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FOR  THE   PEOPLE 

FOR  EDVCATION 

FOR  SCIENCE 


LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  AMERICAN  MUSEUM 

OF 

NATURAL  HISTORY 


r  HE      IBIS, 

A 

QDAliTERLY  JOURNAL  OF  ORNITHOLOGY 


KDITED  BY 


WILLIAM  LUTLEY  SCLATER,  M.A.,  F.Z.S. 


VOL.  ]IL  1921. 
ELEVENTH  SERIES. 

He  prayeth  well,  who  lovefh  well 
Both  man  and  bird  and  beast. 

PUBLL^HED  BY  TEE 
BRITISH    ORNITHOLOGISTS'    UNION 

AND   SOLD   BY 

WHELDON  &  WESLEY,  LTD.,  28  ESSEX  STREET,  STRAND, 
LONDON,  W.C.2. 

1921. 


PUTNTED    BY    TAYLOR    AXD    FKANCIS, 
K.ED  LION  COURT,  FLEET  STREET. 


DATES  OF  ISSUE  OF  THE  PARTS  OF 
'THE  IBIS'  FOR  1921. 

ELEVENTH   SERIES. 
VOLUME  III. 


Number  1.  issued  January  1st. 

2.  „       April  4th. 

3.  „       July  4th. 

4.  ,,       October  4th. 


Officers  of  the  Britisli  Ornitliologists'  Union, 
Past  and  Present. 


Presidents. 


1859-1867.  Col.  Hexby  Maurice  Drummoxd-Hat. 

1807-1896.  Thomas  Lyttleton  Powys,  Lord  Lilfobd. 

1897-1913,  Frederick  DuCane  Godman,  F.E.S. 

1913-1918.  Col.  Robert  George  Wardlaw-Ramsat. 

1918-1921.  William  Eagle  Clarke,  I.S.O.,  LL.D. 

1921-  Henry  John  Elwes,  F.R.S. 

Secretaries  and  Treasurers. 

1858-1864.  Prof.  Alfred  Newtox,  M.A.,  F.R.S. 

1864-1870.  OsBERT  Salvin,  M.A.,  F.R.S. 

1870-1882.  Frederick  Du  Cane  Godman,  F.R.S. 

1882-1889.  Henry  Feles  Dresser. 

1889-1897.  Frederick  Du  Cane  Godman,  F.R.S. 

1897-1898.  OsBERT  Saltin,  M.A.,  F.R.S. 

1898-1901.  Eugene  William  Gates. 

1901-1913.  John  Lewis  Bonhote,  M.A. 

1913-  Edward  Charles  Stuart  Baker,  J.P.,  O.B.E. 

Editors. 

1859-1864.     Philip  Lutlet  Sclater,  M.A.,  F.R.S. 
1865-1870.     Prof.  Alfred  Newton,  M.A.,  F.R.S. 
1871-1876.     OsBERT  Salyin,  M.A.,  F.R.S. 
1877-1882.     OsBERT  Salyin,  M.A.,  F.R.S.,  and  Philip  Lutley 

Sclater,  M.A.,  F.R.S. 
1883-1888.     Philip   Lutley    Sclater,    M.A.,    F.R.S.,    and 

Howard  Saunders. 
1889-1894.     Philip  Lutley  Sclater,  M.A.,  F.R.S. 
1895-1900.     Philip  Lutley  Sclater,  M.A.,  Ph.D.,  F.R.S.,  and 

Howard  Saunders. 
1901-1912.     Philip  Lutley  Sclater,  M.A.,  Ph.D.,  F.R.S.,  and 

Arthur  Humble  Ev^ans,  M.A. 
1913-  William  Lutley  Sclater,  M.A. 

SER.  XI. VOL.  III.  ^ 


.       LIST  OE  THE  MEMBERS 

OF    THE 

BRITISH  ORNITHOLOGISTS'  UNION. 
1921. 


[An  asterisk  indicates  an  Original  Member.  It  is  particularly  requested  that 
Members  sliould  give  notice  to  tlie  Secretary  of  the  Union  of  any  error  in  their 
addresses  or  descriptions  in  this  List,  in  oi-der  tliat  it  may  be  corrected.] 


Date  of 
Election. 

1916.  Adams,  Ernest  Edward  ;  Lloyd's,  Royal  E.xchango,  E.G.  3. 

1914.  Aldworth,    Ca|)t.    Thomas    Preston,    D.S.O.,    3rd    Battn., 

West,  Kent  Hegt.,  Mesopotamia. 
1911.  Alexander,  Horace  Gundry;  7S  Gibbins  Road,  Selby  Oak, 

Rirminglia-m. 
1920.  Andrews,  William  Henry  Makens  ;  Hethersetfc,  Norwich, 
1888.  Aplin,  Oliver  Vernon;  Stonehill  House,  Bloxham,  Oxoii. 
1919.  Archer,    Sir    Geoffrey   Frances,  K.C.M.G.  ;   Government 

House,  Berbera,  Somaliland. 
189G.  Archibald.    Charles    E.  ;     2    Darnley    Road,    West    Park, 

Leeds,  Yorks. 
1919.  Arnold,  Edwin  Carleton  ;  The  College,  Eastbourne. 
1896.  Arrigoni  degli  Oddi,  Count  Ettore,  Professor  of  Zoology, 

University,  Padua;  and  Ca'oddo,  Monselice,  Padua,  Italy. 
1901.  Arundel.  Major  Walter  B.,  F.Z.S.  ;  High  Ackworth,  Ponte- 

fract,  Yorks. 

1915.  Ashby,  Edwin  ;  Wittunga,  Blackwood,  Adelaide,  S.  Australia. 
1901.  Ashby,    Herbert;      Broadway    House,     Brookvale    Road. 

Southampton. 
1908.  Ashworth,  John  Wallwork,  M.R.C.S.,  L.R.C.P..  F.R.G.S., 

E.G.R.  :    Thorne    Bank,   Heaton    Moor,    near  Stockport, 

Cheshire, 
1918.  A STLEY,  Arthur  ;  Freshficld,  Ambleside,  Westmoreland. 

SER.  XI. — VOL.  III.  h 


VIU 


Date  of 
Election. 


^5    1897.  AsTLET,   Hubert  DELiVAi,   M.A,,  F.Z.S,  ;    Brinsop  Court, 

Hereford. 
1919.  Backhotise,    Thomas  Porter;  Trinity   College,   Cambridge; 

and  24  Green  Street,  Cambridge. 
1921.  Bailey,  Major  Feedeetck  Marshman,  C.I.E.  ;  7  Drummond 

Place,  Edinburgh. 
1921.  Baker,     Captain    Cyprian   Thurlow  ;    Kaduna,    Northern 

Province,  Kigeria. 
1802.  Baker,  Edward  Ciiaeles  Stuart,  J.P.,  O.B.E.,  F.Z.S.,  F.L.S., 

H.F.A.O.U. ;    6  Harold  Road,  Upper  Norwood,  S.E.  19. 

{Hon.  Secretary  and  Treasurer.) 
2o  1001.  Baker,    Joun    C,    M.B.,    B.A.  ;    Ceely    House,    Aylesbury, 

Bucks, 
1906.  Bannerman,    David    Armitage,   M.B.E.,    B.A.,   F.R.G.S.  ; 

6  Palace  Gardens  Terrace,  Kensington,  W.  8  ;  and  British 

Museum  (Nat.  Hist.),  Cromwell  Road,  S.W.  7. 
1890.  Bakclat,  Francis    Hubert,  F.Z.S. ;    The  Warren,  Cromer, 

Norfolk. 
1885.  Baeclat,  Hugh    Gurney,    F.Z.S.  ;    Colney  Hall,  Norwich, 

Norfolk. 
1903.  Bartels,  Max.  ;  Pasir  Datar,  Halte  Tjisaiit  (Preanger),  Java, 

Dutch  East  Indies. 
25    190G.  Bates,  GeorctE  L.,  C.M.Z.S.  ;  Bitye,  vu2  Ebolowa,  Cameroon, 

West  Africa. 
1913.  Baynks,  George  Kenneth;   120  Warwick  Street,  S.W.  1. 
1912.  Brebi^  William,  C.M.Z.S.  ;    Tropical    Research  Station  of 

the    New    York    Zoological    Society,    Katabo,     Bartica 

District,  British  Guiana. 
1910.  Beeston,  Harry  ;  Sunnymead,  South  Street,  Havaiit,  Hants. 

1920.  Belcher,  Charles  F.  ;  Zoraba,  Nyasaland. 

3c    1897.  Benson,  John,  P.O.  Box  2G2,  Vancouver,  B,  Columbia. 

1897.  Berey,  William,  B.A. ,  LL.B.;  Tayfield,  Newport,  Fifeshire. 
1917.  Beetram-Jones,  John  William  ;  Kelvcdon  Hall,  Brentwood, 
Essex. 

1921.  Best,  Miss  Mary  G.  S.  ;  32  Dover  Street,  W,  1. 

1914.  Betham,  Brigadier-Goneral   Robert  M.  ;  Fiveways,  Church 
Plill,  Camberley. 
35    1907.  Bethell,  The  Hon.  Richard,  F.Z.S.  (Scots  Guards);  12  Man- 
cli(;.ster  Square,  W.  1. 
1921,   Bkttington,  John  Brindley;  New  College,  Oxford. 


IX 


Date  of 
Election. 


1921.  Bdven,  John  Osmund,  M.A.,  M.R.C.S.,  L.R.C.P. ;  The 
Portland  Hotel,  Great  Portland  Street,  W.  1. 

1920.  Beveridge,  Frederick  Spencer  ;  St.  Leonards  Hill,  Dun- 
fermline. 

1907.  Bickerton,   William,  F.Z.S.  ;  Kingsmuir,  21  Oxhey  E,oad, 

Watford,  Herts. 
40    18S0.  BiDWELL,    Edward;    1   Trig  Lane,    Upper  Thames   Street, 
E.G.  4. 

1919.  Bigger,  Dr.  William  Kenneth,   M.G.  ;   P. ^1.0.,  Nazareth, 

Galilee,  Palestine. 
1892.  Bird,  The  Rev.  Maurice  C.  H.,  M.A.  ;  Brunstead  Rectory, 

Stalham,  S.O.,  Norfolk. 
1891.  Blaauw,    Frans    Ernst,    C.M.Z.S.  :    Gooilust,    'sGravelaud, 

Hilversum,  Noord-Holland. 

1913.  Blackwood,  Lt.  George  Glendinning,  M.C.  (Seaforth  High- 

landers) ;  1  Blackness  Crest,  Dundee,  N.B. 
45    1903.  Blathwayt,    I'he    Rev.    Francis    Linley,    M.A. ;    Melbury 
Rectory,  Dorchester,  Dorset. 

1914.  Blyth,    Robert    Oswald,    M.A.  ;    35    St.    Vincent    Place, 

Glasgow. 

1897.  BoNAR,   Tlie  Rev.  Horatius  Ninian,   F.Z.S.  ;    22  Blackford 

Road,  Edinburgh. 
1905.  Bone,  Henry  Peters. 

1894.  Bonhote,  John   Lewis,    M.A.,    F.L.S.,    F.Z.S. ;    Park  Hill 

House,  Carshalton. 
50    190G.  Bookman,  Staines;  Heath  Farm,  Send,  Woking,  Surrey. 

1898.  Booth,   George   Albert;    The  Hermitage,   Kirkham,  Lan- 

cashire. 
1904.  Booth,  Harry  B.,  F.Z.S. ;  Rybill,  Ben  Rhydding,  via  Leeds, 
Yorks. 

1920.  HoRMAN,  Major  Frank  William;  43  «  Bow  Lane,  E.G.  4 ; 

and  M.G.C.  (1),  The  Residency,  Cairo. 

1908.  BoRRER,     Cliefohi)    Dalison;    6    Durham    Place,   Chelsea, 

S.W.  3.     (Committee.) 
55    1918.  Boyd,  Capt.  Arnold  Whitwoeth,  M.C.  (Lancashire  Fusiliers); 
Frandloy  House,  Northwich. 

1915.  Bradford,  Arthur  Danby,  F.Z.S. ;  Upton  Lodge,    Watford, 

Herts. 

1895.  Braueord,    Sir  John  Rose,  K.C.M.G.,   C.B.,   M.D.,    D.Sc, 

F.R.S.,  F.Z.S  ;  8  Manchester  Square,  W.  1. 

h2 


Date  of 
Election. 

1*J09.  Eriggs,    Thomas   Henrt,    M.A.,   F.E.S.  ;    Sefton,  Dawlish, 

South  Devon. 
1902.  Bristowe,     Bertram      Arthur  ;     Ashford     Farm,     Stoke 

])'Abernon,  Cobbam,  Surrey. 
60   1919.  Brockelbank,    Lt.-Col.    Eichard    Hugh    Rotds,    D.S.O., 

9th  Lancers  ;  Watergate  House,  Bulford,  Wilts. 
1908.  Brook,  Edward  Jonas,  F.Z.S.  ;  Hoddani  Castle,  Ecclefechan, 

Dumfriesshire. 
1920.  Brooks,  Major  Allan,  D.S.O.  ;  Okanagau  Landing,  British 

Columbia. 
1912.  Brown,  Thomas  Edward  ;  c/o  Messrs.  G.  Beyts  &  Co.,  11  Port 

Tewfik,  Suez,  Egypt. 
1900.  Bruce,  William  Speirs,  LL.D.,  F.B.S.E.  ;  Scottish  Ooeano- 

graphical  Laboratory,  Surgeon's  Hall.  Edinburgh. 
65   1911.  Buchanan,    Captain    Edavard   Mackenzie    Murray;   Leny, 

Callandar. 

1907.  Buckley,  Charles  Mars  :  4  Hans  Crescent,  S.W.  1. 

1906.  BucKNiLL,    Sir    John    Alexander   Strachey,     K.C,    M.A., 

F.Z.S. ;  Supreme    Court,    Patna,   India ;  and  Athenaeum 
Club,  Pall  Mall,  S.W.  1. 

1908.  BuNYARD,  Percy  Frederick,  F.Z.S. :   57  Kidderminster  lload, 

Croydon,  Surrey. 

1907.  Butler,  Author  Gardiner,  Ph.D.,  F.L.S.,  F.Z.S. ;  124  Beck- 

enham  Boad,  Beckenhara,  Kent. 
70   1899.  Butler,    Arthur    Lennox,    F.Z.S.  :     St.   Leonard's    Park, 
Horsham,  Sussex. 
1905.  Buxton,  Anthony  ;  Knighton,  Buckhurst  Hill,  Essex. 
1912.  Buxton,    Dr.    Patrick   Alfred  ;     Department    of    Health, 

Government  House,  Jerusalem. 
1896.  Cameron,  Major  James  S.  (2nd  hn.  lloyal   Sussex  llegt.); 

Low  Wood,  Bethersden,  Ashford,  Kent, 
1888.  Cameron,  John  Duncan;    Low  Wood,  ]5othersden,  Ashford, 
Kent. 
75    1909.  Carroll,  Clement  Joseph  ;  Bocklow,  Felhard,  Co.  Tipperary, 
Ireland. 
1904.  Carruthers,    Alexander   Douglas  ;    Barmer   Hall,    King's 

Lynn,  Norfolk. 
1908.  Carter, Thomas;  Wensleydale,  Mulgravelld.,  Sutton,  Surrey. 
1890.  Cave,  Capt.  Charles  John  Philip,  M. A.,  F.Z.S.;  Ditcham 
Park,  Petersfield,  Hants. 


Date  ol 
Election. 

1919.  Chance,  Edgar  P.;  9  Hay  Hill,  Berkeley  Square,  W.  1. 
So  1919.  Chartf.ris,  The  Hon.  Guy  Lawrence  ;  26  Catherine  Street, 

Buckingham  Palace  Poad,  S.W.I. 
1882.  Chase,      Pobekt      William  ;      Heme's     Nest,     Bewdley, 

Worcestershire. 
1921.  Chasen,  Frederick  Ndtten;  Paffles  Museum.  Singapore. 
1908.  Cheesman,   Major  Robert  E.  ;  c/o  The  High  Commissioner, 

Baghdad,  Mesopotamia. 
1910.  Chubb,     Charles,     F.Z.S.  ;       British     Museum      (Natural 

History),  Cromwell  Road,  S.W.  7. 
^S  1918.  Chubb,  Capt.  Patrick  Arthur;    c/o  London  Joint  City  & 

Midland  Bank,  8  New  Coventry  Street,  W.  1. 

1912.  Clark,    George    WixNgeield,    M.A.,    P.Z.S. ;    "Homeland," 

Lode,  Cambridge. 
1904.  Clarke,  Major  Goland  van  Holt,  D.S.0.,E.Z.S.  ;  Chilwbrth 

Court,  Pomsey,  Hants. 
1916.  Clarke,  John  Philip  Stephenson;    Borde  Hill,    Cuckfield, 

Sussex. 
1889.  Clarke,  Col.  Stei'henson  Robert,  C.B.,  F.Z.S. ;  IJorde  Hill, 

Cuckfield,  Sussex. 
90  1880.  Clarke,  William  Eagle,    I.S.O.,  LL.D.,  F.L.S,,  F.R.S.E. ; 

53  North  Castle  Street,  Edinburgh. 
1901.  Cochrane,  Capt.  Hexrv  Lake,  R.N.  ;  The  Chase,  Whaddon, 

Bletchley,  Bucks. 
1898.  Cocks,  Alfred  Heneage,  M.A.,  F.Z.S.  ;  Poynetts,  Skirmett, 

near  Henley-on-Thames,  Oxon. 
1895.  Coles,    Richard    Edward;    Rosebank,    New    Milton,   S.O., 

Hants. 
1911.  CoLLETT,  Anthony   Keeling;  5  Stone    Buildings,   Lincoln's 

Inn,  W.C.  2. 
95  1904.  Collier,    Chakles,    F.Z.S.  ;       Bridge     House,     Culmstock, 

Devon  ;  and  Windham  Club,  St.  James'  Square,  S.W.  1. 
1919.  CoLLiNGE,     Dr.    Walter    Edward,     D.Sc,     M.Sc,     F.L.S. 

F.E.S.  ;  The  Museum,  York. 
191G.  Cor.TART,  Dr.  Henry  Neville;   "  Makum."  Alexander  Road, 

Epsom,  Surrey. 
r.)09.  CoNGREVE,   Capt.  William   Maitland,    M.C.  ;    The    Forest, 

Kerry,  Montgomeryshire. 

1913.  Cook,    James    Pembbrton  ;     Kiora,    Kjambu,   British    East 

Africa. 


I)iitu  of 
Election. 

loo  1!)14.  CouRTOis,  The    llev.   li.   L.,  S.J. ;    Director  of  the  Sikawei 

Museum,  near  Shanghai,  China. 
1913.  Cowan,  Francis;  Wester  Lea,  Murrayfield,  Midlotliian. 
1920.  Coward,  Thomas  Alfued,  F.Z.S.,  F.E.S. ;  Brentwood,  Eow- 

dou,  Cheshire, 
1894.  Crewe,  Sir  Vaxjncey  Harpur,  Bt. ;   Calke  Ahhey,  Derliy. 
1917.  Cunningham,  JosiAs,  II. N.V.E. ;  Eernhill.  Belfast. 
105    191G.  CuRRiE,    Algernon   James  ;     Chief    Audit    Officer,    S.P.R., 

Shiraz,  vici  Bushire,  S.  Persia. 
1915.  Currie,    lloRERT     Ale.xander     (Chinese    Customs);     The 

Custom  House,  Hankow,  China. 
1899.   Curtis,     Frederick,     F.li.C.S. ;      Alton     House,     lledhill, 

Surrey. 
189G.  Danfoed,  Lt.-Col.  Bertram  W,Y.,  li.E. ;  c/o  Messrs.  Cox  & 

Co.,  16  Cliaring  Cross,  S.W.  1. 
1883.  Davidson,  James,  F.Z.S.;    32  Drumsheugli  Gardens,  Edin- 

hurgh. 
1 10  1921.  Davies,    Capt.    Eichard    IIees  ;     Carreg-yr-Halen,     Mcuai 

Bridge,  Anglesey. 
1905.  Davis,  K.  J.  Acton,    M.C,    F.R.C.S.,   F.Z.S.  ;    24     Upper 

Berlveley  Street,  W.  1. 
1921.   Deane,    Robert    Heward  ;    "  Bariken,"    23   Grange    lload, 

Ealing,  W.  5. 

1920.  Delacour,    Jean;    Chateau    de    Cleres,    Seine    Inferieure, 

France. 
1909.  Delme-Eadcuffe,    Capt.    Alfred    (105th    Maratha    Light 
Infantry);  c/o  Messrs.  Cox  &  Co.,  Bombay,  India. 
1 15  1920.  Delme-IIadcliffe,     Lt.-Col.     Henry;      c/o    Cox    &     Co., 
16  Charing  Cross,  S.W.  1. 

1921.  Dempster,   George  Edward  William  ;    224   Tufnell   Park 

Eoad,  N.  19. 
1902.  Dent,  Charles  Henry  ;  Snow  Hall,  Darlington,  Durham. 
1916.  Despoit,  Giuseppe,  Curator  of  the  Natural  History  Museum, 

The  University,  Malta. 
1921.  Dewhurst,  Capt.  Frederick  Wynford  ;  "  Elmwood,"  Xorth- 

end  Eoad,  Hampstead,  N.  3. 
120   1893.  De  AVinton,    William    Edward,    F.Z.S.  ;     19    Eunisniore 
Gardens,  S.W.  7. 
1896.  DoBBiE,  James  Bell,  F.E.S. E.,  F.Z.S.  ;   12  Soutli  Inverleith 

Terrace,  Edinburgli. 


xlii 

Jjate  of 
Election, 

1889.  DoBiE,    William    Henky,    M.K.C.S.  ;     2    Hunter    Street, 

Chester. 
1920.  Donald,  Chakles  Hilliard  ;  Director  of  Fisheries,  Dharra- 

sala,  Panjah,  India. 
1904.  Drake-Brockman,  Lt.-Col.  lULPn  Evelyn,  D.S.O.,  M.ll.C.S., 

L.E.C.P.,  F.Z.S.;  "Eldama,"  Salvington,  Worthing. 
125    1890.  Drtjmmond-Hay,  Col,  James  A.  G.  11.-  (Coldstream  Guards); 

Seggieden,  by  Perth, 

1878.  DuRNFOKD,  W.  Arthur,  J.P.  ;  Elsecar,  Barnsley,  Yorks. 
1903.  Earle,  Edward   Vavasour  ;    "  Riverside,"    South   Dareiith, 

Kent. 
1914.  Edwards,  Laurence  Albert  Curtis,  M.A.;   61  Elphinstone 

Road,  Hastings. 
1895.  Elliot,  Edmund   A.  S.,  M.R.C.S. ;  Woodville,  Kingsbridge, 

South  Devon. 
130    1884.  Elliott,    Algernon,    C.I.E.  ;    41  Stanley  Gardens,  Hamp- 

stead,  N.W.  3. 
1866.  Elwes,  Henry  John,  F.R.S.,  F.Z.S.;  Colesborne,  Cheltenham, 

Gloucestershire,     (President.) 

1920.  Evans,  Lt. -Commander  Arthur,  K.N.  ;  H.M.S.    '  Vimeria,' 

c/o  G.P.O.,  London. 

1879,  Evans,    Arthur   Humble,   M.A.,   F.Z.S.  ;    9  Harvey  Road, 

Cambridge. 

1888.  Evans,    William,   F.R.S.E.  ;  38    Morningside   Park,   Edin- 
burgh. 
^35    1916.  Ezra,  Alfred,  F.Z.S.  ;  Foxwarren  Park,  Cobham,  Surrey. 

1892.  Fairbridge,    William   George  ;   141   Long   Market    Street, 
Capetown,  South  Africa. 

1916.  Falkiner,  Capt.  John  McIntire,    I, M.S.,  F.R.C.S. ;    22  St. 
Stephen's  Green,  Dublin. 

1909.  Fanshawe,  Capt.    Richard   D.   (late    Scots    Guards)  ;    The 
Cottage,  Rrimpton,  Berks. 

1921.  Faruuhar,  Arthur  McNeill;  55  Hans  Road,  S.W.  3. 

140    1894.  FARauHAR,   Admiral  Sir  Arthur  Murray,  K.C.B.,  C.V.O.; 

Acheron,  Aboyne,  N.B. 
1898.  Farquhar,    Rear-Admiral   Stuart  St,   J,,   R.N, ;    Naval  & 

Military  Club,  Piccadilly,  W,  1. 
1921.  Feasey,    Gilbkrt    George;    3    Oakdalo    Road,     Streathanu 

S.W.  16  ;    and  Abinsi,  via  Ljkoja,  Northern  Nigeria. 
1921.  Field,  Frank  James  Richard;  Gonda,  Oudh,  India. 


iiV 


Date  of 
Election. 


1921.  Finch,  Lieut.  Harold  Bingley,  M.C.  ;    "Arundel,"  Prospect 
lload,  Shaiiklin,  Isle  of  Wight. 
145   lyOl.  FiNLiNsoN,  Horace  W.,  F.Z.S. ;   5  Eosamond  Road,  Bedford, 
1921.  Fisher,  Kenneth;  The  Briary,  Eton  College,  Windsor. 

1885.  Fitzherbert-Brockholes,  William  Joseph  ;  Claughton  Hall, 

Garstang,  Lancashire. 

1902.  Flower.    Major    Staxlex    Smyth,    F.Z.S.  ;    Kedah    House, 

Zoological  Gardens,  Giza,  Egypt. 
1912.  Floyd,    James    Francis    Mlrray,    B.A.  ;    The    University, 
Glasgow. 
150   1912.  Foster,   Arthur  H.,    M.E.C.S.,    L.R.CP.  ;    Sussex    House, 
8S  Tilehouse  Street,  Hitchin,  Herts. 

1903.  Foster,  Nevin  Harkness,  F.L.S.,  M.K.I.A. ;  Hillsborough, 

Co.  DoAvn,  Ireland. 

1880.  Foster,  William  ;  39  Colville  Gardens,  Bayswater,  W.  11. 
1921.  Francis,  Richard  Taunton,  F.Z.S. ;    "Fairhaven,"  Peak's 

Hill,  Purley,  Surrey. 

1881.  Freke,  Percy  Evans  ;  South  Point,  Limes  Pioad,  Folkestone. 
155   1895.  Frohawk,  Frederick  William,  F.E.S.  ;  Uplands,  Thunders- 
ley,  Essex. 

1909.  Frost,  William  Edward,  J. P.  ;  Ardvreck,  Crieff,  Perth- 
shire. 

1881.  Gadow,  Hans,  Ph.D.,  F.P.S.,  F.Z.S.  ;  Cleramendi,  Great 
Shelford,  near  Cambridge. 

1886.  Gainsborough,  Charles   William  Francis,  Earl  of ;  Exton 

Park,  Oakham,  Rutland. 
1 907.  Gandolfi,  Alfonso  Otho  Gandolfi-Hornyold,  Duke,  Ph.D. ; 

Blackmore  Park,  Hanley  Swan,  Worcestershire. 
160  1921.  GiBB,   David   Eric  Wilsok  ;   Bridgehouse,  Gerrard's  Cross, 

Bucks. 
1902.  GiBBiNS,   William  Bevington,  F.Z.S.  ;  Ettington,  Stratford- 

on-Avon,  Warwickshire. 
1921.  Gilbert,   Capt.  Humphrey  Adam;    New   University  Club, 

St.  James's  Street,  S.W.  1. 
1921.  Gill,    Edwin    Leonard,    M.Sc,    Curator   of    the    Hancock 

Museum,  Barras  Bridge,  Newcastle-on-Tyne. 
1919.  GiLLON,  Mrs.  Nina;  1-1  Carlton  Terrace,  Edinburgh, 
165    1903.   Gladstone,    Capt.   Hugh  Steuart,  M.A.,  F.Z.S.,  F.R.S.E., 

F. S.A.Scot.;    Capenoch,   Thornhill,    Dumfriesshire;    and 

40  Lunnox  Gardens,  S.W.  1.     {Committee.) 


xV 


Diitf  of 
Election. 


1021.  Glegg,    William    Edwin  ;     Tlie    House,    Albion    Brewery, 

AVhitechapel  Eoad,  E.  1. 
1021.  GoDMAN,  Miss  Eva  M.  ;  Soutli  Lodge,  Horsliam. 
1908.  GouMAN,  Lt.-Col.  Edwakd    Shiklky  (2iid  Dorset  Eegimeiit)  ; 

Hampsteel,  Cowfold,  Sussex. 
*1858.  GoDMAN,    Percy     Sanden,     13. A.,     C.M.Z.S.  ;     Hampsteel, 

Cowfold,  Sussex.     {Gold  Medallist.) 
170  1006.  Goodall,  Jeremiah  Matthews;  The  Kest,  Bembridge,  Isle  of 

Wight. 
1900.   Goodfellow,    Walter,    F.Z.S.  ;    The     Poi^ars,    Kettering, 

T^orthants. 

1920.  Gordon,     Mrs.     Addeey  ;     Otterburn     Tower,     Utterburn, 

Is'orthumberland. 

1921.  Gordon,  John   G.  M.  ;   Corsemalzic,  Whauphill,  Wigtown- 

shire, N.B. 
1906.  Gordon,      Seton     Paul,     F.Z.S. ;       Aucliintoul,     Aboj'ue, 

Aberdeenshire. 
175   1012.  GossE,  Major  Philip,  M.R.C.S.,  L.ll.C.P.,  R.A.M.C.  ;  Savile 

Club,  Piccadilly,  W.  1  ;  and  25  Argyle  Road,  Kensington, 

W.8. 
1899.  Gould,    Francis    Herbert   Carkuthers,   F.Z.S.;      Matham 

Manor  House,  East  Molesey,  Surrey. 
•  1895.  Gkabham,  Oxley,  M.A.  ;  The  Museum,  York. 
1920.  Graham,   Major  Claude  ;    IS'orthampton    Regt.,   Army    and 

Navy  Club,  Pall  Mall,    S.W.  1 ;  and  Talodi,  Nuba  Mts. 

Province,  Sudan. 
1909.  Grant,  Capt.  Claude  Henry  Baxter,  F.Z.S.  ;  c/o  The  Chief 

Secretary  to  the  Government,  Dar-es-Salaam,  Tanganyika 

Territorj^ ;  and  Sports  Club,  St.  James's  Square,  S.W.  1. 
180   1918.  Grant,  Francis  ;  22  Bushmead  Avenue,  Bedford. 

1913.  Greening,  Linnaeus,  F.L.S.,  F.Z.S. ;  Faiiiight,  Grappenhall, 

near  Warrington,  Cheshire. 
1909.  Grey  of  Falloden,  The  Rt.  Hon.  Edward,  The  Viscount, 

K.G.,    P.C.,    F.Z.S.  ;    Falloden,   Christon   Bank,   R.S.O., 

Northumberland. 
1906.  Griffith,  Arthur  Foster  ;  59  Montpellier  Road,  Brighton, 

Sussex. 
1920.  Gkiscom,  Ludlow,  37  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York,  U.S.A. 
185  1885.  Guillemard,  Francis  Henry  Hill,  M.A.,  M.D.,  F.Z.S. ;  Old 

Mill  House,  Trumpington.  Cambridge. 


Date  of 
Election. 

1908.  GtJKNKV,   Gerard   Hudson,   F.Z.S.,   F.E.S.  ;    Keswick   Hall, 

Norwich,  Norfolk. 
J  870.  GuRNEY,  John  Henry,  F.Z.S. ;  Keswick  Hall,  Norwich  ;  and 

Atheiifeum  Club,  Pall  Mall,  S.W.  1. 
1896.  Gurney,    lloBERT,     F.Z.8. ;      Ingham     Old    Hall,    Stalham, 

Norfolk. 
1891.  Haigh,  George  Henry  Caton,  F.Z.S.  ;  Graiusby  Hall,  Great 

Grimsby,  Lincolnshire. 
190    1887.  Haines,     John     Pleydell     Wilton  ;      17     King      Street, 

Gloucester. 
1898.  Hale,  The  llev.  James  Kashleigh,  M.A.  ;  Boxley  Vicarage, 

Maidstone,  Kent. 
1913.  Hardy,  Rear    Admiral   Ernest  Clifford,  H.N.  ;    Wolwich 

House,  Wymyngswold,  nr.  Canterbury,  Kent. 
1900.  Harper,   Edmund  William,   F.Z.S.  ;  6    Ashburnham  Road, 

Bedford. 
1900.  Harris,    Henry  Edward;    "  Sunnycote,"  53  Christchurch 

Road,  Bournemouth. 
195    1921.  Harrison,    .Dr.    James    M.,    D.Sc,     M.R.C.S.,    L.R.C.P. ; 

St.  Anne's,  1  Tubs  Hill,  Sevenoaks. 
1893.  Hartert,  Ernst  J.  0.,  Ph.D.,  F.Z.S. ;  The  Zoological  Museum, 

Tring,  Herts. 
1921.  Harvey,    Robert    Elliott;    46    Lewin    Road,    Streatham, 

S.W.  16. 
1900.  Hasluck,  Percy  Pedley  Harford  ;  The  Wilderness,  South- 
gate,  N.  1-4. 
1 898.  Hawker,  Richard  Macdonnell,  F.Z.S. ;  Bath  Club,  Dover 

Street,  W.  1  ;  and  c/o  Messrs.  Dalgety  &  Co.,  96  Bishops- 
gate,  E.C.  2. 
200    1918.  Heudert,  Capt.  Edward  Grevile,  R.A.F.  ;    c/o  Messrs.  Cox 

&  Co.,   R.A.F.  Branch,  111   St.  Martin's  Lane,  W.C.  2 ; 

and  Bangkok,  Siam. 
1902.  Hett,    Geoffrey    Sbccombe,     M.B.,    F.Z.S.  ;     8    Wimpole 

Street,  W.  1. 
1913.  Hewitt,    John,    M.A. ;    Director  of   the    Albany    Museum, 

Grahamstown,  South  Africa. 
1900.  Hills,     Lt.-Col.     John     Waller  ;       98     Mount     Street, 

W.  1. 
1884.  HoLDBWoBTH,  Charlbs  Jambs,  J. p.  ;  Fernliill,  Alderley  Edge, 

Cheshire. 


Date  of 

Election. 

205  1920.  HoLLAXD,  Eaedlijy,  F.R.C.S.  ;  55  Queen  Anne  Street,  Caven- 
dish Square,  W.  1. 

1905.  HoPKiNSox,  Emilius,  M.B.,  D.S.O.,  F.Z.S. ;  45  Sussex  Square, 
Brighton,  Sussex;   and  Bathurst,  Gambia,  West  Africa. 

191(5.  HoPwooD,  CvRiL  (Indian  Forests) ;  c/o  Messrs.  Thos.  Cook 
&  Son,  Rangoon,  Burma. 

1888.  HoRSFiELU,  Hbhkert  Knight  ;  Crescent  Hill,  Filej-,  Yorks. 

1895.  Howard,  HEifRr  Eliot,  F.Z.S. ;  Clarelands,  near  Stourport, 

Worcestershire. 
210   1881.  Howard,    Robert   James  ;     Shearbank,   Blackburn,   Lanca- 
shire. 
1911.  Hudson,     Reginald;       16     Warwick     Road,     Stratford-on- 

Avon. 
1920.  Humphreys,    George    Rayner;    Ivy  Lodge,     Drumcondra, 

Dublin. 
1920.  HuxHAM,  Engr.-Lt.-Commdr.  Harold  Hugh,  D.S.O.,  R.N. ; 

H.M.S.  'Dartmuth,'  South  American   Station,  c/o  G.P.O. 

London  ;    and  "The  Firs,"  Valloy  Road,  Chandlers  Ford, 

Hants. 
1918.  Inglis,  Charles  McFarlane;  Baghownie  Factory,  Laheria, 

Serai  P.O.  Behar,  India. 
215    1901.  Ingram,      Capt.     Collingwood,    F.Z.S.;     "The     Grange," 

Benenden,  Cranbrook,  Kent. 
1902.  Innes  Bey,  Dr.  Walter   Francis  ;  6  Square  Halim  Pasha, 

Cairo,  Egypt. 
1913.  Iredale,    Tom  ;      39    Northcote    Avenue,    Ealing,    W.   5. 

{Committee). 
1888.  Jackson,     Sir    Frederick    John,    K.C.M.G.,    C.B..    F.L.S., 

F.Z.S. 
1892.  James,   Henry    Ashworth,   F.Z.S.  ;    Hurstmonceux    Place, 

Hailsham,  Sussex. 
220    1920.  Janson,  Charles  Wilfrid  ;  6  Hyde  Park  Square,  W.  2. 

1896.  Jesse,  William,    B.A.,  F.Z.S.  ;    Meerut    College,    Meerut, 

India. 
1891.  Johnston,  Sir  Harry  Hamilton,  G.C.M.G.,  K.C.B.,  F.Z.S. 

St.  John's  Priory,  Poling,  near  Arundel,  Sussex. 
1920.  Jones,   Alexander   Edward  ;    Tattersall    House,    Ambala, 

India. 
1909.  Jones,     Surgeon-Commander    Kenneth    Hurlstone,    M.B., 

Ch.B.,  F.Z.S.,  R.N.  ;  H.M.S.  'Fisgurd,'  Portsmouth. 


XVIII 

Date  of 
Election. 

225  1899.  JouKDAiN,  The  Eev.  Francis  Chahles  lloBKKT,  M.A. ;  Apple- 
ton  Rectoiy,  Abingdon,  Berks. 

1902.  Joy,  Norman  Humbkkt,  M.H.C.S.,  L.R.C.P.  :    Thcale,  Berks. 

1880.  Keluam,  Brigadier-General  Henky  Robert,  C.B.  (late  High- 
land J.ight  Infantry);  Arm}' and  Navy  Club,  Pall  Mall 
S.W.  1. 

1894.  Kelsall,  Lt.  Col.   Harry  Joseph,  B.A.:  c/o  Messrs.  Cox  & 

Co.,  16  Charing  Cross,  S.W.  1. 
1897-  Kelsall,  The  Rev.  John  Edward,  M.A.  ;   Milton  Rectory, 

New  Milton,  Hants. 
230   1904.  Kelso,   John  Edward   Harry,  M.D.  ;    Braeside,  Edgewood, 

Lower  Arrow  Lake,  British  Columbia. 
1914.   Kennedy,  Cnpt.  John  Noble,   M.C,  R.G.A.  ;    The  Manse, 

Port    Patrick,    Wigtownshire,     Scotland ;    and    United 

Service  Club,  S.W.  1. 

1891.  Kerr,  John  Gbaham,   P\R.S.,    E.Z.S,,  Regius  Professor   of 

Zoology;    9  The  University,  Glasgow. 

1895.  KiNGSKORD,  "William  Edwakd  :  Cairo,  Egypt. 

1902.  KiNNEAR,  Norman  Boyd,  C.M.Z.S.  ;  British  Museum  (Natural 
History),  Cromwell  Road,  S.W.  7. 
235   1910.  Kloss,  Cecil  Boden,  E.Z.S.,  F.R.A.I.  ;    Assistant  Director 
of  Museums,  Kuala  Lumpur,  Federated  Malay  States. 
1921.  Knight,   Capt.  Charles   William   Robert,   M.C. ;  Jessons, 
Sevenoaks. 

1892.  Laidlaw,    Thomas    Geddes  ;     Bank    of    Scotland     House, 

Duns,  Berwickshire. 
1913.  Lambert,  Godfrey  Charles  ;  Woodcote,  Esher,  Surrey. 
1917.  Lampard-VachelL;    Benjamin  Garnet;    Pembroke  College, 

Cambridge. 
240  1884.  Langton,  Dr.  Herbert;  St.  Moritz,  01  Dyke  Road,  Brighton, 

Sussex.     {Committee.) 
1881.  Lascelles,  The  Hon.  Gerald  William,  F.Z.S.  ;   Tillington 

House,  Petworth,  Sussex. 
1892.  La  Toucue,    John    David    DiauES,    C.M.Z.S.  ;     c/o  Custom 

House,  Mengtze,  Yunnan,  China. 
1898.  Learoyd,  a.  Ernest;  G  Lowndes  Street,  S.W.  1. 
1910.  Lemon,  Mrs.  Margaretta  Louisa,  F.Z.S.  ;  Hillcrest,  Redhill, 

Surrey. 
245  1898.  Le  Souef,   Dudley,   C.M.Z.S. ;    Director   of   the   Zoological 

Gardens,  Melbourne,  Victoria,  Australia. 


XIX 


Date  of 
B  lection. 


J  921.  Lewis,    Stanley  ;     Highfield    House,    Hillfield,    Cheddar, 

Somerset. 
1921.  Lewis,  Thomas,    F.E.S.,   C.B.E.  ;    10  Chesterford  Gardens, 

Hampstead,  N.W.  3. 
1897.  LiLFOKD,     John,     Lord,      F.Z.S.;    Lilford     Hall,     Oundle, 

Northants, 
1909.  Lings,  George  Herbert  ;  Richmond  Hill,  Cheadle,  Cheshire. 
150    1897.  Lodge,  George   Edward,  F.Z.S.  ;   Hawkhouse,   Park  Road, 

Camberlej',  Surrej-. 
1908.  Long,  Sydney    Hiirbert,   :\r.D.,   F.Z.S. ;   31   Surrey  Street, 

Norwich,  Norfolk. 

1919.  Longstaff,  Capt.  Tom  George,  M.A.,  M.D.,  F.Z.S. ;  Picket 

Hill,  Ringwood,  Hants. 
1921.  Low,  Dr.  George  Carmichael,  M.I).,  M.R.C.P.  ;  6  Bentinck 

Street,  W.  1 . 
1904.  Lowe,  Percy  Roycroft,  B.A.,  M.B.,  B.C. ;  British  Museum 

(Nat.  Hist.),  Cromwell  Road,  S.W.  7.     (Committee.) 
255    1914.  Lowe,    Wieloughby    Pkescott  :      Gorsemoor,    Throwleigh, 

Okehampton,    Devon;    and   c/o   Postmaster,   Khartoum, 

Sudan. 

1920.  Loyd,    Captain    Lewis    Richard   William  ;    The  Lookout, 

Branscombe,  Beer  S.O.,  S.  Devon. 

1921.  Lucas,  Nathaniel  Sampson,  M.B.  ;  19  Westbourne  Terrace, 

Hyde  Park,  W,  2. 
1920.  Ludlow,    Frank,   M.A.;    Club    of  Western    India,    Poona, 

India  ;  and  Priory  Gate,  Dunster,  Somerset. 
1920.  Luke,    Leonard    Percival  ;    9    Piggott    Street,    Brighouse, 
Yorks. 
260    1904.  Lynes,  Captain  Hubert,  C.B.,  C.M.G.,  R.N.  ;    23    Onslow 
Gardens,  South  Isensington,  S.W.  7. 
1920.  Mackenzie,    Colonel  Alexander  Francis,   C.M.G.,    M.V.O. 
(late  Argyle  &    Sutherland   Highlanders) ;  Old    House, 
\[uir  of  Ord,  N.B. 
1917.  Mackenzie,  John  Mitchell  Douglas,  B.A.,  C.M.Z.S.,  Indian 
Forest  Service  ;    c/o  Thos.  Cook  &  Son,  Rangoon,  Burma, 
India ;  and  6  Tlie  Circus,  Bath. 
191G.  Mackworth-Praed,  Cyril  W.  ;  Dalton  Hill,  Albury,  Surrey; 

and  51  Onslow  Gardens,  S.W.  7. 
1906.  Macmillan,  William  Edward  Frank;  42  Onslow  Square, 
S.W.  7. 


Patp  of 
Elertion. 

265   1920.  Madoc,  Lieut. -Colonel  Henry  William  ;    Ashfield,  Douglas, 

Isle  of  Man. 
190G.  Magrath,     Lt.-Col.    Henry    Augustus    Frederick,    Indian 

Army  (retired)  :   Junior  Constitutional  Club,  Piccadilly, 

W.  1. 
1921.  Maidstone,  Viscount;  23  Manchester  Square,  W.  1. 
1917.  Malcomson,  Herbert  Thomas;  Glenorehy,  Knock,  Belfast. 
1917.  Mann,    Capt.    Edward    Hamilton,    M.C,    K.H.A.  ;    Junior 

United  Service  Club,  Charles  Street,  S.W.  1. 
270   1907.  Mann,  Thomas  Hugh,   F.Z.S.  ;    Trulls   Hatch,   Rotherfield, 

Sussex. 
1904.  Manson-Bahr,  Brevet-Major  Philip  Henry,  D.S.O.,  M.D., 

M.R.C.P.,  R.A.M.C. ;  32  Weymouth  Street,  W.  1. 
1904.  Mapleton-Bree,    Harvey    AYilliam,    M.A.  ;     Gable    End, 

Allesley,  Coventry. 
1894.  Marshall,  Archibald  McLean,  F.Z.S. ;    Great  Chitcombe, 

Brede,  Sussex. 
1894.  Marshall,  James  McLean,  F.Z.S.;    Bleaton    Hallet,   Blair- 
gowrie, Perthshire. 
275    1898.  Massey,  Herbert;  Ivy  Lea,  Burnage,  Didsbury,  Manchester. 
1921.  Mathews,    Allister   William;    Foulis   Court,    Fair  Oaks, 

Hants. 
1907.  Mathews,  Gregory  Macalister,   F.L.S.,    F.R.S.E.,  F.Z.S. ; 

Foulis  Court,  Fair  Oak,  Hants. 
1915.  May,  William  Norman,  M.D.  ;  The  White  House,  Sonning, 

Berks. 
1921.  McCoNNELL,  Arthur  Frederick  ;  Camfield  Place,  Hatfield, 

Herts. 
2S0   1921.  McNeile,  John  Henry  ;   11  Embankment  Gardens,  S.W.  3. 
1883.  Meade-Waldo,    Edmund     Gustavus     Bloomeield,     F.Z.S.  ; 

Hever  Warren,  Hever,  Kent. 
1912.  Meiklejohn,  Lt. -Colonel   Eonald  Forbes,   D.S.O.  (1st  Bn. 

Itoyal  Warwickshire   llegiment)  ;    147   Victoria    Street, 

S.W.  1. 
1899.  Meinertzhagen,    Colonel   Richard,    D.S.O. ,    F.Z.S.    (Royal 

Fusiliers) ;  63  Bedford  Gardens,  Kensington,  W.  8. 
1880.  Millais,  John  Guille,  F.Z.S. ;  Compton's  Brow,  Horsham, 

Sussex. 
285    1910.  Millard,  Walter   Samuel,   F.Z.S.:    22  Boyne  Park,  Tun- 
bridge  Wells. 


ZZl 


Date  of 
Election. 


3  903.  Mills,  Canon  Heney  Holroyd,  M.A.,  F.Z.S.  :  The  Rectory, 

St.  Stophen-in-Erannel,  Grampound  Road,  Cornwall. 
1879.  Mitchell,    Fredekick     8nA,w  ;      Hornshaws,     Millstream, 

B.C.,  Canada. 
1901.  Mitcoell,  p.  Chalmers,  M.A.,  D.Sc,  LL.D.,  P.R.S.,  F.L.S., 

r.Z.8. ;    Secretary   to  the  Zoological  Society   of  London, 

Regent's  Park,  N.W.  8. 

1919.  Montagu,    The    Right    Hon.    Ebwin    Samuel  ;    24    Queen 

Anne's  Gate,  S.W.  1. 
290    1920.  Moon,  Dr.  Haeolp  Joseph,  M.R.C.S.,  L.R.C.P.  ;  Go  South 

Drive,  St.  Anne's-on-the-Sea,  Lancashire. 
1914.  MouLTON,  Major  John  Coney,  M.A.,  B.Sc,  F.L.S.,  F.R.G.S., 

F.E.S. ;    Fort  Canning,  Singapore ;    The  Hall,  Pradford- 

on-Avon,  Wilts. 
,     1886.  ]V[tjiehead,      George,     F.R.S.E.  ;       Speybank,     Fochabers, 

Morayshire. 
1893.  Mullens,  Major  William  Herbert,  M.A.,  LL.M.,    F.Z.S. ; 

Westfield  Place,  Pattlc,  Sussex. 
1892.  MuNN,  Capt.  Philip  Winchester,  F.Z.S. ;   Puerto  Alcudia, 

Majorca,  Balearic  Isles,  Spain. 
295    1918,  MuNT,  Harry  Raymond  ;  10  Ashburn  Place,  South  Kensing- 
ton, S.W.  7. 
1897.  MuNT,  Henry,  F.Z.S,;  10  Ashburn  Place,  South  Kensington, 

S.W.  7. 
1910.   Murray,  Capt.  Herbert  Willaume,  F.Z.S.;  The  Old  House, 

Epsom,  Surrey. 

1920.  MussELAVHiTE,  DoNALD  WooDAVARD  ;    7  Jcssica  Road,  Wands- 

worth Common,  S.W.  18. 
1907-  Neave,    Sheffield   Airey,    M.A.,    D.Sc,    F.Z.S.,   F.E.S. ; 

Bishop's  House,  Beaconsfield. 
300    1895.  Nesham,  Robert,  F.Z.S.,  F.E.S.;   Utrecht  House,  Poynder's 

Road,  Clapham  Park,  S.W.  4. 
1920,  Nevill,   Captain   Tuomas   jN'evill   Carlton  ;  Bramall   Hall, 

Cheshire. 
1920.  Newman,     John  ;      Oare    House,     Oare,     Brendon,     North 

Devon. 
1904.  Newman,   Thomas   Henry,  F.Z.S. ;    Verulam,    Forty    Lane, 

Wemblej'  Park,  Middlesex. 
1917.  NiCHOLL,  Archibald  M,  C.  ;  Royal  Naval  College,  Osborne, 

Isle  of  Wiirht. 


XXll 

Date  of 

Election. 

305   1902.  Nichols,  John  Bruce,  F.Z.S. ;   Parliament  Mansions,  Victoria 

Street,  S.W.  1. 
1900.  Nichols,     Walter    Buchanan  ;     Stour    Lodge,    Bradfield, 

Manningtree,  Essex, 
1870.  Nicholson,    Francis,     F.Z.S.;     Kavenscroft,    Windermere, 

Westmoreland. 
1902.  NicoLL,  Michael  John,  F.Z.S.  ;   Valhalla  House,  Zoological 

Gardens,  Giza,  Egypt. 
1921.  O'CoNNELL,   John  Henry,   L.R.C.P.  &  S.l.  ;   38  Heathfield 

Eoad,  Liverpool. 
310  1920.  O'DoNEL,  Harry  Victor;  Hasimara  T.E.,  Hasimara  P.O., 

E.B.  Railwaj',  Duars,  India. 

1907.  Oldham,   Charles,  F.Z.S. ;    The    Bollin,    Shrublands   Road, 

Berkhamsted,  Herts. 
1906.  OsMASTON,  Bertram  Beresford   (Imperial   Forest  Service); 

Pachmarhi,  C.P.,  India. 
1913.  Owen,  John  Hugh  ;  Old  School  House,  Felsted,  Essex. 
1921.  Owen,  Owen  Rodenhurst  ;  Bank  House,  Knighton,  Radnor- 
shire. 
315  1919.  Page,    Wesley  Theodore,    F.Z.S.  ;     Langstone,    Lingfield, 

Surrey. 
1921.  Paget-Wilkes,  Arthur  Hamilton  ;    16  Holywell,   Oxford, 

and  Lincoln  College,  Oxon. 
1883.  Parker,  Hknry,  C.E.  ;  26  St.  George's  Road,  St.  Anne's-on- 

the-Sea,  Laiics. 
1880.   Parkin,    Thomas,    M.A.,    F.L.S.,    F.Z.S.;      Fairseat,    High 

Wickham,  Hastings,  Sussex. 

1908.  Paton,     Edward    Richmond,    F.Z.S.  ;    Hareshawrauir,    By 

Kilmarnock,  Ayrsliire,  Scotland. 
320  1921.  Patten,   Charles  Joseph,   M.A.,  M.I).,  Sc.D.  ;  University, 

and  18  Broomhall  Road,  Sheffield. 
1911.  Patterson,   William   Harry;    25    Queen's   Gate   Gardens, 

S.W.  7. 
1904.  Pbarse,  Theed  ;  Courtenay,  British  Cokimbia. 
1894.  Pearson,   Charles    Edward,  F.L.S.  ;    llillcrest,  Lowdham, 

Notts. 
1902.  Pease,    Sir    Alfred     Edward,   Bt.,   F.Z.S.  ;    Pinchinthorpe 

House,    Guisborough,    Yorkshire ;    and    Brooks's    Club, 

St.  James's  Street,  S.W.  1. 


Date  of 
Election. 

325   1891.  Penrose,     Francis     George,     M.D.,    F.Z.S.  ;     llathkeale, 

51  (Surrey  Koad,  Bournemouth. 
1900.  Percival,  Arthur  Blayney,  F.Z.S,;  Game  Eanger,  JSTairobi, 

British  East  Africa  ;  Sports  Club,  St,  James'  Square,  S.W.  1. 
1912.  Pershouse,  Major  Stanley;  c/o  Messrs.  Cox  &  Co.,  16  Charing 

Cross,  S.W.  1. 
1886.  Phillips,    Ethelbert    Lort,  F.Z,S.  ;    79    Cadogan    Square, 

S.W.  1. 
1920.  Phillips,    Montague    Austin,    F.L.S.,    F.Z.S. ;    Devonshire 

House,  Reigatc,  Surrey. 
330   1920.  Phillips,    Captain    William    Watt  Addison  ;    Anasigalla, 

Matugama,  Ceylon  ;  and  Bowden  Lodge,  Russell  Terrace, 

Leamington. 
1914.  Pitman,  Capt.  Charles  Robert  Senhouse  (27th  Punjabis) ; 

P.O.  Box  39,  Nakuru,  Kenya  Colony,  East  Africa. 
1908.  Player,  W.  -J.  Percy  ;  Wernfadog,  Clydach  P.S.O.,  Glamor- 
ganshire. 
1907.  Pocock,ReginaldInnks,F.R.S.,F.L.S.,F.Z.S.:  Superintendent 

of  the  Zoological  Gardens,  Regent's  Park,  N.W.  8. 
1917.   PoLiAKOV,  Gregory  T.  (Editor  '  Messager  Oi'nithologique') ; 

Moskva-Nijiiinovgorod     Railsvay,      Station     Obiralovka, 

Savvino,  Russia. 
335   1896.  Popham,  Hugh  Leyborne,  M.A, ;  Houndstreet  House,  Pens- 
ford,  Somerset, 
1920.  Pratt,  Herbert  ;  62  Lyford  Road,  Wandsworth   Common, 

S.W^  18. 
1898.  Price,  Athelstan  Elder,  F.Z.S.  ;  Salisbury  Hall,  St.  Albans. 
1903.  Ralfe,    Pilcher    George;    The    Parade,    Castletown,    Isle 

of  Man. 
190)3.  Ratcliee,  Frederick  Roavlinson  ;  29  Connaught  Square,  W.2. 
340   1917.  R.vttray,  Col.  RuLLioN  Hare  (retired);  68  Dry  Hill  Park 

Road,  Tonbridge. 
1917.  Raw,  AViLLiAM  ;  170  Newbridge  Street,  Newcastle-on-Tyue. 
1894.  Read,  Richard  Henry,  M.R.C.S.,  L.R.C.P. ;  Church  Street, 

Hanley,  Staffordshire. 
1888.  Re.ad,  Robert  H.;  8rt  South  Parade,  Bedford  Park,  W.  4. 
1917.  Reeve,    Capt.  John    Sherard,    F.Z.S.;    Leadenham  House, 

near  Lincoln. 
345   1903.  Renaut,  William  E.  ;  Royal  Academy  of  Music,  York  Gate, 

Marylebone  Road,  N.W.  1. 

SER.  XI. VOL.  III.  C 


XXIV 


Date  of 
Election. 


iyu8.  RjcHARDsoN,    NoBMAN    Peederic,    F.R.G.S.  ;     "  Lynton," 

Brigstock  Koad,  Thornton  Heath,  Surrey. 
1907.  IticiiMOND,  Herbert  William,  M. A.,  F.R.S.  ;  King's  College, 

Cambridge. 
1895.  lliCKETT,   Charles    Boughet,    F.Z.S.  ;    27    Kendrick    Road, 

Heading,  Berks. 
1920.  IliNGRosE,  Bernard  John  ;  Wilford  Rise,  Bromeswell  Heath, 

Woodbridge,  SufFold. 
350   1896.  Bippoi^,   Lt.-Col.  George,   F.Z.S.  ;    The    Clump,    Buekland, 

Lymington,  Hants  ;  and  United  Service  Club,  Pall  Mall, 

S.W.  1. 
1907.  Ritchie,   Captain    Archibald    Thomas   Ayres  ;  c/o   British 

East    African    Corps,  Mombassa,    B.E.    Africa;  and    16 

Wilton  Street,  S.W.  1 . 
1902.  RivijjRE,    Bernard    Beryl,    F.R.C  S.  ;    St.    Giles's    Plain, 

Norwicli,  Norfolk. 
1898.  Robinson,  Herbert  C,  C.M.Z.S.  ;    Selangor  State  Museum, 

Kuala  Lumpur,  Federated  Malay  States. 

1912.  Robinson,  Herbert  William,  F.Z.S.Scot. ;  Patchctts,  Caton, 

near  Lancaster. 
355    1917.  Robinson,  Sydney  Maddock  ;  c/o  Col.  J.  H.  Evans,  Fraser 

Road,  Rangoon,  Burma. 
1019.  Robinson,  Thioodore  Richard;    Brunswick  Lodge,  Dunton 

Green,  Kent. 
1896.  Rogers,    Lt.-Col.    John    Middleton,    D.S.O.,    F.Z.S.    (late 

1st  Dragoons);  Riverhill,  Sevenoaks,  Kent. 

1913.  Rogers,  Reginald  jSTankivell  ;  Carwinion,  near  Falmouth, 

Cornwall. 
1893.  Rothschild,  Lionel   Walter,    Lord,  D.Sc,   Ph.D.,  F.R.S., 
F.Z.S.  ;  Zoological  Museum,  Tring,  Herts. 
360    1894.  Rothschild,  The  Hon.  Nathaniel  Charles,  M.A.,  F.Z.S.  ; 
Arundel  House,  Kensington  Palace  Gardens,  W.  8. 
1918.  Rowan,    William,    The    Dept.    of   Biology,    University  of 

Alberta,  Edmonton,  Alta,  Canada. 
1910.  Russell,   Harold,   F.Z.S.;     16    Beaufort  Gardens,   Chelsea, 

S.W.  3. 
1883.  S'l'.  QuiNTiN,  William  Herhert,  F.Z.S. ;    Scampston   Hall, 
Rillington,  Yorkshire. 
.     1903.  Sandeman,  Lt.-Col.  Robert  Preston  (R.  Gloucester  Hussars)  ; 
Dan-y  P'uc.  Crickhowell,  S.  Wales. 


XXV 


Date  of 
Election. 


3^5    1889.   Sapswortii,  Aknolb  DuEK,  F.Z.S. ;  30  Sussex  Place,  llegeiiL's 

Park,  N.W.  1. 
1914.  Satter,    Dr.    Hans,     F.Z.S.  ;     Bath    Club,    Dover    Street, 

W.  1  ;  and  Pinners  Hall,  Austin  Friars,  E.G.  2. 
1909.  Savage,  The  Rev.  Ernest  Urmson;  Eaughton  Head  Vicarage, 

Dalston,  R.S.O.,  Cumberland. 
1921.  ScHAANNiNG,  Hans  Thomas  Lange  ;  Konservator,  Stavanger 

Museum,  Norway. 
1891.  ScLATER,  William  Lutley,  M.A.,  F.Z.S.     10  Sloaue  Court, 

Chelsea,  S.W.  1.     (Editor.) 
370    1908.  Seppings,  Lt.-Col.  John  William  Hamilton,   A.P.D.  ;    The 

Castle.  Cape  Town,  South  Africa. 
1899.  Serle,  The  Rev.  William,  M.A.,  B.D. ;  The  Manse,  Dudding- 

ston,  Edinburgh. 
1901.  Seth-Smith,    David,    F.Z.S.;    34    Elsworthy    Road,    South 

Hampstead,  N.W.  3. 
1904.  Seth-Smith,     Leslie     Mofeat,     B.A.,     F.Z.S.  ;      Tangley, 

Caterham  Valley,  Surrey  ;  and  Kampala,  Uganda. 
1909.  Seton,  Sir  Malcolm  Cotter  Cakiston,  K.C.B.  :  13  Clarendon 

Road,  Holland  Park,  W.  11  ;  and  Union  Club,  Trafalgar 

Square,  S.W.  1. 
375    1917.  Shipton,   William,   B.A.,   M.D.  ;     2    The   Square,   Buxton, 

Derbyshire. 
1921.  Shoktridge,    Guy    Chestkrton,    M.B.E.  ;     The    Ivaffrarian 

Museum,  King  Williamstown,  Cape  Colony. 
1921.  SiBouR,  The  Vicomte   Lodis  de,  F.Z.S.,  F.L.S.,   F.R.M.S. ; 

Albert  Villa,  Shanklin,  I.  of  Wight. 
1920.  Skea,  Ernest    Marcellus  ;  Chief   Assayor   of  Gold   Alining 

States,  Ltd.,  P.O.  Box,  46  Pilgrims  Rest,  Transvaal. 
1918.  Sladbn,  Major  Alexander   George    Lambart  ;    Kingswood 

House,    The    Lee,    Bucks  ;    and    Junior    Carlton    Club, 

S.W.  1.     {Committee.) 
380    1908.  Smalley,  Frederic  William,  F.Z.S.  ;  Windermere,  4  Black- 
heath  Park,  S.E.  3. 
1918.  S.MEKD,    Major    Cecil   William,    R.F.A.;     Miland,     West- 
bourne,  West  Sussex. 
1920.  Sjiith,  Desmond  Abel  ;  Longhills,  near  Lincoln. 
1914.  Smith,    Major    John  Lindsay  (Indian    Army) ;    Supply    & 

Transport  Corps,  Commdt.  Camel  Corps,  Multan,  Punjab, 

India. 


xivl 


Bate  of 
Election. 


1918.  Smith,  Thomas  ;  Whiston  Eaves,  Froghall,  Stoke-on-Trent. 
385    1906.  Snouckaekt  van  Schaubukg,  Baron  IIen^  Charles  :   Doom, 

Holland. 
1921.  SowEUBY,  Arthur  de  Carle  ;  c/o  H.  K.  Lewis  &  Co.,  Ltd., 

136  Gower  Street,  W.C.  1. 
1903.  Sparrow,  Colonel  Hichaed,  C.M.G.,  D.S.O.,  F.Z.S.,  F.ll.G.S. 

(late  7th  Dragoon  Guards);  llookwoods,  Sible  Hedingham, 

Essex. 
1906.  Stanford,  Surgeon-Coramdr.  Charles  Edward  Cortis,  B.Sc, 

M.B.,  B.N. ;  94  Jerinyn  Street,  S.W.  1. 
1910.  Stanford,  Edward    Eraser;    12  a  Maddox   Street,  Kegent 

Street,  W.  1. 
390   1913.  Stanford,  Major  Henry  Morrant,  M.C,  R.F,  A.,  115  Batterj*. 

B.E.F.,    France ;     c/o    Messrs.    Edward  Stanford,    Ltd., 

12-14  Long  Acre,  W.C.  2. 

1913.  Stanford,  Capt.  John  Keith,   M.C. ;    c/o  Messrs.   Edward 

Stanford,  Ltd..  12-14  Long  Acre,  W.C.  2. 
1915.  Staples-Browne,    Capt.    Richard    Charles,     B.A.,    F.Z.S. 

(^ew  Zealand  Med.  Corps) ;  Brashfield  House,  Bicester, 

Oxon. 
1900.  Stares,  John  William  Chester  ;   Portchester,  Hants. 
1921.  Stendall,    Jesse    Austin    Sydney;     12   Rossmore    Avenue, 

Bally nafeigh,  Belfast. 
395    1902.  Stenhouse,    Surgeon -Capt.    John    Hutton,    M.B.,    R.N.  ; 

Caledonian  United  Service  Club,  Edinburgh. 
1910.  Stevens,    Herbert;    Gopaldhara,    Mirik    P.O.,    Kurseong, 

Darjiling  Himalayan  Rly.,  India. 
1906.  Steward,  Edward  Simmons,  F.R.C.S.  ;  30  Victoria  Avenue, 

Harrogate,  Yorks. 

1914.  Stewart,  John;  Mainshill,  Beith,  Ayrshire. 

1921.  Stocks,    Andrew    Denys  ;     8    Old    Square,    Lincoln's    Inn, 

W.C.  2  ;  and  Union  Club. 
400    1917.  Stoneham,  Capt.  Hugh  Frederic,  O.B.E.,  F.E.S.,  1st  Battn. 

East  Surrey  Eegt.  &  Asst.  Chief  Signal  Officer,  Northern 

Command  ;  "  Stoneleigh,"  Reigate,  Surrey  ;  and  Army  & 

Navy  Club,  Pall  Mall,  S.W.  1. 
1  921.  Stoney,  Cecil  Vesey,  J. P.,  1).L. ;  Oakfield  Park,  Raphoe 

Co.  Donegal. 
1881.  Studdy,  Col.  Robert  Wright  (late  Manchester  Regiment); 

Westbury,  Paignton,  Devon. 


iXVll 


Date  of 
Election. 


1887.  Sti'an,    Frederick    William,    F.Z.S.  :     Stone    Street,    near 
Sevenoaks,  Kent. 

1914.  Sutherland,  Lewis  IIobertson,  M.B.,  CM.,  Afedical  School. 
Dundee,   N.B.  ;  Wellgate   House,   West    Newport,    Fife- 
shire. 
405    ]n05.  SwANN,  Harold,  F.Z.S.  ;  The  Lordship,  Standon,  Herts. 

1920.  Savann,    Harry    Kirke,    F.Z.S.  ;    Thoracombe,  Lyonsdown 

Itoud,  New  Barnet,  Herts. 
1882.  Swinhoe,  Col.  Charles,  M.A.,  F.L.S.,  F.Z.S.;  4  Guuterstone 

Eoad,  West  Kensington,  W.  14. 
1884.  Tait, William  Chaster,  F.Z.S.;  Entre  Quintas  J5.5,  Oporto, 

Portugal. 
1911.  Talbot-Ponsonby,  Charles   Grorge  ;   5  Crown  Office  Row, 

Temple,  E.C.  4. 
410    lyll.  Tatton,  Reginald  Arthur;  Cuerden  Hall,  Bamber  Bridge, 

Preston,  Lanes. 
1014.  Tavistock,  Hastings  William  Sackville,  Marquis  of,  F.Z.S.; 

Warblington  House,  Havant. 
1905.  Taylor,    Lionel    Edward,    F.Z.S.;      Bankhead,    Kelowna, 

British  Columbia. 
1886.  Terry,  Major  Horace  A.  (late  Oxfordshire  Light  Infantry); 

Compton  Grange,  Compton,  Guildford,  Surrey. 

1921.  Thomas,  Mrs.  Rose  Haig  ;   13  Arlington  Street,  S.W.  1. 
415   1916.  Thomasset,  Bernard  Charles,  F.Z.S.;  The    Manor  House, 

Ashmansworth,  near  Newbury,  Berks. 
1904.  Thompson,  Major  William  R.,  R.G.A.  ;  R.A.  Mess,  Sierra 

Leone. 
1911,  Thomson,  A.  Landsborough,  O.B.E.,  D.Sc,  F.Z.S. ;  9  Addison 

Gardens,  Kensington,  W.  14. 
1900.  Thorburn,     Archibald,     F.Z.S.  ;     Hascombe,    Godalming, 

Surrey. 
1920.  Thornhill,  Lt.-Colonel  Cudbert  John  Massy,  C.M.G.,  D.S.O., 

Indian  Army,  Bath  Club,  Dover  Street,  W.  1. 
420   1893.  Thorpe,    Dixon    L.  ;     Loshville,    Etterby    Scaur,    Carlisle, 

Cumberland. 
1903.  Ticehurst,     Claud     Buchanan,     M.A.,     M.D.,     M.R.C.S. ; 

121  London  Road  North,  Lowestoft. 
1894.  Ticehurst,    Norman     Frederic,     M.A.,     M.B.,     F.R.C.S., 

F.Z.S.  ;     24     Pevensey     Road,      St.     Leonards-on-Sea, 

Sussex. 


XXVIU 
Date  of 

Election. 

1902.  TowNsuND,  Reginald  Gilliat,  M.A.  ;    Critchells,  Lokerle}*, 

Komscy,  Hants. 
1893.  Tkevor-Battve,    Aubyn,     M.A.,    F.L.S.,    F.Z.S.  ;     Ashford 

Chace,    Pefcerstield,    Hanta :     and    Royal    Societies    Club, 

St.  James's  Street,  S.W.  1. 
425    1913.  TdCKWELL,    Edwaed    Hk:n^ey,    F.Z.S.  ;    Bertliope,    Compton, 

near  Guildford,  Surrey. 
1921.  TuTi,   JouN   Francis   Donald,   M.R.C.V.S.,  F.L.S.,  F.E.S., 

F.R.M.S.,     F.Z.S.  ;      1    St.    Cross    Road,    AYinchcster, 

Hants. 

1911.  TrKWHiTi-DKAKE,  Hugh  Garrard,  F.Z.S. ;  Cobtree,  Sandling, 

Maidstone,  Kent. 
1918.   Vaizey,   George   db   Horne  ;    53  The   Pryors,  Hampstead, 

N.W.  3. 
1918.   Vaizest,    Ker    George    Russell  ;     26    Cornwall    Gardens, 

S.W.  7. 
430   1910.  Van  Someren,  Dr.  Robert  Abraham  Logan  ;  Jinja,  Uganda, 

British  East  Africa. 

1912.  Van  Sojieren,  Dr.  Victor  Gurnet  Logan;  c/o  Medical  Dept., 

P.O.  Box  1-10,  Nairobi,  B.E.  Africa. 

1913.  Lt.-Col.    Venning,  Francis    Esmond    Wingate  ;  The  Croft, 

Yateley,  Hants. 
1881.  Verner,  Col.  William  Willoughby  Cole  (late  Rifle  Brigade)  ; 
Hartford  Bridge,  Winchfield,  Hants  ;  and  United  Service 
Club,  S.W.  1. 
1886,  Wade-Dalton,  Col.  H.  D. ;  Hauxwell  Hall,  Finghall  R.S.O., 
Yorkshire. 
435    1916.  Wait,     Walter    Ernest,    Deputy    Collector    of    Customs, 
Colombo,  Ceylon. 
1918.  Walker,  ALE.XANDKR  Hope,  M.D.,  L.R.C.P.,  M.R.C.S.  ;  The 

Commoji,  Cranleigb,  Surrey. 
1914.  Wall-Row,  John  ;  51  Courtfield  Gardens,  S.W.  5. 
1895.   Wallis,    Henry    Marriage;     Ashton    Lodge,    Christchurch 

Road,  Reading,  Berks. 
1920.  Ward,   Major  Edward    Hugh  :    R.M.A, ;     H.M.    Wireless 
Station,  Horsea  Island,  Portchester,  Hants. 
440   1903.  Watt,  Hugh  Boyd,  F.Z.S. ;   12  Great  James  Street,  Bedford 
Row,  W.C.  1. 
1920.  Waydelin,      Frederick     John  ;     Haverhill,     Whitchurch, 
Hants. 


XXIX 


Pate  of 
Election. 


1920.  Webbee,    Captain    William    Beakk    Incledon  ;     Buckland 

House,  Branton,  N.  Devon. 

1912.  Wells,  Charles  Henky  ;    Broomfield,  80  Brookhouse  Hill, 

Fulwood,  Sheffield. 

1921.  Wells,  Thomas  ;  N"atiiral  History  Museum,  South  Kensing- 

ton, S.W.  7. 
445    1912.  Wenner,  Max  Victor  ;  Lake  House,   Sutton,  near  Maccles- 
field, Cheshire. 

1913.  Whistler,  Httgh,  F.Z.S.  (Indian    Police)  ;   Caldbee   House, 

Battle.  Sussex;  and  c/o  Messrs.  King,  King  &  Co.,  Bombaj-, 

India. 
1918.  Whitaker,  Capt.  John  Albert  Charles  (Coldstream  Guards); 

Babworth  Hall,  Retford,  Notts. 
1891.  Whitaker,    Joseph    I.    S.,    F.Z.S.  ;     Malfitano,    Palermo, 

Sicily. 
1909.  AVhite,  Henrt  Luke;  Belltrees,  Scone,  New  South  Wales, 

Australia. 
450    1903.   White,  Stephen  JosKPH,  F.Z.S. 

1912.  Whymper,  Sawtjel  Leigh  ;  Oxford  ]\ransions,  Oxford  Street, 

W.  1  ;  and  Oriental  Club,  Hanover  Square,  W.  1. 

1914.  Wickham,  Percy  Frederic  ;    c/o  Messrs.  Thos.  Cook  &  Son, 

Rangoon,  Burma. 

1915.  Wild,  Oliver  Hilton  ;  Ariel  Lodge,  Cheltenham,  Gloucester- 

shire. 
1894.  Wilkinson,  Johnson;  Vermont,  Huddersfield,  Yorkshire. 
455    1912.  Wilkinson,  William  Arthur,  F.L.S.,  F.Z.S. ;  Lindum  House, 
Anchorage  Road,  Sutton  Coldfield,  nr.  Birmingham. 
1910.  Williamson,    Walter    James    Franklin,    C.M.G.,    F.Z.S. 
(Financial  Adviser  to  the  Government  of  Siam);  Bangkok, 
Siam. 
1920.  Wilson,  Commander  Alec  Thomas  Lee,  J. P.,  R.N.  ;  Garth 

House,  Garth,  Brecknocksliire. 
1897.  Wilson,    Allan  Read,    B.A.,    M.I).,   B.Ch.  (Oxon.) ;    Eagle 

House,  Blandford,  Dorset. 
1888.  Wilson,   Charles  Joseph,   F.Z.S.;    14   Suffolk  Street,  Pull 
Mall,  S.W.  1. 
460   1897.  WiTHERBY,  Harry  Forbes,  M.B.E.,  F.Z.S. ;   12  Chesterford 
Gardens,  Hampstead,  N.W.  3. 
1908.  WiTHERiNGTON,  GwYNNE ;    19   Sumucr    Place,    South   Ken- 
sington, S.W.  7. 


XXX 

Date  of 

Election. 

1899.  WoLLASTON,    Alexandee    Feederick   Richmond,    B.A.;   20 

Moore  Street,  S.W.  3. 
1912.  Wood,   Martin   Stanlky,  M.D.,  E.A.M.C. ;   Cheadle  Royal, 

Cheadle,  Cheshire. 
1917.  Woodford,  Capt.  Charles  Edward  Montgomekie  (1st  Battn. 

Sherwood  Foresters)  ;   8  Dry  Hill  Park  Road,  Tonbridge, 

Kent. 
465    1912.  WooDHOusE,  Cecil,  11.]).  ;  Coaxdon  Hall,  Axmiiister,  South 

Devon. 
1921.  WoEDiE,  Major  William,   O.B.E.,  M.A. ;    52  Moutgomerie 

Drive,  Glasgow. 

1902.  Workman,    William   Hughes,    F.Z.S.  ;     Lismore,  Windsor, 

Belfast,  Ireland. 
1908.  Wynne,  Richard  Owen  ;  Foulis  Court,  Fair  Oak,  Hants. 
469    1916.  Zambra,  Rag.  Cav.  Vittorio  ;  Corso  Umberto,  I.  49,  Rome, 
Italy. 

Extra- Ordinary  Member. 

1899.  Godwin-Austen,  Lt.-Col.  Henry  Haversuam,  F.R.S.,  F.Z.S. ; 
Nore,  Hascombe,  Godalming,  Surrey. 

Honorary  Members. 

1907.  xIllen,  Joel  Asaph,  Ph.D.,  F.M.Z.S. ;  American  Museum  of 

Natural  History,  Central  Park,  New  York,  U.S.A. 
19  L7.  Chapman,  Frank  Michler  ;  American  Museum  of  Natural 

History,  Central  Park,  New  York,  U.S.A. 
1919.  Menegaux,  Henri  August;    Museum  d'Histoire  Naturelle, 

Paris. 
1905.  Oberholser,     Harry     Church  ;    United    States    National 

Museum,  Washington,  D.C.,  U.S.A. 
5    1915.  Richmond,    Charles    Wallace  ;     United    States    National 

Museum,  Washington,  D.C.,  U.S.A. 

1903.  Ridgway,  Robert,  C.M.Z.S.  ;  Smithsonian  Institution,  Wash- 

ington, D.C.,  U.S.A. 
1890.  Salvadori,  Count  Tommaso,  M.D.,  F.M.Z.S. ;  Royal  Zoological 

Museum,  Turin,  Italy. 
1919.  Stejneger,  Leonhaed,  C.M.Z.S.;     Smithsonian  Institution, 

Washington,  D.C.,  U.S.A. 
1921.  Van  Oort,  Dr.  Eduard  Daniel;  Museum  of  Natural  History, 

Leyden,  Holland. 


Date  of  Honorary  Lady  Members. 

1910.  Bate,  Miss  Dorothea  M.  A.  ;  Bassendean  House,  Gordon, 

Berwicksliire. 

1911.  Baxter,  Miss  Evelyn  Vida  ;     The  Grove,  Kirkton  of  Largo, 

Fifeshire. 

1910.  Bedford,  Mary,  Duchess  of,  F.Z.S.  ;   Wol)urn  Abbe}-,  Beds, 
1916.  Haviland,  Miss  Mattd   D.  ;    Old    Hall,  Newnham  College, 

Cambridge. 
5    1915.  Meinertzhagen,  Mrs.  Annie  C.  ;  Swordale,  Evanton,  Eoss- 
shire. 

1911.  Riktoul,  Miss  Leonora  Jeffrey  ;  Lahill,  Largo,  Fifeshire. 
1915.  Snethlage,  Dr.  Ejiilte  :   Goeldi  Museum,  Para,  Brazil. 
1910.  Turner,  Miss  Emma  Louisa,  F.Z.S.  ;    Langton  Close,  Girton, 

Cambridge. 


Colonial  Members. 

1904.  Campbell,  Archibald  James  ;    Bulgaroo,    Broughton  Eoad, 

Surrey  Hills,  Victoria,  Australia. 

1908.  Faruuhar,  John  Henry  Joseph,  B.Sc,  N.D.A.  ;    Assistant 

Conservator    of     Forests,     Calabar,     Southern     Nigeria, 
West  Africa. 
1910.  Fleming,  James  H.,  C.M.Z.S^  ;  267  Rusholme  Iload,  Toronto, 
Canada. 

1909.  Haagner,  Alwin  Karl,  F.Z.S. ;    Director  of  the  Zoological 

Gardens,  Box  754,  Pretoria,  South  Africa. 
5    1908.  Hall,  Uobert,  F.L.S.,  C.M.Z.S.  ;   c/o  Tasmanian  Museum, 
Hobart,  Tasmania. 
1914.  Leach,  John  Albert,  M.A.,  D.Sc. ;  c/o  Education  Depart- 
ment, Melbourne,  Australia. 

1905.  Macoun,  John,  M.A.,  F.B.S.C. ;  Naturalist  to  the  Geological 

Survey  of  Canada,  Ottawa,  Canada. 
1907.  Swynnerton,   Charles  Francis  Massy,  F.L.S.  ;  Poste  Ees- 

tante,  Dar-es-Salaam,  Tanganyika  Territory. 
1919.  Taverner,  Percy  A.;    Victoria  Memorial  Museum,  Ottawa, 

Canada. 
lo  1912.  White,  Capt.  Samuel  Albert;    Wetunga,  Fulham,  South 

Australia. 

SEK.  XI. VOi..  III.  d 


XXXll 


Date  of  Foreign  Members. 

Election.  "^ 

1919.  Bangs,  Otjtram  ;    Museum   of  Comparative  Zoology,   Cam- 
bridge, Mass.,  U.S.A. 

1880.  BuEEAtr,  Dr.  Louis ;  Ecole  de  Medecine,  Nantes,  .France. 

1906.  BiJTTiKOFEK,    Dr.    Johannes,    C.M.Z.S.  ;     Director    of   the 
Zoological  Garden,  Rotterdam,  Holland. 
•    1906.  BuTURLiN,    Sergius   a.  ;    Alotyri,    Gouv.    Simbirsk,    East 

Russia. 
5    1921.  Cory,  Charles  Barney  ;  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History, 
Chicago. 

1919.  Dabbene,  Dr.   Roberto;    Museo    Nacional,   Buenos    Aires, 
Argentina. 

1919.  Grinnell,   Dr.   Joseph  ;    Museum   of   Vertebrate  Zoology, 
Berkeley,  California,  U.S.A. 

1919.  Gtldenstolpe,    Count   Nils  ;     Royal    Zoological   Museum, 
Stockholm,  Sweden. 

1902.  Ihering,    Dr.    Heemapt    von,    C.M.Z.S.  ;    Director,     State 
Museum  of  Catarina,  Florianopolis,  Brazil. 
TO  1918.  KuRODA,    Nagamachi  ;    Fukuyoshi   Cho,   Akasaka,    Tokyo, 
Japan. 

1914.  Lonnbeeg,  Prof.  Dr.  A.  J.  Einar,  F.M.Z.S.  ;  Director  of  the 
Zoological  Museum,  Stockholm,  Sweden. 

1921.  McGregor,    Richard    C.  ;      Bureau    of    Science,    Manila, 
Philippine  Islands. 

1894.  Menzbier,  Prof.  Dr.  Michael,  C.M.Z.S. ;  Moscow,  Russia. 

1921.  Reiser,  Dr.  Okiar  ;  Ober  Pickern,  b.  Marburg,  A.D.  Yugo- 
slavia. 
jc  1914.  Stone,  Dr.  Witmer  ;  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  U.S.A. 

1902.  SusHKiN,  Dr.  Peter,  C.M.Z.S.  ;  Petrograd,  Russia. 

1896    WiNGE,  Herluf,  C.M.Z.S.;   University  Zoological  Museum, 
Copenhagen,  Denmark. 


CONTENTS  OP  VOL.  III.— ELEVENTH  SERIES. 

(1921.) 


Number  1,  January, 

Page 

I.  On  a  recentlj'  described  Woodpecker  from  Siam.  B3' 
E.G.  Stuart  Baker,  M.B.O.U.     (Plate  I.) 1 

II.  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  North-East  Chihli,  in  North 
China.  Part  III.  By  J.  D.  D.  La  Todcoe,  CM  Z.S., 
M.B.O.U 3 

III.  On  some  Western  Australian  Birds  collected  between 
the  North-West  Cape  and  Albanj^  (950  miles  a])art).  By 
Thomas  Cartce,  M.B.O.U.,  M.K.A.O.U.  Witli  Noraenclatiire 
and  Remarks  by  Crkgory  M.  :Mathews,  :M.B.0.U.,  M.B.A.O.U. 
(Text-figure  1.) 48 

IV.  Remarks  on  rare  and  otherwise  interesting  Birds  con- 
tained in  Collections  made  by  j\fr.  G.  L.  Bates  in  Southern 
Cameroon.    By  David  A.  Bannerman,  ]\r.B.E.,  B.A.,  il.B.O.U.     81 

V.  On  the  Genus  Macros plienns  Cassin,  with  special 
reference  to  the  races  of  JllacrosjJie^iiis  favicans.     By  David 

A.  Bannerman,M.B.E.,  B.A.,  M.B.O.U 121 

VI.  A  Note  on  the  Breeding  Birds  of  Crete.  r>y  Col.  R. 
Mrinertzhagex,  D.8.O.,  M.B.O.U.,  F.Z.S 120 

VII.  The  Economic  Status  of  the  Kingfisher,  Alcedo  isphJa 
Linn.  By  Walter  E.  Collinge,  D.Sc,  F.L.S.,  M.B.O.U. 
(Text-figure  2.) 139 

VIII.  Obituary:  Sir  John  Arthur  Brooke,  Bt. ;  George 
Wtman  Bury  ;  William  Dutcher  ;  Robert  Etheridge  ;  John 
Geerard;  Charles  William  Sheppard  ;  Herbert  Hux- 
tington  Smith • 153 

SER.  XI. — VOL.  III.  e 


CONTENTS. 


IX.  Notices  of  recent  Ornitholoj^ical  Publications 


Page 


Cory's  Catalop-iie  of  American  Birds ;  Cory  on  the  Genns 
Rhynchocyclus  ;  Hellmayr's  recent  papers ;  Kingston's  Hima- 
layan observations  :  Howard  ou  Bird  Territories  ;  Laubmann 
on  the  Kingfisher ;  Lonnberg  on  the  Birds  of  Juan  Fernandez 
and  Easter  Islands ;  McClymont's  Ornithological  Essays  ; 
Mathews  on  Australian  Birds;  Mullens,  Swann,  and  Jour- 
dain's  Bibliography ;  Ogilvie  on  British  Birds ;  Ritchie  on 
the  Influence  of  Man  on  Animals ;  Robinson  and  Kloss  on 
Simiatran  Birds ;  Stresemann  on  the  Birds  of  Macedonia  ; 
Taverner's  recent  papers  on  Canadian  Ornithology ;  Todd  on 
new  Colombian  Birds;  Townsend  and  Wetmore  on  Pacific 
Island  Birds  ;  Wetmore  on  lead-poisoning  in  Ducks  ;  Wood 
on  the  eye  of  the  Buri'owing  Owl  ;  Aquila ;  The  Auk ; 
El  Hornero;  List  of  other  Ornithological  Publications  received.    156 

X.  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes  : — 

Letters  from  A.  L.  Butler  on  the  Birds  of  the  Sudan, 
from  the  Rev.  F.  C.  R.  Jourdain  on  the  Breeding-places  of 
the  Black-headed  Gull,  and  from  Capt.  Collingwood  Ingram 
on  Nestling  Birds  ;  Meeting  of  the  American  Ornithologists' 
Union;  Wild  Bird*  Protection  Acts ;  Rnssinn  Ornithologists; 
Personalia 180 


NuMBKR  2,  April. 

XI.  Field  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Macedonia.  With  special 
reference  to  the  Struma  Plain.  By  F.  N.  Chaskn,  Castle 
Museum,  Norwich 185 

XII.  Some  preliminary  remarks  on  the  Velocity  of  Migra- 
tory Flight  among  Birds,  with  special  reference  to  the 
Palaearctic  Region.  By  Colonel  E.  Meinretzhagen,  D.S.O., 
M.B.O.U.,  F.Z.S.    .     .  ' 228 

XIII.  Field  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Lower  Egypt.  By 
W.  Raw,  M.B.O.U.  With  contributions  by  Colonel  R. 
Sparrow,  C.M.G.,   D.S.O.,    M.B.O.U.,   and    the   Rev.  F.  C. 

R.  Jourdain,  M.A.,  M.B.O.U.  .     .     , 238 


C0NTENX3.  XXXV 

Page 

XIV.  The  Birds  of  Tasso  and  adjoiuiug  Islands  of  the 
Rokelle  River,  Sierra  Leone.  Hy  Willoughby  P.  Lowe, 
M.B.O.U.  With  notes  by  David  A.  Banneuman,  B.A., 
M.B.O.U.     (Text-figure  3.) 2G5 

XV.  A  Systematic  List  of  the  Birds  of  Sierra  J^eoiie.  By 
David  A.  Bannerman,  M.B.E.,  B.A.,  M.B.O.U 283 

XVI.  J.  F.  Miller's  Icones.  By  C.  Davies  SHERnoKJS  and. 
Tom  Iredalb 302 

XVII.  Report  of  the  Sub-Committee,  consisting  of  Dr.  E. 
Hartert,  Messrs.  T.  Iredale,  and  W.  L.  Sciater,  on  Amend- 
ments and  proposed  Alterations  to  tlie  Names  in  the  B.  0.  U. 
List  of  British  Birds,  as  accepted  by  the  Committee  of  the 

B.  0.  U.  on  the  British  Bird  List 310 

XVIII.  Obituary  :  Robert  Bxkkbeck  ;  Charles  Edward 
Pagan,  C.B.E.,  I.S.O.  ;  Henry  Jones 317 

XIX.  Notices  of  recent  Ornithological  rublicatioiis  :  — 
Bartscli  on  the  Birds  of  the  Tortugas  ;  Cliapmau  on  variation 

in  Ostinops  decumaruis  ;  Christiaiii  on  a  new  lluck-Pipit ; 
Coward  on  Bi'itish  Birds ;  Howard  on  Territory  in  Bird- 
Life  ;  Hellmayr's  recent  papers  on  Neotropical  Birds  ; 
Laubmauu  on  Lesson's  Types;  Lavauden  on  Tunisian  Birds; 
McGregor  on  PhiUppiue  Birds ;  Mathews  on  Australian 
Birds;  Mathews  on  the  dates  of  Ornithological  Publications; 
Murphy  on  the  Sea-buds  of  Peru ;  Peters  on  a  new  Jay ; 
Ridgway  on  new  Genera  of  Birds;  liiley  on  new  Malayan 
Birds ;  Robinsou  and  Kloss  on  the  names  of  the  Jungle-Fowls ; 
Skovgaard  on  Danish  Birds ;  Stresemaun  on  the  races  of 
Long-tailed  Tits  aud  Bullhuches  ;  Bird-Lore ;  The  Condor ; 
Eauua  ocli  Flora ;  Le  Gerfaut ;  Irish  Naturalist ;  Scottish 
Naturalist  ;  and  List  of  other  Ornithological  Publications 
received 319 

XX.  Letters,  Extracts,  aud  Notes  : — 

Letters  from  P.  R.  Lowe  and  C.  Mackworth-Praed  on  the 
Last  Phase  of  the  Subspecies,  from  J.  L.  Bouhote  on  the 
Nomenclature  of  Plumages,  from  E.  G.  B.  Meade-Waldo 
on  NestUug  Owls,  and  from  II.  C.  Robinson  on  the  Status  of 
Ficus  rubricollaris  Baker;  The  Annual  General  Meeting  of 
the  British  Ornithologists'  Union;  The  Oxford  University 
Spitsbergen  Expedition  ;  Personalia 314 


CONTENTS. 


XtrilBER  '3,  Jul)/. 

Page 

XXI.  Field  Xotes  on  the  liiids  of  Lower  Egypt.  By 
W.  Kaw,  M.B.O.U.  With  contributions  by  Colonel  11.  Spap.kow, 
C.M.G.,  D.iS.O.,  M.B.O.U.,  and  the  Hcv.  E.  C.  B.  Joijrdain, 
M.A.,  M.B.O.U 359 

XXII.  First  Impressions  ot"  Tunisia  and  Algeria.  By 
David  A.  Bannerman,  M.B.E.,  B.A.,  M.B.O.U.,  E.B.G.S. 
(Blates  II.-V.) 387 

XXIII.  Xotes  on  the  Birds  of  Alderiiey.  By  Major  W.  It. 
Thompson,  Il.A.,  M.B.O.U 415 

XXIV.  Xotes  on  Birds  in  South  llussia.  By  Capt.  J.  X. 
Kennedy,  M.C,  Il.A.,  E.Il.a.8.,  M.B.O.U 453 

XXV.  On  the  correct  jiame  of  D'Aubenton's  "•  Manucode  a 
Bouquets."     By  Lord  Hothscuild 465 

XXVI.  Ilesults  of  a  Study  of  Bird-Migration  by  the 
Marking  Method.  By  A.  Lanusborough  Thomson,  O.B.E., 
M.A.,  D.Sc,  M.B.O.U 466 

XXVII.  iSome  Thoughts  on  Subspecies  and  Evolution.  By 
Colonel  K.  Meineiuzhaoen,  D.S.O.,  M.B.O.U 528 

XXVIII.  Obituary  :  Bobert  George  Wardlaw-Kamsay 
(ITateVI.);  Henry  Morris  Uvcher  ;  John  Burroughs     .     .  538 

XXIX.  Xotices  of  recent  Ornithological  Publications; — 

Baugs  and  I'enard  on  American  Birds :  Beebe  ou  the 
I'lieasants  ;  Boubier  on  Migration  Itoutes  ;  Chapman  on 
South  American  Birds;  Courtois  on  the  Birds  of  China; 
Griscom  and  iS'ichols  on  the  Seaside  Sparrows;  Guruey  on 
Nurl'olk  Ornithologists  ;  Gurnej  ou  the  Annals  of  Orni- 
thohigy  ;  llankin  on  Soaring  Flight  ;  Ilartert  on  the 
Palaearctic  Birds;  Ilartert  on  the  Types  at  Tring;  Kuroda 
ou  new  Japanese  and  Formosau  birds;  Mathews  and  Ire- 
dale's  Manual  of  Australian  Birds ;  Mathews  on  Australian 
Birds  ;    Saunders  ou  the   lilixh  of  Montana  ;    Soderberg   ou 


COKTENTS.  XXXVil 

Page 
Austmliau  Birds;  Swartli  on  the  genus  Fasserella;  Swarth 
on  the  Birds  of  Arizona ;  Todd  on  new  South  American 
Birds  ;  To-\vnsend  on  the  Birds  of  Massaclinsetts  ;  Bird 
Notes;  Bulletin  of  the  Essex  Count}'  Ornithological  Club; 
Journal  fiir  Ornithologie  ;  I/Oiseau  ;  Oologists'  Kecord  ; 
8outli  African  Journal  of  Natural  History  ;  Yearbook  of 
the  Dutch  Bird-Club  ;  and  List  of  other  Ornithological 
Publications  received o-i-k 

XXX.  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes  : — 

Letters  from  IL  F.  Witherby  on  the  i'lumages  of  Nestling 
Owls  and  Ironi  W.  IJaw  on  the  corrections  to  his  "  Birds  of 
Lower  Egypt"  ;  News  from  Capt.  Lyuus  and  Mr,  Willoughby 
Lowe  ;  The  Plumage  Bill ;  Personalia 667 


Number  4,  October. 

XXXI.  Bird  Notes  from  Southern  Spain.  By  J.  H.  Sxen- 
HousE,  M.B.O.U 573 

XXXIL  Some  Notes  on  the  Winter  Avifauna  of  the 
Caraargue.     JJy  Ludlow  Gkiscom,  M.A.O.U.,  M.B.O.U.       .     .  595 

XXXllL  A  note  on  the  genus  Lauipylbis  in  East  and 
Central  Africa.     By  James  V.  Chapin,  M.A.O.U 6U9 

XXXIV.  An  account  of  the  birds  met  with  during  a  two 
months'  shooting  trip  in  Nortliern  Kliodesia.  By  Colonel 
Stephenson  li.  Clakke,  C.B.,  M.B.O.U.     (Plate  ^il.)  .     .     .  (311 

XXXV.  Notes  on  some  Birds  from  the  Near  East  and  from 
Tropical  East  Africa.  By  Colonel  II.  Meinertzhagen,  D.S.O., 
F.Z.S.,  M.B.O.U.     (Text-ligurc  4.) 621 

XXXVI.  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Alcudia,  Majorca.  By 
Captain  P.  W.  Munn,  F.Z.S.,  M.B.O.U.     (Plate  VIII.).     .     .  672 

XXX^^1I.  Subspecies  and  their  part  in  Evolution.  By 
J.  Lewis  Bokhote,  M.A.,  M.B.O.U 720 


XXXVIU  CONTENTS. 

Page 

XXXVIII.  Obituary:   Henry  AVemyss  Feilden  ;  William 
Wakbe  Fowler  ;  Alphonse  Dubois  ;  Max  Furbringer  .     .     .  726 

XXXIX.  Notices  of  recent  Ornithological  Publications  :  — 

Arrigoni  degli  Oddi's  list  of  papers  ;  Bretsclier  on  Bird- 
migration  in  Middle  Europe;  Cbapin  on  new  African  Birds ; 
Foster  on  tbe  Birds  of  llillsborougb  ;  Guruey's  Ornitbological 
Report  for  Norfolk  ;  Hartert  on  the  Birds  of  tbe  Soutbern 
Sahara ;  liellmayr  on  d'Orbiguy's  South  American  Collec- 
tions ;  Lavauden  on  tbe  Mediterranean  Peregrines ;  Mathews 
on  Australian  Birds  ;  Riley  on  new  Celebes  Birds ;  Rothschild 
on  the  Birds  of  Y'unnan  ;  Schiller  on  Danitib  Birds:  Shufeldt 
on  pictures  of  the  Passenger  Pigeon  ;  Stresemann  on  Sumatran 
Wuodpeckers  ;  Wollaston's  Lile  of  Newton  ;  Aquila  ;  British 
Birds ;  The  Emu ;  El  Hornero  ;  South  Australian  Orni- 
thologist ;  Tori ;  List  of  other  Ornitbological  Publications 
received i     •     •    732 

XL.  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes  :^ 

Letters  from  Mr.  II.  W.  Robinson  on  Bird-migration  and 
the  Marking  Method,  from  Mr.  H.  G.  Alexander  on  Birds  of 
Alderney,  from  Miss  Maud  B.  Ilaviland  on  Subspecies  and 
Evolution,  and  from  Mr.  J.  L.  Bonhote  on  Nestling  Plumages 
of  Owls  ;  The  Ornitbological  Society  of  France  ;  The  Oxford 
University  Expedition  to  Spitsbergen,  1921  ;  News  of  Capt. 
Lynes ;  The  Godman-Salvin  Medal  (Plate  IX.)  ;  The  Plumage 
Act;  Notice  to  Members  of  tbe  B.  O.  0. ;  Russian  Ornitho- 
logists ;  The  late  Lieut.  G.  Wyman  Bury 7'jO 

Index  of  Scientific  Names 761 

Index  of  Contents 795 

Titlepage;  Dates  of  Issue  of  '  The  Ibis  '  for  l!i21 ;  Officers  of 
the  IJ.O.U.,  ])ast  and  present :  List  of  Members  ;  Contents  ; 
List  of  Plates ;  and  List  of  Text-figures. 


LIST  OF  PLATES. 


LIST  OF  PLATES  IN  VOL.  III. 

ELEVENTH  SERIES. 


Page 

I,     Picits  rnhricoUaris 1 

II.     1.    A    t;3'pical    landscape,    Hamraam  -  ]\Ieskoiitine. 

2.  Tlio  Oued  bou  Hamflane,IIaramaiii-^reskoutine.  40l' 

III.  The  Gorge  of  the  lUimmel,  Constantiiie      ....  405 

IV.  Wl)ite    Storks    on    their  nests   in   the  Arab  Town, 

Constantino 407 

V.     1.  The  Desert,  nearing  Temaein.     2.  The  Oasis  of 

Temacin,  Algerian  Sahara 412 

VI.     Robert  George  Wardlaw-Ramsay      • 538 

VII.      1.     Lyhius     lencocepalns.       2.     Lyhius     'mhrifanes. 

3.  Lyhius  clwplini 620 

VIII.     Map  of  the  North-East  part  of  Majorca 672 

IX.     Godman-Salvin  Medal,  obverse  and  reverse      .     .     .  75ii 


LIST  OF  TEXT-FIGUEKS. 


List  of  Text- Figures. 


1.  Map  of  part  of  ^''estern   Australia  to  show  ^fr.    Carter's 

localities  and  route 50 

2.  Food-chart  of  the  Common  Kingfisher 147 

3.  Sketch-map  of  the  Itokelle  Kiver  and  its  Islands,  Sierra 

Leone 269 

4.  Sketch-map  of  Egypt  to  show  llie  distribution  of  tlie  races 

oi  Ammomaves  desert i 632 


rl^ 


THE     IBIS. 


ELEVENTH   SERIES. 


Vol.  III.  No.  1.     JANUARY  1921. 


T. —  On  a  recently  described  Woodpecker  (Picus  rubricollaris) 
from  Siam.     By  E.  C.  Stuart  Baker,  jNI .B.O.U. 

(Plate  I.) 

Among  tlie  numerous  new  species  and  subspecies  of  birds 
recently  found  by  Messrs.  Herbert,  Gairdner,  Williamson, 
and  others  in  8iam,  there  are  few  more  handsome  or 
conspicuous  than  the  subject  of  the  frontispiece  of  this 
number  of  '  Tlie  Ibis,'  obtained  by  Mr.  E.  G.  Herbert's 
collectors. 

Descriptions  of  both  male  and  female  of  this  fine 
Woodpecker  were  given  by  me  in  the  Bulletin  of  the 
B.  O.  C.  vol.  xli.  p.  10  (October  1920),  where  it  was 
named  Picus  rubricollaris,  and  are  here  reprinted. 

Adult  male.  Whole  crown  brilliant  crimson-scarlet  changing 
to  pure  scarlet  on  the  nape,  the  feathers  of  the  crown  with 
black  bases  whicli  show  through  in  places;   sides  of  tlie  head 

SER.  XI. VOL,   111.  B 


2        On  a  recently  described  Woodpecker  from  Siam.      [Ibis, 

dull  olive-green  ;  a  line  of  red  running  from  above  the  gape 
to  the  neck  and  a  tiny  line  of  reddish  above  the  lores  ;  chin 
and  throat  greenish-white  ;  back  to  end  of  tail-coverts  bright, 
but  dark,  yellowish-green  ;  tail  black,  greenish  at  the  base 
and  with  broken  white  bars  on  the  central  rectrices ;  lesser 
and  median  wing-coverts  and  inner  secondaries  like  the  back, 
but  with  a  bronze  sheen  and  inner  webs  blackish;  greater 
coverts,  primaries,  and  outer  secondaries  blackish-brown 
barred  with  white  ;  upper  breast  dull  crimson-red,  forming 
with  the  scarlet  nape  a  complete  red  collar^  the  two 
colours  blending  on  the  sides  of  the  neck ;  lower  breast 
dark  green,  abdomen,  flanks,  and  under  tail-coverts  lighter, 
more  yellowish -green  Avith  white  and  pale  yellowish 
markings. 

"Eyes  reddish-brown  ;  bill  black  ;  legs  and  claws  yellow  " 
[Herbert). 

Wing  136  mm.,  bill  from  front  36  mm.,  tarsus  30  mm. 

The  female  is  like  the  male,  but  has  the  crown  dark  green  ; 
the  collar  is  less  strongl}'  developed  on  the  upper  breast,  but 
is  equally  intense  scarlet  on  the  nape. 

"  Eyes  reddish-brown  ;  bill  black  ;  legs  green,  claws 
brown  "  (Herbert). 

Wing  139  mm.,  bill  from  front  34'5  mm.,  tarsus  29*5  mm. 

Types.  (^ ,  no.  262,  l?an  Hoi  Mak,  Camp  no.  39,  Siam, 
29.  ii.20;    ?  ,  INl  nong  Lep,  Camp  no.  15,  Sianj,  16.  i.  20. 

Mr.  Herbert  is  now  unfortunately  absent  in  America, 
and  I  am  therefore  unable  to  add  any  field- notes  to  the 
description.  The  plate  shows  well  the  more  conspicuous 
features,  especially  the  wholly  scarlet  crown  of  the  male, 
the  equally  brilliant  nape  of  the  female,  and  the  strongly 
marked  collar  on  the  breast  of  both.  The  green  of  both 
sexes  is  also  noticeably  darker,  yet  brighter,  than  it  is  in 
the  other  species  of  the  same  genus. 


1 92 1.]  On  the  Birds  of  North-East  Chihli.  3 

II. — Notes  on  the  Birds  of  North-East  Chihli,  in  North 
China.  Part  III.*  By  J.  D.  D.  La  Touche,  C.M.Z.S., 
M.B.O.U. 

182.  Cohimba  livia  intermedia  (Strirkl.). 
Cohimba  intermedia  D.  &  O.  p.  384. 

I  shot  a  Pigeon  out  of  a  .flock  of  (\  rnpestris  on  21  May, 
1911.  It  was  without  any  white  on  the  tail  or  rnmp,  and 
was  })rohahly  an  Indian  Blue  Rock-Pigeoii. 

183.  Cohimba  rupestris  Pall. 
Colionba  rupestris  D.  &  O.  p.  385. 

The  Bar-tailed  Rock-Pioeon  is  a  common  resident  in  the 
mountains  near  Chinwangtao,  and  ju'obably  all  over  north- 
east Chihli. 

This  Pigeon  was  common  in  the  mountains  of  the  Liautung 
Peninsula  in  February,  1890. 

184.  Turtur  risorius  (L.). 
Turtur  risorius  D.  &  O.  p.  387. 

The  Indian  Ring-Dove  is  a  very  common  resident  a  few 
miles  inland  of  the  port,  frequenting  the  large  trees  round 
about  the  country  houses  and  villages  and  the  willow, 
poplar,  and  pine  groves  on  the  plains.  A  winged  bird 
obtained  in  the  spring  of  1911  soon  became  very  tame,  and 
after  keeping  it  for  seven  years,  I  gave  it  to  a  friend  in 
Shanghai  witii  my  other  birds. 

185.  Turtur  orientalis  Lath. 
Turtur  rapicola  D.  &  0.  p.  385. 
Turtur  orientalis  La  T.  p.  578. 

The  Eastern  Turtle-Dove  is  a  very  common  migrant  in 
north-east  Chihli  and  appears  to  nest  in  this  district.  It 
passes  Chinwangtao  from  the  end  of  March  to  well  on  into 
June  and  thronghout  September  until  at  least  the  15th  of 
October  and  probably  later. 

*  For  Parts  I.  and  II.  ride  Ibis,  19L'0,  pp.  0:29-671,  and  pp.  880-920. 

B  2 


4  Mr.  J.  D.  D.  La  Touclie  on  the  [Ibis, 

Two  A'oung  l)ircls  were  brought  to  me  from  the  momi tains 
on  the  IGth  of  July,  1917.  Tliey  were  still  in  the  first 
nestling  plumage  and  were  unable  to  feed  by  tliemselves. 
The  head,  neck,  wing-coverts,  and  mantle  were  of  a  rich  deep 
brown,  the  feathers  of  the  wing-coverts  and  mantle  being 
edged  with  chestnut;  the  back  was  slate  coloured  and  the 
breast  chestnut-brown.  The  bill  was  of  a  very  dark  brownish 
horn.  They  retained  this  plumage  until  about  September, 
when  they  changed  gradually  into  adult  plumage.  They 
were  fed  without  difficulty  by  hand  with  crushed  kaoliang 
and  small  millet  moistened  with  warm  water,  and  remained 
very  tame  until  they  could  feed  by  themselves,  after  which 
they  would  not  allow  one  to  handle  them  so  freely.  One  of 
these  birds  developed  an  abnormal  liking  for  raw^  beef,  and  I 
had  to  hide  carefully  the  minced  beef  prepared  for  the  other 
'hirds,  as  this  dove  w^ould  pounce  on  it  and  devour  it  all  up. 
Sometimes,  if  it  saw  me  distributing  this  food,  it  noidd  fly 
down  to  i^natch  it  from  my  hands.  It  would  pursue  the 
Cuckoo  to  get  his  meat  from  him.  The  other  young  dove 
Avas  almost  equally  fond  of  bread  and  milk,  and  both  birds 
would  eagerly  devour  this  when  I  gave  them  any.  The  meat 
appeared  to  disagree  with  the  dove,  and  1  prevented  it  from 
eating  this  as  much  as  possible.  On  my  leaving  Chinwangtao 
I  gave  them  liberty  and  had  at  first  some  difficulty  in  i;etting 
tiiem  to  go  out.  The  native  wlio  sold  me  these  birds  told 
me  that  one  of  the  villagers  had  one  which  he  had  reared 
at  liberty  and  which  remained  perfectly  tame. 

The  Eastern  Turtle-Dove  is  very  common  in  southern 
Manchuria  and  breeds  at  Newchwang. 

186.  Syrrhaptes  paradoxus  (Pall.), 

Syrr/taptes  paradoxus  D.  &  0,  p.  389. 

Pallas^s  Sand-Grouse  is  of  very  irregular  occurrence  at 
Chinwangtao.  In  the  very  cold  year  of  1905,  I  believe, 
it  was  seen  in  great  numbers,  but  since  then  it  does  not 
appear  to  have  occurred  until  tlie  autumn  of  1912.  That 
year,  on  the  10th  of  November,  I  met  several  flocks  flying 
very  swiftly  towards  the  uortheabt.    They  flew  low  as  a  rule^ 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  North-East  Chihii.  5 

twittering  continuously.  Some  packs  ke])t  wheeling  round, 
but  none  settled  that  day.  During  that  mouth  a  great  number 
appeared  to  have  passed,  some  from  west  to  east,  others  in 
an  opposite  direction.  They  jrrohably  came  from  the  interior 
via  the  Chihii  Plain.  Many  flocks  must  have  settled  on  the 
plain  in  this  vicinity  and  farther  north,  as  the  market  during 
tlie  winter  was  stocked  with  both  live  and  dead  birds.  The 
former  were  kept  in  baskets  like  chickens  or  quail  and 
seemed  quite  tame.  They  were  fed  on  kaoliang  (sorghum). 
I  saw  birds  flying  also  during  December^  but  all  passed  at  a 
considerable  distance,  and  I  had  to  fall  back  on  the  market 
for  specimens.  The  immigration  must  have  ceased  early  in 
the  winter  as  no  fresh  specimens  were  to  be  seen  in  the 
market  after  December  or  maybe  January,  and  the  birds 
must  have  returned  inland  during  the  latter  month.  After 
this,  I  did  not  see  any  more,  neither  were  any  exposed  for 
sale  in  the  Chinwangtao  market.  1  was  much  astonished  to 
hear  from  Mr.  A.  L.  Hall,  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  much 
information  and  for  specimens  from  the  extreme  north  of 
the  province,  that  this  Sand-Grouse  is  unknown  in  the 
Chihfeng  district.  Mr.  C.  B.  Rickett  wrote  to  me  in  the 
spring  of  1913  that  o;reat  numbers  of  Sand-Grouse  were 
imported  that  season  into  England  from  Russia,  so  that 
1912-13  must  have  been  a  great  Sand-Grouse  year. 

Pallas's  Sand-Grouse  is  also  of  irregular  occurrence  at 
Newchwang  and  is  occasionally  very  abundant  there.  During 
the  winter  1889-90  I  saw  but  one  flock  and  none  were 
brought  to  market. 

187.  Phasianus  colchicus  karpowi  Buturlin. 

Phasianus  torquatus,  var.  «,  D.  &  O.  p.  409. . 

The  North  China  Ring-necked  Pheasant  is  very  abundant 
in  the  mountainous  country  north  of  Chinwangtao,  but  does 
not  occur  commonly  within  twelve  miles  of  the  port.  From 
the  beginning  of  November  to  the  beginning  of  March  the 
market  is  stocked  with  these  pheasants  brought  down  from 
localities  twenty  to  sixty  miles  distant  from  the  coast. 

The  characteristic  features  of  the  North  China  Pheasant 


6  Mr.  J.  D.  D.  La  Touche  on  the  [Ibis, 

are  said  to  be  a  wide  and  complete  white  collar  and  dark 
flanks,  to  which  Pere  David  adds  a  white  spot,  often  present, 
below  the  ear.  The  examination  of,  I  may  say^  hundreds  of 
these  pheasants,  during  seven. winters  at  Chinwangtao,  has 
convinced  me  that,  whereas  the  more  or  less  broad  white  collar 
is  a  constant  feature,  the  depth  of  colouring  of  the  flanks, 
as  also  the  development  of  the  eyebrow,  the  green  of  the 
lower  back  and  rumj),  and  the  ear-spot  are  variable  features. 
The  last-mentioned  character  may  be  put  aside  as  of  no 
distinctive  value  ;  some  birds  have  it,  others  not.  A  few 
birds  obtained  in  the  market  have  the  white  on  the  neck  so 
extended  that  the  base  of  all  the  green  feathers  from  the 
ring  to  the  ear  is  white.  The  Avidth  of  the  ring  is  also 
extremely  variable  and  the  hinder  part  of  it  is  often  very 
narrow,  the  feathers  being  edged  with  black  or  green.  Some 
birds  procured  in  the  market  have  the  flanks  and  the  base  of 
the  hind  neck  of  a  very  rich  and  dark  orange  colour,  and 
these  have  also  generally  the  ridge  of  the  back  and  rump  of 
a  deep  olive  colour  with  a  bright  emerald  sheen.  Very 
occasionally  one  comes  across  a  specimen  which  is  no  darker 
than  Lower  Yangtse  birds.  Again,  the  edging  of  the  copper- 
red  breast-feathers  is  variable  and  cannot  be  taken  into  con- 
sideration ;  some  birds  have  this  edging  broad  and  complete, 
others  have  but  a  mer^  apical  speck.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  scapulars  show  very  little  variation,  such  as  is  not 
uncommon  in  Lower  Yangtse  birds. 

Several  examples,  shot  at  twenty  to  twenty-flve  miles  north 
of  the  port,  may  be  specially  inentioned.  These  have  all 
dark  flanks  and  the  green  on  the  back  and  rump  is  brilliant; 
but  one  bird  (not  purchased),  whicii  was  evidently  a  bird  of 
the  year,  had  very  little  green  on  the  back.  The  eyebrow 
is  very  white  and  broad  in  thiee  examples,  dull  or  of  medium 
development  in  six  others.  Tiie  ear-spot  is  present  in  five 
and  absent  in  four.  The  width  of  the  white  ring  varies:  in 
front  from  about  2  in.  to  1  in.  ;  on  the  sides  from  l:^in.  to 
2  in.  ;  behind,  from  about  half  an  inch  to  0'20  in. 

In  comparing  the  north-east  Chihli  Pheasant  with  the 
Lower  Yangtse  Pheasant,  there  is  only  one  constant  feature 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  North-East  Chihli.  7 

by  which  the  two  birds  may  be  always  distinguislied  from 
one  another^  and  that  is  the  colouring  of  the  sides  of  the 
neck  above  the  white  ring.  In  P.  turquatus  this  is  violet, 
except  just  next  to  the  liiig;  in  the  north-east  Chihli  bird 
it  is  green , 

The  Pheasant  of  north-east  Chihli  may  therefore  be 
characterized  as  follows  : — 

1.  Eyebrow  more  or  less  broad. 

2.  Sides  of  the  neck  above  the  white  ring  shot  with  green. 

3.  White  ring,  generally  broad  and  always  complete. 

4.  Flanks  and  base  of  hind  neck  more  oi'  less  deep  orange. 

5.  Ridge  of  back   and  rump  olive  with   a   more   or  less 

brilliant  emerald-green  sheen. 

Of  the  above  characters,  only  Nos.  2  and  3  are  absolutely 
constant. 

Among  the  series  of  Ring-necked  Pheasants  procured 
here,  three  may  be  specially  mentioned.  One,  apparently 
hermaphrodite,  purchased  in  the  market  on  the  23rd  of 
January,  1916  ;  and  a  female^  also  obtained  in  the  local 
market,  which  has  the  black  markings  of  the  upper  parts 
replaced  by  a  delicate  lavender-grey.  The  former  bird  has 
the  general  colouring  of  the  male  P.  karpowi,  the  coppery- 
red  upper  breast-feathers  are  not  edged  with  black,  having 
only  a  black  apical  speck,  the  webs  on  either  side  of  this 
have  a  straw-coloured  spot  at  their  extremity.  The  flank- 
spots  are  very  small,  the  white  collar  has  just  below  it  on 
the  hind  neck  a  broad  edge  of  coppery  chestnut  and  is  edged 
with  straw-colour  in  front.  The  wing-coverts  are  marked 
with  chestnut.  The  colouring  of  the  back  resembles  neither 
that  of  the  male  nor  that  of  the  female :  the  feathers  are 
black  in  the  centre  with  a  brownish-buff  spot  towards  the 
base,  the  shaft  of  the  same  light  colouring,  the  rest  of  the 
feathers  is  chestnut  waved  with  black  and  with  a  broad 
border  of  dull  olive-grey.  The  rump  feathers  are  dark 
brown,  barred  with  brownish  buff  and  with  a  metallic  green 
apical  fringe.  The  upper  tail-coverts  are  huffish  grey  with 
broad  oval-shaped  bars  encircled  with  chestnut.  The  tail 
(central  rectrices  missing)  is  of  the  usual  golden  olive  with 


8  Mr.  J.  D.  D.  La  Touche  07i  the  [Tbis, 

violet  fringes  and  has  rather  narrow  bar.-*.  The  bird  weighed 
only  If  Ib.^  but  was  in  good  condition.  Dissection  showed 
one  testis  and  wliat  looks  like  a  diseased  ovary.  The  parts 
have  been  preserved  in  spirit.  Culmen  ()"90in.,  wing 
8"60in;^  tarsus  285  in.     Tlierc  are  no  spurs. 

The  tliiid  bird,  which  was  sent  to  nie  by  my  collector 
after  I  had  left  Chinvvangtao,  is  labelled  a  male,  but  it  is 
of  the  size  of  a  female,  without  spurs.  There  are  traces  of 
female  plumage  on  the  head  and  upper  parts  and  the  deep 
yellow  tiank-feathers  are  plain. 

188.  Phasianus  colchiciis  pallasi  Rothschild. 

An  example  from  Chihfeug  in  north  Chihli,  a  locality 
adjoining  the  Gobi  desert  and  about  190  miles  as  the  crow 
flies  noi'th  of  Chinwangtao,  has  pale  bufiish-red  scapulars, 
the  back  very  blue-grey,  the  collar  moderately  broad,  a  white 
ear-spot,  the  central  and  the  next  two  pairs  of  rectrices  with 
a  small  terminal  white  spot,  and  the  tail  nnich  washed  with 
grc\-.  Two  other  examples  from  tlje  same  place,  however, 
are  much  the  same  as  Chinwangtao  birds  except  that  they 
have  the  eyebrow  much  more  developed.  A  female  is  much 
paler  than  that  of  P.  karpoivi.  The  Chihfeug  country  is 
probably  on  the  southern  limit  of  P.  c.  pallasi.  I  am  much 
indebted  for  these  specimens  to  JNlr.  A.  L.  Hall,  who  kindly 
sent  me  some  by  post  and  brought  down  others  himself. 

189.  Pucrasia  xanthospila  Gray. 

Pucrasia  .canthospila  D.  &  O.  p.  407,  pi.  104. 

The  North  Ciiina  Pueras  Pheasant  is  occasionally  found 
in  the  Shanhaikuan  and  (Jhinwangtao  markets.  I  have 
seen  one  or  two  males  nearly  every  winter  in  the  latter 
market  and  two  females;  one  of  the  females  was  said  to 
have  been  brought  from  a  locality  which  is  about  sixty  miles 
to  tiie  north  of  Chinwangtao.  This  Pheasant  ajiparently  is 
not  found  in  the  near  vicinity  of  Chinwangtao,  but  only  in 
the  wooded  country  at  least  thirty  miles  north  of  the  port. 

Reevess  IMieusant  {Sijrntaticus  reevcsii)  occurs  in  the 
mountains  surrounding  the  Imperial  Tombs  (Tung  Ling) 


1921.]  Birds  of  North-East  Chihli.  9 

ai)cl  in  the  nortli-western  [)arts  of  the  province.  Swinhoe^s 
Eared  Pheas^ant  [Crossopt'don  muncliuricum)  is  also  supposed 
to  occur  in  the  Tung  Ling  and  appears  to  be  not  uncommon 
in  the  province  of  Sliansi.  Neither  of,  these  pheasants  is 
known  in  the  mountains  of  this  district. 

IDO.  Coturnix  coturnix  (L,). 

CoturnioD  communis  1).  &  O.  j).  346  (part);   La  T.  p.  579. 

The  Common  Quail  passes  Chinwangtao  in  March  and 
Aprilj  and  is  very  abundant  during  October  and  in  the  early 
part  of  November.     Some  remain  all  the  winter. 

19L  Coturnix  coturnix  japonica  T.  &  S. 

Coturnix  communis  1).  &  O.  p.  346  (part). 

Coturnix  japonica  La  'V.  p.  579. 

The  Japanese  Quail  is  usually  very  abundant  towards  the 
middle  of  May  and  some  are  to  be  found  until  the  l)eginning 
of  June.  It  is  again  met  with  in  August  and  September 
and  most  probably  breeds  here.  A  live  male  example, 
brought  from  Chilifeng  in  north  Chihli  by  Mr.  A.  L.  Hall 
in  October,  had  the  characteristic  red  sides  of  head  and 
throat.  This  colour  disappeared  during  the  winter  leaving 
the  bird  with  a  streaked  face  and  throat.  Owing  probably 
to  uniavourable  food  conditions,  the  red  colouring  was  not 
fully  assumed  until  July  following,  and  on  the  14th  of  June 
the  sides  of  the  head  and  throat  liad  still  a  good  deal  of 
white.  The  red  of  the  head  and  throat  was  again  lost  in  the 
autumn  :  the  cheeks  and  throat  became  streaked  with  pale 
red,  a  reddish-brown  streak  and  a  malar  stripe  of  the  same 
colour  remaining, 

192.  Caccabis  chukar  pubescens  Swinhoe. 

Caccabis  chukar  D.  &  O.  p.  395. 

The  Chukor  is  common  in  the  mountainous  parts  of 
north-eastern  Chihli.  Four  eggs,  taken  in  the  Shanhaikuan 
Mountains  on  the  4th  of  May,  1915,  were  brought  to  me 
together  with  the  hen  bird.  These  eggs  are  highly  glossy,  buff, 
speckled  with  dull  pinkish  led.  One  egg  is  thickly  speckled 
all  over  and  has  a  slight  cap,  and  large  pink-red  spots  on  the 


10  Mr.  J.  D.  D.  La  Touclic  on  the  [Ibis, 

apex.  The  others  are  very  sparsely  marked.  They  measure 
1-52X  1-21,  1-58  X  1-20, 160x1-22,  and  1-66  x  1-20  in.  Tlie 
man  who  brought  me  these  eggs  said  that  sometimes  as 
many  as  twenty  eggs  were  found  in  one  nest. 

193.  Perdix  daurica  Pall. 
I'erdix  barbata  D.  &  0.  p.  392. 

The  Mongolian  or  Bearded  Partridge  is  very  common  on 
the  hills  of  north-eastern  Chihli.  It  occurs  also  in  good 
numbers  on  the  hills,  near  Chinwangtao,  and  the  market  is 
fairly  well  supplied  with  them  during  the  season. 

I  found  this  Partridge  common  in  February  1890  in  the 
mountains  of  the  Liautung  Peninsula. 

194.  Tiirnix  blanfordi  Blyth. 
Turnix  macula f us  D.  &.  O.  p.  398. 
Turnix  blanfordi  La  V.  p.  579. 

Blanfoid^s  Button  Quail  is  a  very  common  migrant  in 
north-east  Chihli.  It  passes  Chinwangtao  from  about  the 
middle  of  May  to  about  the  7th  of  June,  and  from  the  last 
week  in  August  to  well  on  into  October.  I  have  no  doubt 
that  it  breeds  here.  A  live  female  example  given  to  me  by 
Mr.  A.  L.  Hall  in  October  1915  constantly  uttered  a  cry 
which  might  be  syllabled  as  "  krek.''  During  March  it 
began  to  utter  what  is  presumably  the  breeding  call.  The 
bird  began  by  making  a  low  sound  which  exactly  resembled 
the  deep,  but  veiy  distant  hoot  of  a  steamer's  whistle. 
After  this  there  was  a  short  pause,  then  another  low  hoot 
with  the  same  ventriloquistic  effect,  but  a  little  louder, 
after  which  another  pause,  and  the  same  sound  was  uttered 
again ;  after  the  filth  call  or  so  it  developed  into  a  weird 
moan.  The  calls  were  repeated  at  short  intervals,  the  three 
or  four  last  being  heartrending,  very  humanlike  moans ; 
these  increased  in  intensity,  and  were  altogether  about 
eight  or  nine  in  number;  the  bird  as  it  made  these  sounds 
bowed  its  head  and  slightly  depressed  its  wings.  The  calling 
of  tliis  bird  became  very  frequent  during  the  first  half  of 
May,  and  on  the  1-lth,  noticing  that  it  was  calling  more 
than  usual,  I  went  to  find  out  what  was  the  matter,  and  I 


1921.]  Birds  of  North-East  Chihli.  11 

found  the  bird  crouching  in  a  corner  of  tlie  cage  as  if  it 
waiited  to  la}^  or  incubate.  I  thereupon  put  a  quantity  of 
dry  grass  into  the  cage^  which  the  Quail  took  immediate 
possession  of,  hollowing  out  a  depression  and  taking  tlie 
grass  and  throwing  it  over  its  back  so  as  to  form  a  dome  to 
the  nest.  Next  day  the  Heraipode  appeared  to  have  given 
up  the  idea  of  laying,  but  on  the  16th  I  discovered  hidden 
among  the  grass  a  miniature  egg,  apparently  laid  the  previous 
day,  as  that  same  day  at  noon  I  found  a  second  egg,  this 
one  about  one-third  the  usual  size,  also  hidden  away  among  ' 
the  grass.  None  was  laid  on  the  17th,  but  on  the  18th 
I  found  a  third  egg,  resembling  the  second  one  in  size.  No 
others  were  laid,  and  the  calling  became  less  frequent  and 
intense.  I  was  unfortunately  unable  to  procure  a  male. 
The  Hemipode,  on  being  shown  a  skin  of  one  of  its  own 
species,  became  greatly  excited,  puffed  out  its  feathers, 
bowed  and  "  kreked "  as  if  pleased.  On  the  31st  of  the 
month,  I  happened  to  pick  up  another  female,  slightly 
wounded  in  the  wing,  which,  when  healed,  I  placed  in  the 
cage,  together  with  the  other  Turnix  and  two  male  Coturnix 
japonica.  The  Turnix,  beyond  giving  the  newcomer  a 
gentle  peck  now  and  then  during  the  first  day,  did  not 
attempt  to  molest  it,  and  the  four  birds  lived  in  harmony 
until  the  16th  of  July,  when  one  of  the  Japanese  Quail,  a 
young  bird  of  the  previous  year,  was  found  killed  (by  the 
other  male  probably).  The  new  Turnix  showed  signs  of 
wanting  to  lay  soon  after  it  had  been  placed  with  the  others, 
and  on  the  21st  of  June  I  found  three  eggs  laid  by  it.  On 
the  22nd,  26th,  27th  and  28th,  four  more  eggs  were  found, 
presumably  laid  by  the  same  bird.  On  the  6th  of  July  I 
found  another.  All  these  were  very  small  eggs,  much  under 
half  size  ;  but  on  the  17th,  a  much  larger  egg,  about  half 
size,  was  found,  and  on  the  20th  and  21st  two  more  minia- 
ture eggs.  On  the  23rd  of  July  I  had  to  take  the  new 
Turnix  out  of  the  cage  as  it  was  badly  pecked  about  the 
head,  evidently  by  the  old  bird.  When  the  Japanese  Quail 
remained  alone  with  the  latter,  it  made  violent  love  to  it 
and  attempted  to  pair,  but  without  any  encouragement  from 


12  Mr.  J.  D.  D.  La  Touclie  on  the  [Ibis, 

tlie  rienii[)ode,  which  invariably  tried  to  escape  from  it. 
The  foUowiiip;  year  only  one  egg  was  hiid  by  the  new  (^)uail. 
The  otlier  bird  Iiad  unfortunately  been  attacked  by  a  rat  and 
was  so  injured  that  1  had  to  chloroform  it.  Tliis  bird  at 
the  time  of  its  death  iiad  assumed  an  extraordinary  melanistic 
pluuuige,  probably  due  to  insufficient  insect-food.  I  fed 
these  Quail  on  kaoliang  and  small  millet,  and  gave  them 
besides  bread  and  milk  and  insects  when  in  season. 

195.  Ealliis  indicus  Blyth. 
HaUus  iudicus  D.  &  O.  p.  489. 

I  have  an  adult  male  of  the  Indian  Kail  which  was 
brought  down  to  me  alive  from  Chilifeng  in  northern 
C^hihli  by  Mr.  A.  L.  Hall,  who  had  obtained  it  at  the  begin- 
ning of  May.  I  shot  an  immature  bird  in  the  crops  here 
on  the  21st  of  September  and  a  half-grown  bird  on  the  28th 
of  September^  so  that  this  Kail  evidently  breeds  here.  The 
soft  parts  of  the  adult  male  are  :  iris  orange-red,  culmeu 
brownish,  the  edge  of  the  upper  mandible  and  lower  man- 
dible orange-vermilion,  legs  rosy  grey. 

I  shot  out  of  a  ditch  on  the  plains  near  Newchwang  in 
southern  Manchuria  on  the  '^Gth  of  May,  1889,  an  example 
of  Amaurornis  pai/kulU  (Ljuugh). 

196.  Porzana  pusilla  (Pall.). 
Porzana  pyynuea  D.  &  O.  j).  487. 
Porzana  pusilla  La  T.  p.  579. 

Pallas's  Crake  passes  during  the  latter  half  of  May  to  the 
beginning  of  June,  and  is  met  with  again  in  wet  fields  and 
marshes  from  the  beginning  of  August  to  the  last  week  in 
October.  It  is  extremely  abundant  during  the  autumn 
passage.  It  is  said  by  David  to  summer  near  Peking,  and 
probably  also  breeds  near  Chiuwangtao. 

1  saw  this  Crake  in  summer  near  Newchwang. 

197.  Gallinula  chloropus  parvifrons  Blyth. 
Gallinula  cliloroims  D.  &  O.  p.  485. 

The  Indian  Common  Moorhen  summers  in  the  marshes. 
I  have  three  eggs  taken  at  the  end  of  June. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  North-East  Chihli.  13 

198.  Gallicrex  cinerea  (Grin.). 

Gallicrex  cinerea  D,  &  O.  p.  484  ;  La  T,  p.  579. 

A  single  male  example  was  taken  by  my  local  collector  at 
Shanliaikuan  in  April  1913.  I  believe  that  I  saw  one  on 
the  27th  of  August,  1912.  This  is  probably  the  northernmost 
breeding-limit  of  the  Water-Oock. 

199.  Fulica  atra  L. 

Fulica  atra  D.  &  O.  p.  489  ;  La  T.  p.  579. 

Coots  are  extremely  abundant  in  the  marshes  during  most 
years  in  September  and  October.  They  are  uncommon  in 
spring. 

The  Coot  is  a  common  migrant  at  Newchwang. 

200.  Grus  grus  lilfordi  Sharpe. 
Grus  cinerea  D.  &  O.  p.  434. 
Grus  sp.  (part),  La  T.  p.  579. 

I  have  examples  of  the  Eastern  Grey  Crane,  shot  in  the 
vicinity  of  Chinwangtao  in  December  and  January.  A  few 
of  these  winter  here.  Immense  flocks  of  Cranes  pass  over 
Chinwangtao  in  spring  during  March  and  early  in  April,  and 
again  in  October.  These  are  mainly,  I  believe,  composed  of 
birds  of  this  species.  As  a  rule,  they  fly  so  high  that  it  is  not 
easy  to  identify  them  except  by  the  call.  On  the  12th  of 
October,  1915,  I  counted  some  28  flocks  passing  from 
4.30  P.M.  to  dark — there  were  from  40  to  70  birds  in  each 
flock.  At  8  P.M.  they  were  still  passing.  Thousands  must 
have  gone  over  that  day. 

201.  Grus  leucaiichen  Temminck. 
Grus  vipio  D.  &  O.  p.  435. 

I  have  a  handsome  adult  male  obtained  at  (Jhiuwangtao 
on  10  October,  1918 — wing  22i  in.,  culmen  5*8  in.,  tarsus 
9'5  in.  Legs  crimson-lake;  bill  (dried)  dull  greyish.  The 
under  tail-coverts  are  grey. 

202.  Grus  japonensis  Miiller. 
,Grus  viridirostris  D.  &  O.  p.  435. 

An  adult  example  of  the  Manchurian  Crane  was 
liaMked    round    in    November     1916.      It    had    been    shot 


14  Mr.  J.  D.  D.  La  Touche  on  the  [Ibis, 

near  Shanliaikuan.  I  believe  tbat  examples  of  this  Crane 
are  occasionally  obtained  in  tlie  neiglibonrhood,  but  during 
six  years'  residence  at  Chinwangtao,  I  know  of  two  only 
having  been  captured.  Among  the  flocks  of  Crane  Avhich  pass 
over  I  have  seen  white  Cranes  with  black  wings  which 
were  either  of  this  or  the  next  species.  The  following- 
dates  may  he  particularly  mentioned  :  12  October,  2  Nov- 
ember, 1913,  30  March,  1915.  The  birds  seen  on  this 
last-mentioned  date  are  noted  in  my  diary  as  follows: — 
"At  3.15  P.M.  two  very  large  flocks  of  (*ranes  flew  over 
accompanied  by  a  couple  of  small  parties:  some  were  white 
with  black  primaries  so  far  as  I  could  make  out,  others 
were  grey  birds.  All  were  flying  together,  a  patch  of  white 
birds  and  then  a  lot  of  grey  ones.  The  eff'ect  of  the 
variegated  V^s  was  very  curious.  There  must  have  been 
300  of  the  birds.''  These  white  Cranes  have  a  rather 
shrill  call  :  '^  coo-kee." 

203.  Grus  leucogeranus  Pall. 

Grus  lecucogeranus  D.  &  O.  p.  436. 

I  have  an  example  of  the  Great  White  Crane,  shot  at 
Hsieh  Chia  Ying  in  the  spring  of  1915.  With  the  exception 
of  the  bastard  wing  and  primaries  Avhich  are  black,  the  bird 
is  entirely  white.  The  colouring  of  the  soft  parts  in  tlie 
dried  skin  are  : — bill  dull  livid  purple,  apical  part  pale 
horn  ;  skin  of  crown  and  face  dusky  reddish  yellow  ;  legs 
dull  reddish  pink.  The  bill  is  serrated  at  its  extremity  for 
about  2*20  in.  Measurements  : — Culnien  7'20,  wing  24.*00, 
tail  8*20,  tarsus  9*50  inches. 

204.  Otis  dybowskii  Tacz. 
Otis  tarda  D.  &  O.  p.  421. 
Otis  dyhowskii  La  T.  p.  579. 

The  Eastern  Great  Bustard  passes  Chinwangtao  from  early 
in  March  to  the  end  of  April  or  beginning  of  May.  On  tiie 
]Oth  of  May,  1916,  two  of  these  birds  flew  over  the  port,  but 
these  were  doubtless  belated  travellers.  In  autumn,  from 
October  until  about  the  10th  of  November  is  the  time  of 


1921.]  Birds  of  North-East  Chihli.  15 

passage.  These  birds  proljubly  begin  to  pass  in  September  or 
possibly  at  the  end  of  Augnst,  but  I  have  no  positive  records. 
As  tlie  kaoliang  (sorghum)  is  not  down  much  before  the 
beginning  of  October — and  the  birds,  as  a  rule,  fly  very 
low, — observations  at  that  season  are  difficult  imtil  the  plain 
is  more  or  less  cleared  of  the  liigh  crops.  My  predecessor 
at  this  port  once  shot  eight  in  the  course  of  an  afternoon  at 
the  beginning  of  October,  out  of  a  laige  number  which  flew 
over  the  port  that  day.  These  Bustards  fly  in  flocks  which 
occasionally  contain  from  40  to  50  birds  ;  but,  as  a  rule, 
10  to  20  individuals  is  the  usual  number.  Very  wary,  they 
seldom  alight  while  migrating,  except  in  the  vicinity  of  decoys 
and  in  very  open  places.  After  the  middle  of  November 
and  during  winter,  the  Great  Bustard  may  be  found  on  the 
bare  high  ground  inland  and  on  the  plains.  The  natives 
shoot  the  Eastern  Great  Bustard  on  passage,  by  means  of 
decoys,  both  in  spring  and  in  autumn  after  the  crops  have 
been  cut  *.  Large  circular  pits  are  dug  on  the  plain  in  the 
line  of  flight  of  the  Bustards.  These  are  furnished  witli  a 
flat  roof  of  kaoliang  stalks,  the  roof  being  a  very  few 
inches  above  the  level  of  the  ground.  The  edge  of  the  roof 
is  hung  with  grass  so  as  to  conceal  the  interior.  A  few 
paces  from  the  pit,  Bustard  skins  stuffed  so  as  to  represent 
the  birds  in  an  expectant  attitude  are  planted  all  I'ound. 
These  Bustard  skins  have  the  orbits  stufl'ed  with  cotton 
painted  black,  the  legs  are  cut  off  and  replaced  by  a  stout 
stick,  the  tail  is  spread  in  the  characteristic  manner,  and 
the  skins,  in  which  the  wing-quills  have  been  pulled  out, 
are  stuffed  in  such  a  way  as  to  show  a  great  deal  of  white 
on  the  flanks,  the  wings  being  tightly  bound  to  the  body. 
The  professional  shooting-men  come  daily  to  these  decoys 
during  the  times  of  passage  and  remain  thei'C  throughout 
the  day.  On  the  approach  of  the  Bustards  thev  conceal 
themselves  in  the  pits.  The  Bustards,  on  sighting  the  decoy, 
generally  fly  straight  to  it  and  after  wheeling  round   once 

*  Since  the  above  was  written,  I  have  been  informed  by  my  collector 
that  the  birds  are  also  taken  with  nets. 


16  Mr.  J.  D.  D.  La  Touche  on  the  flbis, 

or  twice  settle  in  its  vicinity — as  a  rule,  within  easy  range 
of  the  men's  guns.  The  guns  used  are  single-barrelled,  and 
as  the  occupants  of  the  ])it  are  two  in  number  one  or 
tM'o  birds  remain  as  the  result  of  a  successful  shot.  These 
are  instantly  deprived  of  the  flight-  and  sometimes  even  of 
the  tail-feathers,  which  are  made  up  into  bundles  for  sale 
to  feather  merchants,  and  the  mutilated  body  is  sent  to 
market.  The  Chinwangtao  market  is  stocked  witli  Bustards 
in  spring  and  autumn,  and  in  winter  many  birds  are  brought 
from  inland.  The  price  varies  according  to  size  from  $0.50 
to  '^1.00,  the  latter  price  being  asked  for  birds  which 
have  perfect  wings  and  tail  ;  otherwise  a  large  mutilated 
bird  may  be  had  for  a  couple  of  dollars.  Young  birds  are 
not  bad  eating,  but  old  males  are  very  rank  in  flavour. 

The  Eastern  Great  Bustard  takes  at  least  three  or 
perhaps  four  years  to  develop  to  its  full  size  and  j)lumage. 
Young  males  of  the  }  ear  have  the  liead,  neck^  and  breast 
of  a  somewhat  darkish  grey,  the  primaries  are  spotted  at 
their  extremity,  the  side-rectrices  are  doubh-barred,  and 
the  weight  varies  from  6  to  10  lbs.  In  the  following 
spring  a  short  beard  is  assumed,  but  no  other  change  takes 
place  beyond  the  moulting  of  the  primaries  and  secondaries. 
In  the  second  spring  (third  year  of  the  bird)  the  bird  has 
a  clear  grey  crown  with  an  inconspicuous  central  dark 
stripe,  a  fair-sized  beard,  the  neck  and  breast  remain  as 
in  autumn  (clear  pale  grey  with  a  trace  of  lengthening 
and  disintegrating  of  the  fore-neck  feathers).  The  wing- 
coverts  have  some  of  the  immature  markings,  but  the  outer 
rectrices  have  the  single  subterminal  black  bar  of  the  adult 
plumage.  The  male  evidently  assumes  in  the  second 
autumn  the  clearer  grey  head,  neck,  and  breast  of  the 
adult  bird. 

The  male  when  three  or  more  years  old  has  in  spring  the 
head,  nape,  and  upper  hind-neck  of  a  very  pale  grey  ;  the 
dark  coronal  stripe  has  almost  disappeared  ;  the  chin,  throat, 
and  upper  lower  neck  arc  white,  tinged  with  buff  on  the 
neck.  The  beard  is  four  or  more  inches  long,  and  the 
leathers  of  the  fore-neck  are  disintegrated  and   almost    as 


1921.]  Birds  of  North-East  Chihli.  17 

long  as  the  beard,  and  grade  into  chestnut  at  the  base  of 
the  lower  fore-neck.  The  breast  has  become  chestnut  by 
the  moulting  of  the  feathers,  which  are  now  lanceolate, 
slightly  disintegrated,  and  of  considerable  lengtli.  The 
lesser  wing-coverts  are  pure  pale  grey,  spotted  with  white. 
The  wing  measures  from  'l^h  to  244  inches. 

The  adult  bird  in  autumn  and  winter  has  the  throat 
whitish,  the  head,  fore-neck,  and  breast  of  a  clear  light  grey, 
the  feathers  of  the  breast  being  rounded,  with  occasionally 
a  few  dashes  of  chestnut.  There  is  a  well-developed  narrow 
crest  which  in  spring  is  almost  as  light-coloured  as  the  rest 
of  the  head. 

The  female  plumage  undergoes  apparently  much  the  same 
development  as  the  male  with  regard  to  the  wing-quills  and 
rectrices.  The  breast  has  in  spring  a  slight  admixture  of 
tawny  chestnut. 

The  foregoing  description  of  the  male  in  spring  plumage 
is  taken  from  four  males  shot  in  spring  at  Chinwangtao  or 
Shanhaikuan  : — one  adult  in  full  breeding  dress,  one  adult 
moulting  into  the  full  breeding  dress,  a  male  in  its  third 
year,  and  a  young  male  ot  the  previous  year.  Besides  these, 
I  have  seen  another  adult  spring  male  and,  on  the  4th 
of  February,  1912,  in  the  market,  an  adult  male  with  disin- 
tegrated neck-feathers  and  a  quantity  of  fulvous  on  the 
sides  of  tlie  lower  neck,  so  that  probably  the  breeding- 
plumage  is  assumed  very  early  in  the  year. 

Adult  males  generally  weigh  from  J  5  to  19  lbs.  and  over. 
I  have  been  told  l)y  foreign  sportsmen  that  they  had  seen 
birds  of  30  lbs.  in  weight,  but  these  are  not  commonly  met 
with.     Females  weigh  from  7  to  probably  9  lbs. 

1  may  mention  here  that  the  Chinese  shooting-men  in 
north-eastern  Chihli  have  three  separate  popular  names  for 
the  Bustard.  Adult  males  are  called  Yang  Pu  (Sheep 
Bustard),  younger  males  are  called  Ch'hig  Pu  (Dark  Bustard), 
and  very  small  males  and  females  are  called  Chi  Pu 
(Chicken  Bustard).  The  last  are  undoubtedly  the  "  Ki 
Pou"  of  Pere  David  (Nouv.  Arch.  Mus.  Paris,  Bulletin, 
1867,  p.  38),  quoted  by  Swinhoe  (P.  Z.  S.  1871,  p.  402)    as 

SER.  XI. VOL.   III.  C 


18  Mr.  J.  D.  D.  La  Tonche  on  the  [Ibis, 

"  Kepoo."     So  far  as  is  known,  there  is  but  one  Bustard  in 
China. 

Bustards  pass  the  port  of  Newchwang  on  migration,  and 
winter  on  the  neighbouring  plains. 

205.  Glareola  orientalis  Leach. 

Glareola  orientalis  D.  &  O.  p.  431  ;  La  T.  p.  579. 

The  Eastern  Pratincole  passes  from  the  middle  of  April 
to  the  bef^inning  of  j\Iay.  It  is  very  abundant  on  the 
return  passage  from  the  end  of  August  to  the  end  of 
September.  The  birds  oenerally  fly  in  very  scattered  order 
and  in  large  flocks.  Solitary  specimens  as  well  as  flocks 
may  be  seen  settled  on  the  plain  and  in  the  marshes  during 
the  migration  season. 

This  bird  summers  on  the  plains  about  Newchwang. 

206.  Arenaria  interpres  (L.). 
Strepsilas  interpres  D.  &  O.  p.  433. 

The  Turnstone  was  obtained  by  the  Rev.  Geo.  D.  Wilder 
at  Peitaiho,  the  well-known  summer  resort  situated  about 
10  miles  west  of  Chinwangtao,  in  August. 

I  observed  this  bird  near  Newchwang  in  May  1889. 

207.  Van^lliis  cristatus  Wolf  &  Meyer. 
Vanellus  cristatus  D.  &  O.  p.  422  ;  La  T.  p.  580. 

The  Lapwing  passes  from  early  in  March  until  the  last 
ten  days  in  April.  In  autumn  I  have  seen  it  as  early  as 
the  21st  of  September  and  as  late  as  the  9th  of  November. 

208.  Microsarcops  cinereus  (Blyth). 
Chettusia  cinerea  D.  &  O.  p.  422. 
Microsarcops  cinereus  La  T.  p.  580. 

The  (Jrey  Lapwing  is  apparently  not  common  in  sprino-. 
At  this  season  I  have  seen  it  on  the  26th  jNlarch  and  in 
April.  On  the  return  passage  it  is  extremely  abundant 
from  the  middle  of  August  and  throughout  September.  In 
1913, 1  saw  one  as  late  as  the  10th  of  October.  Large  flocks 
follow  one  another  on  suitable  days,  many  of  these  settling 
for  a  time  on  the  marshes  or  on  the  plain. 


1921.]  Birds  of  Nortk-East  Chihti.  19 

'209.  Charadrius  dominicus  fiilvus  Gm. 

Charadrius  falvus  D.  &  O.  p.  424. 

The  Eastern  Golden  Plover  is  rare  at  Chinwaiigtao.  I 
shot  one  on  the  1st  of  October,  1911,  and  iiave  not  identified 
any  others  since.  I  believe,  liowever,  that  I  have  seen 
flocks  passing  at  the  end  of  August. 

I  found  this  Plover  common  at  Newchwang  at  the  end  of 
August  and  in  September, 

210.  Squatarola  helvetica  (L.). 

Squat aro/a  helvetica  D.  &  O.  p.  424  -,  La  T.  p.  580. 

The  collectors  shot  on  the  24th  of  May  1913,  an  example 
in  full  breeding  plumage  of  the  Grey  Plover  and  saw  a  few 
others  on  the  20th  and  23rd  of  April  and  on  the  8th  and  24th 
of  Mav  of  that  year.  One  was  seen  on  the  19th  of  October, 
1911. 

211.  Ochthodromus  veredus  (Gould). 
yEgialitia  veredus  D.  &  O.  p.  425  ;  La  T.  p.  580. 

I  saw  a  flock  of  the  Eastern  Dotterel  on  the  14th  of  April, 
1911,  on  the  plain,  but  iiave  seen  none  since. 

212.  Ochthodromus  geofFroyi  (Wagler). 
JE(jialitis  geoffroyi  D.  &  O.  p.  426;  La  T.  p.  580. 

An  example  of  the  Large  Sand-Plover  was  shot  by  the 
collectors  on  the  22nd  of  May,  1913,  One  was  obtained  by 
Mr.  A.  de  C.  Sowerby  at  Peitaiho  on  the  20th  of  July,  1916. 

213.  Ochthodromus  mongolicus  (Pall.), 

j^gialiiis  niongulicus  D,  &  O,  p,  427  ;  La  T,  p.  580. 

Two  examples  of  tlie  Mongolian  Plover  were  shot  by  the 
collectors  on  the  16th  of  May,  1913,  and  three  others  were 
seen  on  the  same  day. 

214.  ^gialitis  placida  (Gray). 

^gialitis  placidus  D.  &  0.  p.  428;   La  T.  p.  580, 
yEgialitis  placida  Dresser,  Ibis,  1908,  p.  488,  pi.  x.  (egg). 
Hodgson's  Ringed  Plover  summers  in  the  district.     I  saw 
two  at  the  end  of  May,  1911,  which  were  apparently  paired, 


20  Mr.  J.  D.  D.  La  Touche  on  the  [This, 

and  in  1915  a  number  of  eggs  were  brought  to  me  by  my 
collector,  avIio  bad  taken  them  on  the  stony  beaches  of  the 
Shanhaikuau  River  (Shih  Ho)  in  April  and  May.  On  the 
2nd  of  May  of  that  year,  1  went  out  to  search  for  the  eggs 
myself  with  the  collector,  and  during  the  course  of  a  day's 
hunt  saw  a  number  of  empty  nests.  One  containing  four 
eggs  was  found.  The  old  bird  sneaked  away  at  once,  hut 
ou  our  lying  down  a  few  yards  from  the  nest,  it  was  soon 
seen  running  cautiously  among  the  stones  and  it  settled 
down  again  on  the  eggs.  An  attempt  to  photograph  the 
bird  on  its  nest  having  failed,  I  took  the  eggs,  which  were 
incubated,  but  not  too  far  advanced  to  preserve.  This  nest, 
like  all  the  others  seen  that  day,  was  a  rounded  depression 
among  the  shingle  and  had  a  thin  lining  of  scraps  of  twigs 
or  grass.  The  nests  were  placed  among  the  stones  some 
distance  from  the  water.  The  birds  lay  from  about  the 
middle  of  April  to  the  first  week  in  May.  There  are  four 
eggs  in  a  clutch.  These  vary  in  shape  from  an  ovate  with 
a  much  pointed  apex  to  a  pyriform  shape,  occasionally 
much  pinched  in  at  the  apex.  There  is  a  moderate  gloss. 
The  ground-colour  is  a  pale  greyish  green,  sometimes  a  dull 
reddish  clay.  The  eggs  are  finely  speckled  with  light  or 
dark  reddish  brown  and  lilac.  The  latter  colour  is  on  the 
surface  as  well  as  within  the  shell.  The  speckling  is  often 
thicker  on  the  large  end,  but  few  have  it  so  dense  as  to 
form  a  cap.  Thirty  eggs  average  ]'4I  x  1"04  in.,  and 
measure  from  1'37  to  1*51  in.  in  length  and  from  0'99  x 
1-07  in  breadth.  The  plate  in  'The  Ibis'  represents  a  very 
dull  and  red  type  which  only  a  few  of  my  specimens 
resemble. 

215.  .ffigialitis  dnbia  (Scop.). 

^^il(jialitis  dubius  D.  &  O.  p.  429. 

^gialitis  minor  La  T.  p.  580. 

The  Lesser  Ringed  Plover  arrives  early  in  April  and  is 
common  during  that  month  in  the  marshes.  It  breeds 
commonly  on  the  stony  reaches  of  the  Shih  Ho,  from  which 


1921.]  Birds  of  North-East  Chihli.  2l 

locality  I  have  clutches  dated  12th  and  80th  April,  14th, 
15th,  18th,  and  29th  May,  aud  June.  May  is,  however,  the 
month  when  eggs  are  most  commonly  found.  While  search- 
ing for  eggs  on  the  2nd  of  May,  1915,  I  saw  only  empty  nests. 
Tiie  birds  were  numerous  that  day  and  were  noticed  pursuing 
one  another  and  calling  loudly  as  they  flew.  The  nests  are 
merely  depressions  among  the  shingle  and  contain  no  lining, 
a  few  small  pebbles  only  being  found  in  them.  The  eggs 
are  buff,  rarely  pale  buff,  avid  are  marked  all  over  with 
specks  aiul  short  lines  of  very  dark  and  light  brown  over 
underlying  grey  spots.  A  few  eggs  are,  in  addition,  scantily 
marked  with  large  spots  of  blackish  brown.  One  egg  out 
of  a  series  of  39  has  the  ground-colour  white  with  a  tinge  of 
grey.  Another  from  the  same  series  has  a  cap  of  uniform 
dull  brown,  overlaid  with  the  usual  markings,  and  the  apical 
half  has  a  coat  of  dark  buff,  only  a  ring  of  the  true  buff 
ground-colour  showing  between  the  two.  The  eggs  are 
without  gloss.  The  most  general  shape  is  a  pyriform-ovate, 
but  pyriform  eggs  are  common,  an  ovate  sometimes  occurs, 
and  the  apex  is  often  much  pinched  in.  Thirty-nine  eggs 
range  from  1"25  in.  to  I'lO  in.  in  length  and  from  0'92  in. 
to  0"83  in.  in  width,  the  largest  being  1*25  x  0*89  in.  and 
the  smallest  1-12  x  0-83  in.     They  average  1-17  x  0*87  in. 

216.  ^gialitis  alexandrina  (L.). 

j^gialitis  cantianus  D.  &  O.  p.  430;  La  T.  p.  580. 

The  Kentish  Plover  is  common  in  spring  on  the  mud 
flats  and  shores  of  tidal  creeks.  It  passes  again  in 
September. 

217.  HsBmatopus  osculans  Swinhoe. 

Hcematojnis  osculans  D.  &  O.  p.  432  ;  La  T.  p.  580. 

The  Chinese  Oystercatcher  is  not  commonly  seen  in  the 
vicinity  of  Chinwangtao.  I  saw  one  flying  over  on  the 
20th  of  May,  1911,  another  was  reported  as  having  been 
shot  in  March  1912,  and  two  were  seen  by  the  collectors 
on  the  22nd  of  May,  1913. 


22  Mr.  J.  D.  D.  La  Touche  on  the  [Ibis, 

218.  Himantopus  candidus  Bonuat. 

HimantopHs  candidus  D,  &  O.  p.  462  ;  La  T.  p.  580. 

I  liave  an  example  of  the  Black-winged  Stilt,  which  was 
shot  in  May  1911  at  Lanchow.  In  1913  Stilts  were  seen 
several  times  at  Chinwangtao  between  the  12th  of  April 
and  the  16th  of  May. 

219.  Recurvirostra  avocetta  (L.). 
Recur virostra  avocetta  D.  &  O.  p.  461. 

I  saw  two  Avocets  in  the  Chinwangtao  market  one  late 
autumn. 

I  noticed  this  bird  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Liao  near 
Newchwatig  in  April  1889. 

220.  Ibidorhynchus  struthersi  Vigors. 
Ibidorhynchus  struthersii  D.  &  O.  p.  456,  pi.  118. 

Pere  David  states  that  the  Ibis-Bill  is  a  resident  in  the 
mountains  of  Chihli  and  that  it  nests  among  the  shingle 
on  the  banks  of  the  mountain  streams.  It  was  only  in  the 
spring  of  1915  that  I  was  first  made  aware  of  the  occurrence 
of  this  bird  in  this  vicinity  by  my  collector  bringing  me  two 
eggs  taken  by  him  on  the  23rd  of  Aprils  which  he  said  belonged 
to  a  Curlew-like  bird  of  grey  plumage  with  red  bill  and  legs. 
On  the  2nd  of  May  following,  I  set  out  with  my  man  to  try 
to  find  the  bird  and  secure  more  eggs.  We  worked  up  the 
stony  bed  of  the  Shih  Ho  (Shanhaikuan  River)  to  the  place 
where  the  eggs  mentioned  above  had  been  taken^  and  the 
empty  nest  was  shown  to  me.  It  was  a  saucer-shaped 
depression  among  the  stones  of  a  shingly  beach,  not  far 
from  the  banks  of  the  main  stream  some  two  or  three  miles 
from  the  mountains.  This  depression  Avas  lined,  as  described 
by  Mr.  Uresser  (Ibis,  1907,  p.  323],  with  small  stones,  all 
of  much  the  same  size,  and  it  was  about  eight  inches  in 
diameter.  A  few  paces  further  on  we  came  on  another 
empty  nest  resembling  the  first  nest,  and  on  our  way  back 
to  the  river-bank  we  found  a  third  nest — this  one  with  an 
adiiled  egg  in  it.     During  the  afternoon,  as  I  was  searching 


1921.]  Birds  of  North-East  Chihli,  23 

the  neighbourhood  of  this  reach,  I  saw  au  Ibis-Bill  feeding 
in  the  shallows  a  couple  of  huudred  yards  from  me,  which 
my  man  identified  as  the  kind  of  bird  to  which  the  eggs  he 
had  brought  me  belonged.  This  one  flew  oft'  at  long  range, 
and  my  collector  told  me  the  birds  were  extremely  wild 
during  the  nesting-season.  In  winter  they  are  more  easily 
approached,  and  at  that  season  they  are  to  be  found  among 
the  mountains.  Owing  to  its  protective  colouring  this  bird 
is,  hardly  visible  against  a  background  of  water  and  shingle. 
The  flight  is  low,  not  rapid,  and  reminds  one  of  that  of 
certain  Sandpipers.  My  collector  subsequently  brought  me 
two  more  eggs  taken  on  the  22nd  of  May  following  ;  in  191G 
a  clutch  of  four  were  taken  on  the  9th  of  April,  and  subse- 
quently a  clutch  of  four  were  taken  by  him  in  the  same 
locality  on  the  14th  of  April,  1918;  these  last  were  sent 
to  the  British  Museum  without  being  measured.  He  also 
shot  on  the  20tli  of  September,  1915,  a  bird  of  the  year  in 
immature  dress.  The  bill  of  this  bird  was  dark  red,  the 
legs  pale  pinkisli-mauve. 

The  eggs  taken  on  the  23rd  of  April  and  22nd  May, 
1915,  and  9th  April,  1916,  bear  a  general  resemblance  to 
those  figured  by  Mr.  Dresser  (Ibis,  1907,  pi,  vi.),  but  are 
perhaps  rather  greener.  The  ground-colour  is,  when  fresh, 
of  a  greyish-green,  which  turns  somewhat  red  after  a  time. 
The  spots  are  reddish-brown  and  reddish-purple.  The 
addled  egg  found  on  the  2iid  of  May  is  greyer  and  the 
markings,  which  are  large,  are  faint — possibly  washed  out. 
It  is  of  a  somewhat  broad-ovate,  while  the  other  eggs  are  of 
a  truer  ovate.     These  nine  eggs  measure  as  follows  :  — 

23  April,  1915,  two  eggs  1*99  x  TSO,  2-06  x  1*48  inch. 

2  May,       „      one  egg    l*88x  1"50  inch. 

22     „  „      two  eggs  1-88  X 1-42      „ 

9  April,  1916,  four   „     1-97  X  1*47     „ 

1-97  X  1-49     „ 

207x1-42     „ 

2-05  X  1-45     „ 


24  Mr.  J.  D.  B.  La  Touche  on  the  [Ibis, 

221.  Numenius  arquatus  (L.). 
Numenius  li  neat  us  D.  &  O.  p.  457. 
Numenius  arquatus  La  T.  p.  58L 

Curlew  are  met  with  in  spring  from  the  last  decade  in 
JNIai'ch  to  the  end  of  May,  and  pass  again  very  early  in  July. 
I  have  heard  tliem  calling  at  niglit  as  early  as  the  end  of 
June,  but  it  may  be  that  birds  heard  so  early  in  the  season 
were  wanderers  from  neighbouring  breeding-grounds.  I  saw 
tbree  nndoubtcd  Common  Curlew  on  the  21st  of  April,  1912, 
and  the  collectors  recorded  seeing  them  from  the  31st  of 
Marcb  to  the  28th  of  May,  and  shot  one  out  of  three  on  the 
28th  of  August,  1917  ;  but,  as  a  rule,  the  Curlew  in  this 
vicinity  keep  to  the  inaccessible  mud-flats,  and  it  is  difficult 
to  ascertain  with  certainty  whether  the  birds  belong  to  this 
or  the  following  species. 

The  Curlew  passes  Newchwang  on  migration. 

222.  Numenius  cyanopus  Vieillot. 
Numenius  tahitiensis  D.  &  O.  p.  458. 
Numenius  cyanopus  La  T.  ]).  581. 

The  Eastern  Curlew  was  noted  in  1913  from  the  12th  of 
April  to  the  3rd  of  May.  It  is  very  probable  that  the  birds 
heard  at  night  in  summer  are  of  this  species.  I  have  seen 
them  in  Septeiiiber. 

This  Curlew  breeds,  I  believe,  on  the  plains  near 
Newchwang. 

223.  Numenius  phaeopus  variegatus  Scop. 
Numenius  jihaopus  D.  &  O.  p.  457. 
Numenius  variegatus  La  T.  p.  581. 

Tlie  collectors  recorded  the  Eastern  Whinibrel  througliout 
May  1913.  I  have  seen  it  passing  on  the  27th  of  August 
and  on  other  dates.  It  is  quite  a  common  migrant  both  in 
spring  and  in  early  autumn. 

I  noticed  this  bird  on  migration  at  NewchAvang. 

224.  Mesoscolopax  minutus  (Gould). 
Numenius  minutus  D.  &  O.  p.  458. 
Mesuscolopax  minutus  La  T.  p.  581. 

The  Little  Curlew  passes  in  spring  during  the  latter  half 


1921,]  Birds  of  North- East  Chrhli.  25 

of    April    and    the    first    week    in    May.     It    is    extremely 
abundant  on  passage  during  September. 

1  noted  this  bird  as  a  migrant  at  Nevvchwang  in  1889. 

225.  Limosa  limosa  melanuroides  Gould. 
Limosa  brevipes  D.  &  O.  p.  460. 

The  Eastern  Black-tailed  Godwit  passes  in  August. 
I  shot  a  young  bird  out  of  a  party  of  three  on  the  25th  of 
August,  1912,  and  was  shown  another  a  couple  of  years 
afterwards  on  the  9th  of  August. 

This  Godwit  was  very  abundant  at  Newchwang  in  April 
1889,  and  was  observed  again  at  the  end  of  August  and  in 
Se^jtember  of  that  year. 

226.  Terekia  cinerea  (Giildenst.). 

Terekia  cinerea  D.  &  0.  p.  460;  La  T.  p.  581. 

The  Terek  Sandpiper  was  observed  and  shot  by  the 
collectors  from  the  1st  to  the  16th  of  Mny,  1913. 
Mr.  Sowerby  procured  an  example  in  breeding  plumage  at 
Peitaiho  in  July  1916. 

This  Sandpiper  was  observed  by  me  at  Newchwang  in 
April. 

227.  Tringoides  hypoleucus  (L.). 
Trinyoides  hypoleucus  D.  &  O.  p.  467. 
Tetanus  hypoleucus  La  T.  p.  581. 

The  Common  Sandpiper  passes  in  May,  August,  and 
September. 

228.  Totanus  glareola  (L.). 

Totanus  glareola  D.  &  O.  p.  464  ;  La  T.  p.  581. 

The  Wood-Sandpiper  appears  to  be  the  commonest  Sand- 
piper at  Chinwangtao.  It  passes  towards  the  beginning  of 
May  and  from  the  beginning  of  August  to  the  first  week  in 
September. 

229.  Totanus  ochropus  (L.). 

Totanus  ochropus  D.  &  O.  p.  465  ;  La  T.  p.  581. 
The  Green   Sandpiper   passes  from   the  end  of  April  to 
probably  the  end  of  May.     A  pair  seen  inland  on  the  l)anks 


26  Mr.  J,  D.  D.  La  Touche  on  the  [This. 

of  a  stream  were  very  possibly  preparing  to  breed.  It  no 
doubt  passes  with  the  other  Waders  in  August  and  September, 
but  I  liave  no  recorded  observations  for  those  months. 
I  have,  however,  observed  it  on  the  11th  of  October. 

230.  Totanus  calidris  (L.). 

Totanus  calidris  D.  &  O.  p.  464  ;  La  T.  p.  581. 

The  Redshank  passes  at  tlie  end  of  March  and  was  also 
recorded  during  the  first  half  of  May  1913  by  the  collectors. 
I  believe  I  have  seen  it  in  August. 

This  Sandpiper  and  the  preceding  three  species  were 
observed  on  migration  at  Newchwang  in  the  late  summer 
and  early  autumn  of  the  year  1889.  The  Green  Sandpiper 
was  the  first  to  appear,  and  was  to  be  seen  singly  or  in  small 
parties  on  the  banks  of  pools  and  in  marshy  spots. 

231.  Totanus  fuscus  (L.). 

Totanus  fuscus  D.  &  0.  p.  463;  La  T.  p.  581. 

The  Dusky  Redshank  has  been  observed  at  the  end  of 
March  and  beginning  of  April,  in  Septembei',  and  early  in 
October. 

232.  Totanus  incanus  brevipes  Vieillot. 
Totanus  incanus  D.  &  O.  p.  466. 

On  the  13th  of  September,  1915,  I  saw  on  the  shores  of 
the  Junk  Harbour  at  Chinwangtao  two  grey  Sandpipers 
which  appeared  to  me  to  be  the  Eastern  Grey  Sandpiper, 
The  Rev.  Geo,  D.  Wilder  shot  an  example  in  summer 
plumage  at  Peitaiho  in  August  1916,  and  I  have  seen 
two  others  shot  in  the  same  locality  in  September  by 
Mr.  Hubbard  of  Paoting-fu. 

233.  Totanus  glottis  (L.). 
Totanus  glottis  D.  &  O.  p.  462. 

The  Greenshank  passes  in  September  and  October.  It 
doubtless  passes  also  in  spring,  but  I  have  no  records. 
Mr.  Sowerby  obtained  one  in  summer  plumage  at  Peitaiho 
on  the  15th  of  July,  1916.      • 

This  Sandpiper  was  seen  by  me  at  Newchwang  in  1889  in 
spring  and  on  the  return  passage. 


1921.]  Birds  of  North- East  Chihii.  27 

234.  Calidris  arenaria  (L.)- 

Calidris  areauria  D.  &  O.  p.  467;   La  T.  p.  581. 

Tringa  acuminata  La  T.  p.  58L 

On  the  22nd  of  May,  J  911  I  shot  on  the  seashore  at 
Chinwatigtao  two  Sandpipers  in  breeding-dress  which  I  noted 
down  as  Sharp-tailed  Stints  and  put  away  without  comparing 
tliein.  On  examining  one  ot"  these  birds  lately,  I  found  it 
was  a  Sanderling.  I  unfortunately  recorded  the  i)arty  of 
Sandpipers  out  of  which  I  shot  these  examples  in  my  paper 
on  Chinwangtao  migrants  (Ibis^  1914,  p.  581)  as  Tringa 
acuminata.  This  species,  although  there  is  no  doubt  that 
it  passes  there,  must  for  the  present  be  eliminated  from 
my  list. 

A  second  party  of  Sanderlings  was  met  with  by  me  at  the 
same  place  on  the  18th  of  May,  1913,  out  of  which  I  shot 
three  examples  which  formed  part  of  the  collection  made 
that  year  for  the  Migration  Committee  of  the  B.  0.  C. 

Mr.  Sowerby  obtained  an  example  in  summer  plumage  at 
Peitaiho  on  the  17th  of  July,  1916. 

235.  Tringa  minuta  ruficoUis  Pall. 
Tringa  ruficoUis  D.  &  O.  p.  472  (part). 

Mr.  A.  de  C.  Sowerby  obtained  the  Eastern  Little  Stint 
in  summer  plumage  at  Peitaiho  on  the  16th  of  July, 
1916. 

This  bird  was  abundant  on  the  marshy  plain  near 
Newchwang  in  September  1889. 

236.  Tringa  damacensis  Horsf. 
Tringa  7'uficollis  D.  &  0.  p.  472  (part). 

The  Long-toed  Stint  was  obtained  by  Mr.  Sowerby  in 
worn  summer  plumage  at  Peitaiho  on  the  14tli  of  July,  1916. 
I  shot  this  bird  at  the  marshes  near  Chinwangtao  on  the 
22nd  of  August  and  3rd  of  September  following. 

237.  Tringa  temminckii  Leisl. 
Tringa  temminckii  D.  &  O.  p.  473. 

I  shot  a  Temminck's  Stint  on  the  25th  of  August, 
1912. 


28  Mr.  J.  D.  D.  La  Touche  on  the  [Ibis, 

238.  Tringa  crassirostris  T.  &  S. 
Tringa  crassirostris  D.  &  O.  p.  468. 

The  Eastern  Knot  was  obtained  by  Mr.  Sowerby  in 
summer  dress  at  Peitaiho  on  the  17th  of  July,  1916. 

239.  Tringa  caniitiis  (L.), 
Tringa  canutus  D.  &  O.  p.  469. 

The  Knot  was  also  obtained  by  Mr.  Sowerby  at  Peitaiho 
on  the  17th  of  July,  1916.  The  specimen  submitted  to  me 
was  in  full  summer  dress. 

240.  Tringa  subarquata  ((iiildenst.). 
Tringa  subarquata  D.  &  O.  p.  472. 

A  specimen  of  the  Curlew-JStint  in  part  summer  plumage 
(worn  above  and  mixed  with  winter  plumage  on  the  under- 
parts)  obtained  by  jNlr.  Sowerby  at  Peitaiho  on  the  18th  of 
July,  1916,  was  sent  to  me  for  investigation  together  with 
the  other  Waders  mentioned  above. 

241.  Tringa  cinclus  americana  Cass. 
Tringa  cinclus  J).  &  O.  p.  471. 
Tringa  americana  La  T.  p.  581. 

The  collectors  shot  on  the  3rd  of  May,  1913,  a  Pacific 
Dunlin  \n  summer  plumage  out  of  a  party  of  five.  I  shot 
one  of  two  birds  on  the  12th  of  October  following.  This 
bird  is  a  young  bird  putting  on  winter  plumage.  Mr.  Sowerby 
procured  at  Peitaiho  on  the  14th,  16th,  and  18th  of  July, 
1916,  three  examples  in  summer  plumage. 

Dunlins  were  abundant  on  the  Newchwang  plain  in 
September  1889. 

242.  Tringa  platyrhyncha  Temm. 
Tringa  platyrhyncha  D.  &  O.  p.  470. 

A  Broad-billed  Stint  in  summer  plumage,  shot  on  the 
14th  of  July^  1916,  was  among  the  Waders  sent  to  me  by 
Mr.  Sowerl)y  from  Peitaiho. 

243.  Scolopax  rusticola  L. 

Scolopax  rusticola  D.  &■  O.  p.  475  ;  La  T.  p.  582. 

The  Woodcock  is  found  at  Chinwangtao  during  April  and 


1921.]  Birds  of  North-East  Chihli.  29 

May  and  again  in  Scpleniber.     It  is  not  at  all  nncommon 
during  the  latter  month. 

Woodcock  were  not  rare  on  passage  at  Newchwang  during 
September  in  the  'eighties  of  last  century. 

244.  Gallinago  solitaria  (Modgs.). 
GalUnago  solitaria  D.  &  O.  p.  476,  pi.  122. 

I  have  a  handsome  example  of  the  Himalayan  Solitary 
Snipe  bought  in  the  Chinwangtao  market  on  the  20th  of 
December,  1914.  It  was  in  perfect  condition  and  must  have 
been  shot  only  a  few  days  previously.  It  is  evidently  a 
Avinter  resident  in  the  mountains  of  Chihli,  as  on  the 
Yangtse. 

245.  Gallinago  megala  Swinhoe. 

GaUinago  megala  D.  &  O.  p.  477;   La  T.  p.  582. 

Swinhoe's  Snipe  passes  in  May  and  during  the  last  ten 
days  o£  August.  It  is  much  less  common  about  Chinwangtao 
than  the  Pintail  and  Common  Snipe. 

246.  Gallinago  stenura  IIorsF. 

GaUinago  stenura  D.  &  0.  p.  478  ;  La  T.  p.  582. 

The  Pin-tailed  Snipe  passes  in  May  and  again  throughout 
August  and  during  the  first  few  days  of  September.  It  is 
more  or  less  abundant,  according  to  the  state  of  tiie  ground. 

247.  GaUinago  ccelestis  Frenz. 
GaUinago  scolopacina  Y).  &  0.  p.  478. 
GaUinago  ccelestis  La  T.  p.  581. 

The  Common  Snipe  ai'rives  towards  the  end  of  March  or 
early  in  April,  according  to  the  season,  and  remains  during 
the  first  half  of  May.  I  shot  a  belated  bird  on  the  16th  of 
June,  1913.  It  begins  to  pass  again  during  the  last  half  of 
August,  and  in  suitable  spots  remains  throughout  September. 
Laggards  may  be  found  in  October  and  even  in  IMovember, 
I  put  up  one  from  a  stream  iu  the  uplands  north  of  the  port 
on  the  26th  of  November,  1911.  The  temperature  that  dav 
was  so  coM  that  the  water  we  had  with  us  for  drinkius:- 
purposes  froze  solid  in  the  bottle. 


30  Mr.  J.  D.  T).  La  Toiiclie  on  the  [Tbis, 

In  September  1913,  owing  probably  to  the  favourable 
condition  of  the  marshes  in  this  vicinity,  Snipe  of  this 
species  swarmed  there  during  the  first  half  of  the  month. 
As  a  rule,  April,  May,  and  September  are  the  months  during 
which  the  birds  are  most  abundant. 

248.  Limnocryptes  gallinula  (L.). 
Gallinago  yallinula  D.  &  O.  p.  479. 

Sir  Francis  Aglen,  K.B.E.,  Inspector-General  of  the 
Chinese  Maritime  Customs,  informed  me  that  he  had  shot  a 
Jack-Snipe  near  Peitaiho,  the  well-known  seaside  resort 
near  Chinwangtao,  towards  the  end  of  August  1915. 
Pere  David  states  that  foreign  sportsmen  assured  him  that 
they  had  shot  this  bird  near  Peking.  I  have  the  wings,  legs, 
and  head  of  a  plucked  bird  which  had  been  purchased  in  the 
Shanghai  market,  and  also  a  skin  of  a  bird  shot  at  Foochow 
on  the  12th  of  October,  1910,  for  which  I  am  indebted  to 
Mr.  C.  B.  Rickett. 

249.  Rostratiila  capensis  (L.). 
Rliynch(Ea  capensis  1).  &  O.  p.  480. 

I  have  a  single  male  example  of  the  Painted  Snipe  shot 
by  Sir  Francis  Aglen,  K.CE.,  at  the  marshes  near  Chin- 
wangtao  on  the  11th  of  September,  1916.  It  is  the  only 
bird  of  this  species  seen  by  me  from  that  locality, 

250.  Larus  ridibundus  L. 
Chroicocephalus  ridibundus  D.  &  O.  p.  520. 
Larus  ridibundus  La  T.  p.  582. 

jNIigrating  parties  of  the  Laughing  Gull  appear  towards 
the  middle  of  March  and  the  birds  are  abundant  until  the 
first  week  in  May,  after  which  they  disappear,  to  begin 
passing  again  early  in  July.  Birds  seen  travelling  in  July 
appeared  to  still  have  the  hood.  They  may  be  seen  in  July 
and  August  flying  along  the  coast,  going  south-west.  I  have 
seen  them  until  very  late  in  November  on  the  tidal  creeks, 
but  I  do  not  think  that  any  winter  here. 

The  Laughing  Gull  was  common  at  Newchwang  during 
my  stay  there  in  1889. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  North-East  Chihli.  31 

251.  Lams  canus  L. 

Larus  canus  D.  &  O.  p.  517. 

I  have  seen  one  Common  Gall  hanging  in  tlie  market, 
and  noticed  medium-sized  Galls  about  the  harbour  and  coast 
which  were  doubtless  of  this  species. 

This  Gull  was  common  at  Newchwang  in  1889. 

25.2.  Larus  argeiitatus  vegae  Stejn. 

Larus  occidentalis  D.  &  O.  p.  520. 

Larus  vega  vel  cachinnans  La  T.  p.  519. 

Large  Herring-Gulls  pass  at  much  the  same  seasons  as 
the  Laughing  Gull,  and  are  to  be  seen  often  during  the 
winter  about  the  harbour  or  passing  over  the  plain.  Those 
seen  at  fairly  close  quarters  appeared  to  be  the  Pink-legged 
Herring-Gull.  A  few  specimens  are  to  be  seen  hanging  in 
the  game-shops  in  winter. 

Larus  crussirostris  was  common  at  Newchwang  in  1889, 
but  T  have  no  certain  note  of  its  occurrence  at  Chinwang-tao. 
If  it  does  occur,  it  is  very  rare. 

253.  Larus  cachinnans  Pall. 
Larus  cachinnaas  D.  &  O.  p.  520. 

On  the  29th  of  November,  1914,  I  saw  an  immature 
example  of  the  Mediterranean  Herring-Gull  hanging  in  a 
game-shop  in  the  village, 

254.  Larus  glaucus  Briinn. 

On  the  5th  of  February,  1917,  I  observed  among  a 
number  of  Gulls  in  the  harbour  two  Glaucous  Gulls,  I  had 
not  noticed  this  species  at  Chinwangtao  before,  but  it  is  quite 
possible  that  I  had  overlooked  it.  The  winter  191G-1917  was 
exceedingly  cold  and  the  port  was  ice-bound  for  some  time, 
so  that  the  presence  of  these  Gulls  here  was  probably  due  to 
the  severe  weather-conditions  prevailing  at  the  time. 

255.  Hydrochelidon  hybrida  (Pall.). 
Hydruchelidon  hybrida  D.  &  O.  p.  524. 

The  llev.  Geo.  D.  Wilder  shot  a  specimen  of  the  Whiskered 
Tern  between  Peitaibo  and  Chinwangtao  on  the  31st  of  July, 


32  Mr.  J.  D.  D.  La  Touche  on  the  [Ibis, 

1916,  and  saw  that  day  many  flocks  of  tliis  Tern  passing 
down  the  coast. 

256.  Hydrochelidon  leucoptera  (Schinz). 
HydrocheUdon  leucoptera  D.  &  O.  p.  524  ;  La  T.  p.  582. 
The  White-winged  Black   Tern   passes  in  spring  and   is 

very  abundant  during  the   latter   half  of  August,   when  it 
travels  along  the  coast  in  flocks. 

I  noticed  this  Tern  on  the  Nevvchwang  plain  in  May  and 
June,  and  on  the  River  Liao  on  the  11th  of  August,  1889. 

257.  Gelochelidou  anglica  (Mont.). 
Sterna  anglica  La  T.  p.  582. 

A  single  example  of  the  Gull-billed  Tern  was  seen  at  the 
port  on  the  4th  of  May,  1913. 

258.  Sterna  hirundo  tibetana  Saunders. 
Sterna  fluviatitis  D.  &  O.  p.  525. 

I  have  seen  numbers  of  medium-sized  Tern  passing  in 
flocks  during  August  and  September  which  were  probably 
tins  species  or  S.  longipennis,  but  none  were  collected. 
My  collector,  however,  brought  me  at  the  beginning  of  July 
1915  ten  eggs  and  an  example  of  S.  tibetana  from  the  coast, 
about  twenty  miles  W.S.W.  of  Chinwangtao,  wheie  he  found 
this  Tern  breeding  among  the  sand-dunes.  These  eggs  are 
brownish  olive^  deep  buft",  and  yellowish-green,  with  spots 
and  large  blotches  of  dark  brown  over  inky  purplish-grey 
blotches,  the  latter  being  on  the  surface  as  well  as  within 
the  shell.  The  shape  varies  from  a  somewhat  oval-ovate  to 
broad-ovate.  The  longest  egg  measures  l'75x]*18  in., 
the  shortest  1*53  x  1-17  in.,  the  broadest  1-66  x  1*23  in., 
and  the  narrowest  l-64xl'13in.  The  ten  eggs  average 
l-64xl-18in. 

259.  Sterna  sinensis  Gm. 
Sternula  sinensis  D.  &  O.  p.  527. 
Sterna  sinensis  La  T.  p.  582. 

The  Chinese  Tern  arrives  about  the  fourth  week  in  May 
and  breeds  commonlv  in  the  district.     It  lays  three  eggs  in 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Nurth-East  Chihli.  33 

a  depression  in  saiid-l)anks  in  the  vicinity  of  water  (rivers 
or  sea).  I  have  eggs  dated  29th  May,  2nd,  4th,  5th,  and 
8th  June,  end  of  June,  and  July,  taken  on  the  Slianhaikuan 
River  and  down  the  coast.  The  eggs  are  huff",  greenisli-buff, 
and  pale  yellowish-green,  spotted  with  brown  or  reddish  and 
purplish-grey,  the  latter  in  different  shades  and  botli  on  the 
surface  and  witliin  the  shell.  The  spots  are  generally  small 
and  sometimes  are  partly  concentrated  in  a  rough  zone. 
The  general  shape  is  ovate  or  oval-ovate.  Thirty-two  eggs 
average  1*29  x  0'96  in.  The  longest  measures  r37  x  0"9G  in., 
the  shortest  l'19x  0-92  in.,  the  broadest  1-28  x  0-98  in., 
and  the  narrowest  diameter  (three  eggs)  is  0'91  in. 

This  Tern  remains  somewhat  late,  and  may  be  seen  fishing 
in  the  marshes  until  about  the  middle  of  October. 

I  saw  flocks  of  this  Tern  flying  over  the  plain  near 
Newchwang  in  May  and  June,  and  also  on  the  River  Liao 
on  thp  11th  of  August,  1889. 

2G0.  Phalacrocorax  carbo  (L.). 

Phalacrocorax  curbo  D.  &  O.  p.  532  ;  La  T.  p.  582. 

Cormorants  pass  in  spring  from  the  end  of  March  to 
the  end  of  April,  and  are  not  uncommonly  seen  during 
the  autumn  passage.  One  observed  sitting  on  the  rocks 
on  the  11th  of  August,  1912,  appeared  from  its  size  to 
be  P.  pelagicus. 

261.  Fregata  ariel  (Gould). 

Attagen  minor  D.  &  O.  p.  534. 

I  saw  on  the  19th  of  August,  1915,  circling  over  the 
clifl^s  and  harbour  at  Chiuwangtao,  a  large  bird  which  must 
have  been  a  Lesser  Frigate-bird,  On  the  5th  of  October 
following,  a  friend  saw  circling  over  the  harbour  a  large 
black  bird  with  deeply  forked  tail,  which  was  doubtless 
another  example  of  this  bird.  The  Smaller  Frigate-bird 
occurs  in  summer  on  the  coast  of  south-east  China  and 
has  been  seen  or  taken  on  the  Lower  Yangtse  and  at 
Shaweishan,  but  until  1915  it  had  not  been  noticed  so  far 
north  on  the  China  coast. 

SER.  XI. VOL.  III.  D 


34  Mr.  J.  D.  D.  La  Touche  on  the  [Ibis 

Towards  the  end  of  July  1889,  I  saw  on  the  river  at 
Newchwaiig  a  brown  Albatross.  Tliis  bird  allowed  a  native 
to  fire  at  it  repeatedly  at  very  close  range  without  rising 
from  the  water.  After  several  shots  had  been  fired,  it  rose, 
apparently  none  the  worse,  and  sailed  away,  passing  a  hundred 
yards  or  so  from  the  boat  I  was  in. 

262.  Ibis  melanocephala  (Lath.). 
Ibis  melanocephala  D.  &  O.  p.  452. 

A  white  Ibis  with  black  head  and  neck  seen  at  the 
marshes  on  the  5th  of  October,  1913,  was  without  doubt  an 
example  of  the  White  Ibis. 

When  at  Newchwang,  in  1889,  I  was  given  a  skin  of  the 
Japanese  Crested  Ibis  {Nipponia  nippon)  by  Mr.  Farmer, 
then  Constable  of  H.B.M.^s  Consulate  at  the  port,  who 
told  me  that  he  liad  seen  a  breeding-colony  of  these  birds 
some  way  up  the  Hiver  Liao.  I  saw  a  flock  fly  over  the 
settlement  towards  the  end  of  the  autumn. 

263.  Platalea  leucorodia  L. 
Plutalea  major  D.  &  O.  p.  451  (part). 

I  saw  a  Spoonbill  passing  on  the  13th  of  October,  1912, 
and  shot  another  on  the  12th  of  October,  1913.  The  latter 
bird,  a  male,  is  in  fresh  immature  plumage.  The  shafts  of 
the  wing-quills  and  the  tips  of  these  are  black.  Tlie  colours 
of  the  soft  parts  were  as  follows: — Iris  dull  burnt-sienna; 
bill  livid  violet-black  at  the  base,  the  greater  part  of  the 
upper  mandible  yellow  with  black  stripes ;  skin  of  throat 
and  lores  yellow  ;  legs  and  feet  black,  the  soles  spotted  with 
yellowish.     Bill  9'35  in.,  wing  15"5  in. 

264.  Ciconia  ciconia  boyciana  Swinhoe  ? 
Ciconia  boyciana  D.  &  O.  p.  450. 

Four  very  large  white  birds  with  black  wings  seen  passing 
on  the  20th  of  November,  1910,  were  most  probably  White 
Storks.  I  have  a  male  example  purchased  in  the  market  at 
Chinwangtao.     It  is  almost  adult. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  North-East  Chihli.  35 

265.  Ciconia  nigra  L. 
Ciconia  nigra  D.  &  O.  p.  450. 

The  Black  Stork  breeds^  I  am  informed,  among  the  high 
rocks  in  the  mountains  about  30  miles  nortli  of  Chinwangtao. 
I  saw  it  soaring  overhead  on  the  30tli  and  31st  of  October, 
1911.  It  passes  regularly  in  spring  and  autumn.  I  have 
two  adult  specimens  shot  in  this  neighbourhood  : — 

?  ,  2nd  Nov.,  1915.  Bill  crimson,  skin  round  the  eye 
and  chin  vermilion  ;  legs  crimson,  the  scales  on  the  front  of 
the  tarsus  and  on  feet  black,  soles  of  feet  vermilion.  Total 
length  41*20  in,,  wing  22  in.,  tarsus  8  in.,  tail  9*30  in., 
culmen  7"30  in. 

$ ,  4th  March,  191G.  Soft  parts  as  above.  Total  length 
4375  in.,  wing  23-30  in.,  tail  10'-20  in.,  culmen  7-4  in., 
tarsus  8'40  in. 

I  saw,  while  riding  on  the  plain  near  Newchwang,  in 
1889,  two  large  birds,  which  were  without  doubt  Black 
Storks. 

266.  Ardea  manillensis  Meyen. 
Ardea  purpurea  D.  &  0.  p.  438. 
Ardea  manillensis  La  T.  p.  583, 

The  Eastern  Purple  Heron  is  common  on  migration.  It 
was  specially  abundant  in  1911,  when  I  saw  numbers  in  the 
marshes  on  the  14th  of  April.  On  the  6th  of  October 
following,  some  200  passed  over  the  plain.  It  passes  in 
April,  JNlay,  September,  and  October. 

267.  M'dea  cinerea  L. 

Ardea  cinerea  D.  &  O.  p.  437;  La  T.  p.  582. 

The  Grey  Heron  is  an  abundant  migrant.  It  ))asses  from 
the  latter  half  of  March  to  the  end  of  May  and  from  the 
last  ten  days  of  July  to  the  end  of  October.  A  few  must 
summer  in  the  vicinity  of  Chinwangtao,  as  I  have  seen  twice 
in  the  early  summer  a  pair  which  were  evidently  settled  for  the 
breeding-season.  Hard-sat  eggs  were  brought  to  me  on  the 
26th  of  May,  1917,  and  two  young  birds  tlie following  June. 

I  saw  the  Grey  Heron  at  Newchwang  in  May  1889. 

'd2 


36  Mr.  J.  D.  D.  La  Touclie  on  the  [Ibis, 

268.  Herodias  alba  L. 
Herodias  alba  D.  &  O.  p.  439. 

A  single  Great  Egret  was  seen  at  the  marshes  on  the  5th 
of  November,  1911. 

Large  wliite  Herons,  seen  near  Newchwang  on  the  19th  of 
May,  1889,  were  most  probably  of  this  species. 

269.  Butorides  javanicus  amurensis  Schrenck. 
Butorides  macrorhynchus  D.  &  O.  p.  413. 
Butorides  amurerisis  La  T.  p.  583. 

The  collectors  saw  an  example  of  the  Little  Green  Heron 
on  the  31st  of  May,  1913  ;  I  saw  another  at  the  port  on  the 
22nd  of  May,  1914.  A  friend  sent  me  a  live  adult  bird  on 
the  4th  of  June,  1914,  which  I  released  after  taking  measure- 
ments and  noting  the  colour  of  the  soft  parts.  These  were 
as  follows  : — Iris  yellow,  lower  mandible  and  sides  of  upper 
mandible  and  skin  of  lores  greenish-yellow,  legs  yellowish- 
green.     Wing  7*80  in.,  culmen  2"50  in. 

270.  Botaurus  stellaris  (L.). 

Botaurus  stellaris  D.  &  O.  p.  446  ;  La  T.  p.  583. 

The  Bittern  is  often  seen  on  migration.  It  occurs  from 
the  end  of  March  and  during  April,  and  during  the  latter 
half  of  September  and  the  first  few  days  of  October. 

271.  Nyctiardea  nycticorax  (L.). 

Nyctiardea  nycticorax  D.  &  0.  p.  444  ;  La  T.  p.  583. 

The  Night-Heron  was  shot  by  the  collectors  on  the  29th 
of  March,  1913,  and  seen  by  them  on  the  29th  of  April 
following.  I  believe  that  I  saw  one  in  the  marshes  on  the 
28th  of  September,  1913. 

272.  Ardetta  eurythma  Swinhoe. 

Ardetta  eurythma  D.  &  O.  p.  447  ;  La  T.  p.  583. 

Von  Schrenck's  Little  Bittern  summers  in  the  district. 
I  saw  a  specimen  on  the  28th  of  May,  1911,  the  collectors 
shot  one  on  the  20th  of  May,  1913,  and  I  have  a  specimen 
taken  in  autumn  by  a  native  hunter. 

I  collected  a  male  example  at  Newchwang  on  the  19th  of 
May,  1889. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  uf  North-East  Chihli.  37 

273.  Ardetta  sinensis  (Gm.). 
Ar delta  sinensis  D.  &  O.  p.  448. 

I  have  not  obtained  any  specimens  of  the  Chinese  Little 
Bittern  in  the  vicinity  of  Chinwangtao,  but  I  liave  a  number 
of  the  eggs  of  the  bird,  which  were  brought  to  me  from  the 
Hsien  Chia  Ying  marshes  and  which  had  been  taken  in  June 
and  July. 

274.  Cygnus  cygnus  (L.). 
Cygnus  ferns  D.  &  O.  p.  493. 

An  example  of  the  Whooper  was  exposed  for  sale  in  the 
market  during  January  1912. 

A  handsome  adult  Swan,  which  I  originally  took  to  be  of 
this  species  but  which  I  now  think  must  be  an  adult  male 
C.jankoivskyi,  was  brought  to  me  alive  on  the  19th  of  March, 
1917.  It  had  been  snared  and  was  quite  uninjured.  This 
bird  lived  in  our  yard  throughout  the  summer  and  did  not 
appear  to  suft'er  from  the  summer  heat.  It  was  successfully 
taken  to  Shanghai  when  we  left  Chinwangtao  in  the  follow- 
ing October  and  was  given  to  Pere  Courtois,  the  Curator  of 
the  Sikawei  Museum,  who  has  placed  it,  together  with  the 
other  wild  fowl  presented  to  him  by  me  that  autumn,  in  a 
large  ench^sure  attached  to  the  Museum.  This  Swan  refused 
all  food  until  the  22nd  of  March,  when  it  ate  some  soaked 
bread.  The  next  day  it  ate  boiled  green  beans,  and  until 
late  in  the  summer,  when  it  began  to  eat  the  bran  and 
kaoliang  given  to  the  other  wild  fowl  in  the  yard,  it  would 
touch  nothing  but  these  boiled  green  beans.  It  became 
fairly  tame  after  a  few  weeks,  but  never  came  up  to  ask  for 
its  food  like  the  wild  geese  did.  At  the  end  of  March  it 
began  to  call,  the  sound  being  a  gentle  "  cook  cook.'' 
Later  in  the  summer  and  in  the  autumn  it  occasionally 
uttered  a  loud  call  sounding  something  like  "  waw ''  or 
"wow."  Several  times  during  the  spring  this  bird  and  its 
companion  in  captivity  (a  (\  jankoivskyi)  were  seen  to 
perform  a  curious  wild  dance  round  the  yard,  running 
madly  with  open  wings  and  uttering  love  screams.  I  did  not 
witness  these  performances  myself,  but  they  tcjok  place  in 
the  presence  of  my  children,  who  reported  the  facts  to  me. 


38  Mr.  J.  D.  D.  La  Touche  on  the  [Ibis, 

The  somewhat  orange-yellow  patch  on  the  bill  and  fore- 
head of  this  Swan  does  not  extend  beyond  the  nostril, 
reaching  only  to  the  posterior  end  of  the  aperture.  It 
measured  from  the  feathers  on  the  forehead  1*4<  in.  in 
length.  The  culmen  and  bare  forehead  together  measured 
■1'4  in.  The  shape  of  the  head  is  rounded^  the  featliering 
stopping  at  a  line  above  the  eye. 

275.  Cygnus  jankowskyi  Alpheraky. 

Cygnus  mitior  D.  &  O.  p.  494. 

Cygnus  jankowskyi  La  T.  p.  584. 

I  saw  Swans  on  five  occasions  during  March  1911,  and 
the  collectors  saw  several  large  parties  and  flocks  in  March 
1913^  and  on  the  1st  of  April  that  year.  Since  then  I  have 
not  noticed  them  passing,  but  most  probably  overlooked 
the  passage.  An  example  shot  at  the  Hsieh  Chia  Ying 
mai'shes  by  the  collectors  was  identified  by  Mr.  Ogilvie- 
Grant  as  being  a  specimen  of  Jankowski^s  Swan.  I  have 
two  others  :  an  adult  bird  shot  here  on  the  19th  of  March, 
1911,  and  an  immature  bird  from  Shanhaikuan,  shot  at  the 
end  of  March  or  beginning  of  April  1914. 

I  purchased  a  winged  adult  bird  on  the  17th  of  March, 
1917,  which  I  kept  in  our  yard  until  the  following  October, 
when  I  took  it  to  Shanghai  with  the  other  Swan  mentioned 
above.  This  bird  recovered  from  its  wound  after  a  few 
weeks,  but  it  was  several  days  before  it  would  feed. 
Eventually  it  took  to  a  diet  of  boiled  green  beans  and,  like 
its  unwounded  companion,  ended  by  eating  also  the  soaked 
bran  and  kaoliang  given  to  the  other  wild  fowl.  Many  weeks 
passed,  however,  before  it  would  eat  in  the  presence  of 
anyone.  The  iris  of  this  bird  when  it  was  in  my  possession 
was  greyish,  and  the  bird's  facies  was  very  different  from 
that  of  its  companion.  The  line  of  the  forehead  feather- 
ing was  prolonged  at  an  angle  over  the  base  of  the  upper 
mandible,  the  feathering  reaching  to  a  distance  from  which 
a  line  could  be  drawn  through  the  centre  of  the  eye,  whereas 
in  the  other  Swan,  as  noted  above,  this  feathering  stopped 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  North-East  fJhihli.  39 

above  the  eye.  Tlie  shape  of  the  head  was  also  different, 
being  angular,  not  rounded  as  in  the  other  bird. 

Pere  Courtois  considers  these  two  Swans  to  be  both 
jankoivskyi  (see  Ois.  du  Musee  de  Sikawei,  p.  120, 
Man.  cone.  PHist.  Nat.  de  I'emp.  Chinois,  Tome  v.  3™^ 
cahier,  1918). 

Swans  were  abundant  on  passage  at  Newcliwang  during 
the  spring  of  1890,  and  the  natives  brought  several,  both 
alive  and  dead,  for  sale. 

Mr.  A.  L.  Hall,  who  was  for  some  years  stationed  in 
northern  Chihli,  on  the  borders  of  the  Gobi  desert,  informed 
me  that  he  had  shot  Snow-Geese  there.  These  birds  are 
said  to  occur  near  Tientsin.  Cyytius  davidi  so  far  has  not 
been  re-discovered.     The  type  has  been  apparently  lost. 

276.  Anser  cygnoides  (L.). 
Anser  cygnoides  D.  &  O.  p.  493. 

The  only  Swan-Goose  seen  by  me  here  is  one  which  I 
shot  at  the  marshes  on  the  10th  of  October,  1912.  It  was 
a  wounded  bird,  a  male  in  poor  condition,  probal)ly  a  bird 
of  the  year,  as  the  bill  showed  no  sign  of  a  tubercle.  Culmeu 
2*5  in.,  wing  16*7  in. 

This  Goose  used  to  be  abundant  at  the  mouth  of  the  River 
Liao  (near  Newcliwang).  1  shot  several  there  in  1889  from 
the  beginning  of  September. 

277.  Anser  anser  rubrirostris  Hodgson. 
Aviser  cinereus  D.  &  O.  p.  491. 

Anser  rubrirostris  La  T.  p.  583. 

The  Eastern  Grey  Lag-Goose  appears  to  be  uncommon. 
Two  specimens  shot  in  March  at  the  Hsieh  Chia  Ying 
marshes  are  in  the  British  Museum. 

278.  Anser  segetum  (Gm,). 

Anser  segetum  D.  &  O.  p.  491  (part)  ;  La  T.  p.  583. 
The  Bean-Goose  is  apparently  very  common  during  times 
of  passage,  judging  from  the  proportion  of  these  birds  shot 


40  Mr.  J.  D.  D.  La  Touclie  on  the  [Ibis, 

as  compared  with  the  other  Bean-Geese.  S})ecimeiis  col- 
lected in  the  spring  of  1913  were  all  shot  from  the  19th 
to  the  31st  of  March. 

Geese  pass  in  spring  from  the  end  of  February  to  the 
middle  of  April,  and  in  autumn  from  the  end  of  August  or 
be<j;inning  of  September  to  the  5th  or  6th  of  November. 

I  kept  at  Chinwangtao  live  examples  of  the  Common  Bean- 
Goose.  One  which  I  had  for  two  years  was  purchased  from 
a  hawker  in  the  autumn  of  1915.  It  was  extremely  tame 
fromthe  very  beginniug,aud  has  since  become  the  inseparable 
companion  of  two  domestic  ganders,  following  them  every- 
where and  showing  much  distress  when  separated  from 
them,  honking  loudly  until  re-united  to  them.  During  the 
winter  it  suftered  much  from  the  cold  and  at  that  season 
constantly  uttered  a  plaintive  squeak.  During  the  hot 
weather  it  was  almost  equally  incommoded,  and  then  ran 
about  the  yard  seeking  shelter  with  a  perpetual  tremulous 
honk.  It  moulted  the  contour-feathers  in  the  spring  and 
the  wing-quills  in  September.  This  Goose  was  very  jealous 
of  the  other  wild  geese  in  the  yard,  and  would  attack  them 
and  chase  them  away. 

I  have  noticed  that  these  birds  ajjpeared  to  be  fond  of 
cooked  meat. 

Bean-Geese  were  very  abundant  at  Newchwang  in  the 
spring  of  1890. 

279.  Anser  segetmn  serrirostris  Swinhoc. 

A/iser  seyctuiii  D.  &  O.  p.  491  (j)art). 

Anser  serrirostris  La  T.  p.  SSii. 

The  Eastern  Beau-Goose  is  about  as  common  on  passage 
as  Anser  segetmn.  I  have  seen  or  shot  examples  in  March 
and  October.  I  purchased  two  live  winged  birds  in  March 
1917 — one  escaped,  but  the  other  became  suthciently  domes- 
ticated and  was  also  sent  to  Shanghai  in  October  1917.  This 
bird  had  a  deep  honk  very  different  from  that  of  the  Goose 
mentioned  above.  It  had  a  trick  of  standing  sentry  on  a 
low  wall  in  the  yai'd,  Avhere  it  would  renuun  for  a  long  time, 
and  often,  if  disturbed,  it  would  walk  off'  balancing  itself 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  North- East  Chifili,  41 

like   a    tiglit-rope  dancer   along    the    sharp -edged   ridge   or 
coping  of  the  wall. 

280.  Anser  middendorffi  Severtz. 
Anser  segetum  D.  &:  O.  p.  491  (part). 
Anser  middendorffi  La  T.  p.  583. 

A  specimen  of  the  Great  Bean-Goose  Avas  shot  at  Cliin- 
wangtao  on  the  29th  of  October,  1911,  and  two  at  the  Hsieh 
Chia  Ying  marshes  on  the  29th  of  March,  1913,  and  in  March 
1914.  Besides  these  I  have  one  from  Shaweishan,at  the  mouth 
of  the  Yangtse,  and  there  is  another  shot  at  ru-an,in  north- 
eastern Fohkien,  on  tlie  3rd  of  January,  1914,  which  is  in  the 
British  Museum  (Natural  History).  This  fine  Goose,  which 
may  be  distinguished  at  a  glance  from  the  other  Bean-Geese 
found  in  the  Far  East  l)y  its  very  long  and  large  bill,  is  not 
very  rare  on  the  coast,  aVid  it  is  strange  that  it  should 
have  been  overlooked  by  Swiuhoe.  It  is,  however,  by  far 
the  least  common  of  the  Chinese  Beau-Geese.  Tang  Wang- 
wang,  my  former  collector  at  Foochow,  wrote  to  me  this  last 
winter  that  this  Goose  was  very  abundant  in  January  1916 
in  the  Shanghai  market.  Two  males  in  my  collection  from 
Shaweishan  and  Hsieh  Chia  Ying  measure  19  in.  in  the  wing. 
The  bills  in  five  specimens  measure  as  follows  :  Culmen 
72  mm.  to  86  mm.     Number  of  teeth  24  to  29. 

Mr.  Sowerby,  in  his  '  Sportsman's  Miscellany,'  mentions 
the  shooting  of  several  of  these  Geese  on  the  Yangtse,  where 
he  states  they  are  numerous.  The  weight  of  one,  shot  by 
Mr.  H.  E.  Gibson  of  Shanghai,  is  given  in  this  work  (p.  90) 
as  having  been  13^  lbs. 

281.  Anser  albifrons  (Gm.). 

Anser  albifrons  U.  &  O.  p.  492  ;  La  T.  p.  583. 

The  White-fronted  Goose  is  quite  common  in  spring. 
It  passes  in  March  and  during  the  first  half  of  April, 
I  have  no  record  of  the  autunni  passage. 

The  soft  parts  of  birds  shot  are : — Bill  pinkish-flesh, 
nail  white;   legs  orange  j  the  rim  of  the  eyelid  is  brown. 


42  Mr.  J.  D.  D.  La  Touclie  on  the  [Ibis, 

The  following  are  measurements  of  four  birds  in  my 
collection : — 

Foochow,  (^ Culmen  l-75iu.  Wing  16-25  in. 

S     „         1-97  „  „      16-50  „ 

Chinkiang „          1-75  ,,  ,,       16-75  „ 

Chinwangtao,  $  ...  „          1*50  „  ,,       15"75  ,, 

282.  Anser  erythropus  (L.). 

Anser  erythropus  D.  &  O.  p.  492  ;  La  T.  p.  583. 

I  shot  a  Lesser  White-fronted  Goose  on  the  14th  of  April, 
1911,  out  of  a  flock  which  was  resting  on  the  plain. 
A  flock  of  small  Geese,  seen  passing  over  on  the  6th  of 
April,  1913,  was  probably  composed  of  this  species.  The 
soft  parts  of  the  bird  shot  were  as  follows  : — Iris  brown  ; 
rim  of  eyelid  yellow ;  bill  pink  with  a  dark  spot  on  the  nail ; 
legs  orange.  The  culmen  measures  1*25  in.  and  the  wing 
14-90  in.     Sex  ?  . 

White- fronted  Geese  were  very  common  at  Newchwang 
in  the  spring  of  ]  890.  I  procured  a  specimen  which,  to  the 
best  of  my  recollection,  was  of  the  larger  species. 

283.  Tadorna  cornuta  (Gm.). 
Tadorna  belonii  D.  &  O.  p.  497. 
Tadorna  cornuta  La  T.  p.  584. 

The  Common  Sheldrake  passes  in  April  and  from  mid- 
September  to  mid-October. 

284.  Casarca  rutila  (L.). 

Casarca  rutila  D.  &  O.  p.  497;  La  T.  p.  584. 

The  Ruddy  Sheldrake  winters  on  the  plain.  It  passes 
throughout  March  to  the  beginning  of  May  and  in  autumn 
from  the  latter  half  of  October. 

285.  Anas  boscas  L. 

Anas  boschas  D.  &  O.  p.  495  ;  La  T.  p.  584. 

The  Mallard  is  one  of  the  commonest  Ducks.  I  have 
observed  it  from  the  beginning  of  March  to  the  beginning 
of  May,  and  from  the  20th  of  September  to  the  beginning  of 


192 1.]  Birds  of  North- East  Chihli.  43 

November.     A  few  winter  in  the  mountains   on  unfrozen 
streams. 

A  winged  bird  kept  with  the  fowls  and  a  tame  duck  became 
very  friendly  with  the  latter,  and  after  a  few  months  lost 
most  of  its  natural  shyness,  feeding  with  the  domestic  bird 
and  quacking  witli  it  in  concert  when  its  food  was  brought 
to  the  chicken-yard. 

286.  Anas  zonorhyncha  Swinhoe. 

Anas  zonorhyncha  D.  &  O.  p.  496  ;   La  T.  p.  584. 

Tiie  Yellow-Nib  Duck  passes  in  March  and  April,  and 
from  the  beginning  of  September  to  November.  It  probably 
breeds  here  as  elsewhere  in  China.  I  have  seen  it  hanging 
in  the  game-shops  in  the  market  during  January. 

This  Duck  was  observed  by  me  near  Newchwang  in  early 
summer. 

287.  Eunetta  falcata  (Pallas). 

Euaettu  falcata  D.  &  0,  p.  504  ;  La  T.  p.  585. 

The  Falcated  Teal  is  extremely  abundant  from  the  middle 
of  March  to  the  beginning  of  May  and  during  the  latter 
half  of  September,  remaining  until  the  end  of  October,  and 
occasionally  during  November^  as  four  were  noted  on  the 
13th  of  November,  1911. 

A  winged  bird,  purchased  in  the  spring  of  1913,  partly 
put  on  eclipse  plumage  late  in  the  summer.  The  forehead, 
crown,  lores,  and  sides  of  the  head  became  brown,  the  fore- 
head and  crown  being  barred  with  deep  bufE.  Scapulars 
brown,  vermiculated  or  barred  with  dull  light  reddish- 
brown  ;  the  flanks  reddish-brown,  evenly  barred  with  pale 
rufons,  ring  round  the  neck  deep  brown;  chin  and  sides  of 
neck  speckled  with  brown. 

288.  Chaulelasmus  streperus  (L.). 

Chaulelasmus  streperus  D.  &  O.  p.  499;  La  T.  p.  585. 

1  shot  a  male  Gadwall  on  the  12th  of  April,  1911,  and  a 
female  on  the  28th  of  September,  1913.  This  is  one  of  the 
less  common  Ducks  in  China. 


44  Mr.  J.  D.  D.  La  Touehe  on  the  [Ibis, 

289.  Nettion  formosum  (Georgi). 
Eunetta  formosa  D.  &  O.  p.  503. 
Nettion  formosum  La  T.  p.  585. 

The  Spectacled  or  Baikal  Teal  is  extremely  abundant  on 
passage.  It  passes  from  about  the  10th  of  March  to  the  end 
o£  that  mouthy  and  from  the  beginning  of  September  to  the 
end  of  October. 

290.  Nettion  crecca  (L.). 
Querquedula  crecca  D.  &  0.  p.  503. 
Nettion  crecca  La  T.  p.  585. 

The  Common  Teal  is  very  abundant  in  spring  and  autumn. 
It  passes  from  about  the  10th  of  March  to  about  the  20th  of 
April,  and  from  the  beginning  of  September  to  the  end  of 
October.  As  I  have  seen  it  in  the  winter  in  the  game-stalls 
in  the  market,  it  is  most  probable  that  a  few  winter  in  the 
mountains. 

This  Teal  was  one  of  the  commonest  Ducks  at  Newchwang 
in  1889-90. 

291.  Mareca  penelope  (L.). 

Mareca  penelope  D.  &  O.  p.  499  ;  La  T.  p.  585. 

I  saw  and  sliot  AVigeou  in  April  1911  and  April  1913,  and 
saw  one  shot  iu  October  1912.  It  does  not  appear  to  be  so 
common  as  most  of  the  Ducks. 

292.  Dafila  acuta  (L.). 

Bajila  acuta  D.  &  O.  p.  498 ;   La  T.  p.  584. 

The  Pintail  is  perhaps  the  most  abundant  of  the  larger 
Ducks.  I  have  seen  it  from  the  end  of  February  to  the 
middle  of  April,  and  from  the  middle  of  September  to  the 
end  of  October. 

The  Pintail  was  with  the  Common  Teal  the  most  abundant 
Duck  at  Newchwang  in  1889-90. 

293.  Querquedula  circia  (L.). 

Querquedula  circia  D.  &  O.  p.  502  ;  La  T.  p.  585. 
The  Garganey  appears  at  the  end  of  March  and  during 
September.     In  1913  it  was  seen  as  late  as  the  31st  of  May. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  North-East  Chihli.  45 

294.  iEx  galericiilata  (L.). 

Aix  gnlericulata  1).  &  O.  p.  501. 

jEx  galericiilata  La  T.  p.  584. 

A  female  Mandarin-Duck  was  shot  by  the  collectors  on 
the  17tli  of  Aprilj  1913.  This  is  the  only  specimen  of  this 
species  that  I  have  seen  here. 

The  Mandarin-Duck  was  found  breeding  in  Manchnrian 
forests  by  Mr.  A.  de  C.  Sowerby. 

295.  Spatula  clypeata  (L.). 

Spatula  clypeata  D.  &  O.  p.  500;  La  T.  p.  585. 

The  Shoveler  is  to  be  seen  on  passage  from  about  the 
10th  of  March  to  the  middle  of  May^  and  again  commonly 
during  the  first  fifteen  days  of  October.  It  doubtless  occurs 
also  in  September. 

296.  Fuligula  ferriiginea  (Gm.). 
Fulix  iiyroca  D.  &  O.  p.  507. 

The  White-eyed  Duck  is  extremely  abundant  during  the 
latter  half  of  September  and  beginning  of  October.  It 
remains  until  the  end  of  the  latter  month.  This  Duck, 
which  is  said  bv  Pere  David  to  abound  near  Peking:  in 
spring,  has  never  to  my  knowledge  been  recorded  on  the 
Lower  Yangtse  or  in  south-east  China,  but  I  believe  that 
two  or  three  White-eyed  Ducks  seen  in  the  Shasi  (Hupeh 
province)  market  on  the  25th  of  February,  1918,  were  of 
this  species. 

297.  Fuligula  mar ila  (L.). 
Fulix  inarila  D.  &  O.  p.  507. 

I  saw  several  Scaup  on  the  16th  of  April,  1916,  on  the 
large  pond  at  Chinwangtao. 

298.  Fuligula  cristata  (L.). 

Fulix  cristata  D.  &  O.  p.  508  ;  La  T.  p.  585. 

The  Tufted  Duck  is  common  in  spring  and  in  October. 


46  Mr.  J.  D.  D.  La  Touche  on  the  [Ibis, 

299.  Clangula  glaucion  (L.). 
Bucephala  clausula  D.  &  O.  p.  505. 
Clangula  glaucion  La  T.  p.  585. 

The  Golden-Eye  is  common  in  spring  during  March  and 
April,  and  from  the  beginning  of  October  until  the  marshes 
freeze  over.  In  winter  it  may  be  seen  on  the  sea  near  the 
shore  in  open  places,  and  it  is  the  commonest  Duck  exposed 
for  sale  at  that  season. 

300.  Harelda  glacialis  (L.). 
Harelda  glacialis  D.  &  O.  p.  506. 

I  procured  an  immature  male  of  the  Long-tailed  Duck  in 
the  market  on  the  5th  of  April,  1916,  and  on  the  following 
day  an  adult  fem.Tle.  These  would  appear  to  be  the  second 
and  third  examples  of  this  Duck  to  l)e  recorded  from  northern 
China.  The  first  known  example,  according  to  Pere  David, 
was  sliot  at  Taku  (month  of  the  Peiho).  The  measurements 
and  colour  of  soft  parts  of  the  birds  obtained  at  Chinwangtao 
were  as  follows  : — 

(J.  Iris  hazel-brown;  upper  mandible  black  with  orange- 
red  band  just  before  the  nail,  lower  mandiljle  dark  pink 
along  the  edge  and  pale  pink  along  the  middle  :  legs  very 
pale  grey  v\itli  daik  webs  and  joints.  Culmen  1*15,  wing 
870,  tail  (worn)  3-00,  tarsus  1-50,  total  length  1730 in. 

$  .  Iris  hazel ;  base  of  upper  and  lower  mandible  pale 
dull  green,  culmen  and  apical  part  of  upper  and  lower 
mandible  blackish ;  legs  as  in  the  male.  Wing  8'65,  total 
length  17  in. 

301.  Oidemia  carl)o  (Pallas). 
Oidemia  fusca  D.  &  O.  p.  504. 
Oidemia  carbu  La  T.  p.  585. 

I  obtained  females  and  an  adult  male  of  the  Eastern 
Velvet  Scoter  in  the  market  during  December  1912  and  on 
the  6th  and  21st  of  February  following  ;  Captain  Stewart, 
124th  Baluchis,  gave  me  two  adult  males,  found  hy  him 
dead  or  dying  on  the  seashore.     These  and  the  male  obtained 


192 1.]  Birds  of  North- East  Chihli.  4)7 

in  the  market  were  greatly  emaciated,  merely  skin  and  bone, 
and  had  evidently  died  of  starvation.  The  stomach  of  all 
three  birds  was  empty,  containing  but  one  broken  bivalve. 
The  same  year  (1913)  the  collectors  met  on  the  14th  of  April 
a  man  with  a  number  of  netted  birds,  just  caught.  The  soft 
parts  of  the  birds  obtained  in  winter  were  coloured  as 
follows  : — 

(^ .  Bill,  tubercle  and  base  black,  apical  half  yellow  with 
triangular  red  patch  on  either  side  of  the  culnien ;  legs  and 
feet  vermilion  with  blackish  joints  and  webs. 

?  .  Bill  black  ;  legs  brownish  black  washed  with  reddish. 

302.  Mergusalbellus  (L.). 
^lergellus  albeUus  D.  &  O.  p.  509. 
Mergus  albeUus  La  T.  p.  586. 

The  Smew  may  be  seen  in  October  and  at  the  beginning 
of  November,  and  probably  winters.  It  is  commonly  seen 
in  the  game-shops  during  winter.  It  passes  also  during 
March  and  April. 

303.  Mergus  merganser  (L.). 

Mergus  merganser  D.  &  O.  p.  510;  La  T.  p.  585. 

Specimens  of  the  Goosander  are  often  seen  in  the  market 
during  the  winter.  I  have  noticed  this  bird  in  late  autumn, 
and  probably  some  winter  on  the  mountain  streams. 

304'.  Colymbus  septentrionalis  (L,). 

Colymbus  septentrionalis  D.  &  O.  p.  512. 

A  Diver,  seen  in  a  game-shop  at  the  end  of  November,  was 
apparently  a  Red-throated  Diver.  I  have  seen  at  various 
times  in  spring  and  autumn  Divers  fishing  in  the  harbour 
or  its  vicinity,  but  I  did  not  ascertain  to  what  species  they 
belonged. 

305.  Podiceps  minor  philippensis  (Bonnat.). 
Fodiceps  philippensis  D.  &  O.  p.  512. 

The  Dabchick  is  common  on  ponds  during  October  and  in 
spring.     I  have  an  example  from  the  Cbienan  district. 


48  Mr.  T.  Carter  on  some  [Ibis, 

306.  Podiceps  nigricollis  (Rrehm). 
Podiceps  nigricoUis  D.  &  O.  p.  513. 

A  Grebe,  seen  on  the  pond  at  Cliinwangtao,  on  the  IGtli  of 
April,  191G,  appeared  to  be  the  Eared  Grebe. 

307.  Podiceps  cristatus  (L.). 
Podiceps  cristatus  D.  &  O.  p.  514. 

The  Great  Crested  Grebe  appeared  in  March  and  April, 
and  in  autumn  is  seen  as  late  as  the  middle  of  November. 
I  have  seen  this  bird  fishing  in  the  harbour  during  the  latter 
month,  and  shot  one  on  a  creek  on  the  17th  of  November, 
1910. 


III. —  On  some  Western  Australian  Birds  collected  hetioeen 
the  Nortli-West  Cape  and  Albany  (^)50  miles  apart). 
By  Thomas  Carter,  M.B.O.U.,  M.R.A.O.IJ.  With 
Nomenclature  and  Remarks  In/  Gregory  M.  Mathews, 
M.B.O.U.,  M.R.A.O.U. 

(Text-figure  1.) 

[Coutimied  from  Ibis,  1920,  p.  719.] 

Hirundo  neoxena  carteri. 

Western  Welcome  Swallows  were  not  commonly  observed 
(except  those  at  Dirk  Hartog  Island  in  May  191G,  as 
already  recorded  in  '  Ibis,'  October  1917)  until  1  April,  1919, 
when  there  were  great  numbers  perched  on  the  telegraph- 
wires  near  Busselton,  and  more  of  them  in  the  town  itself. 
A  few  were  seen  at  Lake  Muir  on  17  March,  and  a  good 
many  on  the  telephone-wires  between  Augusta  and  Cape 
Leeuwin,  4  April,  1919,  and  also  in  the  same  position  at 
Cape  Naturaliste  Lighthouse  on  11  April. 

Cheramceca  leiicosternum  marngli. 

Western  Black-and-White  Swallows  are  not  commonly 
seen  in  the  south-west,  but  are  always  fairly  plentiful  about 
Carnarvon,  where  colonies  of  them  breed  in  the  perpen- 
dicular banks  of    the    Gascoyne    River    about    September  ; 


1 92 1.]  Western  Australian  Birds.  49 

here  I  saw  many  of  them  so  engaged  in  that  month  in 
1913  and  191(3.  Most  of  the  nests  seemed  to  contain  young 
birds  towards  tlie  end  of  September.  On  19  August,  1916, 
several  were  seen  at  some  sandy  clitfs  north  of  Maud's 
Landing,  where  they  used  to  nest  regularly  in  former 
years. 

Hylochelidon  nigricans  neglecta. 

Western  Tree-Martins  were  constantly  seen  in  all  districts 
visited.  When  I  was  staying  at  the  Point  Cloates  Light- 
house in  191G  there  were  a  few  davs  of  exceedingly  rough 
and  cold  weather  in  the  first  week  in  July,  the  temperature 
being  down  to  45°  F.  at  sunrise.  On  several  mornings,  from 
three  to  six  dead  'free-Martins  were  laid  on  the  verandah. 
Fledged  young  birds  were  seen  at  Blinilya  on  9  September, 
1916,  being  fed  by  the  parents,  and  also  at  Broome  Hill  on 
23  February,  1919. 

Lagenoplastes  ariel  conigravi. 

Western  Fairy  Martins  are  very  local  in  distribution. 
The  only  place  where  any  were  seen  was  at  the  Minilya 
Station  early  in  September  1916.  About  sixty  nests  had 
been  built  in  the  cart-shed,  attached  to  the  underside  of  the 
corrugated-iron  roofing.  All  the  young  birds  had  left  the 
nests  on  that  date.  I  was  told  by  Mr.  McLeod  that  many 
nests  were  detached  by  the  alternate  expansion  and  con- 
traction of  the  iron. 

Petroica  multicolor  campljelli. 

Western  Scarlet- breasted  Robins  were  frequently  seen  in 
all  south-western  districts. 

Whiteornis  goodenovi  ruficapillus. 

Western  Hed-capjjed  Robins  are  usually  only  seen  in  the 
winter  months  (May  to  October)  about  Broome  Hill,  and 
I  was  surprised  to  see  one  there  on  3  February,  1919. 
Several  were  seen  about  Woolundra  (one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  north  of  Broome  Hill)  on  23  May,  and  many  others 
from  Carnarvon  to  North-West  Cape  on  different  trips  in 

?KK,  XI. VOL.   III.  E 


50 


Mr.  T.  Carter  on  some 
Text-figure  1. 


[Ibis, 


Map  of  part  of  Western  Australia  to  show  INfr.  Carter's  localities 
and  route. 


1 92 1.]  Western  Australian  Birds.  51 

the  winter  months,   when   they  are   usually   fairly  common 
there. 

Melanodryas  cucullata  westralensis. 

Western  Hooded  Robin?  were  seen  in  the  Broome  Hill 
district,  where  they  are  fairly  common,  but  do  not  seem  to 
occur  in  the  heavily  timbered  areas  to  the  south-west. 
They  were  also  noticed  all  along  the  North-West  Cape 
ranges. 

Smicrornis  brevirostris  occid  en  talis. 

Westralian  Tree-Tits  were  abundant  about  Broome  Hill 
and  Giiowangerup  in  February  and  March  1919,  especially 
in  the  thickets  of  dwarf  eucalyptus  (Maalock,  Mallet,  etc.). 

Etheloniis  tenebrosa  christopheri. 

Allied  Dusky  Fly-eaters,  first  obtained  by  me  in  the 
mangroves  at  (.Carnarvon  in  September  1911  (cf.  Mathews, 
Nov.  Zool.  xviii.  1912,  p.  311 ),  were  numerous  then,  and 
also  in  September  1913  and  June  1916  ;  but  between 
the  18th  and  27th  of  September  in  the  latter  year  I  only 
saw  one  bird,  which  was  a  breeding  male,  and  failed  to 
discover  any  nests.  This  is  a  very  unobtrusive  little  bird, 
and  tame  in  disposition,  going  about  in  small  parties,  and 
often  in  company  with  Zosterops  lutea  halstoni.  Only  one 
was  noticed  in  the  large  patch  of  mangroves  near  the 
North-West  Cape,  where  I  spent  four  days  early  in  August 
191G.  None  were  seen  in  the  mangroves  of  Peron  peninsula, 
Shark  Bay. 

Etheloniis  fusca  fusca. 

Western  Fly-eaters  were  very  plentiful  in  young  eucalyptus 
trees  at  Lake  Muir  in  March  1919,  and  were  seen  in  lesser 
numbers  in  other  south-west  districts. 

Cluoyornis  georgianus. 

Only  two  White-breasted  Shrike-Robins  were  seen  in  the 
course  of  the  four  visits  to  the  south-west,  viz.,  one  near 
Cape  Leeuwin  in  March  1916,  and  one  at  the  Warren  River 


52  Mr.  T.  Carter  on  soine  [Ibis, 

in  Marcli  1919.  None  were  noticed  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape 
Mentelle,  where  they  were  not  uncommon  wlien  I  was  there 
in  1903,  and  the  coastal  scrubs  \^  ere  intact,  'lliis  is  a  very 
seclusive,  quiet  species,  feeding  on  tlie  ground  beneath  thick 
scrub,  especially  near  any  small  brook. 

Pachycephala  pectoralis  occidentalis. 

Western  Thickheads  were  common  about  Broome  Hill, 
and  all  south-western  districts. 

Lewinornis  rufiventris  didimus. 

T  did  not  see  a  single  specimen  of  the  Southern  liufous- 
broasted  Thickhead  on  my  1919  trip,  although  they  are 
usually  common  about  Broome  Hill. 

Gilbertovnis  inornata  gilbertii. 

No  Blaek-lored  Thickheads  were  seen  in  February  or 
March  1919  about  Broome  Hill,  although  they  are  usually 
fairly  numerous  there,  their  loud  notes  speedily  attracting 
attention. 

Alisterornis  lanioides  carnarvoni. 

The  type  of  the  Carnarvon  White -bellied  Thickhead 
was  obtained  b}-^  me  on  2S  September,  1913  (see  Mathews, 
'  Austral  Avian  Record,'  vol.  ii.  p.  75).  It  was  an  immature 
male,  apparently  breeding,  and  my  attention  to  it  was 
attracted  by  the  loud  melodious  thrush-like  notes  that  it 
was  uttering,  as  it  fed  under  some  dense  mangroves.  When 
I  picked  the  bird  up,  my  first  impression  was  that  I  had 
secured  a  new  Shrike-  i'hrush,  to  which  species  there  is  a 
striking  I'esemblance  in  the  {dumage  of  female  and  immature 
birds,  and  also  in  the  size  of  the  beak. 

On  30  September,  1913,  I  saw  a  similar  bird,  also  below 
some  mangroves,  busily  eating  small  crabs  and  other  Crus- 
tacea on  the  edge  of  the  receding  tide.  This  specimen  was 
a  female  with  enlarged  ovaries.  My  next  visit  to  tliese 
mangroves  was  early  in  June  1916,  and  on  the  Gth  of  that 
month  I  shot  a  male  bird  in  full  plumage,  but  dissection 
showed   that  it  was  not  breeding  then.     I  searched  all  the 


1 92 1.]  IVestern  Australian  Birds.  53 

manoroves  round  where  I  had  obtained  it,  but  saw  no  more 
of  these  birds,  nor  any  nest,  in  the  vicinity  ;  but  in  other 
mangroves,  about  a  mile  distant,  I  saw  several  of  them, 
on  different  dates,  feeditio-  on  small  crabs  near  the  edo-e 
of  tlie  sea.  One  of  these  which  I  shot,  for  breedinof  data, 
was  a  female,  and  not  breeding.  I  left  Carnarvon  on 
17  June,  hoping  to  find  these  birds  breeding  on  my  return, 
which  was  on  18  September,  but  between  that  date  and 
the  27th,  when  I  sailed  again  for  Shark  Bay,  I  failed  to 
see  any.  I  should  say  that  their  breeding  season  is  from 
July  to  September. 

A  comparison  of  the  skin  of  the  full-plumaged  male  bird 
mentioned  above,  with  others  in  the  Perth  Museum  from 
localities  north  of  the  North- West  Cape,  showed  sufficient 
differences  to  warrant  subspecific  distinction. 

Eopsaltria  gularis  gularis. 

Grey-breasted  Shrike-liobins  were  observed  all  through 
the  south-west  areas,  and  were  most  plentiful  in  the  vicinity 
of  Gnowangerup  and  Broome  Hill. 

Rhipidura  flabellifera  preissi. 

Western  Fantails  were  common  in  the  south-west 
districts. 

Leucocirca  leucophrys  leucophrys. 

Black-auil-\V' bite  Fantails  were  common  in  all  south- 
western localities,  exce))t  Augusta  and  the  Margaret  River, 
where  none  were  observed.  They  were  also  seen  from 
Shark  Bay  to  I'oint  Cloates,  where  they  occur  as  winter 
visitors,  but  are  not  plentiful. 

Seisura  inquieta  westralensis. 

A  few  Wt^stern  liestless  Flycatchers  were  seen  at  Broome 
Hill  in  February  I'Jl'J,  and  at  the  Vasse  Hiver. 

Pteropodocys  maxima  neglecta. 

Western  Ground  CJuckoo-Shrikes  were  seen  at  Broome 
Hill  in  February  I'JH),  on  two  or  three  occasions.     I  shot 


54  INlr.  T.  Carter  ow  some  [Ibis, 

one  out  of  a  party  of  three,  and  one  of  the  remaniing  birds 
showed  the  greatest  concern  at  the  fate  o£  its  companion, 
hovering  close  round  it,  until  it  was  picked  up. 

This  elegant  bird  is  ver^^  local  in  its  distribution,  and  does 
not  occur  in  heavily-timbered  districts.  I  have  seen  more 
of  them  about  Broome  Hill  than  in  any  other  locality. 

Coracina  novae-hollandiae  westralensis. 

Western  Black-faced  (Juckoo-Shrikes  were  seen  in  most 
of  the  south-  and  mid-western  districts,  and  were  conmion 
about  Broome  Hill  and  Lake  Muir  early  in  191G  and  1919. 
Eggs  were  noted  in  a  nest  at  the  Minilya  River  on  19  Sept- 
ember, 1911,  and  recently  fledged  young  at  the  Vasse  River 
on  16  February,  1916. 

Lalage  tricolor  tricolor. 

White-shouldered  Uaterpillar-eaters  were  fairly  common, 
and  breeding,  in  the  Gascoyne  and  Minilya  districts  in  early 
September,  1913  and  1916. 

Drymodes  bruiineopygia  pallida. 

Pale  Scrub-Robins  occur  in  the  scrub  country  at  Broome 
Hill,  and  also  a  long  way  east  of  it  (Mathews,  Reference 
List,  1913,  only  gives  mid-west  Australia  as  its  range  in 
that  State).  A  male  bird  in  full  moult  was  obtained  at 
Gnowangerup  on  13  February,  1919j  tlie  only  one  seen 
in  the  course  of  n.y  trips.  It  is  a  very  shy  species,  and 
easily  overlooked. 

Hylacola  cauta  whitlocki. 

The  Western  Giound-Wren  is  another  shy  bird  that  occurs 
to  the  east  of  Broome  Hill,  and  is  usually  seen  in  thick 
scrub,  growing  on  stony  or  rough  ground.  I  was  fortunate 
in  seeing  a  good  many  of  them  in  mid-February  1919,  and 
obtained  a  few  specimens  :  but  they  are  difficult  to  shoot  on 
account  of  the  great  speed  at  which  they  hop  and  move 
about  under  the  bushes,  with  tails  erect.  They  remind  me, 
by  their  rapid  elusive  movements,  of  the  Diaphorillas  at 
Shark  Bay. 


1 92 1.]  Western  Australian  Birds.  55 

Pomatostomus  temporalis  rubeculus. 

Red-breasted  Babblers  did  not  seem  to  be  breeding  on 
the  lower  Minilya  River  on  19  Angust,  1911.  Recently 
fledged  young  l)irds  were  seen  tliere  on  2  September,  1916. 

The  above  locality  is  the  only  one  where  I  have  regularly 
seen  these  birds,  which  appear  to  be  always  present  at  the 
same  ])lace.  They  do  not  seem  to  occur  on  the  Lower 
Gascoyne  River,  but  are  common  on  the  upper  parts. 

Morganornis  superciliosus  ashbyi. 

Western  Wliite-browed  Babblers  were  commonly  seen 
about  Broome  Hill,  and  the  inland  areas  of  the  south-west, 
which  are  not  so  heavily  timbered  as  the  coastal  ])Hrts. 
I  had  never  seen  any  of  these  birds  between  the  Vasse 
and  Warren  rivers  until  31  March,  1919,  when  I  came  upon 
a  small  party  near  Warren  House.  A  specimen  obtained 
seemed  to  be  a  typical  M.  s.  ashhiji. 

Morganornis  superciliosus  gwendolense. 

The  (Carnarvon  Babbler  is  a  good  subspecies,  being  much 
smaller  tlian  the  south-western  form,  iM.  s.  aslibyi.  These 
birds  wpi-e,  as  usiuil,  plentiful  in  the  scrub  around  ( 'arnarvon 
in  1911,  1913,  and  1916.  Fledged  young  birds  were  noted" 
there  on  19  September,  1911,  and  three  eggs  were  found  in 
a  nest  on  23  September,  1913.  As  compared  with  a  series 
of  eggs  of  Morganornis  s.  ashhi/i  from  Broome  Hill,  the 
C*arnarvon  eggs  are  much  shorter,  having  both  ends  very 
round  and  blunt,  and  are  "84  of  an  inch  in  length,  those 
from  Broome  Hill  averaging  "96.  The  Carnarvon  eggs  are 
heavily  blotched  all  over  with  purplish  brown,  and  the  black 
hair-streaks,  which  are  usually  numerous  on  eggs  of  M.  s. 
ashhi/i,  only  appear  on  two  of  the  Carnarvon  eggs,  and  are 
limited  to  one  long  streak  on  the  large  end  of  each. 

Calamanthus  fuliginosus  carteri. 

Western  Striated  Field-Wrens  w^ere  seen  in  mid-February 
19J9,on  scrubby  sand-plains  about  thirty  miles  south-east  of 
Broome  Hill,  and,  as  usual,  were  very  wary.  When  staying 
at  Woolundra,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  north  of 


56  ^Ir.  T.  Carter  on  some  [Ibis, 

Broome  Hill,  iu  May  1919,  I  saw  and  heard  a  Calamanthus 
on  sand-plain  country,  but  failed  to  obtain  a  specimen, 
having  no  gun  at  the  time.  It  would  be  interesting  to 
identity  the  birds  occurring  there. 

Calamanthus  campestris  rubiginosus. 

Rusty-red  Field-Wrens  were  seen  at  Maud's  Landing, 
and  specimens  obtained  during  the  hist  week  of  August 
1911  ;  also  at  Maud's  Landing  and  Point  Gloates  at  the 
same  time  in  1913,  and  in  early  July  in  1916,  when  a 
breeding  male  was  obtained  on  7  July  at  Point  Oloates. 
These  birds  breed  immediately  after  any  lieavy  rainfall, 
irrespective  of  the  season. 

Cincloramphus  cruralis  clelandi. 

Western  Brown  Song-Larks  were  common  from  Car- 
narvon northwards,  on  my  visits  in  that  district,  from  early 
June  to  October. 

Maclennania  mathewsi  mathewsi. 

Tlie  above  note  also  ap})lies  to  the  Western  Rufous  Song- 
Lark,  which    species  was    particularly   common    about    the 
'  sandy    banks    of    the    Gascoyne    River.      Recently    fledged 
young  were  noted  on  8  September,  1911. 

Ephthianura  albifrons  westralensis. 

Westralian  White-fi'onted  Chats  were  common  in  south- 
western localities,  except  in  1919,  when  very  few  were  seen, 
the  only  instances  being  at  Lake  Muir,  when  a  suiall  party 
was  seen  on  21  March,  and  considerable  numbers  on  a  bare 
sand-drift  at  (Jape  Naturaliste  on  13  April,  but  they  were 
unusually  wild,  and  no  specimens  were  obtained  at  either 
place. 

Parephthianura  tricolor  assimilis. 

Westralian  Tricoloiu'ed  Chats  were  connnon  from  Car- 
narvon to  Point  Cloates  in  1913  and  1916.  On  21  Auiiust. 
1913,  a  male  bird  was  flushed  from  a  nest  containing  two 
incubated  eggs.  Two  nests,  each  "containing  four  incubated 
eggs,  were  found   on   the   11th  and    16th  of  September  at 


1 92 1.]  Western  Australian  Birds.  57 

Point  Cloates  and  Carnarvon,  respectively.  Other  nests 
examined  between  24  August  and  16  September  contained 
young  birds. 

Aurephthianura  aurifrons  flavescens. 

Western  Orange-lironted  (Jhats  were  scarce  about  Car- 
narvon and  t'artlier  north  in  1911,  but  not  uncommon  on 
salt-marshes  and  samphire-fiats  in  August  and  Septemljer, 
l'.)13  and  191(J.  Recently  fledged  young  were  seen  on 
Maud's  Landing  salt-marsh  on  21  August,  1916. 

Conopoderas  australis  gouldi. 

Lono-billed  Keed- Warblers  were  not  so  plentiful  in 
January  1916  and  March  1919-  at  the  large  freshwater 
swamps  adjoining  Lake  Muir  as  I  had  found  them  on 
previous  visits  ;  but  when  leaving  there  on  22  March,  1919, 
Mr.  Higliam  and  myself  found  a  small  reedy  swamp,  near 
the  south  end  of  the  Lake,  where  Beed-Warblers  and  Grass- 
birds  abounded,  and  we  obtained  specimens  of  both. 

Poodytes  gramineus  thomasi. 

Dark  Grass-birds  were  common  on  the  edges  of  the 
freshwater  swamps  at  Lake  Muir  in  December  1911,  but 
scarce  when  I  was  there  in  January  1916.  On  my  next 
visit,  in  March  1919,  they  were  fairly  common,  and  almn- 
dant  at  the  swamp  mentioned  above.  A  female  shot  there 
on  22  March  appeared  to  have  been  recently  breeding. 
One  of  these  birds,  obtained  at  Augusta  on  7  April,  had 
the  underparts  tawny  yellow,  where  it  is  whitish  on  the 
series  of  skins  I  have  obtained  at  Lake  Muir  and  Albany. 

Eremiornis  carter!  carter!. 

When  at  the  Yardie  Creek,  from  26  August  to  5  Septem- 
ber, 1913,  I  failed  to  see  any  Desert-birds,  and  had  the 
same  bad  luck  when  there  again  for  six  days  in  mid-July, 
1916  ;  so  I  left  there  on  '2o  July,  and  drove  slowly  north, 
carefully  searching  any  patches  of  large  Buck  Spinifex 
{Triodia)  on  my  way,  but  without  any  result  until  the  29th, 
when  I  was  camped  with  two  aborigines  who  had  joined  me, 


58  Mr.  T.  Carter  on  some  [I^^is, 

at  a  rock-hole  of  very  bad  water  at  the  foot  of  the  ranges. 
We  had  been  sjsteniaticall}^  hunting  through,  and  beating 
masses  of  spinifex,  often  breast  high,  that  grew  round  our 
camp,  for  four  days,  when  I  heard  the  familiar  "  chat-chat" 
of  a  Desert-bird,  which  I  had  not  heard  for  thirteen  years. 
After  twice  flushing  the  bird,  I  shot  it,  and  not  being  able 
to  find  where  it  had  fallen,  called  up  one  of  the  natives  to 
help  me,  and  he  very  nearly  spoilt  the  specimen  by  treading 
on  it,  as  it  lay  on  a  flat  piece  of  rock  between  two  masses  of 
spinifex,  missing  it  by  a  bare  inch.  It  w^as  a  male  bird,  and 
undoubtedly  breeding  at  the  time.  We  spent  two  more 
days  there,  but  failed  to  see  or  hear  any  more  of  them,  so 
moved  on  towards  the  North- West  Cape,  as  so  much  time 
was  lost  in  climbing  the  ranges  to  obtain  drinking-water 
there,  as  described  in  the  itinerary  of  this  paper.  No  traces 
of  Desert-birds  having  been  seen  farther  north,  I  camped  at 
the  same  place  on  my  return  journey  on  11  August,  with 
the  same  native.  Soon  after  our  arrival,  we  flushed  one  of 
these  birds  from  a  large  bunch  of  spinifex,  and  I  thought 
it  looked  smaller  than  usual.  I  did  not  shoot,  as  I  wanted 
to  see  whether  the  bird  had  a  nest  ;  so  three  times,  at  intervals 
of  half  an  hour  or  more,  I  cautiously  visited  and  tapped  the 
l)unch,  but  without  anv  results  ;  so  we  got  the  suudl  axe  out 
of  the  buggy,  and  by  the  aid  of  it  and  a  strong  sheath-knife, 
cut  and  pulled  that  bunch  to  pieces  without  finding  any 
trace  of  a  nest  or  seeing  the  bird.  Another  careful  search 
all  round,  the  next  day,  yielded  no  results,  so  I  thought 
that  the  bird  seen  was  probal)ly  one  of  a  recently  fledged 
brood,  and  as  my  time-limit  for  returning  the  hired  buggy 
to  Maud's  Landing  had  nearly  expired,  I  drove  south  again, 
alone,  having  sent  the  native  back  to  the  Cape. 

As  I  was  driving  along,  late  in  the  same  afternoon,  I  saw 
a  Desert-bird  in  some  big  spinifex,  so  tied  up  my  horses  and 
had  a  fruitless  search  in  the  vicinity,  but  could  not  camp 
there  as  my  horses  w;inted  water,  the  nearest  being  several 
miles  farther  south,  where  it  had  to  be  dug  out  with  a 
conch-shell  from  a  depth  of  about  six  feet  of  loose  drifting 
beach-sand.      However,  I    got    them   watered   there   before 


1 92 1.]  Western  Australian  Birds.  59 

dark,  and  camped.  Next  morning  I  had  my  breakfast 
before  dayliglit,  and  getting  in  the  horses,  by  7  A.M.  tlrove 
back  to  where  I  had  seen  the  bird  the  previous  afternoon, 
and  spent  nearly  all  day  there,  beating  through  and  through 
the  spinifex,  with  intervals  of  watching.  One  of  the  birds 
was  twice  flushed  in  dirt'erent  places  (or  it  might  have  been 
the  same  one),  but  although  I  carefully  pulled  all  the 
spinifex  to  pieces  near  where  I  had  seen  them,  no  nest  was 
discovered.  1  did  not  shoot  at  the  birds,  as  I  hoped  to  find 
a  nest  through  their  movements.  The  only  result  after  all 
my  work,  was  to  discover  that  the  right  hammer  of  my  '410 
gun  had  been  hopelessly  lost  through  the  screw  working 
loose  and  falling  off  when  I  was  tapping  the  spinifex 
bunches  with  the  barrel,  which  was  not  a  good  thing 
to  do. 

When  I  reached  Minilya  Station  I  made  a  new  hammer 
from  a  piece  of  quarter- inch  flat  iron,  cut  to  shape,  that 
acted  quite  well  for  the  rest  of  the  trij),  and  I  have  it 
yet.  1  shall  always  think  that  my  enforced  stay  of  three 
weeks  at  Point  (Jloates  lighthouse  was  the  cause  of  my  not 
bein"  the  first  to  discover  the  nest  and  eggs  of  Eremiornis. 
but  Mr.  Whitlock  well  earned  that  distinction  by  his 
untiring  efforts. 

Acanthiza  pusilla  apicalis. 

Broad-tailed  Tits  were  common  in  all  south-western 
districts,  and  especially  so  in  the  vicinity  of  Broome  Hill 
and  Lake  Muir. 

Acanthiza  inornata  masters!. 

South-western  Plain-coloured  Tits  were  common  in  the 
south-western  area,  and  especially  in  the  more  heavily 
timbered  districts,  as  Lake  Muir,  Warren  River,  Collie, 
and  Blackwood.  They  do  not  seem  to  occur  about 
Broome  Hill. 

Acanthiza  inornata  carnarvoni. 

The  type  of  the  Carnarvon  Tit  (Mathews,  '  Austral  Avian 
Record,'  vol.ii.  1913,  p.  76)  was  obtained  by  me  on  13  August, 


60  Mr.  'P.  Carter  on  some  [Ibis, 

1913,  in  low  Melaleuca  scrub  near  Carnarvon,  and  is, 
I  believe,  the  only  specimen  to  date.  It  was  one  of  a 
small  party  of  these  birds,  and  when  shot,  it  fluttered  out 
o£  sight,  and  while  finding  it,  the  rest  of  the  birds  vanished 
in  the  bushes,  and  I  could  not  see  them  again.  Although  on 
many  occasions  on  that  trip,  and  subsequent  ones,  I  often 
traversed  the  same  ground,  not  a  single  Arantliiza  of  any 
sort  was  seen  between  Shark  Bay  and  the  North-West  Cape 
during  my  trip  in  1916. 

Pyrrholaemus  bruniieus  pallescens. 

Pallid  Redthroats  were  common  in  the  scrub  around 
Carnarvon,  and  north  of  there.  Recently  fledged  young 
were  noted  on  26  August,  1911.  These  birds  make  a 
peculiar  fluttering  noise  with  their  wings  when  flying. 

Sericornis  maculatus  warreni. 

Scrub- Wrens  were  common  in  the  coastal  scrubs  at  the 
mouths  of  the  Warren  and  Blackwood  rivers,  also  at  (yollie 
and  Cape  Naturaliste,  in  March  and  April,  1919.  Only  one 
of  these  birds  was  seen  by  me  at  the  Vasse  River  ;  this 
was  on  21  March,  1916. 

Malurus  splendens  splendens. 

Banded  Wrens  were  very  scarce  about  Lake  Muir  in 
January  1916,  only  one  being  seen  there,  but  tiiey  were 
plentiful  at  the  Vasse  River  in  February  that  year,  many 
being  seen  in  full  plumage.  Very  few  were  seen  anywhere 
in  March  and  April,  1919,  excepting  al^out  Augusta.  No  full- 
plumaged  males  were  observed  in  1919. 

Hallornis  lenconotus  exsul. 

Recently  fledged  young  of  the  Western  White-winged 
Wren  were  seen  at  (Carnarvon  on  28  August,  1911.  These 
binls  were  scarce  in  the  mid-west  in  1911  and  1913,  but 
very  common  in  1916,  when  good  rains  fell  from  Carnarvon 
northwards.  They  were  breeding  at  Maud's  Landing  on 
23  June,  and  at  Point  Cloates  and  farther  north  in  July. 
On  27  August,  1916,  I   found  a  nest  with  one  addled  egg 


1 92 1.]  Western  Australian  Birds.  61 

near  the  Lyndon  River  ;  a  female  bird  was  sitting  on 
the  egg.  I  concluded  that  the  other  young  birds  had  been 
safely  hatched  out,  and  gone  away  with  another  feniide. 
The  nest  was  about  a  foot  from  the  ground,  made  of  fine 
grasses  and  partly  domed,  and  looked  as  if  it  had  seen  a 
lot  of  wear. 

Leggeornis  lamberti  occidentalis. 

Western  Blue-breasted  Wrens  were  not  plentiful  about 
Carnarvon  in  1911  and  1913,  but  very  numerous  from  there 
to  the  North-West  (-ape,  from  early  June  to  Septeml)er  in 
1916.  A  party  of  fledged  young,  with  the  parent  birds, 
were  seen  feeding  upon  insects  in  heaps  of  dry  seaweed  on 
the  beach  at  Carnarvon  on  25  September.  These  birds  are 
constantly  seen  feeding  in  dense  mangroves,  where  insect 
life  is  abundant.  I  shot  a  full-plumaged  male  in  mangroves 
one  day,  and  saw  it  fall,  evidently  dead,  a  few  yards 
from  me.  When  I  reached  the  place,  the  bird  had  dis- 
appeared. The  same  thing  happened  again,  and  I  began 
to  look  into  some  of  the  numerous  holes  of  the  crabs  that 
were  plentiful  under  the  mangroves,  thinking  the  Wren 
might  have  fallen  into  one  of  them,  and  saw  u  crab  backing 
down  its  burrow  and  draooino-  the  bird  after  it.  I  at  once 
thrust  my  hand  in,  but  it  was  too  large  for  the  cavity,  and 
though  I  eventually  forced  the  full  length  of  my  hand 
and  arm  down,  the  crab  got  away  with  its  booty.  On 
another  occasion  I  shot  a  Zosteroj^s  halstoni  in  mangroves, 
and  keeping  my  eye  fixed  on  it  as  it  lay  dead,  I  saw  it 
suddenly  disappear  by  being  seized  by  a  crab  from  below. 

As  previously  stated  in  this  paper,  I  once  saw  a  Whistling 
Eagle  pick  up  a  Stilt  before  me,  as  it  floated  dead  on  a  pool 
of  water  ;  and  another  time  a  Tree-Creeper  (^Climacteris) 
that  fell  into  some  scrub  was  snapped  up  by  a  lurking 
Monitor  (large  lizard),  which  disputed  (unsuccessfully) 
my  right  to  the  bird  ;  and  1  have  seen  dead  ducks  pulled 
below  the  surface  of  the  water  in  lakes  by  freshwater 
turtles,  before  the  birds  could  be  retrieved — but  this  "  crab- 
smitching"  was  quite  a  new  thing. 


62  Mr.  T.  Carter  on  some  [Ibis, 

Leggeornis  elegans. 

Only  one  party  of  Red- winged  Wrens  was  seen  in  the 
south-west,  viz,  at  Augusta,  on  G  April,  1919,  with  one 
fuU-plumaged  male.  None  were  observed  on  the  Warren 
River,  where  in  1910  I  saw  a  good  many.  Mr.  Higliam 
obtained  some  specimens  in  May  1919  at  Gingin,  about 
thirty  miles  north  of  Perth. 

Leggeornis  pulcherrimus  Stirling!. 

Although  a  good  look-out  was  kept  for  South-western 
Blue-ljreasted  Wrens,  only  one  party  of  five  was  seen,  in 
sand-plain  scrub,  thirty  miles  east  of  Broome  Hill.  They 
were  in  full  moult. 

Stipiturus  malachurns  wester nensis. 

Westralian  Emu-Wrens  were  common  about  Augusta  and 
Cape  Leeuwin,  1916-19. 

Stipiturus  melachurus  media. 

The  type-specimen  of  this  Emu- Wren  was  obtained  by 
me  a  few  miles  east  of  Gnowangerup  (thirty  miles  south- 
east of  Broome  Hill)  on  12  February,  1919  (vide  Mathews, 
Bull.  B.  0.  C.  xl.  1919,  p.  45).  Several  small  parties  of  these 
birds,  from  three  to  six  in  number,  were  seen  in  scrubby 
sand-plain  country,  which  is  practically  always  dry,  and 
devoid  of  any  surface  water.  In  general  plumage  this 
subspecies  is  lighter  in  colour  than  Stipiturus  m.  loesternensis, 
and  distinctly  smaller  in  size.  It  comes  midway  between 
that  bird  and  -S'.  m.  hartoc/i,  and  is  a  good  subspecies.  The 
habits  of  all  three  are  similar.  On  26  July,  1908,  I  shot  a 
similar  bird  on  a  sand  plain  a  few  miles  east  of  Broome 
Hill,  but  never  saw  any  other  there. 

Although  the  Stirling  Ranges  are  only  about  twenty  miles 
distant  to  the  south  of  where  the  type  was  secured,  Whitlock 
does  not  record  having  seen  any  Emu-Wrens  there  in  his 
1911  expedition  (see  '  Emu,' vol.  xi.),  and  Milligan  in  his 
account  of  his  trip  there  in  1902  ('Emu,'  vol.  iii.)  only 
records  having  seen  one  bird,  that  was  not  secured. 


1 92 1.]  TVestern  Australian  Birds.  63 

Sphenura  brachyptera  longirostris. 

No  sio-ns  of  Lono-billed  Bristle-bii'ds  were  seen  or  heard 
in  any  of  the  coastal  scrubs  that  were  visited  in  the  south- 
west area,  aIthoui>h  I  spent  several  days  at  the  {)lace  where 
the  last  known  birds  were  seen  some  years  ago  ;  but  the 
localities  where  these  birds  may  still  be  living  extend  along- 
such  a  great  stretch  of  the  coast,  and  are  so  densely  clothed 
in  scrub,  that  it  is  very  easy  to  miss  seeing  such  a  very  shy 
and  seclusive  species. 

Artamus  leucorhynchus  leucopygialis. 

The  first  time  White-rumped  Wood-Swallows  were  ever 
seen  by  me  was  at  Carnarvon  on  24  September,  1911,  when 
a  small  party  was  flying  about  Babbage  Island,  but  were 
very  wild.  Many  of  these  birds  were  seen  at  exactly  the 
same  place  and  same  day  of  month  in  1911),  and  some 
specimens  obtained.     No  examples  were  seen  in  191G. 

Campbellornis  personatus. 

Masked  Wood-Swallows  were  numerous  about  Broome 
Hill  in  early  January  1916.  These  birds  are  very  erratic 
in  their  visits. 

Austrartamus  cinereus  tregellasi. 

Black-vented  Wood-Swallows  were  seen  in  the  Gascoyne 
and  Minilya  districts  on  all  three  trips,  but  were  most 
plentiful  in  1916,  when  many  nests  containing  eggs  or 
young  were  seen  in  September.  A  nest  with  three  eggs 
was  seen  at  the  Minilya  on  9  September,  1911. 

Angroyan  cyanopterus. 

Wood-Swallows  were  common  in  the  south-west  districts. 

Micrartamus  minor  derbyi. 

Little  Wood-Swallows  were  only  seen  in  Shark  Bay,  and 
in  some  of  the  deep  gorges  in  the  North-West  Cape  ranges, 
where  they  breed  in  holes  of  the  clitls.  When  at  the  Yardie 
Creek  on  26  August,  1913,  I  saw  the  parent  birds  feeding 
their  young  in  a  nest  that  was  out  of  sight  in  a  crevice  of 
the  root  of  a  large  cave. 


64  Mr.  T.  Carter  on  some  [Ibis, 

CoUnriciiicla  rufiventris  rufiventris. 

BufF-bellied  Shrike-Thrushes  were  common  about  Broome 
Hill  and  south-west  localities.  In  the  Gascoyne  and  Point 
Cloates  districts  these  birds  are  mostlv  found  in  stony 
ranges,  and  are  common  in  all  the  gorges  ot"  the  North- 
West  Cape  ranges,  where  their  song  is  quite  different  from 
that  of  the  southern  birds.  On  7  August,  1916,  I  found  a 
nest,  four  feet  from  the  ground,  in  the  fork  of  a  small 
white-gum  tree,  in  a  gorge  near  the  North-West  C^ape  ; 
it  contained  two  young  birds  about  half-grown,  and  the 
male  bird  was  sitting  on  them. 

Grallina  cyanoleuca  cyanoleuca. 

Magpie-Larks  were  more  numerous  about  Broome  Hill 
than  any  other  locality.  They  do  not  occur  much  in  heavily  . 
timbered  districts.  When  at  Lake  Muir  in  March  1919, 
Mr.  Muir  asked  me  tlie  name  of  a  pair  of  these  birds,  which 
were  feeding  near  his  homestead,  as  he  said  he  had  never 
seen  them  before  during  his  long  residence  there,  and  that 
the  birds  had  only  recently  arrived. 

Gymnorhina  liypoleuca  dorsalis. 

Western  White-backed  Magpies  were  noted  in  all  districts 
between  Woolundra  and  Broome  Hill,  at  which  latter  place 
they  are  very  abundant,  but  I  think  they  are  even  more  plen- 
tiful about  the  Vasse  River.  They  do  not  occur  in  the  heavily 
timl)ered  south-western  localities,  but  are  gradually  working 
their  way  along  there  as  the  country  is  cleared  and  opened 
out.  None  were  sf>en  at  the  Margaret  River  or  Augusta, 
and  only  odd  birds  at  the  C'ollie.  On  1(5  January,  1910, 
I  saw  fledged  young  being  still  fed  by  the  parent  birds  at 
Broome  Hill ;  and  on  24  February,  1917,  I  saw  a  tame  bird 
of  the  previous  year  that  was  completely  white  in  plumage, 
with  pale  fleshy  bill  and  legs.  The  irides  were  blue,  with  u 
slight  tinge  of  pink.  It  would  be  about  five  months  old. 
When  at  the  Yasse  River  on  27  February,  1916,  I  saw  these 
Tvlagpies  eating  many  figs  off  the  trees  at  a  homestead,  and 
also  digging  up  with  their  beaks,  and  eating,  freshly  planted 
grains  of  maize. 


1 92 1.]  Western  Austruliun  Birds.  65 

Cracticus  nigrogularis  kalgoorli. 

Western  Black-throated  Butcher-birds  were  breeding  on 
the  Lyndon  River  on  5  September,  1911.  They  were  rather 
3onimon  in  May  1919  about  Woolundra,  which  is  probably 
near  their  southern  limit  of  ranoe. 

Bulestes  torquatus  leucopterus. 

White-winged  Butcher-birds  were  common  about  Broome 
Hill  and  south-western  localities,  excepting  Augusta  and  the 
Margaret  River,  where  none  were  seen.  Several  of  them 
were  observed  at  Woolundra,  where  the  Black-throated 
birds  give  them  a  bnd  time,  by  constantly  attacking  them. 
A  specimen  of  the  W^hite-winged  was  obtained  by  me  on 
13  September,  1916,  about  midway  between  the  Gascoyne 
and  Minilya  rivers,  the  first  time  this  bird  was  ever  seen 
by  me  in  that  district.  Shortridge  does  not  mention  having 
seen  this  subspecies  about  the  Gascoyne  River  in  1908 
(Ibis,  1909,  p.  669> 

Falcunculus  frontatus  leucogaster. 

White-bellied  Shrike-Tits  were  commonly  seen  about 
Broome  Hill,  especially  early  in  1919.  Adult  birds  were 
seen  feeding  recently  fledged  young  on  4  March,  1919. 

r 

Oreoica  gutturalis  westralensis. 

Western  Crested  Bell-birds  were  exceedingly  scarce  about 
Broome  Hill  in  early  1919,  where  they  are  usually  plentiful 
at  all  seasons.  They  were,  as  usual,  fairly  common  in  the 
Gascoyne  and  Minilya  districts  in  1911,  1913,  and  1916. 

Aphelocephala  castaneiventris  minilya. 

Several  small  parties  of  Murchison  Whitefaces  were  seen 
in  mid-September,  1916,  in  scrubby  country  midway  between 
the  Lower  Gascoyne  and  Minilya  rivers,  where  I  had  never 
previously  seen  anyof  these  birds ;  but  I  had  obtained  speci- 
mens in  1904  at  Mullewa,  three  hundred  miles  to  the  south. 
Shortridge  found  them  "  fairly  numerous  as  far  north  as  the 
Upper  Gascoyne  River  (Clifton  Downs  Station)  "  in  1908 
(Ibis,  1909,  p.  667)  ;  so,  at  present,  the  locality  where  my 

SER.  XI, VOL.   Ill,  F 


66  Mr.  T.  Carter  on  some  [Ibis, 

specimens  were  obtained  is  the  most  northerly  record,  being- 
sixty  miles  farther  north,  and  about  one  hundred  nearer  to 
the  coast  (westwards)  than  Clifton  Downs.  The  birds  were 
tame,  feeding  on  the  ground  below  short  scrub,  into  which 
they  took  shelter  when  disturbed. 

This  bird  was  first  described  by  Mr,  G.  M.  Mathews 
(Bulletin  B.  0.  C.  vol.  xl.  1920,  p.  75). 

Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  been  able,  through  the 
courtesy  of  Dr.  F.  R.  Lowe,  to  compare  the  specimens 
obtained  by  me  with  those  obtained  by  Mr.  Shortridge, 
now  in  the  Balston  collection  at  the  British  Museum 
(Natural  History),  and  find  that  the  Minilya  birds  are 
more  rufous  on  the  mantle  than  any  of  the  others,  which 
were  mostly  obtained  in  localities  to  the  south-east — as 
Laverton,  600  miles  south-east  from  the  Minilya,  and  Day 
Dawn,  about  300  miles  to  the  south-east  and  midway 
between  the  Minilya  and  Laverton.  The  specimens  from 
Day  Dawn  are  almost  white  on  the  whole  of  the  under- 
parts,  and  can  be  separated  easily  from  any  of  the  others. 
Those  obtained  on  the  Minilya  can  hardly  be  distinguished 
from  the  Clifton  Downs  birds,  which  they  most  resemble. 

Sphenostoma  cristatum  occideiitale. 

Westralian  Wedgebills  were,  as  usual,  abundant  in  the 
Lower  Gascoyne  and  Minilya  scrubs,  particularly  about  the 
banks  of  the  rivers.  I  proved  that  both  sexes  utter  the 
vvouderful  metallic  ringing  notes. 

Neositta  pileata  broomi. 

South-west  Black-capped  Tree-runners  were  seen  in  sm:ill 
parties  in  several  south-western  localities,  including  the 
Margaret,  Blackwood,  and  Warren  rivers,  and  Lake  Muir. 
They  were  most  plentiful  about  Broome  Hill. 

Whitlocka  melanura  wellsi. 

The  Allied  Black-tailed  Tree-Creeper  (Ogilvie-Grant 
Ibis,  1909,  p.  tjtl4)  was  first  obtained  by  Shortridge  on  the 
Upper  Gascoyne  liiver,  apparently  about  1908.    I  had  never 


1 92 1.]  Western  Australian  Birds.  67 

seen  a  single  Tree-Creeper  during  my  long  residence  in  the 
Griiscoyne  (Lower)  and  North-West  Cape  districts  ;  but  in 
1900  I  found  a  deserted  egg,  that  was  new  to  me,  in  a  nest 
soaked  with  rain-water  in  a  cavity  o£  a  small  tree,  about 
sixty  miles  inland  from  Point  Cloates.  I  forwarded  the  egg 
to  Mr.  A.  J.  Campbell  at  Melbourne,  for  identification,  and 
he  replied  that  it  was  undoubtedly  the  egg  of  some  species 
of  Climacteris,  and  lie  published  a  description  of  it  in  the 
'Emu/  vol.  X.  p.  299. 

The  first  time  I  was  in  the  Gascoyne  district  again,  after 
Mr.  Ogilvie-Urant's  1909  '  Il)is  '  paper  was  published,  was  in 
August  1911,  and  I  kept  a  good  look  out  for  (!'.  m.  loellsi, 
but  saw  none  on  the  lower  part  of  the  river.  However, 
when  travelling  south  by  mail-coach  from  the  Minilya  river, 
on  12  Sept(Mnber,  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  what  I  felt  sure 
were  Tree-Creepers  in  some  Jam  (Acacia)  timber  through 
which  we  passed,  but  of  course  could  not  follow  them. 
Almost  exactly  the  same  thing  happened  on  18  August, 
1913,  in  the  same  patch  of  Jam  trees  ;  but  when  there  next 
time,  on  13  September,  1915,  I  was  able  to  accept  the  kind 
hospitality  of  my  old  friend  Mr.  Harry  Campbell,  and  stay 
a  few  days  at  his  station  homestead,  in  the  vicinity  of  which 
I  had  seen  the  birds.  Mr.  Campbell  drove  me  out  a  few 
miles  that  day,  but  we  had  no  luck  with  Tree-Creepers  ; 
but  on  the  14th  I  had  a  long  walk  round  and  obtained  three 
specimens  of  the  bird,  and  found  a  nest  with  two  young- 
birds  almost  full  grown. 

The  "  Jam  "  trees  grow  to  a  height  of  about  twenty-five 
feet,  with  trunks  from  a  foot  to  twenty  inches  in  diameter, 
and  derive  their  local  name  from  the  sweet  scent  of  the 
timber,  which  always  reminded  me  of  violets.  I  was 
scanning  the  scattered  trees  as  I  walked  along  through 
them,  and  saw  ahead  of  me  something  rapidly  moving  in 
and  out  from  a  hole,  about  eight  feet  from  the  ground, 
in  one  of  them.  At  first  I  thought  this  object  was  the  head 
of  one  of  the  large  lizards,  or  monitors,  that  are  great 
robbers  of  eggs  and  young  birds,    but  getting  nearer,  saw 

F  2 


()8  INTr.  T.  Carter  (m  some  [Ibis, 

that  it  was  the  head  of  a  bird,  so  I  shot  at  it  with  my 
•410  gnn,  and  it  disappeared  in  the  hole.  Upon  climbing 
the  tree  I  found  that  it  was  hollow  nearly  down  to  the 
ground,  and,  thrusting  my  arm  in,  could  feel  a  bird  flut- 
tering upwards  into  the  upper  part  of  the  trunk,  which 
was  also  hollow.  I  then  withdrew  my  arm,  ])lugged  the 
hole  with  my  cap,  aud  from  the  ground  carefully  examined 
the  lower  {)art  of  the  tree,  and  through  a  crevice  was 
fortunate  enough  to  catch  sight  of  the  extended  wing  of 
a  bird,  with  a  buff  band  across  it,  so  knew  I  had  got  a 
Tree-Oreeper  at  last.  I  then  cut  away  the  extremely  hard 
wood  from  the  edges  of  the  crevice  with  my  knife,  until  it 
was  large  enough  to  enable  me  to  extract  the  dead  bird,  which 
was  an  undoubted  fledgling  of  W.  m.  wellsi.  I  then  plugged 
this  hole,  and  also  the  larger  one  above,  with  bunches  of  dry 
grass,  and  withdrew  some  little  distance  to  await  the  return  of 
the  parent  birds,  both  of  whichi  obtained  in  aboutfive  minutes; 
they  were  just  commencing  to  moult.  I  then  walked  l)ack 
to  the  station  to  obtain  a  small  axe,  and  returning  with 
it  to  the  tree  in  the  afternoon,  cut  the  latter  open,  but  could 
not  And  the  other  young  bird. 

On  the  following  day  I  saw  another  pair  of  the  birds,  and 
by  watching  them,  located  another  nest,  about  twelve  feet 
from  the  ground,  in  a  crevice  formed  by  a  split  in  the  main 
fork  of  a  large,  dead  Jam  tree.  The  nest  was  simply  a  large 
handful  of  sheeps'  wool,  laid  on  chips  of  wood,  about 
eighteen  inches  from  the  top  of  the  crevice.  It  contained 
two  young  birds,  about  half-grown.  No  wool  was  seen  in 
the  first  tree  that  I  cut  open  the  previous  day.  I  saw  several 
other  adult  birds  in  the  next  two  days  of  my  visit,  but  found 
no  more  nests,  and  was  apparently  too  late  for  any  eggs, 
but  have  no  doubt  myself  that  the  egg  obtained  in  1900 
was  the  egg  of  this  new  subspecies,  which  is  the  only 
Tree-Creeper  found  in  that  area.  In  habits  these  birds 
much  resemble  W.  r.  rufa,  often  feeding  on  the  ground, 
on  fallen  trunks  and  branches  of  trees  laid  on  the  ground, 
as  well  as  on  the  trunks  of  standing  trees. 


1 92 1.]  IVestern  Australian  Birds.  69 

Whitlocka  rufa  rufa. 

Rufous  Tree-(  Creepers  were  coimnou  about  Broome  Hill, 
and  also  seen  at  Woolundra. 

Whitlocka  rufa  obscura. 

Allied  Rufous Tree-l'reepers  were  observed,  and  specimens 
obtained,  at  Lake  Muir,  tlie  Warren,  Blackwood,  Margaret, 
and  Collie  rivers.  Tliey  were  all  of  tliis  darker  subspecies, 
and  confirm  its  validity.  Tlie  darkest  coloured  birds  were 
obtained  on  Big  Brook,  a  tributary  of  the  Warren  River 
from  the  east. 

Zosterops  gouldi. 

Green-backed  White-eyes  were  comraon  through  all  the 
districts  visited.  Small  young  were  seen  in  a  nest  at 
C-arnarvon  on  4  August,  1911.  These  birds  were  feeding 
freely  on  small  orange-coloured  berries  from  bushes  near 
the  beach  at  Vasse  in  February  1916. 

Zosterops  lutea  balstoiii. 

Carnarvon  White-eyes  were  common  in  the  mangroves 
near  (-arnarvon  in  all  my  tri[)s,  and  some  specimens  shot 
there  on  17  September,  1011,  were  evidently  breeding,  but 
I  failed  to  find  any  nests.  A  few  of  these  birds  were  seen 
in  mangroves  near  the  North-West  (/ape  on  2  August,  1916. 
None  were  seen  in  the  mangroves  of  the  Peron  Peninsula, 
in  Shark  Bay,  that  year. 

Austrodicaeum  hirundinaceum  tormenti. 

Western  Mistletoe-birds  were  only  seen  on  two  occasions, 
viz.,  a  pair  on  the  ranges  near  Point  (Uoates  on  11  July, 
1916,  and  those  already  recorded  (Ibis,  1917,  p.  608)  on 
Dirk  Hartog  Island.  Mathews  (Ref.  List,  1913)  only  gives 
North-west  Australia  and  Northern  Territory  as  the  range 
of  this  bird.  Milligan  recorded  it  from  the  Wonoan  Hills 
(100  miles  north-east  from  Perth),  and  Shortridge  from 
near  Kalgoorlie,  and  I  have  seen  them  at  several  places 
along  the  Midland  Railway  route. 


70  Mr.  T.  Carter  on  some  [Ibis, 

Pardalotus  punctatus  whitlocki. 

Western  Red-rumped  Pardalotes  were  common  in  the 
Karri  forests  of  the  south-west,  but  not  always  easy  to  see^ 
and  still  less  to  shoot,  when  they  are  high  up  in  the  giant 
trees  that  average  two  hundred  feet  in  height,  and  in  the 
Warren  River  district  often  reach  three  hundred  feet. 

Pardalotus  rubricatus  pallidiis. 

Pale  Red-browed  Pardalotes  were,  as  usual,  fairly  plentiful 
about  the  beds  of  the  Gascoyne  and  Minilya  rivers,  and 
occasionally  seen  far  out  from  water-courses.  On  10  Sept- 
ember, 1916,  I  shot  a  female  at  the  Minilya  River  that 
contained  a  fully-formed  white  egg.  On  18  September 
I  noted  that  a  pair  of  these  birds  were  feeding  their  young, 
which  were  being  reared  inside  a  perpendicular  iron  pipe 
about  two  inches  in  diameter  and  seven  feet  in  height ; 
this  was  set  upright  in  the  ground  just  outside  a  large 
shearing  shed^  where  shearing  was  in  full  progress.  The 
nest  was  apparently  some  distance  down  the  pipe. 

Pardalotus  striatus  westraliensis. 

Western  Pardalotes  were  common  about  Broome  Hill  and 
all  south-western  districts.  On  1  September,  1916,  I  shot  a 
pair  at  the  Minilya  River,  where  I  had  never  previously  seen 
any  of  these  birds,  nor  were  they  met  with  at  the  Gascoyne. 

Melithreptus  lunatus  chloropsis. 

Western  White-naped  Honeyeaters  were  observed  all 
through  the  south-west  area,  where  they  are  one  of  the 
commonest  birds. 

Melithreptus  atricapillus  leucogenys. 

A  few  Western  Brown-headed  Honeyeaters  were  seen 
about  Broome  Hill  and  Gnowangerup  in  February  1916, 
and  s))ecimens  obtained. 

Cissomela  nigra  westralensis. 

Western  Black  "Honeyeaters  were  only  seen  on  one 
occasion,  viz.  on  21  June,  1916,  when  I  shot  one  out  of 
a    pair   at    Maud's    Landing.      They   were    very   wild    and 

restless. 


1 92 1.]  fVestern  Australian  Birds.  71 

Acanthorhynchiis  superciliosus  wilsoni. 
White-browed  Spiuebills  were  coninion  in  the  south-west, 
especiall}^  about  Lake  Muir. 

Gliciphila  melanops  westernensis. 

A7estern  Tawny-crowned  Honeyeaters  were  common  about 
Broome  Hill,  Gnowangeruj),  and  some  of  the  coastal  scrubs 
in  the  south-west.  They  frequent  open  country  more  than 
heavily  timbered  places. 

Pumella  albifrons  albifrons. 

White-fronted  Honeyeaters,  like  the  above  birds,  are 
found  in  open  scrubby  country,  and  are  erratic  in  their 
movements.  They  used  to  be  fairly  common  about  the 
Grascoyne  and  Point  Cloates  after  heavy  rains,  but  I  never 
saw  any  in  the  south-west.  They  were  only  noticed  on  two 
occasions  on  my  trips  to  the  north,  viz.,  on  IJ:  July,  1916^ 
when  some  were  seen  on  the  ranges  near  Point  Cloates,  and 
on  23  September,  191G,  when  there  were  a  few  near  Car- 
narvon and  I  obtained  specimens.  It  is  a  verv  restless  and 
shy  species. 

Certhionyx  variegatus. 

Pied  Honeyeaters  were  seldom  seen  in  the  Gascoyne  and 
Minilya  districts  in  1911  and  1913,  but  were  abundant  in 
1916,  which  was  a  good  (wet)  season.  On  21  August^ 
191G,  I  found  a  nest  containing  three  fresh  eoos  at  Maud's 
Landino-.  It  was  about  two  feet  from  the  "round  in  a  small 
bush,  and  made  of  small  twigs,  roots,  and  grass,  and  lined 
with  some  soft  bark  or  tibre.  Several  nests  containing  young 
birds  of  various  sizes  were  seen  in  the  few  days  following 
this  date,  when  travelling  by  camel-waggon  through  the 
scrubb}'  coast-hills  between  Maud's  Landing  and  Cape 
Farquhar. 

Stigmatops  indistincta  indistincta. 

Least  Honeyeaters  were  seen  in  most  localities,  but  not  in 
any  numbers,  from  the  south-west  to  the  North-AVest  Cape, 
where  this  species  is  fairly  common  in  the  scrubby  gorges 
of  the  ranees. 


72  Mr.  T.  Carter  on  some  [Ibis, 

Meliphaga  virescens  virescens. 

Singing  Honeyeaters  were  commonly  observed  in  all  the 
districts  visited.  Fledged  young  were  seen  at  Carnarvon 
on  11  August,  1913,  and  Point  Cloates  on  14  July, 
1916.  Mr.  G.  M.  Mathews  appears  to  have  inadvertently 
described  Meliphaga  virescens  hartogi  as  a  new  subspecies 
{vide  Bulletin  B.  0.  C.  vol.  xl.  1920,  p.  76).  The  type  of 
the  species  itself  was  obtained  on  Dirk  Hartog  Island  by 
the  French  expedition  of  1818,  as  mentioned  in  '  The  Ibis  ' 
(1917,  p.  609),  and  was  described  by  Vieillot  (N.  Diet. 
d'Hist.  Nat.  xiv.  p.  329). 

Lichenostomus  cratitia  occidentalis. 

Wattle-cheeked  Honeyeaters  were  very  plentiful  in  the 
sand-plain  scrubs  east  of  Gnowangerup  in  February  1919, 
the  only  locality  where  any  were  observed. 

Lichenostomus  keartlandi  mungi. 

Western  Grey-headed  Honeyeaters  were  plentiful  all 
along  the  ranges  of  the  North- West  Cape  peninsula,  but 
were  not  seen  elsewhere.  They  were  breeding  from  July 
to  August,  1916.  The  song  of  this  bird  is  a  very  sweet 
trilling  warble,  and  other  shorter  notes  are  uttered. 

Lichenostomus  ornatus  ornatus. 

Western  Yellow-plumed  Honeyeaters  were  common  at 
Lake  Craigie  (fifteen  miles  north  of  Perth),  where  specimens 
were  obtained  on  8  April,  1916. 

Lichenostomus  ornatus  wensleydalei. 

Inland  Yellow-plumed  Honeyeaters  w^ere  very  plentiful 
about  Broome  Hill,  where  they  mostly  fed  in  the  white- 
gum  timber.  Many  recentlj^  fledged  young  birds  were  seen 
in  early  February,  1916. 

Ptilotula  penicillata  carteri. 

North  western  White-plumed  Honeyeaters  were,  as  usual, 
abundant  on  the  scrubby  bunks  and  islands  of  the  Gascoyne 
River,  the  bushes  and  white-gum  trees  being  full  of  the 
birds,    with    their    cheerful    notes    and    lively    movements. 


1 92 1.]  Western  Australian  Birds.  73 

They  were  also  common  on  the  Minilya  River  and  the 
Yardle  Creek  pools,  but  exce[)ting  near  these  pools  in 
the  North  West  Cape  ranges,  their  place  is  taken  by 
Lichenostomus  keartlandi.  Most  of  the  young  birds  are 
fledo-ed  in  Auo-ust  or  early  Septeml)er.  The  notes  of  the 
birds  from  the  Minilya  northwards  are  different  from  those 
on  the  Gascoyne. 

Meliornis  novsehollandise  longirostris. 

Long-billed  Honeyeaters  were  common  in  all  south- 
western districts. 

Meliornis  niger  gouldi. 

Moustached  Honeyeaters  were  only  seen  at  Augusta, 
when  several  were  feeding  on  the  honey  in  J3anksia 
blossoms,  in  company  with  many  M.  longirostris.  and 
specimens  were  obtained  on  8  April,  1910.  These  birds 
seem  to  be  very  local,  and  are  always  very  restless  and  shy. 

Myzantha  flavigula  lutea. 

Yellow  IVlinahs  were  common  on  the  Lower  Gascoyne 
Kiver,  and  a  few  were  seen  on  the  Minilya  and  Lyndon 
rivers.     Fledged  young  were  noted  on  9  Se[)tember,  1911. 

Coleia  carunculata  woodwardi. 

Western  Red  Wattle-birds  were  common  about  Broome 
Hill  and  all  south-western  districts.  In  early  April^  1019, 
thousands  of  them  were  feeding  in  the  coastal  scrub  and 
timber  near  the  Vasse  River. 

Anthochsera  chrysoptera  lunulata. 

Little  Wattle-birds  were  not  commonly  seen,  except  at 
the  Vasse  River,  in  April  1919,  when  many  were  feeding 
in  company  with  (Joleia  carunculata. 

Acanthogenys  rufogularis  flavacanthus. 

Western  Sjjiny'-cheeked  Honeyeaters  were  fairly  common 
in  the  scrubs  about  (/arnarvon,  the  Minilya  district,  and 
North-West  Cape  ranges,  and  a  good  many  were  seen  at 
Woolundra  in  May  1919,  eating  the  last  of  the  grape-crop. 


