanocephala, 8.
rufa rufa, 8.
Alectura lathami, 37, 146.
alexandrex, Polytelis, 152.
Alopochen jubatus, 37.
altus, Artisornis metopias, 176.
; ruficeps, 175.
americana, Nyroca, 126.
Ammomanes, 173.
cinctura, 139.
kinneari, subsp. nov.,
140,
b
Vol. lv.]
Ammomanes pallens, 140.
pallida, 139.
—— phenicura, 139.
pallens, 140.
regulus, 139.
zarudnyi, 139.
ampelinus, Hypocolius, 173.
Anas carolinensis, 126.
crecca, 126.
penelope, 31, 170.
strepera, 31.
Andropadus curvirostris, 132.
leoninus, 131.
maruitzi, 111.
virens grisescens, 132.
zombensis, 111.
Androphilus, 61.
castaneus, 61.
anglica, Loxia curvirostra, 57.
anglicus, Dryobates major, 117.
anglorum, Regulus regulus, 174.
angolensis, Lophoceros, melano- leucos, 77.
philbyi, Serinus, 120, 173.
rothschildi, Serinus, 119,
120.
, Serinus, 119.
antarctica, Aptenodytes, 74..
, Dasycelis, 74, 75.
Anthoscopus flavifrons flavifrons, 131.
—— —— waldroni, subsp. nov., 131.
parvulus parvulus, 131.
senegalensis, 131.
Anthropoides virgo, 65, 66.
antipodes, Megadypies, 75.
Anuropsis, 61.
Apalis, 122.
chariessa, 122.
—— —— macphersoni, 122.
macphersoni, 122.
ruficeps, 175.
Aptenodytes antarctica, 74.
excelsior, nom. nov., 101.
forsteri, 75, 101.
amperator, 101.
patachonica, 101.
patagonica, 75, 101.
pennantii, 101.
rex, 101.
Apteryx australis australis, 179.
lawryi, 179.
a nove-zelandix, 179.
— bulleri, 179.
haasti, 180.
—— mantelli, 179.
—— mollis, 180.
occidentalis, 180,
184
Apteryx owenii, 179, 180.
maxima, 180.
arabs, Choriotis arabs, 89.
arborea, Lullula arborea, 117.
archeri, Francolinus africanus, 16.
archipelagica, Mixornis, 100.
arctica grabe, Fratercula, 31.
Ardea goliath, 169.
virgo, 66.
arenarius, Tetrao, 59.
arenicolor, Alauda, 139, 140.
argentea, Mixornis gularis, 100.
Artisornis, 175.
metopias altus, 176.
bensoni, subsp. nov.,
174, 176.
metopias, 176.
ruficeps altus, 175.
arvensis schach, Alauda, 110.
atmorw, Zosterops capensis, 14.
atricapillus kleinschmidti, Parus, 108, 126.
» Parus (Penthestes) atri- capillus, 126.
Auripasser luteus tilemsiensis, 52.
auritus, Meliphaga (Ptilotis), 159, 180.
aussx, Cercomela melanura, 79.
australis, Apteryx australis, 179.
lawryi, Apteryx, 179.
——., Lophoceros melanoleucos, 77.
nove-zelandiz, Apteryx, 179.
axillaris batesi, Urobrachya, 52.
mechowi, Urobrachya, 52.
Babbler, 174.
» Hill-, 45.
Balearica regulorum regulorum 68.
baliensis, Cyanoderma melano- thorax, 137.
Barbatula hildamariz, 24, 162.
jacksoni, 24, 53.
Barbet, Black-collared, 93.
, Crested, 93.
, Levaillant’s, 93.
barnardi, Barnardius, 148.
Barnardius barnardi, 148.
barrow, Hupodotis senegalensis, 91.
batest, Urobrachya axillaris, 52.
beaudouint, Circaétus, 171.
Bee-eater, Little Green, 21.
belchert, Heteroprion, 160.
serventyi, Heteroprion, 160.
bensoni, Artisornis metopias, 174, 176.
bensonorum, Acanthis flavirostris, ol.
biarmicus abyssinicus, Falco, 50,
Blackbird, 174.
185
Blackeap, 174.
blakistoni, Bubo, 139.
Bluethroat, White-spotted, 174.
bocagui, Stachyris chrysxa, 121.
bohmi danei, Sarothrura, 18.
, Pternistes, 86.
—., Pternistis cranchii, 86, 87, 88, 89.
——. Sarothrura, 18.
somereni, Sarothrura, 18.
borealis, Cryptospiza salvadori, 13.
borneensis, Mixornis gularis, 100.
bradfieldi, Lophoceros, 75, 78.
, Lophoceros bradfieldi, 78.
——, Rhynchaceros, 75.
wiliamine, Lophoceros, 78.
Brambling, 43, 174.
brevirostris, Pygoscelis, 113.
Broadbill, Natal, 96.
brooksbanki, Ginanthe mesta, 173.
Bubo, 138.
bubo, 139.
blakistoni, 139.
coromandus, 139.
—— ketupu aagaardi, subsp. nov., 138, 139.
ketupu, 138, 139.
—— —— minor, 139.
—— —— pageli, subsp. nov., 138, 139.
Bubulcus ibis, 168.
Buceros subcylindricus, 127, 130.
bucinator, Bycanistes, 76.
Budgerigar, 10, 11, 147.
——., Green-Blue, 10, 11.
Bulbul, 118.
, Sierra Leone Sombre, 131.
bulleri, Apteryx, 179.
Bunting, Corn-, 31.
——, Ortolan, 15, 174.
, Snow-, 108.
Burhinus vermiculatus, 37.
burmanica, Heterophasia picaoides, 19.
Buteo ferox ferox, 50, 105.
rufinus rufinus, 105.
Buzzard, Honey-, 15.
, Long-legged, 105.
, Zimmermann’s, 15.
Bycanistes bucinator, 76.
subcylindricus, 127, 128, 130.
subcylindricus (with
text-figure), 129, 130.
subquadratus
text-figure),129, 130.
subquadratus, 127, 128, 130.
—
(with
cafra, Neotis cafra, 91. cagayanensis, Mixornis gularis,113. calandra, Emberiza, 31,
[Vol. lv.
caledonicus, Platycercus, 148. Calendula dunni, 19.
Calidris temminckii, 31. Campethera abingoni smithii, 94. cana, Heterophasia picaoides, 19. canicollis, Eupodotis, 91.
, Hupodotis senegalensis, 90.
canorum namtiense, Trochalo-
pterum, 104.
, T'rochalopterum canorum, 104.
—— yunnanensis, Trochalopterum, 104.
Canvas-back, 126.
Capella gallinago gallinago, 117.
capensis atmori, Zosterops, 14.
, Smithornis capensis, 96.
vincenti, Fringillaria, 45.
Caprimulgus xgyptius, 169.
europxus europxus, 21, 22.
meridionalis, 22.
tnornatus inornatus, 51.
vinacea-brunneus, 51.
carbo, Phalacrocorax, 9.
