FORTHE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY THE I B I QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY. EDITED BY PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A., Ph.D., E.R.S., SECRETARY TO THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OP LONDON, AND HOWARD SAUNDERS, F.L.S., F.Z.S. VOL. II. 1884. FIFTH SERIES. Ibis avis robusta et iniiltos vivit in annos. LONDON: JOHN VAN VOORST, 1 PATERNOSTER ROW. 1884.. X AlEitr. T fi,a:mmam. ri?lNT7:D BY TAYLOR AND FltANCIS, RKn I.ION COURT, FLEET STREET. PREFACE. Our remarks on bringing- to a close the twenty-sixth volume of ' The Ibis ' will occupy but little space. The April number this year, it will have been observed, was rather thin, and the Editors began to fear that contributions were falling off ; but during the past six months, we are happy to say, an abundant supply of articles has arrived, enabling us to bring the volume up to its usual standard in quality, it is believed, as well as in quantity. For next year we have also several promising communications in preparation. P. L. S. H. S. British Ornithologists' Union, 6 Tenterden Street, London, W. September 25th, 1884. BHITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION. 1884. [An asterisk indicates an Original Member.] Date of Election. 1881. WrLLiA.M Randal, Earl of Antrim; St, James's Palace, London, S.W. 1879. Valentine Ball, E.R.S. ; Trinity College, Dublin. 1872. HANBUEr Barclay, Lieut. -Col., F.Z.S. ; Cross Oak, Great Berkhampstead, Herts. 1884. Henry E. Barnes, Lieut. ; Commissariat Department, India. 5 1881. Richard Manliffe Barrington, LL.B., Barrister at Law; Fassaroe, Bray, Co. Wicklow. 1884. Frank E. Beddard, Prosector, Zoological Society's Gardens, N.W. 1875. John Biddulph, Major, Bengal Stafl' Corps. 1880. Edward Bidwell ; 1 Trig Lane, Upper Thames Street, E.G. 1884. C. T. Bingham, Capt. ; Moulmein, Burmah. lo 1873. W. T. Blanford, F.R.S. &c. ; 8 Princes Street, Hanover Square, London, W. 1878. William Borrer, M.A., F.Z.S. ; Cowfold, Horsham. 1870. Sir Victor Brooke, Bart, ; Colebrooke, Fermanagh, Ireland. 187L Arthur Basil Brooke; Cardney, Dunkeld, N.B. 1866. Henry Buckley, F.Z.S. ; 27 Wheeley Road, Edgbaston, Bir- mingham. 15 1868. Thomas Edward Buckley, B.A., F.Z.S. ; Millerton, Inverness, N.B. 1872. Walter Lawry Buller, C.M.G., Sc.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c. ; care of Mr. Hoey, 7 Westminster Chambers, Loudon, S.W. 1884. E. A. Butler, Major, Royal Irish Rifles, Belfast. 1884. Geoffrey Fowell Buxton ; Sunny Hill, Thorpe, Norwich. 1879. Thomas David Gibson Carmichael ; Castlecraig, Dolphinton, N.B. ; and St. John's College, Cambridge. Date of Election. 20 1884. Abkl CfTAPMAN; Silksworth Hall, Sunderland. 1882. RojiERT William Chase ; Southfield, Edgbaston Road, Bir- mingham. 1880. William Eagle Claeee ; 5 East View, Hyde Park, Leeds. 1876. Edward Henry Stuart, Lord Clifton ; Cobliam Hall, Gravesend. 1880. E. H. Cooper, Lieut.-Col. ; 42 Portmau Square, London, W. 25 1874. John CoRDEAirx ; Great Cotes, Ulceby, Lincolnshire. 1882. Charles B. Cory ; 8 Arlington Street, Boston, Mass., U.S.A. 1882. Philip Crowley ; Waddon House, Croydon. 1877. J. J. Dalgleish ; 8 Athole Crescent, Edinburgh. 1874. Charles Danford, F.Z.S. 30 1883. James Davidson ; 32 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh. 1884. William Buxton Davison ; Ootacamund, South India. 1883. ScROPE B. DoiG ; Public Works Department, Bombay. 1880. Arthur Dowsett ; Hatherley, Loiidon Road, Reading. 1865. Henry Eeles Dresser, E.L.S., E.Z.S. ; 6 Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, London, W., and Topclyfte Grange, Farn- borough, Kent. 35 *Henry Maurice Drummond-Hay, C.M.Z.S., Licut.-CoL, Royal Perth Rifles ; Seggieden, Perth. 1878. W. Arthur Durnford; Tankersley, Barnsley. 1876. George LeC. Egerton, Lieut. R.N.; The Lodge, Stoke Road, Gosport. 1870. Daniel GiRATJD Elliot, F.R.S.E., tfec. ; New Brighton, Staten Island, New York. 1884. Algernon Elliott, Assist. Com., Yeotmahl, Berar, India. 40 1866. Henry John El^ves, F.Z.S. ; Preston, Cirencester. 1879. Arthur Humble Evans, B.A. ; Scremerston Vicarage, Ber- wick-on-Twced, and Clare College, Cambridge. 1873. H. W. Feilden, Major, F.Z.S., C.M.Z.S.; West House, Wells, Norfolk. 1884. Henry Ogg Forbes, F.Z.S. ; Rubislaw Den, Aberdeen. 1880. William Foster ; The HiU, Whitley, Surrey. . 45 1865. Rev. Henry Elliott Fox, M.A. ; 12 South Bailey, Durham. 1881. Percy Evans Freke; Rosemount, Dundrum, Co. Dublin. 1881. Hans Gadow, Ph.D. ; Cambridge. 1879. Ernest Gibson ; 17 Maytield Gardens, Edinburgh. *Fbederick DuCane Godman, F.R.S., &c. ; 10 Chandos Street, Cavendish Square, London, W. Vll Date of Election. 50 *Peecy Sanden Godman, B.A., C.M.Z.S. ; Miintham, Horsham, 1874, H, H. Godwin-Atisten, Lieut. -Col., F.E,S,, F.Z.S. ; Junior United Service Club. 1884. J. G. GooDCHiLD ; 28 Jermyn Street, S,W. 1871. RoBEET Gray, F.R.S.E., r.S,A.S. ; Bank of Scotland House, Bank Street, Edinburgh. 1878. Henet Geey, Bengal Staff Corj)s ; care of Messrs. Griudlay &Co, 55 1876, Albeex C. L, G, GtiJ^THER, M.A., M.D., F.R.S., &c. ; Keeper of the Zoological Department, Britiah Museum, London. *JoHN Heney Gtjeney, F.Z.S. ; Northrepps Hall, Norwich. 1870. John Heney Gueney, Jun., F.Z.S.; Northrepps Hall, I^orwich. 1877, Edwaed Haecoukt, M,P, ; Nuneham Park, Oxford, 1883. Lewis Veenon Haecotjet ; 7 Grafton Street, London, W. 60 1876. H. C. Haefoed, 99th Regiment ; 2 Eldon Villa, Granada Road, Southsea. 1877. E. Haegitt; 1 Bedford Road, Bedford Park, Chiswick. 1868. James Edmund Haeting, F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; 6 Oxford & Cam- bridge Mansions, N.W. 1873. John A. Haevie-Beown; Dunipace House, Larbert, N.B. 1868. Rev. Heebeet S. Hawkins, M.A, ; Beyton Rectory, Suffolk. 65 1875. J. C. Hele ; Knowles, Newton-Abbot. 1884. C. J. HoLDswoETH ; "VVilmslow, Cheshire. 1877. E. W. H. Holdsworth; 84 Clifton Hill, St. John's Wood, London, N.W. 1881. Robert James Ho WAED ; Blackburn, Lancashire. *WiLFEiD HuDLESTON HuDiESTON, M.A., F.Z.S. ; Oatlands Park, Weybridge. 70 1879. Baeon a. von Hugel; Cambridge. 1869. Allan Octavian Hume, C.B. ; Simla, India. 1870. Hedwoeth Hylton, Lord Hylton; Mcrstham, Red Hill, Surrey. 1870. Leonard Howard L. Irby, Lieut.-Col., F.Z.S. ; Army & Navy Club, Pall Mall, S.W. 1884. H. Heywood Jones, F.Z.S. ; Larkhill, West Derby, Liverpool. 75 1880. Henry Robert Kelham, Lieut. 74th Highlanders ; Barracks, Hamilton, N.B. 1874. Alexander W. M. Clark Kennedy, Capt., F.L.S., F.R.G.S., F.Z.S. ; Heubury, Wimborne, Dorset. r)atf of Election. 1882. Philip M. Kermode ; Bcabridge Cottage, llamsay, Isle of Man. *Arthur Edward Knox, M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; Trotton House, Petersfield, Sussex. 1882. Eev. Edw. Ponsoscy Knubley, M.A. ; Stavely Eectory, Leeds. 80 1884. Herbert Langton ; 115 Queen's Road, Brighton. 1881. Hon. Gerald Lascelles ; Queen's House, Lyndhurst. 1876. YiNCENX Legge, Lieut.-Col., E..A. ; Commandant's Office, Hobart Town, Tasmania. 1868. Hamon Le Strange, F.Z.S. ; Hunstanton Hall, King's Lynn, Norfolk. 1875. Paget Walter Le Strange, Lieut.-Col. Royal Artillery ; Secunderabad, Deccan, India. 85 *Thomas Ltttleton, Lord Lilford, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. ; Lilford Hall, Oundle, Worthants, and 6 Tenterden Street, London , W. 1874. John Hayes Lloyd, Major, F.Z.S. ; Colebrooke Lodge, Lognor, Sussex. 1877. J. LrMSDEN, Jun. ; Arden House, Alexandria, N.B. 1875. John Wingeield Malcolm ; 7 Stanhope Street, Maylair, London, W. 1878. Henry Stact Marks, R.A., F.R.S. ; 17 Hamilton Terrace, St. John's Wood, London, N.W. go 1870. C. H. T. Marshall, Major, F.Z.S. ; Superintendent, Chumba State, via Dalhousie, India. 1870. G. F. L, Marshall, F.Z.S. ; Major Royal (Bengal) Engineers, with the Supreme Government of India ; 1 Wetherby Gardens, South Kensington. 1878, Rev. Murray A. Mathew, M.A., F.L.S. ; Stone Hall, Wolf's Castle, Pembrokeshire. 1883. Edmund Gustavus Bloomfield Meade-Waldo ; Rope HiU, Lymington, Hants. 1879. Frederick Shaw Mitchell; Clitheroe, Lancashire. 95 1864. Alexander Goodman More, F.L.S., &c. ; Museum of Science and Art, Dublin. 1882, Thomas Hudson Nelson ; North Bondgate, Bishop Auckland, Durham, and Redcar, Yorkshire. 1876. Hugh Nevill ; Newton Villa, Godalming. 1872. Francis D'Akcy William Clough Newcome ; Feltwell Hall, Brandon, Suffolk. *Alfred Neavton, M.A., F.R.S., F.Z.S.; Profegsor of Zoology in the Univereity of Cambridge. Date of Election. loo *Edwaed Newton, M,A., C.M.G., F.L.S., C.M.Z.S. 1876. Francis Nicholson, F.Z.S. ; The Grove, Oldfield, Altrincham. 1882. Eugene William Gates ; 6 Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, W. *Sir John Orde, Bart., F.Z.S. , late Captain, 42nd (Eoyal Highland) Regiment; Kilmorj House, Loch Gilp Head, N.B. 1883. Henry Parker, C.E. ; Public Works Department, Ceylon, joe 1880. TnoMAS Parkin, M.A., F.Z.S. ; Halton, near Hastings. 1884. R. L. Patterson, F.L.S. ; Croft House, Holywood, Co. Down. 1883. Thomas Mayer Pike, M.A. ; Westport, Wareham. 1880. Charles Matthew Prior ; The Avenue, Bedford, aud Trinity Hall, Cambridge. 1872. Capt. E. G. Wardlaw Eamsay ; WhitehiU, EoseweU, N.B. no 1879. Herbert Evely^n Eawson ; Coney Hall Farm, West Wick- ham, Kent. 1877. Savile G. Eeid, Capt. E.E. ; Wilton House, Farnham, Surrey. 1873. Sir Oliver Beattchamp Coventry St. John, Colonel E.E. ; care of Messrs, H. S. King & Co., 45 Pall Mall, London, S.W. 1883. William Herbert St. Qttintin ; Scampston Hall, Eillington, Yorkshire. *OsBERT Salvin, M.A., F.E.S,, &c.; 10 Chandos Street, W., and Hawksfold, Fernhurst, Haslemere. it5 1870. Howard Saunders, F.L.S,, F.Z.S.; 7 Eadnor Place, Hyde Park, London, W. *Philip Lutley Sclater, M.A., Ph.D., F.E.S., &c. ; 44 Elvas- ton Place, Queen's Gate, London, W. 1881. J. Scully, F.L.S,, F.Z.S.; care of Messrs. H. S. King & Co., 45 PaU Mall, London, S.W. 1873. Henry Seebohm, F.Z.S. ; 6 Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, W,, and 22 Courtfield Gardens, London, S.W. 1871. Eichard Bowdler Shaepe, F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; Senior Assistant, Zoological Department, British Museum. 120 1870. G. Ernest Shelley, F.Z.S., late Captain, Grenadier Guards; 6 Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, London, W. 1865. Eev. Charles William Shepherd, M.A., F.Z.S.; Trotters- clitfe Eectory, Maidstone, Kent, Date of Election. 1881. F. B. RiMSON ; Broom Hill, Spratton, Northampton. 1882. Rev. Hbney H. Slater, M.A., F.Z.S. ; Irchestcr Vicarage, WcUiugboro'. 1878. George Monlaw Slaughter, Brigade-Surgeon ; Farninghum, Kent. 125 1864. Rev. Alfred Charles Smith, M.A. ; Yatesbury Rectory, Calne, Wiltshire. 1874. Cecil Smith ; Lydeard House, Taunton, Somersetshire, 1881. Thomas Southwell, F.Z.S. ; Earlham Road, Norwich. 1875. A. C. Stark ; 1 Merchiston Avenue, Edinburgh. 1864. Henry Stevenson, F.L.S. ; 22 Unthank's Road, Norwich, 130 1881. Robert "Wright Studdt, Major G3rd Regiment, India ; care of E. W. H. Holdsworth, 84 Clifton Hill, St. John's Wood, London, N.W. 1882. Charles Swinhoe, Major, Bombay Statf Corps, Commissariat Department, Bombay ; and Yately Green, Farnboro', Hants. 1884. W. C. Tait ; Oporto. *Edward Cavendish Taylor, M.A,, F.Z,S, ; 74 Jermyn Street, London, W. 1864. George Cavendish Taylor, F.Z.S. ; 42 Elvaston Place, Queen's Gate, London, W. 135 1873. William Bernhard Tegetmeier, F.Z.S. ; Finchley, Middlesex. *Rev. Henry Baker Tristram, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., &c.. Canon of Durham ; The College, Durham. 1864. Henry Morris Upcher, F.Z.S. ; Sheringham Hall, Norfolk, and Felt well Hall, Brandon. 1881. WiLLOuGHBY Verner, Capt. Royal Rifle Brigade; 13 Bryan- ston Square, W. 1884. A. S. Vesey; 3 Campden Villas, Barnes, S.W. 140 1881. Thomas, Lord Walsingham ; Eaton House, Eaton Square, London, S.W., and Merton Hall, Thetford, Norfolk. 1874. Charles Bygeave Wharton, F.Z.S. ; Hounsdown, Totton, Hants. 1878. Henry Thornton Wharton, M.A., F.Z.S, ; 39 St. George's Road, Abbey Road, London, N.W. 1884. Joseph Whitaker ; Rainworth Lodge, Mansfield, Notts. 1871. E, Perceval Wright, M.D., F.L.S,, F.Z.S., Professor of Botany in the University of Dublin, 14c 1875. Charles A. Wright; Kayhough House, Kew-Gardens Road, Kew. XI Date of Election. 1876. Claude W. Wyatx; Addorbury, Banbury. 1878. John Young, F.Z.S, ; 04 Hereford lioad, Westboiirne Grove, London, W. 1877. J. H. Yule, Capt. Devon Regiment; Jullundur, Bengal. Extra- Ordinary Member. 18G0. Alfred Russel Wallace, F.Z.S. ; Nutwood Cottage, Frith Hill, Godalming. Honorary Members. 1860. Professor Spencer Fullerton Bated, Secretary to the Smith- sonian Institution, Washington. 1860. Doctor Eduard Baldamus, Moritzwinger, No. 7, Halle. 1860. Doctor Jean Cabanis, Erster Custos am koniglichen Museum der Friedrich-Wilhelm's Universitiit zu Berlin. 1870. Doctor Otto Finsch, Bremen, 1880. Heinrich Gatee, C.M.Z.S., Secretary to the Government of Heligoland . 1860, Doctor Gustav Hartlaub, Bremen. 1860. Edgar Leopold La yard, C.M.G., F.Z.S., H.M. Consul, New Caledonia. 1869. August von Pelzeln, Custos am k.-k. zoologischen Cabinetc in Wien. Foreign Members. 1872. Prof. J. V. Barboza du Bccage, Royal Museum, Lisbon. 1875. Hans, Graf von Berlepsch, Miinden, Hannover. 1880. Louis Bureau, M.D., School of Medicine, Nantes. 1873. Robert Collett, Christiania. 1872. Doctor Elliott Coues, U.S. Army, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. G. 1875. Marchese Giacomo Doria, Genoa. 1872. Doctor Victor Fatio, Geneva. 1872. Doctor Henry Hillyer Giglioli, Royal Institute of Superior Studies, Florence. 1872. George N. Lawrence, New Yorh. 1872. Baron De Selys Longchamps, Liege. 1872. Doctor A. J. Malmgren, Helsingfors. 1883. Professor Othniel Charles Marsh, Yale College, Ntwhaven, U.S. Date'of Election. 1881. Doctor Adolph Bernard Meter, Director of the Koyal Museum, Dresden. 1872. Doctor A. von Middendoeff, Dorpat. jc 1872. Prof. Alphonse Milne-Edwards, Jardin des Plantes, Paris. 1881. Colonel N. Prejevalsky, Academy of Science and Art, St. Petershnrg. 1872. Prof. GusTAT Radde, Tiflis. 1880. EoBERT Ridgway, C.M.Z.S., Smithsonian Institution, Wash- ington. 1872. Count ToMMASo Salvadori, Royal Museum, Turin. CONTENTS OF VOL. II.— FIFTH SERIES. (1884.) Nttmber v., January. I. A Eeview of the Species of the Family Icteridae. — Part III. Agelseinte. By P. L. Sclatek, M.A., Ph.D., F.K.S. (Plate I.) 1 II. On a uew Garpodectes from South-western Costa Eica. By Robert Eidgwat. (Plate II.) . 27 III. On a new Species of Wryneck, discovered in Eastern Equatorial Africa by Dr. Emin Bey. By Dr. G. Hartlaub. (Plate III.) 28 IV. Further Contributions to the Ornithology of Japan. By Henry Seebohm 80 V. Notes on three Guatemalan Birds. By Robert Ridgwat 43 VI. On two new Species of Birds from Africa. By Captain G. E. Shelley 45 VII. Introduction to Gould's ' Birds of Asia.' By R. Bowdler Sharpe 49 VIII. Inauguration of the American Ornithologists' Union . GO IX. Rough Notes on Spanish Ornithology, By Abel Chapman. (Plate IV.) 66 X. Notes on Woodpeckers. — No. V. On a new Japanese Woodpecker. By Edward Hargitt, F.Z.S 100 XIV CONTENTS. Page XI. Notices of recent Ornithological Publications : — 1. Booth's Rough Notes on British ]3iids lUl 2. British Association's Heport on Migration in 1882 . 102 3. ' Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club ' . . . I(i3 -Jr. D'Aubusson's ' Birds of France ' 103 5. Gould's ' Birds of Asia ' 104 6. Hartlaub on the Genus Hyliota 104 7. Nelson on the Birds of Bering Sea 105 8. Oates's ' Birds of British Burmah ' I (HI 9. Oustalet on Birds from Somali-land 107 10. Pelzeln on Birds from Ecuador 107 11. Pelzeln on Birds from Ceiitral Africa 108 12. lleichenow on the Birds of Zoological Gardens . . . 108 13. Ridgway on new Birds from the Commander Islands and Petropaulovsky 108 14. Ridgway on MotnciUa ocularis 109 15. Ridgway on new Birds from Lower California . . . 109 1(). Ridgway on a new American Pipit 109 17. Ridgway on Merula conjiitis 110 18. Saunders's Edition of Yarrell's ' Birds ' 110 19. Schalow on Bohm's Collections from East Africa . . 110 20. Stearns on the Natural History of Labrador . . .111 21. Vorderman's ' Birds of Bata via ' Ill 22. Watson on the Penguins Ill XII. Letters, Announcements, &c. : — Letters from Mr. J. E. Harting, Mr. E. Cavendish Taylor, Count T. Salvadori, Mr. H. E. Dresser, Baron de Selys-Long- champs ; Forbes's Final Idea as to the Classification of Birds : The New Bird-Gallery at South Kensington ; The U.S. National Museum ; The National Museum of Lisbon ; Bird-Notes from Mr. Layard; New Works in Progress ; Rare Birds in Andalucia; The Birds of the Benin Islands ; Dr. Fischer's East-African Collections 114 CONTENTS. XT NrMBER VI., April. Page XIII. Field-Notes from 81avonia and Hungary, with an Annotated List of the Birds observed in Slavonia. By W. Eagle Clakke, F.L.S., M.B.O.U 125 XIV. A Review of the Species of the Family Ictcridce. — Part IV. Quiscalince. By P. L. Sclater, M.A., Ph.D., F.E.S. (Plate V.) 149 XV. On a Collection of San Domingo Birds. By H. B. Tristram, D.D., F.ll.S 167 XVI. On some Eastern Owls. By J. H. Gurney . . . .168 XVII. Remarks on the Occurrence of the Egyptian Nightjar in Nottinghamshire. By J. H. Gurnet, Jun. ...... 173 XVIII. Further Contributions to the Ornithology of Japan. By Henrt Seeboiim. (Plate VI.) 174 XIX. On the East-Asiatic Shore-Lark (Otocori/s longirostris). By Henry Seebohm 184 XX. Notes on Woodpeckers. — No. VI. On the Genus tes. By Edward Hargiit, F.Z.S 189 XXI. Notes on Woodpeckers. — No. VII. Additional Notes on the Woodpeckers of the Ethiopian Region. By Edward Hargitt, F.Z.S 199 XXII. On the Occurrence of CEstrelata hcesitata in Hungary. By W. Eagle Clarke, F.L.S 202 XXIII. Notices of recent Ornithological Publication^ : — 28. ' The Auk ' . 203 24. Blasius on Birds from Ecuador 204 25. Blasius on Birds from Java 204 26. Blasius on the Great Auk 204 27. Collett on three additions to the Norwegian Avifauna 205 28. Coppinger's Cruise of the ' Alert ' 205 29. Doering on the Birds of the Rio Negro of Patagonia . 206 30. Dybowski's additional Remarks on the Siberian Puffins 207 31 . Dybowski's Notes on the Birds of Kamtschatka . . 207 ^■i£fc*-'-» J XVI CONTENTS. Page 32. Godman and Salvin's ' Biologia Centrali- Americana ' . 207 33. Gould's ' Birds of New Guinea ' 208 84. Jullien on the xinatomy of Aptenodytes 209 3.5. Maingonnat on a new Species of Argus 209 30. Oustalet's Oruithologicul Notes 209 37. Ramsay on the Zoology of New Guinea 210 38. Sharpe on the Progress of Ornithology in 1882 , ,211 39. Shufeldt on the Osteology of Podasonjs monHnus . . 213 40. Taczanowski's Second List of Birds from Kamtschatka 213 XXIV. Letters, Announcements, &c. : — Letters from Mr. E. Cavendish Taylor, Count T. Salvadori ; The Ridgway Ornithological Club of Chicago ; Eurijnorhyacluis p?/^Wf^ere observed for the first time, and Rollers, Southern Grey Shrikes, and Turtle- doves abounded. A pair of Spotted Woodpeckers (?sp.) and a single Azure-winged Magpie were the only instances of their occurrence I have met with ; the latter, however, is abun- dant further inland. It was near Rocio also that I obtained the Red-backed Shrike [Lanius collurio), which species had not previously been recorded in Southern Spain, though there is a specimen in the museum of Jerez, said to have been shot near that city. The next bird obtained was a Great Spotted Cuckoo, and shortly afterwards, while sitting at lunch, a fine female Hen- Ilarrier {Circus cyaneus). This was the last I saw of this species, which does not remain to breed in the south of Spain. They are not uncommon in winter, and I frequently saw them while Snipe-shooting. On the morning of the 11th, at a wooded swamp called La Rocina, I shot a Black Kite and a female Booted Eagle, which passed within reach as she on Spmiish Ornithology. 75 hunted the marsh. The next day I obtained a nest of the latter, built in the first fork of a big cork-tree, and contain- ing one AThite egg. April 10th. In the course of a long day^s ride up the valley of the Guadalquivir I found seven or eight nests of the Egyptian Vulture on the cliffs which overhang that river. They were placed in holes in the face of the crags, and, from the rottenness of the rock, were mostly inaccessible; but eventually we reached two. The nests were made of rags and wool, no sticks, and were furnished with a most malodorous larder. In the first were two eggs, differing considerably in size and colour : the larger one was dull neutral brown; the other as richly marked as a Peregrine^s. I took another handsome egg from this nest a month later. The bare skin on the face of these Vultures is bright orange-yellow, bill horn-colour, and legs flesh-colour. In the highest crag of this ridge were a number of Griffons; but they were not nesting. None do so outside the sierra, the blue peaks of which lay some fifteen miles distant to the east- ward. The large Vultures appear to use this clift' as a resting- place. In a lower part of the range a pair of Golden Eagles had had a nest, or rather nests, for there were two of tliem, which I was told they used alternately. The old Eagles had been shot ; but I saw the nests, about forty yards apart — immense structures of sticks placed on ledges of the crag. These cliffs were also tenanted by a colony of Genets. Their lower slopes were now resplendent with acres of rhodo- dendrons, just bursting into bloom. To-day a considerable arrival of Nightingales occurred ; I have, however, seen them abundant by April 4th. Beyond the marisma, on the west, lies the Goto de Donana, a sandy well- wooded district^ uninhabited, and abounding in game, both large and small. On 12th April, at the head of a small cavalcade provisioned for a ten-days^ sojourn in those wilds, I set out thither, via San Lucar, Our first find was a nest of the Short-toed or (more appropriately) Serpent- Eagle, in a big stone-pine. This, like all the nests of this Eagle I have seen, was small, very thick in proportion to 76 Mr. A. Ohapman^s Rough Notes width, had a layer of dead leaves, and then a lining of twigs. This species invariably lays but one large white e^^ ; hence probably the relative smallness of their nests. Below are always strewn many vertebrse of serpents. A female I shot had a snake over 4 feet long in her beak, only a few inches hanging outside ; another had a rabbit ; but snakes and large reptiles are their principal food. The former are very numerous, many reaching 6 feet in length ; and I killed lizards exceeding 3 feet. The legs and feet of this Eagle are pale blue; flight buoyant, but rather unsteady ; and they show very white from below. I also found this species nesting in mountain-forests in the sierra. In the Dofiana the Red Kite {Milvus ictinus) is rather numerous, and my first day's work (April 15th) yielded five or six of their nests : they were all built in the scattered cork-trees, and each contained two eggs — some fresh, others a good deal incubated. I was rather disappointed in the eggs of this fine species ; several clutches were but faintly marked, and one was absolutely white. In each case I shot or trapped one or both of the old birds at the nest. In the males the beak was invariably yellow almost to the tip, whereas that colour in the females was confined to the cere, the rest of the beak being horn-colour. Their well-known habit of sticking a collection of gaudy rags and rubbish on the branches round the nest was very useful in saving many an unnecessary climb. No nest was worth going up to unless a rag or two fluttered in the breeze. In one case I found a dead and dried "White Owl hung up; in others quills of Spoonbill and other birds, old match-boxes, &c. The Bla(;k Kite (M. migrans) is more numerous, but breeds later. I did not find their eggs till April 21st ; and early in May, in the deliciously redolent pine-forest of La Marismilla, took a large series, shooting most of the old birds ofl:' their nests. Their eggs are fully as large and as richly marked as those of the Red Kite, from which they are quite undistinguishable. Neither species makes any lining to its nest ; and only once ill each case did I find the dual nmnbcrof offspring exceeded, namely, M. ictinus, three young, May 2nd, and 3/. migrans, on Spanish Ornithology. 77 three eggs, May 10th. The latter appears to prefer the forests for nidification to the scattered trees, in which were most of the nests of M. ictinus. On the wing the Ked Kite shows a broad white band across the underside of the wings, caused by the basal half of the primaries being white below. In M. migrans this band is grey ; the tail of the latter is also much less forked and is darker underneath"^. For capturing these and the other Raptores the circular steel traps were invaluable, being absolutely certain and saving much time. Besides, the miseries of a " puesto,''' or ambush, of one or perhaps even two hours' lying on the burning sand, awaiting the return of the old birds, were indescribable. A buzzing column of mosquitoes focussed themselves over one's face; tribes of black ants, like small dumbbells, and creeping things innumerable, penetrated up one's sleeves and down one's neck ; while huge hairy spiders of hideous mien would gently lower themselves onto one's nose, just at the critical moment when it was essential to remain rigidly motionless. The pine-forests also produced two or three nests of the Buzzard {Buteo vulgaris), each with three eggs. These nests and those of the Kites and Booted Eagle are hardly distin- guishable from below, except that perhaps the last-named prefers the main fork while the others build out on the branches. In the crevices of these large nests are often placed the untidy grass-built edifices of the Spanish Sparrow {Passer salicicola). On April 21st a pair of Hobbies were observed frequenting a clump of pines, but no nest could be found. Besides birds of prey, the scrub-covered plains swarmed with Magpies, many of whose nests we destroyed every day. By April 17th Bed-legged Partridge, Cushat, and Mallard * The Black Kite having recently been included in the British list, on the strength of an individual killed in Northumberland, I may mention that Mr. Hancock kindly showed me this specimen, which appeared to differ considerably from those killed in Spain. AvS far as it was possible to judge from exa«iiinng it in the case, it appeared to me to be of a diffe- rent species. 78 Mr. A. Cliapman's Rough Notes were all layings and we frequently found the eggs of all three sucked by the first-named mischievous vermin. It is strange that the Jay, which is abundant in Portugal, should be entirely absent from these Cotos. During April and May the cock Partridge was very noisy, and frequently perched on a high stump or dead branch to sing its peculiar song. Among the cork-trees, pairs of Golden Orioles were making love in their peculiar fashion, the male hovering suspended in the air like a Kestrel ; Woodchats scolded from every bush, and flocks of Bee-eaters gleamed like jewels in the sun. Tur- tledoves, which appeared on the 10th, were now scattered over the plains in very great numbers; every few yards a dozen or so would spring from the scrub, and dash away with impetuous flight. I found them very good eating ; perhaps they accommodated themselves to my crude style of cooking better than other birds. None of these sjiecies have eggs till about the middle of May, though the equally brilliant Roller had already commenced laying^. Another bird characteristic of the scrub is the Stone-Curlew {(Edicnemus scolopax). On these flat plains they were difficult of access, and, if winged, ran like a hare. Towards evening they are very noisy, piping something like a Curlew in spring. On the night of April 15th, while skinning a lynx by the light of our fire, the air around seemed full of them, their vociferations resounding from the darkness on every side. I found the first nest, or rather a single egg, on the bare sand, on 18th April. Their footprints in the sand are rectilineal. These fine birds are resident, or at least are found throughout the winter. I have met with them in strange situations : high up on the barren stony mountains of the Minho, in Northern Portugal, flocks of them frequented the damp spots along the courses of the old Roman aqueducts. This was in November. Their local name there was "Mountain-Curlew^' (Masarico de montes). Apropos of these hills the following rather strange incidents are perhaps worth noting : — Far out among the boulder-strewn ridges, while Redleg-shooting, I used to * As late as May 9th I watched a pair of Golden Orioles to their nest in a tall " white elm ;'' but it was then onlj half fiuished. on Spanish Ornithology . 79 find numbers of Green Woodpeckers, miles away from trees ; they were attracted tliither by the swarms of ants. Many Nightjars [Caprimulgus evropams) and Little Owls also abode there; the latter fluttered out from under one^s feet, and, after a most un-owlish up-and-down flight, would dive in under a big boulder, more like a fish than a bird. Small flights of Teal also resorted to these hills during the day_, sitting among the heather, and returning to the marshes at night. To return to the Goto. April 17th produced a nest of Lanius meridio7ialis , its situation and construction resembling that of a Missel-Thrush. Many nests of the Spanish Green Woodpecker [G. sharpii, Saunders), which is one of the earliest breeders in Spain, now contained half-feathered young. I had already obtained their eggs early in the month. They are very numerous, and drill deep holes in the hard wood of the cork-trees. Their food consisting largely of ants and the small red and black beetles which cluster in nearly every crevice of the rough cork-bark, the characteristic " tapping " is seldom heard ; but their loud maniacal laugh is incessant. One of these birds, shot as late as 10th May, dropped an undeveloped shell-less egg, from which I conclude they must breed twice. On one occasion, while examining a second hole, a foot or two above a thriving family of Gecini, a large stoat leaped out right in my face — strange neighbours ! The Hoopoe is another bird whose monotonous note is ever audible. Their flight, like the last-named species, is undulating ; and when undisturbed their crest is depressed, projecting backwards. They are '^ fine-weather '"* birds, and during a shower of rain I have seen two or three of them creep into a crevice of a wall for shelter. These plains are infested with wild cats and badgers, also tall grey foxes of the " greyhound " breed. I shot one fox of the handsome dark variety or species, Canis vulpes melanogaster. The Goto de Donana contains many lakes, varying from mere rushy pools to extensive sheets of water, each occupied by a colony of water-fowl. On April 16th, riding up to the La- guna de Sopiton, several Mallards and Gadwalls flew off at our approach, I shot a drake of the latter from horseback, 80 Mr. A. Chapman's Rough Notes whereupon numerous small dark ducks rose from the reed- beds : their species was unknown to me ; hut as they appeared loth to leave, we soon shot several as they circled round high in the air, with rapid rustling flight, like that of a Golden-eye. They were the Ferruginous Duck [Faligula nyroca), aud were evidently breeding, though a search for their nests proved futile. A month later, however, I obtained nests of both this Duck and of the Gadwall, built among rushes on dry ground. The latter, which is inappropriately called " Silbon real •" {i. e. King-Wigeon, or Whistler) , is a very silent duck and was always seen in pairs. In May I met with them singly, those shot then being all drakes, rising from small rushy pools. In the tall reed-beds in mid- water were numerous Warblers, notably the Great Sedge- and Reed- Warblers ; but owing to the depth of mud and w^ater and the rank weeds, it was not possible to reach the spot. Along the margin many of the little Fantail Warblers frequented the shorter rushes, on which they build their purse-shaped nests. I noticed this species thi'oughout the winter. While driving the Ducks, five Glossy Ibises flew over, passing within shot of Felipe, my cazador, who, however, failed to stop them ; they were the only birds of this species I met with in Spain. Among the reeds, floating in about three feet of water, was a nest of the Marsh-Harrier ; it resembled that of a Coot, and had perhaps been built originally by that bird, many of which bred there. That afternoon (April 16th) I found in a tall detached cork- tree a nest of the Imperial Eagle ; it was placed on the extreme summit, and contained three down-clad young, pure white. Two days afterwards I found another nest, this time in a stone-pine ; in it were two eggs, slightly incubated. They were almost pure white ; but an egg from a third nest, taken on the 10th, was spotted with pale Indian red. This last-named nest also contained two eggs, but the second was broken by the " piiiero " who took them. There are still a few pairs of this superb Eagle in the district, though their numbers are sadly thinned by the greed of collectors since I first met with them there in 1872. I obtained a pair of magnificent adults from their nest — their deep brown, almost on Spanish Ornithology. 81 black, plumage glossed with a fine purple metallic sheen and with snow-white shoulders. The cere and feet are pale lemon- yellow, and the irides finely reticulated with hazel ; on the occiput is a patch of pale gold, the crown being black. The nests of these Eagles are about 4 feet across and invariably placed on the extreme summit of the tree, all projecting twigs being broken off so as to offer no impediment to the sitting Eagle's view. The lining consists of the green needles of the pine. These nests are most difficult to get into : from their position, affording no handhold above, and the extent to which they overhang, access can only be obtained by a manoeuvre analogous to scaling the futtock-shrouds of an old line-of- battle ship. With the first of the daylight the Eagles and most of the larger liaptores turn out for their morning hunt, and during the heat of the day enjoy a siesta on the peak of a lofty pine, where they remain conspicuously perched for hours together. Towards evening predatory operations are generally resumed. It is curious to observe their different methods of going to work : the Kites sweep about with buoyant desultory flight, not unlike large Gulls ; the Circaetus wheels in wide circles over the C'istus-%Qxv}o ; the Montagu's Harrier hunts, with impetuous flight, in long straight bee-lines, close over the '^'mancha," always appearing about to alight, but not doing so. But for systematic searching-out of his ground, none of them compare with the Imperial Eagle : usually in pairs, these noble tyrants choose a line of country, and with wide sweeps to right and left, crossing and recrossing each other at the central point like well-trained setters, they beat miles of scrub in a few hours; while a Buzzard or Marsh-Harrier will hover and circle round a single spot and spend half a day over a few acres of rushes. Nothing can well escape the Eagles : shortly, one of the pair detects the hidden game ; for an instant his flight is checked, to assure a steady aim; then, with collapsed wings and a rushing sound, which is distinctly audible at a considerable distance, he dashes to the earth ; a second or two later he rises with loud vociferations and a hapless rabbit suspended from his yellow claws. Their SEE. v. VOL. I[. G 82 Mr. A. Chapman's Rough Notes short sharp bark is repeatedly uttered while hunting. Rabbits seem to constitute nine tenths of their prey, to judge from the Golgotha of these little animals' skulls below the nests. I also saw a Partridge brought thither, and remains of a Stone-Curlew and other birds. In the beautiful gardens of El Palacio at Jerez, the Gold- finches already (April 29th) have young ; so, too, have the Common Sparrow, and several broods of Blackbirds are already flown from their nests in the orange-trees. The Nightingales' nests were only about half built, and no eggs were laid till 8th May. Many of their nests were in ivy growing on walls, and placed four or five feet from the ground. Their eggs varied from light olive-green to dark bronze. The Willow-Wren family have now entirely dis- appeared from the garden. On April 23rd, 1872, I found near Jerez an egg of the Cuckoo {Cuculus canorus) in a nest of the Stonechat, together with four eggs of the latter bird. A good many Cuckoos remain to breed in Andalucia, and this year I heard thera often up to the end of May. April 30th. At the pine-woods of Puerto Real to-day I found two nests of the Raven {Corvus corax), built on pines close together. One was lined with sheeps' wool, ready for eggs ; the other with rabbit-fur, and contained five fresh eggs. This date is fully seven weeks later than the time of laying in Northumberland. I shot to-day thefirst Russet-necked Night- jar (C«pn/?2MA/?<5 rufcoUis) seen this year. Melodious Willow- Warblers were observed in the sedges along the river-banks; and another conspicuous arrival was the handsome Rufous Warbler {A'edon galactodes) , frequenting abundantly the hedges of cactus and prickly pear, in which I found a clutch of four eggs on 14th May. Of our common birds I have noted to-day Greenfinches and Lmnets [Linota cannabina) . Walking back to Jerez, a very wet afternoon, 18 miles, a congregation of many thousands of Swallows were sitting on the dry mud along the edge of the marisma. Early in May 1 returned to the Guadalquivir district, equipped for a fortnight's sojourn in the wilds of the Goto de on Spanish Ornithology . 83 Donaua and the marisma. While crossing the river above San Lncar^ an Ospre}^ was observed^ and numerous Black Kites were, as usual_, busy fishing in the tideway. On the 4th, a nest of the Booted Eagle contained two eggs, nearly fresh. On the side of the nest, from which I killed the female Eagle, lay a large lizard and half a rabbit. A Kestrel's nest in a pine contained six fresh eggs partly covered with fish-scales. Stopping that night at La Marismilla, I found two nests of White Owl {Strix flammea) in the roof. There were six eggs and three young birds, all mixed ; and I cap- tured both the old Owls on the nest. Next morning, shortly after daybreak, in a rushy glade, I came suddenly on a herd of about twenty wild pig, mostly females with their young : probably the exigencies of the season accounted for their being abroad at a later hour than is their habit. Later in the day I almost trod upon the old boar, deeply slumbering in an isolated thicket; he was grizzly with age, his fore quarters looking almost white as he trotted across the sand. May 5th. To-day, in a long ramble along the edge of the marisma, a great variety of wildfowl was observed. BufF- backed and Squacco Herons, Egrets, Spoonbills, and Avocets in considerable flocks among the rushes, where I obtained many beautiful specimens by stalking. Further out on the shallow water were still small parties of Ducks, probably on passage ; but these were not accessible. Presently I made out with the glass a score or so of red Knots, busily feeding along the shore : while I was creeping down on them, a fine adult male Marsh-Harrier rose from some rushes close at hand. I knocked him down, and found he was lunching on one of the Knots. The latter I could not mark down ; but I observed seven Greenshanks feeding a little further oft', one of which fell to a long shot : an immature bird. Curiously, I could see no adults of this species, though early in March I had found the old birds numerous in the '' salinas " near Tangiers, but no young ones. The adults appear almost white at a short distance. Our course lay across a wide bight of the marisma, which there projects into the land. Crossing this, I fell in with g2 84 Mr. A. Cliapman's Rough Notes several packs of Sand-Grouse {Pterocles al chat a) , which species arrives in Spain late in April ; tliey are very wild birds, flying something like Teal and uttering a loud harsh croak. After much manoeuvring on the fiat marsh, I obtained several beautiful specimens of both sexes. No bird, I think, equals this species in the exquisite delicacy of the pencilling and the harmonious disposition of colours in its plumage. Their eye-circles and eyelids are of a beautiful ultramarine blue. Their summer plumage difitrs considerably from that of winter, as represented in " Bree,"^ principally as follows : — In the male the throat is black, and a line of that colour passes through the eye to the ear. The head and neck are plain, i. e. unspotted, but the brownish-green back is covered with large yellow spots, some of which extend to the ter- tiaries. The female has the head spotted above the black line through the eye ; below that the throat and cheeks are plain yellow. Her back plumage is so beautifully variegated as almost to defy description ; briefly it is finely barred with yellow and black of various shades, but this is relieved by broad bars of a pale clear blue. Their name is hardly ap- propriate, for I never saw them on the sand, always on the mud, and when shot their feet and bills are generally covered with it. The larger species (P. arenar'ms) I did not meet with, though it is well known as '^Corteza;" the present bird being called '' Ganga," signifying a bargain, in reference to its edible qualities. After heavy rains in April the mud and water in the marisma were unpleasantly deep for locomotion, and on the low islands many thousands of eggs had been destroyed by the rising of the water. A great variety of birds were now breeding, Stilts and Avocets being perhaps the most conspi- cuous : I found a few of their eggs to-day (May 5th), but a few days later they were in thousands. The Stilts make a tolerably solid nest of dead stalks, and lay four eggs, neatly arranged, points inwards'^. The Avocet's eggs are larger and * Several young Stilts obtained in the middle of June were mottled brown above. Legs of medium length, much thicker than those of the adults, especially about the knee, and pale brownish or clay-colour. on Spanish Ornithology. 85 lighter in colour than those of the Stilts^ and, except when among grass, they seldom have any nest at all, merely laying at random on the bare cracked mud, often 2 or 3 inches apart. Some of the Avocets^ nests had four eggs ; but as several of the others contained five, or even six, it was ob- vious that these were the produce of more than one bird. In the great majority of cases three was the number. In neither of these species is any concealment attempted, whereas the Redshank habituall}^ chooses the centre of the thickest tuft of grass or bog-plant available. Peewits also breed very numerously on the islands of the marisma, but are much earlier : I found their eggs early in April, and on the 9th of May they were hatching, most nests having one or more young birds out, the other eggs chipping. Scattered about on the dry miid were numerous clutches of four small eggs, belonging to two other species, the Kentish Plover and the Lesser Ring-Dotterel ; the latter were the less numerous of the two, and were just beginning to lay, choosing the gravelly ridges of the islands. The Kentish Plover is an earlier breeder, many of their eggs being hard-set May 5th. I had previously found a nest of this species as early as 14th April, containing three of the most strongly marked eggs I have ever seen. They make perhaps rather more attempt at a nest than the former species ; but there is not much to choose between them, and I frequently noticed the eggs of both these and other species laid in a slight hollow scratched in the dried remains of cattle-droppings. On these islands were many nests of the Spanish Short-toed Lark [Calendrella batica), artlessly built of grass, and placed in small holes, like a Dunlin^s, sometimes among thistles, as often on bare ground without cover. They were only commencing to lay on May 9th, most nests then containing one egg. May 9th. While blowing and numbering eggs on a small island which was literally covered with Avocets^ nests, my cazador Felipe, whom I had sent to explore another small island close at hand, came up Avith five eggs, which he said he thought must be Gull's. I saw at a glance he was right; and jumping up espied, among the clamorous crowd of 86 Mr. A. Chapman^s Rough Notes Avocets^ Marsh-Terns, Stilts^ and other birds overhead, a single pair of strangers — small, very long-necked Gulls, These I promptly knocked down, and at once recognized them as Lams gelastes. Only a few days before I had re- ceived a letter from Mr. Howard Saunders, especially en- joining me to keep a strict look-out for "the beautiful pink- breasted, slender-billed GuU.^^ I therefore at once instituted a careful search on all the islands in sight, never dreaming but that the five eggs and the two Gulls were related to each other. However, that afternoon I was greatly surprised to find another Gull's nest containing two very difi'erent eggs (white ground, spotted with black and brown, like those of Sterna cantiaca) , from which I also shot a female L. gelastes. This time, however, there was no doubt ; for the bird, while *'in articulo mortis,'^ actually laid a third egg in the water, a perfectly coloured and developed specimen exactly re- sembling the two in the nest. Then, to make assurance doubly sure, I found, on skinning the first pair, that the female contained another perfectly developed specimen of this very distinct egg. Of course this placed the identity of the eggs of L. gelastes beyond doubt ; it was, however, equally certain that the first five eggs, which were dull greenish or stone-colour faintly spotted with brown, belonged to a different species. Accordingly I returned to the first- named islands, and at once perceived two or three pairs of small black-hooded Gulls; these had doubtless been over- looked in the morning, mixed up as they were among numbers of the Gull- billed Terns and other birds. They would not allow approach within shot, so I was obliged to risk a long chance with Avire cartridge. The bird was feathered, but escaped at the moment. Two days after- wards, however, on a second visit I found it lying dead, and recognized it, by the black hood and strong bill, as L. melano- cephalus, beyond a doubt the owner of one of the two nests. These islands lay about six miles distant from the low shores of the marisma, and at that distance no land whatever was in sight. The " coup d'oeil " therefrom presented an extraordinary scene of desolation : the only relief from the on Spanish Ornithology . 87 monotony of endless wastes of water were the birds ; a shrieking^ clamouring crowd liung overhead, while only a few yards off the surface was dotted with troops of Stilts, sedately stalking about knee-deep — in no other situation do their long legs enable them to feed. Further away large flights of smaller Waders flashed, now white, now dark, in the sun : most of these were Eing-Dotterels, Dunlins, and Curlew Sandpipers, the two latter in full breeding- plumage. A Marsh- Harrier, oologically inclined, was being bullied and chased by a score of Peewits, and now and then a little string of Ducks high overhead would still remind one of winter. Beyond these, the strange forms of hundreds of Flamingoes met one^s eye in every direction — some in groups or in dense masses, others with rigidly outstretched neck and legs flying in short strings, or larger flights " glinting " in the sunlight like a pink cloud. Many pairs of old red birds were ob- served to be accompanied by a single white (immature) one. But the most extraordinary effect was produced by the more distant herds, the immense numbers of which formed an almost unbroken white horizon, a sort of thin white line sepa- rating sea and sky round a great part of the circle. A incident occurred one day which is worth recording as illustrative of the singular desolation of the scene. Far off in the marisma I noticed two large animals evidently watch- ing me. I saw they were not deer, which often come out into the marisma, but never so far as to where I then was : so, putting in ball-cartridge, I rode towards them. At about 400 to 500 yards they suddenly wheeled round and trotted off with a shambling gait. There was no mistaking them then, as soon as their broadsides were exposed to view ; they were two camels, one much larger than the other ! I had heard on my first visit to this wilderness, eleven years before, of the existence of camels therein, but was as incredulous as, no doubt, my readers will now be. However, I may add that some 40 years ago, or more, the experiment of using camels was tried in Andalucia, as they are so gene- rally employed on the opposite shores of Morocco. The scheme failed, and the camels were set free in the marisma; 88 Mr. A. Chapman's Rough Notes and if they do not breed in a feral state, it is difficult to account for one of those above mentioned being at least a third larger than tbe other*. To return to the Flamingoes. On examining narrowly the different herds, there was an obvious dissimilarity in the ap- pearance of certain groups : one or two in particular seemed so much denser than the others ; tlie narrow white line ap- peared at least three times as thick, and in the centre looked as if the birds were literally piled upon each other. Felipe suggested that these birds must be at their " pajarera," or breeding-place; and after a long ride througli rather deep water, we found that this was so. On our approach, the cause of the peculiar appearance of the herd from a distance became clearly discernible. Many of the birds were sitting down on a low mud island ; some were standing on it, and others, again, were in the water. Thus tbe different eleva- tions of their bodies formed what had appeared a triple or quadruple line. On reaching the spot, we found a perfect mass of nests ; the low mud plateau was crowded with them as thickly as the space permitted. These nests had little or no height : some were raised 3 or 3 inches, a few might be 5 or 0 inches ; but the majority were merely circular bulwarks of mud, with tlie impression of the bird's legs distinctly marked on it. The general aspect of the plateau was not unlike a large table covered with plates. In the centre was a deep hole full of muddy water, which, from the gouged appearance of its sides, appeared to be used as a reservoir for nest-making materials. Scattered all round this main colony Avere numerous single nests rising out of the water, and evidently built up from the bottom. Here and there two or three or more of these were joined together — " semi-detached," so to speak ; these sepa- * [I saw a small herd of these feral eauiels in the Goto de Douaua on he 3rd of May, 1868 ; but findhig that my statenieut as to the breeding of the Crane in that neighbourhoud was received %Yith much incredulity, I liept the apparition of the camels to myself. I possessed the eggs of the Crane to convince the sceptics, but I could not have produced a camel ! — U.S.] *.*jrF?? ^ a, -^ oo CO ^ E- OQ W o CO W o o on Spanish Ornithology. 89 rate nests rose some 6 or 8 inches above the water-level^ and were about 15 inches across. The water was about 12 or 15 inches deep. None of these nests as yet contained eggs ; and though I returned to the ^'pajarera '^ on the latest day I was in its neighbourhood (May 11th), they still remained empty. On both occasions many hundreds of Flamingoes were sitting on the nests, and on the 11th we had a good view of them at close quarters. Linked arm and arm with Felipe, and crouching low on the water, to look as little human as possible, we approached within some 70 yards before their sentries showed signs of alarm, and at that distance with the glass observed the sitting birds as distinctly as one need wish. Their long red legs doubled under their bodies, the knees projecting as far as or beyond the tail, and their graceful necks neatly curled away among their back-feathers, like a sitting Swan, with their heads resting on their breasts — all these points were unmistakable. (See Plate IV.) Indeed it is hardly necessary to point out that in the great majority of cases (the nests being hardly raised above the level of the flat mud) no other position was possible. Still none of the crowded nests contained a single egg ! How strange it is that the Flamingo, a bird which never seems happy unless up to his knees in water, should so long delay the period o£ incubation ; for before eggs could be hatched in these nests and young reared the water would have entirely disappeared, and the Flamingoes would be left stranded in the midst of a scorching plain of sun-baked mud. Being unable to return to the marisma, I sent Felipe back there on 26th May, when he obtained the eggs ; but as yet I have heard no particulars, my faithful cazador being unable to write. In 1872 I obtained eggs taken on the 24th of May. One of my specimens is extremely rugose. On the 11th May the Pratincoles were just beginning to lay (one or two eggs in each nest) ; but subsequently I got them in basketfuls. Some of their eggs when taken have a beautiful purplish gloss; three is their complement, and they make hardly any nest. Later, again, are the Terns. The Whiskered and Black 90 Mr, A. Chapman's Rough Notes species breed in colonies, building their nests on the floating weeds of the lagoons in the Goto de Dofiaua ; they all lay three eggs. Those of the Whiskered Tern are mostly green with small black spots; a few, however, are olive-brown. The eggs of the Black Tern are of a rich brown, heavily blotched with black. The large Gull-billed Tern breeds out on the islands of the marisma : I obtained their eggs on my first visit on 23rd May. Early in May I had found several nests of the Montagu's Harrier, but no eggs till the 10th. These birds breed in the thickest " manehas,'' or jungle, which are often wholly inpenetrable on account of the long and thorny " salza/' a vicious sort of briar which entwines itself round the scrub, and forms a matted lacerating jungle often 15 or 20 feet high. Many of these " manchas " are islanded between ridges of blown sand, and are the stronghold of the Spanish lynx {Fells pardinci), which are tolerably numerous and work havoc among Partridge and rabbits. Some of these Harrier's nests were on the ground, mere outlines of half-a- dozen twigs ; others were placed 3 or 4> feet high, especially where there was water, and were loosely built of dead roots. In the water below lay many bones of rabbits. They also nest in the standing corn. The manner in Avhich Felipe could call up the Harriers within shot by imitating the squeal of a wounded rabbit was surprising. Many of the Spanish *' guardas " are intelligently observant of the fer<2 natur(B among which they live, and in field-craft they are far in advance of their British representatives. During May I rode several times to the large Lagunas de Santa Olaya, where numerous wildfowl were breeding. Besides Mallards, Gadwalls, and Ferruginous Ducks, already described, were numerous Pintails, Teal, and some small grey ducks, I took to be Anas marmorata. I think some of the Pintails must remain to breed, as on May 8th I saw a " bunch " of a dozen or so at Santa Olaya, all drakes, their snow-white throats glistening in the sun. Near them a pair of Shoveller drakes were swimming. Next, the binocular rested on six of the most extraordinary -looking wildfowl I on Spanish Ornithology. 91 ever met with ; gambolling and splashing about on the water, chasing each other, now above now below its surface, like a school of porpoises, they appeared half birds, half water- turtles, with which the lagoon abounds. Presently they entered a small reed-margined bay, swimming very deep, only their turtle- shaped backs and heavy heads in sight. I crept down on them, and as they sat, splashing and preening themselves in the shallow water, stopped three — two dead, the third escaping, winged. They proved to be a duck and drake oi Erismaturame7'sa, heavily-built diving-ducks, round in the back, broad and flat in the chest, with small wings like a Grebe, and long stiff" tails like a Cormorant ; the latter, being carried under water as a rudder, is not visible when the bird is swimming. The beak of the drake was much enlarged above, and of a light mazarine-blue colour. Their whole plumage (except the white face) was dark ferruginous, and not (as represented in Bree) white below. I found they were known to the guardas as " Patos porrones,^^ and sub- sequently found several pairs at the Laguna de Medina, near Jerez, where, on 23rd May, they were evidently breeding. At the same place were great numbers of the Great Crested Grebe {Podiceps cristatus), quaint-looking birds in their full summer dress. The nests of the Little Grebe were floating in every rushy pool. As already mentioned, the Heron-tribe are numerously represented in Andalucia, both specifically and individually. Except Ardea cinerea and^i. purpurea the whole family are late breeders. About the middle of May the Buff-backed Herons were often seen flying about the plains in packs of a score to fifty or more. The pretty little Squaccoes had then shifted their quarters to the reedy edges of the lagoons ; and several nests appeared nearly ready for eggs in the "juncales," or reed-beds ; but none of the genus appear to lay before June. Besides the species of Ardeidse already mentioned in this paper, the Night-Heron and the Bitterns, both Common and Little, are also numerous in Andalucia. Nevertheless, owing to their retiring and nocturnal habits, these species are seldom seen, being difficult to raise without a dog. The same remark 92 Mr. A. Chapman's Rough Notes applies to the Rails, of which Rallus aquaticus and Porzana maruetta appear about equally numerous in the marshes. The Common Bittern, which is almost invariably " pointed " to by native dogs, falls a frequent victim to the Snipe-shooter in winter, lying extremely close in the rankest flags or reeds, in retired parts of the marshes. Its name of '' Garza- mochuelo'''' (2. e, Owl-Heron), common to both Spain and Portugal^ is singularly appropriate. I did not find its eggs^ but have those of the Little Bittern. As the long summer day draws to its close, the infinite variety of nocturnal sounds which during the short twilight suddenly awake into being strike strangely on a northern ear. Of crepuscular birds the first to commence the concert is the Busset-necked Nightjar {Caprimulgus ruficolUs), which abounds all over the scrub, A few minutes later, from the cork-trees, resounds the note of the Little Owl, then the sharp ringing cry of the Scops Owl ; while far and neai', among the grass, the loud rattle of the crickets starts like an alarum ; and from every pool the united croaks of literally millions of frogs form, as it were, a background of sound resembling the distant roar of a mighty city. The Little Owls [Athene noctua) just mentioned breed in holes in the cork-trees, and early in May I found several of their nests with four and five eggs. In the same situations a Great Tit, with ten eggs, many Jackdaws, and other common species. On May 12th a Mallard^s nest contained nine eggs, just chipping. At Jerez, in the middle of May, I found several nests of the Orphean Warbler in bushes in the olive-woods, also one which I believe to be that of Sylvia melanocephala. The Woodchat's nests, many of which appeared ready for eggs on April 30th, contained none till May 14th. None of their eggs had any rufous tinge. The 14tli May produced many nests of the Calandra, Crested^ and Short-toed Larks, also of the Common Bunting, each of these with five eggs. On the 16th were added those of the Common Whitethroat, Rufous Warbler, and Lesser Kestrel. Bee-eaters were now laying in deep holes in the river-banks, breeding in colonies like on Spanish Ornithology. 93 Sand-Martins. During April and May these birds frequented the plantations in tlie garden at Jerez in large flocks^ and we noticed that their appearance among the trees was gene- rally the precursor of heavy rains. I also obtained a nest of the Yellow Wagtail with four eggs. During May Andalucia swarms with locusts^ and over the fields of " garbauzos "" or chick-pea, which they frequent, dozens of Black Kites are always hovering, while others are dotted about on the ground devouring these destructive insects. In 1872 a considerable passage of Waders occurred on May 8th. The banks of the Guadalete river near Jerez swarmed with bird-life. A large ''mixed bag^" included Whimbrels, Grey Plovers, Curlew Sandpipers, Ring-Dotterels, and Sand-Grouse. Many of the Grey Plovers were superb specimens, in their beautiful black-and-white plumage, and the Curlew Sandpipers were in full rufous summer dress. Unfortunately the attractions of the Great Bustard, several of which were also in sight, proved irresistible ; but I had the satisfaction of riding home that evening with my first Bustard slung to the " alforjas.''^ I also observed that day a single Crane. A visit to the sierra in the middle of May was not very productive. The Guadalete was in heavy flood : two men, together with their nine mules, were drowned in attempting the passage just as I rode up to the Barca Florida. Conse- quently, having to make a long detour, it was impossible to reach the sierra before nightfall. While improvising a camp among the palmetto-scrub at dark, an alarming sound attracted my attention. It resembled the distant bellowing of an enraged bull — a formidable beast in this land of the toreador ; but Felipe assured me it only arose from the An- dalusian Quail {Turnix sylvatica), a tiny game-bird which frequents the palmetto. In reference to its extraordinary lung-power, this little bird is called in Spanish ''Torillo" = little bull. I only met with the species on one other occa- sion ; but have two eggs which were laid in confinement at Jerez. 94 Mr. A. Cbapman^s Rough Notes In tlie cliffs of the Paerta de Palomas_, in the Sierra de Alcahi de los Gazules, the Griffon Vultures had now (May 16) half -grown young, partly feathered and partly in white down. Of sixteen nests reached, only two contained more than one young bird. The Vultures, on returning to their nests, utter a peculiar growl, often the first sound heard at daybreak on awakening from one's roofless bedroom among the boulders. The young Griffons were never seen on the wing till the month of July, having spent about three months in the nests ; they were then (July 10th) of a clear bright cinnamon- colour, and measured between 8 and 9 feet in ex- panse of wing. In the plains the Griffon Vultures hunt in strata at vary- ing altitudes, the highest tiers visible being mere points in the azure height. It seems obvious that only the lowest stratum can be on active duty, the ujDper parties merely standing by to profit by the labours of all the working detach- ments which may be in sight below ; for at their enormous elevation it is impossible that even a Vulture could detect so small an object as, say, a dead goat on the earth. We esti- mated the altitude of the lowest stratum at 800 to 1000 yards. In the roofs of some large caverns a colony of Alpine Choughs were breeding ; their nests were quite inaccessible ; but at a lower point were several of Cotyle rupestris ; their eggs were flecked slightly with grey. In the attempt to reach the Chough's nests, I came suddenly on a pair of Eagle-Owls ; but being in a very awkward position on the crag-face, I was unable to spare a hand to shoot them. No better luck attended a search for the nest of the Blue Thrush ; but a few days afterwards a clutch of its five beautiful greenish- blue eggs was taken. The male has a pretty habit of towering up in the air, singing merrily, then dropping back among the crags like a stone. Round the lofty conical peak called the " Penon de Hibe,^' which towers over the surrounding sierras, something like a gigantic facsimile of Arthur's Seat over the Salisbury crags, I had the pleasure of observing for some time a magnificent Gypaetus barbatus, the only specimen of this fine bird that came under my observation. on Spanish Ornithology . 95 From the rugged stony slopes of the sierras^ the energetic mountaineers have reclaimed many patches of corn-land. About these Emberiza cia and E. miliai'ia were abundant. I failed to find the nest either of the first-named bird or of E. cirius, which were also numerous in the lower valleys and outskirts of the sierra. A high crag on the ridge of the sierra was occupied^ by a colony of Alpine Swifts ; their nests were in crevices of the rock^ and their flight strikingly dashing and powerful. My two animals having fallen lame from loss of shoes, caused me no small difficulty in extricating myself from the heart of these rugged and pathless sierras. My non-arrival in Jerez also caused extreme anxiety among my kind friends there, who unfortunately connected my disappearance with the accident (above mentioned) on the Guadalete. Incident- ally I may remark that travelling in the wilder regions of Andalucia is inseparably beset with difficulties at every point ; but these I have purposely abstained from enlarging upon. Eventually, after dragging the lame beasts some twenty miles, we succeeded in getting clear. Passing the outlying spurs of the sierra, a pair of large dark Eagles were noticed hunting a scrub-covered ridge. The larger one presently swept down upon an unlucky rabbit, and forthwith commenced to devour it. The male Eagle thereupon perched on a stump 100 yards or so further off. They were favourably placed for a stalk, so riding round in a wide circuit, I crept down within 40 yards of the larger Eagle, and killed her as she rose. This bird proved to be Aquila boneUii, a fine adult female. On the 19th May, riding homewards over the low rolling hills adjacent to the sierra, a great number of Little Bustards were descried : they were extremely wild and watchful ; but after great difficulty I managed to shoot a beautiful male from horseback. I was at once struck with the extraordinary appearance of the throat and neck, resembling a black ruff. At first I thought this might arise from an effusion of blood, as one often sees, in a less degree, in a shot Grouse ; but a careful examination of this, and of another male I obtained afterwards, showed that it arose from the inflation of the 96 Mr. A. Chapman's Rouffh Notes gular poucli, wliich appears to be chronically distended during the breeding-season — a fact I have not seen recorded. The black feathers on the lower part of the neck are long and hackle-like. June in Sjjain is a month of intense heat. According to the Spanish proverb^ " Nothing but a dog or an Englishman '' ventures out of doors ; nor, according to my experience, is there much inducement to do so. The teeming variety of bird-life which characterizes April and May is now conspi- cuously absent. Migration is suspended, and there is no movement of passage-birds. There is no longer the accus- tomed quantity of large Hawks hunting the '' campina ; " and even those birds which remain seem to keep out of sight, sheltering from the blazing heat. This is the time to get the eggs of the Herons, for any one who has sufficient pluck to ride, say, .50 or GO miles through the scorching suffocating marisma, where the dothering heat reflected from the cracked mud is simply intolerable. Perhaps the most interesting birds at this season are the newly-fledged young of the Raptores. The young Imperial Eagles are of a beautiful uniform rich tawny colour, and at midday frequent the trees where they were hatched. The plumage of these birds rapidly fades with age and exposure to the sun, and appears by the following spring almost white at a distance. The next stage is the acquisition of the black plumage, I think, during their second autumn. These black feathers coming gradually and irregularly among the light ones, give the bird at that j^eriod a peculiar spotted or pie- bold appearance. I also obtained young Kites {Milvus ictinus) in the same way — very handsome birds, much ruddier than the old ones in April. The young of M. migrans, on the contrary, are less pleasing than their parents, being, in fact, a pale, rather " washed out " reproduction of them. Towards the end of the month the young Montagu's Harriers are on the wing; they have dark brown backs, each feather edged with chestnut, a white nape, and rich orange-tawny breasts. An adult male, shot on the 10th, was much blacker than those killed in April, caused by the wearing of the edges of on Spanish Ornithology. 97 the upper coverts. Many of tlie young of the Marsh- Harrier are uniformly very dark, almost black, with rich orange crowns, strikingly handsome birds. Some have also patches of the latter colour on the scapulars, others on the breast ; but they vary greatly, no two are alike. Indeed^ I hardly understand this species. One imagines that the dark speci- mens are all young birds, that the old females are lighter brown with yellow heads, and that the very old males acquire half-blue wings and tail. I shot one of these latter with the head pure white, each feather streaked centrally with black. But can any one account for an individual (otherwise uniformly black) having a perfectly developed blue tail and secondaries ? During June I was surprised to find the Green Sandpiper tolerably numerous in the Goto de Donana; it was a very solitary species, a single bird frequenting each water-hole far out among the scrub. I at first imagined that the females must be sitting ; but all efforts to find a nest were of course futile. Of the Wood-Sandpiper a single example occurred in the middle of May. June 15th. A solitary Black Vulture ( Vultur cinereus) ob- served sitting on a dead tree in the Goto de Donana. I also saw this species in the sierra, where they breed sporadically, a single pair sometimes appearing to ally themselves to a colony of Griffons. The Sardinian Starling {Sturnus unicolor) was abundant, in flocks, in June. The following remarks refer to a few other species ob- served, but which have not been mentioned in the narrative : — Elanus melanopterus . Observed what I believe to have been a pair of this species above San Lucar in April. The male fell to a long shot, but subsequently rose again and escaped. Accipiter nisiis. Observed a few times, and one or two shot : not common. Of the Goshawk and Honey-Buzzard, I saw nothing. Asio otus and A. brachyotus. Both species observed in winter. Alcedo ispida. More numerous in Portugal than in Spain. Gallinula chloropus. Abundant and resident. Its Portu- SER. V. VOL. II. H 98 Mr. A. Cliapman^s Rough Notes guese name " Rabo-coelho/' i. e. rabbit-tail, appears a singu- larly haj)py one. Porphyrio caruleus was frequently described to me ; but I did not myself meet with it. Felipe found a nest at the end of May. Ciconia nigra. Scarce. A pair shot^ right and left^ near Jerez^ in March. Puffinus (? sp.) and Stercorarius (?sp.). Ob- served abundantly in the Straits of Gibraltar in March. Sulci bassana. Also observed in the Straits and Bay of Trafalgar. On March 29th several were observed in the middle of the Bay of Biscay, Ayiiig northwards. Thalassidroma pelagica. Observed abundantly on the coast in autumn, but none in spring. The following are a few of the species met with in winter, but which returned north in spring : — Mergus serrator. llather numerous. Colymhus septentrionalis. Less common. Charadrius pluvialis. Abundant. Gallmago ccelestis, G. gallinula, Scolojjax rmticula. Com- mon. Snipe are very numerous in favourable seasons. From 50 to as many as 100 couple are sometimes bagged in a day by two or three guns. Out of 150 shot by myself at Ovar, in Portugal, the proportion of Jacks was 33 to 117 full Snipe. The last shot was on April 8th. Of Woodcock the heaviest bag I heard of in Andalucia was seventeen couple (two guns) ; but this is exceptional. Crex pratensis. Scarce. Turdus musicus, Sturnus vulgaris, Ant hus pratensis. Com- mon. Alauda arvensis. Common. Erithacus rubecula. Scarce. Motacilla alba. Very abundant, especially in September. M. boarula. Less common. Corvus cor one. Scarce. C frugilegus. Occasional flocks. Besides these, many other species are found, notably most of on Spanish Ornithology . 