74  Mr.  T.  Carter  on  some  [Ibis, 

These  birds  were  noticed  breeding  on  the  Lyndon  River  on 
5  September,  1911,  and  at  Carnarvon  on  23  September, 
1913.  Both  sexes  utter  the  peculiar  gurglino-  notes,  and  I 
observed  that  these  birds  north  o£  Point  Cloates  have  quite 
a  different  note  and  whistle  from  those  of  the  Carnarvon 
district.  Mr.  G.  M.  Mathews  described  the  Woolundra 
bird  as  A.  r.  woolundra  (Bulletir^  B.  0.  C.  xl.  1920^  p.  76). 

Aiithus  australis  bilbali. 

Western  Pipits  were  common  about  Broome  Hill,  and  in 
open  or  cleared  localities  through  the  south-  and  mid- west 
areas.  They  are  not  seen  in  heavy  timber  in  its  natural 
state,  but  extend  their  range  as  the.  country  is  cleared. 
Two  small  young  were  seen  in  a  nest  at  Carnarvon  on 
13  August,  1911,  and  three  fresh  eggs  in  a  nest  there 
on  22  September,  1913.  Specimens  of  Anthus  obtained 
at  Peron  Peninsula  and  Dirk  Hartog  Island  (both  in  Shark 
Bav)  and  at  Carnarvon  are  slightly  more  rufous  in  general 
colourino-  than  birds  from  Broome  Hill.  Point  Cloates  birds 
arc  distinctly  more  rufous  than  those  at  Carnarvon,  and  near 
the  North-West  Cape  I  obtained  specimens  that  agree  with 
Mathews'  llufous  Pipit  {Anthus  australis  subrufus),  of  which 
I  found  a  nest  containing  three  eggs,  about  twenty  miles 
south  of  North-West  Cape,  on  29  July,  1916.  They  were 
very  similar  to  those  of  more  southern  Pipits. 

Mirafra  horsfieldi  woodwardi. 

Specimens  of  the  Onslow  Bush-Lark  were  obtained  by 
me  at  the  Minilya  River  on  20  August,  1911.  It  was 
the  first  time  I  had  seen  these  birds  so  far  south. 
Fledged  young  were  seen  at  the  same  place  on  20  Sept- 
ember, 1911.  Several  were  seen  at  Maud's  Landing,  Point 
Cloates,  and  near  the  North-West  Cape. 

Zonaeginthus  oculatus. 

Red-eared  Finches  were  common  in  the  Paper-Bark  tree 
[Melaleuca]  swamps  about  Albany  in  1913,  and  I  saw  some 
at  Lake  Muir  (which  is  thirty-tive  miles  from  the  sea)  on 
1  January,  1916,  and  a  good  many  at  a  large  swamp  close 


1 92 1.]  Western  Australian  Birds.  75 

io  Cape  Leeuwin  in  March  1916.  Some  of  their  nests  o£ 
the  previous  year  were  examined  in  scrub  between  the 
swamp  and  the  beach  ;  the}'  were  made  of  fine  grass  and 
fibre,  and  partly  domed.  Boys  from  the  lighthouse  quarters 
said  they  found  nests  there  every  year.  A  few  of  these 
birds  were  seen,  and  specimens  obtained,  on  25  March, 
1919,  in  dense  scrub  below  Karri  Forest  on  the  Warren 
River. 

Taeniopygia  castanotis  wayensis. 

Chestnut-eared  Finches  were  fairly  common,  for  a  short 
time,  about  14  October,  1911,  at  Broome  Hill  and  to  the 
east  of  there.  It  was  a  very  dry  year.  A  specimen  was 
obtained  by  me  at  Lake  Muir  on  1  January,  1916,  which 
is  the  farthest  south  locality  where  I  have  seen  this  bird. 
They  were,  as  usual,  abundant  from  Carnarvon,  northwards, 
on  all  visits  there.  Many  nests  contained  eggs  there  on 
7  September,  1911,  and  early  September  1913  and  1916. 
Mr.  G.  M.  Mathews  described  the  Dirk  Hartog  specimens 
of  this  species,  collected  by  me  in  1916,  as  Ta'niopygia  c. 
hartogi  subsp.  nov.  (^vide  Bulletin  B.  0.  C.  xl.  1920,  p.  76). 

Emblema  picta  coongani. 

Painted  Finches  were  seen  in  some  numbers  on  parts  of 
the  North- West  Cape  ranges.  On  27  July,  1916,  I  saw  a 
flock  of  more  than  twenty  in  a  deep  gorge,  and  shortly 
afterwards,  at  a  water-hole  high  up  on  the  ranges,  there 
were  many  of  these  birds  engaged  in  drinking.  Several 
specimens  were  obtained  there  on  different  days,  but  none  of 
the  birds  wevQ  breeding.  When  I  was  at  Carnarvon  in  1913 
a  bird-fancier,  who  specialized  in  Finches  and  had  a  large 
aviary  of  them  there,  assured  me  that  he  had  found  occasional 
nests  of  Emblema  picta  in  the  vicinity. 

Chlamydera  maculata  nova. 

The  first  specimen  of  the  Cape  Spotted  Bower-bird  was 
obtained  by  me  early  in  February  1892,  and  not  1902  as 
stated  in  the  'Emu,'  vol.  iii.  p.  37,  and  as  that  record  may 

not  be  familiar  to  the  readers  of   '  The   Ibis,'   I   repeat  the 


7C)  Mr.  T.  Carter  oti  some  [Ibis, 

main  facts.  A  distressing  (lrou<^lit  had  been  prevailing  for 
two  years,  and  I  bad  been  obliged  to  move  all  my  stock, 
with  much  trouble  and  loss,  from  Point  Cloates  to  the  then 
virgin  country  on  the  west  side  of  the  Exmouth  Gulf,  only 
to  have  several  hundred  sheep  poisoned  by  some  unknown 
shrub,  soon  after  reaching  there.  So  I  returned  to  the  west 
side  of  the  peninsula  ranges  with  a  native  boy,  in  order  to 
open  out  a  "soak  "  or  black-fellow^s  well,  at  which  we  had 
obtained  enough  water  for  our  horses  when  driving  the 
sheep  up.  The  water  was  a  few  feet  below  the  ground- 
surface  in  a  dense  patch  of  scrub,  on  rocky  ground.  The 
weather  was  intensely  hot,  and  we  found  three  putrid 
poisoned  dingoes  in  the  water-hole,  so  had  to  dig  it  out 
thoroughly  before  we  could  obtain  any  water  to  drink. 
It  was  not  long  before  the  boy  smashed  one  of  his  big  toes 
with  a  heavy  sledge-hammer,  so  that  he  could  not  work, 
and  I  was  picking  and  shovelling  alone,  in  a  very  bad 
temper,  when  1  heard  some  extraordinary  chuckling  noises 
in  the  scrub  where  the  native  was  nursing  his  injured  toe, 
so  called  out  to  him  :  ''  If  you  cannot  work  you  need  not 
make  such  idiotic  noises  " ;  when  he  rej)lied,  "•  That  not  me, 
that  a  bird."  So  I  jumped  out  of  the  hole  (o  see  what  it 
was,  and  shot  it,  with  my  onl}^  firearm  at  the  time — a  '450 
Colt's  revolver — as  it  was  creeping  about  in  the  scrub. 
It  seemed  to  me  to  tally  with  Clilamijdera  guttata,  according 
to  Gould's  Handbook,  which,  as  usual,  I  had  with  me,  when 
camping  out.  The  bird  of  course  was  badly  smashed,  but 
I  sent  what  was  left  of  its  skin  to  the  Melbourne  Museum 
for  identification  ;  they  informed  me  that  only  a  mass  of  loose 
feathers  had  arrived.  After  I  had  finished  mnking  the  well, 
where  there  was  a  splendid  sup[)ly  of  good  water,  I  moved 
most  of  my  sheep  back  there  ;  but  although  I  was  camped 
there  for  several  weeks,  in  which  time  I  was  constantly 
tramping  the  surrounding  ranges,  in  order  to  shoot 
kangaroo,  emn,  etc.,  for  food,  no  more  of  the  birds 
were  seen  ;  but  when  back  at  Point  C'loates  again  in  April 
the  same  year,  i  saw  one  of  them  in  a  deep  rocky  gorge 
among  dense  fig-trees,  but  did  not  shoot  at  it,  hoping   that 


1 92 1.]  Ifcstcrii.AustnilJa)/  Birds.  77 

it  might  breed,  but  I  saw  no  more  of  it,  or  any  others,  during 
the  eleven  years  that  I  afterwards  lived  in  that  district. 

After  thirteen  years'  absence,  I  was  again  at  the  same 
part  of  the  ranges  where  I  had  shot  the  first  Bower-bird, 
and  on  G  August,  l'.)l(j,  Mr.  A.  Campbell,  who  now  resides 
there,  and  myself  were  searching  son^e  of  the  deep  rugged 
gullies  of  the  ranges,  where  clumps  of  thick  scrub,  :ind  large 
wild  fig-trees  grow  in  patches,  when  a  thick-set  bird  was 
seen  perched  in  tall  l)ushes  ahead  of  us.  I  shot  it,  and 
found  it  to  be  one  of  the  long  lost  Spotted  Bower-birds. 
Then  we  noticed  two  nests,  about  twenty  feet  from  the 
bottom  of  the  gully,  in  a  snudl  tree  ("Eel-bya"),and  (Campbell 
climl)ed  up  to  examine  them.  Directly  he  reached  tlieni, 
another  Bower-bird  perched  in  the  tree  a  few  feet  ;djove 
his  head,  and  I  asked  him  to  turn  his  face  away  so  that  I 
could  shoot  it,  which  I  promptly  did  without  doing  him  any 
damage.  He  called  down  to  me  that  one  nest  was  very  old 
and  dilapidated,  and  that  the  other  one  was  empt}'^  ;  so  I  asked 
him  to  descend  and  let  me  climb  up  and  examine  them,  while 
he  stood  below  with  the  "410  gun.  Just  as  I  was  near  the 
nests^  Mr.  Campbell  called  out  :  "Another  of  them  has  just 
settled  above  j/our  head,  shall  I  shoot  it  ?  "  ;  and  as  my  back 
was  towards  him,  I  replied,  ""  Shoot  away,"  and  a  third 
bird  fell.  As  Campbell  was  picking  it  up,  it  uttered  a  harsh 
cry,  and  a  fourth  bird  appeared  in  the  bushes  where  we  had 
seen  the  first,  and  that  was  also  secured.  The  whole  affair 
only  lasted  a  few  minutes,  and  we  were  both  considerably 
excited.  The  only  bird  that  uttered  any  sound  was  the 
third  one,  as  mentioned  above.  Both  the  nests  were  similar 
in  structure,  being  about  ten  inches  in  diameter,  and  made 
entirely  of  sticks,  with  small  twigs  for  lining  material. 
The  nesting  cavity  was  shallow  in  the  better  of  the  two,  and 
nearly  filled  with  birds^  droppings  and  some  fallen  leaVv'^s. 
It  had  probably  been  used  a  few  months  previously,  and  I 
think  undoubtedly,  by  a  pair  of  these  birds.  When  skinning 
the  specimens  later  in  the  day,  three  were  found  to  be  females, 
and  none  of  them  showed  any  indications  of  breeding. 
They  had   been  feeding  on  snudl   round  berries  and  leaves 


78  Mr.  T.  Carter  on  some  [Ibis, 

off:  some  busb.  A  careful  search  in  the  vicinity  failed  to 
find  any  bowers  or  playgrounds,  and  none  were  seen  either 
in  tliat  gully,  which  we  followed  to  its  head,  or  any  of 
the  other  numerous  ones  that  were  examined  on  that  and 
following  days. 

On  the  7th  of  August  I  walked  out  to  the  place  where 
the  birds  had  been  obtained,  and  took  photograplis  of  it, 
and  the  tree  with  the  two  nests  ;  but  the  prints  obtained, 
and  also  the  negatives,  were  lost  with  the  bulk  of  my 
luggage  on  the  s.S.  '  Medina,'  when  she  was  torpedoed  in 
the  English  Channel  in  April  1917.  I  then  again  searched 
all  the  likely  gullies  in  the  vicinity,  but  only  saw  one 
Bower-bird,  that  was  shot  when  feeding  in  a  clump  of 
fig-trees.  I  was  out  again  the  next  day,  but  tramped  many 
miles  on  the  rugged  ranges  without  any  results,  except 
seeing  a  single  Bower-bird  fly  from  a  clump  of  fig-trees 
some  distance  from  me. 

On  the  9th  of  August  Mr.  Campbell  drove  me  some  miles 
in  order  to  search  fresh  ground,  and  after  examining  several 
likely-looking  places,  the  female  bird  that  was  figured  (Ibis, 
1920,  pi.  xiv.)  w^as  obtained.  Two  others  were  seen  to  fly  from 
a  large  mass  of  fig-trees,  near  where  we  were  having  our 
lunch,  and  a  single  bird  from  other  fig-trees,  when  returning 
in  the  afternoon.  Apparently  these  birds  feed  largely  on 
wild  figs.  Their  flight  is  straight,  with  rapid  strokes  of  the 
wings,  and  resembles  that  of  Magpies  [Gymnorldna)  ;  they 
look  large  when  flying.  Whitlock,  in  his  paper  "  On  the 
East  Murchison,"  Emu,  vol.  ix.  ji.  218,  says  of  Chlamydera 
m.  subguttata  that  the  nuchal  band  is  much  smaller  in  the 
female  bird  than  in  the  male.  This  is  certainly  not  always 
the  case  with  C.  m.  nova.  The  nuchal  bands  of  all  the  birds 
obtained  by  me  are  mostly  of  a  vivid  pink  colour,  but  they 
all  contain  a  few  bluish-purple  feathers  scattered  in  with  the 
pink  ones.  I  also  noticed  that  the  markings  which  ajjpear 
to  be  black  on  the  edges  of  the  tawny  spots  on  the  crown  of 
the  head,  show  a  distinct  green  when  held  at  a  certain  angle. 
The  North- West  Cape  is  about  480  miles  north-west  of  the 
locality  where  Mr.  Whitlock  obtained  his  birds. 


ig2i.]  Westeryi  Australian  Birds.  79 

It  is  curious  that  my  old  natives  at  the  North-West  Cape 
told  me  that  the  Bower-birds  were  strange  to  them,  and 
they  had  no  aboriginal  name  for  them  ;  but  a  native  who  came 
from  the  Ashburton  district  told  me  that  he  had  seen  similar 
birds  to  the  north  of  that  river,  and  far  inland.  A  white 
man  to  whom  I  showed  the  specimens,  asking  him  if  he  had 
ever  seen  any  like  them,  at  once  replied  that  he  had  seen  the 
same  or  similar  birds  at  a  locality  that  corresponded  with 
the  one  described  by  the  native,  viz.  about  180  miles  east 
of  the  Cape. 

Through  some  mistake,  the  letterpress  accompanying  the 
plate  of  this  fine  new  subspecies  ('  Ibis,'  1920,  p.  499)  is 
headed  "  On  a  new  species  of  Bower-bird." 

Corvus  coronoides  perplexus. 

Southern  Ravens  were  common  in  all  south-western 
districts,  and  were  seen  near  the  mouth  of  the  Warren  River. 
Some  were  also  seen  at  Broome  Hill  on  14  February,  1919, 
where  Ravens  seldom  occur. 

Corvus  bennetti  bonhoti. 

Western  Small-billed  Crows  were  common  about  the 
Gascoyne  and  Minilya  districts,  A  breeding  female  was 
shot  at  Carnarvon  on  9  August,  1911.  It  had  the  bill 
and  inside  of  mouth  black ;  irides  with  a  bright  blue  centre, 
and  white  around  it.  A  male  obtained  at  the  Minilya  River, 
19  August,  1911,  had  the  bill  and  mouth  black;  irides  hazel. 

Corvus  cecilae  cecilse. 

Northern  Crows  were  also  common  in  the  above  districts, 
and  I  cannot  say  which  bird  is  the  most  abundant,  but  pro- 
bably C,  c.  cecilce,  and  the  following  notes  may  be  taken  as 
ajiplying  to  this  species  : — 5-9  September,  1911,  Many 
young,  of  large  size,  in  nests  at  the  Lyndon  and  Minilya 
rivers,  and  one  nest  containing  eggs.  17  September,  1913. 
Many  young  birds  in  nests  at  Minilya.  22  Jul}^  1916. 
Took  seven  eggs,  incubated,  and  of  a  pale  blue  colour  without 
markings,  from  a  nest  ten  feet  from  the  ground  in  a  stunted 
tree  at  Yurdie  Creek.     9  July,  191G.  Shot  a  male  at  Point 


80  On  some  JVrstern  Avstralhin  Birds.  [Ibis, 

Cloates,  apparently  not  breeding.  IG  September,  191().  Shot 
a  fledgling  that  had  just  left  the  nest,  and  could  not  fly 
much  :  the  irides  were  bright  pale  blue. 

A  bird,  shot  at  the  Yardie  Creek  on  4  August,  191(J,  had 
been  feeding  largely  on  caterpillars  and  salt-bush  berries. 
Crows  were  a  nuisance  at  my  lonely  camp  at  the  Yardie 
that  year,  turning  all  sorts  of  things  over  when  I  was  away 
from  it.  I  had  shot  two  specimens  of  Rock  Wallaby 
(Pefrof/ale  lateralis)  lor  food,  and  pegged  out  the  skins  on 
the  ground,  but  the  (h'ows  damaged  them;  so  next  time 
I  left  the  camp  I  buried  the  skins,  laid  flat,  some  inches 
deep  in  the  sand,  but  on  my  return  found  that  the  (-rows 
had  pulled  them  up.  On  9  September,  1913,  I  shot  one 
of  a  pair  of  Crows,  for  identification,  at  Carnarvon,  and  was 
carrying  it  by  its  feet,  when  the  other  bird  followed  me  for 
about  a  mile,  cawing  and  flying  close  round  me.  It  was 
presumably  a  female,  as  the  one  shot  was  a  male. 

Corvus  cecilse  hartogi. 

My  notes  on  the  Dirk  Hartog  Crow  were  published  in 
'  The  Ibis,'  October  1917,  p.  610.  It  has  since  been  described 
as  Corvus  hartogi  in  the  lUilletin  B.  0.  C.  vol.  xl.  p.  76, 
30  January,  1920. 

Neostrepera  versicolor  plumbea. 

Leaden  (^row-Shrikes  were  common  all  through  the  south- 
western area.  Their  northern  limit  seems  to  be  about  the 
Murchison  River. 


Corrections. 
Referring  to  ray  paragraph  in  '  The  Ibis,'  July  1920, 
bottom  of  page  693,  re  CJdiclonias  leucoptera  :  as  no  speci- 
mens were  obtained  of  this  "'  White-winged  Tern  "  I  deleted 
it  from  the  proof-sheets,  which  were  received  by  me  at  a 
very  late  date,  and  apparently  too  late  to  make  the  required 
omission,  which  I  regret. 

On  page  709  of   the  same   j)aper,  in  the  fourteenth  line 
from  the  bottom, /or  "  length  "  read  "  height," 


1 92 1.]    On  rare  Birds  collected  in  Southern  Cameroon.        81 

Daption  capensis. 

Since  I  recorded  the  appearance  of  Cape  Pigeons  on  ilie 
Western  Australian  coast,  in  the  first  part  of  this  paper 
('Ibis,'  1920,  p.  G93),  a  specimen  of  this  bird  has  been 
obtained  at  Cottesloe,  near  Freniantle,  in  August  this  year 
(1920),  and  is  now  in  the  Perth  (W.  Australia)  Museum, 
together  with  other  rare  species  obtained  during  the  winter 
gales.  I  first  read  the  records  in  a  cutting  from  the  '  West 
Australian  '  newspaper,  sent  me  by  a  friend,  and  by  last 
mail  have  had  them  confirmed  in  a  letter  from  Mr.  Glauert 
of  the  Perth  Museum. 


IV. — Remarks  on  rare  and  otherivise  interesting  Birds 
contained  in  Collections  made  hy  Mr.  G.  L.  Bates  in 
Southern  Cameroon.  By  David  A.  Bannerman,  M.B.E., 
B.A.,  M.B.O.U.* 

The  birds  here  referred  to  were  collected  by  Mr.  G.  L. 
Bates  in  the  southern  part  of  Cameroon,  for  the  most  part 
on  the  River  Ja,  but  a  number  were  secured  on  the  Rivers 
Bumba  and  Nyong  {vide  map,  Ibis,  1908,  pi.  xi.). 

Two  distinct  collections  are  represented:  the  first  was  sent 
to  the  British  Museum  before  the  war  in  1911,  and  on 
these  birds  Mr.  Bates  has  already  published  his  interesting 
notes  (Ibis,  1911,  pp.  479-545  &  581-631). 

The  second  collection  was  received  by  us  in  1915,  and 
these  birds  Mr.  Bates  has  now  generously  [)resented  to  the 
National  Collection.  The  period  during  Avhich  these  two 
collections  were  made  extends  over  a  number  of  years  : — 

Collection  I,  from  1908-1911. 
Collection  2,  from  1912-1915. 

In  the  following  pages  I  have  dealt  only  with  the  non- 
Passerine  Birds.  Mr.  Ogilvie-Grant  has  already  published 
some  notes  on  the  rarer  Passerine  birds  which  Mr.  Bates  sent 

*  PuLlishecl  by  permission  of  the  Trustees  of  the  British  Museum. 
SEll.  XI.  — VOL.   III.  G 


82  Mr.  D.  A.  Baimerman  on  rare  Birds  [Il)is, 

home  in  these  two  collections  ;  his  remarks  will  he  found 
in  'The  Ihis,'  1917,  pp.  72-90.  I  thoroughly  agree  with 
Mr.  Ogilvie-Grant's  plan  in  not  giving  a  complete  account  of 
these  collections.  It  is  quite  unnecessary,  and  indeed  a  waste 
of  time  and  space,  to  enumerate  all  the  species  which  were 
obtained  ;  the  constant  repetition  of  notes  and  observations 
on  the  same  species  over  and  over  again  in  the  pages  of 
'  The  Ibis  '  is  strongly  to  l)e  deprecated,  and  serves  no  useful 
pur[iose  whatever.  I  therefore  gladly  follow  Mr.  Ogilvie- 
Grant's  example,  and  have  only  mentioned  tiiose  birds  about 
which  there  is  something  of  real  interest  to  say  which  to  the 
best  of  my  knowledge  has  not  been  said  before. 

Thanks  to  Mr.  Bates,  the  British  Museum  is  now  very 
rich  in  material  from  southern  Cameroon,  and  to  my  mind 
the  time  has  come  when  the  knowledge  whicli  has  been 
gained  from  the  study  by  various  museum  authorities  of 
Mr.  Bates's  magnificent  collections  should  be  collated  in 
book  form.  As  Mr,  Ogilvie-Grant  has  truly  remarked, 
from  1902  onwards  papers  on  Mr.  Bates's  collections  have 
followed  one  another  in  a  constant  stream  fiom  the  pen  of 
the  late  Dr.  Bowdler  Sharpe  or  Mr.  Ogilvie-Grant,  and  last, 
but  not  least,  we  have  several  extremely  able  [)a})ers  con- 
tributed to  'The  Ibis  '  by  Mr.  Bates  himself. 

The  following  are  the  references  to  papers  describing 
Mr.  Bates's  collections  from  Cameroon  : — 

"  On  a  small  collection  of  Birds  from  Efulen  in  Cameroon."    Sharpe, 

Ibis,  1902,  pp.  89-96. 
"  On    furtber   collections  of    Birds    from    the    Efulen    District  of ' 

Cameroon."     Sharpe,  Ibis,  1904,  Part  I.  pp.  88-100;    Part  11. 

pp.  591-638. 
"  Field-Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Efulen  in  the  West-African  colony  of 

Kamerun."     Bates,  Ibis,  1905,  pp.  89-98. 
"  On    further  collections   of    Birds    from    the   Efulen    District   of 

Cameroon."     Sharpe,  Ibis,   1905,  pp.   461-476;    Shai'pe,   Ibis, 

1907,  pp.  416-464;  Sharpe,  Ibis,  1908,  pp.  117-129;  Sharpe, 

Ibis,  1908,  pp.  317-357. 
"  Observations   regarding   the   Breeding  Seasons   of   the  Birds   in 

Southern  Kamerun."     Bates,  Ibis,  1908,  pp.  558-570. 
"  Field-Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Southern  Kamerun,  West  Africa." 

Bates,  Ibis,  1909,  pp.  1-74. 


1 92 1.]  collected  in  Southern  Cameroon.  83 

"  Further  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Southern  Cameroon"  (with  descrip- 
tions of  the  Eggs  by  W,  R.  Ogilvie-Graut).    Part  I.,  Bates,  Ibis, 
1911,  pp.  479-545;  Part  II.,  Bates,  Ibis,  1911,  pp.  581-631. 
1         Letter,  de.scribing  a  trip  to  the  Nj'ong  River.     Bates,  Ibis,  1914, 
pp.  109-172. 

"  Some  facts  bearing  on  the  affinities  of  SmWiomis."     Bates,  Ibis, 
1914,  pp.  495-502. 

"  Remarks  on  some  recent  Collections  of  Birds  made  by  Mr.  G.  L. 
Bates  in  Cameroon."    Ogilvie-Grant,  Ibis,  1917,  pp.  72-90. 

Dendropicus  lafresnayi  camerunensis. 

Dendrojjicus  camerunensis  Sharpe,  Ibi.s,  1907,  p.  443 — 
Type  locality  :   R.  Ja,  Cameroon. 

Dendropicus  lafresnayi  Malli.  ;  Sharpe,  Ibis,  1904,  p.  620; 
Bates,  Ibis,  1909,  p.  31. 

Mr.  Claude  Grant  (Ibis,  1915,  p.  461)  pointed  out  that 
the  type  of  D.  lafresnayi  Malh.  came  from  Gaboon,  and  until 
we  had  a  seiies  of  typical  birds  from  the  Gaboon  River  it 
would  be  impossible  to  say  whether  the  Congo  or  the 
Cameroon  bird  would  be  true  D.  I.  lafresnayi.  I  do  not 
agree  with  this  decision. 

The  type  of  D.  camerunensis  Sharpe  (Ibis,  1907,  p.  443) 
was  described  from  the  River  Ja,  Cameroon,  and  as  pointed 
out  in  the  original  description,  has  the  ground-colour  of  the 
upper  parts  darker  than  birds  from  the  Congo.  This  is 
ackiiowledged  by  Mr.  Claude  Grant.  As  typical  D,  lafres- 
nayi was  described  from  Gaboon,  Congo  birds  are  much 
more  likely  to  be  similar  to  Gaboon  specimens  than 
to  Cameroon  highland  birds.  I  think  we  can  therefore 
safely  consider  D.  I.  camerunensis  a  well-defined  race. 
Mr.  Ogilvie-Grant  agrees  with  these  conclusions.  I  am 
aware  that  this  is  the  opposite  opinion  to  that  expressed  by 
me  in  ^  The  Ibis/  1915,  pp.  490  &  647.  I  then  believed  that 
the  type  locality  of  D.  I.  lafresnayi  was  (as  given  in  Rev.  et 
Mag.  Zool.  1849,  p.  533)  "  ?  Africa,"  and  I  compared  my 
specimens  from  Cameroon  Mountain  and  the  Manenguba 
Mountains  with  birds  from  southern  Cameroon  and  could 
not  distinguish  them.  I  now  unite  all  Camei'oon  birds  from 
both  the  north  and  the  south  under  Sharpe's  name,  and 
restrict  the  typical  birds  to  Gaboon  and  the  Belgian  Congo. 

G  2 


84  Mr.  D.  A.  Bantiennan  on  rare  Birds  [Ibis, 

Mr.  Bates  has  now  obtained  six  more  specimens  of  this 
species  from  Bitye,  River  Ja. 

Mesopicus  xantholophus  Hargitt. 
Mesopiciis  elliotti  Cassin. 
Dendromus  caroli  (Malh.). 
Dendromus  permistus  Reichw. 
Dendropicus  gabonensis  (Verr.). 

Mr.  Bates  has  sent  further  specimens  of  all  these  Wood- 
peckers from  Bitye. 

lynx  torquilla  torquilla. 

lyrix  torquilla  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  10th  ed.  1758,  p.  112 — 
Type  locality  :  Sweden. 

I  record  a  specimen  shot  by  Mr.  Bates  at  Bitye,  River  Ja, 
on  the  19th  of  November,  1913,  as  we  have  far  too  little 
data  of  European  migrants  in  West  Africa.  It  is  nnfor- 
tunate  tliat  collectors  who  must  often  have  the  opportunity 
of  procuring  European  birds  on  passage  entirely  ignore  these 
in  favour  of  local  species  whose  range  is  often  much  l)etter 
known.  It  is  a  fact  that  several  European  birds  pass 
regularly  through  the  Canary  Islands  in  spring  and  autunm, 
which  have  never  been  taken  in  Africa  soutli  of  that 
latitude. 

Indicator  conirostris  conirostris  *. 

Meli<jnothes  conirostris  Cassin,  Proc.  Acad.  Philad.  1856^ 
p.  156 — Type  locality  :  Moonda_,  Gaboon. 

Indicator  c.  conirostris  C.  Grant,  Ibis,  1915,  p.  434; 
Bannerman,  t.  c.  p.  489  [Cameroon  Mt.]. 

All  the  examples  of  this  species,  eight  in  number,  have 
been  procured  by  Mr.  Bates  on  the  River  Ja.  He  has  now 
forwarded  another  pair  from  the  same  locality. 

The  wings  in  seven  males  measure  88-92 mm.;  in  three 
females,  79,  85,  85  mm. 

The  two  specimens  from  the  Gold  Coast  and  Fantee,  men- 
tioned under  /,  conirostris  in  the  Catalogue  of  Birds  in  the 

*  The  notes  on  the  species  of  the  genera  Indicator,  Melignomon, 
and  Prodotiscus  were  written  by  Mr.  ^^■.  11.  Ogilvie-Grant  in  1017. 


1 92 1.]  collected  in  Southern  Cameroon.  85 

British  Museum  (Vol.  xix.  p.  10),  were  separated  by  Sharpe 
as  /.  ussheri  [of.  C.  Grraut^  t.  c.  p.  434'). 

Indicator  maculatus. 

Indicator  maculatus  Gray,  Geii.  Birds,  ii.  1847,  p.  45]  — 
Type  locality  :  not  stated,  [River  Gambia]  cf.  specimen  in 
Brit.  Mns.  Coll.  ;  Sharpe,  Ibis,  1907,  p.  440. 

We  have  received  another  adult  male  of  this  rare  species, 
shot  at  Bitye  on  2  June,  1910.  It  agrees  entirely  with 
the  male  example  procured  in  July  1905  and  also  with  the 
type  specimen  from  the  River  Gambia.  It  has  the  feathers 
of  the  fore-part  of  the  crown  partially  edged  on  the  sides 
with  yellowish-white,  a  character  found  in  all  the  specimens 
and  showing  an  approach  to  /.  variegatas.  It  is  easily 
distinguished  from  that  species  and  from  /.  stictithorax  by 
having  the  ieaihers  of  the  breast  and  upper  belly  dull  olive 
spotted  with  yellowish-white,  but  the  spots  are  less  regular 
than  those  of  the  chest.  Two  specimens,  male  and  female, 
collected  by  the  late  Dr.  Ansorge  at  Gunnal,  Portuguese 
Guinea,  appear  to  be  immature  examples  of  this  species. 

Indicator  exilis  exilis. 

Melignothes  exilis  Cassin,  Proc.  Acad.  Philad.  1856, 
p.  157 — Type  locality  :  Moonda  River,  Gaboon. 

Indicator  e.  exilis  C.  Grant,  Ibis,  1915,  p.  434. 

Mr.  Bates  has  sent  three  more  pairs  of  this  species,  all 
referable  to  the  typical  form  from  Gaboon. 

The  wings  in  three  males  measure  respectively  70,  71, 
72  mm.  ;  in  three  females  67  mm. 

Mr.  Claude  Grant  (Ibis,  1915,  p.  434)  has  stated  that 
"  the  male  differs  from  the  female  in  having  a  well-defined 
white  band  at  the  base  of  the  upper  mandible  and  a  black 
moustachial  streak  "  ;  but  in  three  specimens  in  the  collec- 
tion marked  in  this  way  tlie  sex  has  been  ascertained  as 
female  by  Mr.  Bates,  Mr.  Dent,  and  Dr.  Ansorge  respectively, 
three  most  reliable  collectors. 

Indicator  stictithorax. 

Indicator  stictitliorax  Reichw.  J,  f.  O,  1877,  p.  110 — Type 
locality  :  Cameroon  ;  Sharpe,  Ibis,  1907,  p.  440. 


86  Mr,  D.  A.  Bannerraan  on  rare  Birds  [Ibis, 

Indicator  theresce  Alexander,  Bull.  B.  O.  C.  xxi.  1908, 
p.  90  [Gudima,  River  Iri]. 

Mr.  Bates  has  sent  another  example  of  this  species,  an 
adult  female  from  Bitj'e,  River  Ja.  He  had  already  procured 
three  specimens  at  Kribi,  of  which  two  males  taken  in 
September  are  in  the  British  Museum.  The  uniform  dark 
olive  crown,  spotted  breast,  and  streaked  belly  serve  to 
distinguish  this  species  from  the  nearly  allied  /.  maculatus 
Gray. 

/.  theresce  Alexander,  the  type  specimen  of  which  from 
Gudima,  River  Iri,  is  in  the  British  Museum,  is  synonymous 
with  the  present  species.  The  type  specimen  has  been 
marked  a  male  by  Alexander,  but  it  seems  certain  from  the 
small  size  of  the  bill  that  it  must  be  a  female  :  it  agrees 
exactly  with  the  female  from  Bitye  sent  by  Mr.  Bates. 

Melignomon  zenkeri  Reichw. 

Melignomo7i  zenkeri  Reichw.  Vog.  Afr.  ii.  1902,  p.  113 — 
Type  locality  :  Yaunde,  Cameroon. 

Mr.  Bates,  who  had  previously  sent  a  single  male  of  this 
rare  species,  has  now  obtained  five  more_,  including  examples 
of  both  sexes. 

Ceriocleptes  robustus. 

Melignomon  robustus  Bates,  Bull.  B.  O.  C.  xxv.  1909, 
p.  26 — Type  locality  :  Bitye,  River  Ja,  Cameroon. 

Ceriocleptes  xenurus  Chapin,  Bull.  Am.  Mus.  N.  H. 
xxxiv.  1915,  p.  512 — Type  locality:  Avakubi,  Ituri 
District. 

The  Honey-guide  described  and  figured  by  Mr.  Chapin 
is  obviously  of  the  same  species  as  that  described  by 
Mr.  Bates  under  the  name  Melignomon  robustus.  Mr.  Bates 
obtained  a  second  female  example  at  the  same  place,  Bitye, 
River  Ja,  on  the  29th  of  September,  1913.  The  type  speci- 
men of  M.  robustus  shows  the  peculiarity  of  the  tail-feathers 
figured  by  Mr.  Chapin  and  mentioned  by  Mr.  Bates 
when  he  modified  tlie  diagnosis  of  the  genus  Melignomon 
{op.  cit.  p.  27).     Mr.  Ogilvie-Grant  did  not  accept  the  genus 


1 92 1.]  collected  in  Souther?!  Cameroon.  87 

Ceriocleptes  proposed  by  Mr.  Cliapiii^  but  I  consider  that  it 
must  be  kept  up. 

If  Keichenow^s  genus  Melichneutes  (Orn.  Monatsl).  1910, 
p.  160),  founded  on  M .  sommerfeldi,  is,  as  I  suspect,  identical 
with  Chapin's  genus  Ceriocleptes,  then  E/eichenow's  name 
will  take  precedence. 

Prodotiscus  insignis. 

Hetarudes  insiyuis  Cassiti,  Proc.  Acad.  Philad.  1856,  p.  157 
—  Type  locality  :   Moonda  River,  Gaboon. 

'^Prodotiscus  eimni  Shelley,  P.  Z.  S.  1888,  p. 43  [Bellima]. 

Two  advilt  female  examples  procured  by  Mr.  Bates  at 
Bitye,  River  Ja,  should  be  typical  examples  of  Hetcerodes 
insignis  Cassin,  described  from  tlie  Moonda  River,  Gaboon. 
It  seems  more  than  probable  that  the  ty[)e  specimen  of 
P.  emini  Shelley  (which  came  from  Bellima  iu  the  Tingasi 
District  and  not  from  Wadelai  as  stated  in  the  original 
description,  cf.  P.  Z.  S.  1888,  p.  43)  is  a  male  o£  the  present 
species.  In  the  British  Museum  collection  there  is  a  female 
exam])h'  from  Nairobi,  presented  by  Mr.  A.  B.  Percival, 
which  nearly  resembles  one  of  the  adult  females  sent  by 
Mr.  Bates.  He  also  sent  a  quite  young  female  with  the 
quills  half-grown  from  the  same  locality.  It  would  seem 
that  the  species  ranges  from  the  Lake  District  to  West 
Africa,  but  our  very  small  series  does  not  afford  sufficient 
evidence  to  determine  this. 

Cuculus  gaboiiensis  gabonensis. 

Cuculus  gaboneiisis  Lah-esunyc,  Rev.  et  Mag.  Zool.  1853, 
p.  60 — Type  locality  :  Gaboon  ;  Sharpe,  Ibis,  1907,  p.  436  ; 
Bates,  Ibis,  1911,  p.  500.. 

The  valuable  material  now  sent  home  by  Mr.  Bates, 
together  with  his  notes  on  this  species  published  in  'The  Ibis' 
for  1911,  throw  considerable  light  on  the  complex  plumage 
changes  which  the  Gaboon  Cuckoo  undergoes  between  the 
stage  of  nestling  and  adult.  Mr.  Bates  has  already  pointed 
this  out,  Ijut  his  remarks  are  of  such  value  that  I  wish  to 
emphasise  them  again. 

Messrs.     Sclater    and     Mackworth-Praed    have     recentlv 


88  Mr.  J).  A.  Bannerman  on  rare  Birds  [Ibis, 

"worlied  through  what  they  term  the  soUtarius  group  of 
Cuckoos  in  the  Britisli  Museum,  and  ])ublished  their  con- 
clusions on  pp.  642,  643  of  '  The  Ibis/  1919.  They  remark 
{J.  c.  p.  643)  :  "  The  relationship  of  the  soUtarius  group  with 
C.  clamosus,  the  Black  Cuckoo,  which  is  also  found  all  over 
Africa,  is  very  obscure,  as  is  also  the  relatiousliip  of 
C.  soUtarius  and  C.  gahonensis.  There  appears  to  be  a  series 
of  intermediate  forms  (which  has  been  called  C  jacksoni) 
between  C.  clamosus  and  C.  soUtarius.  There  is  also  a 
series  of  intermediate  forms  (called  C.  mabirce)  between 
C.  gabonensis  and  C  soUtarius.  It  is  possible  that  these  may 
be  regarded  either  as  three  separate  species  intergrading  in 
certain  areas,  or  as  three  species  in  process  of  evolution  from 
one  form  within  those  areas."  I  am  not  at  all  in  agreement 
with  these  conclusions,  believing  C.  soUtarius  to  be  a  per- 
fectly fixed  race  with  very  distinct  young, 

Cucuhis  gabonensis  I  believe  to  be  also  a  fixed  race 
with  distinct  young,  having  a  subspecies  Cucidus  gabonensis 
mabiron.  I  shall  deal  with  the  status  of  C.  clamosus  and 
C.  jacksoni  later. 

I  have  now  the  entire  fine  series  of  these  forms  contained 
in  the  British  Museum  spread  out  before  me  in  addition 
to  certain  specimens  kindl}'  lent  to  nie,  from  Tiing  by 
Lord  Rothschild  and  by  Dr.  van  Someren  from  his  private 
collection. 

CUCULUS  GABONENSIS  GABONENSIS 

To  deal  first  with  Cuculus  gabonensis  gabonensis  :  we  possess 
fourteen  examples  in  the  British  Museum  showing  the  com- 
plete change  of  plumage  as  explained  by  Mr.  Bates  (Ibis, 
1911,  p.  501). 

1.  The  first  plumage  is  uniform  black  throughout  (speci- 

mens Nos.  3898  and  3904). 

2.  The  second  is  the  transitional  stage,  some  of  the  barred 

feathers  of  the  underparts  and  some  of  the  barred 
chestnut  feathers  of  the  throat  are  appearing  amongst 
the  black  feathers  ;   the  glossy  feathers  are  appearing 


1921.]  collected  in  Southern  Cameroon.  89 

on  tlie  back  (specimens  No3.  3044,  3141,  and  the  bird 
obtained  by  Bates  at  Efulen,  B.  M.  Reg.  No.  1903. 
7.16.30,  erroneously  named  C.  clamosus  hj  Sliarpe 
in  'The  Ibis'  (1904,  p.  614). 

3.  The  third  represents  the  almost  adult  stage;  the  under- 
parts  have  lost  all  trace  of  the  black  feathers  except 
on  the  thighs,  the  breast  is  creamy-buff  barred  with 
black  and  the  chin  and  throat  chestnut  barred 
Avith  black.  Tiie  u])per  parts  are  glossy  throughont 
(specimens  Nos.  4411,  3616,  4091,  and  951  [Bates 
Cameroon  coll.],  No.  14,  ex  Shelley  coll.  from 
Landana,  ;ind  specimen  1919.10.12.46,  Poko,  Uele, 
Dr.  C.  Christy  coll.). 

4'.  In  the  fourth  we  see  the  fully  adult  bird  which  has  lost 
all  trace  of  barring  on  the  throat,  which  is  now 
uniform  chestnut  (specimens  No.  4291  [Bates  coll.]  ; 
No.  805,  Landana  [Shelley  coll.]  ;  and  two  birds  col- 
lected m  Gaboon,  Danger  11.  [Ansell],  "Gaboon" 
[Verrcaux]).  The  ground-colour  of  the  breast  is 
creatny-l)uff,  and  the  under  tail-coverts  are  uniform 
bull",  with  little  trace  of  barring. 

The  range  oi  C.g.  gabonensis  appears  to  be  from  Cameroon, 
through  Gaboon  south  to  Landana  just  north  of  the  mouth 
of  the  Congo  River,  and  eastward  to  the  northern  Belgian 
Congo,  Uele  River  district. 

CUCULUS    SOLITARIUS. 

\_Cuculus  solitarius  Stephens  in  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.  ix. 
1815,  p.  84 — Type  locality  :  Caffraria  (i.  e.  Eastern  Cape 
Colony)  ex  Levailiant.] 

Next  we  will  deal  with  Cuculus  solitarius,  another  Cuckoo 
which  ranges  throughout  Africa  and  occurs  in  Cameroon. 
Mr.  Bates's  last  collection  contains  very  young  birds  of  this 
species,  which  shows  that  it  should  never  be  confused  with 
C.  gabonensis.  In  the  British  Museum  we  have  a  large 
series    of   this    bird  : — 89    in    adult     plumage    and     14    in 


90  Mr.  D.  A.  Baiincrinaii  on  rare  Birds  [Ibis, 

juvenile  and  immatnre  plumage,  besides  a  number  sent  to 
me  by  Dr.  van  Someren. 

1.  The  first  plumage  of  C.  soliturius  lias  the  u[)per  parts 

black  (as  in  C.  f/abonensis),  but  each  feather  of  tlie 
liead,  mantle,  back,  rump,  and  wing-coverts  is  narrowly 
fringed  with  white  or  buffish-white,  most  ])ronounced 
on  the  head  and  uape.  There  is  a  conspicuous  white 
spot  at  the  base  of  the  head.  The  throat  and  chin, 
are  black,  each  feather  narrowly  margined  with  white; 
the  breast  and  belly  buff,  strongly  barred  with  black. 

2.  In  the  second  stage  the  white  margins  to  the  feathers 

are  less  conspicuous;  the  breast  and  belly  are  white 
strongly  barred  with  black,  the  under  tail-coverts  are 
wiiite  barred  with  black.  On  the  u[)per  surface  the 
white  spot  at  the  base  of  the  head  is  wider  and  more 
conspicuous,  the  rectrices  are  black,  and  the  four 
white  s})ots  on  the  webs  of  the  rectrices  (including 
the  central  pair)  have  made  their  appearance — the 
latter  an  important  character,  as  C.  solitarius  is  the 
only  Cuckoo  of  this  complex  group  which  has  white 
markings  on  the  webs  of  the  central  })air  of  tail- 
feathers.  The  while  spot  at  the  base  of  the  head 
disappears  entirely  before  the  feathers  of  the  upper 
j)arts  lose  their  white  edges. 

3.  Stage  number  three  is  very  similar  to  the  last,  but  the 

cliestnut  feathers  of  the  throat  are  beginning  to  make 
their  appearance,  and  the  underparts  are  rather  more 
buff  and  are  more  conspicuously  barred.  The  iiead 
and  rest  of  the  upper  parts  are  uniform,  the  white 
margins  to  the  feathers  having  entirely  disappeared. 

i.  The  fourth  stage  shows  the  grey  feathers  of  the  thi'oat 
appearing  above  the  chestnut  of  the  breast;  the 
under  tail-coverts  are  now  distinctly  buff,  with  a  few 
indistinct  bars. 

5.  In  the  fifth  stage  we  see  the  adult  bird  with  uniform  dark 
grey  upper  parts,  the  conspicuous  white  markings  on 
the  webs  of  the  rectrices  incduding  the  middle  pair  ; 


1921.]  collected  in  Southern  Cameroon.  91 

pure  light  grey  throat  merging  into  chestnut  on  the 
breast ;  buff  underparts  uiiiformly  banded  with  black  ; 
uniform  buff  under  tail-coverts  sometimes  bearing  a 
few  dark  spots  or  irregular  bars,  but  more  often 
entirely  wanting  in  this  respect. 

The  range  of  this  Cuckoo  seems  to  be  Africa  generally. 
In  the  British  Museum  we  have  specimens  from  : 

South  Africa  (Cape  Colony^  Transvaal,  Natal,  Zululand). 

East  Africa  (Portuguese  E.  Africa,  British  E,  Africa, 
Abyssinia). 

No7-th- Central  Africa  (Sudan^  Niam-Niam  country,  and 
north  Belgian  Congo). 

West  Africa  (Portuguese  Guinea^  Gold  Coast^  Cameroon, 
Congo  River,  Angola). 

CucuLus  cLAMOsus  and  Cuculus  jacksoni. 

Thanks  to  Lord  Rothschild,  Sir  Frederick  Jackson,  and 
Dr.  van  Someren,  who  have  most  kindly  lent  me  all  their 
specimens  for  comparison  with  the  large  series  in  the 
Natural  History  Museum,  I  have  had  ninety  examples  of 
Cuculus  clamosus  and  Cuculus  jacksoni  from  which  to  make 
my  deductions,  i.  e.  : — 


Div.  1. 


M8  birds  from  Uganda,   Brit.  E.  Africa,  Equat. 

I  Great  Lakes,  S.E.  Ethiopia,  S.  Abyssinia. 

j  12  birils    from    the    Gold   Coast,    Sierra    Leone, 

l^  N.  Angola. 

(  10  birds  from  Nyasaland. 
-p^.      jj     I  20  l)irds    from    Cape    Colony,    Natal,    Zambesi, 
I  Bechuanaland,  Damaraland, Transvaal,  South 

i^  Rhodesia. 

Unquestionably  all  birds  in  Division  2  are  examples  of 
Cuculus  clamosus  ;  and  before  we  discuss  examples  from 
localities  in  Division  1,  1  wish  to  deal  with  the  status  and 
plumage  of  the  South  African  Black  Cuckoo. 


92  Mr.  1).  A.  Baiiiierman  on  rare  Birds  \\h\%, 

CUCULUS  CLAMOSUS. 

[Cuculus  clamosns  Latham,  Ind.  Orii.  ii.  Suppl.  1801, 
p.  XXX — Type  locality  :  Cape  of  Good  Mope.] 

The  Soutii  African  Black  Cuckoo  is  unfortunately  not 
v.ery  well  represented  in  the  National  Collection,  as  we  have 
not  any  really  young  birds.  We  have  twenty  specimens 
from  Cape  Colony,  Daniaraland,  Transvaal,  Natal,  Zambesi, 
and  Southern  Rhodesia  ;  also  ten  specimens  from  Nyasaland, 
which  I  consider  must  be  included  with  the  typical  form. 

The  juvenile  and  second  plumage  is  apparently  unknown, 
but  Ave  have  a  number  of  specimens  showing  the  transition 
stage  from  the  plumage  just  before  the  adult  plumage  is 
reached  to  the  fully  adult.  In  this  not  quite  matui'c  phase, 
of  which  we  have  twxlve  examples,  the  upper  parts  are 
already  black,  with  a  deep  greenish-blue  gloss  as  in  adult 
specimens.  The  underparts,  in  what  I  take  to  be  the  three 
youngest  examples  before  me  (Heg.  Nos.  89.6.25.112  and 
89.6.25.113),  two  from  Durban,  one  from  Kingwilliams- 
town,  are  dusky  blackish-brown,  irregularly  barred  and  in 
one  specimen  almost  mottled  (so  indistinct  is  the  barring) 
with  grey  and  rufous.  The  under  tail-coverts  are  black, 
barred  distinctly  but  narrowly  with  pale  rufous  and  white. 
The  Kingwilliamstown  Ijird  is  probably  the  youngest 
example,  as  it  has  the  outer  webs  of  the  primaries  distinctly 
barred,  while  in  the  elder  of  the  Durban  birds  the  primaries 
are  uniform  as  in  the  adult. 

From  this  plumage  the  birds  gradually  lose  the  barring 
on  the  undei'side  ;  in  several  specimens  it  is  only  faintly 
indicated,  and  finally  all  trace  of  markings  are  lost  and  we 
see  the  adult  plumage  as  in  a  specimen  (No.  8994)  from 
Durban  and  a  bird  from  Natal  (No.  79.4.5.395). 

In  one  l)ird  with  almost  uniform  under  parts  but  very 
heavily  barred  under  tail-coverts  there  is  a  distinct  indica- 
tion of  rufous  on  the  breast. 

I  have  purposely  described  specimens  from  Soutli  Africa 
(Natal  and  Cape  Colony)  as  benig  undoubtedly  typical,  but 


1 92 1.]  collected  in  Southem  Cameroon.  93 

exactly  the  same  changes  of  plumage  are  apparent  in  the 
ten  birds  from  Nyasaland. 

In  dealing  with  examples  of  the  Black  Cuckoo  from  north- 
east and  north-west  Africa  the  problem  is  considerably 
complicated  by  the  occuirence  in  Uganda,  British  East 
Africa,  southern  Abyssinia,  and  northern  Angola  of  the  bird 
known  as  Cuculus  jackso7ii  Sharpe,  immature  examples  of 
Cuculus  clamosus  having  l)een  confused  by  many  workers 
with  the  young  of  C.  jackso7ii.  Unfortunately  both  forms 
occur  side  by  side  in  many  districts — even  in  the  same 
forests ;  and  the  very  variable  plumage  exhibited  by  im- 
mature birds  of  C.  clamosus  has  made  the  status  of  the  two 
forms  and  the  range  which  they  occupy  a  difficult  task  to 
unravel. 

From  northern  central  Africa  we  have  examples  of  the  true 
Black  Cuckoo  from  Uganda,  British  East  Africa,  southern 
Abyssinia,  eastern  Belgian  Congo,  tlie  Galla  country,  Niam- 
Niam  country,  northern  Angohi,  Gohl  Coast,  and  Sierm 
Leone.  The  adult  black  birds  are  indistinguishable  fi-om 
those  from  South  Africa,  and  the  immature  .s])ecimens  exhibit 
the  same  remarkable  variety  in  the  colouc  of  the  plumage — 
from  the  indistinctly  barred  birds  with  an  indication  of 
rufous  appearing  amongst  the  feathers  of  the  breast  to  a 
curious  grey  bird  in  the  collection  of  Sir  Frederick  Jackson. 

Cuculus  jacksoni. 

\_Caculus  jachsuni  Sharpe,  Bull.  B.  O.  C.  xiii.  1902,  \).  7 — 
Type  locality  :  Toro,  Uganda.] 

At  first  glance  typical  examples  of  C.  jacksoni  look  like  a 
very  distinct  Cuckoo,  but  the  type  is  not  quite  adult.  The 
upper  parts  are  glossy  blue-black  as  in  C.  clamosus,  but  the 
underparts  are  very  dissimilar  to  any  phase  of  plumage 
exhibited  by  South  African  specimens  in  the  National 
Collection,  and  resemble  much  more  nearly  C.  y.  gabonensis. 
The  breast  is  dark  chestnut,  the  throat  greyish,  and  the 
rest  of  the  underside,  Irom  the  chest  to  and  including 
the    under    tuil-coverts,    is    strikingly    banded    with    black 


94  ^NTr.  D.  A.  Bannermnn  on  rare  Birds  [Ibis, 

and  white.  I  have  examples  in  tliis  phase  of  plumage 
from  Uganda,  Brit.  E.  Africa,  and  S.  Abyssinia,  and  from 
all  these  places  black  birds  indistinguishable  from  adult 
C.  clamosus  from  South  Africa. 

This  led  me  to  suppose  that  C.  clamosus  and  C.  jacksoni 
were  very  closely  allied.  As  they  appear  to  inhabit  the 
same  country,  it  is  impossible  to  determine  which  immature 
birds  are  the  young  of  C.  jacksoni.  Certainly  the  series 
of  immature  birds  from  Uganda  resemble  the  immature 
specimens  of  C.  clamosus  from  Natal  and  the  rest  of  South 
Africa. 

Until  young  l)irds  are  obtained  of  both  forms  we  cannot 
definitely  say  more.  The  only  fully- adult  specimen  of 
C.  jacksoni  in  the  British  Museum  is  No.  1920.6.7.15,  shot 
at  Mpumu,  Uganda,  by  Mr.  L.  M.  Seth-Smith.  It  is  dis- 
tinguished from  C.  gabo7iensis  by  the  more  heavily  barred 
under  surface,  the  ground-colour  of  which  is  white  and  not 
cream,  and  by  the  uniformly  banded  under  tail-coverts. 

In  other  respects  the  adult  bird  of  C.^acytsoni  resembles 
adult  C.  yahonensis,  and  had  it  not  inhabited  the  same 
country  as  C.g.  mabira,  I  believe  the  simplest  plan  would 
have  been  to  include  it  as  another  subspecies  of  C.  gabonensis. 
As  it  is,  it  must  remain  as  a  species. 

Range.  We  have  specimens  of  C.  jacksoni  in  typical  heavily 
barred  plumage  from  southern  Abyssinia,  Bahr  el  Ghazal, 
British  East  Africa,  Uganda,  and  northern  Angola. 

CUCULUS  GABONENSIS  MABIRjE, 

[Cuculus  mabirce  van  Someren,  Bull.  B.  O.  C.  xxxv.  1915, 
p.  116 — Type  locality  :  Mabira  and  Kasala  Forests,  Uganda,] 

This  bird  I  consider  a  subspecies  of  Cuculus  gabonensis. 
Dr.  van  Someren  has  kindly  forwarded  me  tw^o  birds  for 
examination,  and  Dr.  Hartert  has  sent  me  the  type  and 
another  from  Tring.  The  adult  bird  has  glossy  blue-black 
upper  parts,  pale  chestnut  throat  and  breast,  and  either 
uniform  buffish-white  or  slightly  barred  underparts  and 
uniform  buff  under  tail-coveits.  The  immature  of  this  bird 
is  quite  distinct  ;  the  chestnut  of  the  breast  extends  to  the 


ig2i.]  collected  in  Southern,  Cameroon.  95 

throat  and  cliiu  and  is  barred  with  black;  the  underparts 
are  almost  white,  barred  with  black — giving  the  birds  a  much 
ligliter  appearance  than  C.jacksoiii.  with  which  it  miglit  at 
first  sight  have  been  confnsed. 

1  have  one  remarkable  bird  entirely  black,  ])nt  with  several 
barred  feathers  still  remaining  in  the  breast  and  flanks — the 
barred  feathers  are  fresli  feathers,  the  black  much  Morn, 
showing  that  the  bird  is  changing  from  black  plumage  (?)  of 
the  young  into  the  barred  plumage.  It  is  impossible  to 
determine  whether  it  is  a  young  jacksoni  or  mahirce.  I  am 
inclined  to  think  the  latter,  as  the  feathers  of  tiie  young  o£ 
gabonensis  are  entirely  black  and  in  the  adult  become  barred. 
This  I  believe  to  be  a  parallel  case,  but  it  is  worthy  of 
study  by  anyone  working  at  this  group.  The  specimen 
alluded  to  is  a  male  obtained  by  Mr.  L.  M.  Seth-Smith  at 
Mpumu,  Uganda,  on  the  28th  of  July,  1912,  Brit.  Mus. 
Reg.  No.  1913.7.1G.31. 

At  first  I  believed  that  this  was  C.  jacksoni  turning  into  a 
black  bird,  but  on  closer  examination  along  with  Mr.  H.  F. 
Witherby  of  the  feathers,  he  drew  my  attention  to  the  fact 
that  the  barred  feathers  were  new,  the  black  feathers  old, 
and  in  these  conclusions  I  agree.  The  young  of  either 
('.jacksoni  or  C.  mabircs  are  therefore  black.  It  is  not  an 
example  of  C.  cUuaosus. 

The  range  of  this  Cuckoo  is  not  yet  known  apparently. 
The  type  came  from  the  Kasala  Forest  and  the  other 
specimens  from  Mabira  and  Bngoma  in  Uganda.  There 
are  three  birds  in  the  Jackson  collection  from  the  Mabira 
and  Bugoma  Foi^ests.  The  subspecies  is  not  re[)resentcd  in 
the  British  Museum. 

Pachycoccyx  validus. 

Cucutus  validus  Keichw.  Orn.  Centralbl,  1879,  p.  139 — 
Type  locality:   Muniuni,  Tana  River,  British  East  Africa. 

Pachycoccyx  validus  Sharpe,  Ibis,  1907,  p.  ^35  ;  Bates, 
Ibis,  1911,  p.  499. 

Two  specimens  of  this  rare  Cuckoo  were  obtained 
(Nos.  5939  and  4220),  and  have  been  presented  to  the  British 


96  Mr.  D.  A.  Bannernian  o??.  rare  Birds  [Ibis, 

Museum.  There  are  now  three  birds  in  the  collection 
obtained  by  Mr.  Bates  on  the  Kiver  Ja.  No.  4220  has 
already  been  recorded  by  Mr.  Bates  (/.  c).  It  has  a 
remarkably  mottled  appearance,  due  to  the  feathers  of  the 
crown^  mantlcj  greater  and  .lesser  coverts,  primaries  and 
secondaries,  upper  tail-coverts  and  tail  ])eing;  broadly  tipped 
with  white.  The  adult  bird  is  uniformly  coloured  blackish 
brown  on  the  entire  upper  parts.  As  Mr.  Bates  has  already 
remarked,  the  bird,  though  in  such  spotted  plumage,  is  not 
very  young — the  wing  measures  220  mm. — and  had  evidently 
itself  caught  the  numerous  insects  which  were  contained  in 
its  stomach. 

Pachycoccyw  validus  ranges  from  British  East  Africa 
south  to  Nyasaland,  across  the  Belgian  Congo  to  Came- 
roon, Gaboon,  and  northern  Angola.  It  has  also  been 
obtained  in  two  widely  separated  localities  in  the  late 
German  Togoland  according  to  Reichenow. 

Chrysococcyx  flavigularis. 

Chrijsococcy.v  jiaviyidaris  Shelley,  P.  Z.  S.  1879,  p.  G79, 
p],  50 — Type  locality:  Gold  Coast;  Sharpe,  Ibis,  1907, 
p.  437  ;  Bates,  Ibis,  1911,  p.  502. 

Mr.  Bates's  collection  contains  four  more  examples  of 
this  extremely  rare  Golden  Cuckoo,  all  obtained  dnring  the 
month  of  December  in  1908,  1913,  and  1914.  Two  are 
females,  but  the  sex  of  tlie  other  two  has  been  ascertained 
as  males.  In  plumage  they  closely  resemble  the  female,  and 
must  therefore  be  young  birds,  as  the  adult  male  is  a  very 
distinct-looking  bird.  There  is  no  indication  of  the  yellow 
throat  in  either  specimen,  the  entire  under  surface  being 
narrowly  barred  as  in  the  female. 

Cercococcyx  mechowi  wellsi. 

Cercococcyx  mechoivi  wellsi  Bannerman,  Bull.  B.  O.  C.  xl. 
1919,  p.  7 — Type  locality  :  River  Ja,  Cameroon. 

Cercococcyx  mechowi  Sharpe,  Ibis,  1907.  p.  436;  Bates, 
Ibis,  1909,  p.  15. 

This  race  of  Mechow's  Cuckoo  has  been  named  by  me  in 


1 92 1.]  collected  in  Southern  Cameroon.  97 

honour  of  Mr.  Wells,  of  the  bird-room,  British  Museum, 
who  first  drew  my  attention  to  the  differences  between  the 
Cameroon  and  Angola  birds.  We  iiave  in  the  British 
Museum  collection  a  good  series  of  birds  from  Uganda, 
the  Belgian  Congo,  Cameroon,  northern  Angola,  the  Gold 
Coast,  and  a  single  bird  from  Nyasaland.  When  these 
birds  are  laid  out  in  geographical  order,  it  is  at  once 
apparent  that  two  forms  are  represented,  but  the  distri- 
bution of  the  two  is  at  first  puzzling. 

To  begm  with,  Cabanis  (J.  f.  O.  188.2,  p.  230)  described 
Cercococcyx  mechowi  from  Angola  from  a  specimen  obtained 
by  IMajor  von  !Mechow.  No  particulars  are  given  as  to 
the  exact  place  where  JNTcchow  obtained  his  type,  ])ut  I 
have  ascertained  that  this  German  traveller  made  an  expe- 
dition into  northern  Angola  and  published  a  large-scale 
map  (Karte  der  Knango-Expedition)  in  1884  at  Berlin. 
A  copy  of  this  may  be  seen  in  the  map-room  of  the 
Royal  Geographical  Society.  Von  Mechow  appears  to 
have  ascended  the  Kuansa  River  and  prepnrcd  the  sheets 
of  his  map  from  Dondo  to  Malange,  Avhere  he  left  the 
Kuansa  River  and  trecked  northwards,  joining  the  head- 
waters of  the  Cambo  River.  This  river  he  followed  to  Tembo- 
Aluma,  where  the  Cambo  joins  the  Zaida-Kuango.  Thence 
he  proceeded  by  way  of  the  Kuango  to  Camalamba.  No 
connected  account  of  his  journey  seems  to  have  been 
published.  We  have  six  birds  in  the  British  Museum  from 
northern  Angola  collected  by  the  late  Dr.  Ansorge  at  N'dalo 
Tando  (a  place  situated  on  the  line  between  St.  Paul 
de  Loando  and  Kassandje),  and  these  are  very  different 
from  specimens  collected  in  Cameroon  and  in  Uganda. 

Unfortunately  the  original  description  by  Cabanis  of 
C.  mechowi  does  not  accurately  fit  either  the  Angola  or  the 
Cameroon  and  Uganda  birds ;  but  as  the  genus  Cercococcyx 
was  founded  on  Mechow's  specimen  obtained  in  Angola, 
we  must  restrict  Cercococcyx  mechowi  mechowi  to  Angola 
specimens. 

These  Angola  bird.',  C.  m.  mechowi  Cabanis,  have  the 
upper  parts    greyish  brown,  strongly  Mashed   with  copper- 

SER.   XI. VOL.   III.  H 


98  Mr.  D.  A.  Baimerman  on  rare  Birds  [Ibis, 

colour,  the  coppery  gloss  being  very  apparent  in  certain 
lights.  The  underparts  are  huffish  white,  the  throat,  breast, 
and  flanks  narrowly  handed  with  blackish,  each  feather 
having  a  narrow  subtcrminal  bar.  On  the  belly  tlie  bars  are 
either  entirely  wanting  or  only  faintly  indicated.  The  under 
tail-coverts  are  barred  in  four  out  of  six  specimens  to  a  lesser 
or  greater  extent. 

These  birds  from  Angola  have  only  recently  been  in- 
corporated in  the  National  Collection,  and  hence  former 
workers  have  been  unable  to  compare  birds  from  other  parts 
of  Africa  with  typical  specimens.  Had  they  been  able  to  do 
so,  they  would  have  seen  that  a  very  noticeable  difference 
exists  between  them. 

We  have  in  the  British  Museum  twenty-one  skins  from 
other  parts  of  Africa — 13  birds  from  Cameroon  collected 
by  ]Mr.  Bates  (6  in  old  collections,  7  in  the  present  series), 
4  from  Uganda  and  Kuwenzori,  3  from  the  Gold  Coast,  and 
one  from  Nyasaland.  I  have  also  examined  one  bird  from 
Poko  on  the  Uelle  River  (Christy  coll.). 

First,  to  deal  with  the  series  from  Cameroon,  Uganda,  and 
E/Uwenzori,  which  I  have  named  C.  m.  ivellsi : — These  birds 
differ  from  ('.  m.  mechowi  in  having  the  upper  parts  slate- 
brown,  a  distinct  dark  bluish  grey  taking  the  place  of  the 
copper  colour.  The  most  noticeable  difference  is,  however,  on 
the  under  surface,  which  in  C.  m.  ivellsi  is  whitish  or  huffish 
white,  closely  banded  with  brownish  black,  the  bars  much 
Avider  and  closer  togetlier  than  in  C.  m.  mecliowi.  The  under 
tail-coverts  are  generally  unbarred  or  unspotted,  but  this, 
as  in  the  Angola  bird,  is  subject  to  variation. 

We  have  still  to  deal  with  birds  from  the  Gold  Coast,  of 
whicli  I  have  only  three  specimens  ;  and  these,  while  exhibit- 
ing the  coppery  gloss  of  C  m.  mecliaivi,  which  they  resemble 
on  the  upper  parts,  have  the  under  surface  closely  barred 
(though  not  quite  so  heavily)  as  in  C.  m.  wellsi.  With  such 
small  material  1  can  only  point  out  the  somewhat  inter- 
mediate position  which  the  Gold  Coast  birds  seem  to  hold. 

There  remains  the  biid  from  Nyasaland.  It  is  quite  a 
young  female,  the  upper  parts  barred  with  rufous  and  brown 


1 921.]  cuUeclcd  in  Soutliern  Cameroon.  99 

and  the  underparts  heavily  banded.  The  species  to  ^vhich 
it  belongs  may  very  possibly  be  new^  but,  without  adult 
examples,  must  remain  indeterminable.  We  must,  however, 
recognise 

1.  Cercococcyx  mechowi  MECHOWi  Cabanis  :   restricted 

to  Angola  ; 

2.  Cercococcyx  mechowi  wellsi  Bannerman  :  Cameroon 

(typical),  Belgian  Congo,  Uganda,  Buwenzori  ; 
and  perhaps 

3.  Cercococcyx  mechowi  ?  subsp.  :  Gold  Coast  ; 

4.  Cercococcyx,  sp.  or  subsp.  indeterminable  :   S.  Angoni- 

laud,  Nyasaland  ; 

5.  Cercococcyx  MECHOWI  olivinus  Sassi,  which  I  have 

not  seen. 

Caprinmlgus  europseus  europaeus. 

Caprimulgus  eiirojjceus  Linn.  Syst.  ISIat.  10th  ed.  1758, 
p.  193 — Type  locality  :  Sweden. 

I  mention  a  bird  of  this  species  which  Mr.  Bates  shot  on 
the  8th  of  December,  1913,  as  there  are  far  too  few  refer- 
ences to  European  migrants  in  ornithological  literature  to 
allow  us  to  omit  to  record  any  really  authentic  specimen. 

Caprimulgus  inornatus. 

Caprimulgus  inornatus  Heuglin,  Orn.  Nordost-Afrika's, 
i.  1869,  p.  129— Type  locality  :  Bogosland. 

No.  3422.  ?  .   Bitye,  River  Ja,  13  February,   1909. 
No.  5168.  S  ■  Bitye,  River  Ja,  14  December,  ]912. 

Specimen  No.  3422  has  already  been  recorded  by 
Mr,  Bates  (Ibis,  1911,  p.  516)  as  Macrodipteryx  niacro- 
dipterus,  but  I  do  not  think  there  can  be  any  question  but 
that  Mr.  Bates  has  identified  his  bird  wrongly.  Without  a 
large  series  for  comparison  it  would  have  been  impossible  to 
name  this  Nightjar,  which,  as  has  already  been  pointed  out 
is  not  fully  grown.  Curiously  enough,  another  example  of 
this  Nightjar,  which  has  never  previously  been  taken  in 
Cameroon,  was  secured  by  Mr.  Bates  in  1912.  In  this  bird 
the    head,    scapulars,    and    upper   tail-coverts    are   strongly 

h2 


100  ]\Ir.  D.  A.  Baiinermau  on  rare  Birds  [lljis, 

marked  witli  })iukisli.  In  the  series  in  the  Britisli  Museum 
of  forty  specimens  several  are  in  tlie  entire  reddish  phase 
out  of  whicli  si)ecimen  No.  5168  is  passinj>-. 

The  range  of  ('.  inornatus  seems  to  be  very  peculiar  if  all 
the  skins  in  the  National  Collection  have  been  correctly 
identified.  The  following  localities  are  represented  there  : — 
Southern  Arabia,  Bahr  el  Ghazal,  Somaliland,  Abyssinia, 
British  East  Africa,  Uganda,  northern  Belgian  Congo. 

Alexander  obtained  the  bird  at  Angu  on  the  Uelle  River 
and  also  on  the  Ubangi  River  in  the  ( *ongo  region.  It  is 
Avorthy  of  note  that  all  the  specimens  obtained  in  the  Belgian 
Congo  and  Cameroon  were  shot  during  the  winter  months, 
November  to  February. 

The  occurrence  of  this  Nightjar  in  Cameroon  is  of  sjjecial 
interest. 

Caprimulgus  binotatus. 

(uprhitulyus  binotatus  Bonaparte,  Conspect.  Gen.  Av. 
1850,  p.  60 — Type  locality  :  Dal)ocrom,  Gold  Coast ;  Sharpe, 
Ibis,  1904,  p.  612;    Hates,  Ibis,  1911,  p.  516. 

jNIr.  Bates  has  now  sent  two  more  examples  of  this 
extremely  rare  and  interesting  Nightjar,  and  with  great 
generosity  has  presented  them  with  other  rare  things  to  the 
Britisli  Museum. 

He  had  already  ])rocured  a  single  male  bird  at  Efulen 
in  March  1902,  and  this  bird,  which  is  in  the  National 
Collection,  was  duly  recorded  and  commented  upon  by  the 
late  Dr.  Sharpe  (/.  c).  The  next  specimen  (No.  4107)  Avas 
obtained  at  Bitye,  River  Ja,  on  the  19th  of  February,  1910, 
and  is  likewise  a  male — the  occurrence  of  this  particular  bird 
has  already  been  noted  by  Mr.  Bates  (Ibis,  1911,  p.  516). 
In  this  i)apcr  Mr.  Bates  remarked  that  in  specimen  4107 
there  was  a  distinct  diagonal  buff  band  on  the  feathers  of 
the  scapulars,  and  expressed  his  opinion  that  these  characters 
were  distingnlshing  marks  of  the  male  sex,  "supposing  the 
original  description  to  have  been  made  from  a  female.''^ 
In  this  surmise  Mr.  Bates  is  perfectly  correct,  as  he  has  now 
himself  proved  by  securing  yet  a  third  example — a  female 


I921.]  collected  in  Southern  Cameroon.  lOl 

tliis  time — on  the  9tli  of  Marcli,  1915,  at  Bitye.  This  bird 
lacks  any  trace  of  the  diagonal  bar  on  the  scapulars. 

The  most  remarkable  character  exhibited  by  this  Nightjar 
is  the  entire  absence  of  spots  on  the  inner  web  of  the  quills, 
which  are  uniformly  coloured,  and  as  Dr.  Sharpe  pointed 
out  when  the  first  of  Mr.  Bates's  specimens  came  under  his 
notice,  resembles  in  this  respect  C.  concretus  of  Borneo. 

The  wing-measurements  of  Mr.  Bates's  three  specimens 
are  as  follows  : — 

S  (Efulen),  153  mm.  ;  ^  (No.  4107,  Bitye),  141  mm. 
(barely)  ;    ?  (No.  5942,  Bitye),  148  mm. 

Caprimulgus  binotatus  is  recorded  only  from  (*ameroon 
and  from  the  Gold  Coast  (Dabocrom)  [Hartlaub,  J.  £.  O. 
1855,  p.  355]. 

Caprimulgus  batesi. 

Caprimulgus  batesi  Sharpe,  Bull.  B.O.  C.  xix.  1906,  p.  18 
— Type  locality  :  River  Ja,  Cameroon. 

Caprimulgus  batesi  Sharpe,  Ibis,  1907,  p.  433  ;  Bates,  Il)is, 
1909,  p.  25. 

We  had  already  received  four  adult  specimens  of  Bates's 
Nightjar,  collected  on  the  River  Ja  in  January,  March,  July, 
and  August,  at  the  British  Museum.  The  present  collection 
includes  four  adult  birds  collected  at  Bitye  in  February, 
July,  and  August.  Numbers  3481  and  4936  are  retained  for 
the  National  Collection. 

Cosmetornis  vexillarius. 

Semeiophorus  vexillarius  Gould,  Icones  Avium,  1838, 
pi.  13— Type  locality  :  Sierra  Leone. 

Cosmetornis  vexillarius  Sharpe,  Ibis,  1907,  \).  432 ;  Bates, 
Ibis,  1909,  p.  26. 

There  are  three  specimens  of  the  Pennant-winged  Nightjar 
in  the  present  collection  (Nos.  4140,  5987,  5947),  all  of  whith 
were  obtained  in  March  1910, 1914,  and  1915.  No.  4140  is 
a  male  with  the  white  belly  barred  with  brown,  while  the 
other  two  are  females.  These  are  not  the  three  birds  men- 
tioned by  Mr.  Bates  (/.  c.)   and  already  recorded  by  Sharpe 


103  Mr.  t).  A.  Bannerman  on  rare  JBii'ds  [Ibis, 

{I.  c),  but  it  is  noteworthy  tliat  all  six  birds  were  obtained 
in  March  "at  the  end  of  the  dry  season,"  as  Mr.  Bates  tells 
us  in  his  paper.  C.  vexillarius  apparently  only  visits  this  part 
of  Cameroon  at  this  time  of  year. 

In  an  interesting  footnote  Messrs.  Sclater  and  Praed 
(Ibis,  1919,  p.  659)  point  out  that  we  may  accept  as  the 
type  of  this  species  a  bird  in  the  British  Museum  collection, 
Brit.  Mus.  Reg.  No.  55/12/19/63,  obtained  by  James  Barlow, 
Esq.,  from  Siena  Leone.  From  information  on  the  label  it 
appears  to  have  been  the  bird  originally  descril)ed  by  Gould. 
I  agree  with  Messrs.  Sclater  and  Praed  that  Ave  may  accept 
this  bird  as  the  type  of  the  species. 

Merops  persicus  chrysocercus. 

Merops  chrysucercus  Cabanis  &  Heine,  Mus.  Hein.  ii. 
J 860,  p.  139— Type  locality  :  Senegal. 

The  two  specimens  obtained  by  Mr.  Bates  at  Akonolinga, 
Nyong  River,  do  not  belong  to  the  typical  race  but  to 
M.  persicus  chrtjsocercus.  There  is  a  specimen  in  the 
British  Museum  named  by  Dr.  Ilartert  M.  p.  chryso- 
cercus from  Oued  Nca,  whicli  almost  exactly  resembles 
Mr.  Bates's  bird  (No.  5272)  both  in  the  colouring  of  the 
upper  parts  and  in  the  length  of  the  two  middle  tail- 
feathers.  The  back  has  not  got  the  golden  wash  ascribed  to 
this  species.  The  second  specimen  obtained  ])y  Mr.  Bates  is 
immature.  I  cannot  find  that  Mr.  Bates  Ir  s  obtained  tliis 
Blue-cheeked  Bee-eater  previously  in  Cameroon. 

Melittophagns  gularis  australis. 

Merupiscus  yularls  australis  Reichw.  J.f.  O.  1885,  p.  222 — 
l^ype  locality:   Gaboon  and  Cameroon. 

Mtlittophagus  austruiis  Sharpe,  Ibis,  1904,  p.  611;  1905, 
p.  465;   1907,  p.  431  ;   Bates,  Ibis,  1908,  p.  564. 

Melittophagus  (jularis  australis  J^aics,  Ibis,  1909,  p.  24. 

Without  counting  the  two  birds  from  Bitye  which 
Mr.  Bates  obtained  in  1909  and  1910,  there  are  seven  other 
speciuiens  in  the  British  Museum  i'roni  Cameroon  whicli 
Mr.  Bates  obtained  at  Efulen  and  on  the  Ja  River.     These 


1^21.]  collected  in  Southern  Cameroon.  lOS 

all  sliow  the  characters  which  Reichenow  assigned  to  this 
race.  In  no  single  specimen  is  there  any  trace  of  the  pale 
hlue  eyebrow  streak  as  in  M.  g.  gularis,  and  in  all  but 
two  the  feathers  of  the  breast  are  streaked  intermittently 
with  red. 

In  addition  to  the  specimens  obtained  by  Mr.  Bates 
in  Cameroon,  there  are  in  the  British  Museum  two  birds 
from  north  Angola  obtained  by  the  late  Dr.  Ansorge  and 
eight  birds  from  the  northern  Belgian  Congo  (Uele  River 
and  Aruwimi  River  districts).  There  is  no  question  but  that 
these  birds  belong  to  the  southern  form  M.  g.  australis. 

Besides  the  specimens  enumerated  we  have  five  birds  from 
Gaboon,  and  here  we  are  faced  with  a  difficulty.  Reichenow 
( Vogel  Afrikas,  ii.  p.  313)  calls  the  Gaboon  bird  M.g.  australis, 
and  obviously  this  should  be  the  case  ;  but  of  the  five  birds 
before  me,  three  at  any  rate  are  inseparable  from  typical 
M.  g.  (fulariSy  having  the  wide  pale  blue  eyebrow  streak 
and  no  indication  of  red  on  the  feathers  of  the  breast.  On 
the  other  hand,  two  other  specimens  from  Gaboon  have  the 
characters  of  31.  g.  australis  clearly  shown.  Had  the  speci- 
mens similar  to  the  typical  form  been  secured  in  Cameroon 
and  not  in  Gaboon  (two  were  collected  by  Du  Chaillu  and 
the  other  is  from  the  Gould  collection),  it  would  have  been 
easier  to  explain  their  presence  than  is  the  case  now. 

Melittophagus  variegatus  variegatus. 

Merops  variegatus  Vieill.  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  vol.  xiv. 
1817,  J).  25 — Type  locality:   Malimbe,  Loango. 

The  five  adult  specimens  of  the  Variegated  Bee-eater  are 
the  first  which  Mr.  Bates  has  sent  home  from  Cameroon, 
and  it  is  noteworthy  that  all  were  obtained  by  him  in 
January  1913  on  tiie  Nyong  River  at  a  place  called  Akono- 
linga.  Mr.  Claude  Grant  figured  a  race  of  this  Bee-eater 
from  Rhodesia  (Ibis,  1915,  p.  297,  pi.  iv.),  and  in  the  text  of 
his  paper  remarks  tliat  most  specimens  of  M.  v.  variegatus 
from  western  Africa  '"  have  no  snperciliaiy  stripe  or  only  an 
incomplete  one,"  noting,  however,  that  he  was  unable  to 
handle  a  sufficient  number  of  well-collected  sj)eciniens  from 


lOi  Mr.  D.  A.  Bannerman  on  rare  Birds  [Ibis, 

the  west.  The  tive  beautiful  sidus  in  Mr.  Bates's  preseut 
collectiou  show  the  blue  superciliar}'  stripe  very  distinctly. 

With  the  material  avaihible  1  do  not  feel  inclined  to  accept 
Mearns's  name  for  the  East  African  race  wiiich  that  ornitho- 
logist considered  separable  from  the  typical  race. 

The  range  of  M.  v.  variegatus  seems  to  be  as  indicated  by 
Mr.  C.  Grant  in  his  paper  quoted. 

Eurystomus  gularis  neglectus. 

Eurystonms  gularis  neglectus  Neumann,  Orn.  Monatsber. 
xvi.  1908,  p.  .'iS — Type  locality  :  Canhoca,  Angola  ;  Bates, 
Ibis,  1911,  p.  510. 

Eurystomus  gularis  Sharpe,  Ibis,  1904,  p.  606. 

Having  compared  the  series  of  E.  gularis  in  the  British 
Museum,  I  agree  that  the  t\vo  races  must  be  recognised. 
In  the  series  before  me  the  distribution  seems  to  be  as 
follows  : — 

E.  gularis  gularis.  Sierra  Leone,  Gold  Coast,  and  Northern 
Nigeria. 

E.  g?daris  neglectus.  Southern  Nigeria,  Cameroon,  Gaboon, 
Angola,  Belgian  Congo. 

E.  g.  neglectus  are  certainly  more  violet-coloured  on  tlie 
under  surface  than  typical  specimens,  and  most  of  the  ten 
specimens  examined  have  a  distinct  violet  wash  on  the  basal 
lialf  of  the  two  middle  tail-feathers,  although,  as  instanced 
by  specimen  No,  3262  and  pointed  out  by  Mr.  Bates  himself 
(Ibis,  1911,  J).  606),  this  character  is  not  always  present. 

Agapornis  Zenker i. 

Agupornis  zenkeri  Eeichw.  Orn.  Monatsber.  1895,  p.  19 — 
Type  locality  :  Yaunde,  Cameroon  ;  Shai'pe,  Ibis,  1904, 
p.  605  ;  Bates,  ibis,  1905,  p.  89. 

The  present  collection  contains  three  examples  of  this 
little  Parrot  [Nos.  4285,  4290,  and  5496],  which  Mr.  Bates 
tells  us  (Ibis,  1911,  p.  J97)  were  shot  amongst  otliers  "with 
bows  and  arrows."  Specimens  of  this  Parrot  liave  been 
obtained  by  jNIr.  Bates  in  Cameroon  at  Efulen  and  at  Bitye, 
River  Ja.     Reiehenow  (Yiigel   Afiikas,  ii.  p.  19)   gives  only 


1921.]  collected  in  Southern  Cameroon.  105 

two  localities  i'roin  which  specimens  were  then  known, 
Yaunde  and  Manjema.  The  first-named  town  is,  of  course,  in 
Cameroon,  while  Manjema  is  in  the  Belgian  Congo  imme- 
diately west  of  the  northern  end  of  Lake  Tanganyika. 
Recently  this  bird  Mas  obtained  by  Dr.  Christy  at  Bosabangi 
in  the  Belgian  Congo  and  at  Poko  on  the  Uele  River. 
There  are  also  two  specimens  in  the  British  Museum  from 
Bompona  on  the  Congo  River.  It  appears,  therefore,  that 
this  little  Parrot  extends  its  range  right  across  central 
Africa  from  Cameroon  to  the  eastern  boundary  of  the 
Belgian  Congo.  Judging  from  the  few  specimens  which 
travellers  and  collectors  have  brought  back,  it  must  be  either 
very  rare  or  very  locally  distributed. 

Accipiter  sharpei. 

Accipiter  sharpei  Reichw.  Yog.  Afr.  i.  1901,  p.  564 — '^^'yP® 
locality  :  [?  Gaboon]  ;   Sharpe,  Ibis,  1904,  p.  101. 

Accipiter  batesi  Sharpe,  Bull.B.O.C.  xiii.  1903,  p.  50. 

The  present  collections  contain  two  additional  specimens 
of  this  beautiful  little  Hawk — a  male  [No.  4663]  shot  on  the 
25th  of  December,  1911,  and  another  male  [No.  4926]  shot 
on  the  6th  of  August,  1912,  at  Bitye  (2000  ft.).  Unfor- 
tunately Mr.  Bates  failed  to  secure  a  female. 

I'he  bird  which  Sharpe  named  A.  batesi  is  said  by 
Mr.  W.  L.  Sclater  to  be  tiie  female  of  A.  hartlauhi  sharpei. 
Including  this  latter  bird,  which  was  procured  at  Efulen, 
Cameroon,  there  were  hitherto  only  three  specimens  in  the 
British  Museum — a  male  from  Gaboon  and  a  male  collected 
by  Bates  at  Efulen  in  May  1903. 

I  am  doubtful  whether  sharpei  and  batesi  will  prove  to  be 
synonymous.  Certainly  the  two  birds  were  procured  from 
localities  not  far  separated  from  one  another.  Only  further 
material  can  settle  this  point  satisfactorily. 

Buteo  augur  alls. 

Buteo  auguralis  Salvad.  Atti  Soc.  Ital.  viii.  1865,  p.  377 
■ — Type  locality  :   Abyssinia. 

The  female  shot  on  the  2nd  of  March,   1915,   at   Bitye 


106  Mr.  I).  A.  Bannerman  on  rare  Birds  [Ibis, 

seems   to   Ijc  the   first   record   of    this    species  from   (Jame- 
rooD. 

We  have  specimens  iu  the  British  Museum  from  the 
Egyptian  Sudan  and  Abyssinia  in  the  east,  and  from 
Sierra  Leone,  Gold  (*oast,  French  Congo,  and  Portuguese 
Congo  in  the  west. 

Spizaetus  africanus. 

Limna'etus  africanus  Cassin,  Proc.  Acad.  Philad.  1865, 
p.  4 — Type  locality  :   Ogobai  River,  Gaboon. 

Tiie  only  specimen  which  Mr.  Bates  procured  of  this  rare 
bird — a  male  shot  on  the  16th  of  December,  1913,  at  Bitye, 
R.  Ja— was  described  by  Mr.  W.  L.  Sclater  (Bull.  B.  O.  C. 
xxxix.  p.  87)  as  Spizaetus  batesi,  sp.  nov.  Mr.  Sclater  had 
then  overlooked  the  fact  that  what  must  evidently  be  the 
same  bird  had  l)een  already  described  by  Cassin  :  l)ut  he 
discovered  and  corrected  his  mistake  himself  in  the  following 
number  of  the  '  Bulletin'  (vol.  xxxix.  pp.  93,  94'). 

Pteronetta  hartlaubi. 

Querquednla  Jiartluubi  Cassin,  Proc.  Acad.  Philad.  1859, 
p.  175 — Type  locality:   Camma  and  Ogobai  (Gaboon). 

Pteronetta  tiartlaubi  Sliarpe,  Ibis,  1904,  p.  98,  1907, 
p.  425;  Bates,  Ibis,  1909,  p.  6,  1911,  p.  482. 

Pteronetta  hartlaubi  albifrofis  Neumann,  Bull.  B.  O.  C.  xxi. 
1908,  p.  42. 

In  1908  Oscar  Neumann  gave  a  name  to  the  form  of 
Hartlaub's  Duck  from  the  Upper  Congo,  Ituri,  and  Uele 
Rivers,  n;iming  it  P.  h.  albifrons.  He  separated  it  from 
typical  examples  of  P.  hartlaubi  ((Jassin)  on  account  of 
adults  of  both  sexes  having  "  a  large  white  patch  on  the 
forehead,  extending  to  the  middle  of  the  vertex,^'  noting 
"in  the  West-African  form  the  females  never  had  any  white 
on  the  head,  but  in  the  males  there  were  sometimes  a  few 
white  feathers  on  the  forehead.'' 

In  'The  Ibis,'  1911,  p.  482, Mr.  Bates  makes  the  following 
interesting  observation: — "  ^lale  specimens  (Nos.  3661  and 
4143)  from  (Jameroon  have  a  small  white  spot  on  the  fore- 


K)!!,]  collected  in  Southern  Cameroon.  107 

head  at  tlie  base  of  the  bill,  but  have  not  nearly  so  much 
white  as  the  birds  which  Neumann  has  called  1'.  h.  albifrons 
(Bull.  13.0.C.  xxi.  p.  42).  All  my  female  examples  (Nos.  29, 
33,  4142,  and  4459)  have  either  no  white  or  a  very  faint 
'ticking'  of  white  on  the  forehead.  This  white  spot  is  a 
sexual  marking  of  the  male,  which  is  beginning  to  be 
acquired  by  fully  adult  or  old  females;  it  is  more  developed 
in  birds  from  the  Upper  Congo  region  than  in  tln)se  from 
the  West  Coast." 

Mr.  Bates  has  now  forwarded  the  birds  mentioned,  in  the 
above  note  to  England^  together  with  three  male  birds 
(Nos.  4592,  4664,  and  554'5)  which  he  oljtained  since  writing 
in  '  The  Ibis'  for  1911.  The  series  which  are  now  before 
me  clearly  show  that  Neumann  was  in  error  in  thinking 
the  white  patch  of  the  forehead  a  subspecific  character. 
Mr.  Bates  was  clearly  right  Avheu  he  pointed  this  out, 
although  it  does  not  appear  to  be  confined  to  the  male  bird 
alone.  The  three  male  birds  above  noted  have  an  equally 
large  (if  not  larger)  white  patch  at  the  base  of  the  bill  as 
any  birds  from  the  northern  Belgian  (/Ongo,  specimen's  of 
which,  named  «Z6i/"rons,  in  Mr.  Neumann's  own  handwriting, 
are  in  the  British  Museum.  It  is  therefore  clearly  not  more 
developed,  as  Mr.  Bates  suggested,  in  birds  from  the  Congo 
than  in  West  Coast  examples. 

As  to  this  patch  being  a  sexual  character  of  the  male,  an 
examination  of  Mr.  Bates's  birds  from  Cameroon  would 
lead  one  to  think  that  this  was  the  case  ;  there  are,  however, 
adult  females  in  the  National  Collection  from  the  Congfo 
disti'ict  showing  as  much  white  at  the  base  of  the  bill  as  any 
males  I  have  examined. 

The  tine  series  now  sent  home  by  Mr.  Bates  includes  two 
beautiful  downy  nestlings. 

The  range  of  this  species  appears  to  be  Sierra  Leone 
[Kelsall),  Liberia  {Pye- Smith),  N.  Belgian  Congo,  Boma 
[Harrison),  Uele  River  {B.  Aleu:ander) ,  Tingasi  [Emin  Pasha), 
Ituri  Forest  (Camburn),  Gaboon  (Dm  Chaillu),  S.  Cameroon 
{Bates).  Reichenow,  Vog.  Afrikas,  i.  p.  123,  includes  other 
localities  in  the  districts  mentioned  here. 


108  Mr.  D.  A.  Bannerman  on  rare  Birds  [Ibis, 

Lampribis  rara. 

Lampribis  vara  Hotlisch.,  Hart.,  &  Kleiiisclini.,  Nov.  Zool. 
iv.  1897,  p.  377 — Type  locality  :  Denkera,  Gold  Coast. 

Ill  'The  Ibis/  1914,  pp.  622-636,  I  attempted  to  dis- 
entangle the  confusion  into  Miiicli  Lcmiprilns  rara  and 
Lampribis  olivacea  luul  rallcn.  1  then  showed  that  Ibis 
olivacea  Dii  Bus  ought  not  to  have  been  confused  with 
L.  rara  ;  and  I  then  accepted  the  following  as  the  range  of 
these  two  very  distinct  species  : — 

L.  rara.   Ashanti,  Cameroon,  Upper  Congo. 

L.  olivacea.  Prince's  Isl.,  St.  Thomas  Isl.,  Cameroon,  and 
the  coast  of  Guinea. 

Further  material  has  induced  me  to  considerably  alter  the 
views  then  expressed  with  regard  to  the  range  of  these  two 
birds,  but  all  I  wrote  as  regards  the  confusion  of  the  two 
forms  I  now  stand  by.  My  jiaper  was  apparently  overlooked 
by  Dr.  Clhapman  when  in  Bull.  Amer.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  xxxi. 
1912,  p.  235,  he  gives  a  description  of  a  bird  obtained  by 
Du  Chaillu  on  the  Muni  River,  which  is  obviously  a  specimen 
of  Lampribis  rara,  and  calls  it  erroneously  Lampribis  olivacea, 
Elliot's  wrongly  named  figure  (P.  Z.  S.  1877,  pi.  li.)  leading 
him  into  the  same  error  which  I  tried  to  correct  in  1914. 

Unfortunately,  when  1  wrote  about  these  Ibises  in  '  The 
Ibis'  (I.e.),  I  myself  overlooked  a  much  more  important 
paper,  written  by  Reichenow  (Orn.  Monatsber.  xi.  1903, 
pp.  132-136). 

In  this  paper  Reichenow  reviews  the  forms  and  recognises 
four  (liflerent  birds  :  — 

1.  Lampribis  rara,  from  the  Gold  Coast  to  Angola. 

2.  Lampribis  splendidus,  from  Liberia. 

3.  Lampribis  cupreipe/mis,  from  Cameroon. 

4.  Lampribis     olivaceas,     from     Prince's     Island     and 

St.  Thomas. 

1.  Lampribis  kaka. 

Lampribis  rara  Rothsch.,  llart.,  and  Kleinschm. 

[Nov.  Zool.  iv.  p.  377.  'J'ype  loe.  :  Denkera,  Gold 
Coast.  '^l\ype  specimen  in  the  British  Museum, 
collected  by  Ussher  5/11/71.] 


1 92 1.]  collected  in  Southern  Cameroon.  109 

As  tlie  authors  of  this  species  named  Usshei's  ])ird 
from  Deiikera,  specimens  from  the  (irohl  Coast  must 
bear  the  above  name.  The  bird  is  figured  in  P.  Z.  S. 
1877,  p.  477,  pi.  liv  and  tliere  erroneously  named  Ibis 
olivacea. 

We  have  only  specimens  from  the  Gold  Coast,  Came- 
roon, and  the  Upper  Congo  in  the  British  Museum  ; 
wiiile  Reichenow  records  it  from  Gaboon  and  Angola 
in  addition. 

2.  Lampribis  splendidus. 

Lampribis  splendidus  Salvadori,  Ibis,  1903,  pp.  184-185 — 
Type  locality  :   Liberia. 

I  have  not  seen  specimens  of  this  Ibis,  but  a  complete 
description  of  the  bird  is  given  by  Salvadori  [I.e.  p.  185). 
From  the  description  the  Liberian  bird  seems  to  be  more 
nearly  allied  to  L.  olivacea  than  to  the  spotted-breasted 
Ijampribis  rara.  AVe  have  no  examples  of  this  bird  in 
the  British  Museum.  It  may  be  only  a  subspecies  of 
Lampribis  olivacea. 

[Lampribis  cupreipennis. 

Theristicas  cupreipennis  ReichenoAV,  Orn.  IMonatsber.  xi. 
1903,  p.  134 — Type  locality  :  Cameroon. 

In  the  'Ornithologische  Monatsberichte '  for  1903,  Reiche- 
now gives  a  description  of  a  bird  which  he  obtained  froui 
Cameroon,  and  which  he  named  L.  cupreipennis.  The 
description  agrees  with  a  bird  in  the  British  Museum,  which 
was  obtained  by  Mr.  G.  L.  Bates  at  Efulen,  ( 'ameroon 
(No.  158),  on  the  19th  of  May,  1903,  and  which  in  'The  Ibis,' 
1914,  p.  G23,  I  referred  to  Lampribis  olivacea,  thinking  it 
might  be  an  immature  exam[)le  of  that  Ijird.  At  first  sight, 
therefore,  it  would  appear  that  we  must  call  the  Cameroon 
bird  Lampribis  cupreipennis  of  Reichenow,  but  before  we 
accept  this  name  for  the  uniform-breasted,  bronze- winged, 
short-billed  Ibis  from  Cameroon,  let  us  examine  the  next 
species,  L.  olivacea,  mentioned  by  Dr.  Reichenow  in  his  paper 
(/.  c),  of  which  species  we  shall  find  that  L.  cupreipennis  is  a 
synonym  !] 


110  Mr.  D.  A.  Banneriiian  on  rare  Birds  [Ibis, 

3.  Lampribis  olivacea. 

Ibis  olivacea  Dii  Bus,  Hull.  Acad.  Roy.  Sci.  Bclg.  1837, 
p.  105,  pi.  iv.,  et  Esquisses  Oniitliologiqiies,  1845,  p.  5, 
pi.  iii. — Type  locality  :  "  La  cote  de  Gtiinea.^^ 

The  Coast  of  Guinea  !  Clearly  this  is  tlie  type  locality  of 
Lampribis  olivacea  and  not  Prince's  Island,  so  that  if  it  is 
proved  that  the  Prince's  Island  bird  and  the  bird  from  the 
mainland  are  different,  the  name  Lampribis  olivacea  (Du  Bus) 
must  apply  to  the  mainland  bird,  and  the  Prince's  Island 
bird  requires  a  new  name.  This  I  named  in  the  '  Bulletin  ' 
of  the  British  Ornithologists'  Chib,  vol.  xl.  1919,  pp.  4-7, 
to  which  I  must  refer  the  reader  ;  and  in  this  paper,  as  the 
Prince's  Island  bird  was  left  without  a  name,  I  named  it 
Lampribis  rothsc/iildi,  and  made  the  type  an  adult  male  in 
the  Genoa  Museum,  collected  on  the  26th  of  January,  1901, 
by  Leonardo  Fea  at  Infante  d'Henrique,  Principe.  I  have 
given  a  full  description  of  this  bird  in  the  '  Bulletin ' 
(/.  c.  p.  7),  and  will  not  therefore  repeat  it  here. 

Briefly,  then,  we  have  the  following  forms  in  this  genus  in 
West  Africa  : — 

Lampribis  rara.     Gold  Coast   (terra  typica),  C!ameroon, 

Gaboon,  and  Upper  Congo. 
Lampribis  olivacea.    The  Coast  of  Guinea  (terra  typica), 

S.  Cameroon. 
Lampribis  rothschildi.     Prince's  Island  (terra  typica), 

St.  Thomas  Island. 
Lampribis  SPLENDIDUS.      Liberia  (terra  typica). 

Nycticorax  leuconotus. 

Ardea  leuconotus  Wagl.  Syst.  Av.  1827,  p.  189  (sp.  33) — 
Type  locality  :    Senegambia. 

Nycticorax  leuconotus  Bates,  Ibis,  1911,  p.  485. 

The  immature  male  Heron  (No.  4042)  which  Mr.  Bates 
obtained  at  Bitye  on  the  29th  of  November,  1909,  can  be 
none  other  than  N.  leuconotus^  to  which  species  he  correctly 
assigned  it  in  '  The  Ibis'  {supra).  It  is  quite  a  young  bird, 
but  is  not  nearly  so  spotted  on  the  wing-coverts  as  other 
young  birds  of  A^.  leuconotus  in  the  British  Museum. 


192 1.]  collected  in  Southern  Cameroon.  Ill 

Phalaropus  fulicarius. 

Tringa  fulicaria  Linn.  Syst,  Nat.  lOtli  ed.  1758,  p.  148 
— Type  locality  :   Hndson  Bay. 

The  interesting  occurrence  of  the  Grey  Phalarope  in 
Cameroon  is  worth  recording  here.  Mr.  Bates  shot  a  male 
at  Bitye  on  the  27th  of  March,  1912.  The  Grey  Phalarope 
is  said  in  the  B.  O.  U.  List  of  British  Birds  to  be  an 
accidental  visitor  to  North-West  Africa ;  nothing  is  said  of 
its  ranging  in  Africa  down  the  west  coast.  The  present 
is  the  most  southerly  record  of  which  I  am  aware.  Mr.  P.  R. 
Lowe  obtained  it  at  sea  near  the  Cape  Verde  Islands  and 
Mr.  C.  Chubb  has  recorded  it  from  Liberia. 

Canir alius  oculeus  batesi. 

Canir  alius  bate  si  Sliarpe,  Bull.  B.  O.  C.  x.  1900,  p.  Ivi. — 
Type  locality :  Rio  Benito^  French  Congo ;  Sharpe,  Ibis, 
1904,  p.  95. 

Sharpe  separated  as  a  distinct  species  the  Rail,  inhabiting 
the  French  Congo  and  Cameroon,  from  the  allied  Cani- 
raJlus  oculeus  of  the  Gold  Coast.  In  any  case  C.  batesi 
is  but  a  subspecies  of  C.  oculeus,  and  indeed  is  so  close  to 
that  form  that  Reichenow  unites  all  birds  from  Liberia  to 
the  Congo  under  one  name.  I  do  not  think  he  is  correct 
in  doing  so,  as  tlie  Gold  Coast  birds,  of  which  we  have  five 
specimens  in  the  British  JMuseum,  are  distinctly  paler  olive- 
green  on  the  u])per  parts,  with  less  of  a  rufous  tinge  than  is 
exhibited  by  most  of  the  birds  from  Cameroon  and  the 
Rio  Benito. 

The  two  birds  just  sent  home  by  Mr.  Bates  are  a  male  and 
female  (Nos.  4671  and  4426).  The  female  is  much  more 
rufous  on  the  neck  and  nape  than  the  male,  which  is  more 
olive  above  and  has  the  underparts  paler  reddish-chestnut 
than  the  female. 

Himantornis  haematopus  haematopus. 

Himantornis  Juematopus  Ilartl.  J.f.  O.  1855,  p.  357 — Type 
locality  :  Dabocrom,  Gold  Coast;  Sharpe,  Ibis,  1904,  p.  95, 
1907,  p.  421;  Bates,  Ibis,  1911,  p.  483. 


112  Mr.  D.  A.  Baiiiieriuaii  on  rare  Birds  [Ibis, 

Three  more  examples  of  this  bird  have  now  been  sent  by 
]\lr.  Bates  to  the  Mnseuiii.  It  will  interest  him  to  know 
that  we  have  recently  acquired,  through  the  kindness  of  the 
Belgian  authorities,  a  further  exam])le  of  the  rare  rufous- 
backed  Himantornis  iK^matojms  tvhitesidei  Sharpe,  obtained 
by  Dr.  Christy  at  Poko  on  the  Uele  Kiver,  Belgian  Congo — 
the  first  since  the  type  was  discovered. 

Sarothnira  elegans  reichenovi. 

Sarothrura  reichenovi  Sharpe,  Cat.  Birds  Brit.  Mus.  xxiii. 
1894,  p.  121— Type  locality  :  Cameroon  ;  Bates,  Ibis,  1909, 

With  a  series  of  sixteen  males  and  females  from  south- 
east Africa  and  from  Cameroon  before  me,  I  have  been  able 
to  form  an  opinion  on  the  validity  of  S.  reichenovi. 

I  consider  that  it  must  be  kept  as  a  subspecies  of  S.elegans, 
the  Natal  form,  and  that  Sharpe's  original  description  of 
S.  reichenovi  is  very  misleading. 

The  three  male  birds  of  S.  e.  reichenovi  sent  home  by 
Mr.  Bates,  together  witii  the  four  specimens  he  had  sent 
in  former  collections,  has  enabled  me  to  satisfy  myself  that 
the  above  comparison  is  correct. 

Dr.  K.eichenow  did  not  recognise  this  form  himself 
(Vogel  Afrikas,  i.  p.  287),  but  I  am  sure  that  he  will  do 
so  on  further  examination,  provided  that  he  has  plenty  of 
material,  as  also  Mill  Mr.  Chapin. 

Sharpe  maintained  that  it  was  "everywhere  mucli  darker 
in  colour"  than  S.  elegans,  ''the  rufous  of  the  head  and 
breast  being  deep  chestnut  instead  of  orange-rufous,,  this 
chestnut  colour  extending  over  the  whole  throat  to  tlie  base 
of  the  bill."  I  have  now  five  adult  males  from  Cameroon 
to  compaie  with  the  seven  adult  males  from  Natal,  and  in 
only  one  bird  from  Cameroon  (No.  4620)  is  the  chestnut 
of  the  throat  and  breast  darker  than  in  any  of  the  Natal 
specimens.  The  females  are  practically  indistinguishable. 
1  measured  the  wings,  thinking  there  might  be  something 
in  the  size,  but  males  from  Cameroon  measure  85-90  mm.; 
from  Natal,  80-88  mm. 


1921.]  cnllected  in  Sontl/ern  Cameroon.  113 

A  comparison  of  Sharpe's  desciiptiou  with  actual  s|)eci- 
mens  is  tliei'cfore  very  misleading-,  and  withont  a  series  of 
both  forms  one  would  be  inclined  to  say  that  »S'.  relclienovi 
and  S.  elegans  are  synonymous. 

A  closer  examination,  however,  reveals  the  fact  that  these 
two  Rails,  as  might  certainly  be  expected  from  their  distri- 
bution, are  separable  on  characters  which  Sharpe  oveilooked. 
Dr.  van  Soraeren  pointed  out  the  differences  to  me,  and  they 
are  plainly  visible: — 

The  spots  on  the  back  o^  S.  e.reichenovl  ^ve\(i^%  numerous 
and  less  sandy-coloured  than  in  S.  e.e/er/aits  ;  the  bill  is  also 
shorter  and  iieavier.  These  characters  serve  to  distinguish 
the  two  forms  from  one  another. 

Besides  the  Cameroon  and  Natal  s|)ecimcns,  we  have  in 
the  British  Museuni  a  single  female  which  closely  resembles 
the  female  of  this  species  h'on\  ]\Iubinde,  Uganda,  but  which 
may  prove  to  be  se[)aiable  when  further  material  is  available, 
or  it  may  be  the  female  of  >S',  e.  lurinr/i. 

The  present  range  appears  to  be  very  douljtful— Uganda 
and  Cameroon. 

We  have,  therefore  :  — 

Sahothrura  elegans    elegans   (Smith) — Type  localitv  : 

Port  Natal.     Banff e.  Natal. 
Sahothrura  elegans  reicfiknovi  Sharpe — Type  localitv: 

Cameroon.     Ranc/e.  Cameroon  and  ?  Uganda, 
Sarothjiura  elegans  buryi  Ogilvie-Grant— Type  locality  : 

Dubar.      Range.   Wiigga  Mountains,  N.  Somaiiland. 
Sakothrura  elegans  loringi  Mearns  * — J  ype   locality: 

Mt.  Kenia.     Range.  ?  Kenya  Colony. 

We  have  only  a  single  female  (the  type)  of  S.  buryi  ;  but 
I  feel  certain  that  when  the  male  is  discovered,  it  will  prove 
to  l)e  a  subspecies  of  S.  elegans.,  and  I  tlierefore  include  the 
Somaiiland  bird  as  a  subspecies  of  the  Natal  bird. 

*  I  have  not  seen  the  type  or  any  specimens  oi  S.  e.  lorinyi  Mearns 
[Smithson.  Miscell.  Cull.  00.  No.  l-"].  191.j,  p.  8],  and  iiiohule  it  here  on 
the  opinion  of  Mr.  Chapin  of  tlie  American  ."Mnsenni  o\  Xaliiral  Ilistoiv. 
SER,  XI. VOL.    111.  ( 


114  Mr.  D.  A.  Bannerman  on  rare  Birds  [Ibis, 

Sarothrura  pulchra  svibsp. 

Examination  o£  the  Rails  formerly  named  Sarothrura 
pulchra  (Gray)  reveals  the  interesting  fact  that  there  are 
apparently  three  or  fonr  distinct  races  of  this  form,  as 
has  already  been  pointed  ont  l)y  Nenmann.  The  type  of 
Crex  pulchra  Gray  [Griffith's  Cuv.  Anim.  King.  vol.  viii. 
Aves,  p.  410]  is  in  the  British  Museum.  It  is  an  adult  male, 
but  the  sex  Avas  not  ascertained.  The  only  locality  on  the 
label  is  "  Africa.^'  In  the  Catalogue  of  Birds,  vol.  xxiii. 
p.  117,  "West  Africa"  is  supplemented  for  the  locality  from 
which  it  was  obtained.  In  the  original  description  no  type 
locality  is  mentioned. 

The  next  mention  of  this  Rail  is  in  Gray\s  Zool.  Miscell. 
1831,  p.  13,  where  no  locality  is  mentioned  either. 

Gray  therefore  does  not  himself  designate  a  type  locality 
for  this  species. 

The  first  mention  of  a  locality  from  which  this  Rail  has 
been  ol)tained  is  given,  prior  to  Gray's  work  appearing,  by 
Latham  in  his  '^History  of  Birds,'  vol.  ix.  1824,  p.  379,  where, 
under  the  English  heading,  "Rufous-headed  Rail,"  he  gives 
the  description  of  a  feniale  bird  which  he  says  inhabits 
Sierra  Leone.  This  description  can  only  apply  to  the  female 
of  Sarothrura  pulchra,  and  we  may  therefore  accept  Sierra 
Leone  as  the  first  designated  locality  of  this  species. 

It  is  next  noted  by  Swainson  in  his  'Birds  of  West 
Africa,'  1837,  p.  243,  but  again  no  particular  habitat  is 
mentioned. 

There  is  only  one  other  name  for  this  Rail,  i.  e.  Rallus 
cinnamonieus  Lesson  [Rev.  Zool.  1840,  p.  99],  where 
the  bird  from  Casamauce  (Portuguese  Guinea)  is  thus 
designated. 

I  have  not  seen  a  single  specimen  from  Sierra  Leone,  but 
there  can  be  little  doubt  that  it  is  the  same  as  the  Gold  Coast 
bird  which  Ave  know  to  be  S.  jmlchra  of  Gray  {cf.  Schlegel, 
Mus.  Pays-Bas,  lirUles,  1865,  p.  26 — Gold  Coast).  I  have 
also  before  me  several  specimens  from  Fantee  and  Bibiani, 
as  well  as  birds  from  Portuguese  Guinea  and  the  Gambia, 


1 92 1.]  collected  in  Sonthern  Cameroon.  115 

and  these  all  belong  to  the  same  race  and  must  be  known  as 
Sdvothrura  pulclira  pnlclira. 

Hitherto  this  species  has  been  said  by  Siiarpe  (Cat.  Bds.) 
and  Reicheiiow  (Viigel  Afrikas,  i.  p.  286)  to  range  from 
Senegatnbia  to  Gal)ooii  and  Angola,  east  to  the  Congo. 

Neumann  (Bull.  H.  O.  C.  xxi.  p.  45)  describes  two  races 
of  S.  pulchra  : — 

(A)  S.  p.  centralis — Type  loc.  :    Mswa,  on  the  west  shore 

of  Lake  Albert.     Habitat.  Lake  Region  of  Central 
Africa. 

(B)  S.  /J.    -enkeri — Type    loc. :     Bipinde,    S.   Cameroon. 

Habitat.   South  Cameroon. 

In  both,  the  males  are  almost  indistinguishable  from 
S.  p.  pulchra,  and  the  females  are  therefore  best  dealt  with 
separately. 

In  the  first  place,  the  female  of  S.  p.  pulchra  has  the 
ground-colour  of  the  back  black,  closely  barred  with  pale 
chestnut ;  the  bars  of  pale  chestnut  and  the  bars  of  black  are 
almost  the  same  width.  This  is  an  important  point  to  bear 
in  mind.  The  black  bars  on  the  tail  are,  moreover,  either 
wanting  or  only  faintly  indicated. 

In  the  original  description  of  /S.  ^j.  centralis  the  female  is 
said  to  be  similar  to  the  female  of  S.  p.  pulchra,  but  the  tail 
lias  broad  black  bars,  while  in  S.  p.  pulchra  it  is  nniforra 
chestnut  or  with  only  an  indication  of  thin  black  bars. 

Now,  I  have  before  me  five  females  from  the  Jackson 
collection,  collected  at  Mabiraand  Bugoma,  IFganda.  These 
birds  bear  out  the  character  of  the  broadly  banded  tail,  but 
they  can  be  distinguished  from  6'.  p.  pulchra  much  more 
readily  by  the  barring  on  the  upper  parts  (which  from 
Neumann's  description  one  would  imagine  to  be  similar  to 
the  barring  in  S.  p.  pulchra).  The  pale  chestnut  bars  are, 
however,  much  narrower  than  the  black  bars,  which  are  at 
least  three  times  as  wide  as  the  pale  bars.  Thus  the  back 
has  a  much  blacker  appearance  than  in  typical  specimens. 
Although  Neumann   has  omitted  to   mention  this   strikina 


116  Mr.  D.  A.  Bannerman  07i  rare  Birds  [Ibis, 

character,  these  Uganda  specimens  can  only  be  referred  to 
S.  p.  centralis. 

In  S.  p.  zenkeri  the  female  is  said  by  Neumann  in  the 
original  description  to  have  the  head  and  neck  darker  than 
in  S.  p.  pu/chra  or  S.  p.  centralis.  Moreover,  S.  p.  zenkeri 
is  said  by  Neumann  to  be  easily  distinguished  from  both  by 
having  the  upper  side  bhick,  with  but  few  brown  bars,  the 
intermediate  black  bars  being  from  six  to  eight  times  broader 
than  the  brown  bars.  The  black  bars  of  the  underside  are 
also  much  broader  tlian  the  brown  ones;  the  tail  is  said  to 
be  black,  with  a  few  defined  chestnut  bars;  the  measurements 
are  less  than  those  of  S.  p.  pulchra  and  S.  p.  centralis.     . 

Now,  the  female  type  of  S.  p.  zenkeri  came  from  Bipinde, 
and  the  habitat  is  said  to  be  "  South  Cameroon  "  ;  so  when 
we  recently  received  specimens  of  S.  pulchra  from  Mr.  Bates^ 
collected  at  Bitye,  R.  Ja,  S.  Cameroon,  I  naturally  expected 
these  birds  to  be  typical  S.  pulchra  zenkeri.  They  do  not, 
how^ever,  agree  with  the  description  of  the  type  (which  is  in 
Berlin)  any  more  than  Sir  Frederick  Jackson's  birds  from 
Uganda  agree  with  Neumann's  descri[)ti()n  of  S.  p.  centralis. 
In  fact,  the  female  birds  which  Mr.  Bates  obtained  in 
southern  Cameroon  (Nos.  5443  and  5453)  agree  with  female 
specimens  fi'om  northern  Angola,  Tingasi,  and  Ndoruma, 
and  only  differ  from  Uganda  birds  in  having  the  chestnut 
colour  of  the  head,  neck,  and  breast  brighter. 

We  cannot  possibly  accept  Neumann's  name  zenkeri  for 
these  bii'ds,  as  the  intermediate  black  bars  on  the  back  are 
only  al)()ut  three  times  as  broad  as  the  ])ale  burs  {nut  six 
times  broader  as  they  are  said  to  be  in  zenkeri)-^  the  black 
and  chestnut  bars  of  the  tail  are  al)out  equal  in  breadth,  and 
the  tail  cannot,  therefore,  by  any  stretch  of  imagination  be 
called  "black  with  a  few  defined  chestnut  bars";  moreover, 
the  head  and  neck  is,  if  anything,  brighter  chestnut  than  in 
S.  p.  centralis,  not  darker,  as  I  gather  Neumann  infers  his 
S.p.  zenkeri  to  be,  although  in  the  original  description  this 
is  very  badly  expressed. 

We  have  the  choice,  therefore,  of  uniting  birds  from  Lower 


1921.]  collected  in  Southern  Cameroon.  Il7 

Guinea  witli  S.  p.  centralis,  or  of  coiisiilcring  it  a  di>tinct 
race  distinguished 

from  ;S'.  p.  pu/c/ira,  by  having  the  black  bars  on  the  back 
decidedly  broader  ; 

from  S.  [>.  zeiikeri,  by  having  a  tail  unifonidy  banded  in 
black  and  chestnut,  and  by  having  tlie  black  bars 
of  the  back  only  three  limes  as  broad  as  the 
chestnut  bars  (instead  of  six  times  as  broad )j 
and  by  having  a  brighter  chestnut  head  ;  and 

from  S.  p.  centralis,  by  having  the  chestnut  of  the  head 
brighter. 

If  we  consider  the  Cameroon,  Angola,  and  western 
Belgian  Congo  birds  as  distinct  from  centralis.,  we  shall  have 
the  following  races  of  S.  pulchra  : — 

SaROTHKUKA    rULCIIKA    PUIXIIKA. 

[_Crc.v  pulchra    Gray,  in    (jriflith's    Cuv.    Anim.    King, 
vol.  viii.  Aves,  p.  410 — Type  locality  :  Sierra  Leone 
(Latiiam's  Hist.  Birds,  ix.  1824,  p.  379).] 
Ran(/e.  The  Gambia,  Portuguese   Guinea,  Sierra  Leone, 
Gold  Coast. 


). 


S.   PULCHRA   subs} 

Raiiffc.  N.W.    Belgian    Congo    (Tingasi    and    Ndorunn 
Cameroon  (11.  Ja),  N.  Angola  (N'Dalla  TandoJ. 

S.   PUI.CHRA  ZENKEIU. 

[Sarothrura  pulchra   zenkeri  Neumann,  Bull.    B.  O.  C. 
xxi.  p.  45 — Type  locality  :  Bipinde,  S.  Cameroon.] 
Range.  Bipinde  District,  S.  Cameroon. 

S.  YULCnRA  CENTRALIS. 

\_Sarotlirura pnlchru  centralis  Neumann,   Bull.   15.  O.  C. 
xxi.    p.    45 — Type    locality  :    Msvva,    on    the   west 
shore  of  Lake  Albert.] 
Range.  Lake    liegion    of   Central    Africa  ;    Uganda,   and 
northern  Kavirondo  to  Nandi. 


118  Mr.  D.  A.  Baunermau  on  rare  Birds  [Ibis, 

Sarothi'ura  bohmi  bohmi. 

Sarothrnra  hohni  Reicliw.  Vogel  Afrikas^  i.  1900,  p.  290 
—  Type  locality  :  Likulwe^  Congo. 

This  distinct  species  was  described  by  lleiclienow  from 
Liknhve,  just  north  of  Katanga  in  the  southern  Belgian 
Congo. 

Unfortunately  we  have  no  typical  ])irds  in  the  British 
Museum  ;  in  fact,  the  specimen  now  sent  home  by  Mr.  Bates, 
shot  at  Bityp,  R.  Ja,  on  the  29th  of  November,  1913,  is  the 
first  of  its  kind  which  we  have  seen.  The  occurrence  of  this 
Bail  so  far  from  its  typical  locality  at  once  suggested  the 
possibility  of  its  being  a  distinct  form. 

Dr.  van  Someren  recently  obtained  two  specimens  of  this 
Bail — one  from  the  Nairobi  Rifle-range,  the  other  from 
Kisuniu.  These  birds  differ  from  the  Cameroon  specimen 
iu  the  highly  streaked  appearance  of  the  wing-coverts  caused 
by  each  feather  having  two  pronounced  submarginal  white 
streaks,  considerably  wider  than  the  streaks  on  the  back. 
1  am  inclined  to  think  that  the  bird  which  Mr.  Bates 
obtained  at  Bitye  has  not  yet  attained  the  fully  adult 
plumage,  as  only  three  feathers  of  the  greater  wing-coverts 
are  submarginally  streaked  with  white. 

Mr.  Chapiu  now  writes  to  me  from  America  that  he  has 
specimens  of  S.  bohmi  from  Faradje  (Upper  Uele)  and  from 
Medje. 

It  is,  of  course,  quite  possible  that  this  Rail  extends  its 
range  across  central  Africa,  and  that  the  Cameroon  birds 
are  identical  with  the  Nairobi  specimens  ;  but  should  further 
specimens  be  received  from  Cameroon  and  from  the  typical 
locality,  it  will  be  worth  while  coniparing  the  specimens  very 
carefully,  as  the  possibility  of  a  distinct  West  African  race 
must  not  be  overlooked.  In  any  case,  the  occurrence  of  this 
Rail  in  Cameroon  is  oi  considerable  interest. 

Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  examined  a  female  Rail 
obtained  at  Machakos,  Brit.  E.  Africa,  which  1  have  named 
Surothrura  somerciii.  It  is  (piite  unlike  any  other  Rail 
which  I  have  seen  (a  full  description  of  this  bird  appeared  in 
Bull.  B.  0.  C.  vol.  xl.  1920,  ])p.  8  &  28),  and  Dr.  van  Somereu 


1921.]  collected  in  Southeryi  Cameroon.  119 

thinks  it  is  probaljly  the  female  of  liis  two  male  birds  from 
Nairobi  and  Kisnmn,  which  he  believes  are  distinct  from 
S.  bohmi.  If  this  is  the  case,  it  must,  of  course,  be  known 
as  Sarothnira  bohmi  somereni. 

While  this  paper  was  in  the  press  I  received  yet  another 
form  of  this  Rail,  caught  at  sea  in  lat.  10°  0'  N., 
long.  15°  30'  W.  off  the  coast  of  French  Guinea  by 
Mr.  W.  P.  Lowe.  I  have  named  this  bird  Saruthrura 
bohitii  danei  in  the  Bull.  B.  O.  C.  xli.  p.  5,  October  1920. 
It  is  very  much  blacker  on  the  underparts  than  the  typical 
form  and  is  darker  on  the  back,  but  other  differences  exist 
and  are  set  forth  in  the  original  description. 

If  Dr.  van  Someren  is  correct  in  thinking  »S'.  somereni 
a  race  of  biJhmi,  we  shall  have  : — 

1.  Sarothruka  bohmi  bohmi  Rchw. 

Type  loc.  :   Likulwe,  Belgian  Congo. 
Range.   Belgian  Congo,  probably  westwards  to  Came- 
roon. 

2.  Sarothrura  bohmi  somereni  Bannerman. 

Type  loc.  :   Machakos. 
Range.  Kenya  Colony. 

3.  Sarothrura  bohmi  danei  Bannerman. 

Type  loc.  :  At  sea  off  French  Guinea. 
Range.  Unknown. 

Sarothrura  rufa  bonapartei. 

Corethrura  bonapartei  llartl.  Syst.  Orn.  Westafr.  1857, 
p.  242 — Type  locality  :   Gaboon. 

A.  single  example  of  this  Rail  appears  in  the  collection 
which  Mr.  Bates  has  now  sent  to  us.  It  is  a  male  bird  iu 
adult  plumage.  Whilst  working  at  this  group  of  Rails,  I 
had  the  advantage  of  examining  a  series  of  birds  which 
Dr.  van  Someren  sent  to  me  for  my  opinion  as  to  their 
being  one  or  two  new  subspecies  represented.  I  arrived  at 
very  much  the  same  concUisions  as  Dr.  van  Someren  Iiad 
done  working  at  Triiig,  aiul  as  he  has  now  descrii)ed  two  of 
these  forms  in  the  Bull.  B.  O.  C.  vol.  xl.  1919,  p.  20,  I  will 


120        On  rare  Birds  collected  in  Southern  Caineroa//.     [Il)is^ 

publish  tlic  notes  which  I  made  on  the  various  forms  while 
working  through  his  birds. 

We  liad  s[)eciniens  from  Cajje  Cohmy,  Natal,  Angola, 
Cameroon,  Galjoon,  Sierra  Leone,  J>ritish  East  Africn,  and 
Uganda  ;  in  addition  to  which  a  race  had  i)een  described 
from  the  eastern  shores  of  Lake  Tanganyika,  oL"  which  we 
had  no  examples. 

AVe  recognised  Hve  distinct  forms  as  follows  : — 

1.  Sarothrura     Rui'A    RUFA     (Vieill.j  —  ^'yv^    locality: 

"  Africa.^' 
Range.  Natal,  Cape  Colony,  Transvaal. 

2.  Sarothrura    rufa    lugens    (Bolnn) — Type    locality: 

Ugalla  (East  of  Lake  Tanganyika). 
Range.  East  of  Lake  Tanganyika. 

3.  Sarothrura    rufa    elizabetHvI':    van    Someren— Type 

locality  :   Kisumu. 
Range.  Uganda,    from    Entebbe    east    to    Elgon    and 
.   Kisumu  in  Kenya  Colony. 

4.  Sarothrura    kufa    ansorgei     van     Someren — Type 

locality  :  Duque  de  Braganza. 
Range.  Angola. 

5.  Sarothrura  rufa  bonapartei  (Hartl.) — Tyi;e  locality  : 

Gaboon. 
Range.  Gaboon,  Cameroon,  extending  north  to  Sierra 
Leone. 

We  have  no  specimen  of  Sarothrura  nntouii  (INIadarasz  & 
Neumann,  Orn.  Monatsber.  1911,  j).  186 — Ndas^ckera  and 
Borders  of  Kenya  Colony  and  Tanganyika  Territory). 
Mr.  Chapin  thinks  it  will  [)rove  to  be  synonymous  with 
S.  lugens. 

Haplopelia  simplex  plmnbescens. 

llaplupelia  plinnbesrens  Sliarjx-,  Ibis,  lUOl,  p."!)5  — Type 
locality  :   Efulcn,  S.  Cameroon  ;    Hates,  Ibis,  UJl],  p.  488. 

Mr.  Hates  has  sent  four  more  s{)ecimeiis  of  these 
interesting  Pigeons — two  males  and  two  females.  It  is 
gratilying  to  find  that  these  s})ecimens  Ht  in  well  with  the 
key  to  the  species  which  I  prepared  in   my  review   of  this 


1 92 1.]  On  the  Genus  Macrospheuus  Cassin.  121 

genus  (Ibis,  191(5,  \)\).  1-16).  JNlr.  Bates  has  remarked  on 
tJie  back  of  one  of  his  hibels  that  he  believes  thd  species 
named  H.  plumbescens  Sliar[)e  is  identical  with  H.  simplex, 
but  he  will  see  in  my  p;iper  cited  that  this  is  not  the  case. 
//.  s.  si)iij)lex  is  I'estrictcd  to  the  island  of  St.  Thomas  in  the 
Gulf  of  Guinea  {cf.  Ibis,  1915,  p.  119).  I  should  like  to 
take  this  opportunity  to  correct  an  error  which  appeared  in 
my  review  of  this  genus  (/.  c).  On  pp.  IT  and  14  I  gave 
the  same  i-angc  for  tjoth  Haplopelia  simplex  inornata  and 
7/.  s.  plumbescens.      It  should  be  as  t'oUows  : — 

H.  s.  inuniuta. 

Range.  Cameroon  ^Mountain. 
II.  s.  plumbescens. 

Raiifje.    Southern     Cameroon     (except    Cameroon 
Mountain).  l\i\er  Ja  district. 

Aplopcliu  tcsmunni  Rchw.  described  from  Bebai,  S.Came- 
roon, is  synonymous  with  H.  s.  plumbescens. 


V. —  On  the  Genus  Macrospheuus  Cassin,  with  special 
reference  to  the  races  of  Macrospheuus  flavicans.  By 
David  A.  Bannerman,  M.B.E.,  B.A.,  M.B.O.U. 

The  type  of  the  genus  Macrosphenus  is  M.  jiavicans  of 
Cassin  (Proc.  Philad.  Acad.  1859,  p.  43),  and  this  species 
was  described  from  the  Camnui  River,  Gaboon. 

Macrosphenus  flavicans  flavicans  Cassin. 

From  material  in  the  British  Museum  I  consider  that  this 
species,  of  which  we  have  seventeen  examples  in  the  British 
Museum,  extends  from  western  Cameroon,  through  Gaboon 
to  Landana  at  the  mouth  of  the  Congo,  and  1  also  unite 
with  it  Macrosphenus  pocnsis  of  Alexander  (Bull.  B.  O.  C. 
xiii.  1903,  p.  30)  which  inhabits  Fernando  Po,  as  I  cannot  see 
any  distinction  between  this  and  the  mainland  bird.  It  is 
also  evident,  as  suggested  by  Sharpe  and  confirmed  l^y 
Ogilvie-Grant  (Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  xix.  1910,  p.  378),  that 
Macrosphenus  zcnkerl  lieichw.  (Orn.  Monatsber.  1898,  p.  23), 


122  Mr.  I).  A.  Banneriiian  on  the  [Ibis, 

described  from  Jauiidc,  Cameroon,  and  figured  in  Reiche- 
now^s  Atlas,  1902,  is  founded  on  an  iuimature  example  of 
M.  flavicans. 

Besides  M .  jfuvicmis  flavicans,  there  are  at  any  rate  three, 
and  probably  four,  well-defined  races  in  Africa,  as  follows  : — 

M.  flavicans  hypochondriacum  (llchw.). 

This  name  was  [jroposed  b}^  Keichenow  (Orn.  Monatsber. 
1893,  p.  32)  for  a  specimen  obtained  at  Kiujawanga,  imme- 
diately north  of  lluwenzori,  and  I  accept  it  for  the  birds 
inhabiting  the  northern  Belgian  Congo  eastwards  (the  Uele 
and  Aruwimi  Rivers  districts  aud  the  eastern  Congo  forest). 

Specimens  from  these  localities  are  appreciably  brighter 
coloured  (more  golden  and  less  olive)  on  the  under  surface 
tlian  ty[)ical  examples  from  Cameroon  and  Gaboon,  and 
liave  in  addition  a  slightly  shorter  bill.  We  have  ten 
examples  in  the  National  Collection  of  this  race. 

M.  flavicans  angolensis  Bannermau. 

This  race  was  described  by  me  (Bull.  B.  O.  C.  vol.  xli. 
1920,  p.  6)  from  northern  Angola — Type  locality  :  N'Dalla 
Tando.  1  separated  it  from  the  typical  species  on  account 
of  its  much  shorter  bill — varying  in  five  specimens  from 
14"5-15  mm.  (exposed  culmen). 

M.  flavicans  leoninus  Neumann. 

This  is  another  subspecies  which  has  been  described 
(Bull.  B.  O.  C.  xxiii.  1908,  p.  46— Sierra  Leone)  from 
Avestern  Africa,  a  single  example  having  been  obtained  by 
Robin  Kemp  at  Rotifunk.  Opinions  differ  as  to  whether 
the  bird  in  question  is  an  adult  specimen.  Ogilvie-Grant 
believed  that  it  was  an  immature  of  M.  flavicans.  I  am 
doubtful  whether  the  bird  is  immature — as  it  has  a  yellowish 
throat,  whereas  quite  immature  examples  of  M.  /.  flavicans 
sliow  traces  of  the  grey  throat  at  an  early  stage.  Jt  has 
a  remarkably  long  t)ill  (18  mm.  exposed  culmen,  21  mm. 
measured  from  the  ga[)e)  for  an  immature  bird,  and  the  fact 
that  no  representative  of  M.  flavicans  is  known  to  exist 
north  of  Cameroon  is  sufficient  justification  for  the  name  to 
be  kept  up. 


1 92 1.]  Genus  Macrosphenus  Cassin.  123 

M.  flavicans  ugandae  van  Someren. 

Tliis  form  was  described  from  jNIabira  (Bull.  B.  O,  C. 
XXXV.  p.  126)j  and  is  said  to  inhabit  tlie  Uganda  forests. 
It  is  darker  than  the  typical  form  and  is  richer  yellow  on 
the  underside. 

The  only  other  species  in  the  jjeuus  besides  M.  jiavicans 
and  its  subspecies  are  : — 

Macrosphenus  kretschmei-i  Rchw.  &  Neumann  (Orn.  Mon. 
1S95,  p.  75 — Kiboscho),  of  which  I  have  never  seen  a 
specimen  and  wiiich  is  only  known  to  occur  in  the  Kili- 
manjaro region;  likewise  Macrosj>henus  griseiceps  Grote 
(Orn.  Monatsber.  1911,  p.  162 — Mikindani,  late  German 
E.  Africa),  compared  by  the  author  with  M.  kretschmeri, 
and  M.  alblgula  Grote  (Orn.  Monatsber,  1919,  p.  62 — 
Mlalo,  Usambara,  Tanganyika  Territory),  I  have  not  seen 
specimens  of  either. 

Macrosphenus  kempi  (Sharpe)  and  Macrosphenus  concolor 
(Hartl.),  concerning  which  two  forms  the  following  remarks 
may  be  of  interest  : — 

In  the  first  place  I  wish  to  transfer  the  bird  hitherto 
known  as  Aniaarocichla  kempi  Sharpe  from  the  genvis  in 
which  Sharpe  placed  it  and  put  it  in  the  genus,  Macrosphenus^ 
as  it  is  evident  that  it  has  nothing  Avliatever  to  do  with 
Aniaarocichla  bocagei.  * 

The  bird  figured  as  Amaurocichla  kempi  (Ibis,  1905, 
plate  V.  faciiig  p.  231),  named  and  placed  in  the  genus 
Amaurocichla  by  Shstrpe  (Bull.  B.  O,  C.  xv.  p.  38,  1905), 
cannot  in  my  opinion  be  assigned  to  that  genus,  although 
Sharpe  was  himself  the  author  of  the  genus  Amaurocichla. 
The  generic  characters. are  given  by  Sharpe  in  P,  Z.  S,  1892^ 
p.  228,  and  are  as  follows  : — "  Similar  to  Crateroscelis,  but 
distinguished  by  the  shape  of  the  wing^  the  first  primary 
being  nearly  as  long  as  the  second.  Additional  characters 
are  :^The  bill  is  as  long  as  the  head,  aiul  rictal  bristles  are 
absent,  while  the  tail-feathers  are  somewhat  acuminate.^' 
The  type  of  the  genus  is  Amaurocichla  bocagei. 

Now,  the  bird  which  has  hitherto  been  known  as  Amauro- 
cichla kempi    ditl'ers    markedly   from  Amaurocichla    bocagei. 


124:  Mr.  1).  A.  Biiuuerniau  on  the  [I^i*? 

Ill  the  first  [)lace  the  prineipal  eharacter  of  tlie  genus 
AniaurocicJda — ?".  e.,  tlie  first  primary  being-  nearly  as  long  as 
the  second  primary,  Avliich  is  long — is  not  borne  out  by 
examination  of  the  type  of  kcnqyi.  In  the  type  from  Sierra 
Leone  the  first  primary  is  actually  14-  nun.  shorter  tlian 
the  second  primary,  which  is  short.  The  bill  is  longer  (not 
as  long  as)  the  head,  and  the  general  as[)ect  of  tlie  bird  is 
entirely  dissimilar.  I  unhesitatingly  transfer  the  bird  figured 
as  Amuurocichla  kempi  to  the  genus  Macrosphenns,  and 
anyone  examining  the  three  specimens  of  M.  kempi  now 
in  the  British  Museum  will,  I  feel  sure,  endorse  my 
action. 

Compared  with  3I(icrosphenus  Jlavicans jiavicuns,  the  most 
obvious  diflerences  are  in  the  length  of  the  tail — very  much 
longer  in  M.  f.  //avicans,^a.nd  the  totally  different  colour, 
olive-green  in  M.  /lavlcaiis  and  subspecies,  grey  and  rufous 
in  M.  kempi. 

Mr.  Willonghby  Lowe,  who  has  recently  obtained  a  speci- 
men of  M.  kempi  near  Lagos  in  southern  Nigeria,  tells  me 
that  in  iiabits  the  bird  resembles  a  Nuthatch,  and  that  it  has 
in  life  a  strikingly  elongated  neck,  out  of  all  proportion  to 
the  size  of  the  bird.  Once  seen  alive  it  is  a  species  which 
can  never  be  forgotten. 

If  future  workers  do  not  agree  with  me  in  temporarily 
placing  this  bird  in  the  genus  Macrosplieniis.,  an  entirely 
new^  genus  will  have  to  be  created  for  it — a  course  which 
I  do  not  favour  until  we  know  more  about  this  remarkable 
form  and  can  compare  its  skeleton  with  a  skeleton  of 
M.  Jlavicans. 

The  other  species  which  I  include  in  this  genus,  thereby 
following  a  suggestion  of  Mr.  Oscar  Neumann  (Bull.  15.  O.  (\ 
xxiii.  J).  4<7),  is  Macrosphenns  concolor  (Hartl.)  (Syst. 
Orn.  Westafr.  p.  63) — a  s])ecics  which  has  been  usually 
included  in  the  genus  <  'amaroptera.  It  has,  however,  a 
hooked  ui)])er  mandible,  thereby  ditl'ering  from  all  the  true 
members  of  the  genus  Cainaroptera,  and  in  general  appear- 
ance seems  to  resemble  a  Macrosphe/tus.    It  however  posse>>>ses 


1 92 1.]  Genus  ^Nlacrosplieims  Cdssin.  125 

rictal  bristles,  thereby  differing  from   the  other  members  of 
the  genus  Macrosphenus. 

To  recapitulate,  we  have  : — 

Macrosphenus  flavicans  flavicans  Cassin. 

Type  loc. :  Camma  River. 

Range:   Cameroon  to  the  mouth  of  the  Congo. 

Synonyms:   71/.  ^;oera.s«5  Alexander.      (Fernando  Po.) 
M.  zenkeri  Rchw.     (Yaunde,  Cameroon.) 
Macrosphenus  flavicans  angolensis  Bannerman. 

Type  loc.  :  N'Dala  Tando,  N.  Angola. 

Range:  N.Angola. 
Macrosphenus  flavicans  hypochondriacum  Rchw. 

Type  loc.  :  Kinjawanga,  near  ]\It.  Ruweuzori. 

Range  :  N.  Belgian  Cona-o,  Uganda. 
Macrosphenus  flavicans  leoninus  Neumann. 

Type  loc.  :  Rotifunk,  Sierra  Leone. 

Range :   Sierra  Leone. 
Macrosphenus  concolor  (Marti.). 

Type  loc.  :   ''  Guinea." 

Range:  Sierra  Leone.  Gold  Coast^  Cameroon,  Fernando 
Po,  N.  Belgian  Congo,  Uganda. 
*Macrosphenus  kretsch.meri  (Rclnv.). 

Ty[)e  loc.  :   Kiboscho. 

Range  :   Kilimanjaro  liegion,  Kenya  Colony. 
Macrosphenus  griseiceps  Grcjte. 

Type  loc.  :   Mikincbuii  (late  German  E.  Africa). 

Range  :  Tanganyika  Territory. 

Macrosphenus  kempi  (Sharpe). 

Type  loc.  :  Sierra  Leone, 

Range  :   Sierra  Leone  and  Southern  Nigeria. 
Macrosphenus  albigula  (jlrote. 

Type  loc.  :   JNllalo  near  Willielnistal. 

Range:   U.sambara,   S.K.  shores  of  Victoria  Nyanza, 
'I'anganyika  Territory. 

*  Now  placed    in    tliis    jivniis    on  tlie  uutlujrity  of    Ifeic-lienuw,    vide 
Viio-el  Afrikas,  iii.  p.  CM. 


126  Col.  R.  ^Meineitzhitocn  o/<  the  [Ibis, 

VI. — A  Note  on.  the  Breeding/  Birds  of  Crete. 
By  Col.  \l.  Meixertzhagen,  B.S.O.,  M.l^.'o.U..  B^Z.S. 

I  ARitiVED  in  (h-ete  on  the  -ttli  of  June,  1920,  ami  left  the 
island  in  early  July,  liaving  had  my  visit  cut  short  for  official 
reasons.     H.  L.  Powell  accompanied  me  as  taxidermist. 

Landing  at  (^uidia  I  collected  for  three  days  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood and  then  went  direct  to  Monnt  Ida,  the  central 
hill-mass  of  Crete.  Here  I  remained  for  about  a  fortnight. 
No  collecting  was  done  outside  the  Candia  district. 

The  area  comprising  this  district  falls  easily  into  three 
areas  : — 

(a)  Below  2500  feet.     Human  habitations  and  cultivation, 

mostly  olives,  vines,  orchards,  and  corn. 
(/>)  Between  3000  and  4500  feet.      Ilex  forest  on  mountain 

slopes. 
{(•)  Above  4500  feet.  The  bare  wind-swept  hills  of  Ida 
and  Nidha  with  the  remarkable  Nidha  Plain.  The 
summit  of  Ida  is  8200  feet  elevation,  and  snow  was 
still  lying  about  in  drifts  of  many  acres  in  extent 
above  ()500  feet. 

Travelling  in  Crete  in  summer  is  easv.  The  weather  is 
perfect  and  one  can  sleep  anywhere,  though  the  nights 
on  Ida  were  bitterly  cold.  I  always  bedded  down  in  some 
o-arden,  havino-  taken  no  tent  with  mo.  On  Mount  Ida  one 
has  difficulty  in  avoiding  an  incessant  wind,  as  shelter  is 
rare,  but  we  usually  managed  to  get  in  a  hollow.  Staple 
foods  can  be  obtained  everywhere  and  good  water  abounds. 
Mule  transport  is  the  rule,  a  beast  carrying  about  400-450 
pounds  the  whole  day  without  fatigue.  There  is  but  one 
great  drawback — expense.  A  naturalist,  living  simply, 
witiiout  tent  or  luxury,  must  be  prepared  to  spend  £100 
per  month,  excluding  his  ticket  to  the  island.  Mules  cannot 
be  hired  for  less  than  £1  a  day  each.  A  guide-interpreter 
costs  from  £12  to  £15  per  month.  My  expenses  were  par- 
ticularly heavy,  as  I  was  compelled  to  retain  in  my  service 
the  numerous  policemen  and  consular  messengers  who  were 
S(>archinir  for  me  for  three  weeks. 


1 92 1,]  Breeding  Birds  of  Crete.  1.27 

The  Cretans  are  charming  and  ver}-  helpful,  more  especially 
the  sheplierds  o£  Mount  Ida,  whose  evil  reputation  I  em- 
phaticallv  deny.  They  are  robbers  by  nature  and  are  a  law 
unto  themselves,  but  it  one  appreciates  that  spirit  of  freedom 
and  contem|)t  tor  th(»  soft  civilization  of  plenty,  they  rank  as 
nature's  foremost  gentlemen.  The  chieftain  of  Ida,  one 
George  Nikolokakis,  though  doubtless  a  thorn  in  the  side  of 
the  (*retan  ])olice  and  the  officials,  was  kindness  itself  to  me, 
and  I  look  back  to  his  rough  kind  face  and  his  imperious 
manners,  with  a  desire  to  accept  his  kind  invitation  to  stop 
with  him  for  a  com|»lete  summer. 

Though  I  speak  not  a  word  of  modern  Greek,  my  derelict 
knowledge  of  ancient  Greek  was  most  useful.  It  was 
pleasant  to  hear  the  Cliukar  called  ''  Caccaba,"  the  Vultures 
"  Gyps,"  the  Ravens  "  Mavro  Corax,"  the  Larks  "  C^ory- 
dallos,"  the  Nightingale  "  ^don,"  the  Swallow  "  T^helidon," 
and  the  Eagle  "  mio^r 

Finally,  I  must  again  thank  Dr.  Hartert  for  the  nngrudgino- 
help  he  always  gives  me  at  Tring,  and  Lord  Rothschild  for 
allowing  me  to  make  every  use  of  his  collection. 

Specimens  were  obtained  of  every  species  mentioned, 
unless  it  is  stated  to  the  contrary.  Wing-measurements 
taken  flat,  culmen-measurements  from  the  junction  of  upper 
mandible  and  skull. 

Corvus  corax  corax  (L.). 

Two  yoni]g  males  oljtained,  both  moulting  into  adult 
plumage.  They  belong  to  the  typical  race,  there  being  no 
trace  of  the  oily  blue  on  the  wing-coverts  or  brown  on  the 
upper  parts  as  in  C.  c.  laurenrei. 

It  seems  doubtful  whether  the  Ravens  of  eastern  Greece 
are  C.  r.  Jaurencei,  as  stated  by  Reiser  (Orn.  Balcan.  iii.). 
Gengler  (J.  f.  0.  April  1919)  thinks  they  are  some  un- 
described  race,  but  the  few  I  have  seen  mvself  in  Greece 
are  the  typical  race  as  in  Crete  [cf.  also  Stresemann,  Avif. 
Macedon.  p.  1). 

The  Raven  is  to  be  seen  at  all  elevations  in  Crete,  breeding 
in  the  hills  apparently  in  ]\Iarch, 


128  Col.  R.  iMeiuertzliageii  on  the  [Ibis, 

Coi'vus  cornix  minos  IMeiiiertz. 

Corms  c.  minos  Meinertzhagen,  Bull.  B.  0.  (J.  xli.  1920, 
p.  10  :  Candia. 

This  new  race  is  pale  and  very  similar  to  (\  c  pallesfens 
from  Cyprus,  but  has  a  longer  wing  and  a  deejier  and  longer 
cubnen. 

It  is  a  common  bird,  ascentiing  to  the  Nidha  Plain  at 
5000  feet.  It  breeds  in  olive  and  oak  trees,  the  young- 
being  well  on  the  wing  by  the  end  of  June. 

Garrulus  glandarius  cretorum  Afeinertz, 

(lai')'tilus  (/.  cretoi'iim  Meinertzliagen,  Bull,  R.  0.  C. 
xli.  1920,  p.  19  :  Mount  Ida. 

Very  near  (i.  ff.  icJinutur  from  Sardinia,  but  with  a  slightly 
redder  neck  and  greyer  back.     Similar  in  size. 

Not  seen  below  4000  feel,  and  appai'ently  confined  to  the 
Ilex  forest.  Both  fidl-grown  and  half-grown  y(Hing  seen  in 
the  middle  of  June. 

Pyrrhocorax  pyrrhocorax  (Ij.). 

The  Chough  was  Jibundant  on  Mount  Ida  l^etween  5000 
and  7000  feet.  About  100  pair  were  nesting  in  the  Kamares 
Cave  in  June,  the  young  being  wtdl  on  the  wing  and  a  few 
still  in  the  nest  in  mid-June. 

The  young  iiave  a  peculiar  call,  not  unlike  that  of  M('r(>/>s 
apiaxter.  Several  smaller  colonies  were  found  in  other 
smaller  caves. 

l)oubtless  the  "•Yellow-billed  Chougln '"  reported  bv 
Miss  Bate  (Trevor-Battye  :  'Camping  in  Crete  '  J  were  the 
young  of  this  species. 

Chloris  chloris  subsp.  ? 

A  single  adult  nuiie  obtained  in  worn  plumage.  In  size 
it  is  nearest  to  C.  e.  cldorotica,  but  in  general  coloration  is 
nearest  ('.  e.  maderaszi  from  Cyprus.  It  is  certainly  not 
C.  c.  muhlei,  which  is  a  darker  and  larger  bird  than  my 
(/retan  specimen. 

Common  from  sea-level  to  4500  teet,  both  in  cultivation 
and  in  the  Ilex  forest.      Fnll-grown  vouiig  seen  on  7  June, 


1 92 1.]  Breedinf/ Birds  of  Crete.  129 

Carduelis  carduelis  harmsi  Reichw. 

Four  adults  in  worn  breedino-  plumage  agree  well  with 
l>irds  in  similar  plumage  from  Palestine.  After  a  further 
examination  of  birds  from  the  Caucasus,  Asia  Minor,  Palestine, 
and  (/jprus,  I  am  confident  that  only  one  race  of  the  Gold- 
finch occurs  as  a  breeding  species  in  these  localities.  The 
difference  in  the  intensity  of  the  colour  on  the  back  among 
freshly-moulted  birds  and  worn  birds  is  very  renuirkable,  and 
accounts  for  the  many  races  which  have  been  described  from 
the  range  of  C.  c.  harmsi. 

Acanthis  cannabina  mediterranea  Tschusi. 

I  cannot  agree  with  Stresemann  (Avif.  Macedon.)  that 
A.  c.  mediterranea  becomes  a  synonym  of  A.  c.  hella. 
The  latter  race  was  described  from  Syria,  and  all  Syrian 
birds  which  I  have  examined  are  most  certainly  A.  c.frin- 
(jillirostris.  Stresemann  appeal's  only  to  have  examined 
birds  from  Asia  Minor,  and  these  are  quite  likely  A.  c. 
mediteri-anea.  It  does  not  follow  that  Syrian  and  Asia 
Minor  birds  are  similar.  A.  c.  hella  must  therefore  remain 
a  synonym  of  A.  e.  fringillirosiris. 

A  common  breeding  bird,  but  not  seen  below  2000  feet. 
Full-grown  young  were  seen  in  early  June.  When  I  first 
saw  these  birds  on  Mount  Ida,  far  away  from  bushes  and 
among  rocks  and  dwarf  alpine  plants,  I  thought  they  were 
Twites,  more  especially  as  I  believe  Drummond  reported 
Twites  from  the  island.  I  shot  several  of  tliese  Mount  Ida 
Linnets,  and  I  do  not  think  the  Twite  exists  in  Crete.       / 

Fringilla  ccelebs  subsp.? 

Four  males  in  worn  breeding  plumage  appear  to  be  less 
brown  on  the  upper  back  than  birds  from  the  continent,  and 
they  are  on  the  small  side,  the  wings  varying  from  84  to 
88  mm. 

The  (chaffinch  is  a  common  breeding  bird  from  sea-level 
to  the  top  of  the  Ih^x  forest  at  5000  feet.  Young  were  just 
out  of  the  nest  by  the  middle  of  June. 

Cretan  name  "  spinos.'' 

SER.  XI. VOL.  III.  K 


130  Col.  R.  Meinertzliagen  on  the  [Ibis, 

Passer  italiae  (Vieill.). 

Cretan  s|)eciinens  are  indistinguisliable  from  birds  from 
Italy.  (Common  about  all  human  habitations  up  to  2000  feet, 
and  always  nesting  in  buildings.  Young  were  not  out  of 
the  nest  by  the  middle  of  June,  when  all  hen  birds  were 
still  being  fed  by  the  cocks. 

Emljeriza  calandra  calandra  L. 

Two  birds  obtained  do  not  differ  from  typical  examples. 

Not  uncommon  in  suitable  country  from  sea-level  to 
2000  feet.  A  nest  with  four  incubated  eggs  was  found  on 
13  June. 

Ember iza  hortiilana  L. 

Quite  common  and  breeding  between  2000  and  4000  feet, 
and  a  few  at  sea-level  near  Candia.  Adults  were  feeding 
young  in  the  nest  in  early  June. 

Calandrella  brachydactyla  brachydactyla  (Leisler). 

Five  adults  are  typical,  wings  varying  from  88  to  98  mm. 
Found  breeding  commonly  at  two  places,  on  the  Nidha  Plain 
at  5000  feet  and  near  Varavara  on  the  southern  slopes  of 
Mount  Ida  at  2000  feet. 

Galerida  cristata  meridionalis  Brehm. 

Six  birds  were  obtained  in  very  worn  plumage,  but  I  have 
been  fortunate  in  being  able  to  compare  a  winter  bird  in  the 
Tring  (Collection  with  specimens  from  Greece  and  Albania. 

A  common  breeding  bird  up  to  2500  feet.  First  young 
seen  out  of  the  nest  on  29  June. 

Lullula  arborea  subsp.  ? 

Five  birds  in  worn  breeding  plumage  seem  nearest  to 
L.  a.Jfavescens  from  the  Balkans,  but  until  autumn  or  winter 
birds  are  obtained  I  refrain  from  defining  their  race. 

Fairly  common  above  1500  feet  and  reaching  up  to 
GOOO  feet.  Five  incubated  eggs  were  found  on  18  June,  and 
several  broods  seen  on  the  wing  at  ihe  end  of  the  same 
month. 


I92I-]  Breeding  Birds  oj  Crete.  131 

Anthus  campestris  campestris  (L.). 

Four  obtained  are  identical  with  others  from  sonthern 
Europe. 

Common  in  suitable  country  between  2000  and  -4000  feet, 
and  a  few  were  breeding  at  GOOO  feet  on  Mount  Ida. 

Certhia  brachydactyla  subsp.  ? 

Tree-Creepers  were  found  at  4500  feet  at  the  top  of  the 
Ilex  forest  on  the  soutliern  slopes  of  Mount  Ida,  and  three 
adults  and  three  young  were  obtained.  The  former  are  in 
such  worn  plumage  that  it  is  inipossible  to  say  to  which  race 
they  belong. 

Parus  major  peloponnesus  Parrot. 

Five  adults  in  worn  plumage  appear  to  agree  with  birds 
from  Greece. 

Common  from  sea-level  to  the  limit  of  the  Ilex  forest,  say 
4500  feet.     Full-grown  young  were  seen  about  by  early  June. 

Parus  caeruleus  ogliastrae  Hartert. 

An  adult  female  and  a  young  bird  obtained.  But  I  have 
examined  Witherby's  adult  male  collected  by  Lynes  at  Suda 
Bay,  and  I  agree  with  AVitherby  (Ibis,  1912,  p.  145)  that  the 
Cretan  form  belongs  to  this  race.  They  are  certainly  not 
the  typical  race  as  stated  by  Jourdain  (' Eggs  of  European 
Birds  ').     The  wing  of  my  female  measures  61  mm. 

Not  uncommon  in  wooded  country  from  sea-level  to 
5000  feet.     Young  were  well  on  the  wing  by  early  Jun^. 

Parus  sp.  ? 

On  two  occasions  on  Mount  Ida  at  5000  feet  in  Ilex  forest 
I  heard  and  saw  a  brown  Tit  which  I  failed  to  secure.  It  was 
not  the  Marsh  or  Coal  Tit. 

Lanius  senator  niloticus  (Bp.). 

Two  breeding  males  have  less  white  at  the  base  of  the 
central  tail-feathers  than  Palestine  breeding  birds,  and  in 
this  respect  approach  the  typical  race.  Perhaps  the  formula 
Lanius  s.  niloticus > senator  would  be  a  convenient  way  of 
expressing  this,  as  is  done  by  Stresemann  (Avif.  Macedon.). 

k2 


132  Col.  R.  Meinertzhagen  on  the  [Ibis, 

Birds  from  Crete  certainly  do  not  belono-  to  the  typical 
form  as  stated  by  Jourdain  ('  Eggs  of  European  Birds  '). 

A  scarce  breeding  })ird,  occurring  from  sea-level  to 
4000  feet.  A  nest  with  five  incubated  eggs  was  found 
at  Gnossos  on  13  June. 

Muscicapa  striata  striata  (Pall.). 

Two  males  obtained  are  identical  with  birds  from  C'Onti- 
nental  Europe. 

The  Spotted  Flycatcher  is  a  common  breeding  bird  from 
sea-level  to  4500  feet.  A  nest  with  five  incubated  eggs 
was  found  at  2000  feet  on  11  June. 

Locustella  luscinioides  luscinioides  (Savi). 

A  male  and  fully-fledged  young  bird  were  obtained  near 
Candia  in  early  June.  They  agree  with  birds  from  southern 
Europe,  but  the  male  is  small,  having  a  wing  of  barely 
60  mm.,  and  a  culmen  of  only  15  mm. 

Not  otherwise  seen. 

Hippolais  sp.  ? 

Probably  //.  /xillida.  Seen  and  heard  on  several  occa- 
sions below  2000  feet.     Not  obtained. 

Sylvia  communis  communis  Lath. 

Two  males  in  worn  breeding  plumage  were  obtained. 
They  ap[)roach  nearest  to  the  western  race,  though  they  are 
rather  grey  on  the  upper  parts. 

A  fairly  common  breeding  bird  up  to  2000  feet. 

Sylvia  melanocephala  melanocephala  (Gm.). 

The  breeding  Cretan  bird  undoubtedly  belongs  to  the 
ty[)ical  race,  though  they  are  on  the  small  side,  wings  of 
males  varying  from  57  to  59  mm.,  but  the  coloration  is  that 
of  the  typical  race.  Birds  from  the  hills  appear  darker 
below  than  those  from  the  plains. 

The  Sardinian  Warbler  is  a  scarce  breeding  species  below 
2000  feet.  On  Nidha  Plain  they  were  especially  common  at 
5000  feet,  where  young  were  on  the  wing  by  the  third  week 
in  June. 


1 92 1.]  Breeding  Birds  of  Crete.  133 

Tardus  merula  subsp.  ? 

Only  one  bird,  an  adult  male,  obtained.  Wing  11,'?  and 
culmen  25  mm.  This  is  smaller  than  any  other  adult  male 
I  have  examined  from  Europe,  and  from  what  I  saw  of 
the  Blackbird  in  Crete,  they  all  seemed  uncommonly  small. 
It  seems  likely  that  this  is  a  new  insular  race,  but  a  larger 
series  are  necessary  before  it  can  be  named.  A  pair  of  live 
birds  were  brought  to  Egypt,  where  they  are  doing  well  in 
the  Giza  Zoological  Gardens. 

The  Blackbird  occurs  throughout  the  country,  but  is  very 
shy  and  difficult  to  obtain.  Trevor-Battye  ('  Camping  in 
Crete  ')  thought  the  hill  bird  smaller  than  the  plain  bird,  but 
I  did  not  notice  this  difference. 

Cretan  name  "  kotsifos," 

Monticola  solitarius  solitarius  (L.). 
A  female  obtained  belongs  to  the  western  race. 
Occurs  as  a  breeding  species  in  all  suitable  country  from 
sea-level  up  to  6000  feet. 

Cretan  name  "  petro  kotsifos." 

(Enanthe  cenanthe  virago  Meinertz. 

(Enanthe  ce.  virago  Meinertzhagen,  Bull.  B.  0.  C.  xli. 
1920,  p.  20  :  Mount  Ida. 

Adult  male  with  a  more  silvery  mantle  and  larger  culmen 
than  in  the  typical  race.  Adult  female  closely  resembling 
the  male  and  not  brown.  Juvenile  plumage  tinged  with 
grey,  whereas  there  is  no  grey  in  the  young  of  the  other 
races. 

A  common  breeding  bird  on  Mount  Ida  above  about 
4000  feet  and  ascending  to  the  summit  of  Ida  at  8200  feet. 

Fully-fledged  young  are  about  by  the  end  of  June. 

These  birds  appeared  to  be  equally  at  home  in  the  Ilex 
forest,  on  the  wind-swept  slopes  of  Ida  or  among  the  snow 
drifts,  perching  with  equal  ease  on  tree  or  rock. 

Mr.  Witherby  kindly  lent  me  five  birds  from  Suda  Bay 
obtained  by  Capt.  Lynes  in  March  and  early  April.  The  four 
males  have  wings  varying  from  93  to  98  and  culmens  from 
17"5  to  19  mm.     One  has  a  broad  white  forehead,  two  have 


134-  Col.  R.  Meinertzliagen  on  the  [Ibis, 

moderate  white  foreheads,  and  the  fourth  has  a  narrow  wliite 
forehead.  The  female  is  typicnl  of  (J^nanthe  «?.  (cnanthe,  and 
has  a  wing  of  90  and  culmen  of  17  mm.  These  birds,  un- 
doubtedly on  s|)rino;  passage,  all  belong  to  the  typical  race. 

(Enanthe  hispanica  melanoleuca  (Griild.). 

Sa.i'icola  h.  xantliomehrna  (H.  &  E.)  ;  Hartert,  Vog.  pal. 
Fauna,  p.  6<S7. 

Two  breeding  males  obtained  belong  to  this  eastern  race. 
Black-throated  and  white-throated  birds  appear  to  be  in 
equal  numbers. 

Fairly  common  below  3000  feet.  Not  seen  above  that 
altitude,  though  Trevor-Bat tye  states  they  occur  up  to 
6000  feet  in  the  White  Mountains  in  western  ('rete. 

Saxicola  torquata  rubicola  (L.). 

Two  males  and  a  female  do  not  vary  from  typical  specimens 
except  that  their  culmens  are  on  the  large  side,  measuring 
14  and  15  mm.  The  back  of  the  two  males  is  of  a  par- 
ticularly intense  black,  but  this  also  occurs  among  otliers 
from  southern  Europe. 

The  kStonechat  occurred  as  a  breeding  bird  at  all  elevations, 
being  commoner  at  higher  elevations  than  in  the  plains. 

Luscinia  megarhynchos  megarhynchos  Brehm. 

The  western  race  of  tlie  Nightingale  breeds  in  Crete  up 
to  2000  feet  wherever  suitable  conditions  prevail.  They 
were  beginning  to  go  off  song  about  the  third  week  in  June. 
Two  adults  were  obtained. 

Troglodytes  troglodytes  subsp.  ? 

Four  adults  and  two  young  birds  obtained.  The  culmen 
is  large,  varying  from  13'5  to  15  mm.  In  typical  Trog- 
lodytes t.  tro(jlodijtes  the  culmen  does  not  exceed  13'75  mm. 
The  ctilmen  is  nearer  that  of  1\  t.  cy]>riotes  or  kahi/loram. 
The  plumage  of  the  adults  is  so  worn  that  I  have  been 
unable  to  say  definitely  whether  they  are  a  new  form  or  not. 
They  appear  to  be  greyer  and  more  streaked  on  the  back 
than  other  closely-allied  forms,  but  this  might  be  due  to 
abrasion  and  bleachino-. 


192 1.]  Breeding  Birds  of  Crete.  135 

The  Wren  was  common  on  IMount  Ida  at  over  4500  feet. 
Full-grown  young  with  their  parents  were  about  in  parties 
by  the  middle  of  June. 

Accentor  collaris  subalpinus  (Brehm). 

A  single  bird  shot  is  referable  to  this  Balkan  race.  I  only 
saw  them  at  Nidha  Cave  at  5500  feet.  Trevor  Battye 
('  Camping  in  Crete')  found  them  common  on  Mount  Ida  at 
7500  feet  in  June. 

Stresemann  (Avif.  Macedon.)  unites  this  race  with  the 
typical  form.  In  this  I  cannot  agree;  my  bird  resembles 
others  in  the  Tring  Museum  from  the  Balkans,  and  accords 
well  with  Hartert's  description  (Vug.  pal.  Fauna,  p.  763). 

Hirundo  rustica  rustica  (L.). 

A  single  breeding  male  obtained  on  8  June.  The  specimen 
is  white  below,  slightly  tinged  and  blotched  with  chestnut. 
If  the  race  //.  r.  hoissonneauti  Temm.  is  recognised  it  may 
belong  to  it,  bnt  I  have  not  had  any  Balkan  specimen  with 
which  to  compare  my  examples. 

The  Swallow  is  a  plentiful  breeding  bird  wherever  there 
are  human  habitations.  Three  nests  found  at  Gnossos  on 
8  June  had  fresh  eggs,  hard-set  eggs,  and  half-fledged  young. 

Riparia  rupestris  (iScop.). 

Common  at  all  elevations  where  caves  or  rough  craggy 
country  occurs. 

Apus  apus  apus  (L.). 

Three  breeding  birds  obtained  agree  with  others  from 
western  Europe,  and  are  not  .1.  a,  marwitzi  or  A.  a. 
pekinensis. 

Swifts  were  breeding  abun(iantly  at  (Jandia  and  on  all  the 
small  coastal  islands  off  Candia.  A  few  were  seen  in  com- 
pany with  Ajyus  melba  on  the  summit  of  Mount  Ida  on 
23  June,  but  I  doubt  whether  they  were  up  there  for  any 
other  purpose  but  food. 

Apus  melba  melba  (L.). 

A  common  breeding  species  in  the  hills  and  on  Dia  Island 
off  Candia.     Three  obtained  are  typical. 


136  Col.  R.  Meinertzhagen  on  the  [Ibis, 

Caprimulgus  europaeus  meridionalis  Hartert. 

A  male  obtained  at  2000  feet  on  13  June  was  tlie  only 
one  seen.  Trevor-Battye  ('Camping  in  Crete')  saw  them 
frequently  in  summer. 

Cretan  name  "  arno  vysastra,"  a  literal  translation  of 
Goat-sucker. 

Otus  scops  powelli  Meinertz. 

Otus  scops  pou-eUi  Meinertzhagen,  Bull.  B.  0.  C.  xli.  1920, 
p.  21  :  Candia  District. 

This  new  race,  intermediate  between  the  typical  form  and 
0.  s.  cyprius,  was  common  from  coast-level  to  2000  feet,  and 
a  few  were  heard  in  the  Ilex  forest  at  4000  feet.  Two 
clutches  of  eggs  were  taken  from  holes  in  buildings  on 
13  and  15  June,  the  former  consisting  of  four  incubated 
eggs,  and  the  latter  of  two  fresh  and  one  incubated  egg. 

Birds  were  frequently  heard  calling  by  daylight,  and  it 
was  not  ditiicult  at  dusk  to  call  them  to  quite  close  quarters. 

Falco  peregrinus  subsp.  ? 

A  small  Peregrine  was  twice  seen  in  the  hills,  ])ut  none 
were  obtained. 

Falco  tinnunculus  tinnunculus  L. 

I  obtained  two  breedino'  males,  with  wnnos  measuring  223 
and  245  mm.  respectively.  One  of  these  birds  is  much 
redder  Ijelow  than  most  European  birds^  whilst  the  other  is 
normal.  I  have  recently  examined  a  series  of  157  Kestrels, 
and  I  find  that  in  the  southern  part  of  their  breeding"  range 
birds  tend  to  become  more  red  below  than  those  breeding 
in  central  and  northern  Europe  and  Asia,  though,  of  course, 
such  red  birds  occur  fre(piently  in  both  the  British  Islands 
and  throughout  Europe.  I  am  going  full}'^  into  this  question 
at  a  near  date,  Init  all  that  concerns  us  for  the  moment  is 
that  the  Cretan  breeding  bird  can  only  be  referred  to  the 
typical  form. 

Kestrels  were  seen  everywhere  in  small  numbers.  Two 
nests,  both  with  half-grown  young,  were- found  in  buildings. 
In  lioth  cases  the  cock  bird  was  feeding  the  chicks,  visiting 


1 92 1.]  Bi-eeding  Birds  of  Ci'ete.  137 

tlie  nest  only  about  three  times  a  day.     I  never  saw  the  hen 
bird  at  the  nest  in  either  case. 

Falco  eleonorae  Gene. 

One  obtained.  There  are  hirge  colonies  of  these  Falcons 
on  Dia  and  Paximadi  IsLands  north  of  C^andia,  and  I  sin- 
cerely trust  no  ravening  oologist  will  abuse  this  information. 
Occasional  birds  were  also  seen  in  olive  gardens  near  the 
coast,  and  flying  high  over  (Jrete  at  dusk. 

Aqiiila  chi't/sat'tos^  a  Buteo,  Gi/ps  fulvus,  and  (jrijpa'eLos 
harhatus  were  frequently  seen  but  not  obtained.  Ardea 
rinerea  was  often  seen  on  the  coast  near  Candia,  and  had 
apparently  bred  on  a  small  island^  where  an  empty  nest  and 
full-grown  young  were  seen. 

Botanrns  stellaris  was  twice  seen  near  C'andia  in  June, 
and  may  have  been  breeding. 

Fhalarocorax  carbo  breeds  in  colonies  on  the  small  rocky 
islands  near  Candia,  where  many  empty  nests  were  found  in 
late  June,  and  about  30  young  seen. 

Adults  and  full-grown  young  of  Anas  platyrliynclios  were 
seen  on  the  Halmyros  stream  near  Candia  on  2  July. 

No  examples  of  the  above  species  were  obtained. 

Columba  livia  palaBstinae  Zedl. 

The  Cretan  Rock-Pigeon  is  referable  to  this  race,  being 
much  paler  than  Cohtmha  I.  liv/a  on  the  upper  parts  and 
slightly  smaller.  Two  birds  obtained  have  white  lower  backs, 
and  compare  well  with  a  large  series  from  Palestine,  Syria, 
and,  curiously  enough,  Solium  in  western  Egypt.  It  would 
therefore  appear  that  C.  I.  pahestime  occurs  not  only  in 
Palestine,  Sinai,  and  Arabia,  but  in  the  eastern  Mediter- 
ranean, with  the  exception  of  the  Egyptian  Delta,  where  the 
smaller  C.  I.  schimperi  occurs. 

The  wings  of  my  two  Cretan  birds  measure  216  and  220 
mm.,  both  males. 

Rock-Pigeons  were  breeding  commonly  on  all  the  islands 
near  Candia,  on  the  coast,  and  in  the  hill  caves  of  Mount 
Ida.     Let  he  who  fancies  himself  at  shooting  try  his  hand 


138  On  the  Br eediny  Birds  of  Crete.  [Ibis, 

at  a   Rock-Pigeon    coming   out   of    Kamares   (.*ave  ;    if  he 
recovers  one  bird  for  every  three  cartridges  he  will  do  well. 
Most  of  the  young  birds  were  on  the  wing  by  the  middle 
of  June. 

Columba  palurabus  palumbus  L. 

A  pair  of  breeding  birds  obtained  agree  in  colour  with 
continental  birds,  but  are  small,  the  wing  of  a  male 
measuring  246  mm.,  and  that  of  a  female  236  mm. 

Wood-Pigeons  were  common  in  the  Ilex  forest  between 
3000  and  4500  feet,  coming  down  to  3000  feet  to  feed.  No 
young  were  seen  on  the  wing  by  the  middle  of  June. 

Alectoris  grseca  Cypriotes  Hartert. 

Tbree  males  and  two  females  were  obtained,  all  adult  birds. 
Wing  of  males  155,  160,  and  163,  and  of  the  females  148 
and  151  mm.  ( 'yprus  birds  vary  from  162  to  169  in  males, 
and  from  153  to  157  in  females,  so  the  Cyprus  birds  are 
somewhat  larger.  Such  a  slight  difference  in  a  large  bird 
cannot  count  for  much,  and  as  they  agree  absolutely  in  colour 
with  breeding  birds  from  Cyprus,  I  unite  them  with  the 
Cyprus  race. 

The  Chukar  is  thinly  distributed  below  3000  feet,  above 
which  they  are  abundant.  Young  birds  from  newly-hatched 
young  to  birds  slightly  larger  than  quail  were  seen  in  the 
last  week  in  June. 

Coturnix  coturnix  (L.). 

A  pair  were  flushed  out  of  some  vines  at  2000  feet  on 
30  June.     None  were  obtained. 

Fulica  atra  atra  L. 

A  single  adult  male  was  obtained  at  Halmyros,  near  Candia, 
on  2  July.  The  bird  had  not  bred  during  the  year.  All  its 
pinions  were  in  very  shoi't  cjuill. 

Burhinus  cedicnemus  saharae  (Reich w.). 

Only  one  was  seen — a  male,  shot  near  Candia  on  D  June. 
W^ing  239  mm.  Its  pale  sandy  colour  agrees  absolutely 
with  birds  in  similar  plumage  from  the  Sahara  and 
Palestine. 


1921.]         On  the  Kconomic  Status  of  the  Kingfisher.  139 

Tringa  ochropus  L. 

A  Hock  of  five  birds  were  seen  on  2  July  near  (Jandin,  out 
oE  which  a  pair  were  shot.  They  were  in  complete  l)reeding 
plumage,  were  very  fat,  and  showed  no  signs  o£  having  bred. 

Larus  argentatus  cachiiuuDis  was  common  off  the  coast 
near  Candia,  and  had  bred  in  a  large  colony  on  Paximadi 
Island  ;  a  young  bird  was  found  in  the  nest,  but  all  the  rest 
were  on  the  wing. 

Fufimis  piijfinus  yeJkouan  and  Procellaria  jielagica  were 
common  at  sea  off  eastern  Crete  throughout  June,  but  I 
could  not  locate  any  breeding  quarters. 


VII. —  On  the  Economic  Status  of  the  Kingfisher,  Alcedo 
ispida  Linn.  By  Walter  E.  Collinge^  D.Sc,  F.L.S., 
M.B.O.U. 

(Text-figure  2.) 

I.  Introduction. 

The  brilliant  external  colouring  of  the  Kingfislier  [Alcedo 
ispida  Linn.)  makes  it  one  of  the  most  beautiful  birds  we  have 
in  this  country,  in  consequence  of  which  Yarrell  (10)  states, 
it  is  "  so  much  sought  after  by  tlie  idle  and  thoughtless  that 
its  numbers,  probably  iiever  very  great  in  any  part  of  the 
country,  have  of  late  years  very  sensibly  decreased  .... 
but  the  most  constant  persecution  the  species  undergoes 
arises  rather  from  the  deliglit  ....  so  many  people  take  in 
possessing  its  stuffed  skin  ;  .  .  .  .  and  to  this  end  more 
Kingfishers  are  probably  shot  or  netted  for  English  bird- 
stuft'ers  than  any  other  species.'^  Although  this  statement 
Avas  made  nearly  fifty  years  ago,  it  is  equally  true  to-day. 
So  recently  as  1891  Mr.  A.  H.  Cocks  (2)  reported  that  a 
local  bird-stuffer  had  nearly  a  hundred  Kingfishers  sent  to 
him  to  set  up  that  year. 

Further,  as  a  frequenter  of  streams,  brooks,  and  rivers, 
this  bird  has  generally  been  regarded  as  injurious  to  fish- 
culture,  and  consequently  has  been  ruthlessly  shot. 


140 


Dr.  W.  E.  Collinge  on  the 


[Ibis, 


Some  little  time  ago  the  writer  was  appealed  to  for  some 
definite  information  as  to  the  precise  nature  of  the  food  of 
the  Kingfisher.  Unfortunately,  as  in  the  case  of  so  many- 
other  British  birds,  no  such  information  was  available;  the 
present  investigation  was  therefore  undertaken. 

The  results  here  set  forth  are  based  upon  the  examination 
of  120  nest-contents,  obtained  from  sixteen  counties  ; 
53  pellets  ;  and  the  stomach-contents  of  27  birds  obtained 
from  eight  counties  during  all  the  months  of  the  year 
excepting  May,  June,  and  December.  Numerous  field 
observations  have  also  been  made. 

The  method  adopted  throughout  for  estimating  the  food 
percentages  is  that  known  as  the  volumetric  one  (3). 

Table  I. — Showing  number  of  adult  Kingfishers  and  nest-contents 
examined  in  this  investigation,  arranged  to  show  locality 
and  month  in  which  collected. 


County. 

Jan. 

Feb. 

Mch 

Apl.  Maj^ 

J  une 

July.  Aug 

.  Sept 

.  Oct. 

Nov. 

Dec. 

Totals. 

Birds 

Nests. 

Bedford      . . . 

1/2 

1/2    1/3 

1/3 

4 

10 

Cheshire     . . . 

1/ 

1/ 

/I    1/1 

/2 

/2 

3 

6 

Cumberland . 

/2 

/"■^ 

1/       ... 

...       /2 

1/6 

/I 

/I 

2 

14 

Devon    

...      /3 

/I 

/2 

0 

6 

Dorset   

/4 

/2 

/I 

0 

7 

Hants     

/3 

/I 

/2 

0 

6 

Hereford    . . . 

1/ 

1/ 

1/        ... 

1/     1/4 

/3 

1/2 

6 

9 

Leicester    . . . 

/2 

/5 

/I 

0 

8 

Lincoln 

/2 

/I 

/I 

0 

4 

Middlesex    . . 

1/ 

1/ 

1/       ... 

1/7 

/4 

1/ 

5 

11 

Nottiiig:hani . 

...     1/ 

1/3 

2 

3 

Norfolk      ... 

... 

/2 

/2 

0 

4 

Warwick    . . . 

1/       ... 

...       /3 

/2 

/I 

1 

6 

Worcester    . 

/2 

1/ 

1/       ... 

1/5 

1/2 

/I 

4 

10 

Yorkshire    . 

/5 

/4 

/2 

/3 

0 

14 

Ireland  

2/6 

.5/3 

/I       ... 

5/1      ... 

/I 
/5 

/3 

0 

27H 

2 

Totals  ... 

1/11 

2/3  4/16 

4/35 

3/29 

1/8 

-120 

The  figures  on  the  left  denote  the  number  of  birds,  and  those  on   the   right  the 
number  of  nest-contents. 


1 92 1.]  Economic  status  of  the  Kingfisher.  141 

I  acknowledge  witli  many  thanks  the  kindness  of  the 
Carnegie  Trnst  for  the  Universities  of  Scothand,  in  defray- 
ing the  whole  of  the  expenses  in  connection  with  this 
investigation. 

II.  Historical. 

References  to  tlie  food  and  feeding  habits  of  the  King- 
fisher are  exceedingly  few.  Yarrell  (10)  states  :  "  Its  food 
consists  of  small  crnstaceans,  aqnatic  insects,  such  as  dragon- 
fliesj  water-beetles,  and  little  fishes — especially  minnows  and 
sticklebacks,  while  leeches  are  also  said  to  enter  into  its 
diet." 

Butler  (1)  writes:  "Although  very  fond  of  small  fish, 
these  by  no  means  constitute  the  sole  food  of  the  Kingfisher, 
for  it  is  very  fond  of  tadpoles  and  water-beetles  ;  moreover, 
many  of  the  small  fry  which  are  eaten  are  quite  useless  for 
human  consumption,  so  that  the  bird  has  been  treated  with 
undeserved  severity  by  pisciculturists,  many  of  whom  lose 
no  opportunity  of  shooting  it.'' 

Newstead  (8)  examined  the  stomach-contents  of  nineteen 
specimens,  in  most  of  which  he  found  minute  and  small  fish- 
bones, one  small  gudgeon  (Gobio  fldviat His),  and  remains  of 
several  water-boatmen  (^Notonecta  glauca). 

Forbush  (4)  refers  to  the  American  species  as  eating 
grasshoppers,  and  Mason  (7)  quotes  certain  autliorities  as  to 
A.  ispida,  in  India,  feeding  upon  small  tishes,  tadpoles,  and 
aquatic  insects. 

III.  Field  Investigations. 

1.  Abundance. — So  far  as  I  can  learn  from  information 
supplied  by  difierent  corresjjondents,  the  number  of  nesting 
sites  has  decreased  during  the  last  ten  or  twelve  years, 
particularly  in  the  following  counties : — Cumberland, 
Cheshire,  Devon,  Hereford,  Leicester,  Middlesex,  Warwick, 
Worcester,  and  Yorkshire. 

Messrs.    Jourdain    and    Witherby  (5),    in    their   valuable 

■    report  on  the  effect  of  the  winter  1916-1917  on  our  resident 

birds,   state  :    "  The    diminution    in   the   breeding    stock   is 


142  Dr.  W.  E.  Collinge  on  the  [Ibis, 

shown  l)y  the  fact  that  whilst  most  of  its  favourite  breeding 
phices  on  the  lower  reaches  of  the  Thames  were  occupied  in 
1917,  the  up[)er  reaches  weve  deserted,  though  the  birds 
have  reappeared  in  1918.  In  Devon,  Worcester,  Cheshire, 
and  Cumberland  considerable  decreases  were  noted,  and 
some  diminution  in  Kent,  Surrey,  and  Middlesex,  while  no 
change  is  reported  from  Radnor  and  Beds.^^ 

2.  Nesting  Habits. — Further  observations  on  the  nesting 
habits  of  the  Kingtisher  are  very  desirable.  All  the  nests  I 
have  met  with  have  been  iu  the  banks  of  streams.  I  doubt 
if  they  are  always  dug  out  by  tlie  birds,  as  on  two  or  three 
occasions  I  have  found  that  the  old  burrows  of  the  water- 
vole  have  been  utilized,  and  in  another  case  tlie  hole  was 
formed  by  part  of  the  bank  of  the  stream  being  washed 
away  beneath  tlie  root  of  a  tree. 

In  all  the  nests  examined  I  have  found  an  accumulation 
of  fish-bones  and  other  indigestible  portions  of  food,  and 
only  these. 

While  in  many  cases  I  have  failed  to  observe  any  attempt 
at  arrangement  of  the  different  items,  in  others  there  is 
undoubtedly  a  very  definite  nest  formed,  described  by 
Yarrell  (10)  as  follows  : — "  The  eggs  are  laid,  sometimes  on 
the  bare  soil,  but  at  others  on  the  fish-bones  already  ejected 
by  the  birds  and  allowed  to  accumulate  until  they  amount  to 
a  handful  or  more.  These  bones  are  cast  up  as  pellets,  but 
are  apijarently  Avorked  by  the  bird's  movements,  as  she  sits, 
into  the  shape  of  a  cup  ;  and,  whether  by  pressure,  by  the 
moisture  of  the  soil,  or  by  both,  they  generally  cohere  so  as 
to  form  a  very  pretty  nest,  more  than  an  inch  deep  and  quite 
smooth  within,  whicii  with  care  may  be  removed  so  as  to 
preserve  its  structure." 

During  the  time  the  young  occupy  the  nest  the  passage 
leading  lo  the  terminal  cliamber  becomes  almost  filled  with 
castings,  excreta,  etc. 

In  many  cases  two  broods  are  reared  in  the  season.  Here, 
in  Fifeshire,  I  have  never  known  more  than  one. 

?),  Food  hrotight  to  the  Nest. — Fish,  tadpoles,  crayfish,  and 


1921.]  Economic  Status  of  the  Kingfisher.  143 

the  larvpe  of  various  insects  have  been  observed  in  the  bircFs 
beak  when  alighting  before  entering  the  nest,  Fisli  are 
sometimes  hehl  crosswise,  in  which  case  the  bird  jerks  them 
upwards  catching  them  head  downwards.  In  other  cases 
they  are  held  lengthwise,  either  by  the  head  or  the  tail,  and 
swallowed,  this  action  being  accompanied  by  a  throw-back  of 
the  head. 

When  newly  hatched  the  young  are  fed  by  the  parents, 
but  after  a  time  they  frequently  do  no  more  than  deposit 
the  food  about  half-way  along  the  passage.  In  some  cases 
it  is  allowed  to  remain  there  and  become  trampled  down 
into  the  putrid  mass  of  material  which  has  accumulated 
there. 

4.  Depredations. — Tiie  opinion  is  frequently  expressed 
that  the  Kingfisher  destroys  large  numbers  of  young  trout, 
and  such  an  opinion  seldom  loses  anything  in  its  repetition, 
so  that  among  a  certain  class  of  people  this  bird  has  come 
to  be  regarded  as  an  enemy  and  injurious  to  all  fishing 
preserves  and  hatcheries. 

As  is  frequently  the  case  where  the  food  of  a  bird  is  con- 
cerned, careful  observation  and  investigation  do  not  bear 
out  or  even  lend  any  support  to  the  views  just  mentioned. 
Indeed,  one  can  scarcely  imagine  any  other  factor  that 
Avouhl  remove  so  many  enemies  of  fish  ova  and  fry  with  so 
little  injury. 

Unfortunately,  once  a  bird  is  given  a  bad  name,  it  is 
difficult  to  clear  its  character,  and  writers  who  should  know 
better  persist  in  repeating  the  inaccurate  stories  as  to  the 
number  of  fish  destroyed,  etc.  The  ultimate  result  of  all 
this  condemnation  is  that  in  many  parts  of  the  country  the 
Kingfisher  is  shot  down  mercilessly,  and  is  slowly  but  surely 
becoming  rarer,  much  to  the  detriment  of  all  trout  streams. 

IV.  Examination  of  Old  Nests  and  Pellets. 

1.  Nest  Contents. — An  examination  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  nest-contents  shows  them  to  consist  entirely  of 
animal  remains,   of   which   fish   constitutes  59*5   per  cent., 


144  Dr.  W.  E.  CoUinge  on  Me  [Ibis, 

injuiioTis  insects  15*5  percent.,  neutral  insects  4"5  per  cent., 
Crustacea  6*5  per  cent.,  molluscs  5*5  per  cent.,  tadpoles 
4"0  per  cent.,  worms  1"5  per  cent.,  and  miscellaneous  animal 
matter  3'0  per  cent. 

The  lightest  nest-content  weighed  12"5  grains  and  the 
heaviest  320  grains,  the  average  being  142  grains.  In  all 
probability  the  heavier  ones  represent  the  contents  accumu- 
lated over  more  than  one  season,  but  on  this  point  I  have  no 
definite  information. 

Of  the  59*5  per  cent,  of  fish,  minnows  constituted  39*5  per 
cent.,  stickleback  31"0  per  cent.,  gudgeon  14"5  per  cent., 
trout  12"5  per  cent.,  and  2'5  per  ceist.  of  unidentifiable  fish- 
remains. 

2.  Pellets. — The  average  weight  of  the  pellets  was  15  grains. 
The  analysis  of  the  fifty-three  specimens  shows  that  they 
consist  wholly  of  animal  matter  of  which  fish  constitutes 
590  per  cent.,  injurious  insects  15'0  per  cent.,  Crustacea 
6"0  per  cent.,  tadpoles  5*5  per  cent.,  moUuscs  5"0  per  cent., 
neutral  insects  5*0  per  cent.,  worms  1*5  per  cent.,  and 
miscellaneous  animal  matter  3'0  per  cent. 

V.  Examination  of  Stomach  Contents. 

Practically  all  the  stomachs  examined  were  full.  The 
average  weight  of  the  contents  was  32'5  grains.  Only  twenty- 
seven  stomachs  have  been  examined.  It  was  evident  at  a  very- 
early  stage  of  this  inquiry  that  the  pellets  and  nest-contents 
afforded  a  very  valuable  source  of  information,  and  one 
Avhich  was  in  close  agreement  with  the  results  obtained  from 
the  post-mortem  examinations.  It  was,  therefore,  not  thought 
desiral)le  to  destroy  a  large  number  of  birds  for  the  purpose 
of  examining  the  stomach-contents.  Many  of  those  examined 
have  been  kindly  sent  to  me  by  taxidermists,  to  whom  the 
birds  had  been  sent  or  brought  to  be  set  up. 

1.  Nature  of  the  Food. — An  examination  of  the  stomach- 
contents  shows  that  the  whole  of  the  food  consists  of 
animal  matter.  Specimens  have  been  examined  in  all  the 
months  of  the  year  excepting  May,  June,  and   December. 


1921.]  Economic  Status  of  the  Kingfisher. 


145 


Unfortunately,  I  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  any  birds 
feeding  on  river  estuaries  or  near  to  the  coast. 

Analysis  shows  that  of  the  total  bulk  of  food  consumed, 
fish  of  various  kinds  forms  the  major  portion,  viz.,  63-5  per 
cent.  ;  injurious  insects,  either  adult  or  in  their  larval  con- 
dition, form  the  next  largest  item,  viz.,  16-5  per  cent., 
neutral  insects  constitute  6*0  per  cent.,  molluscs  4*0  per 
*  cent.,  tadpoles  and  Crustacea  each  3*5  per  cent.,  Avorms 
1'5  per  cent.,  and  miscellaneous  animal  matter  1'5  per  cent. 

Only  two  items  call  for  s[)ecial  remark,  viz.,  the  fish  and 
the  injurious  insects. 

A  reference  to  Table  II.  showing  the  monthly  percentages 
shows  that  fish-remains  were  present  in  the  stomachs 
collected  in  every  month ;  the  highest  pei'centage  was  taken 

Table  II. — Showing  the  monthly  percentages  of  the  food  items  of  the 

adult  Kiniifisher. 


Jan. 

Feb. 

Moll. 

Apl.  May 

June 

.  July. 

Aug. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

Nov.  Dec. 

Averages. 

Fish   

80-5 

75-0 

63-5 

41-5    ... 

49-5 

54-5 

59-5 

G7-0 

80-5  ... 

63-5 

Tadpoles  .  ' 
Molluscs  . 

2-5 

3'5 

4-0 

8-0 
2-5 

12-5    ... 
1-5    ... 

0-5 
2-5 

1-0 
4-5 

G-5 

7-5 

4-5  ... 

3-5 

4-0 

Injurious 
Insects . 

8-5 

10-5 

16-5 

27-5     ... 

22-0 

22-0 

20-0 

1.3-5 

8-0  ... 

lG-5 

Neutral 
'Insects . 

1-0 

3-0 

4-5 

11-5    ... 

10-5 

9-0 

G-5 

5-5 

2-5  ... 

G-0 

Crustacea . 

G-0 

3'5 

2-0 

2-5    ... 

4-0 

3-5 

3-5 

3-5 

3-0  ... 

3-5 

Worms  ... 

•5 

"5 

1-5 

1-0    ... 

2-5 

3-5 

1-5 

1-5 

1-0  ... 

1-5 

Miscell.  ... 

1-0 

1-5 

2-0    ... 

2-5 

2-0 

2-5, 

1-5 

•5  ... 

1-5 

Totals  . . . 

100-0 

100-0 

100-0 

100-0    ... 

100-0  100-0 

100-0  100-0 

100-0  ... 

100-0 

irj  November  and  January,  80"5  per  cent,  in  each  month, 
and  the  lowest  percentage  in  April,  41  "5  per  cent.  It  is 
significant  that  in  the  months  when  there  are  no  fry  or  ova 
about,  the  percentage  stands  the  highest  ;  thus  we  have 
75'0  per  cent,  in  February,  67*0  per  cent,  in  October,  G3'0 
per  cent,  in  March,  595  per  cent,  in  September,  and  54"5 
per  cent,  in  August. 

SEK.  XI. VOL.  III.  L 


146  Dr.  W.  E.  Collinge  on  the  [Ibis, 

Tadpoles  or  very  young  frogs  were  present  during  five 
months,  and  tlie  remaining  food  items  occurred  in  each 
month. 

The  liighest  percentage  of  injurious  insects  was  found  in 
April,  viz.,  27*5  per  cent.,  and  the  lowest',  8'0  per  cent.,  in 
Novem])er.  L^rom  observations  made  in  the  open  this  item 
Avas  thought  to  be  considerable,  but  the  large  j)ercentage 
found  from  February  to  October  was  somewhat  surprising. 
Tlie  species  consist  very  largely  of  those  that  are  classed  as 
injurious  because,  either  in  their  adult  or  larval  condition, 
they  feed  upon  fish  ova  and  the  fry,  such  for  instance  as 
the  Dragon-fly  (^^scfina  cyanea  Miill.),  and  all  the  species 
of  Coleoptera. 

Table  III.  shows  the  different  percentages  side  by  side  of 
the  food  items  obtained  from  the  stomach-contents  and  the 
nest-contents  and  pellets,  and  the  averages. 

Table  III.  —  Showing  percentages  and  averages  of  the 
different  food  items  found  in  (i.)  the  nest-contents, 
(ii.)  the  pellets,  and  (iii.)  the  stomachs. 

Nest 
Food  item.  ^     ,  '   ,         Pellets.    Stomachs.     Averages. 

Fish     59-5             59-0             63-5             60-67 

Tadpoles      4-0 

Molluscs 5'5 

Injurious  Insects     15"5 

Neutral  Insects  4*5 

Crustacea    ., 6-5 

Worms     1"5 


5-5 

3-5 

4-33 

5-0 

4-0 

4-83 

15-0 

ir.-5 

15-66 

5-0 

0-0 

5-16 

G-0 

3-5 

5-33 

1-5 

1-5 

1-50 

Miscellaneous 

3-0 

3-0 

1-5 

2-50 

Totals 

100-0 

100-0 

100-0 

99-98 

Of  the  various  species  of  fish  four  only  could  be  identified. 
The  minnow  forms  the  chief  item,  totalli)ig  390  per  cent,  of 
the  total  fish-content,  the  stickleback  approaches  this  very 
closely  with  32"0  per  cent.,  then  we  have  15  0  per  cent,  of 
gudgeon  and  13'0  per  cent,  of  trout ;  the  unidentifiable  fish- 
remains  were  1*0  per  cent. 


1 92 1 .  ]  Economic  Status  of  the  Kingfisher. 


147 


In  view  of  all  that  lias  l)een  laid  to  the  charge  of  this 
bird,  and  especially  its  destruction  of  trout,  the  figures  here 
given  are  worthy  of  very  careful  consideration.  Moreover, 
it  is  important  to  note  that  in  none  of  tlie  stomachs  was  any 
trace  of  fish  ova  found. 

Text.fig.  2. 


/A 

\:  TROUT 

Ao 

f 

\f\ 

1 

INJURIOUS 

INSECTS. 

15-66 

K 

} 

1 

{IIIIIIIIMlMI 

1 100 


NEUTKAL 

FISHES. 

33-33 


The  portion  shaded  by  longitudinal  lii'es  represents  food  that  it  is 
beneticial  the  bird  should  eat ;  that  stippled,  food  that  it  is  injurious 
it  should  eat ;  and  the  blank  portions  food  of  a  neutral  nature. 

Summarizing  these  figures,  we  find  that  77'04  per  cent,  of 
the  food  is  of  a  neutral  nature,  15-6G  per  cent,  is  beneficial, 
and  only  7*28  per  cent,  injurious  (text-fig.  2). 

If  the  estimate  were  taken  upon  only  a  local  record,  the 
injuries  might  possibly  be  shown  to  be  greater,  but  estimated 

l2 


148 


Dr.  W.  E.  Collinge  on  the 


[Ibis, 


upon  tlie  records  from  a  number  of  districts  there  can  be  no 
doubt  as  to  the  economic  status  of  this  bird.  The  benefits 
it  confers  are  twice  as  great  as  the  injuries  it  inflicts,  whilst 
the  bulk  of  its  food  is  of  a  neutral  nature. 


2.   Classified  List  of  the  I< 

Anipliibia. 

Tadpoles  and  younu-  frogs. 
Fishes. 

Miunow. 

Stickleback. 

Gudgeon. 

Trout. 
Mollusca. 

Linmaa  sfai/7i(ihs  Linn. 

palustris  Miili. 

auricularia  Linn. 

percijra  Mull. 

IHanorhis  sp. 

Crustacea. 
Cr&y^&h  {AstacuspalUpeshQi'tib.). 
Freshwater    Shrimp  {Gtiviinarus 
index  Linn.). 

Tnsecta. 
Hemiptera. 

Water   Boatman    {Nutonecta 
ylauca  Linn.). 

Plectoptera. 

Mayfly    {Ephemera   vulyata 
Linn.). 
Odonata. 

Drag'ou-fiy    {Aischiia     cyaiiea 
Miill.). 

Neuroptera. 

Alder-fiy     (Sialis     Iiitarius 
Linn.). 


'uod. 

Coleoptera. 

Large  Water  Beetle  {I)ytincHs 

marginalis  Linn.). 
Great  Water  Beetle  {Hydro- 

pliilus  piceus  Linn.). 
Small  Water  Beetle  {Hydro- 

/ji'us  fuscipes  Linn.). 
Whirligig    Beetle     (Gyrimis 

ncdator  Scop.). 

Trichoptera. 

Caddis-Hies,  various  species. 

Lepidoptera. 
Noctuid  larvse. 

Diptera. 

liiver   Sand-fly    (Sinudh/m 

sp.). 
riarlequin-fl}'    ( Chironomns 

spp.). 
Pliiintom    LarvfB   (Coret/tra 

jdiimicorn is  Fabr . ) . 
Gnat  (Cule.v  7ie})iorosi(s   Mg.). 

Annelida. 
Oligochfeta. 

Earth  worm  (Lumhricus     sp.) 

and  cocoons. 
Red-worms      ( Tubifex     rivu- 
lonnn  Miill.). 

Ilirudinea. 

Small   Pond  Leech  {Nephdis 
vulyaris  Linn.). 


VI,  Sumniarij  and  Conclusion. 

An  examination  of  the  contents  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
nests,  fii'ty-three  pellets,  and  the  stomach-contents  of  twenty- 
seven  Kingfishers,  shows  tliat  the  bulk  of  this  bird's  food 
consists  of  (ish. 


1 92 1.]  Economic  status  of  tJie  Kingfisher.  149 

The  species  which  go  to  form  the  total  of  60'67  i)er  cent, 
consist  almost  entirely  of  neutral  species,  7'28  per  cent,  only 
consisting  of  trout. 

The  highest  percentage  of  fish  is  consumed  in  the  raontlis 
of  October,  November,  January^  February,  and  ]\Iarch,  and 
the  lowest  in  April. 

Insects,  most  of  which  are  injurious  to  trout,  constitute 
15'66  per  cent,  of  the  total  bulk  of  food,  and  tlie  highest 
percentage  is  taken  iu  the  spring  (March,  April,  and  June), 
so  that  much  of  this  material  consists  of  voracious  larvpe, 
most  of  which  occasion  a  large  amount  of  damage  to  fish 
ova  and  fry. 

Only  5'33  per  cent,  of  Crustacea  are  taken,  most  of  which 
are  referable  to  Gammarus  pulex,  wiiich  species  I.  am 
informed  attacks  the  eggs  of  fishes.  The  consumption  of 
worms  and  molluscs  is  only  small. 

A  summary  of  the  percentages  of  the  various  food  items 
shows  that  77*4  per  cent,  of  tlie  food  is  of  a  neutral  nature, 
15"66  per  cent,  is  beneficial,  and  only  7'28  [)er  cent,  is 
injurious. 

It  is  obvious,  after  considering  the  results  obtained  in  this 
investigation,  tliat  the  pisciculturist  is  grossly  mistaken  as 
to  the  economii;  position  of  the  Kingfisher,  and  that  despite 
the  small  percentage  of  trout  that  it  destroys,  it  is  really 
a  very  beneficial  bird  iu  that  it  destroys  a  much  larger 
percentage  of  acknowledged  enemies.  Moreover,  tlie  little 
damage  it  occasions  is  not  altogether  beyond  prevention. 

In  view  of  these  results  it  is  sincerely  to  be  hoped  that 
very  strict  and  rigorous  protection  will  be  afforded  this  bird 
for  the  future.  A  clause  in  any  new  Act  of  Parliament 
affecting  wild  birds,  making  it  an  offence  to  stuff  or  set  up 
specimens  of  the  Kingfisher,  excepting  under  a  permit, 
would  certainly  tend  to  reduce  the  present  senseless 
destruction. 


150  Obituary.  [Ibis, 

Bibliography . 

1.  BuTLEB,  A.  G. — British  Birds,  with  tlieir  Nests  and  Eggs. 

London,  189G  :  vols,  i.-vi. 

2.  Cocss,  A.  H. — "  Destruction  of  Kingfishers."     The  Zoologist, 

(3)  vol.  XV.  1891,  p.  154. 

3.  CoLLiNGE,    Walter   E. — "On   the  Value   of   the  Different 

Methods    of  Estimating  the   Stomach   Contents   of  Wild 
Birds."     Scot.  Nat.  1918,  pp.  103-1  OS,  2  figs. 

4.  EoRBusii,  E,  H. — Useful  Birds  and  their  Protection.    Boston, 

1907,  pp.  XX  +  437 ;  Ivi  pis.  &  171  figs. 

5.  JouRDAix,  F.  C.  E.,  &  WiTUEKBY,  H.  F.— "  Tlie  Effect  of 

the  Winter  of  1916-1917  on  our  Resident  Birds."     Brit. 
Birds,  vol.  xi.  1918,  pp.  266-271 ;  vol.  xii.  pp.  26-35. 

6.  Keee,  Helen  M.  Eait. — "  Field  Notes  on  the  Kingfisher." 

Ibid.  pp.  36-38. 

7.  Maso.x,  C.  W.— "The  Food  of  Birds  in  India."     Mem.  Dept. 

^gric.  India,  Entom.  Ser.,  1912,  vol.  iii.  pp.  1-371. 

8.  Newsteau,  R. — "The  Food  of  Some  British  Birds."     Suppl. 

Journ.  Bd.  Agric.  vol.  xv.  1908,  pp.  viii  +  57. 

9.  Rowan,   AV. — "Notes    on    the    Kingfisher  {Alcedo   ispida).'' 

Brit.  Birds,  vol.  xi.  1918,  pp.  218-225. 
10.  Yarbell,  William. — A  History  of  British  Birds.     London, 
vols,  i.-iv.,  1871-1874. 


YUl.—  Obiluary. 

Sir  John  Arthur  Brooke,  Bt. 

Sir  Jolin  Arthur  Brooke  of.  Feuay  Hall,  Huddersfield, 
Yorks,  who  died  on  12  July  last,  was  a  prominent  mau 
of  business  in  the  north  and  a  Director  of  Messrs.  John 
Brooke  &  Sous,  Limited,  worsted  manufacturers,  Hud- 
ders  field. 

Sir  John  Brooke  was  born  in  1844,  and  was  the  fourth 
son  of  the  late  Thomas  Brooke.  He  was  educated  at 
Repton  and  Oriel  College,  Oxford,  graduated  B.A.  in  1865, 
and  was  created  a  Baronet  in  1919.  His  chief  interests 
were  in  his  business  and   in  politics,  and   he  \vas  for  many 


1921.]  Obituary.  l5l 

years  chairman  o£  the  Hucklersfield  Conservative  Association. 
He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Union  in  1898^  but  his 
interest  in  ornithology  was  purely  that  of  an  araatenr. 
He  was  a  keen  observer  of  bird-life^  and  had  made  in  his 
younger  days  a  very  fine  collection  of  British  Birds^  eggs. 
He  was  also  a  collector  of  books  on  all  subjects  relating  to 
ornithology  and  natural  history. 

George  Wyman  Bury. 

The  ornithological  exploration  of  south-western  Arabia 
must  always  be  associated  with  the  name  of  Lieut.  G.  Wyman 
Bury,  R.N.V.li.,  whose  recent  death  at  Helouan,  near  Cairo, 
at  the  age  of  46,  we  regret  to  learn  from  the  pages  of  the 
'  Times.' 

Bury  was  born  at  Mancetter  Manor  House  in  Warwick- 
shire, and  was  educated  at  Atherstone  Grammar  School  and 
at  Army  crammers.  In  1894  he  received  a  commission  in  the 
3id  Batt.  R.  Warwick  Regt.  ;  in  the  following  year  he  was 
in  southern  Morocco  with  the  rebel  tribes.  During  the  next 
six  or  seven  years  he  was  in  the  Aden  hinterland  and  other 
parts  of  southern  Arabia, making  archaeological  and  zoological 
investigations  and  acquiring  a  wonderful  knowledge  of  the 
Arab  tribes.  He  was  political  officer  at  Aden  in  1903-4. 
On  the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  joined  the  Intelligence  Staff 
on  the  Egyptian  front,  and  later  on  was  attached  to  the 
Red  Sea  Patrol. 

His  first  ornithological  collections  were  made  in  1899  -1900, 
when  he  was  attached  to  the  expedition  under  the  leadershij) 
of  Messrs.  W.  Dodson  and  A.  B.  Percivalfor  the  exploration 
of  the  hinterland  of  Aden,  the  results  of  which  were  worked 
out  by  Mr.  Ogil vie- Grant  and  published  in  '  Novitates  Zoo- 
logicse^  (vol.  vii.  1900,  pp.  243-266).  Further  collections  of 
birds  were  made  l)y  him  in  the  following  year  when  attached 
to  an  Austrian  expedition  which  visited  south-eastern  Arabia 
for  archa3ological  investigation.  Tlie  account  of  the  birds 
then  collected  was  published  in  the  '  Journ.  filr  Ornithologie  ' 
of   1901    by   Messrs.   L.   von   Lorentz   and  C.  E.  Hellmayr. 


152  Obiiuary.  [Ibis, 

In  1905  Mr.  Bury,  at  the  instigation  and  with  the  assistance 
of  Mr.  Ogilvie-Grant,  made  a  collecting  expedition  to  Soraali- 
land,  but  was  unable  on  account  of  political  difficulties  to 
reach  tlie  high  ranges  behind  Cape  Guardafui  as  he  had 
intended.  The  Somaliland  collection  was  worked  out  by 
Mr.  Bannerman  ('  Ibis,'  1910,  p.  291).  Finally, in  1912-13 
Mr.  Bury  explored  the  Yemen  country  of  south-east  Arabia, 
never  previously  visited  by  an  ornithologist  and  even  by 
very  {q'n  Europeans.  The  collection  of  birds  was  worked 
out  by  Mr.  W.  L.  Sclater  ('  Ibis/  1917,  pp.  129-186). 

Mr.  Bury  published  an  amusing  account  of  his  travels  in 
Yemen  under  the  title  '  Arabia  Infelix  '  in  1915.  He  was  also 
the  author  of  '  The  Land  of  Uz,'  1911,  and  'Pan-Islam.' 
He  leaves  a  widow  but  no  children.  He  was  never  a 
Member  of  the  Union. 

William  Dutcher. 

From  the  last  number  of  the  'Auk'  we  learn  tliat 
Mr.  Wm.  Dutcher,  President  of  the  National  Association 
of  Audubon  Societies  for  the  Protection  of  Wild  Birds  and 
Animals,  died  on  the  1st  of  July  at  his  home  in  Chevy 
Chase,  near  Washington,  in  the  seventy-fifth  year  of  his  age. 

To  Mr.  Dutcher,  more  than  any  other  individual,  is  due 
the  present  interest  in  wild  bird  conservation  in  America, 
the  organization  and  (leveloj)ment  of  the  National  Association 
of  Audubon  Societies,  of  which  he  was  President  from  the 
time  of  its  conception  until  his  death,  and  the  manifold 
activities  which  have  grown  out  of  this  organization. 

In  his  young  days  Mr.  Dutcher  was  an  active  field-student, 
working  in  Long  Island,  and  he  published  many  important 
papers  on  the  birds  of  that  region,  l)esides  forming  a 
valuable  collection,  which  is  now  at  New  York  in  the 
American  Museum  of  Natural  History. 

Later  on  he  was  elected  Chairnuin  of  the  A.  O.  U.  Committee 
on  Bird-Protection,  the  work  of  which  was  eventually  taken 
over  by  the  National  Association  of  the  Audubon  Societies. 
This  great  institution  is  the  federal  bond  linking  together 


1 92 1.]  Obituary.  153 

tiie  Auduljoii  Societies  in  eaeli  State  of  the  Uiiion^  and  is 
besides,  tlirougli  the  energy  and  enthusiasm  of  its  President, 
possessed  of  amjjle  means,  which  are  devoted  to  the  main- 
tenance of  special  bird-reserves,  to  work  among  the  schools 
and  school-children,  and  to  jjropaganda  and  the  guiding  of 
the  legislatures  in  the  various  States  of  the  Union  in  regard 
to  the  protection  and  conservation  of  wild  life. 

Mi'.Dutcher  was  a  Fellow  of  the  American  Ornithologists' 
Union  and  a  3Iember  of  their  Council. 

Robert  Etheridge. 

Mr.  Robert  Etheridge,  the  son  of  the  distinguished 
geologist  and  paheontologist  of  the  same  name,  died  after  a 
short  attack  of  pneumonia  at  Colo  Vale,  near  Sydney,  on 
the  4th  of  January  of  last  year.  He  was  elected  a  Member 
of  the  Union  in  1914. 

Born  in  1847  in  England,  he  early  took  up  geological  work 
in  Australia  in  the  middle  sixties.  He  returned  to  England 
and  was  for  a  short  time,  together  with  his  father,  on  the 
staff  of  the  Geological  Department  of  the  Natural  History 
Museum.  In  1887  he  went  back  to  Australia  as  palsecnto- 
logist  to  the  Geological  Survey  of  New  South  Wales  and  to 
the  Australian  Museum  at  Sydney,  of  which  latter  institution 
he  subsequently  became  Director.  His  scientific  work  and 
publications  were,  we  believe,  entirely  concerned  with  geology 
and  [)ahcontology,  and  his  interest  in  ornithology  was  purely 
that  of  an  amateur. 

John  Gerrard. 

John  Gerrard,  F.G.S.,  M.B.O.U.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
70  at  his  residence  at  Worsley,  Lancashire,  on  28  July  last, 
was  born  at  Ince  Hall  in  the  heart  of  the  Lancashire  colliery 
district,  and  inherited  from  his  father,  a  mining  engineer, 
some  of  the  gifts  which  proved  so  useful  during  his  long 
life  of  practical  experiment  and  investigation.  He  was 
educated  at  Wigan  Grammar  School,  and  entered  the 
service  first  of  the  Ince  Hall  and  then  of  the  St.  Helens 


154  Obituary.  [Ibis, 

collieries,  but  at  the  age  of  23  lie  was  appointed  an 
Assistant  Inspector  of  Mines.  In  1893  lie  became  Chief 
Inspector  for  the  Manchester  and  Irish  areas,  and  held  this 
post  until  1914.  Perhaps  his  most  important  scientific 
work  was  his  investigation  of  the  causes  of  coal-dust 
explosions  ;  after  the  terrible  explosion  at  the  Pretoria  pit 
he  was  amongst  the  first  who  descended  to  the  rescue. 

His  interests,  however,  were  not  confined  to  engineering 
or  geology,  although  he  was  one  of  the  leading  geologists  in 
the  North.  He  was  keenly  interested  in  ornithology  and 
certain  branches  of  entomology,  and  during  trips  to  the 
west  coast  of  Scotland,  the  Orkney,  Shetland,  and  Faroe 
Islands,  he  accumulated  interesting  collections  of  birds 
and  eggs,  which,  through  the  kindness  of  his  sister. 
Miss  E.  M.  Gerrard;  have  found  a  home  in  the  Wigan 
Mining  and  Technical  College.  He  supported  any  move- 
ment which  he  considered  would  further  science;  thus  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Yorkshire  Naturalists'  Union,  and  for 
many  years  served  on  the  Committee  of  the  Manchester 
Museum.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  British  Orni- 
thologists' Union  in  1892. 

He  was  always  genial,  always  sympathetic,  and  his  advice 
when  sought  was  willingly  given  and  sound. — T.  A.  C. 

Charles  William  Sheppard. 

We  regret  to  have  to  record  the  death  on  the  20th  of 
September  last  of  one  of  the  oldest  Members  of  the  Union — 
the  Rev.  Chas.  William  Sheppard — at  the  age  of  84.  He  was 
elected  a  Member  of  the  Union  in  1863,  Canon  Tristram 
being  his  projjoser.  He  had  been  rector  of  Trottescliffe,  near 
Maidstone,  in  Kent  since  1875. 

Mr.  Sheppard  was  born  at  Trottescliffe  Rectory  in  1838, 
where  his  father,  the  Rev.  Edward  John  Sheppard,  was 
rector  before  him  from  1827  to  1875  ;  so  that  father  and  sou 
held  the  same  benefice  for  over  90  years.  He  was  educated 
at  Merchant  Taylors'  School  (then  in  Thames  Street)  and 
also  at  Charterhouse,  and  subsequently  at  Trinity  College, 


1 92 1.]  Obituary.  155 

Cambridge,  where  lie  took  his  degree  of  B.A.  in  1861  and 
M.A.  in  1864.  He  was  ordained  in  1870,  and  acted  as  his 
fatiier's  curate  for  four  years  before  succeeding  him  in  the 
living  which  was  his  only  cure. 

His  interest  in  Natural  History  was  very  considerable,  and 
in  his  younger  days,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Upclier  and  the  late 
Mr.  G.  G.  Fowler,  of  Gunton  Hall,  who  was  for  many  years 
a  Member  of  the  Union,  he  made  an  excursion  to  Iceland, 
and  visited  the  north-western  peninsula,  a  portion  of  the 
island  not  previously  explored  by  any  English  traveller. 
The  results  of  this  visit,  both  ornithological  and  otherwise, 
are  related  in  a  little  book,  '  The  North-west  Peninsula  of 
Iceland,'  published  in  1867  (see  '  Ibis,'  1867,  p.  239). 

Mr.  Sheppard  and  Mr.  Upcher  subsequently  accompanied 
Canon  Tristram  to  Palestine  in  1864-5,  and  the  results  of 
that  expedition  will  be  found  recounted  in  the  pages  of  '  The 
Ibis  '  for  1865  and  onwards,  where  Mr.  Sheppard's  name  is 
often  mentioned. 

The  only  other  ornithological  publication  with  which 
Mr.  Sheppard's  name  is  connected  is  '  Notes  on  the  Birds  of 
Kent/  published  in  1907,  in  which  he  collaborated  with 
Messrs.  R.  J,  Balstou  and  E.  Bartlett. 

Mr.  Sheppard  had  a  fine  collection  of  Ducks,  both  British 
and  foreign,  the  foundation  of  which  was  made  during  his 
visit  to  Iceland.  Eor  nearly  half  a. century  he  had  been  the 
father  of  his  parish,  and  was  greatly  respected  and  beloved 
by  all  the  people  of  his  neighbourhood,  though  he  was  not 
perhaps  so  well  known  among  the  younger  ornithologists 
of  to-day  as  he  deserved  to  be. 

Herbekt  Huntington   Smith. 

Mr.  Smith,  wlio  met  with  his  death  through  a  railway 
accident  on  the  22nd  of  March,  1919,  at  Tuscaloosa,  Alabanui, 
U.S.A.j  v^'as  Curator  of  the  Alahama  Museum  of  Natural 
History,  and  one  of  the  earliest  and  most  experienced  of 
American  field-naturalists. 

Between   1881  and   1886  Mr.  Smith,  accompanied  by  iiis 


156  Rccenthj  published  Ornithological  Works.         [Ibis, 

wife,  M'lio  was  liis  constant  companion  and  herself  a  first- 
rate  collector,  Avas  in  the  vicinity  of  Cliapada  and  Cuyuba, 
in  the  Province  o£  Matto  Grosso  in  Brazil.  The  large 
collection  of  birds  secured  in  that  region  is  now  divided 
between  tlie  British  Museum  and  the  American  Museum  o£ 
Natural  History.  In  1889  the  Smiths  collected  in  Mexico 
for  Mr.  Godman,  who  was  then  amassing  material  for  the 
MUolo^na  Centrali- Americana.'  From  1890  to  1895  they 
were  in  the  West  Indies,  in  the  interests  of  the  West  Indian 
Committee  of  the  Royal  Society  and  British  Association. 
Later  he  collected  in  Colombia  for  the  Carnegie  Museum. 
Here,  however,  he  became  so  seriously  ill  that  he  had  to 
give  up  all  further  work  in  the  Tropics. 

A  sketch  of  his  life  by  Dr.  W.  J.  Holland  will  be  found  in 
'  Science  '  (vol.  xlix.  1919,  pp.  481-483). 


IX. — Notices  of  recent  Ornitliological  Publications. 

Cory's  Catalogue  of  American  Birds. 

[Catalogue  of  Birds  of  the  Americas  and  the  adjacent  Islands  in  the 
Field  Museum  of  Naturid  History.  By  Charles  B.  Cory.  Pt.  ii.  nj.  2. 
Families  Trogonidfe,  Cuculidse,  Capitonidc-E,  Rhamphastidse,  Galbulidse, 
Bucconidfe,  and  Picidas.  Pp.  317-607,  1  col.  pi.  Field  Museum  of 
Natural  History  Publication  no.  203,  Zool.  ser.  vol.  xiii.  Chicago, 
U.S.A.,  Dec.  31,1919.] 

The  second  part  of  Mr.  Cory's  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of 
the  Americas  contains  the  lists  of  the  species  of  the  remaining 
families  of  Picarian  birds  left  over  from  Part  I.  published  in 
1918  and  reviewed  in  '  The  Ibis '  (1918,  p.  500).  The  present 
part  follows  the  lines  of  the  previous  one,  and  contains 
descriptions  of  all  those  species  not  mentioned  in  the  Cata- 
logue of  the  Birds  in  the  British  Museum  or  in  Ridgway's 
'  Birds  of  North  and  Middle  America.'  We  are  very  glad  to 
see  a  great  improvement  in  the  proof-reading,  and  have  hardly 
noticed  any  of  the  misprints  which  disfigured  the  first  part. 


1 92 1.]       Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  157 

We  have  found  (lescriptions  of  about  seven  new  species  and 
subspecies  in  tlie  text,  and  it  would  be  a  great  convenience 
to  woi'kers  if  a  list  of  these  were  printed  in  the  introduction. 
They  are  as  follows  : — Coccyzns  mimv  caymaneusis  (dayman 
Ts,,  W.L,  Nystulus  niaculatns  nuc/uilis  Ceara,  Brazil,  Soroplex 
campestris  cear<e  Ceara,  Brazil,  Chrysoptilus  rnelanocldorus 
jute  Ceara,  Brazil,  C.  puuct'tgula  notata  Colombia,  Celeus 
eleguns  approxhiiayis  Brazil,  Crocomurphus  ffavus  peruvianus 
N.  Peru,  A  coloured  plate  of  the  three  subspecies  of  Celeus 
elegans  forms  a  frontispiece  to  the  volume. 

Cory  on  the  genus  ilhynchocyclus. 

[Tlie  relationships  and  geographical  distribution  of  the  species  and 
races  belonging-  to  the  genus  RJnjncliocyclus.  By  C.  B.  Cory.  Proc.  Biol. 
Soc.  Washington,  vol.  32,  1919,  pp.  217-224.] 

A  useful  revision  of  this  complicated  and  extensive  genus 
of  South  American  Tyrant-birds.  No  new  foims  are 
described,  twenty  are  included  in  the  lisL 

Hellmayr^s  recent  papers. 

1.  Neue  Veigel  aus  dem  tropischen  Anierilia.    Von  E.  C.  Ilellmayr  und 

Josef  Graf  von  Seilern.       Verhandl.  Orn.  Ges.  Bayern,  xii.  1914, 
pp.  87-92. 

2.  Weitere  neue  Fornien  aus   Westindien  und  Venezuela.     Id.,  ibid. 

pp. 201-205. 

3.  Ueber  einen  neuen  Kerubeisser  aus  Venezuela.    Id.,  ibid.  pp.  lGO-161. 

4.  Ein  Meiner  Beitrag   zur  Ornithologie  des  Staates  Espirito  Santo, 

Sudostbrasilien.     Von  C.  E.  Ilellmayr.     Ibid.  pp.  119-159. 

5.  Neue  Fornien  aus  dem  neotropischen  Gebiet.     Id.,  ibid.  pp.  206-214. 

6.  Beschreibung   von    sechs   neuen    neotropischen  ViJgelformen,  uebst 

einer  Bemerkung  iiber  Aonpelion  cinctus  (Tsch.).     Id.,  ibid.  xiii. 
1S17,  pp.  106-119. 

7.  Miscellanea  Ornithologica,  II.,  Ill,  IV.     Id.,  ibid.  xiii.  1917  &  1918, 

pp.  188-200,  302-317  :  xiv.  1919,  pp.  126-133. 

8.  Bibliographisches  und  Kritisches  iiber  B.  Schoujburgk's  Veigel  von 

Britisch-Guiana.     Id.,  ibid.  xiv.  1920,  pp.  270-274. 

9.  Drei  Beitrage  zur  Nonieuklatur  der  Viigel  Europas.     Id.,  ibid,  xiii, 

1917,  pp.  87-104. 
10.  Zur  Nonienklatur   zweier   paliiarktischen  Krahen.      Id.,  ibid.  xiii. 
1917,  pp.  181-187. 


158  Recently  published  Omit lioloyical  Works.  [Jbis, 

11.  Hans  Graf  von  Berlepcch — Eine  Lebeusskizze.     Id.,  Jourii.  Oriiitli. 

1915,  pp.  557-6G8,  portrait. 

12.  Description     of    a   new    Formicarian    Bird  from     Colombia,    by 

E.  Hellmayr  and  Dr.  J.  v.  Madarasz.     Aquila,  xii.  1914,  p.  88. 
1.3.  Nomeuclatorder  Vijo-el  Bayerns.    Von  0.  E.  Hellmayr  und  11.  Laub- 
mann.     Pp.  i-viii+1-68.     Miincben  (G.  Fischer).     8vo. 

We  have  recentlj^  received  from  Dr.  Hellmayr  a  set  of 
his  publications  during  the  war  period,  and  the  importance 
and  accuracy  of  his  work  demands  this  somewhat  long 
notice.  The  first  eight  of  the  papers  listed  contain  descrip- 
tions of  new  species  and  subspecies  of  Neotropical  birds,  and 
for  the  enumeration  of  these  we  must  refer  our  readers  to 
the  '  Zoological  Record/  in  which  the  new  forms  are  duly 
recorded.  In  the  paper  numbered  6,  a  new  Andean  Jay  is 
characterized  under  the  name  Cyanohjca  viridicyunea  cyuno- 
lama.  This  is  obviously  identical  with  the  bird  named  and 
figured  by  Mr.  W.  L.  Sclater  in  the  October  number  of 
'The  Ibis'  of  the  same  year,  1917  (p.  465,  pi.  viii.),  and 
Hellmayr's  name,  having  been  published  in  February,  must 
take  precedence.  Another  nomenclatural  clash  is  in  regard 
to  the  Fan-tailed  Raven  of  north-eastern  Africa,  Corvus  affinis 
Riipp.  nee  Shaw,  which  therefore  requires  a  new  name. 
Dr.  Ilartert  renamed  it  C.  rhipidurus  in  the  'Bulletin^ 
of  the  V>.  0.  Club,  published  Nov.  30,  1918  ;  Hellmayr 
renamed  it  Corvus  brachycercus  in  his  Miscel.  Orn.  iv., 
published  June  1919. 

In  the  ninth  paper  on  our  list  Dr.  Hellmayr  criticises 
three  recently  published  check-lists  of  European  birds :  our 
own  B.  O.  U.  list,  to  which  he  gives  a  good  deal  of  praise  ; 
that  of  Rsichenow  and  Hesse  (published  in  the  '  Journal  fiir 
Ornithologie  '  for  1916)  of  German  birds,  which  meets  with 
scant  approval  as  being  reactionary  ;  and,  finally,  a  Swiss  list, 
published  at  Berne  in  1915  and  compiled  by  Th.  Studer  and 
G.  von  Burg,  '^i'he  13th  item  on  the  list  is  Dr.  Hellmayr's 
own  contribution  to  the  check-lists,  and  a  comparison  of 
the  names  used  by  him  in  his  Bavarian  list  with  those 
of  the  B.  O.  U.  list  shows  that  thei-e  are  but  ^ew  points  of 
disajireement  between  them. 


192 1.]       Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  159 

Hhigstori's  Himalayan  observations. 

[A  Naturalist  in  Himalaya.  j5j  R  \V.  G.  Hingston,  M.C.,  M.B., 
I.M.S.     Pp.  xii+300;  24  illustr. ;   1  map.     London  (Witlierby),  1920. 

8vo.] 

Captain  Kingston  is  a  close  observer  of  nature,  and  has 
had  the  good  fortune  to  be  stationed  in  an  interesting  and 
little-knowu  vallej'  of  the  Himalayan  range.  This  valley, 
the  British  territory  of  Hazara,  runs  in  the  form  of  a  wedge 
between  the  native  state  of  Kashmir  and  the  territory  of 
the  independent  Afghan  tribes  of  the  Black  Mountain. 

Our  previous  knowledge  of  the  birds  of  this  area  is  due  to 
the  late  Major  C.  H.  T.  Whitehead,  who  spent  a  short  time 
at  Kagan,  in  the  upper  part  of  the  district,  and  contributed 
a  few  notes  on  liis  visit  to  '  The  Ibis  '  and  'Journal  of  the 
liombay  Natural  History  Society.' 

Through  Hazara  apparently  a  big  stream  of  migration 
passes  in  spring  and  autumn,  ami  it  is  to  Ije  regretted, 
from  the  point  of  view  of  readers  of  this  Journal,  that 
Captain  Hingston  did  not  pay  as  much  attention  to  birds 
as  he  did  to  ants  and  spiders.  True,  he  gives  us  a  good 
picture  of  the  local  migration  from  the  plains  of  the  Punjab 
to  the  lower  valleys  and  hills  of  Hazara,  but  this  is  only  a 
general  sketch  with  practically  no  details. 

Like  iiiany  of  us,  Captain  Hingston  has  been  fascinated 
by  the  soaring  of  birds,  and  has  made  a  special  study  of  it. 
His  remarks  on  the  soaring  of  the  Common  Kite,  or  was 
it  not  rather  Milvus  melanotis,  which  take  up  nearly  the 
whole  oC  the  single  chapter  on  "  Ornithological  Observa- 
tions," will  be  read  with  interest.  The  book  is  illustrated 
with  a  number  of  good  photographs,  including  one  of  a  male 
Paradise  i^'lycatcher  in  fully-adult  plumage. 

Howard  on  Bird  Territories. 

[Territory  in  Bird-Life.  By  IL  Eliot  Howard.  Witli  illustrations 
by  G.  E.  Lodge  and  H.  GriJnvold.  Pp.  xiv-|-.j08  ;  11  illustr. ;  2  plans. 
London  (Murray),  1920.     8vo.     Price  21s.] 

Most  of  our  readei's  will  remember  Mr,  Howard's  beautiful 


160  Recently  published  OmUliological  Works.  [Ibis, 

book  on  the  Eritisli  Warblers  and  of  tlie  theory  wliicli  lie 
first  promulgated  in  that  work  of  bird-territories  and  of  the 
great  importance  of  exclusive  possession  of  a  tract  of  land  in 
bird-life.  In  this  new  work  he  has  developed  his  views,  and 
he  endeavours  to  prove  that  the  struggles  and  battles  of  male 
birds  in  spring  are  due,  not  so  much  to  contention  for  the 
possession  of  mates  as  for  the  possession  of  tracts  of  land  or 
estates  to  provide  hunting-grounds  from  which  to  secure 
food  for  the  young  brood. 

This  new  volume  is  of  great  interest,  and  if  the  author's 
conclusions  are  correct  has  a  most  important  bearing  on 
many  biological  problems.  We  hope  to  present  to  our 
readers  a  more  extended  and  critical  notice  of  it  in  the  next 
number  of  '  The  Ibis.' 

Laubmann  on  the  Kingfishe7\ 

[Beitriige  ziu-  Keinitnis  des  Formenlireises  Alcedo  atthis.  Von  Dr.  A. 
Laubmann.     Arch.  Naturges.  Berlin,  vol.  84,  pt.  A,  19:^0,  pp.  43-82.] 

Dr.  Laubniann's  paper  deals  with  the  subspecies  of  the 
bird  which  we  have  hitherto  called  Alcedo  ispida  ;  but  owing 
to  the  fact  that  Linnaeus  described  the  Egyptian  Kingfisher 
six  pages  before  the  familiar  A.  ispida  under  the  title  of 
Graculn  attliis,  the  latter  name  must  become  the  specific 
name  of  our  familiar  British  bird.  As,  however,  the  British 
bird  is  subspecifically  distinct  from  the  Egyptian,  we  can 
retain  the  name  Alcedo  atthis  ispida  for  our  own  form. 

Dr.  Laubmann  has  added  another  terror  to  systematic 
ornithology  by  making  use  of  four  names  instead  of  three, 
and  that  something  which  comes  between  the  species  and 
the  subspecies  he  calls  a  "  formengruppe."  According  to 
this  system  our  bird  becomes  Alcedo  atthis  atthis  ispida, 
the  Egyptian  A.  attliis  atthis  atthis,  and  together  with 
several  other  subspecies  makes  up  the  "  formengruppe " 
Alcedo  atthis  attliis,  while  another  "formengruppe^''  is  made 
up  of  three  Moluccan  subspecies  and  is  termed  Alcedo  atthis 
hispidoides. 

The  subspecific  races  as  revised  by  Hartert  numbered  four; 


1 92 1.]       Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  IGl 

to  tliese  Dr.  Laubmaiin  has  added  four  more,  two  of  which 
{A.  a.  corsicana  and  A.  a.  formosana  from  Corsica  and 
Formosa  respectively)  are  new.  In  addition,  some  five 
intermediate  races  are  separately  listed  which  have  to  be 
designated  l)y  no  fewer  than  five  names,  i.  e.  Alcedo  atthis 
atthis  at  this  ispida,  an  intermediate  race  between  that  of 
northern  Euroj)e  and  Corsica  which  occurs  in  northern 
Italy. 

We  fear  Dr.  Laubmann's  quadrinomial  system  is  too 
heavy  a  burden  for  the  already  harassed  ornithologist 
to  carry,  and  we  sliali  be  interested  to  see  whether  it  is 
adopted,  even  among  the  more  advanced  systematists. 

The  paper  contains  a  good  historical  levievv  of  the  King- 
fisher's systematic  liistoiy,  and  paragraphs  on  individual  and 
geograpliical  variation  and  on  the  phylogeny  of  the  group. 

Lonnherg  on  the  Birds  of  Juan  Fernandez  and  Easter  Islands. 

[The  Birds  of  the  Juan  Fernandez  Islands  and  Notes  on  Birds  from 
Easter  Island.  By  Prof.  Dr.  Einar  Lomiberg.  Extracted  from  '  The 
Natural  History  of  .luan  Fernandez  and  Easter  Island,'  edited  by 
Dr.  Carl  Skottsberg.     Vol.  iii.  :  pp.  1-24  (separately  paged).] 

This  is  an  account  of  the  birds  collected  during  the 
Swedish  Pacific  Expedition  in  191G-17  under  the  direction 
of  Dr.  Carl  Skottsberg.  Mr.  Kare  Backstrom  was  the 
zoologist  of  the  expedition,  and  has  furnished  some  interesting 
notes  and  observations  on  the  birds  obtained. 

The  Juan  Fernandez  Islands  are  two  in  number — Masa- 
tierra  and  Masafuera,  the  former  being  the  island  always 
associated  with  Defoe's  '  Robinson  Crusoe.'  They  are 
over  100  miles  apart,  and  lie  in  the  southern  Pacific,  some 
400  miles  from  the  coast  of  Chile.  There  are  eight  species  of 
indigenous  land-birds  out  of  a  total  bird  population  of  about 
30  species.  These  are  all  listed  by  Dr.  Liiuuberg  with  some 
interesting  comments  on  their  status  and  habits.  Cinclodes 
oustaleti  baeckstroemii  and  Fterodroma  cooki  masafuera 
are  described  as  new,  and  a  photograph  of  the  nest  of  the 
indigenous  and  peculiar  Ilumming-bird  [Eustephanus  fernan- 
densis)  taken  by  Dr.  Skottsberg  is  reproduced. 

SER.  XI. VOL     III-  M 


162  Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  [Ibis, 

The  expedition  stayed  on  Easter  Island  only  a  short  time, 
and  the  collections  thence  are  not  so  complete.  There  are 
said  to  be  twelve  species  inhabiting  the  island.  Of  these, 
examples  of  six  were  obtained,  all  sea  birds.  Procelsterna 
caerulea  shottsbergii  and  Pterodioma  lieraldica  paschte  are 
described  as  new. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  holy  bird  o£  the  Easter 
Islands,  about  which  Mrs.  Routledge  has  written  ('  The 
Mystery  of  Easter  Island/  London,  1919)  and  which  is  called 
locally  '-JManntara,^^  is  identified  by  Mr.  Bixckstroin  as 
Sterna  lanata  Peale,  while  Mrs.  Routledge  believes  it  to 
be  tliC  Dusky  Tern,  Anous  stolidus  unicohr. 

McClymont''s  Ornithological  Essays. 

[Essa_Ys  on  early  Ornithology  and  kindred  subjects.  By  James 
Pt.  McClymont.  Pp.  1-34;  3  plates.  London  (Quaritch),  1920. 
Sm.  4to.] 

In  this  little  work  Mr.  McClymont  endeavours  to  identify 
the  birds  mentioned 'in  some  of  the  old  travellers'  narratives, 
a  fascinating  task,  though  often  difficult  to  bring  to  a 
satisfactory  conclusion.  His  first  attempt  is  to  identify 
Marco  Polo's  "  Rukh/'  a  bird  said  to  liave  an  expanse  of 
wing  of  thirty  paces.     This  he  frankly  gives  up  in  despair. 

The  birds  met  with  during  the  first  voyage  of  Vasco  da 
Gama  to  India  are  perhaps  less  fanciful.  Penguins  still 
exist  on  the  coasts  of  South  Africa  in  very^  considerable 
numbers,  as  well  as  seals  or,  rather,  sea-lions  (Arctocephalus 
pusiUus),  though  the  latter  are  stated  by  our  author  to  be 
no  longer  denizens  of  those  regions.  A  reference  to  the 
volume  on  Mammals  in  the  'Fauna  of  South  Africa'  would 
have  put  this  matter  right.  Other  essays  deal  with  the 
early  voyages  to  the  Banda  or  Spice  Islands  and  to  Western 
Australia  and  New  Zealand. 

We  would  suggest  that  the  diving  bird  '•'  plongeon,"  met 
with  by  Crozet  on  the  island,  since  named  Marion  Island, 
in  the  southern  Indian  Ocean,  is  the  Diving  Petrel,  Pele- 
canoides  exul,  a  species  which  is  very  abundant  in  those 
waters. 


1 92 1.]       Recently  published  Oi-nithological  Works.  163 

rt  is  interesting  to  find  that  tlie  earliest  use  of  the  name 
Emu  in  English  occurs  in  '  Pnrchas  his  pilgrimes,'  where 
the  bird  is  stated  to  occur  on  Banda  Island  in  tlie  Molucca 
group.  The  bird  referred  to  was  probably  a  Cassowary^  which 
had  been  brought  to  Banda  from  Ceram.  Skeat  and  the 
New  English  Dictionary  state  that  Enie  or  ]*]nia  (whence 
Emu)  is  a  Portuguese  word  for  an  Ostrich  or  Crane, 
but  Mr.  McClymont  believes  that  the  derivation  is  from 
^'  neama,"  an  Arabic  name  for  the  Cassowary,  distorted  by 
the  Portuguese  into  "  uma  ema  "  and  thence  into  Emu. 

The  volume  is  illustrated  by  three  well-produced  ))lates 
in  black  and  white,  and  is  a  beautiful  example  (jf  book- 
making. 

Mathews  on  Australian  Birds. 

[The  Birds  of  Australia.  By  Gregory  M.  Matliews.  Vol.  viii. 
pts.  3  &  4,  pp.  14r)-24,  pis.  382-394.  Loudon  (Witlierby),  Aug.  &  Oct. 
1920.     4to.] 

In  these  two  parts  Mr.  Mathews  continues  his  account 
of  the  Muscicapidte  with  the  genera  Ethelornis,  Fseudo- 
gerygune,  Ireclideornis,  FwciJodryas,  Tregellasia,  Kemjjiella, 
PachycephaJa,  and  Lewinornis. 

This  family  has  always  been  a  source  of  troul)le,  as  it  has 
sonu'times  been  included  in  the  Turdidie,  while  certain 
genera  have  been  referred  to  the  Laniid^e,  as  for  instance 
Pachycephala. 

Ethelornis  was  formed  by  Mr.  Mathews  to  contain  most 
of  Sharpens  species  of  Fseudogerygune  ;  they  are  compara- 
tively large-billed,  and  all  the  nine  members  are  of  modest 
coloration.  They  are  largely  found  in  mangrove-swamps, 
but  the  habits  of  the  various  forms,  both  in  this  genus  and 
its  nearest  neighbours,  are  but  little  known,  except  in  the 
aggregate.     Two  subspecies  are  recognised. 

E.  cairnsensis  is  now  raised  to  specific  rank;  it  is  hrannei- 
pectus  of  Sharpe,  from  Australia,  but  not  New  Guinea. 
Here  again  there  are  two  subspecies,  one  [robini)  being  new. 
E.  tenebrusHs  has  three  subsijccies,  of  which  one  (^ivhitlocki) 
was    formerly     referred     in    error     by     Mr.     ^lathews     to 

M  2 


164  Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  [Ibis, 

magnirusfris.  E.  chlorunotns  lias  also  three  subspecies, 
E.  lavigaster  is  restricted  to  the  iiortli-west  and  Northern 
Territory  west  of  the  Roper  River,  cantator,  mould,  and 
mastersi  being  now  considered  full  species.  E.  Icsvigaster 
has  two  new  subspecies  out  of  four,  while  mastersi  has  a 
couple  and  cantator  has  one  that  is  new.  E.fuscus  proving 
to  be  the  same  as  E.  cuHcivorus,  both  of  Gould,  the  former 
name  has  priority,  and  six  subspecies  are  admitted. 

The  yellow-breasted,  black-throated  Pseudogen/go7ie  palpe- 
brosa  is  allowed  to  stand  in  a  separate  genus,  with  three 
Australian  and  two  New  Guiiiean  subspecies — on  considera- 
tions of  colour. 

Very  different  is  that  fine  bird,  Iredaleorms  cinereifrons, 
of  the  Cardwell  district,  which  has  a  near  ally  {ariniti) 
in  Papua. 

The  P/rcilodn/as  series  is  divided,  and  Leucophanes  is 
kept  ;  while  Plcsiodryas  is  founded  as  a  uew  genus  for 
Megalestes  of  Salvador],  Papualestes  for  Myiolestes  cyanus 
of  that  author,  Gennceodryas  for  Eopsaltria  placens  of 
Ramsaj^,  not  to  mention  Tregellasia  and  other  forms. 

Poccilodryas  superciliosa  has  two  subspecies,  P.  ccrvini- 
ventris  four,  I'regellasia  capita  three,  T.  leucops  two,  but 
the  type-species  is  exti-alimital. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  name  Kempiella  kempi 
was  bestowed  in  1913  by  the  author  on  a  new  bird  from 
Cape  York,  of  which  little  is  yet  known. 

The  Thickheads  are  nn  interesting  series  of  Australian 
forms,  well  known  for  their  fine  songs  and  lively  coloration. 
Three  species  are  recognised  of  the  yeilow-l)reasted  forms, 
Pactiycephala  pcctoralis,  P.  robusta,  and  P.  metanura  with 
eleven,  six,  and  two  subspecies  respectively,  of  which 
P.  r.  intercedens  is  new,  as  are  P.  p.  betthiytoni.  myponga^ 
and  interjecta. 

The  Rufous-bieasted  Thickhead  is  still  called  Lennnornis, 
and  L.  rufiventris  has  several  subspecies,  which  will  be 
tabulated  in  the  next  j)art. 

Since  AYatling  in  his  drawings  figured  P.  pectoralis  and 
Latham  described  it,  there  has  been  teri'ible  confusion  in 


I921.]       Recently  jmhlisJied  Ornithological  Works.  1G5 

the  genus,  as  will  be  seen  by  reading  p.  21G  ;  while 
Mr.  Mathews  will  doubtless  wish  us  to  emphasize  his 
regrouping,  which  has  the  coloration  of  the  female  as 
a  distinctive  feature. 

Mullens,  Stcann,  and  Jourdain's  Bibliograptiy. 

[A  Geographical  Bibliography  of  British  Ornithology  from  the  earliest 
times  to  the  and  of  1918,  arranged  under  counties.  By  W.  H.  Mullens, 
II.  Kirke  Swann,  and  IJev.  F.  C.  R.  Jourdain.  Pts.  4-6,  pp.  289-558 
(completed).     London  (Witherby),  1920.     8vo.] 

On  the  conclusion  of  tliis  most  useful  piece  of  work,  for 
which  ail  British  ornithologists  must  feel  grateful  to  the 
authors,  it  is  our  pleasant  duty  to  congratulate  them  on 
its  completeness  and  accuracy.  We  have  been  carefully 
through  the  pages,  and  find  little  to  suggest  in  the  way  of 
alteration,  should  a  second  impression  be  called  for.  We  do 
not  like  the  abbreviation  "  s  "  for  "  shire."  as  Banffs  foi- 
Banffshire,  especially  as  it  is  not  used  consistently.  The 
omission  of  "Co"  in  many  Irish  records  would  [)()ssibly 
have  been  an  equal  saving  in  printing  ;  but  this  is  a  small 
nuitter.  A  very  important  point  is  the  collection  of  records 
from  newspapers,  such  as  'The  Field/  and  from  small 
local  periodicals  ;  here  workers  will  be  saved  an  enormous 
amount  of  trouble  in  hunting  through  the  annual  files. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  all  readers  will  send  a  note  to  the 
authors  of  any  omission  ;  as  a  supplement,  if  not  a  new 
edition,  is  sure  to  be  the  outcome  of  this  compiehensive 
work.     So  far  we  have  noticed  no  such  omissions. 

Oyilvie  on  British  Birds. 

[Field  observations  on  British  Birds.  By  a  Sportsman  Naturalist 
(the  late  Fergus  Menteitli  Ogilvie,  M.A.,  M.B.,  etc.).  Edited  by 
Henry  Balfour,  M.A.,  with  a  foreword  by  Mrs.  John  Massie.  I*]).  Avi  + 
228  ;  t)  pis. ;  portr. ;  o  maps  &  14  text-ijgs.  London  (Selwyn  &  Blount), 
1920.     8vo.] 

It  is  not  necessary  to  read  more  than  Number  1 — "On 
some  of  the  commoner  Wading  Birds  " — of  the  eight  sections 
into  which  this  book  is  divided  to  realize  that  Mr.  Ogilvie 


166  Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  [Ibis, 

was  a  remarkal)ly  close  and  accurate  observer  of  bird-life, 
and  that  lie  was  able  to  record  his  observations  in  a  delight- 
fully simple  and  charming  manner. 

JNIany  interesting  accounts  are  given  of  a  variety  of  birds — 
the  Gannet,  Shag,  Cormorant,  Norfolk  Plover.  Nightjar, 
Stoneeliat,  SliDrt-eared  Owl,  and  several  Aecipiti-ine  l)irds 
are  a  few  concerning  which  the  author  sup|)lies  information, 
gathered  in  every  case  at  first  hand.  His  essay  on  the 
Snipe  is  a  really  valuable  contribution  to  ornithology  ; 
no  fewer  than  thirty-three  p;iges  are  devoted  to  this  species, 
and  not  one  line  is  dull  reading. 

In  his  essay  on  the  Grey  Partridge,  Mr.  Ogilvie  pays  a 
well-deserved  compliment  to  Mr.  Ogdvie-Grant  as  being 
the  first  authority  to  point  out  the  plumage  differences 
of  the  male  and  female  Partridge,  finally  exploding  the  old 
incorrec^t  theory,  still  so  often  held  by  sj)ort!smen,  that  the 
male  bird  alone  has  a  horseshoe  on  its  breast.  Mr.  Ogilvie 
lully  bears  out  Mr.  Ogilvie-Grant^s  deductions,  and  cor- 
roboration from  so  careful  a  source  is  always  welcome. 

Both  the  Grey  and  the  French  Red-legged  Partridge  are 
dealt  with  in  this  ariicle^  which  may  be  strongly  recom- 
mended to  future  monographers  of  the  birds  in  question. 
It  is  worthy  of  note  that  Mr.  Ogilvie  puts  forward  a  strong 
plea  on  behalf  ot  the  "  Frenchman,"  and  anyone  who  has 
shot  these  sporting  birds  will  surely  endorse  his  views. 

A  chapter  of  peculiar  economic  interest,  both  to  sportsmen 
and  agriculturists,  contains  the  results  of  the  author's  in- 
vestigations into  the  food  of  the  three  Scotch  game-birds — 
the  lied  (j rouse,  the  Blackcock,  and  the  Ptarmigan,  and, 
incidentally,  of  the  Cuckoo  ;  while  in  a  later  chapter  the 
food  of  some  of  our  commoner  Falconidae  is  discussed. 

Attention  is  drawn  to  the  desirability  ,of  altering,  by 
Act  of  Parliament,  the  opening  date  when  Black  Game 
may  be  shot  from  the  20th  of  August  to  the  1st  of  October, 
and  correspondingly  the  close  (season  commencing  on  the 
1st  of  February  instead  of  the  10th  of  December,  as  is  at 
present  the  ease — a  change  which  from  every  point  of  view 
seems  advisable. 


1921.]       liecenthj  puhlislied  Ornithological  Works.  167 

Mr.  Ogilvie's  views  ou  the  Wild  Birds  Protection  Act 
and  the  anomalies  which  he  cites  may  be  commended  to 
the  Standing  Committee  recently  chosen  to  advise  the 
Home  Secretary  on  this  controversial  subject. 

x\  delightful  description  of  Mr.  Ogilvie^s  first  meeting 
with  procession ary  caterpillars  [Onethocampa  pityocampa) 
in  southern  France,  though  hardly  within  the  scope  of  this 
review,  serves  to  show  that  he  Avas  a  natur;dist  whose 
interests  were  not  cramped  within  the  narrow  limits  of  a 
collector's  horizon. 

In  his  chapter  on  Wild  Geese  we  would  specially  draw 
attention  to  plates  iv.  and  v.,  depicting  the  colours  of  the 
soft  ])arts  of  Arise?'  cinereus  and  A.  albifrons,  from  coloured 
drawings  done  by  the  author  immediate!}^  after  death  ;  the 
colouring  there  produced  is  admittedly  different  from  plates 
usually  accepted  as  correctly  portraying  the  soft  parts 
(not  excepting  Alplieraky's  celebrated  work).  Mr.  Ogilvie's 
remarks  on  this  subject  are  well  worthy  of  careful  study. 

That  Ogilvie  was  a  keen  collector  is  perhaps  to  put  it 
too  mildly,  and  in  this  connection  his  carefidly  considered 
remarks  on  pp.  12  and  13  on  the  shooting  or  collecting  of 
rare  wanderers  will  provide  food  for  reflection  and  some 
for  criticism;  but  it  must  be  remembered  that  Ogilvie 
made  exceptionally  good  use  of  every  rare  bird  he  shot, 
and  judged  from  his  own  standpoint,  his  arguments  are 
perfectly  sound.  No  finer  working  series  of  British 
Birds  has  ever  been  made,  as  the  reviewer  can  testify  from 
personal  examination  of  the  Ogilvie  Collection  in  the 
British  Museum. 

In  a  book  in  which  accuracy  seems  to  be  the  keynote, 
it  seems  a  pity  that  the  Latin  names  occasionally  employed 
should  not,  in  a  number  of  cases,  have  been  brought  up 
to  date  :  for  instance,  on  p.  107,  out  of  four  of  the  scientific 
names  there  mentioned,  three  are  incorrect  according  to 
modern  nomenelatural  methods.  An  editorial  note  to  this 
effedt  would  liave  been  a  simple  matter.  Perhaps  the  editor 
has  long  since  gi^en  up  attempting  to  march  with  the 
constant  changes  in  nomenclature  to  which  we  are  subjected. 


168  Recenthj  imblished  Ornithological  Works.  [Ibis, 

The  B.  O.U.  List  of  British  Birds  (1915)  might,  however, 
have  been  consulted  witli  advantage,  if  only  for  the  sake  of 
that  uniformity  whieh  we  are  all  striving  to  reach. 

At  the  time  of  liis  death  Ogilvie  was  engaged  in  writing 
an  important  ornithological  work  which  will  now,  unfor- 
tuiiateiv;  never  be  published.  If  iiis  "  Fiekl  Observations 
on  J^iitisli  J?irds^^  are  anything  to  judge  by,  ornithology 
has,  by  the  author's  untimely  death,  been  robbed  of  an 
exceptionally  valuable  contribution,  even  in  these  days  of 
accurate  observers  and  accomplished  writers. 

Ornithologists  and  sportsmen  alike  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude 
to  Mr,  Henry  Balfour,  who  has  edited  this  volume  "as  a 
tribute,"  we  are  told  in  the  Preface,  "to  one  whose  death 
involved  a  great  loss  to  ornithological  science,''  how  great 
a  loss  only  those  who  read  Mr.  Ogilvie's  book  for  themselves 
can  properly  appreciate. —  D.  A.  B. 

Ritchie  on  the  Iiiffuence  of  Man  un  Animals. 

[The  lutlueiice  of  Man  on  Animal  Life  in  Scotland  :  A  study  in  faunal 
evolution.  By  James  IJitcliie,  M.A.,  etc.  Pp.  xvi+o50,  many  illustr., 
and  8  maps.     Cambridge  (Univ.  Press).     1920.     Laige  8vo.] 

This  work  is  based  on  a  series  of  lectures  delivered  by 
the  author  in  Aberdeen  in  1917,  and  deals  at  length 
with  the  effects  produced  by  man  and  his  manifold  works 
on  the  various  forms  of  animal  life.  The  author  endeavours 
to  trace  the  ditterent  ways  in  wliich  man's  power  has  worked 
and  is  working,  and  to  realize  to  what  degree  a  fauna  of 
to-day  owes  its  character  and  composition  to  his  interference 
with  nature. 

For  the  purpose  of  this  study  a  fauna  of  a  manageable 
compass  «as  necessary,  and  Scotland  was  found  to  be  most 
suited  to  form  a  basis.  An  introduction  deals  with  the 
arrival  of  man  in  Scotland,  which  did  not  take  place  till 
comparatively  late,  as  the  whole  country  appears  to  have 
been  covered  with  an  ice-sheet  long  after  man  inhabited  the 
south  of  England,  and  the  earliest  S(!ots  belonged  to  the  Neo- 
lithic period  of  culture.  Part  I.  deals  with  the  deliberate 
iuterference  by  man  with  animal   life  under  the   headings 


1921.1       Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  169 

of  domestication,  destruction  for  safety,  food  or  sport, 
protection,  and  the  deliberate  introduction  of  new  animals. 
Part  II.  recounts  man's  indirect  interference  with  animal 
life  by  the  destruction  of  forest,  the  increase  of  cultivation, 
and  other  minor  factors. 

As  regards  birds,  the  author  traces  the  history  of  the 
Domestic  Pigeon  in  Scotland,  and  also  of  two  ancient 
Scottish  breeds  of  fowls,  the  Dumpy  and  tlie  Scots  Grey. 

The  history  of  the  destruction  of  tiie  larger  birds  of  prey 
and  the  Great  Auk  are  told  with  considerable  detail,  and 
of  the  introduction  and  spread  of  the  Pheasant  and  Caper- 
caillic  ;  the  gradual  extension  of  the  range  of  the  latter  is 
illustrated  by  a  map. 

The  woik  is  written  in  charming  style  with  many  quota- 
tions fiom  the  okler  Avriters  and  poets,  and  the  illustrations 
are  numei'ous  and  well  chosen,  and  though  it  is  on  the  larger 
mammals  that  the  effects  of  man's  influence  has  been  mostly 
felt,  it  is  remarkable  how  human  civilization  has  affected 
even  the  less  conspicuous  and  more  humble  forms  of  life. 
We  can  thoroughly  recommend  the  book  to  ornithologists 
and  otlieis  as  full  of  information  and  interest. 

RoblnsGii  and  Kloss  on  Sumatran  Birds. 

[On  a  Collection  of  Birds  fioai  N.E.  Suiuatra.  lly  J  J.  'C.  Robinson 
and  C.  Boden  Kloss.  Journ.  Straits  Brancli  11.  Asiatic  Soc.  no.  80,  11)19, 
pp.  73-1  o3;  1  map.] 

In  this  paper  Messrs.  Robinsou  and  Kloss  deal  with  a 
collection  of  birds  made  by  a  Dutch  planter,  Heer  A.  C.  F.  A. 
van  Heyst,  in  the  Deli  district  of  north-eastern  Sumatra. 
The  country  in  which  the  collection  was  made  ranges  from 
the  mangrove  forest  of  the  coast,  tlirough  the  low-lying 
districts  planted  with  tobacco,  and  thence  to  the  central 
mountainous  couutrv,  rising  to  elevations  of  4000  to 
5000  feet,  llepresentatives  of  2VZ  species  were  obtained  and 
four  new  forms  are  described,  namely — Macropygia  rujiceps 
sumatranus,  BracJiyloplms  chlurolophus  vanlieysti,  Cyornis 
vanheysti,  and  Bachanga  leucophcca  batakensis.  Four  other 
species  are  recorded  from  Sumatra  for  the  first  time.    A  good 


170  Recently  publuhed  Ormlhologkal  Works.  [Ibis, 

outliiie-ina|)  shows  very  clearly  the  exact  situation  of  each 
collecting-station. 

Stresemanri  on  the  Birds  of  Macedonia. 

[Avifauna  Macedonica.  Die  ornitliolooischen  Ergebnisse  der  Kor.-ch- 
uno-sreisen  unternommeu  iiacli  Alazedouieii  durch  Prof.  Dr.  Dofleiii  und 
Prof.  L.  Miiller-Mainz  in  Ann  Jahren  1917  imd  1918.  Von  Dr.  Erwin 
Stresemann.     Pp.  xxiv  +  270;  G  pis.     Mlinclien  (Diiltz),  1920.     8vo.] 

During  the  occupation  of  the  greater  part  of  Macedonia 
by  the  German  forces  a  Survey  Commission  was  formed  for 
tlie  zoological  exploration  of  the  country,  which  was  up  to 
that  time  hardly  known.  Some  3258  bird-skins,  repre- 
senting 168  species  and  subspecies,  were  collected  by 
Professors  Uollein  and  Miiller  during  a  period  of  about 
sixteen  months  in  1917  and  1918,  and  these  were  all 
deposited  in  the  State  Museum  at  Munich. 

A  very  full  and  complete  report  on  these  collections  has 
been  drawn  up  by  Dr.  Stresemann.  Many  of  the  species  wore 
collected  in  long  series  of  often  over  50  specimens.  This 
has  enabled  him  in  many  cases  to  give  detailed  accounts  of 
the  development  of  the  different  plumages  and  of  the  moult. 
There  are  also  paragraphs  on  individual  and  geographical 
variation,  and  on  distribution  and  biology  or  habits  in 
Macedonia,  these  last  being  compiled  chiefly  from  Prof. 
Miiller's  notes.  A  complete  list  of  the  specimens  of  all  the 
species  with  Ming-measurements  and  other  details  is  given, 
and  the  nomenclature  is  of  the  most  adi^anced  character. 
We  notice  only  two  new  names — Galerida  cristata  muhlei 
uom.  nov.  pro  G.  c.  ftrriiginea  Miihle  for  the  Crested  Lark 
of  Greece,  and  Budytes  fiavus  macronyx  subsp.  n.  for  the 
Yellow  Wagtail  of  north-eastern  Siberia;  but  several  foruis 
mentioned  in  the  account  of  the  collection,  such  as  Carduelis 
c.  balcunica,  Cettia  cetti  miilleri,  Cinclus  cinclus  orientalis, 
Bryobutcs  wujor  balcanicus,  Picas  viridis  dojleini,  have  been 
described  as  new  m  a  previous  publication.  Following  the 
description  of  the  collections  is  a  notice  of  other  species 
recorded  from  Macedonia,  and  finally  a  complete  systematic 
list   of   all   the    birds   hitherto    known   Irom    that    country. 


1 92 1.]        Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  17 1 

Four  of  the  plates  contiiiu  pliotographic  views  of  some  of 
the  localities  where  collections  were  formed,  and  on  two 
others,  illustrated  l)y  a  graphic  method,  the  variation  of 
the  wing-lengths  of  several  forms. 

Wc  must  congratulate  Dr.  Stiest-mann  on  having  acoom- '' 
plished  a  fine  piece  of  work,  which  will   be  essential   for  all 
future  students  of  the  fauna  of  south-eastern  Europe. 

Tdverner's  recent  papers  on  Canadian  urnithuloyij. 

[Birds  of  ]']astern  Canada.  By  P.  A.  Taverner.  Canada,  Geological 
Survey  Memoir  104  (no.  3,  l^iological  series),  pp.  iv  +  297;  49  col.  pis., 
G8  text-ligs.     Ottawa  (Govt.  Printer),  1919.     8vo.] 

[The  Birds  of  tlie  lied  Deer  River,  x\lberta.  By  P.  A.  Taveruer. 
Auk,  xxxvi.  1919,  pp.  1-21,  248-205 ;  4  pis.] 

[Bird-houses  and  their  Occupants.  By  P.  A.  Taverner.  Ottawa 
Naturalist,  xxxii.  1919,  pp.  119-126.] 

[The  Jiirds  of  Shoal  Lake,  Manitoba.  Id.,  ibid,  xxxii.  pp.  lo7-144, 
157-104  ;  xxxiii.  pp.  12-20.] 

The  first  and  most  impcH'taut  of  Mr.  Taverner^s  publications 
is  his  handbook  of  the  birds  of  eastern  Canada.  It  contains 
a  large  amount  of  concise  information  packed  into  a  com- 
paratively small  com{)ass,  and  deals  with  766  species  of 
Canadian  birds,  all  those  likely  to  i)e  met  with  in  C-anada 
from  the  woodlands  of  the  eastern  half  of  IVTanitoba  to  the 
Atlantic  coast. 

The  species  are  emphasized  at  the  expense  of  the  subspecies, 
which  are  merely  mentioned  in  a  paragra])!!.  Under  each 
species  is  given  the  recognized  English  name,  other  vernacular 
names  in  use,  the  French-Canadian  name,  and  the  scientific 
name  from  the  A.  0.  U.  Check-list.  Tiien  follow  short 
[)aragraphs  on  distinctive  characters,  field-marks,  nesting 
distribution,  subspecies,  and  economic  status.  The  coloured 
illustrations,  two  on  each  plate,  are  necessarily  somewhat 
small,  but  are  on  the  whole  very  successful,  and  will  be 
found  most  useful  for  identification.  They  are  prepared 
by  Mr.  Frank  Hennessey,  of  Ottawa,  and  reflect  great  credit 
on  the  artist. 

In  the  first  part  of  the  work  is  a  good  key,  based  on  that 
in  Mr.  Chapman's  '  Handbook  of  the  Birds  of  Eastern  North 


172  Recently  published  Ormthologicctl  IVorks.  [Ibis, 

America/  which  will  be  of  great  lielp  to  the  beginner. 
In  fact,  the  book  is  essentially  a  popular  one  in  the  best 
sense  of  the  word,  and  is  just  such  a  one  as  should  be  placed 
in  the  hands  of  any  newcomer  with  ornithological  tastes 
I  arriving  in  Canada. 

The  second  publication  has  already  been  mentioned  in  our 
notice  of  the  'Auk/  in  which  it  was  published.  The  third 
paper  gives  directions  and  nseful  hints  for  the  constrnction 
and  fixing-up  of  nesting-boxes^  especially  for  the  Purple 
JNlartin  {Frogne  subis),  for  which  a  very  elaborate  construction 
resembling  a  pigeon-house  is  often  built  in  America.  The 
last  pai)er  deals  with  the  avifauna  of  Shoal  Lake,  situated 
about  35  miles  from  Winnipeg,  a  favourite  resort  oL'  many 
different  kinds  of  water-birds  and  ducks  which  breed  there 
in  considerable  numbers. 

7  odd  on  new  Colombian  Birds. 

[Descriptions  of  apparently  new  Colombian  Birds.  ]5y  W.  Vu.  Clyde 
Todd.     Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  NVashiugton,  vol.  32,  1919,  pp.  113-118.] 

Nineteen  new  forms  are  characterized,  all  with  one 
exception  obtained  Ijy  Mr.  M.  A.  Carrikcr,  jr.,  in  dilferent 
parts  of  Colombia.  The  list  of  these  will  be  found  in  the 
'  Zoological  Record/  and  it  does  not  seem  worth  while 
repeating  them  here.  It  would  appear  that  the  ornitliological 
riches  of  the  northern  portion  of  the  South  American 
continent  are  even  yet  unexhausted,  so  constant  is  the 
stream  of  new  species  and  sul)species  still  being  described. 

Townsend  and  Wetmore  on  Pacific  Island  Birds. 

[Reports  on  tire  scientific  results  of  the  expedition  to  the  tropical 
Pacific  in  charge  of  Alexander  Agassiz,  on  the  U.S.  Fish  Commission 
steamer  'Albatross'  from  August  1899  to  March  1900,  Commander 
Jefferson  F.  Moser,  U.S.N.,  commanding.  XXI.  The  Birds.  By  Charles 
Haskins  Townsend  and  Alexander  Wetmore.  Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool. 
Cambridge,  Mass.,  Ixiii.  1919,  pp.  151-225.] 

The  voyage  of  the  'Albatross' in  the  winter  of  1899-1900, 
under  the  direction  of  the  late  Mr.  Alexander  Agassiz,  was 
made  for  the  purpose  of  studying  the  formation  of  coral-reefs 


1 92 1.]       Becently published  Ornithological  JVorks.  173 

and  making  investigations  in  the  marine  fauna,  especially  of 
the  deeper  parts  of  the  Pacific,  and  the  collection  of  birds 
was  quite  a  secondary  consideration.  Nevertheless,  some 
390  skins,  93  species  and  subspecies,  were  collected  from  83 
different  islands  ;  and  this  report,  though  somewhat  belated, 
is  of  considerable  importance,  and  must  be  consulted  by 
anyone  interested  in  the  Pacific  avifauna. 

The  land-birds,  though  few  in  number,  have  been  subjected 
to  isolation,  and  a  study  of  their  variation,  due  doubtless  to 
this  cause,  is  of  very  great  interest. 

The  first  portion  of  the  paper  by  Mr.  Townsend,  who 
accompanied  the  expedition,  contains  a  journal  of  the  islands 
visited,  with  remarks  on  their  physical  characters.  The 
groups  where  collections  were  made  included  the  Marquesas, 
Paumotu,  Society,  Tonga,  Fiji,  Gilbert,  Caroline  and  Ladrone 
archipelagoes.  The  second  half  of  the  paper  by  Mr.  A. 
Wetmore  contains  an  annotated  list  of  the  sjiecies  obtained, 
with  a  good  many  interesting  remarks  on  taxonomy  and 
classification,  and  descriptions  of  a  certain  number  of  new 
subspecies.  Mr.  Wetmore  apj)ears  to  have  been  somewhat 
hampered  in  his  determinations  by  the  absence  of  sufficient 
material  for  comparison  in  the  Museum  at  Washington,  and 
in  some  cases  his  views  by  no  means  coincide  with  those  of 
Mr.  G.  M.  Mathews,  especially  in  regard  to  the  name  of  the 
E/ed- footed  Booby,  which  he  believes  must  retain  Linna^us's 
name,  Sula  piscator. 

It  is  interesting  to  learn  that  on  some  of  the  Pacific 
Islands  the  Frigate-birds  are  domesticated,  and  used  like 
Carrier  Pigeons  for  carrying  messages  from  one  island  to 
another. 

Wetmore  on  lead-poisoning  in  Ducks. 

[Lead-poisoning  iu  Water-fowl.  By  Alexander  Wetmore.  Wash- 
ington,  D.C.,  U.S.  Dept.  Agr.  Bull.  no.  7i>3,  1919,  pp.  1-12;  1  pi] 

Mr.  Wetmore  finds  that  in  many  parts  of  America,  where 
duck-shooting  is  carried  on  on  a  large  scale,  the  mud-fiats 
become  full  of  shot,  which  are  eaten  in  considerable  quantities 
by  the  water-fowl,  and  cause  a  distinct  sickness,  the  symptoms 


174  Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  [This, 

of  wliicli  lie  describes.  As  lead  is  known  to  be  an  aborti- 
facient  in  the  females  of  mammals,  it  is  probably  also  so  in 
birds,  and  some  experiments  confirming  this  have  shown  that 
lead  has  a  powerful  effect  on  the  virility  of  domestic  fowls. 

No  suggestions  for  the  alleviatiou  of  this  trouble  is  pro- 
posed by  Mr.  Wetmore  at  the  present  time,  but  the  cause 
and  symptoms  of  the  jioisoniiig  are  described  in  order  to 
bring  it  under  wider  notice,  in  the  hope  that  some  method 
may  be  discovered  iu  the  future  of  preventing  this  malady. 

JT'ood  on  the  eye  of  the  Burroiving  Owl. 

[The  eyes  of  the  Burrowing  Owl  [S2)eoti/to  cuniciilaria  liypocicea],  with 
special  reference  to  the  fundus  oculi.  By  Casey  A.  Wood,  M.D.  Extr. 
from  '  Contributions  to  Medical  aud  Biological  research,'  dedicated  to 
Sir  William  Osier,  in  honour  of  his  seventietli  Ijirtliday,  July  12,  1919, 
by  his  pupils  and  co-workers.     Pp.  818-823  ;  1  col.  pL] 

This  short  paper  by  Dr.  Wood,  who  has  made  the  special 
study  of  the  avian  eye  (see  'Ibis,''  1920,  p.  306),  shows  that 
the  structure  of  that  organ  of  the  Burrowing  Owl  is  very 
distinctly  adapted  to  nocturnal  vision,  aud  that  this  is 
correlated  with  its  habits  which  are  distinctly  nocturnal, 
though  it  is  sometimes  seen  in  daytime. 

The  paper  is  illustrated  with  a  beautiful  coloured  plate, 
showing  the  appearance  of  the  eye  when  viewed  with  the 
oi)hthalmoscope.  This  was  prepared  from  a  drawing  made 
by  Mr.  A.  W.  Head  in  the  Zoological  Gardens  in  London. 

As  the  paper  aj)pears  in  a  special  volume  of  memoirs 
dedicated  to  Sir  Wm.  Osier,  it  is  not  likely  to  be  seen  by 
many  ornithologists,  and  for  this  reason  we  have  drawn 
special  attention  to  it. 

Aquila. 

[Aquila :  Periodical  of  Ornithology.  Vols,  xxi.-xxv.  for  the  years 
1914-1918.     Ikidapest.] 

The  annual  volumes  of  'Aquila,'  the  official  journal  of 
the  central  government  office  for  ornithological  studies  in 
Hungary  for  the  yeai's  of  the  war,  have  recently  reached  us, 
and  the  troublous  times  do  not  appear  to  have  diminished 


192 1.]       Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  175 

the  activity  of  the  Hungarian  ornitliologists,  or  to  have  re- 
stricted the  publication  of  the  results  of  their  investigations. 
Otto  Herman,  the  original  editor  and  foinider  of  the 
organization,  died  on  27  December,  1914,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Titus  Csorgey  for  the  1915  volume;  since  then 
the  responsible  editor  appears  to  be  Stefan  Chernel  von 
Chernelhaza.  The  volumes  are  bilingual,  in  Magyar  and 
German. 

Here  we  can  do  little  more  than  indicate  the  principal 
contents.  The  1914  volume  has  a  sympathetic  memoir  on 
Dr.  Herman,  Avith  a  portrait  and  a  bibliography  of  his 
published  work.  Tliere  are  papers  on  the  osteology  of  the 
Occllated  Turkey  [Agriochoris  ocellatd)  by  Dr.  Shufeldt  of 
Washington,  on  the  morphology  of  the  avian  metacarpus 
and  on  some  Pleistocene  bird-bones  by  Dr.  Lambrecht, 
Messrs.  J.  Schenk  and  K.  Hegyfoky  report  on  migration  in 
Hungary  during  the  previous  year  ;  while  Dr.  J.  Greschik 
writes  on  anatomy  and  histology,  and  Messrs.  E.  Csiki 
and  G.  Bittera  on  the  food  and  economic  status  of  various 
Hungarian  birds. 

Tlie  other  volumes  contain  papers  on  the  same  or  similar 
topics,  all  more  or  less  closely  concerned  with  Hungarian 
ornithology. 

The  last  volume  of  the  series  contains  an  account  of  the 
historical  development  of  the  study  of  Hungarian  Orni- 
thology by  Mr.  J.  Schenk,  and  two  appendices.  The  first 
of  these,  b}'  the  Editor,  is  a  Nomenclator  Avium  Regni 
Hungariae,  a  checklist  drawn  up  on  the  lines  of  the  B.O.  U. 
List,  but  without  any  distribution,  followed  by  notes  on  the 
nomenclature  in  disputed  or  doubtful  cases.  Dr.  Chernel 
does  not  follow  the  International  rules  altogether.  He  will 
not  use  the  same  generic  and  specific  names,  and  calls  the 
White-eyed  Pochard  Nyroca  ferrnginea  instead  of  Nijroca 
nyroca.  He  also  sticks  to  Anas  buschas  for  the  Mallard  and 
Turdus  musicus  for  the  Song-Thrush,  and  gives  his  reasons 
for  so  doing.  The  second  supplement  to  the  1918  volume 
contains  an  elaborate  memoir  on  the  former  and  present 
breeding    places  of   the   two   White  Egrets,  He.rodias    alba 


176  Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  [Ibis, 

.'ind  H.  garzetta,  in  Hungary,  illustrated  with  maps  and 
jdaiis  in  view  of  their  possible  preservation  by  special  legis- 
lation in  the  near  future. 

The  Auk. 

[Tlie  Auk  :  A  Quarterly  Journal  of  Ornithology.  Vol.  xxxviii.  for 
1920.] 

The  volume  of  the  '  Auk'  for  last  year  contains  a  good 
many  articles  of  general  interest  as  well  as  many  faunal 
papers  which  are  more  attractive  to  those  living  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Atlantic. 

Mr.  H.  n.  Beck  writes  on  the  occult  senses  in  birds, 
one  instance  of  which  is  the  "homing"  sense  which  exists 
to  a  remarkal)le  degree  not  only  in  the  homing  pigeon  but 
also  in  certain  sea-birds.  The  experiment  undertaken  at 
the  marine  laboratory  of  the  Tortugas  in  releasing  Sooty 
Terns  many  hundreds  of  miles  away  from  those  islands  and 
the  return  of  these  marked  birds,  has  proved  the  existence  of 
one  of  these.  An  instance  of  another  mysterious  sense  is  the 
food-finding  instinct.  A  carcass  of  a  dog  hidden  in  a  hole 
and  quite  invisible  from  above  was  discovered  within  three 
hours  by  a  pair  of  Buzzards  (Cathartes),  although  there 
were  known  to  be  none  of  these  1)irds  within  many  miles, 
and  Mr.  Beck  believes  that  it  would  have  been  impossible 
to  detect  the  carcass  either  by  sight  or  smell. 

In  an  article  entitled  "  sequestration  notes  "  Mr.  J. 
Grinnell  develops  a  thesis  that  among  certain  non-Hocking 
foraging  birds,  such  as  Ruby- crowned  Kinglets  [Regulus) 
and  Audubon  Warblers  (Deiidroica),  a  special  note  exists  to 
warn  other  birds  to  keep  out  of  territory  already  occupied; 
while  Mr.  J.T.  Nichols  writes  at  length  on  the  voices  of  the 
Wadeis  or  Shore-birds,  of  which  he  has  made  a  life-long 
study,  especially  on  Long  Island. 

A  valuable  paper  on  the  generic  and  specific  characters  of 
the  Ceryline  group  of  Kingfishers  is  contributed  by  Mr.  W. 
de  W.  Miller.  Tiiesc  he  groups  in  three  genera,  Megaceryle, 
Ceryle,  and  Chloroceryle.  Mr.  Loomis  identifies  Procellaria 
alba  of  (xmelin,  fouiulcd   on  a  bird  obtained  during;  Cook's 


1 92 1.]        Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  177 

second  voyage,  as  the  species  now  known  as  Pterodroma 
parvirostris  (Peale)  from  Christmas  Island  of  the  Fanning 
group.  Mr.  W.  E.  Clyde  Todd  monographs  the  South 
American  Crested  Quails  of  the  genus  Eupsychortyx,  and 
illustrates  their  distinctive  characters  by  a  coloured  plate 
and  tlicir  distribution  by  two  maps.  Dr.  J.  Dwight,  wlio 
has  long  been  engaged  in  the  study  of  moult  and  change  of 
plumage,  has  an  interesting  and  instructive  article  on  the 
Gulls.  He  believes  that  the  smaller  gulls  attain  their  adult 
dress  in  the  second  year,  while  in  the  largest  forms  this 
process  is  prolonged  until  the  fourth  year.  He  also  points 
out  that  younger  birds  can  be  detected  by  the  more  pointed 
shape  of  the  primaries  and  by  the  more  rounded  ends  of  the 
tail-feathers.  The  successive  plumages  of  Larus  philadelplda 
and  L.  argentatus  are  described  at  length  and  illustrated  on 
five  carefully  drawn  plates.  The  question  of  tlie  distinctive 
characters  of  the  Common  and  Barrow's  Golden-eye  are 
discussed  at  length  by  Mr.  Allan  Brooks,  as  well  as  some 
other  points  in  regard  to  the  ducks  of  British  Columbia  ; 
his  remarks  are  illustrated  by  some  fascinating  drawings 
from  his  own  brush. 

The  Killdeer  Plover  {Oxyechus  vociferus),  a  common 
North-American  bird,  has  long  been  known  to  range  to 
South  America,  but  was  supposed  to  go  there  oidy  during 
the  winter  months  as  a  migrant.  Recently  Mr.  Harry 
WatkinSj  who  has  been  collecting  for  the  American  Museum 
in  New  York,  has  sent  to  Mr.  Chapman  fourteen  examples 
of  the  Killdeer  which  he  found  breeding  on  the  coast  of 
Peru.  The  bird  turns  out  to  be  separable  from  the  North- 
American  one,  and  is  named  Oxyechus  vociferus  peruvianus 
by  Mr.  Chapman. 

Another  new  bird  described  is  a  duck  of  the  Mallard 
group  found  in  New  Mexico  and  named  by  Mr.  W.  Huber 
Anas  7iovimexicana. 

Of  the  faunal  papers,  Mr.  S.  Cobb  writes  on  the  birds  of 
the  Catskill  Mountains  in  New  York,  Mr.  L.  Griscom  on 
those  of  Texas,  and  Mr.  P.  C.  Lincoln  on  Colorado*  birds, 
Messrs.  Fleming  &  Lloyd  on  Ontario  birds,  and  Mr.Wetmore 

SER.   XI. VOL.   III.  N 


178  Recently  puh/islied  Ornithological  Works.  [Ibis, 

on  tlie  birds  of  Lake  Buvford  in  New  Mexico.  Mr.  G.  D. 
Hauna,  who  has  spent  six  summers  and  four  winters  on  tlie 
Pribilof  Islands  in  Beliring  Sea,  has  added  a  good  many 
species  to  the  list  of  birds  occurring  there,  including  four 
species  new  to  the  North  American  list — the  Falcated  Teal 
{Eunetta  falcatn),  the  Sea-l*^agle  [T/ialassoaetns  jtchu/icns)^ 
a  Wader  {Heteroscelus  brevipes),  and  a  Pipit  {^Antlius  spino- 
letta  joponicus) . 

The  frontispiece  of  the  volume  is  a  fine  portrait  of  the 
late  William  Brewster,  whose  memory  is  honoured  in  a 
sympathetic  appreciation  by  Mr.  H.  W.  Henshaw.  There 
is  also  a  long  notice,  with  a  portrait,  of  Lyman  Belding  the 
Nestor  of  Californian  ornithologists,  who  died  in  1917  at 
the  age  of  eighty-eight  years,  by  Mr.  A.  K.  Fisher. 

El  Hornero. 

[El  Ilornero.  Revista  de  la  Sociedad  Ornitologica  del  Plnta.  Vol.  i. 
1917-1919.] 

The  first  volume  of  'El  Hornero,'  consisting  of  four 
parts,  is  now  com})lete,  and  we  must  congratulate  the 
editor.  Dr.  B.  Dabbene,  and  his  contributors  on  the  success 
of  their  venture.  Each  number  contains  several  good 
articles  on  some  subject  of  Argentine  ornithology,  many 
shorter  notes,  and  some  personal  paragraphs.  The  illus- 
trations are  chiefly  from  photographs. 

Dr.  Dabbene  himself  has  an  article  running  through 
three  numbers  on  the  Laridse  of  Argentina,  in  which  all 
the  species  are  listed,  with  distribution  and  keys  for  the 
determination  of  the  species,  and  useful  outline  sketches 
of  bills,  wings,  and  feet. 

Sefior  L.  Dinelli  has  some  field-notes  on  the  niditication 
of  birds  collected  by  him  in  the  north-west  of  Argentina 
some  years  ago,  which  were  worked  out  by  Dr.  Hartert  and 
Senor  Yeniuri  in  the  '  Novitates  Zoologicse'  in  1909. 

In  an  article  on  "The  fantastic  ornithology  of  the 
Conquestadorcs,"  Senor  Carduso  recalls  the  observations 
and  records  of  the  earlier  explorers  from  Magallanes  in 
1520    onwards,    and     reproduces     some    of    their    quaint 


1 92 1.]        Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  179 

illustrations  ;  Senor  Serie  gives  ample  directions  for 
tlie  preparation  and  conservation  of  bird-skins  ;  Avhile 
M.  Doello-Jurado  writes  a  special  article  on  the  curious 
nests  of  the  two  species  of  Oven-bird  (Furnarius  cristatus 
and  F.  rufus),  called  Hornero  in  the  Spanish  vernacular, 
from  which  the  journal  takes  its  name. 

Several  new  forms  are  described  :  Batara  cinerea  argen- 
tina  from  the  Jnjuy  Province^,  by  Mr.  Stewart  Sliipton; 
Penelope  nif/rifrons  and  Spinas  icterus  magiiiroslris,  also  from 
the  mountainous  regions  of  the  north-western  Argentina, 
by  Dr.  E,.  Dabbene. 


List  of  other  Ornithological  Publications  received. 

