CUMS eral dl) eh mad my tes as el od eh Ete eat ee oy ky ere \ehe ores Pave Leta yet apa: bem s wre FERS he ws ter ky a what armn vate ° ‘ ps oy ag at =ihhs : . Tes aed ve ‘ Seat Fey se Het Tiee tie sof J i 4 2 eit ceeahe : ak bry r \ sts ean siagat - tbl rte “* Pe aseres nae caer ASAT RELI LE Lhe i on J a rates Erp eee rayenk, ee ee ml ‘ ° 4 Fite e ' mre et aeh This fel MN ersi ie’ page 4 ey fy! : yet be ERE arr AT Rhee yr ee Ch wimpavarue wy ory aa" 4 : 41F THC AD ous eas or Rat ak tee rs soph Rieeens 2) ters ebyee , >a teat 4 > Af srl afbl ate! wins» wt . sleyerure Lyere ; 54 / 4 tate {mPeletarerd) ws mcare t sie <7 f ; : “t Thiel aievmtath tes - "i, ie > ; a) fe sorters wrens rye PP Hat gegteese 12 O ‘ "ft ? ite PTR EADY ly hee stot shee oe) ta! hier ipieiec my ai aber eras ren. > ope afi TN PMT A Tm whet hk ‘ “lel etel mes - ' + * . ate { U tate el er ele c Cote by. bb P eure ie ee eLA OL 5 “s Wi bb: % » Sieh bhere ‘ . th Arey J - * wi be ahem, wie ri . Mah a oe it . Ferei ets are Ont Lh Fie" 8 he - . oP ie bree ae ‘ > | rErhT ray é Ree, 4 . xie'§'a 2 & » ¢ a ‘ » ia : 1> 4 . t- > . 7 “ a : - “ef t 6 nb : oe) Par oe ea ee a be t y 4 i} afd LF A 7LtL8 Mite a’ atarar ‘ , : a d 5.8 ; ae | Tech Le Ee Fe t ; $ 7 9 dat FA 8 DO OL bd A $29, 6,8" ey at ’ wile sl tcetete es poe ae ‘ aratateratetcbitteee Pe oe 28 98 he be Dd YH he ; Lge i t 5 ‘ 3 3.5 i . ; > *s Tele ere) ees ‘ 4 : 4 a ‘ os ‘ fee . oe eit sete erate ete HAE : cer ele eseiw se rl tigign rie sf om whee bt ree ele mimi ‘ °.7 ’ ris H ' ‘ ‘fer ei ‘ Tyrer tae . Th ah ee Oy ‘le oe hes On eS > iste Pavia wpe * é ‘ ar d ; ores H Soba 7 H ha eterel , heroes as aaea a . wey, ¥ Morice kpie a te ‘ {vrei er, ' Py Fe atte 4390) i P.rires ' a ‘eae gl. to mee aD teerarcrer erties ‘ dee me ite ‘ / » 4 elem rete e es ch hy bite pt ©: 6), a. phe el el ) ‘i ’ 4 é : a é 4, > 2 ’ i al ee; : ¥ \ ‘ ne pind > f % ‘= 2's ‘ y -— s » ¥ . ee ae bart + rs rs 1A or meal’ i b ~~ 7 i 2, - 7 — ! q ? < ye “ 2 =, - \ a: a = ‘ ‘ - hy ‘ x d a “ 4 « cr os ; 4 . 7 , = > ate i ’ ~ ) 7 - oars ~ a 7 > 4 .* “ ih 1 ‘ y t q | t —r h. — ‘ a s ss ‘ ’ , i j ' ; : -_ ° ~~ i “ i { \ ‘ i . i ‘ / - 4 ’ hs , rey ‘ “ 3 ines - / ho i ‘ bk , 4 t f L ' j m 7 1 \ BY F , i 4 : / 4 ¥ i i F an . , s 2 7 i, ~ My as i 2 { ] 5 , ° i a 4 Fue , BULLETIN of the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB oF % jit eee 4 EDITED BY - § SEVIS ere | C. W. BENSON % g/ Volume 93 1973 PRICE: THREE POUNDS FIFTY PENCE (PER VOLUME) PREFACE There has been one change of importance in the present volume. As authorised at the 1972 Annual General Meeting (Bu//. Brit. Orn. Cl. 92: 69-70), in order to offset a further increase in printing and distri- bution charges, publication of the Buw//etin has been reduced from six to four numbers in the year, al- though the total number of pages has been maintained. Those who have been kind enough to advise on individual papers include Mr. J. H. R. Boswall, Dr. L. H. Brown, Sir Hugh Elliott, Mr. D. Goodwin, Mrs. B. P. Hall, Dr. A. R. Phillips, the Rev. Dr. W. Serle, Prof. W. H. Thorpe, Mr. R. Wagstaffe and Dr. C. A. Wright. Again Iam most grateful to Mr. K. E. Wiltsher, Manager of the Caxton and Holmesdale Press, assisted by Mr. P. G. Ball, for the regular pro- duction of the Bulletin. Also again I wish to thank Mrs. C. W. Benson, who has spent much time on proof-reading, and Mrs. M. Hawksley on the com- pilation of the Index to Scientific Names. Appreciation of the assistance rendered by Dr. P. J. K. Burton in the finalisation of the Bu//etin for December 1972 was expressed in the preface for 1972. The opportunity is now taken to thank him for the still more important part which he played in the production of the number for March 1973. Before my departure for Madagascar it was possible only to hand over edited typescript the equivalent of rather less than half of that number. All further editorial work was catried out by Dr. Burton, and I was only able to resume duty with the number for June. C. W. BENSON ili IIST OF MEMBERS AS AT 31st DECEMBER, 1973 (Compiled by the Hon. Secretary) Amended as follows: New Members ARMISTEAD, H. T., M.s., 39 Benezet Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19118, U.S.A. CARPENTER, C. P., 162 Wickham Way, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3AS. CHATFIELD, D. G. P., 3 Cyncoed Close, Dunvant, Swansea, Glamorgan SA2 7RS. Cote, L. R., Commceen, R.A.F. Bawtry, near Doncaster, Yorkshire DNtio 6JS. Davison, G. W. H., 8 Eastwick Road, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. Exvxins, D. A., Little Tickeridge, Kingscote, East Grinstead, Sussex. FARRAND, J., JNR., M.S., Ornithology Dept., American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St., New York, N.Y. 10024, U.S.A. Forrester, R. W., A.1.B., 29 Crandleyhill Road, Prestwick, Ayrshire KAg 2BE. Ginn, H. B., M.A., c/o British Trust for Ornithology, Beech Grove, Tring, Hertfordshire. Harvey, W. G., M.A., 17 Barton Road, Canterbury, Kent. Ho.mes, D. A., B.sc., The Old Rectory, Sudborough, Kettering, Northamptonshire. HeicHaM, J. B., m.a., African Timber and Plywood, P.M.B. 4001, Sapele, Midwest State, Nigeria. JosuineG, J. A., 28 Fairweather House, Parkhurst Road, London N7 oNS. Kino, D. G., Fish and Wildlife Branch, 1600 3rd Avenue, Prince George, British Columbia VZL-3G6, Canada. Knox, A. G., 9 Urquhart Street, Aberdeen ABz 1PL. LawreENcE, D. W., 62 The Boulevard, West Worthing, Sussex BN13 1LA. McAnprey, R. T., B.sc., 103 Granville Avenue, Hartlepool, Co. Durham TS26 8NA. Macxrit, E. J., Mill Lane, Welton-le-Marsh, Spilsby, Lincolnshire. Mepway, Lorp, pH.p, Great Glemham House, Saxmundham, Suffolk IP17 1LP. Meriwanl, Y. N., Arasat Al-Hindiyah 389, Baghdad, Iraq. NerGuHsour, Lieut.-Colonel J. R., 9 Coldstream Gardens, West Hill Road, London S.W. 18. Otiver, P. J., 53 Ember Farm Way, East Molesey, Surrey. PERRIN, Dr. M. R., PH.D., B.sc., 12 McGregor Crescent, Pinawa, Manitoba, ROE 1CO, Canada. RIDLAND, J. R. J., Troswickness, Dunrossness, Shetland. SmitH, G. A., M.R.C.v.S., 158 Broadway, Peterborough PE1 4DC. Succ, M. St.J., m.a., 5 The Limes, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 2 AY. Taytor, R. C., B.sc., Biology Dept., Liverpool Polytechnic, Byrom Street, Liverpool a AP. TEMPLETON, R. K., The Old Manse, Doune, Perthshire. WHEELER, C. E., 3 Woodhurst Close, Cuxton, Rochester, Kent. ZONFRILLO, B., 28 Brodie Road, Glasgow Gat 3SB. Resignations P GLENISTER, A. G. fi; ais Markus, M. { sai & ou L974 MeEpuurst, H. P. L PURCHASEN Deaths The Committee regrets to record the deaths of the following members :— Mr. R. P. Borretr Mr. K. D. Smiru iv LIST OF AUTHORS AND CONTENTS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ite _ ms a aye bg -. 49-52 Assy. "].5. Six species of birds new to Ethiopia .. a > 2% * ae 3-6 Bay iss-SMITH, T. P. A recent immigrant to Ontong Java atoll, Solomon Islands ie — § $9 BEEsLEY, J. S. S. The breeding seasons of birds in the Arusha National Park, Tanzania J.) 7 EG=20 BENSON, C. W. and Irwin, M. P. Sruartr Pachycoccyx audeberti: some addenda : 3 ry Ae. * re .. 160-161 BoswaLL, JEFFERY Supplementary Notes on the Birds of Point Tombo, Argentina... SS 33336 The Nesting of Feral Pigeons Co/umba Jivia in Trees 38-39 A Discography of Bird Sound from the Oriental Zoogeographical Region _ 170-172 Britton, P. L. Seasonal movements of the black cuckoo-shrikes eke sig and C. flava, especially in eastern Africa a ms - -. 41-47 Brooke, R. K. and Kemp, A. C. Specimen data on Bucorvus leadbeateri.. sie - 4 a .. 89-92 Brown, L. H. An address on British birds of prey (with précis) ay aT a d. 137 Brown, L. H. and B. E. The relative numbers of migrant and resident rollers in eastern Kenya .. 126-130 Burton, P. J. K. Composite nest of Short-crested Flycatcher Myzarchus ferox x oo LISTS Non-passerine bird weights from Panama and Colombia... "e .. 116-118 Button, E. L. The Common Snipe Gallinago gallinagoin Zambia... re eS ar 174 CuHaApiIn, RutH TRIMBLE Observations on Bradypterus carpalis and Bradypterus graueri ot .. 167-170 Cuapputs, C. and Erarp, C. A new race of Pectoral-patch Cisticola from Cameroun diay Mey .. 143-144 CLANcEY, P. A. The Status and Characters of the Races of the Red-backed Shrike eee in the South African Sub-Region ... 92-96 CoLEBROOK-ROBJENT, J. F. R. The breeding of the Madagascar Banded Kestrel SF 3 Es S.. LOB=1¥7 CoLEBROOK-ROBJENT, J. F. R. and OsBorng, T. O. Nesting of Verreaux’s Eagle Aguila verreauxi in Zambia 2s eS 6 166 Coiiins, CHARLEs T. The natal pterylosis of the Swallow-tanager .. ore bs a: -. I§§-157 CoMMITTEE Report for 1972... a 7 £ ie a 33 7% £3 I-2 Cooper, JOHN E. Blood parasites from a Red-chested Owlet Glaucidium tephronotum .. «ped S28 Dascupta, J. M. See MUKHERJEE Dean, W. R. J. Notes on a Lanner with malformed bill, and on hornbills feeding on oil palm fruits ze ae 1a 2 x ms! he te oe a 55 De Naurors, R. See ERARD DicKERMAN, Rosert W. A review of the Boat-billed Heron Cochlearius cochlearius a 14, .. ITI-II4 Ex.coop, J. H. Rufous phase Senegal Coucals in southwest Nigeria: an illustration of Gloger’s Rule .. = ms ig. an - ye ae a 173 Prciorr, Hucnu F. I. See THOMAS ErArRD, C. and DE Naurors, R. A new race of Thekla Lark in Bale, Ethiopia sy sf di .. I4I-142 ErRaArD, C. and Jarry, G. A new race of Thekla Lark in Harrar, Ethiopia S. <1 fy YY 135-140 See also CHAPPUIS FarKAs, T. The biology and a new subspecies of Monticola sharpei aes 44s 62 'T45-155 FARRAND, JOHN and Oxson, Srorrs L. The correct spelling of Scopoli’s specific name for the Malaysian Crested Wood Partridge (Ro//ulus) i. e ee i, ye 23 IE. E-§ 35-34 FEARE, C, J. NNumenius minutus, Falco subbuteo and Caprimulgus europaeus in the Seychelles 99-101 FIELD, G. D. Ortolan and Blue Rock Thrush in Sierra Leone a A tX 1% 208 E82 Subalpine and Grasshopper Warblers in Sierra Leone o> a b3f TOT—103 FyELDsA, JON Possible Female Hybrids between Bucephala islandica and clangula .. fe 6-9 PRosr, P..G. H. See SIEGFRIED Fay, C. H. The juvenile plumage of Pseudhirundo Briseopyga and sie) of “Vom Swallows” - é : Fi 038-139 GoopwIn, DEREK Some calls and behaviour patterns of the Plumbeous and Rufous Pigeons .. 103-108 Harrison, C. J. O. The humerus of Ichthyornis as a taxonomically isolating character .. .. 123-126 HarrIsson, Tom An illustrated address on the birds and bird cult of Easter Island .. “y 49 Ho ryoak, D. T. Notes on the birds of Rangiroa, Tuamotu Archipelago, and the surrounding Cea... ae ne + A; os af .. 26-32 INGRAM, CoLLINGwoopD Exhibition of down feathers of an Eider #3 if aN te BM 97 Irwin, M. P. Stuart See BENSON Jackson, H. D. The Cape Eagle Ow] Bubo capensis in Mocambique .. Pa, ¥. ye 10 Jarry, G. See ERARD Jent, J. R., Rumpoxt, M. A. E. and Winter, J. P. Winter bird populations of Golfo San Jose, Argentina ws oh 2. 56-63 KEITH, STUART The voice of Sarothrura insularis with further notes on members of the genus 130-136 Kemp, A. C. See BROOKE Kinc, Davip G. The birds of the Shira Plateau and west slope of Kibo, Kilimanjaro oe GAFI LAaRMUTH, JOHN Migration of Motacilla alba alba bi ne = 1 fe ep Oe MEEs, G. F. Once mote: the identity and authorship of Treron griseicauda. . si S5-(hTO—T2D MountFort, Guy An illustrated address on a visit to India, Pakistan and Nepal ate 7 49 MukueryjeEe, A. K. and Dascupra, J. M. On the taxonomic status of the genus Sauropatis Cabanis & Heine (family Alcedinidae) oa on ie e3 .. 79-81 Nicuots, Hotty A. J. and Nicnots, “Tuomas DUNCAN St. Vincent Parrot: plumage polymorphism, juvenile plumage and nidification vi Otson, Storrs L. See FARRAND, RIPLEY OsBORNE, T. O. See COLEBROOK-ROBJENT ParsLow, J. L. F. Organochlorine insecticide residues and food remains in a Bald Ibis Geronti- cus eremita chick from Birecik, Turkey iM at ay Bi -. 163-166 PuHiLuirs, ALLAN R. On the supposed genus Petrochelidon .. a “i 5 #5 a 20 Prescott, KENNETH W. First report of Pitta e. erythrogaster from Leyte : is +h e232 A small collection of birds from Muara Island, north Borneo 43 .. I§7-159 PRIGOGINE, A. The migratory movements of the Pygmy Re pee ee natalensis in the Republic of Zaire... : 5 : - .s 82489 Rrrrey, S. Ditton and O1son, Storrs L. Re-identification of Rallus “ pectoralis deignani.. HS of fe + 115 Rowan, M. K. An illustrated address on African brood parasites .. ee ne fy I RumMBOLL, M. A. E See JEHL SCHIFTER, HERBERT A specimen of Cova delalandei (Temminck) So sae in the Naturhistori- sches Museum, Vienna (Austria) i : one a ee 2-3 ScHiiz, E. Some remarks on the Lammergeyet Gypaetus barbatus in East Africa .. 161-163 SHORT, LESTER L. Remarks on the status of Campethera “‘scriptoricauda’, and related species .. 72-74 SIBLEY, CHARLES G. The Relationships of Picathartes. . i a a tay Aza 2s The Relationships of the Swallow- tanager Tersina viridis. — . “T7579 SIEGFRIED, W. Roy Wing ‘moult of Ruddy Ducks in Manitoba... ch oe w) .. 98-99 SIEGFRIED, W. Roy and Frost, P. G. H. Regular Occurrence of Porphyrula martinica in South Africa ae fel BOARS SPENCER, ROBERT An illustrated address on feeding by Siskins in gardens Sa 6 os 97 Tuomas, D. KerrH and Evztiorr, Hucu F. I. Nesting of the Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) near Dat es Salaam .. An F2I—23 VAN SOMEREN, G. R. CUNNINGHAM Tringa hypoleucos Linnaeus breeding in East Africa... ot e .. 39-40 WaLTErRsS, MICHAEL The eggs a Carpococcyx renauldi of de as ae - Hi 174 Wuire, C. M.N Diomedea canta in South African waters ih en ie 56 Migrant Pernis apivorus in the Indonesian Archipelago _ ae es ie 116 Coracina papuensis in Indonesia .. Pie Ae a os Bre .. 15§g-160 Night Herons in Wallacea aye . 4: Kg i: re .. 75-176 WINTER, J. P. See JEHL vii INDEX TO SCIENTIFIC NAMES (Compiled by the Editor with the assistance of Mrs. M. Hawksley) All generic and specific names (of birds only) are indexed. Only new subspecific names are included, and are indexed under the generic and the specific names. abbotti, Trichastoma 172 abingoni, Campethera 16, 74 abyssinica, Coracias 130 — Hirundo 17 abyssinicus, Bucorvus 89-90 Acanthis flammea 77 Acrocephalus arundinaceus 31 — atypha 31-32 — bhaeticatus 5-6 — caffra 31 — scifpaceus 102-103 Actitis macularia 117 Actophilornis africanus 12—13 acutipennis, Chordeiles 118 adustus, Alseonax 15-16 Aegithina tiphia 158-159 — vitidissima 158 aegyptiacus, Alopochen 12 aenea, Chloroceryle 118 aeneus, Dicrurus 172 aequatorialis, Apus 65, 70 aequinoctialis, Procellaria 58-59 aethereus, Phaethon 28 aethiopicus, Laniarius 16-19 Aethopyga siparaja 159 afer, Nilaus 16 — Parus 153 afine, Malacopteron 171 affinis, Sarothrura 70, 133 africana, Mirafra 14-15 africanus, Actophilornis 12-13 — Bubo 26 — Buphagus 16 Agapornis fischeri 17 aguimp, Motacilla 16 alba, Calidris 58, 63 — Chionis 35, 58, 63 — Gygis 30 — Motacilla 97-98 — Pterodroma 27 — Tyto 26 -albicollis, Corvus 66 — Nyctidromus 118 albifrons, Amblyospiza 14 — Petrochelidon 20 albigularis, Laterallus 117 — Nesofregetta 28 albiventer, Phalacrocorax 34-35, 58, 60 albiventris, Halcyon 15 albospecularis, Copsychus 152, 154 alboterminatus, Tockus 15, 55 albus, Casmerodius 58, 61 Alcedo senegalensis 79 Alopochen aegyptiacus 12 Alseonax adustus 15-16 Amazona guildingii 120-123 — ochrocephala 118 amazona, Chloroceryle 118 Amblyospiza albifrons 14 americana, Chloroceryle 118 americanus, Daptrius 117 amethystina, Chalcomitra 17-18 amicta, Nyctiornis 171 Anas capensis 12 — erythrorhynchus 12 — flavirostris 58, 61 — georgica 58, 61 — punctata 12 — spatsa.12, 7o Andropadus importunus 4 angolensis, Monticola 154 Anhinga anhinga 117 anhinga, Anhinga 117 ani, Crotophaga 118 Anorrhinus galeritus 172 Anous stolidus 29-30 — tenuirostris 29-30 anthracinus, Buteogallus 117 Anthracoceros malayanus 171 Anthreptes collaris 17-19 — malacensis 159 Anthus similis 14, 18-19, 81 — trivialis 81 Apalis flavida 16-19 apivorus, Pernis 116 Aplonis feadensis 53 Apus aequatorialis 65, 70 — caffer 17-18 — horus 17-18 — melba 65, 71 — myoptilus 7o — miansae 17-18 Aquila fasciata 10 — fapax 13 =" \Werreauxl 7O7066 Aramides cajanea 117 Archaeopteryx 125-126 ardosiaceus, Falco 108-109 argus, Argusianus 172 Argusianus argus 172 ariel, Fregata 28 Arizelocichla milanjensis 15 —)) mienceps ay armatus, Hoplopterus 14-15 arminjoniana, Pterodroma 27 aromatica, Treron 119 arquatrix, Columba 17, 19 arundinaceus, Acrocephalus 31 Asio capensis 26 astrild, Estrilda 14-15 Ateleodacnis 78 ater, Haematopus 58, 62 atratus, Coragyps 117 atriceps, Phalacrocorax 35, 58, 61 atypha, Acrocephalus 31-32 audeberti, Pachycoccyx 160-161 aura, Cathartes 117 aurantiigula, Macronyx 14-15, 19, 70 auratus, Hartlaubius 153 aurea, Jacamerops 118 australis, Megalaima 171 Oxyura 98 Tchagra 16, 18-19 Treron 17 avosetta, Recurvirostra 40 ayresii, Sarothrura 132 Aythya erythrophthalma 12 baboecala, Bradypterus 168-169 badia, Ducula 172 baeticatus, Acrocephalus 5—6 bairdii, Calidris 58, 63 Balearica regulorum 12-13 barbatus, Gypaetus 65, 68, 161-162 Pycnonotus 4, 16-19 Baryphthengus martii 118 Batis molitor 16-19 belcheri, Pachyptila 59 Belonopterus chilensis 117 bennettii, Campethera 72-74 bensoni, Monticola 145 bergii, Sterna 29 bernsteinii, Ptilinopus 120 biarmicus, Falco 55 bicalcaratus, Francolinus 144 bicolor, Spreo 153 Trichastoma 24 boehmi, Sarothrura 131 borin, Sylvia 102-103 bougainvillii, Phalacrocorax 34-35 brachyptera, Cisticola 14, 144 Bradypterus baboecala 168-169 carpalis 167-169 grandis 169 graueri 167-169 yokanae 167 bres, Criniger 171 brevicaudata, Camaroptera 16 brodiei, Glaucidium 172 brunnescens, Cisticola 64—65, 69-70, 143- 144 Bubo africanus 26 capensis 10, 69 lacteus 13, 26 Vili Buccanodon leucotis 15 Bucephala clangula 6-9 islandica 6-9 Buceros nagtglasii 120 pulchrirostris 119-120 rhinoceros 172 Bucorvus abyssinicus 89-90 leadbeateri 89-91 bullockoides, Melittophagus 16 Bulweria 28 Buphagus africanus 16 erythrorhynchus 16 Burhinus capensis 14 burtoni, Serinus 15 Busarellus nigricollis 117 Butastur rufipennis 129 Buteo magnirostris 117 oreophilus 13, 65, 68 platypterus 117 rufofuscus 13, 19, 65 Buteogallus anthracinus 117 subtilis 117 urubitinga 117 Butorides virescens 117 Bycanistes sharpii 55 cachinnans, Herpetotheres 117 caerulea, Florida 117 caffer, Apus 17-18 caffra, Acrocephalus 31 cajanea, Aramides 117 Calamocichla newtoni 133 caledonicus, Nycticorax 175 Calidris alba 58, 63 bairdii 58, 63 canutus 58, 63 fuscicollis 58, 63 melanotos 3, 6 Caloenas nicobarica 53 Calospiza 76 calvus, Geronticus 163 Camaroptera brevicaudata 16 Campephaga flava 41-43, 46-47 petiti 41 phoenicea 41, 44-47 quiscalina 41 sulphurata 16 Campephilus melanoleucos 118 Campethera abingoni 16, 74 bennettii 72-74 nubica 16, 72-74 punctuligera 72-74 scriptoricauda 72-74 cancellatus, Prosobonia 28 canicapilla, Nigrita 15 canicollis, Serinus 67 cantans, Cisticola 14, 18-19 cantillans, Sylvia 1o1 canutus, Calidris 58, 63 capense, Daption 58 ix capensis, Anas 12 — inda 118 — Asio 26 Chlorocichla flavicollis 4, 6 — Bubo 10, 69 Chloropeta natalensis 14 — Burhinus 14 Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus 16, 18-19 — Euplectes 14 chloropus, Gallinula 12 — Pelargopsis 158 Chordeiles acutipennis 118 — Zonotrichia 77 chrysaea, Stachyris 172 capicola, Streptopelia 17 Ciccaba woodfordii 26 Caprimulgus europaeus 99-101 cinclorhynchus, Monticola 149 — fossii 14, 19 cinereiceps, Ortalis 117 — fraenatus 14, 19 Cinnyricinclus leucogaster 160-161 — macrurus 172 Cinnyris mediocris 15 — poliocephalus 14, 19, 71 — venustus 17-19 cardinalis, Eos 52-53 cirlus, Emberiza 77 Carduelis citrinelloides 17-19 cirrhatus, Spizaetus 172 carpalis, Bradypterus 167-169 Cisticola 103 Carpococcyx renauldi 174 — brachyptera 14, 144 Casmerodius albus 58, 61 — brunnescens 64-65, 69-70, 143- cassinii, Leptotila 117 144 castaneiceps, Ploceus 14-15 Cisticola brunnescens mbangensis, Catharacta skua 35, 58, 63 subsp. NOV. 144 Cathartes aura 117 Cisticola cantans 14, 18-19 Catoptrophorus semipalmatus 117 — chiniana 14 caudata, Coracias 127-129 — galactotes 12-13 cauta, Diomedia 56 — hunteri 64, 66, 70 cayana, Piaya 118 — natalensis 144 cayennensis, Columba 103 — woosnami 14, 19 Cecropis 20 citrinelloides, Carduelis 17-19 celebensis, Pernis 116 clangula, Bucephala 6-9 Celeus loricatus 118 clara, Motacilla 12-13 Centropus epomidis 173 Claravis pretiosa 117 — senegalensis 173 Coccopygia melanotis 14-15 — superciliosus 14 Cochlearius cochlearius 111-113 Centurus pucherani 118 cochlearius, Cochlearius 111-113 — tubricapillus 118 Coereba 78 Cercomela sordida 64-66, 7o — flaveola 77 cerulea, Procelsterna 29 Colius striatus 16, 18-19 Ceryle torquata 118 Coliuspasser laticauda 14 Ceyx picta 82, 84-85 collaris, Anthreptes 17-19 Chalcomitra amethystina 17-18 — Lanius 16-19, 7o — senegalensis 17-18 Collocalia maxima 171 Charadrius falklandicus 35, 58, 62 collurio, Lanius 92-96 - — ~ pecuarius 14 ? Columba arquatrix 17, 19 — tricollaris 14 — cayennensis 103 — wilsonia 117 — cristata 53 cheela, Spilornis 171 — leucocephala 107 chelicuti, Halcyon 16 — livia 38-39, 107 chilensis, Belonopterus 117 — maculosa 107 — Phoenicopterus 35, 58, 61 — nigrirostris 117 — Vanellus 35, 58 — picazuro 105, 107 chimachima, Milvago 117 — plumbea 103-107 chiniana, Cisticola 14 — subvinacea 104 Chionis alba 35, 58, 63 Columbina minuta 117 Chlidonias niger 117 — talpacoti 117 Chloephaga picta 58, 61 concolor, Falco tot — tudiceps 61 Conirostrum 78 chloris, Halcyon 80, 158 Copsychus albospecularis 152, 154 |Chloroceryle aenea 118 — malabaricus 171-172 — amazona 118 — saularis 172 | — atnericana 118 Coracias abyssinica 130 i | — caudata 127-129 — garrulus 126-130 — maevia 127-130 Coracina papuensis 159 Coracopsis vasa 153 Coragyps atratus 117 coralensis, Ptilinopus 30-31 coromanda, Halcyon 80 coronatus, Stephanibyx 14 Corvus albicollis 66 — enca 172 Cossypha imerina 145 — natalensis 43 — semirufa 15 — sharpei 147 Coturnix coturnix 68 coturnix, Coturnix 68 Coua delalandei 2-3 — seftiana 3. crestatus, Eudyptes 34 Criniger bres 171 — phaeocephalus 171 cristata, Columba 53 — Fulica 12 croceus, Macronyx 144 Crotophaga ani 118 — major 118 — sulcirostris 118 cubla, Dryoscopus 15 cucullatus, Orthotomus 172 — Spermestes 14 Cuculus micropterus 171 — spartverioides 171 Cuncuma vocifer 13 cuneata, Geopelia 105 cuprea, Nectarinia 144 curtvirostra, Treron 158 cuvieri, Dryolimnas 133 cyanea, Passerina 77 Cyanerpes cyaneus 78 cyaneus, Cyanerpes 78 cyanomelas, Rhinopomastus 16 Cyanomitra olivacea 15-16 Cygnus melanocoryphus 35 Daption capense 58 Daptrius americanus 117 delalandei, Coua 2-3 demersus, Spheniscus 34 Dendroica pensylvanica 77 — petechia 77 Dendropicos fuscescens 16 Dicaeum trigonostigma 159 dickinsoni, Falco 108-109 Dicrurus aeneus 172 — paradiseus 171 Diomedia cauta 56 — melanophris 34, 58-59 Dioptrornis fischeri 16, 19 dispar, Ichthyornis 124-125 Diuca diuca 36, 77 diuca, Diuca 36, 77 dominica, Pluvialis 28 dominicanus, Larus 33, 36, 58-59, 63 dominicus, Podiceps 117 dougalii, Sterna 21 Dryocopus javensis 171 Dryolimnas cuvieri 133 Dryoscopus cubla 15 Ducula badia 172 — pacifica 53 dumetaria, Upucerthia 36 dupetithouarsii, Ptilinopus 31 duvauceli, Harpactes 172 ecaudatus, Terathopius 13 Egretta sacra 28 Elanoides forficatus 117 Electron platyrhynchum 118 elegans, Sarothrura 134-135 eleonorae, Falco 101 Emberiza cirlus 77 — hortulana 81 — tahapisi 81 enca, Corvus 172 Eos cardinalis 52-53 Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis 12-13 episcopus, Thraupis 77 epomidis, Centropus 173 eremita, Geronticus 163 Ereunetes maurfi 117 erythrocephalus, Garrulax 172 erythrogaster, Pitta 32-33 erythromelas, Piranga 76 erythrophthalma, Aythya 12 erythrorhynchus, Anas 12 — Buphagus 16 Estrilda astrild 14-15 Eucometis penicillata 77 Eudynamis taitensis 52 Eudyptes crestatus 34 Eupetes 24 Euphonia luteicapilla 77 Euplectes capensis 14 — flammiceps 161 — hordeaceus 161 europaeus, Caprimulgus 99-101 Eurostopodus temminckii 171 eurycricotus, Zosterops 15 eutygnatha, Sterna 36 Eurystomus glaucurus 16-17, 130 Falco ardosiaceus 108-109 — biarmicus 55 — concolor Io1 — dickinsoni 108-109 — eleonorae 101 — femoralis 58, 61 — newtoni 108-109 — peregrinus 13, 38, 61, 108 — _ subbuteo 99-101, 127 — zoniventris 108-111 falklandicus, Charadrius 35, 58, 62 famosa, Nectarinia 153 fasciata, Aquila 10 feadensis, Aplonis 53 femoralis, Falco 58, 61 ferox, Myiarchus 114 fischeri, Agapornis 17 — Dioptrornis 16, 19 flammea, Acanthis 77 flammiceps, Euplectes 161 flava, Campephaga 41-43, 46-47 flaveola, Coereba 77 flavicollis, Chlorocichla 4, 6 flavida, Apalis 16-19 flavipes, ‘l'ringa 117 flavirostra, Limnocorax 12 flavirostris, Anas 58, 61 — Tockus 55 flavivertex, Serinus 17-18 flavus, Xanthopsar 77 Florida caerulea 117 fluviatilis, Locustella 4, 6 forficatus, Elanoides 117 formosus, Ptilinopus 120 fortis, Geospiza 77 fossii, Caprimulgus 14, 19 fraenatus, Caprimulgus 14, 19 Francolinus bicalcaratus 144 — hildebrandti 14 — psilolaemus 70 — shelleyi 70 — squamatus 14 Fregata ariel 28 — minor 28 fringillinus, Parus 16 fringilloides, Lonchura 6 frontalis, Nonnula 118 Fulica cristata 12 fuligula, Ptyonoprogne 17-19 Fulmarus glacialoides 34, 58-59 furcata, Thalurania 118 fuscata, Sterna 29, 100 fuscescens, Dendropicos 16 fuscicollis, Calidris 58, 63 galactotes, Cisticola 12-13 Galbula ruficauda 118 Galerida modesta 144 — theklae 139-142 Galerida theklae harrarensis, subsp. nov. 139 Galerida theklae huei, subsp. nov. 141 galeritus, Anorrhinus 172 Gallinago gallinago 174 — media 174 — nigripennis 68, 174 gallinago, Gallinago 174 Gallinula chloropus 12 xi Gallus gallus 28 gallus, Gallus 28 gambensis, Plectropterus 12 Garrulax erythrocephalus 172 — mitratus 171 garrulus, Coracias 126-130 Geopelia cuneata 105 georgica, Anas 58, 61 Geospiza fortis 77 Geothlypis trichas 77 Geranoaetus melanoleucus 62 Geronticus calvus 163 — efemita 163 giganteus, Macronectes 34, 58 glacialoides, Fulmarus 34, 58-59 Glaucidium brodiei 172 — tephronotum 25-26 Glaucis hirsuta 118 glaucurus, Eurystomus 16-17, 130 goertae, Mesopicos 16 goisagi, Gorsachius 176 Gorsachius goisagi 176 — melanolophus 176 Gracula religiosa 171 grandis, Bradypterus 169 graueri, Bradypterus 167—169 gravis, Puffinus 58-59 griseicauda, Treron 119 griseopyga, Pseudhirundo 138 griseus, Puffinus 58-59 guildingii, Amazona 120-123 gularis, Monticola 149 Gygis alba 30 gymnocephalus, Picathartes 23-24 Gypaetus barbatus 65, 68, 161-162 Haematopus ater 58, 62 — leucopodus 58, 63 — palliatus 58, 62 hagedash, Hagedashia 12 Hagedashia hagedash 12 Halcyon albiventris 15 — chelicuti 16 — chloris 80, 158 — coromanda 80 — pileata 80 =) sSaneta.79—86 — _ senegalensis 79 Harpactes duvauceli 172 harrarensis, Galerida 139 hartlaubi, Tauraco 15 Hartlaubius auratus 153 Herpetotheres cachinnans 117 Hesperornis 123-125 hildebrandti, Francolinus 14 Himantopus himantopus 40 himantopus, Himantopus 40 Hippolais polyglotta 102 hirsuta, Glaucis 118 hirundinacea, Sterna 36, 58-59, 62-63 xii Hirundo 20 Lessonia rufa 36 — abyssinica 17 leucocephala, Columba 107 — senegalensis 17-18 leucocephalus, Lybius 16 — smithii 17-18 leucogaster, Cinnyricinclus 160-161 holomelaena, Psalidoprocne 15, 69 — Sula 28 Hoplopterus armatus 14-15 leuconotus, Thalassornis 12-13 hordeaceus, Euplectes 161 Leucophaeus scoresbii 35, 58, 63 hortulana, Emberiza 81 leucopodus, Haematopus 58, 62 horus, Apus 17-18 leucoptera, Pterodroma 27 huei, Galerida 141 leucopterus, Platysmurus 171-172 hunteri, Cisticola 64, 66, 70 leucopygius, Turdoides 24 Hydranassa tricolor 117 leucorodia, Platalea 124 Hylobates syndactylus 171-172 leucotis, Buccanodon 15 Hyphanturgus ocularis 14-15 Limnocorax flavirostra 12 hypoleucos, Pomatorhinus 172 Limosa lapponica 100 — Tringa 39-40 lineatum, Tigrisoma 117 livia, Columba 38-39, 107 Ichthyornis 123-126 Locustella fluviatilis 4, 6 — dispar 124-125 — naevia 1o1 imerina, Cossypha 145 Lonchura fringilloides 6 — Monticola 145, 152 longicauda, Psittacula 171 importunus, Andropadus 4 longirostris, Rhizothera 172 incana, Tringa 29 longuemareus, Phaethornis 118 inda, Chloroceryle 118 Lophonetta specularoides 58, 61 insularis, Sarothrura 130-133 loricatus, Celeus 118 intermedius, Ploceus 14 ludovicianus, Pheucticus 77 islandica, Bucephala 6—9 lugens, Sarothrura 132-133 Ispidina picta 82-83 — Streptopelia 17 lunata, Sterna 29 Jacamerops aurea 118 luteicapilla, Euphonia 77 Jacana jacana 117 Lybius leucocephalus 16 jacana, Jacana 117 — melanopterus 15 jamaicensis, Leptotila 106 — Oxyura 98-99 maccoa, Oxyura 98-99 jardineii, Turdoides 24 macrodactyla, Napothera 171 javensis, Dryocopus 171 Macronectes giganteus 34, 58 johnstoni, Nectarinia 66-67, 70 Macronyx 18 — aurantiigula 14-15, 19, 7o kenricki, Stilbopsar 15 — croceus 144 kilimensis, Nectarinia 17-19 Macropygia ruficeps 172 macrorhynchos, Notharcus 118 lacrymosum, Tricholaema 16 macrutus, Caprimulgus 172 lacteus, Bubo 13, 26 macularia, Actitis 117 Lagonosticta rubricata 14 maculata, Stachyris 171 Lalage nigra 158 maculipennis, Larus 58-59, 63 Laniarius aethiopicus 16-19 maculosa, Columba 107 Lanius collaris 16-19, 70 — Prinia 153 — collurio 92-96 madagascariensis, Rallus 133 lapponica, Limosa 100 magellanicus, Phalacrocorax 34, 58, 60 Larus dominicanus 33, 36, 58-59, 63 — Spheniscus 33-34, 58-59 — maculipennis 58-59, 63 magnirostris, Buteo 117 larvatus, Oriolus 16 major, Crotophaga 118 Laterallus albigularis 117 — Podiceps 58-59 laticauda, Coliuspasser 14 malabaricus, Copsychus 171-172 leadbeateri, Bucorvus 89-91 malacensis, Anthreptes 159 Leptotila cassinil 117 — Polyplectron 172 — jamaicensis 106 Malaconotus zeylonus 153 — rufaxilla 106 Malacopteron affine 171 — verreauxi 117 Malacoptila panamensis 118 lepturus, Phaethon 28 malayanus, Anthracoceros 171 martii, Baryphthengus 118 martinica, Porphryula 36-37 mauri, Ereunetes 117 maxima, Collocalia 171 maximus, Saltator 77 — Thalasseus 58, 63 mbangensis, Cisticola 144 media, Gallinago 174 mediocris, Cinnyris 15 Megalaima australis 171 — oofti 171 Megaloprepia 120 melanocoryphus, Cygnus 35 melanoleucos, Campephilus 118 melanoleucus, Geranoaetus 62 melanolophus, Gorsachius 175 melanophris, Diomedia 34, 58-59 melanopterus, Lybius 15 melanotis, Coccopygia 14-15 melanotos, Calidris 3, 6 melanurus, Trogon 118 melba, Apus 65, 71 Melittophagus bullockoides 16 — oreobates 15 — pusillus 16 Melocichla mentalis 14, 19 mentalis, Melocichla 14, 19 mercierii, Ptilinopus 31 Mesopicos goertae 16 micropterus, Cuculus 171 migrans, Milvus 70 milanjensis, Arizelocichla 15 Milvago chimachima 117 Milvus migrans 70 miniatus, Myioborus 77 minor, Fregata 28 minuta, Columbina 117 — Piaya 118 minutus, Numenius 99-100 Mirafra africana 14-15 mirificus, Rallus 115 mitrata, Numida 14 mitratus, Garrulax 171 modesta, Galerida 144 -modestus, Zonibyx 58 molitor, Batis 16-19 ~momota, Momotus 118 Momotus momota 118 _Monasa morphoeus 118 Monticola angolensis 154 — bensoni 145 — cinclorhynchus 149 — gularis 149 — imerina 145, 152 — frupestris 154 — saxatilis 81 — sharpei 145-154 — solitarius 81 _morio, Onychognathus 16 morphoeus, Monasa 118 Xill Motacilla aguimp 16 — alba 97-98 — clara 12-13 mozambicus, Serinus 144 Muscicapa 101 mutata, Ichitrea 153 Myiarchus ferox 114 Myioborus miniatus 77 Myiodynastes 115 myoptilus, Apus 70 Myrmecocichla nigra 144 naevia, Coracias 127-130 — Locustella to1 nagtglasii, Buceros 120 namaquus, Thripias 16-17 nana, Turnix 139 Napothera macrodactyla 171 natalensis, Chloropeta 14 — Cisticola 144 — Cossypha 43 nativitatis, Puffinus 28 nebularia, Tringa 68 Nectarinia cuprea 144 — famosa 153 — johnstonii 66-67, 70 — kilimensis 17-19 — tacazze 15 neglecta, Pterodroma 27 Nesillas typica 153 Nesofregetta albigularis 28 newtoni, Calamocichla 133 — Falco 108-109 niansae, Apus 17-18 nicobarica, Caloenas 53 niger, Chlidonias 117 nigra, Lalage 158 — Myrmecocichla 144 nigriceps, Arizelocichla 15 — Spermestes 14 nigricollis, Busarellus 117 — Stachyris 171 nigripennis, Gallinago 68, 174 nigrirostris, Columba 117 Nigrita canicapilla 15 nigrocincta, Tangara 78 Nilaus afer 16 Nonnula frontalis 118 — tuficapilla 118 Notharctus macrorhynchos 118 ot CCHS Iki nubica, Campethera 16, 72-74 Numenius minutus 99-100 Numida mitrata 14 Nyctanassa violacea 117 Nycticorax caledonicus 175 — mycticorax 58, 61, 175-176 nycticorax, Nycticorax 58, 61, 175-176 Nyctidromus albicollis 118 Nyctiornis amicta 171 Nystalus radiatus 118 occipitalis, Podiceps 58-59 oceanicus, Oceanites 58-59 Oceanites oceanicus 58-59 ochrocephala, Amazona 118 ocularis, Hyphanturgus 14-15 olivacea, Cyanomitra 15—16 — Piranga 77, 156 olivaceus, Phalacrocorax 58-59 — Picumnus 118 — Turdus 15 Onychognathus morio 16 — tenuirostris 70 — walleri 15 ootti, Megalaima 171 oreobates, Melittophagus 15 oteophilus, Buteo 13, 65, 68 Oriolus larvatus 16 — xanthonotus 172 Ortalis cinereiceps 117 Orthotomus cucullatus 172 — sepium I7I Othyphantes reichenowi 14-15 Oxyura australis 98 — jamaicensis 98-99 — maccoa 98-99 Pachycoccyx audeberti 160-161 Pachyptila 58 — belcheri 59 pacifica, Ducula 53 pacificus, Puffinus 27 palliatus, Haematopus 58, 62 palmarum, Thraupis 75, 156 paludicola, Riparia 17-18 panamensis, Malacoptila 118 papa, Sarcoramphus 117 papuensis, Coracina 159 paradiseus, Dicrurus 171 paradisi, Terpsiphone 172 Parus afer 153 — fringillinus 16 Passerina cyanea 77 patachonicus, Tachyeres 35, 58, 61 pectoralis, Rallus 115 pecuarius, Charadrius 14 Pelargopsis capensis 158 penicillata, Eucometis 77 pensylvanica, Dendroica 77 peregrinus, Falco 13, 58, 61, 108 Pernis apivorus 116 — celebensis 116 perspicillata, Pulsatrix 118 petechia, Dendroica 77 petiti, Campephaga 41 Petrochelidon albifrons 20 — pyrrhonota 20 Petrocincla 145 Peucedramus 74 xiv phaeocephalus, Criniger 171 Phaethon aethereus 28 — lepturus 28 — tubricauda 28 Phaethornis longuemareus 118 — superciliosus 118 Phalacrocorax albiventer 34-35, 58, 60 — atriceps 35, 58, 61 — bougainvillii 34-35 — magellanicus 34, 58, 60 — olivaceus 58-59 Phasianus 53 Pheucticus ludovicianus 77 phoenicea, Campephaga 41, 44-47 Phoenicopterus chilensis 35, 58, 61 Phoeniculus purpureus 16 Pholia sharpii 15 Phyllastrephus strepitans 4 Phyllolais pulchella 16 Phylloscopus sibilatrix 5—6 — trochilus 5, 102 Piaya cayana 118 — minuta 118 Picathartes gymnocephalus 23-24 picazuro, Columba 105, 107 picta, Ceyx 82, 84-85 — Chloephaga 58, 61 — Ispidina 82-83 Picumnus olivaceus 118 pileata, Halcyon 80 Piranga erythromelas 76 — olivacea 77, 156 Pitta erythrogaster 32-33 Platalea leucorodia 124 platypterus, Buteo 117 platyrhynchum, Electron 118 Platysmurus leucopterus 171 paludicola, Riparia 17-18 Plectropterus gambensis 12 Ploceus castaneiceps 14-15 — intermedius 14 — spekei 14 plumbea, Columba 103-107 Pluvialis dominica 28 Pluvianellus socialis 58, 63 Podiceps dominicus 117 — major 58-59 — occipitalis 58-59 — rolland 58-59 podiceps, Podilymbus 117 Podilymbus podiceps 117 Poliocephalus ruficollis 12-13 poliocephalus, Caprimulgus 14, 19, 71 polyglotta, Hippolais 102 Polyplectron malacensis 172 Pomatorhinus hypoleucos 172 Pomatostomus superciliosus 24 — temporalis 24 pompadora, Treron 119 Porphyrula martinica 36-37 pretiosa, Claravis 117 Prinia maculosa 153 — subflava 14, 18-19, 144 Prionops retzii 161 Procellaria aequinoctialis 58-59 Procelsterna cerulea 29 Procnias 75 Prosobonia cancellatus 28 Psalidoprocne holomelaena 15, 69 Pseudhirundo 20 — griseopyga 138 psilolaemus, Francolinus 70 Psilopogon pyrolophus 172 Psittacula longicauda 171 Pterodroma alba 27 — arminjoniana 27 — leucoptera 27 — neglecta 27 — rostrata 27 Pteroglossus torquatus 118 Ptilinopus bernsteinii 120 — coralensis 30-31 — dupetithouarsii 31 — formosus 120 — metcierli 31 — purpuratus 31 — superbus 31 Ptyonoprogne fuligula 17-19 pucherani, Centurus 118 Puffinus gravis 58-59 — griseus 58-59 — nativitatis 28 — pacificus 27 pulchella, Phyllolais 16 pulchra, Sarothrura 135 pulchrirostris, Buceros 119-120 Pulsatrix perspicillata 118 punctata, Anas 12 punctuligera, Campethera 72-74 purpuratus, Ptilinopus 31 purpureus, Phoeniculus 16 pusillus, Melittophagus 16 Pycnonotus barbatus 4, 16-19 — zeylanicus 172 pyrolophus, Psilopogon 172 pytrhonota, Petrochelidon 20 ~ Quelea 15, 69 quiscalina, Campephaga 41 tadiatus, Nystalus 118 Rallus madagascariensis 133 — mirificus 115 — pectoralis 115 — striatus 115 tapax, Aquila 13 Recurvirostra avosetta 40 regulorum, Balearica 12-13 reichenowi, Othyphantes 14-15 teligiosa, Gracula 171 XV renauldi, Carpococcyx 174 retzii, Prionops 161 rhinoceros, Buceros 172 Rhinopomastus cyanomelas 16 Rhizothera longirostris 172 Riparia 138 — paludicola 17-18 rolland, Podiceps 58-59 Rollulus rouloul 53-54 rostrata, Pterodroma 27 Rostrhamus sociabilis 117 rouloul, Rollulus 53-54 rubidiceps, Chloephaga 61 rubricapillus, Centurus 118 rubricata, Lagonosticta 14 tubricauda, Phaethon 28 tuckeri, Threnetes 118 rufa, Lessonia 36 — Sarothrura 131, 135 rufaxilla, Leptotila 106 ruficapilla, Nonnula 118 ruficauda, Galbula 118 ruficeps, Macropygia 172 ruficollis, Poliocephalus 12-13 rufipennis, Butastur 129 rufofuscus, Buteo 13, 19, 65 rufus, Trogon 118 rumicivorus, Thinocorus 35, 58, 63 rupestris, Monticola 154 sacra, Egretta 28 Saltator maximus 77 sancta, Halcyon 79-80 Sarcoramphus papa 117 Sarothrura affinis 70, 133 — ayresii 132 — boehmi 131 — elegans 134-135 — imnsularis 130-133 — lugens 132-133 — pulchra 135 — rufa 131, 135 — watertsi 132 saularis, Copsychus 172 Sauropatis 79-80 saxatilis, Monticola 81 Saxicola torquata 14-15, 18-19, 65, 69 sayaca, Thraupis 77 scirpaceus, Acrocephalus 102-103 Scopus umbretta 109 scotesbii, Leucophaeus 35, 58, 63 scriptoricauda, Campethera 72-74 Seicercus umbrovirens 15 Selenidera spectabilis 118 semipalmatus, Catoptrophorus 117 semirufa, Cossypha 15 semitorquata, Streptopelia 17, 19 senegala, Tchagra 16, 144 senegalensis, Alcedo 79 — Centropus 173 — Chalcomitra 17-18 — Ephippiorhynchus 12-13 — Halcyon 79 — Hirundo 17-18 — Stigmatopelia 17 sepiarium, Trichastoma 24 sepium, Orthotomus 171 Serinus burtoni 15 — canicollis 67 — flavivertex 17-18 — mozambicus 144 — striolatus 17-19, 64, 67-68, 70 setriana, Coua 3 sharpei, Cossypha 147 — Monticola 145-154 sharpii, Bycanistes 55 ==!) Pholia 15 shelleyi, Francolinus 7o sibilatrix, Phylloscopus 5—6 similis, Anthus 14, 18-19, 81 siparaja, Aethopyga 159 skua, Catharacta 35, 58, 63 smithii, Hirundo 17-18 sociabilis, Rostrhamus 117 socialis, Pluvianellus 58, 63 solitaria, Tringa 117 solitarius, Monticola 81 sordida, Cercomela 64-66, 70 sparsa, Anas 12, 70 spatveriodes, Cuculus 171 spectabilis, Selenidera 118 specularoides, Lophonetta 58, 61 spekei, Ploceus 14 Spermestes cucullatus 14 — nigriceps 14 Spheniscus demersus 34 — magellanicus 33-34, 58-59 Spilornis cheela 171 Spizaetus cirrhatus 172 Spreo bicolor 152 squamatus, Francolinus 14 Squatarola squatarola 100 squatarola, Squatarola 100 Stachyris chrysaea 172 — maculata 171 —- nigricollis 171 Stephanibyx 68 — coronatus 14 Sterna bergii 29 — dougalii 21 — eurygnatha 36 — fuscata 29, 100 — hirundinacea 36, 58-59, 62-63 — lunata 29 — trudeaut 58, 63 Stigmatopelia senegalensis 17 Stilbopsar kenricki 15 stolidus, Anous 29-30 strepitans, Phyllastrephus 4 Streptopelia 105 xvi — capicola 17 — lugens 17 — semitorquata 17, 19 Streptoprocne 196 striatus, Colius 16, 18-19 — Rallus 115 striolatus, Serinus 17-19, 64, 67-68, 70 subbuteo, Falco 99-101, 127 subflava, Prinia 14, 18-19, 144 subtilis, Buteogallus 117 subvinacea, Columba 104 Sula leucogaster 28 — sula 28 sula, Sula 28 sulcirostris, Crotophaga 118 sulfureopectus, Chlorophoneus 16, 18-19 sulphurata, Campephaga 16 superbus, Ptilinopus 31 superciliosus, Centropus 14 — Phaethornis 118 — Pomatostomus 24 Sylvia borin 102-103 — cantillans 101 Sylvietta whytii 16, 19 syndactylus, Hylobates 171-172 tacazze, Nectarinia 15 Tachyeres patachonicus 35, 58, 61 tahapisi, Emberiza 81 taitensis, Eudynamis 52 talpacoti, Columbina 117 Tanagra violacea 156-157 Tangara 76-77, 155 — nigrocincta 78 Tauraco hartlaubi 15 Tchagra australis 16, 18-19 — senegala 16, 144 Tchitrea mutata 153 — viridis 15-16, 18-19 tectus, Notharctus 118 temminckii, Eurostopodus 171 temporalis, Pomatostomus 24 tenuirostris, Anous 29-30 — Onychognathus 70 tephronotum, Glaucidium 25-26 Terathopius ecaudatus 13 Terpsiphone paradisi 172 Tersina viridis 75-78, 155-157 Thalasseus maximus 58, 63 Thalassornis leuconotus 12-13 Thalurania furcata 118 theklae, Galerida 139-142 Thinocorus 75 — fumicivorus 35, 58, 63 Thraupis 155 — episcopus 77 — palmarum 75, 156 — sayaca 77 Threnetes ruckeri 118 Thripias namaquus 1¢—17 —=——- —— =. a Tigrisoma lineatum 117 tiphia, Aegithina 158-159 Tockus 171 — alboterminatus 15, 55 — flavirostris 55 torquata, Ceryle 118 — Saxicola 14-15, 18-19, 65, 69 torquatus, Pteroglossus 118 Treron aromatica 119 — australis 17 — curvirostra 158 — griseicauda 119 — pompadora 119 trichas, Geothlypis 77 Trichastoma abbotti 172 — bicolor 24 — sepiarium 24 Tricholaema lacrymosum 16 tricollaris, Charadrius 14 tricolor, Hydranassa 117 trigonostigma, Dicaeum 159 Tringa flavipes 117 — hypoleucos 39-40 — incana 29 — nebularia 68 — solitaria 117 trivialis, Anthus 81 trochilus, Phylloscopus 5, 102 Trogon melanurus 118 — tufus 118 — viridis 118 trudeaui, Sterna 58, 63 Turdoides jardineii 24 — leucopygius 24 Turdus olivaceus 15 Turnix 75 — nana 139 Tympanistria tympanistria 15 tympanistria, Tympanistria 15 typica, Nesillas 153 xvii Tyto alba 26 umbretta, Scopus 109 umbrovirens, Seicercus 15 Upucerthia dumetaria 36 urubitinga, Buteogallus 117 Vanellus chilensis 35, 58 vasa, Coracopsis 153 venustus, Cinnyris 17-19 vertreauxi, Leptotila 117 — Aquila 70, 166 violacea, Nyctanassa 117 — Tanagtra 156-157 virescens, Butorides 117 vitidis, Tchitrea 15-16, 18-19 — Tersina 75-78, 155-157 — Trogon 118 viridissima, Aegithina 158 vocifer, Cuncuma 13 walleri, Onychognathus 15 watersi, Sarothrura 132 whytii, Sylvietta 16, 19 wilsonia, Charadrius 117 woodfordii, Ciccaba 26 woosnami, Cisticola 14, 19 xanthonotus, Oriolus 172 Xanthopsar flavus 172 yokanae, Bradypterus 167 zeylanicus, Pycnonotus 172 zeylonus, Malaconotus 153 Zonibyx modestus 58 zoniventris, Falco 108-111 Zonotrichia capensis 77 Zostetops eurycricotus 15 - & UU eee f Corrigenda p. 11, line 47: ‘rising’, not ‘tising’ p. 13, line 25: “Motacilla’, not ‘Moticilld’ p. 14, table 4: ‘hi/debrandti’ not ‘hildebranti’ p. 15, table 5: ‘S¢z/bopsar’, not ‘Stilbospar’ ; ‘mediocris’ not ‘mediocria’. p. 15, last line: ‘observation’, not ‘obesrvation’; ‘carried’, not ‘varried’. p. 16, table 6: ‘/acrymosum, not ‘lachrymosum p. 17, table 7: ‘Ptyonoprogne’, not “Pytonoprogne’ p. 19, line 30: ‘Carduelis’, not ‘Cardeuelis’ p. 23, line 22: ‘nesting’, not ‘nestling’ p. 29, line 13: “bergii’, not ‘bergi’ p. 34, line 49: ‘bougainvillii’, not ‘bouganivillii’ pp. 36-37: ‘Olson’, not ‘Ohlson’ (in paper by Frost & Siegfried) p 43, line 33: ‘east of’, not ‘33° to’ p. 43, line 37: ‘Amani’, not ‘Amari’ p. 44, line 20: ‘356’, not ‘351’ p. 45, line 24: ‘May’, not ‘Mat’ p. 53: In title to paper by Farrand & Olson, ‘Malaysian’, not ‘Maylaysian’ p. 65, line 21: ‘Rodents’, not ‘Rodent’ p. 88, line 9: To re-read ‘same time, and integration is possible. Attention is drawn to’ p. 97: In title to paper by Larmuth, ‘a/ba’, not ‘alha’ p. 153, line 27: ‘Tchitrea’, not ‘Tchitra’ p. 172, line 8: ‘aeneus’, not ‘aenus’ sos - i The Caxton & Holmesdale Press, Sevenoa: cs us Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club Edited by C. W. BENSON Volume 93 No. 1 March 1973 Committee Sit Hugh Elliott, Bt., 0.B.z. (Chairman) J. H. Elgood (Vice-Chairman) C. W. Benson, 0.3.z. (Editor) R. E. F, Peal (Hon. Secretary) P. Tate (Hon. Treasurer) J. K. Adams Dr. P. J. K. Burton P. Hogg C. J. Mead Bulletin of the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Vol. 93 No. 1 Published: 20th March, 1973 The six hundred and eightieth meeting of the Club was held at the Café Royal, 69 Regent Street, London, W.1, on Tuesday, 16th January, 1973 at 7 p.m. Chairman: Sit Hugh Elliott, Bt., 0.B.E.; present 14 members and 8 guests. The speaker was Mrs. M. K. Rowan, who gave an illustrated address on African brood parasites. The Annual General Meeting of the Club will be held at the Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, London, W.1 on Tuesday, 8th May, 1973 at 6 p.m. AGENDA 1. Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting. 2. Report of the Committee and Accounts for 1972. 29 a5 3. The Bulletin. Rye ae 4. Election of Officers: Yo. j (a) The Committee proposes that Mr. R. F. Peal be re-eleeted Honoraty Secretary. . (b) The Committee proposes that Mr. P. Tate be re-elected Honorary Treasurer. (c) The Committee proposes that Mr. J. H. R. Boswall be elected a member of the Committee vice Mr. J. K. Adams. by order of the Committee, RONALD E. F. PEAT? Ffonorary Secretary. Report of the Committee for 1972 In January, March and May, the meetings of the Club were held at the Criterion, in Piccadilly Circus, but with the closing-down of the Criterion wete transferred, for the July, September and November meetings, to the not far distant Café Royal. The total number of members and guests attending showed a welcome increase to 191 (138 in 1971), the highest since 1967 (193). This may be a reflection of the convenient situation and good value of the present venue; it is hoped that attendance will continue at the present level or show a further increase in 1973, since the favourable dinner- i of {1.75 per head including service is partly dependent on that factor. _ The Committee regrets to report the death of one member during the year, Mr. R. E. Heath. Ten new members joined the Club, but there were six resignations and the membership of 17 members has had to be terminated under Rule 4, a nett loss of 14 members. This may be regarded as a further, but it is to be hoped final, reaction to the increased subscription introduced In 1971, the total loss of membership over the two years being about 10%. ‘It is important that this should now be made good as quickly as possible, ‘since a membership of the order of 275 (about 50 more members than at ! I ’ present), combined if possible with some increase in the number (at present about 80) of non-member subscribers, would certainly be the surest means of | achieving financial stability. At the Annual General Meeting on 9th May, Mr. P. Hogg was elected to the Committee in place of Mrs. J. D. Bradley, who retired by rotation. A ~ major change approved by the Meeting and implemented by a decision of the © Committee in October was that publication of the Bu//etin (which in 1972 — still comprised 172 pages and, technically, six issues, although there was in fact a ‘June/August’ double number) should be placed on a quarterly basis in 1973. One result of this economy measure is that the Audited Accounts for — 1972 cannot be circulated with the present Report, but will have to be tabled separately at the 1973 Annual General Meeting. It is proposed, however, to revert in future years to the pre-1969 practice of publishing the Report and Accounts, as well as the Minutes of the A.G.M., in the Buw//etin. The four — pages used for this purpose will be additional, thus increasing the length of ~ each annual volume of the Bu//etin to 176 pages. In general the Club’s financial position showed a further slight improve- © ment in 1972, but this, as explained at the Annual General Meeting (see™ Bulletin Vol. 92: 3 & 4), was largely due to the completion of the sorting of | Bulletin stocks and the consequent resumption of back number sales (which § included a considerable backlog of orders). It would be unrealistic to suppose | that this level of sales can be maintained in future years, so that as already | indicated some increase of membership, supplemented by the continuing © exercise of the strictest economy (as exemplified by the quarterly publication | of the Bulletin), remain essential. if A specimen of Coua delalandei (Temminck) (Cuculidae) ; in the Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna (Austria) — by Herbert Schifter Received 26th September 1972 Benson & Schiiz (1971) have mentioned the existence of a specimen of Coa } delalandei in the Staatliches Museum fur Naturkunde, Stuttgart, not listed by | Greenway (1967). There is also a mounted specimen of this species, believed | to be extinct, in the Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna. Neither was this | specimen listed by Greenway (1967), nor by Luther (1970), although it was_ included by Sassi (1939) in his contribution on rare birds in the Vienna | Museum. The Vienna specimen of Cowa delalandei, no. NMW 50810, was bought by | Johann Natterer in 1840 during his journey to France and England, when he) visited museum collections and dealers in natural history objects (Roki- tansky 1957). Its acquisition number is 1844.1.252 in the collection brought} back by Johann Natterer, comprising more than 500 specimens acquired from 28 different sources. At this time (1844) Joseph Natterer, the elder, brother of Johann, was curator of the ornithological collections in the} museum. Unfortunately the specimen does not bear an exact date of collec- ting. It is merely marked “1840”, with the epithets “Evans” and ‘“‘Madagas-| cat’. The name Evans does not appear in the list of specimens acquired, although it is mentioned at the end of the list together with the names of other dealers, with the remark that seven specimens were acquired from this] source. So it is not possible to ascertain which are the other six specimens obtained from Evans, although it is likely that other specimens from Madagascar in the collection were obtained from other dealers, such as Verreaux. The species are listed in a systematic sequence, so that the ‘specimens from various sources are mixed. The date 1840 on the label of the C. delalandei cannot be regarded as that of collecting, but merely that of acquisition. Nevertheless it is possible that this specimen, and the one in Stuttgart, were collected later than 1834, although neither Jouanin (1962) nor Greenway (1968) could find evidence of one obtained later. The Vienna specimen is still in good condition, even though in the past it has undoubtedly been on public exhibit. In the list of acquisitions another specimen appears under the name of this species, no. 1844.1.253. Sassi (1939) referred to it as having been perhaps lost ot given away in exchange. I have ascertained that it is still in the collection. It is not however a Coua delalandei but a C. serriana. It was not identified to species originally, the name C. serriana having been added on the label later. As Pucheran’s description of C. serriana is dated 1845, the specimen was received in Vienna before the species had been named. The name “Richard” appears on the original label, so that it does not appear to have come from the same source as the C. de/a/andei. Although it was without doubt originally mounted, it is now kept as a study skin. To summarise, attention is re-drawn to the existence of a specimen of Coua delalandei in the Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna, but there is no evidence that a second specimen was ever acquired, as has been claimed. References: Benson, C. W. & Schiiz, E. 1971. A specimen of Coua delalandei (Temminck) (Cuculidae). Bull, Brit. Orn, Cl. 91: 159-160. Greenway, J. C. 1967. Extinct and vanishing birds of the world. Revised ed’n. New York: Dover Publications. Jouanin, C. 1962. Inventaire des oiseaux éteints ou en voie d’extinction conserves au Muséum de Paris. Terre Vie 109: 257-301. Luther, D. 1970. Die ausgestorbenen vogel der welt. Wittenberg Lutherstadt: Neue Brehm Bicherei no. 424. Rokitansky, G. 1957. Johann Natterer, Erster Ornithologe Oesterreichs. Journ. Ornith. 98: 133-144. Sassi, M. 1939. Die wertvollsten Stiicke der Wiener Vogelsammlung. Amn, Naturhistor. Mus. Wien 50: 395-409. Six species of birds new to Ethiopia by J. S. Ash Received 28th September 1973 Three of the following six species, not previously recorded in Ethiopia, have been discovered since the publication of the recent Checklist (Urban & Brown 1971); the other three were included just prior to going to press. Calidris melanotos, American Pectoral Sandpiper: One was observed feeding at dawn along the western shore of the artificial Rift Valley lake, formed by a dam, at Koka (8° 27’ N, 39° 6’ E), Shoa Province, Ethiopia, on 18th March 1971. It had not been seen on the previous 13 days. I had another Opportunity to look for it in the late afternoon, when it was found again in the same place and collected. It proved to be a male with regressed gonads, with wing-length 148 mm and weight 67.4 g. The specimen is deposited at the Smithsonian Institution, where Dr. George E. Watson has kindly confirmed the identification. There are now ten examples of this Nearctic Species to be recorded on the African continent, and eight of them are from south of the Sahara. The previous records have been one each in Kenya, 3 Botswana and Rhodesia, two in Morocco and four in South Africa; all since — 1949 (Ginn & Brooke 1971; Kemp 1972). It seems likely that this and the other birds from south of the Sahara were ~ displaced across the north Atlantic on autumn passage and continued south to overwinter in tropical Africa. If such displaced birds return north in the Palearctic spring, they could account for some of the spring occurrences in Europe. Excluding the two Moroccan records, it is of interest that the others, except for one bird in South Africa in December, occurred in March—May. Chlorocichla flavicollis, Yellow-Throated Leaf-Love: The Pycnonotidae, of which about 33 species are currently recognized in East Africa, is a poorly ~ represented family in Ethiopia. Until the present species was found, only three others were known: Pycnonotus barbatus common and widespread, Andropadus importunus in the south-east and Phyllastrephus strepitans common ~ in parts of the south (Urban & Brown 1971). It is possible that others remain to be identified in the south-western forests (Brown & Urban 1970) and along the Wabi Shabelli in southern Ogaden (personal observations). The present species was first found at Didessa (9° 02’ N, 36° 09’ E), Wollega Province, in a mist net on 25th July 1971. Since then six further examples have been caught as follows :— Date Wing (mm) Weight(g) Time Wing Moult 25 July 70 106 44-9 1600 Nil 18 February 71 103 38.6 2130 23 February 71 104 Ase z 1100 6 July 71 107 45-8 1130 7 July 71 104 37+7 0700 8 July 71 94 38.8 1700 Nil 9 July 71 98 se 1400 6 February 72* 4 0830 Nil 9 *Retrap of the bird caught on 8th qe 1971. All the birds were caught along the sides of two small streams, along which there are a few trees and a thick underscrub, on the edge of the plateau above the Didessa River gorge. The species could be quite widespread in the abundant similar habitat in this region. Two specimens examined at the British Museum by Mrs. B. P. Hall and Mr. Derek Goodwin are identified as C. f. soror but are stated to be greener — on the back than neighbouring forms and show some approach to palii-— digula, being a very little more yellowish on throat and underparts than most — of the specimens of savor in the British Museum. 4 The Didessa birds represent a considerable extension of the known range | of the species, north-eastwards into the Ethiopian highlands from Uganda. | Locustella fluviatilis, River Warbler: Urban & Brown (1971) stated that the 4 River Warbler “should occur in Ethiopia but has not been recorded as yet”. — It is therefore of interest to record five examples in two autumns at Lake Abiata (7° 36’ N, 38° 40’ E) in the Ethiopian Rift Valley. Three of these were | collected and one each deposited in the collections of the British Museum | and Smithsonian Institution. The records are as follows :— | Date Age Wing (mm) Weight (gz) Time Wing Moult | 29 October 70 i ae ay 17°6 1730 Nil ! 30 October 70 ? 77 18.5 1030 Nil 31 October 71 TY}. “ua sg leyy I100 Nil 13 October'71 ? 69 14-8 1100 Nil 22 October 71 ? 74 18.0 1030 Nil The timing of migration is of interest. In 1970 the area was worked from roth October to znd November, and the birds were captured in the last three days of October. The 1971 records, when the area was worked from 12th October to 2nd November, were much earlier. R. J. Dowsett informs me (¢m /itt.) that arrivals in Kenya seem to be about mid-December, and in Zambia later in the month, so that there may be an interval of about two months before these birds traverse the relatively short distance to their wintering areas. So far there is no evidence that this species occurs in Ethiopia in mid winter, in spite of extensive work in suitable habitat. The Abiata birds were found in thick herbaceous growth adjoining a river and lake. Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Wood Warbler: It is curious that the Wood Warbler has not been recorded previously in Ethiopia (Urban & Brown 1971) for the species is well-known further west and south (Mackworth-Praed & Grant 1955) and at a roughly similar latitude in West Africa (e.g. Dowsett & Fry 1971). A specimen was netted, ringed and released, on 1st May 1971 ina small area of deciduous woodland located on the periphery of a flood plain of the River Awash where it flows through the Danakil Desert. The area is known as Bahadu (10° 05’ N, 40° 37’ E), near Gewani (=Gauani), Harar Province in eastern Ethiopia. It was easily identified among the few Willow Warblers Phy//oscopus trochilus by the moss-green coloration of its upper parts and yellow breast demarcated from the white of the rest of the underparts. Its diagnostic wing formula (short 1st primary, znd=4th, 3rd longest, 3rd and 4th only emar- ginated) confirmed this, and it weighed 11.2 g at 1130; wing-length 71 mm. Acrocephalus baeticatus, African Reed Warbler: The African Reed Warbler was included in the recent Checklist (Urban & Brown 1971) on the basis of a specimen I collected in 1970. There are now records of six more birds from two localities, and it seems appropriate to summarize these here as they represent a notable eastwards extension of the species’ known range. Summary of records in chronological order: Date Wing (mm) Weight(g) Time Locality 22 April 70 55 Tad 0930 Bahadu 13 March 71 55 a3 1630 Koka 3 May 71 55 8.0 1630 Bahadu 6 May 71 56 8.1 0800 Bahadu 7 May 71* 55 8.1 0800 Bahadu 23 November 71 57 8.0 1030 Bahadu 27 March 72 56 7°9 0730 Koka z Jiptil 72 58 79 0830 Koka 4 April 72 Sot m Has 0730 Koka *Retrap of the bird caught on 3rd May 1971. **Retrap of the bird caught on 27th March 1972. Bahadu (10° 05’ N, 40° 37’ E) is an area of permanent marshland on a flood-plain on the River Awash, where it flows through the western Danakil desert in eastern Ethiopia, close to Gewani in Harar Province. The area at Koka (8° 27’ N, 39° 06’ EB), in the Rift Valley in Shoa Province, is thick lakeside acacia bush. The first Ethiopian specimen was deposited in the British Museum where it was determined by Mrs. B. P. Hall as agreeing with the western form A. b. cinnamomeus. Prior to the discovery of the species in Senegal, its northern range was only known to extend from the region of Lake Chad to the Nile 5 Valley. With its occurrence in Ethiopia and Senegal its range extends across the width of Africa, although there is still a large gap between the Senegal and Nigerian localities. The species is apparently rare in Ethiopia, for these are the only examples found in spite of intensive trapping and observation at Bahadu, Koka and other suitable localities at different seasons of the year. Because of their small size they may elude capture by slipping through all except small mesh mist nets, and so may be more numerous than the captures indicate. Lonchura fringilloides, Magpie Mannikin: Two birds seen together briefly on 24th July 1971 at Didessa (9° 02’ N, 36° 09’ E) were judged to be this species. Two nets were placed in the vicinity, and caught three together later in the day. None of this species has been seen since during several visits extending over many weeks at different times of the year. Identification of one bird has been confirmed by Mrs. B. P. Hall at the British Museum. The weights of the three birds at 1400 were: 19.8, 21.3 and 20.2 g, and all had wing-lengths of 63 mm and were moulting their remiges. The actual locality was on the plateau just above the east side of the — Didessa River gorge in high grass (Hyparrhenia sp.) in a large area of cleared Combretum|Terminaha woodland. There were a very few scattered trees — remaining. Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1955) give the range of the species in East Africa as southern Sudan, Uganda and Kenya to the Zambesi and Zanzibar Island; its range extends westwards as far as Senegal. Summary: The first known occurences in Ethiopia of Caldris melanotos, Chlorocichla flavicollis, Locustella fluviatilis, Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Acrocephalus baeticatus and Lonchura fringilloides are detailed. Acknowledgements: | wish to extend my thanks to Dr. George E. Watson of the Smithsonian Institution and to Dr. J. R. Schmidt of U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3, Field Facility, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under. whose auspices this work was undertaken, and whom together with Mr. kK. D. Smith commented on a draft of these notes; also to Mr. Derek Good- win and Mrs. B. P. Hall of the British Museum (Natural History), through the courtesy of Dr. D. W. Snow, for their comments on the specimens they examined. References: . Brown, L. H. & Urban, E. K. 1970. Bird and mammal observations from the forests of — southwest Ethiopia. Waalia 2: 13-40. Dowsett, R. J. & Fry, C. H. 1971. Weight losses of trans-Saharan migrants. /b7s 113: 531-533. : Ginn, P. J. G. & Brooke, R. K. 1971. The American Pectoral Sandpiper in Africa. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. gi: 125-126. Kemp, A. C. 1972. A further southern African report of the American Pectoral Sandpiper. Bull, Brit, Orne Ci. 92%: 23% : Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1955. African handbook of birds. Series I, Vol. 2. London: Longmans. Urban, E. K. & Brown, L. H. 1971. A checklist of the birds of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: Haile — i Selassie I University Press. 4 Possible Female Hybrids : between Bacephala islandica and clangula > by Jon Fijeldsa Received 2nd October 1972 Three seasons of field work at Lake Myvatn, Iceland, aroused my interest in the status of the Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula in that area. State- 6 ments in the literature referring to this species breeding in Iceland are un- reliable, and based mainly on one very doubtful sight record, and one wrongly identified specimen (Gardarsson 1968). However, in recent years males have been found to winter regularly in south-west Iceland and may be seen there together with unidentified females, or immature birds. It appears further from the intensive ornithological investigation of Lake Myvatn since 1960 (Gardarsson 1968, S. A. Bengtson, pers. com., J. Fjeldsa) that some males are present there every summer, mainly in flocks of male Barrow’s Goldeneyes Bucephala islandica. | have never seen males of the Common Goldeneye mated to a female or defending territories in Myvatn. Neverthe- less, I deemed it worth while to make a thorough search for female Common Goldeneyes or hybrid specimens in the large series from Myvatn at the Zoological Museum of the University of Copenhagen, collected mainly by R. Hjorring and G. Dinesen at the turn of the century. All measurements given below are from the Copenhagen collections. At the first examination in September 1971 one female was put aside as a possible hybrid. After having read about a hybrid male B. zs/andica x clangula seen in Myvatn in 1970 by Bengtson (1972), I resumed my revision of the collection. Among a total of 288 Goldeneyes examined, two may be hybrids. These are a juvenile 9, Merrymeeting Bay, Maine, U.S.A. 30.10.1922 (ZMUC 69022) and an adult 9, Myvatn, Iceland, 27.6.1907 (ZMUC 59275). So far only hybrid males have been described in the literature (Snyder 1953: Schultz 1958: Jackson 1959: Bengtson 1972), probably because possible female hybrids will be virtually indistinguishable. Skins of female and juvenile Common and Barrow’s Goldeneyes are very similar in general appearance although there are several slight differences, discussed particularly by Brooks (1920). Barrow’s are generally larger. In adult females the average wing length is 215-++3 mm, as against 211-+4 mm in B. clangula americana, and 199-+-6 mm in B. clangula clangula. Generally, the female Barrow’s have slightly darker heads with a slight purplish lustre; the neck is less white; the grey bar across the breast is broader; on the frontal median wing coverts the white fringes are mainly 5 mm broad, while in the Common Goldeneye some feathers have 8 mm long white tips. In juvenile Barrow’s the corresponding feathers are fringed with light or pale mouse grey, not whitish. The black tipping of the greater wing coverts is an un- reliable distinction. The most clear cut difference is the colour and the shape of the bill. In the female Barrow’s pink coloration extends backwards to below the nostril. Seen from above the bill is more tapering. The ratio of bill-width adjacent to the posterior angle of the nostrils, to the width, 5 mm anterior to nostrils, averages 1.26-+0.05, while in the Common Goldeneye it averages 1.09 +0.03. There is a slight overlap. There is a lump on the culmen, anterior to the nostrils, although this character is shown also by some Goldeneyes. According to Ridgway (1887) the ratio of the height of the upper mandible at the base to the length, from loral feather edge to anterior edge of nostrils (see Fig.) > is 1 in Barrow’s, <1 in the Common Goldeneyes. The reliability of this character is disproved by Brooks (1920) and in the present paper (ratio C/D in Figure). The bill nail of adult Barrow’s is 6.8 — 10.8, averaging 8.8-++0.7 mm wide, rounded to form a noticeable lump, while narrower 3.7 — 6.9, averaging 5.3.0.6 mm, more parallel- sided and flat in Common Goldeneyes. The number of lamellae in the mandible (which cannot be counted accurately as most anterior ones are rudimentary) is 29-33, averaging 31.0 in Barrow’s, while at 33 — 37, in Com- 7 “5 2 09 fs J f ‘ “Gf Se 8S Fo20 Scatter diagram for the relative height of the bill (C/D) and the relative breadth of the bill nail (A/B) of Barrow’s (solid symbols) and Common Goldeneyes (open symbols) examined. Pulli, juveniles and adults are lumped together. It is indicated on the drawing of the Bar- row’s bill, how the measurements were taken. Two possible hybrid females are indicated by figures 1 and 2. 7 rie Rares ? a“ % 0.8 3 oe e : ° $ P é¢ 2? eo aa ¢ ? ? ¢ r ¢ a ? <= = a7 °@ ° Bucephala islandica <= 9? 2 BG Se? & RS : 3 ad ge8 gose a : hs ONE aS 0.6 7, ¢ ae Fs a % . id % bi a can of : $ 298 $0 0.7 fie: or a Shy 38S io" Fo a s TY Wo od J ad¢ : : ; o4 Fs Me 7? | " F Bucephala clangula ; : Mi 0 { Ratio C/D | Figure . 1 4 ; mon Goldeneyes it averages 35.3. Gardarsson (1968, fig 1) separated the © species by plotting the width of the bill nail against the width of the bill, — adjacent to the anterior end of the nostrils. As the bill is more tapering in Barrow’s, I found the ratio of bill nail width, to the width between the anterior angle of the nostrils, a still more reliable character. The distance between the nostrils is similar in both species. In the diagram all specimens examined, including pulli and juveniles, are plotted according to the above mentioned ratio, and the ratio of Ridgway. It is indicated on the drawing of — the Barrow’s bill, how the measurements are taken. Sliding callipers, ac- curacy 0.1 mm, were used. Specimens found near the dividing line were — measured up to ten times. Specimens which are by colour of bill and plumage, — best referred to Barrow’s, are plotted by solid symbols, those best referred to Common Goldeneye, by open symbols. 8 The two species appear to be well separated in this way. The dots at the top of each “‘dot-swarm’’, are mainly downy young, or juveniles not fully grown, and deserve therefore, less attention. Only two specimens already mentioned remain problematic by an odd combination of bill- and plumage- characters. These are indicated by figures on the diagram. Specimen No. 1, ad. 9 from Myvatn (ZMUC 59275), with brood patch» would be placed with “‘7s/andica’”’ on colour and a wing length of 217 mm. It corresponds well to other /s/andica females shot in midsummer. The white edges of the median wing coverts average 6.5 mm wide, i.e. slightly more than in /s/andica; but still the closed wing gives a more black and white variegated, less white appearance. However, the bill nail is only 6.8 mm wide (ratio A/B 0.70), elevated, but with distinct parallel sides; the bill has not the typical tapering; ratio of bill width adjacent to posterior angle of nostrils to the bill-width, 5 mm anterior to nostrils, is 1.18, which is at the lowet extreme of Barrow’s. The mandible has 34 lamellae, and this is the largest number found in specimens labelled as Barrow’s. Specimen No. 2, juv. 2 from Maine (ZMUC 69022), has mainly “c/angula americana’ characters; wing length 209 mm; narrower breast bar; the median wing coverts with 4 mm wide tops of greyish white; the larger coverts with narrow fuscous tips; bill sides parallel, although the ratio given for tapering is 1-14, which is at the upper extreme of Common Goldeneye. The nail is 6.8 mm broad (ratio A/B 0.76), and the mandible has 34 lamellae. Among two hybrid males collected (Snyder 1953; Jackson 1959), one had a bill corresponding to that of the Myvatn 9, the other one a bill corres- ponding to the Maine juv. 9. Judging from these combinations of characters the above females may be hybrids, although this cannot, of course, be stated with certainty. They have one thing in common. They are from regions where only one Goldeneye species is known to breed definitely, but where the other species is a regular visitor. This applies also to the male hybrids described in the literature (British Columbia, Seattle, New Brunswick, Myvatn). Barrow’s Goldeneye breeds mainly on the Pacific Coast and in the Rocky Mountains of Canada; while in the coniferous zone east of the mountains it is replaced by the Common Goldeneye; and there are very localised populations of Barrow’s only north of the timber line in northern Labrador, and maybe in the Godthab district in West Greenland, and 800~—1,000 pairs at Lake Myvatn. No abnormal specimens were found in the series from east of the Atlantic, where stragglers of Barrow’s are extremely rare. Thus, hybrids may arise ~ occasionally by males forming mixed pairs in regions where they do not find conspecific prospective mates. Thanks are due to Mrs. F. M. Benson and to Mr. R. Wagstaffe, for kindly checking the text of this paper, and to Dr. F. Salomonsen for critical discussion. References : Bengtson, S. A. 1972. An apparent hybrid between Barrow’s Goldeneye Bucephala islandica and the Common Goldeneye B. clangula in Iceland. Bull. Brit. Orn: Cl. 92: 100-101. Brooks, A. 1920. Notes on some American ducks. Avk 37: 353-367. Gardarsson, A. 1968. Hvinendur a islandi og nokkur ord um akvordun hvinendar. Naf- turufraedingum 37: 76-92. Jackson, M. F. 1959. A hybrid between Barrow’s and Common Goldeneyes. Auk 76. 92-94. Ridgway, R. 1887. A manual of North American Birds. Philadelphia, 631 pp., 124 plates. Schultz, Z. M. 1958. Sight record of a hybrid male goldeneye. Murrelet 38: 11. Snyder, L. L. 1953. An apparently hybrid goldeneye. Wilson Bull. 65: 199. B 9 The Cape Eagle Owl Budo capensis in Mocambique by H. D. Jackson Received 13th October 1972 When Benson & Irwin (1967) reviewed the distribution and systematics of Bubo capensis, the species had not been recorded satisfactorily in Mocambique. It had, however, been taken in the Inyanga highlands of Rhodesia not far — from the Mocambique border and this led Clancey (1971) to postulate its occurrence along the entire mountainous part of the Mocambique/Rhodesia frontier area. This frontier includes the Chimanimani Mountains, a rugged range of quartzite and micaceous schist, and when visiting these mountains in May 1972 I indeed heard B. capensis calling near the Mevumosi River in Mocgambique (Jackson, in press). Confirmation of its presence in the Chimani- mani Mountains was obtained when I secured a specimen on 11th August — 1972 near the Mucrera River, Mocambique, at 19° 53’ S., 33° 03’ E., and altitude 1,500 m. Two or three pairs were heard calling frequently within — 5 km of my camp during the four weeks that I was there. The specimen is an adult female taken in breeding condition, the largest — oocyte measuring 6 mm and the brood patch being devoid of feathers. Wing (409 mm) and tail (232 mm) measurements together with the reduction of barring on the lower abdomen and thighs show it to be B. c¢. mackinderi as would be expected on distributional grounds (see Benson & Irwin, 1967). It weighed 1,540 g (to the nearest g on an Ohaus Dial-O-Matic). An entire leg of the Red Rock Hare Pronolagus crassicandatus was found in the bird’s oesophagus; I am obliged to V. J. Wilson, National Museum, Bulawayo, for confirming the identity of the prey. The enormous foot of B. capensis saggests that it habitually preys on animals of this size; the maxi- mum spread of the toes, measured in life from the tip of the middle claw to — the tip of the hind claw, was 103 mm. Its foot is considerably larger than that of B. africanus and is comparable with that of the African Hawk Eagle Aquila fasciata. Bubo capensis is clearly a highly rapacious species. References: Benson, C. W. & Irwin, M. P. S. 1967. The distribution and systematics of Bubo capensis Smith (Aves). Arnoldia ( Rhodesia) 3(19). Clancey, P. A. 1971. A handlist of the birds of southern Mogambique. Mems Inst. Invest. Cient. Mogamb. A, 10: 145-303; 11: 1-167. Jackson, H. D. In press. Sight records of some birds and mammals in the central Chimani- mani Mountains of Mocambique and Rhodesia. Durban Mus. Novit. The breeding seasons of birds in the Arusha National Park, Tanzania Dy PESOS Reeve Received gth October 1972 INTRODUCTION This paper is intended to be a companion to a paper by Beesley (in press), in which the birds and their habitats in this area were described in detail. Breeding records were few, however, and during the thirteen months be- — tween 1st April 1971 and 30th April 1972 a great deal of effort was put into — finding nests. Of the 1,255 records in the present paper, 70°% were found — during this period. It was fortunately a fairly typical period weather-wise, and in other “‘normal” years the breeding seasons should be similar. Io All nests recorded were seen and inspected by myself, although most of those seen after 1st April 1971 were found by members of the staff of the Arusha National Park, and I am especially indebted to the efforts of Chacha Mangeny, Silvesta Matacha, Sifaeli Mangure, Shauri Sandu and Anton Wambura. For comments and advice on this paper I am grateful to Sir Hugh Elliott and C. W. Benson. The specific data are summarized by months in tables and the method used by Benson (1963) has been followed, in which each record has been referred to the month when egg-laying was calculated to have commenced. All records are based on eggs or nestlings, except in some cases when small nidifugous young were seen. Records of colonial breeders (marked in the tables by “C’’) have been treated collectively, e.g. one colony of fifteen pairs of nesting swifts would be set down as one record. At the foot of each table, of which there is one for each of seven groups, the records have been converted into percentages which are rounded off to the next whole number, i.e. 6.12 would be entered as 7. Any percentage less than five is omitted and peak figures are shown in bold. Rainy seasons have been outlined by vertical lines enclosing them. The nomenclature follows Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1952-55). 3 THE PHYSICAL BACKGROUND AND OTHER FACTORS The following short description is based on Beesley (in press). The Arusha National Park has an area of about 130 sq. km, and is situated on the eastern side of Mt. Meru, in north-eastern Tanzania at ca. 3° 15. S., 37° 00’ E. Altitude ranges from 1,400 m to 4,560 m, resulting in many habitats, which are listed below :— 1. Forest and closed woodland ranging from a dry evergreen forest at 1,450 m to a wetter montane forest up to 2,600 m. . Lakes and swamps, either alkaline or fresh, at 1,500 m. 3. Secondary woodlands with an understorey of scrub represented by three main types all within an altitidunal range of 1,400 m to 1,700 m as follows :— a. Groves of Acacia xanthophloea. b. Scattered remnant cedar trees Juniperus procera with an understorey of Dodonea viscosa scrub. c. Copses of Croton macrostachyus with an understorey of “‘sage-bush”’. 4. “Sage-bush”: A mixture of several species of soft, aromatic shrubs and scattered trees with a ground herbage of tussock grasses which re- places destroyed forest below 1,700 m. 5. Heath zone at 2,300 to 3,000 m, above which is almost bare rock. 6. A diversity of small but important habitats: Streams, rain-water pools, lake shores, grassland, forest-edge, buildings, cliffs and river/road banks. It should be noted that a very large proportion of the nests were found below 1,700 m in types 3 and 4. The climate is characterized by two tainy seasons, the short rains of November and December and the long rains of mid-March to early June. The short rains are generally light and occur when temperatures are tising They are followed by the short dry season of January, February and early March, a period which is, however, seldom rainless but is the warmest time of the year. The long rains are heavy and temperatures begin to drop in mid- April. June to August is the coolest time, with mist and cloud usually occurring until late morning, sometimes accompanied by light showers. September and October are the dryest months, although a little rain is If recorded, and temperatures begin to rise in September. At this latitude day- light length varies minimally and its effect on birds can be discounted. The ~ following figures show the rainfall at a station in the Park at 1,700 m for the yeat 1st May 1971 to 30th April 1972, and the mean monthly temperatures of Arusha township which lies at 1,400m onthe southern slope of Mt. Meru :— SM Ey Yl AS OF. SN aro; Seema pina ae Rainfall (mm) 312: 902957037 vA4iy F100), 10040 64552435 245e Temperature (C.) 1D AS td Ta DE LOK ZAC 25, oO ln Diy pein ae The results of this comparatively equable climate is that the vegetation remains green for most of the year, very few of the trees losing their leaves and the grass drying up for only one to two months. Due to a policy of fire-. protection, fires have been very limited in number and extent for several years. There are two periods of grass-growth with the two rainy seasons, the main growth being during the long rains. The variety of tree species and habitats probably results in several flushes of leaf-growth. Flowers, fruit and — covet ate always available, and insects, while not appearing in a sudden, remarkable flush with the first rains as in dryer areas, are always abundant, mote so during the rains and less so during the cold season of June to © August. The foregoing is in contrast to some other areas in Africa, e.g. Zambia, — where the seasons are much mote clearly defined, and the nesting data presented here are therefore much more difficult to interpret. It is evident, especially with closely related species, that detailed knowledge of. food — requirements, both for parents and their young, would help explain their breeding seasons. BREEDING RECORDS IN TABLES BY GROUPS The seven groupings used by Benson (1963: 624) are followed, but not in the same order. The Nectariniidae are included either in the Forest group or - Miscellaneous groups because of their diverse habitats and breeding seasons. TABLE 1 WATER AND SWAMP BIRDS Records by months Species No. Pink oc Au ool, Vl Aare ee Te recs. tains tains Poliocephalus ruficollis 17 $OoO4 2 SXAOP IDS A eZ 1 Ephippiorhynchus . senegalensis * Hlagedashia hagedash Thalassornis leuconotus Aythya erythrophthalma Anas sparsa Anas capensis Anas punctata Anas erythrorhynchus Alopochen aeg yptiacus Plectropterus gambensis Limnocorax flavirostra Gallinula chloropus Fulica cristata Actophilornis africanus Balearica regulorum Motacilla clara Cisticola galactotes 5 pe i na NPR = NO O NN So WO MWWNWWUOUBRRPORPRPANND Totals 104 4 OAT 10 OUT 2210 OU Or A IGEN 4 eee Percentages 10; A722 10 29 Oy lier 12 TABLE 2) RAPTORS Aquila rapax 2 2 Terathopius ecaudatus * 2 Tork Cuncuma vocifer * 5 Preaek agg Buteo rufofuscus 19 1 Mgt eat te Pilger tai 1 Buteo oreophilus * 2 Pol Falco peregrinus 1 1 Bubo lacteus 1 1 Totals 32 ce delat eae See: Sa Percentages 16 16°" 22 isk 10°10 * — all records from the same nest in different years Water and Swamp Birds (Table 1): There are no records of the Ardeidae and few of the smaller Anatidae and Rallidae, but such as there are show a long season of seven months during the long rains and following months when non-permanent water-levels are still high (there are very few records from the permanent alkaline lakes), thus agreeing with Benson (1963). Naturally the length of the season varies with the amount of rainfall, and the three records of Thalassornis leuconotus in October were obtained in a year of high rainfall when the fresh-water pools remained for long at a high level. The Rallidae, also Poliocephalus ruficollis and Actophilornis africanus, all of whose numbers fluctuate considerably during the year and from year to year, have some diversity in their collective breeding times depending on the rain- fall, although P. ruficollis, which is always present, shows a definite peak from April to August. The resident pair each of E/phippiorhynchus senegalensis and Balearica regulorum appear to keep to one rather short season. Movrici/la clara, whose habitat is perennial streams, has two breeding periods similar to the insectivorous birds (Table 6) in October and February, thus differing from most other water-birds. C7s/ico/a galactotes is difficult to place, perhaps because of inadequate data. Raptors (Table 2): Here, despite the few records, there seem to be two seasons indicated. Aguila rapax, Terathopius ecaudatus, Cuncuma vocifer (of which there is only one pair of each in the Park) and most of the By/eo -_rufofuscus lay from March to June to rear young in the damp, cool months of June to August, while Falco peregrinus, Buteo oreophilus and a few of the B. rufofuscus lay from August to October and rear young in the warm, dry or warm, wet period before and during the short rains. It is difficult to see the advantage of laying in the earlier, wetter part of the year, as feeding nestlings takes place while cover to conceal the prey is still thick. The prey-cover factor does not affect C. vocifer but B. rufofuscus preys mainly on mole-rats Tachyoryctes sp. in the Park. Perhaps these animals surface more frequently when the soil is damp and sticky. The data for A. rapax and T. ecaudatus are equally puzzling. There are plenty of adult grasshoppers and juveniles of grass- '_mesting birds at this season, but reptilia and small mammals must be difficult to see. Certainly these two species hunt a great deal in the dryer short-grass plains beyond the Park borders, where A. rapax also breeds at this season. Possibly the Park A. rapax follow the rhythmn of those extra-territorial birds. Referring to Benson (1963) and Benson eg¢. a/ (1964), in Rhodesia and Zambia A. rapax lays in the dry season in contrast to the Park birds, but there is agreement in 7. ecandatus laying during the rains. The owl, Bubo lacteus, fed its nestling during September and October, when some ground cover had dried or withered, and rising temperatures would have increased the activity of prey. 3 Grass Birds (Table 3): The majority of the records show, as may be expected, that nesting takes place after the short rains and during the long rains when the grass has grown, providing nesting material, cover and food. With a few species there is some indication of two peaks. The Cisticolas, also Chloropeta natalensis, Prinia subflava and Melocichla mentalis, are mainly long rain breeders, but occasionally nest in the short rains. TABLE 3 GRASS BIRDS Records by months Species No. Fit OMS Ana oy aa) Aa Oi recs. rains rains Centropus superciliosus 2 1 1 Chloropeta natalensis 11 Sia Salt Cisticola chiniana 4 Dp Cisticola woosnami 5 Lie oad | Gaen! | Cisticola cantans 15 2492 UE SO ZS Cisticola brachyptera 3 Tre Prinia subflava 16 1 BGs, Mp. d 1 Melocichla mentalis vf Lge CRAY y) Ploceus spekei C 4 i ap ase Ploceus intermedius LG 5 De TED At Ploceus castaneiceps ¢ 8 1 Lagevt be Het irik rd Hyphanturgus ocularis 14 3 1 : ee 53 Othyphantes reichenowi 15 die. bp dop ty Bedale Sy 1 1 Amblysopiza albifrons C 6 1 care tree 1 Exnuplectes capensis Z Pet Coliuspasser laticauda 12 Smal py dy bet re Spermestes cucullatus 5 i ee 1 1 1: @ Spermestes nigriceps 8 RP et ig) Lol 22 1 Lagonosticta rubricata S) 1 tg Coccopygia melanotis 4 a Esstrilda astrild 14 Aloe Dinh y2)nesth GS Totals 165. 14°14.) 20): 27°" 30 |. 23 10. daa ees | eo Percentages 9 9|12 17 19] 14 6 5| 5 TABLE 4 GROUND BIRDS INumida mitrata 6 ce tare | 1 1 Francolinus hildebranti 2 J ommore tly Francolinus squamatus 12 1 2: 148 RG2 pang Burhinus capensis 3 1 1 1 Charadrius pecuarius 13 Dello li ofl 2 Bae elgg 92 Charadrius tricollaris 6 (Nis ie AL oe Stephanibyx coronatus 2, ‘eaphe | Hoplopterus armatus 9 D4} OG OF Caprimulgus fraenatus * 8 he og 2 ae 1 Caprimulgus poliocephalus 5 Ani ts 3 Caprimulgus fossii 1 1 Mirafra africana 4 1 i Rete! Pea Anthus similis 13 2 MAS 3 S902 1 2 1 Macronyx aurantiigula 7 Zre iz 1 1 1 Saxicola torquata 18 Biakep ae 2 tity 4, 3 Totals 109° OTD 16 8A ee SO PEE NG) eee een Percentages 11 14| 7 5| 9 6 16 12]10 7 * — This name follows White (1965) Of the Ploceidae, Amblyospiza albifrons and Coliuspasser laticauda begin to nest in the short dry season and continue until the end of the long rains, but Plocens spekei, P. intermedius and Exuplectes capensis have one short season, almost entirely during the long rains. Ploceus spekei and P. intermedius are conspicuous colonial nesters, and any nesting at other times would not have been missed. Perhaps as with QOue/ea spp. the young are fed much on young grass seeds, or the type of grass used for building does not attain sufficient length until late in the rains, Ploceus castaneiceps, Hyphanturgus ocularis and Othyphantes reichenoni probably breed at any time of the year, contrasting markedly with the other Ploceidae. Estri/da astrild breeds almost entirely in the long rains, and Coccopygia melanotis follows at the end of the rains in rather cool conditions. Ground Birds (Table 4): The two dryest periods of the year, January- February and September-October, serve as the main breeding seasons for these birds as a whole, although probably due to the porous, quick-draining soil of the Park, some breeding takes place even during the rains. Some species apparently have only one breeding season, and others, for example the Caprimulgidae, have two, both avoiding the rains. Hop/oprerus armatus is noteworthy, laying in the cool damp month of June to rear young in cold July. Mirafra africana resembles the grass-birds in breeding during the long rains, thus agreeing with Benson (1963). However, Macronyx aurantiigula records differ from the Macronyx species of further south (Benson e# a/. 1964) in nesting mainly outside the rains. Macronyx aurantiigula and Mirafra africana both occupy similar habitats in the same areas of the Park, bush-scattered and/or tussock grassland. Saxicola torquata has an extended season of six months when, it would appear, two broods are raised. Evidently it can breed in the short rains, but not the long rains. TABLE 5 FOREST BIRDS Records by months Species No. YooOR MTA AP eft ff 2 AN Sey Gia aiae recs. rains rains Tympanistria tympanistria 1 1 Tauraco hartlaubi 8 1 1 1 ker) eal Halcyon albiventris 6 1 ih 1 2 1 Melittophagus oreobates 4 2 2 Tockus alboterminatus 1 t Lybius melanopterus 12 1 aS 9) Wirt 2, (ale Bo Buccanodon leucotis 20 3 2. tbe els Arizelocichla nigriceps 3 Bh ol ae _ Arizelocichla milanjensis* 2 Bo 4 of Alseonax adustus 6 a) 3 Tchitrea viridis 13 ad Bo, st: Die iieareret ta | Turdus olivaceus 3 1 ss Cossypha semirufa 2 ane Seicercus umbrovirens 1 1 Psalidoprocne holomelaena O) 1 tf +2 1 Dryoscopus cubla 2 Lit Pholia shar pii 1 1 Onychognathus walleri 2 2 Stilbospar kenricki 12 1 Ran dvd baleat Zosterops eurycricotus 2 1 1 Nectarinia tacazze 4 2 2 ‘Cinnyris mediocria 4 1 te a ek Cyanomitra olivacea 5 1h ilar 1 Nigrita canicapilla 4 Der ee ie Serinus burtoni * Z 2 Totals AS a TT Ly A RAIRROIe Fi< U TaM ioa>2 mee| Ou Ua 22 Percentages 9 216 4) 6 17 24114 10 722 EOE ee EOE * __ Records based on obesrvation of food and nesting material being varried T5 Forest Birds (Table 5): The breeding season of the majority of this type | agree with comments by Moreau (1950) and Benson (1963) in that there is — one fairly well-defined season avoiding the heavy rains. Nesting begins in September when the forest is comparatively dry and the temperature starts to rise. Maximum laying is in October, which is warmer, and most young are being fed onthe flush of insects during the rains of Novemberand December. There are a few apparent exceptions. A/seonax adustus and Tchitrea viridis have a second season in January, February and March, and Cyanomitra olivacea has its only season at this time. | TABLE 6 INSECT AND FRUIT EATING BIRDS OF WOODLAND AND SECONDARY BUSH Records by months Species No. EO BMC MAR SAEO? POLITE! gi eon Vem recs. rains rains Eurystomus glaucurus i BA 3 Halcyon chelicuti 1 1 ye 1 Melittophagus bullockoides C ; if saad 2 2 Melittophagus pusillus 9 Ares OAS a2, Phoeniculus purpureus 3 1 2 Rhinopomastus cyanomelas 2. 1 1 Colius striatus We P27 ESPs Ota oa it i esse, eG rey Lybius leucocephalus 2 2 Tricholaema lachrymosum 48 BS At2el hd ah wee lens Goal 2 See: Ora Campethera nubica 5 1 1. VEZ eet Campethera abingoni 2 ie 3! Dendropicos fuscescens il 1 Thripias namaquus 3 Ea 1 Mesopicos goertae é) Dis. aeih Motacilla aguimp 4 1 1 1 if Pycnonotus barbatus £55" (35 ya8n| ges. 2 Sg 5) hl de eee Dioptrornis fischeri ie Ram Ome Cis i 5 et hs Daas Batis molitor 8 2h rom ZATS Apalis flavida 25 sya 2s RS) 1 236s 1 Phyllolais pulchella * 2 1 1 Syhietta whytii 10 1 1 PAGAL ba bare ARIS Camaroptera brevicaudata 4 3 1 Campephaga sulphurata 3 th 2 NNilaus afer 1 1 Lanius collaris 25 a ois ie oka 2 LOMnigep omy Laniarius aethiopicus %e eS 27) ies 1 2 Tchagra senegala 4 1 1 faun'g Tchagra australis 14 i ee ts) AZ 1 2 Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus 2 1 1 Parus fringillinus 3 1 2 Oriolus larvatus 6 de 1 RODy | aE Onychognathus morio 6 Za ae 2, woud Buphagus africanus 2, 2 Buphagus erythrorhynchus 7 Ze at De] “eD, Totals 492. 83. 86 || 56. 33..24].10° 6.) 5 -47639/ "62 aie Percentages Ag tae pee 10 13 | 13 — Nest-building observed only Insect and Fruit-eating Birds of Woodland and Bush (Table 6): The two én seasons are exemplified el here, one before and during the first part of the — short rains and the other in the hot, short dry season and beginning of the 16 P long rains. Of the birds for which there are sufficient records, 60°% have two seasons and 36°% have one main season with a few nestings at other times. Only one bird, the migrant FEyurystomus glaucurus, has one definite season. It arrives in August and leaves in January-February. No other species in this table is known to be migratory. Species with the most records have their maximum breeding during the second period, i.e. in the short dry spell preceding the long rains, but a few show preference for the first period, i.e. before and during the early part of the short rains. In the case of Pycnonotus barbatus there is an indication of a slight recrudescence of nesting in May, but this may relate to a second attempt by nest-predated birds. It is interesting that Thripias namaquus starts nesting in May, thus avoiding competition with other Picidae. The two species of Meropidae begin during the cold damp months of June and July. Also it is surprising that Apa/is flavida has its second peak in May, rearing young in the cool month of June. TABLE 7 MISCELLANEOUS GROUPS Records by months Species No. ln ga RP Si NY Sean 9 GR ia Re Nain 5S /RNP 9, tains rains im oO Q nn Columba arquatrix Streptopelia semitorquata Streptopelia lugens Streptopelia capicola Stigmatopelia senegalensis Treron australis Agapornis fischeri Apus caffer Apus niansae C Apus horus C Hirundo abyssinica Hirundo senegalensis Hirundo smithii Pytonoprogne fuligula Riparia plaudicola C Serinus flavivertex Serinus striolatus Carduelis citrinelloides Nectarinia kilimensis Chalcomitra amethystina Chalcomitra senegalensis Anthreptes collaris Cinnyris venustus Oo OrAITIWUWRe WORF NRO i) Oo uo wn De) aN mo — = 1S) oO aN = — mR Po — Oreo — me Nb — — ie) Reh tll SO On 1 1 10 he Re —s hWROU- INA ~10 ONrNrR Aw NR Dw We On pe NN WFR bo me Oo 2 1 Zi: 1 Totals 251i v 28 {Poi a) 20) Bi is24 bis hOvy 1 Si ea os3) <1) Qader Percentages Lee Wout oko. kOe Ue oe TSE 51 5 Miscellaneous Groups (Table 7): Of the Columbidae there are only three species, all mainly arboreal, with sufficient records for interpretation. Zreron australis has one season with apparently two peaks, one in November and another in February. Streptopelia semitorquata nests throughout the year as further south (Benson ef a/. 1964), but with peaks in October and February- March, months which produce abundant fruit, insects and seeds. Cc is Discounting Apus caffer for which there is but one record, only two species — of Apodidae have been found nesting in the Park. Apus horus and A. niansae both breed in April at the height of the long rains in high river-banks, which is puzzling and agrees with Benson’s remarks (1963) (A. niansae also breeds in cliffs higher up the mountain). As these birds are colonial nesters it is hardly possible that they were overlooked at other times of the year. Both these species feed a good deal over the lakes, and perhaps there is a greater availablity of food over these waters at this time. A. horus bred again, at least during two years, in November when insect-life is known to be abundant. The Hirundinidae show diversity in their seasons. Ptyonoprogne fuligula has two, similar to birds of group 6. Rzparia paludicola, like the Apodidae, breeds in river-banks (but lower ones) during the long rains when there is danger of collapsing banks, contrary to the records in Benson (1963). Hirundo smithii, generally using buildings, nests in any month (one nest was used for four broods in one year) and HZ. senegalensis, either taking over nests of H. smithii or building in trees, has the same tendency. The colder season does not deter these birds from nesting, so evidently insect-life is still fairly abundant. The Fringillidae are puzzling, as in Zambia and Malawi. Serznus flavivertex descends from the higher levels of Mt. Meru to breed among scattered juniper trees at 1,500 m during the wet cool months of May and June. Carduelis citrinelloides has two seasons, each during a rainy season, one of which is synchronous with S. flavivertex. Serinus striolatus begins with its peak in January and continues in a lesser degree for the following six months. C. citrinelloides and S. striolatus overlap somewhat and occupy the same habitat (sage-bush), but the latter tends to nest lower down in the shrubs and in areas where there are more grass tussocks. The five species of Nectariniidae collectively breed in every month and there is some overlapping of the peaks. The main area of overlap is in © October and November when three species show much activity. Two of ~ them, Anthreptes collaris and Chalcomitra amethystina, feed and nest mainly in forest-edge and woodland. Feeding appears to take place on two levels, that of the former in the lower storeys and of the latter in the higher storeys. The third, Chalcomitra senegalensis, feeds and nests to a greater extent in the low secondary sage-bush. Nectarinia kilimensis and Cinnyris venustus also breed in this latter biotope, but LV. &e/#mensis shows a peak in April and C. venustus two peaks, one in January and February and another in July, both being seasons when several components of the sage-bush are in flower. CLUTCH SIZES Z Clutch size data from the period rst April 1971 to 30th April 1972 have been extracted for some species, which are listed below. Comapring these | with the figures in Benson ef a/. (1964), which are for Rhodesia only (op. cit.: _ 32), where records are sufficient for this purpose, some clutch sizes are in | agreement, i.e. in the Columbidae, Caprimulgidae, Batis molitor, Cisticola | cantans, Prinia subflava, Tchagra australis, Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus and Nectariniidae. Others differ in that the Park’s birds have smaller clutch sizes, usually by one egg, i.e. in Colius striatus, Anthus similis, Macronyx spp., Pycnonotis barbatus, Tchitrea viridis, Saxicola torquata, Lanius collaris, and Laniarius aethiopicus. . 18 Number of Records C/1 C/2 C/3 C/4 Columba arquatrix 3 Streptopelia semitorquata if 1 Caprimulgus fraenatus * 1 Caprimulgus poliocephalus Caprimulgus fossii Colius striatus 4 Anthus similis Macronyx aurantiigula Pycnonotus barbatus 10 1 Dioptrornis fischeri Batis molitor Tchitrea viridis Saxicola torquata Melocichla mentalis 1 Apalis flavida 2 Sylietta whytii Cisticola woosnami Cisticola cantans Prinia subflava Ptyonoprogne fuligula Lanius collaris Laniarius aethiopicus Tchagra australis Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus Nectarinia kilimensis Cinnyris venustus Anthreptes collaris Cardeuelis citrinelloides Serinus striolatus * __ This name follows White (1965) ie) me bo ANReROANBARPNND OFM U~in~ — Re NO bo = (=) Rm O1rh ON & ~~ Gurk ON) bey es Go Go Oo Oo i) SNOA Dob bo OD SUMMARY The Arusha National Park lies within a regime of two rainy seasons, the short rains occurring in November and December, and the long rains from mid-March to early June. The result is two main flushes of plant growth and insect-life. The dry seasons are short, cloud cover being prolonged during the longest of them, and the effect of drought on the vegetation is minimal. These conditions enable some breeding to take place throughout the year, and make records difficult to interpret. The breeding records are divided into seven categories and are listed in tables as follows :— as Water and swamp birds show much diversity but have a maximum of breeding activity during and after the long rains. Raptors divide into two groups, one nesting early, during the long rains, the other later, in the ensuing dry season. Buteo rufofuscus, the most numerous, nests throughout both periods. Grass birds show some diversity, but some species (i.e. Cisticolas and Ploceidae) appear to start with the short rains, continuing with little break to the end of the long rains. However, some Ploceidae can breed at any time of the year. Ground birds usually nest during the two dry periods, but most species have only one breeding season. Forest birds generally have one season, from September to December, before and during the short rains. In insect and fruit-eating birds of woodland and secondary bush, two breeding seasons show up well, one before and during the first part of the short rains, and the second in the hot, short, dry season and beginning of the long rains, 60°% of the species having two seasons. 2) 7. Miscellaneous groups show a considerable diversity, but nesting generally avoids the cold month of August and, surprisingly, the more congenial month of September. An appendix of clutch sizes is included, and some comparisons made with Rhodesian data. References: Beesley, J. S. S. In press. The birds of the Arusha National Park. Journ. E. Afr. Nat. Hist. Soc. C2 Nat. Mus. Benson, C. W. 1963. The breeding seasons of birds in the Rhodesias and Nyasaland. Proc. 13th Internat. Orn. Congr. I: 623-639. Benson, C. W., Brooke, R. K. & Vernon, C. J. 1964. Bird breeding data for Rhodesias and Nyasaland. Occ. Nat. Mus. S. Rhod. 27B: 30-105. Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1952-55. African handbook of birds. Series 1, Vols. 1 & 2. London: Longmans. Moreau, R. E. 1950. The breeding seasons of African birds—1. Land birds. /bis 92: 223-267. White, C. M. N. 1965. A revised checklist of African non-passerine birds. Lusaka: Government Printer. On the supposed genus Petrochelidon by Allan R. Phillips Received 8th November 1972 Brooke (1972: 55-56) maintains Petrochelidon apart from Hirundo because it “has a red rump and a virtually square tail and does not build an entrance tunnel to its mud pellet nests: some species are colonial breeders”’. (He also removes from Hirundo certain other species, placing them in Pseudhirundo and Cecropis, with which I am not here concerned, for lack of field experience.) The nests of the common swallows are well known, and publicized in a multitude of short articles and local and general works, besides the classic Bent “Life Histories” (Bent 1942). Contrary to Brooke’s claim, the type species of “Petrochelidon”, “P. pyrrhonota’” ot albifrons, the Cliff Swallow, does quite uniformly build an entrance tunnel to its retort-shaped nests. The Cave Swallow, “P.” fulva, usually does not, but its nesting is quite variable; see for example Wetmore and Swales, 1931: 320-322. Tail shape is quite variable among species generally conceded, even by Brooke, to belong to Hirundo, sensu strictu. 1 cannot regard rump colour as a good generic character; and since none of Brooke’s other characters hold true, I continue to regard ““Petrochelidon” as inseparable from Hirundo, as previously (Phillips, Marshall, and Monson, 1964). Of more importance, perhaps, is the nasal operculum (cf. Ridgway, 1904; Brodkorb, 1968); but its variation (presence or absence) cuts right across the colour and nesting variations, which may prove mote basic. References: Bent, A. C. 1942. Life Histories of North American Flycatchets, Larks, Swallows and their Allies. U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 179. Brodkorb, P. 1968. Part Five. Birds. p. 269-451. (In W. F. Blair e¢ al, Vertebrates of the United States. Second Edition.) New Ase etc.: McGraw Hill Book Co. Brooke, R. K. 1972. Generic limits in old world Apodidae and Hirundinidae. Bu//. Brit. Orn. Cl. 92: 53-57. Phillips, A., Marshall, . & Monson, G. 1964. The Birds of Arizona. ‘Tucson: Univ. Ariz. Press. Ridgway, R. 1904. The Birds of North and Middle America... Part II. U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 50, pt. II. Wetmore, A., & Swales, B. H. 1931. The Birds of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 155. 20 Nesting of the Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallit) neat Dar es Salaam by D. Keith Thomas C Hugh F. I. Elfiott Received 16th October 1972 The current interest in seabirds of the East African coast has prompted us to dig out some long unpublished notes and photographs of a Roseate Tern colony which established itself near Dar es Salaam from July to September 1960. This was recorded soon afterwards by one of us (Thomas 1962), but with few details. Otherwise, there seem to be no records of the breeding of this species in what is now Tanzania, except for those quoted by Mackworth- Praed & Grant (1952), namely Zanzibar (in October: a breeding male and a chick marked “Chumbe Zanzibar 3/10/27” are in the British Museum (Natural History) collection); coral reef near Pemba (June and July); Kisite islands near Tanga (July); and, “almost certainly”, Mafia (Aug. and Spet.). The Dar es Salaam colony was discovered by D. K. Thomas on 7th August 1960, on an undercut (“mushroom”’) coral islet of about 50 m in circumfer- ence and 4.5 m in height, one of several strung out along an extensive reef which more or less dries out at low spring tides. This reef, the Hammand, lies to the north of Outer Makatumbe (‘“‘Lighthouse’”’) island, some 4 km from the harbour entrance. The number of adult terns was estimated at about 300 and this was confirmed when we both visited the site on 21st August. On that occasion six to ten pairs of terns were also found to be nesting on a smaller islet about 100 m away. Some eggs had already been hatched on 7th August, suggesting that the colony had been occupied by mid-July. However, some eggs were also still being incubated on zist August and, on our final visit on 3rd September, when only 20-30 adults remained in the vicinity, a few unfledged chicks were being fed. The flat-looking but in fact very rough and deeply creviced tops of the islets, both of which were accessible only at fortnightly intervals (in the case of the main colony thanks to the collapse of a large segment of the overhang), were covered by a dense tangle of vegetation, identified (L. H. Brown in litt.) as mainly composed of Sa/vadora persicaand Cissus quadrangularis, although one baobab had managed to obtain a ledgement. The eggs had been laid on the bare coral or, occasionally, on a sparse mat of plant detritus, which looked as if it had been brought together as nest material. There was particularly good cover for young birds on the dense vegetation and crevices. In most cases only a single egg had been laid, but three C/2 were noted. Seven eggs Measured averaged 43.5 xX 31-5 mm (extremes 46.5 X 30.5, 40:5. X 31 and 45 x 32); egg colour was very variable, from pale bluish white almost unmarked through stone-grey with fine black and ashy speckling to deep buffy with large blotches of dark brown and lavender-grey. There was a frequent tendency for the markings to form a central band. Observations of this colony and examination of the two specimens col- lected, an adult and chick, now in the British Museum, support the conclusion that tropical populations of Roseates tend to be smaller, whiter below (with no discernible pink flesh) and redder-billed when in breeding condition and, in juveniles, with the pale grey of mantle and scapulars more heavily overlaid with buffy mottling, compared with populations of the sub-tropics or temperate regions whether to north or south. Our birds’ bills looked red with a black tip rather than black with red at the gape, although in the adult specimen collected only 20.5 of the 39 mm of the upper mandible was in fact 21 red, or just over half, This specimen most closely matches those from Ceylon in the British Museum collections, which are attributed to the subspecies Korustes originally described from the Andamans. But specific nomenclature Roseate Tern colony on one of two coral islets on Hammand reef, Dar es Salaam. Top: the islet at low spring tide: broken segment on left allowed access to colony—about 50 terns visible in photograph; part of Outer Makatumbe island in right background. Middle: the mat of Cissus quadrangularis and Salvadora persica on the summit—looking west over outer anchorage of Dar es Salaam towards city. Bottom: egg on coral rag in the Sa/vadora/Cissus tangle, a few leaves and twigs having apparently been.assembled as nest material. 22 is an unsatisfactory way of recording the intergradations of this wide-ranging species, especially as all the characters that have been used except size (where the variation is only of the order of five or six per cent) are invalid unless the birds compared are known to have been at the same stage in the breeding cycle. References: Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1952. African handbook of birds. Series I, Vol. 1. London: Longmans. Thomas, D. K. 1962. Birds—further notes on breeding in Tanganyika. Tang. Notes & Recs. 58/59: 200. The Relationships of Pécathartes by Charles G. Sibley Received 18th October 1972 The systematic position of the West African genus Picathartes has been examined by several authors in recent years. Sclater (1930) and others before him had placed Picathartes in the Corvidae but Lowe (1938) proposed that it is a member of the Sturnidae. Amadon (1943) suggested that Prcathartes may be an “aberrant member of the thrush-babbler assemblage”’ and Delacour (1950) placed it in a special tribe, Picathartini, in the Timaliinae. Delacour & Amadon (1951) reviewed the problem and the evidence and concluded “‘that Picathartes has far more in common with babblers than with starlings, crows, or other passerine families”. Serle (1952) reviewed the nestling behaviour, eggs and juvenile plumage of Picathartes and found nothing inconsistent with a relationship to the Corvidae. He noted that the babbler Ewpetes of south-east Asia, Indonesia and Borneo resembles Picathartes in general proportions, texture of the plumage and bare skin areas. Although Serle advocated com- parisons with all passerine groups he thought that Prcathartes should be kept “in or near the Corvidae’’. Bannerman (1951; 1953) circumvented the prob- lem by placing Picathartes in its own monotypic family but indicated his acceptance of Lowe’s position by placing it next to the Sturnidae. White (1962) retained Picathartes in the Corvidae “largely because no convincing reasons for moving it have yet been given” (p. 4). Deignan (1964: 442) recognized a subfamily. Picathartinae, near the Timaliinae in the Musci- capidae. Hall & Moreau (1962) included Picathartes in the Timaliidae, Moreau (1966: 161) referred to “the babblers Picathartes g ymnocephalus/oreas” and Hall & Moreau (1970: 149) “tentatively” followed the arrangement presented by Deignan (/oc. cit.). In a recent study (Sibley 1970) the egg-white proteins of Prcathartes LZ ymnocephalus were compared with those of many other passerine groups using the technique of starch gel electrophoresis. I found (p. 62) that the patterns produced by Prcathartes egg white were more like those of the timaliids than those of corvids orsturnids, and thus supported the conclusions of Delacour & Amadon (1951). But this evidence fell short of providing proof of such a relationship because of the limitations of the starch gel technique. I am now able to report on additional studies of the egg-white proteins of Picathartes using the electrophoretic method of isoelectric focusing in acryla- mide gel (IFAG). This techinque is described in Sibley & Frelin (1972). With IFAG many more proteins can be resolved and the resulting patterns provide an improved basis for systematic comparisons. I have discussed the use of electrophoretic data in systematics in previous papers (e.g. Sibley 1970). <2) Two sets of comparisons, using pH ranges of 3-10 and 6—4, were carried out. That Prcathartes is a babbler, rather than a sturnid or a corvid, is easily — established but it is even clear that Prcathartes is especially close to the African timaliine genus Turdozdes. Some 21 protein bands can be seen in the pH 3-10 gels and all of them are identical or nearly so between Picathartes g ymno- cephalus and Turdoides jardineii and T. leucopygius. The other babblers, for which ego-white specimens were available, namely, T7ichastoma sepiarium, T. bicolor, Pomatostomus temporalis and P. superciliosus, basically agree with Picatharies and Turdoides, but show some minor differences in the positions or concen- trations of some proteins. In the “magnified” patterns of the pH 6-4 region the detailed similarities between Picathartes and Turdoides are striking. Ten proteins can be resolved in this limited range and for six of them Picathartes and Turdoides have identi- cal isoelectric points. The other four show small differences in isoelectric points of a magnitude I have often observed between congeneric species. In fact, the two species of Turdoides are only slightly more alike than Prcathartes © and either of the Turdoides The most striking contrast is found in the com- parisons between Picathartes and the Malayan Trichastoma and the Australian Pomatostomus. Both show greater differences when compared to Prcathartes than those noted between Prcathartes and the African Turdoides. It thus seems clear that Picathartes is a babbler and that its closest living relatives are probably the members of the genus Turdozdes. It will be necessary to compare the egg-white proteins of Prcathartes with those of all genera of African babblers before we can be absolutely certain that Turdoides is closest to it. However, of the babblers occurring in Africa Turdozdes seems to be the most likely close relative of Picathartes. The resemblances between Picathartes and FExpetes noted by Serle (1952) are almost certainly the result of con- vergence but should be investigated further. The egg white of Experes is not available but it, and that of all species, would be welcomed by the writer. In view of this new evidence I recommend that Prcathartes be placed next to Turdoides and that they be arranged no farther apart than as tribes in the same subfamily. In my opinion they are closely related genera and the only reason for separating them in different tribes is to recognize their superficial morphological differences. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The first egg white of Picathartes which I teceived came to me through the kindness of Mr. J..T. Menzies, at that time resident in Sierra Leone. The specimen used in this study was collected in Ghana by Dr. L. G. Grimes to whom I am also grateful for a memorable trip to see Prcathartes g ymnocephalus in the field during a visit to Ghana in 1964. The other egg white specimens mentioned were provided through the kindness of Dr. David R. Wells, Mr. Tony E. Bush and Mr. Gordon B. Ragless. Mr. Jon E. Ahlquist gave generously of his help and advice and technical assistance was provided by Miss Dorothy J. Moore. The National Science Foundation supported the study under grant GB-6192X. References: Amadon, D. 1943. The genera of starlings and their relationships. Amer. Mus, Novit. 1247: I-16, Bannerman, D. A. 1951. The birds of tropical West Africa. Vol. 8. London: Crown Agents. — 1953. The birds of west and equatorial Africa, Vol. 2. Edinburgh & London: Oliver & Boyd. 24 — Deignan, H. G. 1964. Subfamily Picathartinae, p. 442 in Checklist of birds of the world, vol. 10, ed. E. Mayr & R. A. Paynter, Jr., Cambridge, Mass.: Museum of Comparative Zoology. Delacour, J. 1950. Les timaliinés. Additions et modifications. L’O/seau et R.F.O. 20: 186-191. Delacour, J. & Amadon, D. 1951. The systematic position of Picathartes. Ibis. 93: 60-62 Hall, B. PL & Moteau, R.E. 1962. A study of the rare birds of Africa. Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) 8: 315- 378. — 1970. An atlas of speciation in African passerine birds. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) publ. no. 680, pp. xv & 423. Lowe, P. R. 1938. Some anatomical and other notes on the systematic position of the genus Picathartes, together with some remarks on the families Sturnidae and Eulabetidae. /bis 80: 254-269. Moreau, R. E. 1966. The bird faunas of Africa and its related islands. New York & London: Academic Press. Sclater, W. L. 1930. Systema avium ethiopicarum. London: Brit. Orn. Union. Serle, W. 1952. The affinities of the genus Picathartes Lesson. Bul//. Brit. Orn, Cl. 72: 2-6. Sibley, C. G. 1970. A comparative study of the egg-white proteins of passerine birds. Bull. Peabody Mus. Nat. Hist. 32: 1-131. Sibley, C. G. & Frelin, C. 1972. The egg white protein evidence for ratite affinities. /b/s 114: 377—387- White, C. M. N. 1962. A revised check list of African shrikes, orioles, etc. Lusaka: Government Printer. Blood parasites from a Red-chested Owlet Glaucidium tephronotum by John FE. Cooper Received 6th November 1972 The Red-chested Owlet Glaucidium tephronotum Sharpe is a little known forest species ranging from Ghana east to Kakamega forest, Western Kenya (White 1965; Ripley & Bond 1971). There is a paucity of data on the biology of the species (Brown 1970) and I have been unable to trace any references to its diseases or parasites. In this note I report the finding of three species of blood parasite in a captive specimen of the Zaire and Uganda race, G. ¢. medje Chapin. Full details of the bird’s history have been impossible to obtain. Dr. C. Pennycuick received it in late 1969 from Dr. M. P. C. Fogden, from Western Uganda; Pennycuick used the bird in his wind-tunnel experiments in Nairobi for some time until it was noted, on 5th July 1970, to be depressed in appearance; no treatment was given and it was found dead the next day. A full post-mortem examination was carried out at the Veterinary Research Laboratory, Kabete, Kenya on the day of death. The bird was an adult male, thin (weight 67 ¢) with some damage and soiling of feathers but carried no ectoparasites. The skin is now in the National Museum, Nairobi. There was no internal fat and the liver was congested. The gizzard contained only chitinous arthropod remains. Two small nematodes were found on the abdominal air sac walls and these were later identified by the British Museum (Natural History) as a Demsidocercella species. No parasites were found in the intestinal tract but a faceal sample showed three Capi//aria eggs, several unidentified spiruroid or filaroid eggs and a few coccidial oocysts. Culture of intestine yielded Escherichia coli, but heart blood was bacteriologically sterile. Routine blood smears from the heart of the bird were fixed with methyl alcohol and stained with Giemsa’s stain. Examination revealed three blood parasites—the Protozoa Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon (parasitizing the red =) and white blood cells respectively) and numerous microfilariae (Nematoda) within the plasma. It was not possible to identify these parasites further from a blood smear. There were no haematological abnormalities and no evidence of anaemia. Both blood Protozoa and microfilariae have been recorded previously from owls but as Keymer (1972) and Cooper (1972) point out, there is little data on their pathogenicity. In the present case there was no evidence to suggest that they were associated with disease and the cause of death remains obscure. In addition to the Red-chested Owlet above I have examined blood from 12 owls in Kenya (eight Tyto alba, one Ciccaba wood- fordii, one Asio capensis, one Bubo africanus and one Bubo /acteus) but in none of these have I found either Protozoa or microfilariae. It is, of course, possible that the parasites in the Red-chested Owlet were acquired in captivity but all three parasites are vector (arthropod) borne and it would seem more likely for the bird to become infected in its natural habitat in the forest than in captivity in the laboratory. Whatever the source however, the presence of three blood parasites in the blood of one specimen of Glaucidium tephronotum medje would appear to warrant record. Iam grateful to Dr. C. Pennycuick for data on the owlet and for permission to record these findings, to Dr. I. F. Keymer for confirming the identification of the blood parasites and to Mr. G. C. Backhurst for valuable comments and advice on this paper. References: Brown, L. H. 1970. African Birds of Prey. London: Collins. Cooper, J. E. 1972. Veterinary Aspects of Captive Birds of Prey (In press). Keymer, I. F. 1972. Diseases of Birds of Prey. Vet. Rec. 90: 579-594. Ripley, S. D. & Bond, G. M. 1971. Systematic Notes on a Collection of Birds from Kenya Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology namber 111. White, C. M. N. 1965. A revised Checklist of African Non-Passerine Birds. Lusaka: The Government Printer. Notes on the birds of Rangiroa, Tuamotu Archipelago, and the surrounding ocean by D. T. Holyoak Received 20th November 1972 While travelling between Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands in 1972 I twice passed through the northern end of the Tuamotu Archipelago, and spent two days on Rangiroa atoll. Very little information is available on seabirds at sea in this region and the land-birds are little known, so it seems worthwhile recording the limited observations I was able to make. On 13th August I was on the French Navy frigate ““L’ Enseigne de Vaisseau Re Henri” about 30 miles east of Makatea at dawn. I was able to make almost continuous observations as the ship passed between Rangiroa and Arutua, then between Ahe and Manihi, reaching a position just north of Manihi by dusk. In September I returned from the Marquesas Islands on the American yacht “Sea Star”, reaching a point about mid-way between the Marquesas and Tuamotu Islands by dawn on 3rd September (12° 19’ S, 143° 57’ W.), spending the next two days sailing to Rangiroa, than 6th—7th September on the north side of Rangiroa atoll. Rangiroa is one of the largest atolls in the world, being about 45 miles > from east to west and 20 miles from north to south. It consists of a ring of — coral and coral sand, mainly between 100-300 m wide, reaching a width of — 26 Xs 600 m in a few places, and broken by a few small sea gaps. The shallow lagoon enclosed is so wide that the other side of the atoll cannot be seen in many places. The land rises to a maximum of about 5 m above sea-level and supports a meagre vegetation dominated by Scaevo/a bushes and coconut palms. Near the small villages there are numerous introduced trees and bushes. The population is about 800, nearly all of them Polynesians who live by fishing, copra production and subsistence farming. The northern Tuamotus are within the latitudes of the Southeast trade winds, which blow with little variation in strength and direction. The ocean falls away to great depths close to the islands, and is affected by the easterly South Equatorial Current, which moves up to about five miles a day near Rangiroa. Water disturbances as this current reaches the steep shores of the archipelago probably account for the rich marine life that supports the large seabird populations. Pterodroma rostrata, Tahiti Petrel: Birds identified as this species were seen at 12° 20’ S, 144° oo’ W (one, 3rd September), 12° 30’ S, 144° 35’ W (one, 4th September) and 12° 50’ S, 145° 23’ W (five, 5th September). At least 20 other gadfly petrels seen were either this species or the similar P. a/ba. The seven listed above were all distinguished from that species at close range by their larger size, heavier bill, heavier less buoyant flight and the absence of a small light patch under the chin. Under the variable light conditions at sea I found it difficult to detect the differences in colour of the upperparts of these two species. These are the first records for ros/rata in Tuamotus waters, although it breeds in both the Society and Marquesas Islands (King 1967). Pterodroma alba, Phoenix Petrel: One seen at 12° 46’ S, 145° 19’ W on 4th September was the only one positively identified, although some of the unidentified gadfly petrels mentioned under rostrata were probably this species; it breeds in the Tuamotus. Pterodroma arminjoniana heraldica, Herald Petrel: Only one seen, at 12° 19’ S, 143° 57 W, on 3rd September; breeds in the Tuamotus. Pterodroma neglecta, Kermadec Petrel: Two seen on 5th September (13° 43’ S, 147° 10’ W and 13° 50’ S, 147° 17’ W) were distinguished from the rather similar white phase of P. arminjoniana heraldica by the dull brown undetwings with an oval white patch restricted to the area around the base of the pri- maries (not a longer, diffuse, light stripe), slightly larger size, and the way in which they remained lower over the water when banking. The only other records of this species in the Tuamotus are three specimens collected by the Whitney Expedition that are now in the American Museum of Natural History. Pterodroma leucoptera, White-winged Petrel: Two seen together on 3rd September at about 12° 20’ S, 145° 21’ W, are the first records for the Tuamotus area. They were seen down to a range of about 15 m and were noted at the time as, “‘small gadfly petrels, grey above with dark ‘W’ back back pattern, blackish patch on crown extending to lower nape, all-white underparts, small bill, underwings virtually all-white with no trace of a dark line extending inwards from the alula, flight quick with rapid wing-beats”’. About ten small and medium-sized gadfly petrels were not seen well enough for species identification. Puffinus pacifus, Wedge-tailed Shearwater: About ten were seen at intervals on 13th August; one seen about ten miles from the north coast of Rangiroa on 9th September, and about ten birds that were probably of this species seen at 13° 43'S, 147° 10’ W, at dawn on sth September. All were of the dark colour morph. Breeds in the Tuamotus. 27 ao Puffinus nativitatis, Christmas Shearwater: One seen at about 12° 46’ S, 145° 19’ W, on 4th September; breeds in the Tuamotus. Nesofregetta albigularis, White-throated Storm Petrel: One seen 13th August about jo miles W.N.W. of Makatea, and another on 5th September at about 13° 02’ S, 146° 20’ W. Both were light phase birds, and they appear to be the only records for the Tuamotus other than old ones of “dark storm petrels” quoted by King (1967), which could have been other species of Hydrobatidae or Bu/yeria. Identification was certain as the white throat patch bordered below with black, white belly and butterfly-like flight were noted with both birds. Phaethon aethereus, Red-billed Tropicbird: An adult seen at about 13° 45’ S, 147° 11’ W, on 5th September. This is the first record for the Tuamotus area. Identification was certain as the bird repeatedly flew around the mast of the yacht, giving clear views of a scarlet bill, long white central tail feathers and narrow black bars on the back. ; An unidentified immature tropicbitrd was seen about 4o miles north of Rangiroa on 5th September; both P. /ep/urus and P. rubricauda breed in the Tuamotus (King). . Sula sula, Red-footed Booby: A total of several hundred was seen close to the islands, singly and in small groups. None were seen more than about ~ 30 miles from land except for a single bird at about 12° 28S, 144° 15’ Won — 3rd September. Three out of 231 birds counted were of the light Seek: : breeds in the Tuamotus. 3 Sula leucogaster, Brown Booby: Single birds were seen frequently bios to the islands, a total of about 20 being counted; none were seen more than 30 miles from land. Breeds in the Tuamotus. Fregata minor, Great Frigatebird: The only bird definitely identified as this species was an adult male seen on 6th September about two miles north of — Rangiroa. Breeds in the Tuamotus. Fregata ariel, Lesser Frigatebird: Apparently commoner than minor; 11 were identified on or near Rangiroa and one near Ahe, most of them soaring over the atolls. A further 20 or so unidentified and immature frigatebirds were seen near to the islands, and single unidentified immatures were also seen far from land on 2nd September (around 12° 22’ S, 144° 05’ W) and 3rd Septem- ber (12° 25’ S, 144° 35’ W). Breeds in the Tuamotus. Egretta sacra, Reef Heron: Common on Rangiroa. They fed mainly on fish in the clear, shallow water along the shore, but also in a small grassy marsh and on bare areas of the atoll among scattered bushes where insects appeared to be the main prey. I will comment elsewhere on counts of the two colour morphs made on Rangiroa and other islands in the Tuamotus (Holyoak ms a). Gallus gallus, Domestic Fowl: Numerous around houses on Rangiroa, but no feral populations exist. Plwialis dominica, Lesser Golden Plover: Common along the seaward shore of Rangiroa and on grassy areas of the atoll, about 30 being seen altogether. Most birds were moulting from summer to winter plumage in early Septem- ber, but the stage of moult varied considerably between individuals. Prosobonia (Aechmorhynchus) cancellatus, Tuamotu Sandpiper: One was seen on a bare area of Rangiroa about three miles south-east of the airstrip, on 6th September. It was alone, and feeding on insects taken from the ground in a bare area of coral among scattered herbaceous plants. For the five minutesI was able to watch it was absurdly tame, allowing me to approach to within about 2 m before running further away; throughout this time it gave a soft “pew” “pew” squeaking call almost continually. After I had followed it for z 28 about 40 m it suddenly flew (disclosing heavy moult of the primaries and secondaries) and continued low over the beach until lost to view. This species is endemic to the Tuamotu Archipelago, where it breeds only on small atolls having no men, cats or rats (wss by Quayle & Beck in American Museum of Natural History). As atolls like this are gradually becoming scarcer its continued survival is in doubt unless some small atolls are set aside as reserves. Presumably the bird I saw was merely a casual visitor to Rangiroa as it has not been recorded there before and this island is unsuitable for breeding owing to the abundance of men and rats. | Tringa incana, Wandering ‘Tattler: Numerous along the seaward shore of Rangiroa, about 20 being seen in total. Most of them were still in summer plumage. Sterna (I'halasseus) bergi, Crested Tern: About ten seen close to the shores of Rangiroa on 6th—7th September. These were adults accompanied by one ot two flying juveniles each. An adult was seen to fly towards a juvenile that was following and giving squeaking calls, then to pass a small fish to its bill about 20 m up above open water. Another juvenile was watched standing on a beach attempting to swallow a reef fish about 8 cm long, 5 cm deep and 1 cm thick; eventually it gave up and left the fish on the beach. Sterna fuscata, Sooty Tern: Numerous around the islands, hundreds being seen around Rangiroa on 6th-7th September. Both days on Rangiroa flocks of up to 60 birds were frequently seen flying high along the atoll to the south- east, calling frequently. Only three in juvenile plumage were seen despite careful inspection of “‘noddies’’. Up to five daily were also seen far from land on 13th August and 3rd—4th September; breeds in the Tuamotus. Sterna lunata, Grey-backed Tern: Two seen at about 12° 46’ S, 145° 19’ W on 4th September, and six near the shore of Rangiroa on 6th September; breeds in the Tuamotus. Procelsterna cerulea, Blue-gtey Noddy: At least 50 seen close to shore of Rangiroa on 6th—7th September; none seen away from land. Appeared to be breeding in coral blocks along shore of Rangiroa, as sereval birds flew out from beneath them as I passed and it is known to breed elsewhere in the Tuamotus (King). Anous stolidus, Brown Noddy: Large numbers seen whenever I was within z0 miles of land, feeding flocks seen off Rangiroa containing up to about a thousand birds of this species. Apparently less numerous than A. fenuirostris. Breeds commonly in coconut palms on Rangiroa and elsewhere in the Tuamotus. I saw several well-grown young birds in coconut palms and adults were seen to fly from them. Few seen far from land, my only records being of five at about 13° 43’ S, 147° 10’ W on 5th September and five more at about 13° 52’ S, 147° 50’ W the same day. Anous tenuirostris, Black Noddy: Large numbers seen whenever I was within about 20 miles of land, but none further out. Several feeding flocks seen near Rangiroa had several thousand birds of this species, and flocks of scotes or hundreds were always in view from the shore. Nests abundantly in coconut palms on Rangiroa, where I saw numerous nestlings at all stages of growth. One was watched flying back and forth alone over lagoon water only 5-8 cm deep, periodically dipping in to water to catch a tiny fish in its bill and touching the bottom with its feet, then resting there briefly with opened wings half-raised before flying up and starting to hunt again. A Reef Heron feeding in the water lunged at this bird several times when it passed close by. =) Gygis alba, White Tern: Common neat to land, many hundreds being seen feeding close to Rangiroa, where they were breeding in coconut palms and other trees (two small young seen). Far from land small numbers were seen daily, maximum 16 on znd September. This species is conspicuous in the large feeding flocks of terns characteristic of the Tuamotus as it flies to and fro about 10-25 m above the water, periodically dipping to catch small fish. Anous stolidus and A. tenuirostris characteristically fly beneath the White Terns, usually only 1-5 m above the water. All three species feed throughout the day in large numbers; the White Tern also feeds at night, but I obtained no proof that the Axous species do so too. In the bright sunlight usual in this area the white flashes as Gyg7s turns to dip to the water surface are conspicuous at a great distance, and are used by local fishermen to locate fish shoals. Presumably the white colouration also enables other Gygis and other species of fish eating-bird to spot fish shoals easily. When solitary birds or small flocks of this species first start to feed they give a long, high-pitched “‘weeee” squeaking call almost continually. This must make them conspicuous to birds that have not found food from several miles away, as from the neat-silence of a yacht under sail I often heard them before seeing them at ranges of at least 1 km; I did not notice this call when travelling on motor powered ships and boats, probably because of the engine noise. Perhaps the call aids in the co-ordination of nocturnal feeding, as I frequently heard it at sea during the night. : In view of the number of White Terns I saw far from land between the Marquesas and Tuamotu Groups it seems likely that the endemic Marquesan subspecies microrhyncha occurs in Tuamotu waters, although records are lacking. Ptilinopus ( purpuratus) coralensis, Tuamotu Fruit Dove: Seven or eight seen in tall scrub and low trees in a coconut plantation in the village on the north side of Rangiroa. I did not see any in the scrub and coconut plantations away from the village where there were few trees other than coconuts. They were ~ comparatively tame, often not flying away until I walked in full view of the bird to within about 4 m. It moves freely from about 12 m up in the tree-tops to the ground, feeding on the ground and in very low bushes as well as in taller bushes and trees. Its movements through foliage are agile, with long hops between branches, rapid sideways runs down them and hanging head downwards to reach food. The general shape and outline of this form are distinctly slimmer and mote passerine-like than those of the related p/-/inopus in the Society Islands. Its flight is direct, but not very rapid, with quick, regular, rather shallow wing-beats that make a whistling sound. I saw them eat black berries about 7 mm in diameter from alow bush, small green flowers of a low tree, and many insects pecked from the foliage of bushes and the ground with a quick darting action. Bruner (1972 p. 75) also records them eating insects on the ground, and grass seed. The usual song is similar to that of Society Island Pti/inopus, a soft “oooo- 0000-0000-000-000-00-00-0-0-0-0-0”” accelerating towards the end as it dies away. An alternative song similar to those heard in the Society Islands was also heard several times and tape-recorded, “‘ooa-o0 000a-00 0004-00 000a-00”. They frequently sang from low in bushes as well as high perches. — After singing one bird was seen to fly down in to a low bush and perch ~ near to another about 3 m up. It then walked towards the other bird, allo- — preened its crown and nape for about a minute (without huddling close to the ~ 30 bird being preened), stepped back and preened itself. Head-scratching in this species is direct (foot lifted straight to head). A local woman showed me a nearly fully-built nest less than a metre above the ground in a patch of thick, low scrub among taller bushes in a coconut plantation. The nest was well-hidden from above, and consisted of a flimsy, flat platform of thin twigs and slender pieces of vine stem. Local people all agreed that it lays a single pale brown egg ina flimsy, flat nest. The eggs of all Ptilinopus so far known are white, except that superbus lays white or creamy _white eggs (Goodwin 1967); thus my informants may have been wrong _ about the egg colour. I was told that it also nests higher up in bushes but that nests within about 15 cm of the ground are common. Goodwin (/. ¢.) and others have lumped this form with Pi/inopus purpuratus _ of the Society Islands, along with chal/curus from Makatea and chrysogaster from the Leeward Society Islands. It is always difficult to decide what taxonomic status should be afforded island forms that replace each other geographically, | and any treatment is little better than an informed guess. Generally the best | basis from which to guess would seem to be the extent of differences in , closely related forms that achieve sympatry. In Pé/inopus the sympatric species | mercierit and dupetithouarsi of the Marquesas Islands do not differ more in plumage than some of the forms included in purpuratus, and they appear to differ less in behaviour and ecology than do purpuratus and coralensis, (Holy- | oak in prep. and ms b). |. P. purpuratus purpuratus and P. p. chrysogaster of the Society Islands have | very similar general behaviour and ecology (Holyoak ms b), and differ from | coralensis in being almost entirely arboreal, eating fewer insects, nesting | higher in trees and in general body shape. It seems unlikely that either would | survive for very long in the habitat of the other. P. p. chalcurus is intermediate | in plumage between cora/ensis and nominate purpuratus, but differs from both }in its darker mauve cap. The biology of chalcurus is practically unknown, | but the raised atoll of Makatea probably offers conditions that are inter- mediate in many respects between those of the mountainous Society Islands and the low atolls of the Tuamotus. As Makatea is also between the Society Islands and Tuamotus geographically, it seems likely that chalcurus does represent a link between cora/ensis and the nominate form. Thus it may be | best to keep all of those forms together in one species despite the marked | differences in their general ecology; however, any course of action is largely | arbitrary. Acrocephalus atypha,'Tuamotu Warbler: Three birds were seen in an area of _ tall bushes under scattered coconut palms near the airstrip on Rangiroa. They | wete very tame, approaching through open branches to within 2 m of me in _a very bold manner. In general their actions when moving through vege- | tation were similar to those of Acrocephalus arundinaceus, although their flight | appeared weaker. They pecked small insects from twigs and leaves as they hopped rapidly up and down branches, and one was seen to catch a small insect in flight. | Calls were similar to those of A. caffra of the Society and Marquesas Islands, /alow “chru” being frequently repeated. The song was also similar in struc- | ture to that of caffra, but less continuous, less rich and less varied. Typically | the song consisted of the ‘“‘chru”’ call followed by a short whistling phrase, \e.g. “chru-peee-tu-tu-pee-wee” followed by a pause before the song was | repeated with a different arrangement of whistling notes. They sing at all | levels from high in coconut trees to low down in bushes, and appeared to | sing most vigorously around sunset. 31 Singing birds replied vigorously and approached me with raised crown feathers and half-opened wings when I played tape recordings of their song to them. The whistling songs of a variety of unrelated American birds, in- cluding wrens, thrushes and a parulid, evoked equally vigorous responses. Presumably as A. atypha is the only songbird in the Tuamotus it has lost the ability to differentiate between songs of conspecifics and other species that related birds of continental areas have. It is also likely that the present varied and musical song has not degenerated, solely because there is a need for it in intraspecific relations. I saw several old nests built in bushes from 4-8 m above the ground, usually among trailing vines. One I examined was a substantial, deep, cup- shaped structure built of grass stems, long leaves and the fine stems of vines, with a lining of slender vine stems. It measured about 12 cm from top to bottom and was built in a fork of the branch of a bush among a thick vine growth. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My visit to Polynesia was made possible by a fellowship of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, and preparatory work at the American Museum of Natural History was financed by a grant from the Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund. I am also grateful to the officers and crew of “L’Enseigne de Vaisseau Re Henri” and to J. Cunha, Mr. & Mts. J. P. Kavanaugh, and Mr. & Mrs. R. Pozzi on the “Sea Star” for hospitality and assistance. Mr. E. Bryan jr., Mlle. K. Dubois, Dr. C. Jouanin, Dr. B. Salvat, Dr. D. W. Snow and M. C. Tissier also assisted me in various ways, and I am grateful to Dr. W. R. P. Bourne and Mr. W. B. King for commenting on my manu- script. References: Bruner, P. L. 1972. Birds of French Polynesia. Honolulu: Bishop Museum. Se D. 1967. Pigeons and doves of the World. London: British Museum (Natural istory). Holyoak, a T. ms a. Significance of colour dimorphism in Polynesian populations of Egretta sacra. — ms b. The birds of the Society Islands. — in preparation. The birds of the Marquesas Islands. King, W. B. 1967. Seabirds of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Preliminary Smithsonian Identification Manual. Washington: Smithsonian Institution. 9 First Report of Pitta e. erythrogaster from Leyte by Kenneth W. Prescott Received 24th November 1972 Some time ago Dr. Kenneth C. Parkes questioned me concerning a pitta which I had collected on 4th July 1945. Although the recorded locality of the — specimen was Leyte, which attracted Parkes’ attention, it was taken aboard a ship which was anchored a few miles off the coast of central Leyte in the Leyte Gulf. McGregor & Worcester (1906: 68) listed twenty-three Philippine — Islands from which P. e. erythrogaster has been recorded. Leyte was not one of these although it was recorded from the neighbouring islands of Samar to the north, Mindanao to the south, Cebu and Panay to the west and south- west, and Masbate to the north-west. In discussing the zoologically distinct island groups of the Phillippines, McGregor & Worcester (1906: 4-5) grouped Samar, Leyte and Bohol together, placed Cebu in a class by itself, regarded Mindanao and the immediately adjacent islands as by themselves, 7 and Panay and Masbate were placed with the central Philippine group. 32 Although in 1906 McGregor & Worcester did not record this pitta from Leyte or Bohol, subsequently McGregor (1909: 414) listed it from Bohol but not from Leyte. To date, strangely enough, it has not been reported from Leyte. A glance at the map discloses the fairly large Leyte literally encitcled by islands on which P. e¢. erythrogaster is found; moreover, the zoologically related Samar is contiguous with Leyte to the north-east. My specimen, although collected offshore, rather strongly suggests that P. e. erythrogaster exists on Leyte. At dusk the bird flew aboard the well lighted U.S.S. Jamestown, A.G.P.-3, through an open porthole alighting on a table in a crew’s mess where it was quickly pounced upon by a boatswains-mate whom I had frequently taken on collecting trips. He brought the still living bird to me which I subsequently made into a skin, now UMMZ-~113, 932 (sex, female?) in the University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology collection. The Jamestown was one of several hundred lighted ships anchored that evening in Leyte Gulf. That the pitta chanced my way was a stroke of good luck, although we were anchored much closer to shore, two-four miles, than the other larger war ships. For this specimen I am grateful to the quick thinking George, BM/tc, and to the U.S. Navy which allowed me to collect birds while serving (then Executive Officer of the Jamestown) during a time of war. I am indebted to Dr. Parkes who called my attention to the importance of the locality in which the pitta was collected. References : McGregor, Richard C. & Worcester, Dean C. 1906. A Hand-List of the Birds of the Philip- pine Islands. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Government Laboratories, No. 36. January. Manila. McGregor, Richard C. 1909. A Manual of Philippine Birds. Part I]. Bureau of Sciences, Manila. Supplementary Notes on the Birds of Point Tombo, Argentina by Jeffery Boswall Received sth December 1972 In company with Donaldo Maclver and Douglas Fisher I returned to Point Tombo, Argentina, from 1oth—26th October 1972 to complete a BBC television film on the biology of the Magellanic Penguin Spheniscus magellani- cus. The visit was earlier in the season than that in 1971, the ornithological results of which were published by Boswall and Prytherch (1972). A few supplementary notes are now set out with emphasis on the seabird species known to nest. Not all bird species seen are mentioned. The notice prohibiting access to Point Tombo in the interests of preserv- ing the ecology of the area proved to be meaningless. Between 2,500 and 3,000 people visited the area in the austral spring and summer of 1971-2, mainly in December, January and February, and mainly at weekends, They wander at will and in our experience are particularly attracted to the part of the penguin colony without bushes, where the birds are most conspicuous and where the burrows cave in very readily. Also, we saw that Kelp Gulls Larus dominicanus follow in the wake of humans and carry off penguin eggs left unguarded. The uncontrolled wanderings of tourists is a cause of great concern to local conservationists. 33 Exndyptes crestatus, Rockhopper Penguin; Four dead birds on the shore. Spheniscus magellanicus, Magellanic Penguin: Specially detailed notes wete kept on this bird to be used as a basis for the film commentary. Also a separate paper is being prepared. However it is important to tidy up here some points made in the earlier Point Tombo paper. The phrase “peak of laying” in paragraph two under S. mage/lanicus should read “peak of clutch completion”. Point Tombo is now known not to be “the northernmost colony of this species on the Atlantic coast apart from 50 pairs reputed to nest at Punta Leon... (64° 30’ W. 43° 05’ S.)”. Juan Munoz (in discussion, 1972) knows of a colony at Punta Clara (65° 12’ W. 43° 57’ S.). Murphy is mis-quoted in the earlier paper; his only evidence that this species nests “From the Gulf of San Matias, Argentina, southward” was not Magellan’s sighting. Murphy also refers to Burmeister, who wrote that “from about latitude 41° S. on the Patagonian coast the Jackass Penguins are more or less regular denizens of the islets, peninsulas and mainland beaches”’. The fact that Durnford (1878) found no penguins at Point Tombo at the end of December surprised Boswall & Prytherch, but in 1972 a new fact came to light. It is that in about 1930, when Carlos La Regina of Estancia La Perla was in his early teens, only a very small part of the area now occupied by nesting penguins was in use by them. Since then they have spread greatly. With regard to breeding season, it is worth mentioning here, since the first paper was particularly concerned with this subject, that the peak of clutch completion in 1972 was not as early as 7th October, as Boswall & Prytherch speculated, assuming the birds lay eggs at the same time every year. It was well after 16th October and before 21st October. On 11th, inspection of 100 nests showed 52 with birds but no eggs, 35 with one egg and 13 with two eggs. Comparable figures for 16th were 21, 31 and 48; and for 21st October, 8, 17 and 74 plus one nest with three eggs. It must be con- cluded either that the incubation period of the closely related species S. demersus is not the same as that of magellanicus, or that egg-laying at Point Tombo was differently timed in 1971 and 1972. 1971/72 was an exceptionally cold winter in Patagonia and locals advised us that, at the time of our arrival, temperatures were still much below the usual ones for the time of year. But whether the coming ashore of the penguins would be influenced by local weather is not known, except that Carrara (1952) says “... the arrival on land for nesting is from the first days of September until the beginning of October; but there are small variations every year. The climatological con- ditions, specially the temperature, play a most important role in the dates of atrival on land”. Meyer de Schauensee (1970) says of distribution of S. magellanicus “Breeds ... coast of Argentina north to Santa Cruz”. In fact the species nests north to the next province, Chubut. Diomedea melanophris, Black-browed Albatross: One seen in flight. Macronectes giganteus, Giant Fulmar (or Petrel): A single bird was seen at a floating penguin carcase, and on another day a group of about six birds were — similarly engaged. Conway (1971) saw Giant Fulmars attack apparently adult penguins at Point Tombo. Fulmarus glacialoides, Southern (or Silver-grey) Fulmar: One seen just off- shore on 22nd October. Phalacrocorax magellanicus, Rock Cormorant; P. bouganivili, Guanay Cor- morant; and P. a/biventer, King Cormorant. All three species were back at the mixed colony .The two last were just starting to collect nesting material on 11th October. According to Carlos La Regina (personal discussion, 1972), 34 cormorant guano was taken from Point Tombo in about 1965 by a Japanese company. Rodolpho Escalante (pers. comm. 1972) has drawn my attention to the fact that the observations by Erize (1972) on the first Atlantic-coast nesting of P. bougainvillii had first been published by Navas (1970). Erize (op. cit,) quoted Meyer de Schauensee (1970) to the effect that the nearest nesting Guanays, measured by the shortest sea route, were nearly 3,000 kms away on Mocha Island in Chile. Johnson (1965), however, says that this island, which lies at Lat. 37° 30’ S, was deserted by 1962 and that only the colony known to him in Chile is on Pupuya Islet at Lat. 33° 58’ S. about 400 kms further to the north. — Boswall & Prytherch (1972) quote Olrog (1968) on P. al/biventer breeding on “‘the inland lakes in the province of Neuquen”’. Escalante (1971) quotes Navas (Veofropica 1970 (16): 140-144) to the effect that the birds in Neuquen are Blue-eyed Cormorants P. a/riceps, and not P. a/biventer. Since the latter “has been much confused with one or more races of P. africeps’ (Murphy 1936), it is worth mentioning that a colour photograph of those at Point Tombo was published by Erize (1970) and that two colour transparencies of mine are deposited in the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge. Phoenicopterus chilensis, Chilean Flamingo: Two parties of about a dozen birds seen. One party appeared to be feeding in the sea. Cygnus melancoryphus, Black-necked Swans: Seven in flight on 22nd, twelve on 231d. Lachyeres patachonicus, Flying Steamer-duck: The identification of this species was confirmed by close ‘field observation and the wing length of a drake found dead. Also, the identification of the birds in Parrinder’s photo- graph as flightless Flying Steamer-ducks has been further confirmed by Milton Weller and O. S. Pettingill (pers. comm., 1972): ““The birds are evidently moulting, being temporarily without most of their remiges, except for their tertials”’. The sizes of six eggs found in a nest just above high water mark on 22nd October were: 84.8 xX 55.8 mm, 83.2 X 54-6 mm, 83.0 X §4-2 mm, 85.0 X 55-6 mm, 83.1 X 56.1 mm., and 84.6 x 55.5 mm. The respective weights were 140, 130, 130, 145, 140 and 135 grammes. A bird was put off this nest, but otherwise the birds were always in pairs, the two keeping very ‘close together. As in the previous year, the pairs were spread out along the coast and each pair could always be found approximately where expected, (see also Prytherch, Boswall & Maclver, in preparation). Vanellus chilensis, Southern Lapwing: One pair present and rather noisy. Charadrius falklandicus, Two-banded Plover: One very young chick seen on 13th October. Thinocorus rumicivorus, Least Seedsnipe: J. Daciuk tells me he has seen chicks of this species at Point Tombo. Chionis alba, Snowy Sheathbill: Small parties near the extremity of the point; others in the penguin colony tidying up the remains of penguin eggs left by gulls or skuas. | _ Catharacta Skua, Great Skua: Skuas were in pairs and back in their breed- ing areas of the previous year. They would fly over to inspect any human intruder but did not mob. One was seen to snatch a penguin egg froma nest » left unguarded because of human disturbance. Others were active in the burrow area of the penguin colony robbing Kelp Gulls of penguin eggs. With the exception of one buff-streaked bird, all had very dark plumage. Leucophacus scoresbii, Dolphin Gull: Up to seven together in the penguin colony trying to “cash in” on penguin eggs stolen by Kelp Gulls. 9) Larus dominicanus, Kelp Gull: Already in occupation of their nesting areas and very clamorous at the intrusion of an observer. A number of Kelp Gulls were very active in the penguin colony taking eggs, but they frequently lost them to skuas. Sterna hirundinacea, South American Tern: Up to ten birds presumed to be of this species were seen on most days. Sterna eurygnatha, Cayenne Tern: Four birds presumed to be of this species seen on 13th October. Upucerthia dumetaria, Scale-throated Earthcreeper: A nest which had been exposed on 23rd by a human was brought to my attention. The tunnel had been 1.9 metres long, and had been hollowed from a vertical bank of soil- cum-shingle. At the ‘end was a scant nest of dried grasses and five smooth white eggs. At least one bird returned and the same day tried to ‘“‘mine”’ further beyond the nest, but no more activity was seen. Lessonia rufa, Rafous-backed Negrito: A female was put off a nest built at the base of a small plant growing among rocks near the shore. It contained three eggs on 23rd, two eggs and one chick on 24th, and three chicks on 25th. Dinca diuca, Common Diuca Finch: Birds almost certainly of this species were taking grass into a hole a couple of metres from the exposed Scale- throated Earthcreeper nest and it was presumed to be an unused burrow of that species. ACKNOWI1EDGEMENTS I am grateful to Robin Prytherch for checking the paper through, and to Judy Billington for typing it. References: Boswall, Jeffery & Prytherch, Robin J. 1972. Some notes on the Birds of Point Tombo, Argentina. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 92 (5): 118-129. Carrara, I. S. 1952. Lobos marinos, pinguinos y guaneros del littoral maritimo e islas adyacentes de la Republica Argentina. La Plata. Conway, William. 1971. Predation on Penguins at Punta Tombo. Animal Kingdom August issue 1971: 2-8. Durnford, Henry. 1878. Notes on the birds of Central Patagonia. /bis (4) 2: 389-406. Erize, Francisco. 1970. Cormorants of South America. Animals 13 (5): 235-237. Escalante, Rodolfo. 1971. Addenda and Corrigenda to Aves Marinas del Rio de la Plata. ip. Montvideo: Barriero and Ramos. Johnson, A. W. 1965. The Birds of Chile. Buenos Aires: Graficos. Meyer de Schauensee, R. 1970. A Guide to the Birds of South America. Natbeth, Penn: Livingston. Murphy, R. C. 1936. The Oceanic Birds of South America. New York: American Museum of Natural History. Navas, Jorge R. 1970. Nuevos registros de Aves para la Patagonia. Neotropica 16 (49): 11-16, Prytherch, R. J., Boswall, J., & Maclver, D. In preparation. Casual Notes on the Flying ~ Steamer- divele Regular Occurrence of Porphyrula martinica in South Africa by W. Roy Szegtried e& P. G. Hl. Frost Received 25th November 1972 Ohlson (1972, Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 92: 92-93) has reported the occurrence of the American Gallinule Porphyrula martinica on the mid Atlantic islands of St. Helena and Ascension. The species is also a regular visitor to Tristan da Cunha (Elliott, 1957; /bis 99: 545-586), To date. 11 specimens have been 36 “— obtained in South Africa (not 12 as stated by Broekhuysen 1971, Ostrich 42: 78-79). These birds were found within 160 km of Cape Town (33° 55’ S, 18° 22’ BE). This paper reports a further record of P. martinica from Cape Town, and draws attention to the apparent regularity with which the species occurs in South Africa. The bird was found at Camps Bay, 10 km from Cape Town, on 20th May 1972. It was rescued in an exhausted state from a cat, but rapidly recuperated when fed raw, lean beef. The bird was a first-year male in the process of acquiring adult plumage. It weighed 160 gm, 63 % of the mean weight for 20 dd recorded by Hartman (1961, Smith. Misc. Coll. 143: 1-91). Other re- corded weights of immatures (unsexed) recovered in South Africa are even lower, < 150 gm and 137 gm (Rowan & Winterbottom 1963, Ostrich 34: 249-250; Winterbottom 1965, Ostrich 36: 90-91). Mensural data taken from the bird are: culmen and shield 45-5 mm, wing 183-0 mm; tarsus 64-5 mm. The primaries and secondaries were unworn. The tail feathers were moulting. The adult purple abdominal and breast feathers were still sheathed at their bases, but the new bronze feathers of the upper parts were unsheathed. This represents the twelfth record of P. martinica in South Africa. Two birds were recovered in April, four in May, four in June, one in August and one of unknown date. During the decade 1962-1972, nine birds (all im- mature) appeared in South Africa. 1968, 1969 and 1971 were the only years in which American Gallinules were not recorded. Thus, the species may be regarded as a more or less annual vagrant to the southern tip of Africa. The prevailing winds over the south Atlantic during the austral autumn and winter ate predominantly westerly, with winds of gale force being common. These conditions would favour forced down wind crossings of the south Atlantic by American Gallinules blown off course while either migrat- ing or dispersing along the south eastern seaboard of the new world. It is somewhat remarkable how regular and often this relatively weak flying species makes the 8000 km journey to South Africa. The peak of occurrence in South Africa (May—June) is about a month later than the peak on Tristan da Cunha (March—May, Rowan & Elliott, C. pers. comm.). This could suggest that the birds occurring in South Africa are secondarily derived from those on Tristan, where, having at least partially recovered, and still possibly being affected by the urge to migrate, they leave the Tristan group only to be transported westerly again to the southern tip of Africa. This suggested movement may explain why, in spite of the number of records down the years, there have been few reports of adults and no reports of attempted breeding on Tristan. _ This may also explain the species’ occurrence on Ascension and St. _ Helena. Ohlson (op. cit.) suggested that the Gallinules recorded there could have arrived via the south easterly trade winds (the prevailing winds in the mid Atlantic) after having been driven to the proximity of the African coast by the west winds of the south Atlantic. He alternatively suggested that the American Gallinules may have been derived directly from South America by being transported along the upper west wind layer that blows across the mid Atlantic at altitudes of 500 m and higher. However, in as much as they can be taken to mean anything, the dates of occurrence (in June) of the species on these islands slightly favour the first suggestion. _ The above comments are, of course, largely speculative. The lack of data on weights of birds occurring in any of these areas precludes any interpre- _ tation of movements based on the relative weight losses of individuals sur- _ viving the south Atlantic crossing. In future, it might be possible to examine 37 stomach contents, specifically grit, and feather minerals (see Hanson & Jones 1968, Biol. Notes Illinois Nat. Hist. Surv. 60) in an attempt to determine not only an individual’s origin but possibly also any stop-over localities. Anyone likely to gain possession of American Gallinules on either the mid or south Atlantic islands or in South Africa should bear this in mind. The Nesting of Feral Pigeons Columba livia in Trees by Jeffery Boswall Received 19th January 1973 At Derek Goodwin’s suggestion I made a few notes when in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 30th October 1972, on the nesting of Feral Pigeons Columba /ivia in the trees of the city’s sidewalks and plazas. Plaza San Martin, for example, has a large number of very mature trees of a species that fork at anything from about three metres to about nine metres from the ground. In the crooks of these, the birds commonly build their nest, see Plates 1 and 2. Photo: Jeffery Boswall Plate 1 ‘To show tree nest-site of Feral Pigeon Columbia livia, Plaza San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The nest is situated in the major “‘crook”’ of the tree immediately above the observet’s head. 38 ~ | : be Photo: Jeffery Boswall Plate 2 Feral pigeon Co/umba Jivia on typically exposed tree nest-site, Plaza San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Apart from the branches of the trees, the nests were fully exposed to the sky. One particularly exposed nest was built on the stump of a sawn off branch. | The nest material was mainly small dry twigs. The half-dozen nests I could see into had small young. The birds also nest commonly on city buildings, I was told, and as in other cities are commonly fed by the human populace. : | : One (rather poor) colour photograph submitted to Goodwin for deter- | mination of the colour pattern types brought the following comment, “there Seem to be 16 barred blues (the wild colour-pattern), 23 dark blue chequers, _velvets or blacks (probably all these but hard to say . . .). one dominant red (ash red in American parlance), one dark blue chequer with many white | primaries, and one that is either a mealy or a light drizzle’. | | | | Tringa hypoleucos Linnaeus breeding in East Africa by G. R. Cunningham C van Someren Received 13th December 1972 ! The East African Natural History Society have been considering the question | of naturalisation of some species generally regarded as migrants or other introduced species to East Africa. Forbes-Watson (1972). \ 39 \ The writer proposed that Himantopus himantopus (Linneaus) and Recurvi- rostra avosetta Linnaeus, which breed regularly at Lake Magadi Kenya, should be included, along with 7. hypoleucos, as birds are present throughout the year and have been recorded as breeding, van Somerens (1911). Backhurst (pers. comm.), editor of the Bulletin of the Society drew my attention to Benson e¢ a/. (1970) who quote Broekhuysen (1967) and Mack- worth-Praed & Grant (1952) who accept 7. hypoleucos as a breeding species while Moreau (1966) and Chapin (1939) rejected the breeding record of the van Somerens and Meinertzhagen and thus Benson ef a/. (op. cit.) followed suit and also rejected the record. van Someren (1922, 1932) refers to this earlier breeding record but without re-quoting the data on which this was founded and doubtless the above-men- tioned writers have not accepted the bare statements of these papers. However I would draw attention firstly to the 1911 work, “Studies of Birdlife in Uganda’’, where a photograph is reproduced, showing a bird on its nest in Uganda. The photograph was taken by Dr. R. A. L. van Someren and he des- cribes how this was achieved and further adds “breeding is during August and September”’. He describes the eggs. This statement was quoted by Mackworth- Praed & Grant (op. cit.). The volume of photographs and text is probably not readily available and was perhaps overlooked. Secondly van Someren (1936) writes of the Sandpiper ‘‘also resident in East Africa’. He describes the nestling in down and under habits comments “is to a certain extent resident in both Kenya and Uganda and even breeds here”... “‘ nest and young have been recorded in Uganda in June and a bird in breeding condition shot in May”... “we have taken or observed these Sandpipers throughout all months of the year on Lakes Nakuru and Naiy- asha”’. Neither of these two papers are mentioned by Benson e¢. a/ (op. cit.). — The fact that 7. hypoleucos has been photographed on its nest in Uganda, the eggs and nestling described, etc., establishes the claim that it should now be considered an East African breeding species. It is certainly resident throughout the year in Kenya, as my own records show for my dam at Karen, near Nairobi. References: Benson, C. W., Brooke, R. K., Dowsett, R. J. & Stewart Irwin, M. P. 1970. Notes on the birds of Zambia: Part V Arnoldia Vol. 4 No. 4o. Broekhuysen, G. 1967. Bird Migration in the southern part of the African continent. Vogelwarte, 24: 6-16. Crepe) P. 1939, 1954. The Birds of the Belgian Congo. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 75, 75D. Forbes-Watson, A. 1972. Birds naturalised in East Africa. Bull. E. A. Nat. Hist. Soc., August. Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1952. The birds of eastern and north-eastern Africa. I. London: Longmans. Moreau, R. E. 1966. The bird faunas of Africa and its islands. London: Academic Press. van Someren, R. A. L. & van Someren, V. G. L. 1911. Studies of Birdlife in Uganda. London: John Bale, Sons and Danielson. van Someren, V. G. L. 1922. Notes on the Birds of East Africa. Novitates Zoologicae Vol. XXIX. — 1932. Birds of Kenya and Uganda, being addenda and corrigenda to my previous paper in Novitates Zoologicae. Novitates Zoologicae Vol. XX XVIII. — 1936. The Birds of Kenya and Uganda. Jour. E. A. and U. Nat. Hist. Soc. Vol. XT Nos. 1 and 2. Vol. II Part 5. 40 Seasonal movements of the black cuckoo-shrikes Campephaga phoenicea and C. flava, especially in eastern Africa by P. L. Britton The Campephaga phoenicea superspecies of Hall & Moreau (1970) ranges widely through Africa represented by three forms which are considered conspecific by White (1962). Two of these, C. phoenicea (Latham) and C. flava Vieillot, are apparently very tolerant ecologically, preferring woodland and savanna habitats, but found also in forest. The third form, C’. pet/// Oustalet, is a true forest bird confined to the more equable lower latitudes, and probably resident. The plots for all three forms in Hall & Moreau (op. c/t.) indicate eastern and western populations of each. Two of the forms are sympatric in several areas, with considerable overlap of phoenicea and flava in the east. All are more or less sympatric near the Equator in eastern Zaire and western Kenya, and in the latter area the situation is further complicated by the presence of the closely related, forest-dwelling C. guiscalina Finsch. Phoenicea is a northern form ranging from about 14° N to 4° S in the west, 16° N to 1° S in the east; while fava is a southern form ranging from about 5° S to 22° S in the west, 5° N to 34° S in the east. There is considerable controversy and confusion surrounding the taxo- nomic treatment of the two non-forest forms. The otherwise black males usually have brightly coloured shoulder patches, most often red in phoenicea and yellow in flava; but this aspect is not at all consistent for either form, not even at one locality. In eastern Africa the vast majority of male flava are entirely black, especially in central and southern Tanzania and southern Uganda. About half of the males in several areas of Kenya and northern Tanzania have yellow shoulders, but at Kabete, near Nairobi all eighteen birds checked for this character by G. C. Backhurst (/n //tt.) were entirely black. An analysis of any regular movements in these forms should help in solving this complex problem; in particular whether areas of apparent sympatry are occupied by only non-breeding birds. The Common Black Cuckoo-Shrike C. fava was not included as a migrant by Moreau (1966). Yet as early as 1936 Priest had remarked that it is a breed- ing summer visitor to the Mashonaland plateau of Rhodesia; a view strongly supported by Vernon (1968) who suggested that the movement is altitudinal. Benson ef a/. (1970) showed that it is virtually absent from south-eastern plateau country, especially Zambia, from June to September. During the same period it is quite numerous below 3,500 ft.; a pattern which led the authors to believe that the great majority on the plateaus leave for the winter, moving generally eastwards into the low-lying valleys and Mozambique. Most recently, Prigogine (1972) has shown conclusively that in Zaire, ex- cluding Katanga, it is a seasonal visitor from May to October. Prigogine considered it possible that some at least of these birds originate from Katanga while others originate from East Africa. In order to investigate the situation in eastern Africa, dated records have been collected from resident observers and museum specimen labels, with the kind co-operation of many, all of whom are acknowledged later. The 710 dated records from southern Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and southern Uganda are shown by months in Table 1. Monthly totals for this large area 41 TABLE, 1 Distribution of Campephaga flava records in eastern Africa by months LAR OM ACM A, JL AS ea ee Tanzania south of 7°S, west of 38°E, Songea a — “ ¥ excluded Be eB a ee OR Re ae ee 16 SonseaWistrict, S.°lanzania: 12°93 }).92 4. Tey 2°.) 20 Pig 62 Uganda; Tanzania west of 34°K bes ede oh 4 Ybs di Be Lie ONT De er 36 S.W. Kenya, 0°-3° S, 34°-36° E Qo pe ES PASS VO Ae oe? FS 0 ens 55 Central Tanzania, 4°-7°S, 33°-38°E 255 hee Guy Ay abe =e 5 a eee 32 “Coast”, south of 4°S, east of 38°E Led ONO ee Bd. 9 (pO oy, ON) ADB ee ee oo 79 “Coast”, north of 4°S, east of 38°E see By BB DPB e: OF ST 2 Sea eee 74 Kenya & N. Tanzania, north of 4°S, 36°-38°E, Nairobi & Kabete excluded 115.100 12) s62e80++15.1140023)| 419 OR oe 7 eee Kabete, near Nairobi Vet Bo es Rea 2 Birds eae 72 Nairobi area, Kabete excluded 2) 3) 3 Gte8 S4e AO Te C16 ae ee 87 Kenya, 0°-2°N, 34°-36°E Be DA a Gy SOD eo Tee) 5 Total north of 7°S 23 27 (25 31 330 5585 © 117 88 oon ae Total south of 7°S V7 8S OD 22 2. SS eS aren 78 Total 40 35 30 33 32 57. 85117 91 111% 34. 45— 71 show that 70 per cent of records from north of 7° S fall in the months June — to October, whereas 78 per cent of records from south of 7° S fall outside this period. Since the more or less coincident period from May to October is the time of the invasion in much of Zaire (Prigogine op. cit.) it is probably unreasonable to suppose that Zaire birds originate from anywhere but the south. Furthermore, the absence from south-eastern plateau country outlined above, documented in particular for Rhodesia and Zambia, more or less coincides with this invasion. | In the eight months from October to May, Benson ef a/. (op. cit.) had 300 ee specimen records from plateaus above 3,500 ft., compared with only about 100 from the whole area considered, including the plateaux, for the four — months June to September. The fact that there were fewer data per month in the latter period is probably partly the result of less collecting in low- lying Mozambique than in either Rhodesia or Zambia; but the difference may also be due to a departure of some of these plateau-breeding birds from the whole area considered between June and September, not simply a movement | within the area. It is likely that a proportion of individuals move into low- | lying areas like Mozambique while others move to lower latitudes, into Zaire and eastern Africa. The Katanga region of southern Zaire is geographically intermediate which accounts for the more or less even distribution of records through the year (Prigogine op. cit.). Katanga data probably refer to both breeding birds and wintering birds, including passage migrants, and do not | necessarily imply that birds in this area are resident. " i Britton (1971) are somewhat analogous since eastern Rhodesia plateau breeders move eastwards into Mozambique from about April to August, at which time birds breeding in southern and south-western Zambia, and adjacent areas, move northwards into Katanga and Moxico (Angola). These two breeding populations are quite disjoint so that it is comparatively easy to assign disjoint wintering areas to them. This is not the case with C. flava however, so that it is not possible to know which move to lower altitudes and which move to lower latitudes in the cold weather (dry season). Non-coastal Tanzania south of about 7° S may be considered a part of the south-eastern plateau, receiving most of its rain from December to April (Griffiths 1958). All but one of the records from this area, Songea excluded, are for these months, when Lynes (1934 and specimen labels in B.M.[N.H.]) recorded considerable gonad activity in the majority of his specimens from Iringa and the Njombe Highlands. The data for Songea District, lying south of 10° S, are those of I. H. Dillingham (7z /tt,) who was resident there from Match 1954 to July 1956. The bulk of records (80 per cent) refer to the period October to January, which are the months of egg-laying in adjacent Malawi and Zambia (Benson ef a/. 1964). Dillingham had no records for July or August, and returning from leave on 29th May 1955 he did not record this species until zoth September. Southern Uganda and Tanzania west of 33° E, mainly the north-west, ate peripheral to Prigogine’s area, and evidently receive the same invasion from the south, with 26 out of 35 records in the three months June to August. Similarly south-western Kenya and adjacent Tanzania from the Equator to 3° S, 34° to 36° E, where 46 out of 55 records are for the months June to October (only three in September). In central Tanzania, 4° to 7° S, 33° to 38° E, there is evidence of passage birds, with 28 out of 32 records in the months March to May and August to November, and none in July which _is the peak month to the north-west. In much of eastern Africa and Zaire the situation is complicated by the presence of breeding birds, but breeding is unknown and probably rare in the foregoing areas. The movements of Cossypha natalensis hylophona Clancey described by _ Incoastal Tanzania, south of 4° S, 33° to 38° E, an area which includes also extreme south-eastern Kenya, the majority (48 out of 79) of records fall in the months August to October. There are however records for all months except February, and breeding is known from this area. Sclater & Moreau (1933) mention a nest with naked nestlings at Amari on 26th October, and Vaughan (1930) considers it probably resident on Zanzibar with a breeding season about October. In fact all three December records refer to the Usam- bara Mountains which include Amani, so that there is only one record for the coastal lowlands in the months December to February. In the mainly low- lying areas of eastern Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, east of 38° E, north of 4° S, 65 per cent of records are for the months of June to August, especially August with 31 out of a total of 74 records. All months except January are represented, with as many as eight in December. Almost half of the eastern Tanzania records are for the months September and October compared with only three out of 74 for these months further north in eastern Africa; a situation suggesting a southern origin for many individuals, returning south fairly early and hardly occurring north of 4° S after the peak month of August. | Bast of 38° E it hardly occurs north of 2° S, and the population in south- eastern Ethiopia at about 5° N is an anomaly mentioned in more detail later. 43 During 25 years as a resident of Korogwe in north-eastern Tanzania, Archbold (1972) has recorded it only three times, in September, October and November. The remaining, mainly highland areas of Kenya and northern Tanzania show the same June to October peak, but complicated by the presence of breeding birds and possible altitudinal movements within these areas. J. S. S. Beesley (¢” /i/t.) found three nests between 1,500 and 1,700 m a.s.l. in the Arusha National Park, northern Tanzania, indicating egg-laying in December January and April. Two eggs from Emali Hill, Sultan Hammud, Kenya col- lected by V. G. L. van Someren on 30th March 1940 were from one of several nests found on a visit to this area (G. R. Cunningham—van Someren in litt.). The same writer informs me of a nest at Karen, near Nairobi in May. A female with a large shell-less egg in its oviduct collected at Eldama Ravine on 4th April, and reported by Jackson (1938), is the only further Kenya breeding record. According to Urban & Brown (1971) it has been recorded breeding in Ethiopia in April and possibly in February, the latter being a bird with testes greatly enlarged collected at Yavello (B.M. [N.H.] collection). All of the above breeding sites are at about 1,500 m (a little under 5,000 ft.) ot highes, The fact that 62 per cent of the 351 records for this large area of Kenya and ~ northern Tanzania are for the four months July to October strongly suggests that some at least are birds breeding in the southern tropics. No month lacks records completely however due to the presence of a minority of breeding birds. At Kabete, near Nairobi the observations of G. C. Backhurst (¢” /i#t.) and others over several years show a still clearer pattern with 62 out of 72 records for the months July to October. Surprisingly, 28 of these are for October, very late if they are indeed southern breedeis. Some at least may be birds breeding at higher elevations in Kenya and northern Tanzania from — about November to January, wandering to lower areas during the cold, damp months. The pattern is clear at other sites also, for example at Naivasha — in the Rift Valley where all records are in July (three), August (four) and October (three). In view of the April to October pattern of occutrences in south-western Zaire, documented by Prigogine (op. cit.), western birds probably move mainly northwards into this and adjacent areas during the dry season. Further south in Angola this is evidently a bird of plateau country breeding in October (Traylor 1963). It is unlikely that there is any regular altitudinal movement in Angola in view of the total lack of records from the coastal lowlands. I have not attempted to investigate the movements of western birds in any detail. The Red-shouldered Cuckoo-Shrike C. phoenicea has been known to be migratory in parts of West Africa for some years, but regular movements have not been suspected elsewhere. Bannerman (1953) considered it partially — migratory in Gambia, Sierra Leonne and Ghana, and Elgood (1959) con- sidered it the only undoubtedly migratory African passerine at Ibadan, Nigeria. Elgood e¢ a/. (in press) have little doubt that it is truly migratory in western Nigeria, though not so in the east where, for example, it occurs — around Enugu throughout the year. In the west it breeds in the north during the rains, retreating to the more equable lowland forest belt (for example at Ibadan) from about November to April. F 44 Table 2 shows dated records of C. phoenicea from throughout its range. Sight records have been included for Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya; elsewhere TABLE 2 Distribution of C. phoenicea records by months Da AR NE IP A SO) IN tins aca Nigeria (9) & west (26), north of 74°N Bb eG +. Be Bes SOE ORS St See 35 Nigeria (2) & west (10), south of 74°N | ee DR Rene gee a — hon eR aT ea 12 Cameroon CERT ae lees ino ae ie Ro ne a ee oe 10 Sudan & Zaire Bee SS TL) ae Oe Dig aie ee Ethiopia & Somalia Gi ot eOrs Oe Ae Roe 4 le aoa otoe Cae 84 Uganda & W. Kenya yO: 6 SO as OO Ane Lae 66 Total IG 28 24-224): 28 )-30 A158. ! 13600 Land ol2 a 2ieeeeoe specimens only. Data from Nigeria and further west are split into those _tespectively north and south of 74° N. In this area the northern limit of low- land forest varies from about 6° N to 9° N, rendering 74° N a somewhat atbitrary line. Nevertheless a clear pattern emerges, with 34 out of 35 northern specimens between March and August, and 10 out of 12 southern specimens between December and February (the two in May are from the Prah River, southern Ghana). Bannerman (op. cit.) noted that it is seen only during the northern winter at Kumasi in southern’ Ghana, while in Sierra Leone it is more often seen from May to December. Sierra Leone specimens in Table 2 were collected in February, March (three), Mat and June (five), | and all refer to the lowland forest belt, here extending to about 9° N. Some West African birds are no doubt more or less resident or at most wanderers, but the well-documented Nigerian pattern of a northward movement during the wet summer (breeding) months of March or April to September or October is widely applicable west of about 8° E. _ Data from east of Nigeria show no clear pattern. The fact that only 21 per cent of records from throughout its range refer to the five months July to November invalidates any inference drawn from the comparative lack of records east of Nigeria during this period. This is especially true since these months follow the bulk of breeding in the northern tropics, so that if any- thing numbers should be swollen by the presence of young birds in the popu- lation. Such a lack represents either a lack of collecting during these months or an overall movement into little-worked areas. No pattern was evident when the records were accurately mapped, nor when areas like Ethiopia were split into highland and lowland regions. | Despite the lack of an overall pattern east of 8° E it is likely that this | Species wanders somewhat randomly over considerable distances, with a | minority performing regular movements comparable to those further west. Ignoring the atypical western highlands of Ethiopia which extend north to about 16° N, the most northerly specimens are from about 12° N in the Sudan. Since they were taken by only three collectors these few specimens represent a biased sample, referring to April, June (two), July (four), _ August (five) and September. Despite the bias they indicate a northward movement during the summer rains, when Lynes (1925) recorded it breeding in July in the Darfur region of western Sudan. In contrast the unbiased records of Rev. P. J. Hamel (¢ /it7.) and other residents of the Kampala area 45 of southern Uganda, virtually on the Equator, are mainly (24 out of 29) for — the four months January to April, peaking in February (nine records). Some at least of these records probably refer to non-breeding visitors from the north, although it is known to breed in the south of its range also. Seth-Smith (1913) collected a clutch at Mpumu in southern Uganda on 31st March; van Someren (1916) collected a clutch at the Sezebwa River in southern Uganda in April; and Tennent (1965) watched a pair building at Kakemaga Forest in western Kenya in early June. The important areas of apparent sympatry of flava and phoenicea ate south- western Uganda, extreme western Kenya between Mt. Elgon and the Kavir- ondo Gulf, southern Ethiopia, and southern Sudan (a single male flava col- lected at Gilo). It has already been shown that southern Uganda flava are off-season birds breeding further south. In Central Nyanza, western Kenya, where I have been resident for over four years, I have recorded phoenicea only six times, in January, June, July (three) and October. These and the few other western Kenya records hardly overlap geographically with flava which occurs only to the north and east, and not to the north-west of this area, there being no Uganda records of flava east of Kampala. In the area of apparent sympatry (Central Nyanza, Kakamega, Kaimosi), 91 per cent of the 34 flava records fall in the months May to Octobet when southern breeding birds probably penetrate beyond the Equator; so that the vast majority of flava may be considered non-breeders in the area of sympatry. The few Ethiopian specimens of flava are an anomaly since the only other specimens north of 2° N are from Kenya between 2° and 34° N in March, June (three), July (two), and a single specimen from southern Sudan in March. The scattered Kenya birds are probably mainly southern breeders but the few Ethiopian birds ate likely to be more or less resident in view of two breeding records and the fact that they refer to the months February, June, July, September and December. This isolated population occurs east of the Rift, — the male specimens available to me being from around 5° N. Only a single Ethiopian specimen of phoenicea is from south of the restricted flava area, and the vast majority of Ethiopian phoenicea are from the Rift and further north- — ee ee a oe ee west. Immatures and females have been ignored in critical areas, being mainly indeterminable. Prigogine (0p. ct.) has shown that the two closely allied forms, C. flava and — C. petiti, overlap geographically in Zaire at a time when neither is breeding. ~ In the areas of sympatry of phoenicea and flava the latter is a non-breeding visitor except in south-eastern Ethiopia where the few phoenicea ate probably — wanderers. The single Kenya nesting record of phoenicea is from an atea where petiti is common, but there is no competition between these forms since petiti is found only in true forest. The phoenicea were building in an isolated — forest patch. SUMMARY Account has been taken of 710 dated records of Campephaga flava from eastern Africa, and of 238 dated records of C. phoenicea from throughout its range, with a view to establishing the nature of any movements. C. flava breeding in southern Africa north to about 7° S in the east, 9° or — 10° S in the west, are mainly not resident, leaving plateau country during the dry months of May to September or October. Some move to lower altitudes _ at similar latitudes, especially into low-lying Mozambique, while others move — north to lower latitudes. The latter account for the majority of records in — 46 Zaite (excluding Katanga), Tanzania north of 7° S, southern Uganda and Kenya, exceptionally north to 3° N but mainly north to about the Equator. There are locally breeding, morphologically indistinguishable birds in high- land areas of eastern Zaire, northern Tanzania and Kenya which probably move altitudinally to some extent. A localized population in south-eastern Ethiopia is an anomaly and probably mainly resident. C.. phoenicea is migratory in west Africa east to about 8° E, moving north from the lowland forest belt to breed during the rains from March or April to September or October. Further east movements are not clear-cut except at the northern and southern extremities of its range, in the Sudan and southern : Uganda respectively, where the pattern of records follows that established for West Africa. Elsewhere movements are probably in the nature of random wanderings. It breeds locally throughout its range. In the areas of apparent sympatry of these two non-forest forms in eastern Africa, flava is a non-breeding visitor except in south-eastern Ethiopia where the few phoenicea ate probably wanderers. It is unlikely that they ever interbreed. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am very grateful to the following who supplied personal records: Miss Pevewauen. Or,]. 5. Ash, G. C. Backhurst, J. S. S. Beesley, A. Beverly, Miss E. J. Blencowe, Mrs. S. Brashaw, G. R. Cunningham-van Someren, I. H. Dillingham, Dr. P. Duffus, Mrs. F. Edwards, L. A. Haldane, Rev. P. J. Hamel, W. G. Harvey, Dr. W. Leuthold, C. F. Mann, P. J. Oliver, fee. Reynolds, V. R. Simpson, Dr. N: J. Skinner, C. Smeenk, Dr. E: K. Urban. The following kindly supplied data on the specimens in the institu- tions shown in parenthesis after their names: Prof J. Berlioz (Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris), G. M. Bond (Snithsomian Inst.), Dr. F, B. Gill (Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia), Dr. J. van der Land (Leiden Museum), K. C. Parkes (Carnegie Museum, Pittsburg), Dr. R. B. Payne (Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan), Dr. R. A. Paynter (Museum of Comp. Zoology, Harvard), Dr. F. Salomonsen (Universitetets Zoologiske Museum, Copenhagen), K. E. Stager (Los Angeles County Museum), Major M. A. Traylor (Field Museum, Chicago), Dr. H. E. Wolters (Zoologisches Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn.) Rev. P. J. Hamel kindly sent records from the monthly duplicated newsletter of Uganda biid records, 1969-1972; and Dr. C. H. Fry kindly sent details of C. phoenicea from Elgood ef al. (in press). I have used the unpublished notes of A. F. Morrison lodged in the National Museum Library, Nairobi. The Directors of the British Museum (Natural History) and the National Museum, Nairobi kindly allowed me access to their collections. References: If published data were also supplied in a list of specimens the reference is not given. Those matked with an asterisk are data sources not mentioned in the text. Archbold, M. E. 1972. Exceptional bird activity at Korogwe, Tanzania. Bull. E.A.N.H.S., 1972: 45-47. *Bannerman, D. A. 1910. On a collection of birds made by Mr. A. B. Percival in British Rast Africa. [bis 4 (9): 676-710. — 1953. The Birds of West and Equatorial Africa. Edinburgh & London: Oliver & Boyd. Benson, C. W., Brooke, R. K. & Vernon, C. J. 1964. Bird breeding data for the Rhodesias and Nyasaland. Occ. Pap. natn. Mus. Sth. Rhod. 27B: 30-105. 47 ~ Benson, C. W., Brooke, R. K., Dowsett, R. J. & Irwin, M. P. S. 1970. Notes on the birds ~ of Zambia: part V. Arnoldia (Rhodesia) 4 (40). : Britton, P. L. 1971. On the apparent movements of Cossypha natalensis. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. QI: 137-144. Elgood, J. H. 1959. Bird migration at Ibadan, Nigeria. Ostrich, Suppl. 3: 306-316. Elgood, J. H., Fry, C. H. & Dowsett, R. J. in press. African migrants in Nigeria. bcs. 4 *Friedmann, H. 1937. Birds collected by the Childs Frick Expedition to Ethiopia and Kenya Colony. Part 2, Passeres. Bull], U.S. Nat. Mus. 153. *Friedmann, H. & Loveridge, A. 1937. Notes on the ornithology of tropical East Africa. Bull, Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard 81 (1). Granvik, H. 1923. Contributions to the knowledge of East African ornithology. Birds collected by the Swedish Mount Elgon Expedition, 1920. J. Orn. 71: 1-280. Griffiths, J. F. 1958. The climatic zones of East Africa. E. Afr. Agric. Journ., 1958: 179-185. Hall, B. P. & Moreau, R. E. 1970. An atlas of speciation in African passerine birds. London: — British Museum (Nat. Hist.). Jackson, F. J. 1938. The Birds of Kenya Colony and the Uganda Protectorate. London: | Gurney & Jackson. Lynes, H. 1925. On the birds of north and central Darfur (part). /bzs 12 (1): 71-131. — 1934. Contribution to the ornithology of southern Tanganyika Territory. Birds of the Ubena-Uhehe highlands and Iringa uplands. J. Orn, 82: 1-147. Moreau, R. E. 1966. The bird faunas of Africa and its islands. London: Academic Press. *Norris, E. 1970. Letter. Newsletter E.A.N.H.S., 1970: 22. Priest, C. D. 1936. The birds of Southern Rhodesia. 4. London: William Clowes. Prigogine, A. The seasonal migrations of the Common Black Cuckoo-Shrike Campephaga ava Viellot. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 92: 83-90. ' Sclater, W. L. & Moreau, R. E. 1933. Taxonomic and field notes on some birds of north- eastern Tanganyika Territory (part). /bis (13) 3: 187-219. Tennent, J. R. M. 1965. Notes on the birds of Kakamega Forest. //. E. Afr. nat. Hist. Soc. 25 (2): 95-100. Traylor, M. A. 1963. Checklist of Angolan birds. Pub/. Cult. Comp. Cia. Diamant. Angola 61. *T weedy, C. J. 1966. A list of birds seen in southern Tanzania. Tang. Notes C» Rec. 25(3): 179-188. Urban, E. K. & Brown, L. H. 1971. A checklist of the birds of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: — Haile Selassie I Un. Press. van Someren, V. G. L. 1916. A list of birds collected in Uganda and British East Africa, — with notes on their nesting and other habits. /b7s. (10) 4: 193-252, 373-472. . *_ wo oe a collection of birds from Turkanaland. //. E. Afr. ¢ Uganda nat. Hist. Soc. 16: 3-38. . *_ 1928. Notes on the birds of Jubaland and the Northern Frontier, Kenya. //. E. Afr. & — Uganda nat. Hist. Soc. 35: 25-70. Vaughan, J. H. The birds of Zanzibar and Pemba (part). /bés (12) 6: 1-48. Vernon, C. J. 1968. A year’s census of Manardellas, Rhodesia. Ostrich 39: 12-24. White, C. M. N. 1962. A revised checklist of African shrikes, etc., Lusaka: Govt. Printer. — *Williams, J. G. 1947. Notes on the monthly rambles of the E.A.N.H.S. Nat. B. Afr. 3: 22. — 9 MAR 1973 v 48 Bane CONTRIBUTORS Contributions are not restricted to members of ‘the ae They. should be — addressed personally to the Editor, C. W. Bens nD Savas of Zoology, — Downing Street, Cambridge. Contributions ar aes ed’ on’ con dition that ; sole publication is offered in the first instance to 8 Bulletin. ‘The fhould be f type-written, double-spaced, with wide margins, A one sige} of the paper, — and submitted in duplicate. : References to literature should be in the same rand as in the notice to : contributors to the /bis (see any 1971 number). Considerations similar to those in the /bis notice also apply in regard to nomenclature, scientific names of species and genera, and illustrations including photographs. But illus- trations including photographs can only normally be considered if the — contributor is willing to pay for the cost of their reproduction. ; Contributors introducing a new name or describing a new form should ~ append nom. nov., sp. nov., subsp. nov. as appropriate. In such a description, — the introduction of the name should be followed by paragraphs for ‘“‘Des- cription”, “Distribution”, “Type”, “Measurements of Type’, “Material examined” and further headings as required. | Contributors are entitled to a maximum of ten free copies of the number of — the Bulletin in which their contribution appears, provided that it exceeds one page of the Bulletin. Extra copies at cost price can be ordered through the — Editor at the time of submission of the manuscript. BACK NUMBERS OF THE BULLETIN Orders or enquiries should be sent to Sir Hugh Elliott, 173 Woodstock Road, Oxford. 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CORRESPONDENCE : Other correspondence should be addressed to the Hon. Secretary, R. E. F. Peal, 24 Creighton Avenue, London N.10. Published by the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB and printed by The Caxton and Holmesdale Press, 104 London Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. ~ a * a ee Ce ry {> war Hisy ah | 2 6 JUNIO73 } POR FIASED .¥{ & € Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club Nand NN Ne Wx - aN — AY AWN Evel’ ‘a ee \\ = Edited by C. W. BENSON Volume 93. No. 2 June 1973 Committee Sir Hugh Elliott, Bt., 0.3.2. (Chairman) J. H. Elgood (Vice-Chairman) C. W. Benson, 0.B.£. ( Editor) R. E. F. Peal (Hoa. Secretary) P. Tate (Hon. Treasurer) J. H. R. Boswall Dr. P. J. K. Burton P. Hogg C. J. Mead Bulletin of the 0, RHA, BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Vol. 93 No. 2 Published: 20 June, 1973 The six hundred and eighty-first meeting of the Club was held at the Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, London, W.1, on Tuesday, zoth March, 1973 at 7 p-m. | Chairman: Sit Hugh Elliott, Bt., 0.B.E.; present 26 members and 22 guests. The speaker was Mr. Guy Mountfort, 0.3.E., who gave an illustrated address on his recent visit to India, Pakistan and Nepal. The six hundred and eighty-second meeting of the Club was held at the Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, London, W.1, on Tuesday, 8th May, 1973 at 7 p.m. Chairman: Sit Hugh Elliott, Bt., o.B.E.; present 16 members and seven guests. The speaker was Mr. Tom Harrisson, D.s.0., 0.B.E., who opened with some amusing recollections of meetings of the Club at the time when he had last spoken, 40 years previously. He then gave an illustrated address on the birds and bird cult of Easter Island and a fuller report on this will be pub- lished in a future number of the Bulletin. err i el Annual General Meeting | The eighty-first Annual General Meeting of the British Ornithologists’ Club was held at the Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, London, W.1, on Tues- day, 8th May 1973 at 6 p.m. with Sir Hugh Elliott, Bt., 0.B.£., in the Chair. Right members were present. The Minutes of the 1972 Annual General Meeting (Buw//. Brit. Orn. C7. 92: 69-70) were approved and signed. _ After a brief discussion on the Report of the Committee for 1972 (Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 93: 1-2), Mr. C. J. Mead proposed and Mr. J. H. Elgood seconded the adoption of the Report of the Committee for 1972 and this was catried unanimously. Presenting the Accounts for 1972 (Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 93: 50-51) the _Hon. Treasurer stated that 1972 was notable for the unusually large receipts from sales of back-numbers of the Bw//etin. It was extremely unlikely that they could be maintained at about {400 a year and in addition the printers had just announced a 10% increase in theit charges for printing, which would cost the Club about {90 in the current year and some {120 in a full year. The charge for subscribers to the Bu//etin had been raised in 1972 from £3 to £3- 50, to take effect from 1st January 1973, which would bring in about {50 more, but an increase in membership was essential. The Hon. Secretary stated that a leaflet, which it was hoped would produce more new members, would be distributed in the July /b7s. Mrs. J. D. Bradley proposed and Mr. | J. H. Elgood seconded that the Accounts for 1972 be adopted and this was | carried unanimously. There being no nominations additional to those of the Committee, the | following elections were made:— Aion. iia: Mr. R. E. F. Peal (re-elected) | [continued page 52] | a | Lz.198F go-1St ATJPAOCTD 3 Ayzado1d—sasusdxy sso JU2yY 61.01V = sivak snoraasd yO} usayjug JO S2PS — Z “s es uMOP JY4BNoIG I3N} -jpusdxg JaAO aUIODUT JO sseoxo ‘souL[eg 61. glo‘1F vs .gzv oe a rh UMOP PdIFIIVI 9UIOD -UJ Jao sInypuedx| Jo sseoxe “souvleg , fg ae A 2 + yoneuog FE. gl 96.8 ae at q: pun,j 3snzJ, gf .6z ie a ie “+ pun, [eroues) !SIWOON]T LisOdaq 29 INANWLSAANT o9-¢L oe zi ss zL/1L61 JURUZAOZD jo spaaq yopun pasaaodas xv, SWOIUT 1L.L6b O1-z ae me a - SoqVIsOssy 19. $67 oe oe o- oe o- STaqusy| . : SNOLLAIWOSENG dey. dn7. 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Treasurer: Mr. P. Tate (re-elected) Committee: Mr. J. H. R. Boswall The Editor stated that the publication of the Bw/l/etin quarterly had pre- sented no great difficulties. There were ample papers of a high standard being offered but the average time from receipt to publication was only four months. The meeting closed at 6.25 p.m. A fecent immigrant to Ontong Java atoll, - Solomon Islands by I. P. Bayliss-Smith Received 2nd April, 1973 The work of MacArthur & Wilson(1967) is founded on the notion that on an island there exists a tendency towards an equilibrium condition in its biota. An equilibrial species number is reached at the intersection point between the curve of rate of immigration of new species not already on the island, and the curve of extinction of species from the island. The general idea of a balance of immigration by extinction was originally suggested to these authors by the impoverished bird faunas of the islands of central and eastern Polynesia (MacArthur & Wilson 1963). The theory has received empirical support from some remarkable experiments by Simberloff & Wilson (1969-70) on the recolonization of depopulated mangrove islands by insects, and from the work of Diamond (1969, 1971) on the turnover rates of the bird populations of Californian and New Guinean islands. One disadvantage of these studies is the cross-sectional character of the field data. The island populations are surveyed at intervals in time, but little ts known about what happens in between surveys. The actual processes of immigration and extinction must usually be deduced from considerations of island size and distance from the source area. It is of interest, therefore, to record an actual case of the colonization of an island by a new bird species. The birds of Ontong Java atoll, Solomon Islands, were observed over a one-year period from June 1970 to May 1971. Eight species of land birds were recorded of which seven were breedin residents and one, Eudynamis taitensis, was a seasonal migrant (Bayliss-Smith 1972). In July 1972 the atoll was revisited. A new species, Eos cardinalis, the Cardinal Lory, was found to be present. A noisy flock of about twelve of these long-tailed scarlet parrots was seen on several occasions on Luangiua islet. Reliable native informants stated that these unmistakable newcomers were present on all the islets between Keila and Henguakaha on the southern and eastern sides of the atoll. They have been named “kesivi’’, and were first seen after a period of south-westerly gales at the beginning of June 1972. These winds were generated by Cyclone Ida, a small hurricane which formed on May 31st over the ocean east of Bougainville and moved during the following day southwards and eastwards across Choiseul and Santa Isabel, causing much local destruction (British Solomon Islands 1972). Eos cardinalis is exceedingly numerous throughout the Solomon Islands from Nissan to Ugi, and “large flocks . . . are often seen flying from one island to the next” (Mayr 1945: 230). It must be assumed that one such flock was blown out to 52 a tl sea by the hurricane and found refuge on Ontong Java, which lies 250 km north-east of Choiseul and Santa Isabel. Four months after its first arrival Eos appeared to be flourishing i in its new atoll environment. Although there were no reports of nesting, there seems to be no reason why a breeding population should not become established. The vegetation of the islets where it has settled is mainly coconut woodland, a habitat very similar to the coastal coconut plantations of the Solomon Islands where Fos is so numerous. There are already complaints by local people of damage caused by the birds to the flowers of coconut palms. The ecology of the species involved is not well known, but it is probable that Eos will compete both for food and nest sites with the two Ontong Java pigeons Ducula pacifica and Caloenas nicobarica, and possibly also with the Atoll Starling Ap/onis feadensis. It will be interesting to see in the future whether the atol] can accommodate the newcomer without the displacement of one of the existing residents, or whether a total of eight land birds is in fact the equilibrium species number for an atoll of this size. References: British Solomon Islands: 1972. The fury of Cyclone Ida. BSI News Sheet 1972 (11) ,1-15 June. Honiara: Government Printer. Bayliss-Smith, T. P. 1972. The birds of Ontong Java and Sikaiana, Solomon Islands. Bu//. Brit. Orn. Cl. 92: 1-10. Diamond, J. M. 1969. Avifaunal equilibria and species turnover rates on the Channel Islands of California. Nat. Acad. Sci., Proc. 64: 57-63. Diamond, J. M. 1971. Comparison of faunal equilibrium turnover rates on a tropical island and a temperate island. Nat. Acad. Sci., Proc. 68: 2742-2745. MacArthur, R. H. & Wilson, E. O. 1963. An equilibrium theory of insular biogeography. Evolution 17: 373-387. MacArthur, R. H. & Wilson, E. O. 1967. The Theory of Island Biogeography. Princeton, New Jersey: Univ. Press. Mayr, E. 1945. Birds of the Southwest Pacific. New York: Macmillan. Simberloff, D. S. & Wilson, E. O. 1969-70. Experimental zoogeography of islands. 1. The colonization of empty islands. 2. A two-year record of colonization. Ecofogy 50: 278-296, and 51: 934-937. The correct spelling of Scopoli’s specific name for the Maylaysian Crested Wood Partridge (Ro//ulus) by John Farrand, Jr. & Storrs L. Olson Received 16th February, 1973 For mote than a century the specific name of the Malaysian Crested Wood Partridge has been subject to persistent mis-spelling. Some authors have listed the species as Ro//ulus rouloul (Scopoli) but most, inserting a second r, have cited it as Ro//us rou/rou/, still under the authorship of Scopoli. Basing his description on ‘“‘Le Rouloul de Malacca”? of Sonnerat (1782: 174, 286, pl. 100), Scopoli (1786: 93) named the bird Phasianus (Rouloul). Owing perhaps to the rarity of Scopoli’s publication, his name was subsequently overlooked, generally in favour of Columba cristata Gmelin (1788, vol. 1 pt. 2: 774). The vernacular name “‘Rouloul” did, however, serve as the basis for the genus Ro//u/us Bonnaterre (1791, vol. 1: xciii). Scopoli’s name was resurrected by G. R. Gray (1844: 42; 1846, vol. 3: §07; 1870: 269) who unfortunately mis-spelled it rou/rou/. Since the 53 publication of these works by Gray, the spelling rou/rou/ has appeared frequently in the literature, and with the use of this spelling by Ogilvie- Grant (1893: 225), who evidently followed Gray, and by Peters (1934: 104), the erroneous spelling has all but supplanted that appearing in Scopoli’s original description. Notable exceptions have been, among others, the several papers on the birds of Borneo by R. B. Sharpe (1876: 51; 1879: 270; 1881: 800; 1890: 140) and by Salvadori (1874: 308), in which the bird is listed as Ro//ulus rouloul. Baker employed both spellings in the second edition of the Fauna of British India, calling the species Ro//ulus roulroul in Volume 5 (1928: 368) and Ro//ulus rouloul in Volume 7 (1930: 459). More recently, the original spelling of Scopoli has been used by Smythies (1960: 168; 1968: 172). Most other works published within the last fifty years have listed the species as Ro//ulus roulroul. We are not aware of any published, formal emendation of Scopoli’s name. Indeed, such an emendation would not be justified, since there was no error on Scopoli’s part. He based the name on “Le Rouloul” of Sonnerat, who clearly intended this spelling, as it reappears in the second edition of his Voyage (1806: 300). It is evident therefore that Scopoli’s original spelling should be used and that the Malaysian Crested Wood Partridge should be referred to as Ro//ulus rouloul (Scopoli). This spelling may be adopted without application to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, since it has been used within the last fifty years, and therefore is not a nomen oblitum as defined in Article 23b of the 1961 and 1964 International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (see also Corliss 1972). We would like to thank S. Dillon Ripley and George E. Watson for helpful suggestions during the preparation of this manuscript, and Jack F. Marquardt for making it possible for us to examine an original copy of Scopoli’s De/czae in the Smithsonian Institution libraries. References: Baker, E. C. S. 1922-1930. The Fauna of British India. Birds. 2nd ed. 8 vols. London: Taylor & Francis. Bonnaterre, J. P. 1790-1823. Tableau Encyclopedique et Methodique des Trois Regnes de la Nature. Ornithologie. 4 vols. Paris. (Pages lxxxi to scvii and 1 to 192 of Volume 1 were published in 1791.) Corliss, J. O. 1972. Priority and stability in zoological nomenclature: resolution of the problem of Article 23b at the Monaco Congress. Science 178: 1120. Gmelin, J. F. 1788-1793. Systema Naturae. 13th ed. 3 vols. Leipzig. Gray, G. R. 1844. List of the Specimens of Birds in the Collection of the British Museum, Part III. London: British Museum. — 1844-1849. The Genera of Birds. 3 vols. London: Longmans, Brown, Green & Longmans. (Pages 504 to 508 of Volume 3 were published in January 1846.) — 1870. Hand-list of Genera and Species of Birds, Part I1. London: British Museum. Ogilvie-Grant, W. R. 1893. Catalogue of the Game Birds in the Collection of the British Museum- London (Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. XXII). Peters, J. L. 1934. Check-list of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. Salvadori, T. 1874. Catalogo sistematico degli uccelli di Borneo. Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. _ Genova § 1-429. Scopoli, G. A. 1786. Deliciae Florae et Faunae Insubricae. Pars 11. Pavia. Sharpe, R. B. 1876. Contributions to the ornithology of Borneo. Part 1. Ibis (3)6: 29-52. — 1879. Contributions to the ornithology of Borneo. Part 4. Ibis (4) 3: 233-272. — 1881. On the birds of Sandakan, north-east Borneo. Proc. Zoo/. Soc. London: 790-800. — 1890. On the ornithology of northern Borneo. Part 6. Ibis (6) 2: 133-149. Smythies, B. E. 1960. The Birds of Borneo. Edinburgh & London: Oliver & Boyd. — 1968. The Birds of Borneo, 2nd ed. Edinburgh & London: Oliver & Boyd. Sonnerat, P. 1782. Voyage aux Indes Orientales et a la Chine. 2 vols. Paris. — 1806. Voyage aux Indes Orientales et a la Chine. Nouv. ed. 4 vols. Paris. 54 Notes on a Lanner with malformed bill, and on hornbills feeding on oil palm fruits by W. R. J. Dean Received 21st March, 1973 In August 1970 an immature Lanner Fa/co biarmicus was found dead on the national road 16 km north-east of Christiana, Transvaal, South Africa. The bird was made into a study skin and is now in the collection of the Alexander McGregor Memorial Museum, Kimberley (specimen no. NMK/B/1180). It has the upper and lower mandibles malformed as shown in the Plate. The upper mandible curves down sharply and is twisted laterally to the right crossing the lower mandible which has projected beyond the upper by 5 mm. The lower mandible is also twisted laterally. On dissection the bird rs Immature Lanner with malformed bill. proved to be in fair condition with a small amount of fat present. The severely abraded condition of the rectrices and primaries indicated that it had been obtaining food by scavenging along roads. Brooke & Jeffery (1972, Bu//. Brit. Orn. C/. 92: 19) list several species of birds, including three hornbills, taking nuts of the oil palm E/zeis gucneensis. In the Quicama National Park, Luanda, at ca. 9° 20’S., 13° 46’E., the Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus was recorded on seven occasions between 26 July and 13 August 1972 feeding on oi] palm nuts, and the Yellow-billed Hornbill T. flavrostris as twice taking oil palm nuts at the same time and place. The stomach contents of a female Laughing Hornbill Bycanzstes sharpiz, collected on 16 August 1972 in evergreen forest about 20 km north of Cabinda, consisted of oil palm nut fibre and oil. I am grateful to the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University for the opportunity to make these hornbill notes. D. Diomedea cauta in South African waters by C. M. N. White Received 14th March, 1973 This albatross has long been recorded from the coastal waters of South Africa in the form D. ¢. salvini which breeds at Snares Island and Bounty Island, south of New Zealand. It now appears that the nominate D. ¢. cauta which breeds on islets off Tasmania, and at Auckland and Disappointment Islands, also occurs. My attention was drawn to this fact by the reference in Checklist Committee, Orn. Soc. N. Z. (1970). Dr. F. C. Kinsky of the Dominion Museum, Wellington, New Zealand has kindly given me further details. Three birds are recorded, all banded at sea off Cape Campbell, north-east corner of the South Island of New Zea- land: (a) No. 19289. Banded 4.3.1958: recovered off Port Nolloth, 3.5.1959. (b) No. 19354. Banded 9.1.1957: recovered off Danger Point, 30.8.1962. (c) No. 16117. Banded 24.1.1957: recovered off Jeffrey’s Bay, 29.9.1968. According to Dr. Kinsky the first two recoveries were published in the 1oth and 13th Annual Reports of the New Zealand Bird Banding Scheme, published by the Dominion Museum in 1960 and 1963 respectively. The third was mentioned by Robertson (1972: 71). Dr. Kinsky, to whom I am much indebted for this information, comments that these birds were banded during the New Zealand breeding season, and were probably sub-adult non-breeding birds. Most of the nominate form are thought to remain in New Zealand waters throughout the year. Differential diagnoses of the forms can be found in Falla ef a/. (1966: 34) and Serventy ef a/. (1971: 70-71). This note is published in case students of j ) - Ve African sea-birds overlook these records, which provide an additional form to the African marine bird fauna. References: Checklist Committee, Orn. Soc. of New Zealand, Inc. 1970. Annotated checklist of the birds of New Zealand. Wellington: A. H. & A. W. Read. Falla, R. A., Sibson, R. B. & Turbott, E. G. 1966. A field guide to the birds of New Zealand. London: Collins. Robertson, C. J. R. 1972. Preliminary report on bird banding in New Zealand 1964-71. Notornis 19(1): 61-73. Serventy, D. L., Serventy, D. & Warham, J. 1971. The handbook of Australian sea-birds. Sydney, Melbourne, Wellington, Auckland: A. H. & A. W. Read. Winter bird populations of Golfo San Jose, Argentina by J. B. Jebl, Jr. M. A. E. Bumboll & J. P. Winter Received 6th February, 1973 INTRODUCTION Five hundred miles south of Buenos Aires, Argentina’s Valdés Peninsula juts into the Atlantic Ocean. Its irregular dumbell-like shape is caused by two large bodies of water, Golfo Nuevo to the south and the smaller Golfo San José on the north, which cut deeply into the peninsula and nearly separate it from the mainland. The peninsula and its adjacent waters are attractive to a variety of sea birds and marine mammals. Although there are nesting colonies of cormorants, gulls, and terns there, the primary attractions are the large herds of elephant seals and sea lions. 56 ag In the austral winters of 1971 and 1972, the R/V Hero, a research vessel of the U.S. National Science Foundation, supported biological field studies along the coast of Argentina. During 22-23 June and 1-7 July 1971, and 4-19 August 1972, the Hero was engaged in bird and mammal research in Goifo San José. This gulf is approximately 12 miles wide and 25 miles long. Its entrance is narrow, and the swift currents and shoal waters there create feeding conditions that attract many species of pelagic birds. In mid-gulf depths reach 35-40 fathoms, but the waters within a mile or so of shore are extremely shallow, and at low tide extensive mudflats a half-mile wide are exposed in some areas. The perimeter of the gulf is dominated largely by sandy beaches, some of which are thickly covered with layers of scallop Shells. Particularly along the southeast shore, steep, poorly-consolidated sandstone cliffs drop directly into the water. In other areas, but mainly along the north and south shores, there are scattered, dark-coloured mudstone outcrops, some of which are covered with mussel beds. The richest concentra- tions of birds are usually encountered along the south shore of the gulf, especially in the vicinity of Isla de los Pajaros. This tiny island provides GOLFO SAN JOSE (1, \\ aw’ CO VALDEZ PENINSULA Figure 1. Golfo San José on the Valdés Peninsula, Argentina: a, San Roman; b, Punta Conos; c, Isla de los Pajaros. Cross-hatched areas along shore were censused in 1972. Insert shows the location of the Valdés Peninsula. undisturbed resting and feeding grounds for many shorebirds and water- fowl, and in summer several species of aquatic birds nest there. In 1971, Jehl made preliminary censuses of birds along the entire south shore and parts of the western shore; approximately 30 miles of coast were surveyed casually. In 1972, we were able to make detailed censuses along 58 miles of the bay’s approximately 80 miles of coastline. The areas censused are shown in Figure 1. Censuses were made either by walking along the beach or by observing from a small air boat that could operate within a few yards of shore. By taking into account the types of habitat in areas we were unable to visit, we could, through extrapolation, estimate populations for the entire coast of the gulf. Numbers observed in areas censused more than once showed little variation from day to day, indicating (1) a relatively stable population at this season and (2) reasonable censusing techniques. We believe that our estimates are accurate to within 10 per cent. 57 Although there are annotated lists of species for a few areas (e.g., Punta Tombo: Boswell & Prytherch 1972; Puerto Deseado: Zapata 1967) ours are apparently the only quantitative data on population sizes of shore-inhabiting birds for any area of the Argentine coast at any season of the year. TABLE 1 Winter bird populations of Golfo San José, Argentina 1972 1971 1972 Estimate Species Estimate Count for entire gulf Spheniscus magellanicus 100 250 400+ Podiceps rolland 20 I I Podiceps occipitalis 5 43 50 Podiceps major 10 42 50 Diomedea melanophris 30 150 150 Macronectes giganteus 10 10 30 Fulmarus glacialoides — I I Daption capense 2 6 20 Pachyptila sp. 40 2,000 2,000 Procellaria aequinoctialis 2 6o 80 Puffinus griseus 500 2,000 2,000 Puffinus gravis 10 — Pip Oceanites oceanicus 5 — = Phalacrocorax olivaceus 100 143 180 Phalacrocorax magellanicus — 84 84 Phalacrocorax atriceps 50 53 72° Phalacrocorax albiventer 1,000-+ 613 850 Casmerodius albus 2 4 4 Nyeticorax nycticorax 50 68 75 Phoenicopterus chilensis 300 214 214 Chloephaga picta 3 40 40 Tachyeres patachonicus 8 23 25 Lophonetta specularoides 7O 233 280 Anas flavirostris 6 6 6 Alas georgica — 46 46 Falco peregrinus — I I Falco femoralis I — — Haematopus palliatus 500 492 600 Haematopus leucopodus 100 175 175 Haematopus ater 8 22 22 Vanellus chilensis — I I Charadrius falklandicus 200+ 1,560 1,800 Zonibyx modestus I = ae Pluvianellus socialis 30 10 10 Calidris canutus I 36 36 Calidris bairdii 4 16 20 Calidris fuscicollis 50 7 10 Calidris alba _- — 50 Thinocorus rumicivorus —_ 50 50 Chionis alba 100 162 180 Catharacta skua 3 6 6 Leucophaeus scoresbii 4 2 2 Larus dominicanus 1,000 + 4,300 4,800 Larus maculipennis 50 466 500 Sterna hirundinacea 150 160 200 Sterna trudeani — 12 12 Thalasseus maximus I 4 4 In each year, the Hero made several transects of the open gulf, and many extended cruises along its shores. Estimates of pelagic species were made on these occasions, but abundance varied markedly. For these species, the number presented in Table 1 represents the maximum concentrations ob- served in the census period. 58 For most species there were no important annual differences in abun- dances, at least in those areas that received comparable study. It would appear, therefore, that winter bird populations utilizing this area are largely stable during the months of June, July, and August. Surface water temperatures averaged 10° C. in 1971 and 9° C. in 1972. This research was supported by a grant from the National Science Founda- tion (NSF-6V-32739). WINTER BIRD POPULATIONS Penguins: An estimated 400 Magellanic Penguins Spheniscus magellanicus, of which approximately 10 per cent were immatures, wintered in Golfo San José in 1972. They were widely scattered through the gulf, but concentra- tions could usually be found near the mouth and along the southeast shore. The largest concentration, 210 birds on 12 August, was observed in mid-gulf in association with flocks of Sooty Shearwaters Puffinus griseus, prions, and other pelagic birds. Two penguins collected had fed on a small fish Nothotenia guntheri, and others that could not be identified. The prevailing westerly winds cause birds dying in the bay to accumulate along the east shore. The thick pelts of penguins resist decay, and one can find the mummified remains of one or more every 30 metres along this sandy beach. Grebes: Grebes were generally uncommon and tended to be concentrated in small flocks near the south shore. The largest flock of Great Grebes Podiceps major in 1972 was 25, and of Silvery Grebes P. occipitalis 15. These concentrations were similar to those of 1971. Only one White-tufted Grebe P. rolland was seen in 1972, as compared to a single flock of 20 in 1971. Seabirds: Seabird numbers in Golfo San José fluctuated daily. Large concentrations were usually present near the mouth of the gulf, but the occurrence of concentrations elsewhere was much more variable. In most cases we were unable to associate environmental factors with the presence of particular species. However, on days of moderate to strong breezes large numbers of Sooty Shearwaters appeared in the southeastern corner of the gulf. It was not unusual to see 1,500 to 2,000 birds in that area, mostly feeding on small fish a mile or so from the shore. On several occasions flocks of several hundred to 2,000 fed at the surfline in association with Brown- hooded Gulls Larus maculipennis. In general, the numbers and distribution patterns of seabirds showed little variation between years. The apparent increased abundance in 1972 (Table I) largely reflects a huge concentration in mid-gulf on 12 August which included 130 Black-browed Albatrosses Diomedea melanophris, 2,000 prions Pachyptila spp., 60 Shoemakers Procellaria aequinoctialis, 800 Sooty Shearwaters, 130 Magellanic Penguins, 650 Kelp Gulls Larus dominicanus, and 30 South American Terns Sterna hirundinacea. The 1971 data more closely approximate the average daily numbers that can be expected. The absence of Greater Shearwaters Pufinus gravis and Wilson’s Petrels Oceanites oceanicus in 1972, and the presence of a Southern Fulmar Fu/marus Slacialoides may be attributable to the later date and colder waters in that year. We were unable to collect any of the prions for positive identification; a single Pachyptila belcheri was found freshly dead on the beach. Cormorants: Four species of cormorants winter, and one breeds in Golfo San José. A colony of Olivaceous Cormorants Phalacrocorax olivaceus nests on Isla de los Pajaros (see Ragonese & Piccinini 1972; Figs. 14, 16, 21, 23). In winter the species is usually encountered feeding in very shallow water, in areas where the bottom is sandy, mainly along the south shore. 