cam a dnee eo tos nn Aan oe pine ad te ae eat qa cage Fo te teem ach ater yes hee = 4 aerate eee eet errepete. Oa Si pron i pre ooh enon neon ee ara Se petes tener Te ae a teenie FAS Ru bgay Mae ane name ater erat nee cee Re elm = Daan Awe erent rer tot OP at wee mt eee ares v See NiPR er eee eee wwe, oles Be are RRA nee ee nee S ae pee ee ot bth henge ne tebe wnat etary a ae er eergtens earerrer: or re eee ee - Soe oe tawh Soh Rate reer jah Geant mines eis, sth Sedat n ‘ - & bee ~ BULLETIN of the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB EDITED BY Dr. J. F. MONK Volume 98 1978 PRICE: SEVEN POUNDS FIFTY PENCE PREFACE It is realised by few what a debt is owed to Mr. and Mrs. Con Benson for their annual production of immutable facts in the index. It is mainly in the future that its real worth will be recognised by the researcher, perhaps an officer of the Club deputed to reveal the inner values of the Bu//etin, or a student, may be, of African ornithology in search of the tiresome reforms of an earlier taxonomist or nomenclatorial busybody. Then, the meticu- lous compilation and its reliability will certainly be recognised. I hope those who use it will think awhile on the work it has entailed and that all will thank the authors for its assured present and future use. The apparent and actual value of the Bu//etin for publications of authors working in remoter places, as well as quite extensive cover of subjects submitted for publication, is analysed briefly in the Committee’s Annual Report. I am as usual, though no less sincerely, most grateful to referees, the printers and the authors themselves for their obliging cooperation during the last 12 months in helping the efforts made to maintain the high standard and punctuality of the Bulletin. JAMES F. MONK COMMITTEE 1977-1978 1978-1979 P. Hoce, Chairman (1977) P. Hoce, Chairman (1977) Dr. G. BEVEN, Vice-Chairman (1977) Dr. G. BEvEN, Vice-Chairman (1977) Dr. J. F. Monk, Editor (1976) Dr. J. F. Monk, Editor (1976) R. E. F. Pear, Hon. Secretary (1971) R. E. F. PEAL, Hon. Secretary (1971) M. Sr. J. Succ, Hon. Treasurer (1974) Mts. D. M. Braptey, Hon. Treasurer (1978) Mts. D. M. BRADLEY (1975) C. E. WHEELER (1975) C. E. WHEELER (1975) | B. Gray (1977) B. Gray (1977) C. F. MANN (1977) C. F. MANN (1977) P. J. OLIVER (1978) iti LIST OF MEMBERS: AMENDMENTS UP TO 31st DECEMBER 1978 (Compiled by Mrs. D. M. Bradley and R. E. F. Peal) New Members A.ttMAN, Dr. A. B., pH.D., Apartado Postal 81033, Caracas 108, Venezuela. Coe, W. W., Jnr., P.O. Box 117, Baldwinsville, N.Y. 13027, U.S.A. CroucHer, R. A. N., A.M.1.S.M., 93 Potton Road, Eynesbury, Cambs. PErg 2NL. Day, D. H., P.O. Box 84367, Greenside 2034, Johannesburg, R.S.A. DevituErs, Dr. P. J., Ph.D., Avenue de la Charmille 8, Bte 2, 1200 Brussels, Belgium. FisHer, Miss C. T., M.A., A.M.A., 2 Leopold Road, Liverpool L7 8SP. Fraser, M. W., The Manse, Dirleson, East Lothian EH39 5EL. Furniss, Dr. W. T., pH.D., 1001 26th Street N.W., Apt. 708, Washington, DC 20037, U.S.A. HA, Prof. G. A., pH.D., Dept. of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, U.S.A. Hove ine, H., 55 Einstein Str., 34602 Haifa, Israel. INSLEY, H., B.sc., M.1.FOR., 1 Minstead Close, Harestock, Winchester, Hants. JENSEN, H., Fraendevej 18, DK 2860, Soeborg, Denmark. Kaxizawa, R., M.sc., Yamashina Institute for Ornithology, 8-zo Nampeida-machi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150, Japan. Krrson, A. R., B.sc., 45 Channel View Road, Woodingdean, Brighton, Sussex. Kuropa, N., Akasaka 2-17-10, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107, Japan. Larsson, L., B.sc., Pennygangen 3, S-41482 Goteborg, Sweden. Lewrts, R. E., B.sc., Tudor Cottage, Onston Lane, Cuddington, nr. Northwich, Cheshire. McKgan, J. L., Div. of Wildlife Research, F. C. Pye Research Lab., P.O. Box 39998, Win- nellie, N.T. 5789, Australia. Moore, A. G., B.A., 34 Clarendon Gardens, London, No. _ Perret, Prof. A., pH.D., 23 Cole Park Road, Twickenham TW1 1HP. Ping, Dr. R. S., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., 11 Winston Avenue, New Southgate N11 2AS. Poyskr, T., 281 High Street, Berkhamsted, Herts. HP41AJ. RANKIN, G. D., B.sc., 11 Collier Close, Thistleflat, Crook, Co. Durham. Ross, N., A.P.M.1., 71 Buckingham Road, Wilmstow, Cheshire SKg 5LA. Taytor, M. R., 4 Police Quarters, West Hill, Romsey Road, Winchester, Hants SO2z2 5DA. Resignations Ginn, H. B.; Lrnpsere, N. P.; Perrin, Dr. M. R.; Smrru, A. P. Removed from Membership Austin, G. T.; Bucxey, P. A.; CARPENTER, C. F.; EpGar, R. M. D.; Ervin, S.; Hopkins, J. R.; Kine, D. G.; Morison, A. F.; Nrcuors, Mrs. H. A. J.; Tarsoron, W. R.; WIL.1s, G.S. Deaths The Committee much regrets to record the deaths of Abas, L. E.G.; Harrison, Dr. J. G., O.B.E., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., D.R.C.0.G. (Editor 1952-1961, Hon. Secretary 1962-1964); RHODEs, Miss G. M. (Hon. Secretary 1949-1950); RosBerts, Dr. B. B., pH.p.; WrErmore, Dr. Alexander, HON.M.B.O.U.; WHITE, C. M. N., M.B.E., M.A. LIST OF AUTHORS AND CONTENTS ACCOUNTS, 1977... ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ASH, PuS: Ethiopia as a presumed wintering area for the eastern Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia straminea Inland and coastal occurrences ae Beoad- billed Sandpipers eee ‘folisagtlas in Ethiopia and Djibouti Sarothrura crakes in Ethiopia A Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus Daas Petes in a Mormbiace The undescribed female of Harwood’s Francolin Francolinus harwoodi and other observations on the species BaRLOw, JON C. Records of migrants from Grand Cayman Island BENSON, C. W. Miscaptions on Plates of weavers in works by Mackworth-Praed & Grant See also MorGAN BENsOoN, C. W., BRooKE, R. K. and Traytor, M. A. Multiple original spellings of Bradypterus Swainson, 1837 BENSON, F. M. See MorGAN Books RECEIVED BoRECKY, STEPHEN R. Evidence for the removal of Pseudopodoces humilis from the Corvidae ... BOSWELL, JEFFERY The birds of Alacran Reef, Gulf of Mexico Brooke, M. DEL. Inland observations of Barau’s Petrel Pterodroma baraui on Réunion ... Brooke, R. K. Sea and coastal birds collected in Angola by H. Skoog in 1912 i XIX Century Indian Ocean seabirds eggs in the South African Gasoucm See also BENSON Bruce, Murray D. Records of birds from Timor: some additions and corrections BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE Opinions 1078, 1081 Opinion 1101 Burvon, PB? Jini, The Basisphenoid notch of Kingfishers ... See also MANN CAMPBELL, BRUCE An illustrated address on problems of gravel pits CLANCEY, P. A. On the validity of Alcedo cristata robertsi Peters, 1945 CoLEBROOK-ROBJENT, J. F.R. An oviduct egg of the Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus 34°35 £33305 715 22-24 24-26 26-29 29-30 JOR . 144-146 114 36-37 99-109 90-95 31-32 75-80 . 127-128 31 146 68-74 33 87-90 40 Cotston, P. R. A new bird for Burma — Pallas’s Reed Bunting Emberiza pallasi Ver Nee t—-22 CoMMITTEE, REPORT FOR 1977 ... an a: asd es “ee bx’ oe. I-2 Davison, G. W. H. . Further notes on Lophophorus sclateri... isi eas vite ba ... I16-118 Dean, W.R. J. An analysis of avian stomach contents from southern Africa ... wis slenwi MOSES DowseEtrT, R. J. A hybrid Hirundo rustica x Delichon urbicain Zambia... xa es ... II13-I14 See also DowseTt-LEMAIRE DowseEtt-LEMAIRE, FRANCOISE and DowseEtrt, R. J. Vocal mimicry in the lark iaire hypermetra as a possible species-isolating mechanism ae an ee ats uk a, es 8p ... I4O-144 Ex.iott, Sir HuGH An illustrated address on herons ... ne vat ee ae i Pi. 115 ERARD, C. A new race of Parisoma /ugens from the highlands of Bale, Ethiopia... ws? '43=49 FEARE; C, J. See PEIRCE Frerns, P. N. The onset of prebasic body moult during the breeding season in some high- Arctic waders... es ape Be pie de bt des .. 118-122 FrsHEr, Davin J. First record of Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus and third record of err ees Gull Larus argentatus for South America un 113 GREIG-SMITH, P. W. Convergence between Terpsiphone corvina, T. atrochalybea and Piezorhynchus alecto gi aii ree as ay uth pe a as, wee 41-43 Grigs, L. G. Occurrence of Javan Little Tern Sterna albifrons sinensis in West Africa a8 114 Harrison, J. G. and Harrison, P. An illustrated description of ‘Indian Interlude’ ... Ste ah 2 ee 2 Horyoak, D. T. A female specimen of Gallicolumba jobiensis from San Christoval, Solomon Islands... es : nce me 1s a at Nee «=. _ 98-09 Hotryoak, D. T. and THrBau_t, sf -C. Notes on the biology and systematics of Polynesian swiftlets, Aerodramus ... 59-65 Undescribed A crocephalus Warblers from Pacific Ocean Islands fee ve L222 KING, BEN A new race of Pitta oatesi from Peninsular Malaysia... Na aE ... IOQ-I13 LENNERSTEDT, I. See MANN MapeegE, S. G. See Woop Mann, C. F., Burton, P. J. K. and LENNERSTEDT, I. A re-appraisal of the systematic position of Trichastoma poliothorax (Tima- liinae, Muscicapidae) ... ee foe Sass bie i a “1. 131-140 vi MARCHANT, S. Nuptial behaviour in the Genus Coracina(Campephagidae) ... bee .. 129-131 Moreau, P. J., BENson, C. W. and Benson, F. M. Bird skins from Malawi sae aoe, Saag 3 in the ee ee Museums, Liverpool ... 65-68 Perrce, M. A. and FEARE, C. J. Piroplasmosis in the masked booby Sw/a dactylatra melanops in the Amirantes, Didian Oceath) 235 a ae ne = ies Za ss ... 38-40 Rrerey, S. DILLON An illustrated address on new possibilities in the management of endangered species... ae by a A oy i ets ssh ne 33 SCHUCHMANN, KARL-L. Notes on the Rufous-capped Thornbill C’ agama ees a new Bee bird species for Colombia we si i es TI5—-116 THIBAULT, J.-C. See HoLyoak Trayor, M. A. See BENSON PUCKER. |. J. A River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis ‘wintering’ and moulting in Zambia __... 2-4 TYLER, STEPHANIE J. Some observations of birds in Fah, northeast Eritrea ... es ie .. 80-87 WALLER, C. S. See Woop WARHAM, JOHN A report on the te- mee of the Taiko on the Chatham Islands bi David Crockett .. a : : : Se ay ; 33 WATLING, Dick A Cambridge collection of Fijian and Tongan landbirds oe sae w» 95-98 WILSON, JENNY and WILson, ROGER Observations on the Seychelles Magpie Robin Copsychus seychellarum ... he herk5 21 Woop, Brian, Mancg, S. G. and WALLER, C. S. Description, moult and measurements of Montifringilla theresae Aa we ~—«dS55-59 Woopcock, MarrTIN An illustrated address on the birds of Oman _... ez ce es ie 75 Zust, RL, | The interorbital septum in cardueline finches... ee de ole $38 5-10 Remarks on the generic allocation of Pseudochelidon sirintarae ... 25 ova) ) DBSES INDEX TO SCIENTIFIC NAMES (Compiled by C. W. Benson with the assistance of Mrs. C. W. Benson and Mrs. M. Hawksley) All generic and specific names (of birds only) are indexed. Subspecific names are included only if new and are also indexed in bold print under the generic and the specific names. abyssinica, Coracias 84 — Hirundo 142 Accipiter badius 82 — rufitorques 97 — striatus 104 Acridothetes tristis 20, 62 Acrocephalus arundinaceus 2, 29, 81, 85 — caffer 122-124 Acrocephalus caffer garretti, subsp. nov. 122 Acrocephalus luscinia 125-126 Acrocephalus luscinia astrolabii, subsp. nov. 125 Acrocephalus otatare 123 — palustris 2, 85 — scirpaceus 85 Actitis macularia 104 acunhae, Nesospiza 9 adsimilis, Dicrurus 81 adspersus, Francolinus 5 3 aenea, Chloroceryle 74 aequatorialis, Apus 83 aequinoctialis, Procellaria 78 Aerodramus 59 — leucophaeus 60, 63-64 — ocistus 60, 63-64 — sawtelli6o, 63-64 — spodopygius 61 — vanikorensis 60, 63 afer, Parus 11 affinis, Apus 83 africana, Mirafra 140-144 africanus, Bubo 83 — Rhinoptilus 11 Alario 8 alba, Calidris 32, 104, 118-121 — Gygis 19 — Motacilla 84 albicauda, Mirafra 142 albicollis, Merops 84 albifrons, Amblyospiza 8 — Sterna 114 albipectus, Trichastoma 131-139 albiventer, Phalacrocorax 78 albiventris, Tachycineta 14 albofasciata, Chersomanes 11 alboterminatus, Tockus 11 albus, Corvus 32 Alcedo atthis 69-74, 87 — cristata 74, 87-90 — meninting 74 alcyon, Ceryle 69, 74, 145 — Megaceryle 105 alecto, Piezorhynchus 41-43 Alethe poliothorax 131 alpestris, Eremophila 56 alpina, Calidris 25, 118, 120 altiloquus, Vireo 145 amabilis, Charmosyna 96 Amadina fasciata 86 amauroptera, Pelargopsis 69-71, 74 amazona, Chloroceryle 69, 71, 74 Amblyospiza albifrons 8 americana, Chloroceryle 74 — Parula 106 americanus, Coccyzus 105 Ammomanes deserti 84 Ammoperdix heyi 82 Anas eatoni 78 — punctata 31 — querquedula 82 — sttepera 82 — superciliosa 96 Andropadus tephrolaema 66 angolensis, Hirundo 14 anguitimens, Eurocephalus 12 Anomalospiza imberbis 8 Anous minimus 120 — stolidus 38-39, 79, 105 Anthreptes longuemarei 66 — metallicus 86 Anthus 138 — campestris 84 — cervinus 84 — leucophrys 67 — mnovaeseelandiae 12 — paytensis 146 — similis 84 — trivialis 84 — vaalensis 12, 67 apiaster, Merops 83 apiata, Mirafra 11 Aplonis tabuensis 97 Aplopelia larvata 66 approximans, Circus 97 Aptenodytes patagonicus 76 Apus aequatorialis 83 — affinis 83 AUS 84 apus, Apus 83 Aquila rapax 82 Arborophila 112 Ardea herodias 104 — purpurea 82 Ardeola ibis 82 — ralloides 82 Arenaria interpres 104, 118-121 argentatus, Larus 113 aridula, Cisticola 12 ariel, Fregata 38 arminjoniana, Pterodroma 78, 93-94 Artamus leucorhynchus 97 arundinaceus, Acrocephalus 2, 29, 81, 85 ascalaphus, Bubo 83 asiatica, Nectarinia 75 astrolabii, Acrocephalus 125 atricapilla, Sylvia 85 atricilla, Larus 105, 113 atricollis, Ortygospiza 142 atrochalybea, Terpsiphone 41-43 atthis, Alcedo 69-74, 87 aura, Cathartes 145 auteola, Emberiza 22 aurocapillus, Seiurus 106 avosetta, Recurvirostra 32 ayresi, Sarothrura 26, 28-29 azureocapilla, Myiagra 96 azureus, Ceyx 74 baboecala, Sylvia 4-5 badius, Accipiter 82 — Phodilus 14 bairdii, Calidris 104, 121 balaenarum, Sterna 32 banksi, Pachyptila 77 baraui, Pterodroma 90-95 barbatus, Pycnonotus 84 Batis molitor 66 — orientalis 86 — soror 66 bellicosus, Polemaetus 82 benghalensis, Coracias 75 bertrandi, Ploceus 32 biarmicus, Falco 82 bicalcaratus, Francolinus 53 bicolor, Tachycineta 14 — Trichastoma 131-137 Bombycilla cedrorum 145 bonelli, Phylloscopus 86 borin, Sylvia 2, 85-86 bottae, Oenanthe 85 boyeri, Coracina 130 brachydactyla, Petronia 8, 86 brachyura, Sylvietta 86 Bradornis infuscatus 12 Bradypetes platyurus 4—5 Bradypterus 4-5 Bradyptetus 4 brevirostris, Pterodroma 77 Bubo africanus 83 — ascalaphus 83 — lacteus 83 Vili Bubulcus ibis 104, 109 Buccanodon whytii 66 Buphagus erythrorhynchus 87, 142 Buteo buteo 82 buteo, Buteo 82 Butorides striatus 96, 104 Cacomantis pyrrophanus 97 caerulea, Halobaena 76-77 =— Pitta 1og caetuleogrisea, Coracina 130 caetulescens, Dendroica 106 caffer, Acrocephalus 122-124 caffra, Cossypha 12 Calandrella cinerea 11 Calidris alba 32, 104, 118-121 — alpina 25,118, 120 — bairdii 104, 121 — canutus 121 — ferruginea 25, 32, 121 — fuscicollis 104 — maritima 121 — maurii2i — melanotos 121 — minuta 25, 32, 83 — minutilla 105 — pusilla 104 Campephaga 130 — phoenicea 129 campestris, Anthus 84 Campethera nubica 84 Campochaera sloetii 129 canorus, Cuculus 83 canutus, Calidris 121 capensis, Euplectes 67 — Francolinus 53 — Ocena 83 — Pelargopsis 74 Caprimulgus donaldsoni 141-143 — fraenatus 83 — nubicus 83 carbo, Phalacrocorax 31 Cardinalis cardinalis 6 — phoenicea 8 cardinalis, Cardinalis 6 Carduelis tristis 6 Carpodacus 8-9 — purpureus 6 Carpospiza 8 carunculata, Foulehaio 97 castanea, Dendroica 145 Catharacta skua 78 Cathartes aura 145 Catharus 106 — fuscescens 145 Catoptrophorus semipalmatus 104 cedrorum, Bombycilla 145 celaeno, Rhodothraupis 9 Cercomela familiaris 85 — melanura 75, 85 Cercotrichas galactotes 85 — podobe 85 cerulea, Dendroica 106 cerviniventris, Phyllastrephus 66 cervinus, Anthus 84 Ceryle 68 — alcyon 69, 74, 145 — maxima 69, 74 — rudis 69, 74 — torquata 74 Ceyx azureus 74 — erithacus 69 — lepidus 70, 74 — tufidorsum 74 Chaetura pelagica 145 chalconota, Gallicolumba 99 Chalcostigma herrani 116 — heteropogon 116 — rfuficeps 115 chalybaeus, Lamprotornis 67 Charadrius hiaticula 118-119, 121 — marginatus 31-32 — pallidus 31-32 — semipalmatus 121 — tricollaris 82 Charmosyna amabilis 96 Chaunoproctus ferreorostris 8 chelicuti, Halcyon 70, 74 Chersomanes albofasciata 11 Chionis minor 78 Chlidonias niger 105, 145 Chloris 8 chloris, Halcyon 63, 74, 97 Chloroceryle 68 — aenea 74 — amazona 69,71, 74 — americana 74 — inda 69, 74 chloropterus, Lamprotornis 67 chloropus, Gallinula 82 chlororhynchos, Diomedea 31-32, 77 Chondestes grammacus 106 chrysocome, Eudyptes 76 Chrysoenas luteovirens 97 — victor 97 — viridis 97 chrysolophus, Eudyptes 76 chrysoptera, Vermivora 106 cia, Emberiza 22 cincta, Riparia 14 cinerea, Calandrella 11 — Creatophora 87 — Motacilla 84 cinereiceps, Trichastoma 131 cinereola, Cisticola 141-143 cinereus, Poliolimnas 97 Cinnyricinclus leucogaster 86 Circaetus gallicus 82 Circus approximans 97 cirrocephalus, Larus 32 Cisticola aridula 12 — cinereola 141-143 — troglodytes 54 citrea, Protonotaria 106 citrina, Wilsonia 106 Cittura cyanotis 74 clappertoni, Francolinus 5 2—5 4 clara, Motacilla 54 cleaveri, Trichastoma 139 Clytoceyx rex 74 Clytorhynchus nigrogularis 96 — vitiensis 95,97 coccinea, Vestiaria 9 Coccothraustes vespertinus 6 Coccyzus americanus 105 Colius macrourus 83, 142 collaris, Lanius 12 Collocalia 59 — esculenta 128 — _ leucophaea 60 — sawtelli6o — _ spodiopygia 97 collurio, Lanius 84 collybita, Phylloscopus 86 Columba vitiensis 97 comata, Hemiprocne 128 communis, Sylvia 2, 85 concolor, Neospiza 8 — Ptyonoprogne 14 concreta, Halcyon 74 Contopus virens 106 Copsychus seychellarum 15-21 Coracias abyssinica 84 — benghalensis 75 Coracina boyeri 130 — caeruleozrisea 130 — lineata 130 — montana 129 — morio 130 — novaehollandiae 129-130 — papuensis 129-130 — pectoralis 130 — schisticeps 129-130 — tenuirostris 129-130 cotomanda, Halcyon 70, 74 coronatus, Vanellus 11, 142 cotvina, Terpsiphone 41-43 Corvus albus 32 — tuficollis 87 — splendens 75 Coryphospingus cucullatus 9 Corythornis cristata 87—88 Cosmopsatus unicolor 67 Cossypha caffra 12 Coturnicops 26 crassirostris, Oryzoborus 8 Creatophora cinerea 87 crinitus, Myiarchus 105 cristata, Alcedo 74, 87—90 — Corythornis 87-88 cristata, Galerida 84 cucullatus, Coryphospingus 9 — Vanellus 128 Cuculus canorus 83 — micropterus 40 curruca, Sylvia 86 Cursorius rufus 11 cyanea, Pitta 112 cyanoides, Passerina 8 cyanotis, Cittura 74 Cygnus 71 Dacelo gaudichaud 69, 74 — leachii 74 — mnovaeguineae 74 dactylatra, Sula 38-39, 79, 103 daurica, Hirundo 84 deborah, Pitta 110 Delichon urbica 113, 142 Demigretta sacra 96 Dendroica caerulescens 106 — castanea 145 — cerulea 106 — palmarum 106 — petechia 106 — striata 145 dentata, Petronia 54, 86 deserti, Ammomanes 84 Dicrurus 40 — adsimilis 81 Diglossa lafresnayii 115 Diomedea chlororhynchos 3 1-32, 77 — exulans 77 — immutabilis 120 Dolichonyx oryzivorus 106 domesticus, Passer 6 dominicanus, Larus 78 dominicensis, Progne 145 donaldsoni, Caprimulgus 141-143 Ducula latrans 97 eatoni, Anas 78 ecaudatus, Terathopius 82 Edolisoma 130 Egretta garzetta 82 — intermedia 82 — schistacea 82 elegans, Emberiza 22 — Sarothrura 27-28 Emberiza aureola 22 — cia22 — elegans 22 — furcata 22 — hortulana 86 — pallasi 21 — pusilla 21-22 — tutila22 — schoeniclus 21 — _ spodocephala 22 — striolata 86 Emberiza tahapisi 75 — tristrami 22 epops, Upupa 84 etckelii, Francolinus 53 Eremomela icteropygialis 12 Eremophila alpestris 56 Erismatura maccoa 31 Erithacus rubecula 138 erithacus, Ceyx 69 Erythropygia paena 12 erythrorhynchus, Buphagus 87, 142 — Tockus 11, 84 Erythrura kleinschmidti 96 — pealii 97 esculenta, Collocalia 128 Estrilda rhodopyga 86 Eudyptes chrysocome 76 — chrysolophus 76 Euodice malabartica 75 Euphona 8 Euplectes capensis 67 — hordeaceus 54 Eupodotis ruficrista 142 eupogon, Metallura 116 Eurocephlaus anguitimens 12 Eurochelidon sirintarae 13 eutystomina, Pseudochelidon 13-14 excubitor, Lanius 84-85 exilis, Ixobrychus 104 explorator, Zosterops 97 exsul, Pelecanoides 78 exulans, Diomedea 77 falcinellus, Limicola 24-25 Falco biarmicus 82 — longipennis 128 — subbuteo 127-128 — tinnunculus 82 familiaris, Cercomela 85 fasciata, Amadina 86 fasciatus, Hieraaetus 82 ferreorostris, Chaunoproctus 8 ferruginea, Calidris 25, 32, 121 Ficedula hyperythra 128 — timorensis 128 flava, Motacilla 84, 142 flavicans, Prinia 12 flavifrons, Poicephalus 54 flavipes, Tringa 104 fluviatilis, Locustella 2-4 formosus, Oporornis 106 Foulehaio carunculata 97 fraenatus, Caprimulgus 83 Francolinus adspersus 53 — bicalcaratus 53 — capensis 53 — clappertoni 52-54 — etckelii 53 — hartlaubi 53 — hatwoodi 50-55 Francolinus hildebrandti 5 3 — _ icterorhynchus 53 — natalensis 53 — pondicerianus 75 — psilolaemus 54 — sephaena 142 Fregata ariel 38 — magnificens 104 — minor 38, 79 Fregetta tropica 78 Fringilla 8 frontalis, Sporopipes 54, 86 fulicarius, Phalaropus 121 fuliginosa, Phoebetria 77 fuligula, Hirundo 84 — Ptyonoprogne 14 fulvescens, Trichastoma 131, 139 fulvus, Gyps 82 — Turdoides 81 furcata, Emberiza 22 fusca, Phoebetria 77 fuscata, Sterna 38-39, 79, 105 fuscescens, Catharus 145 fuscicollis, Calidris 104 galactotes, Cercotrichas 85 galatea, Tanysiptera 74 galbula, Icterus 106, 146 — Ploceus 75, 86 Galerida cristata 84 Gallicolumba chalconota 99 — jobiensis 98-99 — stairil97, 99 gallicus, Circaetus 82 Gallinago gallinago 83, 104 — media 27 gallinago, Gallinago 83, 104 Gallinula chloropus 82 Gallirallus philippensis 95 garretti, Acrocephalus 122 garzetta, Egretta 82 gaudichaud, Dacelo 69, 74 georgicus, Pelecanoides 78 Geositta paytae 146 — peruviana 146 Geospiza magnirostris 8 giganteus, Macronectes 77 glareola, Tringa 83, 142 Glaucidium perlatum 11, 83 godeffroyi, Halcyon 64 grammacus, Chondestes 106 griseiventris, Parisoma 46 griseus, Limnodromus 105 gularis, Serinus 8 gutturalis, [rania 85 Gygis alba 19 Gymnomyza viridis 97 Gyps fulvus 82 habessinica, Nectarinia 86 Habia rubica 9 Halcyon chelicuti 70, 74 — chloris 63, 74, 97 — concreta 74 — coromanda 70, 74 — godeffroyi 64 — leucocephala 70, 74, 75 — miacleayii 74 — pileata 70, 74 — pyrthopygia 74 — safcta 74, 128 — senegalensis 74 — smyrnensis 69-70, 74 — tuta64,124 — venerata 64 halli, Macronectes 77 Halobaena caerulea 76-77 hartlaubi, Francolinus 53 harwoodi, Francolinus 50-5 5 hasitata, Pterodroma go Hemignathus 9 Hemiprocne comata 128 hendersoni, Podoces 36-37 herodias, Ardea 104 herrani, Chalcostigma 116 heteropogon, Chalcostigma 116 heyi, Ammoperdix 82 hiaticula, Charadrius 118-119, 121 Hieraaetus fasciatus 82 hildebrandti, Francolinus 53 Himantopus himantopus 83 — mexicanus 105 himantopus, Himantopus 83 Himatione 9 Hippolais pallida 85 Hirundo abyssinica 142 — angolensis 14 — daurica 84 — fuligula 84 — lucida 14 — rustica 84, 106, 113, 142 — smithii 14 — tahitica 14, 60-61 hirundo, Sterna 32 hordeaceus, Euplectes 5 4 hortensis, Sylvia 85 hortulana, Emberiza 86 hottentota, Querquedula 31 humilis, Podoces 36 — Pseudopoces 36-37 Hylocichla 106 hypermetra, Mirafra 140-144 hyperythra, Ficedula 128 hypoleucos, Tringa 83 ibis, Ardeola 82 — Bubulcus 104, 109 icteropygialis, Eremomela 12 icterorhynchus, Francolinus 53 Icterus 106 Icterus galbula 106, 146 imberbis, Anomalospiza 8 immutabilis, Diomedea 120 impejanus, Lophophorus 117 inda, Chloroceryle 69, 74 Indicator minor 11 indicus, Phaethon 79 — Vanellus 75 infuscatus, Bradornis 12 insignis, Ploceus 32 intermedia, Egretta 82 interpres, Arenaria 104, 118-121 Irania gutturalis 85 isabellina, Oenanthe 85 Ispidina picta 70, 74 Ixobrychus exilis 104 — minutus 82 jardineii, Turdoides 67 jobiensis, Gallicolumba 98-99 johannae, Phlogoenas 98 jugularis, Myzomela 97 Kakamega, gen. nov. 139 Kakamega poliothorax 139 kleinschmidti, Erythrura 96 Kozlowia 8 lacteus, Bubo 83 lafresnayii, Diglossa 115 Lalage maculosa 97 Lamprotornis chalybaeus 67 — chloropterus 67 Lanius collaris 12 — collurio 84 — excubitor 84-85 — minor 84 — nubicus 85 — senator 85 Larus argentatus 113 — atricilla 105, 113 — cirrocephalus 32 — dominicanus 78 — ridibundus 113 larvata, Aplopelia 66 lateralis, Zosterops 97 lathami, Melophus 22 latrans, Ducula 97 leachii, Dacelo 74 lepidus, Ceyx 70, 74 lepturus, Phaethon 79 lessoni, Mayrornis 97 leucocephala, Halcyon 70, 74, 75 leucogaster, Cinnyricinclus 86 — Sula104 leucomelaena, Sylvia 85-86 leucophaea, Collocalia 60 leucophaeus, Aerodramus 60, 63-64 leucophrys, Anthus 67 leucopyga, Oenanthe 85 xii leucorhynchus, Artamus 97 Leucosticte 9 — tephrocotus 8 lherminieri, Puffinus 78 libonyanus, Turdus 67 lichtensteinii, Pterocles 83 Limicola falcinellus 24-25 Limnodromus griseus 105 lineata, Coracina 130 Locustella fluviatilis 2-4 — luscinioides 3 — mnaevia 22-24 Lonchura malabarica 86 longipennis, Falco 128 longirostris, Tatare 123-124 longuemartei, Anthreptes 66 Lophophorus impejanus 117 — sclateri 116-118 Loximitris 8 Loxops 9 lucida, Hirundo 14 lugens, Parisoma 43-49 — Streptopelia 54 Luscinia svecica 85 luscinia, Acrocephalus 125-126 luscinioides, Locustella 3 luteovirens, Chrysoenas 97 luteus, Passer 86 Lybius melanocephalus 84 — torquatus 66 maccoa, Erismatura 31 macleayii, Halcyon 74 Macronectes giganteus 77 — halli77 macroptera, Pterodroma 77, 94 macrorthina, Melidora 74 macroutus, Colius 83, 142 macularia, Actitis 104 maculosa, Lalage 97 madarszi, Serinus 67 magister, Vireo 145 magnificens, Fregata 104 magnirostris, Geospiza 8 mahali, Plocepasser 142 malabarica, Euodice 75 — Lonchura 86 malaccense, Trichastoma 13 1-137 Malacocincla 131 Malcorus pectoralis 12 Malimbus nitens 8 margaritatus, Trachyphonus 84 marginatus, Charadrius 31-32 maritima, Calidris 121 martinica, Porphyrula 102, 104 maurti, Calidris 121 maxima, Ceryle 69, 74 Sterna 105 Mayrornis lessoni 97 media, Gallinago 27 Megaceryle alcyon 105 melanocephalus, Lybius 84 melanoleuca, Tringa 104 melanotos, Calidris 121 melanura, Cercomela 75, 85 Melidora macrorrhina 74 Melierax metabates 82 Melolophus lathami 22 Melopyrrha nigra 145 meninting, Alcedo 74 meridionalis, Sterna 78 Merops albicollis 84 — apilaster 83 — superciliosus 83, 141-143 metabates, Melierax 82 metallicus, Anthreptes 86 Metallura 115 — eupogon 116 — tyrianthina 116 mexicanus, Himantopus 105 micropterus, Cuculus 40 migrans, Milvus 82 Milvus migrans 82 minimus, Anous 120 minor, Chionis 78 — Fregata 38, 79 — Indicator 11 — Lantus 84 — Phoenicopterus 31 minuta, Calidris 25, 32, 83 minutilla, Calidris 105 minutus, Ixobrychus 82 Mirafra africana 140-144 — albicauda 142 — apiata 11 — hypermetra 140-144 — poecilosterna 142 — rufocinnamomea 142 — sabota It Mniotilta varia 106 Modulatrix 139 — orostruthus 131 — stictigula 131 molitor, Batis 66 mollis, Pterodroma 77 Monatcha 41 montana, Coracina 129 monteiri, Tockus 11 Monticola saxatilis 85 — solitaria 85 Montifringilla 9, 56 — nivalis 55,59 — theresae 55-59 morio, Coracina 130 Motacilla 138 — alba8&4 — cinerea 84 — clara 54 — flava 84,142 multicolor, Petroica 97 xiii musae, Oriolus 124 Muscicapa striata 86 Myiagra 41, 61 — azureocapilla 96 — vanikorensis 97 Myiarchus crinitus 105 mystacea, Sylvia 86 Myzomela jugularis 97 naevia, Locustella 22-24 namaquus, Thripias 84 nasutus, Tockus 84, 142 natalensis, Francolinus 53 Nectarinia asiatica 75 — habessinica 86 — _ senegalensis 79 Neocossyphus 139 Neophron percnopterus 82 Neospiza concolor 8 Nesoclopeus poecilopterus 95, 97 Nesospiza acunhae 9 — wilkinsi9 niger, Chlidonias 105, 145 nigra, Melopyrrha 145 — Rynchops 105 nigrogularis, Clytorhynchus 96 nipalensis, Pitta 112 nitens, Malimbus 8 nivalis, Montifringilla 55, 59 novaeguineae, Dacelo 74 novaehollandiae, Coracina 129-130 novaeseelandiae, Anthus 12 noveboracensis, Seiurus 106 nubica, Campethera 84 nubicus, Caprimulgus 83 — Lanius 85 Nyctanassa violacea 104 Nycticorax nycticorax 82, 104 nycticorax, Nycticorax 82, 104 oatesi, Pitta 109-113 obsoleta, Rhodopechys 56 ochropus, Tringa 83 ochruros, Phoenicurus 85 ocistus, Aerodramus 60, 63-64 Oena capensis 83 Oenanthe bottae 85 — isabellina 85 — leucopyga 85 — xanthoprymna 85 olivaceus, Vireo 106 Oporornis formosus 106 orientalis, Batis 86 Oriolus musae 124 — oriolus 87 oriolus, Oriolus 87 orostruthus, Modulatrix 131 Ortygospiza atricollis 142 oryzivora, Padda 8 oryzivorus, Dolichonyx 106 Oryzobotrus crassirostris 8 ostrinus, Pyrenestes 8 otatare, Acrocephalus 123 Otus scops 11 — _spilocephalus 112 Pachycephala pectoralis 97 Pachyptila banksi 77 — salvini 76-77 — turtur77 pacificus, Puffinus 78 Padda oryzivora 8 paena, Erythropygia 12 pallasi, Emberiza 21 pallida, Hippolais 85 pallidus, Charadrius 31-32 palmarum, Dendroica 106 Palmeria 9 palpebrata, Phoebetria 77 palustris, Acrocephalus 2, 85 papua, Pygoscelis 76 papuensis, Coracina 129-130 parasiticus, Stercorarius 32 Parisoma lugens 43-49 Parisoma lugens griseiventris, subsp. Parisoma subcaeruleum 12 Parula americana 12 Parus afer 11 Passer domesticus 6 — luteus 86 Passerina cyanoides 8 patagonicus, Aptenodytes 76 paytae, Geositta 146 paytensis, Anthus 146 pealii, Erythrura 97 pectoralis, Coracina 130 — Malcorus 12 — Pachycephala 97 pelagica, Chaetura 145 Pelargopsis amauroptera 69-71, 74 — capensis 74 Pelecanoides exsul 78 — georgicus 78 — urinatrix 78 percnopterus, Neophron 82 Perdix, perdix 53 perdix, Perdix 53 perlatum, Glaucidium 11, 83 perousil, Ptilinopus 97 personata, Prosopeia 96-97 peruviana, Geositta 146 petechia, Dendroica 106 Petrochelidon pyrrhonota 106 Petroica multicolor 97 Petronia brachydactyla 8, 86 — dentata 54, 86 — petronia 8 — pyrgita 86 — xanthocollis 75 xiv petronia, Petronia 8 Phaethon indicus 79 — lepturus 79 — tubricauda 79 Phalacrocorax 71, 73 — albiventer 78 — carbo 31 Phalaropus fulicarius 121 Phigys solitarius 96-97 philippensis, Gallirallus 95 Philomachus pugnax 32, 83 Phlogoenas johannae 98 Phodilus badius 14 — prigoginei 14 phoebe, Sayornis 105 Phoebetria fuliginosa 77 — fusca77 — palpebrata 77 phoenicea, Campephaga 129 — Cardinalis 8 Phoenicopterus minor 31 — tuber 31 Phoenicurus ochruros 85 — phoenicurus 85, 138 phoenicurus, Phoenicurus 85, 138 Phyllastrephus 131 — cerviniventris 66 Phylloscopus bonelli 86 — collybita 86 — trochilus 86 picta, Ispidina 69, 74 Piezorhynchus alecto 41-43 pileata, Halcyon 70, 74 Pinicola subhimachalus 8 Piranga 106 — roseogularis 9 Pitta 14 — caerulea 109 — cyanea 112 — nipalensis 112 — oatesi 109-113 Pitta oatesi deborah, subsp. nov. 110 platyurus, Bradypetes 4—5 Plocepasser mahali 142 Ploceus bertrandi 32 — galbula 75, 86 — insignis 32 Pluvialis squatarola 31, 104 podobe, Cercotrichas 85 Podoces hendersoni 36—37 — humilis 36 poecilopterus, Nesoclopeus 95, 97 poecilosterna, Mirafra 142 Pogonocichla stellata 66, 132 Poicephalus flavifrons 54 Polemaetus bellicosus 82 poliocephalus, Turdus 97 Poliolimnas cinereus 97 Poliospiza 8 poliothorax, Alethe 131 poliothorax, Kakamega 139 — ‘Trichastoma 131-140 Pomarea 42 pondicerianus, Francolinus 75 porphyraceus, Ptilinopus 97 Porphyrula martinica 102, 104 Porzana porzana 82 — tabuensis 97 porzana, Porzana 82 ptigoginei, Phodilus 14 Prinia flavicans 12 Procellaria aequinoctialis 78 Progne dominicensis 145 — subis 106 Propyrrhula 8 Prosopeia personata 96-97 — tabuensis 95-97 Protonotaria citrea 106 Pseudacanthis 8 Pseudochelidon eurystomina 13-14 — sitintarae 13-15 Pseudonestot 9 Pseudopodoces humilis 36-37 psilolaemus, Francolinus 54 Psittirostra 9 Pterocles lichtensteinii 83 Pterodroma arminjoniana 78, 93-94 — baraui 90-95 — brevirosttris 77 — hasitata 90 — macropteta 77, 94 — mollis 77 Ptilinopus perousii 97 — porphyraceus 97 Ptyonoprogne concolor 14 — fuligula 14 Ptyrticus turdinus 139 Puffinus lherminieri 78 — pacificus 78 pugnax, Philomachus 32, 83 punctata, Anas 31 purpurea, Ardea 82 purpureus, Carpodacus 6 pusilla, Calidris 104 — Emberiza 21-22 — Spizella6 — Wilsonia 106 puveli, Trichastoma 131 Pycnonotus barbatus 84 Pygoscelis papua 76 pylzowi, Urocynchramus 8 Pyrenestes ostrinus 8 pyrgita, Petronia 86 : pytrhonota, Petrochelidon 106 Pyrrhoplectes 9 pyrrhopterum, Trichastoma 133-139 pytrhopygia, Halcyon 74 pytrophanus, Cacomantis 97 Querquedula hottentota 31 xV querquedula, Anas 82 ralloides, Ardeola 82 rapax, Aquila 82 Recurvirostra avosetta 32 rex, Clytoceyx 74 Rhinoptilus africanus 11 Rhipidura spilodera 97 Rhodopechys obsoleta 56 — sanguinea 56 rhodopyga, Estrilda 86 Rhodothraupis celaeno 9 ridibundus, Larus 113 Riparia cincta 14 — fiparia 14, 84, 106 riparia, Riparia 14, 84, 106 Rogibyx tricolor 128 roseogrisea, Streptopelia 83 roseogularis, Piranga 9 rostratum, Trichastoma 131-138 rubecula, Erithacus 138 ruber, Phoenicopterus 31 rubetra, Saxicola 85 rubica, Habia 9 rubricauda, Phaethon 79 rudis, Ceryle 69, 74 rufa, Sarothrura 27-28 ruficapilla, Vitia 95, 97 ruficeps, Chalcostigma 115 ruficollis, Corvus 87 ruficrista, Eupodotis 142 rufidorsum, Ceyx 74 rufifrons, Spiloptila 86 rufipennis, Trichastoma 139 rufitorques, Accipitet 97 rufocinnamomea, Mirafra 142 rufus, Cursorius 11 rustica, Hirundo 84, 106, 113, 142 ruticilla, Setophaga 106 rutila, Emberiza 22 Rynchops nigra 105 sabota, Mirafra 11 sacra, Demigretta 96 salvini, Pachyptila 76-77 sancta, Halcyon 74, 128 sandvicensis, Sterna 32, 105 sanguinea, Rhodopechys 56 Sarothrura ayresi 26, 28-29 — elegans 27-28 — tufa 27-28 sawtelli, Aerodramus 60, 63-64 — Collocalia 60 saxatilis, Monticola 85 Saxicola rubetra 85 Sayornis phoebe 105 schistacea, Egretta 82 schisticeps, Coracina 129-130 schoeniclus, Emberiza 21 scitpaceus, Acrocephalus 85 scita, Stenostira 12 sclateri, Lophophorus 116-118 scops, Otus 11 Scopus umbtetta 82 Seiurus aurocapillus 106 — noveboracensis 106 semipalmatus, Catoptrophorus 104 — Charadrius 121 senator, Lanius 85 senegala, Tchagra 67, 142 senegalensis, Halcyon 74 — Nectarinia 79- — Streptopelia 83 sephaena, Francolinus 142 Serinus 9 — gularis 8 — madarszi67 Setophaga ruticilla 106 seychellarum, Copsychus 15-21 similis, Anthus 84 sitintarae, Eurochelidon 13 — Pseudochelidon 13-15 skua, Catharacta 78 sloetii, Campochaera 129 smithii, Hirundo 14 smyrnensis, Halcyon 69-70, 74 solitaria, Monticola 85 solitarius, Phigys 96-97 sorot, Batis 66 spilocephalus, Otus 112 spilodera, Rhipidura 97 Spiloptila rufifrons 86 Spizella pusilla 6 splendens, Corvus 75 spodiopyga, Collocalia 97 spodiopygius, Aerodramus 61 spodocephala, Emberiza 22 Sporopipes frontalis 54, 86 Spreo superbus 142 squatarola, Pluvialis 31, 104 stairii, Gallicolumba 97, 99 stellata, Pogonicichla 66, 132 Stenostira scita 12 Stercorarius parasiticus 32 Sterna albifrons 114 — balaenarum 32 — fuscata 38-39, 79, 105 — hirundo 32 — maxima 105 — meridionalis 78 — sandvicensis 32, 78 — virgata 78 — vittata 78 stictigula, Modulatrix 131 stolidus, Anous 38-39, 79, 105 strepera, Anas 82 Streptopelia lugens 54 — roseogrisea 83 — senegalensis 83 — vinacea 54 striata, Dendroica 145 — Muscicapa 86 striatus, Accipiter 104 — Butorides 96, 104 striolata, Emberiza 86 subbuteo, Falco 127-128 subcaetuleum, Patisoma 12 subhimachalus, Pinicola 8 subis, Progne 106 subruficollis, Tryngites 121 Sula dactylatra 38-39, 79, 103 — leucogaster 104 — sula 79 sula, Sula 79 superbus, Spreo 142 superciliosa, Anas 96 superciliosus, Merops 83, 141-143 svecica, Luscinia 85 Sylvia 47 — atricapilla 85 — _ baboecala 4-5 — borin 2, 85-86 — communis 2, 85 — curruca 86 — hortensis 85 — leucomelaena 85-86 — mystacea 86 Sylvietta brachyura 86 — whytli 66 tabuensis, Aplonis 97 — Porzana 97 — Prosopeia 95-97 Tachycineta albiventris 14 — bicolor 14 tahapisi, Emberiza 75 tahitica, Hirundo 14, 60-61 Tanysiptera galatea 74 Tatare longirostris 123-124 Tchagra senegala 67, 142 tenuirostris, Coracina 129-130 tephrocotus, Leucosticte 8 tephrolaema, Andropadus 66 Terathopius ecaudatus 82 Terpsiphone atrochalybea 41-43 — corfvina 41-43 — viridis 42-43, 75 Tersina 8 theresae, Montifringilla 55-59 Thripias namaquus 84 tickelli, Trichastoma 131-137 timorensis, Ficedula 128 tinnunculus, Falco 82 Tockus alboterminatus 11 — erythrorhynchus 11, 84 — monteiri 11 — nasutus 84, 142 torquata, Ceryle 74 torquatus, Lybius 66 Trachyphonus margaritatus 84 Xvii Treron waalia 75 Urocynchramus 8—9 Trichastoma 14 — pylzowi 8 — albipectus 131-139 — bicolor 131-137 vaalensis, Anthus 12, 67 — cinereiceps 131 Vanellus coronatus 11, 142 — cleaveri 139 — cucullatus 128 — fulvescens 131, 139 — indicus 75 — malaccense 131-137 vanikorensis, Aerodramus 60, 63 — poliothorax 131-140 — Mryiagra 97 — puveli 131 varia, Mniotilta 106 — pyrrhopterum 133-139 venerata, Halcyon 64 — fostratum 131-138 Vermivora chrysoptera 106 aa rufipennis 139 vespertinus, Coccothraustes 6 — tickelli 131-137 Vestiaria coccinea 9 tricollaris, Charadrius 82 victor, Chrysoenas 97 tricolor, Rogibyx 128 Vidua 8 Tringa flavipes 104 vinacea, Streptopelia 54 — glareola 83, 142 violacea, Nyctanassa 104 — hypoleucos 83 virens, Contopus 106 — melanoleuca 104 Vireo altiloquus 145 — ochropus 83 — magister 145 tristis, Acridotheres 20, 62 — olivaceus 106 — Carduelis 6 virgata, Sterna 78 tristrami, Emberiza 22 viridis, Chrysoenas 97 trivialis, Anthus 84 — Gymnomyza 97 trochilus, Phylloscopus 86 — Terpsiphone 42-43, 75 troglodytes, Cisticola 54 Vitia ruficapilla 95, 97 tropica, Fregetta 78 _ vitiensis, Clytorhynchus 95, 97 Tryngites subruficollis 121 — Columba 97 turdinus, Ptyrticus 139 vittata, Sterna 78 Turdoides fulvus 81 Volvocivora 130 — jardineii 67 Turdus libonyanus 67 — poliocephalus 97 turtur, Pachyptila 77 tuta, Halcyon 64, 124 Tyrannus tyrannus 105 tyrannus, Tyrannus 105 tyrianthina, Metallura 116 waalia, Treron 75 Warsanglia 8 whytti, Buccanodon 66 — Sylvietta 66 wilkinsi, Nesospiza 9 Wilsonia citrina 106 — pusilla 106 umbretta, Scopus 82 unicolor, Cosmopsarus 67 xanthocollis, Petronia 75 Upupa epops 84 xanthoprymna, Oenanthe 85 Uragus 8-9 urbica, Delichon 113, 142 Zosterops explorator 97 urinatrix, Pelecanoides 78 — lateralis 97 Xviil Corrigenda p. 8, line 7: ‘Pyrenestes’, not ‘Pyrinestes’ ‘oryzivora’ not ‘orizivora’ p. 9, line 49: ‘Parkes’, not ‘Parks’ p. 12, lines 37, 44: ‘flavicans’, not ‘flavican’ (OL 27, ine 43: “T9AT, HOt Io74" p. 54, line 8: ‘clara’, not ‘clarus’ Pp. 55, line 36: ‘S. G. Madge’, not ‘S. C. Madge’ p. 84, line 14: ‘melanocephalus’, not ‘melanocephala’ p. 84, line 19: ‘namaquus’, not ‘namaquas’ p. 85, line 27: ‘saxatilis’, not ‘saxicola’ p. 86, line 51: ‘pyrgita’, not ‘pygita’ p. 95, line 36: ‘philippensis’, not ‘phillipensis’ p. 97, line 32: ‘Prosopeia’ not ‘Prosepeia’ p. 98, line 32: ‘johannae’, not ‘johannoe’ p. 121, line 12: ‘melanotos’, not ‘melanotus’ p. 129, line 15: ‘phoenicea’, not ‘phoenicia’ p. 138, line 37: ‘Motacilla’, not ‘Moticilla’ : : ISSN 0007 - 1595 fay NAT. H's Bulletin of the (2 2iaKis78 | Ar PU! CHASt De \ Sr, British Ornithologists’ Club Edited by Dr. J. F. MONK Volume 98 No. 1 March 1978 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Annual General Meeting of the Club will be held in the Senior Common Room, South Side, Imperial College, Prince’s Gardens, London, S.W.7 at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, 31 May 1978. AGENDA 1. Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting. 2. Report of the Committee and Accounts for 1977. 3. The Bulletin. 4. Election of Officers. The Committee proposes that :— (a) Mrs. Diana Bradley be elected Hon. Treasurer vice Mr. M. St. J. Sugg, who is © | retiring. (b) Mr. R. E. F. Peal be re-elected Hon. Secretary. (c) Mr. P. J. Oliver be elected a member of the Committee vice Mrs. Diana Bradley, ~ : who retires by rotation. 4 5. Any other business of which notice shall have been given in accordance with Rule (7). By Order of the Committee, RONALD E. F. PEAL. Honorary Secretary. FORTHCOMING MEETINGS Wednesday, 31 May 1978 at 6.30 p.m. for 7 p.m. at the Senior Common Room, South Side, Imperial College, South Kensington (entrance on the south side of Prince’s Gardens, S.W.7, off Exhibition Road). Mr. A. S. Cheke on “Adaption and Opportunity, or Old _ habits die hard”. Those wishing to attend must send a cheque for £3.75 per person to Mrs. Diana Bradley, 53 Osterley Road, Isleworth, Middlesex with their acceptance on the enclosed slip to arrive not later than the first post on Thursday, 25 May 1978. July 1978. There will be a distinguished speaker who has attended the XVII I.0O.C. at Berlin in June. The date of the meeting (probably 18 July 1978) and full details will be given in the June Bulletin. If the meeting has to be on a considerably earlier date, special notice will be given to all those who have attended a Club meeting in the last two years; any others who would like to know are requested to inform the Hon. Secretary before the end of May. Tuesday, 19 September 1978. Mr. J. L. P. Parslow on ““The function of the R.S.P.B. in British Ornithology”. Tuesday, 21 November 1978, jointly with the B.O.U., at Imperial College. Speakers—Mr. E. M. Nicholson, C.B. on “The role of British Ornithologists in Europe” and Mr. P. J. Conder, O.B.E. on “An example of wildfowl management abroad”’. Tuesday, 9 January 1979. Mr. J. H. R. Boswall on “Mutual mimics, men as birds and birds as men—an ornithological frolic”. COMMITTEE P. Hogg (Chairman) Dr. G. Beven (Vice-Chairman) R. E. F. Peal (Hon. Secretary) M. St.J. Sugg (Hon. Treasurer) Dr. J. F. Monk ( Editor) Mrs. J. D. Bradley C. E. Wheeler B. Gray C. F. Mann < Ay tied | iP Tro JTS ¥ is onsets [Bull B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] : 7 Bulletin of the oe ee BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Vol. 98 No.1 Published: 20 March 1978 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE FOR 1977 During 1977 inflation continued at a high rate with postage charges for the Bulletin and printing charges both rising 119%. The price of dinners rose similarly. Meetings were held in January and July at the Goat Tavern, in May, September and November at Imperial College and in March, when we invited the International Council for Bird Preservation (British Section) to join us, at the British Museum (Natural History). Attendance at meetings (counting, in respect of the March meeting, only club members and their guests) totalled 179, a larger number than in either of the two preceding years. Leaflets with covering letters were sent to about 500 universities, museums and other scientific institutions in the past year to promote the circulation of the Bulletin. The response in new Bu//etin subscriptions was not great, although it also brought in some new members, but it caused a very satis- factory increase in orders for back-numbers. The policy of reprinting back- numberts as necessary to maintain a stock of all numbers from 1952 (Vol. 72) to date has been continued. Stocks are also held of many earlier issues and details will gladly be supplied on request. There were 34 new members in 1977 but two members resigned and the membership of one was terminated under Rule (4). The Committee records with deep regret the death of Sir Landsborough Thomson C.B., O.B.E., D.Sc., L1.D. (Hon. Secretary 1935-1938, Chairman 1938-1943). There were 13 new Bw//etin subscribers in the year. The audited accounts for 1977, which are not yet available, will be tabled at the Annual General Meeting and published in a later number of the Bulletin. It is of interest to note that in the last 25 years circulation of the Bu//etin has increased whilst attendances at meetings have fallen. In 1952 there were 185 paid-up members and 65 non-member subscribers to the Bulletin; by the end of 1977 there were 293 and 140 respectively. In 1952 Club attendance at meetings was 508, it fell to 128 in 1969 and was 179 last year. The Bulletin comprised 118 pages (including index) and cost £346 (£2-95 per page) in 1952 whereas in 1977 152 pages (including index) cost {2,320 (£15.26 per page). The subscription for members was then {1.05 (U.S. $2.92; Sw.Fr. 12.85) and 25 years after was £3.50 ($5.96; Sw.Fr. 14.60). There must be an appreciable number of ornithologists, at home and abroad, who might value membership of the Club or a subscription to the Bulletin, yet be in ignorance of both. It is to be hoped that members will at all times bear it in mind to benefit the Club by proposing new members ) and making the Buw//etin even more widely known. : * * * | The Seven hundred and tenth Meeting of the Club was held in the Senior [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] ez Common Room, South Side, Imperial College, London, S.W.7., on Tuesday, © 17 January 1978 at 7 p.m. Chairman: Mr. Peter Hogg; present 16 members and 3 guests. . | Dr. J. G. Harrison, O.B.E., and Dr. Pamela Harrison presented ‘Indian ~ Interlude’, being a most interesting description of a visit to India, illustrated by excellent slides. A River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis ‘wintering’ and moulting in Zambia by J. J. Tucker Received 17 August 1977 The River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis spends the Palaearctic winter some- — where in southern Africa, passing through east Africa, (Ash 1973, 1977, — Backhurst e¢ a/. 