Baktsch,  p.     Tho  Bird  Rookeries  of  the  Tortugas.     (Smiths.  Hep.  for 

1917,  pp.  409-500.) 
Chapman,  F.  M.     Uuiisiuil  types  of  apparent  geographic  variation  in 

colour   and  of  individual  variation  in  size  exhibited  b^"^  Ostinops 

decumanus.     (Proc.  Biol,  Soc.  Wash.  vol.  33,  pp.  25-32.) 
Christian!,  A.     Den  Vestnorske  Skaerpiber  [Anthus  iietrosns  schi<plcn, 

subsp.  nov.).     (Dansk.  Ornith.  Fur.  Tids.  1920,  pp.  157-162.) 
CowABD,  T.  A.     The  Birds  of  the  British  Isles  and  their  eggs.     2nd  ser. 
Fletcher,  T.  B.,  and  1nc4Lis,  C.  M.     Some  Common  Indian  Birds. 

No.  4.  Tlie  Cattle  Egret.     (Agr.  Journ.  India,  xv.  pp.  373-375.) 
Hautkut,  E.     Die  Vogel  der  pal.  Fauna.     (Ileft.  11-12.) 
Laubmann,     a.       Kritische     Untersucluingen     iiber     die     Genotyp- 

fixierungen   in   Lesson's   "  Manual  d'Ornithologie,"   1828.      (Arch. 

Naturges.  vol.  85,  1920,  pp.  137-168.) 
Mc(  iitEGOR,  R.  C.     Some  features  of  the  Plulippine  Ornis.     (Philippine 

Journ.  8ci.  vol,  16,  pp.  301-437.) 
Murphy,  R.  C.     The  Zoological  Park  of  Lima,  Peru.     (Zool.  Soc.  Bull. 

xxiii.  pp.  05-100.) 
Skovgaard,  p.     Den  Sorte  Stork  saerlig  i  Danmark.    (Viborg,  1920.) 
SwARTH,   H.    S.      Revision   of    the    avian    genus   Passerclla.      (Univ. 

California  Publ.  Zool.  vol.  21,  pp.  75-224.) 
SztELASKO,  A.      Die  Gestalteu  der  normalen  und  abnornien  Vogeleier. 

(Berlin,  1920.) 
WiTHERBY,  II.  F.     A  Practical  Handbook  of  Briti.9h  Birds.     (Part  ix.) 
Avicultural  Magazine.     (Vol.  xi.  nos.  10-12.) 
Bird-Lore.     (Vol.  xxii.  nos.  5-6.) 
Bird-Notes.     (Vol.  iii.  nos.  9-11.) 
British  Birds.     (Vol.  xiv.  nos.  5-7.) 


180  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  [Ibis, 

Brooklyn  Museum  Quarterly.     (Vol.  vii.  no.  4.) 

Canadian  Field-Naturalist.     ("Vol.  xxxiv.  no.  4.) 

Cassinia.     (No.  23  for  1919,  issued  Oct.  1920.) 

Club  van  Nederlandsclie  Vogelkundigen.     (Vol.  x.  pts.  3-4.) 

Condor.     (Vol.  xxii.  no.  o.) 

Danske  Fugle.     (Vol.  i.  no.  1.) 

El  Ilornero.     (Vol.  ii.  no.  1.) 

Emu.     (Vol.  XX.  pts.  1-2.) 

Fauna  ocli  Flora.     (1920,  pts.  4-5.) 

Gerfaut.     (lO''  aim.,  pt.  3.) 

[rish  Naturalist,     (Vol.  xxix.  nos.  10-12.) 

Journal  of  tlie  Bombay  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.     (Vol.  xxvii.  no.  1.) 

Journ.  Fed.  Malay  States  Museums.     (Vol.  ix.  pt.  2.) 

Journal  fUr  Ornitliologie.     (Jahrg.  64-G8,  191(5-1920.) 

Ornithologische  Monatsbericlite.     (Jabrg.  28,  nos.  11-12.) 

Revue  Fran^aise  d'Ornithologie.     (12^.  ann.,  nos.  138-139.) 

Revue  d'Hist.  nat.  appl.  L'Oiseau.     (1920,  nos.  10-11.) 

Scottish  Naturalist.     (1920,  nos.  105-108.) 

Verliandluugen  Orn.  Ges.  Bayern.     (Vol.  xiv.  pts.  1-3  &  suppl.) 


X. — Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes. 

The  Birds  of  the  Anglo-Egyptian  Sudan. 

Sir,— In  the  last  jiart  of  their  paper  (Ibis,  19.^0,  p.  815) 
Messrs.  Sclater  and  Mack  worth- Praed  write  of  Steplianibyx 
nielanopterus  melanopterus  :  ""  liUppell  records  a  specimen  of 
tliis  bird  from  '  Nubia.'  We  should  not  regard  it  as 
admissible  to  the  Sudanese  list  witliout  further  confirma- 
tion.'^ There  is  a  recent  aud  confirmatory  record.  Mr,  J. 
C.  Phillips  (Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool,  Cambridge,  Mass., 
vol,  Iviii,  no.  1,  p,  6)  obtained  a  female  example  at  Sennar 
on  the  27th  of  December,  1912, 

As  my  record  of  the  Sanderling  Crocethiu  alba  alba  appears 

to  be  the  only  one  from  the  Sudan,  I  would  like  to  add  that 

the  bird  was  shot  in  the  early  spring  on  the  White  Nile  at 

Khartoum  and  was  in  partial  breeding-plumage.     I  mounted 

it  myself   aud  left  it,  labelled  with  sex  and  date,  in  the 

Gordon  College  Museum. 

Yours  truly, 

St.  Leonard's  Park,  Horsham,  A,  L.  BuTLER. 

28  October,  1920.  


1921,]  Letters,  Extracts,  a7ul  Notes.  181 

Breeding-places  of  the  Black-headed  Gull. 

Sir,— In  a  notice  of  Mr.  Robert  Gurney's  paper  on 
"  Breeding-stations  of  tlie  Black-headed  Gull  iu  the  British 
Isles/' you  quote  a  statement  made  therein  that  "there  appear 
to  be  no  breeding  colonies  in  any  of  the  central  counties 
south  of  Yorkshire."  This  is  not  the  case,  however,  for  a 
flourishing  colony  of  some  20  or  30  pairs  has  existed  for  two 
years  past  on  the  moors  not  far  from  Baslow,  in  Derbyshire. 
I  may  add  that  Mr.  Gurney's  assertion  that  "  the  only 
[central]  counties  in  which  this  Gull  has  formerly  bred  are 
Staffordshire  and  Shropshire  "  is  also  incorrect,  as  there  has 
never  been  a  colony  in  Shropshire. 

Yours  truly, 
7  November,  1920.  F.  C.  R.  JoURDAIN. 


Nestling  Birds. 

SiRj — A  regrettable  error  occurs  iji  my  paper,  "  A  Con- 
tribution to  the  Study  of  Nestling  Birds,"  published  iu  the 
last  number  of  'The  Ibis.'  On  p.  857,  under  my  definition 
of  the  term  "  Mesoptile,"  the  Baru-Owl,  instead  of  the 
Tawny  Owl,  is  given  as  a  typical  example  of  a  species 
possessing  this  form  of  plumage.  The  mistake  arose, 
I  believe,  from  an  editorial  misinterpretation  of  Aluco — 
a  pardonable  mistake  in  view  of  the  recent  nomenclatorial 
changes  in  the  use  of  this  word.  The  error  is,  however, 
very  misleading  and,  as  it  largely  vitiates  my  definition  of 
Mesoptile,  I  would  be  very  much  obliged  if  m_embers 
of  the  B.  O.  U.  would  kindly  correct  it  by  making  the 
necessary  MS.  alteration  in  their  copies  of  '  The  Ibis.^ 
The  Baru-Owls,  it  may  be  noted,  are  among  the  few 
species  of  Owls  that  possess  little  or  no  trace  of  this 
peculiar  juvenile  plumage. 

I  remain,  &c., 
Beneuden,  Collingavood  Ingram. 

29  October,  1920. 


182  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  [Ibis, 

Meeting  of  the  American  Ornithologists'  Union. 

Tlie  mectinji-  of  the  American  Ornithologists'  Union  in 
Washington,  D.C.,  on  8-11  November,  1920,  was  one  of 
tlie  hirgest  in  the  liistory  of  the  Union.  One-half  of  the 
Fellows  and  aljoiit  10  per  cent,  of  the  entire  membership 
were  in  attendance.  The  business  meetings  on  Monday  were 
held  at  the  Cosmos  Club,  and  the  other  sessions  at  the 
U.S.  National  Museum.  The  election  of  Fellows  and 
Members  included  Ilobert  Cushinan  Murphy  of  Brooklyn, 
N.Y.,  as  Fellow  ;  E.  C.  Stuart  Baker  and  Dr.  Percy  Lowe 
of  London,  Honorary  Fellows  ;  13  Foreign  Corresponding 
Fellows,  among  whom  were  Miss  Dorothea  Bate,  Major 
Claude  H.  B.  Grant,  Miss  Maud  H.  Ilaviland,  Cai)t.  Colling- 
wood  Ingram,  David  Seth-Smith^  and  Miss  Emma  L.Turner; 
5  Members  and  307  Associates.  The  election  of  officers  for 
1921  resulted  as  follows: — President,  Dr.  AVitmer  Stone, 
Philadelphia;  Vice-Presidents,  Dr.  George  Bird  Grinnell 
and  Dr.  Jonathan  D wight.  New  York  ;  Secretary,  Dr.  T.  S. 
Palmer,  1939  Biltmore  St.,  Washington,  D.C. ;  Treasurer, 
W.  L.  McAfee,  iiiological  Survey,  Washington,  D.C.  The 
single  vacancy  in  the  Council  was  filled  by  the  selection  of 
Dr.  W.  H.  Osgood  of  Cliicago,  and  the  other  six  members 
were  re-elected.  The  program  of  nearly  forty  papers,  five  of 
wliicli  were  illustrated  by  motion  pictures,  covered  a  wide 
range  of  subjects  relating  to  North  American  birds,  and  also 
included  papers  on  the  birds  of  Argentina,  Nicaragua,  Peru, 
Europe,  and  Madagascar.  In  connection  with  the  meeting 
an  exhibition  of  drawings,  paintings,  and  photographs  of 
birds  by  American  artists,  supplemented  by  a  series  of  prints 
showing  the  development  of  zoological  illustration  as  applied 
to  birds  from  the  earliest  times  down  to  date,  was  arranged 
in  the  Division  of  Prints  in  the  Library  of  Congress. 

T.  S.  Palmer, 

Secrettn'y . 


1 92 1.]  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  183 

Wild  Birds  Protection  Acts. 

The  following  committees  have  Ijceii  appointed  to  advise 
the  Government  in  connection  with  tlie  administration  ot" 
the  Wild  Birds  Protection  Acts  : — 

B}'  tlie  Home  Secretary  for  England — 

His  Grace  the  Duke  of  Rutland,  K.Or.  {^Chairman).. 

Mr.  II.  G.  Maurice,  C.B.,  of  the  Ministry  of  Agricul- 
ture. 

Dj".  Percy  R.  Lowe,  O.B.E.,  of  the  Natural  History 
Museum. 

Dr.  Montague  Sharpe,  K.C.,  Chairman  of  the  Ivoyal 
Society  for  the  Protection  of  Birds. 

Mr.  E.  C.  Stuart  Baker,  O.B.E.,  F.Z.S.,  Secretary  ot 
the  liritish  Ornithologists'  Union. 

By  the  Secretary  for  Scotland — 

Mr.  Hugh  S.  Gladstone,  E.R.S.E.  {Chairman). 
Mr.  VVm.  Eagle  Clarke,  LL.D. 
Mr.  Walter  E.  Collinge,  D.Sc. 

Mr.  H.  M.  Conacher  (representing  the  Board  of  Agri- 
culture for  Scotland). 
Mr.  H.  J.  Crowe  (representing  the   Fishery  Board  for 

Scotland). 
Professor  J.  Arthui"  Thomson,  liL.D. 


Enssian  Ornithologists. 

In  the  list  of  members  of  the  Union  will  be  found  the 
names  of  six  Russian  Oinithologists,  and  we  have  recently 
made  several  attempts  to  find  out  what  has  become  of  them 
since  the  revolution  in  Russia.  From  vaiious  sources  we 
learn  the  following,  tliougli  the  evidence  is  not  altogether 
satisfactory  in  any  single  case.  Michael  Menzbier  is  believed 
to  have  been  murdered  in  the  streets  of  Moscow  early  in  the 
revolution.  Sergius  Buturlin  is  also  reported  to  have  died. 
Valentine  Bianchi  is  alive  and  still  at  the  Museum  of  the 
Academv    of   Sciences    at    Petro<rrad.       Peter    Suskiu    was 


184  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.         [Ibis,  192 1. 

recently  at  Simferopol  in  the  Crimea^  where  lie  was  acting  as 
a  professor  in  the  so-called  "  White  University.''^  What  has 
liappened  to  him  since  the  invasion  and  occupation  of  the 
Crimea  by  the  Bolshevist  forces  we  have  not  heard.  AVe 
have  no  news  of  Gregory  Poliakov  or  Sergins  Alpheraki. 
Baron  Loudon,  a  well-known  ornithologist  though  not  on 
our  list  of  members,  was  robbed  and  plundered  of  his 
possessions  and  driven  out  of  Livonia  by  the  Bolshevists, 
and  is  now  living  in  Berlin. 

The  Editor  or  Secretary  of  the  Union  would  be  very  glad 
of  any  further  information  in  regard  to  the  fate  of  our 
unfortunate  Fellow-Ibises  in  Russia. 


Personalia. 


Mr.  A.  F.  R.  WoLLASTON,  M.A.,  B.Ch.,  D.S.O.,  M.B.O.U., 

has  recently  been  elected  to  a  Fellowship  of  King^s  College, 
Cambridge.  Mr.  Wollaston  is  well  known  to  us  for  his 
explorations,  both  geographical  and  ornithological,  of 
Ruwenzori  and  Dutch  New  Guinea,  and  is  now  organizing 
another  expedition  to  the  latter.  He  has  recently  completed 
a  life  of  the  late  Professor  Alfred  Newton. 

Mr.  N.  B.  KiNNEAR,  M.B.O.U.,  has  recently  been  ap- 
pointed a  First  Class  Assistant  in  the  Natural  History 
Museum,  and  is  working  in  the  bird-room  under  Dr.  P. 
R.  Lowe. 

Capt.  Hubert  Lynes,  C.B.,  C.M.G.,  R.N.,  who  spent 
some  months  last  winter  in  Dafur,  has  recently  returned 
there  accompanied  by  Mr.  Willoughby  P.  Lowe.  He  pro- 
poses to  spend  at  least  eighteen  months  in  the  Sudan 
collecting  birds  and  making  observations.  He  will  also 
devote  some  of  his  time  to  other  branches  of  Natural 
History. 

Mr.  Georgk  L.  Bates  of  Cameroon  fame,  who  has  been 
in  England  for  some  months  during  the  past  season,  has 
returned  to  Bitye  in  southern  Cameroon,  and  hopes  to  make 
further  explorations  in  Nigeria  as  well  as  in  Cameroon. 


rv 


THE     IBIS. 


ELEVENTH   SERIES. 


Vol.  III.  No.  2.     APRIL  1921. 


XI. — Field  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Macedonia,  With  special 
reference  to  the  Struma  Plain.  By  F.  N.  CHASEN,~Castle 
Museum,  Norwich. 

Introduction. 

The  present  paper  is  offered  as  a  small  contribution  to  our 
knowledge  ot"  the  ornithology  of  a  comparatively  unknown 
part  of  Europe.  In  spite  of  the  existence  of  more  than 
forty  original  papers  dealing  with  the  birds  of  the  Balkan 
Peninsula,  the  Struma  plain  still  remains  terra  incognita  to 
the  ornithologist.  The  earlier  publications  contain  little 
more  than  scattered  references  to  the  birds  of  this  very 
interesting  district,  and  more  recent  investigators  have,  like 
myself,  carried  out  their  work  whilst  subject  to  military 
discipline. 

Dr.  Erwin  Stresemann's  new  book, '  Avifauna  Macedonica,' 
for  the  loan  of  a  copy  of  which  I  have  to  thank  Mr.  W.  L. 
Sclater,  is  exhaustive  in  its  way,  but  as  it  was  compiled 
largely  from  material  accumulated  during  the  war  it — 
naturally  enough — does  not  deal  at  any  length  with  the 
Struma    plain,   which  was   either   in   Allied   occupation   or 

SEil.  XI. VOL.  m.  o 


186  Mr.  F.  N.  Chasen  oji  the  [Ibis, 

well  within  the  sphere  of  hostilities  for  the  greater  part  of 
the  war. 

There  is  no  need  to  dwell  on  the  geographical  nature  of 
the  country,  its  vegetation  or  other  issues  likely  to  affect 
its  ornithology,  for  all  this  information  is  available — in  a 
concise  form — in  a  paper  by  Capt.  Alan  G.  Ogilvie,  O.B.E., 
})ublished  in  the  '  Geographical  Journal '  (vol.  Iv.  no.  1, 
Jan.  1920). 

The  observations  from  which  the  following  notes  were 
compiled  were  made  during  a  period  extending  over  a  little 
more  than  eighteen  months  spent  with  the  Allied  Army  in 
Macedonia.  The  writer  was  stationed  for  the  greater  part  of 
this  period  on  the  Struma  plain,  but  the  long  excursions 
that  ordinarily  fall  to  the  lot  of  a  mounted  soldier,  gave 
ample  chances  for  bird-watching  in  the  hill  district  that  lies 
between  the  swiftly  flowing  river  and  the  coast. 

The  area  with  which  we  are  concerned  in  this  paper  may 
be  said  to  form  a  crude  triangle  with  its  base  along  the  line 
Lake  Doiran-Seres  and  its  apex  at  Salonica. 

Opportunities  for  detailed  or  continuous  observation  are  of 
necessity  very  limited  when  on  active  service  and  all  dates 
given  are  inclusive,  that  is  to  say,  they  do  not  necessarily 
imply  the  absence  of  a  species  at  other  times.  Most  of  the 
birds  mentioned  below  ai'e  very  familiar  species,  and  only 
those  are  included  the  identification  of  which  was  certain. 
I  was  not  in  a  position  to  collect  skins,  although  I  skinned 
quite  a  number  of  birds  simply  through  inability  to  let  a 
good  specimen  waste.  What  few  I  did  get  together  were 
lost — with  a  mule — during  the  blizzard  at  Lahana,  in 
March  1918.  For  this  reason  I  have  made  no  attempt  to 
discriminate  subspecies,  and  all  doubtful  records — however 
interesting — have  been  ignored. 

I  have  to  thank  my  very  kind  correspondent.  Major  Alex. 
G.  L.  S laden,  for  the  infinite  amount  of  trouble  he  has  taken 
in  reading  through  my  paper.  In  some  cases  we  worked 
over  the  same  ground,  and  Major  Sladen  has  let  mo  have 
some  most  interesting  notes  which  have  come  to  hand  since 
the  publication  of  his  own  papers. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Macedonia.  187 

The  bird-life  of  Macedonia  is  varied  and  plentifiiL  Tlie 
Struma  plain  abounds  with  large  Accipitres ;  Vultur(!S, 
Kagles,  Buzzards,  Kites,  and  Harriers  may  be  seen.  In  the 
winter  there  are  good  numbers  of  Ducks  and  Geese.  On  the 
(Struma  itself  are  Grebes,  Cormorants,  and  Coots,  and  in 
the  summer,  Terns.  The  level  ground  is  haunted  by  Crested 
Larks  and  their  kindred,  the  thickets  by  Warblers,  and 
Buntings  of  several  species  are  conimon  evei-y  where  and  at 
all  seasons.  In  the  autumn  there  are  flocks  of  Wagtails, 
Finches,  and  Pipits,  and  hordes  of  Redstarts  and  Flycatchers 
a))[)ear  in  their  season.  Late  in  the  year  huge  assemblies  of 
Crows  can  be  seen  near  the  Struma.  In  the  snrino;  hand- 
some  species  from  the  south  arrive  and  pre[)are  to  nest, 
including  the  Hoopoe,  Roller,  Bee-eater,  Black-headed 
Bunting,  and  White  Stork.  The  Magpie,  Little  Owl,  and 
Tree-S[)arrow  are  characteristic  resident  birds. 

There  are  very  pronounced  local  movements  at  nearly  all 
seasons,  and  these  complicate  the  real  migratory  events. 
These  local  movements  are  caused  mainly  by  the  withdrawal 
of  resident  species  from  their  winter  quarters  to  their  breeding 
grounds,  by  severe  weather  compelling  the  birds  on  the  hills 
and  high  ground  to  descend  to  the  level  of  the  river  and  some 
species  to  the  coast,  and  by  the  gregarious  habits  of  young 
birds  of  the  year  and  attendant  shitting  from  the  locality  of 
birth.  In  the  case  of  the  Jackdaw  and  Hooded  Crow  there 
was  always  the  ditficulty  of  distinguishing"  between  residents 
and  their  broods,  and  migrants.  Isolated  pairs  of  Wagtails 
and  Finches  seen  throughout  the  summer  in  selected 
localities  were  also  confusing.  I  think,  however,  that  the 
main  features  of  migration  as  seen  in  the  concerned  area 
could  be  summarized  as  follows  : — 

(1)  The  arrival  of  breeding  species  in  the  spring  accom- 
panied by  a  "■  through  ''  passage  of  other  birds  on  their  way 
to  the  north.  It  was  not  easy  to  distinguish  migrants  during 
the  vernal  movement,  but  there  was  a  stream  of  Martins, 
Swifts,  and  W^hinchats  at  any  rate.  The  return  journey  in 
autumn  is  more  pronounced — Redstarts,  Spotted  Flycatchers, 

o  2 


]88  Mr.  F.  N.  Chasen  on  the  [Ibis, 

Warblers  (especially  of  tbe  genns  PJti/Jloscopys),  Whiuchats, 
Hirundiiies,  and  Wagtails  passing  in  large  niinibers. 

(2)  The  departure  of  wintering  birds  to  the  north  in  early 
spring.  The  Chiifchaff  and  Rook  may  be  taken  as  examples. 
There  is  also  a  withdrawal  of  Geese,  Ducks,  wintering 
Thrushes  and  Finches.  It  would  appear  that — in  the  case  of 
the  ChiffchafFat  least — this  movement  was  completed  before 
birds  of  the  same  species  arrived  in  the  country  as  spring 
miorants  from  the  south. 

(3)  The  autumn  influx  of  birds  seen  throughout  the  next 
winter,  e.  g.,  Siskin,  Serin,  other  Finches,  Meadow  Pipit, 
Woodlark,  Skylark,  Groldcrest,  Great  Grey  Shrike,  Robin, 
Merlin,  Sparrow-Hawk,  Ducks,  Geese,  Rooks,  and  Wood- 
cock. The  movements  of  the  Brambling  and  Fieldfare  were 
very  spasmodic. 

The  undermentioned  migrants  were  first  seen  on  the  dates 
given  : — 

Black-headed  Bunting 28  April. 

Red-backed  Shrike   8  May. 

Whitethroat  12  April. 

Lesser  Whitethroat  7  April. 

Black-throated  Wheatear i;>  April. 

W^ieatear   29  March. 

Nightingale  7  April. 

Swallow 21  March. 

House-Martin    1  April. 

Bee-eater  4  May. 

Hoopoe  '6  April. 

Roller     17  April. 

(yuckoo  6  April. 

Lesser  Kestrel  8  March. 

White  Stork 13  March. 

The  following  species  were  found  breeding  : — Jackdaw, 
Magpie,  Hooded  Crow,  Starling,  House-Sparrow,  Tree- 
Si)arrow,  Rock-Sparrow,  Corn-Bunting,  Cirl  Bunting, 
Black-headed  Bunting,  Calandra  Lark,  Crested  Lark,  Lesser 
Grey   Shrike,  Woodchat,   Whitethroat,  Lesser  Whitethroat, 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Macedonia.  189 

Cetti's  Warbler,  Blackbird,  Nightinoale,  Wlieatear,  Night- 
jar, Roller,  Little  Owl,  Kestrel,  Lesser  Kestrel,  White 
Stork,  Turtle- Dove,  Collared  Dove,  Stone-Curlew,  and 
Little  Ringed  Plover.  To  these  Major  Sladen  has  added 
Spanish  Sparrow  (Karasuli  and  Hirsova),  Short-toed  Lark, 
Nuthatch,  Bee-eater,  Hoopoe,  Black  Tern,  Osprey  and 
Kingfisher,  as  well  as  a  few  more  species  included  in  his 
own  papers. 

Other  species  were  seen  continually  throughout  the 
breeding-season  or  showed  other  signs  of  having  nests,  e.  g., 
Raven,  Chaffinch,  Ortolan,  White  Wagtail,  Grey  Wagtail, 
Red-backed  Shrike,  Stonechat,  Kite,  Common  Buzzard,  and 
(yommon  Snipe.  Some  of  these  have  been  recorded  as  breed- 
ing in  Macedonia,  but  as  localities  are  not  mentioned — and 
the  occupied  territory  was  so  vast — the  nests  may  have  been  a 
great,  distance  from  the  area  with  which  we  are  concerned — 
anywhere,  in  fact,  between  the  Adriatic  and  Black  Seas. 

[CoRViD^. — Vast  flocks  of  Jackdaws,  Rooks,  and  Hooded 
Crows  frequent  the  Struma  j)lain  during  the  winter  months. 
From  December  1916  to  January  1917  the  numbers  were 
truly  terrific,  but  the  comparatively  milder  v\  inter  of  1917— 
191^5  did  not  witness  such  laroe  conoregations.  During  the 
summer  months  very  different  conditions  were  in  force, 
some  Ravens,  scattered  pairs  of  Hooded  Crows,  and  a  number 
of  Jackdaws  representing  the  Corvidae. 

Generally  speaking,  there  was  a  withdrawal  of  Crows  in 
the  very  early  spring.  The  numbers  diminished  before 
March,  during  which  month  a  marked  movement  of  Rooks 
to  the  W.  and  N.VV.  took  place.  After  this  Rooks  were 
not  seen  at  all — although  some  may  have  bred  beyond  the 
area  of  observation.  (There  are  nests  by  the  side  of  the 
Orient  railway  line  between  Salonica  and  Larissa.) 

A  daily  increase  in  the  number  of  Hooded  C-rows  and 
Jackdaws  in  September  and  October  may  have  been  due  to 
the  gregarious  habits  of  young  birds  bred  in  the  preceding 
months.  A  large  influx  of  "foreign"  Jackdaws  and 
Hooded    Crows    occurred   in  late    autumn,  and  with  these 


lUO  Mr.  F.  N.  ClKiscii  on  th,t  [Ibis, 

Ciiiiie  tlic  Hi^lits  of  Uooks  that  were  to  })0[)iilate  tlie  dirty 
acres  of  the  phiiii  for  the  ^vinter.  My  diaries  contain 
frequent  notes  concernino-  the  entire  absence  of  Crows  from 
sundry  localities  during  tlie  period  April  to  Ano'ust.  One  of 
the  laro-est  C'orvine  movements  was  during  tlie  first  few  days 
of  October  liU7.  when  immense  flocks  of  high-flying  birds 
(s|i.  ?)  passed  over  Orljak,  but  I'roni  such  varied  points 
that  I  could  not  nauie  the  general  trend  of  the  movement  by 
the  compass. 

A  point  worth}^  of  notice  was  the  unsuspiciousness  of  the 
wintering  Crows  in  Macedonia.  In  the  winter  of  1910  my 
duties  frequently  caused  me  long  rides  across  the  plain,  and 
I  often  walked  my  horse  quite  through  flocks  of  Rooks, 
flocks  cliat  on  occasions  could  almost  be  measured  by  the 
acre,  without  disturbing  any  but  those  birds  in  the  direct 
path.  They  were  certainly  far  more  approachable  than  the 
Crows  in  Western  Europe.] 

Corvus  cor  ax.      Raven. 

Often  seen  on  the  hills,  but  not  evenly  distributed.  It  is 
resident  and  usually  met  within  pairs,  although  small  flocks 
of  anything  up  to  fourteen  individuals  were  noted.  The 
road  leading  from  Orljak  to  Kohcan-Mah  wends  througli 
several  good  places  for  Ixavens.  Several  seen  at  Paprat  in 
autumn.  In  the  case  of  unsavoury  meals  the  Ravens  would 
often  be  at  the  feast  before  the  Vultures  had  them  located. 

Corvus  cornix      Hooded  (Jrow. 

Abundant  in  winter,  but  less  numerous  than  the  Jackdaws 
or  Rooks,  During  the  spring  odd  birds  were  seen  about  the 
hills,  where  I  located  a  few  nests.  On  13  January  a  Goose 
was  shot  from  the  bank  of  the  Struma.  It  fell  in  a  very 
awkward  position,  just  on  the  edge  of  some  ice  piled  up 
auainst  the  opposite  bank.  It  was  scarcely  an  hour  before 
this  Goose  was  retrieved,  but  when  I  did  get  it,  it  was 
comjiletely  spoiled  by  the  Hooded  Crows,  who  bad  pulled  it 
about  most  audaciously.  I  was  within  thirty  yards  of  the 
Goose  from  beginning  to  end,  but  in  spite  of  this  no  amount 
of  stone-throwing  or  shouting  would  shift  the  birds.       The 


1 92 1,]  Birds  of  Macedonia.  191 

cranium  had  been  broken  open  and  the  brain-cavity  com- 
pletely cleared.  After  this  a  large  hole  had  been  made  in 
the  region  ol:  the  clavicles,  and  finally  the  Crows  had  devoted 
themselves  to  the  large  and  fleshy  pectoral  muscles.  On 
7  April  I  found  three  pairs  breeding  at  Aracli.  One  nest 
had  certainly  been  built  in  the  same  spring.  The  nests  were 
about  fourteen  feet  from  the  ground,  in  the  forks  of  slender 
oak-trees,  and  two  of  them  were  quite  accessible  to  a  fairly 
active  man.  The  new  nest,  to  which  I  paid  particular 
attention,  appeared  to  be  finished  by  12  April.  During  the  time 
that  building-operations  were  taking  place,  the  birds  roosted 
at  night  in  a  tall  fruit-tree  (in  full  blossom),  about  two 
hundred  yards  away  from  the  nest.  On  18  April  there  was 
one  egg  in  the  nest.  Both  parents  were  very  demonstrative 
when  I  was  getting  up  the  tree,  flying  round  and  cawing 
loudl}^  but  later  they  showed  great  cunning  in  not  loitering 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  nest  when  I  was  about.  The  hen  bird 
always  slipped  away  at  the  first  sign  of  danger.  The  nest 
itself  was  very  conspicuous,  composed  of  twigs,  and  neatly 
lined  with  horse-hair  and  a  few  feathers. 

Corvus  cor  one.     Car  r  ion-Crow. 

I  found  a  dead  bird  in  December,  but  could  not  be  sure  of 
further  occurrences. 

Corvus  frugilegus.     Rook. 

Large  flocks  about  the  plain  during  the  winter  of  1916-17. 
Especially  numerous  in  December,  1916.  On  19  March, 
1916,  a  steady  stream  of  Rooks  was  seen  flying  across  the 
plain  in  a  westerly  direction  at  mid-day.  Some  of  them 
(I  am  sure  very  weary  birds)  stopped  for  a  rest  in  a  clump 
of  trees,  and  resumed  their  journey  at  dusk.  The  majority 
of  the  birds  left  their  winter  quarters  at  the  end  of  February 
or  beginning  of  March.  The  general  direction  of  the 
movement  seemed  to  be  towards  the  N.  and  N.W.,  in  which 
case  it  may  be  assumed  that  the  flocks  seen  on  19  March 
were  birds  from  a  region  to  the  S.E.  of  my  area,  following 
a  line  similar  to  that  taken  by  the  Macedonian  Rooks.     As 


192  Mr.  F.  N.  Cliasen  on  the  [Ibis, 

nea/as  I  could  judge,  this  line  crossed  the  mountains  some- 
where to  the  W.  of  Rupel.  There  was  a  complete  absence  of 
Rooks  in  spring  and  summer — at  any  rate  from  the  places 
visited.  The  evening  flights  of  Rooks  on  the  Struma  plain 
are  sometimes  of  stupendous  size  and  easily  mistaken  for 
genuine  migratory  movements.  An  immense  flock  passed 
overhead  on  the  2nd  of  March,  and  the  number  of  birds  was  so 
great  that  for  several  minutes  there  was  a  noise  like  the 
whirr  of  a  sharp  breeze.  The  movements  of  some  flocks 
observed  in  early  spring  would  lead  one  to  believe  that  there 
is  some  justification  for  the  old  saying  that  Rooks  go  mad  in 
the  spring.  Thirty  or  more  would  separate  themselves 
from  a  larger  flying  flock  and  swoop  towards  the  earth, 
performing  the  most  wonderful  antics  for  a  short  time. 
They  would  twist  about,  and  on  occasions  topple  over  in 
most  extraordinaiy  style.  When  the  whole  crowd  suddenly 
dropped  to  the  earth,  the  noise  was  not  unlike  that  of  an 
approaching  shell. 

Corvus  monedula.     Jackdaw. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  common  birds  in  the  country,  and 
large  numbers  breed.  Some  of  them  paired  as  early  as  the 
middle  of  February,  but  there  were  flocks  about  several 
weeks  later.  A  great  deal  of  competition  took  place  in 
Macedonia  for  available  nesting-sites.  This  was  due  to  the 
large  number  of  Jackdaws  inhabiting  the  country.  Some  of 
them  did  not  breed  at  all,  and  flocks  composed  of  from  six 
to  ten  birds  were  roaming  over  the  country,  without  showing 
signs  of  pairing,  all  through  the  spring  and  summer. 
The  Jackdaws  showed  great  adaptability  in  their  choice  of 
nesting-sites,  and  within  a  short  radius  from  where  I  was 
living  there  were  nests  in  the  following  sites : — In  the 
minaret  of  a  mosque  and  also  somewhere  in  the  ruinous 
roof  of  the  same  building,  under  the  eaves  of  native  houses 
(otherwise  unoccupied),  and  in  holes  in  a  steep  bank.  The 
most  interesting  nest  of  all  was  [)laced  in  the  lower  branches 
of  a  Stork's  nest.  The  Storks  and  Jackdaws  seemed  to  be 
on  the  most    amicable  terms,  but    the    advantages    of    this 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Macedonia.  193 

strange  union  are  rather  liard  to  divine.  One  thing  is 
certain,  however,  and  that  is  the  Storks  must  have  been 
indebted  to  the  Jackdaws  for  one  thing,  because  the  hitter 
birds  were  constantly  bringing  sticks  and  re-arranging  the 
twigs  about  their  own  nest.  Storks  do  but  little  nest- 
building  on  their  own  account,  and  the  Jackdaws'  efforts 
undoubtedly  made  the  home  of  this  particular  pair  more  sub- 
stantial, as  it  was  in  a  precarious  state  after  weathering  the 
previous  winter.  When  both  Storks  were  away  from  home, 
and  then  only,  the  Jackdaws  would  sit  on  the  edge  of  the  cnp- 
like  mass,  i.  e.,  in  the  larger  birds'  domain.  Some  interestino- 
possibilities  presented  themselves,  but  I  never  got  any 
farther  into  the  matter.  The  Jackdaws  surely  had  to 
restrain  themselves  where  the  Stork's  eggs  were  concerned  ; 
but  then,  again,  supposing  this  difficulty  to  have  been  over- 
come, I  should,  imagine  that  the  Storks  would  have  found 
newly  hatched  Jackdaws  a  nice  change  from  frogs.  I 
noticed  the  act  of  mating  on  29  March.  Eggs  23  May. 
Newly  hatched  young  at  the  latter  end  of  April  and  2o  May. 
Young  were  being  fed  in  the  nest  at  the  beginning  of  June. 
A  bird  of  the  year  was  flying  on  1  June,  and  several  broods 
flying  about  in  the  neighbourhood  of  their  home  by  the  end 
of  the  month.  By  the  1st  of  September  flocks  of  sixty  or  more 
birds  were  common,  and  these  had  already  associated  them- 
selves with  their  companions  for  the  coming  winter — the 
Hooded  Crows. 

A  battle  that  took  place  at  noon  on  a  sunny  day  in 
February  seems  fairly  typical  of  the  methods  adopted  by 
this  species  when  fighting.  One  bird  was  lying  on  its  back 
on  the  ground  with  its  beak  directed  at  its  opponent's  head. 
It  fought  primarily  with  its  feet,  which  were  entamded  in 
the  feathers  of  the  abdomen  of  the  uppermost  bird.  The 
second  bird  stood  bodily  on  the  under  bird,  and  balancing 
itself  on  out-stretched  wings,  it  repeatedly  pecked  at  its- 
opponent's  head.  These  two  birds  fought  in  a  methodical 
manner.  They  wrestled  for  a  few  moments  and  then,  as  if 
by  mutual  agreement,  separated  and  flew  up  to  a  low  bouoh 
hanging  over  the  chosen  arena..  On  this  occasion  there  were 
five  distinct  "  rounds.'*     The  same  bird  was  undermost  each 


194  Mr.  F.  N.  Cliasen  on  the  [Ibis, 

time,  niid,  indeed,  it  seemed  as  il:  it  preferred  to  adopt  this 
tactic  throuiihout  tlie  fis^t,  because  each  time  the  strife 
commenced  anew  it  vohintarily  assumed  the  position 
described.  It  was,  however,  a  bad  choice,  because  the  upper- 
most  Jackdaw   was   undoubtedly  the   conqueror. 

Another  point  worthy  o£  mention,  although  it  has  been 
remarked  upon  many  times  before,  is  connected  with  the 
feeding  of  the  young.  When  the  parent  birds  are  returning 
from  a  long  foraging  expedition,  their  mouths  are  frequently 
so  full  of  food  that  the  space  between  the  rami  of  the  lower 
mandible  is  distended  to  form  a  very  visible  pouch,  which  is 
conspicuous  enough  to  be  noticed  when  the  bird  is  fljing 
past.  This  fact  did  not  prevent  the  Jackdaws  from  making 
as  much  noise  as  usual.  The  only  differences  were,  firstly, 
that  the  call  was  produced  with  the  beak  closed  instead  of 
ga[)ing,  as  it  usually  is,  and  secondly,  that  the  note  was,  in 
consequence,  rather  throaty  in  tune.  The  Jackdaws  at 
Orljak  used  horsehair,  grass,  native  cotton,  and  string 
(among  other  materials),  for  their  nests.  At  Ormanli  twigs 
were  collected  with  great  energy  for  repairing  purposes,  and 
hunuin  hair  (found  under  the  tiles  in  native  houses)  was  a 
favourite  building  material. 

Regarding  the  identity  of  Macedonian  Jackdaws,  many 
birds  were  certainly  very  light  on  the  neck,  but  others 
a})pcared  quite  normal,  and  as  near  as  I  could  say  from 
observation  alone,  they  were  typical  examples  of  Corvus 
monedula  monedula.  Major  Sladen,  however,  has  much 
better  grounds  to  work  upon,  for  be  shot  a  number  and 
writes  : — "  All  that  I  examined  appeared  to  belong  to  the 
subspecies  6".  monedula  collaris  Dxummond,  and  all  of  them 
had  more  white  above  the  neck  than  the  tyjjical  bird. 
I  found  that  it  was  not  unusual  to  come  across  individuals 
which  had  a  rusty  red  tinge  all  over.  I  remember  an 
instance  of  one  in  a  flock  near  Snevce,  which  was  almost 
mahogany  colour,  but  I  was  unable  to  secure  it.  1  noticed 
the  same  thing  to  a  lesser  degree  in  individuals  of  Corvus 
cornixy 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Macedonia.  195 

Pica  pica.     Magpie. 

A  very  coninion  bird  and  rarely  out  of  one's  sight,  being- 
found  pretty  well  everywhere.     In  Macedonia  it  certainly 
does    not    show    any   preference    for    the  wooded    districts. 
Magpies  were  numerous  at  most  of  the  places,  visited,  and 
only  occasionally  scarce  or  absent,  as  at  Baisili,  in  August. 
The  large  numbers  that  frequent  the  plain  in  winter,  often 
feeding  in  the  company  of  Jackdaws  and  Rooks,  do  not  stop 
to  breed  in  their  winter  quarters,  although  quite  a   number 
do  nest   in   the  country.     There  was  a   decline  in   numbers 
during  the  summer  months,  and  an  influx  in   the  autumn. 
During  cold  weather  in  Decemlier  there  were  chattering  flocks 
of  Mag[)ies  in  nearly  every  leafless  tree  near  the  river.     On 
the  hills  in  the  autumn,  flocks  of  from  twelve  to  twenty  birds  ■ 
could  be  seen  leading  the  life  of  true  Crows,  foraging  for  food 
on  the  stony  ground.     A  good  many  kept  in  pairs  throughout 
the  winter.     Nests  were  fairly  common  but  often  well  hidden, 
some  in  trees,  others  in  tall  dense  bushes.       Several    pairs 
bred  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Ormanli  ;  none  actually  in  the 
village.     Young  birds  were  seen  in  the  nest  during  the  first 
week  in  May.  Broods  flying  19  May.     The  peculiar  hal»it  that 
the   Magpie  has  of  jei'king-  its  tail  upwards  when  alighting- 
served  the  species    in   good    stead  on    the  muddy    Struma 
levels.     I  feel  sure  that  the  movement  is  accentuated  when 
the  bird  alights  on  wet  or  dirty  ground,  and  possibly  there 
is  a  clue  to  the  origin  of  the  habit  to  be  found  here.     The 
Magpies  in  Macedonia  were  fond  of  roosting  in  old  nests,  and 
a  stone  flung  into  an  old  Stork's  nest  in  the  evening  would 
often  cause  as  many  as  eight  birds  to  leave  in  single  file.     A 
partiality  for  selected  roosting-places  was  a  noticeable  habit, 
and  a  regular  flight  to  these  places,  often  groups  of  trees  of 
a  o-ood  heiuht.  in  the  evenino-  reminded  one  of  the  Rooks' 
evening  flights.       The  Magpies  would   settle  down  to  rest 
with   many  chuckles,    but    once  settled  they    sat  close.       I 
witnessed  a  good  demonstration  of  this  habit  on   16  June 
at  Kopriva.     At  sunset  a  large  number  of  Magpies  passed 
over  the  village    from   the    direction  of    the  hills.        They 
went  towards  a  clum[)  of  trees  half-way  across  the  plain,  and 


196  Mr.  F.  N.  Cliasen  on  the  [Ibis, 

I  judged  them  to  be  birds  that  had  spent  tlie  day  wanderiiig 
about  at  the  foot  of  the  hills  and  banded  toirether  in  the 
late  afternoon.  Later,  I  saw  several  Hocks  leave  the  ground 
and  mount  high  into  the  air — they  always  fly  high  on  these 
occasions  — and  take  a  straight  line  for  the  roosting-place, 
exactly  like  a  mob  of  Rooks.  Small  flocks  of  about  a  dozen 
birds  followed  at  intervals,  from  various  points,  for  some 
time.  I  rarely  saw  more  than  thirty  Magpies  in  one  compact 
flock.  Several  times  during  the  latter  end  of  May — when 
some  of  the  young  were  beginning  to  fly — I  saw  cases  of 
what  appeared  to  be  lack  of  parental  affection  in  this  species. 

Garrulus  glandarius.     Jay. 

Seen  in  the  wooded  districts  which  are  few  and  restricted 
in  area.  A  local  bird,  not  straying  over  the  country  like  the 
Magfiie.  After  severe  weather  and  snow  on  the  hills,  odd 
birds  appeared  on  the  Struma  plain,  especially  in  December. 

Sturnus  vulgaris.     Starling. 

A  common  resident.  Flocks  on  the  open  ground  in  winter 
and  also  other  birds  in  the  villages.  The  Starlings  diminished 
in  numbers  in  July  and  August,  when  I  noticed  a  comp'ete 
absence  from  certain  haunts.  They  breed  mainly  in  the 
villages.  There  were  evening  flights  to  roosting-places 
near  the  Struma — usually  large  clumps  of  reeds — which 
reminded  one  of  the  Starling's  habits  on  the  Norfolk 
Broads.     Starlings  breeding  in  Elisan  had  purple  heads. 

Oriolus  oriolus.     Golden  Oriole. 
Several  seen  in  June.  • 

[FiiiNGiLLiDiE. — Very  few  Finches  of  any  species  were 
seen  in  the  spring,  and  I  found  no  nests  other  than  those  of 
S[)arrows.] 

Coccothraustes  coccothraustes.     Hawfinch. 
One  record  only.     2o  January,  near  Lozista. 

Chloris  chloris.     Greenfinch. 

Small  flocks  common  from  October  to  February,  but  this 
was  by  no  means  a  conspicuously  abundant  species.  A  few 
seen  in  the  spring. 


IQ2I.]  Birds  of  Macedonia.  197 

Carduelis  carduelis.     Goldfinch. 

Not  seen  during  the  breeding-season,  but  ver}^  connuon 
for  the  rest  of  the  year.  The  small  villaoes  situated  at 
the  foot  of  the  hills  were  strongholds  for  this  bird.  The 
once  cultivated  patches  of  tobacco,  cotton,  and  vegetables, 
but  now  only  patches  of  weeds  with  a  remnant  of  the 
original  crop  showing  through  here  and  there,  always  attracted 
the  Goldfinches  in  winter.  They  drank  regularly,  even 
in  the  most  severe  weather,  and  had  qaite  a  novel  method 
of  doing  so.  Small  parties  would  fly  to  the  reed-beds,  and 
the  birds  would  cling  to  the  bases  of  the  reeds  about  two 
inches  above  the  water  and  drink  by  bending  over  to  the 
surface.  After  this  they  would  often  alight  on  the  snowy 
flotsam  and  flutter  in  the  water  to  their  content.  A  Marsh- 
Harrier  attended  one  of  these  particular  watering-places  day 
iifter  day,  and  levied  a  regular  toll  on  the  birds  as  they  came 
to  drink. 

Spinus  spinus.     Siskin. 

Several  seen  in  sheltered  corners  of  the  plain  from 
December  to  March.  One  pair  frequented  a  small  patch 
of  reeds  near  a  pond  for  at  least  nine  consecutive  weeks 
in  the  cold  weather.  I  took  some  pains  to  find  out  the 
nature  of  the  food,  and  found  that  it  consisted  of  the  seeds 
of  half  rotten  "  blackberries "  which  were  still  hanging 
on  the  bushes.  The  Siskin's  confiding  habits  were  most 
pronounced. 

"  To-day  a  pair  of  Siskins  were  feeding  in  some  pink 
ground-nettles  only  a  yard  or  so  from  my  feet.  Another 
little  hen  sat  on  a  small  bush,  beside  the  stream.  I  stood 
quite  by  the  side  of  the  bush  but  she  was  not  in  the  least 
disturbed.  I  seized  a  twig  and  gently  pulled  it  until  the 
whole  bush  was  swaying,  but  still  the  bird  remained. 
At  last  I  took  a  step  nearer  and  stretched  out  a  hand 
to  seize  her,  upon  which  she  fluttered  away.'^  (Diar}', 
17  March.) 

Acanthis  cannabina.     Linnet. 
Snudl  flocks  in  autumn  and  winter. 


198  Mr.  F.  N.  Chasen  on  the  [Ibis, 

Serinus  serinus.     Serin. 

Floclvs  in  earlj  October  at  Cakirli.  A  few  remained 
(actually  in  the  village)  at  Orljak  through  the  winter. 
Severe  weather  alwavs  had  the  effect  of  brinoing  more  into 
the  village,  where  they  found  shelter  and  food. 

Pyrrhula  pyrrhula.     Bullfinch. 

A  few  seen  in  the  winter,  usually  alone  or  in  pairs.  A 
curious  feeding  habit  was  noticed  on  7  February.  A  male 
[)lucked  a  berry  from  a  slender  twig  overhanging  the  water, 
while  it  was  on  the  wing.  Tlie  bird  remained  for  a  few 
seconds  fluttering,  or  rather  hovering,  by  the  side  of  the 
berry  before  snatcliing  it.  The  twig  would  have  been 
scarcely  stout  enough  to  bear  the  weight  of  the  bird. 

Fringilla  ccelebs.     Chaftinch. 

Extremely  numerous  in  winter.  The  common  Finch  of 
many  districts,  in  some  cases  outnumbering  the  Tree-Sparrow. 
Most  of  the  Chafhnches  withdrew  from  their  winter  haunts 
in  March.  The  nest  was  not  found,  but  a  few  birds, 
obviously  j)aired,  were  seen  through  the  spring.  An  influx 
in  October. 

Fringilla  niontifringilla.     Brambling. 

On  4  January  a  number  were  mixed  u  ith  the  Chatflnches 
in  Orljak.  The  weather  was  severe  and  there  was  snow  on 
the  ground.  There  were  also  some  independent  flocks  of 
considerable  size  near  the  river.  These  birds  went  as 
suddenly  as  they  had  appeared,  and  a  few  days  later  not  one 
was  to  be  seen.  One  or  two  others  identified  at  odd  times 
during  the  winter. 

Passer  domesticus.     House-Sparrow. 

Passer  montanus.     Tree-Sparrow. 

Both  species  common  almost  everywhere.  I\  montanas 
predominates  in  a  large  number  oF  districts,  and  I  should  say 
is  numerically  superior  in  most  parts  of  Macedonia.  Both 
species  breed  freely.  Although  both  kinds  could  be  seen 
in  mixed  flocks  during  the  day,  there  was  a  strong  tendency 
to  roost  in  specific  bauds.  P.  montanus  preferred  willow- 
trees  for  this  purpose. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Macedonia.  199 

Passer  hispaniolensis.     Spanish  Sparrow. 

Seen  occasionally  with  other  Sparrows,  but  apparently- 
very  local  in  distribution.  Several  could  usually  be  found 
in  Elisan. 

Petronia  petronia.     Tiock-S{)arrow. 

I  have  only  one  record  and  that  concerns  a  pair  breeding 
at  Orljak.  I  found  a  nest  with  young  in  a  high  bank.  Tbe 
nest  was  in  a  hole  about  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground,  and 
there  is  but  little  doubt  that  the  hole  was  found  ready  made. 
The  behaviour  of  the  female  and  the  loud  wheezv  chiri'uping 
of  the  young  made  the  detection  of  this  nest  inevitable  by 
every  person  who  passed  by.  Otherwise  it  would  have  been 
difficult  to  locate  on  account  of  the  many  similar  but 
unoccupied  holes  in  the  same  bank.  Whenever  I  approached 
both  parents  were  somewhere  near  the  hole.  The  male 
would  fly  off  to  a  wire  fence  about  15  yards  away  and  remain 
watching.  It  would  call  incessantly  using  a  double  note,  but 
nevertheless  this  parent  would  not  excite  itself  unduly.  The 
female,  however,  would  hopelessly  betray  the  nest.  It 
would  remain  at  the  hole  till  the  last  moment  in  a  very 
agitated  state.  It  would  also  return  to  the  brood  at  the 
earliest  possible  moment,  and  more  often  than  not  fly  straight 
into  the  hole. 

Emberiza  calandra.     Corn-Buntinir. 

Very  common.  Abundant  in  winter,  and  twittering 
little  flocks  were  seen  everywhere.  The  gregarious  habits 
continued  well  into  March,  but  when  I  went  along  the  Orljak- 
Kopriva  road  on  the  llth  of  April  they  seemed  to  have  settled 
down  a  bit.  At  Karamatli  they  nest  side  by  side  with  the 
Sjn-ikes  and  E.  melanocephala.  Nests  were  also  plentiful  at 
Gramatna,  at  which  place  I  found  eggs  up  to  the  end  of 
June.  Young  birds  at  the  beginning  of  July.  A  favourite 
site  for  the  nest  was  in  a  low  bramble-bush  growing  near 
the  headland  of  a  poor  wheat  or  barley  crop.  In  February 
mixed    flocks    of    (■orn- Buntings    and     Goldfinches    were 


200  Mr.  F.  N.  Cliasen  on  Ike  [Ibis, 

Emberiza  citrinella.     Yellow  Bunting. 

Two  records  only,  and,  curiously  enough,  both  on  12  Janu- 
ary (1917  and  1918).  The  former  a  small  number  near  the 
Struma,  the  latter  a  single  bird. 

Emberiza  cirlus.     Cirl  Bunting. 

Common.  Found  in  flocks  all  the  winter,  and  in  some 
districts  the  predominating  species  as  at  Oakirli  in  October. 
Small  flocks  could  be  seen  along  the  road  from  this  place 
quite  up  the  hills  to  Sivri,  over  a  scrubby  broken  area, 
where  the  ascent  was  very  rough,  and  few  other  birds  could 
be  seen.  I  found  some  nests  at  Karamatli  and  eggs  during 
the  latter  half  of  April.  Flocks  were  seen  again  on  the  1st 
of  September,  although  broods  were  still  being  fed  on  that 
date. 

Emberiza  hortulana.     Ortolan. 

Seen  in  summer.  Common  at  Aracli  and  Karamatli  in 
April.     Mixes  freely  with  E.  cirlus. 

Emberiza  cia.     Meadow-Bunting. 
Seen  commonly  in  winter  and  spring. 

{E.  schooniclus,  a  bird  at  Ormanli  in  February,  was  almost 
certainly  a  female.) 

Emberiza  melanocephala.     Black-headed  Bunting. 

A  common  summer  bird.  Seen  28  April,  but  I  think 
there  were  earlier  arrivals.  It  was  usually  found  fre- 
quenting the  cultivated  or  more  or  less  open  stretches  of 
ground.  Its  chosen  haunts  were  usually  where  fruit  was 
growing,  a  patch  of  currant-bushes,  a  group  of  fig-trees,  or  a 
vineyard,  for  instance.  The  pleasant  little  song  has  more 
music  in  it  than  that  of  most  other  Buntings.  It  commences 
with  a  "  Chit-chit-chit,'^  which  is  followed  by  a  short  musical 
bar,  nicely  warbled  and  repeated  twice  or,  perhaps,  three 
times.  The  introductory  notes  may  be  faltering  with  a  good 
pause  between  each  note,  but  the  final  part  of  the  song  comes 
out  with  a  rush.  The  introductory  notes  were  omitted  by 
many  males  heard  singing  in  June. 

I     found     nests     at    Mirova,    Kurkut,    Karamatli,    and 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Macedonia.  201 

Grainatna.  The  rolling  hills  between  the  two  last-named 
places  were  especially  good  breeding-grounds.  These  hills 
are  very  bare.  The  ground  is  stony  and  clothed  with  short 
grass,  with  uneven  clumps  o£  l)rambles  here  and  there 
which  are  in  some  places  so  dense  that  they  constitute  a 
thicket.  There  is  only  an  occasional  group  of  trees  or  any- 
thing that  resembles  a  hedge.  It  is,  in  fact,  ideal  country 
for  Shrikes,  Bantings,  and  Whitethroats.  I  was  not  in  time 
for  early  eggs,  but  on  the  1st  of  July  there  were  five  nests 
each  containing  four  eggs,  and  in  all  cases  well  incubated. 
Youns  birds  seen  in  the  nest  at  the  end  of  June  and  begin- 
ning  of  July.  The  nests  were  fairly  well  made,  not  models 
of  neatness  exactly,  and  usually  placed  in  the  thickest  part 
of  an  individual  spray  on  a  low  bush.  None  of  the  nests 
were  down  in  the  centre  of  the  bushes,  and  they  were  all 
easy  enough  to  find.  The  male  would  sit  on  a  top  twig 
near  the  nest,  singing.  The  hen  would  dart  off  the  nest 
when  you  had  started  to  poke  the  bush  about  with  a  stick, 
and  rarely  before.  The  bushes  chosen  were  mostly  below 
the  waist  in  height. 

Lullula  arltorea.     Wood-Lark. 

Seen  from  September  onwards.  A  few  in  August.  Small 
parties  of  from  four  to  six  birds  at  Baisili  in  autumn. 

Alauda  arvensis.     Sky-Lark. 

Frequent,  but  not  found  breeding.  The  level  ground 
between  Orljak  and  the  river  was  a  good  place  to  find  them 
in  winter. 

Melanocorypha  calandra.     CJalandra  Lark. 
Oonnnon,  but  not  nearly  so  numerous  on  the  Struma  plain 
as  (jralerida  rristata.     Eggs  at  intervals  in  April. 

Calandrella  brachydactyla.     Short-toed  Lark. 

A  pair  near  the  Struma  on  26  May  were  probably  breeding, 
but  I  could  not  find  the  eggs.  Other  pairs  seen  in  June  on 
the  hills  (Mirova  and  Kurkut).  Found  breeding  at  Kara- 
suli  and  Dadular  (a  camp  quite  near  to  Salonica)  by  Major 
Sladen. 

SEB.  XI.  —  VOL.  III.  P 


202  Mr.  r.  N.  Cliasen  on  the  [Ibis, 

Galerida  cristata.     Crested  Lark. 

The  commonest  Lark  of  the  districts  I  visited  and  a 
resident  bird.  No  pronounced  migration  was  notice  1,  but  a 
good  deal  of  local  movement  took  place.  In  one  case  this  local 
movement  was  very  decided — namely,  the  withdrawal  of  the 
birds  from  their  winter  quarters  {e.g.^  the  interior  of 
the  villages)  in  the  early  spring  to  the  vicinity  of  their 
breeding-grounds.  In  the  winter  small  parties  of  from  six 
to  twelve  birds  were  met  with  in  a  variety  of  places.  Unlike 
many  other  species  of  birds  they  showed  no  extreme  gre- 
oarious  habits  in  severe  weather,  and  rarely  more  than  a 
dozen  were  seen  together.  Immediately  the  weather  im- 
proved the  small  flocks  broke  up,  and  signs  of  pairing  were 
evident  at  an  early  date.  Indeed,  a  fair  ])ercentage  of  birds 
had  remained  in  pairs  all  the  winter.  As  early  as  13  Feb- 
ruary, one  of  these  Larks  was  making  a  laudab'e  attempt  to 
sine-.  It  was  a  sunny  day  and  the  blue  sky  was  quite  sj)i-ing- 
like,  but  there  was  a  bitter  wind  blowing  that  ruffled  the 
sonoster's  plunuige  to  confusion  as  it  sat  on  an  old  mud  wall! 
hi  the  villages  they  are  fond  of  running  about  the  rough 
roads  and  rolling  about  in  "  sand-baths,*'  their  vigorous 
actions  in  the^e  raising  little  clouds  of  dust. 

Some  bred  on  the  level  grountl  near  the  liver.  During 
the  breeding-season  they  were  very  tame^  running  about  in 
the  long  grass  about  twelve  feet  away  and  only  reluctantly 
takiniT  wing.  Far  more,  however,  nest  on  the  hills,  and  in 
favoured  places 'a  good  many  nests  may  be  found  in  a' small 
area.  There  were  plenty  of  nests  between  Mirova  and 
Kurkut  in  June,  but  the  most  [)rolific  district  seems  to  have 
been  the  country  included  by  a  radius  of,  say,  four  kilo- 
metres from  Karamatli.  I  saw  eggs  during  the  third  anil 
fourth  week  in  June  and  first  week  in  July,  but  lack  of 
observation  is  responsible  for  absence  of  earlier  dates.  Most 
of  these  were  placed  in  the  middle  of  a  tussock  of  grass  and 
stumbled  iij-on  when  hunting  for  the  eggs  of  Black-headed 
Buntings.  1^'ive  nests  found  in  one  day  each  contained 
three  eggs,  but   tliese   may   have   been   inconiplete  clutches. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Macedonia.  203 

Some  of;  the  nests  situated  on  the  hillsides  had  very  little 
cover.  The  young  bii-ds  enjoyed  themselves  in  the  tobacco 
patches  after  leaving  the  nest  and  ke{)t  in  broods  even  when 
full-grown.  The  high-pitched  voice  [i.e.  the  call-note)  was 
lieard  never  so  commonly  as  when  the  snow  was  deep.  In 
the  winter  the  species  estiiblished  very  intimate  relations 
wiih  the  troops,  and  we  had  regular  visitors  to  our  bivouacs 
and  huts  for  the  table-scraps. 

Like  AUuida  arvensis  this  bird  mounts  into  the  air 
and  sings  aloft,  but  its  performance  on  these  occasions 
ditfers  a  good  deal  from  that  of  the  better-known  bird. 
The  Crested  Lark  does  not  soar  in  a  steadfast  manner, 
nor  does  it  remain  for  a  long  period  poised  on  quiver- 
ing wings.  It  appears  to  wander  into  the  air  rather 
aindessl}^  and  does  not  attain  the  altitude  usual  to  the 
Skylark.  It  does  not  remain  in  the  air  for  any  length  of 
time,  nor  does  it  mount  with  any  great  frequenc3%  Jn  one 
point,  however,  the  two  species  are  almost  alike,  for  both 
birds  drop  abruptly  when  nearing  the  ground — cutting  the 
song  sliort.  In  the  hot  weather  these  Larks  run  about 
with  dragging  wings  and  gaping  beaks.  The  hea})S  of  mule 
duno-  and  associated  clouds  of  insects  attract  laroe  numbers. 
A  word  as  to  the  usual  tactics  employed  in  battle.  First, 
the  two  birds  face  each  other  and  make  sundry  "  feints^'  in 
a  manner  that  is  good  to  see.  Both  then  jump  upwards  and 
meet  in  the  air  with  a  slight  collision.  A  short  chase 
follows.  Some  of  the  combats  last  a  considerable  time  and 
take  the  principals  a  long  way  from  the  starting-point.  The 
voice  is  very  Lark-like  with  a  specific  note  easily  detected. 
The  syllables  used  and  the  tone  of  the  voice  are  not  unlike 
those  of  the  Skylark,  but  when  compared  with  this  bird  the 
Cresled  Lark  is  very  unmusical.  There  is  no  ])ei'sistence  or 
quality  in  the  song.  When  the  bitter  Vardar  winds  were 
blowing  across  the  plain  and  the  piissing  skeins  of  Geese 
were  the  onl}^  other  signs  of  bird-life,  the  Crested  Lark  could 
always  be  seen  running  along  the  snowy  parapet  searching 
for  our  table  scraps  ;  at  times  the  little  bird  would  squat  right 
down  on  its  tarsi,  and  with  crest  ei'ected  to  its  fullest  extent 

p  2 


204  Mr.  F.  N.  Chasen  on  the  [Ibis, 

and  beak  pointed  abnost  vertically  to  the  sky,  would  chatter 
its  cheery  little  bar  so  near  to  us  that  ue  could  see  its 
throat  bubbling  with  every  note. 

Motacilla  boarula.     Grey  Wagtail. 

Seen  throughout  the  year,  but  most  plentiful  in  autumn 
and  winter.  In  the  latter  season  they  were  observed  in  the 
evacuated  villaoes  runnino-  about  the  roofs  and  mud-brick' 
walls,  searching  under  tiles  where  possible  and  commonly 
entering  houses.  The  Grrey  Wagtails  fell  an  easy  prey  to 
the  troops  with  their  primitive  bird-traps,  but  weve  so 
unsuspicious  that  it  was  considered  bad  sport  to  catch  theui. 
Tiie  same  bird  would  walk  into  the  most  obvious  trap 
time  after  time. 

Motacilla  alba.     AVliite  Wagtail. 

Very  common  in  October  and  seen  tliroughont  the  winter. 
Much  less  plentiful  in  spring,  and  very  few  seen  in  summer. 
Some  young  birds  on  5  July  and  a  pair  of  adults  at  Baisili, 
5  August. 

Motacilla  flava  flava.     Blue-headed  Wagtail. 
Several    adults   at   Cakirli  24   September    {circa).      They 
came  with  crowds  of  Redstarts  and  Spotted  Flycatchers. 

Motacilla  flava  rayi.     Yellow  Wagtail. 

Large  numbers  in  flocks  of  from  thirty  to  sixty  birds,  or 
even  more,  appeared  in  the  vicinity  of  Karamatli  during 
the  last  few  days  in  August  and  beginning  of  September. 
Some  of  them  loitered  about  for  several  days.  These  flocks 
were  largely  composed  of  immature  birds,  i.  e.  birds  of  the 
year.  Adults  of  the  present  race  were  seen,  and  for  this 
reason  [  have  included  all  these  Yellow  Wagtails  under  the 
heading  of  M.  f.  raijL  Further  discrimination  of  species 
without  skins  would  be  impossible.  I  could  not  identify  the 
adult  of  i1/.  melanocephala  to  my  satisfaction,  but  Mnjor 
Sladen  has  skins  obtained  at  the  mouth  of  the  Vardar. 

Anthus  campestris.     Tawny  Pipit. 

Some  noticed  simultaneouslv  with  the  increase  of  AVjiotails 
in  the  autumn. 


1Q2I.]  Birds  of  Macedonia.  205 

Anthus  trivialis.     Tree-Pipit. 
Aracli,  G  April. 

Anthus  pratensis.     Meadow-Pipit. 

Struma  plain  in  winter.  When  the  snow  fell  these 
Pipits  came  to  our  tents  for  food,  mixing  with  the  White 
Wagtails  and  Crested  Larks. 

Sitta  europsea.     Nuthatch. 

Common  on  the  hills,  hut  local  in  distribution.  In  spring 
at  Aracli.  Particularly  plentiful  in  small  woods  near 
Lahana  in  October. 

Regulus  regulus.     Groldcrest. 

Some  on  the  hills  in  October.  One  at  Grumisdere, 
7  November  ;  another  at  Kopriva,  24  December. 

Parus  major.     Great  Titmouse. 

The  commonest  Titmouse,  Found  on  the  hills  wherever 
there  is  a  trace  of  cultivation,  and  often  in  the  scrub  in  quite 
desolate  places.  Most  frequent  from  October  to  January, 
but  numerous  in  April. 

Parus  cseruleus.     Blue  Titmouse. 
Practically  as  P.  major,  but  not  so  common. 

Parus  lugubris.     Sombre  Titmouse. 

Two  records.  A  pair  haunted  some  pear-trees  on  which 
the  fruit  was  rotten,  in  October  and  November  at  Paprat. 
Another  pair  at  Aracli  in  April. 

.ffigithalus  caudatus.     Long-tailed  Titmouse. 
A  few  on  the  hills  in  autunm.     Common   in  April  and 
May. 

Lanius  excubitor.     Great  Grey  Shrike. 

Seen  near  the  Struma  in  winter,  especially  in  January. 
I  remember  one  bird  of  a  pair  keeping  in  front  of  my  horse 
for  more  than  a  mile,  darting  from  its  perch  and  skimming 
low  over  the  ground,  a  short  distance  ahead,  and  then  sud- 
denly rising  and  perching  on  the  top  of  a  bush  again. 


206  Mr.  F.  N.  Chascu  on  the  [Ibis, 

Lanius  minor.     Lesser  Grey  h>hrike. 

Plentil'ul  enon<j;li  in  June  and  Julj-.  Breeds  freely.  A 
number  of  nests  in  the  (ininiatna  area. 

Lanius  senator.     A\  oodcliat. 

A  numerous  summer  bird  to  be  seen  in  most  localities  — 
the  Struma  plain^  tiio  hills  near  Lake  Doiran,  and  the  woods 
at  Mirova  alike.  Not  so  abunihant  as  the  next  species.  The 
dapper  black  and  white  plumage  with  rich  sienna  cap  that 
glows  brick-red  when  the  sun  hits  the  bird's  poll,  renders  this 
Shrike  very  conspicuous.  AVhen  they  first  arrive  in  the 
country  and  prior  to  nesting  (I  have  no  dates  likely  to  be 
first  arrivals),  they  roam  about  in  pairs,  flying  from  one 
}>ramble  l)ush  to  another,  keeping  close  to  tlie  ground  in 
their  short  flights.  The  Woodchat  is  by  no  means  a  restless 
bird.  A  pair  will  take  up  their  position  on  a  clump  ot:  tall, 
woody  and  thorny  undergrowth,  post  themselves  about  tew 
yards  apart,  and  wait  for  coming  events  with  great  jiatience. 
They  will  crouch  on  a  hough  wdth  their  white  breasts  towards 
you  and  remain  inactive  for  as  long  as  six  minutes  by  the 
watch.  I  say  "  inactive,'.^  but  really  the  birds  are  very 
alert.  The  head  is  constantly  moved,  being  cocked  at  every 
conceivable  angle  as  the  bird  looks  for  passing  insects.  If 
an  insect  is  caught  by  one  of  the  pair,  the  less  fortunate 
bird  will  flit  over  to  its  mate  to  watoh  the  }»rocess  of  thrashing 
the  insect  to  death  against  a  small  twig,  and  then  return  to 
its  own  "  look-out  "  and  resume  the  same  seemingly  indolent 
but  really  alert  position.  The  short  note  is  pleasing,  but  the 
call-notes  are  harsh.  The  white  rump  is  very  conspicuous 
in  flight.     Nests  between  Karamatli  and  Gramatna. 

Lanius  coUurio.     Red-backed  Shrike. 

A  common  summer  bird.  First  seen  8  May.  There  were 
plenty  near  our  camp  during  the  second  week  in  October. 
A  diary  note  remarks  their  absence  on  9  October,  but  I 
expect  the  last  birds  had  gone  before  I  ap[)reciated  the  fact. 
Stagnant  water  near  the  river,  the  extensive  beds  of  red 
popi)ies,  and,  above  all,  the  high  ground  on  the  hillsides, 
where    there    were    no    hedges    but    acres    of   short  thorny 


1921.]  Birds  of  Macedonia.  207 

vegetalioii,  were  their  f;ivourite  haunts.  I  was  siiiguhirlv 
unfortiiiiate  with  i-eiiaril  to  nests,  but  had  noted  flvini'- 
broods — in  barred  juvenile  [)luniaoe — bjthe  1st  of  September. 
Quite  a  number  frequented  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of 
our  camp,  and  it  was  not  surprising  that  their  familiar 
habit  of  impaling  insects  on  the  thorns  of  bushes  should  be 
l)rouoht  to  notice  quite  commonly. 

I  fancy  the  Shrike's  butchering  habits  have  been  pretty 
well  worked  out  by  now,  but  I  should  like  to  include  a  tield- 
note  that  describes  the  whole  performance  : — 

"12  September,  noon  and  very  hot  I  was  lying  under  a 
bivouac-sheet  thrown  over  a  short  tig-tree,  persuading  myself 
that  1  was  in  the  shade,  when  I  noticed  a  Shrike  operating 
only  a  few  yards  away.  It  was  a  young  bird,  but  it  had 
already  learnt  the  dexterous  manipulation  of  large  insects 
and  the  family  method  of  treating  them.  The  bird  caught 
a  large  grasshopper,  on  the  wing.  (The  grasshopper  was 
about  li  inches  long  and  had  bright  red  under-wings.)  It  was 
then  carried  in  the  beak — and  it  looked  a  large  bundle  com- 
pared with  the  size  of  the  bird — to  a  tali  bramble  bush, 
where,  seated  on  the  topmost  bough,  the  Shrike  p;insed  for  a 
minute.  Then  descending  to  a  twig  about  half-way  down 
the  bush  and  on  the  outside,  it  thrust  the  insect,  back 
upwards,  on  a  long  slender  thorn.  A  slight  shuflBing  pre- 
ceded the  impaling,  and  was  evidently  the  attempt  to  kill 
and  to  get  the  grasshopper  into  a  convenient  position.  The 
thorn  was  pushed  into  the  middle  point  of  the  under  surface 
of"  the  thorax.  The  point  penetrated  about  one-third  of  an 
inch  and  thus  did  not  protrude  through  the  insect's  back. 
When  I  examined  it  a  little  later  the  prey  was  appnrently 
quite  deiid.  There  were  no  more  insects  on  this  particular 
bush,  but  a  search  of  the  neigiibouring  brambles  revealed 
three  more  plentifully-stocked  larders  of  which  large  grass- 
hoppers formed  a  prominent  part."' 

[Sylviid.e. — The  geograi)hical  conditions  of  many  parts  of 
Macedonia  are  unsuited  to  the  habits  of  Warblers,  but  never- 
theless quite  a  goodly  number  do  frequent  the  more  likely 


208  Mr.  F.  N.  Chasen  on  the  [Ibis, 

places,  and  in  the  antumn,  when  birds  of  passage  are  in  the 
country,  the  vineyards  and  streamsides  literally  teem  with 
little  Phylloicopine  birds.  In  June  also  there  were  plenty  ot" 
Warblers  in  the  vicinity  of  the  villages,  bnt,  as  1  was  not  in  a 
position  to  use  a  gun,  I  could  only  identify  the  more  familiar 
species.  I  found  the  hillside  vegetation  well  worthy  of  notice 
during  the  last  week  in  Auoust.  The  bushes  were  loaded 
with  blackberries,  and  Warblers  of  a  dozen  species  could  be 
seen  dodging  about,  little  birds,  yellow,  grey,  or  brown  in 
colour,  all  slipping  through  the  undergrowth  here  and  there 
and  rarely  giving  a  good  chance  of  observation.  Flujlloscoints 
was  usually  the  predominating  genus.  On  7  September 
Warblers  were  still  common, — thronos  of  Whitethroats. 
Garden- Warblers,  and  Blackcaps  (these  last  still  in  pairs) 
being  found  wherever  there  was  a  scanty  hedgerow  or  wooded 
corner.  On  12  September  1  made  the  following  note  : — 
'^  It  would  be  diflftcult  for  any  person  who  has  not  witnessed 
such  a  sight  to  credit  the  number  of  '  Willow-wrens^ — I 
used  the  word  loosely — in  the  district  where  we  are  camjied 
at  present  (C'akirli).  The  ground  is  very  rough,  there  are 
no  habitations,  cultivated  patches,  or  roads,  but  simply  the 
hills,  broken  by  gullies  and  rough  tracks.  The  ground  is 
covered  with  a  kind  of  dwarf  oak — at  present  bearing 
acorns,  prickly  bushes,  and  brambles.  This  scrub  is 
haunted  by  scores  of  Warblers."  Without  means  of  verifi- 
cation I  shall  not  attempt  to  describe  species,  but  the  (!hi£f- 
chaft"  and  Willow-wren  were  certainly  there.  These  were 
still  common  on  3  October.  I  have  added  a  few  notes  on 
the  species  I  could  actually  name.] 

Phylloscopus  collyMta.     ChitFchaff. 

The  Chifichatf  winters  in  Macedonia,  althouoh  in  no  oreat 
numbers,  and  no  bird  can  be  more  reserved  in  its  choice  of 
winter  quarters.  The  Struma  plain  is  intersected  by  tiny 
waterways  which  follow  a  tortuous  course,  eventually  finding 
their  way  into  the  river.  These  irregular  waterways, 
together    with   many    isolated    ponds,    are    overgrown   with 


1921.]  Birds  of  Macedonia.  209 

aquatic  ve(2;etation.  Beds  of  reed-mace  usually  fill  the 
centre  oE  the  |>onds.  In  these  thick  masses  of  reeds  and  in 
the  half-rotten  and  wind-hruised  "  flags "  oTowino-  on  the 
banks  the  (.Jhiffchatt's  spent  the  winter  months.  There  was  a 
certain  phice  near  Ormanli  where  I  could  always  rely  on 
finding  one  or  more  of  these  birds,  even  in  the  most  severe 
weather  in  January  and  February.  In  windy  weather 
they  would  be  difficult  to  see  and  would  spend  the  day 
creeping  about  the  undergrowth  near  the  ground  or  water. 
At  the  end  of  March  they  disappeared,  but  immigrants 
arrived  very  earlv.  I  infer  that  the  birds  wintering  in 
Macedonia  go  north  to  breed  and  move  before  birds  that 
winter  farther  to  the  south  appear  in  their  place,  but  as 
birds  of  passage  only.     Not  seen  in  summer. 

Phylloscopus  trochilus.     Willow-AVarbler. 

Cettia  cetti.     Cetti's  Warbler. 

Numerous  in  the  summer.  The  nests  were  extremely 
difiicult  to  find.  I  was  unsuccessful  in  the  breeding-season, 
but  have  no  doubt  that  this  Warbler  breeds  in  suitable  places 
between  the  Seres  Road  and  Kopriva.  A  nest  at  Orljakwas 
situated  quite  in  the  middle  of  a  dense  mass  of  brambles  ; 
another  in  a  tall  and  very  thick  hedge  corner.  Both  these 
were  found  in  the  autumn,  long  after  the  birds  had  gone  and 
the  leaves  fallen,  although  I  had  searched  diligently  for  them 
in  the  previous  May. 

Acrocephalus  schcenobaenus.     Sedge-Warbler. 

Sylvia  borin.     Garden  Warbler. 

Sylvia  atricapilla.     Blackcap. 

Sylvia  communis.     Whitethroat. 

Seen  12  April  ;  heard  singing  the  same  evening.  Found 
commonly  over  the  country  by  14  April.  Breeds  commonly. 
According  to  other  observers  my  first  date  is  a  late  one,  but 
although  there  may  have  been  Whitethroats  in  the  country 
before  12  April  I  never  saw  them  on  the  Struma  plain. 


210  Mr.  F.  N.  Chaseu  on  the  [Ibis, 

Sylvia  cuiTUca.     Lesser  Wliitethroat. 

Seen  7  April.  Still  in  pairs  20  September.  On  3  August 
a  brood  s})eiit  tlie  greater  j)art  of  the  day  picking  up  ants  a 
few  yards  from  the  door  of  my  bivouac. 

Turdus  pilaris.     Fieldfare. 

Seen  from  the  beginning  of  January  to  the  middle  of 
March.  l)ut  never  in  very  large  numl)ers.  A  small  move- 
ment, a[)[)arently  to  the  south,  in  January,  small  flocks  flying 
over  Orljak  in  an  intent  manner.  Single  birds  seen  later  were 
not  at  all  shy.  They  spent  their  time  grubbing  about  on  the 
ground  under  cover  of  the  bramble  bushes  iind  were  loath 
to  take  wing.  When  poked  out  with  a  stick  they  would 
merely  skim  along  the  ground  to  the  next  cover. 

Turdus  philomelos.     Song-Thrush. 

Occasionally  in  February  and  March  on  the  Struma  plain. 

Turdus  inerula.     Blackbird. 

Resident,  but  not  very  common.  Several  pairs  bred  near 
Karamatli.  A  nest  with  four  eggs  at  Aracli,  14  April. 
This  nest  was  in  an  extraordinary  position.  It  was  con- 
spicuously placed  on  a  projecting  root  on  the  side  of  a  gully, 
which  was  about  three  feet  deep^  the  nest  being  therefore 
really  below  ground-level.  This  nest  was  subsequently 
destroyed  by  reason  of  the  gully  assuming  its  original 
function  of  a  waterway  after  some  heavy  rain. 

Phcenicurus  phcenicurus.     Redstart. 

(Common  in  summer  and  especially  numerous  in  Sep- 
tember ;   14  October  and  1  November  at  Orljak. 

Phcenicurus  gibraltariensis.     Black  Redstart. 

Frequent  from  November  to  March.  At  the  beginning 
of  December  a  number  near  the  sea  at  Salonica  (some  tired 
Buzzards  and  a  coasting-movement  of  Finches  noted  at  the 
same  time).  November  was  the  best  month  for  them  on 
the  plain,  but  they  rarely  stayed  in  a  given  place  for  long 
and  were  usually  met  with  alone  or  in  pairs. 


1 92 1 .  ]  Birds  of  Macedon ia.  211 

Erithacus  rubecula.     Uedhreast. 

Sufficiently  rare  to  be  noted  when  seen.  A  few  near  the 
Butkova  River,  23  January.  Others  at  intervals  in  winter. 
One  at  Sivri,  2  October. 

Luscinia  megarhyncha.     Niglitingale. 

Oonnnon  sunnner  bird.  Noticed  5  A})ril,  191G  at  Kopriva. 
Siiioinu  well,  14  April.  Several  nests  in  June,  a  lar^e  pro- 
portion of  the  eggs  being  light  in  colour.  By  4  July  broods 
in  s[)otted  plumage  were  hopping  about  the  thickets.  In 
1917  the  first  record  was  7  April,  on  which  date  a  bird  was 
singing  lustily  in  the  evening.  I  was  much  impressed  with 
the  very  sedentary  habits  of  this  species.  In  several  cases  a 
pair  appeared  in  April  in  a  small  piece  of  cover,  quite 
isolated  from  other  vegetation^  reared  their  young  there,  and 
could  always  be  seen  in  the  same  small  area  until  the  time 
for  departure  arrived  in  the  autumn.  The  Nightingales  at 
Kopriva  were  still  in  their  secluded  corners  on  15  September. 

Saxicola  rubetra,     Whinchat. 

Plentiful  in  autumn,  es})ecially  the  first  week  in  September, 
when  they  outnumbered  the  Stonechats. 

Saxicola  rubicola.     Stonechat. 

A  common  resident,  wintering  in  selected  localities  at 
intervals  along  the  Seres  Road  an&  on  the  border  o£  the 
plain.  All  the  birds  I  saw  in  winter  were  quite  adult  and 
in  pairs.  I  formed  the  opinion  that  birds  of  the  year 
did  not  stay  in  the  country.  The  parents  of  a  brood  seen 
on  5  August  were  very  dark  in  colour  and  not  in  the  least 
brown  or  reddish  on  the  underparts.  The  voice  was  that  of 
the  present  species. 

(Enanthe  cenanthe.     Wheatear. 

A  common  bird  in  Macedonia^  where  there  are  large  tracts 
of  country  suited  to  its  requirements.  It  spends  the  greater 
part  of  the  year  in  the  country,  being  seen  from  the  end  of 
March  to  October.  In  the  blizzard  of  the  29th  of  March 
Wheat-ears  were    i-unnino-    about  in   the    snow   at  Lahana. 


•212  Mr.  F.  N,  Chasen  07i  the  [Ibis, 

Several  nests  were  found.  The  number  of  adult  birds  was 
augmented  in  September,  but  by  9  October  the  species  was 
absent  from  some  places  where  it  had  been  common  during 
the  preceding  months. 

CEnanthe  hispanica.     Black-eared  Wheatear. 

A  pair  at  Orljak,  26  May.  C)ne — an  adult  male  of  the 
l)lack-t!iroated  variation — at  Aracli,  13  x4pril  A  few  others 
throughout  May. 

Accentor  modularis.     Hedge-Sparrow. 

Only  three  records.  l\vo  seen  in  February  and  one  in 
January,  all  on  the  Struma  plain.  All  observers  seem 
agreed  as  to  the  scarcity  of  the  Hedge-Sparrow  in  southern 
Macedonia. 

Cinclus  cinclus.     Dipper. 

Found  in  a  few  widely  scattered  localities,  but  the  country 
is  not  at  all  suited  to  their  requirements.  In  October  heavy 
rains  had  the  effect  of  changing  the  dry  pebbly  river-bed  at 
Gumisdere  into  a  torrent,  and  a  few  Dippers  appeared. 
They  stayed  until  the  water  ceased  to  rush  down  from  the 
hills,  which  was  only  a  matter  of  a  fev/  days. 

Troglodytes  troglodytes.     Wren. 

Frequently  seen,  but  not  common.  Noticed  on  the  banks 
of  the  Struma  in  February  and  January,  and  at  Aracli 
in  April. 

Muscicapa  striata.     Spotted  Flycatcher. 

Oonnnon  in  spring  and  autumn,  especially  so  at  the  latter 
season.  Seen  16  April.  For  the  last  half  of  August  and 
first  tew  days  of  September  they  were  very  numerous,  the 
increase  in  numbers  corresponding  to  similar  increases  in 
the  ranks  of  the  Redstarts,  etc.  I  have  rarely  seen  so  many 
as  in  the  fruit-growing  district  of  Sirt  Dere  on  8  September. 
In  fact,  a  jiair  or  more  seemed  a  necessary  adjunct  to  each 
fig-tree  or  vine.  On  20  September  they  were  still  common, 
but  there  was  a  decrease  by  3  October.  These  Flycatchers 
would  ignore  the  butterflies  swarming  about  them,  but  would 
dart  at  the  largest  of  the  Hynienoptera,  giving  each  a  sharp 


1921.]  Birds  of  Macedonia.  213 

nip  before  swallowing  them.  I  saw  one  bird  catch  an  insect 
which  was  far  too  large  for  it  to  treat  with  its  accustomed 
neatness.  The  Flycatcher  battered  it  against  a  twig  with  a 
great  show  o£  fury,  flattering  from  bush  to  bush  with  its 
burden,  and  was  still  working  at  the  insect  in  terrier-fashion 
when  it  passed  out  of  sight. 

Muscicapa  hypoleuca.     Pied  Flycatcher. 
Karamatli  in  April  (first  date  12  April). 

Hirundo  rustica.      Swallow. 

The  most  common  of  the  Hirundines.  First  dates  9  and 
21  March  (1017),  27  March  (1918).  Mating,  7  April  ;  nest- 
building,  1  April.  Eggs  well  incubated,  21  May.  Breeds 
in  most  of  the  villages  on  the  plain — if  not  all. 

Delichon  urbica.     Martin. 

Seen  1  April,  but  not  in  any  nuudjers  until  the  end  of  the 
season  (19  September).     Some  passing  flocks,  21  August. 

Riparia  riparia.     Sand-Mariin. 

Abundant  along  the  Struma.  Crowds  at  Kopriva  Bridge 
in  May. 

Picus  viridis.     Green  Woodpecker. 

Struma  plain  in  January.     Karamatli  in  September. 

Dryobates  major.     Great  Spotted  Woodpecker. 

Seen  at  all  seasons  of  the  year.  Paprat  was  a  good  locality 
for  them.  Some  would  be  met  with  on  the  open  hills, 
nudving  their  way  across  country  from  one  copse  to  another, 
the  loud  ^^  j>ic-pic-j)ic"'  announcing  when  they  settled.  They 
were  particularly  attracted  by  the  leafless  fig-trees  in  winter. 
A  pair  seen  at  Aracli  in  April  may  have  been  nesting.  I 
have  no  record  of  J),  medius,  although  it  is  stated  to  be  the 
common  Woodpecker  of  Macedonia. 

Cuculus  canorus.     Cuckoo. 

Seen  G  April,  and  numerous  through  the  spring  of  1918. 
Very  few  seen  in  1917,  but  from  all  accounts  1916  was  a 
good  year  for  Cuckoos. 


214  Mr.  F.  N.  Chasen  on  the  [Ibis, 

Micropus  apus.     Swift. 

Seven  at  Oriuaiili,  22  May.  They  stayed  about  two  hours. 
Not  seen  again  till  August.  '  On  21  August  some  flocks 
appeared  in  eouipan}^  with  Martins  and  were  evidently  on 
passage. 

Caprimulgus  europseus.     Niglitjar. 

28  May.  On  Struma  plain  in  September.  At  Salonica 
in  October.  Two  eggs  found  by  a  friend  about  last  week 
in  June  on  the  hills  near  Gramatna. 

Merops  apiaster.     Bee-eater. 

Common  in  summer.  Present  4  May  in  pairs,  and  19  Sep- 
tember. One  of  the  commonest  sounds  on  the  Struma  ])lain 
in  Slimmer  is  the  strange  cry  of  the  Bee-eater.  I  was  never 
fortunate  enough  to  find  a  nest  myself,  but  had  eggs  brought 
to  me  from  a  native  cemetery.  Major  Sladen  tells  nie  that 
he  has  found  them  breeding  near  Janis  and  Dudular  in  hobs 
in  the  ravines. 

TJpupa  epops.     Hoopoe. 

Common  in  summei'.  In  the  spring  of  1017  I  was  not  in 
a  favourable  position  to  observe,  and  the  first  Hoopoe  was 
not  seen  till  10  April.  In  1918  six  were  seen,  3  April.  Still 
numerous,  19  September,  Tlie  Hoopoes  were  very  shy  birds, 
but  their  preference  for  particular  localities  ofi'ered  oppor- 
tunities for  observation.  One  or  two  could  usually  be  found 
in  the  dense  foliage  of  a  line  of  willows  fringing  a  small 
stream  near  the  Struma.  It  was  quits  useless  to  try  to  stalk 
these  birds  at  midday.  Tliey  were  most  vivacious,  and  would 
fly  from  tree  to  tree  forbidding  a  close  approach.  They' 
were  seen  under  the  most  favourable  conditions  on  the  hills, 
but  even  there  their  solitary,  shy  habits  were  well  marked. 
I  usually  contented  myself  with  listening  to  their  peculiar 
voice.  The  call  of  the  Hoopoe  is  a  clear  "  coo-coo/"  or 
"  coo-roo-foo."  In  tone  it  is  between  the  monotonous 
cooing  of  the  Doves  and  the  clear  penetrating  voice  of  the 
CuL'koo,  and  with  both  these  it  might  be  very  well  confused. 

Unlike  the  note  of  the  Dove,  in  which  tlie  last  syllable  is 


1921.]  Birds  of  Macedonia.  215 

accentuated  and  sometimes  raised  in  tone,  the  Hoopoe's  notes 
are  quite  uniform.  The  double  or  triple  note — or  perhaps 
bar  is  the  best  word  to  use — is  repeated  a  varying  number  of 
times.  There  may  be  a  short  "  song  "  of  only  a  dozen  or 
even  less  bars,  and  these  may  be  all  of  the  triple  or  double 
kind.  In  a  spirited  bird  the  song  is  long,  and  t)ie  bird  may 
be  said  to  "  coo  "  continuously  for  ten  minutes  or  so.  At 
first  I  was  inclined  to  think  tiiiit  there  was  some  method  or 
significance  in  the  use  of  the  double  or  triple  call,  but  a  mass 
of  statistics — if  I  may  use  the  word — com])iled  later,  gave 
poor  results.  For  instance,  a  song  of  02  bars  included 
<S  triples,  another  of  69  included  12  triples,  another  of  145 
bars  included  99  triples  and  these  scattered  sjiasmodieally 
through  the  song.  Some  charts  I  prepared  showed  little 
except  that  the  triple  bar  is  more  constantly  used  by  some 
individuals  than  by  others.  A  pair  of  Hoopoes  love  making 
at  Arachli  made  quite  a  different  noise.  They  were  fluttering 
about  like  gaudy  butterflies  on  the  edge  of  a  small  clearing. 
The  n^.ale  chased  his  mate  from  tree  to  tree.  Both  birds 
were  very  active,  their  tails  spread  and  their  crests  mobile. 
During  their  gambols  a  succession  of  low  harsh  notes  were 
heard. 

Alcedo  ispida.     Kingfisher. 

Seen  commonly  during  the  winter.  According  to  Major 
Shiden  it  breeds  near  Hirsova. 

Coracias  garruliis.     Roller. 

Common  in  the  summer.  Seen  17  April.  Its  marked 
characters  are  the  hoarse  voice, erratic  flight, and  quarrelsome 
dispositio!'.  The  outstanding  feature  with  regard  to  its 
pugnacity  was  the  antipathy  shown  towards  the  Jackdaws. 
Early  arrivals  in  the  spring  were  mobbed  incessantly  by 
smaller  birds,  and  it  was  interesting  to  note  the  long 
processions  of  Starlings  and  Sparrows  moving  from  tree  to 
tree  in  the  wake  of  a  Roller.  Quite  a  feud  existed  between 
the  Rollers  aud  Jackdaws  wherever  the  two  S])ecies  were 
found  together.  The  Roller  is  very  active  and  fierce  in  the 
chase^  and  its  clamour  is  even  great  enough  to  overwhelm 


216  Mr.  F.  N.  Chasen  on  the  [Ibis, 

thf  noise  made  by  tbe  Jackdaws,  wbich  is  quite  an 
acbievement  wben  one  considers  the  latter  bird's  capabilities 
in  this  direction.  The  Roller  was  always  dominant  in  these 
atfairs  and  usually  the  aggressor.  The  Jackdaws  showed 
great  skill  in  their  attempts  to  escape  from  the  Rollers. 
They  would  dart  and  topple  about  in  every  possible  manner, 
and  often  doui)le  back  alono-  their  own  line  of  flioht. 
Sometimes  thoy  would  dive  headlong  into  thick  grass  or 
into  the  foliage  of  trees.  Such  doings,  however,  were  of 
little  avail.  The  pursuing  Roller  would  keep  about  a  yard 
behind  and  forestall  each  caprice  of  the  Jackdaws — even  to 
the  precipitous  downvvard  swoops.  Later  in  the  season, 
when  the  Rollers  had  progressed  further  with  their  domestic 
arrangements,  they  were  not  so  quarrelsome.  It  should  be 
noted  that  the  Jackdaws  had  ])aired  and  settled  down  by  the 
time  that  the  Rollers  commenced  their  activities,  and  I  think 
that  the  valiant  Daw  of  early  spring  would  show  a  more 
determined  front  to  the  intruder.  I  found  two  nests  in  the 
ravine  at  Orljak  in  June.  The  birds  showed  the  greatest 
craftiness  in  concealing  their  movements  to  and  from  the 
nests,  which  were  in  holes  near  the  top  of  a  cliff,  and  about 
fifty  yards  from  the  bottom  of  the  ravine. 

Bubo  bubo.     Eagle-Owl. 

One  remained  in  the  vicinity  of  the  river  at  Orljak  for 
several  days,  at  the  beginning  of  Januiiry.  This  is  the  only 
personal  record  I  have,  but  from  all  accounts  I  have  no 
doubt  that  this  Owl  is  frequently  met  with  near  Lake  Doiran. 

Asio  accipitrinus.     Short-eared  Owl. 

Seen  from  December  to  March  on  the  Struma  plain. 

Carina  noctua.     Little  Owd. 

A  common  resident,  and  one  of  the  most  noticeable  of 
Macedonian  birds.  This  Owl  is  distributed  over  the  country 
in  haunts  th;it  ditfer  widely  in  character.  It  is  common  on 
the  Struma  jdain,  especially  in  or  near  the  villages,  on  the 
hills,  and  in  the  woods.  I  saw  plenty  on  the  outskirts  of 
Salonica,  and,  indeed,  this  is  one  of  the  first  birds  to  attract 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Macedonia.  217 

attention  on  landing  in  the  country,  for  several  are  almost 
sure  to  be  met  witli  whilst  wandering  over  the  boulder 
strewn  land  in  the  vicinity  of  the  coast.  A  nest  at  Elisan  on 
1  June  contained  young  a  few  days  old. 

[Harriers. —  Harriers  were  very  abundant  on  the  plain, 
but  they  are  most  perplexing  birds  to  a  field  naturalist,  and 
only  in  cases  of  adulls  or  birds  in  very  characteristic  phases 
of  plumage  could  there  be  sure  identification.  The  adult 
female  of  ('ircus  cijanens  "  Ringtail,"  and  the  immature 
C.  ceruyinosus  in  that  phase  of  plumage  once  designated 
"  Moor  Buzzard,'''  i.  e.  dark  brown  wdth  light  head,  were  the 
most  commonly  seen.] 

Circus  cyaneus.     Hen-Harrier. 

Salonica  (on  the  Seres  road),  in  October.  At  Cavdah 
Mah  and  other  places  on  the  plain  in  December,  January, 
and  February.  A  pair  suspected  of  nesting  seen  through 
July. 

Circus  pygargus.     Montagu's  Harrier. 
Several  times  in  the  winter. 

Circus  seruginosus.     Marsh-Harrier. 

Noticed  in  December,  January,  and  March,  but  found 
breeding  by  Major  Sladen. 

Circus  macrurus.     Pallid  Harrier. 

An  adult  male  shot  at  the  end  of  October. 

Accipiter  nisus.     Sparrows-Hawk. 

Not  uncommon  in  winter,  and  most  frequently  seen  in 
December.  The  outskirts  of  deserted  villages  at  the  edge  of 
the  plain  were  good  localities  for  this  species. 

Buteo  buteo.     (Common  Buzzard. 

Numerous  in  winter,  and  seen  at  intervals  during  the 
spring.  Observed  in  a  variety  of  situations  :  scattered  over 
the  hills  (pairs  were  frequenting  the  wooded  country  at 
Paprat  in  October),  on  the  plain,  round  the  town  of  Salonica 
itself,  and  on  the  coast  to  the  east  of  the  town  in  December. 

SER.  XI. VOL     III.  Q 


218  Mr.  F.  N.  Cliasen  on  the  [Ibis, 

Milvns  milvus.     Kite. 

A  common  resident,  and  as  numerous  on  tlie  level  oround 
near  Salonica  as  anywhere  in  the  conntry. 

The  Allied  troops  who  occupied  Macedonia  during  the  war 
had  a  very  different  method  of  living  to  the  former 
inhabitants.  The  roads,  which  were  strewn  with  the  carcasses 
of  ponies  and  mules  etc.  when  British  troops  arrived  in  the 
country,  were  speedily  cleared  up,  and  as  all  refuse  was 
afterwards  destroyed  with  military  precision,  the  country 
rapidly  became  more  clean.  Such  a  state  of  affairs  was  not 
congenial  to  the  Kites,  and  their  numbers  seemed  to  decrease 
as  the  camjiaign  proceeded,  but  some  could  usually  be  seen 
near  the  villages  retained  by  the  inhabitants. 

Falco  peregrinus.     Peregrine  Falcon. 

Seen  several  times  on  the  Struma  plain  in  January  and 
February. 

Falco  subbuteo.     Hobb}'. 
Frequent  in  the  summer. 

Falco  sesalon.     Merlin. 

Seen  occasionally  in  winter  (December  and  January). 

Falco  tinnunculus.     Kestrel. 

Resident  and  far  from  uncommon,  but  less  numerous  than 
the  smaller  F.  naumanni.  It  is  evenly  distributed  over  the 
whole  district,  and  could  be  seen  on  tlie  plains,  hills,  and  near 
the  old  walls  of  Salonica.  Like  other  Accipitres,  it  was 
especially  numerous  in  the  Struma  valley.  A  i)air  nested  in 
the  ravine  at  Orljak,  the  nest  being  placed  on  a  receding 
ledge  of  the  cliff,  about  fifty  yards  from  the  ground,  and 
quite  unapproachable  from  the  top.  It  was  my  experience 
that  this  species  did  not  breed  in  the  villages  and  that  the 
next  species  was  the  bird  which  bred  commonly  under  the 
roofs  of  native  houses. 

Falco  naumanni.     Lesser  Kestrel. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  of  the  Macedonian 
summer   birds.       It   is  quite  common  and  breeds  freely,  is 


1921.]  Birds  of  Macedonia.  219 

confiding  and  so  noisj  that  it  can  scarcely  escape  notice. 
It  was  not  seen  in  the  winter  months.  This  species  is  very 
partial  to  the  villages  on  the  Struma  plain  for  the  purpose  of 
breeding.  As  early  as  8  March  a  pair  showed  signs  of 
settling  down  in  the  mosque  at  Ormanli.  Mating  was  first 
noticed  during  the  first  week  in  April,  but  most  frequent 
about  19th  of  the  month.  One  nest  contained  two  eggs 
on  22  April, 

Falco  vespertinus.     Red-footed  Falcon. 
Common  in  the  summer,  and  much  more  numerous  than 
F.  suhhuteo. 

[Eagles. — These  birds  were  a  prominent  feature  of  the 
bird-life  on  the  Struma  plain — in  winter  especially.  It  was 
not  unusual  for  every  post  or  bare  tree  within  vision  to 
be  occupied  by  a  lumpy  looking  Eagle,  whose  head  was  for 
ever  turned  in  the  direction  of  the  river,  watching  the  Ducks 
flying  uneasily  up  and  down.  In  severe  weather  in  January 
1917,  Eagles  were  particularly  numerous  along  the  banks  of 
the  Butkova  river.  I  could  not  identify  A.  clirysaetus  to  my 
satisfaction,  although  I  examined  scores  of  large  Raptores 
through  a  good  telescope.] 

Aquila  heliaca.     Imperial  Eagle. 

The  most  numerous  Eagle.  Resident.  Conspicuous  white 
scapulars  denoted  a  fair  proportion  of  adult  birds.  I  skinned 
one  bird  (killed  with  a  service  bullet)  and  found  the  remains 
of  a  (Joot  in  the  stomach. 

Aquila  clanga.     Spotted  Eagle, 

Small  Eagles  seen  commonly  on  the  plain  were  no  doubt 
of  this  species,  but  it  cannot  be  stated  with  certainty.  An 
immature  bird  seen  at  close  range  on  the  hills  at  Karamatli 
(22  July)  could  have  been  no  other.  On  4  May  a  Spotted 
Eagle  was  having  a  great  deal  of  trouble  with  a  writhing 
snake  which  it  was  carrying.  The  snake  was  eventually 
dropped,  but  the  Eagle  did  not  descend  for  it  again.  Small 
Eagles  could  be  seen  at  almost  anytime  on  the  Struma  plain. 

Q  2 


220  Mr.  F.  N.  Chasen  on  the  [Ibis, 

Haliaetus  albicilla.     White-tuileJ  Engle. 
A  fair  proportion  of  the  Eagles  seen  wore  of  this  species. 
Most  numerous  in  winter,  but  seen  in  spring. 

Hieraaetus  fasciatus.     Bonelli's  Eagle. 

Common  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Struma  in  winter.  The 
light  breast,  which  looks  quite  yellow  at  long  ranges,  is  a 
good  field  point.  I  suspect  that  the  "Ospreys"  of  my 
sportsman  friends  were  usually  examples  of  this  Eagle. 
I  kept  a  close  watch  for  Ospreys,  but  was  unsuccessful  ;  but 
Major  Sladen  tells  me  in  a  letter  that  he  has  eggs — taken  by 
an  officer — from  the  hills  to  the  south-east  of  Lake  Doiran. 

Neophron  percnoptenis.     Egyptian  Vulture. 

Flocks  consisting  of  a  score  or  more  of  these  birds  were 
quite  common  in  the  summer.  The  species  seemed  to  be 
most  numerous  in  the  direction  of  the  Serbian  frontier,  where 
the  state  of  the  country  must  have  been  more  congenial  to 
their  wants  than  the  cleaner  area  occupied  by  the  British 
forces.  One  sultry  afternoon  in  April  a  flock  of  these 
Vultures  remained  in  the  air  through  a  thunderstorm.  The 
downpour  of  hail,  which  was  particularly  violent,  made  no 
appreciable  difference  to  their  easy  manoeuvring  aloft. 

Gypaetus  barbatus.     Bearded  Vulture. 

Single  birds  seen  on  three  occasions  on  the  hills  at  Paprat 
in  November.  At  close  range  the  wedge-shaped  tail  is  very 
conspicuous,  and  a  uniform  grey  appearance  serves  to  dis- 
tinguish the  species  afar.  The  closest  investigation  of  all 
large  llaptores  failed  to  reveal  this  species  on  the  plain. 

Gyps  fulvus.     Griffon  Vulture. 

Common,  but  usually  seen  at  a  great  height  over  the 
Struma  plain.  Bursting  shrapnel  (anti-aircraft)  caused 
them  to  mount  to  an  even  greater  altitude.  This  species  was 
only  once  seen  under  really  favourable  circumstances.  This 
was  in  August,  when  a  flock  of  eight  birds  descended  into 
the  valley  at  Baisili,  attracted  by  the  assembling  of  a  large 


1921.]  Birds  of  Macedonia.  221 

number  of  Ravens  and  Egyptian  Vultures  ;  but  even  on  this 
occasion  the  Griffons  remained  well  above  the  other  birds 
present — circling  round  on  practically  motionless  wings. 
Looking  at  them  from  my  dug-out,  high  up  on  the  adjoinino- 
hillside,  it  appeared  to  me  that  their  light  colour  was  their 
best  distinguishino-  mark. 

Vultur  monachus.     Black  Vulture. 

Probably  more  connnon  than  my  few  clear  cases  of 
identification  would  suggest — as  most  of  the  larger  Vultures 
seen  were  very  dark. 

Phalacrocorax  carbo.     Cormorant. 

Seen  in  January  on  the  Struma.     One  shot. 

Phalacrocorax  pygmaeus.  Px^gmy  Cormorant, 
Often  seen  in  winter.  One  frequented  the  stream  near 
Ormanli  throughout  February.  This  stream  was  shallow,  and 
for  the  most  part  overgrown  with  vegetation.  The  Cormorant 
was  very  persistent  in  its  habits,  but  very  shy.  It  would  take 
flight  whenever  there  was  a  suspicion  of  danger,  always  flying 
quite  away  from  the  place. 

Anser  albifrons.     White-fronted  Goose. 

Anser  finmarchicus.     Lesser  White-fronted  Goose. 

I  spent  the  greater  part  of  the  winter  of  1916-17  on  the 
Struma  plain,  and  had  plenty  of  opportimities  for  watching 
the  Geese.  Skeins  were  first  commonly  seen  in  October,  and 
the  numb(!r  increased  daily,  regular  flight-lines  being 
established  across  the  plain.  At  the  end  of  February  the 
number  of  Geese  taking  part  in  the  daily  flights  was  vastly 
in  excess  of  that  seen  at  the  beginning  of  winter.  On 
a  few  days  I  estimated  that  at  least  five  thousand  Geese 
passed  over  Ormanli  (j.  e.  in  one  direction).  I  kept  a  daily 
record  of  the  Geese  seen.  There  was  a  great  falling  off  in 
numbers  11  March  {circa),  and  from  13  March  onwards  there 
were  frequently  blank  days — days  on  which  not  a  Goose  was 
seen  or  heard.     As  late  as  5   May,  however,  flocks  could   be 


222  Mr.  F.  N.  Chaseii  on  the  [Ibis, 

heard  at  nigbt.  Seven  birds  were  examined  during  the 
winter.  Four  o£  these  were  Whitefronts.  The  other  three 
were  undoubted  examples  of  the  Lesser  White-fronted  Goose 
(all  in  February).  They  were  very  small  and  showed  the 
characteristic  features  of  A.  finmarcldcus.  Blost  of  the 
Geese  seen  on  the  plain  seemed  to  be  pietty  well  marked  with 
black  on  the  underparts.  I  have  no  evidence  to  support 
Major  Sladen's  notes  as  to  the  breeding  of  Grey  Geese  in 
Macedonia,  nor  have  I  any  records  of  the  Grey  Lag  Goose. 

[UuCKS. — Good  Duck-shooting  was  to  behadon  the  Struma 
plain  in  winter.  The  majority  of  the  fowl  that  came  to  the 
water  near  Ormanli  in  February  were  Mallard  and  Pintail, 
but  a  lot  of  Wigeon  and  Smew  were  killed  during  the  month 
with  a  fair  sprinkling  of  Pochards.  I  examined  a  good  bag 
of  Garganey  and  Shovelers  on  20  March.  The  Ducks  fell  off 
in  numbers  in  March,  but  a  few  could  be  seen  on  the  plain 
right  through  the  spring,  and  these  comprised  both  diving 
and  surface-feeding  fowl.  T  left  the  plain  in  May.  A  large 
percentage  of  the  Ducks  on  the  Strunia  in  January  1918 
were  Smew.  During  the  day  small  parties  of  from  two  to 
four  birds  could  be  seen  paddling  about  like  Moorhens  on 
the  river.  One  or  two  fine  adult  males  came  to  hand  for 
identification  at  various  times.  The  following  species  of 
waterfowl  were  common,  but  I  can  do  little  beyond  giving  a 
list  as  my  dates  are  discontinuous.] 

Anas  boschas.     Mallard. 
Anas  strepera.     Gadwall. 
Cluerquedula  querquedula.     Garganey. 
Mareca  penelope.     Wigeon, 
Spatula  clypeata.     Shoveler. 
Daflla  acuta.     Pintail. 
Nyroca  ferina.     Pochard. 
Nyroca  fuligula.     Tufted  Duck. 
Mergus  albellus.     Smew. 


1921.]  Birds  of  Macedonia.  223 

Platalea  leucorodia.     Spoonbill, 

A  consiilcrable  number  crossed  the  Struma — going  east — 
on  the  evening  oE  23  May ;  they  were  travelling  in  parties  of 
from  6  to  20  birds.  Seen  again  in  June.  It  is  quite  probable 
that  I  had  overlooked  these  high  flying  Spoonbills  for  several 
weeks.  At  a  good  height,  the  flocks  are  very  liable  to  be  mis- 
taken for  flocks  of  Geese  or  Storks.  This  may  seem  rather 
ridiculous,  but  when  the  air  was  thick,  the  light  failing,  and 
the  sky  full  of  passing  skeins  of  AVhitefronts,  it  was  a  very 
easy  mistake  to  make. 

Ardea  cinerea.     Heron. 

Seen  in  no  oreat  numbers  along  the  course  of  the  Struma 
and  Butkova  rivers,  December  and  April. 

Ardea  purpurea.     Purple  Heron. 
Odd  birds  seen  near  the  Struma  at  intervals. 
(I  did  not  meet  with  any  "  White '^  Heron,  but  should  say 
that  I  never  visited  the  lakes.) 

Botaurus  stellaris.     Bittern. 
Occasionally  on  the  Struma  plain. 

Ciconia  ciconia.     White  Stork. 

Noted  on  13  May  in  the  springs  of  1917  and  1918.  Breeds 
plentifully  on  the  plain — ahnost  always  in  trees.  There  were 
numerous  nests  at  Kopriva,  Orljak,  Elisan,  Dragos,  and 
Ormanli.  Some  of  the  villages  on  the  hills  were  not  so 
I'avoured.  At  Ormanli  there  were  26  occupied  nests  on  one 
side  of  the  village  alone.  There  were  very  few  chimney-top 
nests  in  my  district,  although  a  few  birds  had  nests  on  the 
church  towers.     Odd  birds  seen  late  in  October. 

Otis  tarda.     Great  Bustard. 

I  only  saw  one,  but  from  all  accounts  w\as  unfortunate  in 
not  seeing  more.  A  single  bird  flew  over  our  camp  on 
7  April,  at  Alexia. 

Otis  tetrax.      Little  Bustard. 

Seen  commonly  when  once  the  right  localities  were  found. 
On  4  May,  one  of  these  birds   jumped  out  ot"  the  long   grass 


224  Mr.  F.  N.  Chasen  on  the  [Ibis, 

within  twenty  yards  of  a  train,  but  all   the  others  seen  were 
extremely  shy. 

Burhinus  cedicnemus.     Stone-Curlew. 

A  common  summer  bird  in  some  districts.  Broken  eggs 
at  Gramatna  on  18  June  were  well  incubated. 

Charadrius  dubius.     Little  Ringed  Plover. 

Noticed  in  the  dried-up  river  beds  in  April  and  May. 
Always  alone  or  in  pairs.  Eggs  during  the  first  week.in  June. 
First  bird  seen  7  April  at  Orljak.  All  the  Ringed  Plovers 
seen  were  of  this  species.  One  bird  suspected  of  having 
eggs  was  observed  chasing  a  Swallo"^'  and  was  without  doubt 
the  ao'gressor. 

Vanellus  vanellus.     Lapwing, 
(/ommon  in  winter, 

Erolia  alpina.     Dunlin. 
Struma  plain  in  winter. 

Tringa  ochropus.     Green  Sandpiper. 

Seen  near  the  Struma  in  January,  February,  and  March, 
but  never  really  common.  Other  Sandpipers  not  noticed  on 
the  Struma  plain. 

Tringa  totanus.     Redshank. 
Plenty  seen  in  winter. 

Tringa  nebulariiis.     Greenshank. 

Fairly  numerous  near  the  Struma  between  Kopriva  and 
Orljak  in  January. 

Numenins  arquata.     Curlew. 
Connnon  in  winter. 

Gallinago  gallinago.     (.^ommon  Snipe. 

Numerous  in  winter.  Pairs  seen  during  the  first  week  in 
April  near  Kurkut. 

Limnocryptes  gallinula.     Jack  Sni})e. 
Common  in  winter. 


1921.]  Birds  of  Macedonia.  225 

Scolopax  rusticola.     Woodcock. 

In  winter  this  bird  is  as  numerous  as  the  keenest  sports- 
man could  wish  it  to  be. 

Hydrochelidon  nigra.     Black  Tern. 

Terns  seen  on  the  Struma  from  June  onwards  were  mostly 
of  this  species.  I  was  shown  eo-gs,  taken  from  islands  in  the 
river,  but  could  not  identify  them  from  memory  as  being 
assuredly  Black  Tern's.  Major  Sladen  met  with  thousands 
of  these  Terns  at  Luke  Ard/an,  preparing  to  breed  in  May, 
and  later  had  eggs  sent  to  him  from  this  place. 

On  the  4tli  of  May — when  travelling  by  train  from  Salonica 
towards  Larissa — I  passed  two  places  well  stocked  with  Terns. 
One  place  was  on  the  marshes,  near  the  point  at  which  the 
railway  crosses  the  Vardar  (Karasuli,  appnrently  where  they 
are  common,  according  to  Major  Sladen),  and  the  other — a 
smaller  colony — yet  further  from  Salonica.  From  their 
behaviour  at  both  these  places  I  should  say  that  the  Terns 
contemplated  breeding. 

[GuLLis.  —  Black-headed  Gulls  on  the  Struma  from 
December  to  March  were — I  am  almost  sure — Larus 
ridilmndus.  Larger  Gulls  at  Salonica  throushout  the 
winter  (sp.  ?).] 

Gallinula  chloropus.     Moorhen. 

A  few  that  frequented  a  reed-bed  near  Ormanli  in  winter 
were  the  shyest  birds  I  have  ever  met  with. 

Fulica  atra.     Coot. 

Abundant  on  the  rivers  in  winter.  Li  January  1917  the 
Butkova  Biver  was  swarming  with  ('oots. 

Puffinus  kuhlii.     Mediterranean  Shearwater. 
Gulf  of  Salonica  in  October. 

Podiceps  cristatus.     Great  Crested  Grebe. 
Plenty  on  the  Struma  in  January. 


226  Mr.  F.  N.  Chasen  on  the  [Ibis, 

Podiceps  griseigena.     Red-necked  (Irebe. 
A    ptiir  seen   several   times    in    the   Gulf  of  >Salouica   in 
November  1*'1G. 

Podiceps  uigricollis.     Black-necked  Grebe. 
A  pair  on  a  pond  near  Salonica,  4  May.     Small  Grebe  on 
the  Strnnia  in  January  were  probably  of  this  species. 

Colymbus  sp.  ? 

Seen  from  the  shore  at  Salonica  in  November. 

Columba  palumbus.     Wood-Pigeon. 
One  record  only,  Hamzali  in  October. 

Columba  cenas.     Stock-Dove. 

Small  flocks  in  winter.  A  large  flock  of  Doves — attributed 
to  this  species — travelling  north  on  4  March,  were  flying 
rather  low. 

Streptopelia  turtiir.     Turtle-Do ve. 

Common  in  summer,  but  avoiding  the  villages,  thereby 
differing  greatly  from  the  next  species.  Quite  a  number 
bred  in  the  Gramatna  area.  In  many  cases  the  nests  were 
out  on  the  hills  a  good  distance  from  the  villages.  As  late 
as  1  July  I  found  several  nests  with  eggs — in  one  case  three 
eggs  in  the  clutch.  In  the  majoi'ity  of  cases  the  nests  were 
built  on  branches  that  sprang  out  directly  from  the  mnin 
trunk  of  a  tree.  They  were  often  very  accessible,  being 
sometimes  about  six  feet  from  the  ground.  Tvro  nests  were 
found,  only  separated  by  a  distance  of  about  as  many  yards, 
and  one  of  them  was  so  exceptionally  frail  that  it  was  really 
wonderful  that  the  eggs  di<l  not  drop  through  it. 

Streptopelia  risoria.     ( hollared  Dove. 

A  common  resident,,  but  inclined  to  be  local  in  distribu- 
tion, which  fact  probably  ex})lains  why  Major  Sladen  did  not 
meet  with  it.  This  Dove  is  most  domesticated  in  its  habits, 
s[)endiiig  the  day  pottering  about  the  housetops  and  roosting 
in  trees  near  by.  When  roosting  they  are  easy  to  approach 
and  could  be  knocked  oflp  the  boughs  by  means  of  long  sticks. 


I921.J  Birds  of  Macedonia.  32* 

It  isintereslino-  to  note  tluit  the  present  species  and  *S'.  turtur 
were  rarely  found  together  in  the  same  district — i.  e.,  in  any 
niinibei-s.  A  curious  little  trick  associated  with  the  courtship 
was  noticed  at  the  end  of  February.  One  bird — no  doubt 
the  male — would  leave  its  mate  sitting  on  a  branch  of  a  tall 
tree,  and  then  flutter  u[)\vards  for  a  few  yards.  The  back 
would  be  turned  towards  the  female,  and  the  tail  S[)read  to 
its  fullest  extent.  This  dis[)lay  was  always  of  short  duration. 
The  act  of  mating  (in  March)  often  took  place  on  the  very 
slender  twigs  at  the  top  of  tall  trees.  The  male  would  abso- 
lutely pounce  on  the  female,  and  then  flutter  round  her  in  a 
small  circle,  after  which  he  would  alight  on  her  back  again 
with  poised  wings.  In  the  spring  it  is  difficult  to  find  nests, 
for  they  are  placed  in  large  and  very  leafy  trees.  Later  in 
the  season,  when  the  boughs  are  quite  bare,  they  can  be 
located  with  much  greater  ease. 

Coturnix  cotumix.     Quail. 

Some  in  Februar3^  Plenty  in  April  and  May.  There  is 
little  doubt  that  a  few  Quails  winter  near  the  foothills.  In 
May  several  pairs  frequented  an  acre  or  so  of  very  densely 
vegetated  ground  on  the  jdain.  There  were  huge  thistles,  of 
a  kind  that  grows  to  the  height  of  a  man,  growing  in  this 
place,  and  they  were  so  thick  that  getting  after  the  Quails 
was  out  of  the  question. 

Perdix  perdix.     Partridge. 

Common  at  all  seasons,  and  more  numerous  in  most 
districts  than  the  next  species. 

Alectoris  sp.  ?     Partridge. 

In  some  localities  a  red-legged  Partridge  is  connnon  at  all 
seasons,  but  I  often  went  over  wide  stretches  of  country 
without  seeing  a  single  bird.  As  I  have  no  specimens  irom 
the  Struma  plain  I  hesitate  to  call  these  birds  A.  grceca. 

Phasianus  colchicus.     Pheasant. 

Seen  in  a  few  favoured  localities  only. 


228  Col.  K.  Meiuertzhageii  on  the  [Ibis, 


XII. — ^onie.  preUmhiary  remarks  on  the  Velocity  of  Migratory 
Flight  among  Birds,  tvith  special  reference  to  the  Pala- 
arctic  Region.  By  Colonel  R.  ]\Ieinertzhagen,  D.S.O., 
M.B.O.U.,  F.Z.S.' 

Thk  question  arises  at  once  as  to  whether  migratory  flight 
is  of  a  different  nature  to  daily  Higlit  in  search  of  food  or  to 
escape  enemies.  We  have  some  interesting  opinions  on  this 
subject.  Gatke  tells  us  that  the  speed  of  birds  during 
their  daily  locomotions  in  the  air  has  not  an  approximate 
relation  to  the  wonderful  velocity  of  flight  attained  by  them 
during  their  migrations.  He  accounts  for  such  enormous 
speed  by  the  fact  that  birds  migrate  in  the  more  elevated 
layers  of  the  atmosphere,  in  which  more  uniform  conditions 
prevail,  and  which  are  less  subject  to  powerful  meteorological 
disturbances. 

Cooke  ('  Bird  Migration  '),  on  the  other  hand,  thinks  that 
migrating  birds  do  not  fly  at  their  fastest.  He  believes  that 
their  migrating  speed  is  usually  from  30  to  40  miles  an  hour, 
and  rarely  exceeds  50.  Flights  of  a  few  hours  at  night, 
alternating  with  rests  of  one  or  more  days,  make  the  spring 
advance  ver}^  slow\  He  goes  on  to  say  that  during  day- 
migration  the  smaller  land-birds  seldom  fly  faster  than 
20  miles  per  hour^  though  larger  birds  move  somewhat 
more  rapidly. 

I  believe  Gatke's  theory  to  be  based  on  faulty  evidence, 
as  1  hope  to  show  later.  Moreover,  birds  would  experience 
greater  difticulties  in  flying  in  the  "  more  elevated  layers  of 
the  atmosphere,''  as  the  atmosphere  is  rarer  and  therefore 
oft'ers  a  less  suitable  mixture  on  which  their  wings  can  beat. 
They  would  experience  the  same  difficulties  as  a  man  trying 
to  swim  in  froth. 

jNIy  own  observations  fend  to  show  that  migratory  flight 
differs  very  little  in  its  velocity  from  the  flight  of  daily  move- 
ment, and  I  see  no  reason  why  it  should  or  how  it  can  be  so. 
I  believe  ujigratory  flight  to  be  steady  and  unhurried,  and 


1 92 1. J       Velocity  of  Migratory  Flight  among  Birds.  229 

that  birds  only  ^y  at  tlieir  fastest  when  pursuing  or  when 
pursued.  Anyone  wlio  has  watclied  a  Falcon  being  flown 
at  a  Rook  will  be  struck  by  the  speed  which  the  usually 
leisurely-flapping  Hook  can  attain  from  the  moment  he 
realizes  he  is  the  quarry. 

I  have  seen  Rooks  travelling  on  migration,  and  accurate 
observation  gives  their  pace  as  from  38  to  40  miles 
per  hour.  Now  these  migratory  Hooks  were  travelling 
in  their  iisual  leisurely  fashion,  and  not  at  anything  like 
the  speed  they  can  use  when  attacked  by  a  Falcon.  All 
other  migrations  which  I  have  witnessed  in  many  and  various 
parts  of  the  world  confirm  my  belief  that  migrator}^  flight 
diff'ers  in  no  way  from  every-day  movement,  except  tlxat  it 
is  steadier  and  possibly  a  trifle  slower. 

So  in  dealing  with  this  question,  1  shall  consider  estimates 
of  any  normal  fligiit  as  the  normal  velocit}^  which  birds 
attain  on  migration.  That  birds  can  hurry  I  do  not  doubt, 
but  such  effort  could  not  belong  sustained,  and  would  be  of 
little  use  to  them  in  the  long-distance  migratory  journeys 
they  are  accustomed  to  take. 

I  shall  first  deal  with  those  estimates  of  velocit\>  which 
previous  writers  have  recorded,  but  which  cannot  be  regarded 
as  reliable.  Gatke  claims  that  -Hoddecl  Crows  fly  at 
108  miles  per  hour  ancl,  IJluethroats  at  180  whilst  on 
passage,  and  especially  in  the  spring.  lie  claims  that 
Bluethroats  pass  from  between  10  and  27  degrees  of 
northeru  latitude  to  the  54th  degree  of  northern  latitude 
in  nine  hours.  He  also  assumes  that  the  American  Golden 
Plover  takes  but  fifteen  hours  from  Labradoi-  to  northern 
Brazil,  supporting  this  theory  by  his  personal  observations 
on  Godwit  and  Curlew  covering  over  7000  yards  in  sixty 
"    seconds,  or  at  the  rate  of  over  4  miles  a  minute  ! 

His  estimate  of  Hooded  Crow  flight  is  based  on  the 
assumption  that  their  line  of  flight  is  from  east  to  west 
over  Heligoland,  and  that  they  make  for  the  east  coast  of 
England.  This  apparently  is  not  the  case,  for  their  line 
of  autumnal  flight  over  Heligoland  is  from  north-east  to 
south-west,   and    these    are   probably  not    the    birds  which 


230  Col.  K.  Meinertzliagen  on  the  [Ibis, 

arrive  in  such  numbers  on  our  central  east  coast.  The 
Bluethroat  estimate  is  based  ou  the  assumption  that  birds 
fly  direct  from  Egypt  to  Heligoland  in  one  nigiit,  which  is 
certaiuly  not  the  case.  His  estimate  of  the  flight  of  Godwit 
and  C'Urlew,  on  \yhich  he  bases  his  estimate  of  the  flight  of 
the  American  Golden  Plover,  is,  I  fear,  but  an  example 
of  the  tremendous  enthusiasm  of  this  charming  character 
for  his  subject. 

But  Gatke  is  not  alone  in  over-estimating  the  velocity 
of  fliglit.  Many  other  writers  have  erred  through  basing  a 
theory  on  bad  evidence  or  no  evidence  at  all,  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  of  these  being  Crawfurd  ('  Round  the 
Calendar  in  Portugal^),  who  convinced  himself  that  Turtle- 
Doves  flew  at  such  an  astonishing  pace  that  by  leavinsr  Kent 
at  (hiwn  they  would  be  in  Portiigai  a  few  hours  later  ! 

As  regards  more  accurate  data,  it  was  my  fortune  during 
the  recent  war  to  have  the  opportunity  of  using  anti-aircraft 
arrangements  for  my  purpose.  It  was  excellent  practice  for 
the  men,  and  the  results  can  be  taken  as  accurate  for  all 
practical  purposes.  In  conjunction  with  observations  of  an 
accurate  nature  from  other  sources,  I  have  compiled  the 
following  table. 

Unless  the  authority  is  stated  iu  brackets,  the  observations  . 
are  my  own. 

The  following  notes  refer  to  the  table  : — 

Note  A,  Observations  taken  at  Quetta  b_y  two  persons  with  stop- 
watches over  a  measured  distance  varying  from  400  to 
660  yards.  All  birds  were  below  1000  feet,  and  in  no 
case  were  they  migrating'. 

NoTR  B.  Observations  taken  in  East  Africa  in  the  autumn  of  1915 
on  migrants  by  using  theodolites  on  a  base  of  ll!00  feet. 

NoTK  C.  Observations  made  at  Dar-es-Salaaui  bj  a  system  of  two 
persons  with  stop-watches  stationed  440  yards  apart  f.nd 
timing  birds  fljing  between  points  aligned  by  two  stakes. 
All  observations  taken  on  still  evenings  when  birds  were 
flying  to  and  from  their  breeding-grounds. 

Note  D.  Observations  made  near  Rata  in  sonthern  Palestine  during 
the  autumn  of  ]917  by  means  of  theodolites  at  two  anti- 
aircraft gun-stations  on  a  base  of  3926  feet,  the  stations 
being  connected  by  telephone. 


I92I.] 
Note  E. 

Note  F. 


Velocity  of  Migralnry  Flight  among  Birds. 


231 


Observations  taken  in  southern  Palestine  by  stop--^atclies  at 
440  yards  distance  and  timing  birds  Hying'  between  two 
points  aligned  by  posts. 

Observations  made  near  Moutreuil  in  nortli-east  France  by 
means  of  theodolites  on  a  1420-foot  base  and  small 
balloons  to  ascertain  the  velocity  of  the  wind  at  the 
altitude  of  flieht.     All  birds  believed  to  be  on  misration. 


Ground 
Species.  Place.  speed : 

m.p.h. 

Ravens     S.Palestine.        32-39^ 

Eooks  N.E.France.         *4.5 

Rooks  do.  39 

Rooks  do. 


Rooks    and    Jack-  do. 
daws. 

Rooks  do. 

Hooded  Crow Rossitten. 

Jackdaw do. 

Chough    Quetta. 

Starling    do. 

Starling    S.Palestine. 

Starling   Rossitten. 

Rose-coloured  Quetta. 

Starling. 

Finches    Rossitten. 


38 

40 

39i 

31-5 
39-6 

in 

43-49 

45-48.i 


46-5 
38, 40i 


33 


Remarks. 

Eleven  observations.  Birds  pass- 
ing to  and  from  roosting.  Wind 
calm.  Altitude  of  flight  310- 
840  feet.     See  note  D.  ^ 

Taken  with  air-sjieed  indicator 
from  aeroplane.     (R.A.F.) 

Altitude  of  flight  1740  feet. 
Wind  17  m.p.h.  side.  See 
note  F. 

Altitude  of  flight  2120  feet. 
Side  wind  of  31  m.p.h.  See 
note  F. 

Altitude  of  fliglit  690  feet. 
Slight  side  wind  on  ground. 
See  note  F. 

Altitude  of  flight  2008  feet. 
Head  wind  12  m.p.h.  See 
note  F. 

Average  of  observations  on 
20  birds.     (Thienemanii.) 

Average  on  several  birds.  ( Th  ie- 
aemann.) 

Very  strong  head  wind.  See 
note  A. 

Thirteen  observations.  Wind 
calm.     See  note  A. 

Twenty-two  observations.  Alti- 
tude of  flight  120-325  feet. 
Wind  calm.     See  note  D. 

A  single  bird.     (Thienemann.) 

Two  observations.  Weather 
calm.     See  note  A. 

Six     observations.       {Tliiene  - 
mann.) 


Air-speed. 


232 


Col.  R.  Meinertzhasren  on  the 


[Ibis, 


Species. 

Crossbill 

Corn-Bunting's 

Calandra  Lark 


Red-throated 

Pipit. 
Red-throated 

Pipit. 


Place. 

Rossitten. 
Palestine. 

do. 

East  Afi'ica. 
Palestine. 


Pipits   Tuscar  Rock. 

Wagtails East  Africa. 

Wagtails do. 

Swallow   France. 


Swallow   East  Africa. 

Swallow  do. 

Swifts  Mesopotamia. 

Roller  East  Africa. 

Lanner  Falcon    ...   S.  Palestine. 
Kestrel    East  Africa. 

Kestrel     do. 

Kestrel     do. 

Marsh-Harrier    ...   Qnetta. 

Marsh-Harrier    ...   S.  Palestine. 


Ground 

speed :  Remarks. 

m.p.h. 

37*5       Average   of    two    observations. 

{Thienemann.) 
20|       Average    of    two    observations, 

Birds   flying    to    water.      See 

note  E. 
34         Average   of  three  observations. 

Birds  coming  from  water.     See 

note  E. 
2r,-,5       Altitude  of  flight  2in  feet.    Wind 

calm.     See  note  B. 
20^       Birds  coming  to  water.    Average 

of      two      observations.       See 

note  E. 
20         (Patten,  '  Zoologist.") 
30-1       Altitude  of  flight  160  feet.  Slight 

following  wind.     See  note  B. 
29         Altitude  of  flight  240  feet.   Calm. 

See  note  B. 
100         A    Swallow    was     taken     from 

Roiibaix  to  Paris,  distance  160 

miles,  and  returned  to  Roubaix 

90  minutes  after  its  liberation. 

{'  Zoologist;  1887,  e.r  '  Globe.") 
37j|       Altitude  of  flight  235  feet.  Wind 

calm.     See  note  B. 
34         Flying  at  ground-level.     Strong 

head  wind.     See  note  B. 
well  over    Large  flock  at  6000  feet,  feeding 
68  over  Mosul.    They  circled  round 

machine  and  easily  overtook  it. 

Flying  speed  68  m.p.h.  (R.A.F.) 
38-7       Altitude  of  flight  720  feet.  Slight 

head  wind.     See  note  B. 
48         Bird  not  hunting.     See  note  E. 
40i       Altitude    of     flight     210  .feet. 

Weather  calm.     See  note  B. 
43-9       Altitude    of     flight     310     feet. 

Weather  calm.     See  note  B. 
22         Altitude    of     flight     150     feet. 

Strong  head  wind.     See  note  B. 
31, 36      Observations      on     two     males 

hunting.     Weather  calm.     See 

note  A. 
37^       Single  bird  hunting.    See  note  E. 


1 92 1.]       Velocity  of  Mhjratory  Flight  among  Birds. 


2S3 


Species.  Place. 

Lammergeier  Quetta. 

Lammorgeier  Italy. 

White  Stork    Mesopotamia. 


Grey  Heron     France. 

Gannets   Eastbourne. 

Pelican     S.  Palestine. 

Geese   ? 


Ground 
speed : 
m.p.h. 

79| 


*110 


Remarks. 


*48 


under  *45 

*48 

51 


44-3 


Geese   

. .   France. 

*55 

Geese  and  Duck  . 

..  Mesopotamia. 

42-48, 
slightly 
faster. 

Geese  

.   France. 

50| 

Duck    

? 

47-8 

Duck    

.  Quetta. 

51-59 

Brent  Geese     

.   Scotland. 

*45 

Mallard    

? 

*50 

Mallard    

.  France. 

under  *50 

Teal 

.   S.  Palestine. 

44 

Houbara  Bustard .  Quetta. 


42i 


Gliding  to  food  at  angle  of 
12  degrees  to  horizontal. 
Strong  side  wind.     See  note  A. 

Bird  nose-diving  to  escape  from 
a  pursuing  aei-oplano.  Obser- 
vation taken  with  air-speed 
indicator.     (E.A.F.) 

Birds  on  spring  passage  at  4200 
feet  over  Baghdad.  Birds  drew 
in  their  necks  and  legs  when 
machine  was  near.     (E.A.F.) 

By  air-speed  indicator.  (E.A.F.) 

By  air-speed  indicator.    (E.A.F.) 

Altitude  of  flight  1240  feet. 
A  side  wind  of  15  m.p.h.  See 
note  D. 

Altitude  of  flight  905  feet. 
Measured  by  theodolite.  (Clay- 
ton, '  Science,'  n.  s.,  vol.  v. 
No.  105.) 

By  air-speed  indicator.    (E.A.F.) 

Frequent  observation  by  air- 
speed indicator.  Birds  usually 
on  passage,  biit  all  below  3000 
feet.     (E.A.F.) 

Altitude  of  flight  4210 
Head  wind  of  9  m.p.h. 
note  F. 

Altitude  of  flight  958 
Measured  by  a  sj^ecial 
dolite.     (Clayton,  ibid.) 

Eleven      observations, 
calm.     See  note  A. 

By  air-speed  indicator.  (Wynne.) 

By  air-speed  indicator.  Birds 
believed  to  be  on  passage. 
( Wynne.) 

By  air-speed  indicator.    (E.A.F.) 

Single  bird  flying  low  and 
leisurely.     See  note  E. 

A  single  bird.  Wind  calm. 
See  note  A. 


feet. 
See 

feet, 
theo- 

Wind 


*  Air-speed. 


SER.  XI. VOL.  111. 


234 


Col.  R.  Meinertzhagen  on  the 


[Ibis, 


Species.  Place. 

Stock  Dove S.  Palestine. 

Turtle-Dove    Sinai. 


Geoffrey's  Plover     Palestine. 
(C'/i.  geoffroyi). 


Kentish  Plover  . . .  do. 

Caspian  Plover         East  Africa. 

(Ch.  asiaticus). 
Caspian  Plover  . . ,  do. 


Dotterel  S.  Palestine. 


Golden  Plover     ...   England. 


Ground 
speed  : 
m.p.h. 

37 


Sand-Grouse 

Quetta. 

43| 

(Pi.  orientalis). 

Sand-Grouse 

S.  Palestine. 

47* 

(Pt.  senegallus). 

Pheasant 

— 

33-8 

Pheasant 

— 

38-1 

Partridge 

— 

32-1 

Partridge 

— 

*40 

Quail    

Mediterranean. 

57 

34 


34 

51  ~ 


47 


46, 50i 


*60 


Remarks. 

Fairly  strong  head  wind.     Bird 

flying  to  water.  See  note  E. 
Several  tests  made  on  birds 
flying  their  best  alongside  a 
train.  Speed  of  train  obtained 
from  kilometre  posts.  No 
record  of  wind. 
Bird  flying  from  water.     Slight 

head  wind.     See  note  A. 
Bird  flying  from  water.    Altitude 
of   flight   460  feet.      Weather 
cahn.     See  note  D. 
Experiment  in  covered  gallery. 

('Field;  Feb.  1887.) 
Experiment  in  the  open.  ( '  Field,' 
Feb.  1887.) 
Experiment  in  the  open.  ('  Field, ' 
Feb.  1887.) 
By  air-speed  indicator.   (R.A.P.) 
Timed   at    sea   over    500  yards 
distance.       Birds    on   passage. 
(Lynes,  Brit.  B.  vol.  iii.) 
Timed    by   speedometer  in   the 
Bay     of     Acre,     birds     flying 
directly   in    front   of   the    car. 
Birds  could ,  be  pressed  up  to 
39  m.p.h.,  after  which  the  car 
could    overtake   them.      Wind 
calm. 
Same  as  for  Geoffrey's  Plover. 
Birds  flying  very  low  on  passage. 

Wind  calm.     See  note  B. 
Birds  flying  at  480  feet.    Strong 
side  wind.     Birds  on  passage. 
See  note  B. 
Two  observations.     Birds  flying 
very  low.     Strong  side  wind  of 
11  and  21  m.p.h.  respectively. 
See  note  D. 
Birds  being   pressed.      By   air- 
speed indicator.     {Wynne.) 


*  Air-speed. 


1 92 1.]       Velocity  of  Migratory  Flight  among  Birds. 


235 


Species. 


Place. 


Pacific  Plover  Pacific. 
(Gh.  domiulcus). 

Lapwing  S.  Palestine. 

Lapwing  France. 

Lajjwing  do. 

Lapwing  do. 

Little  Stint East  Africa. 

Terek  Sandpiper...  do. 

Greenshank     do. 

Marsh-Sandpiper ..  do. 

Oystercatcher      . . .  do. 

Ciirlew do. 

Whimbrel    do. 


Grronnd 
speed  : 
m.p.h. 

50-75 


37 

50 

*40-45 
42 


49 
48-51 
46,49 
48,51, 51i 
45-49 
42-48:^ 

43-52 


Remarks. 

Not  founded  apparently  on  accu- 
rate observation.  {Henshatv, 
Smithson.  Inst.  Eep.  1910.) 

Single  bird,  flying  against  head 
wind  of  12  m.p.h.  Altitude  of 
flight  860  feet.     See  note  D. 

Altitude  of  flight  5500  feet. 
Flying  against  a  north  wind 
on  spring  passage.  Means  of 
estimate  imknown.  {Portal, 
'Field,'  17.iii.l7.) 

Observation  by  air-speed  indi- 
cator.    (E.A.F.) 

Altitude  of  flight  1410  feet. 
Slight  side  wind  at  ground- 
level.     See  note  F. 

One  observation.     See  note  C. 

Four  observations.     See  note  C. 

Two  observations.     See  note  C. 

Three  observations.    See  note  C. 

Seven  observations.    See  note  C. 

Seventeen  observations.  See 
note  C. 

Nine  observations.     See  note  C. 


*  Air- 


So  much  for  observations  on  the  flight  of  wild  birds. 
I  shall  now  briefly  record  some  of  the  more  accurate 
observations  on  the  rate  of  flight  of  Carrier  Pigeons. 

Tegetmeier  declares  ('  Field/  22.  i.  87)  that  the  average 
speed  of  Carrier  Pigeons  is  36  miles  per  hour,  whilst  on 
two  occasions  a  speed  of  55  miles  per  hour  was  maintained 
for  foiir  hours  in  succession. 

From  experiments  carried  out  in  a  covered  gallery 
('  Field,'  1887,  p.  242)  it  was  shown  that  a  Pigeon  flew 
at  33*8  miles  per  hour,  whilst  in  the  open  another  flew  at 
27'9  miles  per  hour. 

In  the  '  Homing  Fancier's  Annual '  of  1892  it  was  recorded 
that  in  covering  82  miles  in  good  weather  a  bird  maintained 


23G  Col.  R.  Meiaertzhageii  on  the  [Ibis^ 

just  over  71  miles  per  hour.  From  the  Scilly  Islands  to 
Wiltshire  (315  miles)  a  bird  kept  up  a  speed  of  50^  miles 
per  hour.  In  170  miles  a  bird  made  54  miles  per  hour,  and 
in  104  miles  it  made  57^  miles  per  hour.  In  a  race  from 
Banff  to  Hampshire  a  bird  maintained  6.2  miles  per  hour  in 
very  favourable  weather.  Finally^  a  celebrated  bird  called 
"  Volonel "  on  two  occasions  maintained  over  60  miles 
per  hour. 

Doubtless  other  figures  have  been  published,  but  I  have 
been  unable  to  trace  them.  From  the  data  available  it 
appears  tliat  the  normal  velocity  o£  a  Carrier  Pigeon  is 
from  30-36  miles  per  hour,  but  that  when  ''  homing  "  they 
can  attain  up  to  60  miles  per  hour  or  over.  Again  arises 
the  question  as  to  whether  migrants  can  accelerate  their 
speed  when  actually  migrating,  in  the  same  manner  that  a 
"  homing  "  Pigeon  can  hurry  on  its  way  when  "  homing. '^ 
For  reasons  already  given,  I  do  not  think  they  do,  and  there 
is  (.'ertainly  no  evidence  which  even  suggests  it.  The  cases 
of  Rooks  in  the  above  table  were  certainly  those  of  migrating 
birds,  and  indicate  no  hurry.  The  Rossitten  birds  were  all 
on  passage,  and  show  no  excessive  speed.  In  fact,  the  only 
excessive  speeds  we  have  in  the  table  are  those  of  the  two 
Lammergeier  which  were  taken  under  abnormal  conditions, 
tlie  (jrolden  Plovers  which  were  escaping  pursuit,  and  the 
Roubaix  Swallow.  It  is  remarkable  that  this  bird  was  also 
"  homing,"  which  may  account  for  such  an  abnormal  speed. 
But  Swallows  are  most  deceptive  birds  as  regards  their 
Hight.  They  are  in  locality  neither  strong  nor  rapid  fliers, 
and  personally  I  do  not  attach  too  much  reliance  in  the 
data  of  the  Roubaix  Swallow.  I  do  not  believe  any  Swallow 
is  capable  of  anything  approaching  that  speed  unless  assisted 
by  a  tail  wind  of  30  or  40  miles  an  hour,  which,  as  is  well 
known,  is  a  hateful  condition  to  a  travelling  bird. 

The  case  of  the  Mosul  Swifts  is  interesting.  The  birds 
were  probably  not  on  passage,  but  simply  feeding.  It  is 
known  that  Swifts  travel  great  distances  in  search  of  food 
and  ascend  great  altitudes.  In  the  Middle  Atlas  of  Marocco, 
in  the  Himalayas,  in  Crete  and  Palestine,  4000  or  5000  feet 


1 92 1,]       Velocitij  of  Migratory  Flight  among  Birds.  237 

and  50  miles  or  so  in  distance  seems  nothing  to  these 
incomparable  fliers.  I  have  had  splendid  opportunities  of 
observing  botii  the  Alpine,  Common,  and  Spine-tailed 
(Chcetura)  Swifts,  and  it  has  been  a  great  disappointment 
to  me  that  I  have  never  been  able  to  get  a  satisfactory- 
estimate  of  their  rate  of  flight,  as  they  never  continue 
on  an  even  course.  On  a  small  island  off  the  coast  of 
Crete,  I  was  recently  given  a  good  exhibition  of  what  an 
Alpine  Swift  can  do.  I  was  watching  some  of  these  birds 
feeding  round  cliffs  in  which  several  pairs  of  Eleonora's 
Falcon  were  about  to  breed.  Now,  this  delightful  Falcon  is  no 
mean  flier,  and  as  these  Swifts  passed  their  cliff,  the  Falcons 
would  come  out  against  them  like  rockets.  The  Swifts 
would  accelerate,  and  seemed  to  be  out  of  sight  before  the 
Falcons  were  well  on  their  way.  So  confident  were  the  Swifts 
in  their  superior  speed,  that  every  time  they  circled  round 
the  island  they  never  failed  to  "  draw ''  the  Falcons,  and 
seemed  to  be  playing  with  them.  I  may  add  that  these 
same  Falcons  have  little  difficulty  in  overhauling  and  striking 
a  llock-Pigeon — itself  no  mean  performer.  I  have  also 
seen  on  record  the  case  of  Falcons  and  Swifts  somewhere 
in  India,  when  the  former  failed  time  after  time  to  come 
up  with  his  quarry.  I  unfortunately  cannot  trace  the 
reference. 

I  hesitate  to  even  guess  at  the  speed  to  which  a  Swift  can 
attain  when  the  necessity  arises,  but  the  main  point  is  that 
this,  the  fastest  of  birds,  can  increase  his  ','  feeding  "  speed 
of,  say,  70  miles  per  hour  to  a  velocity  which  must  exceed 
100  miles  per  hour.  There  is  little  doubt  that  the  speed  of 
the  Golden  Plover  in  the  table  is  an  accelerated  speed. 
Pilots  in  Mesopotamia  have  told  me  that  whereas  Geese 
cannot  to  any  great  extent  accelerate,  Duck,  when  pressed, 
could  attain  a  speed  of  about  60  miles  per  hour. 

To  conclude,  1  find  that  birds  have  two  speeds — a  normal 
rate  which  is  used  for  every-day  purposes  and  also  for 
migration,  and  an  accelerated  speed  which  is  used  for  pro- 
tection or  pursuit,  and  which  in  some  cases  nearly  doubles 
tiie  rate  of  their  normal  speed.     Some  of  the  heavier  birds 


238  Mr.  W.  Raw  on  the  [Ibis, 

can  probably  only  accelerate  to  a  slight  extent.  In  this 
conclusion  I  am  naturally  excepting  "  courtship "  flight, 
which  is  usually  of  an  accelerated  nature. 

I  also  find,  after  eliminating  abnormal  conditions  and 
observations  based  .  on  meagre  evidence,  that  the  normal 
and  migratory  rate  of  flight  in  miles  per  hour  is  as 
follows  : — 

CorvidEe    31-45          Starlings  38-49 

Smaller  Passeres.  20-37         Falcons 40-48 

Geese     42-55         Ducks  44-59 

Tame  Piiieons  ...   30-36         Sand-Grouse    ...  43-47 
Waders  34-51,  but  mostly  from  40-51. 


XIII. — Field  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Lower  Egypt.  By 
W.  Raw,  M.B.O.U.  With  Contributions  hy  Colonel  R. 
Sparrow,  G.M.G.,  D.S.O.,  M.B.O.U.,  and  the  Rev, 
F.  C.  R.  JouRDAiN,  M.A.,  M.B.O.U. 

From  August  1915  until  April  1919  I  was  resident  at  the 
Wireless  Station  of  Abu  Zabal.  The  village  of  that  name 
is  situated  some  twenty  miles  nortli-east  of  Cairo,  and  my 
quarters  were  a  further  mile  in  the  same  direction,  right  on 
the  Cairo-Ismailia  canal,  where  it  skirts  the  edge  of  the 
desert.  Thus  I  had  easy  access  to  the  cultivation,  desert,  and 
palm-groves,  while  some  two  hundred  acres  of  useful  swamps 
(known  as  the  Birket  Accrashi)  were  within  half-an-hour's 
walk.  The  locality  was  therefore  ideal  for  ornithological 
observation. 

Throughout  my  stay  I  kept  a  daily  diary,  and  the  follow- 
ing notes  are  culled  from  its  pages.  I  endeavoured  to  secure 
as  much  information  on  the  breeding  birds  of  Egypt  as  I 
could,  and  for  the  purpose  of  putting  my  observations  and 
other  information  on  record,  I  propose  to  include  all  my 
oological  data  in  this  paper,  although  much  of  it  was  secured 
outside  the  six-mile  area  included  in  the  Abu  Zabal  district. 
Due  reference  will  be  made  to  such  divergence. 

To  my  friend  Mr.  J.  Lewis  Bonhote,  M.A.,  F.L.S.,  F.Z.S., 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Loiver  Egypt.  239 

M.B.O.U.,  I  am  deeply  indebted  for  much  kindly  assistance 
in  many  ways.  His  thorough  knowledge  of  the  Birds  of 
Egypt,  his  genial  hospitality,  and  advice  were  ever  at  my 
disposal,  and  I  shall  always  associate  him  with  any  success 
which  fell  to  my  lot.  Mr.  M.  J.  Nicoll,  M.B.O.U.,  and 
Captain  S.  S.  Flower,  F.L.S.,  M.B.O.U.,  of  the  Egyptian 
Zoological  Service,  also  rendered  me  many  kindnesses  which 
I  gratefully  acknowledge. 

I  must  also  pay  tribute  to  Lieut.  D.  Paton,  Major  P.  H. 
Manson-Bahr,  D.S.O.,  M.B.O.U.,  Captain  W.  Shipton. 
M.B.O.U.,  Captain  W.  Bigger,  M.C.,  M.B.O.U.,  Major  F.  W. 
Borman,  M.B.O.U.,  Lieut.  D.  W.  Musselwhite,  M.B.O.U., 
and  Dr.  Beven,  all  of  whom  assisted  me  in  many  ways,  and 
in  whose  company  much  of  my  work  was  done. 

The  Rev.  F.  C.  R.  Jourdain,  M.A.,  M.B.O.U.,  has  kindly 
revised  the  nomenclature  and  furnished  the  list  of  literature. 

The  supplementary  notes  in  square  brackets  on  the  breed- 
ing of  Egyptian  birds  are  from  observations  made  by 
Col.  Sparrow  in  the  yeajs  1893-94,  1908-09,  and  refer  with 
few  exceptions  to  the  Delta  or  the  desert  bordering  it.  As 
these  notes  agree  closely  with  my  own,  it  was  not  thought 
necessary  to  confirm  my  observations  in  all  cases,  but  his 
remarks  are  confined  to  those  instances  in  which  additional 
information  was  available  or  some  divergence  of  habits 
noted. 

The  nomenclature  adopted  is  that  of  the  International 
Rules,  and  in  the  main  we  have  followed  Hartert's  '  Vogel 
pal.  Fauna,'  with  some  necessary  modifications. 

The  order  followed  is  that  of  this  work,  and  a  list  of  the 
principal  notes  and  papers  on  the  Ornithology  of  Lower 
Egypt  is  also  appended.  It  is  not  intended  to  be  exhaustive, 
and  only  those  papers  which  are  likely  to  be  useful  to  British 
ornithologists  and  are  readily  accessible  are  included  : — 

1859.  E.  Cavendiijli  Taylor.    Ibis,  pp.  41-55.      Ornithological   Reminis- 

cences of  Egypt. 

1860.  „  „  Ibis,  p.  199  (Corrections). 

1861.  J.  Cavafy.  Ibis,    p.    210  (Letter   on  Bnch/tes  cinereo- 

capillus  and  Chettusia  leucura). 


240  Mr.  W.  Raw  on  the  [Ibis, 

18G2.  S,  Stafford  Allen.         Ibis,  pp.  357-361.     Notes  on  the  Birds  of 

Egypt. 

1863.  ,,  „  Ibis,  pp.  32-34,  156-7.     Notes  on  the  Birds 

of  Egypt. 
„       ,,  „  Ibis, pp.  363-4  (Letter  on  CMce</2<5//ZancZrtr««s). 

Idem  by  J.  H.  Cochrane  (pp.  361-3). 

1864.  „  „  Ibis,  pp.  97-8.     On  Acrocephalus  stentorius 

(pi.  I.).     T.  c.  pp.  233-243.     Remarks  on 
Dr.  A.  L.  Adams's  Notes  and  Observations 
on  the  Birds  of  Egypt  and  Nubia. 
,,     A.  Leith  zVdams.         Ibis,  pp.  1-36.     Notes  and  Observations  on 

the  Birds  of  Egypt  and  Nubia. 
„      J.  H.  Cochrane.  Ibis,  pp.  183-184.     Note  on  the  Nesting  of 

the  Lanner  Falcon  (pi.  IV.). 

1867.  E.  Cavendish  Taylor.    Ibis,  pp.  48-73.     Egypt  revisited. 

1869-74.  T.  v.  Heuglin.         Oruithologie     Nordost- Afrikas.       2     vols. 

Cassel. 

1870.  R.  B.  Sharpe.  Ibis,   pp.   421-435.      Critical   Remarks   on 

Dr.    v.    Heuglin's    "  Ornithologie   N.O.- 
Afrikas." 
„      G.  E.  Shelley.  Ibis,  pp.  149-150,  445-448  (Letters  on  Elanus 

cceruleits  and  Cypselus  pallidus,  etc.). 

1871.  „  „  Ibis,  pp.  38-54,  131-147,  309-319.     Contri- 

butions to  the  Ornithology  of  Egypt. 

1872.  „  ,,  A  Handbook  to  the  Birds  of  Egypt.   London. 
1874.  T.  V.  Heuglin.  J.  f.  O.  pp.  46-54.     Bericht  iiber  "  A  Hand- 
book to  the  Birds  of  Egypt." 

1876.  J.  H.  Gurney.  Rambles  of  a  Naturalist  in  Egypt  and  other 

Countries  [pp.  84-245].     London,  n.d. 

1878.  E.  Cavendish  Taylor.   Ibis,  pp.  368-374.     A  few  additional  Notes 

on  Birds  of  Egypt. 

1886.    „  „  Ibis,  pp.  378-380  (Letter  on  visit  to  Egypt). 

1889.  Crown  Prince  Rudolf  of   Austria   (transl.   by   C.   G.   Danford). 

Notes  on  Sport  and  Ornithology  (pp.  229 
etc.,  503  etc.).    London. 

1891.  E.  Cavendish  Taylor.    Ibis,  pp.  473-475  (Letter  on  6th  visit  to 

Egypt). 

1892.  G.  Schrader.  Orn.   Jahrb.    pp.  41-54.     Ornitholog.   Beo- 

bachtungen  auf  meinen  Sammelreisen.   V. 
1896.  E.  Cavendish  Taylor.   Ibis,  pp.  477-482.     A  few  Notes  on  Birds  of 

Egypt  from  observations  made  at  Cairo,  etc. 

1905.  W.  L.  S.  Loat.  Ibis,  pp.  452-461.     On  a  small  collection  of 

Birds  from  the  Wadi-en  Natrun. 

1906.  ,,         „  Ibis,  pp.  113-124.     On  a  small  collection  of 

Birds  from  the  vicinit}-  of  Lake  Menzaleh. 


I92I.] 


Birds  of  Lower  Egypt. 


341 


1907.  A.  Koenig.  J.  f.  0.   pp.   59-91.     Die   Geier  Aegyptens. 

T.c.  pp.  391-469,  549-582,  Die  Falcouideu 
Aegyptens. 
Ibis,   pp.    490-510.      Contributions   to    the 
Ornithology    of    Egypt,    No.    1.       Loke 
Menzaleh. 
Ibis,  pp.  285-302,  471-484,  623-G49.     Con- 
tributions to   the   Ornithology  of  Egypt, 
No.  2.     Birds  of  the  Province  of  Giza 
(3  parts). 
Egyptian  Birds  for  the  most  part  seen  in  tlie 

Nile  Valley.     Loudon. 
Zool.  pp.  41-59.     The  Birds  of  Lower  Egypt. 
Ibis,   pp.   405-453.      Contributions   to   the 
Ornithology  of  Egypt,  No.  3.     The  Birds 
of  the  Wadi  Natron. 
Ibis,  pp.  121-187.     Field  Notes  on  a  Collec- 
tion  of  Birds    from    the    Mediterranean 
[partini]. 
Ibis,  pp.  539-557.     Birds  of  the  Suez  Canal 

Zone  and  Sinai  Peninsula. 
The  Principal  Species  of  Birds  protected  by 

Law  in  Egj'pt.     Cairo. 
Hand  List  of  the   Birds  of  Egypt.      Pub. 
No.  29.     Cairo. 
1919.  A.  Koenig.  J.  f.  0.   pp.  431-485.     Die   Sperrschnabler 

(Plssirostres)  Aegyptens. 
For  lists  of  earlier  works  on  this  subject  see  Ornithologie  Nordost-Afrika?, 
Bd.  I.  pp.  xcvii-cviii. 

F.  C.  R.  JOURDAIN. 


1908.  M.  J.  Nicoll. 

1909.  „ 

1909.  C.  Whymper. 

1912.  C.  B.  Ticehurst. 
„      M.  J.  Nicoll. 

,,      II.  Lyues. 

1917.  A.  W.  Boyd. 

1918.  S.  S.  Flower  and 

M.  J.  Nicoll. 

1919.  M.  J.  Nicoll. 


1,  Corvus  corax  umbrinus.     Brown-necked  Raven. 

Abu  Zabal  was  not  a  suitable  place  for  these  birds,  but  I 
occasionally  saw  them  there.  A  family  party  would  often 
appear  in  June,  and  stray  birds  at  different  times  during  the 
year.  I  found  a  clutch  of  four  eggs  in  a  nest  on  a  cliff  in 
the  Moqattam  Hills  on  2  April,  1918,  and  another  clutch 
was  taken  by  a  native,  in  my  presence,  from  a  nest  on  a 
rocky  scarp  near  the  Pyramids  on  2^  March,  1918. 
Captain  W.  Bigger  found  fresh  eggs  in  a  well  on  the  Suez 
road  on  12  March,  and  another  well-incubated  clutch  in  the 
Moqattam  Hills  on  21  April.  He  also  found  fresh  eggs  at 
Luxor  on  22  February,  1917. 


242  Mr.  W.  Raw  on  the  [Ibis, 

[This  bird  was  quite  common  between  Ne  Fiche  and  Suez 
on  3  August,  1919.  My  dates  for  full  clutches  of  four  eggs 
each  near  Abbassia  are  20  April,  1894,  and  19  April,  1910. 
Three  eggs  from  Luxor  were  taken  27  March,  1903.  Most  of 
these  eggs  are  paler  than  those  of  the  Hooded  Crow. — R.  S.] 

[The  small  size  of  the  eggs  of  this  race  as  compared  with 
those  of  other  forms  of  Raven  is  remarkable.  Average  of 
17  Egyptian  eggs  :  44*49  x  31".58  mm.  British  egg's  average 
49'8x33'5  mm.  Some  eggs  have  a  very  pronounced  blue 
ground,  while  others  are  barely  distinguishable  from  the 
paler  type  of  Hooded  Crow's  egg. — F.  C.  U.  J.] 

2.  Corvus  comix  cornix.     Hooded  Crow, 

Common  and  resident.  One  bird  made  a  hobby  of  flying 
off  with  stray  tennis-balls  from  our  court,  and  quickly  ruined 
them.  Begins  to  breed  early  in  March,  and  T  have  found 
eggs  as  late  as  6  June.  Five  is  the  largest  number  of  eggs 
foxmd  in  any  nest. 

[My  earliest  date  for  eggs  is  7  March,  1909  (2  fresh  eggs 
at  Helouan).  In  the  Fayum  I  found  fresh  eggs  on  29  and 
30  March,  1910.  Four  is  the  normal  clutch,  but  I  have 
twice  taken  five.  Eggs  vary  from  almost  pure  blue  to 
the  ordinary  type. — R.  S.] 

3.  Sturnus  rulgaris  subsp.  ?     Starling. 

Although  this  bird  was  common  during  the  winter  months 
I  appear  to  have  omitted  to  secure  any  specimen  at  Abu 
Zabal,  and  cannot  say  definitely  which  subspecies  those 
seen  belonged  to.  One  obtained  at  Tanua  el  Fayum  in 
February  1919  was  identified  as  S.  v.  poltaratskyL 

4.  Oriolus  oriolus  oriolus.     Golden  Oriole. 

This  species  passes  through  Abu  Zabal  about  the  first 
week  in  May  and  again  in  late  September,  but  is  never  ver}' 
numerous. 

5.  Chloris  chloris  subsp.  ?     Greenfinch. 

Observed  on  one  occasion  only.  This  was  a  single  bird 
seen  in  an  apricot-orchard  on  16  Februar}-^,  191G, 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Lotvei'  Egypt.  243 

6.  Carduelis  carduelis.     Goldfinch. 

Uncommon  at  Abu  Zabal.  I  saw  a  pair  near  there  on 
20  April,  1916,  and  several  times  during  the  winter  near 
Shebin-el-Qauater.  Mr.  M.  J.  Nicoll  showed  me  a  nest,  on 
which  the  bird  was  sitting,  in  a  tree  overhanging  the  tram- 
lines outside  the  Zoological  Gardens  at  Giza,  on  6  March, 
1917. 

[Mr.  Nicoll  showed  me  a  nest  with  eggs  in  the  Giza 
Gardens  on  24  April,  1910.— R.  S.] 

7.  Carduelis  cannabina  mediterranea.     Linnet. 

Large  flocks  haunt  the  stubble-fields  throughout  the 
winter,  usually  arriving  in  mid-October  and  de[)arting  in 
March  or  April. 

8.  Serinus  canarius  serums.     Serin  Finch. 

A  flock  o£  from  thirty  to  fifty  spent  the  winter  annually  in 
some  tall  trees  near  ray  quarters,  arriving  early  in  November 
and  departing  early  in  March. 

9.  Erythrospiza  githaginea  githaginea.    Desert  Bullfinch. 
[This  species  was  common  at  Luxor  in   December  1909, 

and  most  probably  breeds  in  the  neighbourhood. — R.  S.] 

10.  Fringilla  ccelebs  ccelebs.      Chaffinch. 

Small  parties  were  met  with  during  the  winter  months, 
being  most  numerous  during  January  and  February. 

11.  Passer  domesticus  niloticus.    Egyptian  House-Sparrow, 
Abundant  throughout  the  year.     Breeds  from  early  April 

to  late  June.  There  is  a  great  range  of  variation  in  the 
eggs.  I  obtained  three  sets  of  five  eggs  and  took  another 
containing  six,  but  four  were  more  common. 

[In  the  Fayum  I  took  many  clutches  on  2%  March,  1910, 
and  at  Luxor  on  31  March.  My  earliest  date  for  Abbassia  is 
21  March,  1909.  Four  appears  to  be  the  normal  clutch,  but 
I  have  one  set  of  six  from  the  Fayura. — R.  S.] 

12.  Passer  hispaniolensis  hispaniolensis.    Spanish  Sparrow, 
Huge  flocks  winter  at  Abu  Zabal,  roosting    in  the  reed- 
beds. 


244  Mr.  W.  Raw  on  the  [Ibis, 

13.  Sporaeginthus  amandava.     Amaduv^ade  Finch. 

This  species  is  not,  of  course,  indigenous,  but  now  breeds 
wild  in  the  gardens  at  Giza,  and  is  numerous  at  the  Barrage 
over  the  Nile.  It  appears  to  be  spreading,  and  breeds 
regularly  at  Inchas,  where  I  have  seen  young  just  out  of  the 
nest.  I  took  several  clutches  of  eggs  at  the  Barrage  on 
14  August,  1917.  All  were  fours  except  one,  which  had 
five  eggs. 

14.  Einberiza  calandra  calandra.     Corn-Bunting. 

A  common  winter  visitor,  large  numbers  roosting  in  the 
reed-beds.     Remains  as  late  as  5  April. 

15.  Emberzia  hortulana.     Ortolan. 

Passes  through  Abu  'Zabal  on  both  migrations,  being- 
most  numerous  about  mid-September  and  rarer  in  mid- 
April. 

16.  Emberzia  caesia.     Cretzschmar's  Bunting. 

Seen  as  early  as  27  August,  and  is  more  numerous  than 
the  preceding  species  in  autumn  and  also  in  spring. 

17.  Calandrella  brachydactyla  brachydactyla.      Short-toed 

Lark. 
During  some  winters  this  species  winters  at  Abu  Zabal, 
when  it  is  to  be  seen  in  large  flocks.  Other  years  it  passes 
through  in  October,  and  returns  in  March  on  its  way  north. 
I  saw  an  Italian  "  sportsman  "  shoot  no  fewer  than  twenty- 
eight  at  a  single  discharge. 

18.  Calandrella  brachydactyla  longipeniiis.     Long-winged 

Short-toed  Lark. 
I  have  shot  specimens  of  this  bird  out  of  flocks  of  the 
preceding  subspecies,  and  the  remarks  on  it  are  applicable  to 
this  also. 

19.  Ammomanes  deserti  isabellina.     Desert-Lark. 
Messrs.  Bahr,  Bigger,  and  Borman  caught   some  young 

birds  of  this  species  which  had  just  flown,  on  22  April,  1919, 
in  the  Moqattam  Hills  near  Abbassia. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Lower  E(jypt,  245 

[I  only  found  ibe  nest  of  this  species  on  one  occasion — on 
16  May,  1910 — and,  unfortunately,  the  bird  deserted.  The 
nest  was  on  a  rocky  ridge  not  far  from  the  Moqattam  Hills, 
and  was  placed  on  the  ground  between  some  flat  rocks,  the 
edge  of  the  nest  being  surrounded  by  small  stones.  Young 
a  few  days  old  were  observed  on  25  May^  1910.  and  a  fully- 
fledged  young  bird  on  2'6  May.  This  species  was  common 
in  the  Wady  Hof  on  5  May,  1909,  but  appeared  not  to  have 
then  laid.— R.  S.] 

20.  Ammomanes  phcenicurus  arenicolor.  Gould's  Desert 
Lark. 

[I  observed  this  bird  near  Abbassia  in  January  and 
Februar}^  1910.  Mr.  NicoU  obtained  a  fully-fledged  young- 
bird  in  the  Wadi  Natrun  on  25  May,  1910.— R.  S.] 

21--24.  Galerida  cristata  nigricans,  altirostris,  moeritica, 
and  caroli.     Egyptian  Crested  Larks. 

Common  and  resident.  Abu  Zabal  appears  to  have  both 
G.  c.  nigricans  and  6r.  c.  altirostris,  and  I  have  frequently 
observed  what  appeared  to  be  birds  referable  to  both  sub- 
species obviously  paired.  The  latter  lighter  type  was  more 
numerous.  I  have  specimens  of  both  forms  shot  at  the 
same  place.  They  breed  from  the  first  week  in  April  until 
the  end  of  May,  but  on  one  occasion  I  saw  young  birds  on 
the  wing  on  10  April. 

I  found  eggs  of  G.  c.  mwritica  in  the  Fayiim  Province 
on  14  March,  1917,  and  saw  G.  c.  caroli  feeding  young  in 
the  Wadi  Natrun  in  mid-May,  1918.  I  never  found  more 
than  four  eggs  in  a  nest,  and  usually  only  three,  but  Mr.  J.  L. 
Bonhote  found  a  five  clutch  near  the  coast. 

\_G.  c.  nigricans.  My  earliest  date  is  for  two  eggs  at  Abu 
Roash  on  22.  iii.  09  ;  my  latest  date  for  several  clutches  is 
Inchas  29.  v.  19.  Three  appears  to  be  the  normal  clutch, 
though  I  have  two  clutches  of  four.  There  is  great  variation 
between  different  clutches. 

G.  c.  moeritica.  One  egg  fresh  near  Lake  Qarun, 
30.  iii.  10  ;  two  clutches  of  two  hard-set,  31.  iii.  10. — R.  S.] 


246  Mr.  W.  Raw  on  the  [Ibis, 

25.  Alaiida  arvensis  arvensis.     Skylark. 

Occasionally  observed  in  small  parties  in  winter.  Usually 
feeding  in  the  growing  corn.    Two  shot  on  16  October,  1916. 

26.  AlaBmon  alaudipes  alaudipes.     Bifasciated  Lark. 

First  seen  on  27  August,  1916,  when  I  shot  a  pair  of 
young  birds.  On  4  August,  1917,  I  shot  another  immature 
bird.  From  October  until  February  inclusive,  in  the  winter 
of  1917-18,  five  or  six  birds  were  daily  observed  from  the 
windows  of  my  quarters,  feeding  on  the  desert  scrub,  but 
did  not  appear  to  breed  anywhere  near. 

[The  bird  was  not  uncommon  in  the  desert  in  April  and 
June,  1894,  and  odd  birds  were  observed  in  February  and 
November,  1909.  I  do  not  think  it  breeds  near  Cairo.  I 
am  indebted  to  Mr.  Nicoll  for  two  fresh  eggs  taken  in  the 
Wadi  Natrun  on  6.  vi.  30  by  M.  Balboni,  which  closely 
resemble  the  eggs  of  Lanius  e.  elegans,  but  are  more 
elongated. — R.  S.] 

27.  Anthus  richardi  richardi.     Richard's  Pipit. 

Met  with  only  once,  when  I  saw  M  r.  J.  L.  Bonhote  shoot 
a  specimen  whilst  snipe-shooting  on  the  Birket  Accrashi  on 
26  January,  1917. 

28.  Anthus  campestris  campestris.     Tawny  Pipit. 
Numerous  during  bo'th  migrations  passing  through  Abu 

Zabal    in    September-October    and    March-April.       Single 
birds  met  with  in  December. 

29.  Anthus  trivialis  trivialis.     Tree-Pipit. 
Uncommon    and    rarely  obtained.     One    shot    on    11-17 

October,  and  another  on  16-18  April. 

30.  Anthus  pratensis.     Meadow-Pipit. 

Rarely  observed.     A  specimen  shot  on  9  February,  1917. 

31.  Anthus  cervinus.     Red-throated  Pipit, 

Very  abundant  throughout  the  winter,  arriving  about 
mid-October  and  departing  about  the  end  of  April. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Lower  Egypt.  347 

32.  Anthus  spinoietta  coutellii.     Alpine  Pipit. 

Only  less  numerons  than  the  preceding  species,  with 
which  it  arrives  and  departs.  Roosts  in  the  reed-beds  and 
in  the  long  grass  bordering  swamps. 

33.  Motacilla  flava  flava.     Blue-headed  Yellow  Wagtail. 
This  species  was  noted  several  times  during  the  autumn 

migration  in  September.  Large  numbers  of  Yellow  Wag- 
tails congregated  on  the  reeds  in  the  Birket  Accra shi 
during  September,  but  the  majority  were  birds  of  the  year, 
and  difficult  to  identify — even  when  shot. 

I  am  not  certain,  but  think  that  M.  f.  cinereocapilla 
occurred  amongst  them.     Less  numerous  in  spring. 

34.  Motacilla  flava  pygmsea.     Egyptian  Yellow  Wagtail. 
Numerous  throughout  the  year,  but   becomes  scarcer  in 

the  breeding-season  at  Abu  Zabal.  Numbers  breed,  how- 
ever, at  Marg  and  Inchas,  but  I  never  found  their  eggs 
myself.  I  have,  however,  a  clutch  of  four  eggs  of  this 
species  taken  by  Dr.  Beven  of  Cairo,  near  the  Pyramids, 
on  19  April,  1918. 

[The  full  clutch  of  this  race  appears  to  be  four  eggs. 
My  dates  for  fresh  eggs  are  2^  April,  1894,  and  10  April, 
1910.  Fully-fledged  young  14  April,  1909.  Nests  com- 
monly in  the  cultivation,  especially  near  the  Pyramids. — 
li.S.] 

35.  Motacilla  flava  melanocephala.     Black-headed  Yellow 

Wagtail, 
Seen  in  the  spring  only.     Large  numbers  were  observed 
at  the  Birket  Accrashi  on  13  April,  1918,  when  I  obtained 
several  which  were  perched  high  up  in  a  Lebak-tree. 

36.  Motacilla  cinerea  cinerea  ?     Grey  Wagtail. 
Observed  singly  and  sparingly  during  the  winter  months. 

37.  Motacilla  alba  alba.     White  Wagtail. 

Large  numbers  of  these  birds  winter  at  Abu  Zabal, 
arriving  early  in  October,  and  departing  about  the  middle 


2i8  Mr.  W.  Raw  on  the  [Ibis, 

o£  April.  From  two  marked  birds  I  was  able  to  satisfy 
myself  that  they  spend  the  winter  in  a  particular  place  and 
do  not  wander  far.     I  obtained  an  albino  specimen  in  1919. 

38.  Lanius  minor.     Lesser  Grey  Shrike. 

I  only  met  with  a  single  specimen  in  Egypt,  which  I  shot 
at  Abu  Zabal  on  29  April,  1918. 

39.  Lanius  excubitor  elegans.     Pallid  Shrike. 

This  bird  was  not  uncommon  at  Abu  Zabal  during  most 
of  the  year,  but  disappeared  during  the  breeding-season. 
One  which  wintered  near  my  quarters  in  1916-17  got 
extremely  tame,  but  departed  in  March. 

Through  the  kindness  of  Lieut.  D.  W.  Musselwhite  I  was 
able  to  get  a  good  insight  into  the  breeding  habits  of  this 
bird  whilst  staying  with  him  at  Kantara  during  the  latter 
part  of  April  1919,  and  secured  several  sets  of  eggs. 

As  this  officer  is  publishing  his  own  notes  on  this  species 
T  will  confine  myself  to  quoting  his  earliest  and  latest  dates 
for  eggs,  viz.,  2  March-12  June. 

[L.  e.  elegans  is  a  fairly  common  breeding  species  in  low 
thorn  bushes  between  Mahsama-Abu-Sueir.  My  dates 
are  as  .  follows  : — On  6.iii.  10,  4  fresh  eggs,  1  fledged 
young ;  also  6  new  nests  and  3  building.  On  27.  iii.  10 
5  fresh  eggs  and  an  incomplete  clutch  of  3.  In  the 
Fayum  a  nest  with  eggs  much  incubated  was  found  early 
in  February.  It  is  evident  all  birds  nest  earlier  in  the 
Faytlm  than  in  the  Delta. — R.  S.] 

40.  Lanius  senator  niloticns.     Woodchat  Shrike. 
Observed  regularly  but  sparingly  in  spring  and  autumn, 

passing  through  from  29  March  to  7  May,  and  from  15 
August  to  the  end  of  September.  All  those  obtained  were 
referable  to  this  form,  and  none  to  A.  s.  senator. 

41.  Lanius  nubicus.     Nubian  Shrike. 

Not  uncommon  during  both  migrations.  Specimens  shot 
on  13  September  and  IG  April,  which  dates  are  about  the 
usual  times  of  their  passing. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Lower  Effi/pt.  249 

42.  Lanius  coUurio.     Jled-backed  Shrike. 

From  10  August  to  20  September  numbers  pass  through 
Abu  Zabal,  being  more  numerous  some  years  than  others. 
Rarely  observed  in  spring. 

43.  Pycnonotus  barbatus  arsinoe.     White- vented  Bulbul. 

I  saw  newly-fledged  young  birds  being  fed  by  the  parents 
in  the  gardens  at  the  Barrage  on  14  August,  1918,  and  had 
two  old  nests  pointed  out  to  me  by  Mr.  Marr.  One  was  in 
a  creeper  on  the  side  of  his  house.  I  believe  it  breeds  at 
Palais  de  Koabeh. 

[This  Bnlbiil  was  common  at  Abbassia  and  at  other  places 
in  the.Fayum  in  1909,  and  undoubtedly  breeds  there, 
probably  from  March  to  May. — R.  S.] 

[Eggs  of  this  species  are  extremely  rare  in  collections 
from  Egypt,  but  I  have  one  clutch  ol'  five  eggs  taken  by 
Major  P.  E.  Vaughan  near  Cairo.— F.  C.  R.  J.] 

44.  Muscicapa  striata  striata.     Spotted  Flycatcher. 

A  regular  bird  on  passage,  being  very  numerous  during 
some  s[)rings  from  the  second  week  in  April  until  as  late 
as  23  May.  In  the  autumn  this  species  occurs  between  the 
middle  of  September  and  19  October. 

45.  Muscicapa  hypoleuca  hypoleuca.     Pied  Flycatcher. 
Less   numerous  than  the  preceding  species,  but  observed 

in  both  spring  and  autumn. 

4C).  Muscicapa  albicollaris.     White-collared  Flycatcher. 
Rarely  seen  for  certain.     Several  observed  and  one  shot 
on  G  May,  1918. 

47.  Phylloscopus  collybita  colly bita.     Chiffchaff. 

Very  numerous  throughout  the  winter  months,  arriving 
in  October  and  departing  in  March. 

48.  Phylloscopus  collybita  albietinus.     Eastern  Chiflichaflf. 
Amongst  the  OhiffchafFs  there  was  a  sprinkling  of  birds 

with  quite  a  different  call-note.     T  have  com[)ared  specimens 

SER.  XI. — VOL.  in.  i> 


250  Mr.  W.  Raw  nn  the  [Ibis, 

at  the  British  Museum,  and  refer  them  to  the  above  sub- 
species. 

49.  Phylloscopus  trochilus.     Willow-Warbler. 
Numerous  in  spring,  but  less  so  in  the  autumn. 

50.  Phylloscopus  bonelli,     Bonelli's  Warbler. 

Seen  occnsionally  feeding  in  the  sont-trees  in  both  spring 
and  autumn.     Specimens  obtained. 

51.  Phylloscopus  sibilatrix  sibilatrix.     Wood-Warbler. 
Observed    only  in  tjie   s})ring  except   a    single    specimen 

seen  on  11  September,  1917.  Abu  Zabal  Avas  not  an  ideal 
spot  for  observing  the  autumn  migration,  as  I  am  certain 
manv  species  rested  near  the  coast  and  passed  over  Abu 
Zal)al  in  the  next  lap  of  their  journey. 

[Phylloscopus  s.  erlangeri  ?     Erlanger's  Wood- Warbler. 
On   17  April,   1916,  I   saw   a   bird  which  I  believe  was 
referable  to  this  subspecies.      It  was  in  my  garden,  but  I 
did  not  shoot  it  as  I  had  hopes  of  trapping  it  alive.] 

52.  Locustella  luscinioides  luscinioides.     Savi's  Warbler. 
Large  numbers  were  observed  roosting  in  the  reed  beds  of 

the  old  canal  in  April  1917. 

53.  Acrocephahis  arundinaceus.      European  Great    Reed- 

Warbler. 
I  believe  this  species  may  occur  at  Abu  Zabal,  although 
I  never  secured  one  there.     I  did,  however,  shoot  a  specimen 
at  Inchas,  not  far  distant,  in  the  spring  of  1918. 

54.  Acrocephahis  stentorens  stentoreus.     Clamorous  Eeed- 

Warbler. 
Connnon  and  resident  in  the  reed-beds  on  the  Birket 
Accrashi.  I  found  the  eggs  of  this  bird  on  11  May,  1910. 
Some  were  75  per  cent,  incubated,  others  fresh,  and  I  found 
several  uncompleted  nests  on  the  same  day.  Fresh  eggs 
and  young  birds  were  also  observed  in  the  Wadi  Natrim 
late  in  May  1918. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Lower  Egypt.  251 

[Four  eggs  in  the  Fayum  and  three  at  Inclias  appear  to 
be  the  normal  chitch  ;  I  never  found  five.  At  Lake  Qarun 
in  the  Fayura  I  took  two  fresh  clutches  of  four  on 
30.iii.  10. 

At  Inchas  the  beginning  of  June  is  the  best  time  for 
fresh  clutches,  though  I  took  fresh  eggs  between  28.  iv.  09 
and  27.  vi.  09,  but  clutches  o£  three  taken  on  15.  v.  09  and 
6.  vi.  09  were  slightly  and  very  much  incubated. — R.  S.] 

55.  Acrocephalus  scirpaceus  scirpaceiis.  Common  Reed- 
Warbler. 

On  10  March,  191G,  I  picked  up  a  Reed-Warbler  which 
had  been  injured  by  flying  against  our  aerial  wires.  Also 
observed  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Birket  Accrashi  in  April, 
and  again  in  early  September. 

5G.  Acrocephalus  schoenobsenus.     Sedge- Warbler. 

Common  during  both  migrations.  Several  were  observed 
so  late  in  the  s})ring — May — that  I  thought  they  must  be 
breeding,  but  I  never  found  any  trace  of  nesting,  and  they 
subsequently  disappeared,  to  return  sometimes  as  early  as 
14  August. 

57.  Hypolais  pallida  pallida.     Olivaceous  Warbler. 

Very  connnon  from  the  end  of  March  until  the  end  of 
August.  Numbers  breed  at  Abu  Zabal,  commencing  to 
build  soon  after  their  arrival.  As  building-sites  they  usually 
select  lime,  orange  or  tangerine  trees,  but  I  found  several 
in  geranium  bushes  with  the  nest  neatly  built  into  a  fork 
about  two  feet  from  the  ground.  Two  broods  are  reared  in 
a  season,  the  second  about  the  end  of  June  ;  but  I  have 
occasionally  found  young  birds  still  in  the  nest  as  late  as  the 
second  week  in  August.  Two  to  three  is  the  usual  clutch, 
and  I  only  once  found  one  of  four.  I  have  two  sets  of  very 
pink  eggs  taken  at  Abu  Zabal  on  9.  vi.  16  and  lo.  v.  16. 

[The  normal  clutch  consists  of  three  eggs  :  only  one  set  of 
four  observed.  10  May  is  the  usual  date  for  fresh  eggs. 
— R.  S.] 

s3 


252  Mr.  W.  Raw  on  the  [Ibis, 

58.  Hypolais  rama.     Sykes's  Warbler. 

I  shot  a  specimen  at  Inchas  on  30  September,  1917, 
which  Mr.  M.  J.  Nicoll  refers  to  this  species.  It  is  in  the 
Giza  collection.  Although  closely  resembling  the  preceding 
species,  I  thought  its  note  differed  ;  and,  moreover^  it  was 
late  for  //.  p.  palVuIa  to  be  seen. 

59.  Sylvia  atricapilla.     Blackcap  Warbler. 

Seen  sparingly  in  early  spring.  A  specimen  shot  on  10 
March.     Never  observed  in  autumn. 

00.  Sylvia  communis  communis.     Common  Whitethroat. 
Common     during     the    spring,     migration     l)oiiig    most 
numerous  in  mid-April.     Observed  but  rarely  in  Septomljer. 

(U.    Sylvia  curruca  curruca      Lesser  Whitethroat. 
Abundant  in   the   s[)ring.      Usually  first   observed   about 
16  Februarv.     Not  uncommon  in  September. 

62.  Sylvia  rueppelli.     Rueppell's  War])ler. 
Common    at    Abu    Zaljal    from    8    ]M:ircli    to   mid-April. 
Rarely  observed  in  autumn. 

G3.  Sylvia      melanocephala       melanocephala.       Sardinian 

Warbler. 
Several  obtained.     One  caught  alive  on  23  March,  191G. 
Also  shot  on  25  Februarj^  1917,  and  in  Septend)er. 

64.  Sylvia  melanocephala  momus.     Bowman's  Warbler. 
The  only  specimen  1  met  with  was  one  which  I  shot  at 
Abu  Znbal  on  30  October,  1918. 

05.  Sylvia  melanocephala  norrisae.     Nicoll's  Warbler. 

I  secured  a  sinole  addled  eii'o-  from  a  nest  containino- 
tlu-ee  young  of  this  spf^cies  on  21  March,  1917.  The  nest 
was  built  in  a  tamarisk  bush  on  the  small  island  in  Lake 
Qariin,  Fayum,  and  was  about  two  and  a  half  feet  from 
the  ground.  The  nest  was  well  built,  and  something  like 
that  of  the  Greenfinch,  but  smaller,  and  a  quantity  of  old 
fish-netting  was  used  in  the  outside  structure.  The  young- 
were  just  about    to   fly  when   the   nest  was  discovered    by 


1921.]  Birds  of  Lower  Egypt.  253 

Captain  W.  Sbipton,  who  observed  the  birds  hauutino-  the 
bush  whilst  he  was  hiid  up  waiting  for  ducks  to  flight.  The 
female  of  this  subspecies  is  of  a  very  skulking  disposition 
and  extremely  difRcult  ro  obtain  in  the  tamarisk  thickets. 
I  succeeded  in  shooting  two  females  and  several  males,  and 
also  another  young  bird  just  on  the  wing. 

Apart  from  this  locality,  I  also  met  with  these  birds  near 
the  Moeris  Hotel,  on  the  opposite  shore  of  Lake  Qarun  ; 
and,  on  a  subsequent  visit,  found  it  common  at  the  eastern 
end  of  the  lake,  where  I  secured  further  s|iecimens.  I 
believe  it  to  be  fairly  numerous  in  suitable  places  around 
the  lake  ;  but  I  never  met  with  it  at  Tamiya  or  elsewhere 
in  the  Fayian  Province.  The  egg  is  very  similar  to  some 
types  of  the  (*ommon  Whitethroat,  being  greenish  and 
closely  spotted. 

[I  can  confirm  Mr.  flaw's  notes  on  this  species,  as  I 
obtained  a  young  bird  unable  to  fly,  and  found  several  old 
nests  of  the  year  on  an  island  in  Lake  Qarun  on  29.  iii.  10. 
I  also  found  a  new  nest  without  eoo-g.  The  nests  I  saw 
Avere  chiefly  composed  of  the  stems  of  tamarisk  bushes. 
— R.  S.] 

66.  Sylvia  cantillans  albistriata.     Subalpine  Warbler. 
Observed  sparingly  in    early   spring   from    15    March   to 

12  April.     Never  identitied  in  the  autumn. 

67.  Agrobates  galactotes  galactotes.     Rufcous  Warbler. 
This,  our  only  real  song-bird,  arrives  towards  the  end  of 

March;  and  is  abundant  and  tame  until  the  end  of  August. 
Two  broods  are  raised  annually,  and  dwarf  date-palms  are 
frequently  selected  to  build  in,  although  heaps  of  rubbish 
and  clumps  of  prickly  pears  are  also  much  resorted  to.  The 
middle  of  May  is  usually  the  time  for  the  first  full  clutches, 
and  I  have  found  fresh  eggs  on  18  June.  Two  to  three  is 
normally  all  that  one  finds  in  a  clutch,  but  some  years  sets  of 
four  are  more  common.  Major  F.  W.  Borman  found 
clutches  of  five  not  uncommon  farther  north,  near  Lake 
Borollos,  in  June  1018.     It  also  breeds  in  the  Wadi  Natrun 


254  Mr.  W.  Raw  on  the  [Ibis, 

in  May.  I  once  found  fre.sh  eggs  o£  this  species  in  a  House- 
Sparrow's  nest,  eight  feet  from  the  ground,  in  an  orange- 
tree.  Nothing  had  apparently  been  added  to  the  sparrow's 
nest  by  the  Rufous  Warljlers.  I  had  previously  taken  the 
eggs  of  both  pairs  of  birds. 

[In  1909-10  I  found  four  eggs  the  normal  clutch  for  first 
layings,  and  May  10  the  best  date  for  fresh  eggs.  In  the 
Fuyuin  a  nest  had  four  fresh  eggs  on  5  May,  1910. — R.  S.] 

&d>.  Scotocerca  inquieta  inquieta.     Scrub-Warbler. 

Although  not  occurring  at  Abu  Zabal,  where  the  desert 
is  too  void  of  rocks  and  bushes  to  suit  its  requirements,  I 
found  this  species  breeding  in  the  Wadi  Hof,  about  twenty 
miles  south  of  (Jairo,  and  it  also  occurs  in  the  wadis  behind 
the  citadel.  Mr.  M.  J.  Nicoll  has  found  eggs  in  the  Wadi 
Hof  as  early  as  the  first  of  March,  and  Major  J.  W.  Borman 
found  them  there,  I  think,  equally  early.  I,  however,  found 
one  full  clutch  of  five  fresh  eggs,  one  of  four,  and  a  single 
egg  in  the  same  place  on  24  March,  1918.  Several  nests 
were  then  seen,  yet  unfinished. 

This  bird  is  very  tame  whilst  breeding,  and  the  nuile  has  a 
pleasing  song.  The  nest,  whicli  resembles  that  of  a  Long- 
tailed  Tit  minus  the  lichen  trimmings,  is  lined  with  feathers, 
pieces  of  string,  or  soft  rag,  and  is  to  be  found  in  the 
largest  of  the  bushes  which  find  an  existence  in  the  bottom 
of  the  wadi.  The  nest  is  usually  about  two  feet  from  the 
ground,  and  not  well  concealed, 

[In  the  Wadi  Hof  I  found  two  nests  wath  one  and  two 
fresh  eggs  respectively  on  13  March,  1910,  and  another 
with  four  hard-set  eggs  on  6  April,  1910.  One  nest  was 
lined  entirely  with  Woodcocks'  feathers,  probably  collected 
from  a  dead  migrant. — R.  S.] 

69.  Prinia  gracilis  gracilis.     Fayum  Graceful  Warbler. 

This  species  does  not  occur  at  Abu  Zabal,  but  I  secured 
its  eggs  in  the  Fayum,  where  it  is  abundant,  on  14  March, 
1917.  The  nest,  eggs,  and  habits  differ  in  no  way  from  the 
two  following  subspecies. 


192 1.]  Birds  of  Loiver  Egypt.  355 

70.  Prinia  gracilis  deltse.     Delta  Giaceful  Warbler. 

This  bird  is  coniinon  and  resident  at  Abu  Zabal,  where  I 
found  its  eggs,  usuidly  about  the  beginning  of  March  ;  but 
they  continue  to  breed  throughout  the  spring,  and  1  have 
seen  young  birds  in  the  nest  as  late  as  14  August.  Tamarisk 
bushes,  small  palius,  sont  bushes,  and  creepers  like  honey-- 
suckle  are  the  usual  building-sites  for  the  nest,  which  is 
generally  built  of  grasses  and  lined  and  decorated  with 
pieces  of  raw  cotton. 

[The  nest  of  this  bird  is  entered  by  a  hole  in  the  side, 
near  the  top.  The  usual  clutch  consists  of  3  or  4  eggs, 
and  I  never  met  with  5.  April  and  May  appear  to  be  the 
principal  breeding  months.  — 11.  S.] 

71.  Prinia  gracilis  natronensis.    Natrun  Graceful  Warbler. 
I  secured  the  eggs  of  this  subspecies  in  the  Wadi  Natrun 

late  in  May,  1918.  Beyond  one  very  deep  red  clutch  of 
eggs  I  saw  no  difference  in  the  nest,  eggs,  or  habits  from 
the  preceding  race. 

•  72.  Cisticola  cisticola  cisticola.     Fantail  Warbler. 

( ;ommon  and  resident.  I  found  the  eggs  of  this  species 
as  early  as  19  February  and  as  late  as  early  June,  but  April 
is  the  month  when  they  are  most  numerous.  My  collection 
contains  a  wonderful  variety  of  types,  ranging  from  pure 
white  through  red-spotted  on  a  white  ground  to  Linnet-  and 
even  Thrush-like  types,  whilst  the  only  five  clutch  1  found 
consisted  of  eggs  siniilar  to  those  of  the  Spotted  Flycatcher 
in  colour.  Two  to  four  appears  to  be  the  normal  number  of 
eo-D-s  in  a  clutch.  The  nest  is  beautifully  built  and  resembles 
the  type  of  purse  which  is  provided  with  a  string  to  draw 
tight  the  mouth.  It  is  usually  built  in  the  rank  grass  which 
borders  the  fields  and  canals,  and  is  generally  fairly  near 
the  ground.  Occasionady  a  clump  of  rushes  or  other 
herbage  surrounded  by  water  is  selected.  Many  nests  are 
destroyed  by  the  natives,  who  burn  the  grass  to  destroy 
locusts,  etc.  Another  peculiarity  of  this  species  is  its  habit 
of  building  more  than  one  nest,  for  uo  apparent  reason,  in 


256  Mr.  W.  Raw  on  the  [Ibis, 

close  pvoximiiy  to  one  another.  Should  the  first  clutch  be 
taken,  it  immediately  utilizes  one  of  these  nests  for  the 
second  laying.  It  never  moves  far,  which  I  easily  proved 
by  observing  the  particular  type  laid  by  certain  pairs. 

I  found  one  nest  built  in  a  stray  clump  of  barley  in  a  bean- 
lield.  The  stems  of  the  barley  were  neatly  woven  into  the 
side  of  the  nest.     I  gave  this  specimen  to  the  Giza  Museum. 

[I  have  a  five  clutch  of  Blue  Tit  type  taken  at  Inch;is 
;50.iii.  10.  My  earliest  date  for  a  clutch  of  three  at 
Matarieh  is  25.  iii.09,  and  my  latest  18.  vi.  1909.  The 
majority  of  nests  found  at  Inchas  between  the  end  of  May 
and  middle  of  June  contained  three  eggs,  but  most  likely 
there  were  several  broods. — R.  S.] 

73.  Tardus  pilaris.     Fieldfare. 

Two  seen  at  close  range  on  17  February,  1916  *,  were  all  I 
ever  saw  at  Abu  Zabal. 

74.  Turdus  philomelus  philomelus.     Song-Thrush. 
Observed  every  winter,  usually  singly,  in  the  gardens  or 

palm  groves.      Never  seen  later  than  mid-March. 

75.  Turdus  merula  syriacus.     Blackbird. 

Observed  every  winter  in  the  gardens,  corn-fields,  and 
palm-groves.     Five  seen  together  on  10  February,  1916. 

76.  Monticola  saxatilis.     Rock-Thrush. 

Fairly  common  during  the  tirst  fortnight  of  April  each 
year.     I  appear  to  have  no  record  during  autunni. 

77.  Monticola  solitarius  transcaspicus.     Blue  Rock-Thrush. 
Passes   thruuiih   Abu   Zabal   between    10   March  and  15 

April,  being  generally  seen    perched  on  mud-walls,  native 
houses,  and  old  wells. 

[*  In  Captain  A.  W.  Boyd's  paper  in  'The  Ibis,"  11)17,  p.  541,  it  is  stated 
that  Turdus  visci varus  had  not  been  previously  recorded  i'roni  Egypt. 
This  is  a  mistake,  as  Schrader  described  it  as  an  occasional  visitor  in 
hard  winters  as  far  back  as  1892. — F.  C.  R.  .1.] 


tgii.]  Birds  of  Lower  By ypt.  257 

78.  (Enanthe  cenanthe  subsp.  ?     C.*oininon  Wheatear. 
Numerous    both     in    spring    and    autumn.      This    species 

passes  through  from  hite  March  until  late  in  May,  and 
during  the  month  of  Se[)tember. 

I  have  not  yet  examined  my  skins  of  this  bird,  so  cnnnot 
sa}'  to  which  form  they  belong.  I  have  frequently  seen 
many  birds  sitting  in  the  sont-trees,  in  the  shade  of  a 
branch,  gaping  with  the  heat,  at  which  time  they  are  easy 
to  approach,  and  are  readily  caught  in  a  net-trap  baited  with 
a  mealworm. 

79.  (Enanthe  deserti  deserti.     Desert  Wheatear. 

Seen  occasionally  throughout  the  year.  A  brood  of  young 
birds  usually  appeared  during  August,  but  I  never  dis- 
covered the  nest.  Frequently  observed  perching  on  trees. 
Adult  males  are  commoner  during  the  latter  part  of  April. 
An  immature  bird  shot  on  8  August,  1917,  had  a  large  green 
tick  adhering  to  its  eyelid. 

80.  (Enanthe  deserti  albifrons.     Eastern  Desert  Wheatear. 
In,  I  think,  March  1917,  I  shot  an  adult  male,  which  Mr. 

M.  J.  Nicoll  referred  to  (J^.  d.  atrogidaris  {  =  albifrons).  I 
later  (8-15  March,  1919)  shot  other  birds  which  appeared  to 
belong  to  this  form  when  compared  w'ith  (J^J.  d.  deserti  ;  but 
one  of  them,  which  Dr.  Hartert  kindly  examined,  is  believed 
by  him  to  be  referable  to  the  latter  form.  As  I  have  no 
more  of  my  skins  by  me  I  must  leave  the  question  in  this 
unsatisfactory  condition. 

81.  (Enanthe   hispanica   xanthomelaena.      Eastern    Black- 

throated  Wheatear. 
Both    Black-throated     and    Black-eared    forms    of    this 
species  pass    through    the   Abu    Zabal   on   both  migrations 
somewhat   later    than    the    (Common    Wheatear,    the    male 
being  earlier  than  the  female  in  each  case. 

82.  (Enanthe  leucomela  cypriaca.     Eastern  Pied  Wheatear. 
On   5    November,    1919,  I    shot    the    first    authenticated 

specimen  of  this  species  in  Egypt.     The  skin  is  in  the  Giza 


258  Mr.  W.  Raw  on  the  [Ibis, 

Museum.  It  was  an  adult  male,  and  I  tried  in  vain  to 
secure  another  male  ■which  liaunted  the  rocky  bed  of  an  old 
canal  for  several  days  about  the  same  time.  This  species 
must  have  been  overlooked,  for  on  1  November,  191(S,  I  shot 
another  adult  male,  and  during  the  succeeding  week  I  saw 
upwards  of  a  dozen  and  shot  several,  which  are  in  my 
collection  and  that  of  Mr.  J.  L.  Bonhote.  All  the  specimens 
shot  and  seen  were  males,  and,  although  I  kept  a  good  look- 
out, I  never  saw  a  single  female. 

83.  (Enanthe  melanoleuca  finschii.     Araluan  C'hat. 

A  feauile  shot  on  12  February,  1*J17,  and  three  males 
during  November,  l'Jl<S,  were  all  I  met  with  at  Abu 
Zabal. 

84.  (Enanthe  isabellina.     Isabelline  Wheatear. 

Winters  at  Abu  Zabal,  arriving  towards  the  end  of 
August  and  departing  in  April.  None  remain  to  breed. 
Very  quarrelsome  ;  a  wounded  bird  is  invariably  set  upon 
and  killed  by  others  of  the  same  species. 

85.  (Enanthe  lugens  lugens.     Mourning  (;hat. 
Occasionally    seen    during    the    winter,    and    a    brood    of 

young,  together  with  their  parents,  annually  appeared  on  a 
piece  of  waste  ground  during  August.  Lack  of  suitable 
rocky  retreats  probably  accounts  for  their  scarcity  at  Abu 
Zabal. 

Captain  W.  Bigger  found  young  birds  out  of  the  nest  on 
28  April,  and  a  pair  building  on  2  June^  191  7,  in  a  wadi 
behind  the  (Utadel,  Cairo. 

I  had  intendetl  to  devote  some  time  to  this  family  in  the 
spring  of  1919,  but  the  riots  unfortunately  upset  my 
arrangements. 

[Although  I  never  found  a  nest  with  young  or  eggs,  I  saw 
and  shot  birds  which  were  evidently  breeding  in  the  Wadi 
Hof  near  Helwan  on  5.  v.  09,  and  found  old  nests  in  holes 
in  the  rocky  sides  of  small  valleys,  presumably  of  this 
species. — R.  S.] 


I921.]  Birds  of  Loiver  Egypt.  259 

86.  (Enanthe  leucopyga.     Wliite-runiped  Chat. 

This  bird  undoubtedly  breeds  in  the  Wadi  Hof,  Wudi 
Resheid,  Wadi  el  Dejla,  and  other  suitable  places.  Messrs. 
Bahr,  Bigger,  and  Bornian  found  a  nest  containing  young 
five  days  old  on  22  April,  1919.  This  was  built  under  a  rock 
in  the  Moqattani  Hills  near  Cairo,  and  contained  four  young 
birds. 

[Old  nests,  presumed  to  be  of  this  species,  were  also  found 
in  the  Wadi  Hof  in  May  1909,  and  on  6  April  1 910.  I  shot  a 
female  with  small  ovary  :  the  bird  was  very  fat.  Mr.  Nicoll 
has  also  obtained  young  birds  in  the  Wadi  Hof,  which  were 
undoubtedly  bred  there.  A  series  of  eggs  of  the  Egyptian 
Pied  Chats  is  badly  needed.  It  a[)pears  probable  that  first 
nests  will  be  found  in  early  March. — U.S.] 

87.  (Enanthe  monacha.     Hooded  CUiat. 

[This  Chat  was  common  at  Luxor  in  December  1909,  and 
a  pair  with  three  fledged  young  were  observed  in  the  Wadi 
Hof  on  2.vi.  10.— R.  S.] 

d)'6.  Saxicola  rubetra  rubetra.     Whinchat. 
Seen    sparingly    in    spring — late    March     to    early   May. 
Never  observed  in  the  autumn. 

89.  Saxicola  rubetra  margaretaB.     Eastern  Whinchat. 

On  3  May,  1917,  I  shot  a  bird  which  Mr.  M.  J.  Nicoll 
refers  to  this  race.     It  is  now  in  the  Giza  collection. 

90.  Saxicola  torquata  rubicola.     Stonechat. 
Stonechats  ap|)ear  about  the  second  week  in   September 

and  remain  until  the  middle  of  March.     None  breed. 

91.  Phoenicurus  phoenicurus  phoenicurus.      Common  Red- 

start. 
Observed   in    both    spring    and    autumn  ;    average    dates 
3  April  and  8  September.     Does  not  winter  at  Abu  Ziibal. 

92.  Phoenicurus  ochrurus  gibr altar iensis.     Black  Redstart. 
A  pair  or  so  winter  at  Abu  Zabal,  arriving  in  October. 

Latest  record  15  March. 


260  Mr.  W.  Haw  on  the  [Ibis, 

93.  Luscinia  megarhyncha  megarhyncha.     Nightingale. 

Seen  commonly  in  the  crops  when  (juail -sliooting  in  April ; 
also  sparingly  in  the  autumn.  One  heard  singing  G  April^ 
1917. 

91.  Luscinia  suecica  suecica.     Red-spotted  Bluethroat. 

Numbers  winter  at  Abu  Zabal.  Frequently  seen  in  the 
damper  places  when  sni[»e-shooting,  etc.  ;  also  frequents  the 
herbage  on  the  canal  sides  and  the  cotton-fields.  Sometimes 
remains  until  May. 

95.  Luscinia  suecica  volgae.     White-spotted  Bluethroat. 

Less  numerous  than  tlie  above  form,  but  obtained  annually 
at  the  Birket  Accrashi,  where  it  may  be  found  during  the 
winter. 

9().  Erithacus  rubecula  rubecula.     Robin. 
A  pair  or  so  wintered  every  year  in  our  garden.      Very 
shy  and  retiring.     Never  observed  later  than  19  March. 

97.  Hirundo  rustica  rustica.     European  Swallow. 
Numerous  in  s])ring  and  autumn.     Observed  as  late  as  the 

end  of  May. 

98.  Hirundo  rustica  savignii.     Egy|>tian  Swallow. 
(Jommon  and   resident.      Usually  builds  in  native  houses, 

under  verandahs  and  railway  bridges,  and  has  been  found  by 
Major  F.  W.  Bornian  in  dug-outs  on  the  Suez  Canal.  In  the 
last  week  in  April  I  saw  a  nest  under  a  wharf  on  the  Suez 
Canal  within  a  few  feet  of  the  water.  I  have  also  seen  nests 
in  some  of  the  busiest  streets  in  Cairo,  such  as  Mohamed  Ali 
Street,  just  clear  of  the  heads  of  pedestrians.  The  eggs  are 
usually  laid  about  the  beginning  of  May,  though  sometimes 
earlier.  There  is  considerable  variation  in  the  size  of  the 
eggs,  some  specimens  being  very  small,  and  others  as  large 
as  normal  eggs  of  the  European  Swallow. 

[My  dates  are — four  eggs  incubated  oJ .  iii.  09  ;  nests  with 
eggs21.  iii.  94,  15.  iv.  94  ;  eggs  and  also  young  8.  vi.  1893 — 
so  it  is  evidently  double-  or  treble-brooded.  Four  is  the 
usual  clutch. — R.  S.] 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Loiver  Egypt.  261 

09.   Hirundo  daurica  rafula.     ReJ-rumped  Swallow. 

Rarely  observed  at  Abu  Zabal,  but  on  1  May,  1917,  a 
fair  number  of  these  birds  were  seen  hawking  for  flies  over 
the  reed-beds  at  tlie  Birket  Accrashi. 

•100.  Delichon  urWca  urbica  ?     House-Martin. 
Never  very  numerous,  but  observed  at  various  times  in 
spring  and  autumn.     Six  seen  on  18  April,  191G. 

101.  Riparia  riparia  riparia.     Sand-Martiu. 

This  species  passes  through  Abu  Zabal  in  fair  numbers, 
but  is  not  readily  distinguished  from  the  following  sub- 
species, and,  in  consequence,  I  am  not  certain  of  dates. 

102.  Riparia  riparia  littoralis.     Shelley's  Sand-Martin. 
Abundant  from  the  end  of  March  throughout  the  summer, 

breeding  in  colonies  in  the  sand-banks.  One  large  colony 
had  their  nesting-holes  in  a  sand-bank  not  more  than 
eighteen  inches  high  in  a  sand-pit  near  the  Birket  Accrashi. 

1  took  eggs  there  on  10  April,  19 16,  and  had  difficulty  in 
finding  a  clutch  of  five.  On  8  April,  1918,  I  found  many 
nests  containing  five  eggs.  Major  F.  AV.  Borman  showed 
me  a  thriving  colony  in  some  trenches  at  the  School  of 
Instruction  close  to  a  busy  camp  at  Zeitoun. 

[Very  large  colonies  at  Shubra  Island  and  in  both  banks 
of  the  Nile  between  Rod-el-Farag  and  the  Barrage.  It  also 
nests  at  Abbassia  and  at  Abu  Roash.  I  took  many  eggs 
between  18-22  March  in  1909-10.— li.  S.] 

103.  Riparia  obsoleta  obsoleta.     Pale  Crag-Martin. 
Although  this  species  was  never  observed  at  Abu  Zabal 

it  is  not  uncommon  near  the  Citadel  in  Cairo  and  in  the 
clifEs  behind.     I  found  a  nest  there  in  an  old  lime-kiln  on 

2  April,  1918,  on  which  the  bird  was  sitting.  Owing  to  the 
position  of  the  nest  I  was  unable  to  investigate  it.  This 
species  also  breeds  inside  the  domes  of  some  of  the  houses  in 
the  main  streets  of  Heliopolis,  and  I  have  seen  them  feeding- 
young  there  in  Aj)ril.  Captain  W.  Bigger  found  fresh  eggs 
at  Luxor  on  19  February,  1917. 


262  Mr.  W.  Kaw  on  the  [Ibis, 

[The  only  eogs  taken  of  this  species  were  found  in  a 
buildino-  at  Abbassia  on  80  March,  18114  ;  the  clutch  consisted 
of  three,  and  the  eggs  are  spotted  with  chestnut  brown  instead 
of  red,  and  are  easily  distinguishable  from  the  eggs  of  //.  r. 
savigmi. — R.  S.] 

104.  Apus  murinus  murinus.     Pallid  Swift. 

On  12  February,  1917,  several  were  observed  flying  over 
the  Birket  Accrashi,  where  they  were  noted  until  27  February. 
Single  birds  observed  at  various  times  of  the  year.  I  never 
identified  the  European  Swift,  but  probably  it  also  occurs. 
.1.  m.  murinus  was  common  near  Lake  Karim  in  March 
1917,  and  I  shot  several  there. 

[This  bird  is  common  at  Cairo,  and  nests  in  the  holes  of 
walls  in  the  mosques  of  the  Tombs  of  the  Khalifs.  I  took 
one  clutch  of  fresh  eggs  on  1.  iv.  10,  and  found  young 
fledged  on  27.  iv.  09.— E.  S.] 

105.  Capnmulgus  europaeus  europaeus.    European  Nightjar. 
The  only  sj)eciuien  ever  met  with  at  Abu  Zabal  was  shot 

on  18  April,  1919.  I  found  ( '.  e.  eurojvius  to  be  not  un- 
connnon  near  Lake  Menzaleh  in  September  191G. 

106.  Caprimulgus  asgyptius  segyptius.     Egyptian  Nightjar. 
This  species  was  occasionally  seen  and  obtained  at  Abu 

Zabal.  It  is  extremely  abundant  between  18  August  and 
tlie  end  of  September,  when  bunches  of  upwards  of  fifty 
annually  ap[)eared  on  some  rough  ground  near  my  quarters. 
^Vlien  walking  over  this  place  there  seemed  to  be  a  Nightjar 
to  every  vard.  Of  four  which  I  shot  on  9  September,  1917, 
two  were  males  and  two  females.  They  were  deep  in 
moult. 

Major  F.  W.  Borman  and  Lieut.  D.  W.  Musselwhite  found 
two  pairs  of  eggs  and  shot  a  bird  of  this  species  on  29  May 
at  Sidi  Salem.  The  eggs  were  much  incubated,  and  were 
laid  under  the  shelter  of  a  small  bush  close  up  to  the  roots, 
on  some  uncultivated  ground. 

[This  species  was  common  in  the  desert  on  IG.  iii.  09. — 
R.S-] 


192 1.]  Birds  of  Lovjer  Egypt.  263 

107.  Caprimulgus  segyptius  saharae.     Nightjai-. 

On  20  May,  19 IG,  I  sliot  a  female  which  had  well-defined 
incubation  patches,  at  Abu  Zabal.  T  never  discovered  eoos 
or  young,  but  saw  another  adult  on  25  May  near  the  same 
place — the  edge  of  the  desert.  In  1917  I  again  saw  a  pair 
of  birds  in  the  same  locality  on  30  May  and  4  July.  A 
systematic  search^  however,  brought  no  luck.  I  shot  other 
specimens,  but  appear  to  have  mislaid  the  data,  and  the 
skins  are  in  the  collection  of  the  Cliza  Museum  or  that  of 
Mr.  J.  L.  Bonhote. 

[A  pair  shot  on  25.  v.  10  at  Gattah  had  their  reproductive 
organs  very  much  developed,  but  I  failed  to  obtain  any 
eggs.— R.S.] 

108.  Merops  apiaster.    'European  Bee-eater. 

Large  numbers  pass  through  Abu  Zabal  during  both 
migrations.  Average  dates  9  April  and  mid-September. 
These  birds  roost  in  the  same  clumps  of  trees  every  year. 

109.  Merops  persicus  persicus.     Blue-cheeked  Bee-eater. 
Large  straggling  flocks   annually   pass   over  Abu  Zabal, 

sometimes  at  a  great  heioht  and  somewhat  earlier  than  the 
preceding  species.  It  breeds  at  Iiichas  in  fair  numbers,  and 
I  have  taken  full  clutches  there  on  12  May,  which  date  is 
very  consistent. 

[This  Bee-eater  also  breeds  between  Farash-hour  and 
Damietta  ;  also  between  Abu  Hammad  and  Mahsama. 

In  1904  Mr.  Malcolm  took  fresh  eggs  between  2-25  May. 

Atlnclias  on  12.  v.  09  I  dug  out  several  nest-holes,  but  the 
birds  had  not  laid.  The  last  week  in  May  is  apparently  the 
time  for  full  clutches,  which  range  from  four  to  six. —  R.  S.] 

110.  Merops  orientalis  cleopatra.     Green  Bee-eater. 

Five  seen  on  17  October  in  the  garden  at  Abu  Zabal 
is  the  only  record  I  have  for  that  place.  It  is,  however, 
fairly  numerous  round  Caii-o  in  the  winfer,  and  breeds  no 
farther  south  than  Mazohouna,  where  I  took  fresh  eggs 
on  27  April,  1918.  If  is  interesting  to  note  that  I  found  an 
addled  egg  of  the  previous  year  in  amongst  a  fresh  clutch, 
thus  shov.ing  that  the  same  hole  is  sometimes  used  again  as 
a  nesting-site.     Some  of  their  holes  were  on  quite  flat  open 


264  On  the  Birds  of  Lower  Egy Jit.  [Ibis, 

crronnd,  but  the  majority  were  amongst  prickly  pears  in 
little  sand-pits.     Five  a]ipears  to  be  the  full  clutcli. 

[Mr.  H.  Malcolm  took  a  clutcli  of  seven  eggs  at  Damietta 
on  16  April,  and  fresh  eggs  at  Minieh  on  6.  v.  04. 

At  Mazghouna  I  took  clutches  of  6,  5,  5,  slightly 
incubated,  on  4.  v.  10,  and  found  two  fresh  eggs  and  one 
nest  in  which  the  birds  had  not  yet  laid. — R.S.] 

111.  XJpupa  epops  epops.     European  Hoopoe. 

This  subspecies  occurs  annually,  but  owing  to  its  great 
resemblance  to  the  next  on  tlie  list  its  dates  of  arrival  and 
departure  nre  hard  to  judge. 

I  have  obtained  it  several  times  during  the  winter  months, 
and  have  observed  it  well  out  on  the  desert,  obviously 
migrating  in  April. 

112.  TJpupa  epops  major  Brehm.     Brehm's  Hoopoe. 
(Common  ;nid  resident.     I  took  a  clutch  of  six  fresh  eggs 

out  of  a  hole  20  feet  up  in  the  wall  of  our  engine-house  on 
3  March,  1917.  Other  dates  are  :  0/4,  10  April,  1916  ; 
0/6,  3  May,  1917  ;  and  0/7,  0/7  at  Inchas,  12  May,  1918. 

This  bird  uses  many  sites  for  depositing  its  eggs,  and  I 
never  found  any  nesting  material  in  their  filthy  holes. 

I  quote  a  few  sites  which  came  under  my  observation  : — '■ 
Hole  inside  native  hut,  hole  in  a  tree,  old  nesting-hole  of  the 
Pied  Kingfisher  nearly  flush  with  water  in  a  deep  canal, 
firebox  of  old  obsolete  oven  which  was  leaning  against  a 
wall,  drain-pipe  carrying  water  off  a  roof,  and  high  up  under 
the  eaves  of  our  engine-house,  where  presumably  the  same 
pair  rais(^d  three  broods  in  1918.  Hoopoes  were  again 
breeding  there  when  I  left  in  April  1919. 

[The  hole  in  a  wall  or  under  the  eaves  of  a  native  house 
seems  to  be  the  usual  site  of  nest.  My  dates  for  eggs  are  : 
Luxor,  six  fresh  and  three  hard-set,  18.  iii.  10  ;  Inchas,  six 
fresh,  three  fresh,  on  30.  iii.  10.  At  Inchas  on  29.  v.  09  I 
found  seven  young  fourteen  days  old  and  five  young  ten  days 
old  ;  also  four  fresh  eggs  on  27.  vi.  09,  and  it  is  evidently 
double-  or  treble-brooded. — 11.  S.] 

[To  be  continued.] 


1921.]  Birds  of  Tasso  and  aojoining  Islands.  265 


XIV. —  The  Birds  of  Tasso  and  adjoininf/  Islands  of  the 
Rokelle  River,  Sierra  Leone.  By  Willoughby  P.  Lowp], 
M.B.O.U.  With  Notes  hy  David  A.  Bannerman,  B.A., 
M.B.O.U. 

(Text-figiire  3.) 

Preface. — By  D.  A.  Bannerman, 

The  collection  of  birds  obtained  by  Mr.  W.  P.  Lowe  in 
Sierra  Leone  in  the  early  s])ring  of  1920  comprises  207 
skins,  representing  118  species  and  subspecies.  As  Mr.  Lowe 
has  explained  in  his  introductor}'  remarks,  the  collection  was 
made  principally  on  the  three  islands — Tasso,  Mayahgba, 
and  Yatward — M'hich  lie  in  the  wide  mouth  of  the  Rokelle 
River  ;  these  islands  have  never  been  explored,  and  it  has 
therefore  been  thought  advisable  to  give  a  complete  list  of  the 
birds  known  to  inhabit  each.  The  position  of  these  islands  will 
be  seen  by  referring  to  the  map  (text-figure  3)  which  has 
been  specially  prepared  by  Lieut.  Mansergh,  R.N.,  of  H. M.S. 
'  Dwarf.'  During  his  comparatively  short  stay  in  Sierra 
Leone,  Mr.  Lowe  was  successful  in  adding  a  nvimber  of 
species  to  the  list  of  Sierra  Leone  birds  hitherto  unrecorded 
from  the  ( !olony.  All  were  obtained,  unless  the  contrary  is 
noted,  viz,  : — Ortygosjnza  atricollis  ansorgei,  Anticltromus 
miimtns  miiuifus,  f  Cisticola  terrestris  subsp.  undetermined, 
Cisticola  rufopileata  rufopileata,  Penthohea  frontalis,  Brady- 
ornis  murinus  modest  us,  Batis  senegalensis  togoensis,  Tchitrea 
viridis  viridis,  Riparia  riparia  riparia,  Clamator  glandarius, 
Centropus  francisi,  Micropus  ceqxiatorialis  loivei,  subsp.  nov., 
Lophoceros  nasutus  nasi/tus,  Bi/canisies  fstidator,  Bubo 
africanus  cinerascens,  *Aquila  icahlhergi,  * Spizaetus  coronatus, 
*Cuncuma    vocifer,    Circaetus    cinereus,    *Pandion    haliaetus 

*  Not  obtained,  but  identified  without  a  doubt. 

t  A  single  specimen  only  was  obtained  ;  recently  we  have  received  a 
further  single  specimen  in  breeding-plumage  from  Miijor  Scovil,  R.A. 
The  bird  is  most  nearly  allied  to  C  t.  eximia,  Heugl.,  and,  when  a  series 
are  obtained,  will  probably  prove  to  belong  to  an  undescribtd  race. 

SER,  XI. VOL.   III.  T 


260  Mr.  W.  P.  Lowe  om  the  [Ibis, 

Jialiaetus,  ^Pelenums  sj).  uncertain,  "^Ardea  c/oViatJi,  Mcht- 
nophoyx  ardesiaca,  Ardeola  ibis  Uti.'t,  Triiu/a  ferruriinea 
ferni(/inea,  Totanns  tot  anus,  Rhyacophihis  <jlareoJa,  *SqiintaroJa 
squatarola,  Lams  fascus  fuscxs,  Sterna  sp.  not  yet  deter- 
mined, HijdroclteUdon  nigra,  Ili/droc/udidon  hi/Jnida,  Nanvda 
meleagris. 

When  it  is  remembered  that  Mr.  Lowe  spent  nnder  three 
months  in  the  Colony,  the  fact  that  he  could  procnre  or 
identify  without  a  doubt  thirty-two  birds,  which,  despite  the 
labours  of  Mr.  Robin  Kemp,  Major  Kelsall,  and  others, 
had  never  previously  been  recorded  from  vSierra  Leone, 
speaks  volumes  for  the  work  still  to  be  done  in  West  Africa, 
and  not  a  little  for  the  untirino-  enerov  and  discrimination 
with  which  Mr.  Lowe  faced  his  task. 

Special  mention  must  here  be  made  of  the  new  Giant 
Swift,  which  Mr.  Lowe  discovered.  A  single  specimen 
was  shot  at  Mahera  up  the  Rokelle  River  (see  Ma])), 
and  Mr.  Lowe  tells  me  that  this  Swift  was  very  coniuion  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  village,  and  had  he  had  more  than 
one  caitridge  he  could  have  secured  a  fine  series.  The 
birds  were  nesting  ;it  the  time  of  his  visit,  21  April.  The 
discovery  of  this  bird  in  Sierra  Leone  is  of  very  special 
interest,  as  hitherto  no  specimen  of  any  racte  of  the  Cliaiit 
Swift  has  been  obtained  in  this  part  of  Africa.  Tiie 
ty[)ical  species  inhabits  Abyssinia  and  probably  extends 
south  throuoh  the  great  lakes.  More  than  one  race  has  been 
described,  and,  almost  at  the  same  time  as  Mr.  Lowe  shot  his 
l)ird,  ('apt.  Hubert  Lynes,  R.N.,  procured  yet  another  race 
in  Darfur  in  almost  the  same  latitude  as  Sierra  Leone. 
I  have  already  described  M.  a',  lowel  at  length  in  the 
'Bulletin'  of  the  Brit.  Orn.  Club,  vol.  xli.,  October  1920, 
p.  2.  Additional  s[)ecimens  are  badly  needed  in  the  British 
Museum.  The  bird  cannot  be  mistaken  for  any  other  Swift, 
as  the  wing  measures  2()4mm. 

Another  bird  of  very  great  interest,  which  does  not  strictl}^ 
come  within  the  scojie  of  this  paper,  may,  nevertheless,  well  be 
mentioned    here.     It  is  a  small   Rail  which  flew  on  board 
*  Not  obtaiued,  but  identified  without  a,  doubt. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Tdnso  and  adjoviing  Islands,  267 

H.M.S.  '  Dwarf,'  in  lat.  10°  0' N.,  lono-.  15°  ^,0'  W.,  on  June 
14tli,  1920,  wliile  the  gunboat  was  at  sea  off  Portuguese 
Gruinea.  Mr.  Lowe  skinned  the  little  bird,  and  it  proved  to 
be  a  new  race,  which  1  named  SarotliruraJiohmi  d<mei  in 
honour  of  Lieut. -Commander  Dane,  II. N.,  of  H.M.S. '  Dwarf 
(c/:  Bull.  B.O.  (J.  vol.  xli.,  Oct.  11)20,  p.  a). 

Another  bird,  the  identification  of  which  has  been  anything 
but  easy,  figures  in  my  list  as  Sterna  [species  undetermined] 
?<Zr)»r/a///, Mont.  The  Roseate  Tern.  This  is  amostremarkable 
specimen,  which  has  puzzled  several  ornithologists  to  whom  I 
have  submitted  it.  Dr.  Hartert  has,  I  believe,  come  nearest 
to  identifying  the  bird  ;  he  writes  "  I  should  describe  it  as  a 
gigantic  specimen  of  Sterna  dongalU  with  aljnormiillv  deep 
cleft  feet."  He  notes  that  Sterna  douf/alli  gracilis  of  Australia 
sometimes  has  wings  as  long  as  this.  Unfortunately,  the 
Tern  under  discussion,  which  Mr.  Lowe  shot  in  Freetown 
Harbour  on  the  5tli  May,  1920,  is  an  immature  female, 
apparently  about  eleven  months  old,  with  bill  and  feet  black. 
The  primaries  are  very  worn,  and  the  shafts  broken  off  at 
the  end  ;  and  taking  this  fact  into  consideration  the  wing- 
measurement  of  233  mui.  is  remarkable.  Had  the  wings  not 
been  damaged,  the  measurement  would  have  been  somewhere 
between  235-240  mm.  The  bird  is  in  full  moult,  and  has 
attained  its  new  tail-feathers  and  some  of  the  secondaries. 
K  it  is  indeed  a  s[)ecinien  of  the  Roseate  Tern,  its  occurrence 
so  late  as  May  in  Sierra  Leone  is  difficult  to  exphtin.  The 
bird  is  recorded  from  one  or  two  localities  on  the  East 
African  coast  as  far  as  Cape  Town,  but  I  know  of  no  example 
having  Ijeen  taken  in  West  Africa.  Mr.  Willoughby  Lowe 
believes  that  it  will  })rove  to  be  a  resident  and  probably 
distinct  breeding-race,  but  until  its  breeding-oround  is  dis- 
covered  nothing  further  can  be  done.  I  would  specially 
draw  the  attention  of  any  ornithologist  who  may  be  quartered 
at  Freetown  to  securing  more  specimens,  and  particularly 
o£  ascertaining  whether  any  Roseate  Terns  visit  Freetown 
Harbour. 

Mr.  Lowe  has  reported  the  existence  on  Tasso  Ishuul  of  a 
fine  Ground-Hornbill  (^Bucorvus),  which  from  his  description 

t2 


208  Mr.  W.  P.  Lowe  on  the  [Ibis, 

appears  to  be  an  iindescribed  species.  It  is  an  enormous 
h'wd,  a  pair  of  wbicb  were  seen  by  Mr.  Lowe  on  more  than 
one  occasion,  and  is  remarkable  for  the  fact  that  it  is  entireh/ 
black,  lacking  the  white  primaries  of  JB.  ahyssinicus  and 
B.  cafer.  As  no  example  of  Biicorviis  with  black  primaries 
is  known  to  exist  anywhere  in  Africa,  a  specimen  should  be 
secured  at  the  earliest  opportunity. 

T  wish  to  take  this  opportunity  of  expressing  the  great 
appreciation  felt  by  the  authorities  of  the  Natural  History 
Museum  to  Commander  Dane,  R.N.,  for  so  generously  taking 
Mr.  Willoughby  Lowe  with  him  as  naturalist  on  his  ship. 
Much  of  the  material  obtained  by  Mr.  Lowe  (including  a 
lai-ge  collection  of  birds  from  Lagos,  Southern  Nigeria)  still 
remains  to  be  worked  out,  but  it  will  be  apparent  from  a 
perusal  of  this  paper  how  much  Yalual)le  work  Mr.  Lowe  has 
accomplished,  thanks  very  largely  to  the  facilities  afforded  by 
Commander  Dane,  who  spared  no  pains  or  personal  expense 
to  make  the  trip  a  success.  The  new  Rail  and  a  fine 
Antelope  have  been  named  after  him  as  a  small  recognition 
of  his  kindness. 

Introduction. — By  WiLLOUGHBY  P.  LoWE,  M.B.O.U. 

Having  been  kindly  invited  by  Lieut. -Commander  A.  Y. 
Dane,  R.N.,  of  H.M.S.  'Dwarf,'  to  accompany  him  in  his 
gunboat  to  the  West  Coast  of  Africa,  I  found  myself  once 
again  off  Freetown,  Sierra  Leone,  on  25  February,  1920. 
My  first  object  was  to  try  and  complete  the  collection  made 
on  my  last  visit  of  .1911  Avhilst  the  guest  of  Capt.  Hardy, 
R.N.,  of  H.M.S. '  Mutine.'  It  was  now  arranged  that  I  should 
stay  on  the  high  ground  at  Hill  Station,  and  from  this  point 
many  new  additions  to  my  former  collection  were  made,  as 
well  as  new  records  to  the  list  of  known  Sierra  Leone  birds. 
Having  about  exhausted  the  birds  found  in  the  innnediate 
neighbourhood  of  Freetown,  it  was  with  much  interest  and 
pleasure  that  Commander  Dane  and  myself  left  the  ship  early 
on  March  12  for  the  zoologically  unexplored  Rokelle  River 
and  its  numerous  islands.  We  arrived  atTasso  Island  (text- 
fig.  3)  about  11  A.M.    An  empty  bungalow  was  to  be  had,  and 


1921.]  Birds  of  Tasso  and  adjoininy  Islands. 


269 


270  ^h•.  \V.  P.  Lowe  on  I  he  [Ibis, 

here  f  settle!  down  to  work — cliieiiy  on  Tasso  LsUukI, — but 
paying  a  t"e\v  short  visits  to  Yatwurd,  Mayahgb;!^  Rotoonibo, 
and  other  ishinds,  as  well  as  a  day's  sail  up  the  liokelle  River 
to  Mabile,  where  the  river  becomes  more  narrow  and  difficult 
of  passage  on  account  of  the  large  rocks  in  the  river-bed. 
It  was  here  tliat  I  saw  on  16  April  a  Kori  Bustard,  which 
almost  without  doubt  was  Otis  kori  strutldanculus.  So  far  as 
I  know,  no  Kori  Bustard  has  been  recorded  from  the  West 
C.'oast,  and  it  is  therefore  possible  that,  had  I  obtained  a 
specimen,  it  would  have  proved  to  belong  to  an  nndescribed 
race — possibly  a  tlark  form  of  the  North-African  Kori 
Bustard.  I  also  came  across  a  small  dry  pond  where  the  bird 
dusted  itself,  and  was  able  to  examine  many  feathers  from 
the  wings. 

On  my  return  I  stayed  at  IMahera,  and  it  was  here  I 
discovered  the  new  Giant  Swift  [Micropus  frr/uatorialis  lowei), 
which  Mr.  Bannerman  has  described,  in  abundance. 

I  shall  now  confine  myself  chiefly  to  Tasso  Island.  It 
may  be  of  interest  to  say  that  the  word  Tasso  means  "  a 
resting-place,"  where  all  the  native  boats  sto[)  on  their 
journeys  up  and  down  the  river  waiting  for  wind  and  tide. 
Mayahgba  means  "  shaky  island  " — possibly  on  account  of 
tlie  wind  ;  Yatward  was  named  after  a  chief  of  the  island  ; 
whilst  the  large  long  island  of  Rotoomba,  which  swarms 
with  game  ami  is  nearly  all  covered  with  thick  bush,  means 
"  Croat  island,"  on  account  of  the  so-called  "Bush-Goats" 
(^Cej^Jialopus  ni<jer),  which  seem  to  occur  here  and  not  on  any 
of  the  other  islands. 

The  rather  important  village  of  Tasso  is  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  island,  and  is  one  of  the  few  spots  not 
surrounded  by  a  dense  belt  of  mangroves.  It  was,  no 
doubt,  like  Bense  Island,  a  stronghold  of  the  Dutch  and 
Portuguese  slavers — as  the  still  remaining  old  cannons  half 
buried  in  sand  prove.  The  island  is  loughly  about  three  by 
four  miles  in  extent  and  distant  a  mile  from  the  mainland 
It  is  probably  about  60  ft.  high  and,  like  the  mainland,  of 
volcanic  origin.  It  has  a  light  sandy  soil,  and  is  for  the 
most  part  covered   with  low  scrubby  bush,  which  is   burnt 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  l^assu  and  udjoiniiiy  Islands.  271 

periodically  for  fanning'  ])nrposes.  The  trees  of  any  size  are 
scanty  :  a  few  very  tine  cotton-woods  are  found  around  the 
villaoe,  the  remainder  seem  to  have  been  all  used  for  maldng 
dug-out  canoes.  There  are,  however,  some  oil-})alm  trees  at 
the  southern  end  of  the  island,  the  favourite  resort  of  bats 
and  parrots. 

Tasso  may  be  said  to  differ  in  one  respect  from  the  other 
islands  by  having  two  very  large  ponds,  one  of  which  was 
dry  when  I  arrived  and  the  other  nearly  so.  These  seem  to 
be  the  onh  natural  su[)ply  of  fresh  water,  and  during  the 
autmnn  they  are  frequented  by  large  quantities  of  water- 
fowl. It  is  therefore  more  than  probable  that  Tasso  will  be 
found  to  have  a  tar  greater  variety  of  birds  than  any  of  the 
other  islands.  The  chief  interest  to  the  ornithologist 
respecting  these  islands  lies  in  the  fact  that  ho  many  birds 
found  on  the  high  mainland  are  conspicuous  by  their  absence. 
Take,  for  instance,  only  two  very  noticeable  ones — the 
Plantain-eater  [Turacus  inacrorJii/nehrts),  whose  noisy  habits 
and  brilliant  plumage  is  at  once  missed,  or  again  the  lovely 
little  Blue  Flycatcher  [Plat/jsfcira  c>/anea),  so  well  known 
and  loved  by  all  Avhite  people  who  visit  the  Colony. 

I  am  here  giving  a  com[)lete  list  of  the  birds  obtained  on 
this  and  other  islands,  as  well  as  those  seen  and  whose 
identitication  is  Ijeyond  doubt. 

I  am  greatly  indebted  to  Mr.  David  A.  Bannerman  for 
having  named  the  collection,  and  for  compiling  a  complete 
list  of  Sierra  Leone  l)irds,  which  will  not  only  be  useful  to 
compare  with  the  island  lists  here  given,  but  will  also  be 
of  Hreat  service  to  those  who  will  continue  the  iuterestino- 
study  of  Sierra  Leone  birds.  I  have  also  to  thank  Lieut.  M. 
J.  Mansergh,  R.N.,  of  H.M.S.  '  Dwarf,'  for  preparing  this 
the  first  correct  map  of  the  little-ktiown  liokelle  River  and  its 
islands.  There  are  still,  doubtless,  many  birds  in  Sierra  Leone 
which  have  not  yet  been  recorded,  but  Mr.  Bannerman's  list 
will  at  least  bring  our  knowledge  of  Sierra  Leone  birds  up  to 
date. 

An  asterisk  denotes  that  the  bird  was  s«en  beyond  doubt, 
but  no  skins  were  preserved. 


272  Mr.  \y.  P.  Lowe  on  the  [Ibis, 

List  of  the  Birds  of  Tasso  Island,  liokelle  Miver, 
Sierra  Leone,  icith  Field-notes. 

Corvus  scapulatus.     Pied  Crow. 

On  Tasso  Island  during  March  these  birds  were  very 
scarce,  only  an  odd  bird  was  to  be  seen.  During  April  their 
numbers  greatly  increased,  and  small  flocksof  twenty  were  to 
be  seen. 

Cinnyricinclus  leucogaster  leucogaster.     Amethyst  Starling. 

Fairly  common  on  Tasso  Island.  A  pair  were  nesting  in 
a  hollow  stump  of  a  dead  sapling,  two  feet  high,  on 
10  April.  A  single  well-fledged  bird  was  found  in  the  hole, 
one  foot  deep.     There  was  no  sign  of  any  nest. 

Hyphantornis  cucullatus.     Rufous-necked  Weaver. 
Quite    common    and    nesting   in    a    cottonwood    tree    on 
18  March. 

Sitagra  ocularius  brachypterus.  Swuinson's  Spectacled 
Weaver. 

Not  nearly  so  plentiful  as  the  former  species. 

Budytes  flava  flava.     Yellow  Wagtail. 
Several   seen   on   the   pond   near   the   village,   which  was 
nearly  dried  up. 

Anthus  leucophrys  gouldi.     Gould's  Pipit. 

A  common  bird  amongst  the  cassava,  where  it  nests. 

Cyanomitra  verticalis  verticalis.  Green-headed  Olive 
Sunbird. 

Tolerably  common,  but  much  more  plentiful  on  the 
mainland. 

Cinnyris  chloropygius  chloropygiiis.  Scarlet-collared  Sun- 
bird. 

This  beautiful  little  Sunbird  is,  no  doubt,  the  commonest 
species. 


192 1.]  Bi7'ds  of  Tasso  and  adjoining  Islands.  273 

Anthothreptes  gabonica.    Little  Browu-and-white  Sunbird. 
Moderately  common  about  Tasso  village,  iu  company  with 
the  former  species. 

Cisticola  lateralis.     Grass- Warbler. 

A  Eairly  common  species,  possessing  a  beautiful  song, 
which  is  uttered  in  the  early  morning  from  the  top  of  some 
small  bush.     The  same  spot  is  used  daily  for  this  purpose. 

Prinia  mystacea  melanorhyncha.  Black-billed  Wreu- 
Warbler. 

Noticed  sparingly  in  March  amongst  low  bush. 

Hylia  prasina.     Cassin's  Warbler. 

One  shot  9  April^  but  unfortunately  not  recovered.  They 
arc  moderately  common  in  thick  bush. 

Pycnonotus  barbatus  inornatus.     Dusky  Bulbul. 
A  pair  of  these  birds  used   to  sing  behind  our  bungalow  ; 
they  were  the  only  ones  seen. 

Phyllastrephus  simplex.     The  Plain  Bulbul. 
Tolerably  common.     Breeding  17  March. 

Campophaga  phoenicea.    Red-shouldered  Cuckoo-Shrike. 
I  only  met  with  two  (both  young  birds). 

*Hiriindo  rustica  rustica.     (Jommon  Swallow. 

Swallows  were  irregular  during  the  latter  part  of  March. 
Some  days  only  two  or  three  were  seen,  whilst  another  day 
they  were  numerous  and  in  fairly  large  flocks. 

Dendropicus  lugubris.     Mournful  Woodpecker. 

A  well-fledged  bird  was  brought  to  me  on  14  April  by  a 
child  whose  father  had  cut  down  a  small  dead  tree.  I  could 
not  get  the  child  to  part  with  it. 

Crinifer  africana  africana.     African  Plantain-eater. 
Only  noticed  twice.     The  first  time  three  were  observed  in 
some  thick  bush  and  two  specimens  were  secured. 

Clamator  glandarius.     Great  Spotted  Cuckoo. 
Not  common.      The  oviduct    of  one    shot    on  31  March 
contained  an  egg. 


274  Mr.  W.  P.  Lowe  on  the  [Ibis, 

Centropus  senegalensis  senegalensis.     ISenegal  Coucal. 
One  of  the  coiumonest  birds,  occurring  everywhere. 

Ceuthmochares  aereus  flavirostris.      Yellow-billed  Coucal. 
A  I'airly  coniinon  bird. 

Tachornis  parvus  brachypterus.     Short-winged  Palm-Swift. 
One  of  the  most  common  birds. 

Scotornis  climacurus.      Long-tailed  Nightjar. 

This  is  quite  a  common  bird.  On  16  March  I  found  n 
bird  sitting  on  some  reddish-coloured  ground  amongst  the 
cassava.  I  went  close  u[)  to  it  and  it  refused  to  move  until 
I  practically  touched  it  with  my  hand,  when  it  flew  away 
a  short  distance,  leavino-  two  eoos  which  were  brought  home. 
Their  colour  matched  the  ground  wonderfully  well. 

Lophoceros  semifasciatus.     Half-barred  Hornbill. 
Tolerably  common. 

Bycanistes  fistxilator.     Piping  Hornbill. 
Moderately  conunon  and  noticed  feeding  on  berries. 

*Bucorvus  sp.  ?     Ground-Hornbill. 

A  pair  of  Ground-Hornbills  inhabifed  the  island.  Unfor- 
tunately, I  was  not  able  to  obtain  a  specimen,  though  I 
and  others  saw  them  many  times.  In  size  they  resemble 
B.  alnjss'inifus,  but  differ  from  that  bird  in  being  entirely 
black  throughout,  including  the  head  and  neck.  They  are 
known  to  the  natives  as  "Woodcock,"  and  are  said  to  occur 
on  the  mainland,  but  I  failed  to  find  any.  The  beat  of  the 
wing  is  audible  at  a  considerable  distance. 

[It  seems  very  probable  that  the  Clround-Hornbill  seen  by 
Mr.  Lowe  on  Tasso  Island  will  prove  to  be  an  entirely  new, 
undescribed  species.  A  race  (if  recognised  as  such)  of 
B.  ahyssinims  is  certainly  known  to  inhabit  parts  of  West 
Africa,  and  is  recorded  by  Reichenow  from  Portuguese 
Guinea.  This  form  was  named  by  Schlegel  "■  Buceros 
caruncidatns,  var.  guineensis,"  on  account  of  its  supposed 
smaller  size  etc.,  but  Reichenow  ('  YOgel  Afrikas,'  ii.  p.  234) 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Tusso  and  adjuinlng  Islanda.  275 

does  not  accept  it.  In  any  case,  tins  AVest-African  bird 
resembles  the  Abyssinian  species  in  liavino-  \chHe  prinuiries, 
whereas  the  bird  Mr.  Lowe  saw  had  entirely  hJach  primaries. 
Should  any  naturalist  or  sportsman  have  an  opportunity  of 
procuring  one  o£  these  birds,  the  chance  should  not  be 
neglected  ;  and  may  I  beg  him  to  forward  the  skin  to  the 
Director,  British  Museum  (Natural  History),  London,  S.W., 
where  it  will  be  most  gratefully  received,  tying  on  to  its  feet 
a  label  bearing  the  lociility  where  obtained,  date,  and  name  of 
collector,  and,  if  possible,  the  sex  of  the  bird. — J).  A.  /j.] 

Merops    persicus    chrysocercus         AV'est-African    Persian 

Bee-eater. 

On  II)  March  only  a  single  bird  was  to  be  seen,  whilst  on 
25  March  they  were  tolerably  common,  flying  about  the 
large  pond  at  back  of  Tasso  village. 

Aerops  albicollis  albicollis.     White-necked  Bee-eater. 
Tolerably  common  on  Tasso  Island,  22  March. 

*Eurystonnis  afar  afar.     (Jinnamon  Roller. 
Common.     A  very  pugnacious  bird,   attacking    anything 
that  comes  near  its  favourite  haunt. 

Halcyon  malimbicus  forbesi.     Forbes's  Kingfisher. 
Tolerably  common. 

*Ceryla  rudis  nidis.     Pied  Kingfisher. 
Fairly  common  around  the  island. 

Psittacus  erithacus  timnah.     Timneh  Clrey  Parrot. 

Heard  nearly  every  morning  at  daybreak  flying  over  the 
village  of  Tasso.  They  were  tolerably  common  at  the 
southern  end  of  the  island,  feeding  on  palm-nuts. 

Bubo  africanus  cinarascens.     Grreyish-spotted  Eagle-Ovvl. 

I  only  saw  two  of  these  birds  ;  they  were  in  some  very  tall 
mangi-ove-trees.  The  one  shot  had  been  feeding  on  rodents. 
Two  young  birds  were  obtained  at  Freetown,  and  were  sent 
to  the  Zoological  Gardens,  London,  where  they  are  doing 
well. 


276  Mr.  \V.  P.  Lowe  on  the  [Ibis, 

Otus  lencotis  leucotis.     AVhite-fiiced  Scops  Owl. 

Some  children  found  a  nest  on  29  March  in  the  fork  of  a 
large  mango-tree.  It  contained  two  young  birds  which  were 
just  able  to  fly,  one  of  which  was  caught  and  subsequently 
went  to  the  Zoological  Gardens.  The  site  chosen  was  ten  feet 
from  the  ground,  and  there  was  no  sigti  of  any  nest,  the  tiny 
young  birds  merely  sitting  among  a  few  bones  and  pellets. 
The  bird  when  caught  had  quite  a  ])rownisli  shade  over- 
laid with  sulphur-j'ellow.  After  a  few  weeks  of  captivity 
this  disappeared.  I  visited  this  bird  at  the  Gardens  on 
5  September,  not  having  seen  it  for  many  months.  I  was 
pleased  to  find  it  remembered  me,  although  very  sleepy,  and 
frequently  responded  to  my  call. 

Buteo  auguralis.     Lesser  Augur-Buzzard. 

Found  nesting  in  a  cottonwood-tree  about  forty  feet  up. 
On  8  April  I  shot  the  female,  which  w-as  alarmed  for  the 
safety  of  her  young.  On  the  following  day  T  visited  the 
nest  and  found  the  male  had  obtained  another  mate  to  assist 
in  rearing  the  young.  This  seems  very  often  to  happen, 
and  I  have  noticed  it  even  amongst  Orioles  in  America. 

*Aquila  wahlbergi.     Wahlberg's  Eagle. 

One  seen  several  times  near  Tasso,  ])erched  and  Hying. 
Evidently  uncommon,  as  it  was  the  only  one  noticed. 

[Mr.  Lowe  cannot  have  made  any  mistake  in  the  identifica- 
tion of  this  species.  AVe  have  a  skin  in  the  British  Museum, 
obtained  at  Bissao,  Portuguese  Guinea  (ex  Verreaux  C-ol- 
lection),  so  that  there  is  little  doubt  Mr.  Lowe  correctly 
identified  his  bird. — iK  A.B.'] 

*Cuncuina  vocifer.     Vociferous  Sea-Eagle. 

Tolerably  common  up  the  Rokelle  River.  Several  times 
seen  perched  or  flying  on  or  around  Tasso  Island. 

[This  seems  to  be  the  first  record  from  Sierra  Leone. 
We  have  specimens  in  the  Museum  from  Senegal  and 
Cameroon.— i>.  A.  B.] 

*Kaupifalco  monogrammicus  monogrammicus.  African 
Buzzard-Eagle. 

Several  seen.     A  fairly  connnon  bird. 


1921.]  Birds  of  Tasso  and  adjoining  Islands.  277 

*Grypohierax  angolensis.     Vultuiiiie  Sea-Eagle. 
A  very  common  and  cons})icaous  Ijird,  and  much  liked  by 
the  natives  for  food. 

*Pandion  haliaetus  haliaetus.     Osprey. 
Seen  several  times  at  the  southern  end  of  the  island,  where 
the  natives  have  fish-traps. 

*Necrosyrtes  raonaclms  monachus.     Hooded  Vulture. 

Abundant  in  and  around  the  village  of  Tasso.  The  dif- 
ference between  these  Vultures  and  those  of  British  East 
Africa  struck  me  as  curious.  We  often  shot  Antelope  and 
lel't  them  in  a  tree  or  by  the  roadside,  and  they  were  never 
molested  ;  whilst  in  British  East  Africa  Vultures  appear  at 
once  when  game  is  killed,  and,  if  not  carefully  guarded, 
soon  commence  to  devour  it. 

[An  immature  female  specimen  of  this  Vulture,  nf).  5G2, 
now  in  the  British  Museum,  obtained  by  Mr.  Lowe  at 
Murray  town.  Sierra  Leone,  on  27  April,  1920,  is  in  very 
peculiar  "  head  dress."  I  have  never  seen  any  Vulture  in 
this  state  of  plumage,  and,  as  I  can  find  no  description  of  it 
in  any  paper,  I  describe  it  as  follows  : — Skin  of  the  head 
immediately  above  the  eye  and  below  the  eye  absolutely 
bare  of  feathers,  the  bare  skin  divided  on  the  top  of  the 
head  by  very  short  black  feathers  growing  in  tiny  hair-like 
tufts,  these  bkack  feathers  dividing  and  passing  over  the 
base  of  the  skull  so  as  to  completely  encircle  a  pure  white 
fluffy  tuft  measuring  3«  X  10  mm.  Both  the  eyes  and 
the  ears  are  surrounded  with  black  hair-like  feathers.  The 
hind  neck,  from  the  base  of  the  occiput  to  the  commence- 
ment of  the  long  feathers  on  the  nape,  is  covered  with  close, 
almost  fur-like,  buff-coloured  feathers.  The  lower  part  of 
the  throat  and  the  under  sides  of  the  neck  are  entirely  bare 
of  feathers,  and  only  the  skin  from  the  base  of  the  lower 
mandible  for  a  distance  of  5,5  mm.  is  covered  with  numerous 
small  black  hair-like  tufts.  At  the  extreme  base  of  the  neck 
on  the  under  surface,  and  below  the  bare  patch,  there  is  a 
patch  of  rather  long  dark  brown  feathers,  dividing  tlie  bare 


278  Mr.  W.  P.  Lowe  on  the  [Ibis, 

patch  of  the  lower  nock  from  the  sliort  l)ro\vn  feathers  of  the 
breast.— Z>.  .-I .  Z?.] 

*Pelecamis  sj).  uncertain. 

One  or  two  Pelicans  were  noticed  daily,  either  flying  or 
fishing  off  the  mud-flats.  I  was  unfortunately  unable  to 
obtain  a  specimen,  but  they  were  [)robably  P.  onocrotaJus 
sharpei. 

[It  does  not  yet  seem  to  liave  been  settled  definitely 
whether  the  Pelican  of  West  Africa  (terra  tt/pica,  Angola), 
named  P.  sharpei  by  Bocage,  is  a  distinct  subspecies  or  merely 
a  colour-variety.  Dr.  Peichenow  inclines  to  the  latter  view 
(Vog.  Afr.  i.  p.  100).  Apparently  more  specimens  are  badly 
recpiired  in  the  National  Collection. — 1).  A.  B.^ 

Scopus  umbretta  umbretta.     Hammer-head  Stork. 
Several  seen  wading  about  on  the  pond  in  company  with 
Bubulciis  ibis.     T  saw  none  elsewhere. 

Ardea  cinerea.     (Jommon  Heron. 

I  only  saw  the  one  obtained,  but  I  have  no  doubt  they  are 
tolerably  common. 

Demigretta  gularis  gularis.     White-throated  Shity  Heron. 

Early  in  Mtii'ch  these  birds  are  very  plentiful,  but  towards 
April  their  numbers  are  greatly  tiecreased.  At  Freetown 
the}'  nearly  all  disappear  to  their  breeding-ground,  wherever 
that  mav  be,  and  only  an  odd  straggler  is  left  behind. 

Ardeola  ibis  ibis.     Bufli'-backed  Egret. 
Very  (common  on  the  pond.     Sometimes  as  man}'  as  fifty 
seen  together. 

Rhyacophilus  glareola.     Wood-Sandi)iper. 

Common  on  the  beach  and  also  noted  in  mangrove-swamps. 

Tringa  ferruginea  ferruginea.     Curlew-Santlpiper. 

Ordy  noticed  along  the  beach,  where  it  is  fairly  common. 
It  does  not  ap|)enr  to  have  been  recorded  from  Sierra  Tjeone 
previously. 


1 92 1.]         Birds  of  Tasso  and  adjoininff  Islands.  279 

*Numeniiis  arquatiis  arquatus.     Curlew. 
Abounds  alono-  mud-flats. 

Numenius  phaeopus  phseopus,     Wliiinbrel. 

A  very  counnon  bird,  whose  numbers  become  much  reduced 
by  the  end  of  April.  A  few  were  seen  on  2o  May,  whilst  a 
single  bird  was  seen  near  Freetown  on  20  June. 

Squatarola  sqiiatarola.     Clrey  Plover. 

A  common  sjiecies,  retreating  at  high  water  to  the 
niangrove-bi-anchos  in  companv  with  other  Waders. 

Arenaria  interpres  interpres.     Turnstone. 

Common  along  the  shoi-es  at  low  water.  When  the  tide 
I'ises  they,  as  well  as  other  Waders,  take  refuge  in  the  tali 
mangroves,  where  one  nuiy  find  lots  of  fifty  or  more  all 
huddled  together. 

*Lariis  cirrhoceplialus.     Grey-headed  Gull. 

The  most  common  Gull.  Very  numerous  at  Freetown 
during  the  winter,  but  they  nearly  all  depart  for  their 
breeding-grounds  in  the  interior  in  April. 

*Larus  fuscus  affinis.     British  Lesser  Black-backed  Gull. 

Tt  is  obviously  the  light-backed  race  of  this  Gull  which 
occurs  sparingly  oti'  Tasso  Island.  Common  at  Freetown 
as  late  as  11  May,  at  which  date  only  two  or  three  used, 
in  comj^any  wMtii  a  single  Larus  ciri'/iocephalus,  to  visit  our 
ship  daily.  No  actual  specimen  was  obtained  during  this 
A  isit. 

Lariis  fuscus  fuscus.  Continental  Lesser  Black-backed 
Gull. 

A  single  specimen  of  the  dark-backed  race  of  this  Gull 
was  obtained  on  11  ]\Liy  at  Freetown. 

[The  specimen  obtained  on  11  May  is  undoubtedly  an 
example  of  the  dark-backed  race,  Larus  fti.'iCKs  fascus.  It  is, 
of  course,  far  out  of  the  supposed  range  of  this  species, 
which  is  usually  considered  to  be  Scandinavia  and  eastwards 
(breeding).     In  winter  it  visits  the  eastern  Mediterranean, 


280  Mr.  W.  P.  Lowe  on  the  [Ibis, 

ranoing  to  tlie  head  of  the  Persian  Gulf.  I  have,  however, 
Jcnown  the  dark  race  to  occur  once  in  the  Canar}^  Islands 
((.;/'.  Ibis,  1920,  p.  757\  so  that  apparently  stragglers  may 
be  looked  for  on  the  West  Coast  of  Africa,  where  there  can 
be  no  limit  to  its  wanderings.  Undoubtedly  the  note 
supplied  by  Mr,  Lowe  must  apply  to  the  British  Lesser 
Black-backed  Gull  (Lams  fuscus  af^nis),  which  is  known  to 
winter  in  the  western  Mediterranean,  in  the  Azores,  Madeira, 
and  Canary  Islands,  passing  down  the  West  African  coast  as 
far  as  Southern  Nigeria.  Mr.  Lowe  has  himself  obtained 
a  specimen  of  the  light-backed  race  in  Sierra  Leone  on  a 
former  trip  ;  this  was  recorded  by  myself  (lbis>  1912,  p.  229) 
as  L.fascus. — D.^i.B.^ 

*Sterna  maxima.     Giant  Tern. 

A  flock  of  about  fifty  were  seen  daily  off  the  shore. 

Streptopelia  semitorquata  erythrophrys.  Red-eyed  Turtle- 
Dove. 

Yerv  common.  Youno-  birds,  well-flediied,  were  obtained 
9  April. 

*Chalcopelia  afra  afra.     Blue-spotted  Wood-Dove. 
Moderately  common. 

Vinago  calva  calva.     Bald-fronted  Fruit-Pigeon. 
Scarce.     Two  or  three  seen  in  the  tall  mangroves. 

Fancoliniis  bicalcaratns  thornei.  Thome's  Double-spurred 
Francolin. 

This  is  undoubtedly  by  far  the  most  common  bird  on  the 
island.  In  the  cassava  it  fairly  swarms,  coveys  of  thirty  or 
more  rising  continuously  as  one  walks  through.  They  do  a 
great  deal  of  damage  to  the  crops,  and  the  natives,  having 
no  guns,  are  completely  at  the  mercy  of  the  bird.  My  last 
visit  to  their  feeding-grounds,  23  May,  showed  they  had 
paired  and  receded  into  the  bush,  as  only  an  odd  bird 
was  to  bfl  seen,  where  a  few  weeks  previously  there  were 
hundreds. 


192 1.]  Bh'ds  of  Tasso  and  adjoining  Islands.  281 

List  of  the  Birds  of  j\Ia>/aJufha  Island. 

*Tscliagra  senegala  senegala. 

A  sinule  l)ird  seen  on  ^(S  March. 

*Cisticola  lateralis. 

Tolerably  coiuinon,  and  in  fnll  song  on  2S  March. 

Platysteira  cyanea  cyanea. 

Breeding  on  the  island  on  27  March,  when  a  specimen 
was  procured. 

*Lybiiis  bidentatns  bidentatus. 
A  single  pair  seen  on  2<S  March. 

^Centropiis  senegalensis  senegalensis. 

Oommon. 

*Loplioceros  semifasciatus. 

Scarce.     Only  one  seen. 

*Bycanistes  fistnlator. 
A  fairly  common  species. 

*Merops  persicus  chrysoceixiis. 

Only  two  seen  27  March. 

*Eiirystoimis  afer  afer. 

()nly  two  or  thi'ee  se<Mi. 

*Astiir  badius  sphenuriis. 

A  single  pair  seen. 

*Spizaetus  coronatiis. 

One  seen  perched  on  the  dead  branch  of  a  tall  tree  on 
28  March.  Unfortunately,  I  was  in  the  midst  of  an  antelope 
drive,  and  so  unable  to  shoot  it. 

[This  is  apparently  the  first  record  of  S.  coronatus  from 
Sierra  Leone.  Mr.  Lowe  is  well  acquainted  with  this  A¥est 
African  species,  and  his  identification  may  be  relied  upon. 
We  have  West  African  specimens  in   the   British   Museum 

SER.  XI. VOL.   III.  U 


2H2  On  the  Birds  uf  Tassa  and  adjoining  Islands.       [Ibis, 

iVoin  the  Gold  C'oast  and  ('ameroon,  while  Keichenow  records 
it.  ill  addition,  from  Portugnese  Guinea,  Liberia,  and  Cape 
Coast  besides  many  localities  in  South  Africa.  — 7).  ^1.  i>.] 

Demigretta  giilaris  gularis. 

*Ardea  goliath. 

A  single  bird  seen  on  2%  March. 

[Curiously  enough,  this  is  apparently  the  first  record  of 
A.  goliath  from  Sierra  Leone.  It  is  known  from  many 
parts  of  West  Africa,  and  has  an  enormous  range  throughout 
the  Avhole  of  tropical  Africa. — D.  A .  7?.] 

Numeniiis  arqiiatus  arquatus. 

Numenius  phseopus  phaeopus. 

*Francoliniis  bicalcaratus  thornei. 

Very  conunon. 

*Numida  nieleagris. 

Only  four  seen.  They  are  found  with  FranroJiit^is  hicajcix- 
ntfiis  tJiornei  in  an  open  space  in  the  centre  of  the  island. 

List  of  the  JJirds  of  Yatward  Jsland. 

Hy2)ha)itornis  cucullatus. 
*JL'rtai(Io  rustica  rustica. 
*Tachoritis parvus  hrachyptevKs. 

Halcyon  malimbicus  forhesi. 
*Psittacus  erithaciis  thnneh. 
*Astuy  hadius  sphenurus. 
'*Milvus  miyra7is  parasitus. 
*GypoJii('rax  angolcnsis. 
*Demiyretta  yularis  yularis. 
*Butorides  atricapilla. 
* lihyacojjliilus  glanota. 
*Ai-cnaria  interprcs  xnterpres. 
*Hterna  maxima. 


1 92 1.]    Systematic  List  of  tlie  Birds  of  Sierra  Leone.        283 

XV. — ^i  Systematic  List  of  the  Birds  of  Sierra  Leone. 
By  David  Bannerman,  M.B.E.,  B.A.,  M.B.O.U. 

There  appears  to  be  very  little  literature  dealing  with 
Sierra  Leone  Ornitliology,  and  only  three  papers  which 
deal  exclusively  with  Sierra  Leone  birds.  The  following 
is  a  short  list  of  the  papers  I  have  consulted  : — 

L.  Fraser.     1839.     Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  p.  34.     [On  a  new  species  of 
Corythaix.] 

L.  Fraser.     1842.     Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  p.  190. 

L.  Fraser.     1843.     Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  xii.  p.  367. 
[Description  of  a  new  Pitta  (P.  j^ulih).'] 

Sundevall.  1849.  Ofversigt  K.  Sv.  Vet.-Akad.  Forhandlingar, 
pp.  156-163.. 

[This  list  contained  the  description  of  a  new  Hornbill 
Bitceros  cuUratus  (=  Ceratogymna  elata),  and  the  names 
of  23  birds  (17  of  which  appear  to  be  genuine,  while 
6  ai'G  indeterminable),  including  Caj)rimulgus  inacro- 
dipterus  Afzel.,  which  has  been  used  by  most  .authors  for 
the  Long-plumed  Nightjar.  The  name  cannot  stand, 
for  the  reasons  pointed  out  by  Claude  Grant  (cf.  Ibis, 
1915,  p.  302,  footnote).] 

Cassiii.  1851.  Proc.  Philad.  Acad.  p.  347.  [Ee-described 
( 'Jiaunonotits  suhini  under  name  C.  carbonarius,  and 
descrilies  Grmtcalas  azureus.\. 

Jardilie.  1852.  Contrib.  to  Ornith.  p.  57.  [First  record  of 
Ihdcyon  striolata  {^=^11.  chellcuti)  from  Sierra  Leone.] 

Sundevall.  1852.  Jardine's  Contrib.  to  Ornith.  pp.  161,  162. 
[Makes  minor  corrections  to  his  description  of  Buceros 
cidtratus.'\ 

Gray,  G.  R.  1867.  List  of  specimens  in  Brit.  Mus.,  pt.  v.  p.  44. 
[(juttera  cristata,  recorded  from  Sierra  Leone.] 

Jardine,  Sir  W.  1874.  Catalogue  of  skins  in  the  Jai'dine  Col- 
lection. [Contains  names  of  42  birds  from  Sierra  Leone 
collected  by  Fergusson,  a  few  by  Forbes  and  P.  .Neil. 
The  skins  were  sold  by  auction  in  London  on  17  June, 
1886,  and  a  numljer  were  then  secured  for  the  British, 
Cambridge  University,  and  Royal  Scottish  Museums.] 

u2 


284  Mr.  D.  Bannerman  :   A  Systimatic  List         [Ibis, 

Kemp,  Robin.     1905.      'Ibis;   pp.  213-247.      [With   notes   by 

Dr.  Bowdler  Shai'pe,] 
Bannerman,  David  A.     1912.     '  Ibis,' pp.  219-268.     [An  account 

of    jNIr.   Willougbby  Lowe's    West    African   collections 

whilst  naturalist  on  H.M.S.  '  Mutine.'] 
Kelsall,  H.  J.     1914.     '  Ibis,'  pp.  192-228.     [An  account  of  his 

own  collection.] 
Lowe,  Willoughby  P.     1921.     '  Ibis,'  pp.  2(55-282.     [An  account 

of  the  l)ir(ls  collected  on  his  second  trip  to  iSierra  Leone 

on  H.M.S.  '  Dwarf,'  with  notes  by  myself.] 

For  the  interest  of  those  who  haA'e  not  access  to  the  past 
numbers  of  'The  Ibis,'  I  have  prepared  a  short  account 
of  the  Avork  done  by  the  three  most  important  collectors, 
Mr.  Robin  Kemp,  Col.  II.  J.  Kelsall,  and  Mr.  W.  P. 
Lowe : — 

Mr. Robin  Kemp  landed  in  Sierra  Leone  on  the  7th  of  March, 
190.2,  and  remained  there  over  three  years.  His  collections, 
which  were  made  in  the  Mendi  country — the  south-eastern 
part  of  the  colony, — comprised  6,20  skins  referable  to  145 
species.  The  majority  of  the  birds  were  shot  at  Bo  (4.")0  ft.), 
but  quite  a  uumber  at  Rotifunk,  situated  on  the  Bumpe 
River,  much  nearer  Freetown  and  tie  coast.  The  Mendi 
country  is  described  as  being  ''  entirely  covered  with  busli 
or  small  forest  broken  here  and  there  by  rice-farms  and 
swamps,  and  has  six  large  rivers  flowing  in  a  southerly 
direction.''     Kemp's  birds  are  now  in  the  British  Museum. 

Mr.  Willoughby  P.  Lowe  was  the  next  collector  to  visit 
Sierra  Leone.  He  stayed  there  from  the  28th  of  Jauuarv 
to  the  6th  of  Februar\%  1911,  and  again  from  the  7th  to  the 
12th  of  March  of  the  same  year,  when  naturalist  on  board 
li.M.S.  '  Mutine,'  at  the  invitation  of  Captain  Hardy,  R.N. 
During  these  two  short  visits  Mr.  Lowe  secured  60  dif- 
ferent species  of  birds.  Tliese  and  the  rest  of  Mi'.  Lowe's 
collection,  made  during  the  voyage  of  the  'Mutine,'  Avere 
worked  out    by  myself,  and  the  results  published  iu  '  The 


192 1. J  of  the  Birds  of  Sierra  Leone.  285 

Ibis/  1912,  pp.  219-208.  I  should  like  to  take  tliis  oppor- 
tunity of"  making  some  corrections  in  this  paper,  two  of 
which  have  already  been  pointed  out  by  Major  Kelsall. 
The  birds  recorded  as  Fijrenestes  ostrinus  were  in  reality 
P.  coccineus  (pp.  224  &  232) ;  likewise  the  immature  birds 
recorded  from  Sierra  Leone  and  Liberia  as  Chalcumitra  ucik 
are  C.  splencUdus,  while  that  from  St.  Paul  de  Loanda  is 
C.  gutturalis  (p.  225). 

Specimens  of  Ardea  gularis  were,  owing  to  an  unaccount- 
able slip,  recorded  as  Melanophoi/x  ardesiaca  (p.  22S).  These 
two  small  Herons  cannot  possibly  be  confused.  We  did  not 
iu  those  days  pay  such  minute  attention  to  the  geographical 
races  of  birds  described,  and  in  consequence  several  birds 
recorded  as  species  have  now  been  sunk  to  the  level  of 
subspecies,  while  others  are  now  recognized  as  distinct  races 
of  the  species  then  recorded.  Mr.  Lowe's  collections  were 
presented  to  the  British  Museum  by  Captain  Hardy. 

Colonel  H.  J.  Kelsall,  R.A.  (then  Major),  was  stationed 
in  Sierra  Leone  from  August  1910  to  August  1911,  and 
again  from  February  1912  to  February  1913.  His  col- 
lection numbered  941  specimens,  embracing  215  species. 

Major  Kelsall  worked  out  this  collection  himself,  and 
published  a  valuable  paper,  together  with  an  excellent  map 
of  the  Protectorate.  Kelsall  carried  out  most  of  his 
observations  in  the  Peninsula,  but  also  toured  through  the 
central  and  southern  portions  of  the  Protectorate,  an  itinerary 
of  which  journey  will  be  found  in  his  paper  {I.e.  p.  193). 
On  another  occasion  he  spent  a  short  time  in  the  Hibbi  and 
Bumpe  Chiefdoms.  His  geographical  and  topographical 
notes  are  much  fuller  than  those  given  by  Kemp,  and  add 
largely  to  the  value  and  interest  of  his  paper. 

KelsalPs  collections  were  tiixided  between  the  British, 
Tring,  and  Dublin  Museums,  only  42  specimens  belonging 
to  29  species  and  subspecies  coming  to  the  first  named. 


28(i  Mr.  D.  Bannermau  :  A  Si/stemutlc  List  [Ibis, 

Mr.  Willoughby  Lowe's  second  collection  was  made  in  the 
spring  o£  last  year  (1920),  mainly  on  the  islands  of  the 
Rokelle  River,  when  the  guest  of  Commander  Dane,  R.N., 
as  naturalist  on  board  H.M.S.  'Dwarf.' 

This  collection,  -which  I  had  the  opportunity  of  working 
out,  comprised  207  skins,  representing  118  species  and 
subspecies,  including  32  birds  new  to  the  colony,  and  forms 
the  basis  of  Mr.  Lowe's  paper  published  in  the  current 
number  of  'The  Ibis'  {cf.  pp.  265-282). 

Commander  Dane  has  generously  presented  the  birds 
obtained  to  the  Natural  History  Museum,  where  they  form 
a  most  valuable  addition  to  our  West  African  collections. 

In  the  following  pages  I  have  attempted  to  bring  up  to 
date  the  list  of  birds  known  to  have  occurred  in  the  Sierra 
Leone  Protectorate,  somewhat  on  the  lines  of  Professor 
Neumann^s  List  of  Birds  of  the  Lower  Senegal  Region 
{cf.  Journ.  Oruith.  lxv.  vol.  ii.  1917,  pp.  189-213.) 

The  specific  or  subspecific  name  of  the  race  to  which  the 
form  is  now  supposed  to  belong  is  given  in  full,  together 
with  the  author  of  the  name  used.  Following  this  are  the 
names  of  the  collectors  who  have  actually  obtained  the  birds 
against  which  the  names  are  placed. 

With  the  exception  of  Afzelius,  Kemp,  Kelsall,  and 
W.  P.  Lowe,  the  other  collectors  mentioned  have  only 
obtained  a  few  odd  birds,  which  have  either  been  noticed 
casually  (as,  for  instance,  those  of  Dr.  Fergusson)  in  such 
works  as  '  The  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  in  the  Collection  of 
Sir  William  Jardine,'  or  by  C-assin  or  Fraser,  who,  in  the 
various  publications  to  which  they  contributed  (vide  List 
of  Literature),  usually  mentioned  the  source  from  which 
their  Sierra  Leone  birds  had  been  obtained,  and  thus  gave 
a  clue  to  the  actual  collectoi'  of  the  birds  described 
by  them.  Other  collectors'  names,  again,  have  sim|)ly  been 
copied  from  labels  of  Sierra  Leone  Ijinls  in  the  British 
Museum  Collection. 

Lowe  i.  following  a  bird's  name  in  the  List  signifies  that 


1 921.]  of  the  Birds  of  Sierra  Leone.  287 

that  particular  species  was  obtained  by  Mr.  Willoughby  Lowe 
during  his  first  visit  to  tiic  Colony  in  1911,  while  Lowe  ii. 
signifies  that  the  bird  was  obtained  by  him  daring  his  recent 
visit  in  1920. 

Anyone  cheeking  this  List  must  remember  that  nonieu- 
clatu/e  is  in  Avhat  may  be  termed  a  transition  stage  at  the 
present  time,  and  in  consequence  many  of  the  names  used 
by  Kemp  in  1905  and  by  myself  in  1912  have  been  rejected 
ill  favour  of  one  we  now  know  to  be  more  correct.  All  old 
references  are  included,  but  often  under  a  difterent  name. 

Tiie  specific  nomenclature  has  been  carefully  revised  and 
brought  up  to  date^  but  individual  judgment  in  accepting 
new  names  or  discussing  old  ones  has,  in  certain  cases,  been 
exercised  by  the  writer. 

Systematic  List 
of  the  Birds  of  Sierra  Leone,  with  names  of  Collectors. 

Family  CoRViDyE  [Crows]. 
Corvus  scapulatus  Daud.     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.j 
Picuthartes  gymnocephalus  (Temm.).     (Kelsall.) 
?  Cryptorhina  apa  (Linn.).     (Fergussoii  *.) 

Family  Dicrurid^  [Drongos]. 

Dicrurus   assimiiis   atactus    Oberholser.       (Kemp,     Kelsall, 

Lowe  ii.) 
Dicrurus  atripennis  Swains.     (Fergusson,  Kelsall.) 
Dicrurus  assimiiis  ?  divaricatus  (Licht.).     (Fergusson.) 

Family  Okiolid.e  [Orioles]. 
Oriolus  nigripennis  Verr.      (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 
Oriolus  awatus  Vieill.     (Kelsall.) 
Oriolus  larvatus  ruUeti  Salvad.     (Kelsall.) 

*  In  this  List,  birds  collected  by  Fergusson  in  Sierra  Leone  were 
nauied  by  Sir  William  Jardine,  and  duly  recorded  by  him  iu  liis 
Catalogue  of  the  Jardine  Collection  (1874). 


288  Mr.  D.  Bumicimaii  :  A  Si/steniatic  List  [Il)is, 

Family  Stuhnid.k  [Starlings], 
'^ Buphaga  africana  Linn.      (Fergussou.) 
Ciiinyricinclus    leucoyaster    leucogaster    (Gmel.).        (Kemp, 

Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Oiujchognathas  hartlaahi  Gray.     (Kemi).) 
Lainprucolius  cupreicuudu  Hartl.     (Kemp.) 
Lamprocolius  splendidus  (Vieill.).      (Kelsall.) 
'^  Lamprotornis  caudatus  (Miill.).      (Fei'gussou.) 

Family  Ploceid/e  [Weavers]. 
?  Steganura  '^  paradisea  (Linn.).     (Fergusson.j 
Vidua  Serena  (Linn.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 
Coliuspasser  concolor  (Cass.).     (At'zelius,  Kelsall.) 
Penthetriopsis  viacrura  (Gmel.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Fyromelana  hordacea-]'  Jiordacea  (Linn.).       (Kemp,   Kelsall, 

Lowe  ii.) 
Pyrumelana  afra  (Gmel.).      (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 
Pyrenestes  ostrimis  coccineus  Cass.     (Kemp,  Kelsall, 

Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Quelea  erythrops  (Hartl.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 
Spermestes  bicolor  (Fraser).      (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Spermestes   cucuUatus    Swains.     (Afzelius,    Kemp,    Kelsall, 

Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Amaiwesthes  frinyilloides  (Lafr.).     (Kemp.) 
Ortyyospiza  atricollis  ansorgei  Grant.      (Lowe  ii.) 
Laganosticta  senegala  (Linn.).      (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 
Layunosticta  polionota  Shelley.     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Lagonosticta  hrunnticeps  Sliarpe.     (Lowe  i.) 

■*  It  18  doubtful  til  whicli  form  tlie  Paradise  Weaver,  said  to  liave 
been  obtiiined  by  Fergussoa  iu  Sierra  Leone,  Avould  belong.  Tlie 
North  African  race  is  S.  p.  verreau.vi  (Cassin),  wliile  tlie  birds  from 
the  Gambia  and  Senegal  have  been  named  jS.  p.  nucupum  by  Neumann. 

t  Pyromelanajiammicep:^  (Swains.)  et  auct.  {cf.  Ibis,  IDiiO,  p.  840). 


1 92 1.]  of  the  Birds  uf  Sierra  Leone.  289 

Hijparyos  schlegeh  (Sliar})e).      (Sabine,  Kemp,  Kelsall.) 

Ni(jrita  biculor  (Hartl.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 

Nigrita  eniilice  Sharpe.     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 

Estrilda  inelpoda  (VieilL).     (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 

Estrilda  subjiava  (VieilL).     (Kemp.) 

Estrilda  astrild  occidentalis  Eraser.     (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 

Sitagra    ocularius    bracfiypterus     (Swains.).         (Fergussou, 

?  Forbes,  Kemp,  Kelsall,  Ijovve  i,  ii.) 
Hijphantornis  cucutlatus  (MilU.).      (Afzelius,  Kemp,  Keisall, 

Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Packypliaides   scutatus   superciliosiis    (Shelley).       (Kelsall, 

Lowe  ii.) 
Mel^nopteryx    castaneofuscus     (Les^.).       (Kemp,     Kelsall, 

Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Melanopteri/.v    fuscocastaneus    (JBoc.j.       (Sabine,     Kemp, 

Kelsall.) 
Melanopteryx  albinacJia  (Boc).      (Kemp.) 
Malimbus    nutliinbicus    melanobrephos    Hartert.       (Kemp, 

Kelsall.) 
Malimbus  rubricullis  bartletti  Sharpe.      (Kemp.) 
Malimbus  nitetis  (Gray).     (Afzelius,  Sabine,  Kelsall.) 
Malimbus  scutatus  scutatus  (Cassiu).      (Brit.  Mus.  e.v  Tweed- 
dale  Coll.) 

Sperinospiza    hcematlna    leoiuua    Neum.       (Kemp,    Kelsall, 
Lowe  ii.) 

Family  FKi\GiLLiD-t:  [Finches]. 
Serinus  kartlaubi  (Bolle).     (Kelsall.) 
Anomalospiza  iinberbis  (Cab.).     (Kemp.) 

Family  Motacillid^  [Wagtails  and  Pipits]. 
Budytes  flava  flava  (Linn.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Motacilla  vidila  Sund.      (Kelsall.) 
?  AnthuS  campestr'is  (Linn.).     (Fergussou). 


290  Mr.  B.  Banneruiau  .-  A  Si/sleniatic  List         [ll)is, 

AnthiLs  leucophrys gouldil  Fraser.   (^Keiu[),  Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii,) 
Anthus  trivialis  trivialis  (Linu.).      (Kemp.) 

Macronijx  cruceus  croceus   (Vieill.J.      (Kemp,   Kelsall, 
Lowe  i,  ii.) 

Family  Nectariniid.e  [.Suubirds]. 
Cinnyris  cupreus  (Shaw).     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Cinnyris  Johanna  Verr.     (Kemp.) 

Cinnyris  splendldns  (Shaw).     (Fergusson,  Kelsall,  Lowe  i.) 
Chmyris  venustus  venustus  (Shaw).      (Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Cinnyris  chloropygius  ckloropyyius  ( Janl.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall, 

Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Chalcomitra  senegalenus  senegulensis  (Linn.).     (Fergusson.) 
Cyanoniitra  obscura  ahscura  (Jard.) .  (Kemj),  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Cyanoniitra  verticaUs  verticalis{\jd,t\\.).      (Fergusson,  Kemp^ 

Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Aiithuthreptes    coUaris    liypodila    (Jard.).       (Keuip.    Kelsall, 

Lowe  i.) 
Aitthotlireptes  gubonica  (Hartl.).     (Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Anthothreptes  idia  Oberh.     (Kelsall.) 

Family  Zosteropid^  [White-eyes]. 

Zosterops  senegaleasis  senegalens'is  Bonap.     (Kemp,  Kelsall, 
Lowe  i,  ii.) 

Family  PARiDiE  [Titmice]. 
Melaniparus  niger  guineensis  Shelley.      (Kelsall.) 
Pholidornis  rushice  ussheri  Hartert.     (Kelsall.) 

Family  Laniid^  [Shrikes]. 
Fiscus  coUaris  smithi  (Fraser).     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Laitius  senator  senator  Linn.     (Fergusson.) 
Laniarius  Itucorhynchus  (Hartl.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 


1921.]  of  the  Birds  of  Sierra  Leone.  291 

Laniarius  turatii  (\'err.j.      (Kelsall,  Lowe  \\.) 

Laniarius  bai'harus  heleiue  Kelsall.     (Kelsall.) 

Laniarius  barbarus  barluirus  (Linn.).     (Fergusson  '',  Clai'k  t.) 

Dnjoscopus ycDiibensis  ganibensis  (Licht,).     (Afzelius,  Fraser, 

Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Chaimonutus   sabini    sabini    (Gray).       (Sabine,    McDowell, 

Kenjp,  Kelsall.) 
Tschagra  senegala   seiieoala    (Linn.).      (Kemp,  Kelsall, 

Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Tschagra  australis  ussheri  (SliarpeJ.      (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 
Antichromus  minutus  minulas  (Hartl.).      (Lowe  ii.) 
?  Malaconotus  o/ivaceas  u/ivaceus  (Vieill.).     (Forbes.) 
Malaconotus  craentus  (Less.^.     (Kemp.) 
Chloruphoneus  multicolor  (Gray).     (  Kemp,  Kelsall.) 
ChluropJiuneus    sulfureopectas    sulfureopectus    (Less,). 

(?Fergussou,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Nicator  chloris  chloris  (Less.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 
Sigmodus  caniceps  caniceps  Bonap.     (Kemp.) 
Corviiiella  corvina  corvina  (Shaw).      (Fergusson.) 

Family  Phionopid^  [Wood-Shrikes]. 
Fraseria  prosphora  Oberh.     (Kelsall.) 

Family  Sylviid^  [Warblers]. 

Melucichla    mentalis    mentalis    (Fraser).       (Kemp,    Kelsall, 

Lowe  ii.) 
Cisticola  rufopileata  rufopileata  Rchw.     (Lowe  ii.) 
Cisticola    erythrops   erythrops    (Hartl.).       (Kemj),    Kelsall, 

Lowe  ii.) 
Cisticola  brachyptera  (Sharpe).      (Lowe  i,  ii,  Kelsall,  Scovil.) 
Cisticola  lateralis  (Fraser).     (Kelsall,  Lowe  ii,  Scovil.) 
Cisticola  cisticola  uropygialis  (Fraser).     (Kelsall.) 

*  Kecorded  by  Jardiue  in  his  Catalogue. 

t  Ilecorded  by  Reiclienow,  Vog.  Afr.  ii.  p.  588. 