Carine noctua, 60.
caripensis, Steatornis, 134.
carolinensis, Anas, 126.
Carpodacus uropygialis, 119, 120.
caspica, Motacilla cinerea, 47, 48, 49,
castaneus, Androphilus, 61.
castro, Cymochorea, 23.
helena, Cymochorea, 23.
Catadyptes, gen. nov., 74.
chrysolophus, 74, 75.
chrysolophus, 102.
—— —— redimitus, subsp. nov., 102.
schlegeli, 74, 75.
Catarhactes, 113.
chrysolophus, 113.
Catarractes, 113.
chrysolophus, 74.
Catarrhactes, 113.
adelix, 113.
caudacutus, Pterocles alchata, 173.
caudatus roseus, A’githalos, 117.
Cercomela familiaris familiaris, 96.
melanura auss@, subsp. nov.,
ns
—— hypura, 79.
Cereopsis novxhollandiz, 146. Certhiparus albicilla albicilla, 160. hautura, subsp. nov.,
160.
Chaffinch, 154.
Chalcomitra senegalensis gutturalis, 97.
chapini, Francolinus nobilis, 62.
62
Vol. lv.]
Charadrius hiaticula, 80, 126.
hiaticula, 117.
psammodroma, 80.
septentrionalis, 80.
semipalmatus, 126.
chariessa, Apalis, 122.
macphersoni, Apalis, 122.
Chat, 169.
, Familiar, 96.
cherrug, Falco cherrug, 173.
chersonesophila, Mixornis, 100.
Chickadee, Black-capped, 126.
Chiffchaff, 174.
Chlidonias leucopareia delandii, 92.
sclateri, 92.
chloris, Chlorisitta chloris, 113.
granti, Chlorisitta, 113.
—., Mixornis, 99.
——., Sitta, 113.
Chlorisitta, nom. nov., 113, 162, 164.
chloris chloris, 113.
granti, 113.
chloropus, Gallinula, 117.
Choriotis arabs arabs, 89.
chrysxa bocagui, Stachyris, 121.
frigida, Stachyris, 121.
» Stachyris, 121,
chrysolophus, Catadyptes, 74, 75.
3 chrysolophus, 102.
—., Catarhactes, 113.
——., Catarractes, 74.
redimitus, Catadyptes, 102.
Chukor, 34.
, Philby’s, 8, 173.
Ciconia ciconia ciconia, 22.
cincta hautura, Notiomystes, 159.
, Notiomystes cincta, 159.
cinctura, Ammomanes, 139. .
kinneari, Ammomanes, 140.
cinerea caspica, Motacilla, 47, 48, 49.
—— melanope, Motacilla, 47, 49.
——, Motacilla, 46.
: cinerea, 47, 49.
Cinnyris, 120.
habessinicus habessinicus, 121.
hellmayri, 120, 121.
——— —— kinneari, subsp. nov., 120, 173.
cioides, Emberiza, 70.
Circaétus beaudouint, 171.
Circus pygargus, 171.
Cisticola emini lurio, 45.
clamosus gabonensis, Cuculus, 155.
clara, Hirundo lucida, 51.
clot-bey, Rhamphocorys, 173.
Coccothraustes coccothraustes cocco- thraustes, 117.
Cockatoo, Banksian, 150,
186
Cockatoo, Roseate, 152.
colchicus, Phasianus colchicus, 72.
tenebrosus, Phasianus, 71, 72.
Coleia, 164.
Colena, 162, 164.
collurio, Lanius collurio, 117.
comminutus, Dryobates minor, 108, LV
communis icterops, Sylvia, 177.
condoriensis, Mixornis, 100.
connectens, Mixornis gularis, 100.
Conure, 152.
corax ruficollis, Corvus, 169, 170.
Cormorant, 9.
cornix, Corvus, 168.
coromandus, Bubo, 139.
Corvus corax ruficollis, 169, 170.
cornix, 168.
rhipidurus, 170.
coturnix africana, Coturnix, 67.
Coturnia coturnia africana, 67.
vulgaris africana, 68.
Crake, Corn-, 174.
cranchit béhmi, Pternistis, 86, 87,
88, 89.
harterti, Pternistis, 87.
antercedens, Pternistis, 87, 89.
atigr, Pternistis, 88, 89.
—— nyanzx, Pternistis, 87.
——., Perdia, 84, 85.
——., Pternistis, 84.
tertius, Pternistis, 88.
Crane, 15, 144, 151.
, American Whooping, 147.
——, Demoiselle, 65.
——, Numidian, 65.
——., Sarus, 37, 147.
——, South African Crowned, 68.
, Stanley, 37.
crawshayt, Francolinus levaillantir, 66, 67.
crecca, Anas, 126.
Crex ruficollis, 69.
Crimson-Wing, 13.
cristatus, Hudyptes, 75, 102.
, Podiceps cristatus, 117.
scoticus, Parus, 110.
Crossbill, Common, 57.
, Parrot, 56, 57.
, Scottish, 57.
Crucirostra pinetorum, 56.
Crypsirina varians longipennis, subsp. nov., 136.
varians, 136.
Cryptospiza salvadorvi borealis, 13.
kilimensis, subsp. nov.,
13.
ruwenzori, 13. Cuckoo, 30.
, Gabon, 155,
‘187
Cuckoo-Shrike, 154.
—— ——, Wattled, 154.
cucullata, Pitta, 38.
Cuculus clamosus gabonensis, 155.
curvirostra anglica, Loxia, 57.
, Loxia curvirostra, 57, 58.
scotica, Loxia, 56.
curvirostris, Andropadus, 132.
leoninus, Andropadus, 131.
Cyanoderma melanothorax, 136, 137.
albigula, 136, 137.
baliensis, 137.
intermedia, 137.
melanothorax, 137.
—— —— mendeni, subsp. nov., faop 37.
cyanophrys, Merops orientalis, 21, 186
Cymochorea castro, 23.
helena, subsp. nov., 23.
—_——_——_.
danet, Sarothrura bohmi, 18. dankah, Fringillaria striolata, 79.
» Gymnoris pyrgita, 122. Dasyeelis, gen. nov., 74. antarctica, 74, 75. Dasyramphus, 74, 112, 118, 164. adeliz, 75.
Davisona, 23, 162..
delalandw, Chlidonias leucopareia,
demersus, Spheniscus, 75.
Dendrocygna fulva, 50.
Dendropicos, 156.
fuscescens fuscescens, 95.
Desertipicus, gen. nov., 156.
dore, sp. nov., 156, 173.
Diceum (Microchelidon) hirundi- naceum, 13.
Dikkop, Water-, 37.
dimidiata, Gallinula, 69.
dimidiatus, Rallus, 69.
dissimilis, Psephotus, 145.
dorx, Desertipicus, 156, 1738.
Dotterel, 174.
Dove, Australian Crested Ground, Lt he
——, Barbary, 147.
—., Rock, 147.