1973) and possibly also west Africa. In December and January, individuals on southward passage occur in east Africa in Kenya and less commonly in Tanzania and Zambia and reappear there sparingly on northward passage in March and April (Backhurst e¢ a/. 1973, Benson ef a/. 1971, Dowsett 1972). The much larger number of records from east Africa in recent years—330 of a total of 359 caught there up to 1974 being trapped from only 1971 to 1974 (Backhurst 1973, 1974)—-compared with a Zambian total of 10 up to November 1976 may not reflect a genuine difference in distribution; but may rather demonstrate the advantage of trapping (in the Tsavo National Park, Kenya) at an illuminated wall, which produces the same — effect as a lighthouse in misty weather by attracting and grounding nocturnal — migrants. In February, River Warblers seemingly disappear from east Africa — and it has generally been assumed that they move south of the Zambezi River, to winter and moult in southern Africa. Paradoxically, in Africa south of the Zambezi the species is considered very rare and its status there requires | further investigation (Dowsett 1972). This note reports the apparent “‘winter- | ing” of a River Warbler in Zambia. | At Kabulonga (15° 25’ S, 28° 21’ E) near Lusaka, Zambia, a River Warbler | was trapped on the evening of 19 Dec. 1975 anda second on the evening of 20 | Dec. (Table 1). Both birds were ringed and released. The mist-net used was | sited between a 2 m high clump of Lantana camara bush and low thorn scrub | on well drained ground. Passage migration of species such as Sy/via communis, | S. borin, Acrocephalus arundinaceus and A. palustris was in progress at the time. | Habitats of River Warblers, summarised by Moreau (1972), vary widely from | Phragmites reeds to short grass under miombo woodland. | TABLE I Weights (g) and measurements (mm) of two Locustella fluviatilis at Kabulonga, Zambia } Date Weight (time) Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen Primary Notes Moult 19.xii.75 16°5 (18 hrs)* 72 55 22 16 O®N* tongue-spots present 20.xii.75 18:2 (20 hrs) 74 53 23 13°5 slightly brood-patch absent worn * Next morning (06 hrs) weight before release was 15-1 g, on 23 Feb. (20 hrs) was 17°2 g and on 24 Feb, was 16-7 g (20 hrs), | 3 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] The primaries on both wings of both birds were slightly worn but the 19 December bird had the outer 4 primaries very fresh; yet these same 4 pri- maries were moulted again in February (see below). The possibility of an arrested moult seems unlikely and the presence of tongue-spots indicate a first year bird (Svenson 1970), which should not normally by then have moulted, certainly not initially with the outer 4 primaries. Backhurst (za “itt. cited in Dowsett 1972) recorded 3 birds in Kenya in December with the identical combination of 4 new outer primaries and tongue-spots. Backhurst & Pearson (1976) discuss the phenomenon further, without mention of tongue-spots, stating that 9 autumn birds aged on skull ossification proved to be young birds with uniform primaries while 2 others so aged were adults with contrasting primaries. Ash (1973) records a River Warbler at Koka, Ethiopia on 16 September which was moulting its primaries and Mead & : Watmough (1976) recorded arrested primary moult in the closely related L. luscinioides on the Iberian peninsula in autumn. Nets had not been used at the Kabulonga site earlier in the year and were used further on 2-4, 15-22 and 26-30 January and 14-26 February. On 23 February the first of the two River Warblers caught in December was re- trapped in a net about 20 m from that in which it was originally captured 66 days before. The bird weighed 17-2 g at 20 hrs and when netted again about 5 m away the next day weighed 16-7 g at 20 hrs. It was moulting as follows: Primaries: inner 6 fresh, 7th 3/5 grown, outermost 3 in pin. Secondaries: outermost (6th) fresh, 5th 4/5 grown, 4th in pin, innermost 3 old. Retrices: all 1/5 grown. Head, underparts and back were in active moult as were the wing coverts, which were judged 9/10 fresh. The only other record of active moult in the River Warbler is of one in Zambia on 23 January in which the mantle was in heavy moult and the pri- maries and secondaries in early moult (Dowsett 1972). Weights are within the range, namely 16 -o-19-2 g, for Zambian specimens given by Dowsett (1972), with the exception of the low morning weight on 20 December, and also within the range given by Backhurst & Pearson (1976), namely 13 -6-21-2 g and Ash (1973), namely 14-8-19°8 g. Extreme dates of sub-Saharan records of the River Warbler, taken from Dowsett (1972), Ash (1973, 1977) and Backhurst & Pearson (1976) are sum- marised as follows: Ethiopia: 23 Sept.—19 Nov. Kenya: 19 Nov.—14 Jan. 12-24 Apr. Uganda: one in Nov. Tanzania: one in “spring”. Malawi: 30 Jan. Zambia: 25 Dec.—26 Jan. 26 Mar. Rhodesia: 25-29 Jan. South Africa: 12 Dec.—19 Jan. There are 6 subsequent Zambian records. Singles were seen at one locality neat Lusaka on 11 and 18 January 1975 (Stjernstedt 1975), followed by one near Kariba in the Zambezi Valley on 19 January 1975 (Aspinwall 1975). Griffin (tz Zitt.) mist-netted 3 near Lusaka in December 1976/January 1977. Until the capture in March all birds had occured between 19 December and 26 January. The 19 December bird at Kabulonga, which appeared to be in a condition for flying any normal necessary distance, seems likely, but not necessarliy, to have spent the next 2 months in the neighbourhood of the trapping site, SLL LLL EEE ee [Bull, B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] 4 When retrapped on 23 February it was certainly not capable of more than local flights, owing to its moult. It still remains to be seen where the main population of the River Warbler winters. I should like to thank Drs. J. H. Lawton and J. F. Monk for their helpful comments on drafts of this note. References: Ash, J. S. 1973. Six species of birds new to Ethiopia. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 93: 3-6. — 1977. Four species of birds new to Ethiopia and other notes. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 97: 4-9. Aspinwall, D. R. 1975. River Warbler in the Zambezi Valley. Bul/. Zam. Orn. Soc. 7(1): 21. Backhutst, G. C. 1973. East African Bird Ringing Report 1971-1972. Journ. E.A.N.HA.S. No. 144. — 1974. East African Bird Ringing Report 1972-73, 1973-74. Journ. E.A..N.H.S. No. 146, — Britton, P. L. & Mann, C. F. 1973. The less common Palaearctic migrant birds of d Kenya and Tanzania. Journ. E.A.N.H.S. No. 140. — & Pearson, D. J. 1976. The southward migration of Palaearctic birds over Ngulia, — Kenya. [bis 118: 78-105. Benson, C. W., Brooke, R. K., Dowsett, R. J. & Irwin, M. P. S. 1971. The Birds of Zambia p. 234. London: Collins. Dowsett, R. J. 1972. The River Warbler, Locustella fluviatilis, in Aftica. Zam. Mus. Journ. 3(1972): 69-76. Mead, C. J. & Watmough, B. R. 1976. Suspended moult of trans-Saharan migrants in | Iberia. Bird Study 23(3): 187-196. Moteau, R. E. 1972. The Palaearctic- African Bird Migration Systems p. 98. London: Academic Press. Stjernstedt, R. 1975. River Warbler, Locustella flwiatilis, near Lusaka. Bull. Zam. Orn, Se. 75) 22a. Svenson, L. 1970. Identification Guide to European Passerines p. 66. Stockholm: Natur- historiska Riksmuseet. Address: 1 Sutton Park Grove, Kidderminster, Hereford & Worcs. DY11 6LP. Multiple original spellings of Bradypterus Swainson, 1837 by C. W. Benson, R. K. Brooke C Melvin A. Traylor Received 22 December 1977 The generic name of Bradypterus has long been used for a widespread group of tropical old world warblers (Sylviidae), most of which frequent the dense edges of forests where they are difficult to study. Their generic name is almost invariably attributed to Swainson (1837, On the Natural History and Classification of Birds 2: 241). However, a re-examination of this text while framing a catalogue of the type specimens in the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge, showed that the name that Swainson proposed was Bradyptetus (Greek for slow flier).and that Bradypterus (Greek for slow wing) only appears in the index on p. 379. The problem was expanded, since the name Swainson gave in his own handwriting on the type specimen of the genotype is Bradypetes platyurus (actually a junior synonym of Sy/via baboecala Vieillot, 1817: 172). Bradypetes also means slow flier in Greek, but, being a cheironym, has no standing in zoological nomenclature. The next author to allude to the genus was Gray (1840, A List of the Genera of Birds: 20), who called it Bradypterus Swains. without comment, a practice which has been — followed almost universally ever since. We are the first workers to set out this case of multiple original spellings, and in the light of Recommendation 24A of the Jnternational Code of 5 [Bull. B.O.C. 9178: 98(1)] Zoological Nomenclature we select Bradypterus as the correct original spelling of the generic name that Swainson erected for his species platyurus (=Sylhia baboecala Vieillot, 1817), since this is the form almost universally used, and despite its inappropriateness and publication in an index. We are obliged to Mr. R. V. Melville, Secretary to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, for advice on how to proceed in this case. Addresses: C. W. Benson, Dept. of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, ' England; R. K. Brooke, Percy FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa; Melvin A. Traylor, Field Museum of Natural History, Roosevelt Road at Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois Go605, U.S.A. The interorbital septum in cardueline finches by R. L. Lusi Received 29 October 1977 The Carduelinae (sensu Howell, Paynter & Rand zm Peters 1968) are a well- defined group of finches that differ from other finches in various aspects of their anatomy and behaviour (for discussion and references see Mayr e¢ a/. 1956, Ziswiler 1965, Ackermann 1967). Some of the genera presently included in the Carduelinae have been little studied and are placed in that subfamily because of their external similarity to better-known carduelines, or because of their geographical distribution. This paper deals with the interorbital septum of the skull as a clue to the relationships of some controversial genera. Because the septum can be seen in most museum skins by removal of cotton from the eye or by radiographs, it can be studied in species for which anatomical specimens are not available. _ The conformation of the interorbital septum in species known to be catdueline differs consistently from that in conical-billed species known to be non-cardueline. To evaluate species of controversial affinity I have assumed that those with the cardueline type of septum belong in that sub- family, or within another group derived from the Carduelinae. Use of a ‘single character for tentative taxonomic conclusions is here justified by the ‘apparent consistency of the character and by the lack of other strong evi- dence for some species. For this study I have examined skeletons of heavy-billed or broad-billed forms in a wide variety of passerine families and subfamilies, including the ‘Thraupinae, Tersininae, and Icteridae, and most of the genera (from Peters 1962, 1968, 1970) of the following (the number of genera not studied is ‘given after each taxon): Emberizinae (— 17), Catamblyrhynchinae (-— 0), Cardinalinae (— 2), Drepanididae (-— 5), Fringillinae (— 0), Carduelinae (- 0), Estrildidae (— 9), Viduinae (— 0), Bubalornithinae (— 0), Passerinae (- 2), Ploceinae (—1). I use the word “finch” broadly to include conical-billed ‘members of these groups. The interorbital septum is the median partition lying between the eyes, extending from the brain case foward to the ectethmoid bones. In most finches there is a fenestra in the anterior cranial wall above each optic foramen. When the bony septum is complete, these cranial fenestrae are [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] 6 restricted to the cranial wall and there is no opening in the septum; this is the condition found in all Carduelinae and in some members of the Emberti- zinae, Cardinalinae, Drepanididae, Estrildidae and Ploceidae. In the Fringil- linae, Icteridae, Thraupinae, and some members of the other groups (except Carduelinae) the bony septum is incomplete because of forward intrusion of Figure 1. Skulls of finches showing differences in interorbital septa. A, Passer domesticus; : B, Spizella pusilla; C, Carduelis tristis. CF, cranial fenestra; E, ectethmoid; IF, interorbital fenestra; OF, optic foramen; IS, interorbital septum. (pin Oa we Gory yi} \\) A B Figure 2, Anterodorsolateral views of interorbital septa of vatious finches drawn to similar size. A, Carduelis tristis; B, Carpodacus purpureus; C, Coccothraustes vespertinus; D, Spizella ‘ pusilla; B, Passer domesticus; F, Cardinalis cardinalis. Each skull above is of similar actual size to the skull directly below. Numbers 1, 3 and 4 illustrate features described in = GF, cranial fenestra; OF, optic foramen. | q 7 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] Figure 3. Posterior edge of interorbital septum as seen through foramen magnum. A through F as in Fig. 2. Number 2 illustrates feature described in text. FM, edge of foramen magnum; OF, optic foramen. the cranial openings onto the septum, forming interorbital fenestrae (Fig. 1), or because of the presence of an isolated interorbital fenestra. The septum in the Carduelinae is thicker than that of the non-cardueline of comparable cranial size. The following characteristics associated with the thicker septum can be used to distinguish the Carduelinae from other finches with a com- plete septum: (1) the anterior cranial wall (between the olfactory nerves) and the floor of the anterior part of the cranial cavity are broad and flat (some- what ridged in larger species)—in non-carduelines they are narrow and ridge- like (Fig. 2), (2) the posterior edge of the septum between the optic foramina (visible through the foramen magnum) is usually broad—in non- carduelines it is usually narrow or knife-like (Fig. 3), (3) the septum is double-walled, hollow, and supported by internal bony trabeculae through- out—in non-carduelines it is usually thin in the middle where it becomes a single bony partition without internal cavity or trabeculae (Fig. 2), (4) the ventral border of the cranial fenestrae is usually straight from side view—in non-carduelines if often has a hump or dorsal projection (Fig. 2). Of these features only the first and third are entirely consistent throughout the carduelines, but all are found in many carduelines. The structure of the interorbital septum reflects several other attributes of the skull and it may show convergent or parallel similarities in various finches. It tends to be thicker in birds capable of strong biting and in birds with broad bills. In order to avoid spurious taxonomic comparisons based on similar adaptations I compared birds of similar size and similar bill and cranial proportions. In all such comparisons I had no difficulty distinguishing the carduelines by the septum alone, or in placing birds of uncertain relationship into cardueline or non-cardueline categories. Even in “unfair’’ [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] 8 comparisons—a relatively weak and narrow-billed cardueline (Lewcosticte tephrocotus) with a powerful, broader-billed non-cardueline (Oryzoborus crassirostris), of a small species with a large species (Serinus gularis with Malimbus nitens) the cardueline septum was as thick as or thicker than that of the non-cardueline. The septum was clearly recognizable as non-cardueline in such strong-billed forms as Geospiza magnirostris, Cardinalis phoenicea, Oryzoborus crassirostris, Passerina cyanoides, Pyrinestes ostrinus, Padda orizivora, Amblyospiza albifrons, and Anomalospiza imberbis. Tersina has a broad bill, skull, and interorbital septum, but the posterior wall of the septum (2, Fig. 3) is narrow, unlike any cardueline with such a thick septum. Within the Carduelinae I have examined the interorbital septum in species representing all the genera and subgenera recognized in Peters, including members of the synonymized genera Eophona, Warsangha, Chloris, Pseudacanthis, Loximitris, Alario, Poliospiza, Kozlowia, and Propyrrhula. Of these, only one genus, Urocynchramus, has a non-cardueline septum. I have not seen Neospiza concolor, a monotypic genus that is listed with the Carduelinae and also with the Ploceinae in Peters (1962, 1968) and is known from only 2 specimens. In no species of the other families and subfamilies of finches, except for the Drepanididae, did I find a cardueline form of the interorbital septum. Several taxa deserve special comment: Fringi/l/a differs from the carduelines in some behavioural and structural features, but it is usually included with them in the Fringillidae because of similarity in other attributes (for example, see Mayr et a/. 1956, Ackermann 1967, Foelix 1970, Ziswiler 1967). Fringilla has a non-cardueline septum resembling that of the Emberizinae and it differs from the Carduelinae in other skull features discussed by Tordoff (1954). A discussion of its relationships lies beyond the scope of this paper. H. Mendelssohn has suggested (Morony ef a/. 1975, and i Sit.) thet Petronia brachydactyla, usually placed in the Passerinae, should be transferred to the Carduelinae in the monotypic genus Carpospiza based on features of its nest, eggs, and young. I found the interorbital septum of a skin to resemble that of Petronia petronia and to differ from the Carduelinae in features 1 and 3. Poliospiza was said by Tordoff (1954) to be related to the Passerinae based on a single skeleton in the collections of the Smithsonian Institution (USNM 347376). This skeleton was misidentified; it proves to represent a species of Vidua. 1 found skeletons of several species of Polospiza to have typical cardueline septa and other skeletal features. Chaunoproctus ferreorostris, the extinct Bonin Island finch, was suggested by Sushkin (1924) from external appearance to belong with the cardinalines. Taka-Tsukasa & Hachisuka (1925) by contrast, emphasized its close resem- blance to Pinicola subhimachalus. Mayr & Amadon (1951) thought it closest to Carpodacus, and Ridgway (1901) earlier called it “a crass-billed Carpo- dacus’’. A radiograph of a skin (AMNH 306354) revealed a septum much like that of other large-billed carduelines in its distribution of trabeculae and unlike the heaviest-billed non-carduelines. Urocynchramus pylzoni was described by Sushkin (1927) as “a typical bunting [Emberizinae] in all characters of external anatomy, structure of the horny palate included, but with long tenth primary”. Vaurie (1956) felt that the shape of its bill did not necessarily indicate relationship with the emberi- zines; he thought that its rosy pigmentation was evidence for relationship with the rosefinches of the Carduelinae, and he placed it next to Uragus. 9 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] _ However, Paynter (in Peters 1968: 266) pointed out that “the presence of a bright color (scarlet) in the tail sets it apart from the rosefinches”’. I have determined that the silvery-pink ventral colour of Urocynchramus and of _ various carduelines is produced by red barbs and white, elongated barbules. Brighter red is associated with loss of the white barbules and thickening of the red barbs. Red barbs, white or grey barbules and a soft patina can also be found in a few of the tanagers and their relatives (Coryphospingus cucullatus, Rhodothraupis celaeno, Habia rubica, and Piranga roseogularis). Their pigmentation pattern probably evolved independently from that of the carduelines, and the possibility of convergence must also be considered when comparing Urocynchramus with the carduelines. The interorbital septum of a single skin (USNM 305680, adult male) though partly missing, is a thin, translucent sheet lacking trabeculae. This does not prove relationship with the emberizinae, but it does argue against inclusion of Urocynchramus in the Carduelinae. Pyrrhoplectes is a monotypic genus placed at the end of the Carduelinae by Paynter (in Peters 1968: 305), who remarked that it may not be a cardue- line. A radiograph and direct examination of the septum in a skin show the septum to be typically cardueline in all of the characters listed above except one—the presence of a slight hump on the floor of the anterior part of the cranial cavity, in which it resembles Uragus and some species of Carpodacus. Sushkin’s separation of species long thought to be closely related into unrelated groups—Lewcosticte (Carduelinae) and Montifringlla (Ploceidae)— as discussed and confirmed by Tordoff (1954), is further borne out by the interorbital septa of these genera. Nesospiza acunhae and N. wilkinsi of the Tristan da Cunha island group wete considered to be near Serinus by Mayr & Amadon (1951) but were thought closest to American emberizines by others (see Rand 1955). The interorbital septa of these birds are not cardueline in form. Sushkin (1929) suggested a cardueline origin for the Drepanididae on the basis of a variety of skull features (not including the interorbital septum). Amadon (1950) argued, largely from tongue structure, that the Drepanididae were derived from a coerebid or other New World 9-primaried group. Beecher (1953) believed that a generalized tanager stock gave rise to the Drepanididae, but pointed out that the jaw muscle patterns of Carpodacus and some Hawaiian honeycreepers were almost identical. The interorbital septa of Psittirostra, Vestiaria coccinea, Palmeria, Pseudonestor, and Hemigna- thus are typically cardueline; those of Loxops and Himatione differ in being thinner in the middle than those of carduelines, sometimes with a central fenestra in the septum. The thinner septa of these slender-billed genera were probably derived from an ancestor with a thicker, cardueline form of the septum because they retain the cardueline shape of the anterior cranial Opening, a broader floor of that opening than is found in other slender- billed non-carduelines, and an unbroken vertical posterior edge of the septum between the optic foramina. Thus the interorbital septum adds to a growing body of evidence for a cardueline progenitor of the Drepanididae (see Bock 1972, Richards & Bock 1973, Raikow 1977) and supports Raikow’s (1977) suggestion that the founder species had a finch-like bill. Acknowledgements: 1 am indebted to Kenneth C. Parks and George A, Clark, Jr. for suggesting improvements on the manuscript, [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] 10 References: Ackermann, A. 1967. Quantitative Untersuchungen an K6rnerfressenden Singvégeln. Journ. f. Orn, 108: 430-473. Amadon, D. 1950. The Hawaiian honeycreepers (Aves, Drepaniidae). Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 95: 151-262. Beecher, W. J. 1953. A phylogeny of the oscines. Auvk 70: 270-333. Bock, W. J. 1972. Morphology of the tongue apparatus of Ciridops anna (Drepanididae). Ibis 114: 61-78. Foelix, R. F. 1970. Vergleichend-morphologische Untersuchungen an den Speicheldriisen Kérnerfressendet Singvoégel. Zool. Jahrb., Anat. 87: 523-587. Mayr, E. & Amadon, D. 1951. A classification of recent birds. Amer. Mus. Novit. 1496. Mayr, E., Andrew, R. J. & Hinde, R. A. 1956. Die systematische Stellung der Gattung Fringilla. Journ. f. Orn. 97: 258-273. Morony, J. J. Jr., Bock, W. J. & Farrand, J. Jr. 1975. Reference list of the birds of the world. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. Peters, J. L. 1962. Check-list of Birds of the World, vol. 15 (E. Mayt & J. C. Greenway, Jr., Eds.). Cambridge, Mass.: Mus. Comp. Zool. — 10968. Check-list of Birds of the World, vol. r4 (R. A. Paynter, Jr., Ed.). Cambridge, Mass.: Mus. Comp. Zool. — 1970. Check-list of Birds of the World, vol. 13 (R. A. Paynter, Jr., Ed.). Cambridge, Mass.: Mus. Comp. Zool. Raikow, R. J. 1977. The origin and evolution of the Hawaiian honeycreepers (Drepanidi- dae). The Living Bird, 15th annual: 95-117 Rand, A. L. 1955. The origin of the land birds of Tristan da Cunha. Fieldiana: Zool. 37: 139-166, Richards, L. P. & Bock, W. J. 1973. Functional anatomy and adaptive evolution of the feeding apparatus in the Hawaiian honeycreepers genus Loxops (Drepanididae). Orn. Monographs 15. Amer. Orn. Union. Ridgway, R. 1901. Birds of North and Middle America, pt. 1. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. 50. Sushkin, P. P. 1924. [On the Fringillidae and allied groups.] Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 45: 36-39. — 1927. On the anatomy and classification of the weaver-birds. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 72: 1-32. — 1929. On the systematic position of the Drepanidae. Verh. 6¢h Internat. Orn. Kongr., Kopenhagen, 1926: 379-381. Taka-Tsukasa, N. & Hachisuka, W. V. 1925. A contribution to Japanese ornithology. Ibis: 898-908. Tordoff, H. B. 1954. A systematic study of the avian family Fringillidae based on the struc- ture of the skull. Mise. Pub. Mus. Zool., U. Michigan 81. Vaurie, C. 1956. Systematic notes on Palearctic birds. No. 20 Fringillidae: the genera Leucosticte, Rhodopechys, Carpodacus, Pinicola, Loxia, Uragus, Urocynchramus, and Propyrrhula. Amer. Mus. Novit. 1786. Ziswiler, V. 1965. Zur Kenntnis des SamenGffnens und der Struktur des hérnernen Gau- mens bei k6rnerfressenden Oscines. Journ. f. Orn. 106: 1-48. — 1967. Vergleichend morphologische Untersuchungen am Verdauungstrakt k6rnet- fressenden Singvégel zur Abklarung ihrer systematischen Stellung. Zoo/. Jahrb., Syst. 94: 427-520. Address: National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560, U.S.A. An analysis of avian stomach contents from southern Africa by W. R. J. Dean Received 27 October 1977 The standard reference books on African birds give generalised statements about the diet of most birds, but for few of them are the arthropod orders and families eaten identified. From June 1972 to July 1973 a number of birds were collected in South Species Vanellus coronatus . Cursorius rufus Cursorius rufus | Rhinoptilus africanus Otus scops Glaucidium perlatum Tockus erythrorhynchus Tockus erytbrorhynchus Tockus alboterminatus Tockus monteiri Indicator minor Two stomachs Mirafra sabota Mirafra apiata Chersomanes albofasciata Calandrella cinerea Parus afer Locality, Date Kimberley, SA 4.Vil.73 Kimberley, SA 3.Vil.73 Kimberley, SA 5. vii.73 Kimberley, SA 2.vii.73 Erongo Mts., SWA 26.iv.73 Erongo Mts., SWA 28.1V.73 Humani Ranch, R 27.xii.72 Humani Ranch, R 27.xii.72 Humani Ranch, R 19.xii.72 Gamsberg, SWA 19.iv.73 Erongo Mts., SWA 26.iv.73 Kimberley, SA 28.11.73 Kimberley, SA 4.Vii.73 Kimberley, SA 2.vii.73 Kimberley, SA 2.vii.73 Kimberley, SA 16, vii.73 2 iy TABLE 1 Order Isoptera Coleoptera Coleoptera Hymenoptera Isoptera Coleoptera Hymenoptera Diptera Isoptera Coleoptera Tsoptera Coleoptera Hymenoptera Scorpionidea Orthoptera Coleoptera Lepidoptera Coleoptera Solfugidea Hymenoptera Orthoptera Hemiptera Coleoptera Orthoptera Lepidoptera Coleoptera Araneida Isoptera Coleoptera Hymenoptera Coleoptera Isoptera Hymenoptera Tsoptera Coleoptera Coleoptera Coleoptera Tsoptera Hymenoptera Lepidoptera Coleoptera Hymenoptera Family Hodotermitidae Curculionidae Tenebrionidae Formicidae Hodotermitidae Curculionidae Formicidae Hodotermitidae Tenebrionidae Hodotermitidae Formicidae Gryllidae Formicidae Acrididae Coreidae Cerambycidae Acrididae Hodotermitidae Formicidae Hodotermitidae Formicidae Hodotermitidae Carabidae Chrysomelidae Curculionidae Hodotermitidae Formicidae [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] West Africa, South Africa and Rhodesia as part of a research project on the blood and eye-lens proteins of birds. Stomach contents from some of these ‘specimens, and from road casualties, were preserved, and have now been analysed. Most specimens were dissected shortly after collection and the contents of the gizzard and crop were preserved in 70% ethanol. However, in a number of cases, the time lag between collection and dissection was sufficient for friable and small food items to digest or become anonymous. The stomach contents of each specimen are given in Table 1. None of the identifications was unexpected or unusual, but as noted earlier, there are few comparative data. Avian nomenclature follows McLachlan & Liversidge (1970) and insect taxonomy follows Smart (1962). Analysis of stomach contents of birds collected in South West Africa (SWA), South Africa (SA) and Rhodesia (R), June 1972 to July 1973. Numbets indicate the number of individuals or species recognised. The stomach contents from two individuals of the same species collected at the same locality within 30 minutes of each other have been pooled. L=larva(e), W=worker, A=adult. Species C» Number Hodotermes mossambicus TW 3 I Fragments of 4 Coleoptera EpP- ue Fragments of 3 individuals Hi. mossambicus 22oW I Coleoptera fragments+ 2L 27+ I Hi. mossambicus 17W I Coleoptera fragments Hi. mossambicus 20W Fragments Fragments I Fragments Fragments of 3 spp. 1A, 3L Fragments I seeds numbers 7 IL Fragments of 12 Large seeds I Hi. mossambicus W7 Fragments 5 I seeds Hi. mossambicus 1oW head capsules seeds Hi. mossambicus 10W I IL 2 seeds H., mossambicus 9W Fragments Fragments Fragments [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] 12 TABLE 1 Continued Species Locality, Date Order Family Species Number Cossypha Kimberley, SA Coleoptera Fragments caffra 13.Vil.73 Hymenoptera Formicidae 3+ Erythropy gia Kimberley, SA Hemiptera Pentatomidae 10+ paena 17.Vii.73 Hemiptera Lygaeidae 2 Lepidoptera IL Coleoptera Curculionidae I Coleoptera Ptilidae I Hymenoptera Formicidae 3 seeds Farisoma Kimberley, SA Araneida I subcaeruleum 1.iii.73 Lepidoptera sL, 2 spp Hymenoptera Formicidae 4 Eremomela Kimberley, SA Hemiptera suborder Homoptera I icteropy gialis 17.Vii.73 Lepidoptera IL Coleoptera Fragments Malcorus pectoralis Kimberley, SA Hemiptera Fragments Two stomachs 6.vi.72 Coleoptera Curculionidae Fragments Malcorus pectoralis Kimberley, SA Tsoptera Hodotermitidae Hy, mossambicus 3W Two stomachs 18.Vii.73 Hemiptera Pentatomidae 3 Coleoptera Curculionidae 2, 2 spp. Coleoptera Fragments Hymenoptera Formicidae 3 Malcorus Kimberley, SA Isoptera Hodotermitidae H. mossambicus 6W pectoralis 19.Vii.73 Lepidoptera 2L Coleoptera Fragments Cisticola Kimberley, SA Araneida 2 aridula 19.Vii.73 Orthoptera Fragments Hemiptera suborder Homoptera Jassidae 3 Hemiptera suborder Homoptera 3 Hemiptera suborder Heteroptera 2 Diptera suborder Nematocera I Prinia Kimberley, SA Araneida I flavicans 6.vi.72 Hemiptera suborder Heteroptera 12 Hemiptera Pentatomidae 12 Lepidoptera 4L Coleoptera Fragments Hymenoptera superfamily Chalcidoidea I 2 Prinia Kimberley, SA Hemiptera Lygaeidae Fragments flavican 17.Vii.73 Coleoptera Coccinellidae I Coleoptera Fragments Hymenoptera Formicidae Fragments Pseudoscorpionidea I Stenostira Kimberley, SA Hemiptera I Scita 21.Vii.73 Coleoptera I Hymenoptera Chalcidoidae I Hymenoptera Fragments Diptera 10+ Bradornis infuscatus Kimberley, SA Isoptera Hodotermitidae H mossambicus 26W Two stomachs 18.vii.73 Hemiptera Fragments Coleoptera Fragments Hymenoptera Formicidae Messor spp.+1 other genus Anthus Kimberley, SA Orthoptera Acrididae I novaeseelandiae II.vii.73 Hemiptera Coreidae i: Two stomachs Hemiptera Pentatomidae 17 Lepidoptera 1A Coleoptera Chrysomelidae I Coleoptera Fragments of 6+ spp. Hymenoptera Fragments Anthus Kimberley, SA Isoptera _ Hodotermitidae H. mossambicus 16W vaalensis 26.11.73 Coleoptera Fragments Hymenoptera Formicidae ae , Myriapoda Fragments Lanius collaris _ Kimberley, SA Coleoptera Fragments 20.Vii.73 . Exrocephalus Erongo Mts., SWA Isoptera Hodotermitidae H. mossambicus1oW +1 soldier anguitimens 25.vi.73 Coleoptera Scarabeidae 2 Coleoptera Fragments Hymenoptera Formicidae 3 Hymenoptera Vespidae I Acknowledgements: The identification of the arthropod food items was made by John — Bissett of Matopos Research Station, Rhodesia, and I am grateful to him for his interest — and help. I thank the Peabody Museum of Yale University for the opportunity to collect this material, and Carl Vernon for his help on collecting trips in South Africa and Rhodesia. 13 [Bull, B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] References: | McLachlan, G. R. & Liversidge, R. 1970. Roberts Birds of South Africa. Central News Agency: Cape Town. Smart, J. 1962. lustructions for Collectors. No. 4a, Insects. Trustees of the British Museum: London. | Address: Barberspan Ornithological Research Station, P.O. Barberspan 2765, South Africa. Remarks on the generic allocation of Pseudochelidon sirintarae by R. L. Lusi Received 29 October 1977 In 1968 Kitti Thonglongya described a new swallow, Pseudochelidon sirintarae, 'from Thailand (Thonglongya 1968). Its relationship with Pseudochelidon _ eurystomina of Africa was suggested to him by similarities of plumage, bill, and feet, and by comments of Peter Ames on its syringeal structure. The | syringeal structure of the 2 species of Pseudochelidon differed enough from | that of the Hirundininae to suggest at least subfamily distinction from the | true swallows (Mayr & Amadon 1951, Ames, 7m Thonglongya 1968). Apart | from the peculiarities that link the 2 species in a subfamily of their own, Thonglongya (1968: 7) commented that “‘the differences in size and shape of bill, the ridge between the nasal apertures, the size and strength of the | feet, and the tail racquets, coupled with the geographic separation, might | suffice to separate the 2 species into different genera”. He nevertheless | placed sérintarae in Pseudochelidon after interpreting the evidence in line with current taxonomic trends. Recently, Brooke (1972) discussed generic limits in Old World Apodidae and Hirundinidae. He proposed raising a number of subgenera to genera, resurrected several genera (but see Phillips 1973), and named a new genus— E:urochelidon—in the Pseudochelidoninae, for sirintarae. The basis for Brooke’s new genus was a comparison by him of the skins of both eurystomina and sirintarae at the Smithsonian Institution, and measure- _ ments of both species presented by Thonglongya. Brooke made no comment on plumage differences, but he stated that “the differences in the shape and proportions of the bill and mouth show that they have very different feeding | ecologies, sirintarae probably being able to take much larger prey and perhaps /in different microhabitats” (Brooke 1972: 55). He then justified the new genus on differences in morphology, inferred ecology, and zoogeographic region. I think the following remarks cast doubt on this decision. According to my measurements of a skin and spirit specimen of sirintarae } and 2 skins and a spirit specimen of eurystomina in the Smithsonian Institu- | tion’s collections, differences in bill proportion are much less marked than indicated by Thonglongya’s data. In evrystomina the commissure is partly obscured by feathers whereas in sirinfarae it is entirely exposed; apparently | Thonglongya measured “‘bill from gape” and “width at gape” from the | point where feathers obscured the commissure in eurystomina rather than from the angle of the mouth. His measurements of s7riufarae consequently indicate a bill “more than half as wide again at gape, (and) half as long again” as that of eurystomina (Thonglongya 1968: 4). My measurements of | the bill of 2 skins of eurystomina, all taken from the angle of the mouth, are [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] 14 13-7, 13°5 (width) and 18-2, 18-5 mm (length). Comparing the average of 7 skins of sirintarae measured by Thonglongya with my measurements of eurystomina, sirintarae has a bill that is only 17:-6% wider and 12:5% longer (i.e., difference as % of smaller measurement). In the 2 spirit specimens available to me (in which the rictus is not dried and shrunken as in skins), the bill of srintarae is 22-5 % wider. To judge from wing measurements and appearance of the specimens, the 2 species of Pseudochelidon are similar in body size and the bill of sirintarae is thus proportionately longer and wider than that of eurystomina. However, the differences are less than was stated by Thonglongya and they are not greater than intrageneric differences in bill proportions found in some true swallows (Tachycineta bicolor and I. albiventris; Riparia riparia and R. cincta). Thonglongya called the feet and claws of s7rintarae “‘stronger and more robust” than those of eurystomina, but 1 can see no prominent difference. My measurements of single spirit specimens of each species suggest that by comparison, s7rintarae has a slightly shorter tarsus, longer middle toe and claw, and similar hind toe and claw. Thonglongya showed that the tail of s¢rimtarae, excluding the elongated rachis, is shorter than that of eurystomina (averaging 42 and 52 mm respec- tively). Comparable differences can be seen in other congeners of similar size in the Hirundinidae—Hirundo smith and A. lucida. In both compari- sons the shorter tail is found in the species having long filamentous extensions of 2 rectrices (not included in the measurement). Brooke used as one of his generic criteria the restriction of the 2 species to different zoogeographic regions. However, within the Hirundininae we find congeners with somewhat comparable distributions (A/zrundo angolensis and H. tabitica; Ptyonoprogne fuligula and P. concolor). Berlioz (1970) cited other examples of congeners restricted to Africa and Southeast Asia, includ- ing sedentary forest birds (7ichastoma, Pitta). Another parallel case is that of the 2 species of bay owls (Phodi/us)—the sole representatives of the sub- — family Phodilinae. One (prigogine7) is restricted to the highlands of central Africa, and the other (badius) occurs from India through Southeast Asia to the Malay Archipelago. Many points of difference between sirintarae and eurystomina are of the sort that characterise congeneric species in swallows or other families (sirintarae characters listed first): eye and eye-ring white, eye red and eye-ring pink; bill greenish yellow with black tip, bill orange-scarlet with yellow tip; rictus exposed, rictus hidden by feathers; feet flesh-coloured, feet — brownish-pink; rump white, rump black; wing-lining light brown, wing-— lining sooty brown; central rectrices with very long filamentous rachis, central rectrices with very short filamentous rachis. When these differences — are eliminated some striking similarities remain. Both species have black — heads, contrasting sharply with a browner mantle that is identically glossed — with soft green in sirintarae and some specimens of ¢eurystomina (many eurystomina are more purplish). The rump and upper tail coverts are blacker than the mantle and abruptly demarcated from it in ewrystomina; in sirintarae — the upper tail coverts are black as in eurystomina but the demarcation from the mantle is a transverse white band (rump). Ventrally the species are identi- cal in colour and sheen. These detailed similarities of colour and pattern in the 2 species have not been emphasized in previous descriptions. ‘ % | 15 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] I must conclude that the evidence at hand does not justify the proposal of a new genus for Pseudochelidon sirintarae. Acknowledgements: 1 am grateful to S. Dillon Ripley for the initial suggestion that the generic status of the river martins should be studied, and to Joe Marshall for helpful com- ments on the manuscript. References: Berlioz, J. 1970. Remarques sur les affinités des avifaunes foresti¢res en Asie et Afrique tropicales. Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 23(3): 249-254. Brooke, R. K. 1972. Generic limits in old world Apodidae and Hirundinidae. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 92: 53-57. ‘ Mayr, E. & D. Amadon. 1951. A classification of recent birds. Amer. Mus. Novit. 1496: I-42. Phillips, A. R. 1973. On the supposed genus Petrochelidon. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 93: 20. Thonglongya, K. 1968. A new martin of the genus Psendochelidon from Thailand. Thai. Nat. Sci. Papers, Fauna Ser. 1: 1-10. Address: National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560, U.S.A. Observations on the Seychelles Magpie Robin Copsychus seychellarum by Jenny and Roger Wilson Received 27 October 1977 The Seychelles Magpie Robin Copsychus seychellarum was originally found on several islands of the Seychelles group (Newton 1867), but during the last I0o years its numbers and range have been drastically reduced and Frigate Island now maintains the last surviving population. Frigate Island is an agricultural estate, producing copra, vegetables and fruit, but it has now been developed for tourism, regrettably with an airstrip and accommodation in the same limited area which supports the greatest number of Magpie Robins. We visited Frigate from 24 May to 1 June 1976 in order to carry out a census and obtain data of the Magpie Robin popula- tion. In the limited time available, our primary aim was to estimate whether the new developments were liable to jeopardise the survival of the species. Our resulting recommendations have been submitted in typescript to the British Section of the International Council for Bird Preservation. As the report has only a limited circulation and our observations add to the previously published information on the Seychelles Magpie Robin, we feel it is worthwhile presenting them here. FRIGATE ISLAND The Seychelles lie 1000 km northeast of Madagascar and c. 100 km south of the equator, covering 200 km? of the western Indian Ocean. Frigate Island (4° 35’ S, 55° 56’ E) is the most easterly of the group. It has an area of 700 ha and consists of a granite hill rising to 125 m at its highest point. The hill falls steeply into the sea around much of the island, but there are two flat areas on the coast, locally called ‘plateaux’. The most extensive of these is on the east side where the main settlement and the airstrip are situa- ted and most of the agriculture is carried out. The second plateau, at Grand [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] 16 Anse on the west side of Frigate is much smaller. These two plateaux consti- tute less than 20% of the total land area of the island. The vegetation of the main plateau is a mosaic of cultivated land and coconut plantation with many houses and gardens. There are several groves of large Breadfruit Trees Artocarpus altilis and a grove of Sangdragon Pterocarpus indicus, whilst there are many isolated trees scattered among the coconuts including Annona, Eugenia, Citrus spp, Lerminala catappa and Hernandia sonora. Grand Anse is largely coconut grove with a few tall trees and 2 houses. Two other occupied houses have cultivated land around them, one on the path to Anse Parc above the main plateau, the other at Anse Parc itself. Most of the hilly area is wooded, in part densely so, especially in the north and central parts of the island. Conspicuous species include Banyan Ficus bengalensis and other Ficus spp, Citrus spp and Cashew Anacardium occidentale. Coconut plantations, with a bushy understory of Cocoplum Chrysobalanus icaco, covet the steep slopes dropping down to the sea, whilst there are many open rocky areas vegetated mainly with tall Panicum grass, Cocoplum and Sisal, Agave spp. To the south and east there are more open coconut groves with Cocoplum scrub and Stexotaphrum grassland. Frigate has never been colonised by rats although mice are present. Cats, both domesticated and feral, were introduced c. 25 years ago but most if not all have since been exterminated. THE CENSUS AND DISTRIBUTION The method used was to locate a Magpie Robin, preferably an adult, and follow it for a period of up to an hour. During that time its encounters with other birds were recorded and the area in which it travelled marked on a map. The area covered by the adults was assumed to be within their territory and birds which were accepted without aggressive behaviour were assumed to be members of that territorial group. High (1974) considered Magpie Robins to be non-territorial in their behaviour, although moving around in small family groups. However, we observed several aggressive encounters between groups of birds occupying adjacent areas, and this gave us the opposite view that the species is markedly territorial. The group encounters generally took the form of simple pursuit of intruders by one or more resident birds until the intruders had left. On 3 occasions encounters involved all the members of adjacent groups. Initially, members of the two groups flew at each other, displacing their opponents from their perches. After several minutes, during which the groups had moved to and fro several times over a short distance, one group became gathered in one tree and the other in a tree close by. During the encounter the adults repeatedly displayed, adopting an erect posture with the neck stretched vertically and bill held horizontally, the body feathers fluffed out and the wings slightly held from the body. Whilst in this stance, the birds rocked slowly forwards and backwards, cocking their tails as they did so. We supposed such encounters occurred at territorial boundaries whilst simple pursuit occurred after a territorial incursion. We found 1o groups altogether each consisting of a pair of adults and in most cases a number of offspring, totalling 34 Magpie Robins (Table 1 and Fig. 1). Although we covered as much ground as possible, it is unlikely 17 TABLE I [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] Age composition and numbers of birds in the territorial groups of Seychelles Magpie Robins Copsychus seychellarum observed on Frigate in late May 1976. Group I OO COA AYMNAW DN a) Totals Grand total Notes. * Of different ages. Adults 2 NNN HNN DNDN WN 20 3411 egg Immatures 1+1* Recent Fledglings Ne sts none none . none none I none ? none none none none ? none I egg none none none none I none I Calls heard in the territory of group 4 may have indicated the presence of a concealed | newly fledged chick. An immature seen briefly in the territory of group 5 may have belonged to that group, and the behaviour of the adults in group 6 suggested they may have had a nest. Two adult Magpie Robins seen in a territorial dispute with the adults of group 9 ) may have been from group 8 or from a territory we missed between groups 8 and 9. | |that we found every Magpie Robin on Frigate: but we believe we located every occupied territory on the two plateaux. Seven of the 10 groups were /on the main plateau and one group occupied the entire plateau of Grand Anse. The group around the house at Anse Parc was at sea level, but the jarea aroutid the beach and house was not extensive enough to be called \plateau. The remaining group was at an altitude of 25 m, again close to a rig. 1. Frigate Island, Seychelles. Topography and territories occupied by Magpie Robins . Copsychus seychellarum in May 1976. [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] 18 This distribution is similar to that reported by High (1974) in May 1973, whilst the virtual restriction of the Magpie Robin to the two plateaux was also noted in 1973 by Diamond (I.C.B.P. Report 1976). It is noteworthy that Newton (1867) only encountered the species near the coast on Praslin and Marianne. BREEDING There is little information in the literature on breeding. In November 1867 Newton collected an immature bird on Marianne, but the gonadal development, of adult birds collected at the same time suggested that breeding would not take place for several months. Courtship has been described taking place in November (Lousteau-Lalanne 1962) and nest building was observed on Frigate in December (Vesey-Fitzgerald 1940). A photograph taken by Mr. P. Hutley in April 1976 shows an occupied nest, whilst another was reported later in the same month (M. D. England pers. comm.); and High observed a nest in May. Fledglings were also seen in April by the Bristol Seychelles Expedition (Gaymer e¢ a/. 1969). We our- selves found a nest and saw 2 pairs of adults with recently fledged young in late May. The evidence suggests a breeding season extending at least from December to June. The nest we found was on a rotted out ledge in the trunk of a coconut palm. It was a bulky, untidy structure of coconut fibre with a neat unlined cup, similar in size and material to that described by Vesey-Fitzgerald (1940) _ from Alphonse. A hole ina citrus tree, described as a disused site, was shown to J.W. in January 1976. Newton also mentioned a disused site in the rafters of a house on Marianne, to which the bird gained access through a hole, and was told of birds breeding in rock crevices. Both Vesey-Fitzgerald and High reported nests in the crowns of coconut palms. Chick calls, which may have come from a nest, were heard in such a site in the territory of group 3. A recently fledged chick was found in the same territory 2 days later. The nest we found contained 1 egg, which was not weighed or measured in order to minimise the risk of causing desertion. The base colour was olive blue, heavily speckled with olive brown. Egg colour must be very variable as both white (Lousteau-Lalanne 1962) and blue (Vesey-Fitzgerald 1940) have been recorded. The presence of 2 immatures of the same age in 4 out of 10 groups indicates that the clutch may commonly be 2 eggs. Both Vesey-Fitzgerald and Lousteau-Lalanne give the clutch size as 2. Young birds were distinguished by maroon marbling on the white wing patch, as first described by Newton (1867). The recently fledged chicks stayed in the middle of the bushes in deep shade, fed by both parents with large insects carried to them in the bill. The chick responded to an approaching adult with a loud piping call. The older immature birds were freely foraging for themselves. The adults generally tolerated their presence although they occasionally drove them away for short distances. Our impression was that the older immature birds would not be tolerated for much longer. Right of the 10 groups definitely contained young of various ages. Three © of the groups had young of dissimilar ages, whilst one group contained 2 young and 1 egg. This suggests that the Magpie Robin may have 2 broods in I season. 19 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] FEEDING METHODS AND PREY Magpie Robins were frequently seen around kitchens and houses eating scraps. When feeding naturally, the birds generally seemed to stay on low perches, often in shade, for long periods followed by swoops onto prey on the ground and bouts of foraging. They usually foraged singly and had several methods of obtaining prey. Ground foraging. This was the main means of obtaining food, at least in number of items taken and time spent engaged in it. The birds foraged over the ground in open areas or among leaf litter beneath the trees, picking prey off the surface of the ground or from under leaf litter and sparse herbs. Gleaning. Insects were picked off foliage in the herb layer whilst ground foraging and also to a lesser extent from among the foliage low down in the tree canopies. Fly-catching. Insects were occasionally taken on the wing, the bird flying from a perch and returning to the same or a similar perch after the attempt. Swooping. The birds would swoop onto large prey from a perch and attempt to kill it quickly with blows of the bill. This method was particularly used against lizards. Newton (1867), Lousteau-Lalanne (1962), Gaymer ef a/. (1969) and High (1974) all describe food items taken by the Magpie Robin. These include millipedes, insects obtained from among litter, winged termites, spiders and lizards. Our observations also showed that ground and litter dwelling invertebrates of all types figured prominently in the diet. Other food items whilst ground foraging included the double egg of a gecko (Phe/suma sp.), a small fish dropped by a Fairy Tern Gyg7s alba and a dead giant millipede, Scaphiostreptus madecassus, which was broken open. Four lizard corpses were found which had been taken by Magpie Robins, the largest being a Mabuya wrightii with a body length, excluding the tail, of 1ocm. The lizards were attacked swiftly and killing was attempted by sharp vertical blows of the bill, but most attempts were unsuccessful. In all 4 corpses the tail had been eaten. The only other parts taken were those accessible through the cloaca, eyes and mouth. In only one case had the body wall been broken into and this was probably not done by the bird itself. Generally the body was left lying in the open partially eaten and in two instances the birds returned to the corpse later. All the corpses examined showed heavy bruising on the belly. Grasshoppers were gleaned from low herbs and a large green grasshopper was taken from the canopy of a tree. A large flying insect, probably a mason wasp, was taken by fly catching. _ VOICE Apart from the chick begging call already mentioned, 3 other calls were distinguished. _ Song. A quiet, very musical song was heard twice, given by single adults _ from low perches in the open. “Cicada” call. A harsh, low, churting or buzzing was given in situations of | apparent moderate anxiety, and was heard most frequently when an observer | approached too close to a foraging bird or to a concealed fledgling. It was _ also heard just prior to a territorial encounter and when the nest was approached. [Bull, B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] 20 “Pee” call, A short, plaintive whistle was heard 3 times. The first, given by an adult, was heard when the nest we found was examined. The second was given by a foraging adult which, after calling, continued to forage apparently undisturbed. The third was given by an immature which was surprised when an adult suddenly flew at it. The young bird may have been an intruder. DISCUSSION It is likely that the Seychelles Magpie Robin originally inhabited the native plateau forests, feeding in the leaf litter and nesting in the abundant niches and holes of undisturbed primary woodland. It has adapted well to the artificial environment of the cultivated plateaux on Frigate. As similar habitat exists on most of the islands where the Magpie Robin was once found, especially on Praslin and La Digue, it is probable that introduced predators perhaps in conjunction with human pressure, rather than altera- tion of the habitat, have been primarily responsible for the decline of the species. In 1965 the Bristol Seychelles Expedition could find only 8 Magpie Robins on Frigate (Gaymer e¢ a/. 1969) but since the extermination of cats High was able to count 38 birds in 1973, a figure comparable with our 1976 census of 34. Aride excepted, Frigate is the only island formerly occu- pied by Magpie Robins that has escaped invasion by rats. Aride however was infested by cats which have since been destroyed (Percy & Ridley 1955) but which were probably responsible for the extinction of the Magpie Robin there over 40 years ago. Over 100 years ago, Newton (1867) had noticed the adverse effect of introduced predators on the Magpie Robin population; and he also suggested that the Mynah- Acridotheres tristis, an introduced species that is common on Frigate, could pose a threat. It is possible that it does so, although we obtained no evidence of Mynahs interfering with Magpie Robins in any way. Our observations suggest that the adults with established territories have no difficulty in rearing offspring. They also suggest that the hill provides an unsuitable habitat, for unknown reasons. As the present occupied territories almost completely cover the available ground on the main plateau, Grand Anse and Anse Parc, it is possible that Frigate can support few more Magpie Robins and that lack of space is limiting the population. Immature birds in this situation could either wait to replace a dead adult or could attempt to form territories in unsuitable areas where they could not support themselves. Two Magpie Robins seen near the summit of the hill in November 1976 by Dr. D. W. Snow (pers. comm.) may have been an example of such an attempt. Such a situation implies a stable population, a suggestion supported by the population counts in 1973 and 1976. It seems likely that the world population of the Seychelles Magpie Robin consists of about 10 breeding pairs, this number being kept fairly stable by recruitment from a constantly replenished pool of young birds and prevented from further increase by a lack of suitable habitat. Acknowledgements: Our thanks to Mr. P. Hutley, the then owner of Frigate, for allowing our visit, and to Messrs. Guy Lionnet and Yvon Savy for helping us to arrange it. We are grateful to the International Council for Bird Preservation for giving us leave to make the trip and to Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Fitzpatrick-Niven for financial help. Dr. Martin Garnett, Mr. Jeff Watson, Dr. D. W. Snow and Mr. Anthony Cheke kindly assisted us in writing the report and this paper, and we are also grateful to Capt. Tony Sharrett for taking one of us (J.W.) on preliminary visits to the island. ra [Bull, B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)| References: Gaymer, R. ef a/. 1969. The endemic birds of the Seychelles. 7bés 111: 157-176. High, J. 1974. Seychelles Magpie Robin. Wi/d/ife 16: 61. International Council for Bird Preservation British Section. 1976. 5th Report on the Cousin Island Nature Reserve and other Islands 1973-1976. Lousteau-Lalanne, P. 1962. Land birds of the granitic islands of the Seychelles. Occ. Publs. Seychelles Soc. 1: 22-31. Newton, E. 1867. On the landbirds of the Seychelles Archipelago. Jbis Ser. 2(3): 335-360. Ridley, M. W. & Percy, Lord W. 1955. The exploitation of seabirds in the Seychelles. Colonial Res. Studies No. 25: 1-78. H.M.S.O. Vesey-Fitzgerald, D. 1940. On the birds of the Seychelles, 1. The endemic birds. lbis ~ Ser. 14(4): 480-489. Present Address: clo Belle Vue, Aiskew, Bedale, North Yorkshire, England. A new bird for Burma—Pallas’s Reed Bunting Emberiza pallasi by P. R. Colston Received 21 October 1977 Between Feb 1901 and April 1902 Col. R. M. Meinertzhagen (1960) col- lected a number of birds in Burma and these are now in the process of being registered and incorporated into the main collection of study skins at the British Museum (Natural History), Tring. These included 3 small buntings, 2 gd and 1 9, from Mandalay and Maymyo (22° 05’ N, 96° 33’ E, some 40 km north-northeast of Mandalay), all of which he identified as Little Buntings Emberiza pusilla. Critical examination of the female, Reg. No. 1965;—M—16392, taken at Maymyo on 22 March 1902 shows it to be an adult © Pallas’s Reed Bunting £. pall/asi, in moult. This species has not previously been recorded from Burma. One of the 2 male Little Buntings was collected at the same locality the following day. Pallas’s Reed Bunting is not unlike a small Reed Bunting EF. schoeniclus, which could equally well occur as a vagrant to Burma. I have compated it with the extensive series of both F. schoeniclus and EF. pallasi at Tring, and both Dr. D. W. Snow and Derek Goodwin confirm my identification. Measurements are: wing 68 mm, tail 52 mm, tarsus 17 mm, bill from base of feathers 7-5 mm. No soft part colours are recorded on the collector’s label. The specimen shows the diagnostic pale whitish rump and upper tail coverts and the tail pattern which clearly separates it from female or immature Little Buntings. Vaurie gives the range of FE. pallasi as “Central and eastern Siberia, Outer Mongolia and probably northwestern Manchuria, also Tian Shan in Chinese Turkestan. Migratory, winters in Outer and Inner Mongolia, Manchuria, Korea, Ussuriland, and northern China south to lower Yangtze’’. According to Dementiev e¢ a/. E. pallasi occupies tundra overgrown with under-brush, dwarf birch, rose willow etc. In the south it is found predominently in mountains—in the subalpine zone, mostly at 2200-2400 m. It winters on plains, preferring irrigated areas with shrub and reed thickets, near rivers and lakes. In its winter quarters in northern China and southern Manchuria it is recorded as abundant. Pallas’s Reed Bunting is a roaming and migratory bird, similar in this respect to the Little Bunting, which occupies much the same biotope. [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] 22 The Crested Bunting Melophus lathami is the only resident bunting in Burma, but Smythies (1953) lists 8 winter visitors, i.e. Emberiza aureola, cia, elegans, furcata, pusilla, rutila, spodocephala and tristrami. References: Dementiev, G, P. & Gladkov, N. A. 1954. The Birds of the Soviet Union. Moscow: Sovetskaya Nauka. King, B., Woodcock, M., & Dickinson, E. C. 1975. A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia. Collins. Meinertzhagen, R. 1960. Army Diary 1899-1926. Olivet & Boyd. Smythies, B. E. 1953. The Birds of Burma. 2nd (revised) Ed. Oliver and Boyd. Address: British Museum (Natural History), Tring, Hertfordshire, England. Ethiopia as a presumed wintering area for the eastern Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia straminea by? SXASD Received 29 October 1977 The occurrence of the eastern race of the Grasshopper Warbler, Locustella naevia straminea, in Ethiopia has been reported on by Ash & Watson (1974). Since then I have captured 6 more birds, 2 from the earlier site at Koka (8° 27’ N, 39° 06’ E) at 1445 m; 3 at 1280 m from Aseita (11° 33’ N, 41° 26’ EB), which is only 4 km north of the locality where Guichard (1948) collected one in 1947; and I netted one more on Debre Mariam Island (11° 38’ N, 37° 26’ E) in Lake Tana at 1825 m. Olson (1976) recorded 2 more near Bahar Dar (11° 35’ N, 37° 25’ E) at 1825 m, about 5 km south of my Debre Mariam site, and one from 4 km south of Gondar at 12° 37’ N, 37° 28’ E. Table 1 gives the dates, measurements and weights of these 10 records. TABLE I Details of the 10 Locustella naevia straminea records in Ethiopia Locality Date Sex Wing (mm) Tail(mm) Weight(gm) Time Moult Observer Abroberifaghe (Harar) 12 ii 47 —- — — — — — Guichard 1948 Koka (Shoa) 24 li 73 — 62 — 10°2 1130 o §=©>. Ash _ & _~Watson 1974 Gondar (Begemdir) 24 xi 73 ? 62 54 14°3 a.m. o Olson 1976 Bahar Dar (Gojjam) 27 i 75 Q 61 56 15°74 — o Olson 1976 Koka (Shoa) Iix75 — 62 —_ Il'0 0900 o = Ash Psi, Babs 25ix75 — 58 — II'9 1100 V : ae <3 251x75 — 58 -- II‘'o 1730 V re Aseita (Harar) mii77 — — _ Ps _ ° % i if 141177 — — — 13°1 — fo) “ >»? >” 16 ii 77 a t44 — I I - 9 — fo) +D. Mariam Is. (Gojjam) 311177 — 62 58 12°4 1000 co) Ash ri »> ” >” > 3 iv 77 <5 62 58 13°3 1830 eo) Notes: * and + indicate birds are the same individuals. Full data for the Aseita birds were lost during my hasty evacua- tion from Ethiopia. The breeding range of the eastern subspecies s¢raminea extends from east Russia (¢c. 55° E) across the Kirghiz steppes to the Altai (¢. 85° E), south to Transcaspia, Turkestan and Sinkiang (Williamson 1960). Apart from — Ethiopia, L. 2. straminea is known on passage or in winter quarters from Iran, Afghanistan and India (Williamson 1960), to which can be added one from Arabia (Ticehurst & Cheesman 1925). = 23 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)| The to birds in Ethiopia occurred in autumn between 15 September and 24 November, and in spring between 11 February and 3 April. It is just possible that the absence of December and January records indicates that the final wintering area lies in an undiscovered region further south, but the present evidence suggests that the wintering area for the eastern population of this species in East Africa lies in Ethiopia between 8° 27’ and 12° 37’ N and between 37° 25’ and 41° 26’ E, at an altitudinal range of 1250 to 2000 m. The Ethiopian habitat varies somewhat from site to site: at Koka, from where there are 3 records, it is lakeside Acacia] Balanites bush with thick underlying cover; at Aseita, thick riverside Acacia woodland with dense underlying cover; near Bahar Dar, extensive lakeside beds of Phragmites and Cyperus papyrus; on Debre Mariam Island, open deciduous woodland with dense bushy areas near water; near Gondar, on a “brushy hillside” (Olson 1976); at Guichard’s (1948) site, “in dense grass cover along the River Hawash”’. No other weights other than those in Table 1 are available for L. 2. straminea, which is smaller than the western form L. 2. naevia, for which there are many data. Winter weights in February of 4 unfattened straminea range from 10-2 to 13-1 g (the specimen on 27 February at 15-49 was fat). The Gondar bird on 24 November at 14-3 g would appear to be heavy for the time of year unless it was preparing for further migration. Williamson (1960) gives weights of 65 migrant L. n. naevia in England as ranging from 10-6 to 16-3 g (mean 13-1 g). An indication of its frequency of occurrence in relation to other Palae- -atctic migrants at Koka was given by Ash & Watson (1974). In February 1977 the 3 Grasshopper Warblers captured at Aseita were included in a total of 487 migrants of 23 species, of which mest were thought to be over- wintering in the 7-hectare netting area (Ash, in prep.). The bird on Debre Mariam Island was included in a total of 287 migrants of 17 species in an area of approximately 25 hectares, but at this time in March and April most of the regular migrants were all passing through. _ Four of the 10 birds from Ethiopia have been collected: the first, by Guichard, is in the British Museum (BM 1947-31-8, specimen registered but still not located, contra Ash & Watson 1974), the next, by Ash at Koka, is in the Smithsonian Institution (USNM No. 552733), as are the 2 by Olson in the list above (USNM No. 569269 and USNM No. 569270). The others were ringed and released. Acknowledgements: My best thanks are due to Dr. G. E. Watson for his comments on this paper. Dr. D. W. Snow has kindly techecked the British Museum register for me. _ My observations were made during the course of investigations supported in part by the | Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and the Office of Naval Research under Contract No. Nooo14—67—A-0399-0009. References: | Ash, J. S. The migrant bird community of an Ethiopian woodland in mid-winter. Jn prep. — & Watson, G. E. 1974. Locustella naevia in Ethiopia. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 94: 39-40. Guichard, K. M. 1948. Notes on Sarothrura ayresi and three birds new to Abyssinia. Bu//. Brit. Orn. Cl. 68: 102-104. Olson, C. 1976. Summary of field observations of birds from Begemder and Simien Pro- vince, Walia 7: 16-27. [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] 24 Ticehurst, C. B. & Cheesman, R. E. 1925. The birds of Jabrin, Jafura, and Hasa in central and eastern Arabia and of Bahrain Island, Persian Gulf. /bis, 12th Ser. (1): 1-31. Williamson, K. 1960. Identification for Ringers. 1. The genera Locustella, Lusciniola, Acrocephalus and Hippolais. British Trust for Ornithology. Address: National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DiCF20560, U.S.A: Inland and coastal occurrences of Broad-billed Sandpipers Limicola falcinellus in Ethiopia and Djibouti by J. S. Ash Received 29 October 1977 Probably because Broad-billed Sandpipers Limicola falcinellus ate not easily identified in non-breeding plumage, their wintering areas are still poorly known. In Ethiopia, Urban & Brown (1971) were only able to cite a single occurrence, the 2 females collected by Smith (1955) on 12 May 1953 at Massawa, Eritrea, on the Red Sea coast. I am now able to add 4 new records (below), of which the first 3 are from Ethiopia and the last from Djibouti. There are no previous records from Djibouti. Locality Coordinates Dates Numbers — Assab area, Eritrea (coastal) 130 02 IN, 42° 45 BE 25.Xii-1.1.71 12+ Koka, Shoa (inland) 8° 29ON} 30°67 22—29.X.74 I Koka, Shoa (inland) Same as above 14-15 .1X.75 I Djibouti (coastal) Tike. 3.5, IN, 343 eee: 25 items 3 The 1974 bird vaught on 28 October weighed 29-1 g at 1500 LMT, wing 104 mm, bill from skull 36mm. The 1975 adult in alternate (breeding) plumage caught on 14 September weighed 24-9 g at 1530 LMT, wing 104 mm. I have 2 other probable records from inland Ethiopia, at Lake Basaaka (8° 54’ N, 39° 52’ E) on 1:5 November 1969 (Ash 1972) and at Mataca (10° 00, INS 40" 34 BE) on Ti Ocreper 1072. Meinertzhagen (1954) states that the species is fairly common on the Egyptian and Sinai coasts, birds arriving there as early as 5 August; other- wise he only mentions some birds from Aden (mentioned below), and states that many had been obtained at Fao (at the head of the Persian Gulf) in August and September. Large numbers, up to joo in a flock, are recorded from Aden (Browne 1949, 1955, Nisbet 1961, Paige 1960), but there are no recotds from Somalia (Archer & Godman 1937). Elsewhere in Africa south of the Sahara, the Afrotropical region of Crosskey & White (1977), records are scattered, except that in Kenya numbers, up to 38 together, have now been seen annually both inland and on the coast since the Hopsons (1972) first recorded the species there (Backhurst zz “itt, Britton 1974, Britton & Britton 1973, 1976, EANHS 1977, Hopson & Hopson 1972, 1973). These Kenyan birds have been seen between 2 August and 8 April, with up to 33 in one coastal locality in midwinter. K. D. Smith, who summarizes the occurrences in Moreau (1972), refers to one in Nigeria (Dowsett 1968), one in Uganda, where there are now 2 occurrences 25 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] (Backhurst e¢ a/. 1973), 2 in Tanzania (Reynolds 1965, Harvey 1971), and doubtful records from Senegal and southwest Africa (although the latter is accepted by Winterbottom 1971). I was unable to find this species in December and January on the Red Sea coasts around Al Hodeidain Yemen (December 1975 to January 1976), or near Massawa in Eritrea in December 1972, although at both places suitable habitat exists. The scattered records of small numbers of Broad-billed Sandpipers are few and widespread, but judging by the large numbers passing through Aden in spring and autumn, it is almost certain that a midwinter concentration has yet to be discovered in some little worked area further south. A search of suitable habitat along the Somali coast may prove rewarding, particularly as there are midwinter records both to the north and south in Eritrea and Kenya. At least in the areas where they are overwintering, this species has a preference for a distinctive type of foreshore—a combination of wet mud and sand with scattered stones and patches of weed. Once this habitat is recognized the birds may be found quite easily, and such was the case on 19 September 1976 at the mouth of the Sabaki River, on the Kenya coast, when a stop was made to look at a likely patch of tidal mud and the first bird seen was L. falcinellus. This species is not difficult to identify. Useful additional field characters to those given in European field guides and by Browne (1955) include the following: the size is intermediate between Little Stint Ca/idris minuta and Curlew Sandpiper C. ferruginea; the bill appears to be too heavy for the bird to carry as it walks, and it is long (longer than the head) for the size of the bird; its legs are much shorter than those of Dunlin C. a/pina and are not quite so dark, i.e., not quite black. It is always on the move when feeding and appears to be a “busier feeder” than a Dunlin, and whilst preening it constantly dips its bill in water. Acknowledgements: 1 wish to thank Dr. G. E. Watson and G. C. Backhurst for comment- ing on this paper, and the latter for providing me with full data on the Kenyan records. Some of the observations were made whilst engaged in research supported in part by the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and the Office of Naval Research under Contract No. Nooo14—67—A—03 99-0009. References: Archer, G. & Godman, E. M. 1937. The Birds of British Somaliland and the Gulf of Aden. Vol. II. London: Gurney and Jackson. Ash, J. S. 1972. Charadriiform birds in the Ethiopian Rift Valley. Walia 4: 14-18. Backhurst, G. C., Britton, P. L. & Mann, C. F. 1973. The less common Palaearctic birds of Kenya and Tanzania. J//. E. African Nat. Hist. Soc. 140: 1-38. Britton, P. L. 1974. Broad-billed Sandpipers and Herring Gulls wintering on the north Kenya coast. B.A.N.A.S. Bull. 1974: 112-113 meiton, P. L. & Britton, H. A. 1973. Broad-billed Sandpipers on the Kenya coast. E.A.N.H.S. Bull. 1973: 146-147. Britton, H. A. & Britton, P. L. 1976. Records section (Birds). E.A.N.H.S. Bull. 1976: 2-61. esr, PB. if 3 1949. Notes on Broad-billed and Terek Sandpipers at Aden. Brit. Birds 42: 333-3 _ Browne EW. W. >. 1955. Identification of the Broad-billed Sandpiper at Aden. Brit. Birds 48: —376. Erosskey, R. RW. & White, G. B. 1977. The Afrotropical Region. A Recommended term : in Zoogeography. /. Nat. Hitst., 11: §41-544. - Dowsett, R. J. 1968. Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus at Lake Chad: a species new to Nigeria. Bull. Orn. Soc. Nigeria 5: 61. [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] 26 E.A.N.H.S. Orn Sub-committee. 1977. Some recent records of Palaearctic birds in Kenya and Tanzania. Scopus 1: 39-43 Harvey, W. G. 1971. The el Broad-billed Sandpiper for Tanzania. E.A.N.H.S. Bull. 1971: 161. Hopson, J. & Hopson, T. 1972. Broad-billed Sandpiper at Lake Rudolf. EH.A.N.H.S. Bull, 1972: 170-171. Hopson, T. & Hopson, J. 1973. More Broad-billed Sandpipers at Lake Rudolf. B.A.N.HS. Bull, 1973: 5.2. Meinertzhagen, R. 1954. Birds of Arabia. Edinburgh and London: Oliver and Boyd. Moreau, R. E. 1972. The Palaearctic African Bird Migration Systems. London and New York: Academic Press. Nisbet, I. C. T. 1961. Studies of less familiar birds. 113. Broad-billed Sandpiper. Brit. Birds 54: 320-323. Paige, J. P. 1960. Bird notes from Aden and Oman. [bis 102: 520-525. Reynolds, F. J. 1965. On the occurrence of Palaearctic waders in western Tanzania. EF. Afr. Wildl. J. 3: 130-131. Smith, K. D. 1955. Recent records from Eritrea. [bis 97: 65-80. Urban, E. K. & Brown, L. H. 1971. A Checklist of the “Birds of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: Haile Selassie I. University Press. Winterbottom, J. M. 1971. A Preliminary Checklist of the Birds of Southwest Africa, S. W. A. Scientific Society. Address: National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C, 20560,. 05.4. Sarothrura ctakes in Ethiopia by if Si Ash Received 11 October 1977 Of the 9 species of Sarothrura crakes, a genus confined to the African continent and Madagascar, 3 are known from Ethiopia. At the time when Keith et a/. (1970) completed the monograph on the genus, with data up to the end of 1968, there were only single records of 2 of the 3 species, but sev- eral for the third. More information has since accrued, and the present knowledge of their occurence or absence in Ethiopia is given below. The order and nomenclature of Urban & Brown (1971) is followed, although more recently Ripley (1977) has placed all the Sarothrura crakes in the genus Coturnicops, in which Sclater (1930) placed ayres7. SAROTHRURA AYRESI White-winged Crake In the Republic of South Africa known only from single birds at 3 localities and from about 30 specimens in 4 localities in Ethiopia (the locality given as — Entotto is a ridge of wooded hills, and almost certainly Sululta, which ~ Entotto overlooks, is intended) (Keith ef a/.). The last certain records from South Africa were in 1901, where Keith e¢ a/. conjectured it had by then be- come extinct, and from Ethiopia in 1949. Keith e¢ a/. refer to an Ethiopian specimen with fully developed eggs on 18 July, and to an unfledged young bird on 22 September, so there can be no doubt that the species bred in this country. Firsthand references to the occurences of this species in Ethiopia are in Bannerman (1911), Gajdacs & Keve (1968), Guichard (1948, 1950). Urban & Brown call it resident and a possible intra-African migrant in the west and southwest highlands by streams and marshes, with breeding possibly occur-— ring June-September. 27 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] There are no new data since Keith e¢ a/. From 1970 to 1976, I made many seatches for this species at Gefersa and Sululta, in each year, at various times from July to October, and several other observers, including C. Erard (1974), Stuart Keith, Dr. Clark Olson, and Dr. S. J. Tyler, did the same, on occasions using dogs and up to 30 local beaters, without finding a trace of a bird. Many people visit Sululta to shoot Great Snipe Ga//inago media and those questioned had no knowledge of these crakes. Similarly many local shepherd boys who tend their animals daily in this area were unaware of the bird. The marsh at Gefersa is now much reduced following the construction of a reservoir at the site, but Sululta marshes have probably remained unchanged in the past 30 years. There is always a chance that the species may be found again in the numerous other highland marshes in Ethiopia, but I have searched many without success, so that there is a distinct possibility that the species may be extinct in Africa. SAROTHRURA RUFA Red-chested Crake Widespread in Africa south of about 4° N, but very few north of this line (Keith e¢ a/.), and only one from Ethiopia (Guichard 1950). Urban & Brown describe the resident race .S. r. e/izabethae as rare in larger fresh-water lakes and rivers, and perhaps other grassy or marshy areas, in the west highlands (Gefersa). There are no breeding records. Since 1970 there have been more records from 4 localities in Ethiopia. Two of these are noted with caution by Erard (1974), but in my opinion and that of Stuart Keith (7 /i7t.), they are acceptable as undoubted S. rufa. All known records are listed below. Locality Alt. (m) Date Numbers Authority Gefersa, Shoa 2600 30 July 1947 192 Guichard 1950 Challa, Kaffa 1970 5-9 May 1971 several Desfayes 1975 Gimbi (3 km E), Wollega 1850 28 Sept. 1971 I Erard 1974 Didessa (6 km W), Wollega 1240 1 Oct. 1971 I Erard 1974 Jimma airport, Kaffa 1700 24 June 1974 I Keith (tn Litt.) Didessa, Wollega 1262 1970-1976 several Ash The bird heard by Keith near Jimma was calling in the marshes at the air- port; those seen by Desfayes were in very wet marshes at Challa. After hearing Keith’s tapes of their calls from elsewhere, I realized that I had heard S. rufa on many occasions in small marshes adjoining my regular campsite at Didessa, without recognizing at the time that they were those of a bird. I had been led to believe by the local people that it was a species of toad or frog, but Dr. M. L. Largen assures me that no anuran species known to him in Ethiopia or elsewhere calls in this manner. SAROTHRURA ELEGANS Buff-spotted Crake Range rather similar to that of S. rufa (Keith et a/.) and only one record from Ethiopia (Benson 1974). Urban & Brown describe the resident race S. e. elegans as rare and found in the southeast highlands and south Ethiopia in Juniper-Podocarpus forest at 2400-3200 m. Since 1970 there have been records from 4 more localities in southern Ethiopis, suggesting that the bird is locally, but widely and not uncommonly, distributed there. All known records are summarized overleaf. [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] 28 Locality Alt. (m7) Date Numbers Authority Mega, Sidamo ? 4 June 1941 I Benson 1947 Koffole, Arussi 2200 14 June 1968 I Roux & Benson (1969) Agaro, Kaffa 1670 June 1968 several Erard 1974 Bulcha, Sidamo 1270 1970-1976 many Ash Belleta forest, Kaffa 2000 24 June 1974 I Keith (én Litt.) Erard’s 1968 birds near Agaro were claimed by him with reserve, but as he was familiar with the species’ call in Gabon, and they resembled those of recordings of the species, his records are acceptable. In this area the birds were in forests of Ficus sp. Keith’s bird near Jimma was in a thick bushy ravine in an area of mixed forest lacking Podocarpus and Juniperus but stated by him to be typical habitat. At Bulcha I was familiar with the birds’ calls for several years before identifying their origin. The local people believed them to be the calls cf a tortoise, although several identified them as being the ““King of Birds—a kind of nocturnal bird of prey which hunted from a low branch close to the ground”. On hearing Keith’s tape of S. e/egans in 1974, I instantly recognized the identity of the unknown caller. Unfortunately, I do not have any notes on it prior to its identification, nor did I ever see one in the course of weeks of observation in areas where it was apparently fairly common. Birds mostly called at night and only very occasionally during the day; in June 1974 they | were particularly numerous and on one night I was able to pinpoint at least 10 calling round the camp. It was possible to approach within 1-2 metres of birds calling in dense ground cover, to see the vegetation disturbed as the birds moved, and yet still not be able to see them. Calling, apparently from individual birds, continued for hours, a drawn out mournful ““woooc000”’ lasting for 3 seconds at intervals of 6-7 seconds. At very close range presum- ed contact calls were heard between birds, sometimes literally at one’s feet, a soft and short “moo” (occasionally a quick “‘moo-moo-moo’’) (from the male?), answered by an equally soft but rather longer and often quavering ““mair” (from the female). The Bulcha habitat was forest edge and open canopy forest with dense ground cover along a riverside. In conclusion, of the 3 Sarothrura crakes known from Ethiopia, all have been considered rare and local. New records for S. elegans and S. rufa indicate they are more widespread than was previously thought, but S. ayres¢ has not been seen for nearly 30 years in spite of many searches in previously favoured localities. Acknowledgements: 1 wish to thank Dr. George E. Watson, and Stuart Keith for reading the drafts of this paper and the latter also for details of his observations in Kaffa. Part of my observations were made whilst I was engaged in research supported in part by the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and the Office of Naval Research under Contract No. Nooo14-67—A-—0399-0009. Appendix: Gazetteer of localities mentioned in the text. Agaro, 7° 50’ N, 36° 38’ E; Belleta Forest, 7° 32’ N, 36° 33’ E; Bulcha, 6° 27’ N, 38° 11’ E; Challa, 7° 46’ N, 36° 22’ E; Didessa, 9° 02’ N, 36° 09’ E; Didessa (6 km W), 9° 04’ N, 36° o5’ E; Entotto, 9° 05’ N, 38° 45’ E; Gefersa, 9° 03’ N, 38° 40’ E; Gimbi (3 km B), 29 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] Bo t20Ny 35" 50 Es; Jimma airport, 7° 34’ N,/36° 48°. Es Koffole;'7°.05’ N, 38° 45’ E; Mega, 4° 05’ N, 38° 19’ E; Sululta, 9° 11’ N, 38° 45’ E. Postcript: Whilst the paper on Sarothrura ayresi was in press, Mr. A. D. Forbes-Watson drew my attention to a 1976 paper by S. W. Wolff & P. leS. Milstein (Bokmakierie 28: 33-36), describing the re-discovery of Sarothrura ayresi in South Africa. References: Bannerman, D. A. 1911. Description of a new Rail, Ortygops macmillani sp. n. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 29: 38. Benson, C. W. 1947. Notes on the birds of southern Abyssinia. [bis 89: 29-50. Desfayes, M. 1975. Birds from Ethiopia. Revue de Zoologie Africaine 89: 505-535. Erard, C. 1974. Notes faunistiques et systématiques sur quelques oiseaux d’Ethiopia Bonn Zool. Beitr. 25: 76-86. Gajdacs, M. & Keve, A. 1968. Beitrage zur Vogelfauna des mittleren Athiopien. Stu#t- garter Beitr. zur Naturk. 182: 13 pp. Guichard, K. M. 1948. Notes on Sarothrura ayresi and three birds new to Abyssinia. Bu//. Brit. Orn. Cl. 68: 102-104. — 1950 A summary of the birds of the Addis Ababa region, Ethiopia. Journ. East African Nat. Hist. Soc. 19: 154-178. Keith, G. S., Benson, C. W. & Stuart Irwin, M. P. 1970. The genus Sarothrura (Aves, Rallidae). Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 143 (1). Ripley, S. Dillon. 1977. Rails of the World. Godine: Boston. Roux, F. & Benson, C. W. 1969. The Buff-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura elegans in Ethiopia. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 89: 119-120. Sclater, W. T. 1930. Systema Avium Aethiopicarum. Taylor and Francis: London. Urban, E. K. & Brown, L. H. 1971. A Checklist of the Birds of Ethiopia. Haile Selassie I. University Press: Addis Ababa. Address: National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution Washington, Pye. 20560, U.S.A. A Basta Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus griseldis in Mozambique by J. S. Ash Received 20 September 1977 The Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus griseldis does not seem to have been recorded from Mozambique. It is therefore noteworthy that a migrant (wing 77 mm, weight 12-0 g at 0700) ringed with a British Trust for Ornithology ring (JS 33684) on 19 September 1975 at Koka (08° 27’ N, 39° 06’ BE), Shoa Province, Ethiopia, was found dead at Chire (16° 42’ S, 35° 20’ EB), Morrumbala District (Zambézia), Mozambique. The ring was reported on 1 February 1977, but the actual date of its recovery is not known. The Basra Reed Warbler is such a distinctive race that some authorities have accorded it full specific status (Ticehurst 1922, Sclater 1930, Voous 1960, Mackworth-Praed & Grant 1960, Pearson & Backhurst 1976), whilst others regard it as a race of A. arundinaceus (Stresemann & Arnold 1949, Vaurie 1959, White 1960, Williamson 1968). I am inclined to agree with the former, but a final decision must rest on detailed field studies with particular emphasis on its song patterns. Its winter quarters are stated by Moreau (1971) as “from Kenya to Malawi’’, by Vaurie (1959) as “East Africa from Kenya south to Nyasaland”, [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] 30 by Sclater (1930) as ‘south to Teita District of south Kenya Colony and to Tanganyika (Kilosa District at Nguru)’’, and by Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1960) as “in Kenya Colony and Tanganyika; at least one record from Nyasaland”; and White (1970) says “winters ot passage from Eritrea to Kenya and once to Nyasaland”. It is not known to overwinter in Ethiopia, where I have found it widespread and common as a passage migrant in autumn, between 28 August and 12 December, mostly 12-27 September, always associated with water, in lakeside or riverside vegetation either dense weeds, acacia bush, tamarisk woodland or low thick bushes (Ash in press). There are no spring records. In Kenya it is a common autumn passage migrant (Pearson & Backhurst 1976), but is unknown in Somalia (Archer & Godman 1961), where it must surely occur. In southern Somalia there is one specimen from Kisimao (Van Someren 1929). There are no records from Zambia (Benson ef a/. 1973). The present remarkable record from Mozambique extends the winter range of this race for at least 280 km south of the most southerly record I can trace, namely a single bird on 22 March 1943 at Fort Johnston in Malawi (Benson 1953), which itself was over 980 km south of the most southerly occurrences in Tanzania. The evidence suggests that all previous Basra Reed Warblers were on passage in the areas where they have been recorded in East Africa, except for the one in Malawi. Their late winter quarters are still un- known, and it is possible that the birds in Mozambique and Malawi provide a clue to where these may be. Acknowledgements: I wish to thank Dr. George E. Watson for commenting on this paper. The bird was tinged in the course of research supported in part by the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and the Office of Naval Research under Contract No. Nooo14—67—A-—0399- ooo9 and the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Work Unit MRo41-og01—0014 DGH J. References : Archer, G. & Godman, E. M. 1961. The Birds of British Somalia and the Gulf of Aden. Vol. IV. Oliver and Boyd: Edinburgh and London. Ash, J. S. (in Press). Migrational status of Palaearctic birds in Ethiopia. Ostrich. Benson, C. W. 1953. A Checklist of the Birds of Nyasaland. Blantyre and Lusaka: Nyasaland Society. — Brooke, R. K., Dowsett, R. J. & Irwin, M. P. S. 1973. The Birds of Zambia. Collins: London. Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1960. Birds of Eastern and North-Eastern Africa. Longmans: London. Moreau, R. E. 1971. The Palaearctic African Bird Migration Systems. Academic Press. London. Pearson, D. J. & Backhurst, G. C. 1976. The southward migration of Palaearctic birds over Ngulia, Kenya. /bis 118: 78-105. Sclater, W. L. 1930. Systema Avium Aethiopicarum. Taylot and Francis: London. Stresemann, E. & Arnold, J. 1949. Speciation in the group of Great Reed Warblets. Journ. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 48: 428-443. Ticehurst, C. B. 1922. Remarks on Reed Warblers from Mesopotamia. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 43: 46. Van Someren, V. G. L. 1929. Notes on the birds of Jubaland and the northern frontier. J. East Afr. and Uganda Nat. Hist. Soc. 35: 25-70. Vaurie, C. 1959. The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna. Witherby: London. Voous, K. H. 1960. Atlas of European Birds. Nelson: London. White, C. M. N. 1960. A check list of the Ethiopian Muscicapidae (Sylviinae). Part 1. Occ. Papers Nat. Mus. S. Rhodesia, No. 24 B: 399-430. Address: National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560, U.S.A. aa [Bull, B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature: Opinions In continuation of Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 97, 1977: 104, and by permission of the International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature, the following Rulings are quoted as extracts from Opinions published in Bu//. Zool. Nomencel. affecting birds: OPINION 1078 (Bull. Zool. Nomencl. 34(1), 1977: 14) Anas punctata Burchell, 1822 (Aves): suppressed under the plenary powers. (1) Under the plenary powers the specific name punctata Burchell, 1822, as published in the binomen Anas punctata, is hereby suppressed for the purposes of the Law of Priority but not for those of the Law of Homonymy. (2) The following specific names are hereby placed on the Official List of Specific Names in Zoology with the Name Numbers indicated: (a) hottentota Eyton, 1838, as published in the binomen Qxerquedula hottentota (Name Number 2600) ; (b) maccoa Eyton, 1838, as published in the binomen Erismatura maccoa (Name Number 2601). (3) The specific name punctata Burchell, 1822, as published in the binomen Anas punctata, and as suppressed under the plenary powers, in (1) above, is hereby placed on the Official Index of Rejected and Invalid Specific Names in Zoology with the Name Number 1018. OPINION 1081 (Bull, Zool. Nomencl. 34(1), 1977: 25) Addition of Family-Group Names based on Alca (Aves) and Alces (Mammalia) to the Official List of Family-Group Names in Zoology. (1) The following names are hereby added to the Official List of Family-Group Names in Zoology with the Name Numbers specified: (a) Alcidae (ex Alcadae) Anon., 1820, type-genus A/ca Linnaeus, 1758 (Class Aves) (Name Number 486); (b) Alceidae (ex Alcedae) Brookes, 1828, type-genus Ades Gray, 1821 (Class Mammalia) (Name Number 487). IN BRIEF Sea and coastal birds collected in Angola by H. Skoog in 1912 Brinck (1955, South African Animal Life, vol. U, cap. XVII) gives data on Phthiraptera obtained from birds specially collected for their ectoparasites by H. Skoog in 1912 at Porto Alexandre (15° 49’ S, 11° 53’ E) on the Mossa- medes coast of Angola. Most of the birds were Palaearctic migrants or seabirds and since the records are accurately dated it seems worthwhile making them more readily available. Species Date Locality Diomedea chlororhynchos 24.vii & 16.viii.12 off Porto Alexandre Phalacrocorax carbo 28.vili.12 Porto Alexandre Phoenicopterus ruber (2 specimens) 24.Vil.12 ys P. minor (3 specimens) 10:x. 12 fa Charadrius pallidus 3.vili. & 23.x.12 ‘e C. marginatus 8.vii.12 | Pluvialis squatarola 20.xi.12 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(1)] 32 Species Date Locality Philomachus pugnax TeX 12 Rio Curoca, Porto Alexandre Calidris ferruginea ; 20.X.12 Porto Alexandre C. minuta sit. 12 re C. alba (6 specimens) Ae Gees “ Recurvirostra avosetta 23.1X.12 a Stercorarius parasiticus ro gn os % Larus cirrocephalus 23uK0L2 Ra Sterna sandvicensis (4 specimens) 21x ae s S. hirundo BOT 2 * S. balaenarum 20, 31,12 4 Corvus albus (2 specimens) I2.vii.12 4 The general occurrence and distribution of Angolan birds is covered by Traylor (1963, Check-list of Angolan Birds, Pub/. Cult. Comp. Diam. Ang. 61). Most of the above records do not require a modification of Traylor’s appreciation but a few require comment. Diomedea chlororhynchos was only included by Traylor on visual evidence. The record of Charadrius pallidus provides a second Angolan locality. That of C. marginatus extends the coastal distribution far to the south. The record of Sterna balaenarum is the second for Angola. Records of the last 2 species have since been supplemented by further collecting of C. marginatus on 20 and 23 May 1966 at the Curoca River and of S. balaenarum to the south at Baia dos Tigres on 15 November 1968 and of both species at the Cunene estuary (Pinto (1973), Aditamento a avifauna do Distrito de Mocamedes, Angola, in Livro de Homenagem ao Professor Fernando Frade Viegas da Costa 70° Aniversario—27 de Abril de 1968, Lisbon). 16 November 1977 R. K. Brooke Address: Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, R.S.A. Miscaptions on Plates of weavers in works by Mackworth-Praed & Grant Arising from correspondence with Stewart Lane, of Blantyre, Malawi, it © has come to light that, while the adult plumages of the Brown-capped Weaver Ploceus (Phormoplectes) insignis and Bertram’s Weaver P. (Xanthoplo- ceus) bertrandi ate correctly described by Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1963, Birds of the Southern Third of Africa, Vol. 2: 585-586), on Plate 67 the captions for these 2 species have been transposed. Furthermore, while the same — authors (1973, Birds of West Central and Western Africa, Vol. 2: 641) again give a correct description for P. insignis, Plate 80 shows P. bertrandi mis- captioned as insignis. P. bertrandi is unknown from anywhere in the area covered in this latter work, and correctly there is no mention of it in the text. iv WM Ss 3 January 1978 C. W.Benso obey Sa akg Address: Dept. of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, Englan as wh aN 5 w ee. * es a4 =tae vv. ae] NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS : Papers, whether by Club Members or by non-members, should be sent to the Editor, Dr. J. F. Monk, The Glebe Cottage, Goring, Reading RG8 9AP, and ate accepted on the understanding that they are offered solely for publication in the Bulletin. They should be typed on one side of the paper, with double- spacing and a wide margin, and submitted with a duplicate copy on airmail aper. t a cientifc nomenclature and the style and lay-out of papers and of Refer- ences should conform with usage in this or recent issues of the Bu//etin, unless — a departure is explained and justified. Photographic illustrations, although ~ welcome, can only be accepted if the contributor is willing to pay for their reproduction. | An author wishing to introduce a new name or describe a new form should — append nom., gen., sp. or subsp. nov., as appropriate, and set out the supporting evidence under the headings “Description”, “Distribution”, “Type’’, — ““Measurements of Type”’ and “Material examined”, plus any others needed. A contributor is entitled to 16 free reprints of the pages of the Bulletin in which his contribution, if one page or more in length, appears. Additional reprints or reprints of contributions of less than one page may be ordered when the manuscript is submitted and will be charged for. BACK NUMBERS OF THE BULLETIN Available post free on application to Dr. D. W. Snow, Zoological Museum, © Tring, Herts HP23 9AP, England, as follows: 1975-76 (Vols. 95 & 96) issues (4 per year), {1.50 each issue; 1973-74 (Vols. 93 & 94) issues (4 per ~ year), £1.25 each; 1969-72 (Vols. 89-92) issues (6 per year), 75p each; pre— 1969 (generally 9 per year) 5op each. Index half price of one issue. Long runs (over Io years) may be available at reduced prices on enquiry. Gifts or offers for sale of unwanted back numbers are very welcome. MEMBERSHIP Only Members of the British Ornithologists’ Union are eligible to join the Club: applications should be sent to the Hon. Treasurer, M. St. J. Sugg, Homecroft, Sandford Orcas, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 48D, together with the current year’s subscription (£3 -50). The remittance and all other payments to_ the Club should always be in ster/ing unless an addition of 5op is made to cover bank charges for exchange, etc. Payment of subscription entitles a Member to receive all Bulletins for the year. Changes of address and revised bankers’ orders or covenants (and any other correspondence concerning Membership) should be sent to the Hon. Treasurer as promptly as possible. SUBSCRIPTION TO BULLETIN The Bulletin may be purchased by non-members on payment of an annual subscription of £5+50 (postage and index free). Send all orders and remit- tances in sterling, unless an addition of sop is made to cover bank charges, to the Hon. Treasurer. Single issues may be obtained as back numbers (see above). CORRESPONDENCE Correspondence about Club meetings and other matters not mentioned | above should go to the Hon. Secretary, R. E. F. Peal, 24 Creighton Avenue, London N10 1NU. a Published by the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB and printed by The Caxton and Holmesdale Press, 104 London Road Sevenoaks Kent. ISSN 0007 - 1595 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club Edited by Dr. J. F. MONK June 1978 FORTHCOMING MEETINGS Monday 17 July 1978 at 6.30 p.m. for 7 p.m. at the Goat Tavern, 3 Stafford Street, London, W.1. (nearest Underground station—Green Park). Mr. M. W. Woodcock on The birds of Oman. Those wishing to attend must send a cheque for £2.65 per person to R. E. F. Peal, 24 Creighton Avenue, London, N.10, with their acceptance on the enclosed slip to arrive not later than the first post on Thursday 13 July. Tuesday 19 September 1978 at 6.30 p.m. for 7 p.m. in the Senior Common Room, South Side, Imperial College (entrance on the south side of Prince’s Gardens, $.W.7, off Exhibi- tion Road). Sir Hugh Elliott, Bt., 0.3.z., President of the B.O.U., on Some problems of the heron family. Those wishing to attend must send a cheque for £3.90 per person with their acceptance on the enclosed slip to Mrs. Diana Bradley, 53 Osterley Road, Isleworth, Middlesex, to arrive not later than first post on Thursday 14 September 1978. Tuesday 21 November 1978, jointly with the B.O.U. at Imperial College, Mr. E. M. Nicholson, c.B. on The role of British Ornithologists in Europe and Mr. P. J. Conder, 0.3.£. on British Ornithologists in the Indian sub-continent. Tuesday 9 January 1979, Mr. J. H. R. Boswall on Mutual mimics, men as birds and birds as men—an ornithological frolic. COMMITTEE P. Hogg (Chairman) Dr. G. Beven (Vice-Chairman) R. E. F. Peal (Hon. Secretary) Mts. D. M. Bradley (Hon. Treasurer) Dr. J. F. Monk ( Fditor) B. Gray C. E. Wheeler Pag. Oliver C. F. Mann 33 ( S oa ‘ob 20.6 1978:-98(2)] Bulletin of the Woae | BRITISH ORNITHOL is CLUB Vol. 98 No.2 Published: 20 June 1978 The seven hundred and eleventh Meeting of the Club was held at the Goat Tavern, 3 Stafford Street, London, W.1. on Tuesday 14 March, 1978 at 7 p.m. Chairman: Mr. Peter Hogg; present 16 members and 7 guests. Dr. Bruce Campbell, 0.3.£., spoke on Problems of gravel pits. He illustrated his address with pictures and described the adaption of several species of birds to breeding in artificial habitats. The seven hundred and twelfth Meeting of the Club was held in the Senior Common Room, South Side, Imperial College, London, $.W.7. on Wednesday 31 May at 7 p.m. Chairman: Mr. Peter Hogg: present 27 members and 16 guests. Dr. John Warham of the Zoology Department, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, N.Z. reported on the re-discovery of the Taiko on the Chatham Islands on 1 January 1978 by David Crockett. Mr. Crockett has been trying to locate this species, probably Prero- droma magentae, fot a number of years, mounting expeditions to the main island of the Chathams. At last he has caught, photographed and measured-two specimens and seen two more. He plans to mount a larger expedition in 1978/79 in the hope of locating nesting burrows. It will then be necessary to attempt to protect the remnant population from pigs, cats and rats, in the hope that the species may survive. This seems likely to need the erection of a pig-proof fence, which may well prove very expensive. The principal speaker, Professor S. Dillon Ripley, then addressed the Club on New possibilities in the management of endangered species. It used to be thought that preservation of habitat would be sufficient to stop rare species of birds from becoming extinct but it had become apparent that it was necessary to study the biology and ecology of species and then, in many cases, to practice techniques often requiring very great skill to enable them to breed with sufficient success for the species to be perpetuated. Details were given of some of the techniques being carried out with endangered species of crane, for example the Whooping Crane Grus americana, Siberian Crane Grus leucogeranus and the Japanese Crane Grus japonensis. Birds suffering from infirmity or old age were helped to come into breeding condition by courtship displays imitated by workers, artificial insemination was performed, and in areas formerly occupied by the endangered species, eggs ot young were transferred to the nests of sibling species in which courtship displays were sufficiently different for the danger of subsequent hybridization to be small. The Puerto Rican Parrot Amazona vittata, down to 16 birds in 1971 but now with 29 bitds in the wild and 10-12 in captivity, was an excellent example of the combination of environmental conservation with biological investigation. The forests of the Luquillo mountains were its only remaining habitat and they were conserved by a government agency. However the parrots’ numbers continued to fall ever nearer to extinction, due ptimarily to a shortage of nest sites, which had not been suspected; there were also other difficulties, including competition from the Pearly-eyed Thrasher Margarops fuscatus, which first came there about 1950. The excellent colour film with sound track The Parrots of Luquillo was shown by Professor Ripley in conclusion and illustrated many of the points brought out by him. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The eighty-sixth Annual General Meeting of the British Ornithologists’ Club was held at Imperial College, London, S.W.7. on Wednesday 31 May 1978 at 6 p.m. with Mr. P. Hogg in the chair. Fourteen members were present. The Report of the Committee and Accounts for 1977 wete presented and the Hon. Treasurer explained that the excess of expenditure over income of £56. was not unsatis- factory, as it was less than the non-recurring expenditure on printing and postages for the promotion of Bulletin sales. On the Chairman’s proposal they were received and adopted unanimously. The Editor stated that the material being submitted for the Bu//etin was most . 34 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] €z.9lg*z7 Fo.9$ zl. £9 00.6¢¢ b¢.o¢1 §6.0$1 $£.99F €g-699°1 d.F aWOO -N[J YXAO FUNLIGNAdXY AO SsdOXa ONIAG ‘ANN,J TVYANAL OL WAASNVU TL aSutees, gee | ase || it iwkedes S/S cevenpe suo}eu0gd Suis, ‘, ATjaaoyD,, ‘Aadorg :SHSNAdXY SSA T—LNAY Wieren | me WWhenvncee 9 | | Samrav pun, 3snzJ, pun,j [e7aue5) :HWOON] Lisodaq] (NV INSWLSHANT aeceee teeeee BW ECL LO I CCU ee me TL eDO S}UVUDA07) —:OLa SINVNAAO’) AO Saaad MTQNQ GaYXAOOTY XVI, ANOONT eecese = OCH RHC yeah snoraasd 30} Suizajug JO SoTeS Genscan S40" “Senesm, $= ‘ehisnce sTaqizosqns soyeIDOSsY PUY SIAqWIATAY :SNOILdIYosans Z0-889 1g-1g6 eeense = wwe d.F AWOONT SzS*zF L¥9 gIO‘! i Coz oF 9L61 €z.olg*zF SO oe of. ts ~ (9L61) pun, [eJouay 0} JajsuvTy;, eoror Bw ky fps Sas S uonvperdeq 303elorg Lv.z61 93vjsog puv sInypusdxy snosuryPIsIj Lows is nie 2 Sch ee sosuodxy JouUIC] pue 93Nn}D9'T obo e MSR Bee Ss He Oo 1L61—90,4 pny 6$.bL ee Hee Nee ce sjogvar] UU -}INIIIYpue ssus2y\J JOF “939 ‘SOON eeeese = eee www 06.1$S*z S§z.1¢z SJUTIg-2y JO 380 Sg.ozt*z uijayIng jo voRNgIsIC, pue vorvoyqnd JO 30D dif | ShF AYNLIGNadX | biz ol 06 6z ze 29 olo‘z ef 9L61 LL61 “UAAWAOAC 3STE PPEPpue yeah ay} JO} LNOOOOV AYNLIGNAdXa GNV AWOONI [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] 35 "JuDjUnoIIE” passe “AAD ‘dy B61 ‘haonsga.y q{6 IASAAWOS “IIAOTX ‘quodanayy ZL "YIM9I9Y} DULPIOIOV UT 3q 03} way} AZNJ99 puL qn{D ey} Jo spsodaz pux syoog oy} wosy JUNOSY aInyIpusdxy puv swoouy poxsuur pur joys sourleg dA0g" ay} pasedozd aavy | 89-96£°EF SOF 89.966 F S6‘zF “oe 16-L1SF angen yysepy (gg- fo£F) moe «<5 &Se S22 YOOIS Jey %FE $$ .66€51F oo0'r INAWLISAANT GNA sayy 4a4usDILT “UOFT “DONS *[ “LS "W 89-96£‘z $P6‘1 ; 2 Soe ae Nee uvutdstogd ) “DDO *d gousgzE PL. LEP) Se RE yunossy usodaq— bzg sz re ith ve ee oe Men 3 CO5ORIN 3 AR Ou: as AdeBayT uoyursIeg *7 ‘[ “7 000‘1 G3 eo Po Ra Ses 2 a. xopwy opnuaps st jo soos, 6 Oe SS So (anusAcy [eJouaD sI 94} JO} papnyour useq sey onfeA ON 1 WOT DUIODUT 9YJ—pasn aq you AvuI ONTeA [PUTMON—uierjng AO ADOLS pun.j sty} jo [eydvo oyy) GNaA Isouy, 00.0¢ GO.0O0. 2s) ee a. ae se uoneierdaq 1SSIT or 89 -96£'z 646%1 aeons fee Se ae eS a OO. 1807) 1V NdaquOS AGNV uOLosfoug Lz 4 o$¢ al ie CL, i aC ST ey mE cr) SuOLIGaU) zVv 00-.0go‘r 00-000‘I oC eC ee a an ee (%01) ut puog [Punoy ysnosog ySosznY $1-O11 SIIqUIZW WOT sUOCTIVUOG, OII as debe, oo Ga AS payseougq 0001 aN NILITINg OOCOOOSE tt ere BP ee. (%0t) Ria = : puog [Ppunoy msIq Arnqsies Pe aQe IS VO .Gh. Sc Shek ote yunoossy sinypusd = £6 ‘1 00.66% anqe, r9yseyy (£97) “xq PUY sWOIU] WOIJ JojsuLI], :4Impagqr ate amt ebm Eee 3 ae QarasSosre7 0 S aa teas he uvoy Armsvary, %/ Pn cory 8 08. 26285 ger 4G 9L61 ‘taquiadeq 3SIE Ww sy SLNAWLSAANT GNA TVYANAS ANN TVYANAD d.F d.F d.F F d.F d.¥ F 9L61 9L61 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] 36 satisfactory, but that its quantity, together with the financially limited number of pages — which could be printed in the Bulletin, was leading to a pre-publication waiting time for — submitted typescripts of over 9 months. There being no nominations additional to those of the Committee, the following were declared elected :— | Hon. Treasurer: Mrs. D. M. Bradley (vice Mr. M. St.J. Sugg, who retired on completion of his term of office). Hon. Secretary: Mr. R. E. F. Peal (re-elected). Committee: Mr. P. J. Oliver (vice Mrs. D. M. Bradley, who retired by rotation). The Chairman thanked Mr. Sugg warmly for his services to the Club as Hon. Treasurer | for the last four years. The Club was greatly indebted to him for the efficiency with which | he had dealt with the considerable amount of work involved, especially as it had not been easy for him to attend meetings due to living at a distance from London. The Meeting closed at 6.15 p.m. Evidence for the removal of Pseudopodoces humilis from the Corvidae by Stephen BR. Borecky Received 8 November 1977 Pseudopodoces is a monotypic genus of the family Corvidae endemic to the atid regions of central Asia. Hume (1871: 408) examined several specimens | of birds collected by Henderson on the Yarkand expedition, and, on the basis of the external morphology and distribution of two of these, named two new species of the genus Podoces (P. humilis and P. hendersoni). It is difficult to | understand why Hume would consider these birds to be members of the | same genus, since his descriptions of their size and colouration do not sub- | stantiate his conclusions. Zarudny & Loudon (1902: 185) divided Podoces | into three subgenera, placing Podoces humilis as the sole species of their new | subgenus Pseudopodoces. They based this on the observation that Pseudopo- | doces lacks the black plumage of the head and nape and the white wing bars | characteristic of the other membets of the genus. Hartert (1903: 40) recog-|_ nized that Podoces humilis stood apart from other members of the genus, but |” did not believe it to be generically separable, and despite the description of} Pseudopodoces by Zarudny & Loudon (1902), he still maintained that Pseudo- podoces should not be separated on the basis of colour characters (Hartert |” 1932: 30). Hartert stated that he could find no important structural differ-|7 ences, although he mentioned that Pseudopodoces has a shorter tail, bill and|” outer primary in comparison to Podoces. | Although Stresemann (1928: 82) used the generic name Pseudopodoces in| describing the subspecies P. 4. saxicola, he did so without explanation. The) earliest discussion I have seen of the validity of Pseudopodoces as a genus is} that of Riley (1930: 20). In addition to the plumage characters invoked by! Zarudny & Loudon, and the short tail, bill, and outer primary observed by|_ Hartert, Riley mentioned the obsolescent scutation of the acrotarsium of} Pseudopodoces as a characteristic differentiating it from Podoces. Thomson (1964: 167) mentioned that Pseudopodoces ‘looks more like one| of the larks (Alaudidae) than a crow’. I do not interpret this statement as| indicating phylogenetic relationships, but merely as an example of the size of this small “‘corvid’. The genus ‘departs from the family [Corvidae] norm) 37 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] by nesting in crevices in walls or in rodent holes, and in having white eggs’ (Thomson 1964: 167). Podoces nests in bushes and has spotted eggs. Goodwin (1976: 339) adds that Pseudopodoces may also nest in its own excavations in earth banks, another non-corvid characteristic. I have recently completed a study of the appendicular myology and phylo- genetic relaticnships of the avian ‘corvid assemblage’ (Borecky 1977) that included specimens of Podoces hendersoni and Pseudopodoces humilis. After examining 25 specimens representing 24 of the 26 genera of the Corvidae, I found that all members of the family, with the exception of Pseudopodoces, were characterized by the same combination of both primitive and derived myological features. The primary derived character, the presence of a femoral head of origin of M. flexor digitorum longus, was absent in Pseudopodoces. However, Pseudopodoces possesses several derived states that are not charac- teristic of corvids. These are:—the dorsal belly of M. obturatorius lateralis is absent; the tendon of insertion of M. flexor perforans et perforatus digiti II does not ensheath the tendon of M. flexor digitorum longus nor bifurcate; and there are two pneumatic fossae in the humerus. On the basis of these anatomical differences as well as the atypical nesting behaviour and egg colouration of Pseudopodoces, 1 suggest that Pseudopodoces should not be considered a member of the Corvidae. The question that re- mains is that of the true affinities of this bird. In my study of the ‘corvid assemblage’ I also examined representatives of 20 genera of the Sturnidae. The behaviour, distribution, and myology of Pseudopodoces is similar to that of the sturnids. However, in Pseudopodoces the M. pectoralis pars propatagialis longus is tendinous, while it is fleshy (a derived characteristic) in all of the sturnids examined. Based on this observation, I am hesitant to conclude that Pseudopodoces is closely allied to the Sturnidae. However, I suggest that this possibility should not be ruled out until a comprehensive study of the exter- = ero lO8y. osteology, pterylosis, and behaviour of this bird is con- ucted. Acknowledgements: 1 wish to thank Dr. Philip Burton of the British Museum (Natural History) for supplying the specimens upon which this study was based. I also wish to thank Dr. Kenneth Parkes of Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Dr. Robert Raikow of the University of Pittsburgh for reading and criticizing the manuscript. References: Borecky, S. R. 1977. The appendicular myology and phylogenetic relationships of the | avian ‘corvid assemblage’. Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Pittsburgh. Goodwin, D. 1976. Crows of the World. Ithaca, New York, Cornell University Press. ) Hartert, E. 1903. Die Vogel der paléarktischen Fauna. Heft I. Berlin, R. Friedlander & Sohn. — 1932. Die Vogel der paldarktischen Fauna. Erganzungsband, Heft I. Berlin, R. Fried- lander & Sohn. Hume, A. 1871. Stray notes on ornithology in India. Ibis: 403-413. Riley, J. H. 1930. Birds collected in Inner Mongolia, Kansu, and Chihli by the National Geographic Society’s Central-China expedition under the direction of F. R. Wulsin. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 77: 1-39. Stresemann, E. 1928. Pseudopodoces humilis saxicola sabsp. nova. Orn. Monatsh. 36: 82-83. Thomson, A. L. 1964. A New Dictionary of Birds. London. Zatudny, N. & Loudon, H. 1902. Uber Einteilung des genus Podoces in subgenera. Orn. | Monatsh. 10: 185. bate Department of Life Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, | | [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] 38 Piroplasmosis in the masked booby Sala dactylatra melanops in the Amirantes, Indian Ocean by M. Av Pewee Or ]oFeate Received 11 January 1978 The few studies on the haematozoa of birds from islands in the Indian Ocean have been largely concerned with land birds (Bennett & Blancou 1974, Peirce & Cheke 1977, Peirce et a/. 1977), although Lowery (1971) also examined some sea birds (Fregata minor, F. ariel, Anous stolidus) on Aldabra. During a visit to some of the Seychelles, Amirantes and Farquhar islands in Oct.-Nov. 1976 C. J. F. collected blood samples and ticks from seabird colonies for further studies on arboviruses (Converse e¢ a/. 1975, 1976, Hoogstraal e¢ a/. 1976) which had been implicated in the desertion of eggs | and chicks by Sooty Terns Sterna fuscata (Feare 1976). Whenever practicable, | their blood smears were also collected, using techniques described by Peirce | et al. (1977), for parasitological examination. The Sooty Tern breeding season | was over, but in Masked Booby Sw/a dactylatra melanops colonies all stages of | the breeding cycle were present. | Only 2 out of 34 birds examined (Table 1) were found to harbour haema- | tozoa. Both were nestling Masked Boobies from Desnoeufs, Amirantes, | and they showed very low parasitaemias with an hitherto unrecorded avian | piroplasm. The morphology of the intra-erythrocytic parasites was typical | of Babesia spp., which are tick borne, and they exhibited ‘Maltese-cross’ | dividing forms which appear to be characteristic of species from avian | hosts (Peirce 1975). Unfortunately, an insufficient number of parasites was | present to permit a detailed description of what is almost certainly a new | species; no such parasite has been previously reported from seabirds (Peirce | 1975). Two species of tick are found in Indian Ocean seabird colonies, the argasid | Ornithodoros capensis and the ixodid Amblyomma loculosum. Argasid ticks are | rarely incriminated as piroplasm vectors, so the more likely vector of this | tick-transmitted parasite is A. Joculosum. The discovery of these parasites in} booby chicks suggests that transmission from tick to avian host occurs at} the nest during the breeding season. A. /oculosum is reported to be a rapid) feeder, taking only a few days to complete engorgement (H. Hoogstraal/ pers. comm.) and it is therefore unlikely that many ticks are carried by the) birds when they disperse from breeding colonies. . As transmission of Babesia spp. is usually via the transovarial route from) infected female ticks and then by trans-stadial passage through larvae and) > nymphs to adults, there is probably a permanent reservoir of infected A.” loculosum in and around nesting colonies. However, only 6 specimens of A. loculosum have been recorded from Desnoeufs, all of them in June (Hoogstraal e¢ a/. 1976). None was found in October 1976 when the blood © smears were taken; nor were any found in the large (¢. 3000 pairs) Maskec ~ Booby colony on Bordeuse. This apparently low density of A. loculosum is comparable with that on Bird Island, Seychelles, but contrasts with the heavy }) infestations recorded on African Banks, Amirantes, in June 1974 (Hoogstraa! et al. 1976) and on Goelette Island, Farquhar Atoll (Stoddart & Poore 1970) }, Feare pers. obs. in October 1976). No blood smears have been taken fron) ~ 39 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] seabirds on African Banks, but on Goelette Island no piroplasms were found in the blood of fledged but weak Sooty Tern chicks (Table 1), despite their high infestation with larvae, nymphs and adults of A. /oculosum. TABLE 1 Western Indian Ocean seabirds examined for blood parasites Bird species No. examined Location and date |No. infected Brown Noddy Anous stolidus pile Adult — t1/o Bied Aisland...55°: 12’ B, 3° 53’ S. atus 7570s Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata nubilosa Chicks 3 ]/o Pure, Istimis sy. 22°, 3°93" S. x, 10. : : Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata nubilosa Chicks 4/o Goelette Island, Farquhar Atoll. 51 of E10" 13" 5: 24.x.76. Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata nubilosa Chicks 17/0 Desnoeufs. 53° 1’ E, 6° 13’ S. : 15/16.x.76. : Masked Booby Sula dactylatra Chicks 9/2 Desndeuts.’ 53° BH, 6" 437 -S. melanops 15/16.x.76. | _ The absence of other haematozoa from the blood smears collected is inconclusive owing to the small sample of birds examined, but it is notable that Lowery (1971) found that on Aldabra 7% of seabirds examined were infected with haemoproteids. | The foregoing observations point to a need for further work on the piro- plasms and tick vectors and their seasonal dynamics in relation to the varied | 7 reproductive cycles and tick abundances found in the different seabird colonies. | _ Acknowledgements: C. J. F. thanks the National Geographic Society for a research grant which enabled him to visit the seabird colonies, and we are grateful to Dr. Harry Hoogstraal for his constant stimulation and advice. References: Bennett, G. F. & Blancou, J. 1974. A note on the blood parasites of some birds from the . Republic of Madagascar. /. Wildl. Dis. 10: 239-240. ~ \Converse, J. D., Hoogstraal, H., Moussa, M. I., Feare, C. J. & Kaiser, M. N. 1975. Solado | virus from Ornithodoros ( Alectorobius) capensis (Ixodoidea: Argasidae) infesting Sooty .__ Tern colonies in the Seychelles, Indian Ocean. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 24: 1010-1018. Converse, J. D., Hoogstraal, H., Moussa, M. I., Kaiser, M. N., Casals, J. & Feare, C. J. 1976. Aride virus, a new ungrouped arbovirus invecting Amblyomma loculosum ticks from Roseate Terns in the Seychelles. Arch. Virol. 50: 237-240. Heare, C. J. 1976. Desertion and abnormal development in a colony of Sooty Terns infested by virus-infected ticks. Jbis 118: 112-115. Hoogstraal, H., Wassef, H. Y., Converse, J. D., Keirans, J. E., Clifford, C. M. & Feare, C. J. 1976. Amblyomma loculosum (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae): Identity, marine bird and hosts, virus infection, and distribution in the southern oceans. Amn. Ent. Soc. : Am. 69: 3-14. ierery, R. S. 1971. Blood parasites of vertebrates on Aldabra. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. Lond. i B.260: 577-580. be M. A. 1975. Nufttallia Franca, 1909 (Babesiidae) preoccupied by Nuttallia j Dall, 1898 (Psammobiidae): A re-appraisal of the taxonomic position of the avian } pitoplasms. Int. J. Parasit. 5: 285-287. ‘Peirce, M. A. & Cheke, A. S. 1977. Some blood parasites of birds from the Comoro / ) | Islands. J. Protozool. 24: Suppl. 33A. : [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] 40 Peirce, M. A., Cheke, A. S. & Cheke, R. A. 1977. A survey of blood parasites of birds in the Mascarene Islands, Indian Ocean, with descriptions of two rew species and taxonomic discussion. [bis 119: 451-461. Stoddart, D. R. & Poore, M. E. D. 1970. Geography and ecology of Farquhar Atoll. Atoll Res. Bull. 136: 7-26. Addresses: M. A. Peitce, 6 Barrie House, Hartland Road, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 1JT. | C. J. Feare, Greenfields, The Street, Ewhurst, Surrey, GU6 7RH. An oviduct egg of the Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus by J. FP. RB. Colebrook- Robjent Received 10 January 1978 Medway & Wells (1976) give 2 breeding records for Cuculus micropterus in the Malay Peninsula, both involving juvenile specimens, taken in July and — September respectively. They could find no records of eggs or nestlings and | state that the hosts of this cuckoo are unknown in Malaya. On 29 April 1964 I shot a 9 of the resident race C. m. concretus as it flew } over a path in primary forest at canopy height just before dusk, north of Kota | Tinggi in the state of Johore (¢. 1° 50’ N, 103° 55’ E), altitude under 150m | a.s.l. The oviduct contained a fully formed and pigmented egg, unfortunately | broken by the shot. However, I noted that the shape appeared to be blunt | on the broad pole and the colour of the yolk (surprisingly for a cuckoo) I | recorded as ‘deep orange’. The colour of the egg is very pale pinkish-grey, | over which small spots of dark liver-brown (largest spots about 1 mm) are | scattered rather regularly. Underlying these are less numerous and smaller spots of grey, all somewhat more concentrated around the broadest part of the egg. The egg has been repaired and now measures approximately | 20 X 15 mm, certainly substantially less than its original size. It is not unlike some eggs laid by Décrurus species. The female has wing length 165 mm, tail 144 mm and anterior margin of} nostril to bill tip 17 mm. It may not be in definitive adult plumage as the breast is rufous-buff and barred dark brown, and the tail is in irregular] moult, the left and right outer rectrices being respectively 45 and 34 mm) shorter than the central pair. The third and fourth right rectrices are 6 mm) shorter than the second. Rufous notches are present on the webs of thé! central rectrices, evidently also indicating subadult plumage (Medway &' Wells). The iris is brown, the gape, eyelids and feet yellow, as also is the; hind claw, the other claws being horn-brown. The upper mandible and the cutting edge of the lower mandible are horn, the remainder of the bill grey. The stomach was packed with green and other caterpillars. | Acknowledgement: 1 am grateful to Dr. D. R. Wells for commenting upon an early draft of this note. | References: | Medway, Lord & Wells, D. R. 1976. The Birds of the Malay Peninsula Vol. V. Conclusions ant\ survey of every species. London: H. F. & G. Witherby. Address: Musumanene, P.O. Box 303, Choma, Zambia. 41 [Bull, B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] Convergence between Terpsiphone corvina, T. atrochalybea and Piezorhynchus alecto by P. W. Greig-Smith Received 16 November 1977 During studies of endemic landbirds in the Seychelles islands, Indian Ocean, in Sept and Oct 1976, I was itnpressed by the close resemblance in plumage of the Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone corvina to a species which I observed in Papua New Guinea in 1973, the Shining Monarch Flycatcher Piezorhynchus alecto. A third species, the Sio Tomé Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone atrochalybea, is also very similar. This paper describes the extent of the similarities, and discusses whether they can be attributed to similar selection pressures. Several P. alecto of both sexes, and one male T. corvina Werte mist-netted and examined in the field, and subsequently skins of all three species were examined in the British Museum (Natural History). _ 7. corvina now exists as a single population on La Digue, though previously occurring also on other islands (see Benson 1971). The species is illustrated by Newton (1867) and Penny (1974). The adult male is entirely glossy blue black, with a pale blue fleshy eye-ring extending in a line to the corner of the | gape. The bill is blue, and the gape vivid yellow-orange. As in most Paradise ‘Flycatchers, the central tail feathers are greatly elongated (up to 300 mm, see Benson 1971). The female’s plumage is strikingly different, the upperparts being bright rufous, the underparts white, and the whole head glossy black. |The tail is not elongated as in the male, and there is no line between the blue eye-ting and the bill. _ £. alecto is widely distributed throughout the lowland forests of New Guinea (Rand & Gilliard 1967). I observed P. a. chalybeocephalus in the Sepik District, Papua New Guinea, but all subspecies have similar plumage patterns. The male is entirely glossy blue black, and has a blue bill and | tien gape similar to male 7. corvina. The only major difference is the lack of a long tail and a blue eye-ring in P. alecto. The female has a plumage pattern very similar to female 7. corvina. differing only in the lesser extent of the black plumage on the head. I could not distinguish the shade of rufous on the upperparts of the two species when skins were compared. __ T. atrochalybea is restricted to Sio Tomé in the Gulf of Guinea (Bannerman 1936). The male is entirely glossy blue black, with a long tail. The female resembles females of the other two species (P. a/ecto more closely than 7. corvina, since the throat is white), except that the underparts are mottled with blue black. The bill and legs are blue. _ Can these resemblances be due to a close systematic relationship? Keast (1958) placed alecto in Piezorhynchus, but others have referred the species to Monarcha (Rand & Gilliard 1967, Morony ef a/. 1975) or Myiagra (e.g. Diamond 1972. Storr 1977, Slater 1975). These three genera have not been considered to be particularly closely related to Terpsiphone, though all are in the same subfamily (Muscicapidae; Monarchinae). However, it is very likely that this is the case, and that the genus Terpsiphone is most closely gated to the genus Piezorhynchus (1. C. J. Galbraith zx /itt.). At least some of the resemblances may therefore be ancestral, especially as the variation in ‘colour and pattern of plumage in these genera is rather limited. Nevertheless, ‘because 7. corvina and T. atrochalybea are probably independent derivatives of . ‘| [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] 42 T. viridis of continental Africa (Hall & Moreau 1970, Benson 1971), which is much less like P. a/ecto, it is highly improbable that P. a/ecto is most closely related to either of the two island species within Terpszphone, and therefore it appears that there has been convergent, or at least parallel, development of the resemblances between Prezorhynchus and Terpsiphone. It seems appropriate to seek parallels in the ecology of the species, particu- | larly as Holyoak & Thibault (1977) have demonstrated the adaptiveness of | plumage patterns and colours in some other monarchine flycatchers. Sexual dimorphism in plumage is usually associated with a division of labour be- | tween the sexes. In 7. corvina, the male carries out territory defence (Gaymer et al. 1969, Penny 1974, pers. obs.), while the female does most nest-building, | incubation and feeding of nestlings, although assisted occasionally by the | male (Penny 1974, Fayon 1971, Fraser 1972, pers. obs.). The scant informa- | tion available for P. alecto suggests that the roles of the sexes are broadly | similar to those in 7. corvina, the female carrying out most nest duties | (Gilliard & Lecroy 1966, Rand & Gilliard 1967, pers. obs.). If plumage | patterns have evolved to be appropriate to these roles, females might be | expected to have camouflage to reduce predation at the nest, while males | might have more conspicuous display plumage. In the shady Terminalia- | Calophyllum woodland in which T. corvina breeds on La Digue, I found males | to be very conspicuous, and females, being both disruptively patterned and | counter-shaded, less so. Fayon (1971) also considered females to be more | difficult to detect. P. a/ecto occurs in structurally similar woodland, though | also in mangroves and dense forest understory (Gilliard & Lecroy 1966, | Rand & Gilliard 1967, pers. obs.), and the nest is built in low, exposed branches, as in 7. corvina (see Rand & Gilliard 1967, Fraser 1972). [found males | more conspicuous than females, though both were less obvious than J’. corvina. | The gross patterns of plumage of these two species appear to be appropri- | ate to the sexes’ roles in nesting and territoriality. Unfortunately, even less | is known of the biology of T. atrochalybea, and it is not possible to assess | whether it shows similar ecology and behaviour, although this is possible | (see Bannerman 1936, Snow 1950). Holyoak & Thibault (1977) interpreted the plumage saturation of Poly-_ nesian Pomarea flycatchers as providing camouflage from their insect prey | (although in some species it may also have a display function). Although the | two Terpsiphone species and P. alecto are insectivorous (the former by fly- | catching, the latter by gleaning), and Fayon (1971) and A. S. Cheke (pers. } comm.) thought that male 7. corvina spend more time than females in the | more shaded lower parts of trees, it seems doubtful that selection pressures | associated with foraging niches alone could have produced such extreme | sexual dimorphism. | In both 7. corvina and P. alecto, the orange-yellow gape is displayed most | prominently when the bill is opened wide to utter a harsh scolding call, | together with erection of the black crown feathers. This call, which may bea | © threat display, sounds very similar in the two species, and T. atrochalybea b apparently has a similar call (Bannerman 1936), perhaps a reflection of their |” probable close systematic relationship. | Although plumage resemblance appears to be correlated with general | similarities in ecology, at least for T. corvina and P. alecto, there is no obvious} © peculiarity of these three species which sets them aside from other monarchine| ~ ' { 43 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] flycatchers. (However, in some species with less extreme sexual dimorphism, the sexes take a more equal role in nesting—e.g. T. viridis (Moreau 1949, Skead 1967).) The convergence of T. corvina and T. atrochalybea might be a consequence of competitive release and relief from predation in similar small island environments, but this can hardly be so in P. alecto, which exists in very species-rich communities. Perhaps there are subtle features of their habitats which make these particular plumage patterns adaptive, while a shared phylo- geny and conservatism of plumage probably contribute to the resemblance. Acknowledgements: 1 am grateful to all who assisted me during my visits to Papua New Guinea and Seychelles (acknowledged in full elsewhere). I. C. J. Galbraith kindly advised me regarding the systematic position of P. alecto, and C. W. Benson, A. S. Cheke, C. H. Fry, D. T. Holyoak, and D. W. Snow made helpful comments on the manuscript. References: Bannerman, D. A. 1936. The Birds of West Tropical Africa. Vol. 4. Crown Agents, London. Benson, C. W. 1971. Notes on Terpsiphone and Coracina spp. in the Malagasy region. Bul). Brit. Orn. Cl. 91: 56-64. Diamond, J. M. 1972. Avifauna of the Eastern Highlands of New Guinea. Publs. Nuttall Ornithol. Club 12. Cambridge, Mass. Fayon, M. 1971. The plight of the Paradise Flycatcher. J. Seychelles Soc. 7: 8-11. Fraser, W. 1972. Notes on Terpsiphone corvina. Ibis 114: 399-401. Gaymer, R., Blackman, R. A. A., Dawson, P. G., Penny, M. & Penny, C. M. 1969. The endemic birds of Seychelles. /bis 111: 157-176. Gilliard, E. T. & Lecroy, M. 1966. Birds of the Middle Sepik Region. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 132: 245-276. Hall, B. P. & Moreau, R. E. 1970. An Atlas of Speciation in African Passerine Birds. British Museum (Natural History): London. Holyoak, D. T. & Thibault, J.-C. 1977. Habitats morphologie et inter-actions-écologiques des oiseaux insectivores de Polynésie orientale. L’Oiseau et R.F.O. 47: 115-147. Keast, A. J. 1958. Variation and speciation in the Australian flycatachers (Aves: Musici- capinae). Rec. Austr. Mus. 24: 73-108. Moreau, R. E. 1949. The breeding of the Paradise Flycatcher. /bis 91: 256-279. Morony, J. J. Jr., Bock, W. J. & Farrand, J. Jr. 1975. Reference List of the Birds of the World. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.: New York. Newton, E. 1867. On the land birds of the Seychelles Archipelago. Jbis Series 2 (3): 335-360. Penny, M. 1974. The Birds of Seychelles and the Outlying Islands. Collins: London. Rand, A. L. & Gilliard, E. T. 1967. Handbook of New Guinea Birds. London. Skead, C. J. 1967. A study of the Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis (Muller). Ostrich 38: 123-132. Slater, P. 1975. A Field Guide to Australian Birds. Passerines. Scottish Academic Press: Edinburgh. Snow, D. W. 1950. The birds of Sao Tomé and Principe in the Gulf of Guinea. Ibis 92: 579-595. Storr, G. 1977. Birds of the Northern Territory. Spec. Publ. West. Aust. Mus. 7. Address: School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QG. A new trace of Parisoma lugens from the highlands of Bale, Ethiopia by C. Erard Received 11 January 1978 In the material brought back from Ethiopia by various expeditions organised by the Laboratoire de Zoologie (Mammiféres et Oiseaux), Muséum National @Histoire Naturelle, Paris, there is a series of 15 Parisoma lugens. These Specimens are not homogeneous, 4 of them being easily distinguishable by their dark coloration. [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] 44 These 4 emanate from the mountains of Mendebo-Araenna, in the pro- vince of Bale. Three were collected at Dinsho (=Gurie, 7° 06’ N, 39° 47’ BE), 27 and 31 March 1968, by a team consisting of J. Dorst, F. Roux and R. Chauvancy; and the fourth half-way between Adaba (7° 01’ N, 39° 25’ EB) and Goba (7° o1’ N, 39° 59’ E), 25 February 1971, by a team comprising J. Prévost, G. Jarry and N. Follet. These birds differ biometrically (mm and gm) from others from central and western Ethiopia :— Wing Tail Bill Weight (from skull) Bale 33S 65 +3 62° 12: 13°7 (64-66) (61-64: 5) (12-12°5) (13-14) Q 63°5 62 tT 13 Remainder 35.0 62-0 57-2 ui: 14°7 CS Ce) ear Ont oy mom ae (14-16) 8 OO 62-0 58:4 II: 15-7 (Go: 5-64) (57-61) (11+ 5—12°5) (14-18) Thus they are larger but lighter than birds of the nominate race, described from Simien. The increase in size is not surprising, for they were collected at altitudes between 3,500 and 3,700 m, the others between 1,600 and 2,100 m. Although they must be stressed, it was not only these biometric differences which attracted attention. As already indicated, we were particularly struck by the colour of the Bale birds. It is significant that the collectors themselves were puzzled and hesitant in arriving at a species determination. Three geographic races of Parisoma lugens ate recognised on the basis of colour variation by White (1962: 737):— P. /. lugens (Riippell), of the Ethiopian plateaux. P. 1. jacksoni Sharpe (Synonym P. /. clara Meise), from the southeastern Sudan and Kenya south to Malawi and southeastern Zaire. Upperparts uniformly sepia-brown, whereas in the nominate race the crown is still more dark and sepia than the back. P. 1. prigoginei Schouteden, northwest of Lake Tanganyika. Upperparts more olive-brown, the crown contrasting with the back, and above all the chest much washed with grey. For 2 more precise distribution of P. /ugens, reference must be made to Hall & Moreau (1970: 201), in which however the Ethiopian specimens recorded by Erlanger (1907: 53) are not shown, and are as follows: Q, 30.11.1900, Gara Mulata (9° 05’ N, 41° 30’ E), west of Harar; 9, 11.xil. 1900, Abela (7° o1’ N, 38° 31’ E), near Lake Awasa; 9, 7.ii.1901, Ireso (c. 7° N, 39° 15’ E), near Dodola, Arussi-Gallaland; unsexed, 19.ii.1901, Ghinir (7° 06’ N, 40° 40’ E), Bale. These specimens, except that from Abela, still exist in the collection of the Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Frankfurt- am-Main, and we have been able to examine them. 45 (Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] | | | | Figure 1. Ethiopian localities from which specimens of P. /ugens have been examined. Round: P. /. lugens. Asterisk: P. /. griseiventris. Dotted areas: above 3,000 m. . Not having sufficient comparative material in Paris, we have studied the long series in the British Museum (Natural History), Tring, paying particular attention to variability in the Ethiopian populations of the nominate race, of which we have examined 40 specimens, well spread over its area of distri- bution (Fig. 1). It is plain that the Bale birds do not belong to the same sub- “species as the others from Ethiopia, differing in a number of characters. |. The upperparts of the Bale birds are very dark, blackish sepia, the crown ‘and the mantle appearing practically concolorous. In individuals of the nominate race, the sepia crown conttasts more or less clearly, always to some extent, with the paler, less blackish, back. No /ugens examined has the upperparts so dark and uniform. Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1955: 174) consider the contrast between the crown and the mantle in nominate /ygens as a character of youth, an opinion which we cannot support. As noted from a specimen collected on 27 Septem- ba 1971 at Ghimbi (9° 12’ N, 35° 50’ E), in Wollega, and which still showed yellow gape-flanges, the immature plumage is characterised by a very pro- nounced rufous tone superimposed on the brown of the upperparts (includ- ing the crown), rufous also being apparent on the margins of the wing [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] 46 coverts and remiges, and as a wash on the flanks, lower abdomen and under tail-coverts. The underparts of the Bale birds are generally very grey (scarcely paler on the lower abdomen), not white washed with greyish buff on the chest and brownish on the flanks (Fig. 2). The chin and upper throat are mixed blackish brown and whitish, but the appearance is darker than in the nominate race. There is less contrast in comparison with the remainder of the underparts, due to the throat as a whole, chest and upper abdomen being indistinctly streaked with grey-brown. The lower abdomen, inner flanks and under tail-coverts show a very clear reduction, almost absence of buff, this tone being much diluted, only barely apparent on the lowermost extremity of the abdomen and as an indistinct wash on the under tail-coverts. The white on the outer rectrices is more greyish and, especially, less exten- sive, notably on the inner web and at the apex of the outer web. All these differences from nominate /ugens as described above are even more evident if the Bale birds are compared with jacksoni, also well repre- sented in Tring, since jacksoni is paler than /ugens. However, they have in common a lack of contrast between the crown and the mantle. We have examined 2 males and 2 females of P. /. prigoginei, preserved in the Musée de l’Afrique Centrale, Tervuren. They show the characters as given by Schouteden (1952). On the underparts, this race is well characterised by its blackish brown chin scarcely marked with white, and its greyish chest, _ contrasting with the white throat and abdomen. On the upperparts the crown contrasts with the back in being darker. The outer rectrices have less white than in /ugens or jacksoni, as emphasised in Dowsett & Prigogine (1974: 36). Furthermore, in prigoginei the upperparts, flanks, lower abdomen ~ and under tail-coverts are more rufous in tone than in the other races, result- — ing in a brighter, warmer appearance. Thus prigoginei shows some tendency | towards the Bale birds in its greyish chest, yet not so dark, and in the reduc-_| tion of white on the outer rectrices. However, as the following measurements (mm) show, prigogénei is even larger, with a robuster bill, than the Bale birds :— Wing Tail Bill (from skull) 2d 68-69: 5 60-63 13°5-15 229 68-69: 5 62: 5-63 14° 5-15 The Bale birds are equally distinct in colour, by being uniformly very grey © on the underparts, with much more matt, darker, colder tones, lacking any |) rusty on the upperparts, and by an extreme reduction of buff on the flanks, lower abdomen and under tail-coverts. Thus the specimens from the highlands of Bale represent a distinct taxon which we propose to name: Parisoma lugens griseiventris subsp. nov. Diagnosis: The darkest race. Upperparts uniformly dull blackish sepia; | underparts grey, white barely apparent, with a significant reduction of buff | on the lower abdomen and under tail-coverts. Type: Adult 3, collected at Dinsho (=Gurie), Bale, Ethiopia, 31 March | 1968, by a team composed of Prof. J. Dorst, F. Roux and R. Chaovaalll | collectors’ no. 236; in Paris Museum, reg. no. C. G. 1977-827. . ‘ | 47 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] Measurements and weight of type: Wing 64, tail 61, bill 12-5 mm, weight 13 g. Distribution: High altitudes in the mountains of Mendebo-Araenna, province of Bale, southeastern Ethiopia. Remarks: Erlanger’s 3 remaining specimens (the one from Abela has disappeared) are interesting from their geographical situation, for they are near the eastern edge of the Ethiopian distribution (Fig. 1). According to Erlanger’s itinerary (J. Orn. 52, 1904, suppl.: general map and map 2), these localities are all situated at altitudes well below 2,500 m, in fact near to 2,000 m, even 1,500 min the case of Ghinir. The 3 specimens belong without question to the nominate race, including the one from Ireso only c. 20 km from Adaba. The change from the pale nominate race to the dark, montane, griseiventris is thus sharp, possibly without any intergradation. Not only is griseiventris very distinct in colour (also large-sized, albeit lighter 1n weight), but also in ecology, more particularly in habitat. The nominate race, according to the evidence obtained by the various expeditions of the Paris Museum, frequents open or slightly enclosed biotopes, but always wooded; light wooded savannas of a humid type, interspersed with shrubs (especially of Acacia); edges of degraded forest; gallery forests with Ficus and Acacia trees. In such places Acacia is always present, and from it the bird seems inseparable: cf. also Cheesman & Sclater (1935: 599), Benson (1946: 182-183), Urban & Brown (1971: 93). P. l. jacksoni apparently has a similar association, and is no less strictly linked to Acacia growth than nominate /ugens, judging for example from the information in Jackson (1938: 910), Benson (1950: 36), Chapin (1953: 601), Dowsett & Prigogine (1974: 36) and Benson & Benson (1977: 20, 153). Like /ugens, jacksoni seems not to occur anywhere above 2,500 m. Indeed it appears to be no more than occasional above 2,000 m, in degraded forest, as with /ugens on the Ethiopian plateaux. P. 1. prigoginei is included by Prigogine (1975: 85) in his list of subalpine forms, with an altitudinal distribution from 2,620 to 3,220 m in Itombwe, _ where it inhabits watercourses in bushy savanna (Prigogine 1971: 185). In that area the highest summit—Mount Mohi—teaches 3,475 m. Prigogine (pers. comm.) has not personally observed prigoginei in life, and has no precise notes on its habitat. However, this race is undoubtedly associated with the subalpine zone in view of the altitudes of collecting localities. Bamboos and heaths do not generally occur above 3,000 m, giving way _ higher to a short herbaceous growth dominated by such afro-alpines as Flelichrysum, Alchemilla and Senecio. Thus the Itombwe race must be associa- ted with a vegetation series only just below the afro-alpine stage. P. /. griseiventris is the most montane race, frequenting altitudes above 3,500 m. Its habitat lies in the upper montane vegetation series, in woody moorlands dominated by Erica, Euphorbia and Hypericum (for a description _ of the environment around Dinsho, cf. Dorst & Roux 1972). In movements and vocalisations it is like a Sy/via warbler, as much in the top of shrubby _ vegetation (notably heaths) as in frutescent tufts. This ecological localisation is very different from that of /ugens and jacksoni. Despite the lack of precise information from Itombwe, it would seem that the habitats of griseiventris and prigoginei may be very similar, if not identical, both different from those of the other two races, their presence not tied to that of Acacia. In Zaire the forms prigoginei of Itombwe and jacksoni of Marungu are [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] 48 geographically widely separated. By contrast, in Ethiopia /ugens and grisei- ventris occut close to one another, the latter being almost surrounded by the former (Fig. 1). So the altitudinal separation between the two forms needs stressing. P. /. griseiventris is seemingly isolated from /ugens by a belt of forest suitable to neither. This occupation of different, well separated, altitu- dinal zones, as well as the profound habitat-difference, poses the question of a possible reproductive isolation between the two forms. Only precise eco- ethological studies on the ground will permit a solution. Attention should be paid in particular to possible voice-differences. There seem to be no differences in the nature and size of the food taken by the two Ethiopian forms. Out of 11 stomachs of /ugens examined, 10 contained small caterpillars 10 to 20 mm long, 3 the chitinous debris of small insects, one of spiders, and another of aphids. The 4 stomachs of griseiventris also contained small caterpillars (3), small insects (2), and one showed some vegetable debris. Not much is known about the diet of jacksoni except that Jackson (1938: 910) found seeds and small berries in the stomachs of 2 males, and Chapin (1953: 601) states that the food consists of insects, occasionally varied by berries. Acknowledgements: Grateful thanks are due to Dr. D. W. Snow, I. C. J. Galbraith and other staff in the bird room at Tring, for their kind welcome and for working facilities; to Dr. J. Steinbacher and Dr. D. S. Peters, of Frankfurt-am-Main, and Dr. M. Louette, of Tervuren, for the loan of specimens; to Prof. J. Dorst, F. Roux, G. Jarry and Dr. A. Prigogine for information about habitat; and finally to C. W. Benson, who has commented on and translated the original manuscript. References: Benson, C. W. 1946. Notes on the birds of southern Abyssinia. [bis 88: 180-205. — 1950. The Brown Tit-babbler and the Blackcap in Nyasaland. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 70: 35337 Benson, C.W. & Benson, F. M. 1977. The birds of Malawi. Limbe, Malawi: D. W. K. Macpherson (Sponsot). poets P. 1953. The birds of the Belgian Congo. Part 3. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 754i. Cheesman, R. E. & Sclater, W. L. 1935. On a collection of birds from north western Abyssinia, Part III. Zbis 13 (5): 594-622. Dorst, J. & Roux, F. 1972. Esquisse écologique sur l’avifaune des monts du Bale, Ethiopie. L’Oiseau et R.F.O. 42: 203-240. Dowsett, R. J. & Prigogine, A. 1974. The avifauna of the Marungu highlands im J. J. Symoens (edit.): Exploration hydrobiologique du bassin du lac Bangweolo et du Luapula, Bruxelles, Vol. XIX: 1-67. Erlanger, C. F. von. 1907. Beitrage zur Vogelfauna Nordostafrica. V. J. Orn. 55: 1-58. Hall, B. P. & Moreau, R. E. 1970. An Atlas of Speciation in African Passerine Birds. London: Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.). Jackson, F. J. 1938. The Birds of Kenya Colony and the Uganda Protectorate. Vol. 2. London: Gurney & Jackson. Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1955. Birds of Eastern and North Eastern Africa. Vol. 2. London: Longmans. Prigogine, A. 1971. Les oiseaux de |’Itombwe et de son hinterland. Ann. Mus. Roy. Afr. Centr. Tervuren 185: 1-298. Prigogine A. 1975. Contribution a l’étude de la distribution verticale des oiseaux orophiles. Gerfaut 64: 75-88. Schouteden, H. 1952. Parisoma lugens Prigoginei n. ssp. Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 46: 171-173. Urban, E. K. & Brown, L. H. 1971. A Check-list of the Birds of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: Haile Sellassie I University Press. White, C. M. N. 1962. A check list of the Ethiopian Muscicapidae (Sylviinae). Part II. Occ. Pap. Nat. Mus. S. Rhod. 26B: 663-738. Address: Laboratoire de Zoologie (Mammiféres et Oiseaux), Muséum National d’Histoite Naturelle, 55 rue de Buffon, 75005 Paris. sed FS BF sas asa 3 py pee Z (Mey f pura bap Titers ©, oe ae ee ae Bat : _ Figure 2. Races of Parisoma lugens. Above downwards: one jacksoni, two /ugens, two | grisewentris (subsp. nov.), two prigoginei. [Bail B.0:C...7978: 98(2)| 50 The undescribed female of Harwood’s Francolin Francolinus harwoodi and other observations on the species by J. S. Ash Received 28 October 1977 —— ¥ een “tj F Pees, SZ aCe Si ST | =eoereerreree { 13) cai ie co ES ees : _ ce ae CMS. Figure 1. Under parts of Francolinus harwoodi illustrating slight sexual dimorphism in— this species: female above, male below. PEE EEE Figure 2. Lrancolinus harwoodi breast feathers: left—male, right—female. Scale in tenths of an inch. Lg » | 51 [Bull, B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] Figure 3. The distribution of colours on the mandibles of Francolinus harwoodi; the shaded areas are red, the solid areas are black. ¢ left, 2 right. Harwood’s Francolin Francolinus harwoodi is one of the rare and virtually unknown birds of Africa (Hall & Moreau 1962). Until recently it has been known from only 3 specimens collected in the last 78 years in the Blue Nile gorge in north central Ethiopia. All were males. The purpose of this paper is to detail 4 more specimens (one male and three females), to describe the previously unknown female, and to discuss sightings of apparently similar birds over a much wider area of central Ethiopia. The 7 specimens collected so fat (Table 1) are from 4 localities in the Blue Nile gorge or its tributaries. The type locality (Ogilvie-Grant 1900) Aheafeg (—Ahaia Fej—Haiafegg; Amharic for donkey killer) is 49 km northeast of where I collected in the Jemmu Valley; Cheesman & Sclater’s (1935) localities near Bichana and at Kalo Ford are respectively 87 km northwest and 102 km to the west of the Jemmu site. Of the 4 new specimens, one was an adult male, 2 were first year females and one an adult female. Age was determined, as in other francolins, by the shape of the 2 outermost primaries. In juveniles the prim- aries are pointed, not rounded as in adults, and the 2 outermost are retained through the first pre-basic moult until the birds are about 14 months old. DESCRIPTION OF THE MALE AND FEMALE Francolinus harwoodi The Jemmu male, with which the Jemmu female needs to be compared, differs in some respects from the original description and plate of the type specimen (a male), in Ogilvie-Grant & Lovat (1900), perhaps due to the colour printing or to a change in colour values with time. The whole of the upperparts of the Jemmu male skin is a greyer tone of brown than the type in their plate, and the buff on the underparts is paler; both new and old feathers on the lower neck and upper breast have narrower white edging so that the general effect is darker; the red on the mandibles, round the eye and the legs, is darker, and the bare patch round the eye more extensive. The female is very similar to the adult Jemmu male; sexual dimorphism is not at all emphatic. Over the whole of the upperparts, the female is slightly browner than the male, which is greyer and colder in tone. In all sex and age plumages the barring of the upperparts 1s indistinct, but in the female it is more pronounced, though the pale fringes to the feathers, prob- ably as a result of wear, are, in fact, less distinct. Similarly on the underparts (Fig. 1), all the darker markings are browner in the female and greyer in the male, although their distribution is the same. The breast feathers are more | pointed in the male than in the female and their pattern is more contrasting. In the centre of the underparts the male has scattered feathers with dark fairly large U-shaped markings, whereas the female has only small v-shaped | ! [ Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] 52 marks, which tend to form bars on the flanks (Fig. 1)—but these slight differ- ences may be individual, especially as comparison shows that the first year female’s underparts are intermediate between the adult male and female. The whole of the upperparts of the first-year female is very close to that of the adult female except the barring is less distinct, and thus approaches the male. The female lacks spurs. The colours of the mandibles of all 3 females at death were very similar, but that of the male showed a rather less extensive area of black (Fig. 3). The testes of the adult male measured 10 x 4 mm, the largest follicle in the adult female was <1-5 mm and in the first year female it was 3 mm. DISTRIBUTION It is reasonable to suppose from my experience that the species occurs in the country in between the present known localities, and probably outside. Cheesman commented that the local people knew it well in the Bichana area, and I found that in the Jemmu Valley, which is partly cultivated for sorghum after the rains by the surrounding highland people, it was said to be common ‘up and down the river’. Prior to 1977, I had seen possible F. harwoodi in this area on 6 April 1974 and 11/12 January 1975: but my misgivings were due to rather similar birds, seen at Gibe Gorge and elsewhere (see below) which did not entirely agree with descriptions of this species. However, Tyler & Tyler (1975) saw up to 6 francolins at the same Jemmu site on 5-7 January 1975, which they confidently identified as harwoodi. 1 decided that certain identification rested on the collection of specimens, for which a male was required, and that an attempt should also be made to collect the un- described female if the male proved to be harwoodi. In a careful search of the Jemmu area in February 1977 at least 40 birds were present and the specimens were obtained. Unidentified francolins were seen in the course of several visits to the Gibe Gorge (8° 15’ N, 37° 35’ E, 1696 m), at c. 250 km SW from Jemmu, at different times of the year from May 1971 onwards. This is on the border of Shoa and Kaffa Provinces, about 185 km south of the nearest F. harwoodi locality. I suspected, from a bird seen closely on 7 November 1971, that these also were Harwood’s Francolins. The habitat on the gentle northerly slopes of the valley there is open Combretum|Terminalia woodland in high dense Hyparrhenia grassland. The birds were extremely difficult to see well, although they were often heard in the dense grass, and attempts to obtain a specimen failed. F. clappertoni, which has a somewhat similar call to F. harwoodi, was ruled out by the absence of a pale supercilium, the absence of a white throat, which was grey and heavily streaked in the Gibe Gorge birds, and by the lack of distinctly patterned upperparts. However, the more heavily blotched appearance of the breast suggested c/appertoni rather than harwoodi. The legs were red, and on one bird whose mandibles were seen well both upper and lower were black with a red base to the latter. The mantle appeared to be a uniform dark brownish colour and because no barring was seen it was thought that they may not have been F. harwoodi. Since then I have realized that the barred upperparts of harwoodi are not clearly discernible in the field. From a vehicle on 16 April 1975, at c. 450 km to the WSW of Jemmu, I saw 4 francolins looking very like the Gibe birds, at 39 km northeast of 53 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] Dembidollo at 8° 47’ N, 35° oo’ E in Illubabor Province. This was an area of mixed shrubs and cultivated patches on the plateau at 1340 m. Bill coloura- tion was not seen, otherwise they matched the description of the Gibe Gorge birds except that the feathers of the mantle had pale edges. Whether these more southerly and westerly birds are F. harwoodi awaits determination by better field observations, or preferably specimens. HABITAT Mackworth-Praed & Grant’s (1952) ‘probably only found among the cliffs of the Blue Nile gorges southwest of Lake Tana’ is misleading. Both the original and the recent records are from localities between southeast and south-southeast of Lake Tana. In addition, besides there being no other observations on habitat, in the Jemmu Valley I have never seen these franco- lins anywhere near the few low cliffs which exist there. There they live in dense and extensive Typha beds growing in the gravelly bed of a stream flowing into the Jemmu River. The 7ypha beds were c. 0-5 km wide and 2-3 km long; the stream was very shallow and divided into several branches, which as they receded in the dry season left numerous small pools behind. Also in the Typha there are several scattered trees, some pollarded, into which some fF’. harwoodi were seen flying when it was almost dark, evidently to roost, although most of them roost below the tops of the Zypha, but not necessarily on the ground. VOICE In February there was a lot of calling from birds in the Typha, starting about 20 minutes before sunrise and continuing for 2-3 hours whilst the birds emerged to feed in the adjacent sorghum stubble. Calling was also heard for a short time just before sunset. The call was a loud rasping ‘koree’, not unlike that of F. clappertoni. Birds disturbed in the open always flew straight back into the Zypha, but unlike some francolins in other habitats (see below) allowed fair observation whilst feeding, though without close approach. During the hotter part of the day birds were disturbed from deep shade in the 7ypha either under trees or below low brush. BREEDING There is no previous breeding data, so it is of interest to record a brood of 3 young about 5 weeks old (estimated on the basis of much previous experience with Common Partridges Perdix perdix) on 20-21 February 1977. From this it can be deduced that the first egg was laid in the second week of December. RELATIONSHIPS Hall (1963) included in the vermiculated group of francolins, bicalcaratus, icterorhynchus, clappertoni, hildebrandti, natalensis, hartlaubi, harwoodi, adspersus and capensis, and claimed that the first 6 of these formed a superspecies. F-. harwoodi is most like F. natalensis, which is a species showing rather more sexual dimorphism. The upperparts of male F. Ai/debrandti are actually nearer to harwoodi than those of harwoodi are to natalensis, but there is marked sexual dimorphism in Az/debrandti in which the females are very different below from the males. The degree of dimorphism in F. harwoodi is even less. In the Jemmu Valley area, F. harwoodi comes in contact with no francolins except probably F. erckelii, which is common on the slopes of the gorge. [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] 54 It is isolated from F. p. psilolaemus, which is common on the open grassland above the gorge, and by at least 50 km from populations of F. clappertoni, which is the nearest member of Hall’s vermiculated group. The Jemmu Valley is unique in my experience in Ethiopia in possessing elements of lowland western species together with typical highland species. The lowland species include Streptopelia vinacea, Cisticola troglodytes ferruginea, Sporopipes frontalis, Petronia dentata and Exuplectes hordeaceus; the highland species include Motacilla clarus, Streptopelia lugens and Poicephalus flavifrons. Clearly the highland species overspill into the valleys from the surrounding high plateau, but some of the lowland species are a long way to the east of their known range. Presumably they extend all the way up the Blue Nile gorge and its tributaries, and only further investigation in this little known area will show whether their distribution is continuous or if this is an isolated population in the Jemmu Valley. Foop One crop contained many small tubers of what was probably a species of Dioscorea. Two gizzards contained a similar tuber, many termites, grit, and the following seeds: 2 Echinochloa sp., possibly E. crusgalli var. frumen- tacea; 11 Commelinaceae and fragments; 2 Amaranthus sp. and 9 unidentified berry-like fruits, together with other fragments. CONCLUSION | Francolinus harwoodi need no longer be considered the very rare bird that it was formerly thought to be, and there is no reason to believe that it is at any particular hazard. The known distribution of certainly identified speci- mens is confined to an area extending for 150 km from west to east and for 64 km from north to south. If other unconfirmed sight records are included the range is extended 320 km to the west and 185 km to the south. TABLE I Details of the seven known specimens of Francolinus harwoodi. b ¢ d e g Locality Aheafeg nr. Bichana Kalo Ford Jemmu River Jemmu River Jemmu River Jemmu River Coordinates to’ 13, N, . 10%26' N; 9° 54’ N, 9° 58’ N, 9° 58’ N, 9° 58’ N, 9° 58’ N, 39° 18° E 38° 16° E 37° 57 E 38° 55° EB 38° 55’ E 38° 55° E 38° 55° E Altitude (m) ? < 2424 1667 1290 1290 1290 1290 Date 7.11.1899 14.11.1927 12.V.1930 20.11.1977 20.11.1977 21.41.1977 21.41.1977 Age/Sex 1yd 1yd Ad g ly Ad 2 1y@ Ad g Wing (mm)* 180 185 185 (161) 165 165 177 Tail (mm)* 83 — 86 — 72 73 75 Tarsus (mm)* 53 57 58 — 46 46° 5 55 Culmen (mm)* 30 30 31 — 26 24 28 Weight (g) aa = =o 413°5 445°5 438-0 545°0 Iris Brown — —_ Blackish- — Blackish- Blackish- brown brown brown Mandibles ted lower bright lower bright see Fig. 1 see Fig. 1 see Fig. 1 see Fig. 1 vermilion vermilion Tarsus red bright bright red red ted red vermilion vermilion Authorityt O-Grant C&S$1935 C&S1935 Ash Ash Ash Ash 1900 Speciment B.M. B.M. B.M. Ethiopia S.I. S.I. S.I. Cat. No. 1900.1.3.396 1927.11.5.18 1934.12.16.67 — 569267 569266 569268 Notes: * to obtain consistent museum measurements specimens a, b, and c were measured by P. R. Colston at the British Museum and e, f, and g by G. E. Watson at the Smithsonian Institution; my measurements in the flesh were 2-3 mm longer so that the wing of d, would be nearer 159. The measurements for tail, tarsus and culmen were made similarly. (b has no tail.) t+ C & S=Cheesman and Sclater (1935). t indicates location of specimens. BM=British Museum of Natural History, Tring; SI= National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; Ethiopia=this bird had to be left in a freezer, now at the Central Laboratory in Addis Ababa, and its ultimate fate is uncertain. 55 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] Acknowledgements: I am most grateful to Dr. George E. Watson for his comments on this paper and to him, P. R. Colston and Dr. T. R. Howell for measuring specimens. I thank my wife, Mrs. J. W. Ash, and Dr. C. R. Gunn, who identified the items of food, and also Dr. J. F. Monk for his customarily critical and welcome editorial pen. Some of the observa- tions were made during the course of work supported in part by the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and the Office of Naval Research under Contract Nooo14-67-A-0399-0009. References: Cheesman, R. E. & Sclater, W. L. 1935. On a collection of birds from northwestern Abyssinia. [bis Series 13(5): 151-191. Hall, B. P. 1963. The Francolins, a study in speciation. Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Zool. 10(2): 107-204. Hall, B. P. & Moreau, R. E. 1962. A study of the rare birds of Africa. Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Zool. 8(7): 313-378. Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1952. Birds of Eastern and North Eastern Africa. Longmans: London. Ogilvie-Grant, W. R. 1900. Francolinus harwoodi, sp. n. Bull. Brit. Orn, Cl. 10: 22-23. Ogilvie-Grant, W. R. & Lovat, Lord. 1900, On the birds collected during an expedition through Somaliland and southern Abyssinia on the Blue Nile, Part 2. /bis Series 22(7): 304-337. é Tyler, L. & Tyler, S. J. 1975. Recent bird records—for January. Eth. Wildif. N. H. S. Newsletter 94:5. Postscript: While the above was in proof, I received from M. A. Traylor and D. E. Willard a list of specimens taken by Fuertes and Osgood in Ethiopia, now in the collection of the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. Included are 4 Francolinus harwoodi, apparently all adults, from the Muger River valley at 1515-1757 m on 12 February 1927. The catalogue numbers for the 3 males and one female are 68985, 68986, 75363 and 75364 respectively. From the account of the expedition the collecting site must have been at 9°28’N, 38°36’E, which is 67 km southwest of the Jemmu site and 87 km southeast of the Kalo Ford. The distribution of certainly identified specimens now extends for 150 km from west to east and for 108 km from north to south. Address: National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C. 20560, U.S.A. Description, moult and measurements of Montifringilla theresae by Brian Wood, S. C. Madge, and C. S. Waller Received 17 November 1977 Probably due to its remarkably circumscribed range (Vaurie 1959, Vasic 1974), knowledge of Theresa’s Snow Finch Montifringilla theresae is incom- plete and based on only a few casual records (Meinertzhagen 1937, Paludan 1959, Dementiev 1963, Niethammer 1967). Therefore it seems worth re- cording observations of this species made during the Oxford University Ornithological Expedition to Afghanistan and Kashmir 1970, although these also are fragmentary. During late July we encountered small flocks of Theresa’s Snow Finches in undulating and arid country between the Nil Kotal and Band-i-Amir in central Afghanistan. They were particularly common in the valley at Band- i-Amir (67° 12’ N, 34° 50’ E) usually feeding in parties on the lower scree slopes below cliffs flanking the valley. Although Common Snow Finches Montifringilla nivalis also occurred here, the two species only occasionally od mixed flocks, and M. nivalis was more usually encountered in rockier abitat. [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] 56 Between 4 and 12 August 1970 we mist-netted 41 Theresa’s Snow Finches by a small stream flowing into the Band-i-Amir lakes, where they came to drink and bathe, along with many Common Snow Finches, Crimson-winged Finches Rhodopechys sanguinea, Desert Finches Rhodopechys obsoleta and Horned larks Eremophila alpestris. All 'Theresa’s Snow Finches were weighed to the nearest gram on a Pesola balance, measured and details of plumage and moult noted before being ringed (with rings supplied by the Bombay Natural History Society) and released. Three of these were subsequently recaptured during the same 8-day period. Whilst our sample undoubtedly contained adult males, females and birds of the year, without an adequate reference description to guide us we were unable to age and sex each bird caught. The details noted enabled some birds to be sexed, however, by comparison with details of birds sexed later by dissection. Weights and wing lengths (Fig. 1) are compared with published figures. A wide range of weights is apparent, our’s being mostly lower than those of birds caught in Turcomania during the winter (Dementiev 1963), but many also are less than those of breeding Theresa’s Snow Finches from the Unai pass in Afghanistan (Niethammer 1967). Wing lengths are also diverse, but appear to correlate with sexual difference, males being the larger, confirmed by differences in colouration of plumage and soft parts. A full description was taken of the first Theresa’s Snow Finch that we caught, and is recorded here as previous descriptions are incomplete and — appear to be based on dead specimens (Meinertzhagen 1937, Dementiev & Gladkov 1954, Dementiev 1963):— — Wing 88 mm. Weight 22 gm. Bill from skull 15 mm, from feather edge 12 mm. Nostril | width 6 mm. Tarsus 19-5 mm. Wing formula: Wing point=3rd primary; 2nd, 4 mm less; 4th, 4 mm less; 5th, 11 mm less, remainder in moult. First primary minute, much shorter | than coverts. Tail: 3rd, 4th and 5th retrices longest (numbered centrifugally), outermost | (6th) 4-5 mm less, central (1st) 4-5 mm less, znd, 2 mm less. Upper mandible grey-brown horn, slightly yellower on ridge. Lower mandible yellow, brownish-blue horn at tip. Iris brown. Legs and feet blackish. Crown, nape, mantle and | upper back buff. Scapulars with blackish-brown mark on lower half of outer webs. Upper | tail coverts buff-grey. Primaries blackish-grey. 2nd, 3rd and 4th primaries with faint white outer margin, most noticeable on 2nd; also faint white mottling on inner web below primary coverts. 5th to 1oth primaries with white outer margin and white mark on inner web below primary coverts. Primary coverts and alula blackish with brownish margins. Secondary coverts buff-brown with buff-white margins. Tertials blackish-brown with buff-white margins. Inner web of median coverts off-white with buff margin, outer web brown with buff margin. | Lesser coverts grey with buff margins. 12 retrices, mainly blackish-grey. Outer retrices | with white outer margin, black shaft and the inner web with large white patch at tip. Penultimate retrices white, streaked grey on outer margin and a black spot at tip with white margin. Judging by its wing length this bird was a female. Its bill colour, grey | upper and yellow lower mandibles, is also characteristic of the bill colour of females of other species of Montifringilla. Whilst descriptions were not taken of the other Theresa’s Snow Finches caught, some characteristics of a few birds were noted. Thus, two birds were noted as possessing the “black mask” characteristic of adult males of this species, two had the iris brick-red and several were recorded as having an all dark grey bill, rather than the “two-toned”’ bill of the bird described above (see Fig. 1). Birds with all dark grey bills and those with “two-toned” bills occupy opposite halves of the range of wing length recorded, corresponding 57 [Bull, B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] syByeom (sw 6B) 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 wing length (mm) oO Oo 2S are eae ae) o 8 < i Saa cian einer cemenr cements mantis: Figure 1. Weights and wing-lengths of Monsifringilla theresae caught at Band-i-Amir, Afghanistan, compared with published data. Band-i-Amir data: solid symbols @=birds with all dark grey bill; half-shaded symbols @=birds with grey upper mandible and yellow lower mandible; open symbols © =bill colour not noted. Stars y= birds with ‘black mask’; Large circles Q =birds with brick red iris. Published data: solid symbols §J=males; open symbols []=females. Sources: A, Meinertzhagen 1937; wing length of 5 males and 2 females B, Dementiev & Gladkov 1954; wing length of 1 male and 1 female C, Dementiev 1963; wing length of 8 males and 2 females, weight of 7 males and 1 female D, Niethammer 1967; weight of 7 males and 4 females closely to previously recorded ranges of wing length of males and females fespectively. Birds having a “‘black mask” and those with a brick-red iris also fit the male wing length range. Thus an all dark grey bill and a brick-red itis appear to be male characteristics, apparently previously undescribed for this species, but possibly confined to adult birds. However, one of us (CSW) possesses a colour slide of a bird in female or juvenile plumage which appears to have a brick-red iris, so this characteristic may prove unreliable for sexing. Birds which were evidently adult males also showed more white on the wing, both on remiges and median coverts, especially in flight. In females and juveniles the white was dull and appeared dirty in comparison. | | [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] 58 TABLE 1 Measurements (mm), weights (gm) and moult scores of Theresa’s Snow Finches Monti-_ fringilla theresae caught at Band-i-Amir, Afghanistan. Wing length Weight Primary Moult scores (as a %)t Contour Secondary Tertial Tail moult* — i 881 22 — — — — — S745" — 44 fe) 27 Oo os 90°53 21 40 fe) — — — 894 18 26 fe) fe) fe) fe) 88-5° 25 34 O 47 o O 87 25185 34 fo) fo) fe) x 84 23°5 42 fo) 13 13 x 84 23 42 3 27 13 x 87 26 42 fo) fe) 7 fe) 87 25° 9 48 fe) fe) Io fe) 87 25 42 fo) 27 a7 x 88 26 36 fe) 47 — — 88 26°5 40 fo) 47 fe) — 88 25 40 fe) 40 13 XX 87 22 46 fe) 40 7 XX 88 24 — — — — = 95°5 27°5 56 7 40 7 x 93 24 66 7 47 so O 88 23°5 18 3 fe) fo) fo) 88 aes 46 Oo fe) — x 91 26 48 3 27 30 x 86 2425 6 fe) Oo Oo O 97 26 48 fe) 67 47 x 94 25,75 54 7 =/ 37 ax 94 20°5 58 13 60 a2 XX 93 24 xo © 13 33 aa 85 24 34 3 20 fo) x 82 24 46 fe) 33 17 XX 86 26 40 3 27 — XX 88 2775 42 20 33 ste) XX go 27, 48 2a 40 23 XX 85 22 30 fo) 47 fo) x 98 31 58 17 53 43 XX = 19°5 18 fo) fe) fe) ss 88 21 “5 22 fe) fe) fo) == 85 23 32 fo) 27 = == 84°5 23:75 38 fo) 20 13 — 86 22 36 fo) — 3 XX 88 23°5 24 fo) fe) fe) x 93 27°55 By TaH 7 agi ae 92 26°5 58 17 60 53 x Notes. *Contour moult: o=feathers all old; x=moult starting; xx=heavy moult; — indi cates data not available. tMoult of remiges and retrices was recorded according to the method recommended b the British Trust for Ornithology (Snow 1967), but scores are here presented as a percent age of maximum possible score (completed moult). 1Bill 15, tarsus 19-5, tail 48 mm. *Bill 16, tarsus 20-5, tail 44 mm. SBill 15+5, tarsus 19°5, tail 48-5 mm. 4Bill 18, tarsus 20-00, tail 47 mm. 5Bill 16 mm. Almost all the Theresa’s Snow Finches were in active wing, tail and bod moult. Moult scores for each of these three groups of feathers are given Table 1. Whilst the restricted duration of our observations can provide 59 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] information on length of moult in this species, other details are apparent. The sequence of moult appears to be normal for a passerine. Primary moult occuts first, with secondary, tertial and tail moult starting when primary moult is 30%-40% completed. Both adult and first year birds appear to undergo a complete moult in the autumn, as in the Common Snow Finch, and the timing of moult of both Theresa’s and Common Snow Finches at this locality appears to coincide almost exactly (Table 2), indicating the same response to closely similar ecological requirements. TABLE 2 Moult scores of Common Snow Finches Montifringilla nivalis caught at Band-i-Amir, Afghanistan. (Conventions as in Table 1.) Moult scores (as a %) Contour moult Primary Secondary Tertial Tail 56 o o 37 50 3 ay IO — 42 fo) 13 fe) Xx 68 13 73 73 x 46 fe) 47 fe) fe) 76 13 87 73 x 56 ii 53 30 x 36 fe) 40 10 x 54 3 53 10 Fi 54 i, 40 43 XX Acknowledgements: The Oxford University Ornithological Expedition to Afghanistan and Kashmir 1970 was financially supported by numerous organisations and individuals. We wish to express our thanks to all of these. References: _Dementiev, G. 1963. Theresa’s Ground Finch Montifringilla therease. Ibis 105: 107. i Dementiev, G. P. & Gladkov, N. A. 1954. Birds of the Soviet Union. Translation, Jerusalem : 1970. -Meinertzhagen, R. 1937. Description of two new birds. Bu//. Brit. Orn. Cl. 58: 10. Niethammer, G. 1967. On the breeding biology of Montifringilla theresae. Ibis 109: 117-118. | Paludan, K. 1959. On the birds of Afghanistan. Vidensk. Medd. Dansk naturh, For, 122: | 1-322. Snow, D. W. 1967. A guide to moult in British birds. British Trust for Ornithology Field Guide no. 11. 'Vasic, V. F. 1974. Observations ornithologiques en Afghanistan. Alauda 42: 259-280. _Vaurie, C. 1959. The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna, Passeriformes. Witherby: London. | Addresses: Brian Wood, Zoology Department, University College London, Gower Street, London, WCIN 6BT, England. S. C. Madge: RSPB, 2 Springholme, Caudle Hill, Fairburn, Knottingley, West \ Yorkshire, England. C. S. Waller, Nature Conservancy Council, East Lodge, Sotterly, Beccles, Suffolk, England. Notes on the biology and systematics of Polynesian | swiftlets, Aerodramus by D. T. Holyoak ¢ J.