59 The Rock Shag’s P. magellanicus distribution is localized, and for this reason the species was not encountered in 1971. Roosts are located on the east and north shore, where steep cliffs plunge directly into the water. The major roost, of about 50 birds, is at Punta Conos (Fig. 2); smaller roosts occur Figure 2. Rock Shags Phalacrocorax magellanicus at roost at Punta Conos, Golfo San José. near the mouth of the gulf and at Isla de los Pajaros. Rock Shags feed near shore at depths of 10-20 metres. Several birds collected had fed on small fish and on a small octopus Octopus tehuelchus which lays its eggs in the empty shells of pelecypods such as Chione antigua (Cancelles 1944). The commonest cormorant in the gulf is the King Cormorant P. a/bienter, 60 which occurs nearly everywhere. Roosts of up to several hundred birds are scattered along the coast, two of the largest being near Bahia San Roman. The Blue-eyed Cormorant P. africeps associates with King Cormorants, comprising from 5 to 1o per cent of mixed flocks. These two species feed together mainly in deeper waters. Blue-eyed Cormorants seem to be com- moner near the mouth of the gulf than farther inshore. One of the most striking aspects of cormorant biology was the rarity of immatures among the non-resident species. Only 4 of 84 Rock Shags were immature; immatures comprised no more than ro per cent of the King Cormorant flocks, and only one immature Blue-eyed Cormorant was identi- fied, despite careful searching. Many young Olivaceous Cormorants were present, but we made no estimates of their relative abundance. Flamingos, Herons: Several hundred Chilean Flamingos Phoenicopterus chilensis, including one white-plumaged juvenile that appeared to be no more than two-thirds grown, wintered along the southwestern corner of the gulf in 1971. Fewer were present in the same area in 1972. Whether the apparent decrease reflects the later time of observation or local differences in the ecology of nearby inland lakes where flamingos also feed, is unknown. Human disturbance may also be important, for even in this remote area we found several birds that appeared to have been shot. In both years Common Egrets Casmerodius albus were rare, and were found only on the south side of the gulf. Black-crowned Night Herons Nycticorax nycticorax were commoner and are presumably resident. Although these birds could be found on rocky outcrops along the entire coast, the majority of the population was centered at a roost on Isla de los Pajaros. The extremely dark coloration of these herons was striking. In 1971 Jehl saw two melanistic birds there and several that approached this condition; in 1972 we also saw several extremely dark individuals, but none that was truly melanistic. Waterfowl: The main habitat for waterfowl is along the south and west coasts where extensive clay terraces and mudflats are exposed at low tide. The Crested Duck Lophonetta specularoides is by far the most abundant species, occurring along all coasts. Isolated pairs are the rule, but flocks of up to ten were seen. This species breeds locally, but migratory birds from farther south probably augment the winter population. Flying Steamer Ducks Tachyeres patachonicus are probably winter visitors to the area. In the gulf they are found almost exclusively along the west and southwest shores. Small numbers of Brown Pintails Axas georgica and Yellow- billed Teal Aas flavirostris were present, but these species prefer ponds inland on the peninsula. Sheld Geese Chloephaga spp. are seldom seen along the coast, but Golfo San José seems to be on the migration path. On 12, 13, 14 and 19 August, 17 flocks of up to 200 geese, totalling 1,100 individuals, were observed heading southwest over the gulf. Nearly all were Upland Geese C. picta, but two Ruddy-headed Sheld Geese C. rubidiceps were identified among them. (These migrants are not included in Table 1.). The increased numbers of Upland Geese utilizing the shore of the gulf in 1972 as compared to 1971 is doubtless due to the arrival of migrating individuals. Hawks and Falcons: Except for a single Aplomado Falcon Fasco femoralis in 1971 and an immature Peregrine Falcon F. peregrinus in 1972, we saw no evidence of predatory birds along the shore of the gulf. The Aplomado Falcon was hunting shorebirds at a mudflat; the Peregrine made a playful 61 pass at a small group of night herons. In 1972 we found a South American Tern Sterna hirundinacea that had been eaten by a falcon. Several large nests on steep cliffs along the south shore were presumably made by Black-chested Buzzard-Eagles Geranoaetus melanoleucus, but we did not observe this species in the immediate area. Shorebirds: American Oystercatchers Haematopus palliatus are abundant residents of Golfo San José. Along the sandy beaches of the south and east coasts the population averages eight to ten pairs per mile. Cliffs along the north shore limit oystercatcher habitat there, but even so the birds remain extremely common. We estimated the population at 600 individuals. The species seems to maintain territories all the year, so that in most areas pairs are spaced out regularly along the beach. However, in some areas, such as Isla de los Pajaros, flocks of 20 or more occurred and fed together without interaction on the exposed mudflats. _ Figure 3. A pair of American Oystercatchers Haematopus palliatus left, and a hybrid with a Blackish Oystercatcher H. ater, Golfo San José. In several locations (e.g., Punta Conos, Isla de los Pajaros) dark mudstones outcrop along the bay, and many are covered with extensive mussel beds. These areas provide habitats for the small resident population of Blackish Oystercatchers H. ater. This species occasionally hybridizes with H. pallatus in this area (Fig. 3, and Jehl in prep.). Wintering Magellanic Oystercatchers H. /eucopodus occupied the mudflats of the southwestern corner in each year. These birds tended to remain together in large flocks and did not usually associate with or interact with the American Oystercatchers that utilized the same feeding areas. Small flocks of Falkland Plovers Charadrius falklandicus occurred on almost every mudflat. Most flocks consisted of 10 to 15 birds, though some were as large as 200. The huge increase in 1972 is almost certainly a result of improved censusing. 62 An unexpected find was that small numbers of Magellanic Plovers Pluvianellus socialis wintered in the area. This is the northernmost report for the species. Details of the winter ecology and behaviour of this rare shore- bird will be published elsewhere (Jehl in prep.). The strongly compacted clays which form the beach over much of Golfo San José are almost impenetrable. Consequently, feeding habitats for probing birds are virtually lacking. Small numbers of “summering” northern hemisphere sandpipers Caldris canutus, C. bairdii, C. fuscicollis, C. alba were found in each year. These birds tended to feed in intertidal regions in associa- tion with Falkland Plovers. Least Seedsnipe Thinocorus rumicivorus were seen sparingly in 1972 only. Scattered individuals fed on exposed tideflats along the southwestern shore, and small flocks were occasionally flushed from sand dune areas along the eastern shore. Snowy Sheathbills Chzonis alba were found on clayflats and mussel beds along the entire coast but principally on the south shore. Skuas, Gulls, Terns: Approximately six Great Skuas Catharacta skua wintered in the gulf in 1972 and were usually found in association with the flock of Sooty Shearwaters. Most of the birds seen well, as well as two that were collected, had reddish underparts and were referable to C. s. chilensis. However, at least one (two ?) bird in the gulf, seen on 9 and 16 August, was extremely dark and certainly was not of that race. Two of the three Great Skuas seen well in 1971 were also referable to chi/ensis. We watched two skuas making alternate swoops on a swimming and apparently healthy Great Grebe, but without success. rok population of 4,300 Kelp Gulls Larus Winadittnise was estimated in 1972. As in 1971, well over 95 per cent of the birds were adult. A small colony breeds at Punta Conos, where 30-50 deserted nests were found, and a large colony nests at Isla de los Pajaros (Ragonese & Piccinini 1972). Brown- hooded Gulls L. maculipennis were far commoner in 1972 than in 1971, perhaps because of an influx of migrants. The main concentrations occurred along the south and east shores of the gulf. By mid-August many of the birds were vocal and were engaging in apparent aerial territorial displays. Dolphin Gulls Lewcophaeus scoresbii were rare and we encountered them only in the vicinity of cormorant or sea lion roosts, where they fed on scraps or on faecal material. South American Terns Sterna hirundinacea were uncommon in the gulf, although flocks of up to 20 might be encountered. Royal Terns Thalasseus maximus breed on the Valdés Peninsula (including Isla de los Pajaros; Ragonese & Piccinini 1972; Figs. 18, 24), but virtually all depart the area in winter; we saw only one bird in 1971 and four in 1972. A few Trudeau’s Terns Sterna trudeaui were found along the south shore of the gulf in 1972; none were seen in 1971. References: Cancelles, A. 1944. Catalogo de los moluscos marinos de Puerto Quequen (Republica Argentina). Rev. Mas. de la Plata (Nov. Ser.), Sec. Zool. 3: 233-309. Ragonese, A. E. & B. G. Piccinini. 1972. La vegetacion de la “Isla de los Pajaros’’ (Pro- vincia de Chubut). Idia 291: 31-50. (Inst. Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria, Argentina). Boswall, J. & R. J. Prytherch. 1972. Some notes on the birds of Punta Tombo, Argentina. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 92: 118-129. Zapata, A. 1967. Observaciones sobre aves de Puerto Deseado, Provincia de Santa Cruz. ' Hornero 10: 351-378. 63 The birds of the Shira Plateau and west slope of Kibo, Kilimanjaro by David G. King Received 10th January, 1973 INTRODUCTION This paper is devoted to the birds of the Shira Plateau and the west slope of the Kibo summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. An attempt is made to list all species that have been observed in the area, and to add new information on their distribution, status and habits. The avifauna of the high altitudes of the south slope of Kilimanjaro has been well studied and documented by a number of observers (Johnston 1886; Oberholser 1905, 1906; Kittenberger 1958, 1959; Moreau 1935, 1944; Moreau & Moreau 1939; Guest & Leedal 1954; Lamprey 1965). However, the high altitudes of west Kilimanjaro have been largely neglected due to their inaccessibility. The only workers to make observations in this area are Swynnerton (1949) and Salt (1954, 1955) from a visit they made in November 1948, and Guest & Leedal (1954) from a visit in August 1953. Neither party. spent much time in the area, so their observations were incomplete. In October 1968 the problem of access was alleviated with the completion of a track by the Tanzania Forest Service. This led to extensive exploration and studies of the vegetation and fauna by the staff of the College of African Wildlife Management at Mweka, near Moshi, and by others. This report results from these expeditions. The Shira Plateau is defined as the relatively level plain on the west shoulder of Kilimanjaro between 11,000 and 12,500 feet contours, an area of about 21 square miles. This is in contrast to the limits of 11,500 and 13,500 feet used by Salt (1955) which are not realistic nor in agreement with modern topographical maps. All of the slope above 12,500 feet and between the Machame Escarpment on the south and the Lent Group on the north is considered the west slope of Kibo. The Shira Plateau is surrounded on the west and south sides by the Shira Ridge that rises to 13,000 feet. All streams that dissect the area merge and flow away to the north-west. Eccentrically placed in the southern half of the plateau is a large conspicuous cone shaped hill, Platz Kegel. The dominating vegetation over most of the area from 11,000 to 13,500 feet is heath Erica, Philippia and Artemisia spp., interspersed with grasses Deschampsia, Festuca and Pentaschistis spp., and everlastings Helichrysum spp. However, the drainage lines and about 2°5 square miles around the base of Platz Kegel are open grasslands or bogs dominated by sedges, grasses and herbs Ranunculus, Alchemilla and Lobelia spp. Above 13,500 feet West Kibo is largely an alpine desert with few plants except in wet drainages; and above 15,500 feet only barren rock, scree, snow and ice. This paper results from seven trips to the Shira Plateau and West Kibo between October 1968 and September 1969. All parts of the study area were explored and many parts were visited several times. It was only during trips in July, August and September 1969 that bird specimens were collected. These are now in the Mweka Wildlife College Museum except for six (two Cisticola hunteri, one C. brunnescens, one Serinus striolatus, two Cercomela sordida) donated to the British Museum (Natural History). Species of birds that have been recorded in the alpine zone below 11,000 feet are mentioned in a section “Other species’ towards the end of the paper. 64 I divided the birds into those that were clearly resident in the Shira area _and into those that were occasional or rare visitors. Three species, namely Mountain Buzzard Buteo oreophilus, Stonechat Saxicola torquata and Lammet- geyer Gypaetus barbatus, listed as residents of high elevations by Lamprey (1965) and Moreau (1944, 1966), are included here only as visitors. My list includes two species, Apus aequatorials and Cisticola brunnescens, not previously recorded from upper Kilimanjaro. All specimens collected were compared with those from other parts of Kilimanjaro that are either in the Mweka Wildlife College Museum, the _ National Museum of Kenya or the British Museum (Natural History). I have followed the systematics used by White (1960-62, 1961-63, 1965), although among others, Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1960), Blake & Vaurie (1962), Ripley (1964) and Howell e¢ a/. (1968) were consulted. RESIDENT SPECIES Augur Buzzard, Buteo rufofuscus augur Ripp.: Two individuals were seen on almost every trip to the Shira Plateau. This species had also been noted by both Swynnerton (1949) and Guest & Leedal (1954). All sightings were likely of the same two birds as one was of the typical white phase and the other of the melanistic phase. Moreover, they were frequently together. They roam over the entire plateau and ascend West Kibo to at least 14,000 feet. On one occasion I observed the white individual with a rat or mouse. Rodent probably form the bulk of the augur’s diet as they are abundant and no _tesident game birds are known above 10,000 feet. Swifts, Apus melba africanus Temminck and A. ae. aequatorialis (von Muller): Large swifts are seen regularly on the south slope of Kilimanjaro to 17,000 feet. Lack (in Moreau 1936) identified swifts he saw at Horombo Hut as Apus melba but Kittenberger (1959) those he saw on Kibo as the _ similar species, A. aequatorialis. However, there is no record of a specimen of either species having been collected from high elevations. Sjostedt (in Friedmann 1930) collected A. me/ba in 1905 above Kibongoto (4,400 feet) on south Kilimanjaro, which is the only specimen of the large swifts from the mountain. On Mount Meru, 4o miles to the west, I collected an individual of A. aequatorialis at 8,300 feet. I feel certain that swifts I saw swooping and diving over the Shira Plateau on 7th September were A, aeguatorialis, as their mottled bellies were clearly visible. In summary, it is probable that both species are resident, although confirmation from specimens is needed. Swifts do not appear to be as numerous in the Shira area as elsewhere on Kiliman- jaro, as I saw them only two or three times. Swynnerton (1949) recorded them only once. Hill Chat, Cercomela sordida hypospodia (Shell.): This chat is the most common and widespread bird found on upper Kilimanjaro. It prefers the areas of broken heath and of grassland interspersed with everlastings and low heath which are the common habitats of the Shira Plateau. It is less common in the denser bush below 11,000 feet, that is, the edge of the plateau; and in ateas of dense heath on the plateau. It also becomes scarce above 13,500 feet I collected four specimens on 3rd—5th July, four on roth August and two on 6th September. The July birds were not sexed. The August collection was of three males and a female, and the September group of two males. | | | | | | although occurring to the highest vegetation. _ None of the August birds were in breeding condition but the testes of both | : September males were greatly enlarged. Moreover, in September the birds were dispersed rather than in the flocks of five to eight that are seen through most of the year. On 7th September 1969, my companions V. C. Gilbert and M. Bigger discovered a nest at 13,000 feet on a south facing slope of a stream. The nest was a grass cup at the end of a 12-inch deep cleft between two rocks and under a third. It contained two eggs and a newly hatched chick and shell. The eggs were thrush blue (turquoise blue) with small blotches the colour of dried blood on the large end. They were approximately 23 by 17 mm. The only other breeding record I could find for C. 5. hypospodia is that given by Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1960). They record breeding in June (source not given) and describe the eggs as “‘white with faint tawny spots and streaks”. The eggs found by Gilbert and Bigger are more similar to those of C. s. ernesti (Sharpe) of Mount Kenya (Mackworth-Praed & Grant 1960) although it is well known that variation does occur in the eggs of chats. Hunter’s Cisticola, C7zsticola hunteri hunteri Shell.: This warbler occurs in the heath of Kilimanjaro to about 13,500 feet and is the second most com- mon species on the Shira Plateau. Lynes (1930) and Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1960) say it is normally associated with dense shrubby undergrowth, but on the plateau small flocks of six to ten birds were frequently seen in moorlands with only the sparest of shrubby cover. They associate with the Hill Chat in flocks, and the two species appear to be competing directly for food, that is, insects. At elevations below 11,000 feet, however, the warbler is the dominant species. I collected 12 specimens at approximately 12,000 feet: three unsexed specimens on 5th July, three males and two females on roth August, and three males and a female on 6th September. None were in breeding condition. All were similar in size and colour to those in the museums collected above treeline since 1889 (when Hunter made the first collection). Several authors including Oberholser (1905), Lynes (1930), Moreau & Moreau (1939) and White (1962) noted that specimens of Hunter’s Cisticola are more sombre at high elevations than at lower elevations on Kilimanjaro. Specimens from under 9,500 feet have more russet on the head and thighs, and their general coloration is more brown than grey. Moreover, the chin is whitish rather than grey. Specimens I examined from all elevations of Kilimanjaro were darker than specimens from all elevations on Mount Meru, Mount Kenya, the Aberdares and all other localities, although included in the same subspecies, C. 4. hunteri, by White (1962). Prior to White (1962) - specimens from all these localities except Kilimanjaro were called C. 4. prinioides Neumann (Mackworth-Praed & Grant 1960) because of the colour difference. I also noted that some rectrices of most specimens from upper Kilimanjaro had many conspicuous “feather checks” but were uncommon on specimens from other localities. White-naped Raven, Corvus albicollis Lath.: On all trips to the Shira Plateau two individuals, presumably a pair, were observed. They occasionally ascend the west slope of Kibo to at least 17,000 feet where I saw them flying high over the glaciers. The raven is relatively common over the entire mountain and has been observed as high as the summit of Kibo (19,340 feet) many times. Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird, Nectarinia johnstoni johnstoni Shell.: This sunbird is numerous at high elevations wherever lobelias Lobelia deckenii are 66 in flower. They appear to rely largely on the nectar of lobelia for food— although I have seen individuals pursuing insects—and seem to move about the mountain seeking them. In April 1969, these sunbirds were common in the valleys of West Kibo between 12,500 and 14,000 feet where the lobelias were in flower. In early July lobelias and sunbirds were very common near Platz Kegel but on roth August only a single individual was seen in the same area. The lobelias had finished flowering and the birds had gone elsewkere in seatch of food. This is probably why Williams, in July 1949, encountered few of this species on south-east Kilimanjaro (Williams 1951). One male was collected on 5th July, but the size of the testes was not noted. Its measurements were within the limits given by Williams (1951) for WN. /. johnstoni. Yellow-crowned Canary, Serinus canicollis flavivertex (Blanf.): This small canaty is occasionally seen on the Shira Plateau and the west slope of Kibo to 13,000 feet. It usually occurs in small flocks in the more open heath and grasslands, but as it is a wary bird, it is seldom seen close at hand. On 4th July I saw a male courting a female near giant groundsels Senecio cottonii ina valley west of Platz Kegel. As the female moved slowly from limb to limb the male kept approaching with much fluttering of the wings and excited chirping. The female eventually appeared to tire of his pursuit and flew farther away. The male burst into song before I collected him. His testes were greatly enlarged. This single specimen was indistinguishable from a male collected on 1oth August at 6,000 feet on west Kilimanjaro. This latter bird was also in breeding condition. Streaky Seed-eater, Serinus striolatus subsp.: Lamprey (1965) says that the Streaky Seed-eater is ““A common species which occurs in flocks on the moorlands up to 14,000 feet’. I have seen few of this finch on the Shira Plateau or elsewhere on Kilimanjaro, nor is it recorded as being ‘““common” by any other observer. A single individual seen sitting on a giant groundsel sth July was collected. One of two seen with a flock of Hunter’s Cisticolas neat Platz Kegel 10th August was also collected. The first specimen was not sexed but the second was a male in non-breeding condition. I cannot find any previous record of this species having been collected above the forest of Kilimanjaro. The Shira specimens were compared with those in the National Museum of Kenya, British Museum (Natural History) (including eight from lower Kilimanjaro), and Mweka Wildlife College Museum, and were found to differ from all of them. The distinguishing feature of the Shira specimens is a vety conspicuous lemon-yellow wash throughout the plumage. This in- cludes the superciliary stripe and the light markings on the sides of the head and underparts from the chin to the vent. The yellow was very noticeable even in the field. Of the large collection of Streaky Seed-eaters in the National Museum of Kenya only three females from Kinankop, Aberdares, have a definite yellowish wash, and this is very light and confined to the underparts. Specimens in the British Museum from the moorlands of Mount Kenya and elevations below 7,000 feet on Kilimanjaro have a slight wash on the head and throat, but none approach the specimens from upper Kilimanjaro for brilliance of colour. The difference may be sufficient for naming of a new subspecies; however, additional specimens are needed. The form that lives on lower Kilimanjaro is somewhat in doubt as White (1963), evidently following Sclater (in Moreau 1935), calls it S. s. s¢riolatus, but Howell et al. 67 (1968) use S. 5. afinis, a name first proposed by Richmond Sh ages: 1905). With further reference to the Shira specimens, there are two in the British Museum that should be noted. They are a bird collected by Moreau in 1934 in the Mbulu District of northern Tanzania and another from Ruwenzori, both strongly coloured but with orange-buff, not lemon-yellow. C. H.. B. Grant marked the label of the Mbulu specimen as juvenile, and the other almost certainly is as well. The Shira specimens may also be juveniles. OCCASIONAL AND RARE VISITORS Lammergeyer, Gypaetus barbatus meridionalis Keys. & Blas.: This very large bird of prey is rarely seen on Kilimanjaro and its status as a resident is in question (Guest & Leedal 1954). I spent a total of nearly 60 days above the forest between October 1968 and September 1969, and only saw a Lammer- geyer once. On 6th November 1968, G. S. Child and I saw an individual circling over the Shira Plateau. I am unaware of any other recent sightings of the species from Kilimanjaro, so it may be worthwhile to note an individual that I saw at 13,000 feet on Mount Meru on 29th September 1968. Mountain Buzzard, Buteo oreophilus oreophilus Hart. & Neum.: Although ~ recorded in large numbers from the upper slopes of Kilimanjaro by Moreau (1935), I have only seen this buzzard on the Shira once. This was on 7th September 1969, when a lone individual flew by in a southerly direction. I have not seen this species above the forest elsewhere on Kilimanjaro, nor does it seem as numerous in the forest as in the same zone on Mount Kenya (pers. obs.). Quail, Coturnix coturnix erlangeri Zedl.: ‘This species was first recorded above the forest of Kilimanjaro by Lamprey (1965). Child saw a single individual near our camp on the Shira Plateau on 3rd July which he duly collected. This bird, a female, was on a very open ridge sparsely covered with grasses and low heath. The ovary was regressed and the crop was filled with unidentified seeds. This bird was likely a stray from large numbers that were seen during the same trip in Londrossi Glade, west Kilimanjaro, at 7,000 feet. On 7th September 1969, I saw two more quails on grassy moor- lands near Platz Kegel. It is doubtful that this species is resident and I believe all sightings to be of birds on migration. The subspecific name er/angeri is used, following Benson & Irwin (1966), who applied this name to the populations of eastern Africa, and restricted | C. ¢. africana Temminck & Schlegel to those breeding in southern Africa | south of the Limpopo. | Plover sp.: Swynnerton (1949) reported sighting a plover in the boggy | valley west of Platz Kegel. He believed it was a species of Stephanibyx. On | 7th September 1969, I saw a large wader in a stream which I was not able to | identify positively. However, it definitely was not a Stephanibyx sp. as it | lacked a black tail band. The bird was S tephanibyx in size with white under- | parts and brownish uppers. Possibly it was a Greenshank 77nga nebularia on | migration. African Snipe, Gallinago nigripennis nigripennis Bonap.: This wading bird | was recorded in November 1948 by Swynnerton (1949) from the boggy area neat Platz Kegel. I searched the same area in November 1968 and in July, | 68 August and September 1969, but failed to find more of this species. M. Bigger (pers. comm.) saw an individual in the bog on 17th July 1965, and in January 1970 V. C. Gilbert (pers. comm.) saw two. These sightings suggest snipe are regular visitors to the area. Owl sp.: An owl or eagle-owl was recorded by Guest & Leedal (1954) near the Lent Group on West Kibo and at the base of Mawenzi Peak. I have not observed or heard any species of owl or eagle-owl in the Shira area and neither did Swynnerton (1949). However, the presence of a species could be expected as there is a very high rodent population in the area and an eagle-owl Bubo capensis is known to reside at high elevations on Mount Kenya. C. W. Benson (pers. comm., Jan. 1970) suggests the bird recorded by Guest & Leedal may have been this species; also, see Benson & Irwin (1967). Stonechat, Saxicola torquata axillaris (Shell.): This chat is common in the heath just above the forest. On 6th September 1969, I observed a lone indi- vidual near the centre of the Shira Plateau at 11,700 feet. I have several records and one specimen from the heath at 11,000 feet at the edge of the plateau. However, I believe it is only an occasional visitor out onto the plateau proper, and therefore have not included it in the list of residents above. Pectoral-patch Cisticola, C7stcola brunnescens subsp.: On 7th September 1969, I saw four or five small cisticolas at 11,800 feet on an open moor north of Platz Kegel. I collected two, both females, one of which was taken to the British Museum. There it was tentatively identified by Mrs. B. P. Hall as Cisticola brunnescens. Mrs. Hall said (pers. comm., Jan. 1970) the specimen appeared to belong to a population intermediate between C. b. hindi Sharpe of Kenya and C’. b. cinnamomea Reichw. of the south. In the British Museum there is a female from Engare Nairobi (5,400 feet) on the west side of Kili- manjaro, and another female from 6,500 feet on Mount Hanang, having the same characteristics. Mrs. Hall said that three more similar specimens from the Masai Steppe are in Berlin. Lynes (1930), however, included them in C. d. hindii without comment. All in all, very little is known about the distribution ot habits of these birds and they could represent an as yet undescribed sub- species of C. brunnescens. It is also possible that the species is resident on the Shira Plateau grasslands even though not previously recorded. An interesting feature of both specimens was the presence of several toes lacking claws and being swollen at the tips. Swallow sp.: Two small dark swallows were seen on sth July flying over the south rim of the plateau. They may have been Psalidoprocne holomelaena, which is usually found in the forest belt below 9,000 feet. I have seen swallows above the forest of Kilimanjaro on other occasions and as high as 14,000 feet on Mount Kenya. Dioch spp.: The remains of two different Ovxe/ea spp. were recorded by Guest & Leedal (1954) high on Kilimanjaro. One of these was on West Kibo but it is thought that both were accidental casualties during migration. There are no recent records. | OTHER SPECIES There are a number of species which have not been recorded at high _ elevations on Mount Kilimanjaro but should be mentioned. These include 69 species that have been recorded between treeline and 11,000 feet or at high elevations elsewhere in East Africa, particularly Mount Kenya. On 5th—7th July 1969, a Fiscal Shrike Lanius collaris was seen several times at 10,500 feet on west Kilimanjaro. At the same locality on 1oth August, I collected a Pangani Longclaw Macronyx aurantiigula. On Mount Kenya the African Black Duck Axas sparsa breeds in the moorlands but has not yet been ob- served above 8,000 feet on Kilimanjaro. The Mountain Francolin Francolinus psilolaemus, which breeds in the moorlands of Mount Kenya, does not occur on Kilimanjaro, but the closely related Shelley’s Francolin F. she/leyi has been seen up to 10,000 feet (Lamprey 1965). It may go higher. Two residents of the alpine zone of Mount Kenya, the Slender-billed Starling Onychognathus tenuirostris and the rarely seen Scarce Swift Apus myoptilus, are unknown on Kilimanjaro, possibly because their ranges do not include this mountain. It is perhaps surprising that more birds of prey have not been recorded. At least three harriers C7rcus spp., the Black Kite M7z/vus migrans, and Verreaux’s Eagle Aquila verreauxii have been observed over the moorlands of the Aber- dares or Mount Kenya. Undoubtedly over the next few years more species will be added to those already recorded in the higher altitudes of Kilimanjaro. Access is steadily improving and now that the mountain has been made into a national park even greater numbers of visitors can be expected. It has been the objective of this paper to bring together all that is known of the bird fauna of upper Kilimanjaro, particularly the less well known western flank, and provide a base for future observers to build on. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am particularly grateful to the Mweka College of African Wildlife Management which provided the opportunity and means to explore the Shira Plateau and west slope of Kibo; and which provided laboratory space and technical assistants. I also wish to extend warmest thanks to the many individuals who assisted in the field work, particularly Gil Child and V. C. “Tom” Gilbert. In addition, without the co-operation of the National Museum of Kenya and of the British Museum (Natural History), including in the latter Dr. D. W. Snow, D. Goodwin and Mrs. B. P. Hall, this paper could not have been written. SUMMARY An account is given of the birds of the Shira Plateau and the west slope of the Kibo summit, upper Kilimanjaro. Data include a breeding record for a | chat Cercomela sordida and the dependence of a sunbird Nectarinia johnstoni on flowering Lobelia deckenii. The populations of a seed-eater Serinus striolatus and a cisticola C7s/icola hunteri appear to differ in colour of plumage from those at lower altitudes on the mountain. Apus aequatorialis and Cisticola brunnescens are recorded from upper Kilimanjaro for the first time, and first specimens of the latter and Serinus striolatus were collected. POSTSCRIPT C. W. Benson (pers. comm.) suggests that the Chestnut-tailed Pygmy Crake Sarothrura affnis could occur on upper Kilimanjaro. It has been col- lected in the moorland zone of Mount Kenya and the Aberdares between 11,000 and 12,000 feet, and its occurrence to the southward of Kilimanjaro is well established (Keith e¢ a/., 1970, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 143(1): 57-59). 70 The author made another visit to upper Kilimanjaro from roth to 14th Februaty 1973, in the hope of obtaining more data on the Streaky Seed-eater and Pectoral-patch Cisticola. This was prevented by poor weather; however, good sight records were had of the Alpine Swift Apus me/ba at 16,000 feet and the Abyssinian Nightjar Caprimulgus poliocephalus at 10,500 feet. The latter species had not previously been recorded from Kilimanjaro, although known from Mount Kenya and the Aberdares. It was giving a very loud call of pure flute-like notes that sounded like “peeyou” followed by “pee- whuwhuwhu’’, this latter phrase descending. This call had been heard in. 1968-69, but the bird could not be identified, as calling is only heard in the late evening and after dark, and only from the ground or low plants such as Lobelia. References: Benson, C. W. & Irwin, M. P. Stuart. 1966. The Common Quail Coturnix coturnix in the Ethiopian and Malagasy Regions. Arnoldia (Rhodesia) 2 (13): 14pp. — 1967. The distribution and systematics of Bubo capensis Smith (Aves). Arnoldia ( Rhodesia) 3(19): TOpp. Blake, E. R. & Vaurie, C. 1962. Family Corvidae, Crows and Jays. In Check-list of birds of the world. 15: 204-282. Cambridge, Mass.: Mus. Comp. Zool. Friedmann, H. 1930. Birds collected by the Childs Frick Expedition to Ethiopia and Kenya Colony. 1. Non-passeres. U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 153. Guest, N. J. & Leedal, G. P. 1954. Notes on the fauna of Kilimanjaro. Tang. Notes & Recs. 36: 43-49. | Howell, T. R., Paynter, R. A. & Rand, A. L. 1968. Family Fringillidae: Subfamily Car- duelinae, Serins ... and allies. In Check-/ist of birds of the world. 14: 207-306. Cambridge, Mass.: Mus. Comp. Zool. Johnston, H. H. 1886. The Kilimanjaro Expedition. London: Kegan Paul, Trench & Co. Kittenberger, K. 1958. My ornithological collecting expeditions in East Africa. Part 1. Aquila 65: 13-37. — 1959. My ornithological collecting expeditions in East Africa. Part 2. Aguila 66: 53-87. Lamprey, H. F. 1965. Birds of the forest and alpine zones of Kilimanjaro. Tang. Notes ¢~ Recs. 64: 69-76. Lynes, H. 1930. Review of the genus Cisticola. [bis (12)6, suppl. Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1960. African handbook of birds. Series I, Vols. 1 & 2. 2nd. ed. London: Longmans. Moreau, R. E. 1935. A contribution of the ornithology of Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond.: 843-891. — 1944. Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya: some comparisons, with special reference to the mammals and birds; and with a note on Mount Meru. Tang. Notes ¢ Recs. 18: 28-59. — 1966. The bird faunas of Africa and its islands. London: Academic Press. Moreau, R. E. & Moreau, W. M. 1939. A supplementary contribution to the ornithology of Kilimanjaro. Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 33: 1-15. Oberholser, H. C. 1905. Birds collected by Dr. W. L. Abbott in the Kilimanjaro Region, Kast Africa. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus, 28: 823-936. — 1906. Notes on birds from German and British East Africa. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 30: 801-811. Ripley, S. D. 1964. Family Muscicapidae: Subfamily Turdinae, Thrushes. In Check-list of birds of the world. 10: 13-272. Cambridge, Mass.: Mus. Comp. Zool. Salt, G. 1954. A contribution to the ecology of upper Kilimajaro. J. Ecol. 42: 375-423. — 1955. The Shira Plateau of Kilimanjaro. Geogr. Journ. 117: 150-164. Swynnerton, G. H. 1949. Report on a safari to explore the Shira Plateau, west Kilimanjaro. Ann, Rep. Game Dept. Tang., 1948: 9-11. White, C. M. N. 1960-62. A check list of the Ethiopian Muscicapidae (Sylviinae). Occ. Pap. Nat. Mus. S. Rhod. 24B: 399-430; 26B: 653-738. — 1961-63. Revised check lists of African passerine birds. Lusaka: Government Printer. — 1965. A revised check list of African non-passerine birds. Lusaka: Government Printer. Williams, J. (6. 1951. Nectarinia johnstoni: a revision of the species, together with data on plumages, moults and habits. /bis 93: 579-595. 71 Remarks on the status of Campethera “scriptoricauda,” and related species by Lester L. Short Received 26th February, 1973 In reviewing the genus Campethera as part of my preparation of a monograph of the Picidae, I examined specimens of the superspecies C. nubica, including C. punctuligera, C. nubica, C. bennett, and C. “‘scriptoricauda’’. 1 was able to examine only eleven specimens of the last-mentioned form, but some addi- tional features were found to shed light on the relationships of seriptoricanda. Various authors have recognized the very close relationship of the putative species comprising this complex (see, e.g., Chapin 1939:365; Clancey 1964: 162; Goodwin 1968:21). The allospecies (Amadon 1966) nubica, bennettii and punctuligera are closely similar and replace each other geographically without overlapping, as far as is known; it is entirely possible that they are conspecific. Compared with these three forms, scriptoricauda, allopatric with, and occur- ring between the ranges of bennettz and nubica, is less distinctive, and in fact this taxon presents taxonomic difficulty because it combines features of nubica and bennettii, while lacking characteristics that are not shared by those two forms. Comparing scriptoricauda with nubica, similarity is shown in: spotting of the throat (found in seriptoricauda and in a few specimens of nubica, although 10 of 16 birds from Dire Daoua, Boule Boule, Lake Zwai and Maraco, Ethiopia, have the throat and chin partly, or in 3 cases, fully spotted); streaked ear coverts; and the white background (both sexes) of the ear coverts, and the throat and chin. One possibly distinctive feature of scriptoricauda is its yellow- based black bill, but dried specimens of bennetizi resemble seriptoricauda in bill. colour (some specimens of bennetti bear labels having bill with a “pale base” as do several specimens of scr7ptoricauda at my disposal). Until we know more precisely the variation in bill colour of bennetti this trait of seriptoricauda cannot be appraised. In wing length and in tail length scriptoricauda falls within the upper range of variation of mubica, and in the low range (wing to 122 mm, Belcher 1928) of bennettiz, Resemblances between scriptoricauda and bennettii are: back coloured yellow-brown (rather than green-brown of nubica); back barred with white (rather than spot-barred as nubica); tail barring obscure or vague (not crisply barred as in subica); culmen of bill curved (straighter in #ubica); and, bill narrow across the nostrils. Regarding this last feature, 11 specimens of ser7ptoricauda measure 2-6, 2:6, 2:7, 2°8, 2°8, 2:8, 2°9, 2°9, 2°9, 3:1 and 3-1 mm across the culmen between nostrils; 33, bennettii measure from 2°5 to 3:3 mm, and 55 mubica measure 3-2 to 4:2 mm. (I note that related punctuligera is like bennetta and scriptoricauda, and not like nubica in this measurement). The bill differences between bennettii and nubica suggest that the latter uses the bill for tapping and excavating in the bark of trees to a greater extent than does bennetii7, and the resemblance of seripfori- cauda to bennettii in bill structure suggests agreement with it rather than with nubica in foraging habits. To these similarities must be added the vocal resemblance of scriptoricauda to bennettii, as opposed to nubica(Benson 1948: 61). The range of scriptoricauda extends from central eastern Tanzania (70 miles north of Morogoro) to the northeastern corner of Mozambique, and thence westward around the southern end of Lake Nyasa to southern Malawi (White 1965; Clancey 1969b; specimen in Los Angeles County Museum). C. b. bennettii occurs southwest of the range of scr7ptoricauda in 72 Mozambique, and northwest of it in northern Malawi and western Tanzania. C. nubica “‘pallida” occurs in northeastern Tanzania, meeting scriptoricauda at least sporadically (seasonal wanderers ?) at or near Morogoro. No interactions with C. nubica have been reported; hybrids of seriptoricauda and nubica would be very difficult to detect. C. b. bennettii and scriptoricauda undoubtedly meet in south-central Malawi. Benson (1952: 152) described intermediates of bennettii and scriptoricauda from: 60 miles north of Tete (type of C. b. vincenti Grant & Mackworth-Praed 1953), female, with unspotted, pinkish brown throat and similarly coloured ear coverts; female from Zobue with unspotted, even paler (faintly buffy) throat and ear coverts; females from Kapeni- Matindi, near Blantyre (bird with small throat spots on a beige-tinted back- ground, noted as scriptoricauda approaching bennett by Goodwin 1968: 20), and 30 miles south of Chikwawa, all with spots on chin and throat; and males from Zomba, 60 miles north of Tete, and Kapiriuta, all with ear coverts intermediate between the white of bennettii and the black-streaked coverts of scriptoricauda, but without spots on the throat and chin. Goodwin (1968) commented upon the lack of overlap between phenotypically pure specimens of bennettii and scriptoricauda. The extent to which hybridization or intergradation occurs is not known, but it is clear that C. bennettii morpho- logically converges upon, rather than diverges from, scriptoricauda where their ranges approach. I note that all but three of 11 specimens of scripfori- cauda \ have examined show red-brown colour, like that of benneffii in tone (not dark brown as in #ubica), ina small area of the ear coverts behind and over the eyes; one ma/e has this brown colour suffused throughout the anterior ear coverts. A factor relating to an appraisal of scripforicauda is that the variation found in C. bennettii is extensive, as has been documented by Clancey (1964, 1967, 1968, 1969a) and by Irwin & Benson (1966). Particularly notable is the variation in brown throat and ear covert colour among females, and its presence among scattered males from throughout that species’ range. Three of nine immature males and five of 20 adult males representing C. b. bennettii and C. b. capricorni have a light cinnamon brown throat, and generally browner ear coverts. Further, although females show some clinal variation from nearly black (capricorni) to pale brown (bennettii, “‘vincenti”) ear coverts and throat, some capricorni specimens are red-brown in those areas, and bennettii specimens vary from cinnamon to nearly black. The possibility, even the likelihood, of migration among some populations of C. bennettii (Clancey 1964: 164) suggests that there is extensive gene flow, perhaps accounting for some of the observed variation. In any case, variation in colour of the ear coverts and throat in bennettii, and of throat spotting in nubica indicates genetic instability and plasticity relating to these features. It is unwise to assign crucial importance to them in evaluating the status of seriptoricauda. | might note that I fail to see, amid the variation in C. bennetti7, a need for nomencla- tural recognition of more than two subspecies, bennettz and capricorni, in addition to scriptoricauda. It seems most unlikely that scriptoricauda, which does not approach the morphological distinctiveness of punctuligera, bennetti and nubica, will prove reproductively isolated, and hence specifically distinct from bennetti7. The resemblance of scriptoricauda to bennettii in bill structure presumably corre- lated with feeding habits, their vocal similarity, and their resemblance in general features of plumage colour (back colour and markings, tail pattern) as contrasted with more variable ear-covert and throat-chin patterns, incline 73 me to agree with Benson (1952: 153), White (1965) and others merging scriptoricauda in bennettii. Obviously we need further data, especially from areas where the various forms of this complex may meet. At this time, however, although not discounting the possibility that the entire complex may prove to represent a single biological species, the preponderance of available evidence suggests that scriptoricauda is conspecific with bennettii. C. punctuligera may prove conspecific with C. bennetti7, which it resembles in bill structure, and C. nubica, the most distinctive of these forms, is most apt to prove specifically distinct from the others. For the time being I prefer to treat punctuligera, bennettii and nubica as separate species, listed in that linear order. As a final comment I suggest that C. abingoni (and related C. notata) may have played a role in the evolution of the C. xubica complex. I believe abingoni and notata are closely related to the nubica group. They are broader billed, and generally perform more tapping than do species of the nubica complex. The essential point is that broad-billed C. abzngoni overlaps in range with narrow-billed C. bennettit and punctuligera, but is essentially allopatric with C. nubica, which has a relatively broad bill (morphologically overlapping somewhat with abngoni). Thus competitive interaction with abingoni may be a factor influencing the narrow bill and feeding habits (e.g., ground feeding has been reported for bennettii and punctuligera, but not for nubica) of punctu- ligera and bennetti, whereas nubica ecologically may replace both the strong- billed abingoni and its own allospecies punctuligera and bennettii. Acknowledgements: | thank M. A. Traylor and K. Stager for the loan of specimens vital to this study, respectively from the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, and the Los Angeles County Museum. Other specimens were available in the American Museum of Natural History. Summary: Campethera “‘scriptoricauda’’ is found to agree with C. bennettii and not #ubica in bill shape and bill width, and in several colour characters, as well as in voice and habits, as noted by other authors. It is treated herein as a race of C. bennettii. The three woodpeckers C. bennettii, C. punctuligera and C. nubica are very closely related, forming a superspecies. Competition with another relative, C. abingoni, with which they are sympatric, may have caused divergence of C. bennettii and punctuligera from C. nubica, which is largely or completely allopatric with those three species. References: Amadon, D. 1966. The superspecies concept. Syst. Zoo/. 15 : 245-249. Belcher, C. F. 1928. Notes on Nyasaland birds. 1. Additions to the list of Nyasaland birds (Non-Passeres). [bis (12) 4: 1-9. Benson, C. W. 1948. Geographical voice variation in African birds. Ibis 90: 48-71. — 1952. Notes from Nyasaland. Ostrich 23: 144-159. Chapin, J. P. 1939. The birds of the Belgian Congo. Bu//. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 75: 1-632. Clancey, P. A. 1964. Miscellaneous taxonomic notes on African birds. XXII. Durban Museum Novit 7: 157-187. — 1967. Critical comments on the subspecies of some birds from Zambia. Durban Mus. Novit. 8: 77-107. — 1968. Subspeciation in some birds from Rhodesia. Durban Mus. Novit. 8: 115-152. — 1969a. Miscellaneous notes on African birds. XX VII. Durban Mus. Novit. 8: 227-274. — 1969b. A catalogue of birds of the South African sub-region. Suppl. no. 1. Durban Mus. Novit. 8: 275-324. Goodwin, D. 1968. Notes on woodpeckers (Picidae). Bu//. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist.) 17: 1-44. Grant, C. H. B. & Mackworth-Praed, C. W. 1953. A new race of woodpecker from Portuguese East Africa. Bu//. Brit. Orn. Cl. 73: 55-56. Irwin, M. P. Stuart & Benson, C. W. 1966. Notes on the birds of Zambia: Part II. Arnoldia (Rhodesia) 2: 1-21. White, C. M. N. 1965. A revised check-list of African non-passerine birds. Lusaka: Government Printer. 74 : The Relationships of the Swallow-tanager Tersina viridis by Charles G. Sibley Received 11th April, 1973 INTRODUCTION The Swallow-tanager occurs in tropical and lower subtropical areas from Panama and Trinidad to Bolivia, southeastern Brazil, and northeastern Argentina. It is a nine-primaried oscine bird with a relatively broad, flat bill and long swallow-like wings. The adult male is mainly iridescent bluish or bluish-green with the facial area, throat and flank bars black and the abdomen white. The female is green with the face and throat greyish-brown and the abdomen and flank bars pale yellow-green. Swallow-tanagers are territorial when breeding but gregarious otherwise. They eat fruit and insects taken in flight. The nest is built in a hole, sometimes excavated by the birds in a vertical bank. Like many hole-nesting birds the eggs are pure white (Schaefer 1953) TAXONOMIC HISTORY AND CHARACTERS The Swallow-tanager came to the attention of ornithologists early in the last century and was at first assigned to the swallows because of the long wings and broad bill. During the 19th century the Swallow-tanager was placed in several different genera, most often in Procnias. This generic name was later shown to belong to the bellbirds of the family Cotingidae (Ridgway 1907: 880) and since 1907 the Swallow-tanager has usually been placed in Tersina of Vieillot (1819). It was recognized quite early in its taxonomic history that Tersina is related to the tanagers. For example, Sclater (1862) placed it in its own subfamily (Procniatinae) in the tanager family ““Tanagridae” (= Thraupidae). In 1895 Ridgway proposed the establishment of the family Procniatidae based upon ‘“‘the notable characters presented in the skull” which had been called to his attention by F. A. Lucas. Lucas (1895a) published a brief note announcing Ridgway’s new family and (1895b) a description of the “‘charac- ters of the Procniatidae.”’ Lucas (1895b) found that Tersina is like the tanagers in many characters but that in its palatal skeleton it ““departs so widely, not only from the tanagers, but from the large majority of passerine birds, as to warrant the establishment of a separate family for... the genus.” The palatal differences involve “the total absence of the transpalatine processes, the small size of the inter- palatines, and the slenderness and outward curvature of the prepalatine bars, which makes the interpalatine vacuity almost oval in shape.”’ Lucas noted that the absence of the transpalatine process was unique among the passerines although found in Thinocorus and Turnix. Except for the palate, the skull of Tersina was found by Lucas to be more like that of a tanager than like that of a swallow. In its pterylosis Tersina was found to be either dis- tinctive or similar to the tanagers. The shape of the dorsal tract in Tersina resembles that of Thraupis palmarum although differing in size. In a study of the hyoidean structures in passerine birds George (1962) found that, with two exceptions, the New World nine-primaried oscines have a laterally compressed basihyale. In Peucedramus and Tersina this bone is cylindrical in shape. George therefore excluded the Tersinidae from the nine-primaried assemblage although the Thraupidae were included. Since 1895 Tersina has been allocated to a monotypic family by many authors including Wetmore (1930, 1960), Stresemann (1934), Hellmayr 75 (1936) and George (1962). Mayr & Amadon (1951) recongized the family Tersinidae “for the present,” thus expressing uncertainty about the status of the genus. Some authors have placed Tersina in a monotypic subfamily, Tersininae (Mayr & Greenway 1956; Storer 1970) and others have depressed it to a tribe, Tersinini (Beecher 1953), or to the level of a genus within the tribe Thraupini (Sibley 1970). The basis for recognition of a monotypic family, subfamily or tribe for Tersina is that it is so different in its palatal structure from the typical tanagers that it must be segregated from them. The counter argument emphasizes the many similarities between Tersina and other tanagers and explains the palatal and hyoideal differences as special adaptations associated with its swallow-like method of capturing insects in flight. It should be noted that the swallows (Hirundinidae) are one of the many groups of passerines which have a cylindrical basihyale (George 1962:6). Thus convergence is a reason- able explanation for the condition in Tersina. The tongue of Tersina was noted by Lucas (1895b) as “hirundine in pattern” and the same type of tongue “occurs among the swifts, and ... probably ... in other insectivorous birds ...” The similarities between Tersina and the typical tanagers involve all characters other than those noted as differences. Lucas (1895b) pointed out that the jaw, the nares and the ectethmoid are tanager-like. Lucas noted that ‘“‘the skull, in spite of its superficial resemblance to that of a swallow, is structurally more nearly like that of such a typical tanager as Piranga erythro- melas... Beecher (1953 :310) considered Tersina to be “‘anatomically close to Calospiza’ [=Tangara] and Storer (1969) suggested that Tersina “may... have been derived from a calliste-like ancestor.” He further noted that “the color and texture of the feathers are like those found in some callistes, and the sexual dimorphism (blue males and green females) is like that in the Blue Dacnis. The Swallow Tanager’s bill is rather like that of a calliste but much | broader at the gape, a reflection of its fly-catching habits. Like the callistes, Swallow Tanagers may also drift through the canopy of the forest in groups, feeding on small fruits.” The “‘callistes” are currently placed in Tangara which is a synonym of Ca/ospiza. THE EGG WHITE PROTEIN EVIDENCE In a study of the egg white proteins of passerine birds using starch gel electrophoresis (Sibley 1970) I found that the pattern of Terszna was like that of the tanagers and other members of the New World nine-primaried assemblage. All of the members of this group were alike and it was not possible to assess degrees of similarity and difference among them. Recently the egg white proteins of Ters‘na have been compared with those of many other passerines using the electrophoretic technique of isoelectric focusing in acrylamide gel (abbreviated IFAG). The IFAG method has been described by Sibley & Frelin (1972) and used in other studies by Sibley & Ahlquist (1973) and Sibley (1973). The greater resolving power of the IFAG technique permits detailed comparisons of the isoelectric properties of homologous proteins in related species. In the present study, using a pH 6-4 gradient, it was possible to resolve at least 12 protein bands in the egg white of Tersua and other species in the New World nine-primaried assemblage. The same basic pattern is found in Tersna and in the more than 50 species of tanagers, wood warblers, emberizine buntings and troupials that have been examined. Differences among these species take the form of shifts in the isoelectric points and 76 ’ relative amounts of homologous proteins. Homologies are easily determined because the overall patterns are so similar. After preliminary comparisons had shown that Ters‘na was a member of the New World nine-primaried assemblage its egg white proteins were compared in detail with those of the following species: Tanagers (Thraupini): Thraupis episcopus, Thraupis sayaca, Exuphonia lutei- capilla, Piranga olivacea and Eucometis penicillata. Wood-warblers (Parulini): Dendroica pensylvanica, Dendroica petechia, Geothlypis trichas and Myioborus miniatus. Honey-creepers (Coerebin1): Coereba flaveola. Buntings (Emberizini): Emberiza cirlus, Diuca diuca, Zonotrichia capensis and Geospiza fortis. Cardinal grosbeaks (Cardinalini): Pheucticus ludovicianus, Passerina cyanea, Saltator maximus. Cardueline finches (Carduelini): Acanthis flammea. Troupials (Icterinae): Xanthopsar flavus. The pH 6-4 IFAG pattern of Tersina egg white contains 12 protein bands. All are identical in position and relative quantity to their homologs in Thraupis episcopus, Thraupis sayaca, Piranga olivacea, Euphonia luteicapilla and Coereba flaveola. The pattern of Eucometis penicillata differs slightly from that of these species in the positions of two bands. The patterns of the species of Dendroica and Geothlypis are identical to one another but that of Myzoborus differs slightly in the position of one band. This difference makes Mysoborus virtually identical to Tersinma and the genera which are identical to Terséna. This suggests that these small differences are not consistent within recog- nized groups and this is further indicated by most of the remaining species. The patterns of the emberizine, cardinaline and icterine species are identical or nearly identical to those of the tanagers, Tersina, etc. and I am not able to find consistent differences correlated with currently recognized higher taxa. The carduelines may differ enough to be separable from the emberizines etc. but I cannot be certain that the observed differences will prove to be con- sistent when many mote species are compared. What does seem clear is that closely related species do have identical patterns. Within some genera there are small differences between species, but it is far more common to find agreement between congeners to the finest detail. I interpret the evidence from all sources as indicating that Terséna is a tanager atl that its specialized characters are adaptations to its method of feeding. There is no basis for taxonomic separation beyond the generic level and the closest relatives of Tersina are probably Thraupis and Tangara. DISCUSSION Although the close relationship between Tersina and other tanagers may be accepted by most avian systematists the more basic problem remains, namely, the true generic alignments within the New World nine-primaried oscines. I have discussed this question elsewhere (Sibley 1970: 106-108) and Storer (1969) and Paynter & Storer (1970) also have commented upon it. Briefly, the problem is as follows. The groups herein recognized as forming the New World nine-primaried assemblage (tanagers, wood-warblers, honey-creepers, buntings, cardinal grosbeaks, troupials) are based primarily upon differences in the feeding structures. For most of the groups bill shape is the most important defining character. That all of these groups are closely related seems clear but whether via or not all “‘tanagers” are more closely related to other “‘tanagers”’ than to some “‘wood-warblers” or “‘honey-creepers” is debatable. Some steps toward a re-alignment of genera have been attempted. Beecher (1951) suggested that the Coerebidae is a composite of nectar-feeding warblers and tanagers and proposed that Coereba, Ateleodacnis and Coni- rostrum should be placed in the Parulidae and that the other ‘“‘coerebid”’ genera should be transferred to the Thraupidae. Skutch (1954:438; 1962) and de Schauensee (1966:454) disagreed. Skutch (1962:113-116) argued that Coereba is so distinct that it merits separation in a monotypic family and that Conirostrum may be an emberizine. Lowery & Monroe (1968) adopted a neutral position by placing Coereba and Conirostrum among a group of “Genera Incertae Sedis” following the Parulidae. Storer (1969) pointed out that the “pattern, color, and texture of plumage offer many clues to relationships” and suggested that close relatives, in some cases, have been placed in different “families”. That this suggestion is correct has been proved by the hybrids between the “‘coerebid” Cyanerpes cyaneus and the “‘thraupid’”’ Tangara nigrocincta reported by Delacour (1972, b). Delacour (1972a) also expressed his conviction that the ‘‘members of the Sugar-bird family (Coerebidae) with the exception of those of the genus Coereba, really are tanagers (Thraupidae).” Although these debates have not solved any major problems they have helped to define them and to make it clear that the present classification is not a true reflection of natural relationships. The solution must be sought in evidence which is unrelated to food habits because all characters associated with feeding can be expected to reflect trophic adaptations and will thus merely confirm the present arrangement rather than test its validity. The procedure must involve a search for nearest relatives, mainly at the generic level, without regard for the boundaries of currently recognized higher taxa. | The present study of Tersina is a step in this direction but many more difficult questions remain unsolved. The IFAG patterns of the egg white proteins seem likely to be helpful in identifying closely related taxa but material from many more species must be obtained before such data will become significant. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The specimens used in this study were made available by the generous help of W. Belton, C. T. Collins, P. R. Davis, J. C. Doebeli, W. and E. Fiala, H. Field, R. M. Fraga, S. Garber, J. Goodall, M. P. Harris, G. Hoy, L. Kiff, R. W. Leeds, R. Leveque, E. S. Morton, S. Narosky, R. Pickering, K. D. Pickford, H. Powell, N. Proctor, A. Ruschi, S. Rothstein, W. Spofford and A. Williams. I thank Jon E. Ahlquist, Elfriede Heaney, Dorothy J. Moore and Fred C. Sibley for advice and assistance in the laboratory. The National Science Foundation supported the study under grants GB-6192X and GB-36061. References: Beecher, W. J. 1951. Convergence in the Coerebidae. Wi/son Bull. 63: 274-287. Beecher, W. J. 1953. A phylogeny of the oscines. Auk 70: 270-333. Delacour, J. 1972a. Sugar-bird tanager hybrids. Avic. Mag. 78: 48. Delacour, J. 1972b. Hybrids sugar-bird x tanager. Avic. Mag. 78: 187-188. George, W. 1962. The classification of the Olive Warbler, Peacedramus taeniatus. Amer. Mus. Nov. 2103: 1-41. Hellmayr, C. E. 1936. Catalogue of birds of the Americas. Fie/d Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool. Ser., 13, part 9 (Publ. No. 365): 458 pp. Lowery, G. H., Jr. & B. L. Monroe, Jr. 1968. Family Parulidae, pp. 3-93 in Check-list of . Birds of the World, vol. 14, R. A. Paynter, Jr., ed. Cambridge, Mass.: Mus. Comp. Zool: Lucas, F. A. 1895a. A new family of birds. Auk 12: 186. 78 Lucas, F. A. 1895b. Osteological and pterylographical characters of the Procniatidae. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 18: 505-507. Mayr, E. & D. Amadon. 1951. A classification of Recent birds. Amer. Mus. Nov. 1496: 1-42. Mayr, E. & J. C. Greenway, Jr. 1956. Sequence of passerine families (Aves). Breviora (Mus. Comp. Zool.) 58: 1-11. Paynter, R. A., Jr. & R. W. Storer. 1970. Introduction, pp. v—x in Check-list of Birds of the World, vol. 13, R. A. Paynter, Jr., ed. Cambridge, Mass.: Mus. Comp. Zool. Ridgway, R. 1895. Characters of a new American family of passerine birds. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 18: 449-450. Ridgway, R. 1907. Birds of North and Middle America, pt. 4. U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 50: 973 PP- Schaefer, E. 1953. Contribution to the life history of the swallow-tanager. Auk 70: 403-460. Schauensee, R. M. de 1966. The Species of Birds of South America. Livingston: Wynnewood, Pa. 577 pp. Sclater, P. L. 1862. Catalogue of a collection of American birds. N. Trubner & Co., London. 338 pp. Sibley, C. G. 1970. A comparative study of the egg-white proteins of passerine birds. Bull. Peabody Mus. Nat. Hist. 32: 1-131. Sibley, C. G. 1973. The relationships of the silky flycatchers. Auk 90: 394-410. Sibley, C. G. & J. E. Ahlquist. 1973. The relationships of the hoatzin. Awk 90: 1-13. Sibley, C. G. & C. Frelin. 1972. The egg white protein evidence for ratite affinities. [bis 114: 377-387. Skutch, A. F. 1954. Life histories of Central American birds. Pac. Coast Avifauna 31: 1-448. Skutch, A. F. 1962. Life histories of honeycreepers. Condor 64: 92-116. Storer, R. W. 1969. What is a tanager ? Living Bird 8: 127-136. Storer, R. W. 1970. Subfamily Tersininae, pp. 408-409 in Check-list of Birds of the World, vol. 13, R. A. Paynter, Jr., ed. Cambridge, Mass.: Mus. Comp. Zool. Stresemann, E. 1934. Aves. In Handbuch der Zoologie, 7 Bd., 2 Ht., W. Kiikenthal & Th. Krumbach, eds. Berlin: W. de Gruyter. Vieillot, L. J. P. 1819. Nouveau Dictionnaire d’ Histoire Naturelle. Nouv. ed. Paris. Bemore, A. 1930. A systematic classification for the birds of the world. Proc. U.S. Nat. us. 76: 1-8. Wetmore, A. 1960. A classification for the birds of the world. Smithsonian Misc. Coll. 139(11): I-37. On the taxonomic status of the genus Sauropatis Cabanis & Heine (family Alcedinidae) by A. K. Mukherjee & J. M. Dasgupta Received 4th April, 1973 The genus Halcyon was described by Swainson (1821: text to pl. 27) with Alcedo senegalensis Linnaeus as its type. His description of the genus is as follows :—‘‘Bill very long, straight, thick, the base broader than high; the Sides tetragonal: upper mandible very straight, the base rounded; under mandible beneath carinated and recurved, the margins covered by those of the upper. Nostrils basal, covered by a membrane, the aperture naked, linear and oblique. Tail mostly moderate. Feet gressorial: interior fore-toe small of wanting.” Cabanis & Heine (1860) erected the genus Sauropatis with Halcyon sanctus Vigors & Horsfield as its type-species. This species was distinguished from Flalcyon senegalensis (Linnaeus) by its short and broad bill, the lower mandible being much more curved upwards and the bill being black and not red. Sharpe (1868) pointed out that the genus Ha/cyon had earlier been divided into many genera by different workers, but those differences were merely those of “Style of plumage and not those of forms”. He, therefore, synony- mized Sauropatis with Halycon which is represented in the Ethiopian, Indian and Australian Regions and parts of the Palaearctic Region. In this genus, he included as many as 36 species of which four belonged to the Indian Region, 79 namely, Halcyon coromanda, Halcyon smyrnensis, Halcyon pileata and Halcyon — chloris. Blanford (1895: 135-137), Mathews (1912: 108-109), Oberholser (1919) and Baker (1927: 274-278) have advocated the segregation of Sauropatis Cabanis & Heine from Ha/cyon Swainson, while Sharpe (1870), Biswas (1953: 32), Smythies (1953: 345-352), Peters (1945: 207-209) and Ripley (1961: 220-221) have synonymized Sauropatis with Halcyon. Except Sharpe (1868), however, none of the above-mentioned authors has assigned any reason for his action. From an examination of type-species of the genera Halcyon and Sauropatis, we find the following differences: IT. a Bill generally red. Bill all black or nearly so. 3 1st (outermost) primary half the Ist (outermost) primary sub- length of the 2nd; 3rd primary equal to the 2nd; 3rd primary being the longest. almost equal to the 2nd. 4. 1st (outermost) primary shorter Ist (Outermost) primary longer than 5th and 6th primaries. than 5th and 6th primaries. oe A white wing-patch invariably White wing-patch absent. present on the bases of the pri- maries, except in Halcyon coro- manda. 6. Inhabits inland pools, fresh- Inhabits mostly coastal regions water rivers and estuaries. and sometimes estuaries. W. Nests are made in tunnels on Nests are made generally in river banks, and sometimes in termite mounds or in clay nests holes of tree-trunks near rivers. of ants. 8. Clutch-size varies from 2 to 6, Clutch-size generally 3. Halcyon Bill rather large, broad at base; culmen straight, rounded above. Sauropatis Bill short, broad; lower man- dible much curved upwards. but generally more than 3. Ali & Ripley (1970: 95-99), while giving the description of the genus Flalcyon, remarked that “In one species ch/oris, lower mandible is much more curved upwards’. We find that this character is not only confined to chloris but also to another species, namely, sancta. These species are not only distinguishable from other species of Ha/cyon on morphological characters but they also have different habits, such as in nesting, habitat preferences, feeding, etc. Hence, there is ample justification to group them (ch/oris, sancta) in a genus separate from other representatives of Halcyon. We would, therefore, resuscitate the genus Sauropatis Cabanis & Heine to accommodate these two species. The genus Sauropatis is mote or less limited to the humid tropical coasts of south-eastern India, Malaysia, Polynesia and Australasia. We are indebted to the authorities of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, for the loan of some specimens for our study. We are thankful to the Director, Zoological Survey of India, for extending facilities for the present work, and to Dr. B. Biswas, for critically reading through the manuscript and suggesting improvements. References: Ali, S. & Ripley, S. D. 1970. Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan. 4. Bombay: Oxford University Press. Baker, E. C. S. 1927. Fauna of British India, birds. 4. London: Taylor & Francis. Biswas, B. 1953. A check-list of genera of Indian birds. Rec. Indian Mus. 50. 80 Blandford, W. T. 1895. Fauna of British India, birds. 3. London: Taylor & Francis. Cabanis, J. & Heine, F. 1860. Museum Heineanum. 2. Berlin. Mathews, G. M. 1912. New generic names for Australian birds. Austr. Avian Rec. 1. Oberholser, H. C. 1919. Revision of the subspecies of the White-collared Kingfisher, Sauropatis chloris (Boddaert). Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 55: 351-354. Peters, J. L. 1945. Check-list of birds of the world. 5. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press. Ripley, S. D. 1961. A synopsis of the birds of India and Pakistan. Bombay: Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. Sharpe, R. B. 1868-71. A monograph of the Alcedinidae. London: the author. Smythies, B. E. 1953. The birds of Burma. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd. Swainson, W. 1821. Zoological illustrations. 1. London: R. & A. Taylor. Ortolan and Blue Rock Thrush in Sierra Leone by G. D. Field Received 6th February, 1973 Few records of wintering Ortolans Emberiza hortulana are available from West Africa and Moreau (1972) only notes “a few ... found wintering in Nigeria south to about 9° 50’ N.” and a double passage on the lower Senegal River. In the first week of January 1973 on an expedition to the Loma Mountains in N.E. Sierra Leone, 9° 13’ N. and 11° 06’ W., I found the species plentiful on the steep south-east face of Bintimane, the highest point of the mountains. On this side the gallery forest ends at approximately 1,000 ft. below the summit, 6,390 ft., and the 600 or so feet above the forest consists partly of precipitous slabs of bare rock, partly of steep grass and herb covered slopes, interspersed with large boulders and a few scattered trees. By January the whole slope had been burned except for some moister folds where tiny springs still flowed. The buntings could be found over the whole of this slope but not on the gentler bare ground above leading to the summit. They were in company with the pipits, Axthus trivialis and A. similis, both very common, and to a lesser extent with the native bunting Emberiza tahapisi, spending most of their time on the ground but perching freely on the burnt herb stems and occasionally in trees. Plumage was very variable, ranging from bright, clear yellow and cinnamon-rufous underparts to drab whitish with pale pinkish bellies, while some had rather heavily streaked breasts. They were present throughout the five days of my stay and were not seen Outside the one area. Though I once had six together on or beside one small burnt bush they did not normally flock closely and, assuming an even spread over the slope, I should tentatively put the population somewhere about fifty individuals. Until recently records of the Blue Rock Thrush Monfzcola solitarius were almost equally scanty for West Africa south of the Sahara, but it has now been reported from Gambia (McGregor & Thomson 1965), northern and southern Nigeria, Senegal and Mt. Nimba in Liberia (Moreau 1972). In early December 1965 I noted at least three individuals on the summit slopes, above 5,500 ft., of the Tingi Mountains, thirty miles south-west of the Lomas and very similar in formation and vegetation. At the time I was not sure whether this was a genuine wintering ground or merely a freak occurrence. However, the original sighting is confirmed by its presence in the Lomas on the same slope as the Ortolans and right up to the summit. Birds were seen on several occasions and five individuals noted on one morning, making it here more common than M. saxatilis, though the latter also occurs on the plateau _ below the summit slope and along the edges of the galleries. Where the two occurred together M. saxatilis was once noted chasing M. solitarius from a 81 favourite boulder. Taken together, these two records suggest that M. | solitarius regularly winters in Sierra Leone in small numbers in the available areas above 5,000 ft. References: ‘ McGregor, I. A. & Thomson, A. L. 1965. Blue Rock-thrush Monticola solitarius in the Gambia. Ibis 107: 401. Moreau, R. E. 1972. The Palaearctic-African Bird Migration Systems. London & New York: Academic Press. The migratory movements of the Pygmy Kingfisher Ceyx picta natalensis in the Republic of Zaire by A. Prigogine Received 26th February, 1973 It is some years since various authors, especially Benson (1964: 57-Go), have shown that the southern form of the Pygmy Kingfisher Ceyx picta (Boddaert), namely C. p. natalensis (Smith), has migratory movements, while recently Clancey (1972) has drawn attention to some off-season records of this form from the Bwamba Forest, extreme western Uganda. Moreau (1966: 243) cites C. picta among intra-African migrants. On the other hand, it is curious that Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1970: 424) make no mention of any movement _ in C. p. natalensis. With few exceptions natalensis occurs in Zambia, Malawi — and Rhodesia, and in territories to the southward, from September to March (Benson 1964: 58). Breeding takes place in Zambia, Malawi and Rhodesia in the same period, with a peak of egg-laying in November (Benson 1963: 632; Benson e¢ a/. 1964: 59). Benson (1964: 59) also demonstrated that these southern populations of natalensis migrate northward, particularly to north- eastern Zaire (Kivu), Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya (see also Clancey 1972, who makes no mention of Benson’s data). The northernmost record which Benson gives is from Lake Albert, between Hoima and Bugoma, since when I have even found it at Paulis (Isiro), in the Upper Uele at 2° 53’ N., 27° 58’ E. If the status of natalensis is well established in Zambia and in other countries to the southward, the situation is on the other hand much less clear in Zaire. This is because in certain parts of Zaire natalensis appears only in a deter- minate period, to occur at this time alongside a population of C. p. picta which is resident throughout the year. So the presence of natalensis can remain unperceived, and as I have already noted myself many specimens of natalensis have been confused with picta or vice versa. In the first place, it must be remembered that in the southern part of Zaire there exists a population of natalensis which seems to have exactly the same rhythm as that in Zambia (Benson ef a/. 1971: 156). Bohm had already collected this form in the Katanga, near the Rivers Dikulwe and Lufira, but his specimens were recorded by Schalow (1886: 421, 432) and Matschie (1887: 151) merely as Ispidina picta. Chapin (1939: 286) has cited natalensis from the Katanga, but was unable to examine personally any specimens from this part of Zaire, while the record by Neave (1910: 109) listed is in reality from Zambia. Subsequently Verheyen (1947: 4) has recorded natalensis from Musosa (collector H. J. Bredo), without giving the date of collection; actually the specimen is a female collected some time in the period September/November. Schouteden (1951: 30-32) has given all the localities in Zaire, Rwanda and Burundi in which the form nazalensis has been collected, and has mentioned in addition Albertville, in the northern Katanga. 82 Verheyen (1953: 347) was the first to note dates of collection, of five specimens from the Upemba National Park. They fall within the period late August to mid-April (the specimen shown as dated 27th November is actually labelled 27th August). It seemed to Verheyen that “Vespéce est sujette a des migrations (locales ?)”. He estimated that breeding was in January/February, according to the age of birds examined and the state of their plumage. Later, Schouteden (1965 : 37) cited all the specimens emanating from Dilolo and Kolwezi under the name Ispidina picta, and recorded their dates of collection as falling between mid-August and the beginning of February. Finally, Schouteden (1971: 92) summarised all the specimens collected in the Katanga as a whole as coming within the period 9th August and the end of March. So, in summary, in the Katanga the situation for natalensis corresponds well with that described for Zambia. The birds arrive in August, breed and then disappear, the latest most often in March, as we shall see in detail below. What happens to the zatalensis of this population in the ensuing period? It is not possible to distinguish these birds from those of other populations ‘nesting to the southward, and they must be considered together. The information in the literature concerning satalensis collected outside the breeding range is extremely fragmentary. The first to have recorded natalensis only a little to the south of the equator is without doubt Gyldenstolpe (1924: 276), who mentions a female collected near Lake Chahafi, Uganda. Chapin (1939: 286) in turn noted that in the museum at Tervuren there were several natalensis from Kisenyi, the vicinity of Lake Kivu and the Rutshuru Plain. Schouteden (1942: 334) recorded the collection of a female of natalensis at Kirinda, Rwanda on 25th August, although personally I attribute it to the nominate form. Schouteden (1951: 30—32) recorded several further specimens from Kivu, at Kalembelembe, and from Rwanda/Burundi, at Kisenyi and Rugegera, but did not give collecting dates. It can also be noted that Aurélien (1957: 206), in describing Ispzdina picta from Rwanda, writes that “les auriculaires portent une tache bleue”. This description corresponds with natalensis, which would accordingly appear to be common enough in Rwanda and Burundi (actually Aurélien sent only two specimens of natalensis to Tervuren). Some specimens from Zaire, Rwanda and Uganda have been recorded by Benson (1964: 59, 66), in particular from Kivu, at Lwiro; from Rwanda, on the River Kagera, and at Gisagara and Kisenyi; and from extreme western Uganda, in the Bwamba Forest (and see also Clancey 1972). Subsequently to Benson, Schouteden has given a list of specimens of Ispidina picta in the collections at Tervuren, from Rwanda (1966a: 57), Burundi (1966b: 39) and Kivu (1968: 120), but did not separate the forms picta and natalensis. For this reason, in order to clarify the occurrence of natalensis in Zaire and adjacent territories to the east, I have examined all the specimens of C. pic/a, totalling more than 600, in the collections of the Musée royal de |’ Afrique Centrale, Tervuren and in the Institut royal des Sciences Naturelles, Bruxel- les. I have also taken note of a certain number of specimens recorded in the literature, in each such case expressly indicating this. In all, exclusive of the 1o tecorded by Clancey (1972) from the Bwamba Forest, I have been able to bring to light 91 specimens of natalensis, six of them without date of collec- tion. Kighty-five of them appear in Table 1, which shows their monthly distribution for the different regions considered. The Map indicates the position of the localities where satalensis has been collected, and the 83 corresponding season of the year. Finally, in Table 2, I have drawn up a list of all the specimens of natalensis which form the basis of this study. TABLE 1 Distribution of specimens of Ceyx picta natalensis by months (exclusive of ten recorded by Clancey 1972 from Bwamba, Uganda between 25th April and 19th July). YB aM GA UMA SAL at Oe ae cy Southern Katanga (a) 3 6 4 2) sik 2 8) Aone Gratis? ay Northern Katanga I I 2 Kasai Pilea sak I 3 Lake Leopold II I I Lower Congo I I Maniema I Prot 3 - Southern Kivu (b) EV25e I 3 Burundi 1(c) I Rwanda (b) 2 2 1(d) 5 Idjwi Island aera 6 Northern Kivu & Uganda (b) 1(e) egies Nate dante 1(f) 12 Upper Uele 1(g) I TOTAL (without southern Katanga) I 2 7 EA Wiley Aiba, ead Sh a 2) I I 38 (a) Includes two specimens collected by B6hm. (b) Includes specimens cited by Benson (1964: 59) from Lwiro, Kagera and Bwamba. (c) Collected at Bujumbura 1st March, wing 55 mm; a second specimen from Bujumbura, undated, has wing 50-5 mm only, but there is a well developed patch of blue on the ear-coverts. (d) Collected at Kisenyi in Nov., wing 55:5 mm; but in poor condition, blue on ear- coverts little visible. (e) Collected near Lake Chahafi 6th Feb.; wing 54 mm. (f) Collected by Grauer at Beni in Sept. (Sassi 1912: 365). (g) Collected at Paulis (Isiro) 19th March; wing 55 mm. TABLE 2 List of specimens examined or cited from Zaire, Rwanda, Burundi and western Uganda (a) A. Southern Katanga: 1 Bunkeya 20. Il; 1 Buvumba (river) 23. IX; [1 Dikulwe (river) 25.X1]; 1 Kansenia 11.I1]; 25 Kasaji 16.VIII/9.11; 2 Kasapa V, 1X; 1 Kiambi 5.XII; 2 Kipopo 31.III, 28.1V; 1 Kiswishi 15.X; 2 Kolwezi 20.III, 27.XII; [1 Lufira (river) 10.X]; 1 Lupando 14.[X; 1 Mpala 19.X; 1 Musosa IX-XI; 1 Mweru (lake) 23.1; 1 Tanganyika (lake) undated (b); 5 Upemba Nat. Park 27. VIII/15.1V. B. Outside southern Katanga: Northern Katanga: 2 Albertville 24.IV, 9.VIII. Kasai: 1 Gandajika 16.1V; 1 Kasanza 2.V; 1 Luluabourg 2.VII. Lake Leopold II: 1 Bokalakela 25.VIII. Lower Congo: 1 Kinshasa 4.V. Maniema: 1 Kalembelembe undated; 2 Kampene 2.VII, 14.VHI; 1 Kasongo 8.1V. Southern Kivu: 1 Hombo 25.V; 1 Kamituga 28.1V; 1 Lwiro 4.VH (c). Burundi: 2 Bujumbura 1.111, undated. | Rwanda: 2 Astrida undated; 1 Gisagara 7.V; 1 Kagera 27.VII (c); 3 Kisenyi VII, XI, | undated; 1 Rugegera 5.V. Idjwi Island: 6 Idjwi 9. VIl/24. VIII. Northern Kivu: 1 Beni 1X; 1 Butembo 15.VI; 1 Etaetu 21.V; 1 Etembo VI. 2 Mutsora ri. VITj-27.V 1s 4 Mutwanga Bat Mii Rutshuru (plain) VI. Uganda (near * frontier with Zaire) (d): 1 Bwamba (forest) 3.VIII; [2 Bwamba (forest) 11.VII, 20.VII]; 1 Chahafi (lake) 6.11. Upper Uele: 1 Paulis (Isiro) 19.111. (a) Specimens cited, not examined by myself, are shown in brackets. Not included are 10 specimens from the Bwamba Forest, western Uganda, collected between 25th April and 19th July (Clancey 1972). (b) Specimen collected in 1883 by Storms. (c) Examined by Mrs. R. T. Chapin (previously cited by Benson 1964: 59). (d) See also second sentence under (a). 84 April to August September to March _ ear pet August to April ce a | ; —— 0 250Km Distribution of specimens of Ceyx picta natalensis by months. If we consider in the first instance the southern Katanga, 42 out of 47 specimens were collected between September and March. There are two for August (16th August, Kasaji; 27th August, Upemba National Park). On the other hand, two were still present in April (15th April, Upemba National Park; 28th April, Kipopo), and one even in May (Kasapa, near Lubumbashi, without indication of day of collection). So it can be admitted that natalensis is present from September to March, but that some individuals arrive as early as mid-August and the last leave in April/May. The situation thus agrees well with that shown by Benson (1964: 58) for Zambia, etc. Apart from the southern Katanga, I have been able to take count of a total of 38 specimens of which 33 fall within the period April/August, exactly the period when zatalensis is almost completely absent from the southern Katanga. Furthermore, these figures are exclusive of ten specimens of natalensis mist-netted in the Bwamba Forest, Uganda between 25th April and 19th July, reported on by Clancey (1972), for which the exact dates within this period are not indicated. 85 In the northern Katanga, the dates of two specimens collected at Albert- ville seem to correspond respectively with northward and southward pas- sages—24th April and 9th August. There are records of natalensis from the Kasai and even along the River Congo in the districts of the Lower Congo and Lake Leopold II. But it is above all in the eastern part of Zaire and adjacent Uganda that natalensis seems to make the longest movements as already indicated by Benson (1964: 59) and recently by Clancey (1972). In fact natalensis has been collected in Maniema, in different parts of Kivu, on Idjwi Island (specimens from this locality had previously been confused with nominate p/cta in Prigogine 1967: 260), in Rwanda and Burundi, just across the Zaire border in the Bwamba Forest, Uganda, and in the Upper Uele. The female collected on 6th February near Lake Chahafi, Uganda and the male on 1st March at Bujumbura, Burundi represent exceptionally advanced dates. On the other hand, the latest specimens of natalensis have been collected at the end of August (24th August on Idjwi Island; 27th August at Mutsora, northern Kivu). But an isolated specimen has been collected in November, without indication of the day of collection, at Kisenyi, Rwanda. It is not possible to say, in the case of specimens collected outside the period April/August, whether it is a question of migrants, or of natalensis remaining in their winter quarters. In the migratory period, natalensis does not seem to have a preference for any particular biotope. On the one hand, specimens have been collected in open habitats as for example at Bujumbura, Kisenyi and on the Rutshuru Plain. On the other, they have also been found in heavy forest as at Bwamba, Hombo, Etaetu and Etembo. The stay of natalensis in its winter quarters corresponds with sexual inactivity. Let us examine, then, the breeding period of nominate picfa. According to Chapin (1939: 286) nesting near the equator may continue throughout the year, but further to the north it probably takes place from March to May or June, while to the south Chapin expected it to commence at the start of the rains (that is to say, in September/October). According to Traylor (1963: 92), the female and three eggs collected in March at Calulo, in Angola at 10° S. (Lynes & Sclater 1934: 38), belong to nominate picta. Around Kamituga, at ca. 3° S., I found a nest with three eggs on 25th October (Prigogine 1961:253) and another with four eggs on 29th August (Prigogine 1972: 207). Based on all my records from this region, including also those of young, I conclude that breeding is from August to October and from January to March, in fact probably the whole period mid-August to March (Prigogine 1971: 70). It would seem that, when natalensis is present in this region, from Aprilto August, and is found alongside the nominate form, there is no reproductive activity, and this would favour the segregation of the two forms. But, as we shall see, this does not seem to be the case everywhere, particularly in the southern part of Zaire and further southward. In principal, the integration between natalensis and picta could take place in regions where natalensis breeds but where there exists also a resident popula- tion of nominate picta nesting at the same season, as in Angola commencing at the start of the rains (Traylor, 1963: 92, also gives a record of a juvenile nominate picta from Dundo for as early as August). White (1965: 226) records “some integration” in the Kasai, but in the collection at Tervuren there is no specimen from the Kasai showing characters intermediate between natalensis and nominate picta. 86 On the other hand, Benson (1964: 60) records a male from Vila Texeira de Sousa, Angola which seems intermediate. In general, such specimens could occur in a belt, where natalensis and picta could be in contact, during the breeding season of natalensis and which would traverse Africa in the vicinity of 11° S. in Angola and 5° S. in Tanzania. It is difficult to trace such a band across Zaire. According to the specimens examined, the separation between natalensis and picta could be along a line which passes close to Albertville and a little to the north of Kasaji. But on the other hand Benson (1964: 57) records two specimens of picta from Salujinga in the extreme north-west of Zambia, thus to the south of Kasaji. Indeed, Benson & Irwin (1965: 3) record a further two specimens of this form from Salujinga. The situation in this part of Africa, then, seems complicated, and one must await some intermediates. Such could “behave” either like natalensis or like picta. In the first case, they would have seasonal migrations; in the second, they would be resident throughout the year. Two females in the Institut royal des Sciences Naturelles could be intermediate. Both were collected at Mutsora, in the vicinity of Ruwenzori, on 16th April and 11th August (as they cannot definitely be. attributed to natalensis, they are not included in the tables). The first one has a mauve spot washed with blue on the ear-coverts; the second shows the start of a blue spot. Nevertheless the black of the crown is more intense in both specimens than 1n specimens of true natalensis. Furthermore, in the collection at Tervuren I have found six specimens which could also be intermediates. Although the blue spot on the ear- coverts is not visible—perhaps partly due to bad preparation—the colour of the crown is like that of natalensis. In two of them, from Bolafa (a little to the south of Bumba, in the Equator province), without indication of date of collecting, the underside is also a relatively pale orange-brown, as in natalensis. In two others, collected in April and September at Buta, Lower Uele the crown is as in natalensis, but the underside is darker, as in nominate picfa. Finally, in two from Etaetu, northern Kivu, the crown is more blackish, and they seem intermediate between natalensis and picta. As to the colour of the underside, it is pale in one of these two specimens, collected in January, but darker in the other, collected in June. The wing-length varies in these six specimens as a whole from jo to 52:5, mean 51 mm, these figures agreeing with the nominate form. In summary, their status is dubious. Perhaps they are intermediate. Account cannot be formally taken of them in this study, but it is worth drawing attention to them. It may be noted that 35 specimens of natalensis from further north than the southern Katanga range in wing-length from 50 to 56, mean 54-0 mm, which is in close agreement with the figure 54:3 mm given by Benson (1964: 57) for 166 specimens. Summary: (1) In order to clarify the presence of Ceyx picta natalensis in Zaire and adjacent country to the east, more than 600 specimens of C. picta in the collections of the Musée royal de |’Afrique Centrale (Tervuren) and Institut royal des Sciences Naturelles (Bruxelles) were examined. (2) It has been possible to discriminate 91 specimens of natalensis, six of them without date of collection. Account is taken in this figure of a certain number of specimens previously recorded in the literature (but not of 10 specimens recently recorded from the Bwamba Forest by Clancey). (3) In the southern Katanga, 42 out of 47 specimens of natalensis were collected between September and May. This corresponds well with the period in which this form is present in Zambia and further south. 87 (4) In regions to the northward, 33 out of 38 specimens of natalensis fall — in the period April to August, that is to say, the period in which natalensis is absent from the southern Katanga. (5) The segregation between xatalensis and nominate picta is favoured by the fact that the reproduction of the latter does not take place during the period corresponding to the presence of natalensis in its winter quarters. On the other hand, in the southern part of Zaire and to the southward, where there exists a resident population of nominate picta, the two forms nest at the same time, and non-integration is possible. But attention is drawn to several specimens which could be intermediate. Acknowledgements: | am most grateful to Mr. C. W. Benson, who has provided me with much valuable information and who has had the extreme kindness to translate my paper. Iam also much obliged to Mrs. R. T. Chapin, who examined the specimens in the American Museum of Natural History; and to Dr. H. Schifter (Vienna) and Mr. Devillers (Brussels), who were very helpful during my examination of the material under their care. References: Aurélien, Frere. 1957. Les oiseaux du Ruanda-Urundi. 1. Astrida, Rwanda. Benson, C. W. 1963. Breeding seasons of birds in the Rhodesias and Nyasaland. Proc. 13th Internat. Orn. Congr. 11: 623-639. — 1964. Some intra-African migratory birds. Puku 2: 53-66. Benson, C. W., Brooke, R. K., Dowsett, R. J. & Irwin, M. P. Stuart. 1971. The birds of Zambia, London: Collins. Benson, C. W., Brooke, R. K. & Vernon, C. J. 1964. Bird breeding data from the Rhode- sias and Nyasaland. Occ. Pap. Nat. Mus. S. Rhod. 27B: 30-105. Benson, C. W. & Irwin, M. P. Stuart. 1965. Some birds from the North-Western Province, Zambia. Arnoldia (Rhodesia) I (29): I1 pp. Chapin, J. P. 1939. The birds of the Belgian Congo: Part 3. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 15. Clancey, P. A. 1972. Miscellaneous taxonomic notes on African birds. Durban Mus. Novit. 9 (11): 145-146. Gyldenstolpe, N. 1924. Zoological results of the Swedish expedition to Central Africa 1921. Vertebrata. I. Birds. Kung/. Sv. Vetensk. Akad. Handl, 3 (1), 3: 1-326. Lynes, H. & Sclater, W. L. 1934. Lynes-Vincent tour in Central and West Africa in 1930— 31. Part Il. Ibis (13) 4: 1-51. Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1970. African handbook of birds. Series III, Vol. 1. London: Longmans. Matschie, P. 1887. Der ornithologische Nachlass Dr. Richard Bohm’s. II. Journ. Ornith. 35: 135-156. Moreau, R. E. era The bird faunas of Africa and its islands. London: Academic Press. Neave, S.A. 1910. On the birds of Northern Rhodesia and the Katanga District of Congo- land (part 1). [bis (9) 4: 78-155. Prigogine, A. 1961. Nids et oeufs récoltés au Kivu (République du Congo). Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 64: 248-264. — 1967. La faune ornithologique de l’ile Idjwi. Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 75: 249-274. — 1971. Les oiseaux de l’Itombwe et de son hinterland. Ann. Mus. Afr. Centr. 8, Sc. Zool. 18 — 1972. Nide. et oeufs récoltés au Kivu. 2. (République du Zaite). Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 85: 203-226. Sassi, M. 1912. Beitrag zur Ornis Zentralafrikas. Ann. k. k. Naturhist. Hofmus. 26: 347-393. Schalow, H. 1886. Der ornithologische Nachlass Dr. Richard Bohm’s. Journ. Ornith. 34: 409-436. eenoimnedce H. 1942. Contributions a la faune ornithologique du Ruanda-Urundi. Collection J. A. Lestrade. Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 36: 329-342. — 1951. De Vogels van Belgisch Congo en van Ruanda-Urundi. IV. Ann. Mus. Congo, C. Zool. (4) 3, fasc. 1. — 1965. La faune ornithologique des territoires de Dilolo et Kolwezi de la Province du Katanga. Mus. Roy. Afr. Centr. Doc. Zool. 9. — 1966a. La faune ornithologique du Rwanda. Mus. Roy. Afr. Centr. Doc. Zool. to. — 1966b. La faune ornithologique du Burundi. Mus. Roy. Afr. Centr. Doc. Zool. 11. 88 Schouteden, H. 1968. La faune ornithologique du Kivu. I. Non passereaux. Mus. Roy. Afr. Centr. Doc. Zool. 12. — 1971. La faune ornithologique de la Province du Katanga. Mus. Roy. Afr. Centr. Doc. Zool. 17. Traylor, MA. 1963. Checklist of Angolan birds. Pub/. Cult. Comp. Cia. Diamant. Angola 61. Verheyen, R. 1947. Notes sur la faune ornithologique de |’Afrique Centrale. VII. Bu//. Mas. Hist. nat. Belge 23 (10): 4 pp. — 1953. Exploration du Parc National de ’Upemba. Fasc. 19. Oiseaux. Bruxelles: Inst. Parc; Nat. du Congo Belge. White, C. M. N. 1965. A revised check list of African non-passerine birds. Lusaka: Government Printer. Specimen data on Bucorvus leadbeateri by R. K. Brooke & A. C. Kemp Received rst March, 1973 Verheyen (1953) appears to be the only author to discuss moult in the Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri (Vigors), although Stresemann & Stresemann (1966) have discussed it in the related Abyssinian Ground Hornbill B. abyssinicus (Boddaert). R. K. B. had the opportunity to examine while fresh a dying subadult female B. /eadbeateri brought into the National Museum in Bulawayo (NMB) on 6 June, the existing material preserved there, in the Queen Victoria Museum in Salisbury (QVM) and the Durban Museum (DM). A. C. K. examined the material preserved in the Transvaal _ Museum in Pretoria (TMP). Details of the state of moult and wear of the primaries, secondaries and rectrices are shown in Table 1. It will be noted that only three specimens show active primary moult (code letter G in Table 1) and these were col- lected in January, March and June. The bird taken on 3 October, probably about two years old since the egg-laying season in Rhodesia is August to November, shows a simple symmetrical descending mode of replacement of the primaries. However, a bird taken on 23 October, though long out of the nest, shows no sign of moulting, even though the adult female, collected on the following day in the same area, had an egg in the upper part of the oviduct. The 23 October bird is probably about one year old. In the 14 adults and subadults moult is diagonal or asymmetrical starting in one wing after the other, although in which wing is a matter of individual variation. The data in Table 1 suggest that in B. /eadbeaferi the same pattern, with individual variation, of primary moult occurs as in B. abyssinicus studied by Stresemann & Stresemann (1966), i.e. diagonal stepwise descending moult in primaries 1 to 7 and diagonal stepwise ascending moult in primaries 10 to 8. Active secondary moult was evident in three specimens, the two from June and January which also showed primary moult, and a third which showed no primary moult or data on collection. It may well be that more Specimens than the three noted showed active moult of the secondaries but this aspect was not checked by R.K.B. The fresh B. /eadbeateri had 17 secondaries and the data in Table 1 suggest that asymmetry 1s less marked in moult of the secondaries than in the primaries, and also that there are three centres at which moult starts, i.e. secondaries 1 (the outermost), 10 or thereabouts and 16. There are four alula quills and their mode of moult is a descending one. The fresh B. /eadbeateri had a subalular apterium similar to that described for B. abyssinicus by George & Casler (1972). Active rectrix moult was present in specimens taken in November, 89 TABLE 1 Details of moult in the primaries, secondaries and rectrices of Bucorvus /eadbeateri A. PRIMARIES Material Age e> Sex Date Wing Primaries ; Ty or2ete.Siy, KAM DCE T Ws Gone Obit lO) . NMB a Subad. Q 6 June i WEI, WN RG Oe Ea R WwW WW WN F G O F F b Ad. Q 12 Aug. L Ny NOP. YB WWW tr IN IN R F F WWWWN F NN c Ad. Q 7 Sept. L Ni JN 4k .0 0-88 3)10.40) (2G ;@ d Ad. 3 4 Nov. L By RES “aR © Sab We Wi gE eA R N WN NN OO WN N e Ad. Q 14 Dec. 10, N O WO 0 0 0 0 0 W R N WO WO OO N ON f Juy. 3 3 Oct. il BoE OO Or 2OsrOn OFF ORO R F. Fo -O) © (OF O30 770) > ORO TMP a Ad. not 9? 3 July MW O-N N N FoW W W-FON sexed R O O N:'N F OW WIiW FON b Ad. 9? Aug. L N N F W WN F WN N R N= FF OW WoW WIND SBN c Ad. 3 8 July L NF CFo WuNeNgk (O-NeON R NeGN POOR Wie WW Ne Se aN) d Ad. Q no date L N WW WW WN F WN R N NNN WWN NN N e Ad. Q? 21 Dec. L NNN NN WN WN N R N NN N WN N WN N f Ad. 3 23 Jan. f L FG WN, SNAG WW) NICIN) R N F GW WN GWN G g Ad. g 24 Oct. Ib NF} OF We NeNDSNSE SW oN (on point of laying) R INT OB NYE NN aN eA h Juy. 3 23 Oct. L NNN NNN NN N N R NNN NNN NN N N QVM Ad. 3 25 March L FF) -N-F O GyO7 0 OF — R F F N N F O O O ‘°F — DM Subad. Q 29 July R N/N) NON WES EP. O-NSE B. SECONDARIES Material Age e® Sex Date Wing Secondaries 123 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 NMB a Subad. @ 6 June L FGOOOOQOFGEFFFEF WWWWE O 3 R FF OODF OGFEFFNNNWNE O es 3 cg 5 33 io Some feathers growing in secondaries of each wing C. RECTRICES Material Age ¢ Sex Date Tail Rectrices R BEAN BxODR Li thy ae Qe sore eA tae t Sone ale NMB a Subad 2 6 June WF ON: © NN vO seNe EW, b Ad. Q 12 Aug FY WwW Ot N GaaWe Ne OF Er € Ad fe) 14 Dec OWN -—- O N WW WV — f Juy 3 3 Oct OW WON N OO ON QVM Ad. 3} 25 Mar Oo. O ND G DD OY NTO TMP b Ad Q? Aug Ww WN WW WN W WW W c Ad. 3 8 July WN N NN N N W EF WN d Ad 2 no date WWW wv wwn OW W W e Ad Q? 21 Dec GN ON: oN a.G AN ONE SIN TENG a Ad. é 23 Jan GON ON..G By SDIENS 4G 3D g Ad. Q 24 Oct. W F N W F OF WN W (on point of laying) h Juv. 3 23 Oct NN WW WWWNN N DM Subad 2 29 July ON NON N — — N O Cove: D = dropped afresh G = growing et eke N = normal O = old R = right W = worn — = damaged ; December, January and March and in all four is asymmetrical. The moult is not basically centrifugal, as stated by Friedmann (1930), nor does it adhere to the strict 5 — 1 — 4— 2 — 3 order described for B. abyssinicus by Stresemann & Stresemann (1966). It has been found that the latter, the basic bucerotid mode of rectrix moult, does not hold for a large sample of three species of Tockus hornbills (Kemp in prep.) but rather the modified system 5 or 1 — 4 or 2 — 3. This modified mode of rectrix moult may also be more applicable to the data shown for B. /eadbeateri in Table 1. Active moult is found in specimens taken between November and June and it is possible that it does not occur from July to October (the main egg 4 - = = ” laying period) even in adult males and immatures of both sexes. Kemp (in prep.) reports nest helpers which are doubtless the immature members of the parties in which this species is habitually seen. The palate of the subadult female in the National Museum was purplish brown, the iris was pale yellow and the throat vermillion fringed with yellow. Other females in the National Museum and Transvaal Museum had violet blue as well as vermillion on the throat. Two specimens in the Transvaal Museum (TMP b and e in Table 1) appear to have been mis-sexed as males, whereas the violet blue instead of red on the throat and small size (see below) indicate that they are females. From field observations (Kemp in prep.) it appears that breeding females, and probably all adult females, have a violet blue patch on the throat. The age at which the violet blue throat is attained is uncertain. Only one violet blue throated (fully adult female), one pink throated (immature), and one yellow throated (first year) bird, is found in B. /eadbeateri parties which normally number four or five birds (Kemp in prep.) It appears that these parties may consist of an adult male, an adult female and their sexually immature offspring which are produced at a maximum rate of one a year. The normal clutch is two eggs but there is no record of more than one well grown nestling in a nest. A 50 per cent. mortality among immature B. /eadbeateri is by no means unlikely. This would mean that a party of five birds (two adults, three immatures) represents on average the result of six years of reproduction. Thus it is likely that B. /eadbeaferi is not sexually mature until at least its eighth year. The age at which sexual maturity is attained can also be approached from a study of the moult of the primaries. Of the 16 specimens we have examined only one has yet to moult the first of its primaries. Of the remaining 15 only three show active moult. Thus the period in which the primaries are replaced and which in most birds defines the total moult cycle, must be a very long one: we suggest at least three years. On this basis simple descending moult occupies the second, third and fourth years and normal wing length is attained when the second generation primaries 6 and 7 (the longest ones) have grown. The first diagonal stepwise moult occupies the fifth, sixth and seventh years and only after this can the bird be regarded as fully adult in TABER 2 Mensural data suggestive of sexual dimorphism in Bucorvus leadbeateri Wing in mm Source 3 e) Sexed 4; but -with violet blue on throat NMB 550 (juv), 610 450, $10, 550, 560 QVM 580 — TMP 525 (juv), 536, 558 544 512, 533, 546 DM a 575 Verheyen (1953) 520 (juv), 545, 530 570, 570 Sanft (1960) 496-618, av. (33) 495-550, av (10). 538 560 Culmen in mm NMB 198 (juv), 210 178, 190, 195, 195 4 : 187 (juv), 221 207 182, 185, 200 DM — 180 Verheyen (1953) 160 (juv), 197, 185 207, 210 Sanft (1960) 190-221, av. 168-215, av. (30) 207 (10) 192 gl plumage. During this second moult only females can be separated from adults through their lack of a violet blue throat. Second moult males are phenotypically adult and are treated as such in Table 1. In nearly all hornbills immature hirds resemble adult males, not adult females. A juvenile in Tables 1 and 2 is a bird which has not yet grown its second generation primaries 6 and 7. It appears from Table 2 that females are mensurally somewhat smaller than males, especially in the length of the culmen. Wings were measured with a tape from the carpal joint to the tip of the longest primary which is sometimes the sixth but more often the seventh. Culmens were measured from the base to the tip with a tape, apparently also the method used by Verheyen (1953). Sanft’s (1960) ranges do not distinguish between adult and juvenile birds. This is a pity since it appears from Table 2 that juvenile birds. are mensurally smaller than adults and subadults of the same sex; nonetheless further study is needed. The fresh subadult female brought into the National Museum and very hungry weighed 2,230 g which is over 45 per cent. lower than the female weight of 4,000 g recorded in Sanft (1960). Weights of males recorded in Sanft (1960) and Verheyen (1953) are 3,500, 3,575 and 3,937 g. We are obliged for facilities for study to M. P. Stuart Irwin in respect of the National Miuseum in Bulawayo, to M. A. Raath in respect of the Queen Victoria Museum and to P. A. Clancey in respect of the Durban Museum. References: Friedmann, H. 1930. The caudal moult of certain Coraciiform, Coliiform and Piciform birds. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 77(7): 1-6. George, W. G. & Casler, C. L. 1972. Subalular apterium in birds. Awk 89: 245-262. Sanft, K. 1960. Bucerotidae. Tverreich 76. Stresemann, E. & Stresemann, V. 1966. Die mauser der Voegel. Journ. Ornith., sonderheft. Verheyen, R. 1953. Exploration du Parc National de ? Upemba. Fasc. 19. Oiseaux. Brussels: Inst. Parcs Nat. Congo Belge. The Status and Characters of the Races of the Red-backed Shrike Wintering in the South African Sub-Region by P._A. Clancey Received 9th January 1973 The Redbacked Shrike Lanius collurio Linnaeus is one of the commoner and more widely distributed of the Palaearctic migrants present in Africa south of the Cunene-Okavango-Zambesi Rivers during the period of the northern winter. On its wintering grounds, which extend from Angola, southern Zaire and Tanzania to the Orange R. and the eastern Cape (Moreau [1972] believes the winter range in eastern Africa to extend as far north as Kenya and the southern Sudan, and follows Fry in also listing Nigeria in West Africa), it occurs in various savanna woodland facies, and is perhaps most numerous in acaciaveld, in degraded areas, and on the scrubby and over- grown fringes of primitive cultivation. Redbacked Shrikes commence to arrive in the Sub-Region in the latter part of October, but do not become widespread until the second half of November, the majority departing the first half of April, but with a few laggards still present mid-May, and even early June in Zambia according to Benson é¢ a/. (1971). During their sojourn — g2 the birds undergo a complete moult, which is at its height January—mid- Maxch, the populations commencing their northward movement through the eastern half of Africa shortly after its completion. Variation used by workers to arrange the populations into acceptable subspecies is restricted to males, although, in fact, both sexes show reasonably well-marked geographical variation. In males, the forehead varies from pale neutral grey to almost white in far eastern populations, there is appreciable vatiation in the shade of grey of the rest of the head-top, hind and sides of the neck and the upper mantle, while the mantle and scapulars vary from almost tawny to deep vinous chestnut. In females the upper-parts vary from dull olivaceous to dark vinaceous brown, this variation appearing to follow a closely similar distributional pattern to that of the males. On the ventral sutface there is marked variation in the whiteness or buffiness of the ground and in the degree of pectoral and lateral squamation. Currently three of the four races recognised by Vaurie (1959) are admitted to the South African list (Clancey [1966]; S.A.O.S. List Committee [1969]; McLachlan & Liver- sidge [1970]), nominate L. co//urio and L. c. Robylini (Buturlin) supposedly common and widespread seasonally, with the central Palaearctic L. c. pallidifrons Johansen known from only two or three records from the north- ern Cape and South-West Africa. In an effort to arrive at a more satisfactory assessment of the relative abundance of these races on the South African wintering grounds and the characters by which they may be determined in this region, some 200 gg from southern and eastern Africa were assembled and critically studied. In order to minimize the influence of habitat and seasonally induced as opposed to genetically based differences on the con- clusions drawn, the precautionary measure of dry cleaning about a third of the assembled specimens was taken. A series of some two hundred males is scarcely adequate for this type of research, and only from the territories of the Transvaal, Rhodesia and Zambia were samples anything like satisfactory. In allocating African hibernal material to races 10 g¢ L. ¢. collurio from the western Palaearctic (Sweden, Lithuania, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria and Hungary) were used as controls. Of L. <. kobylini and L. c. ‘pallidi ifrons 1 used short series kindly determined as of these races by Professor Hans Johansen, formerly of the Zoologisk Museum, Copenhagen, and the describer of the latter subspecies. No untoward difficulty was experienced in allocating the great bulk of the material to definite subspecific categories. Conclusions finally reached were on the basis of series laid out and viewed facing the light source, the sky moderately overcast and the time mid-moraing. Bearing in mind the barely adequate nature of the material presently available, the following tentative conclusions were reached: (i) L. ¢. pallidi- frons is as numerous or slightly more so than L. ¢. collurio. Of 146 33 from the South African Sub-Region studied 39 per cent. were pallidifrons, with some 35 per cent. nominate co//urio. (ii) Contrary to expectations, L. c. Robylini is far less numerous than either L. c. collurio or L. c. pallidifrons (26 per cent.); (iii) L. ¢. pallidifrons winters largely in the Kalahari and adjacent xeric areas of the interior of the Sub-Region; (iv) L. c. kobylini winters extensively in northern South-West Africa, and in the east from Rhodesia and Mocambique south to Natal; (v) on the basis of present data no hibernal centrum is definable for L. ¢. co//urio, which occurs throughout. In so far as the small British Isles population (L. ¢. juxtus Clancey), with backs in males umber brown rather than rufous, is concerned, this study shows that it 93 does not extend to within present limits, and its wintering grounds are clearly extra-limital (P=hygric regions of Angola or southern Zaire). In the case of Zambia, the one extra-limital African territory within the species’ wintering range from which a reasonably adequate panel of adult males has been available to me, all three races wintering in the South African TABLE 1 Territory N Race L. ¢. collurio L. c. pallidifrons L. c. kobylini Cape 10 5 (507%) 4 (40%) 1 (10%) 3 Nov. — 15 Jan. Jan. — 27 Mar. 12 Mar. South-West 9 2i(22"2. 