, Turtle, 147.
dressert, Parus palustris, 110, 126.
Dromiceius novxehollandiz, 146.
nove-zelandix, 179.
Drymocataphus tickelli ochraceus, 53.
olivaceus, 53. tickelli, 53. Dryobates, 156.
major anglicus, 117.
[Vol. lv.
Dryobates minor comminutus, 108, LE.
Duck, 141, 150, 157, 158.
dunni, Calendula, 19.
——,, Hremalauda, 20.
Eagle, 165.
, Beaudouin’s Harrier-, 171.
elegans, Melanocorypha, 140.
reichenovi, Sarothrura, 170.
ellenbecki, Francolinus africanus, 16.
elluote yunnanense, Trochalopterum, 104.
Emberiza calandra, 31.
cioides, 70.
jankowsku, 24, 44, 69, 70.
emint lurio, Cisticola, 45.
Emu, 146.
enigmaticus, Pterocles orientalis, 73.
eogaster, Pogonorhynchus, 93.
erckeli, Francolinus erckeli, 67.
pentoni, Lrancolinus, 67.
, Perdrx, 67.
Hremalauda, 19, 102.
dunni, 20.
eremodites, 102, 173.
kinneari, sp. nov., 19, 102.
EHremialector, 74.
eremodites, Hremalauda, 102, 173.
» Pyrrhulauda, 102.
erlangert, Hupodotis senegalensis, SOF Gi
ernesti, Hinanthe leucopyga, 173.
estix, Loxia pytyopsittacus, 56.
Hudyptes, 74, 112, 113.
adeliz, 113.
cristatus, 75, 102.
pachyrhynchus, 75.
sclateri, 75.
Ludyptula albosignata, 75.
minor, 75.
novehollandiz, 75.
EHupodotis canicollis, 91.
senegalensis barrow, 91.
canicollis, 90, 91.
erlangert, 90, 91.
senegalensis, 89, 90.
somaliensis, 90.
Hurillas, 112.
virens, 111, 112.
holochlorus, 111.
shimba, 111, 112.
—— zanzibaricus, subsp. nov., 111.
europxus, Caprimulgus europxus, 21, 22:
meridionalis,
———
——_———_
Caprimulgus, 22.
Vol. lv.]
everetti, Mixornis gularis, 100.
eversmanni, Phylloscopus trochilus, 174, 178.
excelsior, Aptenodytes, 101.
Falco xsalon pallidus, 173. biarmicus abyssinicus, 50. cherrug cherrug, 173. tinnunculus, 168. tinnunculus, 117. Falcon, Saker, 173. familiaris, Cercomela familiaris, 96
fasciatus, Lophoceros, 76.
ferina, Nyroca, 126.
ferox, Buteo ferox, 50, 105.
ferruginosus albigularis, Pomato- rhinus, 178.
marise, Pomatorhinus, 178.
orientalis, Pomatorhinus, 178.
— phayrei, Pomatorhinus, 178.
— ., Pomatorhinus, 178.
stanfordi, Pomatorhinus, 178.
Fieldfare, 15.
Finch, 145.
, Australian Grass-, 151.
, Gouldian, 145.
Finch-Lark, 173.
fischeri, Agapornis, 145.
flavicollis frigida, ? Mixornis, 100, 121.
kelleyr, Mixornis, 100.
——, Mixornis, 99.
—, flavicollis, 100.
prillwitzu, Mixornis, 100.
woodi, Mixornis, 100.
flavifrons, Anthoscopus flavifrons, 131.
waldroni, Anthoscopus, 131.
flavigula, Xanthodira, 98.
flavirostris bensonorum, Acanthis, 31
fluviatilis, Locustella, 32.
forsteri, Aptenodytes, 75, 101.
Francolin, 15, 62.
, Ahanta, 5, 6, 132, 133.
, Sealy, 133.
Francolinus, 5.
africanus archert, 16.
ellenbecki, 16.
—— —— friedmanni, subsp. nov., 16.
psilolemus, 16.
— ahantensis ahantensis, 5, 6, 132, 133.
hopkinsoni, subsp. nov.,
erckeli erckeli, 67. pentoni, 67.
———
188
Francolinus humboldtii, 85.
levaillantii crawshayt, 66, 67. -
kikuyuensis, 66, 67.
—— — muleme, 66.
tes nobilis chapini, subsp. nov., 62.
_——-
nobilis, 62, 63. —— (Pternistes) leucoparzxus, 85. squamatus squamatus, 132.
Fratercula arctica grabe, 31.
friedmanni, Francolinus africanus, 16.
frigida, Heleia, 121.
,» Mixornis, 121.
,» ? Mixornis flavicollis, 100, 121.
——., Stachyris chrysxa, 121.
, Zosterops, 121.
Fringillaria capensis vincenti, 45.
striolata dankali, subsp. nov.,
striolata saturatior, 79.
striolata, 79.
fulva, Dendrocygna, 50.
Fulvetta, 134.
ludlowi, sp. nov., 134.
vinipectus vinipectus, 135.
fulvus, Gyps, 170.
fuscescens, Dendropicos fuscescens, 95.
gabonensis, Cuculus clamosus, 155.
Gadwall, 31.
gallinago, Capella gallinago, 117.
Gallinula chloropus, 117.
dimidiata, 69.
Gannet, 9, 118.
Garrulus glandarius rufitergum, LE ee
Garzetta garzetia, 168.
geloensis, Lophoceros melanoleucos, 78.
gener, Larus, 169.
Geophaps, 151.
guvwentris, Acanthisitta longipes, 113.
gindiana, Lophotis, 91.
: ruficrista, 91, 92.
glandarvus rufitergun, Garrulus, 117
goliath, Ardea, 169. Goldcrest, 43, 174. Goose, 144, 150.
, Brent, 147.
——., Cereopsis, 146. ——, Egyptian, 147. ——., Lesser Snow, 147. ——, Orinoco, 37.
Goose, Snow, 144.
Goshawk, 15.
gouldizs mirabilis, Poéphila, 145.
» Poéphila gouldiz. 145,
grabez, Fratercula arctica, 31.
grxca, Alectoris, 8.
greeca, 9.
philbyi, Alectoris, 8, 173.
Grafisia torquata, 35.
granti, Chlorisiita chloris, 1138.
Grebe, Great Crested, 29, 117.
Greenfinch, 174.
Grey Lag, 146.
grisescens, Andropadus virens, 132.
Grouse, Black, 15.
Grus regulorum, 68.
Guacharo, 134.
gularis argentea, Mixornis, 100.
borneensis, Mixornis, 100.
cagayanensis, Mixornis, 1138.
connectens, Mixornis, 100.
everettt, Mixornis, 100.
javanica, Mixornis, 100.
— lutescens, Mixornis, 100.
—., Mizxornis, 99, 113.
—., gularis, 100.
montana, Mixornis, 100.
pontia, Mixornis, 100.
rubicapilla, Mixornis, 99.
ruficoma, Mixornis, 100.
sulphurea, Mixornis, 100.
zaperissa, ? Mixornis, 100.
zophera, Mixornis, 100.