29.2  Mr.  D.  BaDiieimaii  :  A  Syslc/iiatic  List         [Ibis, 

Cisticola  terrestris,  subsp.  ?      (Lowe  ii,  Scovil.) 

Cisticola  natalensis  strangei  (Fraser).     (Kelsall.) 

Cisticola  seinitorques  swanzii  (Sbarpe).     (Kelsall.) 

Sylvia  simplex  Latli.     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  \,  ii.) 

Plnjlluscopus  trochilus  trochilus  (Liuu.).      (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 

Sylvlella  fluviventris  jiaviventris  (Shai'pe).     (Kelsall.) 

Sylvidla  hardy i  Bannerm.     (Kelsall,  Lowe  i.) 

?  Eremo7nela  badiceps  (Fraser).     {EiV  Jardine  Coll.) 

Ei'emoniela  pusilla  Hartl.      (Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 

Pi-inia  mystacea  melunorhyncha   (Jard.).      (Kemp,    ?  Kelsall, 

Lowe  ii.) 
Hylia  prusina  Uass.      (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
StiphrGniis  erythrothurux  Hartl.    lyEjc  Jardine  Coll.,  Kelsall.) 
Caiiiuroptera    griseiviridis    tincta    Cass.       (Kemp,     Kelsall, 

Lowe  ii.) 
Cauiaroptera  chluronota  Rchw.      (Kelsall.) 
Camaruptera  superciliaris  (Fraser).     (Kelsall.) 

Family  TuRDiDyE  [Tbrushes]. 

Tardus  libonianus   lugubris    Bodd.       (Kelsall,    Kemp, 

Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Luscinia  megarhynchos  nieyarhynchos  Breliin.     (Kelsall.) 
*  Bessunoriiis  verticalis  verticalis  Hartl.      (Kelsall,  Lowe  i.) 
^^  Bessonornis  cyanocampter  cyanocampter   (Bonap.). 

(Kelsall.) 
^  Bessonornis    albicapilla    albicapilla    (Vieill.),       (At'zelius, 

?  Fergusson.) 
Alethe  diademata  (Bonap.).     (Kemp.) 
Alethe poliocephala  castanonota  Sharpe.     (Kelsall.) 
Penthola'a  frontalis  (Swains.).     (Lowe  ii.) 
Saxicola  rabetra  rubetra  (Linn.).      (Fergusson,  Kemp, 

Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii). 
(Enanthe  amanthe  kucorrhoa  (Gmel.).      (Kemp,  Lowe  i.) 
*   Cossypha  aiict.  (</.  Ibi<,  lOl^O,  p.  801). 


1 92 1.]  of  the  Birds  of  Sierra  Leone.  293 

Family  Ti.meliid.e  [Babblers]. 
Hypergerus  atriceps  (Less.).     (Kelsall.) 
^  Turdoides jilalycircus  Swaius,     (Kelsall.) 
^  Turdoides  utripennis  atripennis  (Swains.).     (Afzelius.) 
Macrosphenus  concolor  (Hartl.).     (Kemp.) 
Macrosphenus  kempi  (Sharpe).      (Keinp,  Kelsall.) 
Macrosphenus  zenkeri  Reicliw.      (Kelsall.) 
Turdimis  hypoleucus  Shar])e.      (Kelsall.) 
Turdinus  (jidaris  (Sliarpe).      (Kelsall.) 
Turdinus  fuJvescens  (Cass.).     (Kemp). 

Family  Pycnonotid.e  [Bulbuls]. 
Pycnonotus    barhatiis    inornatus    Hart).       (Kemp,    Kelsall^ 

Lowe  ii.) 
Criniger  barbatus  (Temm.).     (Kelsall.) 
Crlaiger  rerreauxi  verreauxl  Sliar^e.      (Kelsall.) 
Bleda  canicapilla  (Hartl).     (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 
Bleda  syudactyla  (Swaiiis.).     (Kelsall.) 

Phyl/asirejjhns  simplex  (Hartl.).     (Kem[).  Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Phyllastrephus  iderirms  (Bonap.).     (Keisiill.J 
Andropadas  gracilis  Cab.     (Kelsall^  Lowe  i.) 
Andropadi(s  latirostris  congener  Rcliw.      (Kelsall.^, 
Andrvpctdus  serinus  (Verr.),      (Kelsall. j 
Aiidropadus  indicator  lencurus  (Cass.).       (MacDowell, 

Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Andropadas  rirens  virens  Cuss.     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Andropadas  curvirostris  cu.rvirosfris  Cass.     (Kemp.) 
Andropadiis  gracilirustris  Strickl.      (Kemp,  Lowe  ii.) 

Family  Campophaoid-E  [Cnckoo-Shrikes]. 
Cyanogravcaius  azareus  (Cass.).      (MacDowell,  Kelsall.) 
Graucalus    j^f^cl-oralis     (Jardine     &     Selby).        (Brit.    ]\'rus. 

ex  Jardiue  Coll.,  type.) 

*    Cratvroiu(.<  auct.  {of.  Ibis,  1S20,  p.  8-j1). 


294  ]Mr.  D.  BaniiermaTi  :   A  Systematic  List         [Ibis, 

Campophaga phanicea  (Lath,).     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Ltnve  ii.) 
Campophaga  quiscalina  Finscli.      [tE,i'  Jardiiie  Coll.,  Kelsall.) 

Family  Muscicapid^  [Flycatcliers]. 
Bradyornis  murinus  modestvs  Shelley.     (Lowe  ii.) 
Bat  is  senega!  ensis  togoensis  Neumann.      (Lowe  ii.) 
Diaphorophyia  blissetti  Sharpe.      (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 
Diaphoroprtyia  castanea  (Fraser).     (Kemp.) 
Diaphoruphijia  hormophora  Rchw.      (Kelsall.) 
Bias  musicus  (Vieill.).      (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Platysteira  cyanea  cyanea  Miill.     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Artomyias  ussheri  Sharpe.     (KeUall.) 
Hyliota    ftavigastra    flavigastra     (Swains.).       (Fergusson, 

Kelsall.) 
TrochocercHS  nitens  reichenoivi  Sharpe.     (Kemp.) 
Tchitrea  nigriceps  (Hartl.).       (Marche  &  Compiegne,  Kemp, 

Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Tchitrea  viridis  riridis  (Mull.).     (Ferousson,  Lowe  ii.) 
EJininia  longicauda  (Swains.).      (Kelsall,  Lowe  i.) 
Stizorhinn  finschi  (Sharpe).     (Kelsall.) 

ft 
Family  HiRUNOixiDiE  [Swallows]. 

Hirundo  rusiica  rustica  Lii)n.     (Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Hirundo  stmirvfa  gordoni  Jard.     (Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Psalidoprocne  obscnra  (Marti.).      (Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Riparia  riparia  riparia  (Linn.).     (Lowe  ii.) 

Family  Pittid.e  [Ant-Thrushes]. 
Pitta  pulih  Fraser.      (Fraser,  Kemp.) 

Family  Picid.!-:  [Woodpeckers]. 

Mesopicus  pyrrhugaster    (Malh.).      (Afzelius    [according   to 

jMalherbe],  Kem[),  Kelsall.) 
Mesopicus  goerta  poicep/iatiis  (Swains.).     (Kelsall,  Lowe  i.) 


1921.]  of  the  Birds  uf  Sierra  Leo7ie.  295 

De.ndromus  nioosus  nirosus  Swains.     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Dendromus  maculusas  (Val.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Dendromus  caroli  arizelus  Oberli.      (Kelsall.) 
Dendropicus  lafresnuTji  zechi  Netim.      (Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Dendropicus  lagubris  Hartl.      (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 

Family  Indicatorid.e  [  IIoney-Giiides]  . 
Indicator,  species  uncertain.      (Kelsall.) 
Indicator  exilis  Icona  (C.  Grant).     (Lowe  i.) 

Family  Capitonid.;r  [Bavbets]. 

Lyhius  bidentatns  hidentatus  (Sliawj.     (Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 

Lybias  vieilloti  rubescens  (Temm.).     (Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 

Gymnobncco  calvus  (Lafr.).      (Kelsall.) 

Pogoniulvs  erytlironota  (Cuv.).      (Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 

Fogoniulufi  chrysopyga  Shelley.     (Kelsall.) 

Pogoniuhis  scolopacens  fcolopaceus  (Bonap.) ,    (Kemp,  KeUall, 

Lowe  i,  ii.) 
TrnchyJccmus  yofjini  (Sclil.).      (Kemp.  Kelsall.) 

Family  MusopHAGiDiE  [Plantain-eaters]. 
Turacas  macrorliynclms  (Fraser).     (Afzelins,  Kemp,  Kelsall.) 
Turacus  baffoni  Vieill.      (Afzelins,  Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Musophnga  violacea  Isert.      (Fergusson  for  Janline.) 
('orytJueohi  cristata    (Vieill.).     (Afzelins,   e.v  Jardine  Coll., 

Kemp,  Kelsall.) 
^Crinifer  africuna  af r  ic  an  a  (hhth.) .    (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 

Family  Cuculid^  [Cuckoos]. 
Clamator  glaadarius  (Linn.).      (Lowe  ii.) 
Clamator  cafer  (Liclit.).      (Fraser,  Clark,  Kemp,  Kelsall.) 
Cuculus  clamosus  Lath.      (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 

*   Chiza'vhis  auct. 


,296  Mr.  D.  Bannerman  :   A  Systematic  List         [Ibis, 

Chrijsococcyx  cupreus  cvpreus  (Shaw).     (Cliainley,  Kelsall.) 

[  =  r.  smaragdineus,  auct.]. 
Chrysococcyx  cupr-ius  (Bodd.).      (Keinp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 

[  =  C.  cupreus  Bodd.  et  auct.] 
Chrysococcyx  klaasi  (Steph.).      (Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Centropus  senegalensis  senegalensis  (Linn . ).     (Afzelius,  Kemp, 

Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Centropus  francisii  Bonap.      (Lowe  ii.) 

Ctuthmocliares  aereus flavirustris  (Swains.).   (Afzelius,  Sabine, 
Clark,  Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 

Family  Cypselidte  [Swifts]. 

Chaetura  sabinei  Gray.     (Sabine.  Kelsall.) 
Tachurnis  parvus  brachypterus  Rcliw.     (Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Micropus  affinis  (Hardw.).     (Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
* Micropns  <pquatoria/is  loiuei  (BannornianK      (Lowe  ii.) 
• 

Family  Capkimulgid.t:  [Nightjars]. 

Scotornis  cUmacurus  (Vieill.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
■fMacrodipteryx    lo7igipennis     (Shaw).       (Afzelius,     Sabine, 
Kemp,  Kelsall.) 

Family  Buceuotid^  [Hornbills]. 

Lophoceros  seniifasciatus  (Hartl.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
LopJioceros  nasntus  nasutns  (Linn.).     (Lowe  ii.) 
Bycanistes  cylindricus  (Tenuii.).     (Kelsall.) 
Bycanistes  fistuUUor  (Cass.).      (Lowe  ii.) 
Ceratogymna  elata  (Temm.).      (iifzeliiis,  Kemp.) 
Biicorvus  s\^.?     (Lowe  ii.) 

*  For  remarks  on  this  uew  Swift,  see  note  by  myself  following- 
introduction  to  JNIr.  Lowe's  paper  {ante,  p.  26t)). 

t  Miijor  Claude  Grant  has  conclusively  shown  ('Ibis,"  IDlo,  p.  302) 
that  Afzeliiis's  name  maorodipterm  for  thiS  Nightjar  cannot  stand. 


1 92 1.]  of  the  Birds  of  Sierra  Leone.  297 

Family  Meropid^  [Bee-eaters]. 

Melittophagus  giilaris  (/ularis  (Shaw  &  Nodd.).     (Afzelius, 

Kemp,  Kelsall.) 
Melittophagus pusillus pusillus  (Mlill.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 
Aerops   albicolUs   albicollis   (Vieill.).      (Jardine^  Marclie  & 

Compiegne,    Stephens^    Bartlett,     Kemp,    Kelsall, 

Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Merops  persicus  chrysocercus  Cabanis.     (Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Merops  nubicus  nubicus  Gmel.     (Kelsall.) 
Merops  mentalis  mentalis  Cabanis.     (Kelsall.) 

Family  Upupiu^  [Hoopoes  and  Wood-Hoopoes]. 

* Phcerdculus  erytJirorhynchus  scnegalensis   (Vieill.). 
(Fergusson). 

Family  CoiiACiiDiE  [Rollers]. 

Coracias  abyssinus  scnegalensis  Gmel.      (Fergusson,   Kemp, 

Kelsall.) 
Coracias  cyanogaster  (Juv.     (Kelsall.) 
Eurystomus  afer  afer   (Lath.).      (Bartlett,   Kemp,    Kelsall, 

Lowe  t  ii.) 
Eurystomus    gnlaris    Vieill.       {E.v    Jardine    Coll.,    Kemp, 

Kelsall.; 

Family  Alcedinid^  [Kingfishers]. 
Ceryle  maxima  gigantea  (Swains.).      (Lowe  i.) 
Ceryle  rudis  rudis  (Linn.).     (Afzelius,  Fei'gusson,  Kelsall, 

Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Halcyon  chelicuti  (Stanl.).      (Fergusson.) 
Halcyon  leucocephala  leucocephala  (Mlill.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 
Halcyon  senegalensis  senegalensis  (Linn.).      (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 

*  Iirisor  auct. 

■f  Seen  only  by  tliis  collector. 
SER.  XI. VOL.  III.  X 


y9S  Mr.  D.  Bannerraan  :  A  Systematic  List  [Ibis, 

Halcyon  malimbicus  forbesi    Sharpe.     (Afzelius,  Marche  & 
Compiegne,  Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 

Alcedo  quadribrach>/s  quadribrachys  Boiiap.      (Kemp, 
Kelsall,  Lowe  i.) 

Corythornis  cristata  (Vroeg).      (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  i.) 

Ispidina  picta  picta  (Bodd.).     (Kemp,  Lowe  ii.) 

Ispidina  Uucuguster  (Eraser).     (Kelsall.) 

Family  Psittacid.t:  [Parrots]. 
Psittacus  erithacus  timneh  Fraser.     (Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
*Agapornis  imllarius  pidlarius  (Linn.).     (Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 

Family  Strigid.t:  [Owls]. 
Bubo  leucustictus  Hartl.      (Kemp.) 
Bubo  poensis  Fraser.     (Kemp.) 
Bubo  africanus  cinerasceiis  Guer.      (Lowe  ii.) 
Otus  levcotis  leucotis  (Tenim.).     (Fergusson,  Kemp,  Kelsull.) 
■\Tyto  alba  alba  (Scop.).      (Kemp.) 
Syrnium  nuchale  Sharpe.     (Kemp,  Lowe  ii.) 

Family  Falconid.*  [Hawks]. 
Gymnogenys  typicus  (Smith).     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  i.j 
Astur  badius  sphenurus  (Riipp.).     (Kemp,  Low^e  ii.) 
Astur  tachiro  macroscelides  (Temm.).     (Kemp.) 
Accipiter  liartlaubi  Jiartlaubi  (Verr.).     (Kemp.) 
Buteo  auguraUs  Salvad.     (Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 

*  The  type-locality  of  tins  species  is  NuLia.  West  African  examples 
may  eventually  require  separating. 

-f  This  bird  is  not  T.  a.  macidnta  (Brelim)  as  Kemp  recorded  it, 
or,  as  it  should  now  be  called,  T.  a.  affinis,  the  ordinary  African 
Barn-Owl.  Tt  is  almost  pure  white  on  the  underside,  and  hardly 
spotted  at  all.  The  upper-parts  are  very  grey  and  much  paler  than  in 
African  specimens.  As  Sclater  and  Praed  remark,  it  is  nearer  typical 
T.  alba  alba. 


1 92 1.]  of  the  Birds  of  Sieira  Leone.  399 

*Aquila  ivahlbergi  Sundev.     (Lowe  ii.) 
* Spha'etus  coronatus  (Linn.).     (Lowe  ii.) 
Kaupifalco  monogrammicus  monogrammicus  (Temm.). 

(Fergusson,  Kerap,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii,) 
* Cuncuma  vocifer  (Daud.).     (Lowe  ii.) 
Circaetus  cinereus  Vieill.     (Lowe  ii.) 

Milvus  migrans  J)  (17- a  situs  Daud.     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Elanus  cceruleus  cceruleus  (Desf.).      (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 
Aviceda  cuculoides  cuculuides  (Swains.).     (Kemp.) 
*Pandion  halia'etus  halia'ctus  (Linn.).     (Lowe  ii.) 
Gypohierax  angolensis  (Gmel.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowef  ii-) 

Family  Vulturid^  [Vultures]. 
Necrosyrtes  monachus  monachus  (Linn.).     (Lowe  ii.) 

Family  PelecanidtE  [Pelicans]. 
Pelecanus,  species  uncertain.      (Lowe  J  ii.) 

Family  Phalacrocoracid.i:  [Cormorants], 
Phalacrocorax  africanus  (Gmel.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Anhinga  rufa  (Lacep.,  Daud.).      (Kemp^  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 

Family  Anatid^  [Ducks]. 
Dendrocygna  viduata  (Linn.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall.) 
Pteronetta  cyanoptera  ('remm.).     (Kelsall.) 

Famiiy  Ibidid^  [Ibises]. 

Plegadis  autumnalis  (Hasselq.).      (Kemp.) 
[falcinellits,  auct.] 

*  These  species  were  seen  only,  not  obtained. 
T  Seen  only  by  IMr.  Lowe  and  not  obtained. 

t  Mr.  Lowe   believed   the    Pelican  he  saw  off  Tasso  Island  to  be 
P.  07wcrot(dus  &harpei\  he  did  not  succeed  in  procuring  a  specimen. 


300  Mr.  D.  Bannerman  :  A  Systematic  List         [Ibis, 

Family  Ciconiid.t:  [Storks]. 
Dissonra  episcopus  microscelis  (Gray).     (Kelsall.) 

Family  Scoptd^  [Hammer-heads]. 
Scopus  umbretta  umbretta  Gmel.     (Kelsall.) 

Family  ArdeidvE  [Herons]. 
* Ardea  goUath  Cretsclim.     (Lowe  ii.) 
Ardea  cinerea  Liim.      (Kemp,  Lowe.) 
Demigretta  gularis  gularis  (Bosc).      (Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Melanophoyx  ardesiaca  (Wagl.).      (Lowe  ii.) 
Nycticorax  nycticorax  nyctlcorax  (Linn.).    (Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Buturides  atricapilla  (Afzel.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall^  Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Tigrornis  leucolopha  (Jardiiie).     (Kemp.) 
Ardeola  ibis  ibis  (Linn.).     (Lowe  ii.) 
Ardeirallus  sturmi  (Wagl.).     (Kelsall.) 

Family  Heliornithid/e  [Fin-feet]. 
Podica  senegalensis  senegalensis  (Vieiil.).     (Kelsall.) 

Family  Charadriid^  [Waders] . 
Gallinago  galUnago  gaJIinago  (Linn.).      (Kemp.) 
Tringa  ferruginea  ferruginea  Briinnicli.      (Lowe  ii.) 
Calidris  arenaria  (Linn.).     (Kelsall.) 
Tutanus  totarms  (Linn.).     (Lowe  ii.) 
Totanus  nebularius  (Gunn.).     (Kelsall^  Lowe  i.) 
Totanus  hypohucus  (Linn.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  i.) 
Bhyacophilus  glareola  (Linn.).     (Lowe  ii.) 
Numenius  arquatus  arquatus  (Linn.).     (Kelsall,  Lowe  *  ii.) 
Numenius phoiopus phceopus  (Linn.).      (Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Himantopus  himantopus  (Linn.).     (Kelsall.) 
•  *  Seen  only  by  this  collector. 


1921.]  of  the  Birds  of  Sierra  Leone.  301 

*Squatarola  squatarola  (Lowe  ii.) 
Stephanibyx  lugubris  (Lesson  f)-     (Kelsall.) 

[=  ,S.  iuoruatus,  auct.] 
Oxyechus forbesi  (Shelley).     (Kelsall.) 
Charadrius  hiatiada  Jdaticula  (Linn.).      (Kelsall.) 
Pluvimms  ceffi/ptius  (Linn.),     (Kelsall.) 
Arenaria  interpres  interpres  (Linn.).     (Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 

Family  Larid.^  [Gulls  and  Terns]. 
Larus  fuscus  fuscus  (Linn.).     (Lowe  ii.) 
Larus  fuscus  afinis  (Reinli.).     (Lowe  i.) 
Larus  cirrhocephalus  Vieill.     (Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Sterna  maxima  Bodd.     (Kelsall,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Sterna  sandvicensis  sandvicensis  Lath.     (Kelsall,  Lowe  i.) 
Sterna,  sp.  [?  dougutli  Mont.].      (Lowe  ii.) 
Hydrochelidon  nigra  (Linn.).     (Lowe  ii.) 
Hydrochelidon  hybrida  (Pall.).     (Lowe  ii.) 

Family  Rallid^  [Rails]. 
Sarothrura  bohmi  danei  Bannerm.     (Kemp.) 
Porphyria  alleni  Thorns.     (Kelsall.) 

Family  Columbid^  [Pigeons]. 

Streptopelia  semitorquata  erythrophrys   (Swains.).     (Kemp, 

Kelsall,  Lowe  *  ii.) 
Turturwna  iriditorques  (Cass.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Calopelia puella  (Schl.).     (Ea' Jardine  Coll.,  Kemp,  Kelsall.) 
Turtur  afra  afra  (Linn.).     (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  ii.) 
Tympanistria    tympanistria     (Temra.).       (Kemp,     Kelsall, 

Lowe  i.) 

Vinago  calva  calva  (Temm.).      (Kemp,  Kelsall,  Lowe  *  ii.) 

*  Seen  only,  not  obtained. 

t  lugv,brk  Lesson   has   priority  over  iiiornatus  Swains,  [ef.  0.  Grant, 
<  Ibis/  1915,  p.  56). 


303  Messrs.  C.  D.  Sherboni  and  T.  Iredale  on        [Ibis, 

Family  Tuknicid^  [Hemipodes]. 
Turnix  nana  (Sand.).     (Kelsali.) 

Family  Phasianid.e  [Game-Birds], 

Fruncolinus    bicalcaratus   thornei    Grant.      (Thorne,    Parks, 

Kemp,  Kelsali,  Lowe  i,  ii.) 
Fraricolinus  lathanii  lathami  Hartl.     (Kemp.) 
Fi'ancoUnus  ahantensis  Temm.     (Kemp,  Kelsali.) 
?  Ptilopachus  fuscus  fuscus  Vieill.     (P.  Niel  ex  .Tardine  Coll.) 
^Coturnix  cotuniix.      (Kelsali.) 
Excalfacturia  adansoni  (Verr.).     (Kelsali.) 
Guttera  cristatn  (Pall.).     (Afzelius,  Manger.) 
Nuniida  meleagris  Linn.     (Lowe  ii.) 


XVL— J.  F.  Miller's  Irenes. 
By  (J.  Davies  Shbrborn  and  Tom  Iredale. 

Miller's  Icones  Aniinalium  :  [Various  Subjects  of  Natural 
History]  177G-1785,  may  be  regarded  as  a  rare  book. 
Drvander,  Cut.  Bibl.  Banks,  states  "10  pp.,  60  pis."; 
Pritzel  copies  him  ;  Watts  gives  no  details,  but  wrote 
"  London,  1785  :  Large  folio.  £6.  6.  0."  Lowndes  says 
"  1785.  17l!  pp.,  12  pis.  and  2  leaves  of  text"  ;  Engelmann 
contents  himself  with  "  In  Nos.  1785."  Eliminating 
Lowndes'  entry  which  is  obviously  incorrect,  the  conclusion 
can  be  reached  that  the  book  was  issued  in  10  parts  and 
contained  GO  plates,  which  is  the  extent  of  the  '  ( *imelia 
Pliysica,'  a  well-known  work.  The  '  Cimelia  Physica  '  was 
issued  in  1796,  and  consists  of  60  plates  by  Miller  with 
106  pages  of  explanatory  text  written  by  George  Shaw. 

When  Sherborn  completed  the  'Index  Animalium'  1758- 
1800,  the  only  known  (to  him)  copy  was  in  the  British 
Museum  from  Sir  Joseph  Banks's  library,  and  this  contained 

*  Named  binominally  and  no  author  given,  aa  it  is  not  clear  which 
Quail  is  intended. 


1 92 1.]  J.  F.  Miller  s  Icones.  303 

only  od  plates  with  six  sheets  of  explanatory  text.  The  names 
there  introduced  were  duly  recorded  in  the  Index.  A  few 
days  ago  Sherborn  secured  a  fine  copy  which  contained 
54  plates  and  9  sheets  of  text.  These  sheets  are  bound  in 
position  each  with  six  plates  succeeding,  so  that  the  work 
was  apparently  issued  in  parts^  each  })art  with  1  sheet  and 
()  plates  ;  and  thus  now  we  have  evidence  of  the  first  nine 
parts,  the  tenth  being  yet  unknown  to  us  in  the  original 
state.  From  internal  evidence  we  conclude  the  parts  were 
issued  at  about  the  following  dates  : — pt.  i.  177G  ;  pt.  ii. 
177G  ;  pt.  in.  1777  ;  pt.  iv.  1777  or  1778;  pt.  v.  1779  or 
1780  ;  pt.  VI.  1782  ;  pt.  vii.  1782  ;  pt.  viii.  178:');  pt.  ix. 
1784,  and  pt.  x.  1785. 

That  it  was  issued  in  parts  seems  certain  from  Latham's 
quotations,  as  instance  :  in  the  first  volume  of  the  '  General 
Synopsis  of  Birds  '  in  the  synonymy  of  the  Secretary  Vulture 
(p.  20)  Latham  cited  '" Falco  serpentarius  J.  F.  Miller  t.  28." 
As  Latham's  preface  is  dated  Jan.  1,  1781,  Miller's  ])late 
apparently  appeared  prior  to  that  date.  At  the  end  of  vol.ii. 
Latham  includes  "  A  Catalogue  of  the  Principal  Authors," 
and  there  gives  : — 

^'■Miller  Lllustr.  1   By  this  is  meant  Miscellaneous 

J.  F.  Miller,  Misc.  Flates  J   Plates  of  Quadrupeds,  Birds,  &c. 

coloured,  in  folio.     By  Jolui 
Frederick  Miller.'' 

Latham's  book  was  published  in  1785,  and  he  only  cites 
the  first  thirty-six  plates,  which  suggests  the  only  copy  he 
referred  to  was  the  one  in  the  Banksian  Library. 

In  the  Nat.  Miscellany,  under  pi.  533,  Shaw  wrote  : — 
"  The  figure  liei-e  given  is  copied  from  the  beautiful  repre- 
sentation published  by  Mr.  Millar  {sic)  in  his  splendid  plates 
of  natural  history"  ;  and  he  (juoted  as  well  as  "  Cimelia 
Physica,  p.  96,  t.  52,"  "  Millar  (sic)  lllustr.  nat.  hist,  pi  52," 
which  we  regard  as  confirmation  of  independent  publication. 

As  the  '  Cimelia  Physica '  is  an  easily  accessible  work 
the  details  hereafter  given  are  compared  with  that  book. 
The    date   of    this    is    1796,    and    the    title-page    states  : 


304  Messrs.  C.  B.  Sherborn  and  T.  Iredale  on       [Ibis, 

"  Figures  by  John  Frederick  Miller.  AVith  descriptions  by 
George  Shaw."  The  plates  are  not  so  well  coloured,  and 
in  cases  of  doubt  reference  to  the  original  edition  should  be 
made.  All  the  plates  in  the  '  Cimelia  Pliysica'  are  lettered, 
while  in  the  original  edition  this  is  not  so.  The  names  in 
the  text  of  the  '  Cimelia  Physica '  are  sometimes  altered  by 
Shaw,  as  are  also  some  of  the  localities  given  by  Miller 
in  the  original. 

A  complete  collation  is  here  ap[)ended,  with  notes  on  some 
interesting  points. 

Pt.  I.      Plate  1.     Loxia  orix,  dated  Mch.  10,  1776. 
Antliolyza  cunonia  Bot. 

2.  Loxia  coronata,  dated  1776  :  in  C.  P.  the  text  is  headed 

Loxia  coronata  var.  L.  dominicanx. 
Alstromeria  ligta  Bot. 

3.  Loxia   longicauda,   dated    1776:    in   C.  P.  the  text  is 

headed  Emheriza  imperialiti. 
Gnaphalium  eximiuin  Bot. 

4.  Psittanis  atricapilhis,  dated  1776  :  in  C.  P.  the  text  is 

headed  Psittacus  inelanocephalu^. 
Chelone  penstemon  Bot. :  also  later  altered  to  Peiistemon 
Isevigata. 

5.  Psittacus  aurantiiis,  dated  1776:    in  C.  P.  the   text  is 

headed  Psittacus  solstitialis. 
Illicinm  fioridanuin  Bot. 

6.  Upupa  promerops,  dated  1776. 
Eryngium  alpinum  Bot. 

Pt.  II.      Plate  7.     Barringtoiiia  speciosse  Bot.,  dated  1776. 

8.  Ampelis    caroline)isis.       Plate    dated    1776,    but     not 

named. 

Locality  given  as  ''America  septontrionali,"  all  the 
preceding  being  without  localities.     In  C.  P.  the  text 
is  headed  Am2yelis  garrulus. 
Ainanjllis  crispa  Bot. :  later  altered  to  A.  undidata. 

9.  A)itholyza  setliiopica  Bot.     Plate  dated  1776,  but  not 

named. 

10.  Cervus  alces  Mamm.  do.  do. 

11.  Lacerta  cliameelion  Rept.  do.         and  named. 

12.  Larus  albus,  do.         but  not  named. 

Locality  given  as  "in  Regionibus  septentrionalibus." 
Pt.  III.    Plate  13.     Lemur  inurinus  Mamm.     Plate  named  and  dated  1777. 
14.     Struthio  casuarius.     Plate  dated  1777,  but  not  named. 
Locality  given  as  "Asia,  Sumatra,  Molucca,  Banda." 
In  C.  P.  the  text  is  headed  Casuuriutt  galeatus. 


1921.]  J.  F.  Millers  Icones.  305 

Plate  15.     Muscicapa  striata.     Plate  dated  1777,  but  no  names. 
Locality  given  as  '•  Ad  fretum  Hudsonis." 
Amzielis  cristata.     Loc|ility  "in  America." 

16.  CoUunba  coronafa.     Plate  dated  1777,  but  not  named. 

Locality  "  Capite  bonae  spei." 

17.  Falco  jdancns.     Plate  dated  1777,  but  not  named. 

Locality  "  Tierra  del  Fuego." 

18.  Falco  fuscHn.     Plate  dated  1777,  but  not  named. 

Locality  "  Greenlandia." 
Pt.  IV.    Plate  19.     Canis  hysena  Mamm.     Plate  neither  named  nor  dated. 
Canis  Lupus,  niger. 

20.  Viverra  tetradadyla  Mamm.    Plate  named  but  not  dated. 

21.  Pariis  Jnidsonicus.     Plate  dated  1777,  but  no  names. 

Locality  "  in  America  sept." 
Fringilla  hudsonica.     Same  locality. 
Emberiza  leucoplirijs.  do. 

In    C.  P.    in  the   text  the  name   of    the  second   is 
altered  to  Emberiza  hyemalis. 

22.  Platalea  leucorodia.     Plate  dated  1777,  but  not  named. 

Locality  "  Europa." 

23.  Aptenodytes  patagonica.     Plate  named  but  not  dated. 

Locality  "in  Mari  antarctico." 

24.  Cuculus  indicator.     Plate  named  but  not  dated. 

Locality  "  C.  B.  Spei." 
Fringilla  cyaiiocapilla.     Locality  "  Senegal." 
Pt.  V.    Plate  25.     Brucea  antidysenterica  Bot.     Plate  lettered  "  Brucea  " 
only  and  not  dated. 

26.  Testudo  sulcata  Rept.     Plate  neither  named  nor  dated. 

27.  Homo  Lar  Mamm.     Plate  named  but  not  dated. 

In  C.  P.  the  text  is  headed  Siynia  longimanus. 

28.  Falco  serpentarius.     Plate  named  and  dated  1779. 

Locality    "  Cap.  B.  SjDci."      In    C.  P.    the    text    is 
headed  Vidtur  secretarius. 

29.  Psittacus  guineensis.     Plate  named  but  not  dated. 

Locality  "  Guinea." 

30.  Truchilus  gularis.     Plate  named  but  not  dated. 

Locality  "  India  orientali." 
Fringilla  torquator  (on  plate,  torqnata  in  text). 

Same  locality. 
Motacilla  gularis.     Locality  "  America  meridionali." 
Pt.  VI.    Plate  31.     Jerboa  capensis  Mamm.     Plate  named  but  not  dated. 

32.  Lemur  hicolor  Mamm.  do.  and  dated  1782. 

33.  Otis  indica.  do.  but  not  dated. 

Locality  "  India  orientali." 

34.  Aptenodytes  magellanica.     Plate  named  but  not  dated. 

Locality  "  Terra  magellanica."    Text  in  C.  P.  headed 
Pinguinaria  magellanica. 


306 


Messrs.  C.  D.  Sherboni  and  T.  Iredale  on        [Ibis, 


Plate  35. 


36. 


Pt.  VII.    Plate  37. 


38. 


39. 
40. 


41. 
42. 


Pt.  VIII.    Plate  43. 

44. 
45. 
46. 
47. 

48. 

Pt.  IX.    Plate  49. 

.50. 


51. 


52. 


53. 


54. 


Ardea  nxvia.     Plate  named  but  not  dated. 

Locality  '•America  meridionali." 
Anlea  forquata.      Plate  named  and  dated  May  16,  1782. 
Same  locality.       In    C.  P.    these    two    plates    are 

transposed   and    text    headed    to    agree,   though   the 

plates  retain  the  original  numbering. 
Carolinea  priiu-eps  Bot.      All  plates  from  here  to  encj 

named  but  not  dated. 
MotaciUa   thoracica.     ''India  orientali."     In  C.  P.  text 

headed  MotaciUa  aurata. 
Heliconia  tnarantifolia  Bot. 
Felis  capensis  Mamm.     "  C.  B.  Spei." 
Aptenodytes  antarctica.    '"  in  Antarctico.''    Text  in  C.  P. 

headed  Piiiguinarla  antarctica. 
Comcias  versicolor.     "  in  Surinamo." 
Friiigilla   hrevicola.     "  Zeylona."     In  C.  P.  the  text  is 

headed  Loxia  zeylonica. 
Fringilhi  atrocephala.    "  America  meridionali."    In  C.  P. 

the  text  is  headed  Friiigilla  melanocephala. 
Hibiscus  caiinabiiia   Bot.      In  C.  P.  this   is   altered  in 

text  to  Hibiscus  speciosus. 
Antirrhinum  quadrifoliuni  Bot. 
Aristolochia  hirsuta  Bot. 

Sciurus  fulvus  Mamm.     '•  America  meridionali." 
Trochilus  w-aculata.     '■America  meridionali.  " 
Rallus  ecaudata.     "  in  Otaheita." 
Cnctdus   aurocephalus.      "  America    meridionali."       In 

C.  P.  the  text  is  headed  Cuculus  clirysocejilialus. 
Aptenodytes  crestata.     "  Falkland  Island."     In  C.  P.  the 

text  is  headed  Pinguinaria  cirrhata. 
Fringilla  forjicata.     "Zeylona." 
Rallus  nigra.     "  Otaheita."      In  C.  P.  the  text  is  headed 

Ralhis  tabnensis. 
Cucidus  crestata.     "  India  orientali."     In  C.  P.  the  text 

is  headed  Cuculus  discolor. 
Promerops  purpureus.     "  India  orientali."     In  C.  P.  the 

text  is  headed  "  Upupa  erythrorhyncbo)<.'' 
Oriolus  gularis.     "  America  meridionali."     In  C.  P.  the 

text  is  headed  "  Oriolus  pictus." 
Picus  quadrimaculata.     "  Zeylona." 


At  this  point  the  original  co})y  studiod  ends,  but  as  there 
are  only  60  plates  in  the  '  Cimelia  Physica "  the  remaining 
six  are  here  noted,  all  at  present  dating  from  1796,  though 
probably  they  will  later  prove  to  have  been  published  in 
1785,  as  suggested  by  Watts's  entry  :  — 


1921.]  J.  F.  Miller's  Icones.  307 

Plate  55.  Hinindv  zonaris. 

56.  Artonia  capensis  Bot. 
Oriol us  trifaaciatus. 

57.  Rdmjjhastos  indicus. 

58.  Alcedo  formosa. 

59.  Golumba  rosea. 

60.  Jerboa  capensis  Mamm. 

Ik  is  probable  tbat  were  the  first  thirty-six  [)lates  carefully 
examined  some  alterations  in  ornithological  nomenclature 
would  be  necpssary.  In  the  'Auk/  1908,  p.  269  note,  Riley 
comments  upon  Falco  fuscus  in  connection  with  Buteo 
jilati/pteriis,  but  he  does  not  appear  to  have  seen  the  original 
edition,  as  he  does  not  give  the  definite  locality  there  men- 
tioned, and,  moreover,  only  quotes  the  book  as  appearing  in 
six  parts,  each  with  six  plates.  In  'The  Ibis,'  1915,  p.  235, 
Claude  Grant  gave  particulars  of  the  plate  of  the  Secre- 
tary Bird.  He  apparently  did  not  go  through  the  British 
Museum  copy  or  he  would  have  noted  Cucvlus  indicator, 
which  he  discussed  in  the  same  paper.  It  is  strange  how 
African  ornithological  nomenclature  is  still  in  such  a  con- 
fused state  with  so  many  workers  interested  in  the  birds  of 
that  continent.  Thus  Cuculus  indieator  was  first  published 
by  Sparrman  in  the  Philos.  Trans,  vol.  Ixvii.  pt.  i,  p.  43, 
1777,  and  the  genus  name  Indicator  was  first  published  by 
Stephens  in  Shaw's  Zoology,  vol.  ix.  p,  138,  1815,  yet 
neither  of  these  references  is  correctly  quoted.  The  two 
most  important  changes  noted  in  the  foregoing  are  also  in 
connection  with  African  birds. 

Phceniculus  purpureus  (Miller). 

This  now  will  be  the  correct  name  for  the  bird  lono"  known 
as  Irrisor  viridis,  afterwards  as  /.  erythrorhynchus. 

Kallus  nigra  Miller. 

This  name  is  undoubtedly  earlier  than  Rallns  niyer  Gmelin, 
and  as  it  refers  to  a  very  different  species  two  changes  are 
necessary.  In  both  complications  can  be  observed,  as  i5?rt//«5 
nigra  Miller  is  the  bird  long  known  as  Porzana  tabuensis 
(Gmelin),  but  the  correct  application  of  the  latter  name  is 


308  Messrs.  C.  D.  Sherburii  and '[\  Iredale  un        [Ibis, 

not  definitely  ascertained.  Thus  J.  Iv.  Forster  described  a 
black  bird,  but  noted  there  was  a  brown  variant.  His  son 
painted  the  Black  Rail  from  "Taheitee,''  and  this  painting  is 
preserved  in  the  British  Museum  (Natural  History),  No.  130, 
with  the  native  nauie  "  Maho  "  pencilled  on  it.  This  drawing 
was  copied  and  published  with  little  alteration  by  Miller 
under  the  name  Rallus  nigra.  Forster's  MS.  name  was 
RaUus  niinutus,  and  his  localities  were  "  Otaheitee  et  in 
Tonga-Tabu."  Latham's  descriptions  wore  incorporated  by 
Gmelin,  who  introduced  Latin  names,  and  this  was  called 
Rallus  tahuensis,  though  Latham  did  not  appear  to  have 
had  specimens  from  Tongatabu.  It  is  probable  that  the 
Tahitian  Rail  is  distinct  from  the  Tongatabu  species, 
es[iecially  as  a  black  Rail  is  known  from  Henderson  Island, 
viz.  P.  atra  North  {^  —  iivirrayi  0. -Grant).  However,  it  is 
impossible  to  continue  the  name  Limnocorax  niyer  (Gmelin) 
for  the  African  Black  Rail,  and  the  choice  seems  to  be 
between  Rallus  carinatus  Swainson  and  GalUnula  Jiavirostra 
Swainson,  the  latter  introduced  as  the  former  was  inapplic- 
able and  also  indeterminate.  Thence  it  would  be  that  the 
African  Rail  would  be  called  Limnocorax  Jiavirostra  (Swain- 
son), but  subspecies  may  be  determinable. 

Pennula  ecaudata  (King). 
Why  this  name  was  ever  accepted  is  one  of  the  puzzles 
provided  for  the  })resent  generation  by  the  previous  one  of 
British  ornithologists.  The  identification  of  "a  rail,  with 
very  short  wings  and  no  tail,  which  on  that  account-,  we 
named  rallus  ecaudotus  (sic),"  is  surely  impossible,  and  for- 
tunately the  publication  of  Miller's  plate  under  the  same 
name  negatives  any  further  discussion.  Miller's  Rallus 
ecaudata  was  from  Otaheita,  and  proves  to  be  an  absolute 
copy  of  G.  Forster's  painting  No.  127,  which  has  been 
continually  accepted  as  referable  to  the  '' Otaheitean "'  form 
of  the  Philippine  Rail.  What  the  name  of  the  Sandwich 
Island  Pennula  is,  appears  again  puzzling,  as  various  students 
have  arrived  at  different  results,  but  probably  Rothschild's 
usage  of  Pennula  millsi  with  the  other  species  Pennula 
sujulwichensis  is  the  best. 


1 92 1.]  J.  F.  Miller's  Icones.  309 

Aptenodytbs  crestata  Miller. 

The  complications  around  this  name  will  be  discussed 
later,  as  this  is  an  Aiistral-Neozelanic  species,  and  the  details 
are  very  confusing. 

Ardea  n.evia  Miller. 

This  is  earlier  than  Ardea  mvvia  Boddaert  in  use  for  the 
American  form  of  J^ycticorax  nycticorax,  and  it  appears 
doubtful  whether  these  are  exactly  the  same  thing. 

Otis  indica  Miller. 

This  name  was  first  proposed  by  Forster  in  1781,  but 
a[)pears  as  an  absolute  nomen  michtm.  It  has  been  used  ex 
Ginelin,  whose  account  is  based  solely  on  Miller,  but  has 
lately  been  rejected  in  favour  of  Latham's  aurita.  The 
beautiful  painting  seen  in  the  original  edition  of  Miller's 
plates  so  exactly  api)lies  to  the  '"''  Syplieotis''''  that  the  name 
must  be  revived  and  the  bird  known  as  Sypheotides  indica 
(Miller). 

These  notes  will  draw  attention  to  the  necessity  of  recon- 
sidering the  whole  of  the  names  involved  in  these  works,  and 
recourse  can  always  be  made  to  the  volume  here  studied, 
which  has  been  placed' in  the  librarj'  of  the  British  Museum 
(Natural  History). 

Mr.  B.  B.  Woodward  has  pointed  out  to  us  that  in  Rees' 
New  Cyclopj^pdia,  Vol.  xxxii.,  under  the  article  about  George 
Shaw,  it  is  definitely  stated  that  sixty  plates  were  puldished 
by  Miller  under  the  title  '^  Various  Subjects  in  Natural 
History,  wherein  are  delineated  Birds,  Animals,  and  many 
curious  Plants,"  but  that  the  lack  of  letterpress  proved  a 
drawback,  and  consequently  these  plates  were  republished 
under  the  title  "  Cimelia  Physica,"  descriptions  being 
supplied  by  George  Shaw,  The  title  above  cited  agrees 
with  that  given  by  Watts,  who  adds  "  with  the  parts  of 
Fructification  of  each  Plant,  all  of  which  are  drawn  and 
coloured  from  Nature." 


310  Report  on  Amendments  and  Alterations  [Ibis, 


XVTT. — Report  of  the  Suh-committee,  consisthiff  of  Dr.  E. 
Haktert,  Messrs.  T.  Iredale  and  W.  L.  Sclater,  on 
Amendments  and  proposed  Alterations  to  the  Karnes  in  the 
B.  0.  U.  List  of  British  Birds,  as  accepted  hy  the  Committee 
of  the  B.  0.  U.  on  the  British  Birds  List. 

The  following  recommendations  were  made  : — 

1.  Tliat  the  nomina  conservanda  in  the  B.  0.  U.  List  should 

not  be  used  any  longer,  but  the  correct  names  under 
the  rules  should  now  be  universally  adopted. 

There  are  thirteen  ot*  these  nomina  conservanda,  and 
a  list  of  them  with  their  equivalent  under  the  Rules 
of  Nomenclature  is  given  on  p.  355  ot  the  B.  0.  U. 
List,  in  A])pendix  IT. 

2.  That  in  future,  when  a  species  has  been  divided  into  two 

or  more  subspecies,  the  typical  subspecies  should 
always  be  named  trinominally.  For  example,  the 
typical  race  of  the  Starling  should  be  called  Sturnns 
ruU/aris  vuhjaris  and  not  Sturnns  inih/aris,  as  the  use 
of  the  binomial  form  of  the  name  causes  confusion 
lietween  the  typical  subspecies  ami  the  species  as  a 
whole,  including  all  the  races. 

3.  That  the  names  in  Vroeg's  Catalogue  be  acce[)ted.     The 

followino"  chan<i;es  will  result  : 

p.  60.        For  Si/lvia  sidxdpina  substitute 

Sylvia  cantillans  {MotarUla  cant/Hans  [Pallas]  in 
Vroeg's  Cat.  Verzam.  Vogelen  Adumbraticiila, 
p.  4,  1764  :  Italy.) 

p.  108.     For  Mnscicapa  grisola  substitute 

Muscicapa  striata  (}fotaciUa  striata  [Pallas],  t.  c. 
p.  3,  1764:  Holland). 


1 92 1.]  in  the  B.  0.  U.  List  of  British  Birds.  311 

p.  109.     For  Mitfcicapa  atrirapilla  substitute 

Miiscicapa  hypoleuca  {Motacilla  hypolexicd  [Pallas] , 
t.  c.  p.  W,  1764:  :  Holland). 

p.  1()7.     For  Tadorna  casarca  substitute 

Casarca  ferruginea  {Anas  femui'wea  [Pallas],  t.  c. 
p.  5,  17(i4  :  Tartary). 

p.  224.     For  ( 'aVulris  arenaria  substitute 

Crocethia   alba  (Irf/nr/a  alba    [Pallas],   t.  c.    p.   7, 
1704:  Coasts  of  Holland)  *. 

p.  228.     For  l^^tatnts  fiiscus  substitute 

Tringa    erythropus   {Scolojxi.v  erytliropus   [Pallas], 
t.  c.  p.  0,  17G4:  Holland)  *. 

p.  299.     For  l^odiceps  fJuriatilis  substitute 

Podiceps  xvLficoWis  {Colymhus  rvficoUis  [Pallas],  t.  c. 
p.  6,  1704  :  Holland). 

4.  The  following  (generic  alterations  were  agreed  to  : — 

p.  7.  Genus  Pyrrhocorax  Tunstall,  Ornith.  Brit.  1771,  p.  2. 
This  name  dates  from  1771  instead  of  from  1816. 
The  type  is  the  Cornish  ( 'hough  (Ujmpa  pyrfhocorax) 
by  monotypy  and  tautonyniy,  not  the  Alpine  ('hough 
(Pyrrhocora.r  graculus)  as  stated  on  p.  35(j  of  the 
B.  0.  LF.  List  (see  Mathews  and  Tredalc  Austr.  Av. 
Rec.iii.  p=  119). 

p.  45.  (lenus  Anthiis  Bechstein,  Gemein.  Naturg.  Deutschl. 
2nd  (mJ.  1805,  ii.  pp.  247,  302,  and  40.5.  Type  by 
subsequent  designa-tion  (Mathews,  Austr.  Av.  Rec. 
ii.  p.  12.3,  1915),  Ahutda  camj>estris  Linn. 

p.  78.       For  Genus  Lusciniola  substitute 

Herbivociila  ^winhoe,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1871, 
p.  353.  Type  by  monotypy  IJ.  fiemiiuil  =  Sylria 
srlncarzi  Radde. 

Lusciniola  melanopoyon,  lately  added  to  the  B.  0.  U. 
List,  will  of  course  remain  in  the  genus  Lusciniola,  oi 
which  it  is  the  type. 

*  For  generic  changes,  see  below  on  pp.  312,  313, 


312  Report  on  Amendments  and  Alterations  [Ibis, 

p.  78.       For  Genus  Ilj/polais  Brehiii  substitute 

Hippolais  Baldenstein,  Neue  Alpina,  ii.  p.  27,  1827. 
Type  l)y  nionotypy  //.  italica  Bald.  =  H.  poh/glotta 
(Vieill.j. 

The  generic  names  of  the  Icterine,  Melodious,  and 
Olivaceous  Warblers  must  also  be  changed  to  Hip- 
polais (^i-ide  Mathews  and  Irodalc,  Austr.  Av.  Rec.  iii. 
p.  122). 

p.  127.     For  Flammea  substitute 

Tyto  Billberg,  Synops.  Faun.  Scand.  i.  pt.  2,  1828, 
tab,  A.  Type  Strix  alba  Scop.  (t;/".  Mathews,  Nov. 
Zool.  xvii.  11)10,  p.  500,  and  Auk,  i920,  p.  444). 

p.  216.  The  type  of  the  genus  '/'rinr/a  is  not  T.  camitus 
but  T.  ocliropus.  as  was  first  pointed  out  by  Mathews 
(Nov.  Zool.  xviii.  1911,  p.  5).  This  and  Richmond's 
discovery  of  the  Anonymous  reviewer  in  the  Allg. 
Lit.  Zeit.  {cf.  P.  U.S.  Nat.  Mus.  liii.  p.  581)  will 
involve  considerable  changes  in  the  genera  of  the 
Stints  and  Sandpipers  as  follows  : — 

Genus  Calidris  Anon.  Allg.  Lit.  Zeitung,  1804, 
vol.  ii.  col.  542.  Type  by  tautonymy  7rinf/a  calidris 
Linn.=  Trimja  cainihis  Linn. 

Genus  Erolia  Vieillot,  Analyse,  1810,  p.  55.  Type 
by  monotypy  E.  rariegataW.i^\\\.=^Tringaferuyinea 
Brihi.  ;  and  the  following  species  will  stand  as  : 

Kroliaminuta,  E.minutilla,  E.temmincl-i,  E.macu- 
lata,  E.  acnmijiata,  E.  bairdi,  E.  fuscicollis,  E.  mari- 
tima,  E.  alplna,  and  E.  ferriigiiiea. 

For  l^otanus  substitute 
Tringa,  type   by  tautonymy   7\  ochropus  Linn.,  and 
the  following  species  will  stand  as  : 

Triruja  totanus,  T.  eryihropus,  T.  melajioletica, 
T.  //ar/yi>^5,  T.  stagnatilis,  T.  nebularia,  T.  liypo- 
leiica,  T.  macidaria,  T.  ocJiropns,  T.  glareola,  and 
T.  solitaria. 


1 92 1,]         in  the  B.  0.  U.  List  of  British  Birds.  313 

p.  224,      For  Genus  Calidris  substitute 

Crocethia  Billbero-,  Synop.  Faun.  Scand.  i.  [)t.  2, 1828, 
tab.  A,  p.  132.  Type  by  nionotypy  Triiuja  arenaria 
Linn.,  since  Calidris  is  preoccui)ied  (ef.  Riclnnond. 
P.  U.  «.  Nat.  Mns.  liii.  p.  581,  and  Auk.  JU20, 
p.  443). 

The  only  species  is  Crocetlda  alha  (Pallas)  (see 
above). 

p.  225.     For  Genus  Machetes  substitute 

Philomachus  Anonymous,  Allg.  Lit.  Zeit.  1804,  vol.  ii. 
col,  542,  Type  by  nionotypy  Tringa  pngnax  Linn. 
(r/',  Richmond  supra). 

p.  241.  Charadriiis.  The  type  of  this  genus  by  Linnean 
tautonymy  is  C  hiaticula  Linn,  not  C.  apricarivs,  and 
the  species  listed  under  ^Egialitis  must  become 
Charadi-ius. 

For  Genus  Charadriiis  substitute 
Pluvialis  Brisson,  Ornith,  v.  p,  42,   1760.     Type  by 
tautonymy  F.  aiirea  Brisson  =  Cluwadrius  apricarins 
Linn. 

•  p.  243.  Genus  Squatarola  Cuvier,  Regne  Anim.  i.,  1816, 
p.  467.  Type  by  mouotypy  and  tautonymy  Tringa 
squatarola  Linn. 

The  reference  to  Leach  in  the  B.  0.  U.  List  is  to 
an  unpul)lished  nam(%  as  Leach's  work,  though  printed, 
was  never  published. 

p.  290.     For  Genus  (J^strelata  substitute 

Pterodroma  Bonapai-te,  Comptes  Rend.  xlii.  1856, 
p,  768,  Type  by  subsequent  designation  (Cones, 
Proc.  Acad.'^Nat,  Sci,  Philad.  1866,  p,  137)  Procel- 
laria  macroptera  Smith, 

p,  312.     For  Genus  Caccahis  substitute 

Alectoris  Kaup,  Skiz.  Entw.-Geschichte  u.  Nat.  Syst. 
Eur.  Thiei'w.  p.  180,  1821*.  Type  by  nionotypy 
Perdid'  jjetrosa  ij inA.  =  P.  barbara  Bonn.  {cf.  Hartert, 
Nov.  Zool.  xxiv.  p.  275). 

SER.  XI. VOL.  Iir.  Y 


314  Report  on  Amendments  and  Alterations  [I'^i^, 

5,  Tho  following  specific  altorations  wore  also  aoreed  to  : — 

p.  44.  For  Motacilla  fehlen<j'i  read  M.  feldegy  as  printed  in 
the  original  description. 

p.  74.     Cettia  retti,  references  to  be  altered  as  follows  : — 

Cettia  Bonaparte,  Icon.  Fann.  Ital.  i.  1834,  text  to 
pi.  29. 

Sylvia  cetti  Temminck,    Man.  Orn.  2nd  ed.^   Oct. 
1820,  p.  194. 

p.  101.  O^iianthe  stapazina  and  GlJ.  oceidentalis.  These  birds, 
the  Black-throated  and  Black-eared  Wheaiears,  appear 
to  be  nndonbtedly  phases  of  one  specific  form  and 
must  be  called  : 

(Enanthe  hispanica. 

Motacilla  hispanica  Linnreus,  Sjst.  Nat.  10th  ed. 
1758,  p.  18G  :  Gibraltar. 

The  name  of  the  eastern  race,  (Ti!nanthe  amphileuca 
of  the  B.  0.  U.  List,  must  be  changed  to  : 

(Enanthe  hispanica  melanoleitca. 

Mnscicapa  melanoleuca  Guldenstjidt^  Nov.  Com. 
Petrop.  xix.  1775,  p.  468,  pi.  15  :  Georgia,  (laucasus 
((/.  Practical  Handbook  Brit.  Bds.  p.  435). 

p.  110.  Mvscicapa  parva.  Original  reference  should  be 
Mnscicapa  parva  Beclistein,  Getreue  Abbild.  jiart  2, 
p.  26,  1793. 

p.  147.     For  Hierofalco  gyrfalco  substitute 

Hierofalco  rusticolus. 

Falco  rusticolus  Liiniceus,  Sjst.  Nat.  10th  ed.  1758, 
p.  88  :   Sweden. 

This  name  has  three  pages  priority  over  i^.^_y?;/a/oo. 


1921.]         in  the  B.  0.  U.  List  of  British  Birds.  315 


6.  Suggested  alterations  and  aineudments  not  accepted  : — 

Page 
52.      Genus  Regid\i.s  v.  Re.c  or  Regillas  (cf.  Mathews  & 

Irodalc,   Austr.  Av.  Rec.  iii.  p.  119  ;    Auk,   1920, 

p.  448  ;  and  Practical  Handbook,  p.  250). 

Regidns  confirmed. 

93.      Genus Erithaeus  v.  Dandalas  (cf.  B.  0.  U.  List,  p.  366, 
and  Practical  Handbook,  p.  481). 
Erithacus  confirmed. 

95.      Genus  Lusniua\.  Daulias  Zimmermann  [cf.  Mathews, 
Austr.  Av.  Rec.  iii.  p.  117). 
Ziinmermann's  name  not  accepted. 
Lvscinla  confirmed. 

111.      liirundo  v.  Chelidon  and  Deliclion  v.  liirundo. 

Hirxindo    and    Delirhim    now    accepted    by    Hartert 

{vide  Practical  Handbook,  p.  502). 
liirundo  and  Deliclion  confirmed. 

200.      Plegadis  v.  Egatlieui<  o£  Hand-list. 

Plegadis  is  retained  {cf.  Auk,  1913,  p.  92  ;   Hartert, 

V.  p.  F.  p.  1220). 
Plegadis  confirmed. 

205.       Chlamt/doti.^  v.  Houhara  of  Hand-list, 
CJdanu/dotis  confirmed. 

294.      Cohjinhus  v.  Podireps  for  the  Grebes  [cf.  B.  0.  U.  List, 

p,  390  ;  Auk,  1920,  p.  445). 
Note  on  the  type  of  Colymlms  : — 

The  genus  Colymhvs  as  used  by  Linnseus  in 
1758  contained  four  species:  a?-ci/t;u5  (Black-throated 
Diver),  cristatvs  (Great  Crested  Grebe),  auritus 
(Slavonian  Grebe),  and  podiceps  (American  Pied- 
billed  Grebe).  Latham  introduced  Podiceps  for  the 
Grebes  and  retained  Coli/mhus  for  the  Divers,  and 
his  usage  was  followed  by  practically  every  other 
author  until  the  year  1882,  when  Dr.  Stejneger 
proposed  to  use  Colymhus  for  the  Grebes. 

y2 


316  B.  0.  U.  List  of  British  Birds.  [Ibis, 

George  Grray  was  the  first  author  who  recognized 
the  necessity  o£  fixing  a  type-species  to  each  genus, 
and  in  the  first  two  lists  published  in  1840  and  1841, 
working  with  the  12th  edition  of  Linnseus,  he  fixed 
the  type  of  Colymhis  as  C.  glaciaUs.  Later  in  1855 
(Cat.  Gen.  Subgen.  Bds.  \).  125).  finding  that 
C.  glar'mlis  did  not  occur  in  the  earlier  editions  of 
Linnseus,  he  substituted  ardicus,  which  name  is 
found  in  all  the  early  editions  of  Linnseus's  Syst. 
Nat.  from  1735  to  1758;  but  as  he  had  already  in 
his  previous  lists  suggested  glaciaUs  for  Colymlnis  of 
the  12th  edition,  he  wrote  :  "  Linn.  1735  nee  1766." 
Gray's  intention  was  perfectly  obvious  and  reasonable, 
and  we  fear,  if  his  action  in  this  case  is  rejected  (as 
it  is  in  the  Supplement  just  published  in  the  'Auk,* 
1920,  p.  445),  it  will  open  a  loopihole  for  upsetting 
a  large  number  of  other  ty])e-designations  by  the 
same  author. 

The  A.  0.  U.  Check-list  Committee  have  now 
abandoned  the  ground  they  took  up  in  the  earlier 
editions  of  the  Check-list,  and  merely  quote  "type  by 
subsequent  designation  of  the  A.O.  U.  Check-list 
Committee,"  although  that  action  has  been  shown 
(B.  0.  U.  List  Brit.  Birds,  p.  399)  to  be  based  on  a 
fallacy. 

Podiceps  is  confirmed  for  the  Grebes. 
Page 
133.      KyctaJa   funerea   v.    teiufmalmi    {vide    B.  0.  U.    List, 

p.  378  ;  also  Auk,  1919,  p.  447). 
N.  funerea  accepted  and  confirmed. 

145.      Milvns  migrans  v.  M.  I'orschun. 

M.  migrans  accepted  and  confirmed. 

150.      Falco  (vsalon  v.  F.  reguhis. 
F.  cesalon  accepted. 

159.      Anser  erytliropus  v.  A.  fnmarcMcJms. 

A.  erytliropus  accepted   {vide  Lonnberg,   Ibis,  1913, 
p.  400,  and  Hartert,  V.  p.  F.  p.  1282). 


1 92 1.]  Obituarrj.  317 

XYlll.— Obituary. 

Robert  Birkbeck. 

We  cannot  pass  over  in  silence  the  death  of  one  of  the 
original  members  of  the  Union,  although  lie  severed  his 
connection  with  it  so  long  ago  as  1868. 

Robert  Birkbeck,  who  died  on  18  November  last  at  the 
age  of  83  at  his  house,  Kinloch  Hourn,  in  Inverness-shire, 
was  born  at  Keswick  in  1836,  and  was  the  fourth  son  of 
William  Birkbeck,  of  Keswick  Old  Hall,  Norfolk.  He 
married  in  1857  Mary  Harriet,  eldest  daughter  of  the  late 
Sir  John  William  Lubbock,  Bt.,  and  was  therefore  a 
brother-in-law  of  the  late  Lord  Avebury.  He  was  also 
an  uncle  by  marriage  of  Mr.  J.  H.  Gurney.  He  took 
much  interest  in  ornithology  and  was  among  the  first  to 
join  the  ranks  of  the  Union  when  it  was  projected  in  1858, 
though  he  resigned  ten  years  later.  He  lived  most  of  his 
life  on  his  estate  on  the  west  coast  of  Scotland,  and  devoted 
himself  to  horticulture  and  tlie  study  and  protection  of  some 
of  our  rarer  birds. 

A  portrait  of  him  as  he  appeared  in  his  young  days,  with 
a  short  notice,  will  be  found  in  the  Jubilee  Supplement 
volume  of  '  The  Ibis  '  for  1908. 

Charles  Edward  Fagan,  C.B.E.,  I.S.O. 

Although  not  a  member  of  the  Union,  Mr.  Fagan,  Secre- 
tary to  the  Natural  History  Museum,  South  Kensington, 
whose  death  took  place  at  his  residence  in  West  Ken- 
sington on  the  30th  of  January,  was  well  known  to  a  large 
number  of  our  members.  In  1873,  at  the  age  of  eighteen, 
Mr.  Fagan  entered  the  British  Museum,  Bloomsbury,  as 
a  second-class  assistanr,  and  on  the  opening  of  the  Natural 
History  Museum  at  South  Kensington  he  was  transferred 
to  the  office  of  Professor  (afterwards  Sir  William)  Flower, 
the  newly-appointed  director.  In  1889  he  became  assistant 
secretary,  and  when  Sir  Sidney  Harmer  was  appointed 
director  in  1919  he  was  made  secretary. 


318  Obituary.  [Ibis, 

Mr.  Fa^an  made  no  claims  to  being  an  ornithologist,  but 
he  had  a  great  interest  in  natural  liistory,  and  was  always 
ready  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  advance  its  study.  He  was 
specially  interested  in  the  preservation  of  the  native  fauna, 
not  only  in  this  country  but  in  the  Colonies,  and  acted  as 
honorary  treasurer  to  the  Society  for  the  Promotion  of 
Nature  Reserves  and  was  the  British  representative  on  the 
International  Committee  for  the  Protection  of  Nature  in 
1913. 

When  the  International  Ornithological  Congress  met  in 
this  country  in  1905,  Mr.  Pagan  acted  us  honorary  treasurer, 
and  he  undertook  the  same  office  for  the  British  Orni- 
thologists' Union  Expedition  to  Dutch  New  Guinea.  This 
expedition  was  instituted  by  Mr.  Ogilvie-Grant  at  the 
Jubilee  Meeting  of  the  Union  in  19(J8,  and  Mr.  Fagan  was 
personally  responsible  for  much  of  the  preliminary  work  in 
connecticui  with  its  organization. 

Mr.  Fagan  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  Bird  Room  and 
the  development  of  the  ornithological  collections  of  our 
National  Museum,  so  much  so  that  the  officers  in  charge 
of  that  department  liave  always  been  indebted  to  him  for 
assistance  in  many  ways  and  on  many  occasions.  Indeed, 
one  is  justified  in  saying  that  had  it  not  been  for  Mr.  Pagan's 
per&onal  efforts  and  success  in  enlisting  the  sympathy  and 
help  of  those  who  were  in  a  position  to  further  his  many 
ideas  for  the  develo|)Mient  and  expansion  of  the  collections, 
the  Museum  would  not  now  contain  the  magnificent  series 
of  the  birds  of  the  world  which  are  now  represented  in  its 
cabinets. 

Henry  Jones. 

We  learn  with  deep  regret  of  the  death  of  Major  Henry 
Jones,  which  occurred  at  his  home  at  Wimbledon  Park  on 
the  5th  of  February,  at  the  age  of  83  years — he  was  buried 
at  East  Wickham.  He  was  born  on  the  9th  of  February, 
1838,  near  Folkestone,  and  was  educated  at  Shrewsbury 
House  School,  Shooter's  Hill.  He  joined  the  service,  as 
an  ensign,  on  the  25th  of  Se[)tember,  1860,  in  the  94th  Foot 


192 1.]       Recently  published  Ornli/ioio(/icul  Works.  319 

Regt.,  serving  under  Lord  Napier  ;  on  the  1st  of  August^ 
1862j  lie  transferred  to  the  G2ud  Foot  Regt.,  being  made 
Lieutenant  on  the  24th  of  November,  1863,  and  promoted 
to  Captain  on  the  7th  of  February,  1876.  He  left  the 
service  m  1881,  after  serving  over  fifteen  years  in  India,  and 
lived  on  retirement  at  East  Wickham  House,  Welling,  Kent, 
moving  to  Wimbkdon  Park  in  1916. 

For  many  years  he  came  to  the  Bird  Room  at  the  Natural 
History  Museum  and  made  most  careful  and  excellent 
drawings  and  sketches  of  birds  with  their  natural  sur- 
roundings. 

He  Avorked  through  every  species  of  the  Game  Birds  and 
the  Ducks,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  engaged  on  the 
Corvidse.  We  hear  that  his  drawings  iiave  all  been  left  to 
the  Zoological  Society.  Major  Jones  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  Union  in  1900. 


XIX. — Notices  of  recent  Ornithological  Publications. 

Bartsch  on  the  Birds  of  the  Tortugas. 

[The  Bird-rookeries  of  the  Tortugas.  By  Paul  Bartsch.  Smithsonian 
Keport  for  1917,  pp.  409-500.  38  pis.     Published  1919.] 

The  Tortugas  are  the  last  of  the  long  line  of  coral  reefs 
and  islands  which  string  ont  in  a  westerly  direction  from 
the  southern  extremity  of  Florida  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
and  have  long  been  renowned  for  the  numbers  of  sea-birds 
visiting  and  breeding  on  them.  The  first  ornithologist  who 
visited  them  was  J.  J.  Audubon  in  1832.  He  has  given  us 
a  most  vivid  account  of  his  observations  and  experiences  in 
his  Ornithological  Biography,  portions  of  which  are  re- 
printed in  the  present  paper.  On  one  of  the  islands, 
Loggerhead  Key,  is  the  Marine  Biological  Laboratory  of 
the  Carnegie  Institution,  at  which  most  of  the  recent  work 
on  birds,  especially  that  of  Messrs.  Watson  and  Lashley 
(vide  Ibis,  1916,  p.  191),  has  been  conducted.  The  most 
interesting  island  of  the  group  is  Bird   Key,  where,  out  of 


320  tiecently  published  Ornithologicul  Harks.  [Ibis, 

32,800  birds  listed  in  a  census  made  in  1916,  some  31,200 
have  their  homes  and  breeding-grounds. 

Far  the  most  numerous  in  individuals  are  the  Sootj'  Tern 
(Sterna  fuscatu)  and  the  Noddy  [Anous  stolidus)  ;  others  of 
less  importance  as  regards  numbers  are  the  Least  Tern 
{Sterna  a.  untillarum) ,  the  Roseate  (S.  dougalU),  the  Man- 
o^-War  Bird  {Fie<iata  iiiagnijicens  rothschildi),  and  the 
Boobies  (Su/a  leucoynstris  and  S.  sula),  but  the  last  three 
do  not  nest. 

Good  accounts  of  all  these  species  are  given  by 
Dr.  Bartsch  in  the  present  paper,  which  is  illustrated 
bv  a  large  number  of  pliotographs.  There  is  also  an 
interesting  list  of  all  the  birds  which  have  been  recorded 
from  the  islands,  as  well  as  of  the  land-birds  which  have 
been  observed  there  on  different  occasions  on  migration. 

Chapman  on  variation  in  Ostinops  decumaiius. 

[Uuusuil  types  of  apparent  li-eograpliic  variation  in  colour  and  of 
individual  variation  in  size  exhibited  by  Oslinops  clecumanus.  By  Frank 
M.  Chapman.     Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington,  vol.  xxxiii.  1920,  pp.  25-32.] 

Mr.  Chapman  has  recently  examined  a  large  series  of 
examples  of  Ostinops  decumanus,  chiefly  from  southern  Peru 
and  Bolivia,  and  also  from  Matto  Grosso  in  south-west 
Brazil,  and  he  finds  among  these  birds,  both  male  and 
female,  a  remarkable  phenomenon  of  a  varying  number  of 
feathers  of  the  body  and  wing-coverts  being  wholly  or  in 
part  yellow  or  more  rarely  white.  Such  a  variation,  if 
found  in  a  single  individual,  would  certainly  be  considered 
as  pathological  albinism  or  xanihochroism.  But  this  curious 
variation  is  found  to  a  variable  extent  in  so  large  a  propor- 
tion of  the  birds  examined  tiiat  it  mnst  be  considered  a 
diagnostic  character,  and  to  draw  attention  to  it  Mr.  Chapman 
proposes  to  distinguish  this  form  as  a  distinct  subspecies, 
Ostinops  decimianus  maculosus.  In  birds  from  north  of  the 
Amazon  valley  this  variation  does  not  occur. 

In  regard  to  size,  Mr.  Chapman  finds  a  very  remark- 
able variation  among  the  males  only — both  those  from 
the     northern     and    southern     parts    of    South     America. 


1921.]        Recently  published  Ornithological  JForks.  321 

The  wings  of  seven  birds  from  Matto  Grosso  vary  from 
205  to  239  mm.,  while  in  a  series  of  five  males  from 
Colombia  the  variation  ranges  from  228  to  249  mm.j  and 
the  shape  of  the  wing  as  shown  in  a  text-fignre  is  very 
different  in  the  two  extreme  cases.  Mr.  Chapman  believes 
that  the  short-winged  individuals  are  young  birds  in  their 
first  winter,  and  that  as  they  grow  older  the  wings,  as  well 
as  the  tail  and  culmen,  increase  in  length.  Ostinops  clecu- 
manns  is  certainly  a  species  of  considerable  interest,  and 
deserves  further  study. 

Christiani  on  a  new  Hock-Pipit. 

[Den  vestnorske  Skterpiber  (Ajithus  j)etrosus  sc/u(pler{,  subsp.  aov.). 
Af  A.  Christiani.  Daiisk.  Ornith.  Forenings  Tidsskrift,  1920, 
pp.  157-162.] 

Mr.  Christiani  here  describes  a  new  subspecies  of  Rock- 
Pipitj  Anthus  petrosus  schi^lern,  from  western  Norway.  The 
types  are  from  Floro  Island  near  Trondhjem,  and  Skaer- 
gaaden  near  Bergen.  The  chief  distinguishing  character  is 
apparently  a  slight  colour-difference  in  the  vinous  of  the 
chest.  In  a  further  note  on  the  Faroe  Island  form,  A.  p. 
kleinschnidti,  described  by  Dr.  Hartert^  Mr.  Christiani  states 
that  the  first  observer  who  pointed  out  its  peculiarities  was 
J.  C.  H.  Fischer  (Journ.  Ornith.  1861,  p.  432),  and  not 
Pastor  Kleinschmidt  as  stated  by  Hartert. 

Coward  on  British  Birds. 

fTke  Birds  of  the  British  Isles  and  their  Eggs.  By  T.  A.  Coward. 
Second  Series.  Pp.  vii  +  '576  ;  213  col.  pis.  ;  69  pliotographic  illustr. 
London  &  New  York  (VVarne),  1920.] 

The  second  and  concluding  portion  of  this  little  book, 
which  is  one  of  Warne's  'Wayside  and  Woodland^  series, 
is  hardly  up  to  the  level  of  the  first  volume  (c/.  Ibis^  April 
1920).  This  is,  however,  chiefiy  due  to  the  nature  of  the 
subject-matter,  and  not  to  any  lack  of  skill  in  the  author. 
The  families  treated  are  those  from  the  Anatidae  to  the 
Tetraonidpe,  and  it  is  easy  to  understand  that  few  persons 
can  visit  the  breeding-haunts  of  every  species,  or  Avrite  with 


3:22  lieceittly  published  Ornitholoyical  Works.  [Ibis, 

tliat  tall  knowledge  of  the  habits  which  was  so  conspicuous 
iu  Mr.  Coward's  treatment  of  such  groups  as  the  Warblers. 
But  the  coloration  of  the  eggs  leaves  much  to  be  desired, 
and  in  the  case  of  certain  of  the  Ducks  is  absolutely  mis- 
leading :  for  instance,  the  Gadwall's  (i^^  is  cream-coloured, 
not  green.  The  reproductions  of  Lord  Lilford's  plates  are 
wonderful  for  a  book  of  this  ])rice;  the  Idack  plates  are 
good,  but  somewhat  ordinary,  while  only  the  publisher  can 
tell  whether  they  are  necessary  to  the  sale  of  the  volumes. 
We  should  have  omitted  them  and  used  them  elsewhere. 

Hoivard  on  Tenilory  in  Bird  Life. 

[Terntory  in  Bird  Life.  By  M.  Eliot  Howard.  Pp.  xiv+308;  11 
photoa-ravures  by  Lodge  and  G'-onvold.  London  (John  Murray),  19:20. 
8vo.     '2\s.  net.] 

As  a  result  of  long-continued  observation  in  the  field  on 
the  breeding-habits  of  British  Warblers,  Mr.  H.  Eliot 
Howard  has  gradually  come  to  realize  the  immense  im- 
portance of  the  possession  of  territory  to  the  male,  and  its 
influence  on  his  life  and  actions.  In  the  present  attractive 
and  thoughtful  little  work  he  has  extended  his  studies  to 
other  families,  and  finds  that  the  same  general  principles 
hold  good. 

It  is  obvious  that  no  species  can  breed  unless  it  lias 
undisputed  possession  of  a  nesting-site  of  some  kind, 
however  restricted,  and  to  this  extent  every  bird  requires 
wliat  we  may  agree  to  call  territoiy.  But  among  the 
Warblers  the  term  includes,  not  merely  the  nesting-place, 
but  a  more  or  less  extensive  reserve,  which  serves  as  a 
station  from  which  the  song  is  uttered  to  attract  a  mate, 
and  the  hunting-ground  or  source  of  food-sup})ly,  tlie  limits 
of  which  are  rarely  transgressed  by  the  parents  during 
the  whole  period  of  reproduction.  On  the  other  hand, 
among  the  Auks  we  find  the  Guillemot  occupying,  to  use 
Mr.  Howard's  words,  "a  few  square  feet  of  rock  only"  for 
lireeding-purposes.  On  the  pinnacles  at  the  Fame  Islands 
it   would   be  more  correct  to   say   that  the    breeding   sj)ace 


1 921.1       Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  323 

covers  a  few  square  inclies  only,  so  that  the  isolation  of  the 
breeding  pair  is  more  theoretical  than  practical. 

Mr.  Howard  ascribes  the  restricted  nature  of  the  Guille- 
mot's territory  to  the  fact  that  the  species,  as  a  whole, 
would  suffer  if  each  male  resisted  intrusion  on  its  breeding- 
ledge,  owing  to  the  scanty  number  of  available  sites,  while, 
on  the  other  hand,  the  food-supply  is  practically  unlimited. 
The  explanation  seems  adequate  in  this  case,  but  is  less 
convincing  when  we  come  to  consider  the  difference  between 
the  breeding-habits  of  the  Raven  and  Rook.  The  former 
requires  not  merely  a  home,  but  also  an  estate  surrounding 
it,  on  which  he  brooks  no  rival  ;  the  latter  is  content  to 
live  in  a  bird-town  in  the  tree-top,  from  where  he  sallies 
forth  with  his  companions  to  seek  his  living  on  communal 
ground.  Here  shortage  of  nesting-sites  cannot  be  urged  as 
the  reason  for  such  close  association_,  nor  is  there  any 
advantage  gained  with  regard  to  food-supplies,  so  mutual 
protection  is  assigned  as  the  necessary  condition  of  the 
Rook's  existence.  Now  it  is  quite  true  that  many  cases  are 
on  record  of  rookeries  being  raided  by  Carrion  Crows,  but 
no  serious  resistance  seems  ever  to  be  made  l)y  the  Rooks, 
and  no  combined  action  taken  by  the  members  of  the  colony 
in  opposition  to  t!ie  raiders.  This  is  the  more  remarkable, 
when  it  is  remembered  that  such  species  as  the  Common 
and  Arctic  Terns,  though  far  weaker  as  individuals,  when 
acting  in  concert,  can  drive  off  not  only  the  Hooded  or 
Carrion  Crow,  but  even  the  Marsh-Harrier.  Another  in- 
stance where  communal  bi*eeding  is  practically  useless  for 
purposes  of  defence,  is  that  of  the  Cormorant.  The  parent 
birds  of  one  nest  will  view  with  absolute  indifference  the 
robbery  of  another  nest  only  a  few  feet  away  by  Crow  or 
Gull.  In  these  cases  the  difference  in  the  territorial  idea 
is  much  more  than  merely  of  degree.  One  might  almost 
say  that  among  birds,  even  in  the  same  families,  there  are 
individualists  and  socialists, — and  we  may  take  the  Rook, 
the  Martins,  the  Terns,  and  the  Guillemot,  as  examples  of 
the  latter  class  ;  while  the  Warblers,  the  Falcons,  the  Pipits, 


324  Recenthj published  Ornitholoyical  Works.  [Ibis, 

Shrikes,  and  many  otlier  families  may  be  quoted  as  be- 
longing to  the  former.  Some  of  the  communal  breeders 
have  also  adopted  a  system  of  eommunal  defence  (more 
especially  the  Terns),  but  with  others  nothing  of  the  kind 
has  yet  been  evolved. 

We  think  a  truer  idea  of  Territory  in  Bird  Life  would  be 
gained  by  eliminating  the  actual  nesting-site,  which  is, 
of  course,  a  necessity  in  every  case,  and  restricting  the 
use  of  the  word  to  the  area  embraced  l)y  the  activities  of 
the  parents.  We  shall  then  find  that  in  some  groups  all 
otlier  individuals  of  the  same  species  are  rigidly  driven  off 
the  whole  territory,  in  others  the  idea  is  only  present  in  a 
rudimentary  form,  and  in  a  third  class  the  association  is  of 
the  closest  kind  and  individual  territory  is  unknown. 

There  is  also  a  wide  field  for  research,  untouched  in  the 
present  work,  on  the  occasional  unresented  presence  of  a 
third  individual  together  with  a  pair  in  the  case  of  a  nor- 
mally monogamous  species.  Probably  this  has  been  noted 
most  frequently  in  the  case  of  the  Long-tailed  Tit,  but 
there  are  recorded  instances  in  some  twelve  or  fourteen 
other  species  at  least.  We  are  grateful  to  Mr.  Howard  for 
his  beautifully  illustrated  and  thoughtful  study  on  an  aspect 
of  bird-life,  which  by  his  researches  he  has  undoubtedly 
done  much  to  elucidate. — F.  C.  R.  Jourdain. 

Hellmayrs  recent  papers  on  Neotropical  Birds. 

[Ein  Beitrag  zur  Ornithologie  von  Slidost-Perii.  Vou  C.  E.  Hellmayr. 
Arch.  Naturgesch.  Jahrg.  85,  Abt.  A,  1920,  pp.  1-131.] 

[Miscellanea  Ornithologica,  V.  Id.  Verhandl.  Orn.  Ges.  Bayerii, 
xiv.  1920,  pp.  281-287.] 

The  first  of  these  pa])ers  contains  an  account  of  the  more 
interesting  forms  contained  in  a  collection  made  by  the 
brothers  H.  and  C.  Watkins  in  the  Department  of  Puno 
in  south-eastern  Peru,  near  the  Bolivian  border.  These  col- 
lections reached  Europe  before  the  outbreak  of  the  war, 
and  are  now  preserved,  partly  in  the  Munich  Museum, 
partly  in    the    private    collection  of   Count   Josef   Seilern. 


1 92 1.]       Recently  puhlisked  Ornithological  Works.  325 

They  contained  aljout  12,000  skins^  representing  250  species. 
Some  of  the  new  forms  have  been  already  described,  while 
four  additional  ones  are  here  introduced  for  the  first  time, 
viz.  : — Ci/anerpes  carulea  chocoana  from  Colombia,  Rham- 
phocelus  curho  centralis  from  Brazil,  Spizitornis  parulus 
patayoniciis  from  Argentina,  and  Lepidocolaptes  lacryrniger 
carabayce  from  S.E.  Peru.  Very  valuable  comments  on 
nomenclature  and  geographical  distribution,  together  with 
revisions  of  various  groups  of  subspecific  forms,  make  up  the 
rest  of  the  paper,  which  is  one  of  the  most  important  con- 
tributions to  our  knowledge  of  the  avifauna  of  the  eastern 
slopes  of  the  Peruvian  Andes  which  has  appeared  tor  some 
time. 

The  second  paper,  which  also  deals  solely  with  neotropical 
forms,  contains  revisions  of  nomenclature  and  synonymy, 
A  note  on  the  first  record  of  Hehuinthophlla  leucubronchialis 
in  South  America  is  of  considerable  interest,  as  this  rare 
little  Warbler  is  believed  by  Mr.  Faxon  and  other  North 
American  naturalists  to  be  a  natural  hybrid  between 
H.  piniis  and  H.  chrijsoptera.  The  South  American  example 
was  obtained  near  Merida  in  Venezuela,  and  is  now  in  the 
Tring  Museum. 

Laubmami  on  Lesson's  Types. 

[Kritische  Uiitersucliuiigen  iiber  die  Genotypfixierungen  in  Lesson's 
'  Manuel  d'Oinithologie,'  1828.  Von  Dr.  A.  Laubmann.  Arch.  Natur- 
gesch.  Jahrg.  8o,  Abt.  A,  1920,  pp.  137-108.] 

In  this  laborious  but  useful  work  Dr.  Laubmann  has 
carefully  reviewed  all  the  genera  in  Lesson's  '  Manuel 
d"Ornithologie,'  and  has  shown  that  in  many  cases  Lesson, 
quite  in  accordance  with  the  modern  rules  of  Zoological 
nomenclature,  fixed  the  types  of  a  good  many  genera  where 
the  fixation  has  generally  been  attributed  to  Gray,  whose 
work  was  published  later.  This  paper  should  be  carefully 
consulted  by  all  who  are  interested  in  nomenclatural 
Avurk. 


3.26  Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  [Ibis, 

Lavauden  on  Tunisian  Birds. 

[La  chasse  et  la  faune  cj'n^g(5tic[ue  en  Tunisie.  Pur  Louis  Lavauden. 
Pp.  1-40.     Tunis  (Iniprim.  centr.),  19:^0.     8vo.] 

[Contribution  jt  I'etude  des  formes  du  Hibou  Ascalaphe  dans  I'Afrique 
du  Nord.  Id.  lie  v.  Fraug.  d"Oin.  1920,  uos.  132-3,  pp.  1-8  (separately 
paged).] 

In  the  first  of  these  pamphlets  M.  Lavauden,  who  is  an 
Inspector  of  Forests  in  the  Regency  of  Tunis,  gives  us  a 
useful  review  of  the  Mammalian  and  Avian  fauna  of 
Tunisia,  chiefly  from  the  sportsman's  point  of  view.  The 
birds  of  Tunisia  have  been  dealt  with  by  Mr.  Whitaker  in 
his  well-known  work ;  but  no  volume  in  French  has  yet 
been  published,  and  we  hope  that  M.  Lavauden  will  find 
time  before  he  leaves  the  country  to  prepare  one.  We 
understand  that  he  has  already  completed  a  work  on  the 
Mammals^  which  unfortunately  is  yet  awaiting  a  publisher. 
The  most  interesting  l)ird  likely  to  be  noticed  by  the  casual 
visitor  to  Tunisia  is  undoubtedly  the  Flamingo,  which  is 
always  to  be  seen  on  the  great  lake  which  separates  Tunis 
from  the  sea,  though  it  is  not  known  to  breed,  there. 
M.  Lavauden,  however,  has  reason  to  believe  that  it  nests 
in  a  lake  in  the  southern  part  of  the  Kegency  between 
Sousse  and  Kairouan. 

The  pamphlet  also  contains  the  official  regulations  in 
regard  to  the  im[)ortation  of  arms,  and  the  closed  and 
open  seasons  for  shooting.  We  are  glad  to  notice  that  the 
Flamingo  and  some  of  the  other  rarer  birds  and  mammals 
are  strictly  preserved. 

In  the  second  paper  M.  Lavatiden  discusses  the  Eagle- 
Owls  of  Tunisia.  He  points  out  that  there  is  at  present 
no  certain  evidence  of  the  occurrence  in  Tunisia  of  BuJ)0 
bubo  in  any  of  its  immediate  subspecies,  though  it  is  said 
to  have  occurred  in  Algeria.  On  the  other  hand,  there  are 
two  forms  of  the  Egyptian  Eagle-Owl,  Bubo  ascalaphus 
ascalwphus  and  B.  a.  desertorum.  These  two  forms  appear 
to  he  qnite  distinct  :  the  former  occurring,  though  rarely, 
in  the  north  of  Algeria  and  Tunisia  ;   the  latter,  which  has 


192 1.]       Recently  published  Ornithological  ]Vorks.  327 

been  met  with  far  more  frequently,  inhabiting  southern  and 
drier  parts  of  the  country. 

McGregor  on  Philippine  Birds. 

[Some  features  of  the  Philippine  Ornis,  with  notes  on  the  vegetation 
in  rehxtiou  to  the  Avifauna.  By  Richard  C.  McGregor.  Philippine 
Journ.'Sci.  vol.  xvi.  1920,  pp.  361-437,  map  and  34  pis.] 

For  a  good  many  years  past  Mr.  McGregor  lias  been 
stationed  at  Manilla,  wliere  he  occupies  tlie  position  of 
Ornitholosiist  in  the  Bureau  of  Science.  He  has  bad  many 
opportunities  of  adding-  to  our  knowledge  of  the  Ijirds  of 
the  Philippine  Islands,  and  in  the  present  essay  be  deals 
with  them  chiefly  from  tbe  ecological  and  geographical 
aspect.  After  noticing  the  great  scarcity  of  sea-birds  in 
tbe  Philippine  waters  and  the  comparative  absence  of  native 
birds  about  the  town  of  Manilla,  where  the  two  commonest 
species  are  the  European  Tree-Sparrow  and  Chinese  Crested 
Minah  ( ^'Et  hi  opsar  crista  tell  us) ,  he  points  out  how  the  whole 
aspect  of  tbe  low  country  has  been  changed  by  the  destruc- 
tion of  tbe  virgin  forest  which  formerly  coveied  it,  and  how 
most  of  the  indigenous  endemic  birds  are  found  in  tbe 
forest-regions  tbat  I'emain,  cbiefly  in  tbe  mountainous  areas. 

He  then  discusses  the  various  types  of  forest,  from  the 
mangroves  of  tbe  tide-lands  to  the  pine  and  the  mossy 
types  which  cover  tbe  higher  parts  of  the  islands  at  from 
20U0  to  4000  feet,  and  comments  on  the  birds  which 
characterize  each  type  of  forest. 

Most  of  the  more  interesting  Philippine  birds  inhabit  the 
Dipterocarp  type  of  forest,  so-called  from  its  most  con- 
spicuous and.  valuable  constituent  '■'■  Dipterocarpms."  The 
forests  are  best  developed  on  the  well-watei'cd  plains  or 
the  lower  slopes  of  the  larger  mountains,  genei'allv  below 
5000  feet. 

A  further  discussion  deals  with  tbe  local  distribution  of 
the  endemic  species  among  the  various  islands  of  tbe 
Archipelago.  Most  of  the  species  are  confined  to  single 
islands  or  groups  of  islands,  and  are  represented   by  allied 


328  Reccntlij  published  Omitlwloyical  Works.         [Ibis, 

forms  in  other  groups  of  islands  ;  but  this  is  by  no  means 
always  tlie  case,  aiul  there  are  many  instances  of  com- 
paratively closely  allied  species  bein^-  found  together  even 
in  the  same  patch  of  forest.  Finally,  a  revised  list  of  the 
fannal  regions  into  which  the  islands  can  he  most  con- 
veniently arranged,  is  given. 

A  map  and  a  number  of  piiotograplis  of  characteristic 
scenery  in  the  islands  agreeably  assist  one  to  follow  the 
facts  and  arguments  put  forward  in  the  paper,  which  is  one 
of  very  considerable  importance,  and  should  ])e  studied,  by 
all  interested  in  the  problems  of  the  distribution  of  birds 
in  tropical  lands. 

Matheios  on  Australian  Birds. 

[The  Birds  of  Australia.  By  Gregory  M.  Matliews.  Vol.  viii.  pt.  5, 
pp.  241-316,  pis.  395-399.     London  (Witherby),  December  15th,  1920,] 

Tins  part,  which  concludes  the  volume,  gives  us  an 
unusually  simple  task,  as  it  contains  only  various  Pachy- 
cephaline  forms  now  separated  in  the  genera  given  below. 

First,  we  have  the  conclusion  of  Leivinomis  rufiventris, 
to  which  many  a  generic  name  was  given  of  old,  not  without 
reason,  as  it  shows  a  certain  affinity  to  Colluricincla.  Only 
one  species  is  allowed,  tlie  others  being  reduced  to  nine 
subspecies,  of  which  dulcior  of  North  Queen slan.d,  gaivler- 
etisis  of  South  Australia,  and  waddelli  from  the  same  country 
are  new.  Gilbertornis  has  two  species — riifo(/ularis,  which  is 
said  to  have  a  peculiar  note,  and  inornaius,  which  is  proved 
to  be  the  proper  appellation  oi  gilbertii,  with  its  three  sub- 
species. The  i-obust  Alisterornis  lanioides  Avas  considered 
worthy  of  specific  rank,  even  by  Gould  ;  its  range  lies  to 
the  northward  and  it  has  a  curious  habit  of  feeding  on  small 
crabs.  There  are  four  subspecies.  Timixos  olivaceus,  with 
one  less,  is  £(j1  lowed  by  Mattingleya  griseiceps,  which  is  the 
Eojisulh-ia  inornata  of  Ramsay  and  almost  certainly  Pachy- 
cephula  peninsiilce  of  Hartert.  Muscitrea  simplex,  which  is 
said  to  be  synonymous  witli  Tephrodornis  grisola  of  Blyth, 
has  two  subspecies,  which  are  certainly  different  from  the 
extralimital  form. 


1 921.1       UeceyHly  published  Ornithological  Works.  329 

The  only  new  genus  iu  this  part  of  tlie  work  is  Penemnanthe, 
where  the  tail  resentibles  that  of  a  Wheatear.  The  species 
leucura  lias  six  or  seven  subspecies,  according  to  whether  we 
include  Saivadoin's  pulverulenta  of  New  Guinea  or  not. 
Quoyornis  georgianus  has  three  races,  Eopsaltria  australis 
six.  The  latter,  first  figured  by  White  in  1790,  was  given 
no  less  than  three  different  names  by  Latham,  and  has  had 
other  synonyms,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  text.  A  second 
sY>ecies,E.  g7'iseognlaris,  has  four  subspecies,  of  which  loongani 
and  quoiji,  both  from  Western  Australia,  are  new. 

Attention  should  be  drawn  to  two  pages  of  corrections  of 
the  Check-List  printed  in  this  part. 

Mathews  on  the  dates  of  ornithological  publications. 

[Dates  of  ornitliological  works.  By  Gregory  M.  Mathews.  Austral 
Av.  Record,  iv.  1920,  pp.  1-27.] 

In  Appendix  B  of  the  last  part  o£  volume  vii.  of  'The 
Birds  of  Australia^  Mr.  Mathews  attempted  to  provide 
a  list  of  the  exact  dates  of  publication  of  the  ornithological 
works  quoted  by  him.  Tliough  a  good  many  investigations 
into  this  difficult  bibliographical  question  have  been  made, 
especially  by  Mr.  Sherborn  and  Mr.  Waterhouse,  no  one 
has  collected  their  results  into  one  place  easily  accessible 
to  the  working  ornithologist,  and  now  Mr.  Mathews  has 
reprinted  with  additions  and  corrections  this  valuable  piece 
of  research  in  a  more  accessible  form. 

The  publications  dealt  with  are  primarily  those  in  which 
the  Australian  birds  are  described  ;  but  the  list  will  un- 
doubtedly be  of  the  greatest  use  and  service  to  all  systematic 
ornithologists,  and  we  would  tender  our  best  thanks  to 
Mr.  Mathews  for  this  excellent  and  laborious  piece  of 
work. 

Mmyhy  on  the  Sea-birds  of  Peru. 

[The  sea-coast  and  islands  of  Peru,  Pts.  I.,  II.,  Sc  III.  By  Robert 
Cushman  Murphy.  Brooklyn  Museum  Quarterly,  vii.  1920,  pp.  69-95, 
165-187,  239-272.] 

In  these  three  articles,  and  there  appear  to  be  more  to 

SER.  XI. VOL.   III.  Z 


330  Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  [Ibis. " 

follow,  Mr.  Murphy,  Curator  of  the  Brooklyn  Museum  in 
New  York,  gives  us  an  account  of  his  recent  visit  to  Peru 
and  its  bird-islands,  which  he  terms  the  Peruvian  Littoral 
Expedition,  and  which  he  was  enabled  to  undertake  through 
the  generous  bequest  of  the  late  Col.  R.  B.  Woodward, 
a  benefactor  of  the  Brooklyn  Museum.  The  chief  objects 
of  the  expedition  were  observation  and  research,  the 
collecting  of  specimens,  and  the  obtaining  of  motion-picture 
records  of  the  life  on  the  coast  and  of  die  Peruvian  guano 
industry. 

As  is  well  known,  owing  to  the  cold  Humboldt  current 
which,  partly  coming  up  from  the  southern  latitudes,  and 
partly  owing  to  the  welling-up  of  colder  water  fi'om  i)elow 
the  surface,  due  to  the  trade  winds  blowing  south  of  the 
equator  in  a  north-westerly  direction,  the  coasts  of  Peru 
have  a  fauna  which  is  quite  unlike  that  of  ordinary  tropical 
coasts,  and  instead  of  Frigate-birds  and  Man-o^-War  birds, 
the  characteristic  birds  are  Penguins,  Diving  Petrels  (Pe/e- 
canoides),  and  Larus  dominicanus.  In  addition  to  this, 
owing  to  the  fact  that  the  great  height  of  the  Andes, 
extending  like  a  gigantic  cliff  along  the  whole  western  coast 
of  South  America,  drain  the  trade  wind«  blowing  across  the 
continent  from  the  Atlantic  of  all  their  moisture,  the  coast- 
lands  of  Peru  and  the  northern  part  of  Chile  are  almost 
entirely  rainless  ;  the  result  is  that  the  guano  deposited  on 
the  islands  off  the  coasts  by  the  innumerable  sea-birds 
accumulates  in  great  quantities,  and  has  been  a  source  of 
wealth  to  Peru  for  the  last  hundred  years  or  so. 

In  past  times  the  guano  deposits  have  been  worked  in  a 
most  reckless  manner  and  were  rapidly  becoming  exhausted, 
while  no  efforts  were  made  to  conserve  the  bird-life  to  which 
this  valuable  manuring  agent  owed  its  origin. 

Of  recent  years,  however,  a  new  regime  has  been  in- 
augurated, and  the  whole  industry  is  under  the  control  of 
the  government  and  of  a  company,  the  "  Corapania  Ad- 
ministradore  del  Guano/'  and  very  careful  steps  are  taken 
to  work  the  deposits  without  unduly  disturbing  the  birds. 


1 92 1.]        Recently  published  Ornitholoijical  IVorks.  331 

It  is  iuteresting"  to  observe  that  ou  the  soutli-west  coasts  of 
Africa^  where  conditions  are  very  similar,  the  same  course 
has  been  adopted,  though  there  tlie  control  of  the  islands  is 
directl}^  under  the  government  of  the  Union  of  South  Africa. 

Tiie  three  most  important  guano-producing  birds  are  the 
Alcatraz  (Pelecanus  thagus),  the  Piquero  {Su.la  variegata), 
and  the  Camanay  {Sii.la  vehoiuvi).  Of  these,  and  of  the 
methods  and  operations  of  obtniuing  the  gnauo,  Mr.  Murphy 
has  given  a  most  lucid  account  illustrated  by  numerous  and 
beautifully  reproduced  {)hotograplis,  and  the  articles  are 
well  worthy  of  perusal  by  all  those  interested  in  the  in- 
dustrial application  of  ornithology. 

To  his  two  predecessors  in  the  investigation  of  the  guano 
islands,  Dr.  H.  O.  Forbes  and  Mr.  R.  E.  Coker,  of  the 
United  States  Bureau  of  Fisheries,  Mr.  Murphy  pays  a 
well-deserved  tribute.  An  interesting  discovery  is  that 
these  seas  are  the  winter  home  of  the  Northern  or  Red- 
necked Phalarope  {Pluilaropus  lobatiis)  ;  its  winter  quarters 
in  the  New  World  had  been  hitherto  unknown. 

Peters  on.  a  new  Jay. 

[A  new  Jay  from  Alberta.  By  James  Lee  Peters.  Prno.  New 
Englaud  Zoul.  CI.  vii.  1920,  pp.  51-52.] 

Mr.  Peters  describes  Perisoreus  canadensis  albescens  as  a 
distinct  race  from  Red  Deer,  Alberts,  Canada.  It  is  distin- 
guished from  all  the  other  races  of  the  Canada  Jay  by  its 
much  paler  coloration.  The  type  is  in  the  Museum,  of 
Comparative  Zoiilogy  at  Cambridge,  Mass. 

Ridgway  on  neiv  Genera  of  Birds. 

[Diagnoses  of  some  new  Genera  of  Birds.  By  Robert  Ridgwav. 
Smitlison.  Miscel.  Coll.  Washington,  vol.  Ix.xii,  no.  4,  1920,  pp.  1-4.] 

The  following  new  Genera  of  Hawks  and  Rails  are 
proposed,  no  doubt  in  anticipation  of  a  forthcoming  volume 
of  the  'Birds  of  North  and  Middle  America' : — Oroa'etus 
for   type   Spizaetus   isidori    (Vieill.)  ;    Phceoaetus   for    type 

7.2 


332  Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  [Ibis, 

Spizaetus  limna'etus  (Horsf.)  (Limna'etus  Vigors,  a  synonym, 
is  antedated  by  Limruetus  Bowdicli,  the  latter  a  synonym  of 
Buteo)  ;  Morphnarchus  for  type  Leucopternis  princeps  Scl.  ; 
Percnohierax  for  type  Rupornis  leucorrhous  (Q.  &  G.)  ; 
Hapalocrex  for  type  Rallus  flaviventris  Bodd. ;  Limnocrex 
for  type  Porzana  cinereiceps  Lawrence;  Thryocrex  for  type 
Corethrura  rubra  Scl.  &  Sal  v. 

Riley  on  new  Malayan  Birds. 

[Four  new  Birds  from  the  Philippines  and  Greater  Sunda  Islands. 
By  J.  H.  Rile3\  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington,  vol.  xxxiii.  1920, 
pp.  55-58.] 

Mr.  Riley  describes  as  new  from  Mr.  Raven's  collection 
tbe  following  : — Anthreptes  malacensis  paraguce  from  Pala- 
wan, A.  m.  bornensis  from  Borneo,  Enodes  erythrophrys 
centralis  from  Celebes,  and  Munia  punctulata  particeps  also 
from  Celebes. 

Robinson  and  Kloss  on  the  names  of  the  Jungle-Fowls, 

[On  the  proper  name  of  the  Red  Jungle-Fowl  from  Peninsular  India. 
By  H.  C.  Robinson  and  C.  Boden  Kloss.  Records  Indian  Mus.  xix. 
pt.  1,  1920,  pp.  13-15.] 

The  nomenclature  of  the  Indian  Red  Jungle-Fowl  has 
been  discussed  lately  by  several  writers.  Messrs.  Robinson 
and  Kloss  consider  that  the  correct  specific  name  is  Gallus 
ferruyineus  (Gmel.),  founded  on  Sonnerat's  bird,  probably 
fi'om  the  Philippine  Islands,  as  he  visited  no  area  in  India 
proper  where  he  could  have  procured  the  Red  Jungle-Fowl, 
and  that  the  typical  subspecies  G.  f.  ferrugineus  is  the 
Malayan  bird  also  occurring  in  Burma  and  Hainan.  To 
the  Javan  race,  which  is  distinguished  by  the  dark  colour 
of  the  hackles,  the  authors  assign  the  name  G.f.  bankiva 
Temm.,  while  the  bird  of  India  proper  has  to  receive  a 
new  name.  For  this  form  Gallus  ferrugineus  murghi  is 
proposed,  the  subspecific  name  being  apparently  derived 
from  the  common  Hindustani  word  for  a  chicken,  familiar 
to  every  Anglo-Indian. 


1 92 1,]       Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  333 

Skovgaard  on  Danish  Birds. 

[Den  Sorte  Stork,  saerlig  i  Denmark,  i  tekst  og  billeder  af  P. 
Skovgaard.  Pp.  1-5G  ;  manj-  photographs.  Viborg-  (Backhauseus), 
1920.     8vo.] 

[Danske-Fugle :  Organ  for  Dansk  Oruithologisk  Central  ved  P. 
Skovgaard.     Viborg.     Aarg.  1,  no.  1,  1920.] 

The  first  of  these  publications  contains  an  account  of  the 
life-history  of  the  Black  Stork  (Ciconia  nigra)  in  Denmark. 
There  is  a  map  showing  the  breeding-stations,  from  which 
it  appears  that  it  is  most  abundant  in  the  eastern  half  of 
Jutland,  less  so  in  the  islands,  and  is  hardly  found  at  all  in 
the  western  half  of  the  peninsula.  It  arrives  at  its  breeding- 
places  generally  in  April,  though  occasionally  in  March, 
and  leaves  as  a  rule  in  August  or  early  September,  The 
paper  is  illustrated  with  a  number  of  very  fine  photographs, 
all  taken  by  the  author  himself. 

The  second  publication  is  a  new  magazine  devoted 
to  Danish  Birds,  though  the  whole  of  the  articles  are 
apparently  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Skovgaard.  One  of 
these  deals  with  the  food  of  the  White  Stork  as  deduced 
from  an  examination  of  the  stomach.  Another  has  an 
account  of  Air.  Skovgaard^s  activities  in  bird-ringing,  and 
there  is  also  a  list  of  a  collection  of  Danish  birds  belonging 
to  Mr.  C.  Reimers  of  Viborg,  with  a  map  and  some  photo- 
graphs of  the  rarer  species. 

We  congratulate  Mr.  Skovgaard  on  his  industry  and 
hope  that  he  will  be  able  to  continue  his  studies,  and  that 
his  magazine  will  have  a  long  life. 

Stresemann  on  the  races  of  Long -tailed  Tits  and  Bullfinches. 

[Uber  die  Formen  der  Gruppe  ^(jithalos  caudatus  und  ihre  Kreuzuugen. 
tJber  die  europaischen  Gimpel  (mit  einer  Kart  ihrer  Verbreituug). 
Von  Erwin  Stresemann.  Beitrage  zur  Zoogeographie  derpalaarktisclien 
Region.  Herausgegeben  von  der  Ornith.  Gesellsch.  in  Bayeru.  Heft  1, 
1919,  pp.  1-56.J 

In  the  first  of  these  essays  Dr.  Stresemann  reviews  the 
very  variable  group  of  the  Long-tailed  Tits,  among  which 


334  lieceittlii  ]ii(blis/ied  Ornitholoyical  IVorks.  [Ibi?, 

he  distinguishes  fourteen  races  spread  over  the  Palsearctic 
Region.  He  divides  these  fourteen  races  into  three  groups, 
and  he  believes  that  when  individuals  belonging  to  different 
groups  extend  their  range  towards  one  another's  territory 
hybridization  occurs,  and  that  such  hybrids  follow  the 
Mendelian  laws.  Also  that  in  some  cases  pure-blooded 
individuals  revert  to  the  more  primitive  types  from  which 
they  are  sprung,  and  that  a  clear  distinctioii  should  be 
drawn  between  them  and  the  hybi-ids.  By  means  of  these 
hypotheses  lie  endeavours  to  account  for  the  many  varying 
forms  of  Long-tailed  Tits  met  with  in  the  Palaearctie 
Region. 

With  regaid  to  the  Bullfinches  the  pi'oblem  appears  more 
simple,  but  here,  too,  the  explanation  is  hybridization 
between  two  comparatively  distinct  forms.  The  larger, 
Fyrrhula  p.  pyrrhula,  of  the  east  and  north,  and  the 
smaller,  Pyrrhula  p.  minor  and  P.  p.  pileata^  of  the  west, 
have  spread  out  since  the  Ice  Age  and  met  in  southern 
Germany,  where  a  mixed  or  hybrid  form,  known  as  P.  p. 
(/ermanica,  has  established  itself.  Such  in  brief  appears 
to  be  the  views  of  our  author  on  these  difficult  and  com- 
plicated questions. 

Bird- Lure. 

[Bird-Lore :  A  bi-monthly  Mag^azine  devoted  to  the  Study  and 
Protection  of  Birds.     Vols.  xxi.  &  xxii.  for  1919  &  1920.] 

The  two  volumes  of  'Bird-Lore'  under  notice  contain  a 
number  of  articles  of  considerable  interest,  especially  to  the 
bird-lover  in  America,  to  whom  they  are  specially  addressed. 
We  must  confine  ourselves  to  mentioning  some  of  those  of 
more  general  interest.  The  Editor,  Mr.  Prank  Chapman, 
during  the  last  part  of  the  war  was  a  travelling  com- 
missioner for  the  American  Red  Cross  and,  in  that  capacity, 
made  a  rapid  journey  tlircugh  South  America,  visiting 
Peru.  Chile,  and  the  Argentjne.  His  impressions  on  the 
bird-life  of  those  countries  will  be  found  in  a  series  of  vivid 
articles  illustrated  with  photographs  and  draw  ings.     Perhaps 


1 921.]       Recently  ptihlished  OtiiitJwlogical  Works.  335 

one  of  the  most  remarkable  is  tliat  of  a  Giaut  Humming- 
bird {Patagona  giyas)  capturing  on  the  wing  a  common 
small  species  (^Eustephanus  galeritus),  a  sight  which  he 
witnessed  in  the  foot-hills  of  the  Andes,  near  Santiago. 
Other  articles  by  the  Editor  deal  with  a  visit  to  Selborne, 
in  England,  and  with  the  life  of  the  late  William  Brewster, 
with  whom  he  was  connected  by  a  special  tie  of  affection. 

One  of  the  great  features  of  '  Bird-Lore '  is  the  Christmas 
Bird  census.  All  readers  of  the  Magazine  are  invited  to 
send  to  the  editor  a  list  of  all  the  species  of  birds  they 
have  been  able  to  identify  during  a  walk  or  excursion  on  or 
about  Christmas  day.  Many  returns  are  sent  in  from  all 
parts  of  the  United  States.  In  1919-20  the  greatest 
number  of  species  observed  in  the  northern  and  eastern 
Atlantic  States  were  43,  while  at  Santa  Barbara^  on  the 
Californian  coast,  as  many  as  109  were  tabulated.  The 
present  writer,  who  was  in  America  during  Christmas  1919, 
with  the  help  of  some  kind  and  sharp-eyed  hosts,  was  able 
to  make  a  return  of  ,21  species  observed  on  the  coast  of 
Long  Island. 

Other  interesting  features  of  '  Bird-Lore^  are  the  seasonal 
reports  from  all  parts  of  the  States  in  each  number,  and  the 
articles  on  the  plumages  and  migrations  of  American  birds. 
These  last  are  accompanied  .  by  coloured  plates  in  each 
number.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  the  European  Star- 
ling, which  is  dealt  with  on  p.  213  of  volume  xxii.,  was 
introduced  into  the  United  States  about  1890,  when  a 
number  were  liberated  in  New  York  City,  and  it  has  now 
spread  far  and  wide  from  Maine  to  Ohio  and  Alabama; 
in  some  places  it  has  become  enormously  abundant.  We 
fear  it  may  prove  to  be  as  great  a  nuisance  as  the  Sparrow. 

A  large  part  of  each  number  of  the  Magazine  is  devoted 
to  the  interests  of  the  Audubon  Societies,  which  have  been 
started  in  every  State  of  the  Union  for  the  protection  and 
conservation  of  bird  and  animal  life,  and  which  are  guided 
and  controlled  by  the  National  Association  of  the  Audubon 
Societies  in  New  York. 


336  Rectutly  published  Ornithological  Works.  [Ibis^ 

The  Condor. 

[The  Condor :  A  Magazine  of  Western  Ornithology.  Vols.  xsi.  & 
xxii.  for  1919  &  1920.] 

[Second  ten-year  Index  to  the  '  Condor.'  Vols,  xi.-xx.,  1909-1918. 
By  J.  R.  Pemberton.     Hollywood,  California,  1919.] 

Readers  of  the  '  Condor  '  and  Members  of  Cooper  Ornitho- 
logical Club  ought  to  be  very  grateful  to  JMr.  Pemberton 
for  his  most  carefully  constructed  and  ingenious  Index  to 
the  ten  volumes  of  the  'Condor,'  from  1909  to  1918.  The 
preparation  of  it  occupied  eighteen  months  of  his  time,  but 
the  result  appears  to  be  extremely  satisfactory,  and  all  the 
information  contained  in  the  vokimes  can  be  referred  to  at 
once,  without  any  trouble. 

The  longest  article  contained  in  the  two  volumes  of  the 
'Condor'  under  review  is  that  of  JMrs. IMerriam  Bailey  on  her 
wanderings  in  the  Dakota  Lake  region,  in  which  she  recounts 
in  a  charming  style  her  experiences  and  observations  on  the 
birds  of  the  western  prairie  region.  A  new  feature  of  the 
*  Condor  '  is  a  series  of  autobiographies,  the  longest  and  most 
important  of  which  is  that  of  Mr.  H.  W.  Henshaw,  until 
recently  the  Chief  of  the  Biological  Survey  at  Washington. 
In  his  early  days,  in  the  seventies  and  eighties  of  the  last 
century,  Mr,  Henshaw  was  attached  to  the  United  States 
Geological  and  Geographical  Survey  and  travelled  extensively 
all  over  the  Western  States.  It  was  during  these  years  that 
he  amassed  the  large  collection  of  American  birds  which  sub- 
sequently, through  the  generosity  of  the  late  Mr.  Godman, 
found  a  home  in  our  Natural  History  Museum  at  South 
Kensington. 

The  1919  volume  contains,  in  addition,  a  number  of 
articles  on  the  nesting-habits  of  some  of  the  less  well-known 
western  birds,  generally  illustrated  by  excellent  photographs 
beautifully  reproduced.  Such  are  the  accounts  of  the 
nesting  of  Townsend^s  Solitaire  (^Myadestes  townsendi)  near 
the  snow-line  on  Mt.  Shasta  in  northern  California  by 
Mr.  W.  L.  Dawson,  of  the  Short-eared  Owl  in  Washington 
State  by  Mr.  E.  H.  Kitcliiu,  and  of  the  Red  Crossbill  in 
British   Columbia  by    Mr.  J.   H.  Munro  ;  Mr.    G.   Willett, 


1 92 1.]       Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  337 

who  was  for  some  time  stationed  on  Laysaii  Island^  an 
outlier  of  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  gives  us  some  information 
on  the  nesting- haljits  of  two  rare  Petrels — Pterodroma 
hypoleuca  and  Oceanodroma  tristraini. 

As  showing  the  effects  of  untimely  weather,  Mr.  E.  R. 
Warren  tells  us  of  the  effects  of  a  snow-storm  at  Colorado 
Springs  on  the  5th  of  May,  when  eight  inches  of  snow 
covered  the  ground  and  did  much  damage  to  the  migrants, 
who  were  then  arriving  and  passing  m  great  numbers. 

An  obituary  notice  of  a  young  collector,  JNIr.  M.  P. 
Anderson,  who  accidentally  met  with  his  death  in  a  ship- 
yard at  Oakland,  near  San  Francisco,  in  February  1919, 
where  he  was  patriotically  doing  war-work,  is  of  interest  to 
English  naturalists,  as  it  was  Mr.  Anderson  who  was  chosen 
some  years  ago  to  conduct  the  collecting  expedition  of  the 
Duke  of  Bedford  in  eastern  Asia,  and  all  the  birds  and 
mammals  then  collected  are  now  in  the  British  Museum. 

The  volume  for  1919  contains  descriptions  of  two  new 
races,  both  from  Lower  California,  by  Mr.  H.  Oberholser — 
Junco  oreganiis  pontills  and  Fipilo  fuscus  aripoVms. 

The  1920  volume  contains  three  articles  of  general  in- 
terest by  Mr.  A.  Wetmore.  In  the  first  of  these  he  suggests 
that  the  plug  of  feathers  nearly  always  found  in  the  pyloric 
diverticulum  of  the  stomach  of  the  Grebes  acts  as  a  strainer 
to  prevent  the  passage  of  larger  particles  of  bone  or  Hsh- 
scales  from  the  stomach  into  the  intestines.  In  another 
paper,  as  the  result  of  observations  on  a  young  Great  Blue 
Heron,  he  believes  that  the  mysterious  powder-down  patches 
in  the  pelvic  and  pectoral  regions  of  Herons  and  some  other 
birds  are  used  by  the  younger  birds  to  oil  and  dress  the 
contour  feathers  of  the  body,  especially  as  the  uropygial 
gland,  often  used  later  in  life,  develops  slowly,  and  does  not 
become  functional  till  subsequently. 

Mr.  Wetmore's  third  article  deals  with  the  wing-claw  in 
the  Swifts.  Out  of  some  48  species  belonging  to  the  genera 
examined,  he  found  the  claw  absent  only  in  a  few  species  of 
Callocalia,  though  often  minute  and  rudimentary,  and 
obviously    of    no    functional    importance.       In    the   genus 


338  Recenthj  published  Ornithological   Work:^.  [ibis, 

Hemiprocne,  usually  placed  in  a  distinct  family,  the  wing- 
claw  was  not  found. 

Major  Allan  Brooks  contributes  a  list  of  the  Wading- 
birds  of  southern  British  Columbia.  He  believes  that  no 
group  of  birds  has  been  so  neglected  by  western  ornitho- 
logists, and  that  there  is  still  much  to  be  learned  about 
them.  Mr.  Grinnell,  the  Editor,  argues  that  the  life  of  the 
sea-birds  must  be  a  comparatively  safe  one,  as  most  of 
the  species  only  lay  one  or  at  the  most  two  eggs,  and  seldom, 
if  ever,  rear  a  second  brood,  and  if  the  numbers  remain 
constant  it  shows  that  the  struggle  for  existence  cannot  be 
very  severe. 

Mr.  Grinnell  also  describes  a  new  subspecies  of  Brewer's 
Blackbird  separating  those  from  the  Pacific  slope  from  those 
of  eastern  North  America  under  the  name  Euphayas  cijauo- 
cephalus  laiiiusculus.  Mr.  H.  Oberholser  has  a  new  race  of 
Shore-Lark,  Otocoris  alpestris  sierrce,  breeding  in  the  Sierra 
Nevada  of  California,  and  Mr.  W.  P.  Taylor  a  new  race  of 
Ptarmigan,  Lagopus  leucurus  runierensis,  from  Mt.  Ranier, 
in  Washington  State,  where  it  lives  at  an  elevation  of  from 
6000  to  8000  feet. 

Fauna  och  Flora. 

[Fauna  och  Flora.  Popular  Tidskrift  fiir  Biologi.  Utgifveu  af 
Einar  Loimberg.     Vols.  xiv.  &  xv.  for  1919  &  1920,  6  uo^.  to  eacli  vol.] 

This  excellent  magazine,  edited  by  our  foreign  membez-. 
Dr.  Lonnbergj  deals  with  zoology  and  botany  in  all  its  aspects, 
as  its  title  implies  ;  but  there  is  a  good  proportion  of  articles 
on  bird-life,  chiefly,  of  course,  of  local  interest,  such  as  rare 
occurrences  and  lists  of  birds  of  special  districts  in  Sweden. 
There  are  also  a  good  many  articles  of  more  general  interest. 
Such  is  the  series  by  Mr.  L.  Cx.  Andersson  containing  an 
account  of  the  travels  of  Carl  Thunberg  to  South  Africa 
in  1770-1779,  an  article  on  bird-psychology  by  Mr.  A. 
Adlersparre,  and  several  by  Dr.  Lonnberg  himself.  Two  of 
these  deal  with  a  large  collection  from  Mongolia  and  north- 
west China  which  have  recently  reached  the  Stockholm 
Museum    from    Mr.    P.   J.   G.  Anderson,   and    another    on 


1 92 1.]       Recently  published  Ornitliohigical  Works.  339 

tlie  birds  of  Juan  Fernandez  and  Easter  Islands  in  the 
south-eastern  Pacific.  The  editor  also  writes  on  a  Green- 
fincii  X  Gohlfiiieh  hybrid,  and  Mr.  K.  Kolthoff  on  another 
between  Dryobales  leuconotus  and  D.  major.  Mr.  S.  Bergmann 
contributes  some  notes  on  the  birds  of"  Egypt  which  he  made 
wliile  on  his  way  to  Kamchatka  to  collect  for  the  Stockholm 
Museum.  There  is  an  obituary  notice  of  Prof.  J.  A.  Palmen 
(1845-1919),  that  well-known  Finnish  ornithologist  who 
first  drew  up  a  list  of  the  proljable  flight-lines  of  migrating 
birds,  and  another  of  Prof.  Tycho  TuUberg  of  Upsala,  who 
died  at  the  nge  (jf  77  in  1920.  His  mother  was  a  great 
grand-daughter  of  Linngeus.  There  are  portraits  with  both 
these  articles.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  a  Starling 
marked  in  Sweden  8  July,  1915,  was  captured  near 
Middlesbrough  iu  Yorkshire  on  the  1st  of  February,  1918. 

Le  Gerfaut. 

[Le  Gerfaut.  Kevue  beige  d'Ornithologie.  Publi6e  sous  la  direction 
de  M.  Marcel  de  Contreras.     5e-9''  Aimee  1919  and  IQe  Annee  19l^0.] 

We  have  now  received  the  complete  set  of  the  '  Gerfaut' 
for  1919  and  19.20,  the  first  two  numbers  of  which  were 
noticed  in  'The  Ibis'  for  1919  (p.  782),  and  must  briefly 
review  the  rest  of  the  volumes,  M.  L.  Coopman  discusses 
the  Pipits,  their  migrations  from  eastern  Europe  and  their 
occuiience  in  Belgium,  especially  that  of  Anthus  cervinus, 
and  Dr.  Mairlot  has  a  good  article  on  the  habits  of  the 
Yellow  Bunting. 

In  an  early  number  of  the  magazine,  that  for  May  1912, 
the  first  capture  of  Briinnich's  Guillemot  in  Belgium  is 
recorded.  This  bird,  which  was  taken  at  Ostend,  turns 
out  to  have  been  a  young  Razorbill,  and  the  correction  will 
be  found  on  p.  87  of  the  1919  volume. 

The  1920  volume  o^Jcus  with  a  portrait  and  a  eulogy  of 
M.  Ivan  Braconier,  a  leading  Belgian  ornithologist,  who 
was  unfortunately  killed  in  a  motor  accident.  Another 
article  of  interest  is  a  comparison  of  the  birds  of  Devonshire 
with  those  of  Belgium  by  M.  Th.  Bisschop,  who  during 
the    German    invasion    found    a    home    at    Torquay.       The 


340  Recently  published  Ortiithological  Works.  [Ibis, 

absence  from  Devonshire  of  the  Nightingale.  Great  Reed- 
Warbler,  Marsh- Warbler,  Icterine  Warbler,  Crested  Tit, 
Shore-Lark,  Ortolan  Bunting,  Tree-Sparrow,  and  Hazel 
Hen,  all  more  or  less  abundant  in  Belgium,  is  noted. 

M.  A.  Paque  records  the  occurrence  for  the  first  time  of 
Branta  ruficollis  in  Belgium.  It  was  taken  on  the  Scheldt, 
near  Antwerp,  on  3  December,  1919,  and  is  figured  in  a 
coloured  plate.  Another  rare  bird  found  nesting  recently  in 
Belgium  is  the  Great  Black  Woodpecker.  No  satisfactory 
record  of  the  occurrence  of  this  bird  in  the  British  Islands 
is  known. 

There  are  a  number  of  other  useful  and  interesting  con- 
tributions dealing  with  the  avifauna  of  Belgium  in  its 
varied  aspects,  and  we  hope  that  the  '  Gerfaut '  is  now  firmly 
established  and  will  continue  to  prosper. 

Irish  Naturalist. 

[The  Irish  Naturalist :  A  monthly  Journal  ou  General  Irish  Natural 
History.     Vols,  xxviii.  &  xxix.  for  1919  &  1920.] 

There  are  not  very  many  articles  dealing  with  ornitholo- 
gical topics  in  the  last  two  volumes  of  the  '  Irish  Naturalist.' 
Perhaps  the  most  interesting  and  novel  is  that  of  Mr.  J.  P. 
Burkitt  on  the  so-called  "  cocks'  nests "  of  the  Wren. 
From  careful  observations  carried  out  by  the  author  he 
concludes  that  the  several  nests  are  built  by  the  male 
alone  before  the  arrival  of  the  female,  and  that  the 
male  during  this  period  of  anticipation  keeps  in  touch 
with  all  the  nests,  roosting  in  them  at  night.  On  the 
arrival  of  the  female,  and  until  the  young  birds  are  out 
of  the  nest,  the  male  takes  little  interest  in  his  family. 
Some  of  these  observations  are  controverted  by  Mr.  E.  P. 
Butterfield,  who  is  familiar  with  the  Wrens  in  Yorkshire, 
where  their  habits  may  be  somewhat  different.  In  another 
article  Mr.  Burkitt  deals  with  the  question  of  the  length  of 
the  song-period  of  certain  Warblers.  He  believes  that  song 
ceases  as  soon  as  incubation  begins,  and  that  all  the  later 
singing  males  are  mateless. 

Mr.  Moffat's  address  to  the  Dublin   Field    Naturalists' 


1921.]       Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  341 

Club,  printed  in  the  May  1920  number  of  the  journal, 
deals  with  colours  of  birds  in  relation  to  their  habits. 
He  suggests  that  the  conspicuous  white  rump  and  wing- 
patches  of  many  birds  are  useful  as  a  signal  of  alarm  and 
danger, 

A  new  bird  to  the  Irish  list  is  the  Carolina  Crake  or 
Sora  Rail  {Porzana  Carolina),  an  example  of  which  struck 
the  lantern  of  the  lighthouse  at  Slyne  Head,  co.  Galway, 
on  11  April,  1920,  and  is  recorded  by  Prof.  C.  J.  Patten  in 
the  June  1920  number. 

According  to  the  B.  O.  U.  List  there  are  four  British 
records — one  for  England,  one  for  Wales,  and  two  for 
Scotland — of  this  North  American  bird. 

Scottish  Naturalist. 

[The  Scottish  Naturalist :  A  monthly  Magazine  devoted  to  Zoology. 
1920 ;  6  nos.] 

The  *  Scottish  Naturalist,^  under  the  able  editorship  of  our 
ex-President,  continues  to  flourish  so  far  as  its  contents 
are  concerned,  though  somewhat  reduced  in  size,  and  now 
appearing  only  every  two  months  owing  to  the  increased 
cost  of  production. 

The  principal  ornithological  contributors  to  the  present 
volume  are  the  Misses  Baxter  and  Rintoul,  whose  report  on 
Scottish  Ornithology  for  1917  occupies  the  whole  of  the 
July-August  number.  This  is  a  most  valuable  piece  of 
work,  most  carefully  and  clearly  carried  out.  The  most 
important  ornithological  occurrence  during  the  year  is 
the  breeding  of  the  Whooper  Swan,  an  event  which  has 
taken  place  during  the  last  two  years  in  west  Perthshire. 
It  formerly  nested  in  Orkney,  but  has  not  been  proved  to 
have  bred  previously  on  the  mainland.  The  Misses  Baxter 
and  Rintoul  have  also  commenced  a  series  of  articles  on  the 
breeding  species  of  Scottish  Ducks,  and  have  dealt  in  the 
present  volume  with  three  species — the  Gad  wall,  Wigeou, 
and  Shoveler.  They  also  record  the  occurrence  of  the 
American  Wigeon  or  Bald  pate  in  Fife,  while  Mr.  J.  A. 
Anderson   has   observed    it    in   Stirlingshire,   and   with   his 


34"2  Recently  published  Or nJi hoi onical  IForks.  \lh\^. 

notice  sends  a  delicate  sketch  from  life  of  tiie  (Common 
and  American  species  swimming  together  in  one  Hock. 

Several  contributors  notice  the  increase  in  numbers  and 
in  breeding-range  of  the  Great  Crested  Grebe  in  Scotland. 
Mr.  Donald  Guthrie  concludes  his  notes  on  the  birds  of 
Sotith  Uist,  and  Mr.  WilHaiu  Evans  gives  a  list  of  the 
breeding-places  of  the  Black-headed  Gull  in  the  Foith  area, 
one  of  which  in  Midlothian  according  to  evidence  in  his 
possession  has  been  occupied  since  the  eighteenth  century. 

Another  contribution  from  Dr.  Eagle  Clarke  tells  us  of  a 
surprising  account  of  the  attempted  nesting  of  a  pair  of 
Bee-eaters  in  Midlothian.  Though  occurring  not  infre- 
quently in  the  south  of  England,  it  has  never  yet  been 
known  to  have  nested,  although  it  would  probably  do  so 
if  unmolested. 

Another  new  record  is  that  of  Catherine  and  T.  E. 
Hodgkin^  who  fotxnd  a  nest  of  tlie  Hrambling  in  Sutherland 
in  May  last.  The  late  Mr.  E.  T.  Booth  stated  that  he  had 
found  a  nest  in  Perthshire  in  1866,  but  the  record  has 
always  been  looked  on  as  doubtful. 

Altogether  the  volume  of  the  '  Scottish  Naturalist  ' 
for  last  year  is  full  of  interesting  matter,  not  only  in 
ornithology  but  in  other  departments  of  natural  history, 
and  we  hope  that  the  appeal  of  the  editor  for  more  sub- 
scribers and  additional  funds  to  carry  on  the  magazine  will 
meet  with  the  response  wiiich  it  deserves. 


List  of  other  Ornithological  Publications  received. 

Bangs,  O.  and  Penard,  T.  E.     Notes  ou  American  Birds.     (Bull.  Mus. 

Comp.  ZoiU.  Ixiv.  pp.  365-.397.) 
Chapman,  F.  M.     Descriptions  of  apparently  uew  Birds  from  Bolivia, 

&c.     (Amer.  Mus.  Novitates,  no.  2.) 
[CouKTOis,   K    P.]     Les   Oiseaux  du   Mus(5e   de   Zi-ka-wei.      (Mem. 

concern.  I'hist.  nat.  de  I'Empire  Chinois,  v.  pt.  3,  fasc.  1-4.) 
Grinnell,  J.      The  Caliibruian  race  oi   tlie   Brewer  Blackbird.     The 

existence  of  sea-birds  a  relatively  safe  one.     (Condor,  xxii,  pp.  101- 

103,  1. '52-155.) 


1 92 1.]        Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  343 

Geiscom,  L.     Notes  on  tlie  winter  birds  of  San  Antonio,  Texas.     (Auk, 

XXX  vii.  J)]).  49-55.) 
Griscom,  L.  and  Nichols,  J.  T.     A  revision  of  the  Seaside  Sparrows. 

(Abstr.  Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  New  York,  no.  32,  pp.  18-30.) 
GuRNEY,  J.  H.     Early  Annals  of  Ornitbdlogy.     Pp.  1-240,  many  illustr. 

London,  1921.     8vo. 
GuRNEY,  J.  H.     Presidential  Address,  Norfolk  and  Norwicb  Nat.  Soc, 

1920.     (Trans.  Norf.  Norw.  Nat.  Soc.  xi.  pp.  1-22.) 
Hartert,  E.     Types  of  Birds  in  the  Tring  Museum.     (Novit.  Zool. 

xxvi.  pp.  123-178  ;  xxvii.  pp.  425-505.) 
KuRODA,  N.     Descriptions  of  three  new  forms  of  Birds  from  Japan  and 

Formosa.     (Dobuts.  Zasshi,  xxxii.  pp.  243-248.) 
Mathews,  G.  M.     The  Birds  of  Australia.     (Vol.  xi.  pt.  1.) 
Oberholser,  H.  C.     Collection  of  44  papers  reprinted  from  various 

journals. 
Saunders,    A.  A.      A  distributional   list   of  the   Birds   of  Montana. 

(Pacific  Coast  Avifauna,  no.  14.) 
SwARTH,  H.  S.     Birds  of  the  Papago  Saguaro  National  Monument  and 

the  neighbouring  region,  Arizona.     Pp.  1-63.      Washington   (Nat. 

Park  Service),  1920. 
SwARTH.  H.  S.     In  Memoriam  :   Frank  Slater  Daggett.     (Condor,  xxii. 

pp.  129-135.) 
Todd,  W.  E.  C.     Descriptions  of  apparently  new  South  American  Birds. 

(Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.  vol.  xxxiii.  pp.  71-76.) 
Todd,  W.  E.  C.     A  revision  of  tbe  genus  Eupsychnrty.r.     (Auk,  xxxvii. 

pp.  189-220,  pis.  v.,  vi.) 
Townsend,  C.  W.     Supplement  to  the  Birds  of  Essex  County,  Massa- 
chusetts.    (Mem.  Nuttall  Oi-n.  Club,  no.  a-.) 
WiTHERBY,  II.  F.  and  others.     A  Practical  Handbook  of  British  Birds. 

(Pt.  X.) 
Audubon  Bulletin.     (Fall,  1920.) 
Auk.     (Vol.  xxxviii.  no.  1.) 
Australian  Avian  Record.     (Vol.  iv.  nos.  4,  5.) 
Avicultural  Magazine.     (Vol.  xii.  nos.  1,2.) 
Bird-Lore.     (Vol.  xxiii.  no.  1.) 
Bird  Notes.     (Vol.  iv.  nos.  1,  2.) 
British  Birds.     (Vol.  xiv.  nos.  8-10.) 
Bull.  Essex  County  Ornith.  Club.     (1919  &  1920.) 
Canadian  Field  Naturalist.     (Vol.  xxxiv.  nos.  6,  7.) 
Cas.sinia  (for  1920). 
Condor.     (Vol.  xxiii.  no.  1.) 
Emu.     (Vol.  XX.  no.  3.) 
Fauna  och  Flora.     (1921,  pt.  1.) 
Ilornero.     (Vol.  ii.  no.  2.) 


344  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  [Ibis, 

Irish  Naturalist.     (Vol.  xxx.  nos.  1-.3.) 

Journal  of  the  Bombay  Nat.  Ilist.  Soc.     (Vol.  xxvii.  no.  2.) 

Journal  of  the  Federated  Malay  States  Museum.     (Vol.  x.  no.  2.) 

Journal  of  the  Natural  History  Society  of  Siam.     (Vol.  iii.  no.  5.) 

Journal  fiir  Ornithologie.     (Vol.  69,  no.  1.) 

Oolofj:ists'  Record.     (Vol.  i.  no.  1.) 

Ornithologische  Monatsberichte.     (Vol.  29,  nos.  1/2,  3/4.) 

Revue  Fran9ai3e  d'Ornithologie.     (Nos.  140-143.) 

Revue  d'Histoire  naturelle  appliquee.    L'Oiseau.     (Vol.  i.  no.  12  ;  vol.  ii. 

nos.  1,2.) 
Scottish  Naturalist.     (1921,  nos.  109, 110.) 
South  African  Journal  of  Natural  Plistory.     (Vol.  ii.  no.  2.) 
South  Australian  Ornithologist.     (Vol.  v.  no.  4.) 
Tori.     (Vol.  ii.  no.  10.) 
Verhandl.  Orn.  Ges.  Bayern.     (V''ol.  xiv.  pt.  4.) 


XX. — Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes. 

The  Last  Phase  of  the  Subspecies. 

Sir, — The  interestiug  letter  from  Mr.  Loomis  ia  the 
October  number  of  '  The  Ibis '  will  be  welcomed  by  many 
ornithologists  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  and  not  least 
by  some  of  those  who  might  be  termed  "  subspecies"  men. 

It  seems  to  us  that  up  to  the  present  the  excuse — in  fact, 
the  necessity — for  trinomialism  lies  in  the  fact  that  binomial 
names,  and  consequent  recognition  of  complete  specific 
distinction,  had  been  conferred  on  many  mere  geographical 
variations.  The  trinomialist  then  arrived  on  the  scene,  and 
did  much  good  by  reducing  such  geographical  forms  to  their 
true  position  as  races,  or  mere  climatic  variations,  of  one 
species.  He  also  named  and  continues  to  name  other  races, 
which  he  considers  as  distinct  as  those  which  have  names 
already. 

Now,  even  those  who  oppose  all  trinomialism  will  agree 
tliat,  as  the  species  is  the  only  definite  minor  unit  in  nature, 
any  system  which  enables  us  at  a  glance  to  appreciate 
properly  the  true  specific  relationship  of  a  form  whose  rank 
as  a  distinct  species  had  previously  been  misconceived,  would 


1 92 1.]  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  345 

be  welcomed  by  any  ornitliologist.  It  must  be  remembered 
that  a  multitude  of  races  have  been  named  of  late  years, 
yet  the  number  of  species  inhabiting,,  say,  a  continent  like 
Africa  is  known  now  to  be  considerably  less  than  was 
supposed  ten  years  ago.  Tlie  last  phase,  as  Mr.  Loomis 
says,  now  approaches,  for  tbe  whole  of  the  geographical 
variations  of  many  species  are  now  known,  and  the  question 
arises  "  of  what  scientific  value  are  these  variations  ?  " 

Well,  it  seems  to  us  personally  that  trinomialism  supplies 
a  handy  (not  invariably  handy)  adjective  Avhich  is  inter- 
nationally understood,  and  which  designates  birds  from  a 
certain  locality  in  a  short  and  concise  way.  By  the  recog- 
nition of  subspecies  we  can  also  map  out  migration-routes 
of  birds  from  any  given  locality,  and  can  note  the  effect  of 
environment  on  any  given  species  throughout  its  range. 
But  beyond  this  we  venture  to  suggest  that  the  value  of 
subspecies  is  small,  and  that  their  taxonomic  value  is, 
in  many  cases,  nil. 

On  the  other  hand,  to  those  who  accept  m  toto  the 
Darwinian  theory  —  or  what  is  commonly  accepted  as 
the  Darwinian  theory — and  all  that  it  implies,  all  sub- 
species will  appear  of  great  value  as  "incipient  species." 
Now,  for  our  part  it  has  always  been  a  matter  of  the 
greatest  difficulty  to  imagino  how  a  geographical  form, 
which,  in  fact,  is  already  a  s[)e(;ies,  can  be  termed  an 
"incipient"  one:  for  surely  if  any  given  specific  group 
has,  we  will  say,  c^  forms  or  variations,  those  x  forms 
have  all  equal  specific  entity,  differing  slightly  or  super- 
ficially by  the  increment  or  decrement  of  some  small 
characteristics.  Indeed,  if  we  believe  with  ultra-Darwinians 
in  the  "  little  by  little  '"'  theory  of  evolution,  there  is  no 
obvious  reason  why  the  "  typical  form ''  of  any  specific 
group  should  not  be  just  as  much  an  incipient  species  as  its 
most  distant  geographical  race. 

Speaking  for  ourselves,  however,  we  no  longer  believe  in 
the  "little  by  little"  theory  of  evolution,  nor  incidentally 
in  "  Natural  Selection,"  except  in  its  purely  selective,  as 
opposed  to  creative,  sense — and  even  in  this  sense  we  feel 

SER.  XI. VOL.111.  2  a 


•^46  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  [Ibis, 

sceptical  on  the  point  as  to  whether  Natural  Selection, 
acting  on  even  discontinuous  variations,  can  have  any 
practical  effect  on  the  formation  of  species,  or  whether 
it  is  not  superfluous  to  invoke  the  action  of  Natural 
Selection  at  all — nor  do  we  believe  in  the  action  of  en- 
vironment in  the  initiation  of  new  species.  The  only  thing 
in  our  opinion  which  can  give  rise  to  a  new  species  is  the 
conjugation  of  two  gametes  possessed  of  some  unusual 
factor  or  other  to  form  a  zygote.  We  believe  that  the 
beginnings  of  a  new  species  may  occur  from  the  union 
of  any  two  birds  anywhere,  and  is  a  matter  of  the  chance 
presence  or  absence,  stimulation  or  suppression,  of  factors 
in  the  germ-plasm.  It  must  be  remembered,  however,  that 
over  so  small  a  part  of  the  world's  history  do  man's  obser- 
vations extend  in  point  of  time,  that  we  cannot  definitely 
state  whether  or  not  species  are  being  formed  at  all  at  the 
present  day. 

There  is,  moreover,  a  point  in  this  question  of  the  value 
of  subspecies  to  which  we  cannot  help  thinking  ornitholo- 
gists in  general  have  not  hitherto  paid  sufficient  attention. 
They  appear,  indeed,  to  have  ignored  the  very  probable  fact 
that  there  are  two  main  forms  of  variations — one  known  as 
'^mutational,"  in  which  the  variation  is  discontinuous  and 
dependent  on  the  presence  in  the  organism  of  definite 
factors  which  are  resident  in  the  (jerni-plasm,  and  iv/iich  are 
therefore  heritable,  the  other  known  as  a  "  fluctuatioual," 
"  environmental,"  or  continlious  variation,  which  is  directly 
due  to  the  action  of  the  environment  on  the  soma  during 
the  lifetime  of  the  organism,  and  which  effect  cannot  be 
passed  on  to  future  generations. 

We  think  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  many — indeed,  by 
far  the  majority — of  our  present-day  subspecific  forms  belong 
to  this  last  category,  and  are  mere  environmental,  unstable, 
and  essentially  superficial  variations,  which  would  quickly 
disappear  if  the  organism  were  transferred  from  its  normal 
environment  to  some  other  of  a  different  nature.  Many 
such  environmental  subspecies  present  variations  which  are 


1 92 1.]  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  347 

merely  quantitative  as  opposed  to  qualitative,  and  it  would 
be  interesting  in  this  connection  to  make  a  comparative 
examination  of  the  number  of  present-day  subspecies  oc- 
curring in  a  genus  where  the  colours  are  due  to  peculiarities 
of  structure  in  the  feathers  and  the  reflection  of  light  upon 
them — as,  for  example,  in  many  species  of  Cinnyris  or 
Nectarinia, — and,  on  the  other  hand,  in  a  genus  where  the 
colour  is  directly  due  to  pigment  which  can  be  acted  on 
by  humidity,  light,  etc. 

Mutational  variations,  on  the  other  hand,  present  charac- 
teristics which  are  directly  derived  from  the  action  of  factors 
resident  in  the  germ-plasm,  which  are  totally  independent 
in  their  origin  of  the  action  of  environment,  and  which  are 
stable — o-iveu  favourable  conditions.  jNIutational  variations 
iu  all  probability  never  intergrade,  and  they  are  dependent 
on  isolation  whatever  form  that  isolation  may  take,  either 
geographical  or  physiological.  Natural  selection  may  here 
play  a  decisive  part  in  determining  their  future.  The 
ignoring  by  ornithologists  of  these  two  different  forms  of 
variation  has  led,  in  our  opinion,  to  the  making  of  sub- 
species, which,  in  fact,  have  very  different  values  and  rank. 

It  appears,  therefore,  that  before  we  can  answer  the 
question  propourided  by  Mr.  Loomis  "  Of  what  scientific 
value  is  a  subspecies?",  it  behoves  us  to  set  our  subspecific 
lu)use  in  order  with  a  view  to  gaining  a  more  accurate  and 
definite  appreciation  of  the  exact  rank  of  our  subspecies, 
and  if  necessary  to  note  their  quality  by  some  definite 
nomenclatural  method.  Finally,  we  would  like  to  add  that 
if  subspecies  are  sought  for  and  recognized  solely  with  a 
view  to  the  intensive  study  of  variation,  and  if  their  recog- 
nition tends  to  throw  any  light  on  the  still  more  elusive 
question  "  What  is  a  species  and  how  is  it  formed?"  we  are 
all  in  favour  of  their  recognition. 

P.  R.  Lowe. 

Natural  History  Museum,  C.  MaCKWORTH-Praed. 

12  February,  1921. 


2a2 


348  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  [Ibis, 

The  Nomenclature  of  Plumages. 

Sir, — In  the  January  number  Capt.  CoUingwood  Ingram 
draws  attention  to  an  error  in  his  paper  (Ibis,  1920,  p.  857), 
and  states  tliat  it  is  important  "  as  it  largely  vitiates  my 
definition  of  Mesoptile/'  Capt.  Ingram  was  apparently 
unaware  of  my  remarks  in  the  '^  Bulletin'  (vol.  xxvii. 
p.  83),  when  I  dealt  with  the  four  plumages  of  the  young 
Eagle-Owl  and  pointed  out  that  the  B;irn-Ovvl  was  excep- 
tional and  that  the  third  plumage  was  suppressed  in  that 
species.  Further  investigations  have  led  to  the  conclusion 
that  in  other  groups  of  birds  we  may  also  have  three 
generations  of  plumage  prior  to  the  first  adult  dress. 
jNIr.  Pycraft,  apparently  being  unaware  of  this  fact,  called 
these  plumages  protoptiles,  mesoptiles,  and  teleoptiles,  and 
I  suggested  that  the  generation  immediately  preceding  the 
adult  dress  should  be  known  as  heiniptiles.  ]\Iy  nomen- 
clature therefore  agrees  with  Capt.  Ingram's  in  calling  the 
"  second  generation  of  feathers "  mesoptiles,  but  these  do 
not  immediately  precede  the  adult  feathers.  Mesoptiles, 
as  I  understand  them,  are  the  generation  preceding  the 
hemiptiles,  which  in  the  Passeres  are  what  is  commonly 
known  as  the  juvenile  plunuige.  It  is  expedient  in  this, 
as  in  other  branches  of  Ornithology,  to  keep  our  nomen- 
clature as  uniform  as  possible. 

J.  Lewis  Bonhote. 
CarslialtoD, 

8  January,  1921. 

Nestling  Owls. 

Sir, — Captain  Collingwood  Ingram  in  his  letter  correcting 
the  mistake  he  had  made  between  the  Barn  Owl  and  Tawny 
Owl  might  have  added  the  Scops  {Scops  giu)  to  the  list 
of  Owls  which  do  not  have  any  intermediate  down  between 
the  first  nestling  down  and  the  assumption  of  the  complete 
feather  plumage.  This  is  recorded  in  the  'Avicultural 
Magazine,"  August  1899,  page  160  :  — 

"  The  white  down  in  the  nestling  is  replaced  by  a  plumage 
almost  precisely  resembling  that  of  the  adults,  so  they  differ 


1 92 1.]  Letters,  Extracts^  and  Nutes.  349 

from  all  the  Owls,  except  the  Bara  Owls,  in  having  no 
intermediate  down  between  the  casting  of  the  white  down 
and  the  assumption  of  fall  plumage." 

Incidentally,  I  may  draw  attention  to  other  facts  men- 
tioned in  the  same  article  on  the  breeding  of  the  Scops  Owl, 
which  point  out  how  widely  the  Scops  differ  from  all  other 
Owls.  Incubation  only  lasts  twenty-three  to  twenty-four 
days.  The  young,  instead  of  remaining  long  in  the  nest  and 
being  tended  by  the  parents  for  a  long  time  afterwards,  are 
just  the  reverse.  Young  hatched  on  10  June  left  the  nest 
strong  perchers  on  1  July,  and  by  10  July  were  strong  fliers 
and  independent.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  young 
Scops  is  full  grown,  full  Hedged^  and  independent  at  thirty 
days  old.  All  the  other  Owls  are  in  the  nest  or,  at  any 
rate,  dependent  on  their  parents  for  at  least  three  months. 

E.  G.  B.  Meade-Waldo. 

Hever,  Kent, 
6  February,  1921. 


The  Status  of  Picus  rubricollaris  Baker. 

Sir, — In  a  letter  dated  January  7th,  1921,  my  colleague, 
Mr.  C.  Boden  Kloss,  has  asked  me  to  point  out  that  the 
handsome  Woodpecker  described  by  Mr.  Stuart  Baker  and 
figured  in  the  last  number  of  '  The  Ibis  '  as  Picus  ruh-i- 
collaris  is  wrou^^ly  attributed  to  Siam,  the  localities  in  which 
it  was  collected  being,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  both  in  French 
Laos,  on  or  near  the  River  Mekong. 

Further,  the  new  "species"  appears  to  be  identical  with, 
or  extremely  closely  allied  to,  a  bird  figured  and  described 
by  Oustalet  twenty-two  years  ago  as  Gecinus  rabieri  (Bull. 
Mus.  d'Hist.  Nat.  1898,  p.  12  ;  id.  Nouv.  Arch,  du  Mus.  (4) 
i.  1899,  p.  255,  pi.  vii.)  founded  on  two  unsexed  specimens, 
considered  males,  but  evidently  females;  from  Tonkin. 

I  have  myself  compared  Mr.  Baker's  types  with  Oustalet's 
figures  and  description,  and  have  not  the  least  doubt  that 
Mr.  Kloss  IS  perfectly  correct.  The  slight  differences 
between  the  actual  bird  from  the  Mekong. and  the  figure 


350  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  [Ibis, 

of  Gecinus  rabieri  are  not  more  tliaii  can  be  accounted  for 
by  the  notorious  incorrectness  of  the  plates  in  the  Nouv. 
Arch,,  which  frequently  do  not  agree  with  tlie  text. 

The  fiiiures  in  '  The  Ibis  '  also  are  unfortunately  not  all 
~  that  can  be  desired — the  male  especially  is  shown  with  the 
red  collar  far  too  pronounced. 

Yours  truly, 

London,  HERBERT  C.   ROBINSON. 

7  February,  1921, 

The  Annual  General  Meeting  of  the  British  Ornithologists' 
Union. 

The  Annual  General  Meeting  of  the  British  Ornitholo- 
gists' Union  for  1921  was  held  on  Wednesday,  March  9, 
at  the  Offices  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  Loudon,  Mr.  G. 
M.  Mathews  in  the  Ciiair. 

There  were  36  members  present. 

The  Minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  con- 
firmed. 

Mr.  H,  J.  Elwes,  F.R.S.,  F.Z.S.,  was  unanimously  elected 
President  of  the  Union  in  place  of  Dr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke 
resigned. 

Before  proposing  members  to  fill  vacancies  on  the  Com- 
mittee, the  Chairman  informed  tlie  meeting  that  he  proposed 
to  put  up  the  three  members  nominated  by  tlu^  Committee, 
and  to  then  take  the  feeling  of  the  meeting  as  to  whether 
the  remaining  two  vacancies  should  be  filled  at  once  or  in 
accordance  with  the  method  approved  at  tlie  i)revious 
Annual  Meeting.  The  Rev.  Y.  C.  R.  Jourdaiu  at  tliis  point 
interposed,  objecting  to  this  method  of  procedure  on  the 
grounds  that  Major  Sladen  had  not  been  proposed  merely 
for  the  purpose  of  filling  one  of  the  two  existing  vacancies, 
but  to  fill  any  one  of  the  three  or  five  vacancies  which  the 
meeting  should  decide  to  fill.  After  some  discussion  the 
Chairman  decided  that  the  meeting  should  be  asked  to 
express  their  opinion  by  voting.  On  a  show  of  hands  the 
motion  proposed  by  Mr.  Bonhote  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Smeed 


1 92 1.]  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  351 

that  all  tlie  vacancies  should  all  be  filled  at  once  was  carried 
by  15  to  9j  many  members  not  voting. 

The  five  members  nominated  were  then  unanimously 
elected;,  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  C.  D.  Borrer,  who  was 
elected  by  11  votes  to  8. 

The  following  Foreign  Member  was  elected  Honorary 
Member  : — 

Dr.  E.  D.  Van  Oort. 

The  following  were  elected  Foreign  Members  : — 
Dr.  Otmar  Reiser. 
Mr.  Hichard  C.  McGregor, 
Mr.  Charles  13.  Cory. 

The  Chairman  then  called  upon  the  Secretary  to  read  the 
Report  of  the  Committee  for  19.20,  viz. : — 

"  The  Committee  regret  that  they  have  to  report  that  the 
financial  position  for  1920  is  even  more  unsatisfactory  than 
that  for  1919j  and  the  year  under  re[)ort  ended  with  an 
adverse  balance  of  practically  £190.  The  reason  for 
this  adverse  balance  is  entirely  the  great  cost  of  publishing 
'  The  Ibis,'  which  increased  from  .€1000  in  1919  to  practi- 
cally j£l300  in  ]920.  At  the  same  time  it  should  be  noted 
that  'The  Ibis'  for  1920  contained  a  greater  number  of 
pages  than  that  of  a  normal  year. 

"  To  meet  the  deficit  in  the  Society's  funds,  the  Com- 
mittee recommended  at  a  special  General  Meeting  called 
together  on  tlic  13th  of  October  that  the  subscription  should 
be  raised  to  £'2.  This  recommendation  was  unanimously 
adopted,  and  will  be  put  before  the  present  meeting  for 
confirmation.  The  Committee  are  very  glad  to  report  that, 
pending  this  confirmation,  a  large  majority  of  tiie  members 
of  the  Union  have  already  subscribed  the  full  M2  for  the 
present  year. 

"The  Trustees  of  the  British  Museum  have,  we  regret  to 
say,  declined  to  again  give  us  any  donation  towards  the  cost 
of  publishing  Museum  articles  in  '  The  Ibis,'  but  it  is  still 
hoped  that  they  may  be  induced  to  contribute  something 
towards  the  actual  expenses  of  such  articles. 


352 


Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes. 


[Ibis, 


"The  Committee  anticipate  tluit  with  the  increase  of  the 
subscription  to  £2  and  entrance  fee  to  £4,  the  funds 
received  will  he  sufficient  to  cover  the  expenses  of  the 
Union  and  to  provide  a  small  balance. 

"The  present  volume  of  'The  Ibis'  is  the  sixty-second^ 
and  is  the  second  of  the  Eleventh  Series.  It  contains  1023 
pages,  and  is  illustrated  with  five  coloured  plates,  thirteen 
uncoloured  plates,  and  three  text-figures — that  is  to  say  that 
'The  Ibis'  for  1920  contains  nearly  200  pages  more  than 
that  for  1919,  although  even  for  tbat  year  'The  Ibis'  was 
much  larger  than  usual. 

"The  Committee  have  given  instructions  that  'Tlie  Ibis' 
be  sold  to  the  [)ublic  at  the  rate  of  12^.  6d.  per  number  and 
to  members  at  10^.  Members  will,  we  trust,  appreciate  the 
fact  that  we  sell  'The  Ibis'  for  less  than  it  costs  to  print 
and  publish. 

"The  Committee  regret  to  report  the  deaths  of  the  fol- 
lowing jnembers  : — 

Sir  J.  A.  Brooke,         C.  G.  Finch  Davies. 
R.  Etheridge.  J.  Gerrard. 

Hev.  C.  W.  Shejjherd. 

"  The  following  gentlemen  have  resigned  : — 


Major  W.  B.  Arundel. 
Brig. -General  A.  Bailward. 
Captain  G.  Blaine. 

D.  0.  Campbell. 
J.  Drummond. 

(t.  H.  Duckworth. 

Rev.  A.  E.  Ellison. 

C.  Garnett. 

A.  R.  Gillman. 

Lt.-Col.  A.  E.  Hamerton. 

J.  C.  Hawksbaw. 

G.  B.  Honey. 

E.  Hudson. 
Major  H.  Jones. 
E.  B.  Maton. 


B.  S.  Ogle. 

Sir  T.  D.  Pigott. 

Lt.-Col.  A.  E.  St.  V.  Pollard. 

J.  T.  Proud. 

Capt.  C.  G.  E.  Russell. 

A.  St.  G.  Sai-geaunt. 

W.  L.  Sturge. 

Lt.  G.  Swann. 

M.  Vaughan. 

Commdr.  R.  E.  A^aughan. 

E.  M.  Wade. 

Lt.-Col.  H.  J.  Walton. 

H.  Wormald. 

Lt.-Col.  J.  W.  Yerbury. 


1^21.1  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  353 

"The  name  of  Mr.  B.  A.  E.  Buttress  has  been  removed 
from  the  list  of  members  under  Rule  6. 

"The  membership  of  the  Union  is  given  below  in  com- 
parison with  the  last  five  years  : — 


1921. 

1920. 

1919. 

1918. 

1917. 

1916, 

Ordinary       Members. 

..  423 

418 

418 

4-23 

416 

420 

Extraordinary     ., 

..       1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

Honorary              ,, 

..       9 

9 

7 

8 

9 

9 

Hon.  Lady           ,, 

..       8 

8 

8 

8 

9 

8 

Colonial 

..     10 

10 

9 

9 

10 

10 

Foreign                 ,, 

..     16 

IG 

13 

•:o 

19 

19 

"  There  are  49  candidates  for  ordinary  membership  and 
the  fact  of  so  large  a  number  of  gentlemen  coming  i'orvvai'd 
for  election  to  the  Union  is  most  satisfactory,  and  one 
which  iias  not  been  lost  sight  of  by  the  Committee  wlien 
considering  the  increase  to  the  subscription  to  the  Union.'^ 

The  accounts  were  then  approved  and  passed,  after 
Mr.  Bunyard  had  asked  the  Secretary  what  the  legal 
charges  were  for. 

The  resolution  approved  l)y  the  Special  General  Meeting 
"  that  the  annual  subscription  be  raised  from  £,\  bs.  to 
£2  "—Rule  5  to  read  :— 

'^  Every  new  Ordinary  Member  shall  pay  an  Entrance 
"Fee  of  ^fil.,  and  an  Annual  Subscription  of  .€2  on  his 
"election,  and  every  Ordinary  Member  shall  pay  an 
"Annual  Subscription  of  £2  on  the  1st  January  of 
"each  year.  Every  new  Ordinary  Member  failing  to 
"pay  his  Entrance  Fee  and  his  first  Annual  Subscrip- 
"  tion  before  the  31st  December  immediately  following 
"  his  election,  shall  have  his  election  annulled,  unless 
"  he  shall  furnish  a  satisfactory  explanation." 

was    then    put    to    the    meeting    for   confirmation   and   was 
carried  unanimously. 

The  Chairman  then  put  to  the  meeting  a  recommendation 
of  the  Committee  that  Rule  13  be  amended  by  adding  after 


354  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  [Ibis, 

the   words   "  can    be   summoned   by  "    the    words    "  by   the 
Committee  or" — Kule  13  to  read  : — 

'^  A  special  General  Meeting  can  be  summoned  by 
"the  Committee  or  by  any  ten  members  of  the  Britisli 
'^  Ornithologists^  Union  on  a  written  requisition  ad- 
''  dressed  to  the  Committee  for  that  purpose,  which 
"  recjuisition  shall  specify  the  object  of  such  s[)ecial 
"  meeting.  At  such  special  Meeting  the  special  business 
"to  consider  which  it  was  convened,  shall  alone  be 
''discussed.  The  Honorary  Secretary  when  calling  a 
"meeting  on  any  application  shall  allow  at  least  ten 
"  days  to  intervene  betw-eeu  the  date  of  issue  of  the 
"  notices  and  the  date  fixed  for  the  meeting." 

This  was  also  carried  unanimously. 

A  third  recommendation  of  the  Committee  that  Rule  17 
be  amended  by  adding  after  the  words  "  Annual  General 
Meeting^'  the  words  "  or  at  a  General  Meeting  called  by  the 
Committee  for  that  purpose" — Rule  17  to  read: — 

"  Any  alteration  or  addition  made  to  these  rules  may 
"be  adopted  by  a  majority  of  two-thirds  of  the  members 
"  present  at  tlie  Annual  General  Meeting  or  at  a 
"  General  Meeting  called  by  the  Committee  for  that 
"  purpose  provided  due  notice  shall  have  been  given 
"  thereof  in  the  circular  convening  the  meeting.'" 

There  was  a  little  discussion  before  the  motion  was  voted 
on,  one  or  two  members  making  certain  remarks  in  reference 
to  the  words  "a  majority  of  two-thirds."  After  this  it  Ava^ 
put  to  the  meeting  and  carried  unanimously. 

Before  proceeding  to  the  next  recommendation  of  the 
Committee  with  respect  to  the  Committee  appointed  to 
consider  records  of  occurrences  of  rare  and  hitherto  un- 
known bird  visitors  to  Great  Britain,  the  Chairman 
informed  the  meeting  that  Dr.  Eagle  Clarke  had  expressed  a 
desire  that  his  name  should  be  removed  from  the  Committee, 
although  he  would  be  very  pleased  to  act  in  an  advisory 
capacity  with  regard  to  any  Scotch  records. 


1921.]  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  355 

The  Chairman  then  read  the  recommendation  of  the 
Committee  : — "That  the  Committee,  viz.  Mr.  A.  H.  Evans, 
Dr.  E.  J.  0.  Hartert,  Mr.  T.  Iredale,  Rev.  F.  C.  R.  Jourdain, 
Mr,  G.  M.  Mathews,  Mr.  W.  L.  Sclater,  Dr.  N.  Ticehurst, 
Mr.  H.  F.  Witherhy,  and  Mr.  E.  C.  Stuart  Baker  as 
Secretary  to  tlie  Committee,  elected  at  the  last  Annual 
General  Meeting  for  five  years  to  coincide  with  the  election 
of  the  President  of  the  Union  to  consider  records  of  occur- 
rences of  rare  and  hitherto  unknown  bird  visitors  to  Great 
Britain  be,  owing  to  the  resignation  of  the  President, 
re-elected  en  bloc." 

This  was  carried  7iem.  con. 

The  Rev.  J.  R.  Hale  and  Mr.  J.  L.  Bonhote  were  elected 
and  consented  to  act  as  Scrutineers. 

The  following  49  candidates  for  Ordinary  Membership 
were  then  balloted  for  and  elected : — 

Major  Frederick  Marshman  Bailey,  CLE. 

Lieut.  Cyprian  Thurlow  Baker. 

Miss  Mary  Best. 

John  Brindley  Bettington. 

John  Osmund  Beven,  M.A.,  M.R.C.S.,  L.R.C.P. 

Frederick  N.  Chasen. 

Capt.  Richard  Rees  Davies. 

Robert  Heward  Deane. 

George  Edward  William  Dempster. 

Capt.  Frederick  Wynford  Dewhurst. 

Arthur  McNeill  Farquhar. 

Gilbert  George  Feasey. 

Frank  James  Richard  Field. 

Lieut.  Harold  Bingley  Finch,  M.C. 

Kenneth  Fisher. 

Richard  Taunton  Francis,  F.Z.S. 

David  Eric  Wilson  Gibb. 

Capt.  Humphrey  Adam  Gilbert. 

Edwin  Leonard  Gill,  M.Sc. 

William  Edwin  Glegg. 

Miss  Eva  M.  Godman. 


356  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Noia.  [Ibis^ 

Jolm  G.  M.  Gordon. 

Dr.  James  Harrison,  INl.K.C.S. 

Robert  Elliott  Harvey. 

Capt.  Charles  William  Robert  Knight,  M.C. 

Stanley  Lewis. 

Thomas  Lewis,  F.R.S.,  C.B.E. 

Dr.  George  Carmicliael  Low,  M.R.C.P. 

Nathaniel  Sampson  Lucas,  M.B. 

Arthur  Frederick  McConiiell. 

The  Viscount  Maidstone. 

Allister  William  Mathews. 

John  Henry  McNeile. 

Cecil  Norman. 

John  Henry  O'Connell,  L.R.C.P.  &  S.L 

Owen  Rodenhurst  Owen. 

Arthur  Hamilton  Paget-Wilkes. 

Charles  Joseph  Patten,  M.A.,  M.D.,  ScD. 

Hans  Thomas  Lange  Schaanniug, 

Guy  Chesterton  Shortridge,  M.B.E. 

The  Vicomte  Louis  de  Si  hour,  E.Z.S. 

Arthur  de  Carle  Sowerby. 

Jesse  Austin  Sydney  Stendall. 

Andrew  Denys  Stocks. 

Cecil  Vesey  Stoney,  J. P.,  D.L. 

Mrs.  Rose  Haig  Thomas, 

John  Francis  Donald  Tntt,  M.R.C.V.S.,  F.R.M.S., 

F.Z.S. 
Thomas  Wells. 
Major  William  Wordie,  O.B.E.,  M.A. 

Before  the  Meeting  dissolved,  the  Rev.  F.  C.  R.  Jourdain 
explained  the  objects  of  the  Oxford  expedition  to  Spitsbergen, 
and  after  some  remarks  by  Messrs.  Trevor-Battye  and 
H.  J.  Elwes, 

Lord  Rothschild  proposed  and  Mr.  Elwes  seconded  a  vote 
of  thanks  to  the  Zoological  Society  for  the  use  of  the 
Meeting-room. 


1 92 1.]  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  357 

Mr.  Seth  Smith  proposed  and  the  Kev.  J.  R.  Hale  seconded 
a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Auditor. 

These  were  carried  unanimously,  as  was  also  a  vote  of 
thanks  to  the  Chairman. 

The  Annual  Dinner  after  the  Meeting  was  well  attended, 
over  100  members  being  present. 


The  Oxford  Expedition  to  Spitsbergen. 

An  expedition  to  Spitsbergen  is  being  organized  by  the 
University  of  Oxford,  and  a  sum  of  at  least  £3000  is  required 
to  carry  out  the  work.  The  Oxford  expedition  is  entirely 
scientific  in  its  objects  and  aspirations.  Special  attention 
will  i)e  paid  to  ornithology.  The  breeding-habits  and 
migratory  movements  of  many  of  the  raier  Arctic  species 
are  practically  uidcnown,  and  the  problem  of  reversed  sexual 
selection,  a  subject  very  inadequately  investigated,  is  found 
exclusively  among  birds  whose  breeding-grounds  are  in  the 
north.  The  ornithological  members  of  the  party  will  make 
close  and  extensive  observations  and  will  not  confine  them- 
selves to  eg"s  and  skins. 

The  expedition  has  the  sanction  and  support  of  the 
University  of  Oxford,  as  well  as  of  the  heads  of  all  the 
scientific  departments  concerned.  It  is  proposed  that  two 
parties  shall  go  out  in  sealing-sloops,  the  first  early  in  June 
and  the  second  a  few  weeks  later,  when  the  north  coast  is 
more  likely  to  be  free  from  ice.  Altlumgh,  as  we  have  said, 
a  sum  of  at  least  £3000  is  necessary,  if  a  larger  sum  is  forth- 
coming the  scope  of  the  expedition,  which  will  last  only  two 
or  three  months,  could  be  profitably  enlarged.  The  Rev. 
F.  C.  R.  Jourdain  is  Chairman  of  the  Committee,  and  con- 
tributions will  be  welcomed  by  and  should  be  addressed  to 
Mr.  G.  Binney,  Hon.  Secretary,  Oxford  University  Ex- 
pedition to  Spitsbergen,  Mertou  College,  Oxford. 


358  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.         [Ibis,  1921. 

Personalia. 

The  marriage  of  Col.  Richard  Meinertzhagen,  D.S.O., 
and  Miss  Annie  C.  Jackson,  'oliich  took  place  on  March  3 
last,  unites  two  well-known  ornithologists  and  Members  of 
the  British  Ornithologists'  Union,  and  is  an  event  nnique  in 
our  history.  We  offer  onr  heartiest  congratnlations  and  best 
wishes  to  the  newly  married  pair,  in  which  we  are  sure  all 
our  members  will  join  us. 

Mr.  A.  F.  R.  Wollaston,  M.B.O.U.,  has  been  appointed 
naturalist  and  medical  officer  to  the  Mt.  Everest  Expedition, 
which  is  being  organized  under  the  joint  auspices  of  the 
Royal  Geographical  Society  and  the  Alpine  Club.  We 
hope  he  will  not  forget  the  claims  of  ornithology,  and  that 
he  will  devote  some  of  his  spare  time  to  observing  and 
collecting  the  birds  of  Tibet  and  the  high  country  sur- 
rounding Mount  Everest. 

Our  late  President,  Dr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke,  who  has  been 
Keeper  of  the  Natural  History  Department  of  the  Royal 
Scottish  Museum  since  1906,  retired  under  the  Civil  Service 
age  limit  on  March  15  last.  W'e  understand  that  the  post 
of  Honorary  Supervisor  of  the  bird  collections  has  been 
offered  to  Dr.  Eagle  Clarke  by  the  Secretary  for  Scotland, 
and  has  been  accepted  by  him,  so  that  his  connection  with 
the  Royal  Scottish  Museum  will  not  be  entirely  severed. 
We  congratulate  the  Royal  Scottish  Museum  on  being  able 
to  retain  Dr.  Eagle  Clarke's  valuable  services  for  a  further 
period. 

W^e  learn  that  Mr.  Frank  M.  Chapman,  Curator  of  Birds 
of  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History,  is  shortly 
arriving  in  England  for  a  visit. 


rn 


THE     IBIS. 


ELEVENTH   SERIES. 


Vol.  III.  No.  3.     JULY  1921. 


XXI. — Field  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Lower  Egi/pt.  By 
W.  Raw,  M.B.O.U.  With  Contributions  hy  Colonol  K. 
Sparrow,  C.M.G.,  D.S.O.,  M.B.O.U.,  and  the  Rev. 
F.  C.  R.  JouRDAiN,  M.A.,  M.B.O.U.* 

113.  Coracias  garrulus  garrulus.     Roller. 

Numerous,  passing  tli rough  Abu  Zabaal  from  8  August 
onwards.  Never  observed  there  in  the  spring,  but  was 
common  at  Kantara  at  the  end  of  April  1919. 

114.  Ceryle  rudis  rudis.     Pied  Kingfisher. 

Common  and  resident.  I  took  a  clutch  of  four  effffs  at 
Abu  Zabaal  on  26  April,  1917,  and  another  of  five  fresh 
eggs  at  luchas  on  12  May,  1918.  The  nesting-hole  was 
about  four  feet  long  in  a  bank  overhanging  a  canal. 

[The  only  clutch  taken  was  at  Ayat  on  11  May,  1910,  and 
consisted  of    four   eggs   sliglitly  incubated.     The   nest-hole 

was  in  the  Nile  bank  a  few  feet  above  the  water.  —  R.  S.1 

-1 

*  Continued  from  p.  264. 
SER.  XI. — VOL.  III.  2  B 


360  Mr.  W.  Raw  on  the  [Ibis, 

115.  Alcedo   atthis   atthis    (=  A.   isp'ula  pallida   auct.). 

Kingfisher. 

Arrives  at  Abu  Zabaal  towards  the  end  of  August  and 
remains  throughout  the  winter,  leaving  again  in  April. 

I  have  compared  specimens  from  Abu  Zabaal  at  the 
British  Museum  and  refer  them  to  this  form. 

116.  lynx  torquilla  torquilla.     Wryneck. 

More  numerous  as  a  spring  migrant  than  in  the  autumn. 
Average  dates  5  April  and  12  September. 

117.  Cuculus  canorus  canoms.     Cuckoo. 

Not  uncommon  on  Ijoth  migraiions.  I  shot  a  male  as  late 
as  6  May,  1916,  and  another  on  15  September,  1918. 

118.  Cuculus  canorus  telephonus.     Cuckoo. 

I  include  provisionally  under  this  name  a  race  of  Cuckoos 
which  pass  through  Abu  Zabaal  each  spring.  A  bird  shot 
by  me  on  6  May,  1916,  was  identified  by  Mr.  M.  J.  Nicoll 
as  C.  c.  saturatus.  Every  successive  spring  I  obtained 
specimens,  and  a  pair  were  shot  out  of  a  bunch  of  nine  seen 
on  17  April,  1917.  On  21  May,  1917,  I  shot  a  beautiful 
hepatic  form  out  on  the  desert,  and  a  bird  only  less  red  and 
beautiful  was  shot  at  the  Birket  Accrashi  on  5  May,  1917. 

I  gave  all  my  specimens  except  one  to  the  Giza  Museum 
and  Mr.  J.  L.  Bonhote.  I  compared  my  s[)ecimen  with  birds 
in  the  British  Museum,  and  matched  it  with  five  or  six  laro'e- 
winged  birds  from  western  Asia.  These  were  as  yet  un- 
identified,and  may  possibly  be  a  new  race  hitherto  undesci'ibed. 
I  hope  to  compare  the  birds  in  Mr.  Bonhote's  collection 
shortly.  I  submitted  my  bird  to  Dr.  E.  Hartert,  and  he 
kindly  gave  me  his  opinion  on  it  as  follows  : — "  Your  bird 
is  as  large  as  largest  telephomis,  but  it  does  not  show  a 
particularly  finely-barred  underside.  No  such  race  is  known 
which  comljines  the  larger  size  of  telephonus  with  the  stronger 
barring  of  C.  c.  canorus.    I  would  therefore  call  it  telephonus.''' 

It  certainly  is  not  C.  c.  satwatus,  which  Dr.  Hartert 
informs  me  should  be  called  Cuculus  optatus,  and  which 
is  unlikely  to  occur  in  Egypt. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Lower  Egypt.  361 

119.  Clamator  glandarins.     Great  Spotted  Cuckoo. 

Not  uncommon  at  Abu  Zabaal,  and  observed  at  various 
times  tliroughout  the  year.  I  shot  a  bird  of  the  year  there 
on  30  April,  1916,  and  an  adult  male  on  G  May,  1916.  I 
had  very  little  luck  with  the  eggs  of  this  species,  and  despite 
much  work  done  in  searching  the  nests  of  Hooded  Crows, 
I  only  found  one  egg.  This  was  in  a  nest  containing  also 
three  eggs  of  the  Hooded  (Jrow  on  6  June,  which  must  be 
a  very  late  date  indeed,  as  the  Crows  have  finished  breeding 
at  this  date  as  a  rule. 

[The  only  three  eggs  of  this  species  I  have  from  Tijgypt 
were  taken  by  a  native  at  Luxor  on  22  March,  1910,  from  a 
nest  of  the  Hooded  Crow,  and  were  considerably  incubated. 
— R.  S.] 

120.  Centropus  aegyptius.     Lark-heeled  Cuckoo. 
[Common    at    Ibshawai    in    the    Fayum    at    the    end    of 

March  1910,  where  it  is  undoubtedly  resident,  but  I  never 
found  its  nest. — R.  S.] 

121.  Bubo  bubo  ascalaphus.     Egyptian  Eagle-Owl. 

I  only  saw  three  birds  at  Abu  Zabaal  daring  the  whole 
of  my  stay.  Two  of  these  I  wounded,  and  are,  or  were 
when  I  left  Egypt,  still  alive  in  the  Giza  Zoo.  All  were  of 
the  pale  form.  The  dates  were  23  June,  26  August,  and 
8  October. 

C^aptain  W.  Bigger  found  a  nest  containing  three  young 
birds  in  a  crevice  of  rock  on  the  Moqattam  Hills  behind  the 
Citadel,  Cairo,  on  20  May,  1917. 

It  is  said  to  breed  on  the  Pyramids  at  Giza  and  Dahshur, 
but  I  was  never  able  to  find  it  there. 

[This  Owl  used  to  nest  near  all  the  Pyramids  :  eggs  are 
laid  under  an  overhanging  rock,  and  the  full  clutch  is 
three. 

Eggs,  Pyramids  of  Giza,  March  1893.  Eggs,  Abu  Roash, 
20.  iii.  94,  one  fresh,  one  hatching;  clutch  of  three  slightly 
incubated  at  Dahshur,  28.  iii.  09.  Saqqara,  one  egg  hard- 
set,  23.  iv.  09.— R.  S.] 

2  B  2 


362  Mr.  ^\.  Raw  07i  the  [Ibis, 

122.  Asio  flammeus  flammeus.     Short-eared  Owl. 

I  have  met  with  this  Owl  annually  in  the  spring,  but 
never  in  the  autumn  that  I  remember.  It  is  very  often  to 
be  seen  sittinof  on  the  desert  in  the  full  glare  of  the  sun  with 
no  protection  whatever.  It  is  most  numerous  between  the 
last  week  in  March  and  the  second  week  in  April. 

123.  Athene  noctua  glaux.     Southern  Little  Owl. 
Abundant  wherever  suitable  places  offer  shelter.     I  have 

found  fresh  eggs  as  early  as  the  first  week  in  April  and  as 
late  as  the  middle  of  May.  The  clutch  consists  of  four  to  six 
eggs  ns  a  rule. 

[This  Owl  frequently  nests  in  large  heaps  of  stones. 
I  found  a  clutch  of  seven  eggs  once,  though  six  seem  to 
be  the  usual  clutch.  It  nests  at  Mena,  Abu  Sueir,  and  Abu 
Roash.  ]\Iy  earliest  date  for  fresh  eggs  is  1  Apri!  (a  clutch 
of  six),  and  two  fresh  eggs  as  late  as  18  June^,  so  it  is 
probably  double-brooded. — R.  S.] 

124.  Tyto  alba  subsp.  ?     Barn-Owl. 

Seen  and  heard  occasionally  at  various  times  throughout 
the  year.  Is  sometimes  fairly  numerous  at  Abu  Zabaal, 
especially  in  October,  when  it  preys  on  the  large  flocks  of 
Spanish  Sparrows  which  roost  in  the  reed-beds  and  orange- 
groves.  I  only  secured  its  eggs  twice, — a  pair  of  fresh  eggs 
at  Abu  Roash  on  1  April,  and  a  clutch  of  four  in  an  old  shed 
near  the  Barrage  on  2  May,  1918.  This  latter  nest  had  two 
dead  mice  near  it. 

[This  species  nests  commonly  near  the  Pyramids  at  Abu 
Sueir,  Giza,  Bedrashein,  and  also  at  Abu  Roash,  generally 
at  the  bottom  of  a  shaft  from  which  a  mummy  has  been 
removed.  I  have  taken  fresh  eggs  between  20  March  and 
14  April.     Clutch  frequently  five  or  six. — R.S.J 

125.  Falco  peregrinus  [calidus?].     Peregrine  Falcon. 

A  specimen  of  one  of  the  large  northern  races  of  this 
species,  probably  the  Siberian  form,  was  seen  but  not  obtained 
at  Abu  Zabaal  on  24  February,  1917. 


1921.]  Birds  of  Louder  Kgypt.  363 

126.  Falco  peregrinus  pelegrinoides.     Barbary  Falcon. 
Mr.   M.   J.   NicoU    and    myself   saw  a    pair    of    Barbary 

Falcons  feeding  young  in  a  nest  on  the  Dahshur  Pyramids 
on  12  April,  1918.  The  site  was  about  sixty  feet  up  on  the 
eastern  slope  and  in  an  impossible  place  to  examine.  The 
Egyptian  riots  prevented  me  looking  it  up  again  in  1919. 

[On  28  March,  1909,  I  took  three  fresh  eggs  from  a  low 
ledge  on  the  Dahshilr  Pyramid.  The  eggs  are  decidedly 
smaller  than  those  of  the  Lanner,  averaging  49'7  x38"l  mm. 
in  size,  and  in  appearance  not  unlike  Hobby's  eggs. — R.  S.] 

127.  Falco  biarmicus  tanypterus.     Lanner  Falcon. 

Seen  occasionally  perching  on  our  tall  wireless  masts  : 
usually  in  the  autumn.  Ckptain  W.  Bigger  found  a  nest  on 
which  the  bird  was  sitting,  on  an  inaccessible  ledge  in  the 
clitfs  behind  the  Citadel  in  Cniro,  on  30  March,  1917,  and 
another  in  the  Moqattam  Hills,  which  probably  coutained 
young  birds,  on  5  April,  1917.  I  found  no  trace  of  its 
breeding  on  the  Great  Pyramids. 

[Used  to  breed  annually  on  the  north  side  of  the  second 
Pyramid  at  Giza,  from  which  place  T  had  four  young  on 
30  April,  1893.  In  1894  I  took  a  clutch  of  four  eggs,  slightly 
incubated,  on  18  March,  from  the  same  place.  Three  of 
these  eggs  are  like  dark  Kestrel's  eggs  in  type,  the  fourth 
plum-coloured.     Average  size  52*7  x  43'2  mm. — R.  S.] 

128.  Falco  concolor.     Sooty  Falcon. 

On  18  April,  1918,  a  Sooty  Falcon  was  observed  near 
the  Birket  Accrashi,  and  was  still  in  the  same  vicinity  on 
20  April.  I  shot  a  fine  immature  bird  at  Abu  Zabaal  on 
6  August,  1918  :  it  was  chasing  some  Hooded  Crows  at  the 
time.  Major  F.  W.  Borman  obtained  some  information 
about  this  species  breeding  near  Solium,  on  the  Mediter- 
ranean seaboard,  but  the  lull  jiarticulars  are  not  yet  to  hand. 

129.  Falco  subbuteo.     Hobby. 

Seen  sparingly  in  the  winter  months.  One  shot  on 
19  October,  1916,  at  the  Birket  Accrashi. 


364  Mr.  W.  Raw  on  the  [Ibis, 

130.  Falco  columljarms  aesalon.     Merlin. 

Not  uncommon  during  the  winter,  arriving  on  the  heels 
of  the  autumn  migration  and  remuinino-  until  March. 
Examples  obtained  on  12  November,  1916,  and  15  January, 
1917. 

131.  Falco  vespertiuus  vespertimis.     Red-footed  Falcon. 
About    the   same  number  observed   as   of   the    preceding 

species  and   at  about  the  same  times.      Examples  shot  on 
19  and  22  October,  1916. 

132.  Falco  naumanni  naumanni.     Lesser  Kestrel. 

I  appear  to  have  no  record  of  meeting  with  this  bird 
during  autumn  or  winter.  It  is  very  common  during  the 
last  week  in  March  and  early  in  April,  at  which  season  I 
have  observed  quite  fifty  at  a  time  flying  round  the  Birket 
Accrashi. 

133.  Falco  tinnunculus  rupicolseforinis.     Egyptian  Kestrel. 

Common  and  resident.  This  species  is  very  fond  of  build- 
ing in  holes  in  the  sides  of  native  houses.  Old  nests  of  the 
Hooded  Crow  are  also  favoured  as  sites,  and  one  pair  nested 
annually  on  the  top  of  a  palm-tree  which  had  died  and  shed 
its  leaves.  Another  pair  reared  two  broods  in  the  cage  at 
the  top  of  one  of  our  wireless  masts,  300  feet  above  the 
ground.  It  lays  from  the  end  of  March  until  the  end  of 
May,  from  three  to  five  being  a  clutch.  Lizards  and  locusts 
form  a  large  part  of  their  food  in  the  breeding-season,  and 
I  seldom  observed  them  take  birds. 

[My  dates  range  from  30  March  to  30  April.  I  took  one 
nest  from  No.  3  Signal  Tower  on  the  Suez  road.  My 
largest  clutch  is  four. — R.  S.] 

[As  compared  with  eggs  of  the  Common  Kestrel,  those  of 
the  Egyptian  bird  are  decidedly  small.  The  average  of 
fifty-five  eggs  collected  by  Mr.  Raw  and  Colonel  Sparrow  is 
35'8  X  30*2  mm.,  whereas  British  eggs  average  39"7x31*7 
mm.— F.C.R.  J.] 


1921.]  B'lrds  of  Loxi^er  Egyjit.  365 

134.  Aquila  heliaca  heliaca.     Imperial  Eagle. 

I  several  times  observed  Eagles  soaring  in  the  vicinity 
of  Abu  Zabaal,  but  was  unable  to  identify  them  to  my 
satisfaction.  One  "which  I  saw  sitting  on  the  desert  on 
14:  February,  1914, 1  was  able  to  identify  as  the  above  S[)ecies, 
from  skins  in  the  Giza  Museum  and  notes  made  on  the  spot. 

135.  Buteo   buteo   rufiventer.       (  =  B.    desertorum   auct.) 

Steppe-Buzzard. 

I  never  shot  one  of  these  birds,  although  they  were  not 
uncommonly  seen,  but  were  always  wide  awake  and  difficult 
of  approach.  A  single  bird  remained  in  the  vicinity  of  Abu 
Zabaal  throughout  September  1918.  Also  observed  at  odd 
times  throughout  the  winter  and  early  spring. 

It  is  quite  possible  that  some  of  those  seen  were  referable 
to  Buteo  feroa',  but  I  was  never  quite  satisfied  that  such  was 
the  case.  Colonel  Meinertzhagen  has,  moreover_,  shown 
that  B.ferox  cirtensis  ranges  into  southern  Palestine  (Ibis, 
1920,  p.  241). 

[Mr.  M.  J.  Nicoll  saw  a  pair  in  the  Wadi  Hof,  apparently 
breeding,  on  1  March,  1910.  I  saw  a  pair  in  the  same  place 
on  5  May,  1909.  Another  pair  frequented  the  Giza  gardens 
in  May  1910,  and  probably  bred  there,  as  in  June  they  were 
seen  accompanied  by  two  young  birds. — R.  S.] 

136.  Circus  aeruginosus.     Marsh-Harrier. 

One  or  more  birds  haunted  the  Birket  Accrashi  through- 
out the  winter.  These  were,  almost  without  exception, 
immature  birds.  They  were  frequently  mobbed  by  Hooded 
Crows,  and  waxed  fat  on  any  wounded  birds  we  were  unable 
to  retrieve.  A  pair  seen  in  the  Wadi  Natrun  on  24  May, 
1918,  were  possibly  nesting. 

[I  saw  a  pair  at  Inchas  on  12.  v.  09,  and  a  single  bird  at 
Gheit-el-Nasara  on  20.  v.  09,  so  it  is  quite  possible  some 
pairs  remain  to  breed  in  the  Delta. — R.  S.j 

137.  Circus  cyaneus  cyaneus.     Hen-Harrier. 

Less  numerous  than  the  t'ollowing  species.  Two  or  three 
obtained  during  the  winter  and  early  spring. 


366  Mr.  W.  Raw  on  the  [Ibis, 

138.  Circus  macrourus.     Pallid  Harrier. 

Frequently  observed  beating  the  fields  and  swamps. 
Several  were  obtained,  one  of:  which,  shot  on  4  April,  1918, 
had  its  hind  claw  badly  ingrown  into  the  pad  at  the  bottom 
of  its  foot. 

139.  Circus  pygargus.     Montagu's  Harrier. 

Although  I  never  actually  shot  an  example,  I  Ijelieve  I 
have  seen  specimens  during  the  M'inter  months.  A  bird 
ooserved  on  31  March,  1916,  by  Mr.  M.  J.  Nicoll  and 
myself  v/as,  I  believe,  referable  to  this  species. 

140.  Accipiter  nisus  nisus.     Sparrow-Hawk. 

This  hawk  was  frequently  observed  between  late  autumn 
and  spring,  and  I  shot  several  specimens  in  order  to  try 
to  identify  Accipiter  hrevipes  at  Abu  Zabaal,  but  in  this  I 
was  unsuccessful. 

141.  Milvus  migrans  aegyptius.    Yellow-billed  or  Egyptian 

Kite. 

Common  and  resident,  but  does  not  breed  at  Abu  Zabaal, 
merely  hawking  around  for  food,  of  which  dead  fish  form  a 
not  inconsiderable  part.  Extremely  abundant  in  Cairo  and 
its  suburbs  as  a  resident  species,  where  it  is  tame  and  very 
darino-.  I  have  seen  these  birds  swoop  down  and  take  cakes 
off  a  tea-table  spread  out  of  doors,  and  others  diving  down 
in  crowded  thoroughfares  to  snatch  up  a  choice  piece  of 
garbage  and  make  otf  with  it. 

It  selects  various  sites  for  its  nest,  but  favours  tall  trees 
the  most,  where  a  large  accumulation  of  nesting  material  is 
collected.  Ledges  on  the  cliffs  behind  the  Citadel  and 
at  Helouan,  window-ledges  in  deserted  houses  and  ruins, 
and  even  the  flat  tops  of  inhabited  houses,  are  sometimes 
resorted  to.  It  commences  to  build  very  early  in  the  season, 
and  I  have  taken  eggs  at  the  beginning  of  February,  and 
have  observed  birds  repairing  their  nests  in  December  in  the 
grounds  of  the  Continental  Hotel  in  Cairo.     On  the  other 


1 92 1.]  B'lrcii^  of  Lower  K<iypt.  367 

hand,  I  took  fresh  eggs  iit  Inchas  on  11  May,  1916,  and  have 
observed  birds  sitting  even  later  than  this  date.  From 
one  to  four  eggs  are  hiid,  but  the  latter  number  is  rarely 
found. 

[My  earliest  date  for  fresh  eggs  is  Abbassia  28.  ii.  09, 
my  latest  date  for  incubated  eggs  is  19.  v.  09.  March  is  the 
usual  month,  and  a  clutch  of  two  is  far  commoner  than 
three.  At  Shubra  on  3.  iii.09  I  found  a  nest  witli  young. 
— R.  S.] 

142.  Haliaetus  albicilla.     White-tailed  Eagle. 

An  undoubted  specimen  of  this  species  remained  round 
our  station  for  several  days  in  January  1918.  Its  white 
tail  was  very  conspicuous  when  soaring. 

143.  Pernis  apivorus  apivoriis.     Honey-Buzzard. 

One  seen  at  close  quarters  on  30  May,  1916,  was  the  only 
example  identified. 

144.  Elanus  caeruleus  caeruleus.     Black-winged  Kite. 
The  only  specimen  of  this  splendid  species  seen  near  Abu 

Zabaal  was  observed  in  a  palm-grove  near  the  Birket 
Accrashi  on  19  February,  1916.  I  believe  these  birds  breed 
somewhere  just  north  of  Giza,  on  the  west  of  the  Nile,  but 
I  was  unable  to  secure  any  direct  evidence.  It  appears 
very  uncommon  below  (jairo  in  the  Delta,  and  my  observa- 
tions, contrary  to  those  of  Mr.  Nicoll,  make  it  anything  but 
crepuscular  in  its  habits. 

145.  Pandion  haliaetus  haliaetus.     Osprey. 

I  have  five  records  of  observing  this  species  at  Abu  Zabaal, 
and  all  are  in  the  month  of  April.  On  26  April,  1917, 
Lieut.  D.  Baton  shot  a  fine  Osprey,  which  he  gave  to  me. 
It  was  found  sitting  on  one  of  our  wireless  masts  sheltering 
from  a  high  wind.  This  species  breeds  no  farther  distant 
than  the  Gulf  of  Suez,  but  I  have  no  particulars  as  to  exact 
dates. 


368  Mr.  W.  "Raw  on  tJie  [Ibis, 

146.  Neophron    percnoptenis    percnopterus.      Egyptian 

y  ulture. 

Observed  sparingly  at  various  times  throuohout  the  year. 
Captain  W.  Bioger  found  young  birds  just  on  the  Aving 
in  the  hills  behind  the  Citadel  on  18  April,  1917,  and 
Dr.  Beven  informs  me  that  he  believes  that  it  breeds  in  the 
Wadi  el  Degla,  north  of  Helouan. 

[This  species  used  to  be  common  around  Cairo  in  1893-94, 
but  is  now  much  scarcer.  I  saw  birds  along  the  Suez  Road, 
in  the  Wadi  Hof,  and  at  Dahshur,  in  March  1909.  I  was 
told  of  five  fresh  eggs,  from  different  nests,  being  taken  at 
Hash  Medibab,  Fayum,  on  27.  iii.  09.— R.  S.] 

147.  ^gypius  monachus.     Black  Vulture. 

[One  of  the  ]arge  dark  Vultures,  said  to  be  of  this 
species,  nests  at  Assiout.  The  nest  was  in  a  small  sont- 
tree,  and  contained  one  egg.  It  was.  I  believe,  found 
by  Mr.  Malcolm,  but  I  have  lost  the  record  of  the 
date.— R.  S.] 

148.  Ciconia  ciconia  ciconia.     White  Stork. 

This  species  is  very  irregular  in  its  visits  to  Abu  Zabaal, 
and  sometimes  turns  up  in  what  should  be  the  breeding- 
season.  About  twenty  birds  remained  throughout  nearly  the 
entire  spring  and  summer  in  the  rice-fields  at  Marg  in  1917, 
and  examples  were  frequently  noted  at  the  Birket  Accrashi 
in  September  and  April.  None  breed,  to  my  knowledge,  in 
Egypt. 

149.  Platalea  leucorodia  [major?].     Spoonbill. 

A  flock  of  Spoonbills  flew  over  Abu  Zabaal  on  15  March, 
1916,  flying  east,  and  in  September  1918  two  lots  were 
observed  flying  over  towards  the  Nile.  I  found  itnumei-ous 
on  ]jake  Menzaleh,  near  Kantara,  at  the  end  of  April  1919. 
Although  no  s{)ecimens  Avere  obtained,  it  is  evident  from 
specimens  in  the  British  Museum  that  it  is  the  larger  form 
of  this  species  which  occurs  in  Egypt. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  L(vcer  Egijpf.  3B9 

150.  Plegadis  falcinellus  falcinellus.     Glossy  Ibis. 

A  few  turn  up  at  the  Birket  Accrashi  every  spring, 
arriving  during  the  first  week  in  April,  and  remaining  some 
days.     Specimens  obtained.     Never  seen  in  the  autumn. 

151.  Ardea  cinerea  cinerea.     Grey  Heron. 

Numerous  on  the  Birket  Accrashi  during  the  winter. 
Arrives  there  in  September  from  the  north-east,  and 
occasionally  remains  nntil  the  entl  of  April.  A  wild  pair 
bred  in  the  Zoological  Gardens  at  Giza  in  1918,  but  I  have 
no  note  of  wh'jn  they  laid.  I  never  met  with  it  breeding 
elsewhere  in  Egypt,  and  birds  observed  in  the  Fayum  in 
late  March  were  not  breeding"  there. 

[Mr.  Nicoll  informed  me  that  a  pair  nested  in  the  Giza 
Gardens  in  1909,  1910,  and  1911,  and  reared  young  in  1909 
and  1910.  In  1910  the  young  had  flown  by  15  March. — 
U.S.] 

152.  Ardea  purpurea  purpurea.     Purple  Heron. 

Purple  Herons  were  noted  on  the  Birket  Accrashi  during 
every  month  of  the  year  except  July  and  August,  at  which 
season  all  the  swamp  is  dried  up.  I  never  obtained  direct 
evidence  of  their  breeding  in  Egypt,  but  should  not  be  sur- 
prised if  this  were  the  case. 

153.  Egretta  alba  alba.     Great  White  Heron. 

On  12  November,  1915,  I  saw  a  single  bird  on  the  Birket 
Accrashi.  This  was  the  only  example  to  come  under  my 
observation. 

154.  Bubulcus  ibis  ibis.     Buff -backed  Heron. 

Thanks  to  a  splendid  scheme  of  protection  and  a  careful 
supervision  by  the  Zoological  Service,  this  species  is  again 
becoming  numerous  and  resident  in  Lower  Egypt.  During 
the  latter  jiart  of  my  stay  at  Abu  Zabaal,  Buff -backs  were 
often  seen  there,  and  during  the  winter  considerable  numbers 
were  observed  on  the  marshy  rice-fields  at  Marg.  Several 
large  breeding  colonies  have  been  established  in  the  Delta, 


370  Mr.  W.  Haw  on  the  [Ibis. 

and  a  tliriving  lot  breed  wild  in  the  trrounds  of  the  Zoo- 
logical Gardens  at  Giza,  where  they  lay  in  May  and  June, 
rearing  two  broods  annually.  They  are  also  re-established 
in  the  Fayiun  Province,  wdiere  they  are  also  protected. 

155.  Ardeola  ralloides.     Squacco  Heron. 

Squacco  Herons  appear  annually  on  the  Birket  Accrashi 
in  small  parties  about  the  end  of  March,  remaining  until  the 
middle  of  May.  I  appear  to  have  no  notes  of  having  observed 
this  species  in  the  autumn. 

156.  Nycticorax  nycticorax  nycticorax.     Night  Heron. 
Single  birds   and    small  parties   observed    on   the   Birket 

Accrashi  at  various  times  throughout  the  year,  being  most 
often  seen  in  October  and  November.  The  only  breeding- 
colony  I  know  of  in  Egypt  is  that  in  the  Zoological  Gardens 
at  Giza,  where  I  saw  young  birds  about  three  days  old  on 
8  July,  1916.  The  same  colony  had  young  birds  in  nests  in 
the  banyan-trees  on  10  June,  1917.  I  suspect  the  existence 
of  another  colony  somewhere  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Kafr 
Aydub,  near  Zagazig. 

157.  Ixobrychus  minutus  minutus.     Little  Bittern. 
Resident  and   fairly  numerous,  although  not  often  seen. 

I  took  two  clutches  of  four  eggs  each  at  Inchas  on  11  May, 
1916,  which  were  half-incubated,  and  found  that  this  date 
was  consistent  in  subsequent  seasons. 

[This  species  builds  a  slight  nest  of  rushes  in  high  reeds 
over  deepish  water.  My  dates  do  not  quite  agree  with 
those  of  Mr.  llaw%  unless  the  species  is  double-brooded.  Out 
of  nine  nests  observed  at  Inchas,  three  contained  five  and 
six  four  eggs.  Fresh  eggs  12  May,  4  and  15  June  ;  incubated 
eggs  29  and  31  May.— R.  S.] 

158.  Botaurus  stellaris  stellaris.     Bittern. 

I  first  met  with  this  species  on  16  April,  1916,  when  I  shot 
one  on  the  Birket  Accrashi.  Later  I  discovered  that  it 
wintered  there.  In  November  1917  I  counted  nineteen  on  the 
wing  together,  which  had  been  flushed  by  beaters  when 
duck-shootino;. 


1 92 1,]  Birds  of  Lower  E<jypt.  371 

159.  Phcenicopterus  ruber  antiquorum.     Flamingo. 

Lieut.  D.  Paton  shot  a  fine  example,  in  my  presence,  on 
the  Birket  Accrashi.  on  21  November,  191G.  Tliis  was  my 
only  record  from  Abu  Zabaal,  but  I  found  it  numerous 
at  the  western  end  of  Lake  Menzaleh  in  September  and 
December,  and  at  the  eastern  end  of  the  lalce,  near  Kantara, 
at  the  end  of  April  1919. 

IGO.  Alopochen  aegyptiaca.     Egyptian  Goose. 

On  10  February,  1916,  twelve  were  seen  on  the  Birket 
Accrashi,  and  six  days  later  eighteen  were  seen  flying  over. 
Small  lots  and  one  containing  over  a  hundred  birds  were 
observed  at  various  times  during  the  winter.  A  pair  of 
semi-domesticated  birds  bred  in  an  old  Kite^s  nest  in  a  tree 
thirty  feet  from  the  ground,  and  had  a  clutch  of  addled  eggs 
there  on  23  February,  1918.     • 

161.  Anas  platyrhyncha  platyrhyncha.     Mallard. 
Frequently  shot  at  Abu  Zabaal,  especially  in  the  bed  of 

the  old  canal,  which  is  overgrown  with  reeds,  making  good 
cover.     Present  from  October  until  March. 

162.  Anas  crecca  crecca.     Teal. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  numerous  ducks  at  A})u  Zabaal, 
and  furni.«hed  us  with  good  sport — and  eating  !  Abundant 
from  the  end  of  September  to  March. 

163.  Anas  querquedula.     Garganey. 

This  species  is  observed  at  Abu  Zabaal  in  spring  and 
autumn,  apparently  wintering  farther  south.  I  have  shot  it 
as  late  as  the  end  of  April,  and  as  early  as  14  August,  on 
which  date  I  shot  three  out  of  a  big  flock  at  Marg.  A  pair 
seen  in  the  Wadi  Natrun  on  24  May,  1918. 

[1  observed  five  males  and  three  females  at  Giza  as  late  as 
1  May,  1910,  by  which  date  they  should  have  been  breeding. 
— R.  S.] 

164.  Anas  strepera.     Gadwall. 

Seen  occasionally  in  winter  at  the  Birket  Accrashi,  but  is 
never  numerous,  and  I  never  shot  it  there.  Abundant  in  the 
Fayum  in  March  1917. 


372  Mr.  AV.  Raw  on  tie  [Tbis, 

165.  Anas  penelope.     Wigeon. 

Even  scarcer  than  the  followino-  species,  but  several 
obtained  in  the  winter  months.  Also  abundant  in  the 
Fayiun  in  IMarch. 

16t).  Anas  acuta  acuta.     Pintail. 

Seen  sparinoly  at  the  Birket  Accrashi,  where  I  obtained 
several  at  various  dates,  including  one  example  in  eclipse 
plumage. 

167.  Anas  angustirostris.     Marbled  Duck. 

Dr.  Beven,  of  Cairo,  shot  a  specimen  at  Marg,  near 
Abu  Zabaal,  on  24  September,  1917,  in  my  presence. 
He  presented  this  bird  to  me,  and  it  is  now  in  my 
collection.  A  pair  of  birds  seen  in  the  Wadi  Natrun  on 
23  May,  1918. 

[Mr.  Nicoll  had  a  female  sent  to  him  from  the  Wadi 
Natrun,  shot  3  May,  1910,  with  well-developed  ovaries,  so  it 
is  probable  that  this  species  breeds  in  Egypt. — B.  S.] 

168.  Spatula  clypeata.     Shoveler. 

Extremely  abundant.  Large  numbers  are  shot  annually 
on  the  Birket  Accrashi,  where  they  begin  to  arrive  in  Sep- 
tember, the  main  l)ody  leaving  in  March-April. 

169.  Netta  rufina.     Bed-crested  Pochard, 

I  shot  a  fine  male  which  was  consorting  with  the  Pochards 
mentioned  below  on  27  March,  1912.  This  was  the  only 
specimen  met  with. 

170.  Nyroca  ferina  ferina.     Pochard. 

Occasionally  shot,  but  never  very  numerous  at  Abu 
Zabaal,  except  in  some  deep  pools  in  the  base  of  the  stone 
quarries,  where  about  twenty  were  observed  on  27  March, 
1919.     A  fe.w  always  winter  there. 

171.  Nyroca  nyroca  nyroca.     Ferruginous  Duck. 

Fairly  numerous  every  winter,  and  a  few  generally  to  be 
seen  or  flushed  out  of  the  reeds  on  the  Birket  Accrashi  from 
October  lo  March. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Lower  Egi/pt.  373 

172.  Nyroca  fuligula.     Tufted  Duck, 

Although  numerous  elsewhere  in  Egypt — where  deeper 
water  occurs — this  species  rarely  turned  up  at  Abu  Zabaal  ; 
but  I  obtained  a  few,  notably  on  26  October,  191C,  when  a 
pair  were  shot  out  of  several  seen. 

173.  Pelecanus  sp.  ?     Pelican. 

I  saw  small  lots  of  Pelicans  flying  over  during  the 
autumn,  but  they  never  alighted  to  my  knowledge.  On 
6  August,  1918,  three  flew  over  at  no  great  height,  going 
towards  the  Nile,  and  a  flock  of  over  fifty  were  observed 
steering  a  similar  course  on  2G  November,  1918. 

174.  Podiceps  ruficollis  capensis.     Little  Grebe. 

On  11  November,  1918,  when  returning  to  Abu  Zabaal  by 
train,  I  saw  some  birds  on  a  pool  of  deep  water  in  the  base 
of  some  disused  quarries.  Two  days  later  I  walked  up  there 
to  see  what  they  were,  and  was  agreeably  surprised  to 
identify  them  as  this  species.  I  was  astonished  to  observe 
three  young  birds  still  in  the  down,  one  pair  of  birds  in 
full  summer  plumage,  and  three  adults  in  winter  plumage. 
There  are  practically  no  reeds  or  vegetation  about  the  place, 
which  is  surrounded  by  desert.  The  nest  was  a  mass  of 
rubbish  moored  against  a  rock,  and  was  extremely  con- 
spicuous. I  secured  one  of  the  adults  in  summer  plumage 
for  purposes  of  identification,  and  on  18  November  Mr.  J.  L. 
Bonhote  and  Major  F.  W.  Borman  came  down  to  see  the 
others.  Little  Grebes  probably  always  remain  there,  and 
although  only  a  short  mile  from  my  quarters  I  liad  never 
really  investigated  the  place  before.  Throughout  the  winter 
of  1918-19  the  numbers  increased  somewhat,  and  on  6  April, 
1919,  I  found  a  nest  containing  four  fresh  eggs,  having  four 
days  previously  taken  an  odd  egg  from  another  nest.  On 
this  date  four  birds  were  in  summer  plunuige  and  five  in 
winter.  My  departure  from  Abu  Zabaal  soon  after  pre- 
vented me  making  further  observations  of  these  interesting- 
birds. 

[A  clutch  of  two  eggs  in  my  collection  was  taken  at 
Inchas  on  5  June,  1909  :  probably  a  second  brood. — R.  S.] 


374  Mr.  W.  Raw  on  the  [Ibis, 

175.  Columba  livia  schimperi.     Schimper's  Rock-Dove. 
Although  I  never  actually  shot  a  specimen,  I  frequently 

saw  birds  which  I  think  were  referable  to  this  subspecies, 
but  tame  pigeons  are  so  numerous  that  its  status  is  rather 
uncertain.  I  include  it  as  an  Abu  Zabaal  bird  because  some 
flocks  observed  in  the  springtime  were  so  uniform  in  colour 
and  kept  such  regular  lines  of  flight  as  to  make  me  feel 
justified  in  ascribing  them  to  this  form.  On  5  April,  1918, 
my  friend  Dr.  Beven,  of  Cairo,  shot  a  bird  from  a  nest 
containing  two  fresh  eggs.  It  proved  to  be  an  undoubted 
example  of  this  race.  It  had  built  its  nest  in  an  old  well 
on  the  edge  of  the  desert  just  south  of  the  Giza  Pyramids. 

176.  Columba  cenas  oenas.     Stock-Dove. 

I  shot  a  Stock-Dove  near  Abu  Zabaal  on  17  December, 
1917,  and  frequently  observed  specimens  in  that  locality. 
On  8  February,  1916,  I  had  a  good  view  of  eight  flying  east 
along  the  edge  of  the  desert. 

177.  Streptopelia  turtur  turtur.     Turtle-Dove. 

Very  abundant  in  the  autumn,  when  large  numbers  are 
shot  at  Abu  Znbaal.  It  usunlly  passes  through  in  early 
Septembei".  Less  numerous,  but  still  fairly  common,  in 
spring  during  the  last  week  in  April  and  the  first  week  in 
May. 

178.  Streptopelia    turtur    isabellina.       Isabelline    Turtle- 

Dove. 
I  shot  an  example  at  Marg  on  7  Sejttember,  1917.  It  was 
migrating  along  with  the  preceding  species.  I  have  no  data 
relating  to  the  breeding  of  this  form  in  Egypt,  and  a  specimen 
shot  in  the  Fayum  on  21  March,  1917,  was  not  breeding. 
I  also  observed  quite  a  few  in  the  Wadi  Natriin  at  the  end 
of  May  1918,  but  could  discover  no  evidence  of  their 
breeding  there. 

179.  Streptopelia  senegalensis  segyptiaca.     Palm-Dove. 
Common  and  resident.    Breeds  in  all  months  from  February 

to  October  inclusive. 


1921.]  Birds  of  Loioer  Egypt.  375 

[At  Abbassia  on  1  May,  1909,  I  took  a  clutch  of  three 
eggs  on  which  incubation  had  begun  :  possibly  tlie  produce  of 
two  females.  Eggs  were  also  taken  at  Luxor  on  31  March, 
1910.— R.S.] 

180.  Pterocles  senegallus.     Senegal  Sand-Grouse. 

A  few  inhabit  the  desert  south  of  Maro-  near  Abu  Zabaal. 
They  fly  in  to  drink  at  the  pools  of  water  there  during  June, 
July,  August,  and  September.  There  is  no  doubt  that  they 
breed  there,  but  I  was  never  able  to  get  far  enough  out  to 
locate  them. 

181.  Pterocles  coronatus.     Ch-owned  Sand-Grouse. 
Occurs    sparingly    and    spasmodically   at  Mai-g,  where  I 

have  shot  several  in  the  breeding-season.  On  29  August, 
1917,  Mr.  Bonhote,  Dr.  Beven,  and  myself  shot  eleven.  It 
is  a  remarkable  thing  that  both  this  species  and  P.  senegallus 
only  come  in  for  water  in  the  early  morning,  and  are  never 
seen  through  the  day  or  in  the  evening.  It  doubtless 
breeds  on  the  sand-dunes  south  of  Marg,  and  my  hunting- 
guide,  Achmed,  said  the  season  was  June. 

182.  Pterocles  senegalensis  \_  =  P.  exustus  ^viQ,i.'\.     Singed 

Sand-Grouse. 

I  include  this  species  on  the  authority  of  a  native  hunting, 
guide — Achmed  Ali  Ferahi  of  Alag — who  states  that  this 
species  turns  up  with  the  two  preceding  ones  at  Marg  about 
one  year  in  five.  I  also  heard  of  Englishmen  who  had 
obtained  it  there.  Achmed  Ali  was  with  me  when  I  shot 
several  examples  in  the  Fayum,  and  he  identified  it  on  sight 
and  by  its  call  before  being  shot.  In  the  Fayum  it  is 
common  near  Tamiia  and  at  Edwa. 

[I  have  a  pair  of  eggs  of  this  species  taken  on  an  island 
at  Ayat  on  9  May,  1894.  I  revisited  the  island  in  1910,  but 
failed  to  see  any  birds. — R.  S.] 

183.  Burhinus  cedicnemus  saharae.     Saharan  Stone-Curlew. 
Unlike  the  following  species  these  birds  show  a  marked 

preference  for  the  open  desert,  only  coming  into  the  cultivation 
SER.  XI. — VOL.  III.  2  c 


376  Mr.  W.  Raw  on  the  [Ibis, 

in  the  evening*  and  night-time  to  feed.  Common  and 
resident  at  A1)U  Zabaal,  where  it  is  nsiially  seen  in  pairs,  bnt 
is  more  oreo-arions  in  the  winter  months,  when  small  parties 
feed  on  the  edge  of  the  cultivation.  I  have  found  manj 
of  its  eggs  by  tracking  the  birds'  feet-marks  on  the  sand. 
The  eggs  are  usually  laid  well  out  on  the  desert  from 
early  April  until  late  June.  Sometimes  only  one  egg  is 
laid,  and  I  never  found  three.  Two  clutches  of  eggs  were 
taken  in  the  Wadi  Natrun  at  the  end  of  May  1918,  and  the 
birds  identified. 

[The  only  pair  of  eggs  I  have  of  this  species  were  taken 
at  Abu  Roash  on  15. iv.  09.— K  S.] 

184.  Burhinus  senegalensis.     Senegal  Stone-Curlew. 

I  identified  this  species  at  Abu  Zabaal  by  shooting  speci- 
mens there  on  20  September  and  23  October,  1918.  At  that 
time  several  were  seen  in  a  large  orange-grove  near  the 
canal.  The  riots  in  the  spring  of  1919  prevented  me  hunting 
for  their  eggs  there  ;  this  was  most  disappointing,  as  I  was 
very  interested  in  its  breeding-habits  elsewhere.  I  took 
fresh  eggs  of  this  species  at  the  Barrage  near  Cairo  on 
28  April,  1918.  These  were  found  on  the  roof  of  a  large 
low  building,  and  as  many  as  ten  ])airs  were  counted  using 
the  same  roof  as  a  breeding  resort.  I  never  heard  of  this 
bird  selecting  any  other  site  as  a  nesting-jjlace  in  Egypt, 
and  it  is  common  in  Cairo  itself,  but  rarely  met  with  else- 
where. A  pair  of  birds  breed  annually  on  the  top  of  the 
Lion  House  in  the  Zoological  Gardens  at  Giza,  laying  their 
pair  of  eggs  on  the  bare  concrete  in  the  full  sunlight.  Four 
broods  were  raised  there  in  191G,  the  last  clutch  being  laid 
dnring  the  first  week  in  July.  Mr.  Nicoll  quotes  this 
pair  as  having  raised  three  yonng  ones  on  one  occasion. 
I  know  of  no  method  of  distinguishing  its  eggs  from 
those  of  Jj.  OS.  saliarcv.  In  habits,  however,  it  is  quite 
different  from  that  species^  as  it  seems  to  prefer  gardens  and 
orchards,  and  its  cry  appeared  to  me  to  be  much  louder. 
During  the  fnll  moon  they  were  very  noisy  flying  along 
the  Nile. 


1921.]       -  Birds  of  Lower  Egypt.  377 

185.  Cursorius  gallicus  gallicus.     Cream-coloured  Courser. 
A  few  pairs  are  resident  on  tlie  edge  of  tlie  cultivation 

near  Abu  Zabaal,  and  also  near  Marg.  Their  numbers 
increase  in  August  and  September,  when  flocks  of  up  to 
forty-five  have  been  seen.  These  contained  a  percentage 
of  immature  birds.  At  all  seasons  the}'  are  inclined  to  be 
gregarious,  and  I  noted  the  fact  that  they  flew  considerable 
distances  at  a  regular  time,  about  sundown,  to  feed  on  the 
camel-thorn  patches  which  occur  on  the  edge  of  the  desert. 
There  they  consumed  enormous  numbers  of  small  green 
cater[)illars.  Throughout  my  stay  the  same  line  of  flight 
was  always  used  with  a  surprising  regularitv.  I  spent  more 
time  looking  for  eggs  of  this  bird  than  for  any  other  species 
— and  never  succeeded.  In  1916  I  shot  a  bird  of  the  year 
in  August.  In  1917  Captain  W.  Bigger  and  myself  caught 
a  young  bird  about  a  fortnight  old,  which  was  feeding  with 
the  adults  on  the  edge  of  the  desert.  In  1918  Lieut.  D.  Paton 
discovered  a  pair  of  chicks  about  a  day  old.  I  saw  these, 
and  they  must  have  been  hatched  on  a  patch  of  gravel  about 
half  a  mile  out  in  the  desert.  This  was  on  13  May,  and  two 
days  later  I  located  yet  two  other  lots  of  young  birds  in 
similar  situations.  With  these  dates  to  work  on  I  had  hopes 
of  finding  eggs  in  1919,  but  unfortunately  the  riots  and  my 
departure  from  Egypt  prevented  my  doing  so.  I  never 
met  with  more  cunning  and  wide-awake  birds,  and  as 
their  breeding  numbers  were  so  small,  finding  their  eggs 
was  a  difficult  proposition.  I  saw  young  Coursers  about  a 
fortnight  old  on  the  desert  at  the  Wadi  Natrun  on  24  May, 
1918,  and  have  little  doubt  but  that  it  breeds  on  the  edge  of 
the  desert  both  east  and  west  of  the  Nile, 

186.  Glareola  pratincola  pratincola.       Common  Pratincole. 
Major  F.  W.  Borman  found  the  red-winged  form  breeding 

near  Sidi  Salem  in  1918. 

On  29  May  hard-set  eggs  and  young  birds  were  found  by 
him  on  a  piece  of  waste  ground,  Sidi  Salem  is  in  the  Delta 
near  the  coast.     The  clutch  appeared  to  be  two  or  three. 

[At  Inchas  on  2^  April  and  3  May,  1909, 1  shot  specimens 

2  0  2 


378  Mr.  W.  Raw  on  the  [Ibis, 

of  (Vmimon  Pratincole  witli  ovaries  much  enlarged,  but  they 
did  not  remain  at  Inchas,  as  on  29  May  I  did  not  see  a 
single  bird. — 11.  S.  ] 

187.  Glareola  melanoptera.     Black-winged  Pratincole. 

I  shot  an  iinniature  bird  of  this  species  near  the  Birket 
Accrashi  on  4  October,  1916.  Parties  of  Pratincoles 
(species  ?)  were  seen  passing  over  on  14  April,  29  August, 
and  4  September,  1917,  and  on  similar  dates  in  1918. 

188.  Charadrius  hiaticula  hiaticula.     Ringed  Plover. 
Frequently  observed  on  the  Birket  Accrashi  from  Septem- 
ber to  March. 

189.  Charadrius  dubius  curonicus.      Lesser  Ringed  Plover. 
Equally  numerous  with  the  preceding  species,  with  which  it 

arrives  and  departs.     One  seen  at  Marg  on  14  August,  1917. 

190.  Charadrius  alexandrinus  alexandrinus.  Kentish  Plover. 

I  first  identified  this  species  at  Abu  Zabaal  by  shooting- 
one  there  on  16  June,  1916.  More  were  observed  on 
13  July,  and  it  often  turned  up  with  other  Waders  during 
the  succeeding  winter,  but  does  not  breed  there.  It  is 
abundant  nearer  the  sea-coast  as  a  breeding  species,  and 
eggs  have  been  taken  there  from  April  to  June.  I  took  a 
clutch  of  three  fresh  eggs  in  the  Wadi  Natrun  on  27  May, 
1918,  and  observed  numbers  of  young  birds  there  about  the 
same  date. 

[A  common  breeding  species  on  the  islands  in  Lake  Men- 
zaleh.  On  20-22  May,  1909,  I  found  six  nests,  all  but  one 
having  hard-set  eggs  or  young  just  hatching.  The  nests 
were  in  various  situations  :  one  on  dry  mud,  several  on  red 
earth,  others  on  a  small  beach  covered  with  small  shells.  In 
the  first  two  cases  the  nests  were  easy  to  find  :  in  the  latter 
difficult.— R.  S.] 

191.  Charadrius  varius  varius.     Kittlitz  Plover. 
Frequently  observed  and  obtained  at  the  Birket  Accrashi 

during  the  winter  months.  It  usually  disappeared  in  early 
March,   but   I  have    seen    it   there   until   the   end   of  that 


1921.]  Birds  of  Loxcer  Egypt.  379 

month.  It  is  a  remarkable  tliino-  that  it  does  not  remain 
to  breed  at  Abii  Zabaal  or  Iiicbas,  where  suitable  gronnd 
is  abundant,  for  it  breeds  nearer  the  coast,  and  is  numerous 
in  the  nesting-season  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Qarun  in  the 
Fajum  Province.  In  the  latter  locality  I  found  five  nests 
between  the  ]8th  and  21st  of  March,  1917.  Tw^o  eggs  are 
a  full  clutchj  and  the  bird  always  covers  the  eggs  prior  to 
leaving  them.  They  are  completely  covered  up  and  very 
difficult  to  find,  but  1  discovered  tracking  the  bird  in  the 
sand  quite  a  good  plan,  for  they  always  run  away  whefl 
danger  approaches.  I  shot  a  female  j'rom  the  nest,  and 
proved  by  a  post-mortem  that  two  was  a  full  clutch.  Some- 
times the  eggs  are  laid  near  to  the  water's  edge,  but  more 
frequently  a  hundred  jards  or  more  from  the  nearest  water, 
and  always  quite  in  the  open.  By  watching  through  a  pair 
of  field-glasses  from  a  distance,  one  can  see  the  bird  rapidly 
scratching  the  sand  or  dry  mud  over  the  eggs  when  they  are 
alarmed  ;  they  then  casually  stroll  off.  We  did  not  meet 
with  this  species  in  the  Wadi  Natrun  in  May  1918. 

Major  F.  W.  Borman  was  able  to  confirm  my  observations 
in  1918,  when  he  took  three  clutches  of  eggs  at  Sidi  Salem 
on  29  May.  Thus  it  would  appear  that  this  bird  is  at  least 
double-brooded. 

[I  took  one  fresh  egg  on  waste  ground  near  Lake  Qariin 
on  27  March,  1910.  In  South  Africa,  where  I  found  several 
nests,  my  observations  agree  with  Mr.  Raw's,  but  if  one 
rode  near  the  nest  the  bird,  instead  of  running  away,  stood 
up  over  the  eggs  and  flapped  her  wings,  and  on  dismounting 
pecked  at  a  friend's  finger.  This  procedure  is  to  drive  off 
sheep  and  goats,  and  if  a  flock  of  goats  were  driven  over  the 
nesting-ground  I  believe  every  nest  could  be  found. — R.  S.] 

192.  Charadrius  mongohis  geoffroyi.     Geoffrey's  Plover. 

A  rare  bird  at  Abu  Zabaal.  I  only  met  Avith  one  bii-d, 
which  I  shot  on  1  August,  1917.  It  was  a  bird  of  the  year, 
and  was  feeding;  with  some  Cream-coloured  Coursers  on  the 
desert  scrub.  Fairly  numerous  on  the  coast  in  September 
191G. 


380  Mr.  W.  Raw  on  the  [Ibis, 

li>3.  Charadrius  morinellus.     Dotterel. 

Occasionally  small  parties  were  observed  at  Abu  Zabaal. 
Usually  seen  on  dry  fallow  land  or  tbe  open  desert.  In 
some  winters  more  numerous  tlian  otliers.  Is  always  tame 
and  confiding.  Specimens  obtained  on  ID  December  and 
2  January. 

194.  Himantopus  himantopus  himantopus.     Black-winged 

Stilt. 

This  species  passes  through  Abu  Zabaal  in  spring  and 
autumn.  Observed  between  22  March  and  16  April  and 
during  the  first  fortnight  in  September. 

Major  F.  W.  Borman  and  I  found  six  pairs  breeding  in  a 
n.ost  foul  swamp  at  the  Wadi  Natrun  in  1*J18.  We  found 
three  nests  containing  eggs  much  incubated  on  25  May. 
Two  nests  contained  three  eggs,  and  one  nest  two. 

195.  Hoplopterus  spinosus.     Spur-winged  Plover. 
Common  and  resident  at  Inchas,  and  fairly  numerous  at 

Abu  Zabaal.  This  species  breeds  from  10  April  onwards, 
and  I  saw  a  clutch  of  four  eggs  near  the  Birket  Accrashi  as 
late  as  10  August,  1910.  The  eggs  ai-e  frequently  laid  on 
the  margin  of  a  pool  of  stagnant  water,  and  sometimes  are 
quite  conspicuous  by  being  shown  up  in  the  white  salty 
deposit  left  by  the  r(;ceding  water.  Four  is  the  usual 
clutch,  but  I  have  found  the  bird  sitting  on  two  or  tliree 
only.  This  species  is  very  wary,  and  is  much  detested  by 
shooters,  as  it  gives  a  very  noisy  alarm  on  the  approach  of 
danger.  Eggs  were  taken  in  the  Wadi  Natrun,  and  newly- 
hatched  chicks  seen  at  the  end  of  May  1918. 

[My  dates  for  fresh  eggs  taken  at  Inchas  vary  from 
20  April  to  27  June,  thougli  mid-May  seems  to  be  the  best 
time.  I  have  one  pair  of  eggs,  incubated  when  found, 
which  have  a  very  strong  erythristic  tendency. — R.  S.] 

19G.  Eecurvirostra  avosetta  avosetta.     Avocet. 
A  flock  of  twelve  were  identified  when  fivins;  over  Abu 
Zabaal  on  2S  September,  1916. 


1921.]  Birds  of  Lower  Egypt.  381 

197.  Chettusia  leucura.     White-tailed  Plover. 

A  single  bird  observed  at  the  Birket  Accrashi  on  19  Sep- 
tember, 1917,  where  it  remained  for  a  week.  Several  shot 
near  Tamiia,  in  the  Fayum,  in  February  and  March. 

198.  Vanellus  vanellus.     Green  Plover. 

Large  flocks  appear  at  intervals  at  Abu  Zabaal  from 
October  to  March.  Four  were  seen  as  late  as  16  April,  but 
I  found  no  evidence  of  any  remaining  to  breed  in  Egypt. 

199.  Erolia  ferruginea.     Curlew  Sandpiper. 

Never  observed  in  the  spring,  but  noted  and  obtained  in 
the  autumn  ;  notably,  on  6  October,  191G,  when  I  shot  four 
out  of  a  large  bunch,  on  the  Birket  Accrashi.  They  were 
then  in  full  winter  plumage. 

200.  Erolia  alpina.     Dunlin. 

Rather  uncommon  at  Abu  Zabaal,  but  occurs  sparingly 
every  winter.     A  specimen  was  shot  on  11  October,  1916. 

20 L.  Erolia  minuta.     Little  Stint. 

Most  numerous  in  October  and  March,  when  flocks  haunt 
the  open  pools  on  the  Birket  Accrashi.  Small  lots  appear  at 
intervab  throughout  the  winter. 

202.  Erolia  temminckii.     Temminck's  Stint. 

Less  numerous  than  the  preceding  species,  with  which  it 
consorts.     Examples  of  each  were  shot  ouc  of  the  same  flock. 

203.  Triiiga  tetanus  totanus.     Redshank. 

Not  uncommon  at  the  Birket  Accrashi  during  the  winter 
months.  Usually  arrives  in  early  October,  and  noted  as  late 
as  10  May. 

201.  Tringa  stagnatalis.     Marsh  Sandpiper. 

A  large  flight  observed  and  specimens  obtained  on 
6  October,  1916,  on  which  date  the  Birket  Accrashi  was 
alive  with  Waders  of  various  species.  Observed  sparingly 
throughout  the  winter. 


382  Mr.  W.  Raw  on  tlie  [Ibis, 

205.  Tringa  nebularia.     Green sluink. 

Occurs  singly  and  rarely  at  Abu  Zabaal.  It  was  noted  on 
14  August,  24  August,  7  September,  10  October,  and 
11  February. 

20G.  Tringa  ochropus.     Green  Sandpiper. 

Winters  at  Abu  Zabaal,  and  on  the  rice-fields  at  Marg. 
Arrives  as  early  as  10  August,  on  which  date,  in  1918,  I  saw 
at  least  twenty.  It  is  usually  observed  alone^  and  is  not 
nearly  so  gregarious  as  the  following  species.  Some  few  birds 
remain  until  May  before  taking  their  departure. 

207.  Tringa  glareola.     Wood-Sandpiper. 

More  numerous  than  the  preceding  species.  Small  parties 
observed  as  early  as  14  August,  and  as  late  as  22  Msij. 
Between  these  dates  it  is  common  at  the  Birket  Accrashi. 

208.  Tringa  hypoleuca.     Common  Sandpiper. 

Single  birds  observed  during  nearly  all  the  months  of  the 
year.  Several  seen  on  21  Juh',  and  four  on  8  August,  1917. 
Frequents  the  sides  of  the  canals,  and  is  rarely  seen  on  the 
Birket  Accrashi.  I  have  no  evidence  of  its  breeding  in 
Egypt,  but  should  not  be  surprised  if  such  is  the  case. 

209.  Philomachiis  pugnax.     Buff. 

Large  numbers  of  Bufi's  are  to  be  seen  at  the  Birket 
Accrashi,  especially  in  October  and  March,  but  less 
numerously  between  these  dates.  Early  arrivals  were 
noted  on  '6  September,  and  late  birds  linger  until  1  May. 
I  never  saw  one  in  anything"  like  full  summer  plun)age. 

210.  Niimenius  arquatus  arquatus.     ( 'urlew. 

Rarely  observed  at  Abu  Zabaal,  but  single  birds  noted  on 
30  August,  7  September,  4  October,  and  15  October,  etc. 

211.  Limosa  liniosa  limosa.     Black-tailed  Godvvit. 
Observed  and  obtained   at  the   Birket  Accrashi  in  sjiring 

and  autumn,  and  seen  sparingly  throughout  the  winter.     On 
22  Marih,  19J6,a  bird  of  this  species  struck  our  aerial  wires. 


1921.]  Birds  of  Lower  Egypt.  583 

and  damaged  its  wino-.     It  lived  for  a  considerable  time  in 
one    of    the    aviaries  at  Giza.       Earliest  arrival    noted    on 

22  September. 

212.  Limnocryptes  gallinula.     Jack  Snipe. 

Not  uncommon  at  the  Birket  Accrashi,  where  I  have  shot 
it  from  7  October  to  11  April. 

213.  Scolopax  rusticola  rusticola.     Woodcock. 

This  species  winters  sparingly  in  the  palm-groves  at  Alag 
and  Marg,  near   Abu    Zabaal.     I    shot  specimens  there   on 

23  December,  1917,  and   6   February,  1918,  and   have   seen 
others  between  these  dates. 

214.  Rhynchaea  bengalensis.     Painted  Snipe. 

Odd  pairs  are  resident,  but  it  seems  to  prefer  small 
swamps  to  the  Birket  Accrashi,  where  it  was  but  seldom 
observed.  Its  well-known  skulking  habits  make  observation 
largely  a  matter  of  luck.  Dr.  Beven  found  four  fresh  eggs 
in  a  small  marsh,  south  of  the  Pyramids,  on  7  April,  1918  ; 
and  Major  F.  W.  Borman  and  myself  found  a  nest,  con- 
taining three  incubated  eggs,  in  the  Wadi  Natrun,  on  25 
May,  1918. 

215.  Gallinago  gallinago  gallinago.     Common  Snipe. 
Numerous  on  the  Birket  Accrashi,  where  it  affords  good 

sport,  from  September  to  March.     Early  arrivals  have  been 
noted  on  14  August,  and  some  few  remain  until  early  May. 

216.  Hydrochelidon     ieucoptera.      White-winged      Black 

Tern. 
Small  parties  observed  on  the  Birket  Accrashi  in  spring 
and  autumn.  Noted  on  30  April,  20  May,  27  August, 
1  September^  and  17  September.  Examples  wen^  obtained  in 
both  winter  and  summer  plumage.  Numbers  were  observed 
in  the  Wadi  Natrun  at  the  end  of  May  1918,  but  we  found 
no  trace  of  their  breeding,  although  it  looked  a  likely  place. 
C^aptain  Boyd  records  in  '  The  Ibis,'  1917,  p.  55G,  having  seen 


384  Mr.  W.  Baw  on  the  [Ills, 

Hydroclielidon  hyhrida  (=  leucopareia)  at  Abu  Zabasil,  but  I 
never  met  with  it  there  myself. 

217.  Larus  ridibnndus.     Black-heatled  Gull. 

Observed  only  twice  at  Abu  Zabaal.  Two  seen  together 
on  17  January,  1918,  and  a  single  bird  shot  on  30  December, 
1917. 

218.  Megalornis  grus.     Common  Crane. 

On  30  April,  1918,  I  saw  a  large  flock  of  Cranes  flying 
over  Abu  Zabaal.     d'hey  were  going  due  north. 

219.  Eallus  aquaticus  aquaticus.     Water-Rail. 

There  can  be  little  doubt  that  this  species  is  a  resident  in 
the  vicinity  of  Abu  Zabaal,  but  the  good  cover  lends  itself 
to  the  Water-RaiFs  skulking  habits.  I  shot  a  specimen  on 
30  December,  1916,  and  have  seen  and  heard  it  on  numerous 
occasions,  but  never  found  a  nest  there.  As  a  breeding-bird 
it  is  very  common  in  the  Wadi  Natrun,  and  Major  F.  W. 
Bormau  and  I  found  three  nests,  with  hard-set  eggs,  there 
on  27  May,  1918.  These  nests  were  all  found  within  a 
hundred  yards  radius,  and  were  in  a  dense  reed-bed.  They 
contained  six,  seven,  and  eight  eggs  respectively. 

[This  species  nests  at  Inchas,  and  probably  in  many  suit- 
able localities  in  the  Delta.  My  dates  are :  Two  eggs, 
addled,  30.iii.  10;  five  eggs,  fresh,  15.vi.09  ;  four  eggs, 
fresh,  10.  iv.  10  ;  so  that  it  is  probabl}^  double-brooded. — 
R.  S.] 

220.  Porzana  pusilla  intermedia.     Baillon's  Crake. 

In  addition  to  the  specimen  mentioned  below,  as  having 
been  shot  on  19  April,  1917,  I  only  secured  one  more, 
namely,  a  bird  shot  on  the  Birket  Accrashi,  on  3  October, 
1917.  It  is  my  opinion  that  both  species  breed  in  the 
Egyptian  delta. 

221.  Porzana  parva.     Little  (h-ake. 

I  first  met  with  this  species  on  12  October,  1910,  when  I 
shot  a  s})ecimen  on  the  Birket  Accrashi.  I  shot  a  second 
specimen  there  on  20  October,  1910,  and  on  2"^    December, 


1921.]  Birds  of  Lower  Egypt.  385 

1916,  a  third  on  the  old  canal  swamp  near  my  quarters. 
During  that  winter,  and  throughout  my  stay  in  Egypt,  I  saw 
Crakes  during  each  month  of  the  year.  (I  shot  a  bird  on 
19  A{)ril,  1917,  which  was  wrongly  identified  as  a  Little 
Crake.  It  was  in  breeding  condition.  On  5  August,  1917, 
when  com[>aring  skins  in  the  Giza  Museum,  this  bird  proved 
to  be  F.  pusilla  intermedia.)  I  searched  diligently  for  a 
nest,  and  on  29  April  succeeded  in  finding  one  containing 
six  eggs,  fifty  per  cent,  incubated.  These  1  took  to  belong 
to  P.  parva  at  the  time,  but  subsequent  comparison  by  the 
Rev.  F.  C.  R.  Jourdain  with  a  large  series,  proves  them  to 
be^  in  all  probabilit}',  F.  p.  intermedia. 

I  could  have  made  definitely  certain,  had  1  known  at  the 
time  that  any  doubt  existed,  for,  on  3  May  in  the  same  year, 
I  caught  two  young  Crakes  ali\e  in  the  same  patch  of  reeds, 
and  saw  the  parent  birds  creeping  about  several  tiines^  but 
refrained  from  destroying  them.  Efforts  were  made  by  the 
Giza  Zoological  Service  to  rear  these  chicks,  but  were  un- 
successful. 

I  was  never  able  to  clear  the  matter  up  to  my  own  satis- 
faction^ but  shot  specimens  of  F.  parva  on  28  February  and 
2(j  March,  1917,  in  the  same  locality  as  that  in  which  I 
discovered  the  eggs  and  young,  and  on  the  old  canal  swamp 
on  28  December,  1918.  In  the  latter  place  I  saw  young- 
Crakes  on  19  May,  1918,  but  was  unable  to  obtain  an  adult. 

[At  Inchas  on  20.  iv.  10  I  shot  a  (Jrake,  which  Mr.  NicoU 
identified  as  F.  parva,  and  I  believe  the  skin  is  still  in  the 
Giza  Museum.  From  the  late  date  it  ought  to  have  been 
breeding,  but  I  failed  to  find  a  nest. — R.  S.] 

222.  Gallinula  chloropus.     Moorhen. 

This  species  is  a  resident  in  suitable  places,  but  is  not  very 
numerous  at  Abu  Zabaal  in  the  breedins-season.  Its 
numbers  are  increased  in  the  winter,  at  which  season  I  often 
saw  it. 

I  found  incubated  eggs  at  Inchas  on  17  May,  1916,  and 
also  on  12  May,  1917,  in  the  same  locality.  On  29  Septem- 
ber, 1917,  I  shot  a  young  bird,  at  Inchas,  still  unable  to  fiy. 


386  Oh  the  Birds  of  Loiver  Egypt.  [Ibis, 

[A  common  breeding  species  at  Incbas.  Dates  for  fresb 
eggs  varied  from  15  May  to  15  June  in  1909.  The  largest 
clutcb  obtained  was  one  of  six. — R.  S.] 

223.  Porphyrio    madagascariensis.       Green-backed    Galli- 

uule. 
At  the  end  of  April  1919  I  was  at  Kantara.  A  gang  of 
natives  were  cutting  down  the  reeds,  and  the  corporal  in 
charge  of  this  anti-mosquito  measure  informed  me  that  he 
had  had  some  eggs  brought  to  him  the  previous  day,  which, 
from  his  description,  I  think  must  have  belonged  to  this 
species.  Unfortunately,  they  had  been  destroyed.  I  cer- 
tainly found  the  birds  numerous  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
on  the  shores  of  Lake  Menzaleh.  I  once  saw  Gallinules  at 
Inchas. 

224.  Fulica  atra  atra.     Coot. 

Arrives  in  October,  and  remains  at  Abu  Zabaal  until 
March.  In  some  winters  very  numerous,  and  in  others  com- 
paratively rare.  AVhen  shooting,  on  one  occasion,  I  saw 
these  birds  in  such  numbers  that  two  collided  in  mid-air, 
and  both  fell  and  were  picked  up  dead. 

225.  Coturnix  coturnix  coturnix.     Quail. 

A  few  are  resident,  but  are  rarely  met  with.  From 
3  February  to  the  end  of  March  large  numbers  pass  through, 
affording  good  sport.  The  second  week  in  March  marks  the 
height  of  the  migration  at  Abu  Zabaal.  Fewer  birds  are 
met  with  on  their  return  flight  in  September.  On  18  April, 
1916,  I  took  a  clutch  of  eight  Quail's  eggs,  in  a  field  at 
Inchas.  They  were  quite  fresh.  On  20  January,  1917,  a 
native  brought  me  three  fresh  Quail's  eygs,  which  were  all 
that  were  left  of  eight  found  in  a  nest,  also  at  Inchas,  and, 
when  shooting  there  in  May  1917,  a  single  fresh  egg  was 
also  brought  to  me. 

[Fresh  eggs  were  brought  to  me  by  a  native  in  April, 
189-1,  from  Ayat,  and  two  fresh  eggs  from  Luxor,  on 
22  March,  1910.  An  oviduct  egg  with  hard  shell  is  unspotted 
and  the  colour  of  a  pale  English  Partridge's  egg. — K.  S.] 


1 92 1.]       First  Impressions  of  Tunisia  and  Algeria.  387 

226.  Ammoperdix  heyi  nicoUi.     Nicoll's  Desert  Partridge. 

I  saw  a  single  specimen  near  Gebel  Asfur  (south  of  the 
Birket  Accrashi)  on  28  November,  1917.  I  am  familiar 
with  this  subspecies,  having  shot  it  on  tlie  Wadi  Hof  and 
the  Wadi  Resheid,  near  Helouan.  A  female  shot  in  the 
the  former  Wadi,  on  11  March,  1918,  was  within  a  fort- 
night of  laying,  and  was  flushed  from  under  a  large  rock, 
which  concealed,  what  Dr.  Beven  and  I  thought  looked  like 
the  beginning  of  a  nest.  Several  pieces  of  grass  and  a  lot  of 
plant-heads  were  gathered  together,  with  a  slight  depression 
in  the  centre.  Dr.  Beven  informs  me  that  he  obtained 
young  birds,  just  on  the  wing,  in  the  Wadi  Resheid,  at  the 
beginning  of  May  1919.  I  hope  these  slight  indications 
will  help  future  observers  in  Egypt  to  discover  the  eggs  of 
this  interesting  recently  described  Partridge. 

Ebratum. — On  p.  249  line  11,  for  Abbassia  read  Ibshawai. 


XXII. — First  Impressions  of  Tunisia  and  Algeria.     By 
David  A.  Bannerbian,  M.B.E.,  B.A.,  M.B.O.U.,  F.R.G.S. 

(Plates  II.-V.) 

Of  late  years  considerable  attention  has  been  given  by 
British  Ornithologists  to  the  ornis  of  northern  Africa. 
Lord  Rothschild  and  Dr.  Hartert  have,  by  their  exhaustive 
explorations  in  Algeria,  made  the  birds  of  that  fascinating- 
country  comparatively  well  known,  whilst  valuable  supple- 
mentary notes  have  appeared  from  the  pens  of  Messrs. 
Jourdain,  Wallis,  and  Ratclilf.  It  is,  therefore,  with  extreme 
diffidence  that  I  present  this  short  paper  to  the  readers  of 
'The  Ibis.'  In  the  first  place,  it  contains  nothing  new,  and, 
in  the  second  [)lace,  it  is  not  the  narrative  of  an  Ornitho- 
logical Expedition :  it  is  merely  the  account  of  a  journey 
through  Tunisia  and  Algeria  which  some  ornithologists  have 
already  made  and  doubtless  many  others  will  make  in  the 
future.  It  is  to  give  these  latter  some  idea  of  the  birds 
they  may  expect  to  encounter,  and  of  the  scenery  they  will 
pass   through,  that   I   have  ventured  to  publish   my  notes. 


388  Mr.  D.  A.  Bannerman  :   First  Impressions        [Ibis, 

Field-glasses  were  substituted  for  the  cullector^s  gun,  and 
much  of  my  time — some  eight  weeks  in  all  —was  taken  up  in 
visiting  the  marvellous  Roman  and  Punic  remains  of  which 
northern  Africa  holds  such  a  woudert'nl  store. 

We  left  Marseilles  on  a  bitterly  cold  morning  of  February 
last,  in  the  S.S.  '  Due  d'Aumale' — the  best  steamer  of  the 
r^fompagnie  Transatlantique  plying  between  that  port  and 
Tunis.  The  voyage  was  calm  but  uneventful,  and  to  my 
surprise  neither  Petrels  nor  Shearwaters  were  seen.  The 
change  in  twenty-four  hours  from  heavy  clouds  and  chilly 
east  winds  to  a  cloudless  sky  and  hot  sun  was  as  welcome 
as  it  was  sudden  ;  and  as  we  passed  along  the  entire  ^^esterly 
coast  of  Sardinia  within  easy  sight  of  the  little  white  houses 
dotted  along  its  cliffs,  an  interesting,  though  restricted,  view 
of  this  island  was  obtained.  From  the  sea  it  looked  somewhat 
uninterestino-,  monotonous  low  hills  succeeding  one  another 
until  the  more  mountaiuous  southern  extremity  of  the  island 
was  reached. 

In  the  early  morning  of  the  4th  of  February  we  steamed 
past  the  ruins  of  ancient  Carthage  into  the  calm  waters 
of  the  Bay  of  Tunis — up  the  canal  wliich  tlie  French 
have  ingeniously  constructed  through  the  lake  to  the  pros- 
])erous  capital  of  Tunisia.  Tunis  strikes  the  traveller 
immediately  as  being  a  thoroughly  well-planned,  well- 
administered  town — the  French  have  shown  their  wisdom 
in  preserving  intact  the  large  Arab  quarter,  the  souks  and 
bazaars  of  whicli  are  probably  without  rival  anywhere  in  the 
world.  But  it  is  of  the  impressions  of  an  ornithologist  that 
I  wish  to  write,  in  the  hope  that  others  may  be  stimulated  to 
follow  the  excellent  example  set  by  Mr.  Joseph  Whitaker 
and  make  Tunisia  their  "happy  hunting-ground." 

The  town  of  Tunis  is  itself  by  no  means  a  bad  centre  for 
the  ornithologist  ;  many  delightful  excursions  can  be  made, 
and  highly-interesting  localities  visited  within  a  short  dis- 
tance of  the  city.  The  electric  train  which  runs  to  Carthage 
and  La  Marsa  crosses  and  then  partly  encircles  the  wide 
Lac  de  Tunis — a  broad  sheet  of  water  which  has  long  been 
the    haunt    of   the    Flamingo    (Plioenicopterus    antiquoruni). 


1 92 1.]  of  Tunisia  and  Algeria.  389 

A  glimpse  of  these  nne  birds  standing  knee-deep  in  the  lake 
may  often  be  enjoyed  from  the  windows  of  the  train,  and 
the  sight  of  a  flock  rising  against  the  cloudless  l)lne  sky  with 
the  sunlight  catching  their  rosy  plumage  is  alone  almost 
recompense  for  the  long  journey  from  England.  The 
number  of  Coots  {Fulica  atra  atra)  on  this  lake  is  really 
astounding.  They  are  absolutely  tame  here,  and  paddle 
about  in  hundreds  within  a  few  yards  of  the  line. 

Bordering  the  railway-track  on  the  northern  side  of  the 
lake  is  a  low  stone  wall,  the  haunt  of  numbers  of  Redshanks 
(and  doubtless  other  waders  besides),  which,  usually  shy 
birds  in  England,  here  do  not  even  cease  feeding  as  the 
train  rushes  by.  Herons  (^Ardea  cinerea^  stand  sentinel  on 
the  wall  every  hundred  yards  or  so  ;  Little  Grebes  {Podiceps 
rnficollis)  in  pairs  swim  about  close  to  the  shore  exhibiting 
little  more  alarm  than  their  companions  ;  while  out  on  the 
open  water  flocks  of  ducks  skim  over  the  surface,  keeping, 
however,  well  out  of  gunshot  of  the  shore.  Like  most 
salt  or  brackish  lakes,  the  Lac  de  Tunis  is  absolutely 
devoid  of  vegetation  around  its  shores,  and  in  consequence 
those  birds  which  do  frequent  its  muddy  margin  are  easily 
observed  with  field-glasses. 

Quite  apart  from  the  wonderful  Roman  and  Punic  reniains 
so  skilfully  excavated  by  Pere  Delattre,  the  environs  of  Car- 
thage are  well  worthy  of  a  visit  for  the  sake  of  the  birds  which 
frequent  this  world-famous  site.  In  the  brilliant  sunlight  the 
fields  are  remarkably  green  in  the  month  of  Febrnary,  and 
even  the  sea-cliffs  present  nothing  of  the  barrenness  usually 
associated  with  the  north  African  coast  in  the  minds  of  home- 
dwelling  ornithologists.  From  the  young  corn  many  Crested 
Larks  *  sprang  up  as  we  passed,  gently  quivering  to  eiirth  with 
wings  and  tail  fully  extended,  plainly  showing  the  three  pairs 
of  dark  tail-feathers  contrasting  with  the  pale  outer  and  central 
pairs.  Tunisia  is,  as  Whitaker  has  said,  par  excellence  the  land 
in  which  to  study  these  remarkably  interesting  birds,  though 
doubtless  Hartert  would  cite  Algeria,  and  Nicoll  Egypt,  as 

*  The  long-billed  form  of  this  district  is  Galerida  cvistata  carthaffinis, 
the  short-billed  form  Galerida  thcklce  harterti. 


390  Mr.  D.  A.  Bannerman  :  First  Impreftswns      [Ibis, 

the  countries  where  the  burning-  questions  associated  with 
them  may  best  be  settled !  Of  the  varied  races  of  the 
Crested  Lark  known  to  inhabit  Tunisia,  I  shall  have  more  to 
say  later :  the  country  between  Carthage  and  La  Marsa  is 
suited  rather  to  Blackbirds,  Thrushes,  Chaffinches,  "Whin- 
chats,  Whitethroats,  Grrey  Wagtails,  Blackcaps,  Black  Red- 
starts^ and  Serin  finches,  all  o£  which  werenoted  in  lesser  or 
o-reater  numbers  on  the  walk  along  the  cliffs.  The  Sparrows 
of  Tunisia  and  Algeria  have  long  been  a  source  of  ])erplexity 
to  systematic  ornithologists.  Whitaker  tackled  the  question 
in  his  delightful  book  ('  Birds  of  Tunisia,'  vol.  i.  pp.  203-204), 
and  showed  that  the  common  Sparrow  of  the  Regency  was 
Passer  hispaniolensis  hispaniolensis,  though  P.  domest'icus 
inhabited  the  western  districts  and  interbred  extensively 
with  the  Spanish  Sparrow  :  while  in  the  south  Sparrows 
which  he  referred  to  P.  italice  were  obtained.  Hartert  has 
discussed  the  status  of  the  Algerian  Sparrows  at  great  length 
(Nov.  Zool.  xviii.  1912,  pp.  479-482),  and  from  his  care- 
fully considered  observations  we  find  that  Passer  Jiispaniolensis 
hispaniolensis  occurs  in  Tunisia,  as  noted  by  W^liitaker,  but 
that  the  House  Sparrow  of  Tunisia,  which  interbreeds  so 
largely  with  the  Spanish  Sparrow,  is  Passer  domesticus  tinyi- 
tanns,  while  the  Sparrows  from  southern  Tunisia  (Gafsa)  were 
named  fucldgeri  by  Zedlitz,  though  they  are  in  reality  only 
hybrids,  and  are  not  therefore  eligible  for  snbspecific  rank. 
These  are  the  birds  which  Whitaker  and  others  placed  under 
the  name  P.  italice,  though  Whitaker  pointed  out  that  they 
were  by  no  means  typical  examples. 

An  excursion  of  exceptional  interest  both  to  the  ornitholo- 
gist and  the  archffiologist  is  to  motor  from  Tunis  to  Dougga, 
the  site  of  the  most  w^onderful  collection  of  Roman  ruins  in 
Tunisia.  Dougga  lies  over  100  kilometres  to  the  south-west 
of  Tunis,  and  the  excellent  road  passes  through  varied 
scenery.  In  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Tunis  the  country  is 
very  flat,  a  wide  and  remarkably  fertile  plain  stretching  for 
miles.  Just  after  leaving  the  outskirts  of  the  town  a 
delightful  view  of  the  Sebkra  es-Sedjounii  is  obtained  from 
slio-htly  rising  ground.     The  lagoon  which  lies  on  the  south- 


1 92 1.]  of  Tunisia  and  Algeria.  391 

west  of  the  town  is  surrounded  bj  a  wide  stretch  of  sand,  or, 
rather,  mud,  and  must  be  largely  resorted  to  by  Waders.  We 
wore  too  far  from  it  to  note  what  birds  were  about,  but  two 
Herons  (^Ardea  cinerea)  were  recognised  flying  heavily  from 
shore  to  shore^  just  as  the  sun  was  rising  and  tipping  the 
distant  hills  with  gold.  In  all  directions  the  hind  was  under 
cultivation,  green  with  the  young  corn,  or  else  in  course  of 
being  ploughed  up  by  teams  of  eight  oxen.  Crested  Larks 
wore  here  observed  in  great  numbers,  and  as  the  car  flew 
along  many  seemed  to  court  death  by  dusting  themselves  in 
the  road,  escaping  the  wheels  as  if  by  a  miracle.  Quite  a 
number  of  Lapwings  were  noticed,  not  in  flocks  but  singly 
or  two  or  three  together,  and  all  very  tame,  not  attempting 
to  stir  as  we  passed.  Corn-Buntings,  Starlings,  Sparrows, 
and  Goldfinches  were  all  numerous  in  flocks,  particularl}-  the 
Goldfinches  (^Ca^'duelis  carduelis  afr'icana).  Brown  Linnets 
[Acanthis  cannahitta  mediterranea)  were  also  seen,  but  not  in 
such  numbers.  Gradually  the  aspect  of  the  country  began 
to  change,  green  fields  gave  way  to  olive-orchards,  where 
Blackbirds*  and  Thrushes  were  noted  for  the  first  time. 
Several  Common  Kestrels  were  circling  overhead,  and  as  we 
dashed  over  a  bridge  a  pair  of  Southern  Little  Owls  (^Athene 
noctua  glaux)  dai'tod  out  of  an  old  olive-trunk.  The  road 
now  began  to  ascend,  and  the  slopes  were  everywhere  thickly 
covered  with  scrub.  Several  Moorish  Magpies  {Pica  jnca 
mauretauira)  were  hero  noticed,  while  the  Algerian  Shrike 
(Lanius  e.reubitor  algeriensis)  was  seen  perched  on  the  summit 
of  a  thorn-bush.  As  we  gradually  reached  higher  altitudes 
the  sun  was  completely  blotted  out  by  many  clouds  which 
our  chauffeur  informed  us  always  lay  like  a  blanket  over  this 
particular  part  of  the  hilly  countryside.  Certainly  it  was 
unpleasantly  cold,  but  as  we  neared  Dougga  the  sun  again 
flooded  the  landscape  and  lit  up  the  truly  wonderful  ruins 

*  It  does  not  seem  to  have  been  settled  whether  the  Blackbird 
inhabiting  northern  Tunisia  is  T.  m.  algirus — the  race  which  inhabits 
northern  Algeria — or  whether  it  is  T.  m.  mauretanicus — the  race  which 
is  found  in  southern  Tunisia  and  southern  Algeria ;  probably  it  will 
prove  to  be  the  former. 

SER.  XI. — VOL.  III.  2  D 


392  Mr.  D.  A.  Bannerman  :  First  Impressions       [Ibis, 

we  liaJ  come  to  see.  Surrounded  by  olive-trees,  imposingly 
situated  on  the  mountain-slope,  from  which  a  magnificent 
view  of  the  adjoining  country  is  obtainetl,  the  i-uined  Roman 
Capitol,  Temples,  and  Theatre  bear  silent  witness  to  the 
wonders  of  the  Roman  occupation.-  It  was  on  the  terraced 
steps  of  the  Theatre  that  I  made  the  acquaintance  of  one  of 
the  most  delightful  of  Tunisian  birds^  Moussier's  Redstart 
(^J)iplootocus  moiissieri),  a  male  bird  with  his  orange-brown 
breast  and  rump,  black  wings  and  head,  and  strikingly  pure 
white  frontal  band,  eye-stripe  and  alar  patch,  making  a 
charming  picture  in  such  unique  surroundings.  Moussier's 
Redstart  is  a  typically  northern  African  mountain  bird, 
and  certainly  reminds  one  more  of  a  Redstart  than  a  Stone- 
chat.  It  is  to  be  met  with  in  both  the  northern  and  southern 
Atlas  Ranges  of  Tunisia,  Algeria,  and  Morocco.  I  found  it 
myself  both  at  Dougga  and  at  Hammam  Meskoutine  in  the 
northern  Atlas  in  February,  while  Hartert  and  Rothschild 
record  it  from  the  southern  Atlas  Ranges  during  the  breed- 
ino-season  and  from  the  northern  S:diara  in  winter.  It  is 
common  in  the  Aures  mountains  of  Algeria,  and  Whitaker 
notes  that  it  is  plentiful  in  the  southern  oases  of  Tunisia, 
leaving  these  districts  in  spring  for  the  liigher  altitudes 
farther  north.  In  the  Moroccan  Atlas  this  species  is  met 
with  up  to  consitlerable  altitudes,  ant!  Ca})tain  Lynes  recently 
found  it  breeding  commonly  in  the  "Middle-Atlas"  Range 
(Ibis,  1920,  p.  296). 

Birds  were  plentiful  in  the  olive-groves  of  Dougga,  Star- 
lino's  and  Thrushes  (both  winter  visitors),  Cliaffinches,  and 
Blue-Tits  being  observed.  The  former  is  a  resident  Tunisian 
subs[)ecies  [Frinyilla  cwlebs  spodiogenys),  while  the  latter  is 
the  common  north-west  African  race  of  the  Blue  Titmous(^ 
(Parus  cdiruleus  ultramarinus) .  In  some  high  cliffs  close  to 
Dougga  a  number  of  Rock-Pigeons  were  observed.  As  none 
were  obtained,  I  cannot  say  to  which  race  they  belonged. 
Considering  that  the  day  was  spent  in  examining  Roman 
remains,  the  number  of  birds  seen  which  could  be  identified 
without  any  doubt  was  distinctly  encouraging,  for  of  course 
a  few  others  were  noted  which  I  dare  not  attempt  to  name. 


1 92 1.]  of  Tunisia  and  Algeria.    '  393 

Certainly  more  than  one  species  of  Lark  and  Pipit  were 
seen,  but  who  would  dare  to  name  a  Pipit  from  a  passing 
car  !  The  return  journey  to  Tunis  added  no  fresh  species  to 
my  list,  save  a  couple  of  Ravens  flying  high  overhead.  The 
Moroccan  Raven  (Corviis  corax  tingitanus)  is  an  extremely 
abundant  resident  in  Morocco,  Algeria,  and  Tunisia.  Once 
more  v^e  disturbed  the  Liltle  Owls,  which  had  returned  to 
the  same  olive-tree  from  which  we  had  already  frightened 
them,  and  by  5  P.M.  we  were  again  in  busy  Tunis. 

Two  days  after  returning  from  Dougga  I  made,  in  company 
with  the  Editor  of  '  The  Ibis,'  a  delightful  trip  by  car  to  the 
Arab  city  of  Kairouan,  thence  journeying  south  to  El  Djem, 
the  most  southern  point  we  reached,  and  thence  again  to  Tunis 
via  Susa,  an  insignificant  port  on  the  coast. 

Though  birds  were  not  the  prime  object  of  our  journey, 
the  expedition  afforded  us  an  opportunity  of  seeing  for  the 
first  time  (at  any  rate  as  far  as  the  writer  was  concerned)  a 
number  of  interesting  species,  and  we  obtained  a  good  first- 
hand knowledge  of  the  varied  types  of  country  through 
which  we  passed.  Whitaker,  in  the  Introduction  to  his 
'  Birds  of  Tunisia,'  notes  that  "  Tunisia  has  been  divided  by 
geographers  into  three  natural  divisions  or  regions,  each  of 
these  differing  from  the  other  two  in  its  climate,  hydrography, 
and  topography,  and  consequently  in  its  flora  and  fauna." 
In  the  excellent  map  provided  in  his  book  these  three  regions 
are  differently  coloured,  and  the  divisions  can  thus  be  seen 
at  a  glance.  Whereas  Tunis  itself  lies  at  the  north-east  of 
the  northern  division,  the  towns  we  set  out  to  visit  are  all 
situated  in  the  central  division,  that  which  lies  between  the 
Atlas  Mountains  and  the  southern  region  of  the  Chotts  and 
deserts. 

It  was  not  until  we  had  passed  through  the  broken  chain 
ol  mountains,  which  run  in  a  north-easterly  direction  from 
El  Oubira  to  Hammamet,  and  had  gained  the  great  plains 
which  stretch  almost  uninterruptedly  to  Kairouan,  that  we 
noticed  the  change  in  the  avifauna.  North  of  the  mountains 
we  had  seen  only  the  usual  species  which  frequent  the  more 
fertile  parts  of    the  Regency,  such  as  Goldfinches,   Brown 

2d2 


394  Mr.  D.  A.  Bunnerman  :  First  Impressions        [Ibis, 

Linnets,  Corn-Bantings,  innumerable  Sparrows,  Starlings, 
etc.,  but  once  the  semi-desert  plains  with  their  scrubby 
veoetation  were  reached,  these  lovers  o£  cultivated  lands 
were  left  behind,  and  instead  we  saw  Common  Cranes,  Sand- 
Grouse,  Bustards,  and  close  to  Bdj  el  Menzel,  near  a  sheet 
o£  water,  innumerable  small  wading  birds  which,  however, 
we  were  quite  unable  to  identify  from  the  car.  Crested 
Larks*  were  again  numerous,  but  other  small  birds  were 
seldom  seen,  save  an  occasional  Shrike  or  so.  Cranes  flying 
in  small  parties  over  the  scrub,  or  else  standing  in  little  groups 
on  the  plain  feeding  unconcernedly  within  a  few  hundred 
yards  of  the  car,  made  a  charming  picture,  especially  as  w  e 
had  somehow  never  expected  to  meet  them.  According 
to  Whitaker  the  Common  (h-ane  is  abundant  in  Tunisia  in 
winter  and  during  migration,  and  is  then  to  be  seen  in  large 
flocks  close  to  Tunis  and  Clarthage.  We  had  not,  however, 
seen  any  in  the  northern  part  of  the  Regency  during  our 
brief  visit.  It  has  not  been  known  to  breeil  in  Tunisia,  but, 
curiously  enough,  the  Demoiselle  Crane  {AntJiropoides  virgo), 
though  quite  a  rare  species  in  Tunisia,  has  been  known  to 
breed  near  Susa. 

We  passed  close  to  Sebkra  Kelbia,  a  great  expanse  of 
water  which  looked  very  much  out  of  place  in  this  flat  and 
otherwise  arid  landscape.  These  inland  lakes  are  very 
remarkable,  and  must  surely  be  the  haunt  of  vast  numbers  of 
waterfowl  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year.  From  the  nature 
of  their  position,  surrounded  by  the  open  plain,  and  their 
entire  lack  of  undergrowth,  birds  resting  on  the  surface 
would  be  quite  unapproachable  from  any  direction.  To 
explore  thoroughly  these  vast  plains  and  Sebkras  it  would 
be  necessary  to  take  a  tent  and  camp,  the  distances  being  too 
oreat  to  work  the  ground  conveniently  from  the  nearest 
French  hostelry,  though  much  good  work  could  certainly  be 
done  by  a  naturalist  staying  in  Kairouan  itself.  The  climate 
of  Tunisia  is  delightful,  the  rain-fall,  particularly  in  the 
central  and  southern  divisions  of  the  Regency,  very  small, 
and  we  may  take  Mr.  Whi taker's  word  for  it  that  "as  a 
*  Probably  Galerida  thekke  superjiua,  but  none  obtamed. 


1921.]  of  Tunisia  and  Algeria.  395 

country  for  caravan-travel  and  nomad-life  the  Tunisian 
Regency  is  perhaps  unrivalled.''  No  naturalist,  however 
narrow  his  interest  may  be,  can  fail  to  be  delighted  with  his 
first  impression  of  Kairouan,  up  till  the  entry  of  the  French 
in  1881,  one  of  the  four  sacred  Mohammedan  cities,  through 
the  gates  of  which  none  but  the  followers  of  the  Prophet 
durst  enter.  Kairouan  is  a  town  of  purely  Arabic  type, 
surrounded  by  a  remarkably  high  vvall.  With  its  beautiful 
domed  Mosques  and  towering  minarets,  and  its  entirely 
unspoilt  appearance,  tliis  wonderful  white  city  has  an 
atmosphere  which  it  is  quite  impossible  to  describe,  but 
which  grips  one  from  the  moment  its  ancient  gates  are 
entered.  Wandering  through  the  streets  we  often  encoun- 
tered  Arabs  hawkino-  large  bunches  of  Starlinos  for  sale, 
evidently  netted  close  to  the  town  and  eaten  largely  by  the 
natives.  The  loathsome  practice  of  bird-liming  is  also 
carried  on  here,  and  we  saw  a  number  of  miserable  Corn- 
Buntings  being  tortured  by  their  thoughtless  youthful 
captivators  in  the  streets  of  the  town  and  we  hastily  put  them 
out  of  their  «misery.  Many  of  the  Arabs  keep  cage-birds, 
the  African  Goldfinch  being  evidently  the  favourite,  though 
Blackbirds  were  also  seen  and  occasionally  Turtle-Doves. 

On  our  way  to  the  "  Mosque  of  the  Barber "  we  were 
interested  to  see  a  Southern  Little  Owl  {Athene  noctua  glaitx) 
perched  on  a  tomb  in  the  Arab  Cemetery,  quietl}^  sleeping 
in  the  blazing  sun.  Within  a  short  distance  of  the  Owl  the 
white  hunched-up  figure  of  an  Arab  rocked  in  prayer,  but 
the  bird  seemed  undisturbed  by  the  proximity  of  the  droning 
voice.  Our  Mohammedan  guide  told  us  that  the  '"Booma" 
— as  they  call  the  Little  Owl — was  a  very  wicked  bird  at 
whose  door  many  vile  charges  are  laid.  The  bird,  he 
explained,  would  attack  young  babies  the  moment  the 
mother's  back  was  turned,  and  by  swiftly  pecking  the  child's 
forehead  would  cause  its  death  unless  prevented  in  time  ! 
This  astounding  story  was  evidently  implicitly  believed  in 
by  the  narrator,  and  as  he  had  witnessed  such  a  deed  "  with 
his  own  eyes "  it  would  have  been  but  waste  of  time  to 
question  its  authenticity ! 


396  Mr.  D.  A.  Bannerman  :  First  Impressions        [Ibis, 

The  Southern  Little  Owl  is  abundant  throughout  Tunisia, 
frequenting  both  the  olive-groves  of  the  north  and  the 
deserts  of  the  south.  Unlike  the  Scops  Owl  (Otus  scoj^s 
scops),  which  we  did  not  meet  with,  but  which,  according  to 
Y/Hiitaker,  is  found  frequently  nfter  the  end  of  March,  the 
Little  Owl  is  often  to  be  seen  in  the  day-time,  as  I  had 
already  proved  for  myself. 

From  the  minaret  of  the  Great  Mosque  a  magnificent 
view  of  the  surrounding  country  is  obtained,  and  we  then 
realised  how  isolated  this  once  sacred  town  really  is.  On  all 
sides  stretched  the  great  plain,  not  reddish  or  golden  as  the 
Sahara,  but  uniformly  brown  save  where  the  crops  were 
shooting  through  the  sunburnt  soil,  stony  in  nature  and 
partially  covered  with  plant-growth  or  camel-grass.  This 
was  unquestionably  the  country  of  the  Crested  Lark,  and, 
indeed,  save  for  an  occasional  Hawk  or  Harrier,  the  land- 
scape was  otherwise  singularly  devoid  of  bird-life. 

The  Crested  Larks  of  Tunisia  have  been  dealt  with  at 
length  by  Mr.  Whitaker  in  his  book,  and  the  members 
of  the  genus  found  in  Algeria  have  been  Veviewed  by 
Dr.  Hartert  in  Nov.  Zool.  xviii.  1912,  pp.  488-496. 

Of  the  long-billed  form  G.  cristata,  Whitaker  recognises 
only  two  subspecies,  arenicola  (a  pale  race)  and  macrorliyncha 
(a  darker  race),  but  he  does  not  give  the  exact  range  of  these 
two  forms  in  the  Regency  :  macrorliyncha^  he  notes,  inhabits 
country  where  "  plains  and  large  tracts  of  level  country 
appear  ....  and  where  plains  adjoin  or  are  not  far  distant 
from  mountains";  arenicola,  on  the  other  hand,  is  said  by 
Whitaker  to  be  confined  to  the  inland  semi-desert  districts 
of  the  centre  and  south  of  the  Regency,  not  extending  north 
of  the  Atlas,  or  even  (as  far  as  he  was  aware)  to  the  sea- 
coast" — Whitaker  found  it  plentiful  on  the  plains  west  of 
Gafsa  and  on  the  dry  salt  marshes  of  the  Chott  district. 

Since  Whitaker  published  his  book_,  Kleinschmidt  and 
Hilgert  have  turned  their  attention  to  the  long-billed  Crested 
Larks  of  Tunisia,  naming,  between  them,  three  forms. 
They  showed  that  the  bird  which  Whitaker  referred  to  as 
macrorhynclia  from  northern  Tunisia  was  distinct  from  the 


1921.]  of  Tunisia  and  Algeria.  397 

Algerian  bird  and  required  a  new  name,  and  tliey  proposed 
to  call  it  G.  c.  cartha(jinis  (Klein.  &  Hilg.  Orn.  Men.  1905, 
p.  188 :  Tunis).  In  this  tliey  seem  to  have  been  quite 
correct. 

The  bird  which  Whitaker  referred  to  as  arenicola  thoj 
apparently  split  up,  naming  those  from  Gabes  to  Gafsa 
Galerida  crhtata  (jafs>r,  (Orn.  Mon.  1904,  p.  189  :  Seggi), 
while  the  birds  from  the  region  of  the  Chott  el  Djerid  (Tozer, 
Douz,  Kebilli)  they  named  Galerida  cristata  reichenoun  (Orn. 
Mon.  1905,  p.  189  :  Kebilli).  Hilgert,  in  his  (Catalogue  of 
the  Erlanger  Collection^  1908,  pp.  102-104:,  again  reviews 
these  Larks  and  upholds  the  three  names. 

Hartert,  in  his  Vog.  Pal.  Faun.  yoI.  i.  p.  xxvi,  footnote, 
states  that  he  considers  both  gafscc  and  reiclienoxci  to  be 
synonyms  of  arenicola,  which  he  evidently  believes  to 
range  from  the  line  El  Kantara-Touggourt-Bledet-Ahmar 
in  Algeria  eastwards  through  the  deserts  of  southern  Tunisia. 

The  British  Museum  is  singularly  deficient  in  Crested 
Larks  from  Tunisia  and  Algeria,  but  the  few  we  have  at  our 
disposal  does  not  prove  Hartert  to  be  wrong  !  It  certainly 
appears  to  me  that  the  long-billed  Crested  Larks  from  the 
extreme  south-east  corner  of  Tunisia  (a  district  cut  oft"  from 
the  rest  of  the  desert  country  by  a  range  of  mountains — the 
Djebel  Matmata)  is  distinct  and  requires  a  name,  but  as  we 
have  not  sufficient  material  from  this  region,  I  shall  refrain 
from  giving  it  one  for  the  present.  Birds  from  Tatahouine 
appear  to  be  much  more  rufescent  in  colouring  than  either 
so-called  reichenowi  or  gafsa\ 

Of  the  short-billed  group  Whitaker  recognised  four  forms 
in  Tunisia  :  (a)  Galerida  tliehlai  major,  (b)  G.  t.  saperjiua, 
(c)  G.  t.  deicJderi,  (d)  G.  t.  Carolina'. 

Three  of  these  names  still  hold  good,  but  the  bird  which 
inhabits  the  north  of  the  Regency  extending  to  the  Atlas 
Mts.  which  Whitaker  called  G.  t.  major,  we  now  know  by 
the  name  of  G.  t.  harterti — the  same  form  which  is  found 
in  the  north  of  Algeria.  Mr.  AVhitaker  notes  that  the  bird 
found  at  the  higher  elevations  is  still  darker  than  his  major, 
so  that  there  may  be  yet  another  form. 


398  Mr.  D.  A.  Bannermaii  :  Fh'st  Impressions        [Ibis, 

G.  t.  stiper/iaa,  according  to  AVhitaker,  inhabits  tlie  central 
division  of  Tunisia  and  the  less  desert-like  districts  of  the  south. 

G.  t.  deichleri  is  an  isabelline  form  which  inhabits  the 
semi-desert  inland  country  of  southern  Tunisia  and  does  not 
occur  apparently  north. of  Gnfsa,  while  G.  t.  carolince  is  a 
rufous  form  inhabiting  tlie  rocky  inland  plains  of  the  south- 
east of  Tunisia. 

Until  we  have  a  very  large  series  from  Tunisia  of  these 
Larks  we  catniot  add  anything  to  tlie  distribution  as  given 
by  Mr,  Whitaker  in  his  '  Birds  of  Tunisia.'  It  seems  desir- 
able to  ascertain  the  range  of  each  particular  form  of  both 
the  long-billed  and  short-billed  Crested  Larks  with  more 
precision  than  has  been  done  in  the  past.  A  list  of  actual 
localities  from  which  the  various  races  have  been  obtained 
would  greatly  help  in  defining  the  territory  inhabited  by  the 
six  races  up  to  now  described.  Dr.  Hartert  and  Lord  lioth- 
schild  have  already  carried  this  out  as  regards  the  Algerian 
species  and  subspecies. 

As  I  did  not  collect  anv  Larks  I  can  add  nothino;  to  the 
discussions  which  have  already  taken  place,  but  should  I 
return  to  Tunisia  I  shall  certainly  obtain  a  series  wherever 
I  go.  That  representatives  of  both  the  long-billed  (Galerida 
cristata)  and  short-billed  (^Galerida  theklcr)  species  are  very 
abundant  I  can  testify  from  the  tour  I  took  in  the  northern 
and  central  parts  of  the  Regency,  and  I  did  not  enter  the 
southern  desert  zone  at  all,  where  the  Larks  are  of  even 
greater  interest  than  those  from  the  north. 

Tunisia  is  indeed  a  wonderful  country  for  Larks  of  many 
species.  Apart  from  the  several  forms  of  Crested  Lark  (of 
which  there  are  at  least  six  and  possibly  more),  Whitaker 
enumerates  no  fewer  than  fifteen  other  species  and  subspecies 
belonging  to  the  family  Alaudida3 ;  the  genera  Akcmon, 
Chersopliiliis,  Alauda,  Ammomanes,  Calandrella,  Melano- 
corypha,  liliamplwcorys,  and  Otocorys,  all  being  represented 
by  one  or  more  forms.  Unquestionably  there  still  remains 
good  work  to  be  done  in  determining  the  exact  range  of 
these  birds,  particularl}'^  as  regards  the  members  of  the  genus 
Galerida. 


1 92 1.]  of  Tunisia  and  Algeria.  399 

Two  nights  were  spent  in  Kairouan,  and  from  there  we 
travelled  south  over  the  vast  plain  passing  the  great  salt 
lake  Sebkra  Sidi-el-Hani,  and  thence  in  a  south-easterly 
direction  to  El  Djera.  Quite  a  number  of  Cranes  were  seen 
on  this  part  of  the  journey,  but  little  else  of  interest  save 
the  ever  present  Larks.  El  Djem  boasts  a  railway  station, 
a  small  but  quite  comfortable  hotel,  an  exceedingly  filthy 
Arab  village,  ami  the  finest  monument  left  by  the  Romans  in 
Tunisia,  an  Amphitlientre,  colossal  in  size  and  wonderfully 
well  preserved,  rivalling  the  Colosseum  in  Rome.  The 
Amphitheatre  is  evidently  the  breeding-place  of  numerous 
Rock-Pigeons  (^Cohimba  liria)  and  many  Kestrels,  Six  or 
eight  of  the  latter  could  be  seen  snaring  above  the  ruin, 
or  else  busily  engaged  in  nesting  preparations  on  the  highest 
remaining  tiers.  Near  the  Arab  village,  I  remarked  a 
Crested  Lark  with  exceptionally  pale  sandy-coloured  plumage, 
but  as  I  did  not  obtain  it,  I  will  not  venture  to  give  it  a 
name.  One  would  not  expect  to  find  either  of  the  true 
desert  forms  so  far  north  as  El  Djem.  The  first  part  of  the 
route  from  El  Djem  to  Susa  passes  through  much  the  same 
type  of  country,  the  same  desert  aspect  and  the  same  paucity 
of  bird-life  as  observed  between  Kairouan  and  El  Djem. 
As  we  neared  the  latter  town  the  landscape  quickly  changed, 
rolling  olive-clad  hills,  broken  up  by  deep  nullahs,  succeeded 
the  plains,  and  the  birds  of  the  orchards  at  once  made  their 
appearance  :  Turtle-Doves  were  seen  for  the  first  time^  as 
well  as  Blackbirds,  Thrushes,  Buntings,  Warblers,  etc. 

Staying  the  night  at  Susa,  we  returned  to  Tunis  by  the 
coast-road.  From  what  I  saw  of  the  north  I  am  sure  a  tour 
in  the  south — Gabes,  Sfnx,  Gafsa,  Neftaj  etc. — would  prove 
ot"  exceptional  interest,  especially  to  anyone  attracted,  as  I 
am,  by  desert  scenery  and  desert  fauna  and  flora.  A  very 
pleasant  trip,  and  one  which  would  give  the  traveller  an 
excellent  insight  into  desert  life,  would  be  to  travel  from 
(jrabes — a  port  on  the  south-east  coast  of  Tunisia — by  train 
or  car  to  Nefta,  and  from  there  by  camel  caravan  into 
Algeria  via  El  Oued  and  Touggourt,  whence  the  railway 
would    bring    him    to    Biskra    in    nine    hours.      While   at 


400  Mr.  D.  A.  Bannerman  :    First  Impressions        [Ihis, 

Tunis  I  had,  with  Mr.  Sclater,  the  pleasure  of  meeting- 
Monsieur  Lavauden,  a  French  ornithologist,  who  is  in 
charge  of  the  "Woods  and  Forests"  department  of  the 
Government  in  Tunisia.  Mons.  liavauden  has  an  excellent 
knowledge  of  Tunisian  birds,  and  gave  us  much  interesting- 
information  on  the  suoject  ;  he  has  compiled  a  most  useful 
little  brochure  on  the  Tunisian  birds,  which  is  noticed  in  the 
last  number  of  '  The  Ibis '  {cf.  p.  326).  Mr.  Sclater  also  visited 
Mons.  Blanchet,  a  local  naturalist  of  considerable  repute, 
whom  1  regret  I  did  not  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting. 
Both  these  gentlemen  would,  I  feel  sure,  be  willing  to  give 
unstintingly  of  their  ornithological  knowledge  to  any 
members  of  the  B.  0.  U.  who  niay  chance  to  visit  Tunisia. 

tShooting  restrictions  in  Tunisia  are  much  simpler  than  in 
the  adjoining  country  of  Algeria.  Firearms  may  be  taken 
into  the  country  so  long  as  they  are  declared  at  the  port  of 
arrival.  Grun  licences  cost  under  two  francs,  and  only  a 
small  tax  is  charged  on  the  importation  of  loaded  cart- 
ridges. 

In  the  south  game  is  said  to  be  plentiful,  the  widely  dis- 
tributed Dorcas  Grazelle  {^Gazella  dorcas  dovcas)  and  Loder's 
Gazelle  {Gazella  leptoceros  loderi),  as  well  as  the  Addax 
Antelope  (^Addax  nasomaculatus  nasomacxdatus),  with  its  fine 
spiral  horns,  being  found.  The  ordinary  shooting-season 
lasts  from  the  middle  of  August,  at  which  early  date  few 
sportsmen  will  be  tempted  to  brave  the  blazing  sun  of  the 
plains,  until  the  end  of  February;  while  doubtless  the 
season  would  be  extended  for  anyone  collecting  for  scientific 
purposes,  the  French  authorities  looking  with  a  friendly  eye 
on  all  such  pursuits. 

We  left  Tunis  with  deep  regret  in  the  early  morning  of 
February  16th,  travelling  by  train  into  Algeria.  Our 
destination  was  Hammam-Meskoutine,  which  took  eleven 
hours  to  reach,  but  the  magnificent  scenery  through  which 
the  line  passes  prevented  any  thought  of  tedium.  Passing 
at  first  through  fertile  valleys,  olive-clad  slopes,  and  then 
bare  hills,  the  scenery  becomes  grander  as  the  higher  alti- 
tudes   are    approached,  often    skirting,  often    crossing   and 


1 92 1.]  of  Tunisia  and  Algeria.  401 

re-crossing  the  great  bed  of  the  Medjerda  river,  the  course 
of  which  the  line  follows  tor  a  considerable  distance  ;  the 
train  gradually  ascends  until  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  a 
tumbling  mass  of  mountains  clothed  at  the  highest  points 
with  maoiiificeiit  forests  of  ('ork  and  Evergreen  Oaks. 

I  do  not  know  whether  any  ornithologist  has  ever  worked 
in  this  country,  but  1  can  imagine  no  more  suitable  district 
for  studying  the  mountain  and  forest  fauna  than  that  just 
described,  particnlarly  when  the  Tunisian-Algerian  boundary 
has  been  crossed.  The  stretch  of  mountain  scenery  between 
Souk-Ahras  (2297  ft.)  and  Ain-Tahamimine  (1100  ft.;, 
which  reaches  at  Laverdure  an  altitude  of  over  2500  ft.  with 
mountains  of  4150  ft.  towering  above,  is  incomparably 
beautiful.  Eagles  on  more  than  one  occasion  were  seen, 
one  bird  flying  for  some  distance  parallel  with  the  train  and 
almost  within  gunshot  of  the  carriage.  Owing  to  the  sun 
I  was  unable  to  get  a  satisfactory  view  of  its  plumage,  but 
I  believe  it  to  have  been  the  Golden  Eagle,  which  is  found 
sparingly  throughout  the  northern  Atlas  Mountains  of 
Algeria  and  generally  throughout  the  more  mountainous 
parts  of  Tunisia. 