99 our common British Laridse and many of the Anatidae Wigeon, in particular^ were very numerous from October to March, and not being much molested at " flight '^ time, came in from the sea much earlier and more regularly than is their wont at home, where every Zo^/era-covered estuary is, at night, "■ horrid '^ with guns. During the autumnal passage the following species were obtained on the coast of Portugal : — Numenius arquatus and N.phaopus. The former remained throughout the winter ; but the Whimbrels went on further south. Limosa rufa, Totanus canescens, T. hypoleucus, and Tringa canutus. All abundant on passage ; but none obtained after September. All immature. jEgialitis hiaticula, Tringa maritima, T. cinclus, and Strep- silas interpres. These also arrived in September; but many remained throughout the winter. May 31st. At Tangier, M. Olcese showed me a clutch of five eggs unknown to him, and which were certainly those of the Missel-Thrush. I also obtained from him a beautiful adult Lanner Falcon — the only dollar, by the way, I in- vested in collector's skins. This concludes my ornithological record. It is, I fear, very imperfect and very unskillf ully put together ; but I have a certain confidence in my facts, for I spared no pains or trouble to ascertain what I have written. Spending weeks at a time in the wildernesses and sierras of Spain, camping out in the open wherever night overtook me, and, my own affinities being decidedly " raptorial,'^ I have myself shot most of the birds herein enumerated, from the Tomtit to the Golden Eagle, In conclusion I wish to acknowledge my obligation to the owners of the Goto de Donana for so kindly placing their noble domain and army of keepers at my disposal; and last, not least, to express my deep and lasting gratitude to those kind friends, both in Sjiain and Portugal, at whose hands I have been the recipient of such untiring assistance and abounding hospitality. h2 100 Mr. E. Hargitt on a new Japanese Woodpecker. X. — Notes on Woodpeckers. — No. V. On a new Japanese Woodpecker. By Edward Hargitt^ F.Z.S. When I wrote my paper on the genus lyngipicus (Ibis, 1882, p. 19) I was acquainted with only one species of the genus from Ja]:)an. My friend Mr. Seebohm has, however, recently shown me some specimens from the island of Kiusiu, or Kimo, which differ materially from the bird de- scribed in the above-mentioned paper as /. kizuki. Up to the date of my paper I had only examined birds from the northern island of Japan, and I was therefore somewhat sur- prised to find that the species from Kiusiu is really the true /. kizuki (Temm.), and that the more northern bird is appa- rently without a name. Naturalists are so much indebted to Mr. Seebohm for the excellent labour he has bestowed upon the ornithology of Japan, that I trust my appellation for this unnamed bird will meet with their approval when I describe it as Iyngipicus seebohmi, sp. n. Similis /. kizuki, sed major et subtus conspicue albescentior, et prsecipue pilei colore cinereo, nee brunneo rufesceute lavato distinguendus. Long. tot. 5*3, culm. 0'65, ala3 3"3, caudae 1*95, tarsi 0'62. Hab. in insulis Japonicis " Niphon " et " Yezo " dictis. Typ. in Mus. meo. Seebohm's Pigmy Woodpecker is a larger and whiter form of/, kizuki. The underparts are conspicuously whiter, and have none of the fulvescent tinge on the abdomen which is to be seen in the last-named bird. The white barring on the back is also more strongly pronounced ; but its chief claim to distinction lies in the colour of the crown, which is of a clear pale grey, instead of the brown head, with a rufous tinge, which is seen in /. kizuki. The last-named species bears the same relation to /. seebohmi that /. scintilliceps of China bears to I. doerriesi of Eastern Siberia. The synonymy of the two forms will be as follows : — 1. Iyngipicus kizuki. Picus kizuki, Temm. PI. Col. iv., text to livr. 99 (1835) ; Recently published Ornithological Works. 101 Bp. Consp. i. p. 135 (1850) ; Reicbenb. Handb. Scans. Pi- cinse, p. 370, Taf. dcxxxvi. figs. 4236-4238 (1854) ; Gray, List Picid. Brit. Mus. p. 41 (1868); id. Hand-1. B. ii. p. 184. no. 8585 (1870). Picus kisuki, Temm. Tabl. Metli. p. 64 (1836) ; id. & Schleg. Faun. Japon. p. 74, Taf. xxxvii. (1850) ; Malh. Monogr. Picid. i. 154, pi. xxxvi. figs. 1, 2 (1861) ; Sundev. Consp. Av. Picin. p. 28 (1866). Picus zizuki, Gray, Gen. B. ii. p. 435 (1845) ; Jerd. B. Ind. i. p. 279 (1862). Yungipicus kisuki, Bp. Consp, Volucr. Zygod. p. 8 (1854). Picus kogera, Malh. Monogr. Picid. i. p. 154 (1861, MSS. ex spec, olim in Mus. Zool. Soc.) . Bceopipo kisuki, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. iv. p. 60 (1863). 2. Iyngipicus seebohmi. Picus kizuki (non Temm.), Swinb. Ibis, 1875, p. 451 ; Blakiston & Pryer, op. cit. 1878, p. 229; Seebohm, op. cit. 1879, p. 29. Picus kisuki, Blakist. Ibis, 1862, p. 325. Iyngipicus kizuki, Hargitt, Ibis, 1882, p. 36. XI. — Notices of recent Ornithological Publications. 1. Booth's Rough Notes on British Birds. [Rough Notes on the Birds observed during Twenty Years' Shooting and Collecting in the British Islands. By E. T, Booth. With Plates from drawings by E. Neale, taken from specimens in the Author's posses- sion. Part IV. Folio. Loudon: 1883. Published by E. H. Porter, 6 Tenterden Street, W.] In Part iv. of tbis work the illustrations by Mr. E. Neale are of the Raven, Crossbill, Grey-headed and Yellow Wagtails, the Scandinavian form of the Rock-Pipit, Black Redstart, Wheatear, and Willow-Wren, the letterpress treating of some of the British Wagtails, Pipits, Redstarts, Chats, and a few of the Warblers. Mr. Booth's observations, based entirely upon his personal experience, cannot fail to be valuable ; and 102 Recently published Ornithological Works. his remarks upon the geographical distribution of many of the species, as regards the British Islands, are of con- siderable interest. The illustration of the first plumage of MotaciUa raii will probably challenge criticism ; but we have seen specimens nearly, if not quite, as distinctly spotted with blackish brown on the throat and upper part of the breast. As regards the vinous-breasted birds which Mr. Booth considers to be the Scandinavian form of Anthus ob- scurus, they appear to have changed their line of flight during the past ten years, none being now obtained near Brighton, where they were formerly plentiful on migration. It is somewhat remarkable that a field- naturalist of Mr. Booth's experience should not have been able to trace the Grass- hopper Warbler beyond Norfolk : he can hardly have been in Northumberland in summer, for scarcely in any other county in England is the bird so common, especially on the Cheviots. 2. British Association's Report on Migration in 1882. [Report on the Migration of Birds in the Spring and Autumn of 1882. By Mr. John A. Harvie-Brown, Mr. John Cordeaux, Mr. R. M. Bar- rington, and Mr. A. Ct. More. Bvo. London : 1883.] This fourth Report is satisfactory, inasmuch as it shows that the keepers of lighthouses and lightships continue to take an interest in the scheme of observations, and some of their contributions are of considerable value. A feature of the year was the enormous migration of Goldcrests {Be- gulus cristatus), extending from the Fseroes, to the north, along the entire east coast of Scotland and England (inclu- sive of Heligoland) down to Guernsey ; and scarcely less remarkable was the great flight of the Jay {Garrulus glan- darius). Among the rare occurrences are those of Oriolus galbida so far north as Lerwick in Shetland; a Pectoral Sandpiper {Tringa maculata) on Loch Lomond; an Eastern Pied Chat {Sawicola morio) on Heligoland, where, by the w^ay, a Little Bustard [Otis tetrax) was also obtained for the first time; an Alpine Swift {Cypselus melba) in Northum- Recently published Ornithological Works. 103 berland j and a Red-breasted Snipe [Macrorhamphus griseus) in Lincolnshire. 3. 'Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club.' [Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club : a Quarterly Journal of Ornithology. Vol. viii., October 1883. No. 4.] As will be seen by the report of the proceedings of the foundation-meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union, which we have given above in full, the ^Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club ' has now become the Journal of the A. O. U., and will reappear in this form in January next under the editorship of Mr. J. A. Allen. The number now before us therefore concludes the present series of the ^Bulletin.' It contains several very interesting articles. Messrs. Allen and Brews. er finish their list of the birds observed in the vicinity of Colorado Springs in the spring of 1882, and notice the occurrence of specimens oiJunco aikeni, Cypselus saxatilis, and other scarce species. Mr. W. B. Barron continues his acceptable notes on the birds of the Lower Uruguay, and records valuable particulars of the nesting-habits of many little-known birds, amongst which are twelve of the Synallaxine group. Phacellodomus sibi- latrix, Doering, is said to be abundant among the open woods along the Uruguay. Dr. C. Hart Merriam records the oc- currence of Vireo flavo-viridis in the province of Quebec. Mr. Brewster describes an " apparently new Gull/^ allied to Larus glaucescens, as Larus kumlieni. The new species is based on three specimens obtained in Cumberland Sound, Bay of Fundy, and near Grand Menan. Finally Dr. Mer- riam records the breeding of the Harlequin Duck (^Histri- onicus minutus) in Newfoundland. 4. D' Aubusson' s ' Birds of France.' [Les oiseaux de la France, par Louis Magaud D'Aubusson. Premiere monographie, Corvides. Histoire Naturelle generale et particuliere des Passereaux Deodactyles Oultrirostres observees en France. Figures colo- 104 Recently published Ornithological Works. ri&s de toutes les especes, de leiirs varietes et de leurs ceufs. Planches osteologiques lithographiees. Paris : Imprimerie de A. Quautin, 7 Rue Saint-Benoit. 1883. Quarto, 168 pp., 20 plates.] It is pleasant to welcome a new labourer in the field of orni- thological literature, and M. D'Aubusson^s coloured figures are certainly superior to the ordinary product of the French lithographer. But Ave must say we are disappointed with the letterj)ress, which seems to contain little original, and is hardly likely to supersede existing authorities on the birds of France. 5. Gould's ' Birds of Asia.' [The Birds of Asia. Bj J. Gould, F.R.S. Dedicated to the Honour- able East India Company. Part XXXV. Folio. London : 1883.] The thirty-fifth part of the ' Birds of Asia/ which con- cludes the work, contains figures of the following species : — Argusianus argiis. lyngipicus peninsularis. Leiothrix laurinfe. lyngipicus nanus. Indicator xanthonotus. Uragus sibiricus. lyngipicus gymnophthalmus. The number also contains the title-pages and lists of plates for the seven volumes in which it is proposed that the work shall be bound, and the preface and introduction by ]VIr. Sharpe. The latter contains so much matter of general in- terest concerning the recent progress of our knowledge of Asiatic ornithology that, with the author's consent, we have reprinted it in this Journal*. 6. Hartlaub on the Genus Hyliota. [Die Gattung Hyliota, Sw., monographische Skizze von Dr. G. Hart- laub. (Separatabdr. aus Cab. J. f. Orn. Jahrg. 1883.) Juli-IIeft. Naum- burg am S., 1883.] Dr. Hartlaub's excellent monographic sketch of the African Muscicapine genus Hyliota is, we need hardly say, as com- plete as such an essay can be made with the present state of * See above, p. 40. Recently published Ornithological Works. 105 our knowledge. Four species are recognized and carefully described, of which Hyliota barbozm, from Benguela, is now first described. 7. Nelson on the Birds of Bering Sea. [Cruise of the Revenue-Steamer 'Corwin' iu Alaska aud tlie N.W. Arctic Ocean in 1881. Washington: 1883. 1 vol. 4to. — Birds of Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean. By E. "VV. Nelson. Pp. 55-118.] On the 21st June, 1881, the 'Corwin' left St. Michaels, Alaska, in search of traces of the ill-fated ' Jeannette ' and two missing whaling-ships. Fortunately for ornithology, Mr. Nelson, who had long been at St. Michaels, was taken on board for this cruise, in the course of which all the islands in Bering^s Straits, Herald and Wrangel Islands, the Siberian shore from the Straits to the North Cape, and the entire Alaskan coast-line from the Straits to Point Barrow were visited. As supplementing the observations of Dall and Bannister on the American, and Nordenskiold on the Siberian avifauna, Mr. Nelson^s observations are of the highest interest, and he has also availed himself of the notes of Mr. Newcomb, the naturalist to the ' Jeannette,' Dr. T. H. Bean, and Mr. Elliot. The Emperor Goose {Bernicla canagica), which appears to have the most restricted range of any American Goose, was found in abundance on the south-western portion of St. Lawrence Island, and again on the Bering sea-coast of Alaska from Cape Vancouver to the mouth of the Yukon, north of which it becomes rare. On the opposite coast of Siberia it is also met with where the shore is low and bordered by lagoons ; and there also Steller^s Eider aud the King Eider occur in great abundance. The islands of Bering^s Straits and the Diomede Islands are all resorted to by the Crested, Parrot-billed, and Least Auks ; and some small rocky islets in the Aleutian group are the breeding-places of tlie beautiful grey Fork-tailed Petrel [Oceanodroma furcata) — not to be confounded with Leach's Petrel, which is often called by the above trivial name. Mr. Nelson's observations on the once rare Ross's Gull {Rhodostethia rosea) are of much interest. 106 Recently published Ornithological Works. and encourage us to hope that in a few years, at most, ornitho- logists will be acquainted with it eggs 'and, nestlings. We had been aware since May 1882 that Mr. Newcomb, of the * Jeannette/ had obtained eight specimens, but we did not know until recently that, when it was a question of saving their bare lives, and the necessaries of existence which each one of the shipwrecked crew could carry had to be weighed literally by the ounce, Mr. Newcorab gallantly stuck to three of these birds, and brought them in safety across Asia and Europe to the Smithsonian Institution. He probably remem- bered that the Austro- Hungarian Expedition obtained one at Franz-Josef Land, but abandoned it with the ' Tegetthoff,' and determined that he should not be reproached with the same want of enthusiasm. In the records of collecting we can call to mind no similar instance of bull-dog tenacity. Mr. Nelson obtained another Rosses Gull in the mottled plu- mage of the first year in October, which made four altogether in the Smithsonian at the time of writing his contribution ; and we understand that this summer some further examples have been obtained near Point Barrow. The above are only some of the salient features of this valuable memoir, which will amply repay perusal. 8. Oates's ' Birds of British Burniah.' [A Handbook to the Birds of British Burmah, including those found in the adjoining State of Karennee. By Eugene W. Gates, Executive En- gineer, Public Works Department of India (British Burmah). London : R. H. Porter and Dulau & Co. Vol. II, June 1883. (Completing the Work.)] Of the excellent style of Mr. Oates's work, and of the admirable way in which he has carried out his plan of a handbook of the birds of British Burmah, we have already spoken in our notice of his first volume (Ibis, 1883, p. 380). Of the second volume, which treats of all the remaining orders after the Passeres, and completes the work, we need only say that it has been prepared in the same manner and merits equal praise. Few persons who come home from India on two years' leave would like to undertake such a Recently published Ornithological Works. 107 task or, what is still more important, would bring it to such a successful conclusion. The total number of species recognized by Mr, Oates as at present known to belong to the avifauna of British Burmah is 780, of which no less than 401 are Passeres, indicating the great development attained by this multitudinous order in the rich regions of the eastern tropics. But large as is the list, our author assures us that it cannot be considered by any means complete. " Much remains to reward the ex- plorer on the higher mountains both of Arakan and Tenas- serim." Mr. Oates seems to have made (p. 6) a new generic name, " Rhaphidura," for Acanthy lis leucopygialis and A. sylvatica. A coloured map attached to the introduction will greatly add to the comfort of those using the ' Handbook to the Birds of British Burmah,^ which we can conscientiously recommend to ornithologists as a most useful and well- executed work. 9. Oustalet on Birds from Somali-land. [Faime et Flore des Pays Qoinalis (Afrique Orientale), par Georges Revoil. 8vo. Paris : 1882. Note sur les oiseaux recueillis daus le pays des Qomalis par M. G. Revoil, par M. E. Oustalet.] M. Oustalet contributes to M. BevoiFs volunle an account of the birds collected in Somali-land. They consisted of 29 specimens, referable to 21 species. Amongst them is a new Bee-eater, named Merops revoillii and figured. Other little- known species are Lanius dorsalis and Amydrus blythi. 10. Pelzeln on Birds from Ecuador. [Ueber eine Sendung vou Saugethieren und Vogeln aiis Ecuador. Von August von Pelzeln. Verh. der k.-k. zool.-bot. Gesell. Wien, 1882, p. 443.] Herr v. Pelzeln gives an account of a collection of mam- mals and birds from Ecuador received by Graf Salis-Seewis and entrusted to him for determination. The birds are re- ferred to about 60 different species, amongst which two are 108 Recently published Ornithological Works. described as new under the names Myiodioctes meridionalis and Elainia ferrugineiceps. Other rarities are Geothhjpis semiflava, Setophaga bairdi, Conurus weddelli, and Attagis chimborazensis. 11. Pelzeln on Birds from Central Africa. [Ueber Dr. Emin Bey's dritte Sendung von Vogeln aus Central- Afrika. Von August vou Pelzelu. Verb, der k.-k. zool.-bot. Gesell. Wien, 1882, p. 499.] The present collection of the energetic Governor of the Equatorial Provinces of Egypt contains examples of 73 spe- cieSj amongst which one [Argya amauroura, from Fadibek) is described as new. Lanius pyrrhostictus, lately discovered by Dr. Holub in the Central Transvaal^ is also represented in the collection. 13. Reichenoiu on the Birds of Zoological Gardens. [Die Vogel der zoologiscben Garten. Leitfaden zum Studium der Ornitbologie mit besonderer Berlicksichtigung der in Gefangenscbaft gebaltenen Vogel. Ein Ilandbucb fiir Vogelwirtbe. Von Dr. Ant. Eeichenow. In zwei Tbeilen. 8vo. Leipzig: 1882.] This is the first part of a new compendium of ornithology, with special reference to birds kept in zoological gardens. Little is given besides short descriptions of the principal genera and species, and an indication of their localities. The classification is peculiar, and begins with the Struthiones, advancing upwards. The present part concludes with the Owls. 13. Ridgway on tiew Birds from the Commander Islands and Petropaulovsky . [Description of some Birds, supposed to be undescribed, from the Com- mander Islands and Petropaulovsky, collected by Dr. Leonbard Stejneger, U.S. Signal Service. By Robert Ridgway. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1883, p. 90.] These new species are based on specimens in the collection of Dr. Stejneger^ of whose interesting letters from Bering Recently published Ornithological Works. 109 Island we have already given a short notice (Ibis, 1883, p. 582). They are : — (1) Haliaetus hypoleucus, "perhaps an eastern representative of H. albicilla," with the '' entire underparts white ;" (2) Acrocephalus dybowskii ; (3) Anorthura palles- cens ; (4) Hirundo saturata, allied to H. erythrogastra ; (5) Anthus stejnegeri, proposed as an alternative new name if the species be not identical with A. japonicus of the ' Fauna Japonica/ of which no copy is accessible to the describer ! 14. Ridgway on Motacilla ocularis. [On the probable identity of Motacilla octdaris, Swinlioe, and M. amu- rensis, Seebohm, with Remarks on allied supposed Species. By Robert Ridgway. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1883, p. 144.] Mr. Ridgway considers that it is '' conclusively proved " by the series of specimens in the National Museum that M. ocularis is " only the summer adult male of M. amurensis, which has the back black, while the fully adult female is un- distinguishable from M. ocularis, or else that these two birds are identical, the former representing the adult male and the latter the adult female, or perhaps in winter both sexes.'* But see Mr. Seebohm^s remarks, suprh p. 39. 15. Ridgway on new Birds from Lower California. [Descriptions of some new Birds from Lower California. By Robert Ridgway. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1883, p. 156.] These discoveries of Mr. Belding are named Lophophanes inornatus cinereus, Psaltriparus grindce, and Junco bairdi. 16. Ridgway on a new American Pipit. \_Anthus cei-vinus (Palias) in Lower California. By Robert Ridgway. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1883, p. 156.] Mr. Ridgway was at first inclined to refer a single speci- men of an Anthus obtained by Mr. Belding in Lower California in the winter of 1882-83 to a new species. Having found three specimens of the same species in a collection from the coast of China, he was led to make 110 Recently published Ornithological Works. further researches, and finally to identify it with Anthus cer- vinus, which is thus introduced into the North- American list. 17. Ridgivay on Merula confinis, [ISTote on Merula conjinis. By Robert Ridgway. Proc. U.S. Nat. Miis, 1883, p. 158.J The type specimen of Merula confinis, discovered by Xantus at Todos Santos, in Lower California, in I860, has hitherto remained unique. Mr. Belding has now, however, trans- mitted two additional examj)les, and there is no question that the species is one of " pronounced characters.'^ 18. Saunders's Edition of Yarr ell's 'Birds.' [A History of British Birds. By the late William Yarrell, V.P.L.S., F.Z.S. Fourth Edition. Revised to the end of the Second Volume by Alfred Newton, M.A., F.R.S., continued by Howard Saunders, F.L.S., F.Z.S. Parts XV.-XX, November 1882-December 188-3.] The six parts issued during the past thirteen months con- tain the Pigeons, Pallas's Sand-Grouse, the Game-birds, Rails, Crane, Bustards, Plovers, and the majority of the Sandpipers. There is good reason to expect that the Avhole work will be completed by the middle of 1885. 19. Schalow on Bohm's Collections from East Africa. [Die ornithologischen Sammlungen Dr. R. Bohm's aus Ost-Afrika. Nach den schriftlichen Notizen des Reisendeu bearbeitet von Herman Schalow. Separatabdr. aus Cab. J. f. Orn. 1883.] The present collection of Dr. Bohm contains examples of 161 species from Zanzibar, the Ugogo district, and Kakoma, mostly from the last-named locality (32° 29' E. and 5° 47' S.), which was the headquarters of the German Expedition for the exploration of Eastern Africa up to August 1881. Here, at the furthest point in a south-western direction in Eastern Africa that naturalists have yet reached. Central- African forms, such as Parus rufiventris, Bocage, hitherto only known from the interior districts of Angola, begin to be met with. The new species of Dr. Bohm's collections have been already Recently published Ornithological Works. Ill described in the Journ. f. Orn.^ eight [Melittophagus hoehmi, Parisoma hoehmi, Poliospiza reichardi, Partes griseiventris, Tricholais citriniceps, Drymceca pyrrhoptera, D. undosa, and Brady ornis grisea) by Dr. Reichenow and one {Cheetura hoehmi) by Herr Schalow. Critical remarks and collector's notes are appended to each species. Another collection of Dr. Bohm's from the shores of Lake Tanganyika is on the road home. 20. Stearns on the Natural History of Labrador. [Notes on the Natural History of Labrador. By W. A. Stearns. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1883, p. 111.] Mr. Stearns gives a list of the mammals^ birds, and plants collected during several expeditions along the coast which he made in 1875, 1880-81, and 1882, in company, on the last occasion, with a party of twelve young collegcmen, by whom much good work was done. The birds enumerated, with short notes to each, are 111 in number, a few being added on the authority of Dr. Coues. Mr. Stearns asserts that Somateria v-nigrum* is " abundant in large flocks in spring," though he does not appear to have secured specimens. The King Eider {S. spectabilis) was found breeding on a small island opposite Mingan by Mr. N. A. Comeau. 21. Vorderman's ' Birds of Batavia.' [Bataviasche Vogels door A. G. Vorderman. Part IV. Overgedrukt uit liet Natuiu-k. Tijds. Nederl. Indie, Deel xliii. Afl. i.] The fourth part of Herr Vorderman's essays on Batavian birds contains descriptions of 23 species. Cory His (melius Loriculus) galgulus is an addition to the Javan Psittacid^. Trichogramoptila (q. Munia ?) leucogastroides is one of the commonest birds round Batavia, and nests within the city. 22. Watson on the Penguins. [Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. ' Challenger,' * Not Somateria v-nigra (as written), as the adjective should agree ■with Vy which is neuter by tradition. 112 . Recently published Ornithological Works. Zoology, Vol. VII. Part XVIII. Report on the Auatomy of the Sphe- niscidae. By Prof. Morrison Watson, M.D., F.R.S.E.] Prof. Watson's exhaustive treatise on the anatomy of the Penguins is based on specimens of eight species of this group collected during the voyage of the * Challenger/ toge- ther with additional specimens from other quarters. The present Report relates only to the anatomy of the adult forms of these species^ it being proposed to treat of the young and embryonic forms in a second memoir. Taking the Eudyjites chrysocome of Tristan d'Acunha as a standard of comjiarison, the author enters at full length into the osteology, arthrology, myology, angeiology, neurology, and splanchnology of these birds with a comjileteness of detail which leaves little to be desired. He then proceeds to speak of the subdivision of the Spheniscidse, and makes the following remarks on the generic divisions in general use : — " The various species of Penguins which I have had an opportunity of examining have been arranged by ornithlo- gists, relying on the consideration of skins and feathers, into five genera, namely, Aptenodytes, Pygosceles, Spheniscus, Eu- dyptes, and Eudyptila. Such are the genera to be found in Gray's ' Hand-list of the Genera and Species of Birds,' and, with the exception of Eudyptila, in Sclater's Report on the Birds collected by the ' Challenger.' The examination of the complete anatomy of these birds appears to me, so far as the species examined are concerned, to lead to the conclusion that they ought all to be included within the limits of three genera — Aptenodytes, Spheniscus, and Eudyptes. " In accordance with this view, the genus Aptenodytes would include the two species longirostris and teeniatus. The anatomy of these two birds, although presenting specific differences, does not, as it seems to me, justify their separa- tion as types of two distinct genera, seeing that in every anatomical point which can be considered of generic value Pygosceles and Aptenodytes entirely agree. This much may certainly be said without fear of contradiction, that in re- spect of their anatomy, Pygosceles and Aptenodytes diff'er less from one another than do undoubtedly distinct species Recerithj jyublished Ornithological Works. 113 of either the genus Eudyptes or Spheniscus. In all essential points of their anatomy, moreover, these two birds differ similarly from that of the members of other genera." From a second important disquisition, on " the origin of the Penguins,'^ we extract the following remarks : — " So far as the metatarsal bones are concerned, it appears, from the observations of Gegenbaur, that even in those birds in which the metatarsal bones ultimately fuse to form a single undivided mass, these bones originally present the form of four distinct and separate elements. It seems therefore, if conclusions based upon embryology are of any value, that we must conclude that birds, as we now know them, were derived from an ancestral group, the members of which, along with other peculiarities, were possessed of at least four distinct and separable metatarsal bones. These four bones were originally separate and distinct, but subsequently be- came more or less completely fused together to form the single metatarsal bone which is characteristic of the majority of birds. Inasmuch as the Penguins retain the individuality of the separate metatarsal bones to a greater extent than other birds, it would appear that they are the modern repre- sentatives of a group which had diverged from the primitive avian stem at a time when as yet the metatarsal bones had neither lost their individuality nor had become fused toge- ther to form the single bone, which is one of the charac- teristics of the majority of birds of the present day. " This conclusion can only be denied on the supposition that the earliest members of the group of the Spheniscida were derivatives from the avian stem at a period when the separate metatarsal bones had been already fused to form a single mass, as in modern birds, a supposition which appears to the last degree improbable, when we consider that, in accepting it, we must suppose that the avian metatarsal bones must, in the first instance, have undergone coalescence, and thereafter became differentiated from one another in the members of one particular group, and in one only. It would therefore appear that the group Spheniscidse is one of con- siderable antiquity, and that it must have diverged from the 8ER. v. VOL. II. I 114 Letters, Announcements, ^r. avian stem at a time when as yet the metatarsal bones formed distinct and independent entities in the members of the entire class of birds." Nineteen admirably executed plates illustrate this excellent memoir. XII. — Letters, Announcements, ^c. We have received the following letters addressed to the Editors of 'The Ibis:'— 6 Oxford and Cambridge Mansions, 12tli November, 1883. SiRS^ — No one who has perused the last Journal of the late W. A. Forbes, which is published in 'The Ibis' for October, can fail to admire the spirit with which, in spite of failing health, he attempted to carry out the project he had in view, and his devotion to the last to the cause of Ornithology. Nor will any one deny that the proposal made by Capt. Shelley in the same number of ' The Ibis,' to rename a species which Mr. Forbes procured on the Niger, j^gialitis forhesl, is a well- deserved tribute to his memory, although I am one of those who think that the practice of naming species after indi- viduals is now-a-days far too common. Circumstances which I need not here detail, led me to describe the same species in ' The Zoologist ' for October, and to propose for it the name of JEffialitis nigris. On reflection, I think that I should have done better had I stated that I believed Capt. Shelley had proposed to call it u^gialitisforbesi, and had expressed my concurrence in that course. Under the circumstances I propose that the name suggested by me should be treated as a synonym, and that the species should stand as JEgialitis forbesi, Shelley. I am, &c., J, E. Harttng. 74 .lermyn Street, St. James's, November 16th, 1888. SiKs, — Happening to be at Turin on Wednesday, the 31st Letters, Announcements, 6^c. 116 of October last, I went to the shop of Signor Bouomi, the naturalist^ of 7 Via Lagrange^ who told me that a bird unknown to him had been brought in on the previous day by a chasseur, who said he had shot it near Turin, and who wanted it arranged to adorn the hat of his inamorata. Bonomi pro- duced the bird in the flesh : I at once saw that it was a flne specimen of the " Yellow-billed American Cuckoo/' Coccyzus americanus (Linn.). I was of course much interested in the discovery ; for this species has never before been known to occur in Italy, though an example of its near relation, Coc- cyzus erythrophthalmus (Wils.), was shot near Lucca in 1858 and is now in the museum of Pisa. Anxious to rescue this unique Italian specimen of the species from the ignominious fate in store for it .(for I hold that the basest use to which a rare bird can be put is to be stuck on a woman's hat), I offered Bonomi 10 francs for the bird, and told him to suggest to the young man that a King- fisher, a Golden Oriole, or some bright-plumaged exotic bird would make far more show in the young person's hat. He promised to do so, and seemed to have no doubt as to the success of the proposed arrangement. I called on the fol- lowing day, and saw the bird skinned and nicely made up ; but I was not able to carry ofi" the prize, as the owner had not again been to the shop. I accordingly returned next morning, when Bonomi told me that the chasseur would not give up the bird for any consideration or at any price, saying that he had shown it to his young woman and promised it to her for her hat, and that therefore she must have that very bird and no other; and that he had, in fact, taken it away with him. I then wrote and told Professor Giglioli of Florence all about it, and went and found Count Salvadori of Turin, and took him to Bouomi's shop, and so put him on the scent. Have these gentlemen been more successful than I was ? Chi lo sa'i I hope so ; for if not, this unique Italian spe- cimen of Coccyzus americanus still adorns the hat of the inamorata of the Turin chasseur. Yours &c., E. Cavendish Taylor. 116 Letters, Amiouncenients, 6j'c. Turin Zoological Museum, November 23rd, 1883. Sirs, — I think it will interest the readers of ' The Ibis^ to know that a living pair, fully adult, of the recently described Struthio molybdophanes is in the aviary of Dr. Monaco, in Turin. The owner bought them in Antwerp last September. The female has grey feathers, like that sex of S. camelus. I am, Yours &c., T. Salvadori. [This supposed new species of Ostrich has, as we are informed, been described in a recent number of a periodical which has not yet reached this country, the principal distinction, we believe, being that the naked portions of the body are lead-coloured instead of red. Similar Ostriches are in the Jardin d'Acclimatation at Paris, and one was recently in the Zoological Society^s Gardens in the Regent's park. The existence of this form has long been known to us, but we should never have thought of making a "new species" out of it. — Edd.] Topclyffe Grange, Faruburough, Beckenham, Kent. December 13, 1883. Sirs, — Mr. Seebohm, who, in his ' History of British Birds,' complains so feelingly of the ''slipshod'' way in which ornithological work has been of late done by himself and others, furnishes in that book (vol. ii. p. 286, note) a telling example of the truth of his complaint by his synony- mical treatment of certain Shore-Larks. He prefaces his remarks (which are written in the spirit that commonly pervades his criticisms of the authors on whose labours his own book is based) as follows: — "Dresser, in his 'Birds of Europe,' has so confused the synonymy of the Asiatic species and races of Shore-Larks that I have had some considerable difficulty in disentangling the skein ;" and, rushing in where more cautious ornithologists have feared to tread, rashly identifies Gould's Otocorys louyirostiis with the small pale Shore-Lark to Avhich I, in my Avork on European Birds Letters, Announcements, i^c. 117 (iv. p. 401). gave the name Otocorys brandti. I have now before me the type of my species, as well as ' The Ibis ' for 1881, in which Mr. Scully has given a figure (p. 581) of the head of O. longir'ostr'is ; and no unbiassed ornithologist can for a moment doubt that Mr. Seebohm has made an egregious " blunder " in uniting these two birds, as will easily be seen by the following comparison of their characters : — OtOCOBYS BKANDTl. OxOCOBYS LOKGIROSTRIS. Decidedly smaller than O. peni- Decidedly larger than O. pcni- cillata. cillata. A conspicuous black capistral No black on the capistrum. band, as broad as in many adult males of O. penicillata. The black patch on the side of The black patch on the side of the neck separated from the black the neck separated fi'om the black gorget by a very narrow white gorget by a broad white band a band, not an eighth of an inch in quarter of an inch in width, width. Bill short and stout. Bill long and (judging from the figure) rather slender than stout. Whole length 6-5 inches ; wing Whole length 8'2o to 8"5 inches ; 4-4; tail 3-3 ; tarsus -82 ; bill from wing 4-93 to 5-2 ; tail 3-6 to 3-75; gape •'d2. tarsus -92 to '95 ; bill from gape "8 to -82. Mr. Scully does not state whether in coloration Otocorys lotigirostris is as dai'k as O. penicillata, or is, like O. brandti, remarkable for the extremely pale tinge of its plumage. Erom this fact I infer that 0. longirostris does not differ much in plumage from O. penicillata. I am so averse to entering upon controversy that I should have followed my practice of leaving unnoticed the hostile comments of Mr. Seebohm, were it not that in the interests of science it would be wrong for me to allow an error of this kind to pass unchallenged. Surely a writer, who apparently affects the character of an ornithological critic with a special vocation to point out and supply the shortcomings of all his predecessors, should be a little more careful, and should com- pare specimens before committing himself to print. That I was in error in referring 0. longirostris to O. peni- 118 Letters, Antiouncernents, ^'C. cillata I freely own — that is, if, as I sujjpose to be the case, the bird figured by Mr. Scully be really Otocorys longirostris of Gould ; but it will be seen by my article that when I was writing in 1874, I could not, with the materials at my com- mand, speak with certainty. Since that time so much has come to light that there is no excuse for Mr. Seebohm^s further complicating matters by a " blunder ^^ which can arise from carelessness only. Yours &c., H. E. Dresser. Li^ge, 7 D^cembre, 1883. Messieurs, — J'ai rcfu avec une grande satisfaction le volume *A List of British Birds' que votre Comite a eu la gracieusete de m'envoyer. Je Pai etudie le jour meme de sa reception avec le plus grand empressement, car les ornithologistes distingues qui I'ont elabore donnent k ce livre une grande valeur. J'ai ete particuli^rement heureux de voir la distinction qui est faite entre les esp^ces erratiques positivement observees dans la Grande Bretagne et celles dont Findication dans votre pays est douteuse ou meme positivement erronee. Un tel travail etait tres desirable. Je me permets de vous soumettre quelques observations tres courtes sur un petit nombre de points, currente calamo. Je remarque que la ' List ' enumere comme especes des formes qui me semblent peu distinctes, p. e. : — Pari britan- nicus et ater, Acredulce rosea et caudata, Cincli melano- gaster et aquaticus, Motacillce lugubris et alba et quelques autres encore. Ayant vu h, Heligoland, chez Mr. Gatke, le Loxia que vous citez comme L. leucoptera, il m'a paru que c^est la forme de Fancien continent (palsearctique) si nommee bifasciata et non le L. leiicoj)tera am^ricain. Je crois du reste que ces deux formes ne sont pas specifiquement distinctes. En lisant le nom de Che7i albatus je regrette qu'il n'y ait pas une note explicative sur les divers exemplaires de Chen observes en Europe, et que Ton donne generalement comme Letters, Announcements, i^c. 119 Chen hyperhoreus. Dans les collections je n'ai pas encore vu des exemplaires europeens blancs ^hyperhoreus, uiais seule- ment des exemplaires ressemblant k la description ancienne de Cderulescens. Une verification de cet exemplaire tue en Europe, notamment en Orient, serait fort interessante. Je ne sais pas pourquoi le nom di arundinacea {Turdus arundinaceus, Linne) est supprime pour Acrocephalus tur- doides, puisque vous ne I'adoptez pas non plus (ex Gmel.) pour V Acrocephalus streperus. Je fais la meme observation pour Sterna hirundo, Linne, qui n'est pas cite. Mais je n' attache pas grande importance a ces remarques, qui ne diminuent nullement la grande importance de votre travail, et que je ne fais qu^k titre de simple conversation. Agreez &c., E. DE Selys-Longchamps. Forbes'' s Final Idea as to the Classification of Birds. [At the end of Forbes's Journal, written in pencil, dated oxAj four days before his death.] " My final idea as to the classification of birds. — W. A. F., 10.1.83." Superorder Odontobnithes. I. Saururae. 1. III. Odontolgae. 1. II. Odontotornae. 1. Superorder Rhynchornithes. IV. Struthiones. 1. XVI. Impeunes. 1. V. Apteryges. 1. XVII. Tubinares. 2. VI. Ehese. 1. XVIII, Pseudogryphi. 1. VII. Crypturi. 1. XIX. Herodiones. 3. VIII. Gallinse. 3. XX. Accipitres. 1. IX. Opisthocomi. 1. XXI. Steganopodes. 3. X. Palamedefe, 1. XXII. Pluviales. 8, XI. Eudromades {a). 7. XXIII. ColumbEe. 2. ? Odontoglossse. XXIV. Todiformes. 1. XII. Semigallinee. 2. XXV. Piciformes (c). 7. XIII. Psittaci. 1. XXVI. Coraciiformes. 2. XIV. Lamellirostres. 1. XXVII. Meropiformes. 8. XV. Eretopodes {h). 3. XXVIII. Passeres. 120 Letters, Announcements, 5fC. (a) EUDROMADES. (c) PlCIFORMF.S. Rallidse. PicidaB. Psophiidse. Capitonidae. CEdicnemidse. Bucerotidse. ^ Otididfe. UpupidiB. Cariamidae. (Irrisoridie ?) Suborder Pici. Serpen tariidfe. Alcedinidae. Phcenicopteridfe. Coliidse. Momotidae. ): Subord. Halcyones. (h) Eretopodks. Colymbidae. Podicipitidoe. Heliornithidt'e. [The numbers after the orders evidently denote the number of families comprised in each order. — Edd.] The Neiv Bird-Gallery at South Kensington. — The mounted collection of birds of the British Museum has now been transferred to South Kensington and arranged in the large gallery on the ground-floor to the left on entering the building, below that occupied by the Mammals. The main series of birds occupies 44 cases to the right and left of the central gangway, while the Struthiones and Tinami have been allotted to the large chamber at the end, where the Gould collection of Humming-birds has been likewise placed. The series of birds begins with the Accipitres to the left as one enters, and returning on the north side, concludes with the Penguins on the right. The arrangement of much of the collection can at present be regarded only as provisional, for in many instances representatives of very different natural families are mixed up together, as, we trust, will not ulti- mately be the case. But it cannot of course be expected that, in the transfer of such an enormous collection, every specimen can fall into its proper place at once. There can, however, be no question that, when reduced into proper order and accurately labelled, the series in the new Bird- gallery will be the finest in Europe, and will give even the casual visitor a grand idea of the extent and variety of the great class Aves. Letters, Announcements, S^c. 121 The U.S. National Museum. — The recently issued Report of the Smithsonian Institution for 1881 contains the follow- ing account of the progress made in that year with the col- lection of birds : — " In the department of birds there have been seventy-four accession lots. 1^ Under the direction of Mr. Robert Ridgway there has been much activity in this department in reor- ganizing the exhibition series of specimens and in eliminating duplicates from the storage series. There have been 4345 entries in the catalogue. The removal of the mammals and skeletons to the new building will give an opportunity for a much more satisfactory exhibition of the ornithological col- lections. ''The most important addition has been Mr. Ridgway's private collection of American birds, containing 2302 speci- mens of 778 species, especially important because the speci- mens have been selected in the field to illustrate variations of colour and form due to age, sex, and geographical location. In addition^to numerous small collections, others of special interest have been received of the birds of Mexico and Yuca- tan from A. Boucard, of Paris ; of Surinam from C. J. Hering, of Paramaribo; of Grenada from J. G. Wells, of Saint An- drews ; of Guatemala from L. Guesde ; of Dominica from Dr. H: A. Nichols; of Costa Rica from J. C. Zeledon ; of Japan from Dr. F. C. Dale, U.S.N. ; of Florida from Messrs. J. Bell and S. T. Walker ; of Wyoming from Charles Ruby ; of Indiana from Mr. Ridgway ; and of Illinois from Mr. L. M. Turner. " Mr. Ridgway gives the following census of the bird col- lection : — Reserve series : Mounted specimens .... 7,000 Skins 40,000 Total reserve 47,000 Duplicates 8,000 Total 55,000 SEE. V. VOL. H. 122 Letters, Annonncements, S^c. The National Museum of Lisbon. — Our excellent corre- spondent Prof. J. V. Barboza du Bocage, having accepted office in tlie present Portnguese Government^ has, for the pre- sent, given up the Directorship of the Zoological Section of the National Museum of Lisbon (to which institution he has, as we all know, for a long period devoted much time and attention) to Dr. Fernando Mattroso. The Museum, which I have lately had the pleasiu-e of visiting under Prof, Bocage's guidance, occupies a series of five rooms in the Escuola Poly- technica at Lisbon, The ornithological portion is divided into three sections : (1) the general series, (2) the native birds of Portugal, (3) the birds of the Portuguese colonies in West Africa. The last is the most important, as containing the specimens described in Prof. Bocage's lately finished work on the Birds of Angola. It contains representatives of about 600 species, partly mounted and partly in skin. Amongst some of the most prominent of these may be men- tioned examples of StactolcEina anchietce, Ehninia albicauda, Neocichla gutturalis, Hyhjpsornis salvadorii, Sharpia angolensis, Penthetria bocagii, Ardea calceolata, and Pelecanus shcn-pii, many of which are the original types. In the Portuguese local series is a fine example of Saxicola leucura from near Coimbra, not hitherto generally known to occur so far west in Europe. In the general collection is a fine stuffed speci- men of Alca impennis, presented by King Victor Emmanuel to his son-in-law, the present King of Portugal, in 1867, and an egg of the same bird, lately discovered among the debris of the old collections of the Museum. Senhor J. A. de Sousa, the present Gustos of the Zoological Section of the Lisbon Museum, is an accomplished ornithologist, and has a new list of the birds of Portugal in preparation. — P. L. SCLATER. Bird-Notes from Mr. Layard (Brit. Gons. Noumea, New Caledonia, Sept. 2nd, 1883) . — " Yon ask for bird-news. Alas, I have none ! I can^t skin any more, as my left hand is stif- fening. I have not seen a bird for months, except sparrows. I heard from Norfolk Island last week. My correspondent has found the Gygis Candida breeding there, laying on the Letters, Announcements, 6fc. 123 bare branch, as has been described ; he sends eggs, which some day I shall send to Tristram. Also an egg which I really think is that of Nestor productus ! ! It was found on Nepean Island, and is quite unknown to the Norfolk islanders. I certainly think it is that egg. What else can it be ? He sends to me for identification the skin of Chrysococcyx lucidus, not hitherto recorded from that island. The ' great Snipe ■" o£ the island turns out to be Limosa novce-zealandia, and the ' little Snipe ' C/iaradrius xanthocheilus. The ' Sitterrack ' is Anous leucocapillus. He has sent a Zos- terops in alcohol, all bright yellow. This phase of plumage is not very uncommon. Is it not the result of breeding in and in ? Fresh blood would never reach their small island. I have asked him to investigate the breeding of the Petrels, and if they vary with sex or age. This is all I can do in the bird line.^' Neiv Works in Progress. — The next two volumes of the 'British Museum Catalogue of Birds ■* to be published will contain the Cinnyrimorphse (families Nectariniidse and Meli- phagidae) by Dr. Gadow, and the Dicaeidas, Hirundinidse, Motacillidse, Mniotiltidse, and Ampelidae by Mr. Sharpe. The former of these is nearly through the press. Mr. Salvin has most of the plates drawn for a mono- graph of the Petrels (Tubinares), to which group, as we all know, he has for some years devoted special attention. Dr. Buller, we understand, has in contemplation a new work on the Birds of New Zealand, to be illustrated by coloured figures of all the species, and has invited Mr. Keu- lemans to run over and do the drawings for him ! Mr. R. Wardlaw- Ramsay is preparing a catalogue of the magnificent collection bequeathed to him by the late Lord Tweeddale. Capt. Shelley has in contemplation a list of the described species of African birds. Mr. H. E. Dresser is projecting a monograph of the Rollers (Coraciidse) as a companion to his nearly ready volume on the Bee-eaters (Meropidse), of Avhich the prospectus is now before us. 124 Letters, Announcements , ^c. Rare Birds in Andalucia. — Lord Lilford writes : — " It may interest you to hear that I have lately received a pair of Cursorius galUcus, which were killed in the Marisma de Lebrija_, not far above San Lucar de Barrameda, on 20th August ult. These are the first that I have received from Spain, though the bird has been now and then met with near Malaga. I also received three good skins of Hydro- chelidon leucoptera from the Goto de Donana, on the other side of the Guadalquivir. Neither Irby nor I ever obtained this bird from Andalucia before. I believe that it has been met with at Valencia, or rather at the Albufera, about seven miles from that town ; but the Guadalquivir is very far west for this eastern species. '•* The Birds of the Bonin Islmids. — The Bonin group of islands, which lie north of the Carolines and some 500 miles S.E. of Japan, seem to have been entirely neglected by natu- ralists since they were visited in 1828 by F. H. v. Kittlitz. Kittlitz tells us that he met with fifteen species of birds in the Bonin Islands, besides ascertaining the existence of nine or ten others. In his memoir {' Ueber die Vogel der Insel- gruppe von Bonin-sima,' Mem. pres. Acad. Sc. St. Peters- bourg, i. p. 231, 1831) he describes and figures several re- markable and little-known species [Uos familiaris, Si/lvia diphone, Fringilla papa, Oriolus squamiceps) peculiar to the group. The Bonin Islands being now Japanese territory and of easy access, we trust that some of our fellow- workers in Japan will not overlook this outlyiog part of their field of operations. A fresh investigation of this remote group would supply specimens of species scarcely known to us, and probably lead to the discovery of others new to science. Dr. Fischer's East-African Collections. — Dr. G. A. Fischer (of whose expedition we spoke in our last issue, ' Ibis/ 1883, p. 583) has returned to Berlin with his collections from the Masai country and the base of Kilima-ndjaro. There are said to be about thirty species of birds new to science in the series, and amongst them the finest Touracou {Corythaix) yet discovered. A special meeting of the Deutsche Ornitho- logische Gesellschaft has been held to do him honour. THE IBIS. FIFTH SERIES. No. VI. APRIL 1884. XIII. — Field-Notes from Slavonia and Hungary, with an An- notated List of the Birds observed in Slavonia. By W. Eagle Clarke, F.L.S., M.B.O.U. The following is an account of an ornithological trip under- taken by Messrs. Harrison, Tennant, and the writer during portions of the months of May and June of the present year (1883) for the purpose of visiting the Ohedska Bara, an ex- tensive marsh on the river Save, in Slavonia. It has been thought best to treat of it in diary form, giving a broad out- line of our doings, and to conclude with a complete list of all the species of birds observed in Slavonia, a province whose avifauna seems to have received little or no attention at the hands of ornithologists ; and it is hoped that the information thus afforded may be useful as a contribution towards filling up a gap in our knowledge of the distribution of birds in Europe. We left London on the evening of the lltli of May, and after a few hours' halt at Vienna, arrived at Buda-Pesth on the morning of the 15th. Here it was necessary to make a short stay to present our letter of introduction to the British SER. V. VOL. II. L 126 Mr. W. E. Clarke, Field-Notes Consul-General, through whose influence we hoped to obtain the necessary permit from the Hungarian government to enter the Obedska Bara, which is strictly preserved, and to engage the services of an interpreter to accompany us. In the evening we visited Margaret Island, the charming plea- sure-resort of the Pesthians, situated in the middle of the Danube, about a mile above the city. Although this beau- tiful spot offered a great variety of attractions in the shape of gardens, baths, and military music, we wended our way to the barren shingly spit which forms the northern extremity of the island, and considered ourselves well repaid on finding, after considerable difficulty, a nest and eggs of the Little Ringed Plover. In the wooded portions of the island a pair of Hooded Crows had a nest within a couple of hundred yards of the band-stand ; the Nightingale and Golden Oriole were singing on all sides, and we observed the Goldfinch, Haw- finch, Greenfinch, Tree-Sparrow, Wryneck, Jackdaw, Tawny Owl, and Sparrow-Hawk. May 16th. In the morning we visited the Hungarian National Museum, a fine handsome building, which possesses really valuable collections in all departments of science and a large and able staff of curators, at the head of whom was Herr Pulszky Ferencz, a companion of Kossuth in the doings of 1848, and who had spent some years in England as a political refugee. We were received by him with the greatest cordiality, and were introduced to Dr. Madarasz- Gyula, the curator in ornithology, a most courteous and obliging gentleman, with whom we went carefully over the Hungarian collection of birds. The afternoon we spent with Dr. Madarasz in his large well-wooded town garden, where we found birds very numerous^ and observed, among others, the Blackbird, Nightingale, Blackcaj), Barred Warbler, Golden Oriole, Hed-backed Shrike, Collared Flycatcher, Goldfinch, Serin, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Wryneck, Cuckoo, Kestrel, and Turtle-Dove, all of which were nesting there ; while above soared a pair of Aqiiila heliaca, to us a strange sight to see above a city of 400,000 inhabitants. May 17th. Under the guidance of Dr. Madarasz we Adsited from Slavonia and Hungary. 1.27 Velencze_, a somewhat shallow lake, about twenty-seveu miles in length and one and a half in width, lying some twenty miles S.W. of Buda. On alighting at Dinyes we proceeded towards the village of Gardony along the margin of the lake, which consists of marshy meadow-land, and were gratified at the sight of a pair of Black-winged Stilts, many White Herons, several White-headed Ducks, Eed-necked Grebes, White-winged Black Terns, and Marsh-Harriers, very many Great Crested Grebes, while among the less interesting were numerous Coots and Black Terns, a few Redshanks, Blue- headed and White Wagtails. At Gardony, after some delay, we procured four small flat-bottomed boats, and set off in different directions over the reed-beds which stud the centre of the lake, each in charge of a fisherman clad in a cotton divided skirt reaching below his knees, a coarse cloth tunic, and a pork -pie felt hat, who navigated the somewhat preca- rious craft with great skill, aided only by a long pole, with which, although it did not reach the bottom in most places, he managed to propel us with considerable speed. The result of our labours to procure both specimens and eggs was disappointing, for we only bagged a Purple Heron, a Great Crested Grebe, several Black Terns and Great E,eed- Warblers ; while several hours^ really hard work among the reed-beds under a broiling sun only resulted in our findina; the nests and eggs of the Great Crested Grebe and Coot in the utmost profusion. Several nests of the Great Reed- Warbler, a species of which the harsh notes resounded through the reeds on all sides, were ready for eggs, and it was noted that more than one of these were coated with that fine thread- like confervoid growth so common to stagnant waters. When afloat we made the following additions to the list of sj)ecies already enumerated : — Eared Grebe, Little Bittern, Mallard, Pintail, White-eyed Duck, Avocet, Spoonbill, Penduline Tit, Little Grebe, Common Tern, Brown-headed Gull, and a large species of Gull, the identity of which we had not a chance of ascertaining. With so many good things around us we could only account for our almost blank day by surmising that we M'cre too early for eggs. We ceased, however, to wonder l2 128 Mr. W. E. Clarke, Field- Notes whence all the " grebe " of commerce comes from, after the immense numbers of Crested Grebes observed on the limited area of the lake we were able to investigate. In the village of Gardony a Stork had young, and we added the Bunting, Swallow, and Turtle-Dove to our list. We returned to Buda-Pesth in the evening, and along with our interpreter went on board the S.S. ' Fiume,' which left for Semlin at 11 P.M. May 18th. On going on deck in the morning we found we had arrived at the small town of Baja, whence, until Vukovar is reached, the Danube traverses a flat country, which is, how- ever, abundantly timbered, thus relieving what would other- wise be considered monotonous scenery. In one or two places the banks are somewhat steep, and afford breeding-stations to numbers of Sand-Martins. At Vukovar the Fruska-Gora mountains run parallel to the river on the Slavonian side as far as the junction with the Theiss, being about a mile inland, so to speak, attaining a considerable height, probably over 2000 feet, and clothed to the summit with forest. The situation of many of the towns and villages was very pic- turesque, and that of Karlovic particularly so. During the day we observed many species of birds, including the fol- lowing— the Raven, White-tailed Eagle, Black Kite, Cor- morant, Black Stork, and Sandpiper. We arrived at Semlin at 10 P.M. May 19tli-21st. These days were spent in the miserable town of Semlin, where we endeavoured to find some orni- thological work to do in the neighbourhood until our permit from the Government arrived j but in this we failed ; nor were matters improved on crossing to Belgrade, which was only thirteen minutes by steamer. The situation of the latter city is extremely fine, but it is a poor place. We noted a Goldfinch feeding in the main street (the Terrasia) ; and observed a Jackdaw with a large white patch on its breast, giving it the appearance of a leviathan Ring- Ouzel. May 22nd. Having found a Slav jager who knew some- thing about birds, we set off with him in one of the rough primitive carts of the country for the village of Dobauovci, from Slavonia and Hungary . 129 about ten miles due west, where, as he told us, there are fine woods and marshes. On leaving Semlin the road passed over a large barren treeless common, above which hovered several Black Kites and a Raven, possibly attracted by the great numbers of that interesting little animal Spermophllus citel- lus, which abounded here. The cart-way (one cannot call it a road, for there was no attempt at formation) then passed through rich arable land, and Crested Larks became abundant, and a solitary Wheatear was observed. On approaching Dobanovci a row of acacias line each side of the roadway. Here the Lesser Grey Shrike was very common and noisy, and every now and then darted from the topmost twigs on to the stems of last year's maize, which here and there remained in the fallows. We procured some fine speci- mens, their crops being full of Coleoptera. A Hooded Crow had a nest, off which we shot the old bird, taking the five eggs it contained. At Dobanovci we found the village in holiday, it being the feast-day of the patron saint of the church ; and were invited to join the inhabitants at their roasted pig and sheep, which were being cooked in primitive fashion in the churchyard, where, too, the festive board was spread. This we did, while the whole village looked on the first Englishmen they had ever seen. White Storks were very numerous, and nests occupied the tops of many of the chimneys. The natives have no regard whatever for this bird, and we might have had the eggs from any of the nests ; but they, unfortunately, all contained young. Beyond the village was a long narrow and serpentine marsh, with beds of reeds and rushes, which could not be reached without a boat, owing to the depth of the water. On our approach numbers of Squacco Herons, Night-Herons, Little Egrets, Common Herons, and a few Purple Herons rose, and we bagged some fine specimens. Mallards, White- eyed Ducks, Great Crested Grebes, and Great Reed-Warblers were common, and we observed a single Little Bittern. We next visited a large oak-forest a few miles to the west, where Black Ki'tes were very abundant, and soon found a nest, off which we shot the old female and obtained specimens of the young in down 130 Mr. W. E. Clarke, Field-Notes — greyisli-white little creatui'es a few days old. The nest was a flat structure of sticks, lined witli finer sticks, pieces o£ moss, and a quantity of old red flannel. A nest of the Raven had large young, one of which was perched on its margin, after the manner of a young Rook. We also found the nests of the Red-hacked Shrike, Blackcap, Barred Warhlcr, &c. Among other species we noted the Hawfinch, Wiyneck, Creeper^ Sombre Tit, Long-tailed Tit, and Roller, and a single specimen of the Icterine Warbler was obtained. This wood was remarkably rich in Lepidoptera, especially larvae, among which we observed those of Endromis versicolor and Cnethocampa processionea, and found the imago of Sa- iuniia pavunia major. The beautiful little green tree-frog was also abundant. May 23rd. In the afternoon we left for the village of Obrez, about thirty miles S.W. of Semlin. Our route lay via Dobanovci. On arriving at the common just out of Semlin, we attempted to shoot a specimen of Spermophilus citellus, but were completely nonplussed ; for the little creatures, on seeing us^ immediately made for their burrows, which are bored perpendicularly into the ground, and here they stood and allowed us to take a sitting shot at twenty or thirty yards, but always dived into their holes to all appearance untouched. After half-a-dozen attempts we desisted, as car- tridges were not obtainable thereabouts. Blue-headed Wag- tails were common^ but kept annoyingly near a herd of white oxen, thus preventing our getting specimens. On the marsh-meadows, near the village of Pijavicar, we saw a few Whinchats, all of which appeared to be much lighter in colour than our English bird ; one of these we obtained, and found it had only the throat and fore neck pale rufous, the breast and abdomen being pure white. In the marsh here we found a nest of the Sedge-Warbler. We observed little else of interest during the day, and passed the night in a peasant's house at Petrovcic. May 24th. We were en route a little after 3 a.m. The face of the country between this village and that of Asanja was much more diversified than any we had hitherto passed from Slavonia and Hungary. 131 through^ being a succession of woodland, coppice, marsh, and meadow. Hundreds of Herodii were passing overhead, including a party of Spoonbills, which our Slav driver informed us were locally known by a name equivalent to " Spoon-Geese/^ In a marshy meadow we came across some two hundred Glossy Ibises feeding ; but they only permitted us to approach within about eighty yards, and then took flight : our driver termed them " Black Snipe/^ From Asanja our route for some miles was along a narrow path through an oak-forest, almost every tree of which was affected by mistletoe. Eagles were numerous, but only a momentary glimpse was caught of them between the trees. On emerging from the wood, we skirted the northern end of the Obedska Bara, which is here three quarters of a mile in width and much overgrown with reeds and sallows. We arrived at Obrez about noon, and found it a most miserable village. More than half of its turf-built houses were in ruins, and their dilapidated chimneys afforded suitable sites for the numerous nests of the White Stork. After luncheon, in the shape of beer, black bread, and a kind of sour cream-cheese made from sheep^s milk, we accompanied a jager to the wood and marsh on the north side of the village. In the wood was a nest of either the White-tailed or the Imperial Eagle (for both species were seen in the vicinity) — an immense structure, quite ninety feet from the ground, in a gigantic oak of such dimensions that climbing was entirely out of the question. Other birds were scarce, with the excep- tion of the Great Spotted Woodpecker, which was abundant. The marsh was some miles in length, and here margined on both sides by forest, rendering it particularly secluded. A pair of Imperial Eagles occupied posts on a couple of dead trees close by ; above soared a White-tailed Eagle, and over the marsh several Marsh- Harriers, Black Terns, and one or two White- winged Black Terns were hovering ; while from the reeds there arose several White-eyed Ducks, Pygmy Cormorants, and Squacco Herons. On entering the m.arsh with our wading-boots (which were absolutely indispensable, owing to the prodigious numbers of leeches) we found that, 132 Mr. W. E. Clarke, Field-Notes in addition to the reed-beds and sallow-brakes, tussocks of sedge {Cladmm mariscus) were numerously interspersed. The water was not deep, and in most parts under three feet. A few hours'" hai'd work produced a nest of the Little Crake and several of White-ej^ed Duck, Mallard, and Coot, The nest of the Crake was on a sedge-tussock about six inches above the surface of the water, and occupied, not the centre, but the side of the tussock ; it was a depression, amply lined with short broad pieces of reed-blade, and contained seven eggs. The nests of the Ducks were likewise on the tussocks. Among the reed-beds a species of water-snake was numerous, and when disturbed glided under water. The marsh-tortoise {Kmys europcea) was also not uncommon. In the evening we set out for Kupinovo, not caring to remain the night in the wretched village of Obrez. May 25th. In the morning we made a visit of inspection to the " bara,^' which, it may be well here to remark, is a horseshoe- shaped marsh, about ten miles in length and half a mile in width. It has evidently been at one time the northern bend of the river Save, which at this point now takes a similar curve to the south. Kupinovo is at the southern extremity of the eastern arm, so to sjjeak, of the horseshoe. The surface of the "bara,^^ with the exception of a strip of open water along the margin, is a mass of reed-beds and sallow -brakes ; and although the water is very deep, yet this marsh is fast getting choked with vegetation, and in course of time will doubtless become quite grown up. We found the great colony of Herons about a mile north of the village and where the sallow-brake was densest. This breeding-station occupied a few hundred square yards in the centre of the " bara," and presented a most interesting sight. Seated on the bushes were hundreds of Sqiiacco Herons, Little Egrets, Night- Herons, Glossy Ibises, Pygmy Cormorants, and many Common Herons ; while in the centre, in an exclusive group, were fifty or sixty Spoonbills. Many other individuals of these species were busily engaged in breaking twigs and conveying them to their nests. Every now and then a panic fccemed suddenly to seize this vast assemblage, and then there from Slavonia and Hungary. 133 arose many thousands of birds hitherto hidden, most of which soon settled down and were again lost to sight, and things remained as before. Marsh -Harriers were extremely abundant, and six or eight were seen on the wing at once. White-eyed Ducks, Black Terns, and Mallards occasionally rose j Crested Grebes and Coots floated lazily on the open water ; White Wagtails ran nimbly on the margin at o^^r feet ; Great Reed- Warblers sent forth their vigorous but un- musical notes from the reeds ; while overhead we observed, as we reclined on the bank, a pair of Black Storks, an Imperial and a Booted Eagle. Such was our introduction to the bird- life on the Obedska '^bara/^ In the afternoon a peasant brought a fine dark form of the Barn-Owl, in which the under- parts were rich orange-brown, the upper parts chiefly dark bluish grey. A Government official arrived from Semlin, with our anxiously awaited permit. In the evening we made an attempt to enter the " bara " in a flat-bottomed boat ; but, after a resolute tussle, we were compelled to desist, and to admit that an entrance direct was not to be forced. We made arrangements for the boatmen to be in readiness at 3 A.M., in the hope that by an early start the intense heat of the later morning might be avoided. May 26th. For some reason or other our boatmen were full of excuses, and it was only by dint of considerable pres- sure that the boat was forthcoming after a most annoying delay. At last we were afloat, with our two Slav boatmen occupying the stern, from which they plied their short- handled paddles. Our plan was to attempt to enter the colony by approaching from the middle of the " bara."'' To do this, we started about a mile below the colony; and for some time all went well, as we passed rapidly up an open lane between reed-beds, of which the surface was covered with the beautiful flowers and leaves of the white water-lily. After- wards several reed-beds were penetrated, from which many White-eyed Ducks, several Pochards, and a pair of Gadwalls were disturbed ; but difficulties increased, and after two houi's we were compelled to retire to the margin and com- 134 Mr. W. E. Clarke, Field-Notes mence anew. Paddling mucli nearer to the desired goal, we again essaj^ed to enter ; and after fighting our way through belts of sallows and reed-beds, over masses of floating vege- table matter and tussocks of sedge, and across open spaces thickly carpeted with that interesting aquatic plant Stratiotes aloides, we at last approached the outer fringe and caught glimpses of the blue eggs of the Ibis. Short work was made of the remaining barriers, and we were soon in the midst of an almost indescribable scene. On every side arose a vast body of birds, the beating of their pinions and their harsh notes producing quite a deafening sound; and soon the whole colony, estimated at 30,000, was on the wing, their confused flight resembling the gyrations of a swarm of bees. After a short interval they grew somewhat accustomed to our presence, and perched on the surrounding bushes, so close that the red eye of the Night-Heron and the yellow patches between the toes of the Little Egret were plainly to be seen, while they swayed about uncomfortably on the top- most twigs of the sallows along with the Glossy Ibis, Pygmy Cormorant, Common Heron, and Spoonbill. Around us were the nests and eggs of all these species save the Spoonbill. Those of the Ibis were in every instance on the surface of the w ater, or but very little above it, and w ere in the utmost pro- fusion. The Night-Herons had their nests a few feet above the water, as had also the Squaccos and Little Egrets, though those of the latter were sometimes placed just above the sur- face. The structures of the Common Herons and Pygmy Cor- morants were, as a rule, among the higher branches. In order to give some idea of the profusion in which these nests were, it is only necessary to say that in one bush wei-e noted one nest of Common Heron, two of Pygmy Cormorant, three of Night- Heron, two of Little Egret, one of Squacco, and three of Glossv Ibis. Nor was this a singular instance, for most of the trees were equally laden. The nests of all these species were very similar in structure and materials, those of the Night- and Squacco Herons being composed entirely of sticks, the lining of those of the former species being ar- ranged to radiate from the centre. The nests of the Pygmy from Slavonia and Hungary. 