Gull, Iceland, 174.
gutturalis, Chalcomitra senegalensis, Oi.
Gymnoris pyrgita dankali, subsp. nov., 122.
massaica, 122.
pallida, 122.
—— pyrgita, 122.
Gyps, 170.
fulvus, 170.
——__
haasti, Apteryx, 180.
habessinicus, Cinnyris habessinicus, 121.
hellmayri, Cinnyris, 120, 121.
kinneart, Connyris, 120, 173.
Haliaétus nigra, 70.
pelagicus, 70.
haliztus, Pandion, 169.
Harrier-Eagle, Beaudouin’s, 171.
Harrier, Hen-, 117.
, Montagu’s, 171.
harterti, Pternistes, 87.
, Pternistis cranchu, 87.
hautura, Certhiparus albicilla, 160.
, Notiomystes cincta, 159.
189
[Vol. lv.
Hawfinch, 117.
Hawk, 135, 171.
hebridium, Prunella modularis, 31.
Heleva frigida, 121.
helena, Cymochorea castro, 23.
hellmayri, Cinnyris habessinicus, 120, 121.
Heron, 28.
, Buff-backed, 38.
——, Goliath, 169.
——, Purple, 15, 18.
Heterophasia picaoides burmanica, subsp. nov., 19.
cana, 19.
picaoides, 19.
simillima, 19.
wrayt, 19.
Heteroprion belcheri, 160.
serventyi, subsp. nov.,
_——-—_—_
160. hiaticula, Charadrius, 80, 126. : hiaticula, 117.
psammodroma, Charadrius,
septentrionalis, Charadrius, 80.
hildamarize, Barbatula, 24, 162.
hilgerti, Lophotis ruficrista, 92.
hirundinaceum, Diceum (Micro- chelidon), 13.
Hirundo albigularis, 96.
lucida clara, 51.
rufifrons, 97.
holochlorus, Eurillas virens, 111.
hopkinsoni, Francolinus ahanten- sis, 5.
Hoplopterus, 169.
Hornbill, 75.
, Crowned, 76, 77.
——., Grey-cheeked, 127, 128, 130.
, Trumpeter, 76.
Huamei, South-East Yunnan, 104.
humboldti, Spheniscus, 75.
humboldtu, Francolinus, 85.
——, Pternistis afer, 85.
Humming-bird, 37.
Hydrobates pelagicus, 60.
Hydrornis, 23.
hyperythrus, Pterocles lichtensteinit, 73
Hypocolius ampelinus, 173. Hypocolius, Grey, 173. hypoleuca kilosa, Turdoides, 176. , Turdoides, 176.
hypura, Cercomela melanura, 79.
ibis, Bubulcus, 168. icterops, Sylvia communis, 177. Illadopsis rufescens, 155.
Vol. lv.]
imperator, Aptenodytes, 101.
indica, Saxicola torquata, 158, 159.
inornatus, Caprimulgus imornatus, 51.
vinacea-brunneus, Caprimul- gus, 51. intercedens, Pternistis cranchii, 87,
intermedia, Cyanoderma melano- thorax, 137.
enveterata, Mixornis, 100.
wredalei, Stictapteryx owenii, 180.
atigr, Pternistis cranchir, 88, 89.
Ixos vallombrosz, 118, 119.
Ixus xanthopygos, 118, 119.
xanthopygus, 119.
jacksoni, Barbatula, 24, 53. jankowsku, Emberiza, 24, 44, 69, 70.
javanica, Mixornis gularis, 100. Jay, 117. jubatus, Alopochen, 37.
kelleyi, Mixornis flavicollis, 100.
Kestrel, 117.
Ketupa, 138, 139.
zeylonensis, 139.
ketupu aagaardi, Bubo, 138, 139.
, Bubo ketupu, 138, 139.
—— minor, Bubo, 139.
pageli, Bubo, 138, 139.
kikuyuensis, Francolinus lantii, 66, 67.
kilimensis, Cryptospiza salvadori, 13
levail-
kilosa, T'urdoides hypoleuca, 176.
kinneari, Ammomanes cinctura, 140.
——, Cinnyris habessinicus, 120, 173.
——., Hremalauda, 19, 102.
, Mixornis, 100.
Kite, 30.
kleinschmidtt, Parus atricapillus, 108, 126.
Knot, 33.
koslovx, Pterocles orientalis, 59.
krameri manillensis, Psittacula, 37.
Lanius collurio collurio, 117. minor, 51.
Lapwing, 169.
Lark, 19.
, Bar-tailed Sand-, 139. ——, Finch-, 173.
——, Sand-, 173.
190
Lark, Sky-, 110.
» Thick-billed, 173.
» Wood-, 117.
Larus genei, 169.
lathami, Alectura, 37, 146.
lawryt, Apteryx australis, 179.
Leonardina, 61.
woodi, 54, 60, 61.
leoninus, Andropadus curvirosiris, Bak:
leucogaster, Sula, 169.
leucoparzus, Francolinus (Pternis- tes), 85.
, Pternistis afer, 85.
leucopareia delalandi, Chlidonias, 92.
sclatert, Chlidonias, 92.
leucoptera, Loxia, 57.
leucopyga ernesti, Ginanthe, 173.
levaillaniw crawshayi, Francolinus, 66, 67.
kikuyuensis, Francolinus, 66,
67. —.,, Lybius levaillantii, 93. mulemex, Francolinus, 66. lherminiert, Puffinus, 134. lichtensteinii abessinicus, Pterocles,
— hyperythrus, Pterocles, 73. nigricans, Pterocles, 72, 73. ——., Pterocles lichtensteinii, 73. sukensis, Pterocles, 72, 73. linaria rostrata, Acanthis, 43. lineata lynest, Sarothrura, 17. loangwe, Pternistis afer, 17, 86. Lobotos lobatus, 154. lobatus, Lobotos, 154. , Phalaropus, 108. Locustella fluviatilis, 32. ochotensis ochotensis, 70, 71. plesket, 70, 71. pleskei, 24, 44, 69, 70. longipennis, Crypsirina varians, 136. longipes, Acanthisitta longipes, 113. gilvwentris, Acanthisitta, 113. ——, Motacilla, 113. stokesu, Acanthisitta, 113. Lophoceros bradfieldi, 75, 78. bradfieldi bradfieldi, 78. wiliamine, 78. fasciatus, 76. melanoleucos, 75, 76, 77. alboterminatus, 77, 78. —— —— angolensis, 77. —— —— australis, 77. geloensis, 78. —— —— melanoleucos, 77, 78. stegmanni, 78. suahelicus, 76, 77, 78.
ft
19]
Lophoceros williamine, 75. Lophotis gindiana, 91. ruficrista gindiana, 91, 92. hilgerti, 92.
Lory, 151.
Lorikeet, 151.
Lovebird, 152.
, African, 145.