77) 1 (1r°t Y) 6 (66:7%) Africa 8 Dec. — 6 Mat. 3 Dec g — 28 Mar. Botswana 17 6 (35°3 %) 9 (52°9'%) 2 (118%) 13 Nov. — 30 Mar. | 12 Nov. — 15 Apr. 20 Feb. Rhodesia 52 r5 (28-394) 20 (B85. A) oy (327775) 14 Nov. — 17 Mar. | 23 Nov.-10 Apr. | 11 Nov. — 11 Apr. Transvaal 295 14 (20%) 17 (48:6%) 4 (11°4%) (mainly west) 7 Nov. — 12 Apr. 12 Nov. — Apr. | 28 Sep.(?) — 23 Feb. Natal, Swaziland 18 6 (33°3 %) 6°G3'3'H) 6.337739.) & East Griqualand 19 Nov.—11 Feb. | 24 Nov. — 4 Mar. 4 Jan. — 1 Apr. Mogambique 5 3 — 2 27 Nov. — 24 May 1 Mar. — 7 Apr. Extra-limital Zambia 35 11 (31°4%) 16 (45°7%) 8 (22°9%) 27 Oct. - 7 Apr. | 29 Oct.—14 Apr. | 21 Mar. — 8 Apr. Lanius collurio Linnaeus Allocation of South African Sub-Region and Zambian material of adult ¢g Redbacked Shrikes to subspecies. The assumed relative abundance of each subspecies in a territory’s sample is given in the form of a simple percentage. The first and last dates of specimens in each sample are enumerated for the guidance of future workers. Sub-Region were found to occur, as was to be expected. It will be appreciated from accompanying Table I that the same position as recorded for South Africa obtains in Zambia, with pallidifrons the commonest of the three Redbacked Shrike races, and koby/ini the least so. It is evident from the com- ments of Benson ef a/. (1971), that Zambian data in large measure corrobor- ate my findings for the South African Sub-Region. Vaurie (1959) has defined the breeding ranges and racial characters of the four races of L. col/lurio, sens. strict., on the basis of material from the Palae- arctic. Examination of skins of both sexes just through the moult from South Africa shows that the criteria ascribed to the individual races by Vaurie require to be modified and expanded somewhat. Hereunder I give my con- clusions as to the characters of use in allocating wintering material taken in southern and eastern Africa to subspecies. The breeding ranges have been laid down in Vaurie’s work; in so far as Africa is concerned, the races appear to be synhiemal, or mainly so. (a) Lanius collurio collurio Linnaeus, 1758: Sweden gj. Forehead Pale Neutral Gray (Ridgway [1912], pl. liii), merging insensibly in to Neutral Gray (same pl.) on the crown, nape, hind and sides of the neck and upper mantle; mantle and scapulars Snuff Brown 94 | (pl. xxix). Tertials with snuff brown extending over most of outer and part of inner vane. 2. Upper-parts Saccardo’s Umber (pl. xxix), the hind neck greyer, and breast and lateral ventral surfaces heavily squamated with dusky on a whitish ground. Remarks: Specimens unequivocally of this subspecies were examined from South-West Africa and the Cape, cast to the Mocambique littoral, with no evidence from the available data of a preference for any particular sector of the Sub-Region. (b) Lanius collurio pallidifrons Johansen, 1952 (1944): Tomsk, Western Siberia, U.S.S.R. ¢g. As in nominate co//urio, but with the grey of the forehead lighter, often whitish (Pallid Neutral Gray [pl. liti]), merging to Light Neutral Gray (same pl.) on the crown, nape, neck and upper mantle, this sharply demarcated from the redder mantle and scapulars (close to Russet [pl. xv]). Tertials as in co/lurio. ®. Upper-parts rather lighter, slightly redder, less olivaceous, especially over the mantle and scapulars than in co//urio, and hind neck greyer (mantle and scapulars Sayal Brown [pl. xxix]). Ventrally about the same. Remarks: Originally identified from South Africa on the basis of a male taken at Riverton, Kimberley, northern Cape (Clancey [1961]), and later recorded from Olyvenhout Drift, near Upington, on the Orange R. by Winterbottom (1968) and “Quickborn” Farm, Okahandja, South-West Africa (identified specimen in Transvaal Museum not alluded to by Winter- bottom [1971]). Now established as almost certainly the most numerous of the three subspecies occurring within present limits, wintering largely in the Kalahari and peripheral xeric areas of the South West Arid District. Records are now available from the northern Cape, South-West Africa (Okahandja), Botswana, Rhodesia, the Transvaal (mainly dry western) and Natal (coast). There are also numerous records from Zambia, in which territory probably largely a transient to and from desertic areas further south. A typical example of pa/lidifrons from Kitale, Kenya, is in the collection of the South African Museum, Cape Town. The specimen concerned is 7th April, 1929, and was presumably on northbound migration when taken. | Vaurie (1959) records that both pad/idifrons and nominate co/lurio hybridize freely with L. ¢. phoenicuroides (Schalow), 1875: Chimkent, Russian Turkestan, where their ranges meet, though there is no evidence of any stage of this in South African material (of adult males, as well as sub-adults and adult females), and such interracial hybrids must winter within the Ethiopian non- breeding range of phoenicuroides, which is from L. Chad, east to south-western Arabia and Somalia, south in the east of Africa to Malawi (Livingstonia). Not south of the Zambesi R. (c) Lanius collurio kobylini (Buturlin), 1906: Kutais and Ssuran, Trans- caucasia, U.S.S.R. 3. Grey of head-top, hind and sides of the neck and upper mantle darker and bluer than in nominate co//urio (about Dark Gull Gray [pl. liii]), this frequently more extended caudad over the mantle; mantle and scapulars darker and more saturated, being deep vinous brown (Chest- nut Brown [pl. xiv]). Tertials darker, with the snuff brown generally restricted to the lateral outer vane, and the tip starkly white or buffish white in each feather when in a pristine condition. 95 ‘TAR 7 +> ey ese a TST ~ 26 JUN - 2. When freshly moulted much Gerke naccoils brown above than q collurio (mantle and scapulars Prout’s Brown [pl. xv]). Below with buffish or vinaceous tinge to’ ground, and reduced, often vestigial, squamation. ae ES Remarks: This tace appears to winter extensively in northern South-West Africa, and in the east in Rhodesia and Mocambique, south to Natal; it is relatively poorly represented in the samples from the northern Cape (1), Botswana and the western Transvaal, in which xeric region pal/idifrons pre- dominates. L. c. kobylini occurs commonly on passage in coastal Kenya, being the only race represented in the series from that area in the Durban Museum collection. Zambian records ave dated 21st March—8th April, suggesting its occurrence there is also that of a transient. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS For the loan of material to augment that in the Durban Museum, I acknowledge indebtedness to the South African Museum, Cape Town (Dr. J. M. Winterbottom), the Transvaal Museum, Pretoria (Mr. A. C. Kemp), the State Museum, Windhoek (Mr. P. J. Buys), and the National Museums of Rhodesia, Bulawayo (Mr. M. P. Stuart Irwin). I am also grateful to Pro- fessor Hans Johansen, formerly of the staff of the Zoologisk Museum, Copenhagen, for his assistance with these shrikes and for determining material submitted to him. Some two hundred adult males and a tather larger number of sub-adult males and females were studied during the course of this investigation. References: Benson, C. W. et a/. 1971. Birds of Zambia. London: 293. Clancey, P. A. 1961. The West Siberian race of the Red-backed Shrike in South Africa, Osc, 4.23) * 143. — 1966. A Catalogue of Birds of the South African Sub-Region, Durban Mus. Novit., 7 (12): 530, 531. McLachlan, G. R. & Liversidge, R. 1970. Roberts’ Birds of South Africa. Cape Town: 481. Moreau, R. E. 1972. The Palaearctic- African Bird Migration Systems. London and New York: 130-132. Ridgway, R. 1912. Color Standards and Color Nomenclature. Washington. S.A.O.S. List Committee, 1969. Check List of the Birds of South Africa. Cape Town: 272, 273. Vaurie, C. 1959. Birds of the Palearctic Fauna. London. 1 (Passeriformes) : 96-100. Winterbottom, J. M. 1968. Check List of the land and fresh water birds of the western Cape Province, 0." Ay7) Mas... 53° (0): 1232. — 1971. Preliminary Check List of the Birds of South West Africa. Windhoek: 215, 216. ADDENDUM Since the above report on Lanius collurio in the South African Sub-Region was prepared and submitted for publication, I have been able to study a recently obtained series of freshly moulted examples from Angola. Six J, two 99 in immaculate dress from Mocamedes (Bibala) and Huila (Chibemba [Gambos] and Cahama) taken between 19th February and 6th April (1967- 1970) are all unequivocal L. c. kobylini. These specimens have wings in jg 94-5 — 98, 99 94-5, 95-5 mm; weights Jf 27 — 32, 9 24, 25 gm. The dis- covery that L. c. kobylini winters in numbers in south-western Angola ties in with the finding enunciated above that it is the main race occurring in ~ northern South-West Africa, immediately south of Mocamedes and Huila. Iam grateful to Dr. A. A. da Rosa Pinto for the loan of the material in the ~ ES collection of the Instituto de Investigacado cientifica de Angola, Sa da Bandeira. A“ 96 CONTRIBUTORS Contributions are not restricted to members of the Club. They should be addressed personally to the Editor, C. W. Benson, Department of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge. Contributions are accepted on condition that sole publication is offered in the first instance to this Bu//etin. They should be type-written, double-spaced, with wide margins, on one side of the paper, and submitted in duplicate. References to literature should be in the same format as in the notice to contributors to the /bis (see any 1972 number). Considerations similar to those in the /bis notice also apply in regard to nomenclature, scientific names of species and genera, and illustrations including photographs. But illus- trations including photographs can only normally be considered if the contributor is willing to pay for the cost of their reproduction. Contributors introducing a new name or describing a new form should append nom. nov., sp. nov., subsp. nov. as appropriate. In such a description, the introduction of the name should be followed by paragraphs for ““Des- cription”, “‘Distribution”, ““Type’’, “Measurements of Type’, “Material examined” and further headings as required. Contributors are entitled to a maximum of ten free copies of the number of the Bulletin in which their contribution appears, provided that it exceeds one page of the Bulletin. Extra copies at cost price can be ordered through the Editor at the time of submission of the manuscript. BACK NUMBERS OF THE BULLETIN Orders or enquiries should be sent to Sir Hugh Elliott, 173 Woodstock Road, Oxford. Back numbers are supplied post free at 7op each for 1973 (vol. 93) and later issues and indices, at sop each for vols. 89-92, and at 25p each for pre-1969 issues. Unwanted back numbers returned to the above address are most gratefully received. MEMBERSHIP Membership of the Club is restricted to Members of the British Ornitho- logists’ Union. Members of the Union wishing to join the Club should inform the the Hon. Treasurer, P. Tate, c/o British Ornithologists’ Union, The Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, and send him a remittance for the current year’s subscription ({2.50). Members of the Club are sent the Bu//etzn gratis. Changes of address and other correspondence regarding membership should be sent to the Hon. Treasurer. SUBSCRIPTION ‘TO BULLETIN The Bulletin may be purchased by non-members annually for £3.50 (payable in advance) or per copy sop (index free), payable to the Hon. Treasurer. CORRESPONDENCE Other correspondence should be addressed to the Hon. Secretary, R. E. F. Peal, 24 Creighton Avenue, London N10 1NU. Published by the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB and printed by The Caxton and Holmesdale Press, 104 London Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club Edited by C. W. BENSON Volume 93 No. 3 September 1973 Committee Sir Hugh Elliott, Bt., 0.3.£. (Chairman) J. H. Elgood (Vice-Chairman) C. W. Benson, 0.3.E. (Editor) R. E. F. Peal (Hon. Secretary) P. Tate (Hon. Treasurer) J. H. R. Boswall Dr. P. J. K. Burton P. Hogg C. J. Mead Bulletin of the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Vol. 93 No. 3 Published: 20 September, 1973 The six hundred and eighty-third meeting of the Club was held at the Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, London, W.1., on Tuesday, 17th July, 1973 ae 7 p.m. Ni Bilin: Sir Hugh Elliott, Bt., o. -E., (present 12. members and four uests. as ree . Captain Collingwood Ingram read the communicatio ‘given below and exhibited down feathers of an Eider Somateria yollissima*. Mr. Robert Spencer gave an address on y Siskins in gardens, illustrated by slides. *“Fifty-three years ago, at one of the Club’s dinners (Bu//. Brit. Orn. Ci. 40, 1920: 121), I showed an exhibit which aroused so much interest that I thought some of you might like to see it. While on a visit to one of the more northern of the Orkney Islands I was able to examine a fully developed embryo of an Eider. It was in an egg which had been abandoned by the incubating bird when on the point of being hatched. The dead embryo was still wet from the viscous fluid of the egg’s albumen, and so had the usual bedraggled appearance of an unhatched chick. What at first sight seemed to be a clotted mass of wet hairs proved on close examination to be in fact the chick’s covering of down feathers, unrecognisable because every feather was enclosed in a protective sheath. Although the encased neossoptiles, or down feathers, each had about twenty barbs, these were so tightly compressed within the protective sheath that they looked more like single horse-hairs than feathers. When dry the integument of the protective sheaths becomes very friable, and in an incredibly short time after hatching it disintegrates from the bottom upwards, finally disappearing completely. Thus in a matter of minutes the erstwhile besodden and bedraggled object becomes trans- formed into a fluffy little duckling clothed all over in a dark blackish down”’. Migration of Motacilla alba alha by John Larmuth Received 13th April, 1973 During the last week of March 1962 I was on board the Adriatica Lines M.V. Esperia bound for Beirut, from Naples, via Alexandria. The second part of this voyage is on an approximately north-easterly course. At 19.30 hrs., when night had fallen and the ship was between 100-150 miles north of the Egyptian coastline, it was noticed, upon coming on deck, that the air within visible range of the ship’s lights was occupied by a dense flock of wagtails of the genus Moracilla flying parallel to the ship at a speed 2-3 knots greater than that of the ship (about 17 knots). It was estimated that a minimum of 5— 10,000 birds were passing the ship at any one time and that any one bird took about two minutes to pass from stern to bow. Birds were not observed returning to the neighbourhood of the ship once they had passed ahead into the darkness. Every available bit of deck space, and every perch was occupied by resting birds. The passage was observed until 02.00 hrs., when I retired to my cabin. oi In the morning no living birds were seen, but many thousands of dead Motacilla a. alba were being hosed into the scuppers during cleaning up operations. The total number of birds passing the ship during the time of this observa- tion may conservatively be estimated at 1,000,000. During flight, in the normal undulatory manner, it was noticed that large numbers of the birds in the lower part of the flock were flying into waves, when a water wave crest coincided with a flight trough. It is possible that the flock was flying at an unusually low height due to the presence of the ship. [K. D. Smith, to whom the above note was shown, has commented as follows: ‘“‘I cannot recall a published record of visual M. a/ba passage across the Mediterranean on such a vast scale, though there may be comparable observations in the literature. But it seems teason- able to suppose that after the desert crossing the migrants ran into strong, southerly khamsin winds, ‘... which constitute a special hazard to migrants. They blow with devastating violence, typically for periods of two or three days, and at their worst cause sand-storms.’ (Moreau, 1961. Ibis 103a: 386). Maybe exhaustion caused them to fly into the water, and it is difficult to account for the mortality other than turbulent conditions further south which may have prevented a landing on the coast of Egypt.” —Ed.] Wing moult of Ruddy Ducks in Manitoba by W. Roy Siegtried Received sth May, 1973 Two southern hemisphere stifftails, Oxyura australis and O. maccoa have been reported as moulting the remiges twice annually (Frith 1967; Siegfried 1970). This paper presents evidence for a similar double wing moult in a wild population of the northern hemisphere Ruddy Duck O. /. jamaicensis. . During May — August 1971 I collected Ruddy Ducks on their breeding grounds in south-western Manitoba, Canada. Seventy specimens were examined for moult. I also noted the presence or absence of wing moult ina large number of live Ruddy Ducks observed in the field. Additional, useful information was obtained from birds which had been live-trapped. TABLE 1 Numbers of male and female Ruddy Ducks replacing remiges. Totals of birds checked for ptesence or absence of wing moult are given in parentheses. May June July August I-15 16-31 I-15 16-30 I-15 16-31 I-15 16-31 O fo) fo) Oo Oo 4 21 9 (38) (59) (65) (42) (79) (47) (60) (22) ole) I fe) I fo) fo) fo) 2 Zz (43) (61) (31) (45) (62) (60) (61) (9) Two out of 22 specimens examined in the hand during the period 15th May to 15th June were found to have the bases of the fully grown primary shafts still encircled by remnants of the feather sheaths. In two of these birds, male and female both in full adult breeding plumage, the remnant sheaths extended 5—10 mm up the shafts of the distal primaries. The primary feathers of all specimens collected in May were fresh and immaculate. They appeared to have been newly acquired, probably in late-winter/early spring, and prior | to the birds’ arrival in early May in Manitoba. Two females, however, were 98 : | found to have developing, less than half-grown remiges. Clearly, these individuals must have commenced moulting the wings after having com- pleted the spring migration. One of these birds was first observed on 15th May, and the other individual was taken in a decoy trap on 9th June. This female was fitted with a beak marker. Subsequently, she made one attempt to breed, but lost the eggs to a predator. I consider these two cases, of birds moulting soon after arrival on the Manitoba breeding grounds, as atypical; and believe that the birds were first-year individuals which hatched relatively late in 1970 and/or in an area to the south of Manitoba. Table 1 shows that, commencing August the incidence of moult of the remiges was common, especially in males, in the population. Those males which were in the process of replacing their remiges were still in mainly bright breeding plumage. In summary, it appears that generally Ruddy Ducks breeding in Manitoba moult their wings in late-summer/early-fall before departing for their winter quarters where presumably they undergo a second wing moult in late-winter/ early-spring before migrating northwards. In a previous paper (Siegfried 1970), I could offer no explanation as to what the selective advantage of this remarkable double wing moult might be to the Oxyurini. I can add very little to this except to note that none of the Ruddy Duck specimens, including those collected in late summer, showed any obvious signs of hard wear on the remiges. By contrast, a male O. maccoa examined during its breeding cycle in the south-western Cape, South Africa, had its secondary flight feathers (nos. 1 — 6) worn down to about half their normal length. Wear of this kind presumably might result by frequent performance of display flights across water (see Johnsgard 1965, 1968 for descriptions of this behaviour). However, display flights occur less often in O. maccoa than in O. /. jamaicensis, though the season for their occurrence is considerably longer in individual O. maccoa (Siegfried unpubl.) Acknowledgements : The work was made possible by grants from the Delta Waterfowl Research Station, the Chapman Memorial Fund of the American Museum of Natural History, the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the University of Cape Town. I am grateful to these bodies for their support. The Canadian Wildlife Service gave permission for the taking of birds. References: Frith, H. J. 1967. Waterfowl in Australia, Sydney: Angus & Robertson. Johnsgard, P. A. 1965. Handbook of Waterfowl Behaviour. London: Constable. — 1968. Some observations on Maccoa Duck behaviour. Ostrich 39: 219-222. Siegfried, W. R. 1970. Double wing-moult in the Maccoa Duck. Wildfowl 21: 122. Numenius minutus, Falco subbuteo and Caprimulgus europaeus in the Seychelles by C. J. Feare Received 16th May, 1973 Among many migrant land and shorebirds recorded in the Seychelles in October, November and December 1972 were some new to the Malagasy Region. Three of these, Numenius minutus, Falco subbuteo and Caprimulgus europaeus, were identified from photographs by Messrs. C. W. Benson and 99 R. Wagstaffe. The photograph of IV. minutus was taken by Dr. R. J. Raines, while those of F. subbuteo and C. europaeus were taken by Mr. Guy Savy, and all of these have been deposited in the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge. These species all occurred on Bird Island, the northernmost island of the Seychelles archipelago. The N. minutus was first seen there on 14th October 1972, during my residence on the island, and I therefore had many opportunities of watching and filming the bird. According to Mr. Savy, it was still present in late December 1972. The F. subbuteo was found dying and the C. europaeus found dead in early December by Mr. Savy, who measuted the wing (flattened chord), bill (from feathers) and tarsus of each bird, and kindly sent photographs of them to me. The following details of these birds were obtained: Numenius minutus: Ln flight, this bird was immediately distinguishable from all other palaearctic shorebirds by its resemblance to a small, sandy-coloured Whimbrel NV. phaeopus, but completely lacking white on the rump and back. Its general appearance was of a warm sandy-buff coloured bird with darker brown markings, especially on the dorsal surfaces. It lacked the “deep-chested” appearance of a Whimbrel. At rest, it was much smaller than a Whimbrel, and also smaller than a Bar- tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica. It stood about as tall as a Grey Plover Squatarola squatarola but had a much slimmer build. The back and wings were creamy-buff spotted with dark brown. The tail was similarly marked, but the spots tended to form bars across the tail. The rump was the same colour as the back. The breast was sandy-buff, almost clear but lightly streaked with brown, especially on the sides. The belly and under tail coverts were a clear creamy-buff, and long creamy-buff feathers projected backwards from the top of the thigh. The superciliary stripes, a stripe down the centre of the crown, and the cheeks, were creamy-buff, much paler than in Whimbrels, while the rest of the crown and a mark between the superciliary stripe and the cheek were rich brown. The back of the head had a much more square appearance than in Whimbrels. The bill was comparatively short but down- curved; it was brown with a pink base, this being especially noticeable on the lower mandible. The legs were creamish-grey. When flushed the bird uttered a fairly faint but harsh croak, sometimes di- or tri-syllabic, in which case it resembled the beginning of a Whimbrel’s call. The only other call heard was a trill, which was given while Dr. Raines was stalking the bird in order to obtain photographs. It was always found in open country on the island, usually on the half- completed airstrip, but occasionally in grassy areas in the Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata colony. This species breeds in north-east Siberia and normally winters in Austra- lasia, and its appearance in Seychelles was probably a freak occurrence. Falco subbuteo: This bird was captured and photographed alive in early December 1972, but it subsequently died. The measurements obtained were: wing 265 mm, bill 14 mm, tarsus 26 mm. According to Mr. Benson the bird was an adult, and the wing length places it in the nominate race. Between October and April of the years 1971-72 and 1972-73 several unidentified falcons have been seen in the Seychelles. Benson & Penny (Phil. Trans. R. Soc. 260B, 1971: 515-516) have stressed the difficulties of identi- fying falcons on Aldabra, where they considered that most migrants were 100 probably attributable to F. e/eonorae or F. concolor. This may also be true of migrant falcons in the Seychelles, but F’. subbuteo may also occur regularly. Caprimulgus europaeus : This bird was found dead in early December 1972, and its measurements were as follows: wing 190 mm, bill 6 mm, tarsus 15 mm. In view of its dark colour and long wing Mr. Benson concluded that it was of the nominate race, and the absence of white on the outer rectrices and of white spots on the primaries indicated that this bird was a female. Subalpine and Grasshopper Warblers in Sierra Leone by G. D. Field Received roth May, 1973 Neither the Subalpine Warbler Sy/vza cantillans nor the Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia has hitherto been recorded wintering in the forest zone of West Africa. Moreau (1972) summarised the available information on the wintering grounds of S. cantillans as the borders of the southern Sahara eastwards to Lake Chad, with the most southerly record at about 11°N in Nigeria, while for L. naevia, apart from one record of L. n. straminea in Ethiopia, there are now several records of spring and autumn passage from the western Sahara between Morocco and Senegal, from which Moreau concluded “‘It is at least certain that many Grasshopper Warblers must winter in West Africa, presumably in a zone more humid than Senegal’’. It may, therefore, be of interest to record the occurrence of both species in Sierra Leone in the early months of 1973. On the evening of 1st February at 18.45 (almost dusk) I saw a small bird fly across a creek of the Sierra Leone River about eight miles south-west of Freetown at 13° 08’ W and 8° 21’ N. It disappeared into an isolated triangular patch of Avicennia mangroves, only a few yards thick, growing on a piece of waste land beside the jetty. Idly wondering whether it might be an Acro- cephalus warbler, I approached and caught a glimpse of a mantle so blue-grey that I was reminded of one of the grey Muscicapa flycatchers, but behaviour showed at once that it was a warbler. By walking slowly back and forth along the two landward sides of the mangrove thicket I was able to catch sufficient fleeting views to take an adequate description. The bird was not shy but extremely active, insect-hunting low down among the leaves, rarely more than two feet above the ground though often close to the edge. Often its progress could only be followed by the movements of the leaves as it worked through the bushes; once it made a little vertical flight up and down, flycatcher-like. I watched it until it became too dark for further observations _ and took the following description: upper parts blue-grey, particularly bright _ on the head, wings browner with pale feather edgings; a clear and striking _ white moustache streak; underside brick red or pinkish russet, becoming _ duller on belly, under tail coverts whitish. Beak dark, eye red (this would, in , ! _ fact, have been the eye-ring). The isolated occurrence of one Subalpine Warbler is not of great signifi- _ cance, though it is interesting that the habitat—_Avicennia mangroves—is the same as that recorded in the Gambia. By its very nature such a habitat is not _ easily searched for birds and there are vast areas between Gambia and Sierra | | Leone which could be frequented by the species without discovery. IOI The record of the Grasshopper Warbler is more interesting in that at | least two and possibly three individuals were concerned. I spent March 25th | to 29th at a small town, Njala Komboya, in central Sierra Leone, 11° 27’ W and 8° 12’ N, for the purpose of making a rapid bird survey of an area not previously visited. The country is remote and entirely rural. A barely | motorable road reaches Njala from the south and beyond are only footpaths to villages from which agriculture is practised on the basis of shifting culti- vation. It is an area of well-watered, often swampy, valleys and small hills | rising at their highest to 1,400 ft. a.s.l. All was once forested and patches of high forest remain, particularly around villages as ‘sacred bush’, as well as riverine forest along streams. The bush is cut and burnt for a season’s agricultural operations and then left to regenerate for several years, the | result being a thick and virtually impenetrable tangle. Other areas have been | taken over by grass and here a variety of savanna species have entered, there | resulting a typical mosaic of forest and derived savanna vegetation. I was at once struck by the richness of the bird fauna, particularly of | passerine palaearctic migrants: Sy/vza borin was extraordinarily abundant while Aippolais polyglotta and Acrocephalus scirpaceus were seen far mote often | than normally in Sierra Leone and I suspect that the birds were on passage | especially as the commonest migrant warbler Phy//oscopus trochilus was vit- | tually absent and had presumably already left. The Reed Warblers were | particularly interesting, seen not only in their normal wintering habitat of long, coarse grass but also in burnt vegetation and even thick bush. One north-facing hillside consisted at the top of thick, dry bush some 25 | feet high, on one side of the path newly felled. Down the slope there was a | patch of rocky deciduous forest, dominated by a few huge Cezba pentandra | trees, the smaller trees beneath almost bare and with little ground vegetation. | Below this was lusher thick bush up to 15 feet high and along the valley floor | ran a stream with a strip of dense riverine forest along its banks, the whole | slope being some five or six hundred yards long. On 28th March in mid morning a small warbler flicked across the path at the lower edge of the forest | patch and crept at great speed through the tangles. Though puzzled I could only assume that it was a Reed Warbler and as there was no hope of seeing | it again I ignored it. On 29th March at 8 a.m. in the thick bush just above the | stream, some two hundred yards further down, I flushed a small bird from on or near the ground close beside the path; it flew a few feet and then | skulked through the shrubs close to ground level and crept away. All I caught | was a glimpse of a brown upperside heavily spotted and noted “‘very grass- | hopper warbler-like’’. I waited for some time without seeing it again but a |~ few minutes after it had disappeared I heard a short, sharp, truncated burst |~ of reeling song, lasting only a few seconds, quite unlike anything previously |~ heard in Sierra Leone but reminding me at once of a Grasshopper Warbler. Two hours later on my way home I flushed another bird in the dry bush at the top of the hill, again from close beside the path. Because it was between | the path and the felled area the bird could only fly three or four yards from | me, where it stopped on a small branch two feet up and peered at me, dipping | forward and flicking from side to side in undecided fashion, later taking little |_ hops behind the leaves and stopping again to peer, sometimes craning right up to look at me over the leaves, appearing in such a posture almost pipit-like, | Finally, having made up its mind, it threaded its way quickly and efficiently |~ through the vegetation, coming in fact extremely close to me but most of the time lost to sight behind the thick foliage of a felled tree, and when I~ moved to keep pace with it it disappeared entirely. 102 Despite the fact that it was moving almost the whole time I had good views at close range and took the following description: general appearance distinctly smaller than Sy/za borin, slimly proportioned with a rather long and wedge-pointed tail, beak straight, neither pronounced like Acrocephalus scirpaceus nor curved like the C7sticola genus. When moving it crept hunched and mouselike, though when craning to look at me it stood quite tall. Whole bird rather pale olive-brown; head top finely streaked with no noticeable eye- stripe but a definite small circle of pale bare skin round the eye, mantle rather plain olive-brown with fewer spots but back and wings heavily spotted with dark brown, flight feathers dark. Tail plain brown with a slight suspicion when fluffed out of a pale outer edge. Underside: chin and belly whitish, breast pale olive-brown, faintly drop streaked, flanks and under tail coverts far more heavily streaked. Eye dark, beak upper mandible dark, lower rather bright yellow (it was difficult to be certain how the two colours combined, the impression being that most of the yellow was at the gape rather than the tip), legs rather bright pinkish flesh. The whole bird gave the appearance of being decisively coloured and newly moulted. There can be little reasonable doubt that two individuals were involved on 29th March and possibly a third on 28th March. That such a skulking bird should be seen twice in one morning suggests that it was locally abundant and this, in conjunction with the movements of other warblers in the area, suggests that some migratory movement was taking place. Reference: Moreau, R. E. 1972. The Palaearctic- African Bird Migration Systems. London & New York: Academic Press. Some calls and behaviour patterns of the Plumbeous and Rufous Pigeons by Derek Goodwin Received 21st May, 1973 INTRODUCTION _ In October and November 1972 I made some observations on Plumbeous _ Pigeons Columba plumbea in the Serra dos Orgaos National Park and in the Boraceia Forest Reserve, in south-eastern Brazil, and on a captive Rufous Pigeon C. cayennensis in a large aviary at the Belem Zoo. With the exception _ of the advertising coo of the Rufous Pigeon, the calls heard and behaviour _ patterns observed do not appear to have been described for these species. They are, therefore, given here and comparisons made with some other neotropical species (Goodwin 1964, Skutch 1964). In attempting to transcribe cooing sounds, I have, as previously (Goodwin 1956a, 1970) used 66 to indicate a sound similar to the oo in the southern | English pronunciation of the words “‘Rook’’, “cook” and “look”, and 66 for a longer sound similar to the oo in the words “boot”, “root” and “cool’”’. > The sketches are an attempt to give an impression of some of the postures described. They have no pretentions to art or detailed accuracy. THE PLUMBEOUS PIGEON At Serra dos Orgaos this species appeared widespread, although not very numerous, in tall, dense hill forest and relatively most abundant on areas of 103 high, rocky ground where the largest trees were, with a few exceptions, smaller in size, and where the trees were interspersed with large succulents and other shrubs. In this favoured habitat the nearest calling individuals appeared to be about 400 yards from each other. At Boraceia, where there was none of this rocky habitat in the hill forest where I observed it, the species appeared to be much less numerous and far more wary of man. At Serra dos Orgaos, most individuals permitted approach to within quite reasonable binocular range without concealment, and with a little stalking and wood- craft could sometimes be observed from very close quarters. In both places, however, the denseness of the vegetation often prevented me from seeing pigeons that were calling very close at hand. The most detailed observations were made at Serra dos Orgaos on 2Ist | and 25th October. Here the behaviour shown suggested that the pigeons | were probably starting their breeding season and that the majority of calling — individuals were males as yet unpaired, as they were usually alone. Further observations are needed to confirm this, as it is possible that there may have been undiscovered nests and, if so, that either the female sits for longer periods than is usual for those species of pigeons in which the share of the sexes in incubation is known, or that females of this species give the adver- tising coo in their “off duty”’ periods. Plumbeous Pigeons were seen feeding on only two occasions, once a | presumed pair and once a single bird, taking fruit from the canopy of smallish trees. Each bird satisfied itself in less than 15 minutes, which suggests that, at this period, these pigeons needed very little time to obtain food. | Voice: The advertising coo is a rather bubbly-sounding “ook, 60k06k, | 66k66”. Unlike most other pigeons whose voice is known to me, C. plumbea appeared never to repeat the advertising coo two or more times without | pause. One that I repeatedly timed took just under three seconds to utter the | cooing phrase and, when calling regularly, paused for five to six seconds | before calling again. At fairly close range the first note of the phrase was | usually distinct and sounded as loud as the rest but it appeared to carry less | well and at a distance the advertising coo often sounded four-syllabled. One | bird (only) omitted the first note on two occasions. It would, therefore, be | unsafe to assume that the number of syllables in the advertising coo could | alone distinguish this species from the related Ruddy Pigeon C. subvinacea, | whose advertising coo is described as four-syllabled (Skutch 1964). : As with other pigeons, there were individual differences in the advertising | coo that were usually only just noticeable when two birds were repeatedly | calling in sequence. Two individuals, however, habitually uttered more | noticeably divergent advertising coos: one had a hoarse tone in the final | “66” of the phrase, the other considerably lengthened and upwardly stressed | the final note. 1 sec. Copy of a sound spectograph, made by Dr. D. W. Snow, of the advertising coo of a Plumbeous Pigeon at Serra dos Orgaos. 104 | : | ; | The advertising coo of the Plumbeous Pigeon appeared to be given in situations comparable to those of other species (Goodwin 1956a, 1970). It was heard most often from a single bird perched alone in a tree, sometimes on a bare or partly bare terminal branch and sometimes within the canopy. Twice it was heard from individuals whose presumed mates were perched within a few feet of them and once from a bird sitting side by side with its mate, in physical contact. It was once heard given as an apparent contact call between two paired or pairing birds, and I noticed that the presumed female’s calls did not sound less loud or less musical than the presumed male’s. A single “cr6drr”, with a purring or snoring tone and very variable in loudness, was frequently heard but usually from birds that were out of sight. One bird, seen at close quarters, spent about ten minutes preening, then looked suddenly alert, uttered this call, gave it again about six seconds later and then started to utter the advertising coo. After a session of cooing it again preened, then flew to another perch nearby, gave the purring “cr6drr”’ twice, as before, and then again started giving the advertising coo. Later another individual uttered loud, repeated “crd6rrs”, interspersed with advertising coos. When I had got within sight of it, I saw the bird was alone on its perch. It then took wing, performed a display flight, and alighted elsewhere. On the morning of 11th November, at Boraceia, a Plumbeous Pigeon, “‘A’’, was heard giving the advertising coo from its perch at the top of a dead tree in dense hill forest; a second bird ,““B”’, appeared to be answering it with the same call from a large, bromeliad-covered tree about 400 yards away on the opposite slope (I was on a path between them). After about a minute, “A”’ flew and alighted on a mass of epiphytic growth on a bare tree top about so yards from the tree in which “B”’ was calling. As soon as “A” alighted there, “B” began to utter the purring “‘crddrr” note almost continuously. At intervals, for about seven minutes, “A” gave advertising coos and “B” uttered the purring calls, only breaking off on four occasions to give an advertising coo. Twice when it did so it omitted the first syllable of the phrase; there was no doubt about this as on the other two occasions when the “normal” advertising coo was uttered, the first note was loud and clear. mem x flew to “B’’, or at least to “B’’s close vicinity (I could not see them), and at once there were emphatic, repeated purring calls but no sound of fighting. It seemed therefore most likely that “A” had joined a mate Of prospective mate on a potential nest site and that, as well as being used as an alternative advertising coo, the purring or snoring “‘crddrr’”’ is also the nest call. In at least two other pigeons, the Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata, and the Picazuro Pigeon Columba picazuro, a call with a snoring or growling tone is used in both these contexts (Goodwin 1964, 1970). Some behaviour patterns: The display flight was seen only twice, although I think that under comparable conditions it would have been seen very many times from any of the European species of Columba or Streptopelia. 1 saw it first from a bird that for the previous 27 minutes had been perched on a bare terminal bough, uttering the advertising coo at the usual intervals. It sud- denly sleeked down its plumage, looked alertly about, then towered up at a steep angle in flapping flight, flattened out and flew at a slight downwards incline to another perch about 300 yards away, where it soon started calling again. The second display flight, seen from a bird (mentioned above) that had been uttering both the advertising coo and the purring call, was similar. 105 In neither case were there audible wing claps, such as occur in high intensity display flights of all other pigeon species whose display flights are known to me. Possibly these two display flights of C. plumbea that I saw were at low intensity but I had the impression that the situation was rather that in this species the threshold for performing the display flight was relatively high. It seems possible that this species may, in an evolutionary sense, be in process of losing this display. 1. Plumbeous Pigeon giving adver- 2. Plumbeous Pigeon in head back tising coo. phase of the flight-intention movement. = RS en L— oleh 2 x= eae i 3. Plumbeous Pigeon parading. 4. Rufous Pigeon nodding. When making flight-intention movements the Plumbeous Pigeon pulls its | head far back onto its shoulders and then throws it forward with a rather | circular motion. The movement is very similar to that of the Grey-fronted | Dove Leptotila rufaxilla, and the White-bellied Dove L. jamaicensis, and (if I | recall it rightly) identical to that of the Picazuro Pigeon. When a Plumbeous | Pigeon was alarmed by the sudden swooping of some swifts S/repsoprocne sp., | high overhead, it “‘froze”’ in the head-back first phase of this movement. | A Plumbeous Pigeon that was, I think, in sight of another (which I was | unable to see until I later flushed it) paraded in much the same manner as the Picazuro Pigeon (Goodwin 1964), striding to and fro on a horizontal bough with head lowered and rump feathers erected. 106 Preening and sunbathing movements were identical to those of other pigeons known to me. One bird, that was watched from above as it preened, sometimes had the rump feathers fully erected but the upper tail coverts quite flat. The uropygial gland was not thereby exposed as it is in comparable postures of gamebirds and passerines. I have not seen any pigeon make use of this gland when preening, as gamebirds, waterfowl and passerines so con- spicuously do, although some have claimed that C. /via sometimes does so. THE RUFOUS PIGEON Observations on the male in the Belem Zoo were made for short periods several times from 18th to 25th November. The bird was in good condition, very tame, and quite unafraid of being watched. The only other pigeons in the large aviary were a number of Grey-fronted Doves. The Rufous Pigeon made frequent sexual approaches to these but met with indifference or avoidance from most and active aggression from one of them. Voice: 1 transcribed the advertising coo as “‘66-66, c66k-cé6k, 66-66”. It was usually repeated from two to five times. The two shorter notes were always interspersed by only two longer ones; thus, if given twice the phrase would go ‘66-66, cddk-c66k, 66-66, c66k-c66k, 66-66”. The bird in- variably began and ended with two long notes. If allowance is made for slight differences of interpretation this transcription agrees well enough with those of Skutch (1964) and Belcher & Smooker (1936). A single, purring or snoring “‘cr6drr”’, very similar to that of the Plumbeous Pigeon, was sometimes given after or in intervals between uttering the ad- vertising coo. The display coo was a single slightly purring “‘cdér’’, re- peated at each bow. Some behaviour patterns: The bowing display was seen on only one occasion. It consisted of a deep bow, repeated several times. The bird’s head came to the level of, or possibly a little below the rather narrow metal rod on which it was perching. His tail went up as he bowed but both Dr. Snow and I had the impression that this was probably a compensatory balancing movement rather than an integral part of the display. The Rufous Pigeon was almost sideways on to and only slightly turned towards the Grey-fronted Dove to which he was displaying, but it is quite likely that the narrow perch prevented a more frontal display. What was obviously friendly nodding (Goodwin 1956b) was shown to- wards Grey-fronted Doves whenever one of the latter came within about four or five feet of the Rufous Pigeon. It was similar to the nodding of many old world Co/umba species except that the neck seemed to be thrown more forward at the start of the movement. At the culmination of each nod the bill Was at an angle of about 4o to 45 degrees from the substrate. Wing ruffling occurred suddenly between bouts of nodding. As with C. picazuro (Goodwin 1964) and the White-crowned Pigeon C. /eucocephala, it consisted of holding the slightly unfolded wings out from the body and making a quick vibrating movement with them, which produced a sharp rustling sound. This movement has also been recorded for the Spotted Pigeon C. maculosa (Russell 1913). The flight-intention movements were like those of C. plumbea except for being more leisurely. This difference was, I think, solely due to the fact that this Rufous Pigeon was only seen to give them when he was clearly not in the least afraid. 107 SUMMARY Some calls and behaviour patterns of the Plumbeous and Rufous Pigeons ate described. Both utter a call which is alike in the two species and similar to a probably homologous call of the Picazuro Pigeon. The flight intention movements of these three species are also closely similar, possibly identical. The Rufous Pigeon has a wing ruffling movement similar to those of the Picazuro and White-crowned Pigeons. References: Belcher, C. & Smooker, G. D. 1936. Birds of the Colony of Trinidad and Tobago. Part III. Ibis (6)13: 1-35. Goodwin, D. 1956a. Observations on the voice and some displays of certain pigeons. Avicult. Mag. 62: 17-23, 62-70. — 1956b. The significance of some behaviour patterns of pigeons. Bird Study 3: 25-37. — 1964. Some calls and displays of the Picazuro Pigeon. Condor 66: 418-422. — 1970. Pigeons and doves of the world. 2nd ed. London: Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.). Russell, W. S. H. (Marquess of Tavistock). 1913. Foreign doves at liberty. Avicult. Mag. (5)3: 123-132. Skutch, A. F. 1964. Life histories of Central American pigeons. W7/son Bull. 76: 211-247. The breeding of the Madagascar Banded Kestrel by J. F. RB. Colebrook- Robjent Received 25th May, 1973 The Banded Kestrel Falco xoniventris is confined to Madagascar. There are five Falco species on the island of which three are residents; the other two breed- ing falcons are FP. n. newtoni and F’. peregrinus radama. The Banded Kestrel is stated by Rand (1936) to be distributed from sea level to 1,000 m in the forests of the Humid East, etc. “About Maroantsetra and Andapa (i.e. in the north-east of Madagascar) it was fairly common, but was rare elsewhere”. Brown & Amadon (1968) summarise what little is known about this falcon, and state under breeding habits that nothing is recorded. The following is taken from my notes made during a recent seven-week trip to Madagascar. | However, the period covered by this paper is from 5th to 26th September 1972 when I was in the northern Humid East. Locality, Altitude and Habitat: The area is the Manantenina River system. From the Bekuna Stream, outside the eastern boundary of the Reserve | Naturelle de Marojejy, the valley follows the Bangwabe which runs into the Manantenina River near Mandeny Village. The village of Manantenina is | situated where the river of that name joins the Lokoho, about three miles down | river from Mandeny. This area lies in the Prefecture of Sambava, Province | of Diego Suarez, and is 50 to 100 metres a.s.1. The valley bottom is mostly cultivated with vanilla, coffee, rice, bananas, and coconuts, interspersed with second-growth and strips of remnant forest. The crests of the flanking ridges | ate still partially covered with degraded rain forest. General: This falcon is usually referred to as a kestrel and its nearest relatives are assumed to be the aberrant kestrels F'. dickinsoni and FP. ardosiaceus, both of Africa (Brown & Amadon 1968). The same authorities, following Swann (1924-1936), state that this species is uncommon. But Rand’s quoted statement more accurately reflects the status of this bird in the Manantenina area. The Banded Kestrel was certainly “fairly common” in this valley, the Madagascar Kestrel F. newtoni being very common. It was never seen to 108 hover (it apparently does so rarely), but neither was the more “‘typical”’ kestrel newfoni ever seen to hover. As Rand states, it remains perched on dead branches for long periods. Voice: ‘““A sharp scream and a chattering ‘kek-kek-kek’” (Brown & Amadon). In my experience it gave a low call or was often silent, but as it often perched in trees above running water it is possible that its call was not heard on some occasions. I was watching a pair of these falcons on 6th September at Manantenina. They were feeding on small reptiles (probably chameleons) on the exposed bare branches of A/bizxia trees. After picking off some small prey from a branch one of these birds uttered a faint “‘tck-tck- tck-tck-tck” opening its mouth wide as it did so, each note being rendered at intervals of more than a second. I then lost sight of the bird, but could still hear it “tcking”’. I eventually spotted the bird again. It had entered a thickly foliaged large tree, still “tcking’, and was making its way slowly down towards a large basin-shaped epiphyte growing on a lateral branch. It then dropped down into the centre of the epiphyte and briefly shuffled about before hopping out and starting again to “tck’’. It then repeated the per- formance over again. See also under Breeding. Food: Brown & Amadon noted that the principal food items are insects and small reptiles (including chameleons) and also some birds, the former being taken both on the ground and in vegetation. All certainly identified prey noted by me was chameleons taken from trees. In the crop of one speci- men collected was a small chameleon in six pieces; in the stomach were the remains of another chameleon. All prey was collected from vegetation, usually high up on the upper branches of bare A/bizzia or other leafy trees. This falcon has acute eye-sight. After perching immobile for some time they suddenly take off with a rapid flight and swoop up into the foliage of trees 200 Of more metres away and return with a chameleon. Once a bird plunged perhaps 100 metres into very thick-foliaged rain forest appearing seconds later with its usual prey. Unlike most falcons, the Banded frequently enters thick vegetation. Chameleons are placed securely in a small fork of a branch the head being eaten first. If caught by the male the remainder of the prey is then frequently offered to the female who eats it from the neck to the tail. Fifteen minutes or more is taken to finish one chameleon, after which the bird remains perched for perhaps 20 minutes with only the occasional slight digestive head-bobbing. Breeding: As stated earlier nothing has been recorded. F. dickinsoni breeds usually in Borassus and other palms, sometimes in the domed nests of the Hamerkop Scopus umbretta, and once in a hole in an iron bridge (Brooke & Howells 1971). F’. ardosiaceus commonly utilises Hamerkop’s nests, also old nests of other birds and holes in trees (Brown & Amadon). Although the Hamerkop is common in Madagascar, I did not see these birds or their conspicuous nests in the Manantenina-Marojejy area. After Witnessing the remarkable behaviour previously noted (see Vozce) I sus- pected that epiphytes (which were very common) would be used by zoniventris “a breeding, but it was not until 24th September that this was proved to be the case. On that date I was investigating the nest-hole of a pair of Madagascar Kestrels in a copse of remnant (degraded) forest near the Bangwabe River. A Banded Kestrel was seen to be perched high up on a dead tree at the edge of forest on a nearby ridge. I had taken the precaution of posting a boy as a look-out while I was engaged in climbing to the wewtoni nest. After changing its perch twice the boy signalled that the falcon was heading towards me. It 109 flew swiftly and low towards the copse, entering very low and suddenly swooping up into the fork of a large and tall forest tree. It immediately disappeared from sight in a large epiphyte. Unseen by me there was a second bird already there and in less than a minute one of these falcons left the tree, stooping in a low, circular dive and out of sight. Soon after, the remaining bird (which was the female) dived off the epiphyte and swooped up to the upper bare branches of another tree. This bird was then promptly offered a small chameleon by the male which suddenly appeared with it. The birds remained close together for a while when the male, without apparent warning and with quivering wings, mounted the female for over five seconds. During the act the female kept up a not very audible but high- pitched “kik-kik-kik*‘. After this the male flew off, directly over me (I was not hidden), twisting away in characteristic rapid flight. It was seen to catch another chameleon and settle inconspicuously in a nearby leafy tree. Fifteen minutes later, the female returned to the epiphyte, standing in full view in the middle of it and then slowly disappearing inside. I climbed up a neatby tree and was able to look down into the epiphyte. The falcon then stood up and departed revealing a fairly deep empty scrape at one side of the bare, earthy interior. The following day I returned to the copse. At mid-day one of the Mada- gascat Kestrels flew to the Banded Kestrels’ nest site, but was quickly chased off by the female Banded which had been perched unseen nearby. The Banded then settled on the epiphyte and rotated several times on the scrape. It was also seen to peck about rather lethargically in the area of the scrape. Most of the time it simply crouched or stood up in the interior or outside on _ the leaves of the parasitic plant. About 30 minutes later the female flew off and did not return for over an hour. One of the pair was later seen soaring over the site, in bright sunlight, rather quickly in broad circles. This was probably a form of display as it is quite uncharacteristic of normal behaviour. From below the body appeared dark as did the under wing coverts; con- trasting with the pale brown and faintly barred primaries and heavily barred tail. Later, in the same afternoon, a second nest site further up river was investigated. This had been found by Michel Rakotonirina, my interpreter, earlier that morning. This site was a broad epiphyte 13 metres up on the | trunk of a large forest tree standing almost alone in a line of trees and bushes | along a stream running into the Bangwabe. As we approached the male was | seen perched nearby on a branch of a dead tree. Although I had frequently | used a nearby track I had only once before noted a Banded Kestrel in this | area. Rakotonirina reported seeing one of these birds fly to the epiphyte and | later leave it to alight on the nearby dead tree where mating took place. One of my Malgache guides then climbed the tree. As he was about to reach the epiphyte the falcon rather slowly hopped out onto the first branch | and flew off without a protest. The climber reported a shallow empty scrape | in the centre of the epiphyte. | In the case of a third record, no precise nest site was located before I had to leave the area on 26th September. On that date a male Banded Kestrel | was seen perched on the bare upper branches of an A/bizzia just above the path leading to (and just outside) the village of Manantenina. This area is less than 100 metres from where the incident described under Voice took place. However, the falcons had not been seen again in the former area. There is no | true forest here, but a few large trees (mostly A/bizzia) stand about the | vanilla and coffee plantations. As I watched, the male was joined by the larger | IIo female when she was presented with a chameleon and soon after mounted for less than five seconds. This female was later collected and proved to be in breeding condition. The oviduct appeared to be swollen, the largest ovum measuring 9 mm. From the foregoing it would appear that clutches would not be completed before the end of September or early October. Epilogue: On 23rd October the tree at the second site was climbed by the same Malgache guide as before. The nest then held three eggs of which two were broken; all heavily incubated. Hery Christophe, the Forest Guard, forwarded the remaining egg to me. It is yellowish, rather evenly speckled and stippled with light yellowish-brown, the markings tending to be darker brown on the broader end. The dull and yellowish markings are probably due to the length of incubation. The egg measures 42°8 xX 33:7 mm. The average of 48 eggs of the much smaller F. newton is given as 35 °8 Xx 28:8 mm (Brown & Amadon). Summary: Three pairs of the Madagascar Banded Kestrel Falco zoniventris were studied in north-east Madagascar during two weeks in September. Pre- egg-laying behaviour and nesting sites are recorded for the first time, together with the first known egg of this falcon. Acknowledgements: My thanks are primarily due to Professor Charles Sibley, of Yale University, for enabling me to visit Madagascar and for many other kindnesses, not least for criticizing a preliminary draft of this paper. I was helped in the field by Jali Makawa (a wonderful companion), Michel Rako- tonirina (my interpreter) and Hery Christophe (and his two able assistants, Robeson and Tizzy Antoin, who collected the egg of the Banded Kestrel). Others who have helped in several ways are C. W. Benson, R. J. Dowsett, P. Griveaud, and R. Wagstaffe. J. M. Andriamampianina, Chef des Eaux et Forets, was particularly helpful in granting permits and in many other ways. References: Brooke, R. K. & Howells, W. W. 1971. Falcons at Birchenough Bridge, Rhodesia. Ostrich 2: 142-143. Bian, Ber. &e Amadon, D. 1968. Eagles, hawks and falcons of the world. London: Country Life Books. Rand, A. L. 1936. The distribution and habits of Madagascar birds. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 72(5): 143-499. Swann, H. K. 1924-36. Monograph of the birds of prey. London: Wheldon & Wesley. A teview of the Boat-billed Heron Cochlearius cochlearius by Robert W. Dickerman Received 29th March, 1973 The relationship of the Boat-billed Heron Coch/earius cochlearius at the sub- familial, familial and tribal levels within the order Ciconiiformes has recently been discussed by Bock (1956), Cracraft (1967) and Dickerman (1971), but the subspecific variation within the species has not been reviewed since the description of C. c. panamensis Griscom (1926). During the course of investi- gations on the possible role of birds in the ecology of arboviruses in Mexico and Guatemala, and on the nesting biology of Coch/earius in Mexico (Dicker- man & Juarez 1971; Juarez & Dickerman 1972), series of Boat-billed Herons have been collected that, together with the limited amount of material already available in museum collections, have permitted this review of the Mexican and Central American populations. Measurements were recorded to the nearest millimetre (Table). FIGURE Distribution of the races of Cochlearius cochlearius in Mexico and Central America. Open squares, zeledoni; circles, phillipsi; triangles, ridgwayi (open triangles, localities reported in Dickey & Van Rossem 1938); squares, panamensis; hexagon cochlearius. Localities with vertical lines are type localities. Hatched region represents intergrade zone panamensis X ridgwayi. TABLE Measurements in millimetres of adult Boat-billed Herons from Central America, with mean and standard deviation Males wing chord tail tarsus exposed culmen East Coast Mexico 265-296 (281-9) 110-122 (114-8) 72-87 (79-9) 78-92 (85:2) SD 7:8 n=28 SD 3:5 n=28 SD 3:2 n=29 SD 3:3 n=29 West Coast Mexico S. to 259-273 (269-6) 102-110 (106-6) 71-83 (79:4) 78-88 (83-7) Isthmus of Tehuantepec SD 3:3 n=14 SD 2:2 n=14 SD 3:0 n=16 SD 2-8 n=16 Pacific coastal Chiapas (Mexico), 262-283 (271-5) 105-114 (110-1) 71-83 (79:2) 78-87 (83:6) Guatemala and Honduras SD 6:6 n=16 SD 3:3 n= 16 SD 3-1n=14 SD3:9n=14 Females East Coast Mexico 268-281 (274-7) 108-116 (111-8) 71-81 (74-7) 72-84 (78:2) SD 4:5 n=15 SD 2:5 n=16 SD 2:6 n=15 SD 3:9 n=16 West Coast Mexico S. to 258-273 (264-6) 100-107 (104-0) 73-78 (75:4) 76-82 (78:6) Isthmus of Tehuantepec SD 4:4 n=10 SD 3:4n=10 SD 1-9 n=10 SD 1:8 n=10 Pacific coastal Chiapas (Mexico), 255-274 (268-3) 105-116 (109-4) 66-78 (73-1) 72-81 (76-7) Guatemala and Honduras SD 3:0 n=19 SD 3:2 n=14 SD 2:7 n=14 SD 6:9 n=14 Cochlearius cochlearius zeledoni Cancroma xeledoni Ridgway (1885). Type locality, Mazatlan, State of Sinaloa, Mexico. Diagnosis: Pale “lavendet’’ grey dorsally, forehead usually whitish, washed with pale-grey or buff: wing and tail shorter than in the birds of the Gulf coastal lowlands of Mexico. Range: Pacific coastal areas of Mexico from Mazatlan, Sinaloa, south at least to the Rio Papagallo, Guerrero (see Figure). | Cochlearius cochlearius phillipsi new subspecies Type: Adult male no. 803,080 American Museum of Natural History, collected ca. eight km east of Atasta, State of Campeche, Mexico, 13th Feb- ruaty 1966 by Robert W. Dickerman (original field number RWD 13,677). feestes 27 < 13 atid 23 xX 13 mm. Diagnosis: Similar to ze/edoni but much larger (Table); paler on chest and sides of neck than the population of the Pacific lowlands of Chiapas and Central America. Range: Gulf and Caribbean coastal zone of Mexico from La Pesca, State of Tamaulipas, south to Belize. Probably intergrades with the next form in the Caribbean lowlands of Guatemala from whence no material is available. It is a pleasure to name this form in honour of Dr. Allan R. Phillips who is so generous in sharing with others his knowledge of the Mexican avifauna. Cochlearius cochlearius ridgvayi new subspecies Type: Adult male no. 134, 122 Carnegie Museum, collected at Coyoles, Department of Yoro, Honduras, on 17th June 1950 by Arthur C. Twomey and Roland W. Hawkins (original field number 14,293). Noted as “‘breeding”’, “TGE” (testes greatly enlarged). Diagnosis: Similar dorsally to ze/edoni but breast a richer, deeper, vinaceous; much paler throughout than panamensis. Averages smaller than phi//ipsi but larger than ze/edoni. The breeding birds of the Pacific coastal area of Chiapas (and those of adjacent Guatemala), while showing the subspecific characters, average slightly paler than Honduras specimens. Range: Pacific coastal areas of State of Chiapas, Mexico; Guatemala; and at least the Caribbean lowlands of Honduras. The range of ridgwayi is disjunct from the southern part of the range of ze/edoni by approximately 450 km in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region. On the Caribbean lowlands there is a sharply-stepped cline between Belize and the type locality of r7dgvayi. Un- fortunately no adult specimens are available from the intervening coastal tegion of Guatemala. Locality records for El Salvador from whence no specimens were examined are taken from Dickey & Van Rossem (1938). This form is named with respect for Mr. Robert Ridgway whose works form the backbone of American ornithology. Cochlearius cochlearius panamensis Cochlearius cochlearius panamensis Griscom (1926), type locality Corozal, Canal Zone. Diagnosis: Much darker, more olive above than the clear grey of the northern races; also more olive, less vinaceous, on sides of neck. Range: Costa Rica: Boca Rio Matima, Limon, Boca Mala, Puntarenas (Hellmayr & Conover 1948); intergrades with ridgwayi in Guanacaste. Panama: throughout Republic except southwestern Darien (Wetmore 1965). Unfortunately this form is exceedingly poorly represented in collections. I have seen only six specimens that I consider to be adult. Cochlearius cochlearius cochlearius Cancroma Cochlearius Linnaeus (1766), type locality Cayenne. Diagnosis: Adult, very much paler grey dorsally and on sides of neck, upper breast and all of foreneck pure white. Immature, back and wing coverts richer cinnamon than Central American forms. 113 Range: South America in suitable habitat from extreme southern Panama south to northern Argentina. To date I have not studied South American specimens of the Boat-billed Heron and follow other authors in considering them all to represent the nominate form. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author wishes to acknowledge the authorities of Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica for scientific permits to collect birds in their respective Republics. Specimens collected in Costa Rica were taken during field exer- cises with the Organization of Tropical Studies. Curators of the following collections kindly loaned material or provided access to collections in their care: American Museum of Natural History; Carnegie Museum; Museum of Zoology, Louisiana State University; Museum of Comparative Zoology (Harvard); Robert T. Moore Collection (Occidental College); United States National Museum; and the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology. The reseatch was supported in part by U.S. Public Health Service Research Grant AJ-6248 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Dr. Kenneth C. Parkes kindly reviewed the manuscript, and his suggestions have been incorporated in the paper. References: Bock, W. J. 1956. A generic review of the family Ardeidae (Aves). Amer. Mus. Novit. 1779. Cracraft, J., 1957. On the systematics of the Boat-billed Heron. Auk 84: 529-533. Dickerman, R. W. 1971. Systematic position of the Boat-billed Heron, in Dickerman, R. W. & Juarez (1971). Dickerman, R. W. & Juarez, L., C. 1971. Nesting studies of the Boat-billed Heron, Coch- learius cochlearius at San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico. Ardea 59: 1-16. Dickey, D. R. & Van Rossem, A. J. 1938. The birds of El Salvador. Zool. Series, Field. Mus. Nat. Hist. 23. Griscom, L. 1926. Ornithological results of the Mason-Spinden expedition to the Yucatan. I. Introduction, birds of the mainland of eastern Yucatan. Amer. Mus. Novit. 235. Hellmayr, C. E. & Conover, B. 1948. Catalogue of birds of the Americas. Zool. Series, Field Mus. Nat. Hist. 8, part 1, no. 2. Juarez, L., C. & Dickerman, R. W. 1972. Nestling development of Boat-billed Herons (Cochlearius cochlearius) at San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico. W7/son Bull. 84: 456-468. Linnaeus, C. 1766. Systema naturae. Ed. 12(1): 233. Ridgway, R. 1885. Description of a new species of Boat-billed Heron from Central America. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 8: 93-99 Wetmore, A. 1965. The birds of the Republic of Panama. I. Tinamidae (Tinamous) to Rhynchopidae (Skimmers). Sviths. Misc. Coll. 150. Composite nest of Short-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus ferox by P. J. K. Burton Received 7th May, 1973 During January to April 1972, I accompanied the British-Trans Americas Expedition on its vehicle crossing of the Darien Gap (Eastern Panama and North-western Colombia). On 26th March, I was at La Lomas de Rumie, a spur of high ground jutting out into the Atrato swamp near the Rio Perancho. Walking along an isolated rough road bordering the swamp, I observed a Short-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus ferox carrying nest material. Through watching the bird, I quickly located the nest which was about 12 feet above 114 the ground in a crevice of a low cliff flanking the road on one side. By scram- bling up, I was able to inspect the nest site, and was surprised to find a composite structure containing three nest cups. One of these held four eggs, one held one egg, and the third appeared to be still under construction. The whole structure was composed largely of mammal fur, with snakeskin around the edges of the cups. Apparently only one bird was visiting it. This was eventually collected, and proved to bea female in breeding condition, though with no egg in the oviduct. The composite nest and eggs were also collected. During a fall three of the eggs were broken. However, these, as well as the two surviving eggs (both from the c/4) were all fresh and unincubated. Bird, eggs and nest are now in the collections of the British Museum (Natural History). The genera Myzarchus and Myiodynastes are known to lay somewhat larger clutches than the majority of tropical Tyrannidae, a fact which has been linked with their hole-nesting habits by Lack (1968: 174). However, a composite nest of this type must surely be exceptional; it is unfortunate that it was not possible in the available time to discover how many birds were involved. Reference: Lack, D. 1968. Ecological adaptations for breeding in birds. London: Methuen. Re-identification of Ra/lus pectoralis deignani by S. Dillon Ripley & Storrs L. Olson Received 16th May, 1973 The description of the race Ra/lus pectoralis deignani (Ripley, 1970, Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 23: 367-368) from Celebes was of particular interest as the species pectoralis was not previously known from that island and because deignani was subsequently cited as providing a link between Ra//us pectoralis of Flores, New Guinea, and Australia, and A. mirificus of Luzon (Mayr, 1971, Journ. Ornith. 112: 302-316). In our independent studies of the Rallidae, we have had cause to re-examine the type and only specimen of dezgnani and fear that we must report that it is actually an aberrant individual of Ra/lus striatus—a species already known from Celebes. As was noted in the original description, the type of dezgnani differs from normal striatus in lacking the white barring in the primaries that is charac- teristic of that species, and in this respect it does resemble pectoralis. However, the degree of this barring is quite variable in striatus and the bars may be broad, narrow, or sometimes reduced to disconnected spots. In one specimen from Ceylon examined by Olson (American Museum of Natural History No. 545053), the barring was almost absent. The type of deignani, which is an immature, thus represents an extreme in this occasional trend towards the reduction of barring. It does preserve, however, the regularly spaced white bats in the outer web of the outermost primary, ‘which are typical of striatus (in pectoralis the white markings on the outer web of the outer primary are thin, irregularly spaced spots along the very edge). The specimen is larger than most subspecies of pectoralis, except the nominate Australian form, and has a stouter bill and somewhat more extensive white dorsal spotting than pectoralis. In these respects it also agrees with striatus. Rallus pectoralis deignani thus becomes a synonym of Ra//us striatus striatus Linnaeus and the species pectoralis must be removed from the Celebes list. LS Migrant Pernis apivorus in the Indonesian Archipelago by C. M. N. White Received gth June, 1973 Vaurie (1965: 147-149) treats the west palearctic Pernis apivorus, which win- ters in Africa, and the east palearctic and tropical Asian P. pilorhynchus as separate species, thus following Stresemann (1940, Archiv. f. Naturgesch. 9: 137-193). Brown & Amadon (1968: 220-227) treat these taxa as conspecific. The latter are followed here. Finsch (1901, Notes Leyden Mus. 22: 241) listed an immature collected by Schadler on 8th December 1897 at Kisar, an island east of Timor, as P. ptilorhynchus. The specimen is still in the Leiden Museum, and Dr. G. F. Mees reports that it agrees with immatures of east palearctic orientalis wintering in Java. This record has been ignored in statements of the winter range of orientalis in recent literature, and probably since Finsch published the original record. It extends the winter range of this form, at least casually, far to the east, and indicates that casual migrants might even reach north-west Australia. Hartert (1896, Nov. Zool. 3: 177) also reported Pernis sp. from Saleyer, south of the Celebes, a female with a moulting wing measuring 440 mm, which he thought agreed with Malaysian ptilorhynchus. It is certainly much too large for the Celebes species, P. ce/ebensis. Stresemann (op. cit.) identified it as orientalis but otherwise the record has been ignored. These records from Saleyer and Kisar bring migrant Eurasian honey buzzards east of Wallace’s Line, and add another species to the comparatively few palearctic migrants east of that line (my tentative total of traced species is only 78). Dr. G. F. Mees of the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden, Netherlands, has kindly verified the details of the Kisar bird, and incidentally ~ pointed out the Saleyer record again. I am most grateful to him. References: Brown, « & Amadon, D. 1968. Eagles, hawks and falcons of the world. London: Country Life Books. Vaurie, C. 1965. The birds of the palearctic fauna. INon-passeriformes. London: H. F. & G. Witherby. Non-passerine bird weights from Panama and Colombia by P. J. K. Burton Received 7th May, 1973 Several recent papers (e.g. Britton 1970; Colston 1971, 1972) have supplied weight data for a wide range of African birds, but comparatively little has been published on the weights of neotropical birds. The best source is probably Haverschmidt (1968), though Collins (1972) has provided some data from Venezuela, and Snow & Snow (1963) from Trinidad. This paper presents the weights of non-passerine birds collected during the Darien phase of the British Trans-Americas Expedition, 1971-2, and follows the same format as Colston (1971, 1972). The specimens were all preserved in fluid as anatomical material, and most are now in the collections of the British Museum (Natural History); some were given to the Gorgas Memorial Laboratory, Panama City. Since most of the birds have been preserved intact, sex is given only for species showing clear cut sexual differences in external features. A number of specimens have, however, been made into skeletons, 116 | and these have been sexed by dissection; this is indicated in the text. All weights were taken immediately after death using Pesola balances, and all are given in grammes. Nomenclature follows Wetmore (1965, 1968); some taxonomic problems are noted in the text. A few of the birds included here are wintering nearctic species. In all, 163 weights of 79 species are listed. A future paper will present similar data for the passerines collected. Co-ordinates for the localities mentioned are as follows: C.I.M. (Military Instruction Centre, near Pacora), 9° 8’ N., 79° 15’ W.; Rio Espave (Bayano Valley), 9° 15’ N., 78° 45’ W.; La Palma, 8° 24’ N., 78° 9’ W.; Jaque, 7° 29’ N., meee io: jadue, 7 30° N., 73° 5’ W.; El Real, 8°'7’ N., 77° 45° We; Pinogana (Rio Tuira), 8° 8’ N., 77° 39’ W.; Boca de Paya (Rio Tuira), 7 50 N77 32 W.; Rio Paya, approximately 7° 56’ N., 77°27 W.; Cerro Pirre, 7° 57’ N., 77° 45’ W.; Sautata (lower Atrato valley), 7° 51’N., 77° 8’ W.; Cienagas de Tumarado (Atrato swamp), approximately 7° 50’ N., 76° 58’ W.; Rio Perancho (Atrato swamp), approx. 7° 43’ N., 77° 10’ W. The three last localities are in Colombia, the remainder in Panama. Podilymbus podiceps: 300, Rio Jaque, February. : Podiceps dominicus: 126, Rio Perancho, March. Anhinga anhinga: 2 (diss.) 1,500, Cienagas de Tumarado, March. Butorides virescens: 205, Jaque, February. Florida caerulea: 400, Rio Jaque, February. Aydranassa tricolor: 335, La Palma, February. Nyctanassa violacea: 635, 670, 680, 685, 710, La Palma, February. Tigrisoma lineatum: 815, Rio Paya, February; 755, imm. 725, El Real, March Sarcoramphus papa: 3,200, Boca de Paya, February. Coragyps atratus: 1,700, Pinogana, February. Cathartes aura: 1,400, Rio Espave, January. Elanoides forficatus: 420, Rio Perancho, March. Rostrhamus sociabilis: imms. 340, 365, 370, Cienagas de Tumarado (1) and Rio Perancho (2), March. Buteo platypterus: imm. 350, Rio Espave, January. Buteo magnirostris: 253, 265, 247, El Real, February/March; 242, 278, Boca de Paya, February. Busarellus nigricollis: 975, Rio Perancho, January. Buteogallus urubitinga: imm. 1,200, Rio Paya, February. Buteogallus anthracinus: 1,200, Boca de Paya, February. This bird belongs to the larger nominate race. The race B. a. bangsi, together with other smaller forms charac- teristic of Pacific coastal mangroves, may be separable as a distinct species, B. subtilis (see discussion in Wetmore 1965). Her petotheres cachinnans: 575, Boca de Paya, February. Milvago chimachima: 395, Rio Perancho; 365, Sautata, March. Daptrius americanus: 490, Boca de Paya, February; 505, Cerro Pirre, March. Ortalis cinereiceps: 495, El Real, March. This species is treated by de Schauensee (1966) as a race of O. garrula. Aramides cajanea: 440, El Real, March. Laterallus albigularis: 41, El Real, March. Jacana jacana: 109, 133, El Real, March. Belonopterus chilensis: 3 (diss.) 280, El Real, March. Charadrius wilsonia: 53, 53, 53, 54, La Palma, February. Tringa flavipes: 79, El Real, March. Tringa solitaria: 50, Boca de Paya, February. Actitis macularia: 32, La Palma, February. Catoptrophorus semipalmatus: 233, 240, 282, 284, La Palma, February. Ereunetes mauri: 21+7, 22°9, 25:0, La Palma, February. Chiidonias niger: 37, 39, Jaque, February. Columba nigrirostris: 236, La Palma, February. Columbina talpacoti: 48, 50, La Palma, February; 51, El Real, February. Columbina minuta: 30, C.I.M., January; 30, Sautata, March. Claravis pretiosa: $ 73, Boca de Paya, February. Leptotila verreauxi: 146, El Real, February. Leptotila cassinii: 144, Rio Espave, January; 174, Rio Jaque, February. 117 Amazona ochrocephala: 405, Sautata, March. Piaya cayana: 102, C.I.M., January; 120, Jaque, February; 124, El Real, February. Piaya minuta: 35, El Real, March. Crotophaga major: 144, 149, Cienagas de Tumarado, Match. Crotophaga ani: 119, 130, La Palma, February; 94, 99, 109, Rio Jaque, February; 104, 118, imm. 59, El Real, March. Crotophaga sulcirostris: 70, C.I.M., January. Pulsatrix perspicillata: 885, Jaque, February. Chordeiles acutipennis: 3 57, $ 71, 2 57, Sautata, March. Nyctidromus albicollis: 3 53, 2 50, El Real, March. Glaucis hirsuta: 5-9, C.I1.M., January; 5-2, 5:2, 7-1, Rio Espave, January. Threnetes ruckeri: 6-2, 6-2, Rio Espave, January. Phaethornis superciliosus: 5+0, Rio Espave, January; 6-0, Jaque, February. Phaethornis longuemareus: 2-3, Rio Espave, January. Thalurania furcata: 4:1, Rio Espave, January. Trogon melanurus: 3 112, Cerro Pirre, March. Trogon viridis: 2 81, Cerro Pirre, March. Trogon rufus: 3 57, Jaque, February. Ceryle torquata: 3 330,9 274, Jaque, February; 9 320, Rio Paya, February. Chloroceryle amazona: 8 119, Rio Jaque, February; g 111, 5 130, $ 135, d 142, Boca de Paya, February. Chloroceryle americana: § 40, Cerro Pirre, March; 2 55, Rio Jaque, February; 22 39, 55, Rio Paya, February. Chloroceryle inda: 3 60, 22 53, 60, El Real, March Chloroceryle aenea: 2 14:6, lower Atrato valley, March. Electron platyrhynchum: 60, Rio Espave, January; 63, 64, 64, Cerro Pirre, March. Baryphthengus marti: 198, Jaque, February. Included by de Schauensee (1966) under B. ruficapillus. Momotus momota: 108, 128, Rio Espave, January; 109, 119, 120, El Real, March. Galbula ruficauda: $3 25-1, 26-3, Rio Perancho, March. Both nominate ruficauda, although this area is close to a region of hybridization with G. r. melanogenia. Jacamerops aurea: 9 76, Rio Espave, January; 2 62, Cerro Pirre, March; 2 64, lower Atrato valley, March. Notharcus macrorhynchos: 109, Rio Espave, January; 99, 103, El Real, February/March. _ Notharcus tectus: 33, Rio Espave, January. Nystalus radiatus: 63, Rio Jaque, February. Malacoptila panamensis: 2? 46, juv. 42, Rio Espave, January; juv. 37, Boca de Paya, February. Nonnula frontalis: 15-2, 15:0, Rio Espave, January; 15-3, Sautata, March. Included under NV. ruficapilla by de Schauensee (1966). Monasa morphoeus: 93, 96, 98, 102, Rio Espave, January; 114, 122, Rio Paya, February; 105, 118, Cerro Pirre, March. Pteroglossus torquatus: 2 196, Boca de Paya, February. Selenidera spectabilis: 3 229, Cerro Pirre, March. Picumnus olivaceus:; 10:8, El Real, March. Celeus loricatus: 3 74, Rio Perancho, March. Centurus rubricapillus: 3 55,2 45, C.1.M., January. Centurus pucherani: 2 53, Rio Espave, January; g 62, Jaque, February; g 52, Boca de Paya, February. Campephilus melanoleucos: 3 274, 9 181, Rio Espave, January. References: Britton, P. L. 1970. Some non-passerine bird weights from East Africa. Bull. Brit. Orn. C7. 90: 142-144, 152-154. Collins, C. T. 1972. Weights of some birds of north-central Venezuela. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 92: 151-153. Colston, P. R. 1971. Additional non-passerine bird weights from East Africa. Bu//. Brit. Orn. Cl. 91: 110-111. — 1972. African passerine bird weights. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 92: 115-116. Haverschmidt, F. 1968. Birds of Surinam. Edinburgh & London: Oliver & Boyd. Meyer de Schauensee, R. 1966. The Species of Birds of South America. Wynnewood, Pa: Livingston. Snow, D. W. & Snow, B. K. 1963. Weights and wing-lengths of some Trinidad birds. Zoologica 48: I-12. Wetmore, A. 1965. Part 1 & 1968. Part 2. The Birds of the Republic of Panama. Smiths. Misc. Coll. 150 (1 & 2). T18 Once more: the identity and authorship of Treron griseicauda by G. F. Mees Received 4th June, 1973 Sims & Warren (1955) drew renewed attention to the unsettled authorship and identity of Treron griseicauda, which by previous authors had been either used for the Javanese subspecies of Treron pompadora as T. p. griseicauda G. R. Gray, 1856, or for the Celebesian subspecies as 7’. p. grisezcauda Wallace, 1863. Sims & Warren (1955) discovered that Bonaparte (1854: 10) had listed T. griseicauda as a synonym under the name 7. aromatica, although his des- cription was, in fact, based on specimens of the Javanese subspecies, and not on T. p. aromatica from Boeroe. They concluded that 7. grisezcauda Bonaparte, 1854, notwithstanding the fact that it was first published as a synonym, is an available name, and therefore proposed to call the Javanese subspecies 7. p. griseicauda Bonapatte, 1854. A year later, Mayr (1956) objected to the treatment of Sims & Warren, observing that according to the principles laid down at the Zoological Congress, Copenhagen, an otherwise unavailable name does not acquire availability by being cited subjectively in the synonymy of another name. Subsequently, however, the following emendment of the International Code was adopted by the X VIth International Congress of Zoology (Wash- ington 1963): “A name first published as a synonym is not thereby made available unless prior to 1961 it has been treated as an available name with its original date and authorship, and either adopted as the name of a taxon or used as a senior homonym”’ (Art. 11[d]). There cannot be the slightest doubt that Sims & Warren, well before 1961, have used 7. grisezcauda Bonaparte exactly in the meaning of Art. 11(d) and therefore have validated it. The correct name of the subspecies of Treron pompadora occutring on Java is therefore Treron pompadora griseicauda Bonaparte, 1854. If it was the change in redaction of Art. 11(d) alone that affected the nomen- clature, I might have left the matter as it was, but there are two reasons why a renewed discussion appeared desirable. The first is that Goodwin (1967: 308), in a much-used work, has accepted Bonaparte’s name, but without explanation. The second reason is that even if one rejects 7. gr7seicauda Bonaparte, the name 7. griseicauda Wallace (1863a) for a bird from the Celebes is of doubtful validity, as long as the exact date of publication of 7. grisezcauda Schlegel (1863b) is not known. Schlegel (1863a) mentioned that the first nine sheets of the “Nederlandsch Tijdschrift voor de Dierkunde” were printed around the middle of 1862, but that: ‘“‘the publication of this work can only begin with 1863”. Wallace’s name was published in April 1863 (cf. Duncan 1937), Schlegel’s paper was not only reviewed in the /bis of July 1863 (p. 359-360), but in the same number Wallace (1863b) devoted a special article to a dis- cussion of it, which definitely shows that it must have been received some time before July, and may well antedate Wallace’s paper of April 1863. Sanft (1960, note 12) has quoted evidence that the first part of the ““Neder- landsch Tijdschrift voor de Dierkunde” was published in 1862, as Schlegel (1862), in a work dated August 1862, and certainly published before the end _ of that year, gave full references, with page- and plate-numbers, to it (Buceros 119 pulchrirostris and Buceros nagtglasii). However, this was explained by Schlegel (1863a) as quoted above, and later Schlegel (1873) gave 1863 as year of publication of the pigeons described in the first part of the ““Nederlandsch Tijdschrift voor de Dierkunde”’. A small consequence for the nomenclature is that not, as Peters (1945) and Sanft (1960) did, the ““Nederlandsch Tijd- schrift voor de Dierkunde”’ has to be cited as containing the original descriptions of Buceros pulchrirostris and Buceros nagtglasii, but the ““Muséum des Pays-Bas’’. I take this opportunity to mention that if one follows Goodwin (1967) in merging the genus MMegaloprepia with Ptilinopus (personally Iam unconvinced of the necessity to do so), the species listed as Prilinopus formosus (Gray) by Goodwin, must be known as Prilinopus bernsteinii Schlegel, as correctly pointed out by Schlegel (1863); see also Wallace (1865: 388). Indeed, under the present Code (Art. 59[b]), Pt/inopus bernsteinii has been the valid name for the species right from the moment of its publication. References: Bonaparte, C. L. 1854. Conspectus Generum Avium 2. Lugduni Batavorum. Duncan, F. M. 1937. On the dates of publication of the Society’s “Proceedings”, 1859— 1926 (etc.). Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 107A: 71-84. Goodwin, D. 1967. Pigeons and doves of the world. London: Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.). Mayr, E. 1956. The names Treron griseicauda and Treron pulverulenta. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 76: 62. Peters, J. L. 1945. Check-list of birds of the world 5. Cambridge, Mass.: Harv. Univ. Press. Sanft, K. 1960. Bucerotidae. Das Tierreich 76: 1-174. Schlegel, H. 1862. Buceros. Mus. Hist. Nat. Pays-Bas 1 (mon. 1): 1-22. — 1863a. Letter to the editor. /bzs 5: 119-120. — 1863b. Observations sur les colombars, voisins des Treron aromatica et vernans. Ned. Tijdschr. Dierk. 1: 63-71. — 1873. Aves Columbae. Mus. Hist. Nat. Pays-Bas 4 (mon. 35): 1-180. Sims, R. W. & Warren, R. M. L. 1955. The names of the races of the Pompadour Pigeon, Treron pompadora (Gmelin), in Java and Celebes. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 75: 96-97. Wallace, A. R. 1863a. List of birds of the Sula Islands (east of Celebes), with descriptions of the new species. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. for 1862: 333-346. — 1863b. Notes on the fruit-pigeons of the genus Treron. [bis 5: 318-320. — 1865. On the pigeons of the Malay Archipelago. /bis (n.s.) 1: 365-400. St. Vincent Parrot: plumage polymorphism, juvenile plumage and nidification by Holly A. J. Nichols & Thomas Duncan Nichols Received 21st April, 1973 INTRODUCTION | We have been able to re-evaluate variation in plumage colour of the St. | Vincent Parrot Amazona guildingii as a result of our observation of captive | and museum specimens and the first captive breeding of this species. One of | us (T.D.N.) observed plumage variation in wild parrots and some details of | nidification in a preliminary field trip (19-23 April, 1973) to St. Vincent. PLUMAGE VARIATION In 1967 the government of St. Vincent granted special permission to Young Island Hotel of St. Vincent to donate two juvenile A. guildingi to U.S. zoos. The hotel donated one to the National Zoological Park, Washing- | ton, D.C., and the second to the Houston Zoological Gardens. Since A. guildingii is an IUCN endangered species, these two zoos and the New York 120 Zoological Park (Bronx Zoo) and the Chicago Zoological Park (Brookfield Zoo), each having one specimen, instituted a co-operative breeding pro- gramme, bringing the parrots together at the Houston Zoo. The Chicago parrot died in 1970; its skin is now at the Louisiana State University Museum of Zoology. The Houston Zoo purchased a fifth, apparently very old A. guildingii in 1971. We have thus been able to closely study these five adults. One of us was able to carefully examine an additional twenty-two captive specimens on St. Vincent. One of us (H.A.J.N.), a former employee of the Houston Zoo, was responsible for the first Houston parrot, the New York parrot and the one offspring they successfully raised in 1972. This was the first time this species had been raised in captivity, allowing us the opportunity to study the juvenile plumage. The plumage coloration of A. gui/dingii is complex. Clark (1905) and Ridg- way (1916) have described it in detail. They describe some specimens which are generally more green than brown, their most conspicuous difference being primaries with the basal portion green rather than yellow. Clark and Ridgway described these green parrots as immature, although Ridgway cautioned in a footnote, “I strongly suspect that in reality [this plumage] represents a dichromatic phase”’. James Bond described (pers. comm.) an A. gui/dingii nestling he observed in 1927 as “covered with short, dull green feathers”. Allen (1961) reported “young entirely green” probably on the basis of Bond’s observation. John Warfield, who was responsible for the two juvenile specimens the Young Island Hotel donated to the U.S. zoos, has written (pers. comm.) that one of the two was always more green. The second, however, he described as being distinctly more brown. Both of these parrots are now at the Houston Zoo and six years old. The first bird’s plumage is that described by Clark and Ridgway as immature. The second bird (the breeding female) and the other three specimens including the juvenile parrot, now at the Houston Zoo, have the yellow-brown plumage described by Clark and Ridgway as adult. The juvenile plumage coloration of the one parrot raised in 1972 was, except as noted below, virtually identical to that of the yellow-brown morph parents. There are thus two morphs, green and yellow-brown, and the juvenile plumage coloration of any particular bird is quite similar if not identical to that of its eventual adult plumage. We are aware of eight green morph and forty-eight yellow-brown morph specimens in fourteen museum collections and ten green morph and seventeen yellow-brown morph specimens in captivity. Clark noted that of the eight specimens he collected, no two were exactly alike in plumage. Similarly we must say it is difficult to find any specimens of the five at the Houston Zoo, of the twenty-two observed in captivity on St. Vincent, and the fifty-six museum skins with like plumage. Although the differences between green and yellow-brown morph specimens are dis- tinct, many yellow-brown morph specimens, such as the mounted specimen in the City of Liverpool Museums, have some areas of green on the back or carpalia. Some birds, such as a yellow-brown morph in the possession of William Miller of St. Vincent, appear to have a more yellowish tone to the breast and fewer greenish areas (we have not been able to positively classify this variation). There is also considerable variation in other plumage characteristics such as the width of the central blue-green tail band, head coloration, neck coloration, and amount of black feather edging. LSUMZ 69139 for example I2I is unusual in having a pale yellow chin and adjoining malar region, and an orange throat and posterior malar region, the usual blue being mostly confined to the nape and green to the hind neck. An apparent partial lutino, owned by Miller, has many deep yellow feathers on the nape and hind neck. Two specimens, BM 89.1.20.307 and AMNH 417,403, have collars with very heavy black edging. Although the excessive variation of head coloration may eventually be understood in terms of distinct morphs, we would only point out the existence of two extremes and their approximate occurence. The breeding male at the Houston Zoo, which is typical of one extreme, has his eye almost surrounded with feathers which are at least tipped with blue-violet, the forehead and anterior crown only being white. The Houston breeding female is an example of the other extreme. There is much more white on her head, the eye always having been completely surrounded by white. The lores, forehead, crown, and anterior portion of the auriculars are generally white except for some pale yellow in the posterior crown. We have not been able to classify the varia- tions between these two extremes, there being several patterns of cartenoid and melanin deposition resulting in heads with mixtures of white, yellow, orange-brown and blue-violet. The head coloration of the Houston juvenile parrot for example is similar to the breeding female’s except for some yellow and blue posterior to the eye. We are aware of nine specimens of the first extreme, seven of the second and forty-two we are not able to classify. All varfiations in head coloration occur in both green and yellow-brown morph arrots. > We have not been able to detect any changes in head coloration from photo- graphs taken over several years of the parrots now at the Houston Zoo. The breeding male for example looked the same in 1972 as when Arthur W. Ambler photographed it in 1959 (Allen op. c7t. 100). (In the last few months, however, diet changes of the five parrots at the Houston Zoo have been responsible for eliminating much yellow from their head plumage). Many of the individual parrots observed on St. Vincent in the collections of Miller and John Houser were known to be four of five years old. As a group these birds displayed a wide variety of stable plumage characteristics, such as referred to in this paper, specifically having all varieties of head coloration. (We do not believe that any of the plumage colour variation of the twenty- two captive specimens observed on St. Vincent resulted from dietary abnormalities; they were all well fed.) We conclude age does not normally affect head plumage coloration. We have not detected correlation between sex and any of the plumage characteristics. FIELD OBSERVATIONS As Clark indicated, the distinction between the green and yellow-brown morphs (which he considered young and adult) is relatively easy to make in the field. I (T.D.N.) observed both morphs in the upper Buccament Valley. Although I was not able to accurately count the number of each morph observed, I. A. Earle Kirby, his associate, and I observed or heard approxi- mately twenty-five parrots in nine hours. The parrots were eating the abund- ant fruit of Pouteria multifiora. We found two nest sites, one at 1,000 ft. in an Ormosia monosperma, about | 40 ft. up the trunk, and one at 1,500 ft. ina Dacryodes excelsa, about 80 ft. up | the trunk. D. exce/sa is usually hollow and I was told that it was the normal nesting tree. Kirby’s associate, an unusually observant native naturalist, said that he had never seen “‘a clutch larger than the normal two”’. A clutch of two would be in agreement with the 1905 report of Clark, the 1927 observation by Bond (pers. comm.), the 1930 report of Porter, and the clutch of two eggs laid in 1972 at the Houston Zoo. One egg shell was obtained (laid by a captive bird) from Warfield as a donation to Louisiana State University Museum of Zoology. It measures 38-1 by 30-1, as compared to 43 -8 mm by 32-6 mm for the first (infertile) of the two eggs laid at Houston in 1972, and 46-6 mm by 38-8 mm for the egg reported by Harrison & Holyoak (1970). SUMMARY Amazona guildingii has been found to display a wide variety of plumage polymorphism. Two major morphs are identified, which had previously been considered as the immature and adult plumages. The juvenile plumage of any individual is the same as its adult plumage. A few details of nidification, and observations made on St. Vincent are reported. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We thank the following persons for describing or lending specimens of the indicated institutions: Dr. A. Schwartz (Miami), Dr. R. A. Paynter Jr. (Museum of Comparative Zoology), Dr. E. R. Blake (Field Museum of Natural History), Dr. J. Bond and Dr. J. V. Griswold (Academy of Natural Sciences), Dr. J. M. Forshaw and Dr. J. P. O’Neill (Louisiana State Uni- versity Museum of Zoology), Dr. W. B. King and Dr. R. L. Zusi (Smith- sonian Institution), Dr. M. Gochfeld and Mr. D. Ewert (American Museum of Natural History), Dr. K. C. Parkes (Carnegie Museum), Dr. J. C. Barlow and Dr. R. D. James (Royal Ontario Museum), Dr. P. J. Morgan (City of Liverpool Museums), Dr. E. H. Stickney (Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History), Dr. D. D. Lonsdale (Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo), Dr. D. W. Snow (British Museum, Natural History), and Mr. C. W. Benson (Cambridge University Museum of Zoology). We thank Dr. W. G. Conway, Dr. J. Bell and Mr. A. Ambler for providing information and photographs of specimens previously at the New York Zoological Park, Mr. R. Small for photographs of the specimen previously at the Chicago Zoological Park, and Mr. J. W. Houser, Mr. J. Warfield, Mr. W. Miller and Dr. I. A. E. Kirby for their assistance on St. Vincent. References: Allen, R. P. 1961. Birds of the Caribbean. 223. New York: Viking. pa H. 1905. Lesser Antillean birds (Ammayona guildingii). Proc. Bost. Soc. N. Hi. 32: 20-27... exists, é. J. O. & Holyoak, D. T. 1970. Apparently undescribed parrot eggs in the col- lection of the British Museum (Natural History). Bw//. Brit. Orn. Cl. 90: 42-46. Potter, S. 1930. Notes on the rare parrots of the genus Amazona. Avic. Mag. (4)8: 2-12. Ridgway, R. 1916. Birds of North and Middle America. Part VII: 225-227. Washington: Govt. Print. Off. The humerus of Ichthyornis as a taxonomically isolating character by C. J. O. Harrison Received 16th June, 1973 Two small sea-birds of the genus /chthyornis were described by Marsh (1880) from the Cretaceous of Kansas. According to him they possessed true teeth, resembling in this respect Hesperornis, with which they co-existed. A number 123 of skeletal elements were found and Marsh commented “In their powerful wings and small legs and feet they remind one of the terns, and, according to present evidence, they were aquatic birds of similar life and habits”. He used the skeleton of the Royal Tern as a basis for his reconstruction of J. dispar. Gregory (1952) suggested that the toothed jaws associated with the species were those of reptiles and that /cdthyornis species had bills like those of modern birds. Following from this, with Marsh’s comments on their tern- like appearance well-established in literature, there was a tendency to suggest Ichthyornis as the probable ancestor of the modern Charadriiformes (Fisher 1967, Brodkorb 1971). More recently Walker (1967) and Gingerish (1972) have argued that Ichthyornis species were toothed, and have found additional material which appears to confirm this, but quite apart from the question of the presence or absence of teeth /chthyornis species also show at least one other morphological peculiarity, which was remarked on by Marsh but which has received little attention since. This is the size and position of the crests on the humerus. Marsh (op. cit.) comments on the exceptional size and position of the deltoid crest in his description of the humerus; but in discussing the reconstruction of Ichthyornis he states that “‘the locomotive organs of Jchthyornis are so similar to those of typical birds that they present no such interesting mechani- cal problems as were suggested by the skeleton of Hesperornis”. The position of the deltoid crest is, however, quite exceptional. Normally the deltoid crest is an elongated ridge along the external side of the shaft of the humerus at the proximal end. It provides, zuter alia, an attach- ment surface for the large pectoralis major muscle which creates the main b Figure 1. Proximal, palmar and external views of the proximal ends of left humeri of (a) Lchthyornis dispar and (b) Platalea leucorodia. power for the downstroke of the wing in flight. It is usually an elongated prominent flange of bone, stout at the base and thinner towards the edge; but the degree of development varies in different species and in some it is little more than a stout ridge. In all modern birds it projects palmarly from 124 : : | | the external palmar edge of the shaft and is usually almost at right-angles to the transversely-elongated head (Fig. 1b). It may curve laterally the further it projects from the shaft, and towards the edge in some species the outer portion may be at an angle of c. 50 — 60 degrees to the head. In Ichthyornis dispar, the species for which complete humeri are known, the deltoid crest is large and long and projects laterally, continuing the line of the transverse proximal head (Fig. 1a). It forms a thin flange almost at right- angles to the position of those on modern birds. It could be suggested that specimens had undergone some crushing and distortion, but I have examined a specimen of a proximal end of a humerus completely prepared from its matrix, and on this, although the hollow shaft has been crushed, the surface of the outer part of the crest and the region adjacent to the proximal head show no evidence of the displacement needed to change the position of this flange had it originally been in a position comparable with that of a modern bird. The structural modification was not a general early avian feature. As Yalden (1972) has pointed out, the deltoid crest of Archaeopteryx is extensively developed, but an examination of the specimen of the latter in the British Museum (Natural History) reveals that in this bird the deltoid crest projects in a similar palmar plane to those of modern birds. The humerus of Hes- perornis is reduced to a slender strip of bone, and the only humerus showing some similarity to that of /chthyornis is one from the Lower Cretaceous of the Weald, currently being described (Harrison & Walker, 7” press), on which, although the outer portion of the deltoid crest is broken away, the portion present appears to show similar structure to that of /chthyornis and may be earlier evidence of this modification. Another peculiarity of the humerus of /chthyornis is the apparent absence of the bicipital crest. This normally forms a rounded, laterally-projecting crest on the internal side of the shaft adjacent to the proximal head, bordering a smooth surface which projects a little palmarly. The size of the bicipital sutface and crest varies from one species to another in modern birds, but these are never wholly absent except on the greatly reduced humeri of some ratites. With the humerus in position on the body of a modern bird the deltoid crest projects horizontally and slightly ventrally along the upper edge of the humerus, but if the humerus of Jchthyornis is placed in a similar position the crest projects dorsally. There do not appear to be modifications of the atticulating surfaces of the humerus of the latter which would indicate some other position for this bone. Marsh’s reconstruction of /. dispar (1880) shows this dorsal projection of the deltoid crest. The position of the deltoid crest in modern birds is presumably that which provides the most efficient surface angle for the functioning of the flight muscles. For that of /chthyornis to work in comparable fashion would involve _ considerable forward rotation of the humerus and hence of the whole wing. It is improbable that Jchthyornis would show evolutionary divergence to produce a less efficient system and much more likely that the modification of the humerus indicates a specialised muscle system which probably involved modification of the mode of flight. Since the changes shown involve an absence of, or change in angle of, surfaces used for the attachment of major muscles for wing movement it is likely that the mode of flight was peculiar and may have involved more gliding, although the modifications of humeri in modern gliding birds such as the Procellariiformes are quite unlike those of Ichthyornis. 125 Assuming that the arrangement of crest on the proximal end of the humerus in Archaeopteryx and in modern birds represents the normal condition in the main evolutionary stem in birds, then the development of the deltoid crest and loss of the bicipital crest in /chthyornis represent a marked evolutionary divergence from this, not paralleled in modern forms. It is unlikely that an evolving /chthyornis phylogenetic line would regain the more typical humeral structures, and in this character, as in the probable possession of teeth, it appears to have been an evolutionary blind end, having no ancestral affinities to any known subsequent avian taxa. References: Brodkorb, P. 1971. Origin and evolution of birds. zw D. S. Farner & J. R. King, eds. Avian Biology 1: 20-55. New York: Academic Press. Fisher, J. 1967. Fossil birds and their adaptive radiation. in The Fossil record: 133-154, 753- 762. London: Geol. Soc. Gingerish, F. D. 1972. A new partial mandible of [chthyornis. Condor 74: 471-472. Gregory, J. T. 1952. The jaws of the Cretaceous toothed birds /chthyornis and Hesperornis. Condor 54: 73-88. Harrison, C. J. O. & Walker, C. A. in press. Wyleyia, a new bird humerus from the Lower Cretaceous of England. Palaeontology 16. Marsh, O. C. 1880. Odontornithes ; a monograph on the extinct toothed birds of North America. Washington: Govt. Printing Office. Walker, M. V. 1967. Revival of interest in the toothed birds of Kansas. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci. Jo: 60-66. Yalden, D. W. 1971. The flying ability of Archaeopteryx. Ibis 113: 349-356. The relative numbets of migrant and resident rollers in eastern Kenya Wy is Ph Cte trope Received 22nd May, 1973 In February 1968, when touring the Tsavo National Park of eastern Kenya with members of the Fauna Preservation Society, it was noted that the European Roller Coracias garrulus was very numerous. The average density was estimated at 2-3 per mile (1 -2—1 -9/km) of road traversed, which, on the basis of the mean visibility on either side, gave a density of 60-90 rollers per square mile (23—35/km?). Possibly rollers may have concentrated along roads though there is no direct evidence that they were not evenly spread through the habitat. If similar densities prevailed throughout the Tsavo Park there would have been 480—720,000 in the park itself, while the total in the thornbush area of eastern Kenya alone would be of the order of 2-3 million. This may appear a huge figure; but doubtless these birds collect here from an enormous atea of European and Asian breeding habitat. In the eastern Kenya thornbush there are two main rainy seasons, the | long rains extending in good years from late March to mid-May and in bad | from mid-April to mid-May; and the short rains, extending from late October _ to late December in a good and early November to early December in a bad. | As a tule the April-May rains are the heaviest, and April the peak rainfall |~ month. However, in some areas the November—December rains are less | erratic. The dry seasons which follow, January—March and June-September, also differ, that between January and March being shorter but hotter than | the mid year dry season, when July and August are usually cool and overcast. | _ 126 European Rollers are present in Kenya from October to late April, straggling into May; but are only numerous from early November to March, that is, in the short rains and succeeding dry season. They usually arrive in numbers when the first heavy storms of the short rains occur in early November and bring out an abundance of insect life. Other migrant in- sectivorous species, for instance Hobbies Fa/co subbuteo, are also very common at this time. Migrant European Rollers then greatly outnumber the local resident species, the Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudata and the Rufous- crowned Roller Coracias naevia. This is a feature common to other migrant genera, for instance hirundines and wagtails. In an attempt to obtain more exact quantitative data on numbers of resident and migrant species counts were made in 1969-70 of all rollers along stretches of the main Nairobi-Mombasa road at different times of year on journeys to and from the coast. The counts were not made at “‘ideal”’ times but fitted in with other affairs. Some of them have already been briefly referred to by Moreau (1972: 181), but are given here in greater detail and related to season and ecological conditions, in Tables I-III. TABEPR, 4 Early long rains counts, March—April Food abundant by April. European Rollers on northward’ passage Date Conditions Sector C. garrulus -C.. caudata C. naevia Total 31.3.69 Early rain. Heavy I 2 9 4 15 passage N. of I 103 5 5 115 C’. garrulus Ill 68 % 2 72 Total 173 16 13 202 31.3.70 Poor early rains; I fe) 2 fo) 2 bush very dry, II 8 O 2 10 few rollers III O O 2 2 Total 8 2 4 14 25.4.69 Wet, after I Oo Oo Oo fo) main departure II O Io 8 18 of C. garrulus Ill 18 16 21 55 Total 18 26 29 73 16.4.70 Wet, after I fo) Oo I I early light Il 7 2 II 20 storms Il I 4 I 6 Total 8 6 13 27 Total March counts 181 18 17 216 Total April counts 26 32 42 100 Total March—April 207 50 59 316 Ratio C. garrulus: other spp. March 4:9: 1 April G35): L27 TABLE II Dry season, August-September European Rollers absent. Food scarce Date Conditions Sector C. garrulus C. caudata C. naevia ~—s- Total 5.8.69 Dry. I Oo I Oo I Cool II fo) O Oo fo) Ill fe) fo) O O 30.8.69 Dry. I O fo) | fe) O Sunny II fo) 2 fo) 2 Ill fe) O fe) fo) Total O 3 fe) 3 22.8.70 & So few of any species seen that counts not considered worth analysing. 