Tlie  line  now  gradually  descends,  and  as  we  neared 
Hammam-Meskoutine  the  country  opened  out,  olives  once 
more  clothed  the  slopes,  and  in  every  direction  the  country 
bore  a  highly  [irosperous  and  luxuriant  appearance. 

Hammam-Meskoutine  or  The  Baths  o£  the  Petrified,  as 
its  name  implies,  from  an  ancient  Arab  legend,  is  charm- 
ingly situated  from  an  ornithologist's  point  of  view.  The 
hotel  and  farm  buildings  are  almost  the  only  houses  in  sight. 
In  the  pretty  courtyard,  round  which  the  hotel  is  built, 
palms,  orange  and  lemon  trees  are  the  haunt  of  numerous 
Dusky  Bulbuls  {Pycnonotus  harhatus  harhatus),  the  first  we 
had  met  with.  Redbreasts  {Eritliacns  ruhecula  subsp.  ?) 
hopped  about  under  the  shade  of  the  trees,  a  Grey  Wagtail 
(^Alotacilla  cinerea  cinerea)  frequented  the  irrigation  stream, 
and  innumerable  Sjiarrows  filled  the  air  with  their  noisy 
chatter.  Lord  liothschild  and  Dr.  Hartert  paid  particular . 
attention    to    the    Sparrows   at    Hammam-Meskoutine    and 


402  Mr.  D.  A.  Bannerman  :  First  Imp^'essions        [Ibis, 

collected  a  large  series  here.  Typical  exani})les  o£  both 
Passer  hispaniolensis  h'lspaniolensis  and  P.  domesticus  tingi- 
taaus  were  obtained  by  them,  and  their  remarks  on  the 
interoradino'  of  these  two  forms  as  observed  at  Hammam- 
Meskoutine  will  be  found  in  Nov.  Zool.  xviii.  1912,  p.  4bl). 
I  had  the  advantage  of  having  a  copy  of  this  paper  with  me, 
and  with  the  aid  of  my  powerful  field-glasses  was  able  to 
match  from  live  birds  under  my  observation  quite  a  number 
of  the  Sparrows'  heads  depicted  in  PI.  xi.  of  the  paper  cited. 
The  Redbreasts  puzzled  me  somewhat.  They  appeared  very 
pale-breasted,  but  then  I  am  used  to  watching  the  fine 
Erithacxis  ruhecula  superhus  of  certain  of  the  Canary  Islands, 
with  its  rich  coloured  breast.  Mr.  Jourdain  believed  that 
most  of  the  Robins  which  Mr.  Wallis  met  with  at  Hammam- 
Meskoutine  in  1910  were  migrants  from  I'hirope.  Dr. 
Hurtert,  in  addition  to  many  typical  specimens,  shot  an 
example  of  E.  r.  luitherhyi  at  this  place  in  February  1911. 
I  confess  I  am  unable  to  tell  this  race  apart  in  life. 

So  many  ornithologists  have  worked  in  this  district  that 
the  birds  of  the  neighbourhood  are  now  comparatively  well 
known.  A  short  description  of  the  surrounding  country 
may,  however,  be  of  interest  to  those  who  have  not  seen  it 
for  themselves.  Hammam-Meskoutine  lies  in  the  northern 
Atlas  range  at  a  height  of  1312  ft.  In  the  vicinity  of  the 
hotel  the  country  is  very  open,  and  in  February  wonderfully 
green,  the  wide  valleys  are  everywhere  sown  with  corn,  the 
lower  hill-slopes  covered  with  grass  for  grazing  or  planted 
with  olive-trees,  which  in  some  directions  cover  the  hillsides 
as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach.  Hot  springs  bubble  up  in  many 
places,  and  the  water,  which  issues  from  the  ground  at  a 
temperature  of  205°  F.,  finds  its  way  through  a  tangle  of 
luxuriant  vegetation  down  the  bed  of  the  valley,  its  course 
clearly  visible  by  the  constantly  rising  steam.  Great  clumps 
of  palm-trees  grow  luxuriantly  in  these  valleys,  their  presence 
appearing  somewhat  incongruous  in  this  typically  park-like 
landscape  (Plate  II.  fig.  1).  On  all  sides  mountains  rise 
in  the  distance,  covered  closely  with  scrub  four  or  five  feet 
in  height,  or  else  bare  save  for  the  scant  coarse  grass  which 


IBIS.    1921     PL. 


1.     A  typical  landscape,  Hammam-Meskoutine. 


2.     The  Oued  bou  Hamdane,  Hammam-Meskoutine. 


1 92 1.]  of  lunisia  and  Algeria.  403 

gives  a  patchy  appearance,  resembling  from  a  distance  a 
well-burnt  Scottish  moor. 

Every  day  for  two  weeks  I  rode  over  these  hills  on  the 
excellent  little  Arab  horses  to  be  hired  at  the  hotel,  or  else 
explored  the  river-bed  of  the  Oued  bou  Haiiidane  (Plate  II. 
fig.  2),  in  places  almost  dry  save  for  two  or  three  narrow 
channels  easily  fordable  at  almost  any  point. 

No  matter  what  direction  is  taken  birds  are  everywhere 
really  plentiful.  Close  to  the  hotel,  in  the  thick  under- 
growth of  the  valleys  and  on  the  olive-clad  slopes,  we 
observed  Greenfinches  ( Chloris  cliloris  aurantiiventris)  in 
small  numbers  almost  every  day.  Chaffinches  (Fringilla 
coelebs  africana),  numerous  Blackbirds  {Turdus  merida 
algirus),  Song-Thrushes  {Turdus  pMlomelus  philomelus), 
Redbreasts  (apparently  Erithacus  ruhenda  ruhecula), 
Dusky  Bulbuls  {Pgcnonotus  harhatus  barhatiis),  Brown 
Linnets  {Acantliis  cannxdnna  meditery'anea)  in  small  flocks, 
and  Goldfinches  {Carduelis  carduelis  africana)  in  consider- 
able numbers,  Starlings  (Sturmis  vulgaris  vulgaris)  in 
huge  flocks,  Sparrows,  Corn-Buntings  {Emberiza  calandra 
ealandra),  Blue  Titmice  [Parus  ca'ruletis  idtramarinus)  very 
few.  Blackcaps  (Si/lvia  atricapilla  atricapilla)  rather  rare. 
Sardinian  Warblers  {Sglvia  melanocephala  melanocephala\ 
and  Kestrels  ( Cerclineis  tinnuncidtis  tinnunculus) . 

On  the  more  rocky  ground,  covered  with  grass,  small 
scrub,  and  olives,  the  Barbary  Partridge  (Alectoris  barbara 
barbara)  is  plentiful.  All  were  paired  by  the  time  I  arrived 
on  the  17th  of  Februar3\  In  the  reeds  of  the  dry  river-bed 
I  caught  a  hasty  glimpse  of  a  Warbler,  but  am  uncertain  of 
the  species  to  which  it  belonged.  Birds  of  Prey  were  nearly 
always  observed  once  the  higher  ground  had  been  reached. 
Most  commonly  seen  was  the  Golden  Eagle  (Agtula 
chri/saetus).  On  the  25tli  of  February  I  saw  three  together 
sailing  majestically  along  the  hillside,  whilst  another  eagle, 
observed  on  one  occasion  only^  was,  I  believe,  Bonelli's 
Eagle  {Eutolmaetus  fasciatus  fasciatus),  a  bird  with  which 
I  am  unfamiliar.  Bonelli's  Eagle  is  recorded  by  Messrs. 
Wallis  and  Jourdain  (Ibis,  1915,  p.  157)  as  breeding  at 


404  Mr,  D.  A.  Bannerman  :  First  Impressions       [Tbis, 

Hanimani-Meskoutine  in  February  190G,  uinl  the  species 
was  seen  b}--  the  former  observer  iu  1910  and  1912  in  the 
same  locality.  Hartert  also  records  Bonelli's  Eagle  (Nov. 
Zool.  xviii.  p.  534)  from  the  same  place,  so  that  I  feel 
pretty  sure  of  my  identification. 

Ii-by-'s  Raven  [Corvus  corax  tmgitanits)  was  also  occasion- 
ally seen  in  pairs. 

Crested  Larks  are  very  plentiful  on  the  cultivated  lands, 
and  they  seem  to  love  particularly  the  grassy  strips  left  on 
either  side  of  the  dusty  main  roads.  It  is  a  dark  race,  as 
might  be  expected,  which  frequents  this  district,  known  as 
Galerida  tlieklce  harterti. 

I  can  only  add  two  species  (by  name)  to  the  list  of 
Hammam-Meskoutine  birds  recorded  by  Rothschild,  Hartert, 
Wallis,  and  Jourdain,  one  being  Moussier's  Redstart  (IHplo- 
otocus  moussieri).  On  two  occasions  I  saw  a  male  of  this 
unmistakable  species,  once  close  to  the  "  Petrified  Arabs," 
the  huge  cone-shaped  deposits  of  calcareous  tufa,  which  are 
such  a  remarkable  sight  close  fo  the  boiling  waterfall,  and  a 
single  bird  was  seen  on  higher  ground  when  Mr.  Sclater  and 
I  were  out  riding  on  the  21st  of  February.  The  other  bird, 
which  I  believe  has  not  previously  been  seen,  though  Hartert 
heard  it,  was  the  Barn-Owl.  Just  as  we  were  leaving  on  the 
26th  of  February,  my  attention  was  called  to  a  tree  in  the  hotel 
garden  in  which  a  number  of  Bulbuls  were  making  a  tre- 
mendous noise.  On  approaching  I  found  tliey  were  mobbing 
a  Barn-Owl,  which,  I  believe,  from  its  very  white  breast, 
to  have  been  Ti/to  alba  alba.  The  Bulbuls  were  keepiug  a 
very  respectful  distance  from  their  unwelcome  visitor,  ex- 
tending their  tails  and  wings,  which  they  kept  in  a  constant 
state  of  motion,  while  twittering  and  scolding  incessantly. 
The  Barn-Owl  is  evidently  a  rare  bird  in  Algeria.  Only 
once  did  I  see  a  bird  during  my  stay  at  Hammam  which 
really  puzzled  me.  I  was  forcing  my  horse  along  a  moun- 
tain path  in  the  direction  of  Roknia,  through  particularly 
thick  scrub,  when  I  saw^  something  i-unning  under  a  bush. 
Pushing  the  horse  towards  it  off  the  track,  I  managed  to 
flush  a  bird,  which  might  have  been  a   glorified  quail.     It 


IBIS.    1921.   PL.  III. 


The  Gorge  of  the  Rumtnel,  Constantine. 


1 92 1.]  of  Tunisia  and  Algeria.  405 

certainly  had  no  tail  to  speak  of,  and  had  very  rounded 
wings,  dark  upper  parts,  not  a  particularly  lono  bill,  and  the 
legs  were  not  visible.  It  seemed  quite  dazed  by  tlie  sun, 
anil  with  slow  almost  butterfly-like  flight  dropped  into  the 
bush  again  some  20  feet  from  me,  whence  I  failed  to  dis- 
lodge it.  It  was  not  an  Owl  as  has  been  suggested.  It 
might  have  been  a  short-legged  Rail,  but  what  a  curious 
place  in  which  to  find  one  !  In  size  it  reminded  me  of  a 
young  Partridge  on  the  1st  of  September. 

Quite  a  number  of  birds  recorded  by  other  ornithologists 
were  not  seen  by  me  at  Hammam-Meskoutine,  as,  for  in- 
stance, the  Hawfinch  {Coccothraustes  coecothraustes  buvryi), 
'  noted  by  Hartert,  and  met  with  by  Mr.  Wallis  abundantly 
in  March  and  April  1911,  the  Golden  Oriole  (Oriolus  oriohis 
oriolus),  recorded  by  Wallis  on  1st  March,  and  Hartert  on 
20th  May,  the  Serin  (Serinus  canarius  serinus),  recorded  by 
Wallis  on  21st  April,  and  by  Hartert  in  February,  the  Siskin 
(Carduelis  spimcs),  seen  by  Hartert  in  February  1911.  The 
('Onnnon  Chaffinch  [Fringilla  coelehs  coelehs)  was  seen  in  this 
district  by  Hartert,  as  well  as  F.  c.  africana,  but  all  those 
observed  by  me  belonged  to  the  latter  North  African  race. 
The  African  Ilock-Bunting  {Emberiza  cia  africana),  recorded 
by  Wallis  in  April,  was  absent,  and  a  long  list  of  other  species 
including  a  number  of  birds  of  passage,  all  of  which  will  be 
be  found  enumerated  in  the  two  papers  cited.  No  true 
migrants  were  observed,  Swifts,  Swallows,  and  Martins  were 
conspicuously  absent,  and  members  of  the  Warbler  family 
were  remarkablv  scarce.  The  great  rush  to  Europe  had  not 
yet  commenced. 

Hammam-Meskoutine  is  indeed  a  splendid  centre  from 
which  to  gain  a  first-hand  knowledge  of  the  birds  of  the 
more  mountainous  parts  of  northern  Africa.  We  left  this 
interesting  district  on  the2Gth  of  February,  making  our  way 
west  to  Constanline,  a  town  about  wdiich  much  has  ah-eady 
been  written.  The  line  passes  close  to  the  rugged  Ujebel 
Taya,  famous  as  the  habitat  of  the  North  African  Bearded 
Vulture  {GypaetKS  harhatus  harhatas).  Constantine  enjovsa 
unique  position  on  a  hill  surrounded  on  three  sides  by  the 


406  Mr.  D.  A.  Bannerman  :  First  Impressions       [Ibis, 

wonderful  Ruinmel  Grorge  (Plate  III.),  varying  in  places  from 
330  to  690  £t.  in  depth  and  from  230  to  ioO  ft.  in  breadth. 
Its  precipitous  sides  are  the  breeding-place  of  countless 
numbers  of  Lesser  and  Common  Kestrels,  Jackdaws,  and 
Rock-Pigeons.  It  is,  as  Dr.  Hartert  has,  I  think,  already 
said,  one  of  the  few  places  in  the  world  where  one  may 
stand  in  a  busy  thoroughfare  and  gaze  down  upon  all,  these 
birds  soaring  below,  and  maybe  a  Peregrine  Falcon  will  be 
seen,  as  I  had  the  luck  to  see  one,  dashing  under  the  great 
suspension  bridge  (,551  ft.  in  length  and  671  ft,  above  the 
river)  which  leads  to  the  hospital;  Egyptian  Vultures  and 
Ravens  were  also  seen  in  the  Gorge,  and  later  in  the  season 
it  is  frequented  by  numerous  Alpine  Swifts,  which,  however, 
had  not  arrived  by  the  3rd  of  March.  All  round  the  top  of  this 
gorge  runs  a  fine  carriage  drive,  from  which  is  obtained  one 
of  the  finest  views  imaginable.  To  the  west  and  north-west 
stretches  a  tremendous  valley  backed  as  far  as  the  eye  can 
reach  with  mountains.  Whether  viewed  under  the  merci- 
less rays  of  the  noon-day  sun,  or  during  the  softer  lights 
at  sunset,  the  panorama  is  exceedingly  beautiful.  Pallid 
Swifts  had  not  yet  made  their  appearance,  but  on  the  1st  of 
March  a  number  of  House-Martins,  which  were  certainly  not 
there  on  the  previous  days,  were  seen  flying  up  to  their  old 
nests  under  the  eaves  of  a  public  building  on  the  ramparts. 
I  counted  the  nests  on  this  building,  and  I  found  91  old,  but 
for  the  most  part  habitable,  nests  on  the  front  alone.  The 
building  had  a  frontage  of  93  ft.,  two  feet  of  which  were 
occupied  by  water-pipes.  At  the  back  there  were  90  nests 
at  least,  and  on  one  of  the  sides  15,  while  on  the  other  side 
the  architecture  did  not  allow  of  one  nest  to  be  built.  The 
total  was  the  prodigious  number  of  196  nests  on  only  a 
moderate-sized  building.  On  the  hillside  east  of  the  town 
lies  a  small  forest  of  fir-trees  singularly  devoid  of  bird-life 
on  the  day  of  my  visit,  while  below  the  River  Rummel  winds 
through  the  wide  valley  towards  El  Guerrah,  the  junction  of 
th'j  line  to  Biskra.  Constantine  will  live  in  my  memory, 
not  only  for  the  unique  Rummel  Gorge  and  the  marvellous 
views  obtained  from  the  ramparts,  but  also  for  the  remarkable 


IBIS.    1921.   PL.  IV. 


c 

c 
eg 
t/i 

c 
o 

O 


o 

I- 

JD 


c 
o 

O 


1 92 1.]  oj  Tunisia  and  Algeria.  407 

number  of  Wbite  Storks  (Ciconia  ciconia  ciconia)  which 
make  their  home  in  the  Arab  quarter  of  the  town.  On  the 
picturesque  old  red  roofs  of  the  houses  which  rise  in  tiers  to  the 
north-east  of  the  bridge  of  El  Rached  (Plate  IV.),  I  counted 
as  many  as  forty  Storks  sitting  or  standing  by  their  great 
nests,  while  a  number  of  others  w^ere  flying  overhead,  their 
long  necks  and  legs  stretched  out  to  their  full  extent.  This, 
of  course,  is  the  usual  position  in  which  the  Stork  flies,  but 
I  have  also  seen  them  wheeling  overhead  at  a  considerable 
altitude  with  their  legs  drooping  down,  as  if  preparatory  to 
alighting.  Unmolested  by  the  Arabs,  the  Storks  of  Con- 
stantino add  greatly  to  the  already  wonderfully  picturesque 
Eue  Perregaux,  from  various  points  of  which  the  great  birds 
and  their  nests  may  be  observed  at  close  quarters. 

In  the  early  morning  of  3rd  March  we  left  Constantine 
for  Biskra  by  the  now  well-known  tourist  route  to  the  oasis 
on  the  fringe  of  the  desert.  At  this  early  hour  numerous 
Storks  Avere  seen  in  the  fields,  busily  feeding  ;  at  Kroubs, 
where  they  were  particularly  numerous,  I  noticed  four  huge 
nests  built  in  one  small  tree  bare  of  leaves,  which  hardly 
appeared  large  enough  to  support  one  such  ungainly  structure. 
Between  Ain  M'lila  and  Ain  Yagout  the  train  traverses  an 
immense  flat  stony  plain,  for  the  most  part  covered  with 
grass,  to  the  west  of  which  rugged  limestone  hills  rise 
abruptly.  Lapwings,  Starlings,  Larks,  and  great  numbers 
of  Sparrows  were  constantly  seen  from  the  train.  East  of 
the  line  the  distant  mountains  were  white  with  snow. 
Several  shallow  salt-lakes  were  passed  surrounded  by  rough, 
rush-covered  ground  with  here  and  there  inviting  pools, 
where  a  great  many  small  wading  birds  were  observed. 

The  line  runs  close  to  the  Salt  Chotts  Tinzilts  and 
Ez  Zemoul  absolutely  bare  of  vegetation  around  their  edges. 
To  my  disappointment  not  a  bird  was  to  be  seen.  On 
the  20th  of  Febrjiary,  thirteen  years  previously.  Dr.  Hartert 
found  on  the  former  sheet  of  water  many  Ducks,  a  few 
Grulls,  and  hundreds  of  Flamingoes.  The  station,  "  Les 
Lacs,"  is  on  the  very  edge  of  the  lake,  and  as  the  train  pulls 
up  there  for  a  few  minutes  and  then  sweeps  round  one  side 

SER.  XI. VOL.  III.  2  E 


408  Mr.  D.  A.  Bannerman  :  First  Impressions        [Ibis, 

o£  Cliott  Tinzilts,  birds,  if  present,  could  not  escape  notice. 
Backed  by  distant  snow-capped  mountains,  the  blue  expanse 
o£  water,  surrounded  by  low,  absolutely  barren,  reddish- 
tinted  hills,  made  a  singularly  attractive  picture,  and  only 
needed  the  Flamingoes  to  complete  the  scene. 

Beyond  "  Les  Lacs  "  great  plains  stretch  to  El  Mahder, 
covered  when  not  under  cultivation  with  camel  grass,  where 
numerous  large  flocks  of  Starlings  {^Sturnus  vulgaris  vulgaris) 
were  observed.  Considering  the  poor  quality  of  much  of 
the  soil,  the  extent  of  land  under  cultivation  is  really 
remarkable.  As  we  neared  Batna  the  mountains,  still 
deeply  capped  with  snow,  increased  in  altitude,  and  were, 
as  we  soon  discovered,  thickly  clothed  with  forest  and  scrub; 
the  forest  covers  a  large  area  as  seen  from  the  train  alone, 
and  consists,  I  believe,  chiefly  of  cedar  mixed  with  oak. 

Batna,  which  is  also  the  home  of  a  great  number  of  White 
Storks,  is  perhaps  the  best  centre  from  which  to  explore  the 
Aures  Mountains.  It  was  from  here  that  Dr.  Hartert  set 
out  to  ascend  Djebel  Mahmel^  the  type-locality  of  Seebohm's 
Wheatear  ((Enanthe  cenantlie  seehohmi),  whilst  the  oak  woods 
above  Lambese  may  be  conveniently  worked  from  that  place. 
Between  Batna  and  Biskra  the  train  carries  one  past  varied 
scenery — first  through  a  wide  valley  flanked  on  either  side  by 
hills  thickly  covered  with  cedar  forest,  known  as  the  Forct 
d'Ichali,  then  through  plains  partly  cultivated,  partly  grazing 
land,  but  with  every  kilometer  the  vegetation  becomes  more 
scanty  and  less  green  than  farther  north.  By  the  time 
Tamarin  is  reached  the  country  has  already  taken  on  quite 
a  desert  aspect.  Close  to  the  little  station,  where  pome- 
granates, apricots,  and  tamarisks — the  fruit-trees  in  full 
blossom — seemed  to  be  almost  the  last  sign  of  cultivation, 
six  Common  Cranes  were  seen  in  a  field.  South  of  Tamarin, 
barren  undulating  hills,  cut  up  by  dry  nullahs,  heralded  the 
approach  of  the  desert,  and  soon  the  line  ascended  into  wild 
mountainous  country,  where  the  rugged  hills  were  clothed 
only  with  the  scantiest  of  plant-life.  There  was  not  a  tree 
in  sight,  not  even  a  nomad's  tent.  We  were  now  close  to 
the  famous  gorge  of  El  Kantara,  and  eagerly  scanned  the 


1 92 1.]  of  Tunisia  and  Ah/eria.  409 

sky  for  a    chance    sight  of  a   Bearded  Vulture   (Gypaetus 
harhatus  harhatus) . 

Just  before  the  gorge  is  entered  the  train  pulls  up  at  the 
station  of  El  Kantara.  Ornithologists  are  recommended  to 
make  a  stay  at  the  Hotel  Bertrand,  which  has  been  built 
in  a  picturesque  position  almost  in  the  mouth  of  the  gorge 
itself.  Apart  from  the  possibility  of  seeing  the  Bearded 
Vulture,  the  great  cliffs  of  the  Djebel  Metlili  and  the  imme- 
diate ranges  east  of  El  Kantara  are  the  breeding-place  of 
Egyptian  Vultures  [Neophron  percnopterus  percnopterus), 
Golden  Eagles  {Aquila  chri/saetus),  and  Bonelli's  Eagles 
[Fjutolmaetus  fasciatus  fasciatus),  African  Buzzards  (Bufeo 
ferox  eirtensis),  Algerian  Lanner  Falcons  (Falco  hiarmicus 
erlan<jeri).  Black  Kites  {^Alilrus  mufrans  migrans),  and  pro- 
bably other  accipitrine  birds  as  well,  a  sufficiently  interesting- 
collection  to  entice  most  ornithologists  to  break  their  journey 
to  Biskra  at  this  favoured  spot.  Many  other  birds,  other 
than  birds-of-prey,  may  be  seen  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
El  Kantara,  and  a  week  at  least  can  be  comfortably  spent 
there,  even  if  time  is  pressing. 

Many  pens  have  doubtless  attempted  to  desci'ibe  the  swift 
passage  I'rom  the  dark  towering  precipices  of  El  Kantara 
and  the  grandeur  of  the  Aures  Mountains  to  the  solitude  and 
glare  of  the  great  Sahara.  Truly  has  the  gorge  been  called 
the  Gate  of  the  Desert.  As  the  train  a})proaches  the 
apparently  solid  wall  of  rock,  as  viewed  from  the  station, 
a  glimpse  is  caught  of  a  turbulent  boulder-strewn  stream 
rushing  through  the  narrow  pass  and  lined  on  either  bank 
with  palm  and  fruit  trees  ;  above  rise  the  great  jagged  cliffs, 
throwing  everything  far  and  wide  into  shade.  The  train 
winds  in  and  out  of  three  short  tunnels,  between  which 
fascinating  glimpses  of  the  palms  and  bed  of  the  rushing 
torrent  are  obtained.  Suddenly  the  wall  of  cliff  ends,  and 
in  a  flood  of  light  one  gazes  down  upon  a  sea  of  wavino" 
palm-trees,  and  beyond  the  infinite  space  of  the  desert. 

Over  the  great  plain  of  El  Outa'ia,  the  forecourt  of  the 
Sahara,  entirely  encircled  by  mountains,  the  train  slowly 
winds  its  way,  stopping  for  a  short  while  at  the  village  and 

2  E  2 


410  Mr.  D.  A.  Bnnnernian  :  First  Impressions        [Ibis, 

palm  oasis  from  which  the  plain  takes  its  name.  Both  Kites 
and  Kestrels  were  seen  in  the  neighbourhood,  the  former 
doubtless  the  Black  Kite  (Milvus  migrans  migrans).  The 
huge  expanse,  flat  as  a  billiard-table  save  for  the  inter- 
secting dry  watercourses,  is  absolutely  bare  and  sandy, 
partly  covered  with  small  stones  and  partly  cultivated, 
patches  of  exceedingly  green  corn  standing  out  in  striking 
contrast  to  the  drab  desert  soil.  This  is  the  home  of 
many  interesting  birds — the  C^alandra  Lark  (^MeJanocoryplia 
calandra  calandra),  the  Algerian  Desert  Lark  [Ammomanes 
deserti  algeriensis),  Hilgert's  Crested  Lark  {Galerida  tltefcke 
liilgerti),  the  Western  Russet  Wheatear  {(JtJnantlie  Inspanica 
hispanica),  the  African  Black  C^hat  [(Jilnantlie  leucura 
syenitiixi),  the  Pied  Chat  [fEnantlie  lugens  halophila),  and 
several  other  desert  birds  which  I  found  there  on  future 
visits. 

The  plain  takes  some  time  to  cross,  but  gradually  we  drew 
near  to  the  low  range  which  obscures  the  view  of  Biskra 
and  the  true  desert  beyond.  Running  parallel  with  the 
course  of  a  wide  river-bed,  the  line  passes  through  a  cutting 
in  the  Chaine  du  Sfa,  and  as  we  emerged  from  the  hills  the 
oreat  oasis  of  Biskra  came  into  view,  with  a  single  white 
tower  standing  conspicuously  above  the  palms  and  cypresses. 
To  the  east  and  west  the  Aures  Mountains  recede  into  the 
distance,  while  to  the  south  stretches  the  immeasurable 
golden  desert,  broken  only  by  lines  of  dark  green  marking 
other  oases  on  the  horizon — and  so  the  edge  of  the  Sahara  is 
reached  at  last. 

Three  delightful  weeks  were  spent  in  the  oasis  exploring 
the  neighbourhood.  For  a  naturalist  arriving  at  Biskra  for 
the  first  time,  there  is  so  much  to  see,  and  so  much  to  do,  that 
the  time  slips  away  before  half  is  accomplished.  Dr.  Hartert 
had  kindly  instructed  me  where  to  go  and  Avhat  to  look  for, 
and  armed  with  his  paper  "  Ornithological  Explorations  in 
Algeria"  (ex  Nov.  Zool.  xviii.),  with  Mr.  Jourdain's  "Notes 
on  the  Bird  j:.ife  of  Eastern  Algeria  "  (Ibis,  1915),  Whitaker's 
'  Birds  of  Tunisia/  and  Witherby's  '  Practical  Handbook  of 
British  Birds  ' — the  last-named  invaluable  for  the  identifying 


192 1.]  of  Tmns'm  and  Algeria.  411 

of  migrants — I  found  Biskra  and  its  environs  all  that  its 
admirers  had  claimed  for  it.  From  our  comfortable  quarters 
in  the  Hotel  du  Sahara  we  were  able  to  make  easy  expe- 
ditions in  many  directions — on  horseback,  in  carriages,  on 
camel,  or  on  foot.  Thus  the  plain  of  El  Outai'a  is  within 
easy  reach,  also  the  sand-dunes,  the  stony  desert,  the  sandy 
desert,  the  bare  rugged  hills,  and  the  wide  bed  of  the 
Oued  Biskra,  the  extensive  pahn-groves  of  Vieux  Biskra, 
the  wonderful  garden  of  Count  Landon,  each  holding  their 
own  particular  birds,  only  a  cursory  knowledge  of  which 
can  be  obtained  in  a  three  weeks'  visit.  Later  in  the  season 
(we  left  Biskra  on  the  24th  of  March)  the  oasis  is  full  of 
migrants  passing  on  their  long  journey  north.  On  March 
13th  I  met  a  French  sportsman  returning  with  four  or  five 
couple  of  Quail,  which  he  had  shot  in  the  fields  on  the 
outskirts  of  the  oasis — the  first  arrivals  of  the  season,  so  he 
informed  me.  By  the  third  week  in  March,  Swallows  and 
House-Martins  had  become  common,  frequenting  particularly 
the  Oued  Biskra  and  the  cornfields  on  the  outskirts  of  the 
oasis.  The  young  palm-groves  were  teeming  with  Warblers, 
apparently  on  passage  ;  but  of  other  migrants,  such  as  Bee- 
eaters,  Rollers,  Swifts,  and  Redstarts,  none  had  yet  arrived. 
Had  we  remained  another  month  we  should  doubtless  have 
found  them  in  numbers.  Rock-Martins  were,  however, 
observed  in  one  place  only,  half  a  dozen  of  these  birds  flying 
round  the  old  watch  tower,  built  on  a  commanding  rock  near 
the  entrance  to  the  town.  Hartert  records  them  from  near 
Biskra  in  Februarj^,  March,  and  April. 

The  birds  of  Biskra  and  its  neighbourhood  have  been  so 
thoroughly  studied  by  Lord  Rothschild,  Dr.  Hartert,  and 
others,  that  I  can  add  nothing  whatever  to  their  exhaustive 
work.  On  16th  March  we  left  for  Touggourt — an  Arab 
market-town  of  considerable  importance  132  miles  south  of 
Biskra.  The  comfortable  train,  running  twice  weekly,  takes 
from  8  A.M.  until  4.30  p.m.  to  cover  the  distance,  but  the 
leisurely  journey  gives  one  ample  time  to  study  the  topo- 
graphy of  the  real  desert,  so  unlike  the  Sahara  as  seen  in 
our  childhood's  picture-books  !      A  great  part  of  the  way 


412  Mr.  D.  A.  Bannorman  :  First  Invpressions        [Ibis, 

from  Biskra  to  Touggourt  the  desert  was  partially  covered 
with  plant-life — heavy  rains  had  fallen,  and  the  result  was 
abundantly  manifest.  The  formation  of  the  niyrisids  of  tiny 
sand-mounds  which  dot  the  plain,  through  the  agency  of  the 
bushes  Limoniastrum,  Salsola,  etc.,  has  already  been  ably 
explained  by  Dr.  Hartert,  and  even  from  the  carriage 
windows  it  is  evident  that  these  little  hillocks  are  the  centre 
of  the  animal  life  of  the  desert.  The  line  passes  within  view 
of  the  Ohott  Melrir  and  Chott  Merouan^  and  the  sight  of 
these  vast  sheets  of  water  alone  upsets  one's  preconceived 
idea  of  the  Sahara.  Unfortunately^  now  that  it  is  no  longer 
necessary  to  spend  three  or  four  days  over  the  journey,  the 
ornithologist  must  not  expect  to  get  much  idea  of  the  bird- 
life  ;  he  will  not,  for  instance,  catch  a  glimpse  of  Galerida 
theklce  deichleri,  the  pale  Crested  Lark  which  is  found  on  the 
stony  patches  amidst  the  sandy  desert,  nor  of  Ammomanes 
phoenicura  arenicolor,  of  Ereinopliila  alpestns  hilojyha.  or 
even  of  Ahi'mon  alaudipes  alaudipes,  the  Bifasciated  Lark 
which  occurs,  we  know  from  past  explorers,  in  the  sandy 
parts  of  the  desert  and  even  on  the  bare  dunes.  To  see 
these  birds  in  their  home-surroundings  the  journey  must  be 
made  on  camels,  as  Lord  Rothschild  and  Dr.  Hartert  have 
always  done  in  the  past.  The  remarkable  spectacle  of  a 
whirlwind  of  powdered  saltpetre  was  witnessed  at  one  point 
during  our  journey,  when  the  train  was  passing  over  a  plain 
glistening  white  as  freshly  fallen  snow,  the  surface  being 
encrusted  with  crystallized  nitre.  This  part  of  the  desert  lies 
considerably  below  the  level  of  the  sea.  Two  or  three  days 
were  spent  at  Touggourt,  and  from  there  my  wife  and  I  rode 
on  mules  to  Temacin  and  Zaouia-,  taking  mint  tea  at  the 
latter  village  with  the  renowned  Marabout  who  had  enter- 
tained Lord  Rothschild  and  his  party  in  1909. 

Between  Touggourt  and  Temacin  the  desert  is  of  a  very 
diiferent  nature  from  that  farther  north  ;  much  of  the  way 
leads  through  sand-dunes  (Plate  V.  fig.  1),  where  only 
Galerida  cristata  arenicola  was  observed.  Larg-e  tracts  of  the 
desert,  particularly  where  the  sand  is  hard,  are  covered  with 
pieces  of  gypsum,  which  sparkle  in  the  sunlight  like  pieces 


IBIS.    1921.    PL.  V. 


1.   The  Desert,  nearing  Temacin. 


2.  The  Oasis  of  Temacin,  Algerian  Sahara. 


SEABORNE     LTD..     LONDO^ 


tgii."]  of  Tunisia  and  Algeria.         *  413 

of  glass.  Temacin  and  Zaouia  are  well  worth  a  visit,  as  they 
are  purely  Saharan  villages  of  very  considerable  interest. 
They  give  one  a  splendid  idea  of  what  a  Saharan  oasis  really 
is  like.  Arab  life  and  customs  are  here  quite  untouched  by 
French  influence  or  tourists,  which  can  not  be  said  of  Biskra 
or  even  of  Touggourt.  Birds  were  very  scarce  in  Temacin 
and  Zaouia,  with  the  exception  of  one  or  two  White  Wagtails, 
and  Palm-Doves,  which  were  numerous,  walking  about  on 
the  flat  roofs  of  the  mud-built  houses  and  also  in  the  streets. 
A  wonderful  view  of  the  desert  is  obtained  from  the  minaret 
of  the  Mosque  at  Temacin  (Plate  Y .  fig.  2),  the  immense 
dunes  lying  between  Touggourt  and  El  Oued  being  plainly 
visible,  while  three  sheets  of  water  appear  not  so  very 
far  away. 

After  a  journey  such  as  this  into  the  desert,  the  bird-life 
at  Biskra  strikes  one  as  being  remarkably  plentiful — Siskins, 
Blue -Tits,  Saharan  Buntings  ^,  Blackbirds  j,  Hoopoes, 
Warblers,  Wagtails,  Swallows,  Martins,  Sparrows,  and 
Palm-Doves  enlivening  the  oasis,  not  to  speak  of  the 
Wheatears,  Ohats,  and  innumerable  Larks  which  can  be 
found  in  the  surroundino-  desert  vv'ithin  ten  minutes'  walk 
of  the  principal  hotels.  It  was  therefore  with  great  regret 
that  we  finally  left  Biskra  on  the  24th  of  March  for  the  town 
of  Algiers.  Crossing  the  plain  of  El  Outaia,  two  Cranes  and 
a  Black  Kite  were  seen,  the  former  evidently  on  passage, 
but  the  latter  breeds  in  the  neighbourhood.  An  even  better 
view  of  the  Gorge  of  El  Kantara  is  obtained  when  ap- 
proaching it  from  the  south,  the  remarkable  folds  in  the 
strata  of  the  hills  to  the  west  of  the  gorge  arresting  the 
attention  from  a  long  distance  :  again  no  Vultures  were  in 
sight,  but  fourteen  Irby's  Ravens  were  wheeling  in  great 
circles  overhead.  As  we  climbed  once  more  into  the  wild 
country  lying  immediately  north  of  the  gorge,  the  moun- 
tains were  lit  up  by  a  magnificent  sunset  and  their  barren 
slopes  turned  to  gold  and  red  and  purple,  a  desolate  but 
grand  panorama  impossible  to  describe.     To  what  a  different 

*  Emberiza  striolata  sahari. 
t  Turdus  merula  mauritanicus. 


'il4  First  Impressions  of  Tunisia  and  Ahjeria.         [Ibis, 

scene  we  awoke  next  morning.  The  train  was  nearing 
Algiers,  rushing  through  the  most  luxuriant  countryside, 
woods  carpeted  with  wild  flowers,  orchards  in  blossom, 
vineyards,  acres  o£  waving  corn,  and  fields  which  looked 
greener  than  those  in  southern  France  !  Goldfinches  and 
Chaffinches  and  many  woodland  birds  were  seen  on  all  sides; 
everywhere  there  were  streams  swollen  beyond  their  banks. 
The  town  of  Algiers — even  if  one  stays  at  Mustapha 
Superieur — is  not  in  itself  a  convenient  place  from  which 
to  observe  bird-life.  Although  the  pine-woods  at  the  back 
of  Mustapha  seemed  full  of  the  common  species,  and  Green- 
finches, Chaffinches,  Goldfinches,  Corn-Buntings,  etc.,  were 
observed  in  some  numbers  in  the  neighbourhood,  the  district 
is  too  populated  to  be  really  of  much  interest  to  the  orni- 
thologist. Two  Cuckoos  were  seen  and  heard  in  a  pine-wood 
close  to  the  hotel  on  27th  March — the  first  we  had  met  with 
during  our  travels,  and  the  only  true  birds  of  passage  noted. 
Our  last  excursion  was  to  the  Ruisseau  des  Singes  and  the 
grand  Gorge  of  Chiffa,  a  delightful  drive,  especially  in  the 
early  spring.  The  views  of  tlie  mountains  were  superb,  and 
soon  after  entering  the  deep  gorge,  two  great  birds,  which 
may  have  been  Griffon  Vultures,  were  observed  sweeping 
along  the  mountain  side  many  hundred  feet  above  us,  but  at 
too  great  an  elevation  to  identify.  Three  Kites  were  also 
seen  at  very  close  quarters  just  before  we  reached  the  gorge 
mouth.  The  apes  which  swarm  on  the  mountain  side,  close 
to  the  little  hotel,  have  become  extraordinarily  tame  and 
come  down  in  numbers — old  males,  females,  and  young — to 
be  fed  by  the  excursionists  who  make  this  naturally  secluded 
spot  their  goal  on  a  holiday.  The  sight  of  the  apes  running 
all  over  the  roof  of  the  hotel  and  climbing  from  balcony  to 
balcony,  entering  the  bedrooms  whenever  a  chance  occurred, 
did  not  inspire  us  to  remain  for  the  night,  and  we  forthwith 
returned  to  Aimers. 

The  following  day,  29th  March,  we  sailed  for  Marseilles  in 
the  S.S.  '  Timgad,'  full  of  regrets  at  leaving  this  wonderful 
country  of  forests  and  orchards,  mountains  and  deserts. 


1^2 1. J  0)t  the  Birds  of  Alderney.  415 


XXIII. — Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Alderney. 
By  Major  W.  R.  Thompson,  R.A.,  M.B.O.U. 

For  much  of  the  infonnation  contained  in  the  following 
notes  I  am  indebted  to  my  friend,  that  good  sportsman, 
Major  L.  J.  A.  Lanolois,  of  the  Royal  Alderney  Artillery 
and  Engineers.  Without  his  aid  they  would  have  been 
far  less  full,  and  more  especially  are  my  thanks  due  to  him 
for  that  valuable  table  giving  the  date  of  arrival  on  the 
island  of  the  first  Woodcock. 

Langlois  has  lived  and  shot,  or  I  should  rather  say,  shot  and 
lived — he  himself  would  put  the  shooting  first — in  Alderney 
since  1885,  and  has  at  his  house,  "Holmwood,"  a  small  but 
well  set  up  collection  of  many  of  the  rarer  visitors — birds, 
not  human  beings — to  the  island.  I  make  further  acknow- 
ledgement of  his  assistance  in  the  text,  where,  since  his 
name  would  perforce  appear  so  frequently,  I  have  denoted 
him  by  his  initial  "  L."" 

My  own  observations  of  the  avifauna  of  the  island  com- 
menced on  the  date  of  my  first  joining  the  station  in 
November  1912,  and  continued,  with  intervals,  until  the 
1st  of  August,  1914,  when,  owing  to  the  imminence  of  war, 
the  Garrison  Company  in  which  I  was  then  serving  left  the 
island.  I  was  again  posted  to  Alderney  in  1918,  and  landed 
on  the  8th  of  November,  since  when  my  observations  have 
continued  to  the  present  time,  July  1920^  with  the  all  impor- 
tant exception  of  a  period  of  six  weeks  during  the  autumn 
migration  of  1919,  when  I  had  the  misfortune  to  be  away 
on  duty. 

The  Island  of  Alderney  will  be  found  fully  described  in 
the  guide  books,  but  a  few  remarks  from  an  ornithological 
view-point  are  perhaps  called  for.  The  island,  then,  is  situated 
in  latitude  49°  43'  North  and  longitude  2°  12'  West.  It  is 
the  most  northerly  of  the  Channel  Islands,  and  lies  about 
nine  miles  in  a  westerly  direction  from  the  nearest  point 
on  the  coast  of  France,  Cap  de  la  Hague,  on  the  Cotentin 
Peninsula.     From  the  point  of  view  of  migration  it  is  the 


416  Mcajor  W.  E.  Thompson  on  the  [Ibis, 

most  important  of  this  group  of  islands,  and  prior  to  the  con- 
struction of  the  Aldernej  Lighthouse  Avas,  by  all  accounts, 
of  even  greater  interest.  The  Alderney  Lighthouse,  first 
opened  in  1912,  lies  at  the  eastern  end  of  the  island,  and  its 
value  to  the  seafaring  community  at  large  is  exemplified  by 
the  almost  total  cessation,  since  its  construction,  of  the  very 
numerous  shipwrecks  which  formerly  took  place  here,  but 
since  "one  man's  meat  is  another  man's  poison,"  it  may  be 
remarked  that  the  islanders  are  the  poorer  for  being  deprived 
of  that  part  of  their  livelihood  which  was  closely  connected 
with  the  afore-mentioned  wrecks — at  least  so  tradition 
has  it. 

And  as  an  ornithologist  I  can  to  some  extent  sympathise 
with  them,  inasmuch  as,  whatever  be  the  exact  explanation, 
it  appears  certain  that,  since  the  Alderney  Light  came  into 
use,  the  stream  of  migration  has  been  somehow  diverted  and 
does  not  now  pass  so  closely  to  the  island  as  formerly,  with 
the  result  that  far  fewer  birds  of  passage  are  observed. 

Many  theories  have  been  advanced  to  account  for  this 
change,  but  so  many  new  lights  have  been  constructed  along 
the  coasts  of  France  and  England,  that  it  may  be  due  to  one 
or  a  combination  of  these,  or  even  to  a  cause  quite  uncon- 
nected with  any  of  them,  but  one  interesting  theory  I  have 
heard,  and  which  may  have  something  in  it,  is  as  follows. 
Before  the  Alderney  Light  was  constructed,  the  only  light 
in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  was  that  of  the  Casquets, 
and,  since  Alderney  lies  in  a  direct  line  between  the  nearest 
point  on  the  French  coast  and  the  Casquets  Light,  it  has 
been  thought  that  the  flights,  on  leaving  the  Continent,  were 
attracted  by  the  nearest  light  and,  passing  immediately  over 
Alderney,  many  individuals  were  induced  to  land  and  rest 
there,  and  vice  versa  on  their  return  journey.  They  are  now 
attracted  by  the  Alderney  Light  on  the  extreme  eastern  end 
of  the  island,  and  thus,  for  the  most  part,  miss  the  land 
altogether. 

Alderney  itself  is  a  very  small  island  some  3^  square 
miles  in  area.  Its  greatest  length  from  east  to  west  is 
3^  miles,  and  its  average  width  about  one  mile.    Its  southern 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  AWernei).  417 

and  western  seaboards  are  high  and  rocky,  the  cliffs  being 
rugged,  much  broken,  and  very  picturesque.  The  height  of 
these  cliffs  varies  from  230  feet  to  nearly  300  feet  near 
Telegraph  Bay,  their  highest  point.  They  fall  almost  verti- 
cally into  the  sea,  and  there  is,  consequently,  little  or  no 
foreshore  exposed  on  this  side  of  the  island  at  low  water, 
with  the  exception  of  Longy  Bay,  at  the  eastern  termination 
of  the  cliffs,  where  a  comparatively  large  extent  of  sand  and 
seaweed -covered  rocks  is  uncovered  as  the  tide  recedes, 
affording  feeding  grounds  for  many  Waders,  ])rincipally 
Oyster-catchers  and  Turnstones. 

From  the  high  southern  edge  a  plateau  generally  extends 
towards  the  interior  of  the  island,  and  then  falls  away 
gradually  to  the  northern  shore.  The  main  harbour  and 
roadstead  are  on  this  side,  the  coast  being  here,  for  the  most 
part,  of  sand  and  shingle,  with  here  and  there  outcrops  of 
granite  forming  bold  forelands  in  miniature  between  the 
sand}^  bays.  The  western  end  and  elevated  interior  of  the 
island  are  mostly  under  cultivation,  fields  being  separated 
by  loosely  built  stone  walls,  or  rubble  and  stone  banks,  the 
interstices  in  which  form  convenient  nesting  places  for  some 
of  the  smaller  birds.  These  walls  and  banks  are  of  no  great 
height,  and  are  generally  out  of  repair.  A  similar  wall  runs 
along  the  greater  part  of  the  western  and  southern  edges, 
"divides  the  desert  from  the  sown,"  and  leaves  between  it 
and  the  edge  of  the  cliff  a  space  some  hundreds  of  yards  in 
breadth  of  rough  stony  land  overgrown  with  furze,  bracken, 
bramble,  heather,  and  coarse  grasses. 

The  eastern  end  of  the  island  lies  low  and  is  unfit  for 
cultivation  by  reason  of  its  rocky  and  sandy  nature  ;  it  is 
overgrown  with  weeds,  coarse  grasses,  and  furze. 

The  island  contains  no  river,  but  here  and  there  small 
streamlets  of  fresh  water  are  found.  Most  of  the  disused 
stone  quarries  hold  water,  and  near  Longy  Bay  is  a  pond 
filled  with  rushes. 

The  island  is  almost  destitute  of  trees,  but  there  are  some 
rather  fine  ones  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Anne's,  which,  however, 
it  is  to  be  regretted,  are  in  process  of  being -cut  down  by  the 


418  IMajor  W.  R.  Thompson  on  the  [Ibis, 

inhabitants  for  use  as  firewood,  and  it  is  hoped  that  legislation 
will  step  in  to  preserve  those  remaining. 

Included  with  Alderney  is  the  small  islet  of  Burhon^ 
about  1^  miles  distant  and  separated  from  it  by  the  passage 
known  as  the  Swinge,  through  which,  at  spring  tides,  the 
current  sets  with  great  violence.  There  are  also  several  out- 
lying rocks  of  which  the  most  notable  are  the  Casquets,  the 
Ortac,  the  Garden  Rocks,  and  Coque  Lithou.  Both  Burhou 
and  tl^<^  above  mentioned  outlying  rocks  are  exceedingly 
dilhcult  to  approach  owing  to  the  strong  and  uncertain 
currents,  and  can  only  be  visited  in  calm  weather. 

Owing  to  the  propinquity  of  the  French  coast  many  birds 
pass  to  and  fro  at  will  in  both  winter  and  summer,  either  as 
the  spirit  moves  them  or  as  the  weather  conditions  dictate, 
so  that  a  species  which  is  very  numerous  one  day  may  be 
absent  or  almost  entirely  absent  on  another,  and  for  this 
reason  it  is  sometimes  very  difficult  to  discriminate  accurately 
between  a  resident  and  a  bird  of  passage. 

Very  little  appears  to  have  been  written  on  the  ornithology 
of  Alderney.  '  The  Channel  Islands,'  by  Ansted  and  Latham, 
published  in  18G2,  contains  a  list  of  birds  purporting  to  be 
found  in  Alderney,  but,  admirable  as  this  work  undoubtedly 
is  in  other  respects,  it  can  scarcely  be  looked  upon  as  an 
authority  on  ornithology,  if  only  by  reason  of  the  Editor's 
remarks  in  his  preface,  where  he  states  :  "  The  Editor  not 
being  conversant  with  the  details  of  Botany  and  Zoology, 
has  sought  and  obtained  the  assistance  of  many  friends  and 
acquaintances." 

The  next  book  in  point  of  time  would  appear  to  be  'The 
Birds  of  Guernsey  and  the  neighbouring  Islands  of  Alderney, 
Sark,  Herm,  Jethou,'  by  Cecil  Smith,  published  in  1879. 
This  book  appears  to  be  reliable  and  is  very  interesting 
reading.  Although  now  very  out  of  date  in  many  respects, 
it  still  remains  the  text-book  on  the  subject. 

In  the  autumn  of  1898  the  island  was  visited  by  Dr.  W. 
Eagle  Clarke,  and  his  observations  on  the  birds  appeared  in 
'The  Ibis'  for  April  1899.     He  remained  but  a  week,  and 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Alderney.  419 

the  number  of  birds  noticed  by  him  in  this  short  period  is 
remarkable,  even  allowing  for  the  fact  that  the  autumn 
migration  was  in  full  swing  ;  but  a  week  is  far  too  short  a 
period  on  which  to  form  conclusions,  and  the  habit  of  many 
species,  as  noted  above,  of  passing  across  the  Race  from  the 
French  coast  to  the  island  and  vice  versa  at  will,  appears  to 
have  led  him  into  some  wrong  assumptions  wath  regard 
to  the  relative  abundance  of  different  species. 

Corvus  corax.     The  Raven. 

The  bird  is  a  resid(>nt,  and  a  pair  may  usually  be  met  with 
along  the  shore  or  cliffs,  attention  being  probably  first 
attracted  to  them  by  their  well-known  harsh  cry. 

At  least  one  pair  breed  here,  and  in  February  1911  I 
visited  a  nest  which  contained  six  eggs.  It  was  a  pleasure 
to  find  that  the  same  nest  was  still  being  occupied  in  1920. 
The  bird  also  breeds  in  Guernsey  where,  in  1909,  I  visited 
a  nest.  It  contained  five  nearly  fledged  young  ones,  and  I 
was  induced  to  take  one  as  a  pet.  It  was  an  interesting  and 
amusing  bird,  and  no  trouble  so  long  as  it  had  sufficient  food  ; 
but  eventually  its  appetite  grew  to  such  an  extent  and  it 
did  so  much  damage  in  the  garden,  by  biting  off'  the  young 
shoots  and  buds,  that  I  gave  it  to  the  Brighton  Zoological 
Gardens,  where,  however,  it  did  not  live  long. 

Mr.  Cecil  Smith,  writing  in  1879,  was  of  opinion  that  the 
bird  did  not  breed  on  any  of  the  islands.  He  says :  "The 
Raven  can  now  only  be  looked  upon  as  an  occasional  straggler. 
I  do  not  think  it  breeds  at  present  in  any  of  the  islands,  as  I 
have  not  seen  it  anywhere  about  in  the  breeding  season  since 
1866,  when  I  saw  a  pair  near  the  cliffs  on  the  south  end  of  the 
island  (Guernsey)  in  June  ;  but  as  the  Raven  is  a  very  early 
breeder,  these  may  only  have  been  wanderers."  Mr.  Eagle 
C'larke  saw  three  Ravens  in  Sark  on  tli(^  29th  of  September, 
1898,  which  he  concluded,  and  no  doubt  rightly,  were 
residents.  It  would  therefore  appear  that  the  Raven  is  not 
only  holding  its  own,  but  actually  increasing  in  numbers,  at 
any  rate  locally. 


420  Major  W.  R.  Thompson  on  the  [Ibis, 

Corvus  corone.     Tho  Carrion-Crow. 

A  very  common  resident,  and  becoming  more  so.  It  is  to 
be  found  nesting  on  the  low  trees  on  the  island,  but  more 
commonly,  owing  no  doubt  to  the  scarcity  o£  trees,  it  nests 
on  the  outlying  rocks,  often  close  to  the  ground  and  not  far 
above  high-water  mark,  ('uriously  enough  it  does  not 
appear  to  make  much  us(^  of  the  safer  situation  afforded  by 
the  high  cliffs  of  the  southern  shore,  although  a  few  pairs  do 
nest  there'.  The  birds  arc  more  nuuierous  in  the  autumn  and 
winter  months,  but  this  may  be  due  to  the  young  birds 
remaining  with  the  family  until  th(^  approach  of  the  next 
breeding-season,  when  they  probably  depart  to  make  a  home 
for  themselves  elsewhere.  These  birds  are  very  bold  during 
the  breeding-season  and  frequently  take  toll  of  young 
chickens. 

Corvus  comix.     The  Hooded  Crow. 

I  saw  one  of  these  birds  on  the  20th  of  November,  1918, 
and  a  flock  of  ten — the  largest  number  1  have  seen  together 
on  the  island — on  the  30th  of  October,  1919,  and  another  on 
the  15tli  of  November,  1919.  L.  tells  me  he  sees  some 
during  the  month  of  October  every  year,  and  that  they 
usually  arrive  just  before  the  first  Woodcock,  their  appear- 
ance being  looked  upon  by  the  islanders  as  an  indication 
that  Cock  may  be  expected.  Several  Cocks  were  shot  on 
the  day  after  I  had  seen  the  floidv  of  ten  Crows  mentioned 
above.  Mr.  Cecil  Smith  says  :  ''  The  Hooded  Crow  can  only 
be  considered  an  occasional  autumnal  and  winter  visitant — 
Mr.  MacCulloch  writes  me  word  that  the  Hooded  Crow  is 
a  very  rare  visitant,  and  only,  as  far  as  he  knows,  in  very 
cold  weather  ;  and,  he  adds,  it  is  strange  that  we  should  see 
it  so  rarel}',  as  it  is  very  common  about  St.  Malo."  Neither 
Langlois  nor  myself,  with  the  exceptions  of  the  two  birds 
mentioned  above  as  seen  in  November,  and  which  I  prefer, 
owing  to  the  extreme  mildness  of  the  season,  to  regard  as 
late  migrants,  have  seen  this  bird  in  Alderney  during  the 
winter  months,  even  in  hard  weather,  and  it  must  therefore, 
at  present,  be  considered  as  a  bird  of  passage  only,  although 


I92I-]  Birds  of  Alder neij.  421 

there  would  appear  to  be  no  reason  why  it  shouhl  not  be  met 
with  in  winter.     I  have  no  record  o£  it  in  the  spring. 

Corvus  monedula.     The  Jackdaw. 

This  bird  breeds  here  and  is  a  resident,  although  not 
common  outside  the  breeding-season,  and  frequently  almost 
entirely  absent.  Those  which  breed  here  arrive,  doubtless 
from  the  adjacent  French  coast,  in  the  early  spring,  when  for 
some  days  a  flock  of  perhaps  twenty  or  thirty  birds  may  be 
seen  performing  evolutions  in  the  air,  at  intervals  returning 
to  ground,  and  evidently  reconnoitring  the  cliffs  foi-  a  suit- 
able nesting-place.  After  the  breeding-season  they  disappear 
except  for  a  few  isolated  individuals,  the  flock  appearing 
again  at  uncertain  intervals  during  summer  and  winter,  to 
depart  again  after  a  few  days'  visit. 

Pica  pica.     The  Magpie. 

I  have  not  observed  this  bird  myself  on  the  island,  and 
it  must  be  considered  as  a  rare  visitor  only,  the  absence 
of  high  trees  and  tall  undergrowth  no  doul)t  accounting 
for  this. 

L.  saw  three  of  them  together  in  about  the  year  1000,  but 
is  uncertain  of  the  date.  He  also  saw  three  in  September 
1919,  and  tells  me  that  during  the  hard  winter  of  1870  they 
were  very  numerous,  and  that  many  were  caught  atid  kept 
as  pets  by  the  islanders. 

The  bird  is  fairly  common  in  Guernsey. 

Pyrrhocorax  pyrrhocorax.     The  Chough. 

Mr.  Cecil  Smith  writes  :  "In  Sark  the  Choughs  have  by 
no  means  so  easy  a  time,  as  the  Jackdaws  outnumber  them 
about  the  cliffs,  and  will  j)robahly  eventually  drive  them  out 
of  the  islantl  ;  indeed,  I  am  afraid  they  have  don(^  this  in 
Alderney,  as  I  did  not  see  any  when  there  in  the  sunnner  of 
1876,  nor  in  this  last  summer  (1878).  I,  however,  saAV  some 
there  in  previous  visits,  l)ut  now  for  some  reason,  probably 
the  increase  of  Jackdaws,  the  Choughs  appear  to  be  nearly, 
if  not  quite,  to  have  deserted  the  island."  This  is,  and 
probably   will    remain,  the    last    record    of    the    Chouoh   in 


422  Major  W.  R.  ThoiDpson  on  the  [Ibis, 

Aklernoy,  and  it  disappeared  from  the  cliffs  o£  the  Dorset 
coast  opposite  not  many  years  later.  I  have  been  unable  to 
obtain  any  record  of  its  having  been  seen  here  by  the  "  oldest 
inhabitant,"  although  the  bird  is  one  not  difficult  to  describe. 
However,  we  may  yet  hope  to  record  Choughs  in  Alderney, 
as  I  see  in  one  of  our  latest  works — '  A  Practical  Handbook 
of  British  Birds ' — the  Channel  Islands  are  given  as  a 
habitat  for  it,  and  in  '  British  Birds '  for  February  1920, 
one  is  recorded  by  Mr,  H.  B.  Baillie  as  having  been  seen  by 
him  in  Guernsey  on  the  22nd  of  April,  1919. 

Sturnus  vulgaris.     Tlie  Starling. 

A  common  resident,  ))ut  less  common  in  summer  than 
winter,  when  their  number  is  largely  increased  by  arrivals 
from  overseas. 

Chloris  chloris.     The  Greenfinch. 

This  bird  is  a  resident  in  small  numbers  and  breeds  here, 
but  a  large  proportion  of  the  residents  a|)pear  to  leave  the 
island  for  the  purpose  of  breeding,  owing  probably  to  the 
limited  number  of  suitable  hedgerows,  returning  again  in 
July  and  the  rest  of  tlie  summer  and  wintering  here.  Its 
numbers  are  also  temporarily  increased  in  spring  and 
autumn  l)y  birds  of  passage.  It  is  more  common  some 
years  than  others. 

Coccothraustes  coccothraustes.     The  Hawfinch. 

Mr.  Tourgis,  of  Alderney,  has  in  his  possession  a  stuffed 
specimen,  which  was  shot  on  the  island  by  Mr.  R.  Herival. 

Mr.  Cecil  Smith,  writing  in  1879,  states  :  '■  The  bird- 
stuffer  and  carpenter  in  Alderney  had  one  spread  out  on  a 
board  and  hung  up  behind  his  door,  which  had  been  shot  by 
his  friend  who  shot  the  Greenland  Falcon,  in  the  winter  of 
1876-1877,  somewhere  about  Christmas." 

Carduelis  carduelis  britannica.     The  British  Goldfinch. 

The  bird  is  resident  in  small  numbers  and  breeds  here.  As 
a  \nvd  of  passage  it  occurs  in  fair  numbers  in  spring  and 
autumn. 


1921.]  Birds  of  Alderney.  423 

Passer  domesticus.     The  Houso-Sparrow. 

A  common  residdit.  Its  numbei-s  appear  to  x'omain  con- 
stant throughout  the  year.  Less  numerous  than  in  most 
parts  of  England. 

Fringilla  ccelebs.     The  Chaffinch. 

A  resident  breeding  here,  but  its  numbers  are  greatly 
increased  during  the  winter  months  by  migration. 

Mr.  Eagle  Clarke,  who  visited  the  island  in  September, 
1898,  for  about  a  week,  considered  it  decidedly  uncommon — 
a  mistake  due  doubtless  to  his  short  stay,  when  possibly  the 
main  body  was  on  one  of  its  periodical  visits  to  the  French 
coast. 

Acanthis  cannabina.     The  Linnet. 

A  common  resident.  Its  numbers  are  increased  during 
the  winter  months  by  migration^  and  as  a  bird  of  passage  it 
is  in  some  years  extremely  numerous  for  a  few  days  or 
weeks,  according  to  circumstances,  most  probably  the  weather 
conditions.  In  the  spring  of  11)19,  from  the  1st  to  the  5th 
of  May,  after  a  continuance  of  ver}^  cold  north  winds,  large 
flocks  were  present  on  the  island.  I  estimated  these  flocks 
to  contain  many  thousands  of  individuals. 

Pyrrhula  pyrrhula  pileata.     The  British  Bullfinch. 

A  scarce  resident,  at  least  one  pair  breeding  here,  and  I 
have  occasionally  met  with  it  at  irregular  intervals  in  both 
summer  and  winter.  At  times  it  appears  to  be  entirely 
absent,  probably  visiting  the  French  coast.  This  is  the  only 
record  I  can  find  of  the  occurrence  of  the  Bullfinch  in 
Alderney,  and  the  inhabitants  do  not  appear  to  have  noticed 
it.  As  I  write  (7th  of  July,  1920)  a  family  of  recently 
fledged  young  ones  are  not  far  away,  the  nest,  which  I  found 
wdth  eggs  in  the  middle  of  May,  having  fortunately  escaped 
the  attention  of  the  boys. 

Emberiza  calandra.     The  Corn-Bunting. 
L.  has  shot  five  on  the  island,  one  in  the  autumn  of  each 
of  the  following  years  :— 1892,  1893,  1894,  1896,  and  1911. 

SEK.  XI. VOL.  Ill,  2  F 


424  Major  W.  R.  Tliompson  on  the  [Ibis, 

It  is  not  a  rosiJent,  so  tliat  tliosc  shot  must  liave  been 
mioratin^i;',  and  it  may  probably  best  be  considered  as  a  rare 
bird  of  passa<4('.  I  have  not  my  self  observed  it.  L.  has  one 
of  the  five  birds  mentioned  above  in  his  collection. 

Emberiza  citrinella.     The  Yellow-Ham mer. 

This  bird  has  so  fur  defeated  me,  and  I  can  only  conclude 
that  it  has  disappeared  from  the  island  in  reqent  years,  as  I 
have  never  come  across  it.  Mr.  Cecil  Smith,  writing  in 
1879,  says  :  "  The  Yellow-Hammer,  though  resident  and 
breeding  in  all  the  islands,  is  by  no  means  so  common  as  in 
many  parts  of  England.  In  Alderney  it  is  perhaps  rather 
moie  common  than  in  Guernsey,  as  I  saw  some  near  the 
Artillery  Barracks  this  summer,  1878,  and  Captain  Hubbach 
told  me  he  had  seen  two  or  three  pairs  about  there  all  the 
yoar.- 

Mr.  Eagle  Clarke  reports  it  as  being  common  in  Alderney 
in  September  1898,  and  L.  tells  me  that  he  has  fre(|uently 
found  it  nesting  here. 

Emberiza  cirlus.     The  Cirl  Bunting. 

I  killed  a  specimen  of  this  bird  on  tho  24th  of  December, 
1913.  It  was  at  the  time  feeding  on  a  dust-heap,  in  com- 
pany with  a  mixed  flock  of  linnets,  sparrows,  and  chaffinches. 
I  also  observed  it  on  the  following  occasions,  when  it  was 
doubtless  on  migration  to  th(^  south  coast  of  England,  where 
it  breeds  : — 

20th  of  April,  1914— a  flock  of  about  twelve. 
22nd  of  April,  1914 — several  in  my  garden. 
23rd  of  April,  1914 — one  near  Fort  Tourgis. 

I  have  not  seen  it  during  the  summer  months,  and  do  not 
think  it  breeds  here,  but  on  the  21st  of  January,  1919,  I 
noticed  on(>  or  two  amongst  a  number  of  Rock-Pipits,  so 
probably  it  occasionally  winters  h(u-e.  Mr.  Cecil  Smith, 
writing  in  1879,  says  of  this  bird  :  "  1  have  never  seen  the 
Cirl  Bunting  in  any  of  the  islands,  nor  has  it,  as  far  as  I 
know,  been  recorded  from  them,  which  seems  rather  sur- 
prising, as  it  is  common  on  the  south  coast  of  Devon,  and 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Alderney.  425 

migratory,  but  not  nuraerons  on  the  north  coast  of  France, 
so  it  is  very  probable  that  it  may  yet  occur."  Mr.  Smith's 
prophecy  has  been  realised  after  a  lapse  of  thirty-four  years. 

Plectrophenax  nivalis.     The  Snow-Bunting. 

Mr.  Cecil  Smith  states  :  "  Captain  Hubbach  writes  me 
word  that  ho  shot  three  out  of  a  flock  of  five  in  Aldevney  in 
January  1863." 

Alauda  arvensis.     The  Sky-Lark. 

A  common  resident.  Its  numbers  are,  however,  augmented 
during  the  winter  months  by  migration. 

Motacilla  alba.     The  White  Wagtail. 

Four  birds  of  this  species  settled  in  my  garden  on  the 
evening  of  the  15th  of  March,  1919,  having  evidently  just 
arrived  from  overseas.  They  were  fairly  numerous  on  the 
24th  of  March,  1919,  after  which  I  saw  none  until  the  6th  of 
April,  when  I  observed  a  single  individual.  It  is  a  bird  of 
passage. 

Motacilla  lugubris.     The  Pied  Wagtail. 

I  have  met  with  this  bird  at  rare  intervals  in  both  summer 
and  winter,  so  1  think  it  must  be  looked  upon  as  a  scarce 
resident,  although  I  have  not  found  it  nesting  here.  As  a 
bird  of  passage  it  is  not  uncommon.  Mr.  Eagle  Clarke 
found  it  quite  common  in  September  1898. 

Motacilla  cinerea.     The  Grey  Wagtail. 

As  a  winter  visitor  this  bird  is  not  uncommon,  and  during 
this  period  single  individuals  can  almost  always  be  met  with 
if  searched  for  along  the  numerous  small  streams.  I  have 
never  seen  it  here  in  the  summer. 

Motacilla  rail.     The  Yellow  Waotail. 

Is  very  common  as  a  bird  of  passage,  especially  during  the 
spring  migration,  but  is  also  a  summer  visitor,  a  few  pairs 
remaining  to  breed  every  year,  more  having  remained  this 
year  (1920),  I  think,  than  usual.  During  the  spring  of 
1919  the  migration  of  all  birds  was  much  delayed  by  bad 
weather,  and  a  iiock  of  these  birds  passed  over  the  island, 
going  north,  as  late  as  the  7th  of  May. 

2f2 


426  Major  W.  R.  Thompson  on  tie  [Ibis, 

Anthus  trivialis.     The  Tree-Pipft. 

Mr.  Cecil  Smith,  writing  in  1879,  says  o£  this  bird  :  "  A 
very  numerous  summer  visitant  to  all  the  islands,  breeding 
in  great  numbers  in  parts  suited  to  it.'' 

I  found  this  bird  to  be  common  on  migration  during  the 
latter  part  of  August  1920.  I  obtained  one  on  the  23rd  of 
August,  1920. 

Anthus  pratensis.     The  Meadow-Pipit, 
A    common   resident,     I    do    not    think   its  numbers   are 
much,  if  at  all,  increased  by  migration. 

Anthus  petrosus.     The  Rock-Pipit. 

A  common  resident,  more  common  than  the  last  species. 
It  breeds  on  all  the  outlying  rocks,  as  well  as  the  main 
island.  I  do  not  think  its  numbers  are  increased  by 
migration. 

Certhia  familiaris  britannica.     The  British  Tree-Creeper. 

I  constantly  observed  a  single  individual  of  this  species 
throughout  the  winter  of  1919-1920,  and  hoped  that  it 
would  remain  to  breed,  and  I  even  put  up  a  nesting-box  for 
its  acconnnodation,  but  in  the  spring,  instead  of  being  joined 
by  a  mate,  it  disappeared. 

Regulus  regulus.     The  Golden-crested  Wren. 

I  have  only  noticed  this  bird  on  one  occasion — on  the  2nd 
of  November,  1919.  On  this  date  I  saw  three  in  my  garden, 
and  there  were  doubtless  others,  but  it  was  towards  evening 
and  getting  dark.  I  only  noticed  the  first  one  by  almost 
stepping  on  it  amongst  some  weeds  which  I  was  polling  up. 
Poor  little  birds,  they  appeared  to  be  quite  done  up  after  a 
week  of  strong  cold  north-east  winds. 

I  went  to  the  house  for  a  butterfly-net,  and  had  no  diffi- 
culty in  catching  one  for  identification,  thinking  it  might  be 
the  Fire-crest,  after  which  I  let  it  go. 

Mr.  Eagle  Clarke  saw  many  of  these  birds  on  the  island 
on  the  25th  and  26th  of  September,  1898,  and  L.  tells  me 
that  it  is  usually  very  numerous  as  a  bird  of  passage  ;  but  I 


1921.]  Birds  of  Alderney.  427 

think  few  have  occurred  since  the  severe  winter  of  1916- 
1917j  when  there  were  so  many  casualties. 

Parus  major  newtoni.     The  British  Great  Tit. 

A  common  resident  breeding  here,  but  more  numerous 
outside  the  breeding-season  and  especially  in  winter.  Like 
so  many  of  the  other  residents,  and  doubtless  owing  to  the 
restricted  area  of  the  island,  the  majority  are  absent  from  the 
island  durino-  the  breedino-season,  Throuo-hout  the  whole 
of  the  autumn  and  winter  of  1919-1920  there  was  a  (juite 
abnormal  numl)er  of  these  birds  al)out,  and  a  few  were  nt^arly 
always  in  sight,  in  fact  it  must  have  been  almost  the  com- 
monest bird  on  the  island,  but  nc^arly  all  departed  on  the 
approach  of  spring. 

Parus  caeruleus  obscurus.     Th(^  British  Blue  Tit. 
A  scarce  resident.    Its  numbers  are  not  noticeably  affected 
by  migration. 

Lanius  excubitor.     The  Great  Grey  Shrike. 

L.  shot  one  of  these  birds  on  the  island  in  1888,  and  has  it 
in  his  collection.  This  is,  I  think,  the  only  record  of  this 
bird  for  the  island. 

Ampelis  garrulus.     The  Waxwing. 

Mr.  A.  C  Tourgisj  of  Les  Chevaliers,  Alderney,  has  one  of 
these  birds  in  his  collection.  He  shot  it  at  Rose  Farm, 
Alderney,  in  the  autumn  of  1897. 

Sylvia  communis.     The  Whitethroat. 

A  common  summer  visitor,  and  bird  of  passage.  Con- 
siderable numbers  remained  to  breed  in  1920. 

Sylvia  curruca.     The  Lesser  Whitethroat. 

I  have  only  noticed  this  bird  in  small  numbers  as  a  bird  of 
passage.  Doubtless  it  occasionally  remains  to  breed,  as  there 
are  many  suitable  places  for  it. 

Sylvia  simplex.     The  Garden-Warbler. 

Not  uncommon  during  migration,  especially  in  some 
years.  I  have  not  found  it  breeding  here,  nor  have  I  seen 
it  during  the  summer  months. 


428  Major  W.  R.  Thompson  on  the  [Ibis, 

Sylvia  atricapilla.     The  Blackcap. 

Occurs  regularly  as  a  bird  of  passage.  The  males  were 
very  numerous  here  on  the  6th  of  May,  1919,  but,  as 
already  remarked,  the  spring  migration  was  much  delayed 
that  year. 

Acrocephalns  scirpaceus.     The  Reed-Warbler. 

In  the  '  diannel  Islands,'  by  Ansted  &  Latham, 
Mr.  Galliene  in  his  remarks  accompanying  his  list  of  Birds 
of  the  Channel  Islands,  says  : — "  I  have  put  the  Reed-Warbler 
as  doubtful  for  Guernsey,  but  I  have  seen  a  nest  of  this 
bird  found  at  Alderney."  I  have  not  myself  seen  this  bird 
and  do  not  think  it  now  breeds  here. 

Phylloscopus  trochilus.     The  Willow-Warbler. 
A  common  bird  of  passage.     I  have  not  found  it  breeding 
here. 

Phylloscopus  collybita.     The  Chiffchaff. 

A  common  bird  of  passage,  a  few  generally  remaining  to 
breed.  A  few  individuals  wintered  here  during  1919-1920, 
and  so  it  must  also  be  looked  upon  as  a  scarce  resident. 

Turdus  viscivorus.     TIk^  Missel-Thrush. 

Common  in  winter  during  cold  weather.  L.  tells  ire  that 
he  has  found  it  nesting  here,  but  I  think  it  has  almost, 
if  not  quite,  ceased  to  do  so,  as  I  have  not  observed  it 
during  the  breeding-season. 

Turdus  musicus  clarkii.     The  Song-Thrush. 
A  common  resident. 

Turdus  iliacus.     The  Redwing. 

Common  in  winter  during  cold  spells,  or  continuous  strong 
north-east  winds.     At  other  times  not  often  seen. 

Turdus  pilaris.     The  Fieldfare. 

As  in  the  case  of  the  last  species,  it  is  common  during  cold 
weather  or  strong  north-east  winds,  but  unlike  that  species, 
it  does  not  disappear  so  quickly  on  the  weather  moderating, 
and  a  few  may  usually  be  met  with  throughout  the  winter, 
even  in  mild  weather. 


1921.]  Birds  of  Alderney.  421) 

Turdus  merula.     The  Blackbird. 

A  common  resident^  being  slightly  more  numerous  than 
the  Thrush. 

Turdus  torquatus.     The  Ring-Ouzel. 

L,  tells  me  that  these  birds  are  usually  common  durino- 
th(i  autumn  migration,  arriving  towards  the  end  of:  September 
and  remaining  about  a  month.  Dr.  Eagle  Olurke  noticed  it 
here  in  September  189b,  and  it  appears  to  be  more  numerous 
in  autumn  than  in  spring.  I  saw  one  near  my  house  on  the 
20th  o£  April,  1919. 

Phcenicurus  phcenicurus.     The  Redstart. 
A  common  bird  of  passage. 

Phcenicurus  ochrurus  gibraltariensis.     The  Black  Redstart, 
A  few  generally  winter  on  the  island,  but  I  saw  none  here 

last  winter,  and  think  that  it   was  absent  that  year  (1919- 

1920). 

Erithacus  rubecula  melophilus.     The  Robin. 
A  common  resident.     I  do  not  think  its  numbers  are  at  all 
affected  by  migration. 

Saxicola  rubicola.     The  Stonechat. 

A  connnon  summer  visitor,  a  lew  remaining  through  the 
winter,  and  therefore  also  a  scarce  resident.  I  shot  one  on 
the  10th  of  December,  1913. 

Saxicola  rubetra.     The  Whinchat. 

A  bird  of  passage  in  small  numbers.  I  have  only  noticed 
it  during  the  spring  migrations,  and  do  not  think  that  it  ever 
remains  to  breed,  although  there  seems  to  be  no  reason  why 
it  should  not  do  so.  Mr.  Eagle  Clarke  saw  it  here  in 
September  1898. 

(Enanthe  cenanthe.     The  Wheatear. 

A  conmion  bird  of  passage  and  a  summer  visitor,  many 
remaining  to  breed. 

Accentor  modularis.     The  Hedge-Sparrow. 
A  connnon  resident.     I  do  not  think  its  numbers  are  at  all 
affected  by  migration. 


430  Major  W.  R.  Thompson  on  the  [Ibis, 

Cinclus  cinclus  britannicus.     The  Dipper. 

Mr.  Cecil  kSinith  states  in  regard  to  this  bird:  "Ca[)tain 
Hubbach  writes  me  word  he  saw  one  in  Alderney  in  the 
winter  of  1861-1862."  This  is  the  only  record  of  this  bird, 
and  I  do  not  think  it  now  occurs. 

Troglodytes  troglodytes.     The  Wren. 

A  common  resident.  I  do  not  think  its  numbers  arc 
affected  by  migration. 

Muscicapa  grisola.     The  Spotted  Flycatcher. 
A  connnon  bird  of   passage.     I   do  not  know  that  it  over 
remains  to  breed. 

Muscicapa  atricapilla.     The  Pied  Flycatcher. 

A  few  occur  annually  as  birds  of  passage.  Mr.  Eagle 
Clarke  records  one  in  "  female  "  plumage,  as  seen  by  himself 
and  his  friend  Mr.  Laidlaw  in  the  island  on  the  27th  of 
September,  1898. 

Hirundo  rustica.     The  Swallow. 
A  common  summer  visitor. 

Delichon  urbica.     The  Martin. 

Mr.  Cecil  Smith  says  of  this  bird  :  *'  It  is  spread  over  all 
the  islands,  but  confined  to  certain  spots  in  each.  In 
Alderney  there  were  a  great  many  nests  about  Scott's  Hotel 
and  a  few  more  in  the  town."  None  of  these  birds  are 
breeding  here  this  year  (1920).  I  have  been  round  the  whole 
town  and  carc^f ally  inspected  Scott's  Hotel,  and  there  is  no 
sign  of  a  nest,  nor  are  there  any  birds  about.  Unfortunately 
I  did  not  pay  much  attention  to  this  bird  last  year,  but  do 
not  think  it  bred,  as  otherwise  there  should  be  some  sign  of 
the  old  nests  under  the  eaves  of  the  houses.  I  cannot  under- 
stand why  it  should  not  breed  here,  as  conditions  appear 
suitable,  and  it  is  a  common  bird  of  passage.  This  year  a 
large  flock  remained  several  weeks  on  the  island,  and  indeed 
did  not  depart  until  the  24th  of  May,  when  they  all  left 
together. 


1921.]  Birds  of  Aldevne;/.  431 

Riparia  riparia.     The  ?^aii(]-Martin. 

A  common  birtl  ot"  passage.  It  never  remains  to  breed  ; 
there  are  no  suitable  nesting-places  for  it. 

Dryobates  sp.  ?     The  Spottetl  Woodpecker. 

L.  tells  me  that  a  Spotted  Woodpecker,  either  the  Great 
or  Lesser,  was  shot  here  in  Novend^er  1891,  by  a  Mr.  Levens, 
who  has  left  the  island.  Unfortunately  it  does  not  appear  to 
have  been  preserved. 

lynx  torquilla.     The  Wryneck. 

A  common  summer  visitor.  As  Mr.  Cecil  Smith  says,  its 
numbers  vary  considerably  in  different  years.  It  is  particu- 
larly numerous  in  Alderney  this  year,  and  at  present  (the 
middle  of  July  1920)  the  young  may  be  met  with  along 
almost  any  wall  or  hedgerow. 

Cuculus  canorus.     The  Cuckoo. 

A  common  summer  visitor,  more  numerous  than  I  have 
anywhere  seen  it  in  England.  Its  numbers  vary  in  different 
years.     In  1919  it  was  unusually  numerous. 

Micropus  apus.     The  Swift. 

A  very  common  summer  visitor,  breeding  numerously,  not 
only  in  the  old  forts  and  houses  on  the  island,  but  also  in 
the  cracks  and  crannies  of  the  sea-cliffs. 

Caprimulgus  europasus.     The  Nightjar. 

Occurs  annually  as  a  bird  of  passage  in  both  spring  and 
autumn.  I  have  not  found  its  nest,  but  it  probably  breeds 
here,  as  one  or  two  may  be  seen  at  intervals  throughout  the 
summer. 

Merops  apiaster.     The  Bee-eater. 

L.  has  one  in  his  collection.  It  is  a  male  bird,  and  he 
obtained  it  in  his  garden  on  the  18th  of  May,  1917.  This 
is,  I  think,  the  only  record  of  it  for  Alderney. 

Upupa  epops.     The  Hoopoe. 

Mr.  Cecil  Smith  says  of  this  bird  :  "  I  have  one  obtained 
in  Alderney  in  August,  though  I  have  not  the  exact  date," 


432  Major  W.  R.  Thompson  on  the  [Ibis, 

neither  does  he  give  the  year,  but  it  must  have  been  prior  to 
1879,  when  his  book  was  pubhshed.  I  have  not  myself  seen 
it  here,  nor  does  an3'one  seem  to  have  preserved  a  specimen  ; 
but  I  have  several  notes  of  its  occurrence,  and  as  it  is  a 
bird  that  caunot  well  be  mistaken,  and  as  I  obtained  the 
records  from  good  observers,  I  think  they  are  worth  giving. 
L.  has  seen  two  on  the  island,  one  in  September  1910,  and 
the  other  about  the  year  1877.  He  tells  me  that  the  late 
Mr.  R  (>.  May,  of  Alderney,  once  shot  one  here. 
Mr.  Nicholas  Gaudion  tells  me  that  he  shot  one  back  in  the 
seventies,  but  he  has  not  the  exact  date. 

Alcedo  ispida.     The  Kingfisher. 

Before  the  war  the  Kingfisher  was  a  not  uncommon  bird 
on  the  island,  and  one  or  two  could  always  be  seen  in  winter 
around  the  cliffs  or  fishing  from  the  rocks.  It  was  also 
present  during  the  summer  months,  though  less  numerous, 
and  I  have  little  doubt  it  occasionally  nested  here.  During 
the  last  two  years,  however,  I  have  not  seen  a  single  specimen, 
nor  do  I  know  of  anyone  who  has,  and  it  seems  to  have  quite 
disappeared  ;  it  is  hoped  not  permanently. 

Mr.  Eagle  Olarke  found  it  not  uncommon  during  his  visit 
in  September  1898. 

Flammea  flammea.     The  Barn-Owl. 

A  resident,  but  by  no  means  common.  L,  has  two  in  his 
collection,  and  tells  me  he  has  shot  four  in  all,  and  has 
observed  it  on  several  other  occasions.  I  had  noticed  one  of 
these  birds  about  all  last  summer  and  located  the  hole  occupied 
by*  it,  but  it  was  not  easy  of  access  and  I  did  not  visit  it, 
although  I  felt  pretty  certain  it  was  breeding  there.  This 
year,  however,  seeing  it  in  the  same  vicinity,  I  determined  to 
clear  up  the  question,  and,  with  the  aid  of  a  rope,  descended 
to  the  hole.  No  sooner  had  my  feet  come  opposite  the  hole 
than  a  barn-owl  left  it  and  disappeared  round  a  corner,  and 
on  looking  into  the  hole  I  saw  three  young  ones,  two  nearly 
fledged  and  the  other  much  younger  and  about  half  the  size 
of  the  other  two.  This,  I  think,  is  the  first  record  of  the 
Barn-Owl  breeding  in  Alderney.  Dat(^  of  visiting  nest, 
18  July,  1920. 


I921.]  Birds  of  Alderney.  433 

Asio  otus.     The  Lono-eared  Owl. 

A  bird  o£  passage^  but  by  no  means  common,  and  so  far 
only  noticed  in  the  autunni.  L.  has  one  in  his  collection  and 
has  shot  four  of  them — one  in  the  autumn  of  each  of  the 
following  years,  1893,  1899,  1900,  1904.  Bearing  in  mind 
how  seldom  even  our  common  residential  owls  are  seen,  the 
fact  of  this  species  having  been  observed  on  four  occasions  in 
twenty-seven  years,  whilst  passing  through  the  island  on 
migration,  argues  that  it  is  of  frequent  occurrence  as  a  bird 
of  passage,  and  is  probably  a  regular  visitor.  It  is  curious 
how  seldom  this  bird  is  noticed  during  the  spring  migration. 
It  usually  occurs  here  in  November,  so  it  would  appear  to  be 
a  late  migrant  at  this  period.  I  have  not  myself  seen  this 
bird. 

Asio  accipitrinus.     The  Short-eared  Owl. 

A  common  bird  of  passage  and  also  a  winter  visitor,  but 
the  numbers  remaining  for  the  winter  months  vary  consider- 
ably in  different  years.  As  a  bird  of  passage  it  occurs  more 
frequently  in  the  autumn  than  the  spring.  L.  tells  me  he 
once  shot  a  specimen  here  in  August. 

Circus  aeruginosus.     The  Marsh-Harrier. 

L.  has  two  in  his  collection — a  male  and  a  female.  He 
shot  the  male  on  the  21st  of  August,  1899,  and  the  female 
the  following  day. 

Mr.  A.  C.  Tourgis  also  had  a  young  male  in  his  collection. 
He  shot  it  here  about  the  year  1894. 

Circus  pygargus.      Montagu's  Harrier, 

Mr.  Cecil  Smith  says  of  this  bird  :  "  Miss  C.  B.  Carey 
records  one  in  the  '  Zoologist'  for  1873  as  having  been  shot 
in  Alderney  in  July  of  that  year.  She  adds  that  it  was  an 
adult  male  in  full  plumage,  and  that  she  saw  it  herelf  at 
Mr.  Couch's  shop." 

The  above  is  the  only  record  I  have  for  this  bird. 

Buteo  buteo.     The  Buzzard. 

L.  tells  me  he  shot  one  in  the  autumn  of  1886. 

The  only  other  record  for  the  occurrence  of  this  bird  in 


434  Major  W.  R.  Thompson  on  the  [Ibi^i, 

Aldernev  that  T  can  find  is  contained  in  the  following 
quotation  from  Mr.  Cecil  Smith's  book  :  "  The  Buzzard  is  a 
tolerably  reoular,  and  by  no  means  unconnnon,  autumnal 
visitant,  sj)ecimens  occurring  from  some  of  the  islands  almost 
every  autumn.  Rut  it  is,  I  believe,  an  autumnal  visitant 
only,  as  I  do  not  know  of  a  single  specimen  taken  at  any 
other  time  of  year,  nor  can  I  find  a  record  of  one.  I  have 
seen  examples  in  the  flesh  from  both  Alderney  and  Herm,  in 
both  of  which  islands  it  occurs  at  least  as  frequently  as  it 
does  in  Guernsey,  though  still  only  as  an  autumnal  visitant." 

1  do  not  think  it  ever  visits  the  island  at  the  present  time. 

Buteo  lagopus.     The  Rough-legged  Buzzard. 

Mr.  Cecil  Smith,  in  his  book,  states  that  on  his  visit  to 
Alderney  in  June  1878,.  h(^  found  one  of  these  birds  at  the 
bird-stufFer  and  carpenter's  shop  there  which  had  been  shot 
in  Alderney  about  two  years  previously.  I  have  no  other 
record  of  this  bird. 

Haliaetus  albicilla.     The  White-tailed  Eagle. 

L.  has  one  in  his  collection^  which  he  shot  on  the  7th  of 
November,  1887.  It  is  a  young  bird  and  said  to  be  a  male, 
though    its    measurements    scarcely    bear    this    out — 3    feet 

2  inches,  across  wings  7  feet  6  inches. 

On  the  2nd  of  November,  1871,  a  specimen  was  shot  by  a 
Mr.  Edwards  and  is  now  set  up  in  Scott's  Hotel.  This  is  no 
doubt  the  bird  spoken  of  by  Mr.  Cecil  Smith — at  all  events 
the  dates  coincide. 

On  the  26th  of  October,  1899,  one  was  shot  by  Mr.  A.  C. 
Tourgis  on  Burhou,  the  measurements  beino-  the  same  as  the 
1887  specimen  mentioned  above.  Mr.  Tourgis  has  it  in  his 
collection. 

In  the  autumn  of  1908  one  was  shot  by  Mr.  T.  Simon  of 
Alderney. 

It  is,  I  think,  a  not  uncommon  occasional  visitor  to  the 
island  in  autumn  and  winter,  but  owing  to  the  fact  that 
it  keeps  principally  to  the  outlying  rocks  and  Burhou, 
it  is  not  often  seen.  During  the  autumn  and  winter  months, 
owing  to  the  danger  of  approach,  a  bird  might  remain  in 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Alderney.  435 

such  situations  unmolosted  for  comparatively  lono-  periods, 
whilst  the  rabbits  on  Burhou  would  doubtless  aftord  a  very 
succulent  dietary. 

Accipiter  nisus.     The  Sparrow-Hawk. 

An  occasional,  and  not  uncommon  visitor  during  both 
winter  and  summer,  except  during  the  breeding-season,  but 
it  is  more  usually  met  with  in  winter.  L.  has  one  in  his 
collection,  and  tells  me  he  has  shot  six  at  various  times.  It 
is_,  I  think,  becoming  less  common. 

Hierofalco  islandus  candicans.     The  Greenland  Falcon. 

Mr.  Cecil  Smith  records  that,  during  his  visit  to  Alderney 
in  1878  he  saw  a  stuffed  specimen  of  this  bird,  which  had 
been  shot  on  the  island  somewhere  about  the  autumn 
of  1876. 

This  is  the  only  record  I  have. 

Falco  peregrinus.     The  Peregrine  Falcon. 

L.  has  shot  two— a  female  on  the  28th  of  October,  1889, 
and  a  male  on  the  12th  of  March,  1891. 

Mr.  Eaole  Clarke  saw  one  on  the  cliffs  on  the  20th  of 
September,  1898.  It  is  somewhat  surprising  that  it  has  not 
been  more  often  recorded,  as  there  are  several  ap])arently 
suitable  breeding-places  for  it  at  Alderney.  I  have  not 
myself  noticed  it. 

Falco  subhuteo.     The  Hobby. 

I  saw  one  of  these  birds  on  the  afternoon  of  the  19th  of 
April,  1920.  It  stooped  to  one  of  the  swallow  tribe,  which 
it  missed,  and  in  doing  so  came  within  twenty  yards  of  me, 
affording  an  excellent  view.  I  again  saw  it  later  on  the 
same  afternoon  in  my  garden,  but  it  was  doubtless  on 
migration,  as  it  was  not  about  the  next  day. 

Falco  assalon.     TIk^  IMerlin. 

L.  tells  me  he  has  seen  two,  both  daring  autumn,  and  that 
Mr.  May  of  Alderney  once  shot  one. 

Mr.  Eagle  Clarke  noticed  one  at  the  west  end  of  the  island 
on  the  23rd  of  September,  1898. 


436  Major  W.  "R.  Thompson  on  the  [Ibis, 

Falco  tinnunculus.     The  Kestrel. 

A  common  resident  ;  in  fact,  more  nnmerons  here  than 
I  have  ever  seen  it  in  any  part  o£  Enoland,  except  possibly 
in  one  locality  in  the  Isle  of  AVight  last  autumn,  when  it 
may,  perhaps,  have  been  migrating. 

Mr.  Eagle  (-lark  found  it  extremely  abundant  during  the 
last  weeks  in  September  1898,  and  concluded  thorefrom  that, 
in  the  case  of  Alderney,  Mr.  Cecil  Smith  was  mistaken  in 
his  assumption  that  its  numbers  are  not  increased  during  the 
migratory  season.  My  own  opinion,  however,  based  on 
several  seasons^  observation,  is  that  Mr.  Cecil  Smith  was 
correct  and  that  this  bird  does  not  visit  Alderney  as  a  bird  of 
passage,  at  least  to  any  appreciable  extent. 

The  number  actually  present  on  the  island  is  constantly 
varying  throughout  the  year  by  interchange  of  visits  to  and 
from  the  coast  of  France,  and  I  think  that  very  likely  during 
Mr.  Eagle  Clarke's  visit  some  of  the  French  birds  may  have 
been  here,  but  it  may  also  be  that  he  underestimated  the 
number  of  residential  birds.  In  walking  round  the  island 
I  should  expect  to  encounter,  in  normal  times,  from  twelve 
to  twenty  birds  and  very  possibly  more,  whilst  the  occnsions 
when  one  or  two  are  not  iji  sight  are  rare.  If  this  number 
were  collected  together  on  one  part  of  the  ishmd  for  any 
reason,  such  as  the  abundance  of  coleoptera,  it  might  easily 
account  for  the  number  seen,  and  if  in  addition,  and  probably 
for  the  same  reason,  individuals  had  arrived  from  France, 
the  numb(n'  would  be  still  more  easily  accounted  for. 

Phalacrocorax  carbo.     The  Cormorant. 

An  uncommon  winter  visitor,  and  possibly  a  resident  in 
very  small  numbers,  but  I  have  not  myself  found  it  breeding 
here,  nor  do  I  think  that  I  have  seen  it  here  in  the  breeding- 
season,  and  I  only  include  it  as  a  resident  on  the  authority 
of  Mr.  Cecil  Smith,  who  states  that  one  or  two  pairs  breed 
at  Bnrhou.  Mr.  Eagle  Clarke  found  this  species  very 
abundant  during  his  visit  in  September  1898.  I  have  myself 
only  very  occasionally  noticed  it  in  the  winter  months,  and 
have  only  once  seen  as  many  as  three  together.     According 


1921."!  Birds  of  Alderneij.  437 

to  my  experience,  one  would  not  expect  to  find  the  cor- 
morant here  except  as  a  casual  visitor,  as  the  locality  with 
its  strong  tides,  deep  water,  and  rough  rock-bound  coast 
is  not  suited  to  it.  A  cormorant's  natural  habitats  are 
shallow  land-locked  bays,  and  shallow  muddy  harbours  and 
estuaries. 

Phalacrocorax  graculus.     The  8hag. 

A  coannon  resident  breeding  here  in  some  numbers,  and 
as  in  most  green  water  situations,  taking  the  place  o£  the 
cormorant. 

I  cannot  understand  how  Mr.  Eagle  Clarke  failed  to 
observe  it  here  in  September  1898^  as  I  cannot  recall  having 
ever  failed  to  find  several  when  I  wished  to,  either  feeding 
in  the  tide-way,  or,  as  is  often  their  habit,  obtaining  their 
food  from  the  seaweed  on  the  rocks  exposed  at  low  water. 

Sula  bassana.     Th(^  Gannet. 

This  bird  is  not  often  seen  near  the  shore,  althouoh  it  is  a 
regular  visitor  outside  the  breeding-season,  and  usually  in 
winter. 

In  December  1912  an  immature  bird  was  found  on  the 
golf  links  here  with  a  broken  wing  and  was  killed  by  the 
man  in  charge  of  the  links.  It  had  doubtless  tried  conclusions 
with  a  telephone  wire. 

On  the  8th  of  December,  1918,  T  was  so  fortunate  as  to  have 
under  close  observation  for  some  time  from  a  point  of  vantage 
on  shore,  an  adult  male  of  this  species.  It  was  fishing  at  the 
entrance  to  Longy  Bay,  and  I  was  on  the  top  of  an  old  fort 
overlooking  and  within  150  yards  of  it.  The  water  was 
extremely  clear  and  the  surface  smooth,  and  I  could  distinctly 
see  the  bird's  movements  under  water.  In  one  of  its  dives 
it  turned  through  a  considerable  angle  just  beneath  the 
surface,  apparently  by  aid  of  its  wings,  and  in  order  to  follow 
its  })rey.  On  another  occasion  it  entered  the  water  ahnost 
horizontally  at  great  speed,  and  moving  rapidly  just  below 
the  surface,  either  with  its  remaining  velocity,  or  perhaps  by 
use  of  its  feet — it  did  not  ai)pear  to  use  its  wino-s — emeroed 
from  the  water  not  less  than  8  or  10  feet  from  the  point  of 


438  Major  W.  "R.  Thompson  on  the  [Ibis, 

piitrance.  I  have  not  before  had  the  opportunity  of  studying 
this  bird  at  close  quarters,  and  cannot  say  if  this  is  its  usual 
method,  but  have  always  thought  that  it  fell  vertically  on  to 
its  prey. 

The  only  time  I  have  seen  this  bird  here  in  any  numbers 
was  on  the  19th  of  May,  1920,  when  a  flock  consisting  of 
nine  adults  and  two  immature  birds  were  observed  fishing 
close  to  the  shore.  At  this  time,  it  was  reported  by  the 
fishermen  that  large  quantities  of  small  pollack  were  off  the 
coast,  and  a  herd  of  at  least  fifty  porpoises  (J)elphimis 
phoca'iia)  of  all  ages  was  constantly  patrolling  round  the 
island,  so  there  were  certain  abnormal  conditions  to  account 
for  this,  and  the  same  conditions  obtained  still  a  week  later, 
when  large  numbers  of  gannets  were  reported  between 
Alderney  and  Guernsey. 

Anser  anser.     Th<-  Grey-lag  Goose. 

L.  tells  me  that  this  bird  is  an  occasional  winter  visitor, 
coming  to  the  island  during  hard  wcuthei-,  and  usually  in 
small  trips  of  six  oi*  seven  individuals,  A  number  have  been 
shot  at  various  timers.  I  have  not  myself  observed  it,  but  the 
winters  1  have  passed  on  the  island  have  been  comparatively 
mild. 

Anser  brachyrhynchus.     The  Pink-footed  Goose. 

I  killed  one  of  these  birds  durino-  a  strono-  north-east  gale 
on  the  19th  of  December,  1913.  It  was  by  itself  and  rose 
from  the  rough  grass  bordering  Longy  Bay. 

Branta  bernicla.     The  Brent  Goose. 

Small  trips  of  these  liirds  are  often  seen  off  the  rocks 
during  th<^  winter  months.  A  winter  visitor,  but  varying 
much  in  numbers  according  to  the  se\erity  of  the  weather. 

Anas  boschas.     The  Wild  Duck. 

A  winter  visitor  in  small  nund)ers  and  during  severe 
weatluM-  only.  They  do  not  remain  long,  as  they  are  almost 
immediately  shot  at.  I  have  observed  it  occasionally  in  the 
autumn  as  a  bird  of  passage. 


1 92 1.]  B'nxls  of  Alderney.  489 

Querquedula  crecca.     The  Teal. 

A  winter  visitor  in  small  numbers  during  hard  weather 
and  never  remaining  long.  L.  tells  me  he  usually  sees  a 
few  in  August  and  September,  so  it  is  also  a  bird  of  passage. 

Mareca  penelope.     The  Wigeon. 

As  in  the  case  of  the  last  two,  this  bird  is  a  winter  visitor 
in  hard  weather  only,  and  in  quite  small  numbers.  It  departs 
as  soon  as  the  weather  modifies,  if  not  in  the  meantime 
accounted  for  by  the  local  sportsman.  I  cannot  find  that  it 
ever  occurs  as  a  bird  of  passage. 

Dafila  acuta.     The  Pintail. 

]Mr.  Cecil  Smith  says  of  this  bird: — "  ( 'apbiin  Hubbach 
writes  me  word  that  he  shot  one  in  Alderney  in  January 
18G3.^' 

(Edemia  nigra.     The  Common  Scoter. 

Mr.  Cecil  Smith  says  : — "The  Scoter  is  a  common  autumn 
and  winter  visitant  to  all  the  islands,  generally  making  its 
appearance  in  considerable  flocks."  ]  am  afraid  its  numbers 
must  have  sadly  diminished  since  Mr.  Smith's  day,  as  I  do 
not  remember  seeing  it  when  stationed  in  Guernsey,  nor  on 
my  fairly  frequent  winter  passages  between  Alderney  and 
Guernsey.  1  shot  an  immature  female  of  this  species  in 
Longy  Bay  on  the  9tli  of  August,  1919.  It  was  by  itself 
and  dou1)tless  a  straggler  from  some  flock.  I  have  no  other 
record  oi  it  for  the  ishind,  though  it  no  doubt  visits  Burhou 
and  some  of  the  outlying  rocks  during  winter. 

Mergus  merganser.     The  Goosander. 

Mr.  Cecil  Smith  says: — "  The  Goosander  is  a  regular  and 
tolerably  numerous  visitant  to  all  the  islands,  arriving  in 
the  autumn  and  remaining  throughout  the  winter."  I  have 
no  other  record  of  it,  but  birds  which  keep  the  sea,  such  as 
the  divers  and  diving-ducks^  are  difficult  to  observe  from 
land.  Had  I  the  facilities  for  going  afloat  during  winter,  I 
have  little  doubt  but  that  this  list  could  have  be(m  added  tO;, 
In  one  or  two  particulars. 

SEE.  XI. VOL.  III.  2  G 


440  jMajor  "\V.  R.  Thompson  on  the  [Ibis, 

Mergus  serrator.     The  Red-broasted  Merganser. 

This  bird  is  occasionally  seen  in  the  autumn  as  a  bird  of 
passage,  and  a  few  visit  the  island  in  winter,  usually  during 
hard  weather,  or  strong  winds. 

Mergellus  albellus.     The  Smew. 

I  saw  one  of  these  birds,  either  a  female  or  immature 
male,  in  Longy  Bay  in  December  1918.  It  had  been  blowing 
hard  from  the  north-oast  for  some  days. 

Ardea  cinerea.     The  Heron. 

This  bii-d  pays  the  island  an  occasional  visit  both  in  the 
late  summer  and  in  winter.  They  presumably  come  from 
the  French  shore,  and,  so  far  as  my  observations  go,  usually 
make  their  appearance  during  spring-tides,  when,  doubtless, 
the  fishing  amongst  the  rocks  at  low  water  is  better  and 
more  secure.  I  have  never  seen  more  than  one  at  a  time 
and  they  do  not  stay  long. 

L.  saj^s  they  are  occasionally  seen  in  winter,  and  on  one 
occasion  a  pair  remained  throughout  the  summer.  In  1917 
he,  on  one  occasion,  saw  three  together  on  the  rocks  in 
Longy  Bay. 

Ardea  purpurea.     The  Purple  Heron. 

Mr.  (Jecil  Smith  records  one  as  being  shot  in  Alderney 
about  the  middle  of  May^l878,  and  quotes  Mr.  MacCulloch 
as  the  authority  for  another  one  shot  here  on  the  8th  of 
May.  1867. 

Botaurus  stellaris.     The  Bittern. 

Mr.  Cecil  Smith  says  of  this  bird  : — "  The  birdstufFer  in 
Alderney  (Mr.  Grieve)  and  his  friend  told  me  they  had  shot 
Bitterns  in  that  island,  but  did  not  remember  the  date.'^ 

Mr.  Tourgis  informs  me  that  he  once  shot  a  Bittern  here. 
It  was  durino-  the  winter  of  either  1892  or  1893.  L.  tells 
me  that  his  father,  Mr.  J.  A.  Langlois,  and  a  Mr.  Sandford 
each  shot  a  Bittern  here  sometime  between  1880  and  1882. 

Platalea  leucorodia.     The  Spoonbill. 

Mr.   Godfrey,   of   Mannez   Farm,   Alderney,   informs   me 


1 92 1.]  Birds  oj  Aldernei/.  441 

that  he  shot  a  Spoonbill  on  the  rocks  near  Longy  Bay, 
about  fifteen  years  ago,  and  that  he  kept  the  beak  for  some 
time.  Neither  this  nor  the  preceding  bird  can  easily  be 
mistaken  for  others,  and  I  have  little  doubt  that  they  were 
correctly  identified. 

(Edicnemns  cedicnemus.     The  Stone-Cnrlew. 
L.  tells  me  that  he  shot  one  out  of  a  little  lot  of  four  in 
December  1887.     Mr.  Tourgis  also  once  shot  one. 

Phalaropus  fulicarius.     The  Grey  Phalarope. 

Mr.  Cecil  Smith  says : — "  The  Grey  Phalarope  is  a 
tolerably  regular  and  occasionally  numerous  autumnal 
visitant  to  all  the  islands.'^  This  does  not  apply  now,  and 
if  it  occurs  at  all  it  does  so  very  seldom,  although  there 
seems  to  be  no  reason  why  it  should  not,  as  it  is  still,  at 
times,  fairly  numerous  on  the  opposite  coast  of  Dorset. 

Scolopax  rusticola.     The  Woodcock. 

It  is  to  these  birds  that  the  islanders  owe  the  greater  part 
of  their  sport.  They  come  over  from  the  French  coast 
in  some  numbers  during  the  winter  months,  when  the 
wind  is  in  the  east,  or,  better  still,  the  south-east.  They 
also  come  in  calm  weather  and  especially  when  there  is  a 
fog,  and  would  doubtless  remain  were  it  not  for  the  sporting 
proclivities  of  the  inhabitants.  They  are  met  with  princi- 
pally on  the  cliffs,  and  a  good  spaniel  is  necessary  to  insure 
sport. 

The  Woodcock  may  often  be  soon  coming  over  from  the 
opposite  coast  at  dusk,  more  especially  if  there  is  a  moon, 
and  I  think  that,  in  favourable  weather,  these  birds,  as  well 
as  the  Snipe,  make  a  regular  flight  across  the  Race,  arrivino- 
here  soon  after  dark,  and  the  majority  leaving  for  the 
French  coast  just  before  daylight.  The  followino-  table 
giving  the  date  of  the  first  Cock  of  the  season  shot  in 
Alderney  since  1889,  has  been  very  kindly  given  to  me  by 
L.,  and  since  it  possesses  a  certain  human,  as  well  as  a 
scientific,  interest,  I  give  it  here  in  its  entirety  and  as 
received  from  him. 

2g2 


•142 


Major  AV.  R.  Thompson  on  tlie 


[Ibis. 


Record  of  f lie  date  tJie  first  Woodcod.  has  been  sJiot  in  Alderney 

since  188'J. 


Year. 
1889. 

Month. 

Shot  by. 

Locality. 

Wind. 

Remarks. 

Oct.  18. 

Mr.  L.  J.  A.  Langlois. 

Martin's 

W. 

Bridge. 

1890. 

Oct.  19. 

Mr.  J.  Herivel. 

La  Quoire. 

S.E. 

1891. 

Oct.  24. 

Mr.  A.  C.  Tourgis. 

Bon  Terre. 

N.W. 

1892. 

Oct.  14. 

Serg-t.-Maj.  R.  McLernon. 

Clonque. 

W. 

1893. 

Oct.  20. 

Mr.  J.  Brooks. 

Telegraph. 

s.w. 

1894. 

Oct.  16. 

Mr.  N.  Gaudion. 

Begignes. 

w. 

1895. 

Oct.  17. 

Mr.  H.  Oliver. 

Giffoine. 

N.W. 

189G. 

Oct.  17. 

Mr.  R.  G.  May. 

Vallongy. 

N.E. 

1897. 

Oct.  19. 

Mr.  T.  Brooks. 

Val  du  Sud. 

S. 

1898. 

Oct.  21. 

Mr.  A.  C.  Tonrgis. 

Bon  Terre. 

N.W. 

Missed  by  V.  Petite 
on  the  15th. 

1899. 

Oct.  23. 

Capt.  L.  J.  A.  Langlois. 

Vallongy. 

N.E. 

1900. 

Oct.  12. 

Mr.  R.  G.  May. 

Essex. 

S.E. 

1901. 

Oct.  29. 

Mr.  A.  C.  Tourgis. 

Begignes. 

W. 

1902. 

Oct.  17. 

Mr.  N.  Gaudion. 

Trois  Vaux. 

w.s.w. 

Flushed  on  the  11th 
by  R.  Herivel. 

1903. 

Oct.  23. 

Mr.  Jas.  M.  Gautier. 

Longy  drain. 

S.E. 

Seen  flying  over  Braye  j 
on  the  19th. 

1904. 

Oct.    3. 

Mr.  J.  Brooks. 

Bon  Terre. 

N.W. 

1905. 

Oct.  11. 

Capt.  Theobald. 

Essex. 

E.S.E. 

1906. 

Oct.  12. 

Mr.  J.  Brooks. 



W. 

1907. 

Oct.  21. 

Mr.  R.  G.  May. 

Essex. 

E.S.E. 

1908. 

Oct.  20. 

Manor  L.  .J.  A.  Langlois. 

Mouriaux. 

N.N.W. 

Mrs.       L.       Langlois 

. 

flushed    it    on    the 

18th. 

1909. 

Oct.  26. 

Mr.  W.  LeCocq. 

Trois  Vaux. 

W.S.W. 

1910. 

Oct.  17. 

Mr.  Jas.  M.  Gautier. 

Longy  drain. 

S.E. 

1911. 

Oct.    2. 

Mr.  A.  C.  Tourgis. 

Trois  Vaux. 

W.S.W. 

1912. 

Oct.  23.     Mr.  J.  P.  Simon. 

Essex. 

E.S.E. 

1913. 

Oct.  16.     Mr.  E.  Gautier. 

Manez. 

N.E. 

V.  Petite  missed  one 
on  the  11th. 

1914. 

Oct.  15.  !  Major  L.  J.  A.  Lang-lois. 

Essex. 

E.S.E. 

Mrs.       L.       Langlois 

flushed   one  in   Pre 

gardens  on  5th,  and 

Major     H.     de     L. 

Walters  missed  one 

in  Essex  on  the  8th. 

1915. 

Oct.  20. 

Mr.  C.  Cooley. 

N.E. 

1916. 

Oct.  20. 

Mr.  W.  LeCocq. 

S.W. 

1917. 

Nov.   5. 

Major  L.  J.  A.  Langlois. 

Val  du  Sud. 

S. 

1918. 

Oct.  19. 

Mr.  V.  Petite. 

W. 

1919. 

Oct.    9. 

Mr.  N.  W.  Gaudion. 

Essex. 

N.E. 

1921.]  Birds  of  A  Iderneij.  443 

Gallinago  gallinago.     The  (Vjinmon  Snipe. 

A  few  are  nearly  always  to  be  met  with  during"  tlie 
winter  nionth.s,  but  it  becomes  more  numerous  durino-  spells 
of  hard  weather.  L.  tells  me  that  in  1899  Mr.  AV.  LcOocq 
shot  one  of  the  dark  variety  of  this  bird  formerly  known  as 
Sabine's  Snipe,  but.  it  was  unfortunately  not  preserved.  I 
am  of  the  opinion  that,  in  favourable  weather,  this  bird,  as 
well  as  the  Woodcock,  pays  regular  visits  to  the  island, 
crossinp;  the  Race  at  dusk  and  returning  to  the  Cotentin  at 
dawn.  I  have  on  several  occasions  seen  it  arriving  in  the 
evening  from  the  direction  of  France. 

Gallinago  media.     The  Great  Snipe. 

Ij.  tells  me  that  he  once  saw  one  of  these  birds_,  and  that 
Mr.  R.  G.  May  has,  at  various  times,  shot  three.  None  of 
them  seem  to  have  been  preserved,  and  this  is  the  only 
record  I  can  iind  of  it. 

Limnocryptes  gallinula.     The  Jack  Snipe. 
A  few  usually  to  be   met  with  during  the  winter  months, 
becoming  more  numerous  in  severe  weather. 

Tringa  maritima.     Tlie  Purple  Sandpiper. 

I  had  one  of  these  birds  under  close  observation  for  over 
half  an  hour  on  the  13th  of  December,  1913.  It  was 
feeding  among  the  seaweed  on  the  rocks  at  the  base  of 
the  breakwater.  I  have  no  other  record  of  this  bird,  which 
is  not  uncommon,  in  suitable  localities,  on  the  opposite  coast 
of  Dorset. 

Tringa  alpina.     The  Dunlin. 

The  Dunlin  occurs  most  numerously  as  a  bird  of  passage, 
although  a  few  invariably  winter  here,  and  in  hard  weather 
it  even  becomes  plentiful.  A  flock  of  six  of  these  birds  in 
summer  plumage  frequented  Longy  Bay  during  the  first 
week  of  May,  1919. 

Calidris  arenaria.     The  Sanderling. 

Mr.  Cecil  Smith  says  : — "  The  Sanderling  is  a  regular 
and    rather   earl}'  visitant   to  all   the  islands."     I  have  not 


444  Major  W.  R.  Thompson  on  the  [Ibis, 

noticed  it  myself,  iuid  it  has  undoubtedly  become  more  scarce 
since  Mr.  Smith's  time. 

Langlois  has  one  of  these  birds  in  his  collection,  shot  by 
himself  in  Alderney  some  jears  ago.  1  had  previously 
overlooked  it,  mistaking  it  for  a  Dunlin, 

Tetanus  tetanus.     The  Redshank, 

This  bird  is  fairly  common  in  the  late  summer  and  autumn 
as  a  bird  of  passage,  but  is  less  frequent  in  the  spring.  The 
first  birds  usually  make  their  appearance  towards  the  end  of 
July  and  depart  again  early  in  September,  although  one  or 
two  generally  winter  here. 

Tetanus  nebularius.     The  Greenshank. 

I  saw  a  single  individual  of  this  species  feeding  in  Longy 
Bay  on  the  22nd  of  July,  1919.  This  is  the  only  record 
I  have  for  Alderno}-. 

Tetanus  hypoleucus.     The  Common  Sandpiper. 

This  Sandpiper  is  not  uncommon  during  the  spring  and 
autumn  migrations,  and  some  few,  doubtless  non-'breeding 
birds,  usually  pass  the  summer  here  ;  but  the  majority  arrive 
about  the  middle  of  July,  and  remain  until  September. 
These  birds  have  been  particularly  numerous  this  year 
(1920),  and  a  large  number  have  remained  throughout  the 
summer. 

Limosa  lapponica.     The  Bar-tailed  Godwit. 

These  birds  arc  occasionally  met  with  as  birds  of  passage 
in  spring  and  autumn.  Two  were  obtained  at  the  Casquets 
Light  in  the  spring  of  1916,  and  I  saw  one  feeding  in 
Longy  Bay  on  the  21st  of  August,  1919. 

Numenius  arquata.     The  Curlew. 

Common  during  the  winter  months,  a  flock  of  some  thirty 
birds  or  so  being  usually  seen  in  the  vicinity  of  Longy  Bay. 
They  usually  make  their  first  appearance  in  July.  Mr.  Cecil 
Smith  says  that  they  remain  throughout  the  summer,  but 
I  do  not  think  this  is  the  case  nowadays,  except  in  isolated 


1921.]  Birds  of  Alderney,  445 

cases.     A  pair  have,  however,  remained  here  throughout  this 
present  summer  (1920). 

Numenius  phseopus.     The  Whimbrel. 

Common  as  a  bird  of  passage  in  the  spring,  and  usually 
remaining  throughout  the  greater  part  of  May.  It  is  far  less 
common  in  the  autumn.  I  saw  one  in  Longy  Bay  on  the 
21st  of  August,  1919. 

Charadrius  apricarius.     The  Golden  Plover. 

Occurs  as  a  bird  of  passage  in  both  spring  and  autumn, 
and  often  appears  in  large  flocks  during  hard  weather  in 
winter,  but  in  mild  winters  few  or  none  are  seen.  Last  year, 
however,  was  an  exception,  and  a  flock  of  fifteen  or  sixteen 
birds  arrived  about  the  middle  of  October  (1919)  and 
remained  for  about  a  fortnight,  although  the  weather  was 
quite  mild. 

Squatarola  squatarola.     The  Grey  Plover. 

An  occasional  winter  visitor  in  small  numbers,  but  never 
numerous  nor  seen  in  large  flocks.  I  shot  one  in  Longy  Bay 
on  the  10th  of  December,  1919,  and  another  in  summer 
plumage  on  the  19th  of  April,  1920. 

iEgialitis  hiaticula.     The  Ringed  Plover. 

Common  in  late  summer  and  winter.  I  have  not  noticed 
it  here  in  the  breeding-season  and  do  not  think  it  nests 
here,  certainly  not  in  any  numbers. 

^gialitis  alexandrina.     The  'Kentish  Plover. 

A  fairly  common  summer  visitor.  I  shot  one  out  of  three 
in  Longy  Bay  on  the  27th  of  March,  1919 — a  very  early 
date.  A  few  pairs  breed  in  the  neighbourhood,  but  their 
numbers  are  decreasing.  Three  eggs  appear  to  be  the 
maximum  number  they  lay,  and  they  often  do  not  lay  more 
than  two.  The  eggs  of  this  bird  are  not  easy  to  find,  as 
before  incubation  takes  place  there  is  usually  no  sign  of  a 
nest,  and  the  eggs  are,  in  most  cases,  more  than  three-fourths 
covered  with  sand,  whilst  after  the  bird  has  commenced  to 
sit,    the    eggs   will    generally   be   found   fully   exposed    and 


440  Major  W.  R.  Thompson  on  the  [Ibis, 

resting  in  a  neatly  rounded  hollow.  I  was  at  first  much 
puzzled  over'  this  circumstance  and  imagined  it  was  a 
method  adopted  by  the  bird  to  conceal  its  eggs  ;  but  lat- 
terly, and  with  more  experience  of  other  small  objects 
resting  on  this  sand — some  of  which  are  still  beneath  it, — 
I  have  inclined  to  the  opinion  that  it  was  due  to  the  wind 
blowing  the  sand  over  the  nest  and  thus  tilling  up  the  hollow 
and  almost  covering  the  eggs.  This  would  naturally  not 
take  place  when  the  bird  was  sitting. 

Eudromias  morinellus.     The  Dotterel. 

L.  has  shot  three  —  one  in  181)^,  one  in  1900,  and 
one  in  1902 — all  in  the  early  spring.  He  has  one  in  his 
collection.  I  saw  two  of  these  birds  in  the  flesh,  which  had 
been  shot  by  a  man  in  Longy  Bay  on  the  1st  of  September, 
1919. 

Vanellus  vanellus.     The  Lapwing. 

There  are  usually  a  few  about  during  the  autumn  and 
winter  months,  but  these  are  often  augmented  by  the  arrival 
of  large  flocks  during  hard  weather.  1  saw  a  flock  of  ten 
as  late  as  the  1st  of  April,  1914.  I  have  no  evidence  that 
they  breed  here,  and  have  not  seen  them  here  in  the 
■  summer. 

Haematopus  ostralegus.     The  Oystercatcher. 

The  Oystercatcher  is  a  very  common  resident,  breeding 
numerously  in  the  vicinity.  I  do  not  think  its  numbers  are 
appreciably,  if  at  all,  affected  by  migration.  During  the 
ye:irs  1913  and  1914,  I  had  frequently  noticed  a  white 
variety  of  this  bird.  It  was  usually  to  be  seen  feeding 
among  the  others  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Longy  Bay. 
It  appeared  to  be  almost  pure  white,  and,  at  a  distance,  had 
much  the  appearance  of  a  Kittiwake,  showing  up  plainly 
against  the  dark  background  of  seaweed  and  rock.  On  my 
return  to  Alderney  in  the  autumn  of  1918,  I  again  saw  a 
white  Oystercatcher  in  the  same  neighbourhood.  Was  it, 
I  wonder,  the  same  bird? 

The  Oystercatcher  usually  lays  three  eggs,  but  I  have  on 


t92i.]  Birds  of  AUlernejj.  447 

two  occasions  found  nosts  contaiiiinp;  four.  The  nests  of  this 
bird  an^  very  varied  in  construction,  and  well  worth  studyinn-. 
Porha[)S  more  otten  than  not,  no  nest  is  constructed  at  all, 
but  the  eggs  deposited  amongst  the  stones  of  the  beach. 
Again,  the  eggs  are  often  laid  in  ;i  hollow  formed  against 
the  seaweed  thrown  up  at  high  spring-tides.  I  once  found 
two  eggs  jambed  in  a  crevice  between  two  large  stones, 
their  small  ends  v(>rticallv  downwards — an  extraordinary 
and  one  would  imagine  inicomfortable  position,  especially 
for  the  young  birds,  if  they  ever  hatched  out.  Nests  are 
often  carefully  lined  with  small  limpet  shells,  some  half  an 
inch  in  diameter,  with  their  small  ends  uppermost,  and  as 
these  have  usually  been  washec]  smooth  and  white  by  the 
action  of  the  waves,  the  nests  thus  formed  are  very 
conspicuous.  I  once  found  one  in  an  old  fort.  It  was 
placed  in  a  hollow^  against  the  racer  of  an  old  gun  (Mnplace- 
ment,  and  lined  with  granite-gravel  taken  from  the  old 
pathway  in  the  fort.  This  gravel,  which  normally  is  rough 
and  angular,  was  most  carefully  laid  and  fitted  together, 
a  flat  surface  of  each  pebble  upwards,  giving  the  appearance 
of  an  old  Roman  mosaic  work. 

Areniria  interpres.     The  Turnstone. 

A  common  winter  visitor,  arriving  in  late  August  or 
September.  A  few  remain  throughout  the  year,  but,  I  think, 
only  non-breeding  birds.  Mr.  Cecil  Smith  considered  that 
they  bred  on  the  islands,  but  the  evidence  of  this  seemed  to 
be  uncertain  even  in  his  time,  and  I  do  not  know  that  the 
nest  and  eggs  have  actually  been  found. 

Larus  canus.     The  Common  Gull. 

Mr.  Cecil  Smith  says  :—"  The  Common  Gull,  though  by 
no  means  uncommon  in  the  Channel  Islands  during  the 
winter,  never  remains  to  breed." 

Larus  argeutatus.     Th(>  Herring-Gull. 

A  connnon  resident,  but  more  plentiful  during  the 
breeding-season  than  at  other  times  of  the  year. 


448  Major  W.  R.  Thompson  nn  the  [This, 

Larus  marinus.     The  Greater  Black-backed  Gull. 
A  resident,  breeding  here. 

Larus  fuscus  affinis.  The  British  Lesser  Black-backed 
Gull. 

A  common  resident,  breeding  here,  though  less  numerous 
than  the  Herring-Gull.  The  llerrino-Gull  and  the  Lesser 
Black-backed  Gull  breed  here  in  the  same  localities  and  in 
some  cases  in  the  same  colony,  but  it'  one  carefully  observes 
these  birds  whilst  on  their  nests,  it  will  be  noticed  that  in 
most  cases  the  Herring-Gull  chooses  the  bare  rock  or  face 
of  a  cliff,  whilst  the  Black-backed  Gull,  although  nesting- 
close  at  hand,  seems  to  prefer  to  place  its  nest  amongst 
grass  and  undergrowth,  or  on  the  soil.  The  Greater  Black- 
backed  Gull  is  a  solitary  individual  ;  it  does  not  nest  in 
colonies,  and  when  possible  seems  to  prefer  a  small  isolated 
rock  to  itself. 

Larus  ridibundus.     The  Black-headed  Gull. 
A  few  may  generally  be  met  with  in  winter. 

Larus  minutus.     The  Little  Gull. 

This  Gull  is  not  uncommon  during  the  winter  months, 
but  it  prefers  to  keep  some  distance  from  shore  ayd  so  is 
not  often  seen.  It  appears  to  be  more  numerous  during 
heavy  gales. 

Rissa  tridactyla.     The  Kittiwake. 

Some  usually  to  be  seen  during  winter,  and  I  have  noticed 
one  or  two  throughout  the  summer,  but  these  are  probably 
non-breeding  birds. 

Sterna  hirundo.     The  Common  Tern. 

Before  the  war  this  bird  occurred  as  a  bird  of  passage  in 
small  numbers,  but  I  did  not  see  it  either  last  year  (1919) 
or  this  spring,  which  is  curious,  seeing  that  a  colony  breed 
near  Guernsey. 

Sterna  paradisea.     The  Arctic  Tern. 

These  birds  were  common  in  Longy  Bay  and  off  the  coast 
during  the  first  week  in  September  1920. 


1 9  2 1 .  ]  Birds  of  A  Idem  ey .  449 

Sterna  miimta.     The  Little  Tern. 

On  the  5th  of  September,  1919,  I  saw  a  few  of  these 
birds  fishing  in  Longy  Bav.  This  is  the  only  record  I 
have  for  it. 

Sterna  sandvicensis.     The  Sandwich  Tern. 

Some  hundreds^  quite  possibly  over  a  thousand^  of  these 
birds  appeared  off  the  coast  on  the  12tli  of  September, 
1920,  after  all  the  Arctic  Terns,  mentioned  above,  had  left. 
It  was  difficult  to  estimate  the  number,  as  Alderney  Race, 
as  far  as  the  eye  could  see,  appeared  to  be  full  of  them. 
They  were  fishing  busily,  some  quite  close  to  the  shore. 
On  the  13th,  however,  they  had  evidently  passed  on,  and 
there  wore  none  to  be  seen.  I  had  previously  seen  two 
of  these  birds  in  Longy  Bay  on  the  9th  inst.,  one  of  which 
I  obtained. 

Alca  torda.     The  Razorbill. 

A  resident,  but  more  numerous  in  the  breeding-season 
than  at  other  times. 

Uria  troille.     The  Common  Guillemot. 

A  resident,  less  common  than  the  last  species,  but,  as  in 
the  case  of  that  l)ird,  more  numerous  during  the  nesting- 
season  than  at  other  times. 

Fratercula  arctica.     The  Puffin. 

A  very  common  summer  visitor,  breeding  here  in  large 
numbers.  In  Aujiust  1913  a  disease  seems  to  have  attacked 
the  colony  of  Puffins  breeding  on  Burhou,  and  the  whole 
island  was  thickly  covered  with  the  dead  bodies  of  these 
birds. 

Thalassidroma  pelagica.     The  Stormy  Petrel. 

Whether  the  Stormy  Petrel  should  be  considered  a  resident 
or  a  summer  visitor  I  am  not  certain.  It  still  breeds  in  the 
neighbourhood  in  some  numbers,  but  I  have  not  noticed  it 
at  other  times  of  the  year.  This  is  however,  perhaps,  not 
unnatural,  considering  its  habits. 


4oO  Major  W.  R.  Thompson  on  the  [Ibis, 

PufRnus  puffinus.      The  Manx  Shearwater. 

I  have  only  come  across  this  bird  on  one  occasion.  During 
the  hist  week  in  May  and  the  first  day  or  two  in  June  ot' 
this  year  (^11)20;  it  was  comparatively  plentiful  off  the  sliore. 
1  do  not  know  that  it  breeds  here,  but  if  not,  its  appearance 
at  this  time  of  year  is  certainly  curious.  I  uiay  add,  how- 
ever, as  a  possible  explanation  of  the  circumstance,  that 
the  period  referred  to  was  notic(^able  for  the  large  shoals 
of  young  pollack,  the'  herds  of  porj)oises,  and  the  flocks  of 
gannets  in  the  vicinity. 

Mr.  Eagle  Clarke  found  it  very  numerous  oif  the  Casquets 
on  the  30th  of  September,  189<S,  and  Mr.  Cecil  Smith 
considers  it  an  occasional  wanderer  to  the  Channel  Islands. 

Puffinus  gravis.     The  Great  Shearwater. 

Mr.  Eagle  Clarke  saw  a  single  example  of  this  bird, 
among  the  Manx  Shearwaters,  off  the  Casquets  on  the 
30th  of  Se})tember,  1898,  and  Mr.  Cecil  Smith  includes 
it  as  an  occasional  wanderer  to  the  Islantls,  on  the  strength 
of  having  seen  a  small  flock  of  four  or  five  of  them  in 
the  (Channel  in  July  186G,  whilst  still  within  sight  of  the 
Casquets.  I  have  myself  occasionally  noticed  this  bird 
whilst  crossing  between  Guernsey  and  Weymouth. 

Colymbus  arcticus.     The  Black-throated  Diver. 
I  saw  one   of  these   birds  in   the   Roads  on  the   15th  of 
April,  1914.     It  was  fishing  close  under  the  breakwater. 

Colymbus  immer.     The  Great  Northern  Diver. 

Mr.  Cecil  Smith  says  : — "  The  Great  Northern  Diver  is  a 
common  autumn  and  winter  visitant  to  all  the  Islands." 
I  have  not  myself  seen  it,  and  think  that  they  have  become 
less  numerous  since  Mr.  Smith's  time — at  any  rate  in  this 
locality. 

Colymbus  stellatus.     The  Red-throated  Diver. 
Occasionally  visits  the  Roads  and  Longy  Bay  in  winter, 
usuall}'  during  rough  weather  or  after  a  storm. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Alderneij.  451 

Podiceps  auritus.     Tlie  Slavonian  Grrebe. 

A  regular  winter  visitor  in  small  numbers.  This,  as  well 
as  the  next  S[)ecies,  is  usually  met  with  either  off  the 
Platte  Saline  beach  or  in  Longy  Bay. 

Podiceps  cristatus.     The  Great  Crested  Grrebe, 
A  regular  winter  visitor  in  small  numbers,  but  perhaps 
slightly  less  numerous  than  the  last  species. 

Ralhis  aquaticus.     The  Water-TJail. 

A  l)y  no  means  uncommon  winter  visitor.  I  cannot  find 
that  it  breeds  here,  nor  have  I  met  with  it  during  the 
breeding-season.  L.  tells  me  that,  when  out  shooting, 
he  has  frequently  seen  this  bird  sitting  on  a  fence,  or  the 
branch  of  a  tree,  watching  the  dog  working  in  the  ditch 
below.  This  is,  of  course,  a  rather  usual  habit  of  the  Moor- 
hen, but  I  have  not  before  heard  of  the  Water-Rail 
behaving  thus. 

Porzana  porzana.     The  Spotted  Crake. 

L.  shot  one  here  on  the  10th  of  November,  1891,  and 
has  it  in  his  collection. 

Porzana  pusilla  intermedia.     Baillon's  Crake. 

L.  shot  one  in  the  autumn  of  1<S91,  the  same  year 
in  which  he  shot  the  Spotted  Crake,  but  he  has  not  the 
exact  date.     The  bird  is  in  his  collection. 

Crex  crex.     The  Land-Rail. 

A  common  summer  visitor  and  also  a  bird  of  passage,  but 
as  such  is  more  frequently  met  with  in  autumn  than  in  spring. 
L.  says  of  this  bird  : — "  From  the  end  of  August  to  October 
large  flights  arrive  with  north-west  and  north-east  winds. 
Mr.  R.  G.  May  shot  fifty  on  one  day  in  September  1886. 
My  largest  bag  in  one  day  was  twenty-seven,  but  of  late 
years  they  do  not  come  in  such  large  numbers.  When  a 
flight  arrives  it  never  remains  over  the  second  nioht." 
The  record  of  these  large  flights  in  September  is  very 
interesting.     Mr.  Cecil   Smith  makes  no  mention  of  these 


452  On  the  IJinIs  uf  Alderneij.  [Ibis, 

flights  in  his  book  ;  so  it  would  seom  as  i£  Guernsey  were 
rather  out  of  their  line  of  migration. 

There  would  seem  to  be  reasons,  indicated  above,  which 
might  account  for  these  birds  not  remaining  over  the  second 
night. 

Gallinula  chloropus.     The  Moorhen. 

Occasionally  met  with  in  winter,  and  it  would  appear 
from  the  following  account  that  it  probably  sometimes 
breeds  here,  which  I  should  not  think  unlikely.  I  saw  one 
shot  at  the  bottom  of  my  garden  in  the  autumn  of  1919. 
L.  says  : — "  I  have  shot  seven  at  various  times  and  killed 
the  eighth  on  the  21st  of  January,  1914.  During  the 
summer  of  1916  there  were  eight  in  the  Longy  pond — cocks 
and  hens.  I  watched  them  daily  for  hours  playing  about 
on  the  edge  of  the  pond,  and  think  they  must  have  bred 
there." 

Fulica  atra.     The  Coot. 

L.  tells  me  that  he  has  seen  at  least  two,  which  were  shot 
here  at  different  times  many  years  ago.  This  is  the  only 
record  I  have  for  it. 

Columba  palumbus.     The  Wood-Pigeon. 

The  Wood-Pigoon  is  common  as  a  bird  of  passage,  espe- 
cially during  spring,  when  it  often  arrives  in  large  flocks 
towards  the  latter  end  of  April  or  beginning  of  May,  and 
only  remains  a  short  time.  Its  late  arrival  is  somewhat 
curious,  as  in  England  it  is  an  early  breeder.  It  is  also  met 
with  in  small  numbers  in  the  late  summer,  when  the  harvest 
is  being  gathered  and  at  odd  times  durino-  the  winter  months. 
I  have  not  found  it  breeding  hero. 

Colnmha  livia.     The  Rock-Dove. 

One  or  two  of  these  birds  frequent  the  island  throughout 
the  year,  and  despite  its  small  numbers  it  can,  I  think, 
be  looked  upon  as  a  resident.  I  found  a  pair  nesting  here 
during  the  last  season  (1920),  and  expect  that  a  pair  or  two 
do  so  regularly. 


1 92 1.]  On  Birds  in  South  Russia.  453 

Coturnix  coturnix.     The  Quail. 

From  the  fact  that  these  birds  occasionally  winter  in  the 
south  of  England,  it  might  be  thought  that  some  would  pass 
the  winter  in  Alderney ;  Imt  this  does  not  appear  to  be  the 
case,  and  Langlois  can  only  recall  one  instance  of  the  Quail 
beino-  seen  there  during  the  winter  months,  and  this  was  one 
he  shot  in  November  many  years  ago.  All  the  breeding- 
birds  leave  the  island  early,  and  mostly  before  the  opening 
of  the  shooting-season. 


XXIV. — Notes  on  Birds  in  South  Bussia. 
By  Lieut.  J.  N.  Kennedy,  M.C,  R.A.,  F.R.G.S.,  M.B.O.U. 

During  my  recent  service  with  the  British  Military  Mission 
in  southern  Russia,  I  made  occasional  notes  on  birds,  and  I 
have  now  put  them  together  in  this  paper,  more  in  the  hope 
that  they  may  prove  of  use  to  future  observers  in  these 
regions,  than  in  the  belief  that  they  contain  any  original 
observations  of  value. 

After  an  extended  tour  through  central  and  south  Russia 
during  the  autumn  and  early  winter  of  1919,  I  found 
myself  at  Novorossisk,  a  little  seaport  near  the  northern 
extremity  of  the  Caucasus  range.  Our  activities  had  been 
much  limited  by  the  retreat  and  disorganisation  of  Denikin^s 
Army,  and  at  Novorossisk  we  were  awaiting  for  some  two 
months  the  inevitable  order  to  embark  with  the  remains  of 
the  forces.  It  was  during  this  period  that  I  found  leisure 
to  make  a  small  collection  of  bird-skins,  and  to  compile  the 
notes  which  form  the  first  section  of  this  article. 

In  the  Crimea,  after  a  short  period  of  re-organisation  of 
the  White  Army,  now  commanded  by  General  Wrangel,  we 
were  involved  once  more,  during  the  spring  and  summer 
of  1920,  in  active  operations,  and  I  was  unable  to  make  any 
systematic  ornithological  observations.  I  have  therefore 
contented  myself,  in  the  second  section,  with  a  few  general 
remarks  on  the  Crimea,  in  which  I  include  some  suggestions 
given  to  me  by  Lieutenant  Y.  Mtirtino,  of  the  Russian  Army, 


454  Lient.  J.  N.  Kennedy  on  [Ibi«. 

as  to  local  subspecies  which  have  not  yet  been  described  in 
Russia,  Perchance  some  fellow  member  of  the  B.O.U., 
visitino-  the  Crimea,  mav  find  these  latter  a  nseful  indication 
for  future  research. 

I  would  here  express  my  indebtedness  to  my  brother, 
Lieut.  J.  R.  Kennedy,  M.C.,  R.A.,  who  collaborated  with  me 
at  Novorossisk,  and  to  Lieut.  V.  Martino,  of  Sebastopol,  who 
helped  me  in  the  Crimea. 

Dr.  E.  Hartert  has  been  so  very  kind  as  to  verify  my 
identification  of  the  skins,  and  to  assign  them  to  their  proper 
subspecies  as  far  as  possible. 

The  skins  I  have  presented  to  the  Natural  History 
Museum,  with  the  exception  of  that  of  the  Blue  Tit  shot  at 
Novorossisk,  which  is  now  in  the  Tring  Collection. 

The  eo-ffs  mentioned  in  the  second  section  are  now  in  the 
collection  of  Mr.  J.  G.  Gordon,  Corsemalzie,  Whauphill. 

I.  Novorossisk. 

Novorossisk  is  a  small  town  lying  round  an  open  bay  near 
the  northern  end  of  the  Caucasus  Mountains  and  not  far 
south  of  the  Straits  of  Kertch.  The  hills  rise  steeply  from 
the  shore,  their  slopes  being  rocky  and  clothed  generally 
with  low  trees  and  bushes.  Behind  the  hills  lies  Circassia 
and  the  steppe-land,  the  Scythia  of  two  thousand  years  ago, 
where  the  fabled  one-eyed  Arimaspians  waged  everlasting 
warfare  with  griffins  which  guarded  treasures  of  gold. 

The  winter  climate  of  Novorossisk  is  more  severe  than  a 
studv  of  the  map  might  lead  one  to  suppose — the  thermo- 
meter often  falls  to  '20°  F.  below  freezing-point,  and  the  sea 
freezes  alono-  the  shore,  althouoh  not  to  such  a  sreat  extent 
as  in  the  Sea  of  Azov,  where  we  had  some  skating  and  ice- 
boating.  Tlio  chief  feature  of  the  weather  is  the  north-east 
wind,  which  blows  with  incredible  velocitj'  for  a  few  days  at 
a  time  at  irregular  intervals.  This  wind  makes  the  port  a 
tlangerons  one,  and  while  it  blows,  ships  lying  close  inshore, 
even  inside  the  breakwater,  are  unable  to  connnunicate  with 
the  land  l)y  boat.  On  occasion,  during  the  nor''easter,  some 
of    our    officers   had    to    crawl    on    hands    and    knees   from 


1 92 1.]  B'rds  in  South  Bitssia.  455 

their  quarters  to  the  mess,  being  unable  to  stand  upright. 
(I. may  remark  that  this  did  not  happen  after  dinner  !)  One 
of  our  motor  cyclists  was  once  blown  into  the  sea  with  his 
machine  while  proceeding  along  the  shore-road. 

My  brother  and  I  used  to  venture  up  the  hillsides  in 
search  of  birds  when  the  nor'easter  was  blowing,  in  the  hope 
of  falling  in  with  some  of  the  rarer  species  which  might  be 
driven  down  from  the  mountains,  but  the  birds  were  generally 
all  congregated  in  the  lower  valleys  and  about  the  houses 
at  such  times,  and  we  seldom  saw  anything  except  an  occa- 
sional Woodcock  or  a  few  Goldfinches,  which  seemed  to  stand 
the  cold  better  than  most  other  birds.  Whilst  scramblino- 
about  the  slopes  on  those  expeditions,  clad  in  great  coats 
and  fur  caps,  and  grasping  the  trees  and  bushes  with  one 
hand  wdiilst  the  other  held  a  gun,  we  would  hear  every  few 
minutes  a  roar,  like  that  of  an  express  train,  heralding  the 
approach  of  an  especially  violent  gust  as  it  came  tearino- 
down  from  the  hill-tops,  driving  clouds  of  snow  before  it. 
We  would  then  cling  with  both  hands  to  a  tree-trunk  until 
it  swept  down  past  us,  the  snow  first  blotting  out  the  town 
below  and  then  billowing  away  across  the  waters  of  the  bay, 
which  would  bo  lashed  into  flying  spray. 

The  periods  of  these  winds  were  usually  follow^ed  by  mild 
summer-like  spells,  during  which  the  great  flocks  of  Duck, 
which  had  been  brought  down  to  the  bay  by  the  cold,  would 
gradually  dwindle  and  disappear  to  inland  waters.  Towards 
the  end  of  March  the  duck  became  so  weak  and  tame  during 
the  storms  that  they  would  take  shelter  in  the  streets  of  the 
town  and  allow  themselves  to  be  captured  by  hand  or 
knocked  over  with  stones.  Bramblings  and  other  small 
birds  also  suffered  greatly  from  the  cold. 

Most  of  my  observations  were  made  on  the  eastern  side  of 
the  bay  and  in  the  bay  itself,  where  we  used  to  shoot  Duck 
frequently.  This  sport  was  rendered  somewhat  exciting  by 
the  fact  that  the  Russian  soldiers  shot  at  the  Duck  with  rifles 
from  the  shore  to  such  an  extent  that  one  might  almost  have 
imagined  at  times  that  a  sharp  engagement  was  in  progress. 
When  duck-shooting  we  used  to  keep  our  hands  in  our  gloves 

SER.  XI. — VOL.  Ill,  '2  11 


456      *  Lieut.  J.  N.  Kennedy  on  [Ibis, 

until  tlie  moment  came  to  seize  the  gun,  and  thrust  them 
l)ack  whenever  the  shot  had  been  taken.  Even  so,  our  fingers 
would  be  excruciatingh'^  painful  for  a  few  seconds  after 
contact  with  the  metal.  We  sometimes  returned  from  these 
expeditions  sheeted  in  ice  formed  of  frozen  spray. 

The  following  notes  were  nil  made  during  February  and 
March,  1920. 

Garrulus  glandarius  (subsp.  ?).     Jay. 

One  example  was  seen  in  a  glen  near  the  town  on  2G.  ii.  20, 
and  its  iiarsh  cry  was  subsequently  heard  among  the  trees 
on  several  occasions. 

Sturnus  vulgaris  sophiae.     Starling. 
2  .     Novorossisk,  3.  ii.  20. 

Four  of  these  birds  were  seen  during  a  cold  spell  on 
3.  ii.  20.  They  were  very  shy,  but  one  was  secured.  This 
is  my  only  record. 

Dr.  Hartert  says  of  this  skin  :  "It  is  Sturiuis  r.  soph'ur  if 
that  is  a  '  good  '  subspecies ;  it  seems  generally  quite  recog- 
nisable, but  is  sometimes  difficult  to  distinguish." 

In  the  field  this  Starling  struck  me  as  being  much  lighter 
in  general  colourino-  than  Sturnus  v.  vulaaris. 

Coccothraustes  coccothraustes  coccothraustes.     Hawfinch. 

cJ  .     Novorossisk,  2.  ii.  20. 

?  .     Novorossisk,  2.  ii.  20. 

A  few  Hawfinches  were  always  to  be  seen  about  the 
valleys  near  the  tow^n. 

Chloris  chloris  chloris.     Greenfinch. 
S  .     Novorossisk,  3.  ii.  20. 
?  .     Novorossisk,  3.  ii.  20. 
Fairly  common,  consorting  often  with  Bramblings. 

Carduelis  carduelis  (subsp.  ?).     Goldfinch. 
?  .     Novorossisk,  G.  ii.  20. 

Flocks  were  frequently  seen,  one  consisting  of  over  forty 
birds.  They  seemed  to  occur  at  higher  altitudes  than  most 
other  sjiocies  during  the  cold   winds,  and   I   have  remarked 


1 92 1.]  Birds  in  South  I^iissia.  457 

more   than  once  that  they  were  the  only  small  birds  to  be 
seen  on  the  upper  slopes  during  a  nor'easter. 

Dr.  Hartert  is  doubtful  of  the  subspecies  of  my  specimen, 
although  it  is  a  good  skin,  and  considers  a  series  necessary 
to  determine  this. 

Fringilla  coelebs  coelebs.     Cyhaffinch. 
c?.     Novorossisk,  lO.ii.  20. 

Fairly  common,  several  always  being  noted  during  a  walk 
along  the  hillsides. 

Fringilla  montifringilla.     Brambling. 

c?  .     Novorossisk,  2.  ii.  20. 
?  .     Novorossisk,  7.  ii.  20. 

Perhaps  the  commonest  species,  large  flocks  constantly 
frequenting  the  vicinity  of  the  town.  During  the  nor^easter 
they  would  become  so  tame  that  they  could  be  caught  by 
hand,  and  large  numbers  died  of  cold.  They  had  all  dis- 
appeared by  12  March. 

Passer  domesticus  domesticus.     House-Sparrow. 
(*ommon  in  the  town. 

Emberiza  cia  cia.     Meadow-Bunting. 

cJ  .     Novorossisk,  8.  ii.  20. 

Rather  uncommon,  but  regularly  seen. 

Melanocorypha  calandra.     Calandra  Lark. 
?  .     Novorossisk,  12.iii.20. 

This  species  was  not  observed  before  12  March.  On 
this  day,  while  seated  at  my  window,  I  saw  a  flock  of  some 
forty  of  these  birds  come  northwards  up  the  bay,  evidently 
on  migration.  Taking  ni]'  collecting-gun,  I  went  in  search 
of  them  on  the  hillside,  where  I  presently  found  them 
sheltering  behind  bushes,  and  succeeded  in  obtaining  one 
specimen. 

I  see  that  Mr.  P.  J.  C.  McGregor,  writing  in  '  The  Ibis  ' 
(1917,  p.  10)  notes  10  March  as  the  first  date  in  11)10  of 
the  occurrence  of  this  species  at  Erzerum,  which  is  300  miles 
south  of  Novorossisk.  ' 

2ii2 


458  Lieut.  J.  N.  Kennedy  on  [This, 

Galerida  cristata  (subsp.  ?) .     Crested  Lark. 
(^  .     Novorossisk,  6.  ii.  20. 

A  few  of  these  birds  frequented  the  hillside  and  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  the  shore. 

Alauda  arvensis  cinerascens.     Sky-Lark. 
S  .     Novorossisk,  5.  ii.  20. 
o         Novorossisk,  1.  ii.  20. 
Very  common, 

Anthus  pratensis.     Meadow-Pipit. 

0  Novorossisk,  3.  ii.  20. 

A  few  were  always  to  be  seen  about  the  hillsides  and  along 
the  shore. 

Monticola  saxatilis.     Rock-Thrush. 

1  saw  this  species  once  only,  a  male  having  been  observed 
on  27.  i.  20  daring  a  spell  of  cold  weather.  Owing  partly 
to  its  shorter  tail,  the  Rock-Thrush  strikes  one  as  being  much 
plumper  than  our  Song-Thrush. 

Motacilla  alba  alba.     White  AVagtail. 

cT  .     Novorossisk,  G.  ii.  20. 

Occasionally  seen  near  the  shore  in  February. 

Motacilla  flava  (subsp.  ?).     Yellow  AVagtail. 
One  example  of  a  form  of  Yellow  Wagtail  was  seen  near 
the  shore  in  February. 

Certhia  familiaris  familiaris.     Tree-(Jreeper. 

o     Novorossisk,.  1.  ii.  20. 

One  example  onh^  was  met  with. 

Parus  major  major.     Great  Tit. 
o     Novorossisk,  3.  ii.  20. 
(■ommon. 

Parus  cseruleus  orientalis.     Blue  Tit. 
o     Novorossisk,  6.  ii.  20. 
Rather  scarce. 


192 1.]  Birds  ill  South  Russia.  459 

Tardus  pilaris.     Fieldfure. 
?  .     Novorossisk,  7.  ii.  20. 

Uucoininon.  Three  small  cotnpauies  were  seen  high  on 
the  hillsides  during  a  fine  spell  oE  weather  in  early  February. 

Turdus  viscivorus  viscivorus.     Mistle-Thrush. 
Four  or  five  pairs  were  observed  in  a  valley  near  the  town 
towards  the  end  of  February. 

Turdus  merula  (subsp.?).     Blackbird. 
A  few  were  always  to  be  seen. 

Phcenicurns  ochrurus  gibraltariensis.     Black  Redstart. 
c?  .     Novorossisk,  5.  ii.  20. 

I  have  six  records  of  this  handsome  species.  It  frequented 
the  rocky  slopes  in  the  vicinity  of  houses. 

Erithacus  rubecula  rubecula.     Robin. 

o     Novorossisk,  2.  ii.  20. 

Rather  uncommon,  only  one  or  two  having  been  observed. 

Prunella  modularis  (subsp.  ?).     Hedge-Sparrow. 

0  Novorossisk,  8.  ii.  20. 

1  have  two  records  only  of  this  species,  both  on  the  8th  of 
February. 

Troglodytes  troglodytes  troglodytes.     Wren. 
(^  .     Novorossisk,  3.  ii.  20. 
Not  at  all  common. 

Dryobates  minor  (subsp.  ?).     Lesser  Spotted  Woodpecker. 

One  example  of  a  form  of  Lesser  Spotted  Woodpecker 
was  twice  seen  among  the  trees  on  the  hillside  on  6.ii.20 
and  8.  ii.  20.  I  should  have  liked  to  shoot  this  bird  for 
determination  of  subspecies,  but  on  the  only  occasion  when 
I  found  myself  within  range  of  it  there  was  a  jammed 
cartridge  case  in  my  gun. 

Falco  peregrinus  (subsp.?).     Peregrine  Falcon. 

One  frequented  the  hills  near  the  town  and  was  often  seen. 

Falco  tinnunculus  tinnunculus.     Kestrel. 
Only  one  record  in  February. 


•ifiO  Lieut.  J.  N.  Kennedy  on  [Ibis, 

Anas  platyrhyncha  platyrhyncha.     Wild  Duck. 

A  few  were  i^een,  and  one  was  shot  in  the  bavin  February. 

Anas  penelope.     Wigeon. 
Only  once  seen  in  February. 

Nyroca  ferina  fevina.     Pochard. 
(S .     Novorossisk,  G.  ii.  20. 

Fairly  coinnion  in  small  companies  in  the  bay,  where  we 
shot  a  number. 

Nyroca  fuligula.     Tufted  Duck. 

(^  .     Novorossisk,  G.  ii.  20. 

This  was  by  fai-  the  commonest  Duck,  flocks  of  several 
hundreds  of  birds  frequenting  the  bay.  They  always 
increased  noticeably  in  numbers  after  the  cold  nor'easter  bad 
been  blowing.  This  Duck  is  also  very  numerous  in  winter 
along  the  south  coast  of  the  Crimea. 

Nyroca  marila  marila.     Scaup. 

Tiie  Scaup  was  numerous  in  the  bay,  where  it  occurred  in 
large  flocks.     This  Duck  was  frequently  shot. 

Netta  rufina.     Red-crested  Pochard. 

c?  .     Novorossisk,  12.  ii.  20. 

Several  of  these  Ducks  appeared  in  the  bay  among  the 
flocks  of  Tufted  Duck  and  Pochard  on  12.  ii.  20,  after  a  spell 
of  very  cold  weather. 

Mergus  serrator.     Red-breasted  Merganser. 
Occasionally  seen  in  the  bay. 

Phalacrocorax  carbo  (subsp.?)     (cormorant. 
Several  were  seen  in  the  harbour  from  time  to  time. 

Phalacrocorax  graculus  (subsp.?)     Shag. 
A  few  were  observed. 

Podiceps  cristatus  cristatus.     Great  Crested  Grebe. 

o     Novorossisk,  4.  ii.  20. 

These    birds    frequented    the    harbour    and    the    bay    in 


tgil.j  Birds  in  South  Biissia.  -Abl 

companies  of  from  four  to  ten  hirds  and,  more  commonly,  in 
pairs. 

Podiceps  ruficollis  ruficollis.     Little  Grebe. 
One  or  two  Little  Grebes  were  seen  feeding  close  in  shore 
during  February. 

Scolopax  rusticola.     Woodcock. 

The  Woodcock  was  not  uncommon  on  the  snow-covered 
hillsides,  especially  during  the  nor'easter,  when  they  had 
probably  crossed  to  the  lee  side  of  the  mountains  for  shelter. 

• 

Lams  ridibundus.     Black-headed  Gull. 

Numerous  about  the  shores  of  the  bay. 

Larus  argentatus  cachinnans.     Herring-Gull. 
Common.       Eighty    were    counted    wheeling    over    the 
harbour  on  5  February. 

Tetraogallus  caucasicus.     Caucasian  Snow-Partridge. 

My  brother  saw  a  bird  on  4.ii.  20  which  was  probably  of 
this  species.  The  white  marking  of  the  wings  was  distinctly 
seen.  This  record  would  seem  to  indicate  that  the  Snow- 
Partridge  occurs  at  rather  low  altitudes  (300  ft.)  during 
extremely  cold  and  stormy  weather. 

II.  The  C'Rimka. 

The  (Crimea  offers  a  wide  field  of  enterprise  to  the  field 
naturalist,  comprising  as  it  does  such  a  varied  terrain,  and 
having  such  an  interesting  geological  history.  Along  the 
southern  coast-line  extends  a  range  of  mountains,  for  the 
most  part  wild  and  rocky  and  well-wooded,  although  of  late 
years  the  Tartars  have  felled  trees  to  such  an  extent  that  the 
climate  is  said  to  have  been  affected.  On  the  seaward 
slopes  there  is  a  profusion  of  blossoming  trees,  and,  during  a 
short  walking  tour  in  April,  I  observed  many  of  our  garden 
flowers,  such  as  peonies  and  narcissi,  growing  wild.  North 
of  these  mountains  lie  the  steppes,  stretching  away  like  the 


462  Lieut.  J.  N.  Kennedy  on  [Ibis, 

sea  tor  nul(>s  on  every  hand,  and  carpeted  in  spring  with 
tulips  and  pop[)ies  of  every  hue.  In  the  north,  along  the 
shores  of  the  Putrid  Sea  (deriving  its  name  from  an 
unpleasant  odour,  chiefly  noticeable  during  a  breeze  and 
due  to  its  stagnant  and  enclosed  nature),  lie  great  marshes — 
the  haunt  of  Duck  and  Wadersi.  Here  there  arc  banks 
and  islands  which  are  the  nesting  haunts  of  innumerable 
sea-birds. 

My  bird-notes  from  the  (Jrin;ea  are  of  the  scantiest,  but 
perhaps  a  few  remarks  may  be  of  interest.  I  was  there  from 
April  to  June,  1920. 

I  am  not  a  geologist,  but  I  will  set  down  the  following 
theory  of  geological  history  which  was  described  to  me  by 
Russians  there,  as  it  will,  if  correct,  be  of  interest  to  orni- 
thologists. The  hypothesis  is  that  in  the  remote  past  the 
Crimean  Mountains  were  a  prolongation  of  the  Caucasus 
range,  and  that  they  were  subsequently  cut  oft'  by  the  sea, 
and  formed  an  island  for  some  time.  It  was  presumably 
during  this  period  that  island  forms  of  life  developed  charac- 
teristic^  which  have  persisted  to  the  present  day,  even  after 
the  uplift  of  the  Crimean  steppes  which  have  formed  a 
junction  with  the  mainland  to  the  north.  It  would  there- 
fore appear  that  the  hill  district  in  the  south  is  the  true 
home  of  subspecies  peculiar  to  the  Crimea. 

Lieut.  Martino  indicated  the  following  subspecific  forms 
us  not  yet  having  been  described  owung  to  lack  of  complete 
series  of  specimens,  and  I  feel  sure  he  would  have  no 
objection  to  my  making  his  suggestions  more  widely 
known  : — 

Astur  palumharius  (subsp.  Y). 

Regulus  crisfatus  (subsj).  ?) . 

Accento7'  modular  is  (subsp.  ?K 

Ardea  cinerea  (subspl  ?). 

Ijoxia  curvirostris  (subsp.  ?). 

Ruticilla  mesoleuca  (subsp.  '(]. 

Motacilla  hoarula  (subsj).  ?). 

Tardus  merula  (ji\xhiiY>.'^). 

I  retain  his  own  nomenclature. 


1^21.]  Birds  in  South  liiissSa.  4b3 

He  informed  me  that  the  following  subs})ecies  have 
already  heen  described  and  recognised  by  the  Russians  : — 

Coccothraustes  coceotliraustes  nigricans. 

Frinyilla  coslehs  solomki. 

Fringilla  carduelis  nikolski. 

Cldoris  chloris  mensfieri. 

Picxis  major  pinetorum. 

Cyanistes  caeruleus  hrauneri. 

Acredida  rosea  taurica. 

Stnrnus  vulgaris  tauricits. 

Certhia  certhia  huturlini. 

Troglodytes  parvulns  liyrcanvs. 
Of  the  foregoing  I  obtained  skins  of  the  Chaffinch 
{^  Mackenzie  Heights,  20.  vi.  20,  and  ?  Mackenzie  Heights, 
20.  vi.  20),  Greenfinch  (  S  Mackenzie  Heights,  21.  vi.  20),  and 
Blue  Tit  (  ?  Mackenzie  Heights,  20.  vi.  20).  The  first  two 
Dr.  Hartert  ussigns,  without  comment,  to  Fringilla  c.  cwlehs 
and  Chloris  r.  chloris  respectively,  whilst  he  finds  the  last 
skin  to  be  too  bad  for  identification  of  the  subs))ecies. 

Specimens  of  the  Tree-Pipit  (Anthus  f.  trivialis)  and  of  the 
Red-backed  Shrike  {Lanins  c.  colluiio)  *  were  also  obtained 
in  June  from  the  Mackenzie  Heights  and  Inkerman. 

The  Bee-eater  (^lUerops  apiaster)  is  not  uncommon,  and 
was  frequently  seen  perching  on  telegraph-wires.  These 
birds  do  not  appear  to  form  colonies  here  as  they  are  said  to 
do  in  Spain.  The  Rook  (Corvus  f.  frugilegus)  is  very 
common  everywhere,  and  small  rookeries  are  seen  all  over 
the  Crimea. 

On  the  steppes  there  are  vast  numbers  of  Larks.  The 
Great  Bustard  (^Otis  tarda}  was  often  met  with,  and 
companies  of  three  or  four  birds  were  more  than  once  seen 
circling  in  ponderous  flight  over  the  plain.  The  Hoopoe 
( Upupa  e.  epops)  is  a  very  common  species  in  the  Crimea,  a 
few   pairs   frequenting  the   vicinity  of   every  village.     One 

*  Dr.  Hartert  says  of  my  specimen  of  the  Red-backed  Shrike:  "There 
is  a  supposed  Caucasian  race,  but  its  characters  and  distribution  are 
doubtful ;  it  is  supposed  to  have  less  rufous  on  the  back  and  smaller  bill, 
but  both  characters  are  quite  doubtful  and  variable.  This  specimen 
agrees  with  some  others  not  from  the  Caucasus." 


4-fi4  On  Birds  in  South  Ifussia.  [This, 

nest  containing  nine  eggs  in  various  stages  oE  incubation 
was  found  on  15  May  in  the  root"  ot  a  peasant's  hut,  nearly 
all  the  tiles  having  been  removed  in  the  process  of  search, 
much  to  the  disgust  of  the  owner,  who  was  only  pacified  by 
an  assurance  tliat  his  name  would  be  entered  on  the  data  label. 

In  the  marshes  and  on  the  sandbiinks  of  the  north  great 
numbers  of  Terns  and  Gulls  breed  ;  eggs  of  the  Slender- 
billed  Grull  (Lams  f/elastes)  were  ol)tained  at  Arabat.  The 
Great  Black-headed  Gull  (Larus  irhtlujaetus)  was  fi'equentl}' 
seen  flving;  over  the  Putrid  Sea.  Other  birds  noted  in  the 
marshes  were  the  Avocet,  Lapwing,  Gargauey,  and  a 
species  of  Harrier  which  was  nesting  near  Djankoi. 

I  was  given  some  Eagle's  eggs  taken  on  20.  iv.  20  by 
Lieut.  Martino,  who  had  assigned  them  to  "  the  form  of 
Imperial  Eagle  without  a  white  marking  on  the  shoulder.^' 
It  appears  possible  that  they  are  eggs  of  the  Steppe  Eagle. 
The  nest  was  in  a  tree  some  30  feet  from  the  ground  in  a 
valley  of  the  Mackenzie  Heights,  and  the  birds  had  built 
in  the  same  locality  for  several  years.  The  chief  food  of 
the  Eagle  was  described  as  consisting  of  "  sushliks,"  the 
common  rodents  of  the  steppes. 

Eggs  were  also  obtained  of  the  following  : — Greenfinch, 
Chaffinch,  Red-backed  Shrike,  ('alandra  Lark,  White-winged 
Lark,  Jay,  Hooded  Crow,  Starling,  Blackbird,  Song- Thrush, 
Magpie,  Mistle-Thrush,  Blue  Tit,  Longtailed  Tit. 

In  conclusion,  I  may  perhaps  be  permitted  to  set  down  a 
note  from  my  diary  which  throws  a  gleam  of  light  on  ancient 
days.  Falconry  appears  to  be  a  lost  art  in  the  Crimea,  but 
it  was  once  a  favourite  pastime  of  the  Tartar  Khan,  whose 
palace  is  still  to  be  seen  in  good  repair  at  Bahkchi-Serai, 
The  following  story  was  related  to  me  by  the  Circassian 
Sergeant — a  fine  tall  fellow,  distinguished  by  his  long  and 
fierce  moustache  and  bright  scarlet  breeches — who  was  chief 
of  the  body-guard  of  a  Russian  General  to  whose  staff"  I  was 
attached  for  some  time.  One  of  his  ancestors  was  the  Khan's 
Cbief  Falconer.  In  the  royal  mews  was  a  pair  of  rare  and 
valued  Falcons  of  exceeding  courage  and  swiftness  of  flight, 
which  the  Khan  had  procured  at  great  trouble  and  expense 
from  an  eastern  land.     It  came  to  pass  that,  one  morning, 


1921.]      On  IT Auhcntons  ^'-  Mamicode  a  Bo\iquets.'''  465 

the  ('hief  F'alconer,  on  his  rounds,  tliscovered  in  the  cage  of: 
these  Falcons  an  egg  remarkable  for  the  beauty  ot  its 
colourino-.  This  e^g  he  furtively  concealed  in  the  folds  of 
his  dress  and  carried  off  to  his  quarters.  Subsequently  he 
presented  it,  for  hatching,  to  a  neighbouring  prince,  who 
vied  with  the  Khan  in  his  love  of  Falcons,  and  in  exchange, 
he  received  a  damsel  of  surpassing  loveliness  Avhom  he  had 
long  desired  to  add  to  the  number  of  his  wives.  Unfortu- 
nately  for. him, the  Khan  discovered  the  misdemeanour  of  his 
Falconer,  who  fell  into  disfavour  and  had  to  flee  for  his  life 
across  the  sea  to  Circassia,  where,  perchance,  some  wandering 
ornithologist  may  again  hear  this  stoiy  from  the  lips  of  one 
of  his  numerous  descendants. 


XXV.- — Oti  the  correct  name  of  D^ Auheiiton  s  '"''Manucode 
a  Bouquets.''''     By  Lord  Rothschild. 

When  looking  up  Birds-of-Paradise  in  connection  with  the 
"  Plumage  Bill/'  Mr.  T.  Iredale  drew  my  attention  to 
the  statement  by  Mr.  Ogilvie-Grant  on  page  24  of  the 
Jubilee  Supplement  of  this  journal,  with  regard  to  the  syno- 
nym}' of  a  species  of  U'lphyllodes,  that  Dr.  Hartert  and  I 
had  agreed  that  his  synonymy  of  this  bird  was  correct. 
I  w'ish  here  to  put  this  synonymy  right,  and  at  the  same 
time  say  I  had  not  agreed  to  Mr.  Grant's  view. 

Mr.  Grant  adopts  Boddaert's  name,  changing  his  speccosa 
into  speciosa,  as  being  the  author's  intention.  This  he  does 
because  the  name  speccosa  dates  from  1781,  whereas  he 
asserted  Pennant's  name  of  macjnipca  in  Forster's  Indian 
Zoology  dated  only  from  1795. 

This  is  erroneous,  as  Pennant's  name  dates  from  the  first 
German  edition,  viz.  ''  Indische  Zoologie,  &c.''  herausgeoeben 
von  Joliann  Reinhold  Forster,  Halle  1781,  not  from  the 
2nd  and  3rd  English  editions  of  1790  and  1795.  Therefore 
the  correct  name  of  D'Aubenton's  bird  (PL  Enl.  pi.  631)  is 
DipliyUodes  mac/nifica  (Penn.)  and  not  IJ.  speccosa  (Bodd.). 
Moreover,  according  to  the  International  Rules  speciosa  is 
inadmissible,  as  only  author's  corrections  in  the  current 
volume  are  valid. 


466  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :   Results  of  a  Studj/  of       [Ibis. 

XXVI. — liesuUs  of  a  Stiulj/  of  liinl-Mirtration  bij  the 
Mavkimj  Method.  By  A.  Landsborough  Thomson, 
O.B.E.,^M.A.,  D.Sc. 

CONTKNTS. 

1.  lutroductioii : —  I'age 

The  Aberdteu  University  Eird-Jligratiou  Inquiry  .  .      466 

Tlie  Purposes  of  Bird-Marking-   468 

Historical  Survey  of  Bird-Marking-     471 

Methods  of  the  Aberdeen  University  Inquiry   ...'...     475 

The  Interpretation  of  Results     477 

The  Numbers  of  Birds  marked  during  the  Aberdeen 

University  Inquiry    481 

II.  The  Lapwing- :  analysis  of  records 484 

III.  The  Woodcock :  analysis  of  records   492 

LV.  The  Herring-Gull :  analysis  of  records 495 

V.  The  Black-headed  Gull :  analysis  of  records     499 

VI.  The  Mallard  :  analysis  of  records    '. 500 

^^11.  The  Starling :  analysis  of  records   502 

VIII.  The  Song-Thrush  :  analysis  of  records 506 

IX.  The  Hedge-Sparrow  :  analysis  of  records 509 

X.  Summaries  of  records  regarding  other  species  : — 

Swallow  ;  Greenfinch  ;  Goldfinch  ;  Chaffinch  ;  House- 
Sparrow  ;  Great  Titmouse;  Blue  Titmouse;  Mistle- 
Thrush;  Blackbird;  Redbreast;  Spotted  Flycatcher ; 
Meadow-Pipit ;  Swift ;  Cuckoo;  Barn-Owl ;  Heron  ; 
Sheld-Duck  ;  Teal ;  Wigeon ;  Wood-Pigeon ;  Golden 
Plover;  Ringed  Plover ;  Dunlin;  Curlew;  Oyster- 
catcher  ;  Snipe ;  Common  Tern ;  Little  Tern ; 
Common    Gull ;    Guillemot ;    Corncrake  ;  Moorhen  ; 

Red  Grouse  ;  Partridge;  etc 511 

XL  Conclusions  regarding  Bird-Migration 521 

XII.  Conclusions  regarding  the  value  of  the  method  of  Bird- 
Marking  524 

XIII.  References 526 

I.— INTRODUCTION. 

The  Aberdeen  University  Bird-Migration 

Inquiry. 

This    paper    embodies    the    main    results    of    the   Aberdeen 

University  Bird-Migration  Inquiry,  which   was  set  on  foot 

in  1909  for  tho  purpose  of  exploiting  the  method  of  study 


1 92 1.]        Bird-Migration  h/  the  Marling  Method;  467 

afforded  by  tho  device  of  "  bird-marking  "  and  camo  to  a 
gradual  end  during  tli(>  war.  Two  interim  reports  have 
ah-eiu]y  been  ])ublished  :  the  first  (19)*  gave  full  details  of 
all  results  obtained  up  to  the  summer  of  1912,  without  any 
attempt  to  draw  conclusions  therefrom,  and  it  may  be  of 
value  as  giving  a  fair  sample  of  the  kind  of  data  obtainable 
by  this  mdtliod,  although  publication  of  the  remaining  results 
in  such  bulky  form  has  been  considered  unnecessary.  The 
second  report  (20)  gave  only  brief  notes  on  such  further 
records,  up  to  the  spring  of  1915,  as  were  of  particular 
interest.  The  writer  has  also  read  papers  before  the  Royal 
Physical  Society  of  Edinburgh  (18)  and  the  Zoology  Section 
of  the  British  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science 
(1912  Meeting),  setting  forth  the  general  scope  and  purposes 
of  the  methotl  :  in  these  and  some  minor  papers  a  few  early 
records  were  quoted_,  but  they  were  also  included  in  the 
first  report.  The  purpose  noAv  in  view  is  to  summarise 
all  the  data  in  systematic  form,  and  to  give  such  conclusions 
as  seem  warranted  eitluu-  as  to  the  value  of  the  method  or  as 
to  the  facts  and  problems  of  bird-migration  itself. 

The  writer  carried  on  the  inquiry  as  a  piece  of  research 
from  the  Natural  History  Department  of  the  University  of 
Aberdeen,  under  the  general  direction  of  Prof.  J.  Arthur 
Tliomson,  LL.D.  From  1910  to  1914,  inclusively,  most  of 
the  working  expenses  were  covered  by  a  grant  from  the 
C!arnegie  Trustees.  A  debt  of  gratitude  is  due  also  to  those 
who  co-operated  in  the  actual  marking  of  birds,  as  well  as  to 
the  many  correspondents  who  kindly  supplied  information 
as  to  '"reappearances.'"  The  help  in  the  central  routine 
work  of  the  inquiry  rendered  at  different  times  by  the  late 
Mr.  Lewis  N.  Gr.  Ramsay,  M.A.,  B.Sc,  by  Mr.  James  Ewing, 
M.A.,  D.Sc,  and  by  Miss  Maribel  Thomson,  M.A.,  B.Sc, 
calls  for  special  mention  ;  the  last-named  took  the  writer's 
place,  as  regards  this  work,  throughout  the  war. 

It  should  be  stated  that  the  work  of  marking  was  at  its 

*  The  numbers  in  parenthesis  refer  to  tlie  references  given  in 
Section  XIII.  (p.  526).  Jteferences  not  relating  to  the  marking  method 
,'ire  quoted  in  the  text. 


408  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :    Nesulfs  of  a  Sfiidi/  of       [Ibis, 

lieiglit  in  1914,  and  that  it  would  have  continued  at  a  high 
level  for  a  few  years  if  circumstances  had  remained  normal. 
As  it  was,  the  work  not  only  entered  on  a  premature  decline, 
but  a  great  deal  of  it  was  probal)ly  rendered  less  fruitful  by 
unfavourable  conditions  for  tlie  reporting  of  reappearances. 

The  Purposes  of  Bird-Marking. 

In  its  essentials  the  method  consists  of  the  marking  of  a 
large  number  of  birds,  in  some  way  or  other,  for  the  sake  of 
the  data  afforded  by  the  subsequent  reappearance  of  a  small 
proportion  of  ihem.  The  principle  is  identical  with  that  of 
the  well-known  method  of  marking  fishes  as  a  means  of 
studying  their  movements  and  life-histories,  while  an  analo- 
gous system  has  also  been  utilised  in  the  study  of  ocean 
currents. 

The  method  differs  from  other  methods  of  studying  migra- 
tion in  that  it  approaches  the  problems  from  the  individual 
aspect — it  begins  with  individual  birds  and  works  from  them 
towards  general  movements.  A  marking  record  implies 
that  there  are  two  or  more  times  in  the  life  of  a  particular 
bird  when  one  is  able  to  state  with  certainty  its  whereabouts 
and  various  other  facts,  these  times  being  usually  those  of 
infancy  and  of  death.  When  a  large  number  of  these 
records  has  been  collected  and  correlated,  there  will  exist 
an  array  of  facts  which  could  not  have  been  ascertained  by 
other  means. 

To  estimate  the  value  of  information  of  this  kind,  the  nature 
of  the  problems  must  first  be  considered.  Perhaps  the 
greatest  and  most  difficult  problem  of  migration  is  that  of  its 
origin — its  ultimate  cause.  To  an  appreciable  extent  the 
jmrpose  served  by  migration,  its  ra'ison  d'etre^  is  known, 
and  the  innnediate  factors  which  periodicallv  stimulate  the 
migrational  habit  into  being  niny  be  surmised  :  but  the  ques- 
tion of  the  origin  of  the  habit  still  lies  completely  Avithin  the 
realm  of  conflicting  theory.  A  matter  of  theory  and  hypo- 
thesis it  must  doubtless  ever  remain,  but  one  may  at  least 
})ut  the  theories  to  the  test  of  facts  and  eliminate  those  that 
are  found  wanting.     One  thing  seems  obvious,  and  that  is 


1 92 1.]         Bird-Migration  Inj  the  Marlinfj  Method.  469 

that  migration  is  ii  far  too  complex  and  also  a  far  too  regular 
phenomenon  to  be  created  anew  each  season  merely  under 
stress  of  circumstances  ;  moreover,  it  is  known  that  migration 
begins  before  the  need  is  in  the  least  nressino-.  The  more  or 
less  indefinite  wanderings  of  some  sea-fowl,  the  irregular 
dispersals  of  some  other  lairds,  and  the  late  "  weather  move- 
ments "  rhat  occur  in  severe  seasons  may  be  attributed 
to  immediate  causes,  but  a  deeper  seated  origin — not 
necessarily  identical  for  every  species — there  must  surely  be, 
for  the  highly  develoj)ed  habit  of  some  of  our  more  typical 
migrants. 

A  little  consideration  will  show  how  speculation  regarding 
this  origin  is  rendered  futile  for  lack  of  a  certain  kind  of 
fact.  For  instance,  there  is  the  perhaps  rather  far-fetched 
theory  that  the  migrational  habit  was  established  by  some 
great  meteorological  change  in  the  distant  past — say  by  a 
Glacial  Epoch,  as  has  been  suggested,  which  drove  the  birds 
resident  in  northern  latitudes  towards  the  Equator,  and  made 
them  form  there  a  second  homo  :  to  this  they  would  annually 
return,  it  is  supposed,  after  the  cessation  of  the  unfavourable 
conditions  had  allowed  them  to  ro-colonise  thoir  original  more 
northerly  area  as  a  summer  home,  the  individuals  continuing 
to  use  the  routes  followed  by  the  species  at  the  time  of  the 
first  great  movement.  Then  there  is  the  more  recent 
theory  [cf.  Pycraft,  History  of  Birds,  1910,  p.  100)  that  the 
migrational  habit  arose  from  the  gradual  northward  spread 
of  a  species  from  a  supposed  original  southern  area  in  search 
of  fresh  feeding  and  breeding  grounds,  the  birds  withdrawino- 
to  this  original  area  each  winter.  Without  discussing  thes(> 
theories,  it  may  be  noted  how  their  proof  or  disproof  would 
necessarily  rest  on  a  knowledge  of  the  facts  concernino- the 
relation  of  particular  summer-quarters  to  the  correspondino- 
winter-quarters,  and  of  the  routes  connecting  them.  Thus  it 
is  often  suggested  that  the  members  of  a  species  summerino- 
farthest  north  winter  farthest  south,  and  that  those  mid- 
way are  more  or  less  stationary  {cf.  Swallow,  Section  X.)  ; 
but  the  observer  only  sees  a  general  southward  movement, 
and  typical  individuals  must  be  singled  out  for  study  before 


470  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  FesxUs  of  a  Shi<J>/  of       [Ibis, 

tho  question  can  be  answered.  Again,  there  are  many  cases 
of  species  which  are  found  all  the  year  round  in  the  British 
Isles,  but  yet  are  known  in  autumn  both  as  immigrants  from 
the  north  and  as  emigrants  to  the  south,  and  vice  versa  in 
spring.  Now,  except  by  marking  one  can  hardly  hope  to  be 
sure  whether  it  is  our  own  summer  birds  that  emigrate, 
leaving  the  newcomers  to  occupy  the  area  for  the  winter, 
or  whether  our  own  birds  are  resident  while  the  immigrants 
pass  on  over  their  heads  and  journey  i'arther  southwards. 
And  until  this  is  known,  very  little  of  the  true  nature  of 
migration  can  bo  understood. 

Some  of  the  questions  which  may  be  answered  in  due 
course  bv  the  marking  method  are  as  follows,  and  most  of 
them  have  an  important  bearing  on  one  or  other  nnsolved 
problem  of  bird-migration  : — To  what  extent  do  birds  return 
to  their  birthplaces  to  breed,  and  under  what  circumstances 
are  new  areas  colonised  ?  Do  birds  have  definite  winter- 
quarters,  and  if  so,  do  they  seek  them  year  after  year? 
Do  young  birds  seek  the  same  winter-quarters  as  their 
parents  ?  Do  birds  of  the  same  summer  area  (and  same 
species)  seek  the  same  winter  area?  What  relation  do  the 
winter-quarters  of  the  northerly-breeding  members  of  a 
species  bear  to  those  of  the  southerly-breeding  members  ? 
Do  migrants  travel  by  different  routes,  and  if  so,  what  is  the 
nature  of  these  routes?  And  these  questions  by  no  means 
exhaust  the  subject. 

While  urging  the  value  of  bird-maiking,  one  must 
remember  that  it  is  onl}-  supplcmentar}'  to  other  methods, 
and  must  not  be  practised  to  their  exclusion.  In  passing, 
too,  it  may  be  noticed  that  bird-marking  may  incidentally 
serve  other  ends  than  those  connected  with  mioration. 
There  are  various  kindred  points  relating  to  distribution  for 
instance,  and  interesting  evidence  of  the  rate  of  mortality  is 
occasionally  aftbrded.  Furthermore,  it  might  be  a  valuable 
aid  to  the  study  of  plumage  sequences  to  acquire  a  collection 
of  birds  wdiieh  had  lived  entirely  free  and  natural  lives  and 
of  which  the  ages  were  accurately  known. 


1 921.]        Bird-Mig7'ation  by  tlie  Marking  Metliod.  471 

Historical  Survey  of  Bird-Marking, 

Various  kinds  of  marks  have  been  tried  or  suggested,  such 
as  parchment  tied  under  the  tail  with  silk,  thin  metal  discs 
glued  to  the  tail-feathers,  and  indelible  stamps  on  the  tail- 
feathers.  But  all  these,  besides  being  clumsj',  have  the 
great  disadvantage  of  lasting  only  until  the  next  moult,  and 
for  both  convenience  and  permanence  marks  on  the  feet  are 
obviously  the  best.  In  early,  isolated  attempts  at  marking, 
such  crude  means  as  brass  wire  or  silk  thread  twisted  round 
the  bird's  foot  were  used;  but  in  order  to  allow  of  an 
inscription,  a  broad  metal  ring  is  necessary.  As  combinino- 
extreme  lightness  with  a  moderate  degree  of  durability, 
aluminium  is  to  be  preferred,  and  all  the  more  because  it  is 
easily  worked  and  stamped. 

Complete  rings,  such  as  are  used  for  homing-pigeons,  are 
of  little  use  for  marking  wild  birds,  as  they  can  only  be 
placed  on  very  young  birds  in  any  case,  and  not  even  then 
in  the  case  of  birds  with  nidifugous  young,  these  having 
well-grown  feet  by  the  time  they  are  hatched.  Furthermore, 
these  rings  are  expensive,  as  they  are  cut  from  aluminium 
tubing  instead  of  from  sheet  aluminium,  and  have  to  be 
stamped  when  in  circular  shape  instead  of  on  the  flat. 
Hence  the  superiority  in  every  way  of  the  "  split  ring,'' 
which  is  a  band  stamped  from  a  sheet  and  then  folded  into 
a  circle.  The  edges  are  merely  pressed  together,  and  a  ring 
of  this  kind,  if  of  small  diameter,  will  keep  its  shape  without 
difficulty.  Rings  of  larger  size  must  either  be  of  thicker 
metal  to  do  this,  or  must  have  a  clasp  of  some  kind.  A  very 
simple  pattern  is  one  in  which  the  band  is  longer,  and  is  not 
all  used  in  forming  the  circle  ;  two  unequal  ends  are  left  to 
project  outwards  side  by  side  at  the  meeting  place,  the  longer 
being  afterwards  folded  over  the  shorter,  and  so  forming  a 
clasp  which,  especially  if  subjected  to  pressure  with  a  pair 
of  pliers,  will  effectually  prevent  the  ring  from  coming  off. 
It  may  be  mentioned  that  for  Moorhens,  Divers,  and  some 
other  water-birds,  the  rings  require  to  be  bent  into  oval 
shape  to  fit  the  much  compressed  tarso-metatarsus. 

SER.  XI. — VOL.  Ill,  2  I 


472  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  J^esuUs  of  a  Stvdy  of       [Ibis, 

Birds  may  be  procured  for  marking  in  two  ways.  Either 
they  may  be  marked  as  young  birds  still  unable  to  fly,  or 
they  may,  when  older,  be  trapped  by  any  non-huri£ul  means 
and  then  marked  and  released.  Notification  of  their  sub- 
sequent death  or  re-capture  depends  on  the  address  which  is 
stamped  on  the  ring.  Some  markers  have  been  content  with 
mere  initials,  but  this  is  very  wasteful  as  it  is  obvious  that 
it  must  greatly  reduce  the  number  of  recorded  rea{)pear- 
ances  and  practically  exclude  the  possibility  of  records  from 
any  great  distance.  Many  rings  with  various  insufficient 
addresses  have,  indeed,  been  found  on  birds  but  never  traced 
to  their  origin  although  widely  advertised  in  ornithological 
periodicals  :  and  there  is,  in  any  event,  no  great  difficulty  in 
stamping  a  short  address  even  on  the  smallest  ring.  In 
addition  to  the  address  each  ring  should  bear  its  own  identi- 
fication number,  which  is  indeed  the  key  to  the  whole  method. 
Some  markers  have  used  year  marks  (the  year  in  figures,  or 
some  arbitrary  sign),  but  this  is  only  possible  where  the 
marking  is  confined  to  a  single  locality  and  to  a  single 
species,  and  if  the  birds  are  all  marked  when  young.  Thus,  if 
the  rings  bearing  a  certain  address  are  being  used  solely  for 
young  Woodcock  on  a  single  estate,  a  year  mark  is  sufiicient ; 
but  where  the  histories  of  the  birds  marked  differ  from  each 
other,  separate  identification  is  necessary.  Species  is  not  a 
reliable  factor  for  this  purpose,  in  that  marked  birds  are 
often  reported  by  persons  quite  ignorant  on  the  subject, 
and  it  is  thus  essential  that  the  number  on  the  ring 
should  be  all  that  the  marls(M'  requires  in  order  to  deter- 
mine the  species  and  history  of  any  marked  bird  of  his 
that  is  reported. 

The  rings  soon  lose  their  brightness,  especially  in  the  case 
of  water-birds^  and  are  not  usually  visible  on  the  birds  except 
with  strong  field-glasses  and  under  favourable  conditions. 
Marking  is  thus  in  no  way  an  encouragement  to  the  slaughter 
of  our  wild  birds  :  the  proportion  of  ringed  individuals  to 
the  whole  bird  population  will  always  remain  so  small  that 
any  shooting  of  birds  for  the  sake  of  chance  ringed  specimens 
would  be  ridiculous.     It  is  also  worthy  of  note  that  many 


1 92 1.]         Bird-Migration  hy  the  Marking  Method.  473 

marked  birds  arc  reported  as  found  dead  or  wounded,  or  as 
captured  and  subsequently  released. 

The  question  as  to  whether  the  rings  have  a  harmful  or 
disturbing  effect  on  the  birds  has  also  been  raised.  It  must 
be  remembered,  however,  that  the  ring  rests  lightly  on  the 
insensitive  scales  of  the  foot,  and  is  insignificant  in  weight 
compared  with  the  size  of  the  bird  ;  the  writer's  smallest 
ring,  suitable  for  Sparrows,  weighed  only  about  1/Gth  of  a 
gramme,  and  his  largest,  for  Herons,  only  about  1  gramme 
(average).  A  newly  marked  bird  pays  little  or  no  attention 
to  the  ring,  and  out  of  a  large  number  of  ringed  f(?et  returned 
to  the  writer  for  examination  only  two  or  three  showed  any 
signs  of  injury,  due  in  these  cases  to  the  use  of  a  wrong  size 
of  ring  by  the  marker.  The  migrational  habit  might  pre- 
sumably be  interfered  with  in  cases  where  a  large  mass  of 
weeds  or  other  matter  became  firmly  entangled  with  the 
ring — no  case  of  this  kind  has  been  reported, — but  undue 
stress  can,  in  any  event,  never  be  laid  on  any  isolated  record. 

The  device  of  marking  birds  in  some  way  was  not  infre- 
quently resorted  to,  in  isolated  cases  and  for  special  purposes, 
by  naturalists  of  earlier  days,  and  one  often  comes  across 
stray  records.  But,  so  far  as  the  writer  is  aware,  it  was  not 
until  1890  that  the  first  systematic  scheme  was  set  on  foot. 
In  that  and  many  subsequent  summers,  numbers  of  young 
Woodcock  were  marked  on  the  Duke  of  Northumberland's 
estate  at  Alnwick  (14).  The  rings  were  inscribed  with  an 
"N,"  and  the  date  (year). 

In  1899,  Mr.  H.  Chr.  C.  Mortensen,  of  Viborg,  Denmark 
(9,  lOj  11,  12,  13),  started  a  more  ambitious  inquiry,  and  the 
Stork,  the  Heron,  the  Teal,  and  the  Starling  are  among 
the  species  which  he  has  studied  by  this  method.  Mr.  Mor- 
tensen may,  indeed,  be  regarded  as  the  pioneer  of  scientific 
bird- marking,  because  his  inquiry  was  the  first  which  was 
thoroughly  comprehensive  in  scope  and  exact  in  methods  : 
the  use  of  identification  numbers  instead  of  mere  year  figures 
was  a  good  innovation  which  opened  up  many  fresh  possi- 
bilities, although  at  the  same  time  involving  much  more 
labour  in  the  way  of  record-keeping. 

2i2 


474  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  Results  of  a  Studi/ of       [Ibis, 

In  1903,  Dr.  J.  Tliienemann  (16,  17),  Director  of  the 
German  Ornitholooical  Society's  station  at  Rossitten  on  the 
Baltic  coast,  started  an  important  inquiry.  The  results 
obtained  in  the  cases  of  the  Stork  and  the  Hooded  Crow, 
especially,  are  of  great  interest.  More  recently  the  work  has 
been  extended  to  Heligoland  (24,  25). 

In  1908,  the  method  was  adopted  by  the  Hungarian 
(State)  Ornithological  Central  Bureau  (8,  15).  Similar 
schemes  have  also  been  set  on  foot  in  Holland  (23),  and  in 
other  parts  of  the  Continent. 

Also  in  1908,  the  method  was  tciken  up  in  the  United  States 
{1,  4,  5),  wliere,  however,  it  was  not  previously  altogether 
unknown  (2,  3),  and  in  the  following  year  an  "American 
Bird  BandinG^  Association "  was  constituted.  The  rings 
issued  by  the  Association  bore  the  inscription  "Notify  The 
Aulc,  New  York "  and  a  number.  More  recently  the  work 
has  been  taken  over  by  the  Biological  Survey  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture  at  Washington, 

Meanwhile  some  progress  had  been  made  in  this  country. 
Several  years  ago  Mr.  Richard  Tomlinson  (22)  began 
marking  Starlings  at  Musselburgh,  near  Edinburgh.  In 
1904,  Mr.  J.  H.  Gurney  marked  a  number  of  young  Gannets 
on  the  Bass  Rock  (Firth  of  Forth)  with  rings  inscribed 
"Bass  Rock,  1904."  In  1905,  Mr.  John  Hamilton  (7)  of 
Baron's  Court,  (Jo.  Tyrone,  Ireland,  began  marking  Wood- 
cock with  rings  inscribed  with  "  B,  C."  and  the  year  in 
fio-nres.  Between  1910  and  1916  over  300  Woodcock  were 
marked  on  Colonel  W.  W.  Ashley's  estate  in  County  Sligo, 
as  reported  by  Captain  S.  R.  Douglas  (6).  Other  proprietors 
have  also  marked  Woodcock,  for  instance  Lord  Ardilaun  at 
Cong,  Gal  way,  using  rings  inscribed  "A.  Cong,"  while  Sir 
Richard  Graham  has  used  rings  inscribed  "  R.  G.''  for 
various  species  of  Duck  (for  the  most  part  hand-reared) 
marked  at  Netherby,  Cumberland.  In  1908,  Dr.  C.  B. 
Ticehurst  (21),  following  Mr.  Mortensen^s  methods,  started 
marking  various  birds  in  the  south  of  England  with  rings 
inscribed  "  Ticehurst,  Tenterden."  Various  other  inquiries 
on  a  smaller  scale  have  been  set  on  foot  at  different  times. 


1 92 1.]         Bird- Miff  rat  ion  hij  the  Marhing  Metliod.  475 

111  1909,  the  first  efforts  were  made  at  bird-marking  on  a 
large  scale  in  the  British  Isles,  two  inquiries  being  started  inde- 
pendently and  almost  simultaneously,  namel}^  the  Aberdeen 
University  Inquiry,  now  under  review,  and  Mr.  H.  F. 
Witherby's  scheme  {2^)  in  connection  with  the  magazine 
"  British  Birds/'  Of  these,  the  latter  is  still  in  progress  and 
close  on  a  hundred  thousand  birds  have  been  marked  :  the 
eventual  publication  of  the  collected  and  analysed  results 
wdll  he  an  event  of  great  importance  to  students  of  migration. 
It  may  also  be  noted  that  some  of  the  earlier  markers  merged 
their  work  with  the  new  schemes,  as  Mr.  Tomlinson  did  his 
with  the  Aberdeen  University  Inquiry,  and  Dr.  Ticehurst 
his  with  the  ''British  Birds"  scheme,  the  work  being 
profitable  only  if  undertaken  on  a  very  large  scale. 

Methods  of  the  Aberdeen  University  Inquiry. 

Each  ring  bore  the  address  "  Aberdeen  University " 
(contracted  to  ''Aberdeen  Univ."  on  the  smallest  size),  and 
an  identification  number.  A  plain  number,  sometimes 
written  in  two  lines,  was  used  where  possible,  but  on  the 
smjiUest  size  the  need  for  brevity  led  to  the  use  of  such 
numbers  as  "0798,"  and  letter  combinations  like  "299  A." 
After  the  first  experimental  stage  the  rings  were  made  in  the 
following  seven  sizes,  named  in  fractions  of  an  inch,  the  first 
four  for  ordinary  use  and  the  three  largest  for  those  markers 
who  had  special  facilities  for  ringing  sea-fowl  and  other 
large  birds.  The  first  three  sizes  were  of  the  claspless  pat- 
tern, while  the  other  rings  were  provided  with  the  form  of 
clasp  already  described,  and  had  also  edges  turned  outwards 
as  flanges. 

l/8th— Fiiiclies,   Swallows,   Titmice,    Redbreast,    Lark,    Sandpipers, 
Little  Tern,  etc. 
3/lGlhs — Thruslies,  Starling,  Lapwing,  Snipe,  etc. 
l/4th — Woodcock,  Jackdaw,  Black-headed  Gull,  Kestrel,  Teal,  Stock- 
Dove,  etc. 
5/lOtlis — Rook,  Crows,  Owls,  Wood-Pigeon,  Guillemot,  Wigeon,  etc. 
3/8tlis— Herring-Gull,  Mallard,  etc. 
1/2 — Gannet,  etc. 
5/8— Heron. 

{All  these  rings  were  made  by  Mr.  Samuel  Drake,  Halifax.) 


476  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  Kesxdts  of  a  Study  of      [Ibis, 

The  nuinl)ers,  sizes,  and  destinations  o£  all  rings  issued  to 
markers  were  carefully  noted  and  reappearances  of  marked 
birds  were  checked  by  these  notes.  Along  with  the  rings 
were  sent  schedules  on  which  the  data  about  all  birds  marked 
were  to  be  filled  in,  the  following  information  l)eing  asked 
for  : — (1)  Number  on  ring  ;  (2)  Species  of  bird  ;  (3)  Date 
of  marking  and  release;  (4)  Locality  of  marking  and 
release ;  (5)  How  obtained  ("  as  young,"  etc.) ;  (6)  Sex 
and  age  so  far  as  certain  ;  and  any  other  remarks,  including 
bracketing  together  members  of  the  same  brood  with  word 
to  that  effect.  When  the  com])leted  schedules  were  returned, 
the  data  were  transcribed  into  ledgers,  in  which  the  entries 
were  arranged  serially  according  to  the  ring  numbers,  a  final 
column  being  left  blank  for  the  purpose  of  entering  references 
to  the  "  Case  numbers "  in  the  separate  card-index  of  re- 
a{)pearance  records. 

When  a  marked  bird  was  reported  as  killed  or  recaptured, 
the  number  on  the  ring  was  the  chief  thing  required, 
together  with  a  note  of  the  locality  and  approximate  date  of 
the  occurrence.  If  the  ring,  with  or  without  the  foot,  were 
sent,  or  if  the  species  were  identified,  an  additional  check  on 
the  accuracy  of  the  record  was  provided.  Many  birds  were 
naturally  recorded  from  the  places  where  they  were  marked, 
and  the  interest  of  these  records  depended  on  the  lapse  of 
time  and  on  the  other  circumstances  of  the  case  :  cognisance 
was  taken  of  all  records  of  this  kind,  however,  except  when 
a  bird  was  recorded  on  the  same  day,  or,  in  the  case  of  young 
birds,  within  the  flightless  period. 

At  the  outset  of  the  investigation  no  restriction  was  made 
as  to  the  species  of  birds  which  were  to  be  marked,  and  each 
co-operator  was  left  to  make  use  of  whatever  opportunities 
he  might  have.  These  opportunities  were  for  the  most  part 
confined  to  young  birds  as  yet  unable  to  fly,  but  large 
numbers  of  birds  were  also  caught  in  nets  set  up  for  the 
purpose  and  a  few  were  caught  at  lighthouse-lanterns  or  at 
night  on  the  sea-shore.  It  was  felt  that  tlie  widest  possible 
scope   would  provide  the  fairest   test  of    the  value  of    the 


1 92 1.]         Bird-Mir/ration  In/  the  Marking  Metlwd.  -^11 

method,  and  even  in  the  cnse  of  purely  resident  species  the 
extent  oi:  local  movements  was  considered  worthy  of  study. 
Earlier  schemes,  perhaps  more  by  chance  than  by  intention, 
had  been  confined  for  the  most  part  to  a  limited  number  of 
especially  interesting  species  which  had  well  repaid  the 
labour  and  cost  of  marking  :  no  guide,  therefore,  existed 
as  to  the  possibilities  of  a  more  comprehensive  plan  of 
campaign. 

It  soon  became  evident,  nevertheless,  that  in  many  direc- 
tions the  results  were  very  meagre  as  compared  with  the 
number  of  birds  being  marked.  The  scope  of  the  Inquiry 
was  according!}^  limited  to  a  few  species,  selected  for  a 
variety  of  reasons.  Three  qualities  were  thought  necessary 
for  a  species  to  be  classed  as  a  good  subject  :  the  birds  had 
to  be  procurable  for  marking  in  large  numbers,  they  had  to 
afford  a  good  percentage  of  reappearance  records,  and  their 
migratory  movements  had  to  be  of  interest.  Some  of  the  best 
subjects  under  the  first  and  second  of  these  headings,  such  as 
certain  gulls  and  game-birds,  were  unfortunately  lacking  in 
the  third  quality,  while  most  of  the  small  passerine  birds 
showed  an  extraordinarily  low  percentage  of  reappearance 
records  apart  from  cases  where  they  were  re-caught  by  the 
marker.  The  species  finally  selected  were  the  Lapwing,  the 
Starling,  the  Song-Thrush,  the  Blackbird,  the  Woodcock, 
the  Mallard,  and  the  Herring-Gull.  To  these  were  added 
the  liedbreiist  and  the  Swallow,  chiefly  because  a  large  stock 
of  the  appropriate  size  of  ring  remained,  and  also  the  Lesser 
Black-backed  Gull  in  the  expectation,  never  realised,  that  a 
large  number  could  be  marked.  Had  the  work  continued, 
the  tendency  would  have  been  to  concentrate  more  and 
more  on  the  Lapwing  and  the  Starling. 

The  Interpretation  of  Results. 

In  the  following  sections  a  few  species  which  have 
afforded  interesting  and  comparatively  numerous  records 
are  discussed  separately  and  at  length.  The  method  adopted 
in   each  case  has   been   based  on  a  system  of  grouping  in 


478  Br.  A.  L.T^homson:  Mesults  of  a  Studfj  of       [Ibis, 

accordance  with  the  districts  in  which  the  birds  were 
marked,  as  is  expLained  more  fnlly  in  Section  II.  :  a  dis- 
tinction has  also  been  maintained  between  birds  marked 
when  young  and  birds  obtained  under  other  circumstances, 
the  latter  class  being  further  sub-divided  under  seasonal 
headings.  The  object  in  view  has  been  to  keep  together 
records  relating  (o  birds  originally  belonging  to  presumably 
homogeneous  groups,  and  in  this  way  to  eliminate  errors 
due  to  possible  geographical  differences.  But  where  the 
grouping  has  revealed  no  marked  divergency,  the  separate 
treatment  of  the  groups  is  abandoned. 

The  data  thus  grouped  have  been  analysed,  as  a  rule,  in 
three  different  ways.  The  principal  analysis  is  a  seasonal 
one,  the  reappearance  records  of  all  birds  of  a  particular 
group,  or  series  of  similar  groups,  being  classified  according 
to  locality  and  calendar  month.  In  this  main  analysis  the 
records  of  birds  recovered  in  their  first,  second  or  subsequent 
seasons,  are  treated  alike  :  to  exclude  any  error  from  this 
source  a  second  analysis  is  added  in  which  the  classification 
is  by  localities  and  ages.  The  third  analysis  is  similar  to 
the  secondj  but  is  based  on  the  calendar  year  (reckoned 
from  summer  to  summer)  instead  of  on  the  year  of  the 
bird's  life,  and  it  thus  affords  a  check  on  possible  errors 
due  to  meteorological  differences  between  one  winter  and 
another.  The  fulness  with  which  the  grouping  and 
analyses  have  been  published  will  be  found  to  vary  with 
the  circumstances. 

A  further  section  of  the  report  contains  a  series  of  brief 
summaries  of  the  records  relating  to  those  species  for  which 
the  data  are  insufficient  to  warrant  any  more  elaborate 
treatment.  IMany  of  these  summaries,  however,  contain 
more  or  less  isolated  records  which  are  of  some  interest 
despite  the  danger  that  lies  in  too  much  importance  being 
attached  to  occurrences  which  may  possibly  be  exceptional. 
The  possibility  of  entirely  exceptional  individual  movements 
being  recorded  by  the  marking  method  is  indeed  a  point 
which  must  constantly  be  borne  in  mind  by  students  of  the 


1921.]        Bird-Migration  />//  the  MarUng  Metlwcl.  479 

subject,  and  isolated  records  must  always  be  regarded  with 
suspicion  and  as  at  best  suggesting  the  theoretical  ex- 
planations which  they  seem  to  indicate.  The  chances  o£  a 
faulty  record  are  in  themselves  almost  negligible  if  the 
method  is  carefully  and  scrupulously  followed  :  wrong  ring 
numbers  have  frequently  been  reported  and  have  been 
speedily  detected  by  being  inconsistent  with  the  particulars 
oi"  marking  of  the  bird  to  which  the  number  really  belonged. 
There  are,  however,  several  records  which  suggest  that  the 
individual  birds  concerned  behaved  in  an  abnormal  manner 
(c/.  Mallard,  Section  VI.),  and  this  makes  it  the  more 
necessary  that  all  deductions  should  rest  on  a  broad 
foundation. 

It  would  obviously  be  desirable  to  collect  a  mass  of  data 
sufficiently  large  to  be  treated  statistically,  but  it  cannot 
be  said,  in  view  of  the  numerous  unknown  factors,  that 
this  has  yet  been  achieved.  In  the  first  place  there  is 
to  be  considered  the  possibility  that  the  material  being 
dealt  with  is  not  wholly  homogeneous  :  even  in  the  case 
of  birds  of  the  same  species  bred  in  the  same  area  there 
may  be  migratory  and  resident  individuals,  and  therefore 
possibly  migratory  and  resident  races.  In  the  case  of 
birds  caught  and  marked  in  winter  the  material  is'  more 
obviously  of  mixed  origin  and  may  even  contain  morpho- 
logically distinguishable  geographical  races  or  subspecies. 
Not  only  may  some  individuals  of  a  species  be  migratory  while 
others  in  the  same  area  are  resident,  but  there  is  no  ground 
for  assuming  that  all  the  migratory  individuals  perform 
similar  movements  :  the  movements,  indeed,  certainly  differ 
in  degree  and  may  differ  in  kind,  and  it  is  not  even  fair  to 
assume  that  the  same  individual  will  act  in  an  identical 
manner  in  successive  years.  It  follows,  also,  that  great 
caution  is  necessary  in  deducing  routes  of  migration  from 
records  relating  to  different  birds.  The  obvious  temptation 
is  to  plot  on  a  map  all  the  localities  of  reappearance  and  to 
consider  them  as  points  in  a  common  path,  but  it  is  not 
sound   reasoning   to   say,  for  instance,   that    because    many 


480  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  Results  of  a  Study  of       [Ibis, 

records  for  a  given  species  come  from  Ireland  and  others 
from  Portugal  the  former  country  must  lie  iu  the  route  of 
the  birds  which  travel  to  the  latter. 

The  most  important  unknown  factor,  from  a  statistical 
point  of  view,  is  the  actual  mortality  rate  and  its  geo- 
graphical and  seasonal  incidence.  The  student  of  the 
method;  unfortunately,  deals  only  with  what  may  be  called 
the  "  recorded  mortality,"  and  he  can  only  attempt  to  guess 
what  fraction  of  the  whole  it  represents.  Furthermore,  the 
proportion  between  true  and  recorded  mortality  must  vary 
in  different  circumstances  according  to  the  chances  that 
exist  of  a  dead  bird  being  reported.  It  may  be  siifely 
assumed,  for  instance,  that  a  smaller  proportion  of  actual 
deaths  is  reported  from  foreign  countries  than  from  the 
British  Isles,  while  the  fact  that  birds  tend  to  meet  death 
in  different  forms  at  different  times  of  year,  especially  in 
the  case  of  species  shot  for  sport,  may  materially  influence 
the  matter.  Even  were  it  possible  to  estimate  the  true 
mortality,  this  would  not  afford  a  perfect  index  of  the  com- 
parative total  numbers  of  birds  present  in  particular  areas 
at  particular  times. 

The  foregoing  considerations  apply  mainly  to  records 
which  show  actual  movements,  for  it  is  true  that  iu  these 
cases  a  record  usually  originates  through  the  death  of  the 
bird.  But  a  similar  and  even  more  uncertain  factor  exists 
in  the  cases  of  more  or  less  sedentary  birds  which  are 
re-caught,  often  many  times,  at  the  places  where  they  were 
marked.  Ilecords  of  this  latter  kind  depend  largely  on  the 
activity  of  the  marker  himself,  who  continues  to  trap  birds 
for  furtlier  marking  and  in  the  process  constantly  recovers 
birds  he  had  previously  released.  Not  only  may  the 
marker's  efforts  be  erratic  for  personal  reasons,  but  he  will 
be  largely  governed  by  the  greater  facility  with  which  birds 
are  caught  at  some  seasons  as  compared  with  others.  An 
uncertain  factor  is  therefore  introduced  into  the  marker's 
o.vn  records  of  birds  recovered,  while  a  much  greater  one 
must  be  allowed  for  if  these  records  are  compared  with  those 


1 92 1.]         Bird-Migration  by  the  Marking  Method.  481 

from  other  sources  where  special  opportunities  for  obtaining 
records  do  not  enter  into  the  question. 

In  the  sections  whicli  follow  the  comparisons  made  with 
the  results  of  other  investigators  are  by  no  means  exhaustive. 
The  species  successfully  studied  abroad  are  for  the  most  part 
unimportant  in  this  country,  so  far  as  records  go,  and  the 
results  of  the  '  British  Birds  '  inquir3'  {2&),  which  are  the  most 
important  for  this  purpose^  have  as  yet  been  published  in 
collected  form  only  in  the  case  of  a  very  few  species. 

The  Numbers  of  Birds  marked  during  the 
Aberdeen  University  Inquiry. 

Table  I.  shows  the  total  numbers  of  birds  of  different 
species  marked  during  the  course  of  the  investigation.  In 
the  third  column  the  number  of  reappearance  records  is 
given,  and  in  tlie  fourth  column  the  percentage  of  marked 
birds  which  have  reappeared.  The  figures  may  be  regarded 
as  complete  for  all  practical  purposes,  as  additional  records 
have,  at  the  time  of  writing,  become  very  infrequent.  From 
the  numbers  and  percentages  of  reappearance  records  the 
following  are  excluded  : — 

(a)  Records  of  birds  recovered  at  the  same  place  on  the 
day  of  marking,  or,  in  the  case  of  young  birds, 
within  the  flightless  period  ; 

(A)  Incomplete  and  faulty  records  which  have  not  been 
considered  sufhciently  well  established  to  be  in- 
cluded among  the  results  ; 

{<•.)  Second  and  subsequent  records  for  the  same  bird. 

The  percentage  is  not  calculated  for  species  of  which  less 
than  fifty  individuals  were  marked,  and  it  should  be  accepted 
with  reserve  in  cases  where  the  total  is  less  than  some 
hundreds. 

Detailed  summaries  of  the  numbers  marked  are  given  in 
the  case  of  certain  of  the  more  important  species  discussed 
at  length  in  the  subsequent  [lages. 


482  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :   T^esults  of  a  Stud^j  of       [Ibis, 


TABLE  I. 

Numbers  of  Birds  Marked  and  Recovered. 


Species. 


Total  numbers 
marked. 


Song-Thrush 

Lapwing . 

Blackbird   

Starling 

Common  Tern    

Redbreast  

Swallow 

Black-headed  Gull 

House-Sparrow 

Greenfinch 

Hedge- Sparrow 

Chaffinch    

Blue  Titmouse  

Willow-Warbler    . . . 

Herring-Gull 

Mallard 

Wren  

Red  Grouse    

Partridge    

Mistle- Thrush    

Sky-Lark    

Pied  Wagtail 

Spotted  Flycatcher 

Yellowhammer 

House-  Martin    

Linnet     

Great  Titmouse 

Woodcock 

Meadow-Pipit    

Wheatear  

Wood-Pigeon 

Whitethroat  .". 

Common  Gull     

Sand-Martin  

Moorhen 

Ringed  Plover   

Grey  Wagtail     

Oystercatcher    


Total  numbers 
of  Reappear- 
ance Records. 


Percentage  of 

Reappearance 

Records. 


3,770 

3,142 

2,641 

1,900 

1,352 

1,206 

1,198 

1,150 

1,041 

1,021 

898 

811 

653 

501 

461 

425 

274 

265 

256 

230 

228 

217 

203 

193 

183 

176 

172 

156 

150 

146 

132 

130 

102 

92 

88 

85 

84 

79 


52 

1-4 

63 

2-0 

68 

!      2-6 

62 

1      3-3 

6 

0-4 

61 

5-1* 

5 

0-4 

27 

2-3 

71 

6-8* 

45 

4-4* 

66 

7-3* 

17 

2-1 

70 

10-7* 

1 

0-2 

25 

5-4 

95 

22-4* 

2 

0-7 

11 

4-2 

1      1^ 

5-9 

1 

0-4 

0 

0-0 

0 

0-0 

2 

1-0 

2 

1-0 

0 

0-0 

0 

0-0 

32 

18-6* 

21 

13-5 

1 

0-7 

0 

0-0 

12 

9-1 

0 

0-0 

3 

2-9 

0 

O'O 

2 

2-3 

1 

1-2 

0 

0-0 

4 

5-1 

*  In  the  species  marked  thus  the  proportion  of  recoveries  must  be 
regarded  as  abnormally  "  inflated  "  owing  to  special  activities 
on  the  part  of  the  markers  :  the  remark  applies  to  a  lesser 
extent  in  certain  other  cases. 


1 92 1.]         Binl-M'uj ration  hy  the  Marking  Method, 


483 


Table  I.  {continued). 


Species. 


Total  numbers 
marked. 


Total  numbers 
of  Reappear- 
ance Records. 


Percentag'e  of 

Reappearance 

Records. 


Redshank  

Coal-Titmouse   

Corncrake  

Goldcrest  

Rook  

Common  Sandpiper   . . 

Dipper    

Curlew    

Pheasant     

Swift  

Chiffchaff   

Little  Tern     

Lesser  Black-backed  Gull 

Bullfinch    

Jackdaw     

Puffin 

Kittiwake  

Heron 

Redstart     

Nuthatch    

Sedge-Warbler  

Snipe  

Sheld-Duck    

Garden- Warbler    

Cormorant 

Reed-Bunting    

Teal    

Guillemot   

Cuckoo   

Redwing 

Dunlin    

Coot    

Golden  Plover    

Wigeon  

Barn-Owl   

Goldfinch    

Long-eared  Owl 

Miscellaneous  (species  of 
which  less  than  30 
were  marked  and  none 
was  recovered)    .. 


Total 


68 
65 
65 
61 
54 
51 
50 
49 
49 
49 
49 
48 
44 
42 
41 
40 
39 
39 
38 
37 
35 
34 
31 
31 
30 
30 
28 
22 
18 
14 
13 
13 
12 
8 
7 
5 
2 


680 


27,802 


0-0 
1-5 
3-1 
0-0 
0-0 
0-0 
0-0 


879 


3-2 


484  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  Results  of  a  Study  of       [Ibis, 

II.— THE  LAPWING  (  Vanellus  vanellus  Liiin.)  : 
ANALYSIS  OF  EECORDS, 

Although  found  all  the  year  round  in  the  British  Isles, 
except  in  some  inland  districts,  this  species  is  well-known 
as  a  mitrrant.  The  mio;rations  which  may  be  observed  are 
indeed  extremely  complex,  and  they  have  already  been  very 
fully  worked  out  from  the  point  of  view  of  mass  movements 
{cf  Eagle  Clarke,  Report  Brit.  Assoc,  for  1902,  p.  277).  In 
addition  to  autumn  movements  within  the  country,  there  are 
at  that  season  both  immigiations  from  the  north  and  east 
and  emigration  to  the  south.  If  very  severe  weather  occurs 
during  the  winter  there  may  be  a  resumption  of  these 
movements,  even  if  so  late  that  the  normal  date  for  the 
spring  migrations  in  the  opposite  direction  is  close  at 
hand. 

The  case  is  typical  of  a  great  part  of  the  general 
phenomena  of  migration  in  the  British  area,  and  the  obstacle 
which  stands  in  the  way  of  a  full  understanding  of  what 
takes  place  is  the  difficulty  of  ascertaining  the  respective 
parts  played  by  the  native  birds  and  by  the  winter  visitors 
and  birds  of  passage  from  the  Continent  :  to  what  extent, 
one  asks,  do  the  former  remain  sedentary  while  the  latter 
journey  on  to  form  the  southward  stream?  And  it  has 
already  been  argued  that  it  is  questions  of  this  kind  which 
probe  the  very  nature  of  the  migratory  habit. 

Fortunately  the  species  has  proved  a  very  suitable  one 
for  study  by  the  marking"  method,  and  the  results  already 
obtained  show  how  the  data  from  other  sources  may  be 
supplemented  in  important  respects.  The  writer  would 
indeed  urge  the  value  of  a  concentrated  investigation  of  this 
species,  on  a  larger  scale  than  has  yet  been  tried,  as  being 
likely  to  yield  results  of  very  great  theoretical  interest. 

Table  II.  gives  the  numbers  of  Lapwings  marked  during 
the  course  of  the  inquiry,  and  the  numbers  recovered 
in  the  respective  categories.  For  the  ])urpose  of  grouping, 
the  following  arbitrary  geographical  regions  have  been 
defined  : — 


1 92 1.]         Bird-Migration  by  the  Marking  MetJiod. 


485 


North   o£    Scotland  :  From  Inverness-shire,  Nairn,  and 

Moray  (inclusive)  northwards. 
North-East   o£    Scotland :    Aberdeenshire,    Banffshire, 

and  Kincardineshire. 
Central  Scotland  :  The  remainder,  as  far  south  as  the 

Firths  of  Forth  and  Clyde. 
South-East    of   Scotland  :    Eastern   side,   south  of  the 

Firth  of  Forth. 
South-West  of  Scotland  :  Western  side,   south  of  the 

Firth  of  Clyde. 
North   of  England  :    From   Yorkshire  and  Lancashire 

(inclusive)  northwards. 
South  of  England  :    The  rest  of  England  and  Wales, 

but,  in  effect,  almost  entirely  the  southern  counties. 
Ireland. 

TABLE  IT. 
Numbers  of  Lapwings  Marked  and  Recovered. 


Seasons  of 

Numbers  marked 

(by  regions] 

Numbers 
recovered 

n3 

TS 

■a 

'6 

'S 

Ti 

T3 

marking 
as  chicks. 

•  a 

o 

m  o 

rjl  o 

-1 

'C 

Total. 

'(by  seasons 
of 

m 

ai 

m 

W 

H 

w 

H- 1 

marking). 

1909 



24 

1 











25 

1 

1910 

17 

232 

23 

2 

25 



— 



299 

10 

1911 

14 

379 

11 

7 

1 

8 

26 



446 

6 

1912 

43 

386 

38 

12 

15 

88 

29 

3 

614 

13 

1913 

157 

335 

58 

29 

10 

25 

1 

8 

623 

19 

1914 

48 

395 

46 

16 

3 

11 

— 

31 

550 

9 

1915 

— 

210 

— 

5 

12 

12 

— 

— 

239 

2 

1916 

— 

114 

71 

27 

13 

3 

7 

— 

235 

1 

1917 

— 

65 

— 

1 

17 

— 

— 

— 

83 

2 

1918 

. — 

8 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

8 

— 

1919 

— 

9 

— 

-- 

4 

— 

— 

— 

13 

— 

Not     as 

chicks  ... 

— 

4 

1 

1 

— 

1 

— 

— 

7 

63 

Total    ... 

279 

2161 

249 

100 

100 

148 

63 

42 

3,142 

Numbers 

recovered 

(by  '  re- 

3 

42 

7 

— 

6 

3 

2 

— 

63 

2-0% 

gions  '  of 

marking). 

48G 


Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  Results  of  a  Study  of       [Ibis, 


The  percentage  of  marked  Lapwings  recovered  is  thus 
approximately  2'0,  if  calcidated  on  the  total.  But  when 
calculated  for  separate  years  the  figures  vary  from  0*4  to 
3*3  per  cent,  if  all  years  in  which  over  200  were  marked  be 
taken,  and  from  1"3  to  3*0  per  cent,  if  limited  to  those 
years  in  which  over  400  were  marked.  Similarly,  the 
percentage  varies  from  1*0  to  2'^  when  calculated  separately 
for  the  regions  in  which  over  200  were  marked,  and  is  1"9 
in  the  case  of  the  single  region  in  which  the  number  was 
much  larger.  In  making  comparisons  between  the  numbers 
of  records  falling  under  particular  headings,  therefore,  it 
would  be  unsafe  to  attach  significance  to  any  figure  which 
could  not  be  assumed  to  represent  a  total  of  several 
hundred  marked  birds.  Numerical  contrasts  are  accord- 
ingly permissible  only  between  the  widest  categories,  and 
analysis  must  be  for  the  most  part  qualitative  rather  than 
quantitative. 

As  this  species  is  of  especial  interest,  and  as  it  is  the  first 
to  be  discussed  here,  the  records  and  the  various  forms  of 
analysis  are  given  in  full.  Table  III.  is  a  complete  list  of 
all  the  reappearances,  grouped  in  the  manner  already 
explained. 

TABLE  III. 
List  of  Reappearances  of  Marked  Lapwings. 


Season  of 
marking. 


Case  No. 


Date  of 
Reappearance. 


Locality  of  Reappearance. 


Marked  as  chicks  in  the  North  of  Scotland. 


1912. 
1913. 


■{ 


410 


403 
899 


20.  8.14 

ca.  22.11.13 
early     1.14 


Place  of  marking. 

Co.  West  Meath,  Ireland, 
nr.  Oporto,  Portugal. 


1 92 1.]         Bird-jUgration  hij  the  Marking  Method. 


487 


Table  III.  [coutlmied). 
Marked  as  clucks  in  the  north-east  of  Scotland. 


1909  ... 

1 

13.  6.09 

Place  of  marking. 

- 

60 

15.  7.10 

Place  of  marking-. 

71 

6.  8.10 

Place  of  marking-. 

156 

P  Oct.  (possibly 
Nov.)  10 

nr.  Oporto,  Portugal. 

1910...- 

105 

ca.  19.11.10 

Co.  Tipperary,  Ireland. 

100 

ca.  22.11.10 

Co.  Roscommon,  Ireland. 

113 

29.12.10 

nr.  Elvas,  Alemtejo,  Portugal. 

145 

ca.    5.  2.11 

Co.  Cork,  Ireland. 

154 

13.  2.11 

Co.  Limerick,  Ireland. 

^ 

283 

ca.    1.  1.12 

Co.  Roscommon,  Ireland. 

- 

271 

17.10.11 

Queen's  Co.,  Ireland. 

336 

7.11.11 

Area  of  marking. 

1911... < 

400 

20.  8.13 

Place  of  marking. 

867 

3.  7.15 

Place  of  marking. 

^ 

824 

20.  2.17 

Co.  Wicklow,  Ireland. 

- 

395 

2.  1.13 

Anglesey,  Wales. 

397 

ca.  10.  1.13 

nr.  Guarda,  Portugal. 

402 

27.  8.13 

Place  of  marking. 

1912...  < 

817 

24.  2.15 

Cardigan,  Wales. 

850 

8.12.15 

Place  of  marking. 

>_ 

840 

ca.    6.  2.17 

Devon,  England. 

r 

905 

15.  8.13 

Place  of  marking. 

401 

20.  8.13 

Place  of  marking. 

405 

ca.  24.  1.14 

Co.  Mayo,  Ireland. 

079 

ca.  29.  1.14 

Landes,  France. 

1913.... 

407 

ca.     5.  2.14 

Co.  Tipperary,  Ireland. 

408 

ca.     8.  2.14 

Co.  Galway,  Ireland. 

681 

ca.  20.11.14 

Co.  Limerick,  Ireland. 

818 

19.  2.15 

Co.  Roscommon,  Ireland. 

852 

13.  1.16 

Place  of  marking. 

. 

887 

29.11.18 

Place  of  marking. 

620 

early      9.14 

Place  of  marking. 

813 

23.12.14 

Co  Wicklow,  Ireland. 

814    . 

24.12.14 

Co.  Down,  Ireland. 

853 

13.12.15 

Co.  Clare,  Ireland. 

1914...  < 

821 

23.  2.16 

Area  of  marking  (a  few  miles 

beyond  boundary). 

829 

13.  3.16 

Co.  Durham,  England. 

870 

early     1.17 

Co.  Cork,  Ireland. 

842 

8.  2.17 

Co.  Tipperary,  Ireland. 

L 

918 

16.   1.20 

Co.  Durham,  England. 

191.5...- 

{ 

844 
881 

24.11.16 
16.12.17 

ur.  Oporto,  Portugal, 
nr.  Oporto,  Portugal. 

1 

SER.  > 

A. 

—VOL.  in 

2k 

488 


Dr.  A.  L.  Thom.son  :  J^esuUs  of  a  Stndi/  of       [Ibis, 


Table  III.  {continued). 
Marked  as  chicks  in  centra,!  Scotland. 


1910. 

274 

30.12.11 

Co.  Westmeath,  Ireland. 

1912. 

1 

398 
680 
841 

ca.  20.  1.13 

23.10.14 

6.  2.17 

Co.  Mayo,  Ireland. 
Queen's  Co.,  Ireland. 
Co.  Sligo,  Ireland. 

1913. 

■{ 

406 
900 
832 

ca.    2.  1.14 

early      1.14 

-.  2.16 

Co.  Leitrim,  Ireland. 

nr.  Oviedo,  northern  Spain. 

N.  Cornwall,  England. 

Marked  as  chicks  in  the  south-west  of  Scotland. 

1912 

396 

11.  1.13 

Queen's  Co.,  Ireland. 

1913...  j 

898 
409 

early     1.14 
9.  1.14 

nr.  Oporto,  Portugal, 
nr.  Oporto,  Portugal. 

1916 

917 

9.12.19 

Co.  Londonderry,  Ireland. 

1917... 1 

886 
896 

ca.  10.12.17 
ca.  21.10.18 

Co.  Londonderry,  Ireland. 
Co.  Sligo,  Ireland. 

Marked  as 

chicks  in  the  north  of  England. 

1911 

394 

ca.  15.12.12 

Co.  Kildare,  Ireland. 

1912 

393 

2.12.12 

Co.  Kilkenny,  Ireland. 

1913 

404 

ca.  18.  1.14 

Landes,  France. 

Marked  as  chicks  in  the  south  of  England. 


1912. 
1913. 


nr.  place  of  marking, 
nr.  place  of  marking. 


As  the  records  Erotn  the  various  regions  appear  to  be 
similar  in  character,  the  Scottish  and  north  of  England 
birds  are  treated  as  a  single  group  for  purposes  o£  analysis, 
the  two  south  of  England  cases  being  neglected.  Table  IV. 
gives  the  analysis  according  to  the  months  in  which  the 
reappearances  were  recorded. 


1 92 1.]         Dird-Ali<jration  by  the  Marking  Method. 


489 


TABLE  IV. 

Seasonal  Analysis  of  Reappearances  op  Lapwings  marked  as 
CHICKS  IN  Scotland  or  the  north  of  England. 


Month. 

Area 

of 
Mark- 
ing. 

North 

of 
Eng- 
land. 

Wales. 

* 

Devon 
and 
Corn- 
wall. 

Ire- 
land. 

S.W. 
France. 

N. 
Spain. 

Portu- 
gal. 

Total. 

May    . . . 
June    . . . 
July    ... 
Aug.    . . . 
Sept.   ... 
Oct.     ... 
Nov.    ... 
Dec.    ... 
Jan.     . . . 
Feb.     ... 
Mar.    ... 
Apr.    . . . 

1 
2 
6 
1 

2 

1 
1 
1 

1 

1 

1 
1 

2 

3 

4 
8 
6 
8 

2 

1 

1 
1 

2 
4 

0 

1 

2 

6 

1 

4 

7 

11 

16 

12 

1 

0 

Totals...      15 

2 

2 

2 

29 

2       '       1 

8 

61 

(*  All  records  under  these  headings  i-elate  to  birds  marked  in  N.E.  or 
C.  Scotland.) 

The  above  table  reveals  the  followino;  facts  : — 

(a)  A  few  birds  are  recorded  in  their  native  areas  through- 
out the  winter  :  considering  the  favourable  conditions  for 
records,  the  proportion  remaining  is  probably  a  small  one. 

(h)  Greater  numbers  are  recorded  from  Ireland  from 
October  to  February,  representing  about  fifty  per  cent,  of 
the  whole  list  of  records. 

(c)  Some  are  recorded  from  Portugal  from  October  to 
January  :  considering  the  presumably  unfavourable  condi- 
tions for  records,  the  proportion  of  birds  these  cases  represent 
is  probably  a  large  one. 

{d)  A  few  birds  are  recorded  from  northern  Spain, 
south-western  France,  and  parts  of  Great  Britain  south  of 
the  localities  of  marking,  but  only,  it  so  happens,  in  January 
and  February. 

(e)  Despite  the  favourable  conditions  for  records  there  is 
an  entire  absence  of  reappearances  at  places  only  a  moderate 

2k2 


490 


Dr.  A.  Ti.  Thomson  :   Txesvlfs  of  a  Stvdi/  of       [Ibif 


distance  from  those  at  which  the  birds  were  marked,  and 
there  are  only  a  very  few  from  more  distant  parts  of  Great 
Britain.  The  birds  would  therefore  appear  to  be  either 
definitely  sedentary  or  definitely  migratory,  in  ihe  latter 
case  performing  comparatively  quick  journeys  rather  than 
gradual  movements. 

The  number  of  Irish  records  justifies  a  sup])]omentary 
analysis  of  tliese  in  more  detail,  and  this  is  provided  in 
Table  V. 

TABLE  Y. 

Seasonal  Analysis  op  Reappearances  in  Ireland  op 

Lapwings  marked  as  chicks  in  Scotland  or 

THE  north  op  England. 


Month. 

Ulster.         Leinster.   !  Connaugbt.  ^    Munster. 

Total. 

October  

November  

December  

January  

February    

3 

2 
1 

4 
1 

1 

1 
1 

4 
3 

2 

1 

1 
4 

3 

4         , 
8 

6         1 
8 

Total    

3 

1                      1 
9         1           9                    8         1         29 

i 

From  this  table  it  is  evident  that  the  records  are  evenly 
distributed  amouL!,'  the  tliree  southern  provinces,  but  are  few 
in  number  in  Ulster.  The  only  Ulster  records,  and  the 
majority  of  those  from  Leinster,  refer  to  the  first  half  of 
the  winter  season,  while  most  of  the  records  from  the  other 
two  provinces  occur  in  the  second  half  :  this  might  be 
explained  either  by  a  local  south-westerly  movement  during 
the  winter  or  by  longer  jouineys  on  the  part  of  later  arrivals 
from  Great  Britain,  but  the  numbers,  when  thus  subdivided, 
are  rather  small  to  be  accepted  as  significant. 

The  following  table  analyses  the  same  records  as  were 
dealt  with  in  Table  IV.,  but  does  so  in  accordance  with  the 
ages  of  the  birds  at  the  time  of  reappearance  : — 


1 92 1.]         Bird-M'uivatlon  hi/  the  Markiny  Method.  491 


TABLE  VI. 

Age  Analysis  of  Reappearances  of  Lapwings  marked  as 
CHICKS  IN  Scotland  or  the  north  of  England. 


Year  of  the 
bird's  life. 

Area  of  marking- 
June-      Oct.- 
Sept.    '    Feb. 

* 
England 

and 
Wales. 

Ireland. 

S.W. 
Franco 
and  N. 
Spain. 

Portugal. 

Total. 

First  year    . . . 

6 

1 

1 

16 

3 

6 

33 

Second  year... 

1 

1 

2 

7 

— 

1 

12 

Third  year  ... 

2 

1 

1 

3 

— 

1 

8 

Fourth  year... 

— 

1 

— 

1 

— 

— 

2 

Fifth  year    . . . 

1 

— 

1 

1 

— 

— 

3 

Sixth  year   . . . 

— 

1 

1 

1 

— 

— 

3 

(*  See  footnote  to  Table  IV.) 

The  decreasing  number  of  records  in  successive  yeara 
naturally  follows,  of  course,  from  the  decreased  total  of 
survivors,  but  it  may  also  represent  a  lower  mortality  rate 
after  the  first  season.  The  records  for  the  first  three  seasons 
suffice  to  show  that  age  is  an  unimpoitant  factor  in  de- 
termining the  character  of  the  movements  performed. 

The  following  table  is  similar  to  the  foregoing,  but  is 
based  on  calendar  years  : — 

TABLE  VIL 

Annual  Analysis  of  Reappearances  of  Lapwings  marked  as 

CHICKS  IN  Scotland  and  the  north  op  England. 


Area  of  Marking. 

S.W. 
France 

and  N. 
Spain. 

Year  of 

*England 

Eeappear- 

and 

Ireland. 

Portugal 

Total. 

ance. 

June- 
Sept. 

Oet.- 
Feb. 

Wales. 

1909-10... 

1 

1 

1910-11... 

2 

— 

— 

4 



2 

8 

1911-12... 

— 

1 

— 

3 





4 

1912-13... 



— 

1 

4 



1 

6 

1913-14... 

4 

— 

— 

5 

3 

3 

15 

1914-15... 

2 

— 

1 

5 





8 

1915-16... 

1 

3 

2 

1 





7 

1916-17... 

— 

— 

1 

4 



1 

6 

1917-18... 

— 

— 

— 

1 



1 

2 

1918-19... 

— 

1 

— 

1 



2 

1919-20... 

— 

— 

1 

1 

— 

— 

2 

(*  See  footnote  to  Table  IV.) 


402 


Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  Results  of  a  Stiuh/  of       [Il)is, 


The  above  table  has  been  retained  mainly  as  an  exam})le  o£ 
the  method  employed,  for,  as  has  already  been  pointed  out,  ex- 
cessive sub-division  of  the  available  total  renders  the  separate 
items  too  small  to  be  regarded  as  quantitatively  significant. 

Witherby  (26)  has  a  number  of  records,  not  yet  published 
in  collected  or  analysed  form,  of  a  similar  nature  to  those 
dealt  with  in  this  section. 

III.— THE"  WOODCOCK  [Scuhpax  rusticola  Linn.): 
ANALYSIS  OF  RECORDS. 
As  in  the  case  of  the  previous  species,  the  Woodcock  is 
found  in  the  British  Isles  throughout  the  year,  but  is  known 
as  a  miorant  to  our  coasts  and  from  our  coasts  both  in 
autumn  and  in  spring.  The  problem  is  again,  therefore, 
largely  that  of  distinguishing  the  movements  of  the  native 
birds  from  those  of  the  winter  visitors  and  birds  of  passage. 

The  results  show  several  interesting  features,  and  the 
details  of  the  nimibers  marked,  together  with  a  complete  list 
of  the  reappearances,  are  accordingly  given  in  this  instance 
also. 

TABLE  VIII. 
Numbers  of  Woodcock  Marked  and  Recovered. 


Season  of 

marking  as 

chicks. 

Regions  of  Marking. 

Numbers 

recovered 

(by  seasons 

of         i 

marking). 

N. 
Scot- 
land. 

N.E. 

Scot- 
land. 

C. 

Scot- 
land. 

S. 
Scot- 
land. 

N. 
Eng- 
land. 

Ire- 
land. 

Total. 

1910  

2 
1 

2 

8 
1 
2 
5 
1 

2 

2 

36 

26 

16 

2 

3 

1 
3 
2 
1 
23 

2 

3 

8 

1 
2 

1 

14 

9 

45 

40 

40 

2 

3 

1 
2 

3 

2 
6 
7 
2 

1 

1911   

1912  

1913  

1914  

1915   

1916  

1917   

1918  

Marked      "^ 
otherwise    1 
than  as        f 
chicks. 

Total    

5 

17 

87 

32 

11 

4 

156 

21 

Numbers       T 
recovered      1 
(by  regions    j 
of  marking)  J 

- 

4 

11 

2 

3 

1 

21 

13-5% 

1 92 1.]         Bird-Migration  hij  the  Marking  Method. 


493 


TABLE  IX. 

List  of  Reappearances  of  Marked  Woodcock. 


I    Season  of 
1    Marking. 

Case  No. 

Eeapjearance.         ^""^^^^^  °^  Eeappearance. 

Marked  as  chicks  in  the  north-east  of  Scotland. 

1910  

284 

ca.  26.12.11 

nr.  place  of  marking. 

1911  

292 

4.  1.12 

Astui'iaa,  northern  Spain. 

,     1913  

427 

19.  8.14 

nr.  place  of  marking. 

'     1914  

621 

8.10.14 

Place  of  marking. 

Marked  as  chicks  in  central  Scotland. 

1911  

300 

28.  9.11 

nr.  place  of  marking. 

r 

;     1912  ..A 

416 
420 
418 
426 

17.11.12 

28.11.12 

ca.  26.12.12 

23.  2.14 

C6tes-du-Nord,  France, 
nr.  place  of  marking. 
Co.  Cork,  Ireland. 
Co.  Antrim,  Ireland. 

[                r 

1913  ...-j 

421 
422 
423 
425 
816 

4.  9.13 
4.  9.13 

13.11.13 
ca.  20.11.13 

24.12.14 

nr.  place  of  marking, 
nr.  jDlace  of  marking. 
Place  of  marking. 
Place  of  marking. 
nr.  place  of  marking. 

1916  

827 

25.  1.17 

nr.  place  of  marking. 

Marked  as  chicks  in  the  south  of  Scotland. 

1910  

85 

22.  8.10 

Place  of  marking. 

1914  

815 

4.12.14              Place  of  marking. 

Marked  as  chicks  in  the  north  of  England. 

1912  ...| 

417  1  same  ( 
419  J  brood  i. 

13.11.12 

28.12.12 

Co.  Cork,  Ireland, 
Co.  Cork,  Ireland. 

1913  

424 

7.11.13 

nr.  place  of  marking. 

Marked  as  chicks  in  Ireland. 

1910  

108 

21.11.10 

Place  of  marking, 

1 

494  ])r   A.  L.  Thomson  :   Ifcsulls  of  a  Stmh/  of        [Ibis, 

For  further  treatment  all  the  records  of  Woodcock  marked 
in  Scotland  and  the  north  of  England  have  been  grouped 
together,  the  only  other  record  being  neglected. 


TABLE  X. 

Seasonal  Analysis  of  Reappearances  of  Woodcock  marked  as 
CHICKS  IN  Scotland  or  the  north  of  England. 


Month*.             Near  place 
of  marking. 

Ireland. 

N.W. 

France. 

Northern 
Spain . 

Total. 

August     2 

September   3 

October    ...  1 

November    4 

December    1             3 

January   |              1 

February      |           — 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

2 
3 
1 
6 
5 
2 
1 

Total    14 

4 

1 

1 

20 

(*  No  records  for  March,  April,  May,  June  or  July.) 

The  seasonal  analysis  given  above  shows  that : — 

(a)  Some  of   the  Woodcock  bred  in  Scotland  and  the 

north  of  England  remain  in  their  native  districts 
throughout  the  winter. 

(b)  Others  are  recorded  from  Ireland  from  November 

to  February,  while  there  are  also  winter  records 
from  north-western  France  and  northern  Spain. 

(c)  There  is  an  absence  of  records  from  Great  Britain, 

other  than  from  within  a  few  miles  of  the  re- 
spective places  of  marking,  which  suggests  that 
the  individuals  are  either  definitely  sedentary  or 
definitely  migratory. 

Age  Analysis.  —  Sixteen  of  the  birds  referred  to  in 
Table  X.  were  recorded  in  their  first  winters,  and  four  in 
their  second ;  the  former  figure  includes  all  the  records 
showing  movement,  except  one  from  Ireland. 

Annual  Analysis. — The  different  types  of  record  are  well 
distributed  over  several  calendar  years. 


1921.]         Bird-Migration  hy  the  Marking  Method.  495 

Many  records  of:  this  species  are  available  from  other 
sources,  and  these  iuclude  several  curious  instances  of  winter 
movement  in  a  noitherly  direction,  A  bird  marked  as  a 
chick  in  Co.  Tyrone  was  recovered  in  its  first  winter  in 
Inverness-shire,  but  others  were  recorded  from  Cornwall 
and  from  Middlesex  in  their  second  winters  (7).  Birds 
marked  as  chicks  in  Northumberland  reached  Argyllshire 
and  Forfarshire  in  their  first  winters,  although  another  went 
to  Ireland  and  one  was  recorded  from  Brittany  in  its  third 
winter  (14).  Several  winter  records  from  the  places  of 
marking  were  also  obtained  during  each  of  these  investiga- 
tionso  Of  33  birds  marked  as  chicks  in  Co.  Sligo 
and  subsequently  recovered,  all,  except  one  from  Spain, 
were  reported  either  from  the  same  neighbourhood  or 
from  within  sixty  miles  at  most,  the  records  being  almost 
exclusively  for  the  winter  months  (6).  Witherby  (2G)  has 
also  a  number  of  records  for  this  species. 

IV.— HERRING-GULL  (Larus  argeiitatus  Pontopp.)  : 
ANALYSIS  OF  RECORDS. 

The  Herring-Gull  is  found  all  the  year  round  in  the 
British  Isles,  immature  birds  remaining  in  summer  in  many 
districts  where  no  suitable  breeding-places  exist.  By  purely 
observational  means  it  is  not  possible  to  determine  the  nature 
of  the  wandering  movements  that  appear  to  take  place  in 
winter. 

During  the  course  of  the  Inquiry,  461  birds  of  this  species 
were  marked,  375  of  them  in  the  northeast  of  Scotland. 
Of  the  latter,  289  were  marked  as  chicks,  and  8G  as  full- 
grown  birds  caught  on  the  shore  at  night  and  mainly  in 
September  and  October  1910,  and  it  is  these  two  categories 
which  have  provided  nearly  all  the  records.  The  two  sets  of 
reappearances  are  treated  separately  below,  as  they  reveal 
certain  differences  which  are  doubtless  due  to  one  category 
consisting  entirely  of  native  birds  while  the  other  may 
contain  at  least  a  proportion  of  winter  visitors. 


496 


Dr.  A.  L.  Tliomson  :  I^esults  of  a  Studt/  of       [Ibis, 


TABLE  XI. 

List  of  Reappearances  of  Herring-Gulls  marked  as  cuicks 
ON  THE  Aberdeenshire  coast. 


Season  of 
Marking. 

Case  No. 

Date  of 
Reappearance. 

Locality  of  Reappearance. 

f 

153 

-.  9.10 

Co.  Durham. 

89 

8.  9.10 

Lincolnshire. 

93 

13.  9.10 

Aberdeenshire. 

94 

1.10.10 

Lincolnshire, 

92 

3.10.10 

Norfolk. 

1910  ...     1 

101 

ca.  4.10.10 

Fifeshire. 

97 

ca.12.10.10 

Fifeshire. 

121 

ca.30.  1.11 
(released  7.3.11) 

Lancashire.    "| 

1.  8.13 

Nairnshire.     J 

. 

277 

26.11.11 

Co.  Durham. 

r 

254 

7.  9.11 

Yorkshire. 

1911  ...   J 

369 

14.  2.12 

Norfolk. 

I 

373 

19.11.12 

Yorkshire. 

, 

368 

ca.  29.  8.12 

Banffshire. 

1912  ...    . 

370 

9.  9.12 

Heligoland. 

372 

ca.  15.  9.12 

Aberdeenshire. 

- 

371 

30.  9.12 

Monmouthshire. 

TABLE  XII. 

Seasonal  Analysis  of  Reappearances  of  Herring-Gulls 
marked  as  chicks  on  the  aberdeenshire  coast. 


Aberdeen- 

1 
Durham  Lincoln- 

Lanca- 

Month. 

shire  and 

Fife- 

and 

shire 

shire  and 

Heligo- 

Total. 

Moray 

shire. 

York- 

and 

Monmouth- 

land. 

Firth. 

shire. 

Norfolk. 

shire. 

August    

2 







— 



2 

September  ... 

2 

— 

2 

1 

1 

1 

7 

October  

— 

2 

— 

2 

— 

— 

4 

November  ... 

— 

— 

2 

— 

— 

— 

2 

December  ... 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

January  

— 

— 

— 

— 

1 

— 

1 

February    . . . 

— 

— 

— 

1 

— 

— 

1 

Total    ... 

4 

2 

4 

4 

2 

1 

17* 

(*  Two  records  refer  to  the  same  bird  (Case  121).) 


1 92 1.]         Bird-Migration  hij  the  Markimj  Method. 


407 


The  age  analysis  shows  that  all  the  records  refer  to  the 
first  year  of  the  birds'  lives  with  the  exception  of  two  in 
the  second  year  (Co.  Durham  and  Yorkshire)  and  one 
in  the  fourth  year  (Moray  Firth).  The  annual  analysis 
merely  reflects  the  numbers  marked  in  the  different 
seasons. 

There  is  a  noteworthy  absence  of  any  winter  records  from 
the  district  of  mai-kinor,  althouoh  the  conditions  there  are 
favourable  and  the  species  gives  a  good  percentage  of  re- 
appearances. A  southward  wandering,  mainly  along  the 
east  coast  of  Great  Britain,  is  clearly  indicated,  and  one  bird 
is  shown  to  have  crossed  the  North  Sea  to  Heligoland  as 
early  as  9th  September  in  its  first  autumn. 

The  records  contrast  markedly  with  those  for  the  Lapwing 
and  the  Woodcock  in  revealing  no  gap  between  the  native 
district  and  a  comparatively  distnnt  winter  area.  This  may 
be  taken  as  an  expression  of  a  different  type  of  migration,  a 
gradual  dispersal  with  a  southerly  trend  rather  than  a 
definite  and  rapid  cliange  of  area. 


TABLE  XIII. 

List  op  Reappearances  of  Herring-Gulls  caught  on  the 
shore  at  night,  marked  and  released,  near  aberdeen,  in 
September  and  October  1910. 


Case  No. 

Date  of  Reappearance. 

Locality  of  Reappearance. 

104 

15.11.10 

Aberdeen. 

205 

20.  5.11 
(and  released) 

Burray,  Orkney.    T 

11.  1.13 

nr.  Aberdeen.         -' 

217 

26.  6.11 

Aberdeen. 

333 

7.  3.12 

Aberdeenshire. 

334 

6.  5.12 

Asaa,  east  coast  of 
Jutland,  Denmark. 

374 

27.  6.13 

Gera,  Thuringia,  Germany. 

375 

28.  4.14 

Caithness. 

408  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  l^esult.s  of  a  Slinhi  of       [Ibis, 


TABLE  XIV. 

Seasonal  Analysis  of  Eeappeaeances  of  Herring-Gulls 
caught  on  the  shore  at  night,  marked  and  released,  near 
Aberdeen,  September  and  October  1910. 


Month.         Aberdeenshire. 

Orkney  Islands 
and  Caithness, 

Denmark  and 
Germany. 

! 
Total. 

1 

November  ...|              1 
December  ...               — 

Janiiary 1 

February                      — 

March 1 

April   — 

May    — 

June    1 

1 

1 

1 
1 

1 

1 

1 
1 
2 

2 

Total    ...               4              '                2 

1 

2          ;      8* 

1 

(*  Two  records  refer  to  the  same  bird  (Case  205).) 

Of  the  above,  3  were  recovered  in  tiie  first  year  after 
niarking,  2  in  the  second,  2  in  the  ihird,  and  1  in  the  fourth. 

Although  the  number  of  records  is  not  great  it  is  sufKcient 
to  show  that  the  Herring-Gulls  found  on  the  Scottish  coast 
in  the  late  autumn  are  of  a  category  different  from  the  native 
birds,  thus  bearing  out  the  conclusion  that  most  of  the  latter 
move  southwards  in  winter.  The  differences  include  winter 
records  from  the  area  of  marking  and  summer  records  from 
farther  north  and  from  the  Continent.  Case  205  is  of 
sjjecial  interest  in  showing  that  the  bird  returned  to  the  same 
winter  area  after  having  been  to  the  Orkney  Islands  in  an 
intervening  summer. 

Taking  both  sets  of  data  together  it  seems  fair  to  conclude 
that  our  native  birds  tend  to  wander  ."southwards  in  winter, 
mainly  within  the  British  area,  and  that  Continental  birds 
appear  as  winter  visitors. 

In  addition  to  the  two  sets  of  records  dealt  with  above, 
Herring-Grulls  marked  as  chicks  in  1910  in  the  Lewis,  Outer 
Hebrides  (Case  112),  and  in  Berwickshire  ((^ase  232),  were 
recorded  from  the  same  localities  on  5.12.10  and  3.b.ll 
respectively. 


1 92 1.]         J3ird-Mir/)'ation  In/  the  Marhinq  Method. 


409 


v.— THE  BLACK-HEADED  GULL  {Lants  ridihundus  Linn.): 
ANALYSIS  OF  RECORDS. 

The  Black-headed  Gull  is  found  all  the  year  round  in  the 
British  Tsle.5,  and,  as  in  the  case  of  other  sea-hirds,  its 
migratory  movements  are  diflficult  to  distinguish.  During 
the  course  of  the  inquiry,  1,150  were  marked,  31G  of  them 
as  chicks  in  the  northeast  of  Scotland  and  294  as  chicks 
in  the  north  of  England.  The  reappearances  number  27 
in  all,  or  2*3  per  cent. 

Of  those  marked  as  chicks  in  the  northeast  of  Scotland, 
12  were  recovered  as  follows  : — 8  from  the  same  or  a  neigh- 
bouring district,  2  from  more  southerly  parts  of  Scotland, 
1  (Case  390)  from  Co.  Down,  Ireland,  and  1  (Case  116) 
from  near  Bayonne,  Basses-Pyrenees,  France. 

Of  birds  nuirked  as  chicks  in  central  Scotland,  4  were 
recovered  as  follows  : — 3  from  the  same  district  or  slightly 
to  the  south,  and  1  from  the  extreme  southwest  of 
Scotland. 

Of  those  marked  as  chicks  in  the  noi'th  of  England, 
10  were  recovered,  all  from  the  area  of  marking. 


TABLE  XV. 

Seasonal  Analysis  of  Reappearances  of  Black-headed  Gulls 
marked  as  chicks  in  scotland  and  the  north  of  england. 


Month  of 

Eeappear- 

ances  *. 

Great  Britain. 

Ireland. 

S.W. 

France. 

Total. 

In  or  near 
area  of 
marking-. 

Over  100  miles 

south  of  place  of 

marking. 

June       

July    

1 
3 
6 
6 
3 
1 

1 

1 
2 

1 

1 

1      1 

3 

C 

G 

4 

1 

1 

1 

3 

Aiigust  

September . . . 

October  

November  . . . 
December  ... 

January 

February   ... 

Total 

21 

3 

1 

1              26 

(*  No  records  for  March,  April,  or  May.) 


500  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  Besults  of  a  Study  of       [Tbis, 

0£  the  above,  22  reappeared  during  their  firsi  year, 
2  during  their  second,  1  in  its  third,  and  1  in  its  fourth. 

The  first  column  of  the  seasonal  analysis  indicates  that 
the  native  birds  decrease  in  numbers  in  winter  in  Scotland 
and  the  north  of  England,  and  there  is  indeed  no  evidence 
from  this  source  that  any  remain  throughout.  The  other 
columns  show  that  the  birds  may  reach  Ireland  and  south- 
western France. 

There  is  also  one  isolated  record  (Case  229)  of  a  bird 
marked  otherwise  than  as  a  nestling  ;  one  of  four  birds 
marked  at  nit^ht  on  the  shore  near  Aberdeen  on  3. 10. 10  was 
recovered  near  the  same  place  on  20.  7. 11. 

Witherby's  records  (2o)  include  a  Black-headed  GruU 
marked  in  Yorkshire  and  recovered  from  the  Azores  in  its 
first  winter,  and  another  marked  as  a  chick  in  Cumberland 
in  1910  and  reported  from  Aberdeenshire,  over  200  miles 
farther  north,  on  20.  2. 11.  The  species  has  also  been  studied 
by  Thienemann  (16),  birds  marked  as  chicks  at  Rossitten, 
at  the  south-eastern  corner  of  the  Baltic,  being  reported  in 
winter  as  far  afield  as  the  south  of  England,  the  Bay  of 
Biscay,  the  Balearic  Isles,  the  south  of  Italy,  and  Tunis. 

VI.— THE  MALLAllD  {Anas  bosohm  Linn.)  : 
ANALYSIS  OF  EECORDS. 

The  Mallard  is  found  all  th(?  year  round  in  the  British 
Isles,  but  it  is  known  to  be  a  winter  visitor  and  a  bird  of 
passage  as  well  as  a  resident,  and,  as  in  so  many  other 
cases,  the  first  problem  is  accordingly  the  separation  of 
the  movements  performed  by  the  native  and  innnigrant 
birds  respectively.  Birds  of  this  species  are  frequently 
hand-reared,  often  from  eggs  imported  from  other  districts, 
and  it  is  to  cases  of  this  kind  that  most  of  the  records 
refer. 

Many  hand-reared  ducklings  were  marked  at  Pitcaple 
Castle,  Aberdeenshire,  in  1910,  but  owing  to  the  loss  of 
some  of  the  notes  the  total  is  uncertain.  Of  these,  13  were 
recovered,  ten  of  them  in  the  same  district  (seven  on  the 


1 92 1.]       ■  Blrd-Migrat'wn  hj  the  ]\larhh}g  Method.  501 

same  estate)  during  their  first  winter,  one  in  the  same  district 
in  the  summer  o£  1912,  and  the  other  two  as  follows  : — 
Case  367  at  Gottriip,  Aalborg,  northern  Denmark,  on  \% 
July  1911,  and  Case  738  at  Osterley,  Upland,  Sweden 
(lib  km,  north  of  Upsala),  on  10  August  1913;  the 
former  was  described  as  a  mother  in  charge  of  a  large 
brood  of  ducklinos. 

Of  31  hand-reared  ducklings  marked  at  Dunecht  House, 
Aberdeenshire,  in  1911,  13  were  recovered  in  the  same 
district  (11  on  the  same  estate)  in  their  first  season 
(9  on  31  August,  2  in  November,  1  in  December,  atul 
1  in  January) .  Of  67  hand-reared  ducklings  marked  at 
the  same  place  in  1912,  38  were  recovered  in  Ihe  same 
district  (36  on  the  same  estate),  35  in  their  first  season 
(31  in  September  and  October,  2  in  November,  and  2 
in  December),  and  3  in  their  second  season  (1  in  June 
with  a  brood  of  young,  ]  in  October,  and  1  in  January). 
Of  11  marked  at  the  same  place  in  1913  none  was 
recovered.  Of  hand-reared  ducklings  marked  elsewhere 
in  Aberdeenshire,  3  were  recovered  in  the  same  district, 
1  of  them  in  its  first  season  and  2  in  their  second. 

At  Leiidenham  House,  Lincolnshire,  38  hand-reared  duck- 
lings were  marked  in  1912,  and  19  of  these  were  lecovered 
on  the  same  estate,  15  in  their  first  winter  and  4  in  their 
second.  In  1913,  28  were  marked  there,  and  2  of  these 
were  recovered  at  the  same  place  on  4  October  of  that 
year.  A  hand-reared  duckling  marked  in  Hampshire  was 
recovered  at  the  place  of  marking  in  its  first  winter. 

Of  birds  marked  as  wild  ducklings,  five  marked  in 
Aberdeenshire  (two),  Inverness-shire,  Berwickshire,  and  Co. 
Monaghan  res[)ectively  were  recovered  at  the  places  of 
marking  in  their  first  seasons  ;  and  one  marked  in  Aber- 
deenshire was  recovered  there  on  the  1st  of  August  of  its 
third  year. 

Bearing  in  mind  that  most  of  the  birds  referred  to  were 
hand-reared,  the  following  conclusions  may  be  drawn.  With 
two  exceptions  all  the  birds  were  recovered  at  or  very  near 


502  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  Results  of  a  Studij  of       [This, 

the  places  where  they  were  marked,  and  as  the  percentage  is 
very  high,  in  some  instances  over  fifty,  it  is  evident  that  the 
native  birds  are  resident  and  stationary  in  high  degree,  there 
being  no  evidence  ot*  even  local  movements. 

The  two  exceptions  are  o£  peculiar  interest,  for  in  each 
case  the  bird  was  found  in  a  totally  different  summer  area. 
This  fact  is  difficult  to  explain  in  view  of  the  normal  seden- 
tary habit  of  our  native  birds  as  shown  by  the  great  majority 
of  the  records,  and  it  accordingly  seems  likely  that  these 
cases  are  abnormal.  A  not  improbable  explanation  would 
be  that  the  birds  became  attached  to  a  company  of  winter 
visitors  of  the  species  and  were  so  led  to  perform  a  spring 
migration  to  a  new  breeding  area  across  the  North  Sea. 
Witherby  (26)  has  a  similar  record,  an  Essex  bred  bird 
having  been  reported  from  West  Prussia  in  its  second 
summer,  and  the  Sheld-duck  (c/.  Section  X.)  has  also 
afforded  instances  of  a  like  nature.  Witherby  has  only  one 
other  record  of  a  native  Mallard  which  shows  any  migratory 
movement,  as  against  fifty-three  wild  and  twenty-six  hand- 
reared  birds  recovered  at  home  ;  but  of  eight  birds  marked 
in  Wigtonshirc  in  winter,  one  was  reported  in  \Yinter  from 
the  north  of  Ireland  and  seven  in  summer  or  late  autumn 
from  Finland  and  Sweden. 

VII.— THE  STARLING  {Stimms  vulgaris  Linu.) : 
ANALYSIS  OF  RECORDS. 

The  movements  of  the  Starling  in  the  British  area,  as 
studied  by  other  methods,  have  already  been  fully  worked 
out  (rf.  Eagle  Clarke,  Report  Brit.  Assoc,  1903,  p.  291). 
Although  found  all  tlie  year  round  it  is  known,  both  as  an 
autumn  innnigrant  from  north-western  and  from  western 
and  central  Europe,  and  as  an  emigrant  to  the  south  at  the 
same  season:  late  "  weather  movements^' in  severe  winters 
also  occur,  including  renewed  emigration.  The  corre- 
sponding I'everse  movements  may  be  observed  in  spring. 
The  first  problem  is  accordingly  once  more  the  separation 


1 92 1.]        Bird-Migration  hy  the  Marking  MetJiod.  503 

of    native    birds    from    the    winter    visitors   and    birds   of 
passage. 

The  data  available  as  the  result  of  this  inquiry  fall  under 
the  following  heads  : — Birds  marked  as  nestlings,  birds 
caught  and  marked  in  summer,  birds  caught  and  marked  in 
winter,  and  birds  caught  and  marked  on  migration  at  light- 
houses. The  first  two  categories  consist  of  obviously  native 
birds,  the  third  of  a  mixture  of  native  birds  and  winter 
visitors,  as  will  be  seen,  and  the  fourth  either  of  a  similar 
mixture  or  entirely  of  winter  visitors  and  birds  of  passage. 
The  four  groups  have  accordingly  been  analysed  separately, 
the  first  two  being  afterwards  discussed  in  conjunction. 


TABLE  XVI. 

Numbers  of  Starlings  Marked  axd  Kecovered. 


How  marked. 

Numbers  marked. 

Numbers  recovered 

(by  categories  of 

marking). 

As  nestlings    

877 

76 

732 

215 

15 
7  ' 
36 

4 

Caught  in  summer 

Caught  in  winter    

Caught    at   lighthouses    on 
migration     

Total 

1,900                                          fi5! 

The  percentage  of  birds  recovered,  calculated  on  the  total, 
is  thus  3'3.  As  the  numbers  of  this  species  marked  are 
relatively  large,  the  higher  proportion  of  reappearances 
among  birds  which  were  caught  for  marking,  as  compared 
with  those  marked  as  nestlings,  is  at  first  sight  rather 
striking  ;  the  records  of  the  caught  birds,  however,  are  to  a 
large  extent  due  to  the  trapping  activities  of  the  markers  at 
particular  places,  and  the  number  of  reappearances  has  thus 
become  inflated. 

SER.  XI. — VOL.  III.  2  L 


504  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  Results  of  a  Study  of       [Ibi 

TABLE  XVII. 

Summary  of  Reappearances  of  Starlings  marked  as 

NESTLINGS  IN  GrEAT  BRITAIN. 


Eeported  from  near  place  of  marking  (maximum  distance  25  miles). 

Numbers  reported. 

Season  of  reappearance. 

4 
3 
1 
2 
3 
1 

Summer  of  marking. 
First  winter. 
Second  summer. 
Second  winter. 
Third  summer. 
Fourth  summer. 

Reported  at  a  distance  from  place  of  marking. 

Case  457  :  Marked  at  Beaulieu,  Hampshire,  on  19.5.13  ; 
shot  at  Porthleven,  Cornwall,  on  17.1.14. 

Of  Starlings  caught  and  marked  in  summer  in  Great 
Britain  otherwise  than  as  nestlings,  three  reappeared  in  the 
summer  of  marking,  three  in  their  first  winter,  and  one  in 
its  second  summer,  in  every  case  at  or  near  the  place  of 
marking. 

Taking  these  latter  records  and  those  summarised  in 
Table  XVII.,  it  is  at  once  evident  that  at  least  some  of  the 
native  Starlings  are  stationary  and  that  there  is  little 
evidence  of  even  local  movements  of  more  than  a  few  miles. 
In  one  case,  only,  a  journey  of  about  130  miles  was  per- 
formed. The  number  of  birds  marked  seems  sufficiently 
high,  and  the  chance  of  recoveries  being  reported  sufficiently 
good,  for  the  absence  of  other  records  to  be  regarded  as 
significant. 


1 92 1.]        Bird-Migration  hy  the  Marking  Method.  505 

TABLE  X\^III. 

Summary  of  Eeappearances  of  Starlings  caught  and 

MARKED  IN  WINTER  IN  GrEAT  BrITAIN. 


Reported  from  near  place  of  marking. 

*  Numbers  reported. 

Season  of  reappearance. 

7 
10 
1 
7 
1 
3 
1 
1 

Same  winter. 

First  summer. 

Same  winter  and  again  in  second  winter. 

Second  winter. 

Second  winter  and  again  in  second  summer. 

Third  winter. 

Fourth  winter. 

Fourth  summer. 

Reported  at  a  distance  from  place  of  marking. 

Case  308  :  Marked  at  North  Berwick,  East  Lothian,  on  24.12.10  ; 

caught  at  Hartlepool,  Co.  Durham,  on  6.2.12. 
Case  218  :  Marked  at  Edinburgh  on  20.3.11 ; 

killed  at  Saltdalen,  Arctic  Norway,  on  20.4.11. 
Case  246 :  Marked  at  Aberdeen  on  20.1.10  ; 

found  dead  at  Kvarvi  Salten,  Arctic  Norway,  about  20.8.11. 
Case  455  :  Marked  at  Edinburgh  on  18.3.11  ; 

caught    (believed   to   be   nesting)   at   Vaardalsoren,   Nord- 
Trondhjem,  Norway,  on  5.4.13. 
Case  459  :  Marked  at  Edinburgh  on  10.2.11  ; 

caught  near  Christiania,  Norway,  on  11.3.14. 

(*  Each  individual  counted  once  only.) 

The  records  given  in  Table  XVIII.  include  instances  of 
birds  caught  in  winter  and  recovered  at  the  same  places  in 
summer,  thus  affording  further  evidence  of  the  stationary 
habit  of  the  native  birds.  The  records  of  birds  recovered  in 
winter,  including  the  one  case  showing  movement,  are  not 
significant,  as  it  is  impossible  to  say  whether  the  birds  were 
resident  individuals  or  winter  visitors. 

2l2 


506  Dr.  A.  L.Thomf^on  :  Eesidfs  of  a  Studi/ of       [Ibis, 

The  four  cases  of  birds  recovered  in  Norway,  three  of 
them  from  the  part  of  that  country  lying  near  the  Arctic 
Circle,  serve  to  indicate  the  summer  quarters  of  at  least 
some  of  the  birds  which  reach  the  British  Isles  in  winter. 

Finally  there  are  the  following  reappearance  records  of 
Starlings  which  were  marked  on  migration  at  British  light- 
houses : — 

Case  458 :  Marked  at  night  at  the  lighthouse,  Isle  of  May,  Firth  of 
Forth,  on  12.10.13  ; 
killed  near  Omerbane,  Co.  Antrim,  Ireland,  on  29.1.14. 
Case  456:  Marked  at  night  at  St.  Catherine's  Lighthouse,  Isle  of  Wight, 
on  23.11.13; 
killed  at  St,  Andrew's,  Guernsey,  on  6.1.14. 
Case  822  :  Marked  at  night  at  St.  Catherine's  Lighthouse,  Isle  of  Wight, 
on  13.3.15 ; 
caught  near  Walsall,  Staffordshire,  on  25.12.16. 
Case  452 :  Marked  at  night  at  the  Skerries  Lighthouse,  oft'  Anglesey, 
North  Wales,  on  23.10.12; 
caught  at  Svendborg,  Denmark,  about  10.5.14. 

Of  these  records,  Case  452  was  obviously  a  winter  visitor 
and  Case  458  not  improbably  the  same  ;  the  other  two  may 
have  been  native  birds,  but  in  view  of  the  conclusions 
already  suggested  it  is  of  interest  that  in  all  the  instances  of 
this  kind  there  is  at  least  a  possibility  that  the  subjects  were 
winter  immigrants. 

Witherby  (26)  has  a  number  of  records  not  yet  published 
in  collected  form,  and  the  species  has  also  been  largely 
studied  by  Mortensen  (9,  11,  12). 

VIII.— THE  SONG-THRUSH  (Tiirdns  musicus  Linn.) : 
ANALYSIS  OF  EECORDS. 

The  very  complex  movements  of  this  species  have  been 
fully  worked  out  by  other  methods  ((_•/.  Eagle  Clarke, 
Report  Brit.  Assoc,  1900,  p.  404  ;  also  B.  0.  C.  Migration 
Reports),  and  it  is  known  that  different  individuals  may  be 
respectively  residents,  summer  visitors,  winter  visitors,  or 
birds  of  passage.     Most  of  the  records  here  available  refer 


1 92 1.]         Bird-Migration  hij  the  AlarUng  Method.  507 

to  undoubted  native  birds,  only  a  comparatively  small 
number  having  been  marked  in  winter.  The  total  number 
marked  was  3,770,  the  highest  figure  in  the  inquiry  for  any 
one  species,  and  the  total  number  recovered  was  52,  or  1-4: 
per  cent. 

TABLE  XIX. 

Seasonal  Analysis  of  Reappeabances  of  Song-Thrushes 

marked  as  nestlings  in  scotland  or  the  north 

OF  England. 


Month  of 
Reappearance. 

Tear  of  bird's  life  in  which  reappearance  occurred, 
and  locality  of  reappearance. 

Total. 

First  year. 

.  Second  year. 

Subsequent 
years. 

May    

— 

1    at  place    of 

marking. 
1    at   Dlace    of 

(Sixth  year) 
1   at  place   of 
marking. 

(Third  year) 
1  at   place   of 
marking. 

(Ninth  year) 
1    at  place   of 
marking. 

1 
1 
13 
6 
3 

1 

1 

3 
1 
1 
3 

June    

July    

marking. 
11  near  places  of  |  2  at  places  of 

marking-.                    marking'. 
6   near  places  of               — 

August  

September 

October  

November  

December  

January  

marking. 

1   at   place   of 

marking. 

1  in  Portugal. 

1       forty      miles 
south  of  place 
of  marking. 

1  in  Sussex. 

1    at   the   Eddy- 
stone     Light- 
house. 

1     at     place     of 
marking. 

1    at    place    of 
marking. 

1  at   place   of 
marking. 

2  near    places 
of  marking. 

February    

March     

April  

Total 

23 

8 

3 

34 

508  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  Besults  of  a  Study  of       [Ibis, 

The  following  fuller  particulars  o£  certain  cases  included 
above  may  be  added  : — 

Case  102  :  Marked  as  a  nestling  in  Aberdeenshire  on  4.6.10 ; 

shot  70  miles  north  of  Lisbon  on  6.11.10. 
Case  613 :  Marked  as  a  nestling  in  Aberdeenshire  on  10.6.11 ; 

found  dead  at  Arundel,  west  Sussex,  end  of  January  1912, 
Case  596  :  Marked  as  a  nestling  in  Aberdeenshire  on  19.5.13  ; 

recovered  at  the  Eddj'stone  Lighthouse,  in  company  with 
other  birds,  on  the  night  27/28.2.14. 
Case  922 :  Marked   as   a   nestling   on    the   Isle   of  May,  Fifeshire,   on 
20.5.11  and  found  dead  at  the  same  place  in  March  1920 — 
nearly  nine  years  later. 

Of  Song-Thrushes  marked  as  nestlings  at  Beaulieu, 
Hampshire,  in  April  1912,  one  (Case  617)  was  canght  at 
Bridgewater,  Somerset,  on  2. 11. 12,  and  one  (Case  597) 
was  recovered  at  St.  Catherine's  Lighthouse,  Isle  of 
Wight,  on  the  night  9/10. 2. 13.  Three  birds  marked  as 
nestlings  at  Dawlish,  Devon,  were  recovered  at  the  same 
place  in  winter,  two  in  their  first  year  and  one  in  its 
second. 

Thirteen  Song-Thrushes  marked  in  Great  Britain  other- 
wise than  as  nestlings  were  recovered,  all  at  the  places  of 
marking.  Two  of  these  had  been  marked  in  summer  and 
reappeared  respectively  in  the  summer  of  the  fourth  year 
and  in  the  winter  of  the  first.  Of  the  remainder,  all 
marked  in  winter,  two  i-eappeared  in  summer,  four  in  the 
winter  of  marking,  four  in  subsequent  winters,  and  one  was 
recorded  six  times  in  all  during  the  following  summer  and 
winter. 

The  data  given  above  suffice  to  show  that  some  of  the 
British  native  Song-Thrushes  (belonging  to  the  race  Turdus 
musicus  clarkii  Hartert)  are  resident,  while  others  are 
summer  visitors.  The  number  of  positive  records  showing 
migration  is  not  large,  but  the  scarcity  of  winter  records 
from  the  area  of  marking,  in  the  case  of  birds  marked  in 
summer,  may  perhaps  be  taken  as  evidence  of  a  negative 
kind  in  support  of  the  same  conclusion. 


1 92 1.]        Bird-Migration  by  the  Marking  Method.  509 

Witherby^s  records  [20))  include  a  Song-Thrush  which 
migrated  from  Yorkshire  to  the  north  of  France,  and 
another  which  travelled  from  Westmorland  to  Co.  Clare, 
Ireland. 

IX.— THE  HEDGE-SPARROW  {Accentor  modularls  Linn.)  : 
ANALYSIS  OF  RECORDS. 

The  total  number  of  birds  of  this  species  which  were 
marked  is  898,  and  'oQ  of  these,  or  7*3  per  cent.,  were 
recovered.  A  further  analysis  of  these  figures,  however, 
reveals  a  striking  fact  which  must  be  borne  in  mind  when 
considering  the  results  :  of  142  marked  at  East  Warriston, 
Edinburgh,  42,  or  29*6  per  cent.,  were  recovered,  many  of 
them  several  times  ;  of  131  marked  at  Beaulieu,  Hampshire, 
17,  or  13*0  per  cent.,  were  recovered ;  and  of  the  625 
marked  elsewhere,  7,  or  only  1"1  per  cent.,  were  recovered. 
The  records  for  the  East  Warriston  and  Beaulieu  birds  are 
largely  accounted  for  by  the  continued  trapping  activities  of 
the  markers  at  these  places,  especially  at  the  former,  and 
the  small  chances  of  a  bird  beiug  recorded  through  any 
other  agency  make  it  quite  impossible  to  lay  stress  on 
such  negative  evidence  as  the  absence  of  records  from 
places  other  than  those  of  marking.  Similar  considerations 
apply  to  certain  of  the  species  more  briefly  discussed 
in  Section  X.,  notably  the  Greenfinch,  the  House- Sparrow, 
the  Great  Titmouse,  the  Blue  Titmouse,  and  the  Red- 
breast. 

All  the  records  obtained  refer  to  birds  recaptured  at  the 
places  of  marking,  and  the  seasons  of  reappearance  are 
shown  in  the  following  table  :  the  records  for  Scotland  form 
the  majority,  but  those  for  England  are  given  in  the  same 
table  as  no  differences  are  apparent. 

It  may  be  concluded  that  at  least  some  of  the  native 
Hedge-Sparrows  are  absolutely  sedentary,  but  it  has  already 
been  pointed  out  that  the  absence  of  records  showing  move- 
ment on  the  part  of  other  individuals  may  be  without  real 
signiHcance.     (It  maj'  be  added  that  the  ordinary  observer 


510  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  Results  of  a  Study  of       [Ibis, 


TABLE  XX. 

Summary  of  Records  of  Hedge-Sparroavs  marked  ix  Great 
Britain  and  recovered  at  the  places  of  marking. 


How  marked. 

Season  of  reappearance. 

*Numbers 
recovered. 

r 

As  nestlings < 

V. 

1 

Same  summer  only 

1 

1 
3 
1 

1 

Same  summer  and  1  st  winter  

1st  winter    

2nd  summer    

5th  summer     

Total 

7 

i             f 

Caught  and  marked 
in  summer.          1 

L 

Same  summer  only 

Same  summer  and  1  st  winter  

2 

2 

Same    summer,    1st    winter,    and    2nd 
summer    

1 

1st  winter    

3 

Total 

8 

( 

Caught  and  marked 
in  winter. 

] 
Same  winter  only    

28 
2 
2 
2 
1 
2 
9 
1 
1 
3 

Same  winter  and  1  st  summer   

Same  and  2nd  winters    

Same,  2nd,  and  3rd  winters  

Same  and  3rd  winters     

1st  Slimmer 

2nd  winter  

2nd  and  3rd  winters  

1  2nd  summer    

3rd  winter   

'                           Total 

51 

(*  Each  individual  counted  once  only.) 


cannot  be  expected  to  distinguish  between  the  resident 
British  race  and  the  Continental  race  which  is  known  as  a 
miorant  in  the  British  Isles.) 


192 1.]        Bird-Migration  hy  the  Marking  Method.  511 

X.— SUMMARY  OF  RECORDS  OF  OTHER  SPECIES. 

SWALLOW  (Hirundo  rustica  Linn.). 
There  are  three  records  of  birds  of  this  typically  migratory 
species  returning  to  the  localities  of  marking  in  the  following- 
seasons.    Two  were  marked  as  nestlings  and  one  as  an  adult, 
the  details  being  as  follows  : — 

Case  15 :  Caught,  marked,  and  released  as  an  adult  bird  at  a  farm  in 
Kent  on  29  June,  1909;  recaught  at  the  same  farm  on 
14  June,  1910. 

Case  201 :  Marked  as  a  nestling  in  Kincardineshire  on  21  August, 
1910;  found  with  a  broken  wing  in  the  same  village 
on  22  May,  1911. 

Case  483 :  Marked  as  a  nestling  at  Beaulieu,  Hampshire,  on  6  Sep- 
tember, 1912;  caught  in  an  outhouse,  where  it  was 
believed  to  be  nesting,  at  Ringwood,  Hampshire,  about 
eighteen  miles  from  its  birthplace,  on  2  May,  1913. 

There  are  also  two  records  of  birds  marked  as  nestlings 
being  recorded  from  the  places  of  marking  in  their  first 
season  :  in  one  instance  ((Jase  871)  the  date  of  recovery  was 
as  late  as  the  30th  of  October. 

It  would  be  of  special  interest  to  compare  the  winter- 
quarters  of  British-bred  Swallows  with  those  of  Swallows 
from  other  countries,  in  view  of  the  statement  made  by 
Hartert  (Vog.  der  palaarkt.  Fauna,  i.  p.  801)  that  "  doubt- 
less the  most  northerly  dwellers  migrate  further  south 
while  the  breeding  birds  of  the  Atlas  Mountain  region 
probably  go  only  to  the  oases  of  the  Sahara  for  the  winter." 
Unfortunately  the  proportion  of  records  of  value  must 
always  be  very  small,  although  Witherby  (26)  has  had  three 
marked  Swallows  of  British  origin  reported  to  him  from 
South  Africa, 

GREENFINCH  (Chloris  Moris  Linn.). 
The  only  record  revealing  any   movement  is  of   a   bird 
(Case   311)    caught  and   marked    at  Inverurie,    Aberdeen- 
shire,   on    23    August,  1910,    and     recaught    at    Melvich, 
Sutherland,    about     12    February,    1912.     The    remaining 


512  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  Resxdts  of  a  Studi/  of      [Ibis, 

forty-four  recorded  birds  all  reappeared  at  the  places 
where  they  were  marked,  or  at  most  two  or  three  miles 
distant. 

Of  three  birds  marked  in  Scotland  in  summer,  one  marked 
as  an  adult  and  one  as  a  nestling  were  recovered  in  the 
following-  winter,  and  one  marked  as  a  nestling  was  recovered 
in  summer  two  years  later.  Of  birds  caught  and  marked  in 
Edinburgh  during  the  period  December-March,  in  various 
calendar  years,  twenty-eight  reappeared  in  the  same  winter, 
four  in  their  first  spring  (April),  and  six  in  the  following 
winter.  In  several  instances  the  birds  were  recorded  more 
than  once.  There  are  also  three  other  isolated  records  of 
little  interest. 

As  most  of  the  birds  were  marked  in  winter  the  results 
recorded  above  do  little  to  help  to  differentiate  the  native 
birds  from  those  that  are  winter  visitors  from  the  Continent. 

GOLDFINCH  {Carduelis  carduelis  Linn.). 
One    (Case    847)    marked   as    a    nestling    near    Dawlish, 
Devonshire,    on    5    August,    1913,   was  found   dead  at  the 
same  place  on  4  February,  1915. 

CHAFFINCH  {Fringilla  ccelebs  Linn.). 

All  the  reappearances  of  marked  birds  of  this  species 
refer  to  the  respective  localities  of  marking,  in  most  cases 
actually  to  the  same  gardens.  One  bird  caught  and  marked 
in  summer  in  Argyllshire  was  recovered  in  the  third  winter ; 
one  marked  as  a  nestling  in  Kincardineshire  was  recovered 
in  the  same  summer  :  one  marked  as  a  nestlint;:  in  Devon 
was  recovered  in  the  following  summer ;  one  marked  as  a 
nestling  in  Hampshire  reappeared  four  times  in  its  first 
winter  ;  and  one  caught  and  marked  in  Hampshire  in 
summer  reappeared  once  in  the  second  winter  and  twice  in 
the  third. 

Of  birds  caught  and  marked  in  Hampshire  in  winter,  three 
reappeared  there  in  the  same  winter  and  six  in  the  folio  wing- 
one  :  one  of  the  latter  also  reappeared  in  September  nearly 
four  years  after  the  date  of  its  marking.  One  of  these  birds 
reappeared  no  less  than  seven  times  during  a  single  season. 


1 92 1.]        Bird-Migration  hy  the  Marking  Metliod.  513 

Although  all  the  birds  marked  in  winter  were,  with  one 
exception,  recorded  again  only  from  October  to  March,  this 
may  well  be  attributed  to  the  netting  activities  of  the  marker 
at  that  time  of  year.  Two  birds  caught  and  marked  in 
Aberdeenshire  in  winter  were  recovered  in  the  following 
winter,  and  one  marked  early  in  March  reappeared  six  weeks 
later. 

HOUSE-SPAEEOW  (Passer  domesticus  Linn.). 
Seventy-one  marked  birds  of  this  species  were  recovered, 
all  of  them  at  the  places  where  they  were  marked,  which 
were  for  the  most  part  in  Scotland  although  several  records 
refer  to  Hampshire.  Most  of  the  birds  were  caught  and 
marked  in  winter  and  recovered  in  the  same  season  of  the 
year,  but  there  is  a  good  proportion  of  records  of  birds 
marked  in  wint^'  and  recovered  in  summer  and  vice  versa. 
The  longest  interval  was  three  and  a  half  years.  The  records 
tend  to  bear  out  the  supposition  that  the  species  is  practi- 
cally sedentary  despite  its  occasional  appearance  at  light- 
stations. 

GEEAT  TITMOUSE  {Parus  major  Linn.). 

All  the  reappearances  of  marked  birds  of  this  species  refer 
to  the  places  of  marking,  usually  to  the  identical  gardens. 
One  bird  marked  as  a  nestling  in  Aberdeenshire  was  re- 
covered in  the  following  winter  ;  two  birds  marked  in  Bute 
in  spring  were  recovered  in  their  first  and  fourth  winters 
respectively. 

Twenty-eight  birds  caught  and  marked  in  Scotland  (two 
localities  in  Aberdeenshire  and  one  in  Mid-Lothian)  in  winter, 
were  recovered  as  follows : — sixteen  during  the  same  winter, 
one  in  the  first  summer,  five  in  the  second  winter,  one  in  the 
second  winter  and  second  sunnner,  one  in  the  second  summer, 
two  in  the  second  and  third  winters,  and  two  in  the  third 
winter  only.  One  bird  caught  and  marked  in  Hampshire 
was  recovered  five  times  during  the  following  winter.  The 
preponderance  of  winter  reappearances  is  doubtless  largely 
due  to  the  netting  activities  of  the  markers  at  that  season, 
most  of  the  records  coming  from  that  source. 


514  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  Besults  of  a  Shul!/  of       [Ibis, 

BLUE  TITMOUSE  {Parus  cxrule^is  lann.). 

A  total  of  653  birds  was  marked,  of  which  70,  or 
10'7  per  cent.,  reappeared.  All  the  birds  were  recovered 
at  the  places  of  marking,  and  in  nearly  every  case  owing 
to  the  trapping  activities  of  the  markers.  The  figures 
for  the  species  indeed  illustrate  exceedingly  well  the  point 
already  brought  out  in  the  case  of  the  Hedge-Sparrow 
(c/.  Section  IX.).  Of  41  caught  and  marked  in  winter 
at  Old  Aberdeen,  37,  or  90" 2  per  cent.,  wer^  recovered; 
of  15  caught  and  marked  in  winter  at  East  Warriston, 
Edinburgh,  8,  or  53'3  per  cent.,  were  recovered;  of  43 
caught  and  marked  in  winter  at  Beaulieu,  Hampsliire,  19, 
or  44*2  per  cent.,  were  recovered  ;  while  of  554  marked 
otherwise  than  under  these  conditions — mainly  in  summer — ■ 
6,  or  only  1*1  per  cent.,  reappeared. 