Loxia curvirostra anglica, 57. curvirostra, 57, 58. scotica, 56.
leucoptera, 57. pytyopsittacus, 56, 57, 58. estie, 56.
norwegica, 56. pinetorum, 56.
—— pytyopsitiacus, 56, 57. scotica, 57.
lucida clara, Hirundo, 51. ludlowi, Fulvetta, 134.
Lullula arborea arborea, 117. lurio, Cisticola emini, 45. lutescens, Mixornis gularis, 100. luteus tilemsiensis, Auripasser, 52. Lybius levaillaniu levaillantui, 93. torquatus torquatus, 93. Lymnocryptes mmimus, 43. lynesi, Sarothrura lineata, 17. Lyrurus mlokosiewicz, 69.
tetrix, 69.
pee
macphersoni, Apalis, 122.
: chariessa, 122.
Macronus, 61.
madagascariensis, Porphyrio, 51.
magellanicus, Spheniscus, 75.
major anglicus, Dryobates, 117.
Mallard, 146.
Mandingoa nitidula nitidula, 45.
manillensis, Pelecanus, 63, 64.
, Psitiacula krameri, 37.
mantelli, Apteryx, 179.
marize, Pomatorhinus ferruginosus, 178.
Martin, Sand-, 7.
marwuz, Andropadus, 111.
massaica, Gymnoris pyrgita, 122.
Mathewsiella, 164.
maura, Saxicola torquata, 158, 159.
maxima, Apteryx owenri, 180.
Meadow-Pipit, 153.
meccanus, Merops orientalis, 21.
mechowi, Urobrachya axillaris, 52.
Megadyptes antupodes, 75.
melanocephala, Alectoris, 8.
Melanocorypha elegans, 140.
melanogaster, Pternistis afer, 17, 85, 86, 89.
, —— nudicollis, 86, 180.
[Vol..lv.
melanoleucos alboterminatus, Lophoceros, 77, 78.
angolensis, Lophoceros, 77.
australis, Lophoceros, 77.
geloensis, Lophoceros, 78.
——, Lophoceros, 75, 76, 77.
—,, melanoleucos, 77, 78.
stegmanni, Lophoceros, 78.
suahelicus, Lophoceros, 76, Tia bee
melanope, Motacilla cinerea, 47, 49.
melanothorax albigula,Cyanoderma, 136, 137.
baliensis, Cyanoderma, 137.
——, Cyanoderma, 136, 137.
——-, melanothorax, 137.
intermedia, Cyanoderma, 137.
mendent, Cyanoderma, 136, eee
melanura aussx, Cercomela, 79.
hypura, Cercomela, 79.
Meliphaga (Ptilotis) auritus, 159, 180.
mendent, Cyanoderma melano- thorax., 136, 137.
mendiculus, Spheniscus, 75.
meridionalis, Caprimulgus pexus, 22.
euro-
' Merlin, 117.
» Pale, 173.
Merops nudis, 169.
orientalis cyanophrys, 21, 180. meccanus, subsp. nov.,
21. Mesopicos, 156. metopias alius, Artisornis, 176. , Artisornis metopias, 176. bensoni, Artisornis, 174, 176. , Pronia, 175. (Microchelidon) hirundinaceum, Diceum, 13. migrans xegyptius, Milvus, 168. Milvus, 170. migrans zxgyptius, 168. minimus, Lymnocryptes, 43. Minodoria, 61. minor, Bubo ketupu, 139. comminutus, Dryobates, 108 117. ——, Eudyptula, 75. ——, Lanius, 51. ——, Mixornis, 100. , Pelecanus, 64, 65. mirabilis, Poéphila gouldiz, 145. Mistletoe Bird, 13. Mizxornis, 61, 99, 113. archipelagica, 100. chersonesophila, 100. chloris, 99. condoriensis, 100.
Vol. lv.]
Mixornis flavicollis, 99.
flavicollis, 100.
frigida, 100, 121.
kelleyz, 100.
prillwitzi, 100.
woodi, 100.
frigida, 121.
gularis, 99, 113.
argentea, 100.
borneensis, 100.
cagayanensis, 1138.
connectens, 100.
everetti, 100.
— gularis, 100.
javanica, 100.
— lutescens, 100.
—— montana, 100.
pontia, 100.
rubicapilla, 99.
ruficoma, 100.
sulphurea, 100.
zaperissa, 100.
zophera, 100.
inveterata, 100.
kinneari, 100.
minor, 100.
olivaceus, 53.
pileata, 100.
ruficeps, 99.
sumilis, 100.
sumatrana, 100.
versuricola, 100.
—— zaptera, 100.
zarhabdota, 100.
mlokosiewiczi, Lyrurus, 69.
modularis hebridium, Prunella, oie
mesta brooksbanki, Gnanthe, WSS
mollis, Apteryx, 180.
montana, Mixornis gularis, 100.
Motacilla cinerea, 46.
caspica, 47, 48, 49.
cinerea, 47, 49.
melanope, 47, 48, 49.
Motacilla longipes, 113.
mulemx, Francolinus levaillantiu, 66.
DOE CUE PMIEGE EEE ah
namaquus, Thripias namaquus, 95.
namtiense, Trochalopterum cano- rum, 104
nancix, Pioliospiza, 24, 162. Neophron, 170.
Neotis cafra cafra, 91. Nightingale, 144.
Nightjar, European, 21. nigra, Haliaétus, 70.
192
nigricans, Pierocles lichtensieinit, 1243
nigrigenis, Agapornis, 145.
nipalensis, Psittacula, 37.
nitidula, Mandingoa nitidula, 45.
nivalis, Plectrophenax, 108.
nobilis chapini, Francolinus, 62, 63.
» francolinus nobilis, 62.
noctua, Carine, 60.
norwegica, Loxia pytyopsittacus, 56.
nothus, T'chagra senegala, 52.
Notiomystes cincta cincta, 159.
hautura, subsp. nov.,
159.
novehollandix, Cereopsis, 146.
» Dromiceius, 146.
, Hudyptula, 75.
nove-zelandix, Apteryx australis, 179.
——, Dromicewus, 179.
nudicollis melanogaster, Pternistis, 86, 180.
nudis, Merops, 169.
Numidian Crane, 65.
nyanzex, Pternistis cranchit, 87.
Nyroca americana, 126.
—— ferina, 126.
—— valisineria, 126.
occidentalis, Apteryx, 180.
ochotensis, Locustella ochotensis, 70, 71.
plesket, Locustella, 70, 71.
ochraceus, Drymocataphus tickelli, 53.
ocrophus, T'ringa, 15.
Gnanthe leucopyga ernesti, 173.
mesta brooksbanki, 173.
Oil-Bird, 134.
olivaceus, Drymocataphus tickelli, Boe
, Mixornis, 53.
onocrotalus, Pelecanus, 64, 65.
Opifex, 175.
orientalis cyanophrys, Merops, 21, 180.
enigmaticus, Pterocles, 73.
koslove, Pterocles, 59.
meccanus, Merops, 21.