-C. Thibault Received 15 November 1977 Swiftlets of the genus Aerodramus (formerly placed in Collocalia, but see Brooke 1972, Medway & Pye 1977) are widespread in the tropical Pacific }Ocean from Australia and New Guinea east to the Cook, Society and | | [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] 60 Marquesas Islands. Some of the larger islands of the southwest Pacific have two or three coexisting species, but only one species occurs on each island from Fiji east to the Marquesas. No other Apodidae breed on islands in the central Pacific and the only swallow (Hirundinidae) is Hirundo tahitica which breeds from Australia east to Tahiti. Mayr (1937) describes the slight differences in morphology and coloration which separate some sympatric species of Aerodramus, and the consequent | difficulties in judging affinities of allopatric populations which show small but constant differences from each other. Simms (1961) and Medway (1966, 1975) have since improved our taxonomic understanding of swiftlets by showing that the type of nest built and the ability or inability to echolocate — may be useful in judging affinities. This paper discusses the swiftlets of southeast Polynesia from Tahiti, Atiu and the Marquesas Islands. They are more similar to each other in morphology than any one of them is to forms occurring further west in the Pacific. Atiu (20° 00’ S, 158° 07’ W) is about 750 | nautical miles WSW of Tahiti and Moorea (17° 40’ S, 149° 05’ W), and 1260 nautical miles southwest of the nearest of the Marquesas Islands (9° 23’ S, 140° 06’ W), whereas Tahiti is only about 630 miles southwest of the Marquesas. Mayr (1937) pointed out that the swiftlets of Tahiti (‘C. /. /eucophaea’) and _ the Marquesas Islands (‘C. /. ocista’) agree in being rather large and dull — coloured, with little or no trace of the pale supraloral spots found in some — related species. They also have rather long tails and a distinctive soft texture | to the plumage, although the texture is difficult to detect in old museum skins. A swiftlet discovered on Atiu in the southern Cook Islands in 1973 and given the name Collocalia sawtelli, has similar features (Holyoak 19744). These features set the swiftlets of southeast Polynesia somewhat apart from the rest of the genus, but they appear to be closer to those of A. vanikorensis than of other Melanesian species. duPont (1976: 106) synonymized sawtelli with leucophaea, stating that it is “Morphologically indistinct (specimens examined) but alleged to differ from | C. 1. leucocephala (sic) by echo locating’. However, he could only have seen one specimen of saw¢elli, a paratype lodged at the British Museum (Natural History), while the only comparative material available there consists of two | old and faded specimens of A. /eucophaeus. The differences between A. sawtelli (8 specimens examined), A. /eucophaeus (12 specimens) and A. ocistus (92 specimens) in morphology and nest structure are summarized below. Morphology | Fully-grown birds of all populations of the A. /eucophaeus group have predominantly blackish-brown upperparts with slightly paler underparts and a small light patch on the longer uppertail-coverts where light grey-brown feather bases are partly exposed. The pale patch is least conspicuous because the feather bases are darkest in birds from Tahiti and most conspicuous in those from Atiu, Marquesan birds being variable but usually intermediate. In fresh plumage there is a slight green gloss on the dark feathers of the uppet- parts and wing-coverts, but this disappears in old specimens, which become lighter and browner. Tahiti birds are lighter and browner than those from the Marquesas Islands, to judge from comparison of 50 year old skins of both, and the Marquesan specimens appear slightly lighter than three year old skins | | j 61 [Bull. B.O.C.. 1978: 98(2)| from Atiu. The underparts of Atiu birds appear to be slightly but consistently lighter than in the other populations. To judge from museum skins, the feet and especially the claws have little dark pigmentation in Tahiti birds, more in Marquesan birds and most in Atiu birds. TABLE I Measurements (mm) of wing and tail length in Polynesian swiftlets. There is little if any sexual dimorphism in size. IN X wing X tail X tail X wing® 100 Atiu 8 118-1 54°6 46°6 (s=-1"'22) (s=1-08) Tahiti Ke) 126°1 57°4 45°5 (s= 2-02) G=2 _ As a result of an informal meeting of ornithologists with an African interest at the Merseyside County Museums, Liverpool (LIVCM) on 17 and 18 September 1977 (“The African Chat’), attended by all three of us, it became apparent that there was a very appreciable representation of material from Malawi in this museum, emanating from A. Whyte and Sir Alfred _ Sharpe. The Whyte material was included in Canon H. B. Tristram’s first collection, purchased in 1896, while the Sharpe material was presented by Sir Alfred himself in 1903. [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] 66 Whyte collected in Malawi in 1891-1897, under the patronage of Sir Harry Johnston, the first administrator of the territory (see also R. B. Sharpe 1906: 404, 511). His collections were reported on by G. E. Shelley in a series of papers (/b7s, 1893-1898). All the specimens traced in the LIVCM were collected in 1892-1893, at well known localities in southern Malawi, the majority at Zomba. They were obviously examined by Shelley, since they bear identifications in his handwriting, apart from a few in an unknown hand. Clearly they were too late for inclusion in Tristram’s printed catalogue (1889). However, Tristram continued to maintain manuscript catalogues, four out of five of which are in the LIVCM. These have been analysed to produce a donor/collector index, cross-references to specimens, specimen numbers and collection dates. The records under Whyte’s name reveal a total of 104 specimens, all bearing Tristram labels and numbers. In fact there are at least a further 152 specimens. These bear only original labels in Whyte’s handwriting, and labels printed with Sir Harry Johnston’s name endorsed with Shelley’s determination. They must have been kept as ‘dupli- cates’ by Tristram, not for incorporation into his collection, although they were included in the sale to the LIVCM some three years after their receipt. Particularly notable are the following specimens, all apparently adult, which, although not actually type material Gn the BMNH, cf. Warren 1966, Warren & Harrison 1971), were collected at about the same time:— Aplopelia larvata johnstoni Shelley ([bis, 1893: 28), now considered a — synonym of A. /. /arvata: one, undated, Milanji (Mulanje). Lybius torquatus zombae (Shelley, [bzs, 1893: 10): one, Nov. 1892, Zomba. Buccanodon whyti whyti (Shelley, bzs, 1893: 11): one, Nov. 1892, Zomba. Andropadus tephrolaema fusciceps (Shelley, [bis, 1893: 13): one, Sept. 1892, Milanji (Mulanje). Phyllastrephus cerviniventris Shelley ([bis, 1894: 10): two, July 1892, one, Aug. 1892, Zomba. The July specimens appear to be the first ever collected, although not mentioned by Shelley in his description. Pogonocichla stellata johnstoni Shelley (lbis, 1893: 18), now considered a synonym of P. s. orientalis: one, Sept. 1892, Milanji (Mulanje). Anthreptes longuemarei nyassae Neumann (Orn. Monatsber. 14, 1906: 7): one, 6 Jan. 1893, Zomba. Male in full metallic breeding dress. The distinc- tiveness of this form was overlooked by Shelley (dbs, 1893: 17; 1894: 14; 1898: 379). The holotype was collected as late as 27 July 1897. One specimen of Sy/vietta whytit whytit Shelley (Lbzs, 1894: 13) is listed by Tristram as collected in August 1892. It would appear to be a syntype, but unfortunately has not been located. It seems that, in addition to the Phy/osco pus spp. and Zosteropidae lost in the bombing of the museum in 1941 (Wagstafte in press), the majority of the African Sylviinae were also destroyed. Another Whyte specimen of interest is an apparent male of Batzs soror (not molitor), November 1892, Zomba: wing 58, tail 39 mm, cf. Benson & Benson (1977: 241). Sir Alfred Sharpe succeeded Sir Harry Johnston (R. B. Sharpe 1906: 476), and collecting continued in his name. It is C.W.B.’s understanding that this was left to barely literate Africans, as is suggested by the handwriting on the original labels, the same as that on some Sharpe specimens in the BMNH. Shelley continued his series of reports, the final one being in Jbis, 1901: 586-595, dealing with specimens collected from October 1900 to 67 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] January 1901. The 159 in the LIVCM bear months and years of collecting, April 1901 to February 1902, and Shelley’s determinations, although it seems that he did not consider that publication of a further report was warranted. Collecting localities (with the suffix ‘B.C.A.’, British Central Africa, the name Nyasaland not being officially recognised until 1907) are :— Buwa (Bua River), Chanda, Chilasulo (Chiradzulu), Chilwa, Malosa, Matiya, Mpimbe, Namiwawa, Palombe (Phalombe), S(outh) Angoniland, Ulumba, Zomba. All these names are in the gazetteer of localities in Benson & Benson (1977), except Matiya and Ulumba, whose locus is uncertain. The remainder are all in southern or central Malawi, the most northerly being the Bua River. Worth mention are a specimen of Anthus vaalensis from South Angoniland, September 1901, and one of A. /eucophrys therefrom, August 1901. There is also a series of seven specimens, from Chiradzulu, Chanda, South Angoniland and marked “Lamprocolius sycobius’ (=Lamprotornis chalybaeus sycobius), but in fact the smaller L. chloropterus elizabeth, since they have a wing range of 111-120 mm only. A perusal of the catalogue of Forbes & Robinson (1898-1901), covering only non-passerines, indicates the inclusion of a number of Whyte’s speci- mens, although his name is not mentioned. The dates and localities—Zomba, Upper Shire, Tshiromo (Chiromo), Milanji (Mulanje), Lake Shirwa (Chilwa) —tally accordingly. Sharpe’s material does not appear in the museum register until February 1903, and was too late for inclusion. However (pp: 35 et seg.), Forbes & Robinson mention a locality “Central, Africa ikombo)’. Prior to 1901 Sharpe did receive specimens from ‘Kikomba (Ikomba)’ (sic), in present day northeastern Zambia at 9° 09’ S, 32° 15’ E (Benson, Bu//. Brit. Orn. Cl. 67, 1946: 37; Benson & Benson 1977: 233). This is not to be confused with Kikombo, in central Tanzania at 6° 15’ S, 36° 00’ KE, ¢. 40 km east-southeast of Dodoma (T7mes Aitlas of the world, 1975). In the LIVCM there is a collection from Kikombo made by Dr. S. T. Pruen in 1888, received through Canon Tristram in 1896. Many of these specimens ate listed by Tristram (1889, including Addenda). One of them in particular is remotely unlikely to ever occur in northeastern Zambia (nor indeed Malawi), Cosmopsarus unicolor, listed on p. 253. The misunderstandings which can arise over African collecting localities is alluded to by Benson & Benson (1977: 223-224). One further instance is the type-locality ‘Myombe, northern Nyasaland’ for Serinus madarszi (cf. Peters’s Checklist of Birds of the World 14, 1968: 220), which should read ‘Muyombe, north-eastern Zambia’, Muyombe being at 10° 40’ S, 33° 30’ E (Benson ef a/., Birds of Zambia, 1971: 381). To conclude, while Benson & Benson (1977: 220) were aware that some 600 specimens from these early Malawi collections were transferred to the South Africa Museum, Cape Town, it was only in September 1977 that this important holding in Liverpool came to their notice. It totals at least 415 specimens (including a precise figure from Sharpe of 159), representing 125 species. Apart from those already mentioned, certain common species are well represented, mostly by Whyte material, thus:—Turdoides jardineii, 18 specimens; Turdus libonyanus and Tchagra senegala, 23 each; Euplectes capensis, 20. In the case of the last, all from Whyte, some specimens have surely been _ misdated. There are six males in breeding dress dated July or August, but this dress is only known to be worn from about December to May (Benson & Benson 1977: 194). [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] 68 Sincere thanks are due to Michael Brennan, of the Merseyside County Museums, who produced the index of the Tristram collection, while em- ployed under the Manpower Services Commission Job Creation Programme. References: Benson, C. W. & Benson, F. M. 1977. The Birds of Malawi. Limbe: D. W. K. Macpherson (sponsor). Forbes, H. O. & Robinson, H. C. 1898-1901. Catalogues of birds in the Derby Museum, Liverpool. Bull. Liverpool Mus. 1-3. Sharpe, R. B. 1906. The History of the Collections in the Natural History Departments of the British Museum, Birds. London: Trustees of the British Museum. Tristram, H. B. 1889. Catalogue of a Collection of Birds. Durham: author. Wagstaffe, R. in press. Avian types in Merseyside County Museums ( formerly City of Liverpool Museums). Livetpool: Merseyside County Museums. Warren, R. L. M. 1966. Type-specimens of Birds in the British Museum (JNatural History) 1. INon-passerines. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). Warren, R. L. M. & Harrison, C. J. O. 1971. Type-specimens of Birds in the British Museum (Natural History) 2. Passerines. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). Addresses: P. J. Morgan, Merseyside County Museums, William Brown Street, Liverpool L3 8EN, England; C. W. and F. M. Benson, Department of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, England. The Basisphenoid notch of Kingfishers by P. J. K. Burton Received 25 November 1977 The basisphenoid rostrum is a structure of vital importance in a bird’s skull. From the base of the cranium, this bony bar runs forward along the midline, forming the ventral edge of the interorbital septum. It plays a crucial part in cranial kinesis (the process by which the upper jaw is raised or lowered relative to the cranium), providing a firm bony rail on which the palatines and pterygoids may slide backwards or forwards. A full discussion of this mechanism is provided by Bock (1964). This short paper draws attention to an unusual modification of the basisphenoid rostrum in kingfishers (Alcedin- idae) observed in the course of a study of feeding apparatus structure in the Coraciiformes and Piciformes (Burton, in prep.). Though a striking feature of many kingfisher skulls, it seems to have been generally overlooked, even in such studies as those of Shufeldt (1884) and Verheyen (1955). Because the rostrum plays so fundamental a part in kinesis, the presence of this modifica- tion immediately raises the question of whether some equally unusual kinetic mechanism is involved. This question, and other possible functional inter- pretations, are considered in the discussion. Description | This feature was first noticed in skulls of Ceryle and Chloroceryle spp. (Alcedinidae: Cerylinae), and has subsequently been found in various other Alcedinidae. Possible functional equivalents in birds of other orders will be considered in the discussion. 69 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] The feature will be termed the basisphenoid notch. It consists, quite simply, of a deep and roughly semicircular emargination of the basisphenoid rostrum, just posterior to the midpoint of the orbit, and immediately below the main fenestra in the interorbital septum (Fig. 1). The rostrum itself has Figure 1. Upper: skull of Pelargopsis amauroptera, to show basisphenoid notch (bn) and keel (k). Upper jaw and palate in protracted position. Lower: skull of Dacelo gaudichaud, a species lacking the notch. Drawn with palatines and pterygoids held away from the rostrum to show its profile clearly. The jugal bar has been omitted from both drawings for clarity. Both natural size. x Figure 2. Profile of the basisphenoid rostrum in various kingfishers possessing a basi- sphenoid notch. As the keel cannot normally be fully exposed without damage to the Specimen, its shape as shown is partly an estimate. Not to scale. Right hand end of profile is anterior. a—Ceryle alcyon; b—C. maxima; c—C. rudis; d—Chloroceryle amazona; e—C. inda; £—Alcedo atthis; g—Ceyx erithacus; h—Pelargopsis amauroptera; j—Halcyon smyrnensis. [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] 70 a distinctive form in kingfishers, with a roughly T-shaped cross section. The stem of the T is the rostrum proper—a thin flange of bone along the extreme ventral edge of the interorbital septum on which the palatines slide. Above it, the bone broadens on either side, as a thickened rim just dorsal to the palatines and pterygoids. The notch is confined to the narrow flange, and does not intrude into the thickened rim above it. Anterior to the notch, the rostrum curves downward, then up again towards the front of the orbit, as a roughly keel-shaped plate of bone. In most dried skulls, the junction of pterygoid and palatine lies just anterior to the notch and there is strong connective tissue attachment between this junction and the keel (or the rostrum in unmodified species). Examination of spirit specimens shows that with the upper jaw in resting position, the notch lies dorsal to the infundi- bular slit and the chamber (antrum tubarum) into which the Eustachian tubes open. Connective tissue attached to the rear end of this chamber arises at the posterior edge of the notch, and can be seen in dorsal view. The notch varies considerably in its form and depth among the Alcedini- dae, and is, indeed, absent in many. Fig. 2 shows the range of variation, which occurs within, as well as between species. It is present, and strongly developed throughout the Cerylinae,* while among the Alcedininae it is present in most species, though shallower and relatively longer. Members of the Alcedininae found to lack it were Ceyx /epidus and Ispidina picta. ‘The Daceloninae present a different picture, for it is absent (or indicated by only — the slightest concavity) in the majority. of species. A striking exception is Pelargopsis, in which both the notch and the keel anterior to it are better developed even than in the Cerylinae. A well developed notch is also present in Halcyon smyrnensis, and a shallow one in H. pileata, H. coromanda, Hi. leucocephala and 1. chelicuti. It should be commented at this point, that when considering possible kinetic effects, the keel anterior to the notch is the important feature, rather than the notch itself. However, the notch is more than simply the end of the keel, since its rear border curves down again posteriorly. Manipulation experiments If a bird’s skull is soaked in water for a time, it becomes sufficiently pliable to allow the upper jaw and kinetic apparatus to move once again, approximating their movements in life. In a kingfisher’s skull possessing the basisphenoid notch, the fully retracted position may be reached simply by pushing the tip of the upper jaw downwards until it stops; movement is halted by contact between the upper part of the lateral nasal bar and the lacrimal. The pterygo-palatine junction now lies roughly in the deepest part of the notch, while the keel-shaped region of the basisphenoid anterior to the notch fits into the median trough between the upturned medial flanges of right and left palatines. In a skull of Pelargopsis amauroptera it was found that retraction could proceed further, until the pterygo-palatine junction was in contact with the posterior edge of the notch. Even more useful information can be obtained if a fresh specimen is available, since the presence of muscles, ligaments and connective tissue *Only Ceryle lugubris was unavailable for examination, but there is little reason to suspect that it would differ from the rest of the subfamily. ai [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] creates a situation much closer to that in life. The only fresh specimen currently available has been one of Adcedo atthis, in which the notch is rela- tively shallow, as in other Alcedininae. The results of manipulating this specimen agree well with those obtained with skulls, but an interesting effect is noted if protraction is brought about by upward pressure on the quadrate, via the posterior end of the mandible. At first, there is considerable resistance to this pressure; the palatines move forward slowly, and the upper jaw is raised slowly. Quite suddenly, the resistance disappears, accompanied by a tangible click, the palatine shoots forward, and the upper jaw is rapidly and strongly elevated. Discussion Before considering possible functions of the notch, it is necessary to summarise some characteristic features of cranial anatomy in kingfishers; a much fuller account will appear in a forthcoming paper (Burton, in prep.). Compared with other Coraciiform skulls, those of kingfishers show various modifications tending towards the ‘streckschadel’ (stretched skull) form described by Barnikol (1952), though much less extreme than in the examples he chose, such as Cygnus and Phalacrocorax. These modifications include long pterygoids, subtending a markedly smaller angle posteriorly than in most birds, while the quadrates are sited well posterior to the orbit. Perhaps in consequence of the quadrate position, many kingfishers lack M. pseudo- temporalis profundus, an adduction/retraction muscle running between the quadrate and the mandible. Attachment of a part of M. pterygoideus on the maxillo-palatines is another unusual feature seen in many kingfishers, though also found in several other Coraciiform and Piciform families. However, neither this feature, nor loss of M. pseudotemporalis profundus, is correlated with presence of the basisphenoid notch. _ Kingfishers of the subfamilies Cerylinae and Alcedininae have the post- orbital ligament much reduced or in some cases apparently absent. It is generally better developed in the Daceloninae, including Pe/argopsis. This may be of some significance when considering possible kinetic functions of the notch, since the postorbital ligament is the chief means by which kinetic coupling (linked action of upper and lower jaws) is achieved. Poor develop- ment of the ligament suggests that many kingfishers rely largely on uncoupled : kinesis (see Bock (1964) for discussion of these mechanisms). This is less suited for rapid actions, but increases the ability to manipulate prey with _ ptecision—probably an advantage when handling fish. _ Some functional properties of the notch may now be considered: | 1. In Chloroceryle amazona and Pelargopsis amauroptera, the shape of the notch appreciably affects the movements of the palatines, pterygoids and quadrates. As retraction proceeds towards its limits, the pterygo-palatine junction rises upwards. Compared with the normal condition this will somewhat reduce postero-lateral movement by the pterygoids and quadrates. Thus, the notch may somewhat extend the range of retraction possible, or at least fill a safety function during extreme retraction. However, this is unlikely to be a universal function. Manipulation of most other kingfisher skulls shows that the pterygo-palatine junction only enters the notch in the extreme retracted position, and shows no tendency | [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] 72 to rise at this stage—if anything rather the reverse. The movements of pterygoid and palatine are in this case determined only by the form of the keel anterior to the notch. 2. Species in which the palatines and pterygoids can rise into the notch would possess a possible further advantage, as this would appreciably increase the lumen of the buccal cavity—a potentially valuable action when swallowing large fish. Again, however, this capacity seems to be of limited occurrence. 3. The effect observed when manipulating a fresh specimen of A/cedo atthis is of interest, though strictly related more to the form of the basi- sphenoid keel, rather than the notch itself. Pressure on the quadrate, via the mandible, roughly duplicates the action of M. protractor during upper jaw elevation. The sudden reduction of resistance accompanied by rapid protrac- tions appears to occur when the quadrates pass a threshold point in their rocking movement on the otic articulation. Before this point is reached, they are tending to force the palatines firmly against the basisphenoid rostrum; beyond it, they tend to force them away, and movement suddenly proceeds much more freely. However, although this effect could probably be repro- duced in life, it is far from clear what biological role it would serve. Though rapid jaw closure can be useful to birds capturing active prey (see, e.g. Bock & Morony 1972), rapid opening seems much less useful, particularly in kingfishers, which normally strike the water surface with bills already open. 4. A possibility which has to be considered is that the notch acts to lock the upper jaw in a retracted position. From an initial examination, this seems an attractive idea; it would seem that the pterygo-palatine junction might be locked into the notch by upward force, and released by a downward one. Beecher (1953)* suggested that a retraction lock would permit a bird to ‘maintain a grip indefinitely with decreased muscular effort’, and this would cettainly be an advantage for kingfishers, which may have to grip their slippery and awkward prey for a considerable time, especially when feeding young. Nevertheless, I doubt if the basisphenoid notch works in this way for the following reasons: a. The only muscle which could raise the palatines and pterygoids relative to the cranium is M. protractor. However, its force, transmitted via the pterygoids, has a large forward component capable of moving the kinetic apparatus anteriorly even from the deepest part of the notch. b. I doubt the advantages of a retractor lock suggested by Beecher. | Locking the upper jaw would merely suspend the normal two jaw action of birds in favour of a single jaw action as in mammals. The lock cannot put force into the system, and the reduced retraction effort would be offset by the need for stronger adduction to maintain grip. The only possible advant- age might be to stabilize the advantageous jaw configuration attained during strong retraction, and perhaps even permit it to be maintained while the *Beecher is referring to the Vanga shrike Schetba rufa. My own examination of this species | fails to confirm his description of an ectethmoid/jugal locking device. ! | . | | : 73 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] lower jaw is depressed. This might be of value when handling or swallowing ptey, but it has yet to be demonstrated that anything of the kind actually occuts. 5. In species possessing the notch, the upturned medial edges of the palatines are relatively deeper than in those without it. This enables them to clasp the keel very firmly, providing increased resistance to lateral deflection. Possibly this provides protection against forces occurring while swallowing large fish, though in some fish eaters, e.g. Phalacrocorax, the palatines do not clasp the rostrum at all. However it would seem possible to evolve palatines with deeper medial edges even in the absence of a keel, and this factor certainly provides no explanation for the notch itself. 6. The close anatomical relationship between the basisphenoid notch and the antrum tubarum suggests some possible functional involvement with the Eustachian tubes. What the nature of this might be is unknown. Reduction or occlusion of the external nares is a feature of some diving birds (see, e.g. Macdonald 1960), but I know of no reported modifications concerning the Eustachian tubes. Kingfishers enter the water with bills open when they dive, and would be unable to equalise pressure changes on the middle ear cavity by altering the volume of the buccal cavity; possibly a small reservoir of air in the antrum tubarum could in some way be used for this purpose. Alternatively, some special modification may have arisen in connection with the process of swallowing large fish, when prolonged closure of the infundibular slit may be necessary. Unfortunately, too little is known at present about the functioning of the infundibular slit and Eusta- chian tubes in life to arrive at any clear conclusions. A brief account of buccal cavity structure and deglutition is given by Ziswiler & Farner (1972). To recapitulate and comment so far: the basisphenoid notch is apparently _ capable of influencing kinetic movements in a few species, and this may be of some selective value. However, it does not seem to work this way in all cases, and I suspect that its primary functions are not related to kinesis. A connection with Eustachian tube functioning is a possible alternative deserv- ing investigation. The distribution of the basisphenoid notch among the three well marked subfamilies of kingfishers is also of evolutionary interest. This distribution | may have arisen in one of two ways: (a) The basisphenoid notch may be a feature which arose in the stock ancestral to all three subfamilies, but has been secondarily lost by many. (b) It may have arisen independently in several lines in response to similar needs. I tend to favour the second alternative, since the notch seems to be essen- tially a feature of the more highly specialised fish eaters, rather than of more _ptimitive forms. If this is correct, it implies some genetic potential for | evolving the notch which is common to all kingfishers. Situations of this _type have been discussed by Bock (1963). [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(2)] 14 3 oH 9x9 The possible occurrence of similar modification in othe oups of birds needs to be examined. No notch, or anything ‘like‘it; is present in other families of Coraciiformes or Piciformes—two orders I have examined thoroughly in the course of other studies. It can also be assumed to be absent in all groups possessing basipterygoid processes, since these arise from the basisphenoid rostrum close to the position that a notch would occupy. I have examined a wide range of other birds, concentrating on fish eaters and birds of prey, but the only possible equivalent seems to be in frigate birds (Pelecaniformes; Fregatidae), which have the basisphenoid rostrum ‘stepped’ upwards a little way posterior to the pterygo-palatine articulation. Some other Pelecaniformes (Phaethontidae, Sulidae) have an upward slope in the poster- ior part of the basisphenoid rostrum, but nothing of such an abrupt nature as in the Fregatidae. (The Pelecanidae have a keel-shaped rostrum, but so sharply angled that if the palatines ever moved behind it, they would surely be inextricably jammed.) Finally, it must be remarked that the discovery of the basisphenoid notch highlights the fact that the basisphenoid rostrum has been badly neglected in many studies of the avian skull, despite the attention that has been paid to the basipterygoid processes. Its crucial role in kinesis deserves a thorough and wide ranging study of its morphology and functions. Species of kingfishers examined. Skulls: Ceryle maxima, C. alcyon, C. rudis, Chloroceryle amazona, C. americana, C. inda, Alcedo atthis, A. meninting, A. cristata, Ispidina picta, Ceyx lepidus, C. azureus, C. rufidorsum, Pelargop- sis amauroptera, P. capensis, Dacelo novaeguineae, D. leachii, D. gaudichaud, Cittura cyanotis, Halcyon smyrnensis, H. senegalensis, H. macleayii, H. pyrrhopygia, H. sancta, H. chloris, H. concreta. Spirit specimens of: Ceryle torquata, Chloroceryle inda, C. aenea, Alcedo atthis, Pelargopsis capensis, Clytoceyx rex, Melidora macrorrhina, Halcyon coromanda, H. pileata, H. leucocephala, H1, chelicuti, Tanysiptera galatea. Fresh material: Alcedo atthis. References: Barnikol, A. 1952. Korrelationen in der Ausgestaltung der Schadelform bei Vogeln. Gegenbaurs morph. Jb. 92: 373-414. Beecher, W. J. 1953. A phylogeny of the oscines. Auk 70: 270-333. Bock, W. }. 1963. Evolution and phylogeny in morphologically uniform groups. Am. Nat. : 265-285. — lf seihetied of the avian skull. 7. Morphol. 114: 1-42. — & Morony, J. J. 1972. Snap-closing jaw ligaments in flycatchers. Am. Zool. 12: 729- 730. Burton, P. J. K. In preparation: Anatomy and evolution of the feeding apparatus in the Coraciiformes and Piciformes. Bull. Br. Mus. Nat. Hist. wpeeic tee J. D. 1960. Secondary external nares of the Gannet. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 135: 35 77-3%3¢ Shufeldt, R. W. 1884. Osteology of Ceryle alcyon. J. Ant. Physiol. Lond. 18: 279-294- Verheyen, R. 1955. Analyse du potentiel morphologique et considérations sur la systéma- _ tique des Coraciiformes (Wetmore 1934) (suite). Bull. Inst. Sci. Nat. Belg. 31 (93): 1-19. Ziswiler, V. & Farner, D. S. 1972. Digestion and the digestive system. Jn Farner, D. S. & lig J. R. (Eds.): Avian Biology, Vol. 1, 343-430. New York and London: Academic ress. Address: British Museum (Natural History), Tring, Hertfordshire, England. Pate 1s 4 Bite } Se oe Br et! Nar . * 3 heen Bs asia a fe NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS Papers, whether by Club Members or by non-members, should be sent to the Editor, Dr. J. F. Monk, The Glebe Cottage, Goring, Reading RG8 9AP, and are accepted on the understanding that they are offered solely for publication in the Bulletin. 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Published by the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB and printed by The Caxton and Holmesdale Press, 104 London Road Sevenoaks Kent. ISSN 0007 - 1595 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club Edited by Dr. J. F. MONK Volume 98 No. 3 September 1978 FORTHCOMING MEETINGS Tuesday 21 November 1978 at 6.30 p.m., jointly with the B.O.U. at Imperial College, Mr. E. M. Nicholson, C.B., on The Role of British Ornithologists in Europe and Mr. G. Mountfott, O.B.E., on Ornithology in south-east Asia. Cost including buffet supper—£3 per person. A slip with details will be included with the October number of /bis and those wishing to attend should send their slip together with cheque and s.a.e. to the B.O.U. (VOT #o the Club) in accordance with the instructions on the slip. Tuesday 5 December 1978 at 6.30 p.m. for 7 p.m. at the Goat Tavern, 3 Stafford Street, London, W.1. Mr. J. L. F. Parslow on The function of the R.S.P.B. in British Ornithology. Those wishing to attend should send a cheque for £2.70 a person together with their acceptance on the enclosed slip to Mrs. Diana Bradley, 53 Osterley Road, Isleworth, Middlesex to arrive not later than first post on Friday 2 December. Tuesday 9 January 1979 at 6.30 p.m. for 7 p.m. at the Senior Common Room, South Side, Imperial College (entrance on the south side of Prince’s Gardens, S.W.7, off Exhibi- tion Road), Mr. J. H. R. Boswall on Mutual mimics, men as birds and birds as men—an ornitho- logical frolic. Those wishing to attend should send a cheque for £3.80 a person together with their acceptance on the enclosed slip to Mrs. Diana Bradley, 53 Osterley Road, Isleworth, Middlesex, to arrive not later than first post on Thursday 4 January 1979. Tuesday 6 March 1979 at 6.30 p.m. for 7 p.m., Mr. J. D. England, O.B.E. on The birds of the Seychelles group of islands. COMMITTEE P. Hogg (Chairman) Dr. G. Beven (Vice-Chairman) R. E. F. Peal (Hon. Secretary) Mts. D. M. Bradley (Hon. Treasurer) Dr. J. F. Monk ( Editor) B. Gray C. E. Wheeler P, J. Oliver C. F. Mann | tiee 75 : (Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] Bulletin of the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Vol. 98 No.3 Published : 20 September 1978 Addenda to minutes of Annual General Meeting (omitted in error), Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 98: 33. The Minutes of the eighty-fifth Annual General Meeting (Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 97: 33 & xx) wefe approved and signed. The seven hundred and thirteenth Meeting of the Club was held at the Goat Tavern, 3 Stafford Street, London, W.1. on Monday 17 July 1978 at 7 p.m. Chairman: Dr. G. Beven; present 20 members and 9 guests. Mr. M. W. Woodcock spoke on The Birds of Oman. Resume of talk ‘The Birds of Oman’ Mr. Martin Woodcock spoke on the Birds of Oman, and following some introductory remarks, illustrated his talk with slides taken on his two recent extensive field trips. He dtew attention to the marked dichotomy in relationships shown by the avifauna on either side of the belt of desert across Oman around 20° N. The breeding birds of vegetated ateas in the notth and around Muscat are almost entirely of Indian affinity, the common species including Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis, House Crow Corvus splendens, Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus, Purple Sunbird Nectarinia asiatica, Red-wattled Plover Vanellus indicus and Y ellow-throated Sparrow Petronia xanthocollis. The House Crow appears identical with the pale race zugmayeri of Pakistan, and the House Sparrow, which is also common, seems to be of the race indicus which occurs throughout India. In the south of Oman, the Dhofar, on the other hand, the Ethiopian influence is pre- dominant, with such species as Ruppell’s Weaver Ploceus galbula, Blackstart Cercomela melanura, Cinnamon-bteasted Rock Bunting Emberiza tahapisi, Paradise Flycatcher Terpsi- _* viridis, Gtey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala and Bruce’s Green Pigeon Treron waalia. The status of the Silverbill Fxvodice malabarica is of particular interest. In the north the bitds resemble the nominate race of India, while in the Dhofar they have a black rump, characteristic of the African races of this bird, which Voous (Jbis 119: 386) has recently treated as specifically distinct from the Indian race. This seems to underline rather neatly the dual character of the avifauna in Oman, and the importance of the desert barrier. XIX Century Indian Ocean seabirds eggs in the South African Museum by R. K. Brooke Received 10 January 1978 Layard (1867a) mentioned that some eggs from the Crozet Islands had come into his hands at the South African Museum, Cape Town, and Brooke (1976) added that Layard had collected material on Indian Ocean islands while travelling on the survey ship H.M.S. Castor in 1856/7. Nearly all the eggs Layard mentioned survive, as well as a number of others from the Crozets, and some of his Indian Ocean islands eggs. Through the courtesy of Dr. T. H. Barry, Director of the South African Museum, I have examined the | eggs collected in the last century and find that they provide new or confirma- tory data. The reliability of the identification of some species where the [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] 76 specimens have since disappeared, as in some cases here, can be supported by a consideration of the characters, particularly mensural, of the surviving eggs. I have particularly relied on the egg mensural data in Serventy ef a/. (1971) and Watson (1975). Layard measured his eggs in inches and lines, i.e. twelfths of an inch. Conversion to mm at the rate of 25-4 mm to the inch gives results close to those I obtained by measurement but not so close that I can confidently say which eggs Layard had measured when he wrote his 1867 paper. Crozet IsLANDS Layard (18672) states that his material from the Crozet Islands was brought by Captain Armson. Since the South African Museum holds or held far more material than Layard (1867a) mentioned, more than one journey must have been involved. I find from an examination of the Cape of Good Hope Govern- ment Gazette shipping notices that the first journey made by Capt. T. Armson was in the three masted schooner Guadalquivir of 112 tons which left Table Bay Harbour, Cape Town, on 30 October 1866 and returned with a crew of 12 fishermen and a cargo of oil, penguin?, on 8 June 1867. His second journey was made in the 135 ton schooner Liffey with 14 fishermen leaving Cape Town on 30 November 1867 and returning on 13 June 1868 with a cargo of oil. The next year the Lifley was commanded by Capt. R. Jeary who returned on 25 May 1869 with the cargo of Exdyptes penguin oil discussed by Layard (1869: 378). We may confidently hold that the material Layard (1867a) reported was obtained on the first journey and the balance in the South African Museum on the second. Despin e¢ a/. (1972) provide detailed modern data on the ornithology of the Crozets against which the material collected by Capt. Armson can be assessed, material which was virtually the first from the Crozets to come into scientific hands. Despin e¢ a/. (1972) often note that Layard did not specify which island his skins and eggs came from. It appears from Watson (1975: 295) that at least both large islands of the group, Possession and East, were | visited since eggs of Pachyptila salvini, restricted to Possession Island, and of | Halobaena caerulea, restricted to East Island, were obtained. In any case | nobody in the 1860s thought it very important to specify exactly which | member of a group of remote islands a particular specimen came from, parti- | cularly when it might betray an exploitable source to a competitor. | Aptenodytes patagonicus: of the eggs mentioned by Layard (18674: 459) 3 sutvive and measure 110°0 X 77‘1, 108:8 X 75:3 and 106-4 X 73:2 mm, | Pygoscelis papua: according to Trimen’s MS catalogue in the South African | Museum (see Brooke 1976), there was once a specimen from the Crozets | but I find no evidence that eggs ever reached Cape Town. | Exudyptes chrysocome: 3 eggs measute 77:0 X 57:8, 74°6 & 52:2 and 71:0 < 55:0 mm. It may be that Layard was told that they all came from one bird | (1867a: 460) and that he was rightly sceptical of this story. | Exudyptes chrysolophus: 3 eggs measure 84:8 X 61-5, 83:4 X 63:9 and | 79°6 X 63:0mm and belong to this species which Layard (18674: 460) | inadequately distinguished from the preceeding. Layard (1869: 378) pointed . out that one cargo of penguin oil required the slaughter of 51,800 Eudyptes penguins in the Crozets. Their present abundance on East Island in the | Crozets, ¢c. 150,000 birds (Despin ef a/. 1972), shows that penguin populations | 7 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] can recover from slaughter when the rest of their environment is untroubled. Diomedea exulans: one egg measures 135-2 X 81-8 mm: Layard (1867a: 460, 1867b: 363) had several eggs from the Crozets. Phoebetria fusca|palpebrata: both forms breed on the Crozets (Despin e¢ a/. 1972) but Layard, like other workers of that period, did not realise that 2 species were involved and treated them as one sub nom. P. fuliginosa (18674: 458). Berruti (1977) has shown that there is a significant difference in the breadths of the eggs of these species: for P. fusca he gives 96-0-110°7 xX 59°3-68-7, av. (67) 103-0 xX 65-1 mm and for P. palpebrata he gives 98 -3- 106:4 X 62-+7-70°0, av. (17) 102-3 X 66-7. The last century eggs fall into two groups: one, of 2 eggs, is labelled Diomedea chlororhynchos (see Layard 1869: 377), though they do not resemble those of any mollymawk and are indistinguishable in shape and pattern from those of Phoebetria eggs: measur- ing 105-3 X 70:9 and 104-9 xX 70-0. In view of Berruti’s data on the com- parative breadth of Phoebetria eggs, these eggs are unequivocally those of P. palpebrata. ‘This should put to final rest the belief originating from Layard (1869) that D. chlororhynchos breeds on the Crozets. The remaining 3 eggs of this genus are not referable to species since they measure 105-8 xX 65-7, 105-1 X 65-5 and99-4 X 66-9 mm. They fit closer with the measurements of P. fusca, which is nowadays the commoner species there (Despin ef a/. 1972) and are probably referable to that species. All save one egg came from the second journey. Macronectes giganteus|halli: both species breed on the Crozets (Despin ef a/. 1972) and nobody has yet distinguished their eggs, not even by a significant difference in an average (Voisin 1976). The eggs measure 109-4 X 68-0 and 105-4 X 69:1 mm, came from both journeys and either might belong to either species. Pterodroma brevirostris: 4 unidentified eggs from the Crozets, measuring §8°G X 42°5,57°9 X 43'1, 56°8 X 43°6.and 55-4 X 41-8 mm, appear all to be of the same species. One carries an MS identification ‘Blue Aiglette’. Since Capt. Armson and his sailors who brought the material to Cape Town called the dark brown Phoebetria spp. ‘Blue Birds’, I take Blue Aiglette to refer to the dark brown species Prerodroma brevirostris, rather than to the blue-grey and white P. mwo/iis which lays the same sized egg (Serventy ef a/. 1971, Watson 1975: the former gives 55-60 X 44-47 mm for P. brevirostris and 58-59 x 42-43 for 3 eggs of P. mollis). Also Despin et a/. (1972) found P. brevirostris to be a commoner breeding species than P. mollis. Pterodroma macroptera: the one egg measures 66-2 X 48-2 mm: Layard (1867a: 460) only mentioned skins of adults and nestlings so the egg comes from the second journey. Pachyptila salvini: Despin et al. (1972: 48) thought that Layard’s (1867a: 460) reference to P. banksi as a breeding species in the Crozets was an error for P. salvini. They are correct. The eggs attributed to P. banksi (and P. turtur in MS) measure 53:4 X 36-3, 51°4 X 35°6 and 51-3 X 37°8 mm which places them among the larger eggs of P. salini from the Crozets (Despin e¢ a/. 