In  all,  GG  birds  marked  in  winter  reappeared  in  winter, 
in  some  cases  as  late  as  the  third  year,  and  three  marked 
as  nestlings  and  one  caught  and  marked  in  summer  also 
reappeared  in  winter.  Individual  birds  Avere  frequently 
recovered  many  times,  in  one  instance  on  eleven  separate 
occasions.     All  the  records  refer  to  Great  Britain. 

MISTLE-THEUSH  (Turdus  viscivorns  Linn.). 
One    (Case    619)  marked    near   York  as    a  nestling  was 
recovered   in  the   same  district  in   December  of   the   same 
year. 

BLACKBIRD  {Turdus  merula  Linn.). 
During  the  course  of  the  inquiry  2,641  Blackbirds  were 
marked  and  68  were  recovered,  making  2'6  per  cent.  The 
only  instance  of  migratory  movement  is  Case  278,  which  was 
marked  as  a  nestling  in  Aberdeenshire  on  12.6.11  and  found 
dead  near  Gateshead,  Co.  Durham,  on  7.11.11.  All  the 
other  records  refer  to  birds  recovered  at  or  near  the  places  of 
marking,  including  a  few  from  distances  up  to  about  thirty 
miles.  Of  birds  marked  in  Great  Britain  as  nestlings, 
thirty-one  were  thus  recovered,  thirteen  of  them  during  the 


1 92 1.]         Bird-Migration  hij  the  Afarking  Method.  515 

Slimmer  o£  marking,  seven  oF  them  in  subsequent  summers, 
ten  of  them  in  subsequent  winters,  and  the  remaining  one 
in  its  first  winter  :ind  again  in  its  second  summer.  Of  birds 
marked  in  Great  Britain  otherwise  than  as  nestlings,  sixteen 
that  were  marked  in  summer  and  nineteen  that  were  marked 
in  winter  reappeared,  and  the  records  show  a  similar  even 
distribution  between  subsequent  summers  and  winters  as  in 
the  case  of  those  marked  as  nestlings.  One  bird  caught 
and  marked  in  Ireland  in  winter  was  recovered  at  the  place 
of  marking  in  its  fourth  winter. 

These  records  show  that  at  least  some  of  the  native 
Blackbirds  are  resident  and  stationary,  and  there  is  indeed 
only  one  case  giving  evidence  of  appreciable  movement. 
Witherby^s  records  (26)  include  a  Blackbird  marked  in 
Dumfries-shire  and  recovered  in  Co.  Down,  Ireland,  in  its 
second  winter. 

EEDBREAST  {Erithacus  rubecula  Linn.). 

Of  the  1,206  birds  marked,  61,  or  5*1  per  cent.,  were 
recovered — all  of  them  at  the  places  of  marking  and  indeed 
very  frequently  in  the  identical  gardens.  In  many  instances 
individual  birds  were  i*ec;iptured  several  times.  Of  eighteen 
birds  marked  in  Great  Britain  in  summer,  as  nestlings  or 
otherwise,  one  was  recovered  in  the  same  summer,  three  in 
subsequent  summers,  and  fourteen  in  winter.  Of  forty-two 
marked  in  Great  Britain  in  winter,  twenty-six  were  re- 
covered in  the  winter  of  marking,  thirteen  in  subsequent 
winters,  and  three  in  summer.  There  is  also  one  Irish  record 
of  no  interest. 

The  records  show  that  at  least  some  of  the  native  Red- 
breasts are  absolutely  sedentary.  There  is  no  evidence  of 
even  local  movements,  but  much  stress  cannot  be  laid  on  the 
absence  of  records,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  chances  of  a 
bird  of  this  species  reappearing  seem  to  be  very  small  apart 
from  the  marker's  own  recaptures.  Figures  illustrating 
this  point  have  already  been  given  for  the  Hedge-Sparrow 
and  the  Blue  Titmouse,  to  which  similar  considei'ations 
apply. 


516  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  Results  of  a  Study  of       [Ibis, 

SPOTTED  FLYCATCHEE  {M\i,scica'pa  grisola  Linn.). 
Two  adult  birds  (Cases  484  and  485)  caught  on  their  nests 
near  Edinburgh  were  recaught  at  the  same  place  a  year 
later.  As  this  species  is  completely  absent  from  the  British 
Isles  in  winter  the  records  are  of  some  interest  as  evidence 
of  migrants  returning  to  the  same  breediug-places. 

MEADOW-PIPIT  {Anthus  pmtensis  Linn.). 

One  (Case  275),  considered  by  the  marker  to  be  a  male  of 
the  year,  was  caught,  marked  and  released  near  Bromford, 
Warwickshire,  on  20  September,  1911,  and  was  shot  near 
Lisbon,  Portugal,  about  7  December  of  the  same  year. 

Witherby  (26)  has  three  records  of  British-bred  Meadow- 
Pipits  from  south-western  France,  one  from  Portugal, 
and  no  winter  records  from  the  British  Isles.  (The  species 
is  found  all  the  year  round  in  the  British  Isles,  but  is  known 
in  autumn  both  as  an  immigrant  and  as  an  emigrant.) 

SWIFT  {Apus  apus  Linn.). 
An  adult  (Case  919)   caught  and  marked  in  its  nesting- 
hole  in  Ayrshire  on  11.  6. 14,  was  recaught  at  the  same  place 
on  5.  6. 18. 

CUCKOO  (Cuculus  canonis  Linn.). 

One  (Case  251)  marked  as  a  nestling  near  Newark, 
Nottinghamshire,  on  30  June,  1911,  was  shot  on  the  Sea 
Bank  at  Boston,  Lincolnshire,  on  2  September  of  the  same 
year. 

BARN-OWL  (Flammea  flammea  Linn.). 
Two    nestlings   of  the   same  brood   (Cases  453  and  454) 
marked  in  Staffordshire  on  22  July,  1913,  were  recovered 
in  the  same  district  about  6  January  and  4  March,  1914, 
respectively. 

HERON  {Ardea  purpurea  Linn.). 
Three  marked  as  nestlings,  in  Aberdeenshire,  Dumbarton- 
shire, and   Yorkshire    respectively,   were  recovered  within 
short  distances  of  the  places  of  marking  during  either  their 
first  or  second  winters. 


1 92 1.]         Bird~Mig ration  hy  the  Marlang  Method.  517 

Mortensen  (11)  has  found  this  species  highly  migratory, 
Danish-bred  birds  reaching  southern  England,  Brittany,  and 
southern  Spain. 

SHELD-DUCK  {Tadorna  tadorna  Linn.). 

Of  a  brood  of  ducklings  marked  in  Hampshire  on 
16  July,  1912,  the  following  reappeared  : — 

Case  447  :         10  Feb.    1913,  Saltash,  Cornwall. 

Case  448  :  ca.  12  Aug.  1913,  Biisum,  Schleswig-Holstein, 

Gei'many. 
Case  906  :         18  Aug.  1917,  Mouth  of  the  Weser,  Germany. 

The  eastward  wandering  in  two  cases  is  curious  and 
suggests  that  of  the  two  Mallards  previously  referred  to  in 
Section  VI.  :  the  explanation  already  put  forward  might 
also  apply  here,  although  in  the  absence  of  other  records  one 
cannot  be  so  certain  that  these  are  exceptional  instances. 

TEAL  (Querqnedula  crecca  Linn.). 

One  (Case  446)  marked  as  a  duckling  in  Inverness-shire 
on  29  May,  1912,  was  shot  in  County  Waterford,  Ireland,  on 
5  February,  1914.     The  only  other  record  is  of  no  interest. 

Teal  marked  in  Denmark  by  Mortensen  (10),  having  been 
caught  in  decoys  on  autumn  passage,  have  been  recovei'ed  in 
Holland,  England,  Ireland,  and  France,  and  in  southern 
Spain  and  northern  Italy. 

WIGEON  {Mareca  peneloiie  Linn.). 

Of  a  brood  of  five  ducklings  marked  in  the  east  of  Suther- 
land, Scotland^  on  19  June,  1909,  the  following  were 
recorded  : — 

Case      4:         3  Sept.  1909,  Ulrum,  Grouingen,  Holland. 
Case  118  :  ca.  2  Jan.    1911,  River  Trent,  Nottinghamshire. 

The  species  is  chiefly  known  in  the  British  Isles  as  a 
winter  visitor  or  bird  of  passage,  and  this  slight  evidence  of 
movement  on  the  part  of  native  birds  is  of  some  interest. 

WOOD-PIGEON  {Columha  palmnhus  Linn.). 
Twelve    birds    marked    as    nestlings    in  various    parts    of 
Scotland   were    subsequently    recorded,    ten    of    them    from 


518  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :   Residts  of  a  Study  of       [Ibis, 

within  a  few  miles  o£  the  places  of  marking.  Of  these  ten 
records,  four  refer  to  the  summer  of  marking,  two  to  the 
following  winter  (February  and  March),  three  to  subsequent 
summers  (after  1,  2,  and  3  years  respectively),  and  one  to 
the  bird's  third  winter  (February).  The  remaining  cases 
exhibit  movement  : — 

Case  440  :  Marked  as  a  nestling  at  Inverurie,  Aberdeenshire,  on 
5  June,  1913 ; 
shot  near  Montrose,  Forfarshire,  in  November  of  the 
same  year. 
Case  441  :  Marked  as   a  nestling  at  Beith,  Ayrshire,  on  27  May, 
1913; 
shot  at  Shifnal,  Shropshire,  on  23  January,  1914. 

The  species  is  both  a  resident  in  the  British  Isles  and  a 
winter  visitor  in  very  variable  numbers  :  the  local  movements 
of  the  two  categories  are  not  distinguishable  by  other  methods 
than  that  of  marking. 

GOLDEN  PLOVER  {Charadrius  apricarius  Linn.). 

One  (Case  263)  marked  as  a  chick  in  Inverness-shire  on 
21  May,  1911,  was  shot  in  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  about 
13  October  of  the  same  year. 

EINGED  PLOVER  {Mgialitis  hiaticula  Linn.). 

One  (Case  825)  marked  as  a  chick  in  East  Lothian  was 
recovered  in  the  same  district  after  four  years  and  eight 
months. 

DUNLIN  (Ti-inrja  alpina  Linn.). 

One  (Case  411)  marked  as  an  adult  caught  on  its  nest  on 
the  Pentland  Skerries,  Orkney  Islands,  was  recovered  within 
fifty  yards  of  the  same  spot  ten  months  later. 

Dunlins  caught  on  passage  at  Eossitten,  East  Prussia, 
have  been  recorded  by  Thienemann  (16)  from  Essex,  the 
Grirondc  estuary,  and  the  Rhone  delta. 

CURLEW  (Nnmenius  arquata  Linn.). 

One  (Case  412)  marked  as  a  chick  in  Inverness-shire  on 
1  June,  1912,  was  shot  in  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  on  the 


1921.]         Bird-Migration  hy  the  Marling  Method.  519 

5  August  of  the  same  year.  One  (Case  921)  marked  as  a 
chick  in  NorthumberLand  on  18  June,  1912,  was  found  dead 
in  the  same  district  on  G  May,  1920. 

OTSTERCATCHEE  (Hmrnatopiis  ostmlegus  Linn.). 

One  (Case  856)  marked  as  a  chick  in  Aberdeensliiro  on 
11  June,  1910,  was  recovered  in  Cheshire  on  3  December, 
1915.  Two  (Cases  413  and  414)  marked  as  cliicks 
in  Aberdeenshire  in  June  1912,  were  shot  in  Irehand  in 
the  same  autumn,  one  at  Broadhaven  Lighthouse,  County 
Mayo,  on  22  August,  and  the  other  at  Blackrcck,  (^ounty 
Cork,  in  October.  A  fourth  (Case  904)  was  marked  as 
a  chick  in  Sutherland  on  29  May,  1913,  and  recovered 
in  the  neighbouring  county  of  Koss  about  13  August  of 
the  same  year. 

An  autumn  migration  of  Oystercatchers  from  Scotland 
to  Ireland  was  already  known  to  occur,  but  whether  partly 
of  native  birds  or  wholly  of  winter  visitors  was  not 
established.     The  early  dates  in  two  cases  are  of  interest. 

SNIPE  {Gallinago  gallinago  Linn.). 

One  (Case  415)  marked  as  a  chick  in  (/'ounty  Fermanagh, 
Ireland,  on  12  June,  1913,  was  shot  in  County  Longford 
on  G  October  of  t)ie  same  year. 

COMMON  TEEN  {Sterna  hirundo  Linn.). 
One  (Case  392)  marked  as  a  chick  on  the  Aberdeenshire 
coast  on  31  July,  1912,  was  picked  up  in  the  Firth  of  Forth 
about  7  September  of  the  same  year.  Five  others  marked 
as  chicks  in  various  parts  of  Scotland  were  recovered  near 
places  where  they  were  marked  after  intervals  of  less  than 
two  months  (two  on  21  August,  and  the  others  even  earlier). 

LITTLE  TEEN  {Sterna  mimda  Linn.). 

One  (Case  678)  marked  as  a  chick  on  the  Yorkshire  coast 
on  10  July,  1914,  was  recovered  in  Portugal  in  September 
of  the  same  year. 

SEB.  XI. — VOL.  III.  2  M 


520  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  Eesvlts  of  a  Study  of       [Ibis, 

COMMON  GULL  (Larus  camts  Linn.). 
One  (Case  376)  marked  as  a  cbick  on  the  mainhand, 
Shetland  Isles,  on  22  June,  1912,  was  recovered  in  Norfolk 
on  8  September  of  the  same  year.  Two  (Cases  253  and 
276)  marked  as  chicks  in  Aroyllshire  in  July  1911,  were 
recovered  later  in  the  same  year  in  the  neighbouring 
county  of  Dumbarton,  one  on  11  September  and  the  other 
on  30  December. 

GUILLEMOT  {Uria  troille  Linn.). 
One  (Case  111)  marked  as  a  chick  on  the  Aberdeenshire 
coast  on  11  July,  1910,  was  shot  on  29  November  of 
the  same  vear  twelve  miles  north  of  Gothenburg,  Sweden. 
(Little  is  known  of  the  movements  of  this  species,  which 
frequents  the  open  sea  from  August  until  March.) 

CORNCRAKE  {Crex  crex  Linn.). 
One  (Case  249)  was  caught  and  marked  as  an  adult 
bird  in  Aberdeenshire  on  3  September,  1910,  and  was  re- 
covered in  September  1911  at  Naillat  in  the  Department 
of  Creuse,  France.  A  second  (Case  428)  was  marked  as  a 
chick  in  Cumberland  on  8  July,  1912,  and  was  recovered 
on  21  September  of  the  same  year  at  Beguey-sur-Garonne, 
Franco. 

MOORHEN  {Gallinula  chloroims  Linn.), 
One   (Case  837)   marked  as  a  chick  in  Aberdeenshire  on 
4  June,  1911,  was  found  dead  in  Lancashire  on  21  February, 
1917.     A  second  (Case  429),  also  marked  in  Aberdeenshire, 
was  recovered  at  the  place  of  marking  a  year  later. 

RED  GROUSE  (Lagopus  scoticiis  Latham). 
Three  imported  birds  turned  down  in  Inverness-shire  on 
21  October,  1911,  were  recovered  near  the  place  of 
marking  after  intervals  of  seven,  ten,  and  twenty-three 
months,  respectively.  Four  marked  as  chicks  near  Crieff, 
Perthshire,  in  1913,  were  shot  in  the  same  district,  two  in 
the  autumn  of  1914  and  two  in  the  autumn  of  1915  :  of  the 
former  both  had  wandered  a  few  miles,  and  of  the  latter  one 


1 92 1.]         Bird-Migration  hy  the  Marking  Method.  521 

(Case  432)  was  recovered  about  fifteen  miles  distant  in  a 
north-easterly  direction  (Glenljon),  Three  others  marked 
as  chicks  in  Scotland  were  shot  in  their  first  season  near  the 
place  where  they  were  marked.  One  (Case  857)  marked  as 
a  chick  at  Benarfcy  Hill,  Fifeshiro,  on  31  May,  1913,  was 
caught  in  snares  at  Forgandenny,  Perthshire,  on  6  August, 
1915,  a  distance  of  fourteen  miles. 

PARTRIDGE  {Perdix  perdix  Linn.), 
Fifteen  marked  in  Scotland,  all  as  hand-reared  or  imported 
birds,  were  recovered  at  the  places  where  they  were  marked. 
Of  these,  twelve  records  can  bo  grouped  as  follows  : — 

Birds  imported  from  Hungary  and  turned  down  in  Perthshire  on 
14  or  15  February,  1913:  recovered  on  12.9.13  and  18.9.13 
(two),  and  about  13.10.13  (two),  13.11.13,31.1.14,  and  28.12.16 
respectively. 

Birds  imported  from  Bohemia  aiid  turned  down  in  Aberdeensliire 
on  30  November,  1910:  recovered  during  the  same  winter,  in 
April  1911,  on  28.9.11,  and  on  14.10.13  respectively. 

OTHEE  EECOEDS. 
There  are  also  records  for  the  following  species  : — Jackdaw 
and  Pheasant,  three  each  ;  Yellowhammer  and  Wren,  two 
each  ;  Bullfinch,  Coal-Titmouse,  Iledwing,  Willow- War  bier, 
Long-eared  Owl,  Cormorant,  and  Coot,  one  each.  Little  or 
no  interest  attaches  to  any  of  these  cases. 

XL  -CONCLUSIONS  EEGARDING  BIRD-MIGRATION. 

Speci/ir,  Conclusions. — A  number  of  conclusions  have  been 
reached  affecting  the  status  of  various  species  as  migrants  in 
the  British  area.  These  have  already  been  expressed  in  ihe 
preceding  sections,  and  any  detailed  recapitulation  would  be 
superfluous. 

Return  of  Migrants  to  the  same  Summer-Quarters. — The 
Swallow,  the  Spotted  Flycatcher,  and  the  Swift  have 
afforded  definite  instances  of  this  fact,  previously  shown  in 
certain  other  cases  and  for  long  presumed  on  general  grounds. 
Other  records  of  birds  recovered  at  the  places  of  marking  in 
subsequent  summers  are  invalidated  by  lack  of  grounds  for 

2m2 


522  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  liesults  of  a  Study  of       [Ibis, 

the  assumption  that  the  individuals  had  left  the  respective 
localities  in  the  interval.  There  are  two  instances  o£  Mallard 
being  found  in  a  totally  different  area  in  subsequent  summers, 
but  as  all  the  other  evidence  points  to  the  native  birds  of 
that  species  being  sedentary,  the  explanation  of  these  as 
exceptional  cases,  already  suggested,  seems  to  be  justified. 

Return  of  Migrants  to  the  same  Winter- Quarters. — The  only 
definite  evidence  on  this  point  rests  on  a  single  record  and 
refers  to  the  Herring-Grull,  a  species  which  can  scarcely  be 
regarded  as  a  typical  migrant. 

Winter -Quarters  of  Native  British  Birds. — The  records  for 
a  number  of  the  species  dealt  with  indicate,  at  least  in  part, 
the  winter-quarters  of  individuals  which  are  summer  visitors 
either  to  the  British  Isles  as  a  whole  or  to  particular  districts 
therein.  The  small  chances  of  obtaining  records  from,  say, 
northern  Africa  make  it  impossible  to  regard  these  indica- 
tions as  exhaustive. 

Summer -Quarter.^  of  Winter  Visitors  to  the  Bintish  Isles. — 
The  only  very  definite  evidence  under  this  heading  refers  to 
the  Starling  {q.  v.). 

Part  taken  in  Movements  hy  Native  British  Birds. — As  has 
already  been  repeatedly  pointed  out,  it  is  typical  of  migration 
in  the  British  area,  which  is  a  "  half-way  house  "  in  Tem- 
perate Europe,  that  species  should  be  present  throughout 
the  year,  although  known  in  autumn  both  as  innnigrants 
from  the  north  and  east  and  as  emigrants  to  the  south,  and 
vice  versa  in  spring.  Some  light  has  been  thrown  on  the 
part  played  in  these  movements  by  the  native  British  birds 
of  several  species.  More  evidence  is  still  required,  but  in 
the  cases  of  the  Mallard  and  the  Starling  there  is  already  a 
strong  presumption  that  the  native  birds  are  sedentary  and 
that  any  southward  emigration  which  is  observable  must 
therefore  be  on  the  part  of  birds  that  have  already  come 
from  more  northerly  or  easterly  summer  areas.  In  other 
cases,  such  as  those  of  the  Lapwing  and  the  Woodcock,  the 
participation  of  the  native  birds  is  clearly  proved.  The 
theoretical  interest  of  the  point  has  already  been  discussed  in 
the  introduction. 


1 92 1.]         Bird-Migration  hy  the  Marking  Method.  523 

^'Individual  Migration.'''' — This  term  is  used  to  express  the 
fact  that  individual  birds  belonging  to  the  same  species  and 
native  to  the  same  area  may  behave  differently  as  regards 
migration.  The  point  has  been  very  clearly  brought  out 
by  the  marking  method,  and  in  the  preceding  sections 
numerous  instances  are  given  where  individuals  have  sought 
different  winter-quarters,  or  where  some  individuals  have 
remained  sedentary,  while  others  have  migrated.  In  the 
case  of  Lapwings  bred  in  Aberdeenshire  and  the  neigh- 
bouring counties,  for  example,  some  have  wintered  there, 
some  in  Ireland,  and  some  in  Portugal.  Theoretically,  the 
question  seems  to  present  two  alternatives.  I£  all  the  birds 
are  naturally  endowed  with  a  similar  instinct,  what  is  it 
that  stimulates  this  to  greater  activity  in  some  cases  than 
in  others  where  the  general  conditions  are  apparently  the 
same  ?  And  if  different  instincts,  or  degrees  of  instinct,  are 
inherited,  how  may  this  be  accounted  for — are  there  different 
gentes  not  morphologically  distinguishable,  but  differing  in 
constitution  and  temperament  in  ways  not  at  present  definable, 
as,  for  instance,  a  sedentary  gens,  an  Ireland-seeking  gens, 
and  a  Portugal-seeking  gens  ?  (Or,  as  a  very  unpromising 
alternative,  must  we  re-examine  the  apparently  overwhelming 
evidence  in  favour  of  migration  being  an  inborn-habit  rather 
than  a  direct  effect  of  immediate  stimuli  ?) 

Types  of  Migration. — An  interesting  point  has  been  brought 
out  in  the  case  of  several  species,  namely,  the  absence  of 
records  of  marked  birds  from  what  may  be  called  "  inter- 
mediate distances,"  a  bird  being  usually  recorded  either  from 
its  native  locality  or  from  a  comparatively  great  distance. 
In  these  cases  it  accordingly  seems  probable  that  individual 
birds  are  either  quite  sedentary  or  very  definitely  migratory, 
gradations  being  absent.  In  other  instances,  such  as  that 
of  the  Herring-Gull,  the  records  clearly  reveal  a  rather 
indefinite  wandering  tendency. 

Sedentary  Birds. — Some  interest  attaches  to  the  evidence 
of  the  extreme  nature  of  the  sedentary  habit  of  many 
individual  birds,  these  being  often  recorded  time  after  time, 
over  a  period  of  years,  from  the  very  same  gardens. 


524  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  J^csulls  of  a  Stwh/  of       [Ibis, 

XII.— CONCLUSIONS  REGARDING  THE  VALUE  OF  THE 
METHOD  OF  BIRD-MARKING. 

It  is  thought  that  the  results  and  conclusions  set  forth  in 
the  preceding  sections,  together  with  the  data  collected  by- 
other  workers,  will  be  considered  sufficient  proof  of  the 
value  of  tiie  marking  method  as  a  means  of  obtaining  a  certain 
ty{)e  of  fact  regarding  the  problems  of  bird-migration.  At 
the  same  time  it  will  be  evident  that  the  labour  involved  is 
very  great  and  that  the  percentage  of  marked  birds  recovered 
is  generally  very  small,  while  the  results  are  in  some  cases 
largely  invalidated  by  inherent  defects  which  the  method 
displays  under  certain  circumstances.  Various  reservations 
must  accordingly  now  be  made  in  appraising  the  method, 
and  the  conclusion  that  must  be  drawn  is  that  it  would  be 
advisable  to  restrict  its  further  practice  to  those  lines  which 
have  been  shown  to  be  comparatively  fruitful  in  reliable 
and  interesting  results. 

The  continuance  of  promiscuous  marking  is  likely,  of 
course,  to  yield  a  small  proportion  of  isolated  results  that 
will  possess  an  undoubted  interest.  But  it  is  questionable 
whether  records  of  this  kind  will  ever  adequately  repay  the 
time,  labour,  and  money  expended  on  the  actual  task  of 
marking.  Certainly  these  records  will  not  equal  in  value 
the  results  which  can  be  obtained  by  more  systematic  study 
on  restricted  and  carefully  selected  lines. 

It  has  been  stated  in  the  introduction  that  three  qualities 
were  considered  essential,  on  a  priori  grounds,  before  a 
species  could  be  regarded  as  a  suitable  subject  for  this  kind 
of  study  :  it  must  be  available  for  marking  in  large  numbers, 
it  must  afford  a  good  percentage  of  reappearance  records, 
and  its  migratory  movements  must  })resent  features  worthy 
of  investigation.  To  these  may  now  be  added  a  fourth  point, 
namely  that  tlie  circumstances  must  be  such  as  will  not  tend 
to  invalidate  the  results  by  the  introduction  of  too  many 
uncertain  elements. 

Quantitative  as  well  as  qualitative  analysis  must  be  aimed  at 
in  spite  of  the  obstacles  that  seem  to  lie  in  the  way.     As  has 


1 92 1.]         Bird-Migration  hij  the  Marking  Method.  525 

already  been  pointed  out,  the  number  of  birds  in  a  given 
area  at  a  particular  time  is  only  imperfectly  represented  by 
the  mortality  rate,  because  the  latter  varies  with  time  of 
year  and  other  circumstances.  Moreover,  the  true  mortality 
rate  is  still  less  adequately  represented  by  the  "  recorded 
mortality  "  rate  which  forms  the  datum  of  the  method.  These 
ditRculties  cannot  b(;  altogether  overcome,  but  they  Avill  be 
minimised  where  the  problem  takes  the  form  of  comparisons 
between  sets  of  r(\sults  collected  under  approximately  similar 
eircumstances.  There  is  virtue,  too,  in  the  mere  numbers  of 
records,  and  concentration  of  effort  should  lead  to  an  increase 
in  these  for  the  particular  species  selected.  Where  the 
total  numbers  are  small  the  quantitative  errors  due  to  mere 
chance  will  obviously  be  great,  and  the  extent  of  the  possible 
discrepancies  from  this  source  is  strikingly  shown  b}'  the 
figures  for  the  Lapwing  [cf.  Table  II.  p.  485),  one  of 
the  best  subjects  for  study. 

The  selection  of  suitable  species  does  not  exhaust  the 
question,  for  it  is  also  important  that  the  reappearance 
records  should  fall  into  groups  which  are  homogeneous  as 
regards  the  circumstances  of  marking.  A  concentration  of 
effort  on  particular  areas  would  therefore  have  its  advantages. 
The  question  of  season  is  probably  still  more  important,  and 
a  serious  objection  must  be  considered  in  the  case  of  most 
marking  of  birds  at  other  times  than  the  breeding  season^ 
namely,  that  the  birds  marked  may  consist  of  a  mixture 
of  sedentary  natives  and  visiting  immigrants  from  other 
summer-quarters. 

There  arc  various  other  points  that  need  not  be  laboured. 
The  unreliability  of  isolated  records  which  may  well  bo 
abnormal  will,  for  instance,  be  sufficiently  obvious.  The 
danger  of  laying  stress  on  negative  evidence  except  in  very 
clear  cases  may  also  be  mentioned  :  in  considering  the 
Hedge-Sparrow  and  the  Blue  Titmouse,  for  instance,  it  has 
been  seen  that  almost  neolioible  numbers  of  marked  birds  of 
these  species  are  recovered  where  no  special  efforts  are  made, 
whereas  an  exceedingly  high  figure  may  result  if  continuous 
tra])ping   be   carried   out.     The  absence  of  records   from   a 


52G  Dr.  A.  L.  Thomson  :  Results  oj  a  Stmhj  of       [Ibis, 

parliculur  areu  is  accordinoly  significant  only  when  it  can  be 
shown  that  the  s[)ecics  tends  to  yield  a  good  proportion  of" 
records  under  circumstances  such  as  are  prevalent  there. 

It  is  therefore  thought  probable  that  promiscuous  marking 
has  now  had  a  sufficient  trial  in  the  British  Isles  and  that  it 
will  be  found,  more  especially  when  summarised  results  of 
the  "  British  Birds  "  scheme  have  also  been  published,  that 
the  necessary  data  are  now  available  for  the  formulation  of 
more  definite  plans  of  campaign  for  concentrated  action. 
If  possible,  definite  problems  should  be  kept  in  view  and 
the  v.'ork  of  marking  should  be  systematically  directed  to 
th(^  accumulation  of  relevant  facts.  The  Lapwing,  to  give  a 
single  instance,  would  assuredly  yield  results  of  the 
highest  theoretical  interest  if  it  could  be  marked  simul- 
taneously  and  in  a  large  number  of  selected  districts — say, 
the  north  of  Scotland,  the  south  of  England,  Ireland, 
Holland;  a  district  of  France,  and  a  district  of  Norway. 

XIII.— REFERENCES. 

{^References  not  relating  to  the  marking  method  are  given 
in  the  text.) 

(1)  Baldwin,  S.  Prentiss  (1919).—"  Bird-Banding  by  Means  of  Syste- 

matic Trapping."     {Ahs.  Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  Keiv  York,  xxv., 
2.3.) 

(2)  Baetsch,  Paul  (1904).—"  Notes  on  the  Herons  of  the  District  of 

Columbia."     {Smiths.  Miscel.  Coll.,  x\\.,  104.) 

(3)  Cole,  Leon  J.  (1902).— "  Suggestions  for  a  Method  of  Studying 

the  Migrations  of  Birds."     {Third  Report  of  the  Michigan 
Academy  of  >St:ience,  67.) 

(4)  (1909).— "The   Tagging   of  Wild  Birds    as    a    Means  of 

Studying  their  Movements."     {Auk,  xxvi.,  137.) 

(5)  (1910).—"  The  Tagging  of  Wild  Birds  :  Report  of  Progress 

in  1909."     {Avk,  xxvii.,  154.) 

(6)  Douglas,  S.  R.  (1917). — "An  Experimental  Investigation  of  the 

Migration  of  Woodcock  breeding  in  the  West  of  Ireland." 
yRj-oc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1917,  159.) 

(7)  Hamilton,  John  {1908).— {Field,  1908,  717  &  745.) 

(8)  Herman,  Otto,  and  Schenk,  Jakob  (1909  et  seq.).—{Aquila,  1909, 

34) :  and  subsequent  periodical  reports. 


1 92 1.]         Bird-Mi<jratlon  hy  the  Marking  Method.  527 

(9)  MoRTENSEN,  H.  Clir.  C.  (1907).— "  Ringfugle."     (Dansk    Ornith. 
Foreninys  Tidsskrift,  i.,  144.) 

(10)  (1909).— "Teal    in   Winter."      {Vidensk.    Medd.    fra   den 

Naturhist.  Forening  i  KobenJiavn,  1908,  127.) 

(11)  (1911).  —  "  Meddelelse    om    Nogle    Ringfugle."       {Bansk 

Ornith.  Foreninijs  Tklsskrift^  v.,  115.) 

(12)  (1912). — "Fra    Fiiglemserkestationen  i   Viborg."      {Dansk 

Ornith.  Foreninys  Tidsskrift,  vi.,  98.) 

(13) (1920).— "  Mcerkede   Storke."       {Dansk    Ornith.    Foreninys 

Tidsskrift,  xiv.,  91.) 

(14)  Percy,  Lord  William  {\S)m).— {Country  Life,  1909,  323.) 

(15)  ScHENK,   Jakob    (1910). — "  Das    Experiment    in   der   Vogelziigs- 

forscliuiig."  {Bericht  iiher  den  V.  Tnternationalen  Orni- 
tholoyen-Konyress,  175)  :  and  see  Herman. 

(16)  Thienemann,  J.  (1904  ('i  .sei/.). — "  Jabresberichte  der  Vogelwarte 

Rossitten."'  (Piiblisbed  annually  in  Journal  fiir  Orni- 
tholoyie.) 

(17)  (1910). — "  Der  Ziig  des  Weissen  Storclies."     {Zool.  Jahrb., 

Suppl.  xii.,  605.) 

(18)  Thomson,  A.  Landsborougb  (1909).— "The  Possibilities  oi  Bird- 

Marking."     {Proc.  Roy.  Phys.  Soc.  Fdin.,  xviii.,  204.) 

(19)  (1912). — "  Aberdeen    Universiiy    Bird-Migration    Inquiry  : 

First  Interim  Report  (1909-12)."  {Scot.  Nat.,  1912,  144, 
and  1913,  29.) 

(20)  (1915). — "  Aberdeen    Uuiverisity   Bird-Migration    Iiiquir}'  : 

Second  Interim  Report  (1912-14)."   {Scot.  Nat.,  1915,  313.) 

(21)  TiCEHURST,  Claud  B.  {190S).— {British  Birds  May.,  ii.,  35.) 

(22)  ToMLiNSON,    Richard    (per    J.    A.    Harvie-Brown)    (1907).— 

{Annals  Scot.  Nat.  Hist.,  1907,  114.) 

(23)  Van  Oort,  E.  D.  (1911  et  seq.). — "Bird  Marking  in  the  Nether- 

lands." {Notes  frojn  the  Ley  den  Museum,  xxxiv.,  55)  : 
and  subsequent  periodical  reports. 

(24)  Weigold,  Hugo  (1910). — "  Die  Vogehvarte  Helgoland  eiust  und 

jetzt  und  die  Methoden  der  Vogelzugsforscliung." 
{Bericht  ilber  den  V.  Internationaleii  Ornithologen-Kon- 
yress,  5G3.) 

(25)  (1910   et  seq.). — "  Jahresbericlite   liber  den  Vogelzug  auf 

Helgoland."  (Published  annually  in  Journal  fiir  Orni- 
tholoyie.) 

(26)  WlTHERBY,  H.  F.  (1909  et  seq.). — {British  Birds  May.,  iii.  et  seq., 

passim.) 


528  ('olonel  i\.  Meinertzliagen  on  [Ibis, 


XXVII. — Some   Thovglds  on  SiiJ'Species  and  Evolution. 
By  Colonel  R.  Meinektzhagen,  D.S.O.,  M.B.O.U. 

In  'The  Ibis'  o£  this  year,  p.  345,  appeared  a  letter  over 
the  signatures  of  Dr.  Lowe  and  Mr.  Mackworth-Praed,  in 
answer  to  a  letter  of  Mr.  Loomis  in  'The  Ibis'  of:  1920, 
p.  965. 

These  letters  bring  out  several  points  of  great  importance 
to  those  of  us  interested  in  evolution,  distribution,  and 
migration.     These  points  can  be  enumerated  as  follows  :  — 

1.  Is  intergradation  necessar^^  among  forms  in  order  to 

determine  their  status  as  species  or  as  geographical 
races  ? 

2.  Is  a  geographical  race  due  to  one  cause  only — environ- 

ment,— or  can  it  be  due  to  mutation  ?    If  the  latter  is 
the  case,  should  they  not  be  species  ? 

3.  Are    geographical    races    incipient    species,    and    can 

geographical  races,   whose  dift'erences  are   obviously 
due  to  environment,  ever  develop  into  a  species  ? 

4.  Of  what  value  is  the  subspecies  ? 

5.  Definition  of  a  subspecies. 

1.  Intergradation. 

Many  eminent  ornithologists  have  accepted  the  fact  that 
absence  of  intergradation  among  birds  results  in  a  definite 
entity,  the  existing  species,  which  must  remain  the  only 
"  definite  minor  unit  in  nature."  This  is  })robably  correct 
and  covers  the  vast  majority  of  geographical  races,  but  not 
all.  Insular  races,  which  are  obviously  but  variations  due 
to  isolation,  having  no  intermediate  terrain  with  their 
parent  stock,  can  naturally  have  no  intermediate  or  inter- 
graduating  ract'S.  The  same  argument  applies  to  variations 
occurring  among  isolated  continental  communities,  when  the 
intervening  country  is  unsuited  to  the  life  of  the  species. 
In  these  cases  isolation  is  as  complete  as  insular  isolation, 
and  the  intervening  range  of  hills,  desert,  or  other  obstacle 


1 92 1.]  Suhspecics  and  Evolution.  529 

has  no  intermediate   form,  as  suitable  intermediate  terrain 
does  not  exist. 

It  also  seems  that  distance  in  isolation  is  of  no  consequence 
in  permitting  the  union  of  two  obvious  geographical  races 
under  one  species.  We  must  all  admit  interru})ted  distri- 
bution, and  who  is  going  to  define  the  limit  of  such 
interruption  ?  A  large  number  of  New  World  and  Old 
World  forms  have  been  united  as  geographical  races  of  one 
species,  even  when  no  intermediate  forms  either  do  or  can 
occur.  If,  then,  we  admit  an  interruption  of  3000  miles, 
why  not  admit  an  interruption  of  6000  miles  or  even  greater 
distances  ? 

If  we  were  to  accept  the  view^  that  intermediate  forms  are 
essential  for  a  true  geographical  race,  we  could  not  concede 
that  a  trinomial  could  be  used  except  for  purely  environ- 
mental differences  among  contiguous  races  :  neither  could 
we  allow  that  any  isolated  geographical  race,  showing 
purely  environmental  differences,  is  entitled  to  trinomial 
nomenclature. 

It  therefore  appears  that  intermediate  forms  cannot  be 
made  an  essential  factor  in  determining  a  true  geographical 
race,  and  that  interrupted  distril)ution,  however  extended, 
should  not  be  a  factor  in  rejecting  an  obvious  geographical 
race. 

2.   Causes  of  geographical  variation. 

Lowe  and  Praed,  whilst  admitting  that  most  geographical 
races  are  due  to  environment,  consider  that  in  some  cases 
they  are  due  to  mutation.  They  challenge  the  whole  Dar- 
winian theory,  and  all  principles  of  gradual  evolution.  They 
are  not  advocates  of  the  "  little  by  little  "  theory. 

Let  us  examine  Uarwiu's  theory.  It  is  ably  summarised 
by  Professor  Punnett  in  his  book  on  Mendelism.  Darwin's 
theory  briefly  was  : — 

In  any  species  of  plant  or  animal  the  reproductive 
capacity  tends  to  outrun  the  available  food  supply,  and 
the  resulting  competition  leads  to  an  inevitable  struggle 
for    existence.      Of    all    the    individuals    born,    only    a 


530  Colonel  K.  Meinertzhagen  on  [Ibis, 

portion,    and    that    a   very    small   one,   can   survive   to 
produce  offspring.     The  nature  of  the  surviving  portion 
is  not  determined  by  chance  alone.     No  two  individuals 
of  a  species  are  exactly  alike,  and  among  the  variations 
which  occur  some  enable  their  possessors  to  cope  more 
successfully    with    the    competitive    conditions    under 
which    they    exist.     In    comparison     with    their    less 
favoured   brethren  they  have   a  better  chance  of  sur- 
viving   and    consequently    of    leaving    offspring.     Off- 
spring tend  to  resemble  their  parents  more  than  other 
members  of  the  species,  and  favourable  variations  are 
transmitted. 
In  opposition  to  the  Darwinian  Theory  is  the  Mutational 
Theory,    which  believes    that    new  varieties   suddenly   arise 
from  older  ones  by  sharp  sudden  steps  or  mutations,  and  not 
by  any  process  involving  the  gradual  accumulation  of  minute 
differences.     Such    mutations    turn    up    suddenly    complete 
in  themselves  and   are  therefore  "  sports,"   their  origin  or 
meaning  being  unknown.     Where  such  differences  are  due 
to  a  change  in  the  gamete,  they  are  heritable,  are  termed 
mutations,  and  are  good  species.     Where  such  variations  are 
not   heritable,   they  are  termed  fluctuations  and  can  never 
become  permanent.     Hybrids  are,  of  course,  mongrels,  and 
no  amount  of  selection,  artificial  or  natural,  can  fix  them  as 
species. 

Mutation  is  therefore  regarded  as  the  basis  of  all  evolution, 
though  it  is  conceded  that  th(^  continued  existence  of  a 
mutation  is  subject  to  natural  selection. 

Such  is  the  theory  based  on  MendeFs  experiments  and  on 
the  work  of  his  many  later  disciples. 

An  examination  of  the  experiments  on  which  the  Men- 
delian  theories  are  based  shows  that  they  have  been  almost 
exclusively  undertaken  on  plants  and  domesticated  animals  . 
and  under  artificial  conditions.  In  fact,  they  could  not  have 
been  undertaken  in  any  other  medium.  I  believe  that  selec- 
tion by  man,  and  the  perpetuation  of  sports  or  mutations  as 
permanent  varieties,  whose  differences  are  heritable,  is  a  state 
which  occurs  but  rarely  in  nature,  and  most  of  the  deductions 


1 92 1.]  Subspecies  and  Evolntion.  531 

from  such  experimeuts  are  of  little  value  in  studying  evolution 
in  its  natural  state.  Thoy  are^  of  course,  of  immense  value  to 
the  economist  or  poultry-fancier,  hut  the  artificial  perpetua- 
tion of  freaks  is  surely  not  a  state  of  which  Nature  approves. 

Natural  selection  works  at  the  gradual  improvement  of 
life,  and  the  elimination  of  what  is  not  good,  but  has  to 
work  on  certain  definite  material.  Though  I  realise  that 
every  branch  of  life  has  great  possibilities,  there  are  equally 
very  definite  limitations.  For  instance,  the  struggle  for 
existence  precludes  the  various  branches  of  life  livino-  as 
equals,  certain  groups  always  seeking  leadership.  When 
such  accidents  as  mutational  freaks  occur,  they  spring  into 
the  world  on  their  own  responsibility,  and  are  variations 
springing  from  within,  being  entirely  divorced  from  environ- 
ment. If  the  change  is  beneficial  or  harmless,  they  are 
allowed  to  remain  and  reproduce  their  freakish  variation  ; 
if  the  change  is  harmful  or  a  handicap,  they  die.  When 
man,  however,  artificially  perpetuates  harmful  freaks,  he 
does  so  in  spite  of  natural  selection.  So  soon  as  man  with- 
draws artificial  protection  and  selection,  the  freak,  thrown 
on  the  mercy  of  natural  selection,  must  revert  or  perish. 
Such  is  the  law  for  which  we  have  to  be  thankful. 

Moreover,  it  seems  that  nearly  all  artificially-produced 
races,  when  removed  from  artificial  conditions,  do  not  retain 
those  variations  which  artificial  selection  has  given  them. 
The  feral  goats  which  I  have  seen  in  Ireland,  Scotland,  and 
on  Round  Island  in  the  southern  Indian  Ocean,  the  feral 
Pigeon  of  Mauritius,  and  the  Goldfish  which  after  introduc- 
tion to  Madagascar  devoured  the  only  edible  freshwater  fish 
in  the  island,  have  all  tended  to  revert  respectively  to  v/ild 
Goat,  wild  Rock-Pigeon,  and  the  ungainly  mud-coloured 
ancestral  stock  of  the  Goldfish. 

This  leads  me  to  assume  that  artificial  selection  does  not 
(as  Mendelians  maintain)  alter  the  gamete,  unless  artificial 
conditions  and  selection  are  maintained  for  a  sufficiently  long- 
period  to  permit  cumulative  effect.  But  mutational  variation 
under  natural  conditions  remains  constant,  because  natural 
conditions  do  not  appreciably  vary.     But  I  admit  that  the 


532  Colonel  R.  Meinertzhagon  on  [Ibis, 

only  cases  of  mutational  variation  which  I  can  call  to  mind 
in  nature  are  dimorphic  forms,  and  it  is  by  no  means  proved 
that  such  are  mutational. 

The  mutationist  will  argue  that  whenever  a  domesticated 
variety  resumes  a  wild  life,  the  original  wild  stock  being 
dominant  to  the  recessive  domesticated  variety,  such  variety 
must  revert,  and  that  such  a  process  is  in  strict  accord  with 
Mendel's  theory. 

But  under  natural  conditions^  constant  variations,  which 
unaided  Nature  has  produced  and  which  natural  selection 
has  perpetuated^  do  not  revert.  This  still  farther  convinces 
me  that  it  is  dangerous  to  apply  to  wild  life  the  results  of 
evolutional  experiments  on  domestic  animals  and  plants. 
Both  the  experiments  of  Mendel  and  of  more  recent  investi- 
gators have  been  conducted  under  conditions  which  do  not 
exist  in  wild  nature. 

I  would  further  mention  that  there  is  no  artificial  mutation 
wdiich  resembles  any  known  variation  separating  natural 
species  one  from  the  other.  Whether  we  take  the  domestic 
pigeon,  fowl,  or  canary,  it  is  remarkable  that  no  single 
artificial  variety  has  ever,  so  far  as  we  know,  occurred  in  a 
wild  state. 

I  would  also  mention  that  natural  selection^  where  environ- 
ment remains  unchanged,  has  no  effect  on  evolution,  except 
in  those  few  cases  of  dimorphism  which  may  or  may  not  be 
mutational.     But  such  an  exception  is  pure  theory. 

I  do,  however,  agree  that  in  some  cases  natural  selection 
may  have  allowed  dimorphism,  which  is  possibly  mutational, 
to  initiate  a  species.  Such  cases  exist  among  the  genus 
(Enantlie,  in  the  Jackdaws  {Colceus  dauricus  and  neglectus) , 
in  the  Skuas,  and  in  many  others.  It  appears  that  such 
mutants  niight  establish  themselves  as  good  species,  which 
would  result  in  two  species,  separated  by  slight  superficial 
differences,  inhabiting  the  same  area.  Such  a  state  at  present 
exists  among  the  Tree-creepers,  Dippers,  Eock-Nuthatches, 
the  Whooper  [C.  c}/gnus)  and  Bewick's  Swan  (C,'.  heimrli), 
and  others. 

But  I  cannot  call  to  mind  any  geographical  race  which 


ig2i.]  Si(hsj)ecies  and  Kvolution.  533 

can  be  ascribed  to  niututioii.  I  believe  they  are  all  due  to 
environment  or  isolation,  both  being  geographical  factors. 
A  mutation  has  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  geography. 

I  have  tried  to  apply  the  mutation  theory  to  species  which 
contain  undoubted  geographical  races.  I£  I  were  to  ask  you 
to  believe  that  mutation  is  responsible  for  geographical 
variation,  I  should  have  to  ask  you  to  believe  that  British 
races  of  Continental  species  all  became  smaller  and  darker 
quite  suddenly  and  quite  accidentally;  I  should  have  to  ask 
you  to  accept  that  Egyptian  Delta  races  all  became  dark 
by  accident  and  spontaneously.  I  should  have  to  ask  you 
to  believe  that  intermediate  races  in  intermediate  areas 
are  accidental.  You  would  have  to  swallow  the  fact  that 
most  pure  desert  species  {Akemon,  Ammomanes,  Pterocles, 
Eremopldla,  (Enanthe  deserti,  Cxirsorius,  and  many  others) 
are  of  the  same  sandy  hue  on  their  upper  parts  by  accident, 
and  are  all  descendants  of  "  sports." 

Take  the  Song-Thrush.  The  British  race  is  darker  than 
the  Continental  race.  The  Hebridean  race  is  even  darker 
than  the  British  race.  The  degree  o£  colour  is  in  close 
relation  to  the  degree  of  rainfall  in  the  breeding-quarters  of 
the  three  races.  Is  that  accident  ?  If  so,  similar  remark- 
able accidents  have  occurred  under  similar  conditions  in 
many  parts  of  the  world,  which  would  be  preposterous  to 
describe  as  a  coincidence. 

I  shall  not  even  attempt  to  convince  you  of  such  fallacies, 
as  the  theme  is  ridiculous.  Evolution  does  not  consist  in 
the  perpetuation  of  a  series  of  defective  freaks. 

The  advocate  of  mutation  may  say  that  such  variations 
have  proved  of  value  to  the  bird,  and  have  been  perpetuated 
whilst  other  less  suitable  variations  have  been  rejected  by 
natural  selection.  But  if  that  w^ere  the  case,  why  does  the 
Continental  Song-Thrush  spend  from  September  to  April  in 
the  British  Isles,  if  the  climate  is  so  unsuited  to  its 
characters?  And  why  do  a  host  of  other  birds  from  the 
north  spend  the  autumn,  winter^  and  spring  among  their 
more  southern  representatives,  if  the  area  of  the  latter  is  so 
unsuited  to  the  characters  of  the  former  ? 


534  Colonel  R.  Meinertzhagen  on  [Ibis, 

The  breeding-season  is  the  most  important  period  in  a 
bird's  life,  and  it  is  the  environment  of  the  breeding-area 
which  influences  variation  more  than  av inter-quarters.  It  is 
the  fact  that  a  bird  like  the  Stonechat,  which  in  various  con- 
tinental and  insular  forms  breeds  throughout  Europe,  Asia, 
and  Africa,  and  many  of  whose  races  co-exist  in  the  same 
winter-quarters,  that  induces  me  to  believe  that  the  environ- 
ment or  isolation  of  the  breeding-quarters  is  in  the  main 
responsible  for  variation,  and  that  this  variation  is  the  result 
of  natural  selection  working  on  gradual  change,  and  not  the 
result  of  the  perpetuation  of  some  aceidental  and  sudden  freak. 

I  doubt  very  much  whether  mutation,  or  the  sudden 
a{)pearance  of  "  sports,"'  can  establish  a  subspecies,  though  I 
believe  a  species  might  evolve  another  species  by  splitting, 
originating  in  mutation  but  eventually  becoming  a  constant 
and  heritable  germinal  character. 

I  also  believe  that  wherever  geographical  races  are  con- 
nected by  intermediate  forms,  it  is  absolute  proof  that  the 
differences  are  entirely  due  to  environment  and  not  muta- 
tion, except  where  such  intermediate  forms  are  hybrids. 

As  a  corollary  to  this,  it  follows  that  environment  can  affect 
the  gamete;  and  this  seems  quite  a  reasonable  assumption,  if 
it  is  accepted  that  geographical  causes  influence  the  bird  at 
all.  Surely  it  is  just  as  possible  for  the  gamete  to  gradually 
change  and  enable  new  constant  characters  to  become 
heritable,  as  it  is  for  the  gamete  to  suddenly  change  and 
embody  heritable  characters. 

The  mutationist*  will  say  that  there  is  no  evidence  to  show 
the  gamete  alters,  and  that,  to  perpetuate  any  environmental 
variation,  the  conditions  to  produce  such  variation  must  be 
repeated  in  each  successive  generation.  In  other  words, 
acquired  characters  are  not  heritable. 

That  may  be  true  for  artificially-,  accidentally-,  or  ab- 
normally-acquired characters,  but  it  is  not  true  for  environ- 
mentally-acquired characters,  which  are  certainly  heritable 
for  one  generation,  but  which  appear  to  react  to  extremes 
of  environment  especially  when  artificially  reproduced  (cf. 
Beebe's  experiment  on  Doves), 


1 92 1. J  Suhspecies  and  Evolution.  535 

I  would  here  draw  attention  to  a  valuable  paper  on 
"  Inheritance  o£  Acquired  Characters "  by  Professor 
MacBride  in  the  January  number  o£  '  Science  Progress.' 
From  exjieriments  conducted  by  Kammerer  on  Salamanders 
and  Midwife-Toads,  it  would  appear  that  acquired  characters 
are  indeed  heritable. 

To  sum  up,  I  believe  that  nearly  all  evolution  is  the 
cumulative  effect  of  environment,  which  acts  with  greater 
force  and  rapidity  on  isolated  communities  than  on  widely- 
distributed  continental  communities. 

Weissmann,  in  his  work  on  the  Germ-Plasm,  has  been 
severely  criticised  for  inferring  that  environment  can 
directly  influence  the  germ-cells  without  affecting  the  body- 
tissue  in  which  the  germ-cell  is  contained.  This  I  believe  to 
bo  partly  correct,  and  I  consider  environment  can  affect  the 
gamete  to  the  following  extent.  If  a  European  pays  a 
visit  to  a  tropical  climate,  his  skin  becomes  tanned  and 
brown  under  the  influence  of  the  sun's  rays.  The  colour  of 
his  skin  is  naturally  not  transmitted  to  his  offspring  to  any 
degree  wdiich  is  appreciable  to  the  human  eye.  But  if  that 
same  European  settles  in  the  tropics,  the  cumulative  efloct 
of  the  sun's  rays  on  countless  generations  will  permanently 
affect  the  colour  of  the  skin  by  a  very  gradual  process,  and 
an  eventual  dark-skinned  race  will  become  established.  I 
do  not  doubt  that  the  germ-cell  changes  in  exact  proportion 
to  the  degree  of  permanence  which  cumulative  environ- 
mental effect  has  on  the  body-tissue. 

3.  Are  geographical  races  incipient  species  ? 
Where  no  isolation  exists,  geographical  races  will  almost 
invariably  be  connected  by  intermediate  forms  in  inter- 
mediate areas,  and  such  intermediate  areas  may  be  but 
a  mile  or  so  in  extent,  or  they  may  extend  to  a  hun- 
dred miles  or  so  ;  but  such  geographical  races,  when 
so  constructed,  can,  in  our  opinion,  never  become  species. 
It  therefore  follows  that  only  isolated  geographical  races 
are  incipient  species,  but  to  this  end  isolation  must  be 
complete. 

SER.  XI. VOL.  III.  2  N 


53G  Colonel  R.  Meinertzhagen  07i  [Ibis, 

We  find  many  examples  o£  this,  the  most  remarkable 
being  the  case  of  the  Chaffinch  (Fringilla  Calebs).  In  the 
Canary  Islands,  as  already  pointed  out  by  Bannerman  (Ibis, 
July  1920),  we  find  undoubted  geographical  races  of  the 
(Jhaflinch  living  alongside  Fringilla  teydea,  and  tending  to 
vary  in  the  same  direction  as  a  geographical  race,  as  F.  teydea 
does  as  a  species.  We  believe  that  F.  teydea  was  once  but  a 
geographical  race  of  F.  coelehs,  but  that  isolation  has  pro- 
duced a  species.  The  more  recent  invasions  of  Chaftinches 
to  the  Canary  Islands  are  moving  along  the  same  path  of 
evolution  as  did  F.  teydea,  and  are  undoubtedly  incipient 
species. 

Though,  therefore,  we  accept  the  fact  that  isolation  pro- 
duces a  true  species  from  an  original  geographical  race,  such 
can  only  occur  under  conditions  of  complete  isolation.  By 
far  the  majority  of  geographical  races  are  not  incipient 
species,  and  stand  little  chance  of  gaining  that  status  so 
lono-  as  thev  are  in  actual  touch  with  the  parent  stock. 

I  further  wish  to  endorse  the  old  truth  that  isolation  is  the 
strongest  factor  working  for  variation,  and  is  the  main  factor 
in  the  evolution,  not  only  of  geographical  races  but  of 
species. 

4.    WJiat  is  the  value  of  a  subspecies  ? 

We  are  not  clear  as  to  what  is  intended  by  this  question. 
To  him  who  asks  what  is  the  value  of  trinomial  nomen- 
clature, we  reply  that  it  has  been  found  the  shortest,  most 
convenient  and  scientific  way  of  referring  to  geographical 
variation.     Its  critics  have  not  j^et  suggested  a  better  way. 

To  him  who  asks  of  what  value  to  science  is  the  recogni- 
tion of  slight  geographical  variation,  we  reply  that  it  helps 
to  solve  the  problems  of  migration,  evolution,  and  distribu- 
tion among  birds,  and  that  such  value  has  been  recognised 
by  the  leading  ornithologists  of  the  world. 

But  there  are  still  a  few  who  regard  the  trinomial  system 
as  a  simple  and  quick  way  of  gaining  notoriety,  whilst  others 
look  on  the  method  as  a  confusing  and  unnecessary  inven- 
tion of  the  Devil. 


1 92 1.]  Suhspecies  and  Evolution.  537 

5.    Definition  of  a  subspecies. 

There  can  be  no  hard-and-fast  definition  for  a  state  of 
nature  which  is  constantly  changing.  There  exist  forms 
which  we  all  know,  whose  status  is  still  unsatisfactory,  and 
even  Nature  herself  might  have  difficulty  in  defining  them 
as  species  or  subspecies,  for  the  simple  reason  that  they  are 
in  the  transitional  stage  betweon  the  two. 

But  it  seems  correct  to  describe  trinomially  as  geo- 
graphical races  those  birds  of  similar  type  inhabiting 
different  geographical  areas,  and  whose  differences  are 
abundantly  (not  exclusively)  constant  within  a  given  area. 
In  fact,  they  must  be  a  pure  geographical  variation,  the 
variation  coinciding  with  distribution. 

Intermediate  forms  will  nearly  always  be  found  in  inter- 
mediate areas,  but  such  need  not  always  be  the  case,  as  in 
the  instance  of  a  race  which  has  receded  from  its  parent 
stock  into  temporary  isolation,  and  which  has  again  ex- 
panded towards  its  parent  stock.  Such  appears  to  be  the 
case  with  Corvus  f.  frugilegus  and  Corvus  f.  pastinator,  and 
perhaps  with  Erolia  miuuta  a-nd  Erolia  rujicollis.  Opinion  is 
bound  to  differ  regarding  the  status  of  such  forms,  as  the 
question  is  a  pure  matter  of  opinion  and  not  of  fact. 

Again,  it  is  frequently  stated  that  two  geographical  races 
of  the  same  species  must  not  breed  in  the  same  area.  We 
agree  that  a  geographical  race  is  destroyed  if  another  race 
of  the  same  species  continually  breeds  over  a  wide  area  of 
the  former  ;  but  where  two  races  of  the  same  bird  meet,  they 
naturally,  either  by  mating  together  or  under  the  influence 
of  intermediate  conditions,  produce  intermediate  forms.  In 
fact,  where  this  occurs  it  is  good  proof  of  the  two  races 
being  good  geographical  races  of  the  same  species. 

This  short  article  is  not  intended  to  be  a  treatise  on 
evolution.  It  has  been  written  in  the  hopes  that  it  may 
form  the  basis  of  a  discussion  in  which  we  may  have  the 
opportunity  to  take  part  at  some  future  meeting  of  the 
British  Ornithologists'  Club.  To  the  highly-trained  scientific 
mind,  many  of  my  contentions  are  no  doubt  ridiculous  and 
untenable.  It  is  the  truth  we  seek,  and  if  from  the  fallacies 
in  my  arguments  others  can  point  to  more  truthful  causes  of 
evolution,  my  time  will  not  have  been  wasted. 

2n2 


538  Obituary.  [Ibis, 

XXNIU.— Obituary. 

Robert  George  Wardlaw-Ramsay.      (PL  YI.) 

By  the  death  of  Colonel  Wardlaw-Ramsay  the  British 
Ornithologists^  Union  has  lost  an  old  and  highly  esteemed 
member — one  who  filled  the  office  of  President  from  1913 
to  1918.  Colonel  Wardlaw-Ramsay  was  in  his  70th  year, 
and  had  been  seriously  ill  for  about  a  month  when  he  passed 
away  on  the  25th  of  April, 

He  was  the  only  son  of  Robert  Balfour  Wardlaw-Ramsay 
of  Whitehill  in  Midlothian  and  Tillicoultry  in  Clackmannan- 
shire, and  his  mother  was  Lady  Louisa  Hay,  a  daughter  of 
the  Marquis  of  Tweeddaie.  He  elected  to  I'ollow  a  military 
career,  and  in  November  1872,  soon  after  obtaining  his  com- 
mission, left  for  India  to  join  the  Highland  Light  Infantry  ; 
went  through  the  Afghan  campaign  as  an  officer  of  the 
Hampshire  Regiment;  and  eventually  was  Lieut. -Colonel  of 
the  7th  Royal  Scots.  After  quitting  active  service  he  became 
Lieut. -Colonel  of  the  Volunteer  Battalion  of  the  last-named 
Regiment,  afterwards  acted  as  Lieut.-Colonel  of  its  Territorial 
Force  Reserve  ;  and  did  much  useful  service  during  the  late 
war.  The  later  years  of  his  life  were  passed  at  Whitehill, 
and  were  devoted  to  county  affairs,  in  which  he  took  an  active 
part.  He  w'as  Chairman  of  the  Edinburgh  and  East  of 
Scotland  College  of  Agriculture,  and  besides  closely  asso- 
ciated with  charitable  work.  Though  by  nature  reserved 
in  manner,  he  was  a  singularly  attractive  personality  to 
those  who  knew  him  intimately,  was  a  man  who  lived  up 
to  high  ideals,  and  was  the  personification  of  all  that  was 
honourable  and  best.  He  married  a  daughter  of  IMr.  Charles 
Swinton  Hogg,  by  whom,  as  well  as  three  sons  and  two 
daughters,  he  is  survived. 

Wardlaw-Ramsay  was  elected  a  member  of  the  British 
Ornithologists^  Union  in  1872.  From  his  boyhood  he  had 
always  been  keenly  interested  in  birds,  aiid  commenced 
to  contribute  to  ornithological  literature  in  1874,  as  will 
be   seen   from   the   list  of    his  various   papers  (so  far   as 


IBIS.     1921.     PI.  VI. 


Robert  George  Wardlaw-Ramsay 


SEABORNE     LTD.,    LONOC 


1921.]  Obituary.  539 

they  are  known  to  the  writer)  which  coucludes  this  notice. 
On  the  death  of  his  uncle  the  Marquis  of  Tweeddale, 
who  was  for  many  years  the  distinguished  President 
of  the  Zoological  Society,  Wardlaw- Ramsay  inherited 
the  vast  collection  of  birds  formed  by  that  nobleman. 
This  the  inheritor  generously  presented  to  the  British 
Museum  (Natural  History),  on  condition  that  a  set  of 
duplicate  specimens  was  to  be  sent  to  the  Edinburgh 
Museum.  He  also  handed  over  the  very  valuable  ornitho- 
logical librar}',  which  came  to  him  with  the  collections,  to 
the  Museum,  on  condition  it  was  placed  in  the  bird-room  for 
the  use  of  the  officers  and  students  working  there.  It  is 
now  known  as  the  Tweeddale  library.  In  1881  he  edited 
and  revised  a  memorial  volume  entitled  '  The  Ornithological 
Works  of  Arthur  9th  Marquis  of  Tweeddale/  a  quarto  of 
760  pages.  For  several  years  past  Colonel  Wardlaw-Ramsay 
had  been  engaged  upon  the  preparation  of  a  concise  handy 
volume — an  ornithological  Baedeker — on  the  species  and 
races  of  the  Birds  of  Europe  and  northern  Africa  for  the 
use  of  travellers  and  others.  Though  this  book  was  nearing 
completion,  yet  a  considerable  amount  of  work  remained  to 
be  done  ere  it  was  ready  for  the  press,  and  shortly  before  he 
passed  away  he  requested  that  the  manuscript  should 
be  handed  unconditionally  to  the  writer  of  this  notice,  who 
hopes  to  arrange  for  its  completion  and  publication  in  due 
course. 

List  of  Papers. 

Description   of  a  new  species  of  Woodpecker  {Gecinus  erythropygius) 

from  British  Burmab.     Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1874.  pp.  212-213. 
Ornithological  Notes  from  the  district  of  Karen-nee,  Burmab.    Ibis,  1875, 

pp.  34;8-C)53. 
On  an  undescribed  species  of  Nuthatch  {Sitta  magna)  and  another  bird 

(Orocetes  crythrogaster)  from  Karen-nee.     Proc.   Zool.   Soc.  1876, 

p.  677. 
Notes  on  some  Burmese  Birds.     Ibis,  1877,  pp.  452-473. 
A  Synopsis  of  the  genus  Pomatorhinus.     Ibis,  1878,  pp.  129-145. 
Description  of  a  new  Oriole  from  Borneo  {Oriolus  co7isobn'}iirs),     Proc. 

Zool.  Soc.  1879,  p.  709. 


540  Obituary.  [Ibis, 

Ornithological  Notes  from  Afghanistan  (Nos.  I.   &  II.).      Ibis,   1S70, 

pp.  444-449  ;  1880,  pp.  45-71. 
Contributions  to  the  Ornithology  of  Sumatra. — Report  on  a  collection 

from    the    neighbourhood    of    Padang.      Proc.   Zool.   Soc.    1880, 

pp.  13-16. 
Descriptions  of  Two  New  Species  of  Birds  (Anulcipus  consangitineus  and 

Edoliosojna  alierutn).     Ibis,  1881,  pp.  .32-34. 
Descriptions  of  Two  New  Species   of  Birds  from  Sumatra  (Hemixus 

sumatranus  and   Criniger  smnatrnmis).     Ann.   Mag.   Nat.   Ilist.  x. 

1882,  p.  431. 
Catalogue  of  the  Tweeddale  collections.     Ibis,  1884,  p.  123. 
Contributions  to  the  Ornithology  of  the  Philippine  Islands: — No.  1.  On 

two  collections  of  Birds  from  the  vicinity  of  Manila.     Ibis,  1884, 

p.  3.30. — No.  2.   On  additional  collections  of  Birds.      Ibis,  1886, 

p.  15. 
On  the  Columbine  genus  Mac7-opygia  and  its  allies.     Ibis,  1890.  p.  214. 
On  a  New  Genus  of  the  Order  Columbfe.     Ibis,  1890,  p.  246. 

William  Eagle  Clauke. 

Henry  Morris  Upcher. 

Henry  Morris  Upcher,  born  December  1839,  wlio  passed 
away  on  April  6,  1921,  at  his  picturesque  seat  at  Sher- 
ringhani,  aged  82,  was  perhaps  better  known  as  an 
all-round  sportsman  and  shooter  of  game  than  as  a 
naturalist.  Nevertheless,  his  predilection  for  wild  animals, 
which  began  before  he  went  to  Cambridge,  was  early,  and 
enthusiastic.  The  eldest  of  six  brothers,  only  two  of  whom 
have  survived  him,  in  1869  Mr.  Upcher  married  Maria, 
only  daughter  of  Canon  Sparke  of  Feltwell,  by  whom  he 
had  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  In  1892  he  settled 
at  Sherringham,  where  he  contributed  largely  to  the  rise 
and  progress  of  that  popular  resort  by  the  sea. 

An  active  supporter  of  all  things  connected  with  the 
county  of  Norfolk,  Mr.  Upcher  was  seldom  idle.  He  was 
High  SlierifE  in  1899,  D.L.  and  J. P.,  was  elected  to  the 
County  Council  as  alderman  in  1901,  and  served  on  the 
committees  for  the  Protection  of  Wild  Birds  and  Eastern 
Sea  Fisheries,  besides  assisting  the  Sea-Coast  Erosion  Com- 
missioners and  working  for  the  Urban  Council.     Needless 


1921.]  Obituary.  541 

to  say,  lie  Avas  a  supporter  of  the  Norfolk  and  Norwich 
Naturalists'  Society,  although  not  an  original  member,  and 
in  1883-1<  was  offered  and  accepted  the  post  of  President. 
When  he  joined  in  1871,  this  Society  was  poorly  supported 
and  little  known,  but  he  lived  to  see  it  rise  in  popularity 
under  the  secretaryship  of  Dr.  S.  H.  Long,  and  contributed 
on  at  least  one  occasion  to  its  Transactions. 

A  Fellow  of  the  Zoological  Society  in  1864,  and  Member 
of  the  British  Ornithologists'  Union  the  same  year,  he  was 
easily  senior  in  both  these  scientific  bodies  to  any  other 
East  Anglian.  Of  course,  he  made  a  point  of  attending  the 
meetings  of  the  B.  O.  U.  whenever  possible,  and  at  the 
special  Jubilee  gathering,  held  in  1908,  he  was  called  upon 
as  the  oldest  surviving  elected  member  to  take  the  chair, 
when  lie  had  the  honour  of  presenting  medals  to  the  sur- 
viving original  members  of  the  Union — Mr.  F.  D.  Godmaii, 
Dr.  P.  L.  Sclater,  Mr.  W.  H.  Hudleston,  and  Mr.  Percy 
Godman.  The  speech  with  which  these  presentations  were 
prefaced  was  a  characteristic  one,  bringing  in  a  reference 
to  Canon  Tristram,  his  fellow-traveller  in  Palestine,  and 
another  to  his  old  college  friend  Alfred  Newton. 

Like  other  naturalists,  he  took  great  interest  in  the 
visitatioQ  of  Pallas's  Sand-Grouse  to  this  country  in  1888, 
and  exhorted  his  friends  to  refrain  from  shooting  them. 
But  besides  exerting  himself  in  this  Avay  he  assisted  the 
late  Mr.  Southwell  and  the  writer  of  these  recollections 
in  compiling  a  correct  list  of  occurrences — no  easy  task, 
for  they  numbered  over  eleven  hundred  for  the  county  of 
Norfolk  alone,  besides  many  more  in  Suffolk.  Unfoi^tunately 
there  was  no  proof  of  breeding,  although  various  reports 
were  circulated  as  to  the  finding  of  eggs  (see  '  Zoologist,' 
1888,  p.  454),  but  only  in  one  instance  could  it  be  verified. 

A  farmer  at  Pickenham  near  Swaffham,  who  ought  to 
have  known  better,  shot  a  Sand-Grouse  as  she  rose  from  her 
three  eggs.  These  he  took  to  Major  Applethwaite  of  that 
place,  from  whom  and  from  the  late  Mr.  Partridge  this 
information  was   obtained.      Mr.   Southwell  enquired  into 


542  Obituary.  [Ibis, 

the  affair,  and  satisfied  himself  thiit  the  record  was  reliable, 
but  neither  he  nor  Mr.  Upcher  saw  the  eggs,  whieli  were 
subsequently  broken. 

From  a  sportsman^s  point  of  view,  Upcher  knew  every- 
thing about  game-birds  that  there  was  to  be  known,  his 
special  favourite  being  the  Woodcock,  of  which  he  had 
possibly  brought  dow^n  as  many  to  his  own  gun  as  any  man 
in  England.  His  home  on  the  coast  w'as,  in  fact,  a  point  of 
arrival  for  Woodcocks,  Fieldfares,  Redwings,  and  thousands 
of  other  migratory  birds  which  cross  the  North  Sea  in 
October  and  November.  This  annual  passage  takes  place 
by  night,  when  the  bulk  of  the  migrants  pass,  those  seen  by 
day  being  for  the  most  part  laggards  delayed  by  contrary 
winds.  An  exception  must,  however,  be  made  for  the 
Corvidse,  which  appear  to  travel  at  any  time,  nearly  as 
many  passing  by  day  as  by  night. 

The  Sherringham  game-books  have  records  of  the  number 
of  Woodcocks  for  many  years,  and  the  following  list, 
extracted  from  them,  which  was  copied  for  the  present 
writer  by  Mr.  Upcher  himself,  may  here  be  given  as  a 
specimen  of  the  sport  which  well-preserved  coverts  can 
afford  : — 


In  1858, 

102 

were  shot  (36  on  one  day^ 

„  1859, 

68 

11 

„  1866, 

72 

1) 

„  1868, 

101 

11 

„  1869, 

87 

,,    (35  in  one  day) 

„  1880, 

111 

5) 

„  1883, 

112 

11 

„  1884, 

108 

11 

„  1885, 

119 

)} 

These  figures  are  interesting  when  compared  with  returns 
made  from  other  parts  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk. 

More  than  once  pied  varieties  came  under  Mr.  Upcher^s 
notice,  and  in  1868  a  melanism  was  shot  near  Sherringliam, 
which  is  now  iu  the  Natural  History  Museum. 

Mr.  Upcher's  name  is  commemorated  in  Hypolais  upcheri, 


1 92 1.]  obituary.  543 

named  by  Tristram  after  his  travelling  companion,  and 
obtained  during  their  journey  in  Palestine;  he  was  also 
the  original  discoverer  o£  Passer  moabiticus,  which  was  only 
met  with  by  the  party  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Dead  Sea, 
and  is  still  a  scarce  bird  in  collections. 

j.  h.  gurney. 

John  Burroughs. 

John  Burroughs,  who  died  29  March  last,  Avithin  a  few 
days  of  his  eighty-fourth  birthday,  was  to  America  what 
Gilbert  White  was  to  England.  In  natural  history  and  in 
literature  Burroughs  covered  a  wider  field  than  White,  but 
both  aroused  in  their  readers  an  interest  in  the  everyday 
life  of  garden,  fiekl,  and  forest  about  their  homes. 

'Wake  Robin,'  Burroughs'  first  book,  was  published 
about  1870,  and  his  final  work  'Accepting  the  Universe' 
appeared  in  the  last  year  of  his  life.  In  1871  he  made  a 
short  visit  to  England,  and  the  results  of  his  observations 
here  are  recorded  in  'Winter  Sunshine'  under  the  heading 
"  An  October  Abroad."  Some  years  later  he  made  a  longer 
stay  in  this  country  and  devoted  a  volume.  '  Fresh  Fields,' 
to  describing  his  impressions  of  England  and  its  bird-life. 

Although  in  no  sense  a  technical  naturalist.  Burroughs 
was  a  careful  and  accurate  observer,  and  his  facility  of 
expression  gave  to  his  essays  a  literary  quality  which  won 
for  him  a  much  larger  audience  than  is  reached  by  the 
purely  scientific  writer.  For  this  reason  he  exerted  a  pro- 
found influence  in  developing  in  America  that  interest  iu 
nature,  and  })articularly  birds,  which  has  been  so  potent  a 
factor  in  securing  the  passage  and  enforcement  of  laws 
protecting  wild  life  in  that  country. 

Mr.  Burroughs  was  the  leader  in  the  movement  against 
what,  in  America,  is  called  "nature  faking,"  and,  joined  by 
Mr.  Roosevelt,  he  succeeded  in  bringing  into  disrepute  that 
class  of  writers  who,  sacrificing  truth  for  gaiiij  presented 
fiction  as  fact  and  attributed  to  animals  an  intelligence  they 
are  far  from  possessing. 

Mr.  Burroughs  won  disciples  not  only  by  the  power  of 


544  Recently  published  Ornithological  Works,  [Ibis, 

his  pen,  but  by  liis  lovable  personality,  which  gained  for 
him  thousands  of  friends.  His  home  "  Riverby "  on  the 
Hudson  lliver,  with  its  cabin-study  "■  Slabsides  ^'  in  the 
adjoining  hills,  and  his  summer  retreat  "  Woodchuck 
Lodge,"  at  his  birthplace  in  the  Catskills,  were  yearly 
visited  by  hundreds  of  his  followers.  It  is  gratifying  to 
learn  that  within  a  month  of  his  death 'a  Memorial  Asso- 
ciation was  organized  and  incorporated  to  acquire  these 
places  which  are  so  closely  associated  with  Burroughs'  life 
and  works,  and  to  preserve  them  as  shrines  for  those 
who,  in  succeeding  years,  will  know  John  Burroughs  only 
through  the  written  words  which  form  his  legacy  to  the 
world. 


XXIX. — Notices  of  rece.iit  Ornitliological  Publications. 

Bangs  and  Penard  on  American  Birds. 

[Notes  on  some  American  Birds,  chiefly  Neotropical.  By  Outram 
Bangs  and  Tliomas  E.  Penard.  Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool.  Cambridge, 
Mass.  Ixiv.  1921,  pp.  365-397.] 

An  important  systematic  paper  in  Avhich  two  new  genera, 
one  new  species,  and  five  new  races  are  proposed,  while  a 
number  of  species  and  subspecies  are  reviewed,  involving 
changes  and  corrections  in  nomenclature  and  synonymy. 

The  new  genera  are  Cometornis  (perilously  near  Cos- 
metornis  in  our  opinion)  to  take  the  place  of  Lophotriccus, 
with  type  Todirostrum  squamacrista  Lafres.,  and  Muscifur 
near  Myiarchus  for  type  M.  semirvfus  Scl.  &  Salv.  The 
new  species  is  Cometornis  vitiosus  from  Peru,  based  on  an 
old  Lafresnaye  specimen  dating  from  early  in  the  last 
century  ! 

Beebe  on  the  Pheasants. 

[A  Monograph  of  the  Pheasants.  By  William  Beebe.  Vol.  ii. 
pp.  xv-1-269  5  24  col.  pis.,  24  photogr.,  5  maps.  London  (Witherby 
for  the  New  York  Zoological  Society),  1921.     4to.] 

The  long-expected   second  volume  of  Mr.  Beebe's  great 


1921.]       Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  545 

and  sumptuous  work  on  the  Plieasauts  has  at  last  appeared, 
and  fully  bears  out  the  expectations  formed  by  the  first. 
We  understand  the  publication  of  the  other  two  vohimes, 
which  will  complete  the  work,  will  not  he  long  delayed. 

The  present  volume  deals  with  the  Kaieege  and  Silver 
Pheasants  of  the  genus  Gennceus,  the  JMalayan  Firehacks  of 
the  genera  Acomus  and  Lophura,  the  remarkable  White- 
tailed  Wattled  Pheasant  of  the  genus  Lobiophasis,  and  the 
Jungle-Fowls,  four  in  number,  of  the  genus  Gallus. 

Perhaps  the  most  valuable  and  remarkable  feature  of  this 
work  are  the  personal  observations  of  Mr.  Beebe  himself, 
which  are  chiefly  included  under  the  heading  of  "The  Bird 
audits  Haunts. ''  The  success  which  Mr.  Beebe  had  (during 
the  comparatively  short  time  in  which  he  was  travelling  in 
the  eastj  of  observing  in  their  native  jungles  so  many  species, 
is  extraordinary.  Of  the  nine  species  of  Gennaus  he  has 
personal  experience  of  five  ;  he  saw  four  out  of  the  five 
species  of  Firebacks  as  Avell  as  tiie  Lobiophasis,  and  three 
out  of  the  four  Jungle-Fowls. 

In  his  taxonomy,  Mr.  Beebe  is  distinctly  conservative  and 
a  lumper.  He  reduces  the  number  of  species  of  Gennaus  to 
nine — a  great  reduction  from  sixteen  of  the  Hand-list  and 
Mr.  Baker's  estimate  of  eight  species  and  eight  subspecies. 
Mr.  Beebe  believes  that  the  great  number  of  the  species 
described  chiefly  by  Oates  from  Burma,  and  often  founded 
on  single  specimens,  are  natural  hxbrids  which  occur  at  the 
junction  of  the  ranges  of  G.  lineatus  with  the  more  western 
G.  horsfieldi  and  the  more  eastern  G.  nycthemerus,  and  he 
has  devoted  a  good  deal  of  argument  to  endeavouring  to 
prove  this  thesis.  We  shall  not  attempt  here  to  give  an 
opinion  on  this  question,  but  in  any  further  attempt 
at  revision  Mr.  Beebe's  views  must  have  great  weight. 

The  coloured  plates,  of  which  there  are  forty-four^  are, 
with  the  exception  of  five,  reproduced  from  paintings  by 
Mr.  George  Lodge.  Mr.  C.  R.  Knight,  the  American  bird- 
artist,  is  responsible  for  the  Silver  (^Gennceus  nycthemerus) 
and  the  Fireback  [Lophura  ignita) ;  while  Mr.  Gronvold 
contributes  three,  illustrating  chicks   and   plumages.     Our 


546  Recently  published  Oi'nitho logical  Works.  [Ibis, 

chief  criticism  of  the  plates  is  that  there  is  too  much 
scenery  and  too  little  bird  in  a  good  many  of  the  cases, 
but  we  cannot  forebear  our  admiration  of  them  as  a  whole. 
The  photogravures  from"  Mr.  Beebe^s  own  photogra])hs  give 
one  a  wonderful  idea  of  the  country  which  the  various 
species  inhabit,  and  the  maps  are  of  the  greatest  value 
to  illustrate  the  range.  We  congratulate  Mr.  Beebe,  his 
artists,  and  publishers  on  their  joint  achievement. 

Bouhier  on  Migrcttion  Routes. 

[Les  cinq  (5ventails  de  migration  des  oiseaux  de  la  faunc  palearctique. 
Par  Maurice  Boubier.  Bull.  Soc.  Zool.  Geneve,  ii.  pp.  216-228,  map, 
1919.] 

M.  Boubier,  after  examining  all  the  facts  available,  has 
conceived  the  idea  that  the  migration  routes  of  the  birds  of 
the  Palsearctic  Region  are  best  represented  by  fan-like  or 
radiating  lines,  open  towards  the  north,  fan-like  towards  the 
south.     These  five  fans  are,  briefly  : 

1.  European-Senegambian.  Birds  breeding  from  western 
Siberia  to  Greenland,  passing  south  along  western  Europe 
to  western  Africa. 

2.  Caucaso-Zambesian.  Birds  breeding  in  south-eastern 
Europe  and  western  Asia  pass  through  Egypt  and  along  the 
lied  Sea  to  eastern  Africa  as  far  as  Natal. 

3.  Aralo-Malabaric.  Birds  of  eastern  Russia  and  central 
Asia  pass  through  Beluchistan  to  the  western  coasts  of 
India. 

4.  Himalayan-Hindu.  Birds  nesting  in  the  Himalaya 
winter  in  the  Indian  plains. 

5.  Sibero-Malayan.  Birds  nesting  in  eastern  Siberia 
and  Kamchatka,  passing  soutli  to  eastern  India  and  tiie 
Indo-Malayan  countries. 

The  fans  are  shown  depicted  on  a  sketch-map,  and 
worked  out  with  examples  ;  the  idea  is  somewhat  novel, 
and  this  method  of  representing  migration  routes  is 
probably    much    more    in    accordance  with  the   facts  than 


1 92 1.]        Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  547 

the  more  detailed  ariangenieiit  of  route-lines  sucli  as  were 
first  proposed  by  the  late  Prof.  Palraen. 

Chapman  on  South- American  Birds. 

[Descriptions  of  apparently  new  Birds  from  Bolivia,  Brazil,  and 
Venezuela.  By  Frank  M.  Chapman.  American  Museum  Novitates, 
No.  2,  1921,  pp.  1-8.] 

Eight  new  forms  are  described.  Of  these,  four  are  new 
species  as  follows  : — Capita  brunneipedus,  Nonnula  amauro- 
cephala,  and  Microrhopias  emilice  from  Brazil,  belonging 
to  the  Museum  Goeldi  at  Para,  and  Rhopochares  cocha- 
bamboi  from  Bolivia,  collected  by  Miller  and  Boyle  for  the 
American  Museum. 

The  periodical  in  which  these  appear  is  a  new  one  and  is 
stated  to  be  "  issued  as  Occasion  requires  for  the  publication 
of  preliminary  announcements  etc.  The  articles  are  to  be 
numbered  serially  and  paged  independently." 

Courtois  on  the  Birds  of  China. 

[Les  Oiseaux  du  Musee  de  Zi-ka-wei.  Mem.  concernant  I'Histoire 
Naturelle  de  I'Empire  Chinois  par  des  Peres  de  la  Compagnie  de  Jesus, 
Vol.  V.  cahier  3,  fasc.  1-4,  pp.  1-121,  pis.  1-45,  1912-1918.] 

There  has  recently  reached  us  from  China  a  memoir  on 
the  birds  of  the  Zikawei  Museum,  near  Shanghai,  in  four 
quarto  parts.  Though  nowhere  stated  in  so  many  words, 
the  letterpress  and  the  plates  appear  to  be  the  work  of  the 
Rev.  R.  L.  Courtois,  S.J.,  the  Director  of  the  Museum  and 
a  member  of  our  Union. 

The  Museum  of  Zikawei  was  founded  by  the  late 
Pere  Heude,  who  travelled  extensively  in  China  and 
Malayan  countries.  In  the  present  publication  is  a  list 
of  the  birds  in  the  collection,  arranged  according  to  Oustalet 
and  David's  work  on  the  birds  of  China,  with  Latin  and 
Chinese  names,  localities,  and  remarks  on  the  nests  and 
eggs  when  in  the  collection.  The  first  fascicule  contains  a 
list  of  318  species  in  the  collection,  the  second  a  series 
of  13  plates  of  nests  and  eggs  of  Chinese  birds,,  tlie  latter 


548  Recently  published  Ornithological  JVurks.  [Ibis, 

reproduced  by  direct  photography  and  coloured  by  hand. 
The  tliird  aud  fourth  fascicules  contaiu  supplementary  lists 
of  birds  in  the  Museum  collection,  and  photographs  of 
selected  mounted  specimens,  also  coloured  by  hand.  The 
whole  work  is  a  monument  to  the  industry  of  our  fellow- 
member,  and  will  be  undoubtedly  of  great  value  to  all 
students  of  Chinese  birds. 

Griscom  and  Nichols  on  the  Seaside  Sparrows. 

[A  Revision  of  the  Seaside  Sparrows.  By  Ludlow  Griscom  and 
J.  T.  Nichols.  Abstr.  Proc,  Linn.  Soc.  New  York,  no.  32,  1920, 
pp.  18-30.] 

The  Seaside  Sparrows  are  a  rather  unobtrusive  little 
group  of  Fringillidse  included  in  the  genus  PasserJierbulus, 
and  confined,  as  their  name  implies,  to  the  salt-marshes 
along  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts  of  the  United  States. 

The  authors  had  the  advantage  of  examining  nearly 
700  specimens,  and  it  took  them  two  months  to  arrive 
at  their  final  conclusions.  They  recognize  three  species, 
one  of  which,  P.  mirabilis,  can  be  divided  into  seven  local 
races.  Two  of  these  are  new^  and  described  here  :  P.  m. 
juncicola  from  north-west  Florida,  collected  by  the  senior 
author,  which  originally  set  him  on  the  task  of  rearrange- 
ment, and  P.  m.  howelli  from  Alabama. 

Gurney  on  Norfolk  Ornithologists. 

[Presidential  Address  to  the  Members  of  the  Norfolk  and  Norwich 
Naturalists'  Society  at  their  51st  Annual  Meeting,  By  J.  H.  Gurney, 
Trans.  Norfolk  and  Norwich  Nat.  Soc.  vol.  xi.  1919-20,  pp.  1-22.] 

In  his  address  to  the  Norfolk  Naturalists'  Society, 
JMr.  Gurney,  who  has  occupied  the  Presidential  Chair 
for  four  years,  chose  as  his  subject  the  lives  and  labours 
of  several  of  the  more  eminent  ornithologists  of  East 
Anglja,  among  whom  the  best  known  were:  Henry  Ste- 
venson, author  of  '  The  Birds  of  Norfolk,'  who  died  in 
1888  ;  Alfred  Newton  ;  Thomas  Southwell,  who  completed 
Stevenson's  work  after  his  death  ;  Edward  Clough  Newton, 
the  falconer  ;    and,  finally,  Mr.  Gurney's  own  father,  John 


1 92 1.]       Recently  pub  lis  Jied  Ornithological  Works.  549 

Henry    Gurney,    sen.,   wliose   work   on    the   Accipitres   is 
known  to  us  all. 

Gurney  on  the  Annals  of  Ornithology . 

[Early  Annals  of  Ornithology.  By  J.  H.  Gurney,  F.Z.S.  With  illus- 
trations from  Photographs  and  old  Prints.  Pp.  8+240.  London 
(Witherby),  192L     8vo.] 

We  desire  to  heartily  congratulate  Mr.  Gurney  on  the 
completion  of  his  long-expected  '  Annals  of  Ornithology.^ 
We  can  imagine  that  the  compilation  of  the  work  has 
been  a  labour  of  love  to  its  author,  and  it  certainly  has 
provided  a  rich  storehouse  of  ornithological  lore  to  the 
reader.  ''To  collect  all  the  ancient  passages  about  birds, 
of  any  special  interest,  but  more  particularly  those  which 
concerned  British  Birds,  and  to  string  them  together  in 
order  of  date  "  was  the  author's  scheme  as  set  out  in  the 
preface,  and  although  the  outcome  of  this  endeavour  has 
resulted  in  a  somewhat  disjointed  account  of  the  various 
species,  owing  no  doubt  to  the  interpolation  of  fresh  matter 
after  the  first  proofs  were  set  up,  the  general  interest  of  the 
work  is  by  no  means  diminished  thereby.  The  'Annals' 
embrace  a  period  ranging  from  prehistoric  times  till  the 
close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  and  include  a  very  full 
collection  of  extracts  from  the  various  rare  and  ancient 
books  which  deal  with  matters  ornithological  in  these 
islands,  though  we  notice  that  the  passages  in  Fynes 
Morrison^s  "  Itinerary '^  (1G17)  referring  to  the  "  Foules  " 
of  England  and  Ireland  '^  are  omitted,  and  we  should  have 

*  The  latter  runs  as  follows : — "Ireland  hath  great  plenty  of  Birds 
and  Foules,  hut  by  reason  of  their  naturall  sloth,  they  had  little 
delight  or  skill  in  Birding  or  Fowling.  But  Ireland  hath  neither 
singing  Nightingall,  nor  chattering  Pye,  nor  undermining  Moule,  nor 
blacke  crow,  but  onely  Crowes  of  mingled  colour,  such  as  we  call 
Ttoyston  Crowes.  They  have  such  plenty  of  Pheasants,  as  I  have 
known  sixtie  served  at  one  feast,  and  abound  much  more  with  Rayles ; 
but  partridges  are  somewhat  rare.  There  be  very  many  Eagles :  and 
great  plenty  of  Hares,  Conies,  Hawkes,  called  Gosse-Hawkes,  much 
esteemed  with  us.  .  .  .  The  Hawkes  of  Ireland  called  Goss-Hawkes 
are  (as  I  said)  much  esteemed  iu  England,  and  they  are  sort  out  by 
mony  and  all  means  to  be  transported  thither," 


550  lieceiitlii  published  Ornitholugical  Works.  [Ibis, 

welcomed  an  extension  of  the  references  to  the  Gieat 
Auk  {Alca  wipennis^  concerning  which  bird  a  vast  fund 
of  unpublished  information  is  to  be  found  in  the  late 
Professor  Newton's  MS.  *' Garefowl  Book"  in  the  Newton 
Library  at  Cambridge. 

In  addition  to  the  copious  extracts  furnished  from 
printed  works,  Mr.  Gurney  has  gathered  a  valuable  fund 
of  information  from  unpublished  Household  Accounts  and 
kindred  sources,  and  in  particular  he  is  able^  in  iiis  nintli 
chapter,  to  make  important  additions  to  that  portion  of 
the  "  Le  Strange  Household  Accounts "  first  published 
in  1834<  by  Mr,  D.  Gurney  in  vol.  xxv.  of  '  Arch^eologia.' 
These  constitute  a  valuable  and  interesting  description  of 
the  various  birds  and  other  articles  of  food  used  in  the 
dotnestic  economy  of  a  Norfolk  country  house  in  the 
sixteenth  century. 

In  conclusion,  we  must  confess  that  we  have  seldom  read 
a  more  fascinating  volume,  or  one  that  carries  back  the 
imagination  more  vividly  to  the  "  good  old  days  "  ;  and 
as  we  turn  over  the  pages  we  can  readily  visualise  what 
excitement  must  have  reigned  at  Hunstanton  Hall  when 
the  first  bird — albeit  merely  a  "  Watter  hen  " — was  "  killed 
wt  the  gun  ''  on  that  autumn  day  in  1533,  and  wish  we 
could  have  witnessed  the  great  spectacle  at  Kenilworth  * 
some  forty  years  later,  when  among  other  pleasing  devices 
a  bridge  was  prepared  for  Queen  Elizabeth  to  pass  over, 
where  "  upon  the  first  payr  of  posts  were  set  too  cumly 
square  wyre  cages,  each  a  three  feet  long,  too  foot  wide  : 
and  by  in  them  live  bitters,  curluz,  shoovelarz,  hearsheawz, 
godvvitz,  and  such  like  dainty  byrds,  of  the  presents  of 
Sylvanus  the  god  of  Food."— W.  H.  M. 

HanJdn  on  Soaring  Flight. 

[The  Problem  of  Soaring-  Flight.  By  E.  H.  Ilankiu.  With  an 
introduction  by  F.  Ilandley  Page,  C.B.E.  Proc.  Cambridge  Philos. 
Soc.  XX.  1921,  pp.  219-227.] 

Dr.  Hankin,  the  Chemical  Examiner  to  the  Government 

*  P.  181, 'Annals.' 


1 921.]       Rece7itly  pubHshed  Ornithological  Works.  551 

of  India,  lias  been  occupying  his  leisure  for  many  years 
in  investigating  tlie  problem  of  fliglit,  not  only  in  birds, 
but  also  in  flying  fishes  and  insects  and  even  pterodactyls  ! 
He  published  in  191-1'  a  volnnie  on  tlie  subject,  which 
we  fear  lias  not  attracted  the  attention  it  should  have  ; 
for  his  work  is  of  a  most  interesting  nature,  and  he  lias 
devised  a  number  of  exceedingly  ingenious  instruments 
and  mathematical  methods  for  recording  the  speed  of 
flight. 

The  present  short  paper  deals  with  the  problem  of  soaring 
flight.  How  does  a  bird  whose  body  is  heavier  than  the  air 
maintain  itself  at  great  elevations  without  [jcrceptible  move- 
ment of  its  wings  and  in  a  calm  atmosphere  ? 

In  the  present  paper  Dr.  Hankin  gives  a  summary  of  his 
observations  during  the  last  ten  years,  and  the  conclusion 
he  reaches  is  that  "  soaring  flight  is  inexplicable  in  the  light 
of  existing  knowledge."  He  believes  that  in  some  way  or 
other  the  energy  involved  is  derived  from  the  sun's  rays,  and 
he  hopes  that  a  solution  may  eventually  be  discovered  by  ex- 
perimental investigation.  The  introduction  by  Mr.  Haudley 
Page  deals  with  tlie  bearing  of  soaring  flight  on  mechanical 
aviation. 

Hurtert  on  the  Palcearctic  Birds. 

[Die  Yogel  der  palaarktischen  Fauna.  Von  Dr.  Ernst  Hartert. 
Bd.  ii.  Heft  xi.-xii.  pp.  1345-1600;  Heft  xiii.-xiv.  pp.  i-xxiv  & 
1601-1764;  Bd..iii.  Heft  xv.  pp.  176-5-1892.  Beiliu  (Friedlander), 
1920-1921.     8vo.] 

The  numbers  of  Dr.  Hartert^s  invaluable  work  are  coming 
out  more  quickly  now,  and  we  have  before  us  two  double 
parts,  completing  the  second  volume,  and  the  first  part  of 
the  third  volume,  containing  more  matter  than  we  can  well 
deal  with  in  a  short  article. 

In  parts  xi.-xii.  the  balance  of  the  Ducks,  the  Stegano- 
podes,  Tubinares,  Pygopodes,  Columbse,  Pterocletes,  and  a 
portion  of  the  Liraicolae  are  dealt  with.  Parts  xiii.-xiv. 
contain    the    rest    of    the    Waders    and    the    Gulls    (Lari). 

SER.  XI. VOL.  III.  2o 


552  Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  [Ibis, 

Part  XV.  is  occupied  with  the  Alcae,  the  Alectorides  (witli 
families  Otidse,  Gruidae,  and  Rallidpe),  the  Hemipodii 
or  Turnices,  and  the  Galli.  This  leaves  only  the  rest  o£ 
the  Galli  and  the  Ostrich  to  finish,  but  we  understand  a 
formidable  supplement  and  indexes  are  to  follow  to  com- 
plete the  work  and  bring  it  up  to  date. 

We  have  found  a  few  points  which  appear  to  require 
comment.  The  t\^pe  oi  Podiceps  is  stated  to  be  P.fluviatilis. 
This  must  surely  be  a  slip  of  the  pen  for  P.  cristatus  ; 
moreover,  the  Little  Grebe  is  called  P.  ruficoUis  in  the  main 
text  and  not  P.fluviatilis.  We  note  also  that  the  genus  Morus 
is  admitted  for  the  Solan  Goose.  Although  the  generic  name 
of  the  Cranes  is  rightly  given  as  Megalornis,  the  family 
itself  is  named  Gruidse ;  surely  according  to  nomenclatural 
rules  the  family  name  should  be  taken  from  the  earliest- 
described  genus  within  its  limits.  Anyhow,  as  Gj'us  has 
been  shown  to  be  a  synonym  of  Psophia,  it  seems  illogical 
to  use  the  term  Gruidfe  as  a  family  name. 

It  will  be,  perhaps,  useful  to  mention  the  new  forms 
described  in  the  three  parts  now  under  notice.  They  are 
as  follows  : — Podiceps  ruficoUis  japonicus,  p.  1455  ;  (Enopo- 
pelia  tranqueharica  murmensis  from  the  Himalayas,  p.  1499; 
Cursorius  gallicus  exul  from  the  Cape  Verde  Islands, 
p.  1526  ;  Sterna  maxima  alhididorsalis  from  west  African 
coasts,  p.  1698  ;  GaUinula  chluropus  seychellarum,  p.  1843; 
and  Lag  opus  mutus  pyrenaicus,  p.  1869. 

With  regard  to  the  Seychelle  Moorhen,  a  race  from  the 
island  of  St.  Denys  to  the  north  of  the  main  group  of 
the  Seychelles  appears  to  have  been  named  by  the  late 
Prof.  Newton  (Diet.  Bds.  p.  590,  footnote)  GaUinula 
dionysiana,  though  the  description  is  not  very  adequate 
and  the  diagnostic  character  relied  on  is  the  extreme 
reduction  of  the  size  of  the  wings.  This  does  not  appear 
to  be  the  case  with  the  bird  described  by  Dr.  Hartert,  but 
comparison  of  the  two  forms  would  be  of  interest. 


1 92 1.]       Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  553 

Hartert  on  the  Types  at  Tring. 

[Types  of  Birds  in  tlie  Tring  Museum.  By  Ernest  Hartert,  Ph.D. 
B.  Types  in  the  general  collection.  Nov.  Zool.  xxvi.  pp.  123-178, 
1919,  and  xxvii.  pp.  425-505,  1920.] 

Dr.  Hartert  has  already  rendered  a  great  service  to 
ornithology  by  his  Catalogue  of  the  types  in  the  Brehm 
collection,  chiefly  of  Palrearctic  forms  (Nov.  Zool.  1918, 
pp.  4-63).  He  has  now  in  the  papers  before  us  commenced 
to  list  those  in  the  general  collection,  and  although  he  has 
enumerated  878  he  has  not  completed  the  Passeres. 

This  is  a  striking  testimony  to  the  value  and  completeness 
of  the  collections  in  the  Tring  Museum  gathered  together  in 
so  comparatively  short  a  space  of  time  by  the  enthusiasm  of 
Lord  Rothschild  and  Dr.  Hartert. 

The  majority  of  the  birds  described  from  the  Tring 
collections  are  naturally  those  named  by  Lord  Rothschild 
and  Dr.  Hartert  themselves,  though  a  good  many  have  been 
described  by  Drs.  Hellmayr,  Neumann,  and  Stresemanri 
and  others  who  have  worked  at  Tring. 

There  are  also  a  number  of  types  which  have  been  acquired 
with  collections  which  had  already  been  described  elsewhere. 
The  names  which  are  now  regarded  as  synonyms  are  marked 
with  a  dagger  (f),  and  appear  to  be  very  few  compared  with 
those  that  are  considered  valid ;  while  there  are  quite  a 
number  of  new  subspecies  and  names  mentioned  for  the 
first  time,  which  must  be  carefully  noted  by  the  working 
ornithologist. 

Kuroda  on  new  Japanese  and  Formosan  birds. 

[Descriptions  of  three  new  forms  of  birds  from  Japan  and  Formosa. 
By  Nagamichi  Kuroda.     Debuts.  Zasshi,  xxxii.  pp.  243-24:8,  1920.] 

The  birds  described  are  Milvus  lineatus  formosanus  from 
Formosa,  distinguished  from  the  mainland  form  by  its 
smaller  dimensions  ;  Nyroca  ferina  ferinoides  from  Japan 
in  winter,  probably  breeding  in  south-eastern  Siberia.  It 
differs  from  the  Common  Pochard  by  its  shorter  wing, 
which    measures   Ji03-210   mm.   as   against   213-224  mm. 

2o2 


554.  Recenthj  puhlished  Ornithological  IVorks.  [Ibis^ 

The  iris  is  noticed  as  bright  red,  whereas  in  the  Common 
Pochard  it  appears  to  be  yellowish  to  orange.  The  third 
new  bird  is  Cami^epliaga  luyuhris  asakurai  from  Formosa. 

Matheivs  and  Iredales  Manual  of  Australian  Birds. 

[A  Manual  of  the  Birds  of  Australia.  By  Greg-ory  M.  Mathews  and 
Tom  Iredale,  illustrated  with  coloured  and  monochrome  plates  by 
Lilian  Medland.  Vol.  T.  Orders  Casuarii  lo  Columhse.  Pp.  xxiv4- 
279;  10  col.  &  36  monochrome  plates.  London  (Witherhy),  192L 
8vo.     Price  ,£3  36'.  each  volume.] 

Not  content  with  his  larger  work  on  the  birds  of 
Australia^  o£  which  eight  volumes  are  now  complete,  the 
indefatigable  Mr.  Mathews  in  collaboration  with  ^Ir.  Iredale 
has  now  planned  a  new  work  on  the  same  subject  on  a 
somewhat  smaller  and  less  ambitious  scale,  to  be  completed 
in  four  volumes,  of  which  this  is  the  first. 

As  is  now  the  case  with  the  larger  work,  the  species  are 
treated  of  as  a  whole,  and  the  subspecific  races  are  only 
mentioned  under  the  heading  "  Distribution  and  Forms." 
The  other  information  in  regard  to  breeding  habits  is  con- 
cisely statied,  and  full  description  of  the  plumages  are  given. 
There  are  no  keys,  but  the  genera  and  fam.ilies  are  fully 
diagnosed.  The  classification  is  somewliat  novel  and  is 
somewhat  on  the  lines  of  Sharpe's  '  Hand-list,'  but  the 
arrangement  and  names  of  the  orders  are  altered  ;  while 
in  the  present  volume  tlie  Frigate-bird  is  raised  to  tlie 
dignity  of  a  special  order,  and  the  Gulls,  Shore-birds 
(Charadriiformes),  and  Tropic  Birds  are  banded  together 
under  the  order  Lari. 

The  monochrome  plates  of  heads,  bills,  and  feet  will 
undoubtedly  be  found  most  useful  to  explain  the  generic 
diagnoses.  Our  only  complaint  is  that  they  are  not  referred 
to  in  the  text  ;  indeed,  they  would  have  proved  more  useful 
still  if  they  could  have  been  intei'polated  in  the  letterpress 
on  the  pages  to  which  they  refer.  Seven  subspecies  have 
been  named  as  new  belonging  to  the  genera  Eudyptes, 
Heleroprion,  Phcebetria,  Sulita,  Chlidunias  {=:  Ili/drochelidon 
auct.),  and  Pelecanopus. 


1 92 1.]       Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  555 

The  work  will  undoubtedly  prove  most  useful  to  Aus- 
tralian as  well  as  to  other  workers,  and  we  shall  reserve 
our  further  remarks  and  criticisms  until  the  other  volumes 
are  completed. 

Most  of  tlie  coloured  plates  represent  nestlings  and  are 
of  great  interest  ;  in  fact,  all  the  plates  are  very  good  and 
reflect  the  greatest  credit  on  Miss  Medland,  the  artist  who 
is  responsible  for  them. 

Matheivs  on  Australian  Birds. 

[The  Birds  of  Australia.  By  Gregory  M.  Mathews.  Vol.  ix. 
pis.  1  &  2,  pp.  1-96,  pis.  400^411.  Loudon  (Witlierby),  Feb.  &  Apr. 
1921.] 

The  Fan-tailed  Flycatchers  are  fascinating  little  birds, 
with  attractive  ways  and  beautiful  nests.  Among  these, 
Mr.  Mathews  only  leaves  one  Australian  species  in  tlie  genus 
Rhipidnra,  though  he  aduuts  that  his  Hoiveavis  and  Setosura 
are  closely  allied.  They  vary  in  coloration,  size  of  bill  and 
of  feet,  while  Leucocirca  is  still  more  easily  distinguished  by 
the  same  characteristics,  as  Swainson  was  the  first  to  observe. 
Bhipidura  jiabelUfera  is  divided  by  the  author  into  eleven 
subspecies  ;  besides  those  that  are  extralimital,  several  were 
formerly  considered  worthy  of  specific  rank.  This  form  is  not 
depicted  in  the  Watliiig  drawings,  but  the  Rufous  Fan-tail 
{Howeavis)  is  given  two  figures.  Six  subspecies  are  here 
recognized  for  Australia  ;  those  outside  need  further 
examination.  On  page  30  we  find  a  criticism  under 
Setosura  of  Hartert's  opinions,  and  the  objection  is  raised 
that  some  of  the  subspecies  allowed  by  that  author  show 
no  real  relationships.  Mr.  Mathews  himself  gives  four  for 
Australia,  writing  davidi  for  macgillivrayi  preoccupied. 
Leucocirca  tricolor  should  be  Leucophrys  (p.  40) ;  here 
there  has  been  a  great  confusion  of  names.  Mr.  Mathews 
makes  four  subspecies,  one  of  which  (carteri)  is  new. 

Mastersornis,  the  genus  used  by  the  author  for  Myiagra 
preoccupied,  is  taken  to  have  three  species.  Of  the  first 
the    synonymy    has    been    mucli    confused,    but    Latham's 


556  Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.         [Ibis, 

name  rubecula  has  priority,  and  is  identical  with  jihmbea 
and  rubiculoides  of  Vigors  and  Korsfiekl^  while  Goukl's 
concinna  is  only  one  of  seven  sul)species  recognized  by 
Mr.  Mathews,  as  opposed  to  five  by  Rothschild  and 
Hartert — including  extralimital  forms.  Similarly,  M.  cyano- 
leucus  lias  priority  over  niticla  of  Gould,  and  includes  as 
subspecies  robinsoni  and  nuptus,  the  latter  of  which  was 
considered  a  full  species  from  the  Louisiade  Group  by 
Hartert.  M.  ruficollis,  which  is  identical  with  latirostris 
of  Gould,  has  five  subspecies,  three  being  Australian. 

The  very  broad-billed  MachcBrirhynchus  has  one  species 
(Jiaviv enter')  from  Cape  York  and  a  large  subspecies 
{secundus)  from  Cairns  district,  apart  from  others,  outside 
the  Continent.  That  familiar  bird  the  Restless  Flycatcher, 
or  scissors-grinder  (Seisura),  was  depicted  no  less  tlian 
four  times  by  Watling,  and  subsequently  named  four  times 
by  Latham.  His  first  name  (inquieta)  holds^  and  five  sub- 
species are  here  recognized.  Oi"  these^  nana  was  considered 
a  full  species  by  Gould,  while  rogersi  is  now  given  as  a  new 
form  from  north-west  Australia. 

Ophryzone  is  a  genus  of  one  species  confined  to  the 
Cairns  district,  for  Mr.  Mathews  has  separated  lorealis 
from  kaupi  under  a  genus,  Proseisura.  Piezorhynchus  has 
one  Australian  species,  originally  discovered  by  Gilbert, 
which  is  divided  into  four  subspecies  under  the  head  of 
the  extralimital  alecto.  We  next  come  to  a  group  of  birds 
differentiated  by  Bonaparte  as  Symposiachrus,  and  allied 
to  Mona?'cha.  There  is  one  Australian  species  {trivirgatus) 
with  two  subspecies  [albiventris  and  gouldii),  for  Sharpe's 
medius  is  the  same  as  the  former,  and  stalkei-l  is  now 
dropped.  Carteroniis  leucotis  has  had  a  luckier  fate,  for  it 
has  been  named  but  once^  though  two  subspecies  are 
admitted.  Monarcha  proves  to  be  a  composite  group^  the 
consideration  of  which  begins  in  this  part.  A  new 
genus  {Penemo7iQrcha)  is  proposed  for  Salvadori's  species 
axillaris,  while  Monarchana  is  to  be  used  for  Chrysomela 
of  Garnot. 


1921.]       Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  557 

Saunders  on  the  birds  of  Montana. 

[A  distributional  list  of  the  birds  of  Montana,  with  notes  on  the 
migration  and  nesting  of  the  better  known  species.  By  Aretas  A. 
Saunders.  Pacific  Coast  Avifauna  of  the  Cooper  Ornithological  Club, 
no.  14,  pp.  1-194 ;  map  and  35  hgs.  from  photos.  Berlieley,  California, 
1921.] 

The  State  of  Montana  is  nearly  three  times  the  size  of 
England  ;  it  lies  along  the  northern  boundary  of  the  United 
States,  and  its  western  third  is  traversed  by  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  which,  however,  do  not  rise  above  an  elevation 
of  11.000  feet,  while  its  eastern  two-thirds  consists  of 
plateau  land  forming  the  prairies.  Settlement  of  jMontana 
came  rather  late,  but  much  development  has  taken  place 
during  the  last  ten  years  and  has  brought  about  many 
changes  in  the  bird-life.  The  Trumpeter-Swan,  the  Sand- 
hill and  Whooping  Cranes,  the  Sage-Hen  and  Long-billed 
Curlew,  formerly  common,  are  now  becoming  rare  owing  to 
closer  settlement,  and  Mr.  Saunders  has  done  well  to  place 
his  observations  and  those  of  his  predecessors  on  record. 

A  short  introduction  is  followed  by  a  chapter  on  dis- 
tributional areas  in  Montana,  illustrated  by  a  sketch-map. 
The  list  of  species  with  their  status  and  selected  breeding 
and  migration  records  occupy  the  greater  part  of  the  volume, 
and  after  this  comes  the  introduced  species  and  hypothetical 
list.  The  number  of  species  recorded  is  333.  The  work 
appears  to  have  been  very  carefully  done  and  will  doubtless 
form  a  standard  list  of  the  birds  of  the  State  for  some  time. 
The  text  is  enlivened  by  a  number  of  photographs  of  nests, 
eggs,  and  birds  by  various  contributors  excellently  well 
reproduced. 

Soderberg  on  Australian  Birds. 

[Results  of  Dr.  E.  Mjoberg's  Swedish  Scientific  Expeditions  to 
Australia,  1910-1913.  xviii.  Studies  of  the  Birds  of  North-West 
Australia,  by  Rudolf  Soderberg.  Kungl.  Svenska  Vetens.  Akad.  Handl, 
Bd.  52,  no.  17,  pp.  1-116 ;  3  pis.,  25  text-figs.     1918.] 

In  1910-13  Mr.  Soderberg,  a  Swedish  ornithologist  who 
has  recently  been  paying  a  visit  to  this  country,  accompanied 


558  Recently  published  Omittioloyical  Works.         [Ibis, 

T)r.  Mj(")berg,  an  entomologist,  on  an  exploring  and  collecting 
expedition  to  Australia.  Ke  spent  some  ten  months  in  the 
northern  tropical  portion  of  Western  Australia,  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Derby  and  Hroome,  and  in  this  paper 
he  gives  us  the  results  of  his  observations.  Mr.  Scklerberg 
"wisely  devoted  a  great  deal  of  his  attention  to  such  subjects 
as  the  movements  or  partial  migrations  of  birds,  due  to  the 
wet  and  dry  seasons  ;  to  the  eflt'ects  of  discoloration  produced 
by  the  extreme  dryness  of  the  summer  season;  to  moult, 
which,  like  nesting,  takes  place  at  varying  times  of  year, 
and  is  by  no  means  so  fixed  to  certain  definite  periods  as  in 
the  temperate  regions  of  Europe.  He  also  made  studies 
of  the  nesting-habits  of  many  birds  and  the  methods  they 
adopt  for  combating  their  enemies,  which  appear  to  be 
chiefly  egg-sucking  lizards.  All  these  matters  are  dealt 
with  in  a  most  suggestive  and  interesting  way  in  the  general 
portion  of  the  paper.  This  is  followed  by  the  list  of  the 
species  obtained,  with  notes  on  the  juvenai  plumage,  moult, 
ecology,  and  other  matters  of  interest. 

The  paper  is  of  considerable  importance,  and  should  not 
be  missed  by  anyone  who  takes  an  interest  in  the  problems 
of  the  desert  fauna  of  Australia.     It  is  written  in  English. 

Swarth  on  the  genus  Passerella. 

[Revision  of  the  avian  genus  Passerella,  with  special  reference  to  the 
distribution  and  migration  of  the  races  in  California.  By  H.  S.  Swarth. 
University  of  California  Pabl.  in  Zoology,  vol.  21,  1920,  pp.  75-224; 
4  pis.,  30  text-figs.,  including  many  maps.] 

The  genus  Passerella  contains  a  number  of  Sparrow-like 
birds,  commonly  known  in  America  as  Fox-Sparrows.  All 
the  forms  are  included  under  one  species,  P.  iliaca,  of  which 
Mr.  Swarth  recognises  sixteen  races,  including  the  typical 
one.  All  the  races  breed  in  the  far  north  or  at  considerable 
elevations,  while  the  typical  race  has  a  very  wide  distribu- 
tion, breeding  from  Alaska  to  Newfoundland  and  visiting  in 
winter  the  middle  and  southern  States  east  o(  the  llocky  Mts. 
The  other  fifteen  breed  along  the  western  portion  of  the 
continent    from    the    Alaska    Peninsula    through    British 


1 92 1.]        TtecentJy  jmhlished  Onnt.hologicol  Works.  559 

Columl)ia  to  southern  California,  and  exhibit  considerable 
variation,  not  only  in  plumage  but  in  so-called  structural 
characters,  such  as  size  of  bill  and  lengtli  of  tail.  Nearly 
all  the  western  races  winter  in  California,  and  so  great  is 
the  variation  and  so  many  are  the  intermediate  forms  that' 
great  confusion  has  arisen  and  collectors  have  great  difficulty 
in  identifying  individual  examples. 

Mr.  Swarth  has  therefore  prepared  this  very  elaborate 
and  detailed  memoir  to  clear  up  the  many  difficulties 
encountered,  and  has  examined  about  1800  specimens, 
including  the  types  of  fourteen  of  the  sixteen  races,  in  the 
course  of  his  work,  which  is  obviously  of  a  most  accurate 
and  detailed  character.  Four  of  the  more  distinct  races  are 
illustrated  by  a  beautiful  plate  by  Major  Allan  Brooks;  the 
other  plates  are  from  photographs  of  the  characteristic 
scenery  of  the  haunts  of  the  birds. 

Apart  from  its  usefulness  to  Californian  ornithologists, 
the  paper  deals  with  numerous  interesting  problems  of 
variation,  distribution,  and  migration. 

Sivarth  on  the  Birds  of  Arizona. 

[Birds  of  the  Papago  Saguaro  National  Monument  and  the  neigh- 
bouring region,  Arizona.  By  H.  S.  Swarth.  Dept.  Interior.  National 
Park  Service,  pp.  1-63;  S  pis.  Wasliington  (Govt.  Printing  Office) 
1920.     8vo.] 

The  Papago  Saguaro  National  Monument  is  a  tract  of 
land  a  few  miles  east  of  Phoenix  in  Arizona,  set  aside  to 
conserve  certain  types  of  desert  vegetation  in  a  region  where 
increased  settlement  is  rapidly  changing  the  appearance  of 
the  land.  Some  eighty  miles  further  east  is  a  large  artificial 
storage  reservoir  for  irrigation  purposes,  known  as  Roose- 
velt Lake,  with  a  bird  reservation  around  it,  and  the  whole 
region  is  attracting  increasing  numbers  of  visitors  for  its 
unique  and  romantic  scenery.  This  little  pamphlet  is  a 
guide  to  the  bird-lovei'  who  visits  this  region,  and  has  good 
accounts  of  the  more  common  birds  to  be  met  with  and 
a  list  of  all  those  likely  to  be  seen.  The  National  Monu- 
ments in  the  United  States  are  now  24  in  number  and  are 


560  Recently  imhlished  Ornithological  Works.  [Ibis, 

administered  by  the  same  sei'Aace  as  the  National  Parks, 
which  are  tracts  of  ereater  area. 


Todd  on  neiv  South  American  Birds. 

[Descriptions  of  apparently  new  South  American  Birds.  B}'  W.  E. 
Clyde  Todd.     Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington,  vol.  33,  1920,  pp.  71-76.] 

This  short  paper  contains  descriptions  of  three  new  species 
and  thirteen  new  subspecies,  chiefly  from  French  Guiana 
and  the  lower  Amazon,  where  collections  have  recently 
been  made  for  .the  Carnegie  Museum  at  Pittsburg  by 
Mr.  S.  M.  Klages.  The  new  species  are  as  follows  : — 
Polioptila  guianensis,  French  Guiana  ;  Myrmopagis  para- 
cusis, Para,  Brazil  ;  and  Nyctipolus  maculosus,  French 
Guiana. 

Townsend  on  the  Birds  of  Massachusetts. 

[Sii pplenieut  to  the  Birds  of  Essex  County,  Massachusetts.  By  Charles 
Wendell  Townsend.  Memoirs  of  the  Nuttall  Ornithological  Club,  no.  5, 
pp.  1-196  ;  1  pi.,  1  map.     Cambridge,  Mass.,  1920.    8vo.] 

About  fifteen  years  ago  Dr.  Townsend  published  an 
account  of  the  birds  of  Essex  County,  which  lies  on  the 
coast  of  Massachusetts  a  little  to  the  north  of  Boston 
and  contains  a  number  of  early  New  England  settlements 
and  towns,  the  most  important  of  them  being  Salem,  well 
known  even  in  England  for  the  burning  of  the  witches. 
Dr.  Townsend  himself  has  a  summer  home  at  Ipswich 
further  north,  and  has  now  prepared  a  supplemental  list 
of  the  birds  of  the  county,  not  only  in  order  to  bring  his 
records  up  to  date,  but  also  to  show  the  changes  which  have 
taken  place  during  the  period  which  has  elapsed,  in  the 
distribution  of  the  various  species.  Legislation  has  helped 
to  preserve  many  otherwise  vanishing  species.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  prevalence  of  insect  pests  which  have  done 
great  damage  to  the  woods  of  this  part  of  the  county,  has 
led  to  spraying  the  trees  with  poisonous  fluids,  to  clearing 
up  the  brushwood  and  undergrowth,  and  to  the  stopping  up 


1 92 1.]       Recently  puhlished  Ornithological  Works.  561 

of  the  lioles  in  tree-trunks.  All  these  have  had  a  had  effect 
on  some  of  those  species  formerly  abundant.  An  inter- 
esting chapter  deals  with  this  subject,  and  another  discusses 
the  number  of  individual  birds  in  certain  limited  areas — 
bird  censuses,  in  fact — but  the  bulk  of  the  volume  is 
devoted  to  an  annotated  list  of  species  with  supplementary 
records  and  observations. 

Bird  Notes. 

[Bird  Notes :  The  Journal  of  the  Foreign  Bird  Club.  Edited  by- 
Wesley  T.  Page.     Ser.  -3.     Vols.  ii.  &  iii.  for  1919  &  1920.] 

It  is,  we  regret  to  say,  some  time  since  we  noticed 
'  Bird  Notes/  and  we  have  two  volumes  for  1919  and  1920 
now  lying  before  us.  Among  principal  contributors  are 
Mr.  Baily  W.  Shore,  Dr.  E.  Hopkinson,  Mr.  Amsler,  the 
Marquis  of  Tavistock,  and  the  editor  himself,  who  appears 
to  be  responsible  for  the  last  half  of  the  matter  contained  in 
the  two  volumes.  We  much  regret  to  see  that  Dr.  Lovell 
Keays,  another  enthusiastic  aviculturist  who  formerly  sent 
many  good  articles  to  this  magazine,  died  in  May  last  year 
from  the  effects  of  mental  and  physical  strain  during  the 
three  years  of  the  war. 

Among  the  longer  and  more  important  contributions  to 
these  two  volumes  must  be  mentioned  the  carefully  com- 
piled list  of  all  species  of  birds  which  have  bred  in  captivity, 
by  Dr.  Hopkinson,  and  tlie  very  practical  articles  by  the 
Marquis  of  Tavistock  on  Parrots  and  the  best  methods  of 
keeping  them  either  in  aviaries  or  in  the  open.  There  are 
also  several  contributions  from  the  United  States.  Australia, 
and  France  where  M.  Delacour  has  re-established  his  aviaries 
destroyed  during  the  war.  He  sends  a  detailed  account 
of  the  successful  breeding  of  the  West  African  Touraco 
[Turacus persa).  Only  one  species  of  this  family  had  been 
previously  successfully  bred  in  captivity. 

We  regret  to  see  that  there  appears  to  be  a  strong  feeling 
among   the   members   of   the   Foreign   Bird    Club   against 


562  lieceni/i/  published  Ornithological  Works.  [Ibis, 

amalgamation    witli    the    Avicultural    Society,    which    was 
advocated  some  little  time  previously. 

In  addition  to  the  usual  photographs  the  two  volumes 
contain  a  number  of  very  artistic  drawings  of  birds  from 
life  ])y  Mrs.  A.  M.  Cook.  We  should  like  to  draw  special 
attention  to  those  of  the  Hornbills  and  Toucans  appearing 
in  the  numbers  for  December  1919  and  January  1920. 

Bulletin  of  the  Essex  County  Ornithological  Club. 

[Bulletin  of  the  Essex  Couuty  Ornithological  Club  of  Massachusetts 
for  1919  and  1920.] 

Essex  County  lies  to  the  north  of  Boston,  and  with  its 
ancient  town  of  Salem  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  earliest 
settlements  in  the  United  States.  The  ornithological  club, 
which  was  formed  in  1916  by  the  bird-lovers  of  Salem  and 
the  surrounding  districts,  now  finds  itself  sufficiently  firmly 
established  to  warrant  the  publication  of  an  annunl  report 
or  bulletin,  and  we  have  been  favoured  with  co|)ies  of  the 
first  two  numbers.  The  editor  is  Mr.  A.  P.  Stubbs,  and 
he  has  collected  together  a  number  of  short  papers  and 
articles  dealing  with  local  avifauna  of  the  district  by 
Dr.  Townsend,  Mr.  E.  H.  Forbush,  Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard,  and 
other  observers.  One  of  the  chief  features  of  the  club  is  an 
annual  excursion  in  May  along  the  Ipswich  river.  This  has 
taken  place  regularly  for  thirteen  years,  and  on  these  occa- 
sions altogether  136  species  of  birds  have  been  identified  ; 
of  these  an  annotated  list  occupies  some  twenty  pages  of 
the  1919  Report,  and  shows  the  care  with  which  work 
of  this  kind  is  carried  out  in  the  United  States. 

Journal  fur  Ornithologie. 

[Journal  fiir  Ornithologie.  68  Jahrgang  for  1020;  4  parts  and  a 
supplement.] 

The  longer  articles  in  the  last  volume  of  the  '  Journal 
fiir  Ornithologie  ^  deal  with  observations  made  during  the 
war.  Messrs.  Bacmeister  and  Kieinschmidt  conclude  a  long 
paper  on  the  birds  of  north-eastern  France,  begun  in   the 


1 92 1.]       Recently  published  Ornitliological  Works.  563 

two  previous  volumes,  and  a  good  many  subspecies  not 
mentioned  in  Hartert^s  Vog.  pal.  Fauna  are  discussed  at 
lengtli.  Count  Zedlitz  commences  a  similar  series  of 
articles  on  the  birds  of  the  eastern  front,  dealing  with  the 
collections  and  summarizing  the  observations  of  various 
other  ornithologists,  as  well  as  his  own,  on  the  bii'ds  in  the 
vast  swamps  of  the  head-waters  of  the  Pripjet  River  in 
southern  Poland  and  the  neighbouring  parts  of  Russia — a 
melancholy  region,  wild  and  inaccessible,  and  but  sparsely 
inhabited  by  man  though  swarming  with  birds.  Another 
paper,  also  in  several  parts,  dealing  with  the  birds  of 
the  Ural  region  in  eastern  Russia  is  from  the  pen  of 
Mr.  H.  Grote. 

Mr.  Oscar  Neumann  contributes  a  long  list  of  new  genera 
and  of  subspecies  from  different  parts  of  Africa.  These^,  he 
states^  have  long  been  known  to  him,  and  indeed  manj"^  of 
the  types  are  in  the  Tring  and  Londoii  museums,  which 
he  visited  before  the  war.  But,  as  he  mournfully  writes, 
seeing  little  chance  of  securing  further  material  for  com- 
parison, he  now  publishes  his  old  notes.  The  new  genera 
are  Knestrometophon  for  Sigmodus  scopifrons  Peters,  Suaheli- 
ornis  for  Phyllastrephus  kretzschmeri  Rclnv.,  SatJirocercus 
for  Bradypterus  barakee  Sharpe,  Vibrissa sylvia  for  Callene 
cyornitliopsis  Sharpe^  and  the  new  races  described  are 
sixteen  in  number. 

Another  paper  by  Count  Zedlitz  reviews  the  eastern  races 
of  Certhia  familiaris  and  C.  brachydactyla,  and  includes 
descriptions  of  several  new  races  ;  while  Dr.  Reichenow  has 
some  remarks  on  the  Soutli  American  genus  Cinclodes,  and 
also  adds  to  the  number  of  described  races.  The  last 
supplementary  part  is  entirely  occupied  witli  portion  of  a 
work  on  the  birds  of  Egypt  by  Prof.  Koenig,  of  Bonn. 
It  contains  the  accounts  of  the  Insessores  (i.  e.  Picarians 
and  their  allies)  and  the  Coraces  (Orioles,  Bulbuls,  Star- 
lings, and  Crows).  Full  diagnoses  of  the  genera  and  species 
are  given  ;  also  the  names  in  Englisli,  French,  and  Arabic, 
and  detailed  accounts  of  the  nesting-habits  and  eggs  of  such 
species  as  breed  there. 


564  Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.         [Ibis, 

L'Oiseau. 

[L'Oiseau.     Revue  d'Histoire  iiaturelle  appliques.     Vol.  i.  for  1920. 
12  nos.] 

This  is  a  new  journal  Avliich  has  recently  reached  us. 
It  is  published  by  the  Societe  nationale  d'Acclimation 
of  France,  and  consists  of  two  parts,  the  first  dealing 
^■ith  Mammalogy,  Pisciculture,  Entomology,  Botany,  and 
Colonization  ;  the  second  with  Ornithology.  The  President 
of  the  Ornithological  Committee  is  M.  Jean  Delacour, 
well  known  to  English  aviculturists  as  a  most  successful 
breeder  of  wild  birds  in  captivity.  The  new  journal  is  run 
verv  much  on  the  same  lines  as  our  British  '  Avicultural 
Magazine,^  and  many  of  the  contributors  to  the  first  volume 
now  under  review  hail  from  this  side  of  the  Channel. 
After  an  introduction  on  the  beauty  and  usefulness  of 
birds  and  the  deliglit  which  we  find  in  studying  their  w^ays 
and  habits,  by  Mr.  Edmond  Perrier,  who  is  the  President  of 
the  Society  and  the  Director  of  the  Museum  of  Natural 
History,  Mr.  Seth  Smith  follows  with  an  account  of  the 
bird-houses  in  the  London  Zoological  Gardens.  There 
are  also  articles  by  Mr.  H.  D.  Astley  and  Wesley  T. 
Page. 

The  principal  French  contributors  are  M.  Delacour,  who 
has  an  interesting  notice  on  his  experiences  with  living 
Humming-birds,  and  M.  A.  Decoux,  who  describes  some 
remarkable  Weaver-bird  hybrids,  one  of  which  (Zonogastris 
melbax  Estrilda  phanicotis)  is  figured  in  colour.  There 
are  two  other  coloured  plates  of  the  Gang-gang  Cockatoo, 
Callocephalon  galeatum,  by  M.  A.  Millot.  M.  Delacour  is 
hoping  to  be  able  to  breed  this  rare  species  in  captivity. 
He  has  a  fine  male  which  he  hopes  to  mate  with  a  hen 
belonging  to  the  Marquis  of  Tavistock. 

There  are  many  other  illustrations,  reproduced  from 
photographs  and  drawings,  to  accompany  articles  by  other 
aviculturists.  We  wish  every  success  to  the  new  venture 
of  our  brave  allies. 


192 1.]       Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  565 

Ooloffists'  Record. 

[The  Oologists'  Record :  a  Quarterly  Mag'azine  devoted  to  the  ad- 
vancement of  Oology  in  all  parts  of  tlie  World.  Vol.  i.  No.  1,  March 
1921.     Published  by  Harrison  &  Sons,  London.] 

We  have  been  favoured  with  a  copy  of  a  new  magazine 
devoted  to  Oology.  It  is  edited  by  Mr.  Kenneth  L.  Skinner, 
and  contains  several  pleasant  articles  on  birds  and  bird- 
nesting.  The  first,  by  C.  F.  B.,  contains  a  list  of  species 
found  breeding  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Mombasa,  some  of 
those  met  with  being  by  no  means  common,  but  we  should 
like  to  know  that  they  were  all  identified  by  collecting  the 
skins.  The  second  article,  by  Mr.  J,  Bishop,  is  on  birds  met 
with  along  the  western  front  in  France;  the  most  inter- 
esting note  is  on  the  Little  Bustard,  whose  breeding  place 
was  probably  located  though  the  eggs  were  not  found. 
Captain  Pitman  has  a  third  article  on  bird-nesting  in 
Palestine,  but  he  only  deals  in  the  present  number  with 
the  Rufous  Warbler  and  the  Whitethroat,  which  are  treated 
at  considerable  length. 

A  picture  of  the  Kite  by  Frohawk  adorns  the  cover, 
perhaps  not  the  best  frontispiece  that  could  be  chosen  for 
an  Oological  Magazine. 


South  African  Journal  of  Natural  History. 

[The  South  African  Journal  of  Natural  History.     Vol.  ii.  for  1920.] 

With  this  publication  the  former  Journal  of  the  South 
African  Ornithologists'  Union  is  now  incorporated,  and  we 
have  recently  received  the  two  numbeis  for  1920,  making 
up  the  second  volume.  Among  the  papers  on  birds  is  one 
by  the  late  Lieut.  C.  G.  Finch-Davies  on  tiie  avifauna  of 
the  South- West  African  Protectorate,  which  adds  to  our 
knowledge  of  the  distribution  of  South  African  birds. 
Verreaux^s  Eagle  (^Aquila  verreauxi)  is  recorded  from  the 
Protectorate  for  the  first  time.  It  was  found  nesting  on  a 
krantz  near  Windhuk.  Mr.  Finch-Davies  has  also  identified 
Lanius  luebbertl  Reichw.  as  an  immature  L.  minor. 


566  Recenthj  j^u^lished  Ornithological  Works.         [Il)is, 

Some  furtlier  field-notes  on  Verreaux^s  Eagle  are  contri- 
buted by  Mr.  R.  E.  Symons,  whose  observations  were  made  in 
the  Drakensberg-  mountains  between  Natal  and  Basutoland. 

Mr,  R.  Godfrey  continues  his  account  of  the  birds  of  the 
pleasant  and  diversified  valley  of  the  Buffalo  river  in 
the  eastern  Cape  Province.  His  first  paper  deals  with  the 
Tits  and  Sugarbirds^  and  his  second  with  the  White-eyes, 
Bulbuls,  Larks,  and  Pipits. 

The  little  island  of  St.  Croix  in  Algoa  Bay,  where 
Bartholomew  Diaz  is  stated  to  have  erected  a  cross  or 
"  padrao  "^  to  mark  his  discovery  in  1488,  has  recently  been 
visited  by  Mr.  J.  Hewitt,  who  found  Penguins  {Sphetiiscus 
demersus)  and  White-breasted  Cormorants  [Phalacrocorax 
lucidus)  breeding  there  in  large  colonies.  His  article  is 
illustrated  with  two  photographs. 

Yearbook  of  the  Dutch  Bird-Club. 

[Club  van  Nederlandsclie  Vogelkundigen  :  Jaarbericlit  no.  10  for 
1920.] 

Tliis  Yearbook  for  1920  is  issued  in  four  parts  instead  of 
one  aimual  volume,  and  contains  a  good  deal  of  interesting 
matter.  The  editor,  Baron  Snouckaert  van  Schauburg, 
contributes  two  accounts  of  collections  recently  made  in 
Sumatra  by  Heer  van  Heijst,  which  contain  several  birds 
new  to  this  island,  viz. : — Falco  peregrinus  ernesti,  Monticola 
solitarius  pandoo,  Criniger  finschi,  'and  Kenopia  striata. 
He  also  has  his  annual  report  on  the  occurrence  of  rare 
birds  in  Holland  from  October  1919  to  September  1920. 

Heer  H.  C.  Siebers  discusses  the  status  and  relations  of 
Corvus  comix  and  C.  corone,  and  whether  they  should  be 
considered  as  distinct  species  or  only  subspecies,  and  Heer 
A.  Hiverson  continues  his  essay  on  the  birds  of  the  Javanese 
rice-fields  ;  Heer  C.  G.  B.  ten  Kate  has  a  note  on  an  old 
work  on  whaling  and  the  natural  history  of  the  Arctic 
regions  by  C.  G.  Zorgdragers,  ])ublished  in  1728,  and 
endeavours  to  identify  the  birds  mentioned  therein.  Finally, 
the  third  part  is  occupied  by  a  paper  by  Dr.  E.  Streseraann 
in  German  on  the  origin  of  the  fauna  of  the  Alps  and  other 
mountain  ranges  of  central  Europe. 


1 92 1.]  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notest.  567 

List  of  other  Ornithological  Pub  tic  at  ions  received. 

Count  Arriooni  degli  Oddi.     Reprints  of  nine  recent  papers. 
GuRNEY,  J.  H.     Oruitliolog'ical  Notes  from  Norfolk  for  19:20.     (Brit. 

Birds,  xiv.  pp.  242-252.) 
Riley,  J.  H.     Four  new  Birds  from  Celebes  and  Five  new  genera  of 

Birds.     (Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington,  vol.  34,  pp.  51-58.) 
Withers Y   (Edited   by).      A   Practical   Handbook   of  British   Birds. 

(Pt.  X.) 
Auk.     (Vol.  xxxviii.  no.  2.) 
Avicultural  Magazine.     (Vol.  xii.  nos.  3-5.) 
Bird-Lore.     (Vol.  xxiii.  no.  2.) 
Bird  Notes.     (Vol.  iv.  nos.  3-4.) 
British  Birds.     (Vol.  xiv.  nos.  11-12.) 
Brooklyn  Museum  Quarterly.     (.Tan,  1921.) 
Canadian  Field  Naturalist.     (Vol.  xxxiv.  no.  8.) 
Condor.     (Vol.  xxiii.  no.  2.) 
Emu.     (Vol.  XX.  no.  4.) 
Fauna  och  Flora.     (1921,  pt.  2.) 
Gerfaut.     (Vol.  xi,  fasc.  1.) 
Irish  Naturalist.     (Vol.  xxx.  nos.  4-5.) 

Jaarbericht  Club  van  Nederlandsche  Vogelkuudiugen.     (Vol.  xi.  pt.  1.) 
Journal  fiir  Ornithologie.     (Vol.  69,  part  2.) 
L'Oiseau.     (Vol.  ii.  njs.  3-4.) 

Ornithologische  Monatsberichte.     (Vol.  29,  nos.  5-6.) 
Revue  Fran9ai3e  d'Ornithologie.     (Nos.  144-145.) 
Scottish  Naturalist.     (Nos.  Ill,  112.) 
South  Australian  Ornithologist.     (Vol.  vi.  nos.  1-2.) 


XXX. —  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes. 

Plumages  of  Nestling  Owls. 

Sir, — 111  the  April  nitmber  o£  *  The  Ibis '  {antea,  p.  348) 
Mr.  Bonhote  refers  to  four  plumages  of  the  young  Eagle- 
Owl  which  he  had  described  in  the  '  Bulletin  B.  O.  C 
(vol.  xxvii.  pp.  82-83).  The  question  is  of  some  import- 
ance, as  it  involves  the  number  of  generations  of  plumage. 
I  should  therefore  like  to  point  out  that  I  cannot  agree  with 
Mr.  Bonhote  that  the  Eagle-Owl  has  three  generations  of 

SER.  XI. — VOL.  III.  3  P 


568  Letters,  Ewtracts,  mid  Notes.  [Ibis, 

plumage  before  acquiring  feathers  -nliich  are  exactly  like 
those  of  the  adult.  The  first  is  a  shortish  buffisli-white 
down.  According  to  Mr.  Bonhote,  this  is  followed  by  a 
long  down.  I  find,  on  the  other  hand,  by  examination  of 
specimens  (in  the  Brit.  Mus.  and  at  Tring)  that  the  first 
down  is  immediately  succeeded  by  the  juvenile  plumage 
which  Mr.  Bonhote  calls  "  (3)  a  downy  feather."  The 
specimens  in  the  British  Museum  clearly  show  the  shortish 
white  down  attached  to  the  tips  of  these  downy  feathers. 
I  venture  to  suggest  that  Mr.  Bonhote  lias  confused  this 
plumage  in  its  early  stages  of  growth  on  the  living  bird 
with  a  down.  As  I  have  already  stated  ('  Practical  Hand- 
book,' vol.  ii.  pp.  78-79)j  it  is  of  a  very  loose  and  downy 
nature,  and  this  is  especially  noticeable  on  the  rump  and 
belly.  There  is  considerable  variation  in  the  structure  of 
the  juvenile  feathers  of  the  Owls.  Mr.  Meade-Waldo  in 
his  letter  [antea,  p.  348)  refers  to  the  Scops  Owl  as  having 
no  intermediate  down  between  the  first  and  the  feather 
plumage,  and  compares  it  with  the  Barn-Owl,  but  this 
comparison  is  confusing  and  not  correct.  The  juvenile 
plumage  of  the  Scops  Owl  is  more  compact  than  that  of 
other  British  Owls,  but  it  differs  from  that  of  the  adult,  and 
is  a  true  juvenile  plumage.  The  juvenile  plumage  of  the 
Hawk-Owl  is  very  little  less  compact,  while  that  of  the 
Eagie-Owl  represents  the  other  extreme,  being  looser  and 
more  down-like  even  than  that  oi:  the  Snowy  Owl.  The 
first  feathers  of  the  Barn-Owl,  on  the  other  hand,  are 
exactly  like  those  of  the  adult,  and  I  consider  that  the 
second  nestling  down  of  this  species  is  equivalent  in  genera- 
tion to  the  downy  juvenile  plumage  of  other  Owls,  which 
have  only  one  nestling  down. 

H.  F,  Withe RBY. 
Ilampstead, 
Juue  12,  1921. 


1 92 1.]  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  569 

Correction  to  "  The  Birds  of  Lower  Egypt. '^ 

SiR^ — I  beg  to  draw  attention  to  an  error  in  my  recent 
paper  in  '  The  Ibis/  where  I  record  having  identified  Alauda 
arvensis  arvensis  as  occurring  in  Ej^ypt.  An  examination 
of  my  skins  shows,  however,  that  this  is  not  justified,  but 
that  both  A.  a.  cinerea  and  A.  a.  cantarella  do  occur. 

1  would  also  draw  attention  to  the  Bull.  B.  O.  C.  for 
May  1921  in  which  Mr.  M.J.  Niooll  describes  the  Egyptian 
form  of  the  Singed  Sand-Grouse  as  a  new  sub-species  under 
the  name  of  Pterocles  senegalensis  fluweri.  As  the  skin 
which  has  been  made  a  type  of  this  sub-species  was 
apparently  obtained  by  me,  it  would  perhaps  prevent 
future  complications  if  my  nomenclature  was  brought 
up  to  date. 

W.  Raw. 
170  New  Bridge  Street, 
Newcastle-on-Tyne, 
June  13,  1921. 


News  from  Capt.  Lynes  and  Mr.  Willoughby  Lowe. 

We  have  not  heard  from  Capt.  Lynes  since  his  letter 
dated  20  February  last,  when  he  had  reached  the  Jebel 
Marra  in  Dafur  and  was  encamped  at  an  elevation  of 
5250  feet.     He  writes  : — 

"We  left  El  Obeid  (railhead)  on  6  January  with  a 
camelcade  of  23  l)easts — we  ourselves  on  donkeys.  Our 
camels  were  excellent.  We  did  not  hurry,  and  took  twenty- 
four  days  to  do  the  420  miles  to  El  Fasher.  En  route  we 
got  several  interesting  things — perhaps  the  most  useful 
was  two  full  clutches  of  eggs  of  Ortyxelos.  I  sent  Percy 
Lowe  a  full  description  of  our  first  clutch,  and  the  second 
was  exactly  similar.  Evidently  they  breed  mainly  after  the 
rains,  when  the  ground  has  dried  up  a  bit. 

"  Then,  Lowe  has  been  doing  great  things  in  the  big  bird 
and  small  mammal  line.  We  have  got  two  fine  Kori 
Bustards  (old  male  weighed  21  lbs.,  and  doubtless  when 
fat    and    breeding   would    have    scaled    much   more)   and   a 


570  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  [Ibis, 

denhami.  We  also  have  two  females  of  Savile's  Biistard, 
of  wliich  I  had  only  cocks  last  trip.  The  Kori  is  the  large 
Bustard  which  I  did  not  get  on  the  last  journey,  hut  was 
conspicuous  ])y  reason  of  its  lavender-grey  looking  wings 
in  flight.  There  is  a  tremendous  lot  of  lavender-grey  about 
the  upper  wing-spread  and  the  back  is  a  warm  light  olive- 
brown  in  colour  (turkey  speckle-feathers). 

''We  stayed  a  week  at  Fasher  with  Col.  and  Mrs.  Savile, 
who  were  like  everyone  we  meet  in  the  Sudan — kindness 
itself,  and  were  able  there  to  make  all  preparations  for 
Jebel  Marra  in  ease  and  comfort,  even  luxury. 

'^  On  8  February  we  set  sail  for  Jebel  Marra,  this  time  to 
enter  the  mountains  at  the  north-east  end  of  the  massif,  and 
at  the  end  of  nine  days  arrived  here  at  Kurra,  5.250  feet, 
and  the  limit  of  camel  transport.  Kurra  is  the  residence  of 
one  of  the  eight  Shartar's  or  Far-Princes  of  Jebel  Marra, 
and  our  plans  for  the  high  altitudes  are  now  in  progress. 
A  Inrge  number  of  donkeys  are  necessary  now,  and  we  hope 
to  start  off  in  a  few  days'  time.  Meanwhile,  there  are  nice 
things  here — not  only  in  the  clear  running-water  line,  but 
in  birds.  However,  I  will  not  go  into  them  more  than  to 
say  we  have  just  shot  a  Secretary  Bird,  male  adult,  the  first 
we  have  seen.  Unfortunately,  it  was  moulting  a  bit,  and  all 
the  head-quills  are  not  fully  grown,  but  they  seem  very  broad. 

''  It  is  an  unusually  cold  year  ;  even  at  El  Fasher,  2600  feet, 
we  had  H°  F.  of  frost  one  night,  and  here  at  5250  feet  on 
night  ]6/17  February  we  had  8°  F.  of  frost,  mercifully  no 
wind.  I'he  day  temperature,  however,  goes  up  to  87°  or  so. 
But  we  are  Ijoth  very  fit,  and  much  looking  forward  to  the 
unknown  ahead  of  us." 

Mr.  Willoughby  Lowe  writes  to  Mr.  D.  Bannerman,  who 
has  kindly  allowed  me  to  print  part  of  his  letter,  from 
Kalokitting,  1  April,  1921,  as  follows  : — 

"  We  arrived  here  last  night,  having  come  through  from 
the  north  of  Jebel  Harra.  The  northern  part  is,  so  far  as 
I  can  judge  (onlj'  having  seen  the  soiith  in  the  distance), 
by  far  the  best  part.     W^e  discovered  a  large  high  plateau 


1 92 1.]  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  571 

at  lOjOOO  feet  where  we  could  play  golf  or  anything,  quite 
level  or  nearly  so  with  nice  grass  and  gazelles.  We  camped 
here  for  about  a  week  among  the  heath  and  bracken, 
reminding  one  of  home.  We  ascended  all  the  peaks,  which 
reach  up  to  about  10,600  feet,  and  the  whole  place  is  now 
well  mapped  out.     Birds  are  scarce  high  up. 

"  Since  we  left  the  high  ground,  we  have  been  gradually 
working  south-west  along  the  footliills,  and  are  now  nearly 
south  of  the  range.  We  are  now  going  to  ascend  the 
southern  end  of  the  range.  It  is  all  very  charming,  but 
Lynes  took  the  cream  ofc'  the  birds  last  time.  Still,  we 
have  done  well,  especially  with  Mammals,  and  I  anticipate 
a  good  number  of  new  species.  Of  birds,  we  have  got, 
I  believe,  a  new  Lark,  a  Rock-Pigeon,  and  a  Cisticola  ; 
also  a  large  and  beautiful  Stork  (between  7000  and 
10,000  feet),  and  large  Bustard  and  several  Eagles  new 
to  the  Sudan." 


The  Plumage  Bill. 

After  a  long  controversy  in  Committee  on  ti.e  Plumage 
(Prohibition)  Bill,  an  agreement  was  reached  on  10  May 
between  the  principal  supporters  and  opponents  of  the 
measure.  There  is,  therefore,  a  reasonable  chance  that 
the  Bill  will  pass  into  law  before  this  notice  appears  in 
print.     The  terms  of  the  agreement  are  as  follows  : — 

(1)  The    Act    to    come    into    operation    nine    instead    of 

six  months  after  the  passing  thereof. 

(2)  Within  four  months  after  the  passing  of  the  Act  the 

Board  of  Trade  shall  appoint  a  joint  Advisory 
Committee  consisting  of  an  independent  chairman, 
two  expert  ornithologists,  three  representatives 
of  the  feather  trade,  and  four  other  independent 
members.  The  function  of  this  committee  will  be 
to  advise  the  Board  of  Trade  as  to  additions  to 
and  removals  from  the  existing  schedule  (ostrich 
and  eider-duck)  of  birds  whose  plumage  may  be 
imported. 


572  Letters,  Extracts^  and  Notes.  [Ibis^  1921. 

This  agreement  has  been  come  to  principally  through  the 
exertions  of  a  small  committee  consisting  of  Lord  Rotlischild, 
Sir  Sidney  Harmer,  Dr.  Lowe,  and  representatives  of  the 
trade,  who  iiave  had  many  meetings  at  the  Natural  History 
Museum  before  they  arrived  at  this  compromise,  which  is 
apparently  agreeable  to  both  parties  concerned. 


Personalia. 

We  learn  that  Dr.  Erwin  Streseniann  has  been  appointed 
Curator  of  Birds  o£  the  Zoological  Museum  of  Berlin,  in 
succession  to  Dr.  Anton  Reiehenow  who  retires,  having 
reached  the  age  of  74.  Dr.  Reiehenow  succeeded  Dr. 
Cabanis  in  1892,  and  had  therefore  been  about  thirty  yeais 
in  the  Berlin  Museum.  Dr.  Stresemann  s|)ent  some  months 
in  England  in  1913  working  out  the  collection  of  birds  made 
during  the  second  Freiburg  Moluccan  Expedition  in  which 
he  took  part  in  1910-1912;  during  this  journey  he  visited 
several  of  the  East  India  Islands,  including  Bali  and  Ceram. 
Since  the  war  he  has  been  working  with  Dr.  HeUmayr  in 
the  Museum  at  Munich. 

Mr.  A.  de  C.  Sowerby,  ALB.O.U.,  has  recently  left 
England  for  China,  where  he  will  spend  the  next  few  years 
carrying  on  exi)lorations  in  the  south  and  west  of  a  biological 
nature,  on  behalf  of  the  United  States  National  Museum  at 
Washington.  He  intends  visiting  the  mountainous  areas 
of  Chekiang  and  Fokien,  thence  working  round  to  Canton 
Province  and  Kwangtung,  and  visiting  Hainan  Island.  Birds 
will  occupy  a  special  place  in  his  programme,  and  he  hopes 
to  make  extensive  collections. 

Mr.  J.  R.  Kinghorn  of  the  Australian  Museum  at  Sydney 
has  recently  been  appointed  a  first-class  assistant  in  charge 
of  the  collection  of  Birds  in  that  Institution. 


rp 


THE    IBIS. 


ELEVENTH   SERIES. 


Vol.  III.  No.  4.     OCTOBER  1921. 


XXXI. — Bird  Notes  from  Southern  Spain. 
By  J.  H.  Stenhouse. 

The  following  notes  have  been  compiled  from  observations 
made  in  southern  Spain  between  December  1918  and  July 
1920,  while  the  writer  was  serving  at  the  Royal  Naval 
Hospital,  Gibraltar.  Anyone  using  that  fortress  as  a  daily 
base  for  ornithological  work  in  Spain  finds  it  very  difficult 
to  get  any  distance  into  the  country,  and  for  that  reason  no 
attempt  was  made  to  cover  a  great  amount  of  ground,  but 
efforts  were  confined  to  working  a  small  district  as  thoroughly 
as  possible.  Most  of  these  observations,  therefore,  were 
made  around  Algeciras  and  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
Sierra  Carbonera  (Queen  of  Spain's  Chair) ;  but  the  local 
enforcement  at  Algeciras  in  1920  of  a  Spanish  law  prohibit- 
ing the  firing  of  a  gun  between  March  1st  and  August  1st, 
hampered  work  near  there  so  much,  that,  whenever  possible, 
attention  was  given  instead  to  Almoraima  C;ork  Woods, 
16  miles  to  the  north.  On  three  occasions,  throuoh  the 
kindness  of  my  old  friend  Colonel  Verner,  visits  of  a  few 

SER.  XI, — VOL.  III.  2  Q 


574  Mr.  J.  H.  Stonlionse  :  [Ibis. 

(lays  at  a  time  were  paid  to  the  iKMolilxJiirliood  oE  the  Lao-nna 
(le  la  Janda,  and  the  Retin  11  ills.  Notes  on  niioration  were 
regularly  made,  and  it  was  hoped  that  constant  watching  at 
the  Eiiropa  Lighthouse,  Gibraltar,  would  give  good  results  ; 
but  Ihe  nature  of  the  light  (double  occulting  with  red  and  dark 
sectors),  and  still  more  the  meteorological  conditions  which 
])revail  in  the  usually  clear  atmosphere  of  the  Straits,  have 
rendered  the  return  a  mengre  one.  ""  Bird  Nights  "  were  few 
and  far  between,  and  it  was  only  occasionally  that  a  bird 
struck  the  l.mtern.  It  is  possible  that  were  the  observations 
continued  over  a  series  of  years,  valuable  information  might 
beobtaiiKnl,  and  more  so  if  collaboration  could  be  carried  out 
with  the  lighthouses  at  Capes  Spartel  and  St.  Vincent,  where, 
it  is  said,  that  at  times  many  birds  are  observed.  For  some  at 
])rcsent  inexplicable  reiison  the  Europa  light  was  only  attrac- 
tive to  birds  when  the  wind  was  westerly.  AVlien  migrants 
were  seen  on  the  liock  after  an  easterlv  wind,  even  though 
the  meteorological  conditions  seemed  favourable,  the  invari- 
able report  from  the  lighthouse  was,  that  none  had  been  seen 
in  the  rays. 

Attention  w  as  eliiefl}'  given  to  the  Passeres,  and  owing  to 
want  of  time  no  skins  of  the  larger  birds  were  preserved. 
With  regard  to  these  no  information  was  obtained  which  is 
not  already  recorded  in  Irby's  '  Ornithology  of  the  Straits 
of  Gibraltai-."  The  more  one  tries  to  do  ornithological  work 
in  southern  Spain,  the  more  one  must  admire  the  results 
obtained  by  that  excellent  ornithologist,  whose  earlier  observ- 
ations, at  all  events,  were  made  from  the  same  base  as  that 
from  which  I  worked  and  under  much  more  difficult 
conditions  as  to  transport. 

It  has  been  assumed  that  the  12  to  15  miles  stretch  of 
water  which  lies  between  southern  Spain  and  Morocco,  is  a 
well-defined  boundarj'  line  between  the  ranges  of  many  sub- 
specific  forms  of  birds.  The  result  of  these  observations  is 
to  dissipate  that  theory  to  a  considerable  extent  :  the  Haw- 
finch, Dartford  Warbler,  Fantail  Warbler,  Wren,  Blackbird, 
llobin,  and  ])robably  the  Great  Tit,  Mistle-Thrush,  and  Martin, 
formerlv  considered  subspecifically  different,  must  now  be 


1921.]  Bird  Xotes  from  Southern  Spain.  b75 

recognised  as  the  same  on  both  sides  of  the  Straits,  and  it  is 
probable  that  once  the  birds  of  the  Riff  district  in  Morocco 
have  been  thoroughly  gone  into,  further  discoveries  will  be 
made^  showing  that  there  is  practically  no  difference  between 
the  majority  of  the  birds  of  the  northern  Moroccan  coast  and 
their  representatives  on  the  Spanish  side. 

I  beg  here  to  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to  Captain 
W.  M.  Congreve  for  his  great  help  in  obtaining  foi  rne 
specimens  of  the  breeding  birds  from  Almoraima,  to  the 
light-keepers  at  Europa  for  their  many  acts  of  kindness 
and  assistance,  and  to  Mr  H.  F.  Witherby  for  kindly  deter- 
mining some  of  the  subspecies  for  me.  Mr  Wiiherby's 
remarks  on  these  have  been  added  to  the  notes,  and  are 
enclosed  within  brackets. 

Of  260  skins  brought  back,  the  great  majority  are  in 
the  Royal  Scottish  Museum,  Edinburgh  :  the  others  are  in 
Mr.  Witherby's  collection. 

Corvus  corax  subsp. 

Breeds  fairly  commonly.  A  party  of  twelve  was  seen  on 
ploughed  land  near  Laguna  de  la  Janda  on  10  December  : 
no  specimens  were  obtained. 

Corvus  monedula. 

Not  observed. 

Garrulus  glandarhis  fasciatus,     2  ^ ;  3  ?  ;  1  ? 

Plentiful  in  Almoraima  Cork  Woods,  but  not  observed  in 
the  cork-woods  round  Algeciras,  or  in  the  Sierra  lietin  to 
the  westward.  Specimens  obtained  in  winter  had  been 
feeding  solely  on  acorns.  The  wing-measurements  of  two 
males  were  188  mm.,  of  three  females  172  to  178  mm.,  being 
as  long  as,  and  not  shorter  than,  typical  G.  glandarius. 

[There  are  several  differences  in  a  series  of  the  south 
Spanish  form  as  compared  with  the  typical  Jay,  but  some 
individuals  are  difficult  to  distinguish,  and  the  form  cannot 
be  regarded  as  very  well  differentiated.  The  streakino-  on 
the  crown  is  broad  and  pronounced,  but  not  more  so  than  it  is 
sometimes  in  the  typical  bird  ;  in  the  centre  of  the  u})per 
breast  is  a  dark  grey  patch  usually  well  nuirked,  but  this  is 

2  Q  2 


576  Mr.  J.  H.  Stenhouse  :  [Ibis, 

also  ocCcasionally  the  case  in  the  typical  bird  ;  the  bill  is 
decidedly  deeper,  and  this  is  perhaps  the  best  character. — 
H.F.  W.] 

Sturnus  vulgaris. 

Not  observed  either  winter.  Its  usual  raigration  route 
must  lie  farther  to  the  westward. 

Sturnus  unicolor. 

A  pair  seen  in  Almoraima  Cork  Woods  on  the  Gth  of  June 
were  probably  nesting.  They  are  very  uncommon.  Capt. 
Congreve  found  a  nest  with  two  fledged  young  on  30  May 
in  the  same  district. 

Oriolus  0.  oriolus. 

A  common  summer  visitor,  first  seen  23  April,  on  which 
day  several  were  noted  migrating  at  El  Valle,  west  of  Tarifa, 
having  apparently  just  crossed  the  Straits. 

Last  observed  on  6  September. 

Chloris  chloris  aurantiiventris.     2  c?  ;  1  ?  . 

Breeds.  Its  numbers  are  greatly  increased  in  late  October 
and  November,  when  a  heavy  toll  is  exacted  by  bird-catchers 
on  the  passing  migrants.  The  return  journey  was  not  much 
in  evidence  ;  a  small  flock  of  both  sexes  was  seen  28  April  at 
Sierra  Retin,  and  a  female  struck  the  Europa  lantern  on  the 
same  date.  The  autumn  migrants  of  this  species  passed 
during  the  day.  It  has  seldom  been  recorded  as  on  passage 
at  night. 

Coccothraustes  c.  buvryi.     I  (J  ;  2  ?  . 

Not  uncommon,  but  difficult  to  observe.  4  males  had 
wings  ranging  98  to  101  mm.,  and  2  females  92  and  96  mm. 

[The  two  females  match  female  examples  of  C.  c.  hiiniyi 
exactl}^  and  are  very  much  paler  and  greyer  than  any 
examples  of  the  typical  form,  but  the  males  are  somewhat 
intermediate  in  colour.  The  differenceSj  however,  between 
this  and  the  typical  form  are  always  n)ore  marked  in  the 
female.     The  size  is  slightly  large  for  C.  c.  huvrijl. — H.  F.  W.] 

Carduelis  c.  weigoldi.     2  (^  ;  2  5  ;  1  juv. 
Resident.     Many  migrants  come  south    in    October   and 
remain  during  the  winter,  when  large  flocks  are  met  with 


1921.]  Bird  Notes  from  Southern  Spain.  ^11 

Jill  over  open  couutiy.  These  flocks  do  not  finiilly  break  up 
till  April.  The  wings  o£  males  obtained  measured  74  and 
77  mm.  and  of  females  74  mm. 

[The  Groldfinch  from  Portugal  and  Algeciras  is  remarkable 
in  being  very  nearly  allied  to  C.  c.  parva  of  Madeira,  from 
v^hich  it  differs  only  in  being  of  a  rather  darker  shade  of 
umber  on  the  crown,  mantle,  sides  of  breast,  and  flanks. 
C.  c.  africana  is  found  on  the  eastern  side  of  Spain,  e.  g., 
Malaga,  Valencia,  and  the  Balearic  Isles,  but  the  limits  of  the 
ranges  of  the  two  forms  cannot  yet  be  exactly  defined. — 
H.F.W.] 

Spimis  spinus.      (J  &  ?  . 

According  to  the  bird-catchers  this  bird  only  visits 
Andalusia  e\Qvy  seventh  year.  They  were  not  observed 
during  the  first  winter,  but  on  1  November,  1919,  a  large 
migration  began,  and  many  no  doubt  crossed  to  Africa. 
Throughout  the  winter  they  were  exceedingly  plentiful 
among  the  alder-trees  in  the  sotos  at  Almoraima.  Evidence 
of  a  return  journey  from  Africa  was  obtained  in  February. 
They  were  last  seen  in  the  first  week  in  March. 

Serinus  serinus.      ^ . 

Resident :  also  arrives  in  numbers  at  the  end  of  October, 
large  flocks  being  at  times  seen,  and  many  must  cross  the 
Straits.     The  spring  migration  was  not  noted. 

Passer  d.  domesticus.     3  c^  . 
Abundant.     Wings  77  to  78  mm. 

Pringilla  c.  ccelebs.     5  S  (f  juv.);  1  ?  . 

Resident.  Is  rather  a  late  breeder,  fresh  eggs  not  being 
found  till  May.  Its  numbers  are  increased  in  winter.  In 
autumn  this  bird  was  noticed  as  abundant  in  open  scrub, 
where  it  feeds  largely  on  the  seeds  of  a  Thymellca  which 
flowers  in  September. 

Acanthis  cannabina  mediterranea.     2  (J  ;  3  ?  . 

Found  throughout  the  year,  but  more  numerous  in  winter, 
many  migrants  arriving  in  October  and  November.  Noted 
in  open  country  in  the  low  grounds  till  22  March.  Breeds 
chiefly  among  the  scrub  on  the  hillsides,  fresh  eggs  being 


578  Mr.  J.  H.  Stenhoiise  :  [Ibis, 

found  towards  the  end  o£  April.  A  pair  evidently  breeding 
was  seen  in  the  Almorainia  Cork  Woods  on  6  June.  Wings 
of  two  breedino-  males  measured  75  and  77  mm.,  and  of  one 
breeding  female  75. 

Emljeriza  calandra.      ^ . 

Common  and  resident,  breeding  not  only  on  the  lower 
ground  but  well  up  the  hillsides  in  rough  scrub,  and  also 
occasionally  in  the  cork-woods.  At  the  end  of  June  the 
males  became  silent.  They  were  heard  again  in  song  on 
11  December. 

Emberiza  cirlus,     1  (J  ;  2  ?  . 

Common  and  resident.  In  the  winter  they  were  not 
observed  in  flocks  to  the  same  extent  as  in  the  eastern 
Mediterranean. 

Emberiza  c.  cia.     1  r?  ;  3  ?  . 

Breeds  in  considerable  numbers  on  the  Queen  of  Spain's 
Chair,  coming  comparatively  low  down.  A  male  was  seen 
on  11  January  and  a  female  was  shot  on  7  November,  but 
the  bird  is  only  casual  in  winter.  The  only  evidence  obtained 
of  autumn  migration  was  on  21  September,  and  in  spring  a 
female  was  seen  at  Gibraltar  on  2  March,  with  other  migrants, 
after  an  east  wind.  This  bird  is  recorded  as  being  single 
brooded,  but  in  all  probability  two  broods  are  at  times  reared  : 
young  fully  fledged  were  found  on  14  May,  and  fresh  eggs 
at  the  beginning  of  June.  The  position  of  the  nests  found 
varied  :  one  was  in  a  rock  crevice,  another  at  the  foot  of  a 
small  bush,  while  three  were  about  two  feet  off  the  ground 
and  well  concealed  in  thick  heather. 

Emberiza  hortulana. 

Only  once  observed,  namely,  on  2  May,  when  a  female, 
apparently  on  passage,  was  seen  at  Laguua  de  la  Janda. 

Alauda  a.  arvensis.     1  ?  . 

Migrant  and  winter  visitor.  First  observed  22  October, 
when  one  struck  the  aerial  at  Gibraltar.  Noted  in  flocks  at 
the  end  of  October  ;  they  remained  till  March. 


921.]  Bird  Notes  from  Southern  Spain.  579 

Lullula  arborea. 

Met  with  only  in  the  breeding  season  in  the  Almovainia 
Cork  Woods,  where  they  were  local.  No  specimens  were 
obtained. 

Galerida  cristata  pallida.     3  cJ  ;  1  ?  . 
Common  and  resident. 

Galerida  t.  theklae.     3  c?;  1  ?  ;   L  juv. 

Resident.  The  opinion  was  formed  that  the  Crested  Lai  ks 
which  bred  in  the  lower  grounds  and  the  cornlands  were; 
cristata  and  those  found  on  the  scrubby  hillsides  were  thekkt', 
and  birds  shot  confirmed  this  opinion.  On  the  Queen  of 
Spain's  Chair,  Crested  Larks  (tliree  shot  were  tliekUr)  bred 
commonly.  In  the  winter  none  were  observed  on  this 
ground,  but  of  six  caught  at  that  season  on  the  low  grounds 
near  Algeciras  and  sent  to  me,  four  were  tliekke  and  two 
cristata.  It  was  evident  that  the  birds  breedino;  on  the  ronoh 
hillside  left  there  on  the  approach  of  winter.  The  only 
other  evidence  of  movement  obtained  was  on  19  October, 
when,  following  a  strong  easterly  gale,  three  Crested  Laiks 
arrived  near  Europa  Point  with  many  migrants.  They 
remained  there  during  the  winter  and  disappeared  in  March  ; 
the  subspecies  could  not  be  ascertained. 

Calandrella  b.  brachydactyla.     2  ^J  ;  1  $  . 

Kesident  and  migrant.  Is  a  local  breeder  near  Algeciras. 
One  was  seen  in  the  Hospital  grounds  on  the  21st  of 
September,  and  a  male  struck  the  Europa  lantern  on  the  2utl 
of  October.  Evidence  of  spring  migration  was  obtained  on 
13  April  when  two  were  seen  on  passage,  and  on  ll  April 
when  one  was  caught  alive  at  the  lantern. 

Melanocorypha  c.  calandra.     1  c?  ;  2  ?  . 

Found  near  Algecii-as  in  winter,  but  not  observed  in  the 
breeding  season.  Breeds  in  abundance  on  the  plain  at 
Laguna  de  la  Janda. 

Motacilla  a.  alba.     1  S  • 

Winter  visitor.  First  seen  17  October.  Later  beciine 
abundant.  Most  depart  in  March  ;  a  late  bird  was  seen 
on  11  April. 


580  Mr.  J.  H.  Stenhoiise  t  [Ibis, 

Motacilla  lugubris. 

Seen  on  several  occasions.     No  specimen  obtained. 

Motacilla  c.  cinerea.     1  J"  ;  1  juv. 

Resident,  breeding  behind  Algcciras  on  the  Rio  de  Micl. 
More  abundant  in  winter. 

Motacilla  f.  flava.     1    ^  • 

Passes  on  migration.  Seen  in  small  parties  at  the 
beginning  of  October  and  again  in  spring,  the  last  date 
being  10  May,  when  one  struck  the  wires  at  Gibraltar.  The 
southern  form,  M.  f.  cinereocapilla,  was  not  identified  with 
certainty. 

Anthus  t.  trivialis.     1  ?  . 

First  observed  on  autumn  migration  27  September,  and 
passed  in  small  numbers  until  29  October  ;  not  noted  on 
spring  migration . 

Anthus  pratensis.     1  ?  . 

Abundant  in  winter  ;  first  seen  in  autumn  on  17  October, 
last  seen  in  spring  on  25  March. 

Anthus  c.  campestris.  2  c^  ;  1  $  ;  1  juv.  S  • 
First  observed  on  7  May,  when  it  was  very  numerous  on 
passage.  A  few  pairs  remained  to  breed  on  the  low  ground 
near  Algeciias  and  also  on  the  Queen  of  Spain's  Chair.  Last 
seen  17  August,  when  an  old  bird  was  feeding  full-grown 
young. 

Certhia  hrachydactyla  ultramontana.     4  J"  ;  2  $  . 
Common  resident  in  the  cork-woods.     The  wings  of  four 
males  measure  59  to  61  mm.,  and  of  two  females  58  nnn. 

Regulus  i.  ignicapillus.     1  c^ ;  2  ?  . 

Resident,  and  joining  with  Tits  in  winter.  Wing  ;  males 
52  mm.,  females  47-50. 

Parus  major  excelsus  "^     &  ^  \  2  ^  . 

Generally  distributed  in  the  wooded  districts.  Breeds  at 
Gibraltar. 


1921.]  Bird  Notes  from  Soutliern  Spain.  581 

[These  Great  Tits  and  a  series  from  Portuo-al  appear  to  me 
intermediate  between  Parus  m.  major  and  P.  m.  excelsus,  but 
are  perhaps  nearer  the  latter  race.  The  white  w^edge  on  the 
outer  tail-feathers  is  more  restricted  in  the  majority  than  in 
P.  m.  major,  and  the  colour  of  the  mantle  is  darker  and  like 
P.  m.  excelsus  ;  on  the  other  hand,  the  outer  webs  of  the  inner 
secondaries  are  not  so  grey  as  in  P.  m.  excelsus  nor  are  the 
underparts  so  bright  a  yellow.  The  bills  are,  on  the  whole, 
larger  than  in  P.  m.  major  and  like  P.  m.  excelsus,  while  the 
wings  of  fourteen  males  measure  72-77  mm.,  or  about  the 
same  as  in  P.  m.  major,  namely,  73-79. — H.  F.  W.] 

Parus  cseruleus  harterti.     9  <$  . 

Abundant  in  the  cork-woods.  Breeds  also  at  Gibraltar, 
apparently  an  extension  of  its  range  since  Irby's  time. 

[I  have  compared  these  with  a  large  series  from  Portugal 
(P.  c.  harterti  Tratz,  type-locality  Oportoj  and  find  them  to 
be  the  same.  This  form  is  very  near  P.  c.  ogliastra\  but  the 
mantle  is  darker  and  more  bluish-green.  The  wings  of 
the  series  measure  :  males  57-65  mm,,  females  57-62. — 
H.F.W.] 

Parus  cristatus  weigoldi.     6  (T  ;  2  ?  ;  2  juv. 
Abundant  in  Ahnoraima  Woods  and  not  uncommon  behind 
Algeciras,  but  not  observed  in  the  Retin  Hills. 

[This  form  was  described  by  Tratz  from  Portugal,  and 
I  have  compared  this  series  with  a  series  from  Portugal. 
They  are  intermediate  in  colour  between  P.  c.  scoticus  and 
mitratus,  the  colour  of  the  upper- parts  being  not  quite  so 
dark  as  in  P.  c.  scoticus,  and  having  in  some  examples  a  slight 
rusty  tinge  on  the  rump,  cheeks,  and  underparts,  while  in 
others  the  underparts  are  even  whiter  than  in  P.  c.  scoticus. 
The  wings  of  the  whole  series  measure :  males  60-63,  females 
57-60  nun, ;  this  is  smaller  even  than  P.  c.  scoticus. — 
H.F.W.] 

JEgithalus  caudatus  irbii.     1  cJ  ;  3  ?  . 

Only  observed  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Long  Stables 
at  Almoraima.  Wings  measure  :  male  58,  three  females  55- 
56  mm. 


582  Mr.  J.  H.  Stenhoiise  :  [Ibis, 

Lanius  s.  senator.     2  J" ;  1  ?  juv. 

First  observed  in  1919  on  ■!  April  and  in  1920  on  2  April, 
after  which  dates  the  birds  became  numerous.  A  belated 
migrant  was  seen  at  Gibraltar  on  23  May  (the  wind  had  been 
strong  easterly  for  two  days).  They  begin  to  nest  soon  after 
arrival  ;  a  full  clutch  of  six  egos  was  found  in  the  Sierra 
Retin  on  4  May.  In  autumn  none  were  seen  after  17 
September. 

Sylvia  c.  communis.     2  J  ;  1  ? 

Common  on  migration  ;  not  found  breeding  near  Algeciras, 
but  nests  at  Almoraima.  First  seen  27  March  ;  a  male 
struck  the  lantern  at  Europa  29  March.  Many  passed 
during  April.  The  first  evidence  of  autumn  migration  was 
on  19  August,  when  one  was  found  dead  at  Gibraltar  under 
the  telegraph  wires ;  last  was  seen  on  22  October. 

Sylvia  simplex.     1  ?  . 

Seen  only  on  passage.  First  noted  11  April  ;  a  female 
struck  the  Europa  lantern  on  30th  of  that  month.  In  autumn 
observed  on  passage  17  September. 

Sylvia  a.  atricapilla.     2  ?  . 

Resident.  Numbers  are  greatly  increased  during 
migration.  In  spring  they  began  to  pass  through  on  25 
February,  both  sexes  travelling  together,  and  passage  con- 
tinued throuohout  March.  Autunui  mio-ration  was  difficult 
to  observe,  but  was  in  full  swing  in  the  middle  of  September 
and  continued  durino-  October.  Males  struck  the  aerials  on 
9  October  and  22  October.  It  was  heard  in  song  at  Gibraltar 
on  8  January. 

Sylvia  m.  melanocephala.     4  J* ;  2  ?  . 

Resident  and  common.  Breeds  early.  Noted  building  on 
2G  February  ;  first  egg  laid  9  March.  A  nest  watched  had 
first  egg  laid  2<i  March  :  incubation  period  13  to  14  days  ; 
tledgling  period  11  da3'S.  Nestlings  examined  had  no  down  ; 
inside  of  mouth  orange  :  flanges  pale  yellow.  The  pair  were 
building  their  second  nest  on  23  May  :  it  contained  three 
eggs  on  31  May. 


1 92 1.]  Bird  Notes  from  Southern  Spain.  583 

Sylvia  conspicillata. 

Not  met  with,  though  constantly  looked  for.  The  state- 
ment ('Ibis,'  1911,  p.  7-43),  that  it  is  common  on  the  Sierra 
(Jarbonera,  cannot  l)e  confirmed.  A  nest,  from  which  the 
young  liad  flown,  was  found  on  18  June,  1919,  between 
the  rivers  opposite  Gibraltar,  and  identified  as  belonging  to 
this  bird.  It  exactly  resembled  the  nests  of  this  species  I 
have  seen  at  Malta.  This  place  is  close  to  the  ruins  of 
( Jarteia,  a  locality  given  by  Irby  as  the  most  likely  one  near 
Gil)raltar  where  it  would  be  met  M'ith.  Unfortunately,  the 
spot  could  not  be  revisited.  I  quite  agree  with  Capt.  Lynes 
('Ibis/  1912,  p.  473)  that  this  bird  is  very  local  in  southern 
Spain. 

Sylvia  h.  hortensis.     Orphean  Warbler.     1  (S ;  2  ?  . 

Was  found  breeding  in  smidl  numbers  in  the  cork-woods 
behind  Algeciras,  and  a  pair  seen  in  June  at  Almoraima  were 
also  breeding.  This  bird  was  recorded  by  Irby  as  verj^  lare 
in  the  vicinity  of  Gibraltar,  and  it  is  possible  its  numbers  are 
now  slowly  increasing.  It  is  abundant  in  the  Sierra  lietinto 
the  westward,  and  for  a  migrant  breeds  early,  eggs  consider- 
ably incubated  being  found  on  4  May.  In  autumn  last 
observed  on  17  September  :  its  arrival  in  spring  was  not  noted. 

Sylvia  s.  sul)alpiiia.     3  c^  ;   1  ?  . 

First  observed  in  1919  on  12  March,  in  1920  on  11  March, 
and  passes  in  small  nuuibers  during  March  and  April.  A 
male  was  killed  at  the  lantern  on  2  April.  The  return 
migration  takes  place  in  September :  a  young  male  was 
killed  at  the  lantern  on  the  18th  of  that  month.  A  pnir 
seen  in  Almoraima  Cork  Woods  on  25  April  were  noted  as 
probably  breeding,  and  this  was  confirmed  later  by  Captain 
Congreve,  who  found  four  nests.  As  Ii'by  failed  to  find  it 
breeding  near  Gibraltar,  an  extension  of  its  breeding  range 
is  probable.  It  w^as  not  observed  near  Algeciras  as  a 
breeding  bird. 

Sylvia  undata  toni.     (I  J  ;  3  ?  ;  1  juv. 
Couimon  and  resident  on  the  hillsides.      They  are  early 
breeders  ;  hard-sat  eggs  were  found  at  the  end  of  March,  and 


584  Mr.  J.  H.  Stenhoiise  :  [Ibis, 

young  were  seen  leaving  the  nest  on  11  April.  The  nests  were 
chiefly  in  small  low  furze  bushes  and  very  difficult  to  find ; 
they  were  also  placed  in  heather.  The  wings  of  six  males 
ranged  from  48  to  51  mm„,  of  three  females  48  to  50.  The 
only  evidence  of  migration  obtained  was  the  presence  of  one 
low  down,  close  to  the  sea  at  Gibraltar,  along  with  other 
migrants  on  3  March  ;  the  wind  had  been  strong  easterly  for 
two  days. 

Favier  records  it  as  a  migrant  at  Tangier,  Hartert  (Vog. 
pal.  Fauna,  p.  601)  gives,  on  Jourdain's  authority,  the  eggs  of 
this  southern  Spanish  bird  as  distinctly  smaller  than  those 
of  S.  u.  dartfordiensis,  thus  confirming  the  bird's  smaller  size. 

[These  are  quite  typical  of  the  north  African  form.  How 
far  north  it  extends  has  yet  to  be  decided,  but  certainly 
Portuguese  birds  north  of  the  Tagus  are  not  of  this 
subspecies. — H.  F.  W.] 

Agrobates  g.  galactotes.     1  r?  • 

Summer  visitor,  nesting  not  uncommonly  in  the  prickly 
pear  gardens.  First  seen  9  May.  A  pair  were  noticed  on 
17  August  feeding  young  just  able  to  fly.  The  only  record 
of  their  departure  was  on  18  September,  when  one  was 
seen  at  the  lighthouse.  This  was  the  only  occasion  on  which 
a  bird  was  identified  in  the  beams.  It  came  up  wind  with 
its  tail  spread  out,  rendering  recognition  easy,  swerved  at 
the  last  moment  and  struck  the  dark  tower  above  the  lantern 
hard,  knocking  out  a  cloud  of  feathers  ;  unfortunately  it 
could  not  be  found  afterwards.  Nestlings  examined  Avere 
black-skinned  with  no  down,  inside  the  mouth  orange-yellow  ; 
■  flanges  white  ;  no  tongue  spots. 

Locustella  n.  nsevia.     IS,  ^'^ 

Twice  obtained  on  autumn  migration.  First  on  14  Sep- 
tember on  the  banks  of  the  stream  behind  Algeciras  :  the 
second  among  dry  palmetto  scrub  on  12  October. 

Cettia  cetti. 

Seen  and  heard  close  to  Algeciras  on  the  banks  of  Rio  de 
Miel,  but  no  specimen  obtained. 


1 92 1.]  Bird  Notes  from  Soutliern  Spain.  585 

Acrocephalus  s.  scirpaceus.     1  c?  ;  2  ?  ;  1  ? 

Not  uncommon  among  the  alders  and  oleanders  on  the 
banks  of  the  Rio  de  Miel  dnring  October.  (First  seen  on 
the  6th,  last  on  the  22nd.)  In  spring  one  record  :  a  female 
struck  the  Europa  lantern  on  17  May. 

Acrocephalus  palustris.     1  ?  . 

A  female  was  shot  4  October  among  dry  bracken  in  a  cork- 
wood. 

Acrocephalus  a.  arundinaceus.     1  ?  . 

Twice  seen  on  autumn  migration.  One  on  14  September 
and  another  on  29  September ;  on  both  occasions  among 
the  bushes  on  the  banks  of  the  stream  behind  Algeciras, 
The  stomach  of  one  shot  contained  a  freshwater  shrimp. 

Acrocephalus  schcenobsenus.     1  (^  • 

A  male  (exceedingly  fat)  struck  the  lantern  at  Europa  on 
30  July. 

Acrocephalus  aquaticus.     1  ? 

One  was  obtained  on  22  October  haunting  palmetto  scrub. 

Hypolais  polyglotta.     4  (^  ;  1  ?  ;  1  juv.  cJ . 

Numerous  in  the  breeding  season.  First  seen  in  1919  on 
11  April  (an  early  date),  in  1920  on  24  April.  One  was 
killed  at  the  lantern  on  3rd  of  May.  None  were  observed 
after  the  end  of  August. 

Hypolais  pallida  opaca. 

Seen  on  only  two  occasions  :  is  not  common. 

Phylloscopus  t.  trochilus.     1  ?  . 

Noted  on  passage  in  March  and  again  in  September.  It 
could  not  be  found  during  the  winter.  Several  doubtful 
birds  were  shot,  and  all  proved  to  be  (/hifEchaffs.  No  trace 
could  be  found  of  this  bird  breeding.  Irby  records  it  as 
breeding,  and  also  as  present  during  the  winter.  The  subject 
requires  further  investigation,  and  can  only  be  settled  by  the 
production  of  a  winter  skin  and  a  bird  from  the  nest.     Is 


580  Mr.  J.  H.  Stenliouse  :  [Ibis, 

it  possible  that  confusion  has  arisen  in  the  breeding  season 
from  the  resenihlance  of  the  local  ChiflfchafF's  eggs  to  those  of 
tlie  Willow-Warbler? 

Phylloscopus  c.  collybita.     2  J  ;  4  ?  . 

Found  all  the  year  round,  but  much  more  numerous  in 
winter.  It  breeds  in  fair  numbers  in  the  woods  round 
Algeciras  and  at  Almoraima,  and  from  the  presence  of  a  pair 
in  the  Sierra  Retin  on  24  April,  it  may  be  assumed  they 
nest  there  also.  During  the  winter  months  they  ai-e  found 
generally  distributed  both  in  wooded  and  in  open  country. 
During  March  there  were  passage  movements,  and  the 
opinion  was  formed  that  the  winter  visitors  then  departed. 
Throughout  most  of  the  month  it  was  difHcult  to  find  these 
birds  in  the  cork-woods  behind  Algeciras,  but  at  the  end  of 
the  month  they  were  again  in  evidence,  and  the  song  of  the 
male,  a  double  note  followed  by  about  five  descending  notes, 
could  then  be  heard.  A  nest  was  found  partly  built  on 
19  April  about  two  feet  up  in  a  gorse  bush.  It  could  not  bo 
visited  till  10  May  and  then  was  found  in  ruins,  but  the 
domed  nest  with  feather  lining  and  remains  of  pink-spotted 
eo-D-s  sufficiently  identified  it.  A  pair  was  located  near,  and  the 
lien  was  watched  building  a  new  nest  in  a  braml)le.  A  week 
later  the  hen  was  shot  from  the  nest,  which  cuutained  four 
eggs  with  pink  spots  closely  resembling  AVil low- Warblers. 
The  nest  w-as  scantily  lined  with  feathers  (seven  of  which 
were  those  of  the  Oriole).  These  birds  are  indistinguishable 
from  tjpical  coUi/b'ita.  One  male  from  Almoraima  lias  an 
aberrant  wing  formula,  the  second  primary  being  2  mm. 
longer  than  the  7th  but  shorter  than  the  6th.  The  song  of  the 
male  seems  to  change  as  the  summer  advances :  in  June 
'•  chip  chip  chip  chip  "  followed  by  the  descending  notes  was 
heard,  and  at  times  four  or  five  sharp  monotones  only.  The 
typical  "chip  chop"  of  the  bird  was  heard  in  the  Alameda 
Gardens,  Gibraltar,  on  one  occasion  only,  and  in  January. 

Phylloscopus  b.  bonelli.     3  S  • 

Breeds  in  some  numbers  in  (*obre  Wood  behind  Algeciras, 
and  abundantly  at  Almoraima,     Nests  seen  were  invariably 


1 92 1.]  Bird  Notes  from  Southern.  Spain.  587 

on  the  gronnd  and  had,  as  a  rule,  a  few  hairs  in  the  lining. 
It  was  once  noted  on  migration,  on  3  April.  The  Wood- 
Wren  (PIu/lloscopus  sihilatrix)  was  not  observed. 

Turdus  V.  viscivorus.      1  cJ  ;  1  juv. 

Resident  in  small  nnmbers  in  the  cork-woods  at 
Almoraima.  Young  were  seen  abroad  on  25  April.  The 
adult  is  much  grejer,  especially  on  the  rump,  than  British 
specimens.  A  juvenile  shot  in  June  compared  with  British 
juvenile  of  the  same  age  is  much  greyer  both  above  and 
below,  being  abnost  devoid  of  any  tinge  of  buff  colour. 

Turdus  p.  philomelus.     1  ?  . 

A  winter  visitor  in  small  numbers.  Latest  date  seen, 
29  March. 

Turdus  merula  algirus.     2  c?  ;  8  ?  ;  1  juv. 

Resident.  Man}^  however,  migrate.  In  the  middle  of 
July  they  collect  in  family  parties,  and  in  September  were 
very  numerous  in  the  woods  behind  Algeciras.  Their 
numbers  gradually  thinned  until  the  middle  ^f  October, 
when  they  were  reduced  to  winter  numbers.  There  was  an 
increase  in  March,  but  it  was  less  noticeable.  The  wings  of 
two  males  measure  122  and  123  mm.,  the  tails  120  mm. 
Of  eight  females,  wings  112  to  118  mm.,  tails  106  to 
116  mm. 

[These  are  like  the  Algerian  form,  but  if  anything  whiter 
on  the  chin  and  with  paler  edgings  to  the  feathers  of  the 
underparts.  How  far  north  they  extend  we  do  not  know, 
but  Blackbirds  which  I  have  seen  from  Portugal  and  other 
parts  of  the  Peninsula  seem  to  be  of  the  typical  form,  and 
I  cannot  differentiate  T.  m,  hispanice. — H.  F.  W.j 

Monticola  solitaria. 

Resident,  and  passes  through  on  migration  in  small 
numbers.  It  was  observed  migrating  in  autumn  on  the 
4th  of  October  and  again  on  the  22nd,  and  on  spring- 
migration  many  passed  Gibraltar  on  10  March  ;  only  males 
were  seen. 


588  Mr.  J.  H.  Stenhouse  :  [Ibis, 

Phcenicurus  p.  phcenicurus.     1  c? . 

A  bird  of  passage  first  noted  on  24  March  ;  a  male  struck 
the  lantern  on  6  April.  Much  more  abundant  on  autumn 
mioration.  First  seen  6  September,  during  the  remainder 
of  that  month  and  throughout  October  it  was  much  in 
evidence  ;  last  observed  29  October. 

Phcenicurus  o.  gibraltariensis.     1  c?  . 

Winter  visitor  and  bird  of  passage  :  not  observed  breeding 
near  Gribraltar.  In  autumn  first  noted  on  25  October.  In 
the  spring  the  first  movement  noted  was  on  28  February  ; 
by  23  March  the  winter  visitors  had  gone  :  the  only  record 
after  26  March  was  a  belated  female  seen  8  May. 

Erithacus  r.  rul)ecula.     1  (J  ;  4  ?  ;  1  ? 

Migrant  and  winter  visitor.  At  the  beginning  of  October 
they  were  very  abundant  in  the  woods  behind  Algeciras,  the 
males  being  in  full  song.  Most  of  these  passed  on,  but 
during  winter  they  were  common.  The  return  journey  took 
place  in  March  and  early  April.  One  female  struck  the 
Europa  lantern  on  23  March. 

Erithacus  r.  witherbyi.     3  c?  ;  4  ?  . 

The  breeding  form  is  a  rare  bird  behind  Algeciras,  only 
two  pairs  being  noted.  At  Almoraima  in  the  danip  sotos  it 
is  much  more  plentiful,  but  still  cannot  be  called  common. 

[The  Robins  from  Algeciras  are  puzzling  but  must,  I 
think,  be  of  the  Algerian  form,  though  they  may  belong  to 
the  Moroccan  E.  r.  atlas,  as  they  are  very  slightly  darker 
and  less  olivaceous  than  E.  r.  loitherhyi.  The  difference  is, 
however,  very  small,  and  the  Moroccan  form  may  possibly 
prove  not  separable  when  birds  in  fresher  plumage  than 
those  which  Capt.  Lynes  obtained  are  collected. — H.  F.  W.] 

Luscinia  megarhyncha.     1  S  • 

Abundant  summer  visitor.  First  noted  on  G  April  : 
their  departure  in  autumn  was  not  observed. 

Cyanosylvia  suecica  cyanecula.     2  (^  ;  2  ?  . 
Irby  records  this  bird  as  rare  in  this  neighbourhood,  and 
gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  it  passed  farther  to  the  eastward. 


1 92 1.]  Bird  Notes  from  Southern  Spain.  589 

In  spring-  one  was  ?.QQn  behind  Algeciras  on  27  February, 
and  in  autumn  nianj^  were  found  skulking  among  the 
oleander  bushes  on  tiie  banks  of  the  Rio  de  Miel.  They  were 
first  noted  17  September,  and  hist  seen  5  October.  Tlie  local 
bird-catchers  knew  the  bird  well,  and  gave  it  the  name  of 
"  Camancho."  On  being  shown  one  and  asked  i£  he  knew 
it,  one  man  promptly  produced  another  from  his  pocket  ;  it 
had  been  caught  in  a  spring-back  trap  set  for  larks. 

Saxicola  r.  rubicola.     -^  S  \  5  ?  . 

Found  throughout  the  year.  They  are  early  breeders;  fresh 
eggs  were  found  on  28  February  (full  clutch).  An  unusual 
site  for  this  bird's  nest  was  noted  on  the  Queen  of  Spain's 
(yhair  on  28  May,  being  a  hollow  in  a  rock  face  about 
two  feet  above  the  ground  and  quite  open  :  the  nest  contained 
three  young  and  an  addled  (tgg.  Local  breeding  birds 
undoubtedly  migrate.  There  was  a  great  diminution  in  their 
numbers  at  the  end  of  September,  but  any  further  movement 
on  their  part  was  masked  by  the  arrival  of  migrants  from 
the  north  at  the  beginning  of  October.  Large  numbers  of 
Stonechats  arrived  at  Gibraltar  on  17  October  ;  the  great 
majority  passed  on,  but  some,  chiefly  in  pairs,  remained 
during  the  winter.  A  return  movement  in  spring  was 
observed  beginning  on  17  February,  and  continued  until 
20  March,  after  which  date  no  Stonechat  was  seen  on  the 
Rock.  The  breeding  birds  and  all  the  migrants  obtained 
with  the  exception  mentioned  below,  were  of  the  typical 
race. 

Saxicola  r.  hibernans.     1  ?  . 

One  female  obtained  on  12  October  is  indistinguishable 
from  British  birds  of  corres[)onding  date,  and  is  probably  a 
migrant  from  Portugal. 

Saxicola  rubetra. 

Chiefly  a  bird  of  passage  but  occasionally  seen  in  winter. 
Two  females  were  seen  11  January,  1919.  They  were 
observed  passing  through,  both  males  and  f emaleS;  on  16  April 
and  again  in  autumn,  27  September. 

SER.  XI. VOL.  III.  2  R 


590  Mr.  J.  H.  Stenhouse  :  [Ibi?, 

(Enanthe  ce.  CEnanthe.     1  ?  . 

Passes  on  migration.  First  seen  22  March,  19J9,  and 
2  April,  1920  ;  one  struck  the  Europa  lantern  14  April.  In 
autumn  many  were  seen  at  Gibraltar  17  October  ;  they  had 
all  passed  on  next  day.  Two  seen  near  Tarifa  on  2  May 
were  probably  the  Greenland  form  (^CE.  cf..  lencorrhoa),  but  no 
specimen  was  obtained. 

(Enanthe  h.  hispanica.     Black-eared  form.     1  c?  ;  2  ?  . 

First  seen  22  March. 

Black-throated  form.     I  S  ',  -  ?  • 

First  observed  12  March.  Both  forms  bred  on  the  Queen 
of  Spain's  Chair  and  also  on  some  rough  ground  at  El  Cobre 
behind  Algeciras.  In  1919  their  numbers  were  about  equal. 
In  1920  the  black-throated  were  in  the  [)r<iportion  of  about 
4  to  1  of  the  black-eared.  Autumn  migration  began  early  ; 
birds  of  the  year  were  seen  on  the  move  on  10  August,  and 
again  during  the  month  and  in  September  ;  the  last  record 
was  21  September,  when  amongst  them  was  a  black- 
throated  male.  Birds  in  the  bi-own  stage  of  plumage  were 
once  seen  :  on  7  May,  1919  ;  they  were  very  wild. 

(Enanthe  1.  leucnra.     1  ?  . 

Resident  in  very  small  numbers.  It  was  observed  passing 
on  migration  on  20  March.  In  autumn  seen  on  passage  on 
21  September,  and  a  considerable  number  on  20  October.  A 
nest  found  in  a  rock  crevice  on  the  Queen  of  Spain's  Chair 
on  9  May,  1919,  had  over  200  stones  in  its  foundation. 
Another  on  12  May  next  year,  was  in  a  hollow  in  a  low  cliff 
and  had  no  stones  at  all.  Both  contained  eggs.  In  the 
latter  instance  the  hollow  was  so  small  that  there  was  no 
room  for  a  breast-work. 

Cisticola  c.  cisticola.     3  c?  ;  1  ?  ;  1  juv. 

Breeds  abundantly  near  Algeciras  in  the  wheattields,  and 
after  the  wheat  is  cut,  in  grassy  patches.  There  are  man}' 
late  broods  :  a  young  bird  not  fully  grown  was  seen  on 
17  September.  In  August  and  September  they  were 
common  along  the  river-banks,  but  departed  in  early  October, 


1 92 1.]  Bird  Notes  fi'oni  Southern  Spain.  591 

and  during  winter  only  a  very  occasional  bird  was  seen.  At 
that  season  of  the  year,  they  are  very  common  in  the  snipe- 
marshes  at  Laguna  de  la  Janda.  They  return  to  the  wheat- 
fields  about  the  end  of  March.  The  local  name  for  this  bird 
is  "  Tumanavilla." 

[Fantails  from  various  parts  of  the  Spanish  Peninsula  are 
like  the  northern  African  birds,  and  these  must  all  be  called 
Cisticola  c.  cisticola,  those  from  other  parts  of  Europe 
((7.  c.  harterti)  being  distinguished  by  their  buffer  and  less 
grey  colour  (see  Ball.  B.  0.  C.  xl.  p.  il9).— H.  F.  W.] 

Prunella  m.  modularis.     1  c;^  . 

An  uncommon  winter  visitor  ;  three  only  were  seen.  The 
bird  obtained  has  the  wing-formula  of  the  so-called 
occidentalis,  which  subspecies  I  am  unable  to  distinguish. 

Troglodytes  t.  kabylorum.     -^  S ,  1  ?  :  1  J"v. 

Judging  by  the  number  of  nests  found  tliis  bird  is  not  at 
all  uncommon,  but  they  are  skulking  and  not  often  seen. 

[The  upper-parts  are  decidedly  less  rufous  than  in 
2\  t.  troglodytes  and  like  the  northern  African  form,  but  the 
underparts  are  considerably  more  barred  than  is  usual  in 
T.  t.  hahylorum,  though  the  bills  are  fine  ns  in  that  form.  In 
Portugal  the  typical  subspecies  is  found. — H.F.  W.] 

Muscicapa  g.  grisola.     1  S  '■>  1  ?  • 

First  seen  in  1919,  7  Mny,  in  1920  on  5  May,  and  the 
passage  continued  till  23  May.  A  very  abundant  nester 
in  the  cork-woods.  Autunni  passage  was  prolonged  : 
during  the  latter  half  of  September  and  the  first  week  of 
October,  they  were  continually  in  evidence  ;  a  single  bird 
was  seen  on  22  October. 

Muscicapa  a.  atricapilla.     1  ?  . 

Seen  only  on  passage.  In  spring  a  solitary  bird  was  seen 
on  14  February  (the  Gibraltar  district  seems  to  lie  out  of 
the  lino  of  its  s{)ring  migration).  Two  were  seen  on  4  May 
at  the  Sierra  Retin.  In  autumn  it  was  common,  being  fir^t 
observed  21  September,  continually  during  October,  and 
last  seen  on  4  November. 

2r2 


592  Mr.  J.  H.  Stenhouse  :  [Ibis, 

Hirundo  r.  rustica.     2  ?  . 

First  seen  11^  February,  1919,  and  in  1920  on  7  February. 
Observed  collecting  mud  for  nests  on  7  March,  and  at 
Laguna  de  la  Janda  had  young  nearly  fledged  on  29  April. 
The  breeding  birds  took  their  departure  from  Gibraltar 
"  about  15  Auoust,  when  it  was  noticed  their  numbers  had 
greatly  diminished.  After  that  date  their  appearance  was 
irregular  and  they  were  consitlered  migrants  from  the  north. 
On  22  October  after  a  strong  east  wind  they  arrived  in 
hundreds.     They  were  last  seen  7  November. 

Hirundo  rufula.     1  S  • 

A  single  bird  was  seen  at  the  Laja  del  Ciscar  near  Laguna 
de  la  Janda  on  26  April,  1919,  hawking  for  flies  in  company 
with  Martins  and  Crag-Martins.  On  2  May,  1920,  a  pair 
were  seen  at  Don  Pedro  ('liff  about  eiglit  miles  distant  from 
C'iscar.  They  were  settling  down  collecting  mud  and  were 
evidently  preparing  to  breed.  ^Vhere  these  birds  were 
found  was  about  thirty  miles  distant  from  the  Moorish  coast, 
and  as  they  are  found  in  Morocco  there  is  no  reason  they 
should  not,  at  times,  cross  the  Straits.  Col.  Verner 
informs  me  that  a  bird  of  this  species  had  been  seen  in  the 
same  neighbourhood  several  years  before. 

Delichon  urbica  meridionalis.     2  c?  ;  4  ?  . 

First  seen  in  1919,  29  March,  and  in  1920, 14  March.  Tlit  y 
breed  in  large  numbers  at  Algeciras  and  in  many  cliffs 
around.  The  bi'eedinji-  birds  at  Algeciras  left  the  district  in 
the  first  week  of  August,  and  only  odd  birds  were  seen  after 
the  7th  of  that  month.  The  wings  of  two  males  measure 
105  and  101  mm.,  of  the  four  females  100,  101,  102,  and 
105  mm.,  being,  with  the  exception  of  one  male,  within  the 
measurements  given  for  this  subspecies.  This  one  bird  is 
also  the  only  one  whose  measurement  between  secondaries 
and  the  tip  of  the  wing  equals  that  of  typical  birds  measured. 
Under  these  circumstances,  and  taking  into  account  that  in 
autumn  the  local  birds  migrate  two  months  before  the 
northern  birds  appear,  I  consider  the  placing  of  them,  for 
the  time  at  least,  in  this  group  justifiable. 


1 92 1.]  Bird  Notes  from  Southern  Spain.  593 

Delichon  urbica  urbica. 

Sprinu-  migration  uncertain,  being-  masked  by  local  breeding 
birds.  In  autumn  odtl  bii-ds,  probably  of  this  race,  were  seen 
late  August  and  September.  On  the  6th  of  October,  they 
were  very  plentiful  in  company  with  Swallows,  and  on  the 
16th  many  hundreds  were  at  Gibraltar.  All  had  gone  by 
21  October.     Last  seen  on  7  Noveml^er. 

Riparia  r.  riparia. 

Not  common.  Many  crossed  Laguna  de  la  Janda  phiinon 
25  A{)ril  in  company  with  Swifts.  Noted  in  autumn  first  on 
27  September,  again  seen  6  October,  and  last  on  12  October. 

Eiparia  r.  rupestris.     1  c?  . 

Seen  throughout  the  year.  Many  passed  through  on 
migration  17  to  21  October,  On  20  October,  at  10  A.M.,  one 
struck  the  telegraph  wires  over  my  head  and  was  captured. 
This  bird  was  in  c  )nipany  with  others  making  their  way  to 
the  African  coast.  Its  stomach  was  qaite  empty  :  apparently 
it  had  started  its  journey  that  morning  without  hunting  for 
food. 

Dryobates  major  hispanus.     2  (^  ;  3  ?  . 

Found  fairly  commonly  in  the  cork-woods,  and  easily 
obtained  in  winter  wdien  associating  with  Tits  ;  at  other  times 
rather  shy.  On  one  occasion  ants  were  found  in  the  stomach, 
and  twice  pieces  of  acorns. 

lynx  t.  torquilla. 

Seen  only  once,  on  1*J  January. 

Micropus  apus  apus.     1  ($  . 

First  seen  2  April,  1919,  and  in  1920,  29  March.  Bred 
abundantly  at  Gribraltar.  The  local  birds  had  mostly  gone 
by  31  Jaly,  and  only  occasional  birds  were  seen  after 
that  date.  Last  observed  17  August.  On  25  April,  it  was 
seen  migrating  in  large  numbers  across  Laguna  de  la  Janda. 
There  was  a  steady  stream  of  birds  for  about  two  hours  in 
the  late  forenoon  making  north  across  a  light  easterly  wind. 
From  tiie  direction  of  their  flight,  they  must  have  struck  the 
Spanish  coast  at  Zahara  de  los  Atunes. 


594  Bird  Notes  from  Southern  Spain.  [Ibis, 

Caprimulgus  r.  ruficoUis.     1  c^  ;  1  ?  . 

Breeds  in  small  numbers  :  first  observed  26  April. 

Last  seen  12  October. 

Merops  apiaster. 

Summer  visitor  :  it  arrived  both  years  on  11  April.  In 
autumn  was  first  seen  migrating  on  10  August,  and  many 
flocks  were  noted  migrating  by  day  on  14  September. 

Alcedo  atthis  ispida. 

Seen  on  autumn  migration  on  30  August,  and  odd  birds 
observed  both  on  the  seashore  and  on  the  stream  in  Septem- 
ber and  October.  In  spring  only  once  noted,  viz.,  on 
22  March. 

Glareola  pratincola. 

A  small  colony  ol:  about  twelve  pairs  was  found  near 
Ta[)atanilla  at  Laguna  de  la  Janda.  Two  nests  had  eggs  on 
2  May.  One  had  two  eggs  somewhat  incubated.  This  is 
a  very  early  date. 

Totanus  maculatus. 

One  was  seen  on  the  seashore  on  30  May  in  company  with 
a  Sanderling. 

Charadrius  a.  alexandrinus.      ^^  &   ?  . 

Breeds  in  f;iir  numbers  l)etween  the  rivers  opposite,  and 
:ilso  on  the  seashore  to  the  north  o£  Gibraltar. 

Calidris  arenaria.     1  S  • 

One  shot  on  30  May  showed  no  sign  of  breeding.  It  had 
lost  a  leg,  and  so  probably  had  not  migrated. 

Podiceps  fluviatilis. 

One  struck  the  aerial  at  the  north  front,  Gibraltar,  on 
7  October. 

Alectoris  rufus  intercedens.     2  ?  . 

Commonly  distributed. 

[These  are  paler  and  of  a  greyer  brown  on  the  upper-parts, 
and  especially  on  the  rump,  upper  tail-coverts,  and  central 
tail-feathers,  than  birds  from  northern  Portugal,  and  this 
confirms  Harterf's  conclusions  (see  Nov.  Zool.xxv.  p.  G3). — 
H.F.W.] 


1 92 1.]       On  the  Winter  Avifauna  of  the  Camargue.  595 

XXXII. — Some  Notes  on  the  Winter  Avifauna  of  the 
Camargue.  By  Ludlow  GrUiscoM,  M.A.'O.CJ.,  M.B.O.U.  ; 
American  Museum  of  Natural  History,  New  York  City. 

For  a  region  which  has  long  been  famous  as  a  bird 
paradise,  remarkably  liltle  has  been  written  about  the 
Camargue,  due  in  part  perhaps  to  its  comparative  isolation 
and  the  primitive  living  conditions  required  in  so  dreary  and 
uninhabited  a  waste.  The  classic  work  on  ihis  region  is  the 
'  Ornithologie  du  Gard  et  des  Pa\  s  circonvoisins^  hj 
J.  Crespon,  a  rare  work  published  by  private  subscription  in 
1810,  a  copy  of  which  I  was  so  fortunate  as  to  obtain  in 
Paris  and  took  with  me.  It  is  remarkable  for  its  excellent 
detailed  accounts  of  habits  nnd  occurrence  of  the  various 
species,  founded  on  many  years  of  personal  collecting.  Two 
other  works  appeared  shortly  thereafter — '  Faune  Meridio- 
nale  du  Midi  de  la  France^  (Crespon,  1841),  an  elaboration, 
chiefly  territorial,  of  his  earlier  woi'k ;  and  the  '  Uichesses 
Ornithologiques  du  Midi  de  la  France'  (Jaubert  and  Barth- 
elemy-Lapommeraye,  1859).  The  latter  work  is  chiefly  of 
value  for  its  information  about  the  bird-life  of  Marseilles  and 
the  Riviera,  being  almost  entirely  a  compilation  so  far  as  the 
('amargiie  is  concerned.  Crespon's  original  work  is  not 
quoted  by  them,  otldly  enough.  In  'The  IMS'*  for  April 
1895  and  October  1898,  Mr.  Wm.  Eagle  Clarke  published 
two  very  interesting  and  valuable  papers  on  this  region, 
based  on  visits  in  jMay  and  early  June,  1894,  and  {)art  of 
September,  1896.  The  first  paper  contained  a  map  and  so 
excellent  and  adequate  an  account  of  the  topography  of  the 
region,  that  repetition  would  be  useless,  and  readers  are 
referred  to  it  for  information  on  these  points. 

I  have  wandered  for  many  years  in  Europe  with  an 
increasing  determination  to  visit  the  Camargue.  Twice  I 
had  been  in  Aries,  but  was  absolutely  unable  to  find  the  time 
for  the  briefest  kind  of  a  side-trip.  While  with  the 
American    Expeditionary    Forces    in    1918,    a    conversation 


59G  Mr.  L.  Griscom  on  the  [Ibis. 

with  Dr.  Chalmers  Mitchell  crystallized  anew  this  deteriiiiii- 
ation  ;  and  a  week's  leave  o£  absence  around  Christmas  of 
1918  gave  me  the  longed-for  op|)ortunity.  Stopijing  long 
enough  in  Paris  to  procure  Cresj)on's  book,  I  arrived  at 
Les  Saiiites  Maries  the  morning  of  29  Dec,  and  remained 
mitil  the  afternoon  of  1  Jan.,  1919.  It  was  a  somewhat 
strenuous  vacation,  as  the  number  of  hours  in  the  field  each 
day  wa.s  exactly  the  number  of  hours  of  daylight  with  a 
liberal  margin  at  each  end  for  a  oood  start  and  a  return. 
The  country  within  five  miles  of  the  village  to  the  north  and 
east  was  thoroughly  explored.  On  31  Dec,  1  left  the 
village  shortly  after  dawn  in  a  two-wheeled  wagon  \\ith  the 
manager  of  a  bull-farm  about  three  miles  west  of"  the  centre 
of  the  Etang  de  Valcares,  where  we  arrived  an  hour  later. 
He  was  a  local  Provencal  poet  of  note,  and  while  my  teeth 
rattled  in  my  head^  he  favoured  me  with  specimens  of  his 
art,  and  it  did  not  discourage  him  at  all  that  I  disclaimed  any 
knowledge  of  the  language  !  At  the  bull-farm  I  ciianged 
ver}"  thankfully  to  horseback,  and  we  roile  to  the  edge  of 
the  Etang,  where  there  was  a  farmer  living  in  a  picturesque 
stone  manse  which  his  ancestors  had  built  six  centuries  ago. 
He  became  my  guide  to  the  haunts  of  the  Flamingo  and  the 
islands  at  the  south  end  of  the  Etang  de  Valcares.  It  was  a 
great  disappointment  to  miss  this  famous  bird,  whose  iem- 
porax'y  absence  was  accounted  for  by  the  natives  as  due  to 
the  low  water  caused  by  a  long  drought.  In  every  other 
respect,  however,  the  day  was  one  of  the  most  eventful 
ornithologically  I  have  ever  had.  Not  the  least  interesting 
part  of  the  day  was  the  return  af  fer  dark.  The  owner  of  the 
horse  assured  me  that  its  home  was  Les  Saintes  Maries, 
and  that  it  would  get  there  without  any  assistance  from  me. 
It  did.  We  started  about  8  p.m.  without  a  moon,  with  not 
even  a  track  or  a  bridle-[)ath  tlie  first  two-thirds  of  the  way. 
The  only  sign  of  life  wiis  a  lighthouse  twenty-five  miles  to 
the  south-west.  The  wind  sighed  over  the  plains,  an  occa- 
sional flock  of  Geese  honked  overhead,  or  a  Lapwing  com- 
plained at  our  approach.  Even  the  horse  seemed  to  feel 
the    loneliness,    as    it  would    occasionally  stop,  look  round, 


1 92 1.]  Winter  Avifauna  of  the  Camargue.  597 

and  would  not  go  on  until  I  liad  spoken  to  it  or  patted  it. 
The  going  was  slow,  as  there  were  constant  detours  to  avoid 
marshes  or  |)onds,  but  at  11.30  I'.M.  sharp  that  horse  halted 
before  the  door  of  its  stable  in  the  village. 

In  his  second  paper  Mr.  Eagle  (jlarke  mentioned  the  rapid 
advance  of  civilization  in  the  Camargne,  and  somewhat 
pessimistically  predicted  the  passing  of  the  Flamingo  and 
the  ornithological  glory  of  this  r^^gion.  I  could  not  see  that 
civilization  had  ])rogressed  materially  since  his  account  was 
written,  and  I  doubt  if  the  bird-life  has  decreased  markedly. 
The  small  native  population  still  takes  a  heavy  toll  of  eggs  in 
the  breeding-season,  but  the  winter  bird-life  seems  quite  safe. 
They  all  have  guns,  and  most  of  the  men  went  hunting  every 
day  I  was  there,  but  the  total  game  of  the  village  was  two 
Mallards  and  one  Spotted  Crake  :  surely  a  negligible  factor  ! 
Birds  were  exceedingly  abundant  and  many  comparatively 
tame,  the  dominant  features  being  the  number  and  variety  of 
Hawks,  always  noteworthy  in  western  Europe,  and  the 
almost  unbelieveable  quantity  of  waterfowl.  On  31  Dec,  I 
saw  fifty-three  species  of  birds,  and  more  individuals  than  on 
any  other  day  anywhere  where  I  have  been  in  either  hemi- 
sphere. The  Etang  de  Valcares  was  black  with  waterfowd 
in  every  direction,  and  the  chorus  of  voices  coming  over 
the  silent  waters  from  conntless  thousands  of  Mallard  and 
Widgeon  made  an  unforgettable  impression. 

On  2  Jan.  the  day  was  spent  south  and  west  of  Aries. 
Birds  were  decidedly  common,  but  exceedingly  shy  and 
wary,  so  much  so  that  it  was  impossible  in  many  cases  to 
approach  sufficiently  near  to  identify  them. 

It  would  be  absurti  to  claim  that  the  following  list  of  species 
was  complete.  Still  it  is  believed  that  it  will  give  some 
definite  idea  of  the  present-dny  winter  bird-life  of  this  inter- 
esting region,  about  v\hich  no  definite  contributions  have 
been  made  since  the  days  of  Crespon  and  his  friends  eighty 
years  ago,  when  French  interest  in  ornithology  was  at  its 
zenith.  The  writer's  military  duties  absolutely  precluded 
general  collecting,  which  would  have  greatly  decreased  the 
time  spent  in  the  field  and  the  amount  of  territory  covered 


598  Mr.  L.  Griscom  on  the  [Ibis, 

in  any  event.  To  those  who  are  a  little  shy  of  sight  identi- 
fications, the  writer  can  only  say  that  he  is  about  as  familiar 
with  the  birds  of  western  Europe  as  he  is  with  those  of  his 
own  country.  Even  so,  these  notes  would  not  have  l)een 
submitted  had  it  not  been  for  the  encouragement  of  the 
Editor  of  '  The  Ibis.'  The  order  of  families  and  the  nomen- 
clature follow  the  '  Hand-List  of  British  Birds/  the  most 
convenient  at  hand. 

Corvus  corone  corone  L. 

Only  two  individuals  seen  near  Les  Salutes  Maries.  Tliey 
probably  straggle  down  to  feed  in  the  marshes  from  the 
more  wooded  country  to  the  north  and  west. 

Pica  pica  pica  L. 

Abnndant  everywhere,  not  even  objecting  to  wading  in 
shallow  water. 

Chloris  chloris  chloris  (L.). 

A  snuill  flock  of  Greenfinches  present  in  the  outskirts  of 
Les  Saintes  Maries,  where  there  were  some  gardens,  a  few 
hedges,  and  what  by  courtesy  might  be  called  a  pasture. 
Common  near  Aries. 

Carduelis  carduelis  carduelis  (L.). 

Four  birds  with  the  Greenfinches  at  Les  Saintes  Maries. 
Fairly  common  near  Aries. 

Carduelis  cannabina  cannabina  (L.). 
A  few  Linnets  with  the  other  Finches. 

Fringilla  ccelebs  ccelebs  L. 

A  single  ChatRnch  was  seen  near  the  farmhouse  by  the 
Etang  de  Valcares.     Common  at  Aries. 

Passer  domesticus  domesticus  L. 

A  flock  of  ten  birds  at  Les  Saintes  Maries.  Comtuon  at 
Aries. 

Passer  montanus  montanus  (L.) . 

A  flock  of  six  birds  at  Les  Saintes  Maries.  Abundant 
near  Aries. 


1 92 1.]  Winter  Avifauna  of  the  Camargue.  599 

Ember iza  citrinella  citrinella  L. 

A  single  bird  soon  neai-  Arlos.  Crospon  says  this  species 
is  common  only  in  cold  weather. 

Emberiza  schceniclus  schceniclus  L. 

A  common  species  in  the  marshes.  Efforts  to  find 
E.  palustris  Savi  were  unavailing. 

Calandrella  brachydactyla  brachydactyla  (Leisler). 

Only  two  birds  soon  in  the  wastes  east  o£  Les  Saintes 
Maries.  Not  supposed  to  occur  in  this  region  in  winter 
according  to  the  old  French  authors,  and  its  presence 
possibly  due  in  part  to  the  very  mild  and  warm  fall. 

Lullula  arborea  arborea  (L.). 

A  few  birds  in  the  "pasture"  near  Les  Saintes  Maries. 
One  in  full  song  30  Dec. 

Alauda  arvensis  arvensis  L. 

Abundant  throughout  the  Camargue.  Common  near 
Aries. 

Anthus  trivialis  trivialis  (L.). 

Crespon  calls  the  Treoi-Pipit  of  rare  occurrence  in  winter, 
and  'Les  Richosses '  does  not  mention  it  at  this  season. 
There  was  a  good-sized  flock  of  these  birds  with  the  Wood- 
Larks  and  Finches  in  the  outskirts  of  Les  Saintes  Maries. 
The  old  French  authors  may  have  been  mistaken  about  its 
status  in  winter.  At  any  rate,  I  saw  two  birds  near  Angers 
on  17  Jan.,  1920,  much  farther  north, 

Anthus  pratensis  (L.) . 

Abundant  in  the  wastes  of  the  Camargue. 

Anthus  spinoletta  spinoletta  (L.). 

The  Water-Pipit  was  mingled  with  the  flocks  of  Meadow- 
Pipits.  Only  a  few  birds  were  positively  identified,  and  it 
was  ])robably  commoner  than  my  observations  would  indicate. 

Motacilla  cinerea  cinerea  Tunstall, 

A  single  Grey  Wagtail  was  seen  near  Les  Saintes  Maries. 


000  Mr.  L.  Grisconi  on  the  [Ibi.«, 

Motacilla  alba  alba  L, 

The  White  Wagtail  was  seen  near  Aries  only. 

Parus  major  major  L. 

Seen  near  Aries  only.  The  scarcity  of  Tits  was  rather 
surprising. 

Regulus  regulus  regulus  (L.). 

A  single  Goklcrest  seen  in  some  bushes  near  the  Etang  de 
Valcares. 

Regulus  ignicapillus  igiiicapillus  (Tcnun.). 
Two  birds  seen  near  Aries. 

Phylloscopus  coUybita  collybita  (Vieill). 
Two  birds  seen  near  Aries. 

Phylloscopus  trocliilus  trochilus  (L.). 

The  Willow-Wren  was  common  in  the  tamarisks  near  Les 
iSaintes  Maries.  I^Jot  given  by  Crespon  as  a  winter  resident, 
though  now  known  to  occur  sparingly  in  Mediterranean 
countries. 

Cettia  cetti  cetti  (Marm.). 

Cetti's  Warbler,  while  given  as  a  resident  by  C^respon,  is 
apparently  not  common  in  winter.  Only  two  birds  were 
seen  in  a  ditch,  densely  overgrovN  n  with  bushes,  several  miles 
north  of  Les  Saintes  Maries.  The  remarkable  notes  given 
as  I  approached  their  haunts,  alone  betrayed  the  presence  o£ 
this  secretive  bird.  I  found  that  they  could  be  "squeaked 
up''  readily  if  I  remained  absolutely  motionless.  Any  effort 
to  stalk  them  was  a  dismal  failure  ;  they  simpl}'  melted  away. 

Cisticola  cisticola  Temm. 

A  single  Fantail  Warbler  was  flushed  in  some  very  thick 
marshy  growth  near  the  Etang  de  Valcares.  Its  small  size 
and  the  black,  white,  and  chestnut  tail,  especially  conspicuous 
as  it  flies  away  from  you,  easily  distinguish  it  from  the  other 
shy  Bush-  and  Marsh- Warblers  of  the  region. 

Acrocephalus  aquaticus  (Gm.). 

One  of  the  surprises  of  the  trip  was  the  discovery  that  this 
species    was    apparently    not    uncommon    in    the    marshes. 


192 1.]  U^inter  Avifauna  of  the  Camargxie.  601 

There  is  no  difficulty  in  distinguishing  it  in  life  from  the 
Sedtre-Warhler,  with  which  I  am  fiiniiliur.  The  broad  buffv 
stripe  down  the  centre  of  the  crown,  bounded  on  both  sides 
l)y  an  even  broader  blackish  one,  is  a  very  diagnostic  field- 
character.  The  back  and  rump  are  more  conspicuously 
streaked,  and  all  the  birds  I  saw  had  some  narrow  streaks  on 
the  sides. 

The  Aquatic  Warbler  was  found  only  in  what  I  should 
call  a  tussock-marsh,  where  the  water  was  comparatively 
fresh  and  the  vegetation  not  more  thiin  a  foot  high.  1  saw 
none  in  bushy  places  along  ditches  or  in  the  reed-beds. 
While  very  secretive  in  habits,  it  couLl  not  be  called  exactly 
shy.  A  tussock  is  a  rather  restricted  environment,  and  the 
bird  is  forced  to  fly  to  reach  the  next  one^and  in  this  way  its 
presence  can  be  discovered.  It  dives  hastily  into  the  base 
of  the  tussock,  and  the  slight  wobbling  of  the  vegetation  is 
the  only  sign  of  its  presence.  About  once  every  two  minutes 
the  performance  is  repeated.  It  will  not  flush  unless  the 
tussock  in  which  it  is  hiding  is  actually  kicked.  By  taking 
advantage  of  this  habit,  and  the  fact  that  when  unalarmed  it 
tends  to  travel  in  a  straight  line,  a  satisfactory  observation 
can  finally  be  made.  Mark  the  tussock  in  which  the  bird  has 
taken  refuge,  and  make  a  detour,  and  seat  yourself  on 
another  tussock  directly  in  the  probable  line  of  progress. 
After  about  a  minute's  perfect  quiet  the  moving  of  the 
vegetation  will  prove  that  the  danger  is  supposed  to  be  over, 
and  as  likely  as  not  the  bird  will  fly  in  your  direction.  Your 
presence  jirouses  more  curiosity  than  anything  else  if  perfect 
silence  and  quiet  is  maintained,  and  a  little  head  and  bright 
eye  will  emerge  for  a  few  seconds  from  the  grass  to  inspect 
you.  Apparently  the  ear  is  more  easily  offended  than  the 
eye.  On  one  occasion  a  bird  mounted  to  the  summit  of  a 
tussock  and  sat  quietly  for  several  minutes,  while  I  was 
sitting  perfectly  still  about  twenty-five  feet  away. 

There  seems  to  be  considerable  question  as  to  the  status  of 
this  species  in  the  (Jamargue.  CJrespon  states  emphatically 
that  it  is  a  resident,  and  mentions  having  killeil  several  in 
winter.     '  Les  Kichesses '  oives  it  as  a  common  miorant  in 


602  Mr.  L.  Griscom  on  the  [Ibis, 

April  and  September,  a  few  remaining  to  breed.  The  former 
states  that  he  never  personally  met  with  the  Sedge-Warbler, 
while  the  latter  work  calls  ic  a  rare  migrant.  Mr.  Eagle 
Clarke  met  with  neither  species  on  either  of  his  trips. 
Modern  handbooks  state  that  the  winter  home  of  the  Aquatic 
Warbler  is  not  known  for  certain.  I  am  not  aware  that 
Crespon's  positive  statement  has  ever  been  disproved. 

Sylvia  melanocephala  melanocephala  (Gm. ). 

A  single  bird  of  this  species  was  studied  for  half  an  hour 
in  a  thick  clump  of  tamarisk  bushes  near  Les  Saintes  Maries. 
It  is  easily  distinguished  from  the  Blackcap  by  the  white  in 
the  tail  and  its  much  smaller  size.  Another  was  seen  on  a 
stony  bush-covered  hillside  near  Aries.  Two  other  Warblers 
seen  near  Aries  may  have  been  Blackcaps,  but  I  was  unable 
to  get  a  satisfactory  view.     Both  species  are  resident. 

Sylvia  (Melizophilus)  midata  uiidata  (Bodd.). 

Not  uncommon  in  the  wastes  east  of  Les  Saintes  Maries. 
Very  shy  and  about  as  hard  to  observe  as  a  field-mouse.  1 
have  never  seen  a  bird  do  the  "disappearing  act"  more 
perfectly.  One  was  seen  to  put  down  in  an  isolated  clump 
of  sea-blite  without  any  nearby  vegetation.  It  took  me  but 
a  few  seconds  to  reach  this  clump,  but  the  bird  wasn't  there 
when  T  arrived,  and  I  was  unable  to  rediscover  it. 

?  Turdus  pilaris  L. 

A  single  vcy  wild  bird  seen  near  Aries,  probably  this 
sp(^cies,  but  the  identification  by  no  means  satisfactory. 

Turdus  morula  merula  L. 

A  single  male  seen  on  two  occasions  near  Les  Saintes 
Maries.  Mr.  Eagle  (Jlarke  did  not  meet  with  this  species  in 
the  Delta,  where  it  seems  to  be  a  decidedly  rare  birtl. 

Saxicola  rubetra  rubetra  (L.). 

A[)parently  a  rare  bird  in  western  Europe  in  winter,  and 
its  presence  was  probably  due  to  the  remarkably  mild  fall. 
Two  birds  seen  in  the  truck-patches  near  Les  Saintes  Maries, 
and  another  near  Aries.  Not  given  as  occurring  in  winter 
by  the  old  French  authors. 


192 1. J  Winter  Anfauna  of  the  Camargue.  603 

Saxicola  torquata  rubicola  (L.). 

A  few  ill  the  wastes  east  of  Les  Saintes  Maries,  and  one 
near  Aries. 

Phoenicurus  ochrurus  gibraltariensis  (Gm.). 
A  single   male   seen   near   the  Et;ing  de  Valcarcs   in  the 
garden  of  the  old  farm. 

Erithacus  rubecula  rubecula  (L.).. 

Apparently  a  winter  visitor  only  to  the  Delta  of  the  Rhone. 
Common  near  Aries,  and  a  single  hird  near  Les  Saintes 
Maries. 

Troglodytes  troglodytes  troglodytes  (L.). 

It  was  a  considerable  surprise  to  find  the  Wren  by  no 
means  uncommon  in  the  marshes  north  of  Les  Saintes 
Maries,  where  it  preferred  tlie  ditches  overgrown  with 
bushes  affected  by  Cetti's  Warbler — surely  an  unusual 
association. 

Gecinus  viridis  viridis  (L.). 

A  single  bird  near  Aries.  Very  much  wilder  than  in  any 
other  part  of  Europe  where  I  have  encountered  this  species. 

Falco  columbarius  aesalon  Tunstall. 

The  little  Merlin  was  fairly  common  in  rlie  marshes  north 
and  east  of  Les  Saintes  Maries. 

Falco  tinnunculus  tinnunculus  (L.). 
Common  everywhere. 

Falco  naumauni  naumanni  Flcisch. 

An  adult  male  Lesser  Kestrel  was  very  well  seen  both 
sitting  and  flying  on  29  Dec,  the  smaller  size  and  clear 
uns^jotted  back  being  good  field-marks.  An  ordinary  Kestrel 
was  seen  before  the  other  was  out  of  sight.  This  species  is 
considered  an  uncommon  migrant  by  the  old  French  authors. 
I  do  not  know  of  a  winter  record  for  France. 

Aquila  maculata  (Gm.). 

The  Greater  Spotted  Eagle  is  given  as  a  winter  visitor  to 
the  marshes  of  the  Midi.  I  saw  five  birds  in  all  during  my 
stay. 


604  Mr.  L.  Griscom  on  the  [Ibis, 

Buteo  buteo  buteo  (L.). 

Chiefly  a  winter  visitor  to  the  Oaniargue.  Only  two  birds 
seen, 

Haliaetus  albicilla  (L.). 

A  fine  adult  seen  on  the  shore  of  the  Etang  de  Valcares 
near  the  Isle  Mornue. 

Circus  aeruginosus  (L.). 

The  ]\r.arsh-Harrier  was  the  most  abundant  Hawk  in  the 
Cainaroue. 

Circus  pygargus  (L.). 

A  single  adult  male  Montagu's  Harrier  was  seen  near  the 
Etang  (le  Valcares.  Considered  a  rare  winter  visitor  by  the 
old  French  authors. 

Circus  cyaneus  (L.). 

The  Hen-Harrier  was  common  and  was  seen  daily  in  the 
marshes.  Though  I  never  saw  any  open  hostility,  a  Hen- 
Harrier  would  immediately  leave  a  hunting-ground  if  a 
Marsh-Harrier  came  along. 

Circus  swainsoni  Smith  (=  C.  marrourus  auct.). 

A  magnificent  adult  nuile  was  seen  near  Aries.  At  a 
distance  in  the  bright  sunlight  it  looked  practically  white, 
with  dark  wing-tips  and  tail  and  a  few  dark  spots  on  the 
neck  and  upper  back. 

Accipiter  gentilis  gentilis  (L.). 

A})parently  a  rare  bird  in  the  Midi.  Some  boys  flushed 
an  adult  in  a  pine-wood  near  Aries,  and  it  flew  out  into  the 
open  over  my  head,  giving  me  an  excellent  observation. 

Ardea  cinerea  L. 

This  sjiecies  was  common,  and  apparently  replaces  the 
Purple  Heron  in  winter,  which  is  rare  at  that  season. 
Certainly  I  did  not  succeed  in  finding  any. 

Egretta  alba  alba  (L.). 

A  single  exainjile  of  this  magnificent  species  was  seen 
towering  among  a  flock  of  twenty-lour  Common  Herons  on 


1 92 1.]  Winter  Avifauna  of  tlie  Camar[iue.  605 

30  Dec,  about  tive  miles  north  of  Les  Saintes  Maries. 
Considered  as  a  rare  winter  straggler  by  the  old  French 
writers,  it  must  now  be  a  very  rare  bird  in  France. 

Phcenicopterus  antiquorum  Tcnnn. 

While  I  saw  no  Flamiooes  personal!}-,  there  cjin  be  no 
doubt  that  it  still  exists  in  considerable  numbers  in  the 
Ganiargue,  as  all  the  natives  know  the  bird  well,  A  flock 
was  seen  three  days  before  my  arriyal  flying  e.ist  near  the 
village  of  Les  iSaintes  Maries,  the  number  estimated 
variously  \\i  500-700.  The  natives  claim  that  in  winter  this 
bird  occasionally  disappears  if  the  water  is  very  low  (.-is  was 
the  case  daring  my  visit),  or  when  a  norther  is  blowing. 
They  have  no  theory  as  to  where  it  goes.  They  appear  to  be 
perfectly  familiar  with  the  plumage  of  the  young  bird,  and 
claimed  that  about  one-qu;irter  of  the  indiyiduals  in  the  flock 
mentioned  above  were  young. 

Anser  sp. 

A  few  Geese  were  heard  at  night,  and  one  small  flock  seen 
at  dawn,  when  colour  details  could  not  be  distinguished. 
Probably  the  Grey  Lag-Goose,  other  species,  according  to 
Crespon,  occurring  only  in  severe  cold  weather. 

Tadorna  tadorna  (L.). 

Two    Sheld-Ducks  observed  on    the  Etang    de    Valcares, 

31  Dee. 

Anas  platyrhyncha  L. 

The  Mallard  was  almost  incredibly  abundant,  by  day 
flocking  on  the  open  waters  of  the  larger  Etangs,  and  flying 
into  the  fresher  marshes  and  reed-bordered  ponds  by  night 
to  feed. 

Anas  strepera  L. 

Only  two  Gadwall  were  positively  identified.  It  is 
undoubtedly  common. 

Anas  crecca  L. 

The  Teal  was  fairly  common. 

SEE.  XI. VOL.  III.  2  S 


606  Mr.  L.  Griscom  on  the  [Ibis, 

Anas  penelope  L. 

The  Widtreon  was  very  abundant. 

Spatula  clypeata  (L.)- 
Only  one  small  flock  seen, 

Dafila  acuta  (L.). 
Very  common. 

Nyroca  fuligula  (L.). 

The  Tufted  Duck  was  the  only  one  of  its  subfamily 
observed — a  small  flock  on  the  Etang  de  Valcares.  The 
presence  of  the  diving-ducks  in  numbers  is  a  matter  of  cold 
weather,  according  to  Crespon,  so  it  is  not  surprising  that  I 
found  so  few. 

Mergus  sp. 

A  small  flock  of  large  Mergansers  seen  on  the  Etang  de 
V^alcares.  Probably  the  Goosander,  which  is  the  commoner 
species  according  to  Crespon,  but  the  absence  of  adult  males 
made  a  satisfactory  identification  impossible. 

Phalacrocorax  carbo  carbo  (L.). 

A  common  bird  ;  they  were  seen  daily  sunning  themselves 
on  the  fish-weirs  in  flocks. 

Colymbus  cristatus  cristatus  (L.). 

A  single  Great  Crested  Grebe  observed  in  the  surf  near 
Les  Saintes  Maries. 

Columba  cenas  L. 

Two  Stock-Doves  were  seen  at  the  bull-farm  west  of  the 
Etang  de  Valcares.  They  were  flushed  from  a  little  hollow 
in  which  a  stream  ran  where  there  were  some  real  trees. 
Two  Pigeons  were  seen  near  Aries,  so  shy  and  wild  that  it 
was  impossible  to  approach  them  within  several  hundred 
yards. 

Burhinus  cedicnemus  oedicnemus  (L.). 

The  strange  cry  of  this  bird  was  heard  before  dawn  in  the 
wastes  near  the  Etang  de  Valcares.  It  seems  to  be  well 
known  to  the  natives. 


1921.]  Winter  Avifauna  of  the  Camargiie.  607 

Squatarola  squatarola  (L.) . 

The  Grey  Plover  was  not  common.  A  flock  of  t&n  was 
seen  in  the  vast  flats  of  the  Isle  Mornue  in  the  Etang  do 
Valcares,  and  a  single  individdal  was  seen  near  Les  Saintes 
Maries. 

Vanellus  vanellus  (L.). 

The  Lapwing  was  not  common,  and  was  absent  from  the 
sonth-western  portion  of  the  Camargue. 

Calidris  alba  (Pallas). 

A  largo  flock  of  Sanderlino-  seen  on  the  beacli  near  Les 
Saintes  Maries  on  29  Dec. 

Erolia  alpina  alpina  (L.). 

The  Dunlin  was  common  in  large  flocks. 

Tringa  ochropus  L. 

A  flock  of  eight  with  Redshanks  in  one  of  the  fresher 
marshes  north  of  Les  Saintes  Maries. 

Tringa  totanus  (L.). 

The  Redshank  was  widely  distributed  in  small  numbers. 

Numenius  arquata  arquata  (L.). 

The  Curlew  could  not  be  culled  common,  compared  with 
its  numbers  on  the  coasts  of  England  and  Holland.  It  was 
seen  daily  in  small  numbers. 

Numenius  tenuirostris  Vieill. 

It  was  a  delightful  surprise  to  see  a  flock  of  five  of  these 
birds  near  the  Etang  de  Valcares,  apparently  much  tamer 
than  the  common  Curlew,  as  they  allowed  a  much  closer 
approach.  The  much  shorter  and  less  curved  bill  is  an 
excellent  field-mark,  and  at  any  distance  the  bird  has  a 
lio-hter  colour-effect. 

Limnocryptes  gallinula  (L.). 

TwHi  Jack  Sni[)e  were  flushed  froni  a  marshy  meadow  near 
the  Etang  de  Valcares. 

2s2 


608  On  the  Winter  Avifauna  of  the  Camargiie.        [Ibis, 

Lams  ridibundus  (L.)- 

The  Black-headed  Gull  was  very  common,  outnumbering 
all  the  other  species  put  together.     Not  seen  oft'-shore. 

Larus  canus  canus  Tj. 

Not  uncommon. 

Larus  argentatus  subsp. 

Only  two  Herring-Gulls  were  seen,  much  to  my  surprise. 
The.^e  were  on  the  Etang  de  Valcar^s,  and  were  not  near 
enough  to  permit  me  to  saj'  whether  they  were  the  northern 
bird  or  cachinnans,  though  I  am  familiar  with  both. 

Larus  fuscus  fuscus  L. 

A  few  scattered  birds  seen  daily. 

Porzana  porzana  (Tj.), 

Two  Spotted  Crakes  were  flushed  in  a  little  marsh  north 
of  Les  Saintes  Maries,  and  one  was  shot  by  a  local  nimrod 
who  had  joined  me,  a  feat  of  which  he  seemed  very  proud. 
Itis  much  more  interesting  alive  than  dead.  This  same  bird 
was  served  to  me  by  my  landlady  that  evening,  ljeau)ing  wiih 
pride,  and  was  by  all  odds  the  worst  morsel  of  bird  flesh  my 
jaws  ever  worked  on.  1  greatly  prefer  Parrols  and  Wood- 
peckers ! 

Fulica  atra  atra  L. 

A  large  flock  of  over  one  thousand  birds  on  the  h]tang  de 
Valcar^s.  The  Gulls  seemed  to  oet  yreat  amusement  in 
chivying  them,  and  would  repeatedly  swoop  down  on  the 
rear  of  the  flock,  whereupon  all  would  patter  wildly  over  the 
water  for  several  hundred  yards,  the  rearmost  birds  tumbling- 
over  those  in  front,  so  dense  was  their  formation. 

Caccabis  rufa  rufa  (L). 

This  Partridge  was  common  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
Oamargue,  and  several  coveys  were  seen  from  the  train,  to 
which  they  appeared  entirely  indifferent.  A  small  flock  was 
seen  near  the  Etang  de  Valcares. 


I92I.] 


On  the  genus  Lampribis. 


609 


As  11  matter  of  interest  I  append  a  list  of  birds  seen  on 
31  Dec,  to  give  some  idea  of  what  a  full  tlay  can  produce, 
and  also  the  comparative  numbers  of  individuals  : 


Lesser  Black-backed  Gall,  2, 

HeiTing-CTiill,  2. 

Black-lieaded  Gull,  100. 

Cormorant,  25. 

Mergus  sp.,  15. 

Mallard,  100,000. 

Widgeon,  100,000. 

Teal,  50. 

Pintail,  1000. 

Shoveler,  6. 

Sheld-Duck,  2. 

Tufted  Duck,  15. 

Anser  sp.,  6. 

Grey  Heron,  4. 

Coot,  1000. 

Jack  Snipe,  2. 

Dunlin,  500. 

Redshank,  4. 

Curie  Av,  1 

Slender-billed  Curlew,  5. 

Grey  Plover,   10. 

Lapwing,  5. 

Stone- Curlew,  6. 

Red-legged  Partridge,  4. 

Stock-Dove,  2. 

Marsli-PIarrier,  0. 

Ilen-Harrier,  1  2 . 


Montagu's  Harrier,  1   c?. 

(-Jreater  Spotted  Eagle,  1. 

Sea-Eagle,  1  ad. 

Merlin,  2. 

Kestrel,  2. 

Sky-Lark,  100. 

Wood-Lark,  2. 

Magpie,  25. 

Greenfinch,  0. 

Linnet,  4. 

Goldfinch,  4. 

Chaffinch,  1. 

House-Sparrow,  10. 

Reed-Hunting,  4. 
Meadow-Pipit  (common). 
Tree -Pipit,  10. 
Water-Pipit  (several). 
Wren,  2. 
Dartford  Warbler,  i. 

Willow- Wren,  ('). 
Gold-crest,  1 
Aquatic  Warbler,  3. 
Fanf ail  Warbler,  1. 
Black  Redstart,  1. 
Robin,  1. 
Blackbird,  1. 


XXXIII. —  A  7iote  on  the  (/enus  Lampribis  n?  East  and  Central 
Africa.  By  James  P.  ('hapin,  M.A.O  U.,  American 
Museum  of  Natural  History. 

Lampribis  oUvacea  and  Lampribis  rara. — Both  these  rare 
African  Ibises  range  eastward  to  the  Ituri  Forest,  wbere 
a  single  specimen  of  each  was  collected  by  the  Ameri- 
can Museum  Congo  Expedition  at  Avakubi.  A  second 
example  of  Lampribis  rara  was  also  secured  at  Niapu,  in  the 
Bomokandi  region  of  the  Uele. 


610  On  the  genus  LnmY)Yih\s.  [Tbis, 

L.  vara  Rothsch.,  Hart.,  &  Kleinschni.,  is  apparently  the 
less  rare  of  the  two,  and  was  seen  singly  or  in  pairs  along 
small  forest-brooks  or  in  wooded  swamps.  Our  two  speci- 
mens, representing  both  sexes,  have  been  compared  with  two 
specimens  from  the  River  Muni  and  one  from  Liberia,  in  the 
Museum  of  the  Philadelphia  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences. 
While  these  three  West  African  birds  all  have  the  abdomen 
somewhat  darker  than  in  those  from  the  Ituri,  there  seem  to 
bo  no  differences  of  importance  between  them. 

Lamprlhis.  olivacea  (Du  Bus)  was  only  observed  on  one 
occasion,  when  a  pair  were  flushed  from  the  ground  and  amid 
dense  undergrowth,  some  little  distance  back  from  the  bank 
of  the  Ituri.  Our  single  specimen,  a  male,  shows  no  evidence 
of  immaturity  and  measures  :  wing  o35  mm.,  tail  133, 
culnieu  10(j,  bill  from  posterior  angle  of  nostril  94,  tarsus  70, 
middle  toe  with  claw  69. 

From  the  original  description  and  plate  of  Du  Bus  there 
seemed  to  be  no  doubt  of  its  identification  as  L.  o.  olivacea, 
and  Mr.  Bannerman's  recent  notes  *  confirm  my  opinion. 

La))ij)ril>is  akelejjonim  (Chapman)  j  ii?  really  the  eastern 
representative  of  L.  olivacea,  being  larger,  with  wing-coverts 
shining  green  (as  opposed  to  a  more  copper}^  tinge  in  our  L.  o. 
olivacea),  and  its  plum.igi?  of  a  warmer  brown  tone  through- 
out. Notwithstanding  that  the  tips  of  the  wings  Jire  badly 
worn,  they  measure  358  mm.  in  the  male,  362  in  the  female. 
The  specimens  of  Lamprihh  with  which  Dr.  Chapman 
compared  them,  from  the  Philadelphia  Academy  of  Natuml 
Sciences,  were  really  those  of  L.  vara  mentioned  above,  but 
wi'ongly  labelled  as  L.  olivacea. 

Tliat  the  extent  of  bare  skin  about  the  face  is  a  good 
diagnostic  character  in  Lampribis,  and  not  dependent  upon 
age,  is  well  shown  by  the  downy  young  of  L.  akeleiforum, 
for  the  shape  of  the  naked  patches,  only  a  few  days  after 
hatching,  is  exactly  the  same  as  that  of  their  parents. 

*  Bull.  Brit.  Orn.  CI.  xl.  1919,  p.  o. 

I   Bull.  Amer.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  xxxi.  1912,  p.  23r). 


1921.]  On  Birds  of  Northern  Rhodesia.  611 

XXXIV. — An  account  of  the  Birds  met  with  during  a  two 
months'  shooting  trip  in  Northern  Rhodesia.  By  Colonel 
Stephenson  R.  Clarke,  (!.B.,  M.B.O.U. 

(Plate  VII.) 

In  the  followino-  pases  I  endeavour  to  cive  a  short  and,  I 
fear,  a  superficial  account  of  the  birds  observed  while  making 
a  two  months'- shootinn-  trip  during  August  and  September 
1920^  in  north-western  Rhodesia.  I  had  meant  to  have 
collected  birdskius  more  seriously,  but  I  met  with  two  un- 
expected mischances  ;  in  the  first  place,  it  was  not  found 
possible  to  secure  the  services  of  a  trained  bird-skinner,  and, 
in  addition,  I  injured  my  right  arm  the  second  day  out  from 
Monzc,  and  was  unable  to  use  my  shot-gun  for  a  month 
after. 

My  son  Edmund  accompanied  me,  and  we  engaged  as 
guide  and  hunter  Mr.  F.  Cooper,  of  Mazabuka.  On  our 
way  north  my  son  and  I  broke  our  journey  from  Capetown, 
in  the  Free  State,  to  shoot  specimens  of  the  Black  Wilde- 
beeste  and  Blesbok  ;  during  the  few  days  spent  there  we 
motored  from  Win  burg  to  the  Hoopstad  district  and  hack 
by  a  different  road,  something  over  100  miles  each  way. 
I  felt  a  natural  pleasure  in  renewing  acquaintance  with  the 
birds  of  the  Free  State  veld  after  twenty  years'  absence  ; 
the  small  number  of  Raj)tores  seen  (even  allowing  for  the 
fact  of  it  being  the  winter)  seemed  to  show  a  great  diminu- 
tion in  their  numbers  since  then  :  Ivnniaicidusrupicoloides  is 
still  abundant,  but  the  onl}^  other  members  of  the  group  seen 
in  these  two  long  drives  were  two  Secretary  Birds  and  one 
Black-shouldered  Kite,  nor  did  we  see  any  of  the  Francolins, 
I  had  certainly  expected  to  see  Francolinus  gariepensis.  On  the 
other  hand,  White-quilled  KnoY\rdan(Otis  afroides),Niimnqua 
Sandgrouse  [Pteroclurus  namaqua),  Two-banded  Courser 
[Rhinoptilus  africatms),  Burchell's  Courser  {^Cursorius  rufus), 
and  thetls^lewitjes  (^Stephanibi/oj  coronata)  were  abundant,  and 
I  also  saw  several  Blue  Knorhaan  (Otis  cwrulescens)  in  twos 
and  threes,  and,  unless  I  was  mistakeuj  many  flocks  of  the 


612  Colonel  S.  R.  Clarke  on  [Ibis, 

Black  Finch-Lurk  (^Pyrrhulaiula  austrulin).  I  hud  met  with 
each  o£  these  two  last-named  species  on  only  one  occasion, 
when  collecting  carefully  during  eight  months  in  the 
Bloemfontein  district.  After  this  short  expedition  we 
again  took  the  train  for  Rhodesia  ;  soon  after  leaving 
Mafeking  the  railway-line  enters  very  loose  bush-veld,  and 
though  I  believe  we  passed  through  one  or  two  patches  of 
open  country  in  the  night  before  reaching  Monze,  it  was,  as 
far  as  we  saw,  bush-veld,  more  or  less  dense,  over  practically 
the  whole  of  the  700  miles  of  the  eastern  fringe  of  the 
Kalahari  and  the  parts  of  western  Rhodesia  traversed  in  our 
railway  journey  to  Monze,  which  is  situated  in  long.  27°  E., 
hit.  16°  50'  S. 

We  reached  our  destination  on  the  2iid  of  August  about 
10  in  the  morning,  the  frost  of  the  night  had  disappeared, 
and  we  found  our  tents  and  two  wagons  waiting  ready 
for  us.  We  trekked  at  once  and  crossed  a  rolling  open 
country  with  grazing  grass,  now  dry  from  the  winter's 
sunshine  and  drought,  to  the  first  water  some  seven  miles 
west.  Livingstone^s  Chat  [Saxicola  pileata  livingstonn)  and 
a  Drongo  {Dicrurus  adsiinilis)  were  seen  on  the  plain, 
and  near  the  water  Doves  and  iSwainson's  Francolin  {Pternistes 
swainsoni).  The  next  morning  we  [tushed  on,  the  rolling 
grass-veld  was  left  behind,  and  we  entered  a  country  of  bush 
more  or  less  dense  interspersed  with  glades  of  open  country, 
which,  except  on  the  flats  by  the  Kafue  River,  were  never 
of  great  extent.  This  country  is,  without  being  absolutely 
flat,  very  level,  and  dongas  and  streams  few  and  far  between. 
I  was  informed  that  the  summer  rainfall  is  very  heavy,  as 
much  as  oO  inches  of  rain  i'alling  in  January  and  February  ; 
and,  there  being  little  surface  drainage  to  carry  off  the  water, 
the  country  during  the  summer  months  is  waterlogged,  and 
this  probably  accounts  for  the  scarcity  of  Larks.  Of  these 
we  only  identified  one  species  {Te/Jirocorys  saturatiui');  of 
Pij)its  one  {Anthus  sordidvs  nyassce)  ;  also  one  Macronyx,  the 
beautiful  M.  wintoni,  which  so  far  as  we  observed  was 
confined  to  the  flats  by  the  Kafue  River.  Bustards  uere  also 
scarce,  and  we  only  killed  Otis  niela^iogastev  ;  of  Francolins, 


1921.]  Birds  of  Northern  Rhodesia.  6l3 

F.  swainsoni  was  tlie  commonest,  and  frequented  the  gardens 
of  the  natives.  I  also  saw  a  fair  number  oi'  Pternistes  crayiclii, 
which  appeared  to  keep  to  thick  bush  by  water,  and  not  to 
use  the  cultivated  land ;  I  was  surprised  to  find  the  range  of 
this  species  extended  so  far  to  the  south-west  of  where  I 
last  saw  it  in  the  Nyando  Valley,  British  East  Africa.  There 
were  also  a  few  true  Fi'ancolins  of  one  or  perluqis  two  species 
found  sparingly  in  the  larger  patches  of  thick  bush  and  on 
the  top  of  a  ko})je  near  the  Nasenga  River,  but  we  did  not 
obtain  any  specimens.  No  Ostrich  is  found  in  north-west 
Rhodesia. 

Another  family  that  was  notably  poorly  represented  for 
Africa  was  that  of  the  true  Shrikes.  I  did  not  see  a  single 
Lanius  or  Fiscus  ;  on  the  other  hand,  in  most  places  Urolestes 
was  abundant,  and  Talacoma  poliocephala  often  seen  in  small 
flocks.  The  latter  were  very  wary  and  none  were  shot  by  us; 
but  one  day,  while  tracking  an  Eland,  I  saw  a  small  bird 
struggling  in  the  grass  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  and  thought  that 
it  had  noosed  itself,  while  Cooper,  our  hunter,  thought  that  a 
snake  had  caught  it  :  we  went  to  it  and  found  two  of  the 
Helmet-Shrikes  fighting.  When  we  were  (juite  near  to  them 
they  disengaged  themselves  and  flew  to  the  branch  of  a  tree 
close  above  our  heads,  a  third  bird  joined  thrm,  then  the 
original  two  resumed  their  fight, and  locked  together  fell  to  the 
ground  ncjar  mj  gunljearer,  who  killed  them  both  with  a  tap 
from  my  walking-stick.  The  wildness  mentioned  above  was 
not  confined  to  the  He^^net-Shrikes,  all  the  smnll  birds  in  the 
plains  and  bush  were  extraordinarily  diflicult  to  get  near,  and 
as  t!ie  larger  waders,  geese  and  other  birds  along  the  river 
were  more  approachable  than  usual,  1  attribute  it  to  the 
annual  burning  of  the  grass,  which  in  August  is  just  finish- 
ing. The  heavy  summer  rainfall  and  the  hot  sun  produce  a 
very  strong  growth  of  grass  that  in  places  attains  a  height 
ahove  the  head  of  a  num  riding,  though  generally  only 
reaching  to  the  knee.  The  Mashakalumbwe,  who  inhabit 
this  district,  as  soon  as  the  grass  is  dry  enough,  burn  it  in 
strips  and  patches,  and  with  speais  and  dogs  kill  all  they 
can  of  the  animals  hiding  in  it.      Since  the  arrival  of  white 


614  Colonel  S.  R.  Clarke  on  [Ibis, 

men  in  Rhodesia  they  have  been  able  to  cross  the  native 
curs  with  greyhounds,  and  their  dogs  nowadays  are  fast,  and 
with  tlieir  assistance  they  kill,  besides  many  o£  the  smaller 
buck,  such  as  Oribi,  the  young  of  the  largest  antelopes,  and 
probably  do  a  great  deal  towards  reducing  the  numbers  of 
the  big  buck.  Tliere  are  still,  however,  plenty  left  for  sport 
of  most  of  the  species  of  the  latter  that  were  originally  tonnd 
in  the  country' — the  Roan,  wliich  appears  to  like  sour  veld, 
and  the  Eland,  which  subsist  largely  by  browsing,  are  the 
most  generally  distributed  ;  while  the  Kudu,  which  desire 
thick  covert  to  hide  in,  and  the  Sable,  which  seem  to  prefer 
light  soil  with  short  sweet  grass  and  open  park-like  country 
shiided  by  large  trees,  are  much  more  locally  distributed. 
Our  camps  until  we  crossed  the  Kafue  were  generally 
pitched  by  a  pan  of  water  near  to  spots  where  there  was  a 
chance  of  finding  one  or  both  of  these  two  antelopes. 

These  pans  were  sometimes  deep  enough  to  hold  water 
permanently  through  the  dry  season,  but  generally  they 
represented  the  last  of  the  summer  flootls  now  drying  up, 
often  grass  grew  all  over  them,  and  until  one  waded  in  and 
partetl  the  grass  stems  by  one's  hands,  the  water  did  not 
show  :  still,  if  care  was  taken  to  till  drinking-water  vessels 
well  away  from  the  bank,  the  water  was  generally  perfectly 
sweet  and  good,  but  twice  in  the  Kafue  Flats  we  got  to 
bad  water  ;  the  first  time  we  attributed  the  cause  to  a  peaty 
soil,  and  on  the  second  occasion  to  the  hundreds,  perhaps 
thousands,  of  Spurwing  Geese  that  came  to  this  pan  every 
evening.  At  the  deeper  pans  there  w^ere  the  usual  number 
of  thirsty  land-birds  congregated  to  drink,  especially  Doves, 
and  at  the  largest  of  them  were  several  Darters  and  a  ])air  of 
ver}-  tame  Fishing  Eagles  {Haliaetus  rocifer),  but  the  shallow 
pans  were  tenanted  by  wading-  and  water-birds  in  addition  : 
generally  there  was  a  pair  of  Saddle-billed  Storks  (Ephip- 
piorliynclius  senegalensis),  a  flock  of  Open-bills,  Crowned 
Cranes,  and  other  wading  birds ;  among  them  I  was  inter- 
ested to  see  the  Common  Sandpiper,  and  obtained  a  specimen 
on  the  15th  of  August.  A  fortnight  later,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Kafue  River,  I  saw  Greenshanks.     I  am  quite  sure  that  the 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Northern  Rliodesia.  G15 

Sandpipers  were  on  their  return  migration.  I  have  always 
previously  seen  this  species  in  Africa  on  the  banks  of  ra}iid 
rivers  similar  to  its  breeding-haunts  at  home,  but  these  birds 
were  by  stagnant  pools  and  doubtless  merely  breaking  their 
journey. 

Among  the  remarkable  features  of  the  country  are  the 
anthills,  their  numbers  are  extraordinary,  and  their  size  at 
times  prodigious  ;  they  are  reported  to  be  largest  on 
good  soil,  and  sometimes  are  nearly  as  big  as  wheat  stacks. 
In  some  parts  of  the  open  bush  all  the  trees  and  shrubs 
grow  on  anthills,  the  ground  between  being  covered  with 
grass  or  at  times  sour  and  bare  ;  the  size  of  some  of  the  trees 
o-rowino-  on  the  antliills  indicates  that  the  latter  when  very 
large  are  of  immense  age.  It  is  possible  that  the  heavy 
summer  rainfall  is  the  cause  of  the  bushes  growing  only  on 
the  anthills  in  these  spots,  or  it  may  be  that  animals  do  not 
destroy  the  seedlings  on  them  ;  if  it  were  not  for  their 
presence  much  more  of  the  country  apparently  would  be 
open  grass  plains,  therefore  the  anthills  would  seem  to  have 
a  very  important  effect  on  the  distribution  of  the  birds.  Tiie 
usual  shape  of  these  great  anthills  in  the  bush  was  similar 
to  the  small  ones  at  home,  but  on  the  flats  by  the  Kafue 
River,  where  they  occurred,  they  were  generally  cone-shaped 
with  sides  so  steep  that  they  were  dithcult  to  climb. 

We  spent  our  first  month,  excepting  two  days  when  \\e 
crossed  a  part  of  the  river  fiats,  in  the  country  described 
al)ove ;  there  wei"e  plenty  of  birds  which,  if  often  unobtain- 
able, were  of  interest — the  Grey  Lourie  (Schhorhis  concolor) 
and  two  or  three  species  of  liornbill  were  very  consj)icuous,  as 
well  as  Coracias  caudatus.  I  kept  a  sharp  look-out  for  C  spatu- 
latus,  but  we  did  not  meet  with  it,  and  I  only  saw  one  s[)ec!men 
of  Merops  nuhicoides,  which  was  flying  at  a  considerable 
height ;  a  race  of  MelittopJuu/us  pudllus  and  M.  bullockoides 
were  the  only  other  Bee-eaters  I  identified.  Woodpeckers 
were  not  often  met  with  ;  I  saw  and  heard  one  makino-  a 
drum-call  on  a  dead  tree  like  our  Spotted  Wood[)eckers  do 
at  home,  but  the  note  was  far  more  powerful;  unluckily  I 
was  unable  to  determine  the  s])ecies,  possibly  it  was  Thriplas 


616  Colonel  S.  R.  Clarke  on  [Ibis, 

na)naquus,  of  which  we  shot  one  specimen.  There  were  a 
good  many  Vultures  about  our  camps,  and  their  numbers 
increased  as  we  approached  the  Kafue. 

My  son  killed  a  lioness  one  evenintf  not  far  from  our 
tents,  and  had  her  gralloched,  intending  to  have  her 
carried  into  camp  to  be  skinned  by  the  fire  ;  she  proved 
to  be  too  heavy  to  carry,  so  she  was  skinned  where  she 
fell  ;  that  night  two  lions,  probably  looking  for  her,  roared 
rountl  camp  till  just  before  daylight.  The  next  morning 
we  lode  out  in  different  directions,  but  though  out  for 
four  hours  not  a  head  of  game  could  we  see  ;  we  concluded 
the  noise  made  by  the  lions  had  shifted  the  bucks.  On 
my  way  back  to  camp  I  thought  that  I  would  visit  the 
carcase  of  the  lioness  to  see  if  anything  had  been  to  it  ;  both 
the  carcase  and  the  gralloch  lay  untouched,  and  in  the  grass 
around  them  and  perched  on  trees  above  were  some  forty 
vultures,  apparently  Pscudogyps  africamis.  1  offer  no  com- 
ment as  to  whether  vultures  recognize  lion's  flesh,  but  I  am 
sure  that  if  the  body  (to  say  nothing  of  the  entrails)  had 
been  that  of  a  fair-sized  buck,  the  party  I  saw  would  have 
started  to  eat  it  at  once,  and  that  all  would  have  been  finished 
in  twent}^  minutes.  Before  this  epis)de  I  had  seen  three 
carcases  of  lions  left  untouched  by  vultures  though  they  had 
been  killed  two  or  three  days  previously,  but  at  that  time  in 
that  country  (the  Loietai  [dains,  B.  E.  A.)  vultures  were  not 
so  plentiful  as  they  were  on  the  Kafue,  and  the  herds  of  buck 
were  far  more  numerous. 

Besides  the  Fishino-  Eagles  the  Bateleur  was  common, 
and  a  specimen  or  two  with  a|)parently  a  light  grt-y  back 
were  seen  but  not  obtained.  Two  or  three  times  eagles  were 
seen  to  strike  at  birds  :  I  saw,  I  believe,  a  (Jircaetus  make  a 
stoop  at  a  Pternistes  standing  on  a  bare  patch  of  ground  ;  the 
latter  escaped  by  springing  into  the  air  at  the  last  moment. 
I  have  seen  Ptarmigan  in  Scotland  evade  the  Golden  Eagle 
in  the  same  way.  A  Darter  attacked  by  a  Fishing  Kagle 
tumbled  headlong  into  the  water  ;  and  a  Marsh-Owl  {Asio 
cdpen.ns)  that  I  had  marked  down  and  was  dismounting  to 
shoot  was  swooped  at  by  a  small  darl<  eagle — the  owl  mounted 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Nortliern  Rhodesia.  617 

in  a  narrow  spiral,  and  a  s[)leiKlicl  flight  ensued  ;  a  second 
eagle  joined  the  chase,  and  the  three  birds  circled  upwards 
till  all  were  lost  to  view,  and  T  can  give  no  idea  as  to  the 
result,  but  the  powers  of  flight  of  the  owl  surprised  nie. 

Two  specimens  o^ Scops  capensis  were  secured  with  one  shot 
while  seated  side  b}^  side  in  a  "  Grerman-s;i usage  "  tree,  at  the 
critiison  flowers  of  which  numbers  of  Cinuyris  (juttiiralis  in 
full  plumage  were  feeding;  one  Bnho  verremixi  was  obtained. 
I  saw  one  morning  a  small  blue-grey  Falcon  chasing  a  little 
bird,  which  it  pursued  like  our  Merlin,  and  it  seemed  to  be  at 
least  as  quick  on  the  wing.  The  next  day  my  son  brought 
to  me  a  Dickinson's  Kestrel  {IJissodedes  dickinsoni),  \N\\\iA\ 
he  shot  when  coming  to  drink  at  a  pan  ;  I  l)elieve  this 
was  the  species  I  had  seen  the  day  previously,  and  I 
would  humbly  suggest  that  this  bird,  with  its  powerful  legs 
and  claws,  should  not  be  accounted  a  Kestrel.  In  some 
places  Guinea  Fowl  (^Numida  mitratd)  were  abundant  in  good- 
sized  flocks,  their  habits  similar  to  other  species  of  their 
genus,  but  their  flesh  was  below  the  usual  excellent  quality 
of  their  race. 

Just  before  reaching  the  Kafue  River  we  crossed  a  low 
ridge  of  sandy  soil.  The  Mashakalumbwe  like  such  sites  for 
their  villages,  and  this  was  thickly  populated,  no  bush  had 
been  left,  but  here  and  there  a  few  great  trees  ;  in  the 
branches  of  one  which  bore  an  olive-like  fruit,  were  a  large 
flock  of  green  pigeons,  one  was  shot  and  proved  to  be  Vinago 
wahefieldii  schaloioi.  On  a  tree  further  on  my  son  saw  a  bird 
with  a  white  head  and  breast  ;  this  was  obtained,  and  was 
found  to  be  the  Barbet  now  named  Lyhius  chaplini  (PI.  VII. 
fig.  3).  An  hour  later  we  reached  the  river,  and  from  its  bank 
enjoyed  the  spectacle  of  numberless  birds  feeding  or  flying 
to  their  roosting  grounds.  The  ford  was  150  yards  wide, 
and  the  banks  of  the  river,  except  where  rocks  raised  grey 
masses  above  them,  were  lined  with  a  narrow  edging  of  green 
reeds,  with  sharp-pointed  leaves  ;  two  or  three  islands  of  sand 
divided  the  river's  surface,  and  birds  were  everywhere — 
Scissor-bills  flew  to  and  fro,  Great  White  Egrets  waded  in 
the   shallow   water,   the   rocks   carried  black  flocks  of   two 


G18  Colonel  S.  R.  Clarke  on  [Ibis, 

species  of  CormorJint,  Senegal  and  Spnrwing  Plovers  and 
Greenshanks  and  Lily-Trotters  thronged  the  sandy  islands,  a 
ceaseless  stream  o£  Spurwing  Geese  and  Open-bills  passed 
overhead,  and  the  smooth  surface  o£  the  river  near  the  fringe 
of  reeds  was  continually  broken  by  the  splashes  of  diving 
Kingfishers. 

It  was  a  deliohtful  scene — an  evenino-  to  be  rememlxM'ed. 
We  shot  a  few  herons  and  plovers,  and  then  lay  on  the 
ground,  the  silence  broken  by  the  rip])ling  of  the  clear  river 
below  us,  the  plop-plop  of  rising  fish,  and  now  and  again 
the  wild  whistle  of  Fishing  Eagles  {Haliai-tus  vodfer).  We 
looked  beyond  the  river  at  a  fresh  countr}^ ;  by  the  track  we 
had  come  the  slightly  rolling  veld  had  continued  to  the 
actual  bank  of  the  stream,  but  on  the  north  side  the  river 
held  in  domination  a  wide  tract  of  country  ;  grassy  flats 
intersected  by  lagoons  and  reed-beds  extended  beyond  our 
ranoe  of  sight,  and  promised  a  rich  reward  for  several  days' 
investigation.  Unfortunately,  the  Lechwe  and  Puku  we 
were  seeking  were  not  so  abundant  as  we  had  expected,  and 
after  a  couple  of  days  spent  among  these  delights  of  marsh- 
birds,  we  left  for  tlie  thicker  bush  near  the  Nasenga  River. 

During  these  days  we  saw  vast  numbers  of  Spurwing 
Geese,  and  found  them  easy  of  approach.  One  party  came 
to  bathe  in  the  river  50  yards  away  from  our  tents  and  j)aid 
a  toll  towards  our  food  supply.  I  crawled  up  to  another  lot 
of  about  fifteen,  and  shot  one  with  my  Mauser  ;  they  were 
so  slow  at  rising  that  I  was  able  to  pump  up  another  cart- 
rid  oe  and  kill  a  second  before  it  was  on  the  wing.  Other 
large  birds  were  Crowned  Cranes  {Balearica  regulorinn\  and 
another  Crane  which  we  thought  to  be  the  Stanley,  but  though 
we  saw  two  or  three  pairs  we  were  not  able  to  secure  a 
specimen  ;  the  Goliath  Heron  and  the  Saddle-billed  Stork 
were  also  seen,  and  we  killed  one  of  each.  There  were  a 
few  flocks  of  Whydahs  and  Bishop-birds  about  the  reeds, 
unfortunately  the  species  were  not  identified  ;  and  I  saw  one 
Quail,  but  generally  speaking  small  birds  were  not  very 
abundant.  Further  on,  beyond  the  country  of  lagoon  and 
reed  beds,  we  found  large  grassy  flats  which  appeared   to  be 


1921.]  Birds  of  Northern  Rhodesia.  619 

regularly  flooded  every  rainy  season,  and  here  we  saw  the 
Red-ca])  Lark  (^Teplirocorys  saturaiior),  Macronyx  wintoyii, 
and  flocks  of  the  Grrej-ruinped  Swallow  (^Hirundo  griseo- 
pi/ffo),  and  occasionally  the  Pratincole  (^(Jlareola  pratitieola) 
flitted  over  them.  We  spent  two  nights  hy  a  shallow  pan  at 
the  far  edge  of  the  flats  ;  this  was  the  resort  every  evening 
of  a  countless  nuniljer  of  Spurwing  Geese,  their  flocks 
arriving  at  sunset  in  a  continuous  stream. 

Except  where  nature  hud  cleared  the  ground,  we  found 
the  bush  near  the  Nasenga  River  somewhat  denser  than  any 
we  had  seen  before,  the  flat  country  ended,  and  there  were  a 
good  many  kopjes  and  ridges  flanking  the  river,  the  bush 
continuing  over  the  sides  and  top  of  these.  The  Nasenga 
River  itself  is  only  a  few  feet  across,  but  generally  deeper 
than  a  man's  height  ;  here  weie  a  number  of  birds  that  we 
had  not  seen  before.  The  first  day  we  drove  the  banks  of 
the  river  for  bush-buck,  and  my  first  shot  was  at  a  huge 
Pel's  Fishing  Owl,  which  fell  and  hung  in  a  thick  mimosa 
tree  on  the  far  bank  ;  the  beaters  on  tliat  side  were  all 
Mashakaluiiibwe,  and  when  they  saw  the  dead  owl  they 
thought  it  to  be  a  leopard.  Being  ignorant  of  their  language 
I  could  not  explain  matters  to  them,  and  so  1  had  the 
painful  experience  of  witnessing  a  Mauser  bullet  and  two 
charges  of  buckshot  poured  into  my  owl,  before  any  one 
would  go  near  it. 

Other  interesting  birds  obtained  during  these  l)eats  were 
Turacus  sehalowi  miirungensis.  Darters  (^Anhinga  riifn), 
Grreen-backed  Heron  {Btitorides  atrieapilla),  Hah-de-dah 
{HagedasJiia  hagedasli),  Pternistfs  cranchi,  a  Stonechat,  the 
skin  of  which  was  unfortunately  spoilt,  and  Halcyon 
orientalis ;  the  big  Kingfisher  (^Ceryle  maxima)  was  often 
seen  but  never  shot  at. 

Having  obtained  specimens  of  Kudu  and  Crawshay's 
Waterbuck,  we  started  on  our  homeward  journey.  It  was 
now  mid-September,  and  the  weather  was  perceptibly 
warmer,  though  no  rain  had  fallen  since  we  started,  the 
mimosas  and  other  trees  were  gettino-  oreen  with  their  youno- 
leaves^  here  and  there  a  tree  showed  among  the  rest  scarlet 


fi-20 


On  Birds  of  Norlhern  Rhodesia. 


[Tbis, 


from  the  flowers  of  a  creeper ;  others  were  delicate  pink  or 
orange-yellow  with  their  own  blossom,  and  a  species  of 
Erythrina  carried  horse-chestuiit  sha])ed  panicles  of  crimson 
that  had  opened  before  its  leaf-buds  had  burst.  The  only 
incident  that  I  recollect  of  ornithological  interest  was  passing 
some  large  flocks  of,  I  believe,  a  third  species  of  Crane  ; 
they  were  feeding  on  damp  flats  not  far  from  the  Kafue, 
and  I  failed  to  get  within  effective  rifle  range. 

I  have  a[)pended  a  list  of  the  birdskins  and  birds  preserveil 
with  fornuilin  that  we  brought  home  with  us,  and  which  I 
have  presented  to  the  British  Museum.  This  list  was  kindly 
prepared  for  me  by  Mr,  Thomas  Wells,  to  whom  I  return 
my  grateful  thanks. 

Anion o-  the  birds  only  one  appears  to  be  new.  This  is 
Lyhi.us  chapUni,  named  after  Sir  Drummond  Chaplin,  the 
Administrator  of  Southern  Rhodesia.  It  is  described  in  the 
Bull.B.O.C.  (vol.  xli.  p.  50,  Dec.  1920),  and  is  figured 
(Plate  VII.)  together  with  what  appear  to  be  its  two  nearest 
allies,  Li/hius  leucocepJialus  (Fil.),  from  the  Egyptian  Sudan 
and  Uganda,  and  L.  ridmfacies  (Reich w.)  also  from  Uganda. 

List  of  Birdskins  and  Birds  preserved  in  formalin,  brought 
hack  from  Northern  Rhodesia  and  presented  to  the 
British  Museum. 


Pternistes  swaiusoni. 

„         cranchi. 
Numida  coronata  mitrata. 
Pterocles  gutturalis  saturatior. 
Vinago  wakefieldi  sclialowi. 
Chalcopelia  c.  caffra. 
Rliynchops  flavirostris. 
Ocbthodromus  asiaticus. 
Actophilua  africanus. 
Glareola  pratincola  fulleborui. 
Rhinoptiliis  chalcopterus. 
Cursorius  temminckii. 
Otis  melanogaster. 
Bal«arica  regiiloruui. 
Ardea  goliatli. 
Nycticovax  nycticorax. 
Erytlirocnus  rutiventris. 


Butoiides  atricapilla. 
Bubalcus  ibis. 
Hagedashia  bagedash. 
Aiiastomus  lamelligerus. 
Epbippiorbynciis  senegalens>is. 
Plectropterus  gambensis. 
Phalacrocorax  africanus. 
Anbiiiga  rufa. 
Neopbron  pileatus. 
Pseudogyps  africanus. 
Melierax  gabar. 
Astur  badius  polyzonoides. 
Helotarsus  ecaudatus. 
Milvus  migrans  parasitus. 
Falco  dickinsoni. 
Scops  capensis. 
Scotopelia  peli. 


I92I.] 


On  Birds  from  the  Near  East. 


621 


Bubo  lacteus. 
Asio  capensis. 
Halcyon  oi-ientfilis. 
Corythoriiis  cj'iinostigma. 
Bucorax  cafer. 
Melittophagus  bullockoides. 

,,  pusillus   cyauo- 

stictus. 
Tachornis  parva. 
Turacus  schalowi  luarungensis. 
Schizorhis  concolor. 
Centropus  monachus. 

,,         s,  seuegalensis. 
Indicator  indicator. 
Lybius  cliaplini. 
Melauobucco  torquatiis. 
Pogoniulus      chrysocouus 

rhodesise. 
Caprimulgus  fossei. 
Thripias  namaquus. 
Hirundo  semirufa. 
,,         s.  monteiri. 
griseopyga. 
Grauculiis  pectoralis. 
Pycnonotus  tricolor  micrus. 
Crateropus  liartlaubi. 
Saxicola  sp. 
Campicola  pileata. 


Tliamnolsea  nigra. 
Cisticola  n.  natalensis. 

„         ruticapilla. 

„         fulvifrons. 
Euprinodes  flavociucta. 
Sylviella  rufescens. 
Lauiarius   sethiopicus    mossam- 

bicus. 
Prionops  poliocephala. 
Batis  puella. 

Nilaiis  afer  nigriteniporalis. 
Urolestes  melanoleucus. 
Melaniparus  niger  niger. 
Lagouosticta  sengalla  rendalli. 

„  niveiguttata. 

Pyromelana  xanthomelsena. 
"Vidua  sereua. 
Estrilda  angolensis. 
Anaplectes  rubriceps. 
Sitagra  ocularia. 
Serinus  icterus. 
Teplirocorys  saturatior. 
Antlius  sordidus  nyassse. 
Macronyx  wintoni. 
Lamprocolius  sj'^cobius. 
Dicrurus  adsimilis. 
Cinnyris  eequatorialis. 

„         leucogaster. 


XXXV. — Notes  on  some  Birds  from  the  Near  East  and  from 
Tropical  East  Africa.  By  ('olonel  B,.  Meinertzhagen, 
D.S.O.,  F.Z.S.,  M.B.O.U. 

(Text-fignre  4.) 

The  following  notes  have  been  compiled  during  the  working 
ont  o£  my  collections  from  Palestine,  Syria,  Egypt,  and  East 
Africa,  and  only  those  species  are  mentioned  about  which 
somethino-  of  interest  or  something  new  has  been  noted. 

I  was  in  East  Africa  during  the  first  two  years  of  the  war, 
and  Mr.  A.  Turner  continued  to  collect  for  me  after  I  left 
the  country,  his  main  effort  being  directed  towards  migratory 

SEE.  XI. VOL.  Ill,  2  T 


622  Col.  R,.  Meinert7.hagen  on  Birds  from  [I^^i^, 

spenies  or  geographical  races  o£  birds  which  occur  within  the 
Pala^arctic  Eegion.  I  was  in  Palestine  during  nearly  the 
whole  of  1917,  but  the  war  prevented  anything  but  a  small 
representative  collection  being  made,  the  results  of  which 
have  been  already  published  in  '  The  Ibis  '  of  January  1920. 
I  returned  to  the  Near  East  in  August  1919  and  remained 
there  till  August  1920.  During  that  period  I  spent  about 
half  my  time  in  Syria  and  Palestine  and  half  in  Egypt, 
visiting  Aleppo,  Damascus,  the  Syrian  Desert,  Lebanon, 
Beyrouth,  and  the  Jordan  Valley,  also  Solium  and  the  Siwa 
Oasis  in  the  western  Desert  of  Egypt.  I  traversed  the  desert 
between  Suez  and  Cairo  twice,  I  visited  the  Fayoum  twice, 
and  the  Wadi  Hof  near  Helouan  on  several  occasions.  I 
finally  spent  a  month  in  Crete. 

Collecting  was  carried  on  everywhere  and  under  all  con- 
ditions. Powell,  who  did  all  my  skinning,  was  at  times 
hard-worked.  On  one  occasion  I  returned  to  Damascus  from 
the  Syrian  Desert  with  an  Eagle-Owl,  a  Rock-Pigeon, 
three  Chukar,  and  eleven  smaller  birds.  Powell  had  the  lot 
skinned  and  made  up  into  first-class  skins  in  six  hours. 
Again,  in  the  Jordan  Valley  (notwithstanding  the  sweltering- 
heat  and  myriads  of  mosquitos)  I  returned  with  two  Stone- 
Curlew,  two  Kestrel,  two  Little  Owls,  three  C^hukar,  three 
Starlings,  and  a  Dotterel.     All  were  done  that  evening. 

I  have  again  to  thank  my  friend  Mr.  M.  J.  Nicoll  for  so 
kindly  housing  my  collections  in  Cairo  and  helping  me  with 
advice ;  and  to  Lord  Rothschild  and  Dr.  Hartert  I  again 
offer  my  sincerest  thanks  for  the  assistance  afforded  me  in 
working  out  my  collections  at  Tring.  Finally,  I  have  to 
thank  Sir  Geoffrey  Archer  for  allowing  me  to  look  through 
his  collection  of  Somaliland  birds. 

Wing  measurements  are  taken  flat  and  fully  extended. 
Cnlmen  measurements  are  those  of  the  upper  mandible  from 
its  junction  with  the  skull,  unless  otherwise  mentioned. 
All  measurements  are  given  in  millimetres. 

Throughout  this  paper  the  name  Kenya  Colony  is  used  for 
British  East  Africa,  and  the  nnmo  Tanganyika  Territory  is 
used  for  German  East  Africa. 


1 92 1.]        the  Near  East  and  Tropical  East  Africa.  G23 

Corvus  corax  ruficollis  Lesson. 
Corvus  riijicollis  Lesson,  1831  :  no  loccality. 
Corvus  umhrinus  Sundevall,  1838  :   Senaar. 
Corvus  infamatus  Wagner,  Miinch.  gel.  Anz.  viii.   183'J, 
p.  301  :  Arabia  Petraja,  Egypt,  and  Dongola. 

Corvus  corax  krausei  Zedlitz,  Orn.  Monats.  1908,  p.  178  : 
N.E.  Africa,  probably  Suez,  and  El  Tor  in  Sinai. 

I  have  not  been  able  to  examine  the  type  of  infumatus 
which  is  in  Munich,  but  I  am  told  the  specimen  resembles 
typical  ruficollis  but  has  a  more  slender  bill.  The  type  of 
ruficollis  probably  came  from  the  Cape  Verde  Islands  (cf. 
Hartert,  Nov.  Zool.  1913,  p.  37).  As  regards  krausei, 
the  race  is  based  on  four  birds  from  Sinai  which  have  black 
plumage  with  a  poor  gloss  as  opposed  to  the  coppery  plumage 
ol  ruficollis.  They  are  also  said  to  have  very  slender  bills. 
As  regards  the  black  plumage,  I  believe  these  four  birds  are 
nothing  more  than  immature  ruficollis.,  which  do  not  assume 
the  coppery  plumage  till  the  first  moult.  This  has  already 
been  pointed  out  by  Hartert,  and  I  can  confirm  it  from  birds 
shot  in  north  Sinai  in  early  autumn.  But  Greyr  (J.  f.  0. 
1918,  p.  115)  disagrees,  and  finds  that  birds  of  eight  or 
ten  months  show  a  certain  amount  of  brown  on  the  head, 
neck,  and  back. 

Now,  as  Suez  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  localities  from  which 
krausei  comes,  I  would  jioint  out  that  I  recently  saw  some 
thirty  Ravens  at  Suez,  and  could  see  through  my  glasses  that 
every  bird  w^ns  typical  ruficollis  as  regards  plumage.  This 
was  in  April.  There  is  an  adult  bird  from  Suez  in  the 
British  Museum  which  in  colour  differs  in  no  way  from 
the  birds  from  Egypt,  India,  or  other  localities. 