——, Pomatorhinus ferruginosus, 178.
——., Pterocles, 59.
: orientalis, 59, 173.
Osprey, 169.
owenii, Apteryx, 179, 180.
tredaler, Stictapteryx, 180.
maxima, Apteryx, 180.
——., Stictapteryx, 179.
193
Owl, Little, 54, 60. ——., Long-eared, 174. ——, Short-eared, 29. ——, Tawny, 54, 62.
pachyrhynchus, Eudyptes, 75.
pageli, Bubo ketupu, 138, 139.
pallens, Ammomanes, 140.
» —— phenicura, 140.
pallida, Ammomanes, 139.
» Gymnoris pyrgita, 122.
pallidus, Falco zsalon, 173.
palustris dresseri, Parus, 110, 126.
Pandion haliztus, 169.
papua, Pygoscelis, 75.
paradisea, Tetrapteryx, 37.
Parrakeet, 145.
, Barnard’s, 148.
—., Barraband’s, 152.
——, Broad-tailed, 149.
—., Brown’s, 145, 148, 149.
——, Hooded, 145.
——, Many-coloured, 153.
——, Princess of Wales’s, 152.
——, Ringneck, 152.
—., Yellow-bellied, 148.
,» Yellow-rumped, 149.
Parrot Conure, 152.
Crossbill, 56, 57.
, Pionus, 152.
Partridge, Red-legged, 8.
Parus atricapillus kleinschmidti, 108, 126.
cristatus scoticus, 110.
palustris dressert, 110, 126.
(Penthestes) atricapillus atre-
capillus, 126.
senilis, 160, 180.
parvulus, Anthoscopus parvulus, ISL. senegalensis, Anthoscopus, 131
patachonica, Aptenodyies, 101. patagonica, Aptenodytes, 75, 101. pelagicus, Haliaétus, 70.
, Hydrobates, 60. Pelecanus manillensis, 63, 64. minor, 64, 65. onocrotalus, 64, 65.
— philippensis, 63, 64. roseus, 63, 64.
rufescens, 65.
Pelican, 9.
——., Philippine, 63. penelope, Anas, 31, 170. Penguin, 101.
, Forster’s Emperor, 101. —, Macaroni, 74, 102, 113. ——, Pennant’s King, 101.
[Vol. lv.
pennanti, Aptenodytes, 101.
(Penthestes) Parus atricapillus atricapillus, 126.
pentoni, Francolinus erckeli, 67.
Perdix cranchii, 84, 85.
erckeli, 67.
punctulatus, 84, 85.
Peregrine, 135.
personata, Agapornis, 145.
personatus, Pogonias, 93.
Petrel, Fork-tail, 23.
, Storm, 60.
Petrochelidon preussi, 51.
Petroma superciliaris, 97.
Phaéthon, 169.
Phalacrocorax, 10.
carbo, 9.
Phalarope, Red-necked, 108.
Phalaropus lobatus, 108.
Phasianus colchicus colchicus, 72.
—— tenebrosus, 71, 72.
phayrer, Pomatorhinus ferruginosus 178.
Pheasant, 15.
Pherocraspedon, 162, 164.
philbyi, Alectoris greca, 8, 173.
»Serinus angolensis, 120, 1738.
philippensis, Pelecanus, 63, 64.
philomelos, Turdus philomelos, 173.
phenicura, Ammomanes, 139.
pallens, Ammomanes, 140.
Phylloscopus acredula, 177, 178.
trochilus, 177, 178.
eversmanni, 174, 178.
trochilus, 174, 177.
—_— -——— yakutensis, subsp. nov., 178.
picaoides burmanica, Heterophasia, 19.
cana, Heterophasia, 19. ——., Heterophasia picaoides, 19. simullima, Heterophasia, 19. wrayt, Heterophasia, 19. Pigeon, 11, 135, 136.
pileata, Mixornis, 100. pinetorum, Crucirostra, 56.
, Loxia pytyopsittacus, 56. Pipit, Meadow-, 153.
, Tree-, 174.
Pitia cucullata, 38.
Pitta, Hooded, 37.
Platycercus, 148.
caledonicus, 148.
venustus, 145. Plectrophenax nivalis, 108. pleskei, Locustella, 24, 44, 69, 70. » —— ochotensis, 70, 71. Plotus, 10.
Plover, Ringed, 117.
Pochard, 126.
Vol. lv.]
Podiceps cristatus cristatus, 117.
Poéphila gouldiz gouldizx, 145.
mirabilis, 145.
Pogonias personatus, 93.
Pogonorhynchus eogaster, 93.
Poliospiza albogularis albogularis, 98.
nanciz, 24, 162.
somerent, 24.
Polytelis alewandrex, 152.
Pomatorhinus ferruginosus, 178.
—— ferruginosus albigularis, 178.
mariz, 178.
orientalis, 178.
—— —— phayrei, 178.
—— —— stanfordi, subsp. nov., 178.
pontia, Mixornis gularis, 100.
Porphyrio madagascariensis, 51.
preussi, Petrochelidon, 51.
prillwitzeu, Mixornis flavicollis, 100.
Prinia, 169.
metopias, 175.
Prion, 159.
Prunella modularis hebridium, 31.
psammodroma, Charadrius hiati- cula, 80.
Psephotus dissimilis, 145.
varius, 153.
Pseudoalcippe stierlingt, 45.
stictigula, 45, 46.
stierlingr, 45, 46.
uluguru, 46.
Pseudotharrhaleus, 61.
psilolemus, Francolinus africanus, 16
Psittacula, 152.
krameri manillensis, 37. nipalensis, 37.
Piernistes afer tertius, 88.
béhmi, 86.
cranchi intercedens, 87. nyanzx, 87.
harterti, 87.
) leucoparzxus, Francolinus,
( 85.
Piernistis afer, 84.
humboldtiz, 85.
leucoparzxus, 85.
—— —— loangwe, subsp. nov., 17, 86.
—— —— melanogaster, 17, 85, 86, 89.
swynnertoni, 86. tornowi, 88, 89. cranchu, 84.
bohm, 86, 87, 88, 89. hartertt, 87. intercedens, 87, 89. atigr, 88, 89.
—-—
194
Pternistis cranchit nyanze, 87.
tertius, 88.
—— nudicollis melanogaster, 86, 180.
swainsoni, 84.
Pierocles alchata caudacutus, 173.
lichtensteinii abessinicus, 73.
hyperythrus, 73.
lichtensteinii, 73.
—— —— higricans, subsp. nov., 12; be.
———.
sukensis, 72, 73. orientalis, 59. enigmaticus, subsp. nov.,
73.
—— —— koslove, subsp. nov., 59.
orientalis, 59, 173.
Ptilocichla, 61.
Ptilopyga, 61.
(Piilotis) auritus, Meliphaga, 159, 180.
Pucheramphus, nom. nov., 113, 162, 164.
Puffin, 31.