135 Cormorant consisted of sticks lined with finer sticks and roots ; while sticks and a few reeds formed those of the Little Egret and the Glossy Ibis. The nests of the Egret and the Squacco Avere seldom to be seen in juxtaposition^ probably on account of the pugnacious temperament of the latter. We had some trouble to get at the nests of the select party of Spoonbills, and had to push our boat over nests of Glossy Ibis, which it was impossible even with the greatest care to avoid. The nests of the Spoonbills were immense structures of sticks and dead reeds ; some were only just above the water, while others were as much as four feet from the surface. When at the nests of this species a solitary individual oPthe White Heron was observed, the only one seen by us in Slavonia. It was rather surprising to find fresh eggs of the Common Heron and the Spoonbill at this date ; which may perhaps be accounted for by the fact that the Herons are summer visitors only to this region; and probably all arrive much at the same time, the winter, I suspect, being too severe even for the former, which probably arrives somewhat earlier than the rest, as some few nests contained very young birds. The return journey was under- taken with light hearts after our success^ and we reached Kupinovo at 3 p.m., finding on our way a newly hatched young of the Little Crake among some sedge, to which our attention was drawn by the loud clear note of the old bird. This little creature was glossy black with a beautiful dark green cast, and had bluish-grey legs. The next two or three days were chiefly devoted to skinning birds and blowing eggs. On the 28th a native brought a nest containing a single egg of the Penduline Titmouse which he had cut from the slender twigs of a sallow. In the evening of the same day we added a nest and eggs of the Golden Oriole to our collection. May 29th. Count Samuel Talacki, a Hungarian nobleman, on a shooting-expedition on the Save, shot on the "bara^' a fine mature male of Ardea bubulcus, which we had the pleasure of examining soon after it was killed. Although this species has not been hitherto recorded as breeding in this 136 Mr. W. E. Clarke, Field-Notes part of Europe (indeed it is quite a stranger in Hungary, and this is the first recorded occuiTence in the Hungarian States, according to Dr. Madarasz), yet I think there can be little doubt that it had a mate and nest in the " bara.^' On this day, too, we saw a pair of fine young of Kagle-Owls in the possession of a peasant in the village, which he had taken from a wood in the Kupinsky Kut, a locality about ten miles S.E. of Kupinovo, during the first week in May. May 30th. Left Kujiinovo at 5 a.m. in a cart for Obrez, for another day in the marsh there. On the way several Hoopoes on the roadside and Booted Eagles on dead trees in the wood were observed. The marsh reached we entered under an intensely hot sun, and found the temperature of the reed- beds somewhat akin to that of an oven. On the tussocks of sedge nests of the White-eyed Duck and Mallard were nume- rous : one of the former contained fourteen eggs and Avas margined with brownish-black down, having greyish tijis at the point of insertion. A nest of the Water-llail was also found in a similar situation ; it contained ten eggs and was a depression amply lined with dry reed-blades. A Sombre Tit uttered its peculiar notes from a willow, and from its constant presence we presumed it had a nest at hand ; but this we failed to find. On leaving the marsh for a siesta at midday we disturbed an l^agle, which we took for a Spotted Eagle, which flew lazily to a tree and allowed us to pass beneath, seeming to be well aware that there was not a gun in the party, a fact accounted for by reason of the marsh being pre- served and to avoid complications. In the afternoon we again entered the marsh and found the nests of the White-eyed Duck almost a nuisance, but at length came across something good in the shape of a nest oi Locustella fluviatilis , from which we put off the old bird. The nest was a deep cup-shaped structure composed entirely of the broad dry blades of reed, and soon fell to pieces when removed from the centre of the tussock of sedge in which it was buried, under the dead growth of former years : it contained five fresh eggs. An attempt was then made to reach the breeding-place of the from Slavonia and Hungary. 137 Terns ; but after sinking over the tops o£ our wading-boots we were only able to obtain a few eggs of Black Tern, which were in large nests of dead and wet reed-stems placed on floating masses of the same. The breeding-place of the White-winged Black Tern was beyond our reach. By the roadside^ on returning to Obrez, a small party of Bee-eaters was seen. In the evening we returned to Kupinovo. May 31st. In the morning we procured a few eggs of Black Tern and a nest and eggs of Great Reed-Warbler from the bara, and while so doing were interested in watching an Imperial Eagle, which on making its appearance over the village was immediately bullied by a Black Kite and a White Stork. In the afternoon a visit was paid to the large wood between the eastern and western arms of the bara, where we found a nest of the Black Stork, from which the old bird flew on our aj)proach. The nest was placed on a large branch about forty feet from the ground, but the immense girth of the tree precluded any attempt at climbing. A nest of the Penduline Tit, ready for eggs, was suspended among the outer twigs of a pollard poplar, and, like the one already obtained, was formed entirely of the down from the sallow- catkin, having the appearance of silky curled wool, and through this were interlaced a few dry grasses as if to lend additional strength. Both the nests of this bird which we obtained had two holes, one in front, the other behind. Quite low down in a decayed oak was a nest-hole and young of the Great Spotted Woodpecker. June 1st. At 5 a.m. we bade farewell to Kupinovo, tra- velling by Progar, Becmen, and Dobanovci to Semlin. At first our road lay along the banks of the Save, which were in many places wooded ; and here we observed the Hobby, a pair of Bee-eaters, Green Woodpeckers, and Goldfinches. On leaving the river we passed several small marshes, and noted the Purple Heron and Common Tern, and, nearer Dobanovci, the Wheatear and Blue-headed Wagtail and several Eagles. When between Becmen and Dobanovci we had a new experi- ence in being followed for some miles by a wolf, attracted no doubt by a foal of tender age which trotted by the side of 138 Mr. W. E. Clarke, Field- Notes its dam, which was harnessed to our cart. Wolves are very numerous in this district, and perhaps in Slavonia generally, and since our visit to Dobanovci a party beat the wood and shot seven. As we entered Dobanovci no less than nine White Storks were soaring over the village at a great height, and one of these descended rapidly at an angle of 60° to a nest close to us, using its wings as a parachute by keeping them parallel with its legs, which were outstretched in the direction of the descent ; the neck and head were lowered in the same direction, and altogether it presented a most remarkable aj)pearance. During our trip we had abundant opportunity for studying the habits of this species and considered it rather an uninteresting bird than otherwise. As a rule, one of the parents was generally to be seen standing on the side of the nest in a most lethargic attitude. Some- times when both were at the nest one of them (perhaps the male) made a loud hollow snapping noise, and went through the pantomimic performance, while so doing, of throwing back the neck and placing the crown of the head on the lower portion of the back. But to return. After some breakfast we took a small light punt into the marsh, but found the reed-beds so dense that it was quite impossible to penetrate them for any distance, and after some hard work were com- pelled to desist after having found only a few nests of the Great Reed- Warbler and one of the Moorhen. This was a disappointment, as the Little Bittern was not uncommon and probably nesting. Squacco Herons, Night-Herons, and White- eyed Ducks were numerous, and we observed also a few Common Terns and a solitary Penduline Tit, while in a vineyard on the margin was shot a male Stonechat ; the latter an interesting type, having the head and back ex- tremely black, the bay confined to a patch on fore neck, and the breast and abdomen silky white. In this marsh abounded huge specimens of Lymneea stagnalis and Planorbis corneus, and Paludina hungarica was not uncommon ; on the road from Dobanovci to Semlin we found eight nests of Lesser Grey Shrikes in the acacias ; they were as large as those of a Blackbii'd, and were chiefly composed of a large species of from Slavo7iia and Hungary. 139 chickweedj freshly plucked feathers, and wool; some con- tained six egg's. Arrived at Semlin at 6 p.m. June 2nd. Arose at 4 a.m. and crossed to Belgrade, whence we took the steamer for Orsova ; owing to the amount of flood, the river was in many places two or three miles in width. The country was flat on the Hungarian bank, hilly on the Servian ; and in many parts both banks are well wooded. The birds observed were a solitary Gull- billed Tern, near Semendria, and many White-tailed Eagles, Black Kites, and Black Terns. At Bazias the river enters the mountains, and the scenery becomes extremely fine, cul- minating in the indescribable Kasan Pass, where the mighty river runs between precipitous cliff's, in many places 2000 feet in height, and in the narrowest part in a channel only 180 yards in width. Near the base of these cliffs on each side a road has been hewn out of the solid rock — the one on the right bank completed by Trajan in a.d. 103, and that on the left bank is a carriage-road of modern date. In this pass the Griffon Vulture appeared to be not uncommon, and several were seen on the wing or seated on the ledges far above. A pair of Ruddy Sheldrake, disturbed by the steamer, flew close by us. We arrived at Orsova at 4 p.m. and took a carriage to Turn Severin, in Roumania, in order to see the celebrated Iron Gate. Eagles were very numerous over the forest-clad mountains of this part of Wallachia, and the Whinchat, Red-backed Shrike, White Wagtail, and, I think, Rock-Thrush were noted. We had now arrived at our journey^s end and the beginning of our return ; and it is enough to say that after a few days spent in the beautiful city of Pesth, we arrived home on the 8th of June. It will be seen from the foregoing that the following list was compiled in the extreme S.E. corner of Slavonia, a dis- trict forming a narrow triangle of which Semlin is the apex, the Save the southern boundary, a line from Kupinovo to Obrez the western, and one from Obrez through Dobanovci to Semlin the northern. This tract of country is flat or gently undulating, about 200 feet above sea-level, and totally 140 Mr. W. E. Clarke, Field-Notes devoid of marked physical features. About Semlin much of it is rich agricultural land, further west it is chiefly clothed with extensive forests of old timber, mostly oak, and with numerous marshes of greater or less extent. A few species are added which were observed on the Danube betAveen tlie confluences of the Drave and Save, where the river forms the N.E. boundary of the province. Further research, and especially an investigation of the Fruska-Gora mountains, lying to the north-west of the distiict indicated, and attaining probably a height of between 2000 and 3000 feet, would add many species to the list, for the influence of elevation on the avifauna of countries possessing similar physical cha- racters is well known. The list having been compiled between the 18th of May and the 2nd of June, it is fair to presume that all the species noted were breeding in Slavonia. TuRDUs Musicus, Linn. We never saw this species, nor did we hear its song ; but its nest and eggs were found in several of the woods. TuRDUS MERULA, Liuu. Did not appear to be a common species. Single birds were noted at Vukovar, Dobanovci, and Kupinovo. SaXICOLA (ENANTHE (LiuU.). Very local, and only noted on some poor land near Semlin, Dobanovci, and Becmen. Fratincola rubetra (Linn.). Only seen in the marshy meadows near Pijavicar, and, as stated, was of a lighter type than ordinary British speci- mens, having the breast and abdomen dull white. Fratincola rubicola (Linn.). A solitary male seen and obtained in a vineyard at Doba- novci. An interesting specimen, in which the head and back are intensely black, with the faintest trace of the rufous edging to the feathers, the bay of the underparts is con- from Slavonia and Hungary. l^l fined to a patch on the fore neck, and the breast and abdo- men are silky white. Daulias luscinia (Linn.) . Extremely abundant everywhere. I am not certain as to whether D. philomela occurs in Slavonia, but I have Hun- garian specimens of that species in my collection. Sylvia cinerea, Bechstein. Only observed in the coppices about Petrovcic. Sylvia atricapilla (Linn.). A nest and eggs obtained in the woods at Dobanovci, Sylvia hortensis (Beclisteiu). A nest found in the wood at Kupinovo, on which the bird was seen. Sylvia nisoria (Bechstein). Common, and nesting in all the localities visited. Hypolais icterina (Vieillot). A solitary individual shot in the wood at Dobanovci on the 22nd of May. Probably this is the southern limit of its range in this part of Europe during the breeding-season. Acrocephalus turdoides (Meyer) , Extremely abundant and breeding in all the marshes. Acrocephalus phragmitis (Bechstein). A nest and eggs found in the marsh at Pijavicar, and a few heard near Petrovcic. Evidently not a common bird. Locustella NiEviA (Bodd.). Not uncommon in the marshes at Petrovcic and Kupinovo. Locustella fluviatilis (Wolf). Probably abundant, along with many other Sylviinse, but only detected by the finding of its nest and eggs in the marsh at Obrez on the 30th of May. ACREDULA CAUDATA (Linil.). Observed in the woods at Dobanovci and Kupinovo. PaRUS MAJOR. Common. SER. v. VOL. II. M 142 Mr. W. E. Clarke, Field-Notes Parus lugubris_, Temm. Several heard and seen in the woods at Dobanovci. One observed at Obrez. Parus c^ruleus, Linn. Common. -^GITHALUS PENDULINUS (Linn.). Two nests obtained at Knpinovo and a bird seen at Do- banovci. SiTTA CM)ilA, Wolf, Several seen in the woods at Knpinovo. MoTACiLLA ALBA, Linn. The common Wagtail of the country. MoTACiLLA FLAVA, Linn. Local, but not uncommon about Semlin and Becmen. Oriolus galbula, Linn. Extremely common everywhere. Lanius minor, Gmel. Common : numbers nesting in the roadside trees about Do- banovci, and seen singly or in pairs at all the places visited. Lanius collurio, Linn. Very common. HiRUNDO RUSTICA, LiuU. Very common. Chelidon urbica (Linn.). Abundant. COTILE RIPARIA (LinU.). A few observed at Obrez. Certhia familiaris (Linn.). One or two observed in the woods at Dobanovci. Carduelis elegans, Steph. Not numerous, but observed singly in several localities, LiGURINUS CHLORIS (LiuU.) . Extremely common. from Slavonia and Hungary. 143 COCCOTHRAUSTES VULGARIS^ Pall. Very common in all localities. In the wood at Dobanovci it was seen in parties of five or six on 22nd of May. Passer domesticus (Linn.). Very common. Passer montanus (Linn.). The commonest bird in Slavonia^ and simply ubiquitous, appearing to be equally at borne whether in the forests, marshes, villages, or on the roadsides. Fringilla ciELEBS, Linn. "■ Extremely abundant. Emberiza miliaria, Linn. Very common. Emberiza citrinella, Linn. Observed in the woods only, where several nests were found. Kot uncommon. Emberiza sch(emclus, Linn. I am morally certain I saw a pair on the Obedska Bara. A rare bird so far south during the breeding-season. StuRxNTUs vulgaris, Linn. Local ; for it was only observed about Kupinovo, where it was common. Garrulus glandarius (Linn.). Common. Pica rustica (Scop.). Common, nesting in the sallows of the " bara " and in the trees in the village streets. CoRvus monedula, Linn. Common at Peterwardein ; a few were observed nesting in the church-steeples at Dobanovci and Kupinovo. CoRVUs coRNix, Linn. Very common and particularly tame, nesting in trees on the roadside close to the villages. M 2 144 Mr. W. E. Clarke, Field-Notes CoRVus FRUGiLEGUS, Linn. Common, but local. Several large rookeries were ob- served. CoRVUs coRAX, Linn. Observed in all the woods. Alauda arvensis, Linn. Common. Alauda cristata, Linn. Common on the roadside, especially in the vicinity of arable land. Cypselus apus (Linn.). Very common. Dendrocopus major (Linn.). Extremely common in all the woods. Gecinus viRinis (Linn.). Observed on the roadside trees about Kupinovo and Becmen. Iynx torquilla, Linn. Two heard, in the wood at Dobanovci. CoRACiAs garrula, Linn. Very common; observed in the woodlands and trees by the roadside. Merops apiaster, Linn. A small party seen at Obrez on the 30th of May, and a pair at Progar on the 1st of June. Upupa epops, Linn. Several observed on the wooded margin of the bara, near Kupinovo. CucuLUs CANORUS, Linn. Very common, especially in the woods. Strix flammea, Linn. One seen at Petrovcic, and a fine dark variety procured at Kupinovo, in which the underparts are orange-brown, the upper greyish blue. from Slavonia and Hungary. 145 Bubo ignavus, Forst. A pair of* young birds seen^ which had been taken from a nest near Kupinovo early in May. Gyps fulvus (Gmel.). A pair shot on the Save, above Kupinovo, by Count Talacki, on the 25th of May. Circus ^ruginosus (Linn.). Common on all the marshes, and particularly abundant on the Obedska Bara and at Obrez. BuTEo VULGARIS, Leach. 'Common in the woods. Aquila pennata (Gmel.). Common about Kupinovo and Obrez. Aquila clanga. Pall. ? ' I am not quite certain about this species ; but there was certainly another Aquila observed in addition to A. pennata and A. heliaca. Aquila heliaca, Savigny. Common, and generally distributed. Haliaetus albicilla (Linn.). Common on the wooded banks of the Danube and Save, and several observed on the Obedska Bara and on the marsh at Obrez. Milvus migrans (Bodd.). The common bird of prey of the country, and to be seen not only in the villages but even in the town of Semlin. Falco sacer, Gmel. Observed on two occasions, at Obrez and at Dobanovci. Falco subbuteo, Linn. One seen at Progar. TiNNUNCULUs alaudarius (Gmel.). Fairly common. Phalacrocorax carbo (Linn.). Several seen on the Danube at Dalya. 146 Mr. W. E. Clarke, Field-Notes Phalacrocorax pygm^.us, Pall. Nesting very abundantly in the Obedska Bara. A few seen at Obrez. Ardea cinerea, Linn. Common. Many nesting in the Obedska Bara. One or two seen at Dobanovci. Ardea purpurea, Linn. Not common, several seen on the Obedska Bara and at Dobanovci and Becmen, Ardea alba, Linn. A single bird observed on the Obedska Bara, where it was once common ; but persecution for the sake of its plumes has all but banished it. Ardea garzetta, Linn. Nesting very abundantly in the Obedska Bara. A few seen at Dobanovci. Ardea bubulcus, Audouin. An old male shot on the Obedska Bara on the 29th of May, where it no doubt had a mate. The first known occurrence in Hungary or her provinces. Ardea ballotdes. Scop. The commonest and tamest of the Herons. Extremely abundant, nesting on the Obedska Bara and common at Do- banovci. Ardetta minuta (Linn.). Observed only in the marsh at Dobanovci, where it was not uncommon. Nycticorax griseus (Linn.). Nesting very abundantly on the Obedska Bara. A few at Dobanovci. ClCONIA ALBA, BccllSt. Very common, and nesting in all the villages. from Slavonia and Hungary. 147 CicoNiA NiGRA^ Linn. Not common, A pair seen on the Danube at Palanka and several at Kupinovo, where they were nesting in a wood on the west side of the '' hoxa." Platalea leucorodia, Linn. A large party breeding on the Obedska Bara : not seen elsewhere. Plegadis falcinellus (Linn.). Nesting in great abundance on the Obedska Bara. Not seen elsewhere. Anas boscas, Linn. Common, nesting in all the marshes. Chaulelasmus streperus (Linn.). A pair observed on the Obedska Bara on the 28th of May. FuLiGULA FERiNA (Linn.). Several observed on the Obedska Bara, where they were doubtless breeding. Nyroca eerrxjginea (Gmel.). By far the commonest Duck of the country. Breeds in all the marshes, and in great abundance in the Obedska Bara and the marsh at Obrez. TuRTUR COMMUNIS, Sclby. Very abundant. Perdix cinerea, Latham. A pair seen near Kupinovo. CoTURNix communis, Bonnat. Extremely abundant. Rallus aquattcus, Linn. A nest with ten eggs found in the marsh at Obrez on the 30th of May. PORZANA PARVA (Scop.). Probably common. A nest with seven eggs taken in the Obrez marsh on the 24th of May; and a young in down 148 Field-Notes from S/avonia ayid Hungai-y . captured in the Obedska Bara on the 26th of May, whose plumage was glossy black with a beautiful dark green cast ; legs bluish grey. Crex pratensis, Bechst. Heard commonly around Kupinovo and Petrovcic. Gallinula chloropus (Linn.). Not seen, but two nests and eggs found. FULICA ATRA, LiuU. Very common in the Obedska Bara and at Obrez. Vanellus vulgaris (Bechst.). Appeared to be uncommon. Only a very few were seen on the margins of the Obedska Bara. Tringoides hypoleucos (Linn.). A few observed on the Danube, just below the confluence of the Urave, on the 18th of May. Sterna fluviatilis, Naura. Not at all common. One or two seen at Becmen and Dobanovci Hydrochelidon leucoptera (Schinz). Several seen on the marsh at Obrez. Hydrochelidon nigra (Linn.). Extremely common on the Danube and on all the marshes. PoDicEPs CRiSTATUS (Linu.). Common on the Obedska Bara and at Dobanovci. PoDICEPS GRISEIGENA (Bodd.). A pair observed on the Obedska Bara. On the Species of the Family Icteridse. 149 XIV. — A Review of the Species of the Family Icteridse. — Part IV. Quiscalinae. By P. L. Sclater, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S. (Plate V.) [Continued from p. 27, and concluded.] To the last subfamily of the Icteridie, the Quiscalinse, which we now come to, I refer, for the present, the following eight genera : — I. Lampropsar, p. 149. v. Macragelaus, p. 162. II. Scolecophagus, 150. vi. Hypopyrrhus , p. 163. III. Dives, p. 151. VII. Aphobus, p. 163. IV. Qidscalus, p. 153. vm. Cassidiw, p. 164. Genus I. Lampropsar. Lampropsar, Cab. Mus. Hein. i.p. 194 (1851) : type L. tana- grhius. Potamopsar, Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 141 (1863) : type L. tana- grinus. 1. Lampropsar tanagrinus. Icterus tanagrinus, Spix, Av. Bras. i. p. 67, pi. 64. f, 1. Lampropsar tanagrinus, Cab. Mus. Hein. i* p. 194; Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 38. Lampropsar guianensis. Cab. in Schomb. Guian. iii. p. 682, et Mus. Hein. i. p. 194; Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 167 (Venezuela), et Nomencl. p. 38. Quiscalus {Fotamopsar) minor, Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 141. Potamopsar minor, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 415. Fotamopsar tanagrinus. Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 194; Pel- zeln, Orn. Bras. p. 200; Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1873, p. 267 (Ucayali) . Quiscalus, sp., Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1866, p. 182. Nigerrimus unicolor ; plumis frontalibus brevibus exstanti- bus ; rostro et pedibus nigris : long, tota 8"0, alse 4'5, caudae rotundatse rectr. ext. 3*2, med. 4*1. Fem. Man similis, sed crassitie minore : long, tota 7*5, alse 4*0, caudse rectr. ext. 2*8, med. 3'5. 150 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Hab. Guiana, Venezuela et Amazonia. Mvs. P. L. S. et S.-G. I liave in my collection a female example of this bird ob- tained by Natterer at Barra do Eio Negro in July 1833. I have taken it to Berlin and compared it with the type of L. gaianensls. As Herr v. Pelzeln had identified Natterer^s bird by actual comparison with Spix's /. tanayrinus [cf. Orn. Bras. p. 201) J I think we must adopt Spix^s name for this species. In my American Catalogue I registered this species as Quiscalus minor, supposing it to be Icterus minor, Spix, and made it the type of a new subgenus, " Potamopsar ," but I now consider Icterus minor, Spix, to be nothing more than Molothrus bonariensis. This form of the Quiscalinse seems to be sufficiently cha- racterized by the peculiar structure of the short erect frontal feathers. Lampropsar dives and L. ivarcewiezi, which in the ' Nomenclator ^ (following Cabanis) we arranged in this genus, appear to go better by themselves and nearer the true Quiscali. Genus II. Scolecophagus. Scolecophagus, Sw. Faun. Bor.-Am. Aves, p. 491 (1831) : type S. ferrugineus. Euphagus, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1806, p. 413 : type S. cyanocephalas. Clavis specierum. Eostro longiore, tenuiore: pileo dorso CQiicolore. . . . {1) fernicjineus, Rostro breviore, validiore : pileo purpureo (^2) cyanocejiliahiB, 1. Scolecophagus ferrugineus. Oriolus ferrugineus, Gm. S. N. i. p. 393. Gracula ferruginea, Wils. Am. Orn. iii. p. 41, pi. 21. f. 3. Scolecophagus ferrugineus , Sw. Faun. Bor.-Am. ii. p. 286; Baird, B.N.Am, p. 551 ; Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 140; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 412; Baird, Brewer, et Ridgw. N. A. B. ii. p. 203; Blakiston, Ibis, 1863, p. 82 (Sas- katchewan) . species of the Family Icteridse. 151 ScoJecojjhagus niger, Bp. Consp. p. 423; Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 195. Niger unicolor^ nitore purpureo ; alis et cauda seneo lavatis, in vestitu autumnali j)luniis ferrugineo marginatis : long, tota 80, alae 4-6, caudse 3"5. Fern. Plumbeo-nigra, crassitie paulo minore. Hab. Eastern States of N. America to the Missouri. Mus. P.L.S. et S.-G. 2. ScOLECOrHAGUS CYANOCEPHALUS. Psarocolius cyanoce'phalus, Wagl. Isis, 1829, p. 758. Scolecophagus cyanoceplialus, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 195 ; Baird, B. N. Am. p. 552; Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 140; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 412 ; Baird, Brew, et Bidgw. N. A. B. ii. p. 206; Dresser, Ibis, 1869, p. 493 (Texas); Sumichrast,Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. vol. i. p. 553; Blakiston, Ibis, 1868, p. 83 (Saskatchewan). Scolecophagus mexicanus , Sw. An. in Menag. p. 302 ; Bp. Cousp. p. 423. Qidscalus breweri, Aud. B. Am. vii. p. 345, pi. 492. Niger seneo lavatus ,• capite undique purpureo nitente : long, tota 9"2, alee 5*0, caudse 4'0. Fern. Obscure fusca ; alis extlis, dorso postico et cauda seneo lavatis ; linea sujoer- ciliari obsoleta. Hab. Western and Central States of N. America and south to tableland of Mexica. Mus. P. L. S. et S.-G. Genus III. Dives. Dives, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 413 : type D. smni- chrasti. The two larger species assigned to Lampropsar by Cabanis appear to me to go better near the true Quiscali, to which they have both been referred by other authors. Cassin has placed them in Scolecophagus under the subgeneric desig- nation Dives, which I retain as a genus in its present position, adding thereto the so-called Scolecophagus atroviolaceus of Cuba, which agrees with them in most points of its structure. 152 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Clavis specierum. ^aeo-niger : major : alls longioribus (1) sumichrasti. minor : alis brevioribus (2) warceioiezi. Purpureo-niger : alis longioribus (3) atroviulaceus. 1. Dives sumichrasti. Lampropsar dives, Bp. Consp. p. 425 (1850) ; Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 194, et J. f. O. 1861, p. 83. Quiscalus sumichrasti, De Sauss. Rev. Zool. 1859, p. 119; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 365 (Jalapa), p. 381 (Oaxaca), 1864, p. 175 (City of Mexico), et Cat. A. B. p. 140; Scl. et Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 398 (Guatemala) ; Sumiclirast, Mem. Bost. S. N. H. vol. i. p. 553 (Vera Cruz). Scolecophagus dives, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 413. Nigro-sericeus unicolor ; rostro et pedibus nigris : long, tota 10*5, alae 5*0, caudoe rectr. med. 4<-7, ext. 4'0. Fern. Mari similis, sed crassitie paulo minore. Hab. Southern Mexico, Yucatan^ Belize, and Guatemala. Mus. P. L. S. et S.-G. 2. Dives warcewiezi. Lampropsar ivarcewiezi. Cab. J. f. O. 1861, p. 83; Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 38; Sclater, P.Z. S. 1877, p. 523 (Lima). Scolecophagus ?, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1860, p. 277 (Baba- lioyo) . Quiscalus cequatorialis, Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 140 (1862). Nigro-sericeus unicolor ; rostro et pedibus nigris : long, tota 9"5, alae 4'4, caudre 4'5. Fern. Mari similis, sed cras- sitie paulo minore. Hab. Western Ecuador and Peru: Babahoyo [Fraser) ; Balzar mountains [lUingivorth in Mus. S.-G.) ; vie. of Lima {Nation) . 3. Dives atroviolaceus. Quiscalus atroviolaceus, d'Orb. in La Sagra's Cuba, Ois. p. 54, f. 19. Scaphidurus atroviolaceus, Gray&Mitch. Gen. B. ii. p. 341; Bp. Consp. i. p. 426. Scolecophagus atroviolaceus, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 196; Species of the Family Icteridse. 153 Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 415; Gundl. J. f. O. 1874, p. 134 (Cuba). Atro-violaceus iinicolor ; alls caudaque nigris ; cauda paulum rotundata : long, tota 9'5, alae i'9, caudse rectr. med. 4'0, ext. 3 7. Fern. Mari similis^ sed crassitie paulo minore et minus nitida. Hub. Cuba. Mus. P. L. S. et S.-G. Genus IV. Quiscalus, Qidscalus, Yieill. Analyse, p. 37 (1816) : type Q. versicolor. Quiscala, Licht. Doubl. p. 18 (1823) : type Q. versicolor. Scaphidurus, Sw. Phil. Mag. n. s. i. p. 437 (1827) : type Q. palusiris. Chalcophanes, Wagler, Syst. Av. (sub Graculd) (1827) : type Q. versicolor. Holoquiscalus, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 404 : type Q. crassirostris. Megaquiscalus, Cassin, op. cit. p. 409 : type Q. major. This very difficult series of birds, commonly classed as " Quiscalus," I will consider under the subgeneric heads Quiscalus, Megaquiscalus, and Holoquiscalus, as arranged by Cassin. a. Quiscalus. Clavis siibs2)ecierum. Corpore peneo-nitente unicolore ceneus. Corpore versicolore : major : rostio robustiore versicolor. minor : rostro tenuiore aglceus. I cannot say I am satisfied as to the rather finely drawn distinctions between these three races of the old-fashioned Q. versicolor. It is very difficult to allocate some of the adult male specimens now before me decidedly, and impos- sible to do so in the case of the females and young birds ; but mainly out of respect to the American ornithologists I retain the three forms as subspecies. 154 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the 1. QUISCALUS VERSICOLOR. Gracula quiscala, Linn. S. N. i. p. 165; Wils. Am. Orn. iii. p. 44, pi. 21. f. 4. Chalcophanes quiscalvs, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 196. Quiscalus versicolor, Vieill. Nouv. Diet, xxviii. p. 488, et Gal. des Ois. i. p. 171, pi. 108 ; Bp. Consp. p. 424 ; Sw. Faun. Bor.-Am. ii. p. 485; Baird, B. N. Am. p. 555; Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 140. Quiscalus purpuratus, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 298 (?) . Quiscala nitens, Liclit. Doubl. p. 18. Quiscalus purpur BUS, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 403 ; Baird, Brew., et Ridg. N. A. B. ii. p. 215. Fuliginoso-niger ; corpore purpureo et violaceo plus minusve variegato; capite et cervice undique saturate violaceis aut purpvireis; rostro et pedibus nigris : long, tota 120, alffi 7'6, caudffi 5*2. Fern. Mari similis, sed crassitie minore et coloribus dilutioribus. Hab. Atlantic States of N. America. Mus. P. L. S. et S.-G. I have examined the types of Quiscalus purpureus of Swainson now in the Museum of the University of Cam- bridge, and find that they belong to this species. \a. QuiSCxiLUS VERSICOLOR .ENEUS. Quiscalus ve7'sicolor, Baird, B. N. A. p. 555 (partim). Quiscalus aneus^ Bidgw. Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1869, p. 134. Quiscalus purpureus, var. ceneus, Baird, Brew., et Ridgw. N. A. B. ii. p. 218. Fuliginoso-niger, seneo sericeo perfusus ; capite et collo un- dique nitide violaceis aut purpureis. Hab. Central States of North America north to Manitoba. Mus. P. L. S. et S.-G. 1 b. Quiscalus versicolor agl.eus. Quiscalus baritus, Baird, B. N. A. p. 556. Quiscalus aglceus, Baird, Am. Journ. Sc. 1866, p. 84 ; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. PhiL 1866, p. 404; Bidgw. Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1869, p. 135. Quiscalus purpureus, var. aglaus, Baird, Brew., et Ridgw. B. N. A. ii. p. 221. Species of the Family Icteridae. 155 Similis Q. vei'sicolori, sed crassitie minore et rostro tenuiore. Hub. Florida. The only s]3eciraens of this smaller form of Quiscahs ver- sicolor that I have seen have been kindly lent to me by the authorities of the Smithsonian Institution. b. Megaquiscalus. Clavis specierum. a. Rostro valido recto : corpora seneo : capite et coUo purpiirascentibus . . (2) major. corpore purpureo, postice in aeneum transeimte, crassitie maxima (3) macrurus. crassitie media (4) asshnilis. crassitie minore (5) gvmjsoni. b. Rostro tenui . (6) temdrostris. I have followed the lead of the authors of 'North- Ame- rican Birds ' pretty closely as regards these Quiscali, being- unable to suggest any thing better. The only well-marked species is Q. tenuirostris , which is undoubtedly distinct the other four being perhaps better treated of as subspecies on the American plan. The differences are hardly more than of size^ although Q. major may, on the whole^ be recognized by its more greeny sheen, only passing into purple on the head and neck. 2. QuiSCALUS MAJOR. Quiscalus major, Vieill. Nouv. Diet, xxviii. p. 487 (1819), et Enc. Meth. p. 900; Bp. Consp. p. 424; Sclater, P. Z. s'. 1859, p. 58 (Omoa) ; Baird, B. N. Am. p. 555; Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 141; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, pp. 494 (Texas); Salvin, Ibis, 1866, p. 194 (Belize) ; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 409; Baird, Brew., et Ridgw. N. A. B. ii. p. 222; Lawr. Mem. Boston Soc. N. H. ii. p. 281 (N.W. Mexico) ; Coues, Ibis, 1870, p. 367. Quiscalus corvinus, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 300. Chalcophanes major, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. jj. 196. Niger jeneo-nitens ; cajtite et cervice undique in purpureum transeuntibus ; rostro et pedibus nigris : long, tota 15*0, 156 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the 'd.]ni 7 0, oau(l» rectr. rned. 7'(), ext. 4'5. Fern. Fumoso- nigra, xneo vix tincta ; pileo hrunneo; subtus brunnca, medialiter albicantior ; cri.s.so dorso concolore ; rostro et podibus nigris : long, tota 11*0^ alse 5"30, caudse 5*0. Hab. Coast-region of South-Atlantic States: Texas and Belize. Mus. P. L. S. ct S.-O. 3. QuiSCALUS MACRURUS. Qiuscalus macrourus, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 291); Bp. Consp. p. 424; Baird, B. N. Am. p. 554; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1856, p. 800 (Cordova, Mcx.), et 1858, p. ?>58 (Honduras) ; Scl. et Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 20 (Guatemala), 180 1, p. 175 (City of Mexico), 1870, p. 837 (Honduras) ; Nomencl. p. 38 ; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 112; Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 141; Cassin, Pr' Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 419; Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 38. Chalcophanes macrourus, Cab. Mus. Ilcin. p. 196, et J. f. O. 186], p. 82 (Costa Rica). Quiscalus major, var. macrurus, Baird, Brew., ct Ridgw. B. N. A. ii. p. 225 ; Lavvr. Mem. Jio.ston Soc. N. H. ii. p. 281 (North-west Mcx.). Nitide atropurpureus, in dorso et ventre lino in ieneura transi- ens ; alis caudaque nigris senco lavatis ; rostro et pedibus nigris: long, tota 17*0, alse 7*9, caudae rectr. med. 8"8, ext. 5*3. Fern. Nigricanti-brunnea, in dorso et alis ex- tus tenco tincta; subtus dilutior, fumoso-bruuiiea, crisso nigricaiitc : long, tota 13"0, alaj 60, cuudjc 6'5. Hub. Mexico and Guatemala : Real del Monte [Swains.) ; Orizaba (7io//en); Oaxaca; Vera Paz and Ducaas {Salvin). Mus. P. L. S. et S.-G. 4. QuiSCALUS ASSIMILIS, Quisculus peruvianus, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 353 (1838); Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 413('0. Quisculus assimilis, Sclater, Cat. A. B. p. 141 ; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 310; Scl. ct Salv. Nomencl. p. 38; Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 330 (Colombia) ; Tacz. P. Z. S. p. 323 et p. 751 (Western Peru). Quisculus mncrurus?, Salv. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 191 (V'cragua). species of the Family Icteridsn. 157 Praecedenti similis, sed crassitie minore : long, tota 14'5, alse 6'9, caudse rect. med. 7'2, ext. 4'6. Hab. Veragua^ Panama, Colombia, and Western Peru, Mus. P. L. S. et S.-G. The name assimilis was based upon Bogota skins, wLich are always much contracted. Veraguan examples are rather larger. If the Peruvian bird is exactly similar_, it is probable that Swainson^s name should be employed for this form. But Swainson's types are not at Cambridge, and I have not been able to find them, if they are still in existence. 5. QuiSCALUS GRAYSONI, Sp. UOV. Quiscalus 2)alustris, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1861, p. 411. Quiscalus major, var. palustris, Baird, Brew., et Ridgw. N, A. B. ii. p. 214; Lawr. Mem. Boston Soc. N. H. ii. p. 282 (N.W. Mexico). Similis Q. macruro, sed crassitie minore quara Q. assi- milis: long, tota 14'5, alse Q'Q, caudae rectr. med. 6*5, ext. 4'5. Hab. Mazatlan, Mex. [Grayson) ; Presidio, W. Mex. {Forrer) . Mus. S.-G. This is a small Western Mexican form of Q. macrurus, of which the adult is, I believe, quite indistinguishable from Q. macrurus in plumage, the specimens wdtli brown thighs mentioned by Cassin and Lawrence being doubtless imma- ture. It is very doubtful whether this form has any real claim to Swainson's title palustris; his specimens from the lakes near Mexico city were probably of the species which he afterwards described as Q. tenuirostris. 6. Quiscalus tenuirostris. (Plate V.) Scaphidurus palustris, Sw. Phil. Mag. n. s. i. p. 437 (1827) ? Quiscahs tenuirostris, Sw. An. in Men. p. 299 (1838) ; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 411; Baird, Brew., et Hidgw. N. A. B. ii. p. 214; Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 38. Atro-purpureus unicolor; alis et cauda extus nitenti-nigris ; tibiis brunnescentibus ; rostro tenui : long, tota 13"0, alse 6*7, caudse rectr. med. 7"0, ext. 4*3. Jr. Ferrugineo SER. V. VOL. II. N 158 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the aspersus. Fem. Snpra fusca, in dorso postico alls et Cauda nigincaiis ; superciliis distinctis et corpore subtus clare ocliraceo-f uscis ; tibiis et crisso nigricantibus ; ros- tro nigro, pedibns obscure cornels : long, tota l()"5j alse 5"2, caudee rectr. med. 4'4_, ext. 3"3. Hab. Central Mexico ; vicinity of Mexico city [Boucard in Mus. S.-G.). Mus. P. L. S., S.-G., et Com. de Berlepsch. I have little doubt, as I have said above, that this is the true Q. palustris of Swainson; but it will only create more confusion to supersede the very appropriate name tenuiros- iris given by the same author. The species seems only to be found in Central Mexico. The figures (Plate V.) are taken from specimens in my col- lection. C, HOLOQUISCALUS. Under this head Cassin has placed the smaller species of Quiscalus which are distributed throughout the Antilles and into the northern portion of South America. In the An- tilles each island appears to have its peculiar form, and I will therefore take the species geographically, beginning with Cuba. Clavis specierum. A. Mas niger unicolor, a. Feminse nigrse, marl similes. «'. Rroost recto, crassitie majore (7) gundlachi. crassitie minore (8_) ni(jei\ V , Rostro incurvato, rostro crasso : alis longioribus (9) crassiro'sfris. rostro tenuiore : alis brevioribus .... (10) bi-achypterus, r(ll) injiexirostris. I (12) guadeloupensis. h. Feminse fuscse, mari dissimiles* tj (1.3) luminosus. {\4:) foi'tirostris. (^(15) lugubris. * I am not sufficiently well acquainted with this group of species to attempt to give diagnoses. species of the Fainily Icteridae. 159 7. QuiSCALUS GUNDLACHI. Quiscalus barytus, d'Orb. in La Sagra's Cuba, Ois. p. 120; Thienemann, J. f. O. 1857, p. 145. Chalcophanes barytus, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 197; Gundl. J. f. O. 1856, p. 15. Quiscalus gundlachii, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc, Phil. 1866, p. 406. Quiscalus baritus, var. gundlachii^ Baird, i3revv., et Ridgw. B. N. A. ii. p. 213. Chalcophanes gundlachii, GundL J. f. O. 1874, p. 135. Violaceo-niger ; alis caiidaque extus seneo lavatis ; rostro et jjedibiis nigris ; rostro elongate, culmine recto : long, tota 12'0, alse 5*8, caudee rectr. med. 5'0, ext. 3*5, rostri a fronte 1'3. Fern. Mari similis, sed crassitie minore. Hab. Cuba. Mus. P. L. S. et S.-G. 8. Quiscalus niger. Troupiale noir de St. Dumingue, Daub. PI. Enl. 534. Oriolus niger, Bodd. Table d. PI. Enl. p. 31 (1783). Quiscalus niger, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 407. Quiscalus barita, Salle, P. Z. S. 1857, p. 232. Similis Q. gundlachi, sed crassitie minore et rostro tenuiore. Hab. St. Domingo {Cassin). Mus. Inst. Smithson. (teste Cassino),mihi uondumobvius. 9. Quiscalus crassirostris. Gracula barita, Linn. S. N. i. p. 165 (?). Sturnus jatnaicensis, Daud. Tr. d'Orn. ii. p. 317 (?). Quiscalus crassirostris, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 355 ; Bp. Consp. p. 425; Gosse, B. Jam. p. 217; Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 359 ; Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 38. Quiscalus baritus, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 405 ; Baird, Brew., et Ridgw. B. N. A. ii. p. 213. Violaceo-niger; alis caudaque extus seneo vix lavatis; rostro crasso, culmine incurvo : long, tota 10*5, alee 5*7, caudee rectr. med. 5-0, ext. 3*7, rostri a fronte 1-2. Fem. Mari similis, sed crassitie minore. Hab. Jamaica. Mus. P. L. S. et S.-G. N 2 160 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the 10. QuiSCALUS BRACK YPTERUS. Quiscalus brachypferus, Cass. Pr. A.C. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 406 ; Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 38. Quiscalus crassirostris, Gundl. J. f. 0. 1866, p. 188. Chalcophanes brachypterus, Gundl. J. f. O. 1878, p. 177. Chulcophanes lugubris, Sund. Ofv. K. Vet. Ak. Forh. 1869, p. 598. Violaceo-uiger ; rostro et pedibus nigris : long, tota 10*5, alffi 5*0, caudse rectr. med. 4*5, ext. 3'3. Fem. Mari similis, sed crassitie minore. Hab. Porto Uico. Mus. P. L. S. et S.-G. 11. Quiscalus inflexirostris. Quiscalus inflexirostris, Sw. An. in Men. p. 309 (1838) ; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 407; Scl. P. Z. S. 1874, p. 175 ; Lawr. Proc. U. S. N. M. i. p. 355, et p. 487 (Mar- tiiiicjue) ; Semper, P. Z. S. 1872, p. 651 (St. Lucia). Quiscalus barita, Taylor, Ibis, 1864, p. 168 (Martinique). Quiscalus lugubris, Scl. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 271 (St. Lucia). Niger violaceo splendens ; alls caudaque feneo lavatis ; rostro et pedibus nigris ; rostri culmine incurvo, gonyde recto : long, tota 10*0, alse 5*0, caudae reetr. med. 4*5, lat. 3'5. Fem. Cineraceo-fusca, alis caudaque nigricantibus; subtiis dilutior, gutture et pectore albicantioribus ; rostro nigro, pedibus obscure carneis : long, tota 8*8, alse 4'2, caudae rectr. med. 3*4, ext. 2 8. (Specimina ex S. Lucia.) Hab. St. Lucia [Semper) ; Martinique (Taylor et Ober). Mus. P. L. S. et S.-G. There is a mounted specimen of this species in the Cam- bridge Museum, which may have been the type of Swainson's description. At any rate, I think we are pretty safe in applying Swainson^s name to this species, if distinct from Q. lugubris (of which I have some doubts !). 12. Quiscalus guadeloupensis. Quiscalus guadeloupensis , Lawr. Pr. U. S. N. M. i. pp.457 &487. Similis Q. inflexlrostri ex Martinica, sed crassitie paulo Species of the Family Icteridae. 161 majore et rostro rectiore ; colore feminae quoque diverso. {Laivrence.) Hah. Guadeloupe [Oher). Mus. P. L. S. I have a single skin of this Guadeloupe form in my col- lection. As it is not in perfect plumage I will not give an opinion upon the species further than saying that its distinct- ness from Q. inflexirostris seems open to question. 13. QuiSCALUS LUMINOSUS. Quiscalus, sp.^ Lawr. Pr. U. S. N. M. i. p. 191. Quiscalus luminosus, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sc. i. p. 162 (1878), et Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. i. pp. 265, 487; Ober, Camps in the Caribbees, p. 247. Similis Q. brachijptero, sed colore violaceo Isetiore et tectri- cibus caudse superioribus et inferioribus seneo-viridibus diversus. Fern. Obscure fusca, subtus obscure cineracea, in gutture et pectore dilutior. [Lawrence.) Hab. Grenada and Grenadines. Mus. Nat. U. S. (mihi nondum obvius). 14. Quiscalus fortirostris. Quiscalus fortir ostr is, Lawr. Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1868, p. 360; Scl. P. Z. S. 1874, p. 175, et Ibis, 1873, p. 324 (Barbadoes). Quiscalus rectirostris, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 409 (?) . Nigerrimus vix purpureo tinctus ; rostro et pedibus nigris : long, tota 9'0, alse 4*25, caudae, 4'2. Fern. Mari similis, sed crassitie minore. Hab. Barbadoes. Mus. P. L. S. Obs. Similis Q. lugubri, sed crassitie minore ; colore minus violaceo ; necnon rostro breviore et magis crasso diversus. The only specimen of this species I have ever seen is a single skin (probably of a female, from its small size), re- ceived in spirit in 1873, in my own collection. It is really curious that it should have been left to an American orni- thologist to describe as new one of the commonest birds'^ in. * Cf. Salvin's letter, Ibis, 1873. p. 334. 162 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the the Euglish island of Barbadoes, and that there should be no specimens of it in our collections except a miserable skin taken from a specimen received in spirit. 15. QuiSCALUS LUGUBRIS. Quiscalus luguhris, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 299 ; P. Z. S. 1857, p. 265 (Amazons), et Cat. A. B. p. 141 ; Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 283; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 408; Taylor, Ibis, 1864, p. 84 (Trinidad). Chalcophanes jamaicensis {^) et C. minor ( ? ) , Cab. in Schomb. Guian. iii. p. 683. Chalcophanes luguhris, Finsch, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 577. Quiscalus barita, Leotaud, Ois. Trin. p. 268 (Trinidad). Purpurascenti-niger ; alis caudaque extiis ieneo lavatis ; rostro et pedibus nigris : long, tota 8*2, alse 4*3, caud?e rcctr. med. 3*8, ext. 2'9. Fern. Fumoso-nigra, alis caudaque nigricantibus, subtiis vix dilutior: long, tota 8*2, alae 4*0, caudffi rectr. med. 3*7, ext. 2'8. (Specim. ex Cayenne, maris in Mus. P. L. S., feminse in Mus. S,-G.) Hub. Venezuela and the Guianas. Mus. P. L. S. et S.-G. I have had a male specimen of this bird (of Cayenne make) in my collection since J 846 ! With the female I have only lately become acquainted fi^om the specimen in the collection of Messrs. Salvin and Godman. Genus V. MACRAOELyEUS. Macroagelaius, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 13 : type M. subalar'is. Cassin has classed this bird as an Agelams under a different subgeneric heading. I think, however, that its long graduated tail constitutes it more probably a member of the Quiscaline group, although I agree with Cassin that it is better to treat it as entitled to rank as a genus. 1. Macragel^us subalaris. Quiscalus subalaris, Boiss. Rev. Zool. 1810, p. 70 ; Bp. Consp. p. 525 ; Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 141, et P. Z. S. 1855, p. 153 (Bogota) ; Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 38 ; Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, pp. 127, 330 (Colombia). Species of the Family Icteridae. 163 Agelaius subalm-is, Cassin_, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866^ p. 13. Nigei% nitens ; subalaribus saturate castaneis : long, tota ll'O, alfte 5'0, cauclse rectr. med. 5'7, ext. 4'3. Fem, Mari similis^ sed crassitie minore : long, tota 9*0^ alee 4*5_, caudse 4*5. Hab. Colombia : Paramo of Pamplona,, alt. 10,000 feet (Wyati). Mus. P. L. S. et S.-G. Genus VI. Hypopyrrhus. Hypopyrrhus, Bp. Consp. i. p. 425 (1851) : type H. pyrrho- gaster, 1. Hypopyrrhus pyrrhogaster. Cassicus jjyrrhogaster, De Tarr. Rev. Zool. 1837, p. 253. Hypopyrrhus pyrrhogaster , Bp. Consp. p. 425 ; Scl. P. Z. S. 1855, p. 154 (Bogota); Sclateret Salv. P. Z. S. 1879, p. 510 (Antioquia), et Nomencl. p. 39. Quiscalus pyrrhogaster, Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 141 ; Cass. Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 18G6, p. 412. Coracino-niger ; pi lei et capitis laterum plurals filiformibus, incrassatis, nitentibus ; lateribus, ventre imo et crisso ruberriniis ; tibiis nigris ; rostro et pedibus nigris : long, tota 12"0, alae 5"5, caudse rectr. med. 5*5, lat. 4'5. Fern. Mari similis, sed colore paulo dilutiore et crassitie mi- nore. Hab. Colombia : Antioquia [Salmon) . Mus. P. L. S. et S.-G. The nearest affinities of this peculiar form appear to be with Apjhobus chopi, which has the same singular structure of the head-feathers ; but it does not show any traces of the furrows on the lower mandible which distinguish the adult male of the Chopi. Genus VII. Aphobus. Aphobus, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 194 (1851) : type A. chopi. 1. Aphobus chopi. El Chopi, Azara, Pax. i. p. 282. Agelaius chopi,\\Q\\\. Nouv. Diet, xxxiv. p. 537 (1819), et 164 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Enc. Meth. p. 713; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 11; Hartl. Ind. Azara, p. 5 (Paraguay). Icterus unicolor, Licht. Doubl. p. 19; Max. Beitr. iii. p. 1208 (Bahia and Minas). Icterus sulcirostris, Spix, Av. Bras. i. p. 67, pi. 6 J. f. 2 (Minas). Af/elanis sulcirostris, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 303. Aphobus chopi, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 194'; Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 141 ; Cabanis, J. f. O. 1874, p. 85 (Cantagallo, Rio) ; Hamilton, Ibis, 1871, p. 303 (S. Paulo); Tacz. P.Z.S. 1877, p. 323 (Tumbez, W. Peru) et p. 750 (W. Pern) ; Forbes, Ibis, 1881, p. 339 (Pernambuco) ; Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 39. Psarocolius unicolor, Bnrm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 281, et La Plata Reise, ii. p. 494 (Mendoza). Nigro-nitens unicolor ; rostro et pedibus nigris, rostro infe- riore longitudinabter sulcato : long, tota 92, alse 5*2, caudse vix rotundatse 4*0. Fern. Miniis nitens, cras- sitie minore et rostro non sulcato. Hub. Paraguay, Nortbern La Plata and Southern Brazil northwards to Pernambuco : also Western Peru. Mus. P. L. S. et S.-G. There are perhaps two forms of this species, a stronger southern form from Paraguay and South Brazil [A. chopi), and a weaker northern form from S.E. Brazil (Bahia and Pernambuco), A. sulcirostris. I have not been able to exa- mine Peruvian examples. Genus VIII. Cassidix. Scaphidurus, Sw. Faun. Bor.-Am. Aves, p. 494 (1831, nee Sw. 1827) : type C. oryzivora. Cassidix, Less. Trait. d^Orn. i. p. 433 (1831) : type C. ory- zivora. Scaphidura, Sw. Class. B. ii. p. 272 (1837) : type C. oryzi- vora. Although I here follow Dr. Cabanis in associating this genus with the Quiscalinse, I must confess that I think it would be better placed with the Cassicinee, with which it Species of the Famify Jcteridx. 165 agrees in the dilated frontal shield^ naked nostrils^ long wingSj and rounded tail. 1. Cassidix oryzivora. Oriokis oryzivorus, Gm. S. N. i. p. 386. Cassidix oryzivora, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 194; Cassin, Pr. Ac. So. Phil. 1866, p. 416; Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 98 (Mexico), 1859, p. 57 (Honduras), 1859, p. 140 (Ecuador), et Cat. A. B. p. 142; Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 354 (Panama), 1867, p. 279 (Mosquitia), 1867, p. 573 (Para), 1867, p. 978 (Pebas), 1869, p. 252 (Venezuela), 1873, p. 185 (S. Peru), 1873, p. 267 (Upper Amazons), 1879, p. 510 (Antioquia), et Nomeucl. p. 39; Salvin, Ibis, 1861, p. 353 (Centr. Am.), et P.Z.S. 1870, p. 191 (Veragua) ; Salv. et Godm. Ibis, 1879, p. 201, et 1880, p. 123 (Santa Marta) ; Berlepsch. J. f. O. 1873, p. 25] (South Brazil). Tordo grande, Azara, Apunt. i. p. 273. Cassicus ater, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. v. p. 363, et Enc. Meth. p. 723 ; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 415 ; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 201 ; Tacz. P. Z. S. 1877, p. 323 (W. Peru). Cassicus niger, Licht. Duubl. p. 19; Max. Beitr. iii. p. 1241 . Psarocolius palliatus, Wagl. Syst. Av. no. 4. Corvus (Cassidix) mexicanus, Less. Tr. d^Orn. p. 433. Cassidix mexicanus, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. ]866, p. 416. Scaphidura barita et S. crassirostra, Sw. An. in Men. p. 301. Cassicus palliatus, Tsch. Faun. Per. p. 229. Scaphidura atra, Cab. in Schomb. Guiana, iii. p. 683. Quiscalus ater, Bp. Consp. p. 426 ; Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 278. Cassidix vielloti, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 417. Atro-violaceus ; colli plumis elongatis expansis ; rostro et pedibus nigris : long, tota 14-0, alse 7*8, caudae rectr. med. 6*1, ext. 5"3. Fejn. Mari similis, sed crassitie mi- nore et ptilosi minus nitidS,. Hab. Central and South America, from S. Mexico to Paraguay and S. Peru. Mus. P. L. S. et S.-G. I cannot agree with Cassin in dividing the different races of this widely spread bird into distinct species. ^ 166 Mr. P. L, Sclater on the Family Icteridse. Appendix Specierum obscurarum, I have now given an account of all the species of the family Icteridse known to me. It has been based principally upon the examination of the specimens in my own collection and in that of Messrs. Salvin and Godman. In the case of the last three subfamilies, I have also had the advantage of consulting the series in the collection of my good friend Hans, Graf v. Berlepsch, who has most kindly sent his spe- cimens over to me in aid of my researches. Out of the 127 species which I have enumerated above '^, four only are not known to me ex visit f, but have been inserted in what seem to be their proper places on the authority of other authors. But there remain a few other described species which, although no examples of them have come under my observa- tion, deserve to be mentioned in order that they may be kept in the memory of future investigators. These are: — (1) Cassicus melanui'us, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 18G6, p. 66, from Guyaquil. Of this bird, resembling C. persicus, but having the tail- coverts and entire tail black, there is said to be a specimen at Philadelphia received from the Massena collection. Is it not an artefact ? (2) Cassicus leiccurus^ Wied, Beitr. iii. p. 1245, from S.E. Brazil. This white-tailed Cassique seems to be a very doubtful species, only known by the report of the Indians. (3) Molothrus cabanisi, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866^ p. 22, from Guiana and Santa Marta. A uniformly coloured species allied to Lampropsar gida- nensis, but larger, is quite unknown to me. * I. Oassiclnfe (Ibis, 1883, p. 145) 27 II. Icterinae (Ibis, 1883, p. 352) 37 III. Agelfeinaj (Ibis, 1884, p. 1) 38 IV. Quiscalinre (Ibis, 1884, p. 149) 25 127 t Namely Molothrus armenti, Cyrtotes maxillaris, Quiscalus nujer and Q. luminosus. Canon Tristvam on San Domingo Birds. 167 (4) Molothrus murinus, Pelz. Orn. Bras., from Rio Janeiro (Natt.), is based upon two female specimens. (5) Agelaius pustulatus, S\v. An. in Men. p. 303, from Brazil, if correctly described, is different from any thing that I have seen, (6) Idiopsar brachyurus, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 414, from Bolivia, remarkable for its short tail and plum- beous plumage, is unknown to me. Is it an Iderine ? (Mus. Smiths. Inst.)^ (7) Quiscalus mexicanus, Cassin, op. cit. p. 408. A uni- formly coloured species belonging to the group Haloquiscalus, which is likewise unknown to me. XV. — On a Collection of San Dommgo Birds. By H. B. Tristram, D.D., F.R.S. A SMALL collection of birds lately made by Mr. C. McGrigor in the island of San Domingo has been placed in my hands for determination; and though it contains nothing new, yet so few collections reach us from that island, the natural history of which was perhaps better known a century ago than to-day, that an account of it may be of interest to some readers of ' The Ibis.' Witb the exception of some of the cosmopolitan Waders, all the species in the series have been already recorded from this locality ; but some of them are rare, notably a large Picumnus, which has recently been described and figured by Mr. C. B. Cory under the name of Picumnus lawrencii (Bull. Nuttall Orn. Club, vol. vi. 1881, p. 129). Both male and female are contained in this collec- tion, and I am satisfied that Mr. Cory^s name must sink into a synonym of SundevalFs P. micromegas (Conspect. Av. Picin. p. 95). Sundevall described this species from a specimen in the Museum of Stockliolm, which was hitherto, so far as I am aware, unique in European collections. But Mr. Coiy * p.S. — The authorities of the U. S. Nat. Museum have most kindly sent me this type for comparison. I propose to give an account of it in the next Number of this Journal. 168 Canon Tristram on San Domingo Birds. observes that the sjiecimen came from Brazil^ and that he cannot make SiindevaH's description agree with the Haytian bird. Now all that Sundevall says is, that the bird was in a very rich collection acquired in Brazil by the Swedish consul Westin, and made by Freyreiss. But the avifauna of Brazil is pretty well known, and it is scarcely jirobable that a Bra- zilian Woodpecker should have remained for nearly seventy years represented by a unique specimen, and there is no proof, or even assertion, of the real habitat of the type. Moreover, having before me the descriptions and measure- ments of Sundevall and Mr. Cory, I am unable to detect the most trivial discrepancy between them, and both exactly agree with Mr. McGrigor's male specimen. It is very pro- bable that SundevalFs type came originally from Hayti, and his name therefore must stand. Mr. McGrigor's collection contains the following species : — Mimocichla ardesiaca, Mniotilta varia, Parula americana, Dendrosca ccerulescens, Setopha(/a ruticilla, Dulus dominicus, Euphonia musica, Phoenicophiluspalmarum, Loxigilla violacea, Phonipara bicolor, Icterus dominicensis , Quiscalus ater, Tyran- nus dominicensis, Lampornis aurulentus, Picumnus micromegas ( = P. lawrencii, Cory), Centurus striatus, Todus subulatus, Ceryle alcyon, Saurothera dominicensis, Conurus euops, Cha- nfKepeliapasserina, Columba leucocephala, Ardea ccErulea, Ardea virescens, Ardea candidissima, ^yEgialitis semipalmatus , ^ Strepsilas interpres, Phoenicopterus ruber, ^Platalea ajaja. The three species marked § are not included by Dr. Bryant in his list of the birds of San Domingo (Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. vol. xi. p. 89). Unfortunately no localities are given ; but I believe the collection was made near Samana, on the N.E. of San Do- mingo. Mr. McGrigor expects shortly to spend some time in the mountains between Samana and Santiago, and we may hope that in his leisure time he may be able to add much more to our knowledge of the interior mountain region. On some Eastern Oiols. 169 XVI. — On some Eastern Owls. By J. H. Gurney. Having recently had the opportunity, through the kindness of Captain R. G. Wardlaw Ramsay, of examining the fine series of Strigidse collected by the late Lord Tweeddale, I am desirous of recording a few remarks on some of the specimens in that collection, and also on a few of the Owls in the Norwich Museum. The paper on a collection of birds from the district of Lampong in S.E. Sumatra, which was communicated by Lord Tweeddale to 'The Ibis ' for 1877, contains a mention of two specimens of Ninox scutulata, which formed part of that collection, but only describes them, at p. 287, as *' absolutely identical with the Malaccan individuals in mus. nostr/^ As this species was originally, but not very fully, described by Sir R. S. Raffles from a Sumatran example, I have thought it desirable to record the following additional particulars of the two specimens referred to in Lord Tweed- dale's paper; they are very nearly of the same size, and measure as under, the sex not having been recorded : — No. 1. No. 2. Middle Wing. Tarsuf?. toe s. u. 7-45 1-10 1-10 7-50 1-20 1-00 In both specimens the fourth primary is the longest, but the third very nearly equals it ; the axillaries are barred with alternate bands of white and dark brown, and the number of dark transverse bars on the tail is four. Captain Wardlaw Ramsay^s Museum contains four skins of a Ninox from the Nicobar Islands, which perhaps cannot be separated from N. scutulata, though it differs from the two Sumatran specimens above mentioned in the somewhat more ferruginous tints of the wing-coverts and of the dark markings on the under surface, especially the latter, in the more numerous dark caudal cross bars (five in three speci- mens and six in the fourth), and in two skins out of the four having the axillaries of an unbarred fulvous. In all these respects the birds in question approach the allied smaller 170 Mr. J. H. Gurney on species [N. affinis) ; but in size they agree better with N. scutulata, measuring as under — Middle Wing. Tarsus. toe s. u. $ . Trinkut Island 7-80 I'OO I-IO 2 . do 8-00 1-05 1-20 Not sexed, only marked "Nico-I q.-jq -..qq -..-.q bars " i Ditto ditto 8-20 MO MO I subjoin for comparison the following measurements of three Andaman specimens of iV. ajfinis, also in the possession of Captain Wardlaw Ramsay : — • Middle Wing. Tarsus. toe s. u. S . Port Blair 6-95 I'lO MO c?. do C-85 1-05 0-90 2 . do 6-90 1-00 1-00 These three specimens all have five dark cross bars on the tail, and the axillaries are unbarred fulvous. Mr. Hume states in ' Stray Feathers/ vol. iv. p. 285^ that two "^^races^' oiNinox occur in the Nicobar Islands, the smaller of which he identifies with N. affinis ; but the only examples of N. affinis which I have personally examined are the three from the Andamans above referred to. In Lord Tweeddale^s list of a collection of birds from Zamboanga, in the island of Mindanao, published in the Proc. Zool. Soc. for 1878, he mentioned (p. 940) two spe- cimens of Ninox which he there referred to A^. lugubris, also quoting a remark of mine as to the remarkable rufous tint on the outer webs of the primaries in these two speci- mens ; I have now re-examined them, and desire to add a note as to the colour of the paler interspaces on the tail, ■which, in both, are decidedly tinged with rufous, though not so brightly on the outer webs of the primaries. Both these specimens have five dark cross bars on the tail, and the axillaries are cross-barred with dark brown and fulvous alternately. Amongst the races very nearly allied to Ninox lugubris, and, so far as I can judge, not really distinct from it, is N. burmanica, Hume. Captain Wardlaw Ramsay possesses some Eastern Owls. 171 several sexed examples of this form collected at Tonglioo, from which I have noted the following measurements, that may perhaps be worth recording : — Wing. Tarsus. Male 8-80 I'lO do 8-60 1-20 1 8-50 1-10 Five females i to to 1 8-9o 1-20 An unsexed specimen in the same collection from Assam, apparently referable to the same race, has a wing-measure- ment of 9'10, with the tarsus 1'20. One of the scarcer species of Ninox in Captain Wardlaw Ramsay's collection is N. obscura, a native of the Andaman Islands, which bears a curious similarity in the nearly uniform fuscous coloration of its underparts to the more southern N. theomacha, from which, however, it is readily distinguishable by its larger size and darker abdomen, as well as by the tail (which is only partially cross-barred in N. theomacha) having from four to five dark transverse bars, and also bearing a white tip. I have taken the following measurements from Captain Wardlaw Eamsay's three specimens of N. obscura, which, if correctly sexed, exhibit the curious peculiarity of the male bird being longer in the wing than the two females ; I may add that one of the latter has several snow-white feathers on the nape, which bear the aj)pearance of an accidental variation ; — Middle Wing. Tarsus. toe s. u. S . South Andamans 880 1-10 1-20 5 . do. . 8-40 1-10 1-20 5. do. 8-20 1-10 1-20 I annex for comparison the measurements of four speci- mens of N. theomacha in the Norwich Museum : — Middle Wing. Tarsus. toe s. u. c? . Andai, N.E. New Gumea . . 7-10 TIO 1-00 (? . Jobie Island 7-2o 1-15 0-90 2. do 7-60 1-10 1-00 Not sexed, S.E. New Guinea . . 7-60 1-20 0-95 172 Mr. J. H. Gurney on some Eafitern Owls. I may take this opportunity of mentioning another scarce Owl from Jobie Island, which has lately been acquired by the Norwich Museum, viz. Ninox dimorpha ; this specimen, which has been marked by the collector as a female, measures — wing 8*75, tarsus 1'40, middle toe s.u. I'lO. Captain Wardlaw Ramsay possesses a beautiful rufous Owl, a male, from Camorta Island in the Nicobar group, where it was obtained by Captain Wimberley on January 23, 1874, which I refer to Scops nicobaricus, described by Mr. Hume in ' Stray Feathers,' vol. iv. p. 283 ; but the plumage of the present specimen exhibits a more unbroken rufous than that described by Mr. Hume— more unbroken, indeed, than that of any other rufous Owl which I remember to have exa- mined. Mr. Hume speaks of the '' crown and entire upper surface " being " more or less freckled and vermiculated with blackish brown, and with the feathers of the rutf on the sides of the neck and across the throat strongly marked with black.'' All these black and blackish-brown markings and vermi- culations are absent from the present specimen, the entire plumage of which, both above and below, is of a bright rich rufous throughout, with the following exceptions only : — The lower scapulars are partly white, as in Scops sunia ; the outer webs of the primaries are barred with blackish brown, and those of the first four are sparsely ocellated on the external margin with fulvous white ; the outer webs of the secondaries and tertials are similarly crossed with dark trans- verse bars, but less distinctly ; the inner webs of all the wing- feathers are broadly cross-barred with black, the interspaces being blackish, mingled, especially on the tertials, with ful- vescent rufous ; the rectrices are cross-barred with blackish brown, the bars being most distinct on the inner webs of the lateral tail-feathers ; the bastard wing is marked like the first four primaries, and the adjacent edge of the wing itself is very slightly mottled with white ; there is also a slight mottling of pale fulvous and blackish brown on the under wing-coverts. I may add that the bristly feathers round the upper mandible (which are long and numerous) are whitish Mr. J. H. Gurney on the Egyptian Nightjar. 173 on their basal portion, but rufous for the remainder of their length. The present specimen measures as under : — inches. Wing 5-80 Tarsus 0-90 Middle toe s. w 085 Ear-tuft 0-60 XVII. — Remarks on the Occurrence of the Egyptian Night- jar in Nottinghamshire. By J. H. Gukney, Jun. On the .23rd of June, 1883 {as recorded in ' The Zoologist,' p. 374), an Egyptian or Isabelline Nightjar {Caprimulgns (Egyptius) was shot near Mansfield, in Nottinghamshire, and is now in the fine British collection of Mr. Joseph Whitaker, who had it while still in the flesh. Mr. H. E. Dresser figui'es two forms, the pale and the dark ; the difference is but slight, but it is apparently to the dark form that Mr. Wliitaker's bird belongs. Mr. Dresser says the range of the Egyptian Nightjar is not very extensive, Egypt and Nubia appearing to be its true home (' Birds of Europe,' iv. p. 629) . I believe I saw a good many in Egypt, but, strange to say, never shot one. From seeing them in April, evidently coming north with the migratory stream, I supposed them to be summer visitants; but as Mr. E. C. Taylor informs me of his having shot some in December 1853, and as I have lately seen an example obtained at Komombo on February 12th, 1882, by Mr. F. Worthington, it is quite evident that the species^ though a true migrant, is found in Egypt at all seasons. How far south it goes is not known, but westwards Mr. Dresser mentions (/. c.) that he has identified specimens from Baluchistan and Turkestan. Strange to say, it has not been met with in Palestine, where, perhaps, its place is taken by C. asiaticus (C. tamaricis, Tristr.). The European occurrences, previous to the Nottinghamshire specimen now recorded, are Herr Gatke's Heligoland example, obtained SER. V. VOL. II. o 174 Mr. H. Seebolim on the eighty ears ago, on the same day but one as the English bird, and three specimens obtained in Malta in the spring of 1876, recorded in this Journal (Ibis, 1881, p. 192) by Prof. Giglioli, who adds that another was shot in Sicily by Baron G, Caruso. Mr. Whitaker's bird makes the sixth European specimen, and adds a third species of the genus to the British list, the Red-necked Nightjar (C rvficolUs) having been already ob- tained here. XVIII. — Further Contributions to the Ornithology of Japan. By Henry Seebohm. (Plate VI.) Two more collections of Japanese birds, for which I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. F. Ilinger of Nagasaki and Mr. H. Henson of Plakodadi, enable me to add a few species to the list of birds from these islands, and to correct some errors in the identification of those already recorded. Phaleris psittacula. An example obtained by Mr. Snow on the Kurile Islands is correctly identified. Mormon corniculatus. An example collected by Mr. Snow on the Kurile Islands is correctly identified. Bbachyrhamphus kittlitzi. A male collected by Mr. H. Henson at Hakodadi on the 23rd of March is intermediate between no. 1269 and no. 1357 {' Ibis,^ 1881, p. 30), and points to the conclusion that these four examples may be four stages, from young to adult, of one species, probably B. kittlitzi. I am expecting further skins from Kamtschatka_, which may throw more light on the subject. Uria columba. An adult example (No. 2795) collected by Mr. Snow in the Kurile Islands, and an immature female (no. 1850) from Ornithulogy of Japan. 175 Hakodadi, are correctly identified. Mr. Heuson has also sent an adult and an immature example of U. carbo. Bernicla nigricans. An example of the Black Brent Goose sent by Mr. Ringer from Nagasaki agrees with examples from Yedo Bay and Hakodadi, and has hitherto been erroneously identified as the Brent Goose (Ibis, 1878, p. 212). There are sixteen feathers in the tail. It is an almost uniform dark bro\vn, the head, neck, and breast nearly black, except a white crescent streaked with black on the fore neck, nearly meeting on the hind neck. Examples of the Brent Goose with the very dark underparts below the breast are found in England on the Essex and Lincolnshire coasts, together with typical birds; and in some of them the white on the neck is almost as much developed as in the Black Brent Goose. This species is said to be found on both coasts of North America, but very rarely on the east coast. It was first de- scribed by Lawrence (Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. York, iv. p. 171). The volume is dated 1818, but the paper was read on the 16th of March, 1846. This bird must not be con- founded with B. hutchinsi from Hakodadi (Ibis, 1882, p. 369), which is paler and has the belly nearly white, and large triangular patches of white covering the cheeks and ear- coverts on each side of the head, as in B. canadensis, of which it is a small form, and with which it is probably co)ispecitic. B. leucopareia is another form of the size of B. canadensis, but differing from it and B. hutchinsi in having a pale ring round the lower throat. Tadorna cornuta. Several examples collected by Mr. Ringer at Nagasaki are correctly identified. QUERQUEDULA CIRCIA. Examples of the Garganey have been sent by Mr. Ringer from Nagasaki. Capt. Blakiston has obtained it also in Yezo. o 2 176 Mr. H. Seebohm on the FULIGULA FERINA. Capt. Blakiston lias sent an examijle of the Pocliard from Hakodadi. Stercorarius buffoni. An example (no. 2753) collected by Mr. Snow in the Kurile Islands is correctly identified. PUFFINUS LEUCOMELAS. A number of specimens collected by Mr. H. Henson at Hakodadi agree with the plate in the ' Fauna Japonica.' PuFFINUS CARNEIPES. Several examples collected by Mr. H. Henson at Hakodadi appear to belong to this species. The under surface of the ■wing is dark^ and the legs and feet are pinkish. DiOMEDEA NIGRIPES. A fine adult female of this Albatross shot by Mr. H. Henson on the 17th of May in the Strait of Tsugaru, sepa- rating Yezo from the main island^ adds another species to the fauna of Japan. It differs from the other dark Albatross from Japan (D. derogata) in being slightly smaller^ in having dark instead of pale legs and bill^ and in having the head much paler in colour^ especially round the base of the bill. The bill is also smaller, measuring 4^ inches from the frontal feathers instead of 5 inches. This is said to be a good species, though it has all the appearance of being the young of the nearly white Albatross (D. albatnis), of which I have an adult male obtained by Mr. H. Henson at Hakodadi on the 4th of April, which agrees in dimensions with a skin in the Swinhoe collection from Amoy. In Mr. Ringer's collection is also an example of D. albatrus from Nagasaki. GOISACHIUS MELANOLOPHUS. An example (No. 2714) fi'om the main island, and a series of examples collected by Mr. Ringer at Nagasaki, belong to this species. It is not found in Yezo. ArDEA SACRA. Two Reef-Herons from the islands in the Straits of Corea probably belong to this species. They are an almost uniform Ornithology of Japan. 