The  wing  of  Jcrausei  is  also  said  to  be  small.  Now  the 
only  Sinai  bird  with  an  exceptionally  small  wing  is  one 
in  the  Brehm  (Collection  at  Tring,  labelled  "Arabia  Petrsea," 
an  adult  male.  The  specimen  has  a  much  worn  wing,  not 
exceeding  350  mm.,  and  a  culnien  65  mm.  long  and  25  mm. 
high.  By  comparing  the  date  on  which  the  bird  was  shot 
with  Brehm's  Reiseskizzen,  it  must  have  been  obtained  near 

2t2 


624 


Col.  R.  Meinertzliagen  on  Birds  from 


[Ibis, 


El  Tor.  The  bird  is  not  black  as  hrause'i  should  bo,  but  has 
the  coppery  plumage  of  rvjicollis. 

As  regards  other  Sinai  birds,  through  the  kindness  of 
Professor  Koenig,  who  has  a  series  from  Sinai,  I  am  able  to 
give  the  following  measurements  : — 

Wing  350-378;  culmen,  length  57-5-G2-5,  height  21-22-5. 

Zedlitz  (J.  f.  0.  1912)  gives  the  following  measurements 
for  his  series  of  krausei  from  Sinai  : — 

Wing  355-375  ;  culmen,  length  58-64,  height  21-23. 

Two  birds  from  Nekhl  (central  Sinai)  in  the  Giza 
Zoological  Museum  measure:  wing  387-405;  culmen,  length 
59-63,  height  23  ;  whilst  a  female  in  Koenig's  collection 
from  Sinai  has  a  wing  of  385  mm.  (J.  f.  0.  1918,  p.  147). 

So  Sinai  birds  have  a  wing  varying  from  350-405,  and  a 
culmen  wdiose  leng-th  is  from  57'5  to  65  mm.  and  heioht 
from  21  to  25  mm. 

Now  from  the  series  in  the  British  Museum,  Tring 
Museum,  Giza  Zoological  Museum,  and  in  my  own  collection, 
I  have  obtained  the  followinfj  measurements  : — 


Number  of 

birds 
examined, 

15 

6 
15 

1 

2 

6 

9 

3 

4 
11 
10 

G 


Culmen. 


Locality.  Wing. 

Cape  Verde  Islands 363-378 

Algeria  3G6-389 

S.  Algeria  (Geyi-)  356-410 

Nigeria  384 

Siwa  Oasis,  W.  Egypt . . .  395,  406 

Lower  Egypt  and  Suez  .  368-420 

Upper  Egypt 365-418 

Khartoum 373^12 

Sokotra 350-395 

South  Palestine    366-412 

E.  Persia  and  India 370-il3 

S.  Arabia  and  Muscat  . . .  355-401 


Length. 
61-64 
63-68 
57-69 

64 
66,70 
61-73 
64-73 
67-69 
63-75 
61-68 
62-70 
60-65 


Height. 
20-24 
21-24-5 
20-25 

22 
23,  24-5 
20-24 

21-5-25 
20-23 
24-25 
21-24 
21-25-5 
20-24 


350-420 


20-25-5 


On  these  measurements  I  am  unable  to  substantiate 
krausei  or  infumatus,  and  therefore  shall  treat  them  as 
synonyms  of  ritjicollis. 


192 1.]       the  Kear  East  and  Tropical  East  Africa.  625 

I  also  find  that  rxiflcollis  shows  oreat  variation,  not  onl}^  in 
size  but  in  the  amount  and  density  of  the  coppery  plumage, 
especially  on  tlie  nape  and  mantle,  and  that  this  variation  is 
not  constant  within  a  definite  area. 

Distribution. — (Near  East.)  Breeds  in  southern  Palestine 
south  of:  a  line  Gaza,  Hebron,  north  to  Jeriisaloni  and  oast 
to  Jericho  and  a  few  miles  north.  North  of  this  line  occurs 
laurencei.  In  winter  I  have  seen  many  of  the  hitter  at 
Jerusalem  and  on  tlio  Jerusalem-Hebron  road,  but  never  in 
the  Jordan  V;illey  or  on  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  southern 
Judsean  hills.  Also  I  have  never  at  any  season  seen 
ruJicolUs  north  of  their  breedino-  area.  They  apparently 
Ijreed  in  the  hills  throughout  Sinai  and  near  Suez  on  both 
sides  of  the  Gulf  of  Suez.  They  breed  in  the  Egyptian 
D(;sert  fringing  the  Delta,  but  do  not  occur  in  the  Delta. 

West  of  Alexandiia  their  place  is  taken  at  Solium  by 
Corvus  c.  tingitanus.  At  Siwa  Oasis,  south  of  Solium, 
mficoUis  is  resident  and  common. 

Fresh  effo-s  taken  in  Palestine  from  lo.iii.  to  17.  iii. 

CORVUS  CORNIX. 

1  have  examined  the  following  birds  : — 
JS^orth-  West  Europe. 

61  from  Great  Britain,  Faroe  Islands,  Finland,  Sweden, 
northern  and  central  Russia,  and  Germany. 

c?.  Wing  316-340;  culmen,  length  49-60,  height  19'5-22. 
?  .  Wing  305-331;  culmen,  length  49-54,  height  19-21. 

Hartert  (Vog.  pal.  Fauna)  gives  wings  of  such  birds  as 
320-340  mm.,  and  Stresemann  (Avif.  Macedon.)  as  305- 
338  mm. 

Balkans. 

3  l)irds  from  Rumania. 

2  c?  .  Wing  311,  320  ;  culmen,  length  57-5  and  58,  height 
20,  22. 

1  ?  .  Wing  316  ;  culmen,  length  59,  height  20. 
Parrot  gives  the  wings  of  two  Greek  birds  as   J"  309  and 
?  294  mm. 


626  Col.  R.  Meinertzliagen  0)i  Birds  from  [Tbis, 

Stresemann  gives  four  males  from  Macedonia  (mainly 
from  Serbia)  as  280-308  in  ^vi^g,  and  three  females  from 
288  to  306  mm. 

Stresemann  gives  the  wings  of  three  males  from  Rumania 
as  from  308  to  333,  and  of  five  females  as  from  291  to  303. 

Palestine. 

6  J*.  Wing  2'J2-312;  culmen,  length  51-56,  height 
18-20-5. 

8  ?  .  Wing  278-301  ;  culmen,  length  45-53,  height 
17-19. 

Gengler  (J.  f.  0.  1919,  p.  221)  gives  the  wings  of  three 
Jerusalem  birds  as  300-324  and  culmen  length  as  42-51. 

Two  Urfa  (N.W.  Mesopotamia)  birds  {teste  Stresemann, 
Avif.  Macedon.)  have  wings  of  309  and  311. 

Stresemann  (ibid.)  gives  the  wing  of  four  birds  from 
Vladikavkas  (N.  Caucasus)  as  304-319  and  one  from  the 
( -rimea  as  301  mm. 

Eg>/2:)t. 

20  (J.  AVing  286-324,  331 ;  culmen,  length  50-58,  height 
17-5-20. 

15  ?  .  Wing  286-317  ;  culmen,  length  45-54,  height 
17-5-20. 

Sardinia  and  Corsica. 

Probably  all  males. 

Wing  306-329;  culmen,  length  54-57,  height  17-5-20. 

Now  in  fresh  autumn  plumage  (the  only  test  for  birds 
which  bleach  and  wear  like  the  Hooded  Crow)  I  can  detect 
absolutely  no  difference  in  the  colour  of  the  plumage  between 
birds  from  all  the  above  localities,  though  there  is  an 
infinitesimal  individual  variation  which  is  never  constant 
within  a  given  area.  I  am  unable  to  follow  Genoler  in  his 
Review  of  the  Corvidse  (J.  f.  0. 1919,  p.  215)  and  do  not  find 
that  the  characters  he  gives  to  suhcornix,  kaukasicus,  and 
syriacus  hold  good  among  fresh  autumn  birds. 

But  in  winter  and  breeding  plumage,  birds  appear  to  bleach 
in  accordance  with  external  conditions.  In  Palestine,  for 
instance,  and  especially  in  the  Jordan  Valley,  by  January 


1921.]       tlie  Near  East  and  Tropical  East  Africa.  627 

birds  are  brown  and  not  grey  on  the  l)ack,  whereas  birds  from 
northern  Europe  have  scarcely  changed  at  all.  In  Egypt, 
I  shot  many  dozen  Hooded  Crows  from  April  to  Jidy,  and 
found  that  by  the  latter  month  adults  were  as  brown  as 
Palestine  birds  and  were  indistinguishable  from  them. 

On  colour  alone  I  therefore  unite  all  these  birds.  But  in 
size  one  finds  that  birds  from  northern,  western,  and 
central  Europe  are  larger  than  those  from  the  Balkans, 
Sardinia,  Corsica,  Palestine,  and  Egypt.  I  deal  with  birds 
from  Crete  and  Cyprus  later  on,  as  they  differ  in  plumage- 
colour  and  constitute  a  ])aler  race. 

The  larger  northern  race  is,  of  course, 

Corvus  comix  comix  L. 

S  .  Wing  316-340  ;  culnien,  length  49-60,  height  19-5-22. 

?  .  Wing  305-331 ;  culmen,  length  49-54,  height  19-21. 

The  small  southern  race  becomes 

Corvus  comix  sardonius  Kleinschm.,  1903. 

Corvus  (ifiyptiaca  Brehm,  1853,  noin.  nnd. :  Egypt. 

C.  c.  sardonius  Kleinschm.,  1903  :  Sardinia. 

C.  c.  valachus  Tschusi,  1904  :   Rumania. 

C.  c.  halcajiicus  Rzehak,  1906  :  Balkans. 
?  C.  c.  kaukasicus  Gengler^  1919  :  Caucasus. 

C.  c.  syriaciis  Gengler,  1919  :  Jerusaleni. 

C.  c.  judceus  Meinertzhagen,  1919  :   S.  Palestine. 

c^  .  Wing  280-324*  ;  culmen,  length  50-59,  height  16'5-22. 

?  .  Wing  278-317  ;  culmen,  length  42-59,  height  17-20. 

Now  birds  from  Cyprus  appear  to  agree  well  with 
C.  c.  sardonius  in  size,  but  are  paler,  which  colour  is  quite 
distinct  in  fresh  autumn  plumage.  Four  birds  have  measure- 
ments as  follows  : — 

1  S  .   Wing  292  ;  culmen,  length  55,  height  20. 

3  ?  .  Wing  295-298  ;  culmen,  length  48-53,  height  17-20. 

Stresemann  (Avif.  Macedon.)  gives  the  wings  of  two 
Cyprus  birds  as  285-289,  whilst  Madarasz  gives  the  wings 
of  eleven  birds  as  288-313. 

*  Oace  331  (Fgypt)  and  once  333  (Rumania). 


G28  Col.  R.  Meinertzliagen  on  Birds  from  [Ibis, 

It  is  curious  tbat  Stresemann  (Avif.  Macedon.)  should 
have  recognized  the  small  southern  race  of  the  Hooded  Crow 
as  coming  from  the  Balkans  to  Sj'ria,  Palestine,  and  Egypt, 
but  should  have  united  them  with  the  Cyprus  bird  under  the 
name  Corvus  corone  pallescens  (Mad.).  In  fresh  autumn 
plumage  the  Cyprus  bird  is  much  paler  than  birds  from  the 
Balkans,  Syria,  Palestine,  and  Egypt  (and  Sardinia),  and 
must  be  recognized  as  a  geographical  race  under  the  name 

Corvus  comix  pallescens  (Mad.). 

Cretan  birds  appear  similar  to  those  from  Cyprus  in 
colour  but  are  much  larger,  resembling  more  Corinis  comix 
comix  in  size  : 

4  S  ■  Wing  316-327  ;  cnlmen,  length  55-61,  height  20-22  ; 

1  ?  .  Wing  313  ;  culmen,  length  56,  height  20  ; 
and  I  have  already  described  this  bird  as 

Corvus  comix  minos  Meinortz.  Bull.  B.  0.  C.  xli.  1920,  p.  19. 

In  conclusion  I  recognize  the  following  races  of  Hooded 
Crow  : — 

Corvus  comix  comix  L. — Large  and  dark.     Northern, 

western,  and  central  Europe. 
Corvus  comix  sardonius   Kleinschm. — Small  and   dark. 
Sardinia,     Corsica,      probably      Sicily,      Balkans, 
probably  Asia  Minor,  Syria*,  Palestine,  and  Egyptf. 

*  In  Syria  the  Hooded  Crow  is  a  common  resident  at  Aleppo, 
Damascus,  and  Baalbek,  but  not  in  the  Lebanon  or  Syrian  Desert.  On 
the  coast  thej'  do  not  seem  to  occur  north  of  Sidon  or  south  and  west  of 
Khau  Yunus  (near  Gaza).  They  are  absent  from  Galilee,  the  Yarmuk 
Valley,  .and  the  northern  Jordan  Valley.  Not  seen  south  of  Hebron. 
Common  in  coastal  Palestine,  the  Judfean  hifjhlauds  north  to  Nablus, 
and  in  the  Lower  Jordan  Valley  near  Jericho.  Apparently  common  in 
Transjordaniaaud  on  the  Moab  Plateau.    (Tristram,  Survey  of  Palestine.) 

t  In  Egypt  the  Hooded  Crow  is  confined  to  the  Delta,  and  not  to  all  of 
that.  Absent  from  the  Suez  Canal  throughout  its  length,  and  does  not 
seem  to  occur  much  east  of  Tel-el-Kebir.  In  the  western  Delta  they 
are  gradually  extending  their  range  towards  Alexandria,  but  so  far  have 
not  reached  that  place  by  a  few  miles.  The  southern  limit  up  the  Nile  is 
not  yet  known  for  certain,  but  tliey  certainly  occur  as  far  south  as 
Assouan. 


1921.]        tlio  Near  East  and  Tropical  East  Africa.  629 

Corvus    comix    paUescens    (Mad.). — Small    and     pale. 

Cyprus. 
Corvus    comix    miiios     Meinertz. — Medium    and    pale. 

Crete. 
Corvus  comix  sliarpii  Gates. — Large  and  pale.     Western 

Asia. 
Corvus  comix   capellanus   Scl. — Very    large    and    very 

pale.     Persian  Gulf. 

PASSER  DOMESTICUS. 
I  collected  large  series  of  Sparrows  at  all  seasons  from 
Damascus,  throughout  Palestine,  and  in  Egypt. 

Passer  domesticus  biblicus  Hartert. 

Adult  male  in  fresh  autumn  plumage  has  the  back, 
primaries,  and  ta,il  paler  than  in  P.  d.  domesticus,  the  crown 
browner,  not  so  bluish.  Ear-coverts  grey  as  in  P.  d.  domes- 
ticus. Rump  similarly  coloured  to  the  head,  whereas  in  the 
typical  race  the  head  is  greyer  than  the  rump.  In  spring- 
plumage  the  adult  male  more  closely  resembles  the  tvpical 
race,  but  the  back,  head,  and  rump  are  paler. 

Two  birds  in  the  Tring  Collection,  labelled  respectively 
Syria  and  Palestine,  appear  to  more  closely  resemble  indicus 
in  the  colour  of  the  ear-coverts,  which  are  almost  pure 
white,  but  their  wings — 79  and  80  mm. — are  nearer  bihhcus. 
Birds  from  Eregli  (S.E.  Asia  Minor)  are  similarly  coloured 
and  tend  towards  indiois.  Birds  from  Cyprus  (five 
examined)  appear  to  be  typical  bihlicus.  Wings  of  five 
males  76-81  mm. 

Palestine  and  Syrian  birds  measure  : — 

26  (?.  Wing  77,  79-83  mm. 
4  ?  .  Wing  78-81  mm. 

The  culmen  of  hiblicus  is  as  in  the  typical  race. 

This  race  occurs  in  Syria  and  Palestine,  at  least  from 
Damascus  and  Beyrouth  south  to  Beersheba,  throughout 
Palestine  and  the  Jordan  Valley  to  the  Sinai  Peninsula. 
Also  in  Cyprus.  Birds  from  Suez  and  the  Suez  Canal  are 
niloticus. 


630  Col.  H.  Melnertzhagen  on  Birds  from  [Ibis, 

A  male  shot  on  3.iii.  in  the  Upper  Jordan  Valley,  with  a 
wino-  of  80  mm.,  has  a  chocolate  head  and  the  back  of  Passer 
hispaniolensis,  and  is  apparently  a  hybrid  between  P.  d. 
hihlicus  and  P.  h.  trans raspicus. 

Passer  domesticus  niloticus. 

Passer  d.  niloticusWicoW  &  Bonhote,  Bull.  B.  0.  C.  xxii. 
1909,  p.  101  :  Fayoum. 

Passer  alexandrinus  Madarasz,  Ann.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 
Hung.  ix.  1911,  p.  340  :  Alexandria. 

Passer  d.  chephreni  Phillips,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.  1913, 
p.  167  :   Giza,  near  Cairo. 

Much  smaller  than  hihlicus  in  both  wing  and  culmen, 
The  sides  o£  the  head  are  whiter  than  in  hihlicus,  but  the  ear- 
coverts  are  grey  and  never  Avhite.  Wing  of  nine  males 
71-75  mm.,  and  of  one  female  73  mm.  Two  males  from 
Alexandria  run  larger,  having  wings  of  77  and  78  mm. 
Birds  from  El  Arish  in  northern  Sinai  seem  to  be  inter- 
mediate, four  males  havino;  winos  from  76  to  79  mm. 

The  common  resident  Sparrow  of  the  Egyptian  Delta  from 
Alexandria  to  Cairo  and  up  the  Nile  as  far  as  at  least  Wasta 
and  the  Eayoum.  Absent  from  Mersa  Matruh  and  Solium 
on  the  western  Egyptian  coast.  No  sparrows  occur  in  the 
Siwa  Oasis.  Also  common  on  the  Suez  Canal  from  Port 
Said  to  Suez. 

Passer  domesticus  halfae. 

Passer  d.  halfie  Melnertzhagen,  Bull.  B.  0.  ( '.  xli.  1921, 
p.  67  :  Wadi  Haifa. 

Very  similar  to  arhoreus,  but  slightly  larger  and  less 
brightly  coloured.  Upper  tail-coverts  and  rump  pure  smoky 
grey,  whereas  in  arhoreus  these  parts  nearly  always  have  a 
few  feathers  tipped  with  chestnut.  The  chestnut  on  the 
back  is  more  confined  and  less  intense.  Differs  from  indicus 
in  having  the  top  of  the  head  a  paler  brighter  blue-grey  and 
in  being  slightly  smaller.  Is  at  once  distinguished  from 
niloticus  by  the  large  extent  of  a  brighter,  purer  chestnut  on 
the  back.     Wing  of  five  males  73  to  80  mm. 


1921.3       the  JS^ear  J^ast  and  Tropical  Kast  Africa.  G31 


PASSER  HISPANIOLENSIS. 

Passer  h.  hispaniolensis  (Temni.). 

All  Egyptian  birds  I  have  examined  belong  to  the  typical 
race,  also  January  birds  from  Solium.  The  Spanish  Sparrow 
apparently  used  to  breed  in  Egypt,  but  has  long  since  ceased 
to  do  so.  They  arrive  in  immense  flocks  from  the  north 
from  September  onwards  and  spread  all  over  the  Delta, 
being  as  common  in  the  Alexandria  Docks  as  they  are  in  the 
Fayoum  or  anywhere  else  in  the  Delta.  They  spread  tar 
down  the  Nile,  reaching  south  to  Merowe,  creating  havoc 
among  the  crops. 

In  spring  they  begin  to  leave  in  the  middle  of  March,  and 
a  larofe  flock  was  seen  at  the  Delta  Barrage  as  late  as  11.  iv. 

Passer  h.  transcaspicus  Tschusi. 

The  common  race  of  Palestine  and  Syria,  extending  south 
in  winter  to  central  Sinai.  The  only  breeding  colonies  I  saw 
were  at  the  north-west  corner  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee  and  in  the 
Lower  Jordan  Valley,  but  the  vast  majority  of  winter  birds 
are  migrants,  breeding  birds  being  rare.  Most  of  the  winter 
visitors  appear  to  have  left  Palestine  by  the  middle  of 
March.  Not  seen  in  Palestine  outside  the  Jordan  Valley 
and  Sea  of  Galilee  areas. 

Passer  italiaB  (Vieill.). 

A  typical  specimen  shot  from  a  flock  of  Spanish  Sparrows 
at  Solium  on  21.  i.  was  a  male  with  a  wing  of  76  mm.  This 
is  the  first  Egy[)tian  record. 

Melanocorypha  calandra  hebraica. 

Alelanocorijplia  calandra  hebraica  Meinertz.  Bull.  B.  0.  0. 
xli.  1920j  p.  21  :  Jenin  in  northern  Palestine. 

The  common  resident  Calandra  Lark  of  Syria  and 
Palestine,  breeding  from  Damascus  and  Baalbek  to  the  Plain 
of  Esdraelon  in  northern  Palestine  and  throughout  the 
coastal  belt  of  that  country.  Not  noted  in  the  Judaean 
highlands  or  Jordan  Valley. 


632 


Col.  R.  Meinertzhagen  on  Birds  from 


[Tbis 


Ammomanes  deserti  (Liclit.). 

Amviomanes  deserti  deserti  was  originally  described  from 
"  jEgypto  super."  and  A.  d.  isabellina  from  "Asaba" — 
probably  Akaba — in  Sinai. 

Birds  from  Cairo,  Helouan,  and  Suez,  from  Wadi  Haifa, 
Kerma  (Dongola  bend  of  the  Nile),  and  Shereik  are  slightly 
paler  than  others  from  Assouan  and  Korosko.  Nicoll  even 
obtained  a  dark  bird  at  Helouan  and  has  others  from  Luxor. 

Text-fioure  4. 


"Siwa  Oasis 


Rough  Sketch. 
:'•••'■••.■    A.d.  deserti 
WWW    A.d.  isabellina 
^^=-    A.d.  fratereulijs 
t  -t  +  ♦■*"  ^.  (/.  algeriensis 
-d^f^  A.  d.  erythrochroa 


Sketcli-map  of  Egypt  to  show  the  distribution  of  the  races  of 
Ammomanes  deserti. 


These  dark  birds  are  undoubtedly  A.  d.  deserti,  whilst  the 
paler  ones  are  certainly  isabellina.  The  two  races  are 
exceedingly  close,  differing  only  in  a  slight  colour  shade. 
I  have  not  examined  birds  from  Sinai  nor  the  type  of 
isahelli7ia,   so  cannot    say    whether    they    differ    from    Nile 


1 92 1.]       the  Near  East  and  Tropical  East  Afrira.  633 

Valley  birds.  A  specimen  from  Beerslieba  is  however 
fraterculus,  which  agrees  with  the  dark  A.  d.  deserti  in  colour 
but  has  a  much  smaller  culmen.  A.  d.  fraterculus  is  also  the 
Jordan  Valley  bird.  To  further  complicate  the  problem, 
the  pink  A.  d.  algeriensis  occurs  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Nile  about  Sohag  and  Luxor,  ^i.  d.  erythrocliroa  Rchw.  occurs 
farther  south  on  the  Nile  at  Shendi  and  Khartoum,  and  is  a 
redder,  darker  bird  than  any  of  the  abov(\  I  have  not  seen 
examples  of  katJterina:  Zedlitz  from  the  Sinai  Hills. 

Ammomanes  plicenicura  (Frankl.). 

The  problem  of  this  species  in  northern  Africa  is  no  less 
perplexing. 

An  examination  of  the  large  series  of  A.  p.  arenicola  from 
Algeria,  Tunis,  and  Kerma  (Dongola  bend  of  the  Nile), 
together  with  a  series  of  nine  birds  I  collected  near  C'airo, 
two  from  the  Siwa  Oasis,  and  one  from  Solium,  shows  the 
following  : — 

(a)  December,  January,  and  May  birds  from  near   Cairo 

and  Solium  have  the  dark  colour  oi  A,  deserti  deserti. 
Wing  89-96. 

[b)  Two   January  birds  from   Siwa   Oasis  have  the   pale 

colour  with  a  pink   tinge  of  A.  deserti  algeriensis. 

Wing  90. 
(<■)   Spring  birds  from  Algeria   have  the   pale   colour   of 

A.  deserti  isabelUna.     Wing;  92-97. 
[d)  Two  birds  from  Kerma  resemble,  in  the  one  case,  shot 

on  25.  ii.,  Cairo  and  Solium  birds,  and  in   the   other 

case,  shot  on  5.  iii.,  Algerian  birds. 
The  problem  is  this.  Are  all  northern  African  birds  the 
same,  or  are  these  three  races,  as  in  A.  deserti.  geographical 
forms  worthy  of  separation  ?  If  they  are  the  same  race, 
but  having  the  dark  (^A.  d.  deserti^  colour  in  fresh  autumn 
plumage,  pink  (^A.  d.  algeriensis)  colour  in  winter,  and  sandy 
isabelline  {A.  d.  isahellina)  colour  in  spring,  then  the  three 
races  of  Ammomanes  deserti  are  probably  the  same  bird  in 
diti'erent  seasonal  plumages.  This  latter  does  not  seem  to  be 
the  case,  for  all  the  A.  d.  algeriensis  I  have  seen  have  in 
both  spring  and  autanm  the  pink-tinged  coloration. 


G34r  Col.  R.  Meinertzhagen  on  Birds  from  [Ibis, 

If  all  the  Ammomanes  phceiiirura  from  northern  A-frica  are 
not  the  same  race,  then  the  Algerian  bird  must  be  called 
A.  p.  regidus  Bp.  (1857:  Algerian  Sahara),  the  Cairo  and 
Solium  birds  remain  A.  j>.  arenicolor,  and  the  Siwa  birds 
must  have  a  new  name. 

Now  the  fact  that  spring  and  autunm  birds  near  Cairo 
show  a  constancy  of  the  dark  coloration,  rather  points  to 
there  being  more  than  one  race  in  northern  Africa,  but  in  the 
absence  of  autumn  specimens  from  Algeria,  I  refrain  from 
coming  to  any  definite  conclusion.  I  also  recommend  to  my 
friend  Nicoll  a  complete  Ammomanian  survey  of  the  Nile 
from  Khartoum  to  C'airo,  once  in  autumn  and  once  in  spring, 
also  a  trip  to  the  Sinai  hills,  where  Zedlitz's  A.  d.  katliarina' 
is  said  to  occur. 

GALERIDA  CRISTATA. 
The  following  are   the   results  of  my  investigations   into 
the  Crested  Larks  of  Syria,  Palestine,  Egypt,  the  Red  Sea, 
Abyssinia,  and  Somaliland.     In  all,  383  birds  were  examined. 

Galerida  cristata  nigricans  Brehm. 

43  examined  from  Helouan  (April),  Giza  (Dec),  Delta 
Barrage  (April  and  May),  Inchas  (Jan.  and  March),  north- 
ern edge  of  the  Delta  (Jan.  to  April),  central  Delta  (Feb. 
to  May),  Kantara  on  the  Suez  Canal  (Dec). 

No  freshly-moulted  autumn  birds  examined. 

This  is  the  darkest  race  of  the  Crested  Larks.  Breast 
densely  spotted  with  rich  black  spots  which  are  never  very 
clear-cut.  Under  parts  invariably  tinged  with  yellowish 
buff,  distinctly  more  so  than  in  macidata  {  =  altirostris  of 
Hartert's  Vog.  pal.  Fauna).  Upper  parts  very  dark,  the 
centres  of  the  feathers  being  nearly  coal-black.  Crown 
much  darker  than  in  any  other  race.  Outer  tail-feathers 
with  black  extending  over  the  whole  of  the  inner  web  and 
over  nearly  half  the  outer  web.  Remainder  of  feather  a  rich 
buff.  (I  would  mention  here  that  among  Crested  Larks  the 
colour  on  the  outer  tail-feather  is  a  very  unreliable  charac- 
teristic.) Average  wing  for  thirty-four  males  101'9  mm. 
(max.  lOG,  n)in.  99),  and  for  nine  females   96*1  mm.  (max. 


1 92 1.]       the  Near  East  and  Tropical  East  Africa.  635 

lOlj  mill.  93).  (Julmen  of  nudes  21-22  mm.  and  for 
females  20  mm. 

This  is  the  cliaraeteristic  race  of  the  core  of  the  Egyptian 
Delta,  its  southern  breeding-limit  being  about  the  line  Delta 
Barrage-Caliub-InchaSj  whence  its  range  extends  north-east 
and  north-west  ahnost  to  the  sea-coast,  but  always  keeping 
well  within  the  Delta  and  not  on  the  outskirts. 

In  winter  they  wander,  when  they  have  been  obtained  at 
Griza  and  Kantara.  A  bird  of  this  race  found  breeding  at 
Helouan  is  an  exceplion. 

Two  breeding  birds  from  near  Benha,  some  35  miles 
north  of  Cairo,  are  rather  pale  for  typical  nigricans.,  but  are 
nmch  too  {[arVior  maculata.  During  April,  Nicoll  and  I 
motored  from  Cairo  to  Benha.  About  Caliub  the  birds 
rapidly  changed  from  macidata  to  nigricans,  and  at  Benha 
nearly  every  bird  was  typical  nigricans. 

Galerida  cristata  maculata  Brehm,  1858. 

Galerida  cristata  altirostris  Brehm  (cf.  Hartert,  Nov.  Zool. 
1919,  p.  30). 

87  birds  examined  from  Port  Said  and  Kantara  on 
the  Suez  Canal  (Feb.  and  March),  the  northern  edge  of  the 
Delta  (Jan.,  Feb.,  June,  Oct.),  western  edge  of  the  Delta 
(Nov.),  south-eastern  edge  of  the  Delta  (April  and  June), 
Alexandria  (Oct.),  (Caliub  and  Benha  (April),  near  Cairo, 
Giza,  Pyramids,  etc.  (Jan.  to  March,  May,  Aug.  to  Dec), 
Helouan  (March,  April,  Nov.,  Dec),  south  of  Helouan  at 
lyat,  Wasta,  Khi/am,  Kenah,  Esna,  Sohag,  and  Luxor  (Jan. 
to  March,  Sept.  to  Dec). 

In  fresh  autumn  plumage  the  breast-spotting  is  almost  a 
smudge,  the  spotting  only  appearing  fairly  distinct  after  the 
feather  edgings  have  worn  oil" ;  but  the  spotting  at  all 
seasons  is  large  and  not  clear-cut,  and  never  so  dense  as  in 
nigricans.  Upper  parts  paler  thiui  in  nigricans,  with  less  and 
less  intense  bhick  in  the  centre  of  the  feathers.  Crest 
without  so  much  black  as  in  nigricans. 

This  race  shows  much  variation  in  both  the  upper  and 
under  parts.  In  the  series  from  Helouan  some  approach 
nigricans,   whilst   a   breeding    bird    from    that    district  is  a 


636  ('ol.  R.  Meinertzhagen  on  Birds  from  [Ibis, 

typical  nigricans.  Others  from  Cairo  I'esemble  nigricans  in 
the  breast-spotting,  but  the  ])ack  is  typical  macidata.  Birds 
shot  between  Caliub  and  Benha  (north  o£  Cairo)  begin  to 
approach  nigricans.     In  size  simihir  to  nigricans. 

Average  for  the  wing  of  sixty  males  102  mm.  (max.  108, 
min.  98).  Average  for  twenty-seven  females  95"5  mm. 
(max.  101,  min.  92).  Culmcn  of  males  19-21  and  of  females 
18-20  mm. 

This  is  the  characteristic  race  on  the  outer  fringe  of  the 
Egyptian  Delta  (never  occurring  in  the  desert,  and  some- 
times occurring  20  miles  within  the  Delta) .  It  does  not  occur 
as  a  breeding  species  much  east  of  Lake  Mariotis  or  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Suez  Canal.  It  ranges  far  down  the  Nile  from 
about  ten  miles  north  of  Cairo  to  Wadi  Haifa,  where  it  meets 
cdtirostris  [—  nidnca  Bianchi). 

In  winter,  birds  apparently  wander  to  the  Suez  C'anal. 

A  male  from  Sohag,  shot  on  21  September  (on  the  Nile 
south  of  Helouan),  has  its  upper  parts  identical  with 
hracliyura.,  though  its  under  parts  resemble  macidata. 

Galerida  cristata  mceritica  Nicoll  &  Bonhote. 

GO  birds  examined  from  the  Fayoum.  This  race  shows 
a  more  marked  constancy  in  its  colouring  than  any  other 
race  under  review.  It  is  very  near  macidata,  and  has  not 
got  a  longer  wing  as  stated  by  Nicoll  ('Ibis,'  1914,  p.  546). 
Neither  is  it  distinguishable  from  macidata  by  the  paler 
coloration  of  the  upper  parts,  though  about  20  per  cent,  of 
the  birds  examined  have  a  paler  back  than  typical  macidata. 
About  the  same  proportion  of  birds  have  whiter  under  parts 
than  macidata.  The  breast-spotting  is  similar  to  that  in 
macidata,  and  is  often  more  clear-cut.  But  not  one  of 
the  differences  is  appreciable,  nor  could  the  separation 
of  the  bird  as  a  geographical  form  be  justified. 

But  there  is  a  good  and  almost  constant  diiference  in  the 
feathers  on  the  lesser  upper  wing-coverts.  In  this  race  they 
are  silvery-brown,  whereas  in  macidata  there  is  never  any 
trace  of  this  silvery  colour  on  the  lesser  upper  wing-coverts. 
It  is  a  very  slight  difference,  but  being  almost  constant 
within  a  definite  area,  we  must  accept  the  subspecies. 


1 92 1.]       the  Near  East  and  Tropical  East  Africa.  637 

The  wings  of  forty-one  males  averaoo  102'6  mm.  (max. 
106,  min.  LOO  mm.)  ami  of  nineteen  females  96*1  mm. 
(max.  100,  min.  92  mm.).      Culmen  of  c?  ?    19-21. 

The  outer  tail-feather  of  both  this  race  and  maculata  is 
very  variable,  and  frequently  has  a  wedge  of  smoky  buff  on 
the  distill  end  of  the  inner  weh.  In  other  respects  they  do 
not  differ  from  the  outer  tail-feathers  of  nigricans. 

Confined  to  the  Faj^oum  in  Upper  Egypt. 

G-alerida  cristata  altirostris  Brehm. 

Galevida  c.  }iabica  Bianchi  (cf.  Hartert,  Nov.  Zool.  1919, 
p.  36). 

18  examined  from  the  Dongola  bend  of  the  Nile. 

Culmen  not  so  heavy  as  in  somaliensis  and  nearer  maculata. 
The  general  coloration  on  the  back  is  very  slightly  redder 
than  in  hrachyura,  especially  on  the  upper  tail-coverts.  This 
reddish  colour  is  particularly  noticeable  in  juvenile  plumage. 

Wing  of  eleven  adult  males  varies  from  101  to  107,  once 
110,  culmen  19—20,  and  of  seven  females,  wing  from  95  to 
101 J  culmen  17*5  to  19  mm. 

The  outer  tail-feather  is  invariablj^  paler  and  with  less 
dark  colour  than  in  either  of  the  preceding  races,  and  invari- 
ably has  a  large  wedge  of  pale  buff  on  the  distal  half  of  the 
inner  web. 

Inhabits  the  Nile  Valley  in  the  Dongola  bend  at  Merowe, 
.Kerma,  etc. 

Galerida  cristata  zion  Meinertzhagen,  Bull.  B.  0.  C.  xli. 
1920,  p.  21  :  Jerusalem. 

44  examined  from  Damascus,  the  Judsean  highlands,  and 
the  Sea  of  Glalilee. 

Nearest  to  cinnamomina,  but  without  a  cinnamon  tinffc  in 
fresh  autumn  plumage.  Darker  than  hracliyura  in  autumn 
plumage,  the  feathers  having  blacker  centres.  Under  parts 
similar  to  cinnamomina,  but  the  breast-spotting  is  more 
marked  than  in  hracliyura. 

In  worn  plumage  birds  become  more  bleached  than  cinna- 
momina, and  are  then  usually  indistinguishable  from  hracliyura 
in  similar  plumage. 

SBR.  XI. — VOL.  III.  2  (I 


638  Col.  K.  Meinertzhagen  on  Birds  from  [Ibis, 

The  outer  tail-featlier  has  dark  colour  only  in  the  proximal 
third  of  the  outer  web,  but  in  other  respects  appears  to 
resemble  that  of  nigricans,  macnlata,  and  m/eritica. 

Wing  of  males  98-109  mm.,  culmen  18-5-22.  Wing  of 
females  95-104,  culmen  19-21. 

This  race  occurs  at  Damascus,  Baalbel<,  round  the  Sea  of 
Galilee  on  all  shores,  and  in  the  upper  Jordan  Valley,  at 
Baisan,  Jenin  (northern  Judsean  highlands),  but  not  round 
Nablus  where  hracliyui'a  occurs,  south  along  the  hills  to 
Jerusalem,  and  to  Hebron,  about  which  place  hrachyura  is  met. 

Note. — An  adult  female  from  Aidin,  in  Asia  Minor,  shot 
on  4.  vii.,  appears  similar  to  zion  in  colour,  but  has  a  slenderer, 
not  longer  lull.     Wing  101  mm.,  culmen  21. 

Galerida  cristata  cinnamomina  Hartert. 

15  examined  from  Mount  (jarmel  (Oct.),  Haifa  (March), 
Beyrouth  (Oct.),  and  Sidon  (Oct.). 

In  fresh  autumn  plumage  this  race  has  a  distinct  cinnamon 
tino-e  on  the  upper  parts,  unlike  that  of  any  other  race  under 
review.  Breast-spotting  large  and  well-marked.  In  worn 
plumage  birds  closely  resemble  zion  in  autumn  plunuigC;  and 
entirely  lack  the  cinnamon  tinge. 

The  outer  web  of  the  outer  tail-feather  is  as  in  zion,  but 
the  inner  web  frequently  has  a  large  wedge  of  buff  along 
the  distal  half  of  the  shaft. 

Wing  of  males  100-10;»,  and  of  females  97-99.  Culmen 
of  males  18'5-21,  and  of  females  18-20  mm. 

Appears  to  be  confined  to  the  coastal  strip  from  Mount 
Carmel  north  through  Acre,  Tyre^  and  Sidon  to  Beyrouth 
and  the  foot-hills  of  the  Lebanon  behind  that  town,  ascending 
to  about  1200  feet.  There  are  no  Crested  Larks  on  the 
higher  slopes  of  the  Lebanon. 

Galerida  cristata  brachyura  Tristram. 

Galerida  c.caroli  Hartert,  Vog.  pal.  Fauna,  1904,  p.  234  : 
Natron  Valley,  Egypt. 

Galerida  cristata  eritrece  Zedl.  Orn.  Monatsb.  1910,  p.  59  : 
Ghedem,  Ked  Sea  coast. 


1 92 1.]       the  Near  East  and  Tropical  East  Africa.  6H9 

103  birds  examined  from  Nablus  (northern  Judsean  high- 
lands), lower  Jordan  Valley,  Dead  Sea,  Sinai,  Suez  (Janal, 
southern  Palestine,  Borollos  beach  in  the  northern  Egyptian 
Delta,  Nadi  Natrun  (western  Desert  of  Egypt),  coast  west 
from  Alexandria  to  Soil  am,  and  from  Ailet  in  southern 
Italian  Eritrea. 

In  fresh  antunni  plumage  the  upper  parts  are  more  sandy 
coloured  than  in  either  cinnamoinina  or  zion,  and  altogether 
much  paler  than  in  maculata.  The  under  parts  have  the 
breast-spotting  small  and  much  concealed  by  the  feather 
edgings.  Birds  in  worn  plumage  are  very  variable,  and  this 
variation  seems  to  depend  on  the  amount  of  glare  or  cheinic;il 
influence  to  which  the  individual  has  been  subjected.  Thus, 
birds  from  the  Wadi  Natrun  in  late  winter  or  spring  turn  a 
sort  of  dirty  fawn  colour,  those  from  the  lower  Jordan 
Valley  becoming  merely  pale  sandy  colour.  Birds  from  the 
coastal  plain  of  Palestine  bleach  very  little.  Under  parts 
generally  whiter  than  in  zion. 

Three  birds  from  Nablus  are  nearer  brachyura  than  zion, 
and  are  the  only  birds  about  which  I  have  a  doubt  regarding 
their  correct  determination. 

I  find  that  birds  from  Jericho  are  identical  with  others  in 
similar  plumage  from  the  Wadi  Natrun  and  Solium. 
Breeding  birds  from  Suez  are  identical  with  Jordan  Valley 
birds  in  sindlar  plumage. 

Two  males  from  Ailet  in  Italian  Eritrea  I  am  unable  to 
separate  from  hracliyura. 

The  size  of  hracliyura  is  variable  to  a  slight  degree 
according  to  locality. 

8  males  from  northern  Sinai  average  106*8  in  wine'. 

7  males  from  southern  Palestine  average  104*5  in  wing. 

9  males  from  the  Suez  Canal  average  104'2  in  v^-iug. 
17  males  from  Wadi  Natrun  average  10-4  in  wing. 

21  males  from  west  of  Alexandria  average  103  in  wing. 

2  males  from  Eritrea  have  wings  of  103  and  104. 
The  average  for  all  localities  is   102*1  for  70   males  and 
97*6  for  33  females.      Maximum    wing   for   males   109,   and 

2u2 


640  Col.  R.  Meinertzbagen  on  Birds  from  [Ibis, 

for    females   100.     Minimum  wing   for   males   1>9,    and   for 
females  94.     Culmen  of  males  from  all  localities  20-22  mm. 

Tbe  outer  tail-featber  is  very  variable,  birds  from  the 
Jordan  Valley  and  Sinai  having  usually  the  base  of  the 
outer  web  dark,  and  merely  a  dark  wedge  on  the  proximal 
portion  of  the  inner  web.  Birds  from  Solium  usually  have 
the  outer  tail-feather  with  a  great  deal  of  dark  colouring  on 
the  inner  web,  but  only  the  base  of  the  outer  web  is  dai'k  ; 
but  such  variation  is  never  constant  in  any  area^  and  every 
degree  of  intermediate  design  is  found. 

G.  c.  hrachyura  occurs  in  the  lower  Jordan  Valley  to  well 
north  of  Jericho  and  at  Nablus  in  the  northern  Judajan 
hills.  Round  both  shores  of  the  Dead  Sen,  tliroughout 
Sinai,  and  in  southern  Palestine  from  Ludd  south.  On  the 
Suez  Canal  from  Port  Said  to  Suez,  on  Borollos  beach 
(northern  Egyptian  Delta),  at  Mersa  Matruh  and  Solium 
west  of  Alexandria,  and  at  the  Wadi  Natrun.  The  fact  that 
birds  inseparable  from  hrachyura  occur  in  Italian  Eritrea 
and  at  Port  Sudan  compel  me  to  place  Zedlitz's  name  eritrew 
as  a  synonym  of  brachyura.  I  cannot  agree  with  Sclater 
and  Praed  ('Ibis/  1918,  p.  607)  that  Port  Sudan  birds 
should  be  united  with  altirostris  (nubica  of  Biauchi). 

Farther  west  towards  Tripoli  occur  various  races  of 
Crested  Larks,  the  only  ones  which  might  be  contiguous  to 
brachyura  being  macrorliynclia  and  arenicola.  These  races, 
which  I  am  unable  to  distinguish  one  from  the  other,  are 
larger  than  brachyura  in  both  wing  and  culmen,  though  very 
similar  in  colour. 

Galerida  cristata  somaliensis  Bianchi. 

10  birds  from  sea-level  at  Berbera,  all  obtained  in  autumn 
and  winter,  appear  paler  than  brachyura  and  have  a  thicker, 
heavier,  but  not  longer  culmen. 

6  males  have  wings  99-105  and  culmens  19-22. 

4  females  have  wangs  94,  95-99  and  culmens  19-20*5. 

A  pair  in  my  collection  from  Luke  Rudolf  appear  exactly 
similar  to  somaliensis  :  male,  wing  105,  culmen  18*5  ;  female, 
wing  102,' culmen  19. 


1 92 1.]       tlte  Near  East  and  Tropical  East  Africa.  G-il 

Galerida  theklae  Brehm. 

At  Solium  I  wag  surprised  to  find  birds  belonging  to  this 
species.  la  all,  twelve  sjiociincns  were  collected.  I  have 
not  been  able  to  compare  them  with  specimens  o£  Galerkla  t. 
cyreiiaica  from  the  type-locality,  but  they  agree  perfectly 
with  the  description  of  that  race.  This  is  the  most  easterly 
point  in  northern  Africa  at  which  these  birds  have  been  met. 

Wing  of  five  males  94  to  100  mm.,  culmen  16-17.  Wing 
of  four  females  91-95  mm,,  culmen  15-17. 

Note  on  the  influences  which  tend  to  differentiate  plumage 
colour  am07i<j  the  Crested  Larks. 

The  Crested  Larks  of  the  Near  East  afford  interesting 
evidence  regarding  the  influences  which  tend  to  differentiate 
plumage  colour. 

Beebe,  when  conducting  experiments  on  some  American 
Doves  in  captivity,  found  that  artificial  humidity  produced 
darker  plumage.d  and  more  variegated  birds. 

Ogilvie-Grant  found  that  rainfall  seemed  to  be  a  factor 
among  Bustard-Quail  in  south-eastern  Asia  in  determining 
the  darkness  or  otherwise  of  plumage.  Similarly,  the  darker- 
plumaged  Robins,  Song-Thrushes,  etc.,  of  the  British  Islands, 
and  the  still  darker  Hebridean  Song-Thrush,  seem  to  be 
influenced  by  the  greater  rainfall  in  their  homes. 

Through  the  kindness  of  the  Egyptian  Meteorological 
Department,  I  have  been  supplied  with  the  following  fioures. 
I  would  point  out  that  the  percentage  of  humidity  is  the 
amount  of  moisture  in  the  atmosphere,  and  has  nothing  to 
do  with  lainfall.  Thinking  that  perhaps  birds  might  be 
influenced  by  conditions  during  their  actual  breeding-season, 
I  also  worked  out  conditions  for  those  months  durin"-  which 
they  breed,  and  the  following  are  the  results. 

The  races  of  Galerida  cristata  are  arranged,  beginning 
with  the  darkest-plumaged  birds  and  ending  with  the  palest- 
plumaged  birds  ; — 


Tay. 

May. 

50 

1 

0-3 

49 

1 

0-2 

43 

1 

0-3 

63 

20 

1 

72 

15 

1 

72 

35 

3 

70 

24 

1 

67 

10 

0-5 

56 

17 

1 

52 

24 

2 

38 

0-6 

0-1 

67 

16 

0-5 

72 

3-5 

0-5 

73 

1-9 

0-2 

69 

6-0 

0-1 

642  (yol.  R.  Meinertzhagen  on  Birds  from  [Ibis, 

Average  -per  cent.  Mean 

humidity.  rainfall  in 

inches. 

Race.  Soil.  Locality.  Tear.     April  ^-     Tear.  April  Sf 

Nigricans Black  alluvial    ...   Central  Egyptian  70 

Delta. 

Maculnta Dark  alluvial,  with  Cairo      68 

a  percentage  of  Helouan     62 

sand. 

Meridionalis. .  Dark  brown,  often  Crete 67 

red. 

Dark  brown Cyprus  77 

Cinnamomiria  Reddish Beirut    68 

Brown    Haifa      70 

Zion Brown     to     pale  Damascus 78 

brown.  Tiberias     62 

Jerusalem 65 

Brachyura   . . .   Pale    brown    and  Suez   55 

sand.  Gaza  72 

ElArish    76 

Port  Said  74 

Solium   76 

From  the  above  lable,  I  conclude  that  Crested  Larks  are 
influenced  in  tlie  colour  of  their  plumage  by  protective 
resemblance  to  the  soil  on  w  hicli  tliey  live,  and  that  neither 
humidity  nor  rainfall  has  any  effect  on  their  plumage. 
This  same  influence  apjiears  to  affect  nearly  all  ground-birds 
which  more  or  less  live  in  the  open,  such  nn  j\t)imomanes, 
Alcemon,  OUnaidJie  desert i,  hyremopldla.,  Alectoris,  Pterocles, 
etc. 

Finally,  I  would  point  out  that  three  races  of  the  (Jrested 
Lark  (^idyrlcans,  macidata,  and  brachyura)  have  been  living 
in  confinement  in  the  Giza  Zoological  Gardens  near  Cairo 
(whei'e  the  local  wild  race  is  macidata)  for  many  years,  and 
have  been  subjected  to  identical  conditions.  These  birds 
have  moulted  regularly  true  to  their  respective  races,  and 
have  shown  no  inclination  to  change  the  colour  of  their 
plumage. 

I  do  not  ])retend  in  the  above  note  to  have  suggested 
anything  new,  but  when  this  theory  is  worked  out  in  detail, 
it  may  help  those  of  us  who  interest  themselves  in  the 
subject  of  the  effect  of  external  conditions  on  the  problems 
of  evolution. 


1 92 1.]       the  Near  East  and  Trojncal  East  Africa.  643 

LULLULA  ARBOREA. 
Both  i-aces  of  the  Wood-Lark  occur  in  Palestine  in  winter 
and  early  spring,  and  are  coninioidy  met  with  in  the  Jndasan 
highlamls  in  small  flocks.  All  those  I  have  collected  belong 
to  pallida,  whereas  there  is  an  undoubted  L.  I.  arhorea  in  (he 
Tring  Collection,  collected  by  Aharoni  at  liehoboth  in  the 
coastal  plain  on  IG.  xi.  It  is  still  uncertain  which  is  the 
breeding  race. 

ALAUDA    ARVENSIS. 

Alauda  arvensis  cinerascens. 

Ahmda  cinerea  Ehmcke,  J.  £.  O.  1903,  p.  149  :  Siberia, 
preoccupied, 

Alauda  cinerascens  W[\n\c\Q,  J.f.  0.  1904,  p.  313:  amended 
name  for  cinerea. 

Alauda  cypriaca  Ehmcke,  Ann.  Mus.  Hung.  1904,  p.  300  : 
Cyprus. 

Alauda  insularis  Ehmcke,  Ann.  Mus.  Hung.  1904, 
p.  300  :   Cyprus. 

Boih  cypriaca  and  insularis  were  described  from  winter 
birds,  and  a  number  of  such  ))irds  which  I  hav(i  examined 
undoubtedly  belong  to  this  race  and  not  to  cantarella.  I 
believe  the  Sky-Lark  does  not  breed  in  Cyprus,  though  it  is 
a  common  winter  visitor  to  that  island. 

This  grey  race  of  the  Sky-L;irk  is,  in  a  large  series,  dis- 
tinctly paler  above  and  whiter  below  than  cantarella. 

All  winter  visitors  to  Greece  which  I  have  examined 
belong  to  this  race;  also  most  winter  birds  to  Syria, 
Palestine,  and  Egypt.  Li  1920  they  had  all  left  I^alestine 
for  the  north  between  5.  iii.  and  10.  iii.,  and  they  had  all  gone 
from  Egypt  by  26.  iii.  In  western  Egypt  they  were  very 
common  on  the  coast  at  Solium  and  Mersa  Matruh  in 
January,  but  in  the  Fayoum  I  saw  no  Sky-Ijarks  in  January 
1920. 

Alauda  arvensis  schach. 

Alauda  schach  Ehmcke,  Ann.  Mus.  Hung.  1904,  p.  299  : 
East  Persia. 


644  Col.  R.  Meinertzhagen  on  Birds  from  [Ibis, 

This  excellent  race  from  eastern  Persia  is  easily  recognized 
from  cavtarella  or  cinerascens  by  its  paler  and  redder  colour; 
in  fact  it  is  merely  a  pale  but  large  A.  a.  arvensis,  and  is 
not  a  gi'ey  but  a  red  bird  in  autumn  plumage.  I  shot  a 
male  at  the  south  end  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee  on  3.  iii.  with  a 
wing  of  119  mm.  Four  birds  in  the  Tring  Collection  from 
eastern  Persia  have  wings  from  115  to  122  mm.  It  is  the 
exception  to  find  cinerascens  or  cantarella  with  wings  over 
115  mm. 

Alauda  arvensis  cantarella. 

Alauda  cantarella  Bonaparte,  1832  :  Central  Italy. 

Similar  to  Alauda  c  arvensis,  but  lacks  the  redder  feather 
edgings  on  the  upper  parts  of  the  latter  and  is  also  much 
whiter  belou  .  The  featlier  edgings  are,  however,  browner 
(not  so  grey)  as  in  cinerascens. 

To  this  race  I  can  only  assign  birds  from  Italy,  Sardinia, 
Corsica,  and  Sicily.  I  have  not  seen  typical  birds  from 
elsewhere.  I  have  not  examined  breeding  birds  from  Greece 
or  the  Balkans.  Stresemann  (Avif.  Macedon.  p.  66)  refers 
all  Balkan  birds  to  this  race,  but  as  he  has  not  compared  his 
specimens  uith  birds  from  the  typical  locality,  his  remarks 
are  not  very  helpful. 

Alauda  arvensis  arvensis  L. 

The  typical  race  of  the  Sky-Lark  seems  to  be  confined  in 
its  breeding  haunts  to  the  British  Islands,  Scandinavia, 
Denmark,  and  central  Europe  generally. 

Alaemon  alaudipes  alaudipes  (Desf.). 

I  obtained  a  male  in  September  in  the  Syrian  Desert 
40  miles  east  of  Damascus,  which  appears  to  be  a  new 
locality.     It  is  identical  with  Egyptian  and  Saharan  birds. 

I  found  this  bird  common  in  western  Egypt  about  Mer^a 
Matruh,  Solium,  and  on  the  desert  between  Siwa  and  Solium 
in  January. 

It  is  also  a  locally  common  resident  in  northern  Sinai 
west  to  the  Suez  Canal  and  east  to  El  Arish. 


1 92 1.]      the  Near  East  and  Tropical  East  Africa.  645 

Cliersophilus  duponti  margaritae  (Koenig). 

Common  on  the  desert  about  15  miles  west  of  Solium,  but 
not  seen  elsewhere  between  Siwa  and  Solium.  A  male 
obtained  has  a  wing  o£  101  mm. 

Eremophila  alpestris  bilopha  (Temm.). 

Obtained  in  the  Syrian  Desert  40  miles  east  of  Damascus 
in  September,  where  they  were  not  uncommon,  and  also  oji 
the  desert  from  Solium  to  Siwa  where  they  were  scattered 
about  in  pairs  in  January. 

Genus  ANTHUS. 
In  working  out  my  collection  of  Pipits  from  the  Near 
East  and  eastern  Africa,  1  had  occasion  to  go  into  the  whole 
question  of  four  groups  which  are  widely  distributed  over 
Asia  and  Africa,  namely  campestris,  sordidus,  richardi, 
and  LEUCOPHRYS.  For  reasons  given  below  I  have  united  the 
rufulus-gYon^  with  riclcardi. 

ANTHUS   CAMPESTRIS. 

Head  distinctly  streaked,  usually  in  contrast  to  an  indis- 
tinctly or  more  uniform  back.  Breast  unspotted  or  with 
a  very  few  small  indistinct  spots.  In  juvenile  plumage  the 
back  is  very  mottled  and  the  breast  boldly  spotted. 

1st,  2nd,  and  ord  primaries  equal,  the  4tli  slightly  shorler. 

The  outer  web  of  the  penultimate  tail-feather  is  only  dark 
brown  at  the  base.  The  outer  tail-feather  has  a  triangular- 
shaped  mark  on  its  distal  half. 

Inner  secondaries  as  long  as  the  longest  primaries. 

Anthus  c.  campestris  L.  1758  :  Sweden. 

71  examined  from  Europe,  Algeria,  Egypt,  Palestine,  and 
western  Asia. 

Yellowish  above.  About  80  per  cent,  are  unspotted. 
Wing  87-98,  birds  from  the  east  being  frequently  larger 
than  western  birds.  Culmen  17-11*  mm. 

Breeds  throughout  continental  Europe  south  from  central 
Sweden    and    Norway,  in    Asia    Minor,   Palestine,  and  the 


646  Col.  R.  Meinertzhagen  on  Birds  from  [This, 

Mediterranean  Islands  (Balearics,  Corsica,  and  Crete), 
Algeria,  and  Morocco.  Common  on  passage  in  Palestine, 
Egypt,  and  Algeria.  Common  in  winter  in  north  Somali- 
land  and  the  Sudan^  straggling  to  Kenya  Colony. 

Anthus  c.  griseus  Nicoll,  Bull.  B.  0.  C.  xli.  1920,  p.  25  : 
Turkestan. 

Agrodroma  campestris  mmor  (neo  Brehm),  R,  Blasius, 
1900  :  Etawah,  N.W.  India. 

30  examined,  including  the  type. 

Greyish  above  compared  with  the  typical  race  and  generally 
smaller.  About  50  per  cent,  are  unspotted.  Wing  82-90, 
94,95.  Culmen  lG-18.  A  female  in  Witherby's  collection, 
shot  from  the  nest  near  Peshawar  in  north-western  India 
by  Hariugton,  is  undoubtedly  this  form,  and  appears  to  lie  a 
dwarf,  having  a  wing  of  only  77  mm.  and  a  culmen  of  17  mm. 

Breeds  in  north-western  India  (Peshawar),  Turkestan, 
eastern  Persia,  Trauscaspia,  and  perhajis  Egypt.  I  obtained 
an  adult  and  four  young  birds  near  Helouan  in  Egypt  on  9.  xi. 
and  15.  xi.  ;  obviously  a  family  party  as  I  saw  no  others. 
Nicoll  has  obtained  others  in  autumn  and  winter  from  Egypt. 
It  also  occurs  in  winter  in  Soistan,  northern  India,  United 
Provinces,  Rajputana,  Central  India,  and  south  to  the 
Bombay  Presidency. 

ANTHUS   SORDIDUS. 

Head  and  back  of  adults  in  fresh  autumn  plumage  more 
or  less  indistinctly  blotched  or  streaked.  In  worn  plumage 
the  upper  parts  tend  to  become  more  uniform.  General 
colour  above  brown,  without  any  of  the  olive  tinge  which 
occurs  in  the  leucophri/s-groui).  Breast  distinctly  marked 
with  diffused  spotting  in  all  forms,  but  in  Persia  and  Pales- 
tine one  occasionally  finds  birds  with  unspotted  breasts._ 

1st  to  4th  primaries  usually  almost  equal. 

The  outer  web  of  the  penultimate  tail-feather  is  black- 
brow'i  with  a  paler  fringe.  Outer  tail-feather  never  with 
pure  white  on  it,  but  yellowish-bufl'  or  brown  to  yellowish- 
white. 


1 92 1.]       tJie  Near  East  ami  Tropical  East  Africa.  647 

Inner  secondaries  do  not  reach  to  the  end  ot"  the  longest 
])rimaries. 

Ouhnen  longer,  slenderer,  and  less  arched  than  in  birds 
of  the  same  size  among  the  leucoplirus-gvo\\\i. 

An  thus  s.  similis. 

Anthus  similis  Jerdon,  Madr.  Journ.  \I.  1840,  p.  35  : 
Jalna,  Hyderabad  (Deccan),  about  *20()  miles  E.  by  N.  of 
Bombay  City. 

Anthus  cockhurnice  Gates,  Fauna  Brit.  India,  ii.  1890  : 
Nilgiri  Hills,  S.  India. 

36  examined. 

Darker  than  jerdoni  and  wing  slightly  smaller.  Resident 
in  the  hills  of  southern  India. 

Anthus  s.  jerdoni. 

Antlius  jerdoni  Finsch,  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  vii.  1872^  p.  24  : 
Kotgurh,  N.W.  Himalayas  near  Simla. 

29  examined. 

Paler  and  larger  than  similis.  Paler  (more  sandy)  and 
more  uniformly  marked  than  sordidus,  hararensis,  or  arahicus. 
Distinctly  yellower  than  captus  or  decaptus,  the  under  parts 
being  more  fulvous  than  hararensis  but  not  so  dark  as  in 
sordidus.     Wing  91-104,  culmen  18-20. 

Breeds  in  (Jashmir  and  in  the  Himalayas  at  Murree,  Sinda, 
Chakrata,  and  Mussoorie,  perhaps  east  to  Sikkiin.  In  winter 
birds  descend  to  the  plains  of  the  Punjab  and  to  the  Delira 
district. 

Anthus  s.  decaptus. 

Anthus  s.  decaptus  Meinertzhagen,  Bull.  B.  0.  C.  xli. 
1920,  p.  23  :  Rud-i-Taman,  eastern  Persia. 

45  examined. 

Very  similar  to  captus  but  larger.  In  fresh  autumn  and 
worn  plumage  the  colour  of  the  upper  parts  does  not  differ 
from  captus,  but  in  autumn  plumage  the  lower  parts  are 
more  ochreous,  and  in  winter  and  worn  plumage  the  lower 
parts  are  not  so  white  as  in  captus.  The  s})otting  on  the 
breast  is  usually  better  defined  than  in  captus. 


648  Col.  R.  Meinertzhagen  on  Birds  from  [Ibis, 

In  juvenile  plumage  birds  are  much  more  mottled  than  in 
adults,  both  on  the  back  and  head,  and  have  broad  fulvous 
margins  to  the  inner  secondaries.  The  breast  spotting  is 
also  more  distinct  than  in  adults.  Wing  95-106,  culmen 
18-5-21-5. 

Breeds  in  Persian  Baluchistan,  eastern  Persia,  and  in  the 
hills  of  northern  Baluchistan  round  Quetta,  wandering  to 
Sind  in  winter. 

Anthus  s.  captus. 

Antlms  leucoplirys  captus  Hartert,  Vog.  pal.  Fauna,  1905, 
p.  269  :   Wadi  Zerka,  Jordan  Valley. 

17  exanuneJ,  including  the  type. 

Paler  and  greyer  than  any  form  except  decaptus,  and 
much  less  uniform  ihixn  jerdoni  on  the  upjier  parts.  Under 
parts  with  a  slight  rufous  tinge  in  fresh  autumn  plumage, 
which  becomes  almost  white  in  winter.  Wing  90-95,  cuhnen 
18-20. 

Resident  in  the  Lebanon  and  Hermon  systems  of  Palestine 
and  Syria  and  in  the  Judsean  highlands,  but  not  reaching 
much  farther  south  than  Jerusalem.  In  winter  a  few  birds 
descend  to  the  Jordan  Valley. 

Anthus  s.  arabicus. 

Anthus  s.  arabicus  Hartert,  Nov.  Zool.  1917,  p.  457  : 
Menakha,  Yemen,  S.W.  Arabia. 

38  examined,  including  the  type. 

Upper  parts  and  sides  of  the  head  darker  than  in  captus  or 
decaptus.  Under  parts  more  heavily  marked  and  browner. 
Larger  and  more  heavily  spotted  than  hararensis.  Wing 
90-101,  culmen  18'5-20. 

So  far  only  known  from  Yemen  in  south-western 
Arabia. 

Anthus  s.  sokotrae. 

Anthus  s.  sokotrce  Haitert,  Nov.  Zool.  1917,  p.  457  : 
Socotra. 

8  examined,  including  the  type. 


1 92 1.]       the  Near  East  and  Tropical  East  Africa.  649 

Intermediate  on  the  back  between  captus  and  arabicus, 
being  paler  above  and  whiter  below  than  in  the  latter  I'orni. 
Wing  smaller  and  culnien  larger  than  in  arabicus.  Wing 
83-90,  cnlmen  20-21. 

Anthus  s.  hararensis. 

Anthiis  nirholsoni  liararensis  Neumann,  J.  £.  0.  190G, 
p.  233  :  Abu  Bekr^  near  Harar,  Abyssinia. 

42  examined,  including  the  type. 

Scarcely  separable  from  arabicus. 

Upper  parts  not  so  dark  and  under  parts  .not  so  heavily 
sjiotted  and  more  rufescent  than  in  arabicus^  to  which  it 
seems  nearest.  I  am  unal)le  to  separate  birds  from  northern 
Somaliland  from  Harar  birds,  though  some  are  imperceptibly 
paler.     Wing  93-98,  cnlmen  17-5-19,  21. 

Harar  in  Abyssinia  to  the  hills  of  northern  Somaliland. 

Anthus  s.  jebelmarrae. 

Anthus  s.  jebelmar7'a'ljjues,  Bull.  B.  0.  (*.  xli.  1920,  p.  IG  : 
Jebel  Marra,  Darfur. 

3  examined,  including  the  type. 

Nearest  to  hararensis,  but  differs  in  almost  entirely  lacking 
the  breast-s[)otting,  and  the  whole  plumage  is  suffused  with 
bright  tawny  olive.  Tail  very  dark,  almost  black  (instead 
of  brown),  and  the  pale  spot  on  the  penultimate  tail-feather 
is  reduced  to  a  tiny  mark  at  its  extreme  tip.  W^ing  90-95, 
cnlmen  19. 

So  far  only  known  from  the  Darfur  Hills  in  western 
Sudan. 

Anthus  s.  asbenaicus. 

Anthus  s.  asbenaicus  Jlothsohild,  Bulk  B.O.  (J.  xli,  1920, 
p.  33  :  Asben  (Air),  central  Sahara. 

10  examined,  including  the  type. 

Very  near  jebelmarra',  but  is  slightly  paler  above  and 
much  paler  below  and  with  a  more  distinct  breast-spotting. 
Penultimate  tail-feather  with  more  brown  at  its  tip  tlinn  in 
jebelmarra;.     More  rufescent  than  hararensis,  especially  on 


650  Ool.  R.  Meinortzhiiocn  on  Birds  fr<mi  [Ibis, 

the  rmnp,  the  breast-spotting  being  less  distinct  and  the 
whole  under  jmrts  generally  paler.  Wing  of  males  91- 
98  mm.,  culmen  19-20. 

So  far  only  known  from  the  mountains  of  Ai'r  in  the 
central  Sahara. 

Anthus  s.  sordidus. 

Anthus  sordidus  Riippell,  Wirbelthiere  von  Abyss.  1835, 
p.  103,  pi.  39.  fig.  1  :   Simon  Province,  Abyssinia. 

Sinien,  Seniyen,  or  Samcn  Province  is  in  northern  Abyssinia 
between  Lake  Tsana  and  Massowah. 

24  examined  from  Shoa  in  the  ceniral  highlands  of 
Abyssinia,  some  200  miles  south  of  the  typical  locality. 

Much  darker  and  more  uniform  above,  and  much  redder 
below  tlian  hararensis.     Wing  97-102,  culmen  17-18. 

Inhabits  the  hills  of  central  and  northern  Abyssinia. 

Anthus  sordidus  subsp.  ? 

Sclaterand  Praed  (Ibis,  1918,  p.  615)  thought  that  birds 
from  Erkovvit  (behind  Suakim  on  the  Red  Sea  coast)  did  not 
agree  with  any  race,  though  nearest  to  hararensis,  but  they 
were  less  plainly  striped  on  the  back.  The  specimen  on 
which  Schiter  and  Praed  made  the  above  remarks  was 
obtained  in  March,  Though  undoubtedly  belonging  to  the 
sordid  us- group,  it  is  unlike  any  race  either  at  Tring  or  in 
the  British  Museum.  The  plumage,  however,  strikes  me  as 
being  juvenile,  though  the  time  of  year  when  it  was  shot 
rather  points  to  this  not  being  the  case. 

Anthus  s.  longirostris.  '^   ■"''        "sS" 

^r-,AntlLUS  nicholsoni  longirostris  Neumann,  J.  f.  0.  19-06-, 
pi  3^:  Gardulla,  west  of  Gandjule  Lake  (which  is  the  same 
as  Lake  Abaya  in  southern  Abyssinia,  150  miles  N.E.  of  the 
northern  end  of  Lake  Rudolf). 

26  examined,  including  the  type. 
.    Nearest  to  sordidus  and  much  darker  tlian  liararensis  or 
arahicns.     Not,  quite  so  dark  as  sordidns  and  apparently  less 
uniform   on   the   back.     Under  parts  not  so    fulvous    as    in 


1921,]       the  Near  East  and  Trojncal  East  Africa.  G51 

sordidus  and   more  heavily  spotted.     Wing  90-102,  culnien 
17-19-5. 

This  race  appears  to  extend  from  southern  Abyssinia  to 
Kenya  Colony,  where  I  collected  specimens  at  Naivasha  and 
Nakurii  in  the  Rift  Valley,  and  I  have  examined  others  from 
Kisumii  on  the  Victoria  Nyanza  and  the  Kedong  Escarpment. 

Anthus  s.  nyassae. 

Antlius  nicholsoui.  ny/ass(r  Neumann,  J.  f.  0.  1906,  p.  233: 
near  Songea  in  Tanganyika  Territory,  east  of  the  north  end 
of  Lake  Nyasa. 

1  have  not  examined  any  specimens  from  tlie  type-locality. 

Up[»er  parts  (teste  Neumann)  spotted  as  in  nicholsoni  and 
loiKjirostris,  darker  than  loiKjirostris  but  with  a  tlifferent 
and  more  brownish  tone  on  the  plumage.  Lower  breast  and 
abdomen  darker  than  nicJwlsoni  or  longirostris,  sharply  defined 
froui  the  pure  white  chin  and  throat.  Sides  of  head  darker. 
Wing  and  culmen  smaller.     Wing  86-95. 

Inhabits  the  country  north  and  north-east  of  Lake  Nyasa 
to  Uhelie  in  Tanganyika  Territory. 

Anthus  s.  nicholsoni. 

Anthus  nicholsoni  Sluirpe  ed.  Lay.-ird's  B.  S.  At'r.  1884, 
p.  536  :   South  Africa  ;  no  definite  loc. 

Many  examined  from  Zululand  and  Bloemfontein. 

Ahove  ])aler  (yellower)  and  more  uniform  than  lonairostris. 
Below  not  so  fulvous  and  less  heavily  spotted. 

Appears  to  extend  throughout  Cape  Province  (Caj)eto\vn 
and  Kingwilliamstown)  to  Bloemfontein  and  the  Vaal 
River  in  the  Transvaal,  and  to  Zululand  and  perhaps 
Damaraland. 


ANTHUS   RICHARDI. 

In  comparing  the  ricliardi-  and  ?';//« /ws-groups  from  Asia, 
I  was  struck  by  the  lack  of  any  definite  character  dis- 
tinguishing them,  and  am  therefore  inclined  to  agree  with 
Stresemann    (Nov.    Zool.    1912)   and    Hartert     (Vpg.    pal. 


()52  Col.  R,  Mpiinertzhaoen  on  Birds  from  [Ibis, 

Fauna)  in  uniting  them  all  as  geographical  races  o£  the  same 
species  ;  in  fuct,  some  specimens  o£  tjpical rtt/W/us  from  India 
are  merely  small  editions  of  -1.  r.  7nchardi  or  stinolatus. 

Having  united  Asiatic  A.  rufulus  with  A.  richardi,  it  is 
only  logical  to  include  as  geographical  races  of  richardi  the 
various  African  races  which  hitherto  have  been  treated  as 
races  of  rufulus.  Oscar  Neumann  apparently  came  to  the 
same  conclusion  (J.  f.  0.  1906,  p.  231). 

Head  and  back  alwa3^s  distinctly  and  usually  boldly 
blotched  and  streaked.     Breast  always  distinctly  spotted. 

2nd  and  3rd  primaries  usually  equal  and  longest,  but  1st 
and  4th  come  vei-y  close. 

The  outer  web  of  the  penultimate  tail-feather  is  only  dark 
brown  at  the  base.  The  outer  tail-feather  has  a  trianoular- 
shaped  \Nhite  mark  on  its  distal  part.  This  white  is  rarely 
tinged  with  buff  or  brown. 

Inner  secondaries  usually  shorter  than  the  longest  prim- 
aries, but  frequently  equnl  to  them  and  occasionally  longer. 
This  variability-  occurs  most  frequently  in  birds  from  tropical 
and  southern  Africa. 

Hind  claw  longer  than  in  the  campestris-,  sordidus-,  or 
leucophri/s-gron\)s,  when  birds  of  the  same  size  are  compared. 

Anthus  r.  richardi. 

Anthus  richardi  Vieillot,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  xxvi. 
1818,  p.  491  :  France. 

35  examined. 

Distinguished  at  once  from  all  other  races  by  its  huge 
hind  claw  and  longer  wing.  Wing  90-100,  culmen  15*5-18, 
hind  claw  16-22  mm. 

Breeds  in  central  and  southern  Siberia,  and  in  eastern 
Turkestan  to  the  Altai  and  Tianshan  systems,  east  to 
Manchuria  and  northern  China — Kansu,  Szechv\an,  Nanslian, 
Kukunor,  and  the  upper  Hoang  Ho. 

Winters  in  Europe  west  to  England  and  France,  in  Egypt, 
the  Sudan,  Palestine,  Asia  Minor,  India,  and  Ceylon,  Siam 
(rare),  southern  China,  and  Hainan. 


1 92 1.]      tlie  Near  East  and  Tropical  East  Africa.  653 

Anthus  r.  sinensis. 

Corydalla  sinensis  Bonaparte,  Consp.  Av.  i.  1850,  p.  247  : 
southern  China. 

Corydalla  infuscata  Blyth,  Journ.  As.  Soc.  Bengnl,  1861, 
p.  96.  Type-locality  given  as  the  Philippines,  but  the 
specimen  came  from  the  hills  o£  Foochow  in  southern  China 
{cf.  Swinhoe,  P.  Z.  S.  1863,  p.  272). 

Bonaparte's  description  of  sinensis  is  that  the  bird  is 
smaller,  darker,  and  more  fulvous — "  fusco-ferruginea  " — 
below.     I  think  there  is  little  doubt  he  meant  this  race. 

13  examined. 

This  appears  to  be  a  good  race,  though  a  series  of  breeding 
birds  are  badly  needed.  Those  I  have  examined  are  mostly 
winter  birds,  but  are  distinctly  smaller  than  A.  r.  richardi 
and  incline  to  be  more  rufous  below.  But  some  examples  of 
the  typical  race  from  southern  Siberia  and  Turkestan  are 
equally  rufous  below,  though  this  is  the  exception.  Wing 
85-91,  culraen  17-18,  hind  claw  15-19  mm. 

La  Touche,  who  appears  to  recognize  this  southern  Chinese 
race  of  Richard's  Pipit  (Ibis,  1905,  p.  46),  states  that  they 
breed  on  the  low  hills  round  Foochow,  laying  in  April  and 
May.  They  arrive  from  the  south  in  April  and  leave  for 
the  south  in  October,  whereas  A.  r.  richardi  is  but  a  winter 
visitor  to  Foochow,  arriving  from  the  north  in  October  and 
leaving  again  in  April.  Obtained  in  Hainan  and  the  Philip- 
pines in  winter. 

Anthus  r.  striolatus. 

Antlius  striolatus  Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  Beng.  xvi.  1847,  p.  435  : 
Darjiling,  eastern  Himalayas. 

12  examined. 

Hind  claw  smaller  than  in  either  of  the  preceding  races. 
Frequently  with  less  white  on  the  penultimate  tail-feather 
than  in  A.  r.  richardi.  Slightly  paler,  more  tawny,  than 
sinensis.  Wing  87-99,  culmen  16-17*5,  hind  claw  10*5- 
15*5  mm. 

Breeds  in  Central  Asia  and  the  Himalayas  : — Argun  Hiver 
{Di/howski),  Ala  Shan  (PrzeicalsU),  and  Sikkim  at  15,000  ft. 
[Blanjord).      Passes  through  southern  Tibet  in  September 

SER.  XI. VOL.  III.  2  X 


654  Col.  R.  Meinertzhagen  on  Birds  from  [Ibis, 

on  autumn  passage  (Ibis,  1906,  p.  61),  and  winters  in  Assam, 
northern  Siam,  southern  Tenasserini,  and  throughout  the 
Indian  Peninsuhi  south  to  Ceylon. 

Anthus  r.  rufulus. 

Anthus  rufulus  Vieillot,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  xxvi. 
1818,  p.  294:  Bengal. 

22  examined  from  Bengal,  Nilgiris,  Mysore^  Etawah, 
Central  Provinces,  Cashmir,  Sikkim,  and  Yunnan. 

Browner  and  redder  on  the  upper  parts  than  any  of  the 
following  four  races.  Under  parts  tinged  with  rufous  as  in 
malayensis,  and  darker  below  than  luguhr'is.  Much  smaller 
than  any  of  the  preceding  races.  In  all  characteristics  it  is 
nearest  to  cinnamomeus  from  Abyssinia. 

Birds  from  Ceylon  appear  somew'hat  smaller  (wings  76- 
82  mm.)  and  darker,  whilst  birds  from  southern  India  appear 
slightly  more  rufous  than  Bengal  birds.  Wing  76-86, 
cnlmon  15-18,  hind  claw  9,  10-15  mm. 

Is  apparently  resident  in  the  whole  of  India  from  Cashmir 
to  Ceylon,  and  east  throughout  the  Himalayas  below  6000  ft. 
to  Yunnan,  where  it  must  meet  sinensis  somewhere  in 
southern  China. 

Anthus  r.  medius. 

Anthus  medius  Wallace,  P.  Z.  S.  1863,  p.  488  :  Timor. 

21  examined. 

Above  darker  than  rufulus,  but  very  similar  to  inalai/ensis 
and  luguhris.  Under  parts  much  whiter  than  rufulus, 
malaijensis,  and  luguhris,  but  not  almost  pure  white  as  in 
alhidus.  Hind  claw  similar  to  alhidus,  and  much  smaller 
than  in  malayensis  and  luguhris.  Wing  82-86,  culmen  16- 
17,  hind  claw  10-11  mm. 

Inhabits  {teste  Stresemann)  Timor,  Kisser,  Savu,  Letti, 
Moa,  and  Sermata. 

Anthus  r.  albidus. 

Antlius  r.  alhidus  Stresemann,  Nov.  Zool.  1912,  p.  316: 
South  Flores. 

13  examined,  including  the  type. 


1 92 1.]      the  Xear  East  and  Tropical  East  Africa.  655 

Darker  above  than  any  of  the  other  small  Asiatic  forms, 
and  completely  lacking  any  rufous  tinge.  Under  parts  pure 
white.  Hind  claw  smaller  than  in  malayensis  or  higxihris, 
but  as  in  medius.  Wing  78-83,  culmen  16-17^  hind  claw 
10-11  mm.- 

Inhabits  Bali,  Lombok,  Sumbawa,  Flores,  and  Sumba. 

Anthus  r.  malayensis. 

Anthus  malayensis  Eyton_,  P.  Z.  S.  1839,  p.  104 :  Malacca. 

26  examined. 

Above  similar  to  medius  and  lugiihris.  Under  parts  as  in 
rufulus.  Hind  claw  similar  to  Ivguhris  and  larger  than 
either  albidus  or  medius.  Wing  80-87,  culmen  11-12'5, 
hind  claw  11-16  mm. 

Inhabits  Malay  Peninsula,  Sumatra,  Java,  and  perhaps 
Borneo  (Stresemann) . 

Anthus  r.  Ingubris. 

Cori/dcdla  hujuhris  Walden,  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  ix. 
1877,  p.  198  :  Philippines. 

10  examined. 

Above  similar  to  malayensis  and  medius.  Under  parts 
redder  than  in  medius,  but  not  so  red  as  in  rufulus  or  malay- 
ensis. Breast-spotting  much  less  distinct  than  in  the  four 
previous  races.  Hintl  claw  as  in  malayensis.  Wing  75-82, 
culmen  11-12,  hind  claw  12-15  mm. 

Inhabits  the  Philippine  Islands  and  Palawan. 

Anthus  r.  cinnamomeus. 

Anthus  cinnamomeus  Riippell,  Neue  W^irbelthiere,  p.  103, 
1835  :  Simen,  Abyssinia. 

For  the  position  of  Simen,  see  under  Anthus  sordidus 
sordidus. 

Over  30  examined  from  Addis  Abeba  and  Ailet  in  Italian 
Eritrea  near  Massowah,  and  southern  Abyssinia. 

These  birds  agree -with  Riippell's  description,  and  although 
much  larger  than  ^4.  r.  rufulus,  are  somewhat  similar  but 
more  cinnamon  in  colour.  Very  similar  in  colour  to  A.  r, 
raalteni  from  South  Africa,  but  slightly  darker. 

2x2 


656  Col.  R.  Meinertzhagen  on  Birds  from  [Ibis, 

Two  birds  from  Senaar  and  Eritrea  seem  to  be  very  near, 
but  are  slightly  less  cinnamon.  Sclater  and  Praed  (Ibis, 
1918,  p.  G15)  found  no  birds  of  this  race  in  the  Butler,  Chap- 
man &  Lynes,  or  Christy  collections  ;  but  there  are  in  the 
British  Museum  examples  from  Khartoum  and  the  Lado 
Enclave  which  they  assign  to  this  race_,  and  which  have 
presumably  been  compared  with  Abyssinian  birds. 

Wing  88-96,  culmen  16-17*5,  hind  claw  11  mm. 

Apparently  inhabits  the  highlands  of  Abyssinia,  east  to 
Ailet  near  Massowah,  and  perhaps  west  to  the  Sudan. 

Anthus  r.  annae,  subsp.  nov. 

A  series  of  17  birds  in  the  collection  of  Sir  Geoffrey 
Archer  from  northern  Somaliland,  6  of  which  are  in  freshly- 
moulted  plumago,  when  compared  with  chinamomeiis  from 
Abyssinia,  shows  that  the  Somaliland  race  almost  completely 
lacks  the  cinnamon  tinge  of  the  Abyssinian  birds.  They  are 
a  much  browner  bird.  Under  parts  much  whiter.  Generally 
smaller  in  both  wing  and  culmen.  Birds  from  south-western 
Arabia  agree  in  every  way.  In  worn  plumage  they  bleach 
to  various  shades  of  dull  uniform  brown  or  earth-brown. 

Wing  of  males  86-89  mm.,  culmen  16-18  mm. 

Wing  of  females  78-86  mm.,  culmen  15-16  mm. 

Hind  claw  9-11  mm. 

It  is  curious  that  Hartert  (Nov.  Zool.  1917)  and  other 
writers  should  have  assigned  this  distinct  race  to  A.  r.  cinna- 
momeiis. 

Type.  ?  29.  ix.  18,  Megago,  northern  Somaliland,  4000  feet 
(No.  1571,  coll.  G.  Archer). 

Anthus  r.  lacuum. 

Anthus  r.  lacuum  Meinertzhagen,  Bull.  B.O.C.  xli.  1920, 
p.  22  :  Lake  Naivasha  in  Kenya  Colony. 

84  examined. 

Dai'ker,  less  cinnamon  and  more  fulvous  than  c'lnnamomeus. 
Generally  a  greyer  bird.     Wing  82-91,  95,  99, 100  ;  culmen     . 
15-17,  18  ;  hind  claw  9-12*5  mm. 

Appears  to  be  a  resident  from  the  coast  at  Bagomoyo 
(Tanganyika  Territory)  to  the  north  end  of  Lake  Tanganyika, 


1 92 1.]      the  Kear  East  and  Tropical  East  Africa.  657 


between  Albert j  Edward  and  Kivu  lakes,  around  tbe 
Victoria  Nyanza,  Lake  Nakuru,  Naivasha,  and  on  the 
Kedong  Escarpment,  Nairobi  and  the  Athi  plains,  and  at 
Nyeri  in  Kenya  Colony. 

A  single  bird  from  Taveta  very  closely  resembles  cinna- 
momeiis.  Birds  from  the  west  of  Victoria  Nyanza  are 
slightly  more  cinnamon  than  birds  from  east  of  that  lake, 
but  such  variation  is  not  sufficiently  distinct  or  constant  to 
warrant  a  further  separation. 

Anthus  r.  camaroonensis. 

Antlms  camaroonensis  Shelley,  Birds  of  Africa,  ii.  1900, 
p.  320:  Camaroon  Mountain,  10,000  ft. 

Three  birds  from  130  km.  west  of  Lake  Tanganyika  and 
at  over  6000  feet  appear  to  agree  with  typical  examples. 
A  fourth  bird  in  the  Tring  Collection  from  the  same  locality 
agrees  better  with  A.  r.  lacmim. 

This  is  the  darkest  race  of  the  species,  and  looks  like  a 
melanistic  variety  when  compared  with  other  races.  Upper 
parts  with  black  centres  to  the  feathers  and  dark  fulvous 
fringes.  Breast  thickly  spotted  with  black,  throat  whitish, 
abdomen  and  lower  breast  fulvous.  Wing  92-96,  culmen 
16-17,  hind  claw  9-10  mm. 

Camaroon  Mountain  and  the  hills  of  central  Belgian  Congo. 

Anthus  r.  raalteni. 

Anthus  raalteni  Temm.  MSS.  Lichtenstein,  Verz.  Vog. 
Sauget.  Kaffernl.  1842,  p.  13  :  South  Africa. 

Original  description  not  examined. 

16  specimens  examined. 

Very  close  to  cinnamomeus  but  paler.  Not  so  grey  as 
lacuum.      Wing  82-93,  culmen  15-17,  hind  claw  9-13. 

Resident  in  the  Transvaal,  Natal,  and  on  the  Limpopo 
River. 

Anthus  r.  bocagii. 

Anthus  bocagii  Nicholson,  Ibis,  1884,  p.  469  :  Angola. 
39  specimens  examined. 


658  Col.  R.  Meinertzhagen  oji  Birds  from  [Ibis, 

A  paler  and   greyer   bird  than   raalteni.      Wing   85-95. 
culmen  16-17,  hind  claw  9-14  mm. 
Southern  Angola. 

The  leucojyJir J/ s-group  o£  Pipits  are  in  no  sense  Palsearctic, 
but  as  I  was  compelled  to  work  them  out  when  dealing 
with  the  so7'didus-gr oup,  I  give  the  results  of:  my  labours. 

I  found  that  the  leucopliri/s-gvoui)  o£  plain-backed  Pipits 
showed  great  variation  in  the  same  area  :  in  Angola  and 
tropical  eastern  Africa  it  was  obvious  that  a  dark  and  pale 
race  co-existed.  The  differences  did  not  appear  to  be 
dimorphic.  I  tried  to  separate  birds  on  structural  differ- 
ences, but  failed.  Culmen,  tail-feathers,  size  of  wing,  etc., 
all  failed.  I  was  therefore  compelled  to  separate  birds  on 
colour  alone,  and  find  that  they  fall  very  well  into  two 
groups  or  species,  a  dark  bird  whose  oldest  name  is  gouldi, 
and  a  pale  bird  whose  oldest  name  is  leucophrys. 

Owing  to  the  difficulty  in  describing  these  various  colours, 
I  have  had  to  resort  to  Ridgway^s  'Nomenclature  of  Colours,' 
1886,  reference  being  given  in  brackets,  thus  (R.  iii.  19), 
meaning  Ridgway,  pi.  iii.  fig.  16. 

ANTHUS  LEUCOPHRYS. 

Upper  parts  entirely  uniform,  except  in  immature  birds 
when  slight  traces  of  blotchiug  occur.  General  colour 
above  yellowish  dark  earth-brown,  sometimes  with  a  slight 
olive  tinge,  but  the  shade  is  very  variable.  Under  parts 
always  tinged  with  fulvous,  darkest  in  saphiroi,  palest  in 
neumanni.  Breast-spotting  usually  indistinct  and  blurred, 
though  in  goodsoni  it  is  frequently  well-marked. 

Throat  whitish  in  contrast  to  the  rest  of  the  under  parts. 

First  four  primaries  more  or  less  equal. 

Tail-feathers  very  variable,  but  never  with  white  on  them 
as  in  the  ricliardi-^YO\x\). 

Inner  secondaries  usually  fall  short  of  the  tips  of  the 
longest  primaries,  but  sometimes  equal  them. 

Culmen  stumpier  than  in  the  sordidus-gx oVi'p  and  more 
arched. 


1921.]      the  Kear  East  and  Tropical  East  Africa.  659 

Anthus  1.  leucophrys. 

Antlms  leucophrys  Vieillot,  Nonv.  Diet.  xxvi.  1818,  p.  502  : 
"  Cape  of  Good  Hope." — The  main  points  in  the  original 
description  are: — "An  eye-stripe  extending  to  the  sides  of 
the  head.  Whole  ui)per  parts  brownish  grey,  with  small 
blackish  spots  on  the  lieud."  This  clearly  indicates  the 
pale  bird  and  not  the  darker  race  of  the  goiddi-gvowp, 
though  the  marked  eye-stripe  is  more  characteristic  of 
the  latter  group. 

Upper  parts  dark  sepia  (Iv.  iii.  3),  lower  parts  wood-brown 
(R.  iii.  19).  Breast-spotting  indistinct  and  smudgy.  Wing 
93-101,  culmen  18,  and  hind  claw  12*5  and  13  mm. 

Cape  Province,  southern  Natal,  Zululand,  and  the  southern 
districts  of  the  Orange  Free  State. 

Anthus  1.  vaalensis. 

Anthus  vaalensis  Shelley,  Birds  of  Africa,  ii.  1900,  p.  311  : 
Newcastle  in  northern  Natal. 

Upper  parts  paler  than  in  the  preceding  race  and  uniform 
bistre  (R.  iii.  6).  Under  parts  pale  wood-brown  (R.  iii.  19). 
Breast-spotting  indistinct  and  smudgy.  Larger  wing  and 
smaller  hind  claw  than  in  A.  I.  leucophrys.  Wing  102-107, 
culmen  17-18,  and  hind  claw  9-11  mm. 

This  Pipit  inhabits  northern  Natal,  Transvaal,  Bechuana- 
land,  and  the  Orange  Free  State  south  to  Bloemfontein.  A 
bird  from  Deelfontein  (Cape  Province)  in  the  British  Museum 
appears  to  be  also  of  this  race.  As  the  specimen  has  no 
original  label,  I  do  not  attach  much  importance  to  it. 

Anthus  1.  neumanni. 

Anthus  I.  angolensis  Neumann,  J.  f.  0.  1906,  p.  236  : 
Ambaca  in  Angola.  Name  preoccupied  by  Anthus  angolensis 
Bocage,  Journ.  Sci.  Lisboa^  viii.  1870,  p.  341,  which 
from  the  description  is  obviously  Anthus  chloris  of  Lichten- 
stein. 

Anthusl.  neumanni  Meinertzhagen,  Bull.  B.  0.  C.  xli.  1920, 
p.  23.  (Type  and  description  as  for  Anthus  I.  angolensis 
Neumann,  J.  f .  0.  1906.     No.  158  in  the  Tring  Museum.) 


660  Col.  R.  Meinertzbagen  on  Birds  from  [Ibis, 

Upper  parts  slightly  paler  than  ^1.  I.  leucoplirys,  but  not 
so  pale  as  is  vaalensis.  Lower  parts  sligbtlj  whiter  and 
breast-spotting  more  distinct  than  in  vaalensis  or  A.  I.  leu- 
coplirys. Smaller  than  vaalensis.  Wing  o£  16  males  98-105, 
and  of  10  females  90-98  mm.  Culmen  15-18  and  hind 
claw  9-11  mm. 

Inhabits  Angola.  Does  not  occur  in  Masailand  or  tropical 
eastern  Africa  (as  stated  by  Neumann,  J.  f.  0.  1906),  where 
it  is  replaced  by  Anthus  I.  goodsoni. 

Anthus  1.  goodsoni. 

Anthus  I.  goodsoni  Meinertzhagen,  Bull.  B,  0.  C.  xli.  1920, 
p.  23  :  Nakuru,  Kenya  Colony.    Type  in  the  Tring  Museum. 

Upper  parts  as  in  A.  I.  leucoplirys  and  slightly  darker  than 
in  neumanni,  though  a  bird  from  Nyeri  just  to  the  west  of 
Mount  Kenya  is  as  pale  as  neumanni.  Under  parts  paler 
than  in  A.  I.  I eucophrys  and  as  in  nermiamii.  Breast-spotting 
even  more  distinct  than  in  neumanni  and  much  more  pro- 
nounced than  in  A.  I.  leucoplirys.  Wing  and  culmen  as  in 
^4.  I.  leucophrys  and  neumanni,  but  the  hind  claw  generally 
longer  than  neumanni.  Wing  of  males  95-102,  and  of  females 
90-97  mm.     (julmen  15-18  and  hind  claw  10-13  mm. 

Inhabits  Masailand,  Nakuru,  Nairobi,  Naivasha,  and  north 
to  the  base  of  Mount  Kenya.  Also  found  in  Uganda  at 
Bukoba  on  the  western  shores  of  the  Victoria  Nyanza, 
and  apparently  near  Lake  Kivu. 

Anthus  1.  saphiroi. 

Anthus  I.  sapJdroi  Neumann,  J.  f.  0. 1906,  p.  235:  Belassiri, 
near  Harar  in  Abyssinia.     Type  in  the  Tring  Museum. 

This  is  the  darkest  form  of  the  leucophrys-gvoup  except 
zenkeri,  and  stands  very  near  Anthus  s.  sordidus,  from  which 
it  differs  in  its  plainer  back  and  slightly  paler  upper  and 
lower  parts. 

Darker  than  in  A.  I.  leucophrys  on  the  upper  parts.  Under 
parts  pale  cinnamon  (R.  iii.  20).  Breast-spotting  more 
distinct  than  in  A.  I.  leucophrys.  Wing  of  males  95-102, 
and  of  two  females  91-93  mm.  Culmen  15-18  and  hind 
claw  9-12  mm. 


1921.]       the  Near  East  and  Tropical  East  Afr'ica.  661 

Inhabits  southern  Abyssinia.  Three  birds  from  north- 
western Sonialiland  in  the  British  Museum  are  nearest  the 
race,  and  a  series  collected  by  Archer  from  northern 
Somaliland  are  identical  with  topo-typical  specimens. 

Anthus  1.  zenkeri. 

Anthus  I.  zenheri'^eVimvLYin,  J.  f.  0.  1906,  p.  235  :  Jaunde, 
Camaroon.     Type  in  the  Berlin  Museum. 

None  examined.  Described  from  three  specimens.  Said 
to  be  near  saphiroi,  but  the  upper  parts  arc  slightly  darker. 
Edgings  to  the  wing-coverts  and  wings  a  darker  rust-red. 
Also  a  redder-rusty  tinge  on  the  rump  and  upper  tail-coverts. 
Wing  91-94,  culmen  15-16  mm. 

In  the  Gold  Coast,  Northern  and  Southern  Nigeria,  occurs 
a  race  of  leucophrys  which  is  probably  A.  I.  zenkeri.  These 
birds  are  smaller  (wing  87-97)  than  A.  I.  leucophrys,  but  the 
upper  parts  are  very  similar,  though  slightly  darker  than 
saphiroi,  and  have  on  an  average  more  rust-colour  on  the 
upper  tail-coverts.  Breast-spotting  much  more  distinct  than 
in  A.  I.  leucophrys. 

A  series  of  Pipits  of  tho  leucophrys-  group  from  the  Belgian  y 

Congo,  Nyasaland,  and  N.  Rhodesia,  also  appear  to  agree  with 
the  description  of  zenkeri,  but  until  the  type  or  typical  birds 
have  been  examined,  such  questions  cannot  be  definitely 
decided. 

ANTHUS   GOULDI. 

This  group  differs  from  the  sordidus-  and  leucophrys-gronps 
in  having  uniform  dark  brown  upper  parts,  without  a  trace 
of  mottling  except  in  immature  birds.  The  colour  is 
much  darker  in  every  race  of  this  species  than  it  is  in  any 
of  the  leucophrys-group,  and  often  assumes  a  colour  not 
unlike  a  very  dark  maroon  with  a  tinge  of  plum-colour. 
Eye-stripe  better  developed  than  in  leucophrys.  No  trace  of 
yellowish  or  olive  on  the  upper  parts  as  in  leucophrys. 

Under  parts  always  suffused  with  dirty  ochreous,  darkest 
in  omoensis  and  paler  in  prunus.     Breast-spotting  indistinct, 


C)62  Ool.  II.  Meinertzliagen  on  Birds  from  [Ibis, 

but  a  large  percentage  of  birds  are  moro  distinctly  spotted 
than  those  of  the  leucojjlirys-gvow^). 

Throat  white,  in  contrast  to  the  rest  of  the  under  parts. 

First  four  primaries  almost  equal. 

Outer  tail-feather  always  darker  than  in  the  leucophrys- 
group. 

Inner  secondaries  invariably  fall  short  of  the  tips  of  the 
longest  primaries. 

Culmen  as  in  the  leucopJir>/s-gvonY>,  and,  if  anything, 
more  stumpy. 

Anthus  gouldi  omoensis. 

Anthus  leucophrys  omoensis  Neumann,  J.  f.  0.  1906, 
p.  234 :  Ergino  Valley,  between  Gofa  and  Doko  on  the 
Omo  River.  The  Omo  is  in  southern  Abyssinia  and  flows 
into  the  north  end  of  Lake  Rudolf.  Type  in  the  Tring 
Museum. 

Upper  parts  uniform  dark  hair-brown  (R,  iii.  12),  lower 
parts  raw  umber  (R.  iii.  14).  Wing  92-100,  culmen  11-18, 
hind  claw  9-12  mm. 

Inhabits  the  Omo  River  Valley  in  southern  Abyssinia. 

Anthus  gouldi  turneri. 

Antlius  g.  turneri  Meinertzhagen,  Bull.  B.  O.C.  xli.  1920, 
p.  24 :  Kituni,  N.W.  Kenya  Colony.  Type  in  the  Tring 
Museum. 

Upper  parts  uniform  dark  hair-brown  (R.  iii.  12).  Under 
parts  pale  wood-brown  (R.  iii.  19)  and  not  so  dark  as  in 
omoensis.  Breast-spotting  largo  and  distinct,  with  pear- 
shaped  blotches. 

Wing  of  ma](\s  94-100,  and  of  females  90-95  mm. 
Culmen  15-19,  hind  claw  9-13  mm. 

Inhabits  the  northern,  eastern,  and  western  shores  of  the 
Victoria  Nyanza,  and  north  to  Mount  Elgon. 

Birds  from  southern  Abyssinia  and  the  Sudan  provinces  of 
Mongalla  and  Bahr-cl-Ghazal  appear  to  belong  to  this  race, 
though  Sudan  birds  are  slightly  paler  below  and  are  not  so 
heavily  marked  on  the  breast. 


1921.]       the  A^ear  East  and  Tropical  tJast  Africa.  66^ 

Anthus  gouldi  gouldi. 

Anthus  gouldi  Fraser,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1843, 
p.  27 :  Cape  Palraas  on  the  extreme  south-cast  of  the 
Liberian  coast. 

Upper  parts  as  in  turneri.  Under  parts  slightly  paler. 
Generally  a  smaller  bird.  Wing  87-93^  culmen  15-17, 
hind  claw  10-12  mm. 

Inhabits  Liberia,  Sierra  Leone,  and  the  Gambia. 

Anthus  gouldi  prunus. 

Anthus  g.  jjrimus  Meinertzhagen,  Bull.  B.  0.  C.  xli.  1920, 
p.  24:  Benguella,  Angola.     Type  in  the  Tring  Museum. 

Ui)per  parts  very  similar  to  those  of  the  rest  of  the  group, 
but  with  frequently  a  maroon  or  almost  plum-coloured  tinge 
on  the  rich  uniform  hair-brown  (R.iii.l2).  Under  parts 
varying  from  pale  wood-brown  (K.  iii.  19)  to  whitish.  Breast 
spotting  indistinct  in  adults  but  clearly  marked  in  immature 
birds.  AVell-developed  eye-stripe  extending  back  to  the  sides 
of  the  head. 

The  upper  parts  of  immature  birds  are  slightly  tinged  with 
yellow,  paler  and  inclined  to  be  blotched. 

Wing  of  males  93-102,  and  of  females  90-101  mm. 
Culmen  15-17  and  hind  claw  10-15  mm. 

Inhabits  Angola. 

Anthus  gouldi  bohndorffi. 

Anthus  leucojtlin/s  holuidorffi,  Neumann,  J.  f.  0.  1906,  p.  236: 
Ivassongo  on  the  Upper  Congo.     Type  in  the  Berlin  Museum. 

None  examined,  but  from  the  description  probably  belongs 
to  this  group. 

Upper  parts  as  dark  or  darker  than  omoensls.  Under  parts, 
except  for  the  white  chin,  very  dark.  The  centre  of  the 
under  parts  paler — dirty  white — and  the  flanks  dark  earthy 
brown  Its  chief  character  in  relation  to  omoensls  is  in  the 
centre  of  the  under  parts  being  differently  coloured  to  the 
flanks. 

Described  from  one  specimen.     Wing  96,  culmen  14  mm. 


664  Col.  H.  Meinertzbagen  on  Birds  from  [Ibis, 

MOTACILLA  FLAVA. 

I  bare  attempted  in  tbe  following  notes  to  collate  from 
my  own  observations  and  from  all  publisbed  material  a 
resume  of  tbe  migratory  movement  of  tbe  races  of  Motacilla 
Jiava  wbicb  occur  in  tbe  Near  East  and  in  eastern  Africa 
south  to  tbe  Cape. 

Motacilla  f.  flava  L. 

Autumn  passage  commences  in  Palestine  in  early  August 
and  in  Egypt  in  late  August,  birds  becoming  common  in  tbe 
foruKa-  country  by  21.  viii.  and  in  Egy[)t  by  8.  ix.  Passage 
continues  till  tbe  end  of  September  and  early  October. 
Birds  do  not  remain  tbrougb  tbe  winter  in  Palestine,  but  a 
few  appear  to  do  so  in  Egypt. 

In  the  Sudan  they  arrive  throughout  October  and  remain 
tbrougb  tbe  winter. 

They  commence  arriving  in  K(Hiya  Colony  and  Uganda 
from  30.  ix.,  and  are  common  throughout  tbe  winter. 

Autumn  migration  passes  well  inland,  down  the  Nile  and 
Rift  Valleys,  only  a  few  birds  passing  down  tbe  coast. 
Many  birds  continue  south  to  Natal  and  tbe  Transvaal,  where 
I  have  seen  them  at  Pretoria  on  6.  xi.  and  at  Harrismith  on 
4.  xii. 

Birds  commence  to  leave  South  Africa  towards  the  end  of 
March,  and  large  numbers  pass  north  through  Kenya  Colony 
throughout  April.  The  latest  spring  record  for  eastern 
Africa  seems  to  be  2.  v.^  but  the  bulk  have  passed  by  20.  iv. 

This  race  was  not  noted  passing  up  the  coast  of  eastern 
Africa  on  spring  passage. 

The  masses  of  Yellow  Wagtails  of  all  sorts — mainly  M.  f. 
campestrls  —  which  collect  at  Entebbe  at  tbe  north-western 
corner  of  the  Victoria  Nyanza  from  late  March  to  late  April 
form  one  of  the  most  wonderful  sights  I  have  ever  seen. 
Acres  and  acres  of  grass-land  are  carpeted  with  yellow,  the 
birds  huddled  together,  resting  and  feeding,  many  rising  a  few 
inches  into  tbe  air^  catching  flies  and  mosquitoes,  and  others 
too  tired  to  fly  and  merely  running  on  before  one's  feet 


1 92 1.]      the  Near  East  and  Tropical  East  Africa.  665 

Spring  passage  in  the  Sudan  extends  commonly  to  the 
middle  of  April,  and  birds  have  been  obtained  as  late  as 
12.  V.  Spring  passage  north  leaves  the  Egyptian  Delta  to 
the  east  and  passes  over  the  Fayoum  and  Wadi  Natrun.  The 
absence  of  migratory  Yellow  Wagtails  from  the  Egyptian 
Delta  in  spring  is  most  remarkable.  Passage  in  the  Fayoum 
and  Wadi  Natrun  extends  from  about  15.  iii.  to  well  on  into 
April,  being  very  strong  from  18.  iii.  to  20.  iii. 

A  few  pass  north  through  Palestine  from  the  middle  of 
March  to  tlie  middle  of  April,  and  birds  have  been  obtained 
on  spring  passage  in  Sinai  from  31.  iii.  to  30.  iv. 

Motacilla  f.  dombrowskii  (Tschusi). 

No  autumn  record  for  Palestine,  Egypt,  or  the  Sudan, 
Six  obtained  in  the  Sudan  from  31.  iii.  to  17.  iv.  Not 
uncommon  on  spring  passage  in  the  Fayoum  and  in  Sinai. 
Obtained  in  Palestine  on  22.  iii. 

No  record  from  Kenya  Colony  or  Uganda. 

Motacilla  f.  beema  Sykes. 

No  record  for  Egypt  or  the  Sudan.  A  few  obtained  in 
Kenya  Colony  (Nairobi  and  Kisumu)  in  early  March. 
Sladen  obtained  examples  in  Palestine  on  spring  passage 
in  1918. 

Motacilla  f.  thunbergi  Billberg. 

No  Palestine  record — in  fact,  there  is  no  mass  migration 
of  any  Yellow  Wagtail  in  Palestine  at  any  season.  Scarce 
on  autumn  passage  in  Egypt.  No  autumn  record  for  the 
Sudan,  though  Reichenow  (Vog.  Afr.)  records  birds  from 
Khartoum  and  Senaar  without  date.  A  regular  winter 
visitor  to  northern  Somaliland. 

In  Kenya  Colony  they  commence  to  arrive  at  Nairobi  and 
Naivasha  during  the  last  days  of  September,  and  are  quite 
common  all  over  the  country  by  the  middle  of  October. 

This  race  is  common  on  both  passages  in  the  Caucasus  and 
southern  Russia_,  and  appears  to  jump  direct  in  one  long- 
flight  from  those  districts  to  its  winter  haunts  in  the  tropics 
of  Africa. 


666  Col.  R.  Meinertzhagen  on  Birds  from  [Ibis, 

It  has  occurred  south  to  the  Transvaal  in  winter  (Stark, 
Fauna  S.  A£r.  i.  p.  263). 

Birds  arrive  in  eastern  Africa  in  equal  numbers  both  on 
the  coast  and  inland. 

The  dates  for  spring  passage  are  slightly  earlier  than  for 
M.f.flava.  They  are  not  uncommon  in  spring  in  Egypt, 
and  seem  to  bo  very  rare  in  the  Sudan.  No  spring  record 
for  Palestine. 

Motacilla  f.  cinereocapilla  Savi. 

No  Palestine  record.  No  autumn  record  for  Egypt. 
Reichenow  records  it  from  Lado  and  Berbera.  Recorded 
(Nov.  Zool.  1918,  p.  284)  as  fairly  common  in  the  Elgon 
District  (N.E.  Uganda)  in  winter.  I  obtained  an  adult 
male  at  Entebbe  on  the  Victoria  Nyanza  on  3.  iv. 

Not  uncommon  on  spring  passage  in  Egypt.  Obtained 
on  spring  passage  at  Port  Sudan  on  13.  v.  and  16.  v.  (Ibis, 
1909,  p.  392). 

Motacilla  f.  campestris  Pall. 

It  is  curious  that  there  should  be  no  Palestine  or  Egyptian 
record  for  this  form.  Apparently  very  rare  in  the  Sudan, 
though  Reichenow  records  it  from  Khartoum. 

This  is  the  commonest  winter  Wagtail  in  Kenya  Colony, 
first  autumn  arrivals  appearing  at  Nairobi  in  the  middle  of 
September  and  at  Nakuru  on  11.  ix.,  a  few  straggling  south 
to  South  Africa — Transvaal  and  Natal. 

This  race  is  equally  common  on  the  coast  and  inland  on 
autumn  passage. 

Birds  commence  to  move  north  from  Kenya  Colony  and 
Uganda  about  the  middle  of  March.  My  latest  spring- 
record  is  on  3.iv.  on  the  Victoria  Nyanza,  though  they  were 
in  thousands  on  IG.iii. 

At  Lamu,  on  the  east  coast  of  Africa  just  north  of 
Mombasa,  they  streamed  north  from  about  24.  iii.  to  15.  iv., 
and  all  had  disappeared  by  26.  iv. 

Reichenow  records  them  from  Berbera  in  Somaliland 
without  date.  , 


1 92 1.]      the  Near  East  and  Tropical  East  Africa.  667 

At  first  sight,  many  of  the  specimens  I  coHoctod  in  eastern 
Africa  looked  very  like  the  western  rayi,  for  they  had 
greenish  heads.  But  campestris  has  a  yellowish-green 
back  and  more  yellow  on  the  head  and  sides  of  the  neck 
than  rayi,  the  latter  having  a  slight  brown  tinge  on  the 
back,  which  is  never  the  pnrer  yellow-green  colour  of 
campestris.  Quite  30  per  cent,  of  my  eastern  African 
campestris  had  green  heads. 

Motacilla  f.  pygmaBa  Brelnn. 

A  partial  resident  in  the  Egyptian  Delta  and  the  Fayoum, 
large  numbers  disappearing  in  mid-winter.  I  am  not,  how- 
ever, aware  of  its  occurrence  outside  Egypt,  Butler's  bird 
(Ibis,  1909,  p.  392)  being  apparently  wrongly  identified  (see 
also  Sclater  &  Praed,  Ibis,  1918,  p.  613). 

Motacilla  f.  leucocephala  (Przew.). 

Yellow  Wagtails  with  white  heads  have  been  obtained  in 
Egypt  and  eastern  Africa,  and  are  supposed  to  be  aber- 
rations.    Is  Przewalski's  leucocephala  also  an  aberration  ? 

It  was  first  described  in  1887  from  birds  obtained  in  the 
southern  Altai  ;  it  was  again  reported  by  Zarudny  at  Merv 
and  on  the  Oxus  in  Turkestan.  Whistler  shot  a  male  at 
Jhelum  in  India  on  2.  v.,  Zarudny  again  collected  three  in  the 
Orenburg  District  (Grote,  J.  f.  0.  1919,  p.  372),  and  Suschkin 
states  they  breed  regularly  [sic)  in  the  Tschalkar  District  of 
the  Khirgiz  Steppes  and  occasionally  in  the  Steppe  Province. 

Finally,  Suschkin  (Messag.  Ornith.  19J5)  found  a  breeding 
colony  at  Acliit  Nor  in  north-western  Mongolia,  where  he 
describes  them  as  common  in  the  swampy  meadows,  having 
obtained  IS  birds  and  eggs.  It  would  therefore  appear  that 
this  race  is  not  an  aberration,  and  that  its  breodino-  ranoe  is 
a  narrow  strip  of  country  running  just  south  of  the  range  of 
beema,  from  north-western  Mongolia  to  the  Khirgiz  Steppes, 
but  it  is  everywhere  rare  and  local. 

Motacilla  f.  feldegg  Michahelles. 

Uncommon  on  autumn  passage  during  September  in 
Palestine  and  not  uncommon  in  Egypt,  where  some  years  it 


668  Col.  R.  Melnertzhagen  07i  Birds  from  [Ibis, 

is  abundant.  A  common  winter  visitor  to  the  Sudan  and 
Abyssinia  from  December  to  May.  Fairly  common  in  Kenya 
Colony  and  Uganda  in  winter,  especially  on  the  Victoria 
Nyanza  from  January  to  early  April  ;  but  other  birds  arrive 
about  the  end  of  October,  for  I  saw  a  small  flock  at  Entebbe 
on  20.x.  and  several  at  Naivasha  and  Nakuru  in  late  October. 
I  have  seen  two  winter  birds  from  northern  Somaliland. 

Not  observed  on  the  coast  of  eastern  Africa  or  at  Nairobi 
in  1915  or  1916. 

South  of  the  Victoria  Nyanza  they  do  not  seem  to  go,  but 
Ayres  {teste  Gurney)  obtained  one  in  the  Transvaal. 

Birds  appear  to  begin  to  leave  the  tropics  in  late  March 
and  the  Sudan  in  late  April.  They  are  abundnnt  on  spring 
passage  in  the  Fayoum  and  Wadi  Natrun,  but  very  rare  in 
the  Egyptian  Delta. 

A  few  pass  north  through  Palestine  in  late  March,  and  they 
have  been  shot  in  Sinai  on  29.  iii.,  and  have  been  reported  as 
plentiful  from  12.  iv.  to  18.  iv. 

They  breed  just  east  of  Aleppo  in  northern  Syria,  nine 
nests  being  found. 

Flocks  passed  through  Crete  from  27.  iii.  to  9.  iv. 
{L^nes). 

Both  yellow-  and  white-eye  striped  varieties  have  been 
obtained  in  Egypt  and  the  Sudan. 

Motacilla  f.  melanogriseus  (Hom.). 

No  Palestine  record.  Two  obtained  by  Butler  in  December 
and  March  at  Khartoum^  and  there  are  others  in  the  Brehm 
Collection  at  Tring  from  Egypt  and  the  Sudan. 

Nicoll  (Hand-list  Birds  of  Egypt)  records  it  as  a  rare 
spring  visitor,  but  gives  no  further  details. 

No  record  for  eastern  Africa. 

I  have  seen  a  bird  from  northern  Somaliland  collected  by 
Archer  on  31.  iii. 

Lanius  senator  niloticus  (Bp.). 

A  scarce  winter  visitor  to  Kenya  Colony,  a  pair  being 
obtained  in  the  Maragoli  Hills  on  10.  i. 


1 92 1.]       the  Near  East  and  Tropical  East  Africa.  G69 

Lanius  excubitor  elegans  Swains,  and 

Lanius  excubitor  aucheri  Bp. 

The  r.ingcs  of  these  two  races  of  Grej  Shiike  appear  to 
have  a  large  overlap  in  southern  Palestine  and  Egypt  and 
on  the  Red  Sea  Littoral. 

West  of  the  Egyptian  Delta  (common  at  Mersa  Matruh 
but  abs(nit  from  Solium)  all  birds  are  pure  elegans,  whilst 
east  of  the  Delta  I  obtained  a  pure  aucheri  at  Helouan  (Dec), 
at  Suez  (May),  and  on  the  Suez  Canal  (Febr.).  A  bird  from 
Jericho  in  the  Jordan  Valley,  where  nearly  all  birds  are 
pure  aucheri,  is  indeterminable,  and  can  only  be  called 
aucheri > elegans.  Pure  aucheri  also  occurs  at  the  north  end 
of  the  Jordan  Valley,  all  round  the  Sea  of  Galilee,  and  there 
is  a  small  colony  a  few  miles  north  of  Acre  on  the  coast. 
On  the  other  hand,  birds  from  the  coastal  plain  of  Palestine 
south  of  Mount  Carmel,  where  Grey  Shrikes  are  very  rare, 
appear  to  be  pure  elegans.  Lanius  elegans  becomes  common 
round  Gaza  and  throughout  northern  Sinai,  and  is  the  usual 
bird  of  the  Egy])tian  Desert  east  of  the  Delta  and  on  the  Suez 
Canal  throughout  its  length.  There  are  no  Grey  Shrikes  in 
the  Juda3an  highlands,  Syrian  Desert,  at  Damascus,  or  in  the 
Lebanon,  and  I  saw  none  in  October  when  I  motored  down 
the  coast  from  Beyrout  to  Acre,  except  the  one  patch  near 
Acre. 

The  colour  on  the  upper  parts  of  these  races  is  not  a 
reliable  character,  though  elegans  usually  has  more  white  in 
the  wing  and  tail.  The  best  guide  is  the  colour  of  the  under 
parts,  nearly  always  pure  white  in  elegans  and  pale  greyish- 
blue  in  aucheri,  and  also  the  spot  on  the  under  wing-coverts, 
which  is  always  well-defined  in  aucheri  and  absent  or  ill- 
defined  in  elegans. 

Lanius  cristatus  isabellinus  Hemp.  &  Ehr.  and 

Lanius  cristatus  phoenicuroides  (Schalow). 

Both  these  Asiatic  Shrikes  occur  fairly  commonly  in 
Kenya  Colony  in  about  equal  numbers  froui  the  middle  of 
November  to  the  end  of  January,  or  at  least  they  did  during 
1915,  1910,  and  1917. 

SER.  XI. VOL.  III.  2  Y 


670  Col.  R.  Meinertzhao-en  on  Birds  from  [Ibis, 

Most  o£  the  birds  wore  obtained  between  Nairobi  and  the 
coast  in  December  and  Jannary,  thongli  two  wore  obtained 
at  Kisumn  on  the  Victoria  Nyanza  on  8.  i.  and  15.  i.  (both 
isabellinus) ,  and  another  (also  isahelliims)  at  Dar-es-Salaam 
on  the  coast  o£  Tanoanyika  Territory  on  25.  xi. 

L.  c.  isahellimis  has  been  recorded  by  Reichenow  (Vog. 
At'r.)  from  Bukoba  on  the  Victoria  Nyanza  and  Bagomoyo  on 
the  coast  of  Tanganyika  Territory.  Lonnberg  records  one 
from  the  northern  Guaso  Nyero  (Kenya  Colony)  on  14.  iii., 
and  Oberholser  records  one  from  Kilimanjaro  at  5000  feet 
on  9.  xii. 

My  East  African  collection  contains  7  adult  and  2  imma- 
ture isabellinus,  and  7  adult  and  10  immature  j)hoenicw'oides. 
The  juvenile  birds  are  very  difficult  to  determine  from  the 
young  of  Lanius  collurio,  but  are  never  so  red  on  the  back. 
They  usually  have  a  slightly  redder  tail.  The  young  of 
isabellinus  and  phocnicuroides  are  still  more  difficult,  but  in 
most  cases,  December  and  January  birds  are  beginning 
to  show  a  slioht  rufous  tinoo  on  the  crown  in  the  case  of 
phcenicuroides. 

I  am  not  aware  that  pha^nicuroides  has  been  previously 
recorded  from  south  of  Somaliland. 

Pycnonotus  capensis  vallombrosse  (Bp.). 

Lvos  vaUombrosw  Bonaparte,  (;omp.  Rend.  Paris,  xlii.  1856, 
p.  766  :  Jaffa. 

Pycnonotus  xanthopygos  palcestinw  Reichw.,  1916  :  Jaffa. 

Reichenow  (Orn.  Monats.  1916,  p.  181)  separated  Pales- 
tine birds  from  Asia  Minor  birds,  as  being  greyer  on  the 
upper  parts,  and  as  being  even  greyer  than  reichenowi  from 
southern  Arabia.  They  also  differ  from  typical  Asia  Minor 
birds  in  having  the  head  and  throat  a  purer  and  deeper  black. 
Under  parts  greyer,  the  yellow  of  the  under  tail-coverts 
brighter.     Larger  than  reichenoioi.     Type-locality  Jaffii. 

Reichenow's  name  is  an  absolute  synonym  of  vallombrosa;, 
both  type-localities  being  identical. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  in  fiesh  autumn  plumage  these 
differences  hold  good  and  the  race  must  be  recoanized.     In 


1 92 1.]       the  Near  East  and  Tropical  East  Africa.  671 

worn  breedino-  plumage  it  is  more  difficult  to  recognize  the 
races  of  this  species. 

This  race  is  absent  from  Damascus  and  the  Lebanon.  It  is 
scarce  on  the  Syrian  coast  at  Bejrout,  but  becomes  common 
farther  south  at  Tyre,  Acre,  Haifa,  and  on  Mount  Carmel. 
It  occurs  thronghont  the  Jordan  Valley  from  the  Sea  of 
Galilee  to  the  Dead  Sea  and  in  the  Yarmuk  Valley,  and  is 
absent  from  the  Jndfean  highlands  though  plentiful  in  the 
foot-hills  and  coastal  plain  south  to  Gaza.  It  is  also  absent 
from  northern  Sinai. 

MUSCICAPA   STRIATA. 

Muscicapa  s.  striata  (Pall.). 

A  male  obtained  at  Damascus  on  9.  ix.  is  of  this  race. 
All  Palestine  and  Egyptian  birds  which  I  have  examined  arc 
similarly  of  this  race. 

In  Palestine,  birds  commence  arriving  in  spring  in  the 
middle  of  April,  and  nest  commonly  in  the  coastal  plains  and 
on  the  Judasan  highlands.  I  never  observed  them  in  the 
Jordan  Valley. 

In  Egypt,  spring  passage  was  in  full  swing  up  to  the 
middle  of  May,  when  it  suddenly  stopped,  the  latest  record 
beino-  a  single  bird  on  20.  v. 

In  Kenya  Colony,  autumn  migrants  commence  arriving  in 
late  September  or  early  October,  and  are  plentiful  by  the 
middle  of  that  month  ;  most  of  them  remain  the  winter. 
On  spring  passage  I  noted  birds  moving  on  the  coast  of 
Tanganyika  Territory  and  on  the  slo[)es  of  Kilimanjaro 
during  the  first  three  weeks  in  March.  My  latest  spring 
record  is  on  28.  iii.  Mr.  Turner,  who  was  on  the  coast  of 
Kenya  Colony  during  April,  never  saw  a  single  bird. 

Muscicapa  s.  neumanni  Poche. 

Two  spring  migrants  obtained  at  Mombasa  on  29.  iii.  and 
30.  iii.  respectively  belong  to  this  race.  Also  three  birds 
obtained  in  northern  Somaliland  [Archer)  from  23.  ix. 
to  3.  X. 

[To  be  continued.] 

2  Y  2 


672  Cai)tain  P.  W.  Munn  on  the  [Ibis, 


XXXVI. — Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Alcudia,  Majorca. 
By  Captain  P.  W.  Munn,  F.Z.S.,  M.B.O.U. 

(Plate  VIII.) 

The  following  notes  were  made  during  a  stay  in  Majorca, 
Balearic  Islands,  from  November  1919  until  May  1920,  and 
from  October  1920  until  June  1921. 

I  chose  as  my  headquarters  the  Port  of  Alcudia,  a  tiny 
fishing  village  and  port,  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  town  of 
that  name.  Here  there  was  a  clean  and  comfoitable  little 
hostel — the  "  Hotel  Marina."  Other  parts  of  the  island  were 
also  visited  as  well  as  Minorca. 

Puerto  Alcudia  (see  map,  PL  VIII.)  is  possibly  the  most 
likely  spot  in  Majorca  for  birds — the  shores  of  the  beautiful 
bay,  the  pine-woods,  the  Albufera  and  marshes,  and  the 
crags  and  cliff's  on  the  peninsula,  being  apparently  ideal 
localities,  and  the  ever-present  quantity  of  water  in  the 
marshes  and  streams  adjacent,  besides  a  lesser  area  of 
cultivated  land  than  in  other  parts,  make  it  more  attractive. 

The  island  is,  however,  a  somewhat  disappointing  place  for 
an  ornithologist :  there  are,  certainly,  a  good  many  birds, 
especially  on  migration,  but  comparatively  few  of  any  great 
interest,  in  addition  they  are  unusually  wild  and  shy.  Also 
the  strenuous  work  of  climbing  the  rocky  hills,  when  day 
after  day  nothing  new  or  of  interest  is  seen,  takes  a  lot  of 
time  with  but  meagre  results.  The  sandy  shores  and  sand- 
banks of  the  bay  are  ideal  for  shore-  and  sea-birds  ;  but  of 
the  former  only  the  Kentish  Plover  is  common,  of  the  latter. 
Gulls  are  few,  and  of  Terns  there  are  none.  The  pine-woods 
and  the  crags  and  caverns  in  the  hills  are  most  suitable  for 
birds  of  prey,  but  few  are  present ;  the  cliffs  on  the  sea-coast 
should  teem  with  sea-bird  life,  but  they  are  comparatively 
barren. 

The  Bay  of  Alcudia  is  fringed,  most  of  the  way  round  next 
the  sandy  shore,  with  a  belt  of  sand-dunes  of  varying  width, 
overgrown  with  beautiful  woods  of  pine,  of  no  great  size  as 


IBIS.    1921.    PL.  VIII. 


p^^ 


-:"^^\ 


^\ 


r^         ,      --n 


F|...4^# 


Map  of  the  North-East  part  of  Majorca 


1 92 1.]  Birdi;  of  Alcndia,  Majorca.  673 

a  rule,  with  a  thick  iindergrovvth  of  juniper,  myrtle,  rose- 
mary, heather,  etc.,  in  places  densely  bound  together  with  a 
tangle  of  Smilax  aspersa — a  tough,  thorny  creeper,  as 
difficult  to  get  through  as  barbed  wire.  Behind  the  sand- 
dunes,  nearest  Puerta  Alcudia  and  to  the  west  of  it,  is  an 
extent  of  marshland,  covered  with  spear-grass,  samphire,  and 
coarse  herbage,  among  wliich  are  several  shallow  lagoons. 
Behind  this  marshland,  and  farther  west,  arc  low  hills  with 
woods  of  splendid  pine-trees  among  them — the  outlying  spurs 
of  the  high  mountainous  country  in  the  north.  Beyond 
the  sweep  of  the  bay  is  the  Albufera — a  large  tract  of 
swamp,  entirely  under  water,  covered  with  a  dense  growth 
of  reeds  and  intersected  with  numerous  canals  and  streams, 
which  all  run  into  the  sea  through  a  large  canal  nearly  in 
the  centre  of  the  bay.  An  attempt  was  made  many  years 
ago  to  drain  this  Albufera,  in  order  to  grow  rice  and  cotton, 
and  most  elaborate  roads,  dykes,  and  pumping-stations  were 
constructed  ;  but  the  work  was  relinquished,  and  most  of 
the  dykes  and  buildings  are  now  neglected  and  in  ruins. 
A  small  quantity  of  rice,  however,  is  still  grown  in  the 
fringes  of  the  marsh,  and  a  prosperous  paper-mill  flourishes 
in  the  centre,  where  paper  is  made  from  the  reeds  growing 
in  the  marsh.  Beyond  the  Albufera,  sand-dunes,  pine- 
woods,  and  heath-land  extend  inland  as  far  as  Santa 
Margaritii,  among  which  are  some  fine  torrentes  ;  then  comes 
the  bare,  rocky,  scrub-covered  country  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountains  round  Arta  to  Cabo  Farruch. 

East  of  Alcudia  is  the  peninsula  between  the  bays  of 
Pollensa  and  Alcudia— a  tract  of  wild  mountainous  country, 
rising  to  a  height  of  1500  feet  at  the  Atalaya  de  Alcudia, 
with  beautiful  pine-woods  and  gorges,  bold  crags  and 
precipices,  and  some  fine  coast  scenery,  culminating  in  the 
Cabo  del  Pinar — a  low  pine-covered  cape — and  the  ])are, 
forbiddino;  clifts  of  the  Cabo  de  Menorca. 

At  the  western  end  of  the  Bay  of  Pollensa  is  a  smaller 
marsh,  called  the  Albuferete,  v>^hich  takes  all  the  streams 
flowing:  eastwards  from  the  mountains  behind  Pollensa. 
The  peninsula  on  the  northern  shore  of  Pollensa  Bay  is  a 


674  Captain  P.  W.  Munn  07i  the  [Ibis, 

narrow  ridge  of  mountains,  rising  to  1300  feet  at  Fomentor 
and  cuhniiiating  in  tlie  cape  of  that  name. 

Cultivated  country  in  this  district  only  extends  around  tlie 
towns  of  Alcudia  and  Follensa,  behind  the  Albuferete,  on 
the  slopes  of  the  lower  hills  of  the  peninsulas,  and  also 
on  the  northern  and  western  fringes  of  the  Albufera. 

In  the  cultivated  country  there  is  a  network  of  narrow 
lanes  shut  in  with  stone  walls,  and  many  of  these  lanes  are 
most  picturesque. 

The  district  thoroughly  worked  and  explored  is  that  to  the 
east,  and  seawards,  of  a  line  from  Pollensa  to  La  Puebla, 
thence  to  Santa  Margarita,  and  on  to  the  neighbourhood  of 
Arta.  The  observations,  I  think,  may  be  considered  fairly 
applicable  to  the  greater  part  of  the  island,  with  the  excep- 
tion, perhaps,  of  the  mountainous  region  of  the  north  ;  but 
I  found  that  the  results  in  the  mountains  were  so  very 
meagre  compared  with  the  arduous  work  necessary  to  accom- 
plish them,  that  I  doubt  if  it  is  worth  while  exploring  this 
northern  range  thoroughly. 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  migration  in  the  island,  and 
during  November  and  April  especially  there  were  streams 
of  common  migrants. 

In  the  neighbourhood  of  Palma,  numbers  of  birds  are 
killed  and  sold  in  the  market  for  food  during  the  winter. 
Besides  Game-birds^  I  saw  there  Thrushes,  liedvvings,  Bhick- 
birds,  Starlings,  Linnets,  Serins,  Siskins,  Goklfinches,  Green- 
finches, Chaffinches,  Pobins  ;  and  fewer  Fieldfares,  Ring- 
Ouzels,  Redstarts,  Blackstarts,  White  Wagtails,  Meadow- 
Pi[)its,  and  even  Sardinian  Warblers,  Goldcrests,  Chitifchaffs, 
and  Blackcaps. 

The  birds,  as  a  rule,  sing  little  and  feebly,  the  Sardinian 
Warbler  and  Nightingale  being  the  most  noisy,  though  the 
Blackbird  in  the  spring  chimes  in. 

I  have  described  rather  fully  the  nests  and  eggs  of  some 
of  the  birds,  as  it  appears  that  little  collecting  of  the  eggs 
of  Majorcan  birds  has  hitherto  been  done. 

The  inhabitants  are  very  friendly  and  courteous,  but  do 
not  take  much  interest  in  the  doings  of  the  foreigner  among 


1921.]  Birds  of  Al Oil dia,  Majorca.  675 

them.  They  have  little  knowledge  of  the  birds  or  of  the 
natural  history  of  their  district,  and  are  not  interested  as  a 
rule  in  natural  objects  ;  even  the  shepherd  boys,  who  spend 
the  whole  day  in  the  country  with  their  flocks,  take  very 
little  notice  of  the  birds  around  them  :  little  reliance  can, 
therefore,  be  placed  on  their  statements. 

The  weather  from  October  1920  until  May  1921  was  so 
abnormally  bad  and  unsettled  that  the  movements  of 
birds,  and  especially  their  times  of  nesting,  were  most 
irregular. 

There  is  a  small  collection  of  mounted  birds  in  the  Tnstituto 
Balear  in  Palma,  but  this — like  that  at  Mahuji  in  Minorca — 
is  of  little  value  owing  to  absence  of  data. 

Cultivation  in  Majorca  has  of  late  years  so  extended,  and 
the  character  of  the  island  so  altered,  particularly  by  the 
drainage  of  some  of  the  marshes,  that  many  of  the  notes  of 
earlier  observers  are  not  now  applicable.  As  an  instance, 
a  large  marsh  called  El  Prat,  siluated  a  short  distance  to 
the  south-east  of  Palma,  has  entirely  disappeared,  and  others 
have  been  much  curtailed  by  the  advance  of  cultivation 
around  their  margins. 

A.  von  Homeyer  visited  the  Balearic  Isles  in  1861  from 
the  middle  of  April  until  the  middle  of  May,  and  his 
obser\ations  appeared  in  the  'Journal  I'ur  Ornithologie  '  in 
1862  and  1864  ;  many  of  his  statements,  however,  could 
only  have  been  from  hearsay. 

Barcelo  wrote  in  1866  ;  many  of  his  notes  were  not  from 
his  own  observations,  and  are  questionable. 

Howard  Saunders  published  in  'The  Ibis'  of  1871 
(pp.  51-68,  205-225,  381-102),  in  a  list  of  the  Birds  of 
Southern  Spain,  a  number  of  notes  of  his  observations  on 
the  Birds  of  Majorca. 

The  Arcliduke  Ludwig  Salvador  published  various  volumes 
between  1869  and  1891  on  the  Natural  History,  etc.,  of 
Majorca. 

The  most  complete  list  hitherto  published  is  that  by 
Dr.  A.  von  Jordans  in  '  Falco  '  of  1  August,  1911.  He 
spent   March,  April,   and    May,   1913,  in    the    islands,    and 


61 G  Captain  P.  W.  Munn  on  the  [Ibis, 

species  that  he  did  not  himself  observe  he  has  added  on  the 
authority  of  earlier  writers. 

Dr.  Philip  Gosse  visited  the  islands  in  April  191 4  and 
Mr.  H.  F.  Witherby  in  June  and  July  1919,  and  to 
both  these  gentlemen  I  am  indebted  for  much  useful 
information. 

The  Rev.  F.  C.  R.  Jourdain  has  kindly  furnished  me  with 
notes  on  many  of  the  eggs  I  have  collected. 

To  my  own  observations  I  have  added  those  species 
that  I  have  not  myself  observed,  with  the  references  to  the 
above  earlier  writers,  but  have  preferred  to  omit  any  state- 
ments made  by  them  which  at  the  present  time  might  be 
misleading. 

Minorca  is  a  still  more  disappointing  island  for  &,n  ornitho- 
logist. There  is  at  Port  Mahon  an  interesting  museum  in 
the  Literary  and  Scientific  Institute,  with  a  collection  of 
birds  said  to  have  been  obtained  in  the  islands,  and  catalogued 
by  Senor  Ponseti.  About  five  miles  from  Port  Mahon  is  a 
series  of  lakes,  called  the  Albufera,  among  low  scrub-covered 
hills  near  the  sea,  which  is  the  most  likely  spot  for  birds 
that  I  saWj  and  where  there  were,  at  the  end  of  March  1920, 
large  flocks  of  Coots,  some  Mallards,  and  a  few  pairs  of 
Tufted  Duck.  In  the  centre  of  the  island,  between  Mei'cadel 
and  Ferrarias,  the  hills  are  higher  and  more  wooded  and  the 
country  more  inviting-looking.  Blue  Rock-Thrushes  were 
plentiful  and  said  to  be  resident  ;  Puffimis  luliJi  and 
P.  yelkouaii  *  nest  on  many  parts  of  the  coast  of  the  island 
as  well  as  on  the  adjacent  islets. 

From  the  position  of  the  islands,  midway  between  the 
coasts  of  southern  Europe  and  northern  Africa,  there  is 
every  probability  that  other  species  besides  those  already 
recorded  may  Ije  observed  on  passage  ;  and  the  recesses  of 
the  Albufera  and  other  marshes,  and  the  remoter  parts 
of  the  mountains  in  Majorca,  may  yield,  perhaps,  a  few 
more  species  during  the  nesting-season. 

*  Probably  ruffinus  i).  vmuretanicus  Lowe,  Bull.  B.  O.  C.  xli.  1921, 
p.  140. 


1921.]  Birds  of  A  Inidia ,  Majorca.  677 

1.  Corvus  corax  hispanus.     Raven. 

A  common  resident.  A  good  many  nest  in  the  crags  of 
the  peninsida  of  Alcudia,  preferring  inland  siuiations  among 
the  hills  to  the  cliffs  of  the  coast.  Several  pairs  sometimes 
nest  in  the  same  neighl)ourhood  ;  in  one  gorge  on  22  March, 
1920,  I  found  two  nests  on  bluffs  about  100  yards  apart,  one 
of  which  contained  young  ones,  and  on  the  other  the  bird 
was  sitting  and  refused  to  move.  The  first  nest  was  on  an 
open  shelf  of  rock  and  the  other  in  a  small  cavern,  and 
though  not  easily  accessible,  both  nests  could  be  seen  into 
from  the  adjoining  hillsides.  In  1921  one  only  of  these  nests 
was  occupied.  In  another  range  of  cliffs  three  pairs  were 
nesting  not  far  from  each  other.  They  frequently  associate 
in  the  winter  in  considerable  flocks,  and  I  have  seen 
assemblies  of  from  twenty  to  fifty  individuals  attracted  by 
some  common  food. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans,  who  distinguishes  this  subs})ecies 
from  C.  c.  tingitanus  and  C.  c.  sardus. 

2.  Corvus  corone.     Oarrion-(!row. 

3.  Corvus  cornix.     Hooded  Crow. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  ;  but  though  both  these 
species  may  occur  on  migration  (and  Gosse  thought  he  saw 
a  Carrion-(Jro\v  in  1911),  no  specimen  has  yet  been  obtained, 
nor  have  they  been  found  to  nest  in  the  island. 

4.  Corvus  frugilegus.     Kook. 

Included  by  v.  Jordans  on  Barcelo's  authority.  I  have 
never  seen  this  species  in  the  island,  but  Gosse  has  noticed 
it.     There  is  no  reason  why  it  should  not  occur  on  passage. 

5.  Pyrrhocorax  pyrrhocorax.     Chough. 

included  by  v.  Jordans  on  the  authority  of  Barcelo. 

6.  Sturnus  vulgaris.     Starling. 

Starlings  only  frequent  the  district  in  the  winter  and 
early  spring.  In  1919-20  a  few  small  parties  frequented 
Albufera  and  neighbourhood  up  to  the  middle  of  March, 
but  in  1920-21  vast  flocks  were  found  in  many  parts  of  the 
island.     It  is  included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 


^78  Captain  P.  W.  Munn  on  the  [Ibis, 

7.  Sturnus  unicolor.     Sardinian  Starling. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  the  aiitliority  of  Barcelo, 
Howard  Saunders,  and  the  Archduke  Ludwig  Salvador. 

8.  Oriolus  oriolus.     Golden  Oriole. 

A  visitor  in  small  numl)ers  in  the  summer,  when  a  few 
probably  remain  to  nest.  I  saw  a  male  on  24  April,  1921, 
near  Puerto  Alcudia. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

9.  Chloris  c.  aurantiiventris.     Greenfinch- 

Tiosident  and  common.  They  commence  laying  about  the 
middle  of  April,  nests  being  built  chiefly  in  }»ines  and  wild 
olive-trees.  Both  nests  and  eggs  are  similar  to  those  of 
the  British  race,  though  the  eggs  are  usually  somewhat 
smaller. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans,  who  states  it  is  nowhere  plentiful, 

10.  Coccothraustes  coccothraustes.     Hawfinch. 

Not  observed  by  v.  Jordans,  who  quotes  Barcelo  and 
Homeyer,  but  he  saw  a  stuffed  specimen  in  Arta  obtained 
in  1912. 

11.  Carduelis  carduelis  africana.     Goldfinch. 

One  of  the  commonest  birds  all  the  year  round,  and  the 
species  most  frequently  kept  in  cages.  They  find  abundant 
food  in  the  thistles  and  weeds  that  flourish  everywhere. 
Nesting  })lentifully  in  the  pine-woods,  in  the  orchards,  and 
in  the  wild  olive-trees  on  the  hillsides.  Often  their  nests  are 
built  in  the  curtains  of  SniUax  aspersa,  which  forms  such 
impenetrable  barriers  in  some  parts  of  the  woods,  Tbe 
earliest  eggs  are  laid  about  the  middle  of  A})ril,  and  the  nests 
are  the  usual  beautiful  structures  of  lichen,  moss,  and  fine 
twigs  outside,  thickly  lined  with  vegetable  down,  a  few 
feathers,  and  a  little  palmeto  fibre  closely  felted  together. 
The  birds  always  show  considerable  excitement  at  their  nest 
and  sit  very  closely  on  their  eggs. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  under  the  name  of  Carduelis  c. 
parva.  Witherby  considers  those  obtained  bj'  him  to  be 
referable  to  C.  c.  africana. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Alciidia,  Majorca.  679 

12.  Spinus  spinus.     Siskin, 

Coinmou  during  the  winter  in  considerable  flocks,  but 
apparently  none  remain  to  breed. 

Von  .Tordans  quotes  Barcelo  in  his  list. 

13.  Spinus  citrinella.     Citril  Finch. 

Von  Jordans  includes  this  species  on  the  authority  o£ 
Barcelo. 

1-1.  Serinus  serinus.     Serin. 

A  common  species  throughout  the  year,  assembling  in 
flocks  in  the  winter.  They  resort  to  the  pine-woods  and 
orchards  for  nesting  early  in  April,  and  I  found  a  nest  con- 
taining tiny  young  ones  on  26  April,  1920,  and  on  the  same 
day  another  nest  which  the  birds-  were  building.  Tlie  nest 
is  usually  placed  in  the  first  fork  of  a  small  pine,  and  is  a 
most  beautiful  little  structure  of  twigs  and  moss,  thickly 
lined  with  feathers. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

15.  Passer  domesticus.     House-Sparrow. 

A  common  resident,  but  at  present  not  very  abundant, 
though,  owing  to  increased  cultivation,  it  is  annually  becom- 
ing more  plentiful.  A  good  many  nesc  in  the  rocky  sides  of 
a  ruined  subterranean  chapel  out  in  the  open  country  near 
Alcudia,  at  some  distance  from  dwellings. 

Obtained  l)y  v.  Jordans.  Witherby  found  numy  breeding 
in  a  cliif  near  Lluch. 

16.  Passer  italiae.     Italian  Sparrow. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  the  authority  of  Homey er, 
but  its  occurrence  is  very  doubtful. 

17.  Passer  montanus.     Tree-Sparrow. 

Von  Jordans  includes  this  species  on  the  authority  of 
Barcelo  and  others,  but  I  have  never  yet  observed  it. 

18.  Fringilla  ccelebs.     (*hatfinch. 

Extremely  plentiful  all  the  year.  Numbers  nest  in  the 
pine-woods,  in  the  orchards,  and,  less  plentifully,  among  the 
liills.  They  commence  building  early  in  April.  The  song 
is  harsh  and  feeble. 


680  Captain  P.  W.  Munn  on  the  [Ibis, 

19.  Fringilla  montifringilla.     Brambling. 

Von  Jordans  includes  this  species  on  the  autliority  of 
Barcelo,  and  says  it  has  occurred  in  hard  winters. 

20.  Petronia  petronia.     Hock-Sparrow. 
Von  Jordans  obtained  specimens. 

21.  Acanthis  cannabina  mediterranea.'    Linnet. 

Very  common  all  the  year,  and  abounds  in  large  flocks 
during  the  winter,  many  of  which  are  not  dispersed  even 
in  May.  They  build  in  much  the  same  situation  as  at 
home,  chiefly  in  bushes  and  hedges,  but  also  in  pine-trees. 
The  first  eggs  were  taken  on  25  April,  1920,  but  they  are 
rather  late  breeders. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

^  22.  Acanthis  linaria  cabaret.     Lesser  Redpoll. 
Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  the  authority  of  Barcelo. 

23.  Loxia  curvirostra  balearica.     Crossbill. 

I  found  Crossbills  were  present  wherever  pine-woods 
abounded  in  any  extent,  and  they  were  by  no  means  uncom- 
mon. I  sought  them  chiefly  in  the  pine-woods  on  the  shore, 
as  the  trees  were  smaller  there  ;  but  they  were  found  equally 
in  the  woods  among  the  hills,  where  the  trees  were  of  con- 
siderable size,  and  there  were  always  some  about  among  the 
woods  surrounding  Bellver  Castle  at  Palma. 

They  are  comparatively  tame  birds,  and  not  easily  dis- 
turbed either  when  feeding  or  at  their  nests,  and  often 
remain  perched  quietly  overhead  in  a  tree  while  one  passes 
beneath  ;  but  when  thoroughly  alarmed,  they  fly  away  to  a 
considerable  distance.  A  cock  bird  may  frequently  be  seen 
perched  con,s])icuously  on  the  topmost  spray  of  a  pine-tree, 
chirping  loudly  to  his  partner  or  to  the  rest  of  his  party 
feeding  among  the  boughs  of  the  trees  near  by  ;  or  the  whole 
})arty  may  be  feeding  amicably  together,  chattering  pleasantly 
all  the  time.  When  pairing  they  sometimes  indulge  in 
unseemly  squabbles  among  the  pines  like  sparrows,  and 
make  nearly  as  much  noise  about  if. 

They  are  extremely  fond  of  bathing,  and  I  have  watched 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Alcudia,  Majorca.  681 

them  washing  themselves  in  the  pools  caround  the  lagoons 
near  Alcudia,  and  in  the  water-courses  in  the  hills,  when 
they  so  thoroughly  soak  themselves  that  they  can  only  fly  as 
far  as  the  nearest  tree  to  dry  and  preen  their  feathers. 

In  1919  they  had  paired  in  the  beginning  of  December, 
and  some  were  evidently  building  in  January  1920,  but  I 
did  not  find  a  completed  nest  until  1  April,  1920,  and  this 
contained  four  fresh  eggs.  The  female  did  not  leave  the 
nest  until  the  tree  v/as  struck,  and  the  pair  flew  closely 
around,  chirping  vigorously  while  the  tree  was  being- 
climbed.  It  was  built  in  a  fork  of  a  lateral  branch  of  a 
small  pine — a  similar  position  to  all  other  nests  I  found, — 
and  was  a  platform  of  pine  twigs  on  which  was  a  compact  cup 
of  grass,  fibre,  and  a  little  hair.  The  eggs  were  white,  rather 
faintly  spotted  with  different  shades  of  brown,  one  specimen 
hardly  showing  any  markings  at  all. 

On  the  same  day  I  found  three  other  nests  being  built  in 
exactly  similar  positions,  at  each  of  which  was  its  pair 
of  birds  ;  but  on  10  April  I  found  a  nest  from  which  the 
young  had  flown  some  weeks  before,  and  on  2^  A})ril  a 
female  with  two  fully-grown  ones  was  seen  feeding  quite 
tamely,  low  down  among  the  small  pines.  Crossbills  had 
evidently  nested  in  the  district  the  preceding  year,  judging 
by  the  number  of  old  nests  which  were  found. 

The  eggs  of  this  subspecies  have  not  been  taken  before. 

During  the  extremely  wet  and  unsettled  winter  of  1920-21, 
Crossbills  did  not  appear  in  the  district  until  the  beginning 
of  January  1921,  nor  did  I  see  any  in  other  parts  of  the 
island  until  then.  Tliey  then  appeared  in  numbers,  and  were 
us  plentiful  as  usual  in  all  suitable  localities,  and  commenced 
pairing  immediately.  The  natives  say  that  in  bad  winters 
they  go  to  Africa. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

24.  Emberiza  calandra,     Corn-Bunting. 

A  resident,  but  not  very  plentiful ;  a  considerable  increase 
in  its  numbers  takes  |)lace  from  the  end  of  January,  but  it 
is  generally  noticed  singly  or  in  pairs.     1  took  a  nest  with 


682  Captain  P.  W.  Munn  07i  the  [Ibis, 

five  eggs  on  4  May,  1921,  built  at  the  foot  of  a  small  pine  in 
the  woods  near  the  shore  among  herbage  ;  and  this  appears 
to  be  the  usual  situation. 
Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

25.  Emberiza  cirlus.     (^irl  Bunting. 

A  resident,  universally  distributed  but  nowhere  plentiful. 

Obtained  b^-  v.  Jordans. 

2G.  Emberiza  hortulana.     Ortolan  Bunting. 
Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

27.  Emberiza  palustris.     Reed-Bunting. 

A  Reed-Buntinir  is  common  durino-  the  winter  in  suitable 
localities,  and  a  faw  remain  throuo-hout  the  vear.  Hitherto 
I  had  considered  them  to  be  typical  Reed-Buntings,  but 
Witherby  informs  me  that  a  male  I  obtained  on  25  March, 
1921,  is  a  form  of  JE.  pahistris,  but  is  not  refei'tible  to  any 
known  subspecies,  and  until  more  specimens  are  obtained  it 
must  remain  uncertain  what  form  inhabits  the  island. 

Von  Jordans  did  not  observe  it,  but  includes  it  in 
his  list  on  the  authority  of  Barcelo  under  the  name  of 
E.  sclioiniclus. 

28.  Alauda  arvensis.     Sky-Lark. 

Common  during  the  winter,  and  a  few  probably  remain 
throughout  the  year.  On  20  February,  1920,  when  on  a 
ship  some  distance  off  the  north  coast  of  the  island,  I  saw 
one  flying  northwards. 

Not  observed  by  v.  Jordans,  who  quotes  Barcelo. 

29.  Lullula  arborea.     Wood-Lark. 

First  noticed  in  the  middle  of  April,  so  probably  it  is  a 
summer  visitor  only,  l)ut  it  is  not  plentiful. 

Not  observed  by  v.  Jordans,  who  quotes  Barcelo. 

30.  Alauda  duponti.     Dupont's  Lark. 

Von  Jordans  makes  Fome  remarks  on  this  species  in  his 
list,  but  there  is  no  record  of  its  occurrence  in  the  island. 


1 92 1.]  ]3irds  of  AlciuUa,  Majorca.  683 

31.  Galerida  theklse  theklse.     (jrested  Lark. 

Generally  distributed  throughout  the  district,  but  in  no 
great  quantities.  It  is  to  be  found  in  the  pine-woods  near 
the  shore,  on  the  bare,  rocky  hillsides,  among  the  olive 
orchards,  on  the  open  fields,  and  even  among  the  rocks  on 
the  sejishore.  A  nest  with  two  eggs  was  taken  on  29  April, 
1920,  on  rough,  rocky  ground  on  a  hillside. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans.  Witherby  considers  that  those 
he  obtained  in  Majorca  do  not  differ  from  the  typical  form, 
but  the  Iviza  bird  {G.  t.  polatzeki)  appears  to  have  a  finer 
bill. 

32.  Calandrella  brachydactyla.     Short-toed  Lark. 

The  Short-toed  Lark  is  very  plentiful  in  the  marshes  and 
fields  close  to  Puerto  Alcudia  from  the  beginning  of  April. 
A  nest  with  three  eggs  was  found  on  24  April,  1920,  in  the 
marshes  on  a  dry  spot  among  short  herbage — a  beautiful 
little  cup-shaped  hollow,  sunk  deeply  in  the  ground,  thinly 
lined  with  grass  and  a  little  seaweed.  Other  nests  found 
had  been  destroyed  by  the  sheep  and  goats,  or  rooted  up  by 
the  pigs  which  feed  in  the  marshes. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

33.  Motacilla  alba.     White  Wagtail. 

Very  common  during  the  winter,  following  the  plough, 
feeding  on  the  fields  and  roads  and  in  the  marshes.  The 
majority  leave  in  April,  but  one  or  two  pairs  remain  in  the 
district  in  the  summer  and  possibly  breed  there. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

34.  Motacilla  cinerea.     Grey  Wagtail. 

A  comuion  species  during  the  winter  in  the  marslies  and 
wherever  water  is  to  be  found  ;  but  as  most  of  the  water- 
courses in  the  hills  are  dry  in  the  summer,  I  do  not  think 
any  remain  to  nest  unless  the  winter  has  been  a  wet  one. 
Even  in  the  Albufera,  where  there  is  always  plenty  of  water, 
none  were  seen  after  early  spring. 

Some  young  ones  were  seen  in  the  cloisters  of  the 
cathedral  at  Barcelona  on  11  May,  1920. 


G84.  Captain  P.  AV.  Munn  on  the  [Ibis, 

35.  Motacilla  flava  flava.     Blue-headed  Wagtail. 

One  of  the  commonest  and  most  conspicuous  of  the  summer 
visitors.  The  earliest  one  was  noticed  on  8  March,  1921, 
and  ten  days  later  they  had  arriveil  in  numbers.  The  male 
birds,  perched  on  the  tops  of  spear-grass  and  sam])hire,  are 
as  l)i-illi;int  and  noticeable  as  Bee-eaters.  The  first  nest  was 
found  with  two  eggs  on  G  A[)ril,  1920,  in  a  damp  spot  in  the 
marshes  under  a  tuft  of  samphire.  Other  nests  were  found 
among  grass  in  drier  parts  of  the  marshes,  and  the  birds  also 
nested  among  the  ])ine-woods  on  the  shore.  A  great  many 
nests  are  destroyed  by  the  cattle  in  the  open,  and  the  birds 
may  be  seen  flying  distractedly  around  the  sheep  and  goats 
in  their  nesting-haunts  ;  hence  they  are  driven  to  nest  among 
the  pines  for  greater  security. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

36.  Motacilla  flava  borealis.     Grey-headed  Wagtail. 
Obtained  by  v.  Jordans, 

37.  Anthus  pratensis.     Meadow-Pipit. 

A  very  common  bird  in  the  marshes  and  fields  during  the 
winter  ;  a  few  remain  during  the  early  summer,  but  I  did 
not  discover  that  they  were  nesting. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

38.  Anthus  trivialis. 

I  did  not  notice  any  Tree-Pipits,  but  Dr.  Gosse  saw  one  at 
Alcudia  in  April  1914,  and  v.  Jordans  obtained  the  species. 

39.  Anthus  campestris.     Tawny  Pipit. 

A  connnon  summer  visitor,  the  earliest  being  noted  on 
27  March,  1921  ;  but  the  majority  arrive  in  the  middle  of 
April.     They  are  late  breeders. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

40.  Certhia  brachydactyla.     Tree-(Jreeper. 

41.  Sitta  csBsia.     Nuthatch. 

Though  v.  Jordans  has  included  these  species  in  his  list 
with  Barcelo's  remarks,  they  might  well  be  omitted,  as  there 
is  no  record  of  their  occurrence  by  any  modern  observer. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Alcudia,  Alajorca.  685 

42.  Regulus  r.  regulus.     Goldcrest. 

Conimou  durino-  the  winter  and  particularly  nnmeroiis  in 
November,  but  leaves  tlie  district  entirely  in  the  spring. 
They  were  plentiful  in  the  pine-woods  on  the  shore  and 
among  the  hills,  even  up  to  the  limit  o£  the  tree-growth  on 
the  wind-swept  (Jabo  de  Menorca.  As  tame  and  confiding 
a  little  bird  as  in  other  countries,  and  this  is  remarkable  in 
Majorca,  where  the  birds  are  usually  shy  and  wild.  One 
obtainetl  by  me  is  considered  by  Witherby  to  be  of  the 
typical  form. 

Von  Jordans  did  not  observe  this  species,  but  quotes 
Barcelo. 

43.  Eegulus  ignicapillus.     Firecrest. 

Notat  all  uncommon  during  the  winter  in  similar  localities 
to  the  Goldcrest,  but  it  is  a  much  shyer  and  more  restless 
bird,  whose  habits  more  resemble  OhiffchafFs  or  Willow- 
Wrens.     I  usually  noticed  them  in  pairs. 

Included  in  v.  Jordaiis^  list. 

44.  Parus  major.     Great  Titmouse. 

A  resident,  universally  distributed  but  not  common.  A 
nest  was  found  on  30  April,  1920,  in  a  hole  in  an  olive-tree, 
with  five  fresh  eggs  ;  both  the  eggs  and  nest  were  exactly 
similar  to  the  British  species,  and  I  was  unable  to  detect 
any  difference  either  in  the  note  or  habits  of  the  bird. 

Von  Jordans  includes  this  in  his  list  under  the  name 
P.  m.  malloTCce  Jordans,  but  Witherby  thinks  the  bird  cannot 
be  distinguished  from  P.  m.  aplirodite. 

45.  Parus  ater.     Coal-Titmouse. 

Von  Jordans  includes  this  species  in  his  list  with  Barcelo's 
renuu'ks  ;  it  might  well  be  omitted. 

4G.  Parus  cseruleus.     Blue  Titmouse. 

Von  Jordans  obtained  specimens  of  the  Blue  Titmouse  and 
named  it  P.  c.  haleariciis.  W^itherby  also  noticed  it  ;  but  it 
cannot  be  as  universally  distributed  as  the  Great  Tit,  for  I 
have  not  yet  come  across  if  anywhere. 

SEU.  XI. — VOL.  III.  2  Z 


686  Captain  P.  W.  Muiin  on  the  [Ibis, 

47.  Lanius  senator.     Woodchat. 
Von  Jordans  obtained  specimens. 

48.  Lanius  senator  Ijadius.     Corsican  AVoodchat. 

A  common  and  couspicuoiTS  summer  visitor,  whose  extra- 
ordinary variety  of  notes  is  most  confusing  to  tlie  naturalist. 
The  earliest  arrival  was  noticed  on  30  March,  1921,  but  one 
of  their  "  larders "  was  found  on  1  April,  1920 — several 
beetles  and  other  insects  impaled  on  the  thorns  of  a  pome- 
granate bush  on  the  edge  of  the  Albufera.  The  first  nest 
was  taken  on  26  April,  1920,  and  these  were  invariably 
built  among  the  ends  of  the  lower  branches  of  snuill  pine- 
trees.  Two  nests  I  found  in  a  row  of  scattered  pine-trees 
near  the  shore  were  not  100  yards  apart.  There  is  little 
attempt  at  concealment,  and  the  bird  sits  closely.  The 
nests  are  bulky,  strongly-made  structures,  com[)osed  exter- 
nally of  pieces  of  an  aromatic  plant  with  the  yellow  blossoms 
attached,  and  lined  with  grass,  cotton-grass  blossoms,  a  few 
feathers,  and  odds  and  ends  of  paper,  fibre,  etc.  Five  hand- 
some evenly-marked  eggs  are  usually  laid,  of  a  pale  greyish- 
white  ground-colour  zoned  with  lirown,  and  grey  blotches 
and  spots  of  varying  shades  at  the  larger  end.  I  onh^ 
noticed  this  species  on  the  low  ground  ;  it  did  not  ajipeai-  to 
frequent  the  hills. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

49.  Lanius  meridionalis.     Southern  Great  Grey  Shrike. 
Von  Jordans  includes  this  in  his  list  on  the  strength  of  a 

specimen  in  the  Institute  Balear  in  Palma. 

50.  Sylvia  communis.     Whitethroat. 

A  summer  visitor,  arriving  in  A})rii,  but  not  common. 
Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

51.  Sylvia  currnca      Lesser  Whitethroat. 

Gosse  observed  a  specimen  at  Alcudia  on  7  April,  1914. 

52.  Sylvia  simplex.     Garden- Warbler. 

A  summer  visitor,  but  not  common.  I  saw  the  first  on 
19  March,  1920. 

Not  observed  by  v.  Jordans,  who  quotes  Homey er. 


igii.]  Birds  of  AlcucUa,  Majorca.  687 

53.  Sylvia  atricapilla.     Blackcap. 

A  summer  visitor  and  common,  tlie  greater  number 
arriving-  in  April,  but  in  1921  there  was  a  consitlerable 
immigration  at  the  beginning  of  March.  A  few  remain 
throughout  the  winter.  They  haunt  the  gardens  and  orchards 
and  nest  in  the  bramble  and  myrtle-brakes  among  the  gorges 
of  the  pine-woods  in  the  hills. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordan s. 

54.  Sylvia  melanocephala.     Sardinian  Warbler. 

One  of  the  commonest  birds  ;  found  everywhere  all  the 
year  round,  and  where  no  other  bird  is  to  be  seen,  the  Black- 
headed  Warbler  is  sure  to  be  there — even  among  the  sparse 
palmetto-scrub  on  the  tops  of  the  bare  hills,  or  the  few 
scattered  clumps  of  pines  growing  in  inaccessible  spots 
among  the  crags,  as  well  as  in  orchards,  gardens,  and  pine- 
woods.  They  nest  abundantly  in  every  conceivajblo  situa- 
tion, but  always  low  down,  their  favourite  s])ots  being  dense 
clumps  of  butcher's  broom,  myrtle-thickets,  palmetto-scrub, 
bramldes,  and  roadside  bushes.  Often  the  same  site  is 
resorted  to  annually,  but  damp  or  marshy  situations  are  not 
favoured.  Their  nests  vary  considerably,  some  being  neat, 
compact  structures,  and  others  bulky  and  rather  untidj-  ;  all 
are  made  of  grass  externally,  with  invariably  a  pad  of  cotton- 
grass  blossoms  or  vegetable  down  of  some  kind,  in  which 
the  lining  of  fine  grass  or  fibre  is  set.  The  eggs  also  vary 
much,  the  commonest  type  having  a  pale  greenish  ground, 
with  greyish  specks  of  various  shades.  A  very  handsome 
type  has  a  whitish  ground,  with  spots  or  blotches  of  dark 
red,  or  purple  or  brown — in  fact,  without  identifying  the 
birds,  these  handsome  eggs  might  belong  to  another  species. 
There  is  never  any  difficulty  in  l)eing  able  to  identify  the 
birds,  however,  as  they  are  always  in  evidence  near  their 
nest  and  sit  closely,  the  male  taking  his  turn  with  the 
female  ;  when  the  young  are  hatched  the  parent  birds  make 
a  curious  "purring"  noise,  something  like  the  subdued 
chatter  of  a  Wren  or  the  "  churring  "  of  a  distant  Nightjar. 
The  usual  number  of  eggs  laid  is   three  or  four,  and  more 

2z2 


68S  Ci.ptain  P.  W.  Mnnn  on  the  [Ibis, 

often  than  not  one  of  the  eggs  remain  nnhatched,  which 
accounts  for  the  number  of  okl  nests  found  witli  one  bad 
egg.  Tile  first  eggs  were  found  on  4  April,  1920,  and 
though  unfinished  nests  were  met  witli  at  tlie  end  of  April,  in 
others  the  young  were  nearly  ready  to  fly  at  the  beginning 
of  May. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

55.  Sylvia  cantillans.     Sub-Al[)ine  Warbler. 
Von  Jordans  obtained  a  specimen. 

56.  Sylvia  orphea.     Orphean  Warbler. 

A  summer  visitor,  arriving  at  the  end  of  March  or  begin- 
ning of  April,  but  not  common.  They  chietly  frequent  the 
pine-woods  near  the  shore,  where  they  feed  quietly  among 
the  upper  branches.  I  have  found  old  nests  in  the  forks  of 
the  smaller  pine-trees. 

Von  Jordans  remarks  on  a  note  of  Barcelo's  concerning 
this  species. 

57.  Melizophilus  uiidatus.      Dartford  Warbler. 
Von  Jortlans  obtained  a  specimen. 

58.  Sylvia  sarda  Ijalearica.     Marmora's  Warbler. 
Specimens  have  been  obtained  by  v.  Jordans  and  Witherby. 

Both  the  above  are  resident,  and  though  I  have  not  yet 
obtained  examples,  I  have  observed  them  both  in  winter 
and  summer.  They  are  occasionally  for  sale  in  the  market 
in  Palma. 

59.  Cettia  cetti.     Cetti's  Warbler. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans  and  noticed  by  Witherby. 
Von  Jordans  separates  it  under  the  name  C.  c.  salvatoris. 

GO.  Acrocephalus  streperns.     Reed-Warbler. 

An  abundant  resident  in  the  Albufera,  where  it  breeds, 
not  only  in  the  marsh  itself,  but  in  the  ditches  and  hedges 
adjoining.  Owing  to  the  chorus  of  croaking  frogs  in  the 
s{)ring  and  summer  in  the  Albufera,  it  is  not  easy  to  trace 
birds  by  their  notes,  but  the  Reed-Warbler's  songs  can  be 


1 921.]  Birds  of  Alcud'ia^  Majorcd.  680 

distiijoiiisbed,  especially  when  they  are  pairing  early  in   the 
spring. 

It  is  remarkable  that  this  species  has  not  been  before 
recorded  from  Majorca,  considering  its  abundance  in  suitable 
localities. 

61.  Acrocephalus  arundinaceus.     Great  Reed-Warbler. 
Von    Jordans    quotes    Homeyer    and     Barcelo    for     the 

occurrence  of  this  species. 

62.  Acrocephalus  schcenobaenus.     Sedgc-Warbler. 
Occurs  in  the  Albufera,  but  I  did  not  notice  any  before 

the  middle  of  March. 

63.  Acrocephalus  aquaticus.     Aquatic  Warbler. 

Noted  as  occurring  in  the  Albufera  during  the  winter,  but 
I  have  no  record  of  any  seen  in  the  summer. 

64.  Lusciniola  m.  inelanopogon.     Moustached  Warbler. 

A  plentiful  resident  in  the  Albufera,  where  its  song  is 
heard  on  all  sides,  commencing  with  a  loud  note,  very  like  a 
Redshank's,  and  continuing  with  a  song  not  unlike  a  Sedge- 
Warbler's. 

This  species  has  not  before  been  recorded  from  Majorca. 
Witherby,  who  has  examined  examples  obtained  by  me, 
states  that  they  do  not  dili'er  from  the  typical  form. 

65.  Phylloscopus  trochilus.     Willow- Warbler. 
^^.  Phylloscopus  sibilatrix.      \Vood- Warbler. 

Both  species  noted  during  the  winter^  but  all  leave  the 
district  in  the  spring. 

67.  Phylloscopus  collybita.     Chiffchaff. 

CUiiffchaffs  swarm  in  the  district  during  the  winter — in 
the  orchards,  among  the  cabbage  crops,  in  the  pine-woods  ; 
and  on  the  sunny  outskirts  of  the  pine-woods  on  the  shore 
they  flit  about  in  small  parties.  All,  however,  leave  the 
district  at  the  befjinninfr  of  March. 


()00  Captain  P.  W.  Munn  on  the  [Ibis, 

One  found  its  way  into  a  lobster-pot  lying  on  the  qnay  at 
Puerto  Alcudia,  and  was  captured. 

These  birds  are  known  to  the  natives  as  "birds  of  the  snow/' 
because  in  cold  weather  they  often  come  into  the  houses. 

Von  Jordans  obtained  .s})ccimens  of  the  three  above-named 
species. 

68.  Phylloscopus  bonelli.     Bonelli^s  Warbler. 

Included  in  y.  Jordans'  list  on  the  authority  of  Homeyer 
and  Barcelo. 

69.  Cisticola  c.  cisticola.     Fantail  Warbler. 

A  common  resident  species,  very  plentiful  in  winter  l)ut 
not  quite  so  abundant  during  the  summer.  They  commence 
nesting  at  the  end  of  March  and  beginning  of  April,  and 
the  nests,  carefully  concealed  among  grass,  samphire,  or 
spear  grass,  are  deep  pockets  of  cobwebs,  down,  etc.,  like 
the  web  of  some  insect. 

I  have  found  two  types  of  egg — one  pure  white,  the  other 
pale  blue.  The  Majorcan  name  for  this  bird  is  "  Ooyec  de 
Bau,"  meaning  "eye  of  an  ox.'' 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

70.  Turdus  viscivorus.     Missel-Thrush. 

Not  uncommon   during   the   winter,  frequenting  the  old 
olive  orchards  and  scattered  trees  on  the  hillsides. 
Not  ol)served  by  v.  Jordans,  who  quotes  Barcelo. 

71.  Turdus  philomeliis.     Song-Thrush. 

Very  abundant  during  the  winter  and  universally  distri- 
buted, but  after  the  beginning  of  A})ril  yevy  few  are  left  in 
the  district,  and  apparently  none  remain  to  breed.  Great 
numbers  are  killed  for  food  and  sold  in  the  markets,  with 
Redwinus  and  Blackbirds  and  a  few  Fieldfares  and  Ring- 
Ouzels,  and  an  occasional  Blue  Rock-Thrush. 

Von  Jordans  noticed  a  specimen  in  May  in  Cabrera. 

72.  Turdus  musicus.     Redwing. 

Plentiful  during  the  winter,  and,  like  the  Fieldfares,  they 
frequent  the  old  olive  orchards  and  trees  on  the  scrub- 
covered  hillsides. 


192 1. J  Birds  of  Alcud/a,  Majorca.  691 

Included  in  v.  Jordan s'  list  on  the  authority  of  Bai'celo 
and  a  stuffed  specimen  in  Pahua. 

73.  Turdus  pilaris.     Fieldfare. 

Not  so  numerous  as  the  Redwino,  but  still  not  uncommon 
in  the  winter. 

In  V.  Jordans'  list,  Barcelo  is  the  authority  oiven  for  its 
occurrence. 

74.  Tardus  merula.     Blackbird. 

Very  common,  universally  distributed,  and  resident,  but 
unusually  shy  and  wary.  They  commence  nesting  early  in 
March,  and  the  nest  is  frequently  placed  in  the  fork  of  a 
pine-tree,  also  in  bushes  and  among  brambles ;  in  creepers 
against  the  trunk  of  a  tree  is  a  favourite  situation.  The 
nests  are  usually  rather  small,  and  seaweed  is  often  used  in 
their  construction.  Three  eggs  are  most  often  laid,  but  four 
is  not  unusual.  I  found  young  ones  hatched  on  23  April, 
1920.  The  shepherd-boys  catch  them,  with  thrushes,  in 
traps  constructed  like  our  brick-traps,  but  of  pieces  of  stone 
and  baited  with  berries.  The  song  is  rather  weak,  and  on 
the  whole  they  sing  very  little.  In  May  1921  I  found  a 
nest  on  the  ground,  among  herbage,  that  contained  eggs. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

75.  Turdus  torquatus.     Ring-Ouzel. 

A  winter  visitor,  but  not  very  common,  frequenting  the 
wooded  cTorires  in  the  hills  and  the  scrub-covered  hillsides 
near  the  seashore. 

Von  Jordans  quotes  Barcelo  as  the  authority  for  its  occur- 
rence, and  noted  stuffed  specimens  in  Palma. 

76.  Monticola  cyanus.     Blue  Rock-Thrush. 
Rock-Thrushes    had    arrived    in    numbers  by  22   March, 

1920,  and  were  not  uncommon  in  the  wild  rocky  gorges 
among  the  hills.  An  old  nest  was  found  m  a  crevice  of  a 
rock  near  the  Atalaya  de  Alcudia.  A  few  remain  throughout 
the  winter. 

Obtained  bv  v.  Jordans. 


CD2  Captain  P.  W .  ]\luiin  oj>  the  [Ibis, 

77.  Monticola  saxatilis.     Rock-Thnisli. 

I  (lid  not  certainly  identity  this  species,  hut  on  3  April, 
l'J20,  saw  a  bird  which  I  think  must  have  l)een  a  Rock- 
Thrush,  in  a  bare,  rocky  gorge,  flying  upwards  into  the  air 
from  its  perch  on  a  ridge  of  rocks,  uttering  its  song,  and 
returning  again  to  the  same  place. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

78.  Phoenicurus  phcBiiicurus.     Redstart. 

Plentiful  during  the  winter,  chiefly  in  the  orchards,  but 
few  noticed  later  than  March.  In  Aj)ril  1921  many  adult 
males  passed  through  the  district.  Some  probably  remain 
to  breed. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

79.  Phoenicurus  gibraltariensis.     Black  Redstart. 

Not  at  all  uncommon  during  the  winter,  but  all  had  left 
in  March.     Adult  males  occur  chiefly  in  the  spring. 
Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

80.  Erithacus  r.  rubecula.     Redbreast. 

Very  common  and  universally  distributed  during  the 
winter.  Arriving  with  the  Song-Thrushes  in  October  and 
leaving  with  them  in  April.  I  think  it  possible  that  a  few 
remain  to  breed.  Many  are  sold  in  Raima  market,  with 
other  small  birds,  for  food,  and  on  their  arrival  in  October 
they  are  always  very  fat. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans.  Withcrby  states  that  specimens 
obtained  in  October  and  April  belong  to  the  typical  form. 

8J.  Luscinia  megarhyncha.     Nightingale. 

Arrives  in  the  district  at  the  beginning  of  April,  ami  is 
very  common.  It  is  practically  the  only  bird  that  sings 
fearlessly,  and  may  be  heard  day  and  night  in  the  planta- 
tions, patches  of  bush,  and  among  the  pine-wood  and  also  in 
gardens.  They  nest  in  April  and  May  in  myrtle  and 
bramble-brakes,  as  well  as  in  clumps  of  palmetto,  and  are 
particularl}'  fond  of  the  thickly-wooded  gorges  among  the 
hills. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 


192 1. J  Jiin/s  0/ Alciidia.  M<iJo)'ca.  (i93 

82.  Cyanosylvia  suecica  cyanecula.     Wliiie-spotted  Blue- 

thi-oat. 
Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

83.  Saxicola  rubicola.     Stonechat. 

A  very  coniinoii  resident,  and  one  oi"  the  most  noticeable 
birds  everywliere.  They  nest  early  in  March,  hard-set  eggs 
Ijt'ing  found  on  18  Marcli,  1920,  and  young  ones  seen  flying 
on  19  April.  Nests  in  the  marshes  are  usually  built  under 
a  iuft  of  samphire  or  low  down  in  a  bush,  but  they  also  build 
in  the  pine-woods  on  the  shore.  Seaweed  is  often  used  in 
the  construction  of  their  nests,  and  pahnetto- fibre  chiefly  as 
a  lining.  The  eggs  are  usually  i-atlier  smaller  than  British 
specimens. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans.  Witherby  states  that  specimens 
obtained  by  Grosse  are  of  the  ('ontinental  form  S.  r.ruhicola. 

84.  Saxicola  rubetra.     Whinchat. 

A  summer  visitor,  arriving  at  the  beginning  of  April,  Imt 
not  very  common. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

85.  (Enantlie  cenanthe.      W'lieatear. 

A  common  bird  on  passage,  both  in  S[)ring  and  autumn, 
and  remaining  for  some  weeks  in  the  district  at  both 
seasons.  A  few  stragglers  occur  during  the  winter,  and 
possibly  some  remain  to  breed,  for  I  found  an  old  nest  in  a 
rabbit-1)urrow,  near  Puerto  Alcudia,  in  1921. 

86.  (Enantlie  ce.  leucorrhoa.     Greenland  \Vheatear. 
Obtained  by  v.  Jordans  and  by  Gosse. 

87.  (Enanthe  hispanica.     Black- eared  Wheatear. 

A  s[»ecimen  was  seen   near  Puerto  Alcudia  on   12  April, 
1921,  evidently  on  migration. 
Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

88.  Accentor  modularis.     Hedge-Sparrow. 

Scarce;  a  few  examples  have  been  observed  during  the 
winter  only,  in  the  pine-woods  on  the  shore  and  among 
the  hills. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 


694  Captain  P.  W.  Munn  on  flie  [Ibis, 

<S9.  Troglodytes  t.  kabylorum.     Wren. 

Not  very  common,  and  extremely  shy.  It  is  a  resident, 
and  its  numbers  do  not  seem  to  vary  at  all  with  the  seasons. 
They  are  generally  found  in  the  pine-woods  near  the  shore, 
and  among  the  mountains,  and  more  rarely  among  scrub  on 
the  hillsides,  in  rocky  gorges,  and  even  on  the  desolate  Cabo 
del  Pinar.  Their  nests  are  usually  built  quite  near  the 
ground,  among  dense  undergrowth  against  the  trunk  of  a 
pine-tree,  in  juni{)er  and  rosemary  bushes,  frequently  in 
clumps  of  palmetto  and  dense  smilax  thickets,  and  rarely 
in  clefts  of  the  rocks.  They  are  composed  of  moss,  with 
often  a  lot  of  seaweed,  or  the  dry  leaves  of  a  very  prickly 
thistle,  outside,  lined  with  feathers  and  hair  or  palmetto-fibre. 
I  found  one  nest  lined  thickly  with  feathers  taken  from 
the  carcass  of  a  Barn-Owl  lying  near.  The  eggs  arc  white, 
with  red  spots  of  more  or  less  intense  colouring,  but  are 
generally  smaller  than  those  of  the  British  species. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans,  and  Withcrby  considers  that 
specimens  he  obtained  belong  to  this  form. 

90.  Muscicapa  striata.     Spotted  Flycatcher. 

A  common  summer  visitor,  arriving  in  the  latter  part  of 
April.  They  frequent  chiefly  the  pine-woods  among  the 
hills,  as  well  as  the  olive  orchards,  and  though  these  wood- 
land birds  are  usually  shy,  those  which  frequent  the  vicinity 
of  houses  become  as  tame  and  familiar  as  at  home,  and 
frequently  builil  their  nests  in  sheds,  outhouses,  and  even  in 
the  bouses  themselves. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans,  who  has  named  the  bird  AJ.  s. 
balearica. 

91.  Muscicapa  hypoleuca.     Pied  Flycatcher. 
Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

92.  Muscicapa  collaris.     White-collared  Flycatcher. 
Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  the  authority  of  Barcelo. 

93.  Hirundo  rustica.     Swallow. 

Fairly    plentiful    in    summer  ;    the   earliest  arrivals  \\ere 


1921.]  Birds  of  Alaidia,  Miijoiuui.  695 

noted   at  tlie  end  of   February,  but  tlie   majority  arrive  in 
March.     A  few  stragglers  occur  during  the  winter. 
Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

94.  Delichon  urbica.     Martin. 

Fairly  conunon  in  summer,  arriving  earl}'  in  April,  but  in 
by  no  means  in  such  great  numbers  as  in  parts  of  the  Spanish 
mainland. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

95.  Riparia  riparia.     Sand-Martin. 

A  sunnner  visitor,  arriving  in  Ajjril,  but  local  and  not 
very  numerous.  There  arc  a  few  small  colonies  at  suitable 
spots  in  the  island,  and  odd  ))airs  are  found  among  the  sand- 
hills on  the  shore  of  Alcudia  Bay. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

96.  Riparia  rupestris.     Rock-Martin. 
Obtained  by  v.  Jordans  and  AV^itherby. 

97.  lynx  torquilla.     Wryneck. 

A  resident,  but  not  plentiful.    Their  numbers  are  consider- 
ably increased  by  migrants  in  April. 
Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

^^^.  Cuculus  canorus.     Cuckoo. 

A  summer  visitor,  not  very  plentiful,  arriving  in  March 
or  in  backward  seasons  in  A[)ril.  On  warm  s[)ring  nights 
Cuckoos  may  be  heard  calling  from  the  hills  behind  Puerto 
Alcudia,  Nightingales  singing  and  Stone-Curlews  clamouring 
from  across  the  bay,  while  Bitterns  "boom"  continually  in 
the  Albufera. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

99.  Micropus  apus.     Swift. 

Swifts  arrive  early  in  April,  and  career  in  hundreds  over 
Palma  and  less  numerously  over  the  smaller  towns.  The 
earliest  date  I  have  noticed  them  was  while  crossing  from 
Minorca  to  Majorca  on  29  March,  1920,  and  several  were 
over  the  Albufera  on  1  April  of  that  year. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans^  list. 


C)9n  (^iiptuin  P.  W.  Munii  on  the  [Ibis, 

100.  Micropus  melba.     Alpine  Swift. 

I  saw  several  of  this  species  in  the  company  of  common 
Swifts,  flying  over  the  Albufera  on  I  April,  1920,  and  they 
ap})eared  to  be  making  for  tlie  mountains  in  the  north  of  the 
island. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

101.  Micropus  muriims  illyricus.     Mouse-coloured  Swift. 
Obtained  by  v.  Jordans  and  Witherby.     Probably  breeds; 

but  among  the  hundreds  of  AI.  apus  seen  at  Palma  and  in 
other  places  I  have  not  yet  observed  this  species. 

102.  Caprimulgus  europaeus.     Nightjar. 

A  summer  visitor,  arriving  at  the  beginning  of  May,  but 
not  very  common.  Whilst  standing  on  the  balcony  of  the 
inn  at  Puerto  Alcudia  in  the  evening  of  11  May,  1921,  one 
of  these  birds  swept  close  past  mo  up  the  village  quay.  I 
flushed  a  pair  in  the  woods  near  San  Luis  on  13  May,  1021, 
and  a  single  bird  in  the  pine-woods  on  the  shore  on  21  ^lay, 
1921.  One  was  caught  in  some  fishing-nets,  in  the  summer 
of  1920,  hung  up  to  dry  in  Puerto  Alcudia;  the  species  has 
also  been  noticed  near  Palma. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  Barcelo's  authority,  and 
from  a  stuffed  specimen  seen  in  Arta. 

103.  Merops  apiaster.     Bee-eater. 

To  anyone  acquainted  with  the  summer  birds  of  Spain,  the 
merry  Bee-eaters  are  the  most  noticeable  absentees  from 
Majorca.  I  have  only  seen  one  party,  which  was  migrating 
northwards,  on  26  April,  1920,  above  the  pine-woods  near 
the  shore  of  Alcudia  Bay.  I  have  looked  for  them  in  vain 
in  other  parts  of  the  island,  but  have  seen  no  others,  so  con- 
clude they  do  not  stay  in  Majorca  and  are  only  stragglers 
on  migration. 

Von  Jordans  obtained  a  specimen  that  had  been  shot  near 
Arta  in  1912,  and  quotes  Homeyer  and  Barcelo  as  authorities 
for  its  occurrence. 


1 92 1 . ]  Birds  of  A Icvdia,  Majorca,  697 

104.  Upupa  epops.     Hoopoe. 

A  suimner  visitor,  arriving-  in  Marcli  ami  April,  and 
though  numbers  pass  through  the  di.striot  on  migration,  only 
a  small  proportion  remain  to  nest.  A  few  stay  throughout 
the  winter. 

Found  nesting  by  v.  Jordans. 

105.  Alcedo  ispida.     Kingfisher. 

x\  common  winter  visitor  in  suitable  localities,  but  all 
leave  the  district  in  the  spring.  Plentiful  in  the  Albufera 
and  on  the  adjacent  streams,  and  I  have  seen  them  fishing  in 
the  tanks  in  which  water  is  stored  from  the  watei--\vheels 
for  irrigation,  as  well  as  on  the  sea-coast. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  Barcelo's  authoi'ity. 

lOt).  Coracias  garrulus.     Roller. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  Barcelo^s  authority. 

107.  Tytoalba.     Barn-Owl. 

Occurs  sparingly  in  tlie  district.  I  found  two  dead 
specimens  in  the  pine-woods  on  the  shores  of  Alcudia  Bay  in 
April  1920,  from  one  of  which  a  Wren  had  taken  feathers 
to  line  its  nest. 

On  4  May,  1921,  I  l^lushed  one  from  a  small  pine  in  the 
wood,  but  1  know  of  no  possible  nesting-place  anywhere 
near.  A  pair  inhabit  the  tower  of  Alcudia  Chinch,  and  are 
said  to  drink  the  olivo-oil  from  the  lamps  on  the  shrines  ; 
hence  their  native  name  "  Oliva"  (olive).  This  species  has 
also  been  observed  in  the  neia-hbourhood  of  Palma. 

Von  Jordans  obtained  this  sjiecies. 

108.  Asio  otus.     Long-eared  Owl. 

109.  Asio  accipitrinus.     Short-eared  Owl. 

110.  Strix  aluco.     Tawny  Owl. 

Von  Jordans  includes  the  above  three  species  in  his  list, 
but  they  might  well  be  omitted,  as  there  is  no  recent  record 
of  their  occurrence  in  the  island,  and  Barcelo's  notes  on  these 
species  are  questionable. 


69S  Captain  P.  W.  Munn  on  the  [Ibis, 

111.  Otus  scops.     Scops  Owl. 

Not  uncoininon.  Its  monotonous  piping  note  nuiy  be 
heard  at  night  in  most  parts  of:  the  district,  and  indeed  in 
most  parts  of  the  island,  even  throughout  the  winter.  I 
have  frequently  flushed  them  from  ttie  shelter  of  some  tree 
or  ruined  building,  and  found  one  that  had  been  killed  by  a 
cat  outside  the  walls  of  Alciidia. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

112.  Carine  noctua.      Little  Owl. 

I  have  never  seen  this  species,  but  have  heard  its  cry  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Puerto  Alcudia,  where  one  individual 
took  up  its  quarters  during  the  autumn  of  192U. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

113.  Vultur  monachus.     Black  Vulture. 

The  Black  Vulture  is  numerous  and  resident  in  all  the 
mountainous  parts  of  Majorca,  and  it  is  a  mystery  how  these 
great  birds  find  sufficient  food  ;  no  doubt  they  do  not  live 
entirely  on  carrion — sickly  sheep  or  young  lambs  are  not 
allowed  to  die  natural  deaths  in  the  hills  where  these  vultures 
are  numerous.  I  know  of  one  instance  at  the  Cabo  de 
Menorca  when  five  vultures  were  driven  away  from  a  dying 
laml)  by  some  fishermen,  who  secured  the  lamb  and  took  it 
home.  Two  pairs  and  an  odd  bird  of  this  species  inhabited 
the  hills  around  the  Atalaya  de  Alcudia,  and  were  seen 
almost  daily  going  round  their  regular  beats  over  the 
hillsides,  tlie  Albufera  and  marshes,  and  the  pine-woods  on 
the  shore.  A  favourite  perch  was  the  ruined  watch-tower 
on  the  summit  of  the  highest  peak.  On  14  January,  1920, 
I  watched  one  of  these  pairs  mating;  and  at  the  end  of 
March  both  pairs  had  taken  up  their  nesting- quarters  in  the 
crags,  one  pair  having  selected  a  cavern  in  a  precipice  im- 
mediately above  the  Cabo  del  Pinar,  and  the  other  pair  a  ledge 
in  the  sheer  rock  directly  beneath  the  Atalaya — about  a  mile 
and  a  half  apart.  The  odd  bird — a  young  one — had  dis- 
appeared. On  the:  Polleusa  peninsula  they  are  particularly 
numerous — perhaps  the  numbers  of  feral  goats  there  attract 
them  ;  and  one  day  I  saw  no  less  than  twelve  overhead  there. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Alcudia,  Majorru.  699 

They  invariably  discovered  me  when  picnicking  amono-  the 
hills,  and  circled  closely  around,  eyeing  nie  hungrily.  Nor 
do  they  confine  themselves  for  nesting  entirely  to  the  higher 
hills  ;  rocky  hills  ol:  quite  low  elevation,  provided  there  are 
sufficient  caverns  in  them,  are  often  t'requenled.  I  climbed 
one  day  into  a  cavern  in  one  such  low  and  easily  accessible 
hill,  when  a  Black  Vulture  swept  out  and  nearl}^  knocked  me 
down  tiie  hillside. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

114.  Gyps  fulvus.     Griffon  Vulture. 

Von  Jordans  includes  this  species  on  the  aufhoiity  of  the 
Archduke  Ludwig  Salvador,  but  I  have  never  come  across 
it  in  the  district.  In  May  1920  at  Lerida,  in  Catalonia,  I 
saw  one  that  was  much  concerned  with  an  aeroplane  above 
the  town,  and  followed  it  about  with  interest. 

115.  Neophron  percnopterus.     Egyptian  Vulfuro. 

This  is  a  resident  species,  but  not  common.  Only  one 
pair  inhabited  the  Alcudia  district,  and  had  their  quarters,  in 
1920,  in  the  crags  around  the  Atalaya  de  Alcudia,  frequently 
visitino-  the  Port  and  marshes  in  search  of  food.  In  1921 
they  appeared  to  have  shifted  their  quarters  to  the  rocky 
hills  on  the  west  side  of  Alcudia  Bay,  and  a  favourite  perch 
of  theirs  was  the  sea-mark — a  pillar  of  stone — on  the  sea- 
shore near  the  Port. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

IIG.  Circus  aeruginosus.     Marsh-Harrier. 

A  common  resident  in  the  All)ufera  and  less  so  in  the 
Albuferete.  They  nest  among  the  dense  reed-beds  in  these 
marshes. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

,'    117.  Circus  cyaneus.     Hen-Harrier. 

Included  by  v.  Jordans,  who  observed  a  pair  near  Lluch. 

118.  Circus  pygargus.     Montagu's  Harrier. 
Von  Jordans  obtained  a  specimen, 


700  Captain  P.  W.  Mmin  on  the  [Ibis, 

119.  Buteo  buteo.     Buzzard. 

Seen  on  a  few  occasions,  more  often  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Pollensa,  in  the  winter,  but  becoming  commoner  in 
April;  probably  these  latter  were  migrants. 

Not  observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

120.  Aquila  chrysaetus.     Golden  Eagle. 

I  have  frequently  seen  large  lllagles  duiing  the  winter, 
which  were  probably  of  this  species,  among  the  crags  of  the 
Alcudia  })eninsula  and  over  tlui  Albufera  and  lagoons — 
those  visiting  the  Albufera  came  from  the  mountains  in  the 
north.  I  saw  one  fiercely  attacked  by  a  Paven,  which  even 
pitched  on  the  Eagle's  back  and  did  not  cease  its  attacks 
while  they  remained  in  sight.  On  7  March,  1921,  I  had  a 
near  view  of  one  hunting  along  a  hillside  ;  it  eventually 
])ei'ched  on  a  I'ock,  where  it  remained  some  time  at  no 
oreat  distance  from  me. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

121.  Aquila  adalberti.     White-shouldered  Eagle. 

I  saw  a  large,  dark,  White-shouldered  Eagle  over  the 
Albufera  on  20  November,  1919,  being  pursued  by  a 
Herring-Gull. 

122.  Haliaetus  albicilla.     White-tailed  Eagle. 

Von  Jordans  includes  this  species  in  his  list  on  the 
authority  of  Homeyer  and  Howard  Saunders. 

123.  Nisaetus  fasciatus.     Bonelli's  Eagle. 

A  pair  iniiabit  the  crags  and  cliffs  of  the  Alcudia  penin- 
sula, and  the  Cal)0  de  Menorca. 

Witlierl)y  found  a  pair  nesting  near  Lhich  in  1919. 

124.  Nisaetus  pennatus.     Booted  Eagle. 

This  Sj)ecies  is  a  resident,  but  occurs  sparingly.  I  saw 
one  several  times  in  December  1919,  in  a  ])iece  of  fine  old 
pine-forest  near  the  Playa  de  Muro  in  Alcudia  Bay.  During 
the  autumn  and  winter  of  1920-21  and  spring  and  sunnner 
of  1921  they  were  iVequently  seen  about  the  San  Luis  woods 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Alcudia^  Majorca.  701 

and  even  over  the  Port  of  Alciulia,  and  also  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Pollensa. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  Barcelo's  authority. 

125.  Accipiter  nisus.     Sparrow-Hawk. 

I  saw  a  specimen  on  29  December,  1919,  in  the  pine- 
woods  near  the  Cabo  de  Menorca.  chasing  a  Thrush;  and 
another  on  18  March,  1921.  in  the  pine-woods  on  the  shore 
of  Alcudia  Bay. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

126.  Milvus  milvus.     Kite. 

Two  pairs  only  inhabit  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Alcudiii, 
and  one  or  other  of  tlieni  visited  the  harbour  and  marshes 
almost  daily  in  search  of  food,  and  often  snatched  up  refuse 
from  the  surface  of  the  water  to  devour  on  the  wing.  One 
pair  had  apparently  made  their  home  in  the  woods  among  the 
hills  to  the  west  of  Puerto  Alcudia,  and  the  other  pair  near 
the  "  Victoria  "  on  Pollensa  Bay.  I  was  unable  to  find  their 
nests  in  any  of  the  trees,  and  am  inclined  to  think  they  were 
nesting  in  the  crags  ;  for  on  the  southern  shore  of  Alcudia 
Bay  a  pair  were  building  on  a  ledge  of  rock,  on  a  rocky 
bluff,  at  the  mouth  of  a  torrente,  beyond  Picafort,  on 
29  April,  1920. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

127.  Milvus  aegyptius.     Egyptian  Kite. 
Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  Barcelo^s  authority. 

128.  Milvus  migrans.     Black  Kite. 

Not   common  ;     examples    were    seen    near    Pollensa    on 
9  February,  1920,  and  a  pair  near  Alcudia  on  11  April,  1920. 
Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

129.  Falco  peregrinus.     Peregrine  Falcon. 

Peregrines  were  noticed  chiefly  in  the  winter,  when  duck 
were  plentiful  in  the  lagoons  and  marshes,  but  a  pair  of 
large  dark-coloured  Falcons  were  seen  hunting  over  the 
woods  and  hills  to  the  west  of  Puerto  Alcudia  on  4  May, 
1920,   and  a  single    example    of    the    same    species   in    the 

SER,  XI. — VOL.  III.  3  A 


702  Captain  P.  W.  Munn  on  the  [Ibis, 

Albufera  on  1  April,  1920.  In  May  1921  a  pair  were 
nestino;  on  a  precipice  in  the  hills  to  the  west  of  Alcndia, 
and  there  was  also  another  pair  in  the  cliffs  o£  the  Cabo 
del  Pinar. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

A  rather  smaller  and  redder  species  of  Falcon  than  the 
Peregrine  was  frequently  seen  during  the  winter  in  the 
district,  chasing  the  Dnck  on  the  lagoons  or  worrying  the 
Marsh-Harriers,  and  the  same  species  were  seen  persecuting 
the  tame  Pigeons  above  the  town  of  Palma.  They  were  so 
exceedingly  waiy  that  I  could  not  procure  a  specimen. 

130.  Falco  subbuteo.     Hobby. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  Barcelo's  authority. 
Witherby  also  noticed  it. 

131.  Falco  sesalon.     Merlin. 

A  female  was  seen  in  the  Alcudia  marshes  on  28  December, 
1919. 

Not  observed  by  v.  Jordans,  but  he  notes  a  specimen  in 
the  Instituto  Balear  at  Palma. 

132.  Falco  eleonorae.     Eleonora's  Falcon. 

I  have  not  yet  satisfactorily  identified  this  species  in  the 
district,  but  v.  Jordans  includes  it  in  his  list  and  Witherby 
observed  it  in  July  1919. 

133.  Falco  vespertinus.     Red-footed  Falcon. 
Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

134.  Falco  tinnunculus.     Kestrel. 

A  few  pairs  of  Kestrels  inhabit  the  district,  but  they  are 
by  no  means  numerous.  The}'  nest  usually  among  the  crags 
in  the  hills  and  in  the  sea-clitfs  ;  one  pair  breeds  every  year 
in  the  Torre  Mayor  at  Puerto  Alcudia.  They  have  young 
in  May. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

135.  Falco  naumanni.     Lesser  Kestrel. 

I  have  never  yet  seen  this  species,  but  v.  Jordans  has 
observed  it. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Alcudia,  Majorca.  703 

136.  Pandion  haliaetus.     Osprey. 

Two  or  three  pairs  are  resident  in  the  district,  one  pair 
nesting  on  the  clitfs  on  the  southern  face  of  the  Cabo  del 
Pinar  and  another  pair  on  the  cliffs  of  the  Alciidia  peninsula 
on  Pollensa  Bay.  1  have  seen  as  many  as  five  fishing  on  the 
lagoons  near  Puerto  Alcudia  at  the  same  time,  and  a  pair  or 
more  were  daily  on  these  higoons  or  on  the  Bay  near  the 
Port,  either  fishing  or  perched  on  the  [josts  in  the  higoons  or 
on  the  sandbanks  in  the  Bay,  near  the  flocks  of  gulls  th're. 
At  the  end  of  Api'il  the  birds  carried  their  prey  away  to  the 
cliffs  of  the  peninsula,  where  probably  they  had  young  ones. 
This  species  is  found  pretty  generally  all  round  the  coast  of 
the  island. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

137.  Phalacrocorax  carbo.     (Cormorant. 

Resident,  nesting  on  the  cliffs  of  the  Cabo  de  Menorca 
and  round  to  the  Cabo  del  Pinar.  During  the  winter  a 
large  flock  fished  daily  in  the  lagoon  behind  the  pine-woods 
inland  from  Alcudia  Bay,  and  then  returned  every  night  to 
roost  at  a  certain  spot  on  the  crags  and  among  the  stunted 
pines  on  the  cliffs  of  the  southern  face  of  the  Cabo  del  Pinar, 
sharing  their  roosting-place  with  an  equal  number  of  Herons ; 
and  when  I  visited  this  place  in  Januaiy  1920  about  a 
hundred  of  each  species  w  ere  there — some  of  the  Herons  fast 
asleep  on  the  crags  and  in  the  caverns  of  the  cliff,  and  many 
of  the  Cormorants  too  lazy  to  fly  away.  Both  species  nest 
at  this  spot — the  Cormorants  on  the  cliffs,  and  the  Herons 
either  on  the  cliffs  or  in  the  pine-trees.  When  the  harbour 
of  Alcudia  is  quiet,  in  bad  weather  or  on  feast-days.  Cor- 
morants come  right  into  the  harbour  and  are  sometimes 
caught  in  the  nets. 

Qbtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

138.  Phalacrocorax  graculus  desmarestii.     Shag, 

Not  very  plentiful.  Two  or  three  pairs  nest  together  at 
various  spots  scattered  along  the  same  cliffs  as  those  in  which 
the  Cormorants  breed,  and  they  roost  in  the  winter  at  their 
nesting-places.     None  are    ever    seen    in    the    lagoons,  but 

3a2 


704  Captain  P.  W.  Mnnn  on  the  [This, 

they  frequent  the  liarboiir  of  Alciulia,  as  well   as  the  small 
bays  and  inlets  of  Alcudia  and  Pollensa  Bays.     After  heavy 
gales  they  are  found  frequently  dead  upon  the  shore. 
Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

139.  Pelecanus  onocrotalus.     AVliite  Pelican. 

Von  Jordans  quotes  a  record  of  its  occurrence  in  the 
Albufera  in  1773. 

140.  Anser  anser.     Grey  Lag-Goose. 

A  rare  winter  visitor.  I  saw  one  on  the  lagoons  near 
Puerto  Alcudia  on  19  February,  1921,  and  heaid  a  wild 
Goose  of  some  sort  passing  over  the  Albufera  on  28  February, 
1920. 

141.  Anser  fabalis.     Bean-Goose. 

Included  by  v.  Jordans  on  Barcelo^s  authority. 

142.  Cygnus  cygnus.     Whooper  Swan. 

Von  Jordans  quotes  a  record  of  Barcelo's  of  its  occurrence 
in  the  Albufera  in  18t)4. 

143.  Anas  platyrhyncha.     Wild  Duck, 

Common  and  resident.  During  the  winter  large  flocks 
frequent  the  Albufera  and  adjacent  lagoons  as  well  as  the 
Albuferete,  and  I  have  seen  miles  of  Duck  in  Alcudia  and 
Pollensa  Bays  during  calm  weather.  The  majority  depart 
in  early  spring,  but  a  considerable  number  remain  to  nest  in 
the  marshes  and  pine-woods  near  the  shore.  Jn  March  and 
April  I  have  found  their  nests  in  the  pine-woods  in  thickets 
of  heather,  myrtle,  butcher^s  broom,  etc. ;  but  they  are  nmch 
sought  after  by  the  natives,  who,  if  possible,  kill  the  Duck 
and  take  her  eggs.  The  eggs  are  rather  smaller  than  British 
specimens. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

144.  Anas  strepera.     Gadwall. 

Included  by  v.  Jordans  on  Barcelo's  authority. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Alcudia,  Majorca.  705 

145.  Cluerquedula  querquedula.     Garganey. 

Occurs  in  small  numbers  in  the  spring.     A  male  was  shot 
out  of  a  flock  of  seven  on  25  March,  1921,  at  Puerto  Alcudia, 
Not  observed  by  v.  Jordans,  who  quotes  Barcelo. 

146.  Querquedula  crecca.     (Common  Teal. 

Plentiful  in  the  winter  in  the  Albufera  and  lagoons,  and 
in  lesser  numbers  in  the  Albuferete,  but  I  have  never  seen 
any  late  enough  in  spring  to  sup[)Ose  they  might  nest. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

147.  Mareca  penelope.     Wigeon. 

Large  flocks  frequent  the  lagoons  in  the  winter  and  resort 
to  the  bays  of  Alcudia  and  PoUensa  during  the  day,  but  all 
depart  in  early  spring.  They  rarely  visit  the  reedy  swamps 
of  the  Albufera. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

148.  Spatula  clypeata.     Shoveler. 

Von  Jordans  includes  it  on  Barcelo's  authority. 

149.  Dafila  acuta.     Pintail. 

Great  numbers  in  the  Albufera  and  lagoons,  near  Alcudia, 
in  the  winter,  generally  associating  with  Wigeon.  Some 
remain  in  the  district  later  than  the  other  winter  Ducks,  and 
I  have  seen  them  on  the  sand-banks  in  Alcudia  Bay  as  late 
as  the  middle  of  April. 

Included  by  v.  Jordans  on  Barcelo's  authority. 

150.  Netta  rufina.      Red-crested  Pochard. 

Von  Jordans  includes  this  species  on  the  authority  of 
Homejer  ;  but  Barcelo's  notes  are  not  applicable  in  these 
days,  nor  are  they  at  all  so  in  the  case  of — 

151.  Nyroca  nyroca.     White-eyed  Pochard. 

152.  Nyroca  ferina.     Pochard. 
Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

153.  Nyroca  fuligula.     Tufted  Duck. 

Occurs  in  small  numbers  in  the  winter  in  the  Albufera 
and  lagoons ;  generally  associating  with  the  Coots,  but  none 
remain  to  nest. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 


706  Captaiu  P.  W.  Munn  on  the  [Ibis, 

154.  Glaucion  clangula.     GoMen-Eye. 
Included  by  v.  Jordaus  on  Barcelo's  authority. 

155.  Mergus  merganser.     Goosander. 

156.  Mergus  serrator.     Red-breasted  Merganser. 
During  the  wet  autumn  and  winter  of  1020-21   several 

small  parties  of  botli  these  species  frequented  the  lagoons 
and  inundation,  near  Puerto  Alcudia,  as  well  :is  the  mouths 
of  the  streams  running  into  Alcudia  Bay. 

Von  Jordans  quotes  Barcelo  as  the  authority  for  the  occur- 
rence of  both  these  species,  as  well  as  for — 

157.  Mergellus  albellus.     Smew. 

158.  Phcenicopterus  antiquorum.     Flamingo. 
Whatever   may  have   been  the  case  in  former  years,  the 

Flamingo  certainly  does  not  now  breed  in  Majorca;  possibly 
it  may  rarely  occur  on  migration.     I  know  of  no  localities 
where  it  would  be  likely  to  remain  for  any  time. 
Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

159.  Ardea  cinerea.     Heron. 

During  the  winter  quantities  of  Herons  inhabit  the 
Albufera  and  lagoons,  and  stand  in  rows  along  the  dykes 
and  ditches,  and  also  freciuent  the  sand-banks  in  Alcudia 
Bay.  They  roost  on  the  eliU's  of  the  C-abo  tlel  Pinar,  with 
the  Cormorants,  and  some  nest.  A  few  pairs  evidently  nest 
also  in  the  reed-beds  of  the  Albufera,  but  the  recesses  of  this 
great  swamp  are  quite  inaccessible  in  summer,  being  covered 
with  dense  thickets  of  reeds  growing  in  water  more  or  less 
deep.      Some  |  ass  over  the  district  on  spring  migration. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

160.  Ardea  purpurea.     Purple  Heron. 

Arrives  in  April  in  small  numbers  in  the  Albufera,  where 
it  breeds  ;  but  only  visits  the  A.lbuferete  on  passage,  as  this 
marsh  is  now  so  curtailed  in  size. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

161.  Egretta  alba.     Great  White  Heron. 

Von  Jorchins  remarks  on  Barcelo's  note  on  this  species. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Ah-udia,  Majorca.  707 

102.  Egretta  garzetta.     Little  Egret. 
Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

163.  Ardeola  ibis.     Buff-backed  Heron. 

On  12  January,  1920,  one  ot  these  birds  flew  into  the 
Albufera  and  settled  among  some  cattle  grazing  in  a  shallow 
part;  it  was  evidently  a  stranger,  as  the  cattle  were  alarmed 
at  its  appearance  ;  but  it  did  not  remain  long  before  con- 
tinuiu"-  its  flij^'ht  southwards. 

Not  included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  for  Majorca. 

104.  Ardeola  ralloides.     Squacco  Heron. 
Von  Jordans  quotes  Barcelo. 

165.  Nycticorax  nycticorax.     Night  Heron. 

On  24  March,  1921,  I  disturbed  a  party  of  these  birds 
among  tiie  pine-woods  between  the  Albufera  and  Alcudia 
Bay.  I  came  across  them  frequently  afterwards  in  the  same 
woods  up  to  the  end  of  May,  and  quite  expect  they  nested 
in  the  neighbourhood. 

Included  by  v.  Jordans  on  Homeyer's  authority. 

166.  Botaurus  stellaris.     Bittern. 

A  common  resident  in  the  Albufera,  where  its  "boomino-" 
may  be  heard,  both  l)y  day  and  night,  at  most  seasons  of  the 
year.  It  occasionally  strays  into  the  adjacent  lagoons,  where 
I  have  seen  specimens  shot. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

167.  Ciconia  ciconia.      White  Stork. 

168.  Platalea  leucorodia.     Spoonbill. 

Von  Jordans  includes  these  species  on  Barcelo's  authority, 

169.  Plegadis  falcinellus.     Glossy  Ibis. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  Homeyer's  authority. 

170.  Grus  grus.     Crane. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  Barcelo's  authority. 

171.  Anthropoides  virgo.     Demoiselle  Crane. 

Von  Jordans  quotes  Barcelo  regarding  the  occurrence  of 
this  species. 


708  Captain  P.  W.  Munn  on  the  [Ibis, 

172.  Balearica  pavonina.     Crowned  Crane. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  ;  but  Howard  Saunders' 
remark  that  it  has  "  never  occurred  "  is  probably  correct. 

173.  (Edicnemus  cedicnemus.     Stone-Curlew. 

Resident  and  not  uncommon.  Small  parties  frequent  the 
sea-shore,  fields,  and  marshes  near  Puerto  Alcudia,  and 
Pollensa  Bay  in  the  winter,  and  scattered  pairs  nest  on  open 
sandy  spots  among  the  pine-woods  on  the  shores  of  Alcudia 
Bay  and  on  the  rocky  fields  near  the  lagoons.  In  the  pine- 
woods  the  eggs  are  generally  laid  at  the  foot  of  a  small 
pine-tree  rather  than  in  the  open,  where  they  would  run 
the  risk  of  being  destroyed  by  cattle.  Like  most  Plovers, 
they  make  a  number  of  scrapes  before  deciding  in  which 
one  to  deposit  their  eggs. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

174.  Glareola  pratincola.     Collared  Pratincole. 
Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  the  authority  of  Homeyer 

and  Barcelo. 

175.  Scolopax  rusticola.     Woodcock. 

A  winter  visitor,  found  sparsely  thronghout  the  whole 
district,  arriving  in  October  and  remaining  sometimes  until 
the  latter  part  of  March.  They  are  most  plentiful  in  the 
pine-woods  on  the  shore  of  Alcudia  Bay  among  the  thickets 
of  myrtle,  juniper,  heather,  rosemary,  etc.  ;  but  I  also  have 
fl'ished  them  in  the  uncultivated  parts,  among  the  orchards, 
in  the  woods  among  the  hills,  on  the  l)arren  Cabo  de 
Menorca,  and  in  the  cane-brakes  on  the  bunds  in  the 
AJbufera,  and  I  have  seen  them  flighting  in  the  evening  to 
the  Albufera  from  the  adjacent  hills. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

17G.  Gallinago  gallinago.     Common  Snipe. 

Found  in  quantities  during  the  winter  in  the  Albufera 
and  Albuferete,  and  adjacent  country.  A  good  many  are 
still  in  the  swamps  at  the  end  of  April,  but  I  have  not  yet 
discovered  signs  of  their  nesting. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Ale  ml  la,  Majorca.  709 

A  specimen  of  Sabine's  Sni[)e  was  shot  in  the  All)ufera 
on  27  February,  1920,  but  was  so  mangled  by  the  dog  that 
retrieved  it  that  it  was  not  possible  to  preserve  it. 

177.  Gallinago  media.     Great  Snipe. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  the  authority  of  Barcelo. 

178.  Limnocryptes  gallinula.     Jack  Snipe. 

A  few  occur  in  the  winter  in  the  same  localities  as  the 
C;ommon  Snipe^  but  they  are  not  abundant.  I  trod  on  one 
once  in  the  Alcudia  marshes  ;  it  left  some  of  its  feathers 
beneath  my  foot. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

179.  Calidris  canutus.     Knot. 

Some  small  [)arties  of  this  species  frequented  the  marshes 
near  Puerto  Alcudia  in  October  and  November,  1920. 

180.  Erolia  minuta.     Little  Stint. 

On  20  May,  1921,  I  shot  an  example  in  the  marshes  near 
the  Port;  two  others  were  near  it  and  were  absurdly  tame. 
They  were  still  about  on  26  May,  and  associated  sometimes 
with  the  Kentish  Plovers. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

181.  Erolia  alpiiia.      Dunlin. 
Observed  by  \.  Jordans. 

182.  Erolia  ferruginea.     Curlew-Sandpiper. 
Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

183.  Crocethia  alba.     Sanderling. 

Witherby  observed  this  species  in  July  1919  at  Alcudia. 

181.  Philomachus  pugnax.     Ruff. 

A  flock  of  four  or  Hve  individuals  frequented  the  shores 
of  Alcudia  Bay  all  the  wdnter  of  1919-20  until  the 
beginning  of  April  1920.  They  were  always  wild  and 
unapproachable. 

Von  Jordans  quotes  Homeyer  and  Barcelo. 


710  Captain  P.  W.  Munn  on  the  [Ibis, 

185.  Tringa  totanus.     Redshank. 

Common  in  the  Albnfera  and  adjacent  marshes  during 
the  winter.  A  good  many  were  still  in  the  district  at  the 
end  of  May,  and  I  think  it  is  probable  that  some  breed 
there. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

18G.  Tringa  erythropus.     Spotted  Redshank. 

187.  Tringa  nebular  la.     Green  shank. 

Von  Jordans  admits  both  these  species  to  his  list  on  the 
authority  of  Homeyer  and  Barcelo. 

188.  Tringa  hypoleuca.     Common  Sandpiper. 

Occurs  in  small  numbers  throughout  the  winter,  even  on 
the  shore  at  Raima  below  the  Almudaina.  1  have  observed 
them  in  pairs  in  the  district  at  the  end  of  May,  so  possibly 
some  breed  here. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans,  and  though  he  speaks  of  it  as  a 
breeding  species,  the  nest  and  eggs  have  yet  to  bo  obtained 
from  the  island. 

189.  Tringa  ochropus.     Green  Sandpiper. 

Found  singly  or  in  pairs  in  suitable  localities,  especially 
in  the  AlbuFera,  during  the  whole  winter,  and  some  were 
still  there  at  the  end  of  May. 

190.  Tringa  glareola.     AVood-Sandpipor. 

Occurs  sparingly  in  the  Albufera  during  the  winter  and 
late  in  the  spring. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

191.  Limosa  limosa.     Black-tailed  Godwit. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  Homeyer's  and  Barcelo's 
authority. 

192.  Numenius  arquata.     Curlew. 

An  odd  bird  or  two  frequent  the  shores  of  Alcudia  Bay  and 
adjacent  lagoons  and  marshes  all  the  winter  and  up  to  May. 
It  also  occurs  sparingly  on  other  parts  of  the  coast. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 


1 9  2 1 .  J  Birds  of  A  Ic  udia ,  Majorca .  711 

193.  Numenius  phaeopus.     Whimbrel. 
Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

194.  Numenius  tenuirostris.     Sl(Midcr-bilIo.d  Carlo w. 
Admitted  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  the  authority  oh'  Homejer 

and  Barcelo  ;  but  many  of  the  statements  made  by  these  two 
writers  on  Majorca  birds  are  so  improbable  tliat  it  is  not 
possible  to  rely  on  them,  and  they  are  better  omitted. 

195.  Hiraantopus  himantopus.     Black-winoed  Stilt. 

I  saw  a  single  example  oE  tliis  Sj)ecies  on  the  lagoons  near 
Alcudia  on  14  April,  1921. 

Von  Jordans  found  it  breeding  in  the  island. 

196.  Recurvirostra  avocetta.     Avocet. 
Included  by  v.  Jordans  on  Baicelo's  authority. 

197.  Charadrius  apricarius.     Golden  Plover. 

Some  small  flocks  were  seen  among  the  Peewits  in  the 
Albufera  during  the  winter  and  earlv  spring. 

198.  Squatarola  squatavola.     Grey  Plover. 

I  saw  a  flock  of  seven  individuals  on  14  November,  1919, 
and  several  times  later  during  the  same  winter,  in  the 
Albufera  and  neighbourhood  ;  and  also  a  single  bird  on  the 
sand-baidvs  in  Alcudia  Bay  on  18  November,  1920. 

199.  .ffigialitis  hiaticula.     Ringed  Plover. 
Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

200.  JEgialitis  alexandrina.     Kentish  Plover. 

A  very  common  and  confiding  bird,  found  during  all  the 
year,  round  the  shores  of  Alcudia  Bay,  in  the  Albufera,  the 
Alcudia  marshes,  as  well  as  at  the  Albuferete  and  the  lower 
end  of  Pollensa  Bay.  Their  numbers  are  considerably  auo-- 
mented  in  spring  by  birds  arriving  to  breed.  They  nest 
abundantly  in  a  variety  of  situations — on  the  sandy  shores 
of  the  bay,  on  the  dried  mud  of  the  lagoons,  in  the  marshes, 
on  ihe  fields,  and  even  on  the  sandy  cart-tracks  leading  to 
the  shore  and  on  the  roadside  bounding  the  i^hore  close  to 


712  Capiain  P.  W.  Mann  on  the  [Ibis, 

Puerto  Alcudia.  The  birds  pair  about  the  middle  of  Feb- 
ruary, and  in  1920  I  found  the  earliest  eggs  on  10  April — 
two  nests  with  fresh  eggs  and  one  with  eggs  considerably 
incubated  ;  but  in  1921  the  first  nest  was  found  on  27 
March  with  fresh  eggs.  The  eggs  are  always  difficult  to 
find,  being  often  half  buried  in  the  sand,  with  usually  no 
nest  beyond  a  mere  scrape;  but  nests  made  on  the  mud  in 
the  marshes  or  on  dry  patches  inland  have  generally  a 
number  of  small  stones  or  pieces  of  dried  mud  arranged 
around  and  beneath  the  eggs.  In  the  maishes  they  are  in- 
variably laid  on  the  edge  of  an  open  space  beneath  a  tinj^ 
stalk  of  samphire.  On  the  sand  the  footprints  of  the  birds 
show  the  whereabouts  of  their  nest,  and  generally  there  are 
several  "  scrapes  "  near  by,  which  have  not  been  utilised  for 
laying  in.  Several  nests  were  found  close  to  Puerto  Alcudia 
on  the  sandy  shore,  where  sometimes  as  many  as  fifty  carts 
were  being  loaded  with  seaweed,  and  immbers  of  nests  are 
destroyed  by  the  traflfic.  One  pair  of  birds  tried  to  nest  on 
a  threshing-floor  near  the  Port,  but  were  driven  away  when 
the  floor  was  swept  for  use.  Another  pair  laid  their  eggs  on 
the  top  of  a  low  w.Jl  bounding  the  shore.  The  birds  are 
seldom  demonstrative  when  their  nest  is  approached,  the 
hen  bird  usually  running  quietly  away  from  her  eggs.  The 
eggs  vary  very  much,  one  type  being  very  light  si  one-colour, 
with  small  spots  of  black,  brown,  and  grey.  Another  type 
has  a  dark  ground,  thickly  scrawled  with  dark  black  and 
brown.  Some  closely  resemble  eggs  of  the  Little  Kinged 
Plover.  The  note  is  a  sharp  "  twit"  or  "  chirrup." 
Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

201.  -ffigialitis  dubia.     Little  Ringed  Plover. 

This  species  is  evidently  of  very  rare  occurrence,  for 
during  1919  and  1920  I  never  came  across  it  ;  but  early  in 
March  1921  a  few  small  parties  passed  tlirough  the  district, 
and  on  IG  ftlarch  I  took  a  nest  with  three  eggs— an  extra- 
ordinarily early  date  considering  the  inundated  state  of  the 
country — made  on  the  dried  mud  of  the  marshes  near  the 
shore,  at  the  side  of  a  small  plant  of  samphire.  The  birds 
had  entirely  disappeared  the  next  day,  but  on  4  May  I  found 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Alcnd'ia,  Majorca.  713 

two  pairs  nesting  in  a  sandy  ravine  which  divides  the  pine- 
woods  on  the  furilier  shores  of  Aleudia  Bay.  One  pair 
apparently  liad  vonng,  but  I  found  a  nest  of  tlie  other  pair 
with  four  eggs,  nearly  ready  to  hatch,  laid  on  the  sand  in  a 
scrape,  with  a  few  small  pieces  of  coral  and  shells,  on  the 
top  of  a  hillock  among  scanty,  scrnbhy  herbage.  On  visiting 
this  spot  again  on  21  May,  I  I'ound  a  similar  nest  wifh  four 
eggs,  evidently  belonging  to  the  same  pair  of  birds.  The 
eggs  from  both  these  nests  were  finely  pointed  and  of  a  light 
greyish  colour,  covered  with  small  dark  spots,  but,  after 
blowing,  the  ground-colour  changed  io  lig?it  buff.  The 
behaviour  of  the  birds  at  their  nest  is  totally  different  from 
Kentish  Plovers,  which  are  not  demonstrative  whilst  they 
have  eggs;  but  the  Little  Ringed  Plover  flies  wildly  round 
and  round,  twisting  and  doubling  and  uttering  its  wild 
whistle,  or  else  runs  frantically  about  on  the  ground,  wdiist- 
ling  plaintively.  With  a  larger  series  of  Little  liinged 
Plovers'  eggs  from  Majorca,  I  shall  be  able  to  show  that 
these  eggs  often  closely  resemble  some  examples  of  the 
Kentish  Plover,  as  I  have  shown  that  many  of  the  Kentish 
Plovers'  eggs  closely  assimilate  to  those  of  the  Little  Ringed 
Plover.  The  eggs  of  the  three  Little  Ringed  Plovers  taken 
on  16  March  were  of  a  totally  dift'erent'type  from  those  taken 
on  4  and  21  May. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  Homeyer's  authority,  who 
writes  of  it  as  beino-  the  rarest  Plover. 

202.  Vanellus  vanellus.     Lapwing. 

Large  flocks  inhabit  the  Albufera  and  neighbourhood 
during  the  winter,  Ijut  all  leave  the  district  in  the  beginning 
of  March.  Smaller  quantities  are  found  in  the  Albuferete 
in  the  same  season. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

203.  Haematopus  ostralegus.     Oystercatcher. 

A  small  party  frequented  the  sand-banks  in  Aleudia  Bay 
from  11  April,  1920,  and  were  still  in  the  district  on  3  May, 
but  later  I  did  not  observe  them. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 


714  Captain  P.  W.  Munn  on  the  [Ibis, 

204.  Arenaria  interpres,     Turnstone. 
Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

205.  Larus  canus.     (Common  Grull. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  the  authority  of  Barcelo. 

20fi.  Larus  cachinnans.     Yellovv-lef;ged  Herring-Gull. 

Tliis  is  the  only  resident  Gull,  and  is  found  in  compara- 
tively small  numbers.  Scattered  pairs  uest  on  the  cliffs  of 
the  coast. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

207.  Larus  marinus.     Great  Black-backed  Gull. 

A  few  immature  specimens  were  noticed  during  the 
winter. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  the  authority  of  Barcelo. 

208.  Larus  fuscus.     Lesser  Black-backed  Gull. 

A  few  examples,  both  mature  and  immature,  of  this 
species  were  observed  during  the  winter. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  Barcelo's  authority. 

209.  Larus  melanocephalus.     Mediterranean  Black-headed 

Gull. 
I  did  not  identify  this  species  until  11  April,  1921  ;  they 
were  then  easily  distinguishable  from  Larus  ridibundus  by 
their  black  heads. 

210.  Larus  ridibundus.     Black-headed  Gull. 

C!ommon  during  the  winter  in  the  Albufera  and  marshes 
and  on  the  coast,  and  remaining  until  the  end  of  March  or 
middle  of  April,  when  they  have  completely  assumed  their 
brown  hoods. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

211.  Larus  minutus.     Little  Gull. 

An  immature  example  of  this  species,  in  handsomely 
marked  plumage,  frequented  a  lagoon  in  the  marshes  near 
Puerto  Alcudia  for  some  time  at  the  end  of  March  and 
beginning  of  April, 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Alcudia,  Majorca.  715 

212.  Larus  audouini.     Audouin's  Gull. 
Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

213.  Larus  gelastes.     Slender-billed  Gull. 

On  21  May,  1921,  I  saw  a  Gull,  which  I  believe  to  have 
been  of  this  species,  with  some  Herring-Gulls  on  a  lagoon 
near  Puerto  Alcudia. 

214.  Gelochelidon  nilotica.     Gull-billed  Tern. 
Included  in  v.  Jordans^  list  on  Barcelo's  authority. 

215.  Sterna  hirundo.     Common  Tern. 

A  small  party  of  these  birds  were  fishing  in  Alcudia  Bay 
on  11  April,  1921,  but  had  passed  on  by  the  next  day. 
Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  Barcelo's  authority. 

216.  Sterna  miniita.      Little  Tern. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  Homey er's  authority. 

217.  Sterna  caspia.     Caspian  Tern. 

I  saw  an  example  o£  this  species  on  28  April,  1920,  flying- 
northwards  over  the  Albufera  and  lagoons. 

218.  Sterna  sandvicensis.     Sandwich  Tern. 
Included  in  v,  Jordans'  list  on  Barcelo's  authority. 

219.  Hydrochelidon  nigra.     Black  Tern. 

220.  Hydrochelidon   leucoptera.        White  -  winged    Black 

Tern, 

Both  these  species  are  included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on 
Barcelo's  or  Homeyer's  authority. 

I  may  remark  that,  with  regard  to  the  Terns  particularly, 
the  quotations  that  v.  Jordans  has  inserted  in  his  list  from 
earlier  observers  are,  in  these  days,  utterly  inapplicable. 

221.  Catharacta  skua.     Great  Skua. 

I  saw  one  on  29  March,  1920,  half-way  between  Minorca 
and  Miijorca,  among  Herring-Gulls,  some  way  ;i stern  of  the 
steamer. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  Homeyer's  authority. 


71 G  Captain  P.  W.  Mnnn  on  the  [Ibis, 

222.  Alca  torda.     Razorbill. 

Von  Jordans  states  it  was  obtained  near  Arta  in  1913., 

223.  Uria  troile.     ( 'omnion  Guillemot, 
included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

224.  Fratercula  arctica.     Puffin. 

Many  frequent  the  Bay  of  Alcudia  and  the  sea  between 
Minorca  and  Majorca,  and  a  few  Pollensa  Bay,  during  the 
winter  up  to  the  end  of  March;  they  never  venture  near 
the  land. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

225.  Thalassidroma  pelagica.     Storm  Petrel. 
Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

226.  Puffinus  p.  yelkouan.     Levantine  Shearwater*. 
Frequent  in  Alcudia  and  Pollensa  Bays  and  neighbouring 

sea  all  the  year.  In  January  1921,  when  in  a  boat  between 
the  Oabo  de  Menorca  and  the  (kbo  del  Pinar,  one  of  these 
birds  suddenly  appeared  close  to  the  boat,  diving  around 
and  beneath  it  in  a  frenzied  manner  and  following  any 
object  thrown  to  it,  until  it  was  touched  by  an  oar,  when  it 
took  to  flight. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

227.  Puffinus  kuhli.     Mediterranean  Great  Shearwater. 
The  most  abundant  sea-bird  in  the  Bays  of  Alcudia  and 

Pollensa  and  adjacent  sea  all  the  year  ;  many  are  caught  by 
fishermen  in  their  nets. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

Both  the  above  Shearwaters  nest  sparingly  on  the  coast  of 
Majorca  and  neighbouring  islets,  but  more  abundantly  in 
Minorca  and  its  islands. 

228.  Podiceps  cristatus.     Great  Crested  Grebe. 

Several    examples    frequented    the    Bay  of   Alcudia    and 
adjacent  lagoons  during  the  winter  of  1920-21. 
Included  by  v.  Jordans  on  Barcelo's  authority. 

*  See  note  on  p.  676. 


1 9  2 1 .  ]  Birds  of  A  Icudia,  Majorca .  717 

229.  Podiceps  griseigena.     Red-necked  Grebe. 
I  observed  this  species  in  small  numbers  on  the  lagoons 
near  Puerto  Alcudia  in  November  1921. 

Included  by  v.  Jordans  on  Barcelo's  authority. 

2.30.  Podiceps  auritus.     Eared  Grebe. 
Included  in  y.  Jordans'  list. 

2.31.  Podiceps  nigricollis.     Black-necked  Grebe. 

This  sjjecies  frequents  the  higoons  in  the  neiohbourhood 
ol  Puerto  Alcudia  during  the  winter  in  small  numbers,  and 
though  they  do  not  remain  to  breed  on  these  pieces  of  water, 
they  probably  remove  to  the  Albufera  adjoining  for  that 
purpose. 

232.  Podiceps  ruficollis.     Little  Grebe. 

Not  uncommon  in  suitable  localities ;  there  were  numbers 
in  the  Albufera  all  the  year  which  strayed  on  to  the 
adjacent  lagoons  during  the  winter. 

The  Grebes,  when  attacked  by  Marsh-Harriers,  dive 
hurriedly,  splashing  the  water  high  into  the  air,  possibly 
with  the  idea  of  driving  off  their  pursuer. 

233.  Rallus  aquaticus.     Water-Rail. 

Fairly  plentiful  in  suitable  localities  all  the  year. 
Obtained  l)y  v.  Jordans. 

234.  Porzana  porzana.     Spotted  Crake. 

Nearly  as  plentiful  as  the  last-named,  and  a  good  many 
are  shot  in  the  autumn. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  Barcelo's  and  Homeyer's 
authority. 

235.  Porzana  pusilla.     Baillon's  Crake. 

236.  Porzana  parva.     Little  Crake. 

Von  Jordans  includes  both  these  species  in  his  list. 

237.  Crex  crex.     Corn-Crake. 

Included  by  v.  Jordans  on  Barcelo's  authority. 

SER.  XI. VOL,  III.  3  B 


718  Captain  P.  W.  Munn  on  the  [Ibis, 

238.  Gallinula  chloropus.     Moor-Hen. 

Not  very  numerous  and  very  shy.     Observed  in  the  Albu- 
£era  and  in  the  ditches  close  to  Alcudia  all  the  year. 
Included  by  v.  Jordans. 

239.  Fulica  atra.     Coot. 

Very  common  in  the  winter,  when  large  flocks  frequent 
the  Albufera,  the  lagoons,  the  Albuferete,  and  the  Bays  o£ 
Alcudia  and  Pollensa,  but  their  numbers  are  considerably 
reduced  in  the  nesting-season.  The  Marsh-Harriers  often 
make  determined  attacks  on  the  flocks  of  Coots  and  attempt 
to  prey  on  them,  and  by  swooping  above  them  try  to  separate 
a  bird  from  the  flock  ;  but  the  Coots  scutter  wildly  over  the 
water  with  such  a  flapping  and  splashing  as  can  be  heard  a 
lo*ng  way  off,  and  then  as  quickly  as  possible  assemble  to- 
gether again,  while  the  Harrier  retires  to  rest  near  by  until  it 
renews  its  assault. 

Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list  on  Barcelo's  authority. 

240.  Fulica  cristata.     Red-lobed  Coot. 

This  species  is  also  included  by  v.  Jordans  from  Homeyer's 
and  Barcelo's  observations  ;  but  amongst  the  numbers  of 
F.  atra  that  I  have  seen  or  handled,  I  have  never  come 
across  F.  cristata, 

241.  Porphyrio  caeruleus.     Purple  Gallinule. 
Included  in  v.  Jordans'  list. 

242.  Columba  cenas.     Stock-Dove. 
Included  by  v.  Jordans  on  Barcelo's  authority. 

243.  Columba  palumbus.     Wood-Pigeon. 

This  species  is  a  summer  visitor  to  the  district,  and  I  did 
not  come  across  any  until  19  April,  1920,  when  they 
appeared  in  the  pine-woods  among  the  hills  and  were  busy 
pairing.  In  1921,  I  noticed  the  earliest  arrivals  on  12 
March.  They  are  not  plentiful,  and  only  resort  to  those 
woods  where  the  trees  are  of  good  size. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 


1 92 1.]  Birds  of  Alcudia,  Majorca.  719 

244.  Columba  livia.     Rock-Dove. 

A  plentiful  resident,  but  very  wild.  Small  parties  up  to, 
perhaps,  fifty  individuals  were  scattered  about  in  suitable 
localities  along  the  coast  as  well  as  about  some  of  the  cliffs 
inland.  One  flock  had  its  invariable  line  of  flight  from  its 
feeding-grounds  inland  to  the  Cabo  de  Menorca  by  way  of 
(•ol  Baix,  aud  came  rushing  up  over  the  tops  of  the  pine- 
woods,  to  hurl  themselves  through  the  gaji  to  the  caverns 
they  frequented  in  the  cliffs  beneath.  Another  i)arty  always 
flew  over  the  pine-woods  on  the  shore  of  Alcudia  Bay 
towards  Pollensa  Bay,  and  along  that  coast  to  the  Cabo  del 
Pinar.  I  have  occasionally  seen  flocks  feeding  in  the 
fields. 

Included  in  v.  Jordan s'  list. 

245.  Streptopelia  turtur.     Turtle-Do  ve. 

A  common  summer  visitor,  arriving  at  the  end  of  May 
and  nesting  plentifully  in  the  pine-woods  on  the  shores  of 
Alcudia  Bay.  I  found  the  earliest  egg  on  21  ]\Iay, 
1921. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

246.  Alectoris  rufa.     Red-leogeJ  Partridjre. 

Common  on  rocky  hillsides  and  scrub-covered  ground, 
but  very  wild  and  shy.  Very  few  came  into  the  markets 
during  the  very  wet  winter  of  1920-21. 

Observed  by  v.  Jordans. 

Witherby  states  that  two  which  I  obtained  are  neither 
intercedens  nor  Jiispanica,  the  two  Spanish  forms,  but  are  like 
the  typical  form  in  colour,  though  a  larger  series  may  [)rove 
that  they  are  rather  smaller. 

247.  Coturnix  cotumix.     Quail. 

A  resident,  but  not  very  plentiful.  I  have  not  noticed 
any  signs  of  large  spring  or  autumn  migrations.  Heard 
calling  in  the  crops  during  April  and  May,  and  during  the 
winter  frequenting  also  wet,  marshy  land. 

Obtained  by  v.  Jordans. 

3b2 


720  Mr.  J.  Lewis  Bonhote  :  SuJ>spefies  [Ibis, 

XXXVII. — Subspecies  and  their  part  in  Evolution. 
By  J.  Lewis  Bonhote,  M.A.,  M.B.O.U. 

Mr.  LooMis's' letter  in  'The  Ibis'  (1920,  p.  964)  on  sub- 
species contains  many  orains  ol:  sound  connnonsense,  which, 
if  it  only  makes   us   pause  for  a  few  moments  to  consider 
what  subspecies  really  are,  how  they  arise,  and  whither  their 
recognition    is  leading  us,  will  have  had  a  most  beneficial 
effect.     It  must  be  remembered — and  the  fact  is  too  often 
forgotten' — that  nomenchiture  is  a  means  to  an  end,  and  not 
the  end  itself.     In  order  to  be  able  to  handle  the  vast  array 
of  facts   presented  by  a  study  oE  Nature,  naturalists  have 
invented  a  system   whereby  relationships    between    various 
groups    are    roughly   shown    by   methods    of    grouping   and 
naming;  and  up  to  some  20 years  ago  the  "species"  was  the 
smallest  "  item  "  in  that  system.     The  object  of  this  system, 
however,  was  not  merely  to  enable  us  to  arrange  our  collec- 
tions in   cabinets,  but  that,  having  arranged  them   in  some 
sort  of  a  natural  order,  we  might  attempt  with  greater  ease 
to  unravel  some  of  the  mysteries  of  Nature's  laws.     I  am 
not  prepared  to  say  that  such  a  "  unit"  as  a  species  actually 
exists  in  Nature.     When  it  does  it  must  have  been  brought 
about  either  because  that  species  arose  as   a  discontinuous 
variation,  or  because  the  connecting  series  of  small  varia- 
tions have  been  lost  so  as  to  leave  it  without  any  obviously 
near  relatives.     This   latter  is    the  case,  as  we   know,  with 
many  present-day  species,   and    thus   is   formed    what    Mr. 
Loomis  calls  a  "  fundamental  bird  unit,"  although  I  do  not 
agree  with  him  that  they  are  in  any  way  "fundamental"; 
nevertheless,  for  practical  purposes,  they  may  be  considered 
as  "  units." 

Of  late  years  the  accumulating  of  larger  and  more  care- 
fully collected  series  has  shown  us  that  many  of  what  were 
previously  considered  merely  as  sporadic  varieties  are  in 
reality  definite  phases  common  to  all  individuals  of  a  par- 
ticular species  in  a  certain  area;  and  that  such  a  form 
intergrades  gradually  into  the  form  which  happens  to  be 
next    it  geographically.     These  came    to    be  recognized  as 


1 921.]  and  theh'  part  in  Evolution.  721 

subspecies,  and  were  designated  in  our  "  system  "  by  a  tri- 
nomial. In  my  own  opinion  the  binomial  species  name  is  the 
only  one  that  should  appear  as  a  heading  in  books  and  papers, 
and  the  subspecies  should  be  given  as  a  sub-heading— this, 
by  the  way,  as  my  present  object  is  not  to  deal  with  trivial 
details,  but  to  get  at  what  subspecies  are  and  the  part  they 
play  in  evolution . 

It  is  generally  agreed,  though  the  rule  is  frequently 
honoured  in  the  breach,  that  trinomials  should  only  be  given 
to  geographic  forms — that  is  to  say,  to  variations  due  solely 
to  the  influences  of  the  climatic  conditions  of  their  habitat, 
and  it  is  reasonably  stretched  to  include  island  varieties;  but 
it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  in  an  island  race,  "isolation' 
forms  an  additional  factor  which  has  influenced  the  separa- 
tion ;  and  in  a  closely-lying  group  of  islands  where  each 
island  has  a  distinct  form  though  the  climate  is  similar, 
"  isolation  "  has  probably  been  the  chief  factor  in  separating 
the  race"^.  I  will  now  consider  Messrs.  Lowe  &  Praed's 
letter  ('  Ibis,'  p.  344),  in  which  at  the  beginning  they  strike 
the  right  note  by  asking  "  of  what  scientific  value  are  these 
variations  ?"  I  will  not  deal  at  length  with  the  rest  of  this 
interesting  letter,  but  merely  note  two  points — they  imply 
that  subspecies  are  of  two  kinds:  (1)  due  to  "discontinuous" 
variation,  (2)  due  to  environment.  I  had  always  understood 
that  a  true  subspecies  was  always  supposed  to  be  restricted 
to  the  latter  cause,  and  certainly  think  it  should  be  so. 
Secondly,  they  imply  that  variations  (subspecies)  caused  liy 
environment  cannot  be  inherited  ;  and  hence  it  would  follow 
that  a  true  subspecies  could  have  had  no  influence  on 
evolution,  and  could  never  develop  into  a  new  species. 
Unfortunately,  neither  of  these  authors  can  have  had  any 
practical  experience  of  breeding  birds  or  animals,  or  they 
would  realize  how  very  small  variations  can  be  intensified 
and  fixed  from  a  purely  selective,  sis  apart  from  any  creative, 
agency.  They  are  quite  right  in  carefully  distinguishing 
between  continuous  and  discontinuous  variations,  but  they  are 

*  The  same  conditions  occur  not  uufrequontly  on  land  where  races  are 
separated  by  tracts  of  country  unsuitable  to  them. 


722  Mr.  J.  Lewis  Bonhote  :   iSuhsjyecies  [Ibis^ 

mistaken  if  they  think  that  the  latter  alone  influence  heredity. 
In  my  book  ('  Vigour  and  Heredity/  p.  173  et  seq.)  I  have 
gone  more  fully  into  the  causes  that  may  have  brought 
about  geographical  races,  but,  put  briefly,  it  amounts  to 
this — changes  of  climate  and  food  affect  the  "  Vigour ''  (rate 
of  metabolism)  of  an  imJividual  ;  externally  this  shows 
itself  ])rinKirily  in  its  colour,  but  also  in  many  other  ways. 
The  climate  acting  throuoh  the  iieneral  vio-our  of  the 
individual  will  affect  the  nutritive  value  of  the  egg  ie.(j. 
underfeed  a  breeding  bird  and  see  if  the  chick  is  not  a 
weakling),  and  thus  the  individual  will  tend  to  produce  a 
progeny  having  a  similar  vigour  to  itself  and  also  of  a 
similar  coloration. 

I  am  not  suggesting,  of  course,  that  such  a  change  would 
take  place  at  once,  but  only  in  the  course  of  many  genera- 
tions ;  but  none  the  less  it  does  take  {)lace,  and  the  conditions 
brought  about  by  environment  are  inherited.  A  further 
proof  of  this  is  that  when  subspecies  which  have  originated  in 
different  localities  extend  their  range  and  meet  in  a  common 
locality  {e.g.,  the  Meadow-Starlings  of  North  America*), 
they  yet  retain  their  subspecific  characters.  On  this  line  of 
argument  it  is  evident  tiiat  discontinuous  variations  can 
never  prove  true  subspecies,  since  they  are  not  due  to  environ- 
ment. Dimorphic  forms  m:iy  in  some  cases  be  due  to 
environment  ;  but  these  should,  1  think,  be  given  speciflc 
rank,  and,  in  any  cast',  should  not  be  regarded  as  subspecies 
and  designated  by  trinomials,  since  they  often  occur  side  by 
side  (e.g.,  some  Skuas,  Herons,  Fulmar,  etc.).  My  con- 
ception of  a  species  as  a  whole  is  that  there  are  a  number  of 
"  factors  "  which  may  or  may  not  have  a  Mendelian  inheri- 
tance, but  which  have  a  separate  and  definite  inheritance. 
A  "unit"  species,  say  the  Linnet,  will  contain  a  definite 
number  of  these  factors  ;  another  nearly  allied  "  unit  '^ 
species,  say  the  Redpoll,  will  contain  a  very  large  percentage 
of  the  same  factors,  but  a  few  different  ones,  and  so  on.  In 
dimorphic  species — e.  g..  Black-eared  and  Black-throated 
*  See  Chapmau,  Bull.  Amor.  Mus.  N.  II.  xiii.  1900,  p.  318. 


192 1.]  and  their  part  in  Evolution.  723 

Wlieatear,  Blue  and  White  Herons  (Ardea  rii/a) — all  the 
factors  will  be  the  same  except  one  or  two  ;  but  on  my 
reasoning  they  are  none  the  less  good  species,  because  they 
do  not  contain  exactly  the  same  factors.  Now  all  subspecies 
of  a  given  "  unit  "  contain  exactly  the  same  factors  ;  but  the 
somatic  expression  of  these  factors  .has  been  originally 
altered  by  tlie  environment,  and  subsequently  become  in- 
herited. We  have  only  to  note  in  domestic  types  the 
reversion,  after  some  generations,  to  the  wild  form  to  prove 
the  truth  that  the  factors  have  remained  unchanged,  but 
that  the  alterations  caused  by  environment  (domestication) 
have  been  so  far  inherited  that  the  reversion  is  not  complete 
for  several  jjeneratious. 

Since  the  above  was  written,  I  have  had  the  pleasure  of 
reading  Colonel  Meinertzhagen^s  excellent  article  in  the 
current  number  of  '  The  Ibis,'  p.  528,  to  one  or  two  ])oints 
of  which  I  should  like  to  refer. 

The  author  is  of  opinion  that  no  deductions  from 
mutations  carried  out  on  domestic  varieties  can  be  of  value, 
since  such  conditions  do  not  exist  in  Nature;  but  surelv  by 
carrying  out  heredity  experiments  under  conditions  which 
we  know,  we  are  able  the  more  accurately  to  attempt  to 
understand  .the  laws  of  heredity,  and  can  then  see  if  they 
would  apply  to  wild  species  under  natural  conditions. 

There  is,  to  my  way  of  thinking,  no  need  to  question 
whether  species  arose  by  mutations  or  by  gradual  selection. 
In  the  case  of  domestic  freaks,  which  form  but  a  small 
proportion  of  domestic  races,  they  probably  originated  as 
mutations  ;  but  by  far  the  greater  number  of  our  "  fancy '' 
breeds  to-day  have  been  brought  about  by  a  process  of 
careful  and  minute  selection  in  order  to  intensify  or  diminish 
any  particular  trait  or  character  ;  and  in  that  process  each 
generation  would  show  a  larger  and  increasing  proportion  of 
individuals  having  that  character,  thus  proving  that  not 
only  any  particular  character,  but  also  its  intensitication, 
was  inherited.  The  reason  this  fact  is  not  fully  recognized  is 
because  of  the  compiiratively  short  i)eriods  during  which  a 


724  Mr.  J.  Lewis  Bonlioto  ;  Suhspecies  [Ibis, 

constant  selection  by  one  breeder,  under  the  same  conditions, 
is  able  to  be  carried  out — say  25  to  50  generations  at  the 
most;  and  what  is  that  compared  with  the  ages  which  it  has 
taken  to  develop  species,  or  even  subspecies  ?  Facts  on  this 
subject  being  almost  impossible  to  get,  it  is  well  to  bear  in 
mind  a  paper  by  Mr.  H.  Lyster  Jameson  (Journ.  Linn.  Soc, 
Zool.  vol.  xxvi.  pp.  365-473)  on  a  variety  of  a  House-Mouse 
on  a  sand-bank  in  Dublin  Bay,  which  sand-bank  has  only 
been  in  existence  about  100  years  ;  in  this  case  the  dif- 
ferentiation was  only  beginning  and  many  normal  coloured 
mice  were  found.  In  short,  the  question  of  time  is  all 
important,  and  to  argue  tliat  nature  proceeds  on  ditt'erent 
lines  from  man  because  varieties  produced  by  hiunan  agency 
Ciisily  revert,  is  fallacious  if  we  compare  the  icons  during 
which  natural  selection  has  acted,  coni])ared  with  the  com- 
paratively few  generations  during  which  artiricial  selection 
has  been  conducted.  The  fact,  however,  that  variations 
artificially  produced  by  man  through  an  alteration  of  environ- 
ment have  been  inheiited  for  several  genei'ations  when  normal 
conditions  were  resumed,  has  been  proved  by  Mr.  W.  E. 
Agar  on  variations  in  a  Cladoceran  {SimocepJialus  vetuius), 
and  by  Messrs.  Delcourt  &  Guyenot  on  Drosophila  (Proc.  IV. 
Int.  Congr.  Genetics,  Paris,  1913,  p.  478)  ;  so  that  we  have 
here  considerable  evidence  that  man's  methods  in  producing 
new  forn)s  are  not  fundamentally  different  from  those 
obtaining  in  nature. 

Colonel  Meinertzhagen  wonders  that  no  artificial  variety 
of  Fowl,  Pigeon,  or  Canary  has  ever  occurred  in  a  wild 
state.  This  statement,  if  correct,  would  not  be  unexpected, 
since  an  artificial  environment  cannot  occur  in  nature,  and 
if  such  varieties  did  a})pear,  they  would  show  themselves  in 
an  initial  stage  and  soon  be  swamped,  whereas  man  has 
developed  and  intensified  them  by  selection.  In  a  wider 
sense,  however,  they  do  occur  sporatlically.  For  instance, 
a  Canary — typically  a  green  bird — is  yellow  in  confinement, 
yet  the  nearly  allied  Serin  shows  a  considerable  tendency  to 
yellow,  and  among  Parrots  (green  birds)  yellow  varieties  are 


1 92 1.]  and  their  part  in  Evolution.  725 

b}^  no  moans  unknown  ;  or  agiiin,  cheqnerino,  a  cliaractcr 
common  to  some  domestic  Pigeons  but  prol)ably  unknown 
in  the  pure  wikl  Rock-Pigeon,  is  found  in  a  few  wikl  species 
of  Pigeon — e.<j.  the  Guinea  Pigeon  of  Africa,  and  so  on. 

I  am  quite  in  agreement  with  Colonel  Meinertzhagcn  that 
a  mutation  cannot  establish  a  subspecies,  since  to  mymnid  a 
subspecies  is  entirely  an  environmental  or  geographic  form  ; 
and  if  my  reasoning  in  the  earlier  part  of  this  paper  bo 
correct,  a  geogra[)hic  form  could  never  become  a  separate 
species.  It  might,  I  conceive,  be  possible  for  some  factor  to 
become  "  latent "  or  lost  throuoli  a  chano-e  in  the  environ- 
ment,  and  then  a  new  species  would  evolve.  8ueh  an  event 
might,  by  some,  be  termed  a  mutation  (it  would  probably 
follow  a  Mendelian  inheritance),  but  that  is  a  debatable 
subject  on  which  I  will  not  venture  at  present. 

Putting  the  above  case  on  one  side  and  ouiitting  dimor[)hic 
forms  which  possibly  fall  in  the  above  category,  have  we 
any  definite  knowledge  of  a  new  species  originatiug  as  a 
mutation  ?  Omitting  Favo  nl(_/ri]>i'nnis,  which  has  not,  I 
believe,  occurred  in  a  wild  state,  I  can  only  recall  the  Italian 
Little  Owl,  Athene  chiaradia'  (Giglioli,  Ibis,  1901'),  p.  1);  but 
unfortunately,  although  this  sport  was  found  in  one  or  two 
places  and  seemed  to  be  on  the  increase,  it  was  collected  for 
museums,  and  thus  an  unique  chance  of  getting  evidence  on 
this  })rol)loin  was  lost. 

In  putting  forward  these  views,  I  do  not  claim  that  they 
are  in  any  way  indisputable  or  final,  nor  has  it  been  my 
object  to  ])Our  destructive  criticism  on  the  observations  and 
thoughts  of  the  previous  writers  ;  but  they  havc^  been  written 
in  the  hope  that  some  of  the  energies  now  devoted  to  the 
naming  of  new  forms  may  be  diverted  to  consider  why  we 
wo  have  nomenclature  at  all,  and  whether  it  were  not  time 
that  we  nuide  use  of  these  subspecific  bricks  to  add  something 
to  the  existing  structure  of  scientific  ornithology. 


726  Obituary.  [Ibis, 

XXXVIII.— OAi/MGry. 

Henry  Wemyss  Feilden. 

Soldier  and  ornithologist,  explorer  and  geologist,  sports- 
man and  botanist,  author  and  archaeologist — to  few  men  has 
it  been  given  to  fill  so  many  parts  and  so  well  as  to  Henry 
Wemyss  Feilden. 

Born  in  1838,  the  second  son  of  Sir  William  Feilden, 
second  baronet  of  Feniscowles,  Lancashire,  he  died  on ' 
8  June,  1921,  at  Burwash  in  East  Sussex,  in  his  83rd  year. 
He  entered  the  Army  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  and  his  military 
career  was  varied  and  extensive:  India  and  the  Mutiny, 
China  and  the  Taku  Forts,  the  Boer  Campaign  in  1881,  and 
the  Great  Boer  War  in  1890,  wdien  he  acted  as  Paymaster 
of  the  Imperial  Yeomanry  and  received  the  O.B.;  garrison 
dut}^  in  Barbados  and  Natal — all  these  he  experienced,  and 
it  al^o  fell  to  his  strange  lot  to  occupy  the  post  of  A.A.G. 
to  the  Confederate  Army  in  the  American  Civil  War  from 
1862-1865.  The  circumstances  under  which  he  held  this 
appointment  were,  that  the  chiefs  of  the  Confederate  forces 
having  made  the  attempt  to  conduct  their  campaign  without 
the  discipline  of  military  law,  and  having  failed  to  do  so, 
turned  in  their  difficulty  to  Henry  Feilden,  then  on  leave  in 
the  Southern  States  and  deeply  sympathetic  with  their  cause, 
and  enlisted  his  aid.  He  surrendered,  after  the  last  battle  of 
the  Civil  War  between  the  North  and  South,  with  the  remnant 
of  the  army  of  Tennessee  under  General  J.  E.  Johnston,  to 
General  Sherman.  In  1864  he  married  Julia,  daughter  of 
Judge  David  MacCord  of  South  Carolina,  who,  after  more 
than  half  a  century  of  happy  married  life,  predeceased  him 
by  a  year,  and  from  the  shock  of  whose  death  he  never 
recovered.     There  were  no  children  of  the  marriage. 

As  an  ornithologist,  Feilden  was  perhaps  best  known  for 
his  work  in  connection  with  the  Arctic  Expedition  of 
Admiral  (then  Captain)  Nares  in  1875,  to  whose  command 


1921.]  Obituary.  727 

he  was  attaclied  as  official  naturalist  on  board  H.M.S. 
'  Alert.'  The  results  of  his  valuable  labours  on  this 
occasion  were  duly  recorded  on  the  publication  of  Nares' 
second  edition  of  the  '  Narrative  of  the  Voyage  to  the  Polar 
Sea'  (1878),  Feilden  being  responsible  for  the  sections  on 
Ethnology,  Mamiualia,  and  Ornithology,  and  jointly  with 
de  Ranee  for  that  on  Geology.  The  chief  ornithological 
event  of  the  expedition  was  the  finding  by  Feilden  of  the 
nestlings  of  the  Knot  {Trii)ga  canatn.s),  the  eggs  of  which 
bird  Avere,  however,  not  discovered  till  some  25  years  after- 
wards, when  they  were  sent  back  to  Europe  by  Walter  and 
Birulia  in  the  course  of  the  Russian  Polar  Expedition, 
1900-1903.  Besides  this  voyage  to  the  Arctic,  Feilden  at 
various  times  visited  the  Freroe  Islands  ("  Birds  of  the 
Fseroe  Islands,'^  Zoologist,  1872,  pp.  3210,  3245,  3277), 
Iceland,  Spitzbergen,  Novaya  Zeniiya  ('  Beyond  Petsora 
Eastward,'  by  11.  J.  Pearson,  with  appendices  on  the 
Botany  and  Geology  by  II.  W.  Feilden),  the  result  of 
his  observations  on  these  various  journeys  also  appearing 
in  numerous  papers  contributed  to 'The  Ibis,'  'Zoologist,' 
and  other  journals. 

Much  of  his  work  as  regards  the  ornithology  of  his  native 
country  was  carried  out  in  conjunction  with  his  friend,  the 
late  J.  A.  Harvie-Brown  :  together  they  visited  the  mainland 
and  isles  of  Scotland  *  and  together  they  formed  the 
valuable  series  of  skins  which,  with  the  collection  of  eggs 
and  specimens  brought  home  by  Feilden  from  his  various 
expeditions,  was  destroyed  in  the  disastrous  fire  at  Harvie- 
Brown's  mansion  of  Dunipace,  Stirlingshire,  in  1897.  In 
1880  Feilden  settled  for  a  time  at  "West  House,  Wells, 
Norfolk,  and  while  resident  there  became  a  member  of  the 
Norfolk  and  Norwich  Naturalists'  Society,  and  President 
of  that  body  in  1885.  In  1901  he  inherited  from  his 
uncle,  Mr.  Leyland  Feilden,  the  fine  Elizabethan  house  of 

*  For  tlie  account  of  Feildeu's  finding  tlie  eggs  of  tlie  Dotterel 
{Churadrius  morinellus),  see  llurvie-Browu  &  Buckley,  'Fauna  of 
Moray  Basin,'  vol.  ii.  p.  172. 


728  Ohituary.  [Ibis, 

'Rampyndene'  in  the  High  Street,  Biirvvash,  where  he  passed 
the  latter  years  of  his  life.  He  became  deeply  attached  to  his 
adopted  county,  and  was  an  enthusiastic  student  and  col- 
lector of  old  Wealden  ironwork,  a  fine  collection  of  specimens 
being  presented  by  him  to  the  Hastings  Museum,  of  which 
he  was  an  enthusiastic  supporter,  as  well  as  being  an  active 
memher  of  the  Hastings  and  St.  Leonards  Natural  History 
Society.  As  a  sportsman  he  retained  his  keenness  almost 
to  the  end,  and  dearly  loved  to  bring  back  a  basket  of  trout 
or  a  few  brace  of  wild  pheasants  from  the  lonely  streams  or 
deep  woodlands  of  Dallington  Forest.  He  possessed  a  fair 
library,  though  his  chief  interest  in  books  lay  in  works 
relating  to  exploration  and  travel,  and  of  these  he  presented 
many  a  scarce  volume  to  the  Geographical  Society,  of  which 
he  was  so  many  years  a  Fellow.  In  East  Sussex  he  was 
respected  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  was  con- 
sulted on  many  a  subject  by  his  friends  and  neighbours. 
He  was  a  most  courteous  and  painstaking  correspondent 
and  a  kindly  critic,  but,  like  his  great  contemporary — 
Newton — he  had  an  intense  horror  and  dislike  of  inaccurate 
statement  or  unverified  reference. 

Perhaps  one  of  the  most  striking  traits  of  a  remarkable 
character  was  the  deep  interest  and  enthtisiasm  which  he 
always  displayed  in  any  matter  on  which  he  was  engaged, 
and  it  is  no  exaggeration  to  say  that  it  gave  him  as  much 
pleasure  to  record  the  nesting  of  the  Snipe  in  the  parishes 
of  Burwash  and  Etchingham  in  1914  *,  as  it  did  to  obtain  the 
eggs  of  the  Sauderling  [Trlnga  arenaria)  in  Grinnell-land  in 
1876. 

The  writer  of  this  notice  was  privileged  to  know  him 
well  and  to  esteem  him  greatly. 

Colonel  Feilden  was  one  of  the  oldest  surviving  members 
of  the  B.  0.  U.,  having  been  elected  so  long  ago  as  1873.  His 
military  decorations  comprise  the  C.B.  (1900)  and  medals 
with  clasps  for  the  Indian  Mutiny  (1857-8),  the  China  War 
(1860),  and  the  Boer  War  (1900-1).  W.  H.  M. 

*  "  Snipe  and  Redshank  nesting  in  Sussex."  Hastings  &  E.  Sussex 
Nat.  vol.  ii.  p.  193. 


1 92 1.]  Obituary,  729 

William  Warde  Fowler. 

By  the  death  of  Mr.  William  Warde  Fowler,  which  occurred 
at  Kiiigham  in  Oxfordshire  on  14  June  last,  we  are  deprived 
of  one  who  comhined  the  rare  distinction  of  being  botli  a 
classical  scholar  and  an  ornithologist. 

Born  at  Langford  Bud vi lie,  Somerset,  on  16  May,  184-7, 
he  was  the  second  son  of  Mr.  John  Coke  Fowler,  a  stipendiary 
magistrate  at  Swansea.  From  Marlborough  he  proceeded  to 
Oxford,  where  he  matriculated  at  New  College,  but  he  won 
a  scholarship  at  Lincoln  in  the  same  year,  with  which  College 
lie  was  closely  associated  for  the  rest  of  his  life,  being  elected 
a  Fellow  in  1872.  He  graduated  in  1870  taking  a  first  class 
in  Lit.  Hum.,  and  he  served  as  Tutor  and  Sub-Rector 
of  his  college  until  he  retired  from  active  work  a  few 
years  ago. 

Wardens  first  and  perhaps  best-known  work,  '  A  year  with 
the  Birds,'  was  published  in  1886  under  the  pen-name  of 
"  An  Oxford  Tutor."  It  combined  personal  charm  and  good 
scholarship  with  a  love  and  power  of  observation  new  to  that 
generation  of  Oxford  men.  The  book  deals  with  bird-life  as 
seen  at  Oxford,  at  the  writer's  country  home  at  Kingham  in 
the  valley  of  the  Evenlode,  and  with  observations  made 
in  the  Alps  of  Switzerland.  The  second  edition  contains  a 
good  list  of  the  Oxford  birds.  His  otlier  collected  studies 
were  'Tales  of  the  Birds,'  published  in  1888,  "^  Summer 
Studies  of  Birds  and  Books,'  1895,  and  '  IMore  Tales  of 
the  Birds,'  in  1902  ;  while  in  1901,  in  collaboration  with 
Prof,  L.  C.  Miall,  he  edited  with  introduction  and  notes  an 
edition  of  White's  Selborne. 

Perhaps  his  most  remarkable  observations  were  those  on 
the  Marsh-Warbler  [Acroceplialus  palustris).  Owing  to  its 
very  close  resemblance  to  the  Reed-Warbler,  it  escaped  the 
attention  of  the  earlier  British  ornithologists,  and  it  was  not 
recognized  as  a  Britiish  bird  even  so  late  as  when  Newton 
published  his  edition  of  Yarrell.  Between  the  years  1892 
and  1905  Mr.  Fowler  found  it  nesting  every  year  near  his 
home  at  Kiugham,  on  the  Lveulode,  in  Oxfordshire  ;  and  in 


730  Obituary.  [Ibis, 

the  'Zoologist'  (1906,  p.  41)  will  be  found  a  very  good 
summary  of  his  observations  on  this  rare  and  elusive 
bird. 

In  addition  to  his  publications  on  birds^  Mr.  Fowler  wrote 
extensively  on  the  social  and  religious  lives  of  Romans. 
His  best-known  works  were  perhaps  liis  '  Social  Life  at  Rome ' 
and  his  studies  of  Cicero  and  Virgil,  which  brought  him  a 
considerable  reputation  as  a  classical  student.  He  was  a 
most  interesting  and  arresting  lecturer,  and  had  a  supreme 
gift  of  descril)ing  an  observation  so  that  it  both  illuminated 
and  fixed  on  the  mind  some  far-reaching  conclusion. 

Mr.  Warde  Fowler  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Union  in 
1887,  aiul  remained  a  member  until  1919  when  he  resigned. 
He  did  not  contribute  to  '  The  Ibis/  but  published  most  of 
his  papers,  describing  his  observations,  in  the  pages  of  the 
'  Zooloo-ist '  between  1893  and  1908. 


Alphonse  Dubois. 

From  the  last  number  of  the  '  Gerfaut'  we  learn  of  the 
lamented  death  of  Dr.  A.  Dubois,  the  doyen  of  Belgian 
ornithologists,  which  occurred  at  his  villa  at  Coxyde-sur- 
Mer,  where  he  has  been  living  since  he  retired  from  his  post 
in  the  Royal  Museum  of  Natural  History  of  Brussels,  and 
where  he  remained  throughout  the  duration  of  war,  as 
Coxyde  is  in  the  corner  of  Belgium  that  was  never  occupied 
by  the  German  forces. 

Alphonse  Dubois  was  born  in  1839  at  Aix-la-Chapelle, 
but  his  father,  Charles  Frederic  Dubois,  also  a  well-known 
naturalist,  moved  to  Brussels  in  the  following  year,  and 
Alphonse  lived  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  that  city  ;  here 
he  was  educated,  and  obtained  a  diploma  of  Doctor  of 
Medicine  at  the  Free  University  of  tlie  city.  In  1869  he 
was  appointed  Conservator  of  tlie  section  of  the  higher 
Vertebrates  at  the  Royal  Museum  of  Natural  History,  with 
which  institution  he  remained  connected  until  his  retire- 
ment just  previous  to  the  outbreak  of  the  war. 


192 1.]  Obituary.  731 

Among  liis  more  important  publications  may  be  men- 
tioned :  — 

Conspectus   systematicus   et  geographicus  Avium   Euro- 

psearum.     1871. 
Le  Faune  illustree  des  Vertebres  de  la  Belgique.     Ser.  ii. 

les    Oiseaux.       4    vols.,    with    427    coloured    plates. 

1876-1894. 
Synopsis      Avium  :       nouveau     manuel     d'Ornitliologie. 

2  vols.,  16  col.  pis.     Brussels,  1899-1904.     8vo. 
Les  animaux  nuisable  de  la  Belgique  (vertebi'es).      1  vol., 

illustrated.     Brussels,  1903. 
Revue  des  dernier  systemes  ornithologiques  et   nouvelle 

classification  proposee  pour  les  oiseaux.     Paris,  1891. 
Remarques  sur  FOrnithologie  de  I'Etat  Independant  du 

Congo.     Annales  du  Musee  du  Congo,  vol.  i.     19U5. 

He  also  contributed  to  Wytsman's  '  Genera  Avium '  the 
monographs  on  the  Pelecanidae,  Musophagidse,  and  Bucero- 
tidse,  and  over  a  hundred  other  communications  to  various 
scientific  journals.  He  was  a  good  artist,  and  most  of  the 
illustrations  of  his  various  works  were  prepared  by  himself. 

Max    FiJRBRINGER. 

The  news  of  the  death  of  Prof.  Max  Fiirbringer,  which 
occurred  at  Heidelberg  on  6  March,  1920,  has  only  recently 
reached  us,  probably  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  seeing  the 
German  Scientific  Journals  during  the  past  two  years. 

Pi'of.  Fiirbringer  was  born  at  Wittenberg  in  1848,  and  was 
therefore  in  his  75th  year  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He 
early  devoted  himself  to  the  study  of  the  anatomy  of  the 
Vertebrates,  and  after  holding  various  minor  teaching  posts, 
was  successively  Professor  of  Anatomy  at  the  Universities 
of  Amsterdam,  Jena,  and  Heidelberg,  where  he  succeeded 
his  master,  Carl  Gegenbaur,  in  1901,  and  where  he  remained 
for  the  rest  of  his  life. 

His  great  work,  '  Untersuchungen  zur  Morphologic  und 
Systematik  der  Vogel  zugleich  ein  Beitrag  zur  Anatomic  der 
Stiitz-  und  Bewegungsorgane,^  was  published  at  Amsterdam 


732  Recently  imhlished  Ornithological  Woi'ks.  [Ibis, 

in  two  large  folio  volumes  in  1888,  and  will  ever  be  a 
monument  of  liis  industry  and  learning.  It  deals  at  length 
with  the  anatomy  of  the  shoulder-girdle  of  birds  ;  while  in 
the  second  volume  a  scheme  of  classification  was  ])roposed, 
based  on  all  the  facts  of  the  internal  and  external  characters 
of  birds.  Unfortunately  but  little  attention  was  paid  to 
this  great  work  by  British  ornithologists,  though  it  was 
noticed  in  ^  The  Ibis  '  (1888,  p.  418)  ;  and  an  excellent 
abstract  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Gadow,  Fiirbringer's  only  serious 
rival  in  this  subject,  appeared  in  '  Natnre '  (vol.  xxxix.  1888, 
pp.  150-152,  177-181).  Dr.  Fiirbringer  also  published  a 
later  summary  of  our  knowledge  of  the  Anatomy  of  Birds 
in  the  Report  of  the  Second  International  Ornithological 
Congress,  held  at  Budapest  in  1891,  and  a  further  disquisition 
on  the  same  subject  in  the  '  Jenaische  Zeitschrift  f.  Natur- 
wissenschaft  ^  (xxxvi.  pp.  587-736)  in  1902,  which  was  also 
noticed  in  '  The  Ibis'  (1903,  p.  614). 

No  serious  student  of  ornithology  can  neglect  the  study 
of  these  great  works,  and  the  death  of  their  author  should 
recall  to  us  their  importance  and  value. 


XXXIX. — Notices  of  recent  Ornithological  Publications. 

Arrigoni  degli  OddVs  list  of  papers. 

[Elenco  delle  pubblicazioni  del  Prof.  E.  Arrigoni  degli  Oddi  (1884- 
1920).     Pp.  1-10.     Venezia,  1921.     8vo.] 

Count  Arrigoni  degli  Oddi,  who  is  not  only  one  of  the 
leading  Italian  ornithologists  and  Professor  of  Zoology  at 
Padua,  but  also  a  Deputy  in  the  Italian  Parliament  and  a 
member  of  the  B.  O.  U.  since  1896,  has  favoured  us  with 
a  number  of  his  publications,  most  of  which  have  already 
been  noticed  in  our  pages.  The  list  of  his  papers,  men- 
tioned above,  contains  162  titles  published  between  1884 
and  1920,  and  is  a  proof  of  his  activity  in  ornithological 
work. 


1 92 1.]       Recently  published  Ornithological  IVorks.  733 

Bretscher  on  Bird-migration  in  Middle  Europe. 

[Der  Vogelzug  in  Mitteleuropa.  Mit  16  Karten  unci  vielen  Tabellen. 
Vou  K.  Bretsclier.  Pp.  1-162.  Innsbruck  (Wagnersclien  Univ. 
Buclidruck.)     1920.     8vo.] 

Tn  this  separately-publislied  memoir  Mr.  Bretscher  en- 
deavours to  trace  out  the  migration  routes  in  Switzerland 
and  the  neighbouring  countries  by  an  elaborate  analysis  of 
all  the  available  data.  The  first  two  chapters,  comprising 
more  than  half  the  work,  deal  with  the  spring  and  autumn 
migration  in  Switzerland.  These  are  followed  by  an 
analysis  of  the  spring  migration  in  Alsace-Lorraine,  Bruns- 
wick, and  Hungary,  and  in  the  final  chapter  the  influence 
of  temperature  is  discussed. 

The  general  method  employed  in  the  case  of  Switzerland 
is  to  divide  the  country  into  seven  geographical  areas,  and 
by  plotting  down  the  date  of  observation,  according  to  the 
areas  and  the  date  of  the  '' Zugsmittel '^  or  culmination  of 
the  migration-time,  to  discover  by  what  route  the  various 
species  enter  the  country.  In  the  case  of  the  spring 
migration  the  general  conclusion  appears  to  be  that  most 
of  the  migrating  birds  enter  Switzerland  at  the  south-west 
corner  of  the  Lake  of  Geneva  or  in  the  north-west  over  the 
Jura,  and  that,  with  the  exception  perhaps  of  the  Swallow, 
no  birds  cross  the  high  ranges  of  the  Alps  from  the  south. 

The  paper  is  a  long  one  and  full  of  details  and  conclusions 
which  it  is  impossible  to  summarize  in  a  short  notice,  and 
our  only  fear  is  that  the  data  used  are  hardly  sufficient  to 
warrant  some  of  the  conclusions  arrived  at. 

Chapin  on  new  African  Birds. 

[Descriptions  of  four  new  birds  from  the  Belgian  Congo.  By  James 
T.  Chapin.     Amer.  Museum  Novitates,  no.  7,  1921,  pp.  1-9 ;  3  figs.] 

This  is  the  fifth  preliminary  paper  on  the  results  of  the 
author's  expedition  to  the  Belgian  Congo  on  behalf  of 
the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History,  and  contains 
descriptions  of  the  following  new  forms  from  the  Ituri  and 
Upper  Uele  districts  : — Astur  toussenellii  canescens,  Colius 

SEll.  XI. VOL.   HI.  3  C 


734-  Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.         [Ibis, 

nigricollis  leucophthalmus  distinguished  by  its    white    iris, 
Batis  ituriensis,  and  Terpsiphone  batesi. 

Foster  on  the  Birds  of  Hillsborough. 

[The  Birds  of  Hillsborough.  By  Neviu  H.  Foster,  INI.B.O.U.  Proc. 
Belfast  Nat.  Hist.  &  Philos.  Soc.  1920-1921,  pp.  1-19  (separate 
pagination).] 

Hillsborough  is  a  small  town  in  the  north  of  County  Down ; 
it  is  a  short  distance  froin  Belfast,  and  is  the  centre  of  a 
somewhat  highly  cultivated  district.  Mr.  Nevin  Foster 
has  in  this  paper  compiled  a  list  of  the  birds  of  the  neigh- 
bourhood, chiefly  from  his  own  notes,  dating  back  to  1902. 
The  list  embraces  109  species,  out  of  wliich  76  have  been 
known  to  breed  in  the  district. 

Several  rare  species  such  as  the  Golden  Oriole  and  the 
Alpine  Swift,  the  records  of  which  are  not  entirely  satisfac- 
tory, are  included  in  the  list,  but  placed  in  square  brackets. 

Gurney's  Ornithological  Report  for  Norfolk. 

[Ornithological  Notes  from  Norfolk  for  1920.  27th  Annual  Report. 
By  J.  H.  Gurney,  F.Z.S.     Brit.  Bds.,  London,  xiv.  1921,  pp.  242-252.] 

Mr.  Gurney's  annual  report  on  Norfolk  ornithology 
contains  the  usual  summary  on  migration  and  a  series  of 
classified  notes.  There  were  no  events  of  unusual  im- 
portance during  the  year,  but  the  Curlew  is  believed  to 
have  bred  again  near  King's  Lyun  and  the  Sandwich  Tern 
at  Blakeney.  The  Spoonbills  came  to  Breydon  in  May  and 
stayed  about  three  weeks,  though  they  did  not  breed,  but 
the  Bitterns  are  now  becoming  comparatively  common,  and 
many  nests  are  located  every  year. 

Hartert  on  the  Birds  of  the  Southern  Sahara. 

[The  birds  collected  by  Capt.  Angus  Buchanan  during  his  journey 
from  Kano  to  Air  or  Asbeu.  By  Dr.  Ernst  Hartert.  Nov.  Zool.  Tring, 
xxviii.  1921,  pp.  78-141 ;  9  pis.] 

Asben  or  Air  is  a  mountainous  district  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  Sahara,  about  b50  miles  north  of  Kano  the 
great  trade  centre  in  the  northern  part  of  Northern  Nigeria; 


1 92 1 .]       Recently  published  Ornitholoyical  Works.  735 

the  higliest  mountain,  Mt.  Baguezan,  readies  an  elevation 
of  6050  feet,  and  no  naturalist  lias  ever  previously  collected 
in  this  district,  though  it  has  been  occupied  by  the  French 
now  for  some  years.  The  results  of  this  expedition  are 
tlierefore  of  very  special  interest,  not  only  because  the 
fauna  of  Asben  was  quite  unknown,  but  also  because  it  has 
brought  fresh  light  on  the  boundary-line  between  the 
Paloearctic  and  Ethiopian  regions.  Capt.  Angus  Buchanan, 
whom  Lord  Rothschild  was  fortunate  enough  to  secure  to 
undertake  this  mission,  was  most  successful,  and  brought 
examples  of  168  species  of  birds,  of  which,  however,  only 
65  were  from  Asben  itself.  Of  these  65  by  far  the  greater 
proportion  are  inhabitants  of  tropical  Africa  and  had  reached 
Asben  from  the  south,  but  a  iew,  about  8  or  10  species, 
must  have  reached  Asben  from  the  north.  We  may  there- 
fore conclude  that  Asben  lies  within  the  Ethiopian  Region, 
while  the  fauna  of  Hoggar  mountains,  about  300  miles  to 
the  north,  where  in  1914  Geyr  von  Scliweppenbuig  and 
Spatz  made  their  fruitful  collections,  is  predominantly 
palsearctic  in  character. 

Capt.  Buchanan  reached  Kano,  from  Lagos,  early  in 
December  1919  and  stayed  there  a  month.  From  there  he 
proceeded  to  Agades,  the  capital  of  the  district,  which  he 
reached  on  11  April,  19.20.  lie  was  in  the  mountains  from 
May  8  to  June  6  and  got  back  to  Kano  in  September.  The 
rainy  season  was  then  at  its  height.  He  also  made  collec- 
tions of  Mammals,  Insects,  and  other  animals,  and  of  plants. 

Dr.  Hartert  has  discussed  the  birds  at  considerable  lengthy 
drawing  attention  to  their  status,  distribution,  variation, 
and  moults,  and  has  described  twelve  new  subspecific  forms. 
As  the  Novitates  is  so  accessible  to  all  workers  it  does  not 
seem  necessary  to  list  these  here.  The  nine  plates  contain 
views  of  the  scenery  of  the  country  from  the  photographs 
of  Capt.  Buchanan. 

We  can  only  conclude  by  congratulating  Capt.  Buchanan, 
Lord  Rothschild,  and  Dr.  Hartert  on  having  accomplished 
a  fine  piece  of  work  and  having  made  a  very  considerable 
addition  to  our  knowledge  of  African  birds, 

3c2 


7-36  Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  [Ibis, 

Hellmayr  on  d' Orbigny' s  South- American  CoUections. 

[Eeview  of  the  Birds  collected  by  Alcide  d'Orbigny  in  South 
America.  By  C.  E.  Hellmayr.  Part  I.  Nov.  Zool.  Tring,  xxviii. 
1921,  pp.  171-213.] 

Alcide  d'Orbigny  (1802-1857)  was  a  well-known  French 
traveller  and  naturalist  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  centuiy. 
During  the  years  1826-1833  he  travelled  and  collected 
extensively  on  behalf  of  the  French  government  in  the 
south-western  part  of  South  America,  and  transmitted  to 
the  Paris  Museum  large  numbers  of  objects  of  natural 
history.  The  account  of  the  journeys  and  collections  was 
published  in  a  series  of  large  quarto  volumes  between  1835 
and  1847,  but  unfortunately  was  never  completed.  He  also, 
with  the  co-operation  of  his  countryman,  M.  H.deLafresnaye, 
published  a  preliminary  list  of  the  species  of  birds  obtained 
in  the  '  Magasin  de  Zoologie,'  but  this,  too,  remained  in- 
complete. While  most  of  the  birds  collected  by  d'Orbigny 
are  to  be  found  in  the  Paris  Museum,  some  remained  in  the 
possession  of  Lafresnaye  and  have  now  found  their  way  to 
the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology  in  Cambridge,  Mass. 

Dr.  Hellmayr  has  now  undertaken  the  difficult  task  of 
revising  and  commenting  on  d'Orbigny's  work,  for  which 
purpose  he  made  a  number  of  visits  to  the  Paris  Museum 
before  the  war,  and  in  the  present  paper  he  gives  us  the 
first  part  of  the  results  of  his  long  labours.  The  present 
instalment  deals  with  the  Birds  of  Prey  and  a  small  moiety 
of  the  Passeres.  The  original  d'Orbigny  specimens,  many 
of  them  mounted,  are  listed  and  re-identified  and  compared 
with  other  examples  at  Tring  and  elsewhere.  The  paper 
is  a  most  important  one  for  all  workers  on  Neotropical 
ornithology. 

Lavauden  on  the  Mediterranean  Peregrines. 

[Contribution  a  I'etude  des  formes  mediterran^ennes  du  Fau^on 
Pelerin.  Par  L.  Lavauden.  E.xtr.  from  Rev.  Franf.  d'Orn.  nos.  145, 146, 
1920.] 

M.  Lavauden  has  given  us  here  a  careful  critical  study  of 
the  various  forms  of  Peregrine  found  round  the  Mediter- 
ranean.     He    has    made    a    thorough    examination    of   the 


1 92 1.]       Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  7?>7 

literature  and  compared  a  large  number  of  examples  in  the 
Paris  Museum,  his  own  collection,  and  elsewhere. 

He  comes  to  very  much  the  same  conclusions  as  Dr. 
Hartert,  except  that  he  believes  that  Falco  punicus  of 
Levaillant,  jun.,  is  identical  with  Falco  brookei  of  Sharpe, 
and  not  with  F.  peregrinoides  Teium.  If  this  is  so  the 
Sardinian  Peregrine  will  have  to  be  called  Falco  jmnicus  in 
future. 

M.  Lavauden  has  plotted  the  measurements  of  tlie  three 
Mediterranean  Peregrines,  of  which  he  has  examined  and 
measured  287  adult  examples,  so  as  to  form  an  ingenious 
curve  which  illustrates  very  plainly  the  variation  in  the  wing- 
measurements  of  the  three  forms. 

Mathews  on  Australian  Birds. 

[The  Birds  of  Australia.  By  Gregory  M.  Mathews.  Vol.  ix.  pt.  3  ; 
pp.  97-144,  pis.  412-418.     London  ( Witherby),  June  20th,  1921.] 

A  very  important  discovery  is  recorded  in  this  part  by  the 
author — namely,  that  the  types  of  Gould's  species  are  not 
all  at  Philadelphia.  Many  are  in  the  British  Museum,  and 
Mr.  Mathews  devotes  several  pages  [105-107]  to  the  subject, 
which  will  be  fully  discussed  later.  The  present  part  is 
concerned  with  seven  species  of  CampophagidEC,  of  which  the 
Ground  Cuckoo- Shrike,  with  its  terrestrial  habits,  is  the  most 
remarkable.  Mr.  Mathews^s  argument  proves  the  generic 
term  Pteropodocijs  to  have  prioi'ity  over  Cehlepyris,  and  he 
allows  three  subspecies.  Similarly,  Graucalus  takes  prece- 
dence of  Coracina,  while  the  Black-faced  Cuckoo-Shrike 
should  be  specifically  named  novcehollandice  and  not  melanops 
[p.  113].  This  species  was  painted  by  Ellis,  and  has  been 
confounded  with  Latham's  robustus,  which  is  the  lesser 
species.  Six  subspecies  are  accepted,  for  one  of  which 
the  name  melanops  is  used.  The  type  appears  to  have 
come  from  Tasmania,  so  thut parvirost^is  is  a  synonym. 