Puffinus lherminieri, 134.
punctulatus, Perdix, 84, 85.
purpurea, Pyrrherodia purpurea, 18.
? Pycnonotus xanthopygos reichen- ow2, 119.
vallombrosx, 119.
xanthopygos, 118, 119.
pygargus, Circus, 171.
Pygoscelis, 74.
brevirostris, 113.
papua, 75.
pyrgita dankali, Gymnoris, 122.
» Gymnoris pyrgita, 122.
massaica, Gymnoris, 122.
pallida, Gymnoris, 122.
Pyrrherodia purpurea purpurea, 18.
Pyrrhulauda eremodites, 102.
pytyopsittacus esti, Loxia, 56.
, Loxia, 56, 57, 58.
—, pytyopsitacus, 56, 57.
norwegica, Loxia, 56.
pinetorum, Loxia, 56.
scotica, Loxia, 57.
Quail, Cape, 67.
Rail, Pigmy, 170, 171.
, Rouget’s, 68.
, Sarothrura, 15. Rallus dimidiatus, 69. rufus, 69.
Raven, Brown-necked, 169. Redhead, 126.
redimitus, Catadyptes chrysolophus, 102.
Redpoll, Greater, 43.
, Greenland, 43.
Redshank, 117.
Redstart, 174.
, Black, 174.
Redwing, 15, 174.
regulorum, Balearica regulorum, 68. , Grus, 68.
Regulus regulus anglorum, 174.
regulus, 174.
regulus, Ammomanes, 139.
anglorum, Regulus, 174.
, Regulus regulus, 174.
reichenovt, MSarothrura elegans, 170.
,? Pycnonotus xanthopygos, 119.
rex, Aptenodytes, 101.
Rhamphocorys clot-bey, 173.
rhipidurus, Corvus, 170.
Rhynchaceros bradfieldi, 75.
Rifleman, 113.
Robin, 43, 144, 174.
Rock-Sparrow, 122.
Rook, 135.
roseus, Afgithalos caudatus, 117.
, Pelecanus, 63, 64.
rostrata, Acanthis linaria, 43.
rothschildi, Serinus angolensis, 119, 120.
rougetii, Rougetius, 68.
Rougetius rougetvi, 68.
rubicapilla, Mixornis gularis, 99.
rubicola, Saxicola torquata, 158, 159.
rufa, Alectoris rufa, 8.
, Sarothrura, 18, 68, 69. © .
subsp. ?, Sarothrura, 18.
rufescens, Illadopsis, 155.
-, Pelecanus, 65.
ruficeps altus, Artisornis, 175.
Apalis, 175.
, Mizxornis, 99.
ruficollis, Corvus corax, 169, 170.
» Crex, 69
ruficoma, Mixornis gularis, 100.
ruficrista gindiana, Lophotis, 91, 92.
hilgerti, Lophotis, 92.
rufifrons, Hirundo, 97.
rufinus, Buteo rufinus, 105.
rufitergum, Garrulus glandarius, v7.
rufus, Rallus, 69.
ruwenzori, Cryptospiza salvadorit, 13,
195
[Vol. lv.
salvadorii borealis, Cryptospiza, 13. kilimensis, Cryptospiza, 13. ruwenzori, Cryptospiza, 13. Sandgrouse, 59, 72.
» Imperial, 173.
, Pin-tailed, 173.
Sandpiper, Green, 15.
Sarothrura bohmi, 18.
danei, 18.
— somerent, 18.
—— elegans reichenovi, 170.
lineata lynesi, subsp. nov., 17.
rufa, 18, 68, 69.
subsp. ?, 18. Fringillaria
saturatior, 79.
Saxicola torquata, 159. indica, 158, 159.
maura, 158, 159.
rubicola, 158, 159. theresx, 31.
schach, Alauda arvensis, 110.
ae Chlidonias leucopareia,
92.
, Hudyptes, 75. schlegeli, Catadyptes, 74, 75.
scotica, Loxia curvirostra, 56.
: pytyopsittacus, 57. scoticus, Parus cristatus, 110. Seed-eater, Thick-billed, 98. semipalmatus, Charadrius, 126. senegala nothus, Tchagra, 52.
tumbuktana, Tchagra, 52.
senegalensis xgyptiaca, Strepto-
pelia, 168.
, Anthoscopus parvulus, 131. barrow, Hupodotis, 91. canicollis, Hupodotis, 90, 91.
me Eupodotis senegalensis, 89,
striolata,
—_———
—_——__.
erlangert, Hupodotis, 90, 91. —— guttiuralis, Chalcomitra, 97. somaliensis, Hupodotis, 90. senilis, Parus, 160, 180. septentrionalis, Afgialitis, 80.
» Charadrius hiaticula, 80. Serin, 173.
Serinus angolensis, 119.
philbyi, 120, 173. rothschildi, 119, 120. serventyt, Heteroprion belcheri, 160. Shag, 9.
Shearwater, 134.
Sheldrake, 147.
shimba, Hurillas virens, 111, 112. Shrike, Cuckoo-, 154.
Shrike, Red-backed, 117, 174.
, Wattled Cuckoo-, 154,
subsp. nov.,
Vol. lv.]
Sibia, Long-tailed, 19.
similis, Mixornis, 100.
simillima, Heterophasia picaoides, 19.
Sitta chloris, 113.
smithi, Campethera abingoni, 94.
Smithornis capensis capensis, 96.
Snipe, 7, 417:
, Common, 44.
, Jack, 43, 44.
somaliensis, Hupodotis senegalensis,
somereni, Poliospiza, 24.
, Sarothrura bohmi, 18.
Sparrow, 135.
, Hedge-, 31, 60.
——, Rock-, 122.
, South African Diamond, 97.
Spheniscus, 75.
demersus, 75.
— humboldti, 75.
magellanicus, 75.
mendiculus, 75.
Sporopipes squamifrons squami- frons, 98.
squamatus, Francolinus squamatus, 132.
squamifrons, frons, 98.
Stachyris chrysea, 121.
—— bocagu, 121.
—— frigida, 121.
stanfordi, Pomatorhinus ferrugi- nosus, 178.
Starling, 35.
, Common, 173.
Steatornis carupensis, 134.
stegmanni, Lophoceros melanoleucos, 78.
Stictapteryx owen, 179.
owenii iredalei, subsp. nov., 180.
stictigula, Pseudoalcippe stierlingi, 45, 46.
stierlingi, Pseudoaleippe, 45.
stierlingi, 45, 46.
stictigula, Pseudoalcippe, 45,
Sporopipes squami-
2
46
uluguru, Pseudoalcippe, 46.
Stint, Little, 7.
, Temminck’s, 7, 31.
Stitch-Bird, 159.
stokesii, Acanthisitta longipes, 113.
Stonechat, 31, 43, 158.
Stork, White, 22, 23.
strepera, Anas, 31.
Streptopelia senegalensis xgyptiaca, 168.
striolata dankali, Fringillaria, 79.