5.9.70 Even local species very scarce. TABLE III End short rains, December—January Food sometimes abundant. European Rollers present Date Conditions Sector C’. garrulus —_C.. caudata C. naevia ‘Total 20.12.69 Lush after I I I 2 4 good rains II 79 5 19 103 Ill 58 I I 6o Total 138 7 22 167 4.1.70 Dry: vegetation I 5 I fe) 6 still long, but II 78 2 II 91 leaf fallen III Ly 2 fo) 119 Total 200 5 II 216 Total Dec./Jan. counts 338 12 33 383 Total, all counts 545 65 92 702 Ratio: C. garrulus: other spp. Dec./Jan. 7-5 : 1 Ratio: C. garrulus: other spp. year round 3:5 : 1 The road was divided, mainly for convenience, but also because of ecological differences, into three sectors :—I, Kiboko—Mtito Andei (48 miles, 77km); I, Mtito-Andei-Voi (61 miles, 98 km); and III, Voi—-Mackinnon Road (46 miles, 74 km). Originally, all were Acacia-Commiphora-Adansonia woodland with a decreasing cline eastward from about 750 to 500 mm of annual rainfall, Kiboko to Mackinnon Road. However, Sector I, the wettest, supports a fairly heavy human population and consequently a low population of elephants Loxodonta africana, with the result that much of the woodland, including large baobab trees Adansonia, survives. Sector II passes almost entirely through the Tsavo National Park, where an enormous elephant population has practically destroyed the woodland including almost all Commiphora and Adansonia; and Sector II skirts the boundary of the National Park (strictly respected by the resident elephants) so that both sides of the road are again wooded. This sector is also somewhat drier than the others, with more stunted Commiphora woodland. Certain other birds, for instance 128 the migrant Grasshopper Buzzard Butastur rufipennis, ace common here in November—December and not elsewhere. The resident species C. caudata and C. naevia occur the year round, but their numbers also fluctuate, indicating local movements. Slender evidence suggests that their main breeding season may be the long rains, April-May, so they should reach peak numbers in May—June. Insects and other suitable prey are then quite as, if not more abundant than they are in November-— December, when C’. garrulus is also present in far greater numbers and could compete with the residents for such food. However, C. naevia at least, which is the commonest resident roller in Commiphora woodland (C. caudata prefers moister areas), also becomes quite numerous in November—December and breeds in both main rainy seasons. From the counts, however, it appears that the numbers of both species of resident rollers increase sharply between March and April, at a time when European Rollers are departing northwards and the first storms of the long rains have fallen. Their numbers approximately double between late March and late April, presumably preparatory to breeding. These rollers too are clearly nomadic or migratory, for, after breeding in the long rains, they also become very scarce in the latter part of the June—October dry season. C. naevia, which is the commoner species and better adapted to Commiphora woodland, apparently also becomes commen again in the short rains November—December. So far the evidence does not support any suggestion that a heavy popu- lation of elephants in Sector II has depressed the breeding population of resident species by depriving them of breeding sites. The total of all counts of resident species in Sector I, the worst affected by elephants is 84, cf. 52 for Sector III, and 21 for Sector 1, the woodland least affected, with abundant breeding holes in baobabs. Corrected for distance, these figures become 84, 71 and 22, still suggesting that the highest resident roller populations are in areas worst damaged by elephants. Possibly the large numbers of dead but not yet completely rotted trees and stumps resulting from elephant damage may actually have provided more breeding holes than formerly existed, so favouring the resident rollers, of which C. xaevia certainly also breeds in banks of streams. However, this suggestion requires further investigation. In general it seems probable that: (1) The total numbers of any species of roller inhabiting this thornbush is not necessarily limited by food supply. The numbers of resident rollers living in the area in April and May, when near their peak, are always very much lower than the combined total of all species present, or of European Rollers alone, from November to March. The total of all European Rollers in four December—March counts is 519 (mean 130/count), despite one very low count of eight on 31.3.70, after most of the birds had left. Without this low count the average of the other three counts would have been 170, which _ may be compared with 26 (mean 13) in two April counts. In other words | although food, which would be relatively scarce at the end of the January— March dry season, becomes abundant again in April, the total numbers of _ tollers, especially of European Rollers, decrease. Those of both resident | Species in the same counts are 80 in December—March (mean 27) cf. 74 (mean _ 37) in April. Year round there are on average 3 +5 European Rollers for one _ of any resident species while in December—March the proportion is 6-5 : 1 in favour of the European Roller. This is so despite the fact that C. naevia at 129 least is a larger and more powerful species than C. garrulus, killing inter alia snakes up to at least 50 cm long. (ii) That the numbers of all species fluctuate greatly from year to year according to the rains and that rollers in general are more nomadic in the African tropics than is generally realised. Local movements of the Abyssinian Roller C. abyssinica have been related to the dry and wet seasons by Brown (1946: 194), and Elgood ef a/. (1973: 35) find all Coracias and Eurystomus rollers migratory in Nigeria. In Kenya and Ethiopia the Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus is notably nomadic, coming into breeding condition and display at once with the onset of rains in, for instance, western Ethiopia. (Brown unpub.) The Somalian—Ethiopian race of the Lilac-breasted Roller, C.. ¢. lorti, is certainly migratory, arriving in Ethiopia—Somalia in the early rains in March, breeding and then departing south to spend the off season in northern Kenya (Archer & Godman 1961: 704; Urban & Brown: 1971 64). Regular counts en route to the coast were discontinued after 1970, but it was noted that the numbers of European Rollers fell greatly in 1971-72, a drought year, though increased again in 1972-73, when the short rains were again good (102 seen on Sector IT and III on 8.1.73). (iit) The numbers of resident rollers may be limited by territorial behaviour rather than food supply. In April there should be strong competition for available nesting holes in trees and in banks (sometimes used by C. naevia) between rollers, glossy starlings, hornbills, wood-hoopoes and others. However, there is little actual evidence that shortage of holes reduces the population, rather the reverse. The European Roller in winter, on the other hand, merely has to find a suitable perch from which it can forage in a tem- porary feeding area, using trees, telegraph wires, termite hills and any dead stump of the type recently abundantly provided by the Tsavo elephants. It may thus be able to exploit the sometimes over-abundant available food supply — in the November—March period more effectively than any breeding resident species, whose territorial requirements may be evolved to survive in dry years when food is relatively very short. References: Archer, G. & Godman, E. M. 1961. The Birds of British Somaliland and the Gulf of Aden TI. Edinburgh & London: Oliver & Boyd. Brown, L. H. 1946. Birds and I. London: Michael Joseph. Elgood, J. H., Fry, C. H. & Dowsett, R. J. 1973. African migrants in Nigeria (first part). Ibis 115: 1-45. Moreau, R. E. 1972. The Palaearctic- African bird migration systems. London & New York: Academic Press. Urban, E. K. & Brown, L. H. 1971. A checklist of the birds of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: Haile Sellassie I University. The voice of Sarothrura insularis with further notes on members of the genus by Stuart Keith Received 9th June, 1973 In April, May and June, 1971, I travelled extensively in Madagascar in com- pany with Mr. A. D. Forbes-Watson and Mr. D. A. Turner. Having pre- viously recorded the voices of six of the African species of Sarothrura, | was 130 ) ) | | most anxious to hear and record the voice of Sarothrura insularis, endemic to Madagascar. The only information I had on its call was the description by Rand (1936: 360), and I speculated that this call might resemble one of the calls of Sarothura rufa (Keith, Benson & Irwin 1970: 65). I guessed wrong. We were accompanied on part of our journey by M. Georges Randrianosolo from O.R.S.T.O.M. in Tananarive, and when he identified a mysterious call in the forest of Tsarafidy as that of Sarothrura insularis, \ frankly didn’t believe him—it didn’t remotely resemble any sound I had ever heard from a Sarothrura. He was later proved right, however, when calling birds were seen and recorded near Didy, 25th—z9th April, 1971. The vocalisation I would like to name the “‘full call” lasts about 20 seconds and may be described as follows: first one or two short trilled notes are given, followed by several loud double notes, which are followed in turn by a long series of loud single notes of similar quality. These single notes gradually accelerate and at the same time decrease slightly in pitch, becoming quite faint toward the end. This is a loud, high-pitched, and ringing call capable of carrying for nearly half a mile. It may be written: “drr — drr — KEEKEE —-KEEKEE—-KEEKEE—-KEE—-KEE-KEE-KEE-KEEK — KEEK — KICK — KICK — kick — kick — kick — kick — kikikikikikikiki —— ——”, This vocalisation I take to be territorial in nature and it might there- fore be better described as a song (for the distinction between “song” and “call’’, see discussion in Keith ef a/., Joc. cit.: 15). Other vocalisations of S. zvsu/aris are mostly either shortened versions of, or excerpts from, this full call. The introductory trill is frequently dispensed with, and sometimes the double notes are too. Sometimes there is just a short burst of notes lasting 5—10 seconds, while at other times the full call may be considerably lengthened, the bird continuing to give a series of low “‘kiks’’, unevenly spaced. This last was usually given in response to song playback, or to the call of a nearby rival, and I take it to be a grumbling “‘annoyance call”’ similar to that noted for S. boehmi (loc. cit.: 56). Sonagrams of four vocalisations of S. asu/aris are shown in Fig. 1- Sonagrams A and B are both taken from a full call; A shows the double note followed by two single notes, while in B there is just a series of single notes. Notice that in B the notes are spaced more closely together—this is from the latter part of the call where the notes are speeded up. In A a distant bird can faintly be seen calling “‘over’’ the near one—only the upper harmonic has registered. Sonagram C shows the beginning of a short, loud call which only lasted about 10 seconds—notice there are no introductory notes, and that it very quickly accelerates and descends in pitch. Sonagram D shows a different vocalisation, not part of a full call and a “‘call” rather than a “‘song”’. It has a dry, slightly trilled quality and the rhythm is irregular—notice the space between the notes increases in this particular excerpt. Of course at this stage, with limited experience, I cannot ascribe “meaning” to any of these vocalisations, except to repeat that the full call seems fairly clearly to be the territorial call or “‘song’’. At Didy the birds were very vocal— when one bird called it would frequently set off several others in the neigh- bourhood. I cannot say whether they were breeding or not, since we neither collected specimens nor found nests. They may not have been—this was April, and Rand (/oc. cit.) only records breeding in September and October. However, the birds might be expected to breed during the rainy season, which lasts from November to April, so they may have been at the tail end of their breeding season during our visit (see following page). 131 Song playback readily elicited a response, often from several birds. Some of these were far enough apart to have been males on separate territories, while others were close enough to have been two birds of a pair. Calling by a suspected pair was similarly noted for S. /ugens (Keith e¢ a/. 1970: 50) in response to song playback (see also Keith ef. a/., loc. cit.: 13-15 for discus- sion of female rallid calls). & iy ‘ f {ga8 wes PORE a PRE: FREQUENCY IN KILOCYCLES TIME IN SECONDS FicgurE1. Sonagrams of vocalisations of Sarothrura insularis. In order from top to bottom: A,B,C; DD (see text). We may now compare the voice of Sarothrura insularis with the voices of other members of the genus. The voices of ayresii and waters are still un- known, but those of the remaining six are depicted in the sonagrams in Keith e¢ a/. (Joc. cit.: 12-15). It can be seen at once that /nsw/aris is unlike any of the others, and this is even more obvious to the human ear. The African birds have low, moaning songs and fairly low, hollow calls. The songs are 132 all at 1000 cycles or lower, while calls are mostly pitched around 2000 cycles, with overtones up to 3000 cycles. The calls of zwsularis are pitched at about 4000 cycles, with an undertone at 2000. The first notes in Sonagram C are at sooo cycles, while the upper reaches in C are at 6000. To the human ear this difference sounds even greater than the sonagrams would suggest; cnsularis sounds high and ringing, the African birds low and hollow. Besides the difference in pitch, the form of the full call of zzsu/aris is also unique—no African bird has an accelerating, descending call. In view of these great differences it is impossible to say to which African species zusularis is most closely related on the basis of voice. We speculated (Joc. cit.: 71) that on morphological grounds affmis and insularis seem so closely related as to form a superspecies. This supposed closeness is not backed up by the vocalisations, and I would prefer now to abandon this thought. Afinis has a low moaning song, and in fact the call of /ugens seems the closest to that of zwsw/aris, although it is still very different. The vocali- sations of zwsu/aris cannot be used as a clue to its relationships with other members of the genus; furthermore, their difference is now such that I would hesitate to class 7usu/aris as a member of any superspecies. Further notes on Sarothrura insularis I must here report a locality error and discuss its consequences. In our species account of Sarothrura insularis (Keith, Benson & Irwin 1970: 64-65) we frequently comment on the occurrence and breeding of the species at Manombo “‘in the subdesert’’. This was particularly interesting as the only evidence for the bird’s occurring in this habitat. In 1971 Messrs. Forbes-Watson, Turner and I discovered that there are two towns named Manombo in Madagascar. The principal one is located at 22° 56’ S., 43° 29’ E., on the southwest coast north of Tulear, in the sub- desert. Benson, Irwin and I assumed that this was the place indicated. However, there is also a tiny settlement named Manombo at 32° 10’ S., 47 50’ E., on the southeas¢ coast south of Farafangana. Whereas it is evident from the route map in Rand (1936: 147) that both Manombos were visited by his expedition, the locality he gives (/oc. cit.: 360) for the two nests he dis- covered is ‘““Manombo (southeast)” (italics mine). They are further described | as being “‘in a grassy field near the forest’’. This is the normal habitat for the _ Species, and all our remarks based on its occurrence at Manombo in the _ subdesert (a most unlikely habitat) must now be revised. Rand (loc. cit.: 360) gives the habitat of the species as “the secondary _ brush, the grassland on the edge of the forest, and the little clearings in the _ forest’’. We can now add marshes to this list of habitats. At our campsite a _ few km north of Didy (about 35 km south-southeast of Ambatondrazaka), _ while some birds inhabited the forest edge, a larger number were living in _ the open marsh nearby. This is an extensive flat area of long grass, reeds and _ sedge inhabited by such species as Ra/lus madagascariensis, Dryolimnas cuvieri and Calamocichla newtoni. The birds were frequently seen scuttling across the _track which crosses the marsh, and many more called from the marsh than _from the woods. We did however also see an adult male and a fully-grown young male, the latter with a rufous wash already appearing on the forehead and chin, walking on the forest floor a few hundred yards from the marsh. Like many species in Madagascar, Sarothrura insularis is clearly tolerant of a Variety of habitats. This further confirms my supposition (see above) that the | birds had about finished breeding at the time of our visit. 133 Notes on other members of the genus Sarothrura elegans An adult male was collected at Koobi Fora on Lake Rudolf, Kenya, (3° 55’ N., 36° 10’ E.) by A. Duff-McKay and R. E. Leakey on 26th April, — 1971. Details were given by Dufl-McKay to A. D. Forbes-Watson in Nairobi and then sent to me. Koobi Fora is a very dry locality with almost no ground cover—scrubby bushes and small trees. Near the lake shore, where the bird was collected, there is a sparse covering of “ouch! grass’’, and about one km from the collecting point there are extensive reed beds on the shore of the lake. When collected the bird was hiding in the thatched roof of a small hut, where it had apparently been seen on the two previous days. Duff- McKay further reports that Mrs. R. E. Leakey had seen “‘some”’ a week or so before running around in the ‘“‘ouch! grass’’. This is a most interesting record. The normal range of the species in eastern Africa is from Cape Province, South Africa north to central Kenya and southern Sudan. There are only four records from north and east of this range: a female from Somalia (the type of “‘S. buryz”’); a male from south- central Ethiopia (Roux & Benson 1969), and two aural records: Benson (1947: 49) heard the call near Mega, southern Ethiopia, and I taped the song of a bird at Mt. Marsabit, northern Kenya. Koobi Fora, on the shore of Lake Rudolf at its northeastern end, is about 160 miles northwest of Mars- abit and 140 miles west of Mega, these being the two nearest recorded localities. While perhaps not strictly being a range extension, Koobi Fora | being south of a line drawn between the localities in Somalia and southern | Sudan where the bird has been taken, this certainly adds an interesting locality | to its sparsely documented range in northeastern Africa, and is only the | third specimen for the area, and the second male. S| Perhaps of even greater interest is the question, what were the birds doing | there? This is a most unusual habitat for the species. Whereas S. elegans is | tolerant of a variety of habitats, including forest, scrub, long grass and bush | neat forest, and even overgrown cultivation, it is always associated with thick, often impenetrable vegetation. It is therefore most surprising to find | birds running around in dry grass in semidesert country. Benson’s bird from Mega was in juniper woods, the bird from near Shashamane, south-central | Ethiopia, was taken in the undergrowth of a degraded Podocarpus forest, and | my bird at Marsabit was in montane forest—all within the range of typical | habitats. The only bird taken in habitat which sounds similar to that at Lake | Rudolf is the unique specimen from Somalia, which according to Archer & | Godman (1937: 334) was collected at the foot of the Wagar Mountains at | joo ft. around hot springs in desolate country. Is it possible that there is a | population of S. e/egans in northeastern Africa which has adapted to living in waterside habitats in semi-arid country? Only further field work will tell. The condition of the gonads of the Koobi Fora bird was not noted, but elsewhere in Kenya males in breeding condition have been taken in February, April and May, so the presence of birds at Lake Rudolf in April might indi- | cate breeding. The only other possibility is that the birds were on migration. There are two objections to this idea, however. First, S. e/egans is not known to be a migrant elsewhere in its range, at least not a long-distance migrant. A few |} occurrences suggest local movement (summarised in Keith ef a/. 1970: 33-34) |} but most birds are sedentary and many probably live in the same locality | year-round, in common with almost all African forest birds. Secondly, : | 134 | supposing these birds were migrants, where could they have been migrating from and to? Why would birds leave their forest habitat in southern Ethiopia, southern Sudan, or northern Kenya and cross hundreds of miles of desert to reach a different country? There is no reason to suppose that any of the above places becomes inhospitable at any time of year, nor do the birds have any rallid competitors in these places. Until further evidence is forthcoming, the status of the birds at Lake Rudolf must remain a mystery. I compared the Rudolf specimen with birds in the American Museum of Natural History from southern Africa belonging to the nominate race and it agrees with them on colour. With a wing of 95 mm, however, it is the longest winged specimen on record. We list (/oc. cit. : 37) the wing measurements of all specimens we could find, and the wing range of males is 80-94, females 84-93 mm. Its other measurements (culmen 16, tarsus 25, middle toe 30 mm) fall within the ranges for males. The long wing might perhaps indicate a disposition to migrate. My associates Benson, Irwin and I are indebted to Mr. Terence Oatley for drawing our attention to two points arising from our paper (Keith e¢ a/. 1970). On p. 40 we mention the nest of Sarothrura rufa found by Pooley (1962: 45) on the Usutu River in Zululand. Oatley writes (zz /itt. to Irwin) ‘“‘from the habitat and calls described by Pooley this was a genuine Sarothrura all right but almost certainly e/egans. The greenish tinged eggs were probably white but so described because of the green cast of the light in the dense forest understorey”’. Secondly, Oatley notes a point of geographical synonymy on p. 33. Under “Movements” we cite two records by Astley Maberly, one from “the foot- hills of the northern Drakensburg” and the second from “the northeastern Transvaal”. These, Oatley tells us, are one and the same place. _ We are likewise indebted to the Rev. Dr. William Serle for pointing out to us (7m /itt. to Benson) that the precise type locality of Sarothrura elegans _reichenovi (Sharpe) is known to be Buea, ex-British Cameroons. We had | stated (p. 36) that the precise type locality was not known, but Serle drew our attention to a paper by Reichenow (1892) dealing with a collection of birds made Dr. Preuss in the Cameroons, from which Sharpe’s type was taken. S. e/egans appears on p. 178, and it is evident that the collecting locality | is Buea at 950 m altitude. | Sarothrura pulchra With regard to the call of this species, Serle (‘#7 tt. to Benson) says that ontwo occasions his African skinner Gilbert shot female birds while calling. The call of the female “‘resembled that of the male but was not nearly so loud, was higher pitched, and the notes followed each other so closely that it was almost like a trill and the whole performance occupied a shorter time than the usual male sextuplicated call”. Gilbert also believes that the female also has a call just like that of the male. This is most welcome supporting evidence for the view that female rails call as well as males. It is now known that Sarothrura is one of those rallid genera in which the 'ptimaries are moulted alternatively rather than simultaneously (v7de e.g. ‘Stresemann & Stresemann 1966). Since, however, there are not very many ‘collected specimens of Sarothrura in moult, it may be worth mentioning a | o- specimen. Mortensen (1971), writing on a collection of birds from Liberia and Guinea, describes (p. 116) a male S. pu/chra with one primary half 2 b lig which was shot on a nest with two eggs. 3 Acknowledgements I would like to thank my co-authors of the Sarothrura monograph, Messts. C. W. Benson and M. P. Stuart Irwin, for many helpful suggestions, and the three of us are grateful to Mr. T. Oatley and the Rev. Dr. W. Serle for allow- ing the information they supplied us with to be included in this paper. I would also like to acknowledge the help of my colleagues Messrs. Forbes- Watson and Turner in tracking down and identifying the voices of Sarothrura insularis, and the three of us are likewise grateful to M. Georges Randriano- solo for pointing out the call of the bird and helping us find it. We would also like to thank M. Roederer, Director of O.R.S.T.O.M., for permitting M. Randrianosolo to accompany us in Madagascar. References: Archer, G. & Godman, E. M. 1937. The birds of British Somaliland and the Gulf of Aden 2. London: Gurney & Jackson. Benson, C. W. 1947. Notes on the birds of southern Abyssinia. [bis 89: 29-50. Keith, Stuart, Benson, C. W. & Irwin, M. P. Stuart. 1970. The genus Sarothrura (Aves, Rallidae). Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 143(1). Mottensen, P. 1971. A collection of birds from Liberia and Guinea (Aves). Sveenstrupia | (Zool. Mus. Copenhagen) 1: 115-125. Pooley, A. C. 1962. Red-chested Pigmy Rail Sarothrura rufa. Lammergier 2(2): 45. Rand, A. L. 1936. The distribution and habits of Madagascar birds. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Fist. 72(5): 143-499. Reichenow, A. 1892. Zur v6gelfauna von Kamerun. Journ. Ornith. 40: 177-195. Roux, F. & Benson, C. W. 1969. The Buff-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura elegans in Ethiopia. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 89: 119-120. Stresemann, E. & Stresemann, V. 1966. Die mauser der végel. Journ. Ornith. 107, suppl. 136 : eins r a A as fCr. Scan =, So vrodtenikt cr bos os a3 BOLO MEE. md te et so a Oe le lage aa to Hin) aM “oe - + > 8 4 © : ’ . ‘ ire Be * ay bi ret a | aah ‘ae ert Of Se eh iat a , USE ae iA? 2ha4 SFL) in id _ , Roti fe guibs total hase : Ho “Oo Ragga i inc his | eee Wethy 10 Daa sult 304 Str ne -oatt & spritlhaze Broan Wiens ai pe 2 hee satis FERN ORae NG AKA: aod Nd. a 3 SI tenis: cl } af Ae hy Le rrikey « 14 bys vans] a “y aot ‘a ; My . h ae. y * a — a : 1 Wn as an nM a een aia gonnbity he 10H Pera HAE PIE dss b- s cr i a a : aural bat cas ue as a CONTRIBUTORS Contributions are not restricted to members of the Club. They should be addressed personally to the Editor, C. W. Benson, Department of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge. Contributions are accepted n condition that sole publication is offered in the first instance to this Bullefn. 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Members of the Club are sent the Bulletin gratis. Changes of address and other correspondence regarding membership should be sent to the Hon. Treasurer. SUBSCRIPTION TO BULLETIN The Bulletin may be purchased by non-members annually for £3.50 (payable in advance) or per copy gop (index free), payable to the Hon. Treasurer. CORRESPONDENCE Other correspondence should be addressed to the Hon. Secretary, R. E. F. Peal, 24 Creighton Avenue, London N10 1NU. Published by the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB and printed by The Caxton and Holmesdale Press, 104 London Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club Edited by C. W. BENSON Volume 93 No. 4 December 1973 Committee Sir Hugh Elliott, Bt., 0.B.£. (Chairman) J. H. Elgood (Vice-Chairman) C. W. Benson, 0.3.E. (Editor) R. E. F. Peal (Alon. Secretary) P. Tate (Hon. Treasurer) J. H. R. Boswall Dr. P. J. K. Burton P. Hogg C..J:- Mead Bulletin of the | BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB saps Pe 4 Vol. 93 No. 4 Jee Published: 20 December, 1973 i 6 JANI 974 The six hundred and eighty-fourth meeting of the Club was held at the Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, Londen; W.1, on Puesday, 18th September 1973 at 7 p.m. Ria Chairman: Sit Hugh Elliott, Bt., 0.B.£., present 23 members and 22 guests The speaker was Dr. Leslie H. Brown, 0.B.£., B.sc., who addressed the Club on British Birds of Prey. The following is a précis of his address :— Despite legislative and educational measures of recent decades, our diurnal raptor fauna still strikes a visitor from Africa as impoverished and threatened. Of the 25 species, nine are vagrants, of which three (Sea Eagle, Black Kite, Red-footed Falcon) could conceivably some day stay to breed. Another two are boreal migrants, which although fairly regular are unlikely to do so (Gyrfalcon, Rough-legged Buzzard). Of the remaining 14 breeding species, four are represented by under 10 pairs (Honey Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Goshawk—the first two limited by ecological factors). There are 10-50 pairs of Red Kite and Montagu’s Harrier, 50-100 of Hobby, and 100- 500 of Hen Harrier, Golden Eagle, Merlin and Peregrine. This leaves only three species with populations exceeding 500 pairs and reasonably common, especially in the west where agricultural pesticides and gamekeepers, mainly pesticides, but even more so gamekeepers, are less prevalently hostile to Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard respectively. Notwithstanding some successes (Hen Harrier, Osprey, Red Kite)—none of them unmarred by human interference—the conservation picture is black. Thus, since 1960, the Golden Eagle has continued its decline: now, out of about 280 pairs, 220 breed but 80-90 of them fail through persecution by gamekeepers and shepherds, casual disturbance, egg-collecting and other causes, in descending order of importance. The proportional loss is far higher—reducing breeding success, for example, from 0-83 to 0: 56 per pair per annum—than that resulting from the much publicized eagle-shoots in America, which accounted at most for 2-5 % of a population conservatively estimated at 50—-100,000. The speaker emphasized the view that gamekeeping (for which land- owners should bear a full share of responsibility) remains the major threat, though other factors discussed were poisons and pesticides, disturbance (the disappearance of 5—16 pairs of eagles in Deeside in the last 12 years was attributed to this cause), habitat destruction, ecological limitations, and “unknown” (Merlin). It followed that, while pesticide monitoring and re-. search, behavioural research (of which the needs and opportunities were far from fully appreciated and exploited, particularly in the case of such species as Merlin and such subjects as food and breeding success, even of Buzzard and Kestrel), extension of reserves, and possibly reintroductions, are all necessary and desirable, their success depends on a much mote effective ee ation of attitudes and above all law-enforcement than anything yet achieved. 137 Ne ee The juvenile plumage of Pseudhirundo griseopyga and identity of “Vom Swallows” by C. H. Fry Received 17th August, 1973 In his paper on the African swallow Pseudhbirundo (Hirundo) griseopyga (Sunde- vall), Dowsett (1972) referred to two peculiar hirundines netted and released alive by Dr. J. R. Lang at Vom (9°50’N., 8°50’E.) in central Nigeria on 2oth March 1968. Colour photographs and measurements showed them to resemble P. griseopyga, a small swallow with dark brown crown, glossy blue- black back, and greyish rump, but there were some distinctive plumage differences. The opinion had previously gained wide currency that they might represent a new species, although Dowsett thought they would prove to be some form of griseopyga. On 26th April 1973 Dr. Lang netted three further ““Vom swallows” and he is certain that they are the same as the 1968 birds. I have examined the three in the flesh at the British Museum (Natural History) and there is no doubt that they are juvenile P. griseopyga, vindicating Dowsett’s judgement. The uncertainty arose in the first place because the juvenile plumage, which differs markedly from the adult, is not at all adequately described in any of the standard African texts, despite there being already a few juvenile skins at — the Museum. A full description is being published in the Bulletin of the Nigerian Ornithologists’ Society, and the salient details are as follows:— Mantle, scapulars and flight feathers brown, entirely lacking the adults’ strong blue gloss (two specimens) or with blue gloss discernible only on close inspection (one specimen); rump feathers grey-brown with 2 mm wide pale fawn tips; marked superciliary stripe formed by narrow (< 1mm) whitish tips and edges to feathers at sides of crown, the stripe broadening behind the eye and even extending onto the nape and in strong contrast with the mask formed by black-brown lores and ear coverts; pale buffy tips to secondaries, inner primaries and greater wing coverts; tail notch about 25 mm deep (up to 59 mm in adult). Thus in the field juvenile P. griseopyga will somewhat resemble a fork- tailed Aiparia: a small hirundine with mid brown upperparts with paler — rump, and black mask contrasting with white superciliary stripe and white undezpatts. At close range the juvenile appears scaly, owing to the more or less narrow buffy edges to its brown feathers. This applies also to adults in fresh plumage, since at all moults newly-grown feathers are narrowly buff edged. The pale tips probably abrade away rapidly. In addition both juveniles and adults have a salmon-pink wash on the freshly-grown white feathers of the chin, throat and breast. This colour also seems to disappear soon; a Nigerian nestling near to fledging on 9th May (B.M. reg. no. 1955.59.159) is pink below, while neither the Vom specimens nor one of the same age and season (9th April) from further north in Nigeria show any pink (B.M. reg. no. 1933.8.2. 27.1). Adult P. g. melbina from ‘Liberia and P. g. gertrudis from Nigeria and Cameroun have warm buff- or salmon-pink chins and throats when freshly moulted in August, but September and later skins are without any pink. The residential status of P. griseopyga in Nigeria has been discussed by Elgood, Fry & Dowsett (1973) and little can be added on the strength of the | 138 Vom records. If it breeds on the Jos Plateau, on which Vom is situated at 1,310 m, it must do so extremely sparsely since in 14 years Dr. Lang has seen none other than those netted. It may be significant that, as Dr. Lang reports, there was a small migratory movement at Vom when the 1973 birds were netted, with Palaearctic passerines and the first plateau record of Turnix nana on the same day. The swallows, which I consider had fledged within four weeks, may have been migrants dispersing northward from Niger-Benue breeding grounds (Bannerman 1953). References: Bannerman, D. A. 1953. The Birds of West and Equatorial Africa. 2 vols. Edinburgh & London: Oliver & Boyd. Dowsett, R. J. 1972. Geographical variation in Bicagiirws griseopyga. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 92: 97-100. Blgood. i H., Fry, C. H. & Dowsett, R. J. 1973. African migrants in Nigeria. /bis 115: 1-45, 375-411. A new tace of Thekla Lark in Harrar, Ethiopia by C. Brard ¢& G. Jarry Received 21st August, 1973 In classifying the specimens recently brought back from Ethiopia by various expeditions from the Laboratoire de Zoologie (Mammifeéres et Oiseaux) du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris, we noticed three Thekla Larks from Harrar which at once seemed to us peculiar. These three speci- mens have been compared by one of us (C.E.) with the extensive material in the British Museum (Natural History). We thank Dr. D. W. Snow and I. C. J. Galbraith for facilities provided and C. W. Benson who translated our paper. These birds seem to us sufficiently homogeneous and distinct from other races of Galerida theklae to require their own name. Accordingly we propose: Galerida theklae harrarensis, subsp. nov. Description: This new form has no close resemblance to the populations of the high plateaus of Ethiopia attached to praefermissa (Blanford), the colour of which is very dark, especially the reddish fawn underparts. It is akin to e//oti Hartert of Somalia, from which it is nevertheless easily dis- tinguishable. Harrarensis is in effect darker, less sandy: the streaks on the back are clearly of a brown which is more blackish in tone, these dark centres to the feathers being wider and much better defined. Below, the pectoral streaks are heavier. Finally, an important character, the bill of harrarensis is shorter than that of e//ioti, and it is also clearly finer. These specimens have also been compared with G. 7. huriensis Benson of northern Kenya. Six specimens of the latter in worn plumage, comparable in this respect to our specimens, are very easily distinguished by their darker colour. The mantle of /arrarensis is less densely streaked, the dark centres of the feathers being narrower. The feathers of the rump and upper-tail coverts are of an almost uniform pinkish brown contrasting with the rest of the upperparts, whereas in Auriensis the rump and upper-tail coverts are merely anced with a brown of a reddish rather than a pinkish tone and the centre tb) is dark brown: Below, buriensis is more streaked on the chest, the markings being particularly large and densely distributed. Furthermore, huriensis has the bill longer and stouter, and has much less light fawn on the outer rectrices. | : Distribution: At present harrarensis is only known from three specimens collected in the north of the province of Harrar on 18th March 1971: 3, 5 km west of Jigjigga (9°21’N, 42°46’), altitude 1,700 m; JQ, 32 km south-east of Jigjigga (9°14'N, 43°02’B), altitude 1,550 m. The first one was obtained in a steppe of low acacia bushes scattered over stony ground; the other two in an analogous habitat but much more rocky owing to the presence of the bed of a dry wadi. At these two localities, and in between, this form was relatively common. It did not appear to be breeding at this time. Type: 3 adult, 5 km west of Jigjigga, 18th March 1971. Collectors’ no: 2,794. In Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris. Measurements of type: Wing 101, tail 57, bill (from skull) 14-5, hind-claw II mm. Measurements of material as a whole: The following is a summary of measure- ments, of material all of the same degree of wear of plumage: Wing Tail Bill from — Hind-claw skull G. t. harrarensis 24d 100, IOI Stes ar 145, (both) Gres 5515 2 93 52 14°5 11 G. ¢. ellioti 73399-10375 51-60 14 $5755 saae av 101°8 56° 5 15:7 9°9 G. t. huriensis 555 97-101 SIS pOOna clin ly TEs Sah5 av 99:1 56-0 16°1 LZ The type of harrarensis weighed 30 g; the male from 32 km south-east of Jigjigga 32 g, the female therefrom 31¢. Remarks: Urban & Brown (1971: 71) record only G. ¢. praetermissa and | huriensis from Ethiopia. The latter should strictly speaking only figure in an inventory of the birds of Ethiopia as “‘probable’’. It has never been collected or recorded within Ethiopia, although Benson (1945) obtained his specimens _ only five miles south of the frontier with Kenya but never met with the species during his important investigations in Sidamo. Urban & Brown do — not record G. +. e/fiotz. In this respect they follow White (1961: 50), who records this race only from the interior of British Somaliland south to Galkayu and Merca in Italian Somalia. Now, the type-locality of e//oti is Daghabur (8°11'N, 43°31’E), which is in the Ethiopian part of the Ogaden, that is to say, in the south of the province of Harrar. Thus it is right to admit this form to the list of the birds of Ethiopia and to investigate its exact _ distribution in the Ogaden. References: Benson, C. W. 1945. Observations from Kenya Colony, Uganda and Tanganyika Territory. [bis 87: 90-95. Urban, E. K. & Brown, L. H. 1971. A check-list of the birds of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: Haile Sellassie I University Press. White, C. M. N. 1961. A revised check list of African broadbills, pittas, larks, swallows, wagtails and pipits. Lusaka: Government Printer. 140 ee ————— A new race of Thekla Lark in Bale, Ethiopia by C. Erard & R. de Naurois Received 21st August, 1973 A study by one of us (R.N.), on the evolution of larks of the genus Galerida, led us to consider jointly the populations of G. thek/ae of the high plateaus of Ethiopia, until now considered as constituting the subspecies praetermissa (Blanford). Accordingly we have examined the material brought back by recent expeditions to Ethiopia organised by the Laboratoire de Zoologie (Mammiféres et Oiseaux) du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris and that housed in the collections of the British Museum (Natural History). It is apparent to us that the birds of Bale are distinguishable from those from other high plateaus of Ethiopia, from which they are separated by the Rift Valley. They seem to constitute a discrete form, which we propose to call, in memory of our friend the late Francois Hie: Galerida theklae huei, subsp. nov. Description: This form has no close resemblance to G. ¢. e//io/i Hartert or G. +. harrarensis Eratd & Jarry (see immediately above), which are light coloured with a pronounced sandy tone. It is however near to G. +. praeter- missa and huriensis Benson. In comparison with these two races, Auei has the streaking of the upperparts distinctly blacker and more intense (in worn plumage, the back and the top of the head appear almost uniformly black). The pale borders of the feathers of the mantle are narrower and lighter, more creamy or very light buff, less pinkish brown, this being particularly clear on the neck, where there is the outline of a pale band. The cheeks are likewise more intensely streaked than in praetermissa. On the underparts vez is white, very slightly washed with light buff as in Awriensis, whereas praetermissa is a dark pinky brown, only rarely pale in colour. The streaking of the chest, of a much less heavy aspect than in huriensis, is similar to that of praetermissa, but the streaks are heavier and more densely distributed. The throat is white as in Auriensis but much less streaked; in praetermissa the throat is buffy. The beak of hue is intermediate between that of praefermissa (long and slender) and that of buriensis (long and stout). Distribution: G. t. huei inhabits the mountains of Bale where it has been collected at Dinsho (7°06’N, 39°47’E) at an altitude of 3,200 m, and where the species is relatively common, inhabiting steppes and plains of a medium altitude (cf. Dorst & Roux 1972: 208). We likewise attribute to /ue/, although not identical in all characters, two specimens collected on 28th February 1971 at Asella (7°58’N, 39°04’), in Arussi, at an altitude of 2,640 m, on the edge of degraded forest intersected by cultivation. They are in fresh plumage, with a very dark pigmentation, although the edges of the feathers of the mantle are more like those in praetermissa (that is, more pinkish brown) of the Addis Ababa plateau. On the other hand, the underparts are much as in Awe/. The measurements of these two specimens are included below with those of that form. It is probably also huvei which Dorst & Roux (1973) found well represented at Koffole (7°05’N, 38°45’E), in Arussi, on arid steppes at an altitude of 25550 mM. Type: 3 adult, Dinsho, 14th March 1968, specimen no. 24 collected by patty composed of Prof. J. Dorst, F. Roux and J. Chauvency. In Muséum National d’ Histoire Naturelle, Paris. 141 Measurements and weight of type: Wing 103, tail 54-5, bill (from skull) 17:5, a hind-claw 11-5 mm. Weight 34 g. 4 Measurements and weights of material as a whole: We compare below only praetermissa and huei; for data for huriensis, ellioti and harrarensis, the other 3 races recorded from Ethiopia, see Erard & Jarry above. The three items Me indicate respectively mean, range and number of specimens examined. 4 Wing Tail Bill from skull — Hind-clay Weight : millimetres grammes G. t. praetermissa GS 1017 yey 16 +6 2555 3572 3 GP TOT: SAG" GOP Oia 5 PTs OT Ose alee 21 ZO 20 19 14 a POO S05 +S jing 161 13+1 34°0 2 91 — 99 AoE a 1 oa pee uae S tet OLE OS 2 5 5 5 Se cphy 3 ‘ G. ¢t. huei - dS 1037 54°6 17°0 13°5 350 % POT TOR AZ ogg Gt 28 TiS Hers ey 4 4 4 4 4 Ave} 3) Se UTS 51°0 ay 14°3 33°3 i DT Ite SOT a) te es 12-1675 32 — 34 we 5 s 3 3 Remarks: The existence of this dark form /uvez was foreseen by Friedmann (1937: 31), who remarked that the birds collected by the Childs Frick ~ Expedition on the plateau of Arussi were blacker on the back and head than those of Shoa and that they “may represent an undescribed form’’. Friedmann refrained from naming it, not knowing the extent of individual variation in praetermissa; this all the more because Blanford (1870: 381) had named ““A. (G.) arenicola? Tristram, var. fusca’ a very dark specimen obtained at — Ashangi (12°35’N, 39°39’E). It seems to us that praefermissa does show a certain variation in intensity of pigmentation. But in spite of an examination of the long series in the British Museum we have not found in this form any | individual as dark and showing the characters such as we have are in thes definition of Ayez. Three specimens from the vicinity of Ambo (8°57’N, 37°58’E) collected in October 1971 between 2,200 and 2,400 m in altitude show a slight ap-— proach to Auei. However, a careful examination shows that they are pale below, the pectoral striation is of the praetermissa type, being narrower and mote diffuse than in /vez, the throat is washed with light buffy, the upperparts are certainly dark but not to the extent found in Aue, while the pale margins to the feathers of the mantle do not accord with this latter but rather with those in praetermissa. References: Blanford, \’. T. 1870. Observations on the geology and zoology of Abyssinia. London: Macmillan. Dorst, J. & Roux, F. 1972. Esquisse écologique sur l’avifaune des monts du Bale, Ethiopie. L’Oiseau et R.F.O. 42: 203-240. — 1973. L’avifaune des forets de Podocarpus de la province de l’Arussi, Ethiopie. L’Osseau et R.F.O. 43: in press. Friedmann, H. 1937. Birds collected by the Childs Frick Expedition to Ethiopia and Kenya — Colony. Part 2—passeres. U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 153: 506 pp. 142 A new race of Pectoral-patch Cisticola from Cameroun by C. Chappuis & C. Erard Received 21st August, 1973 _ During a scientific journey which took us from Tchad to Gabon, we had the : opportunity in October 1972 to traverse the montane area of Adamaoua in central Cameroun. On 17th October, in the area of the Mbangi mountains (see Plate 90 in Bartholomew 1956), at 40 km north of Ngaoundere (ca. 7°45'N, -13°25’E) and altitude 1,400 m, we discovered a population of the Pectoral-patch Cisticola Cisticola brunnescens Heuglin on a plateau covered with meadows consisting of very short grass on stony ground, and strewn with strands of small area of bushes, relatively little crowded, meagre and low (height 0-80 to 1 m). This bushy vegetation was more luxurious in hollows and drainage lines, developing into shrubs (height 2 to 3 m). The Pectoral-patch Cisticolas were frequenting the low tufts and thinly scattered bushes on the edges of the meadows. This habitat differed from that known to one of us (C.E.) in Ethiopia, where brunnescens inhabits humid meadows with grass of a height of 0-30 to 1 m. It would seem that in this Adamaoua locality, the grass being so short, the birds were associated rather fest (' ) | 2 | | | | 4 12000 (| i, | | \ i 1 | | 8000 | 4 \ ; \ ' 4000 Hl | if 244 7 Mm.Sec msec a B 48000 32000 16000 Figure 1. Song in flight of C7sticola brunnescens mbangensis. A: Sonagram on standard scale, 160 — 16000 Hz. B: The same reduced to quarter speed of A to show distribution of energy in band 5000 — 7ooo Hz. (Sonagrams made with wide band-path filter). with the bushy formations. It may be noted that in the highlands of Bamenda | (5°55'N, 10°10’B), in ex-British Cameroun (now part of Nigeria), where the form C. b. /ynesi Bates occurs, the species inhabits (according to the labels of 143 specimens in the British Museum, collectors Admiral H. Lynes and the Rev. Dr. W. Serle), certainly “‘moorland” and ‘‘open grassy flats” but also “‘bare hills with small shrubs and no new grass yet’’, this latter biotope resembling that in which we found it. The males were singing, at intervals from one another of 100 to 150 m. The song—apparently like that of the nominate race of the Ethiopian plateaus—was performed either in flight (the most usual) or from the top of a small bush: see sonagrams in Fig. 1. In this habitat, Macronyx croceus and Galerida (=Heliocorys) modesta were common; Myrmecocichla nigra and Francolinus bicalcaratus were seen; while in the neigh- bouring zone of high bushes the dominant species were Prinia subflava, Cisticola brachyptera, C. natalensis, Nectarinia cuprea, Tchagra senegala and Serinus moxambicus. Three males collected (at the finish of reproductive activity: testes 3 mm long) have been compared with the important material in the British Museum _ at Tring. It appears that this population of Adamaoua is sufficiently distinct from the other races of the species to require a name. So we propose: Cisticola brunnescens mbangensis, subsp. nov. Description: Our specimens are in very worn nuptial plumage, but never- theless are at once distinguishable from the other races in the same plumage. They resemble most closely /ynesz Bates of the highlands of Bamenda, the ~ only area not far from Cameroun where the species is so far known (White — 1962: 683). They differ in their smaller size: see measurements below. The general coloration is lighter. The streaking of the upperparts is less intense, these markings being narrower and in particular more brownish, less blackish. The crown is more rusty, not hazel. The rump contrasts with the mantle and is a bright and dark rusty maroon, lacking the yellowish tone of lynesi. Although very worn, the edges of the feathers of the mantle and the wing-coverts appear more yellowish, less reddish. Distribution: So far only known from the type locality in the highlands of Adamaoua, Cameroun. Type: 3 adult, Adamaoua, 17th October 1972, collected by the authors, their no. 22. In Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris (wing 50, tail — 25°5, bill from skull 10 mm). Measurements: The following are comparative measurements of the new race and eight males in breeding dress from the highlands of Bamenda: ? oa i a ae Wing Tail Bill from skull C. b. lynesi 8 33 51. $4.052°4) 26 31.(28+9).- Te ea a C. b. mbangensis 3 bd 49-50(49°5) 24-26 (25-1) 10 — 10°5 (10°1) Acknowledgements: We are grateful to Dr. D. W. Snow and I. C. J. Gal- | braith for making us welcome in the bird room at Tring and for the loan of specimens. We are likewise thankful to C. W. Benson for translating our text into English, and also to Mrs. J. Hall-Craggs for assistance in its finalisation. References: Bartholomew, J. 1956. The Times Atlas of the world. [V. London: Times Publishing Com- pany. | White, C. M. N. 1962. A checklist of the Ethiopian Muscicapidae (Sylviinae). Part II. Occ. | Pap. Nat. Mus. S. Rhod. 26 B: 653-738. 144 Monticola sharpei by T. Farkas Received 29th May, 1973 INTRODUCTION The uncertainty about the generic and specific status of rock-thrushes in Madagascar has been discussed by Goodwin (1956). I worked in the field, in _ the breeding areas of these birds, from October 1969 to January 1970, as a result of which I was able to ascertain new details of various aspects of their biology. These details, preceded by an examination of specimens in the American Museum of Natural History, New York, support the suggestion of Salomonsen (1934), Goodwin (1956) and (recently) Hall & Moreau (1970) that the species concerned should be placed in the genus Monticola. Indeed this had been suggested much earlier by Milne-Edwards & Gran- _ didier (1879: 367), using the name Pefrocincla instead of Monticola. | (Farkas 1971) have already discussed Monticola bensoni Farkas, and I will do the same The biology and a new subspecies of / for M. imerina (Hartlaub) in due course. The subject of the present paper is the more complicated case of MM. sharpei (Gray), which I studied in the field as follows:—Mt. d’Ambre, 3rd November/3rd December; Périnet, 9th— 22nd December; Ankaratra Mts., 27th December/znd January. A NEW SUBSPECIES _ There are several features indicating that there are three clear-cut sub- _ species. For clarification I now refer only to geographical distribution and to differences in colour-pattern in adult males. Firstly, in the Azgh/and race the slate-blue extends from the throat to the lower part of the breast, while in the /owland and northern (Mt. d’ Ambre) races this colour does not extend below the throat. Secondly, the margins of the remiges and wing-coverts are rufous in the northern race; likewise in the lowland race, except that the _ primaries are grey-edged; while in the highland race there are no rufous _ margins except for the secondaries, which are pale rufous-edged. Thirdly, the _ bright rufous rectrices are only narrowly dark-tipped in the northern race, whereas in the other two these tips are broader, and the dark colour extends along the outer webs of the outermost pair. Furthermore, the northern race _has a “‘super-rufous” phase in which the dark tips are reduced still more or | even absent, and irregular red spots may even be apparent on the dark central pair of rectrices. Finally, in the lowland race some males have a very _ pale, almost whitish patch on the chin (Plate 1), strongly reminiscent of the patch occurring regularly in the male of M. gw/aris (Swinhoe) of eastern Asia. Sharpe (1871, as Cosspyha imerina) described an adult male collected by A. | Crossley, hinting however that it might differ from the form described by | Hartlaub (1860), now known as M. imerina (Hartlaub). Thereupon Gray | (1871) designated a new species, which is now M. sharpez (Gray) (in the | References below, note the misleading title of Gray’s paper, since he des- cribed a new species of “Cossypha’’ as well as of Caprimulgus). There is nothing in Sharpe’s description to indicate that the adult male which he had before him does not belong to the highland race, i.e. that it has grey-edged wing- coverts and primaries, and a slate-blue breast as well as throat. The specimen | is in the British Museum (Natural History), and has been examined at my | request by C. W. Benson, who confirms accordingly. It is the one listed by 145 | -JoyINe Ag ‘CHIN WY ur susumoads) supouosgsdaa “radangs ayeutuIOU “rouINe kg -CEN' WY ul suauttseds) peuUTyo-sNYyM “j4oI (jeusoU,- “uasuoumojos “WASI O} IO] ‘sayeuraz yMpe “radugs vjospuopy ~% Ped pauuryo-anyq “IyayT fsopeur anpe “zwasuomopvs radsvgs vjoIuopy “i IRI Warren & Harrison (1971) as a syntype of “Cossypha sharpei G. R. Gray, 1871” (sic), the other two syntypes doubtless being the two specimens regarded by Sharpe (1871) as young. The size of this specimen had already aroused the suspicion of Salomonsen (1934). He refers to it as “‘exceptionally big”, with a wing-length of 82, as against 75-78 mm in “eight other males from Sianaka’’. Benson has also made its wing-length to be 82 mm. Thus this specimen belongs to the blue-breasted, grey-winged, large highland race, the correct name of which is therefore Monticola sharpei sharpei (Gray). Salo- monsen (1934) overlooked this, and re-described the highland race as M. imerina interioris, which is accordingly a synonym of M. s. sharpei. Conse- quently the small lowland race is in need of a name and description :— Monticola sharpei salomonseni, subsp. nov. Type: 3 adult, collected in May 1929, Sianaka forest, eastern Madagascar. In American Museum of Natural History, registered number 412287. Measurements of type: Wing 71, tail 53, culmen (from rhamphotheca) 11, tarsus 24 mm. Description: The adult male of sa/omonseni differs in colour from that of nominate sharpe/ in that the slate-blue of the throat does not extend onto the breast, and only the primaries have grey edges on their outer webs, the wing- covetts and secondaries being rufous-edged. Sa/monseni is a very small form, indeed the smallest in the genus as a whole. For further detailed wing- measurements, see Salomonsen (1934, in which sharper = salomonseni, interioris = sharpei). The tail seems disproportionately short; thus 47-59, av. 54:8 mm, in 12 males in the A.M.N.H. By contrast, the adult female is little more than a small version of that of M. s. erythronotus (Lavauden), although with the strong rufous tints of this northern (Mt. d’Ambtre) race relatively subdued. Yet the most distinctive feature is the white gular patch, reaching to the lower mandible, and edged by a dark malar stripe. This patch is less marked in the other two races (Plate 2). The underparts are pale brownish with a rufous tint, darkest on the breast and its sides, where there are oblong buff spots with dark, thin edges, diminishing downwards and replaced on the abdomen by narrow, dark apical tips to the feathers, giving a scaly appearance. The upperparts are plain dark olive with some red tinge, the wings similar but paler. The two central rectrices are dark olive with very fine, dark cross-bars, the others lighter with some rufous tinge, with a few irregularly shaped, pale rufous spots. Such spots and the rufous tinge are less developed in the nominate race, but more so in erythronotus, salomonseni thus being intermediate in this respect. Distribution: Salomonseni occupies the eastern lowland primeval forests, down to sea-level around the Baie d’Antongil, and intergrades at higher altitudes with the nominate race. An adult male which I measured (wing 77, tail 57, culmen 13, tarsus 25 mm), in the museum of the Office de Recherche Scientifique et Technique Outre-Mer (O.R.S.T.O.M.), Tananarive, seems intermediate. It was collected in 1924 at Bejofo-Bealanana, ca. 14°30'S., 48°45’E. The nominate, highland race occupies the Ankaratra Mts., and high ground on the central ridge of Madagascar to the north and south. Georges Randrianasolo (pers. comm.) has recently collected it in the forest patches of the Ankazobe Mts. (north-west of Tananarive), and Benson in the Massif de l’Itremo, west of Ambositra (two females, one adult, wings 79, one juvenile, wings 80 mm, 10/11 January). Salomonsen (1934) suggests that the type-specimen of sharpei (that is, the syntype listed by Warren & Harrison 147 1971) came ftom somewhere in the Sianaka forest. In fact, as Benson cor-_ roborates, it is merely labelled ‘‘Madagascar’’. But it can be presumed that it was collected at a higher altitude west of the Sianaka forest, perhaps in the mountains west of Moromanga, or still further west and higher. At present erythronotus is only known from Mt. d’Ambre, in the northern- most tip of Madagascar. But it may intergrade to the southward with the nominate race. According to Randrianasolo, during an O.R.S.T.O.M. expedition in November 1966 to the Massif du Tsaratanana, led by R. Albignac, an adult male of an unknown race of MM. sharpei was collected at a nest with two well developed young. The site was at an altitude of 2,050 m, in light forest with many bamboos in the undergrowth, the nest being 1-5 m up on a moss-covered rock. This specimen is in the collection of Col. Ph. Milon, and still awaits determination. It could be an intermediate. HABITAT PREFERENCE, GENERAL HABITS In the Ankaratra Mts., from the lower edge of the primeval forests up to 2,000 m, near the summit, WM. sharpe7 is common under the dense and high canopy wherever there is little or no undergrowth. The floor is thickly covered with fallen leaves and debris, in damper places with a cushion of moss. In clearings or less dense parts of the forests there is a high and lush shrubbery, unsuited to the species. In fact the birds prefer the more humid parts along streams, and wooded creeks. Along such creeks I found sharpei to be ubiquitous, although to-day most of them are cut off from the main body of the forests, encircled by pine plantations or low, dense secondary brush, both quite unsuited to it. The female spends more time on the ground than does the male. There she is perfectly camouflaged both by her cryptic colour and her quietness (Rand 1936 aptly refers to sharper as “‘sedate’’). Often my first sight of the female was when she flew up only a few yards away, to alight on a low perch. If I tried to get nearer, she flew up into the canopy. The male is also often found on the forest floor, foraging among leaves and debris. Both sexes also take food regularly on mossy tree-trunks, lichen-bedecked thick branches, and even in the canopy. Their perches range from about 1 m up to the lower strata of the canopy. If frightened, they disappear into the canopy, remaining there, if necessary, silent and invisible for hours on end. The race erythronotus prefers places where under a somewhat discontinuous canopy of medium to high trees a luxuriant undergrowth of shrubs, tree- ferns and Pandanus thrives. The damp floor is thickly carpeted with fallen leaves, debris, moss, ferns and grass. Many strong lianas intersperse the space under the canopy, giving variety to the typical habitat of the “hooly- hooly’’, as the local foresters call these birds, in the mist-forests of Mt. d’Ambre. Like the nominate race, erythronotus also seems attracted by streams and creeks, although one can find it just as often in the margins as in the depths of the forest. But it never occurs under a continuous and dense canopy lacking in undergrowth, and never takes to places where there are only young trees dispersed among a dense undergrowth. Subject to this, it occurs from the lower edge of the forest, altitude ca. 600 m, to almost the summit at 1,450 m, though mostly between 800 and 1,200 m. Assuredly this race prefers the undergrowth more than does nominate sharpe7. I often saw males, especially at dusk, perched low by a forest path, to swoop down now and then for an insect on the ground, or even to chase prey on the wing with great skill. If alarmed, often with a peculiar and harsh shriek, they dived 148 — with a quick loop into the undergrowth, attaining a safe distance and then ascending into the canopy. Although I could not approach a male nearer than some 15 m, sometimes I could get as near to a female as 4 m. The birds often flew up to a high perch on a main branch from the rear, the head just poking out, a careful watch being kept on my movements. TERRITORY, REPRODUCTION According to Rand (1936), the onset of breeding in most Madagascar birds is in some way adjusted to the seasonal rainfall. On Mt. d’Ambre, while there is ample humidity from mist throughout the year, there is also a definite rainy season from December to March, when there are between 100 and 300 mm of rain per month. In the central highlands the picture is similar, but in the east there is good rain in every month, except September/October, when the monthly average can be as low as 50 mm in some places. The races erythronotus and sharpei start breeding four to six weeks before the onset of the rains, that is, in the second half of October or early in November. In the east, at Périnet, I spent only the middle two weeks of December, mainly because I soon realised that breeding there was already over. A freshly moulted, subadult male in the A.M.N.H. (January 1923, Périnet) also sup- ports the assumption that in sa/omonseni adults and young alike moult in December/ January, whereas in the other two races this starts in March. Thus, assuming that six months are needed from time of hatching to completion of moult out of the spotted juvenile dress, it could be that sa/omonseni starts to breed in July, that is, about the driest time of the year. Possibly under the conditions of a more evenly distributed rainfall this would be advantageous. There is no evidence of any movement in any race of M. sharpez. In the nominate and erythronotus territories are established in October. The largest one (in erythronotus) I estimated to be ca. 2:5 ha, but mostly they did not exceed 1 ha. Territorial rivalries seem to be confined to males; females, if present, were never involved in such activities. Indication of territory being marked by song, encroaching rivals were always received with threatening and self-asserting postures. A rudimentary display-flight served as a nuptial display (to the female) or as a kind of self-assertion (to another male). A male of erythronotus, incited by a tape play-back, performed in this manner repeat- edly, in front of the tape-recorder. He first showed a self-asserting posture, and then flew off to another perch, where he made a gentle bow and repeated the self-asserting posture. The intervening flight had been straight, the wings slowly beaten, the tail fully spread and a bright nuptial song uttered. Similar, teduced display-flights have been reported for M. cinclorhynchus, vide Lister (1953), and for M. gularis, Neifeldt (1966). In the few cases in which nest-building was observed, only the female was involved. Of the 18 nests found in the Ankaratra Mts., all were built on large trees, mostly in notches on trunks, but very occasionally in forks of thick branches, from 1-5 to 6 m above the ground. They were made entirely of vegetable matter, the thick base and walls mainly of moss, the cup neatly lined with fine rootlets. Typically in the highland race there is a light ring on the rim, caused by a layer of light-coloured rootlets, those towards the lining being darker (Plate 3). Average dimensions are:—height (including beard-like base) 16, total width of cup 8, depth of cup 5 cm. The nest of _ erythronotus is similar except for the absence of the light ring on the rim. The - fibrous lining appeared to have been obtained from lianas. However, an important difference in site was noted. Five nests of erythronotus found were 149 Plate 3. Nest with eggs of Monticola s. sharpei; Ankaratra Mts. By author. all skilfully hidden among Pandanus leaves, 3 to 6 m up, always in the deep shadow of the forest canopy. A. Traka, chief forester at Les Rouselles Station, told me that erythronotus builds only exceptionally on tree-trunks, mostly on Pandanus. However, a sixth nest which I found on Mt. d’Ambre had been built on the trunk of a giant tree-fern, directly over a forest path. In four clutches of erythronotus the clutch-size was only two, only in one was it three; the only clutch of the nominate was also two eggs. In both races the eggs are a pale unspotted turquoise. The two eggs from the Ankaratras measured 24 X 16°5, 23 < 17 mm. Incubation was only observed in erythro- notus. It was carried out solely by the female; although males, feeding incubating females, were observed at nests too. As soon as I approached a nest, the male always sang a few quiet warning melodies, whereupon the female slipped away from the nest. A female, two days before the hatching of eggs, somehow failed to do so; the male then stooped down to the nest with excited singing and chased her away. The period of incubation is not less than 15 days. Both parents feed the young, which after leaving the nest are under parental care for about one month. The nominate and northern races are probably single-brooded; in the lowland:race the whole breeding pattern may be different, as already suggested. POST-EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT The observations in this and the following section are based mainly on two hand-reared young males of erythronotus which I kept from the age of 10 days for two years in captivity (ages as given are always from date of hatching), although supplemented by field observations. The skin of nestlings of M. sharpei is yellow, with long, pale grey down; bill pale grey, turning blackish 150 _ within two weeks; legs ivory, turning blackish after six weeks. The large head with a bright yellow gape, and long legs, are conspicuous. The sleeping habit of nestlings is also remarkable. They lie mostly on their sides with outstretched necks and legs, the latter “‘planted”’ against the lining of the cup of the nest. On the 11th day the eyes of my two young started to open, and by the 15th all my movements were attentively followed. On the 17th day they weighed respectively 32-5, 32 g; at 5oo days 41, 43 g. The first clumsy attempts at preening started on the 12th day. They soon improved, and on the 17th preening was extended to the wings and tail. The first head- scratching (indirect) was observed on the 15th. In begging, the head stretched towards the feeding parent turns alter- nately left and right from the axis of the body, following the movements of the parent’s head. The body is lifted into a sloping position while supported on the intertarsal joints, and the wings are fluttered gently, the one nearest to the parent usually more vigorously than the opposite one (““asymmetrical’’) fluttering). “Symmetrical” fluttering also occurs, but vanishes soon after leaving the nest. The first vocal component is a quick succession of weak “peeping” tones, changing gradually after the 24th day into a humming “sreee”, rather similar to the begging calls in other Monsicola spp. This call, used in begging or for any other purpose, disappears when the young can feed independently. | The droppings are large, pear-shaped and enveloped in a tough, gelatinous substance. After leaving the nest they become smaller, and the gelatinous envelope disappears. My hand-reared young spent all their time either free in my room, or in a cage when I was on the move. But during a difficult stage of the expedition in January 1970, for reasons of their security, at night they were hung in linen bags over my bed. They accommodated themselves to this with such success that in the mornings they would only defaecate after I opened the bags. But the droppings were again as they had been in the nest- ing stage. On the 19th day the young left the nest. They moved around on the ground with quick hops as do adults. (Young in general seem to spend the first few weeks mostly on the ground. Those which I encountered in the Ankaratras in December, when disturbed, quickly flew into the canopy, descending again to the floor when it seemed safe to do so.) On the 24th day the first attempt was made to pick up ants from the ground; by that time they were able to fly some distance with ease, and even make turns in mid-air. The first attempt to catch an insect in flight was made on the 30th day. By the 4oth they were dismembering grasshoppers and earthworms, and within a few days had become self-supporting, although begging did not completely disappear until the fourth month. On leaving the nest, the male can be identified by the vivid red tail, and the brighter lemon-yellow soles and orange gape (in the female the gape and soles are by contrast pale white, this contrast being a widespread feature in the genus as a whole, at all ages). By the 4oth day, when the wings and tail had attained their full length, sexual dimorphism becomes further marked by the start of the growth of the axillaries, orange in the male, white tinged yellow in the female. Moult out of the juvenile dress started about the 120th day, on the underparts and nape, reaching its climax in the fifth month and _ ending early in the sixth. The subadult male has the full colour of the adult. _ The latter has apparently only one moult a year, and there is no marked 151 seasonal difference in plumage in M. sharpei. However, subadults can be — distinguished from adults quite easily. This is because in the juvenile dress the greater wing-coverts have buffy apical markings and the secondaries pale buffy edges. These feathers, together with the primaries, axillaries and rectrices, are not changed in the post-juvenile moult. I was obliged to cut-back the primaries of my hand-reared young of M. — sharpei (and also those of young Copsychus albospecularis pica obtained at an early stage of the expedition), in order to prevent their escape. Also, owing to crowded cages and constant travelling, some tail-feathers were broken. After my return to my home in South Africa, I left these feathers alone, hoping that I could gradually remove them. But to my surprise, when the moult came, all the damaged primaries and rectrices were replaced in a natural way, while the undamaged ones were retained. A few other hand- reared M. imerina and C. a. inexpectatus which I collected at a later stage of the expedition, and which escaped cutting or damage, moulted normally; i.e., they retained all their remiges and rectrices. Thus it seems that functional inadequacy caused by damage as described above can induce premature moulting in the young. DEVELOPMENT OF VOICE AND BEHAVIOUR PATTERNS Adults of M. sharpei warn with a quiet “‘hjutt-tock-tock”’. Such notes can also be heard sometimes separately. The “‘hjutt’’ was first heard from the young on the 18th day, when they were frightened by a sudden movement on my part. The “‘tock” was first heard on the 21st day, and accompanied by a bow. A distress-call, the shriek already referred to, was also first heard on the 21st day. The displeasure-call, a staccato “‘kerrr-errr’’, was only first heard on the 117th day; on the same day the socia/-call was also first heard—a gentle “weed”, repeated at longer intervals, serving as mutual contact between the - sexes, and often heard during the field observations. First attempts at subsong were made on the 17th day, while sleeping in the nest. The throats of the young pulsated, and a few weak inarticulate notes were heard. On the 2oth day they sang while awake. Thereafter the daily amount of time spent in this exercise gradually increased, but even by the 40th day there had been no increase in volume. The rasping, guttural double tones, so typical of the rehearsed songs of all Monticola spp. (Greenewalt 1968), were first heard on the 59th day, increasing gradually so that about the 130th day they had become a general feature of the song of these two young. During the seventh month subsong was completely superseded by the re- hearsed song, which in adults of the genus is the prevailing form of song in the off-season, though it can also be heard in the breeding season, restricted to the hottest time of day. This rehearsed song in M. sharpei is always of a very low volume, although rich in the aforementioned guttural notes and in imitations. Development of motif or primary song also started at an early stage. On the 64th day one of the young burst into a few, very loud tones (a car had started near us); on the goth day they repeatedly sang at dusk a few semi-loud motifs, and on the 120th day, again at dusk, they rendered a few short melodies. By the 280th day their melodies were in no way inferior to those of adult males; the volume of their primary song remained, however, generally low with a marked daily peak at dusk, until about the 350th day, when the volume of song increased considerably within a few days, heralding the onset of reproductive activity. There is a marked difference in the primary songs of at least M/. 5. erythronotus and M. s. sharpei, which, if this were 152 considered alone, could suffice to regard them as specifically distinct. The repertoire of erythronotus consists of a dozen or so highly stereotyped melodies while that of the nominate race is wider and characterized by a measure of variation between individuals. Singing at dusk is typical of both races, but I never heard singing at night. As regards the function of primary song in M. sharpei, the above features distinguish the /erritory song of the races erythronotus and sharpez. Like so many other features, the song of sa/omonseni awaits investigation. The signal song, being only a shortened form of territory song, serves warning purposes in both races. The limited song-repertoire of females was only heard in this context; thus as soon as I approached a fledged young, it was mainly the female which uttered a few weak signal-motifs, coupled with the staccato note of displeasure and threatening postures. The courtship song can be directed by the male either at a female or another encroaching male. In either case it is co-ordinated with courtship/self- asserting postures, and consists entirely of tonal material peculiar to the species but with an unmistakeable similarity to the courtship songs of other Monticola spp. In the young it was first heard on the 196th day. Both the nominate race and erythronotus can imitate. But, while erythronotus does only in the rehearsed song, sharpez imitates in both the rehearsed and territory songs. They imitate only the calls, never the songs, of other birds. The first imitation was heard on the 131st day. It was of the call of Ma/aco- notus zeylonus, a common species around my home-in the Cape. The reper- toire was further enlarged on the 196th day by imitation of Parus afer; after the juvenile moult, calls of Nectarinia famosa, Prinia maculosa and Spreo bicolor were added. On the 220th day imitation was heard of Hartlaubius auratus and Tchitra mutata, and in the following weeks of Coracopsis vasa and Nesillas typica, which had last been heard some five months previously while still in Madagascar. In addition to begging as described above, other fixed action patterns became apparent, in sequence as follows:—The /w7tching of the folded wings is only a gentle movement of the remiges including the primaries. It was first observed in sleeping nestlings only 16 days old. On leaving the nest, a slow tilting of the folded tail (up to ca. 30 degrees) was noted. While wing-twitching can be repeated several times in quick succession, tail-tilting is always a single movement. On the gist day “witching of the folded tail was noted—a vety quick spreading-and-folding of the rectrices. It is not very conspicuous because only the two outermost pairs of feathers are used in this scissor-like movement. It can be repeated, but only after a long interval. The /a// can also be completely spread (fanned) and remain in this position for a while. Finally, the fanned tail can also be twitched by a very swift folding-and-spreading of the two outermost pairs of feathers only. Two variations of head-movement were also noted in M. sharpe?. On one, the head is pointed motionless towards the opponent, and the neck somewhat | intracted. In the other, the head is tossed rhythmically to the left-straight ahead-to the right, thence back to straight ahead. In both variations the head feathers are kept firmly depressed. The sole znutention movement is performed immediately on leaving the nest. The clumsily hopping young, attaining some elevated point, assumes an upright stance and makes a single, lazy bow synchronized with wing- | twitching and tail-tilting. In great excitement only, this intention move- | ment can be repeated twice or thrice in quick succession. The interesting ty 3 point is that this movement soon fades away with age; adults seldom so perform. Interspecific aggressiveness was first noted on the 38th day, ie. playful chasing of a fledged Copsychus albospecularis. On the 43rd day the first action of intraspecific aggressiveness followed. On the 59th with all feathers de- pressed and the body erect, the young showed the first greeting ceremony; the head pointed slightly. upwards and the bill slightly open, a rapid subsong was uttered. From this juvenile posture the courtship display was gradually evolved. On the 96th day the first threatening posture was noted; the feathers on the mantle, back and lower breast somewhat bristled, the head pointed stiffly towards the opponent, the wings and tail twitched synchronously at irregular intervals and a few warning calls uttered (this posture was observed in both sexes). Soon thereafter followed a stage of development when the young often showed ambivalent threatening and greeting postures while singing primitive courtship songs. From these elements first on the 280th day the self-asserting posture (“imponieren”) and then on the 300th day the courtship display evolved. In the self-asserting posture all the feathers are depressed, and the tail widely spread and either titled up (if the male stays on the floor), or pressed down (if on a branch). In either position the tail is also twitched repeatedly. The head is tossed rhythmically, and a few sharp whistles uttered (cf. M. rupestris and M. angolensis, in Farkas 1962, 1968). If self-asserting is performed on the floor, the male ravs around with clumsy steps; if on a branch or other perch, he makes several turns, showing himself off alternately from the front and the back to his opponents (males), which keep their dis- tance. The courtship display is almost the same except that it 1s accompanied by a courtship song typically mingled with “‘tock-tock’s” and mimicry. If the male performs on the floor, he again rvs around the female. . ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The present paper is the third in a series of studies on Madagascar thrushes (for the first two, see Farkas 1971, 1972), a project which has been fully and most generously supported by a grant from the Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund of the American Museum of Natural History. During the visits to Mt. d’ Ambre, the Ankaratra Mountains and Périnet I enjoyed the assistance and hospitality of the Department des Eaux et Forets of the Government of the Malagasy Republic and of the O.R.S.T.O.M., Tananarive. Father Otto Appert, C. W. Benson (particularly), Professor J. Berlioz and G. S. Keith kindly provided me with valuable information while preparing the manu- script. | am most grateful for all their support. SUMMARY The status of the polytypic Monticola sharpei is teviewed, and a diagnosis given of its lowland race. In support, details of morphology, distribution and habitat preference are compared for the three subspecies so far known. The possibility of the existence of a fourth one is also mentioned. While in plu- mage, breeding season, habitat preference, primary song, nest and choice of site thereof, and timing of moult, there are certain divergences between the subspecies, as regards eggs and clutch-size, incubation, care of offspring, fixed action patterns, and calls and rehearsed songs, there seem to be no marked differences. 154 References: Farkas, T. 1962. Zur biologie und ethologie der siidafrikanischen arten der gattung Monticola (Boie). Il. Teil: Monticola rupestris L. Die Vogelyelt 83: 161-173. — 1968. Zur biologie und ethologie der Angola—Waldmerle, Monticola angolensis Sousa. Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 77: 162-189. — 1971. Monticola bensoni, a new species from south-western Madagascar. Ostrich, suppl. 9: 83-90. — 1972. Copsychus albospecularis winterbottomi, a new subspecies from the south-east of Madagascar. Ostrich 43: 228-230. Goodwin, D. 1956. Note on the genus Pseudocossyphus Sharpe. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 76: 143-144. | Gray, G. R. 1871. On a new species of Caprimulgus. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (4)8: 428-429. Greenewalt, C. H. 1968. Bird song: acoustics and physiology. Washington, D. C.: Smiths. Inst. Hall, B. P. & Moreau, R. E. 1970. An atlas of speciation in African passerine birds. London: Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Hartlaub, G. 1860. Systematische uebersicht der vGgel Madagascars. II. Journ. Ornith. 8: 81-112. _ Lister, M. D. 1953. Secondary song of some Indian birds. Journ. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. | | ; | | 52: I-40. Milne-Edwards, A. & Grandidier, A. 1879. Histoire physique, naturelle et politique de Mada- gascar, 12. Paris: Imprimerie Nationale. _ Neifeldt, I. 1966. The wood “‘Rock-thrushes”. Biol. Ptici Trudi Zool. Inst. Nauk. Leningrad 39: 120-184. Rand, A. L. 1936. The distribution and habits of Madagascar birds. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Fist, 72(5): 143-499. ana ; Ripley, S. D. 1964. Family Muscicapidae: Subfamily Turdinae, Thrushes. In Check-list of birds of the world. 10: 13-272. Cambridge, Mass.: Mus. Comp. Zool. Salomonsen, F. 1934. On a hitherto unknown fauna of montane birds in central Mada- gascat. IVov. Zool. 39: 207-215. Sharpe, R. B. 1871. Contributions to the ornithology of Madagascar. II. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond: 313-320. Warten, R. L. M. & Harrison, C. J. O. 1971. Type-specimens of birds in the British Museum (Natural History). 2. London: Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) The natal pterylosis of the Swallow-tanager by Charles T. Collins Received 3rd July, 1973 The natal pterylosis of passerine birds has received some attention in North America (Wetherbee 1957, 1958) and more recently in South Africa (Markus 1971). However, such information is nearly lacking for the vast assemblage of Neotropical birds, other than unquantified field observations included in various life history studies and brief quantified observations made on two species of tanagers (Collins 1963). Data are particularly lacking for species, as the Swallow-tanager Tersina viridis, which make up some of the smaller and distinctive taxa inhabiting this region. Until recently this distinctive fruit eating Neotropical species has been placed in the monotypic family Tersinidae. More recently (Storer 1970) it, and the tanagers of the closely telated family Thraupidae, have been relegated to subfamilial status within the more inclusive family Emberizidae. However, Sibley (1970, 1973) con- sidered Tersina to be only a distinctive genus in the tribe Thraupini and probably most closely related to Thraupis and Tangara. The information presented here on the natal pterylosis of Tersina viridis was obtained principally from eight preserved specimens of young birds. All were collected by me in the vicinity of the Estacion Biologica de Rancho Grande, Est. Aragua, Venezuela during the spring of 1972, and are referable 155 to T. v. occidentalis. Of these eight, five were very small nestlings (Stage A, see Wetherbee 1957: 356) and three were late stage embryos removed from eges which expectedly would have hatched within a day or two. The ad- ditional data from three nestlings which were examined in the field before being returned to the nest are incomplete in that the small neossoptiles of the ventral tract, secondaries and rectrices were overlooked and thus not recorded. The data from all other tracts have been included since they are in close agreement with the more detailed counts made on the preserved specimens. The total number of neossoptiles varied from a low of 77 to a high of 107 per bird. However, four of the eight specimens had from t1o1 to 103 neos- soptiles and thus a typical number of 102 can be assigned to the species based on this and the number most frequently observed for each individual tract. As discussed later, two tracts were exceptionally variable and for one of these the numerical average was used since there was no single typical number for the tract. The total number of neossoptiles is given in Table 1, and the distribution of these neossoptiles in Terszva is given in Table 2. Table 1. Total number of neossoptiles Species Number Total number of of specimens neossoptiles Tanagra ( Euphonia) violacea I Veg Thraupis palmarum 2 184-224* Piranga olivacea 2 7 ig Tersina viridis 8 102 (77-107) * from Collins (1963) ** from Wetherbee (1958) Table 2. Counts of neossoptiles of Tersina viridis Tract Number of neossoptiles Minimum Typical Maximum Coronal 3 4 6 Occipital 4 4 5 Humeral 6 8 10 Spinal (upper) 4 7 Spinal (lower)** 2 8* L205 Femoral 4 7 Ventral fo) 6(5*) 9 Secondary fo) I I Secondary Coverts 4 6 7 Caudal 6 6 6 * numerical average to nearest whole number ** unpaired tract along midline; all others paired The only previous information on the natal pterylosis of Tersina is the statement by Schaefer (1953: 439) that they have “sparse natal down’. The down of all of the specimens examined in this study appeared to be uniformly whitish or greyish-white, whereas Schaefer reported it to be “‘of the same yellowish-pink color as the rest of the body, giving the skin a peculiar light golden hue’. This discrepancy is not easily resolved as both studies were conducted in the immediate vicinity of the Estacion Biologica de Rancho Grande. | The number of neossoptiles for each tract usually varied within rather narrow limits and was constant or nearly so in some. Exceptions to this were the lower midline portion of the spinal tract and the ventral tract. In the former case the great variation (2 to 12 neossoptiles) made the choice of a typical number impossible and the average number was utilized. In the case of the ventral tract four specimens had four, five or seven neossoptiles but others had less (in one case none) and one had nine. A compromise number 156 would seem to be six: a value not actually observed in any specimen. The average number of neossoptiles in the ventral tract of all specimens was five. If this average value is used as the typical number for the tract the typical total _ count for the species would be reduced to 100, a value slightly less than the most frequently observed total. Thus the choice of six as the typical number for this tract seems more appropriate. The neossoptiles from most tracts were of medium length as compared to those of other species. However, the -neossoptiles of the ventral tract, secondaries and rectrices were very short (1-2 mm) and, as mentioned above, overlooked in the course of field ob- servations of one brood of nestlings. The total number of neossoptiles is noticeably less than for two of the three species of tanagers for which data ate available (Table 1). Both of the species of tanagers having higher total counts of neossoptiles build normal open nests while Zerszna nests in bur- rows (Schaefer 1953) and Tanagra ( Euphonia) violacea builds a compact domed nest. Further information is needed on a wider array of tanagers and their allies (Collins unpublished) before much weight can be given to this seeming correlation between “cavity” nesting and a reduction in number and dis- tribution of neossoptiles. Acknowledgements: The specimens of Tersina utilized in this study were collected as part of a continuing programme of study of Neotropical birds supported by research grants from The Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund of the American Museum of Natural History, New York. I am indebted to Dr. Gonzalo Medina Padilla for permission to stay at Rancho Grande and for the permit to collect material for this study. Manuscript preparation was aided by a Summer Faculty Fellowship from the California State University, Long Beach Foundation. References : Collins, C. T. 1963. The natal pterylosis of tanagers. Bird-Banding 34: 36-38. Markus, M. B. 1970. A preliminary survey of the occurrence of neossoptiles in South African passeriform birds, with special reference to natal pterylosis. M.S. Thesis, Univ. of Pretoria (available from Univ. Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Mich., U.S.A.; Masters Abstr. 9[3], 1971). Schaefer, E. 1953. Contribution to the life history of the Swallow Tanager. Auk Jo: 403- 6 460. Sibley, C. G. 1970. A comparative study of the egg-white proteins of passerine birds. Bw//. Peabody Mus. Nat. Hist. 32: 1-131. — 1973. The relationship of the Swallow-tanager Tersina viridis. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 93: d32 79: Storer, R. W. 1970. Subfamilies Thraupinae and Tersininae. In Check-list of birds of the world. 13. Cambridge, Mass.: Mus. Comp. Zool. Wetherbee, D. K. 1957. Natal plumages and downy pteryloses of passerine birds of North America. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 113: 339-436. — 1958. New descriptions of natal pterylosis of various bird-species. Bird-Banding 209: 232-236. A small collection of birds from Muara Island, north Borneo by Kenneth W. Prescott Received 16th July, 1973 Reading Max C. Thompson’s account (1966) of birds which he had collected on north Borneo caused me to refer to my notes concerning a small group of specimens which I had collected from Muara Island, north Borneo in June and July 1945. At first reading, it appeared that he had collected most of the apa species on the eastern coast of north Borneo but not all that I had found off the west coast. Recent comparison of my Muara birds with specimens at the American Museum of Natural History and with those at the United States National Museum disclosed a new subspecies of iora (Prescott 1970b), a kingfisher race new to Borneo (Prescott 1970a) and an important record of the Stork-billed Kingfisher in Borneo (Prescott 1972). It seems advisable, even after such a long post-collecting period, to cause a brief account of this small collection, the only known (to me) from Muara, to be added to the literature. Muara is a small island in Brunei Bay located off the north-west coast of Borneo just north of the Sarawak boundary, at approximately 5°N longitude and 115°E latitude. Collecting was carried out with the co-operation of the United States Navy as the writer was then serving as Executive Officer of the U.S.S. Jamestown, AGP-3. The specimens, made up as skins, are in the col- lection of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan (UMMZ), Ann Arbor, Michigan. The following species account is based on field notes of three brief collecting trips made during morning hours. Treron curvirostra nasica, Vhick-billed Green Pigeon: Specimen, 1: juv., sex (?), 17th July 1945, UMMZ 114,000. Several were observed on the ground and in thick bushy undergrowth, two or three feet high, alongside a small fresh-water stream about 50 feet from the ocean beach. They were shy and when frightened flew a short distance upstream to the protection of similar bushy growth. Thompson (1966: 395) collected 7. ¢. curvirostra and Smythies (1968: 232) gives 7. ¢. curvirostra as resident throughout Borneo although questioning if this subspecies is recognizable as the form on Banggi and -Balambangan Islands. Halycon chloris collaris, White-collared Kingfisher: Specimens, 2: male and female, 17th July 1945, UMMZ 113,926 and 113,927. The only two seen — were collected near the ocean shore; the female from a tall deciduous tree and the male from low second growth. These are the first recorded specimens from Borneo (Prescott 1970). Thompson (1966: 401) collected H. ¢. chlorop- tera and this is the race reported by Smythies (1968: 308-310) as resident throughout Borneo in coastal areas and estuaries, and a familiar garden bird in Brunei. It is of interest that Smythies (/oc. cit) found evidence of seasonal movement for 1. c. chloroptera, i.e. being present during the breeding season (January—August) in the west coast Kimanis Bay area just above the range of the Stork-billed Kingfisher but absent thereafter. Although I did not see H. ¢. chloroptera, my specimens were taken from the same general locality in which I took a Stork-billed Kingfisher. Pelargopsis capensis innominata, Stork-billed Kingfisher: Specimen, 1: sex (2), rith June 1945, UMMZ 114,018. This specimen has already been fully commented on by Prescott (1972: 160). Lalage nigra schisticeps, Pied Triller: Specimens, 2: male and female (?), 17th and 19th July, UMMZ 113,994 and 113,995. Both specimens were taken from low lying bushy, second growth. The species was seen but not taken by Thompson (1966: 416). Smythies (1968: 380) describes L. n. nigra as the race in Borneo and the north Bornean Islands and Maratuas. Chasen & Kloss (1930: 60) collected eight specimens of L. x. nigra on an island lying off the north-eastern coast of Borneo. Aesgithina tiphia trudiae, Common lora: Specimens 4: two males and two females, 17th and 19th July 1945, UMMZ 113,996 through 133,999. This group represents a new race (Prescott 1970b: 39-40). Thompson (1966: 420) collected individuals of A. v. viridissima in south Borneo and Sarawak and 158 A, t. aequanimis in north Borneo and Palawan. However, Smythies (1968: 387-388) gives A. ¢. viridis for south Borneo and Sarawak, A. +. aequanimis for north Borneo with the boundary between it and vzr7dis coinciding roughly with the “Sarawak-British North Borneo” boundary. Anthreptes malacensis bornensis, Brown-throated Sunbird: Specimens, 6: four females and two males, 11th June, 17th and 19th July 1945, UMMZ 114,002 to 114,006 also 114,019. All were collected from flowering bushes in low second growth at the edge of a cleared area. Individuals returned to the same area several minutes after a shot was fired and were in company with Aethopyga s. siparaja. Thompson (1966: 427) also collected this species. Smythies (1968: 492-493) gives A. m. bornensis for north Borneo including the north Bornean islands and A. m. malacensis for south Borneo and the Karimatas. Aethopyga s. siparaja, Yellow-backed Sunbird: Specimen, 1: male, 17th July 1945, UMMZ 114,007. In company with the last species, several were seen in the flowering bushes at the edge of a clearing. They were extremely shy and difficult to approach. Smythies (1968: 498-499) describes the species as a common resident in the lowlands of the main island of Borneo, Banggi Island, the Maratuas and Karimatas. However, Thompson (1966: 428) described three s/paraja individuals taken at Tawau which he noted as having darker wings than others of the race. Dicaeum trigonostigma, Orange-bellied Flowerpecker: Specimen, 1: juv., female (?), 17th July 1945, UMMZ 114,001. Collected from the flowering bushes at the wood’s edge with the two sunbirds (above). Identification of this juvenile to subspecies is uncertain. Thompson (1966: 431) collected one specimen of |’. +. dayakanum. Smythies (1968: 487) gives D. +. trigonostigma from the Karimatas and D. ¢. dayakanum from the main island of Borneo. Acknowledgements: | am grateful to Max C. Thompson and Robert W. Storer who kindly read an early draft of this note and made critical suggest- tions; moreover, the latter kindly loaned the UMMZ Muara specimens. I shall always be indebted to the late Josselyn Van Tyne who encouraged me to make the South Pacific collections. References: Chasen, F. N. & Boden Kloss, C. 1930. On a collection of birds from the lowlands and islands of north Borneo. Bull. Raffles. Mus. 4: 1-112. Prescott, Kenneth W. 1970a. A kingfisher new to Borneo. Avk 87: 586. — 1970b. A new subspecies of the Common Iora from north Borneo. Bu//. Brit. Orn. C7. B= 39-40. — 1972. Pelargopsis capensis innominata in north Borneo. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 92: 159-160. Smythies, B. E. 1968. The birds of Borneo. 2nd. ed. Edinburgh & London: Oliver & Boyd. Thompson, Max C. 1966. Birds from north Borneo. Univ. Kansas Publ. 17(8). Coracina papuensis in Indonesia by C. M. N. White Received 20th August, 1973 Coracina papuensis is a cuckoo shrike which ranges from Australia and New Guinea to the Solomon Islands and the eastern Indonesian Archipelago. In the last area Peters (1960: 179-181) lists two forms: me/anolora Gray in the northern Moluccas, and simorlaoensis Meyer in the Tenimber Islands. Melanolora hardly merits recognition as it is like the nominate form of west and north New Guinea but averages larger. Mees (1972: 81-82) has most recently pointed out that it is an extremely poor subspecies. In the case of SM, timorlaoensis the distribution given is incomplete and the validity of the subspecies questionable. Meyer described /“or/aoensis in 1884 from two specimens from the Tenim- ber Islands, both females. No other collector has obtained it there, including Kuhn who made a considerable collection there at the end of 1900 and in early 1901. Finsch (1901: 250) listed a female from Kisar collected by Schadler on 4th December 1897, and still in the Leiden Museum. Finsch identified this as the north Australian form Aypoleuca, of which he considered timorlaoensis a synonym. He also reported a female from Great Kei collected on 23rd May 1865 by Hoedt, which he likewise identified as hypoleuca. Kahn made large collections in the South-West Islands, including Kisar, but the only occasion when the species was found was in June 1906, when two fe- males were collected on Sermatta. Hartert (1911: 166) identified these as timorlaoensis with a query and a remark that it was doubtful if the form could be distinguished from Aypoleuca. Kuhn also made large collections in the Kei Islands where he did not obtain the species. Van Bemmel (1948) overlooked the Great Kei record, and Peters (1960) has overlooked it and also the records from Kisar and Sermatta. | Thus there is little to support the existence of a distinct subspecies, timorlaoensis, in the 'Tenimber Islands. Rather there are a few scattered records, all of females, from Tenimber, Great Kei, Sermatta and Kisar which seem identical with north Australian hypoleuca. Indeed they are perhaps only occasional nomadic migrants, as the dates in May and June, the Australian winter, may indicate. The December record in that case is peculiar. In the Northern Territory in Australia hypo/euca is known to breed from November to January. I am grateful to Dr. G. F. Mees for information about the specimens in the Leiden Museum, and for discussing the question dealt with in this note. References : Bemmel, A. C. V. van. 1948. A faunal list of the birds of the Moluccan islands. Treubia 19: 323-402. Finsch, O. 1901. Systematiche uebersicht der vogel der Siidwest Inseln. Notes Leyden Mus. 22: 225-300. Hartert, E. 1911. On the birds of Sermatta. Nov. Zool. 18: 161-167. Mees, G. F. 1972. Die végel der Insel Gebe. Zoo/. Meded. 46: 69-89. Peters, J. L. 1960. In Check-list of birds of the world. 9. Cambridge, Mass.: Mus. Comp. Zool. Pachycoccyx audeberti: some addenda by C. W. Benson & M. P. Stuart Irwin Received 18th July, 1973 We (1972, Arnoldia, Rhodesia 5(33): 24 pp.) detailed what is known about the distribution, biology and systematics of this cuckoo. A few points worth mention have come to light subsequently. On p. 3 we drew attention to its sparseness, both in Africa and in Mada- gascar. Further emphasis to this is lent by the fact that in the original des- cription of nominate audeberti (Schlegel 1879, Notes Leyden Mus. 1: 99) it was reported that the example collected by Audebert was the only one met with in the course of two years in north-eastern Madagascar. On p. 8 we were un able to accept a record of parasitisation of the Violet- backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster (see originally Neuby-Varty 1946, 160 ; { ™” « ao al a? rae Ostrich 17: 345). Neuby-Varty gave the measurements of the egg claimed to be of this cuckoo as 25 x 18 mm. The Rev. Dr. William Serle (pers. comm.) has pointed out that the colour, markings and size are correct for C. /euco- gaster, and that it is most unlikely to be an egg of Pachycoccyx. Furthermore, as he writes, the broken egg of this cuckoo reported by Fischer & Reichenow (1879, Journ. Ornith. 27: 341) (see our p. 6) was only slightly longer but no wider than an ege of Exuplectes flammiceps (=hordeaceus). McLachlan & Liver- sidge (1970, Roberts birds of South Africa, 3rd ed., Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund: 564), for instance, give an average measurement for the egg of FE. hordeaceus as 18:5 X 13-8 mm only. Indeed so far the only proven host is the Red-billed Helmet Shrike Prionops retzii. We regret that on p. 14 no acknowledgement was made to Dr. Kenneth C. Parkes, Curator of Birds at the Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh. He most kindly lent Benson the specimen in that museum (p. 19). See p. 20, Dr. J. Steinbacher reports that there is no specimen in the Natur-Museum und Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Frankfurt. We did not use a male in the Transvaal Museum from “‘Chambere, G. E. _ Afr., 24.9.03, J. V. O. Marais’, since we could not trace this locality (p. 19). _ However, Mrs. M. K. Rowan and Dr. A. C. Kemp have drawn our attention i a ne + a et ee to a note by Roberts (1935, Ostrich 6: 48), in which he discusses the specimen in that museum from the Olifants River, 16th July 1934, and another one therein from ‘“‘near Bagamoyo, Tanganyika Territory”. Evidently Roberts had knowledge of the history of this specimen, not recorded on the label, and it may reasonably be presumed to be one and the same as the Chambere specimen. We have still been unable to trace Chambere on any map, but it can be accepted as being near Bagamoyo, in coastal Tanzania, and whence we recorded (p. 18) a specimen in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard. The Chambere specimen was examined by Irwin. Although Roberts found the difference between it and the Olifants River specimen “quite pronounced’’, and attributed the former to P. a. validus (Reichenow), the latter to P. a. canescens Vincent, we attribute both to va/idus, of which canescens is a synonym, and founded on a specimen in very fresh dress (see our p. 12). The Chambere specimen has wing 217, tail 182, culmen from base 29 mm. Dr. Kemp reports that the Transvaal Museum has recently received a female specimen collected by O. P. M. Prozesky at Croc Ranch, Phalaborwa area, eastern Transvaal, at 23°55’S., 30°55’E., 1,500 ft. a.s.l., roth September 1972; wing 242, tail 202, culmen from base 27:3 mm. Also, Kemp himself saw an individual on the farm Charleston, eastern Transvaal, at 24°53’S., 31°35’E., 1,000 ft. a.s.l., rath July 1973. It was moving steadily from tree to tree in dry leafless mixed woodland, but was not seen to feed. Some remarks on the Lammergeyer Gypaetus barbatus in East Africa by E. Schuz Received 20th July, 1973 In his interesting bird observations on the Shira Plateau and Kibo, Kiliman- jaro, King (1973, Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 93: 68) gives only one record of the Lammergeyer, an individual of which he saw on 6th November 1968. Guest & Leedal (1954, Tang. Notes & Recs. 36: 47), who King quotes, and who 161 spent two months on the mountain, never saw it. However, there are other records from Kilimanjaro, to which attention should be drawn. Fuggles- Couchman & Elliott (1946, /b7s 88: 330) saw a pair west of the Shira ridge on 24th October. Schiiz (1958, Altes und Neues iiber das Vorkommen des Bartgeiers (Gypaetus barbatus) in Ostafrika. Journ. Ornith. 99: 394-398) gives at least five records since 1932 from various localities on Kilimanjaro, apart from several by the missionary, the late Dr. Reusch. G. H. H. Brown (1963, Journ. E:. Afr. Nat. Hist. Soc. 24: 72) gives another record—an immature bird which accompanied his safari on the march between the Bismarck and Peters Huts. So far the only material (“in the hand’’) evidence is from a feather, a secondary, found by me (Schitiz 1958, op. cit.: 396) on 5th Septem- ber 1957 at Peters Hut (3,800 m), now in the bird exhibition rooms at Schloss Rosenstein (Staatl. Mus. fiir Naturkunde in Stuttgart). The Game Depart- ment report of an immature Lammergeyer caught and photographed by Wilhelm von Furstenberg (foot-note in Moreau 1944, Tang. Notes t» Recs. 18: 48) is obscure, since Baron Furstenberg wrote to me in 1958 that he only had one field observation and had never possessed a specimen of this species ort photographed it. . As mentioned (Schiiz 1958, op. cit.: 397), records of the Lammergeyer in Fast Africa are of interest as showing a connection between the centres of — distribution in Ethiopia in the north and the Drakensberg Mts., in Natal, in the south. The most southerly outlying northern (East African) record is from Mbeya, southern Tanzania (Moreau pers. comm. to Schiiz 1958, op. cit.: 397), and the most northerly outlying southern (South African) one from Maruma (20°25’S., 33° E.) on the Mozambique/Rhodesia border. The Maruma record is based on a specimen (Swynnerton 1908, /bis [9|2: 425). Both these records were repeated by Benson & Irwin (1963, Ardea 51: 222). With regard to the Maruma one, Irwin (pers. comm., 4th August 1973) informed Benson that he knows of no further record from either Mozambique — or Rhodesia, and suggested that it probably represented a migrant from _ further south. Benson has also written to me as follows:—“‘Despite the fact — that ornithologically it has been well explored and documented—Belcher (1925, /bis [12]1: 797-814) and Vincent (1934, bis [13]4: 126-160) are only random examples—I know of no record of the Lammergeyer from Mt. Mlanje, southern Malawi. Mlanje rises to ca. 3,000 m, the uppermost 1,000 m, above the montane grasslands, being bare and boulder-strewn. There is an — excellent account of this mountain by Chapman & White (1970, The evergreen forests of Malani, Oxford, Commonwealth Forestry Institute: 162-171)”. To bring my synopsis of East African records (Schiiz 1958, op. cz.) up to date, the following references are relevant:—Hale (1958, Journ. E. Afr. Nat. Fist. Soc. 23: 16); L. H. & G. H. H. Brown (1963, Journ. E. Afr. Nat. Hitst. Soc. 24: 72); Paul Geraghty (1969, Animals 12: 312); Dewhurst (1971, EF. Afr. Nat. Hist. Soc. Bull. : 133); and Gerhart (1971, E. Afr. Nat. Hist. Soe. Bull.: 173). Brown & Brown (1963, op. cit.) claim that their records from Mt. Elgon and Muruanisagar, 40 miles west of Lodwar, thus both slightly west of 35°E., appear to be a considerable westward extension of the known range in East Africa. However, records from the Ngorongoro Crater, in northernT anzania (Schiiz 1958, op. cit. : 397; Huxley & Nicholson 1963, /bis 105: 106) ate from almost as far west, at ca. 35°30’E. Brief reference may be made to what little is known about the breeding status of the Lammergeyer in East Africa, partly based on information from L. H. Brown (pers. comm. to Benson, 6th September 1973). North (1948, — [bis 90: 138-141) has given some information from Kenya, but there still 162 seems to be no known breeding site in Tanzania. North records an egg taken at a site within 50 miles of Nanyuki in May, and according to Brown the site was in the Loldaiga Hills, near Nanyuki. North also mentions a site within so miles of Naivasha, but could not give a date for breeding. According to Brown a pair started to breed in the Njoroma Gorge (Hell’s Gate), near Naivasha, in 1964, and has done so every year since, except 1971. This site — has been visited by up to 2,000 tourists annually. Information therefrom is the source of what is written in Brown & Amadon (1968, Eagles, hawks and falcons of the world. London, Country Life Books: 313), that egg-laying takes place in Kenya in January; likewise that from the Nanyuki site in May. North also briefly mentions a site on Mt. Kenya, and Coe (1967, Monogr. Biol. 17. Den Haag: 108) implies that the Lammergeyer breeds on that mountain. There must surely be breeding sites in Tanzania and other ones in Kenya. Further information is required, but the most urgent necessity is protection. I am much indebted to C. W. Benson and Dr. L. H. Brown for their assistance in the finalisation of this paper. Organochlorine insecticide residues and food remains in a Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita chick from Birecik, Turkey by fo LP. Parstow Received 24th August, 1973 The Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita is a rare, declining species whose only known — breeding colonies are in Morocco and on a cliff in the town of Birecik, which stands beside the upper Euphrates in south-east Turkey (see Smith 1970). The only other member of the genus is the almost equally rare G. ca/vus (also. known as the Bald Ibis and regarded by some authorities as conspecific with eremita) which is restricted to South Africa where there are about 1,000 pairs in 70 known breeding colonies (Siegfried 1971). The numbers of eremita are still decreasing. The total known population of wild birds in 1972 was only about 150 pairs, of which about 60 pairs bred; 26 of these nested at Birecik, in which area there were as many as 530 pairs in 1953, but only 130 pairs in 1962 and 45—48 pairs in 1967 (Kumerloeve 1962, 1965, 1967; Porter 1973; U. Hirsch zm /itt.). The species is listed in the IL.U.C.N. Red Data Book of endangered animals, and studies of its breeding ecology in Turkey have recently been initiated under the auspices of the World Wildlife Fund as part of a programme of conservation measures. These studies are being carried out by U. Hirsch who (7m /itt.) has traced the decline to two main factors: first, the uncontrolled use of DDT ,dieldrin and other insecticides in the Birecik area by the Turkish Ministry of Health during 1958-60, which resulted in more than 100 Bald Ibises being found dead in 1959—Go in the colonies and in the fields in which the birds feed, and second, the increased disturbance of the colonies due to house building in the immediate vicinity. Kumerloeve speculated that increased cultivation along the banks of the Euphrates (and the consequent loss of feeding areas), as well as poisoning from synthetic insecticides, had caused the decline. In order to determine whether the synthetic organochlorine insecticides might still be having an _ effect on the birds, a chick and an egg collected in 1972 were sent to Monks _ Wood Experimental Station for analysis. This paper discusses the results and, - because so little detailed information exists on the species’ diet, also reports : : on the food remains found in the chick’s stomach. 