177 dark slate-grey, witli a narrow streak of white on the throat. They measure: — wing 12-5, ITO; bill in front 3-6, 3-4; tarsus 3-5, 3-0 ; mid-toe without claw 2*6, 2-4 ; bare portion of tibia 1-6, 1-3. The range of this species appears to extend from the Andaman Islands eastwards to Burma, the Malay Archipelago, Japan, and the north-east coasts of iVustralia, Almost everywhere it seems to be accompanied by a white variety, with which it appears to interbreed, producing pie- bald examples. It is said, however, that in South-east Aus- tralia and in New Zealand the slate-grey form alone occurs. Both forms, however, are recorded from some of the Pacific islands. From Ceylon eastwards as far as "West Africa a very nearly allied species, A. gularis, is found in both the slate- grey and white forms. It is said to differ in having the chin, throat, and sides of the head white, and in being a somewhat larger bird ; but ornithologists are not agreed on the specific distinctions between these species. Examples of the slate- grey form of the eastern species collected by Siebold in Japan are recorded by Schlegel (Mus. Pays-Bas, Ardese, p. 27), but no mention is made of them in the ' Fauna Japonica.' Grus cinerea. Of the six Cranes which breed in Eastern Siberia five are recorded from Japan. Of these, only four appear in Tem- minck and SchlegcFs ' Fauna Japonica,' the Sacred or Mantchurian Crane being omitted, no doubt for the very good reason that the Japanese would not allow Siebold or his collectors to procure one. The Common Crane is a winter visitor to Japan, but many only pass on migration, wintering still further south. Grus leucogeranus. The same remarks apply to the Asiatic White Crane. Grus leucauchen. Grus antigone, Linn, apud Pallas. Grus vipio, Pall, apud David and Oustalet. Grus antigone ?, Linn, apud Blakiston and Pryer. The White-naped Crane is the most abundant Crane in Japan. Mr. Ringer Las' sent two skins from Nagasaki. 178 Mr. H. S(>ebohm on the Grus monachus. The White-headed Crane^, according to I'Abbe David, breeds in Japan. Mr. Ringer has sent three skins collected in Nagasaki. Grus viridirostris. Grusjaponensis, Briss. Grus leucauchen, Temm. apud Blakiston and Pryer. This is the Sacred Crane of the Japanese. It is probabJy only a winter visitor to Japan, and the acconnt of its liubits in that island, quoted in the ' Natural Histor}^ of the Cranes ' by Tegetmeier from Sir Rutherford Alcock, refer to this species, though they are erroneously ascribed to the White- naped Crane by Tegetmeier, who has further complicated the subject by including the name Grus antigoyie, Linn, apud Pallas, in the synonymy of both the White-naped and Sarus Cranes ; and that of Grus japonensis, Briss., in the synonymy both of the White-naped and Mantchurian Cranes. Mr. Ringer has sent an example of the Mantchurian Crane from Nagasaki. RhYNCHvEA bengalensis. A male collected by Mr. H. Henson at Hakodadi on the 22nd of May is the first example of this species obtained in Yezo. Gallicrex cristata. An example of this species collected by Mr. Ringer at Nagasaki is an addition to the Japanese fauna. Gallinula chloropus. An example (No. 3249) from Yokohama agrees with European specimens. FULICA atra. An example (No. 3248) from Yokohama, and an example collected by Mr. H. Henson at Hakodadi, agree with Euro- pean specimens. Otis dybowskii. An example of a male Bustard collected by Mr. Ringer at Nagasaki agrees with Taczanowsky's description of the Ornithology of Japan. 179 eastern form of the Great Bustard, It is somewhat smaller than the western bird, the bill is slightly longer and more slender, the head is paler in colour, and the lesser wdng- coverts are grey, like the gi-eater and median wing-coverts, instead of being mottled with brownish buff and black, like the back. Dybowsky states that he has obtained both adult and young from Dauria ; and what seem to be young males of the western form in the Cambridge Museum have the lesser wing-coverts coloured as in the adult, so that it would appear that the species is distinct. Lagopus rupestris ? A specimen of a Ptarmigan was shot by Mr, Snow on the nearest of the Kurile Islands to Kamtschatka, which is pro- bably the Rock-Ptarmigan. It is pure white, except the tail-feathers and the lores, which are black. COLUMBA LIYIA, An example from Nagasaki is darker than usual. The Rock-Doves of Japan may be escaped birds which have taken possession of the caves on the coast ; they occupy all the temples in Japan, and are fed by tlie devotees of Buddha. TURTUR HUMILIS. An example sent by Mr. Owston was obtained from a dealer at Yokohama, and was said to have been shot in the neighbourhood. Carpophaga ianthina. A fine example collected by Mr. Pryer near Yokohama agrees with the figure in the ' Fauna Japonica.' Two examples collected by Mr. Ringer in Nagasaki are now in the British Museum . Iyngipicus seebohmi, Hargitt, Ibis, 1884, p. 100. Mr, Oldfield Thomas has kindly compared examples of /, kisuki and this species with the types of the former in the Leyden Museum, and assures me that Temminck and SchlegePs bird is unquestionably the same as examples col- lected by Mr, Ringer near Nagasaki on the island of Kiushiu. 180 Mr. II. Seebohm on the Iynx torquilla. An example of this species (No. 1242)^ a male dated Hakodadi^ May, was identified by Swinhoe (Ibis, 1874, p. 162) as hjnx japonica. A careful comparison of this skin and a series of skins from South China with European examples fails to show any differences either of colour or size which are not common to eastern as Avell as western birds. This species does not appear to present any climatic variations. Chelidon dasypus. The type of this species from Borneo in the Leyden Museum has been compared with the type of C. b/akistoni from Japan by Mr. Sharpe, who pronounces them to be identical. Bonaparte's name will probably be the one adopted by ornithologists. COIIVUS NEGLECTUS. An example in the collection of Captain Blakiston (No. 2701), obtained at Osaka, in the southern portion of the main island of Japan, appears to belong to an intermediate form between Corvus dauricus and C. negledus. Xanthopygia cyanomel^na. Capt. Blakiston has pointed out to me a most unaccount- able blunder in the British Museum Catalogue of Birds (iv. p. 251), with reference to the female of this species. Four examples collected by Mr. H. Henson near Hakodadi, and a fifth example from Canton in the Swinhoe collection, agree with the plate and description of Miiscicapa gularis of the ' Fauna Japonica/ a name which Mr. Sharpe includes in the synonymy of J\'. cyanomehena, admitting it to be the female of that species. Nevertheless in the description a young male is erroneously described as the female. The latter differs in having no trace of blue on any part of the plu- mage, and no white on the base of the tail-feathers. The pale tips to the greater wing-coverts and innermost secon- daries betray the immature birds at a glance. It appears to me that the plumage described by Mr. Sharpe as belonging to the adult female is that of the young male in first plumage. Ornithology of Japan. 181 of which I have seen no skins dated later than October. Spring examples of males of the year only differ from adults in having the pale tips to the greater wing-coverts and inner- most secondaries. The greenish-blue and purplish-blue fore- heads and crowns are found in both adults and males of the year. MoTACILLA BLAKISTONI. MOTACILLA AMURENSIS. Capt. Blakiston now regards these two forms as adult and young of one species, and I feel very much inclined to agree with him. The fact that the geographical distribution of the two forms, so far as it is known, coincides, is of itself strong presumptive evidence that both belong to one species. On this hypothesis M. amurensis can only be the bird of the year of M. blakistoni. One must lay the blame of having committed the blunder of separating them upon somebody ; and we propose to ascribe it to the complete ignorance of, and apparent indifference to, the facts connected with the moulting of birds displayed by all English ornithologists. Wagtails appear to have a complete moult, which includes their wing and tail-feathers, in their first autumn. M.japo- nica moults at once into its adult plumage. M. amurensis appears to have an intermediate stage between the young in first plumage and the adult after the second autumn moult. In the adult plumage I have described the bird as M. blakis- toni. In spring a partial moult takes place : all the small feathers of the bird of the year are moulted into the summer plumage of the adult, but the wing- and tail-feathers are not changed. In this stage I have described the bird as M. amurensis in adult spring plumage. This hypothesis leaves, however, two difficulties, which may be explained as follows : — The amount of white on the wing of birds of the year must vary so much that what I have taken to be birds of the year of M. blakistoni are really only birds of the year in which the plumage is more adult than usual. We must also as- sume that the amount of black on the head varies to a still greater extent, so that the birds with black heads which I 182 Mr. H. Scebolim un the have regarded as adult male M. amurensis in winter plumage after the second moult are really birds of the year which have only moulted once, but for some cause or other have the black on the head almost as pronounced as in the adult. This variation in the plumage of birds of the year, especially in those which have two broods, is by no means a new fact in ornithology. Probably the young of the first broods moult in autumn into a plumage more nearly approaching that of the adult bird than that assumed by the young of the second broods. This conclusion is confirmed by a male in my collection obtained by Mr. Whitely at Hakodadi, on the 17th of April, which is in the adult spring plumage of M. amurensis, except the first primary of the right wing, which is in the adult plumage of M. blakistoni. This might be accounted for on the supposition that the first primary had been injured during the winter, and had been replaced at the spring moult by a feather of the adult plumage. Erithacus cyaneus. An example (No. 1267) from Hakodadi is an adult male of this species collected in May. A skin (No. 3225) col- lected by Mr. Jouy in the middle of the main island in August has scarcely moulted its first plumage, and shows traces of dark terminal bars on the feathers of the throat and breast, which are sufi'used with buft\ The greater wing- coverts have chestnut tips. Erithacus calliope. Several skins of this species have been sent by Capt. Blakiston from Yezo. Emberiza spodocephala. This species, which is very common in China, was first recorded from Japan in ' The Chrysanthemum ' for April 1883, by Capt. Blakiston, from a specimen collected near Tokio in January by Mr. P. L. Jouy, and now in the Smith- sonian Museum. I have examined this skin and find it to be an adult male with slate-grey throat and breast. The adult male o^ the nearly allied Japanese species, E. per sonata, is easily distinguished by the clear yellow of the underparts "^ CEHT^AL PARK,'^i^^ ^^.^nvyoR,(. CO & Ornithologij of Japan. 183 below the chin. Females and immature males are sometimes difficult to distinguish, but in E. personata the underparts are generally a much brighter yellow. The latter species has not been found in China. Strix rufescens. Three examples from Nagasaki of this variety of S. ura- lensis are so dark and rufous as to appear specifically distinct. The lighter bars across the first primary and the two centre tail-feathers are almost obsolete. This form probably re- places S. uralensis in the main and south islands of Japan. Bubo blakistoni, Seebohm, antea, p. 4.2. (Plate VI.) An immature example of an Owl obtained in the neigh- bourhood of Shanghai by Mons. Heude is in the museum of the Jardin des Plantes at Paris. It was determined by Mr. Sharjje (Ibis, 1875, p. 255) as Bubo coromandus, and adult examples since received from the valley of the Yang- tse-kiang have confirmed his decision. It had been de- scribed as Bubo sinensis (Heude, Ann. Sc. Nat. Paris, ser. 5, XX. article 2), a name apparently taken from Daudin (Traite d^Orn. ii. p. 209), who appears to have founded it upon an Eagle-Owl from China, which Manduyt (Encycl. Meth. Orn, ii. p. 73) says differs from our bird, but does not state in what respect. This bird is perfectly distinct from the Japan Eagle-Owl, Bubo blaJdstoni, of which a figure (Plate YI.) is now given. Pandion haliaetus. Two examples of this bird, one a female from Hakodadi (No. 2061) obtained in October, and the other obtained by Mr. Ringer at Nagasaki, agree in size with the typical form, and measure 19h and 19 inches in length of wing. Aquila pelagica. A fine example, not quite adult, of this magnificent Eagle from the eastern part of Yezo shows the enormous deve- lopment of bill in this species, the height of the bill being greater than that of the skull. It also confirms the inter- esting fact, pointed out by Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway, that this species has fourteen tail-feathers. 184 Mr. H. Seebohm on the XIX. — On the East-Asiatic Shore-Lark (Otocorys longi- rostris). By Henry Seebohm. Otocoris longirostris , Gould_, fide Moore^ Proc. Zool. Soc. 1855, p. 215 (India). Otocorys peniciltata, Gould, apud Swinhoe, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1862, p. 318 (China) . Otocorys alpestris, Linn, apud Swinlioe, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1863, p. 272 (China). Otocoris albiffula, Brandt, apud Dy bow ski, Journ. Orn. 1868, p. 334 (Dauria). Otocorys sibirica, Eversmann, fide Swinlioe, Proc. Zool, Soc. 1871, p. 390 (China). Otocoris elwesii, Blanford, Journ. As. Soc. Bang. 1872, p. 62 (Himalayas). Otocorys alpestris, Linn, apud Dresser, B. Eur. iv. p. 392 (1874) (China). Otocorys p)enicillata, Gould, apud Dresser, B. Eur. iv, p. 397 (1874) (India). Otocorys hrandti, Dresser, B. Eur. iv. p, 401 (1874) (Kir- ghis steppes). Otocorys parvexi, Taczan. Bull. Soc, Zool, France, 1876, p. 161 (Dauria). Otocoris nigrifrons, Prjevalski, Mongolia and Thibet, ii. p. 103 (1876) (Mongolia), Otocorys sibirica, Swinli,, David & Oust. Ois. de la Chine, p. 316 (1876) (China). Habitat. A resident in Turkestan, the Himalayas, the Altai Mountains, Dauria, and Mongolia, occasionallj'^ wan- dering in winter into North China ■^, North India, and South- east Russia. The evolution of order out o£ chaos has the same charms for the ornithologist that the putting together of a puzzle has for a schoolboy. As an example of chaos let us take the * A specimen in Canon Tristram's possession, said to be from Pekin, and once in the Swinhoe collection, is a winter example (shot 12th Dec. 186.3) of O. cdpestris. David and Oustalet give the range of the two Bpecies very correctly. East-Asiatic Shore-Lark. 185 portions of the articles on the Shore-Larks in Dresser's ' Birds of Europe ' referring to the species the name of which heads the present article. To this the same author has added an appropriate climax in his letter on the subject (Ibis, 1884-, p. 116). As an example of order, I venture to refer to the synonymy and geographical distribution copied at the head of this article from my ' History of British Birds/ ii. p. 286*. I must do Mr. Dresser the justice to say that in the letter already mentioned he admits his error (long ago pointed out by Blanford and Scully) in uniting 0. longiros- tris with 0. penicillata ; but in doing so he appears to imply that the rest of his work was free from important blunders, and does not deserve the mild censure which I applied to it. He has apparently forgotten that in the 'Birds of Europe' (iv. p. 398) he says that 0. penicillata ''^ extends east- wards into North China,'' and contradicts himself on page 397, where he says that an example in the Swinhue collec- tion from Tientsin is a long-billed form of 0. brandti, a statement which is quite correct. But on page 392 he had re- ferred the very same skin to O. alpestris. Which of the three species does he really think it belongs to ? His treatment of O. elwesi is equally capricious. On page 395 he identifies it with 0. penicillata ; but on page 401 he refers it to 0. al- pestris. Unfortunately both these identifications are wrong. O. elwesi is unquestionably a somewhat small form of 0. lon- girostris. Of his blunder respecting the latter species little need be said, as he has recanted it ; but his statement on page 401 that the series of Shore-Larks in the Gould col- lection from Kulu (one of which is the type of O. longirostris) all show the black on the breast united Avith that on the neck is utterly inexplicable. The fact is that not one of them does so, as any one may now see in the British -Museum collection ; neither does the example depicted in the P. Z. S. by no less an artist than Wolf. We now come to the most ''egregious blunder" of all. On page 397 Dresser * I have added to the synonymy the catalogue of Swiuhoe's and Dres- ser's blunders, which I purposely omitted in my book, not wishing to call special attention to their number and importance. 186 Mr. H. Seebolim on the comes to the conclusion that the pale southern ally of 0. al- pestris with the white throat has not got a name, and pro- poses for it that of O. hrandti. On page 398 he gives its geographical distribution as '^probably restricted to the steppes of Southern Russia." Nevertheless it is a most remarkable fact that Dresser's ' Birds of Europe ' does not contain an article on a bird named by Dresser himself and supposed by him to be confined to Europe. As a matter of fact, the type appears to be a Sarepta skin, and there is also a skin from Astrakan in the British Museum ; but the latter has only recently been added to the national col- lection'^. I doubt if a more puzzling bit of ornithological chaos than this could be found anywhere. It took me a week's hard work to unravel it ; but by a careful measurement and comparison of all the skins in my own collection and in that of the British Museum, I came to the conclusion that O. longirostris was a pale subtropical ally or representative of O. alpestris, which ranges across Central Asia from the basin of the Caspian to Mongolia, extending northwards through the Altai Mountains to Dauria, and southwards into the Himalayas. O. alpestris is a bird of the tundra, whilst O. longirostris is a bird of the steppes, and breeds from one to two thousand miles south of its arctic ally. The differences in size in the latter species at first puzzled me, but by com- paring measurements of skins from different localities I came to the conclusion, to which I still adhere, that 0. hrandti and 0. longirostris cannot be separated ; they are, in fact, united by 0. elwesij-. as Dresser might possibly have observed * Fiusch, in his account of tlae Shore-Larks found by him in South- west Siberia, states positively that the black on the breast joins that on the cheeks ; but in two examples from his collection, now in the British Museum, this is not the case. He probably got both species, as Severtzow also obtained both in North-west Turkestan. t Severtzow at first separated O. hrandti of North-west Turkestan from O. lomfirostris of East Turkestan (Ibis, 187G, p. 181) ; but later he apparently united them, for in his " Birds of the Pamir " (Ibis, 1883, p. 61) he speaks only of O. elwesi, adding that " in the Pamir a subspecies with a rather long beak predominates, but this ditierence is neither con- siderable nor constant." East-Asiatic Shore-Lark. 187 if he had taken the trouble to examine the material which has "come to light ""^ since he wrote his articles in the 'Birds of Europe.' It seems to me that when the facts respect- ing them are known, no "unbiassed ornithologist'' can doubt that these three forms all belong to one species. All three forms occur both in Turkestan and in the Himalayas, and are connected together by a series of intermediate forms, so that the division into two or three is a perfectly arbitrary one. I have only been able to get the measurements of three Mongolian skins; but as one of these is of the small form, one somewhat larger, and the third of the large form, there cannot be much doubt that the variation in Mongolian forms is the same. Precisely the same variation of size, both of wings and bill, occurs in O. penicillata, so that if there are two or three species of Eastern Asiatic Shore-Larks, there must also be the same of Western Asiatic Shore-Larks. The amount of black at the base of the upper mandible varies also irrespective of locality, and the variation is also found to nearly the same extent in 0. penicillata. The width of the white band which separates the black of the neck from the black of the breast seems to depend entirely ou the make up of the skin. If the neck is stretched it looks broad, but if it is made up short it of course looks narrow. Winter skins show more white on the neck and forehead, because at that season many of the black feathers have pale tips, which are cast in spring. None of the characters pointed out appear to me to be of the slightest specific, or even subspecific, value, because they are not confined to birds from any one locality, nor are they confined to one species only, but appear to be individual variations common to the genus Dresser appears to be shocked at a ditference of '8 inch in the length of wing in one species, though he admits a similar dift'erence in his skins of O. penicillata, and both he and I agree to a variation of a whole inch in the length of wiog of the Common Sky-Lark. Difference of size, where it is co- existent with difference of geographical distribution, may warrant subspecific distinction ; but where nature has not drawn a geographical distinction most ornithologists are con- 188 On the East- Asiatic Shore-Lark. tent to allow difference of size to be regarded as an indi- vidual peculiarity. The Common or Arctic Shore-Lark is a circumpolar bird^ being found on the arctic prairies of America, as well as on the fjelds of Lapland and the tundra of Siberia. Two other species or subspecies of Shore-Larks occur in the American continent ; but I have not been able to see a large enough series to speak positively concerning them. So far as I am able to judge, Dresser's treatment of the American Shore- Larks is quite as careless as his work on the Asiatic species of this group. He represents O. alpestris as breeding throughout North America, the only other American species in his opinion being O. peregrina from Bogota. Both these statements appear to me to be entirely wrong, and contrary to the evidence so carefully collected by Messrs. Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway. It appears to me that, in addition to O. alpestris, which breeds in the arctic regions of both continents, probably never below the limits of forest-growth, there is on the American continent a southern form, O. occi- dentalis, breeding on the plains of the upper valley of the Mississippi and the valley of the Missouri, which, like 0. longirostris, has the throat white instead of yellow. The alleged intermediate forms between it and its southern ally I imagine to be either birds of the year of the southern species or faded summer examples of the northern species. In what respect 0. occidentalis differs from O. longirostris I am unable to say. The third American species is 0. chry- solcema (of which O. peregrina is doubtless a synonym). This bird is a tropical form of 0. alpestris, and is a resident in Mexico and some of the adjoining United States, its range extending southwards into the extreme north-west of South America. It is said to differ from its arctic ally in being smaller and richer in colour, the yellow on the throat being even more brilliant than in the arctic species. On the Woodpeckers of the Genus Miglyptes. 189 XX. — Notes on Woodpeckers. — No. VI. On the Genus Miglyptes. By Edward Hargitt, F.Z.S. Although only four species of this genus are known, con- fined to the Indo-Malayan subregion and the Burmese countries, there has been great confusion in their synonymy, and I have endeavoured in the present paper to show the characters of all these four species and to disentangle their somewhat complicated literature. The material upon which this paper is based is contained in the collections of the British and Leyden Museums, as well as in my own collec- tion and that of Captain Wardlaw Ramsay. Key to the Species. a. Mantle .and upper back barred. a'. Lower back and rump creamy white. a". Centre of breast and abdomen uniform black . trtstis. b". Breast and abdomen with fulvous cross bars . . (jrammithorax. h' . Lower back and rump barred like the mantle . . tukki. b. Mantle and upper back uniform black ; rump creamy white ; breast and abdomen uniform black jiigularis. 1. Miglyptes tristis. Picus tristis, Horsf. Trans. Linn. Soc. xiii. p. 177 (1822) ; Giebel (pt.), Thes. Orn. p. 183 (1876). Picus poicilolophus, Temm. PI. Col. iv. pi. cxcvii. fig. 1 (1823) ; Wagler (pt.), Sysi. Av. sp. 68 (1827) ; Cuvier, Regn. Anim. 1829, p. 451. Meiglyptes poici/ophus, Swains. Classif. B. ii. p. 309 (1837). Meiglyptes tristis, Gray, List Gen. 1810, p. 55 ; id. Gen. B. ii. p. 447 (1846); Blyth (pt.). Cat. B. Mus. As. Soc. 1849, p. 60; Bp. (pt.) Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 112 (1850); id. Consp. Volucr. Zygod. p. 9 (1854) ; Reichenb. (pt.) Handb. Scans. Picinje, p. 402, pis. dclvii. figs. 4370, 4371 (1854) ; Horsf. & Moore (pt.), Cat. B. Mus. E.I. Co. ii. p. 668 (1856-58) ; Gray, List Picid. Brit. Mus. p. 123 (1868) ; id. Hand-1. B. ii. p. 203. no. 8838 (1870) ; Nichol- son, Ibis, 1879, p. 164; id. op. cit. 1881, p. 141. SER. V. VOL. II. P 190 Mr. E. Hargitt on the Woodpeckers Phaiopicos tristis, Malil. N. Classif, Mem. Acad. Metz, 18i8-49, p. 338. Phaiopicus tristis, Malh. Monogr. Picid. ii. p. 10_, pi. xlviii. figs. 1, 2 (1862). Picus tristis, var. a, Sundev. Consp. Av. Picin. p. 91 (1866). Mighjptes tristis, Hume, Str. F. 1879, p. 497 (note). Adult male. Upper and middle back, scapulars, and wing-coverts black, narrowly barred witb bufty white; bastard-wing and primary-coverts black, spotted with buffy white; quills black, spotted with bufFy white upon both webs, the innermost being barred with the same across both webs ; shafts black ; lower back and rump buffy white, the former with a few dusky cross-markings ; upper tail-coverts black, narrowly barred with buffy white ; tail black, with buffy white spots upon both webs ; shafts black ; lores, entire head and crest, sides of the neck, chin, and throat black, finely vermiculated with buify white ; a small red malar patch ; under surface of the body black, the sides of the body, flanks, and thighs barred with buffy white ; under tail-coverts black, narrowly barred with bufly white; under wing-coverts and axillaries buffy white. Total length 6 inches, culmen 0*85, wing 3 7, tail 1*95, tarsus 0*7; toes (without claws) — outer anterior 0"6, outer posterior 0'55, inner anterior 0*4, inner posterior 0"28. Adult female. Resembling the adult male, but wanting the red malar patch. Total length 5'8 inches, culmen 0'75, wing 3-6, tail 1*7, tarsus 0'65. This species (the types of which, procured by Horsfield, are in the British Museum) is confined exclusively to the island of Java, whence specimens have been forwarded by Messrs. E. C. Buxton and H. O. Forbes. It is apparently a rare bird, or, perhaps, one difficult to obtain, as but few examples are to be found in museums. It may at once be distinguished from M. grammithorax of INIalherbe, wdth which it has often been confounded, by its uniform black breast and abdomen. When Lord Walden published his paper " On a Collection of Birds from Northern Borneo " of the Genus Miglyptes. 191 ('Ibis/ 1872), it appears to me that he had not seen the true M. tristis of Horsfield from Java, and that he con- sidered the dark-breasted birds received by him from Si- munjon and Banjerraassing to be referable to that species. Lord Walden was certainly right in regarding these specimens as immature ; but the slightly darker underparts exhibited in the immature of M. grammithorax are totally distinct from the entirely black breast and abdomen possessed by the Javan bird. Mr. F. Nicholson C Ibis/ 1879, p. 164) has, in my opinion, clearly shown that M. tristis, from Java, and M. grammithorax, inhabiting Southern Tenasserim, the Malayan peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo, are both good and valid species. My descriptions are taken from a pair of birds in the Leyden Museum. 2. Miglyptes grammithorax. PicM,9^joi«/o/o/*/m5(nonTemm.),Less.Traite,p. 221 (1831). Hemicircus tristis, Eyt^n, P. Z. S. 1839, p. 106. Meiglyptes tristis (pt.), Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. As. Soc. p. 60 (1849) ; Bp. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 112 (1850) ; id. Consp. Volucr. Zygod. p. 9 (1854) ; Eeichenb. Handb. Scans. Picinffi, p. 402, pis. dclvii. figs. 4370, 4371 (1854). Meiglyptes tristis (non Horsf.), Wald. Ibis, 1872, p. 365 ; Salvad. Ucc. Born. p. 56 (1874) ; Hume, Str. F. 1874, p. 471 ; id. op. cit. 1875, p. 324; Blyth & Wald. B. Burm. p. 77 (1875) ; Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1875, p. 103; id. Ibis, 1876, p. 36 ; Tweedd. op. cit. 1877, p. 290 ; BrLigg. Abhandl. nat. Ver, Bremen, v. p. 455 (1877) ; Hume & Davison, Str. F. 1878, vi. pp. 131 and 501; Hume, op. cit. 1879, p. 52; Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 243; Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Genov. xiv. p. 184 (1879) ; Kelham, Ibis, 1881, p. 388 ; Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 792; Nicholson, Ibis, 1882, p. 55; Salvin, Cat. Stricld. Coll. p. 402 (1882); Miiller, Orn. Salanga, p. 72 (1882). Phaiopicus grammithorax, Mahl. Monogr. Picid. ii. p. 12, pi. xlviii. figs. 4, 5 (1862). Picus tristis, var. b, Sundev. Consp. Av. Picin. p. 92 (1866). p2 192 Mr. E. Hargitt on the Woodpeckers Me'tglyptes grammithorax, Grray, List Picid. Brit. Mus. p. 121 (1868); id. Hand-1. B. ii.' p. 203. no. 8839 (1870); Gates, B. Brit. Burm. ii. p. 59 (1883). Miglyptes tristis (non Horsf.), Hume, Str. F. 1879, p. 87. Miglyptes grammithorax, Hume, Str. F. 1879, p. 497 (note). Adult male. Mantle and scapulars black, narrowly barred with buffy white; wing-coverts black, barred and spotted with buffy white, these markings having an irregular and broken appearance ; bastard-wing black, spotted with white ; edge of wing buft'y white; primary- coverts black; quills black, spotted upon both webs with buffy white, the inner- most barred across both webs with the same ; shafts black ; lower back and rump buffy white; upper tail-coverts black, narrowly barred with buffy white , tail-feathers black, spotted with buffy white upon both webs, the dwarf one having the tip white and the spots almost forming a bar ; shafts black ; lores, space round the eye, and chin buff ; entire head, neck, and chest finely vermiculated with black and buffy white (on the face more of a buff), these markings being very fine upon the face and throat, becoming broader lower down, the whole presenting a grey appearance ; a dull red malar patch; underparts more broadly barred with black and buffy white than the chest ; a uniform stripe of dusky brown running down the middle of the abdomen; under tail-coverts resembling the under surface of the body, but the black markings more crescent-shaped ; under wing- coverts and axillaries uniform buffy white. Total length 6 inches, culmen 0-75, wing 3*55, tail 1*75, tarsus 0*7; toes (without claws) — outer anterior 0-52, outer posterior 055, inner anterior 0*35, inner posterior 0*22. Adult female. Differs from the adult male in the absence of the red malar patch. Total length 5-8 inches, culmen 0-75, wing 3'47, tail 1*65, tarsus 0-7. Mr. Davison gives the soft parts as follows : — " Legs and feet dirty, dingy, or glaucous green ; claws j)lumbeous ; bill black ; edge of eyelids black ; irides in about half the specimens of each sex deep brown, in the other half dull red." of the Genus Miglyptes. 193 Immature male. Differing from the adult in having the black portions of the plumage less intense, and the light por- tions buff or pale brown ; malar patch dull red ; the stripe down the middle of the abdomen dusky brown. (Mount Ophir, Malacca : August 14th.) Immature female. Resembling the immature male, but wanting the red malar patch. (Mount Ophir, Malacca : August 14th.) The descriptions of the immature birds are taken from specimens in the collection of Capt. Wardlaw Ramsay. The female in the brown or young stage is assuming the adult grey plumage, by moult, the change commencing on the head. The soft parts are given as follows : — " Iris dark lake, bill black, legs greenish " {R. G. W. R.). The male, shot by the same naturalist on the same date, is still in the brown stage ; the soft parts are. given as follows : — " Iris dark brown, bill black, legs greenish " {R. G. TV. R.) . Malherbe was the first author to recognize the distinctness of this species from M. tristis of Java ; and it is surprising to find that since the publication of Malherbe^s description of M. grammithorax so many naturalists should have per- sisted in calling the Malaccan bird M. tristis. This can only be accounted for by the rarity of M. tristis for compa- rison. Malherbe's species may easily be distinguished from the Javan bird by its fulvous-barred underparts, Mr. Davi- son obtained it in the southern portion of Tenasserim, and the ITume collection contains specimens from Hankachin and Bankasoon : it is found throughout the Malayan penin- sula; also in the island of Salanga (Miiller) ; and Messrs. Wallace and H. O. Forbes procured examples in Sumatra; it likewise forms part of most collections sent from Borneo, where it would appear to be tolerably plentiful. 3. Miglyptes tukki. Picus tukki, Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 167. Hemicercus brunneus, Eyton, P. Z. S. 1839, p. 106. Picus luridus, Nitzsch, Pteryl. p. 137 (1840). Meiglyptes brunneus, Hartl. Syst. Verz. Mus. Hamb. 194 Mr. E. Hargitt on the Woodpeckers p. 93 (1844); Gray, Gen. B. ii. p. 447 (1846); Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 113 (1850) ; Horsf. & Moore, Cat. B. Mus. E.L Co. ii. p. G68. no. 976 (1856-58) ; Sclat. P. Z. S. 1863, p. 210; Gray, List Picicl. Brit. Mus. p. ]25 (1868) ; id. Hand-1. B. ii. p. 203. no. 8842 (1870) ; Salvin, Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 402 (1882). Meiglyptes fuscus, Peale, U.S. Expl. Exped. viii. p. 131, pi. xxxvi. fig. 1 (1818). Fhaiopicos pectoralis (non Latham), Malli. N. Classif. Mem. Acad. Metz, 1848-49, p. 338. Meiglyptes pectoralis (non Lath.), Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. As. Soc. p. 60 (1849) ; Bp. Consp. Volucr. Zygod. p. 9 (1854) ; Eeichenb. Handb. Scans. Picinse, p. 402. sp. 938, pi. dclvii. fig. 4372 (1854). Phaiopicus pectoralis (non Lath.), Malh. Monogr. Picid. ii. p. 8, pi. xlvii. figs. 5, 6 (1862). Picus brunneus, Sundev. Consp. Av. Picin. p. 91 (1866). Meiglyptes marginatus, Reinw. MS. (1821) ; Stoliczka, J. A. S.B. xxxix. p. 277 (1870). Meiglyptes tuhki, Salvad. Ucc. Born. p. 57 (1874) ; Sharpe, P.Z. S. 1875, p. 103; Hume, Str. F. 1875, p. 319; Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p. 36 ; Tweedd. op. cit. 1877, p. 290 ; Hume & Davison, Str. F. 1878, p. 132; Hume, op. cit. 1879, p. 52; Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 243; id. P. Z. S. 1881, p. 792; Nicholson, Ibis, 1882, p. 55 ; Gates, B. Brit. Burm. ii. p. 61 (1883). Picus tukki, Giebel, Thes. Orn. p. 183 (1876). Meiglyptes tucci, Briigg. Abhandl. nat. Ver. Bremen, v. p. 455 (1877). Miglyptes tukki, Hume, Str. F. 1879, p. 87. Adult male. Back, scapulars, rump, and upper tail-coverts olive-dusky, with narrow vermicular transverse markings of dirty white and a subterminal blackish band to the feathers ; wing-coverts like the back, except those of the lesser series extending along the forearm, these being uni- form ; bastard-wing and primary-coverts olive-dusky ; edge of wing varied with whitish ; quills dusky, the outer webs slightly olive and notched with buffy white, the inner webs of the Genus Migljl^tes. 195 notclied with pure white ; some of the inner quills narrowly- barred with dingy buffy white across both webs; shafts brown ; tail dusky^ the feathers narrowly notched or partially- barred on both webs with dirty white^ the dwarf feather being tipped with the same ; shafts brown, black at the tip ; entire head and upper part of the side of the neck dusky olivCj slightly darker on the crown^ and inclining to black on the hind neck ; a broad red cheek-patchy from the end of which is a stripe of clear buffy white covering the lower side of the neck and extending as far as the chest ; chin and throat dirty yellowish white^ narrowly barred with black; fore neck^ chesty and breast blacky the feathers of the latter very narrowly barred at the tip with dull buffy white ; flanks, thighs, and under tail-coverts olive-dusky, with a brownish tinge, barred with dingy butfy white; abdomen uniform dusky olive-brown ; under wing-coverts and axillaries buffy white, the former slightly spotted with blackish, the latter having dusky bars. Total length 7 3 inches, culmen 1'05, wing 3'95, tail 2'4, tarsus 0'78; toes (without claws) — outer anterior 0'6, outer posterior 0"6, inner anterior 0*4, inner posterior 0*2 7. Immature male. Resembling the adult male, but rather lighter in colour, the forehead and crown more dusky brown, the feathers tipped with dull red, and having a subterminal blackish band, the red brighter on the forehead; occiput dusky brown ; malar stripe of a paler and duller red ; side of the head more of a dull buffy brown ; the light patch on the side of the neck buff; the light barring on the chin and throat dingy buff; fore neck, chest, and ujjper breast browner, the two latter barred with dingy buff or pale brown; under- parts, including the abdomen, also browner, and the barring of the whole similar in colour to that on the chest and breast ; under wing-coverts uniform pale buff; the spots or partial bars on the quills and rectrices larger and broader. Nestling male. Differing from the older but still immature male in having the red confined to the forehead, and not spreading over the crown, the latter, as well as the occiput, being uniform olive-dusky as in the adult ; side of the head 196 Mr. E. Hargitt on the Woodpeckers of the same colour as the crowu ; malar stripe red ; wing- coverts along the forearm tipped with greyish ; under wing- coverts uniform huffy white. Adult female. Rescmbliug the male^ but wanting the red malar patch. ^'^Iris brown; legs and feet dull dirty green; lower mandible pale plumbeous olive ; upper mandible black ; claws pale horny brown.''' [Wm. Davison.) Total length 7*3 inches^ culmen 0"95, wing J-'O^ tail 2*0j tarsus 0*82. Immature female. Differs from the immature male in the absence of the red malar patchy and also in having no red on the forehead and crown ; the light bai'ring on the chin and throat whiter ; distinguishable from the adult female in being generally lighter in colour,, also in having the chest and upper breast less black and the abdomen indistinctly barred. Nestling female. In general markings resembling the adult, but altogether more dusky in colour; forehead and crown grey tinged with green ; chin and throat barred with greyish white, as are likewise the breast, flanks, and thighs ; the stripe on the side of the neck white, with a yellow tinge; chest black ; abdomen nearly uniform ; the central pair of tail-feathers not full-grown, being about one inch in length, and uniform in colour, as are also the next two feathers on either side ; dwarf feather barred with Avhitish ; the penulti- mate and next inner feather with whitish spots upon both webs. The soft parts in this species are as follows : — " Legs and feet dull or brownish green ; claws a little paler ; irides brown ; upper mandible black ; lower mandible pale plum- beous blue, in some greenish, in many the tip is dark plum- beous, and the base is also, at times, a darker plumbeous." {W. Davison.) I share the views expressed by the (then) Lord Walden ('Ibis,' 1871, p. 165), and do not consider that Latham's de- scription of Picas pectoralis agrees with the present s^^ecies, which will therefore have to bear the title of M. tukki of Lesson, this being prior to luridus of Nitzsch. The range of this species is almost identical with that of M. grammithorax. Mr, Hume says it is rare in Tenasserim, and, according to of the Genus Miglyptes. 197 Mr. Davison, it is common in the Malay peninsula and on Singapore Island. It has also been obtained in Sumatra by Messrs. Wallace, Buxton, and H. O, Forbes; while in Borneo it has been procured at Sandakan by Mr. W. B. Pryerj Lumbidan {Ussher, Treacher, 6f Low) ; Lawas River {Treacher); Sarawak [Doria ^ Beccari) ; Jambusan and Tagora [Everett) ; Banjermassing {Mottley ^ Schierbrand) ; and also at Moara, Teweh, in the south-eastern portion of the island [Fischer). 4. Miglyptes jugularis. Meiglyptes jugularis, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xiv. p. 195 (18-15) ; id. Cat. B. Mus. As. Soc. p. 60 (1849) ; Horsf. & Moore, Cat. B. Mus. E.I. Co. ii. p. 669. no. 977 (1856-58) ; Hume, Str. F. 1874, p. 471; id. & Gates, op. cit. 1875, p. 14; Hume & Davison, op. cit. 1878, vi. pp. 13.2 and 501 ; Oates, B. Brit. Burra. ii. p. 60 (1883). Phaiopicus jugularis, Malh. Monogr. Picid. ii. p. 11 (1862). Hemicircus jugularis, Gray, List Picid. Brit. Mus. p. 71 (1868) ; id. Hand-1. B. ii. p. 191. no. 8670 (1870). Miglyptes jugularis, Hume, Str. F. 1879, p. 87; Bingham, op. cit. 1880, p. 161 ; Oates, op. cit. 1882, p. 190. Adult male. Back and scapulars black ; rump bufiy white ; wing-coverts black, tipped with buffy white, some of the median and greater series being barred with the same ; a conspicuous and large patch of buffy white ex- tending the whole length of the forearm, also a similar- coloured patch on the edge of the wing ; bastard-wing and primary-coverts black ; quills black, the outer primary unspotted, the next feather spotted with buffy white at the base only of both webs ; the remaining quills minutely spotted with buffy white on the outer webs, the inner with large spots or notches of the same, some of the innermost feathers having the light markings on the inner webs con- fluent at the base, or with broad buffy white bars across both webs on their apical portion; shafts black; upper tail- coverts, tail, and tail-shafts black ; forehead, crown, lores, and side of the face black, the lores being spotted with 198 On the Woodpeckers of the Genus Miglyptes. yellowish or buffy white^ the remainder having narrow ver- micular transverse markings of huffy white ; a small dull red cheek-patch; occipital crest blacky with slight traces of the vermicular light markings w hicli cover the head ; chin and throat blacky spotted with buffy white ; upper portion of the side of the neck black, the remainder buffy white, this colour spreading across the hind neck and forming a broad collar, then running in a broad stripe down the side of the chest ; entire underparts black ; sides of the body and flanks buffy white, varied with black ; thighs buffy white, barred with black ; under wing-coverts and axillaries uniform buffy white ; " bill and claws black ; legs and feet dirty dull green ; irides dark brown -"^ (J. Darling). Total length 6*5 inches, culmen 0'93, wing 4'05, tail 1*8, tarsus 0*8; toes (without claws) — outer anterior 0*55, outer posterior 0"55, inner an- terior 0"35, inner posterior 0'28. Adult female. Resembles the male, but is slightly browner and without the red cheek-patch ; " bill black ; irides dark brown ; legs and feet green ; claws horny " {Bing- ham). Total length 6*5 inches, culmen 0'85, wing 4, tail 1*8, tarsus 0"78. The colouring of the light portions of the plumage in the above species varies considerably. In three males now before me one has the light patch upon the side of the neck and hind neck, the shoulder-patch, likewise the rump and under wing-coverts with a yellow tinge, another has these parts of a buff- colour inclining to rufous, and the third has the same parts of a buffy white without any yellow tinge. The bird with buff markings has the dark portions of the plu- mage of a browner shade, and the red malar stripe as bright as in the other two specimens. This species has a restricted range. Mr. E. W. Gates says : — " In Upper Pegu it is decidedly rare ; but occurring as it does both on the Arrakan and Pegu hills, it probably may also be met with on the intervening plains."" Messrs. Hume and Davison, in their paper on the " Birds of Tenasserim ""^ (Str. F. 1878, vi. p. 132), record the species from Pahpoon, Assoon, Meetan, Amherst, Lemyne, Yea, Meeta Myo, and On the Woodpeckers of the Ethiopian Region. 199 Tavoy; and in the Appendix {t. c. p. 501) they add — ^' i\\e jungles at the foot of Nwalabo^ and the country between this and Tavoy/' Capt. Bingham (Str. Feath. 1880, p. IGl) ob- serves— " though not common, it still occurs here and there in the evergreen forests of the Thoungyeeu." Siam has been given as a habitat by Blyth ; and in the British Museum there is a specimen (formerly in the Gould collection) from that locality, procured by Mouhot or Schomburgk. Colonel Tickell, in his MS. 111. Ind. Orn., describes and figures, as a male, a Tenasserim example; the red cheek-patch has, how- ever, been omitted, sliowing that he had a female bird before him. Malherbe describes the present species as "^less than M. tristis •/' but his measurements show this to be a slip of the pen. I have examined specimens of M. jugular is in the collection of the British Museum, and also in that of Capt. Wardlaw Ramsay. The descriptions are taken from birds in my own museum. XXI. — Azotes on Woodpeckers. — No. VII. Additional Notes on the Woodpeckers of the Ethiopian Region. By Edward Hargitt, F.Z.S. Through the kindness of Count Salvadori I have recently had an opportunity of examining some interesting Wood- peckers collected by the late Marquis Antinori in Schoa. Amongst them was an example of Mesopicns spodocephalus, a species which, at the time I wrote my paper on the African Woodpeckers, I had not had an opportunity of examining. It turns ou-t to be a very distinct species, which I am glad to have the chance of describing, as it enables me to correct at the same time a very serious error which has crept into my key (Ibis, 1883, p. 406), for the detection of which I am also indebted to Count Salvadori. By a lapsus calami I have placed M. goertan and M. spodocephalus in the yellow-shafted section of the genus, instead of in the black-shafted section, and I therefore give an amended key to replace my former one. 200 Mr. E. Hargitt on the Woodpeckers Key to the Species. a. Shafts of quills and of tail-feathers bright yellow or orange-brown above and below. a^. Sinciput black, spotted with white ; hinder crown and occiput red ; colour above and below olive- dusky, narrowly barred with white ; sides of face white. a'. With a broad auricular stripe of black and a second broad moustachial band, the two 7iot meeting on the side of the neck timnacjuus. b'. Auricular baud uniting with the moustachial band on the side of the neck schoensis. b. Shafts of quills and of rectrices dark brown or black above, yellow or liglit brown below. b^. Forehead ashy grey ; crown and occiput red ; rump and upper tail-coverts red. c^. Centre of abdomen yellow, sometimes with a slight tinge of red goertan. d^. Entire abdomen conspicuously red, extending on to the breast spodocephalus. c'. Forehead, crown, and occiput, as well as the rump and upper tail-coverts, red. e". Above and below uniform golden olive, without moustachial or auricular stripes ; face and throat slaty grey ; lower part of abdomen centred with red griscocephalus. /*. Above uniform golden olive ; below dingy buffy white, striped and varied with black ; a black moustache and auricular stripe ; face and throat buffy white ; a median stripe of red down the breast and the whole of the abdomen . . pyrrhogaster. d}. Forehead and crown dark umber-brown, the fea- thers of the former tipped with white and the latter with yellow ; occiput bright yellow; rump yellowish olive xantholophua. It appears that in following von Heuglin with regard to M. spodocephalus, I had taken for granted that he was acquainted with the species; this no^v turns out not to have been the case, von Heuglin^s so-called M. spodocephalus being nothing more than what has been termed the red-bellied variety of M. goertan, which, in my opinion^ is nothing but the adult bird of that species. I append a full description of the Ethiopian Region. 201 of the true M. spodocephalus, taken from the specimen which Count Salvadori has been good enough to lend me, giving at the same time what I believe to be a detailed synonymy of the species, according to the views of Count Salvadori and myself. Mesopicus spodocephalus. Dendrobates poiocephalus, Riipp. (non Sw.) Beschr. neuer abyss. Klettervogel, in Mus. Senckenb., Extra-Band iii. p. 119 (1842); id. Syst. Uebers. p. 86, pi. xxxiv. (1845); Heugl. Syst. Uebers. p. 47. no. 485 (1856). Dendrobates spodocephalus, Bp. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 125 (1850). Mesopicus spodocephalus, Bp. Consp. Volucr. Zygod. p. 9 (1854) ; Hartl. Orn. W.Afr. p. 180 (note) (1857). Scolecotheres spodocephalus, Reichenb. Handb. Scans. Picinse, p. 427, pi. dclxxvi. figs. 4471, 4472- (1854) (ex Riipp.). Dendropicus spodocephalus (pt.). Gray, List Picid. Brit. Mus. p. 68 (1868) ; id. Hand-1. B. ii. p. 190. n. 8660 (1870). Adult female. Back and scapulars uniform golden olive, the feathers having brighter golden margins ; wing-coverts browner than the back and more or less margined with golden olive ; quills brown, the outer webs of the inner primaries margined with golden olive, those of the secondaries par- tially or entirely olive-brown, similarly margined ; a few minute and almost obsolete yellowish spots on the outer webs of some of the primaries ; the inner webs of the pri- maries at their base, and those of the secondaries along their whole length, spotted with white ; the innermost secondaries washed with olive on the inner webs, shafts dark brown ; rump and upper tail-coverts scarlet ; tail brown, the lateral feathers with a few indistinct spots of yellowish brown, shafts dark brown ; nasal plumes, entire head and neck, also the under surface of the body, bluish grey, the breast having a slight tinge of olive ; the abdomen scarlet-vermilion ; under tail-coverts uniform, and rather browner than the under 202 On the Occurrence of ffistrelata h^esitata in Hungary. surface of the body ; under wing-coverts dull white, with a slight tinge of yellow, and having dusky barring. Total length 7 inches, culmen 0-9, wing 4-37, tail 2*3, tarsus OT; toes (without claws), outer anterior 0-56, outer posterior 0'62, inner anterior 0*45, inner posterior 0"3. Considering that Bonaparte in all probability only knew this species from Riippell's single type (a female, which is in the Frankfort Museum), I cannot see how he was able to describe the male as having the whole of the top of the head red, although this will doubtless prove to be the case. XXII. — On the Occurrence of (Fi^ixel^iiQ, htesitata in Hungary. By W. Eagle Clarke, F.L.S. When going over the collection of Hungarian birds in the National Museum at Buda-Pesth in May last, I was very much surprised to observe a specimen of CE. hcesitata. This, I was informed by Dr. Madarasz, the Curator in ornithology, had been killed in or near the village of Zolinki, in the county of Zips, in North Hungary, in the year 1870, and found its way into a local collection of birds, but was acquired by the museum in exchange during the same year. The occurrence of this ocean-loving species in the very heart of Europe is not a little remarkable ; and when I in- formed Professor Newton of the existence of this specimen, he, with his accustomed caution, advised me to have the identification confirmed by Herr von Pelzeln, whose acquain- tance I had the pleasure of making when at Vienna. My friend Dr. Madarasz kindly sent the bird to Vienna for examination ; and Herr v. Pelzeln informed me shortly after- wards that it was "^the bird figured by Temminck in the '^ Planches Coloriees •* (fig. 416), but in a younger dress.^^ This occurrence has not hitherto, I believe, been recorded ; and unless, since the publication of Dresser's 'Birds of Europe,^ there are some additional occurrences of which I am unaware, it is the third European specimen. Recently published Ornithological Works. 203 XXIII. — Notices of recent Ornithological Publications. 23. 'The Auk.' ['The Auk,' a Quarterly Journal of Ornithology. Continuation of the 'Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club.* Vol. I. No. 1. January 1884. Boston, Mass.] In our last Numbei' (p. 60) we called attention to the inauguration of the American Ornithologists' Union, and we have now before us a copy of the first number of their new organ, which is called ' The Auk.' It is not for us to criticize the wisdom of this title, although, in reply to the Shakesperian question " What's in a name?" we might say that there is a good deal in its appropriateness, or the reverse. But the reasons for its adoption are given; and we cordially desire for the new periodical a better fate than that which has befallen the most distinguished member of the family Alcidse. The first contribution is by Mr. C. B. Cory, who describes several new birds from the Island o£ San Domingo. In the Sylvicolidse he institutes a new genus Ligea (scr. Ligia, the derivation being apparently Xiyeia), the type being Ligea palusti'is, sp. n., which is described and figured. Hirundo sclateri, sp. n., is distinguished by its larger size, more slender bill, and blue forehead from //. euchrysea of Jamaica. In the Tanagridse, Fhoenicophilus frugivorus, re- cently described as new (Journ. Bost. Zool. Soc. ii. p. 45), is made the type of a distinct genus, Calyptopihilus ; also Rupornis ridgwayi and OEdicnemus dominicensis (torn. cit. p. 46) are redescribed. The Notes on the birds of the Lower Uruguay are con- tinued from the 'Nuttall Bulletin' by Mr. W. B. Barrows. There are several other papers of interest ; Professor Augustus C. Merriam's criticisms on the Coues Lexicon of North American Birds, and Professor Elliott Coues's reply, entitled ' Ornithophilo logicalities,' are very amusing as far as they go ; and a continuation of these scientific amenities is pro- mised. At the first congress of the American Ornithologists' Union 204 Recently published Ornithological Works. held in New York city last September^ a Committee was appointed to investigate the subject of migration of birds in the United States and British North America. The plan of the work and instructions to collaborators are set forth at considerable length ; and if the response to the invitation is as cordial as may fairly be anticipated, the scheme of registered observations already commenced and so ably carried out by the Committee appointed by the British Association will find valued coadjutors in the New World. The Chairman of the American Committee is Dr. C. Hart Merriam. 24. Blasius on Birds from Ecuador, [Uebei' wahrscbeiiilich schon von den eingeborenen Sammlern und Jageru ausgefiibrte Falscbungeu von Vogelbalgeu aus Ecuador. Von Prof. Dr. Wilb. Blasius. Verb. f. Naturw. z. Braunscbweig, iii. Jahresb. f. 1881-82 u. 1882-8.3, p. 68.] The author remarks upon the fraudulent manufactui'e of specimens by native and other collectors in different parts of the world, especially in South America, and mentions sixteen specimens from Ecuador which he believes to have been made up with feathers of other birds. 25. Blasius on Birds from Java. [Ueber eine kleine Sammhmg von Vogelu aus Java. Von Prof. Dr. Wilb. Blasius. Verb. f. Naturw. z. Braunscbweig, iii. Jabresb. f. 1881- 82 u. 1882-83, p. 78.] Herr Grabowsky_, who, as our readers will recollect, has recently made a collection in the south-eastern portion of Borneo [cf. 'Ibis/ 1883, p. 563), has extended his excursions to Java, whence he has sent a small number of birds in spirits to the Brunswick IViuseum. The species, nine in number, are elaborately described by Prof. Blasius. 26. Blasius on the Great Auk. [Ueber die letzten Vorkomnisse des Riesen-Alks {Aha impennis) und die in Braunscbweig und an anderen Orten befindlicben Exemplare dieser Ai-t. Von Prof. Dr. Wilbelm Blasius. Verb. f. Naturw, z. Braunscbweig, iu. Jabresb. f. 1881-82 u. 1882-83, p. 89.] Recently published Ornithological Works. 205 The literature relating to the above-named species is noticed at considerable length, and details are given of a specimen which has recently come to light in Brunswick. In an alphabetical list Prof. Blasius enumerates the examples the existence of which is known to him, 74 in number. To these may be added a hitherto unrecorded specimen belonging to the Duke of Roxburghe, at Floors Castle, described and exhibited before the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh on the 18th of April 1883. The eggs of the Great Auk are also noticed. 27. Collett on three additions to the Norwegian Avifauna. [^Ardetta mimita (Linn.), Sterna ^cantiaca, Gmel., og Larus minutus, Pall., nye for Norges Fauna. Af Robert Collett. Vid.-Selsk. Forh. 1883, no. 15.] Examples of Ardetta minuta, Sterna cantiaca, and Larus minutus occurred in Norway, the first two in July 1883, and the last-named in October 1882, and are now in the Uni- versity Museum of Copenhagen. Full particulars are given by Mr. Collett. 28. Coppinger's Cruise of the 'Alert.* [Cruise of the 'Alert.' Four Years in Patagonian, Polynesian, and Mascarene Waters. (1878-82.) By R. W. Coppinger, M.D., Staff- Surgeon Royal Navy, C.M.Z.S. London : 1883, 1 vol. 8vo.] No naturalist should omit to look through Dr. Coppinger's narrative of the Cruise of the ' Alert,' which is full of in- teresting information on every branch of natural history. Most of the time was spent in Patagonian waters ; but many details are also given about the seldom-visited coral-reefs between the Seychelles and Madagascar, which were taken on the return home. The ornithologist will read with pleasure the many episodes on bird-life interspersed throughout the volume, which relate to both land and marine species (see pp. 56, 87, 106, 207, 224, and 238) . The supposed species of Upucerthia, of which the very curious burrowing habits are described at p. 142, is, we suppose, Geositta cunicularia. It would be desirable, SER. v. — VOL. II. Q 206 Recently published Ornithological Works. however, to have this underground traveller positively iden- tified, if there are specimens of it in the British Museum. With regard to the Gulls observed in the Straits of Ma- gellan, Dr. Coppinger makes some statements which are entirely at variance with the experience of every other ob- server, and also with the evidence to be derived from care- fully sexed specimens, as well as general analogy. He states (p. 60) that the female of Larus dominicanus is brown, and that she pursues and robs the " black-backed (male) bird," as a Skua might do; also that, in the immature Dominican Gulls, the colour of the mandibles is '^ green, instead of orange as in the males, and black as in the females." The brown pursuing bird may have been a ravenous young one seeking food from the adult, as young Gulls will often do, or it may have actually been a Skua {Sterc'orarius chilensis) ; but there is no such sexual difference in plumage between the adults oi L. dominicanus or of any other known Gull; nor have we ever seen, out of a hundred specimens, a young one with green mandibles. 29. Doering on the Birds of the Rio Negro of Patagonia. [Informe Oficial de la Coiiiision Cientifica agregada al Estado Mayor General de la Expedicion al Eio Negro (Patagonia), realizada en lo3 meses de Abril, Mayo, y Junio de 1879, bnjo las ordenes del General D. Julio A. Roca. Entrega I. Zoologia. Por el Dr. D. Adolfo Doering, con la colaboracion del Dr. D. Carlos Berg, y de D. Eduardo L. Ilolm- berg. Buenos Aires : 1881.] In 1879 the Argentine Government despatched an expe- dition to the Rio Negro of Patagonia under the command of General Roca, to stoj) the inroads of the marauding Indians. A scientific Commission was sent in their company, consist- ing of Dr. P. G. Lorentz, assisted by G. Niedcrlein, for Botany, and Dr. Doering, assisted by F. Schulz, of the Mu- seum of Cordoba, for zoology and geology. The report on the birds obtained during the expedition, and the general observations on the fauna of the territory annexed, are from the pen of Dr. Doering, and both essays contain much in- teresting matter. The new territory is divided zoologically Recently published Ornithological Works. 207 into four divisions — the Southern Pampas^ the inter-riverine region {i. e. between the Rio Colorado and the Rio Negro and Rio Neuquen), the central mountain-range, and the eastern slope. The first two of these are discussed at full length and their peculiar animals are descanted upon ; but the third and fourth regions were not touched upon by the expedition, and are in fact almost unexplored. The birds enumerated in the report are 110 in number, most of which are well-known Patagonian species. Dr. Doering contends that the Synallaxis orbignii of Sclater's synopsis (P. Z. S. 1879, p. 621) is the true S. flavigularis, Gould, and ought to bear that name. A map of the territory traversed and described in the Report would have much facilitated the understanding of it. 30. Dyboivski's additiotial Remarks on the Siberia?! Puffins. [Qiielques remarques supplementaires sur les Mormouides. Par le Dr. Benoit Djbowski. Bull. Soc, Zool. France, 1883, p. 848.] These are supplementary to the paper noticed, 'Ibis,^ 1883, p. 566, and relate principally to the winter dresses of the different species. 31. Dybowski's Notes on the Birds of Kamtschatka. [Hemarques sur les Oiseaux du Kamtschatka et des iles Comandores. Par le Dr. Benoit Djbowski. Bull. Soc. Zool. France, 1883, p. 351.] These are mostly field-notes on Kamtschatkan birds. Astur candidissimus, described as a new species, is apparently a white form of A. atricapillus , which is a permanent resident in the country, and feeds on the Ptarmigan in the winter. Hirundo kamtschatica and PhyUopseuste horneyeri are also described as new species, together with two new subspecies of Corvus cor ax — C cor ax kamtschaticus and C. cor ax bericyianus. 32. Godman and Salvin's 'Biologia Centrali- Americana.' [Biologia Centrali-Americana ; or, Contributions to the Knowledge of the Fauna and Flora of Mexico and Central America. Edited by F. 208 Recently published Ornithological Works. DuCane Godman and Osbert Salvin. (Zoology.) Parts xxvi. and xxvii. 4to. London: 1883. Published for the Editors by K. H. Porter, 10 Chandos Street, Cavendish Square, W.] The 26th part of this important work continues the Birds, and contains the Coerebidae and the commencement of the Tanagridse. Of the former family 11 species are included in the Central- American avifauna — one, Dacnis viyuieri, being now described and figured for the first time from Oustalet's MS. The type of this well-marked species in the Paris Museum was obtained on the Gulf of Darien in 1877 by Dr. Viguier. Of the Tanagridse the genera Chlurophonia and Euphonia and the first seven species of Calliste are treated of. Chlorophonia cyanodorsalis of Dubois we look upon as a very questionable species : the type, after which Sclater has made special inquiries, is no longer in the Brussels Museum, if it ever was there ; and no one knows what has become of it. Besides Dacnis viguieri already mentioned, the present number of the 'Biologia' contains excellent figures of both sexes of Diglossa plmnhea, also of Certhiola caboti, Euphonia luteicapilla,fulvicrissa, and gracilis, Calliste florida, and Pyranga erythrocephala. The 27th part continues the account of the Central- American Tanagridse into the genus Tachyphonus. Pyranga figlina is described as a new species of the " hepatica " group. The type is from British Honduras. Phoenicothraupis rhodi- nolcsma, a new form of the '^ rubica " group from Ecuador, is described in a footnote. We are not sure that it is laudable to give descriptions of new birds of one country in a work relating to another, although there are precedents for this practice. Lanio leucothorax melanopygius of Ridgway is elevated to specific rank as L. melanopygius ; it is a southern representative of L. leucothorax. Figures are given of Rhamphocoelus passerinii, R. uropygialis, Pyranga testacea i' , cauente, niv. black \ , , . ( corartf«, tarsus 0*78; toes (without claws) — outer anterior 0*65, outer posterior 0*72, inner anterior 0*45, inner posterior 0"35. Immature male. In the plumage of the adult male, but altogether more dusky in colour, especially the light portions ; scapularies narrowly margined with buffy white; the chin, throat, also the stripe down the side of the neck, dirty buify or brownish white ; from the fore neck to the abdomen, in- clusive, dusky brown ; under wing-coverts dirty buify white. Young male. In the plumage of the female, but differing from the adult of this sex in being less intensely black in the dark parts of the plumage, the light portions being dingy buffy white or brownish white ; the forehead and crown inclining more to buff, but none of the light parts with any tinge of yellow ; the light stripe from the lower mandible, so conspicuous in the adult, scarcely perceptible; under- parts dusky brown ; the flanks, thighs, and under tail-coverts dull buffy white. Closely resembling the immature female (not nestling), but slightly lighter in colour. Adult female. Differs from the adult male in having the fore- head and crown pale buff; soft parts the same as in the male. Total length 6*3 inches, culmen0"8, wing 3*85, tail 1*4, tarsusO*7. Immature female . Having the forehead and crown dingy pale buff'; in other respects resembling the immature male. Female, iiestling. Differs from the adult female in the absence of any yellow tinge on the light portions of the plumage ; shoulder-patch lighter, and the spotting upon it, as well as upon the inner quills, considerably less developed ; the light tips to the median and greater wing-coverts broader ; rump lighter ; forehead and crown deep buff; chin and throat white; a black stripe from the lower mandible run- ning on to the fore neck, and above this a white stripe down the neck as far as the side of the chest ; from the fore neck to the under tail-coverts, inclusive, brownish black ; under wing-coverts and axillarios almost pure white. of the Genus Hemicercus. 255 Much perplexity has existed as to the identity of the sexes of this species as well as of H. cordatus. Dr. Jerdon described the buffy white crown as a character of the male, and the spotted crown as a character of the female. Siinde- vall, as well as Cabanis and Heine, shared this view, while, on the contrary, Malherbe considered the spotted-headed bird to be the male ; and this opinion was held by Colonel Tickell, who, in his MS. "^ Illustrations to Indian Ornithology,^ has figured the white-crowned bird as the female. Mr. Hume endorses Malherbe^s opinion, and considers his views fully corroborated by the large number of specimens of which the sexes have been carefully determined by his trustworthy col- lectors. I was at first inclined to think that there were two species inhabiting Burmah, Tenasserim, and probably Siam (one in which both the male and female had spotted heads, and another in which both male and female had a buffy-white cap), and that two smaller races of these existed in Malabar and the peninsula of India. The different opinions held by so many learned authors seemed to justify such an idea, as I presumed that the specimens collected and examined by Dr. Jerdon and others were determined. Mr. Hume, however, than whom we can have no better authority, has examined a very large series of specimens, and he states that the bird with the spotted head is the male, and that the light-crowned bird is the female, also that the young male resembles the female in having the light crown, which disappears with age, the feathers becoming black, very minutely spotted with white at the tip, the change commencing at the extremity of the feather. Upon examining the black-headed birds, one constantly finds specimens (evidently immature) in which the bases of the feathers of the forehead and crown are white, clearly showing the change of plumage, which is not the result of a moult, but a change of colour in the feather itself, the black first appearing on the tip. I have in my collection a specimen from the Arrakan hills {E, W. Oates) which is a spotted- headed bird, but marked female ; and Mr. Oates drew my attention to this, saying he had no reason to doubt the accuracy of the determination. While unable to account 256 Mr. E. Hargitt on the fVoodpeckers for tliis^ I consider Mr. Hiime^s views on the subject to be so strongly supported by satisfactory evidence, that we may safely adopt them. The latter author, in ' Stray Feathers/ 1878, p. 127, gives the Karen hills, doubtfully, as a habitat of this species, on account of Lord Walden^s note in Blyth^s ' Birds of Burma,^ which is as follows : — " Two males are sent by Mr. Ramsay. One has the head uniform deep black, the other with a few buff markings on the feathers of the forehead and croAvn ; " and Mr. Hume remarks that " the description (if accurate) of a uniform head, seems to indicate a new species.^' I have these specimens (which are true H. canente) from Capt. Wardlaw Ramsay^ s collection before me while I write. The first-named bird is a male, and the top of the head is not uniform black, the forehead and crown being minutely speckled with white; the other example is also a male, with the forehead and crown also minutely speckled with white, but still having a few of the buffy feathers of the young stage of plumage remaining on the forehead and fore part of the crown (these being without black tips) ; and upon the hind jjortion of the crown these immature feathers have their partially exposed bases still white, the tips being black. I have in my own collection a male bird from Tenasserim Town {Mr. Davison) almost identical in plumage with the latter specimen. The most northerly habitat of this species, so far as I know, is Cachar, in the north-eastern portion of which ex- amples have been obtained by Mr. Inglis. Mr. Eugene Gates says "it occurs locally throughout British Burmah, being very abundant in some places and apparently absent in others.^' In his "List of Birds obtained in the Irrawadi" (Ibis, 1870, p. 464), Mr. Blanford gives Bassein as a locality, but says it is not common. Capt. Wardlaw Ramsay pro- cured this species on the Karen hills, at from 500 to 4000 feet. Capt. Bingham observes that it is not very plentiful in the Thoungyeen jungles, but that he has seen the bird from the head-waters of the stream nearly to its mouth. Mr. Hume^s collection contains specimens from the following localities : — Pahpoon, Salween river^ Beeling, Thatone, Wim- of the Genus Heraicercus. 257 pong, Kaukaryit, Hongthraw river, Khyin, Meetan, Amherst, Zadee, Meeta Myo, Zadawoon, Tenasserim Town, Laynah, Pakchan, Bankasoon. Mr. Darling obtained this species at Kussoom, about 120 miles south of the southernmost point of Tenasserim ; this would appear to be the extent of its range in that direction, as far as is known to us. 4. Hemicercus cordatus. Hemicercus cordatus, Jerd. Madr. Journ. xi. p. 211 (1840) ; Gray, Gen. B. ii. p. 437 (1845) ; Jerd. 111. Ind. Orn. pi. xl. (1847); Bp. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 129 (1850); Heichenb. Handb. Scans. Piciuce, p. 401, pi. dclvi. figs. 4368, 4369, (^ ? ad. (1854) ; Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. iv. p. 175 (1863) ; Blyth, Ibis, 1866, pp. 249, 254 ; Gray, ListPicid. Brit. Mus. p. 71 (1868); id. Hand-1. B. ii. p. 191, no. 8669 (1870); Blyth, Ibis, 1870, p. 169; Hume, Str. F. 1876, p. 389; Gould, B. Asia, vi. pi. xviii. figs. ^ ? ad. (1876) ; Davidson & Wenden, Str. F. 1878, vii. p. 95 ; Butler, op. cit. 1880, p. 385; Davidson, op. cit. 1883, p. 354.1 Hemicercus canente (pt.), Horsf. & Moore, Cat. B. Mus. E.I. Co. ii. p. 650 (1856-58). Micropicus canente (pt.), Malh. Monogr. Picid. i. p. 190, pi. xlii. figs. 1, 2 (1861). Hemicercus canente (non Less.), Jerd. B. Ind. i. p. 280 (1862); Salvin, Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 401 (1882). Picus canente, var, occidentalis, Sundev. Consp. Av. Picin. p. 11 (1866). Picus cordatus, Giebel, Thes. Orn. p. 151 (1876). Hemicirens canente, ?lapsu, Butler, Str. F. 1877, p. 503. Adult male. Back and scapularies black, with a broad yel- lowish-white stripe extending from the base of the hind neck to the middle of the back; rump buffy white tinged with yellow, a few of the outer feathers tipped with black ; outer wing-coverts black, narrowly margined at the tip with buffy white ; a conspicuous patch of pale buff", tinged with yellow, covering nearly the whole of the forearm, crossing the wing longitudinally, and comprising the inner half of all the coverts, the median and greater series having a large heart- 258 On the Woodpeckers of the Genus Hemicercus. shaped spot of black at the tip; edge of wing yellowish white ; bastard- wing and primary-coverts black ; quills black, the base of the inner webs white ; the inner secondaries buffy white, having at the tip a broad black bar, or upon the inner- most of all a black heart-shaped spot ; shafts black ; upper tail-coverts, tail, and tail-shafts black ; nasal plumes, fore- head, crown, occipital crest, nape, and hind neck, also the upper part of the face, in a line from the nostrils to the nape, black, the forehead and crown minutely speckled with white ; a stripe of pale buff (tinged with yellow) from under the eye, passing under the ear-coverts and running down the side of the neck on to the side of the chest, upon the latter region the buffy- white feathers having a large black spot at the tip ; cheeks, chin, and throat pale buff, slightly tinged with yel- low ; fore neck, and a stripe from behind the cheeks border- ing the chin and throat, greyish olive, the feathers next to the light stripe down the side of the neck being slightly varied with black ; chest, breast, and abdomen dusky olive, brighter on the chest ; flanks, thighs, vent, and under tail- coverts black, the feathers of the vent having an almost ob- solete margin of dirty white at the extreme tip ; under wing- coverts and axillaries yellowish white ; underside of quill- and tail-shafts dirty whitish, the tips of the latter dusky ; '' bill black ; legs and feet blackish, tinged with plumbeous ; irides deep brown'' {PV. Davidson). Total length 5*7 inches, culmen 0'85, wing 3 "7, tail 1'35, tarsus 0"7 ; toes (without claws) — outer anterior 0*63, outer posterior 0*72, inner an- terior 0*45, inner posterior 0"32. Adult female. Differs from the adult male in having the forehead and crown pale buff. Total length 5*5 inches, cul- men 0"75, wing 3'45, tail 1*3, tarsus 0"63. This bird is fairly entitled to rank as a subspecies and to bear the name bestowed upon it by Dr. Jerdon. Although it resembles H. canente in the plumage of both sexes, its very much smaller size is so conspicuous that it cannot be mistaken for the latter species. Although the measurements of the toes are nearly the same in both birds, in H. cordatus they are much more slender, H. canente having the tarsi and toes very stout. Mr. H. Seebohm on Birds from Central China. 259 The present species is,, so far as we know, confined to the southern portion of India. Dr. Jerdon says it is found in the forests of Malabar, generally on high trees, and in pairs, both above and below the Ghats. He also procured it in the forests in the Chanda district. South-east of Nagpore. Capt. Butler (Str. F. 1880, p. 385) observes that it is rare in the Deccan and South Mahratta country, occurring sparingly along the Sahyadri range as far north as Khandala. Mr. Laird procured it in the forests north of Belgaum and in North Kanara. Mr. Davidson (Str. ¥. 1883, p. 354) says that " in the Wynaad and Mysore country it is not a common bird, and found in pairs or parties sparingly distributed. It ascends the slopes of the hills to about 3000 feet.^^ It is included in Mr. Hume^s ' List of the Birds of the Travancore Hills,^ having been obtained at Mynall by M. Bourdillon. XXX. — On a Collection of Birds from Central China. By Henry Seebohm. I AM indebted to the kindness of Mr. John M. Mitchell for allowing me to examine a collection of birds made in the valley of the Yang-tse-kiang river, in Central China, by Mr. Frederick Styan. They Avere principally obtained near Kiu- kiang, 450 miles up the river, and on the Lushan range of mountains, which lie directly behind Kiukiang, at a distance of five or six miles as the crow flies. These mountains run in a south-westerly direction for twenty miles or more, and the highest peak is about 5000 feet above the level of the sea. The hills are broken and rugged, and, for the most part, covered with dense scrub nearly breast-high. The highest range is covered with long coarse grass, and a few stunted pines creep up to the summit ; but up to about 2000 feet the pine-forests cover extensive areas. Mingled with the pines, but not, as a rule, extending quite so high, are large tracts of bamboos, amongst which are sprinkled mag- nolias, camphor-trees, camellias, laurels, azaleas, &c. 260 Mr. H. Seebohm on 9*. BUTEO VULGARIS. An example with very conspicuously barred thighs^ and with the tarsus feathered to within an inch of the toes, may fairly claim to be considered to belong to var. japonicus. 13. BlTTASTBR INDICUS. 15. Falco peregrinus. Kiukiang, December. 15 a. Falco melanogenys. A male and female, both shot on the 18th of March at Hai San, are pronounced by Mr. J. H. Gurney to be of this species. They differ from our Peregrine, which is probably only a winter visitor to Central China, in being slightly smaller, and in having the underparts below the breast much barred and sufPnsed with slate-grey ; but the most important character is the colour of the head and nape, which are nearly black, shading into slate-grey on the mantle. This sjiecies can scarcely be more than a local race of our Peregrine, breeding in Australia, ranging northwards to Borneo and Central China and westwards to Sumatra and Java, and intermediate in appearance between our bird and the North- west Indian race, F. ati'iceps, in which the whole of the upper parts are very dark slate-grey, approaching black. Mr. Gurney informs me that the Norwich Museum possesses an example from Amoy, the most northerly locality previously known. 23. MiLVUS MELANOTIS. Four examples, large birds, showing much white at the base of the primaries below the under wing-coverts, and with little or no white on the forehead, are referable to this species, which can only be regarded as the eastern race of our Black Kite. 33. Circus ^eruginosus. An example with dark-chestnut belly, thighs, and under * The numljers refer to Swinlioe's " Catalogue of the ]3irds of China," published in the ' Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London ' for 1871, pp. 337-423. Birds from Central China. 261 tail-covertSj and brown unbarred tail, is dated 30th November, and seems to prove that our Marsh-Harrier goes to China. 34. Circus spilonotus. A male, dated Kiukiaug, 17th November, with the belly, thighs, and under tail-coverts white, with traces only of chestnut spots or shaft-lines, but with a barred tail, seems to belong unquestionably to the eastern form of the Marsh- Harrier. A female, dated a week later, has the tail more broadly barred, and the ground-colour of the underparts rufous instead of white. In both the primaries are barred. 40. Athene whitelyi. An example dated Poyang Lake, January, seems to prove that all these Owls do not migrate south in winter, 55. Otus brachyotus. An example, dated Kiukiang, 28th April, is rufous. 66. HlRUNDO GUTTURALIS. Kiukiang, 15th July. 77. Halcyon pileatus. An example, bought alive. 78. Alcedo bengalensis. Kiukiang, July and September. 82. Upupa epops. Kiukiang, December. 106. Suya striata. Lushan, December. 109. CiSTICOLA SCHCENICOLA. Kiukiang, 30th August. 112. ACROCEPHALUS ORIENTALIS. Wuhn, 20th October. 118. Cettia canturians. Kiukiang, 11th April. 139. Phylloscopus proregulus. Two examples. 263 Mr. H. Seebohm on 145. RUTICILLA AUROREA. Kiukiang^ November. 149. Xanthopygia fuliginosa. Lushan, 26th March. 150. Thamnobia leucocephala. 154. Tarsiger cyanurus. Kiukiang, March and November. 175. Parus minor. 191. motacilla leucopsis. Kiukiaug^ September, October_, and February. 196. MOTACILLA OCULARIS. Poyang Lake, January. 202. MOTACILLA SULPHUREA. Lushau, 6th April. 204. Henicurus sinensis. Kiukiang, 4th November. 206. Henicurus scouleri. Kiukiangj 26th September. 206 a. Heterura sylvana. Nankaug, 15th December. This species is a very inter- esting addition to the birds of China. It has hitherto been found only on the Himalayas. It is a mountain Pipit, which, under the '^ furor genericus/^ has been allowed to set up a genus of its own. 208 a. Anthus ludovicianus. Poyang Lake, January. This Pipit is, no doubt, a winter visitor to Central China. It is the Nearctic form of our Alpine Pipit, A. spinoletta, from which ifonly difiers in being smaller and darker. It is a common winter visitor to Japan, and was named A. japonicus by Temminck and Schlegel. 214. Merula naumanni. Several skins, dated November, December, and January. Probably a winter visitor only. Birds from Central China. 263 215. Merula fuscata. Skins dated from 8th November to 8th April. No doubt a winter visitor from the tundras of Eastern Siberia. 218. Merula pallida. 225. Merula mandarina. 226. Geocichla varia. LushaUj 4th April. 232. Monttcola cyanus-solitarius. Poyang Lake, 5th December. A female of one of these two forms_, or, more probably, of an intermediate form. 233. Myiophonbus CjEruleus. Lushan, 8th April. 235. CiNCLUS PALLAST. Kiukiang, August. 242. Pycnonotus sinensis. Kiukiang, January, July, and November. 244. Pycnonotus xanthorrhous. Sin Fung, January. 247. Spizixus semitorques. Kiukiang, 2nd February. 254 «. POMATORHINUS STYANI, UOV. Sp. Lushan, 4th April and 8th November^ The genus Poma- torhinus was monographed by Capt. Wardlaw Ramsay (Ibis, 1878, pp. 129-145) and afterwards by Mr. Bowdler Sharpe (Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. vii. pp. 408-432), and P. ruficollis has been specially investigated by Col. Godwin-Austen (Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1876, p. 75) and by FAbbe David and Mons. Oustalet (Ois. de la Chine, p. 186) ; nevertheless it appears to me that three distinct species are confused together under this name by all the writers I have named. Mr. Sharpe confesses that he accepted the verdict of these distinguished authorities against the validity of Swinlioe's species without trying the case himself; but after comparing 364 Mr. H. Seebohm on Mr. Styau^s skius and those in the Swinhoe collection^ which include examples collected by I'Abbe David in Moupin and Sechuen^ with a large series from Nepal and Sikkim^ he endorses my subdivision of this species into threCj all of which have white throats and white margins to the feathers of the breast ; but P. ruficollis has the breast-streaks and the underparts below the breast russet-brown ; P. stridulus has the breast-streaks rich chestnut^ contrast- ing with the russet-brown underparts below the breast ; and P. styani has the breast-streaks and the underparts below the breast olive-brown. There is little or no difference in the colour of the upper parts (except that P. styani is slightly more olive (less russet) on the rump and upper tail- coverts) ; but P. ruficollis has much larger feet than the other two species^ the hinder toe and claAv varying in length from TO to 0'8 inch in this species^ from 0*85 to 0*7 inch in P. stridulus, and from 0"75 to 0-7 inch in P. styani. P. ruficollis appears to be a resident in Nepal, Sikkim, and ■ Assam. P. stridulus appears to be confined to South China from Sechuen to Tokien. P. styani is at present only known from the valley of the Yang-tse-kiang and the adjoining district of Eastern Thibet, but may possibly also occur in Assam. Mr. Styan describes it as common on the Lushan hills behind Kiukiang, where it frequents the thick cover of the lower slopes. It is a shy skulking bird, creeping through the cover, and only occa- sional glimpses of it can be obtained as it flits from bush to bush. In spring it is seen in pairs, but in autumn flocks of twenty or more are found together. From March to No- vember they sing incessantly, more especially in spring and autumn. Mr. Styan describes the song as very similar to that of the so-called "Chinese Thrush" {Trochalopterum canorum), a nearly allied bird, which is kept in thousands by the Chinese on account of its wonderful singing powers. He further adds, "the song is very sweet and musical, and Birds from Central China. 265 poured forth with a vigour which reminds me of the Sky- Lark ; in the early mornings and again about sunset, it may be heard issuing in all directions from the copses high up on the hill-sides, and is one of the most beautiful notes I know." 257. Trochalopterum canorum. Bought alive. 260. GaRRULAX PERSPICILLATUS. October and January. 263. Garrulax sannio. Kiukiang. 272. SUTHORA SUFfUSA. Kiukiang. 290. Oriolus chinensis. 295. Lanius schach. Nankang, January and March. 306. dicrurus cathcecus. 310. Chibia brevirostris. Kiukiang, 24th September. 341. GaRRULUS SINENSIS. January, April, and November. 344. Urocissa sinensis. 350. Pica caudata. Of two examples, one is a typical European Magpie and the other a P. leucoptera ; both were shot in January. 351. Cyanopolius cyanus. March, April, July, and November. 353. CORVUS LEVAILLANTI. Kiukiang, July and October. 354. CoRVUS TORQUATUS. Kiukiang, September and October. 356. Frugilegus pastinator. ser. v. — vol. ii. x 266 Mr, H. Seebolim on 363. ACRIDOTHERES CttlSTATELLUS. January and November. 366. Sturnus cineraceus. January, Marclij and November. 373. Fringilla montifringilla. Kiukiaug, 21st February. 375. Fringilla sinica. Kiukiang, 23rd November. 385. COCCOTHRAUSTES MELANURUS. Kiukiang, 8tb March. 397. Emberiza aureola. Kiukiang; 2nd May. 407. Emberiza ciopsis. January and March. 410. Emberiza pusilla. Kiukiang, 1st March. 432. Picus mandarinus. Lushan^ 1st April. An intermediate example, the white more developed than in typical South-Chinese birds, but not so much so as in typical North-Chinese birds. 441. Gecinus guerini. Five examples, making, with the skins in the Swinhoe col- lection, a series of a dozen, lead me to the conclusion that the Formosan bird cannot be separated. The variations in general colour, and in the amount of black on the head and white on the tail, are so great that it seems probable that a series from a great range of localities would bridge over the entire distance from G. canus of Siberia to G. occipitalis of the Himalayas, between which all these Chinese forms are intermediate. 470. TURTUR orientalis. March. 471. TuRTUR CHINENSIS. December and January. Birds from Central China. 267 479. Phasianus torquatus. Kiukiang, 1st March. A fine pair of birds of tlie typical Chinese form. Mr. Dresser has lately obtained some inter- esting examples of Pheasants from the Corea which are inter- mediate between this species and P. formosanus. 508. COTURNIX COMMUNIS. February. 514. Otis dybowskii. A female agreeing with examples from Japan. Taczanowski assures me that the East-Siberian bird is quite distinct from the European species. 521. Glareola orientalis. December. 522. Vanellus cristatus. Poyang Lake, January. 530. Charadrius placidus. Two examples, without locality or date, belong to this species, which Swinhoe renamed j^Egialitis hartingi, and Pere David Charadrius longipes. 534. Charadrius minor. Kiukiang, 12th September. 538. Totanus glottis. December and January. 543. Totanus ochropus. Kiukiang, 9th November. 550. SCOLOPAX RUSTICULA. February. 553. ScOLOPAX HORSFIELDI. Kiukiang, 2nd May. 554. ScOLOPAX GALLINAGO. Kiukiang, 29th April and 7th October. 559. Phalaropus hyperboreus. Kiukiang, 30th August. x2 268 Mr, H. Seebohm on 563. Tringa alpina. Kiukiang and Nankang in winter. 566. Tringa ruficollis. Kiukiang, 12th September. 568, Tringa temmincki. 22nd October. 570. NUMENIUS MINUTUS. Kiukiang, 30th September. 578. NUMENIUS LINEATUS. Kiukiang, 2nd October. A handsome bird, distinguished by its long bill, white axillaries, and white rump. 58i. Ardea cinerea. Kiukiang, 7th October. 587. Ardea intermedia. Kiukiang, 23rd July, It differs from the next species, in all ages and at all seasons, in having a yellow instead of a black bill. 588, Ardea garzetta. Kiukiang, 17th November, 593, Ardea prasinosceles. 594. Ardea nycticorax. Kiukiang, 10th July. 596. BOTAURUS stellaris. Kiukiang, March. 597. Ardetta flavicollis. Kiukiang, 10th July. 599. Ardetta sinensis. Kiukiang, 28th June. 601. Hydrophasianus chirurgus. Kiukiang, 22nd June, 602. Gallicrex cristata. Kiukiang, May and June. Birds from Central China. 269 G04. Gallinula phcenicttra. Kiukiang^ 10th July. 606. PORZANA BAILLONI. Kiiikiang, 7th May. 610, FULICA ATRA. Kiukiang, 19th Novembei'. 611. PODICEPS MINOR. Kiukiang, 7th October. Indistinguishable from British examples. The varieties known as P. jjhilippensis are found in Western Europe, and may be referable to age. 618. Mergus merganser. Kiukiang, 20th January. 624. Anser albifrons. October. 625. Anser erythropus. An example from the river Yang-tse-kiang, dated the 22ud of October, somewhat resembles the skin from Hakodadi which I determined as the young of the Lesser White-fronted Goose (Ibis, 1882, p. 369). I see no reason to change my opinion. They differ from the adult of A. brachijrhynchus in having no dark base to the bill, though the nail is dark, as it is in the adult of that species, and in young only of A. erythropus. 627. Anser serrirostris. An example dated February measures 2' 5 inches from the forehead to the tip of the beak. It is an intermediate form between A. segetum and A. grandis, which range in the length of bill, measured as above, from 2'2 to 3'4 inches. It is certainly only subspecifically distinct from the former, and probably also from the latter. 628. Anas boschas. Poyang Lake, December. 629. Anas zonorhyncha. Nan Chang, December. 270 Mr. H. Seebohm on Birds from Central China. 631. Tadokna casarca. Kiukiang, November. 632. Anas clypeata. Kiukiangj Marcb. 633. Anas acuta. Kiukiangj February. 634. Anas penelope. January. 636. Anas crecca. January and October. 639. EUNETTA FORMOSA. 640. Eunetta falcata. 647. FULIGULA cristata. Kiukiang^ 8th March. 648a. Nettapus coromandelianus. Kiukiang, June and July. The N. kopschii of Swinhoe in winter plumage of this species. David and Oustalet are wrong in saying that the female has no collar, and omit the important fact that she has no white on the primaries. 649. Phalacrocorax carbo. 657. Larus cachinnans. Kiukiang, 17th November. 660. Larus ridibundus. January and November. 662. Sterna caspia. Kiukiang, 3rd September. 663. Hydrochelidon hybrida. Kiukiang, 4th August. Mr. F. B. Simson on the Pink-headed Duck. 271 XXXI. — Notes on the Pink-headed Duck (Anas caryophyllacea) . By Frank B. Simson. The Pink-headed Duck is a bird little known to the Bengal sportsman and ornithologist^ and considered rare. It is^ however^ far from uncommon in a restricted area of Bengal, and may be said to make its home in the southern part of the district of Purneah_, and in the country which borders the left or northern bank of the Ganges, between the Coosy River, which separates Purneah from Bhangulpore, and in the Maldah district. It is found more sparingly in Bhan- gulpore and Tirhoot, and occasionally in likely places in the North-western Provinces and in Upper India. Jerdon re- cords it from Madras, though he never saw it in the flesh there. Specimens have been obtained in the Calcutta bazaar, which has yielded more ornithological rarities than any single place in India. Col. Irby tells me he met Avith it, and this can be relied on. But many people in Bengal have told me that they had shot it in various places ; never- theless, whenever I could test these statements I never found that any such Duck had been killed lower in Eastern Bengal than Maldah. The birds called Pink-headed always turned out to be Bed-crested Pochards. The country mentioned on the north of the Ganges which I have referred to as the home of this Duck is alluvial, and consists of vast, extensive, and much-neglected plains, studded at considerable intervals Avith small poor villages, intersected Avith very deep clear streams, all miming to the Ganges and abounding in crocodiles. These plains are diffi- cult to cross on foot in the dry season, except by paths that cannot be called roads ; elephants are generally used by all but the poor to travel with across these Avastes, AA^iich are often inundated when the Ganges rises high. To such an extent do these inundations occasionally prevail that the human inhabitants are compelled to take to boats, while the deer and game generally resort to the few highest spots, Avhere they are often slaughtered. The tigers have even been known. to live for a time in trees, where, apparently. 272 Mr. Y. B. Sirason on they feed on turtles^ small crocodiles^ and dead animals which come floating near the trees. Scattered among these plains are pools of deep water, extending over areas of from ten to forty acres^ abounding in wild fowl and crocodiles^ surrounded by very high grass with stalks like thin bamboo. A few stumpy trees, hidgels and others, grow in this grass, the pools are covered with beautiful lotus plants, and here the Pink-headed Duck re- sorts at all seasons of the year. I believe I met with this Duck long ago, about 1849, but at that time I took no notes. Those were the days when many would-be ornithologists could get no books to study. Jerdon and Hume were unknown. Esacus I'ecrirvrrostris was called by many of us the Goggle-eyed Plover, and Pericro- cotus speciosus the Flame-coloured Shrike. Yet we sought rare and beautiful birds keenly and obtained them more easily when youth was vigorous, official work lighter, and examinations unknown, than now. In 1862, and for some time afterwards, I made this bird a subject of careful observation. One morning in May, very early, I was standing, almost without clothes, at the door of a travelling bungalow on the trunk-road in Purneah, watching two Florikens with a bino- cular as they wheeled about in the sky, when about a dozen dark Ducks, with lovely, rosy, light-coloured feathers under their wings, alighted in a tank close by. I immediately got my gun, and fortunately was able to get close and bag two. After this I was always on the look out and shot numbers of them before I left that part of Bengal. Dr. Jerdon visited me while I was stationed at Purneah, and told me he had never seen the bird alive, and that the picture in liis illustrations was drawn from a dried skin. I promised to show him and get him some specimens, and I did so in this wise. We were both at a shooting-party given by that hospitable planter and owner of Kolassy, so well known and liked in Pvirneah, and were shooting with a long line of elephants, looking for that wonderful tiger which is always there w)\en no one has a gun or wants him, and always the Pink-headed Duck. 373 somewhere else when made an object of special pursuit. In default of this tiger we shot buffaloes^ deer^ Florikenj and Partridges^ and shouted at hogs^ which were reserved for the spear. Whilst going on I marked a small party of Pink- headed Ducks into one of the pools I liaA^e described^ and immediately told Jerdon that if he would leave the party and come with me I thought I could get a nice shot at his long-coveted birds. So we took four elephants and started. Of course^ with noisy splashing animals^ any approach to Ducks was impossible; on the other hand the pool was full of huge crocodiles. We could see them with our glasses. However I agreed to go on foot^ the elephants to come to me the moment the shots were fired. I passed through the tall bamboo-grass in water deepening till it was nearly up to my waist as 1 came to the edge, and found myself about twenty yards from ten or a dozen of the Ducks. They were not sitting close together, so I shot the finest with one barrel and another as they rose, and I made off to the elephants as hard as I could. Once safe on Behemoth I surveyed with Jerdon the sight, familiar to every Indian ornithologist, but always enjoyable and never to be forgotten, of the wonderful variety of bird- life to be seen in a spot like this. The crocodiles just slowly sank, with scarcely a ripple on the water. Various Rails ran into the grass where the Purple Gallinules, which Jerdon called Purple Coots, were making most wonderful noises. Jacanas ran round and about on the broad lotus-leaves. The lovely Hydrophasianus chirurgus flew mewing round the pool. Two huge and graceful Sayrus Cranes rose from the shallow end, where they had been in company with a large flock of clumsy Pelicans, who flopped in long line slowly away, perhaps towards the district of Rajshahye, where I knew of a favourite roosting-place. A flock of Pigmy Cotton-Teal flew rapidly round, uttering their peculiar notes. A large flock of Whistling Teal made off" to the next pool. The Long-necked Snake-birds, with their beautiful scapular plumes, dropped quietly ofl" the branches of the hidgel trees, dived, came up at a distance, shook themselves, and flew off 274 Mr. F. B. Simson on the Pink-headed Duck. or dived again. Several bright Herons, who had been fish- ing even in the daytime iu these quiet waters, disappeared with many a wdk-ivdk. Common Herons rose likewise, and Egrets and Paddy-birds. Little Cormorants were to be seen in numbers. All the various kinds of Ducks so common here in February and March, such as Pintails, Blue-winged Teal, White- eyed and Grey Ducks, with Gadwall, Shovellers, and Common Teal, were absent now. But the air seemed alive nevertheless with wading and swimming birds. After having discussed all the species we saw, we examined the two Pink-headed Ducks we had picked up with the aid of the elephants. Jerdon was delighted with them, and said that the pink of the head was far more beautiful than in dried specimens. He considered them very valuable. We then made off to rejoin the shooting-party, and in going to them put up seven Bitterns, which to me were more uncommon birds than the Ducks. The Ducky's plumage is fully described by Jerdon and Hume ; I need only here refer to its habits. It lives in this country all the year round, generally it is found in small flocks of from eight to twelve; probably these are the old birds and the young ones of the year. It never associates, so far as I saw, with other Ducks, nor gets into large flocks. In the breeding-season it pairs and nests in short grass on dry land at some distance from the pools. I have seen the eggs, but cannot now describe them. I have had the young ones brought to me, and should think they could be easily domesticated, for the bird seems exactly like the Mallard, except in size and plumage. I have never met with the bird far from these plains, and I remarked its absence when shooting at the foot of the Himalaya lowest ranges in the north of Purneah. The taste of this Duck when cooked is inferior; indeed I prefer every other Duck save the Shoveller to it, and consider it worse than the Brahminy Duck or the Whistling Teal. There are many reasons why the Pink -headed Duck is not well known. One I have just given, viz. that it is poor on the tabic ; another is that it is never very numerous On the Species of Pernis inhabiting Japan. 275 nor goes in flocks ; the native sliikarrie can never kill a lot at one shot^ nor net a large number. The sahib can never get many shots in one day, nor is his prize when gained so valuable to him as the other Ducks, which are so much more numerous and so much better to eat. It does not associate much with other Ducks, but keeps rather to itself, and seldom is seen flying to the feeding-ground before sunset, but stays all day in the pools, where it lives till disturbed. But if a person residing in Purneah, Bhangulpore, or Maldah, chooses to make the bird an object of special pursuit he should have no difficulty in procuring as many as would be necessary. XXXII. — On the Species of the Genus Pernis inhabiting Japan. By J. H. Gurney. In 'The Ibis ' for 1880, pp. 196, 197, I noticed the discre- pancy in the views of various ornithologists as to whether the species of Pernis which OQCurs, though very rarely, in Japan is P. apivorus or P. ptilorhynchus. On the 4th September, 1882, a specimen of a Pernis was obtained by Mr. P. L. Jouy at Chiusenji, about 90 miles north of Yokohama, at an elevation of 4375 feet above the level of the sea. This specimen, which was ascertained by the collector to be a male, was added to the United States National Museum, and was recorded by Mr. Ridgway in the ' Proceedings ' of that Institution for 1883, p. 311, under the name of Pernis ptilorhynchus ; it has subsequently been referred to by Mr. Blakiston in his 'Amended List of the Birds of Japan,"* p. 67, as " Pernis apivorus ? " Mr. Ridgway, who informs me that he feels '' undecided as to which species it really is,^^ has been so good as to send me a description of this specimen, which I here transcribe : — " Above, superficially, nearly uniform dark brown, with a purplish gloss ; the feathers white at the base. Entire side of head, including forehead and malar region, uniform ash- grey. Occipital and nuchal feathers abruptly white at base 276 Mr. J. H. Gurney on the (this showing wherever feathers are disarranged), the terrniual portion bhick, edged with hair-brow-n. Chin and throat white, the former tinged with ash-grey, the latter having the feathers tipped Avith light fawn-colour. Along each side of the throat a very distinct deep black stripe, anteriorly fading gradually into the ash-grey of the malar region (but distinct till within an inch of the base of the mandible), posteriorly connected with a cluster of deep black guttate spots across the upper part of the jugulum, and which, medially, extend into the lower portion of the throat. Rest of lower parts, with the ground-colour, white ; but the whole breast marked with large hair-brown sjjots, having broad black shaft-streaks, the belly and thighs broadly barred with lighter brown, the interspaces being more buffy, especially on the tibiae. The tail is crossed (beyond the coverts) by three black and three dull-grey bands, as follows : — first, a narrow terminal band of light brownish grey, about '25 of an inch wide ; next a black band 1'25 inch wide; then a grey band (crossed by five rather indistinct black bars) 2*25 inches broad ; the next band black and I '25 inch broad; the following one dull grey (crossed by four blackish bars) 1 inch broad. ''The axillaries are brown, broadly barred with white, the brown spaces being "60 to "80 of an inch wide, and the white •35 to "30 of an inch. There is apparently no crest, although the feathers of the occiput and nape are rather lengthened and somewhat lanceolate. "The primaries and rectrices are moulting, but the measurements are given for what they are worth : — wing 16"50 inches, tail 9"50, culmen (including cere) 1'45, tarsus 2-10, middle toe (without claw) 2." On the whole, this description appears to me to point to P. apivorus rather than to P. ptUorliijnchvs, although the " very distinct deep black stripe along the side of the throat, posteriorly connected with a cluster of deej) black guttate spots across the upper part of the jugulum," is, it must be admitted, especially when existing in an adult bird, much more like P. ptilorhynchus. I have seen such markings in P. apivorus, but only, so far as I recollect, in immature Species of Pernis inhabiting Japan. 277 specimens^ and then not so distinct or so dark as they usually are in P. ptilorhynchus , in which latter species they also occur more frequently than in P. apivorus ; on the other hand^ the description of the axillaries in the Japanese bird is^ if I mistake not^ conclusive as to its being an example (though somewhat abnormal as regards the dark markings on the throat) of P. apivorus. This specimen^ judging from the grey upon the head and from the character of the markings on the tail^ is^ I believe, adult ; but the circumstance of the grey on the crown of the head being limited to the forehead probably indicates its having only recently attained the adult dress, and that not quite completely. So far as I have observed, the adults of P. apivorus always have the axillaries distinctly and broadly banded with alter- nate bars of brown and white, though in birds of the year the white bars are sometimes absent. In P. ptilorhynchus, on the contrary, although some young birds have the axillaries brown banded with white, and others have them brown with a spot or two of white towards the end of the feathers, the adult grey-headed birds have always, so far as I have been able to ascertain, the axillaries either entirely brown without bands or else banded with pale brown on a darker ground, but not with white, as in the adults of P. apivorus; believing this distinction to be a constant one as regards the adult birds, I would refer the specimen under consideration to P. apivorus and not to P. ptilorhynchus. I may add that although the fact of this example being crestless is in favour of identifying it with P. apivorus, which always is so, it does not in itself prove this identification to be correct, as F . ptilorhynchus is also sometimes crestless, although such specimens are very much in the minority, and must be regarded as exhibiting an exceptional variation from the normal form. 278 M. Menzbier on the Birds of European XXXIII. — On the Geographical Distribution of Birds in European Russia north of the Caucasus. — Part I. Rapaces Diurnae. By M. Menzbier. In tlie beginning of the year 1882 1 published in Russian the first part of my work entitled ' Ornithological Geography of European Russia/ wherein I described the distribution of the Birds of Prey throughout European Russia. I wished to demonstrate clearly the limits of the distribution of the dif- ferent species of birds in that country^ and to show the con- nexion between the ornithological fauna of European Russia and that of the Palsearctic Region. My preliminary notes on that subject I have already given in the beginning of my work, and also in my article entitled " Revue comparative de la faune ornithologique des gouvernements de Moscou et de Toula/' but I will give a more detailed account in the concluding chapters of my ' Ornithological Geography.'' I wish here to acknowledge my great obligations to Mr. Severtzov, who kindly placed at my disposal his entire orni- thological collection and manuscripts on these subjects. I also take this opportunity of offering my sincere thanks to others of my fellow- labourers in ornithological science, espe- cially Mr. Pleske, Mr. Alferaki, and Mr. Djakov, to whom I am greatly indebted. Neophron percnopterus. The Egyptian Vulture is a very rare and local bird in Russia. It breeds in the Crimea, where a few birds remain throughout the winter, and in the Government of Podolsk (in the district of Magilev) ; but it only occasionally visits the Government of Voronesh and the steppes of the Caspian Sea, a very few straying as far north as Sarepta and Orenburg. VULTUR MONACHUS. The Black Vulture is rare in Russia, where it breeds in the south-eastern and southern parts of the country, and is an accidental visitor to the western part. It breeds in the southern and south-western Ural ranges, between the rivers Sakmara and Ik, and is sedentary in the Russia north of the Caucasus. 279 Crimea. Perhaps it is an accidental visitor to the Govern- ment of Voronesh ; occasionally it is found in Bessarabia and throughout Western Russia south of the Baltic (Poland, Courland, Livonia). Gyps fulvus. The breeding-range of the Griffon Vulture in Russia may be said to extend over the Government of Podolsk, Bessarabia, the Crimea, and the Kaslinsky Ural. The bird is very common and sedentary in the Crimea, but less common and partially migratory in the rest of its range. Occasionally it is found in the south-west and south of Russia. Mr. Taczanovsky records the Griffon Vulture as very rare, being even more rare than the Black Vulture in Poland. Twice it has been observed in the Government of Kiev, in the district of Uman. In the Governments of Ekaterinoslav, Kharkov, and Voronesh the bird is a more regular visitor ; but it has only once been found near Sarepta. East of the Volga the Griffon Vultm-e is more common in the Obschy-Syrt. In the Ural Mountains it strays as far north as Pavda. Pallas did not find the Griffon and Black Vultures in the Ural Mountains, nor according to Eversmann were they found either in the Ural Mountains or their branches during the ten years from 1820 to 1830. Since the latter year these Vultures have been found in the above-mentioned countries, having become more and more common of late years, and since 1850 both species have been generally distributed in the southern Ural Mountains. Mr. Pleske informs me that Vultur monachus was not uncommon there during the years from 1869 to 1873. Gyps fulvus was ob- served by this gentleman several times during those years at Orenburg and about the river Danghuz. Mr. Sabaneev^s observations on the breeding of the Griffon Vulture in the Kaslinsky Ural were made also after the year 1865. Hypotriorchis subbuteo. The Hobby is a well-known breeding bird in all the wooded districts of Russia south of lat. 65°, but in Finland its northern breeding-limit is about lat. 64°. 280 M. Menzbier on the Birds of European It is very common in all tlie northern and central portions of the country, more rare about the northern limits of the southern steppes, and only local in the last-mentioned locality. In the valley of the Lower Volga it breeds as far south as the mouth o£ that river, but it is not known to Avinter in any part of Russia. Falco peregrinus. The Peregrine Falcon is so variable in its dimensions and shades of colour that it is very difficult to distinguish the types in their variations. An attempt was made by Pastor Chr. L. Brehm, who established four types of Falco pere- grinus— F. p. abiei'mus, F. p. cornicum, F. p. griseiventris, F. p. leucogenys ; but Brehm's types of the Peregrine Falcon have not been accepted in science. In the course of several years I have examined nearly 300 specimens of the Pere- grine Falcon from different parts of the Old World, and, judging from these, I should say that in the Northern Palae- arctic Region we have two specifically distinct forms of the Peregrine Falcon, these forms being very distinct from each other in their different ages, and having geograjihical ranges, comparatively, very clearly defined : these are Falco peregrinus and F. leucogenys. I am convinced also that the specimens of F. peregrinus from Western Europe are very variable in character, and that specimens of this bird from Russia and Northern Asia are more constant. So far as I can judge from the examples which I have examined, there are three races of the Peregrine Falcon existing on the con- tinent of Europe and the northern half of Asia — F. p. grisei- ventris, F. p. cornicum, and F. p. brevirostris, the first two of which were described thirty years ago by Brehm, and the last-mentioned by me two years ago. I now propose briefly to describe the principal characters of plumagewhich I have found in the three above-mentioned races of F. peregrinus. (A) Falco peregrinus griseiventris. Adult male. Above delicate bluish grey, only indistinctly barred Avith dark grey on the rump and with darker-coloured Russia north of the Caucasus. 281 headj neck, and the upper part of the mantle; forehead whitish ; cheeks, ear-coverts, and moustaches blackish grey ; the chin and throat spotless white, with a tinge of pale yellow on the throat ; the breast and the abdomen more or less yellow with a tinge of grey, more darkly developed on the flanks, and paler on the under tail-coverts, axillaries, and under wing- coverts ; the spots, reduced to mere triangular dots, exist only here and there on the middle portion of the under breast, abdomen, and thigh-coverts ; on the sides, axillaries, and under wing-coverts they are replaced by narrow arrow-head bars ; under tail-coverts spotless, or only with faint traces of bars. The very adult bird has nearly the whole under surface of the body spotless, with a deeply deve- loped tinge of grey. Adult female. Similar to the adult male, but more deeply coloured, and with more developed spots and bars on the under surface of the body. Young male. Above dark brown, with the exception of the head, which is paler ; forehead whitish ; crown of head brown tinged with pale rufous ; a broad streak from the hind part of the eye to the nape, and the whole of the latter whitish with a few dark brown spots ; all the feathers of the back dark brown, margined with pale rufous ; cheeks, ear-coverts, and moustaches dark brown; under surface of the body whitish, with longitudinal spots of brown on the throat, breast, abdomen, flanks, and thighs, and wdth bars on the under tail-coverts. Young female. Similar to the young male, but much larger. According to Pastor Chr. Brehm Falco peregrinus grisei- ventris breeds throughout Scandinavia (probably occasionally in the plains and not in the mountains, where it is replaced by a small variety of F. p. cornicum), and is found in Northern Germany on migration. It does not breed in Central Russia, but visits that country during the spring and autumn. A very typical specimen of that bird from Novaja Zemlja is in the Museum of Vienna. Two specimens, male from the mouth of the Ussuri river and male from Kultuk, were pre- sented by Messrs. Dybovsky and Gadlevsky to the Museum SER. V. VOL. II. V 28.2 M. Menzbier on the Birds of Europemi of Warsaw. The same variety of the Peregrine Falcon was obtained by Colonel Prejevalsky in the country about the river Ussuri ; but in IMandshuria it is replaced by the other variety, which is nearly as dark as Falco melanogenys. It is the same race, which, according to Messrs. Middendorff, Finsch, and Russov, breeds on the ground in the tundra and in the marshes of the wooded country of Livonia. Probably F. p. griseiventris breeds throughout the whole tundra and wooded country (" forest ") from Greenland to the Amoor country, migrating during the winter more south- wards, as far as the Antilles, Southern Europe, Egypt, and India. Specimens of this race from Greenland, the An- tilles, Southern Europe, and India are now preserved in the British Museum. A specimen of this race, in change from the first to the second yearns plumage, obtained (in winter) near Lake Menzaleh, Egypt, is now preserved in the Museum of Vienna. Two specimens of it, obtained, in the Crimea, are now in the Museum of Moscow ; a third skin ( ? juv.) of that race was obtained j^ XL in the Gardens of Tashkent, and a fourth ( (^, ^j I.) in Ferghana (coll. of Mr. Severtzov) . Respecting the distribution of this bird in European Russia I can state as follows: — Novaja Zemlja; according to Mr. Hoffmann, an adult female and young ones were found near lat. 68° ; by Messrs. Seebohm and Harvie-Brown the Pere- grine Falcon was observed at Ust-Zylma, on the banks of the river Zylma, and at Stanovaja-Lachta. It is not uncommon breeding near Archangel, and more rare in Lapland. More to the south it is found in Finland, in the Government of St. Petersburg, Esthonia, and Livonia ; but ' I do not know whether this race breeds in the Government of Tver, and I cannot find anything recorded of it in the Governments of Olonetz and Vologda. More to the east it breeds in the Governments of Wjatka and Perm. During the autumn, winter, and spring F. p. griseiventris visits the Governments of Central and Southern Russia, but young are more commonly found than adults. Russia north of the Caucasus. 283 (B) Falco peregrinus cornicum. Adult male. Above very dark ; the head, neck, upper part of the mantle, cheeks, ear-coverts, and moustaches slate- black ; the rest of the upper surface slate-blue, barred with dusky slate-colour ; under surface of the body very rufous, with prevalent grey tint on the flanks, abdomen, and thighs. Chin spotless; throat with longitudinal spots of black; breast, abdomen, flanks, and thighs crossed with blackish bars, taking the form of spots in the centre of the breast ; under wing-coverts blackish grey, spotted with ferruginous buff. With the advance of age the rufous colour on the under surface of the body becomes more intense, and neither spots nor bars disappear, though they decrease. Adult female . Similar to the adult male, but more deeply coloured, and with more developed spots and bars on the under surface of the body. Young male. Above blackish brown, with a wash of grey ; crown of head brown, tinged with rufous ; nape blackish brown, mottled with rufous ; cheeks, ear-coverts, and mous- taches black ; under surface of the body deep rufous ; chin with narrow indistinct shaft-stripes; throat, breast, and abdomen with large longitudinal spots of black-brown ; flanks and thighs with transverse spots ; under tail-coverts barred. Young female. Similar to the young male, but much larger. According to Pastor Chr. 'Brehm Falco peregrinus cornicum breeds throughout the central portion of Europe, straying during winter as far south as Egypt. I have seen many specimens of this race obtained from the mountain-country of Germany, Switzerland, Northern Italy, and Eastern France. In European Russia it breeds in the Ural Mountains, in the Governments of Perm and Orenburg, on the rocks on the rivers Belaja, Kama, and the Middle Volga, and in the Govern- ments of Kazan and Simbirsk. More west and south it is only an accidental visitor during autumn and winter. Examples of F. p. cornicum from the Ural are much darker y2 284 M. Menzbior on the Birds of European than those from Central and Western Europe, and nearly as dark as Faico atriceps from North-western India. After a careful examination of several specimens of the Peregrine Falcon from Scandinavia, preserved in European Museums, I am convinced now that F. p. abietinus is only a small variety of F. p. cornicimi, replacing it in the mountain- country of Sweden and Norway. (C) Falco peregrinus brevirostris. This race of tlie Peregrine Falcon generally is larger than the others, in comparison with which it has a shorter and larger bill. Adult male. The colour of the upper part of F. p. brevi- rostris is intermediate between that of F. ]). griseiveutris and F. p. coi'nicum, this race being more deeply coloured than the former and more clearly than the latter. Above bluish grey, with darker-coloured head, which is streaked with narrow shaft-stripes of blackish ash ; back and wing-coverts barred with dark grey ; cheeks and moustaches blackish grey, the former clearer than the latter; under surface of the body M'hite, tinged with rosy yellow on the throat and breast, and with delicate grey on the abdomen, flanks, and thighs ; chin spotless ; throat with narrow lon- gitudinal spots of black ; breast, abdomen, flanks, and thighs crossed with narrow bars of blackish, taking the form of spots in the centre of the breast and abdomen ; under wing- coverts blackish grey spotted with whitish. With the advance of age the white colour on the under surface of the body becomes more and more pure, the spots and bars nearly dis- appear, and the quite adult bird has nearly the whole surface of the body spotless, only with a faint trace of grey. Adult female. Similar to the adult male, but much lai^ger. Young male. Generally similar to the young male of Falco peregrinus cornicum, but not so deeply coloured, and with a whiter nape. Young female. Similar to the young male. This race of the Peregrine Falcon is resident in Central Russia, where it breeds in the large woods of all the Govern- Russia north of the Caucasus. 285 merits, being common during the winter in toAvns. More to the west I found the same race of the Peregrine Falcon breeding in Poland, in the eastern parts of North Germany, in the plains of the Danube, and in Lombardy. But in the plains of Scandinavia, in Southern Germany, Lombardy, France, the British Islands, Spain, and the other parts of Middle and Western Europe specimens intermediate between F.p. cornicuni and F.p. brevirostris are more common, which are unknown in Russia. East of European Russia this race breeds in some parts of Western Asia. During the winter it is found as far east as China and as far south as Ceylon, India, Arabia, and the Crimea (specimens preserved in the British Museum and in the collection of Mr. H. Seebohm). Concisely, the differences between the three above-men- tioned races of the Pereo-fine Falcon are as follows : — F. p. griseiventris. Above delicate bluish grey; clieeks and mous- taches blackish grey ; chin and throat spotless white, with a tinge of pale yellow on the throat ; tlie rest of the under surface of the body with a deeply de- veloped tinge of grey, and only with traces of spots on the naiddle por- tions of the under breast, abdomen, and thighs, re- placed by narrow bars on the flanks, axillaries, and under winff-coverts. F. p. cornicum. Above very dark ; cheeks and moustaches slate-black ; under sur- face of the body, with the exception of the chin, very rufous, with a prevalent grey tint on the flanks, abdomen, and tliiglis ; chin spotless, the rest of the under surface very spotted and barred ; under wing- co- verts blackish grey spot- ted with ferruginous buff. F. p. brevirostris. Above bluish grey ; clieelis and moustaches blackish gre}^, the for- mer clearer than the latter ; under surface of the body white, tinged with rosy yellow on the throat and breast, and with very delicate grey on the abdomen, flanks, and thighs ; with the advance of age the spots and bars on the vmder surface of the body nearly disappear ; under wing-coverts blackish grey spotted with whi- tish. Falco leucogenys. In its colouring, dimensions, and geographical range Falco leucogenys is intermediate between Falco peregrinus and its more southern representatives, Falco barbarus, F.feldeggii, F. tanypterus , &c. 286 M. Menzbier on the Birds of European Concisely, the differences between Falco peregrinus and Falco leucogenys are as follows : — F. peregrinus. "Very massive ; feathers under- neath the eye dark, confluent with a broad uioustachial baud ; pale patches on the nape, which dis- appear with the advance of age; very variable in shades of colour, but more clearly coloured speci- mens have the breast and abdo- men either white or tinged with grey. F. leucogenys. Very elegant ; feathers under- neath the eye unspotted fulvous or only with brownish-grey traces, clearly defined from a narrow moustachial band; the nape mot- tled with fulvous during its whole life ; very constant in the shades of colour, clear bluish grey above, white tinged with fulvous on the under surface of the body. The following is a more detailed description of Falco leucogenys : — Adult male. Above clear bluish grey, only indistinctly barred with darker grey and with paler-coloured lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts ; the forehead whitish ; the nape mottled with fulvous ; the feathers underneath the eye un- spotted fulvous or only with brownish-grey traces ; a narrow moustachial band dark bluish grey ; tail bluish grey, tinged with brownish and barred with darker grey (seven transverse bars); quills dark brown, externally shaded with grey; chin white ; rest of the under surface tinged with fulvous, the throat unspotted, the breast and abdomen only with traces of bluish-brown spots, inclining to narrow bars on flanks and under tail-coverts ; thighs tinged with blue and mottled with transverse spots ; under wing-coverts creamy white mottled with brown ; axillaries white barred with brown. Adult female. Similar to the adult male, but more deeply coloured above and more spotted on its under surface. The nape mottled with fulvous, as in the adult male. Young male. Above brown ; the forehead whitish ; crown broAvnish fulvous, with conspicuous margins of fulvous ; the nape and hind neck pale rufous mottled with brown ; the back, rump, scapularies, and wing-coverts brown margined with rufous, the upper tail-coverts brown barred with rufous ; tail greyish brown, edged and barred with pale rufous ; quills Russia north of the Caucasus. 287 dark brown, edged and spotted on the inner web with pale rufous ; feathers underneath the eye unspotted fulvous, or only with brownish traces ; a narrow moustachial band dark brown ; chin unspotted fulvous ; rest of the under surface fulvous, the throat, breast, abdomen, flanks, and thighs with brown streaks, the under tail-coverts irregularly barred with brownish ; under wing-coverts brown, broadly margined and spotted with clear buff. Young female. Similar to the young male, but much larger. After the first moult F. leucogenys takes a plumage which differs from that of the adult in being more spotted oil the under surface 6f the body, and having the upper tail-coverts rufous, tinged and barred with greyish blue. This Falcon breeds probably throughout all the steppes, from the Middle Danube to the Altai Mountains, migrating during the winter as far south as Egypt and India. I do not know whether this species breeds in Lombardv, but I saw ayoung specimen, obtained in Piedmont, in the Museum of Turin. More to the east it breeds throughout the plains of the Danube (from which I know of two specimens in the Museum of Vienna), and in the Dobrudscha (a specimen in change from the first to the second year's plumage, obtained in the Dobrudscha, is preserved in the collection of Mr. Alleon), in Southern Russia (specimens in the Zoological Museum of Moscow, in my collection, and in the collection of Mr. Severtzov), and in Western Siberia (the Zoological Museum of Moscow and the collection of Mr. Severtzov). Some specimens of this species remain all the year round in their breeding-quarters, others migrate southwards during the winter. In the Museum of Vienna I saw some speci- mens of F. leucogenys from Egypt, obtained during the winter near Lake Menzaleh. A specimen obtained at Len- koran (Transcaucasia) is now preserved in my collection. Others, obtained at Chimkent, in the country of the Lower Amou-Darya, near Issyk-kul, and in Ferghana, are to be seen in the Zoological INIuseura of Moscow and in the collection of Mr. Severtzov. Two young specimens, from Babylon and Northern India, I saw in the British 288 M. Menzbier on the Birds of European Museum. This form has been found several times in Northern Germany and Central Russia^ but is there very rare and occasional, HiEROFALCO ISLANDUS. A specimen of the Iceland Jer-Falcon was obtained in April 1863 near Dorpat. HiEROFALCO GYRFALCO. The Brown Jer-Falcon is common and resident only about the Varanger Fiord^ near the coast of Murman and Lake Enare. More to the south it occasionally breeds iu Lapland, but is only a rare and accidental visitor to the other parts of Russia_, as far to the south-east as the central Governments, though it is said that exceptional cases are found of its breed- ing on the rocks of the Baltic Sea near the coast of Esthonia. Since the year 1860 a specimen of this bird has been obtained in the district of Jamburg (in the Government of St. Petersburg), and Mr. Eussov once saw this bird upon the Neva in St. Petersburg. Several times the Brown Jer-Falcon has been foimd in the Baltic provinces and in Poland ; and according to Mr, Djakov it is very possible that the same species was observed during the winter in the Government of Tver. Once or twice this bird has been found during the winter season in the Government of Tula, and once at the end of autumn in the Government of Riazan. HiEROFALCO URALENSIS. The Ural Jer-Falcon is a veiy interesting intermediate race between the Arctic Jer-Falcon, Brown Jer-Falcon, and Henderson^s Jer-Falcon, The immature examples of this race in their first plumage are intermediate between spe- cimens of a corresponding age of Hierofalco gyrfalco and adult Hierofalco hendersoni ; but the adult is very light, nearly white, and is intermediate between the grey and white arctic race. This form will be more fully described iu Mr. Severtzov's and my monograph of the Jer-Falcons, On the distribution of this Falcon in Russia we have the following notes. According to Mr. Meves the Brown Jer- Russia north of the Caucasus. 289 Falcon breeds on the Kanin peninsula, and I think that the H. gyrfalco of Mr. Meves is really H. uralensis. Mr. Goebel informs us that it is resident near Pinega. Probably it is the same species which was observed several times on Novaja Zemlja. According to Hoffmann the Ural Jer- Falcon breeds near Ust-Ussa (lat. 66°). On the authority of Mr. Sabaneev it is found in the districts of Krasnoutimsk and Ufa, but is no longer met with in the districts of Karslinsk and Kashtym, where it was formerly known. According to Eversmann the Ural Falcon used to breed from 1850 to 1860 in the mountains near the Bclaja river, and probably breeds there still. Dr. Finsch met with a specimen, which probably was the Ural Jer- Falcon, near Perm. During the winter the bird has been obtained as far south as the Government of Orenburg and the Obschy-Syrt, and as far west as the Governments of Vladimir and Orel. HiEKOFALCO SAKER. The Saker Falcon breeds regularly in the steppes of Southern Russia, and occasionally in the southern and eastern portions of Middle Russia ; but it is a rare and acci- dental visitor to the central portions of the couutry, and has never been obtained in the northern Governments. According to Mr. Sabaneev it is fouud in the districts of Kamischlov and Shadrinsk. In the branches of the Ural as well as in the steppes near them it is not uncommon. In the steppes near the Ural river, the Middle and Lower Volga, this bird is not rare, still breeding there on the islands of the Volga and in the Sarpa hills. But at Astrakhan the Saker is rare and probably only found during migration, though more to the south, in the valleys of the Terek and the Kuban, it is said by Eogdanov to be common. It breeds and is not uncommon in the Governments of Saratov, Voronesh, Khar- kov, Kiev, and Chernigov, has been several times observed in the Government of Kazan (probably only in the southern part of that country) and Tula, and still breeds in the Government of Orel ; but we do not know the distribution of this bird in the Governments of Riazari, Tambov, and 290 M. Menzbier on the Birds of European Kursk. It was formerly a commou breeding bird in the Government of Podolsk^ where it has become rare during the last twenty-five years ; but it is only a rare and accidental visitor to Litva, and, according to Mr. Taczanovsky, has never been obtained in Poland. In the steppes of New Russia and in the Crimea this bird is rare, being resident there in the mountains and on the southern coast of the Crimea. Mr. Seebohm, on the authority of Mr, Henke, states that the Saker Falcon has been once obtained near Arch- angel in winter, and breeds on the Kanin peninsula. But this is without doubt a mistake ; accoi"ding to Mr. Meves the Brown Jer-Falcon'^ breeds on the Kanin peninsula, and it is very possible that Mr. Henke has taken the young specimen of the Brown Jer-Falcon for the Saker. LiTHOFALCO jESALON. The Merlin breeds regularly throughout the northern, and occasionally in the central portions of Russia ; but on migra- tion and during the winter it has been observed in the whole southern half of that country. According to Mr. Mela it breeds in all parts of Lapland and Finland, from the Gulf of Finland to the Varanger Fiord; but there it is rare southwards from lat. 62^°. It is more common near the Ladoga Lake, in the country near the Onega Lake and on the Dvina, and was fouudby Messrs. Seebohm and Harvie-Brown in the valley of the Lower Pechora (on migration it is there very common near Ust- Zylma, lat. 65° 26') . In the Ural Mountains at present we know its breeding-range only as far north as lat. 57°, but without doubt it will be found there still further north. It breeds in the district of Ekaterinburg (in the Government of Perm), and probably also in the Governments of Kazan and Riazan. It breeds and is not uncommon in the Govern- ments of Vologda, Jaroslav, Vladimir, Moscow, Tver, and Pskov, and rarely in the Government of St. Petersburg and in * I think it more likely that the lightly-coloured eastern rcpreseutative of H. yyrfalco — H, uralensis — breed; (jn the Kanin peninsula. Russia north of the Caucasus. 391 the Baltic provinces. It is still rarer and only accidentally breeds in the Governments of Grodno, Chernigov, Smolensk, and Tula (only in the northern part of the last) . On migration the Merlin is common in the Baltic provinces, in Poland, in the Governments of Podolsk and Kiev, rare in the Governments of Kharkov and Voronesh, more common in the Governments of Simbirsk and ^Lstrakhan. During the winter this bird has been seen in the Baltic provinces as well as in all the central Governments (in the Governments of Jaroslav, Vladimir, Moscow, Riazan, Tula, and Smolensk), and not uncommonly in Southern Russia. It has been observed in winter also near Astrakhan and in the Crimea. Erythropus vespertinus. The Red-footed Falcon is distributed throughout the whole of Russia south of lat. 65"; but is only an accidental visitor to Finland. In the northern part of its breeding- range it probably has become more common during the last forty or fifty years, that country having previously been too wooded to suit it. According to Mr. Teploonchov the Red- footed Falcon is not uncommon in the Ural Mountains as far north as lat. 58^°, and probably breeds near the Obva river. On the Ural expedition this bird was observed near Perm ; according to Mr. Lilljeborg and others it is very common in the neighbourhood of Kargopol ; but its northern breeding- limit from Perm to Kargopol is unknown. Mr. Henke re- cords it as breeding in a colony on an island near Kholmo- gory, on lofty oaks, and it is still common near the Sego Lake and Lake Onega ; but it is rare on the north coasts of Lake Ladoga, only very few straying as far north-west as Torneo and the central portions of Finland (it has been more common since the year 1867). It is one of the rarest breeding raptorial birds in the Baltic provinces, and is much scarcer in some localities of those provinces, as Courland and the Government of Vilna. In Central Russia, as far east as the Oka river, the Red-footed Falcon has become very rare during the last few years; but it was common 292 M. Meuzbier on the Birds of Eurojjean there ten or fifteen years ago. It is not uncommon in the country between the Oka and Volga, and is very common in the Governments of Samara, Uta, and Orenburg. After 1875- 76 it became very rare in some portions of the last-mentioned Government; for example between Orenburg and Orsk. It is rare on the Lower Volga (Mr. Henke occasionally found it breeding north of Astrakhan), and not uncommon in the Government of Stavropol. On the authority of Mr. Severtzov this bird bred commonly near the Biting river (in the Govern- ment of Voronesh) from the year 1810 to 1850, but is very rare there now. I saw it occasionally in the district of Ladonsk (in the same Government) during the summer of 1880. From the year 1830 to 1850 this Falcon was very common in the Government of Kharkov and in the steppes of the Black Sea; but I found it rare in that country during the summer of 1832, though it is still a common local bird in the Government of Kiev. According to Messrs. Shatilov and Badde this bird breeds rarely in the steppe of Tamak, in the Crimea. On spring and autumn migration the Red-footed Falcon is now exceedingly common in the central and southern portions of Russia, and has, I think, migrated from the last- mentioned countries more northwards only during the last forty or fifty years. Cerchneis cenchris. The Lesser Kestrel breeds only in the steppes of Southern Russia. According to Eversmann it is not rare in the steppes of the southern branches of the Ural, and Mr. Severtzov has furnished me wath some very interesting notes on the history of that bird during the last twenty-five years in the Govern- ment of Orenburg. On the authority of Mr. Severtzov, the Lesser Kestrel was rare in the steppes near the Upper Ural river in the year 1860, and at the same time the Red-footed Falcon was very common there. Fourteen years after, in 1874, the bird became more common in the above-mentioned country, though generally it was not very numerous, and in that year the Red-footed Falcon was as common as before. Russia north of the Caucasus. 293 Three years after, in 1877, the Red-footed Falcon became very rare in some parts of the steppes of Orenburg, and the Lesser Kestrel became exceedingly common; thousands of the latter species were found by Mr. Scvertzov upon the telegraph-wires on the wayside between Orenburg and Orsk. There is no doubt that some connexion exists between the numbers of these species ; but we do not know whether the Lesser Kestrel has become more common since the migra- tion of the Red-footed Falcon into the steppes of Orenburg, or if the latter has become rarer since the migration of the Lesser Kestrel into that country. Near the Middle Ural river and the Lower Volga the Lesser Kestrel is not common ; but it breeds throughout the whole country as far south as the delta of the Volga. At the end of August (old style) 1881, during my journey with Mr. Se- vertzov in the Khrenovskaja steppe (in the Government of Voronesh), there was obtained a young Lesser Kestrel (c^), the first specimen of that bird shot there during nearly forty years. But more to the south, in the steppes of the Govern- ment of Stavropol and near the northern slopes of the Caucasus, the bird is said to be very common. More to the west the Lesser Kestrel breeds in the steppes of New Russia and Bessarabia, in the Governments of Kiev, Podolsk, and Volhynia, and is still to be found in the south-eastern portions of Poland. According to Mr. Taczanovsky it is not an un- common local bird in the Government of Lublin and near Radom ; but is not found as far northwards as the latitude of Warsaw. It breeds in the Crimea, and a few stay there through the whole year. TiNNUNCULUS ALAUDARIUS. The Kestrel is distributed throughout the greater part of Russia; but it is very common only in the middle and southern portions of that country. In Finland this bird is found as far north as lat. 68°, but near its northern limit it is very rare ; it is more common near the Gulf of Bothnia, and very common in the southern part of Finland. About Sego Lake, Lake Onega, and from 294 M. Menzbier on the Birds of European tliere to the Dvina it breeds everywhere, but it is only an aecidcntal visitor to the neiglibourhood of Archangel, In the country about the Dvina its breeding-limit is north- eastern instead of northern ; in that country it goes from Archangel to Ustug, from N.N.W. to S.S.E., and only from Ustug to the Upper Kama it is again northern. In the last-mentioned country the breeding-limit of the Kestrel follows nearly lat. 61°-60°. In Russia this bird is well known, except in the Kola peninsula and in the country near the Mezen river and the Pechora ; but we believe that the obstacle to its breeding in these localities is the severity of the climate and the not sufficiently wooded character of the country. In all the central portions of Russia, as well as in the southern Governments, the Kestrel is very common. Near Astrakhan, in Bessarabia, and in some parts of the southern steppes it remains through the winter. Pandion haliaetus. The Osprey breeds throughout the whole of Russia from the Arctic Ocean to the Black Sea, the Caucasus, and the Caspian Sea ; but it does not like close proximity to man, and for that reason is rare in the thickly populated districts. Another peculiarity of its distribution is that it must always be near water ; and from these two causes it naturally follows that this bird is common only in a few parts of Russia ; in general our country is poor in suitable localities for the Osprey. It is common about the lakes of Finland, in the wooded country between the Gulf of Finland and the Upper Dnieper, on the lakes of the south-eastern slope of the Ural Moun- tains, and in a few other localities. It is rare in the central and southern portions of Russia, It does not breed in the Crimea, but visits that country on migration. CiRCAETUS GALLICUS and CiRCAETUS ORIENTALIS. The Common and Steppe Short-toed Eagles are distinct from each other in their different ages, and in their geogra- Russia north of the Caucasus. 295 phical ranges present at least two races. The former has during its whole life a brown throat ; the throat of the latter is always white, only streaked with shaft-stripes of brown. The former breeds throughout the region of" island woods^^*; the latter is a bird of the steppes, where woods are very rare. But this difference of the breeding-ranges of the two birds exists only in Russia, and in that country I do not know that specimens of intermediate character between C gallicus and C orientalis occur ; whereas near the Mediterranean the two races breed together, and specimens of intermediate character are very common. I think they are produced by the inter- breeding of the two races. The geographical distribution of these forms in Russia is as follows : — C. gallicus breeds throughout all the woods of Central Russia and on the western borders of the steppes, as far east as Semirechje : it is not uncommon about Vernoje. In Western Russia this bird breeds in Livonia, and has been found during the summer in Esthonia, as well as in the Government of St. Petersburg ; but we do not know if it breeds in the two latter provinces. To the east the northern limit of distribution of C. gallicus is the Upper and Middle Volga as far as the mouth of the Kama ; but it does not breed so far north, and is very rare in the country near the Volga. It is more common south of lat. 55°, common in Western Russia, rarer eastwards from the Dnieper. In Southern Russia it is found in Bessarabia, and in the Govern- ments of Podolsk, Kiev, and Kharkov, and probably occasionally breeds throughout the whole country from the Governments of Tambov and Voronesh to the Ural. C. orientalis is found at present in the steppes near the Ural river, near the mouths of the Volga and the Don, and in the steppes of New Russia ; it is rare everywhere. Pernis apivorus. The Honey-Buzzard breeds regularly in all the well- wooded * This term signifies woods surrounded by plains or fields, being a literal translation from tlie Russian, 296 M. Menzbier on the Birds of European districts of Northern and Central Russia ; but it is a very local bird in the southern part of the country, and is only found on migration in the extreme south. It is rare in Finland, where it is found as far north as lat. 66°, and very rare near Archangel. In the country between the Dvina and the Kama its northern breeding-limit is unknown ; but in the Government of Perm it is found only as far north as lat. 58°. It is common in Southex'n Finland, in the country near Lake Onega, in the Government of Ufa, and in Central Russia ; but occurs only occasionally in the Baltic provinces and in Poland. In very large forests near Lake Peipus and in the wooded country of West Russia (Belorussia and Litra) this bird is not common. In the Ural branches, in the Government of Simbirsk, and westwards from the Don in the wooded districts of Little Russia and in the wooded river- valleys of New Russia, the Honey-Buzzard is very rare, though it breeds there as well as in the Pruth valley, Bessarabia. According to Mr. Severtzov, it was very rare in the Government of Voronesh until 1860 ; since that year it has become more common in the country, and now breeds there in all the forests which are large enough to afford it a retreat. Near the mouth of the Ural river, at Sarepta, and in the Crimea the Honey-Buzzard has been only seen on migration. BUTEO VULGARIS. After a careful examination of many specimens of Buzzards from different portions of Russia, I am now firmly convinced that, contrary to the opinion of most ornithologists, the Common Buzzard is found only in the western and south- western parts of Russia, and that more northwards and east- wards it is replaced by the African Buzzard {Buteo vulpinns) , its breeding-range in Russia being nearly the same as that of the Red Kite and Barn-Owl. Without doubt the Common Buzzard breeds in the follow- ing localities of Russia: — in the Baltic provinces, in Poland (where it is common as far east as the Vistula and is rare eastwards from the Vistula, though it is still found in the Russia north of the Caucasus. 