——, Fringillaria striolata, 79,
196
striolata saturatior, Fringillaria, 79.
Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris, 173.
suahelicus, Lophoceros melano- leucos, 76, 77, 78.
subcylindricus, Buceros, 127, 130.
, Bycanistes, 127, 128, 130.
; subcylindricus (with
text-figure), 129, 130.
subquadratus, Bycanistes (with text-figure), 129, 130.
subquadratus, Bycanistes, 127, 128, 130.
: subcylindricus, 129, 130.
subsp. ?, Sarothrura rufa, 18.
sukensis, Pterocles lichtensteinit, 72, Tax
Sula leucogaster, 169.
sulphurea, Mixornis gularis, 100.
sumatrana, Mixornis, 100.
Sunbird, Natal Scarlet-chested, 97.
, Shining, 173.
superciliaris, Petronia, 97.
swainsoni, Pternistis, 84.
Swallow, 29.
, White-throated, 96.
Swan, 150.
, Mute, 147.
, Trumpeter, 147.
Swift, 135.
swynnertoni, Pternistis afer, 86.
Sylvia communis icterops, 177.
Tchagra senegala nothus, 52.
—— —— timbuktana, 52.
Teal, Common, 126.
, Green-winged, 126.
temminckii, Calidris, 31.
tenebrosus, Phasianus colchicus, 71, ree
Tern, South African Whiskered, 92.
tertius, Pternistes afer, 88.
, Pternistis cranchii, 88. Tetrao arenarius, 59.
Tetrapteryx paradisea, 37.
tetrix, Lyrurus, 69.
theresx, Saxicola torquata, 31. Thick-knee, 37.
Thripias namaquus namaquus, 95. Thrush, 174.
, European Song-, 173.
, Song,- 15, 43.
tickelli, Drymocataphus tickelli, 53. ochraceus, Drymocataphus, 53. olivaceus, Drymocataphus, 53. tilemsiensis, Auripasser luteus, 52. timbuktana, T'chagra senegala, 52. tinnunculus, Falco, 168. tinnunculus, 117,
197
Tit, 45, 159.
, Crested, 110.
——., Long-tailed, 117.
——. Marsh-, 110, 126.
——., Penduline, 131.
——, Willow-, 108, 109, 110, 126.
——, Yellow-fronted Penduline, Hot.
tornowt, Pternistis afer, 88, 89.
torquata, Grafisia, 35.
indica, Saxicola, 158, 159.
— maura, Saxicola, 158, 159.
rubicola, Saaicola, 158, 159.
——, Sazxicola, 159.
—— theresx, Saxicola, 31.
torquatus, Lybius torquatus, 93.
totanus, Tringa totanus, 117.
touchena, Trochalopteron, 24, 162, 163, 164.
, Trochalopterum, 104.
Trachyphonus vaillantii vaillanti, 93.
Tringa ocrophus, 15.
totanus totanus, 117.
Trochalopteron touchena, 24, 162, 163, 164.
yunnanensis, 24.
Trochalopterum canorum canorum, 104.
namtiense, 104.
yunnanensis, 104.
elliott yunnanense, 104.
touchena, 104.
trochilus eversmanni, Phylloscopus, 174, 178.
——. Phylloscopus, 177, 178.
trochilus, 174, 177.
yakutensis, Phylloscopus, 178.
Turdoides hypoleuca, 176.
kilosa, subsp. nov., 176.
Turdus philomelos philomelos, 173.
Turkey, Australian Brush-, 37, 146.
Twite, 31.
—_—___..
uluguru, Pseudoalcippe stierlingi, 46.
Urobrachya axillaris batesi, 52.
mechowti, 52.
uropygialis, Carpodacus, 119, 120.
usambarex, Zosterops virens, 15.
vaillantu, Trachyphonus vaillantii, 93.
valisineria, Nyroca, 126.
vallombrosx, Ixos, 118, 119.
, Pycnonotus xanthopygos, 119.
varians, Crypsirina varians, 136,
[Vol. lv.
varians longipennis, Crypsirina,
varius, Psephotus, 153. vermiculatus, Burhinus, 37. versuricola, Mixornis, 100. venustus, Platycercus, 145. vinacea-brunneus, Caprimulgus in- ornatus, 51. vincenti, Fringillaria capensis, 45. vinipectus, Fulvetta vinipectus, 135. virens, Hurillas, 111, 112. grisescens, Andropadus, 132. holochlorus, Eurillas, 111. shimba, Eurillas, 111, 112. usambare, Zosterops, 15. zanzibaricus,Hurillas, 111. virgo, Anthropoides, 65, 66. , Ardea, 66. vulgaris africana, Coturnix, 68. , Sturnus vulgaris, 173.
Wagtail, Grey, 46, 47, 48.
, White, 174.
waldroni, Anthoscopus flavifrons, 131.
Warbler, 174.
, Garden-, 174.
———, Grasshopper, 7.
—, Northern Willow-, 174.
——., River-, 32.
——., Sedge-, 174.
, Willow-, 174, 177, 178.
Waterhen, 117.
Weaver, Scaly, 98.
Wheatear, 173.
, Greenland, 43, 174.
White-eye, 13, 14, 15.
Whitethroat, 174.
, Eastern, 174, 177.
Wigeon, 31, 170.
wiliaminez, Lophoceros, 75.
, Lophoceros bradfieldi, 78.
Willow-Tit, 126.
winifredz, Zosterops, 14.
Woodcock, 29.
woodi, Leonardina, 54, 60, 61.
,» Mixornis flavicollis, 100.
Woodpecker, 156.
, Bearded, 95.
——., Cardinal, 95.
——., Great Spotted, 117.
——, Lesser Spotted, 108, 109, hii.
——, Mrs. Philby’s, 173.
, smith’s Golden-tailed, 94.
wrayt, Heterophasia picaoides, 19,
Wren, 61, 174.
, Bush-; 113.
——, Willow-, 178,
Vol. lv.]
Xanthodira flavigula, 98.
xanthopygos, Ixus, 118, 119.
——. Pycnonotus xanthopygos, 118, 119.
reichenowt, ? Pycnonotus,
119.
vallombrosxe, Pycnonotus, 119.
xanthopygus, Ixus, 119.
yakutensis, Phylloscopus trochilus, 178.
Yellowhammer, 174.
yunnanense, T'rochalopterum ellioti, 104.
yunnanensis, Trochalopteron, 24.
198
yunnanensis, Trochalopterum cano- rum, 104.
zanzibaricus, Hurillas virens, 111. zaperissa, ? Mixornis gularis, 100. zaptera, Mixornis, 100. zarhabdota, Mixornis, 100. zarudnyt, Ammomanes, 139. zeylonensis, Ketupa, 139. zombensis, Andropadus, 111. zophera, Mixornis gularis, 100. Zosterops abyssinicus, 14.
—— capensis atmorw, 14. frigida, 121.
virens usambare, 15.
—— winifrede, sp. nov., 14.
PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET, E.C.
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