163 CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF AN EGG AND CHICK The egg was collected from the colony by U. Hirsch, C. D. W. Savage and others on 4th May 1972. The contents showed no signs of embryonic development. The chick was seen to fall from a nest (during a quarrel with one of its siblings) on 15th May 1972 and was picked up dead beneath the colony. It was about 10-15 days old. The egg contents and liver of the chick were analysed at Monks Wood for organochlorine insecticide residues using gas-liquid chromatography. A sample of the food remains from the stomach of the chick was also analysed for organochlorine residues but with negative results. In addition, the egg contents were analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry for certain potentially toxic metals. Determinations for cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) were made but were negative (levels of detection, ca. 0*2 ppm). Positive results are given in Table r. TABLE 1 Organochlorine and toxic metal concentrations (in parts per million wet weight) in a Bald Ibis chick and egg. (ND = none detected, SBE me Night Herons in Wallacea by C. M. N. White Received 26th September, 1973 Wallacea is used here as a convenient short designation for the Indonesian islands which lie between the Sunda Shelf (boundary of continental south- east Asia) and the Sahul Shelf (boundary of continental Australia and New Guinea). The western boundary is also well known as Wallace’s Line. Darlington (1957: 462-473) has discussed and commended the use of Wallacea to denote these islands although he did not originate the term which had been first used nearly thirty years earlier. I use the term only as a concise geographical designation without implying a zoogeographical region or subregion. Nycticorax caledonicus hilli Mathews evidently occurs throughout Wallacea having been recorded from at least twenty-eight islands. It may be scarce in the Lesser Sundas west of Timor and Savu for there is only a single record from Flores, but as it is known to breed in east Java, it seems more likely to have been overlooked by collectors. Birds from Wallacea agree with the Australian form 47//7, although occasional examples in Celebes show intergradation towards the darker Philippine mani/lensis. An abnormally dark bird from Kema, Minahassa, north Celebes, was named Nycticorax minahassae Meyer & Wiglesworth but later its authors placed it as a synonym of manillensis. Ammadon (1942: 6) also places it as a synonym of manillensis but as other examples from north Celebes agree with /i//, it should be more correctly united with the latter which it would antedate and replace. Bock (1956) considers that N. nycticorax and NN. caledonicus form a super- species. LV. nycticorax has been recorded twice in Wallacea. There is one record from Flores which is most likely a wanderer from Java or elsewhere in Malaysia where NV. nycticorax breeds. More remarkable is the occurrence in the region of Gorontalo in north Celebes. Stresemann (1941: 10) merely remarks that it very likely breeds at Lake Limbotto but gives no additional information. Coomans de Ruiter (1948: 80-82) suggests that in fact both caledonicus and nycticorax are widely sympatric in Celebes and was unable therefore to identify specifically the birds he saw in south Celebes. Hooger- wetf (1966: 84) also refers to the two species occurring ‘“‘alongside each other” in Celebes. The actual situation is however quite different, for N. nycticorax is only known from a number of specimens, mostly over a century old, from the northern peninsula of Celebes. I am very grateful to Dr. G. F. Mees for kindly giving me details of the material in the Leiden Museum. There are nine specimens of N. nycticorax: a male collected by Forsten about 1840: two males, two females and a juvenile female collected in July and August 1863 by v. Rosenberg at Ayer Pannas, and a juvenile male collected by the same at Panybie in September: also two unsexed adults, one from Limbotto in January and another from Menado, undated. The birds obtained by v. Rosenberg are of most importance, for the same collector also obtained two juvenile NV. caledonicus in September 1863 at Limbotto and Panybie. Dr. _ Mees points out that these juveniles of both species are in spotted plumage _ but would have been fully able to fly. There is thus no evidence at all that the _ two species of Nycticorax are widely sympatric in Celebes, and only the specimens collected in 1863 indicate that at that time both species may have _ been breeding together in the northern tip of Celebes. 175 Since NV. nycticorax and N. caledonicus are both often cited as breeding — in the Philippines, similar sympatry just to the south in north Celebes would not be surprising. However duPont (1971: 22) states that NV. zycticorax is only a migrant from Asia to the Philippines, and Professor D. S. Rabor has kindly informed me that he, in 39 years of field work in the Philippines, has never found any evidence that it breeds: he personally believes that it is only a winter migrant. Thus the suspected sympatric breeding in north Celebes becomes more remarkable. Confirmation or otherwise of this would be very desirable, but after a gap of over a century conditions may have changed and breeding colonies ceased to exist. In the meantime the evidence for this supposed sympatric breeding is circumstantial only, and relates to 1863. It is perhaps worth noting that the tropical Asian night heron, Gorsachius — melanolophus, has not been recorded from Wallacea but that migrants of the Japanese G. gorsagi have been recorded from Celebes and Halmahera. Hoogerwerf (1966) has described the occurrence of odd examples of NV. caledonicus in a large breeding colony of N. nycticorax in west Java, and apparent hybridisation with the latter. There was no indication of a mixed breeding colony. In Borneo N. nycticorax occurs widely and there are a few records of LV. caledonicus in Sabah in the north but no evidence that they were breeding. Professor Rabor kindly informs me that he has observed JV. caledonicus throughout the Sulu Archipelago up to the Borneo border so that -Sabah birds might be visitors from this source. Thus all the evidence points to allopatry between nycticorax and caledonicus being virtually complete. These extralimital data such as they are only serve to emphasise that if a mixed breeding colony existed in north Celebes in 1863 it was exceptional. References: Amadon, D. 1942. Birds collected during the Whitney South Seas Expedition. 49. Notes on some non-passerine genera 1. Amer. Mus. Novit. 1175. Bock, W. J. 1956. A generic review of the family Ardeidae (Aves). Amer. Mus. Novit. 1779: Coomans de Ruiter, L. 1948. Waarnemingen van Steltloopers (Gressores) in Zuid-Celebes, in het bijzonder van het blauw-witte reigertje, Notophoyx picata (Gould). Limosa 21: 69-83. Darlington, P. J. 1957. Zoogeography. New York: Wiley. duPont, J. 1971. Philippine birds. Greenville, Delaware: Delaware Museum of Natural History. Hoogerwerf, A. 1966. The occurrence of Nycticorax caledonicus in Java. Ardea 54: 81-87. Stresemann, FE. 1941. Die v6gel von Celebes. 3. Systematik und Biologie. Journ. Ornith. 89: I-I02. 176 oa; ten, se: or og Di A, La a pi cae : <— ire et 1.7 y er) 4 riatal: ny: Ete ai 77) 4 ft} an ps) ea. fhe’: . Rs a bs "yoiic ak t 7200 5 be he foes GO? WIS: ta ADBY fi, “tel C - } aw ry ¥ ; { f = i ig re eh 4 4 ‘ a et if 5c As te SANISR MSS ae +8 Yad ce x Se BELL 7% i mL if} CONTRIBUTORS Contributions are not restricted to members of the Club. They should be addressed personally to the Editor, C. W. Benson, Department of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge. Contributions are accepted on condition that sole publication is offered in the first instance to this Bu/letin. They should be type-written, double-spaced, with wide margins, on one side of the paper, and submitted in duplicate. References to literature should be in the same format as in the notice to contributors to the Jbis (see any 1972 number). Considerations“similar to those in the /bis notice also apply in regard to nomenclature, scientific names of species and genera, and illustrations including photographs. But illus- trations including photographs can only normally be considered i Sit. contributor is willing to pay for the cost of their reproduction. » Contributors introducing a new name or describing a new ‘rin should: append som. nov., sp. nov., subsp. nov. as appropriate. In such a de the introduction ‘of the name should be followed by paragraphs for “Des- cription”, “Distribution”, “Type”, “Measurements of Type’, ‘Material examined” and further headings as required. Contributors are entitled to a maximum of ten free copies of the number of the Bulletin in which their contribution appears, provided that it exceeds one page of the Bulletin. Extra copies at cost price can be ordered through the Editor at the time of submission of the manuscript. BACK NUMBERS OF THE BULLETIN Orders or enquiries should be sent to Sir Hugh Elliott, 173 Woodstock Road, Oxford. Back numbers are supplied post free at 7op each for 1973 (vol. 93) and later issues and indices, at sop each for vols. 89-92, and at — 25p each for pre-1969 issues. Unwanted back numbers returned to the above address are most gratefully received. MEMBERSHIP Membership of the Club is restricted to Members of the British Ornitho- logists’ Union. Members of the Union wishing to join the Club should inform the the Hon. Treasurer, P. Tate, c/o Messrs. Stocken and Lazarus, 3 London Wall Buildings, London EC2, and send him a remittance for the current year’s subscription (£2.50). Members of the Club are sent the Bulletin gratis. Changes of address and other correspondence regarding membership should be sent to the Hon. Treasurer. SUBSCRIPTION TO BULLETIN The Bulletin may be purchased by non-members annually for £3.50 (payable in advance) or per copy 9o0p (index free), payable to the Hon. Treasurer. CORRESPONDENCE Other correspondence should be addressed to the Hon. Secretary, R. E. F. Peal, 24 Creighton Avenue, London N10 1NU. Published by the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB and printed by The Caxton and Holmesdale Press, 104 London Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. BULLETIN of the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB EDITED BY C. W. BENSON et HUGH F. I. ELLIOTT th et Volume 94 1974 PRICE: THREE POUNDS FIFTY PENCE PREFACE The quarterly publication and size of the issues which comprise the present volume of the Bulletin (totalling 176 pp.) have continued on the basis established in 1973. The only minor change, made for convenience of reference and record, is the resumption of the practice, last followed in Vol. 89 (1969), of listing the membership of the Club’s committee. The first two issues of 1974 were edited by Mr. C. W. Benson, prior to his retirement after five years in office, during which he set an example of editorial skill and thoroughness that would have been quite impossible to follow but for the help and guidance he so freely gave when handing over. For this, for much subsequent support and, not least, for pre- paring with the customary and able assistance of Mrs. M. Hawksley, the Scientific Index for this volume, I am extremely grateful. As before thanks are due to all who have so kindly advised the editors on papers offered for publication, including Dr. D. Amadon, Dr. W. R. P. Bourne, Mr. P. R. Colston, Dr. C. H. Fry, Mr. I. C. J. Galbraith, Mr. D. Goodwin, Mr. M. P. Stuart Irwin, Dr. A. C. Kemp, Capt. C. R. S. Pitman, Prof. W. H. Thorpe, Mr. R. Wagstaffe and Mr. C. M. N. White; and likewise to Mr. K. E. Wiltsher, Manager of the Caxton and Holmesdale Press, and his staff for maintaining standards and punctuality of production of the Bulletin despite a difficult year for the printing industry. HUGH F. I. ELLIOTT COMMITTEE (1973-74) (1974-75) Sit HuGH Exuiorr, Chairman (1971) Prof. J. H. ELtGoop, Chairman (1974) Prof. J. H. Etcoop, Vice-Chairman (1971) P. Hoce, Vice-Chairman (1974) C. W. Benson, Editor (1969) Sit HucH Ex.iorr, Editor (1974) R. E. F. Pear, Hon. Secretary (1971) R. E. F. Peat, Hon. Secretary (1971) P. Tare, Hon. Treasurer (1962) M. St. J. Succ, Hon. Treasurer (1974) J. H. R. Boswaut (1973) J. H. R. Boswa.t (1973) Dr. P. J. K. Burton (1971) Dr. C. J. O. Harrison (1974) P. Hoce (1972) C. J. MeAp (1971) C. J. Mean (1971) Lt.-Col. J. R. NErGHBour (1974) ili ( , ra : : ‘ Ak }9 / A LIST OF MEMBERS: AMENDMENTS UP TO 31st DECEMBER, 1974 y¥ (Compiled by the Hon. Secretary) “@#y ) .axd ae New Members AsuHTON, P. J., B.sc., Botany Department, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. DEAN, W. R. J., Barberspan Nature Reserve, P.O. Barberspan, Transvaal, South Africa. Dick, Dr. J. A., M.A., M.B., B.CHIR., 8 Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OEE. Gisss, A., B.sc., 20 Park Court, Park Road, Hampton Wick, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey KT1 4AV. GRIFFIN, D., M.A., 51A Palace Road, East Molesey, Surrey. Hacmann, Dr. J., Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Division of Immunology, Bute Gardens, Hammersmith, London W6 7DW. HameE1, Rev. P. J., M.A., Chaplaincy at Carleton University, 718 Parkdale Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 1J3, Canada. Hasecawa, H., M.sc., Department of Zoology-Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo-Ku Kyoto, 606 Japan. JENSEN, J. V. Holtevej 13, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark. Jones, A. M., 72 Dee Street, Aberdeen AB1 2DS. Layton, W. A., B.sc., Department of Agriculture, Konedobu, Papua New Guinea. LIMENTANI, B.SC., B.ARCH., 10 Kingfisher Green, St. Ives, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE17 4HS. McGreoor, Dr. I. A., 0.B.E., M.R.C.P., 210 Hyde End Road, Spencers Wood, near Reading, Berkshire. McNen, Dr. D. A. C., 24 Huntsmoor Road, Ewell, Surrey. Mo ter, A. P., Petersborgvej 63, DK—9000, Alborg, Denmark. Morrison, Dr. R. I. G., Canadian Wildlife Service, 2721 Highway 31, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A OH3. Nakata, Y., Kazawu-Cho 5-111, Higasisumiyosi-Ku, Osaka 546, Japan. Nicuotson, M. P., ‘Las Rocas’, Es Traves, Puerto de Soller, Mallorca, Spain. Oney, P. J. S., B.sc., Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY. OREEL, G. J. B.sc., Jozef Israélskade 130-3, Amsterdam-—1008, Netherlands. Parsons, Dr. J., c/o Medical Research Council Project, P.O. Box 1971, Kisumu, Nyanza Province, Kenya. Reap, W. A., 36 Saltersgate Drive, Birstall, Leicester LE4 3FF. Sayers, B. C., 164 Chelmer Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 6AB. Tunks, I. D. A., Department of Biological Sciences, Portsmouth Polytechnic, King Henry I Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire. Ty er, Dr. S., P.O. Box 10401, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Wo.steNncrort, J. A., ‘Woodside’, 10 Clevelands Avenue, Silverdale, Carnforth, Lanca- shire LA5 ORP. Resignations Houston, W. H. Patrick, G. L. A. SALEs, V. A. D. JoHNsoNn, F. E. B. PEALL, Mrs. O. SEARIGHT, R. G. Lees-SmituH, D. T. Russe, Jj. A: S. Wisk, A. J. Deaths The Committee much regrets to record the deaths of the following members:— Colonel the Right Reverend Monsignor F. O. CAVE, 0.B.E., M.C. Miss J. M. FERRIER Captain P. R. FoutKEs-RoBERTS, M.C. Miss M. V. GrLBERT Mr. J. M. D. MacKkEnzig, B.A. Mr. C. W. MackworTH-PRAED, O.B.E., M.A. (Honorary Secretary and Treasurer 1922- 1923 and 1929-1935, Honorary Treasurer 1935-1936, Vice-Chairman 1945-1946, Chairman 1956-1959). Professor H. ScHouTEDEN iv LIST OF AUTHORS AND CONTENTS AMADON, DEAN Taxonomic notes on the Serpent-eagles of the genus Spé/ornis ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (82nd) . ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (82nd—resumed and concluded) Asu, J. S. ‘The Boran Cisticola in Ethiopia Asn, J. S. and Warson, GEorGE E. Locustella naevia in Ethiopia AUBER, L. The structure of feathers in Chlorophanes purpurascens Backuurst, G. C. Buff-breasted sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis in Africa BENsoN, C. W. The type of the Madagascar Cuckoo Cuculus Cae ie rochii Hartlaub Another specimen of Neodrepanis hy poxantha Benson, C. W. and Irwin, M. P. Sruarr The significance of records of the Common Sandpiper breeding in East Africa BINFORD, LAURENCE C. and ZIMMERMAN, DALE A Rufous-bellied Heron in Kenya .. BLINDELL, RICHARD An address on investigations into waders and wildfowl on the Essex coast and in the Thames estuary BOsWALL, JEFFERY A film on “The private life of the Jackass (Magellanic) Penguin” BoswALL, JEFFERY and FREEMAN, W. P. A discography of bird sound from the Neotropical Region Bourne, W. R. P. The classification of Tristram’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma tristrami Salvin .. BriTTON, PETER L. Relative Biomass of Ethiopian and Palaearctic Passerines in West Kenya Habitats f iF sy bs ; Brooke, R. K. Buteo tachardus Andrew Smith 1830 Be The African southern limits of the Steppe Eagle i in winter , On the material evidence of Hieraaetus pennatus in Southern Africa Brown, L. H. The races of the European Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus Bruce, Murray D. The relationships of Buettikoforella bivittata: some considerations BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE Opinion 999 Cave, F. O. Notes on birds from the southern Sudan CrANGER)/ Ps A On the validity and range of Lamprotornis corruscus mandanus Van Someten, 1921 The chatacters and range of Pogoniulus chrysoconus exctoni (Layard), 1871 CoLEBROOK-ROBJENT, J. F. R. and OsBornge, T. O. High density breeding of the Red-necked falcon Falco chicquera in Zambia .. Couns, CHARLES T. and TIKASINGH, Exisua S. Status of the Great Shearwater in Trinidad, West Indies CoMMITTEE, 1973 REPORT OF .. Conper, P. J An address on “Do birdwatchers understand conservation?” Cooper, J. The predators of the Jackass Penguin Spheniscus demersus Davison, G. W. H Geographical variation in Lophophorus sclateri . 159-162 41-42 129-131 24-26 39-40 49-55 176 55-56 . 141-143 20-21 - IOI—-I02 89 129 73-76 100 é 108-113 59-62 62 * 152-158 .'») 226-128 80-81 128 . LI6—198 .. 113-116 . 139-141 172-176 96-99 TZ 129 21-24 . 163-164 Dean, W. R. J. Bird weights from Angola oe = aid a a5 a .. T7O-172 Deans, IAN R. An address on gull ecology in the Thames estuary .. a 4: Os 89 DEeEsFAYES, M. A new subspecies of Accipiter tachiro .. ik a ws & .. 69-71 DituincuHay, I. H Notes on the Lammergeyer Gypaetus barbatus .. a 7 a K 72 DoNNELLY, B. G. A further record of the White-eyed Gull Larus leucophthalmus from Beira, Mogambique oe 62%63 The Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus i in southern and central Africa .. 6 3-68 DowsettT, R. J. Geographical variation in iris colour in the bulbul Axdropadus milanjensis .. 102-104 DucKworTH, FRED The Whale-headed Stork in Ethiopia .. 4 + mo ae ee 3-4 Eicoop, J. H. Weights and perching habits of birds at Port Moresby, Papua, New Guinea 135-138 EraArD, C. The problem of the Boran Cisticola.. a oF a vs ft DA6-38 Farkas, T. On the biology of Monticola imerinus (Hartlaub) v2 e B: .. 165-170 Fre.p, G. D. Nearctic waders in Sierra Leone—Lesser Golden Plover and Buff- bgsastdd Sandpiper am s rE * cs Ae = & FY PEA T8 FREEMAN, W. P. See BoswALL Fritu, C. B. New observations of migrants and eran from Aldabra, Farquhar and Astove Atolls, Indian Ocean .. : mt a — be fe ST 2279 Fay, C. H: Vocal mimesis in nestling Greater Honey-guides ine af 7 .. 58-59 GALLAGHER, M. D. On the occurrence of the Great White Eee fea aes alba in the Persian Gulf region .. 2 ae oY i. .. 122-126 Grimes, L. G. Duetting joe a § dees atriceps and its taxonomic relationship to Eminia lepida 89-96 Harrison, C. J. O A re-examination of material of the extinct marabou stork, es aes falconeri: with descriptions of some new species : a) : a 2S 42-49 Reduced natal down in some emberizine species a “rd ae ache i ‘aa 2 HAVERSCHMIDT, F. Notes on the Gray-breasted Crake Laterallus exilis .. ad ise 2-2 The occurrence of the Giant Snipe Ga/linago undulata in Surinam .. » 132-134 Hitt, GEOFFREY Observations on a relationship between Crested Guineafowl and Vervet Monkeys - ee ae es ba aap 1 aes .. 68-6o Honryoak, D. T. G ~yanoramphus malherbi, is it a colour morph of C. auriceps? .. 4-9 An address on ornithological exploration and conservation in the Cook Islands .. os = my $e oh 89 Status of the genus Sauropatis (Alcedinidae) ae ba: .. 121-122 Undescribed land birds from the Cook Islands, Pacific Ocean oF .. 145-150 Irwin, M. P. Sruarr The Pintail Anas acuta in Rhodesia = a = * eh .. §6-57 See also BENSON JEFFoRD, T. G. See URBAN MounrTEANu, Dan Further expansion of the Fieldfare in the Rumanian Carpathians .. a.) Lik 15 2 vi OREEL, G. J. Little Gull Larus minutus south of the Sahara .. if oa 1% w. 176 OsBoRNE, T. O. See COLEBROOK-ROBJENT PARKES, KENNETH C. Geographical variation in the Rufous-tailed Panes all me rufi- caudatus, with notes on plumages P : .. 118-121 PAYNE, Rosert B. Species limits and variation of the New World Green Herons Butorides virescens and Striated Herons B. striatus ats ¥, ae xi .. 81-88 SASSOON, S. Finfoot Podica senegalensis in Ethiopia .. aif a2 Se A ut 176 Scott, Sir PETER An illustrated talk on individuality in birds .. i sy le ay I Sinciair, J. C. Larus minutus in Angola .. : as i os de re Hf, 57 Fish offal scavengers off Luanda es oe iy we ie Le 58 SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING i < ies bs: a sf hy 13g Tuorpe, W. H. An illustrated talk on individuality in bird voices... <2 = oA 41 TIKASINGH, ExisHa S. See COLLINS TurNER, D. A. Cape Grass Owl in Ethiopia... Sty ag #2 - b i. 383g UrsBan, Emi K. and JEFrrorp, T. G. The status of the cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus and Phalacrocorax carbo patricki _.... = e oe ind a ep = os 1O4=ToF Watters, MICHAEL P. The eggs of the Golden Conure Aratinga guarouba .. we ag oe 71 Watson, GEORGE E. See AsH WATTEL, J. An illustrated talk on moult in relation to life cycle in some non-passerines . . iS Wauire, C. M.N. Three water birds of Wallacea .. ve bi Gs a is Q-I1 The Little Egret Egretta garzetta in Wallacea .. of Se = .. 78=9e Butastur and Buteo east of Wallace’s Line bis os m Ae .. 99-100 Some questionable records of Celebes birds .. ig it >. .. 144-145 WINTERBOTTOM, J. M. Turtle Dove S treptopelia turtur in South West Africa .. an ws bs 19 ZIMMERMAN, DALE A. See BINFORD INDEX TO SCIENTIFIC NAMES (Compiled by C. W. Benson with the assistance of Mrs. M. Hawksley) All generic and specific names (of birds only) are indexed. Subspecific names are included only if new and are also indexed in bold print under the generic and the specific names. abbotti, Spilornis 162 Accipiter fasciatus 137-138 — tachiro 69-70 Accipiter tachiro croizati, subsp. nov. 70 Acrocephalus palustris 112 — schoenobaenus 112 — scirpaceus 40, III — vaughani 149-150 Acrocephalus vaughani kaoko, subsp. nov. 1§0 Acrocephalus vaughani kerearako, subsp. nov. 149 acuta, Anas 56 adelaidae, Platycercus 6 aethiopicus, Threskiornis 22 alba, Calidris 77 —, Egretta 79, 122-125 —, Motacilla 16 —, Tyto 38 albescens, Morphninus 155 albicollis, Ficedula 111 albifrons, Platysteira 171 alboscapularis, Malurus 137-138 albus, Corvus 13, 173-174 Alca alle 128 — impennis 128 aldabranus, Dicrurus 13, 15 alle, Alca 128 amethystina, Chalcomitra 117 Anabazaenops immaculatus 118 analoga, Meliphaga 136 Anas acuta 56 — platyrhynchos 18 — querquedula 56 andrewsi, Fregata 145 Andropadus milanjensis 102-104 — tephrolaemus 102 — virens 171 angolensis, Gypohierax 58 anguitimitens, Eurocephalus 157 Anhinga rufa 12 ansorgei, Cossypha 171 Anthus trivialis 16 Apalis flavida 171 — pulchra 95 apivorus, Pernis 60 Aplonis cantoroides 136-138 Apus apus 15 apus, Apus 15 Aquila nipalensis 62, 152 — pomarina 152 — wahlbergi 155-156 aquila, Fregata 145 Aratinga guarouba 71 Ardea cinerea 58, 123 — novaehollandiae 9 Ardeola ralloides 101 atdeola, Dromas 14, 19 Arenaria interpres 18 Argala arvenensis 42 — falconeri 42 Artamus leucorhynchus 136-138 arvenensis, Argala 42 asturinus, Spilornis 162 atiu, Halcyon 148 atricapilla, Sylvia 40, 111-112 atriceps, Hypergerus 89-96 —, Moho 89 auratus, Oriolus 171 auriceps, Cyanoramphus 4-8 ayresi, Sarothrura 39 badiceps, Eremomela 171 bairdii, Prinia 171 Balaeniceps rex 3 Barbatula extoni 139 barbatus, Gypaetus 72 Bathmocercus cerviniventris 95 Batis minulla 171 beaudouini, Circaetus 126-128 bensoni, Monticola 167 biarmicus, Falco 172 Bias musicus 171 bicolor, Nigrita 172 bivittata, Buettikoforella 80 bocagei, Telophorus 171 bodessa, Cisticola 32-38 borin, Sylvia 109, 111-113 Bowdleria punctata 80 brachyptera, Cisticola 171 bradfieldi, Tockus 171 brevipes, Monticola 165 brevirostris, Phalacrocorax 107 Bucorvus leadbeateri 171 Buettikoforella bivittata 80 bulliens, Cisticola 171 bulocki, Merops 58—59 Butaetes lessonii 155 Butastur indicus 100 — liventer 99-100 Buteo buteo 59-61, 100 — desertorum 60, 100 — lagopus 60 — oreophilus 59—6o Vili Buteo rufofuscus 59 Ciconia, ciconia 21 — tachardus 59-61 — episcopus 10-11 buteo, Buteo 59-61, 100 — stormi Io-I1 Butorides rufiventris 101 ciconia, Ciconia 21 — striatus 81-88, Io1 cinerea, Ardea 58, 123 — sundevalli 81, 87 Circaetus beaudouini 126-128 — virescens 81-88 — gallicus 126-128 Bycanistes sharpii 171 — pectoralis 126-128 cirrocephalus, Larus 63, 66 Cacomantis variolosus 137-138 Cisticola bodessa 32-38 Cairina moschata 18 Cisticola bodessa kaffensis, subsp. nov. caledonicus, Nycticorax 136 32 Calidris alba 77 Cisticola brachyptera 171 — canutus 77 — bulliens 171 — melanotos 76 — chiniana 25-38 — minuta 14 — exilis 136-138 Camaroptera fasciolata 95 — natalensis 31 — superciliaris 171 — subruficapilla 32 canicapilla, Nigrita 172 Clytospiza monteiri 117 caniceps, Lonchura 136-138 coelebs, Fringilla 25, 27 canorus, Cuculus 15, 59 Colius castanotus 171 cantoroides, Aplonis 136-138 Collocalia leucophaea 146-147 canutus, Calidris 77 Collocalia sawtelli, sp. nov. 146-147 capensis, Smithornis 94 Collocalia vanikoriensis 136 —, Tyto 38 Colluricincla harmonica 136-138 capistrata, Nesocharis 117 collurio, Lanius 40 capistratum, Pellorneum 80 collybita, Phylloscopus 40 caprata, Saxicola 137 Columba livia 17, 157 catbo, Phalacrocorax 104-107 columbarius, Falco 19, 174 catteri, Eremiornis 80 Columbigallina passerina 133 carunculatus, Phalacrocorax 106-107 comitatus, Pedilorhynchus 171 castanea, Dyaphorophyia 171 communis, Sylvia 27, 40 castaneothorax, Lonchura 137-138 concolor, Falco 13 castanotus, Colius 171 Coracina novaehollandiae 136-138 Catharacta maccormicki 21 — papuensis 136-138 cayana, Dacnis 51-55 — pectoralis 171 Centropus phasianinus 136-138 coronatus, Spizaetus 155 Cercomela familiaris 117 cotruscus, Lamprotornis 113-115 cerviniventris, Bathmocercus 95 coruscans, Neodrepanis 141-143 —, Chlamydera 137-138 Corvus albus 13, 173-174 Ceryle maxima 171 — ortu 136-138 — tudis 171 Cosmetornis vexillarius 170 Chalcomitra amethystina 117 Cossypha ansorgei 171 chalconotus, Phalacrocotax 107 Cracticus mentalis 135-138 Charadrius forbesi 116 crassirostris, Hemiparra 101 — hiaticula 77 crestatus, Eudyptes 23 cheela, Spilornis 159-163 Crinifer leucogaster 157 chelicuti, Halcyon 171 — personata 157 chicqueta, Falco 172-175 cristatus, Lanius 111-112 chiniana, Cisticola 25-38 croizati, Accipiter 70 Chlamydera cerviniventris 137-138 cruentatum, Dicaeum 144 Chlidonias nigra 57-58 crumeniferus, Leptoptilos 43 Chlorocichla falkensteini 171 Cryptociconia indica, gen. et. sp. nov. 44 Chlorophanes purpurascens 49-54 48-49 : — spiza 51-55 Cuculus canorus 15, 59 chloropygia, Nectarinia 171 — poliocephalus 15, 55-56 chrysaetos, Falco 153 — rochii 56 chrysoconus, Pogoniulus 139-141 cuttruca, Sylvia 40 Cichlornis grosvenori 80 cuvieri, Falco 175 Ciconia 43, 48 Cyanerpes cyaneus 51-55 cyaneus, Cyanerpes 51-55 Cyanoramphus auriceps 4-8 — intermedius 6 — malherbi 4-8 — mnovaezelandiae 7-8 Cyanosylvia svecica 168 Dacelo gaudichaud 135-136 — leachii 135, 137-138 Dacnis cayana 51-55 Delichon urbica 21 demersus, Spheniscus 21-22 desertorum, Buteo 60, 100 diadematum, Tricholaema 157 Dicaeum cruentatum 144 — hosei 144-145 — nehrkorni 144 Dicrurus aldabranus 13, 15 Dissoura neglecta 10 dominica, Pluvialis 77-78 dominicanus, Larus 22, 58, 63-64, 66 Dromas ardeola 14, 19 Drymocataphus 80 dubius, Hieraaetus 155 —, Leptoptilos 43-44, 47, 49 Dumetia hyperythra 80 dumonti, Mina 137-138 Dyaphorophyia castanea 171 edouardi, Guttera 68 Egretta alba 79, 122-125 peeatzetta 58,°78-79, 122 — gularis 122 — intermedia 79, 124-125 elegans, Platycercus 6 eleonorae, Falco 13 elgini, Spilornis 159-163 Elminia longicauda 171 Eminia lepida 89—96 episcopus, Ciconia 10-11 epops, Upupa 4o Eremiornis carteri 80 Eremomela badiceps 171 erythrocephalus, Trachyphonus 157 erythrocercus, Philydor 120 Erythrocnus 101 erythrops, Neocrex 3 Estrilda melpoda 172 Eudynamys scolopacea 144 Eudyptes crestatus 23 euophrys, Philydor 120 Eurocephalus anguitimitens 157 Eurystomus glaucurus 16 — orientalis 137 exilis, Cisticola 136-138 —, Ixobrychus 73 —, Laterallus 2-3 explorator, Monticola 167, 169 extoni, Barbatula 139 falcinellus, Plegadis 11% Falco biarmicus 172 — chicquera 172-175 — chrysaetos 153 — columbarius 19, 174 — concolor 13 — cuvieri 175 — eleonorae 13 — longipennis 175 — newtoni 13, 16 — pennatus 152 — peregrinus 12-13 — subbuteo 175 — tachardus 60 falconeri, Argala 42 —, Leptoptilos 42-45, 49 falkensteini, Chlorocichla 171 familiaris, Cercomela 117 fanovanae, Newtonia 143 fasciatus, Accipiter 137-138 — Tockus 171 fasciolata, Camaroptera 95 Ficedula albicollis 111 flava, Motacilla 101, 111-113 flaveola, Sicalis 71 flaveolus, Platycercus 6 flavescens, Meliphaga 135-138 flavida, Apalis 171 flavigaster, Hyliota 171 —, Microeca 136-138 flavipes, Tringa 76 flaviventer, Porzana 2 forbesi, Charadrius 116 Foudia madagascariensis 18 fraseri, Stizorhina 171 Fregata andrewsi 145 — aquila 145 — minor 145 Fringilla coelebs 25, 27 fuliginosa, Nectarinia 171 fusconota, Nigrita 172 fuscus, Larus 18, 58, 63-68 galatea, Tanysiptera 136 Galerida modesta 95 gallicus, Circaetus 126-128 Gallinago gallinago 20, 133 — hardwicki 134 — macrodactyla 20 — nigripennis 20 — stenura 20 — undulata 132-134 gallinago, Gallinago 20, 133 gatzetta, Egretta 58, 78-79, 122 gaudichaud, Dacelo 135-136 Geopelia humeralis 137-138 — striata 18, 136-138 giganteus, Macronectes 27 gilvus, Mimus 133 glareola, Tringa 78 glaucurus, Eurystomus 16 goodwini, Ptilinopus 145 Graminicola 80 gravis, Puffinus 96 grosvenori, Cichlornis 80 guarouba, Aratinga 71 gularis, Egretta 122 Guttera edouardi 68 gutturalis, Irania 40 —, Neocichla 171 —, Phalacrocorax 106 Gypaetus barbatus 72 Gypohierax angolensis 58 haematodus, Trichoglossus 136-138 Haematopus ostralegus 77 Halcyon chelicuti 171 — leucocephala 171 — macleayii 136-137 — miyakoensis 122 Halcyon ruficollaris, sp. nov. 147 Halcyon sancta 122, 136-138 — senegalensis 171 Halcyon tuta atiu, subsp. nov. 148 Halcyon tuta mauke, subsp. nov. 148-149 Haliaeetus vocifer 173 hardwicki, Gallinago 134 harmonica, Colluricincla 136-138 Hemiparra crassirostris 101 heuglini, Ploceus 117 hiaticula, Charadrius 77 Hieraaetus dubius 155 — pennatus 60, 152-158 — spilogaster 155 Himantopus himantopus 101 himantopus, Himantopus r1o1 Hippolais pallida 40 Hirundo lagopoda 60 — tustica 16, I9, 111-113 — tahitica 136-138 hosei, Dicaeum 144-145 humeralis, Geopelia 137-138 — Myospiza 133 huttoni, Phalacrocorax 107 Hyliota flavigaster 171 Hypergerus atriceps 89-96 hyperythra, Dumetia 80 Hypochera nigeriae 117 hypoleucos, Tringa 14, 20, 77 hypoxantha, Neodrepanis 141-143 imerinus, Monticola 165-170 immaculatus, Anabazaenops 118 impejanus, Lophophorus 163-164 impennis, Alca 128 indica, Cryptociconia 44, 48-49 Indicator indicator 58-59 — minor 58 — variegatus 58 indicator, Indicator 58-59 indicus, Butastur 100 insignis, Prodotiscus 171 intermedia, Egretta 79, 124-125 intermedius, Cyanoramphus 6 interpres, Arenaria 18 Irania gutturalis 40 Ixobrychus exilis 73 jacarina, Volatinia 2 jardineii, Turdoides 171 javanica, Rhipidura 144 javanicus, Leptoptilos 44-45 jugularis, Nectarinia 137-138 Jynx torquilla 40 kaffensis, Cisticola 32 kaoko, Acrocephalus 150 kerearako, Acrocephalus 149 kinabaluensis, Spilornis 160-163 klossi, Spilornis 162 lacrymosum, Tricholaema 157 Lagonosticta nigricollis 117 — tubricata 117 — tufopicta 117 — senegala 117 lagopoda, Hirundo 60 lagopus, Buteo 60 Lalage sueurii 136-138 Lamprotornis corruscus 113-115 Lanioturdus torquatus 61 Lanius collurio 40 — cristatus 111-112 — nubicus 4o — souzae I7I Larus cirrocephalus 63, 66 — dominicanus 22, 58, 63-64, 66 — fuscus 18, 58, 63-68 — leucophthalmus 62, 66 — minutus 57, 176 Laterallus exilis 2-3 — melanophaius 3 — viridis 3 leachii, Dacelo 135, 137-138 leadbeateri, Bucorvus 171 lepida, Eminia 89-96 Leptoptilos crumeniferus 43 — dubius 43-44, 47, 49 — falconeri 42-45, 49 — javanicus 44-45 Leptoptilos richae, sp. nov. 43-44, 47, 49 Leptoptilos siwalicensis, sp. nov. 44, 46, 49 lessonii, Butaetes 155 leucocephala, Halcyon 171 leucogaster, Crinifer 157 leucolaima, Pogoniulus 171 leucophaea, Collocalia 146-147 —, Microeca 136-138 leucophrys, Rhipidura 136-138 xi leucophthalmus, Larus 62, 66 migrans, Milvus 138 leucopygius, Turdoides 61, 171 milanjensis, Andropadus 102-104 leucorhynchus, Artamus 136-138 milvoides, Spizaetus 154 lhuysii, Lophophorus 163-164 Milvus 158 liventer, Butastur 99-100 — migrans 138 livia, Columba 17, 157 Mimus gilvus 133 Locustella naevia 39-40 Mina dumonti 137-138 Lonchura caniceps 136-138 minimus, Spilornis 162 — castaneothorax 137-138 minor, Fregata 145 longicauda, Elminia 171 —, Indicator 58 ‘longipennis, Falco 175 minulla, Batis 171 Lophophorus impejanus 163-164 minuta, Calidris 14 — Ilhuysii 163-164 minutus, Larus 57, 176 — sclateri 163-164 miyakoensis, Halcyon 122 Lophophorus sclateri orientalis, subsp. modesta, Galerida 95 nov. 164 Moho atriceps 95 Luscinia megarhynchos 4o Monarcha melanopsis 136 — svecica 40, 165, 168, 170 monteiri, Clytospiza 117 Monticola bensoni 167 maccormicki, Catharacta 21 — brevipes 165 macleayii, Halcyon 136-137 — explorator 167, 169 Macrocephalon maleo 144 — imerinus 165-170 macrodactyla, Gallinago 20 — saxatilis 167 —, Oceanodroma too — sharpei 166-167, 169 Macronectes giganteus 21 — solitarius 167 madagascariensis, Foudia 18 monticola, Oenanthe 169 — Phyllastrephus 143 Morphninus albescens 155 magellanicus, Spheniscus 23, 129 moschata, Cairina 18 magna, Sturnella 133 Motacilla alba 16 Malaconotus 6-7 — flava Iol, 111-113 maleo, Macrocephalon 144 Muscicapa striata 17, I1I-112 malherbi, Cyanoramphus 4-8 musicus, Bias 171 Malurus 80 Myospiza humeralis 133 — alboscapularis 137-138 Mandingoa nitidula 117 nabouroup, Onychognathus 61 mariae, Megalurulus 80 naevia, Locustella 39-40 markhami, Oceanodroma 100 Napothera 80 matsudairae, Oceanodroma 100 natalensis, Cisticola 31 mauke, Halcyon 148 nebularia, Tringa 21, 77 maxima, Ceryle 171 Nectarinia chloropygia 171 maximus, Thalasseus 58 — fuliginosa 171 Megalurulus mariae 80 — jugularis 137-138 megarhynchos, Luscinia 40 — olivacea 95, 171 _ melania, Oceanodroma 100 — seimundi 171 | melanoleucos, Phalacrocorax 106-107 — superba 171 | melanophaius, Laterallus 3 — verticalis 171 _ melanopis, Schistochlamys 133 neglecta, Dissoura 10 _ melanopsis, Monarcha 136 nehrkorni, Dicaeum 144 melanotos, Calidris 76 Neocichla gutturalis 171 | Meliphaga analoga 136 Neocrex erythrops 3 _ — flavescens 135-138 Neodrepanis coruscans 141-143 _ melpoda, Estrilda 172 — hypoxantha 141-143 _ mentalis, Cracticus 135-138 Nesocharis capistrata 117 —, Sphenoeacus 95 newtoni, Falco 13, 16 _ Merops bulocki 58-59 Newtonia fanovanae 143 — ornatus 136-137 nigeriae, Hypochera 117 — superciliosus 15 nigerrimus, Ploceus 172 _ meyeri, Poicephalus 170 nigra, Chlidonias 57-58 Microeca flavigaster 136-138 nigricollis, Lagonosticta 117 — leucophaea 136-138 nigripennis, Gallinago 20 Nigrita bicolot 172 — canicapilla 172 — fusconota 172 nipalensis, Aquila 62, 152 nisoria, Sylvia 40 nitidula, Mandingoa 117 novaeguineae, Philemon 136-138 novaehollandiae, Ardea 9 —, Coracina 136-138 novaezelandiae, Cyanoramphus 7-8 nubicus, Lanius 40 Numenius phaeopus 76 Nycticorax caledonicus 136 Oceanodroma macrodactyla too — markhami 100 — matsudaitae 100 — melania 100 — tristrami 100 Oenanthe 168 — monticola 169 — oenanthe 16 — pleschanka 40 oenanthe, Oenanthe 16 olivacea, Nectarinia 95, 171 —, Tiaris 72 Onychognathus nabouroup 61 oteophilus, Buteo 59—6o orientalis, Eurystomus 137 —, Lophophorus 164 Oriolus auratus 171 — oriolus 17 — szalayi 136-138 otiolus, Oriolus 17 otnatus, Merops 136-137 orru, Corvus 136-138 Ortygocichla rubiginosa 80 ostralegus, Haematopus 77 Otus scops 40 pallida, Hippolais 40 pallidirostris, Tockus 171 paludicola, Riparia 112 palustris, Acrocephalus 112 papuensis, Coracina 136-138 parasiticus, Stercorarius 58 passerina, Columbigallina 133 pectoralis, Circaetus 126-128 Pedilorhynchus comitatus 171 Pellorneum capistratum 80 peltata, Platysteira 171 pennatus, Falco 152 — Hieraaetus 60, 152-158 peregrinus, Falco 12-13 Pernis apivorus 60 personata, Crinifer 157 Petrochelidon rufigula 171 phaeopus, Numenius 76 Phalacrocorax carbo 104-107 — carunculatus 106-107 Phalactocorax chalconotus 107 — gutturalis 106 — huttoni 107 — melanoleucos 106-107 phasianinus, Centropus 136-138 Philemon novaeguineae 136-138 philippensis, Rallus 137-138 Philydor erythrocercus 120 — euophrys 120 — ruficaudatus 118-121 — subflavescens 119 Phoeniculus purpureus 171 Phoenicurus phoenicurus 40, 112 phoenicurus, Phoenicurus 40, 112 Pholidornis rushiae 172 Phyllastrephus madagascariensis 143 — tenebrosus 143 — zosterops 143 Phylloscopus collybita 4o — sibilatrix 17 — trochilus 16-17, 40, 111-112 picturata, Streptopelia 14 pilaris, Turdus 151 Pinguinus 128 Platycercus 7 — adelaidae 6 — elegans 6 — flaveolus 6 platyrhynchos, Anas 18 Platysteira albifrons 171 — peltata 171 Plautus 128 Plegadis falcinellus 11 pleschanka, Oenanthe 4o pleurostictus, Thryothorus 73 Plocepasser rufoscapulatus 171 Ploceus heuglini 117 — nigerrimus 172 — vitellinus 117 Plotus 128 plumata, Prionops 171 Pluvialis dominica 77-78 — squatarola 13, 77 Podica senegalensis 170, 176 Poicephalus meyeri 170 — rueppellii 170 Pogoniulus chrysoconus 139-141 — leucolaima 171 — pusillus 139 poliocephalus, Cuculus 15, 55—56 pomarina, Aquila 152 Porzana flaviventer 2 Prinia bairdii 171 Prionops plumata 171 — retzii 171 Prodotiscus insignis 171 Ptilinopus rarotongensis goodwini, SUbSp. NOV. 145-146 Puffinus gravis 96 — puffinus 98 puffinus, Puffinus 98 pulchra, Apalis 95 punctata, Bowdleria 80 purpurascens, Chlorophanes 49-54 purpureus, Phoeniculus 171 pusillus, Pogoniulus 139 querquedula, Anas 56 ralloides, Ardeola ro1 Rallus philippensis 137-138 rarotongensis, Ptilinopus 145-146 retzii, Prionops 171 rex, Balaeniceps 3 Rhipidura javanica 144 — leucophrys 136-138 richae, Leptoptilos 43-44, 47, 49 Riparia paludicola 112 — fipatia 111-113 riparia, Riparia 111-113 rochii, Cuculus 56 rubetra, Saxicola 111-112 rubiginosa, Ortygocichla 80 rubricata, Lagonosticta 117 rudis, Ceryle 171 rueppellii, Poicephalus 170 rufa, Anhinga 12 rufescens, Sylvietta 171 ruficapilla, Spermophaga 172 ruficaudatus, Philydor 118-121 ruficollaris, Halcyon 147 rufigula, Petrochelidon 171 rufipectus, Spilornis 162 rufiventris, Butorides ro1 rufofuscus, Buteo 59 rufopicta, Lagonosticta 117 rufoscapulatus, Plocepasser 171 rushiae, Pholidornis 172 rustica, Hirundo 16, 19, 111-113 Salpornis spilonota 171 sancta, Halcyon 122, 136-138 Sarothrura ayresi 39 saturata, Scolopax 20 Sauropatis 121 sawtelli, Collocalia 146-147 saxatilis, Monticola 167 Saxicola 168 — caprata 137 — tubetra 111-112 — torquata 4o Schistochlamys melanopis 133 schoenobaenus, Acrocephalus 112 scitpaceus, Acrocephalus 40, 111 sclateri, Lophophorus 163-164 scolopacea, Eudynamys 144 Scolopax saturata 20 scops, Otus 4o seimundi, Nectarinia 171 senegala, Lagonosticta 117 senegalensis, Halcyon 171 —, Podica 170, 176 —, Streptopelia 157 sharpei, Monticola 166-167, 169 sharpii, Bycanistes 171 sibilatrix, Phylloscopus 17 Sicalis flaveola 71 sipora, Spilornis 162 siwalicensis, Leptoptilos 44, 46, 49 Smithornis capensis 94 solitaria, Tringa 76 solitarius, Monticola 167 souzae, Lanius 171 Spermophaga ruficapilla 172 Sphecotheres vieilloti 137-138 Spheniscus demersus 21-22 — magellanicus 23, 129 Sphenoeacus 80 — mentalis 95 spilogaster, Hieraaetus 155 spilonota, Salpornis 171 spilonotus, Spilornis 160, 162 Spilornis abbotti 162 — asturinus 162 — cheela 159-163 — elgini 159-163 — kinabaluensis 160-163 — klossi 162 — minimus 162 — rufipectus 162 — sipora 162 — spilonotus 160, 162 spiza, Chlorophanes 51-55 Spizaetus coronatus 155 — milvoides 154 squatarola, Pluvialis 13, 77 Stachyris 80 stenura, Gallinago 20 Stercorarius parasiticus 58 stormi, Ciconia 10-11 Stipiturus 80 Stizorhina fraseri 171 Streptopelia picturata 14 — senegalensis 157 — turtur 14-15, 19 striata, Geopelia 18, 136-138 —, Muscicapa 17, 111-112 striatus, Butorides 81-88, Io1 Sturnella magna 133 subbuteo, Falco 175 subflavescens, Philydor 119 subruficapilla, Cisticola 32 subruficollis, Tryngites 77, 176 sueurii, Lalage 136-138 sundevalli, Butorides 81, 87 superba, Nectarinia 171 superciliaris, Camaroptera 171 supetciliosus, Merops 15 svecica, Cyanosylvia 168 —, Luscinia 40, 165, 168, 170 Sylvia atricapilla 40, 111-112 — borin 109, 111-113 — communis 27, 40 — curruca 4o — nisoria 40 Sylvietta rufescens 171 — vitens 95, 171 szalayi, Oriolus 136-138 tachardus, Buteo 59-61 —, Falco 6o tachiro, Accipiter 69-70 tahitica, Hirundo 136-138 Tanagra violacea 71 Tanysiptera galatea 136 Telacanthura ussheri 15 Telmatodytes 80 Telophorus bocagei 171 tenebrosus, Phyllastrephus 143 tephrolaemus, Andropadus 102 Tersina viridis 71 Thalasseus maximus 58 Threskiornis aethiopicus 22 Thripias xantholophus 171 Thryothorus pleurostictus 73 Tiaris olivacea 72 Tockus bradfieldi 171 — fasciatus 171 — pallidirostris 171 torquata, Saxicola 40 torquatus, Lanioturdus 61 torquilla, Jynx 4o totanus, Tringa 77 Trachyphonus erythrocephalus 157 Trichoglossus haematodus 136-138 Tricholaema diadematum 157 — lacrymosum 157 Tringa flavipes 76 — glareola 78 — hypoleucos 14, 20, 77 — nebularia 21, 77 xiv Tringa solitaria 76 — totanus 77 tristrami, Oceanodroma 100 trivialis, Anthus 16 trochilus, Phylloscopus 16-17, 40, 111- 112 Tryngites subruficollis 77, 176 Turdoides jardineii 171 — leucopygius 61, 171 Turdus pilaris 151 turtur, Streptopelia 14-15, 19 tuta, Halcyon 148-149 Tyto alba 38 — capensis 38 undulata, Gallinago 132-134 Upupa epops 4o utbica, Delichon 21 vanikoriensis, Collocalia 136 variegatus, Indicator 58 variolosus, Cacomantis 137-138 vaughani, Acrocephalus 149-150 vetticalis, Nectarinia 171 vexillarius, Cosmetornis 170 vieilloti, Sphecotheres 137-138 violacea, Tanagra 71 virens, Andropadus 171 — Sylvietta 95, 171 virescens, Butorides 81-88 viridis, Laterallus 3 —, Tersina 71 vitellinus, Ploceus 117 vocifer, Haliaeetus 173 Volatinia jacarina 2 wahlbergi, Aquila 155-156 xantholophus, Thripias 171 zosterops, Phyllastrephus 143 Corrigenda p. 15, line 33: Insert inverted commas after ‘specimen’ p. 49, line 5: ‘dubius’, not ‘dubia’ p. 80, line 20: ‘mariae’, not ‘mariei’ p. 95, line 23: ‘Sphenoeacus’, not ‘Sphenoaecus’ p. 95, line 25: ‘Camaroptera’, not ‘Cameroptera’ p. 136, line 9: ‘phasianinus’, not ‘phasianus’ p. 170, penultimate line: ‘rueppellii’, not ‘ruppelli’ p. 171, line 1: “castanotus’, not ‘castonotus’ p. 171, line 43: verz#’, not ‘netzii’ p. 173, table: ‘Hasiaeetus’, not ‘Haliaaetus’ } Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club Edited by C. W. BENSON Volume 94 No. 1 March 1974 Committee Sir Hugh Elliott, Bt., 0.3.2. (Chairman) J. H. Elgood (Vice-Chairman) C. W. Benson, 0.8.£. (Ed7tor) R. E. F. Peal (Hon. Secretary) P. Tate (Hon. Treasurer) J. H. R. Boswall Dr. P. J. K. Burton P. Hogg C. J. Mead Bulletin of the BRITISH Ce bere tot CLUB > ANS "NAT; pe Vol. 94 No. 1 Published: 20 March, 1974 The six hundred and eighty i12he the Club was held at the Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, Lo at 7 p.m. Chairman: Sit Hugh Elliott, Bt., o.BE., present 16 members and 6 guests. The speaker was Dr. Jan Wattel who addressed the Club on Moult in relation to life cycle in some non-passerines and illustrated his talk with slides. The six hundred and eighty-sixth meeting of the Club was held at the Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, London, W.1, on Tuesday 15th January 1974 at 7 p.m. Chairman: Sit Hugh Elliott, Bt., 0.B.5., present 26 members and 18 guests. The speaker was Sir Peter Scott, C.B.E., D.s.c., who addressed the Club on Individuality in birds and illustrated his talk with slides of Bewick’s Swans Cygnus benickii and other wildfowl. Report of the Committee for 1973 Six meetings of the Club were held in 1973, all at the Café Royal. The number of members and guests attending was 176, compared with 191 in 1972. Despite a prospective increase of charges in 1974, the advantages of the Café Royal as a venue were considered, after due investigation, to justify a con- tinuation of present arrangements, except possibly for holding one Buffet Supper meeting (probably in July). Leaflets, which described the advantages of membership of the Club and, for those ineligible to join as members, of subscription to the Bu//etin, were enclosed in the July 1973 number of /b/s and have contributed to the satis- factory numbers of 30 new members and five new non-member subscribers to the Bu/letin in 1973. The Committee regrets to report the death of two members, Mr. R. P. Borrett and Mr. K. D. Smith, and there were three resignations, whilst the membership of seven members was terminated under Rule 4. There was thus an increase in membership of 18. An increased num- ber of members and of non-member subscribers is important for the financial stability of the Club. The leaflet is continuing to bring in some new members and subscribers but it is hoped that members will recommend membership of the Club or subscription to the Bulletin (£3 -50 p.a. for non-members) to friends or institutions who may possibly be interested. Four numbers of the Buw//letin were published in 1973, with a total of 176 pages. Arrangements have now been made for authors of papers exceeding one page in the Buw//letin to obtain separates of them and 16 separates will be supplied free in respect of each such paper, commencing with the March 1974 number of the Bu/letin. Mr. C. W. Benson ends his term of office as Editor at the Annual General Meeting. He is unable to stand for re-election owing to the pressure of other work over the next year. Sir Hugh Elliott has I agreed to be nominated as Editor but hopes to be able to resign in favour of | Mr. Benson if the latter feels able to accept nomination in 1975. Copies of the Accounts will be available ) Eurystomus glaucurus, Broad-billed Roller ¢ An example was first noted, and collected, at the Old Settlement on 31 October 1972. It proved to be a male, in very fresh plumage. The skull was ossified, fresh dead weight 119 g, and wing length 210 mm. The testes were undeveloped, measuring 5 x 3 mm. There were four large insects in the gizzard; one of both Homoptera and Hymenoptera, and two Scarabaeidae. The wing length clearly indicates that this specimen belongs to the Madagascar breeding form, £. g. g/aucurus. Benson informs me that two males and a female which he and A. Williams collected in Madagascar in November 1972/January 1973 weighed respectively 136, 166, 149 g. The Aldabra specimen was evidently emaciated, probably through lack of sufficient suitable food. Nine sightings of this species followed the above one, involving at least six individuals, around the Old Settlement and the Research Station. All were during November and December 1972, the last being on 19 December. The kestrel Falco newtoni was seen to mob this species. All these records are best interpreted as ‘fall-outs’ on return migration to Madagascar. Earlier records are discussed by Benson & Penny (1971: 517), and for another recent one see Benson (1972). Hurundo rustica, Swallow Three appeared on 19 March 1973 and were about the Research Station for a couple of days, appearing toward evening to hunt over the solar stills. Previous records of this species on Aldabra are all between 14 March and 10 April (Benson & Penny 1971: §20). Motacilla alba, White Wagtail * D. Bourn reported a single individual at Dune Jean-Louis, South Island, on 7 March 1973. The bird was observed for a considerable time, and Bourn made extensive notes and provided me with excellent field sketches. He made particular note of a grey back and the white on the sides of the head extending back to meet the grey mantle, and is familiar with the species in Europe. Anthus triviahs, Tree Pipit * f This species was first seen near the Research Station on 18 November 1972, and an individual, no doubt the same one, was collected at the same site two days later. The specimen is in slightly worn plumage, had a fresh dead weight of 18-0 g and a wing length of 83 mm. It proved to be a male with gonads completely undeveloped and skull not quite fully ossified. Three other pipits were seen, all close to the Research Station in Casuarina woodland, on 27 November, 17 December 1972 and 13 March 1973. Views of the first two were poor but they looked like A. ¢rivialis, and the third was virtually certainly that species. The specimen confirms that the species does visit Aldabra, and suggests that the bird seen by Grubb and Hutson (Benson & Penny 1971: 518) at Cing Cases in January 1968 was this species. Oenanthe oenanthe, Wheateat A grey-backed male was observed about the Research Station from 2 to 4 January 1973. Mrs. Loris Topliffe informed me of another grey-backed bird seen inland from the Station on 17 February 1973. Benson & Penny (1971: 519) recorded this species on Aldabra for the first time, and thought it may regularly occur there in extremely small numbers. My observations tend to support this contention. For another recent record, see Benson (1972). Phylloscopus trochilus?, Willow Warbler? * A bird believed to be a Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus was observed 16 for about five minutes on one of the small islets inside Passe Femme on 10 April 1972. Very good views were obtained as the bird fed on insects from the foliage of mangrove trees, Rhizophora mucronata. It was not collected but the possibility of it being some other Phy//oscopus sp. on geographical grounds is most unlikely. Furthermore, the Willow Warbler has recently been re- corded for the Amirante Bank group (Benson 1972). Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Wood Warbler *t A single bird was collected at the Old Settlement on 12 December 1972, whilst feeding on insects from foliage of a Casuarina tree. The fresh dead weight was 8-6 g, wing length 73 mm. It proved to be a male, in fresh plumage, with totally undeveloped gonads and a fully ossified skull. Insect groups represented in the gizzard were, in order of predominance: Hymen- optera, Dictyoptera, Diptera. This species is an addition to the list by Forbes- Watson (1972), and Moreau (1972: 102) gives very few African records from south of the equator. Muscicapa striata, Spotted Flycatcher t+ A specimen was collected just north of the Research Station on 23 Novem- ber 1972. It proved to be a male with undeveloped gonads and skull ossi- fication incomplete. The fresh dead weight was 14:6 g and wing length 88 mm. Contents of the gizzard included insects of the following groups: Odonata; Coleoptera, Curculionidae; Hymenoptera, Vespoidae; Hemiptera. Another individual was seen just south of the Old Settlement, 1 December 1972. pened & Penny (1971: 518) give a number of occurrences between 11 and 28 March, which they considered representative of a northward passage. The above two evidently are referable to a southward one. A specimen recorded by Benson & Penny was identified as M. 5. striata, as is also mine. Oriolus oriolus, Golden Oriole One bird, in female plumage, was observed foraging on Casuarina foliage, 19 November 1972, near the Research Station. The only other record of this species in the Malagasy Region is that of a single bird collected in March on Aldabra (Benson & Penny 1971: 521). The earlier record was considered to be of a lost migrant on northward passage. This November individual presumably represents a lost southward bound migrant. Astove Atoll Kight hours were spent on Astove during 3 April 1973, bird watching in the coconut palm grove and mixed scrub near the settlement area. Except for the additional information given below the avifauna was the same as recorded by Benson (1970). Phylloscopus trochilus?, Willow Warbler? * A bird thought to be a Willow Warbler was observed taking insects from the foliage of a very broad leaved fig-like tree in the centre of the settlement area. It was in fine plumage and quiet, and very good views were had. This is the first record of a true land bird migrant for Astove Atoll. Considering also the records of Phy//oscopus spp. already given above, it can be suggested that warblers are not so very rare on islands in the Malagasy Region, but orni- thologists are. Introduced species Domestic pigeons Columba livia have recently been introduced by the people resident on the atoll. This is most regrettable as the introduced birds 7 may well preclude the possibility of future colonization by a wild pigeon species. The present population is estimated at approximately 60 birds. Many of these can be seen about the settlement (where they are fed), but several were flushed from the open mixed scrub a considerable distance from human influence. Domestic chickens are feral throughout the atoll. Domestic and Muscovy Ducks Azas platyrhynchos and Cairina moschata are to be found in and about the settlement buildings. Farquhar Atoll During the eleven hours spent on Farquhar on 6 April 1973 a walk from the settlement area to the far end of North Island and back was made. Habitat inland was exclusively old cultivated palm grove with shrubs and grasses beneath. The following records supplement the information in Stoddart & Poore (1970: 19-21). Larus fuscus, Lesser Black-backed Gull * A single individual was seen as soon as the ship anchored off the reef and observed until the time of departure. The fact that it did not follow the vessel into the area was confirmed by Mr. Sedgwick, manager and postmaster of Farquhar, who told me that the bird had been about for over a week. This is the first record of the species on Farquhar, the second island on which it has observed in the Malagasy Region, Aldabra being the first (Dawson 1966: 8). Introduced species The Barred Ground-dove Geopelia striata was extremely numerous throughout North Island, parties of five to ten birds being flushed frequently. Equally numerous was the Madagascar Fody Foudia madagascariensis, many nests of which were in use. Other species Approximately 30 Turnstones Arenaria interpres were noted during the course of the day. Acknowledgements Firstly I thank all my friends and colleagues who were on Aldabra with me for their enthusuasm in pointing out ‘odd’ birds. I also thank Antonio Constance for his assistance in the field; his remarkable eye for wildlife and accurate descriptions were of great value. For hospitality I am grateful to Mrs. R. M. Veevers-Carter on Astove, and Mr. Sedgwick on Farquhar. Mr. B. H. Cogan kindly identified the insects found in gizzards. The general guidance of Mr. J. F. Peake, Dr. D. W. Snow and Dr. D. R. Stoddart has been of great benefit. I am also grateful to Mr. C. W. Benson, Dr. W. R. P. Bourne, Mr. R. K. Brooke, Mr. P. R. Colston and Mr. D. Goodwin for advice and assistance in the course of the preparation of this paper. Lastly I must express my appreciation to the Royal Society of London and those persons on the Society’s staff concerned with Aldabra for the opportunity to visit the atoll and complete my researches on my return to the United Kingdom. Summary Records of migrant and vagrant birds were made on Aldabra during the period 9 April 1972 to 2 April 1973. Observations on Astove and Farquhar were made during a day stop at each, en route for the Seychelles from Al- dabra. Nine species are recorded as new for Aldabra, and one each for Farqu- har and Astove. Of the species of land birds recorded on Aldabra, all arrived 18 ——— ns ee a9 ae a 9 gt. ee as odd individuals or in very small flocks with the exception of the falcons which appear to move over Aldabra in a steady migration, mostly in Novem- ber/December. Large flocks of Crab Plovers Dromas ardeola, observed moving north from Aldabra, appear to represent a migration to breeding grounds on the coast of Somalia. There appear to have been some recent introductions on Astove. References: Archer, G. & Godman, E. M. 1937. The birds of British Somaliland and the Gulf of Aden 2. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd. Benson, C. W. 1967. The birds of Aldabra and their status. A/zo// Res. Bull. 118: 63-111. — 1970. Land (including shore) birds of Astove Atoll. Avo// Res. Bull. 136: 115-120. — 1972. Some land bird migrants in the western Indian Ocean. A/fo// Res. Bull. 162: 10-11. Benson, C. W. & Penny, M. J. 1971. The land birds of Aldabra. Phi/. Trans. Roy. Soc. Lond. B. 260: 417-527. Dawson, P. 1966. A survey of the sea birds of the Seychelles Islands. Oo/. Rec. 40: 1-11. Forbes-Watson, A. D. 1972. Preliminary list of the birds of the Malagasy Region. Nairobi: Nat. Mus. (cyclostyled). Goodwin, D. 1970. Pigeons and doves of the world. London: Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Moreau, R. E. 1972. The Palaearctic- African bird migration systems. London & New York: Academic Press. Penny, M. J. 1971. Migrant waders at Aldabra, September 1967—March 1968. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. Lond. B. 260: 549-559. Stoddart, D. R. 1968. The conservation of Aldabra. Geogr. Journ. 134: 471-485. — 1971. Scientific studies at Aldabra and neighbouring islands. Phi/. Trans. Roy. Soc. Lond. B. 260: 5-29. Stoddart, D. R. & Poore, M. E. D. 1970. Geography and ecology of Farquhar Atoll. A‘o// Res. Bull, 136: 7-26. White, C. M. N. 1965. A revised check list of African non-passerines birds. Lusaka: Government Printer. Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur in South West Africa by J. M. Winterbottom Received 7th January, 1974 Some years ago, Mr. A. J. Horak, then living on the Okavango River, caught a strange dove, which he placed in his aviary. Some years later, when he had moved to Oranjemund, at the mouth of the Orange River, he caught another. They proved to be female and male respectively and Mr. Horak succeeded in breeding from them, after the death of the original female, from the offspring. He has now about eight of these birds, which he identified as the palearctic Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur. I saw these birds on 28 September 1973, and there is no doubt about the correctness of the identification. The problem is, how did they get to South West Africa? Vaurie (1965, The birds of the palearctic fauna. Non-passeriformes) gives the winter quarters as “Africa south to Senegal, Gambia, the Sudan and Abyssinia”. The only alternative to their being migrants which have overshot their mark is that they were escapes from captivity. While this last is just conceivable for the Oranjemund example, I find it quite incredible that anybody would be keeping Turtle Doves on the Okavango without Mr. Horak’s knowledge; and we know that other palearctic migrants do over- shoot their normal wintering range—witness Merlins Falco columbarius in Natal and European Swallows Hirundo rustica on Marion Island. [The above note was shown to D. Goodwin, who suggests that some Strepsopelia turtur might go further south than previous observations have suggested. For a record from Aldabra, see p. 14 above.—Ed.]. £9 The aa of records of the Common Sandpiper fe breeding in East Africa PAG, | W. Benson ( M. P. Stuart Irwin j Received 18th November, 1973 \cidae are virtually confined in their breeding range to the Palaeatctic and_Nearctic regions and are usually long-distance migrants. There are however some major exceptions to this. Members of the Scolo- pacinae, especially the genus Ga//inago, for the most part frequenting swampy grassland, have managed successfully to colonise the Old and New World tropics. Meyer de Schauensee (1966) lists five species of the genus as being endemic to the Neotropical region, where a geographically representative population of the almost cosmopolitan Common Snipe G. gallinago also occurs. In Africa the Ethiopian Snipe G. nigripennis, often regarded as conspecific with ga/linago as by Voous (1960), is also widespread on that continent; as is the Madagascar G. macrodactyla in the east of that island. In south-east Asia and Indonesia the Pintail Snipe G. stenura breeds as far eastwards as the island of Borneo, and the East Indian Woodcock Svolopax saturata from Sumatra to New Guinea. Two members of the relict tribe Prosoboniini (classification of Zusi & Jehl 1970: 760-780), one of which is now extinct, ate confined to the Society Islands and the islands of the Tuamotu group in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Any other records of scolopacids breeding outside of the Holarctic region as a whole are therefore of particular zoogeographical interest. Indeed the only such evidence are records of the Common Sandpiper 77inga hypoleucos in Fast Africa. Benson ef a/. (1970: 14), however, saw no reason for accepting any African breeding record of this species. Subsequently Cunningham van Someren (1973) claims that such breeding records are authentic. From the text of van Someren & van Someren (1911) it would appear that the first one is from the shore of Lake Victoria, in Uganda, and that eggs were being incubated in either August or September. The accompanying photograph of an incubating bird can surely only be of a Common Sandpiper. It has been critically inspected by Drs. D. W. Snow and P. J. K. Burton as well as by Benson himself. There is also a record quoted by Moreau (1966: 124) of young chicks just fledged seen by Meinertzhagen on the Kajiado River, in Kenya, in June; and Cunningham van Someren quotes further data from van Someren (1936: 60-61). In view of the evidence quoted in the preceding paragraph it is admittedly going too far to reject these records. Cunningham van Someren indicates that Benson e¢ a/. are following Chapin (1939: 97) and Moreau (/oc. cit.) in re- jecting the evidence. Neither Chapin nor Moreau mentions the data provided by van Someren (1936: Joc. cit.), partly at least a repetition of earlier data. In fact they did not reject the Lake Victoria and Kajiado records entirely out of hand. Nevertheless Chapin was sceptical, and Moreau concluded that at most breeding in East Africa is very rare. Moreau’s conclusion is surely correct, although the Lake Victoria record seems irrefutable. We do not know of any further evidence of breeding from anywhere in the Ethiopian region as a whole. The Republic of South Africa ot Rhodesia would seem as likely an area for breeding as any, and in general is ornithologically the best known part of the Ethiopian region. We therefore wish particularly to stress that, whatever might have been the situation under a different climatic regime in the past or might be in the future, in the present 20 epoch the Common Sandpiper cannot be regarded as in any sense a regular member of the Ethiopian breeding avifauna. It would appear to us that the case of the Common Sandpiper is in part analogous to that of the White Stork C7conia ciconia and House Martin Delichon urbica, recorded as breeding occasionally in South Africa, as discussed by Moreau (1966: 123), only in this instance it is the sole member of the Tringinae to breed anywhere within the tropics. Doubtless Cunningham van Someren is correct in stating that Common Sandpipers are present throughout the year in East Africa. We can corrobo- rate from our own experience in Rhodesia and Zambia, merely as one further example, that this is also the case further south. But a similar situation exists for some other scolopacine waders, e.g. the Greenshank 77inga nebularia, and is not evidence of local breeding. Thus Dowsett (in Benson ef a/. 1970: 14) counted more than 500 Greenshanks in a stretch of 300 miles of the Luangwa River walked in July and August 1966 and 1967. Actually Dowsett (pers. comm.) finds that the Greenshank is the commonest of the scolopacines which overwinter in Zambia, the Common Sandpiper the least so, and so the least likely to breed; this presumably applying in other parts of Africa too. Finally, we cannot but remark, that despite the amount of ornithological investigation in East Africa in recent decades, no further evidence in support of these earlier observations has come to light. We are grateful to R. K. Brooke and R. J. Dowsett for their comments on a draft of this note. References: Benson, C. W., Brooke, R. K., Dowsett, R. J. & Irwin, M. es Stuart. 1970. Notes on the birds of Zambia: Part V. Arnoldia (Rhodesia) 4(40): 59 Chapin, J. P. 1939. The birds of the Belgian Congo. Part II. PBull Amer. Mus, Nat. Hist. 75: 632 pp. Cunningham van Someren, G. R. 1973. Tringa hypoleucos Linnaeus breeding in East Africa. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 93: 39-40. Meyer de Schauensee, R. 1966. The species of birds of South America. Livingston: Wynewood, Pa. Moreau, R. E. 1966. The bird faunas of Africa and its islands. London: Academic Press. van Someren, V. G. L. 1936. The birds of Kenya and Uganda. Journ. E. Afr. ¢ Uganda Nat. Hist. Soc. 13 (1, 2): 29-72. van Someren, R. A. L. & van Someren, V. G. L. 1911. Studies of birdlife in Uganda. London: John Bale & Danielson. Voous, K. H. 1960. The Ailas of European birds. London: Nelson. Zusi, RL, & Jehl, J. R. 1970. The systematic relationship of Aechmorhynchus, Prosobonia and Phegornis (Charadriiformes; Charadrii). Auk 87: 760-780. The predators of the Jackass Penguin Spheniscus demersus by J. Cooper Received 19th September, 1973 INTRODUCTION Temperate zone penguins appear to have different predators and may ex- perience a lower level of predation than sub-Antarctic and Antarctic species (Stonehouse 1967). Important predators in high latitudes are the Leopard Seal Hydrurga lepontonyx, Great Skua Catharacta maccormicki, and Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus (Stonehouse 1960, 1967; Swales 1965; Young 1963, 1970). Virtually nothing is known of the predators or the level of predation of temperate species. Casual unquantified observations were made of predation on the temperate 21 Jackass Penguin Spheniscus demersus, and on its eggs and chicks during the period February 1971 to December 1972 on Dassen Island (33°25’S, 18°06’E) off the west coast of South Africa. Predation of the Jackass Penguin is considered in three sections ; predation of eggs, chicks and juveniles and adults. PREDATION OF EGGS The only observed predator of eggs was the Dominican Gull Larus dominicanus. The gull was never observed to take eggs from incubating penguins as does the Great Skua (Young 1970). However the possibility exists that gulls may work in pairs to entice penguins from their nests (Headman, Dassen Island, pers. comm.). Gulls were only seen to take eggs from deserted surface nests and were therefore acting more as scavengers than as predators. Human disturbance to breeding penguins permits gulls to obtain more eggs than they would under undisturbed conditions. Deserted eggs in burrows were left untouched, since they were invisible to gulls patrolling overhead. The increase in the penguin’s surface nesting habit due to guano removal and paving of the breeding areas on some islands has increased the gulls’ chances of obtaining eggs. Berry ef a/. (in press) found that gull numbers increased on Halifax Island, South West Africa, during guano collection and that many eggs were taken by gulls as the penguins deserted because of human disturbance. Guano removal has apparently caused an increase in surface nesting on Halifax Island. While skuas and Giant Petrels occur in the seas around Dassen they are not seen ashore, and therefore do not take eggs (or chicks) as they do in high latitudes. Man has been an important predator of Jackass Penguins. From 1917 to 1931 an average of 460,000 eggs was officially collected annually on Dassen Island (Cott 1953). Collecting was halted in 1968 and poaching is now at a low level, but still causes some disturbance. PREDATION OF CHICKS Penguin chicks are predated by Dominican Gulls, Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus and possibly by feral domestic cats Felis lybica. Gulls took small unattended chicks (up to one week old) from surface nests. Human disturb- ance causing temporary desertion increases chick loss since small chicks are normally brooded continuously. Larger chicks were only attacked if very weak. The Sacred Ibis was only seen to attack weak unattended chicks, mostly comatose. This bird mainly scavenges corpses, and is only a casual predator. Feral cats occur on Dassen Island feeding mainly on the feral rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus. It is possible that they sometimes take penguin chicks though this was never proved by stomach content examination. Small chicks often disappeared from deserted burrows inaccessible to gulls and could have been taken by cats. One penguin chick (ca. 1,500 g) was found showing signs of having been partially eaten by a cat. Chicks have been collected for food and for fish bait in the past, but man is no longer a predator. The extinction of the penguin colony on Robben Island in Table Bay (South Africa) was probably partially due to the collection of chicks in large numbers. PREDATION OF JUVENILES AND ADULTS The Cape Fur Seal Arctocephalus pusillus was the only predator seen to take fledged penguins. A single animal, thought to be a female by its size, was often seen feeding on penguins in House Bay, Dassen Island. A total of 57 penguin corpses was washed up, but many more must have been carried kids 2 ; away by prevailing winds and currents. On one day a total of 25 was washed up. The seal’s technique was invariably to decapitate the bird with one bite and then to disembowel the carcass by shaking, removing the belly skin and eating the viscera and stomach contents. The breast muscle and the rest of the corpse were left untouched. The Cape Fur Seal is not thought to be a common predator of the Jackass Penguin; Rand (1959) mentions only one bull seal which was feeding on penguins off Dyer Island near Cape Agulhas in 1937. A similar case occurred at Halifax Island in 1957. Bourne & Dixon (1973) quote an observation made at sea near Dassen Island where “a seal was seen to catch a penguin, shake it about and toss it in the air”. This was most probably a Cape Fur Seal. The habit seems to be confined to individuals which only appear interested in the stomach contents of penguins. The seal was not always present and it is considered unlikely that penguins formed its sole diet as no drastic decline in penguin numbers was noticed at the landing stages in House Bay. On other islands seals and penguins apparently live together in harmony. I have observed seals close inshore at Dyer Island and Possession Island, South West Africa, but they were not seen to catch penguins. Predation of penguins by Fur Seals is not considered regular by Stonehouse (1967). However, the New Zealand Fur Seal A. forsteri takes Rockhopper Penguins Exndyptes crestatus in quantity off Campbell Island (Bailey & Sorensen 1962), and apparently on Macquarie Island as well (Warham 1963). Boswall (1972) quotes observations by Ian Strange of the South American Sea Lion Ofaria byronia killing the Magellanic Penguin Spheniscus magel/lanicus in the Falkland Islands. Sea lions do not occur in South African waters. The Leopard Seal is very rare in South African waters (P. Best pers. comm.) and thus cannot be an important predator of the resident Jackass Penguin. An old record of a Bryde’s Whale Balaenoptera edeni (=brydei), with 15 Jackass Penguins in its gut (Olsen 1913), is considered to be unusual (P. Best pers. comm.), as this animal has a narrow gullet and feeds on small fish and euphausids. Bird remains were absent from 119 Bryde’s Whale stomachs examined from South African waters (Best 1967). Killer Whales Orcinus orca have been recorded taking penguins in high latitudes and do occur in South African waters. Penguins have not been found inten stomachs examined by P. Bestalthough one contained analbatrosse. The Killer Whale is probably only a minor predator of Jackass Penguins. Giant Petrels have been seen scavenging on Jackass Penguins killed by Cape Fur Seals but have not been seen to attack live birds; at Gough Island this petrel kills freshly moulted Rockhopper Penguins as they enter the water (Swales 1965). Likely, but unproven predators of penguins are sharks. Penguins were often seen on Dassen Island with missing feet or truncated flippers. These injuries could have been caused by seals or sharks. Hagen (1952) mentions the Blue Shark G/yphis glaucus as a possible predator of Rockhopper Penguins at Gough Island. Historically man has been an important predator of juvenile and adult penguins. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries many birds were col- lected for food on Robben Island. They have been used as fish bait, and are occasionally drowned in fishing nets. At present man is no more than a casual predator of Jackass Penguins. SUMMARY The Jackass Penguin is preyed upon by several animals, but none of these appears to be an important predator. Predation of eggs by Dominican Gulls a5 is related to the level of human disturbance and the increase in surface nesting. The Dominican Gull and Sacred Ibis take small unattended or weak chicks. Feral domestic cats may also take chicks, but proof is lacking. Juvenile and adult birds are preyed on by individual Cape Fur Seals but this is a rare occurrence. The Cape Fur Seal was only observed to eat viscera and stomach contents. Predation by sharks is an unknown factor, and Killer Whales, Leopard Seals, Skuas and Giant Petrels are not thought to be important predators in South African waters. Man has been an important predator of penguins in the past, taking eggs, chicks and fledged birds, causing the extinction of at least one island breeding colony. Predation by man is no longer important. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS During my period of research on Dassen Island I was employed by the South African National Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds under a grant from the South African Nature Foundation. I am grateful for facilities on the island supplied by the Department of Government Guano Islands. The paper was prepared while I was a member of the Percy Fitz- Patrick Institute of African Ornithology. References: Bailey, A. M. & Sorensen, J. H. 1962. Subantarctic Campbell Island. Denver Mus. Nat. Fist. 10: 1-305. Berry, H. H., Seely, M. K. & Fryer, R. E. in press. The status of the Jackass Penguin Spheniscus demersus on Halifax Island off South West Africa. Madocqua. Best, P. B. 1967. Distribution and feeding habits of baleen whales off the Cape Province. Div. Sea Fisheries Invest. Report 57: 1-44. Boswall, J. 1972. The South American Sea Lion as a predator on penguins. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 92: 129-132. Bourne, W. R. P. & Dixon, T. J. 1973. Observations of seabirds, 1967-1969. Sea Swallow 22: 29-60. Cott; Ei B. 1953. The exploitation of wild birds for their eggs. [bis 95: 409-449. Hagen, Y. 1952. Birds of Tristan da Cunha. Norweg. Sci. Exped. to Tristan da Cunha 20. Olsen, O. 1913. On the external characteristics and biology of Bryde’s Whale (Ba/aenop- tera brydei), a new torqual from the coast of South Africa. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 34: 1— Rand, R W. 1959. The Cape Fur Seal, Arctocephalus pusillus, distribution, abundance and feeding habits off the south western coast of the Cape Province. Div. Sea Fisheries Invest. Report 34: 1-75. Stonehouse, B. 1960. The King Penguin, Aptenodytes patagonica, of South Georgia. 1. Breeding behaviour and development. Fa/kland Islands Depend. Sci. Report 23: 1-81. — 1967. The general biology and the thermal balance of penguins. Advances in Ecol. Research 4: 131-196. Swales, M. K. 1965. The seabirds of Gough Island. /bis 107: 17-42. Warham, J. 196 3. The Rockhopper Penguin, Eudyptes chrysocome, at Macquarie Island. Auk 80: 229-256. Young, E. C. ies. Feeding habits of the South Polar Skua, Catharacta maccormicki. [bis 105 : oI-318. —- ek The techniques of a skua-penguin study. Antarctic Ecology 1: 568-584. The Boran Cisticola in Ethiopia bf ASD Received sth Juh, 1973 Following Benson’s (1946) account of unidentified Cisticolas in southern Ethiopia, North & McChesney (1964) collected and recorded what were apparently similar birds in Kenya. The latter authors dubbed them “‘Boran Cisticolas’’. Although Boran Cisticolas are morphologically inseparable from the 24 Rattling Cisticola C. chiniana (Hall & Moreau 1970) their behaviour, song, and habitat preferences are dissimilar; clearly, two species are involved. At the risk of possibly confusing the problem further, it seems worthwhile recording some observations on a C7sticola which seems to be fairly wide- spread in southern Ethiopia. I have used the same name Boran Cisticola for these birds, although I cannot be certain that they are the same as those described by the above authors. This seems likely, for they are inseparable in the field from chiniana on plumage characters, but differ in other respects. Their most noticeable feature is the loud song, quite unlike the rattling song of chiniana, and to my ear strongly reminiscent of the palearctic Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs. Boran Cisticolas have been found most commonly in the Kebre Mengist and Neghelli areas, in Borana, part of Sidamo (Benson recorded them at Neghelli). In April 1971 they were fairly common between these two places at 75 km by road (5°31'N, 39°29’E) east of Kebre Mengist, and here a bird was incubating four eggs on 17 April ina ball-shaped nest ca 15 cm above the ground in roadside weeds; they were again common at 40 km to the east (05°14/N, 39°57’E) and at 54 km to the south (a °00’N, 39°29’E) of Neghelli. In April 1973 they were common at various points between these localities and at Neghelli itself. On 23 April 1971 by the Genale River (05°32’N, 39°42’B), north of Neghelli, a bird left a nest at 0700 which contained a warm, and probably new-laid egg; there was still one egg at dusk, but two at 0800 the following morning. This nest was similar to the other, and was ca 23 cm above the ground in low herbaceous growth. Benson recorded a nest with four eggs on 19 June. Since April 1971, further birds with the same charac- ters of plumage and song have been observed, and these records suggest that the species is widespread in southern Ethiopia: Gibe gorge (08°08'N, 37°29 E), Kaffa Province: fairly common on 30 May and 19/20 June 1971; Dire Dawa, Harar Province: one singing at 10 km to south (09°34’N, 41°52’) on 5 September 1971; Harar, Harar Province: single birds at 26 km to east (09°14'N, 42°18’E) and 46 km to east (09°13’N, 42°28’E); Metahara, Shoa Province: single birds at 62 km and 66 km to west (08°41'N, 39°30’E); Langano (7°34’N, 38°51’E), Shoa Province: one on 3 October 1971, and 6+ singing on 13 February 1972 and 6/7 May 1972, and subsequently over a fairly wide area in 1972 and 1973, singing in March, May and June; Arba Minch (6°02’N, 37°36’E), one on 14/15 April 1972; Yavello, at 15 km to the north-east (5°oo’N, 38°12’E), one on 2 June 1972; Ghinir (7°8’N, 40°43’), common on 9 April 1973. Whereas there are only a few records of the Boran Cisticola in the Rift Valley, most of my records of chiniana are confined to that region at many localities from Bahadu (10°05’N, 40°37’E) in the north to Lake Chamo (5°48’N, 37°31’E) in the south. Outside the Rift Valley chiniana has only been found at Yavello and Neghelli. Nests with eggs have been found in April, July and September. There are also records in the south at Bulcha (6°27’N, 38°11'E), near Lake Margherita (=Abbaya), but these birds have not been heard singing, so it is uncertain if they are chiniana or the Boran, although I have specimens. Boran Cisticolas tend to be found in thicker and lusher cover than chzniana, and they have only been found within sight or sound of each other in three areas. At Arba Minch in April 1972, one bird was singing in a thick cover of bushes on top of the escarpment, whilst on the slopes, 50-100 m below, chiniana was common. At one Langano site, Boran Cisticolas occur in the thick cover at the base of the escarpment on the lake-shore, separated by 2) only about a kilometre from the nearest chiniana in the more open acacia bush, but at another site they occur together. At Yavello, a singing Boran was in an area where chiniana was common. The Boran has been observed at an altitude range of 879-1573 m, and chiniana at 600-2000 m. To summarise my observations on the range of the two species: C. chiniana extends throughout most of the Rift Valley, only occurring beyond this area locally in Borana. Urban & Brown (1971) state that it occurs north to Eritrea, where it is rare. The Boran overlaps the range of chiniana broadly in the Rift Valley, except north of 8°30’N, with extensions to the north-east, east and west. Further observations, especially in the south-west, may alter this picture. However, on extensive journeys further east in Haud, Ogaden, southern Sidamo and Bale, there has been no sign of either species. Morphological differences between the two species are described by Erard in the immediately following paper. Acknowledgements: | am grateful to C. Erard, K. D. Smith and Dr. C. K. Wallace, for commenting on this paper. Part of these observations were made during the course of research supported by the Office of Naval Re- search Task Order No. Nooo14—67—A—0399—0009 and Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Work Unit MR 041.09.01 — oo14D6HJ. The work was undertaken under the auspices of Dr. George E. Watson of the Smithsonian Institution and Drs. J. R. Schmidt and C. K. Wallace of U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3, Research Detachment, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. References: Benson, C. W. 1946. Notes on the birds of southern Abyssinia. Ibis 88: 180-205. Hall, B. P. & Moreau, R. E. 1970. Ax atlas of speciation in African passerine birds. London: Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. North, M. E. W. & McChesney, D. S. 1964. More voices of African birds. Cornell University: Laboratory of Ornithology. Urban, E. K. & Brown, L. H. 1971. A checklist of the birds of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: Haile Sellassie I University. The problem of the Boran Cisticola bys sarara Received 20th August, 1973 INTRODUCTION The existence in Ethiopia of two sibling species of cisticolas was first brought to light by Benson (1946: 199-203). This author collected in Sidamo C7sticola chiniana (Smith) and another species morphologically similar but different in voice and habitat. Later, North & McChesney (1964) collected and recorded them also, in Kenya, at Marsabit (2°20’N, 37°50’E) and Nanyuki (0°o1’N, 37°05’E), and gave the vernacular name “Boran Cisticola” to the second species. In 1968, during one of the expeditions to Ethiopia organised by the Laboratoire de Zoologie (Mammiféres et Oiseaux) du Muséum National d’ Histoire Naturelle de Paris, J. Prévost and the author in their turn found two cisticolas in Sidamo which, although morphologically similar, differed in voice, behaviour and biotope. Still not knowing well the cisticolas of Ethiopia and not being conversant at the time with the problem posed by Benson’s observations, they thought that there must be obvious differences which would be apparent when skins were compared. Also, detailed notes 26 on the voice of each specimen collected were not made systematically. This was an error. The material collected in 1968 remained unidentified. In 1971, during another expedition, Prévost and the author, accompanied by N. Follet, took up the problem again. For each specimen collected a record was made as to its type of voice, while at the same time a series of specimens of the two species was collected which brought to light morpho- logical differences. In the discussion which follows, this sibling of the Rattling Cisticola C. chiniana will be referred to as the Boran Cisticola, which can be regarded as of established usage. VOICE This is the best criterion for distinguishing the two species, and it is doubtless this which plays the most important part in their isolation from one another. Lynes (1930: 247) has described well the voice of chiniana. The alarm cry can be rendered as “‘ptit” or “‘tchit”’, sharp and repeated, sometimes “tititi” as in a tit Parus sp. The song consists of two or three notes, detached and a little drawn out (most frequently two notes, somewhat grating, reminiscent of a Whitethroat Sy/via communis in tone), followed by a short trill. In the field, it was recorded as “‘piu-piu-trrtrrtrr’”’ (the most frequent), “tu-tu-tititi’’, “tu-tu-titititi”’, ““prr-prr-vouivouivouivoui”’. The same song as in Ethiopia was heard in December 1971 in Kenya and Tanzania. The alarm cry of the Boran Cisticola is a nasal “tséé-tséé”’, sometimes repeated in a series of as many as ten such notes. It is usually the male which makes this call, facing the intruder, on a conspicuous perch, a special posture being adopted. He stands erect, making himself as tall as possible, the wings being beaten spasmodically and vigorously, and brought to the vertical at each beat, while at the same time balance is kept by violent vertical jerks of the tail. This has the effect of dispersing a family group. A playback on the magnetophone of these calls causes the bird to emit more in a louder tone; if this is continued, it becomes more and more excited, sings and attacks the magnetophone. This would suggest that the calls do not only serve to watn the partner and their offspring but also have a combative value in territory maintenance. In fact, when a male penetrates the territory of another, he is evicted with cries similar to his own. We have also heard, rarely, from excited birds a dry “‘téc-téc”’, sometimes followed by a rapid “‘tsuisuisui’’. The song of the Boran Cisticola recalls, to a European ear (see also Ash 1974), certain stanzas of the Chaffinch Fringi//a coelebs, especially at the end of winter when they ate not yet complete. This song is a rapid, very loud “rolling” which one could even qualify as explosive (see also Benson Joc. cit.). The phonetic transcriptions of the song in nature are remarkably constant: “til-lilulululu” or “‘tchit-tilulululu” or “‘tip-tilululu”, the indi- vidual variation being relatively slight and depending especially on the length of the stanza. Figure 1 shows the sonagrams of the songs of the two species. It appears that the birds recorded by North in Kenya are indeed Boran, not Rattling Cisticolas. A comparison, kindly carried out and commented on by Dr. C. Chappuis, shows that:— (1) In true chiniana the song is composed of a regu/ar initial series of vibrant notes, /ong and of a complex tonal structure. This is followed by one or two series of short but identical notes of a rapid rhythm. (2) In the Boran Cisticola according to North and in Ethiopia, the song is composed of an rregu/ar initial series of notes modulated in frequency, short and of a simp/e tonal structure. This is followed by a series of notes of varying frequency and higher intensity. 27 KHz 2 D 6 4 2 Ph) BOR: I i | NO eS OO nn Ve ee ee ier aga se ce O O05 10 re 20 25 Seconds Figure 1. Wide-band sonagrams showing the following songs:—A, B and C, different forms of the song of the Rattling Cisticola; D. Boran Cisticola (by North). KHz Seconds Figure 1 (continued). ‘The same showing:—E, song of Boran Cisticola (by North); F and G, song, H, alarm cry, of Boran Cisticola (by author and Follet, at Kebre Mengist). Dr. Chappuis adds that, comparing North’s recordings and ours, in general the songs are identical: the same structure of the initial notes, much the same number of notes in the second part of the phrase, the same form of the notes. Furthermore, the initial notes of the song of Boran Cisticolas in Ethiopia are absolutely identical with those in Kenya. Thus one may conclude finally that these birds constitute a single species, quite distinct from the Rattling Cisticola. In spite of the fact that our material was not very adequate, we may re- count our experience in replaying the song of the one species to the other neat Neghelli. When we played to chiniana the alarm cry followed by the song of the Boran Cisticola, it replied with cries and some song, but the reactions did not attain the intensity, not to say violence, provoked when its own song was played to the Boran. On the other hand, when the cries and song of chiniana were played to the Boran, a positive response of cries and song were evoked. The difference in the intensity of the replies is perhaps explained by a difference in the biological cycles: the fact that chiniana was at the finish of the postnuptial moult and was singing relatively little, whereas the Boran, although it had certainly also finished breeding, had only just started to moult and was still singing quite well. This confirms the suspicion of Hall & Moreau (1970: 167) that chiniana has an earlier breeding season than the Boran. Our observations also showed clearly that the two species, when they occur alongside one another, are mutually exclusive territorially. It would seem, although our data are too fragmentary to confirm it, that chiniana and the Boran can have contiguous territories but not actually overlapping. HABITAT Benson (1946: 201), in Sidamo, has stressed that chznzana inhabits typically “the open ‘thorn-acacia’ country at 3000-4500 ft.”’, whereas the Boran lives in “the drier highlands at 5000 ft. and over. . . in open country where there is low bush growth”. In general we confirm this difference in habitats. We found chiniana only in dry thorny savannas, always in areas where there are relatively low and scattered shrubs, interspersed with low, thick bushes, thinly scattered. At Arero, however, we observed and collected it in culti- vated hollows, partly fallow, where there were only some poorly developed bushes on the edge of a streamlet. On the other hand, the Boran inhabits dense tree savannas of a dry type, though also fairly humid as for example at Kebre-Mengist in Sidamo. Thus it is common in glades and on the outskirts of light forest below 1800 m, in open evergreen shrubby growth, in degraded vegetation on the edges of roads, in man-made clearings reminiscent in appearance of the Mediterranean garrigue (as in the Gibe valley in Kaffa, where it is also found in quite open places). In general, it frequents fairly dense but broken shrubby formations. Around Neghelli and towards Arero and Yavello, and doubtless beyond, the two species come into contact, and in certain places live side by side in the same habitat. However, closer observation shows that chiniana prefers the poorer, more open areas, in which it is much more abundant than the Boran, which dominates on the other hand when the height and density of the woody vegetation increases. Thus for example near Neghelli and Yavello they both occupy thornbush, but the Boran prefers the more luxuriant spots (dense shrubby or bushy growth with a more herbaceous floor), whereas chiniana prefers the more open spots in which the acacias are reduced to dispersed clumps and grass exists only in strands around such clumps. The Boran sings especially at the tops of tall acacias (song post between 3 and 5 m, or even 30 i : ¢ : ; higher), whereas chiniana sings low down in bushes or on the tops of grass- stems (song-post between 0:5 and 2:5 m, rarely higher). It would also seem that there is a difference in the feeding zones: the Boran living between 1 and 5 mand foraging between 1 and 3 m, with chimiana keeping preferably to below 2 m and foraging essentially in grass and low branches of bushes between ground-level and 1 m. As to altitude, we do not think that there is any clear-cut difference between the two species. Chiniana was found between 920 and 1620 m, the Boran between 1200 and 1800 m (the altitudes were taken with the aid of an altimeter previously adjusted in the Geophysical Laboratory, Haile Sellassie I University, Addis Ababa). MORPHOLOGY The examination of specimens of the two species duly identified by voice has permitted the recognition of a certain number of differences in colour, form and measurements. Thus the series brought back in 1971 show the following differences in the Boran Cisticola from the Rattling Cisticola:— (a) The back is more uniform, less streaked. The basic colour of each feather is brown, clearly lighter and with a pronounced russet tone. The streaks of the mantle, although practically non-existant in worn plumage, are narrower and above all browner, less black. (b) The crown is browner, less of a warm chestnut, almost unstreaked, while in chiniana it is obscured by dark streaks. (c) The underparts are whiter, less buff. (d) The tenth (outermost) primary is shorter (see measurements below). (e) The wing-coverts (especially the greater and median) and the alula are bordered with whitish or very light buff and contrast with the reddish buff edges to the outer webs of the remiges. In chiniana the wing-coverts and the remiges are fringed with rufous or reddish fawn uniformly dark. (f) The rectrices are narrower. On the under surface, the extremity beyond the subterminal black spot is practically of the same colour as the basal part of the feather (see also Benson 1946: 201), whereas in chiniana this apical zone is white or washed with fawn, and contrasts clearly with the colour of the base of the feather. The subterminal black spot in the Boran is in fact no more than blackish, somewhat diluted as remarked by Benson (/oc. cit.), and is concentrated on the inner web, being absent or almost so on the outer. In chiniana this spot is more definitely black, and is equally well defined on both webs, so that it may fairly be termed a bar. This black marking is also less extensive in the Boran than in chiniana (less than 5 mm in extent, as against 6-8 mm). In the Boran, too, it is barely discernible on the upper surface, whereas in chiniana it is still clear. Furthermore, in the Boran black is entirely absent on the central pair of rectrices, while in chinianaa rudimentary vestige is still visible. (g) The bill is shorter, more thickset at the base, resembling somewhat in profile, in miniature, that of C7sticola natalensis (Smith). The above differences being evident in autumn specimens (Boran starting to moult, chiniana finishing), an attempt was made to find them in specimens in fresh dress. A comparison of our material with that in the British Museum (Natural History), wherein is the series collected by Benson (most of which are Boran, as their collector thought) has confirmed the validity of the above 31 findings. In fresh plumage the Boran Cisticola has however the wing specu- lum (edges of the greater and median coverts) a little more buff than in worn plumage, but nevertheless this speculum contrasts with the edges of the remiges. The underparts are decidedly whiter than in chiniana in the same stage of plumage, in which they are much washed with buff, with white only in the centre of the abdomen and of the throat. Furthermore, chiniana has on the sides of the chest a dark greyish wash which tends to make it appear darker on the underparts. The pale edges of the mantle feathers in the Boran in fresh dress have a greyish rather than fawn tone, and are narrower than in chiniana, which explains why, with wear the back in the Boran appears the more uniform of the two species. Until the present, these two cisticolas were placed together in a single species as C7sticola chiniana bodessa Mearns, cf. White (1962: 663). Thanks to the great kindness of Prof. S. Dillon Ripley and Dr. R. L. Zusi, we have examined the type of this form, described under the name C. subruficapilla bodessa by Mearns (1913: 2-3). It shows all the characters of the Boran Cisticola, the scientific name of which must accordingly be C7sticola bodessa Mearns. The populations of chinzana of Ethiopia and northern Kenya must be called C’. chiniana fricki Mearns, of which we have also examined the type (cf. Mearns 1913: 3-4), and which corresponds well with specimens which we have collected after having identified them from the song as Rattling Cisticolas. The birds of Kaffa (494, 19) differ from the other Boran Cisticolas, and seem sufficiently distinct to bear their own particular name: Cisticola bodessa kaffensis subsp. nov. Description: This form differs from the nominate by its clearly darker colour. The crown and the mantle are almost concolorous. The top of the head, of a less warm tone than in true bodessa, is scarcely more rufous than the mantle, which is a duller, darker, brown, lacking any rufous; in addition the mantle is practically uniform even in fresh dress, at the most only with very ill-defined streaking. The primaries are bordered with a more pro- nounced, darker, reddish, while the margins of the lesser and median wing- coverts are browner, less greyish. The thighs are likewise a darker buff. The underparts appear darker, being slightly more buffy and, more especially, more washed with a darker brownish grey on the flanks and sides of the chest. Also, the extremity of each rectrix is lighter, more washed with buff, in contrast to the rest of the feather. The bill seems to be longer. Distribution: So far only known from the valley of Gibe in the province of Kaffa. Type: 3 adult: between Walkite and Abalti, ca. 8°12’N, 37°40’E, 7 June 1968. Collector’s no. 1438. In the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris. Wing 67, tail 63-5, bill from skull 14 mm; weight 20 g. The material collected from Marsabit (34 in the British Museum) is not separable from nominate bodessa. To return to our comparison between chiniana and bodessa, in measure- ments the two species are very similar. The following figures show such differences as do exist (each set of figures shows respectively the mean, the range in brackets and the number of specimens examined) :— 32 a er Wing Tail Bill from skull Weight millimetres grammes C.. b. bodessa dS 66-5 (60-71) 57°1 (52-63) 13°§ (12°5-14°5) 19*5 (16-22) 43 4I 39 27 a eb iB 48, 50 II, 13 ey £3 2 2 2 2 C. b. kaffensis SS 66-0 (64-68) = 8G (52-5635) 14-0 (13° 5-15) 20°0 (19-22) 4 4 4 4 ed): 52 45 13 14 I I I I C.. chiniana fricki 33 67:0 (60-70'5) 57-3 (52-62) 14°6 (13-16) 20°6 (18-23) 39 ow 37 21 le) ade, 50°8 (50-53) BEET) 14°8 (12-20) j j In order to take better account of structural differences between the two species, we have shown on histograms the frequency of length of wing and bill of each (Fig. 2). The similarity of size is reflected by length of wing. Chiniana is only slightly larger than bodessa, but on the other hand there is a more definite difference in length of bill. In the course of collecting, we were struck by the difference in the relative length of the tenth (outermost) primary. To express the validity of this, we have measured the difference in length between the extremity of the tenth primary and that of the tip of the wing (tip of the longest — usually the seventh — primary). Figure 3 shows that at an equal wing-length bodessa has in general a shorter tenth primary, although there is a considerable zone of overlap. This is reduced if one compares bill-length to the percentage of difference between the tip of the wing (longest, seventh primary) and the tip of the tenth primary in relation to the wing-length. This percentage is another way of expressing the relative length of the tenth primary to the full wing-length. These two structural differences in the wing and the bill, combined with the colour differences already described, permit the identification of single, isolated specimens. MOULT Lynes (1930: 270-271), not knowing that there were the two species, qualified as “irregular” the mode of moult, stating that in Arussi, Sidamo and the Rift Valley, from Lake Zwai to Stephanie (that is, in the zone where both species exist) there were two modes, seasonal and perennial, although elsewhere the seasonal mode was “dominant if not exclusive’ (see also Friedmann 1937: 200). According to the specimens which we collected and those in the British Museum, it appears that bodessa has a complete moult between the end of October and the beginning of January, and chiniana from September to mid-December. This is general, and affects all of the two popu- lations. A bodessa in moult of the primaries was obtained on 22 June at Marsabit by North, and a chiniana starting to moult on the River Gato (near Gardula) on 31 August. Indications of “‘spring” moult have been noticed in specimens of bodessa as follows: one in moult of the primaries at Neghelli in 33 No. specimens Figure 2. Above: Wing-lengths of Cisticola bodessa (vertical lines) and of C. chiniana fricki (horizontal lines) ($¢ only). Below: Bill-lengths of C. bodessa (continuous line) and of C.c. fricki (broken line) ($¢ only). No. specimens 10 Bill (mm) 34 Wing tip —10" primary (mm) 25 Sone \ 24 @ @ere@ors A \ 4 @MA APDad ZS 7 @A OA l 22 A A 4 21 7 7 4 4 20 7a A th 4 rs 19 aa A 7 y 2. Je) hy ae eee wg ee ie Aer a 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 Wing (mm) Figure 3. Above: Relation between wing-length and difference between tip of wing and tip of tenth (outermost) primary (¢¢ only). Be/ow: Relation between bill-length, and per- centage of difference between tip of wing and tip of outermost primary to wing-length (3g only). In both graphs C. bodessa is shown by circles, C. chiniana f ricki by triangles. Solid symbols: identification by song. Hollow symbols: identification from specimens only. Underlined symbols: C. b. kaffensis. Bill (mm) ZO MOn SO Tole S240 | GA Ou. 36. 37 3B. 39 AO Wing tip —10' primary vs Wing 35 Sidamo on 15 May; two showing signs of moult of the rectrices, secondaries and body plumage in Kaffa on 7 and 19 June; likewise in chiniana, two specimens showing moult of the median rectrices at Lake Margherita in the Rift Valley on 28 April and 2 May. This “spring”? moult seems to affect only a very small number of individuals, contrary to the “autumn” moult, which appears to be the true moult of the populations as a whole. Further investi- gation in the field is necessary to establish clearly the cycle of moult of the two species; all the more so because the cycles of reproduction and moult must certainly vary locally in accordance with the incidence of the rains. DISTRIBUTION Ash (1974) has outlined the distribution of the two species in Ethiopia according to his personal observations which it is not necessary to discuss here. We give below a summary of our own by provinces, adding to it information obtained from the material in the British Museum. We will not consider the data obtained by North in Kenya which also concerns the Boran Cisticola. Eritrea: A 3 from Nefasit (15°19’N, 39°04’E), 8 June 1951, despite its bad state of plumage, seems to be a bodessa. Smith (1955: 75, under C. chiniana bodessa) states “‘Scarce and local... on eastern escarpment between 4000— 6ooo ft”. It would be desirable to examine a series of specimens of this apparently isolated Eritrean population. Ftarrar: A 3 bodessa was collected by Pease on 15 December 1900 at Hojojo, west of Mieso (¢a. 9°10'N, 40°40’E). Ogilvie-Grant & Reid (1901: 654), writing of this specimen, have already remarked that it differs from others in having the streaking of the back almost obsolete. Shoa: There ate specimens of bodessa collected along the Awash River on 19 December 1900 by Pease and at “‘Manniballa” on 14 July 1902 by Degen. This latter locality must be the same as the “‘Mallabella” (¢a. 9°10'N, 39°40’E) of Pease if reference is made to the itineraries of the two expeditions (Ogilvie- Grant & Reid 1901: 609 and Ogilvie-Grant 1904: 254). The Boran Cisticola was also well represented on 1 April and 10 October 1971 in the region of Welenchiti (8°40’N, 39°25’E) and on 1 April at Sodere (8°20’N, 39°30’E). Chiniana was heard singing (it was not at all rare) in many localities in the Rift Valley during May, June, July, September, October and December in 1968-71, especially between Modjo (8°39’N, 39°0o5’E) and Shashemene (7°12’N, 38°37’E). It was also heard near Nazareth (formerly Adama, 8°31’N, 39°12’E) and near the crater lake of Debre Zeit (8°48’N, 38°55’E). We have examined specimens collected in February from Jawaha (ca. 10°N, 40°F), a locality investigated by Blundell and Lovat, see Ogilvie-Grant (1900: 118), in April from Dembi (visited by Antinori and probably in the Rift mid-way between Addis Ababa and Lake Zwai), in January from Lake Zwat (ca. 8°00’N, 38°50’E) and in September from Kambata (ca. 7°30’N, 38°20’R), to the south-west of Lake Shalla (see Ogilvie-Grant 1913: 555 and pita 2). Arussi: We have examined specimens of chiniana collected by Zaphiro in January/February at Djila, Dalota and Bourka (localities to the east of Lake Zwai, between this lake and the high valley of the River Cathar; see Ogilvie- Grant 1913: 554). Szdamo: It is in this province that the two species seem most abundant. Chiniana was found around Lake Awasa (7°N, 38°25’E) in May/June 1968, then in large numbers in a radius of 15-20 km around Neghelli (5°20’N, 39 35’) in May 1968 and October/November 1971, thence very commonly 36 in November/December 1971 to Arero (4°48’N, 38°50’E), onwards almost throughout to Yavello (4°57'N, 38°08’E), and for at least 50 km to the west and 70 km to the south thereof (and see also Benson 1946: 200). Bodessa was abundant in May 1968 and October/November 1971 at Kebre Mengist (formerly Adola, 5°54’N, 38°59’E) and 50 km east of Neghelli (ca. 5°10'N, 40°05’E) towards Filtu. In fact its density was highest between Wadera (5°40’N, 39°20’E) and 15 km north of Neghelli (ca. 5°23'N, 39°35’E), in this region indeed to the exclusion of chiniana (see also Ash’s records). In November/December 1971, the Boran Cisticola was equally well represented around Arero, and in the vicinity of Yavello from 10 km to the north thereof to 75 km to the south (that is, where Benson op. cf. found it himself). Gemu-Gofa: We have examined specimens of bodessa dated June and August from Konso, between Lakes Shamo and Stephanie, for June from Wurke (ca. 6°30’N, 37°30’E, see Ogilvie-Grant 1913: 554), for May from Bodessa (5°05’N, 37°32’E, see Friedmann 1930: 7-8), and for January from Muji, to the north of Lake Rudolf (this locality is not shown on any map; specimen obtained by Haverstadt). Above the escarpment dominating the western shore of Lake Margherita, at several points, between Soddu (6°49'N, 37°41'E) and Arba Minch (6°02'N, 37°36’E), we heard the song in May 1968. In this same region chiniana was common at the bottom of the escarpment, on the edge of the lake. The type of fricks, belonging to this latter species, came from “‘White Abaya Lake” (=—Lake Shamo), and was collected on 20 March 1912. We have also examined a series of specimens of chiniana from Konso, in the valley of the River Gato, collected by Zaphiro in August 1910. Kaffa: In June 1968 and November 1971 we found bodessa well represented in the Gibe valley between Walkite (8°15’N, 37°50’E) and Abalti (8°10’N, 37°35 KE), and above the escarpment or a further 6 km to the south-west of Abalti. It was apparently in this same area that Ash found the species in May and June 1971. In June 1968 singing was heard in clearings near Agaro (7°50'N, 36°38’E), but not again in November 1971. In the meantime the habitat had been considerably modified by the construction of an all-season road, accompanied by cultivation and human activity in general. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I must express my gratitude to my travelling companions Dr. J. Prévost and N. Follet, without whom this study would have been impossible. I wish also to thank Dr. J. S. Ash, who helped me with his knowledge of Ethiopian birds; Dr. D. W. Snow and I. C. J. Galbraith, who gave me every facility while I was working in the British Museum (Natural History) at Tring; and Prof. S. Dillon Ripley and Dr. R. L. Zusi, who were kind enough to lend me the type specimens described by Mearns. Special mention must be made of C. W. Benson, who has commented on this paper and translated it into English; and of my friend Dr. C. Chappuis, who made the sonagrams and from whom I have profited by his knowledge of birds in general and of cisticolas in particular. Mrs. J. Hall-Craggs also most kindly assisted in the final preparation of the sonagrams before they were sent to the printer; likewise J. W. Rodford in that of Figures 2 and 3. ) SUMMARY Based on differences in voice and to some extent in ecology, it was sus- pected more than 30 years ago that there were two species of cisticola in southern Ethiopia. In the meantime, both have been known as Cistco/a chiniana bodessa. The present investigation has confirmed these differences, a7 and has also shown that there are small differences in colour of plumage and in structure. The two species may be known as the Rattling Cisticola C. chiniana, widespread in southern and eastern Africa, and extending into the Shoa province of Ethiopia; and the Boran Cisticola C. bodessa, known from Nanyuki and Marsabit, northern Kenya, and widespread in Ethiopia, occurring even in Eritrea. A new subspecies of the latter, C. b. kaffensis, is described from the Gibe valley, Kaffa. The main factor keeping the two species apart is voice. In some places (as in Sidamo) they occur alongside one another, but are territorially mutually exclusive. References (excluding those in the paper by J. S. Ash above): Ash, J. S. 1974. The Boran Cisticola in Ethiopia. Bu//. Brit. Orn. Cl. 94: 24-26. Friedmann, H. 1930-1937. Birds collected by the Childs Frick expedition to Ethiopia and Kenya Colony. Swiths. Inst. U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 153. Part 1. Non-passeres: 516 pp. Part 2. Passeres: 506 pp. Lynes, H. 1930. Review of the genus C7s/icola. [bis 12(6), suppl.: 673 pp. Mearns, E. A. 1913. Description of six new African birds. Smith. Misc. Coll’ns 61(11): 1-5 Ogilvie-Grant, W. R. 1900. On the birds collected during an expedition through Somaliland and southern Abyssinia to the Blue Nile. /bés 7(6): 115-178, 304-337. — 1904. On the birds collected during a recent expedition through Somaliland and Abyssinia to lake Tsana. [bis 8(4): 250-280. — 1913. Onacollection of birds from southern Abyssinia presented to the British Museum by Mr. W. N. McMillan. Part I. Passeres. /bis 10(1): 550-641. Ogilvie-Grant, W. R. & Reid, R. J. 1901. On the birds collected during an expedition through Somaliland and southern Abyssinia to lake Zwai. [bis 8(1): 607-699. Smith, K. D. 1955. Recent records from Eritrea. bis 97: 65-80. White, C. M. N. 1962. A check-list of the Ethiopian Muscicapidae (Sylviinae). Part II. Occ. Pap. Nat. Mus. S. Rhod. 26 B: 653-694. Cape Grass Owl in Ethiopia by D,. A. Turner Received 30th October, 1973 The Cape Grass Owl Tyto capensis ranges through the greater part of southern Africa northwards to western and central Kenya, where it is a rather rare and local species frequenting damp open grassy areas. Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1970) also indicate the existence of an isolated population on Manen- guba Mt., western Cameroun. Urban & Brown (1971) do not list this species for Ethiopia, and Leslie Brown informs me that even the Barn Owl Tyo alba, widely distributed over most of Africa south of the Sahara, is unaccountably rare in Ethiopia. On 9 May 1973 I observed an owl asleep on a telegraph pole in the middle of a vast open grassy area near Tefki, some 50 km south-west of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The bird was observed for some 15 minutes at a distance of approximately 75 yards, with the aid of x8 binoculars. It was clearly a Tyto owl, the facial discs being very distinct, as were its orangey-buff under parts lightly spotted with dark brown or black. The upper parts and wings were uniform dark brown. The area at this time was extremely dry, although it was very apparent that it became a vast swampy area during the rainy season. When I left, the owl was still asleep, but had disappeared when I returned to the area later in the afternoon. A recent examination of skins in the National Museum, Nairobi, of all medium sized owls leaves me with no doubt that the bird I saw was a Cape 38 Grass Owl. This would appear to be the first record of this species in Ethiopia and a considerable northward extension of its previously known range. References: Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1970. African handbook of birds, Series I, Vol. 1. London: Longmans. Urban, E. K. & Brown, L. H. 1971. A checklist of the birds of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: Haile Sellassie I Univ. Press. Locustella naevia in Ethiopia by J. S. Ash & George E. Watson Received 9th October, 1973 Whilst one of us (J.S.A.) was routinely trapping birds and mammals at Koka (8°27'N, 39°06’E) at 1445 m in Shoa Province, Ethiopia, in connection with reseatch on viral infections, a Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia was netted at 1130 on 24th February 1973. It weighed 10-2 g, wing length 62 mm, and was judged on the basis of colour to belong to the eastern race straminea. Subspecific identification was confirmed by John Farrand, Jr., at the Smith- sonian Institution, where it is deposited (USNM-5 52733). Previously only one other Ethiopian record of L. 2. straminea has been reported, namely from Abroberifaghé along the River Hawash in the Danakil in February 1947 (Guichard 1948). Until the more recent records from Sene- gal (Moreau 1972) this has remained the only known occurrence south of the Sahara. However, we have been unable to trace this previous Ethiopian specimen. The record is included without date or authority in Meinertzhagen (1954), Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1960), White (1960) and in the recent Ethiopian checklist (Urban & Brown 1971). Moreau (1961), however, cites Meinertzhagen (/oc. cit.) as authority for the record but he later (1972) gives Thesiger & Meynell (1935). The species, however, is not mentioned by Thesiger & Meynell. There is no voucher specimen in either the British Museum or Meinertzhagen collections (D. W. Snow, 7m Uitt., 17 May 1973)*. C. W. Benson (cz /itt., 21 July 1973), who checked independently the British Museum collections, also failed to find the specimen. He searched the regis- ter and found that three of the four species covered by Guichard’s (op. cit.) note were duly recorded, but not the Locuste//a. One might assume that the specimen in question never reached the museum if it were not for the state- ment at the end of Guichard’s note, ‘“‘All the above-mentioned specimens are now in the British Museum’’. Alternatively, the specimen may have been lost prior to registration. This supposition is supported by the fact that only eight out of the nine Sarothrura ayresi sent to the museum were registered. Guichard was a careful and reliable observer, and notwithstanding the fact that his specimen of L. maevia cannot be traced now we arte inclined to accept it. The species is not included in the catalogue of the collection made during the Italian occupation (Italian Game Department, unpublished, photostat copy of disintegrating original in J.S.A.’s possession). Moreau (1972), in discussing the wintering range of races of L. naevia, follows others in identifying the earlier problematical Ethiopian bird as L. z. Siraminea, mentioning that both this and another eastern race, L. m. mongolica, *A. D. Forbes-Watson (pets. comm.) asked Thesiger in Kenya on 22 June 1973 about the problematic record. Thesiger had no recollection of having collected the species and stated that if the record was not cited in the 1935 paper, nor was there a specimen in the British Museum, it never in fact existed. 39 winter regularly in India (Vaurie 1959). Moreau’s review of records in the western Sahara and Senegal does not include mention of the race involved, although one at least was the European race L. n. naevia (Roux 1959), to which they are presumably all referable. Field (1973) has reported recent observations of Grasshopper yc Tefs from further south in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The present bird was in dry bah (Paints as ca. 1/2 mile from the lake shore. Other Palaearctic migrants, bf’ivhich must have over-wintered, caught in the same habitat a ee time, included: 11 Hoopoes Upupa epops, three Scops Owls Ofus eps two Wrynecks /ynx torquilla, five Pied Wheatears Ocnanthe pleschanka, twee Stonechats Saxicola torquata armenica, 24 Redstarts Phoenicurus p. phoenicurus and samamisicus, three Bluethroats Luscinia svecica magna, three White-throated Robins ‘Trania gutturalis, 13 Nightingales Luscinia megarhynchos, 12 Lesser Whitethroats Sy/via curruca, three Whitethroats S. communis, seven Blackcaps S. atricapilla, four Barred Warblers S. nisoria, four Olivaceous Warblers Hippolais pallida elaeica, 24 Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus, one Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus, 29 Chiftchafts P. co/lybita, eight Masked Shrikes Lanius nubicus and four Red-tailed Shrikes Lanius collurio isabellinus. During 1970-73, 9639 birds have been netted on 70 days at the Koka site (6 in February, 29 in March, 19 in April and 16 in December), and at least 2624 (27%) of these were migrants, but no other Grasshopper Warblers were seen. Similarly, much netting has been done in other sites in southern Ethiopia, including two in the Danakil, all of which have provided many migrants, but not L. nwaevia. Unless the species is confined largely to small areas of specialised habitat, which have not been worked yet, we suspect it cannot be more than a rare and casual winter visitor to East Africa south of the Sahara. The opinions and assertions in this scientific report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Navy Department or of the naval service at large. The research was supported in part by the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and the Office of Naval Research under Contract No. Nooo14—67—A—0399-0009 and Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Work Unit MRo41.09.01-0014 DGHJ. We are grateful to C. W. Benson, J. Farrand, Jr., the late K. D. Smith and D. W. Snow for their help. References: Field, G. D. 1973. Subalpine and Grasshopper Warblers in Sierra Leone. Bul//. Brit. Orn, Cl. 93: IOI-103. Guichatd, K. M. 1948. Notes on Sarothura (sic) ayresi and three birds new to Abyssinia. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl, 68: 102-104. Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1960. African handbook of birds. Series 1, Vol. 2. London: Longmans. Meinertzhagen, R. 1954. Birds of Arabia. Edinburgh & London: Oliver & Boyd. Moreau, R. E. 1961. Problems of Mediterranean—Saharan migration. /bis 103a: 373-427, 580-623. — 1972. The Palaearctic- African bird migraiion systems. London & New York: Academic Press. Roux, F. 1959. Captures de migrateurs paléarctiques dans la basse vallée du Sénégal. Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat. Paris 2e(31): 334-340. Thesiger, W. & Meynell, M. 1935. Ona enilacties of birds from Danakil, Abyssinia. /bzs 77: 774-807. Urban, E. K. & Brown, L. H. 1971. A checklist of ihe birds of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa. Haile Sellassie I Univ. Press. Vaurie, C. 1959. The birds of the Palearctic Fauna: Order Passeriformes. London: Witherby. White, C. M. N. 1960. A check list of the Ethiopian Muscicapidae (Sylviinae). Part I. Occ. Pap. Nat. Mus. S. Rhod. 3(24B): 399-430. . 40 , — 4: —_ aT my Wingy va “hie } eg : r 2 math 7 : ; 2: . . ‘ i ies ; 4 = 7 ‘ ; a “i nig te marge Metal | on 4 - nf oP are | Pye ‘ os 4 | en avy +) g ye , { f ‘ 7 ar he : f i . ‘. * aa ; ; are i. A “ roy: > d . « d many 4 5 EY Papas a abt bcnek ett ht sh bhiewle ghiatcastil ec oa c vr. — F . 2 uy dans dipied ia fe, ‘i Lz Goiws P . sy 4 on Ne Zs : +>. *» + Pee r : in _ hy » . - ‘ , ‘ , ae ra ) pe vps: : bers v7) ow es " A ’ 4 “ + ¥ a ’ he ie f } ’ ‘ rj 2 i } ly — i i , ‘ ‘ : . ' )- * : ¥ 2 ? a J ‘ + P| bey , ‘ ( ‘ ) : : " i ‘ A 5 a, to te ¥ ‘ ‘ + ‘ , ’ ver R ‘ rT " ~ t ) , a. iF A \ ry La , . Me fy " t " he av » { ‘ ; f V ie aeron 5 F ‘ hs ee 1 Sh Aces \ , = Cs 5 ; ee yu" x 4 . ) ‘ie 1 * eh. 9 ey We) i m i i ra 4 Thal e \ - : k 1 Ma PEER aay a Lf i ‘ I CONTRIBUTORS Contributions are not restricted to members of the Club. They should be addressed personally to the Editor, C. W. Benson, Department of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge. Contributions are accepted on condition that sole publication is offered in the first instance to this Bulletin. They should be type-written, double-spaced, with wide margins, on one side of the paper, and submitted in duplicate. 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SUBSCRIPTION TO BULLETIN The Bulletin may be purchased by non-members annually for £3.50 (payable in advance) or per copy 90p (index free), payable to the Hon. Treasurer. CORRESPONDENCE Other correspondence should be addressed to the Hon. Secretary, R. E. F. Peal, 24 Creighton Avenue, London N10 1NU. Published by the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB and printed by The Caxton and Holmesdale Press, 104 London Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club Edited by C. W. BENSON Volume 94 No. 2 June 1974 Committee J. H. Elgood (Chairman) P. Hogg (Vice-Chairman) Sir Hugh Elliott, Bt., 0.3.x. (Editor) R. E. F. Peal (Hon. Secretary) M. St. J. Sugg (Hon. T: ey J. H. R. Boswall Dr. C. J. O. Harrison C. J. Mead Lt.-Col. J. R. Neighbour ~ - a. Bulletin of the ~ > ITH BRITISH OR Vol. 94 No. 2 OLOGISTS’ CLUB e URCHASED Published: 20 June, 1974 The six hundred and eighty-se e€ting of the Club was held at the Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, London, W.1, on Tuesday 19th March 1974 at 7 p.m. yA iaeee Sit Hugh Elliott, Bt., 0.B.£.; present 22 members and 11 guests. The speaker was Professor W. H. Thorpe, sc.p., F.R.s., who addressed the Club on “Individuality in Bird Voices” and illustrated his lecture with tape recordings and slides. Annual General Meeting The eighty-second Annual General Meeting of the British Ornithologists’ Club was opened at 6 p.m. on Tuesday 14th May 1974 at the Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, London, W.1. Eight members were present. The Hon. Secretary reported that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman were both engaged on work abroad and had sent apologies for their absence and the Editor had done likewise. Dr. J. F. Monk proposed, and the Hon. Secretary seconded, that Mr. P. Hogg should take the chair, and this was agreed. The Minutes of the eighty-first Annual General Meeting (Bu//. Brit. Orn. C/. 93: 49, 52) were approved and signed. The Hon. Secretary presented the Report of the Committee for 1973 (Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 94: 1-2). After a short discussion, Dr. J. F. Monk proposed, and Mr. M. St. J. Sugg seconded, that the Report be adopted, and this was carried unanimously. The Hon. Treasurer reported that it had not been possible to complete preparation of the Accounts for 1973, and con- sideration of them had, therefore, to be deferred. On discussion of the Bu//etin, the meeting noted with satisfaction the high standard of papers. In order to avoid undue delay in publication, the Editor had had to decline some papers, particularly from non-members, of a stan- dard that would have justified acceptance. The Hon. Secretary stated that the printers had just informed the Club of an immediate increase in charges of 15 %. This would mean a total rise in printing costs of 48% in the last two- and-a-half years, and the Committee would have to consider how to meet the cost of the latest increase. There being no nominations additional to those of the Committee, the following were declared elected :— Chairman: Mr. J. H. Elgood (vice Sir Hugh Elliott, who retired on com- pletion of his term of office). Vice-Chairman: Mr. P. Hogg (vice Mr. J. H. Elgood). Editor: Sir Hugh Elliott, Bt., 0.B.E. (vice Mr. C. W. Benson, 0.B.E., who retired on completion of his term of office). Fon. Secretary: Mr. R. E. F. Peal (re-elected). Flon. Treasurer: Mr. M. St. J. Sugg (vice Mr. P. Tate, who retired on com- pletion of his term of office). Committee: Dr. C. J. O. Harrison and Lieut.-Colonel J. R. Neighbour (vice Dr. P. J. K. Burton, who retired by rotation, and Mr. P. Hogg). Tribute was paid from the chair to the great amount of work which Sir Hugh Elliott had done for the Club as Chairman. In particular, he had 41 devoted much time to cataloguing the stocks of back-numbers of the Bulletin and moving them to new storage at Tring, to ordering the mailing lists for the Bulletin and to arranging that separates should be produced for authors. A vote of appreciation to Sir Hugh was passed unanimously. Mr. Hoge thanked Mr. Tate for all he had done for the Club as Hon. Treasurer. He had been in that office for 12 years, a period not exceeded by any previous Hon. Treasurer and had devoted very much time and work to the Club. A vote of thanks to Mr. Tate was passed unanimously. The Hon. Secretary said that the meeting was well aware of its debt to Mr. Benson and it was hoped that he would be willing to resume office as Editor in 1975. It was proposed by Mr. D. T. Holyoak and seconded by the Hon. Secretary that the meeting be adjourned until 6 p.m. on Tuesday 17th September 1974 at the Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, London, W.1 for consideration of the Accounts for 1973, and this was carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 6.30 p.m. A re-examination of material of the extinct marabou stork, Leptoptilos falconeri: with descriptions of some new species by C. J. O. Harrison Received 1st February, 1974 Two marabou storks have been named as existing in pre-pleistocene periods. Argala (= Leptoptilos) arvenensis was listed by Milne-Edwards (1871) as a species of the French Miocene, but it is a nomen nudum. No material is known and it is possible that proposed specimens may have been referred to other species. In the same work Milne-Edwards (1867-71), in a footnote to page 450 (incorrectly stated to be 449 in Brodkorb 1963), proposed the name Argala falconeri for another species. Brodkorb (1963) lists this also as a nomen nu- dum and regards Davies (1880) as the first valid description. He appears to have overlooked that on page 449 Milne-Edwards refers to four specimens from the Siwalik Hills of India, in the collection of the British Museum (Natural History) and that the name is then proposed with reference to these. They are listed as the distal and proximal ends of a tarsometatarsus, and two distal ends of tibiotarsi, measurements are given, and the greater size in comparison with Recent species is indicated as a valid character for specific separation. Lepfoptilos falconeri (Milne-Edwards) 1868 would therefore appear to be the original description. Davies (1880) refers to five specimens, four presented to the British Museum (Natural History) by Col. Sir P. T. Cautley in 1842, and one pre- sented by Charles Falconer in 1868, under this name. Lydekker (1884) refers a further three specimens to this species, two from Cautley and one from Falconer, and in describing the largest distal end of the tibiotarsus says it “may be considered as the type”. In a later catalogue (1891) he lists all specimens without special reference to this one; but Brodkorb (1963) lists it as the designated lectotype. It is an unfortunate selection in that the specimen, apart from its larger size, shows no useful characters for separation from Recent species. This material referred to L. fa/coneri has been re-examined and I am of the opinion that it comprises the remains of three different bird species. Five 42 specimens, including the lectotype, appear referable to a very large marabou stork under the existing name. Although there is no indication that these were originally associated, the similarities of relative size and structure appear to justify referring them to a single species. The lectotype tibiotarsus shows no obvious characters, apart from a much larger size, which would separate it from the corresponding bone of the larger Asiatic species of the Holocene, L. dubius. The other, paratypical specimens show distinct differences in some points of structure which would justify specific separation, and in which the Pliocene bird is more different from the three Recent species than they are from each other. In the comparison of Pliocene and Holocene material this similarity in one bone and differences in others may have particular relevance. Although it has been claimed that some Recent species existed in the Pliocene, Brod- korb (1971) contends that the Pliocene birds were specifically distinct and that in general Recent species evolved during the Pleistocene. If the Pliocene records are based on single, or few, skeletal elements then a similar situation might occur to that apparently shown by the present species, where a particular bone might give no indication of difference, although differences existed in other parts of the skeleton, and where it might be assumed that a Recent species had been in existence at a much earlier period when a mor- phologically distinct, although possibly ancestral, form might be involved. The three remaining specimens consist of two distal ends of tibiotarsi, one very incomplete, and the extreme proximal end of a tarsometatarsus with most of the hypotarsus. One tibiotarsal fragment is virtually indistinguish- able in size and shape from those of the Recent L. dubius. The other more extensively damaged fragment (fig. 4) is that of another stork, possibly related to Ciconia species but not definitely referable to known Recent or extinct species, and apparently a new form. It is from a large bird, only slightly smaller than L. dubius. The tarsometatarsal fragment appears to be that of a marabou (fig. 3), in some respects most similar to L. crumeniferus of Africa. Since, as in the larger species, it is this and not the tibiotarsus that shows characters which might justify specific separation I regard this as the holotype and refer the first of the two smaller tibiotarsi to it. Rich (1972) has assigned a distal end of a tarsometatarsus and a tibiotarsus from the Upper Miocene Beglia Formation of Tunisia to Lep/soptilos cf. falconeri. The species was a small one, intermediate in size between L. crumeniferus and L. javanicus. The tarsometatarsus shows a trochlea for the 3rd digit shorter and broader in proportion than that of L. falconeri, having a distally short trochlea for the 2nd digit with a posteriorly and proximally displaced outer rim (fig. 1, lower right; 2, top). The tibiotarsus has a larger and disto-proximally longer posterior articular surface in the intercondylar region. There seems no reason to assign this bird to L. falconeri other than on its age. It appears to represent a discrete form and I have therefore treated it as a new species, L. richae. The three Recent species of Lep/optilos show small interspecific osteological differences. The fossil forms discussed here show, even on the fragmentary material available, more distinct differences which are usually greater than the more recent interspecific variations. It therefore seems best to treat all these earlier forms as separate units distinguished by name. The relative similarity to each other of the three Recent species within the genus as a whole suggests that they are probably derived at a later period from a common ancestral stock, probably diverging during the period of active speciation in Africa and Asia during the Pleistocene. In addition we 43 Figure 1. Anterior view of distal end of tarsometatarsus of - top left, L. dubius; top right, L. javanicus; bottom left, L fatconeri; bottom right, L. richae (the last, after Rich 1972, is on scale approx. half as large again as others). Figure 3. L. siwalicensis, holc- type, proximal end of tarsc- metatarsus. Internal and proxi- mal views. 44 Figure 4. Cryptociconia indica, holotype, distal end of tibic- Anterior and internal tarsus. views. Figure 2. Lateral, internal view of distal end of tarsometatarsus of — top, L. richae; middle, L. falconeri; bottom, L. dubius (the first, after Rich 1972, is on scale approx. half as large again as others). have two Pliocene and one Miocene species. There is some evidence that on the fossil forms the anterior condylar projections of the distal ends of tibiotarsi are slightly longer, relative to the width of the ends, than on Recent species; but apart from this the scanty material available does not appear to indicate any general evolutionary trends, unless one interprets the variation in the distal end of the tarsometatarsus (fig. 1) as evidence of a long-term tendency for an increase in the distal projection of the trochlea for the 2nd digit. It is possible that these earlier forms are close to the evolutionary stem of the genus, but there is no definite evidence to indicate whether any should be regarded as ancestral to the Recent species or whether they should be regarded as minor divergences from a main evolutionary trend. There is certainly no good evidence to justify the creation of palaeo- species. SPECIES DESCRIPTIONS Leptotilos falconeri (Milne-Edwards) 1868 Emended diagnosis. Very large. On tarsometatarsus, trochlea for third digit large, extending distally well beyond other trochleae. Trochlea for second digit posteriorly displaced. Distal end of humerus with shaft less inflated anconally; groove between attachment of anterior articular ligament and internal condyle broad and deep; entepicondylar prominence and attachment of anterior articular ligament large. Distal end of femur with rotular groove deep and narrow and external edge of popliteal hollow well-defined. First phalanx of second digit of manus with metacarpal facet deep relative to width. Material. Lectotype, designated by Lydekker (1884), a distal end of a right tibiotarsus, B.M. (N.H.) no. 39735 (erroneously quoted by Brodkorb 1963 aS 39753). Paratypes, a distal end of a left tarsometatarsus, B.M. (N.H.) no. 39736; a distal end of a left femur, B.M. (N.H.) no. 39737; and a proximal portion of the first phalanx of the second digit, B.M. (N.H.) no. 39738; all the above specimens including the lectotype being presented by Col. Sir P. T. Cautley in 1842. Also a distal end of a left humerus, B.M. (N.H.) no. 48435, presented by Charles Falconer in 1868. Occurrence. Siwalik Series, Lower Pliocene; Siwalik Hills, Uttar Pradesh, India. Description. The lectotype is the distal end of a right tibiotarsus with a short portion of the shaft (fig. 1, lower left; 2, middle). It has undergone some pressure, the internal condyle showing a slight inward deflection and some damage to its outer edges. The shaft has been subject to crushing and deformation, and anterior projections proximal to the condyle are super- ficially eroded. The characters it shows do not differ distinctly from those of the Recent species, being perhaps most similar to those of L. javanicus. The condyles are stout and rounded anteriorly and posteriorly, and concave on the anterior outer surfaces. The internal ligamental prominence is large. There is a large, rounded and relatively deep intercondylar hollow distal to the supratendinal groove. The distal end of a left tarsometatarsus is broken off at the metatarsal facet. It is in good condition with the posterior tips of the outer trochleae and the internal posterior edge of the trochlea for the 2nd digit showing some wear and erosion. In general it is very similar to the tarsometatarsus of Recent species but the trochlea for the 3rd digit is larger, extending further distally and more prominent anteriorly. The anterior edge of the external rim of the trochlea for the 2nd digit is slightly more prominent laterally. 45 The distal end of the left femur is broken off just proximal to the popliteal area. The fibular groove and posterior intercondylar fossa are worn and the posterior external condyle edge slightly eroded. Other surfaces show small areas of damage. The rotular groove is deep and well-defined, narrower in comparison to those of Recent species, with a prominent and anteriorly tapering posterior external condyle. The popliteal cavity is deep and appears to have a deep and well-defined inner margin, the external portion of the shaft forming a definite ridge bordering it. This does not appear to be the result of distortion. The proximal part of the first phalanx of the second digit consists of a little over a third of the bone, with the flange mostly broken away. The proximal end is stout, with the metacarpal facet deep relative to its width. The distal end of a left humerus is again very similar to those of Recent species. It appears to lack any suggestion of proximal anconal inflation of the shaft however. The attachment surface for the anterior articular ligament forms a blunt and palmarly prominent ridge in these birds and in the present species is particularly prominent; while the entepicondyle appears to show greater lateral projection. Measurements. Lectotype. Greatest length 52:8; width and depth of shaft (damaged) at level of proximal opening of supratendinal bridge 20-4 x 16-83. width at distal end 28-0; width of posterior condylar area 22-9; anterior/ posterior thickness of intercondylar groove 22:6; anterior length of external condyle 24-8; anterior/posterior width of internal condyle 34-0, of external condyle 34:8; width of tendinal bridge 8-1 mm. Tarsometatarsus. Greatest length 42-6; proximal width and thickness 23. 1 x 1-0; length from mid proximal end of shaft to trochlea for 2nd digit 39-5, to trochlea for 4th digit 39°9; anterior length of trochlea for 3rd digit 25-4, posterior length 17-0, dorsal width 13-4, greatest depth 17-5; same measurements for 2nd digit 19°8, III, 10-1, 17°83; for 4th digit 21-6, 12-0,.10°4; 18-7; oreatest distal width 36-0; dorsal distal foramen to external intertrochlear notch 8-2 mm. Femur. Greatest length 41-5; greatest width 46-8; anterior/posterior width of external condyle 41-2; distal width of rotular groove 16-1, proximal width 13°8; anterior/posterior thickness of external side 35:3, of internal side 29:0 mm. Phalanx. Greatest length 29:2; width of shaft at distal end 12-1; thickness of external side 5:8; width of anterior surface at metacarpal facet 15:7; depth of facet 131; posterior/external to anterior/internal edges of facet. 15-0 mm. Humerus. Greatest length of fragment 66-9; width and greatest thickness of proximal end of shaft 35-7 x 20-7; greatest distal width §7°7; thickness at external condyle, 29-0, at internal condyle 19-8; attachment of anterior articular ligament to ridge of internal tricipital groove 27-5 mm. Leptoptilos siwalicensis, sp. nov. Etymology. The specific name is derived from that of the range of hills in which the specimens occurred. Diagnosis. Moderately large. Proximal end of tarsometatarsus with internal side stout. Hypotarsus only slightly posteriorly elevated. Anterior ends of calcaneal ridges abrupt. Slanting muscle attachment surface at proximal posterior edge of external side large. Material. Holotype a proximal end of a left tarsometatarsus, B.M. (N.H.) no. 39741, presented by Col. Sir P. T. Cautley in 1842 (fig. 3). Paratype a distal end of a right tibiotarsus, B.M. (N.H.) no. 39734, from the same source. Occurrence. Siwalik Series, Lower Pliocene; Siwalik Hills, Uttar Pradesh, India. 46 Description. The holotype is the extreme proximal end of a tarsometatarsus with the greater part of the hypotarsus present but most of the anterior surface missing except in the region of the cotyla (fig. 3). It has a general similarity to those of Recent species, but the internal side at the proximal end is stouter, anterio-posteriorly thicker, where it borders the hypotarsus. The base of the hypotarsus appears smaller, the whole structure projecting less posteriorly. Perhaps partly as a result of this the calcaneal ridges arise more abruptly and the area of posterior surface immediately around them is flatter. The attachment surfaces on the posterior and anterior edges of the proximal end of the external side are large. The tarsometatarsus is slightly smaller than that of the Recent L. dubius. The distal end of a tibiotarsus is very similar to that of the latter species, very slightly larger in the condylar region and with a stouter shaft. Compared with those of Recent species the anterior portions of the condyles, particu- larly that of the internal condyle, are longer and narrower relative to the width of the distal head. Measurements. Tarsometatarsus. Greatest length of fragment 34-5; greatest proximal width 28-6; width at cotyla lips 24-3; posterior projection of hypo- tarsus, to rim of internal calcaneal ridge 19:5; to external calcaneal ridge 16-7; posterior external muscle scar 9-6 x 6:8 mm. Tvbiotarsus. Greatest length of specimen 61-4; anterior length of internal condyle 18-9; of external condyle 19:0; anterior/posterior thickness at internal condyle 30-6, at inter- condylar groove, 19:4, at external condyle 31-6; greatest distal width 24-4; posterior length of external condyle 16-6; width and thickness of shaft c. 35 mm proximal to condyles 15-3 x 13-8 mm. Leptoptilos richae, sp. nov. Etymology. The species is named after Mrs. Pat Vickers Rich who described the specimens. Diagnosis (based on Rich 1972). Tarsometatarsus with trochlea for the third digit relatively short and anteriorly broad. Trochlea for the second digit does not extend as far distally and has the outer rim much reduced and posteriorly and proximally displaced. Internal intertrochlear notch wide. Distal end of tibiotarsus has posterior articular surface of intercondylar region distoproximally long. Internal condyle projects anteriorly beyond external condyle. In external view posterior edge of shaft straight. Material. Holotype a distal end of a right tarsometatarsus, no. T-3604, Colorado Tunisian Collection, Service Géologique, Tunis. Paratype a distal end of a right tibiotarsus, no. T-1396, in the same collection. Occurrence. Lower Faunal Level (localities 17 and 20); Beglia formation. Upper Miocene; Bled ed Duoarah, Tunisia. Description (based on Rich 1972). The holotype is a distal end of a right tarsometatarsus, broken across diagonally a little below the metatarsal facet, and lacking the trochlea for the fourth digit and the lateral side proximal to it (fig. 1, lower right). The trochlea for the third digit is narrow posteriorly with a proximal taper; but anteriorly it is broad in relation to its length. The internal intertrochlear notch is wide, although this is partly modified anteriorly by the projecting flange of the trochlea for the third digit. The trochlea for the second digit is laterally and posteriorly displaced with a distinct external angle at the proximal end. Its concave inner side extends distally for about three-quarters the length of the other trochlea, but its external facet is reduced, and proximally and posteriorly displaced (figs. 1, lower right; and 2, top). The distal end, viewed anteriorly, shows a strong Gol proximo-external slant, and in lateral view a prominent posteriorly-directed flange is apparent. The distal end of a tibiotarsus shows the typical rounded anterior and posterior condylar surfaces. The posterior, intertrochlear articulation surface is distoproximally longer than that of other species, and the posterior condylar flanges larger. In distal view the posterior and anterior edges of the internal condyle appear more anterior relative to the external side. In lateral view the posterior of the shaft, proximal to the condyles, is straight. Anteri- orly the tendinal canal is not internally deflected where it enters the proximal opening of the supratendinal bridge. The distal opening of the bridge is more medially placed than in Recent species and the internal ligamental prominence is level with the distal edge of the supratendinal bridge and not distal to it. Measurements (after Rich 1972). Holotype. Distal width of trochlea II 6-4; of trochlea III 9-8; internal depth of trochlea II 13-0, of trochlea III 16-0; lateral depth of trochlea II 13-5, of trochlea III 16-4; posterior length of trochlea II 11-9, of trochlea III 15-7; anterior length of trochlea II 17-6, of trochlea III 23-2, width across trochleae II and III 26-0; width and depth of shaft at proximal end of intertrochlear foramen 26-1 x 6-2; length of foramen 5°2; maximum width of foramen 3-7 mm. T7biotarsus. Greatest width across anterior condyles at distal end 18-6; minimum width of posterior condyles at distal end 15:3; greatest width of internal condyle 8-0; anterior length of internal condyle 16-3; anterior/posterior width of external condyle 25:1; width of shaft at proximal end of supratendinal bridge 13-6; width across condyles at their proximal end on posterior surface 8-3 mm. Cryptociconia, gen. nov. Etymology. The generic name is formed from the Greek prefix cryp/o (=hidden) and Ciconia (=a stork), in reference to the length of time during which this form has been overlooked. Type species. Cryptociconia indica, gen. et sp. nov. Diagnosis. Distal end of tibiotarsus has large internal condyle with anterior surface rounded but posterior tapering proximally to an abruptly terminating flange. Internal ligamental prominence projecting only slightly. Anterior portion of internal condyle narrow relative to its length. Cryptociconia indica, sp. nov. Etymology. The specific name refers to the country of origin. Diagnosis. The only known species of its genus. Characters those of genus. Material. An incomplete distal end of a tibiotarsus, B.M.(N.H.) no. 48444, presented by Charles Falconer in 1868 (fig. 4). Occurrence. Siwalik Series, Lower Pliocene; Siwalik Hills, Uttar Pradesh, India. Description. The holotype is a distal end of a left tibiotarsus, the shaft broken off just proximal to the supratendinal bridge anteriorly; and to the condylar groove posteriorly. The external condyle is extensively broken anteriorly and posteriorly. Except for the narrowness of the anterior part of the internal condyle the specimen shows a general similarity to the corres- ponding parts of Recent C7conia species in shape, but is considerably larger. Viewed laterally, the internal condyle is rounded anteriorly, with a very slight posterior slant, but posterior to this tapers towards the proximal posterior end of the intercondylar groove where it forms a prominent flange terminating as an abrupt posterior projection. Anteriorly the smaller features are damaged or eroded, but there is evidence of a laterally broad, medially 48 placed tubercle on the supratendinal bridge, the latter having a marked disto- anterior slant. In length relative to width the anterior part of the internal condyle is more similar to that of L. siwalicensis than those of the Recent smaller storks which it otherwise resembles. In general size it would seem to have been only slightly smaller than the large Recent Marabou, L. dubia. Measurements. Greatest length of specimen 28-7; greatest distal width 20:7; anterior/posterior thickness at internal condyle 30-3; posterior proximal projecting flange 5-2; anterior length of internal condyle 17-8; thickness (measured on outer side to condylar lip) 9-0; anterior/posterior thickness at intercondylar groove 18-7; width of supratendinal bridge 7-6 mm. SUMMARY Various Pliocene and Miocene fossil specimens have been referred to the extinct marabou stork, Leptoptilos falconeri. A re-examination reveals that several species are involved. The distal end of the tibiotarsus, available for all these species and often used as a holotype for extinct stork species, does not show useful characters for separation in the present species although such characters are present on other bones. It is suggested that the apparent uniformity of a skeletal element such as this in birds in which other parts differed might give rise to assumptions that Recent species existed at much earlier periods when in fact morphologically distinct forms were involved. Of eight Pliocene specimens originally referred to L. falconeri, five are here considered referable to a very large species under this name; two to L. siwalicensis (sp. nov.), a species of similar size to the Recent L. dubius; and one to Cryptociconia indica (gen. et sp. nov.), an unrelated stork of similar size to the last. The two Miocene specimens assigned by Rich to L. falconeri appear to constitute another species, L. richae (sp. nov.). References: Brodkorb, P. 1963. Catalogue of fossil birds, part 1. Bu//. Florida Sta. Mus., Biol. Sci. 7: 180- 293. — 1971. Origin and evolution of birds. In Farner, D. S. & King, J. R. (eds.). Avian Biol. I: 19-55. Davies, W. 1880. On some fossil bird remains from the Siwalik Hills in the British Museum. Geol. Mag. n.s. decade 2, 7: 18-27. Lydekker, R. 1884. Siwalik birds. Mem. Geol. Surv. India 10: 3. — 1891. Catalogue of the fossil birds in the British Museum (Natural History). London: Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.). Milne-Edwards, A. 1867-1871. Recherches anatomiques et paleontologiques pour servir a I’ histoire des oiseaux fossiles de la France. Paris: Masson. Rich, P. V. 1972. A fossil avifauna from the Upper Miocene Beglia Formation of Tunisia. Notes Serv. Geol. Tunisia 35: 25-66. The structure of feathers in Chlorophanes purpurascens by L. Auber Received 12th January, 1974 INTRODUCTION The Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History) have been kind enough to place at my disposal three contour feathers, each from a different region of the plumage (chest, rump and crown), of the unique specimen of Chlorophanes purpurascens Sclater & Salvin (1873, Nomen. Av. Neotrop.: 157. Venezuela), redescribed and illustrated by Sclater (1886: 31 and pl. iv). This specimen has also been considered by Hellmayr (1935: 250). It is referred to hereafter simply as “the holotype’. AD OBVERSE --¢ MEDULLA ! INSERTION OF / fe BARBULE (anc 2? REVERSE am CORTER Mer Figures from transverse sections through barbs from Ch/orophanes purpurascens:—1—4, in a termino-basal succession from a chest feather (fig. 4 is a fragment of a section, showing horizontal arrangement of medullary cells); 5, through extreme base in vane of a rump feather; 6-8, in a termino-basal succession through terminal vane half of a crown feather. 50 Figures from transverse sections through broadest part of barb, all except 13 of a chest feather :—9, Chlorophanes spiza 3; 10, Dacnis cayana 3; 11, D. cayana 9; 12, Cyanerpes cyaneus 3 (from Auber 1957: fig. 8b); 13, C. cyaneus 2 (of feather of interscapular region). 51 Bond (in Phelps & Phelps 1948: 202-203) and Wetmore (in Storer 1957: 507) asctibe a hybrid origin to the holotype. They agree about one parent species, Chlorophanes spiza (the genus Chlorophanes being monotypic, if C. purpurascens is not a distinct species), but disagree about the other one, Bond believing it to be Dacnis cayana, Wetmore Cyanerpes cyaneus. Storer (op. cit.) is inclined to agree with Wetmore, but does not entirely exclude the possi- bility of it representing a valid species. All these putative parent species are placed by Storer (1970: 391) in the subfamily Thraupinae of the family Emberizidae. . On account of the great value of the material made available to me, for many years I postponed sectioning the three feathers until I was sure that I had a microtome knife of sufficient sharpness. Even so, the feathers from so old a skin tended to splinter. Nevertheless they yielded the details described below. Considering the probable hybrid origin of the holotype, detailed discussion is necessary of the feather characters of the possible parent species. INTACT SKIN AND FEATHERS From my examination of the holotype as a whole, the purplish blue regions of the plumage show a faint indication of an enamel effect, but no trace of the glassy glitter peculiar to C. spiza. Under microscopical examination in reflected light, of the intact blue barbs of the three feathers available, the reverse surfaces all show a black longitudinal zone. In transmitted light the same barbs show, outside a black opaque zone, one that transmits yellowish light (the medulla, see fig 1), and adjacent to this a transparent colourless zone belonging to the cortex. Evidently the blue colour of these feathers is due to the optical phenomenon that causes most instances of non-iridescent blue, green and purple in feathers. After mistakes by previous physicists, this optical effect has been recognised by Dyck (1971) as a special instance of interference of light, and is nota Tyndall effect. TRANSVERSE SECTIONS THROUGH BARBS (figs. 1-8) When stained according to the routine method of Auber (1955), the medullae did not attain the typical acid stain with picro-Indigocarmine, but a pale orange stain due to an apparently not very strong affinity with both Basic Fuchsin and picric acid. Owing to the restricted amount of material, it is not possible to explain this unusual staining reaction. Cortex: The obvetse cortex (figs. 1-3) is rather massive and laterally com- pressed into an approximately prismatic shape with a fairly blunt summit. In routine-stained sections it appears practically homogeneous, except that the marginal portions (corresponding to surface cells) have less affinity with Basic Fuchsin than have the portions inside the prism. The reverse cortex has an intense melanisation which extends laterally up to the likewise melanised barbules. Towards the concealed vane portions (fig. 5) of the feathers of the chest and rump, the obverse cortex is further compressed into a narrow ridge, so that the outline is pear-shaped. Melanisation in the reverse and lateral cortex is reduced. Medulla: On the chest and rump, near the attenuated barb tip (fig. 1), the medulla has a vertically oval outline. Around the widest portion of the barb (figs. 2-3) the outline is almost circular, the cells having almost a radial arrangement. Occasionally, as in the fragment (fig. 4), the cells form a hort- zontal series. However, this arrangement has been found only near the vane base, although apparently still in the exposed feather portion. Throughout the medulla (figs. 2-4) the cell-boundaries are fairly straight. Each cell §2 contains a cavity of a rather irregular shape, often with rounded (“‘ameboid’’) diverticles. Their rounded outlines indicate that these shapes ar e not artefacts. More jagged outlines would result, if the cell walls splintered during sec- tioning. In the chest and rump feathers the medulla is altogether am elanotic. In the blue terminal half of the crown feathers (figs. 6-8) nearly every cell of the laterally compressed medulla contains small black granules of rodlet- shape, irregularly distributed in varying amounts. DISCUSSION Hellmayr (1935: 250) considered the holotype to bea male. This conclusion is apparently based on the chiefly blue shade of the plumage. In most coerebo- thraupines the males are mainly blue, the females mainly green (due to yellow filter pigment being superimposed on the structural blue). Bond’s opinion (in Phelps & Phelps 1948) that the holotype is a hybrid between Chlorophanes spiza and Dacnis cayana is based on:—(1) the overall similarity in shape with C. sp/za; (2) the similarity in main colour-pattern with D. cayana (3); and (3) that it is partly sympatric with these two species. Storer (1957) believes that Wetmore, whom he quotes, is more correct in assuming that the parent species are Ch/orophanes spiza and Cyanerpes cyaneus (not D. cayana). The following reasons are given:—(1) there is a greater similarity in the colour-pattern between the holotype and C'yanerpes cyaneus (3), and likewise in the dark purplish main colour (light blue in D. cayana 3); (2) the bill of the holotype, quite similar to that of Ch/orophanes spiza, is more similar to that of Cyanerpes than to that of Dacnis. At all events, the sympatric argument made by Bond applies also to Cyanerpes cyaneus. Feather structure: \ndividual feather characters in the holotype (figs. 1-8) are dealt with under (a) — (f) below. Items (a) and (b), and to some extent (c), indicate affinity with CA/orophanes spiza, but none of them indicate any special affinity with either Dacnis or Cyanerpes. These items may now be detailed :— (a) Prismatic obverse cortex: Approaches the conditions in Ch/orophanes spiza 3 (cf. fig. 9), but is much lower and lacks the extreme sharpness of its summit (height and sharpness of summit, together with absence of barbules from exposed feather portions, causing glitter in C. spiza 3). Neither does the prism in the holotype contain the complex light-scattering apparatus described by Auber & Appleyard (1955: 255-256) which in the C. spiza 3 imparts a green shade to the structural blue. This atypical cause of the green is an alternative to the usual cause, viz. superposition of yellow filter pigment on blue-producing structures: see below under females. In this context male skins in the Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna, mislabelled ‘Ch/orophanes purpurascens’, without further data (cf. Auber & Appleyard 1955) are in reality C. sp/za with a strong bluish tinge to the green. According to a recent inquiry these specimens were collected near Quito, and so can be determined as C. s. caerulescens (cf. Sclater 1886: 30). The bluish tinge of these specimens, as compared with the intense green of eastern C. spiza 93, can be attributed to a less efficient light-scattering apparatus in the prism. In Dacnis cayana 3 (fig. 10) and the much more highly specialised Cyanerpes cyaneus 3 (fig. 12) the obverse cortex forms a very thin lamina. (b) Me/anisation of reverse cortex (configuration [Ba] in Auber 1957: 462): Agrees with the condition in both sexes of Chlorophanes spiza (fig. 9) except that:—(1) in the holotype the melanisation extends into well developed barbules (such being absent from the exposed green vane portions in C. Spiza 3, whereas corresponding portions in C. spiza 2 bear amelanotic barbules); (2) melanisation at the barb bases is rarefied (fig. 5), whereas in 53 C. spiza fairly intense melanisation of the reverse cortex coexists with melanisation in the extreme obverse (Auber 1957: fig. 15d). In both sexes of Daenis (figs. 10, 11) and in Cyanerpes 3 (fig. 12) melanisation is contained in a cortical partition (configuration [Bc] in Auber 1957: 462). (c) Irregular melanisation of medullary cells in crown feathers (figs. 6-8): The first impression given by this character is of an extreme instance of an other- wise sporadic occurrence in typically amelanotic medullary cells of various bird forms. The crown feather of the holotype is not melanised to such an extent that it appears entirely black zw sztu (as do corresponding feathers in Chlorophanes spiza 3). However, it approaches the condition in the head region of this species and sex, contrary to that in the chest and rump feathers of the holotype and in any blue feather from Dacnis and Cyanerpes $3, none of which show any black 7m situ. (d) Pear-shape of sections (fig. 4) through barb bases is a generalised feature, indicated in at least the vane base of most feather types (Auber 1957: 460- 461). ib Medulla of oval or circular outline (figs. 1-3, 5): Again a generalised character. It is absent from exposed barb portions in structurally coloured feathers from both sexes of Chlorophanes spiza (fig. 9), of Dacnis (figs. 10, 11) and from Cyanerpes 3 (fig. 12): in all these instances the medullary cells form horizontal tiers. Thus in the holotype the apparently occasional horizontal arrangement (fig. 4) of medullary cells is not significant in the present context. (£) Irregular (partly “ameboid”) shape of medullary cell cavities: As far as could be seen, peculiar to the holotype. It contrasts with an entire absence of medullary cavities from exposed barb portions in structurally coloured feathers of Chlorophanes spiza (fig. 9), as well as with the condition in Dacnis and Cyanerpes (figs. 10-13), in which these barb portions contain medullary cells with cavities of regular “‘polyhedral” shape (cf. Auber 1973). Absence of cavities from medullary cells in Ch/orophanes spiza appears to be unique (cf. Auber & Appleyard 1955: 253, 255). Polyhedral cavities, on the other hand, are frequent in Passeres, but they also occur in some non-passerine families. Females: In those of all three possible parent species the plumages are chiefly green, viz.:—(1) in a typical fashion, yellow filter pigment in the transparent obverse cortex is superposed on the blue-producing structure (cf. Kniesche 1914); (2) often also, green barbs differ from corresponding blue barbs by a more massive obverse cortex (Frank 1939: 501-502), to produce a more efficient filter. Character (2) applies to the bright green in Dacenis (cf. fig. 10 with fig. 11), in which form the blue and green barbs of males and females, respectively, otherwise show the same level of speciali- sation. This character also applies to the dull green in Cyanerpes 9. In this form, however, the ¢ (fig. 12) is much more highly specialised than are both sexes of Dacnis. The Cyanerpes 9 (fig. 13), on the other hand, shows structu- rally some generalised details (sections through barbs pear-shaped and melanisation confined to barbules, cf. configuration (C) in Auber 1957: 462). In females of the extremely highly specialised Chlorophanes spiza only charac- ter (1) obtains: the obverse cortex forms a massive prism in both sexes. SUMMARY | Recent authors interpret the unique specimen originally described as Chlorophanes purpurascens as a hybrid between two coerebo-thraupine species, either Chlorophanes spiza and Dacnis cayana ot C. spiza and Cyanerpes cyaneus. Examination of structurally coloured feathers from C. purpurascens shows 54 that they agree in certain respects with those of C. sp/za but do not show the extreme degree of specialisation found in that species. Along their barbs they show considerable fluctuation, in details of structure and melanisation. On the other hand, no details could be found pointing towards the structures in the feathers of the other species suggested as a parent, either Daenis cayana or Cyanerpes cyaneus. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My thanks are due to the Royal Scottish Museum for facilities for research; to the Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History) and Mr. I. C. J. Galbraith for the unique material; to Mr. Galbraith also, and Dr. A. S. Clarke, Mr. I. H. J. Lyster, Mr. J. M. Sanderson and Mr. A. R. Waterston for constructive criticism; to Dr. G. von Rokitansky and Prof. R. W. Storer for valuable information; to Mr. C. W. Benson for assistance in presentation of this paper; to the Royal Society for a research grant; and to the Editor, Journal of Zoology, for permission to reproduce the present fig. 12. References: Auber, L. 1955. Cortex and medulla of bird-feathers. Nature 176: 1218-1219. — 1957. The structures producing “‘non-iridescent” blue colour in bird feathers. Proc. Zool. Soc, Lond. 129: 455-486. — 1973. Formation of “‘polyhedral” cell cavities in cloudy media of bird feathers. Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin. (B) 74(2): 27-41. Auber, L. & Appleyard, H. M. 1955. The structure of the feathers in Ch/orophanes and Iridophanes (Coerebidae). Ibis 97: 252-258. Dyck, J. 1971. Structure and colour production of the blue barbs of Agapornis roseicollis and Cotinga maynana. Z. Zellforsch. 115: 17-29. Frank, F. 1939. Die Farbung der Vogelfeder durch Pigment und Struktur. Journ. Ornith. 87: 426-523. Hellmayr, C E. 1935. Catalogue of birds of the Americas and the adjacent islands. Fie/d Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool. 13(8) (publ. 347): 541 pp. Kniesche, G. 1914. Uber die Farben der Vogelfedern. I. Die Griinfarbung auf Grundlage der Blaustruktur. Zo00/. Jahrb. (Anat.) 38: 327-356. Phelps, W. H. & Phelps, W. H., Jr. 1948. Contribucion ornitologica de la coleccion Phelps, 5: Notes sobre aves Venezolanas. Bo/. Soc. Venezol. Cienc. Nat. 10(72): 189-210. Sclater, P. L. 1886. Catalogue of the birds in the British Museum 11. London: Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.). Storer, R. W. 1957. The hybrid origin of Chlorophanes purpurascens. Auk 74: 507. — 1970. Subfamily Thraupinae, pp. 246-408 in Check-list of birds of the world 13, R. A. Paynter, Jr., ed. Cambridge, Mass.: Mus. Comp. Zool. The type of the Madagascar Cuckoo Cuculus poliocephalus rochii Hartlaub by C. W. Benson Received 25th February, 1974 Benson ef a/.. (1970: 17) considered that a female of this cuckoo in the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge, collected at Chasmanna, _ Madagascar, on 2nd October 1862, could not be the type, even although it had been indicated as such by Prof. A. Newton. This was because Hartlaub’s description (1862: 224) was ostensibly published on 11 November 1862, only 40 days after the date of collection. However, Duncan (1937: 72) gives the true date of publication as April 1863. Thus there was a lapse, not of a mere 40 days, but of some six months, so that even in those more leisurely times completion of the process from collection to publication of a description would have been possible. 55 What must be the specimen in question is referred to by E. Newton (1863: 453). He states that it would soon have bred, while according to the label it had “eggs large’. Roch & Newton (1863: 166) refer to a specimen which might be supposed to have been collected in September or October 1861 (¢bid., 1862: 265-266). No such specimen has been found in either Cambridge | or Bremen, where there are many of Hartlaub’s types (Benson e¢ a/. 1970: 17). Reference to the /bzs for 1863 shows that the second part of Roch & Newton’s paper was published in April of that year. The note on Cuculus rochii (p. 166) contains a reference to Hartlaub (1862), presumably a last minute insertion, with the “One obtained” referring to the specimen available to Hartlaub. The matter has been discussed with R. Wagstaffe, who agrees that the Chasmanna specimen may be properly regarded as the holotype, contra also Benson (1971: 4), who does list several other Hartlaub Malagasy types in Cambridge. Incidentally, Benson ef a/. (1970: 17) suggest that the type of rochii was collected somewhere between Tamatave and Tananarive. Chas- manna has not been traced from any map or gazetter, either modern or from the last century. However, from the account of his travels during his second visit to Madagascar (E. Newton 1863: 333-335), Chasmanna cannot have been far upstream from the mouth of the Hivondrona (now Ivondro) River, just to the south of Tamatave. For practical purposes the type locality may be taken to be Tamatave. I gladly absolve my co-authors in Benson eé¢ a/. (1970) from responsibility for any previous error, more particularly the overlooking of the paper by Duncan (1937). References : Benson, C. W. 1970-71. The Cambridge collection from the Malagasy Region. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 90: 168-1723 91: I-7. Benson, C. W., Brooke, R. K., Dowsett, R. J. & Irwin, M. P. Stuart. 1970. Notes on the birds of Zambia. Arnoldia (Rhodesia) 4(40): 59 pp. Duncan, F. M. 1937. On the dates of publication cf the Society’s “Proceedings”, 1859- 1926. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 107A: 71-84 Hartlaub, G. 1862. On a new bird from the ae of Madagascar. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 31: 224. Newton, E. 1863. Notes of a second visit to Madagascar. [bis 5: 333-350, 452-461. Roch, S. & Newton, E. 1862-63. Notes on birds observed in Madagascar. [bis 4: 265-275; 5: 165-177. The Pintail Aas acuta in Rhodesia by Michael P. Stuart Irwin Received 1st March, 1974 The holarctic Pintail, Aas acuta Linnaeus, winters extensively in northern tropical Africa (Moreau 1972: 220), although it has been collected once as far south as Zambia at Ndola at 13° S., in February (Benson ef a/. 1971: 55). Within the South African sub-region the only evidence of its occurrence is provided by Took (1959: 84) who observed a pair near Salisbury in Novem- ber 1958. On 3rd February 1974 Mr. Eugene Halsted, while on a shooting party, obtained two female Pintails from a flock of five on a farm dam at Portwe Estate, 19°40’S., 28°42’E., near Turk Mine. Both carried extensive body fat and weighed 822-5 and 852-7 grammes respectively. During the following week a flock of six were reported from the same locality, by Mr. Huntsman Williams who had seen the original group of five and had become familiar with the species. Garganey Axas querquedula Linnaeus were also reported as 56 having been shot at the same time as the Pintail, but no specimens were preserved. It is therefore possible that an influx of these palaearctic duck may have occurred. Exceptionally heavy rains have characterised the 1973/74 rainy season in Rhodesia and over most of south-central Africa. This factor, accompanied by the progressive series of droughts in the northern semi- arid savanna belt of Africa (Winstanley 1973: 190-194), may well force many birds south of their present normal wintering area. That Pintail, at least during the cooler periods of the Pleistocene, must-have occurred very much further south than they do to-day, is evidenced by the existence of isolated resident, subspecifically distinct, sub-antarctic populations found on Ker- guelen and the Crozet Islands (Delacour 1956: 132-135). My sincere thanks are due to Mr. Eugene Halsted for reporting the pre- sence of these ducks, and to Mr. Robert Halsted for bringing this material into the National Museum, Bulawayo, for identification. References: Benson, C. W., Brooke, R. K., Dowsett, R. J. & Irwin, M. P. S. 1971. The birds of Zambia. London: Collins. Delacour, J. 1956. The waterfowl of the World. vol. 2. London: Country Life. Moreau, R. E. 1972. The Palaearctic-African bird migration systems. London & New York: Academic Press. Took, J. M. E. 1959. Pintail Anas acuta in Southern Rhodesia. Ostrich 30(2): 84. Winstanley, D. 1973. Rainfall patterns and general atmospheric circulation. Nature 245 (no. 5422): 190-194. [R. J. Dowsett (év /itt.) reports the following records of palaearctic Anatidae from Zambia in the 1973-74 rains:—Pintail: Kitwe, one 26 Dec. to 3 Jan. (B. Coates, Dr. E. H. Penry); Mufulira, one 8 to 13 Jan. (T. Sims, G. P. Robinson). European Shoveler Anas clypeata: Kitwe, four 25 Dec., three 27 Dec. and 1 Jan., one 17 Jan. (Coates, Penry). Garganey Anas querquedula: Recorded from Mufulira, Kitwe, Blue Lagoon and Lochinvar, first at Mufulira 30 Nov. Maximum numbers (the largest yet recorded from Zambia) were at Lochinvar in Mar., when 100+ were counted (T. O. Osborne, R. Stjernstedt).—Ed.] Larus minutus in Angola by J. C. Sinclar Received roth December, 1973 A very small gull was sighted flying overhead in Lobito harbour, Angola, ca. 12°S., on 6 May 1973. The bird was seen again a few minutes later, when sufficiently adequate views were obtained to identify it as a Little Gull Larus minutus Pallas, and the following description was noted :— Upperparts: fore- head and front of crown white; rest of crown, nape, mantle and wings grey; leading edges of primaries black, likewise edges of secondary coverts which formed a conspicuous W on upper-wings; square-ended tail white narrowly tipped black. Underparts:—mainly white with pale underwings. The bird was in company with Black Terns Ch/idonias nigra, and was noticeably larger. The flight was bouyant and tern-like, on wings which had a rounded appearance at the tip. The bill was short, stubby and dark in colour. No black spot behind the eye was appatent. This record appeats to be the first for the Little Gull south of the Canary Islands (Watson 1965, Seabirds of the tropical Atlantic Ocean), and the species is not mentioned by White (1965, A revised check-list of African non-passerine birds). [The above note has been read by R. Wagstaffe. With long experience of palearctic gulls, he considers the record authentic.—Ed.] yh Fish offal scavengers off Luanda by J. C. Sinclar Received roth December, 1973 Brooke (1971, Bull. Brit. Orn. C7. 91: 46) records Little Egrets Fgretta garzetta and Grey Herons Ardea cinerea scavenging inside the harbour at Luanda, Angola. On 10 and 11 May 1973 dawn sea-watches were carried out at the northern tip of the “‘island”’ just off Luanda. The “‘island”’ runs parallel to the coast and forms the outer bar of the bay, the northern tip being at the bay entrance. During the course of the morning many. small fishing craft entered the bay, gutting fish and throwing the offal overboard. Groups of ca. 500 Little Egrets and ca. 140 Grey Herons were assembled on the sandy point not far from the Casuarina trees where they breed and on sighting a boat offshore would fly out to meet it and follow it into the bay entrance picking up, in the manner described by Brooke (op. cit.), pieces of offal - discarded by the boats. The Little Egrets were noticeably more adept at foraging than the ponderous Grey Herons. They would even take fish out of unattended baskets when the boats had been berthed. Some boats wete joined by the herons and egrets at a distance of up to a mile offshore. A Grey Heron was seen to plunge and settle on the water to peck at a large piece of offal and had no great difficulty flying up and pursuing the boat again. Other species seen following the boats were one immature black-backed gull either Larus fuscus ot dominicanus, Arctic Skuas Stercorarius parasiticus (one skua made an attempt to harry a Little Egret but with little success), Royal Terns Thalasseus maximus, Black Terns Chiidonias nigra and a Palm-nut vulture Gypobierax angolensis. The last named, although it did not directly follow the boats, did pick a fish from the water surface in its talons. I am obliged to R. K. Brooke for commenting on a draft of this note. Vocal mimesis in nestling Greater Honey-guides PO de Lny Received 171th December, 1973 In February and March 1973 I studied the social organisation of Red-throated Bee-eaters Merops bulocki in breeding colonies at Zaria, 11°08’N, 7°47’E, northern Nigeria. Using an industrial endoscope (fibroxscope) with portable 6v light source, I was able to make regular observations not only of young bee- eaters 7m situ in their nests at the end of 1 m long tunnels, but also of young Greater Honey-guides /ndicator indicator that the bee-eaters fostered. African honey-guides parasitise a wide variety of hole-nesting birds, with some preference by /udicator minor and I. variegatus for other piciform species, particularly barbets (Friedmann 1955, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 108: 309). Al- though J/. :ndicator often parasitises barbets and woodpeckers, a much greater number of records involve coraciiform hosts, particularly six or more Merops species which constitute about one third of the known cases (Friedmann 1970, Los Angeles Co. Mus. Contrib. Sci. 205: 1). Most tropical bee-eaters lay 2-4 eggs; many of these are destroyed by the female honey-guide, and young bee- eaters hatching from unbroken or subsequently laid eggs are, in most cases, destroyed by the newly-hatched honey-guide, which usually comes to occupy the nest alone. Bisscng M. bulocki have a loud and insistent food-soliciting call “szf-saf-szf- sif...”, about five syllables per second. At least until their eyes begin to open 58 at about eight days, it is easily elicited by a variety of stimuli, with the intensity of which its loudness and frequency are positively correlated. Using the endo- scope for visual corroboration, I found it easy to distinguish by ear a nestling calling alone from more than one nestling calling simultaneously, but very difficult to distinguish two from three or more. The begging call of the nestling J. zndicator is a loud and insistent, irregularly- timed series of “‘sifs’’, 5-10 syllables per second. It is delivered with the head sunk into the shoulders and the beak held vertically upwards. Skead (1951, Ak 68: 52) described the call as “husky and perpetual’’. He likened it to the guiding call of the adult /. iadicator and noted that it can be heard, greatly accelerated and intensified, 75 yards from the nest whenever a foster parent approaches with food. To my ear the voice was not so much husky as sibilant, and extremely similar to the voice of nestling M. bulocki. However, the food- soliciting call of the nestling /. indicator resembles not one but fwo (or more) M. bulocki nestlings calling simultaneously. Vocal convergence between parasite and host nestlings is not unexpected, in view of the diversity of mimetic resemblances that has evolved between brood parasites and their hosts at all growth stages (Lack 1968, Ecological adaptations for breeding in birds). Indeed such convergence has been suggested for some cuckoos (Courtney 1967, Emu 67: 154-157). But the call of a nestling I. indicator is likely to evoke the feeding response in an adult bee-eater more powerfully than the call of a single bee-eater nestling. If so, it would confer the selective advantage that the parasite would compete effectively for the attention of provisioning adults with neighbouring nests in the colony, however many nestlings they contain. In this and other colonial species of Merops, young in the nest are fed not only by their parents but by adult non-breeding helpers whose bonds with the parents are not strong enough to ensure their complete fidelity to their adopted nest (Fry 1972, /bis 114: 1). Even were there no helpers, the honey-guide call is probably a super-normal stimulus that elicits the feeding response of any passing adult bee-eater, just as the begging call and wide, brightly coloured gape of the young Cuckoo Cuculus canorus does with adult passerines. Observations at one parasitised nest on 16 March suggested that during a three hour period at least four adult bee-eaters fed the 15-day old honey-guide chick. At least up to two weeks of age, /. indicator nestlings were found to be extremely voracious; in the nest they tried to engulf the 10 mm diameter tip of the endosope, and when handled one bird attempted to swallow a finger. Why provisioning bee-eaters are not harmed by the nestling’s needle sharp mandibular hooks is not at all apparent. I am most grateful to Dr. H. Friedmann and Dr. J. B. Nelson for their comments upon an earlier draft of this paper. Buteo tachardus Andtew Smith 1830 by R. K. Brooke Received 21st November, 1973 Roberts (1940), Courtenay-Latimer (1941) and Clancey (1951) showed that South Africa had a small resident Buteo as well as the well known large B. rufofuscus (Forster) 1798. These authors associated it with B. oreophilus Hartert & Neumann 1914 with type locality Koricha in Ethiopia. Rudebeck (1957) demonstrated that the small South African Bueo was not the same as the northeast African B. oreophilus and proposed for it the name Buseo buteo 1) trizonatus with type locality Knysna in the southern Cape Province of South Africa. He described it as smaller and duller than B. b. vulpinus (Gloger) 1833 and with clear white between the brown streaky markings of the breast and lower abdomen. However, although he was unaware of it, he was not the first author to describe and name this bird. This was done by Smith (1830: 381) who in discussing the Buteo species of what is now the Cape Province listed B. lagopus by which he meant what we know as Hieraaetus pennatus (Gmelin) 1788 (Roberts 1936 thought so and I concur), B. tachardus by which he meant what we have known as B. b. ¢rizonatus Rudebeck 1957 and B. desertorum (Daudin) 1800 which is an indeterminable name normally applied in the past, as here, to what we know as B. b. vulpinus (Gloger) 1833. — Smith (1830), as many others have done, found Buseo specimens confusing. Nonetheless, he drew attention to and named a small form (184 ins. long, i.e. just over 460 mm) with a clear white upper abdomen between the brown streaked and blotched breast and lower abdomen. The significant part of his description reads :— “under parts white, with the throat streaked by narrow longitudinal brown lines, and the breast and posterior (my italics) part of the belly more or less spotted with oblong or roundish brown blotches”’. The description is repeated with slightly different wording and punctuation in Smith (1834). He believed that he was dealing with Le Vaillant’s (1799) Le Tachard and Falco tachardus Daudin 1800, both of which are synonyms of Pernis apivorus (L.) 1758 (Hattert 1914). What Smith (1830) thought he was doing is of little importance in comparison with what he did do, i.e. describe a taxon in Buteo which subsequent study has shown to be valid: cf. Vaurie (1951) on the validation of Hzrundo lagopoda Pallas 1811 where the latter also confused the issue with irrelevant citations. Two of Smith’s specimens of B. tachardus were examined in the British Museum (Natural History) by Rude- beck (1958) who placed them with his ¢r/zonatus so there can be no doubt that the form was known to Smith. I conclude that Buteo tachardus Smith 1830 is an unequivocal description of what Rudebeck (1957, 1958) clarified under the name B. b. trizonatus and that since Smith’s name has undisputable priority and does not fall within the conserving terms of Articles 23 and 79 of the International Code of Zoo- logical Nomenclature as set out in Bull. Zool. Nomencl. 29: 185-186, it must be used by any zoologist who believes that the small South African By¢eo is an objective taxon. Rudebeck (1957) gave the type locality of his ¢r7zonatus as Knysna, Cape Province, South Africa. Since by 1830 Smith had not worked outside what is now the Cape Province (Roberts 1936), Knysna can be regarded as the restricted type locality of B. tachardus. Smith’s surviving specimens of this form are labelled only as coming from South Africa (Rudebeck 1958) but there is no reason why they should not have been obtained at or near Knysna. If a lectotype is required, one of these specimens should be chosen. Following Siegfried (1971) I regard B. tachardus Smith 1830 and B. oreo- philus Hartert & Neumann 1914 as conspecific and not part of B. buzeo (L.) 1758. The new nomenclatural combinations required are, therefore, Buteo tachardus tachardus and Buteo tachardus oreophilus with Buteo buteo trizonatus as a subjective synonym of B. +. sachardus. For check list purposes the name should appear as :— Buteo tachardus tachardus Smith Buteo tachardus Smith, 1830, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. 4: 381. South Africa, 60 restricted to Knysna, Cape Province, South Africa by Rudebeck (1957, S. Afr. Anim. Life 4: 418). I have examined the type of B. b. trizonatus Rudebeck and all the specimens in South African museums that he placed with it (Table 1) and concur in his comments (Rudebeck 1957, 1958) as far as they go. I have not found any other specimens which should be referred to this form. A study of the moult of the primaries on the lines of Brooke ef a/. (1972) has elucidated certain TABLE 1 Measurements in mm of Buteo ¢. tachardus specimens. Age Sex Wing Culmen Hind claw Museum and no. ad. 3 340 21 19 TM.P. , 6278) Type ad. 3 3.40 21 19 4 ees ad. 2 345 23 22 BUM S78 ad. 2 350 23 23 N.M.PMB — ad. o 3? 350 21 20 T.M.P. 61 ad. og? 335 21 19 A.M.G. 968 imm. og? 330 21 21 T.M.P. 6281 imm. g 350 21 22 * 6280 imm. o 9? 365 23 21 i 62 imm. o 9? 350 22 23 . 6279 juv. 2d? 335 20 19 v 5450 juv. 0 9? 340 22 a= . 5006 aspects of plumage succession. On the apparently well founded assumption that juveniles (first year birds) show no moult of the primaries, immatures (second year birds) show a simple descending mode of moult and adults a jumbled mode of moult (see also Stresemann & Stresemann 1966 on B. b. buteo) it can be stated that the juvenile and immature plumages of B. +. tachardus are characterized by leg feathers which are white with a few brown spots or blotches (this is not individual variation as believed by Smith 1830) whereas in adults and in all age classes of B. b. vulpinus the legs are predomin- antly dark brown of some shade. In addition, the darkest specimens of tachardus are all adults but the sample I have seen (Table 1) is too small to say if this is always true in a member of a genus as notoriously variable as Buteo is. Although Siegfried (1971) accepted the sight record of B. ¢. tachardus in the northern Potgietersrus District of the Transvaal (not far from The Downs) by van der Merwe & Pienaar (1959), I do not. The latter authors give no details in support of their record of an apparent rarity; they do not record the much more probable A. b. vulpinus despite visiting the area in summer (judging by the number of summer visitors they list: they do not give the dates of their visits); they record for the area a number of species which are not known from anywhere near Potgietersrus, e.g. Turdoides leucopygius, Lanioturdus torquatus, Onychognathus nabouroup, again without comment. I am obliged to Mr. C. Jacot-Guillarmod of the Albany Museum in Grahamstown, Dr. A. C. Kemp of the Transvaal Museum in Pretoria, Dr. J. A. Pringle of the Natal Museum in Pietermaritzburg and Mr. C. Quickel- berge of the East London Museum for facilities for study and to Mr. P. A. Clancey for commenting on a draft of this paper. References: Brooke, R. K., Grobler, J. H., Irwin, M. P. S. & Steyn, P. 1972. A study of the migratory eagles Aguila nipalensis and A. pomarina (Aves: Accipitridae) in southern Africa, with comparative notes on other large raptors. Occ. Pap. Nat. Mus. Rhod. Bs: 61-114. Clancey, P. A. 1951. Notes on the birds of the South African sub-continent. Ann. Natal Mus. 12: 137-152. 61 Courtenay-Latimer, M. 1941. Breeding of the Mountain Buzzard. Ostrich 12: 20-23. Hartert, E. 1914. Die Vogel der paldarktischen Fauna Xl. Berlin. Le Vaillant, F. 1799. Histoire naturelle des oiseaux d’ Afrique 1. Paris. Roberts, A. 1936. Some unpublished field notes made by Dr. (Sir) Andrew Smith. Aun. Transv. Mus. 18: 271323). — 1940. The birds of South Africa. London: H. F. & G. Witherby. Rudebeck, G. 1957. Buteo buteo trizonatus, a new buzzard from the Union of South Africa. S. Afr. Anim. Life 4: 415-437. — Be 8. Some additional notes on the buzzard, Buteo buteo trizonatus. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. ae —56. Siegfried, W. R. 1971. Affinities of the small African and palaearctic buteos. Ostrich Seat 8: 41-46. Smith, iM 1830. A description of the birds inhabiting the south of Africa. S. Afr: Quart. Journ. 4: 380-391, per Willughby Soc. reprint. Smith, A. 1834. African zoology. S. Afr. Quart. Journ. 273-288, per Willughby Soc. reprint. Stresemann, E. & Stresemann, V. 1966. Die Mauser der Vogel. Journ. Ornith. Sondetheft. van der Merwe, N. J. & Pienaar, D. 1959. A preliminary list of the birds of the Percy Fyfe Nature Reserve. Ostrich 30: 130-133. Vaurie, C. 1951. Notes on some Asiatic swallows. Amer. Mus. Novit. 1529. The African southern limits of the Steppe Eagle in winter by R. K. Brooke Received 21st January, 1974 Brooke, Grobler, Irwin & Steyn (1972, Occ. Pap. Nat. Mus. Rhod. Bs: 61- _ 114) set out the known records of the Steppe Eagle Aguila nipalensis orientalis in southern Africa in detail and predicted that, at least at times, it should extend south into the Karoo of the Cape Province of South Africa since its predominant prey, alates of the Harvester Termite Hodotermes mossambicus, are abundant there. This proves to be the case. The East London Museum has a specimen received from J. Pete, a farmer in the Tarkastad District of the Cape Province, who used to trap birds for his aviaries and pass on to the museum those that died. Hence the date of death of this specimen, 15 June 1942, has nothing to do with its time of occurrence near Tarkastad other than to provide a terminus post quem. The specimen is a very dark fourth year male on the characters set out in Brooke e¢ a/. (op. cit.) with wing 585, culmen from cere 41, hind claw 32 mm. It may be assumed that it was trapped on or close to Fete’s farm, i.e. ca. 32°10’S, 26°00’E, as were his other birds (Dr. M. Courtenay Latimer pers. comm.). é Clancey (1951, Ann. Natal Mus. 12: 137-151) reported a specimen of A. n. orientalis from Himeville, Natal at 29°45’S, 29°31’E. Upon examination of the specimen in the Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg, I find it to be a first year male with wing 575, culmen from cere 36, hind claw 32 mm. I am obliged to Dr. M. Courtenay-Latimer, Director of the East London Museum, and to Dr. J. A. Pringle, Director of the Natal Museum, for facili- ties for study. A further record of the White-eyed Gull Larus leucophthalmus from Beira, Mocambique by B. G. Donnelly Received 19th January, 1974 On 12 March 1972, a small gull fitting the description of a second winter or non-nuptial plumaged White-eyed Gull Larus leucophthalmus (see Dwight 1925, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 52: 152) was observed at the fishing 62 harbour at Beira. The bird was feeding with numerous Grey-headed Gulls L. cirrocephalus, and a single Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus. In flight the bird was more agile than L. cirrocephalus and slightly smaller in size as mentioned by Liversidge (1964, Ostrich 35: 111-112). The overall plumage colour was buffish-white while the tail had a sub-terminal band of dark spots. The head was greyish with an imperfectly formed black hood. The bill, legs and feet were yellowish-brown. The dark primaries and secondaries formed a conspicuous terminal band on the wings. The only other sightings of this species from southern Africa were made at Beira (Benson 1948, Ostrich 19: 150-151) and Port Elizabeth (Liversidge op. cit.), both during the month of January. These and the present record suggest that individuals of this species may only move this far south of their usual range around the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (Archer & Godman 1937, Birds of British Somaliland and the Gulf of Aden 2) during December to March. Incidentally, Liversidge was dubious about Benson’s record, but Benson (pers. comm., 25 July 1973) states that the bird which he saw was most carefully identified with the aid of Alexander (1928, Birds of the Ocean. London: Putnam). The Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus in southern and central Africa by B. G. Donnelly Received 19th January, 1974 Only recently has the occurrence of Larus fuscus in southern Africa been generally accepted (McLachlan & Liversidge 1970), while data on this species from central Africa are scarce. This communication brings together the published data and several new observations, and discusses birds pre- viously identified as L. dominicanus. Larus fuscus breeds in Iceland, the Faeroes, along the coasts of the British Isles, Scandinavia, Finland and the Baltic and winters on the west coast of Africa, the Mediterranean, Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden with some birds, L. f. fuscus, moving inland to the Great Lakes of East Africa (Archer & Godman 1937; Vaurie 1965). Moreau (1972) points out that L. fuscus is often abundant at times in East Africa and that they range as far south as Botswana around 18° S. The closely related Southern Black-backed Gull L. dominicanus occurs around the coast of southern Africa from Angola to Lourengo Marques (McLachlan & Liversidge 1970), South America and outlying islands, like- wise in New Zealand (Dwight 1925) and also in south-western Madagascar (Delacour 1932; Rand 1936; Milon 1948, 1950). _ The two species are very similar in appearance. Measurements of wing, tail, tarsus and length of culmen per se are of little use in distinguishing them as there is a wide range of overlap (Dwight 1925; McLachlan & Liversidge 1970). However the bill and tarsus are more slender in L. fuscus, calmen more than three times depth at the base, while in L. dominicanus the culmen is less than three times the depth at the base (Dwight 1925: 126). This also applies to the depth at the angle of the lower mandible and is a useful field character. The yellow legs and feet of L. fuscus compared with the greenish-yellow or bluish-grey legs and feet of L. dominicanus is probably the most diagnostic field character. In adult birds the black mantle of L. dominicanus is similar to that of L. fuscus in the field. Birds with slate-grey or paler mantles could not 63 be confused with L. dominicanus as these would either belong to the British race L. f. graellsii or races from northern Europe or Eurasia. However, workers who are familiar with the heavier build and waddling gait of L. dominicanus of coastal South Africa would have little trouble in distinguishing the more slender L. fuscus in the field. Recent observations show that L. fuscus occurs south of the Zambesi more frequently than previously realised and that individuals have been recorded neat Durban at 30° S (Clancey 7x /i#t.). Several records of black-backed gulls from inland waters of South Africa have been attributed to L. dominicanus and these identifications were rightly questioned by Harwin (1952). Thus there has been some confusion in the past concerning the field characters of L. fuscus and L. dominicanus especially toward the southern edge of the range of the former in Africa. In the light of the data gathered in Tables 1 and 2 it is more likely that the gulls previously reported as L. dominicanus (Table 3) TABLE 1 Larus fuscus: Collected material from southern and central Africa Date Plumage Locality Museum in which housed Zambia 19.9.59 imm.* Kabeti - National Museums of Rhodesia, Bulawayo. 29.12.69 imm. Lochinvar National Museum of Zambia, Livingstone. Caprivi Strip PIs1 2:61 imm. Lake Liambesi National Museums of Rhodesia, Bulawayo. Rhodesia 14.10.70 imm. Lake Kariba National Museums of Rhodesia, Bulawayo. South Africa 28.12.53 imm. Bon Accord Dam, Transvaal Museum, Pretoria. Pretoria. * moulting into adult plumage. from far inland in South Africa (Joubert 1943; Prozeski & Campbell 1951; Hatwin 1952) were in fact L. fuscus. Indeed both editions of Roberts birds of South Africa (McLachlan & Liversidge 1957, 1970) erroneously report a bird collected at Bon Accord Dam, Pretoria as L. dominicanus. Dr. A. C. Kemp of the Transvaal Museum, who examined the specimen at my request, reported (zm /itt.) that “the bird is, by comparison, certainly Larus fuscus, with markedly less heavy bill and smaller size.” The situation regarding the identification of black-backed gulls at Beira, Mocambique, has been equally confusing. Bolster (1933) and Moreau (1938) both record seeing L. dominicanus at this locality (Table 3). Winterbottom (1936) recorded black-backed gulls at Beira but stated that “I cannot pretend to be competent to differentiate between the two species in the field.” Benson (1948) saw several gulls which “‘were either L. dominicanus Lichtenstein or a race of L. fuscus Linnaeus.” Worth (1960) recorded several black-backed gulls at Beira harbour during July and August 1959. These were identified as L. dominicanus mainly on the grounds that “‘one would not expect these northern migrants (L. fuscus) in southern waters in July and August.” Since L. fuscus has now been recorded from southern Africa virtually throughout the year (Tables 1 and 2) this latter statement does not apply. Clancey (1969) points out that L. dominicanus has been recorded as far north as Lourencgo Marques 64 TABLE 2. Visual observations assessed as Larus fuscus Date No. Plumage Locality Source Malani Feb. _ — Linthipe, Lake Malawi Benson (1953) Nov—Mar “Not uncommon” — Lake Malawi - = 3.12.60 I ad. Lake Chilwa Long (1962) 21.12.60 4 — - a 4 & 21.10.59 I imm Fort Johnston, Shire River _,, sd 14.10.61 “Few” — Kota Kota, Lake Malawi rr - May 1960 4 a | » » » » » » Zambia Jan—Mar — — Libonda and between White & Silonga and Lukulu, Winterbottom Zambesi River (1949) —- I — Itawa Swamp is Pa 23.7.65 I ad. Mfuwe, Luangwa River Benson ef a/. (1970) 16.9.64 I imm Lochinvar R. J. Dowsett (in Litt.) 13i9s72 2 ads. Sumbu, Lake Tanganyika _,, Ja I imm. »”»> [Benson ef a/. (1971, The birds of Zambia. London: Collins) summarised the local records, and included a few additional to those above—Ed. ] Botswana 22.9.70 Mocambique 8.3.70 April 1970 £3:2.71 Nov 7o—May 71 Jan—May 71 28.1.72 13.772 South Africa Dec 72—Jan 73 1972 I I 3 ad. ad. 1 “moulting” (Long 1962) Lake Ngami A. J. Tree (in litt.) Beira B:G.D: R. K. Brooke (in litt.) Tree (1961) G. R. Thomson Pasi Dam, Gatooma Chirundu Chikwenya Is., Zambesi/Sapi junction (in litt.) Lake Kariba B.G.D. ”> >> >> > >> >> > >> > G. W. Begg (in litt.) Lake McIlwaine, Salisbury R. K. Brooke (in litt.) R. A. Bourlay (in Litt.) R. I. G. Attwell (in litt.) B. D. Connock (in litt.) > >> > >> >> >> “ % Rk Brooke (in Litt.) >> > sieht Tree (1973) P. A. Clancey (in Sitt.) 33 >> >> >> Umgeni River Mouth, Durban Natal Coast 2 moulting into adult plumage § A live crippled bird in the aviaries, Mitchell Park, Durban. TABLE 3 Black-backed gulls of uncertain identity or identified as Larus dominicanus now considered mote likely to have been L. fuscus Date No. Plumage Locality Source Mo¢ambique 24.3.32 “several” — Beira Bolster (1933) 8—9.3.35 “‘several”’ ad. and imm. Ss Winterbottom (1936) 29.11-2.12.35 “common” — * a 17-18.5.37 2-9 _ we Moteau (1938) 28.1.47 “several” ads. iy Benson (1948) July, Aug 59 “several”’ ad. and imm. a Worth (1960) South Africa May 1941 I — Alexander Dam, Joubert (1943) Geduld — I a Barberspan Prozeski & Campbell (1951) Feb 1952 I — ¥ Harwin (1952) 24.1.59 I ad. Odendaalsrus Brooke (1960) on the east coast but that “some of the black-backed gulls occurring at Beira may be applicable to Larus fuscus Linnaeus rather than L. dominicanus. No specimens exist at the present time in order to investigate this matter.” Clancey’s caution is noted since an occasional movement of L. dominicanus to as far north as Beira is not impossible but which I feel would be highly unlikely. In addition the lack of confidence in the identifications and the growing list of L. fuscus data from inland and coastal waters suggest that the above records were very likely to have been L. fuscus (Table 3). The occurrence of L. dominicanus in south-western Madagascar at between 24° and 25° S is important in discussion relating to movements on the east coast of Africa. McLachlan & Liversidge (1970) state that it is a migrant from the Cape to Natal and northwards. Rand (1936) gives the earliest date of occurrence for Madagascar (in the extreme south-west) as 12 February and the latest as 4 March 1930. This would also imply that it is a migrant and if so South Africa would be the obvious origin of the birds. However, Milon (1950) records seeing 45 birds on 26 January, also in the extreme south-west, and the same author (1948) reports June and July observations on L. domini- canus from this same area. A female collected on 19 July had the ovary measuring 27 < 7 mm and the three bigger eggs measured 4-8 — 5-3 mm. Further north in western Madagascar, despite years of experience, Father O. Appert (¢” /itt. to Benson) has only once seen a gull with a black mantle, which he believes was L. dominicanus, at Lac lotry (22° S) on 12 May 1964. The presence of birds during summer and winter months together with the suggestion of local breeding points to a resident population of L. dominicanus in south-western Madagascar and not a migration from Africa. On 12 March 1972, a single adult L. fuscus was seen together with several L. cirrocephalus and a single L. /eucophthalmus in the fishing harbour at Beira (B.G.D.). This bird was flying above the other gulls and attempted to rob them of food picked up from the water. In striking contrast to the sooty black mantle and wings of L. dominicanus and the adult examples of L. f- fuscus personally seen on Lake Kariba this bird had a fresh slate-grey plumage characteristic of the British race L. f. grael/siz. This race of L. fuscus generally winters on the Atlantic coast of Africa and has not been recorded from the inland waters of the continent (Archer & Godman 1937; Vaurie 1965; Moreau 1972). However, the bird collected at Kabeti (Table 1) was identified 66 s “probably a pale individual of L. f. fuscus, though showing some inter- gradation with L. f. grae/sii” (Benson 1960). It would be surprising that an example of a western Palaearctic population should be found on the east coast of Africa. While the Beira bird could perhaps have followed the coast from the Mediterranean, Red Sea and southwards from Somaliland, the more likely possibility arises that it belonged to part of the L. fuscus complex of races from northern Europe or Eurasia. Indeed Voous (1965) gained the impression that birds observed at Mombasa, Kenya, were intermediate between L. f. fuscus and L. f. grael/sii and suggested that they “probably belonged to some of the dark-mantled populations of Larus fuscus antelius from North Russia or Northwest Siberia.”” He mentioned too-that they “did not clearly show the characters of the lighter and slightly more eastern populations more properly known as L. f. heuglini” although one bird “probably was slightly lighter.” Harris (1962) states that most of the British populations of L. fuscus move south between August and October and return during March and April. However, 83% of British ringed birds recovered from the Atlantic coast of Africa were in their first year and all June and July birds recovered abroad were under breeding age. This trend must also apply to other western and central European populations. It would seem, therefore, that the European visitors to Africa arrive largely in immature plumage and probably remain south until they approach maturity. While the bulk of the observations have been made during the months October to March both adults and immature birds have been recorded in southern and central Africa virtually throughout the year (Tables 1 and 2). Harris (1970) points out “that some gulls do not attain full adult plumage even when seven years old”’, thus the actual duration of stay in Africa by individuals is uncertain. Acknowledgements: 1 am very grateful to Mr. M. P. Stuart Irwin of the National Museum, Bulawayo, and Mr. R. K. Brooke of the Durban Museum and Art Gallery for reading and commenting on an earlier draft of the text. I would also like to thank Dr. A. C. Kemp for examining material in the Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, and my colleague Mr. G. W. Begg of the Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute, Rhodesia, for collecting a specimen and providing several sight records at my request. I am particularly indebted to Mr. C. W. Benson for his criticism and contribution to the data on Mada- gascar. My thanks are also due to Mr. P. A. Clancey, Durban Museum and Art Gallery, and Mr. R. J. Dowsett, National Museum of Zambia, Living: stone, for providing much supporting data. References : Archer, G. & Godman, E. M. 1937. The birds of British Somaliland and the Gulf of Aden 2. London: Gurney & Jackson. Benson, C. W. 1948. Notes from a sea voyage: December, 1946—January, 1947. Ostrich 19: I5O-I5I. — 1953. A check list of the birds of Nyasaland. Blantyre: Nyasaland Society. — 1960. Recent records from north-western Northern Rhodesia. Bu//. Brit. Orn. C7. 80: 106-112. Benson, C. W., Brooke, R. K., Dowsett, R. J. & Irwin, M. P. S. 1970. Notes on the birds of | Zambia: Part V. Arnoldia (Rhodesia) 4: 1-59. Bolster, R. C. 1933. Sea birds observed on an east coast voyage. Ostrich 4: 15-20. Brooke, R. K. 1960. Waterfowl on the Orange Free State Goldfields. Ostrich 31: 27-29. Clancey, P. A. 1969. A handlist of the birds of southern Mocambique. Part 1. Mems. Inst. Invest. cient. Mocamb. 10, A: 145-303. Delacour, J. 1932. Les oiseaux de Ja Mission Zoologique Franco—Anglo—Américaine a Madagascar. Oiseau 2: 1-96. Dwight, J. 1925. The gulls (Laridae) of the world. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 72: 63-401. 67 Harris, M. P. 1962. Migtation of the British Lesser Black-backed Gull as shown by ringing data. Bird Study 9: 174-182. — 1970. Abnormal migration and hybridization of Larus argentatus and L. fuscus after inter- species fostering experiments. /bis 112: 488-498. Harwin, R. M. 1952. Does the European Lesser Black-backed Gull migrate to South Africa? Ostrich 23: 123-124. Joubert, H. J. 1943. Some notes on birds. Ostrich 14: 1-7. Long, R. C. 1962. The Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus in Nyasaland. Ostrich 33(3): 52 (as amended Ostrich 34: tk McLachlan, G. R. & Liversidge, R. 1957. Roberts birds of South Africa. Cape Town: S. Afr. Bird Book Fund. — 1970. Roberts birds of South Africa. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. Milon, Ph. 1948. Notes d’observation a Madagascar. Alauda 16: 55-74. — 1950. Deux jours au Lac Tsimanampetsotsa. Nat. Malgache 2: 61-67. Moreau, R. E. 1972. The Palaearctic- African bird migration systems. London & New York: Academic Press. Moreau, W. M. 1938. A transect census from London to Tanga via the Cape. Ostrich 9: 35-46. Prozeski, O. P. M. & Campbell, T. 1951. A day at Barberspan. Ostrich 22: 192-194. Rand, A. L. 1936. The distribution and habits of Madagascar birds. Bu//. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 72: 143-499. Tree, A. J. 1961. Observations on migrating movements of some migratory birds in Northern Rhodesia. Ostrich 32: 86-89. — 1973. Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Lake McIlwaine. Hloneyguide 73: 32. Vaurie, C. 1965. The birds of the palearctic fauna. INon-passerines. London: H. F. & G. Wither- b y. Voous, K. H. 1965. Summer records of Larus fuscus in Mombasa, Kenya. Ardea 53: 83. White, C. M. N. & Winterbottom, J. M. 1949. Check list of the birds of Northern Rhodesia. Lusaka: Govt. Printer. Winterbottom, J. M. 1936. Notes on birds around Beira in 1935. Ostrich 7: 32-38. Worth, C. B. 1960. Notes on sea birds in harbours of Portuguese East Africa. Ostrich 31: 173-174. Observations on a relationship between Crested Guineafowl and Vervet Monkeys by Geoffrey Fill Received rst February, 1974 The Vervet Monkey Cercopithecus aethiops is the object of a continuing field study in a coastal forest on the Natal North Coast, a forest which is also the southernmost station of the Crested Guineafowl Guttera edouardi. In this forest there are four fairly large (ca. 15 individuals in each) groups of Vervet Monkeys. When they feed in trees they are the highest mammals in the forest and thus have the widest view of their surroundings. It appears that other animals take advantage of this factor, as on many occasions Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus, Blae Duiker Cephalophus monticolus, Red Forest Duiker C. natalensis, Common Duiker Sylicapra grimmia, Cane Rats Thryonomys swinderianus and Crested Guineafow] have been noted feeding directly below the monkeys. Crested Guineafowl, especially, are found below them more often than not. They associate chiefly in the late afternoon at which time both animals have their final feed before retiring to sleep. This association is advantageous to the Crested Guineafowl] as the Vervet Monkeys are very messy feeders and are continually dropping food items and knocking down seeds and berries. Thus, by standing under the feeding monkeys, the guineafowl receive a constant shower of food, since many of the kinds of berries that the monkeys eat are also eaten by the guineafowl. The monkeys’ faeces also contain a large quantity of undigested seeds which the Crested Guineafowl probably eat (e.g. Lantana camara, Melia azederach). 68 Bordering the forest is a sugar cane field in which the Vervet Monkeys spend considerable time, breaking canes which they carry off to the trees at the edge of the forest to eat. On most occasions the Crested Guineafowl accompany the monkeys to the forest edge and then wander along in the cleared fire-break which separates the forest from the sugar cane, where they dig up grubs and bulbs for food. They seldom stray far from where the monkeys ate. When they are beneath the monkeys, the Crested Guineafowl seem to be less afraid of those things that would normally disturb them. While sitting on the ground watching the Vervet Monkeys, I have had Crested Guineafowl come within a metre or so of me, and on occasion they have approached my dog closely. Even when I move, the guineafowl do not appear to be unduly disturbed. It is not only the guineafowl who derive advantages from associating with the Vervet Monkeys: there is also a reciprocal advantage, since the monkeys react to the alarm calls of the guineafowl. When a flock of Crested Guinea- fowl are disturbed by my walking through the forest, they give a rapid “clicking” call and, often, within a few seconds, the Vervet Monkeys bark from some distance away. After 20 to 40 seconds, depending on how far away they are, the monkeys appear as if to investigate what had disturbed the guineafowl. When I take a companion into the forest with me, the Vervet Monkeys begin to bark as soon as they see him and normally the Crested Guineafowl “click” excitedly and move away from the area as if they recognize that the monkeys are barking at something which is a potential danger. But, on other occasions, their curiosity appears to overcome them and they venture closer to inspect the intruder. This foraging and warning relationship between the Crested Guineafowl and the Vervet Monkeys appears to be unreported in the literature. I am obliged to Mr. R. K. Brooke for criticizing a draft of this communi- cation. A new subspecies of Accipiter tachiro by M. Desfayes Received 23rd November, 1973 In April and May 1971, the author made a collection of birds in the province of Kaffa in southwestern Ethiopia. The region extending from western Kaffa to Goré in the Illubabor province is covered with very dense unbroken humid forest which appears to be the largest expanse of rain-forest east of the Congo from which it is isolated by over 1000 km of dry savanna. As should be expected, a certain number of species collected are darker than those from the rest of Ethiopia, which is generally drier. Of the better differentiated birds are two specimens, a male and a female, of Accipiter tachiro. Both are notably darker below than any other specimens of the species. The barring of the female is definitely brown, not rufous. The flanks and thighs are also darker in the same proportion. The male is rufous below but also darker. Both sexes are separable at a glance from specimens of unduliventer (type locality Simien) from Ankobar, Shoa, Ali-Beret, Arussi and Manaco (between Anadi and Alelu, southern Ethiopia), and differ even more from wndu/iventer than do many specimens of sparsimfasciatus (type locality Zanzibar). The former is described as ‘“‘darker, with heavier barring below 69 more washed with chestnut” (Brown & Amadon 1968); this character may show in a fair series but is not evident in a small collection and individuals are not always separable, as also noted by White (1965). The two Kaffa speci- mens are similar in size to unduliventer for which Brown & Amadon give: wing g 184, 2 216 mm, and thus smaller than sparsimfasciatus. Weight appears to be a usually good indicative of size variations although this charac- ter is little used in subspecific taxonomy, in part because of the paucity of data, although see Amadon (1943). The weights of two females, 408 and 509 g, given by Brown & Amadon (1968) are a good measure of the size of Sparsimfasciatus although they seem to be among the heaviest. These figures must have been derived from Moreau (1944). Verheyen (1953) gives f 230 2 for sparsimfasciatus from southern Zaire and Britton (1970) an identical figure from Tanzania, also in the distribution range of sparsimfasciatus. These weights as well as those from Kaffa specimens given below show the re- markable size dimorphism in this species. For the dark population of south- eastern Ethiopia, I propose the name: Accipiter tachiro croizati, subsp. nov. in honour of Dr. Leon Croizat (botanist, biogeographer and scholar, Member of the Academy of Sciences of Caracas, Corresponding Member of the | American Museum of Natural History) who has devoted to ornithology a sizeable portion of his important work. Type: Adult male with testes enlarged. Locality: Afallo, altitude ca. 2050 m, Ghera region, 36°20’ E, 7°45’ N, Kaffa province, 1 May 1971. U.S. Nat. Mus. No. 522426. Paratype: Adult female with ovary developing. Locality: Challa, altitude Ca. 2100 m, about 20 km north of Afallo, 8 May. US. Nat. Mus. No. 522427. Diagnosis: Differs from unduliventer and from all other subspecies of Accipiter tachiro in being darker both above and below (“Verona brown” vs. “pecan brown” of Ridgway’s Color Chart, 1912). Size smaller than sparszm- fasciatus, equal to unduliventer. Tail spots large and distinct. Under tail-coverts barred with grey in J, partly and very lightly so in 9. Colours of bare parts: Male: Iris orange-yellow; orbital skin same but paler. Bill: upper mandible blackish, lower dark brown at tip, bluish at base; cere and commissures lemon-yellow. Legs and feet yellow; soles paler and brighter yellow; claws dark brown. Fema/e: Iris and orbital skin yellow. Bill: upper mandible blackish-slate, bluish at base of sides; cere and commissures greenish yellow; lower mandible blackish-slate, bluish in the middle, pale yellow at base. Legs, feet, soles and claws as in male. Measurements: Wing 3 172, 2 217; tail J 150, 2 190; bill from skull § 22, 2 25; tarsus 9 54, 9 60 mm. Weight 3145, 2 260 g. Material examined: Specimens of unduliventer, sparsimfasciatus and nominate tachiro in the U.S. National Museum and the American Museum of Natural History. Distribution: The rain-forest of southwestern Ethiopia. Acknowledgments I gratefully acknowledge the support of the National Geographic Society who made the collecting possible. My thanks also go to Dr. Dean Amadon who extended to me the use of the facilities of the American Museum of Natural History, and has commented on this paper. 70 References: Amadon, D. 1943. Bird weights as an aid in taxonomy. Wi/son Bull. 55: 164-177. Britton, P. L. 1970. Some non-passerine bird weights from East Africa. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 90: 142-144. Brown, L. & Amadon, D. 1968. Eagles, hawks and falcons of the world. London: Country Life Books. Moreau, R. E. 1944. Some weights of African and of wintering Palaearctic birds. /bis 86: 16-29. Verheyen, R. 1953. Exploration du Parc National del’ Upemba. Fasc. 19. Oiseaux. Inst. Parcs Nat. Congo Belge, Bruxelles. White, C. M. N. 1965. A revised check-list of African non-passerine birds. Lusaka: Government Printer. The eggs of the Golden Conure Aratinga guarouba by Michael P. Walters Received 4th January, 1974 There appear to be no references to the eggs of the Golden Conure in literature beyond the statement by Snethlage (1935) that an egg removed from the oviduct of a specimen collected on the Tocantins river on 13th October 1912, was “almost round”. This has been quoted in Meise (1963-4) and by Forshaw (1973), without further comment. The collection of the British Museum (Natural History) contains seven eggs of this species, a c/6 laid in August 1938 (reg. no. 1938.8.1.1-6) from the collection of the Marquis of Tavistock, and a single egg recently acquired from the collection of the late Col. F. E. W. Venning (reg. no. 1970.6.520). The Tavistock eggs are roundish ovals, two of them being narrowly pointed at the small end. They are smooth, but not glossy, and measure 35°4 X 25°73 34°3 X 25°13 Ber e205 2359 E KO 25°85 9252°RK 25°23 ahd’ 327 °K 2675 mms The Venning egg is slightly smaller, 30-2 x 25:2 mm, and is almost round. References : Forshaw, J. M. 1973. Parrots of the world. Melbourne: Lansdowne Press. Meise, W. (ed.) 1964. Schonwetter: Handbuch der Oologie. Berlin: Akademie Verlag. 8-9. Snethlage, E. 1935. Beitrage zur Fortpflanzungsbiologie brasilianischer V6gel. Journ. Ornith. 83: 532-562. Reduced natal down in some emberizine species by C. J. O. Harrison Received 18th January, 1974 In describing the natal pterylosis of the Swallow-tanager Tersina viridis, Collins (1973) has compared the extremely scanty down of this species with the more plentiful down of other Thraupinae species and suggested that the reduction of neossoptiles in that species and in the Violet Euphonia Tanagra violacea is correlated with a nest in a cavity or closed site as opposed to the more typical cup nest in an open site. He comments that further information is needed on this feature of tanagers and allied species. Recently observations were made on the captive breeding of Saffron Finches Szcalis flaveola (Harrison 1973). This species normally nests in a cavity or in the closed nest of a larger bird, and within the site builds a cup-type nest. The site used by the captive birds was a small hollow log, and it was only possible to examine one nestling at about six days old. This was almost naked, but close examination showed a few tiny, sparse down tufts on the middle of the dorsal tract, a few more on the upper wings, and one or two over each eye. * 7I Skutch (1954) cites the Yellow-faced Grassquit T7zaris olivacea as exceptional in having completely naked nestlings, and the species builds a thick-walled, domed nest with a small lateral entrance. Both Szca/zs and Tzaris belong to the Emberizinae, and the present evidence suggests that in both subfamilies of the Emberizidae there is a reduction in the natal down of species nesting in closed nests, or nests within cavities. References: Collins, C. T. 1973. The natal pterylosis of the Swallow-tanager. Bu//. Brit. Orn. Cl. 93: ISS—157- Harrison, C. J. O. 1973. Observations on the behaviour and breeding of the Saffron Finch, Sicalis flaveola. Avicult. Mag. 79: 207-213. Skutch, A. F. 1954. Life histories of Central American Birds. Pacif. Cst Avifauna 31: 121. Notes on the Lammergeyer Gypaetus barbatus on Kilimanjaro by I. Ht. Dillingham Received 1st February, 1974 The summary of records of the Lammergeyer in East Africa by Schiiz (1973, Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 93: 161-163) has prompted me to publish two records of probably the same individual of this species seen by myself on 23rd and 26th October 1956 at Engare Nairobi on the western slopes of Kilimanjaro at an altitude of approximately 4500 feet. On the first occasion I had a cleat view of an adult Lammergeyer about 75 yards from me at a height of about too feet circling over farmland. It then flew to a farm about half a mile away where it repeatedly circled low down over some outbuildings before disappearing eastwards. On the second occasion I was in the same general area when an adult was seen gliding overhead, again at a height of no more than too feet, finally disappearing in a northerly direction without circling. These two records at Engare Nairobi would appear to be the lowest altitude at which this species has been recorded on Kilimanjaro. This area is largely devoted to cattle farming and is relatively flat. Despite frequent visits to Engare Nairobi and the surrounding country during the period June 1956 to August 1958 this species was never encountered on any other occasion. It may be noteworthy that all the records of the Lammergeyer on Kili- manjaro mentioned by Schiiz (1958, Journ. Ornith. 99: 394-398 and 1973, op. cit.) for which a date is quoted, plus my own records, fall within the period late August to December. The Mawenzi summit of Kilimanjaro is the most likely breeding area yet it is the most inaccessible and infrequently visited. The preponderance of records in the second half of the year, nearly all of which are on the west or south-west of the mountain, may represent post breeding dispersal from the eastern summit Mawenzi. An alternative ex- planation for this distribution of the Lammergeyer is that it breeds on Mount Meru which is 2 mere 35 miles west to south-west from the Shira Plateau. This mountain would appear to provide a much more suitable breeding habitat for this bird with its numerous crags. There is evidence from King (1973, Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 93: 68) that the Lammergeyer occurs there, but again it is a September record. I am most grateful to Mr. C. W. Benson for assistance in the prepatation of these notes. 