G.  hypoleucus  has  four  Australian  subspecies,  but  it  is 
evident  that  there  are  others  that  are  extralimital.  The 
habits  of  this  northern  form  and  of  the  Little  Cuckoo-Shrike 
need  further  attention  ;  those  of  the  other  species  have  been 


738  Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.         [I])is, 

well  studied.  Tlie  last-named  bird  varies,  so  that  we  may 
admit  three  subspecies  ;  it  is  in  the  Watliiig  paintings^  aud 
the  name  rohustus  supersedes  nientalis,  that  name  being  used 
subspecifically.  G.  affinis  is  possibly  a  synonym  [p.  131]. 
Paragraucalus  lineatus  is  correct,  as  Gould  couhl  not,  under 
the  present  rules,  have  changed  the  name  to  swainsonii.  Two 
subspecies  are  recognized.  The  case  is  almost  the  same 
with  Metagraucalus  teiiuirostris,  which  Rvippell  renamed 
jardinii,  but  here  there  are  three  subspecies.  Lalagc  is  begun 
in  this  part,  and  on  the  first  page  Monarcha  is  concluded,  a 
special  point  being  that  caiiescoisof  Salvador!  is  reduced  to  a 
subspecies  o(  melanopsis.     M.  kursudiis,  altogether  dropped. 

Riley  on  new  Celebes  Birds. 

[Five  new  genera  of  birds.  Four  new  birds  from  Celebes.  By  J.  H. 
Kiley.     Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington,  vol.  34,  1921,  pp.  51-58.] 

The  five  new  genera  are  Compscenas  for  Zonophaps  radiata 
(Q.  &  G.),  Lamprura  for  Zonophaps  rufigaster  (Q.  &  G.), 
Diopezus  for  Phlegoenas  tristigmata  Bp.,  Cranobrontes  for 
Cranorrhinus  leucocephalus  (Vieilh),  and  Orodytes  for 
Arachjwthera  or  Stiginatops  celebensis  Meyer  &  Wigles., 
the  last  a  bird  of  ratlier  uncertain  affinities.  The  four  new 
forms  comprise  Scolopax  celebensis,  Lamprocorax  montrosa, 
and  new  forms  of  Dendrobiastes  and  Myzomela — all  from 
Celebes,  collected  by  Mr.  H.  C.  llaveu. 

Rothschild  on  the  Birds  of  Yunnan. 

[On  a  collection  of  Birds  from  West-Central  and  North- Western 
Yunnan.  By  Lord  Rothschild,  F.R.S.,  Ph.D.  Nov.  Zool.  Tring,  xxviii. 
1921,  pp.  14-67.] 

In  this  paper  Lord  Rothschild  enumerates  and  describes 
a  collection  of  279  species  and  subspecies  of  birds  collected 
by  Mr.  George  Forrest  in  the  mountains  of  Yunnan. 
Mr.  Forrest  is  a  well-known  botanical  collector,  aud  the 
birds  were  a  parergon  to  his  main  task.  Colonel  Stephenson 
Clarke,  for  whom  the  collection  was  made,  has  most 
generously  presented  half  the  bird-skins,  including  the  types 
of  the  new   forms,  to  the   British  Museum,   and  the  other 


1 92 1.]       Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  739 

half  to  the  Tring  Museum.  Twenty  new  species  and  sub- 
species are  described,  but  some  of  these  are  from  other 
parts  of  the  Indian  Region  and  do  not  form  part  of  the 
Forrest  collection. 

The  number  of  forms  now  known  from  Yunnan  amounts 
to  496,  out  of  which  59  are  added  in  the  present  paper. 
The  ciiaracter  of  the  avifauna  is  distinctly  Himalayan,  but 
many  migrants  from  the  north  pass  the  winter  in  Yunnan. 

Schi0ler  on  Danish  Birds. 

[Sushkin's  Gaas,  Anser  neglectus  Sush.,  truffen  i  Denmark.  Bartram's 
Klire,  Bartramia  longicauda  (Bechst.),  ny  for  Denmark.  By  E.  Lelin 
Sclii0ler.     Dansk.  Orii.  For.  Tids.  xv.  1921,  pp.  37-47.] 

An  example  of  the  rare  Goose  Anser  neglectus  killed  at 
Ballum,  on  the  west  coast  of  Schleswig,  has  recently  been 
acquired  by  Mr.  Schi0ler,  who  has  a  wonderful  collection  of 
Palsearctic  Water-birds.  It  is  the  first  record  for  Denmark. 
Mr.  Schipler  in  this  paper  discusses  its  status  and  affinities 
but  comes  to  no  very  definite  conclusions,  and  until  its 
breeding-place,  said  to  be  Nova  Zembla,  is  accurately  known 
it  will  be  difficult  to  do  so. 

The  Upland  Plover  (^Bartramia  longicauda)  is  a  well-known 
North-American  bird,  and  has  occasionally  reached  the 
British  Islands  and  the  continent  of  Europe.  An  immature 
female  example  was  found  by  Mr.  Schioier  among  some 
Snipe  in  the  Copenhagen  market.  These  had  been  killed 
at  Tim  in  western  Jutland.  It  is  the  first  record  of  the 
occurrence  of  the  Upland  Plover  in  Denmark. 

Shujeldt  on  pictures  of  the  Passenger  Pigeon. 

[Published  figures  and  plates  of  the  extinct  Passenger  Pigeon. 
By  Dr.  R.  W.  Shufeldt.  Scientific  Monthly,  1921,  pp.  457-480; 
15  figs.] 

This  paper,  which  was  read  at  the  last  meeting  of  the 
American  Ornithologists'  Union  in  November  1920,  con- 
tains an  account  of  all  the  more  important  published 
figures  of  the  Passenger  Pigeon,  from  that  given  by 
Catesby  in  his  '  Natural  History  of  Carolina,  Florida,  and 


740  Recently  published  Ornithological  Wotks.  [Ibis, 

the  Bahama  Islands/  published  in  1771,  down  to  photo- 
graphs of  the  last  survivor  of  the  species  which  lived  in 
the  Zoological  Gardens  at  Cincinnati,  and  Avhich  is  now 
mounted  in  the  United  States  Museum,  at  Washington. 
Dr.  Shufeldt  gives  the  palm  to  a  plate  re[)roduced  from 
a  painting  by  Mr.  Fuertes  which  appeared  in  Eaton's 
'  Birds  of  New  York,'  published  in  1910. 

The  photographs  of  the  plates  were  taken  by  Dr.  Shufeldt 
himself,  and  form  a  most  interesting  series  of  reproductions. 

Stresemann  on  Sumatraii  Woodpeckers. 

[Die  Spechte  der  Insel  Sumatra — Eine  monographische  Studie.  Von 
Dr.  E.  Stresemann.     Arch.  Naturg.  vol.  87,  Abt.  A.  pp.  64-120,  1921.] 

It  is  in  the  Malay  Peninsula  and  Sumatra  that  we  find 
the  greatest  development  of  the  Woodpeckers,  the  former 
containing  24,  the  latter  22  diiferent  forms,  and  Dr.  Strese- 
mann has  accomplished  a  most  useful  task  in  preparing  the 
present  nionogtaph  based  on  the  material  available  in 
Germany,  Holland,  and  at  Tring.  The  nomenclature  is 
carefully  worked  out,  and  should  be  taken  note  of  by  all 
workers  on  the  birds  of  the  Indian  Region.  JJinopium  of 
Rafinesque  takes  the  place  of  the  more  familiar  Tiga 
of  Kaup,  and  Blythipicus  for  Lepocestes  of  the  Catalogue. 
New  forms  are  : — Picus  vittatus  liuiilans  from  Kangean  I., 
near  Bali,  Callophus  ndniatus  dayak  from  Borneo,  Dinopium 
javanense  palmarum  from  Sumatra.  There  is  a  carefully 
constructed  key  of  all  the  forms  treated  of,  and  some 
interesting  general  remarks  on  geographical  distribution, 
variation  -in  size  and  colour,  and  sexual  dimorphism  and 
moult. 

Wollaston's  Life  of  Neivton. 

[Life  of  Alfred  Newton,  Professor  of  Comparative  Anatomy,  Cambridjre 
University,  1866-1907.  By  A.  F.  R.  Wollaston.  Pp.  xvi  +  332 ; 
portraits.     London  (John  Mnrray),  1921.     8vo.] 

Newton  apparently  passed  on  one  of  his  characteristics  to 
his  biographer,  fur  this  long  looked-for  volume  has  appeared 


1921.]        Recentlij  published  Ornitlioloyical  Works.  741 

just  fourteen  years  after  his  death,  hut  there  the  resem- 
blance ends,  for  whereas  Newtou^s  works  improved  by  delay 
the  same  cannot  be  said  of  this  book,  which  the  author  tells 
us  has  had  to  be  cut  down  by  nearly  half  owing  to  the  present 
price  of  printing. 

The  main  object  of  a  "  Life"  should  be  to  give  a  clear 
and  impartial  account  of  the  chief  characteristics  of  the 
"  Subject/''  and  those  of  us,  who  knew  Newton,  get  a  good 
and  truthful  picture  ;  but  a  "Life"  has  also  another  func- 
tion, namely,  by  showing  the  intimate  methods  by  which  a 
man  earned  his  reputation,  others  migiit  be  spurred  on  to  go 
and  do  likewise;  on  this  point,  in  our  opinion,  the  volume 
fails,  i'or  it  hicks  conliuuity  in  its  arrangement  and  does  not 
lead  the  reader  easily  from  chapter  to  chapter,  so  that  we 
fear  that  the  present  generation  of  ornithologists  will  rather 
keep  it  as  an  ornament  to  tlieir  Ijookshelves  than  assimilate 
the  large  amount  of  valuable  information  contained  in  it, 
and  understand  the  methods  which  made  Newton  the  fore- 
most and  soundest  ornithologist  of  his  day. 

Mr.  Wollaston  has  the  capacity  for  writing  delightful 
books,  but  this  is  not  one  of  them.  To  read  through  and 
epitomize  Newton's  vast  correspondence  can  have  been  no 
easy  task,  but  the  result  would  have  made  more  pleasant 
reading  had  the  compiler  compiled  less  and  written  more. 
The  best  and  most  concise  description  of  Newton  is  found 
in  the  chapter  by  Sir  A.  E.  Shipley,  where  we  have  a  truly 
delightful  and  accurate  description  of  the  Professor,  but  the 
first  half  of  that  chapter,  containing  merely  a  dry  descrip- 
tion of  Cambridge  in  Newton's  early  days,  might  well  have 
been  omitted  when  space  was  an  object,  or  a  map,  occupying 
a  page,  would  have  been  much  clearer  and  more  instruc- 
tive. Another  useful  cut  might  ha.ve  been  the  omission 
of  the  three  pages  of  telegrams  to  the  "  Red  Lion's 
Club."  There  is  no  evidence  that  these  were  the  handiwork 
of  Newton  himself,  and,  even  if  they  were,  they  occupy  a 
space  that  might  have  been  better  utilized. 

Another  excellent  account  of  the  Professor  is  given  to- 
wards  the   end    of    the    book     by   Dr.   F.   H.   Guillemard, 


742  Recenthj  jmblished  Ornithological  Works.  [Ibis, 

who  relates  his  first  conversation  with  Newton  on  his 
(Guillemard's)  return  from  Lapland.  The  fact  that  he  liad 
been  there  for  birds  was  quite  enough  for  Newton,  who 
promptly  asked  him  round  on  the  following  Sunday  evening. 
This  episode  reminds  the  writer  of  his  first  meeting  with 
Newton,  when  as  a  "  Fresher"  he  kept  some  live  birds,  in- 
cluding Knots,  of  which  Newton  had  heard.  It  was  about 
two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  my  landlady  announced 
"  Two  gentlemen  to  see  you/'  and  in  came  Newton  with  his 
brother.  Nearly  his  first  remark  was  "  And,  so  you're  the 
Knotty  man.''  He  looked  at  one  or  two  wretched  bird-skins 
I  had  (I  shudder  to  think  what  he  must  have  tliou<i;ht  of 
them  !)  atid  then,  with  a  cheery  "  Good  afternoon,"  invited 
nie  to  his  Sunday  evenings.  Such  was  the  man,  and  such 
his  attitude  towards  any  undergraduate  who  showed  the 
least  genuine  appreciation  of  Natural  History. 

We  are  surprised  to  find  no  reference  to  the  volume  on 
Birds  of  the  '  Cambridge  Natural  History,'  and  compara- 
tively little  on  the  Great  Bustard,  but,  with  a  few  minor 
exceptions,  most  of  Newton's  'pet*  subjects  have  been 
noticed.  The  main  fault  of  the  whole  book  lies  in  the  way 
it  has  been  put  together.  While  the  reader's  thoughts  are 
on  one  subject,  he  suddenly  finds  himself  reading  a  quota- 
tion from  a  letter  on  another  (the  quotations  not  being  in 
inverted  commas  or  otherwise  distinguished  from  the  rest  of 
the  letterpress),  and  it  may  be  necessary  to  turn  over 
several  pages  to  find  the  author's  or  recipient's  name  in  a 
footnote.  This  arrangement  is  exasperating  to  the  average 
man,  and  makes  it  anything  but  a  readable  book.  For  the 
rest,  as  might  be  expected  from  a  compilation  of  Newton's 
letters,  it  contains  a  considerable  array  of  most  interesting 
facts,  which  make  it  worth  every  ornithologis^t's  while  to  read 
in  spite  of  the  difficulties  which  are  put  in  his  way  ;  and  we 
hojjc  it  may  find  its  place  on  the  book-shelves  of  every 
'Ibis  '  in  memory  of  the  keenest  and  most  lovable  "^  gentle- 
man attached  to  the  study  of  ornithology  "  that  England 
ever  produced. — J.  L.  B. 


1 92 1.]       Recenthj  published  Ornilholof/ical  PVorks.  743 

Aquila. 

[Aquila  :  Periodical  of  Ornithology.  Edited  hy  Steplian  vou  Clieruel. 
Vols.  xxvi.  &  xxvii.     Budapest,  1920  &  1921.] 

The  articles  iu  'Aquila^  are  printed  in  Magyar  and 
German  with  occasionally  a  snmmary  in  French  or  English. 
The  first  one  of  vol.  xxvi.  by  the  editor,  Herr  von  Chernel, 
is  a  plea  for  a  renewal  of  an  international  scheme  for  the 
protection  of  birds  useful  in  agriculture.  Tt  was  prepared 
for  the  great  Peace  Conference  in  Paris  at  the  end  of  the 
war,  but  apparently  nothing  came  of  it.  Bird-ringing  was 
continued  actively  during  the  war  years  in  Hungary,  and 
J.  Schenk  has  a  report  on  the  results  for  the  years  1916- 
1919.  Some  2500  birds  were  ringed,  the  greater  number 
being  Swallows  (701),  Great  Tits  (597),  and  Storks  (241). 
Two  of  these  latter,  ringed  in  the  summer  of  1911,  were 
recovered  in  Egypt  in  1912  and  in  South  Africa  in  1916 
respectively,  but  all  the  Tits  recovered  were  taken  in  the 
same  locality  in  which  they  were  ringed,  as  were  also  the 
Swallows. 

Other  articles  by  J.  Schenk  deal  with  migration  dates  in 
Hungary  for  1919  and  1920  respectively.  The  food-habits 
of  the  Magpie  are  reported  on  at  great  length  by  E.  Csiki, 
but  the  results  are  not  presented  very  clearly,  so  that  it  is 
difficult  to  say  whether  the  bird  should  be  considered  useful 
or  harmful  in  Hungary.  The  longest  article  in  the 
27th  volume  is  one  on  the  Birds  of  the  Siebenbiirgen  in 
Transylvania,  based  on  a  manuscript  written  by  INicolaus 
V.  Zeyk,  who  lived  in  the  early  half  of  the  19th  century. 

There  are  a  number  of  shorter  notices  all  relating  to 
Hungarian  ornithology  in  the  two  volumes  here  noticed. 

British  Birds. 

[British  Birds.  An  illustrated  Magazine  devoted  chiefly  to  the  Birds 
in  the  British  List.     Vol.  xiv.     June  1920  to  May  1921 ;  12  nos.] 

The  last  completed  volume  of  '  British  Birds '  fully  main- 
tains the  high  standard  set  up  by  its  predecessors,  and  is 
full  of  matter  of  interest  to  students  of  Palijearctic  birds. 


744  Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  [Ibis, 

Perhaps  the  most  striking  contribution  is  that  of  Mr.  Edgar 
Chance^  wlio  again,  for  the  third  year  in  succes^sion,  watched 
through  May  and  June  a  female  Cuckoo  wliich  haunted 
a  small  gorse-clad  common  in  Worcestershire.  He  believes 
that  this  one  individual  laid  21  eggs  at  intervals  of  about 
48  hours  each  between  May  13  and  June  27  in  the  nests  of 
Meadow-Pipits,  of  which  there  were  nine  pairs  inhabiting 
the  common.  The  Pipits  built  thirty  nests  altogether,  and 
this  it  appears  was  brought  about  by  destroying  the  nest 
after  the  Cuckoo  had  deposited  her  egg  in  it,  so  as  to 
arrange  for  fresh  nests  to  be  ready  for  the  Cuckoo  at  a 
subsequent  date.  Mr.  Chance  has  described  his  observa- 
tions, stated  his  case,  and  drawn  his  conclusions  with  great 
clearness.  We  understand  that  during  the  present  year  he 
has  again  been  at  work,  and  has  taken  a  series  of  ''moving 
pictures  ^'  which  will  be  shown  to  the  members  of  the 
B.  O.  C.  during  the  coming  winter. 

Mr.  C.  B.  Ticehurst  contributes  a  series  of  articles  on  the 
history  of  birds  now  very  rare  or  extinct  in  Kent,  such  as 
the  Kite,  Buzzard,  Swan,  Great  Bustard,  and  Crane;  he  has 
obtained  a  great  deal  of  information  from  the  study  of  old 
books  and  manuscripts.  Mr.  J.  K.  Nash  writes  on  the 
occurrence  of  the  Bee-eater  in  Midlothian,  and  how  the 
pair  observed  were  on  the  point  of  nesting  when  the  female 
was  captured  by  a  local  gardener;  and  Mr.  F.  N.  Chasen 
■gives  an  account  of  the  nesting  of  the  Lesser  Kestrel  in 
Macedonia. 

Among  the  illustrated  articles  are  a  series  by  Miss  E.  L. 
Turner,  who  has  taken  her  camera  to  the  sand-dunes  of 
Holland  and  has  brought  back  beautiful  examples  of  her 
skill,  illustrating  the  Black-tailed  Godwit,  the  Black  Tern, 
the  Ruff,  and  the  Avocet ;  while  Mr.  T.  Lewis  contributes 
notes  on  the  nest  of  the  Little  Tern  on  the  coast  of  Norfolk, 
illustrated  with  exquisite  photographs  of  the  sitting  female 
being  fed  by  the  male. 

Mr.  Witherby  himself  discusses  the  occurrence  of  the 
Spotted  Eagle  and  the  Steppe  Buzzard  in  the  British  Isles, 
and   comes   to  the  conclusion   that   all  the   records   of  the 


1 92 1.]       Recently  published  Ornithological  IVorks.  745 

Spotted  Eagles  vvliich  can  be  identified  refer  to  the  larger 
species,  Aquila  clanga,  and  that  the  occurrence  of  the  Steppe 
Buzzard  (Buteo  h.  vulpinus)  rests  solely  on  the  individual 
killed  in  18G4  by  Mr.  J.  Clarke  Hawkshaw  in  Wiltshire,  and 
now  in  the  British  Museum  collection.  In  tlie  same  article 
he  states  that  the  British  Tawny  Owl  is  separable  from  the 
continental  one  by  its  smaller  size  and  by  the  more  frequent 
occurrence  of  the  tawny  phase.  It  should  be  known  as 
Striae  aluco  sylvatica  Shaw.  Mr.  Witherby  also  contributes 
two  short  articles  on  the  progress  of  the  '  British  Birds  ' 
marking  scheme,  which  is  rapidly  recovering  from  the  set- 
back caused  by  the  war,  and  records  the  fifth  example  of  a 
Swallow  ringed  as  a  young  bird  iu  Stirlingshire,  27/vi./19, 
recovered  at  Lake  Chrissie  in  the  Transvaal,  l<'5/v./20. 

The  Emu. 

[Tlie  Emu :  Official  Organ  of  the  Royal  Australian  Ornithologists' 
Union.     Vol.  xx.     July  1920  to  April  1921.] 

As  is  the  case  in  Europe,  so  even  in  far  Australia  the 
great  increase  in  the  cost  of  printing  has  hampered  the 
activities  of  scientific  societies,  and  the  editors  and  secre- 
taries of  the  R.  A.  O.  U.  have  had  a  difiicult  task  to  keep  up 
the  standard  of  the  'Emu,'  though  the  present  volume 
does  not  show  much  diminution  in  size  as  compared  with 
pi'cvious  ones. 

The  last  annual  meeting  of  the  Union  was  held  at  Perth 
in  October  1920.  This  is  the  first  time  the  Union  has 
ever  met  in  Western  Australia,  and  a  considerable  number 
of  members  made  the  long  journey  of  over  4000  miles  from 
Queensland  and  other  States  to  attend  the  session.  The 
January  riumber  of  the  '  Emu  ^  contains  a  full  account  of 
the  proceedings,  and  also  a  number  of  papers  on  the  birds 
of  Western  Australia,  either  the  result  of  observations  of  the 
visitors,  or  prepared  specially  for  their  edification.  Among 
these  there  is  a  workman-like  account  of  the  birds  of  the 
Swan  River  district  by  Mr.  W.  B.  Alexander,  and  a  good 
article  on  the  birds  of  Dirk  Hartog  Island  and  the  Feron 
Peninsula  by  Mr.  E.  L.  Whitlock,  who  was  lucky  enough  to 


746  Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.  [Ibis, 

be  tbere  during  the  breeding-season,  and  thus  found  the  eggs 
and  nests  of  many  of  the  local  forms  which  Mr.  Thomas 
Carter  was  unable  to  obtain. 

The  Report  of  the  Check-list  Committee  engaged  in 
drawing  up  a  new  Check-list  of  Australian  birds  was  also 
considered,  and  we  are  glad  to  observe  that  the  List  will 
probably  be  quite  complete  in  time  for  the  next  annual 
gathering. 

Among  the  very  many  communications  printed  in  the 
present  volume,  we  should  like  to  specially  mentitm  one  by 
Mr.  R.  Stuart-Sutherland,  in  which  he  reviews  the  Penguins, 
with  special  reference  to  the  Australian  species,  and  another 
by  Mr.  W.  B.  Alexander,  who  reviews  tlie  Australian  species 
of  Tubinares — both  useful  pieces  of  work.  Mr.  A.  J. 
Campbell  has  prepared  some  notes  on  a  collection  of  birds 
from  the  islands  in  the  Torres  Straits,  formed  by  Mr.  W. 
R.  McLennan  for  the  H.  L.  White  Collection,  which  is  now 
at  Melbourne  in  the  National  Museum.  The  plumage 
clianges  of  the  Nankeen  Night-Heron  [Nycticorax  cale- 
donicus)  have  been  carefully  recorded  by  Mr.  C.  F.  Cole 
and  are  illustrated  by  a  good  coloured  plate  ;  and  Mr.  R. 
Hays  has  written  an  account  of  the  food-pellets  of  King- 
fishers, one  of  the  most  interesting  consisting  of  the  round 
calcareous  concretions  ("crabs' eyes  "j  found  in  the  stomach 
walls  of  freshwater  Crayfishes,  which  appear  to  form  a  con- 
siderable part  of  the  diet  of  the  l^aughing  Kingfisher 
(Dacelo  gif/as). 

A  new  feature  of  the  '  Emu  '  are  the  Reports  from  the 
State  Secretaries,  giving  accounts  of  what  is  going  on  in 
each  individual  State  of  the  great  Island  Continent,  and 
which  undoubtedly  must  assist  in  bringing  the  scattered 
ornithologists  in  closer  touch  with  one  another. 

We  notice  only  two  new  forms  described — Ptilotis  geruld- 
tonensis  Ashby,  from  Geraldton  in  Western  Australia,  and 
Menura  superba  edwardi  Chisholm,  from  Stanthorpe  in 
southern  Queensland  near  the  New  South  Wales  border. 
This  new  Lyre-bird  differs  markedly  from  the  other  forms 
in  its  habits,  as  it  lives  iu  comparatively  open  country  and 
the  nests  are  placed  iu  the  clefts  of  giant  granite  boulders. 


1 921.1       Recently  published  Ornithological  JVorks.  747 

It  is  named  after  the  Prince  of  Wales^,  who  liad  just 
previously  passed  through  the  country  it  inhabits  during  his 
recent  memorable  journey  to  Australia. 

El  Horner 0. 

[El  Hornero.  Eevista  de  la  Sociedad  Ornitologica  del  Plata.  Vol.  ii. 
for  1920 ;  2  nos.] 

The  second  volume  of  ^  El  Hornero,'  completed  in  two 
numbers,  contains  a  good  deal  of  information  relating  to 
the  birds  of  the  Argentine  and  other  neighbouring  States 
and  maintains  the  promise  of  the  first.  Sen.  J.  Tremoleras 
contributes  a  list  of  the  birds  of  Uruguay  based  on  30  years' 
observation.  The  last  general  list  was  that  of  Mr,  O.  V. 
Aplin,  published  in  '  The  Ibis  '  for  ISQi,  and  we  are  glad  to 
see  Sen.  Tremoleras  quotes  him  and  gives  him  all  the  credit 
due  to  him.  Mr.  A.  G.  Bennett,  of  Port  Stanley,  Falkland 
Islands,  sends  good  notes  and  photographs  on  birds  observed 
by  him  in  the  South  Shetlands  and  South  Orkneys.  This 
article,  though  originally  written  in  English,  is  trans- 
lated into  Spanish  for  the  pages  of  '  Kl  Hornero.'  Some 
account  of  the  nesting  habits  and  the  young  birds  of  the 
Maguari  Stork,,  also  accompanied  by  photographs,  is  given 
by  Sen.  M.  Fernandez,  of  La  Plata.  Those  curious  external 
insect  parasites  which  prey  on  Birds  and  some  Mammals, 
and  which  form  the  group  Mallophaga,  have  been  a  good 
deal  studied  of  late  years.  Seii,  F.  Lahille  has  collected  and 
published  a  list  of  all  those  which  are  found  on  Argentine 
birds.  They  perhaps  should  not  be  regarded  as  parasitic, 
but  rather  as  epizoic,  as  they  do  not  appear  to  injure  their 
host  in  any  way,  but  feed  on  the  epidermal  products,  such 
as  the  feathers  and  hairs.  Little  attention  has  been  paid  to 
the  birds  of  the  "  chaco  "  region  of  north-western  Argentina, 
since  Prof.  Graham  Ker  visited  it  in  1890-1,  and  we  are 
glad  to  see  in  the  present  volume  a  long  article  on  the  birds 
of  this  region  by  Senor  E.  L,  Arribalzaga.  Finally,  we 
must  mention  Dr.  R.  Dabbene^s  own  contributions  to  the 
volume.  He  has  completed  an  account  of  the  Argentine 
Penguins  with  descriptive  keys,  ranges  and  distribution, 
and  outline  figures  to  illustrate  the  differences  of  the  seven 


748  Recently  published  Ornithological  Works.         [Ibis, 

species  inhabiting  the  Argentine  coast.  Another  stndy  is 
devoted  to  the  Rheas,  of  whicli  lie  recognizes  three  separable 
forms.  A  tliird  paper  deals  with  the  Nortli  American 
Wading  birds,  24  species  of  which  winter  in  the  sonthern  part 
of  South  America  ;  in  this  case  there  is  a  careful  list  of  all 
the  published  and  many  unpublished  detailed  records.  We 
notice  only  one  new  form  described.  This  is  Lepastheyiura 
agithaloides  pallida  Dabbene,  from  Patagonia. 

Both  the  numbers  contain  a  good  many  shorter  notes, 
personal  paragraphs,  and  even  poems. 

South  Australian  Ornithologist. 

[The  South  Australian  Ornitholop^ist.  A  Magazine  of  Ornithology. 
Vols.  iv.  &,  V.  for  1919  and  1920 ;  4  no8.  in  each  year.] 

This  little  magazine,  published  by  the  South  Australian 
Ornithological  Association  and  edited  by  a  small  committee 
of  its  members,  continues  to  reach  us  regularly,  and  the 
last  two  volumes  contain  a  number  of  papers  almost  entirely 
concerned  with  observations  on  South  Australian  birds. 
Each  number  includes  an  account  of  the  monthly  meetings 
of  the  Association,  and  the  description  with  biological  de- 
tails of  a  single  member  of  tlie  South  Australian  Avifauna. 

Capt.  S.  A.  White  has  concluded  the  memoir  of  his  father, 
Samuel  White,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Australian  ornitho- 
logy and  the  friend  and  correspondent  of  Gould.  Mr. 
A.  M.  Morgan,  Mr.  E.  Ashby,  Mr.  J.  W.  Mellor,  Mr.  J.  N. 
McGilp,  write  pleasant  articles  on  their  ornithological 
rambles  in  various  parts  of  the  State.  Some  controversial 
letters  on  nomenclature  by  Mr.  A.  J.  Campbell  and  Capt. 
S.  A.  White  enliven  the  pages  of  some  of  the  numbers  of 
the  magazine,  and  in  the  January  1920  number  Mr. 
Mathews  intervened  with  an  essay  on  "  Zoological  Nomen- 
clature :  its  History  and  Reason, "  which  at  once  drew  a 
spirited  reply  from  Mr.  Campbell. 

We  notice  descriptions  of  the  following  new  races  :  — 
Climacteris  erijthrops  parsoni  Mellor,  from  the  Murray  river 
valley ;  Stipiturus  malachurus  halmaturina  Parsons,  from 
Kangaroo  Island, 


1 92 1.]        Recently  published  ODiitholoyical  Works.  749 

Tori. 

[Tori.  The  Aves.  Bulletin  of  the  Ornithological  Society  of  J.ipan, 
vol.  ii.  uos.  9  &  10.     April  &  Dec.  1920.] 

With  these  two  numbers  is  completed  tlie  second  volume 
of  our  Japanese  contemporary.  We  are  glad  to  see  that  in 
the  last  number,  not  only  are  the  title-page  and  contents 
given  in  Eiiglishj  but  the  list  of  officers  of  tlie  Society  and  the 
exact  date  of  publication  o£  the  various  numbers  of  the 
journal.  In  No.  9  will  be  found  descri[)tions  of  a  new 
Flowqr-peoker  from  Formosa  ])y  Mr.  Kuroda,  named 
Dicceum  miimllum  uchidni  after  the  President  of  tlie  Society. 
Mr.  Kuroda  also  discusses  the  sexual  distinctions  of  the 
lately  dc^scribed  Pseudotadorna  cristata.  Mr.  T.  Momiyama 
describes  Aplonis  hitUitzi  karodai,  suhsp.  n.,  from  Yap  in 
the  western  Caroline  Islands,  and  Mr.  T.  Mori  writes  on 
the  birds  of  Quelpart  Island  off  Corea.  The  last  number 
contains  a  List  of  the  birds  of  the  Dagelet  Is.,  Corea,  by 
Messrs.  Kuroda  and  Mori ;  Ornithological  notes  from  the 
neighbourhood  of  Sasanami,  Prov.  Nagato,  l)y  Y.  Kanetsune; 
On  breeding-seasons  of  some  birds  in  Prefecture  Mizagi,  by 
S.  Kumagai  ;  and  Notes  on  breeding-habits  of  Ninox  s. 
scutellala  (Rafll.),  bv  Messrs.  Kawaguciii  and  Ikemura. 
An  artistic  coloured  plate  illustrates  tiie  subspecies  of  the 
Varied  l^itinouse,  Parus  varius. 


List  of  other  Ornithological  Publications  received. 

Fletcher,   T.    B.,   &  Inglis,   C.   M.     Some  comiuou  Indian    Ijirds. 

Nos.  8  &  9.     (AgT.  Journ.  India,  xvi.) 
Lincoln,  F.   C.      Instructions  for  Bird  Banding.     (U.S.   Dept.    Agr., 

Circular  170.) 
WiTHERBY,  H.  F.     A  Practical  Handbook  of  British  Birds.     (Pt.  xi.) 
Austral  Avian  Record.     (Vol.  iv.  no.  0.) 
Avicultural  Magazine.     (Vol.  xii.  nos.  G  -8.) 
Bird-Lore.     (Vol.  xxiii.  nos.  3-4.) 
Bird  Notes.     (Vol.  iv.  nos.  5-7.) 
British  Birds.     (Vol.  xv.  nos.  1-3.) 
Brooklyn  Museum  Quarterly.     (1921,  nos.  1-3.) 
Canadian  Field  Naturalist.     (Vol.  xxxv.  nos.  1-3.) 
Condor.     (Vol.  xxxiii.  nos.  3-4.) 

SER.  XI. VOL.   III.  3  U 


750  Letter.t,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  [Ibis, 

Fauna  ocb  Flora.     (1921,  no.  o.) 

Gerfaut.     (XP  Annee,  no.  2.) 

Irisli  Naturalist.     (Vol.  xxx.  nos.  6-8.) 

Journal  far  Ornithologie.     (Vol.  69,  no.  3.) 

Journal  of  the  Bombay  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.     (Vol.  xxvii.  no.  .3.) 

Journal  of  the  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.  Siam.     (Vol.  iv.  no.  2.) 

L'Oiseau.     (Vol.  ii.  nos.  5-7.) 

Oologists'  Record.     (Vol.  i.  no.  2.) 

Ornithologische  Monatsberichte.     (Vol.  28,  nos.  7-8.) 

Revue  Fran^aise  d'(3rnithologie.     (Nos.  146-149.) 

Scottish  Naturalist.     (Nos.  113, 1 1 6.) 

Tori.     (Vol.  iii.no.  11.) 

Transactions  of  the  London  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.     (Vol.  for  1920.) 


XL. — Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes. 

Bird-migration  and  the  Marking  Method. 

SiR^ — As  one  of  tlie  largest  indivickial  ringers  of  birds  in 
this  country,  I  read  Professor  Thomson's  article  on  "Bird- 
migration   l)y   the  Marking  Method  ''  with    great   interest. 
In  the  literature  of  the  subject,  howe\'er,  I  was  astonished 
to  fiiul   no   mention   of  the  marking  experiments  conducted 
by  the   late   Professor  J.  A.  Palmen,  of   Helsingfors  Uni- 
versity, in  Finland,  or  by  the  liussians  at  Kielkond,  on  the 
island  of  (Jesal,  under    Herr  Stoll.      I  have   found   ringed 
birds  in  this  country  marked  by  both  of  these  gentlemen. 
Professor  Palnieu's  experiments  siiow   some   wonderful  re- 
sults, Black-headed  Gulls  (^Larus  ridibiniduft),  for  instance, 
showing  two  distinct  lines  of  migration,  the  one  down  the 
Baltic   and  the   other  overland   across   Europe  via   Austria 
to  the  Mediterranean.     His  ringing  of  other  species,  many 
of  them  within  the  Arctic  Circle,  also  showed  long  journeys. 
Large  numbeis  of  each  species  must  be  marked  before  any 
conclusions  can  be  arrived  at,  yet  Professor  Thomson  also 
fails  to  mention  my  article  in  'Biitish  Birds,'  vol.  viii.  p.  209, 
on   the  result  of   marking   nearly   twelve    thousand   Black- 
lieaded     Gulls    (Larus    riddnindus)    in    this    country.       To 
Professor  Tiiomson's  query  :   "  Do  young  birds  seek  the  same 
winter  quarters  as  their  parents?  "  the  answer  is  that  tiiey 


1921.]  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  751 

do,  as  shown  by  more  than  one  species,  especially  Lesser 
Black-backed  Gulls  (^Larus  fiiscus  affinis\  bred  in  this 
country,  of  which  quite  an  encouraging  percentage  has  been 
recovered. 

Neither  is  any  mention  made  of  Pamien^s  ducks  marked 
in  the  far  north^  which  show  some  wonderful  results,  two 
Teal,  for  instance,  being  recovered  in  Spain  and  Italy 
respectively.  His  Starling  records  are  also  intensely 
interesting,  showing,  as  they  do,  several  recoveries  in  this 
country.  In  the  article  three  records  only  are  given  of 
Swallows  marked  with  'Bi'itish  Birds'  rings  being  recovered 
in  South  Africa,  whereas  the  number  should  be  five.  Again, 
no  mention  is  made  of  the  wonderful  record  of  a  Wigeon 
marked  with  a  'British  Birds'  ring  in  England  and  recovered 
in  Asia.  With  regard  to  the  supposed  sedentary  hahits  of 
the  British  Redbreast,  I  can  quote  at  least  two  instances  of 
such  marked  birds  being  recovered  abroad. 

Finally,  it  would  be  interesting  to  learn  the  total  number 
of  birds  marked  by  the  American  Bird  Banding  Association. 
I  might  conclude  by  saying  that  Mr.  F.  W.  Smalley  and 
myself  once  marked  720  birds  of  one  species  in  the  course 
of  one  day. 

H.  W.  Robinson. 
•  The  Patchetts, 

Caton,  near  Lancaster, 

1  August,  1921. 

Birds  of  Alderney. 
Sir, — I  notice  that  in  Major  W.  R.  Thompson's  in- 
teresting paper  in  the  July  number  of  "^The  Ibis'  on  the 
Birds  of  Alderney,  he  assigns  the  Goldfinch,  Bullfinch,  Tree- 
Creeper,  Great  Tit,  Blue  '^J^it,  Song-Thrush,  Roi)in,  and 
Dipper  to  the  Britisii  forms  without  comment.  Referring 
to  Mr.  Witherby's  '  Practical  Handbook/  I  find  that  all 
these  are  said  to  l)e  confined  to  the  British  Islands  except 
the  Song-Thrush  ami  Robin.  I  do  not  know  whether  birds 
of  all  these  species  from  north-west  France  have  been  com- 
pared with  the  British  forms,  or  whether  Channel  Island 
birds  have  been   compared   with  either  French  or  British  ; 

any 


752  Letters,  Extracts^  and  Notes.  [Ibis, 

but,  from  tbe  position  of  the  (Uianiiel  Isbiiitls,  one  would 
suppose  that  resident  birds  there  would  conform  more 
closely  to  the  birds  of  the  adjoining  French  coast  than  to 
those  of  the  far  more  distant  coasts  of  England.  In  any 
case,  unless  the  results  of  comparisons  made  have  already 
been  published  somewhere,  I  think  it  can  be  hardly  safe  to 
assume  that  the  breeding  birds  of  the  Channel  Islands  are 
all    of  the    British  form.     I  do  not  think   birds  pay   much 

respect  to  political  geography. 

Yours  truly, 
78  Gibbins  Roatl,  H.  G.  Alexander. 

Selby  Oak,  IJiriiiiugham, 
20  July,  19i>L 


Subspecies  and  Evolution. 

Sir, — Without  any  claim  to  the  "  highly  trained  scientific 
mind''  postulated  for  tiie  critic  of  Colonel  Meinertzhagen's 
paper:  "Some  Thoughts  on  Subspecies  and  Evolution '^  in 
the  last  number  of  'The  Ibis,'  one  or  two  points  may  be  I'aised. 

The  first  is  his  use  of  the  term  Mutation.  It  is  not 
clear  whether  it  is  used  in  the  sense  of  De  Vries,  or  whether 
it  is  applied  (as  some  modei'u  writers  have  applied  it)  to 
certain  characters  transmitted  in  accordance  witli  Meudel's 
Law.  On  p.  53.S,  lines  27  and  28,  it  seems  to  refer 
simply  to  monstrosities  or  deformities.  There  is  also 
apparent  confusion  between  Mendel's  discoverii-s  and  the 
Germ-plasm  Theoiy  of  Weismaiin,  though  the  latter  is  oidy 
mentioned  by  name  once  (p.  535),  and  then  in  a  passage 
which  suggests  a  printer's  error. 

A  second  point  is,  that  it  is  not  established  that  when 
domesticated  forms  return  to  feral  life,  they  always  revert 
indistinguishably  to  their  ancestral  type.  This  has  not  taken 
place  in  the  case  of  tlie  Porto  Santo  Rabbit  described  by 
ilaeckel  ('  History  of  Creation,'  English  translation,  vol.  i.). 

Thus  the  following  (p.  532)  is  misleading  : 

"  The  mutationist  will  argue  that  wiienever  a  domesti- 
cated variety  resumes  a  wild  life,  the  originid  wild  stock 
being  doniinnnt  to  the  recessive  domesticated  variety,  such 


1 921.]  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  753 

variety  must  revert,  and    that   such   a  process   is   in   strict 
accord  with  Meuflel^s  theorv." 

Tlie  word  "recessive'^  implies  that  ''dominant^'  is  used 
not  in  its  general,  but  in  its  technical  jNIendelian  sense.  We 
suppose  that  "  mutationist "  means  here  a  student  of 
Menders  principles  of  heredity,  and  such  a  one  might  be 
surprised  at  the  views  imputed  to  liim. 

The  appearance  of  certain  characters  in  the  Mendeliau 
ratio  is  not  a  theory,  but  a  law  deuionstratt'd  by  experiment, 
and  the  "  JMendeliau  Law''  simply  means  that  such  characters 
will  appear  in  definite  proportions  in  each  generation. 

If  we  suppose  that  characters  which  appeared  uiuler 
domestication  are  recessive,  when  the  domesticated  forms 
interbreed  with  the  wild  stock,  even  if  the  recessives  are  so 
strictly  weeded  out  by  natural  selection  that  they  never 
survive  to  breed,  still  a  certain  number  of  recessives  will 
infallibly  appear  whenever  two  heterozygotes  interbreed. 
This,  and  not  necessarily  Colonel  Meincrtzhagen's  assump- 
tion, is  what  is  in  strict  accordance  with  Mendel's  Law. 
Cases  in  nature  are  probably  never  so  sim])le  as  this  hypo- 
thetical one.  For  instance,  recent  work  on  Lepidoptera 
suggests  that  in  certain  cases  the  recessives  are  better  able 
to  survive  than  the  dominants. 

From  the  last  paragraph  on  p.  580,  and  the  second  para- 
graph on  p.  532,  we  are  led  to  believe  that  Colonel 
Meinertzhagen  considers  breeding  experiments  to  be  of 
little  use  in  the  study  of  evolution.  Yet  on  p.  535  he 
notices  with  approval  Kanimcrer's  well-known  experiments 
on  Ampiiibia,  from  which  ''  it  Mould  appear  that  acquired 
characters  are  indeed  heritable."  Modern  biologists,  while 
acknowledging  the  interest  and  significance  of  Kauimerer's 
results,  would  perhaps  hardly  commit  themselves  yet  to 
such  a  final  assertion  on  the  Homeric  Question  in  biology. 

Further,  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  MendeFs 
Law  holds  for  animals  in  a  natural  state.  Take,  for  ex- 
ample, Lang's  experiments  on  Helix  nemoralis  described  by 
Darbishire  (Journ.  of  Conchology,  1905).  Some  remarks 
by  the  latter  (Introduction  to  a  Biology,  1917,  pj).  217-219) 
on   the   normal   and   abnormal   in   inheritance  also   answer 


754  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  [Ibis, 

some  of  Colonel  Meiiiertzliageii^s  contentions  about  arti- 
ficial breedino-  and  ''freakisli  "  varieties. 

As  regards  the  statement  on  p.  532,  it  may  be  true  of 
domesticated  birds  that  "  no  single  artificial  variety  has 
ever,  so  far  as  we  know,  occurred  iu  a  wild  state/'  but  this 
is  not  the  case  for  numerous  species  of  plants,  nor  for  other 
groups  of  animals.  See,  for  instance.  Tower's  observations 
on  Leptinotarsa  (Pub.  Carnegie  Inst.  Washington,  1906). 
Tower^s  work  has  been  criticised  on  the  ground  that  it  is 
not  certain  that  the  strains  he  employed  were  pure — i.  e. 
genotypes  ;  but  tiiis  docs  not  affect  the  value  of  his  observa- 
tions as  an  argument  against  Colonel  Meinertzhagen's 
assertion,  quoted  above. 

I  repeat  that  I  have  no  desire  to  criticise  Colonel 
Meinertzhagen^s  views  on  subspecies,  one  way  or  the  other. 
They  may,  or  may  not,  be  correct,  l)ut  I  take  some  exception 
to  his  manner  ot"  stating  them,  and  still  more  to  his  method 
of  founding  conclusions  on  generalisations  that  are  not 
always  supported  by  facts. 

There  are  three  methods  by  which,  singly  or  in  combina- 
tion, a  scientific  problem  may  be  approached — induction, 
observation,  and  experiment ;  and,  ultimately,  it  is  only  by 
experiment  that  a  theory  can  be  tested.  Birds  are  a  gi'oup 
which  at  present  do  not  lend  themselves  to  experiment, 
except  iu  certain  restricted  instances ;  but  because  our 
experimental  methods  are  inadequate,  it  is  surely  unreason- 
able to  argue  that  all  experimental  work  is  unreliable,  or 
that  the  facts  themselves  do  not  exist. 

I  am  unable  to  offer  an  opinion  on  the  origin  of  species, 
owing  to  insufficient  knowledge  of  the  biological  evidence 
necessary  to  form  one  ;  but  I  am  convinced  that  it  will  be 
only  by  experiment  that  any  of  the  dift'erent  theories  ad- 
vanced will  be  raised  from  the  quicksand  of  a  hypothesis  to 
the  firm  ground  of  demonstrated  fact. 

Maud  D.  Haviland,  H.M.B.O.U. 

Eesearcli  Fellow  in  Zoology. 
Newnhani  College, 
Cambridge, 

16  August,  1921. 


1921.]  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  755 

Nestling  Plumages  of  Owls. 

Sir, — Mr.  Witlierby^s  letter  re  the  above  ('  Ibis/  p.  567) 
has  caused  me  to  go  into  the  matter  aj^aiu. 

Mr.  Witlierby  writes  :  "  I  cannot  agree  Avith  Mr.  Bonhote 
that  the  Eagle-Owl  has   three  generations  of  plumage  before 
acquiring  feathers  like   those  of  the  adult.  ...     I  find  .  .  . 

that  the  first  down  is  immediately  succeeded  by  the  juvenile 
plumage.  .  ...  .       The  specimens     in     the    British    Museum 

clearly  show  the  shortish  white  down  attached  to  the  tips  of 
these  downy  feathers." 

I  have  examined  these  same  specimens  in  the  Museum^ 
and  find  that  "downy  feathers"  of  the  juvenile  plumage 
and  the  down  of  the  second  plumage  both  carry  the  shortish 
white  down  at  their  tips. 

The  second  down  plumage  has  also  been  rioted  by  two 
other  observers — (1)  Mr.  Gurney, '  Zoologist,'  1849,  p.  2567  ; 
(2)  M.  Lavauden,  'Revue  Fraufalse  d'Oruithologie,'  May 
1920,  p.  60. 

The  first  point  to  be  considered  is  the  chronological 
sequence  and  age  at  which  these  plumages  sliow.  Mr. 
Gurney^s  notes  and  mine  exactly  coincide.  Mr.  Gurney 
writes  that  the  young  were  hatched  on  19  May  and  covered 
with  a  whitish  down  ;  at  three  weeks  old  they  assume  a 
second  down,  and  the  first  feathers  (?  quills,  J.  L.  B.)  began, 
to  appear  at  five  weeks  ;  on  23  July  they  could  fly  to  tlie 
perches. 

My  birds  were  liatched  on  25  May  ;  on  21  June  (three 
weeks  and  five  days)  they  were  covered  with  a  huffish 
down  ;  on  3  July  (five  weeks)  the  quills  were  just  showing  ; 
on  8  August  they  could  fly,  and  they  were  in  adult  dress 
by  6  September. 

There  can  therefore  be  no  doubt  whatever  that  the  Eagle- 
Owl  has  three  distinct  plumages  before  assuming  its  first 
winter  plumage.  The  point,  then,  is  how  can  these  plumages 
be  morphologically  interpreted,  in  view  of  the  fact  that,  as 
Mr.  Witherby  points  out  aiul  in  which  I  concur,  the  juvenile 
(third)  plumage  bears  the  first  white  down  on  its  tips,  as 
docs  also  the  second  down  plumage. 


756  Letters,  ExlractSj  and  N^otes.  [Ibis, 

Adult  birds  are  clothed  with  down  and  feathers,  the 
latter  usually  concealing  the  former.  Morphologically,  the 
first  generation  of  down  or  feathers  is  known  as  ncosso- 
ptiles,  and  the  second  and  subsequent  generations  as 
teleoptiles.  In  niany  species  the  neossoptiles  are  entirely 
suppressed.  Some  writers  distinguish  between  the  neosso- 
ptiles that  precede  the  down  and  those  that  precede  tlie 
leathers,  calling  the  former  pre|)lumul8e  and  the  latter 
prepenna3.  In  some  species  the  neossoptiles^  are  entirely 
preplumnlse,  in  others  entirely  prepennse,  whilst  in  many 
species  they  are  both  prepennie  and  preplumulse. 

Newton,  while  noting  that  adult  birds  are  clothed  w"ith 
down  and  feathers,  regards  them  as  morphologically  identical, 
but  the  down  representing  a  more  primitive  type  of  feather 
(Newton,  Diet,  of  Birds,  p.  2 12).  Without  going  into  this 
matter  in  detail,  what  happens  in  the  case  of  the  Eagle-Owl 
is  now  pretty  clear.  The  first  white  down  repi"escnts  the 
neossoptiles  ;  my  second  and  third  plumages  form  together 
the  first  generation  of  the  teleoptiles;  but  since  they  do  not 
appear  simultaneously  at  first,  we  have  an  apparent  second 
plumage  consisting  solely  of  the  first  teleoptile  down,  and 
an  apparent  third  plumage,  which  corresponds  with  the 
"juvenile"  plumage,  consisting  of  the  first  teleoptile 
feathers. 

The  Barn-Owl  seems  to  offer  a  slightly  different  problem. 
When  hatched  it  is  covered  with  a  short  white  down,  which 
is  succeeded  by  a  long  white  down  followed  by  true  feathers. 
It  differs  from  the  Eagle-Owl  in  the  fact  that  the  first  true 
feathers  are  the  second  generation  of  teleoptiles  and  bear 
the  long  second  down  at  their  tips.  It  follows,  therefore, 
that  the  long  second  down  of  the  13arn-0wls  corresponds  to 
the  first  teleoptile  or  juvenile  plumage,  but  in  the  Barn- 
Owls  it  is  entirely  downy,  whereas  in  the  Eagle-Owl  it  is  a 
"downy  feather."  It  is  probable,  however,  that  in  the 
Barn-Owl,  as  in  the  Eagle-Owl,  the  first  teleoptile  down 
precedes  the  first  teleoptile  '^  feathers,"  but  that  in  the  Barn- 
Owl  they  are  indistinguishable.  While  on  this  subject  I  have 
had  occasion  to  look  at  Sparrow-Hawks,  having  souie  downy 


1 92 1.]  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  757 

young  at  hand,  and  find  tliat  their  plumages  are  exactly 
analogous  to  those  of  the  Eagle-Owl ;  at  a  certain  age  they 
are  covered  with  a  long  second  down,  bearing  the  short  first 
down  at  the  tip,  to  l)e  covered  over  in  a  few  weeks  or  so  by 
the  "juvenile  ""  feather  plumage,  also  bearing  the  short  first 
down  at  the  tip. 

In  the  Game  Birds  we  have  tliree  definite  plumages  before 
the  first  winter  plumage — the  first  being  a  down  plumage 
and  the  others  true  feathers;  and  it  is  perhaps  interesting  to 
note  that  among  a  small  percentoge  uf  males  in  domestic 
poultry  the  second  plumage,  with  the  exception  of  the  flights, 
is  entirely  suppressed. 

The  question  of  these  plumages,  wliich  is  of  considerable 
interest,  needs  much  careful  further  study. 

J.  IjEWIS  Bonhote. 

Park  Hill  House,  Carslialtoii, 
25  July,  1921. 

The  Ornithological  Society  of  France. 
We  welcome  tiie  announcement  in  the  July  number  oi 
the  '  Uevue  Fran9aise  d'Ornithologie  '  of  the  formation  and 
first  meeting  of  the  "  Socicte  Ornithologique  de  France/' 
which  was  held  on  29  May  last  in  the  Zoological  Theatre 
of  the  Museum  in  Paris.  M.  iSIeuegaux  presided,  and  the 
following  officers  were  elected : — Hon.  Presidents,  MM. 
Bureau  and  Simon  ;  President,  M.  A.  Mencgaux  ;  Vice- 
Presidents,  Dr.  Arnault  and  M.  Lavauden  ;  Secretary,  M.  J. 
Rapine;  and  Treasurer,  M,  Villette  de  Pingues. 


The  Oxford  University  Expedition  to  Spitsbergen,  1921. 
We  are  alad  to  announce  that  the  members  of  the  first 
party  of  the  Oxford  Expedition  have  now  returned  safely  to 
England.  Some  alterations  in  the  original  plans  had  to  be 
made,  owing  to  difficulties  of  transport  during  a  period  of 
strikes  both  in  England  and  Norway.  From  13  June  to 
23  June  a  biological  survey  of  the  southern  part  of  Bear 
Island    was    carried    out    by    a    party   of  seven    under    the 


758  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes.  [Ibis, 

direction  of  the  Rev.  F.  R.  C.  Jourdain.  Heie  a  collection 
of  about  80  skins  was  made  and  some  300  eg:gs  were 
collected^  while  two  new  breeding  species  were  recorded  for 
the  first  time  from  the  island.  On  23  June  the  Expedition 
sailed  for  Spitsbergen,  and  the  shores  of  Ice  Fjord,  as  well 
as  the  west  and  north  coast  east  to  Liefe  Bay,  were  explored 
and  further  collections  made.  Mr.  J.  S.  Huxley  was  in 
charge  of  a  party  encamped  on  Prince  Charles  Foreland 
from  30  June  to  11  July,  when  they  rejoined  the  sloop, 
which  served  as  base  for  the  rest  of  the  trip.  The  results 
have  proved  most  interesting  from  an  ornithological  point 
of  view,  and  also  as  regards  marine  zoology,  botany,  and 
geology.  Altogether  about  300  skins  have  been  brought 
home,  including  a  large  proportion  of  young  in  down  of 
many  species  and  specimens  of  all  three  breeding  Geese  in 
their  flightless  condition.  The  egg  collection  consists  of 
about  500  specimens,  including  no  fewer  than  22  eggs  of 
the  Barnacle-Goose  [Branta  leucopsis).  The  only  authentic 
eggs  of  this  species  taken  under  natural  conditions  were  the 
12  obtained  by  Professor  Koenig's  two  expeditions  in  1907 
and  1908.  Much  valuable  information  as  to  the  breeding- 
ranges  of  the  birds  of  the  group  was  also  obtained,  and  in 
some  cases  the  courtship  habits  and  life-history  have  been 
closely  studied.  The  last  paper  published  in  '  The  Ibis  ^  on 
the  ornithology  of  Spitsbergen  was  in  1897,  and  only 
29  species  were  then  recorded  from  all  sources.  At  the 
present  time  38  species  are  known  to  have  occurred  on  Bear 
Island  alone,  while  at  least  53  must  be  included  in  the  list 
from  Spitsbergen  proper. 


News  of  Capt.  Lynes. 
Capt.  Lynes's  last  letter  is  addressed  to  Dr.  Percy  Lowe 
and  is  dated  3  June,  from  Talingei,  Lat.  12^  N.,  Long.  25^  E. 
January  to  April  was  spent  in  the  Jebel  Marra  at  4000- 
9500  feet,  where  the  peaks  and  plateau  and  "  downs  "  were 
thoroughly  explored,  and  many  temperate  plants  such  as 
bracken,  heaths,  etc.,  etc.,  were  obtained.  During  the  rainy 
season  fresh   quarters   were  found    on   the  Wadi  Ariba,  an 


Ibis.     1921.     PI.  IX 


The  Godman-Salvin  Medal— obverse  and  reverse. 


1921.]  Letters,  Extracts^  and  Notes.  759 

affluent  of  Lake  Chad,  at  about  4500  feet.  Here  native 
straw  huts  have  been  constructed  for  the  party,  and  the 
surrounding  country  is  varied  and  likely  to  prove  a  rich 
collecting-ground.  The  rains  are  heavy  and  last  about  four 
months.  Both  Capt.  Lynes  and  Mr.  Willoughby  Lowe 
appear  to  be  in  good  health  and  spirits,  and  the  collections, 
both  of  bird-skins  and  in  other  branches  of  Natural  History, 
are  accumulating  rapitUy. 


The  Godman-Salvin  Medal.     (PI.  IX.) 

It  will  be  remembered  that  at  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the 
B.  O.  U.  ill  March  1^19  it  was  unanimously  resolved  that 
the  Union  should  found  a  medal  to  be  called  the  Godman- 
Salvin  Medal,  which  should  be  given  from  time  to  time  for 
distinguished  ornithological  work^  and  that  subscriptions  for 
this  purpose  should  be  raised  among  Members  of  the  Union. 

A  sum  of  j£163  has  since  been  collected,  and  a  list  of 
those  who  subscribed  will  be  found  on  p.  787  of  '  The  Ibis '' 
for  1919. 

The  design  was  prepared  by  Mr.  Allan  G.  Wyon  and  a  die 
has  been  cut,  and  as  soon  as  a  suitable  occasion  presents 
itself  an  award  can  be  made.  On  PL  IX.  will  be  found  a 
photographic  representation  of  the  obverse  and  reverse  of 
the  medal.  The  total  cost  of  the  design  and  the  cutting 
of  the  die  amounts  to  £105  ;  postcige,  stationery,  etc.^  etc., 
£^  ;  leaving  a  balance  of  £53  to  defray  the  cost  of  striking 
the  medal  when  it  is  required. 


The  Plumage  Act. 

From  the  '  Times  '  we  learn  that  the  Advisory  Committee 
provided  .for  by  the  Importation  of  Plumage  (Prohibition) 
Act  will  be  constituted  as  follows  : — 

Lord  Crewe  (Chairman)  ;  Mr.  E.  C.  Stuart  Baker  and 
Dr.  W.  Eagle  Clarke  (experts  in  Ornithology) ;  Mr.  C.  P. 
Downham,  Mr.  W.  G.  Dunstall,  and  Mr.  L.  Joseph  (experts 
in  the  feather  trade)  ;  Lord  Buxton,  Capt.  E.  G.  Fairholnie, 
Mrs.  Reginald  McKenna,  and  Mr.  H.  J.  Massingham. 


760  Letters,  [Extracts,  and  Notes.  [Ibis,  1921. 

Notice  to  Members  of  the  B.  0.  C. 

A  Special  Meetii)g  of  tlie  Britisli  Ornithologists'  Club  will 
be  held  at  the  Meetiiig-rootn  of  the  ZDological  Societ}'  in 
Regent's  Park,  on  Wednesday,  9  November,  at  5.30  p.m., 
when  Mr.  E.  P.  Chance  will  show  a  cinematograph  film 
illustrating  the  life-history  of  the  Cuckoo.  The  film,  which 
was  taken  under  the  direct  superintendence  of  Mr.  Chance, 
illustrates  many  details  of  the  habits  of  the  Cuckoo  hitherto 
unrecognized.  Members  of  the  Union  who  are  not  members 
of  the  Club  are  cordially  invited. 


.    Kussian  Ornithologists. 

From  the  last  number  of  the  '  Journal  fiir  Ornithologie ' 
received  (p.  463),  we  learn  on  the  authority  of  Dr.  Keichenovv 
that  Dr.  V.  Binncln,  Hon.M.B.O.U.  died  on  10  January, 
19.20,  and  Mr.  S.  N.  Alpheraky  in  1918.  Mr.  S.  A. 
Buturlin  is  living  at  Alotyri  in  East  Russia,  Prof.  Menzbier 
in  Moscow,  and  Dr.  Suschkin  has  succeeded  to  the  post  in 
the  Petrograd  Museum  formerly  held  by  Dr.  Bianclii. 


The  late  Lieut.  G.  Wyman  Bury. 
Mrs.  Bury  writes  in  regard  to  the  obituary  notice  of  her 
late  husband,  Lieut.  Bury,  which  appeared  in  the  January 
number  of  'The  It)is  '  (p.  151),  that  her  husband  was  not 
attached  to  the  Percival-Dodson  expedition  in  1899-1900 
as  stated  in  the  notice,  but  he  established  their  camp  at 
Abyan  and  then  returned  to  Aden  ;  when  he  heard  of  the 
serious  illness  of  Mr.  Dodson,  which  sub.sequently  resulted 
in  his  death,  he  obtained  leave  to  return  to  Abyan  and 
brought  the  ex})e(lition  safely  back  to  Aden. 


INDEX. 


abietimis,     Phylloscopiis 

c,  249. 
Acaiithis  caniKibina,  197, 

423. 

c.  bella,  129. 

c.  fringiUirostris, 

129. 
c.  meiliterranea, 

129,391,403,577,680. 

1.  cabaret,  080. 

Acaiitliiza   i.  carnarvoni, 

69. 

i.  mastersi,  59. 

p.  apicalis,  59. 

Acanthogenys     r.    tlava- 

caiithus,  73. 
Acaiithorbyiit-lius  s.  wil- 

soni,  71. 
Accentor    c.    subalpiims, 

135. 

modiilaris,212,  462, 

■509,093. 
Accipiter  batesi,  105. 

brevipes,  366. 

g.  geutilis,  004. 

h.  hartlaiibi,  298. 

li.  sharpei,  105. 

nisus,  217,  435,  701. 

11.  nisus,  366. 

sharpei,  105. 

accipitrimis,    Abio,    216, 

433,  697. 
acik,  Clialeoniitra,  285. 
Acredula  r.  taurica,  463. 
Acrocepbalus    aquaticus, 

585,  601,  689. 
arundiiiaceus,  251, 

689. 
a.    arundiiiaceus, 

585 

^  palustris,  585,  729. 

schceuobitmis,    209, 

251,  585,  689. 

scirpaceus,  428. 

s.    scirpaceus,    251, 

585. 

stentoreus,  240. 

s.  stentoreus,  251. 

streperus,  688. 

Actopbilus     afVicaiuis, 
620. 


acuminata,  Erolia,  312. 

■ ,  Triuga,  27. 

acuta,  Anas  a.,  372. 
,   Dafila,    44,    222, 

439,  606,  705. 
adalberti,  Aquila,  700. 
adansoni,    Excalfactoria, 

302. 
adsimilis,  Dicrurus,  287, 

612,621. 
iEgialitis  alexandrina,  21 , 

445,711. 

cantianus,  21. 

dubia,  20,  712. 

geofiroyi,  19. 

biaticula,  445,  518, 

711. 

minor,  20. 

mongolicns,  19. 

placida,  19. 

veredus,  19. 

jEgithalus  caudatus,  205, 

333. 

c.  irbii,  581. 

yEgypius  nionachus,  368. 
tegyptiaca,       Alopocben, 

371. 

r,  Corvus,  627. 

■ ,  Streptopelia  s.,374. 

Kgyptius,      Capriniulgus 

86.,  262. 

,  Centropus,  361. 

,  Milvus,  701. 

, ni.,  3()6. 

,  Pluvianus,  301. 

sequatorialis,     Cinuyris, 

621. 
Aero|)S   a.  albicollis,  275, 

297. 
teruginosus.  Circus,  217, 

365,  4.33,  604,  699. 
fcsalon,   Kalco,  218,  316, 

435,  702. 

, c,  364,  603. 

jEthiopsar      cristatellus, 

327. 
/Ex  galericulata,  45. 
afar,  Eurystomus  a..  275, 

281, 297. 
affiiiis,  Corvus,  158. 
,  Graucalus,  788. 


affinis,  Larus  f.,  279,301, 

448,714,  751. 

,  Micropus,  296. 

,  Tyto  a.,  298. 

afra,  Chalcopelia  a.,  280. 

,  Cryptorhina,  287. 

,  I'yromelana,  288. 

,  Turtur  a.,  301. 

alVicana,  Bupbaga,  288. 
•• ,  Carduelis    c,    391, 

403,  577,  678. 

,  Cbiza;rbi.s,  295. 

,    Crinifer    a.,    273, 

295. 

,  Einberiza  c,  405. 

,   FringiUa    c,    403, 

405. 
africanus,      Actophilu.s, 

620. 

,  Liumaetus,  106. 

,  Pbalacrocorax, 

299, 620. 
,  Pseudogyps,     616, 

620. 

• ,  Rbinoptilus,  611. 

,  Spizaetus,  106. 

afroides,  Otis,  611. 
Agapornis    p.    pullarius, 

298. 

zenkeri,  104. 

Agriochoris      ocellata, 

175. 
Agrobates   g.  galactodes, 

253, 584. 
Agrodronia  c.  minor,  646. 
aliantensis,    Francolinus, 

302. 
akeleyorum,    Lampribis, 

GIO. 
Alfemon      a.     alaudipes, 

246,  412,  644. 
Alanda     arvensis,     201, 

425,  643,  682. 

a.    arvensis,     246. 

569,  678,  699,  644. 

a.   cantarella,   569, 

643, 644. 

a.  cinerascens,  458, 

643,  644. 

a.  cinerea,  569. 

a.  schacb,  643. 


762 


INDEX  OF 


Alauda  campestris,  311. 

cypi'iaca,  643. 

duponti,  682. 

iiisularis,  643. 

alaudipes,     Ala;nion     a., 

246,412,644. 
alba,  Oaliclris,  607. 
,Oi-ocet.hia,311,313, 

709. 

,  a.,  180. 

,  Egretta,  706. 

, a.,  369,  604. 

-■,  Hei-odias,  36,  175. 

,  Motacilla,  204, 425, 

683. 
, a.,  247,  458, 

579,  600. 

,  Procellaria,  176. 

-,  Strix,  312. 

,  Trynga,  311. 

,  Tyto,  362,  697. 

, a.,  298,  404. 

albellus.    Mergellus,    47, 

440,  706. 

,  Mei-gus,  47,  222. 

albescens,    Perisoreus    c, 

331. 
albicnpilla,     Bessononiis 

a.,  292. 
albicilla,   ITaliaefciis,  220, 

367,  434,  604,  700. 
albicoUaris,     Muscicapa, 

249. 
al  hi  coll  is,  Aerops  a.,  275, 

297. 
albididorsalis.  Sterna  m., 

552. 
albidus,  Anthus  r.,  654. 
albifrons,  Aiiser,  41,  167, 

221. 

,  CEnanthe  d.,  257. 

,  Pteronetta  h.,  108. 

,  Piimella  a.,  71. 

albigula,    Macrosphenus, 

126. 
albinuclia,  Melanopteryx, 

289. 
albistriata,  Sylvia  c,  253. 
albiventris,       Syniposia- 

cbriis  t.,  556. 
albus,  Lanis,  304. 
Alca  inipennis,  550. 
— -  toi-da,  449,  716. 
Alcedo  a.  attliis,  360. 

a.  corsicana,  161. 

a.  fonnosana,  161. 

a.  hispidoides,  160. 

a.  ispida,  160,  594. 

fornidsa,  307. 

ispida,     139,    215," 

432, 697. 


Alcedo  i.  pallida,  360. 
q.    qnadribracliys, 

298. 
alecto,   Piezorliynchus, 

656. 
Alectoris,  227,  313. 

b.  barbara,  403. 

g.  Cypriotes,  138. 

rufa,  719. 

r.  inlercedens,  594. 

Alethe  diademata,  292. 

p.  castanonota,  292. 

p.  poliocephala, 

292. 
alexandiina,    jlJgialitis, 

21,  445,  711. 
alesaudriniis,  Charadrius 

a,  378,  594. 

,  Passe  1%  630. 

algeriensis,  Aiumomanes 

d.,  410,  633. 

,  Lanius  e.,  391. 

algiriis,  Tardus  ui.,  391, 

403, 587. 
Alisterornis   lanioides, 

328. 

1.  carnarvoni,  52. 

alleni,  Porpliyrio,  301. 
Alopochen    agyptiaca, 

371. 
alpiiia,  Erolia,  224,  312, 

381,709. 

,  Tringa,  443,  618. 

alteram,     Edoliisoma, 

540. 
altirostris,    Galerida    c, 

245,  634, 6.36,  (537,  640. 
aluco,  Strix,  697. 
aniandava,  Sportfginthus, 

244. 
Amanresthes    fringil- 

loides,  288. 
amaurocephala,  Noiinula, 

547. 
Amaurocichla  bocagei, 

123. 

kempi,  123. 

Aniaurornis  paykidli,  12. 
aniericana,    Tringa    e., 

28. 
Aniinomanes    d.    :dgeri- 

ensis,  410,  633. 

d.  deserti,  632. 

d.  erythrocbroa, 

633 

d.  fraterculus,  633. 

d.  isabelliiia,    244, 

632. 
d.  katberinaj,   633, 

634. 

plicenicura,  633. 


Ammomanes     p.     areni- 

color,   245,   412,   633, 

634. 

p.  regulus,  634. 

Animoperdix    li.    nicolli, 

387. 
Ampelion  cinctus,  157. 
Anipelis    carolinensis, 

304. 

cristata,  306. 

Karndus,  .304,  427. 

ainpliileuca,     ffinanthe, 

314. 
anuirensis,   Butorides  j., 

36. 
Analcipus  consangiiineiis, 

640. 
Anaplectes     rubriceps, 

621. 
Anas  angustirostris,  372. 

a.  acuta,  372. 

boscas,  42. 

- — —  boscbas,    176,    222, 

438,  500. 

crecca,  605. 

c.  creoca,  371. 

ferruginea,  311. 

novimexicana,  177. 

penelope,  372,  460, 

606. 
platyrbyncba,    605, 

704. 
p.     platyrhyncha, 

371,460. 

platyi-byncbos,  137 

querquedula,  371. 

strepera,   222,  371, 

605,  704. 

zonorbyncba,  43. 

Anastomus  lamelligerus, 

620. 
Andropadus     c.     curvi- 

rosti'is,  293. 

gracilirostris,  293. 

gracilis,  293. 

i.  leucurus,  29.3. 

1.  congener,  293. 

serinus,  293. 

V.  virens,  293. 

aiigliea,  Gelochelidon,32. 

,  Sterna,  32. 

angolensis,    Antlius     1., 

6.59. 

,  Estrilda,  621. 

,    Gvpobiei-ax,     277, 

282,  299. 
,    Macrosplienus    f., 

122,  125. 
Angrovan    cyauopterus, 

63.  ' 
angustirostris.  Anas,  372, 


SCIENTIFIC   NAMES. 


763 


Anhinga  nifa,  299,  619, 

020. 
annjE,  Anthus  r.,  656, 
Anomiilospiza    imberbis, 

289. 
Anous  stolidus,  320. 

s.  unicolor,  162. 

Anser  albifrons,  41,  167, 

221. 

anser,  438,  704. 

a.  riibrirostris,  39. 

brachyrliynchus, 

438. 

ciuereus,  39,  167. 

cygnoides,  39. 

erytliropus,  -12,316. 

fabalis,  704. 

fliuuarchicus,    221, 

316. 

middeudorffi.  41. 

neglectiis,  739. 

segetuin,  39,  40. 

s.  serrirostris,  40. 

ansorgei,  Ortygo.spiza  a., 

288. 

,  Sarotlinii-a  r.,  120. 

antarctica,    Apteuodytes, 

30(>. 
Aiithochfera  e.  liinulata, 

73. 
AutboMireptes    c.    bypo- 

dila,  290. 

gabonica,  273,  290. 

idia,  290. 

m.  bornensis,  332. 

m.  paragusE,  332. 

Anthropoides  virgo,  394, 

707, 
Antbus  a.  bilbali,  74. 

a.  bocagei,  657. 

cauiaroonensis,  657. 

caiJipestris,      204, 

289,  645,  684. 

cervinus,  246,  339. 

cinnamomeus,  655. 

cockburniiB,  647. 

c.  caiiipestris,   131, 

246,  580,  645. 

c.  griseus,  640. 

goiildi,  661. 

g.  bobndorffi,  663. 

g.  goukli,  663. 

g.  oiiioensis,  662. 

g.  primus,  663. 

g.  tiirneri,  6112. 

leucopbrys,  658,669. 

1.  angolensis,  659. 

1.  bobndorffi,  663. 

1.  captus,  648. 

1.  goodsoiii,  660. 

1.  gouldii,  272,  290. 


Antbus  1.  leucopln'ys, 
659. 

1.  neumanni,  659. 

1.  omoensis,  662. 

1.  saphiroi,  660. 

1.  vaalensis,  659. 

1.  zeiikeri,  6()1. 

mabiyensis,  655. 

nifdius,  (>54. 

nicholsoiii.  (551. 

nyassoe,  612. 

n.  bararensis,  (549. 

n.  longirostris,  ()50. 

11.  nyasste,  651. 

petrosug,  426. 

pratensis,  2()5,  246, 

42(1,458,516,580,599. 
684. 

p.    kleinscbmidti, 

325. 

p.  scbi^leri,  325. 

raalteni,  657. 

ricbardi,  651. 

rufulus,  654. 

r.  albidus,  654. 

r.  anuse,  656. 

r.  bocagei,  657. 

r.   camaroonensis, 

657. 

r.    cinnamomeus, 

655. 

i:  lacuum,  656. 

r.  lugubris,  655. 

r.  maiayensis,  655. 

r.  medius,  654. 

r.  raalteni,  657. 

r.    ricbardi,     246, 

652. 
r.  rufulus,  654. 

r.  .sinensis,  ()53. 

r.  striolatus,  653. 

sordidus,  612,  646, 

650. 

.striolatus,  653. 

s.  arabicus,  648. 

s.  asbeiiaicus,  (i49. 

- — —  s.  captus,  648. 

s.  coutelli,  247. 

s.  decaptus,  647. 

s.  bararensis,  649. 

s.  japonicus,  178. 

s.  jebelmarrse, 

649. 

s.  jei-doni.  647. 

s.  iongirostris,  650. 

s.  nicbolsoni,  651. 

s.  nyassse,  621,  651. 

s.  siinilis,  647. 

s.  sokotrtB,  648. 

s.  sordidus,  6.50. 

s.  spinoletta,  599. 


Antbus  trivialis,  205,426, 

684. 
t.  trivialis,  246,  290, 

463,  580,  590. 

vaalensis,  659. 

Auticbromus  m.  miiuitus, 

291. 
antillarum.    Sterna    a., 

320. 
aiitiquorum,       Pbceni- 

copterus,  388,  605. 

, r.,  371. 

antouii,  Sarotiirura,  120. 
Apbelocepliala  c.  minliva, 

65. 
apiaster,     Merojis,    214, 

2(53,431,4(53,594,596. 
apicalis,  Aoantbiza  p.,  59. 
apivorus,    Pernis    a., 

367. 
Aplonis  k.  kurodai, 

749. 
approximans,    Celeus    e., 

157. 
apricarius,    Cbaradrius, 

313,44.5,518,711. 
Aptenodytes   antarctica, 

30(5. 

crestata,  306,  309. 

raagellanica,  305. 

patagonica,  305. 

Apiis  apus,  516. 

a.  apus,  135. 

m.  muriniis,  262. 

m.  nielba,  135. 

apus.  Micropus,  214,  431, 

695. 

, a.,  593. 

aquaticus,  Acrocepbalus, 

585.  601,  689. 

,Eallus,  451,717. 

, a.,  384. 

Aquila  adalberti,  700. 

cbrysJietos,  137. 

cbrysjietus,    219, 

403,  409. 

clanga,  219,  745. 

heliaoa,  219. 

b.  beliaca,  365. 

•  inaculata,  603. 

verreauxi,  565. 

wablbergi,  276,  299. 

arabicus,  Antbus  s.,  648. 
arborea,    LuUula,    130, 

201,  579,  643,  682. 

, a.,  ,599. 

arboreus.  Passer,  630. 
arctica,    Fratercuia,  449, 

716. 
arcticus.  Colymbus,  315, 

316,  450. 


764 


INDEX  OF 


Ardea  cinerea,  35,  137, 
223,278,300,389,391, 
440,  462,  (504,  706. 

c.  cinerea,  369. 

goliath,   282,    300, 

620. 

gularis,  285. 

leuconotus,  110. 

uianillensis,  35. 

. ntevia,  306,  309. 

purpurea,  35,  223, 

440,  516,  706. 

p.  purpui-ea,  369. 

rufa,  723. 

turquata,  306. 

Ardeirallus  sturmi,  300. 
Ardeola  ibis,  707. 

i.  ibis,  278,  300. 

ralloides,  370,  7U7. 

ardesiaca.   Melanoplioyx, 

285,  300. 
Ardetta  eiirytlmia,  36. 

sinensis,  37. 

Arenaria    interpres,   18, 

447,  714. 

i.    interpres,    279, 

282,  301. 

arenaria,     Calidris,    27, 

300.  311,443,  594. 

,  Tringa,  313,  728. 

arenicola,   Anmiomanes, 

633,  634. 
,    Galerida    c,    396, 

397,  412. 
arenicolor,    Aunnomanes 

p.,  245,  412. 
argentaLus,   Larus,    177, 

447,  495,  608. 
argentina,  Batarae.,  179. 
ariel,  Fregata,  33. 
aripolius,  Pipilo  f.,337. 
arizelus,    Dendronins   c, 

295. 
arquatus,  Numenius,  24, 

224,  444,  518,  710. 
, a.,  279,  282, 

300,  382,  607. 
arsinoe,  rycnouotns  b., 

249. 
Artanius  1.  leucopygialis, 

63. 
Artoniyias  usslieri,  294. 
arundinaceus,       Acro- 

cephalus,  251,  689. 

, a.,  585. 

arvensis,    Alauda,    201, 

425,  569,  612,  682. 
, a.,  246,  578, 

599,  644. 
asakurai,   Campephaga, 

554. 


asbenaicus,    Antlius  s., 

649. 
ascalaplius.       Bubo      a., 

326. 

, b.,  361. 

ashbvi,    Morganornis    s., 

55. 
asiaticus,    Obaradrius, 

234. 
,    Oclithodromus, 

620. 
Asio   accipitrinus,    216, 

433,  697. 

capensis,  616,  621. 

f.  flam  mens,  362. 

otws,  433,  697. 

assimilis,    Parephtbia- 

nnra,  56. 
Astiir    b.    polyzonoides, 

620. 
b.    splienurus,  281, 

282,  298. 
— —  paluinbarius,  462. 

t.  canescens,  733. 

t.     inaeroscelides, 

298. 
atactns,  ])icrurns  a.,  287. 
ater,  Parns,  685. 
Athene  cbiaradrite,  725. 
n.  glaux,  362,  391, 

395. 
atlas,  Eritbacns  r.,  588. 
atra,Fulica,  13,225,452, 

718. 
, a.,  138,   386, 

389,  608. 

,  Porzana,  308. 

atricapilla,    Butorides, 

282,  300,  619,  620. 
,    Mnscicapa,    311, 

430. 

a.  591. 

',    Sylvia,'  209,    252, 

428,  687. 

, a.,  403,  582. 

,  Psittacns,  304. 

atriceps,         Hypergerus, 

293. 
atripeunis,  Dio-urus,  287. 

,  Turdoides  a.,  293. 

atroeephala,       Fringilla, 

306. 
Attagen  minor,  33. 
attbis,  Alcedo  a.,  360. 

,  Gracula,  160. 

aucheri,  Lanius  e.,  669. 
aucupum,   Steganura   p., 

288. 
audouini,  Larus,  715. 
augnralia,     Buteo,     105, 

276,  298. 


aurantiiventris,     Cbloris 

c,  403,  576,  678. 
aurantius,  Psittacus,  304. 
auratus,  Oriolus,  287. 
aurea,  Pluvialia,  313. 
Aurephthianura  a.  flaves- 

cens,  57. 
auritus,  Coiymbus,  315. 
,      Podieeps,      451, 

717. 
aurocepbalus,       Cuculus, 

306. 
australis,         Eopsaltria, 

329. 
■ ,    Melittopbagus   g., 

102. 

,  Meropiscusg.,  102. 

■ ,  Pyrrliulauda,  612. 

Austrartainus  c.  tregel- 

lasi,  63. 
Austrodicneuni     li.    tor- 

iiienti,  69. 
autnnuialis,       Plegadis, 

299. 
Avieeda    c.    cuculoides, 

299. 
avocetta,     Recurvirostra, 

22,380,711. 
axillaris,   Penenionareha, 

556. 
azureus,  Cj'anograucalus, 

293. 
,  Graucalus,  283. 


badiceps,       Erenioniela, 

292. 
badius,  Lanius  s..  686. 
baeckstroeiuii,    Cinclodes 

o.,  161. 
bairdi,  Erolia,  312. 
balcanica,    Carduelis    c, 

170. 
balcanicus,     Corvus     c. 

627. 
,    Dryobates    ni., 

170. 
Balearica  pavonina,  708. 
reguloruni,    618, 

620. 
balearica,  Loxia  c,  680. 

,  Sylvia  s,,  688. 

balearicus,  Parusc,  685. 
balstoni,     Zosterops     ]., 

69. 
bankiva,  Gallus  f.,  332. 
barakiB,       Bradypterus. 

563. 

,  Satlirocercus,  563. 

barbara,  Perdix,  10,  313. 
,  Alectoris  b.,  403. 


SCIENTIFIC    NAMES. 


7G5 


barbarus,    Laniariiis    b., 

291. 
barbatus,  Criniger.  293. 

,  GypaetosflST,  220. 

,  G-ypaetus    b.,    405, 

408. 

• ,  Pjcnouotus  b.,401, 

403. 
bartletti,    ^Vfalimbiis     r., 

289. 
Bartraiuia       longieaucla, 

739. 
bassana,  Sula,  437. 
batakensis,      Euchanga 

169. 
Batara  c.  argent iiia.  179. 
batesi,  Accipiter,  105. 

,  Canirallus  o.,  1 11. 

- — -,  Capriinulgus,  101. 

,  Spizaehus,  10(5. 

,  TerpsipUone,  734.. 

Batis  ituriensis,  734. 

puella,  021. 

s.  togoensis,  294. 

beema,  Motaeilla  f.,  6()5. 
bella,  Acantbis  c.  129. 
belonii,  Tadorna,  42. 
beiigalensis,     Rhynclii\;a, 

383. 
bernicla,  Branta,  438. 
Bessonoruis  a.albicapilla, 
292. 

c.    cvariocauipter, 

292. 

V.  vei'tiealis,  292. 

bettingtoni,       Pachy- 

cepbala  ]).,  164. 
])ewicki,  Cygiiiis,  522. 
Bias  mLisi(;us,  291. 
biblicus,  Passer  cl.,  629. 

,    cl.   X  P.    b.    I 

traiiscaspicus,  630. 
bicolor,  Nigrita,  289. 

,  Spei-Luestes,  288. 

bidentatus,    Lybiiis    b., 

281,  295. 
bilbali,  Antbus  a.,  74. 
bilopba,   Ereiiiophila   a,, 

412,  645. 
binotatus,     Capri  mulgus, 

100. 
blanfordi,  Turnix,  10. 
Bleda  canicapilla,  293. 

syndactyia,  293. 

blissetti,   Diaphorojjbvia, 

294. 
Blythipicus,  740. 
boarula.    Motaeilla,   204. 

462. 
bocagei,     Amaiu'ocichla, 
123. 

SER.  XI. — VOL.  III. 


bocagei,  Aiithus,  657. 

-—, r.,  057. 

bohiui,  Sarothrura,  US. 
bohndorfH,    AnthuB     g 
663. 

, I.,  663. 

b(jnapartei,    Coretlirura 
119. 

,  Sarotbrura  r.,  119. 

bonelli,      Pliylloscopiis, 
250,  690, 

b.,  586. 

bonboti,  Coi-vus  b.,  79. 
borealis,    Alof.acilla    i'., 

684. 
boriii,  Sylvia,  209. 
bornensis,  Autbreptes  m., 

332. 
boscas,    Anas,    42,    175, 

222,  438,  500. 
Bol;aiiriis     stellaris,     30 
137,  223,  44(3,  707. 

s.  stellaris,  370. 

boyciana,  Ciconia  c,  34. 
bracbycerciis,    Corvus, 

bracbydactyla,    Calan- 
drella,  201,  683. 

,  Calandrella  b.,  1.30, 

244,  579,  599. 

.  Certbia,    131,   563, 

684. 
Braebylopbus    c.    van- 

beysti,  109. 
braoliyptera,  Cisticola, 

291. 
brachvpterus,    Sitagra  o., 
272,  289. 

,  Tacbornis,  274. 

, p.,  282,  296. 

bracliyrbyncbus,    Aiiser, 

438. 
bracbyura,     Galerida    c, 

636,  638,  642. 
Bradyornis  in.  mode.stus, 

294. 
Bradypleru.s  barakie,  563. 
Branta  bernicla,  438. 

•  leucopsis,  758. 

brauneri,    Cyanistes    c, 

463. 
brevicola,  Fringilla,  306. 
brevipes,  Accipiter,  366. 

,  Heteroricelns,  178. 

,  Limosa,  25. 

,  Totainis  i.,  26. 

britannica,   Carduelis    c, 
422. 

,  Certliia  f.,  426. 

britannicus,    Ouculus    c, 
430. 


brookei,  Falco,  737. 
broomi,  Neositta  p.,  06. 
brunneiceps,       Lagono- 

sticta,  288. 
brunneipectus,    Capito, 

547. 
Bubo  a.  ascalapluis,  326. 

•  a.  ciuerascens,  275, 

298. 

a.  desertoruni,  326. 

bubo,  216. 

b.  ascalapluis,  301. 

lacteus,  621. 

leucostictus,  298. 

poensis,  298. 

verreauxi,  617. 

Biibiilcus  ibi.s  620. 

i.  ibis,  369. 

Bucepbala  elangula,  46. 
Buceros   caruiieiilatus, 
274. 

eiiUratiis,  283. 

c.  giiiiieen.><is,  274. 

Buohanga   1.    batakensis, 

169. 
Biicorvus  caffer,  621. 

sp.,  2(;7,  274,  290. 

Bud\tes    ciiiereocapillus, 
239. 

f.  tlava,  272,  289. 

1".  inacronyx,  170, 

buffoni,  Turacus,  295. 
Bulestes    t.    leucopterus, 

65. 
bullockoides,    Melitto- 

pbagLis,  615-621. 
Bupbaga  aiVicana,  288. 
Biirbinus    oedicnenuis, 
224. 

oe.  oedicnemu.s,  606. 

CB.  sabai-a3, 1.38,  375. 

senegalensis,  376. 

buryi,  Sarotbrura,  112. 
Bateo,  332. 

auguralis;  105,  276 

298. 

buteo,    217,    433, 

700. 

b.  buteo,  604. 

b.  rufiventer,  365. 

b.  vulpinus,  745. 

desertoruni,  365. 

fero.x,  1)65. 

f.    cirtensis,    365, 

409. 

lagopus,  434. 

platypterus,  307. 

Butorides    atricapillus, 
282,  300,  619,  620. 

j.  amurensis,  36. 

macrorbynclms,  36. 

3e 


766 


INDEX  OF 


buturlini,     Certhia     c, 

463. 
buvryi,  Coccotbraustes  c, 

4U5,  576. 
Bycanistes    cylinclricus, 

296. 
fistulator,  274,  281, 

296. 


cabaret,  Acantbis  1.,  680. 
Caccabis,  313. 

chukar,  9. 

c.  pubescens,  9. 

r.  rufii,  608. 

cachiunaiis,    Larus,     31, 
714. 

, a.,  139,461. 

cserulescens,  Otis,  611. 
cffiruleus,  Elanus,  240. 

^ e.,  299,  367. 

,    Parus.    205,   514, 

685. 

,  Porpbyrio,  718. 

ciEsia,  Emberiza,  244. 

,  Sitta,  684. 

cater,  Clamator,  295. 
caft'er,  Bueorvus,  621. 
catfra,    Cbalcopelia     c, 

620. 
cairnsensis,  Etbelornis, 

163. 
Calamantbus    c.    rubigi- 
nosus,  56. 

f.  carteri,  55. 

calandra,  Emberiza,  199, 
423,  578,  681. 

c,   130,  244, 

403. 

,  Melanocorypba, 

201,  457. 

^ e.,  410,  579. 

Oalaiidrella  brachyclac- 
tyla,  201,  683. 

b.  bracbydactyla, 

130,  244,  579,  599. 

b.  longipennis,  244. 

caledonicus,    Nycticorax, 

745. 
Calidris,  312,  313. 

alba,  607. 

arenaria,    27,    300, 

311,443,  594. 

camitus,  709. 

calidris,  Falco  p.,  362. 

,  Totaims,  26. 

,  Triiiga,  312. 

Callene    cyornitbopsis, 

563. 
Callocephalon  galeatnni, 
.    664. 


Callophus     m.    dayak, 

740. 
Calopelia  piiella,  301. 
calva,    Viiiago   c,    280, 

301. 
calvus,     Gymnobucco, 

295, 
camaiooneiisis,  Antbus, 
657. 

, r.,  657. 

Camaroptera  chloronota, 
292. 

g.  tincta,  292. 

SLipercilaris,  292. 

camerunensis,    Deiidro- 

pious  1.,  S3. 
eainpbelli,  Petroica,  49. 
Campbellornispersonata, 

63. 
Cainpepbaga  1.  asakurai, 

554. 
campestris,  Alauda,  311. 

,  Antbus,   204,  289, 

645,  684. 

, c.,   131,  246, 

580,  645. 

,  Motacilla  f.,  666. 

Cainpicola  pileata,  621. 
Campophaga    pboenicea, 
273,  294. 

quiscalina,  294. 

candicans,  Hierofalco  i., 

435. 
Candidas,    Himantopus, 

22. 
canesceus,  Astur  t.,  733. 

,  Monarcba  m.,  738. 

Ciinicapilla,  Bleda,  293. 
caniceps,    Sigmodus    c, 

291, 
Canirallus  ociileus,  111. 

o.  batesi,  111. 

cannabina,  Acantbis,  197, 

423. 
canoriis,    Cuculus,    213, 
431,  516,  695. 

, c,  360. 

cantarella,    Alauda    a., 

569,  6-13,  644. 
cantator,      Etheloniisi, 

164. 
cantiami.s,  /Egialitis,  21. 
cantillans,     Motacilla, 
310. 

,  Sylvia,  310,  688. 

canus,    Lanis,    31,    447, 
520,  714. 

,  ■ c,  608. 

canutus,  Calidris,  709. 

,   Tringa,   28,    312, 

727. 


eapellanus,  Corvus  c, 

629. 
capensis,  Asio,  616,  621. 

,  Daption,  81. 

,  Podiceps  r,,  375. 

,  Rbyncbsea,  30. 

,  Rostratula,  30. 

,  Scops,  617,  620. 

Capito    bruiineipectus, 

547. 
capito,  Tregellasia,  164. 
Caprimulgiis  se.Kgyptius, 

262. 

te.  sabara;,  263. 

batesi,  101. 

biiiotatus,  100. 

europasus,  214,  431, 

696. 

e.  europjBus,  99, 262. 

e.  lueridionalis,  136. 

fossei,  621. 

inornatus,  99. 

inacrodipterus,  283. 

• r.  ruiicollis,  594. 

coprius,    Cbrysococcyx, 

296. 
captus,  Antbus  1.,  648. 

, s.,  648. 

carabaya;,       Lepidoco- 

Liptes  1.,  325. 
carbo,  Oideniia,  ^16. 
,  Phalacrocorax,  33, 

137,221,436,460,703. 

, c,  606. 

carbonarius,    Cbauuo- 

notus,  283. 
Carduelis  carduelis,   197, 

243,  456.  512. 

c.   africana,    391, 

403,  577,  678. 

c.  balcanica,  170. 

c.  britannica,  422. 

c.  cannabina,  598. 

c.  carduelis,  598. 

c.  biirmsi,  129. 

c.  mediterranea, 

243. 

c.  parva,  678. 

c.  weigoldi,  576. 

spin  us,  40.^. 

carinatus,  Hallus,  308. 
Carine  noctna,  216,  698. 
carnarvoni,  Acantbiza  i., 

59. 

,  Alisterornis,  52. 

caroli,  Dendromus,  84. 
,  Galerida    c,   245, 

638. 
Carolina,  Porzana,  341. 
caroliuse,  Galerida  t.,  397, 

398. 


SCIENTIFIC  NAMES. 


767 


carolinensis,   Ampelis, 

304. 
carteri,   Calamantbus  f., 

55. 

,  Ereniiornis  c,  57. 

,  Hii'undo  u,,  48. 

,  Leucoplirys,  555. 

,  Plilotiila  p.,  72. 

Cartercruis  leucotis,  55(1. 
carthaginis,  Galerida  C; 

389,  31)7. 
caruneiilatus,    Buceros, 

274. 
Casarca  ferruginea,  311. 

I'utila,  42. 

casarca,  Tadorna,  311. 
easpia,  Sterna,  715. 
castaiiea,  Diapli(jroplivia, 

294. 
castaneofuscus,    Melano- 

pteryx,  2S9. 
castanonota,   Alethe  p., 

292. 
Casiiarius  gaieatus,  304. 
casuarius,  fcstruthio,  304. 
Catliaracta  skua,  715. 
caueasicus,  Tetraogallus, 

461. 
caudatus,  jEgitbalos,  333. 

,  ^gi  thai  us,  205. 

,  Coracias,  (il5. 

,  Lauiprotoniis,  288. 

cayaianeusis,    Coccyzus 

m.,  157. 
cearje,  Soroplex,  157. 
Ceblepyris,  737. 
eecila;,  Corvus  c,  79, 
celebensis,  Orodyt.es,  738. 

,  8colopax,  738. 

,  Stigniatops,  738. 

Celeus  elegans,  157. 

e.approxiinaus,  157. 

centralis,  Enodes  e.,  3132. 

,  Rbaoipbocoelus  c, 

325. 

,  Sarothrura  p.,  115. 

Centrupus  ^gyptius,  361. 

francisii,  2'.)6. 

moiiacbus,  621. 

8.  senegalensis,  274. 

281,  296,  621. 
Cera(ogyniiia  elata,  283, 

296.  ' 
Cercbneis  t.  tiniiunculus, 

403. 
Cercococcj'x     mecbowi, 
96. 

m.  olivinus,  99. 

m.  wellsi,  96. 

Ceriocleptes    robustus, 
86. 


Ceriocleptes  xenurus,  86. 
Certliia    bracbydactyla, 
131,  563,  684. 

b.    ultramontana, 

580. 

c.  buturlini,  463. 

fauiiliaris,  563. 

■ f.  britaniiic^a,  426. 

i.  faniiliaris,  458. 

Certhionyx     variegatus, 

71. 
cerviniventris,    Poecilo- 

dryas,  164. 
cervinus,  Antbiis,  246. 
Ceryle  uiaxiuia,  619. 

m.  gigantea,  297. 

■ r.  riidis,  275,  297, 

359. 
cetti,    Cettia,    209,    314, 

584,  688. 

, c,  601. 

■ ,  Sylvia,  314. 

Cettia  cetti,  209,  314, 

584,  688. 

c.  cetti,  601. 

c.  miilleri,  170. 

Ceutliniocbares  a.  flavi- 

rostris,  274,  296. 
Chaetura  sabinei,  296. 
Chalcomitra  acik,  285. 

s.  senegalensis,  290. 

Clialcopelia  a.  af'ra,  280. 

c.  caffra,  620. 

cbalcoptei-iis,  Rliiiiop- 

tilus,  620. 
chaplini,  Lybius,  617, 

621. 
Charadrius   apricarius, 

313,445,  518,711. 
asiaticus,  234. 

a.  alexandrinus, 

378,  594. 

dominicus,  235. 

dubius,  224. 

d.  curonicus,  378. 

d.  f'ulvus,  19. 

fulvus,  19. 

geoffroyi,  234. 

Iiiatieula,  313. 

h.  hiaticula,  301, 

378. 

niorinellus,  380, 

727. 

m.  geoffroyi,  379. 

V.  variiis,  378. 

Chaulelasnius  streperus, 

43. 
Chaunonotus    carbon- 

arius,  283. 

sabini,  283. 

s.  sabini,  291. 


chelicuti,  Halcyon,  283, 

297. 
ebepbreni,  Passer  d.,  630. 
Clieranioeea  1.  uiarngli, 

48. 
Chersopiiilus   d.   mar- 

garette,  645. 
Chettusia  cinerea,  18. 

leucura,  239,  381. 

chiaradria,  Athene,  725. 
Chiza'rhis  africaua,  295. 
Chlamydera    ru.    nova, 
75. 

111.  subguttata,  78. 

Chlaniydotis,  315. 
Chlidonais,  .554. 

leucoptera,  80. 

Chloris  chloris,  128,  196, 
242,  422,  511. 

c,  aurantiiventris, 

403,  576,  678. 

c.  chloris,  456,  463, 

598. 

c.  mensfieri,  463. 

chloris,  Nicator  c,  291. 
chloronota,  Camaroptera, 

292. 
chloronotus,  Ethelornis, 

164. 
Cblorophoneus    multi- 
color, 291. 

s.  sulfureopectus, 

291. 
chloropsis,    Melithreptus 

1.,  70. 
chloropus,  Gallinula,  12, 
225,385,452,520,718. 
chloropygius,  Cinnyrisc, 

272,  290. 
cliocoana,    Cyanerpes   c, 

325. 
cbristopberi,    Ethelornis 

t.,  51. 
Cbroicocephalus     ridi- 

bundus,  30. 
chrysaetos,  Aquila,    137, 

219,  403,  409,  700. 
chrysocephalus,  Ciiculus, 

306. 
chrysocercus,  Merops  p., 

102,275,281,297. 
Chrysococcyx   caprius, 
296. 

c.  cupreus,  296. 

flavigularis,  96. 

klaasi,  296. 

sniaragdineus,  296. 

Chrysomela,  556. 
chrysoptera,  Helmintbo- 

phila,  325. 
Chrysoptilus  m.  juae,  157. 

3e2 


768 


INDEX  OF 


Cbrysoplilus    p.   notata, 

157. 
chrysopyga,    Pogoniulus, 

295. 
cliukar,  Caccabis,  9. 
cia,  Einberiza,  200. 

, c,  457,  578. 

Ciconia  cieonia,  223,  707. 

c.  boyciana,  34. 

c.  ciconia,  3G8,  407, 

408. 

nigra,  35,  333. 

Ciiiclodes     o.     baeck- 

stroeinii,  161. 
Cinclorhamphus       c. 

clelandi,  50. 
Cinclus  cinclus,  212. 

c,  brittanicus,  430. 

— ■ —  c.  orien talis,  170. 
cinclus,  Tringa,  28. 
cinctiis,  Anipelion,  157. 
cinerascens,    Alaiida  a., 

458.  643,  044. 

,  Bubo  a.,  275,  298. 

cinerea,  Alauda  a.,  569. 
,    Ardea,    35,    137, 

223,  278,   300,   389, 

391,400,462,604,706. 

, c,  369. 

,  Chettiisia,  18. 

,  Gallici-ex,  13. 

,  Grus,  13. 

,  Motacilla,  425, 683. 

, c,  247,  401, 

580,  599. 

,  Terekia,  25. 

cinereiceps,  Limnocrex, 

332. 

,  Porzana,  332. 

cinereifrons,      Iredale- 

ornis,  164. 
cinereocapilla,  Motacilla 

f.,  666. 
cinereocapillus,  Budytes, 

239. 
cinereus,  Anser,  39, 167. 

,  Circaetus,  299. 

,  Microsarcops,  18. 

cinnaniomeus,    Authus, 

655. 

, r.,  655. 

,  Eallus,  115. 

cinnamoniina,   Galerida 

c,  638,  642. 
Cinnyricinclus  1.  leuco- 

gaster,  272,  288. 
Ciniiyris  t^quatorialis, 
621. 

cupreus,  290. 

c.    chloropygius, 

272,  290. 


Cinnvris  gutturalis,  285, 

617.      ^ 
. Johanna,  290. 

leucogaster,  ()21. 

splendid  us,    285, 

290. 

T,  venustus,  290. 

Circaetus  cinereus,  299. 
circia,  Querquedula,  44. 
Circus  a'ruginosus,  217, 

365,  433,  604,  699, 
cyaneus,  217,  604, 

699. 

c.  cyaneus,  365. 

—  macriiriis,  217,  366. 

pygargus.  217,  366, 

433,  604,  699. 

swaiusoni,  604. 

cirlus,    Emberiza,    200, 

424,  578,  682. 
cirrbata,    Piiiguinaria, 

son. 

cirrhocephalus.  Lams, 

279,  301. 
cirteusis,  Euteo  f'.,  365, 

409. 
Cissomela  u.  westraleusis, 

70. 
Cisticola    bracliyptera, 

291. 
cisticola,  601. 

c.  cisticola,  255, 

590,  690. 

c.  harterti,  591. 

c.  uropygialis.  291. 

e.  erythrops,  291. 

fulvifrons,  621. 

lateralis,  273,  281, 

291. 

n.  natalensis,  621. 

n.  strangei,  292. 

ruficapilla,  621. 

r.  rufopileata,  291. 

s.  swanzii,  292. 

terrestris,  292. 

citrinelhi,  Emberiza,  200, 

424. 

, c,  .599. 

,  Sjiinus,  679. 

Claniator  cafer,  295. 
glandarius,  273, 295, 

361. 
claiuosus,    Cuculus,  91, 

92,  295. 
claiiga,  Aquila,  219,745. 
Clatigula   glaiicion,    46, 

706. 
clangula,  Bucepliala,  46. 
clarkii,  Turdus  m.,  428. 
clelandi,    Cinclorbaiu- 

phus  c,  56. 


Cleopatra,   Merops   o., 

263. 
Climacteris  e.  parsoni, 

748. 
climacurus,    ScotorniB, 

274,  296. 
clypeata,    Spatula,   45, 

222,  372,  606,  705. 
coccineus,    Pyreuestes, 

285. 

, 0.,  288. 

Coccothraustes    cocco- 

thraustes,     196,     422, 

456,  678. 

c.  buvryi,  405,  576. 

c.  nigricans,  463. 

Coccyzus  m.cavuianensis, 

157. 
cocluibanibte,     Rliojio- 

cbares,  547. 
cockburnias,  Antbus,  647. 
Calebs,    Fringilla,    129, 

198,   423,   512,  536, 

679. 
, c.  243,  405, 

457.  463,  577,  598. 
coelestis,  Gallinago,  29. 
colclncus,      Phasianus, 

227.      ■ 
Coleia  c.  woodwardi,  73. 
Coliusn.  leucopbtlialnius, 

734. 
Coliuspasser    concolor, 

288. 
coUaris,  Corvus  m.,  194. 

,  Muscicapa,  694. 

CoUocalia,  337. 
CoUuricincla   r.   rufiven- 

tris,  64. 
collurio,     Lanius,    206, 

249. 

,  —  c,  463. 

coUybita,  Pbylloscopus, 

208,  249,  428,  689. 

, c,  686.  601. 

Coloeus  dauricus,  532. 

ueglectus,  532. 

Columba  coronata,  305. 

livia,  399,  452,719. 

1.  intermedia,  3. 

1.  palffistinaj,  137. 

1.  schimperi,  137, 

374. 

oenas,  226,   606, 

718. 

oe.  cenas,  374. 

. palumbus,  226,  452, 

517,  718. 

p.  palumbus,  138. 

—  rosea,  307. 

rupestris,  3. 


SCIENTIFIC  NAMES. 


769 


Colymbus,  315.  3l6. 

ai'cticus,  315,  316, 

450. 

auritus,  315. 

cristatus,  315. 

c.  cristatus,  60(5. 

glacialis,  316. 

iinmer,  450. 

podiceps,  315. 

ruficoilis,  311. 

septentrionalis,  47. 

stellatus,  450. 

sp.,  226. 

Cometornis  vitiosus,  544. 
commuuis,  Coturnix,  9. 

,  Sylvia,  209,  427, 

582,  686. 

, c,  132,  252, 

582. 
Conipsoenas  radiata,  738. 
concinna,  Mastersornis, 

556. 
concolor,    Coliuspasser, 

288. 
— ,  Falco,  363. 

,  Macrosphenus, 

125,293. 

,  Schizorhis,  615, 

621. 
congener,  Andropadus  1., 

293. 
conigrari,    Lagenoplastes 

a.,  49. 
conirostris,  Indicator  c, 
84. 

,  Meliguothes,  84. 

Conopoderasa.  go\ildi,  57. 
consanguineus,     Anal- 

cipus,  540. 
conaobrinus,     Oriolus, 

539. 
coiispicillata,  Sylvia,  .583. 
coongani,  Euiblema,  75. 
Coracina,  737. 

n.  westralensis,  54. 

Coracias  a.  senegalensis, 
297. 

caudatus,  615. 

cyanogaster,  297. 

garrulus,  215,  697. 

g.  garrulus,  359. 

spatiilatus,  615. 

versicolor,  306. 

corax,  Corvus,  190,  419, 
575. 

Corothrura  bonapartei. 

119. 

rubra,  332. 

cornix,  Corvus,  190,  420, 

666,  677. 


coruix,    Coivus    c,    242, 

625,  627. 
cornuta,  Tadorua,  42. 
coronata,  Coluuiba,  305. 

,  Loxia,  304. 

,  Stephanibyx,  611. 

corouatus,    Pterocles, 

375. 
,   Spizaetus,    281, 

299. 
corone,  Corvus,  191, 420, 

566, 677. 

, c,  598. 

ciu-sicana,  Alcedo  a.,  161. 
corviua,  Oorviiiella  c, 

291. 
Corvinella   c.  corvina, 

291. 
Corvus  a^gyptiaca,  627. 

afRnis,  153. 

brachycercus,  158. 

■  b.  bonhoti,  79. 

corax,    190,  419, 

575. 

cornix,   190,  420, 

566,  625,  627,  677. 
corone,  191,  420, 

566,  677. 

c.  balcanicus,  627. 

c.  capellanus,  629. 

c.  cecilae,  79. 

c.  corax,  127. 

— —  c.  coruix,  242. 

c.  corone,  598. 

c.  hartogi,  80. 

c.  hispanus,  677. 

c.  judffius,  627. 

c.  kaukasicus,  626, 

627. 

c.  krausei,  623. 

c.  lawrencei,  127. 

c.  minos,    128,  628, 

629. 
c.    pallescens,  628, 

629. 

c.  perplexus,  79. 

c.  ruficoilis,  623. 

c.    sardonius,    627, 

628. 
c.  sardus,  677. 

c.  sliarpii,  629. 

c.    syriacus,    626, 

627. 

c.    tingitanus,   393, 

404,  625,  677. 

c.  uuibrinus,  241. 

c.  valacbus,  627. 

frugilegus,  191, 

677. 

f.    frugilegus,   463, 

537. 


Corvus  f.  pastinator,  537- 

infuinatus,  623. 

nionedula,  192,  421, 

575. 

■ m.  collaris,  194. 

rhipidurus,  158. 

scapulatus,    272, 

287. 

subcoruix,  626. 

umbrinus,  623. 

Corydalla  infuscata,  653. 

lugubris,  655. 

sinensis,-  653. 

Corytlijeola  cristata,  295. 
Cory^hornis  cristata,  298. 

cyanostigiua,  621. 

Cosmetoruis    vexillarius, 

101. 
Coturnix  comuuuiis,  9. 

coturnix,  9,  38,227, 

302,  453,  719. 

c.  coturnix,  386. 

c.  japonica,  9. 

coutelli,  Antbus  s.,  247. 
Cracticu.s  n,  kalgoorli,65. 
crancbi,   Pternistes,  613, 

619,  620. 
Cranobrontes      leuco- 

gaster,  738. 
Crauorrhinus      leuco- 

gaster,  738. 
crassirostris,  Larus,  31. 

,  Tringa,  28. 

Crateropus      hartlaubi, 

621. 
crecca.  Anas,  605. 

, c,  371. 

,  Nettion,  44. 

,    Querquedula,    44, 

439,  517,  705. 
crestata,    Aptenodytes, 
306,  309. 

,  Cuculus,  306. 

cretoruiu,    Grarrulus    g., 

128. 
Crex  crex,  451,  520,  717. 

■  pulcbra,  115. 

Crinit'er  a.  africana,   273, 

295. 
Criniger  barbatus,  293. 

finschi,  566. 

sumatranus,  540. 

V.  verreauxi,  293. 

cristata,  Ampelis,  306. 

,  Corythrcola,  295. 

,  Corythoruis,  298. 

,  Fuligula,  45. 

,  Fulix,  45. 

,  Galerida,  202,  396, 

45S,  634. 
,  Guttera,  283,  302. 


f70 


Index  Of* 


cristata,    Pseudotadorna, 

749. 
ci'istatellus,  ^Ethiopsar, 

327. 
cristatus,  Colymbus,  315. 

,  Colymbus  c,  606. 

,  Fiu-narius,  179. 

,  Podiceps,  48,  225, 

451,  552,  716. 

,  c,  460^ 

,  Regains,  462. 

,  Vauellus,  18. 

Crocethia  alba,  311,  313, 

709. 

a.  alba,  180. 

croceiis,    Macronjx    c, 

290. 
Crocomoi-phus  f.  peruvi- 

anus,  157. 
Crossoptilon     nianchuri- 

CLiin,  9. 
criientus,    Malacoootus, 

291. 
Cryptorhiua  afra,  287- 
cucullatus,Hypbantornis, 

272,  282,  289. 

,  Spermestes,  288. 

cuculoideti,    Aviceda   c, 

299. 
Cuculus     aurocephalus, 

306. 

canorus,   213,   431, 

516,  695. 
chrysocepbalus,306. 

clamosus,   91,    92, 

295. 

crestata,  306. 

c.  canorus,  360. 

c.  saturatus,  360. 

c.  telepboiuis,  360. 

discolor,  306. 

glandarius,  240. 

g.   gabonensis,  87, 

88. 

— —  g.  uiabirte,  94. 

indicator,  305,  307. 

jacksoni,  71,  93. 

optatus,  360. 

Bolitarius,  89. 

valid  us,  95. 

culicivorus,   Etheloniis, 

164. 
cultratus,  Buceros,  283. 
Cuncuma    vocifer,     276, 

299. 
cupreicaudata,    Lauipro- 

colius,  288. 
cupreipeunis,  Lampribis, 

108,  109. 
cupreus,  Chrysococcyx  c, 

296. 


cupreus,  Cinnyris,  290. 
curonieus,  Charadrius  d., 

o. 
curruea,  Sjhia,  210,  427, 

686. 

Cursorius  g.  exul,  552. 
Cursorius  g.  gallicus,  377. 

rufus,  611. 

temmincki,  620. 

curyirostra,  Loxia,  462. 
curvirostris,  Andropadus 

c,  293. 
eyanea,  Platysteira,  281. 

, c,  294. 

cyanecula,    Cyanosylvia 

c,  588,  693. 
Oyanerpes    c.    cbocoana, 

325. 
cyaneus,  Circus,  217,604, 

699. 

■,  c,  365. 

,  Mont.icula,  691. 

Cyanistes  c.  brauiieri,  463. 
cyanocampter,    Besson- 

ornis  c.  292, 
cyanocapilla,      Priiigilla, 

305. 
cyanogaster,       Coracias, 

297. 
Cyanograucalus  azureus, 

293. 
cyauolfema,  Cyanolycar., 

158. 
cyanoleuca,    Grallina   c, 
'64. 
cyanoleucus,    Mastersor- 

nis,  556. 
Cyanolyca  v.  cyanola^u^a, 

158." 
Cyanomitra    o.    obscura, 

290. 

V.    verticalis,    272, 

290. 

cyaiiopterus,    Angroyan, 
'63. 

cyanopus,  Niuuenius,  24. 
cyanostictus,      Melilto- 

pbagus  p.,  621. 
cyanostiguia,     Corytbo- 

ouis,  621. 
Cyanosylvia  b.  cyanecula, 

588,  693, 
cyanus,  Papualestes,  164. 
cygnoides,  Anser,  39. 
Cygnus  bewicki,  532. 

cygnus.  37, 532, 704. 

davidi,  39. 

ferns,  37. 

jankowskyi,  37,  38. 

minor,  38. 


cylindricus,  Bycanistes, 

296. 
Cyornis  vanbeysti,  169. 
cvornitbopsis,    Callene, 
"  563, 

,  Vibrissosylvia,  563. 

cypriaca,  Alauda,  643. 

,  GEnantbe  1.,  257. 

Cypriotes,     Alectoris    g., 

■  138. 

Cypselus  pallidas,  240. 
cvrenaica,    Galerida    t., 

■  641. 


Dacelo  gigas,  745. 
Dafila    acuta,    44,    222, 

439,  600,  705. 
damacensis,  Tringa,  27. 
Dandalus,  315. 
danei,  Sarotbrura,  119. 

, b.,  267,  301. 

Daption  capensis,  81. 
dartfordiensis,    Sylvia, 

534. 
Daulias,  315. 
daurica,  Perdix,  10. 
dauricus,  Coloeus,  532. 
davidi,  Cygnus,  39. 

,  Setosura,  555. 

dayak,    Callopbus    m., 

740. 
decaptus,  Antlius  s.,  647. 
decumanus,       Ostinops, 

320,  321. 
deicbleri,    Galerida    t., 

397,  398,  412. 
Delicbon,  315. 

urbica,    213.    4o0, 

695. 

u.     nieridionalis, 

592. 

u.    urbica,    261, 

593. 

dellEe,  Prinia  g.,  255. 
deniersus,      Splieniscus, 

566. 
Demiegretta   g.    gularis, 

278,  282,  300. 
Dendrobiastes,  738. 
Dendrocvgna      viduata, 

299. 
Dendromus  caroli,  84. 
— —  c.  arizelus,  295. 

maculosus,  295. 

n.  nivosus,  295. 

permistus,  84. 

Dendropicus  gabonensis, 

84. 

lal'resnayi,  83. 

lugubris,  293,  295. 


SCIENTIFIC  NAMES. 


771 


Dendropicus  1.  caiuerun- 
easis,  83. 

1.  zeclii,  295. 

derbyi,   Micrartiimus  in., 

63. 
deserti,   Aimuoinaiies  d., 

632. 

,  ffinanthe,  633. 

, d..  257. 

desertorum,  Biib(j  a.,  326. 

,  Buteo,  365. 

desinaresti,      Phalacro- 

corax  g.,  703. 
diademata,  Alethe,  292. 
Diaphoropbyia    blissetti, 

294. 
— —  castanea,  294. 

hormopbora,  294. 

DicasLiin  in.  iicliidai,  749. 
dickinsoni,     Dissodectes, 

617. 

,  Falco,  620. 

Dicrurus  adsimilis,  612, 

621. 

atripennis,  287. 

atactus,  287. 

a.  divaricatus,  287. 

didiraus,  Lewiuornis   r., 

52. 
Dinopium,  740. 

j.  palniarum,  740. 

diony.siana,       Gal]inula, 

552. 
Diupezus  tristiguiata,738. 
Diphyllodes    speccosa, 

465. 

speciosa,  465. 

magnifica,  465. 

DipJootoeus    tnoussieri, 

392,  404. 
discolor,  Ouculus,  306. 
Dissodectes    dickinsoni, 

617. 
Diasonra  e.  microscelis, 

300. 
divaricatus,  Dicrurus  a., 

287. 
dofleini,  Picas  v.,  170. 
dombrowskii,    Motacilla 

f.,  665. 
domesticiis,  Passer,  198, 

390,  423,  513,  679. 
, cl„  457,  677, 

598,  629. 
dominicauas,  Loxia,  304. 
dominicanus,  Larus,  330. 
dominicus,    Oharadrius, 

235. 
dorsalis,  Gymnorhina  h., 

64. 
dougalli,  Sterna,  301, 320. 


Drymudes  b.  pallida,  54. 
Dryobates  leuconotusX 

D.  major,  339. 

major,  213. 

minor,  459. 

m.  balcanicus,  170. 

m.  liispanus,  593. 

major  xD.   leuco- 

notiis,  339. 
Dryoscopusg.  gambensis, 

291. 
dubia,  ^gialitis,  20,712. 
dubius,  Charadrius,  224. 
duponti,  Alauda,  682. 
dybowskii,  Otis,  14. 


ecaudata,  Pennula,  308. 

,  Eallus,  301). 

ecaudatus,   Helotarsus, 

620. 

,  Eallus,  308. 

Ecto]3istes   migratorius, 

739. 
Edoliisonia  alterum,  540. 
edwardi,  Menura  s.,  746. 
Egatheus,  315. 
Egretta  alba,  706. 

• a.  alba,  369,  601. 

garzetta,  707. 

Elanus  cseruleus,  240. 
— —  c.  caeruleus,  299, 

367. 
elata,  Ceratogymna,  283, 

296. 
elegaus,  Celeus,  167. 

,  Laniuse.,248,669. 

,  Leggeoruis,  62. 

,  Sarothrura,  112. 

eleonoraj,  Falco,  137,  702. 
elizabetliK,     Sarothrura 

r.,  120. 
elliotti,  Mesopicus,  84. 
Elminia  longicauda,  294. 
Emberiza  cresia,  244. 

calandra,  199,  423, 

578,681. 

cia,  200. 

- — cirlus,  200,  424,578, 

682. 
citrinella,  200,  424. 

c.  al'ricaua,  405. 

0.   calandra,   130, 

244,  403. 

c.  cia,  457,  578. 

c.  citrinella,  699. 

hortulana,  ISO,  200, 

244,  578,  682. 

hyeinalis,  305. 

imperialis,  304. 

leucophrys,  305. 


Emberiza  melanocephala, 

200. 

IJalustris,  682. 

schcEuiclus,    200, 

682. 

s.  sahari,  413. 

s.  schoeiiiclus,  599 

Emblema  p.  coougani, 

75. 
emili£e,Microrbopias,547. 

,  Nigrita,  289. 

emini,  Prodotiscus,  87. 
Enodes  e.  centralis,  332. 
Eopsaltria  australis,  329. 

griseogularis,  329. 

g.  gularis,  53. 

g.  quoyi,  329. 

g.  wongaui,  329. 

inornata,  328. 

Ephippiorhynchus    sene- 

galensis,  614,  620. 
Epbtbianura   a.    westra- 

lensis,  56. 
epops,  Upupa,  214,  431, 

697. 

, e.,  264,  463. 

Eremioriiis  c.  carteri,  57. 
Eremomela    badiceps, 

292. 

pusilla,  292. 

Eremopbila  a.  bilopba, 

412,  645. 
Erithacus  rubecula,  211, 

401,  515. 

r.  atlas,  588. 

r.  meloijliilus,  429. 

r.   rubecula,   260, 

403,  459,  588,  603,  692. 

r.   witherbyi,  402, 

588. 

eritreui,  Galerida  c,  638. 
erlangeri,  Falco  b.,  409. 

,    Pbylloscopus   s., 

251. 
eriiesti,  Falco  p.,  666. 
Erolia  acuminata,  312. 

alpina,  224,  312; 

381,  709. 

a.  alpina,  607. 

bairdi,  312. 

ferniginea,    312, 

381 ,  709. 

fuscicollis,  312. 

maculata,  312. 

maritima,  312. 

minuta,  312,  381, 

537,  709. 

minutilla,  312. 

ruficollis,  537. 

temmincki,   312, 

381. 


^72 


INDEX  OF 


Erolia  variegata,  312. 
erythrocliroa,    Ammo- 
manes  d.,  633. 
Erythrociuis    rufiveiitris, 

('■.20. 
erytlirogastcr,  Orocetes, 

539. 
erythronota,  Pogoniuhis. 

295. 
crvthrophrys,    Strepto- 

pelia,  301. 

, s.,  280. 

erythrops,  Oisticola  e., 

291. 

,  Quelea,  288. 

erytbropus,  Anser,  42, 

316. 

,  Scolopax,  311. 

,  Tringa,  311,  312, 

710. 
erytliropygiiis,  Gecinus, 

539. 
erytbrorbynclios,  Upupa, 

306. 
erylbrorbyncbus,  Irrisor, 

307. 
Erytbrospiza   g.   gitba- 

ginea,  243. 
erytbrotborax,       Sti- 

phrornis,  292. 
Estrilda       angolensis, 

621. 

a.  occidentalis,  289. 

melpoda,  289. 

pboenicotis  X  Zono- 

gastris  melba,  564. 

subflava,  289. 

Etbelornis  cantator,  164. 

cairnsensis,  163. 

• cbloronotus,  164. 

■ culicivorus,  164. 

fuscus,  164. 

f.  fuscus,  51. 

hxivigaster,  164. 

masters!,  164. 

mouki,  164. 

robini,  163. 

tenebrosup,  163. 

t.  cliristopberi,  51. 

wbitlocki,  163. 

Eudromias    morinellus, 

446. 
Eudyptes,  554. 
Eunetta  falcata,  43, 178. 

forinosa,  44. 

Eupbagus  c.  miuusculus, 

339. 
Euprinodes  flavocincta, 

621. 
Eupsycbortyx,  343. 
europaja,  Silta,  205. 


europa2us,   Caprimulgus, 

214,  431,  696. 

,  e.,  99,  262. 

Eurystomus  a.  afer,  275, 

281.  297. 

gularis,  104,  297. 

■ g.  negU'ctus,  104. 

eurytbma,  Ardetfcn,  36. 
Eustepbaniis  fernand- 

ensis,  161. 

galeritus,  335. 

Eutolmaetus  f.  f'asciatus, 

403.  409. 
Excallactoria  adansoni, 

302. 
excelsus,  Parus  m.,  580. 
excubitor,  Lanius,  205, 

427. 
exilis,  Indicator  e.,  85. 

,  Melignotlics,  85. 

exsul,  Hallornis  U,  60. 
exul,  Oursorius  g.,  552. 

• ,  I'elecanoides,  162. 

exustus,  Pterocles,  375. 

fabalis,  Anser,  704. 
falcata,    Eunetta,    43, 

178. 
falcinellus,  Plegadis,  299, 

707. 

, f.,  369. 

Falco  £esalon,  218,  316, 

435,  702. 
brookei,  737. 

b.  erlangeri,  409. 

b.  tanyptorus,  363. 

concolor,  363. 

c.  aesalon,  364,  603. 

dickinsoni,  620. 

eleonoriE,  137,  702. 

fuscus,  305,  307. 

gyrfalco,  314. 

naumanni,  218,  702. 

n.  naumanni,  364, 

603. 

peregrinoides,  737. 

peregrinus,    136, 

218,   362,   435,   459, 

701. 

plancus,  305. 

punicus,  737. 

p.  calidus,  362. 

p.  erne.sti,  566. 

p.  pelegrinoides, 

363. 

regulus,  316. 

rusticohis,  314. 

serpentarius,  303, 

305. 
subbuteo,   218,  363, 

435,  702. 


Falco  tinnunculus,  2l8, 

436,  702. 
— —  t.  rupicolfeformis, 

364. 
- —    t.  tinnunculus,  136, 

459,  603. 
vespertinus,  219, 

702. 
V.    vespertinus, 

364. 
Falcunculus    f.    leuco- 

gaster,  65. 
familiaris,  Certbia,  563. 

-, f.,  4.'i8. 

fasciatus,    Eutolmaetus, 

403. 

, f.,  409. 

,  Garrulus  g.,  575. 

,  Hieraaetus,  220. 

,  Nisaetus,  700. 

feldegg,   Motacilla,   314, 

667. 
feldeggi,  Motacilla,  314. 
ferina,  Nyroca,  222,  705. 

, f.,  372,  460. 

ferinoides,    Nyroca    f., 

553. 
fei-nandensis,    Euste- 

pbanus,  l(il. 
ferox,  Buteo,  365. 
ferruginea.  Anas,  311. 

,  Oasarca,  311. 

,   Erulia,   312,   381, 

709. 

,  Fuligula,  45. 

,  Galerida  c,  170. 

,  Nyroca,  175. 

,  Tringa,  312. 

, f.,  278,  300. 

ferrugineus,    Gailus    f., 

332. 
ferus,  Cygnus,  37. 
iinniarcbicus,    Anser, 

221,  316. 
finscbi,  Criniger,  566. 

,  ffinantbe  ra.,  258. 

,  Stizorbina,  294. 

Fiscus  c.  suiitbi,  290. 
fistulator,     Bycanistes, 

274,  281,  296. 
flabellifera,   Ebipidura, 

555. 
Flammea,  312. 

Uaminoa,  432,  516. 

flammeus,  Asio  f.,  362. 
flaniTniceps,  Pyromelana, 

288. 
flava.   Budytes    f.,    272, 

289. 
,  Motacilla,  204,458, 

664. 


SCIENTIFIC  NAMES. 


773 


flava,   Motiicilla   f.,   247, 

580,  665,  684. 
flavacantlms,    Acantho- 

genya  r.,  73. 
,    Aureplithianura 

a.,  57. 
flavicans,    Macrospbeiius 

f.,  121,  122,  125. 
flavigastra,    Hjliuta    f., 

294. 
flavigularis,  Cliry.sococ- 

cyx,  9i). 
flavipes,  Tringa,  .312. 
flavirosti'a,     Gallinula, 

308. 

,  Liiunocorax,  308. 

flavirostris,     Ceuthmo- 

chares,  274. 

, a.,  296. 

-,  Rhynchops,  620. 

fiaviveuter,     Macliteri- 

rbynchus,  556 
flaviventris,  Hapalocres, 

332. 

,  Rallus,  332. 

,  Syhiella  f.,  292. 

flavocincta,    Euijriuodes, 

621. 
fleiuingi,    Herbivocula, 

311. 
floweri,  Pterocles  s.,  569. 
tliickigeri,  Passer  d.,  390. 
lluviatilis,Podiceps,  311, 

552. 

,  Sterna,  32. 

forbesi.    Halcyon    lu., 

275,  282,  298. 

,  Oxyei'hus,  30l. 

forficata,  Fringilla,  306. 
I'ormosa,  Alcedo,  161. 

,  Eunetta,  44. 

forinosaiia,  Alcedo,  307. 
formosauus,    Milviis  1., 

553. 
formosum,  Nettion,  44. 
fossei,  Caprimulgiis,  621. 
francisii,  Centropus,  296. 
Francoliuus   ahantensis, 

302. 
b.  tbornei,280,2S2, 

302. 

gareipensis,  611. 

1.  lathami,  302. 

swamsoni,  613. 

Fraseria  prospbora,  291. 
Fratercuhi   arctioa,    449, 

716. 
fraterculus,  Ammomanes 

d.,  633. 
Fregata  ariel,  33. 
m.  rotbscbildi,  320. 


Fringilla    atrocepbala, 

306. 

brevicola,  306. 

ccelebs,    129,   198, 

423,  512,  536,  679. 
cyanociiiDilla,  305. 

e.    al'ricana,    403, 

405. 

c.  coelebs,  243,  405, 

457,  463,  577,  .^98. 

c.  niliolski,  463. 

c.  .solomki,  46.3. 

c.  spodiogenys,392. 

foriicata,  30(i. 

budsonica,  .305. 

niRlaiioeepbala,  306. 

inontifriugilla,  198, 

457,  680. 

teydea,  .536. 

torqiiata,  305. 

torquator,  305. 

fringillirostris,  Acantbis 

c,  129. 
iVingilloides,      Amau- 

restbes,  288. 
frontalis,     Pentijola'a, 

292. 
frugilegus,    Corvus,    191, 

677. 

, f.,463,  537. 

Fulica  atra,  13,  225,  452, 

718. 
a.    atra,    138,  386, 

389,  608. 
fulicaria,  Tringa,  111. 
fulicarius,    Phalaropus, 

111,441. 
Fuligula  cristata,  45. 

t'erruginea,  45. 

niarila,  45. 

fuligula,    Nyroca,    222, 

373,  460,  606,  705. 
Fulix  cristata,  45. 

•  marila,  45. 

nyroea,  45. 

fuUeborni,   Glareola    p., 

620. 
fulvi Irons,  Cisticola,  621. 
fulvescens,    Turdiinis, 

293. 
fulvu.-J,  Cbaradrius,  19. 

, d.,  19. 

,    Gyps,    137,    220, 

699. 
funerea,  Nyctala,  316. 
Furnarius  cristatus,  179. 

riifus,  179. 

fusca,  Oideniia,  46. 

,  Etlielornis  f'.,  51. 

fuscata,  Sterna,  320. 
fuscicoUis,  Erolia,  312. 


fuscocastaneus,    Melano- 

pteryx,  289. 
fuscus,  Etbelornis,  164. 

,  Falco,  305,  307. 

,  Larus  f.,  279,  301, 

608. 

,  Ptilopaclius,  302. 

,  Totanus,  26,  311. 

gabar,  Melierax,  620. 
gabonensis,    Cuculus,    9, 

87,  88. 

,  Dendropicus,  84. 

gabonica,  Antbotbreptes, 

273,  290. 
gafsas,  Galerida  c,  397. 
galactotes,  Agrobates  g., 

253,  584. 
galeatuui,  Callocepbalon, 

564. 
galeatus,  Casuarius,  304. 
galericulata,  Mx,  45. 
Galerida    cristata,     202, 

396,  458,  634. 
•  c.   altirostris,    245, 

634,  635,  637,  (i40. 

c.   arenicola,    396, 

397. 

c.  brachyura,  636, 

638. 

c.  caroli,  245,  638. 

c.  cartbaginis,  389, 

397. 
c.    cinnamoinina, 

638,  642. 

0.  eritreas,  638. 

c.  t'erruginea,  170. 

0.  gafsa:,  .397. 

c.    macrorbyncbus, 

396,  640. 

c.    niaculata,   634, 

635,  642. 

c.  raeridionalis,  130, 

642. 

c.    nioeritica,    245, 

636,  642. 

c.  miiblei,  170. 

c.   nigricans,    245, 

634, 635,  642. 

c.  nubica,  636,  637, 

640. 

c.  pallida,  579. 

c.  reicbenowi,  397. 

-  —  c.  soinaliensis,  637, 
640. 

c.  zion,  637,  642. 

theklffi,  641. 

t.  carolinae,397,'398. 

t.  cyrenaica,  641. 

t.    deicbleri,    641, 

398,  412. 


774 


iNflEX  Ot 


Galerida  t.  harterti,  389, 

397,  470. 

t.hilgerti,  410. 

t.  major,  397. 

t.  pohitzeki,  683. 

t.    siiperflua,   394, 

397,  398. 

t.  thecklffi,  579,  683. 

galentus,    Eustephanus, 

335. 
Gallicrex  cinerea,  13. 
gallicus,    Cursorius    g., 

377. 
Gallinago  coelestis,  29. 
galJiuago,  224,  443, 

619,  708. 
g.   gallinago,   300, 

383. 

gallinula,  30. 

• media,  443,  709. 

megala,  29. 

scolopacina,  29. 

solitaria,  29. 

stenura,  29. 

Gallinula  chloropus,   12, 

225,385,4.52,520,718. 

c.  parvifrons,  12. 

c.    seyciiellarmn, 

552. 

dionysiana,  552. 

flavirostra,  308. 

gallinula,  Gallinago,  30. 
,  Limnocrvptes,   30, 

224,383,443^,607,709. 
Gallus  f.  baukiva,  332. 

f.  ferrugineus,  332. 

f.  murghi,  332. 

gaiubensis,    Dryoscopus 

g.,291. 

-,  Plectrojjterus,  620. 

gareipensis,  Francolinus, 

611. 
Garrulus  glandariu.s,  196, 

456. 

g.  cretorum,  128. 

g.  fasciatus,  575. 

garrulus,  Ampelis,  304, 

427. 

,  Coracias,  216,697. 

, g-,  359. 

garzetta,  Egretta,  707. 

,  Herodias,  176. 

gawlerensis,  Lewinornis, 

328. 
Gecinus    erythopygius, 

539. 

rabieri,  349,  350. 

V.  Tiridis,  603. 

gelastes,  Larus,  464,  715. 
Gelochelidon  angliea,  32. 
nilotica,  715. 


Geunajodryas    placens, 

164. 
Gennffius  horsfieldi,  545. 

lineatus,  545. 

nycthemerus,  545. 

gentilis,    Accipiter    g., 

604. 
geofi'royi,  iEgialitis,  19. 

,  Charadrius,  234. 

, Di.,  379. 

,  Ochthodrotnus,  19. 

georgianus,    Quoyornis, 

51,  329. 
geraldtouensis,  •  Ptilotis, 

746. 
gernianica,  Pyrrhula   p., 

334. 
gibraltariensis,    Phceni- 

curus,  210,  692. 
, o.,  259,  429, 

459,  588,  603. 
gio-antea,    Ceryle     ni., 

297. 
gigas,  Dacelo,  745. 

,  Patagona,  335. 

gilbert.i,    Gilbertornis, 

328. 
gilbertii,    Gilbertornis   i, 

52. 
Gilbertornis  gilberti,  328. 

inornatus,  328. 

i.  gilbertii,  52. 

rufogularis,  328. 

githaginea,  Erythrospiza, 

243. 
giu,  Scops,  348. 
glacialis,  Colymbus,  316. 

,  Harelda,  46. 

glandarius,  Clamator, 

273,  295,  361. 

,  Cuoulus,  240. 

,  Garrulus,  196, 456. 

Glareola  luelanoptera, 

378. 

orientalis,  18. 

pratincola,594,619, 

708. 

p.  fuUeborni,  620. 

— —  p.  pratincola,  377. 
glareola,  Rhyacophilus, 

276,  282,  300. 

,  Totanus,  25. 

,  Triuga,  312,  382, 

710. 
Glaucion  clangula,  706. 
glaucion,  Clangula,  46. 
glaucus,  Larus,  31. 
glaux,  Athene  n.,  362, 

391,  395. 
Gliciphila  m.  western- 

ensis,  71. 


glottis,  Totanus,  26. 
goffini,  Trachylasmus, 

295. 
goliatb,  Ardea,  282,  300, 

620. 
goodsoni,    Anthus   I., 

660. 
gordoni,   Hirundo   s., 

294. 
gouldi,  Anthus,  661. 

,  g.,  663. 

, 1.,  272,  290. 

— ,  Oonopoderas  a.,  57. 

,  Meliornis  n.,  73 

,  Symposiachrus  t., 

556. 

,  Zosterops,  69. 

gracilirostris,  Andro- 

padus,  293. 
gracilis,  Andropadus, 

293. 

,  Prinia  g..  254. 

Gracula  atthis,  160. 
graculus,  Plialacrocorax, 

437,  460. 

,  Pyrrhocorax,  311. 

Grallina    c.    cyanoleuca, 

64. 
Graucalus,  737. 

affinis,  738. 

azureus,  283. 

'  hypoleucus,  737. 

jardini,  738. 

meliinops,  737. 

mentalis,  738. 

novjehollandiiE, 

737. 

parvirostris,  737. 

pectoralis,  293, 

621. 

robustus,  737,  738. 

swainsoni,  738. 

gravis,  PufRnus,  450. 
griseiceps,    IVIacro- 

spheuus,  123,  125. 

,  Mattingleya,  328. 

griseigena,  Podiceps,  226, 

717. 
griseogularis,    Eopsal- 

tria,  329. 
griseopyga,     Hirundo, 

619,  621. 
griseus,  Anthus  c,  646. 
grisola,  Muscicapa,  310, 

430,  516. 

, ^g.,591. 

,  Tephrodornis,  328. 

Grus  cinerea,  13. 

grus,  707. 

g.  lilfordi,  1,3. 

ja))oneiisis,  13. 


sciEKTiric  JjamEs. 


in 


Grrus  leucauclien,  \'6. 

leucogeranus,  14. 

vipio.  13. 

Tiriclirostris,  13. 

griis,  Wegalornis,  384. 
guiaiiensis,  Polioptila, 

560. 
guineensis,  Bnceros  c, 

274. 
,  Melaniparus    n., 

290. 

,  Psittacus,  305. 

gularis,  Ardea,  285, 
,  Deiiiiegretta  g., 

278,  282,  300. 

,  Eopsaltria  g.,  53. 

,  Eiii-ystomiis,  104, 

2'J7. 
,  Melittopbagus  g., 

297. 

,  Motacilla,  305. 

,  Oriolus,  30(5. 

,  Trocbilus,  305. 

,  Turdiiius,  293. 

Guttera  cristata,  283, 

302. 
gutturalis,    Oinnyris, 

285,  617. 
gwendolense,  Morgau- 

ornis  s,,  55. 
Gyuuiiobucco  calvus,  295. 
gyiunocephalus,  Pica- 

tharLes,  287. 
Gymnogeiiys  typicus, 

298. 
Gymnorhina  h.  dorsalis, 

64. 
Gypaetos  barbatus,  137, 

220. 
Gypaetus   b.   barbatus, 

405,  408. 
Gypohierax  angolensis, 

277,  282,  299. 
Gyps  fulvus,  137,  220, 

699. 
gyrfalco,  Falco,  314. 
,  Hierof'alco,  314. 

Hiematopus    osculans, 

21. 
ostralegus,  446, 

519,  713. 
bsematopus,  Hitiian- 

tornis  h.,  111. 
hagedasb,  Hagedasliia, 

619,  620. 
Hagedashia  hagedash, 

619,  620. 
Halcyon  cbeliciiti,  283, 

297. 
1.  leufocepbala,  297. 


Halcyon  m.  forbesi,  275, 

282,  298. 
orientalis,    6l9, 

(121. 

striolata,  283. 

s.  senegalensis,  297. 

bulfe.  Passer  d.,63U. 
Haliaetusalbicilbi,  220, 

367,  434,  (104,  7U0. 

vocit'er,  (1J4,  618. 

baliaetus,  Pandion,  703. 
- — . b.,  277,  299. 

367. 
Hallornis  1.  exsiil,  60. 
balmaturina,  Stipiturus 

u].,  748. 
balophila,  Oiuanthe  1., 

410, 
Hapaloorex  flaviventris, 

332. 
Haplopelia  s.  inornata, 

121. 
s.  plimibescens, 

121. 
bararensis,  Aiitbiis  s., 

(149. 

, n.,  649. 

bardyi,  Sylviella,  292. 
Harelda  glaciabs,  46. 
biirmsi,  Carduelis  c., 

129. 
barterti,  Cisticola  c, 

591. 
,  Galerida  t.,  389, 

397,  404. 

,  Parus  c,  581. 

bartlaubi,    Aceipiter    b., 

298. 

,  Crateropus,  621. 

,  Onycbognathus, 

288. 

,  Pteronetta,  108. 

,  Querqiiedula,  108. 

,  Serin  us,  289. 

hartogi,  C'orvus  c,  80. 

■ ,  Melipbaga  v.,  72. 

bebraica,  Melanocorypba 

c,  (>31. 
belence,  Laniarius  b., 

291. 
beliaca,  Aquila,  219. 

, h.,  365. 

Ilelminlbopbila   cbryso- 

ptera,  325. 
leucobroncbialis, 

325. 

piuus,  325. 

Helotarsus    ecaudatus, 

620. 
belvetica,  Squatarola, 

19. 


Hemiprocne,  338, 
Hemixiis  suinatranus, 

540. 
Herbivocula,  311. 

• flemingi,  311. 

Herodias  alba,  36,  175. 

garzettn,  176. 

Heteroprion,  554. 
Heteroscelus  brevipes, 

178. 
Hetoerodes  insignis,  87. 
biaticula,  iEgialitis,  445, 

518,  711. 

,  Cbaradrius,  301, 

313. 

, b.,  378. 

bibernans,  Saxicola  r., 

589. 
Hieraaetus  fasciatus,  220. 
Hierofalco  gyrfalco, 

314. 

i.  candicans,  435. 

rusticolus,  314. 

bilgerti,  Galerida  t., 

410. 
Himantopus      Candidas, 

22. 
bimantopns,      300, 

711. 
b.  biniantopus, 

380. 
Himantornis  b.  bsema- 
topus. 111. 

b.  wbitesidei,  112. 

Hippolais,  312. 

italica,  312. 

pallida,  1-32. 

polyglotta,  312. 

Hirundo  d.  rufula,  261. 
griseopyga,      619, 

621. 

n.  carteri,  48. 

rufula,  692. 

rustica,  213,  430, 

511,  694. 
r.  rustica,  135,  260, 

273,  282,  294,  592. 

r.  savignii,  260. 

seuiiriifa,  621. 

s.  gordoni,  294. 

s.  monteiri,  621. 

zonarie,  307. 

birundo.  Sterna,  448, 

519,  715. 
bispanife,  Turdus  ni., 

587. 
bispanica,    Motacilla, 

314. 
,  (Enantbe,  212, 

314,  693. 
, b.,  410,  590. 


776 


iKdex  of 


hispaniolensis,  Passer, 
l'J9. 

, h.,  242,  300, 

402,  ('.31, 
bispaniis,  Coi'vns  c,  767. 

,  Dryobates  n.,  693. 

hispidoides,  Alcedo  a., 

160. 
Hoplopterus  spinosus, 

380. 
bordacea,  Pyroineliina 

b.,  288. 
bonnopbora.  Diapboro- 

pbjia,  294. 
borsfieldi,    Grennaeiis, 

54.5. 
bortensis,  Sylvia,  583. 
bortulaiia,     Emberiza, 
130,   200,   244,  578, 
682. 
Ho\ibara,  315. 
Howeavis,  565. 
bowelli,  Passerberbulus 

m.,  648. 
hudsonica,  Fringilla, 

305. 
luidsonicus,  Parus,  305. 
hybrida,   Hydrocbelidou, 

31,301,384. 
Hydrocbelidou  bybrida, 
31,  301,  384. 

leucopareia,  384. 

leucoptera,  32,  383, 

715. 

nigra,  225,  301, 

715. 
byemalis,  Emberiza,  305. 
Hylacola   c.   wbitlocki, 

54. 
Hylia  prasina,  273,  292. 
Hyliota  f.  flavigastra,  294. 
Hylocbeiidon    n.    neg- 

"lecta,  49. 
Hypargus  scblegeli,  289. 
Hypergerus  atriceps, 

293. 
Hypbantornis  cuciiUa- 

Uis,  272,  282,  289. 
bypoebondriacuni,    Ma- 
crospbenus,   f.,   122, 
125. 
bypodila,  Antbotbreptes 

c,  290. 
bypogaja,  Speolyto  c, 

174. 
Hypolais  p.  opaea,  685. 

p.  pallida,  261. 

rauia,  252. 

upcberi,  542. 

hypoleuca,     Motacilla, 
311. 


hypoleuca,       Muscicapa, 

213,311. 

, b..  249. 

,  Pterodroma,  337. 

.  Tringa,  312,  382, 

710. 
h3'poleucus,  Grraiicalus, 

737. 

,  Totanus,  25,  444. 

,  Tringoides,  25. 

,  Turdimis,  293. 

byrcamis,  Troglodytes  p., 

463. 


Ibidorbyncbus  strut iiersi, 

22. 
Ibis  melanocepbala,  34. 
ibis,  Ardeola,  707. 

, i.,  278,  300. 

,  Bubiilcus,  620. 

; , i.,  369. 

icbtbj'aci  lis,  Lnnis,  464. 
icterinus,  Pbyllastreplius, 

293. 
icterus,  Serinus,  621. 
idia,  Autbotbreples,  290. 
ignicajiillus,    Regulus, 
685. 

, i.,  580,  600. 

ignita,  Lopbura,  545. 
iliaca,  Passerella,  558. 
iliacus,  Turdus,  428. 
illyricus,  Micropus  ui., 

696. 
imberbis,  Anomalospiza, 
289. 

immer,  Colymbiis,  450. 

impennis,  Alca,  550. 

imperialis,    Emberiza, 
304. 

iiicanus,  Totanns,  26. 

indica,  Otis,  305,  309. 

,  Sypbeotides,  309. 

Indicator  c.  coiiirostris, 
84. 

e.  exilis,  85. 

e.  leona,  295. 

indicator,  621. 

iiiaculatus,  85. 

stictitborax,  85. 

tberesjE,  86. 

ussberi,  85. 

indicator,  Cuculus,  305, 
307. 

indicus.  Passer,  630. 

, d.,  629. 

,  Rallus,  12. 

— — ,  Rhampbastos,  307. 

indistincta,    Stigraatops 
i.,7l. 


inl'umatus,  Corvns,  623. 
iut'uscata,    Corydalla, 

653. 
inornata,      Eopsaltria, 
328. 

,  Haplopelia,  121. 

inoniatus,  Caprimulgus, 
99. 

,  Gilbertornis,  328. 

,  Pycnonotus,  273. 

, b.,  293. 

,  Stepbanibyx,  301. 

inquieta,  Scotocerca  i., 

254. 
- — •,  Seisura,  556. 
insignis,  Hetcerodes,  87. 

;  Prodotisciis,  87. 

insidaris,  Alauda,  (543. 
intercedens,  Alectoris  r., 
594. 

,   Pacliycepbala    r., 

164. 
interjecta,  Pacbycepbala, 

164. 
intermedia,      Columba 
1.,  3. 

,  Porzana    p.,    384, 

385,451. 
interpres,  Arenaria,  18, 
447,  714. 

, i.,  279,  282, 

301. 
irbii,  Jilgithalus  c,  581. 
1  i-edaleornis  cinereifrons, 

164. 
iriditorques,  Turtiircena, 

301. 
Irrisor  erytbrorbyncluis, 
307. 

8.       senegalensis, 

297. 

viridis,  307. 

isabellina,  Ammomanes 
d.,  244,  632. 

,  CEnantbe,  258. 

,  Streptopelia  t., 

374. 
isabellinus,  Lanius  c, 

669. 
isidori,  Oroaetus,  331. 

,  Spizaetus,  331. 

ispida,  Alcedo,  139,  215, 
432,  697. 

, a.,  160,  594. 

Ispidina      leucogaster, 
298. 

p.  picta,  298. 

italic,  Passer,  130,  390, 

631,679. 
italica,  Hippolais,  312. 
ituriensis,  Batis,  734. 


SCIENTIFIC    NAMES. 


m 


Ixobrycluis  m.  minutus, 

370. 
Ixos  vallombrosa^  670. 
lynx  torqiiilla,  -lol,  695. 
t.  torqiiilla,  84,  360, 

693. 


jacksoni,  Cuculus,  91,  93. 
jankowskyi,  Cjgnus,  37, 

38. 
japonensis,  Grus,  13. 
japonica,  Cotin-nix  c,  9. 
japonicus,    Anthiis    s., 

178. 

,  Podiceps  r.,  55?. 

jardiiii,  Graucalus,  738. 
jebelinarrae,  Anthiis  s., 

649. 
jerdooi,  Antluis  s.,  G47. 
johaniise,  Cinnyris,  "JUO. 
juiE,   Chrysoptilus   iii., 

157. 
jiida-us,  Corvus  c,  627. 
JLineioola,  Passerlierbulus 

111.,  548. 
Jiinco  o.  pontilis,  337. 


kabylorinn,  Troglodytes 

t.,  591. 
kalgoorli,  Cracticus  n., 

65. 
karpowi,  Pbasianus  c,  5. 
katberince,  Ainnioiiianes 

d.,  633,  634. 
kaukasiciis,    Corvus    c, 

620,  r>27. 
kaiipi,  Proseisiiia,  556. 
Kaupifalco     in.    iiiono- 

graniir.icus,  276,  299. 
kearllundi,       Liciieno- 

stoiuiis,  73. 
kempi,    Aiuaiirociclila, 

123. 

,  Kempiella,  104, 

,  Maerospheniis,  123, 

125, 293. 
Kempiella  kempi,  164. 
Kenopia  striata,  5()G. 
klaasi,  Cbrysococcyx,  296. 
kleinselimidti.  Antluis  p., 

325. 
Knestroiiietopbon  scopi- 

frons,  563. 
korscbun.  Milvus,316. 
kraiisei,  Corvus  c,  623. 
kretschmeri,      Macro- 

spbenus,  123,  125. 
kretzscbmeri,  Pbyllastre- 

pbus,  503. 


kretzscbmeri,  Siiabeli- 

oriiis,  563. 
kubli.  Puffin  us,  225,676, 

716. 
kurodai,   Aplonis    k., 

749. 


lacteus.  Bubo,  621. 
lacuuni,  Antbus  r.,  656. 
Icevigaster,     Elbelornis, 

164. 
lafresnayi,  Dendropicus, 

83. 
Lagenoplastes   a.    coiii- 

gnivi,  49. 
Lagonostic(a      briinnei- 

ceps,  288. 

niveiguttata,  621. 

poliouota,  288. 

• senegala,  288. 

■ s.  rendnlli,  621. 

Lagopus  1.  raniereiisis, 

339. 

• 111.  pyrenaicus,  552. 

scoticus,  520. 

lagopus,  Buteo,  434. 
Lalage,  738. 

t.  tricolor,  54. 

bunelligerus.  Anas  torn  us, 

620. 
Lampribis    akeleyorum, 

610. 
• ■  eupreipennis,  108, 

109. 
olivacea,  108,  110, 

609., 

rara,  108,  609. 

rotbsuinldi,  110. 

splendidus,    1U8, 

109. 
Laiuprocolius    cuprei- 

caudata,  288. 

• splendidus,  288. 

sycobius,  621. 

Lamprocorax  uiontrosa, 

738. 
Lamprotornis  caudutus, 

288. 
Lamprura       rufiga.ster, 

738. 
Laniarius    -m.    mossam- 

bieus,  021, 

b.  barbarus,  291. 

b.  belenai,  291. 

leuc'orbynchus,  290. 

turatii,"291. 

lanioides,    Alisterornis, 

328. 
Laiiius    collurio,    206, 
219. 


Lanius  c.  collurio,  463. 

c.  isabellinus,  669. 

c.  pboenicuroides, 

669. 

excubitor,  205,  427. 

e.  algeriensis,  391. 

e.  aucberi,  609. 

e.  elegans,  248,  669. 

luebberti,  565. 

meridionalis,  686. 

minor,  206,  248. 

iiubicus,  248. 

senator,  206,  680. 

s.  bad i us,  686. 

s.    niloticus,    131, 

248,  668. 

s.   senator,    290, 

582. 

lapponica,  Liniosa,  444. 
Larus  ulbus,  304. 
argentatus,    177, 

447,  495,  008. 

audouini,  715. 

a.  caciiinnans,  139, 

461. 

a.  vegae,  31. 

cacbinnans,  714. 

canus,  31.  447,  520, 

714. 
cirrboceplialus, 

279,301. 

crassirostris,  31. 

c.  canus,  608. 

doniinicanus,  330. 

f.  affinis,  279,  301, 

448,714,751, 
f.  fuscus,  279,  301, 

008. 

gelastes,  464,  715. 

glaucus,  31. 

icbtbyaetiis,  404. 

marinus,  448,  714. 

inelanocepbalus, 

714. 

minutus,  448,  714. 

occideiitalis,  31. 

pbiladelpbia,  177. 

ridibundus,  30,225, 

384,     448,    401,    499, 
608,  714,  750. 

V.  c.'icbinnans,  31. 

lateralis,  Cisticola,  273, 

281,291, 
latbami,  Francolinus  1., 

302. 
latirostris,  Mastersornis, 

556. 
lawreiicei,    Corvus    c, 

127. 
Leggeornis  elegans,  62. 

1.  oecidentalis,  01. 


778 


INDRX  OF 


Leggeornis   p.    stirlingi, 

62. 
leoua,  Indicator  e.,  295. 
leonina,  Spermospiza  h., 

289. 
leoninus,  Macrosplienus 

f.,  122,  125. 
Lepidocolaptes    1.  cara- 

bayifi,  325. 
Lepocestes,  740. 
Leptasthenura  03.  pallida, 

748. 
leiicauclien,  Griis,  13. 
leucobronchialis.Helmin- 

thophila,  325. 
leucocephala,  Halcyon  1., 

297. 

,  Motacilla  f.,  6G7. 

leucocephaliis,    Lybius, 

620. 
Leucocirca  1.  leucophrys, 

53. 

tricolor,  555. 

leiicogaster,    Cinnvricin- 

elus  !.,  272,  288.' 

,  Cinnyris,  (>21. 

,  Cranobrontes,  738. 

,  Oranorrliinus,  738. 

,  Falciinculns  f.,  65. 

— ,  Ispidina,  298. 

leucogastris,  Sula,  320. 
leueogeiiys,    Melithrep- 

tiis  a.,  70. 
leiicogeranus,  Grrns,  14. 
leucolopha,    Tigrornis, 

300. 
leueonotas,  Ardea,  110. 
,    Dryobates   X    IX 

major,  339. 

,  Nyctieorax,  110. 

leiicopareia,  Hydroclieli- 

doii,  384. 
Leucoplianes,  164. 
Leucopbrys  carteri,  555. 
leucophrys,  Anthiis,  658, 

659. 

,  Anthus  1.,  659. 

,  Emberiza,  305. 

,  Leucocirca,  53. 

leucophthaluius,   Colius 

n.,  734. 
leucops,  Tregellasia,  164. 
leucopsis,  Branta,  758. 
leucoptera,    Chlidonias, 

80. 
,  Hydrochelidou,  32, 

383,  715. 
Leucopternis      princeps, 

332. 
leucopterus,  Bulestes   t., 

65. 


leucopyga,  Qinanthe,  259. 
leucopygialis,  Artaraus  1., 

63. 
leucorhynchus,Laniarius, 

290.  ■ 
leucorodia,   Platalea,   34, 

223,     305,    368,    440, 

707. 
leucorrlioa,  Qinanthe  o., 

292,  693. 
leucorrhous,    Pei-cno- 

bierax,  332. 

,  Hupornis,  332. 

leucost ictus.  Bubo,  298. 
leucotis,  Oarterornis,  556. 

,Otusl.,276,  298. 

leucura.    Cliettusia,   239, 

381.  ' 

,  (Enanthel.,590. 

,  Peneoenanthe,  329. 

leucurus,  Andropadus  i., 

293. 
Levvinornis   gawlerensis, 

328. 
rufiventris,     164, 

328. 

r.  didinius,  52. 

waddelli,  328. 

libonianus,  Turdus,  292. 
Lichenostomus    c.    occi- 

dentalis,  72. 

keartlandi,  73. 

k.  luungi,  72. 

o.  ornatus,  72. 

o.  wensleydalei,  72. 

lilfordi,  Grus  g.,  13. 
liniitans,  Picus  v.,  740. 
Liumaetus    africanus, 

106. 
limnaetus,      Phseoaetus, 

332. 

,  Spizaetus,  332. 

Lininocorax     flavirostra, 

308. 

niger,  308. 

Liiunocrex    cinereiceps, 

332. 
Limnocryptes    gallinula, 

30,  224,  383,  443,  607, 

709. 
Limosa  brevipes,  25. 
lapponica,  444. 

limosa,  710. 

1.  limosa,  382. 

1.  melanuroides,  25. 

lineatus,  Gennanis,  545. 

,  Nunienius,  24. 

,  Paragraucalus,738. 

littoralis,  Riparia,  261. 
livia,  Columba,  399,  452, 
719. 


living.stonei,  Saxicola  p., 

612. 
lobatus,  Phalaropus,  331, 
Locustella  1.  luscinioides, 

132,  250. 

n.  nffivia,  584. 

longicauda,    Bartramia, 

739. 

,  Elminia,  294. 

,  Loxia,  304. 

longipeiinis,  Calaudrella 

b.,  244. 
,  Macrodipteryx, 

296. 

,  Sterna,  32. 

longirostris,    Anthus    n., 

650. 

, s.,  650. 

,  Meliornis,  n.,  73. 

,  Sphenura  b.,  63. 

Lopboceros    n.   nasutus, 

296. 
semifasciatus,  274, 

281,  296. 
Lopbotriceus,  544. 
Lophura  iguita,  545. 
lorealis,  Opbryzone,  556. 
loringi,  Sarotbrura,  112. 
lowei,  Micropus  ib.,  296. 
Loxia  coronata,  304. 

curvirosta,  462. 

c.  balearica,  680. 

dominicana',  304. 

longicauda,  304. 

orix,  304. 

lucidus,    Pbalacrocorax, 

566. 
luebberti,  Lanius,  565. 
lugens,     ffinanthe     1., 

2.58. 

.  Sarotbrura  r.,  120. 

lugubris,  Anthus  r.,  655. 

,  Corydalla,  655. 

-,  Deudropicus,    273, 

295. 
,    Motacilla,    425, 

580. 

,  Parus.  205. 

;  Stephauibyx,  .301. 

,  Turdus  1.,  292. 

Lullula    arborea,    130, 

201,  579,  643,  682. 

a.  arborea,  599. 

pallida,  643. 

luuata.  Sterna,  162. 
lunulata,  Antbocha^ra  c, 

73. 
Lusoiuia    megarhyncba, 

211,692. 

m.    megarhyncba, 

260,  292,  588. 


SCIENTIFIC  NAMES. 


779 


Luscinia  m.  megarliyn- 

chos,  134. 

s.  suecica,  260. 

s.  Volga;,  2H0. 

luscinioides,  Locustellal. 

132,  250. 
Lusciniola,  311. 

melanopogon,  311. 

■ •    m.    melanopogon, 

689. 
lutea,  Myzantha  f.,  73. 
Lybius     h.     bidentatiis, 

281,  296. 

chaplini,  617,  621. 

leucocephalus, 

620. 

rubrifacies,  620. 

V.  rubescens,  295. 


mabirre,       Cuculus       g., 

94. 
luacgillivrayi,     Setosura, 

555. 
Machetes,  313. 
Macbterirliyncluis    tlavi- 

veutei",  556. 

f.  secuiidus,  556. 

Maeleniiauia       ni. 

matliewsi,  56. 
iiiacrodiptenis,   Capri- 

inulgus,  283. 
,  Maerodipteryx,  99, 

296. 
llacrodipteryx       loiigi- 

pennis,  296. 

niacrodipterus,  99, 

296. 

Maoronvx,    c.   oroceus, 

290.  ' 
wintoni,   612,    619, 

621. 
niacronyx,    Biidytes    f., 

170. 
niacroptera,    Procellaria, 

313. 
Macropygia  sumatraniis, 

169. 
macrorhyncha,  Galerida, 

c  ,  396. 
niacrorhynchiis,       Buto- 

rides,  36. 

,  Galerida  c,  640. 

• ,  Turacus,  295. 

niacroscelides,    Astiir  t., 

298. 
Macrospheiius     albigula, 

125. 
concolor,  125,  293. 

f.  aiigolensis,    122, 

125. 


Macrospbeniis    f.    flavi- 
cans,  121,  122,  126. 

f.    liypocbondria- 

cuni,  122,  125. 

t'.   leoninus,    122, 

126. 

f.  ugandie,  123. 

griseiceps,      123, 

126. 

kenipi,    123,    125, 

293. 

kretschnieri,    123, 

125. 

zenkeri,  293. 

macrouriis.  Circus,  366. 
inacrura,  Peuthetriopsis, 

288. 
Diacrurus,  Circus,  217. 
macularia,  Tringa,  312. 
inaciilata,  Aquila,  603. 

,  Erolia,  312. 

,  Galerida   c,  634, 

636,  642. 

,  Trocbilus,  306. 

,  Tyto  a.,  298. 

,  Indicator,  85. 

niaculatus,    Totaiuis, 

594. 

,  Tuniix,  10. 

maculosiis,   Dendromiis, 

295. 

,  Nyctipolus,  569. 

,  Ostinops  d.,  320. 

madagascariensis,    Por- 

phyrio,  386. 
niagellanica,    Apteno- 

dytes,  305. 

,  Pinguinaria,  305. 

magna,  Sitta,  539. 
niagnifiea,   Dipbyllodes, 

4r)5. 
magnirostris.    Spinas   i., 

f79. 
major,  Dryobates,  213. 
, X  D.   leuco- 

notus,  339. 

,  Galerida  t.,  397. 

,    Parus,    205,    613, 

685. 
, ni.,  458,  581, 

6U0. 

,  Platalea,  368. 

,  Upupa  e.,  264. 

Malacuiiotus       cruentus, 

291. 

o.  olivaceus,  291. 

malayeiisis,    Anthus, 

655. 

, r.,  656. 

Malimbus    m.    melano- 

brepbos,  289. 


Malimbus  nifcens,  289. 

r.  bartletti,  289. 

s.  scutatus,  289. 

Malurus  s.  splendens,  60. 
mancburicum,     Crosso- 

ptilon,  9. 
manillensis,  Ardea,  35. 
Mareca   penelope,    44, 

222,  4.39,  517,  706. 
margareti^,  Chersopbiliis, 

d.,  645. 

,  Saxicola  r.,  259. 

marila,  Fuligula,  45. 

,  Fulix,  45, 

,  Nyroca  m.,  460. 

marinus,      Larus,      488, 

714. 
maritima,  Erolia,  312. 

,  Tringa,  443. 

marugli,    Ciieramoeca    1., 

48. 
marungensis,  Tiii-acus  s., 

619,  621. 
masal'uerae,    Pterodroma 

c, 161. 
masters!,  Acanthiza  i.,59. 

,  Etbelornis,  164. 

Mastersornis    concinna, 

556. 

cyanoleucus,  556, 

•  latirostris,  556. 

nitida,  556. 

a.  luiptus,  566. 

n.  robinsuni,  556. 

plumbea,  556. 

rubecula,  566. 

ruficollis,  656. 

matbewsi,   Maclennania 

m.,  56. 
Mattingleya   griseiceps, 

328. 
maiiretanica,    Pica    p., 

391. 
maiiretanicus,   Puffinus 

p.,  676. 
,  Turdus  m,,  .391, 

413. 
maxima,  Ceryle,  619. 
,  Sterna,  280,  282, 

301. 
mecliowi,    Cercococcyx, 

96. 
media,  Gallinago.  443, 

709. 

,  Stipiturus  m.,  62. 

mediterranea,   Acanthis 

c,  129,  391,  403,  577, 

680. 

,  Cardueli.s  c,  243. 

medius,  Anthus,  654. 
, r.,  654. 


780 


INDEX    OF 


medius,  Symposiachrus, 

550. 
megala,  Giillinago,  29. 
Megalestes,  KU. 
Megalornis,  552. 

grus,  384. 

megarhyncha,  Luscinia, 

211,588,692. 
inegarhynchos, m., 

134,  260,  292. 
Melaniparus  u.  guineen- 

sis,  290. 

n.  niger,  621. 

uielanobreplios,  Malim- 

biis  111.,  289. 
Melanobucco  torquatus, 

621. 
nielanocepliala,  Eiiibe- 

riza,  200. 

• ,  Fringilla,  306. 

,  Motacilla  f.,  247. 

,  Sylvia  m.,  252, 

403,  582,  602. 
melanocepliahis.  Ibis,  34. 

,  Laru-s,  714. 

,  P.sittacu.'i,  304. 

Melaiioc()r3'pha  calandra, 

201,  4.57. 
c.  calandra,  410, 

579. 

c.  hebraica,  631. 

Melaiiodryas  c.  westra- 

leiisis,  51. 
luelanogaster,  Otis,   612, 

620. 
melanogriseus,  Motacilla 

f.,  668. 
melanoleuca,   Muscicapa, 

314. 
,  CEuanthe  b.,   134, 

314. 

,  Tringa,  312. 

lueliinoleucus,  Urolestes, 

621. 
Melanoplioyx  ardesiaca, 

285,  300." 
raelanopogon,  Lusciniola, 

311. 

, in.,  689. 

melanops,    Graucalus, 

737. 
melaiioptera,  Glareola, 

378. 
melaiioptcrus,    Stepbani- 

byx  in.,  180. 
Melanopteryx  albinucha, 

289. 

castaiieofuseus,  289. 

fuscucastaneus,  289. 

melanopsia,  Monarcha, 

738. 


melanorbyncba,  Prinia 

in.,  273,  292. 
melanotis,  Milvus,  159. 
nielanura,  Pacbycepliala, 

164. 
melanuroides,  Limosa  1., 

25. 
melba,  Apus  in.,  135. 

,  Mieropiis,  696. 

,    Zouogastris    X 

Estrilda    plicenicotis, 

564. 
meleagri.s,  jN^uiaida,  282, 

302. 
Melicbneutes   sommer- 

feldi,  86. 
Melierax  gabar,  620. 
Melignomon  robiistiis,S6. 

zenkeri,  86. 

Melignutbes    conirostris, 

84. 

exilis,  85. 

Meliornis  n.  gouldi,  73. 

11.  longirostris,  73. 

Melipliaga  v.  hartogi,  72. 

V.  virescens,  72. 

Melitlireptus  a.  leuco- 

genys,  70. 

1.  cbloropsis,  70. 

Melittophagus    bullock- 

oides,  615,  621. 

g.  australis,  102. 

g.  gularis,  297. 

pusillus,  615. 

p.   cyanostictus, 

621. 

p.  pusillus,  297- 

V.  variegatus,  103. 

Melizopbilus    undatus, 

688. 

n.  undatus,  602. 

Melocicbla  in.  inentalis, 

291. 
luelopbilus,  Eritbacus  r., 

429. 
melpoda,  Estrilda,  289. 
mensfieri,  Chloris    c, 

463. 
nientalis,  Graucalus,  738. 

,  Melocicbla  ni.,  291. 

,  Merops  m.,  297. 

Menura  s.  edvvardi,  746. 
merganser,  Mei'gus,  47, 

439,  706. 
Mergclhis     albellus,    47, 

444,  706. 
Mergus  albellus,  47,  222. 
merganser,  47,  439, 

708. 
serrator,  440,  460, 

706. 


meridionalis,    Capri- 

inulgus  e.,  136. 

,  IJelichon,  592. 

,  Qalerida  c,  130, 

642.  ^ 

,  Lanius,  686. 

Meropiscus  g.  australis, 

102. 
Merops  apiaster,   214, 

263,431,403,594,690. 

111.  mentalis,  297. 

luibicoides,  615. 

n.  nubicus,  297. 

•  o.  Cleopatra,  263. 

p.   chrysocercus, 

102,275,281,297. 

p.  persicus,  263. 

merula,    Turdus,    133, 

210,  429,  459,  462,  514, 

691. 

, m.,  602. 

iiiesoleuca,  Ruticilla,  462. 
Mesopicus  elliotti,  84. 

g.  poieepbalus,  294. 

pyrrbogaster,  294. 

xantbolopbus,  84. 

Mesoscolopa.\    miiiutus, 

24. 
Metagraucalus    teiiui- 

rosiris,  738. 
Micrartaiuus  ui.  derbyi, 

63. 
Micropus  affiiiis,  296. 

apus,  214,  431,  695. 

a.  apus,  593. 

X.  lowei,  296. 

nielba,  696. 

ni .  illyricus,  696. 

Micro  rbopias  eiuiliix;,  547. 
Microsarcops  cinereus, 

18. 
niicroscelis,  Dissoura  e., 

300. 
niicrus,    Pycoonotus   t., 

621. 
iniddendorfR,  Aiiser,  41. 
migrans,   Milvus,  316, 

701. 

, m.,  409,  410. 

migratorius,    Ectopistes, 

739. 
niillsi,  Pennula,  SOS. 
Milvus  legyptius,  701. 

1.  formosanus,  553. 

korscbun,  316. 

melanotis,  159. 

migran.s,  316,  701. 

milvus,  218,  701. 

m.  itgyptius,  366. 

in.     migrans,     409, 

410. 


SCIENTIFIC  NAMES. 


781 


Milvns  m.  parasitus,  282 

299,  620. 
minilya,   Apbeloceplmla 

c,  65. 
minor,  iigrodroma  c, 
646. 

,  Attageii,  3o. 

,  iEgialitis,  20. 

,  Cygmis,  38. 

,  Dryobates,  459. 

,  Lanius,  206,  248. 

■ ,  Pyrrluila  p.,  334. 

niinos,  Corviis  c,  128, 

628,  629. 
iiiinusculus,  Euphagus  c, 

339. 
niinuta,  Erolia,  312,  381, 
537,  709. 

,  Sterna,  449,  519, 

715. 
minutilla,  Erolia,  312. 
miniitus,  Antielironius 
ni.,  291. 

,  Ixobrvcliiis,  370. 

,  Lams",  448,  714. 

,  Mesoscolopas,  24. 

,  Numenius,  24. 

,  Rallus,  308. 

mirabilis,     Passerher- 

bulus,  548. 
Mirafra     b.    ^voodwardi, 

74. 
mitrata,  Nuniida,  617. 

, c,  620. 

,  Parus,  581. 

moabiticus,  Passer,  543. 
modestn.s,  Bradyornis  m., 

294. 
niodularis,    Accentor, 
212,  462,  509,  693. 

,  Prunella,  459. 

,  ni.,  591. 

moeritica,   Galerida  c, 

245,  636. 
juomus,  Sylvia  ni.,  252. 
nionaclia,  ffinantbe,  259. 
nionacbns,  ^^gy  pius,  368. 

,  Centropus,  (i21. 

,  Necrosyrtes  m., 

277,  299. 

,  Viiltur,  221,698. 

Monarcha   melanopsis, 
738. 

m.  cauescens,  738. 

Monarcbana,  556. 
monediila,  Corvus,  192, 

575. 
mongolicns,  iEgialitis,  19. 

,  Ocbtbodronius,  19. 

nionogranimicus,  KaiqDi- 
falco  m.,  276,  299. 

SKR.  XI. VOL.  III. 


montaiuis,   Passer,  198, 

679. 

,  ni.,  598. 

nionteiri,  Hiruudo  s., 

621. 
Monticola  cyaneus,  691. 
saxatilis,  256,  458, 

692. 

solitaria,  587. 

s.  pandoo,  566. 

s.  solitarius,  133. 

s.  transcaspicns,  256. 

nioiitifringilla,  Fi'ingilla, 

198,  457,  680. 
montrosa,  Lamprocorax, 

738. 
Morgauornis    s.    aslibyi, 

55. 

3.  gwendolenaj,  55. 

morinelliis,  Cbaradrins, 

380,  727. 

,  Eiidromias,  446. 

Moi'pliiiarcbus  princeps, 

332. 
Morus,  552. 
mossanibicus,  Lanarius 

£e.,  621. 
Motacilla  alba,  204,  425, 

683. 
a.  alba,  247,  458, 

579,  600. 

boarnla,  204,  462. 

cantillans,  310. 

cinerea,  425,  683. 

c.  cinerea,  247,  401, 

580,  599. 

feldegg,  314. 

feldeggi,  314. 

flava,  458,  664. 

t'.  beema,  665. 

f.  borealis,  684. 

f.  campestris,  666. 

f.  cinereocapilla, 

666. 
f.  dombrowskii, 

665. 

f.  feldegg,  667. 

f.  flava,  204,  247, 

580,  665,  684. 
f.  leucocepbala, 

667. 
•  f.  nielanocepbala. 

247. 
f.  melanogriseus, 

668. 
f.  pygmsea,  247, 

667. 

f.  rayi,  204. 

f.  tbunbergi,  665. 

gularis,  305. 

hispanica,  314. 


Motacilla     bvpoleuca, 
311.  ^^ 

liigubris,  425,  580. 

raii,  425. 

striata,  310. 

tlioracica,  306. 

vidua,  289. 

mouki,  Etbelornis,  164 
uioussieri,  Diplootocus, 

392,  404. 
muiilei,  Galerida  c  ,  170. 
niiilleri,  CeLtia  c,  170. 
multicolor,    Cbloro- 

phoneus,  291. 
mnngi,  Lichenostomus  k., 

72. 
Munia  p.  particeps,  332. 
murgbi,  Gallus  f.,  332. 
nuirinus,  Apus  ni.,  262. 
murmensis,  Atiopopelia 

t.,  552. 
murrayi,  Porzana,  308. 
Muscicapa  albicollaris, 
249. 

ati-icapilhi,  311, 

430. 

a.  atricapilla,  591. 

coilaris,  694. 

grisola,  310,  430, 

516. 

g.  grisola,  591. 

bypoleuca,213,31], 

•  h.  bypoleuca,  249. 

melauolenca,  314. 

parva,  314. 

striata,  212,  305, 

310. 

s.  neumanni,  671. 

s.  striata,  132,  249. 

671. 
Muscifur  semirufus,  544. 
Musciti'ea  simplex,  328. 
nnisicus,  Turdus,  175, 
506,  690. 

,  Bias,  294. 

Musopbaga  violacea,  295. 
Myiadestes  townseudi, 

336. 
Myiagra,  555. 
Myiarcbiis,  544. 
iiiyponga,  Pacbycephala 

p.,  164. 
Myrmopagis  paraensis, 

560. 
Myzantba  f.  lutea,  73. 

naevia,  Ardea,  306,  309. 
,  Locustella  n., 

584. 
namaqua,  Pteroclurus, 

611. 

3f 


782 


INDEX    OF 


uainaqiuis,  Tliripias,  G16 

621. 
nana,  Seisura  i.,  556. 
-^,  Turnix,  302. 
nasutus,  Lophoceros  n., 

296. 
natalensis,  Cisticola  u., 

621. 
natronensis,  Prinia  g., 

255. 
naumanni,  Falco,  218. 

, n.,  364,  603. 

neboiixi,  Siila,  331. 
nebuliirius,  Triiiga,  224, 
312,  382,  710. 

,  Totanus,  300,  444. 

Necrosyrtesin.iuoiiachus. 

277, 299. 
neglecta,  Hyloclielidon 
n.,  49. 

,  Pterodocys  m.,  53. 

neglectus,  Anser,  739. 

,  Coloeus,  532. 

,  Eurystunius  g., 

104. 
Neophron  percnoptenis, 
220,  699. 

p.  percnopterus, 

368,  409. 

pileatus,  620. 

Neositta  p.  broomi,  66. 
Neostrepera  y.  plumbea, 

80. 
Netta  rufina,  372,  460, 

705. 
Nettion  crecca,  44. 

forinosum,  44. 

neiimanni,  Antluis  l.,659. 

,  Faleo,  702. 

,  Muscicapa  s.,  671. 

newtoni,  Parus  m.,  427. 
Nicator  c.  ehloris,  291. 
nicholsoni,  Anthiis,  651. 

__, -8.,  65]. 

iiicolli,Auiinoperclix,387. 
niger,  Limiidcoras,  308. 

,  Melanipariis  n., 

621. 

,  Rallus,  307. 

nigra,  Oiconia,  35,  333. 

,  Hydrochelidon. 

225,  301,  715. 

,  aSdemia,  439. 

,  Rallus,  306,  307. 

,  Thamnolsea,  621. 

nigricans,  Coccothraustes 
c,  463. 

,  Galerida  c,  245, 

634,  635,  (-42. 
nigriceps,  Trliitrea,  294. 
nigricollis,  Podiceps,  48, 
226,717. 


nigrifrons,    Penelope, 

179. 
nigripennis,  Oriolns,  287. 

,  Pavo,  725. 

Nigrita  bicolor,  289. 

eniilia%  289. 

nigrit.eniporalis,  Nilaiis 

a.,  621. 
nikolski,  Fringilla  c, 

463. 
Nilans  a.  nigritempora.lis, 

621. 
nilotica,  Gelocbelidon, 

715. 
nilotieus,  Laniug  s., 
131,  248,  6(;8. 

,  Passer  d.,  243, 

630. 
Ninox  s.  scutellata,  749. 
nippon,  Nipponia,  34. 
]Slipponia  nippon,  34. 
Nisaetiis  I'asciatns,  700. 

pennatas,  700. 

nisiis,   Accipiter,   217, 
435,701. 

, n.,  366. 

nitens,  Malimbiis,  289. 
nitida,  Mastersornis, 

556. 
nivalis,  Plectroplienax, 

425. 
niveigiittata,  Lagono- 

stieta,  621. 
nivosus,  Dendronius  n., 

295. 
noctua,  Carine,  216,  698. 
Noun  Ilia  aiuaurocephala, 

547. 
norrisa?,  Sylvia  m.,  252. 
notata,  Cbrysoptilus  p., 

157. 
nova,  Chlaiiiydera  m., 

75. 
novffibollandire,  Grauca- 

lus,  737. 
noviinexicana.  Anas, 

177. 
nubica,  Galerida  c,  636, 

637,  640. 
nnbicoides,  Merops,  615 
nubicus,  Lanius,  248. 

,  Merops  n..  297. 

nncbale,  Syniimn,  298. 
nucbalis,  Nystalus  ni., 

157. 
Numenius  arquatus,  24, 
224,444,518,710. 

a.  arquatus,  279, 

282,  300,  382,  607. 

cyanopus,  24. 

lineatus,  24. 

minutus,  24. 


Nuuienius  plueopus,  24, 
445,711. 

p.  phseopus,  279, 

282,  300. 

p.  variegatus,  24. 

tahitiensis,  24. 

tenuirostris,  607, 

711. 
Nam  i da  c.  niitrata,  620. 

lueleagris,  282,  302. 

mitrata,  617. 

nuptus,  Mastersornis  n., 

556. 
nyassffi,  Antluis,  612. 

, n.,  651. 

, s.,  621,  651. 

Nyctala  funerea,  316. 

tengniahni,  316. 

nyctheraerus,  Gennreus, 

'  545. 
Nj'ctiardea  nycticorax, 

36. 
Nvcticorax  caledonicus, 
745. 

leueonotus,  110. 

nycticorax,  309, 

620, 707. 

n.  nvcticorax,  300, 

370. 
nycticorax,  Nyctiardea, 

36. 
Nyctipolus  niaculosus, 

560. 
Nyroea  i'erina,  222,  705. 

f'errugiuea,  175. 

fuligula,  222,  373, 

460,  606,  705. 

f.  fpriiia,  372,  460. 

f.  t'erinoides,  553. 

m.  niarila,  460. 

nyroea,  175,  705. 

n.  nyroea,  372. 

nyroea,  Fulix,  45. 
Nystalus  ni.  nucbalis, 
157. 

obseura,  Cyauoraitra, 

290 
,  Psalidoprocne, 

294 

,  Wbitloeka  r.,  69. 

obscurus,  Parus  c,  427. 
obsoleta,  Riparia  o., 

261. 
occidentale,  Sphenostoma 

c,  66. 
occidentalis,  Estrilda  a., 

289. 

,  Larus,  31. 

,  Leggeornis  1.,  61. 

' ,  Liclieiicstouuis    c., 

;        72. 


SCIENTIFIC    NAMES. 


783 


occidentalis,  ffinanthe, 
314. 

,  Pacbycephala  p., 

62. 

,  Smicrornis  b.,  51. 

Oceanodrorua  tristrami, 

3.37. 
ocellata,    Agrioclioris, 

175. 
ocliropus,  Totanus,  25. 

,  Tringa.  139,  221, 

312,  382,  607,  710. 
Ochthodromus  asiatiens, 
620. 

geoffi'oyi,  19. 

mongolicus,  19. 

veredus,  19. 

ocnlaria,  Sitagra,  621. 
oculatus,  Zonjeginthiis, 

74. 
oculens,  Canirallus,  111. 
(Edemia  nigra,  439. 
QCdicnemus  oedicnemus, 

441,708. 
cedicneraus,    Burhimis, 
224. 

, oe.,  600. 

CEnanthe    aniphileuca, 
314. 

deserti,  533. 

d.  albifrons,  257. 

d.  deserti,  2.57. 

hispanica,  212,  314, 

693. 

h.  hispanica,  410, 

590. 

b.  melanoleiica, 

134,  314. 

b.  xantbomeljsna, 

257. 

• isabellina,  258. 

leueopyga,  259. 

1.  cypriaca,  257. 

1.  halopbila,  410. 

1.  leueura,  590. 

1.  lugens,  2.58. 

1.  syenitica,  410. 

monarcha,  259. 

m.  fiiiscbi,  258. 

occidentalis,  314. 

(Enantbe,  211,  257, 

429,  693. 

oe.  leueorrlioa,  292, 

693. 

ce.  oenantbe,  590. 

ce.  seebohnii,  408. 

oe.  virago,  133. 

stapazina,  314. 

oenas,  Coluniba,  226,  606, 

718. 
, (s.,  374. 


Q^nopopplia  t.  murmen- 

sis,  .552. 
ogliastr.T,  Pariis  c,  131, 

581. 
Oidemia  carbo,  46. 

fusca,  46. 

olivacea,  Lanipribis,  108, 

110,  609. 
olivacens,  Malaconotuso., 
291. 

,  Tiuiixos,  328. 

oliviniis,  Cercococcyx  m., 

99. 
omoensis,    Antbiis    g., 
062. 

, 1.  062. 

onocrotalus,    Pclecaniis, 

299,  704. 
Onycliiignatbus    bart- 

laiibi,  288. 
opaca,  Hypolais  p.,  585. 
Opbryzone  lorealis,  556. 
optatus,  Cuciihis,  360. 
Oreoica    g.    westralensis, 

65. 
orientalis,    Cinclus    c, 
170. 

,  Glareola,  18. 

,  Halcyon,  619,621. 

,  Pariis  c,  458. 

,  Pterocles,  234. 

,  Turtur,  3. 

Oriolus  auratus,  287. 

consobrinus,  .539. 

—  gularis,  306. 

1.  rolleti,  287. 

nigripennis,  287. 

oriolus,  196,  678. 

•  o.  oriolus,  40.5. 

pictiis,  306. 

trifasciatii'i,  307. 

orix,  Loxia,  304. 
ornatiis,    Lichenostomus 

o.,  72. 
Oroaetus  isidori,  331. 
Orocetes    erytbrogaster, 

539. 
Orodytes  celebensis,  738. 
orpbea,  Sylvia,  688. 
Ortygospiza  a.   ansorgei, 

288. 
Ortyxelos,  569. 
osculans,    Hasmatopus, 

21. 
Ostinops    dccunianus, 
320,  321. 

d.  maculosus,  320. 

ostralegiis,    Ha;uiatopus, 

446,  619,  713. 
ostriniis,  Pyrenestes,  285. 
Otis  afroides.  Oil. 


Otis  cserulescens,  611. 

dybowskii,  14. 

indica,  305,  309. 

k.    struthiunculiis, 

270. 
melanogaster,  612, 

620. 

tarda,  14,  223,  463. 

tetrax,  223. 

Otocoris  a.  sierra;,  339. 
Otiis    1.    leucotis,    276, 

298. 

scops,  698. 

s.  powelli,  1.36. 

s.  seops,  396. 

otus,  Asio,  433,  697. 
Oxyecbiis  forbesi,  301. 

vocifevus,  177. 

V.  peruvianiis,  177. 

Pacbycephala  interjecta, 
164. 

melanura,  164. 

pectoralis,  164. 

peninsnUe,  328. 

p.  bettingtoni,  164. 

p.  niyponga,  164. 

p.  occidentalis,  52. 

robiista,  164. 

r.  intercedens,  164. 

Pacbycoceyx  validus,  95. 
Pachypbantes   s.     super- 

cibosiis,  289. 
palsestinte,    Columba    1., 
137. 

,  Pycnouotus  x.,  670. 

pallasi,  Pbasianus  c,  8. 
pallescens,    Oorvus    c  , 
628,  629. 

,    Pyrrbolffimus  b., 

60. 
pallida,  Alcedo  i.,  360. 

,  Dryinodes  b.,  54. 

,  Gralerida  c,  579. 

,  Hippolais,  132. 

,  p.,  251. 

,  Leptastbenura  sd., 

748. 

,  Lulliila,  643. 

pallidas,  Cypseliis,  240. 

,  Pardalotus  r.,  70. 

pahnarum,     Dinopiuni, 

740. 
palpebrosa,    Pseiidogery- 

gone,  164. 
palumbarius,  Astur,  462. 
palumbus,  Columba,  138, 

226, 452, 517, 718. 
palustris,    Acrocepliabi.a, 

685,  729. 
,  Eiuberiza,  682. 

3f2 


784 


INDEX  OF 


Pandion  lialiaetus,  703. 
h.   baliaiiLus,    277, 

299,  3iu. 
pandoo,    Moiiticola   s., 

566. 
Papiialestes  cyaiius,  164. 
paradisea,      Steganui-a, 

288. 

,  Sterna,  448. 

paradoxus,   Syrrhaptes, 

4. 
paraensis,  Mynuopagis, 

560. 
Paragraucaliis  lineatus, 

738. 
paraguae,  Anthreptes  m.. 

332. 
parasitus,    Milvus    in., 

282,  299,  620. 
Pardalotus  r.   pallidas, 

70. 

p.  whitlocki,  70. 

s.  westralieusis,  70. 

Paveplithianura  t.  assinii- 

lis,  56. 
parsoni,  Cliniaeteris,  748. 
particeps,  Munia  p.,  332. 
Parus  ater,  685. 
casruleiis,  205,  514, 

685. 

hudsonicus,  305. 

c.  baleariciis,  685. 

c.  harterti,  581. 

c.  obscurus,  427. 

c.    ogliastrj^,    131, 

581. 

c.  orientalis,  458. 

c.  scoticus,  581. 

c.    ultramarinus, 

392,  403. 

c.  weigoldi,  581. 

lugubris,  205. 

major,   205,   513, 

685. 

miti-atus,  581. 

m.  excelsus,  580. 

m.  major,  458,  581, 

600. 

m.  newtoni,  427. 

m.    peloponnesus, 

131. 

varius,  749. 

parva,  Oarduelis  c,  678. 

-,  Muscicapa,  314. 

,  Porzana,  384,  385, 

717. 

,  Tacbornis,  621. 

parvii'rons,   Gallinula  c, 

12. 
parvirostris,  Graucalus, 

737. 


parvii'ostris,  Pterodroma, 

177. 
pascbaj,    Pterodroma  b., 

162. 
Passer  alexandrinus,  630. 

arboreus,  630. 

doniesticus,    198, 

390,  423,  513,  679. 
— —  d.  biblicus,  629. 
d.  biblicus  X  trans- 

caspicus,  630. 

d.  cbephreni,  630. 

— —  d.  cloinesticus,  457, 

577,  598,  629. 

d.  iluekigeri,  390. 

d.  balfifi,  630. 

d.  indicus,  629. 

d.   niloticus,   243, 

630. 

d.  tingitanus,  390, 

402. 

bispaniolensis,  199. 

b.    bispaniolensis, 

243,  390,  402,  631. 
b.    transcaspicus, 

631. 

b.    transcaspicus 

X  P.  d.  biblicus,  630. 

indicus,  630. 

italiaj,    130,    390, 

631,679. 

moabiticus,  543. 

montanus,  198,  679. 

m.  montanus,  598. 

Passerella  iliaca,  558. 
Passerberbulus     mira- 

bilis,  548. 

m.  howelli,  548. 

m.  juncicola,  548. 

pastinator,    Corvus   f., 

537. 
Patagona  gigas,  335. 
patagoiiica,  Aptenodytes, 

305. 
patagonicus,    Spizitornis 

p.,  325. 
Pavo  nigripennis,  725. 
pavonina,  Balearica,  708. 
paykulli,  Amanrornis,  12. 
pectoralis,     Graucalus, 

293,  621. 

,  Pacbycepbala,  164. 

pelagica,    Procellaria, 

139. 
,    Tbalassidronia, 

449,  716. 
pelagicus,  Pbalacrocorax, 

33. 

,  Tbalassoaetus,  178. 

Peleeanoides,  330. 
. exul,  162. 


Pelecanopus,  554. 
Pelecanus   onocrotalus, 

299,  704. 

o.  sbarpei,  278. 

tbagus,  331. 

— -  sp.,  278,  299,  373. 
pelegrinoides,    Falco  p., 

363. 
peli,  Scotopelia,  620. 
peloponnesus,  Parus  m., 

131. 
Penelope  nigrifi'ons,  179. 
penelope.  Anas,  372,  460, 

6U6. 
,    Mareca,    44,   222, 

439,  517,  705. 
Peneuionarcba   axillaris, 

556. 
Peneaniantbe    leucura, 

329. 

pulverulenta,  .329. 

peninsula;,  Pacbycepbala, 

328. 
penuatns,  Nisaetua,  700. 
i'ennula  ecaudata,  308. 

mills),  308. 

sandwicbens's, 

308. 
Pentbetriopsis  niaorura, 

288. 
Pentbolffia  frontal  is,  292. 
Peronobierax    leucor- 

rbous,  332. 
percnopterus,  Neophron, 

220,  699. 
,  Keopbron  p.,  368, 

409. 
Perdix  barbara,  313. 

barbata,  10. 

daurica,  10. 

■ perdix,  227,  521. 

petrosa,  313. 

peregrinus,    Falco,    136, 

218,    362,    435,   459, 

701. 
peregrinoides,    Falco, 

737. 
Perisoreus    c.    albescens, 

331. 
permistus,    Dendromus, 

84. 
Pernis  a.  apivorus,  367. 
perplexus,    Corvus    c, 

79. 
persa,  Turacus,  561. 
persicus,  Merops  p.,  263. 
personata,     Cauipbel- 

lornis,  63. 
peruvianus,   Crocomor- 

phus  f.,  157. 
,  Oxyecbus  v.,  177. 


SCIENTIFIC  NAMES. 


785 


Petroica  m.    caiupbelli, 

49. 
Petronia    petionia,    199, 

680. 
petrosa,  Perdix,  313. 
petrosus,  Antluis,  426. 
Phreoaetus     limnaetus, 

332. 
phsBopus,  Niiiuenius,  24, 

445,711. 
, P-,  279,  282, 

300. 
Phalacrocorax  africamis, 

299,  020. 
•  carbo,  33,  137,  221, 

43B,  460,  703. 

c.  carbo,  W6. 

graculus,  437,  460. 

g.  desmai'esti,  703. 

liicidiis.  566. 

pelagicus,  33. 

pygmseus,  221. 

Plialaropus      fulicarius, 

111,441. 

lobatus,  331. 

Phasianus  colchicus,  227. 

c.  karpowi,  5. 

— '■ —  c.  pallasi,  8. 

torquatus,  5. 

Philadelphia,  Larus,  177. 
philippensis,      Podiceps 

m.,  47. 
Pliiloinachus      pugnax, 

313,  382,  709. 
philomelos,  Turdus,  210, 

690. 
,    p.,     256, 

403. 
Phlegoenas      tristigmata, 

738. 
Phoebetria,  554. 
phoenicea,    Carapophaga, 

273,  294. 
Phoeiiicopterus      anti- 
quorum,  371,388,  605. 
pha?niL'otis,      I']sti-ilda  X 

Zonogastris  tuelba,  564. 
Phoeniculus    e.    senega- 

leusis,  297. 

purpui'eus,  307. 

phocnicura,  Ammomanes, 

633. 
phcenicuroides,  Lanius  c, 

669. 
Pboenicurus      gibraltari- 

ensis,  210,  692. 
o.     gibraltariensis, 

259,   429,   459,    688, 

603. 
pboenicurus,       210, 

210,  429,  692. 


Pliceuicurus  ]1.  pliccnic-u- 

rus,  259,  588. 
Pbolidornis   r.    ussheri, 

290. 
Phyllastreplius  icterinus, 

293. 

kretzschineri,  563. 

simplex,  273,  293. 

Phylloscopus      bonelii, 

250,  (iOO. 

b.  bonelii,  .586. 

collybita,  208,  428, 

689. 

c.  abietinus,  249. 

c.  collybita,    249, 

686,601. 

sibilatris,  587,  689. 

s.  erlangeri,  251. 

9.  sibilatrix,  251. 

trochilu.s,  209,  250, 

428,  689. 
t.   trochilus,    292, 

585,  601. 
Pica  pica,  195,  421. 

p.  niauretanica,  391. 

p.  pica,  598. 

Picathartes       gymno- 

cephalus,  287. 
picta,  Ispidina  p.,  298. 
pictiis.  Oriolus,  306. 
Picus  m.  pinetorura,463. 
• •  quadrimaculata, 

306. 

rubricollaris  i.,  349. 

viridis,  213. 

V.  dofleini,  170. 

V.  limitans,  740. 

Piezorhvnchus        alecto, 

556.  ■ 
pilaris,  Turdus,  210,  256, 

428,  459,  602,  691. 
pileata,  Campicola,  621. 
,  Pyrrhula    p.,    334, 

423. 
pileatus,  Neopliron,  620. 
pinetorum,    Pieus    m., 

463. 
Pinguinaria  cirrhata,306. 

niagellanica,  305. 

pinus,    Helmiathophila, 

325. 
Pipilo  f.  aripolius,  337. 
pis<cator,  Sula,  173. 
Pitta  pulih,  283,  294. 
placens,       GennjEodryas, 

164. 
placida,  jEgialitis,  19. 
plancus,  Kulco,  305. 
Platalea    leucorodia,  34, 

223,   305,    368,    440, 

707. 


Platalea  major,  368. 
platycircus,    Turdoid.es, 

293. 
platypterus,  Buteo,  307. 
platyrhyncha,  Anas,  605, 
704. 

, p.,  371,  460. 

,  Tringa,  28. 

platyrhynchos,  Anas,  137. 
Platysteira  c.  cyauea,  281, 

294. 
Plectrophenax   nivalis, 

425. 
Plectropterus  gainbensis, 

620. 
Plegadis     autunnialis, 

299. 
falciuellus,    299, 

707. 

f.  falciuellus,  369. 

Plesiodryas,  164. 
plumbea,     Mastersornis, 

55('.. 
,  plumbea,  Neostre- 

pera,  80. 
plumbescens,  Haplopelia 

s.,  121. 
Pluvialis,  313. 

aurea,  313. 

Pluvianus  regyptius,  301. 
Podica    s.     senegalensis, 

300. 
Podiceps     auritus,    451, 

717. 
cristatus,   48,    225, 

451,552,  716. 

c.  cristatus,  460. 

fluviatilis,  311,  652, 

594. 
griseigena,     226, 

717. 

m.  philippensis,  47. 

nigricollis,  48,  226, 

717. 
ruficollis,  311,  389, 

717. 

r.  eapensis,  373. 

r.  japonicus,  652. 

— —  r.  ruficollis,  461. 
podiueps,  Colymbus,  315. 
Poecilodryas      cervini- 

ventris,  164. 

superciliosa,  164. 

poensis.  Bubo,  298. 
Pogoniulus    chrysopyga, 

295. 

c.  rhodesice,  621. 

erythronota,  295. 

s.  scolopaceus,  295. 

poicephalus,    Mesopicus 

g.,  294. 


786 


INDEX  OF 


polatzeki,    Galerida  t., 

6S3. 
poliocejDbala,    Alethe   p., 

21)2. 

,  Talacoma,  613,  621. 

poliocephalus,  Prionops, 

621. 
f)olionota,    Lagonosticta, 

288. 
Polioptila    giiianensis, 

56U. 
polyglotta,    Hippolais, 

312. 

,  Hypolais,  585. 

polyzouoides,    Astur    b., 

620. 
Poniatostouius  t.  rubecu- 

lus,  55. 
pontilis,  Jiinco  o.,  337. 
Poodytes  g.  tlioniasi,  57. 
PorpLiyrio  alleni,  301. 

ca3ruleus,  718. 

madagascariensis, 

386. 
Porzaiia  atra,  308. 

Carolina,  341. 

cinereiceps,  332. 

luurrayi,  308. 

parva,384,3S5,717. 

— —  porzaua,   451,   608, 

717. 

pusilla,  12,  717. 

pygina'a,  12. 

p.  intermedia,  384. 

385, 451. 

tabuensis,  307. 

powelli,  Otiis  s.,  136. 
prasina,  llylia,  273,  202. 
pratensis,   Antbns,     205, 

246,    42C),    458,     516, 

680,  599,  684. 
pratincola,  Glareola,  594, 

611,  708. 

, p..  377. 

preissi,  llbipidura  f.,  53. 
prineeps,     Loucopteniis. 

332. 
,    Moi'phnarchus, 

332. 
Prinia  g.  deltse,  255. 

g.  natronensis,  255. 

g.  gracilis,  254. 

ni.   melanorhyncLa, 

273,  292. 
Prionops    poliocepbalus, 

621. 
Procellaria  alba,  176. 

macroptera,  ol.'l. 

pelagif-a,  139. 

Prooelsterna    c.    skotts- 

berfrii,  162. 


Prodotisciis  eniini,  87- 

insignis,  87. 

Progne  subis,  172. 
Proiuerops       purpureus, 

306. 
prouierops,  Upupa,  304. 
Prcseisura  kaupi,  556. 
prospbora,  Fi'aseria,  291. 
l-'runella  niodularis,  459. 

ni.  niodularis,  591. 

primus,  Anthus  g.,  663. 
Psalidoprocne    obscura, 

294. 
Pseudogerygoue     palpe- 

brosa,  164. 
Pseudogyps      africanus, 

616,  620. 
Psendotadoriia    cristata, 

749. 
Psittacus      atiicapillus, 

301. 

anrantius,  304. 

e.  timneb,  275, 282, 

298. 

guineensis,  305. 

nielanoceplialus, 

304. 

solstitialis,  304. 

Ptei'iiistes  crancbi,   613, 

()19,  620. 

swainsoni,  612,  620. 

Pterocles  ooronatus,  375. 
exustus,  375. 

g.  saturatior,  620. 

orien^alis,  234. 

senpgalensis,  375. 

• Senegal] ns,  234, 375. 

s.  floweri,  569. 

Pteroclurns      namaqua, 

611 
Ptej-odronia,  313. 

c.  masafuerae.  161. 

bypoleuca,  337. 

b.  pasclia3,  162. 

parvirostris,  177. 

Pteronetta      cyanoptera, 

299. 

liartlaubi,  108. 

b.  albifrons,  108. 

Pteropodocys,  737. 

■ ni.  neglucta,  53. 

Ptilopacbus    f.    t'uscus, 

302. 
Ptilotis      gerakUoiiensis, 

746. 
Ptilotula  p.  carteri,  72. 
pubescens,  Caccabis  c,  9. 
Pucrasia  santliosijila,  8. 
puella,  Batis,  621. 

,  Calopelia,  301. 

Puflinns  gravis,  450. 


Puffinus  kubli,  225,  676, 

716. 
puffinus,  450. 

p.     mauretanicus, 

676. 

p.    yelkouan,  109, 

716. 

yelkonan,  676. 

pugnax,      Pbilomachus, 

382,  709. 

,  Tringa,  313. 

pulcbra,  Crex,  115. 
,      Sarotbrura      p., 

115. 
pulib,  Pitta,  283,  294. 
puUarius,    Agaporuis  p., 

298. 
pulverulenta,    Penoenan- 

tlie,  329. 
Pumella  a.  albifrons,  71. 
punic'us,  Falco,  737. 
purpurea,  i^rdeii,  35,  222, 

369,  440,  516,  706. 
purpureus,    Pboeniculus, 

301. 

,  PromerojDs,  306. 

pusilla,  Eremoniela,  292. 

,  Poi'zaiia,  12,  717. 

pusillus,    Melittopbagus, 

615. 
,  Melittopbagu.s    p., 

297. 
Pvcnoiiotus    b.    arsinoe, 
"249. 

b.    barbatus,     401, 


403. 


b.    iuornatus,    273, 

293. 

c.  reicbenowi,  670. 

c.  vallombros£e,  670. 

t.  niicrus,  621. 

x.  palijestinaB,  670. 

pygargus.    Circus,     217, 

366,  433,  604,  699. 
pygmtea,  Motacilla,  247. 

,  Motacilla  1'.,  667. 

■ ,  Porzana,  12. 

pygmseus,    Pbalacrocrax, 

221. 
pyrenaicus,  Lagopus  m., 

552. 
Pyrenestes  ostrinus,  285. 

o.  coccineus,  288. 

Pyronielaiia  afra,  288. 

h.  liordacea,  288. 

flamniiceps,  288. 

xantbonielwna,  621. 

Pyrrbocorax,  311. 
gracukis,  311. 

pyrrbocorax,    128, 

421,  677. 


SCIENTIFIC   NAMES. 


787 


liyrrliocorax,      Upupa, 

■311. 
pjrrbogaster,  Mesopicus, 

294. 
Pyrrliola'inus  b.   jjalles- 

ceiis,  00. 
Pjrrbula  pyrrhula,  198. 

p.  germaniea,  334. 

p.  minor,  334. 

p.  pileata,  334,  423. 

p.  pyrrluila,  334. 

Pyrrhulauda  australis, 

612. 


quadribrachys,  Alcedo  q., 

298. 
quadrimaculata,  Picus, 

306. 
Qiielea  erjtbrops,  288. 
Querquedula  circia,  44. 
crecca,  44,  439, 617, 

70r.. 

hartlaubi,  108. 

querquedula,  222, 

705. 
querquedula,  Anas,  371. 
quiscaliua,  Cani])Opliaga, 

294. 
quoyi,  Eopsaltria  g.,  329. 
Quoyornis  gourgianus, 

61,  329. 


raalteni,  Antluis,  (>57. 

. ,  1-.,  657. 

rabieri,   Gecinus,  349, 

350. 
radiata,  Oompsoenas,  738. 

,  Zonopbaps,  738. 

rail,  Motacilla,  425. 
ralloiiles,  Ardeola,  370, 

707. 
Rallus  aquaticus,  451, 

717. 

a.  aquaticus,  384. 

cinnamonieus,  115. 

carinatus,  308. 

ecaudatus,  300, 

308. 

■ flaviventris,  332. 

indicus,  12. 

miuutus,  308. 

niger,  307. 

nigra,  306,  307. 

tabuensis,  308. 

rania,  Hypolais,  252. 
ranierensis,  Lagopus  1., 

339. 
rara,  Lauipribis,  108, 609. 
rayi,  Molacilla  f.,  204. 


Ilecurvi rostra  avocetta, 

22,711. 

■  a.  avosetta,  380. 

reevesi,  Syrinaticus,  8. 
Rcgillus,  315. 
regulorum,  Ealearica, 

018,  620. 
Regulus  cristatus,  402. 

ignicapillus,  685. 

i.   ignicapillus,  680, 

600. 

regulus,  205,  420. 

r.  regulus,  600,  085. 

regulus,  Ammonianes  p., 

634. 

,  Faico,  316. 

reicbenowi,  Galerida  c, 

397. 

,  Pycnonotua  c,  670. 

.  Sarotbrura  e.,  112, 

113. 
,  Trocbocercus  n,, 

294. 
rendalli,  Lagouosticta  s., 

621. 
Rex,  315. 
Ilbanipbastos    indicus, 

307. 
Klianipboctelus  c.  cen- 
tralis, 325. 
Rbinoptilus    africanus. 

Oil. 

cbalcopterus,  620. 

Rbipidura  tlabellifera, 

555. 

• 1'.  preissi,  63. 

rhipidurus,  Oorvus,  158. 
rbodesite,  Pogonulus  c, 

621. 
Rliopocbares       eocba- 

bauibie,  547. 
Rbyacopbilus  glareola, 

278,  282,  300. 
Rbyncbica   bengalensis, 

383. 

capensis,  30. 

Rbynebops   llavirostris, 

620. 
ricbardi,  Antbus,  651. 

, r..  246,  662. 

ridibundus,   Cbroico- 

cepbalus,  30. 
,  Larus,  30,  225. 

384,448,461,499,608, 

714,760. 
Riparia    o.     obsoleta, 

261. 
riparia,  213,  431, 

695. 

rupestris,  135,  695. 

r.  liltoralis,  261. 


Riparia  r.  riparia,  261, 

294,  593. 

r.  rupestris,  593. 

risoria,  Streptopelia,  220. 
risorius,  Turtur,  3. 
Rissa  tridactyla,  448. 
robini,  Etbelornis,  163. 
robinsoni,  Mastersornis 

u.,  666. 
robusta,    Pacbjcephala, 

164. 
robustus, Ceriocleptes  S(). 

,  Grraucalus,737,738. 

,  Meliguonion,  80. 

roger:?i,  Seisura  i.,  656. 
roUeti,  Oriolus  1.,  287. 
rosea,  Columba,  307. 
Rostratula  capensis,  30. 
rotliscbildi,  Fregata  m., 

320. 

,  Lauipribis,  110. 

rubecula,  Eritbacus,  211, 

401,  616. 
, r.,  260,  403, 

469,  688,  603,  692. 

' ,  Mastersornis,  656. 

rubeculus,    Poniato- 

stouuis  t.,  55. 
rubeseens,  Lybius  v.,  295. 
rubetra,    Saxicola,   211, 

429,  689,  693. 
— , r.,  259,  292, 

002. 
riibicola,  Saxicola,  211, 

429,  693. 

, r.,  589. 

, t.,  134,  269, 

603. 
rubiculoides,    Master- 
sornis, 666. 
rubiginosus,  Calauiantlnis 

c.,  66. 
rubra,  Coretbrura,  332. 

,  Tbryocrex,  332. 

rubriceps,  Auaplectes, 

621. 
rubricoUaris,  Picus,  1, 

349. 
rubril'acies,  lybius,  020. 
rubrirostris,  A  user  a.,  39. 
rudis,  Ceryle  r.,  276,  297> 

359. 
rueppelli,  Sylvia,  262. 
rufa,  Caccabis  r.,  608. 

,  Alectoris,  719. 

,  Anbinga,  299,  619, 

620. 

,  Ardca,  723. 

,  Sarotbrura  p.,  120. 

,  Wbitiocka  r.,  69. 

rufesccns,  8ylviella,  621. 


788 


INDEX    O^ 


ruficupilla,  Cisticola,  621. 
ruficapillus,  Wliiteornis 

g.,  41). 
rulieeps,  Macropjgia  s., 

169. 
rufigastei-,Laiiiprura,738. 

,  Zonopliaps,  738. 

riifina,  Netta,  372,  460, 

705. 
rufiventer,  Buteo  b.,  365. 
rufiventris,  CoUiiricincla 

r.,  64. 

• ,  Erytbrociius,  620. 

,   Lewinornis,   164, 

328. 
riifogularis,  Clilbertornis, 

328. 
ruCopileata,  Cisticola  r., 

291. 
rufula,  Hirundo,  592. 

, d.,  261. 

rufulus,  Authiis,  654. 

, r.,  654. 

rufus,  Cursorius,  611. 

,  Fiirnarius,  179. 

riificollis,  Capriinulgus  r., 

594. 

,  Colynibus,  311. 

■ ,  Coi'viis  c,  623. 

,  Erolia,  537. 

,  Mastersornis,  556. 

,Podiceps,  311,389, 

717. 

, r.,  461. 

,  Tringa,  27. 

rupestris,  Columba,  3. 

,  Eipai-ia,  135,  695. 

, r.,  593. 

rupicola,  Turtur,  3. 
ruiiicolEelbnnis,  Falco  t., 

364. 
rupicoloides,   Tinuiin- 

culus,  61 1 . 
Riipornis    leucorrhoiis, 

332. 
rustica,    lliriiiido,    213, 

273,  430,  511,  694. 
, r..  135,  260, 

282,  294,  592. 
rusticola,   Scolopax,   28, 

222,383,441,461,492, 

708. 
rusticolus,  Falco,  314. 

,  HieroFalco,  314. 

Ruticillamesoleiica,  462. 
riitila,  Casarca,  42. 

sabinei,  Clisetura,  296. 
sabini,Chaunonotus,  283. 
,  «.,  291. 


Sahara^  Burbimis    oe., 

138,  375. 
,   Caprinn)lgu.s  x., 

263. 
sahari,  Plinberiza  s.,  413. 
sandvicensis,  Sterna.  449, 

715. 

, s„301. 

sandwicbensis,  PennuLi, 

308. 
sapbiroi,  Antbus  ].,  660. 
sardoiiiiis,    Corvus    c, 

627,  628. 
sardus,  Corvus  c,  677. 
Sarotbnira  antonii,  120. 

bcibmi,  118. 

b.  bobnii,  119, 

b.  dauei,  119,267, 

307. 

b.  soiuereni,  119. 

e.  buryi,  113. 

e.  elegans,  113. 

e.  loringi,  113. 

e.  reicbenovi,  112, 

113. 

p.  centralis,  115. 

p.  elizabetba?,  120. 

■  p.  liigens,  120. 

p.  pulcbra,  115. 

p.  rufa,  120. 

p.  zenkeri,  115. 

r.  ansorgei,  120. 

r.  bonapartei,  119, 

120. 
Satbrocercus   barakse, 

563. 
saturatior,  Pterocles  g., 

620. 
,  Teplirocorvs,  012, 

619,  621. 
satiiratus,    Cucnliis   c, 

360. 
savignii,  Hirundo  r.,  2i^)0. 
saxatilis,  Monticola,  256, 

458,  692. 
Saxicola  p.  livingstonei, 

612. 

riibetra,  211,  429, 

589,  693. 

rubicola,  211,  429. 

693. 

r.  hiberiians,  589. 

r,  uiargaretas,  259. 

r.  rubetra,259,292, 

602. 

r.  rubicola,  589. 

1.  rubicola,  134, 259, 

603. 

sp.,  621. 

scapulatus,  Corvus,  272, 

287. 


schacli,  Alauda  a.,  643. 
scbalowi,  Vinago  w.,  617, 

620. 
sebiniperi,  Columba  1., 

l;i7.  374. 
scbi^leri,  Antbus  p.,  325. 
Scbizorhis  concolor,  615, 

621. 
scblegeli,  Hypargus,  289. 
SL'lioeniclus,    Eniberiza, 

200,  682. 
, s..  599. 

scboenobfenus,    Acro- 

cepbalus,  209,251, 585, 

689. 
sebwarzi,  Sylvia,  311. 
seirpaceus,  Acrocephalus, 

428. 

, s.,  251,585. 

scolojDaceus,   Pogoniulus 

s.,  295. 
scolopaeina,  Gallinago, 

29. 
Scolopax  celebensis,  738. 

erytbropus,  311. 

rusticola,  28,  225, 

441,461,492,708. 

r.  rusticola,  383. 

scopifrons,    Ivnestro- 

nietophon,  563. 

,  Siginodus,  563. 

Scops  capensis,  617,  620. 

giu,  348. 

scops.  Otus,  698. 

, s.,  396. 

Scopus  u.  uuibrelta,  278, 

30;). 
scoticus,  Lagopus,  520. 

,  Parus  c,  581. 

Scutocerca   i.  inquieta, 

254. 
Scotopelia  peli,  620. 
Scotoniisclimacurus,274, 

296. 
scutatus,  Malinibus  s., 

289. 
scutellata,  Ninox  s.,749. 
secundus,     Macbaeri- 

rliynchus  f.,  556. 
seebobnii,  (Enantbe  oe., 

408. 
segetum,  Anser,  39,  40. 
Seisura  inquieta,  556. 

i.  nana,  556. 

i.  rogersi,  556. 

i.  westralensis,  53. 

Senieiopborus  vexillarius, 

101. 
seniifasciatus,    Lopbo- 

ceros,  274,  281,  296. 
semirul'a,  Hirundo,  621. 


SClENt'lFlC   NAMteS. 


789 


seniiriifiis,  Musoifiir,  544. 
senator,  Lanius,206,  686. 

, s.,  290,  582. 

Senegal;),  LngonosLicta, 

288. 
■ ,  Tcbagra  s.,  281, 

291. 
sencgalensis,    Burhiniis, 

376. 
,  Centropus  s.,  274, 

281,  296. 

,  Chalconiitra  s.,290. 

,  Coi'acias  a.,  297. 

,  Ephippiorliynclius, 

614,  B2U. 

,  Halycon  s.,  297. 

,  Ii-risor  c  ,  297. 

,  Phceniculuse.,  297. 

,  Podica  s.,  300. 

,  Pterocles,  375. 

,  Zostei-ops  s.,  290. 

senegallus,    Pterocles, 

234,  375. 
senegalus,  Centropus  g., 

621. 
septentrionalis,   Coljm- 

biKS,  47. 
serena,  Vidua,  288,  621. 
Sericornis  ni.  warreni,  60. 
Serin  us  c.  serinus,  243, 

405. 

bartlaubi,  289. 

icterus,  621. 

• serinus,  198,  577, 

679. 
seriuus,  Andropadus,293. 
serpentarius,  Falco,  303, 

305. 
serrator,  Mevgus,  440, 

460,  706. 
serrirostris,  Anser,  40. 
Setosura  davidi,  555. 

■ macgillivrayi,  555. 

seychellarum,  Gallinula 

c,  552. 
sharpei,  Accipiter,  105. 

, h.,  105. 

sharpei,  Pelecanus  o.,278. 
sliarpii,  CorA'us  c,  629. 
sibilatrix.     Pbj-Uoscojjus, 

587,  689. 

, s.,  251. 

sierrEB,  Otocoris  a.,  339. 
Siguiod  us  c.  caniceps,  291. 

scopifrons,  6(i3 

similis,  Anthus  s.,  647. 
simplex,  Muacitrea,  328. 
,  Pbyllastrepbus, 

273,  293. 
,  Sylvia,  292,  427, 

582,  686. 


sinensis,  Antbus  r.,  653. 

,  Ardetta,  37. 

,  Corjdalla,  653. 

,  Sterna,  32. 

• ,  SternuL'ir,  32. 

Sitagra  ocular ia,  621. 
o.  bracbypterus, 

272,  289. 
Sitta  cresia,  684. 

europa'a,  205. 

magna,  539. 

skottsbergi.   Procelsterna 

c,  162.  ■ 
skua,  Catbaraeta,  715. 
smaragdineus,  Obryso- 

coceyx,  296. 
Smicrornis  b.  occideu- 

talis,  51. 
smitbi,  Fiscus  c,  290. 
sokotrae,  Antbns  s.,  648. 
solitaria,  Gallinago,  29. 

,  Monticola,  587. 

,  Tringa,  312. 

solitarins,  Cuculus,  89. 

,  Monticola  s.,  133. 

Boloniki,  Friugilla  c.,  463. 
solstitialis,  Psittacus,304. 
sonialiensis,  Galerida  c, 

637,  640. 
somereni.  Sarotbrui-a  b., 

119. 
sommei-feldi,    Melich- 

neutes,  86. 
sopbise,  Sturnus  v.,  456. 
sordidus,  Antbus,  612, 

646,  650. 

, s.,  650. 

Soroplex  c.  ceara;,  157. 
Spatula  clypeata,  45, 

222,  372,  606,  705. 
spatulatus,    Coracias, 

615. 
speccosa,  Dipbyllodes, 

465. 
speciosa.  Dipbyllodes, 

465. 
Speotyto  e.  bypogtea, 

174. 
Spennestes  bicolor,  288. 

cucuUatus,  288. 

Spermospiza  b.  leonina, 

289. 
Spheniscus      deniersus, 

56C). 
Spbenostonui  c.  occiden- 

tale,  66, 
Spbenura  b.  longirostris, 

63. 
spbeiiurus,    Astur    b. , 

281,  -282,  298. 
spinoletta.  Ambus  s.,599. 


spinosus,  Ho^jlopleius, 

380. 
Spinus  citriuella,  679. 

i.  magnirostris, 

179. 

spinus,  197,  577, 

679. 

spinus,  Carduelis,  405. 
Spizaetns  africanus,  106. 

batesi,  100. 

coronatus,   281, 

299. 

isidori,  331. 

■ limniietus,  332. 

Spizitornis    p.    patagoni- 

cus,  325. 
splendens,  Malurus  s., 

60. 
splendidus,     Cinnyris, 

285,  290. 
,  Lampribis,     108, 

109,  288. 
spodiogenys,  Friugilla  c, 

392. 
Spora^gintbus  amandava, 

244. 
squamacrista,    Todiros- 

trum,  544. 
Sqoatarola      helvetica, 

19. 
■ squatarola,    279, 

301,445,607,711. 
squatarola,  Tringa,  313. 
stagnntilis,  Tringa,  312, 

381. 
stalkeri,    Symposiacbrus, 

556. 
stapaziua,     CEnantbe, 

514. 
Steganura    paradisea, 

288. 

p.  aucupum,  288. 

p.  verreauxi,  288. 

stellaria,    Bofaurus,     36, 

]37,     223,    370,    410, 

707. 
stellatus,  Colymbus,  450. 
stentoreus,  Acroce])balu.>!, 

240. 

,   s.,  251, 

stenura,  Gallinago,  29. 
Stepbanibvx  coronata, 

611. 

inornatus,  301, 

liigubris,  301. 

m.  nielanopterus, 

180. 

Sterna  anglica,  32. 

a.  antillarum,  320. 

caspia,  715. 

-  dougalli,  301,  320. 


790 


INDKX  OF 


Sterna  flu^iatilis",  32. 

f  iiscala,  320. 

hirundo,  448,  519, 

715. 

h.  tibetana,  32. 

— —  longipennis,  32. 

luiiata,  1G2. 

maxima,    280,  282, 

301. 
minuta,    449,    519, 

715. 
m.  albididorsalis, 

652. 

paradisea,  448. 

sandviceiisis,  449, 

715. 

sinensis,  32. 

s.    sandvicensis, 

301. 
Sternula  sinensis,  32. 
stictithorax.    Indicator, 

85. 
Stigmatops  celebensis, 

738. 

i.  indistincta,  71. 

Stiplirornis    erythro- 

thorax,  292. 
Stipiturus  m.  haltnatii- 

rina,  748, 

m.  media,  62, 

■ m.  westernensis,  62. 

stirlingi,  Leggeoi'nis    p., 

62. 
Stizorhina  finsohi,  294. 
stolidus,  Anous,  320. 
atrangei,    Cisticola    n., 

292. 
strepera,  Anas,  222,  371, 

605,  704. 
streperus,  Acrocephalus, 

688. 

,  Cbaulelasmns,  43. 

Strepsilas  interpres,  18. 
Streptopelia     risoiia, 

246. 

s.  eegyptiaca,  374. 

s.  erythroplirys, 

280,  301. 
■ — -  tui-tiir,  226,  719. 

t.  isabeUiiia,  374. 

t.  turtiir,  374. 

striata,  Kenopia,  566. 

,  Motacilla,  310. 

,  Muscicapa,    212, 

305,  310. 
, s..  132,  249, 

671. 
striolata,  Halcyon,  283. 
striolatus,  Antlms,  653. 

, r.,  653. 

Strix  alba,  312. 


Strix  aluco,  697- 

a.  sylvatica,  745. 

striitbersi,    Ibidorbyu- 

chiis,  22. 
Struthio  casuai-ius,  304. 
striitbiuneulus,  Otis  k., 

270. 
stiirnai,     Ardeirallus, 

300. 
Sturnus   unicolor,  576, 

678. 
vulgaris,    196,  242, 

422,  502,  578,  677. 

V.  sopbifc,  456. 

V.  tauricus,  463. 

V.  vulgaris,  403, 

408. 
Suubeliornis   kretzscb- 

nieri,  563. 
subalpina,  Svlvia,  310. 

, s",  583. 

subalpinus.  Accentor  c, 

135. 
siibarquata,  Tringa,  28. 
subbiiteo,    Falco,    218, 

3ii3,  435,  702. 
subcornix,  Corviis,  626. 
subflava,  Estrilda,  289. 
subguttata,    Clilamydera 

m.,  78. 
siibis,  Progno,  172. 
suecica,  Luscinia  s.,  260. 
Siila  bassana,  437. 

leucogastris,  320. 

nebouxi,  331. 

piscator,  173. 

sula,  320. 

variegata,  331. 

Sulita,  554. 
sulfiireopectiis,  Obloro- 

phoneus  s.,  291. 
sumatranus,  Criniger, 

540. 

,  llemixus.  540. 

superciliaris,      Caniaro- 

ptera,  292. 
superciliosa,        Pcecilo- 

dryas,  164. 
snperciliosus,       Pacby- 

])bantes  s.,  289. 
superilua.   Claierida  t., 

394,  397,  398. 
swainsoni.  Circus,  604. 

,  Fraucolinus,  613. 

,  Gi'aucalus,  738. 

,  Pternistes,  612, 

620. 
swanzii     Cisticola    s., 

292. 
sycobius,   Lamprocolius, 

621. 


syenitica,  CEnantiie  I., 

410. 
sylvatica,  Strix  a.,  745. 
Sylvia  atricapilla,   209, 

252,  428,  687. 
a.    atricapilla,    403, 

582. 

borin,  209. 

cantilhins,  310,  688. 

cetti,  314. 

ciimmunis,    209, 

427,  582,  686. 

conspiciliata,  583. 

curruca,  210,  427, 

686. 

c.  albistriata,  253. 

c.  communis,    132, 

252,  582. 

c.  curruca,  252. 

darttbrdiensis,  584. 

b.  bortensis,  583. 

melanocepbala,  687. 

m.  melanocepbala, 

132,  252. 

m.  mom  us,  252. 

m.  norrisre,  252. 

orpbea,  688. 

rueppelli,  252. 

scbwarzi,  311. 

simplex,   292,   427, 

582,  686. 

subalpina,  310. 

s.  baiearica,  688. 

s.  svibalpina,  .383. 

u.  toni,  583. 

u.  undata,  602. 

iSylviella    f.    llaviventris, 

292. 

bardyi,  292. 

rufescens,  621. 

Syuiposiacbrus  medius, 

556. 

stalkeri,  556. 

— —  trivirgatus,  556. 

t.  albiventris,  556. 

t.  gouldii,  556. 

syndactyla,  Bleda,  293. 
Sypbeotides  indica,  309. 
syriaciis,  Corvu.s  c,  626, 

627. 

,  Tardus  m.,  256. 

Syrmaticus  reevesi,  8. 
Syrniuin  nucbale,  298. 
Syrrbaptes  paradoxu.s,  4. 


tabuensis,  Porzana,  307. 

,  Rallus,  308. 

Tacbornis  parva,  621, 

p.  bracbypterus, 

274,  282,  296. 


SCIENTIFIC  NAMES. 


791 


Tadorna  beloiiii,  42. 

casarca,  311. 

cornuta,  42. 

tadorna,  517,  605. 

Ta3iiiopygia  c.  wayensis, 

75. 
tahitiensis,  Numenius, 

24. 
Talacoma,    poliocephala, 

613,  621. 
tanvpterus,  Falco  b.,  363. 
tarda,  Otis,  14,  223,  463. 
taurica,  Acredula  r.,  463. 
tauricus,  Sturnus  v.,  463. 
Teliagra  s.  senegala,  281. 
Tcbitrea  iiigriceps,  294. 

V.  viridis,  294. 

teleplionus,  Cucuhis  c, 

360. 
tenimincki,  Cursoriu.s, 
620. 

,  Erolia,  312,  381. 

,  Tringa,  27. 

tenebrosus,  Etbelonii.'!, 

163. 
tengmalmi,  Nyctala,  '316. 
tenuirostris,    Metagrau- 
calus,  738. 

,  Niiinenius,    607, 

711. 
Tephrocorya  satiiratior, 

619,621. 
Tepbrodornis   grisola, 

328. 
Terekia  cinerea,  25. 
Terjjsipbone  batesi,  734. 
terrestris,  Cisticola,  292. 
Tetraogallus  (.■aucasicus, 

461. 
tetrax,  Otis,  223. 
teydea,  Fringilla,  536. 
tbagus,  Pelecanus,  331, 
Tbalassidroma  pelagica, 

449,  716. 
Tbalassoaetus  pelagicus, 

178. 
Tbamnoltea  nigra,  621. 
theklas,  Galerida,  641. 

,    Galerida   t.,    579, 

683. 
tberesse.  Indicator,  86. 
tbomasi,  Poodytes  g.,  57. 
tboracica,  Motacilla,  306. 
tbornei,  Francoliniis  b., 

280,  282,  302. 
Thripias  namaquus,  616, 

621. 
Thryocrex  rubra,  332. 
thunbergi,  Motacilla  f., 

665. 
tibetana,  Sterna  h.,  32. 


Tiga,  740. 

Tigi'oniis  leucolopha, 

300. 
Tiinixos  olivaceus,  328. 
tinineb,  Psittacus  e.,  275, 

282,  298. 
tincta,  Oamaroptera  g., 

292. 
tingitanus,  Corvus  c, 
393,  404,  635,  677. 

,Passerd.,  390,402. 

Tiniuinculus      rupico- 

loidea,  611. 
tinnunoulus,  Cerchneis 
t.,  403. 

,  Falco,    218,    436, 

702. 

— ,   t.,  136,  459, 

603. 
Todirostriim  squama- 

ci-ista,  544. 
togoensis,  Batis  s.,  294. 
toni,  Svlvia  u.,  583. 
torda,  Alca,  449,  716. 
tormenti,  Austrodicseum 

h.,  69. 
torquata,  Ardea,  306. 

,  Fringilla,  305. 

torqiiator,  Fringilla.  305. 
tt)rquatus,    Melanobucco, 
621. 

,  Pliasianus,  5. 

,  Tardus,  691. 

torquilla,  lynx,  431,  695. 

, t.,  84,  360, 

593. 
Totauns  calidris,  26. 

fiiseus,  26,  311. 

giareola,  25. 

glottis,  26. 

hypoleucus,  25,  300, 

444. 

i.  brevipes,  26. 

incaniis,  26. 

muculatus,  594. 

uebiilarins,     300, 

444. 

ochropus.  25. 

totaniis,  300,  444. 

totanus.Tringa,  224,  312, 
607,  710. 

, t.,381. 

townsendi,  Myiadestes, 

306. 
Tracliylaeiiuis  goffiui, 

295. 
transcaspicus,  Monticola 
s.,  256. 

,  Passer  h.,  631. 

, b.xP.  d. 

bibliciis,  630. 


tregellasi,    Austrartaraus 

c.,63. 
Ti'egellasia  capito,  164. 

leucops,  164. 

tricolor,  Lalage  t.,  54. 

,  Leucooirca,  555. 

tridactyla,  Rissa,  448. 
trifasciatus,    Oriolus, 

307. 
Tringa  acuminata,  27. 

alpina,  443,  518. 

arenaria,  313,  728. 

calidris,  312. 

canutus,  28,  312, 

727. 

cinclns,  28. 

crassirostris,  28. 

c.  aniericana,  28. 

dainacensis,  27. 

erytliropus,  311, 

312,710. 

—  ferruginea,  312. 

flayipes,  312. 

fulicaria.  111. 

f.  ferruginea,  278, 

300. 
giareola,  312,  382, 

710. 
liypoleuca,  312, 

382,710. 

uiacularia,  312. 

maritiiua,  443. 

nielanoleuca,  312. 

ni.  ruficollis,  27. 

nebularius,  224, 

312,382,710. 
ocbropus,  139,  224, 

312,  382,  ()07,  710. 

platyrbyncha,  28. 

pngnax,  313. 

ruticoUis,  27. 

solitaria,  312. 

squatarola,  31.3. 

stagnatilis,  312, 

381. 

siibarquata,  28. 

temuiincki,  27. 

totanus,  224,  312, 

607,710. 

t.  totanus,  381. 

Tringoides  liypoleucus, 

25. 
tristiginata,   Diopezus, 

738. 

,  Pblegoonas,  738. 

tristrami,  Oceanodronia, 

337. 
trivialis,  Antbus,  205, 

426,  684. 
. t.,  246,  290, 

463,  580,  599. 


792 


INDKX    OF* 


triyirgatus,    Symposia- 

cliriis,  o5B. 
Trocliilus  giilaris,  305. 

niaculata,  30fi. 

trochilus.  Pliylloscopus. 

209,    250,    428,    585, 

689. 

, t.,  292.  (101. 

Trochocercus  n.  reiche- 

nowi,  294. 
Troglodytes  p.  liyrcanus, 

4«3. 
troglodytes,  134, 

212,  430. 

t.  kabylonim,  591. 

t.  troglodytes,  459, 

603. 
troille,  Uria,  449,  520. 

716. 
Try nga  alba,  311. 
Tscliagra  a.  ussheri,  291. 

8.  seiiegala,  291. 

Tiiracus  buffoni,295. 

macro  rhynclius, 

295. 

persa,  561. 

s.  marungensis,  619, 

621. 
turaUi,  Laniariiis,  291. 
Turdinus   fulvescens, 

293. 

gularis,  293. 

hypoleucus,  293. 

Turdoides  a.  atripennis, 

293. 

platycircus,  293. 

Tardus  iliacus,  428. 
libonianus,  292. 

1.  lugubris,  292. 

tuernla,  133,  210, 

429,    459,    462,    514. 

691. 
musicus,  175.  506, 

690. 
in.  alginis,  391,403, 

587. 

in.  clarkii,  428. 

ui.  liispanifE,  587. 

ru.  mauretanicus, 

391,  413. 

113.  inerula,  602. 

m.  syriacus,  256. 

philomelos,  210, 

690. 
pilari.s,  210,  256, 

428,  459,  602,  691. 
p.  pliilomehis,  256, 

403,  587. 

torquatus,  429,691. 

viscivorus,  256, 428, 

514, 690. 


Turdus  V.  viscivorus,  459, 

587. 
tnnieri,  Antlnis  g.,  662. 
Turnix  blanfordi,  10. 

maculatiis,  10. 

nana,  302. 

Turtur  a.  afra,  301. 

orientalis,  3. 

risorius,  3. 

riipicola,  3. 

turtur,  Streptopelia,  226, 

719. 

, t.,  374. 

Turtnrocna  iriditorques, 

301. 
Tynipanistria  tympani- 

"  stria,  301. 
typicus,  Gryranogenys, 

298. 
Tyto,  312. 

alba,  362,  697. 

a.  afEnis,  298. 

n.  alba,  298,404. 

a.  maculata,  298. 


uchidai,  DicjBuni  m., 

749. 
ugandse,   Macrosphemis 

f.,  123. 
ultraniarinus,  Parus  c, 

392,  403. 
ultraraontana,    Certhia 

b.,  580. 
unibretta,  Scopus  u., 

278,  300. 
umbrinus,  Corvus,  623. 

, c.,241. 

undata,  Sylvia  u.,  602. 
undatus,  Melizophilus, 

688. 

, u.,  602. 

unicolor,  Anous  .=.,  162. 

,  Sturnus,  576,  678. 

upclieri,  Hypolais,  642. 
Upupa  epops,  214,  431, 

(■.97. 
erythrorbynchos, 

306. 

e.  epops,  264,  463. 

e.  major,  264. 

proinerops,  304. 

pyrrhocorax,  311. 

urbica,  Delichon,  213, 

430,  695. 

, u.,  261,  593. 

Uria  troille,  449,  520, 

716. 
Urolestes  melanoleucus, 

621. 


uropvgialis,  Cisticola  e., 

291. 
ussheri,  Artoinyias,  294. 

,  Indicator,  85. 

,  Pbolidornis  r., 

290. 
,  Tschagra  a.,  291. 


vaalensis,  Anthus,  659. 

, 1.,  (i59. 

valachus,  Corvus  c, 

627. 
validus,  Cuculus,  95. 

,  Pachycoccyx,  95. 

vallombros£e,  Ixos,  670. 

,  Pycnonotus  c.  670. 

Vanellus  cristatus,  18. 
vanellus,  224,  381, 

446,  484,  607,  713. 
vanhevsti,  Brachylophus 

c,  169. 

,  Cyornis,  169. 

variegata,  Erolia,  312. 

,  Sula,  331. 

variegatus,  Certhionyx, 

71. 
,  Melittophagus  v., 

103. 

,  Numenius  p.,  24. 

varius,  Charadrius  v., 

378. 

,  Parus,  749. 

vegae,  Larus  a.,  31. 
venustus,  Cinnyris  v., 

290. 
veredus,  ^gialitis,  19. 

,  Ochthodrouius,  19. 

verreauxi,  Aquila,  565. 

,  Bubo,  617. 

,  Criniger  v.,  293. 

,  Steganura,  288. 

versicolor,  Coracias,  306. 
verticalis,  Bessonornis  v., 

292. 

,  Cyanoniitra,  272. 

, v.,  290. 

vespertinus,  Falco,  219, 

702. 

— -, v.,  364. 

vexillarius,  Cosinetornis, 

101. 

,  Semeiophorus,  101. 

Vibrissosylvia  cyorni- 

thopis,  563. 
Vidua  Serena,  288,  621. 
vidua,  Motacilla,  289. 
viduata,  Dendrocygna, 

299. 
Vinago  c.  calva,  280, 

301. 


SCIENTIFIC  NAMES. 


793 


Vinago  w.  sclmlowi,  617, 

420. 
Tiolacea,  Musophaga, 

295. 
vipio,  Gnis,  13. 
virago,  ffinantbe  ce., 

133. 
vireus,  Andropadus  v„ 

293. 
vivescens,  Meliphaga  v., 

72. 
virgo,  Anthropoides, 

394, 707. 
viridii-ostris,  Grus,  13. 
viridis.  Geeinus  v.,  G03. 

,  In-ifor,  307. 

,  Picus,  213. 

• -,  Tchitrea  v.,  294. 

viseivorus,  Tardus,  25G, 

428,514,  090. 

, v.,  459,  587. 

■vitiosus,    Cometornis, 

544. 
vocif'er,  Cuncuma,  276, 

299. 
■ ,  Haliaetus,  614, 

618. 
vociferus,  Oxyecbiis, 

177. 
volgre,  Lusciiiia  s.,  260. 
vidgaris,  Sturmis,  196, 

242,    422,    502,     576, 

677. 

. v.,  403,  408. 

yulpinus,  Eiiteo  b  ,  745. 
\''ullur  iiionacbus,  221, 

698. 


waddelli,  Lewinornis, 

328. 
wablbergi,  Aquila,  27G, 

299. 


warreni,  Sericornis  m., 

60. 
wayensis,  Taeiiiopygia  c, 

75. 
weigoldi,  Carduelis  c, 

576. 

,  Parus  c,  581. 

wellsi,  Cercococcyx  m., 

96. 

,  Wbiilocka  m.,  66. 

wensleydali,  Licbeno- 

stoimis  o.,  72. 
westernensis,  Glicipbila 

m.,  71. 

,  Stipiturus  m.,  62. 

westralensia,    Cissoiiiela 

11.,  70. 

,  Ooracina  n.,  54. 

,  Epbtbianura  a., 

56. 
,  Melanodryas  c, 

51. 

,  Oreioca  g.,  ()5. 

,  Pardalotu.s  s.,  70. 

,  Seisura  i.,  53. 

Whiteornis     g.     ruli- 

capilliis.  49. 
wbitesidei,    Himantornis 

b.,  112. 
Wliitlocka    m.    wellsi, 

6(1. 

r.  obscura,  69. 

r.  riil'a,  69. 

wbitlocki,  Etbelornis, 

163. 

,  Plylacola  e.,  54. 

,  Paradalotus  p.,  70. 

wilsoni,  Acantliorliyn- 

chus  s.,  71. 
wintoui,  Macronyx,  612, 

619,621. 
witberbvi,  Eritliacus  r., 

402,  588. 


wongani,  Eopsaltria  g., 

329. 
woodwardi,  Coleia  c,  73. 
,  Miral'ra  b.,  74. 


xantbolopbus,  Meso- 

picus,  84. 
xaiitliomelaena,  Qilnantbe 

b.,  257. 

,  Pyroinelana,  621. 

xantliospila,  Piicrasia,  8. 
xenunis,  Ceriocleptes, 

86. 


yelkoxian,  Pnffinus,  676. 
, p.,  139,716. 


zecbi,  Dendropicus  1., 

295. 
zenkei-i,  Agapornis,  104. 

,  Antlius  1.,  661. 

,  Macrosphenus, 

293. 

,  Melignomon,  86. 

,  Sarotbrura  p.,  115. 

zion,  Galerida  c,  637, 

642. 
Zoiiffigintbus  oculatiis, 

74. 
zonaris,  Hirundo,  S07. 
Zonogastris     melba  X 

Estrilda  pbanieotis, 

564. 
Zoiiopliaps  radiata,  738. 

rufigaster,  738. 

zoiiorbyncba.  Anas,  43. 
Zosterops  goiildi,  69. 
1.  balstoni,  69. 

s.    sonegalensis, 

290. 


INDEX    OF    CONTENTS. 

1921. 


Alderney,  Alexander,  Letter  on  tbe 
Birds  of,  751. 

Alexander,  H.  G.,  Letter  on  the  Birds 
of  Alderney,  751. 

Algeria  and  Tunisia,  Bannernian,  first 
impression  of  (Plates  ii.-v.),  387. 

Annnal  General  Meeting  of  the  British 
Ornithologists'  Union,  Report  of, 
350. 

'  Aquila,'  noticed,  174,  743. 

Arizona,  Swarlh,  On  tlie  Birds  of, 
noticed,  559. 

Arrigoni  degli  Oddi,  List  of  Papers, 
noticed,  732. 

'  Auk,'  noticed,  176. 

Anstralia.  Mathews,  Birds  of,  noticed, 
163,  328,  555,  737. 

,  Mathews  and  Iredale,  Mainial  of 

Birds  of,  noticed,  554. 

,  North-West,  Soweiby  on  Birds  of, 

noticed,  557. 

■ ,  Western,  Carter  on  birds  collected 

between  tbe  North- West  Cape  and 
Albany,  with  Nomenclature  and  Re- 
marks by  G.  M.  Mathews  (text- 
figure  1),'48. 

Baker,  E.  C.  Stuart,  On  a  recently 
described  Woodpecker  (Picus  rubri- 
collaris)  (Plate  i.),  1. 

Balearic  Is.,  Munn,  Notes  on  the  Birds 
of  Majorca,  672. 

Bings,  O.,  and  Penard,  T.  E.,  On 
American  Birds,  noted,  544. 

Bannerman,  D.  A.,  Remarks  on  rare 
Birds  contained  in  Collections  made 
by  G.  L.  Bates  in  South  Cameroon, 
81. 

Bannerman,  D.  A.,  On  tlie  genus 
Macrosjjhejins,  with  special  reference 
to  tlie  races  of  M.  flavicans,  1 2l. 


Bannerman,  D.,  A.,  Notes  on  the  Birds 
of  Tasso  and  adjoining  Islands  of 
the  Rockelle  River,  Sierra  Leone 
(text-figure  3),  2(;5. 

,  Systematic  List  of  the  Birds  of 

Sierra  Leone,  283. 

,  First  Impressions  of  Tunisia  and 

Algeria  (Plates  ii.-v.),  387. 

Bartsch,  P.,  On  the  Birds  of  the  Tor- 
tugas,  noticed,  319. 

Beebe,W.,  Monograph  on  the  Pheasants, 
Vol.  ii.,  noticed,  .544. 

Bibliography,  Ornithological,  Mullens, 
Swann,  and  Jourdaiu  on,  noticed, 
165. 

'  Bird-Lore,'  noticed,  334. 

Birkbeck,  Robert,  Obituarial  notice  of, 
317. 

Bird  Notes,  noticed,  561. 

Bonhote,  J.  L.,  Letter  on  the  Nomen- 
clature of  Plumages,  348. 

,    Subspecies   and    their    part    in 

Evolution,  720. 

,  Letter  on  Nestling  Plumages  of 

Owls,  755. 

Boubier,  M.,  On  Migration  Routes, 
noticed,  546. 

Bretscher,  K.,  On  Bird-Migration  in 
Middle  Europe,  noticed,  733. 

'  British  Birds,'  noticed,  743. 

British  Ornithological  Club,  notice, 
760. 

Brooke,  Sir  John  Arthur,  Obituarial 
notice  of,  150. 

Bulletin  of  the  Essex  County  Ornitho- 
logical Clubof  Massachusetts,  noticed, 
562. 

Bury,  George  Wyman,   Obituarial  no- 
tice of,  151,  760. 
Butler,  A.  L.,  Letter  on   the  Birds  of 
the  Anglo-Egyptian  Sudan,  180. 


'96 


INDEX  OF  CONTENTS. 


Cainargue,  Griscom,  Notes  on  the 
Winter  Avifauna  of  the,  oD"). 

Cauieroon,  South, Bannerman,  Remarks 
on  rare  Birds  contained  in  Collections 
made  by  Gr.  L.  Bates  in,  81. 

Canadian  Ornithology,  Taverner,  Re- 
cent papers  on,  noticed,  171- 

Carter,  T.,  On  West  Australian  Birds 
collected  between  the  North-West 
Cape  and  Albany,  with  Nomenclature 
ami  Remarks  by  G.  M.  Mathews 
(text-flgure  1),  48. 

Celebes,  Riley  on  new  Birds  from, 
noticed,  738. 

Chapin,  J.  P.,  Note  on  tlie  genus  La7n- 
pribis  in  East  and  Central  Africa, 
609. 

,  On  new  African'l Birds,  noticed, 

733. 

,  F.  M.,  On  variation   in   Ostiiiops 

decumanus,  noticed,  320. 

,  On  South  American  Birds,  no- 
ticed, 547. 

Chasen,  F.  N.,  Field  Notes  on  the  Birds 
of  Macedonia,  185. 

China,  Courtois,  Birds  of,  noticed, 
547. 

,    North-East   Chihli,  La  Touche, 

Notes   on    the  Birds   of.    Part    III., 
3. 

Christiani,  A.  A.,  On  a  new  Rock-Pipit, 
noticed,  321. 

Clarke,  S.  R.,  Account  of  the  Birds  met 
with  during  a  two  months'  shooting- 
trip  in  Northern  Rliodesia,  611. 

Collinge,  W.  E.,  On  tlie  Economic 
Status  of  the  Kingfisher,  Alcedo 
ispida  Linn,  (text-figure  2),  139. 

Colombia,  Todd  on  new  birds  of, 
noticed,  172. 

'Condor,'  noticed,  336. 

Congo,  Chapin  on  new  Birds  from  the 
Belgian,  noticed,  733. 

Cory,  C.  B.,  Catalogue  of  American 
Birds,  noticed,  15(> ;  On  the  genus 
Bhynchocyclus,  noticed,  157. 

Courtois,  R.  L.,  On  the  Birds  of  China, 
noticed,  547. 

Coward,  T.  A.,  On  British  Birds  and 
their  Eggs,  noticed,  321. 

Crete,  Meinertzhagen,  Note  on  the 
Breeding-Birds  of,  126. 


Denmark,  Schiller,  On  Birds  of,  no- 
ticed, 739. 

d'Orbigny's  South  American  Collection, 
Hellmayr  on,  noticed,  736. 

Dutcher,  William,  Obituarial  notice  of, 
152. 


East  Africa,  Meinertzhagen,  notes    on 

Birds  from,  621. 
Egypt,  Meinertzhagen,  Notes  on  Birds 

from  (text-figure  4),  621. 
Egypt,    Lower,     Raw,     Sparrow,    and 

Jourdain,  Field  Notes  on,  238,  359. 
'  El  Hornero,'  noticed,  178,  747. 
'  Emu,'  noticed,  74.5. 
Etheridge,  Robert,  Obituarial  notice  of, 

15.3. 
Evolution,  Bonhote  on,  720. 

,  Meinertzhagen,  Letter  on,  528. 

,  Haviland,   Letter   on   Subspecies 

and, 752. 


Fagan,    Charles    Edward,     Obituarial 
notice  of,  317. 

'  Fauna  ocli  Flora,'  noticed,  338. 

Flight,  Hankin,    on    Soaring,    noticed, 
550. 

,    Migratory,    Meinertzhagen    re- 
marks on  the  Velocity  of,  228. 

Foster,  N.  H.,   On  the  Birds  of  Hills- 
borough, noticed,  734. 


Gerrard,  John,  Obituarial  notice  of,  153. 

Godman-Salvin  Medal  (Plate  ix.),  759. 

Griscom,  L.,  and  Nichols,  J.  T.,  On  the 
Seaside  Sparrows,  noticed,  548. 

■ ,  Notes  on  the  Winter  Avifauna  of 

the  Cauiargue,  595. 

Gurney,  J.  H.,  On  Norfolk  Ornitho- 
logists, noticed,  548. 

,    On  the  Annals  of  Ornithology, 

noticed,  549. 

.Ornithological  Report  for  Norfolk, 

noticed,  734." 


Hankin,  E.  II.,  On  Soaring  Flight, 
noticed,  550. 

Hartert,  E.,  Iredale,  T.,  and  Sclater, 
W.  L.,  Report  on  the  Amendments 
and  proposed  Alterations  to  tlie 
Names  in  the  B.  O.  U.  List  of  British 
Birds,  310. 

,    Die  Vogel     der    palaarktiscben 

Fauna,  noticed,  551. 

,    Types   of    Birds    in    the   Tring 

Museum,  noticed,  553. 

,  Birds  of  Southern  Sahara,  noticed, 

734. 

Haviland,  Miss  M.  D..  Letter  on  Sub- 
species and  Evolution,  752. 

Hellmayr,  0.  E.,  Recent  papers,  noticed, 
157. 

,   Recent    papers    on  Neotropical 

Birds,  noticed,  324. 


INDEX    OF    CONTENTS. 


797 


Hellmayr,  C.  E.,  On  d'Orbigny's  South- 
American  Collections,  noticed,  730. 

Hingston,  R.  W.  G..  Himalayan  obser- 
vations, noticed,  151). 

Howard,  H.  E.,  On  Bird  Territories, 
noticed,  159. 


Ingram,  C,  Letter  on  Nestling  Birds, 

181. 
Iredale  T.,  Hartert  E.,  and  Sclater,  W. 

L.,  Report  on  the  Amendments  and 

pro])osed  Alterations  to  the  Names  in 

the  B.  O.  U.  List   of  British    Birds, 

310. 
,  and  Mathews,  G.  M.,  Manual  of 

Australian  Birds,  noticed,  554. 
;  and  Sherborn,  C.  D.,  on  Miller's 

'  Icones  Animaliam,'  302. 
'  Irish  Naturalist,'  noticed,  340. 


Jones,  Henry,  Obituarial  notice  of, 
318. 

Jourdain,  F.C.  R..  Letter  on  the  Black- 
headed  Gull,  181. 

,  Mullens,  VV.  H.,  and  Swann,  H. 

K.,  On  Ornithological  Bibliography, 
noticed,  165. 

— — ,  and  Sparrow,  R.,  Contributions 
to  Field  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Lower 
Egypt,  by  W.  Raw,  238,  359. 

'  Journal  fiir  Ornithologie,'  noticed, 
562. 


Kennedy,  J.  N.,  Notes  on  Birds  in  South 

Russia,  453. 
Kloss,  C.  B.,  and  Robinson,  H.  C,  On 

Sumatran  Birds,  noticed,  169. 
Kuroda,    N.,    On     New  Japanese    and 

Formosau  Birds,  noticed,  553. 


La  Touche,  J.  D.  D.,  Notes  on  theBirds 

of    North-East    Ohihli,     N.    China, 

Part  III.,  3. 
Laubmanu,     A.,    On    the    Kingfisher, 

noticed,  160. 
,     On     Lesson's    Types,    noticed, 

325. 
Lavaudeu,    L.,    On     Tunisian     Birds, 

noticed,  326. 
,  On  the  Mediterranean  Peregrines, 

noticed,  736. 
'  Le  Gerfaut,'  noticed,  339, 
List    of    Ornithological    Publications 

received,  179,  342,  567,  749. 

SER.  XI. — VOL.  III. 


'  L'Oiseau,'  noticed,  564. 

Lonnberg,  E.,  On  the  Birds  of  Juan 
Fernandez  and  Easter  Islands, 
noticed,  161. 

Lowe,  P.  R..  and  Mackworth-Praed,  C, 
Letter  on  the  Last  Phase  of  the  Sub- 
species, 344. 

Lowe,  W.  P.,  The  Birds  of  Tasso  and 
adjoining  Islands  of  the  Rokelle 
River,  Sieria  Leone,  with  notes  by 
D.  A.  Bannerman  (text-ligure3),  265. 

,  News  from,  569. 

Lvnes,  Captain  II.,  News  from,  569, 
'758. 


McClymont,  R.,  Ornithological  Essays, 

noticed,  162. 
McGregor,  R.  C,  On  Philippine  Birds, 

noticed,  327. 
Macedonia,  Chasen,  Field  Notes  on  the 
Birds  of,  185. 

,    Stresemann   on    the    Birds    of, 

noticed,  170. 
Mackworth-Praed,  C,  and  Lowe,  P.  R., 
Letter  on  the  Last  Phase  of  the  Sub- 
species, 344. 
Majorca,  Munn,  Notes  on  the  Birds  (jf, 

(Plate  viii.),  672. 
Massachusetts,  Townsend  on  the  Birds 

ol',  noticed,  560. 
Mathews,   G.   M.,    Nomenclature   and 
Remarks  on  West  Australian  Birds 
collected  by  T.  Carter  (text-figure  1), 
48. 

,  Birds  of  Australia,  noticed,  163, 

328,  ."iSo,  737. 

,  Dates  of  Ornithological  Works, 

noticed,  329. 

,    and    Iredale,    T.,     Manual    of 

Australian  Birds,  noticed,  554. 
Meade-Waldo,    E.    G.    B.,    Letter    on 

Nestling  Owls,  348. 
Meinertzhagen,     R.,     Note      on      the 

Breeding-Birds  of  Crete,  126. 
,  Preliminary  remarks  on  the  Ve- 
locity of  Migratory  Flight  among 
Birds,  with  special  reference  to  the 
Palffiarctic  Region,  228. 
,  Letter  on  Subspecies  and  Evo- 
lution, .528. 

,  Notes  on  some  Birds    from  the 

Near  East  and  from  Tropical  East 
Africa  (text-figure  4),  621. 
Migration,  Boubier,  Routes  of,  noticed, 
546. 

,  Bretscher  on,  in  Middle  Europe, 

noticed,  733. 

,    Robinson,    Letter    on,    by    the 

Marking  Method,  750. 

3g 


798 


INDEX    OF    CONTENTS. 


Miller's  '  leones  Aniiiuiliuni.'  Sherborn 

and  Iredale  on,  o(J2. 
Montana,  Saunders,  Birds  of,  noticed, 

057. 
Mullens,  W.   H..   Swann,  H.   K.,  and 

Jourdain,  F.  C.  R.,  On  OrRitbological 

Bibliography,  notit-ed,  1(55. 
Munn,  P.  W.,  Notes  on  the  Birds  of 

Alcudia,  Majorca  (Plate  viii.),  672. 
Murphy,   R.  C.,  Ou  the  Sea-bird.s  of 

Peru,  noticed,  329, 


Newton,  Alfred,  Wollaston,  Life  of, 
noticed,  710. 

Nichols,  J.  T.,  and  Griscom,  L.,  On  the 
Seaside  Sparrows,  noticed,  548. 

Notices  of  Recent  Ornithological  Pub- 
lications, 156,  319,  544,  732. 


Obituary:  Sir  John  Arthur  Brooke, 
150;  George  Wyman  Bury,  151; 
William  Dutcher,  152;  Robert 
Etheridge,  153:  John  Gerrard,  153; 
Charles  William  Slieppard,  1.54; 
Herbert  Huntington  Smith,  155; 
Robert  Birkbeck,  317;  Charles 
Edward  Fagan,  317;  Henry  Jones, 
318;  Robert  George  Wardlaw- 
Rarasay,  528 ;  Henry  Morris  Upcher, 
540;  John  Burrows,  543;  Henry 
Wemyss  Feilden,  726;  William 
Ward  Fowler,  729;  Alphonse  Du- 
bois, 730;  Max  Fiirbringer,  731. 

Ogilvie,  F.  M.,  Field  Obseryations  on 
British  Birds,  noticed,  1(>5. 

'  Oologists'  Record,'  noticed,  565. 

Ornithological  Society  of  France,  7  57. 

Oxford  Univer.sity  Expedition  to  Spits- 
bergen, 357,  757. 


Pacific  Islands,  Wetmore  and  Towns- 
end  on  Birds  of  the,  noticed,  172. 

PalEearctic  Birds,  Hartert  on,  noticed, 
551. 

Palestine,  Meinertzhagen,  Notes  on 
Birds  from,  621. 

Palmer,  T.  S.,  Letter  on  the  Meeting  of 
the  American  Ornithologists'  Union, 
182. 

Penard,  T.  E.,  and  Bangs,  0.,  Ou 
American  Birds,  noticed,  544. 

Personalia,  184,  358,  572. 

Peters,  J.  L.,  On  a  new  Jay  from 
Alberta,  noticed,  331. 

Plumage  Act,  Advisory  Committee, 
759. 

Plumage  Bill,  Notes  on,  571. 


Raw,  W.,  Field  Notes  on  the  Birds  of 
Lower  Egypt,  with  contributions  by 
Colonel  R.  S.  Sparrow  and  F.  C.  R. 
Jcairdain,  238. 

,  Letter  containing  Correction  to 

the  Birds  oi'  Jjower  Egypt,  569. 

Rhodei-ia,  Nortliern,  Clarke  on  Birds 
met  with  in,  611. 

Ridgway,  On  new  Genera  of  Birds, 
noticed,  331. 

Rilev,  J.  H.,  On  new  Malayan  Birds, 
noticed,  332. 

,  On   new   Celebes  Birds,  noticed, 

738. 

Ritchie,  J.,  The  Influence  of  Man  on 
Animal  Life  in  Scotland,  noticed,  168. 

Robinson,  H.  C,  Letter  on  the  Status 
of  Pictis  rtchricollaris,  Baker,  349. 

,  and  Kloss,  C.  B.,  On  Sumatran 

Birds,  noticed,  169. 

• ,  On  the  Names  of  the  Jungle- 
Fowls,  noticed,  332. 

Robinson,  H.  W.,  Letter  on  Bird- 
Migration  by  the  Marking  Method, 
750. 

Rothschild,  Lord,  On  the  correct  name 
of  D'Aubeuton's  '  Manucode  a  Bou- 
quets,' 465. 

,  On  the  Birds  of  Yunnan,  noticed, 

738. 

Russian  Ornithologists,  183,  760. 


Sahara,  Southern,  Hartert  on  the  Birds 

of,  noticed,  734. 
Saunders,    A.   A.,   Birds   of  Montana, 

noticed,  557. 
Schiller,    E.    L.,    On    Danish    Birds, 

noticed,  739. 
Sclater,  W.  L.,  Hartert,  E.,  and  Ire- 
dale,  T.,  Report  on  the  Amendments 

and    proposed    Alterations    to    the 

Names  in  the  B.O.U.  List  of  British 

Birds.  310. 
'  Scottish  Naturalist,'  noticed,  341. 
Sheppard,  Charles  William,  Obituarial 

notice  of,  164. 
Sherborn,  C.  D.,   and   Iredale,  T.,  On 

Miller's  '  Icones  Animalium,'  302. 
Shufeldt,   R.  W.,    On  Pictures  of  the 

Passenger  Pigeon,  noticed,  739. 
Sierra   Leone,    Bannerman,    Birds  of, 

265,  283. 
,  Lowe,  W.  P.,  The  Birds  of,  with 

notes  hy  Bannerman  (te.\t-figure  3), 

265. 
Skovgaard,    P.,     On     Danfsh     Birds, 

noticed,  333. 
Smith,  Herbert  Huntington,  Obituarial 

notice  of,  155. 


INOBX    OF    CONTENTS. 


799 


Soderberg.  E.,  On  Austi-aliau  Birds, 
noticed,  557. 

'  South  African  Journal  ui'  Natural 
History,'  noticed,  565. 

South  America,  d'Orbigny's  Collections 
from,  noticed,  736. 

'  South  Australian  Ornithologist,"  no- 
ticed, 748. 

Spain.  Soutliern,  Stenbouse,  Bii-d  Notes 
from,  57o. 

Sparrow,  E.,  and  Jourdain,  F.  C.  R., 
Contributions  to  W.  Eaws'  Field- 
notes  on  the  Birds  of  Lower  Egypt, 
238,  3.59. 

Spitsbergen,  Oxford  University  Expe- 
dition to,  357.  757. 

Stenhouse,  J.  H.,  Bird  Notes  from 
Southern  Spain,  573. 

Stresenuinn,  E.,  On  the  Birds  of 
Macedonia,  noticed,  170. 

,  On  the  races  of  Long-tailed  Tits 

and  Bullfinches,  noticed,  333. 

,  On  Siuuatrau  Woodpeckers,  no- 
ticed, 740. 

Sudan,  Anglo-Egvptian,  Butlei-,  Letter 
on  the  Birds  of,  180. 

Sumatra,  Eobinson  and  Kloss,  On 
Birds  of,  noticed,  169. 

Swann,  H.  X.,  Mullens,  W.  H.,  and 
Jourdain,  F.  C.  R.,  On  Ornitho- 
logical Bibliography,  noticed,  165. 

Swarth,  H.  S.,  On  the  gen.vs  Pffs.scr- 
clla,  noticed.  558. 

,  On  the  Llirds  of  Arizona,  noticed, 

559. 

Syria,  Meinertzhagen,  Notes  of  Birds 
from,  6"-l. 


Ta\erner,    P.    A.,    Recent    papers    on 

Canadian  Ornithology,  noticed,  171. 
Thompson,  AV.  R.,  Notes  on  the  Birds 

of  Alderney,  415. 
Thomson,  A.  L.,  Results  of  a  Study  of 

Bird-Migraiion      by     the     Marking 

Method,  466. 
Todd,  W.  E.  C,   On  now  Colombian 

Birds,  noticed,  172. 
-,  Oil  new  South  American  Birds, 

noticed,  560. 
'  Tori,'  noticed,  749. 
Tortugas  Is.,  Bartsch  on  the  Birds  of, 

noticed,  319. 
Townsend,    C.    H.,    On    the    Birds    of 

Massachusetts,  noticed,  560. 
Townsend,   C.   H..  and   Wetmore,  A., 

On  Paeillc  Island  Birds,  noticed,  172. 

Wetmore,    A.,    On    Iiead-poisoniiig    in 

Ducks,  imticed,  173. 
,  and  Townsend,  C.  H.,  On  Pacific 

Island  Birds,  noticed,  172. 
Wild    Birds    Protection  Acts,  List  of 

Connnittees  appointed  on  the,  183. 
Witherby,   II.  F.,  Letter  on  Plumages 

of  Nestling  Owls,  567. 
WoUaston,  A.   F.  E.,    Life    of  Alfred 

Newton,  noticed,  740. 
Wood,    C.    A..    On   the    Eye    of    the 

Burrowing  Owl,  noticed,  174. 

Yearbook    of    the    Dutch    Bird-Oiub, 

noticed,  566. 
Yunnan,  Rothscliild,  On  the  Birds  o{, 

noticed,  738. 


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I.  On  a  recently  described  Woodpecker  from  Siam.     By  E.  C. 

Stuakt  Baker,  M.B.O.IJ.     (Plate  I.)     ....'..     .       1 

II.  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  North-East  Chihli,  in  North  China. 

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(Text-figure  1.) 48 

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in  Collections  made  by  Mr.  G.  L,  Bates  in  Southern 
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y.  On  the  Genus  Macro^pJiemis  Cassin,  with  special  reference 
to  the   races  of  31acros2>7ienus  Jlavicans.      By  David  A. 
^  Bannerman,  M.B.E,  B.A.,  M.B.O.U 121 

VI.  A    Note    on    the    Breeding    Birds    of   Crete.       By    Cul.    R, 

Meinektzhagen,  D.S.O.,  M.B.O.U.,  F.Z.S 126 

VII.  The  Economic  Status  of  the  Kingfisher,  AJcedo  ispida  Linn. 
By  Walter  E.  Collinge,  D.Sc,  E.L.S.,  M.B.O.U.  (Text- 
figure  2.)      139 

VIII.  Obituary:  Sir  John  Arthur  Brooke,  Bt. ;  George  Wyiuan 
Bury;  William  Dutcher;  Robert  Etheridge;  John  Gerrtird; 
Charles  William  Sheppard  ;  Herbert  Huntington  Smith    .   153 

IX.  Notices  of  recent  Ornithological  Publications  : — 

Corj''s  Catalogue  of  American  Birds  ;  Cory  on  the  Genus 
Rhyncltocydus  ;  Ilellniayr's  recent  papers  ;  Hingston's  Hima- 
layan observations  :  Howard  on  Bird  Territories  ;  Laubniann 
on  the  Kingfisher ;  Ltiunberg  on  the  Birds  of  Juan  Fernandez 
and  Easter  Islands ;  McClyniont's  Ornithological  Essays ; 
Mathews  on  Australian  Birds;  Mullens,  Swairn,  and  Jour- 
dain's  Bibliography ;  Ogilvie  on  British  Birds ;  Ritchie  on 
the  lufiuence  of  Man  on  Animals;  Robinson  and  KIoss  on 
Siimatran  Birds;  Stresemann  on  the  Birds  of  Macedonia; 
Taverner's  recent  papers  on  Canadian  Ornithology  ;  Todd  on 
new  Colombian  Birds;  Townsend  and  Wetmore  on  Pacific 
Island  Birds  ;  Wetmore  on  lead-poisoning  in  Ducks ;  Wood 
on  the  eye  of  the  Burrowing  Owl ;  Aquila ;  The  Auk ; 
ElHornero;  List  of  other  Ornithological  Publications  received.    156 

X.  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes  : — 

Letters  from  A.  L.  Butler  on  the  Birds  of  the  Sudan, 
from  tlie  Rev.  F.  C.  R.  Jourdaiu  on  the  Breeding-places  of 
the  Black-headed  Gull,  and  Irom  Capt.  CoUingwood  Ingram 
on  Nestlinji-  Birds ;  Meeting  of  the  American  Ornitholugists' 
Union;  Wild  Birds  Protection  Acts;  Russian  Ornithologists; 
Personalia "  .     .    180 


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MULLENS  (W.  H.)  and  H.  K,  SWANN,  A  BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF 
BRITISH  ORNITHOLOGY  PROM  THE  EARLIEST  TIMES 
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works,  8vo,  cloth,  1916-17.  £1  18s. 

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THOLOGY (ARRANGED  UNDER  COUNTIES)  FROM  THE 
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ROTHSCHILD  (LORD)  THE  AVIFAUNA  OP  LAYSAN  AND 
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SEEBOHM  (H.)  SIBERIA  IN  ASIA  . . .  WITH  DESCRIPTION  OP 
THE  NATURAL  HISTORY,  MIGRATION  OF  BIRDS,  ETC., 

map  and  68  engravings,  18S2.  SIBERIA  IN  EUROPE,  a  visit  to 
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1880-82.  £3  10s. 

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Vol.  I.  Now  Ready  Invaluable  and  Indispensable 


A  Manual  of  the  Birds 
of  Australia 

By  GREGORY  M.  MATHEWS,  f.r.s.e.,  m.r.a.o.u. 

Author  of  "The  Birds  of  AustraUa" 

And    TOM    IREDALE 

Members  of  the  British  Ornithologists'  Union  and  Corresponding  Fellows  of 
the  American  Ornithologists'   Union. 


Crown  4to.        Art  Canvas,  Gilt  top.        £3  3s.  per  Vol. 

Vol.  I.      Orders  Casuarii  to  Columbae  ; 
Vol.  II.    Orders  Anates  to   Menurae ;    Vols.   III.  and   IV. 
Order  Passeres. 

d.  Volume  I.  contains  about  300  pages  of  printed  text,  and 
is  illustrated  with 

10  Colour  and  36  Monochrome  Plates. 

C  The  succeeding  volumes  will  be  substantially  the  same 
size  and  as  fully  illustrated. 

Ct,  In  the  work  the  authors  give  the  results  of  many  years* 
study  of  the  avifauna  in  a  condensed  form,  with  the  technical 
items  fully  explained  by  means  of  illustrations.  The  plan  is 
original  and  the  treatment  complete. 

Ct.  The  plates  have  all  been  prepared  from  the  drawings 
of  Lilian  Medland. 

a.  The  beautiful  coloured  plates  include  hitherto  unfigured 
Australian  species,  while  the  drawings  are  amongst  the  finest 
that  have  yet  appeared  in  a  handbook  and  are  accurate  to 
the  minutest  detail. 

CE.  For  the  convenience  of  Subscribers  each  volume  can  be 
ordered  separately,  and  information  will  be  sent  to  Subscribers 
as  further  volumes  appear. 


Publishers  : 

H.  F.  &  G.  WITHERBY,  326  High   Holborn,  London. 

From  whom  full  Prospectus  and  Specimen  Plate  can  be  had. 


CONTENTS. 


XI. 
XII. 

XIII. 

XIV. 

XV. 

XVI. 

XVII. 

XVIII. 
XIX. 


Page 


22a 


28S 


302 


XX 


Field  Notes  on  tlie  Birds  of  Macedonia.  With  special 
reference  to  the  Struma  Plain.  By  F.  X.  Chasen, 
Castle  Museuui,  Norwich 185 

Some  preliminary  remarks  on  the  Velocity  of  Migratory 
Flight  among  Birds,  with  special  reference  to  the 
Palseartic  Region.  By  Colonel  11.  Meinertzhagen, 
D.S.O.,  M.B.O.U.,  F.Z.S 

Field  Notes  ou  the  Birds  of  Lower  Egypt.  By  W.  Raw, 
M.B.O.U.  With  contributions  by  Colonel  B.  Sparrow, 
C.M.G.,  D.S.O.,  M.B.O.U.,  and  the  Rev.  F.  C.  R. 
JouKDAiN,  M.A.,  M.B.O.U 238- 

The  Birds  of  Tasso  and  adjoining  Islands  of  the  Rokelle 
River,  Sierra  Leone  By  Willotjchby  P.  Lowe, 
M.B.O.U.  With  notes  by  David  A.  Bannerman, 
B.A.,  M.B.O.U.     (Text-figure  3.) 265 

A  Systematic  List  of  the  Birds  of  Sierra  Leone.  By  David 
A.  Bannerman,  M.B.E.,  B.A.,  M.B.O.U.      .     .". 

J.  F.  Miller's  Icones.  By  C.  Davies  Sherborn  and 
Tom  Iredale      

Report  of  the  Sub-Committee,  consisting  of  Dr.  E.  Hartert, 
Messrs.  T.  Iredale,  and  W.  L.  Sclater,  on  Amendments 
and  proposed  Alterations  to  the  Names  in  the  B.  0.  U. 
List  of  British  Birds,  as  accepted  by  the  Committee  of 
the  B.  0.  U.  on  the  British  Bird  List 310 

Obituary  :     Robert    Birkbeck  ;     Charles    Edward    Fagan, 

C.B.E.,  I.S.O. ;  Henry  Jones 317 

Notices  of  recent  Ornithological  Publications:  — 

Bartsch  on  the  Birds  of  the  Tortugas ;  Chapman  on  variation 
in  Osthiops  decvvianns;  Christiani  ou  a  new  Hock-Pipit; 
Coward  on  British  Birds ;  Howard  on  Territory  in  Bird- 
Life  ;  Ilelhnayr's  recent  papers  on  Neotropical  Birds  ; 
Laubmaun  on  Lesson's  Types  ;  Lavauden  on  Tunisian  Birds  ; 
McGregor  on  Philippine  Birds ;  Mathews  on  Australian 
Birds ;  Mathews  on  the  dates  of  Ornithological  Publications  ; 
Murphy  on  tlie  Sea-birds  of  Peru ;  Peters  on  a  new  Jay ; 
Ridgway  on  new  Genera  of  Birds;  Riley  on  new  Malayan 
Birds ;  Robinson  and  Kloss  on  the  names  of  the  Jungle-Fowls ; 
Skovgaard  on  Danish  Birds ;  Stresenianu  on  the  races  of 
Long-tailed  Tits  and  Bullfinches  ;  Bird-Lore ;  The  Condor ; 
Fauna  och  Flora;  Le  Gerfaut ;  Irish  Naturalist;  Scottish 
Naturalist  ;  and  List  of  other  Ornithological  Publications 
received 319 

Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes  : — 

Letters  from  P.  R.  Lowe  and  C.  Mackworth-Praed  on  the 
Last  Phase  of  the  Subspecies,  from  J.  L.  Bonhote  on  the 
Nomenclature  of  Plumages,  from  E.  G.  B.  Meade-Waldo 
on  Nestling  Owls,  and  from  H.  C.  Robinson  on  the  Status  of 
Ficus  rubricollaris  Baker;  The  Annual  General  Meeting  «i 
the  British  Ornithologists'  Union ;  The  Oxford  University 
Spitsbergen  Expedition  ;  Personalia 344 


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'  L.  A.  FUERTES.     H.  GRONVOLD,     and    H.  JONES. 

Together  with  maps  and  numerous  photographs  by  the  author  depicting 

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London :  H.  F.  &  G.  WITHERBY,  326,  High  Holborn,  W.C.I 


CONTENTS. 

Page 
XXI.  Field  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Lower  Egypt.     By  W.  Raw, 
M.B.O.U.     Witli  Contributions  by  Colonel  B.  Sparrow, 
C.M.G.,   D.S.O.,   M.B.O.U.,    and"  the    Bev.    F.   C.   B. 
JouRDAiN,  M.A.,  M.B.O.U 35& 

XXII.  First  Impressions  of  Tunisia  and  Algeria.  Bv  David  A, 
Bannerman,  M.B.E.,  B.A.,  M.B.O.U.,  F.B.G.8.  (Plates 
II.-V.) 387 

XXIII.  Notes   on    the    Birds    of   Aldernev.       Bv   Major  W.    R. 

Thompson,  R.A.,  M.B.O.U.  .     .  '  .     .  ' 415 

XXIV.  Notes  on  Birds  in  South  Russia.     By  Capt.  J.  N,  Kennedy, 

M.C.,  R.A.,  F.R.G.S.,  M.B.O.U 453 

XXV.  On   the   correct   name   of    D'Aubenton's    "  Manucode   a 

Bouquets."     By  Lord  Rothschild 465 

XXVI.  Results  of  a  Study  of  Bird-Migration  by  the  Marking- 
Method.  By  A.  Landsborough  Thomson,  O.B.E.,  M.A., 
D.S.C.,  M.B.O.U 466 

XXVII.  Some  Thoughts  on  Subspecies  and  Evolution.     By  Colonel 

R.  Meinertzhagen,  D.S.O.,  M.B.O.U 528 

XXVIII.  Obituary  :  Robert  George  Wardlaw-Ramsay  (Plate  VI.)  ; 

Henry  Morris  Upeher ;  John  Burroughs       538 

XXIX.  Notices  of  recent  Ornithological  Publications  : — 

Baugs  and  I'enard  on  American  Birds :  Beebe  on  the 
Pheasants;  Boubier  on  Migratiou  lioutes;  Chapman  on 
South  American  Birds ;  Courtois  on  the  Birds  of  China ; 
Griscom  and  Nichols  on  the  Seaside  Sparrows  ;  Gurney  on 
Norfolk  Ornithologists;  Gurney  on  the  Annals  of  Orni- 
thology ;  Hankin  on  Soaring  Flight  ;  Hartert  on  the 
Palaearctic  Birds  ;  Ilartert  on  the  Types  at  Tring;  Kuroda 
on  new  Japanese  and  Formosan  birds;  Mathews  and  Ire- 
dale's  Manual  of  Australian  Birds ;  Mathews  on  Australian 
Birds  ;  Saunders  on  the  Birds  of  Montana ;  Sciderberg  on 
A'ustraliau  Birds  ;  Swarth  on  the  genua  Passerella ;  Swartli 
on  the  Birds  of  Arizona ;  Todd  on  new  South  American 
Birds ;  Townsend  on  the  Birds  of  Massachusetts ;  Bird 
Notes;  Bulletin  of  the  Essex  Count}' Ornithological  Club; 
Journal  fiir  Ornithologie  ;  L'Oiseau ;  Oologists'  Record ; 
South  African  Journal  of  Natural  History ;  Yearbook  of 
the  Dutch  Bird-Club ;  and  List  of  otlier  Ornithological 
Publications  received 544 

XXX.  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes  : — 

Letters  from  H.  F.  "SVitherby  on  the  Plumages  of 
Nestling  Owls  and  from  W.  Raw  on  Corrections  to  his 
"  Birds  of  Lower  Egypt " ;  News  from  Capt.  Lynes  and 
Mr.  Willoughby  Lowe';  The  Plumage  Bill ;  Personalia  .     .    567 


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A   SYNOPSIS   OF  THE  ACCIPITRES 

(Diurnal  Birds  of  Prey). 

Part  I.  (VuLTUR  TO  Accipitee).  Comprising  Species  and  Subspecies 
described  up  to  1920,  with  their  Characters  and  Distribution  by 
H.  KiRKE  SwAXK,  F.Z.S.,  M.B.O.U.,  Gorrespondiag  Fellow, 
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CONTENTS. 

Page 
XXXI.  Bird  Notes  from  Southern  Spain.     13v  J.  H.  Sxenhouse, 

M.B.O.U ." 573 

XXXII.  Some  Notes  on  the  Winter  Avifauna  of  the  Camargue. 
By  Ludlow  Griscom,  M.A.O.U.,  M.B.O.U. ;  American 
Museum  of  Natural  History,  New  York  City    .     .     .  595 

XXXIII.  A  note  on  the  genus  Lamjirihis  in   East  and  Central 

Africa.     By  James  P.  Chapin,  M.A.O.U,  ;  American 
Museum  of  Natural  History 60^ 

XXXIV.  An  account  of  the  Birds  met  with  during  a  two  months' 

shooting   trip  in  Northern    Bhodesia.      By    Colonel 
Stephenson  E.  Claeke,  C.B.,  M.B.O.U.     (Plate  VII.).  61 1 
XXXV.  Notes   on   some  Birds  from  the  Near  East  and   from. 
Tropical  East  Africa.     By  Colonel  B.  Meinertzhagen, 
D.S.O.,  F.Z.S.,  M.B.O.U.     (Text-figure  4.)  .     .     .     .  621 
XXXVI.  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Alcudia,  Majorca.     By  Captain 

P.  \V.  MuNN,  F.Z.S.,  M.B.O.U.     (Plate  YIII.).     .     .  672 
XXXVII.  Subspecies  and  their  part  in  Evolution.     Bv  J.  Lewis 

Bonhote,  M.A..,  M.B.O.U \     ...  720 

XXXVIII.  Obituary  :    Henry  Wemyss   Feilden ;    William   Warde 

Fowler  ;  Alphonse  Dubois  ;  Max  Fiirbringer     .     .     .  72(> 

XXXIX.  Notices  of  recent  Ornithological  Publications:  — 

Arrigoni  degli  Oddi's  list  of  papers  ;  Bretsclier  on  Bird- 
migration  in  Middle  Europe ;  Cliapin  on  new  African 
Birds;  Foster  on  the  Birds  of  Hillsborough  ;  Guruey's 
Ornithological  Report  for  Norfolk;  Ilartert  on  the  Birds 
of  the  Southern  Sahara;  Hellmayr  on  d'Orbiguy's  South- 
American  Collections ;  Lavaudeu  on  the  Mediterranean 
Peregrines  ;  Mathews  on  Australian  Birds ;  Eiley  on  new 
Celebes  Birds ;  Rothschild  on  the  Birds  of  Yunnan ; 
Schii^ler  on  Danish  Birds  ;  Shufeldt  on  pictures  of  the 
Passenger  Pigeon ;  Stresemann  on  Suniatran  Wood- 
peckers ;  Wollaston's  Life  of  Newton  ;  Aquila ;  British 
Birds ;  The  Emu  ;  El  Horr.ero ;  South  Australian  Orni- 
thologist ;  Tori ;  List  of  other  Oriuthological  Publications 
received ^ 732 

XL.  Letters,  Extracts,  and  Notes  :— 

Letters  from  Mr.  II.  W.  Robinson  on  Bird-migration 
and  the  Marking  Method,  Mr.  XL  G.  Alexander  on  the 
Birds  of  Alderney,  Miss  M.  D.  Haviland  on  Subspecies 
and  Evolution,  and  Mr.  J.  Lewis  Bonhote  on  the  JSestling 
Plumages  of  Owls  ;  The  Ornithological  Societ}'  of  France  ; 
The  Oxford  Universitj^  Expedition  to  Spitsbergen,  1921 ; 
News  of  Capt.  Lynes ;  The  Godman-Salvin  Medal 
(Plate  IX.)  ;  Tiie  Plumage  Act ;  Notice  to  Members  of 
the  B.  0.  C. ;  Russian  Ornithologists;  The  late  Lieut.  G. 
Wynian  Bury 750 

Index  of  Scientific  Names 761 

Index  of  Contents 795 

Titlepage;  Dates  of  Issue  of  'The  Ibis'  for  1921;  Officers  of  the 

B.O.U.,  past  and  present;  List  of  Members  ;  Contents  ;  List 

of  Plates  ;  and  List  of  Text-figures. 


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