297 district of Slouim^ in the Goverument of Grodno), in Bess- arabia, and near the borders of the latter country. Near the east limit of the above-mentioned countries specimens are very common which are intermediate between the Common and African Buzzard, both in colouring and in dimensions. I think they are produced by the interbreeding of the two species. I do not know for certain if the Common Buzzard l)reeds in Finland ; but it is very possible. BuTEO vuLPiNUs {Buteo desertorum auctor. plurim., nee Buteo cirtensis, Levaill. j.). The African Buzzard is distributed throughout the whole of Russia. It breeds everywhere in the wooded country of Northern Russia, where the forests are more or less cut down (for example in the country between the Tipper Volga and the mouth of the Dvina), is very common throughout Central Russia, and is not uncommon in the woods of Southern Russia; but it is not found either in the thickly wooded country of the Pechora or in the woodless southern steppes. I have not seen specimens of the African Buzzard from Finland ; but specimens of Buteo obtained by Mr. Sandeberg near Lake Onega being typical B. vulpinus, it is possible that throughout Finland both species breed — B. vulpimis as well as B. vulgaris. The western breeding-limit of the African Buzzard is nearly the same as the eastern breeding limit of the Common Buzzard, but only approximately. B. vul- pinus occasionally breeds in the eastern portions of the range of the Common Buzzard, and the latter is a local breeding bird in the western portions of the range of the African Buzzard. The western breeding-limit of B. vulpimis near the Baltic Sea is the Vistula ; but occasionally this bird visits the eastern portions of Northern and Southern Germany, having been found there more often during the last fifteen years. In the south-western portion of Russia also the two above-mentioned Buzzards are found together, inter- breeding there as in the more northern parts, and the African Buzzard is not uncommon on the western shores of SER. V. VOL. II. z 298 M, Menzbier on the Birds of European the Black Sea. Eastwards from the Ural Mountains the African Buzzard is distributed as far as Semirechje, being found breeding near Wernoje and near the Issyk-kul, where it meets with the Japanese Buzzard. The African Buzzard is found in the Crimea and near Gurjev only on migration. BUTEO FEROX. The breeding-range of the Long-tailed Buzzard in Russia is still insufficiently known. It is a common breeding bird in the steppes near the Caspian Sea; but its northern and western breeding-limits are unknown. Mr. Severtzov has been told that in the country between the Ural and Flek rivers Archibuteo lagopus breeds ; but Mr. Severtzov thinks that it is Buteo ferox which breeds there, whilst Archibuteo lagopus only visits that country during its winter migration. Mr. Sabaneev supposes that Archihnteo lagopus breeds in the district of Shadrinsk but this is probably a mistake. According to Mr. Henke the Long-tailed Buzzard is rare in the steppes between the Ural river and the Lower Volga, but is common west of the Volga. Mr. Severtzov obtained a spe- cimen of this Buzzard in the steppe near the Biting river on autumn migration ; and I have seen a specimen of it obtained j December 1854 in the Crimea (Tamak), w^iich is preserved in the Zoological Museum of Moscow. In Paris, in the ex- cellent collection of Mr. Alleon, I saw three specimens of this bird obtained by that gentlemen in the Dobrudscha (?j| 1882, ?i 1882, ? I 1882), and a fourth from the neighbourhood of Constantinople (|^ 1874). From these circumstances we infer that it is very possible that the Long- tailed Buzzard breeds in some parts of the steppes of Southern Russia west of the Don. Archibuteo lagopus. The principal breeding-ground of the Rough-legged Buz- zard is on the tundras beyond the wooded region, where only cover of birch and willow is to be found ; but it is also a local breeding bird more to the south. Russia north of the Caucasus. 299 In Nortliern Russia the bird is common about the Varanger Fiord^ on the coast of Murman, near Lake Enare, and gene- rally in Lapland ; and not uncommon in the tundras of the north-eastern country, from the Kanin peninsula throughout the Lower Pechora to the northern branches of the Ural . This Buzzard also breeds occasionally in many parts of the wooded country as far south as lat. 56° — a very interesting fact in the history of the Russian avifauna. It breeds, for example, near Lake Sego, near the Dvina, in the Government of Vologda. This bird has been found but rarely in the breeding- season in the Government of St. Petersburg, and, according to Mr. Russov, breeds irregularly in the Baltic provinces. Mr. Sabaneev says that the Rough-legged Buzzard breeds in the north-eastern portions of the Government of Jaroslav, and I have been told that it breeds in some parts of the Government of Vladimir (56°). According to Mr. Bogdanov it is possible that it breeds in the districts of Syzran (in the Government of Simbii'sk) and Belebejev (in the Government of Ufa) (lat. 54°-53°). On the autumn and spring migration the Rough-legged Buzzard is a common visitant to Middle Russia, where a few specimens remain all the winter through ; but its winter- quarters are in Southern Russia, where it strays as far south as the mouth of the Volga and the Crimea. Aquila fulva, Aquila chrysabtos, and Aquila nobilis. After a careful examination of many specimens of the Golden Eagle from different parts of the Palsearctic Region, Mr. Severtzov established three typical forms of this Eagle : — Aquila fulva. The young oiA.fulva have the white on the base of the tail, but this character disappears with tlie advance of age, and the tail of the adult Eagle is dark. Aqidla chrysa'efos. The young of ^. chry- saetos have not the white on the base of the tail ; the tail of the young Eagle is as dark as that of the adult. Aquila nobilis. The white on the base of the tail is a permanent character of the young and adult of A. nobilis. The first form of the Golden Eagle (A. fulva) does not z 2 800 M. Menzbicr on the Birds of European breed in Russia, but near the western limit of the country in the Carpathian Mountains^. The second form of the Golden Eagle [A. chrysaetos) is distributed throughout the whole wooded country of North Russia as far west as Sweden, and as far east as Lake Baikal. The southern breeding-limit of this species is as follows : — In the Baltic provinces A. chrysaetos breeds as far south as the Dvina river ; more east, in the Government of Vitebsk, its breeding-limit crosses that river and comprises the whole wooded country of Litua. From there the southern limit of the breeding-range of A. chrysaetos goes across the Dnieper northwards from Kiev (near lat. 52°), across the Desna river northwards from Chernigov and across the Oker between the towns Orel and Kaluga (near lat. 53°) . More to the east the breeding-limit of ^. chrysaetos is insufficiently known ; it probably breeds throughout the large woods of the northern parts of the Governments of Tambov and Pensa, along the right coast of the Oka, and between the moaths of the Oka and Kama. From the mouth of the last-mentioned river the southern breeding-limit of A. chrysaetos runs along the Kama as far as the mouth of the Belaja river, and thence in a S.S.E. direction. Mr. Severtzov saw in the Museum of Orenburg many specimens of this Eagle obtained in the country of the Upper Belaja, Ik, and Sakmara, and from the southern Ural Mountains (as far south as lat, 52°). North of the above-mentioned limit A. chrysaetos breeds every- where as far as the limit of forest-growth ; south from that limit it is only a rare stranger during its winter migration. The third form of the Golden Eagle {A. nobilis) breeds throughout the woods of Middle Russia, and occasionally in the wooded country of Northern Russia as far as Mezen and lat. 60° in the Ural Mountains. Southwards it breeds as far as the Governments of Podolsk, Kiev, Poltava, Kharkov, Voronesh, and Saratov ; but in all these places it is rare and local. East of the Volga it is a common breeding bird in * Mr. Schalow has mis-stated the breeding-district of Aqtiilafulva as the Ural Mountains instead of the Carpathian Mountains (Journ. f. Orn. 1883, p. 410). Russia north of the Caucasus. 301 the forests between that river and the Ural Mountains, and probably breeds in some parts of the steppes between the Volga and Ural rivers. It does not breed in the steppes of New Russia, nor in the steppes between the Don and the Volga, but is found there during the winter, and is resident in the Crimea. According to Mr. Taczanovsky, twenty years ago this Eagle bred in Poland, but now is only a winter visitor to that country. Aquila imperialis. The Imperial Eagle is essentially a lover of the plains near the large forests, and breeds only on the steppes of Russia ; but occasionally it strays as far north as the central govern- ments. In the Ural Mountains this bird is found as far north as lat. 56°, breeding (on the authority of Mr. Martin) in the vicinity of Ekaterinburg. Mr. Pleske informs me that this Eagle is common in the district of Orenburg, and that in Avigust 1872 he met with many specimens of it in the dis- trict of Sterlitamak (in the Government of Ufa) . According to^versmann it is common in the branches of the Ural and in the steppes near them, but according to INIr. Hcnke it is somewhat rare near Astrakhan. West of the Volga the Imperial Eagle is a common breeding bird in the Govern- ments of Simbirsk, Saratov, Voronesh, Kharkov, Kiev, and Podolsk, as well as in the steppes of New Russia and in the Crimea. As an occasional visitor the bird is found in the Govern- ments of Riazan, Tula, Moscow, Tver, and Pskov, in the Baltic provinces, in Poland, and in Lithuania. On migration the Imperial Eagle follows the great route from the Volga to the Lower Don, along the coasts of the Azov Sea, and along the northern and western coasts of the Black Sea. But we do not know any thing of its migration throughout South-eastern Russia, from the Ural Mountains to the mouth of the Ural river and along the coast of the Caspian Sea. 303 M. Menzbier on the Birds of Europecm AqUILA ORIENTALIS, A. GLITSCHII, aild A. BIFASCIATA. Accordiug to Mr. Severtzov, throughout the steppes of Southern Russia and Western Asia two forms of the Steppe-Eagles breed, a third being found more to the east. These forms are A. orientalis, A. glitschii, and A. bifasciata. A. orieyitalis. Adult bird uniform dark brown, -with the addition of a fulvous- coloured nuchal patch. The first plumage of this Eagle is earth- brown, mottled with pale fulvous on the lower back, middle sea- pulary region, little and middle wing-coverts, breast, and abdomen ; the great wing-coverts and secondaries with large terminal patches of fulvous ; the upper and lower tail-coverts fulvous. After the first moult the fulvous patches of all the fea- thers more or less disap- pear, with the exception of those on the greater wing-coverts and secon- daries. After the second moult the plumage is nearly uniform, but double bars across the wing and traces of ful- vous on the tail-coverts exist until the fourth moult, at which the bird receives its adult plumage. A. glitschii. Adult bird earth- brown, with the addi- tion of a fulvous-co- loured nuchal band and a pale fulvous baud across the lower back ; primaries, secondaries, and tail-feathers barred. The first plumage of this Eagle is nearly uniform earth-brown, with terminal fulvous patches on some of the greater wiug-coverts ; secondaries and tail- feathers terminated with the same colour ; tail-coverts fidvous, the lower irregularl}' barred withbrowu. After the first and second moults the bird becomes more and more uniform earth- brown ; but a fulvous- coloured nuchal band and a pale fulvous band across the lower back are developed w^th the third and fourth moults. A. bifasciata. Adult bird earth- brown, with double bars on the wings and fulvous-coloured upper and lower tail-coverts ; primaries, secondaries, and tail-feathers not barred. The first plumage of this Eagle is earth- brown, with double bars on the wings, but without the patches on the other regions of the body; the second plu- mage is mottled with fulvous. After the tl^ird and fourth moults the bird becomes uniformly coloured, and receives its adult plumage, only with double bars on the wing. Russia north of the Caucasus. 303 I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Severtzov for the following notes on the geographical distribution of the three above-mentioned Steppe-Eagles : — " The geographical distribution of the three species of Steppe-Eagles^ Aquila orientalis, Aq. glitschii, Aq. bifasciata, generally is such that each of those birds replaces in its habitat the others^ their breeding-ranges being narrow regions going from W.S.W. to E.N.E. Also, if we travel from W. to E. (for example, from Ruschuk to Perovsk, across the Lower Danube, Dnieper, Don, Volga, and Syr), and from N. to S. (for example, from Troizk to Tashkent), we shall find the same succession of the regions of the three above-men- tioned species of Eagles : at first we shall find the breeding- range of Aq. orientalis, after it that of Aq. glitschii, and at last that of Aq. bifasciata. "Aquila orientalis breeds as far west as the country near the mouth of the Danube (Dobrudscha), from which I saw a nestling in the Museum of Vienna. Naumann received this species from the district of Dnieper, in the Government of Taurida. The original specimen of Cabanis, and many others, were obtained in spring and summer in the hills near the river Sarpa, beyond Sarepta. A specimen in my collection ((^ ad.) was obtained at the end of August near the Lower Ural river, at the fore-post Krasnojarsk ; another, a young one, was found in the beginning of September more to the north, near Stanitga Sakharnaja, I also obtained a young specimen, and several times have observed the adult birds of this species in the steppes of the Government of Voronesh, in the district of Burreluk (in the Government of Samara), near the mouth of the Uy (lat. 55°), and near the river Irtysh, 150 versts from Semipalatinsk. " I think there is no doubt that the Eagles supposed by Nordmann to be A. ncevia, which breed on the ground throughout all the steppes of Southern Eussia Avest of the Don, are not A. ncevia : jjrobabhj iYxej are^. or'ientalis. But it is possible that Nordmann observed not only A. orientalis, but also A. glitschii, if this latter breeds west of the Don, regarding which we do not yet know any thing. 304 M. Menzbier on. the Birds of European " On migration tliis species was observed in great numbers, togetlier with A. ylitschii, in the vicinity of Constantinople by Mr. AUeon^ who erroneously named them A. clanga, Pall., and A. ncevioides, Cuv. ; but we do not know the winter-quarters of A. orient alis. " A. orient alis has been once obtained in the Government of Moscow. " Aqiiila glitschii was probably found by Gmelin in the steppes near the Lower Don ; but Gmelin's description being insufficient, we cannot be certain of the identification. Mr. Shatilov obtained a specimen of A. (/litschii in the Crimea ( $ , IX. 1854), probably on migration. It is numerous about the Sarpa, where it is more common than A. orientalis, with which it is mingled there. Mr. Artzibashev has furnished specimens of this Eagle from the steppes of Astrakhan. I liave found and obtained specimens of A. glitschii in the steppes near the river Ural, as far north as 400 versts from the mouth, in the steppes near the river Emba, and in the country between the Syr-Darja and Turgai (meridian of Perovsk). A young specimen in my collection was obtained in the hills north of Kuldscha (lat. 73°) ; an adult specimen was furnished by Mr. Karelin for the Zoological Museum of Moscow from the river Ajaghuz (lat. 48°), and many others were obtained by General Kolpakovsky in Semirechje (now preserved in the Zoological Museum of Moscow) . '^I infer from these facts that the breeding-range of ^. glitschii extends from the Lower Don to the Black Irtysh, across the Lower Volga, Ural, and the middle portion of the Kirghiz steppes. From the river Ajaghuz its principal breed- range extends throughout the breeding-range of A. bifas- ciata, along the foot of Tarbagatai, Barlyx, Simirechensky Alatau, and Erin-khabargha as far as Kuldscha. " On migration this Eagle was observed by Mr. Alleon near Constantinople (the route to the Don and the Volga). I found it on the route of migration which goes round the northern and western foot of the Tiau-shan, from Aulje-ata across Tchimkent to Tashkent ; and probably it is the same species that I observed on migration across Karakum, near Russia nortli of tht Caucasus. 305 the north-eastern angle of the Aral Sea ; but in the distance I could not distinguish it from A. clanga. ''1 have a specimen oi A. glitschii obtained by Mr. An- derson in winter between the Sutluj and Ganges^ near the southern foot of the Himalaya; it is very like that ob- tained in the Kirghiz steppes north of Perousk ; but we do not know any thing more of the winter-quarters of A. glit- schii, though it doubtless winters west of North-western India. '' Aquila bifasciata was not found by me west of the Aral Sea. I saw many young specimens dead which had been taken from nests near the stations of the route from Oren- burg to Tashkent^ near the north-east angle of the Aral Sea, and near Dschulek (on the Syr-Darja, 600 versts from the mouth). The specimens in my collection were obtained during migration near Aulje-ata, Tchimkent^ and Tashkent, but 1 did not find this Eagle during the summer in the steppes near the foot of the Tian-shan. The nests, which I know, were found in the biishes of saxaul near the Syr, and more to the north, near the north-eastern angle of the Aral Sea. Probably it breeds also near the Tohu ; and Colonel Prjevalsky has found this Eagle in summer sparingly dis- tributed throughout the bushes of saxaul in the Alashan and near the frontier of China. "On migration I liave several times obtained A. bifas- ciata at Aulje-ata, Tchimkent, also more southwards near Tashkent, and on the Lower Amu. " This Eagle winters in Northern India, whence I have specimens obtained by Mr. Anderson. By Colonel Prje- valsky it was found during the winter in the high steppes near the Lake Khu-khu-nor, where it is very cold, but snow- less ; there it feeds on Lagomys and the other species of Glires." Aquila clanga. The Larger Spotted Eagle breeds throughout the wooded districts of Russia from lat. 60° as far south as the southern limits of forest-growth. A specimen of this bird was obtained 306 M. Menzhier on the Birds of European by Mr. Paljakov near Lake Onega, but it only occasionally straggles to that nortliern country. According to Mr. Russov it is a rare breeding bird in the Baltic provinces, where its more western representative, the Lesser Spotted Eagle, is more common. In the Governments of Tver, Jaroslav, Moscow, Tula, and Orel, the Larger Spotted Eagle is more com- mon, and it is very common in the woods of Eastern Russia, from the Oxa river to the Ural Mountains. In the Ural Mountains and their branches the bird is found from lat. 60° to lat. 55°, but generally its southern breeding-limit in Russia is but little known. On the wooded islands of the Volga it breeds as far south as lat. 50°, and probably still more to the south. According to Mr. Severtzov it is a breeding bird in the forests of the river-valleys in the Govern- ment of Voronesh. More to the south-west it is probably a rare breeding bird in the Government of Kharkov, and, with- out doubt, breeds in the woods of the Government of Kiev ; but in the steppes of New Russia it is replaced by Aquila orientalis. In Western Russia, from the Upper Dnieper to Poland, it breeds everywhere, but is rare. Aquila n^evia. The Lesser Spotted Eagle is met with only in the western parts of Russia ; it is a very typical member of the avifauna of Western and Southern Europe, and generally is found in the same country as the Common Buzzard, the Red Kite, and the Barn-Owl. According to Mr. Mela the Lesser Spotted Eagle is a rare occasional visitor to the eastern shores of the Gulf of Bothnia. My friend Mr. Pleske informs me that this bird has been once found in the district of Vyshny-Voloschok (in the Govern- ment of Tver). It is more common in the Governments of Pskov and St. Petersburg, and breeds everywhere in the Baltic provinces. According to Mr. Taczanovsky it is a breeding bird in Poland, and, on the authority of Mr. Pleske, is common and breeds in the Government of Grodno. More to the south it breeds in the Governments of Podolsk, Kiev, and in Bessarabia, and probably in the whole wooded country Russia north of the Caucasus. 307 between Lake Peypus and the Upper Dnieper. In all the above-mentioned localities the Lesser Spotted Eagle breeds together with its somewhat larger representative, Aquila clariga ; but it is more and more rare in proportion as it recedes from the shores of the Baltic Sea, and the eastern race is, on the contrary, more and more rare in proportion as it approaches it. The Lesser Spotted Eagle is sedentary only in the south- western parts of Russia. Mr. Kalenichenko informs us that Aquila ncevia is found " rariter in montibus Tauriee ad Czatyrdach.^^ I have not seen a specimen of the Spotted Eagle from the Crimea ; but it is not impossible that it is really the Lesser Spotted Eagle that breeds in the mountain- woods of that peninsula, as it is this and not the other species which has been obtained in the Caucasus"^. Aquila bonellii. Bonelli^s Eagle is only a very rare and accidental visitor to the southern parts of Russia. According to Mr. Nordmann it was once met with near Odessa. Mr. Severtzov informs us, on the authority of one of his friends, that this bird has been found in the Govern- ment of Voronesh. An example of it has been obtained near Sarepta. Mr. Goebel tells us that a specimen of Bonelli's Eagle was observed by him in the district of Uman (in the Government of Kiev) ; but this specimen was not obtained, and "die leuch- tenden Schulterflecken,^' mentioned by Mr. Goebel, give us very great doubts in deciding whether the observed bird was really a Bonelli^s Eagle. * Mr. Seebohm informs us (Ibis, 1883, i. p. 3) that in the mountain- valleys of the northern slopes of the Caucasus the Larger Spotted Eagle breeds. But, according to Mr. Bogdanov, in the above-mentioned country the Lesser Spotted Eagle breeds ; and Mr. Severtzov, the most competent judge of the identification of the Eagles, told me that the specimen in Bogdanov's collection was really Aquila ncsvia, and not Aquila clanga. But two males in Mr. Seebohm's collection from Lenkoran are uncLues- tionably A, clanga. 308 M. Menzbiev on the Birds of European Aquila pennata and Aquila minuta. I think that Aquila pennata is distinct from Aquila minuta, with which it_, however^ regularly interbreeds. The Booted Eagles are not iincommon in Southern- Russia, but are very local in the central part of that country. According to ]Mr. Kaplick they are found in the district of Tikhrin (in the Government of Novgorod) . I once found the Booted Eagle in the Government of Tula. Mr. Severtzov informs me that, on the authority of Mr. Bakunin, this bird was probably observed in the Government of Kazan^ near the limit of the district of Bugulma. According to Mr. Sabaueev they are found in the Ural Mountains south of lat 57°. They probably breed in the wooded parts of the country between the Volga and the Ural rivers, and doubt- less also in the Governments of Voronesh, Kharkov, Kiev, Podolsk, and Volhynia, where they are not uncommon. Mr. Taczanovsky records these birds as being rare in Poland. In the south of Russia Booted Eagles have been observed in the wooded districts of the steppes of the Black Sea, as well as in the Crimea, and doubtless breed in both localities. Mr. Karelin has obtained this species near Guriev at the end of August (old style), probably on autumn migration. It is common on spring and autumn migration in the Crimea, especially in the autumn. Haliaetus albicilla. The White-tailed Eagle is a more or less common breeding bird throughout the whole of Russia, with the exception of the central governments, where it is very rare. The northern examples of this bird migrate south during the autumn to Southern Russia, where they meet with the resident birds of the latter country, and consequently the White-tailed Eagle is very common during the winter in Southern Russia. It is not uncommon also during the winter in Western and South-eastern Russia, but is very rare more to the north. Haliaetus leucoryphus. Pallas's Sea-Eagle is doubtless found in South-eastern Russia north of the Caucasus. 309 Russia along the coasts of the Caspian Sea, but its western limit is somewhat difficult to trace. According to Mr. Severtzov, Pallas's Sea-Eagle is to be met with in the steppes of the Caspian Sea as far north as Uralsk and Busuluk (the Samara river). It is very common near the Lower Ural river, especially between the Kalmikova and the sea ; but, on the authority of Mr. Severtzov, in the Caspian steppes there is no place where it regularly breeds. According to Mr. Henke, Pallas^s Sea-Eagle is occasionally found on the steppes of the Lower Volga, where it breeds on the ground. This bird was once seen by Bogdanov at the end of September in the delta of the Terek. According to Col. Irby it is common in the interior of the Crimea, but is not seen among the rocks by the coast. This bird bred, on the authority of Col. L'by, in two instances, on trees close to the Kacha river ; but I have never seen any example of Pallas^s Sea-Eagle in collections of birds from that country, and never observed it during my two journeys in the Crimea. Mr. Kalenichenko states that it is a rare bird in the Government of Kherson, near the Bug, and along the coasts of the Black Sea. Mr. Nordmann supposes that he has had a young bird of this species from the Bug; and a probable instance of its having nested still further westward, in the Pravidy valley, Bulgaria, has been recorded by Mr. Farman. But Messrs. Elwes and Buckley did not observe Pallas^s Sea-Eagle in Turkey, though they searched all the localities Mr, Farman mentions ; and Mr, Alleon did not obtain it, either near Constantinople or in the Dobrudscha, MiLVUS REGALIS. Like the Common Buzzard, the Red Kite is a bird ex- clusively confined to the western Paleearctic Region. It is rare in Russia, where it is found only in the w^estern and south-western parts of the country. It breeds in Livonia and Western Courland, but it only occasionally occurs in Esthonia. Mr. Taczanovsky records the Red Kite as being common and migratory in Poland, and this bird probably breeds in the district of Belsk (in the 310 M, Menzbier on the Birds of European Government of Grodno) ; but it is a very rare accidental visitor to Central Kussia, being found there only as far east as tlie Governments of Tula and of Orel. In the southern portions of Russia the Red Kite doubtless breeds in the dis- trict of Uman (in the Government of Kiev), in the district of Balta (in the Government of Podolsk), near the Dnieper, and. generally in the steppes of the Black Sea west of the Dnieper. In the last-mentioned part of Russia and in Bess- arabia the Red Kite is very common, though it is seen but rarely in the Crimea. Mr. Severtzov, in his ' Fauna of the Government of Vo- ronesh,' says the Red Kite was observed by him several times in that country ; but Mr. Severtzov now tells me that he was probably mistaken, and that the Red Kites of his ' Fauna ' were only rufous and deeply forked-tailed examples of Milvus ater. Pallas says the Red Kite winters on the Lower Volga ; according to Eversmann it occasionally occurs about the lower part of this river ; and Mr. Sa])aneev states that he has seen several Red Kites, amongst hundreds of Milvus ater, flying towards some dead animals in the Kaslinsky Ural. But it is a mistake : no one has ever seen Red Kites in the country between the Government of Tula, the Ural Mountains, and the Lower Volga ; not one skin of Milvus regalis has ever been obtained from Russia east of the Don. " Kites were observed at Cholmogory and elsewhere, usually near towns and villages,^^ Messrs. Alston and Harvie Brown inform us, in their ^ Notes from Archangel.' ^'We did not obtain any specimens, but believe them to have been of this species [M. regalis), ^hxch was the one procured by Lilljeborg and Meves.^' I ought to say that Messrs. Lilljeborg and Meves procured in North Russia only Milvus ater ; and as Milvus regalis certainly does not exist in Finland, I think the Milvus regalis of Messrs. Alston and Harvie Brown is really our common Milvus ater. Milvus ater. The Black Kite is very common throughout the whole of Russia north of the Caucasus. 311 Southern and Central Russia^ and is not uncommon in the middle portion of Northern Russia, from the Upper Volga to Archangel, and from Lake Onega to the Dvina. In Fin- land it is only an occasional visitor to the northern and north-eastern shores of the Gulf of Finland, and was never obtained in any other part of the country, being very rare near the western coast of Lake Onega. From the Dvina to the Ural Mountains its breeding-limit is unknown ; but in the last-mentioned mountains it is found as far north as the Bogoslovsky Ural. Eastwards from the Ural Mountains the Black Kite is found as far as Semirechje; but, on the authority of Mr. Severtzov, it is rare in that country in comparison with Milvus govinda, which is distributed as far west as the Ural Mountains. The proportionate number of the two species in the country between the Ural Mountains and Semirechje is distinctly contrasted, Milvus govinda being rare near the eastern slopes of the Ural, and becoming more and more common as it approaches Semirechje; Milvus ater being common in the Ural and near it, but becoming more and more rare in proportion as it retreats from the same country. In the Ural Mountains, amongst the typical specimens of the Black Kite are found many specimens of a Kite with intermediate characters between the two extremes — Milvus ater and M. govinda ; and a specimen of the same character was obtained in the Government of Kostroma, where Milvus govinda had never been found. East of the Ural Mountains are found specimens which are between the intermediate form and one of the two extremes, Milvus govinda • but speci- mens between the intermediate form and the other extreme, Milvus ater, have never been obtained, though the latter is distributed throughout that country as well as its more eastern representative. On that ground it is very possible that these specimens are not produced by the interbreeding of the two extremes, but represent the not extinct inter- mediate form between Milvus ater and Milvus govinda, which are only subspecifically distinct. In the western parts of Russia the Black Kite breeds, 312 M. Menzbier on the Birds of European togetlier with the Red Kite, but is very rare in some districts of that country. In the Baltic provinces it nests in the eastern part of Livonia, and is a rare breeding bird in Cour- land ; but it is only occasionally found throughout the other parts of the country, where the Red Kite is more common. In Poland, according to Mr. Taczanovsky, the Black Kite is more common east of the A^istula, and the Red Kite, on the contrary, is more common west of that river. More to the souths in South-western Russia, and near the northern coast of the Black Sea, the bird generally is common, but in tlie Crimea it is found only on migration. MiLVUS GOVINDA. Since the publication of my ^ Ornithological Geography ' I have seen a very typical specimen of Milvus yovinda from the Sercbrianka river (in the Government of Perm), and we shall probably be obliged to enlarge the breeding-range of this Kite as far w^est as the western slopes of the Ural Mountains. This bird has been found throughout the whole country from Semirechje to the last-mentioned mountains. On migration Milvus govinda has been obtained several times by Mr. Alleon on the Balkan peninsula. Milvus gi.aucopus. The Blue-footed Kite was discovered by Eversmann. In colouring and dimensions it is a very near relative of Milvus govinda, from which it can be easily distinguished by having blue feet and a blue cere. Mr. Severtzov supposes it is an atavistic form of Milvus yovinda. We know at present of but very few specimens of this bird, obtained in the Government of Orenburg, in Ust-Urt, and about the Lake Zaysan. ASTUR PALUMBARIUS. The Goshawk is distributed throughout almost the whole of Russia, from the limit of forest-growth in the north to the Black Sea, the Caucasus, and the Caspian Sea in the south. Generally it is nowhere very common ; but in the central and northern governments it is more common than in the other Russia north of the Caucasus. 313 parts of the country, but is very rare near its northern breeding-limit and in Southern Russia. It is resident in every part of its breeding-range, with the exception of the extreme north, where it is partially migra- tory. In North-east Russia, from the Government of Kos- troma to the Ural Mountains, and probably more east, amongst the typical specimens of the Goshawk are found birds with a more or less developed white colour. Some specimens of this variety are all over of a very light colour, al most white ; others, being generally of the normal grey, have large white spots on different parts of their plumage. This albinoid variety is probably produced by the difference of climate of North-eastern Russia in comparison with that of Western Europe ; and I think these more or less white speci- mens show us that the same relation exists between Astur palumbarius and Astu7' candidissimus as between Poecile pa- lustris and Poecile kamtschatkensis, Picus major and Picus major kamtschatkensis, Picus minor and Picus minor kamt- schatkensis, &c. Astur brevipes. The breeding-range of the Levant Sparrow-Hawk in Russia appears to be very little known. On the authority of Mr. Karelin it is rare in the country about the Ural river ; and Mr. Henke tells us that it is occasionally found breeding in the poplars, in the vineyards near Astrakhan. According to Mr. Severtzov it breeds and is a partial resident in the Government of Voronesh. I think I have seen the Levant Sparrow-Hawk several times in the Crimea, on the south coast, in July and August of 1882 ; but as it was not obtained, it was impossible to identify the bird. According to Mr. Severtzov it is found during the autumn migration near the mouth of the Ural river. ACCIPITER NISUS. Like the Goshawk, the Sparrow-Hawk is distributed throughout the whole wooded country of Russia, but is a more regular visitor than that bird. The northern examples do not pass the winter in their breeding-range and regularly SER. V. VOL. II. 2 a 314 M. Mcnzljier on the Birds of European migrate southwards daring the autumn ; those from Middle llussia arc only partially migratory, a few remaining there throughout the whole winter ; and in Southern Russia the bird is rare during the summer, and is more common on migration and in the winter. Generally the Sparrow-Hawk is more common everywhere than the Goshawk, and is very common in some parts of Central Russia. According to Mr. Shatilov it is resident in the Crimea. Strigiceps cyaneus. The Hen-Harrier is distributed throughout the whole of Russia as far north as lat. 68° and 69°^ but is very rare near its northern breeding-limit, and is more common only south of lat. 62°. This bird is very common in Central and Southern Russia. In the steppes near the Lower Ural river, the Lower Volga, in the steppes of New Russia, and in the Crimea, the Hen- Harrier is found during the whole winter. Strigiceps pallidus. The Pallid Harrier breeds only throughout the southern parts of Russia, but as an irregular straggler it is found further north. According to Mr. Sabaneev, it is found in the steppes south of Ekaterinburg ; and Mr. Pleske informs me that this bird is common in the district of Orenburg. On the authority of Mr. Karelin it is found in the steppes near the Ural river, and by Mr. Bogdanov it was observed in the district of Balashev (in the Government of Saratov), in the Government of Stavropol, and in the valleys of the Terek and Kuban. It is not uncommon in tlie Government of Voronesh, is found in the Government of Kiev and near the border of the Government of Kherson, and breeds throughout all the steppes of the Black Sea. According to Mr. Schatilov it occurs in the Crimea; and Mr. Henke tells us that a few specimens of this species are found all the year round at Astrakhan. At the end of summer I have several times ob- tained young specimens of the Pallid Harrier in the Govern- ments of Orel and Tula, and Mr. Lorenz has furnished me with Russia north of the Caucasus. 315 specimens from the Government of Moscow ; but I tliink it does not breed tliercj because not one adult specimen liaa been obtained by us in these localities. According to Mr. Mela it is a very rare and accidental visitor to the northern coast of the Gulf of Finland. Strigiceps cineraceus, Montagu's Harrier is found in all parts of Southern and Middle Russia. In the Ural Mountains it is distributed as far north as Ekaterinburg ; in the country between Ekaterinburg and the mouth of the Kama its northern breeding-limit is unknown, but it is a common breeding bird in the district of Birsk (in the Government of Ufa). According to Mr. Bogdanov it is found in the Government of Kazan. On the authority of Mr. Pavlov, Montagu's Harrier is a rare breeding bird in the Government of Riazan. In the country adjoining the Government of Moscow the bird is rare, though it breeds everywhere in suitable localities. According to Mr. Russov it breeds in the Baltic provinces. Generally its northern breeding-limit in Central Russia is represented by the Volga from the mouth of the Kanin to the mouth of the Mologa. In the country between the mouth of the last-mentioned river and the Gulf of Finland the northern breeding-limit of Montagu's Harrier is unknown; but the species is found rarely in the Governments of Tver and St. Petersburg, and strays as far the northern coast of the Gulf of Finland. A few examples of this bird are found all the year round in the steppes of Southern Russia and in the Crimea. Circus ^ruginosus. The Marsh-Harrier is distributed throughout the whole of Russia as far north as Archangel, with the exception of Lap- land, Finland, and the north-eastern country from the Dvina to the Ural Mountains, but it is rare north of the Volga. In the Ural Mountains its northern breeding-limit is about lat. 58°. In some parts of Middle and Southern Russia this bird is very common. In the steppes of Southern Russia a few Marsh-Harriers are found all the year round. 2a2 316 Mr. R. B. Sliarpc on Birds XXXIV. — On a Collection of Birds made in Southern Pala- wan by Mr. E. Lempriere. By B. Bowdler Siiarpe, F.L.S.^ F.Z.S., &c., Department of Zoology, British Museum. (Plate VIII.) The contributions to our knowledge of tlie avifauna of the island of Palawan are two in number, viz. : — my own paper on the birds collected by Professor J. B. Steere in the Philip- pine archipelago, published in the ^Transactions of theLinneau Society ' (second series. Zoology, vol. i. pp. 307-355) ; and Lord Tweeddale's account of the collections made by Mr. Everett (P. Z. S. 1878, pp. 611-621). The chief interest attaching to Mr, Lempriere^s collection arises from the fact that it has been made in a portion of the island yet unvisited, and that, as will be seen, it not only contains examples of many of the species discovered by Professor Steere and Mr. Everett, but also brings to our knowledge one or two un- described kinds of birds. Cacatua H/EMaturopygia (Miill.). Cacatua hcumaturopygia (Midi.) ; Sharpe, t. c. p. 312 ; Wardlaw Eamsay, Orn. Works Marq. Tweed, p. 655. New to Palawan. Tanygnathus luconensis (L.). Tanygnathus luconensis (L.) ; Sharpe, /. c. p. 312 ; Tweedd. t. c. p. 612; Wardlay Ramsay, t. c. p. 655. Procured by Prof. Steere and Mr. Everett. Centrococcyx eurycercus (Blyth). Centrococcyx eurycercus (Blyth) ; Tweedd. t. c. p. 614 ; Wardlaw Ramsay, /, c. p. 656. Found also by Mr. Everett. Dryococcyx harrtngtoni, Sharpe. Phcenicophaes harringtoni, Tweedd. t. c. p. 613; Wardlaw Ramsay, t. c. p. 656. Several specimens. This species was discovered by Prof. Steere, and afterwards found by Mr. Everett at Puerto Princesa. ]jDis,1884,PlVm. J Ct Keulemajis litii ILmiiaj-t. iiiip THRIPONA^ HARGITTi collected in Southern Palawan. 317 Lord Tvveeddale was inclined to regard the structnral difference in the nostrils as of specific rather than generic importance. Chrysocolaptes erythrocephalus^ Sharpe. C/irysocolaptes erythrocephalus, Sharpe, t. c. p. 315 ; Tweedd. t. c. p. 612; Wardlaw Ramsay, t. c. p. 655. A fine adult male. TiGA EVERETTI, TwCcdd. Tiga everetti, Tweedd. t. c. p. 612 ; Wardlaw Ramsay, /. c. p. 655. Tigajavanensis, Sharpe, t.c. p. 315 (nee Ljungh). It will be noticed that in my paper on Prof. Steere^s birds I doubted the identity of the Palawan Tiga with the Bornean T.javanensis. The only specimen brought by Prof. Steere from Palawan was in poor condition, and I did not like to separate the bird specifically ; but Lord Twecddale has since named it Tiga everetti, and Mr. Lempriere's series amply confirms the distinctness of the Palawan species. Thriponax hargitti, sp. n. (Plate VIII.) Thriponax javensis,T^i.; Sharpe, /. c. p. 314. Three specimens of this large black Woodpecker, which I am afraid I wrongly identified in 1876, when Prof. Steere procured in Palawan an example which I referred to T. ja- vensis. On showing Mr. Lemprit^re's skins to my friend Mr. Hargitt, the latter gentleman pointed out to me that they could not belong to T.javensis, as they had a white rump, whereas T. javensis is entirely black above. The white rump is a character peculiar to a section of the genus Thri- ponax, and therefore the nearest ally of the Palawan Black Woodpecker is Thriponax feddeni of Burmah. It may, how- ever, be distinguished from the latter species by its jjerfectly black primaries. The Palawan Woodpecker may therefore be diagnosed as follows : — Thriponax hargitti, sp. n. T, similis T. feddeni, sed primariis basaliter nigris distin- guendus : long. tot. 16-5, culmen 2'15, alae 8-3, caudae 6-6, tarsi 1-45. 318 Mr. R. B. Sliarpc on Birds I have ventured to attach to this species the name of Mr. Edward llargitt^ who is doing such excellent work with the Picidse. AlCEDO BENGALENSIS, Gm. Alcedo bengalensis, Gm. ; Wardlaw Ramsay, t. c. p. 655. New to Palawan. Pelargopsis leucocephala (Gm.). Pelargopsis leucocephala (Gm.); Sharpe^ t. c. p. 317; Ward- law Ramsay^ t. c. p. G55. Two specimens. Found by Prof. Stecre in the island. Ceyx rufidorsa^ Strickl. Ceycc rufidoi'sa, Strickl.; Sharpe^ Monogr. Alced. pi. 41. New to the Philippine group. CORONE PUSILLA (Twccdd.). Corvus pusillus, Tweedd. I.e. p. 622; Wardlaw Ramsay, /. c. p. 658. Several specimens in the collection, I think, in contra- vention to the opinion of the late Lord Tweeddale, that this is one of the races of C. euca. The wing varies from 9-3 to 10-4. BUCHANGA LEUC0PH.EA (V.) . Buchanga leucophcua (V.) ; Tweedd. t. c. p. 615 ; Wardlaw Ramsay, t. c. p. 656. Buchanga cineracea, Sharpc, /. c. p. 324. Already obtained in Palawan by Prof. Steere and Mr. Everett. Chibia palawanensis (Tweedd.). Dicrurus palawanensis, Tweedd. /. c. p. 614 ; Wardlaw Ramsay, t. c. p. 656. This species appears to me to be distinct, as the speci- mens bear out the observations of Lord Tweeddale, who possessed a special knowledge of these puzzling birds. The lanceolate spangles on the fore neck, however, will distinguish it from C. pectoralis, like which species it has the throat unspotted. collected in Southern Palawan. 319 OrIOLUS PALAWAN en sis. Broderipus palawanensis, Tweedd. /. c, p. 616; Wardlaw Ramsay, t. c. p. 657. Three specimens, which bear out the characters of the species as defined by Lord Tweeddale. In two of them the wing measures 5'9 inches, in the third 5'6. Artamides sumatrensis (S. Miill.). Artamides sumatrensis (S. Miill.) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. iv. p. 12. Graucalus sumatrensis, Sharpe, i. c. p. 323 ; Tweedd. t. c. p. 614. Examples of both sexes are in the collection. Pericrocotus igneus, Blyth. Pericrocotus igneus, Blyth ; Sharpe, t. c. p. 324 ; Wardlaw Ramsay, t. c. p. 656. Found only by Prof. Steere, and not by Mr. Everett. Pericrocotus cinereus, Lafresn, Pericrocotus cinereus, Lafresn. ; Sharpe, Cat. B. iv. p. 83 ; Wardlaw Ramsay, t. c. p. 656. Recorded by Capt. Wardlaw Ramsay in his Systematic Catalogue as from Palawan, but I do not know on what authority, as neither Prof. Steere nor Mr. Everett met with it. SiPHIA LEMPRIERI, Sp. U. Adult male. General colour above dull blue, with half- concealed tufts of white on the sides of the rump; lesser wing-coverts brighter cobalt, forming a shoulder-patch; median and greater series blackish, externally like the back ; bastard wing, primary-coverts, and quills black, with narrow margins of dull blue, broader on the secondaries ; tail-fea- thers blackish, greenish blue externally ; head like the back, the base of the forehead brighter cobalt, extending backwards over the eye and forming an eyebrow ; lores black ; sides of face and ear-coverts and cheeks black, glossed with dull blue ; a moustachial line of blue feathers tipped with white ; a black chin-spot ; throat and fore neck orange-buff, extending down 820 Mr. R. B. Sliarpe on Birds the sides of the body, but paler, and inclining to whitish below the black chin-spot; centre of breast and abdonien white, as also the under tail-coverts, with a slight tinge of buff; lateral breast-feathers tipped with blue, like the back ; thighs white, with blackish bases ; axillaries and under wing- coverts white, slightly tinged with buff ; edge of wing blue. Total length 5'9 inches, culmen 0"7, wing 2"9, tail 2"5, tarsus 0'7. This species is closely allied to Siphia phiUppensis, but is much larger, of a more greenish blue, and is especially dis- tinguished by the white moustache, forming a narrow line down each side of the throat. Zeocephus cyanescens, Sharpe. Zeocephus cyanescens", Sharpe, t. c. p. 328, pi. 48. fig. 2 ; id. Cat. B. iv. p. 343. A single specimen of what I believe to be the female of this species. It is like a huge Hypothywis, but I believe it to be really the other sex of Z. cyanescens. General colour above dark vinaceous brown, rather clearer on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; wing-coverts duller brown, the greater series externally edged with vinaceous brown ; quills dark brown, externally margined with reddish brown, much paler and more tawny rufous along the outer webs of the secondaries; tail-feathers dull rufous, browner on the edges ; head crested, dull cyaneous, more dusky in front of the eye ; sides of face, cheeks, and under surface of body from the throat to the breast pale ashy cyaneous, dull whitish on the flanks and under tail-coverts, with a faint vinous tinge ; sides of neck dull cyaneous, washed with brown ; axillaries light fulvous ; under Aving-coverts dark brown, washed with dull blue; quills dusky brown below, ashy fulvous along the edge of the inner web. Total length 6'8 inches, culmen 0*8, wing 3*35, tail 3'35, tarsus 0'7. Lord Tweeddale, in describing his Trichostoma rufifrons (P. Z. S. 1878, p. 616), suggests that Z. cyanescens may be congeneric with T. rufifrons. I have described and classified the Timeliidae since that time, and find that T. rufifrons is a collected in Southern Palawan. 321 Turdinus (Cat. B, vii. p. 546), while Zeocephas is a true Fly- catcher, nearly allied to Terpsiphone. Irena TWEEDDALii, Sliarpe. Irena tiveeddalii, Sharpe, t. c. p. 333 ; id. Cat. B. vi. p. 178 ; Wardlaw Ramsay, t. c. p. 657. Several specimens of both sexes. Mr. Everett does not appear to have met with it. Anuropsis cinereiceps (Tweedd.). Anuropsis cinereiceps (Tweedd.) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. vii. p. 590. Drijmocataphus cinereiceps, Tweedd. t.c. p. 617; Wardlaw Ramsay, t. c. p. 657. Two specimens in full plumage. CiNNYRis AURORA (Twccdd.) ; Shelley, Monogr. Nect. pi. 47. fig. 1 ; Wardlaw Ramsay, /. c. p. 658. Cyrtostomus aurora, Tweedd, /. c. p. 620. Some specimens of this beautiful species are in the collection. HiRUNDO JAVANiCA, Sparrm. Hirundojavanica, Sparrm.; Tweedd. t.c. p. 615 ; Ward- law Ramsay, /. c. p. 657. One specimen. EULABES JAVANENSIS, Osb. Eulabes javanensis, Osb.; Wardlaw Ramsay, t. c. p. 658. Gracula javanensis, Tweedd. t.c. p. 622. Procured also by Prof. Steere and Mr. Everett. Calornis panayensis (Scop.). Calornis panayensis (Scop.) ; Tweedd. t. c. p. 622 ; Wardlaw Ramsay, t. c. p. 658. Found also by Mr. Everett and Prof. Steere. Pitta sordida (Mtill.). • Brachyurus sordidus, Sharpc, t.c. p. 331. Melanopitta sordida, Tweedd. t. c. p. 949; Wardlaw Ramsay, /. c. p. 657. One specimen sent. 322 Count T, Salvudori on the Eighth and Ninth Carpopiiaga iENEAj Tick. Carpojjhaga cenea, Tick.; Twcedd. t.c. p. G23; Wardlaw Ramsay, t. c. p. 659. Observed by Mr. Everett at Puerto Princesa. Ptilopus melanocepiialus (Forst.). Ptilopus melanocephalus (Forst.) ; Tweedd. t. c. p. 951 ; Wardlaw Ramsay, t. c. p. 659. New to Palawan, but known from South Mindanao, Ba- silan, and the Sulu Islands. Megapodius cumingi, Dillw. Megapodius cumingi, Dillw. ; Tweedd. /. c. p. 624. Two specimens. See Lord Tweeddale^'s remarks, /. c. i^GIALTTIS PERONI (Tcmm.) . jEgialitis peronii (Temm.) ; Tweedd. t. c. p. 344; Wardlaw Ramsay, t. c. p. 659. This species was found by Mr. Everett in Leyte and Bohoh Is this the ^gialitis cantianus of Lord Tweeddale (P. Z. S. 1878, p. 624) ? JjIgialitis geoffroyi, Wagl. Eudromias geoffroyi, Tweedd. t. c. pp. 344, 624. Found by Mr. Everett at Puerta Princesa. XXXV. — Remarks on the Eighth and Ninth Volumes of the ' Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum.' By T. Salvador:, C.M.Z.S, For. Memb. B.O.U. The eighth and ninth volumes of the ' Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum ' have been prepared by Mr. Gadow. It is not my intention to write a complete critical review of them, but only to proffer some remarks especially on those points in which I am concerned, or which are well known to me, as relating mostly to Papuan species. The eighth volume contains the Paridse, Laniidae, and Certhiomorphse. In the Introduction (p. viii) Mr. Gadow mentions the names of eight " gentlemen, who by the loan of specimens have Volumes of the B. M. Catalogue of Birds. 323 considerably facilitated the completion of the volume." Cer- tainly it would have been too great an honour for me to have had my name united with theirs ; but still I do not understand why Mr. Gadow should have omitted it entirely, as, besides the type of Lanius antinorii, I sent for inspection to the British Museum a complete set of all the Pachycephaline birds belonging to Beccari's and D'Albertis's Papuan collec- tions, every specimen being properly named. Several of them were type specimens, and I suppose that Mr. Gadow must have derived some benefit from their examination. Coming now to some particular points, we find that Mala- conotus hypopyrrhus, Hartl., has been united with Laniarius poliocephalus (p. 15G). I know that several ornithologists agree in this ; but according to my idea the two birds are distinct. Heuglin has already remarked (Orn. N.O.-Afr. p. 466) that among many specimens collected by him in North-east Africa none had the orange tint on the breast, which is peculiar to L. hypopyrrhus. I may add that Antinori^s first African collection (Cat. p. 54) contained five specimens from Djur, three males and two females, and no)ie had the orange breast like the two specimens which he has lately sent from Shoa. Leaving that question, and admitting for a moment that L. hypopyrrhus (Kartl.) is = L. poliocephalus, it seems very curious to find that while L. hypopyrrhus was described in 1844, Mr. Gadow should use now (p. 155) the same name for another species, viz. Vanga cruenta, Less, (nee Lanius cruentus, H. et E.) ! I therefore propose for Lesson^s species the name of Laniarius lessoni. I have been much astonished at the curious mixture of Pachycephala macrorhyncha, Strickl., and P. obiensis, Salvad. with P. melanura, Gould, in Mr. Gadow's volume (p. 185). I believe that Mr. Sharpe, in his Report of the ' Alert,^ is about to settle those birds in their proper places again. Mr. Gadow, notwithstanding Canon Tristram's remarks and my acquiescence with them, unites P. christophori, Tristr. with P. astrolabi ! * * In the course of some remarks made before the Zoological Society of Loudon, Canou Tristram has, I believe, already objected to this aud other identificatious made by Mr. Gadow, 324 Count T. Salvadori on the Eighth and Ninth The insular forius P. jobiensis and P. miosnomensis ai*e united with P. (jriseiceps (p. 215), although sufficiently distinct. I must also protest against calling the Musci- trea cyanea, Hume (p. 22-1), P. cyanea, there being already a Pachycephala cyanea of mine, especially as Mr. Gadow could have chosen for Mr. Hume^s species one of the two other names belonging to it. I do not see much use in having a figure (pi. ix.) of Pachycephala poliosoma, as this species has already been figured in the ' Birds of New Guinea/ pt. xiii. Mr. Gadow could have bestowed one of his plates on a species not yet figured. In concluding my remarks on Mr. Gadow's eighth volume of the Catalogue, I may say that I have failed to find in it any mention of the following species : — 1st. Lanius dorsalis, Cab. Journ. f. Orn. 1878, pp. 205, 225, which most likely is the same as my Lanius antinorii, and which has already been mentioned several times (Ibis, 1879, pp. 104, 354; Journ. f. Orn. 1879, p. 213; Oust. Note s. 1. Ois. ComaUs, p. 10, 1882). 2nd. Lanius gubernator , Hartl. Orn. Centralbl. 1882, p. 91 ; id. Journ. f. Orn. 1882, pp. 323, 350, Taf. i. f. 2. 3rd. Lanius pyrrhostictus, Ilolub et Pelz. Beitr. Orn. Sud- afr. p. 97, Taf. ii. (1882) ; Pelz. Verb, zool.-bot. Gesellsch. Wien, 1882, p. 505 ; Hartl. Abb. naturw. Ver. Brem. 1882, p. 224. The last is, most likely, only the female of Lanius col- laris. These omissions (and perhaps there may be others Avhich now escape me) show clearly that Mr. Gadow is not very well acquainted with ornithological literature. The second volume by Mr. Gadow contains the Nectari- niidse and the Meliphagidse ; but I am sorry to say that in treating of the former he has only succeeded in spoiling the good work done by Capt. Shelley in his excellentMono- graph of that family, and that as regards the Meliphagidae, Mr. Gadow has done as much as he could to reduce them to a very sad state of confusion, having destroyed the little order I tried to introduce among them while treating in my Volumes of the B. M. Catalogue of Birds. 325 '' Ornitologia ^ of more than a hundred species — that is to say, nearly half the known ones. As regards the Nectariniidae, Mr. Gadow recognizes only as races Nectarinia bocagei, N. cupreonitens, Mtliopifga cava, JE. nicobarica, and JE. horsfieldi ; and perhaps he may have some apparent reason, although to my mind, several of these are entitled to specific rank as much as many others recognized as distinct by Mr. GadoAV. According to my idea the genus Eudrepanis, if not Urodrepanis, ought to be kept separate from Mthopyga. Under C'mnyris venusta Mr. Gadow unites four races, which Capt. Shelley separates as species. C. osiris, C. erythroceria, C. bifasciata, and C microrhyncha are united with C. mariquensis ; C. andamanica with C. flammaxillaris ; C. frenata with C. jugularis ; C. ac'ik with (7. senegalensis ; C. kirki with C. amethystina ; Anthotlireptes hypodila and A. zambesiana with A. collaris ; and A. celebensis, A. rho- dolmna, and A. chlorogaster with A. malaccensis ! But Mr. Gadow has made still greater havoc in the Hermotimia group. While twelve species (leaving out H. grayi) and three subspecies have been admitted by Captain Shelley, who ought to know something about them, Mr. Gadow has reduced them to three only ! Even allowing that H. morotensis may not be sufficiently distinct from H. auriceps, H. salvadorii from H. nigriscajndaris, and //. aspasioides, Cornelia, corinna, mysorensis, jobiensis, and even maforensis from H. aspasia, I should like to ask anybody who knows anything about birds if H. auricep)S and H. porphyrol(emay with the metallic portion of the plumage (except the head) o£ a very dark steel-blue, can be united with H. aspasia, H, nigriscapularis , and H. proserpina, which have the metallic portion of the plumage golden green on the upper tail- coverts and rump, while the last two species are so con- spicuously different from H. aspasia, wanting the bright golden-green scapulars, and differ inter se as regards the smaller wing-coverts, which are entirely bright bluish green in H.jjrosei'pina, and black, except a few on the angle of the wing, in H. nigriscapularis. The importance of all these differences is confirmed by the 326 Count T. Salvador! on the Eighth and Ninth different geographical distribution of each form, and would be duly appreciated by any one who is accustomed to dis- criminate allied forms. But for that one must be an orni- thologist. Moreover, while our author has tried to keep as different races H. aspasia and H. a.^pasioides, he has made a great confusion as regards their geographical distribution. The range of H. aspasioides is given (p. 71) as " S.E. New Guinea and New Britain/' whereas it was described from Amboyna, and it is confined to the Amboyna or Ceram group ; and among the localities of H. aspasia Mr. Gadow includes Amboyna, where that form has never been found. In fact H. aspasioides is, in the Ceram group, the Moluccan representative of the exclusively Papuan H. aspasia. I must also point out that Mr. G adow has entirely omitted Cyrtostomus melanocephalas (Ramsay) from the Solomon Islands, described at p. 2G9 of the second volume of my ' Ornitologia della Papuasia e delle Molucche,' where, besides the description, all the quotations belonging to it are to be found. This species has been omitted by Caj)t. Shelley in his Monograph, and so has escaped the notice of Mr. Gadow, who has not even taken the trouble of looking into that part of my work relating to the Nectariniidse, which he has most carefully avoided quoting. Passing to the Meliphagidse, the first species we find (p. 129) is Myzomela guentheri from New Britain, described as new, while most certainly it is the same as my Myzomela erythronielas, of which there is no mention in Mr. Gadow's volume, although it was dcscriljed by me in 1881 (Atti R. Ac. Sc. Tor. xvi. p. 624), mentioned in the ' Annali del Museo Civico di Genova,' xviii. p. 424, and in ' The Ibis,' 1882, p. 176, and redescribed in the third part of my ' Ornitologia,' p. 541. M. infuscata, Salvad., a representative form of M. erythro- cephala in the Aru Islands, has also escaped Mr. Gadow's attention. Myzomela adolphin. Stejneger on new Birds from Kamtschatka and the Commander Islands. [Diag-noses of new Species of Birds from Kamtschatka and the Com- mander Islands. By Leonard Stejneger. Proc. Biol. See. Washington, ii. 1882-84. Extras printed April ICHh, 1884.] Mr. Stejneger publishes, in '' extras " from the ' Pro- Recently published Ornithological Works. 347 ceedings of the Biological Society of Washington/ diagnoses of five more " new species " of birds discovered during his recent expedition to Kamtschatka and the Commander Islands. These are entitled Pica camtschatica, Corvus grebnitskii, Alauda blakistoni, Dendrocopus immaculatus, and Lagopus ridgivayi. We never like to condemn species before seeing specimens of them ; but, judging from the diagnoses and from what we know of the variations of such forms as Pica caudata and Corvus corax, we should be inclined to doubt whether some of these supposed species would be generally accepted. 67. Swinburne' s List of the Birds inhabiting the Islands of Sula Sgeir. [Notes on the Islands of Sula Sgeir, or North Barra and North Eona, with a List of the Birds inhabiting them. By John Swinburne. Proc. R. Physical Soc. Edinb. viii. p. 51.] The writer gives an interesting epitome of the results of the visits of his predecessors (from 1594 to the present date) to these remote islands, the latter of which has been uninhabited since 1844, except during a few days at the annual shearing of the sheep which are pastured there. The principal interest of North Rona consists in the fact that the Fork-tailed or Leach's Petrel [Thalassidroma leucorrhoa) breeds there in considerable numbers. Eighteen species of birds were noted altogether. 68. Vieillofs 'Analyse' (reprint). [Vieillot's Analyse d'une nouvelle Ornithologie Elementaire. Edited by Howard Saunders, F.L.S., P\Z.S. Loudon : 1883.] This necessary work to all ornithologists has been reprinted by the Willughby Society, and issued to subscribers for 1883. Saunders, who has edited the reprint, gives in his preface a short account of Vieillot's life and labours. 2c 2 348 Letters, Announcements, ^c. 69. Vorderman's 'Birds of Batavia' [Bataviasclie Vogels door A. G. Yorderman. Part V. Overgedrukt uit het Natuurk. Tijds. Nederl. Indie, Deel xliii. Ail. 8.] Mr. Vorderman continues his notes on the birds of the vicinity of Batavia (c/. Ibis, 1884, p. 111). 70. Wagler^s Six Ornithological Memoirs (reprint) . [Wagler's Six Ornithological Memoirs from the ' l-is.' Edited by P. L. Scdater, M.A., Pb.U., F.K.S. London : 1884.] Wagler^s six memoirs are certainly the most important ornithological papers of the ' Isis ;' and the Willughby Society has done a good work in reprinting them. If Boie^s memoirs were treated in the same way, as we trust will be the case, the long series of this old German journal would cease to be an absolutely necessary component of the ornithologist's library. XXXVIII. — Letters, Announcements, ^c. We have received the following letters addressed to the Editors of'The Ibis:' — Northrepps, April 18, 1884. Sirs, — In the last number of ' The Ibis ' {supra, p. 207) reference is made to Dr. Dybowski's valuable paper on the Birds of Kamtschatka, published in the Bull. Soc. Zool. de France, 1883, p. 351. In this paper, and also in one by Mr. Taczanowski at p. 329 of the same volume, Astur atri- capiUus is included as a species inhabiting Kamtschatka, the only authority for so regarding it being, as far as I am aware, a description of a young female Goshawk, referred by Mr. Taczanowski to this species, which is given at p. 331 of his paper just mentioned. So far as my experience goes, it is not possible to distin- guish with any certainty yis^M/- atricapillus in the first year's plumage from A. palumbarius at a similar age ; and I am Letters, Announcements, ^c. 349 therefore sceptical as to the former being really an Asiatic species, and cannot but think it more probable that the specimen described by Mr. Taczanowski is a young female of A. palumhar'ius. 1 may take the opportunity of observing that the White Goshawk, for which Dr. Dybowski has proposed the appro- priate name of "" candidissimus,'' would seem to be the same as that which was described as "Accipiter astur Q " in the Zoogr. Rosso-As. of Pallas, vol. i. p. 370. It is, however, worthy of remark that Pallas describes the colour of the iris as " flavissima " and Dybowski as " brunnea.^^ Yours &c., J. H. GURNEY. SiRSj — Can you give space for the following argument and actual record of a very rare Scottish bird? The enclosed slips explain my object in pressing for the adoption of a uniform method of recording rare occurrences of birds and other migrational phenomena. I do not desire to force my method upon anybody, be he editor, or journalist, or natural historian of any area ; I only wish to test its usefulness, and to arrive at uniformity of method, w^hether my plan, or a better matured one, be adopted. Originality has its charms, no doubt, but utility of method I hold cannot be overrated. I send this record in the form proposed (p. 350), and I also instance how easy it is to extend from it for more popular or, it may be, for more permanent historical record. Scotland. Record No. 2. Duplicate. Being a full text of the Record, written out direct from the Form. On March 31st, 1884, at Pentland Skerries, in the Pent- land Firth, Ruticilla titys (the Black Redstart) — a fine adult male — was shot by Mr, John Gilmour, lighthouse-keeper, at the locality named : it was roughly skinned, and sent to J. 350 Letters, Announcements, fifc. o » Pi o w o o s 53 ^ t^ P^ 0^ Weather. CO r-H (M CO IJ 5 fcX3 ^ ID &, 0? CO (=1 CO o c 5 Strong S.E •4.S8ioads jaqio ao * saioads umo s:)i jo 3[00]J 13 l{:iIAi JO * 9no[TJ pnno^ •xag •t) •SmioX JO -pu : 8§Y 'i Species. RuticiUa titys (Scop.) . . Locality. Pentland Skerries . . P March 31st, 1884 . . CO I s I o m O 03 ;h ci o T3 f* r/3 .-H O c cq O) ^ o ^ T3 o o (X> .3 O g O U "-> 0) a ° g S o « Q ■=« -(-» o "^ I s GO ce ^ ^ Letters, Announcements, ^c. 351 A. Harvie-Brown for identification, and it is now in the museum of Major H. W. Feilden and Harvie-Brown. It arrived with [a fiock of j other migrants, amongst which were 1 Robin, several Sandpipers, 1 Yellow Bunting, 1 Chaf- finch, Wheatears [locally and erroneously called " Stone- chats •"] , 1 Golden-crested Wren, and 1 Common Thrush. Mr. Gilmour writes : — " I have never seen a bird like it before." It came with a strong S.E. wind, and a S. and S.E. wind had prevailed for some days (3) beforehand. The weather was clear on the 28th, but hazy on the 31st, or day of capture. Note. — This may, we believe, be considered the most northerly record of the species in Britain up to date. In conclusion, uniformity of method is a desideratum — a saving of time, labour, and thought. If some such form be adopted by all readers, how easy would it become for an editor, or any other party desirous of writing at length, to " read as he ran," and to transform the uniform records into extended and possibly more popularly useful and permanent ones. A single page, or at most two, of any periodical each month would provide ample space for the whole uniform records of that month. Query : — How many pages more would give the permanent information whenever it is desired to extend it, or to '^^ write off,''^ '^ compile," and ^'render permanently historical " the fauna, or this portion of the faunal account, of any county or faunal area ? And Query: — Would it not be easier to sift the value of each record if it were primarily placed in some such form ? also to illustrate this and to reply to it ? To correspond and ask for further data and corroborative facts in connexion with all records of rarities consumes the time of a working naturalist. To minimize this loss of time seems desirable. Example. — A correspondent writes : — " Dear H.-B. You record in 'Ibis^ for June 1884 the occurrence of Ruticilla /i/y5 from Peutland Skerries, dated 31st March, 1884. Please inform me time of day it was captured or first seen." Instead of this, it might be : — " Dear H.-B. : vide Record 352 Letters, Announcements, ^c. No, 2, June 188-4<^ Ibis, }). 350, Ruticilla titys. Wanted, time of day first seen or captured." The reason for this query might be that tlie correspondent wished to compare the time witli an occurrence at some otlier contiguous station, or to correlate with it a large " rush " of migrants. When one has often a dozen or more such letters to reply to, the time could be reduced by method. Yours &c., J. A. Harvie-Brown, Memher Migration Committee of the Brit. Assoc. Bremen, May 8, 1884. Sirs,— As the Editors of ' The Ibis ' (1884, p. 116) express certain doubts in regard to the validity of the newly described species of Ostrich {Struthio mofi/bdophcmes), I may state that, to all who have seen specimens alive, there can be not the slightest doubt that it is a good one. When in Basel (Switzerland) a fortnight ago, I had the pleasure of seeing a flock of twenty-six specimens in the Zoological Garden, depo- sited there by Mr. Carl Ilagenbeck, of Hamburg. There were fifteen males, all adult, and eleven females. Afterwards I saw a pair in the small zoological garden of Mr. Nill at Stutt- gart *. All the males agreed exactly with the characters pointed out by Dr. Ueicheiiow — i. e. the naked parts of the head, neck, thighs, and legs were delicate slate-grey, instead of flesh-red, as in Struthio camelus. A very striking cha- racter in coloration of the naked parts is also that the bill, with the exception of the brownish tip, and the gape, as well as the middle portions of the front of the tibia, are fine pink. As it seemed to me, the species was smaller in size than S. camelus. But whether I may be right in the latter sug- gestion or not, the difference in the coloration of the naked parts is sufficient to distinguish the species at a glance ; and * This little garden contains very interesting hybrids (young and full- grownj of Ursus arctos and Ursus maritimus. One old specimen is in the musenni of Stuttofart. Letters, Aiinouncements, iSfc. 353 as these characters are shown in a large number of speci- mens to be constant, I see no reason for not admitting this form of Ostrich as a distinct species. It has in every respect as much right to stand as a species as, for instance, Rhea macroi'hyncha, Scl.^ or Dromceus irroratus, Bartlett. Struthio molybdophanes has been sent from the Somali countr}^ by the indefatigable collectors of Mr. Carl Hagen- beck, the well-known dealer of Hamburg, to whom science is indebted for many new and interesting animals introduced into the European market. Mr. Hagenbeck^s latest expe- ditions to the Somali country have been especially fruitful. When in Hamburg last year, I had the pleasure, in a collec- tion of animals just arrived from the Somali country, of seeing an example of a new species of Ass [Equus) and two new Antelopes. Yours &c., O. FiNSCH. Zoological Museum, Turin. June lOtb, 1884. Sirs, — More than a year has elapsed since, having lost the use of my right arm nnd hand, 1 have been obliged to postpone to a better time the publication of the Introduction to my ' Ornitologia della Papuasia e delle Molucche,' which I hope to bring forward some day. In the meanwhile I am watching with great interest whatever appears relating to Pa]3uan ornithology. Among the papers recently published I wish to offer a few remarks first on part vii. of the " Contributions to the Zoology of New Guinea,^^ by Mr. Ramsay (Pr. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. viii. pp. 15-29, June 1883). In this paper, already noticed in ^ The Ibis/ 1884, p. 210, Mr. Ramsay describes several species as new. (1) Poecilodryas sylvia, p. 19. Evidently this is the bird which, in the 'Abstract^ of the Proc. Linn. Soc. N, S. W., 31st January, 1883, p. 3, appeared as Poecilodryas melanoleuca, and I have no doubt that this is the bird described by me as 354 Letters, Announcements, S^c. Myiolestes bimaculatus, and which stands as Poecilodryas bmiaculata in the second part of my ' Ornitologia/ p. 85. (2) Myzomela eques, var. This pretended variety of M. eques is described as wanting the red on the throat in the female^ and as being, on the whole, a larger bird. 1 have already shown {op. cit. p. 302) that the specimens of M. eques vary a little as regards the dimensions ; as to the female wanting the red on the throat, does not the specimen belong to another species, M. obscura ? (3) Erythrara trichrea, var. I have compared some New- Guinea specimens with others from Halmahera and Ternate {E. modesta. Wall.), and I have found that they are not dif- ferent ; the slight brown-yellow tint on the sides of the neck is scarcely perceptible and even wanting in some Moluccan specimens. (4) Eurostopodus astrolabce. From Mr. Ramsay's descrip- tion I should say that the bird mentioned is no Eurosto- podus, but a Lyncornis, and most likely Lyncornis papuensis (Schleg.). (5) ^gothelesl plumifera may be a good species, but more specimens are required to settle its distinctness from jE. bennetti. (6) Paradisea susannae, as already pointed out by the Editors of ' The Ibis/ is P. decora, Salv. & Godm. (7) Rhamphomantis rollesi. The author does not point out in what respect his bird differs from R. megarhynchus (G. R. Gr.), the only known species of the genus, which is not even mentioned by Mr. Ramsay, and from his description it is impossible to gather wdiat is the difference. (8) Siitella albifrons. I cannot make out that this is dif- ferent from S. papuensis (Schleg.), of which Mr. Ramsay makes no mention, although it is the only New-Guinea species previously known. (9) jEluraa'dus melanocephalus. Mr. Ramsay compares this supposed new species with AL. arfakianus and jE. mela- notis, but I must say that I have failed to catch in Avhat respect it differs. In conclusion I doubt whether any of the nine species or Letters, Announcements, ^c. 355 varieties described by Mr. Ramsay as new will really stand as such. Very important papers are those published by Mr. Sclater on the " Timor-Laut or Tenimber Group o£ Islands " (P.Z. S. 1883, pp. 48-58, 191-200) and one by Dr. A. B. Meyer, ' Ueber neue und ungeniigend bekannte Vogel/ etc. (pp. 1- 64) . It is impossible to give an opinion on the many new forms described in the last paper without actual comparison, but, judging from what I know of the geographical distri- bution of the birds in the Papuan subregion, I should say that several forms from Timor-Laut, described as new by Dr. Meyer, and which by Mr. Sclater have been attributed to Ke-Islands species, must be really distinct. I think that such will be found to be the case with Geojfroyus timorlaoensis and Philemon timorlaoensis. Rather unexpected comes the new Artamus mmschenbrceki, Meyer, allied to A. leucogaster ; doubtfully good species appear to me Calornis circumscripta and Ptilopus flavovirescens. As to the Urospizias from Timor-Laut, which Dr. Meyer attributes with a query to U. albiventris, Salvad., from the Ke Islands, I suspect that it must be a different species. I take this opportunity to mention that U. albiventris is missing in the very recent and important ' List of the Diurnal Birds of Prey,' by Mr. Gurney. Also I am much inclined to think that the bird from Timor- Laut attributed by Mr. Sclater to Corvus validissimus must belong to a different species, as the true C. validissimus in- habits a very limited region, and, from what I know, is only to be found in the group of Halmahera, or Northern Mo- luccas, and does not even reach the Amboyna or Coram group. Furthermore, Dicruropsis bracteata and Stigmatops squamata from Timor-Laut, the last doubtfully identified by Mr. Sclater, require comparison. Lastly, I wish to point out that in a recent paper by Dr. Finsch, " Ueber Vogel der Siidsee," at p. 29, the Goura from Port Moresby is called G. scheepmakeri. It seems that Dr. Finsch has only obtained an adult male (No. 1386) ; still he adds that the young birds want the brown-chestnut tip to the 356 Letters, Announcements , S^t. wing-coverts, and that they quite agree, even in the smallest particulars, with the description of the type specimen. It follows from this that Dr. Finsch identifies with his G. scheep- makeri the bird which I have named Goura albertisi. I do not wish to repeat here all the reasons which, in two papers published by me on the subject, I have adduced before coming to the conclusion that the specimens of the genus Goura from Hall Bay, Avhich are similar to those from Port Moresby, are specifically different from the type of G. sclieep- makeri, with which 1 carefully compared several of them. Those reasons have been recapitulated in my ' Ornitologia/ iii. p. 205. Here I only wish to bring forward two argu- ments which disprove Dr. Finsch's identification : — 1st. The type of G. scheepniakeri has the wing-speculum, formed by the greater coverts of the secondaries,, of a much darker grey than several adult birds and a young specimen seen by me of my G. albertisi ; all these have the speculum grey, exactly of the same colour. It is worth noticing that in the allied species, G. sclateri, the young birds have not the speculum darker than the adult. 2nd. Dr. Finsch told me that he received the type spe- cimen of G. scheepmakeri from somebody of the Leiden Mu- seum, and that most likely it had been obtained by Solomon Miiller near Princess Marianna Straits. If such is the case it is utterly impossible that G. scheepmakeri should be iden- tical with my G. albertisi, as between the area supposed to be inhabited by G. scheepmakeri and that inhabited by G. albertisi there is the extensive region, through which runs the Fly river, which is inhabited by Goura sclateri, quite different from both. Yours &c., T. Salvadori. Mr. Whitely has kindly sent us the following extracts from a letter received from his son, the well-known collector Mr. Henry Whitely, dated from his encampment in the interior Letters, Announcements, ^c. 357 of British Guiana, oue day^s journey from Roraima (cf. Ibis^ 1882, p. 76, and 1883, p. 203). " Eoraima, Oct. 15, 1883. " I have been away from my camp for six weeks near Eoraima, and have ascended the slope twice to the foot of the vertical rock, which is over 7000 feet in height ; so that the height of the mountain must be nearly 9000 feet. I have made a lot of observations for the R. G. S. ; but these are too long to copy now, as the Indian who takes this letter down starts today. I shall be here probably six months longer, and shall then move down to the river Caramang, where I may stay three or four months collecting. But I shall not go on to the Merume Mountains, but come straight on from Caramang to Camasaca, and thence to Bartica Grove. My collection up to the present time is a very fine one, I have got over thirty species more to be added to the birds of British Guiana. I have bought four ' woodskins/ which are stationed on the Atapunam, and ray two boats are on the Curubury river; so that I have kept open the means of getting back. But you must not be anxious if you do not receive letters, as h is very difficult to get them sent. I have got sj)ecimens of Campylopterus hyperythrus, Lophornis pavo- ninus, Diglossa major, and another beautiful little Lophornis, with a chestnut-brown crown and spangled whiskers; likewise a few more males oi Heliodoxa xanthogonys ; but this is a rare bird. The female of L. pavoninus is a very interesting bird, beautifully speckled on the throat and breast. I am very busy with the butterflies now. When I arrived here I put up a very large house, just below where I was collecting last time, near a wood, as the Indians told me I should get no leaves for thatching nearer to Roraima, which was true, I found. I waited some months till the birds were in good plumage, and then went on to Roraima; it is one day's journey. I am not very high here, and it was not more than 3700 feet when I got to the foot of Roraima. I found some Indian huts there, and two of these the Indians gave up to me. The huts were on the Savannah (height about 3000 358 Letters, Announcements, ^c. feet) ; but I sent my Indians up on the mountain to a height of 5500 feet, and kept four Indian boys going up every day to bring me down the birds. I was up three times myself. I had a path cut through the forest to get to a place whence I thought it was possible to ascend the mountain ; and I took fourteen Indians with me to make the attempt, but found it impossible with the means at our command. I have made plans of the mountains, but must leave them until I arrive in England, and then I will write another paper for the R. G. S. I have a large field here planted with cassava. I do not know wdiether it will be ready by the time I shall leave, but I have taken all these precautions in case of neces- sity. At any rate, it will come in for the Indians, who have kept me well supplied with food. I planted some of my seeds, but they came up and then died off. I suppose the soil was not suited for them ; the only things that came up well and that I enjoyed, too, were the radishes. You may imagine that I am very busy now. I have made two journeys away from my house — one to Roraima, and the other to get Lophornis pavoninus ; but I shall make no more till I start for the Caramang, as my boots are getting rather worn. I only brought two pairs with me, and I ftiust preserve one pair for coming back. I have got lots of fowls, so that I eat one now and again for Sunday^s dinner, and have also lots of eggs. I took plenty of benzine collas with me, and have washed with arsenical soap the feet and bills of the birds, so that my collection is in fine order. I have got a fine Pene- lope, much larger than P. marail, and also some different Hawks and Owls and a tiny little Dove. I hope to be in Georgetown by August or September of next year. You can still address newspapers and letters to Bartica Grove, and, if opportunity offers, the Rev. Mr. Kellan will forward them to me, just as he sent me the last packet.^'' News of Travellers mid Collectors. — Herr F. Bohndorff " the last man who left Khartoum before it was hemmed in,''' has brought back a good series of birds, collected in the Letters, Announcements, ^c. 359 Niam-niara country^ where lie accompanied Dr. Junker during his recent expedition. A set of these have been secured for the National Collection ; and Mr. Sharpc has exhibited some of the more striking forms at a recent meeting of the Liu- nean Society. We observed fine examples of Turacus gi- ganteus, Corythaix schuetti, Musophaga rossa, and of Buceros atratus, and other species^ which indicate that the fauna of the West Coast extends into the valley of the Welle. Mr. Sharpe has described several species of the collection as new, amongst which are Crater ojms bohndorffi, Sigmodus grisei- mentalis, and Pionias bolmdorjffi. Mr. C. W. Rossetj who was with Dr. Riebeck in Socotra, is just preparing to start for Ceylon, whence, after a short stay, he will make an excursion to the Maldives and Lacca- dives, and endeavour to increase our somewhat scanty know- ledge of their fauna and flora. His address is to the care of the German Consulate, Colombo, Ceylon. Mr. H. O. Forbes is in London and busy preparing a volume on his experiences in the Eastern Archipelago. This completed, he proposes to return to the East and explore the Owen-Stanley range in South-eastern New Guinea, making his way, if possible, from Port Moresby to the eastern coast of the great peninsula. Of Mr. Henry Whitely^s recent doings in British Guiana we have been able to give an account in his own words. Mr. E. F. im Thurn, who is now settled as a magistrate in the Pomeroon-Kiver district in the same colony, is likewise anxious to have a try to get to the summit of Roraima, and has issued amongst his friends a printed appeal on this sub- ject, which has attracted considerable notice, and will pro- bably be brought before the British Association at their Montreal meeting. Dr. F. Leuthner is also making preparations for a natura- list's excursion to South America, and has selected the Upper Orinoco as a locality hitherto little explored, for which he hopes to be able to depart this autumn. M. Taczanowski informs us that the two collectors of the Warsaw Museum, Messrs, Stolzmann and Siemiradzski, have 360 Letters, Announcements, ^c. suffered somewliat in health in Western Ecuador, and will return to Europe with their collections at the close of this year. New Birds in the Zoological Society's Gardens. — Some very interesting birds have lately been added to the Zoological Society ^s living collection. Three fine males of the Lesser Bird of Paradise [Paradisea minor) have been brought home from New Guinea by Mr.Kettlewell, of the steam-yacht ' March esa.^ In the Parrot-house is also a fine example of the curious Cochoa viridis of the Himalayas, the first, we believe, that has reached Europe alive. In one of the large bird-cages in the Insect-house are a pair o? Eclectus po/ychloriis (green male and red female), which get on so well together that it is hoped they may take to nesting. In the same building is to be seen a fine specimen of a most remarkable Ground- Cuckoo [Carpococcyx radiatus), Avhicli in gait and habits clearly betrays the Gallinaceous affinities of the Cuculidae predicted of them by Garrod and Eorbes from their internal structure. Other birds, not elsewhere to be seen alive, are examples of Zosterops palpebrosus of India and Z. simplex of China, and a specimen of the very singular Polyborine form, Poly- boroides typicus, from West Africa. Rochebrune v. Nitzsch. — In the second livraison of vol. viii. of the 'Actes ' of the Linnean Society of Bordeaux (March 1884), Dr. A. T. de Rochebrune, Assistant Naturalist at the Museum of Paris, has commenced what promises to be an important memoir on the Birds of Senegambia. We will defer a general notice of this work until its conclusion ; but "we wish to call attention to Dr. llochebrune's chapter on the axillary plume of the biixVs feather in different groups, in which he most positively controverts some of Nitzsch^s dicta on this subject. NitzscVs conclusions on other points of the structure of birds which he examined are so uniformly accurate that it is difficult to believe that he can have made Letters, Announcements , ^c. 361 so many erroneous observations on the axillary plume as Dr. Rochebrune imputes to liim. Houbaras as Food. — ""^ Three Houbaras were shot, and on our arrival in camp (between Souakin and Cassala) we found the cook-boy had caught one in a noose : we were glad to dis- cover sporting tendencies in our servants. I never ate a more delicious bird than the Houbara. It is but too fre- quently the case that the game of these countries is dry and unpalatable — at any rate, it would be thought so in civi- lized countries ; but this bird would be a great delicacy anywhere. Its flesh when cooked is dark brown and firm, very much resembling that of a Goose, and has a flavour entirely its own. The birds that we shot were very fat, in excellent condition, and were very good eating, both hot and cold.^^ — James's Wild Tribes of the Soudari, News of the Kilima-ndjaro Expedition. — Letters have been received from Mr. H. H. Johnston dated from the British Residency, Zanzibar, May 13th. After consultation with Sir John Kirk, Mr. Johnston had selected the INIombasa route for Kilima-ndjaro, and was expecting to depart for that port in about a fortnight^s time. The country between Mombasa and Chaga was said to be quiet, and to present no serious difficulties in the way. Mr. Johnston had succeeded in obtaining the services of three of the bird-skinners that had been employed by Dr. Fischer, and of a botanical col- lector trained under Sir John Kirk, of whose kindness and assistance he speaks in the highest terms. Mr. Johnston, in spite of the trying climate of Zanzibar, was in excellent health and had strong hopes of the success of the expedition. Ridgway Ornithological Club, Chicago. — At the monthly meeting held March 6th last, after the reception of donations and election of new members and regular business of the meeting, Mr. B. T. Gault read a paper on Picus nuttalli, with an account of its nesting in California. Mr. G. L. Toppan exhibited a fine male Milvulus tyrannus, with tail SER. V. VOL. II. 2d 36,2 Letters, Announcements , ^c. 104 inclies long, lately collected in California. Mr. H. K. Coale made comparisons (illnstrated with the specimens) between Cypseloides niger borealis from Colorado and Cyp- selus apus of Europe. Hodgson's Ornithological Drawings. — The Library of the Zoological Society of London has received a very important addition in the shape of the original set of Mr. Brian H. Hodgson's drawings of Himalayan birds, prepared by native artists under Mr. Hodgson's superintendence during his long residence in Nipal and Sikhim. . The series comprises 1104 sheets, and will, when bound, form 12 volumes. For the last twelve years the drawings have been lent to Mr. Allan. Hume, who has now handed them over to the Society at the request of Mr. Hodgson. The late Count E. Turati's Collection. — Count Salvador! informs us that the splendid collection of mounted birds be- longing to the late Count E. Turati has been presented to the- city of Milan. We trust that every care will be taken of this valuable series, which contains many types and ornithic rarities. Anniversary Meeting of the British Ornithologists' Union. — The Annual Meeting of the B. O. U. was held at 6 Tenterden Street on Wednesday the 21st May, at 6 p.m., Mr. Sclater in the Chair, Lord Lilford (the President) being unavoidably absent through illness. The Minutes of the last Meeting having been read and confirmed, the B. O. U. Committee presented the following Report : — The original number of Members when the B. O. U. was founded in 1859 was only twenty. At the last Anniversary the Union consisted of 125 Ordinary Members, 1 Extra- ordinary Member, 9 Honorary Members, and 19 Foreign Members, making a total of 154 Members. Of these 13 are Original Members, so that we have only to regret the loss of seven of the founders of the Union. Since the last Anniversary Meeting the losses by death have been five, viz. two Ordinary Members (Mr. W. A. Forbes and Mr. Letters, Announcements, ^c. 363 Williiam Forster) and three Foreign Members (Dr. W. C. H. Peters^ Professor Reinhardt, and Dr. H. Schlegel), making the present list consist of 123 Ordinary, 1 Extraordinary, 9 Honorary, and 16 Foreign Members — together 149 Mem- bers. The Candidates for admission to the Union at this Meeting are sixteen, which is the largest number proposed at any Anniversary since the foundation of the Union, and gives evidence of the increasing popularity of the B. O. U. The Accounts for the volume of ^The Ibis^ for 1883, as also for the ' Ibis List of British Birds,^ having been discussed and passed, the following new members were balloted for and duly elected : — Geoffrey Fowell Buxton, Sunny Hill, Thorpe, Norwich ; Joseph Whitaker., Rainworth Lodge, Mansfield ; Major E. A. Butler, Belfast ; C. J. Holdsworth, Wilmslow, Cheshire ; Capt. C. T. Bingham, Moulmein, Burmah ; Lieut, Henry Barnes, Commissariat Department, India ; William Huxton Davison, Ootacamund, South India ; J. G. Goodchild, 28 Jermyn Street, S.W. ; Henry Ogg Forbes, Rubislaw Den, Aberdeen; Herbert Laugton, 115 Queen^s Road, Brighton ; R. L. Patterson, Croft House, Holy wood, CO. Down ', H. Hey wood Jones, Larkhill, West Derby, Liverpool ; Frank E. Beddard, Zoological Society^s Gardens, N.W. ; Abel Chapman, Silksworth House, Sunderland; A. S. Vesey, 3 Campden Villas, Barnes ; and W. C. Tait, Oporto. The following officers were elected for the year 1884-5 : — President, The Right Hon. Lord Lilford; Secretary, H. E. Dresser, Esq. ; Editors, P. L. Sclater, Esq., and Howard Saunders, Esq. Mr. F. DuCane Godman was elected on the Committee in place of Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier, who retired by rotation. A vote of thanks to the Chairman was proposed by Mr. G. C. Taylor, seconded by Mr. W. H. Hudleston, and carried unanimously. Mr. R. Bowdler Sharpe exhibited and made a few remarks on the peculiar new European Nut- hatch {Sittd whiteheadi) lately discovered by Mr. Whitehead in the mountains of Corsica. The Meeting then adjourned, and the Annual Dii;iner was, as usual, held, and was attended by about thirty Members and guests. 364 Letters, Announcements , 3fc. Obituary. Professor Schlegel. — Our Foreign Member, Hermann Schlegel, the late distinguished Director of the Leiden Museum and author o£ many well-known ornitho- logical works, was of German origin, and was born at Altenburg, in Saxony, in 1804. Inspired by an innate love of natural objects, and not being satisfied to follow his father^s trade, Schlegel betook himself, when quite young, to the study of zoology at Vienna, whence, in 1825, he was induced to go to Leiden, in the hope of obtaining an aj)pointment as Naturalist in the East-Indian posses- sions of Holland. The vacant post having been already filled, Schlegel was obliged to content himself at first with being amanuensis to. Temminck, but a few years later (29th November, 1828) was appointed Conservator of the Museum. Uj^on Temminck's death in 1858, Schlegel was named Director, and Prof. Van der Hoeven, whose claims it was difficult to ignore, Over-Director of the IMuseum. This un- satisfactory arrangement did not last long; and in 1860 Schlegel became sole Director by Van der Hoeven^s resigna- tion, and retained the post until his death, on the 17th of January last. Schlegel was a highly cultivated man in many respects, and wrote and spoke German, French, Dutch, and English with equal facility. His fluency in English was wonderful for one who had never been in our country. His best-known ornithological works are those on the birds of Holland (' De Vogels van Nederland beschreven en af- gebeeld '), published at Leiden, 1854-58 ; his ' Revue Cri- tique des oiseaux d^Europe ^ (1814); the ' Recherches sur la Faune de Madagascar^ (1868), prepared in conjunction with the traveller Pollen; the 'Monographic des Loxiens,^ written jointly by him and Prince Charles Bonaparte ; and the 'Revue methodique et critique des collections du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle des Pays-Bas.' This last-named work, which on its completion was arranged to form eight thin volumes, although pi^epared in a somewhat superficial way, and in accordance with the occasionally fanciful views of affinities held by its illustrious author, will long remain a most important work of reference to ornithologists who are engaged upon the study of the ornis of the Oriental Region. THE I B I S. FIFTH SERIES. No. VIII. OCTOBER 1884. XXXIX. — Notes on the Birds of the Pyrenees. By Howard Saunders. In publishing these observations on the ornithology of the Pyrenees, I do not pretend to have explored the whole of that great mountain-chain^ or even to have worked up any district except the western one. To have done this^ even imperfectly, it would have been necessary to spend at least three springs and summers in various portions of the chain ; and to obtain the best results it is absolutely necessary that the naturalist should make the Spanish side his principal collecting-ground, a course which would involve considerable hardship. As regards the French side, where all reasonable comforts can be obtained, the word " Pyrenees," in the tourist sense of the word, means the " show-district," bounded by Eaux-Chaudes, Eaux-Bonnes, and Gabas on the west, and by Luchon and Venasque on the east — a mountain-mass partially pierced by narrow gorges and containing the most lofty summits, unfavourable therefore, on the whole, to bird-life. I have visited this district, but never having been able to remain there later than the month of May, my experiences are limited. In that portion of the eastern SER. V. — VOL. ir. 2e 366 Mr. H. Saunders on the district which lies between Venasque and Prats de Mollo I have not yet been ; but I know something of the Ca- talan portion on both sides of the frontier, owing to an autumn visit to Amelic-lcs-Bains and excursions round Mont Canigou ; also to many conversations with Dr. Alfred Bardou^ of Fontainebleau, whom I met there, and his col- lectors. He was an agreeable, although somewhat eccen- tric, companion, whose delight was to wander about the mountains, living with the peasantry, doctoring them gratis, and collecting eggs. He would never allow a gun to be taken out with him, and instant dismissal from his employ would have followed the destruction of any bird from the nest, M'hether for identification or any other reason. To him I am indebted for some thoroughly trustworthy infor- mation about many of the Pyrenean birds ; but, unfortunately, nothing would induce him to publish his experiences. It would be interesting to know what has become of his collec- tion of eggs, which must have been a very fine one, and his notes, if any. Every thing was sold at his death ; but I can learn no particulars, for to amateur naturalists in France he seems to have been quite unknown. At Perpignan, also, I was acquainted with the late Dr. Louis Companyo, who pub- lished in 1863 his 'Histoire naturelle desPyrenees-Orientales,' containing many interesting details about birds. He was a fine old man, who had been an army surgeon during the Peninsular war, over eighty years of age at the time that I knew him, but still vigorous, and delighted to talk over his recollections of Spain. His catalogue is useful to any one having some previous knowledge of the country and its fauna ; but to those at a distance it is a double-edged tool, for, with increasing age, the venerable doctor got rather confused about his scientific names. Still, he was a field- naturalist, and by their Catalan names he knew his feathered friends and their habits well enough. As regards the district of which Bagneres-de-Bigorre forms the centre, it has been explored better than any other by a working naturalist, the late M. Philippe, whose widow and daughters still prepare a few birds brought in by the guides and isard-huuters. Thanks Birds of the Pyrenees. 367 to the courtesy of the Director of the College of Oloron, where what remains of Philippe's collection is still to be seen, I possess a copy oE his extremely rare ' Ornithologie Pyreueenne/ published in 1873, after his death, from his notes, by M. Cazes. This catalogue would be exceedingly interesting, but for the fact that the editor has incorporated a number of passages which, from the manner in which they are inserted in the original MS., are evidently either hearsay or mere extracts from other writers, for guidance and com- parison. It is only by being able to separate these that the work becomes of value ; but of the conscientiousness of the writer there can be no doubt. The district with which I am best acquainted is that lower and comparatively wooded portion which lies between the Val d'Aspe and the sea. During two winters and early springs passed at St. Jean-de-Luz I made many excursions, and have traversed the intervening ridges in all directions down to Pamplona, to reach which the main chain has to be crossed. Comparatively few people appear to be aware that it is not the main chain, but a mere spur of the Pyrenees, which is seen by the traveller on his left as he approaches the frontier at the Bidassoa. The main line of the Pyrenees is crossed far in Spanish territory, about Zumarraga, and continues westward under the name of the Cantabrian range; but about the latter portion I have nothing to say at present. As regards the Basque country and Navai-re, the passes do not exceed 5000 feet in height, and most of their lower slopes are clothed with chestnut, beech, and oak. In the great forest of Iraty there are, however, many square miles of superb firs; but, like most large forests, it is not rich in species of birds. Unfortunately, it is practically impossible for any one residing at St. Jean-de-Luz to carry a gun through the small mountain-passes on the immediate frontier, owing to the sharp look-out kept for Carlists. That this precaution is by no means unnecessary, is shown by the recent raid made through the Valcarlos (which is the lower part of the Roncesvalles pass) to Orbaiceta; that it is undesirable to expose one's self to suspicion, is shown by the marvellous 2e 2 368 Mr. H. Saunders on the promptitude with which the Carlist invaders were placed in that condition which, according to Cromwell_, " hath no fellow ! " In the greater part of Spain there is no difficulty whatever about a gun, but just on the frontier it is different. And to have given my proper address at St. Jean-de-Luz would at any time have insured the' attention of the autho- rities, for that place was the hot-bed of Carlist plots and the watch-point of the faction. So much for my own experiences, whicli are merely set down in order that my readers may know how far I have been, and whence my sources of information are derived. But to supplement my defective knowledge of the French side, there is a work entitled ' Catalogue raisonne des Oiseaux ob- serves dans les Pyrenees frangaises et les regions iimitrophes,^ by M. Adrien Lacroix, of Toulouse, whose acquaintance I had the pleasure of making a few years ago, when I was enabled to inspect his collection of specimens obtained in the Pyrenees and the neighbourhood. At his residence, in the sunny plains of Gascony, M. Lacroix has collected informa- tion respecting the birds obtained or observed in the Depart- ments of Haute-Garonne, Aude, Ariege, Gers, Ilerault, Haute-Pyrenees, Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne, and Pyrenees-Ori- entales, the result being a list of about 350 species, many of them of considerable interest. M. liacroix has made various excursions into the mountains, and can by no means be considered a mere cabinet naturalist ; but still there are some points upon which it would be satisfactory to have corroborative details. It is not my intention to swell the list by making a complete catalogue of the sj^ecies which are, or ought to be^ found in the Pyrenees ; therefore, with the exception of a few rarities, such as Pallas's Sand-Grouse, only those are set down which I have myself seen alive or recently killed, and many species are excluded which undoubtedly occur, but which I do not find noted in my memoranda. 1. TuiiDUs viscivoRUs, Linn. The Missel-Thrush is common and resident. I observed Birds of the Pyrenees. 369 it nesting in Navarre, at an elevation of 3000 feet, on the 11th of April. 2. TuBDUs Musicus, Linn. The Song-Thrush is abundant on its migration in Feb- ruary and March, and I have seen eggs taken in the Basque Provinces ; but my impression is that only a few remain to breed. 3. TuRDUs iLiAcus, Liuu. The Redwing was numerous in March about St. Jean- de-Luz. 4. TuRDUs PILARIS, Liuu. The Fieldfare is of rare or irregular occurrence in the western districts, where I only saw it once ; more abundant on passage towards the centre. Philippe and others assert that a few pairs remain to breed in the higher woods. In the Museum at Bayonne there is an example of White's Thrush, Oreocincla varia, shot in the district in 1871. 5. TuRDUS MERULA, LiuU. The Blackbird is a resident species, its numbers being aug- mented during migration. 6. TuRDUS TORQUATUS, LiuU. The Ring-Ouzel was abundant in March about Argeles, where it is known as the '^ Pic Mars.'' I also saw it and heard it near Roncesvalles in April, so it was doubtless breed- ing there. 7. MoNTicoLA SAXATiLis (Liun.). The Rock-Thrush is tolerably common in the mountains from April to September, and nests close to Bagneres-de- Bigorre, where I observed it early in May 1879. 8. MoNTicoLA cYANus (Linn.). The Blue Rock-Thrush was observed .by me daily in the warm dry Catalonian Pyrenees in November 1876, so that it is probably resident there. In the colder districts it arrives in April, and in the Basque Provmces I did not see it at all. 370 Mr. H. Saunders on the 9. CiNCLUs AQUATicus, Beclist. The Dipper is common on all the mountain-streams. A skin which I brought hack is referahle to the form named C albicollis. 10. Saxicola (enanthe (Linn.). The Common Wheatear arrived at St. Jean-de-Luz from the south on the 25th of March. 11. Saxicola albicollis, Vieill. Several separate parties of the Black-eared Chat arrived at the same time with the preceding. 12. Saxicola leucura. The Black Chat was observed hy me daily ahove Amelie- les-Bains, in the Eastern Pyrenees, in November 1876; but until then Lacroix was not aware of its existence in any part of the range. 13. Pratincola rubetra (Linn.). The Whinchat was seen in Navarre in April. 14. Pratincola rubicola (Linn.). The Stonechat is common and resident. 15. RuTiciLLA phcenicurus (Linn.). The first male Redstart was observed at St. Jeau-de-Luz on the 18th of March. 16. RUTICILLA TITYS (Scop.). The Black Redstart was tolerably common during the winter about ruins, and even on the rocks by the sea-shore at St. Jean-de-Luz ; but by April nearly all the birds seemed to have retired to the mountains, where I saw many. 17. Cyanecula wolfi, C. L. Brehm. I shot a White-spotted Bluethroat near St. Jean-de-Luz on the 16th of April, but it probably arrives rather earlier. 18. Erithacus rubecula (Liim.). The Redbreast is tolerably common and resident. 19. Dahlias luscixxia (Linn.) . The first Nightingale was observed near St. Jean-de-Luz on the 8th of April. Birds of the Pyrenees. 371 20. Sylvia rufa (Bodd.). The Wliitethroat's arrival at St. Jean-de-Luz was first noticed on the 4th of April. The Lesser Whitethroat {S. curruca) was not observed by me, and in the Basque Pro- vinces I believe it is very rare on migration. 21. Sylvia melanocephala (Gm.). The Sardinian Warbler seems to be a resident in the lower districts ; I saw it daily near Amelie-les-Bains in November. 22. Sylvia atricapilla (Linn.). The Blackcap was observed at St. Jean-de-Luz on and sub- sequently to the 7th of March. 23. Melizophilus undatus (Bodd.). The Dartford Warbler is tolerably common and resident on the gorse-covered hills of the Basque Provinces ; I also saw it in the Eastern Pyrenees in November, 24. Regulus cristatus, Koch. 25. Regulus ignicapillus (C L. Brehm). Both the Goldcrest and the Fire-crest were frequently observed in winter and early spring near St. Jean-de-Luz. The former species was exceedingly tame, seeking food on the gorse regardless of the proximity of the observer. The Fire-crests often came quite close; but they seemed much more restless, and, instead of working steadily round the same bush, they would shoot off rapidly to another after a very short stay. 26. Phylloscopus collybita (VieilL). 27. Phylloscopus trochilus (Linn.). Some Chift'chaffs were to be seen at St. Jean-de-Luz throughout the winter; others arrived in March. The Willow-Wren was first noticed on the Sth of that month. My departure for the mountains prevented any observations upon other Warblers. 28. Accentor collaris (Scop.), The Alpine Accentor was only seen by me on the Higher Pyrenees in March and May; never in the Basque and Navarrese districts. 373 Mr. H. Saunders on the 29. Accentor modularis (Linn.). The Hedge-Sparrow appears to be resident on the lower grounds^ but it is not numerous. 30. ACREDULA IRBYI. This form of Long-tailed Tit was several times observed on the tall poplars along the highroad from Bayonne to Spain, and also in the Argeles valley. 31. Parus major, Linn. 32. Parus ater, Linn. 33. Parus c^ruleus, Linn. The Great, Blue, and Coal Tits were frequently observed, the latter being especially abundant in the middle belt of forests in company with the Crested Tits. 34. Parus palustris, Linn. The Marsh -Tit appeared to be rather rare, and confined to the lower grounds by the Nivelle and neighbouring streams. 35. Lophophanes cristatus (Linn.). A few Crested Tits were always to be seen in the woods round St. Jean-de-Luz, but in the great forest of Iraty and the woods of the Higher Pyrenees this species was more numerous than all the others together. 36. SiTTA C^SIA, Wolf. The Common Nuthatch is abundant and resident in the chestnut and beech woods, where its loud tui-tui-tui might frequently be heard. 37. Certhia familiabis, Linn. The Common Creeper is resident. 38. Tichodroma muraria (Linn.). The Wall-Creeper, in spite of the brilliant crimson of its wings, is a species which may easily be overlooked on the rocky precipices which form the sides of the deep gorges. Mr. Seebohm told me that he had observed it about Pierre- fitte in March 1882 ; but I was not so fortunate as regards that locality. In the arid ravines of the Eastern Pyrenees, where the sun still strikes fiercely in November, 1 have seen Birds of the Pyrenees. 373 it several times with extended wings basking like a butterfly ; but it leaves the higher mountains in September, returning in March. As bearing upon its two recorded visits to Eng- land (which, however, in spite of their authorities, have not obtained sufficient credence to procure its admission to the B. O. U. List of British birds), I may remark that four or five examples have been obtained at Nantes, in Lower Brittany, several of them on the walls of the old Chateau, within a few yards of the noise and bustle of crowded quays and steam tramways. 39. Troglodytes parvulus, Koch. The Common Wren is a familiar resident. 40. MOTACILLA ALBA, LiuU. 41. MoTACiLLA LUGUBRis, Tcmm. Both the White and the Pied Wagtails were observed at St. Jean-de-Luz from December to the end of March, after which they disappeared. Our bird was in full black plumage in December, and was frequently to be seen strutting about the road in proximity to its longer-tailed congener, the White Wagtail, which was also in full pkimage. Judging from the gradations of colour observed in fully adult speci- mens, it is my impression that the two species interbreed ; but the birds persistently frequented washing-places and high- roads, where it was impossible to shoot, so that I did not obtain a specimen. Their sudden departure took me by surprise, for I had made up my mind to secure a Pied and a White Wagtail which had apparently been paired for at least a fortnight. There was a considerable arrival of Pied Wagtails early in March. 42. MOTACILLA MELANOPE, Pall. The Grey Wagtail is of general distribution, not merely on the streams and brooks, but also on the flat land at the foot of the mountains. At the baths of Dax, by the Adour, in the Landes, a pair frequented the courtyard of the hotels sometimes entering the open windows of the corridors in search of flies with the utmost familiarity. 374 Mr. H. Saunders on the 43. MoTACiLLA FLAVA, Linn. 44. MOTACILLA RAII, Bp. From the 28th January onwards the Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail was tolerably common among the cattle on tlie pas- tures about St. Jean-de-Luz. The Yellow Wagtail was first observed on the lOth of April by the banks of the Iraty river, in close attendance on some grazing ponies. 45. Anthus pratensis (Linn.). 46. Anthus trivialis (Linn.). The Meadow-Pipit was very common in winter and spring. The Tree-Pipit was obtained on and after the 12th February. 47. Anthus spipoletta (Linn.). The Water-Pipit was occasionally observed by the river- banks in February; but later in the year it became abundant on the hill-tops, and early in May swarms were migrating up the Val-de-Lys, near Luchon, on the way to their moun- tain breeding-grounds. I believe I saw the Rock-Pipit [A. obscurus) on the rocks by St. Jean-de-Luz. 48. Lanius meridionalis, Temm. There is a genuine specimen of the Southern Grey Shrike, shot on the lOth of February, in the Bayonne Museum, but it is, of course, a very rare straggler. Lanius excubitor had not arrived before my departure ; at least I did not see it. 49. Lanius pomeranus, Sparrm. The first Woodchat-Shrike was observed in Navarre on the 11th of April ; later it is exceedingly common. 50. MusciCAPA atricapilla, Linn. The Pied Flycatcher was obtained on migration in the woods near St. Jean-de-Luz on the 17th of April. 51. HiRUNDO RUSTicA, Linn. The first Swallow was seen at St. Jean-de-Luz on the 25th of March. 52. Chelidon URBicA (Linn.). There is a single specimen of the House-Martin in the Birds of the Pyrenees. 375 Bayonne Museum ; but this species is extremely rare in the Western Pyrenees, although the overhanging eaves of the Basque and Navarrese houses appear very suitable for its nests. A sharp look-out was kept for the latter, but no trace of them was noticed as far east as the Val d^Aspe. The House-Martin breeds abundantly at St. Sauveur and near Luchon. In the gorges of the Eastern Pyrenees I observed it as late as the 29th October, hawking for insects, at the same time and place as the next species, but always lower down, close to the mountain-torrents. 53. COTILE RUPESTRIS (Scop.). The Crag-Martin is resident throughout the year, from the Pas de Roland, near Cambo, to the gorges of the Eastern Pyrenees. 54. Carduelis elegans, Stej)h. The Goldfinch is generally distributed; on the Spanish slope from Roncesvalles to Pamplona it was more abundant in spring than any other species of bird. 55. Crysomitris spinus (Linn.). The Siskin was tolerably common throughout the winter, especially on the Spanish side ; and by the 2nd of April numbers were passing northwards. 56. Serinus hortulanus, Koch. I was rather surprised to hear the familiar note of the Serin Finch on the trees just outside Argeles on the 18th of March ; but the position of that place is a very sheltered one. I saw the birds daily, and with the aid of a binocular there could be no mistake in the identification of the species. 57. LiGURiNUs cHLORis (Liun.). The Greenfinch is common and resident. 58. Passer domesticus (Linn.). 59. Passer montanus (Linn.). The House-Sparrow is pretty generally distributed in the neighbourhood of towns and villages. The Tree-Sparrow although more local, is also common, and during the winter and early spring a good many were to be observed in the 376 Mr. H. Saunders 07i the trees and small gardens of St. Jcan-de-Luz. I have seen them obtaining food from the droppings in the streets, just like the House-Sparrow. 60. MoNTiFRiNGiLLA NIVALIS (Linn.). The Snow-Finch seldom comes down into the valleys. I saw it below the Somport (5000 feet) on a splendid day at the end of February, when its appearance there was con- sidered to betoken a spell of bad weather, and two days later the higher villages were snowed-np. 61. Fringilla celebs, Linn, 62. Fringilla montifringilla, Linn. The Chaffinch is common and resident. The Brambling occurs in winter and on migration, com- mencing its passage northwards as early as February ; but Philippe notes that a few are found in summer, so that it probably breeds sparingly in the higher forests. 63. Linota cannabina (Linn.). 64. Linota rufescens (VieilL). 65. Linota flavirostris (Linn.). The Linnet is tolerably common in winter, and partially resident. I have seen the Lesser Redpole and the Twite, freshly captured, in the cages of the Basque bird-catchers in March. QQ. Pyrrhula europ^a, Vieill. The Bullfinch is not uncommon in the Basque Provinces and in Navarre. I saw and obtained it several times in Feb- ruary and March. 67. LoxiA curvirostra, Linn. I observed the Crossbill in the elevated forests of Iraty in April, so that it was, no doubt, breeding. 68. Emberiza miliaria, Linn. The Common Bunting was observed in the Lower Pyrenees in March. 69. Emberiza citrinella, Linn. 70. Emberiza cirlus, Linn. The Yellow Bunting was noticed in the Basque Provinces Birds of the Pyrenees. 377 throughout the winter^ and was abundant in the Val d^Aspe in March, also in the Eastern Pyrenees in November. The Cirl Bunting was common about St. Jean-de-Luz from De- cember to April, and during a snow-storm on the 10th of March there were numbers in a small garden in front of the Hotel de la Poste at St. Jean-de-Luz, and even on the paved street with the Sparrows. 71. Emberiza hortulana, Linn. The Ortolan Bunting was identified at Argel^s on the 23rd of March, when, after unusually warm weather, a sudden change tool; place, followed by snow ; and very surprised and miserable the poor migrants seemed to be. 72. Emberiza cia, Linn. The Meadow-Bunting is resident in the Lower Pyrenees, and appears to be the most abundant of the genus. 73. Emberiza schosniclus, Linn. The Reed-Bunting appeared in small flocks about St. Jean- de-Luz on the 7th of February, some of the males being in the fullest breeding-plumage at that date. 74. Alauda arvensis, Linn. 75. Alauda arborea, Linn. The Sky-Lark was observed in the Basque Provinces throughout the winter, and immense flights were observed passing northwards in March. The Wood-Lark was much rarer during the same month. 76. Alauda cristata, Linn. A few Crested Larks were seen strutting about the roads and paths near St. Jean-de-Luz from the 6th of February onwards, but this species did not appear to be numerous up to the time of my departure in April. In the Eastern Pyrenees it was common in November. 77. Melanocorypha calandra (Linn.). The Calandra Lark began to make its appearance at St. Jean-de-Luz in small numbers by the end of March; in Navarre it was seen earlier and was more abundant. 378 Mr. H. Saunders om the 78. Sturnus vulgaris_, Linn. The Starling was a common species. 79. Pyrrhocorax GRACULus (Linn.). 80. Pyrrhocorax alpinus, Kocli. The Red- billed Chough was abundant on La Rhune to- wards Sare and in some parts of Navarre. In many parts of the Higher Pyrenees this species is very numerous ; there are colonies just above Pierrefitte, and close to St. Sauveur. The Alpine Chough I never saw in the Basque Provinces, but in the Val d^Aspe and eastward it is very common. As a rule it inhabits higher ground than the Red-billed Chough, but by no means invariably, for both species frequent the wild gorges of Corsavi, under Canigou, in the Eastern Pyrenees. The Nutcracker is undoubtedly found in the Pyrenees, but I have no personal acquaintance with it. 81. Garrulus glandarius (Linn.). The Jay is very common and resident in the wooded districts. 82. Pica rustica (Scop.). The Magpie swarms on the French side of the mountains, but on the Spanish side, even where the country appears equally suited to its habits, it is, I am happy to say, of rare occurrence. In some places along the Adour the nests are so close together that an uncritical traveller by rail or road might easily be deceived into the belief that he was looking at a somewhat straggling rookery. In the Bayonne Museum there is a specimen of the Spanish Blue-winged Magpie (Cycmopica cooki), said to have been shot within the French Ijoundary ; but M. Hiriart, the curator, shakes his head over it ; and certainly the average range of this bird does not extend north of the Ebro valley. The Jackdaw was not observed by me anywhere; I heard what I took to be its note more than once, but the birds were flying high, and were possibly Choughs. Birds of the Pyrenees. 379 83. CoRvus coRONE, Liim. 84. CoRvus coRNix, Linn. The Carrion- Crow Avas abundant in the Lower Pyrenees, and in the Val d'Aspc I saw it in considerable flocks. The Hooded Crow was tolerably common about St. Jean-de-Luz in winter; one individual was nearly black, with a dark-grey collar ; another, on the same tree, was a very light example. I also saw the species in Navarre. 85. CoRVUS FRUGiLEGUs, Linn. The Rook w^as plentiful in winter on the French side. In Navarre, where comparatively little rain had fallen for fifteen months, the soil was too hard for it in the spring of 1882. 86. CoRVus coRAx, Linn. The Raven is generally distributed, and its hoarse guttural bark was a familiar sound on my excursions. One morning a man was engaged just outside St. Jean-de-Luz in burying a horse which had died in the night, and a pair of Ravens were circling round, expressing their sentiments in the plainest manner upon such a waste of good food. 87. Dendrocopus major, Linn. The Great Spotted Woodpecker was twice observed in the Basque Provinces. The Black Woodpecker {Picus mar tins) undoubtedly in- habits the Pyrenees and the Cantabrian range, but I had not the good fortune to meet with it. 88. Gecinus viRiDis (Linn.), The Green Woodpecker is common ; nowhere more so than at Pan. 89. Iynx torqujlla, Linn. The Wryneck was very noisy on the 26th of March in the chestnut-woods outside Argeles. 90. Alcedo ispida, Linn. The Kingfisher was frequently seen along the rivers and mountain-streams. 380 Mr. H. Saunders on the 91. Upupa epops, Linn. The first Hoopoe of the year v^as observed walking along the road near the Bidassoa on the 23rd of Marchj and several were seen later. 92. CucuLUs CANORUS, Linn. The Cuckoo was first heard at St. Jean-de-Luz on the 15th of April, and later it was both seen and heard. 93. ASTO ACCIPITRINUS (Pall.). I saw a freshly killed specimen of the Short-eared Owl at Bagneres-de-Bigorre on the 27th of March, 1882. The Long-eared Owl {Asio otus) also occurs, but I did not happen to see it ; Companyo says it is excellent eating. 94. Syrnium aluco (Linn.). I heard the Tawny Owl hooting loudly near Roncesvalles in Navarre. 95. Scops giu (Scop.). The Scops Owl was not noticed in the Western Pyrenees during my spring visits ; but at the foot of the Eastern Pyrenees, where the olive tree is abundant^ it appears to be resident — at least it was there iu November 1876. Lacroix says that it lays its eggs in old nests of the Magpie. 96. Bubo ignavus, Forst. The Eagle Owl is of general distribution. I was shown the place where a pair bred every year in a narrow gorge just above the Hotel Poujade at Amelie-les-Bains. This bird begins to nest very early, and Companyo says that he has found the young nearly full-fledged in March ; he adds that the flesh of this bird is white, tender, and well flavoured. It is always diflicuit to induce peasants to show you the nest, as it is generally on an easily accessible ledge'which they visit daily for the sake of the rabbits, hares, and partridges brought there by the old birds. I once lunched oft' a rabbit which I took from the Eagle-Owl's table. 97. Athene noctua (Retz.). The Little Owl is tolerably common and resident ; I heard its note several times near St. Jean-de-Luz iu March. Birds of the Pyrenees. 381 Tengmalm^s Owl {Nyctala tengmalmi) undoubtedly occurs in the upper fir-woods ; and there is a specimen of the Pygmy- Owl {Glaucidium passerinum) in the Museum at Perpignan, said to have been obtained in the Eastern Pyrenees. 98. Strix flammea, Linn. The Barn-Owl is of general distribution. 99. Gyps fulvus (Gmel.). The Griffon Vulture is common in the Western Pyrenees, especially on the Spanish side. I believe that about half a dozen pairs nest just within the French frontier, in the cliffs of La Rhune on the side looking to Spain ; and there is a larger colony in the Hucel-haya or Trois Couronnes, a very conspicuous mountain on the Spanish side of the Bidassoa. With the above exception I am not aware of any breeding-place on the French side in the Western or Central Pyrenees ; in fact the rocks do not appear suitable — with the exception, perhaps, of those above Les Aldudes near the Val de Bastan, where the frontier-ridge runs north and south instead of east and west. I saw over seventy Griffons at once over that village ; and near Mendive I watched these birds with a binocular on some mountain-pastures from which we were separated by a deep gorge. On alighting, the Griffons might be seen stalking leisurely among the sheep, or perched upon a rock, taking a great interest, for obvious reasons, in the ewes which were lambing. On the Spanish side its breeding-places are nume- rous. Lacroix says that the eggs are laid towards the end of February ; but we found none by the 8th of March, even in the mild climate of the Western Pyrenees. Philippe, who seems to have experimented on every thing, says "■ on le mange a I'etouffe, apres Tavoir fait mariner cinq a six jours, pour lui faire perdre son odeur musquee.''^ 100. VuLTUR MONACHUs, Linn. The Cinereous Vulture is certainly of rare occurrence in the Western Pyrenees, but in the Central and Eastern dis- tricts it sometimes comes over from the Spanish side, where it is abundant. Philippe says that it nests in the rocks of the Clot de Mountarioux, and Lacroix asserts that it does so SER. v. VOL. II. 2 F 382 Mr. H. Saunders on the towards the end of January— ^statements wholly at variance with what we know of its habits in Spain^ where it makes its nests in tall trees and does not lay until March or April. 101. Neophron percnopterus (Linn.). The Egyptian Vulture was observed on the Trois Couronnes on the 8th of March, in pairs, and the species is generally distributed throughout the Pyrenees from spring to autumn. As I did not see it in the Eastern Pyrenees by the end of October, it had probably left by that time. It may prevent error if I state here that, in Provence, one of the local names for this Vulture is " Pelacan,'' which has (not unnaturally) been rendered into English as " Pelican " in Murray^s ' Guide to France.^ 10.2. Gypaetus barbatus (Linn.). The Bearded Vulture was observed by me on every excur- sion which I made in the mountains, from La Rhune to Navarre, and a pair of the birds is to be found in nearly every stack of rocks suitable for their nests. In the two stupendous pillars of limestone known as " Las Dos Her- manas " at Yrurzun they have bred from time immemorial, and, excepting by Loche, of Algerian renown, they have never been disturbed there. Going over the Pass of Lecumberri in Navarre, I watched a pair indulging in amorous play in the air on the 24th of February, and I am somewhat sceptical as to the statements of several French winters as to its breeding in January in the Pyrenees. That it does so in the south of Spain I am well aware, eggs taken at Loja on the 2nd of February having proved to be incubated. In the Eastern Pyrenees the Bearded Vulture has become very rare of late years. 103. Circus ^ruginosus (Linn.). The Marsh-Harrier was observed on all the open valleys of the lower districts of the Pyrenees. 104. Circus cyaneus (Linn.). The Hen- Harrier was frequently seen quartering the ground by the rivers and on the sides of the mountains up to Birds of the Pyrenees. 383 3000 feet, from the 8th of March onwards. Montagu's Harrier (C. cineraceus) is in every Museum, but I did not meet with it alive. 105. BuTEo VULGARIS, Leach. The Common Buzzard appears to be resident everywhere up to an elevation of about 4000 feet. At St. Jean-de-Luz I saw a bird come across from Spain, alighting as if wearied, which I believe to have been a Rough-legged Buzzard [Buteo lagopus) ; but although I followed it up for some time, it would not allow me to get within shot. 106. Aquila pennata (Gmel.). I saw the Booted Eagle and heard its familiar scream several times in the woods on the Spanish side near Ronces- valles in February, and again in April ; and it nests in the forests on both sides of the Pyrenees. Its breeding-range is now well known to extend as far north as Brittany ; but it will be a surprise to many, as it was to me, to learn that young birds taken from the nest in Normandy are in the Museum at Elbceuf. 107. Aquila clanga. Pall. The Spotted Eagle is tolerably common throughout the wooded mountains j in Navarre I had several opportunities of observing it, but as I did not carry a gun in Spain, I could not obtain specimens. 108. Aquila adalberti, L. Brehm. The young of the Spanish Imperial Eagle occasionally crosses the Pyrenees into France. I have examined one of these, shot by Philippe himself near Bagneres-de-Bigorre, now in the collection of the Rev. W. Lawson, of Lynton ; and there is another in the Museum at Nimes obtained by Crespon. 109. Aquila chrysaetus (Linn.). The Golden Eagle is very rare on the French side (there is, in fact, next to no game for it to subsist upon) ; and in the Eastern Pyrenees, where the inhabitants are far more enter- 2f 2 384 Mr. H. Saunders un the prising than elsewhere,, this bird is destroyed as much as possible for the sake of the reward — the bird being disem- bowelled, rudely stuffed, and hawked about from farm to farm. I saw this being done near Vernet. On the Spanish side^ where there is plenty of ground-game, it is not un- common. 110. Haliaetus albicilla (Linn.). Immature Sea-Eagles were several times observed over the bay of St. Jean-de-Luz. At San Sebastian one was circling round the citadel on Monte OrguUo, evidently fearless of molestation, and on the look out for scraps and offal from the garrison. 111. CiRCAETUs gallicus (Gmcl.). The Short-toed Eagle was recognized on several occasions in the lower woods on both sides of the frontier. 112. NiSAETUS FASCIATUS (Vicill.). The long-legged Eonelli's Eagle was only identified on two occasions near St. Jean-de-Luz. In the Eastern Pyi'eneeSj at the foot of which there is a long line of etangs frequented by water-fow^l, it is not uncommon ; and I saw three clutches of eggs still unblown, taken not far across the frontier, in Catalonia. 113. AcciPiTER Nisus (Linn.). The Sparrow-Hawk is common and resident. 114. MiLvus iCTiNus, Savigny. The Red Kite is the most conspicuous bird of prey about St. Jean-de-Luz, and is of general distribution. 115. MiLvus MIGRANS (Bodd.) . The Black Kite was noticed on the 15th of March, after which it might be seen at any time circling over the streets of Bayonne, and swooping down upon the floating garbage on the Nive and the Adour. It remains till October. 116. Pernis apivorus (Linn.). The Honey-Buzzard is abundant on migration, the spring passage being between the 10th and 15th of May ; I have recently seen eggs taken in the forests on the French side. Birds of the Pyrenees. 385 117. Falco cANDicANs^ Gmcl. Two examples of the Greenland Falcon have been obtained near St. Jean-de-Luz; and Philippe records the occurrence of two birds on the 22nd of September, 1832, and one on the 25th of October, 1836, which were either this species or the Iceland Falcon. 118. Falco peregrinus, Tunstall. The Peregrine Falcon was seen on several occasions. On the 10th of March, 1882, one was very noisy at its nesting- place on La Rhune, bu.t no eggs had then been laid. 119. Falco /esalon, Tunstall. The Merlin was observed on several occasions during the winter and spring. 120. Falco tinnunculus, Linn. The Kestrel is common and generally distributed. Philippe says that the Lesser Kestrel [F. cenchj'is) nests annually in the ruins of the Chateau of Mauvezin, near FEscaladieu ; but it would be interesting to have this con- firmed by any ornithologist who happens to be at Bagneres- de-Bigorre in the latter part of May. 121. Pandion haliaetus (Linn.). I observed the Osprey fishing in the Bay of St. Jean-de- Luz on two occasions. 122. Phalacrocorax carbo (Linn.). This species is common along the coast, at least as far as Biarritz, where there is said to be only one historical example, known to visitors as the Cormorant. 123. Sula bassana (Linn.). The Gannet was frequently observed over the Bay in winter. 124. CicoNiA ALBA, Bcchst. Two Storks were observed passing over St. Jean-de-Luz northwards on the 6th of March. I have seen this species near the city of Leon in Spain, nearly a week earlier, although the weather was very cold at that time, and the passes into the Asturias were completely blocked by snow. 386 Mr. H. Saunders on the 125. Anas boscas, Linn. 126. QuERQUEDULA CRECCA (Linu.), 127. Mareca PENELOPE (Linn.). 128. Spatula clypeata (Linn.). The Wild Duck, Teal, Wigeon, and Shoveller were the only species of Duck identified ; but I saw some birds, which from their light appearance were probably Garganey Teal, on the Lac de Lourdes. 129. Mergus serrator, Linn. The Red-breasted Merganser was seen and shot in the Bay of St. Jean-de-Lnz in the winter. Many other species of water-fowl frequented the mouth of the Bidassoa, but their wildness, owing to constant perse- cution, rendered their pursuit unprofitable. 130. Columba palumbus, Linn. The Ring-Dove began to appear on migration on the 1st of February, 1883, in small numbers, and on the 12th there was a large passage, followed by many others. In August and September large numbers are taken in nets stretched across well-known passes in the mountains, the nearest to St. Jean- de-Luz being between Sare and Echalar. These places are called '' pantieres ^' or '^ palombieres,'^ and there are nearly a dozen of them between Sare and Luchon. On the spring migration the nets are not worked. 131. Columba (enas, Linn. The Stock-Dove occurred on passage from the 14th of March cawurds, but in small numbers. 132. Syrrhaptes paradoxus (Pall.). I have had the pleasure of discovering three examples of Pallas's Sand-Grouse in the Pyrenees. The earliest, dis- guised under the name of Pterocles arenarius, is in the Museum of Perpignau, and was obtained on the 18th of October, 1859 ; the second, killed by Philippe near the Spanish frontier above Bigorre on the 27th of May, 1863, is in the College at Oloron ; the third is in the Museum at Bavonne, and was obtained on the 23rd of June, 1863. Birds of the Pyrenees. 387 133. Caccabis rufa (Liun. ). The Red-legged Partridge is now very rare on the French side near St. Jean-de-Luz, and in the Eastern Pyrenees I have seen but few. 134. Perdix cinerea. Lath. Our Grey Partridge is a very local species, frequenting the cultivated upland patches, and rarely moving far from the spot. When brought in for sale, three of them may generally be obtained for the price of a brace of Red-legs. The Quail {CoturnLv communis) is abundant on passage; but I was not there during the time. 135. Lagopus mutus, Leach. The Ptarmigan is by no means uncommon near the snow- line. The most western locality, so far as I know, is about the Pic d'Anie or Pic des Escaliers, in the higher part of the Department of the Basses-Pyrenees. 136. Bonasa betulina (Scop.). A Hazel-Grouse got up close to me in the woods of Roncesvalles. This species is now becoming scarce on the French side; and I was unable to obtain any trustworthy information about it in Navarre or in Catalonia. Companyo asserts that it is plentiful as far south as the province of Valladolid in Spain. 137. Tetrao urogallus, Linn. The Capercaillie occurs in the forests of the entire range, but on the French side its numbers are rapidly decreasing ; I have only seen it near Luclion. The Black Grouse {Tetrao tetrix) is said by Companyo to be tolerably abundant in the moderately elevated portions of the Eastern Pyrenees, where it is known to the Catalans by the name of '' Cua furxude " or forked-tail. This species is certainly unknown in the western part of the Pyrenees as far as Luchou ; but considering the break of continuity in that range to the east of the Port de Venasque, and the connexion of the eastern portion with the Cevennes, it appears not im- probable that Companyo's statement is correct, in spite of the fact that Lacroix says nothing about this Grouse. 388 Mr. H. Saunders on the 138. Rallus AQUATicus, Linn. 139. PORZANA MARUETTA (Lcach). Both the Water- Rail and Spotted Crake were common and resident in suitable localities near St. Jean-de-Luz, where I shot several. 140. Crex pratensis, Bechst. The Land-Rail was obtained at St. Jean-de-Luz as early as the beginning of March. 141. Gallinula chloropus (Linn.). The Moorhen is tolerably common and resident in the low grounds. The Coot [Fulica atra) is abundant on the etangs at the foot of the Eastern Pyrenees; but that district does not come within the limits of the present paper. 142. Grus communis, Bechst. The Cranes passed northwards towards the end of February ; on the 10th of March, 1882, Mr. Seebohm and I witnessed the passage of a Merlin, a Peregrine, eight Kites, and a Crane crossing the shoulder of La Rhune simultaneously ; the latter was going full speed in a north-easterly direction. 143. Otis tarda, Linn. 144. Otis tetrax, Linn. The Great Bustard is not uncommon on passage in the Lower Pyrenees, and I believe it still breeds in the Landes to the north of Bayonne; there are six specimens in the Museum. The Little Bustard is a regular migrant on its way to and from La Vendee, where it breeds in considerable numbers. 145. (Edicnemus scolopax (Gmel.). The Stone-Curlew, known in the Lower Pyrenees by the misleading name of Poule de Carthage, was fairly common about St. Jean-de-Luz in winter. 146. Charadrius pluvialis, Linn. A few Golden Plover came into the market at St. Jean- de-Luz in the winter, and a tolerable number passed over, but they were very wild. Birds of the Pyrenees. 389 147. -iEaiALITIS HIATICULA (Lillll.). 148. ^GIALITIS CANTIANA (Lath.). Numbers of Ringed Plover were observed on the mud-flats of the Nivelle and on the sea-shore in March ; and on the 26th of that month I identified a single Kentish Plover feeding, with four of the preceding species and three Dunlins, and very unsuspicious. 149. Vanellus VULGARIS, Bechst. The Lapwing was common in December near St. Jean-de- Luz, but afterwards disappeared, returning about the 20th of February. 150. HiEMATOPUs osTRALEGUs, Linn. An Oyster-catcher was shot out of a flight on the 10th of December, and on the sand-banks at the mouth of the Bidassoa it was not uncommon. 151. Phalaropus fulicarius, Linn. On the 23rd of December, a very wet and squally day, I watched five Grey Phalaropes flitting up and down the last line of breakers, and occasionally resting on the water close to tlie shore at St. Jean-de-Luz. They were very tame, until driven away with stones by some boys. 152. ScoLOPAX RUSTicuLA, Liuu. The Woodcock is fairly abundant about St. Jean-de-Luz in winter and on passage. During the severe weather between the 6th and 13th of March, 1883, many were brought into the market of St. Jean-de-Luz, and the price fell to 5 francs the couple. I saw one as late as the 30th of March. 153. GrALLINAGO MAJOR (Gmcl.). 154. Gallinago cffiLESTis (Frenzel). 155. Galltnago gallinula (Linn.). I have seen one freshly killed Double Snipe shot by the Nivelle. In winter both the Common and Jack Snipe were obtained, but they were not abundant. 156. Tringa alpina, Linn. Three Dunlins, two of them in breeding-plumage, were seen on the Bay of St. Jean-de-Luz on the 26th of March. 390 Mr. H. Saunders on the 157. Machetes puqnax (Liuu.). A RufF was hanging up iu the market at Pau ou the I6th of March. 158. ToTANUs HYPOLEUcus (Linn.). The Common Sandpiper was observed on several occasions on the mountain-streams. Both the Wood- and the Green Sandpiper occur on passage, but Lacroix's statement that the latter breeds in the Pyrenees is probably incorrect ; I have seen the eggs which he ascribes to this species, and they are those of the Common Sandpiper. 159. ToTANus CALiDiiis (Limi.). 160. ToTANus ruscus (Linn.). The Common Redshank was obtained at St. Jean-de-Luz on the 14th of March; and on the 16th of April a Spotted Redshank in its black breeding-plumage was seen, but unfor- tunately was not shot. 161. LiMosA ^GOCEPHALA (Linn.). A good many Black-tailed Godwits were obtained on passage on the 3rd of March. 162. NuMENius ARQUATA (Linn.). The Curlew is tolerably common in the lower districts in winter, and has been known to breed near Capvern, where, according to Philippe, a female was taken with two eggs (which he describes accurately), on the 10th of May, 1838. 163. Larus ridibundus, Linn. 164. Larus melanocephalus, Natt. Our Brown-headed Gull was common on the Nivelle and in the Bay of St. Jean-de-Luz during the winter and up to the beginning of March 1882. Then, first a few and after- wards about a score of the Adriatic Black-headed Gulls made their appearance on the bay, and by the 6th of ]March they had completely replaced the former species. They frequented the mouth of the harbour, close by the custom-house, where it was impossible to shoot them, although I wanted a speci- men badly for the purpose of convincing a sceptic ; but nothing could be easier than their identification, the pure Birds of the Pyrenees. 391 white primaries of the adults being very apparent as they soared over one's head. Some of the mature birds had nearly full black heads by the 7th of March, when I left for that year. During the winter of 1882-83 I saw none ; but I believe this species breeds on some of the lakes, of which there is a chain lying parallel to the sea, between Bayonne and the mouth of the Gironde, and it is known to be a visitor to Bordeaux. 165. Larus minutus, Pall. On the 7th of March, 1882, I watched a flock of Little Gulls, numbering from forty-eight to fifty, in the Bay of St. Jean-de-Luz ; about thirty-six of them had already full black heads. 166. Larus cachinnans. Pall. The Yellow-legged Herring-Gull was the only member of the grey-mantled group identified at St. Jean-de-Luz. An adult male which I shot on the 12th of January had bright lemon-coloured legs and feet ; there were no grey mottlings about the head and neck, but only a few dark hair-streaks in front of the eye. 167. Larus marinus, Linn. 168. Larus fuscus. The Great Black-backed Gull was frequently observed on the coast. On the 1st of March I watched a long flight of at least 200 going steadily out to sea, S.W. direction. The Lesser Black-backed Gull was also identified. The Glaucous Gull {Larus glaucus) has been shot near Hendaye. 169. Rissa tridactyla (Linn.). The Kittiwake occasionally came into the bay in severe weather. 170. Stercorarius catarrhactes (Linn.). A Great Skua shot at PAnglet last autumn is in the Bayonne Museum. 171. Stercorarius pomatorhinus (Temm.). 172. Stercorarius crepidatus, Gmel. I picked up an example of the former at St. Jean-de-Luz 392 Canon Ti'istrain on the Eighth Volume after heavy weather, and examined a young Arctic Skua that had recently beeu shot at Heudaye. 173. Procellaria pelagica, Linn, 174. Cymochorea leucorriioa, Vieill. The Storm-Petrel was observed during the winter gales. I saw a Fork-tailed Petrel which had recently been obtained at St. Jean-de-Luz ; and Philippe records two found dead on the 29th October, after heavy weather, far inland at Campau and Pierrefitte. 175. PuFFiNus KUHLi (Boie) . It is the Mediterranean Shearwater, and not P. major of the North Atlantic, which has been obtained on the coast between St. Jean-de-Luz and Bayonne. 176. Alca torda, Linn. 177. Uria troile (Linn.). Both the Razorbill and Guillemot were common in the bay in January. 178. COLYMBUS SEPTENTRIONALIS, Linn. The Red-throated Diver was identified in the bay, and I believe I saw some individuals of the larger species. This is a poor list compared with that of M. Lacroix, which contains nearly 350 species ; but if his example were followed, and the birds of the coast of the Mediterranean as far as Marseilles, with all the Warblers and Waders of the Camargue, were included, it would be easy to add another fifty " on my personal knowledge.''^ But the latter would scarcely be Birds of the Pyrenees, and I have already strained a point iu regard to the species found on the west coast. XL. — Notes on the Eighth Volume of the ' Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum.' By H. B. Tristram, D.D., F.R.S. No work more complete and comprehensive in its design than the British Museum Catalogue has ever appeared on of the B. M. Catalogue of Birds. 393 ornithology. It would be unreasonable to expect that the volumes of a series so wide-reaching and extensive^ and necessarily the work of various authors, should be exactly equal in exhaustiveness or accuracy, still less that in the present state of our knowledge, all should be in accord as to the delimitation of the various groups, whether of families or genera. On this point the writers of the later volumes on the Passeriformes are undoubtedly at a disadvantage. Their predecessors could pick and choose, and eliminate from their scheme every anomalous form, relegating it, if not too late, to the Timelines or elsewhere. The writer of an early volume might lay down his diagnosis of family, subfamily, or genus, and gracefully return into Dr. Giinther's hands every proffered species which does not shape its first pri- mary, its culmen, or the scales of its tarsi according to the statute in that case made and provided. But a day of re- tribution comes. The waste-paper basket must be cleared. The unfortunate exiles, who have been passed, like vagrants under the old poor-law, from parish to parish, must find a home somewhere ; and the task of finding it falls to the compiler of some later volumes, where Tatare, Xenicus, Clytorhynchus, Acanthisitta, Ruticilla moussieri, and many another friendless stranger must have a somewhat general refuge afforded to them. Nor can we expect the various authors to have identical views on the specific value of many forms. Yet we may reasonably presume that the system of subdivision shall be guided by the same general principles. A careful examination of vol. viii. compels us to the con- clusion that Dr. Gadow, in compiling his portion of the Catalogue, has too often disregarded any idea of conforming to a general principle. He has, to take the case of the Paridse, exercised his right of private judgment to a very liberal extent. But our complaint is, that he has not done this on any uniform or consistent principle. We- are be- wildered by the inclusion or exclusion of subspecies or races, but no information is given as to why one form has specific rank, another subspecific, and a third is classed as a race. We ask in vain why Pariis leucopterus; is a race of P. niger, 394 Canon Tristram on the Eighth Volume wliile P. persicus is a subspecies of P. c(Bruleus. To au ordinary observer the differences of the former are more marked than those of the latter. Again^ P. haplonotus is made a subspecies of P. xanthogenys, which is sometimes carelessly spoken of as P. jerdonl; while P. beavani, which, from the diagnosis given, as well as in actual fact, is more decidedly differentiated from P. rufonuchalis than is P. hap- lonotus from its conspecific form, is put down as a race, whereas P. castaneiventris is unhesitatingly put down as a species. Sometimes colour is ignored, sometimes size, as constituting specific value; but it is all haphazard. To take the instance of the American P. atricapillus : — under this form P. occi- dentalis is ignored. We are told it is a somewhat differently coloured race, but are not informed what are the differences of colour. P. septentrionalis is also ignored, though we are told the differences, both in size and colour ; while to P. caroli- nensis is granted subspecific rank. Writing with specimens of all these races before us, we are sorry to say we cannot discover the justification for this varied mode of treatment. Certainly the claims of P. septentrionalis seem as great as those of P. carolinensis. But it is needless to multiply instances. The objection is not to the use of the terms " race " and " subspecies,'^ but only to their capricious appli- cation. In the formation of a key to the species, valuable as such a key is as an index to the holder of an unnamed specimen, it is also important that, if possible, it should be so arranged that the various species, when classified in accordance with it, shall show some sort of natural order, and that closely allied species shall not be widely separated by the intrusion of a totally different group between them. In this respect the admirable synopsis of Baron de Selys-Longchamps seems to commend itself at once by its simplicity and truthfulness. That accomplished naturalist has happily seized on the salient characters and arranged them in such a manner that every bird, with its subspecies and races, seems to fall into its place in natural order. We venture to reproduce it in translation (Bull. Soc. Zool. France, 1884, p. 76). of the B. M. Catalogue of Birds. 