1972: Tab. XVIII). Halobaena caerulea: an unidentified egg measuring 51-7 xX 38:5 and in- scribed in MS ‘Small Mutton Bird’ probably belongs to this species on its measurements (Serventy ef a/. 1971, who give 44-54 X 32-40 mm, Watson 1975). It is a known breeder in the Crozets (Despin e¢ a/. 1972). [Bull. B.O.C. 7978: 98(3)] 78 Procellaria aequinoctialis: 3 eggs of this species (¢f. Layard 1867a: 459) measure 80:9 X 54:6, 80:6 X 54:8 and 78:7 X 51:0 mm. Fregetta tropica: I did not find the eggs mentioned by Layard (18672: 459). Pelecanoides georgicuslexsul: 2 eggs measure 44:3 X 32:4 and 40-9 X 31°1 mm and following Serventy e¢ a/. (1971), who give 35-42 X 27-31:5 mm, are probably referable to P. exsu/. Another egg which does not look con- specific measures 38-5 X 31:5 mm and fits well with the measurements Despin ef a/. (1972: 60) give for P. georgicus. Layard (18674: 460) only referred to skins of P. urinatrix, i.e. exsul, so the eggs are among the fruits of the second journey. Phalacrocorax albiventer: Layard (1867a: 460) refers to eggs which I did not find. Anas eatoni: this is the ‘small teal’ which Layard (1867a: 460) could not identify. Two eggs taken on the second journey measure 53-4 X 38-1 and 53°O X 37:8 mm. The museum also holds an egg from Desolation (=Ker- guelen) Island taken in 1876 which measures 51-8 X 37:1 mm. This is close to the figures in Kidder (1876): 45-7-55°4 X 35:°6-38-1, av. (9) 51°8 X 36:7 mm and compatible with those in Despin e¢ a/. (1972: 68). Chionis minor: it does not appear that Capt. Armson ever brought back further eggs to replace the one attacked by mice (Layard 18672: 458). Catharacta skua lonnberg: there ate 2 eggs of this species with an MS determination in the same hand as on all Crozet eggs but, unlike all the others, the scribe has not noted their provenance upon them. They measure 75°I X 53:0 and 73-0 X 51-9 mm and are very probably those referred to by Layard (1867a: 459). Larus dominicanus: 6 eggs measure 74:9 X 49:8, 74°3 X 49°8, 72°9 X 46-2, 72°8 X §1°I, 71°9.X 48-4 and 7o-4 X 51-3 mm. The dast cee las been placed with C. skua but looks misplaced there. Layard (1867a: 459) was uncertain which blackbacked gull bred there. Sterna virgata|vittata: Despin et al. (1972: Table XL) show that it is not possible to discriminate between the eggs of these 2 terns, which both breed on the Crozets. The eggs measure 48-1 X 32:2, 46:8 X 31:9 and 44-4 X 32:o mm. Layard (18674: 459) called the species S. merzdionalis. If Layard had examined and reported all the material he received through Capt. Armson from the Crozet Islands, these islands’ ornithology would have been substantially known much earlier. RounpD IsLanp, MAuRITIUS Puffinus pacificus: 7 eggs measure 59:0-66-0 X 38-8-41-4 mm. Puffinus lherminieri: an unidentified small egg of this genus measures 47°3 X 31°6mm. Murphy (1936: 688) cites similar measurements for the Galapagos race, P. /. subalaris, (48-5 X 33:8 and 47:1 X 32:9 mm). Serv- enty et a/. (1971) give much greater measurements (av. 59 X 43 mm) for the other likely candidate, Pterodroma arminjoniana, mentioned by Watson ef al. (1963). Vinson (1976) gives 55-66 x 40-5—-48 mm for 18 modern eggs of P. arminjoniana from Round Island. Layard’s record provides part of the confirmation called for by Watson e¢ a/. (1963) for regarding Pufinus sher- minieri as at least a former breeder on Round Island. Temple (1976) thinks it may still breed there as well as above the Tamarin River gorge on Mauri- | tius itself. 79 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] Sterna fuscata: 4 eggs measure 54:1 X 36-0, 52°1 X 35°11, §1°7 X 35°4 and 50:9 X 36-1 mm. Watson ef a/. (1963) and Staub (1973) do not record S. fuscata as breeding on Round Island. It is apparent from Watson ef a/. (1963) that H.M.S. Castor on which Layard was travelling when he collected these eggs must have visited Round Island in November and Brooke (1976) shows that the year must have been 1856. SANDY IsLAND, RODRIGUEZ Aunous stolidus: 8 eggs measute 50:2-53:2 X 35°4-38-7 mm. The eggs were collected in November 1856, a deduction from comparing the data on breeding season in Watson ef a/. (1963) and Layard’s years of travel in Brooke (1976). FARQUHAR ISLAND, PROVIDENCE Phaethon rubricauda: one egg measures 62:5 < 44:1 and has a pale ground densely spotted with purple as well as having a few small blotches of that colour. It has only been identified to genus but in the light of the measure- ments given by Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1952) (64 x 46 mm as opposed to 50 X 37 for P. kepturus and 55 x 38 for P. indicus) it is clearly referable to this species even though it is not recorded here by Watson e¢ a/. (1963). Sula dactylatra: one egg measures 66-4 X 44°4 mm. Sula sula: an egg attributed to S. dactylatra measures 58-8 X 39:1 mm and should be placed with S. sw/a in the light of the measurements given by Serventy ef a/. (1971): 55-66 X 38-43 mm. Fregata minor: 2 eggs measure 71:4 X 48-4 and 70-3 X 49:7 mm. This is the first breeding record from the Providence Islands (Brooke 1976). Farquhar Island was visited in October or November 1856 for the reasons given under Sandy Island. Mr. A. S. Cheke advises (¢# /t.) that the log of H.M.S. Castor no longer sutvives, so that it is not possible to obtain direct data on when the different localities from which material was obtained were visited. An examination of the Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette shows that H.M.S. Castor left Simonstown, the then British naval base at the Cape, on 10 October 1856 for Mauritius. It left Durban on 13 March 1857 for Port Elizabeth, which it reached on 17 March. It left two days later for Simonstown, which it reached on 25 March 1857. The most economical fit of the data in this paper and in Brooke (1976) seems to be: Simonstown to 40° 20’ S, 41° 00’ E where a few wintering seabirds were obtained, followed by a northeasterly tack to 32° 46’ S, 59° 13’ E whete more wintering seabirds were obtained at the end of ctober or perhaps the beginning of November. Mauritius and Rodriguez to the north were next visited (in which order?) in November when birds laying in November had their eggs collected. Although the birds whose °ggs were collected at Farquhar Island are predominantly October layers, it seems that it was not visited until late November after leaving Mauritius and Rodriguez. Thereafter, H.M.S. Castor continued northwest to the coast bf northern Kenya where many Palaearctic waders in non-breeding plumage were obtained: this would be very feasible in December. It then proceeded down the African coast to at least Cabo Delgado in northern Moazambique where a nest-building Nectarinia senegalensis was obtained: this could be in [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] 80 December or even January (Mackworth-Praed & Grant 1955). The visit to northwest Madagascar presumably came next, in February, before a return to the African coast near the mouth of the Zambezi, thereafter proceeding southwards, obtaining a few cold water seabirds off southern Mozambique in eatly March 1857, to reach Durban before 13 March 1857. Acknowledgements: 1 am obliged to Prof. W. R. Siegfried and my colleagues A. E. Burger, J. Cooper and J. C. Sinclair for useful comments on a draft of this paper. References: Berruti, A. 1977. Co-existence in the Phoebetria albatrosses at Marion Island. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Cape Town. Brooke, R. K. 1976. Layard’s extralimital records in his Birds of South Africa and in the South African Museum. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 96: 75-80. Despin, B., Mougin, J. L. & Segonzac, M. 1972. Oiseaux et mammiféres de I’Ile de l’Est. C.NFRA, 32. Kidder, J. H. 1876. Contributions to the natural history of Kerguelen island. Bu//. U.S. Nain. Mus. 3. Layard, E. L. 1867a. On birds and eggs from the Crozette Islands. Jbis pp. 457-461. — 1867b. The Birds of South Africa. Cape Town: Juta. — 1869. Further notes on South-African ornithology. /bis pp. 361-378. Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1952, 1955. Birds of Eastern and Northeastern Africa. Vols. 1 & 2. London: Longmans Green. Murphy, R. C. 1936. Oceanic Birds of South America. Vol. 2. New York: Macmillan. Serventy, D. L., Serventy, V. & Warham, J. 1971: The Handbook of Australian Sea-birds. Sydney: Reed. Staub, F. 1973. Ozseoux de l’Ile Maurice. Port Louis: Mauritius Printing. Temple, S. A. 1976. Observations on seabirds and shorebirds on Mauritius. Ostrich 47: II7-125. ‘pao J. M. 1976. Notes sur les procellariens de l’Ile Ronde. Oiseaux Rev. Franc. Orn. 46: 1-24. Voisin, J. F. 1976. Observations sur les Petrels Géants de Ile aux Cochons (Archipel Crozets). Alauda 44: 411-429. bam G. E. 1975: Birds of the Antarctic and Sub- Antarctic. Washington: Amer. Geophysi- cal Union. Watson, G. E., Zusi, R. L. & Storer, R. W. 1963. Preliminary Field Guide to the Birds of the Indian Ocean. Washington: Smithsonian Institution. Address: Petcy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, R.S.A. Some observations of birds in Fah, northeast Eritrea by Stephanie ]. Tyler Received 9 December 1977 K. D. Smith’s (1957) annotated checklist of the birds of Eritrea comprehen- sively covered the literature up to the end of his own observations in 1954. He listed 528 species and commented on the surprisingly large number of land Palaearctic migrants in relation to the small size of Eritrea. Eritrea became annexed to Ethiopia in 1952 and Smith’s data is incorpora- ted into Urban & Brown’s (1971) checklist of the birds of Ethiopia. Other ornithologists, such as Dr. J. S. Ash (1977, in press), Brother E. Johnson, C. F. Mann (1971) and J. Boswall (1971) provided more data mostly from the coastal areas near Assab and Massawa and from the Dahlak archipelago. Between 6 June 1976 and 4 January 1977 the author and family were confined in an Eritrean Popular Liberation Front camp in an area known as Fah, north of Nacfa in northeast Eritrea, near the junction of the coastal 81 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] plain with the inland escarpment. The camp at Fah was rather below 300 m in a broad sandy wadi fringed with scattered trees and bushes, notably Acacia tortilis, Balanites aegyptica, Zizyphus spina-christi, Salvadora persica and Calotropis procera, and more localised clumps of Tamarix. A second wadi joining the larger one contained permanent flowing water, partly from a series of springs above a small waterfall, below which the smali shallow river passed through a steep-sided gorge—opening out at one point to form a pool with a pebble bank at one edge—and after a further 300 m or so disappeared into the sand close to the junction of the two wadis. On either side of the wadis were dry, rocky volcanic hills dissected by steep-sided rocky gullies. The sparse vegetation on these hills included Acacias such as A, melliphera, and more trees and shrubs grew along the gullies. The habitats in this semi-desert area correspond to K. D. Smith’s Type Arc (riparian woodland), Type Az (dry Acacia woodland), Type Bbz (lowland rivers) and Type Agar and az (rocky hills—cliffs and rocks). Observations at Fah were necessarily limited; in particular the confiscation of my binoculars by the guerillas made identification of birds of prey and distant birds difficult or impossible. Many birds must have passed through Fah without my having noticed them. My movements were very restricted during the daylight hours during which I sat under a tall Acacia tortilis and close to clumps of Sa/vadora. Occasionally it was possible to erect a 20 foot mist net in the Sa/vadora bushes. A walk to the river each evening, a distance of about 600 m, and occasional short walks near the A. sortilis, were the extent of my movements from 6 June to 8 September, after which the days were spent beneath another tree, an A. me/liphera, ina gully in the hills about 500 m from the main wadi. Movements were less restricted then and I could walk short distances into the hills. However, leaving the Sa/vadora bushes by the main wadi in early September was unfortunate because most Palaearctic passerine migrants were concentrated in their thick cover. In August a pan lid filled with water which also caught the drips from a water-filled goat skin, proved very attractive to normally skulking species such as Great Reed Warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus. Few passage migrants apparently ventured into the hills and after 8 September recording of migrants was : largely limited to the evening hour by the river and the walk to and from the tiver. Waders that atrived at Fah overnight and may have been by the river ] in the early morning would soon have been disturbed by siento guerillas and would have left before my evening visit. Several Ethiopian species one would have expected to see were notably “absent. Thus, no Fulvous Chatterers Turdoides fulvus or Drongos Dicrurus adsimilis were seen at Fah and hornbills and rollers were scarce. Kingfishers wete also absent, despite a wealth of food in the form of tadpoles in the fiver, though fish were absent. No doubt the extremely limited nature of both my observations and the area that I covered account for the compara- | tively small number of species seen; but Fah is a dry environment, apart from the stretch of river, and the resident avifauna must be very restricted jin species. The main gaps in my list must be of migrants and visitors. In the following systematic list remarks have been made where my obser- jvations differ from or add to Smith’s data. Numbers against each species jtefer to the numbers given in Urban & Brown (1971); those in brackets correspond to those used by Smith (1957). | | [Buall. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] 82 SYSTEMATIC LIST (24) 17. [xobrychus minutus Little Bittern. Singles 21.ix and 14.x. Smith recorded it only as a spring passage migrant at over 2300 m, as did Urban & Brown (1971); it has since been caught between late viii and late x elsewhere in Ethiopia (Ash in /iz.). (22) 19. Nycticorax nycticorax Night Heron. An immature, possibly always the same indivi- dual 19-20.x, 3.xi and 5.xi feeding on tadpoles by the river at dusk and sheltering in a small cave during daylight. Smith found it scarce throughout Eritrea and was unsure whether it was a Palaearctic migrant or resident. (19) 21. Ardeola ralloides Squacco. Singles seen most days 3.ix—10.xi, sometimes several together, max. 5 on 27.ix. One bird was picked up emaciated and exhausted. Smith found a oes coastal movement in late ix and early x, with only occasional individuals inland. (18) 22. Ardeola ibis Cattle Egret. Single bird by the river early viii, 7 on 31.viii. (15) 26. Egretta intermedia Yellow-billed Egret. 1-2 on 10, 11, 15 and 19.x. 18 unidentified egrets seeen 13.x were thought to be this species but may have been &. schistacea. Smith found EF. intermedia to be rate but he describes F. schistacea as a very common resident neat the coast. (16) 27. Egretta garzetta Little Egret. Single bird 6-8.x. Smith recorded it as a common passage migrant late ix—early x. [(13) 32. Ardea purpurea Purple Heron. Probably 2 on 26.ix and another on 21.x flying noisily overhead and attempting to land by the river. Smith recorded a spectacular migra- tion with parties of up to 70 birds moving south along the coast, ix and x.] (26) 34. Scopus umbretita Hammerkop. Singles 31.vii and 20.xii. (50) 62. Anas strepera Gadwall. One exhausted immature male, 3.xi. Smith states regular on passage in x. (53) 70. Anas querquedula Garganey. Single 22.viii. The commonest duck according to Smith, with the earliest arrival early vii, to late x. (78) 84. Milvus migrans Black Kite. A juvenile, 16 and 23.viii. 3-4 overhead, 8.xi and a singe 25.xii were probably M. m. migrans which Smith found an abundant passage migrant xi and xii. (66) 86. Neophron percnopterus Egyptian Vulture. Frequently seen in a pair or singly, vi- viii, probably breeding on cliff nearby. [(61) 90. Gyps sp. 2 on 23.vii were thought to be G. fulvus, but no positive identification. ] (89) 94. Circaetus gallicus Short-toed Hartier Eagle. Single, low over the hills, 8.xi and 3.i. (92) 97. Terathopius ecaudatus Bateleur. Singles, 29.vii and 3.1. (103) 102. Melierax metabates Datk Chanting Goshawk. A juvenile present vii-i. Prey items included Jizards as well as birds, and an attempt was made to catch a young Ground Squirrel Xerus rutilus. (100) 112. Accipiter badius Shiktra. Frequent sightings of single birds, vi-i. (95) 115. Buteo buteo vulpinus Steppe Buzzard. Frequently overhead, x and xi. (83) 122. Aquila rapax Tawny Eagle. Several sightings of A. r. raptor or A. r. orientalis 22.viii-10.xii. Smith recorded A. r. raptor as a common resident and A. r. orientalis as an abundant autumn immigrant. (86) 126. Hieraaetus fasciatus African Hawk Eagle. Occasional sightings throughout our stay at Fah, sometimes at close quarters. (87) 131. Polemaetus bellicosus Mattial Eagle. A pair with two juveniles seen frequently vi-ix. (73) 137. Falco tinnunculus Kestrel. Seen regularly after ix, probably the migrant F. 7. tinnunculus. (69) 145. Falco biarmicus Lanner. Frequent sightings, vi-i of 1-2 birds. | (—) 150. Ammoperdix heyi Sand Partridge. A pair flew up from the edge of the river on | 31.xii and one was clearly observed on a low cliff. Not seen or heard until then. Smith only | included A. heyi in an appendix of species whose presence required confirmation; the only record was of one chick doubtfully identified by Zedlitz (1910) on an island off Massawa. (120) 178. Porzana porzana Spotted Crake. One feeding by river near patch of Juncus, 16.x; twice, when disturbed, it flew to neatby thicket of Castor-oil plant Ricinus communis. Smith found it a fairly common spring passage migrant usually above 2300 m, scarcer in the autumn. (123) 184. Gallinula chloropus African Moothen. One by tiver, 17.x, took covet in a small cave in rocks by the water when disturbed. Smith found it an uncommon, shy bitd of | upland streams over 2300 m. | (137) 215. Charadrius tricollaris Three-banded Plover. One pair resident along a 500m stretch of the river for the duration of our stay. Three breeding attempts — in vii, ix and | 83 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] xii; young hatched from the ix laying on 24.x, and were first seen flying after 30 days. Other pairs and family groups passed through Fah during viii. (165) 227. Tringa glareola Wood Sandpiper. Singles by the river, 23.viii, 22-25. ix and 2 on 15.xii. (264) 228. Tringa ochropus Green Sandpiper. Singles, 16.vii, 23.vili, 8.ix and 2.x. Smith’s earliest arrival was 25.vii. (163) 229. Tringa hypoleucos Common Sandpiper. Singles, 24—25.vii, 22-23.vill, 2.ix and 15—16.x. . 52) 235. Gallinago gallinago Snipe. One on 5.xi in Juncus patch by the springs. (157) 240. Calidris minuta Little Stint. One on 3.ix and 4 on 2.xi. (160) 245. Philomachus pugnax Ruff. 2 on 22.viii (flying ahead of an advancing mass of water which temporarily flooded the wadi), one on 24.viii, several on 19.ix and one on 20-21.ix. (150) 246. Himantopus himantopus Black-winged Stilt. An adult, 18-19.ix and an immature, 21—-24.ix. (20 aya, Prerocles lichtensteinii Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse. Heard most evenings from lower down the wadi where there was more flowing water. (212) 302. Streptopelia roseogrisea Pink-headed Dove. Not seen until first week of viii when 1-2 individuals arrived; common ix—x, then disappeared. Smith recorded local movements to foot of escarpment in hottest months. (213) 303. Streptopelia senegalensis Laughing Dove. The commonest dove at Fah, less abun- dant after ix. (214) 304. Ocena capensis Namaqua Dove. Small flocks often feeding with S. senegalensis until ix. Only occasional individuals recorded after ix, suggesting local movement elsewhere. Both this species and S. senegalensis were trapped for food in crude snares by the guerillas. (219) 328. Cuculus canorus Cuckoo. One on 25.vii, 11.viii, 11.x and 15.x, probably C. c. canorus; but Smith considered it an autumn passage migrant 18.vili—late ix. (272) 341 ot (273) 342. Bubo sp. Seen amongst rocks in ravine, 2.x-24.x, feathers found ina cave further up in the hills. Not positively identified but similar to B. /acteus with unspotted, finely barred underparts and pink eye-lids. However, B. /acteus prefers resting in large trees, whereas B. africanus prefers rocky ravines (Smith). B. africanus was seen further south in wooded hills at about 1000 m. Other eagle owls were seen north of Fah on the coastal plain during the night of 4.1. Dr. J. Ash (én /it#.) suggests that B. ascalaphus cannot be ruled out. (270) 344. Glaucidium perlatum Pear\-spotted Owlet. Only seen once, 31.xii, but frequent - along wadis south of Fah. (276) 352. (277) 353. Caprimulgus sp. From vi-i a female nightjar flew each evening from the hills before dusk to a rocky knoll near the main wadi and for 15-20 minutes performed aerial antics, repeatedly flying up a few feet from the ground. Perhaps this was feeding behaviour but food items were never seen and the bird flew to exactly the same spot each evening, only about 10 m from us. It had a uniform appearance but a slight collar was evident. Churring and wing-clapping were heard in the hills during vi. A male, flushed from the ground and later from a tree in a rocky gully in the hills in early vii, had white tips to the outer tail feathers. At the time I tentatively identified them as Dusky Nightjars C. | fraenatus, but Smith found this species only in the highlands near Asmara, although White (1965) did include rocky scrub in Eritrea within its range. Nubian Nightjar C. nubicus, which Smith found at and near the coast, is perhaps more likely on range and habitat, but as J. S. Ash points out (én /itt.), the churring call is certainly not nubicus. (302) 363. Apus sp. Possibly Mottled Swift A. aequatorialis seen on 21 and 27.vii in hundreds flying low overhead and feeding on winged ants; noted as large dark swifts compared with A, affinis which was also flying amongst them. However, Smith only recorded A. aequa- torialis from high altitudes and possibly I was confused by size, and Common Swifts A. , a Mann (1971) recorded in vast numbers in coastal Eritrea in viii and ix, were involved. (304) 369. Apus affinis Little Swift. Present for the duration of our stay; 4 pairs breeding on cliffs by the river. Smith recorded it breeding only above 1300 m, wandering to the low- lands in winter. (283) 373. Colius macrourus Blue-naped Mousebird. Common in groups of up to 6-7 from |-Vi.-i. (248) 384. Merops apiaster Eutopean Bee-Eater. A flock of about 30, 24.viii and 2 flocks passing over, 25.viii. (249) 385. Merops superciliosus persicus Blue-cheeked Bee-Eater. Two exhausted birds by the tiver, 29.viii and a flock, 6.ix, earlier dates than known to Ash (in press), but Mann (1971) ) tecorded it on the Dahlak Islands and at Massawa from 20.viii. [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] 84 (252) 388. Merops albicollis White-throated Bee-Eater. Several pairs along the main wadi, vi-vii. Small flocks (? family groups), viii and ix, then not seen again. Presumed breeding on cliffs vi-vii. (235) 395. Coracias abyssinica Abyssinian Roller. Single, 26.viii. Smith noted that it wanders during the autumn. More were seen by a wadi with more trees, about 30 km from the camp at Fah. (261) 399. Upupa epops epops Hoopoe. 1-4 seen daily 20.viii-early ix, an earlier arrival date than given by Ash (in press). (256) 404. Tockus nasutus Grey Hornbill. Occasional visitor, heard several times, and family group of 4 birds seen once by main wadi, 21.ix; common further south in lowland Acacia scrub north of the Asmara to Massawa road, early vi. (257) 405. Tockus erythrorhynchus Red-billed Hornbill. Not seen at the camp but several seen about 30 km away by a tree-lined wadi. (288) 416. Lybius melanocephala Black-throated Barbet. 2-3 pairs vi-i. Nested in a hole in a Balanites tree by a tavine, presumed to be incubating in xii. (290) 420. Lrachyphonus margaritatus Y ellow-breasted Barbet. Two pairs at Fah. A pair was feeding young in a cliff hole on 26.v further south in Eritrea. (293) 430. Campethera nubica Nubian Woodpecker. Frequently seen, vi-i. — 436. Thripias namaquas Bearded Woodpecker. Seen once, vii. Smith knew of no records. (308) 447. Ammomanes deserti Desert Lark. One pait seen most days, vi-i, on rock-strewn slope between the hills and the wadi. During xi and xii this pair became very tame, visiting us each morning for breadcrumbs. Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1957) note that this species is usually shy. (309) 457. Cutie cristata Crested Lark. Single birds 26.vii and 29.x. (424) 459. Riparia riparia European Sand Martin. First seen 7.vili, a single Bird: several 3.ix and a flock 17.ix; then seen nearly daily in small groups late ix—x. (419) 462. Hirundo rustica Swallow. First seen 9.vili, a single bird; 12 on 25.viii and small — numbers daily to end x. (422) 468. Hirundo daurica Red-rumped Swallow. Single on 8.ix and 3 together 18.ix. Smith noted that 1. d. rufula is probably a regular passage migrant but that the resident H. d. melanocrissa may also move down to the coastal plains in winter. (429) 472. Hirundo fuligula Aftican Rock Martin. Resident vi-i, breeding on cliffs by the river and in the hills, incubating in xii; recently fledged young seen 3.1. (320) 476. (323). Motacilla flava Yellow Wagtail. Passage migrant first seen 29.viii, then flocks of over 20 seen daily by the river until 29.x. Four probable races distinguished— lutea on 6.ix, feldegg, thunbergi and flava; mixed flava and thunbergi flocks were most common. Smith recorded M. flava late viii-early v. An out of season bird seen 8.vi and further south in Eritrea a pair (male fe/degg), both with injured legs, 31.v. (319) 477. Motacilla cinerea Grey Wagtail. Single bird, 12.viii, then seen daily singly or in groups of up to 6 until 27.x. Smith first noted Grey Wagtails on 22.viii. (317) 479. Motacilla alba White Wagtail. Recorded from 20.x until my departure on 4.i, numbers increasing to a maximum of 19. One of the few Palaearctic migrants to remain at Fah after x. Smith found it a late migrant, arriving first on 14.x in Eritrea, but Mann (1971) recorded it on the Dahlaks during early ix. [(325). 481. Anthus campestris Tawny Pipit. Probably this species seen low on the hills, 31.Xii. | (326) 484. Anthus similis Long-billed Pipit. 1-2 pairs frequently seen vi-i, usually on rocks near the river, coming to drink. Smith noted that A. s. nivescens should occur in eastern Eritrea but did not obtain a specimen. (329) 486. Anthus trivialis Tree Pipit. Usually seen singly but up to 3 birds 12.ix.-20.x. Smith only recorded this pipit above 1250 m. (330) 487. Anthus cervinus Red-throated Pipit. First seen 22.x, 2 birds; then 1-2 daily to 3.xi. (334) 494. Pycnonotus barbatus White-vented Bulbul. Frequent tame resident. Breeding south of Fah ah, incubating on 5.vi, indicating laying in v or vi. (440) 513. (441). Lanius collurio Red-backed Shrike. L. c. collurio seen frequently 29.vili- 11.xii—single males and females; red-tailed L. c. zsabellinus seen from 29.ix up to my depat- ture 4.i. One bird with unusually large white wing patches wintered close to the tall Acacia tortilis by the wadi and could be seen daily. Occasionally the resident L. excubitor drove this red-tailed shrike away. Smith noted that the nominate race was only a passage migrant mid viti—late ix. (437) 514. Lanius minor Lesser Grey Shrike. Two seen separately, 28.viii and 30. viii, feeding on cicadas. = see ee! le 85 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] (436) 515. Lanius excubitor Great Grey Shrike. Pair present for the duration of my stay. They became remarkably tame, scavenging pieces of goat meat and attracted to a tin of sugar around which large wasps gathered. Single birds in viii and ix may have been passage migrants of other than the resident race. (442) 520. Lanius senator Woodchat Shrike. A female arrived 2.ix and remained in a small area close to the Acacia tortilis until 7.ix. (439) 521. Lanius nubicus Nubian Shrike. Only one record, 25.x. Surprisingly uncommon, as it was common in the Tigre lowlands in i, 1i and ili 1976. (523) 369. Saxicola rubetra Whinchat. Singles 12.ix and 3.xi. Smith noted that it did not winter in Eritrea, leaving by mid ix but Ash (in press) recorded it in Ethiopia 26.viii-first week v. (358) 530. Oenanthe xanthoprymna Red-tailed Wheatear. A male seen in a rocky gully 27.xii and 31.xli-3.1. (352) 531. Oenanthe isabellina Isabelline Wheatear. 1-3 25.viii-22.ix. Surprisingly this was the only autumn wheatear passage migrant seen. (356) 532. Oenanthe leucopyga White-cumped Wheatear. Resident pair seen frequently. Courtship observed in the hills in x and xi and a juvenile seen in vii. Smith recorded it as a local scarce wheatear, confined to lava fields in lower Dancalia from Assab north to Gaharre and perhaps further. The Fah records are indeed further north. I also recorded it on the laval slopes of Mt. Ertale, Tigre in March 1976. [(360) 534. Oenanthe bottae Red-breasted Wheatear. One brief sighting, 8.ix, probably of this species. Smith had one record of O. b. heuglini from near Keren. ] (362) 535. Cercomela melanura Black-tailed Rock Chat. Common resident amongst rocks in the hills and feeding under bushes by the main wadi. Juveniles seen in early i, indicating laying in xi or xil. (349) 545. Monticola solitaria Blue Rock Thrush. First seen 6.x, thereafter up to four daily up to the time of my departure in early i. Ash (in press) recorded the earliest arrival date as 13.x. (No rock Thrushes /. saxicola seen.) (373) 547- Phoenicurus ochruros Black Redstart. A male in a rocky gully, 9.xii. A poorly known species in Ethiopia; Smith gives only one record, Feb. 1907; Cheesman recorded it as local and not uncommon in tree-forest at 1300 m but not seen on the high plateau (in Moreau 1972); Mann (1971) recorded it in 1962 in ‘ones and two’s on the Dahlak Archi- pelago during the last week of August and first week of September’. Urban & Brown (1971) summarise its status as an uncommon migrant in the north of the west highlands, but there is a paucity of recent records. I recorded two near the crater of Mt. Ertale, Tigre in March 1976. (372) 548. Phoenicurus phoenicurus Redstart. Common passage migrant, 10.x-5.xi, both taces—samamiscus and phoenicurus. A female on 2.xi was feeding from rocks on the ground in the manner of a Red-tailed Chat Cercomela familiaris. (371) 549. Cercotrichas podobe Black Bush Robin. Common resident, breeding vi. (386) 550. Cercotrichas galactotes Rufous Bush Chat. Common and breeding v and vi. After ix it disappeared. A single seen late x may have been a migrant C. g. syriaceus. Smith made no mention of any regular movement of C. g. minor, describing it as resident. (374) 560. Luscinia svecica Bluethroat. A male L. s. magna by the river 18.ix—3.x. A second male 18.x; both fed on beetle larvae living in vertical burrows in moist sand by the river. Smith recorded it as a scarce passage migrant. (375) 561. Lrania gutturalis White-throated Robin. One male, 26.viii. Smith found it a common autumn passage migrant 28.vili-23.ix above 2000 m. (394) 586. Acrocephalus scirpaceus Reed Warbler. One caught 1.ix, but there were numerous Acrocephalus warblers in Salvadora bushes along the wadi 25.viii—-end ix, some of which may well have been A. palustris or A. scirpaceus. (392) 588. Acrocephalus arundinaceus Great Reed Warbler. Several birds passing through _ between 14.viii and 25.viii, an earlier arrival date than met with by Ash (7 Uitt.). Two were caught, both in tail moult. (90) 596. Hippolais pallida Olivaceous Warbler. Present throughout much of our stay, first seen 13.vi. A pair was observed in the Acacia tortilis, 27.vii but none after x. Possibly _ it breeds in Eritrea. | (381) 598. Syia hortensis Orphean Warbler. Birds seen between xi and i were believed to _ be this species but some may have been confused with the resident S. /eucomelaena. | (379) 599. Sylvia borin Garden Warbler. Passage migrant seen only 25—26.viii. ) ) | (380) 600. Sylvia atricapilla Blackcap. Seen daily 11.x-28.x. (378) Go1. Sylvia communis Whitethroat. Only seen 12.x—22.x. [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] 86 (377) 602. Sylvia curruca Lesser Whitethroat. Seen 28.viii-16.x, an earlier arrival date than Smith’s of 16.ix, and 12.ix which Mann (1971) recorded. (383) 605. Sylvia mystacea Ménétriés Warbler. Only seen twice, on 7.ix. (382) 606. Sylvia leucomelaena Red Sea Warblet. Frequent throughout our stay. Often in Acacia melliphera in rocky gullies but also feeding in trees by the main wadi. Courtship behaviour and song noted, particularly in mid xii. Smith also noted this warbler in steep gullies with sparse Acacia cover below 300 m. (396) 607. Phylloscopus trochilus Willow Warbler. Numerous records during late viii and ix, some of which may have been also of P. collybita, but song not heard. One bird seen on 24.x and 27.x in Salvadora by the river had a grey uniform appearance from a distance like that of Sy/via borin but a slighter, less rounded appearance; at close quarters green on the wings, greyish-white underparts and yellow tinge to the breast and vent were noted. Possibly P. bonelli, but the only other previous record for Eritrea or Ethiopia was from Massawa by Beals in 1965. (399) 632. Spiloptila rufifrons Red-faced Warbler. Only one pair seen, 29.x, in stunted Acacia by the edge of a rocky gully in the hills, despite being constantly alert for this species. Smith found it locally common below 800 m. (401) 639. Sylvietta brachyura Crombec. Frequently seen, vi-i. (355) 644. Muscicapa striata Spotted Flycatcher. Perhaps the most numerous and conspicu- ous passage migrant at Fah, up to six birds seen daily 17.viii—3.xi. Smith recorded it as common in the autumn, 18.viii—late x. (341) 655. Batis orientalis Grey-headed Puff-back Flycatcher. Frequently seen, vi-i; male singing vii and viii, and a family group seen 22.xii, indicating laying in xi. (477) 670. Anthreptes metallicus Pigmy Sunbird. Abundant vi-ix but absent x-i (when I left). Smith also noted this marked regular local migration in eastern Eritrea; he found that birds appear on the coastal plain in i and ii and depart, probably for the foot of the escarp- ment in vi. At Fah, by ix, sunbirds were in non-breeding dress; during vii and viii they had © gathered with juveniles during the day in the tall Acacia tortilis, where up to 60 were present at mid-day. Breeds v and vi, but a late nest containing young was found 28.viii. (478) 679. Nectarinia habessinica Shining Sunbird. Much less common than A. metallicus but 1-4 usually seen daily throughout our stay. Four males displaying in the same Acacia II-12.viii; females buildings nests 9.viii and 30.viii; another pair feeding young in a nest at end viii. Further south in Eritrea, in lowlands east of Asmata, a pair was feeding young in a nest 27.v. (524) 691. Emberiza hortulana Ortolan. 1-4 by the river 20.ix—28.ix. Smith noted it as an abundant passage migrant above 1300 m with a few staying to winter. (528) 697. Emberiza striolata House Bunting. Not common, but seen on several occasions, most months from vi-i, usually in pairs. (503) 718. Amadina fasciata Cut-throat. A small flock, 27-28.vii. (510) 724. Estrilda rhodopyga Crimson-rumped Waxbill. Seven on 30.x and four on 28.xii. (502) 738. Lonchura malabarica Silverbill. 1-2 pairs seen frequently in all months, usually by the river. (497) 747. Ploceus galbula Ruppell’s Weaver. Common along the main wadi, with scattered small breeding colonies in Acacia trees; nest building in xi and xii. Further south in Eritrea I saw active breeding colonies with eggs and nestlings in v and vi. (486) 786. Passer luteus Sudan Golden Sparrow. Two immature birds first seen 14.viii when they came to drink from a pan lid; flocks of up to 30 seen occasionally up to i, but al] in non-breeding dress. Smith found it on the coastal plains below 300 m and breeding in i. (487) 789. (488) 790. Petronia sp. A single bird in the main wadi on several occasions in vi was one of these two species. Fleeting glimpses suggested P. dentata but J. S. Ash (in litt.) believes pygita is more likely on habitat, although Smith found dentata in Acacia in Eritrea. P. brachydactyla was ruled out on dates. (490) 791. Sporopipes frontalis Speckle-fronted Weaver. A small flock seen once very briefly in vii. Smith however, noted its absence from eastern Eritrea, although Friedmann (1937) indicated that it did occur there. S. frontalis was common on the Tigre/Eritrean border at heights of up to about 2000 m in v, and in lowlands east of Asmara in late v, when it was nesting. (461) 802. Cinnyricinclus leucogaster Violet-backed Starling. Common in vi and vii, feeding on Salvadora betries, but only rarely seen after vii; 3 females seen 28.viii. Smith stated that plateau and western birds were migrants but that eastern birds were resident throughout the year. In lowlands east of Asmara this species was feeding small young in a hole in a tree in late v. 87 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] (460) 811. Creatophora cinerea Wattled Starling. Ten on 23.vii and one male in breeding dress 30.Viii. (471) 814. Buphagus erythrorhynchus Red-billed Oxpecker. Seen frequently on camels, goats and donkeys passing through Fah. (453) 815. Oriolus oriolus Golden Oriole. A male, 27.viii, was the first of many passing through, 1-2 seen daily to 24.ix Smith recorded it as a common autumn and spring passage migrant, from 1.ix to third week of x. Mann (1971) recorded them on the Dahlaks on 28- 29.viii. (459) 824. Corvus ruficollis Brown-necked Raven. Seen sporadically throughout our stay. Acknowledgement: 1 would like to thank Dr. J. S. Ash for reading and commenting on an earlier draft of this paper. References: Ash, J. S. 1977. Four species of birds new to Ethiopia and other notes. Bu//. Brit. Orn. Cl. he Axes — f press. The status of Palaearctic Birds in Ethiopia. Ostrich. Boswall, J. 1971. Notes from coastal Eritrea on se ected species. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 91: 81-84. Friedmann, H. 1930, 1937. Birds collected by Childs Frick Expedition to Ethiopia and Kenya Colony, Pts 1-2. U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 153. Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1957. African Handbook of Birds: Birds of Eastern and North Eastern Africa. Vols. 1 and 2. London. Mann, C. F. 1971. Migration in the Dahlac Archipelago and the neighbouring mainland of Ethiopia, autumn 1962. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 91: 41-46. Moreau, R. E. 1972. The Palaearctic-African Bird Migration Systems. Academic Press: London, New York. Smith, K. D. 1957. An annotated check list of the birds of Eritrea. [bis 99: 1-26, 307-337. Urban, E. K. U. & Brown, L. H. 1971. A Checklist of the Birds of Ethiopia. H.S.1. Univ. Press: Addis Ababa. White, C. M. N. 1965. A Revised Checklist of African Non-passerine Birds. Government Printer: Lusaka. Zedlitz, O. 1910. Meine Ornithologische Ausbeute in Nordost Afrika. J. Orn. 58: 280- 394, 731-807; 59: 1-92, 591-613. Address: Yew Tree Cottage, Lone Lane, Penallt, Gwent, Wales. On the validity of Alcedo cristata robertsi Peters, 1945 by P. A. Clancey : Received 21 January 1978 | Sharpe (1892) appears to have been the first to demonstrate the existence of geographical variation in the continental African populations of the Mala- _chite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata Pallas, 1764: Cape of Good Hope, Cape. Salomonsen (1934) and other workers in the 1930’s acknowledged this _ variation by recognising the nominate subspecies from South Africa, placing the other continental populations in A. ¢. galerita Miller, 1776: Senegal. Roberts (1932, 1935) described and recognised a third subspecies from the atid interior of southern Africa: Corythornis cristata longirostris (1932), the | type-locality of which is Kabulabula, Chobe R., northern Botswana. As | pointed out by Peters (1945), when the Genus Corythornis is merged with _ Alcedo, Roberts’ name longirostris is not available because of the prior | Alcedo longirostris Radde, 1884: Caucasus, a synonym of A. atthis atthis | (Linnaeus), 1758. To replace the pre-occupied A. c. /ongirostris (Roberts), | 1932, Peters proposed A. ¢. robertsi. i | | | In their important study of birds from Gabon and the Moyen Congo, [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] 88 Rand, Friedmann & Traylor (1959) confirmed the findings of Salomonsen, at the same time rejecting A. ¢. robertsi, synonymized earlier with the nomi- nate subspecies by Vincent (1952). Winterbottom (1961) expressed the view that the bill-length character used by Rand e¢ a/., Salomonsen and others to uphold two mainland races of the Malachite Kingfisher was invalid, as on this variable alone galerita was certainly not separable from cristata. In a re-examination of the variation, Clancey (1965) confirmed that eristata and falerita were separable on the basis of ventral colouration. At that time, following Rand ef a/., it was considered that robertst should be treated as synonymous with galerita. Recently in the course of correspondence, Mr. M. P. Stuart Irwin, Director of the National Museum of Rhodesia, Bulawayo, expressed the view that robertsi was valid on the basis of the series in the collection under his control, and requested that I reopen the question of its resuscitation. Variation in the continental populations of A. cristata affects the lengths of the bill and the wing, the degree of saturation of the under-parts and the colour of the under wing-coverts. Most arrangements of the populations have relied heavily on size characters, but as I have shown (1965), variation in the colour of the venter provides a more satisfactory means of arranging the populations of this kingfisher into admissible subspecies. When he separated northern Botswana birds as C. ¢. Jongirostris = A. c. robertsi, Roberts (1932) characterized them as averaging smaller than A. ¢. cristata of South Africa, but with the bill longer, and with the underside of the wing paler. The new subspecies was proposed on 17 skins and 16 of nominate cristata. The pooled resources of most South African museums and the National Museum of Rhodesia have enabled me to examine 24 specimens from the population named as robertsi and from immediately vicinal populations. Compared with Cape topotypes of the nominate subspecies, material from northwestern Rhodesia, northern Botswana and northern South West Africa stands apart on the starkly whiter throat and abdominal surfaces, and in moderately worn birds by the wholly whiter venter. The under wing-coverts are paler, less reddish cinnamon, and the wing-edge is whiter. The shift to a whiter ventral surface is perhaps better marked in the juveniles than in the adults, and, moreover, seems less likely to have been enhanced in any way by environmental factors, such as solar bleaching or abrasion, as I suspect has been the case in some of the whiter ventralled adults. In juveniles of robertsi the venter is whiter from the throat to the abdomen, and the pinkish buff or cinnamon is restricted to the lateral surfaces, there being no tendency to have a breast-band as in the nominate race. TABLE 1 Wing measurements (mm) of Alcedo cristata A, ¢. cristata Wing Mean Standard deviation Standard error Cape 20 g2 59-64 60°5 E32 0°30 Natal 20 d? 58-63 Go-o i242 0°32 Transvaal 20 g? 57-61 = §9°2 1°25 0°28 Rhodesia 25 32 56-62 §8°5 1°56 0°31 A. ¢. robertsi Botswana 2232 §3°5-59 §56°4 LS 0°32 89 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] Compared with the nominate race, robertsi also reveals a satisfactory size- difference, the wing being shorter in series (Table 1). The culmen length from base in 12 99 of A..¢. cristata from the Cape is 32-5-39°5, versus 35- 39 mm in robertsi, confirming the findings of Winterbottom that there is no statistically significant difference in bill-length between these two races. Compared with A. c. galerita, A c. robertsi is distinguishable on the basis of the more starkly white throat, white as opposed to buff belly, and in having the under wing-coverts paler and the wing-edge whiter. As in the comparison with the nominate race, robertsi weats to a wholly whiter ventralled bird than in gal/erita. The differences postulated in respect of the juveniles of robertsi also hold when a comparison is effected with juvenile material of galerita, the former being wholly whiter from throat to crissum. In size there is no difference between the two races. In conclusion, a re-examination of the bulk of the material of the Malachite Kingfisher held in southern African museums indicates that A. c. robertsi should be recognised as a valid subspecies, the characters and ranges of the three mainland African races of this kingfisher being as follows: (a) Alcedo cristata cristata Pallas, 1764 Throat buffy white; breast-band, sides and flanks dull ochraceous-tawny ; belly light buff. Juvenile buffy white on throat, rest of venter vinaceous- cinnamon, darkest across the breast. Wings of $9 58-64 mm (Cape & Natal). Range: Southern South West Africa, the Cape, Orange Free State, Natal and Zululand, southern Sul do Save, Mocambique, the Transvaal and Rhodesia. (b) Alcedo cristata robertsi Petets, 1945 Throat whiter than last; breast, sides and flanks darker tawny; belly whitish. Worn adults wholly whiter below. Under wing-coverts paler and wing-edge whiter. Juvenile whiter from throat to crissum. Size smaller: wings 53 -+5—59 mm. Range: Northern South West Africa, southern Angola, Caprivi Strip, northern Botswana, northwestern Rhodesia and southwestern Zambia. Remarks: Two specimens of A. c. robertsi in the collection of the Transvaal Museum, a 9 from Kabulabula, northern Botswana, dated 27 July 1930, and -an unsexed example from Linyanti, Caprivi Strip, dated 12 October 1970, differ from all other adult Malachite Kingfishers of the three continental faces available in having the pileum barred dull grey and black as opposed to caerulean and black, while the normal lustrous bluish violet of the dorsum _and wings is replaced by light caerulean blue. The significance of these aberrant specimens is currently uncertain. | (c) Aledo cristata galerita Miller, 1776 | Differs from nominate cristata in having the breast, sides and flanks | darker and more saturated tawny, and with the underwing still darker, the | wing-edge duller. Juvenile darker below with a better developed breast- band. Size as in robertsi. | Range: Mocambique north of the Limpopo R., Malawi, and Zambia and Angola north of roberts, thence throughout remainder of African mainland | tange of species, [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] 90 Acknowledgements: | am grateful to Mr. M. P. Stuart Irwin, Director of the National Museum of Rhodesia, for drawing my attention to the possible validity of A. c. robertsi and for placing his material at my disposal. The Directors of the South African Museum (Cape Town), the Natal Museum (Pietermaritzburg), and the Transvaal Museum (Pretoria) also assisted by sending their specimens of this kingfisher to Durban for study. References: Clancey, P. A. 1965. On the variation exhibited by the continental populations of the Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata Pallas. Ostrich 36 (1): 34, 35. Peters, J. L. 1945. Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 5: 176. Cambridge: Mass. Rand, A. L., Friedmann, H. & Traylor, M. A. 1959. Birds from Gabon and Moyen Congo. Fieldiana, Zool. 41 (2): 281, 282. Roberts, A. 1932. Preliminary descriptions of sixty-six new forms of South African birds. Ann, Transv. Mus. 15 (1): 25. Roberts, A. 1935. Scientific results of the Vernay-Lang Kalahari Expedition, March to September, 1930. Ann. Transv. Mus. 16 (1): 92, 93. Salomonsen, a 934. Zur Gliederung einiger westafrikanischer Eisvogel. Journ. f. Ornith. 82: 237-246. Sharpe, R. B. 1892. Family Alcedinidae in Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. 17: 165. Vincent, J. 1952. Check List of the Birds of South Africa. p. 42. Cape Town. Winterbottom, J. M. 1961. Systematic notes on birds of the Cape Province: XIV. Alcedo cristata (Pallas). Ostrich 32 (2): 97, 98. Address: Durban Museum, P.O. Box 4085, Durban 4000, South Africa. Inland observations of Barau’s Petrel Pterodroma baraui on Reunion by M. de L. Brooke Received 1 Decensber 1977 Barau’s Petrel Pterodroma baraui was first described by Jouanin (1963). Since then several specimens have been collected and many seen, and the available information on the species’ biology was summarised by Jouanin & Gill (1967). These authors considered P. baraui to belong to the group of tropical petrels included in the polytypic species Prerodroma hasitata. Only one nest has ever been found, not on Réunion, the type locality, but on Rodrigues (Cheke 1974). This note describes further observations on the species in the Cirque de Cilaos, Réunion, made daily 15-23 January 1974 and, in particular, comments on the diurnal activity pattern at a time when most breeding birds are likely to be incubating eggs. STUDY AREA, WEATHER AND METHODS Réunion, a volcanic island of extremely rugged topography, is roughly elliptical in shape, about 7o km long from northwest to southeast and about 50 km from northeast to southwest. The Cirque de Cilaos (¢. 21° 7’ S, 55° 29’ B) is slightly west of centre and approximately 25 km from the southwest coast. It is from the west and southwest coasts that most Barau’s Petrels apparently leave the sea en route to their inland nesting grounds (Jouanin & Gill 1967). The contoured map (Fig. 1) indicates the large size of the walls of the Cirque, which become steeper with altitude so that cliffs up to 800 m in height drop down from the major summits such as the Piton des Neiges. The height of the woodland canopy is about 10 m at Iooo m decreasing to 4 m at 2400 m and then low scrub, with the steepest cliffs bare. 91 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] ———S cet CIROUE DE SALAZIE Gros Morne CIRQUE DE MAFATE 2992 Piton des Neiges ars bt 3069 281 OR ee, Aa 8 ny 69.—-~ 9 = =" 2400~ Sq Caverne du four te ase Sas ps. Sei ve *4 = AK‘ Cohdd abit 2 52 4p ptm 3 ee Rho (Ge Wingy Weeee ts Plaine de / v] J yy rt 48057 >. atten ces Crake i Bier re er ee ange ac \ Salazes / Ay \ x6. ae *) 1505 \ a a NA ro! \ ee Eee eee sian PF ~ Sry py i Ns \ bie \ 4 ota) r\ \ y ~ $ al hike 45 he ) as ay SP cciaos rt Cee en \ i: tie “gee ace teh hc % sf ‘ies, 200 4 Hi Lan i] v ¢ CCPROVE DE CLLADS , oor’ * Cliff zr Escarpment surrounding cirque Contours at 200 m. intervais Map of the Cirque de Cilaos, Réunion, showing sites (1-6) from which Barau’s Petrels Pterodroma baraui were observed He during January 1974. epee oer eS eee During the observation period the daily weather cycle was well-marked and fairly constant. Following a clear night and dawn, cloud built up from 10.00 (all times refer to local time) and, during the afternoon, virtually all areas between 1800 m and 3000 m were in cloud. In the late afternoon strong air currents flowed up the walls off the Cirque so that by 20.30, in the after- glow period, the Cirque and surrounding mountains were once more clear of cloud except for occasional patches below 2000 m which dispersed during the night. I am informed (in litt.) by the Jngenieur en Chef de la Meteorologie at the Ministere des Transports, St. Denis, that such a pattern is characteristic of non-cyclonic periods on Réunion. Observations were made on 9 consecutive evenings, once throughout the night and on 4 mornings (Table 1). Sunrise and sunset were at about 06.40 and 20.10 respectively. At the eastern side of the Cirque, where most watches were done, there was complete darkness from about 20.45 to 06.15. [Bull. B.O.C.. 1978: 98(3)] 92 TABLE 1 Details of observations on Barau’s Petrel Pterodroma baraui in the Cirque de Cilaos, Réunion, during January 1974 Date Site Period of P. baraui Total no. seen P. baraui (Altitude, m) observation first seen (minimum estimate) last heard (evening only) (morning only) 7§ Jan: > t.@450) 18.00—20.05 19.10 30 16 I 06.20-07.00 None heard 16 I 18.30—20.15 18.30 70 ay 2 (2600) 17.30-20.15 18.00 50 18 2 05.15—06.15 06.05 18 2 £7.15 -21e05 18.30 120 19 3, (2900) 17.30—20.00 19.15 5 19 2 20.30—20.45 ~— 30 20 2 18,.00—22.45 19.25 50 20/21 Then for 5 mins at approx. hourly intervals . through night, until dawn 21 4 (1950) 18,10—20.25 18.45 100 22 5 (2080) 18.00—21.00 18.40 25 23 5 04.30 23 5 05.30-06.30 06.20 23 6 (1200) 18.30—20.40 18.45 25 *No time is given here since wind (see text)-greatly obscured calling. OBSERVATIONS | Observations were made mostly from the east side of the Cirque, and a few from the Col du Taibit (Site 5), which are mentioned separately. The first petrels of the evening appeared well before dusk (Table 1), as recorded in November by Jouanin & Gill (1967). Those seen from Sites 1 and 6 were directly overhead and usually flying in the direction of the Piton des Neiges at an estimated altitude of 1800-2000 m. It was not possible to be certain from which direction they arrived since most were seen only briefly through a temporary break in the clouds. At 2000 m the greatest activity occurred around 19.00, after which the greatest activity was at increasing altitude. To gain height the petrels circled like a raptor, several wing-beats alternating with gliding, exploiting the air currents sweeping up the sides of the Cirque. The strength of these currents could only be estimated by watching the rate at which a cloud boundary moved up the side of the Cirque and by ‘feeling’ the strength of the wind. I estimated that the vertical component of these currents might be 15 km/hr-. At 20.15 Barau’s Petrels were seen and heard to be concentrated between 2400 m and 2700 m, and the watches at Sites 4 and 5 established that none was calling below 2000 m. This was the period of greatest activity, with up to 70 birds visible simultaneously silhouetted against the sky over the ridge running southwestwards from the Piton des Neiges. The number of petrels I saw was therefore somewhat larger than the number recorded by Jouanin & Gill (1967). Other petrels, possibly a similar number, were audible be- tween the ridge and Site 2, but being close to the cliff were rarely visible in the fading light and none was ever seen to land on the cliffs. After 20.15 no petrels were heard immediately to the south of Site 2, However the regularity : : : | 93 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] with which 50 or more gathered over the southwestern ridge of the Piton suggests that this area holds a breeding colony. Possible nesting sites would be the vegetated ledges on the cliffs immediately to the southwest of the Piton. Such sites would be secure from the feral rats and cats present in the area. Some petrels were seen flying beyond the west ridge towards the Gros Morne where there are also large cliffs. During the evening watch at Site 5 (Col du Taibit) the cloud did not clear until after dark but the intensity of calling was similar to that heard from Site 2 and the large cliffs of the Grand Benard may hold a breeding colony. From about 20.45 the amount of calling declined steadily. On 20 January when observation stopped at 22.45 the last call was heard at 22.15 and the last bird flew overhead at 22.25. There is apparently little, if any, calling through the middle hours of darkness. It was unfortunate that during the overnight watch, 20-21 January, a fresh southeast wind sprang up after midnight which would have drowned faint calls: However no calling was heard at 04.30 on 23 January. Calling recurred from 05.15 or somewhat before, intensifying until 05.45—06.00, at which time some petrels were flying. As in the evening, calling was most intense around 2500 m. Calling subsided rapidly and was finished by about 06.15, after which time no petrels were seen or heard. DIscussION This account of inland activity agrees reasonably with observations at the coast in November (Jouanin & Gill 1967, A. S. Cheke pers. comm.). Birds began to fly inland from the coast at about 16.30 and continued to do so in an ever-increasing stream until, at about 19.00, it was too dark to see. Thus the last birds seen leaving the coast before dark would be arriving at the presumed colony at the times inland observations suggest, although there is no knowing whether the flow of petrels continues inland after dark. Some petrels near the coast circled to gain height like those climbing the Cirque de Cilaos. There are no dawn observations at the coast. Barau’s Petrel is unusual among P#erodroma species in combining high altitude nesting with a crepuscular pattern of activity at the colony.. The altitude of the presumed breeding colonies on Réunion is around 2500 m, although former colonies may have been somewhat lower (see Jouanin & Gill 1967 for historical details), and it nests at only 320 m on Rodrigues (A. S. Cheke pers. comm.). By arriving inland well before dark, Barau’s Petrel is able to circle in the air currents sweeping up the sides of the Cirque de Cilaos and thus reduce the energy cost of the ascent to the colony. These currents are at their strongest as the light fades in the early evening. Estimates were made of the possible energy saving between the two extreme instances (i) where all climbing is done in up-currents with wings held in place by tonic muscles and all horizontal distance from the coast to the presumed colony is covered by downhill gliding; and (ii) where all climbing and horizontal progress is achieved by powered flight at the minimum power speed. The following constants are assumed; mass 400 gm (unpublished data on adult P. arminjoniana and juvenile P. baraui provided by A. S. Cheke), wing [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] 94 span o-9 m (Greenewalt 1962, Jouanin & Gill 1967), lift/drag ratio of 20:1 (of. 24-1 in albatrosses—Pennycuick 1972) and gliding speed 15 m/sec" (Pennycuick 1969). The horizontal and vertical distances to be covered are 25 km and 2-5 km respectively and the rate of climb achieved when soaring is taken to be 150 m/min-. Basal metabolism was worked out from formulae given in Marshall (1961). Using the aerodynamic assumptions and equations of Pennycuick (1969, 1972) the total energy expended in reaching the colony from the coast in the two situations is (i) 12 KJ and (i1) 135 KJ. The latter figure does not include basal metabolism since excess heat from the flight muscles is probably available during powered flight. Assuming 1 gm of fat yields 38 KJ of energy, then the fat equivalent utilised in the first situation is 0-32 gm and is 3-6 gm in the second. Since the two calculations estimate the extremes of energy required to reach the colony, in practice energy expenditure is likely to be between the two. Nevertheless, the saving due to gliding, when compounded over the many journeys made to the colony during a breeding season, appears large enough to favour the late afternoon arrival at the colony, when up currents are maximum, if this does not conflict with other demands on the birds’ time. The dusk arrival of Barau’s Petrels could have a further advantage if, as has been suggested for other tubinares, particularly those feeding on squid, Barau’s Petrel feeds either by night or immediately before dawn (Murphy 1936, Ashmole & Ashmole 1967, Imber 1973). After displaying at dusk, non-breeding birds would have time to travel a considerable distance to sea and feed during what may be the optimal period. Breeding adults may possi- bly remain paired in their burrows overnight and the departure of one bird of the pair would then account for the short period of pre-dawn calling, when the intensity of calling is much lower than at dusk. Warham (1956) noted that in the Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma macroptera members of the pair usually stay together for several hours during incubation changeovers, as do some Trindade Petrel P. arminjoniana pairs at Round Island (A. S. Cheke pers. comm.). In mid-January most pairs of Barau’s Petrel are likely to be incubating and may behave similarly. Acknowledgements: 1am extremely grateful to Anthony Cheke for much help and pleasant company in the Mascarenes and for useful criticism of the manuscript, which also benefited from the comments of Drs. W. R. P. Bourne, A. W. Diamond, E. K. Dunn and C. M. Perrins. Dr. C. J. Pennycuick stimulated my interest in the energetic aspects of the petrels behaviour and Maggie Norris typed the manuscript. References: Ashmole, N. P. & Ashmole, M. J. 1967. Comparative feeding ecology of seabirds of a tropical oceanic island. Peabody Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull. no. 24. Cheke, A. S. 1974. Unpublished report on Rodrigues. Mascarene Islands Expedition, British Ornithologists’ Union. Greenewalt, C. H. 1962. Dimensional relationships for flying animals. Swithson. Misc. Collns. 144, no. 2. Imber, M. J. 1973. The food of Grey-faced Petrels (Pterodroma macroptera gouldi (Hutton) with special reference to diurnal vertical migration of their prey. J. Anim. Ecol. 42: 645-667. Jouanin, C. 1963. ae Lei nouveau de la Reunion, Bulweria baraui. Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris (2) 35: Jouanin, C. & Gill, F. B. 1967. Recherche du petrel de Barau Pterodroma baraui. L’ Oiseau 37: I-19. 95 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)| Marshall, A. J. (ed.) 1961. The Biology and Comparative Physiology of Birds. London and New York: Academic Press, 2 vols. Murphy, R. C. 1936. Oceanic Birds of South America. New York: Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 2 vols. Pennycuick, C. J. 1969. The mechanics of bird migration. bis 111: 525-556. — 1972. Animal Flight. London: Edward Arnold. Warham, J. 1956. The breeding of the Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma macroptera. Ibis 98: I7I—185. Address: Edward Grey Institute, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, England. The Cambridge collection of Fijian and Tongan landbirds by Dick Watling Received 21 November 1977 In the Cambridge University Zoology Museum thete is a little known collec- tion of 140 skins of 42 species or subspecies of Fijian and Tongan landbirds, containing several very interesting skins. The collection has been un- deservedly overlooked, probably because its existence has not been the subject of any published report. The majority of the skins were collected by Baron Anatole von Hiigel, the renowned anthropologist, in 1875, material being obtained from most of the main islands. The other major contributor was L. Wiglesworth, who collected at the turn of the century. J. Lister collected most of the Tongan skins in 1889. Von Hiigel’s most significant contribution was the skin of the Barred Rail Nesoclopeus poectlopterus, which he collected on Ovalau, a small island close to Viti Levu, although he did most of his ornitholological work on the latter island. The species has not been positively recorded this century, although possibly re-sighted in 1973 (Holyoak, in prep.). The introduction of the Mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus in 1883 has been responsible for the present demise of ground-living birds on the islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu where it is at present established. Von Higel recorded on the label of NV. poecilopterus ‘scarce, very difficult to procure’, indicating that it might already have been uncommon prior to the introduction of the mon- goose; whereas Layard (1875) described it as ‘... generally distributed’. Von Hiigel collected specimens of two other rails, but surprisingly not Galhirallus phillipensis sethsmithi, which is the most widespread of the rails in Fiji today. In 1901, Wiglesworth procured no rails at all. Von Hiigel collected two specimens of W#a ruficapilla ruficapilla from the island of Kadavu, which C. W. Benson considers are possibly type material. Another interesting specimen from Kadavuis the Fiji Shrikebill C/ytorhynchus vitiensis compressirostris, an isolated form slightly larger than other subspecies. There is also a single specimen of the razely collected form C. v. heinit from Tongatapu, Tonga. Both von Hiigel and Wiglesworth collected several specimens of the Red-breasted Musk Parrot Prosopeia tabuensis splendens from several localities on Viti Levu, suggesting that it was then widespread and common there. This parrot was an aboriginal or early post-European introduction to Viti Levu from the island of Kadavu, where this form is endemic. Initially it [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] 96 must have thrived in its new environment, despite competition from its closely related ecological counterpart, the Yellow-breasted Musk Parrot Prosopeia personata, which is confined to Viti Levu. However, P. tabuensis has since become rare on Viti Levu and is now confined to only a few locali- ties on the forested windward side of the island. P. personata, the indigenous species, on the other hand remains common in all suitable habitats (pers. obs.). The nominate P. ¢. ¢abuensis, which is native to the island of Gau, was an aboriginal introduction to the islands of Eua and Tongatapu in the Tonga group, where the type specimen was collected by Captain Cook. It has managed to survive on the larger island of Eua, where there still remains suitable habitat, but it is extinct on Tongatapu, which is now devoid of natural vegetation. These introductions have provided an interesting experi- ment in the ecological separation of closely related species. On Viti Levu, where an ecological counterpart was present, P. sabuensis has not established itself successfully in the long term. This is apparently despite an initial period when it was possibly common. However on Eua in the absence of an ecologi- cal counterpart it has thrived. The deliberate introduction of these two populations is also of interest. It is well known that until comparatively recently Pacific Islanders prized red feathers for ceremonial, prestigious or religious garments. This was especially so of Polynesians, but is also documented for some Melanesian ~ Societies (Harrisson 1937). It is known, for instance, that Tongans and Samoans, who have no large bird species with red feathers, regularly sailed to Fiji to trade for those from P. tabuensis and also for the scarlet feathers of the Collared Lory Phigys solitarius. This trade stopped under the direction of Sir E. im Thurn, Governor of the Colony from 1904-11. It would seem probable that the Tongans, who were often the middlemen in the trade (Derrick 1951), deliberately introduced P. sabuensis to Eua and Tongatapu, to avoid or reduce trade with the Fijians, which was not always peaceful (Beaglehole 1965). Furthermore, the Tongans have been recorded as having transported live birds on occasions (Sclater 1876). It is unlikely that these weak flying parrots could have crossed the 800 kms to Tonga in the face of the Southeast Trades which blow for most of the year. Neither von Hiigel nor Wiglesworth collected any of the less common forest species such as the Blue-crested Broadbill Myiagra azureocapilla, the Black- faced Shrikebill C/ytorhynchus nigrogularis, the Pink-billed Parrotfinch Ery- thrura kleinschmidti or the Red-throated Lorikeet Charmosyna amabilis. Von Higel was primarily an anthropologist, but it is somewhat surprising that Wiglesworth did not procure any of them, although the first two are by no means uncommon. TABLE 1 The Cambridge collection of Fijian and Tongan landbirds. In the right-hand column localities on the same island are separated by commas and immediately followed by the island name in brackets, and this is separated from localities on another island by a colon. Fijian orthography for place names in Fiji is used throughout. Age and Sex Species | subspecies BS, ns Pains oh Localities collected Demigretta sacra 2 3 Navua R. (2), Rakiraki (1) (Viti Levu): Tongatapu (2) Butorides striatus diminutus I Navua R. (1) (Viti Levu) Anas superciliosa pelewensis I I Tongatapu 97 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)} Age and Sex Species | subspecies 33 Oo jw. ? Localities collected Accipiter rufitorques I 2 I Rewa R. (1), Wainimala (1) (Viti Levu): Ovalau (1): One unknown Circus approximans approximans Navua R. (Viti Levu): Nesoclopeus poecilopterus I Draiba (Ovalau) Porzana tabuensis tabuensis 2 Nakorovatu (2) (Viti Levu) Poliolimnas cinereus tannensis I Viti Levu Ptilinopus porphyraceus porphyraceus 7 I ae (1): Eua (2), Tonga- tapu (8) Ptilinopus perousii mariae I Viti Levu Chrysoenas victor I Taveuni Chrysoenas viridis I Kadavu Chrysoenas luteovirens 3 I Nadrau (2), Wainimala (1), Viti Levu (1) (Viti Levu): Ovalau (1): Fiji Islands (1) Ducula latrans I 2 Rewa R. (1), Nagarawai (1) (Viti Levu): Ovalau (1) Columba vitiensis vitiensis I Levuka (1) (Ovalau) Gallicolumba stairii I Makogai Phigys solitarius 3 3 Suva (2), Rewa R. (1), Nameka (1) (Viti Levu): Moturiki (1): 2 unknown Prosopeia personata 2 3 Rewa R. (2), Navua R. (1), Nadarivatu (1), Viti Levu (2) (Viti Levu) Prosopeia tabuensis splendens 2 I Rewa R. (2), Namseka (1), Cen- tral Viti Levu (1) (Viti Levu): Fiji Islands (1): One unknown Prosepeia tabuensis tabuensis I I Eua (2) Cacomantis pyrrophanus simus I Suva (Viti Levu) Collocalia spodiopygia assimilis Rewa R. (Viti Levu) Halcyon chloris vitiensis 3 2 Rewa R. (1), Suva (1), Nadariva- tu (1) (Viti Levu): Ovalau (2): Makogai (1) Lalage maculosa pumila 3 Suva (2), Rewa R. (3) (Viti Levu) Turdus poliocephalus layardi Fiji Islands Vitia ruficapilla ruficapilla Kadavu Rhipidura spilodera layardi I Nadarivatu (Viti Levu) Mayrornis lessoni lessoni 3 Suva (2) (Viti Levu): Ovalau (1) Myiagra vanikorensis rufiventris 3 3 Suva (4) (Viti Levu): Ovalau (3) Clytorhynchus vitiensis compressirostris I Kadavu Clytorhynchus vitiensis vitiensis 2 Rewa R. (1) (Viti Levu): Ovalau (1): Fiji Islands (2) Clytorhynchus vitiensis heinei Tongatapu Petroica multicolor pusilla 3 I Nadarivatu (3), Wainimala R. (1) (Viti Levu): Ovalau (1) Pachycephala pectoralis graeffii 2 Nadarivatu (2), Wainimala R. (1) (Viti Levu) Artamus leucorhynchus mentalis I Suva (1), Rewa R. (1), Waini- mala R. (1) (Viti Levu) Aplonis tabuensis vitiensis 4 2 Nimuka (1) (Viti Levu): Ovalau (5) Myzomela jugularis I 8 Suva (2), Nadarivatu (2) (Viti Levu): Levuka (9) (Ovalau) Foulehaio carunculata procerior 5 I Suva (2), Nadarivatu (1), Waini- vidrau (1), Viti Levu (1) (Viti Levu): Ovalau (1) Gymnomyza viridis brunneirostris I Nadarivatu (Viti Levu) Zosterops explorator Rewa R. (Viti Levu) Zosterops lateralis flaviceps 2 I Rewa R. (2), Suva (1) (Viti Levu) Erythrura pealii Rewa R. (2) (Viti Levu) [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] 98 References: Beaglehole, J. C. 1965-74. The Journals of Captain James Cook on his Voyages of Dis- covery. Hakluyt Soc. Extra Series 34 (3): 117, 164, 958. Derrick, R. A. 1951. The Fiji Islands. Govt. Press: Suva. Holyoak, D. T. (In prep.) LVotes on the Birds of Viti Levu and Taveuni, Fiji Islands. Harrisson, T. 1937. Savage Civilization. Victor Gollancz Ltd: London. Layard, E, L. 1875. Notes on Fijian birds. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1875: 423-442. Sclater, P. L. 1876. Exhibition of, and remarks upon, a series of skins of the Parrots of the Fiji Islands, obtained by Mr E. L. Layard. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1876: 307-308. Address: Box 9216, Nadi Airport P.O., Fiji. A female specimen of Gallicolumba jobiensis from San Christoval, Solomon Islands by D. I. Flolyoak Received 23 January 1978 Gallicolumba jobiensis is widespread in New Guinea and the Bismarck Archi- pelago (Mayr 1941, Rand & Gilliard 1967). Females of these populations resemble males in the general pattern of coloration, although they are some- what duller and darker (Goodwin 1967, Rand & Gilliard 1967). Goodwin mentions that he has seen a few specimens said to be females that were of typical male colour but he suspected that these might have been wrongly sexed by the collector. Mayr (1935, 1936) described a specimen from Vella Lavella in the Solomon Islands as Gallicolumba jobiensis chalconota. ‘The type is an adult male that differs from males of the nominate form in having a slightly heavier bill, less white on the lores and the purple on the upperparts less extensive. Besides the type (which is housed in the American Museum of Natural History) three other Solomon Islands specimens of G. joliensis are known: two immature males from Guadalcanal collected by C. M. Woodford that are now housed in the British Museum (Natural History) and Merseyside County Museums, Liverpool (Tristram 1889: 269; Salvadori 1893: 599; Mayr 1936) and an adult female that was originally identified as Ph/ogenas Johanne Sclater (Tristram 1879) which is also in the Liverpool Collection. The female specimen in Liverpool (Tristram Collection no. 9864) has been widely overlooked. It is labelled ‘9 iris black, feet dark plum, beak black, food berries, seeds, etc., Makira Hr., Solomons, G.E.R.’, indicating that it was collected by Lieut. G. E. Richards R.N. on San Christoval, as mentioned by Tristram (1879). This specimen is the only record of the species from San Christoval and the only known female of the species from the Solomon Islands. That it is correctly labelled as a female (and not a wrongly determined immature male) and that it is adult is suggested by the presence of a few moulting body feathers, by the condition of the dried bill and feet and the different coloration from that of the immature males in the B.M. (N.H.) and Liverpool. It closely resembles the three male specimens of G. 7. chalconota in structure and size (wing 142, tail 89, exposed culmen 16, tarsus 26 mm). However, its coloration is entirely different from that of the adult male type specimen, resembling the two immature males in its generally drab appearance while differing from them in lacking rufous tips to the mantle feathers, scapulars and some wing-coverts and in having a strong green wash on the back, rump and scapulars: 99 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] Top and sides of head blackish-brown with narrow and indistinct grey supercilium; mantle very dark bronze-brown with dark olive-green feather tips; back, scapulars and rump very dark green with blackish-brown feather bases; upper tail-coverts very dark bronze-brown with blackish-brown fea- ther bases; rectrices blackish-brown with slightly lighter tips to outer feathers; primaries and primary-coverts blackish-brown with lighter fringes to outer webs of primaries; secondaries blackish-brown with dark olive-green wash on outer webs of inner feathers; chin buff; throat and breast dull grey with broad brown feather tips; belly and flanks dull brown with grey feather bases; under tail-coverts dark grey; under wing-coverts dark brown. The marked difference in coloration from females of G. jobiensis might suggest that chalconota should be regarded as a distinct species. However, Amadon (1943) found that adult females of the closely related G. stairii are dimorphic: one morph resembling the adult male plumage while the other is generally drab and brownish. A similar situation could exist with chalconota, or the Liverpool female specimen could represent an aberrant individual or an undescribed subspecies. Additional specimens are needed for proper assess- ment of the status of the San Christoval population and of chalconota, but recent field workers in the region have not seen the species (Galbraith & Galbraith 1962). Acknowledgements: 1 am grateful to the American Museum of Natural History, British Museum (Natural History), and Merseyside County Museums for facilities to examine specimens in their care and the courtesy of loans. Financial support from the Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund of the A.M.N.H. is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are due to Dr. D. Amadon, Professor J. M. Diamond, J. C. Greenway, Jr., Mrs. M. LeCroy, Professor E. Mayr and P. J. Morgan for helpful comments. References: Amadon, D. 1943. Birds collected during the Whitney South Sea Expedition. 52. Am. Mus. Novit. 1237: 19-22. Galbraith, I. C. J. & Galbraith, E. H. 1962. Land birds of Guadalcanal and the San Christo- val Group, Eastern Solomon Islands. Bu//. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.), Zool. Ser. 9: 1-86. Goodwin, D. 1967. Pigeons and Doves of the World. London: Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.). Mayr, E. 1935. Birds collected during the Whitney South Sea Expedition. XXX. Descrip- tions of twenty-five new species and subspecies. Am. Mus. Novit. 820: 2. — 1936. Birds collected during the Whitney South Sea Expedition. XX XI. Descriptions of twenty-five species and subspecies. Am. Mus. Novit. 828: 4-5. — 1941. List of New Guinea Birds. New York: Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Rand, A. L. & Gilliard, E. T. 1967. Handbook of New Guinea Birds. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. Salvadori, T. 1893. Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum. London: Br. Mus. 21: 599. Tristram, H. B. 1879. On a collection of birds from the Solomon Islands and New Hebrides. Ibis 4th ser., 3: 437-444. — 1889. Catalogue of a Collection of Birds belonging to H. B. Tristram D.D., LL.D., F.R.S. Durham: printed at the ‘Advertiser’ Office. Address: Dept. of Geography, University of Reading, No. 2 Earley Gate, Whiteknights Road, Reading RG6 2AU, England. The birds of Alacran Reef, Gulf of Mexico by Jeffery Boswall Received 3 February 1978 This paper presents observations made during a three-week visit to Arrecife Alacran in the Gulf of Mexico, from the end of August into September 1975, and brings together all other published information on the birds of the reef. [ Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] 100 Alacran Reef, 22° 30’ N, 89° 42’ W, lies ¢. 137 km north of the port of Progreso, Yucatan, Mexico, and ¢. 805 km south of the coast of Louisiana, and its islands are among the few offshore islands in the Gulf of Mexico that lie more than ¢. 40 km from the coast (Fig. 1). The only others are the well- known Dry Tortugas in the eastern part of the Gulf, and those to the west DRY TORTUGAS . TROPIC OF CANCER : = wWeiePl) if CAYO ARENAS ~ c CAYO NUEVO, * ' oy ARRECIFES TRIANGULOS | ,- ESTE OESTE-*,' CAYOS ARCOS-* Fig. 1. Off-shore islands of the Gulf of Mexico. (Drawn by Robin Prytherch) that share the Campeche Bank with Alacran, namely, Cayo Arenas, Arrecifes Triangulos (Oeste, Este and Sur) and Cayos Arcas. Cayo Neuvo, 21° 50’ N, 92° o4’ W, listed by Lowery & Newman (1954) as an offshore island that might provide nesting sites for birds, is not included by Paynter (1953) in his list of Campeche Bank islands. It appears on the hydrographic chart (Barnett 1848) as a bank rather than an island, but it is clear from the pilot (Anon 1941) that there is one cay and two ‘above-water sandbanks’. So far as I can ascertain no ornithologist has visited this island. All the Campeche Bank islands lie between 128 km and 160 km offshore, while the Dry Tortu- gas are 109 km from the nearest land. The Alacran group is the most remote from the mainland and from other islands. The Alacran Reef is of classical half-moon shape (Fig. 2), ¢. 26 km along its longest axis and c. 14 km wide, with its rounded side facing the prevailing northeasterly trade winds. Along the open southwest side of the reef the navigational chart shows 5 islands, each a bank of coral sand, whose outlines vary seasonally with storms and changing wind directions—for example Fosberg (1962) reported that Desterrada had been cut into two islets by a IOI [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] i i £2 ISLA DESTERRADA o TORA (SLA DESERTOR es ag fe x. i} LSet | PH ° CARIBBEAN sat “ek ya. tf TRADER ~, SI ISLA PERE 2 Kom = f >= ISLA PAJAROS Fig. 2. The Alacran Reef. (Drawn by Robin Prytherch from a hydrographical chart) storm—so that the dimensions that follow must thus be taken as very approximate. In the north is Isla Desterrada (0-9 km long, 18 ha.) also called Utowane, which I did not visit. In the south is Isla Desertora (0-25 km long, 2 ha.), also known as Allison, and locally as Muertos; a pair of islands Chica (0-18 km long, 1 ha.) and Pajaros (0:2 km long, 1-3 ha.), the latter known locally as Blanca, and Isla Perez (0:95 km long, 13 ha.). I was resident on Isla Perez from ogoo on 30 August to 1100 hours on 21 September 1975, and I landed on Desertora on 1 and 8 September, and on Chica and Pajaros on 2 September, My visit was not strictly ornithological [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] a Fig. 3 (above). Perez Island, Alacran Reef, looking NNW from the balcony of the light- house. Fig. 4 (below). Immature Purple Gallinule Porphyrila martinica consuming the fruit of a Prickly Pear (Opuntia sp.), Perez Island, Alacran Reef, 20 September 1975. 103 [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] and my opportunity for making observations varied considerably from day to day. In particular I was not able to make and relate daily observations of migrants with the weather. Perez is the only inhabited island, having a population of two lighthouse keepers and two members of the Mexican Marines. It is the largest of the southern islands and the most vegetated of the four I visited, having one species of conifer (the Australian pine Casuarina sp.), 2 of ornamental deciduous trees, 2 species of mangrove, and one species (the prickly pear Opuntia sp.) of cactus. The island also boasts large areas of low shrubs, and a number of sand-loving plants, e.g. sea lavender Limonium sp. The pines are said to have been planted 60 years ago, the tallest being at least 20 m (see Fig. 3). The other 3 southern Alacran islands have an impoverished flora, no plant growing taller than ¢c. 1 m. The vegetation of the 4 southerly islands was identified and mapped in great detail in 1899 by Millspaugh (1916) but profound changes have taken place according to Fosberg (1962), who gives brief descriptions of the terrestrial flora and describes the climate and physiography. The only vertebrates seen on Perez besides wild birds and man were two domestic dogs and a small species of lizard. No introduced cats (Fe/is sp.) were present, and I neither saw nor was told of any rats (Rattus sp.), though Dampier (1699) reported ‘large rats, which are in great bounty’. There are very few published references to the birds of Alacran. Dampier (1699) spent 2-3 days among the Alacran islands in the late summer of 1675, exactly 300 years before my own visit, and mentions some birds, as also do Smith (1838) and Marion (1884). In mapping the vegetation of 4 of the islands in 1899 Millspaugh (1916) noted nesting seabirds. Kennedy (1917) landed on Pajaros and Chica on 20 May 1912 and wrote specifically about birds, as did Paynter (1953, 1955), who visited the 5 Alacran islands 1-3 September 1952. Siebenaler (1954 and zw Paynter 1955) visited Isla Desterrada on 6 October 1952. An expedition in July 1959 (Kornicker ef a/. 1959) listed the breeding birds of the islands, as well as the marine inverte- brates, and produced the best available map (see also Kornicker & Boyd 1962). A visit in July 1961 (Fosberg 1962), was mainly to study the physio- graphy and botany. Summarising the scientific work done at Alacran 1955-1961, Anon (1963) describes Alacran as one of the world’s best known atolls. Such, however, is not true of its birds. SYSTEMATIC LIST All my observations refer to Isla Perez unless otherwise specified. BLUE-FACED Boosy Suwa dactylatra. About 2,000 present on Isla Desertora, 1 and 8 Sep., adults outnumbeting young by 3-4:1. All but a dozen young birds could fly; only one nestling was still completely covered in down. A few fully-feathered young were seen being fed fish by adults. On Pajaros I found 21 adults and one full-grown but flightless young. Dampier (1699) reported boobies in great abundance in 1675 but ‘only on some of the nor- thernmost’ of the ‘5 or 6 low sandy islets’. He was probably referring to the Blue-faced Booby, as may have been Smith (1838) who said ‘All the cays swarm with boobies’, and Marion (1884) who found boobies nesting on Isla Pajaros. Millspaugh (1916) photographed this species on its nest at Alacran in March 1899; he found the birds nesting on Desertora as well, and implies that they were also breeding on Pajaros and Chica, where Kennedy (1917) certainly found them nesting in May 1912. Kennedy also records 2 ‘great downy youngsters on Pajaros, and some fifty pairs with very small young, or eggs’ on Chica. Between 1-3 Sep. 1952 Paynter (1955) found 200 individuals on Pajaros, where nesting had already been completed. [Bull. B.O.C. 1978: 98(3)] 104 Brown Boosy Svw/a /eucogaster. Single immatures, 12 and 17 Sep. 4 adults and 2 young seen resting on the wreck of the ship ‘Caribbean Trader’ 1 3 Sep. According to the lighthouse keeper, thousands nest on Isla Desterrada. Paynter (1955) recorded c.500 resting on an islet off Isla Pajaros, and 300 on Isla Desterrada in early Sep. 1952 and was told by light- house keepers that it nested on both these islands. Siebenaler (1954) recorded it near Dester- rada, 5 Oct. 1952. Kornicker e¢ a/. (1959) list it without detail as one of 7 seabirds nesting at Alacran. MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD Jf regata magnificens. Seen daily in varying numbers, maxi- mum 500 at Isla Desertora, 1 Sep., where a large but partly downy nestling was found on 8 Sep., near 48 empty nests in low shrubbery. About 100 regularly rested on the wreck of the ‘Caribbean Trader’. According to the lighthouse keeper it nests also on Isla Desterrada. Dampier (1699) found “Men of War Birds’ nesting at Alacran, colourfully describing their piratical behaviour. Smith (1838) mentions the species in passing and Millspaugh (1916) put up a cloud of frigates from Desertora and found their nests there. Kennedy (1917) flushed several from Pajaros but did not think they were nesting. In early Sep. 1952 Paynter (1955) found on Isla Desterrada many occupied nests but few eggs; and a month later J. B. Siebenaler (é# Paynter 1955) estimated 2,500 nests with eggs there. Great BLuE HERON Ardea herodias. An immature near Isla Chica on 6 Sep. GrEEN HERON Suforides striatus. Singles on 5, 11, 12, 17 and 18 Sep., 5 on 6th, 40 on 14th and 16 on 15 Sep. Paynter (1953) saw c. 10 between 1 and 3 Sep., 1952. CartTLe EGrer Bubulcus ibis. One adult on 31 Aug., one young bird on 1 Sep., one adult and 2 young on 2nd, one young on 7th, 8 adults on 16th, one adult on 18th and 2 adults on 19 Sep. Paynter (1955) knew of no records for Yucatan. BLACK-CROWNED NiGHT HERON WN )yeticorax nycticorax. One adult, 15 Sep. Not renoulid in Yucatan by Paynter (1955). YELLOW-CROWNED NiGHtr HERON WN)yctanassa violacea. A single immature, almost certainly the same individual, was seen 1, 10, 16, 17, 18 and 19 Sep. Paynter (19 53). saw one between 1 and 3 Sep., 1952. Least BirrerN Ixobrychus exilis. One female or immature found on the ground in convulsions, 5 Sep., died within 10 minutes: there was no external sign of injury except a tiny ooze of blood from one nostril. Weight 55:0 gm. Three males given by Palmer (1962) weighed 45:0-85-3 gm. Paynter (1955) knew of only one previous record for Yucatan. SHARP-SHINNED Hawk Alecipiter striatus. Siebenaler (1954) saw one near Desterrada on 5 Oct. 1952. PureLeE GALLINULE Porphyrula martinica. An immature was rummaging in the light- house keeper’s open air kitchen on 18 Sep. Very tame, it took scraps of food from a bowl, even stepped into a basin of water for a bath. It was still present on 19 and 20 Sep. It persistently fed on the ripe red fruit of a prickly pear cactus (Fig. 4). BLACK-BELLIED PLOvER JPluwvialis squatarola, Totals for the 4 islands were: in Aug., 3 on 31st, in Sep., one on ist, 6 on 2nd, one on 8th, 2 on 1oth, 3 on 16th, 5 on 18th, one on 19th and 3 on 2oth. Paynter (1953) recorded 5 between 1 and 3 Sep., 1952. Ruppy TURNSTONE Alrenaria interpres. Up to 25 daily on Isla Perez, often feeding inland among bushes or in areas of dry coral sand, and in small numbers on the other islands. Paynter (1953) saw about 50 between 1 and 3 Sep. 1952, and Siebenaler (1954) one near Desterrada on 5 Oct. 1952. CoMMON SNIPE Gallinago gallinago. Six flushed from among bushes, 20 Sep. SPOTTED SANDPIPER