395 < &> s a CD < P- k) >-. f^ H ■5 w p Iz; ■? w •+0 Ph o O P-i O ft H CL, Hi 63 cq -3 .9 1 t3 fP -•v T) '^S > Ph be ni ;^ r^ tj a 396 Canon Tristram on the Eighth Volume While adopting this classification and key, we must not be supposed to endorse all the Baron's views with respect to races, though happily he has too much respect for Lin- naeus to inundate us with subspecies ; but we are hardly yet prepared to depose our old friend P. teneriffi the Birds uf Chutaba. birds of ill onien^ the present species more esjiecially so. It is shot wherever founds and the body thrown into the nearest river, so that the bad luck connected with them may be washed away. 74. pelagica, 183. • peunata, 145, 308, 383. poniarina, 237. verreauxi, 221. wahlbergi, 220. Araclinechthra asiatica, 411. ilioloplius, 341. • pulioptera, 341. Arachnothera, 328. Arauiides cayennensis, 440. Aramus scolopaceus, 440. Arboricola torqueola, 423. Archibuteo aquilinus, 243. - lagopus, 298. strophiatus, 243. Ai'dea alba, 146. bubulcus, 135, 146, 233, 429. • cserulea, 168. calceolata, 122. caudidissiiua, 168y 438. cinerea, 74, 91, 146, 268, 425. cocoi, 438. comata, 429. garzetta, 146, 268. gularis, 177. intermedia, 2(>8. melanolopha, 325. minuta, 146. nycticorax, 268. prasinosceles, 268. purpurea, 91, 146. ralloides, 146. sacra, 176. sibilatrix, 438. virescens, 168. Ardeola leucoptera, ^5. prasinosceles, 35. INDEX. 475' Ardetta flavicollis, 268, 335. minuta, 205. podiceps, 233. sinensis, 268. Argus, 210. rheinardi, 209. Argusianus argus, 104. Argya amauroura, 108. Artamides sumatrensis, 319, unimodus, 342. Artamus leucogaster, 355. musschenbroeki, 355, 4.59. Asio aecipitrinus, 380. ■ brachyotus, 97. otus, 97, 380, 407. Astrilda nonnula, 342. Astur atricapillus, 207, 348. badius, 40('). brevipes, 313. candidissimus, 207, 313. palumbarius, 312, 313, 348, 349, 406. Asturina magnirostris, 436. AsLurinula monogram- mica, 219. Athene cuculoides, 408. noctua, 92, 380. whitelyi, 261. Attagen minor, 3.3. Attagis chimborazensis, 108. Bfeopipo kisuki, 101. Balitniceps, 344. Barbatula extoni, 226. Bernicla breuta, 32. , Yar. nigricans, 32. canadensis, 175. canagica, 105. liutebiusi, 175. leucopareia, 175. nigricans, 175. Bonasa betulina, 387. Botaurus stellaris, 268, 425. Brachypternus aurantius, 410. Bracbyrhamphus kitt- litzi, 31, 174. marmoratus, 30. wrangeli, 31. Brachyuru.s sordidus, 321.' Bradyornis grisea, 111. Broderipiis palawanensis, 319. Buarremon personatus, 443. Bubo, 42. blakistoni, 42, 183. ignavus, 145, 380. maximus, 42. sinensis, 183. Bubulcua coromandus, 35, 42, 183, 407. Bucco bieinctus, 4on. Buceros atratus, 359. Buchanga albirictus, 412. cineracea, 318. leucopbaja, 318. longicavidata, 412. stigmatops, 471. Budytes calcaratus, 417. flava, 232. taivanus, 240. Burnesia gracilis, 416. melanocepbala, 340. Butalis grisola, 457. sibirica, 37. Butastur indicus, 260. Buteo, 297. eanescens, 407. cirteusis, 297. desertoruin, 297, 426. ferox, 298. lagopus, 383. menetriesi, 425. plumipes, 407. • • vulgaris, 77, 145, 260, 296, 297, 383, 4.58. , -var. japoni- cus, 260. — — vulpinus, 296, 297, 458. Butio kutteri, 335. Butorides cyanurus, 439. javanicus, 35. macrorhynchus, 35. Cacatua haematuropygia, 316. Caccabis, 459. chukor, 423. magna, 244. rufa, 387. Cacicus alaudarius, 25. chrysocarpus, 12. Oalacanthis burtoni, 420. Calamonastes flsclieri, 340. Calearius, 4.53. Caleadrella baeiica, 85. Calliope pectoralis, 41(>. Calliste, 208, 445. cyanoptera, 445. florida, 208. whitelyi, 44.5. Callolhrus, 3. Oalodromas, 460, 461. Calopezus, 461. Caloriiis circumscripta, 355, 499. crassa, 209. panayensis, .321. Calyptophilus, 203. Campylopterus hj'pery- thrus, 357, 443. Canipylorhvnchus nucha- lis, 432. " Capriraulgus asgyptius, 173. albonotatua, 409. asiaticus, 173. europ.'Bus, 79, 222. faberi, 458. indicus, 409. monticola, 409. ruficollis, 82, 92, 174. tamarieis, 173, 465. Carduelis caniceps, 420. ■ ■ elegans, 142, 375. Carpococeyx radiatus, 360. Carpodacus, 234. erythrinus, 234, 235, 420. haemorrhous, 460. 461. mexicanus, 461. purpureus, 2,'J5. Carpodectes, 28. antoniaj, 27, 28. nitidus, 27, 28. Carpophaga senea, 322. ianthina, 179. pinon rubiensis, 459. Cassicus ater, 165. leucurus, 166. melanurus, 166. liiger, 165. palliatus, 165. persicus, 166, 43.S. pyrrhogaster, 16;!. Cassidix, 149, 164. mexicanus, 165. oryzivora, 164, 165. 476 INDEX. Cassidix vieilloti, 165. Catamblyrhynchus, 240. Cathartes atratus, 438. aura, 438. — — pernigra, 437. pernigra, 437. — urubitinga, 437. Centrococcyx eurycercus, 316. Centropus nifipennis, 411. senegalensis, 225. Centurus striatus, 168. Oephalolepis loclcligesi, 442. Cephalopyrrhus flarami- ceps, 418. CercLneis cenchris, 292. sparverius isabel- linus, 437. Ceriornis melanocej)liala, 422. Certhia familiaris, 37, 142, 239, 372. — — — himalayana, 411. hodgsoni, 239. mandellii, 239. scaiidulaca, 239. Certhiola caboti, 2US. luteola, 432. Ceryle alcyon, 168. guttata, 409. maxima, 223. superciliosa stricto- ptera, 461. torquata, 435. Cettia cantaiLs, 39. 40. cantillaus, 39, 40. cautiu"ians, 261. sericea, 237. • stoliczkffi, 237. Ceyx cyanopectus. 332. nielanura, 332. philippinensis, 332, 333. rufidorsa, 318. Chti'tura boehini. 111. Cbalcophanes, 153. barytus, 159. • brachypterus, 160. gundlacbii, 159. jamaiceusis, 162. lugubris, 160, 162. macrourus, 1.56. iiiajoi", 155. ■ minor, 162. quisealup, 1.54. Chamaepelia passprina, 168. •.Charadrius. 213. Charadrius asiaticus, 429. longipcB, 207. minor, 267. placidus, 267. pluvialis, 98, 388. xanthocheilus, 123. Cbaulelasnius streperus, 147, 425. Chelidon blakistoni, 180. casbmiriensis, 408. ■ — — dasypus, 180. urbifa, 142, 374. Cben, 118. albatus, 118. ca^rulescens, 119. — byperboreus, 119. nivalis, 461. Cbera progne, 218. Cbibia brevirostris, 265. palawanensis, 318. pectoralis, 318. Chimarrhornis, 415. leucocephala, 415. Cbloropeta massaica,339. Cblorophonia, 208. cyanodorsalis, 208. frontalis, 444. longipennis, 444. roraimje, 444. ^iridis, 444. Cbloropipo, 447. flavicapilla, 447. imiformis, 447. Chlorothraupis carmioli, 208. Cbrvsococcyx cupreus, 224. lucidus, 123. Chrysocolapt.es erytbro- cephalus, 317. Chrysomitris, 241. atrieeps, 43. notata, 44. spinescens, 43, 44. spiuoides, 420. spiuus, 375. Chrysomus, 15. flavus, 16. frontalis, 17. icterocephalus, 1.5. xanthopygius. 16. Cbrysopblegma chloro- lophus, 410. Ciconia alba, 146, 385. nigra, 98, 147, 3,'i7. Ciuclu.s 213. albicfJlis, 370. aquaticus, 118, 370. asiaticus, 413. melanogaster, 1J8. Cinclus pallaei, 263. rufiventris, 464. Cinnyris acik, 325. amethystina, 226, 325. andamanica, 325. aurora, 321. bifasciata, 226, 325. erythroceria, 325. faikensteini, 340. fiagrans, .331. flammaxiUaris, 325. frenata, 325. ■ j ugularis, 325. kirki, 325. mariquensis, 226, 325. microrbyncha, 325. osea, 465. osiris, 325. senegalensis, 325. talatala, 226. venusta, 325. Circaetus, 81. cinereus, 217, 218. gallicus, 294, 295, 384. orientals, 294, 295. ]>ectoralis, 218. Circus jpruginosuB, 145, 260, 315, 382. cineraceus, 383. cyaneus, 70, 74, 382. macrurus, 218. melanoleueus, 330. pallidas, 70. spilonotus, 43, 261. Cisticola aberrans, 226. • brunneiceps, 40. cisticola, 40. scbcenicola, 261. smitbii, 226. Cittocicbla, 346. Cittocincla tricolor, 346. Clytorhyncbus, 393, 396. Cnipolegus, 434. oreuocensis, 433, 434. unicolor, 434. Coccotbraustes mela- nurus, 266. vulgaris, 143. Coccystes caifer, 224. Coecyzus americanus, 115,214. t-rvthrophtbalnius, 1 1 5. ' Cocliii;i viridis, 36(1. INDEX. 477 Colaptes mexicanus satu- ratior, 4(50. Columba intermedia, 421. leucocephala, 168. leuconota, 421. livia, 179. oenas, 386. • palurabus, 386. rupestris, 242, 421. Colymbus adarasi, 32, 214, 346. glacialis, 214, 346. septentrionalis, 98, 392. Conurus euops, 168. weddelli, 1U8. Copsycbus saularis, 415. Coracias garrula, 144. Coraphites leucopareia, 339. Corone pusilla, 318. Corvus corax, 82, 144, 207, 242, 347, 379. bericyaiius, 207. kamtscbaticus, 207. comix, 143, 379, 458. corone, 98, 379, 458. daiirieiis, 180. enca, 318. frugilegus, 98, 144, 379. grebnitskii, 347. leraillanti, 265. macrorbyncbus, 418. mexicanus, 165. monedula, 143. neglectus, 180. pusillus, 318. torquatus, 265. validissimus. 35.5. Corydalla rufula, 417. Coryllis galgulus, 111. Corytbaix, 124. bartlaubi, 339. scbuetti, 359. Cotile pallida, 408. riparia, 142. rufigula, 339. rupestris, 68, 94, 375, 408. Coturniculus, 44. dorsalis, 44. manimbe, var. dor- salis, 44. peruanus, 44. Coturnix communis, 147, 267, 387, 423. Crateropus, 46. atripennis, 48. bicolor, 48. bobndorfR, 359. bartlaubi, 48. baynesi, 48. bypostictus, 47, 48. jardinii, 46, 48, 49. ■ kirki, 46, 48, 49. leucocepbalus, 48. leucopygius, 48. melanops, 47, 49. • platycercus, 47, 48. plebeius, 46, 47, 48, 49. reinwardti, 46, 47. squamulatus, 45, 48. tenebrosus, 47, 342. Crex pratensis, 98, 148, 388. Crotopbaga ani, 435. Crvplolopba cinereoca- JDilla, 412. Cuculus canorus, 82, 144, 223, 380, 410. fugax, 333. • himalayanus, .36. bimalayensis, 410. byperythrus, 36. micropterus, 411. CuraBus, 2, 21. aterrimus, 21. Curruca cinerea, var. per- sica, 427. Cursorius cbalcopterus, 232. ■ gallicus, 124. Cyanecula wolfi, 370. Cj'anistes cyanuF, 458. flavipectus, 458. pleskei, 458. Cyanocorax Tiolaceus, 433. Cyanopica cooki, 378. Cyanopolius cyanus, 265. Cyanotbrus, 3. Cyclopsittacus salvadorii, 460. Cygnus bewickii, 346. olor, 429. Cymocborea leucorrboa, '392. Cvornis rubeculoides, '413. Cypseloides niger bore- "alis, .362. Cypselus affinis, 409. apus, 144, 362, 409. caffer, 222. melba, 102, 409. • saxatilis, 103. Cyrtostomus aurora, 321. melanocepbalus, 326. Cyrtotes, 2, 9. — — maxillaris, 9, 166. Dacnis modesta, 464. viguieri, 208. xantbopbtbalma, 464. Daulias luscinia, 141, 370. pbilomela, 141. Dendrobates poioce- phalus, 201. -J spodocepbalus, 201 . Dendrocitta bimalayen- sis, 418. rufa, 418. Dendrosfa cajrulescens, 168. Dendrocopus immacula- tus, 347. uiajor, 144, 379. Dendropicus sordidus, 247. spodocepbalus, 201. Dica?um fulgidum, 209. salvadorii, 459. Dicruropsis bracteata, 3.55. Dicrurus catbcecus, 265. palawanensis, 318. Diglossa major, 357, 443. — plumbea, 208. Diomedea albatrus, 176. derogata, 176. nigrijaes, 176. Dioptornis fiscberi, 339. Dipbyllodes cbryso- pterus, 210. guilielmi-tertii, 471. wilsoni, 467. Dives, 149, 151. atroviolaceus, 152. ■ sumicbrasti, 151, 152. warcewiezi, 152. Polichonyx, 2. badius, 8. frontalis, 17. oryzivora, 2. 478 INDKX. Dolichonyx oryzivorus, 2. ■ rufieapillLis, 17. ])repanorhyiichus veiche- nowii, 339. Drepanornis albertisi, 211. bruijnii, 460. cervinicauda, 471. Droniieus irroratus, 353. Drymacedus, 209. beccarii, 209. Drymocataphus cinerei- ceps, 321. Drymoeca pyrrhoptera, ill. undosa, 111. Drvinoipiis inornatus, 416. Dryocoeeyx liarringtoni, 316. Dryocopus galeatus, 442. inai'tius, 337. richardsi, 337. Dulus, 338. dominicus, 168. Eclectus polychlonis, 360. riedeli, 342. westermanni, 342. Elainea, 447. albiceps, 447. ferrugineiceps, 108. olivina, 446. Elanus, 220. cteruleus, 220. melanopterus, 97. Elminia albicauda, 122. Einberiza, 453. aureola, 266. cia, 95, 377, 428. ciopsis, 266. cirlus, 95, 376. citrinella, 143, 376. hortulana, 377. mexicana, 461. miliai-ia, 67,95, 143, 376. oryzivora, 2. pecoris, 3. personata, 182, 183. piisilla, 266, 419. scboeniclus, 143, 377. spodocephala, 182. stewarti, 419. . slvacheyi, 419, 428. yessoenais, 42. Empidonax. 21('). Empidonax fulvifrons, 461. palleseens, 461. rubicundus, 461. Engyptila wellsi, 453. Eos, 209. reticulata, 209. Erismatura leucocephala, 429. niersa, 91. Eritbacus calliope, 182. cyaneus, 182. golzi, 426. gutturalis, 465. hyrcanus, 431. rubecula, 98, 370. Erythropsar, 15, Erytbropus amurensis, 222. vespertinus, 291. Erytbrosterna bypery- tbra, 413. Erytbrura modesta, 354. tricbrea, var., 354. Esacus recurvirostris, 272. E.strelda astrild, 229. subflava, 229. Eucoiuetis spodocepbala, 208. Eudrepanis, 325. EudjiJtes, 112, 113. cbrysocome, 112, 459. Eudyptila, 1 12. Eulabes javauensis, 321. Eumyias melanops, 41.3. Eunetta falcata, 270. fijrniosa, 270. Eupbagws, 150. Eupbonia, 208. fulvicrissa, 208. gracilis, 208. luteicapilla, 208. musica, 168. Euplectes friedericbseni, 339. taba, 218. Euplocamus albocrista- tus, 423. Euprinodes scbistaceus, 45. Eui'ostopodus, 3.54. astrolabae, 211, 354. Eurynorliyiiclius pyg- ma?usi, 216. Eurypyga belias, 440. Euscartbm\i8 gularis. 446. russatuy, 44.5. Eutbyrliyncluis, 32s. Excalfactoria cbinen.sis, 331. Falco sesalon, 385. arcadicus, 458. atriceps, 238, 260, 284. barbarus, 238, 285. caiidicans, 385. cenchris, 385. eleonora^, 458. feldeggii, 285. leucogenys, 280, 285, 286, 287. melanogenys, 260, 282, 331, 332." peregrinus, 238, 260, 280, 285, 286, 385. abietinus, 280, 284. breyirostris, 280, 284, 285. cornicum, 280, 281, 283, 284, 285. griseiventris. 280, 281, 282, 284, 285. leucogenys, 280. punicus, 4.57, 462. sacer, 145, 243. subbuteo, 145, 406. tanypterus, 285. tinnunculus, 385, 406. Formicivora malura, 442. Francolinus subtorqua- tus, 232. vulgaris, 423. Franklinia buebanani, 416. Fregilus graculus, 242. bimalayanus, 419. Fringilauda sordida, 421. Fringilla cfelebs, 143, .376. manimbe, 44. mexicana, 4(51. montifringilla, 266, 376. papa, 124. pecoris, 3. sinica, 266. Fringillaria capensis, 230. tahapisi, 230. vittata, 230. Frugilegus pastinator, 265. Fuliea atra, 148, 178, 269, 388, 424. Fuligula cristata, 270. INDEX. 179 Fuligiila ferina, 147, 176. nyroca, 80, 425. Gallicrex cristata, 178, 268. Gallinago coelestis, 98, 389. galliuula, 98, 389. major, 389. nemoricola, 424. scolopacina, 424. solitaria, 424. Gallinula chloropus, 97, 148, 178, 388, 425. phceuicura, 269. Gallirex porpbyreolo- phus, 339. Gallus ferrugineus, 423. stramineicoUis, 471. Garapsorhyuchus torqua- tus, 470. Garrulax albogularis, 414. leucolophus, 414. pei-BpicillaUis, 265. ■ — — saunio, 265. Garrulus bispecularis, 418. brandti, 337. glandarius, 102, 143, 378. japonicus, 337. laoceolatus, 418. sinensis, 265. Gecinus, 79. awokera, 337. canus, 266, 337. guerini, 266. occipitalis, 266, 410. sharpii, 79. squamatus, 410. Tiridis, 144, 379. Geocichla citrina, 413. unicolor, 413. varia, 263. Geoffroyus tiioorlaoen- sis, 355, 458. Geosittacunicularia, 205. Geothlypis semiflava, 108. Gerygone dorsalis, 342. — ■ — fulvescens, 459. Glareola nordmanni, 232. orientalis, 267. Glaucidium brodiei, 408. jardinii, 436. passerinimi, 381. Glycychiera, 327, 328, 329. Glycyphila, 327, 328. ocularis, 327. Goisachius melanolo- phus, 176. Gorsachius goisagi, 335. melanolophus, 335. Goura, 355, 356. albertisi, 356. scheepmakeri, 355, 356. sclateri, 356. Gracula, 153. barita, 159. f'erruginea, 150. javanensis, 321. quiscala, 154. Graculus carbo, 425. javanieus, 425. lettiensis, 459. GraUaria, 451. — ~ brevicauda, 451. simplex, 451. Grallina bruijnii, 210. Graucalus sumatrensis, 319, Grus antigone, 177, 178. cinereus, 177, 243. communis, 388. japonensis, 178. leucauchen, 177, 178. leucogeranus, 177. monachus, 178. vipio, 177. virgo, 243. viridirostris, 178. Gygis Candida, 122. Gymnomystax, 2, 19. melanicterus, 19. mexicanus, 19. Gymnorhina, 396. Gypaetus barbatus, 94, 242, 382, 406. Gypohierax, 343. Gypoictinia melanoster- non, 465. GyTjs bengalensis, 406. — - fulvus, 146, 279, 381. himalayanus, 405. - — — himalayensis, 242. Haegilites, 457. Hsematopus ostralegus, 389. Halcyon pileatus, 261. smyruensis, 409. Haliaetus albicilla, 109, 145, 308, 384. hypoleucus, 109. leucoryphws, 308. Heliodoxa xantbogonys, 357. Hemicercus, 244, 252. • brookeanus, 245, 246, 247. brunneus, 193. canens, 253. cauente, 244, 246, 252, 256, 257, 258. coccometopus, 247. concretus, 244, 245, 246, 247, 250. cordatus, 244, 246, 255, 257, 258. hartlaubi, 245, 250. sordidus, 244, 245, 246, 447, 252. Hemichelidon fuligino- sus, 412. Heniicircus brunneus, 197. tristis, 191. Henicurus maculatus, 417. acouleri, 262, 417. sinensis, 262. Hermotimia, 325. aspasia, 325, 326. aspasioides, 325, 326. auriceps, 326. corinna, 325. Cornelia, 325. grayi, 325. jobiensis, 325. maforeusis, 325. morotensis, 325. mysorensis, 325. nigriscapularis, 325. porphyrol£cma, 325. proserpina, 325. salvadorii, 325. Hesperiphona icteroides, 420. Heteranax, 342. mundus, 342. Heterura sylvana, 262, 417. Hierococcyx, 36. fugax, 36, 331, 333. hyperythrus, 333. pectoralis, 331, 333. sparverioides, 411. 480 INDLX. Jlieroeoccyx varius, 333. Hierofalco gyrfalco, 288, 289, 21)0. hendersoni, 288. islandus, 288. saker, 280. uraleusis, 288, 289, 290. Hirundo ciuHillata, 227, 228. daurica, 408. dimidiata, 227. erjtbrogastra, 109. • euclirysea, 203. filifei-a, 408. gutturalis, 261. jav&nica, 321. kamtschatiea, 207. puella, 228. rustica, 142, 374, 408. saturata, 109. sclateri, 203, 338. semirufa, 227. Histvionicus minutus, 103. Holoquiscaliis, 153, 158. Hororuis pallidus. 4U». Hydrochelidou hybrida, 73,270. indica, 425. leucoptera, 124, 148. nigra, 148. Hydrophasianus cliirur- ■gus, 268, 273, 424. Hyliota, 104. barbozae, 105. Hylypsornis salvadorii, 122. Hypliautes xanthomus, 12. Hypbantornis luariqueu- sis, 229. Telatus, 228, 229. vitelliuus, 229. Hypobletis, 3. Hypolais icterina, 141, 426. pallida, 426. pallida-rama, 426. rama, 426. Hypopyrrbus, 149, 163. pyrrbogaster, 163. Hypotbymis, 320. Hypotriorcbis femoralis, 437. scverus, 330. siibbuLeo, 279. Hypsipetes psaroides, 415. Ibis eomata, 459. propinqua, 35. Icterus, 18, 167. anticus, 20. atro-olivaceus, 20. badius, 8. brevirostris, 7. cayanensis, 12. cbrysopterus, 12. citrinus, 19. cyanopus, 13. dominicensis, 20, 168. flavus, 16. fringillarius, 8. guirahuro, 20. Immeralis, 11. ictcroeepbalus, 14. leucopteryx, 18. maxillaris, 9. minor, 5, 6, 150. nigerrimus, 14. sericeus, 5. sulfirostris, 164. tanagriuuB, 149, 150. tricolor, 11. unicolor, 164. violacevis, .5, (i. virescens, 20. vulgaris, 18. xantbocepbalus, 14. xantbomus, 12. Idiopsar, 240, 241. bracbyurus, 167, 240. Indicator xantbonotus, 104. Irena tweeddalli, 321. Ixulus, 405, 417. Ij'Ugipicus, 100. ■ doerriesi, 100. gymnopbtbalmus, 104. kisuki, 100, 101, 179. nanus, 104. peuinsularis, 104. scintilliceps, 100. — seebobmi, 100, 101, 179. lynx, 28. sequatorialis, 29. japonica, 180. • pectoralis, 29, 30. puk'bi-icoUis, 28, 29, 30. Ivnx torquilla, 144, 180, ■379,410. 1x08 fainiliai'is, 124. Ixuhis liavicollis, 417. Japus rubricapillus, 18. Junco aikt'iii, 103. bairdi, 109. Ketupa, 42. Lagopus, 430. mutus, 35, 387. ridgwayi, 347. rupe.stris, 179. Lalage mcEsta, 209. melanoleuca, 334. riedelii, 459. timoriensis celeben- sis, 459. Lauipornis aurulentus, 168. Lampropsar, 149, 151. dives, 150, 152. guianeusis, 149, 1.50, 166. tanagriiius, 149. warcewiezi, 150, 152. Lauiarius atrococcineus, 232. bypopyrrbus, 323. polioceplialus, 323. Lanio Jeucotborax me- lanopygius, 208. '- melanopygius, 208. Lanius, 400, 402. algerieusis, 210, 400, 401. antinorii, 323, 324. assimibs, 400, 401. - — - coUaris, 324, 401. coUurio, 74, 142. cristatus, 402. cruentus, 323. dealbatus, 400. dorsalis, 107, 324. elegans, 400. ■ erytbronotus, 412. excubitor, 210, 374. excubitoroides, 400. fallax, 400, 401. fuscatus, 402. grimmi, 400. gubernator,324,402. bemileucurus, 400, 401. homeyeri, 400. humeralis, 401. labtora, 412. INDEX. 481 Lanius leucopterus, 400. ludovicianus, 210, 400. magnirostris, 37, 402. major, 37. ■ meridionalis, 70, 374. Diinor, 142. mollis, 400. jK^neranuB, 374. pyrrhostictus, 108, 324. scliach, 2(w, 402. smitbii, 402. specuiigerus, 402. superciliosus, 402. tephronotus, 412 — — tigrinus, 402. uncinatus, 401. vittatus, 412. Larus afBnis, 4.53. borealis, 32. cachinnans, 270, 391. dominioanus, 206. fuscus, 391. gelastes, 86. glaiicescens, 103. glaucus, 391. kumlieni, 103. marinii.'*, 391. melanocephalus, 86, 390. ■ minutus, 205, 391 , 456, 457. nelsoui, 453. ridibundius 270, 390. schistisagus, 453. Iridactylus, 32. Larvivora superciliaris, 415. Latliria, 449. cineracea, 449. streplophora, 448, 449. Leiothrix laurinf^, 104. Leipoa ocellata, 336. Leistes, 21. albipes, 24. americaniis, 22. anticiis, 20. curseus, 21. erythrothorax, 22. flavus, 16. guiaueusis, 21, 22. humeralis, 11. icterocephalus, 16. melauicterus, 19. militaris, 22. SER. V. VOL. II. Leistes niger, 21. oriolides, 20. suchii, 20. superciliaris, 21, 22. unicolor, 13. \ire8ceiia, 20. viridis, 20. Leptopogon nigriirous, 446. Lerwa nivicola, 423. Leucocerca albot'rontata 412. fuscoventris, 412. Leucosticte litcmatopygia, 244. Ligea, 203, 338. p dustris, 203, 338. Ligurinus chloris, 142. 375. Limosa regoeepbala, 390. novffi-zealandia;, 123. rufa, 99. Linota canuabina, 82, 237, 370. flavirostris, 376. linaria, 234, 235, 237. . rurescens, 376. Lithofalco sesalon, 290. Lobivanellus goeiisis, 424. Locustella fluviatilis, 136, 141. nffivia, 141. Lophophanes cristatus, 372. inornatus cinereus, 109. melanolophus, 418. Lopliopborus chaiiibanus, 421, 422. impeyanus, 421, 422. Lopbornis, 357. ~ pavoninus, 357, 358. Lophortyx californicus brunnescens, 460. Loricidus galgvdus. 111. Loxia, 118,460. bifasciata, 118. curvirostra, 376, 460. bendirei, 461. leucoptera, 1 18. pityopsittacus, 456, 461. Loxigilla violacea, 168. Lurocalis rufiventris, 464. Lusciniola, 40. thoracica, 40. Lyneornis, 354. papiiensis, 354. Machetes pugnax, 33. 390. Machloloplius xantbo- genys, 418. Macragelajus, 149, 162. subalaris, 162. MacEorhaiiiphus griseus, 103. Malaconotus liypopyr- rluis, 323. Manxicodia atra, 211. Mareca penelope, 386, 425. Megalffima asiatica, 410. iiiarsliallorum, 410. Megaloperdix tibetanus, 243. Megaloplionus massaicua, 339. Megalurus, 40. alboliaibatus, 342. gramineus, 40. pryeri, 40, 337. Megapodius cumingi, 322. Megaqiiiscalus, 153, 155. Meiglvptes brunneus, 193. fuscus, 194. gramiiiitborax, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 196. jugularis, 189, 197, 199. marginatus, 194. pectoralis, 194. IDoiciloplius, 189. sordidu.s, 250. ■ tristis, 189, 19l>, 191, 192, 193, 199. tukki, 189, 193, 194. Melaniparus, 335. semilarvatus, 331, 334. Melanocoryplia calandra, 377. maxima, 242. Melanopitta sordida, 321. Meliarchus, 328. Melidectes, 328. Melilestes, 328, 329. affiiiis, 328. 2o 482 INDEX. Melilestes iliolophiis, 328. novffi-guinea-, 328. poliopterus, 328. Melipotes pymnops, 328. Melirrliophetes, 328. Melithreptus, 340. Melittophagus boebiui, 111. Melizopliilus undatus, 371. Meloplius melanicterus, 4 lit. Melospiza palustris, .44. Merganetta arniata, 338. Mergiis mergan.ser, 2G9. serrator 98, 38(>. Merops apiaster, G9, 144, 223. nubicoides, 223. ornatus sumbaensis, 458. revoillii. 107, 210. Merula albociuetn, 413. boulboul, 413. cardis, 41. castanea, 414. cbry solans, 41. confinis, 110. dactyloptera, 215, 216. fuscata, 2()3. mandarina, 263. merula, 215. naumanni, 2r)2. pallida, 263. unguiculata, 216. vulgaris, 216. Mesopicus goertau, 199, 200. griseocephalus, 200. naniaquus, 200. pyrrhogaster, 200. schoeiisis, 200. spodocephalus, 199, 200, 201. xantholophus, 200. Metojiouia pusilla, 421. Micropicus eanente, 253, 257. concretus, 247, 250. hartlaubi, 245, 250. Milvago chimacliima, 437. Milvulus tyrannus, 361, 435. Milvus affinis, 239, 407. ater, 310, 311. Milvus glaucopus, 312. govinda, 238, 239, 311, 312,407. iclinus, 76, 77, 96, 384. inelanotis, 238, 239, 2(30. migi'ans, 76, 77, 96, 145,384. palustris, 239. regalis, 309, 310. Mimociolila ardesiaca, 168, 338. Mimus, 241. Mirafra nigricans, 231. Mitrephorus paUescens, 460. Mniotilta varia, 168. Molobrug sericeus, 6. Molothrus, 2, 3. a'neus, 3, 4. armenti, 3, 5, 166. ater, 4. obscurus, 4. atronitens, 3, 6. badius, 3, 8. bonariensi.s, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 150. cabanisi, 166. • cassini, 3, 6, 7. discolor, 6. fringillaceus, .3. fringillarius, 8. t'uscipennis, 8. maxillaris, 9. ■ niuriuus, 167. niger, 6. obscurus, 4. pecoris, 3, 4. , var. ob- scurus, 4. purpurascens, 3, 6,7. robustiis, 5, 7. — — rufo-axillaris, 3, 7- sericeus, 5. MoTiareha fuscescens, 458. geelvinkianus, 458. inornatus kisser- eusis, 458. ■ mundu.'', 342. pileatus buruensis, 459. Mpnticola cj-anus, 369. cyanus-solitarius, 263. saxatilis, 369. MonliiVingilla adaiusi, 214. Montil'ringilla nivalis, 376. Morniuu corniculatus, 174. Motacilla alba, 39, 98, 118, 142, 373, 417. aniurensis, 39, 109, 181, 182. blakistoni, 38, 181, 182. boarula, 98. flava, 39, 142, 240, 374, 428. , var. taivanus, 39. — — japonica, 38, 39, 181. leucopsis, 262. lugubris, 118, 373. maderaspatana, 417. nielanoeephala, 428. ■ uielanope, 346, 373, 417. ocularis, 39, 109, 262. personata, 417. raii, 102, 374, 428. sulphurea, 39, 262. , var. luelanope, 39. taivanus, 240. yarrelli, 39. Munia leucogastroides, 111. Muscicapa atricapilla, 374. ■ fulvifrons, 460. grisola, 227. gularis, ISO. Muscicapula supercili- aris, 413. Muscitrea cyanea, 324. Musophaga rossre, 359. Mycerobas melanoxaa- thus, 420. Myiadestes montanus, 338. Myiarchiis lawrencii oli- vascens, 460. mexicanusmagister, 460. Mviodioctes meridioualis, 108. Myiolestes, 397. bimaculatus, 354. maxima, 397. nigrogularis, .397. vitieusis, 397. INDEX. 483 Myiophoneus temminckii, 413. cairuleus, 263. Myiozetetes texensis, 434. columbianus, 434. Myzantlie ignipectus,411. Myzomela, n. sp., 327. acloli3biiia% 326. annabellffi, 209. boiei, 326. chloroptera, 326. coccinea, 326, 327. cruentata, 326. eques, 211, 3.54. , var.,354. erytbrina, 327. erytbrocephala, 326. erytbroraelas, 326. guentbei'i, 326, 341. infuscata, 326. obscura, 354. rubrobrunnea, 327. rubrotiDcta, 327. siuiplex, 327. Nectarinia bocagei, 32.5. — — ■ ciipreonitens, 325. Neniura eyanura, 415. Neofiebla guttiiralis, 132. Neopbron ginginianiis, 40!). percnoptenis, 278, 382. Neopus malaccensis, 407. Nesopsar, 9. . nigerrimus, 14. Nestor notabilis, 471. • productus, 123. Nettapiis coromandeli- anus, 270. kopscbii, 270. Nigrita cabanisi, 339. Niltava sundara, 413. Ninox, 169, 170, 171. affifiis, 170. burmanica, 170. dimorpba, 172. forbesi, 209. lugubris, 170. obscura, 171. scutulata, 169, 170. theomacha, 171. Nisaetus bellicosus, 219. bonellii, 407. fasciatus, 384. morphnoides, 465. spilogaster, 219. Notauges fiscberi, 339. Nucifraga liemispila, 418. ■ multimaeulata, 418. Nuinenius arquatus, 34, 99, 390. austral is, 34. cyanopus, 34, 35. lineatus, 34, 268. major, 34. luinutus, 34, 35, 268. pbseopus, 99, 335. rufescens, 34. uropygialis, 35. variegatus, 34, 35, Nyctala tenginalmi, 381. Nycticorax garden!, 439. griseus, 146, 233. Nyroca ferruginea, 147. OceaTiodroma f areata, 105. Qildemia nigra, 71. tEdicnemus bistriatus, 440. dominicensis, 203. ■ scolopax, 78, .388. CEdistoiua, 329. pygniasum, 328. CEstrelata bcesitata, 202. Onycbospiza taczanow- skii, 242. Opisthocomus cristatus, 440. Oreocincia mollissima, 414. \aria, 369. Oreoecetes cinclorhyn- cbus, 413. erylbrogaster, 413. Oriolus americanus, 22. ater, 4. cbinensis, 265. decipiens, 342. ■ ierrugineus, 150. ■ flavus, 1(5. galbula, 102, 142. guianensis, 21. ■ icteroceijhalus, 15. ■ kundoo, 415. mexicanus, 19. niger, 159. oryzivorus, 165. palawanensis, 319. • plioeniceus, 10. ■ ruber, 18. squauiiceps, 124. viridis, 19. Ortalis rufieauda, 440. Ortbotomus longicauda, 416. Otis dybowskii, 178, 267. ■ tarda, 388. tetrax, 102, 388. Otocompsa leucogenys, 415. Otocorys albigula, 184. aipestris, 184, 185, 186, 188. brandti, 117, 184, 185, 186. cbrysola?ma, 18S. elwesii, 184, 185, 186. longirostris, 116, 117,118,184,185,186, 188. nigrifrons, 184. occidentalis, 188. parvexi, 184. peuicillata, 117, 184, 185, 187. peergrina, 188. sibirica, 184. Otogyps calvus, 405. Otus bracbyotus, 261. Pacbvcepbala arctitor- quis, 209. astrolabi, 323, 398, 399. christopliori, 323, 398, 399. cho, 397. cyanoa, 324. graeffei, 399. griseiceps, 324. grisola, 400. gutturalis, 398. . intermedia, 399. jacquinoti, 399. jobiensis, 324. kandavensis, 398. kebirensis, 459. littayei, 398. • macrorbyncba, 323, 397. melanura, 323, 397- miosnomensis, 324. neglecta, 399. obiensis, 323. occidentalis, 398. ■ ■ poliosoma, 324. riedelii, 4.59. sharpei, 459. torquata, 399. vitiensis, 398. xantherythroea, 400- 484 INDEX. Pachycephala xanthe- trrea, 400. PachycephalopBis fortis, 342. Paehyrhamphus, 448. griseigularis, 448. viridis, 448. Palceornis purpurascens 410. schisticeps, 410. Palumboena eversmanni, 421. Palumbus casiotis, 421. Pandion haliaetus, 183, 294, 385. Paradisea, 211. decora,211, 354,471. minor, 360. raggiana, 211. susaunse, 211, 354. Parisoma boehiui, 111. Parra jacana, 440. Pariila americana, IGS. Parus, 463. ater, 37, 118, 372, 395. atricapillus, 394. tiirneri, 460. beavani, 394. britannicns, 118. caTuleus, 142, 372, 394, 395, 396. carolinensis, 394. castaneiveiitris, 394. cinereus, 418. CTistatiis, 395. cyamis, 39(5. flavipectus, 396. fringillinus, 340. gri.seiventri?, 111. baplonotus, 394. jerdoni, 394. — leucopterus, 393. lugubris, 142, 403, 428. major, 372. minor, 262. palustris, 37, 372, 395. pendulinus, 428. persicLis, 394. pleskii, 396. rufiTentris, 110. rufonucbalis, 394. major, 141, 395. monticola, 418. niger, 393, 395. occidentalis, 394. semilarvatus, 334. . septentrionalis, 394. Parus teneriffffi, 395. tricolor, 395. varius, 395. xanthogenys, 394, 395. Passer arcuatus, . 224, 230. cinnaraomeus, 419. diffusus, 230. domesticus, 143, 375, 419. flavicoUis, 419. moabiticus, 465. raontauus, 143, 375, 419. rufocinctus, 339. salicicola, 77. Passerina discolor, 6. oryzivora, 2. Pave cristatu.s, 421. Pedicecetes phasianellus campestris, 460. Pedopsaris, 24. Pedotribes guianensis, 22. Pelai-gopsis leucocepbala, 318. Pelecaniis sharpii, 122. Penelope, 358. mai-ail, 358. Penthetria boeagii, 122. Perdix cinerea, 147, 387. Pericrocotus brevirostris, 412. cinereus, 319, 334, 337. igneus, 319. ■ roseus, 412. speciosus, 272. Pernis, 276, apivorus, 275, 276, 277, 295, 384. ptilorbyucbus, 275, 276, 277. Petasopbora anais, 451. germana, 451. Petrocossyphus cyanus, 413. Petronia brachydactyla, 465. petronella, 230. Pezites brevirostris, 24. loyca, 23. militaris, 24. riiaceUodomus sibilatrix, 103. Pbaiopiciis pectoralis, 194. tristis, 190. grammithorax, 191. Phaiopicus jugularis, 197. pectoralis, 194. tristis, 190. Phalacrocorax africanus, 233. carbo, 145, 385, 270. dilopbus albocilia- tus, 460. pygni£eus, 146. Pbalaropus fulicarius, 33, 389. hyperboreus, 2()7. Plialeris psittacula, 174. Pliasianus chrysomelas, 470. formosanus, 267. torquatus, 267. wallicbii, 423. Philemon, 328. cockerelli. 341. jobiensis, 328. kisserensis, 459. moluccensis, 328. plumigeuis, 328, 342. sclateri, 328. — — timorlaoensis, 328, 355, 459. Philydor albigularis, 450. Pbloga>nas rufigula, 210. Phoenicopbaes harring- toni, 316. Phcenicopbilus, 338. t'rugivorus, 203. palmarum, 168. Phoeuicopterus ruber, 168. Phopuicotbraupis rhodi- noUvma, 208. rubica, 2U8. Pholidaiiges verreauxi, 228. Phonipara, 445. bicolor, 168, 445. pbaioptila, 445. Phrygilus, 240. unicolor, 240. Phyllopneuste horaeveri, 207. Pbylloscopus, 235. coUybita, 371. higubris, 235. ■ magnirostris, 235. proregiilus, 261. rufus, 428. scindianus, 236. . tristis, 236, 416. trochilus, 371,428. — viridanns, 416. INDEX. 485 Piaya cayana guianensis, 435. guianensis, 435. Pica camtschatica, 347. caudata, 265, 347. leucoptera, 265. rustica, 143, 378, 418. Picumnus, 167, 442. jheringi, 441, 442. lawrencii, 167, 168. lepidotus, 442. niicromegas, 167, 168. pygniseus, 442. Picus, 120. brunneifrons, 410. brunneus, 194. canente, 2.52. , var. occiden- talis, 257. , Tar. orien- talis, 253. concretus, 245, 247, 250. cordatiis, 257. hiuialayensis, 410. kisuki, 100, 101, 337. kogera, 101. luridus, 193. macsei, 410. mahrattensis, 410. major, 313, 337. kaiutschat- kensis, 313. minor kaiutscliat- kensis, 313. mandarinus, 266. martins, 379. medius, 456. minor, 36, 313, 337. , vai". danfordi, 36. , var. pipra, 36. nuttalli, 361. pectoralis, 196. poicilolophus, 189, 191. sordidus, 247. temmincki, 442. tristis, 189, 190, 191. tukki, 193, 194. Piezoi'hina, 240. Piezorhynchus castus, 342. squamulatus, 342. vidua, 342. Pinicola enucleator, 234. Pionias bohndorfB, 359. Pipra, 448. coruuta, 447, 448. iracunda, 447. rubricapilla, 447, 448. Pipreola elegans, 449. jucunda, 449. vFhitelyi, 449. Pitangus derbyanus, 434. rufipennis,434. Pitta erythrogastra, 334, kochi, 210. sordida, 321. Platalea ajaja, 168. leucorodia, 147. Plectorhynclius, 340. Plectrophanes, 453. Plectrophenax, 453. Plegadis falcinellus, 147. Plotus chantrei, 459. levaillanti, 459, 465. melanogaster, 459. Podasocys montanus, 213. Podiceps cristatus, 91, 148. _ griseigena, 148. minor, 269, 425. philippensis, 269. Podoces humilis, 242. Poecile kamtschatkensis, 313. palustris, 313. Poecilia borealis, 214. macrura, 214. Poecilodryas bimaculata, 342, 354. melanoleuca, 353. minor, 4.59. Sylvia, 211, 353. Poliospiza reicbardi, 111. Polyboroides typicus, 360. Polyborus ayduboni, 437. Polyplectron eujDbaues, 210. Pomatorhinus, 263. erythrogenys, 414. ruficoUis, 263, 264. stridulus, 264. styani, 263, 264. tickelli, 470. Porpbyrio alleni, 214. ca;ruleus, 98, 429. Porpbyrio poliocephalus, 429. smaragdonotus, 429. Porzana bailloni, 269. maruetta, 92, 388. parva, 147. Potamopsar, 149, 150. minor, 149. tanagrinus, 149. Pratincola caprata, 415. ferrea, 415. indica, 415. maura, 426. rubetra, 140, 370. rubicola, 140, 370. Procellaria furcata, 33. leucorrhoa, 33. pelagica, 392. Promerops, 341. Psaltriparus grindce, 109, 460, 461. melanotus, 461. minimus californi- cus, 460. Psarocolius ajneus, 4. caudacutus, 2. curaeus, 21. cyanocepbalus, 151. flaviceps, 16. gubeniator, 10. gymnops, 19. palliatus, K>5. perspicillatus, 14. unicolor, 164. Pseudocossypbus rufus, 340. Pseudolalage melano- leuca, 334. Pseudoleistcs, 2, 19. melauicterus, 19. virescens, 19, 20. viridis, 19, 20. Psittaeodis westermanni, 342. Psittacula diopbtbalmica, 467. Pterocles alchata, 84. arenarius, 84, 386. Ptilopus bellus, 211. flavovirescens, 355, 459. melanocepbalus, 322. wallacei, 209. Ptilotis, 327. albinotata, 327. • analoga, 327. cbrysotis, 327. flavirictus, 327. limbata, 341. marmorata, 329, 341. 486 INDEX. Ptilotis megalorhyncbus,) 341. montana, 327. polygramma. 341. vii-escens, 341. Ptyrticiis turdinus, 342. Pucrasia macrolopha, 422. Puffinus sp. ?, 98. carueipes, 176. griseiiB, 33. kuhli, 392. levicomelas, 176. major, 392. Pyciionotus pygseus, 415. sinensis, 263. xantborrbous, 263. Pygosceles, 112. Pyranga erytbrocepbala, 208. flglina, 208._^ bepatica, 208. testacea, 208. Pyromelana orvx, 229, 230. ■ taba, 229. Pyrrbocentor raelanops, "331. ■ unirut'us, 331 . Pyrrbocorax alpinus, 378, 419. graculus, 378. Pvrrbospiza punicea, "420. Pyri-bula aiirantiaca, 420. erytbrocepbala, 420. europfea, 346, 376. Pyrrbulauda barbata, 242. ruficoILis, 242. Quelea sangiiinirostris, 230. Quevquedula eircia, 175. crecca, 386, 425. Quispala, 153. niteus, 1.54. Quieeahis, 149, 150, 153, 155, 158, 161. aeneus, 153, 154. a>quatoriabs, 152. agloBus, 153, 154. assimilis, 155, 156, 157. ater, 165, 168. atroviolaceus, 152. barita, 159, 160, 162. Quiscalus baritus, 154, 159. — ■ — , var. gund- bicbii, 159. barytas, 159. bracbypterns, 158, 160, 161. — — ■ breweri, 151. corvinus, 155. crassirostris, 153, 158, 159, 160. fortirostris, 158, 161. graysoni, 155, 157. guadeloupensis, 158, 160. gundlacbi, 158, 159. inflexirostris, 158, 160, 161. lugubris, 158, 160, 161, 1&2. liiminosus, 158, 161, 166. macrurus, 155, 156, 1.57. major, 1.55. ■ , var. macrurus, 156. , var. palustris, 157. mexicanus, 167. minor, 149, 150. niger, 158, 159, 166. palustris, 153, 157, 158. peruvianus, 156. purpuratus, 1.54. purpureus, 154. , var. a^neus, 154. . , var. agla;us, 154. pyrrbogaster, 163. recti ros^ris, 161. subalaris, 162. — suuiicbrasti, 152. tenuirostris, 155, 157, 158. rersicolor, 153, 1.54, 155. Eallus aquations, 92, 147, 388. baillom, 35. Reguloides hutuii, 236, 416. occipitalis, 416. Reguloides proregulus, 416. snperciliosus, 236. ■ troebiloides, 416. Regulus cristatus, 102, 371, 416. ignicapillus, 371. Ebampboccelus passer- inii, 208. uropygialis, 208. Rhampbomantis mega- rbyncbus, 354. rollesi, 211, 354. Rhapbidura, 107. Rbea uiacrorbyucba, 353. Rliectes rubiensis, 459. Rbeinardius ocellatus, 209.210. Rbipidura fusco-rufa, 2t»9. baniadryas, 209. opistberytbra, 342. Rbodostetbia rosea, 105. Rbopodytes, 331. Rbyncba^a bengalensis, 178. Rissa tridactyla, 391. Rupornis ridgwayi, 203. Ruticilla aurorea, 262. • cajruleocepbala, 415. erytbrogastra, 405, 415. erytbroprocta, 344. frontalis, 415. fuliginosa, 415. moussieri, 393. ocbrura, 344, 431. jjbcrnicurus, 370. rufiventris, 415. titys, ()7, 349, 350, 351, 352, 370, 457. Saurotbera dominicen- sis, 168. Saxieola albicollis, 370. ■ aurita, 67. leucura, 122,370. monticola, 466. niorio, 102. cenantbe, 140, 370. picata, 415. scbalowi, 340. stapazina, 67. Scapbidura, 164, • atra, 165. barita, 165. erassirostra, 16.5. Scapbidurus, 153, 164. airoviolaceus, 152. INDEX. 487 Scaphidurua palustris, 157. Scelospizias polyzonoides, 219. Scenopa?us dentirostris, 471. Scolecophagus, 149, 150, 151, 152. atroviolaceus, 151, 152. • cyanocepbalus, 150, 151. dires, 152. femigineus, 150. mexicanus, 151. niger, 151. sericeus, G. Scolecotheres spodoce- phalus, 201. Scoiopax gallinago, 267. grisea, 33. horsfieldi, 267. ruslicula, 98, 267, 389, 424. Bolitaria, 244. wilsoni, 33. Scops brasilianus, 436. • gill, 380. japoniciis, 42. nicobaricus, 172. . pliuiiipes, 408. semitorques, 42. spilocephalus, 408. stictouotiis, 42. sunia, 172, 408. Scopus uuibretta, 343. Sericornis, 209. arfakiana, 209. beccarii, 209. Serinus caiionicus, 465. bortulanus, 337, 375. Setophaga bairdi, 108. • castaneocapilla, 443. ruticilla, 168. Sbarpia angolensis, 122. Sibia picaoides, 414. Sigmodus griseimentalis, 359. Simorliyncbiis microce- ros, 31. ■ piisilliis, 31. pygmajiis, 31. Sipbia lemprieri, 319. pbilippensis, 320. Sitta aculeata, 403. cjesia, 142, 372. canadensis, 403. carolinensis, 403. Sitta himalayensis, 411. leucopsis, 411. neiiinayeri, 402, syriaca, 402. villosa, 403. whitebeadi, 363. Sittella albifrons, 21], 354. papuensis, 354. Somateria spectabilis, 111. v-nigrum, 111. Spatula clypeata, 386, 425. Spbeniscus, 112, 113. Spbenocerciis spbenurus, 421. Spilornis asturinus, 458. cbeela, 407. Spindalis unicolor, 338. Spizaetus uipaleusis, 407. Spizella pinetorum, 44, 45. pusilla, 44. socialis, 44, 45. Spizixus semitorques, 263. Spizocorys conirostris, 231. Stacbyris pyrrbops, 414. Stactolfema aucbietse, 122. Stercorarius sp. ?, 98. buffoni, 176. catarrbactes, 391. cbilensis, 206. crepidatus, 32, 391. pomatorbinus, 32, 391. Sterna cantiaca, 86, 205. caspia, 270. fluviatibs, 148. birnndo, 119,425. minuta, 73. • sinensis, 32. Stigmatops, 327. blasii, 327. cbloris, 327. squauiata, 355. ■ subociilaris, 327. Strepera, 396. Strepsilas interpres, 99, 168. Strigiceps cineraceus, 315. cyaneus, 314. pallidus, 314. Strix Candida, 346. Strix flammea, 83, 144, 381. pratincola, 435. furcata, 436. oustaleti, 346. rufescens, 183. iiralensis, 183. Strut bio australis, 465, 46(>. camelus, 116, 352. niolybdopbanes, 116, 352, 353, 466. Sturnella, 2, 24. beUicosa, 24. collaris, 25. defibppii, 24. bolosericea, 18. byppocrepis, 25, 26. loyca, 24. ■ ludoviciana, 24, 25, 26, 27. ■ bippocrepis, 25. , yar, bippo- crepis, 26. . nieridionalis, 26. ■ mexicana, 26. ■ neglecta, 25. magna, 25. , Tar. meri- dionalis, 27. , Tar. mexicana, 26. , Tar neglecta, 25. meridionalis, 26. mexicana, 26. militans, 23, 24. neglecta, 25. rubra, 18. Sturnus cineraceus, 266. jamaicensis, 159. loyca, 23. liidoTicianus, 25. militaris, 23. • nitens, 419. prffidatorius, 10. pyrrbocepbalus, 18. unicolor, 97. Tulgaris, 98, 143, 378, 419. Sula bassana, 98, 385. Sutbora suffusa, 265. Suya atrogularis, 416, crinigera, 416. striata, 261 . Sycalis Columbiana, 433. flayeola, 433. 488 INDEX. Sylvia affinis, 237, 416. atricapilla, 14:1,371, 427. cinerea, 141. , /3. fuscipilea, 427. curruca, 371, 427. diplione, 124. fuscipilea, 427. garrula, 237. hortensis, 141. melanocephala, 92, 371, 427. inomus, 427. mystacea, 427. nisoria, 141, 427. ■ rvibescens, 427. riifa, 371. subalpina, 427. Sylviparus moclestus,418. Synallaxis adusta, 450. ciiierascens, 442, demissa, 449. flavigulai-is, 207. frontalis, 449. ■ la?niosticta, 4.50. orbignii, 207. riiticilla, 442 terre-stris, 4.50. Syrniuin akico, 380. indrani, 407. nivicoluiB, 407. iiralense, 42. Syrrhaptes paradoxus, ■ 386. tibetanus, 243. Taccocua sirkee, 411. TachyphonuB, 208. chrysomelas, 208. nitidissimus, 208. Tadorna casarca, 270. cornuta, 175. Talegalla lathami, 343. Tanagra bonariensis, 5. militaris, 21. Tantalus loculator, 439. Tanygnathus burbidgii, 470. leueonensis, 316. Tarsiger, 405. chrysieus, 416. cyanurus, 262. orientalis, 340. Tatare, 393. Tchitrea paradi.si, 412. princeps, 337. TemenuchuB pagodarum, 419. Terekia cinerea, 33. Terpsiphone, 321. perspicillata, 227. Tetra,o, 430. bonasia, 35, 430. septentrio- nalis, 430. camtschaticus, 214. griseiventris, 430. niediuB, 344. mlokosiewiezi, 431. tetrix, 344, 387. urogalloides, 214. urogallus, 344, 387. Tetraogallus caucasicus, 470. bimalayensis, 423. Thalassidroma leucor- rhoa, 347. pelagica, 98. Tbaninobia leucocephala, 2(i2. Thamnopbilus, 451. insignis, 450. Thilius, 9. major, 13. Tliriponax, 317. feddeni, 317. hargitti, 317. javensis, 317. Tbryothorus, 241. Ticbodroma muraria, 244, 372, 411. Tiga, 317. everetti, 317. Tigrisoinabrasiliense,439. salmoni, 439. Tinnuncuius alaudarius, 145, 293. artburi, 456. cencliris, 222. pekinensis, 221, 222. Todus subulatus, 168. Totanus calidris, 390. canescens, 99, 233. fuscus, 390, 429. glottis, 267, 424. bypoleucus, 99, 390. luelanoleucu.s, 441. ocbropus, 2()7. Tricboglossus meyeri bontbainensis, 458. Tricbogramoptila leuco- gastroides, 111. Tricbolais citrinicep.s, 111. Tricbostoma rufifrons, 320. Tringa alpina, 268, 389. caiiutus, 34, 99. Tringa cinclu8, 99. maculata, 102. maritima, 99. minuta, 34. platyrbyncha, 33. ruficollis, 34, 268. siibininuta, 34. • teiiiniincki, 268. Triiigoides bypoleucos, 148. Trocbalopterou cbryso- pteruu), 414. liueatuni, 414. rufogulare, 414. variegatum, 414. Trocbalupteruin cano- rum, 264, 265. Troglodytes alascensis, 41. uipalensis, 413. paeiiicus, 41. parvuluB, 40, 373. • , Tar. fuuiiga- tus, 41. Trupialis, 2, 23. belHcosa, 23, 24. • defdippii, 23, 24. guianensis, 22. • loyca, 42. uiilitaris, 23, 24. ruficeps, 17. supcrciliaris, 22. Turacus giganteus, 344, 359. Tui'dinus, 321. T'jrdus arundinaceus, 119. atrogularis, 414. curreus, 21. daetyloplerus, 215. fuscater, 3.38. iliacus, 3()9. merula,67, 140,369. musicus, 98, 140, 369. olivater, 444. pibiris, 369. roi-ainiae, 443. ruficollis, 405, 414. ■ tbilius, 12. torquatus, 369. viscivorus, 368, 414. Turiiix, sp. inc., 423. sylvatica, 93. Turtur cbinensis, 266. communis, 147. gelastes, 36. buuiilis, 179, 421. orientalis, 35, 266. risoria, 421. INDEX. 1-81) Turtiir rupicola, 36, 421. suratensis, 421. Tjranniis dominicensis, 168. Upucerthia, 205. Upii])a epops, 36, 144, 261, 380, 412. Uragus sibiricus, 104. Uria carbo, 175. columba, 174. troile, 392. Urinator adaiiisi, 346. iminer, 346. Urocissa flavirostris, 418. ■ sinensis, 265. Urodrepanis, 325. Urospizias, 355. albiventris, 355. appi-oximans hal- mahertE, 458. Urubitinga zonura, 436. Vanellus cayennensis,44 1 . cristatiis, 267, 423. vulgaris, 148, 380. Vauga cruenta, 323. Vidua erytlirorhyncba, 229. Vireo flaro-viridis, 103. Volvocivora melaschis- tus, 412. Yultiir ciuereus, 97. nionachus, 242, 278, 279, 381, 405. Xanthocepbalus, 2, 14. icterocephalus, 14, 15. loiigii^es, 14. pei'spicillatus, 14. Xanthopygia cyauome- la3na, 180. fuliginosa, 262. Xanthornus, 17, 18. chrysocarpus, 12. chrysoi:)teriis, 13. cyanensis, 12. ll;lTUS, 16. gasqueii, 20. holosericeus, 18. purpurascens, 7. Xantliosomus, 2, 15. llavus, 15, 16. frontalis, 15, 16, 17. icterocephalus, 15. ruficapillus, 15, 17. Xanthotis, 327. fusciventris, 327. Xenieus, 393. Xenoeichlaorientalis,342. Xenopipo atronitens, 447. Xenopirostris, 396, 397. Xenospingus, 240. Yungipicus kisuki, 101. Zeocephus, 321. cyanescens, 320. rufus, 334. Zosterops, 123, 327, 340. erissalis, 341. eurycricotus, 339. fallax, 341. japonica, 36. palpebrosus, 360, 418. simplex, 360. END OF VOL. II. rUINTED BY TAVLOK AND FKANCIS, KEP LION COURT, FLEET STliELT. SRR. V -TOL. II. FIFTH SERIES. Vol. II. No. 5. JANUARY 1884. Frice 6s. Wkl THE IBIS, QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY. EDITED BY PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., SECEETAKY TO THE ZOOLOaiCAL SOCIETY OF LONDON", AND HOWARD SAUNDERS, F.L.S., F.Z.S. LONDON: JOHN YAN VOORST, 1, PATERNOSTEE ROW. Annual Subscription, payable before 31st March each year, £1 Is. *TAYI.OB AND TEAHCIS, PBISTEBS.J [BED LION COUET, FLEET STBEET. BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION. PRESIDENT. The Right Hon. Lord Lilford. SECRETARY. H. E. Dresser, Esq. COMMITTEE. The President. ") The Editors of 'The Ibis.^ >Ex officio. The Secretary. j O. Salvin, Esq. Capt. E. Shelley. W. B. Tegetmeier, Esq. The British Ornithologists^ Union was instituted in 1858 for the advancement of the science of Ornithology. Its funds are devoted primarily to the publication of 'The Ibis/ a Quarterly Journal of Ornithology, of which twenty-five volumes have now been completed. The Union consists of Ordinary Members, Honorary Members (limited to ten), and Foreign Members (limited to twenty). Ordinary Members pay an admission fee of £2, and a contri- bution of £1 on election, and .£1 on the 1st of January of each subsequent year. Ordinary Members and Honorary Members are entitled to receive a copy of 'The Ibis' gratis. Authors are entitled to 25 extra copies of their papers pub- lished in ' The Ibis,' on applying for them to the Secretary. The Election of Members takes place at the Annual General Meeting, held in April or May of each year. Persons wishing to become Members are requested to apply to the Secretary for infor- mation respecting Election. H. E. DRESSER, Secretary . 6 Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, W. Now ready, Price 30s. A GENERAL INDEX OF THE FIRST THREE SERIES OF 'THE ibis; 1859-1876. Edited by Osbert Salvin, M.A., F.R.S. J. VAN VOORST, 1 PATERNOSTER ROW. CONTENTS OF NUMBER V. {continued). Xn. Letters, Announcements, &c. : — Letters from Mr. J. E. Harting-, Mr. E. Cavendisli Taylor, Count T. Salvador!, Mr. H. E. Dresser, Baron de Selys-Long- cliamps ; Forbes's Final Idea as to the Classification of Birds ; The New Bird-Gallery at South Kensington ; The U.S. Na- tional Museum ; The National Museum of Lisbon ; Bird-Notea from Mr. Layard ; New Works in Progress ; Rare Birds in Andalucia ; The Birds of the Benin Islands ; Dr. Fischer'3 East- African Collections 114 Publications keceived since the issue op No. 4^ Eifth Series, AND not noticed IN THE PRESENT NUMBER. 1. Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution, 1881. 2. Meyer. Abbildungen von Vogel-Skeletten. 3. Blasius. Ueber die wahrscheinlich schon von den eingeborenen Sammlern und Jagern ausgefiihrte Falschungen von Vogelbalgen aus Ecuador. (Verb. f. Naturw. z. Braunschweig, iii.) 4. Blasius. Ueber die letzten Vorkommnisse des Riessen-Alks (Alea im- pennis). (Verb. f. Naturw. z. Braunschweig, iii.) 5. Blasius. Ueber sine kleine Sammlung von Vogeln aus Java. (Verb. f. Naturw. z. Braunschweig, iii.) 6. SuNDEVALL. Svcnska Foglarna. Fortsattning af Profs. J. G. H. Kinberg. Haftena 23-28. 7. Shueeldt. Observations upon the Osteology of Podasoeys montanus. (J. of Anat. & Physiol, xviii.) 8. Blakiston. Zoological Indications of Ancient Connection of the Japan Islands with the Continent. (Trans. Asiatic Soc. of Japan, 1883.) 9. Collett. Ardetta mi7iuta, Sterna cantiaca, og Larus rninutus nye for Norges Fauna. (Christiania Vidensk. Forhandl. 1883.) 10. Ramsay. Contributions to the Zoology of New Guinea. (Trans. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. viii.) 11. GoDMAN AND Salvin. Biologia Central!- Americana (Zoology). Part xxvi. (1883.) In the Press. A LIST OF THE DIUENAL BIRDS OF PREY, "WITH REFERENCES AND ANNOTATIONS; ALSO, A EEOOED OF SPECIMENS PEESERVED IN THE NOEFOLK AND NOEWICH MUSEUM. By JOHN HENEY GUENEY. In 8vo, paper covers 7s. Qd., cloth 9s. JOHN VAN VOORST, 1 PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. Noio ready, A NEW LIST OF BRITISH BIRDS. A List of British Birds compiled by a Committee of the British Ornithologists' Union. 229 pp. 8vo. Price 10s. Qd. London : John Van Voobst, 1 Paternoster Row, E.C. Members of th British Ornithologists' Union can obtain the above of Mr. R. H. Porter, 6 Tenterden Street, Hanover Sq[uare, W., at the reduced price of 7s. 60. cash. CONTENTS OP NUMBEE, V.— EIETH SERIES. Page I. A Review of the Species of the Family Icteridae. — Part III. Agelaeinse. By P. L. Sclater, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S. (Plate I.) 1 II. On a new Carpodectes from South-western Costa Rica. By RoBEBT RiDGWAT. (Plate II.) 27 III. On a new Species of Wryneck, discovered in Eastern Equa- torial Africa by Dr. Emin Boy. By Dr. G. Harxlatjb. (Plate III.) 28 IV. Further Contributions to the Ornithology of Japan. By Henky Seebohm 30 Y. Notes on three Guatemalan Birds. By Robert Ridqway . . 43 VI. On two new Species of Birds from Africa. By Captain G. E. Shelley 45 VII. Introduction to Gould's ' Birds of Asia.' By R, Bowdler Sharpe. 49 VIII. Inauguration of the American Ornithologists' Union. . . . - 60 IX. Rough Notes on Spanish Ornithology. By Abel Chapman. (Plate lY.) 66 X. Notes on Woodpeckers. — No. V. On a new Japanese Wood- pecker. By Edward Hargitt, F.Z.S 100 XI. Notices of recent Ornithological Publications : — 1. Booth's Rough Notes on British Birds 101 2. British Association's Report on Migration in 1882 .... 102 3. 'Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club' • • • • i inq 4. D'Aubusson's ' Birds of France ' ( 5. Gould's * Birds of Asia ' i inj. 6. Hartlaub on the Genus Hyliota j 7. Nelson on the Birds of Bering Sea 105 8. Oates's ' Birds of British Burmah ' 106 9. Oustalet on Birds from Somali-land i in7 10. Pelzeln on Birds from Ecuador j ^' 11. Pelzeln on Birds from Central Africa "N 12. Reichenow on the Birds of Zoological Gardens . . . • ( ir,Q 13. Ridgway on new Birds from the Commander Islands and \ Petropaulovsky J 14. Ridgway on Motacilla ocularis ., J 16. Ridgway on new Birds from Lower California . . . . v 109 16. Ridgway on a new American Pipit | 17. Ridgway on Merula confinis j 18. Saunders's Edition of Yarrell's ' Birds ' i 110 19. Schalow on Bohm's Collections from East Africa . . . ) 20. Stearns on the Natural History of Labrador 1 21. Vorderman's ' Birds of Batavia ' t HI 22. Watson on the Penguins J \_Contents continued on j)age 3 of Wrapper. "] Covers for binding last year's Volume may be had on application to the Publisher. Communications may be addressed to the Editors, 6 Tenterden Street, Han- over Square, W. Advertisements &c. to the Publisher, John Van Vooest, 1 Paternoster Row, London, E.C. Members of the B. O. U. are requested to keep the Secretary, H. E. Dresser, Esq., 6 Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, W., informed of any change of Residence, so that the Niunbers of * The Ibis ' may be sent to them without delay. FIFTH SERIES. Vol. II. No. 6. APRIL 1884. Frice 65. m THE IBIS, aUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY. EDITED BY PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A., Ph.D., F.Il.S., SECEETAEY TO THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OP LONDON, AND HOWAED SAUNDERS, F.L.S., E.Z.S. LONDON: JOHN VAN VOORST, 1, PATERNOSTER ROW. Annual Suhscnptlon, payable before d^lst March each year, £1 Is. ^!i^ ^TAYLOE AND FRANCIS, PRINTEES,] [bed lion couet, fleet steeet. fXm; BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION. PRESIDSNT. The Right Hon. Lord Lilford. SECRETARY. H. E. Dresser, Esq. committee. The President. ") The Editors of 'The Ibis.^ > Ex officio. The Secretary. j O. Salvin, Esq. Capt. E. Shelley. W. B. Tegetmeier, Esq. The British Ornithologists' Union was instituted in 1858 for the advancement of the science of Ornithology. Its funds are devoted primarily to the publication of 'The Ibis/ a Quarterly Journal of Ornithology, of which twenty-five volumes have now been completed. The Union consists of Ordinary Members, Honorary Members (limited to ten), and Foreign Members (limited to twenty). Ordinary Members pay an admission fee of £2, and a contri- bution of £1 on election, and £1 on the 1st of January of each subsequent year. Ordinary Members and Honorary Members are entitled to receive a copy of 'The Ibis' gratis. Authors are entitled to 25 extra copies of their papers pub- lished in ' The Ibis,' on applying for them to the Secretary. The Election of Members takes place at the Annual General Meeting, held in April or May of each year. Persons wishing to become Members are requested to apply to the Secretary for infor- mation respecting Election. H. E. DRESSER, Secretary. G Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, W. Now ready, Price 30s. A GENERAL INDEX OF THE FIRST THREE SERIES OF 'THE ibis; 1859-1876. Edited by Osbert Salvin, M.A., F.R.S. J. VAN VOORST, 1 PATERNOSTER ROW. CONTENTS OF NUMBER VI. (continued). XXIV.' Letters, Announcements, &c. : — Letters from Mr. E. Cavendisli Taylor, Count T. Salvador! ; The Ridgway Ornithological Club of Chicago ; Eurynorhyn- chus lyygmceus in Hainan ; Expedition to Kilimanjaro . . . 214 Publications received since the issue op No. 5, Fifth Series, AND NOT noticed IN THE PRESENT NuMBER. 12. Habtlaiib. Diagnosen einiger neuer Vogel aus dem ostlichaquatorialen Africa. (J. f. O. 1883.) 13. Shabpe. Note on Strix oustaleti, Hartlaub. (P. Z. S. 1882.) 14. Sharpe. On the correct Generic and Specific Name of the Indian Shama. (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 1882, x.) 15. VoBDEBMAN. Bataviasche Vogels. — Part V. (Natuurk. Tijdsch. voor Nederl. Indie, Deel xliii.) 16. The Ornithologist and Oologist, 1884, No. 1. 17. Swinburne, Notes on the Islands of Sula Segeir, or North Barra and North Eona, with a List of the Birds inhabiting them. (Proc. R. Physical Soc. Edinb. viii.) 18. Meyer, A. Eine in Sachsen erlegte Rackelhenne. (Mitth. omith. Vereines in Wien, 1884.) 19. Catalog zur siebenten Ausstellung des Deutschen Vereins fiir Vogelzucht und Acclimatisation (Aegtntha) in Berlin. (8vo. Berlin, 1884.) 20. Blasius. Publicationen der "Zoological Society of London." (Verein fiir Naturwiss. Braunschweig, 1883.) 21. Jahresbericht (1882) des Ausschusses fiir Beobachtungsstationen der Vogel Deutschlands. (J. f. O. 1884.) 22. Jahresbericht (1882) des Comites fur ornithologische Beobachtungs- stationen in Oesterreich und Ungarn. Royal 8vo. Wien, 1883. 23. Johnston. The river Congo, from its mouth to Bolobo, with a general description of the Natural History and Anthropology of its Western Bashi. (London, 1884.) 24. Mittheilungen des ornithologischen Vereines in Wien, 1884, No. 1. In the Press. A LIST OF THE DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY, WITH REFEEENCES AND ANNOTATIONS; ALSO, A REOOED OF SPECIMENS PRESEEVED IN THE NOEFOLK AND NOEWICH MUSEUM. By JOHN HENRY GURNEY. In 8vo, paper covers 7s. 6d., cloth 9s. JOHN VAN VOORST, 1 PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. Now ready. A NEW LIST OF BRITISH BIRDS. A List of British Birds compiled by a Committee of the British Ornithologists' Union. 229 pp. 8vo. Price 10s. 6d. London : John Van Voorst, 1 Paternoster Row, E.C. Members of the British Ornithologists' Union can obtain the above of Mr. R. H. Porter, 6 Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, W., at the reduced price of 7s. Qd. cash. CONTENTS OE NUMBER VL— EIETH SEllIES. Page XIII. Field-Notes from Slavonia and Hungary, with an Anno- tated List of the Birds observed in Slavonia. By W. Eagle Clakke, r.L.S., M.B.O.U 125 XIV. A Review of the Species of the Family Icteridoe. — Part IV. Quiscalinse. By P. L. Sclater, M.A., Ph.D., F.H.S. (Plate V.) 149 XV. On a Collection of San Domingo Birds. By H. B. Teistkam, D.D., F.R.S 167 XVI. On some Eastern Owls. By J". H. Gurnet 168 XVII. Eemarks on the Occurrence of the Egyptian Nightjar in Nottinghamshire. By J. H. Gurnet, Jun 173 XVIII. Further Contributions to the Ornithology of Japan. By Henry Seebohm. (Plato VI.) 174 XIX. On the East- Asiatic Shore-Lark (Otocorys longirostris). By Henrt Seebohm 184 XX. Notes on Woodpeckers. — No. VI. On the Genus Mlglyptes. By Edward Hargitt, F.Z.S 189 XXI. Notes on Woodpeckers. — No. VII. Additional notes on the Woodpeckers of the Ethiopian Eegion. By Edward Hargitt, F.Z.S 199 XXII. On the Occurrence of (Estnlata licesitata in Hungary. By W. Eagle Clarke, F.L.S 202 XXIII. Notices of recent Ornithological Publications : — 23. ' The Auk ' 203 24. Blasius on Birds from Ecuador ) 25. Blaaius on Birds from Java i 204 26. Blasius on the Great Auk | 27. Collett on three additions to the Norwegian Avifauna . « q^,- 28. Coppinger's Cruise of the 'Alert' ^ ^()0 29. Doering on the Birds of the Kio Negro of Patagonia . . 206 30. Dybowski's additional Remarks on the Siberian Puffins I 81. Dybowski's Notes on the Birds of Kauitschatka ... I 207 32. Godman and Salvin's ' Biologia Centrali-Americana ' . ) 33. Gould's 'Birds of New Guinea' 208 34. JuUien on the Anatomy of Aptenodytes 1 35. Maingonnat on a new Species of Argus I 209 36. Oustalet's Ornithological Notes ) .37. Ramsay on the Zoology of New Guinea 210 38. Sharpe on the Progress of Oruithology in 1882 .... 211 39. Shufeldt on the Osteology of Podasoci/s montanus . .1 £,,0 40. Taczanowski's Second List of Birds from Kamtschatka ) '^ [Contents continued on page 3 of Wrapper,'] Covers for binding last year's Volume may be had on application to the Publisher. Communications may be addressed to the Editors, 6 Tenterden Street, Han- over Square, W. Advertisements &c. to the Publisher, John Van Voorst, 1 Paternoster Row, London, E.C. Members of the B. O. U. are requested to keep the Secretary, H. E. Dresser, Esq., 6 Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, W., informed of any change of Residence, so that the Numbers of ' The Ibis ' may be sent to them without delay. FIFTH SERIES. YoL. II. No. 7. JULY 1884. Frice 6s. wM THE IBIS, QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY. EDITED BY PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S. SECRETAEY TO THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON', AND HOWARD SAUNDERS, F.L.S., F.Z.S. LONDON: JOHN VAN VOORST, 1, PATERNOSTER ROW. Annual Subscription, payable before 31st March each year, £1 Is. ^(WTAYLOE AND FRANCIS, PRINTERS,] [RED LIOX COURT, FLBET STREET. %\ ii). Publications eeceived since the issue of No. 6, Fifth Series, AND NOT noticed IN THE PRESENT NuMBER. 25. GiBALDES. Catalogo das aves de Portugal. 8vo. Coimbra, 1879. 26. Blasius. Zur Geschichte der Ueberreste von Alca impennis. (J. f. O. 1884.) 27. Mkyer. Ueber neue und uageniigend bekannte Vogel, Noster und Eier aus dem Ostindiscben Archipel. (luteruat. Ornith. Congr. 1884.) 28. FiNSCH. Ueber Vogel der Siidsee. (Mitth. oruith. Vereines in Wien, 1884.) 29. Cope. On tlie Zoological Position of Texas. (Bull. U.S. Nat, Mas. No. 17.) 30. HAnviE-BBO-WN. Method in recording Observations. (Zoologist, 1884.) 31. ISLenzbieb. Ptevue Comparative de la Fauue Oruithologiq^ue des Gou- vernements de Moscou et de Toula. (Bull. S. I. Nat. Moscou.) 32. The^Auli.' Vol. i. No. 2. 33. Lawbence. Characters of a new Species of Pigeon of the Genus Engyptila, from the Island of Grenada, West Indies. (' The Auk,' vol. i.) 34. Oust ALEX. L' Architecture des Oiseaux. (Assoc. Sci. de France, 1883.) 35. OusTALET. Note sur les Collections rapportees par M. E. Chantre de sou Voyage dans la Caucase et en Orient. (iVirn. des Sci. Nat. & s6r. tome xiii.) 36. Stejxegeb. Analecta Ornith ologica, (* The Auk,' vol. i.) 37. Stejneger. On Changes in Ornithological Nomeuclatm-e — A Reply to Critics. (' The Auk,' vol. i.) 38. Stejnegeb. Notes on the Genus Acanihus. (' The Auk,' vol. i.) 39. RiDGWAY. Descriptions of some new North-American Birds. — Descrip- tion of a new American Kingfisher. — Notes on Psaltriparus grindce. — Note on the Generic Name Calodroinas. (Proc. Biological Soe. Washington, vol. ii.) 40. Mabtobelli. Osservazioui sui Manimiferi ed Uccelli fatte in Sardegna. 4to. Pistoia, 1884. 41. Mittheilungen des ornithologischen Vereines in Wien. (1884, Nos. 4, 5.) 42. Menzbieb. Role du Croisement dans I'Extinction des Especes. (Revue Scieutihque, 1884, No. 17.) 43. CouES and Pbentiss. Avifauna Columbiana. 2nd edition. (Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. No. 26.) 44. Dalgleish. Notes on a Second Collection of Birds and Eggs from Central Uruguay. (Proc. R. Physical Soc. Edinb. vol. viii.) 45. Habvie-Bbown. On the Occurrence of the Little Gull (Lams minutus) in the Island of North Uist. (Proc. R. Physical Soc. Edinb, vol. viii.) 46. Selys-Longchamps. Considerations sur le Genre Mesange {Parus). (Bull. Soc. Zool. France, tome ix.) 47. Ridgway. a Review of the American Crossbills (Loxia) of the L. cur- virostra type, (Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol, ii.) 48. Ridgway. Note on the Anas hypei-horeus, PaU,, and ATi&er albatus, Cass. (Proc. Biol. Soc, W^ashiugton, vol, ii.) 49. Ridgway. Remarks on the Type Specimens of Muscicapa fidvifrons, Giraud, and Miti-ejjhurus pallescem, Cones, (Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. ii.) 50. Ridgway. Note regarding the earliest Name for Carpodacus hamorrhous (Wagler). (Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. ii.) 51? Saxvadobi. Intorno ad una Specie di Falco nuova per la Fauna Italiana. (Atti R. Accad. d. Sci. Torino, vol. xix.) 52. Salvadoei. Elenco degli Scritti, 186-3-84. 53. Tbistbam, Rev. Canon. Fauna and Flora of Palestine. 4to. London, 1884. 54. Ridgway. List of Species of Middle and South-Ameiican Birds not contained in the U.S. National Museum. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1881.) 55. Blasius. Erster internationaler Ornithologen-Congress in Wien. (Monats. d. deutsch, Ver. zum Schutze d. Vogelwelt, 1884, No. 5.) CONTENTS OF NUMBER VII. {continued). 66. Meyer on a Grouse from Saxony "^ 67. Ornithologist and Oologist | 58. Radde and Pelzeln on Birds from the Caucasus . , . )> 344 69. Report of the German Committee on the Migration of Birds 60. Report of the Austro-Hungarian Committee on the Migration of Birds | 61. Schalow's Catalogue of the Seventh Exhibition of the )> 345 ^giutha I 62. Selys-Longchamps on the Birds of Heligoland ... J 63. Sharpe on Strix oustaleti ^ 64. Sharpe on the correct Name of the Shama j 65. Stejneger on the Birds of Westland )> 346 66. Stejneger on new Birds from Kamtschatka and the Com- i mander Islands J 67. Swinburne's List of the Birds inhabiting the Islands of I Sula Sgeir I 347 68. Vieillot's * Analyse ' (reprint) ) 69. Vorderman's ' Birds of Batavia ' I o.^ 70. Wagler's Six Ornithological Memoirs (reprint) . . . j XXXVIII. Letters, Announcements, &c. : — Letters from Mr. J. H. Gurney, Mr. J. A. Harvie-Brown, Dr. Finsch, and Count Salvadori ; Extract from a Letter from Mr. Whitely ; News of Travellers and Collectors ; New Birds iu the Zoological Society's Gardens ; Roche- brune v. Nitzsch ; Houbaras as Food ; News of the Kilima- ndjaro Expedition ; Ridgway Ornithological Club, Chicago ; Hodgson's Ornithological Drawings ; The late Coimt E. Turati's Collection ; Anniversary Meeting of the B. 0. U. ; Obituary — Professor Schlegel 348 Now ready. Price 30s. A GENERAL INDEX OF THE FIRST THREE SERIES OF 'THE ibis; 1859-1876. Edited by Osbert Salvin, M.A., F.R.S. J. VAN VOORST, 1 PATERNOSTER ROW. Now ready. A NEW LIST OF BRITISH BIRDS. A List of British Birds compiled by a Committee of the British Omitholoo-ists' Union. 229 pp. 8vo. Price 10s. Qd. London : John Van Voobst, 1 Paternoster Row, E.G. Members of the British Ornithologists' Union can obtain the above of Mr. R. H. Porter, 6 Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, W., at the reduced price of 7*. Qd. cash. CONTENTS OP NUMBEK VII.— PIETH SEUIES. XXV. XXVI. XXVII. XXVIII. XXIX. XXX. XXXI. XXXII. XXXIII. XXXIV. XXXV. XXXVI XXXVII, Page Additional Notes on the Ornithology of Transvaal. By Thomas Atres. Comrnunieated by J. H. Gurxet . . 217 A few Ornithological Xotes and Corrections. By W. Edavin Brooks, of Milton West, Ontario, Canada 234 Remarks on two rare American Oscines, By P. L. Sclatee, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S. (Plate VII.) 240 On the Birds of Northern Tibet. By Col. N. Pbzewalski. 242 Notes on Woodpeckers. — No. VIII. On the Genus Henxi- cercus. By Edward Hakgitt, E.Z.S 244 On a Collection of Birds from Central China. By Henry Seebohm 259 Notes on the Pink-headed Duck (Anas caryojyhyllacea). By Frank B. Simson 271 On the Species of the Genus Pernis inhabiting Japan, By J. H. GuRNEY 275 On the Geographical Distribution of Birds in European Russia north of the Caucasus. — Part I. Rapaces Diurnoe. By M. Menzbier 278 On a Collection of Birds made in Southern Palawan by Mr. E. Lempriere. By R. Bowdler Sbl-irpe, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. (Plate VIII.) 316 Remarks on the Eighth and Ninth Volumes of the ' Cata- logue of the Birds in the British Museum.' By T. Salvadoei, C.M.Z.S., For. Memb. B.O.U 322 . Contributions to the Ornithology of the Philippine Is- lands.— On two Collections of Birds from the vicinity of Manilla. By R. G. Wardlaw Ramsay, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. (Plate IX.) 330 , Notices of recent Ornithological Publications : — 41. Bennett on the Habits of Leipoa I oop 42. Bkkiston's Amended List of the Birds of Japan . . . ( "^ 43. Blasius's Ornithological Coutributions j 44. Cooke and Widmanu on Bird-migration in the JMis- ( oot sissippi VaUey t 45. Cory on the Birds of San Domingo ) 46. Crawford's ' Across the Pampas ' 338 47. Crowley's Catalogue of Birds' Eggs ..,....) „on 48. Fischer and Reichenow on new Birds from Masai-laud j 49. Gadow on the Ciunyrimorphse 340 50. Goss on the Birds of Kansas I o_,i 51. Gould's 'Birds of New Guinea' ( ' *^ 52. Hartlaub on new African Birds / o^g 53. Holmberg on the Birds of the Sierra del Taudil , . . ( ^ ^ 54. Huet on Birds in the JarJin des Plantes I <,<■> 55. Johnston's ' River Congo ' ( [Contents continued on page 3 of Wrapper.^ Covers for binding last year's Volume may be had on application to the Publisher. Communications may be addressed to the Editors, 6 Tenterden Street, Han- over Square, W. Advertisements &c. to the Publisher, John Van VoonsT, 1 Paternoster Row, London, E.G. Members of the B. 0. U. are requested to keep the Secretary, H. E. Dresser, Esq., 6 Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, W., informed of any change of Residence, so that the Numbers of ' The Ibis ' may be sent to them without delay. fm) FIFTH SERIES. ^ Vol. 11. No. 8. OCTOBER 1884. JPrice 6s. m THE IBIS, QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY. EDITED BY PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., SECRETARY TO THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OP LONDON, AND HOWARD SAUNDERS, F.L.S., F.Z.S. LONDON: JOHN VAN VOORST, 1, PATERNOSTEK ROW. Annual Subscription, payable before 31st March each year, £1 Is. ^TAYLOR AND FEANCIS, PEINTEES,] [BED LION CODET, FLEET 6TEEET.M' BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION. PRESIDENT. The Right Hon. Lord Lilford. SECRETARY. H. E. Dresser, Esq. COMMITTEE. The President. "\ The Editors of 'The Ibis.^ >Ew officio. The Secretary. J O. Salvin, Esq. Capt. E. Shelley. E. DuCane Godman, Esq. The British Ornithologists' Union was instituted in 1858 for the advancement of the science of Ornithology. Its funds are devoted primarily to the publication of 'The Ibis/ a Quarterly Journal of Ornithology, of which twenty-five volumes have now been completed. The Union consists of Ordinary Members, Honorary Members (limited to ten), and Foreign Members (limited to twenty). Ordinary Members pay an admission fee of £2, and a contri- bution of £1 on election, and £1 on the 1st of January of each subsequent year. Ordinary Members and Honorary Members are entitled to receive a copy of ' The Ibis ' gratis. Authors are entitled to 25 extra copies of their papers pub- lished in 'The Ibis,"* on applying for them to the Secretary. The Election of Members takes place at the Annual General Meeting, held in April or May of each year. Persons wishing to become Members are requested to apply to the Secretary for infor- mation respecting Election. H. E. DRESSER, Secretary. 6 Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, W. CONTENTS OF NUMBER VIII. {continued). XL VIII. Letters, Announcements, &c. : — Letters from Mr. J. H. Gurney (two), Mr. H. K. Coale, Capt. Savile G. Reid, Mr. A. Nehrkorn, Mr. E. N. Harcoiirt, Mr. F. Nicholson ; Additions to the Collection of Birds in the British Museum ; Sheep-slaughter by Nestor notahilis ; Bird-notes from Tasmania j Note concerning Mr. William Foster . . . 465 Index 473 Titlepage, Preface, List of Members, and Contents. Now ready, Price 30s. A GENERAL INDEX OF THE FIRST THREE SERIES OF 'THE ibis; 1859-1876. Edited by Osbert Salvin, M.A., F.R.S. JOHN VAN VOORST, 1 PATERNOSTER ROW. Noio published. A LIST OF THE DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY, WITH REFEBENCES AND ANNOTATIONS: AXSO, A EEOOED OF SPECIMENS PEESERVED IN THE NOEFOLK AND NOEWICH MUSEUM. By JOHN HENRY GURNEY. In 8vo, paper covers 4s. Qcl., cloth 5s. JOHN VAN VOORST, 1 PATERNOSTER ROW, E.G. Now ready. A NEW LIST OF BRITISH BIRDS. A List of British Birds compiled by a Committee of the British Ornithologists' Union. 229 pp. 8vo. Price 10s. Qd. London : John Van Voobst, 1 Paternoster Row, E.O. Members of the British Ornithologists' Union can obtain the above of Mr, R. H. Porter, 6 Tenterden Street; Hanover Square, W., at the reduced price of 7s. Qd. cash. CONTENTS OP NUMBER VIII.— EIETH SERIES. Page XXXIX. Notes on the Birds of the Pyrenees. By Howaed Saunders 365 XL. Notes on the Eighth Volume of the ' Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum.' By H. B. Tkistram, D.D., F.R.S. 392 XLI. Notes on the Birds of Chamba, in the N.W. Himalaj^as. By Major 0. H. T. Marshall. (Plate X.) 404 XLII. Notes on a Collection of Birds from Lankoran. By Henry Seebohm 425 XLIII. Ou Tetrao griseiventris, a recently described Species of Hazel- Grouse from North-east Russia. By Henry Seebohm. (Plate XI.) 430 XLIV. On a Collection of Bird-skins from the Orinoco, Vene- zuela. By Hans von Berlepsch. (Plate XII.) . . . 431 XLV. Description of a new Species of the Genus Picumnus from Southern Brazil. By Hans von Berlepsch . . . 441 XL VI. Notes on Birds from British Guiana. Part III. By Osbert Salvin and F. DuCane Godman, FF.Il.S. (Plates XIII., XIV.) 443 XLVII. Notices of recent Ornithological Publications : — 71. 'The Auk' 452 72. Blasius on the Ornithological Congress at Vienna . . . 453 73. Blasius's second Paper on the Great Auk 1 74. Cope on the Zoological Position of Texas > 454 75. Coues and Prentiss on the Avifauna of Columbia . . ) 76. Dalgleish on Birds and Eggs from Central Uruguay . J 77. Finsch ou Birds from the South Pacific i 455 78. Giraldes on the Birds of Portugal \ 79. Gurney's ' List of the Diurnal Birds of Prey ' . . . ,1 ■ -p 80. Harvie-Bi'own on Records of Migration | 81. Martorelli on the Fauna of Sardinia 82. Menzbier on the Avifauna of Central Russia .... I 457 83. Menzbier on the Extinction of Species through Crossing ) 84. Meyer on Birds. Nests, and Eggs from the East Indies . . 458 85. Oustalet on the Collections of M. E. Chantre 459 86. Oustalet on the Architecture of Birds j 87. Oustalet on Birds from Nevp Guinea J. 460 88-95. Ridgway on American Birds \ 96. Salvadori's ' List of his Works ' \ . „, 97. Salvadori on a Falcon new to Italy \ 98. Saunders's Edition of Yarrell's ' Birds ' | . „j, 99. Seebohm's ' British Birds and their Eggs ' j "^ 100. Selys-Longchamps on the Tits (Parinae) 1 101. Sharpe's ' Birds of South Africa ' I 463 102. Taczanowski's * Ornithology of Peru ' ) 103. Tristram's ' Faima and Flora of Palestine ' 464 [^Contents continued on page 3 of Wi-apper,^ Covers for binding last year's Volume may be had on application to the Publisher. Communications may be addi'essed to the Editors, 6 Tenterden Street, Han- over Square, W. Advertisements &c. to the Publisher, John Van Voorst, 1 Paternoster Row, London, E.C. Members of the B. O. U, are requested to keep the Secretary, H. E. Dbesseb, Esq., 6 Tenterden Street, Hanover Square, W., informed of any change of Residence, so that the Numbers of * The Ibis ' may be sent to them without delay. in to c '/J 3 .5^3^^ N. MANCHESTER, '^"^ INDIANA