72 A discography of bird sound from the Neotropical Region : by Jeffery Boswall & W. P. Freeman Received sth December, 1973 This paper is the sixth to be published of a number of projected papers, each covering a major zoogeographical region of the world. For the Palearctic see Boswall (1964, 1966, 1969a, 1969b, 1970, 1971) and Sellar (1973); for Australasia see Boswall (1965); for the Ethiopian Region Boswall & North (1967); for the Antarctic Boswall & Prytherch (1969); and for the Oriental Region Boswall (1973). A Nearctic discography is in final draft (Boswall & Kettle in press). The earliest Neotropical recordings of birds were probably those made on Barro Colorado Island, Panama, during World War I] (Wyring, Allen & Kellogg 1945; Kellogg & Allen 1950, no. 1 in the following discography; and Asch & Ramsey 1952, no. 2 in the following discography). Since that time no doubt many workers have recorded birds in the Neo- tropical region. To try to bring together details of their results would not be an easy task. The primary purpose of this paper is to give details of published recordings ; however some indication of the unpublished recordings that have been made is not entirely out of place. One of the outstanding contributions is that of the indefatigable L. Irby Davis who has recorded well over 350 species in Mexico, many of which are held at the Balcones Research Centre, University of Texas, Austin. Burton (1969), the BBC’s wildlife sound librarian, includes reference in his main catalogue to a Least Bittern /xobrychus exilis recorded in Colombia, and a Banded Wren Thryothorus pleurostictus recorded in Mexico. In the first supple- ment to the main catalogue the same compiler (Burton 1971) refers to a range of recordings by Ian Strange from the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, as well as to some Trinidad recordings by D. W. Snow, and to one or two from Little Tobago (also in the West Indies) by Robina Gyle-Thompson. Burton’s second supplement (1972) refers to a few recordings made in Jamaica by Oxford Scientific Films Ltd., to some additional Falkland Island recordings by Ian Strange and Tony Morrison, and to recordings from the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific made by Roger Perry and Bob Wade. Further recordings from the Galapagos Islands and from Barro Colorado Island in the Panama Canal have recently been incorporated into the BBC’s Sound Archives (Burton 1973). And it is hoped that recordings of about forty bird species made in Argentina between October 1971 and March 1972 by Robin J. Prytherch, a member of the BBC Wildlife Expedition to Southern South America, may eventually be included in the BBC Sound Archives. Recordings of ca. 20 species made in Buenos Aires Province of Argentina by Donaldo Maclver Junior have been deposited with the British Library of Wildlife Sounds at the British Institute of Recorded Sound in London. A dozen or so recordings made in Brazil are preserved in the Library of Natural Sounds at the Laboratory of Ornithology at Ithaca, New York State, U.S.A., as are many Caribbean recordings of George B. Reynard, and no doubt many others from the region in question. The discography 1. Kellogg, P. P. & Allen, A. A. 1950. Jungle Sounds. One 12-inch 78 r.p.m. disc no. BL 4219-20. Comstock Publishing Co., Inc., Ithaca, N.Y., U.S.A. [11 birds, 1 mammal and 7 amphibians, recorded in Panama. |] 73 2. Asch, M. & Ramsey, F., Jr. 1952. Sounds of a Tropical Rain Forest in America. One 12- inch 33 t.p.m. disc no. FX 6120. Produced for the American Museum of Natural History by Folkways Records, 701, 7th Avenue, New York City, N.Y., 10036, U.S.A. [About 22 birds, 1 mammal, a few insects, and about 6 amphibians, recorded in Panama and at the Bronx Zoo, New York City.] 3. Davis, L. Irby. 1958. Mexican Bird Songs. One 12-inch 33 -3 t.p.m. disc. Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., U.S.A. [74 birds.] 4. Gunn, W. W. H. 1959. A Day at Flores Morades, no. 5 in the Sounds of Nature series. One 12-inch 33-3 r.p.m. disc, no. T46558-9. Federation of Ontario Naturalists, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada. [31 birds, 1 mammal and 2 insects. Revised and reissued as no. 35.] 5. Coelho, M. About 1960. Hunting all through Brazil (Portuguese). One 12-inch 78 r.p.m. disc, no. PR244. Gravacos Electricas, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [Instrumental imitations of about 12 birds. See Mitchell (1957: 32).] 6. Zuber, C. 1960. Galapagos (French). One 7-inch 45 r.p.m. disc, no EX 253. From La Boite a Musique, 133 Boulevard Raspail, Bam, Paris, France. [7 birds and 1 mammal.] 7. Frisch, J. D. 1961. Songs of the Birds of Brazil (Portuguese). One 12-inch 33 +3 r.p.m. disc, no. SCLP 10502. SOM, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [33 birds, 2 insects and 1 amphibian.] 8. Frisch, J. D. 1962. Songs of the Birds of Brazil (Portuguese). One 12-inch 78 r.p.m. disc, no. S596. SOM, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [9 birds from the 33 species on no. 7.] 9. Frisch, J. D. 1962. Songs of Birds of South America (Spanish). One 12-inch 33 -3 r.p.m. disc, no. LP 040. Copacabana, for El Palacio de la Musica S.A., Venezuela. [34 birds; a Spanish version, with changed title, of no. 7.] 10. Frisch, J. D. 1962. Songs of the Birds of Brazil (Italian). One 12-inch 33 -3 t.p.m. disc, no. Sabrina SA 10.001. Compagnia Discografica Sabrina, R. Mario Pagano 61, Milan, Italy. [34 birds; an Italian version of no. 7]. 11. Frisch, J. D. 1962. Songs of Birds of Brazil (Esperanto). One 12-inch 33 -3 r.p.m. disc, no. SCLP 10523. SOM, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [34 birds; an Esperanto version of no. 7.] 12. Frisch, J. D. 1962. Songs of Birds of South America (Spanish). One 12-inch 33 -3 t.p.m. disc, no. OL 7o1z. Opus, Surco Industrias Musicales $.R.L., Argentina. [34 birds; an Argentinian version of no. 7. 13. Frisch, J. D. 1962. Voices of the Brazilian Jungle (Portuguese). One 12-inch 33 -3 r.p.m. disc, no. SCLP 10513, SOM, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [24 birds, 1 mammal, 2 insects and 1 amphibian. ] 14. Frisch, J. D. 1963. Voices of the Amazon, with the Legendary Song of the Musician Wren (Portuguese). One 12-inch 33 -3 r.p.m. disc, no. SCLP 10525. SOM, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [28 birds, 4 mammals, 1 insect and 2 amphibians. ] 15. Frisch, J. D. 1963. Echoes of the Green Hell (Portuguese). One 12-inch 33 -3 t.p.m. disc, no. SCLP 10527. SOM, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [20 birds, 4 mammals, 2 reptiles, 1 amphibian, 4 fish, 6 insects and 1 arachnid.] 16. Schwartz, P. 1964. Bird Songs from the Tropics, Vol. 1 of Naturaleza Venezolana. One 12- inch 33 -3 t.p.m. disc. Instituto Neotropical, Apartado 4640 Chacao, Caracas, Venezuela. [40 birds. | 17. Salibi, Dr. José, Jr. 1964. The Chestnut-bellied Rice Grosbeak (Portuguese). One 7-inch 33 °3 t.p.m. disc, no. C.S. 70.071. Discos RGE Ltda, Rua Paula Souza 181, 2.0 e 5.0 andares, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [One bird in captivity.] 18. Frisch, J. D. 1964. Songs of Birds of Brazil (Portuguese). One 7-inch 45 r.p.m. disc, no. COP 73037. Copacabana, Discos de Radio Triunfo, Lda, Porto, Portugal. [7 birds; a Portuguese edition of part of no. 7.] 19. Frisch, J. D. 1965. Syaphony of the Hinterland (Portuguese). One 7-inch 33 -3 r.p.m. disc, no. 5001. SOM, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [Human musical arrangements intermingled with the songs of unnamed Brazilian birds; of little ornithological importance. ] 20. Frisch, J. D. 1965. Symphony of the Dawn (Portuguese). One 7-inch 33 :3 r.p.m. disc, no. 5002. Sabia, SOM, Avenida Casper Libero, 58-12 Andar, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [Human musical arrangements intermingled with the songs of unnamed Brazilian birds.] 21. Frisch, J. D. 1965. Symphonies of the Canaries (Portuguese). One 7-inch 33 -3 r.p.m. disc, no. 50.004. SOM, Avenida Casper Libero, 58-12 Andar, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [One captive bird with a background of organ music.] 22. Frisch, J. D. 1965. Symphony of the Brazilian Birds (German). One 7-inch 33 -3 r.p.m. disc, no, 5004. Produced for Varig Airlines by SOM Ind. e Com. S.A., Avenida Casper Libero, 58-12 Andar, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [Human musical arrangements intermingled with songs of unnamed Brazilian birds.] 23. Frisch, J. D. 1965. Symphony of the Brazilian Birds (Italian). One 7-inch 33 +3 r.p.m. disc, no. 5005. Produced for Varig Airlines by SOM Ind. e Com. S.A., Avenida Casper Libero, 58-12 Andar, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [Human musical arrangements intermingled with the songs of unnamed Brazilian birds. ] 74 24. Frisch, J. D. 1965. Symphony of the Brazilian Birds (French). One 7-inch 33 -3 t.p.m. disc, no. 5006. Produced for Varig Airlines by SOM Ind. e Com. S.A., Avenida Casper Libero, 58-12 Andar, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [Human musical arrangements intermingled with the songs of unnamed Brazilian birds. | 25. Frisch, J. D. 1965. Symphony of the Brazilian Birds (Portuguese). One 7-inch 33 -3 r.p.m. disc, no. 5007. Produced by Varig Airlines by SOM Ind. e Com. S.A., Avenida Casper Libero, 58-12 Andar, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [Human musical arrangements intermingled with songs of unnamed Brazilian birds. ] 26. Frisch, J. D. 1965. Symphony of Brazilian Birds. One 7-inch 33 -3 r.p.m. disc, no. 5008. Produced for Varig Airlines by SOM Ind. e Com. S.A., Avenida Casper Libero, 58-12 Andar, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [Human musical arrangements intermingled with songs of unnamed Brazilian Birds. | 27. Frisch, J. D. 1965. Symphony of Brazilian Birds (Japanese). One 7-inch 33 -3 r.p.m. disc, no. 5010. Produced for Varig Airlines by SOM Ind. e Com. S.A., Avenida Casper Libero, 58-12 Andar, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [Human musical arrangements intermingled with songs of unnamed Brazilian birds. | 28. Frisch, J. D. 1965. The Legendary Paradise of the Indians (Portuguese), One 12-inch 33 -3 r.p.m. disc, no. SCLP 10.534. SOM, Avenida Casper Libero, 58-12 Andar, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [35 birds, 2 mammals, 1 insect and 1 amphibian. | 29. Frisch, J. D. 1965. Bird Songs of Brazil and Other Jungle Voices. One 7-inch 45 r.p.m. disc, no. EP 4618. Produced for Varig Airlines by SOM, Ind. e Com. S.A., Avenida Casper Libero, 58-12 Andar, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [14 birds, 1 fish, 1 insect and at least 1 amphibian. ] 30. Schwartz, P. 1965. Sounds of the Llanos I. Vol. 2 of Naturaleza Venezolana. One 12-inch 33 °3 t.p.m. disc with descriptive booklet. Instituto Neotropical, Apartado 4640 Chacao, Caracas, Venezuela. [68 birds, 5 mammals, 2 amphibians and 1 insect.] 31. Schwartz, P. 1965. Sounds of the Llanos II, Vol. 3 of Naturaleza Venezolana. One 12-inch 33 °3 t.p.m. disc with descriptive booklet. Instituto Neotropical, Apartado 4640 Chacao, Caracas, Venezuela. [About 58 birds, including some 23 not recorded on Vols. 1 and 2.] 32. Frisch, J. D. 1966. Symphony of the Brazilian Birds (Portuguese). One 12-inch 33 °3 r.p.m. disc, no. SCLP 10.538. SOM, Ind. e Com. S.A., Avenida Casper Libero, 58-12 Andar, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [Human musical arrangements intermingled with songs of unnamed Brazilian birds, combining on one 12-inch disc the items appearing on the series of symphonies produced in 1965 for Varig Airlines. ] 33. Frisch, J. D. Probably about 1967. Symphony of the Birds. One 12-inch 33 -3 r.p.m. stereo disc, no. SE4442. MGM Records Division, Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer Inc., 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York City, U.S.A. [An English language version of no. 32.] 34. Frisch, J. D. Probably about 1967. Christmas Symphony. One 7-inch 33 -3 t.p.m. disc, no. Sabia Compacto 5014. SOM, Ind. e Com. S.A., Avenida Casper Libero, 58-12 Andar, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [Human musical arrangements intermingled with the songs of unnamed Brazilian birds. ] 35. Gunn, W. W. H. 1968. A Day at Flores Morades. One 12-inch 33 +3 r.p.m. disc, no. 5 in Sounds of Nature series, and no. T46558-9. Federation of Ontario Naturalists, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada. [31 birds, 1 mammal and 2 insects recorded in Venezuela. A revised and corrected edition of no. 4.] 36. Reynard, G. B. 1969. Caribbean Bird Songs. One 12-inch 33 -3 r.p.m. disc. P. P. Kellogg, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, N.Y., U.S.A. [54 birds recorded in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.] 37. Lindblad, Jan. 1970. Jn Green Paradise (Swedish). One 12-inch 33-3 r.p.m. disc, no. STP LP 102. Bonniers, Sweden. [38 birds, to mammals and 1 insect recorded in Guyana. ] 38. Roché, J. C. Probably 1970. The Bird as Musician. No. 7: Rufous-throated Solitaire and Bare-eyed Thrush. One 7-inch 45 t.p.m. disc, no. P 039. L’Oiseau Musicien, 04-Aubenas-les- Alpes, Haute-Provence, France. Obtainable also from Discourses Ltd., 34 High Street, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, U.K. [2 birds.] 39. Frisch, J. D. Probably about 1970. Birds, Jungle, Melody (Portuguese). One 12-inch 33 -3 r.p.m. disc, no. SCLP 10543. SOM, Ind. e Com. S.A., Rua Franca Pinto, Sao Paulo, Brazil. [Side 1 records unnamed species of the Amazonian forest, species of the central plateau and of the southern forest, and one captive bird accompanied by human music. Side 2 consists of six human musical arrangements intermingled with songs of unnamed Brazilian birds. | 40. Frisch, J. D. Probably about 1971. Sounds of the Trans- Amazonian Highway and Thrush Songs (Portuguese). One 12-inch 33-3 r.p.m. stereo disc, SOM, Ind. e Com. S.A., Rua Eugenia S. Vitale, 173, Sao Bernardo do Campo (Rudge Ramos), Sao Paulo, Brazil. [Side 1 consists of 4 bands: the first records dawn sounds in the Amazonian forest, the second Indian songs and a flute, the third sounds of nightfall in the forest followed by reveille with an army unit, and the fourth sounds and music representing the opening up of the 7S backwoods. On Side 2 the songs of five Brazilian thrushes ate given at length, but the species on Side 1 are not identified by name when they are heard.| 41. Roché, J. C. 1971. Birds of the West Indies, 1: The Lesser Antilles, from Grenada to Guade- Joupe (French and English). One 12-inch 33 -3 r.p.m. disc, no. G.o6, L’Oiseau Musicien, 04 Aubenas-les-Alpes, Haute-Provence, France. Also obtainable from Discourses Ltd., 34 High Street, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. U.K. [More than 13 birds; 4 insects and 3 amphibians. ] 42. Gibson, D. and others. 1972. Cries of the Wild, authentic nature sounds from the Audubon Wildlife Theatre Series. One 12-inch 33-3 r.p.m. disc, no. T-57169. K.E.G. Productions, 556 Church Street, Toronto, Canada. [Side B, Band 3, running 3 minutes 57 seconds, gives 5 birds and 1 mammal recorded in Venezuela by W. W. H. Gunn, and an Amazon Veet phere” recording by L. Koffler.] 43. Coffey, Ben, B., Jr. and Evans, E. R. Probably 1972. Songs of Mexican Birds. Ge? 25 inch diameter teel of 7°5 i.p.s. tape. Ben B. Coffey, 672 N. Belvedere, Memphis, Tenn. 38107, U.S.A. [Over 24 birds, 1 mammal and 1 amphibian.] References: Boswall, Jeffery. 1964. A discography of Palearctic bird-sound recordings. Brit. Birds 57, special supplement: 1-63. — 1965. A catalogue of tape and gramophone records of Australasian Region bird-sound. Emu 65: 65-74. — 1966. New Palearctic bird-sound recordings in 1964-65. Brit. Birds 59: 27-37. — 1969a. New Palearctic bird-sound recordings during 1966-67. Brit. Birds 62: 49-65. — 1969b. New Palearctic bird-sound recordings during 1968. Brit. Birds 62: 271-281. / — 1970. New Palearctic bird-sound recordings during 1969. Brit. Birds 63: 324-332. — 1971. New Palearctic bird-sound recordings during 1970. Brit. Birds 64: 431-434. — 1973. A discography of bird-sound from the Oriental Zoogeographical Region. Bui. Br. Orn, Cl. 93: 170-172. Boswall, Jeffery & North, Myles, E. W. 1967. A Peay ae of bird-sound from the Ethiopian Zoogeogtaphical Region. bis 109: 521-53 Boswall, Jeffery & Prytherch, Robin, J. 1969. A ee of bird-sound from the Antarctic. Polar Record 14(92): 603-612. Boswall, Jeffery & Kettle, Ron. In press. A discography of bird-sound from the Nearctic Region. Burton, John. 1969. Catalogue of Natural History Recordings, BBC. — 1971. First Supplement to the 1969 Catalogue of Natural History Recordings, BBC. — 1972. Second Supplement to the 1969 Catalogue of Natural History Recordings, BBC. — 1973. Third Supplement to the 1969 Catalogue of Natural History Recordings, BBC. Mitchell, Margaret, H. 1957. Observations on birds of south-eastern Brazil. University of Toronto Press. Sellar, Patrick. 1973. New Palearctic bird-sound recordings in 1971-72. Brit. Birds 66: 303- 310. Wyring, C. F., Allen, A. A. & Kellogg, P. P. 1945. Jungle Acoustics. O.S.R.D. Reports 4699 and 4704, published privately from the Division of Acoustical Research, Rutgers University, Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S.A. Nearctic waders in Sierra Leone—Lesser Golden Plover and Buff-breasted Sandpiper by G. D. Field Received 19th February, 1974 There are few records of American waders in tropical Africa but, judging by the numbers reported annually from Europe, this must partly reflect lack of ornithologists rather than birds. The only records for West Africa given by Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1970) are single occurrences of Caldris melanotos (Principe Island) and Tringa solitaria (Cabinda). Since then Tringa flavipes has occurred at Lagos (Wallace 1969) and Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus 76 at Freetown (Sudbury & Field 1972). An example of P/wvialis dominica at Lagos (Heigham 1969) was thought to be of the Siberian race, P. d. fulva. On the nights of November 3rd and 4th 1973 exceptionally violent storms hit Freetown, bringing in their wake the first real rush of land migrants, particularly Sylviidae. It is possible that these storms were also responsible for the appearance of some scarcer waders, Knot Caddris canutus, first’seen November 7th, and Oyster-catcher Haematopus ostralegus, first seen November 15th. On the evening of November 6th at high tide J. B. Smart and I noted a small group of waders standing on the causeway along the edge of the muddy, mangrove-margined Aberdeen Creek at the north-west tip of the Freetown Peninsula. Most birds were Charadrius hiaticula and Tringa hypoleucos with one Grey Plover P/wvialis squataro/a and beside it a bird which on its own might have been dismissed as P. squataro/a but, seen alongside, obvious differences in size and stance proclaimed it a ‘golden’ plover. We were able to get to fifteen yards range and note plumage details, later flushing it so that the under-wing could be observed. It was located again on November 7th, 11th and rath, on the latter two occasions on the mud, extremely tame and coming, as the tide rose, to within a few yards of me, associating here with Redshanks T7ringa totanus and Greenshanks Tringa nebularia, wading up to its thighs in the water and eventually flying off solitarily. Compared with the Grey Plover this bird was smaller and more delicate in all particulars, especially bill, always standing erect instead of in the hun- ched attitude typical of the Grey Plover, and in flight its wings were narrower and relatively longer, giving a more elegant appearance. Salient points: forehead, broad streak over eye, face and neck buff with a dusky patch on ear coverts; upperparts streaked and spangled dark and pale (white rather than gold); below buff with greyish feather centres on the breast, lower belly white. In flight wing dark above with no bar, below ata distance it looked all buff; closer, a distinction visible between the greyer axillaries and the palish buff rest of wing. It appeared to be a first winter bird, corresponding closely to the illustration of the American juvenile depicted on plate 121 (Witherby et al. 1940) except that the forehead was buff and the underparts less heavily marked. , On November 11th after the plover had flown, while watching the waders congregating on a still unflooded patch of mud, I noted a single bird fly in and land among a group of Grey and Ringed Plovers. Almost immediately the latter took off and flew out to sea, the strange wader accompanying them. On the ground it was taller than the Ringed Plovers, though in the air it seemed roughly the same size. All I had time to note was dark wings and tail with no white, buff below, and yellow legs. Searching on November 12th and 13th brought no sign of it, but on November 15th a very dark wader flew from the mangroves and landed on the beach among a group of Sander- lings Caldris alba and an Oystet-catcher. Wary at first, it later ignored me almost entirely and let me approach to within ten yards, running along the tide edge and refusing to fly when I wanted to flush it. Later it flew to open sandy grass beside the road and was still there when I left but was not seen subsequently. As this is the first record for Africa of a Buff-breasted Sandpiper 7ryngites subruficollis | give a full description: general appearance on the ground, a very buff bird with clearly patterned dark and buff upperparts, short black bill and yellow legs. It stood much higher than the Sanderlings, thus looking a bigger 7a bird, and appeared to be of the general size and height of a Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola. In detail: crown brown-streaked with a darkish streak down centre of nape; whole of rest of head, forehead, supercilium, cheeks, neck, plain buff, the impression being that the area immediately round the eye was paler than the rest. Wings boldly patterned dark and buff, the scapulars particularly variegated with dark feather centres and broad buff margins. Whole underside pale buff, sides of breast spotted with grey-brown at close view ; under tail coverts paler. Eye dark, bill black, rather stout and appearing slightly down-curved, a little longer than the length of the head. Legs rather bright yellow. In flight from above, dark with no discernible wing-bar and no white in the tail though this was patterned when spread on landing. Underside of wing wholly white, in marked contrast with breast and upper- side. Wings rather long and pointed. At rest the bird stood high with a well- developed neck. It both walked and ran, feeding at the tide’s edge by turning - over small pieces of stranded seaweed, picking them up in the beak and shaking them, often dropping them and giving an exaggerated jump back- wards as though in alarm. Without access to skins I cannot be categorical about the race of P. dominica, but its appearance in conjunction with an undoubted American species makes it reasonable to suggest that it too was of American origin, the race P. d. dominica. References: Heigham, J. B. 1969. Birds observed in Victoria Island, Lagos. Bull. Orn. Soc. Nigeria 6 (No. 24): 109-119. Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1970. African handbook of birds. Series UI, Vol. 1. London: Longmans. Sudbury, A. & Field, G. 1972. An African record of the Hudsonian Curlew Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus Latham. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 92: 148-9. Wallace, D. I. M. 1969. Lesser Yellowlegs at Lagos: a species new to Nigeria. Bu//. Orn. Soc. Nigeria 6 (No. 22): 58. Witherby, H. F., e¢ a/. 1940. The handbook of British birds 4. London: Witherby. The Little Egret Egretta garzetta in Wallacea by C. M. N. White Received 26th January, 1974 Little Egrets have been recorded from at least fifteen islands in Wallacea,> mainly from Celebes and some adjacent islands and from north and south Moluccas. Records from the Lesser Sunda and South West islands are scantier. Amadon & Woolfenden (1952: 12-13) refer these records to E: g. nigripes with legs and feet concolorous and black, which occurs from Java and Borneo to Australia and New Guinea. In recent years it has become apparent from ringing recoveries that the nominate FE. g. garzetta with yellow feet, breeding in Japan, winters in numbers in the Philippine Islands. This indicated that a new examination of birds from Wallacea was desirable to ascertain whether any yellow footed examples, presumptive migrant garzeffa, occur there. I am grateful to Dr. K. C. Parkes for information about his study of Philippine birds which has subsequently (1973: 14-15) been published. In addition to yellow footed garzetta, he found evidence of a breeding population in the Philippines with 78 greenish yellow feet spotted with black. This he suspected might represent a third form, perhaps undescribed. Parkes had seen few breeding specimens from the Philippines, but found that Tweeddale and McGregor had given descriptions of such birds with spotted feet which were consistent with the few specimens he had examined. I am also grateful to Dr. G. F. Mees for information and comments about specimens in the Leiden Museum. Eleven recently collected and undoubtedly breeding birds from Formosa all have black feet as in mwigripes. It is thus strange that no black footed breeding birds have been found in the Philip- pines, and there would seem to be need for more investigation of the foot colour of Little Egrets breeding there. This is indicated by the situation in Wallacea. Most specimens in Leiden are black footed mgripes including one from Sangihe, north of Celebes. However, a few from Celebes appear to have had the feet blotched black and yellow, much as described by Parkes for Philip- pine birds. I also note that Siebers (1930: 211) in recording two examples collected by Toxopeus in Buru in May and June 1921 gives the recorded soft parts of one as “feet black”’ and of the other as “‘feet olive . . . (illegible).” Thus one of these birds from Buru probably had spotted feet like the Philip- pine birds. It is thus possible that birds with spotted feet may be a phenotype which occurs among black footed wigripes rather than a separate geographical form. New data on Philippine birds is required to throw light upon the fact that a series from Formosa is black footed like most birds from Wallacea whilst a few from Wallacea have spotted feet like those so far examined or described from the Philippines. On the possibility of some individual vatiation in foot colour, it should be noted that Hite & Etchécopar (1970: 64) mention birds with black feet on the south side of the Caspian Sea in the range of nominate garzetfa. There is evidence that occasional yellow footed migrant garzetta reach Wallacea. One from Menado, north Celebes, and just south of the Philip- pines, in the Leiden Museum, collected by F. von Faber and unfortunately not dated, seems to be a migrant nominate garzetta. Another possible example is one from Ambon collected by Teysmann in 1877 with apparently yellow feet, though as it had been mounted there remains the possibility of post- mortem changes. There remains the question of how far FE. garzetfa breeds in Wallacea. There seem to be no records of breeding colonies and Australian breeding nigripes are known from ringing recoveries to be strongly migratory, reaching New Guinea, New Britain and New Zealand. Possibly they also migrate into Wallacea. Stresemann (1914: 65) reported small flocks as common in Seran in October and November which could have been such migrants, as could the two from Buru mentioned above. Such negative evidence is inconclusive but there seems to be no evidence that F. garzetta, FE. alba or E. intermedia breeds in Wallacea. All three however are known to breed in heronries in west Java. References: Amadon, D. & Woolfenden, G. 1952. Notes on the Mathews Collection of Australian birds. The order Ciconiiformes. Amer. Mus. Novit. 1964. Phen): a Etchécopar, R. D. 1970. Les oiseaux du proche et du moyen Orient. Paris: Boubée. ‘Parkes, K. C. 1973. Annotated list of the birds of Leyte Island, Philippines. Nemouria 11. Siebers, H. C. 1930. Fauna Buruana. Aves. Treubia 8 (suppl.): 165-303. Stresemann, E. 1914. Die V6gel von Seran. Nov. Zool. 21: 25-153. 719 The relationships of Baettikoforella bivittata: some considerations by Murray D. Bruce Received 13th February, 1974 Buettikoferella is the only endemic genus of Timor, with one species, B. bivittata, considered by Mayr (1944: 171) to be “probably of western origin”’. It was originally described in Napothera and subsequently placed in Drymo- cataphus (=Pellorneum) and Dumetia until separated into a monotypic genus in 1895. The placements did not question its assignment with these Oriental timaliines. Mayr (op. cét.: 158) pointed out that in addition to resembling these genera, it resembled “‘many of the grass warblers”’, such as the Austra- lasian “‘ Eremiornis, Megalurulus, Cichlornis, and Ortygocichla”’, which may be timaliine and not sylviine, since suggested with allied groups, e.g. Malurus (Harrison & Parker 1965), but other evidence may not support this (Sibley 1970: 73). During a visit to Portuguese Timor, in August 1972, I recorded Buer- tikoferella in open scrub and grass areas of the lowlands, singly or in pairs, on the ground or perched in low trees and bushes. The flight was short and slow with dipping, and slight drooping of the long tail, which, on alighting, was | raised and lowered a few times. The behaviour of Mega/urulus mariei 1s ap- parently similar. It is found singly or in pairs, on the ground, in tall grass and undergrowth. Its flight is short and direct with dipping, and the tail is thrown slightly from side to side, cf. Warner (1947: 176), who compared it to Telmatodytes. Megalurulus shares “a greatly exaggerated tail” with Buettzko- ferella and Eremiornis carteri. The latter, of similar habits, has been compared with Stpiturus (McGill 1970: 33). Cichlornis grosvenori is found on or neat the ground in small groups and clings vertically to bamboo like a wren. Ortygocichla rubiginosa has similar habits, cf. Gilliard & LeCroy (1967: 205), and cocks its tail upright when on the ground (R. I. Orenstein pers. comm.). New Zealand’s Bowdleria punctata may belong here. I observed it singly in swampy grasslands and it has a weak, undulating flight, drooping its long tail, which it flicks when perched on grass stems. Napothera and Pellorneum include primarily terrestrial species of forested areas, e.g. P. capistratum (Smythies 1968: 420). The skulking Dumetia hyperythra is found in small flocks in tall grass, undergrowth or on the ground, and has been compared with Stachyris (Ali & Ripley 1971: 180). The strong Asiatic element in Timor’s oscines, pointing to close affinities with timaliine genera for Buettikoferella, may be due to the possible extinction of the mountain monsoon forest during the Pleistocene, subsequently “reconstituted only recently”? (Mayr 1965: 41). Similarities of Buettikoferella with the above ‘grass warbler’ genera and others, e.g. Gvraminicola and Sphenoeacus, may indicate timaliine affinities of some or all of these genera, or may only reflect convergence through similar feeding adaptations. Additional observations are needed to determine the extent of possible relationships. I am grateful to C. W. Benson and C. M. N. White for comments on an eatlier draft of this note. References: Ali, S. & Ripley, S. D. 1971. Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan 6. London: Oxford University Press. 80 Se Gilliard, E. T. & LeCroy, M. 1967. Results of the 1958-1959 Gilliard New Britain Expe- dition 4. Annotated list of birds of the Whiteman Mountains, New Britain. Bu//. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 135: 173-216. Harrison, C. J. O. & Parker, S. A. 1965. The behavioural affinities of the blue wrens of the genus Malurus. Emu 65: 103-113. McGill, A. R. 1970. Australian warblers. Melbourne: Bird Observers’ Club. Mayr, E. 1944. The birds of Timor and Sumba. Bu//. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 83: 123-194. — 1965. The nature of colonizations in birds, pp. 29-47. Jn H. G. Baker & G. L. Stebbins (eds.). The genetics of colonizing species. London: Academic Press. Sibley, C. G. 1970. A comparative study of the egg-white proteins of passerine birds. Bu//. Peabody Mus. Nat. Hist. 32: 1-131. Smythies, B. E. 1968. The birds of Borneo. 2nd ed. London: Oliver & Boyd. Warner, D. W. 1947. The ornithology of New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands. Unpub- lished Ph.D. thesis. Cornell University, New York. ix + 232 pp. Species limits and variation of the New World Green Herons Buforides virescens and Striated Herons B. striatus by Robert B. Payne Received 31st January, 1974 The Green Herons Busorides virescens and Striated Herons B. striatus have usually been considered to be distinct species (Hellmayr & Conover 1948, HKisenmann 1952, Bock 1956, Peters 1931, Palmer 1962, Wetmore 1965, Slud 1967), though they have been mentioned as possibly conspecific (Hartert 1920, Eisenmann 1955, Parkes 1955). The Green Herons of North America look different from the Striated Herons of South America (brown-to- maroon neck in the former, pale grey neck in the latter), but intermediate birds live in a limited area between these in Panama and in the islands off the Caribbean coast of South America (Lowe 1907, Van Tyne 1950, Wetmore 1955). The question whether these herons are conspecific has been difficult to answer because of an earlier shortage of specimens (Hellmayr & Conover 1948: 184) and because wintering northern migrants have not been dis- tinguished from local birds. A further question about species limits in the genus has arisen with Harris’s (1973) report of possible sympatry with limited interbreeding of South American B. striatus with the dark Lava Herons known as B. sundevalli on the Galapagos Islands. As patt of a study of heron systematics (Payne ms.), I examined the 837 New World and about 500 Old World specimens of Busorides available in the _ American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), U.S. National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH), and University of Michigan Museum of Zoology (UMMZ). I could not differen- tiate between first-year and older specimens. Birds in juvenile plumage that had not completed most or all of their postjuvenile moult were excluded from the colour analysis reported below. Wing lengths (unflattened chord), bill lengths (unfeathered base of culmen to the tip), and tarsal lengths were recorded to the nearest mm. Colour of plumage on the cheek and neck was compared with NMNH specimens selected to represent a smoothly graded series of nine colours from grey through brown and maroon (Table 1); these specimens were. compared directly with specimens in other museums. Throughout eastern North America, Green Herons occur with no obvious geographic differences in colour or size (Parkes 1955, my observations). 81 TABLE 1 Colour reference specimens of Butorides striatus Neck colour NMNH cat. no. Locality I grey 263848 Venezuela: Culata 2 grey, tinge brown 423096 Panama: Charco del Toro 3. gtey, wash brown 444948 Panama: Rio Indio 4 brownish grey 400113 Panama: Pesé, Herrera 5 greyish brown 448634 Panama: La Jagua 6 greyish red-brown 368472 Colombia: Guajira 7 teddish brown 206343 Panama: Rio Indio 8 purplish brown 316840 Cocos Island 9 dark purplish brown 468699 Panama: Almirante Green Herons in southwestern North America are larger and include more birds with paler brown necks than in the east (Fig. I). Overlap in size is little; informed ringers could distinguish nearly all individuals in areas where both might winter together, and on this criterion I recognize the western form as a subspecies (anthony) distinct from the eastern birds (v7rescens). Birds of Baja California south of 27° latitude are all very dark-necked, more purplish than brown, and are a distinctive subspecies (frazari). In Mexico, little colour variation occurs but wing length varies from 167 to 190 within Tamaulipas (considering only “‘summering” birds, taken between 1 May and 30 Septem- ber, thereby hopefully excluding any ‘“‘wintering”’ birds from more northern populations). Birds of Central America from Guatemala through El Salvador and Costa Rica average smaller than the North American sample from Michi- gan but considerable overlap occurs in wing length and no consistent colour differences appear. Birds of the West Indies average smaller than the eastern North American virescens, but, even excluding all winter birds, some overlap occurs with North American birds and considerable overlap with Mexican birds. Birds of the Bahama Islands are uniformly smaller and paler than the North American birds, and though similar in size and colour to a few birds of the Lesser Antilles, nearly all of the Lesser Antilles birds are darker and many are larger than the Bahamas birds. The form bahamensis thus appears to be a valid subspecies. The 11 various other described subspecies from some of the islands and from parts of Central America (including 10 names of Ober- holser 1912) are not distinctive. In Panama, dark-necked virescens occur both on the Caribbean side in the west (Bocas del Toro) and on the Pearl Islands on the Pacific side farther east; similar dark birds have been taken on Cocos Island. The Pearl Islands birds have been described as a subspecies, but similar birds occur on Swan Island in the western Caribbean, on Puerto Rico, and in Mexico (Tamau- lipas), all of these in winter. Similar birds are also known from Cuba, the Isle of Pines, Quintana Roo, and Florida (Bangs 1915). It seems unlikely that all of these represent birds that dispersed from the Panama Bocas del Toro or Pearl Islands population, as the localities are so widespread; probably dark- necked herons breed as locally differentiated populations or as dark indi- viduals through several parts of the range of the wrescens group. For details of variation, see Fig. II. East of 81° on the Isthmus of Panama both dark-necked and light-necked herons occur, but all of the dark necked herons (colours 7-9) are wintering birds and thus all may be migrants from further north. Nests on Barro Colorado attributed to B. virescens by earlier workers (in Eisenmann 1952: 12) 82 7 SOUTHWEST i ar sare oe ae hs hte 8 x x x x SO BAJA 9 me hes ras ete yt a x MICHIGAN fy ia sees j ; Dak, oo et d a MEXICO 8 78 sO32Osa@? 8 OD 8 7 78 @ Os Oe 1® ‘ © Ds o78 ae i CENTRAL AMERICAN 8 9 8 9 598 ys 8 Ee a i eee 8 3). 3-3 ante aL wale ee asthe oe 36 6p 78 8 PANAMA 6 of © 662 Pearse) 2s: oles es. ¢ BAHAMA ISLANDS 8 8 6 8 Cet 8 & 87 ® 8 x 080s 780 RO ; 8 787 8 6Bs7 0007 OO Oren O° 28 oP GREATER ANTILLES @ 7 coe 67 ® 7@ ® Qa¢ oe 7 7 7 Zz (O) 7 BR Reo 238 ae 7 77 ? 73 DADO CODE 777 7 LESSER ANTILLES ero’ M ah iR-y> bate ae we £6 So BO 3 Dic SOUTH CARIBBEAN 3 ® ® 1 TRINIDAD 1 fe page 1 20 2 © 350% 11018 VENEZUELA 1 1 ) } ] ) Eel ) 1 } RP epeteen ene 2 os TOOOC COLOMBIA 3 as 07 ag | REGS, < SARS] RE AAMAS RS: REIN OEE 1 150 170 190 210 WING LENGTH, mm ee 99 co 99 Figure I. Wing length (mm) and neck colour (cf. Table 1, except “5” in Fig. I= “‘4” or “5” of Table 1) of Butorides striatus populations in the New World (except most of S. America). Each number represents one specimen. Circled specimens were taken October to April and include wintering migrants as well as residents in winter; uncircled figures represent birds taken from May through September and likely to be breeding birds. Note: Winter specimens from southwestern U.S., Baja, Panama (see Fig. I), and Colombia (except wintering northern migrants) are not circled, and wintering Mexican specimens with wing-length larger than 181 mm are not included. For Southwest, C=Chihuahua; for Mexico, T=Tamaulipas; for Greater Antilles, PR=Puerto Rico; for Lesser Antilles and nearby islands, S=Swan Island, V=St. Vincent; for S. Caribbean, V=Espada, Venezuela, C=Guajira, Colombia, A=Aruba, LR=Los Roques, M=Margarita Id., all others= Tobago. X indicate a colour darker purple (less brown, more greyish) than colour 9 and is characteristic of birds of southern Baja. apparently were identified without collecting the breeding birds; Van Tyne (1950) and Wetmore (1965: 87-88) attribute all breeding birds there to the intermediate, brownish-grey population. Birds taken from April through September on the Isthmus west of the Canal Zone (many collected recently by A. Wetmore) are all intermediate in neck colour between the western Panama wrescens and South American striatus. The sample from Coclé, 80 km west of the Canal Zone, averages darker than the nonwinter sample from the Canal Zone itself (colour scores of 7, 6, 6, 4, 4; vs. scores of 5, 4-5, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2), suggesting a local cline of colour from western Panama—Coclé—Canal Zone—Colombia, and perhaps some genetic introgression. Birds of the Canal T Te PAT eat i a re 7 | | | | | | | | ! | | | | | | _DMOODOOOOOO 82° 80° 78° Figure II. Variation in Butorides herons in Panama. Each number represents the neck colour of one specimen (cf. Table 1). Circled numbers ate winter birds (both residents and northern migrants), uncircled figures represent probable breeding residents (all May to September). Note that all non-winter birds in central and eastern Panama (including Canal Zone) ate intermediate in neck score between South American birds (score 1) and western Panama birds. Zone have sometimes been regarded as specifically different from B. virescens | and Griscom (1929) described them as a subspecies, B. striatus patens. These birds were regarded as specifically distinct from B. virescens also by Wetmore (1965) though he doubted the validity of the subspecies as some South American birds also have similar brownish-grey cheeks and necks. Hellmayr & Conover (1948) came to the same conclusion. Van Tyne (1950: 5) con- sidered these intermediate patens birds to be a race of B. virescens rather than B. striatus because the colour of their tarsi were like those of northern virescens (greenish) rather than southern striatus (reddish) and the colour of the lores was greenish yellow, not blue as reported for striatus by Griscom (1929). However, the tarsi of both North American virescens and South American s/riatus change seasonally from yellow or gteenish to orange or orange-red in the breeding season (Palmer 1962: 415, Haverschmidt 1968: 13), 84 and the lores at least in vzrescens then change from “‘dull yellow lime” to “blue- black” (Palmer 1962: 415). No conspicuous colour differences are obvious in birds in similar physiological condition. To draw the line between a plumage colour of birds that here score 4 or 5 (or 5 or 6) and to call this a species difference seems arbitrary, and in fact the variation in plumage colour is continuous within these local populations. The Panama birds (excluding probable northern migrants) share characters with northern and southern birds and appear to be an intermediate population, probably of hybrid origin inasmuch as colour is variable within the populations. Specimens from Cocos Island ate few, and most of them are immatures. Slud (1967) describes both B. virescens and B. striatus from the island, the latter both the intermediate “‘patens” birds and birds indistinguishable from those of South America. Perhaps the birds of extreme plumage colours are nonbreeding migrants. No birds known to be breeding have been collected there. Interbreeding between northern virescens and southern s/riatus is also indicated by the wide variation in plumage colour in populations on the islands off Venezuela and Colombia as well as in coastal populations of these countries. Birds of Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, and Los Roques include two individuals of intermediate colour as are mainland birds from the northern Gulf of Venezuela (Espada and Guajira). Further east, a bird from Margarita Island is greyish brown, and the Tobago birds are variable in neck colour suggesting genetic recombinations of northern and southern herons. Herons of mainland South America include several specimens intermediate in colour between northern brown-necked virescens and grey-necked striatus. Intermediate birds from Venezuela are from Espada, Caicara, Paria, Cumana, Mt. Duida, and 1800’ at San Antonio, all but the last two on the Caribbean coastal plain. In Colombia, intermediate birds were taken on the Guajira Peninsula (“‘laying” bird of colour 6 at Laguna de Tucacas) and in the drain- age basins of the Cauca and Magdalena Rivers, which flow to the Caribbean. One bird with colour 4 was taken 500 km upstream from the Cauca mouth, at Huila, La Plata. Birds of Trinidad, offshore from the mouth of the Orinoco, are mainly grey-plumaged as are most South American birds. Grey-necked birds predominate through Colombia except in the Magdalena basin and Guajira. Also taken in Venezuela and Colombia were birds as large and brown as the North American virescens; but all of these were in the northern winter, and there is no indication of overlap of breeding areas of the dark- brown-necked and grey birds in South America. Brownish-grey-necked individuals occur through the rest of South America as an apparent uncommon colour morph (Table 2). Brownish- TABLE 2 Variation in neck colour of Butorides striatus of South America* Colour of plumage on neck: number of specimens Country grey grey, tinge brown grey, wash brown or greyish (1) (2) brownish grey (3) (4) brown (s) Surinam, Cayenne 25 2 I I Brazil 128 it 3 -O Ecuador, Peru 57 9 5 fo) Bolivia 7 3 2 fo) Paraguay, Uruguay 20 3 I fe) Argentina 21 fe) I fe) * excluding Venezuela and Colombia (see Fig. 1) 85 necked birds comprise nearly a fifth of the sample in Ecuador and Peru, well out of the range of the Caribbean drainage region; one with a score of 3 was taken at Mocori, Chaco, Argentina. The occurrence of these brownish- necked birds in South America does not necessarily indicate recent genetic input from the North American populations because the distribution does not coincide with the southern extent of the range of the wintering northern migrants. Possibly these forms may reflect an earlier contact of the southern B. striatus with northern birds, inasmuch as brownish-necked individuals do not occur in the populations of B. striatus in Africa through eastern Asia. Griscom (1929: 157) and Amadon (1953: 404) doubted that South American (striatus) and African (a¢ricapillus) birds could be differentiated. However, in addition to the absence of brownish-necked individuals, African birds differ in having a more distinct rufous area on the upper breast, lateral to the lower neck streaks, and rufous (not grey-brown) lower neck streaks as Harttert (1920: 156) noted. Other variation among birds within South America includes colour of the belly; some are whitish, others darker grey, and others intermediate. The subspecific name “‘cyanurus” has been applied to southern birds, which supposedly have paler underparts. I noted considerable varia- tion within all local populations and much overlap in belly colour in birds from central Argentina, from northern Argentina and southern Brazil, and from the more northern regions in South America, and consider it impossible to determine the locality of individuals on the basis of their underparts. No significant mean differences in wing length, bill length, and tarsal length could be determined among these South American populations, they all overlapped considerably. The geographic pattern of variation among herons of the Buforides virescens-striatus complex indicates that they are conspecific. Both in Panama and on the coasts of Caribbean Colombia and Venezuela and their offshore islands, a wide range of phenotypes occur intermediate between the maroon- brown necks of the northern wrescens group and the grey necks of the southern striatus group. This variation suggests secondary contact of two forms previously isolated geographically that have since interbred. These populations, lying mainly between 8° and 10° N latitude, are probably sedentary and receive limited gene flow from the northern and southern populations inasmuch as intermediates outnumbered the extremes in central and eastern Panama and on the off-shore Caribbean islands near South America. However, the wide range of neck colour and the presence of some dark-necked or grey-necked birds suggests some possible limited gene flow resulting from immigration, perhaps involving occasional local breeding of northern immigrants that may remain on their wintering grounds with the local population. The small size of the southern Caribbean birds may reflect past inter-breeding of northern South American birds with the small birds of the West Indies (cf. Fig. I). Because the birds of Panama and the southern Caribbean are variable and combine the differing character states of their neighbouring populations, it is unnecessary to recognize any subspecies within this region. The species name to be used for the combined complex appears to be Butorides striatus. Linnaeus described both striatus and virescens in the same edition (10th, 1758) on the same page (p. 144) of “Systema Naturae.” Parkes (1955) suggested that Lowe’s 1907 treatment of the form “‘robinsoni” from Margarita Island was the first revision to recognize one of these forms as conspecific with the other. Lowe referred to two specimens as “Butorides 86 virescens robinsoni” on p. 554 but twice on p. 555 named them “BS. robinsoni” and he contrasted this form to the South American birds, which he called “B. striata.” Lowe did not state that striatus was conspecific with virescens, though such an act would be required (Juternational Code 1961) for purposes of establishing a priority of names. I do not think that Lowe’s attempts to describe two specimens with reference to no other forms designated more specifically than “B. striata” and “B. virescens’? constitutes a first revision, as the Code Article 24 (a) (i) makes it clear that ““The expression ‘first reviser’ is to be rigidly construed.” Lowe appears to have regarded “‘robinsoni”’ itself as being as much of a species as he did virescens and striatus. On the other hand, Hartert (1920: 1249-1251) described and revised the group on a world- wide basis; he listed wérescens as a subspecies of Busorides striatus (p. 1250). As Harttert’s usage of B. striatus appears to be the first definite decision that the forms were conspecific, the first reviser principle requires that the species name to be used is Buforides striatus. The Lava Heron of the Galapagos Islands has long been considered a species Butorides sundevalli, though Harttert (1920: 1250) regarded it as a sub- species of B. striatus. “Typical” adult specimens are dark grey, with blue- green lanceolate back plumes and a suggestion of pale streaks on the throat; the feet are red as in other breeding herons of the complex. Harris (1973: 267-268) has called attention to the occurrence of B. 5. striatus-like birds on the islands and to specimens intermediate in appearance between sundevalli and striatus. The 50 specimens I have examined (NMNH, AMNH, FMNH, and 8 from the California Academy of Sciences) show all possible intermediate plumage colours (Table 3). Most of the paler birds differ from the South TABLE 3 Colour variation in Butorides striatus of the Galapagos Islands No. birds Plumage colour 13 underparts blackish, unstreaked or with white edges of feathers on centre of throat. 13 (4) underparts dark grey, nearly blackish, unstreaked except on throat; or throat grey, unstreaked (N=2z). II (1) underparts dark grey, belly lighter grey; sides of neck and cheeks blackish to dark grey; throat streaked with white edges. 3 (1) underparts grey, darker than South American B. s. striatus; sides of neck and cheeks grey, below streaked white and grey-brown to upper breast (feathers of midline mainly white). 2 (2) underparts light grey, like South American B. s. striatus; neck streaked white and grey-brown to upper breast; may have some rufous on upper breast but most birds have more grey-brown (less rufous) than B. s. striatus. Numbets in parenthesis are a selected non-random sample of CAS birds. These numbers are not included in the first column. All of the plumage colour classes appear to intergrade with the next lighter and darker colours. American B. 5. striatus in having less rusty colour on the upper breast; the neck streaks of the Galapagos birds are grey-brown and the sides of the upper breast are grey, with no more than a trace of rufous, but otherwise the pale birds are inseparable from the South American birds. The difference in amount of rusty colour on the neck and breast indicates that the pale birds of the Galapagos are mainly local birds, not visitors from the mainland. Both the paler and the darker birds are widespread, and both occur together on 87 some islands. The high proportion of intermediate birds indicates consider- able successful breeding and genetic recombination. Perhaps some differen- tiation of the herons occurred on different islands with subsequent inter- island reinvasion and interbreeding, or more likely the islands were invaded successfully by more than one wave of immigrants from South America in the past: either history might account for the variation among the Galapagos herons. The Galapagos herons are variable, but nearly all adults are separable from adults of the continental populations. The Lava Heron is probably best considered a distinct subspecies, B. striatus sundevalli, at least until studies on breeding pairs have been made in the islands. Acknowledgements: For loaning or providing access to their material I thank W. E. Lanyon, J. Farrand, and J. J. Morony (American Museum of Natural History), L. C. Binford (California Academy of Sciences), R. L. Zusi (Nation- al Museum of Natural History), and M. A. Traylor (Field Museum of Natural History). I thank the F. M. Chapman Memorial Fund for support. L. C Binford, E. Eisenmann, K. C. Parkes, R. W. Storer, and A. Wetmore read the manuscript and offered helpful criticism. The figures were drawn by Patricia J. Wynne. References: Amadon, D. 1953. Avian systematics and evolution in the Gulf of Guinea. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 100: 393-452. Bangs, O. 1915. Notes on dichromatic herons and hawks. Auk 32: 481-484. Bock, W. J. 1956. A generic review of the family Ardeidae (Aves). Amer. Mus. INovit. 1779. Eisenmann, E. 1952. Annotated list of birds of Barro Colorado Island, Panama Canal Zone. Smiths. Misc. Coll. 117(5): 1-62. — 1955. The species of Middle American birds. Trans. Linn. Soc. N.Y. 7. Griscom, L. 1929. A collection of birds from Cana, Darien. Bu//. Mus. Comp. Zool. 69: 147- 1190. Harr s, M. P. 1973. The Galapagos avifauna. Condor 75: 265-278. Hartert, E. 1920. Gattung Butorides Blyth. In Die Vogel der palaarktischen Fauna, 1912-1921, vol. 2: 1249-1251. Berlin: Friedlander. Haverschmidt, F. 1968. Birds of Surinam. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd. Hellmayr, C. E. & Conover, B. 1948. Catalogue of birds of the Americas and the adjacent islands. Field. Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool. Ser. 13, 1(2). Lowe, P. R. 1907. On the birds of Margarita Island, Venezuela. /bis (9)1: 547-570. Oberholser, H. C. 1912. A revision of the subspecies of the Green Heron [Buforides virescens (Linnaeus)]. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 42: 529-577. Palmer, R. S. (ed.). 1962. Handbook of North American birds, vol. 1. New Haven, Conn.: Yale Univ. Press. Parkes, K. C. 1955. Systematic notes on North American birds. 1. The herons and ibises (Ciconiiformes). Ann. Carnegie Mus. 33: 287-291. Payne, R. B. In ms. Family Ardeidae. In Peters Check-list of birds of the world, vol. 1, ed. 2. Ed. E. Mayr. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press. Peters, J. L. 1931. Check-list of birds of the world, vol. 1. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press. Slud, P. 1967. The birds of Cocos Island (Costa Rica). Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 134(4): 261-296. Van Tyne, J. 1950. Bird notes from Barro Colorado Island, Canal Zone. Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich. 525. Wetmore, A. 1965. The birds of the Republic of Panama, part 1. Smiths. Misc. Coll. 150. APIO Pa Ts, aa ie f ~~» Me 1 s JUL 1974 88 ms) | ae ee, ae oe dares ve oS Pee . 3 2m bert PACT MAT ZO ih i : ¢. ’ ; ‘ a A ., 4 . ’ PPA Fapsolb es cays baton sedi’ Pi 2 FO WES SO het A y ‘ a ¢ = : mevins’. 22/11/09 soetbaa|:} teyii Suk by tet ie’ lea hl S3iye (OPHRL-S Saris c. Wet.) a etias M5 PG - i ‘ dqergitiaad ee SET EMO SR Fe ys! LR Spi * - m -_ a a * aohrdty: Leeks 9133 ts Levee ae bY ific> TRY a8 S * — o ~ . Pus Pile 72 ey F > . Te iyotis WNC Ee AO ST Efi is thy tett sti of igo TIL BAR Le % he YOR. Jeti sit? MD. frail et » . <5 . J Tob PIB , +? aaa f os . nol Ie a? ; : . ~/ . ots TAIs.. go pete : 4 . ti 3 ‘gt i 2 ‘ J 4 Pern i : i pos ‘ inl bi Ue 4 4 ae is — ee ae Pw o* ie ecg 5-Syre SiH, rhe AIS Pes © “ ay it: 5 “4 . Kea if — PIES Work Ts. sea R. Sirs % $3 TH F -_ t a e777 iy Poy cv 3. 28 os? ee SET SH EES? | my | r a Pasir tae. OD kpc teas 2h ely 73 7. “i aes ¢ 4 Np SSCe ge Fe Sei 3- re pr lgrist ; : Te 4 - P , ean hw | 3t Mi. apan2ist] : 23 24 * » ad , > « ARS Mae sUNOT & is bast has <* . tet j be rd bes Be reke > Sef i] ( “yf Fs Z 4 Qazkto7 setlin. bas 43 223 - Si tg i riehee ss. G75 7 4 aoe _* 7 ¢ PVs Ee *—% ei oS ar ae oe 4 oe Test “J i- ra Py | pe eee. # we f : it PATER Va) D207 : EAs ae mradiic oe oe F +a * 4 é 4 ; ii S Set Ce ae ee eal CEs. Seer FST So (fee By ) a th Aoi 4 a p hok, fy Oh" My toad ie 1nd oe ®: 39 Rens MOET © 4 Soitects Bile Sr. uty lh eda ri a Sis wt BadeasD ind eet caaivies eu RG rept | 7 phat Oh Niel yarn ty. iigio.”. may: Gs eye esit) oy b> PUATE Ks ain die Ree (iyefie. atte Hyull ate ycEtts» 1} #32 OF ehiGeres fF i “CONTRIBUTORS Contributions are not réstricted to members of the Club. They should be addressed personally to the Editor, Sir Hugh Elliott, 173 Woodstock Road, Oxford. 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ELLIOTT Volume 94 No.3 September 1974 Special General Meeting Notice is hereby given that a Special General Meeting of the Club will be held at the Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, London, W.1. on Tuesday, 19th November 1974 at 6 p.m. to consider and if deemed fit to pass the following resolution which will be proposed by the Committee as a special resolution in the terms of Rule (14) of the Club’s rules :— “That with effect from 1st January 1975 the annual subscription for members shall be £3-50 and that Rule (4) shall be amended accordingly”. By order of the Committee RONALD E. F. PEAL Honorary Secretary Note: Since the annual subscription for members was raised to £2 10s. with effect from 1st January 1971 printing costs have risen over 48%. Most of the Club’s expenditure is on printing and, with continuing inflation, an increase in the subscription rate is now essential to avoid the likelihood of a heavy financial deficit in the forthcoming year. Bulletin of the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Vol. 94 No. 3 Published: 20 September, 1974 The six hundred and eighty-eighth meeting of the Club was held at the Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, London, W.1., on Tuesday, 14th May 1974 at 7 p.m. Chairman: Mr. Peter Hogg; Present 18 members and eight guests. The Speaker was Mr. D. T. Holyoak, who addressed the Club on Orni- thological exploration and conservation in the Cook islands. He exhibited the skins of seven new forms from the southern Cook Islands, descriptions of which will be published shortly. The six hundred and eighty-ninth meeting of the Club was held at Imperial College, Exhibition Road, London, $.W.7. on Tuesday, 2nd July 1974 at 6.45 p.m. Chairman: Mr. Peter Hogg; Present 16 members and 11 guests. Mr. Richard Blindell spoke on his current investigations into waders and wildfow] on the Essex coast and in the Thames estuary. After supper he was followed by Mr. Ian R. Deans, who addressed the Club on the results to date of work he is undertaking on gull ecology in the Thames estuary. Duetting in Hypergerus atriceps and its Taxonomic . relationship to Eminia lepida /— by L. G. Grimes INTRODUCTION Hypergerus Reichenbach, 1850, Syst. Av., pl. 54 (9), with type open Moho atriceps Lesson, 1831, Traite Orn., p. 646, is a monotypic the Passeriforms of uncertain affinities and so is Em/nia Hartlaub, 1881, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond, p. 625, with type by monotypy Ewinia lepida Hartlaub with the same citation. Recent authorities (White 1960, Hall & Moreau 1970) hesitantly follow Chapin (1953) in assigning both genera to the warblers Sylviidae. Both species are found in similar habitats, Hypergerus in West Africa and Eminia in East Africa (White 1960), and Chapin found so many similarities between the two in the field that he surmised that the nest of FLypergerus when found would probably be very similar to that of Einia (Chapin 1953, Van Someren 1956). This has been confirmed by Lang (1969). Lanyon (1969) has emphasised that vocal characteristics may reveal close relationships. between avian species which may not be discernible on the basis of morphology alone, and also may enable the recognition of groups of allopatric forms that comprise a superspecies. This approach has not been applied to species that are both morphologically distinct and allopatric, and placed in separate genera. Hypergerus atriceps and Eminia lepida (Hall & Moreau 1970) fit this category and if they are more closely related than their placement in separate genera suggests, then, following Lanyon’s work, one might expect to find some similarities in their song structures. The present study was stimulated through the review by Thorpe (1972) of duetting in birds. This is well known in Eminia (Chapin 1953, Van Someren 89 2 ks 6 SEP 1974 Oo: 1956). Although Hypergerus duets regularly this has only recently been | recognised. The occurrence of duetting in both species suggested that similarities, if any, in their duet structure might provide evidence for a close relationship between them. In this paper the vocal characteristics of the two species and their duets are compared and described, that for Hypergerus for the first time. Other comparative data on their biology is reviewed to support the thesis of this paper that the two species are congeneric. MATERIALS AND METHODS _ Two recordings of Hlypergerus, involving the same birds, were made on 28 August 1972 in an area of dry thicket on an inselberg on the Accra Plains in southern Ghana. The time length of the recording was four minutes and includes 40 duet sequences. A Philips recorder (Model 2204) was used with the microphone placed at the focus of a parabola (0-6 m diameter). This recording was dubbed at 3-75 in/sec using a Philips recorder (Model 4307) on to a master tape which was used for all subsequent analysis with the Kaye sonograph in the wide band mode. Two recordings of Eminia made by the late M. E. W. North in Kenya were obtained from the library of sounds of the Laboratory of Ornithology of Cornell University. The first was recorded on 17 and 18 December 1953 at Gituru (1° 10’ S, 36° 50’ BE), and although it is just under seven minutes in length only nine duet sequences occur: part of this recording is found on the record “Voices of African Birds” (North 1958). The second recording of a single male was obtained on 6 September 1963, at Lake Nakuru (0° 15’ S, 36° os’ B), and lasts for just over one minute. RESULTS In both species one bird, presumably the male, dominated the singing and always initiated the duet sequences. Although there are marked differences | Pigs a oe my J beh oe ae vv v a CS . fs w Oy 4 le ee PO I fe” aot 1 1 \ ae Vem yy, Na Cae! ee aN en ay J A | a V\ Stee Table 1. The analysis into phrases of the song of two duet sequences of Hypergerus atriceps recorded in southern Ghana. The bar over the syllables indicates the occurrence of duetting and the underlined sections have been reproduced as spectograms. Tas: I ee eee ree ne heen Rise. JOH HHH HH HHH HMHH HH HAHHAHHNA KD» BA GCG B.1AtA | & CR A £6 RALA DUET ACBCBCBAACBAACBAACBCBCBACDBACBCBCBCDBACDBCER SEQUENCE (1) __ tie Seal [22Sec COBCDBACBAACODL FECBCBACBCBCDOBACD FBAAC Fe ae’ BEA CBC DD =— eas mies pe ee = = Tl 46Secl a ee a DUET 6GGGGGGG6GG6GG6&GG&G6& H HHH HH H pi als Wi Sag Wie) Re a COS Fee ia St) J 9 1G tp | ud: SeQueNcE(2) S =a oes Eh in the songs of the males, the second component which forms the duet is extremely similar in both species and is presumed to be given by the female. The song of the male Hypergerus consisted of mixed combinations of song phrases (Figure 1 ard Table 1) several of which are either slight modifications or incomplete forms of others: compare phrases B and N with A, phrases D, E and L with C, and I with H. Some phrases occur more frequently than others (A, B, C, H, G, and I), and in some sections the song sequence is a repetition of one phrase (G, H and 1). The major drawback of the presen- tation in Table 1 (and Table 4) is that the time interval between the ending Table 2. Typical values of the ratio of the time difference between the ending of a song syllable and the beginning of the next to the time difference between notes within the syllables of the song of Hypergerus atriceps. The time difference is in mm where 132 mm = ‘tec: Syllable Time difference ratio z 16°) 12 . 14 Pe be 2 20:15 J LO; T5 16: 14 % 1-36 i Ig : 13 = a2! oT : I2 14 J i4. > 12 K abe Fig. 2 5 Hz '4 ota ine tAAANARAAAEUR AER ES A AS | Hz SIND aE et i = == = => =—= => — = =~ ==> = ==> — 7 —=> => —=> =——> [2 => = —> —= => —> => -_—> — > = 4 —_ _—> — — —_?> => =—> — = —_> se ee) 05 1-0 SECOND OF gi Table 3. The maximum trill rates (notes/sec) occurring in four examples of the female component of the duets of Hypergerus atriceps and Eminia lepida. AYPERGERUS EMINIA sa he) 17 ‘0 12) 4 15°"2 10 °4 18 +3 Tez. 17°8 Fig. 3 B PASSAAAAN TSU aS ee @@ ee @2e2O@q] = cs = LAIMA OBMELVALA Pasi eanecmnmoppemmes VIII IIS | jl. sos & _ oO et ed re | Pa G ‘ ,sercccen \ \ \ V\\ | VU NUN QYQQQga eee 8 J I J 4 Hz | 2) 2 VAVAAAA VVNNNANNS fied ey RES z 2 A @& GP GP ap ap ap i al ; © ll HL, of a phrase and the beginning of the next cannot be represented. For Flypergerus these time intervals are only slightly greater than the time intervals between the notes in a phrase (Table z). The result is that to the human ear the male song sounds regular and flowing. The female component that forms the duet is a trill (Figure 2, Table 3) each note of which has a similar frequency/time profile. Generally, there is a slight increase in the trilling rate at the beginning of a duet and it then either remains constant during the rest of the trill or decreases as the trill component ends (Figure 2). Only one recorded sequence of FEminia contained a combination of different song phrases. The rest were made up of repetitions of the same phrase (Figure 3 and Table 4). The time intervals between the song phrases vary from one to four seconds or more and are very much greater (approximately 20 ) than the time intervals between the notes making up each song phrase. They are also longer than the lengths of the song phrases. As a result the male song is of a much different tempo and rhythm than the song of the male Hypergerus. However, the duet component is a trill (Figure 4), and in structure and tempo it is remarkably similar to that of Hypergerus (Table 3). Table 4. The analysis into phrases of the song of two male Eyinia lepida recorded in Kenya by the late Mr. Myles-North. The recordings are not continuous and the breaks are indicated by the vertical bars. The bar over the syllables indicate the occurrence of duetting and the underlined sections have been reproduced as spectograms. T'wo sections indicated ge ib Be ) have not yet been analysed because of background calls from other species. Recording at sigalal [sual Ee lccoc|cgocc|pppppv|ppgov|seseaal Gituru. ae BeEgEEEalFgrrerers|cocgecca Soe |HHBaRHHRHAGHH/ Tarr Section from record "Voice of African ILIQZ JosKEyn| Birds" Recording at Lake Nakuru NNNNNNNNNNNN|PPEPPPP Fig. 4 O 05 1-0 SECONDS OTHER COMPARATIVE DATA In both species the sexes are alike and the juveniles closely resemble the adults, more so in Eminia than Hypergerus. Following Chapin’s key for the genera in the Sylviidae (Chapin 1953: 241) both birds have similar values 93 (0:33 — 0:66) for the ratio of the lengths of the two outermost primaries, they have a similarly shaped bill without a hooked tip, and both have rela- tively long tails. In both species males are larger than females. Details for Flypergerus are given in Table 5. Chapin (1953: 308) gives no details for Table 5. The physical dimensions (in mm) of Hypergerus and Eminia. The number of specimens used are given in brackets after the sex symbol. FLypergerus Source Sex Wing Tail Tarsus Bates (1930) 3 (4) 84-87 94-102 27-30 2 (@) 77-82 83-94 Bannerman (1936) SAUSi) 83-88 91-99 28-30 2 (8) 76-82 81-92 27-28 Eminia Reichenow (1905) ? 65-71 55-65 23-25 Eminia but mentions that males are consistently larger than females. The measurements for Eminia by Reichenow (1905: 615) are included in Table 5 for comparison, but unfortunately he neither includes sample size nor dis- tinguishes between the sexes. Both species breed in the wet season and both are probably double brooded. This is certain for Eminia (Van Someren 1956: 339) but not yet certain for Hypergerus, although the observations of Lang (1969) suggest this. Old nests may be reconditioned and used again in both species. The clutch size is usually two eggs for Eminia, sometimes three. The two — clutches known for Hypergerus had two and three eggs respectively. The eggs of Eminia are either pure white or pale blue or else have in addition some dark purple brown (reddish brown) spots. The two eggs of Alypergerus found by Lang (1969) were pale blue with reddish brown spots and blotches fairly densely distributed at the blunt end and scattered lightly over the rest of the egg. In both species the shape of the eggs is elongated oval; the ratio of length to breadth for Emzinia being in the range of 1.44 to 1.59 and for Flypergerus 1.48 (only one egg measured). The nests of the two species are remarkably alike, both resembling a large untidy sunbird nest and are not unlike those of the eurylaemid Swzthornis capensis (R. K. Brooke 7x /itt.). The nest site and materials used in construction are also similar. The details that follow are taken from Van Someren (1956: 377) for Eminia and from Lang (1969: 127) for Hypergerus. In Eminiathe nest © is an oversized untidy sunbird nest and is suspended from the end of a thin branch, usually overhanging water or a stream bed or else a small open space. The nest has a slight porch and the entrance is on the side near the top. Strips of bark fibre, grass and tendrils and long strands of moss make up the outside structure of the nest but all are loosely interlocked and the whole is so untidy that it looks like a mass of debris caught up on a thorny spray, or a collection of flotsam brought down in a flood and caught up by a over- hanging branch. Finer fibres are used as a lining and a few feathers may be included. In Fypergerus both nests were suspended from a hanging tendril overhang- ing a stream. The side entrance was situated near the top of the nest and there was a slight overhanging porch. Below the chamber of the nest hang an untidy mass of ragged grass ends. One of the nests was made entirely of - fairly broad strips of dry grass which had collected as flotsam. The second — 94 nest had, in addition, a few pieces of dried plant. Both nests had a lining of much finer grass. The other genera in the Sylviidae have in general quite different nests and there appear to be only two species which have nests bearing any resemblance to a sunbird’s. The first is Sy/vetta virens (Chapin 1953: 257, 258) and the second is Apalis pulchra (Chapin 1953: 303). In both cases, however, the materials used are different from those used by Eminia and Hypergerus. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION. Hall and Moreau (1970) describe the basic distributional patterns that may have given rise to past speciation in African passerines. They further des- cribe what they call secondary distributional patterns in order to consider the effect of subsequent climatic changes on these species. Their secondary pattern relevant to the present discussion is one where the isolated species remain so and continue to diverge, even to a level at which they might well be classified as separate genera. Such a taxonomic situation could under- standably arise when two such isolated species, one say in West Africa and the other in East Africa, are collected and described by different people or by a person such as Hartlaub who although he described Eminia was more familiar with West African birds than East African birds. This is especially the case when comparative data are lacking. Hall and Moreau (1970) list five examples in which they believe this type of isolation and divergence have occurred. These involve the Sunlark and allies (Galerida modesta), the Moustached Warbler and allies (Sphenoaecus mentalis), the Black-headed Stream Warbler and allies (Bathmocercus cerviniventris), the Barred Warbler and allies (Cameroptera fasciolata), and the Olive Sunbird and ally (Nectarinia olivacea). Such a situation also seems to apply to Hypergerus and Eminia, first collected and described respectively in 1831 and 1881. It appears that J. P. Chapin is the only person who has had the opportunity of comparing them both in the field. The impression he gained at Lagos, Nigeria, was that Hypergerus resembled an overgrown warbler. Although the beak, wings and tail were much more elongated in Hypergerus than in Eminia Chapin (1953: 309) considered there were many points of similarity but does not list them. The similarities between the breeding behaviour of Hypergerus and Eminia, especially that of the nest site and structure, are much greater than would be expected if they are correctly placed in separate genera. Such similarities are rather to be expected between species placed in the same genus. On this evidence alone, therefore, there is some justification for recommending that _they both be placed in one genus. This would appear even more justified now that it is known that both species duet and that the form of the “‘female” component in the duet is the same in both species. This approach does as- sume that the vocal characteristics being compared remain unchanged. Lanyon (1969) found such evidence for this in the dawn songs of the tyrannid flycatchers he studied but this is not available in the present study as only two species are involved. Nevertheless, it is proposed that Hypergerus atriceps and E:minia lepida be considered congeneric and be placed in the genus. Hypergerus, the senior of the two names. It is also recommended that the vernacular name should be the Oriole Warbler adopted by Mackworth Praed & Grant (1973: 312). SUMMARY Flypergerus atriceps and Eminia lepida are placed in monotypic genera in the warbler family Sylviidae. They are allopatric species, Hypergerus being found 05 in West Africa and Eminia in East Africa. The nest of Hypergerus has recently been described and resembles in every way the nest of Eminia. Their duet structures ate described and compared. Although the “male” contributions ate different the ‘“‘female’”? components of the duet are very much alike. These similarities, taken together with their present-day distributions, sug- gest that they had a common original population whose distribution was split. The isolates then diverged to produce two species so morphologically distinct as to suggest that they should be placed in different genera and even different families. ; On the basis of the similarities in their nest, duet structures and some morphological proportions it is proposed that they be placed in one genus FLypergerus. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I thank Dr. M. Lock, L. Lock and R. K. Brooke for their helpful comments at various stages of the writing of this paper. Also I thank D. W. Lamm for making it possible for me to obtain the recording of Ewinia from Cornell University. References: Bannerman, D. A. 1936. The birds of tropical West Africa. Vol. 4. London: Crown Agents. Bates, G. L. 1930. Handbook of the birds of West Africa. London: Bale & Danielsson Ltd. Chapin, J. P. 1953. The birds of the Belgian Congo. Vol. 3. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 75A. Hall, B. P. & Moreau, R. E. 1970. An atlas of speciation in African passerine birds: London. Lang, J. R. 1969. Nest and eggs of the Moho or Oriole Babbler. Bull. Nig. Orn. Soc. 6: 127-128. Lanyon, W. E. 1967. Revision and probable evolution of the Myarchus flycatchers of the West Indies. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 136: 392-370. — 1969. Vocal characters and avian systematics. In Bird Vocalisations (Edit. R. A. Hinde). Cambridge University Press. Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1973. Birds of West Central and Western Africa. Vol. 2. London: Longmans. North, M. E. W. 1958. Voices of African Birds (Record). Ithaca, New York. Reichenow, A. 1905. Die Vogel Afrikas. J. Neumann, Neudamm. Thorpe, W. H. 1972. Duetting and antiphonal song in birds: its extent and significance. Behaviour Suppl. XVII Leiden: E. J. Brill. Van Someren, V. G. L. 1956. Days with birds: studies of habits of some East African species. Chicago: Natural History Museum Press. White, C. M. N. 1960. A check list of the Ethiopian Muscicapidae (Sylviinae). Part 3. Occasional papers of the National Museums of Southern Rhodesia. 26B: 695-738. Status of the Great Shearwater in Trinidad, West Indies by Charles T. Collins & Elisha S. Tikasingh Received 1 oth January, 1974 The Great Shearwater Pufinus gravis was first recorded for the island of Trinidad by ffrench & ffrench (1965) on the basis of the skull of a bird found dead on an east coast beach in July 1960. Since this skull could not be found at the time of a review of the shearwater records for Trinidad and Tobago (Collins 1969) it was felt that some caution should be exercised in including the Great Shearwater in the avifauna of Trinidad until more conclusive specimen material had been obtained. The preservation of five specimens of this species obtained during June 1971 and 1972 now fully confirms the occurrence of the Great Shearwater in Trinidad waters. The details are as follows. 96 On to June 1971, an employee of the Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory noticed a large number of dead and dying sea birds on Manzanilla Beach on the east coast of Trinidad. Unfortunately these were not reported until 18 June at which time the junior author went to the scene and obtained two birds. One of them was already dead and infested with maggots, while the second, although badly weakened, was still alive. These birds were later identified by the senior author as Great Shearwaters and subsequently prepared as museum specimens, now housed in the collections of the Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory (TRVL 15891) and the American Museum of Natural History, New York (AMNH 804303; formerly TRVL 15892). At the time these specimens were obtained on 18 June, a rough estimate of forty additional dead and decomposing shearwaters, presumably all Great Shearwaters, were observed by the junior author on Manzanilla Beach. During June 1972, three additional specimens of Great Shearwaters were obtained from Trinidad beaches. Single dead or dying birds were picked up on Matura Beach on 1 June by P. R. Bacon and on 10 June by G. Gibbs. The third bird, found on Matura Beach by Bacon on 12 June, was alive but unable to fly. These birds were later skinned by Bacon and R. ffrench and sent to the senior author for final preparation. Of the three, one specimen (CTC 974) has been presented to the collections of the British Museum (Natural History) (1974.2.1) and the remaining two (CTC 975 and 976) have been added to the collections of the Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory and the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH 810475). Dead and dying Great Shearwaters were also noted on Matura Beach on 10, 15 and 25 June 1973. Two specimens are preserved in the collections of the University of the West Indies, St. Agustine, Trinidad (P. R. Bacon in litt.). The five specimens from 1971 and 1972 (four males, one female) were in fresh, nearly unworn, plumage showing no signs of moult of body or flight . feathers. All showed a reduced amount of white on the rump and a larger brownish patch on the belly as compared with the large AMNH series. The reduced rump patch is due to the upper tail coverts being strongly mottled with brownish grey and having the white confined to the terminal edges. Adult Great Shearwaters leave the breeding colonies in the South Atlantic during early April (Rowan 1952) and “‘winter” in the North Atlantic during which time (July-August) the annual moult of flight feathers begins (Palmer 1962). On the annual northward flight post-breeding adults would be in a recognisably worn plumage. Even on the breeding grounds the adults are so worn as to appear paler than the fresh plumaged young (Rowan 1952: 110). Thus it seems reasonable to assume that the fresh plumaged birds recovered in Trinidad in June are all young of the year which had only recently left the breeding grounds. No mention has been made by previous authors of the reduced white on the rump of juveniles although it has been suggested (Bannerman 1959) that the belly patch is more prominent in juveniles than in adults. Further observations made on the breeding grounds are needed to confirm these plumage differences. As noted earlier (Collins 1969) the appearance of the Great Shearwater in - Trinidad waters is not unexpected in that there seems to be a regular north- ward movement of this species in the western Atlantic and eastern Caribbean (Voous & Wattel 1963; Metcalf 1966; Rowan 1952; Hawkins 1963). More recently (19 June 1971) a specimen of this shearwater was obtained further Oi7 to the west in the vicinity of Isla Carenero, Islas Los Roques, Venezuela (Phelps 1972). Since only juveniles have been obtained in Trinidad to date it suggests a separate migratory route for adults and juveniles as has been previously noted for the Manx Shearwater Pufinus pufiinus (Post 1967). However, further observations are needed to exclude the possibility that the adults which leave the breeding grounds (early April) one or two months before the young (mid-May to early June) (Rowan 1952) pass through this area at an earlier date. Mallophagan ectoparasites were abundant on all specimens and ticks were noted in the ear passages of several. The lice from the two 1971 specimens were identified by Theresa Clay as Halipeurus gravis Timmermann 1961, Trabeculus hexacon sens. lat. (Waterston 1914) both of the family Philopteridae and Austromenopon paululun (Kellog & Chapman 1899) of the family Meno- ponidae. A single female specimen of a species of Saemundssonia was also collected from one bird. The ectoparasites from the later specimens have not yet been identified. Mass mortalities, particularly of juveniles, similar to that noted on Man- zanilla Beach in June 1971, have been previously recorded for this and other species of shearwaters. The most recent account is that of Watson (1970) documenting the death of hundreds of mainly juvenile Great Shearwaters along the east coast of the United States in early June 1969. The causes of juvenile mortality are unknown although storms at sea, bacterial or viral infections, and the effects of accumulations of organochlorines have all been suggested. None of these effects could be implicated as the cause of the deaths recorded by Watson (1970). Similarly, only low levels of polychlorinated biphenyls were recorded in two of the Great Shearwaters recovered in Trinidad in 1972 (Bourne & Bogan 1972) and no arbovirus was isolated from a single bird tested in 1971. The ticks recovered from these birds were not tested for arboviruses. It should be noted that two of the males obtained in 1972 weighed 385 and 447 g or 44 to 51 percent of the average weight of adult males (Hagen 1952, in Palmer 1962). The birds reported by Watson also thin, devoid of fat, and were only about 60 percent of normal adult breeding weight. Such low weights are probably associated with the cause of death rather than age as young shearwaters outweigh adults as nestlings. The actual cause of death however remains a mystery. The senior author’s field work in Trinidad was supported by grants from the Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund of the American Museum of Natural History. Manuscript preparation was aided by a summer faculty fellowship from the California State University, Long Beach, Foundation. We are grateful to P. Bacon, R. ffrench and G. Gibbs for contributing the 1972 specimens and their field notes to om study, and to Theresa Clay for identi- fying the Mallophaga. References: Bannerman, D. A. 1959. The birds of the British Isles 8. London: Oliver & Boyd. Bourne, W. R. P. & Bogan, J. A. 1972. Polychlorinated biphenyls in North Atlantic seabirds. Marine Pollution Bull. 3: 171-175. Collins, C. T. 1969. A review of the shearwater records for Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. /bis 111: 251-253. ffrench R. P. & ffrench, M. 1966. Recent records of birds in Trinidad and Tobago. Wi/son Bull. 78: 5-11. | Hawkins, R. S. 1964. Northward passage of Great Shearwaters in the North Atlantic in May 1963. Sea Swallow 16: 64-65. Metcalf, W. G. 1966. Observations of migrating Great Shearwaters Puffinus gravis off the Brazilian coast. [bis 108: 138-140. 98 Murphy, R. C. 1936. Oceanic Birds of South America. New York: Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. Palmer, R. S. (ed.) 1962. Handbook of North American Birds 1. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press. Phelps, W. H. Jr. 1972. Adiciones a las listas de aves de Sur America, Brasil y Venezuela y notas sobre aves Venezolanas. Bo/. Soc. Venez. Cienc. Nat. 30: 23-40. Post, P. R. 1967. Manx, Audubon’s and Little Shearwaters in the northwestern North Atlantic. Bird-Banding 38: 278-305. Rowan, M. K. 1952. The Greater Shearwater Pufinus gravis at its breeding grounds. /bis 94: 97-121. Voous, K. H. & Wattel, J. 1963. Distribution and migration of the Greater Shearwater. Ardea §1: 143-157. Watson, G. E. 1970. A shearwater mortality on the Atlantic coast. Atlantic Nat. 25: 75-80. Butastur and Buteo east of Wallace’s Line by C. M.N. White Received 31st May, 1974 Brown & Amadon (1968, Eagles, Hawks and Falcons of the World: 540) give the range of the Rufous-winged Buzzard Eagle Busastur liventer as extending east of Wallace’s Line in Indonesia to Celebes, Banggai and Sula Islands. This requires amendment. All the evidence indicates that this species is or was common in the south west peninsula of Celebes north to its base at Oeroe and Palopo (there are eight skins in the Zoological Museum, Bogor, the most recent dated 7 November 1912, according to Lord Medway /n /itt.), but it is not recorded elsewhere in the island. On failing to trace any published records from Banggai and Sula, I asked Dr. Amadon why these islands were included in the range. He informed me that the source was a manuscript prepared by the late Dr. E. Stresemann in anticipation of a new edition of the first volume of Peters’ Check List of Birds of the World, and that he did not know the basis of Stresemann’s statement. Stresemann set out the range of B. liventer in 1940 (Journ. Ornith.: 477) but does not include these localities. Nor does van Bemmel include the species in his list of birds of the Moluccas (1948, Zreubia, 19: 323-402) which covers Sula but not Banggai. It seems certain that the locality Banggai must be an error, for Dr. S. Eck of the Staatliches Museum ftir Tierkunde, Dresden, who is shortly to publish a list of the birds of Peleng and Banggai, has kindly informed me that he knows of no record of B. /iventer from these islands. There are no specimens from Sula in the American Museum of Natural History, New York (Mrs. M. LeCroy in itt.) nor in the Leiden Museum (Dr. G. F. Mees in //#.). J. J. Menden collected at Taliaboe in 1938, but his collection, now at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard, does not include this species (Dr. R. A. Paynter 7x /itt.). Unless this note elicits new information Sula should therefore also be deleted from the range. Mentioned by Stresemann (1940) but not by Brown & Amadon (1968) is a record from Timor of a specimen of B. /venter obtained by S. Miller some- time between 1826 and 1837. It is an old mounted bird in the Leiden Museum and was listed by Schlegel (1862, Mus. Pays Bas, 2, mon. 6, Buteones: 21-22) and mentioned by Meyer & Wigglesworth (1898, Birds of Celebes: 49-51). There is no record otherwise from either Timor or any other of the Lesser Sunda Islands of any Butastur. As Millet collected in south west Celebes and actually obtained B. /iventer there, there is a possibility of an error in labelling to account for the Timor record, but Dr. Mees informs me that Miiller’s localities are usually reliable. Hellmayr (1914, Die Avifauna von Timor) and 99 Mayr (1944, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 83, art. 2) both ignore the Timor record. As B. /iventer has a peculiarly fragmented distribution, the old record from Timor should not be lost sight of although it needs confirmation. The Timor record seems inadvertently to have been the basis of citing that island in the winter range of the Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle, B. indicus, by Vaurie (1965, The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna—Non Passeriformes: 180). This species winters in islands east of Wallace’s Line but only in the north (Talaut, Sangihe, Siao, north Celebes, Morotai, Halmahera, Ternate and Western Papuan Islands). The Steppe Buzzard, Buteo buteo vulpinus, has once been reported from north Celebes, for Meyer & Wiglesworth (1898: 51) under the name B. desertorum state that there is a specimen in the Leiden Museum so labelled and collected by von Faber in 1883. Stresemann in listing the migrants recorded from Celebes (1941, Journ. Ornith.: 69- 100) ignores the record, either through over- looking it or because he thought it unreliable. Von Faber did collect in northern Celebes and Mees (1971, Z00/. Meded., 45: 228) has reported speci- mens of B. b. vulpinus in the Leiden Museum from Perak, Malaya and from Java, so that a record from Celebes is not impossible. But Dr. Mees kindly informs me that there is no such specimen from Celebes in the Leiden Museum nor do the records provide any evidence that there ever was one. The statement by Meyer & Wiglesworth cannot be accepted. The classification of Tristram’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma tristrami Salvin by W. BR. P. Bourne Received 16th April, 1974 While Wagstaffe (1972) performed a useful service in locating and confirming the identity of the type of Oceanodroma tristrami, it should perhaps be pointed out that he seems to have overlooked a review of this form and its allies by Austin (1952). The latter points out that it is a member of a group of four very similar large, dark, fork-tailed storm-petrels which replace each other in different parts of the Pacific, in which the two occurring over warm water have generally brownish plumage and the two occurring over cooler water are bluer. He considers that since each shows some distinct character they should all be treated as distinct species, including in addition to Tristram’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma tristrami (pale wing bar, north-west Pacific), Matsudaira’s Storm-petrel O. matsudairae (pale primary shafts, west tropical Pacific), the Black Storm-petrel O. ~e/ania (long tarsus, east tropical Pacific) and Markham’s Storm-petrel O. markhami (short tarsus, south-east Pacific). I have also suggested (in Palmer, 1962) that the extinct large white-rumped Guadalupe Storm-petrel Oceanodroma macrodactyla of the north-east Pacific may also have belonged to the same group, showing a greater development of the tendency to paleness of the rump also seen in O. ¢ristrami, although of course like other members of the group it could well have evolved inde- pendantly from the main body of smaller storm-petrels. References: Austin, O. L., Jr. 1952. Notes on some petrels of the North Pacific. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard 107: 390-407. Palmer, R. S. 1962. a i of ‘North American Birds, Vol. 1, Loons through Flamingoes. Yale University Press, New Haven and London. Wagstaffe, R. 1972. The status of Oceandroma tristrami Salvin. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 92: 27-28. 100 Rufous-bellied Heron in Kenya by Laurence C. Binford & Dale A. Zimmerman Received 3rd April, 1974 On 15th October 1973, we observed and photographed a Rufous-bellied Heron Butorides rufiventris (formerly Erythrocnus; see Smithers e¢ a/. 1958) at the edge of Loginya Swamp in the Amboseli Masai Game Reserve, approxi- mately 2-5 km southeast of the new Amboseli Lodge along the Ol Tukai- Kilaguni road. Colour transparencies (on file in the National Museum, Nairobi) were obtained with a 450 mm lens and also through a tripod- mounted, x 20 telescope. Although of rather poor quality, these photographs are Clearly representative of the species. Despite the misleading map in Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1952), B. rufiventris apparently has not heretofore been reported from Kenya. Williams (1964) and Forbes-Watson (1971) include only Uganda and Tanzania within its East African range. The heron was feeding in shallow water between 70 and 80 metres from the road, and we observed it for some thirty minutes with the telescope and with 8 x 5oand8 x 4o binoculars. Twice during this period it flew for very short distances, settling again into the shallow water. Feeding nearby were Squacco Herons Ardeola ralloides, Black-winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus, Long-toed Lapwings Hemiparra crassirostris, several sandpiper species, and some Yellow Wagtails Motacilla flava. The Rufous-bellied Heron appeared to be slightly smaller than a Squacco Heron and larger, stockier, thicker-necked, and heavier-billed than a Green- backed Heron Buforides striatus. Its outline was unique and readily distin- guishable from that of the commoner heron species. The crown and sides of the head were recorded by us as medium bluish-grey, merging to darker _ slate-grey on the neck and upper back. The lower back was dark brownish- grey. The throat and a continuing short streak down the upper neck were whitish. The tail, upper tail covers, belly, and at least part of the crissum were conspicuously rufous, the tail colour showing especially well in flight. There was considerable rufous on the wings as well. Soft part colours in this species vary. Jackson (1938) wrote of the adult, “Tris bright yellow, bare skin round the eye yellow; bill black, basal half yellowish-white; feet dusky yellow”. Chapin (1932) recorded a female with “... orbit greenish yellow; beak black above, changing to greenish yellow on the lower part; feet lemon yellow”. Our bird exhibited the following colours: a narrow line (presumably bare skin) around the top and rear of the eye white; bare lores pale yellowish-white; irides pale yellow; bill blackish with basal two-thirds of the lower mandible dusky orange-yellow; feet bright orange-yellow. After leaving the site of this observation and motoring a few hundred metres along the marsh edge, we encountered Mr. W. G. Harvey, who showed Zimmerman a second Rufous-bellied Heron. It was similarly plumaged to the one described above but possessed a more obviously streaked foreneck and perhaps a slightly paler dorsum. B. rufiventris appears to be uncommon or rare everywhere in East Africa, where the majority of records are from Lake Victoria. The Amboseli Masai area, with its marshy expanses, would seem a logical place for wandering or migrating individuals to occur. Possibly they have been overlooked heretofore. IOLl References : Chapin, J. P. 1932. The birds of the Belgian Congo Part I. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 65: 756 pp. Paice Wacoh: A. D. 1971. Skeleton checklist of East African birds. Nairobi: Nat. Mus. (cyclostyled). Jackson, F. C. 1938. The birds of Kenya Colony and the Uganda Protectorate 1. London: Gurney & Jackson. Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1952. African handbook of birds. Series 1, Vol. 1. London: Longmans. Smithers, R. H. N. e¢. a/. 1958. Second report of the S.A.O.S. list committee. Ostrich 29: 23-46. Williams, J. G. 1964. A field guide to the birds of East and Central Africa. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Geographical variation in iris colour in the bulbul Axdropadus milanjensis by RB. J. Dowsett Received 15th February, 1974 The Stripe-cheeked Bulbul Andropadus milanjensis (Shelley) i isa: species of the montane forests of eastern Africa. It is apparently. most closely related to Alndropadus tephrolaemus (Gray), but in the few localities where the two are geographically sympatric wilanjensis occurs at a lower altitude than seph- rolaemus (C. W. Benson 7m /itt.). Moreover milanjensis may make some seasonal movements to lower levels still. In August Benson (1937) found it numerous in riparian scrub at 1,370 min the Misuku Hills in northern Malawi, but not at all in the larger areas of forest at 1,830 m. Yet in October I found this species in breeding condition and common in the Misuku forests at 1,830 m and above. Specimens from Mlanje in southern Malawi were collected by Benson (7 /itt.) from July to September from as low as 760 to 1,220 m. A. tephrolaemus is less confined to the forest interior than is wz/anjensis, although | the latter is at times found in very thin riparian growth. A. sfephrolaemus is | often on the edge of high altitude forest, even in isolated trees in adjacent grassland. The relationship between these two species is discussed by Hall & Moreau (1970). Three subspecies of A. milanjensis are recognised by White (1962), and in addition Clancey (1969) has described disjunctus from eastern Rhodesia and adjacent Mocambique. Most of the Tanganyika-Nyasa montane group is occupied by o/vaceiceps (Shelley) (type locality: Chiradzulu, southern Malawi). This race ranges from Cholo in southern Malawi east of the Shire rift, north- westwards to the Rungwe area of south-western Tanzania. It is replaced by striifacies (Reichenow & Neumann) (type locality: Marangu in north-eastern Tanzania) from the Iringa area, northwards. Within its range o/ivaceiceps is local in distribution, being absent from several montane forests for no known reason (see Benson 1953). In north-central Malawi, between Nchisi and the eastern escarpment of the Nyika Plateau, there is but one record, a specimen collected at Mwanjati on the southern Vipya Plateau (Benson 1951). Although Benson (1953) did not indicate it, he (zw /tt.) believes the species to be absent from the Vipya (see also Benson 1941, /bis (14)5: 55—Ed.), which he knows well, except in the extreme south. It is apparently absent from Dedza, Chongoni and Dzalanyama in central Malawi, although present on the equally small Chirobwe Mountain (Benson zb7d). 102 - Within the subspecies o/vaceiceps the colour of the iris of adults appears to be either yellowish (pale) or reddish (dark). Adults collected from Cholo in southern Malawi north to Nchisi in central Malawi all have irides described by the collectors as a shade of yellow or yellowish-white. On the other hand adults from the Nyika Plateau and Misuku Hills in northern Malawi all have irides.a.shade of umber or chestnut. The Table summarises the iris colour TABLE Iris colour in adult Andropadus milanjensis olivaceiceps Area Colour Sample Misuku Hills pale salmon, brick 59d, I? Nyika Plateau pale reddish brown Ig Nchisi Mt. yellowish, pale yellow Ig, 19 Chirobwe Mt. pale yellow 12 Mangochi Mt. yellowish-white, pale yellow 10g, 12 Zomba Plateau pale yellow £2 Chiradzulu Mt. pale yellow Id Soche Mt. pale yellow Id Cholo Mt. naples yellow, yellowish brown 233 recorded for adult specimens in the British Museum at Tring (kindly examined for me by C. W. Benson) and of recent specimens collected by me for the Livingstone Museum in Zambia. It will be seen that the differences demonstrated cannot be sexual; neither can they be seasonal, as shown by series collected by me in October from Mangochi Mountain (10, yellow itides) and the Misuku Hills (5, near brown irides). Specimens from northern Mocambique (Namuli Mountain) and eastern Rhodesia (Chirinda, Mt Selinda) have brownish irides. Both populations are attached to the nominate race by White (1962), but the Rhodesian birds are what Clancey (1969) has called disjunctus. More than 30 disjunctus collected by Mr. P. A. Clancey all had umber brown irides (R. K. Brooke 7” /#7.). The iris colour of the type specimen of A. milanjensis from Mlanje was not recorded by the collector, but two adults and a juvenile from the same area, collected by Benson, have irides pale grey. S¢riifacies from the following localities also have the iris recorded as grey on the labels of specimens in the British Museum: Chyulu Hills, south-eastern Kenya; Moshi, Kilimanjaro; Monduli Mt., northern Tanzania. On the other hand one specimen from this last locality has the iris labelled “brown”, and one from Kilomeni in the North Pare Mts. as “yellow”. Hall & Moreau (1970) refer to northern birds as having yellow or pale eyes. Unfortunately further specimens labelled with iris colour are not available, and the situation in the northern populations (i.e. striifacies and olivaceiceps north of the Misuku Hills) requires further investigation. Juvenile birds from eastern Rhodesia (Vumba 1) and northern Malawi (Mwanjati, southern Vipya 1; Nyika 1) have irides respectively greyish-brown, brownish-yellow and pale grey-brown. The iris colour of adults at Mwanjati on the southern Vipya is not known, but this area 1s between the known extremes of brown (Nyika) and yellow (Nchis1). There are no apparent differences in plumage colours between these two groups of o/ivaceiceps. There may be a difference in average size, as suggested by the following weights and measurements of my own Mangochi and Misuku samples, but further data are required to confirm this :— n Wing (mm) Tail (mm) Weight (g) Misuku Hills 4 97-100 (99-0) 92-94 (93-0) 40°9-46°5 (44:0) Mangochi Mt. 7 95-101 (97-7) —- 85-92 (893) 37°0-43°5 (40°0) 103 These data are of adult males only, all of which had enlarged testes. The existence of two, apparently consistent, iris colour groups within the subspecies o/ivaceiceps suggests that these populations are genetically different. Although these differences cannot be noticed in preserved skins they are likely to have an important biological basis. A specimen from the type locality of o/ivaceiceps (Chiradzulu) has yellowish irides, and therefore the northern populations of brown-eyed birds may need to be recognised as subspecifically distinct. But I do not intend at this stage to present a new subspecific name. Clearly a detailed study of iris colour throughout the range of A. milanjensis will be —— to determine the significance of the ob- served differences. Although the Shire rift in southern Malawi restricts the distribution of several montane birds, to the extent that Dowsett (1971) has separated the mountains east of the rift into a South-eastern montane group, this is not the boundary between the two populations of o/ivaceiceps. However, the apparent gap between the two groups occurs at another natural geological break: Nchisi Mt. (13°25’S.) and the southern Vipya Plateau (12°40’S.) are separated by some 110 km of low country, mostly below 910 m altitude. In particular the valleys of the Bua and Dwangwa Rivers are likely to have formed effective barriers to montane bird dispersal for a long period in recent time. Acknowledgements: | am most grateful to C. W. Benson for examining specimens at the British Museum, Tring, on my behalf, and to the staff there for their usual kind co-operation. My thanks go to R. K. Brooke, P. A. Clancey and M. P. Stuart Irwin for useful comments on this problem. References: Benson, C. W. 1937. Miscellaneous notes on Nyasaland birds. /bis (14)1: 551-582. — 1951. Breeding and other notes from Nyasaland and the Lundazi District of Northern Rhodesia. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harv. 106: 69-114. — 1953. A check list of the birds of Nyasaland. Bianeae & Lusaka: Joint Publications Bureau. Clancey, P. A. 1969. Miscellaneous taxonomic notes on African birds, 27. Durban Mus. Novit. 8 (15): 227-274. Dowsett, R. J. 1971. The avifauna of the Makutu Plateau, Zambia. Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 84 (3/4): 312-333. Gee ie i ee Hall, B. P. & Moreau, R. E. 1970. An atlas of speciation in African passerine birds. London: Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.). White, C. M.N. 1962. A revised check list of African shrikes, orioles, drongos etc. Lusaka: Govt. Printer. The status of the cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus and Phalacrocorax carbo patricki by Emil K. Urban & T. G. Jefford Received 11th February, 1974 Cormorants are common along the Kazinga Channel in Uganda’s Ruwen- zori National Park. Some adults there have black underparts except for white which extends from the cheeks and throat along the entire front of the neck to the upper breast; this description corresponds to that of P. c. /ucidus (Lichtenstein), the White-necked Cormorant of sub-Saharan Africa. Also occurring along the Kazinga Channel are individuals of P. carbo which have . the white restricted to the throat while the neck and upper breast are black 104 and still others whose feathered parts are wholly black. Black-necked individuals with white throats resembling P. ¢. sinensis (Shaw) were de- scribed by Williams (1966) as a distinct subspecies of carbo, P. c. patricki. He suggested that the white-necked form of sub-Saharan Africa should therefore be known as “‘Phalacrocorax /ucidus lugubris Rippell, not P. carbo /ugubris” (=P. c. lucidus in White 1965). Williams’s observations therefore indicate that in the Kazinga Channel there are two distinct sympatric species of large cormorants—one with a white neck, the other with a black neck. Our observations, however, show that there are intermediates of all types between the forms described by Williams as patricki and /ugubris; some of these forms are depicted in Figure 1 and numbers of birds assigned to four categories based on the extent of white plumage from the head towards the belly are given in Table 1. A B C C D \ohey Figure 1. Several cormorants drawn from 35 mm slides taken at Kazinga Channel, show- ing variation in throat and neck plumage from all black to white extending from throat along neck onto upper breast. Individuals A, B, C & D are referred to in Table 1. TABLE I Counts of the plumage types of cormorants from the Kazinga Channel, Uganda. Birds with black bellies were assigned to the appropriate categories, with the results given in this table. Representatives of these categories are shown in Figure 1. Birds with white bellies are immature, and were not included. Category: A, no white on throat and neck; B, throat and less than } neck white; C, throat and $ to all neck white; and D, white extending be- yond neck onto upper breast. Category A B G D Number of individuals 27 29 45 18 % of total counted 22-7 24°4 37°8 Lgl Williams’s assignation of the black-necked birds to P. c. patrick? and the white-necked birds to P. /ucidus lugubris was made because he saw no cor- morants with intermediate plumages and because the black-necked birds which he collected were in breeding condition. It would be reasonable to assume therefore that the pafricki birds breed with one another, rather than with /ucidus birds. However, M. P. L. Fogden (pers. comm.) has since observed that at a nesting colony at Lake Murabyo (0°05’S, 30°o2’E) within 105 the Maramagambo Forest in the Ruwenzori National Park, the black-necked and white-necked birds pair without any apparent regard to the amount of white on the neck of the partner. Cormorants with various amounts of black and white plumage on the neck have been reported from other parts of eastern Africa. Chapin (1932) reported that some specimens of P. carbo from eastern Zaire and Lake Victoria (Bukoba, Tanzania) have white more restricted to the upper fore- neck than does typical /uczdus. Reichenow (1892a, 1892b) described a specimen from Bukoba as P. gutturalis, now synonymous with P. carbo (Sharpe & — Ogilvie-Grant 1898; Peters 1931), whose neck colour is white mixed with black which extends only to the black upper breast. On 31 July 1970 we saw a nesting adult at Lake Abiata, Ethiopia, whose throat, cheeks and upper third of the neck were white while the lower two-thirds of the neck were black flecked with a few white spots. A. Kortlandt (pers. comm.) has seen P. carbo at a breeding colony near Bukavu on Lake Kivu (Zaire) with neck colours . either black or white. Lippens (1938) reported P. carbo at Lake Edward (now Idi Amin Dada) in Zaire, with neck colours varying from all white to all black, with white in the latter restricted to the throat. At Ishango, where the Semliki River drains from Lake Edward, both black-necked and white- necked forms are present, pus the former are in a pronounced majority (K. Curry-Lindahl pers. comm.; see also Curry-Lindahl 1961: 146-149). Thus, the cheek, throat ha neck plumage of P. carbo in parts of eastern Africa may vary from individual to individual, ranging from all black to all white. Apart from the estimate given in Table 1, we are not aware of any figures from which the proportions of the various forms in different popula- tions can be estimated nor if proportions within the populations are in equilibrium or are changing. However, it may be stated that the black- necked form is centred in western Uganda and eastern Zaire, although the white-necked form always seems to be present as well, and that the amount of black in forms with black and white becomes progressively less the farther individuals are found from this part of Africa. We suggest that the black/white-necked cormorants in eastern Africa represent variations in plumage within a single species, P. carbo (lucidus), and not two species, P. /ucidus (Jugubris) and P. carbo (patricki), as proposed by Williams (1966). We do so because of the following reasons: (1) we know of no evidence of any “pure” breeding populations of patricki; (2) where black-necked and white-necked forms occur together, there is a whole series of variants from those with all black necks through various inter- mediate stages to all white necks; (3) in entirely white-necked forms, even when there are no black-necked forms present, there is variation in the amount of white which extends toward the black belly; (4) rare individuals with partly black necks occur in breeding populations of P. carbo /ucidus as far away as Ethiopia; and (5) variation in plumage within a species is not uncommon in the genus Phalacrocorax. For example, in New Zealand Phalacrocorax melanoleucos (Vieillot)! has mixed forms at the breeding colony, varying from birds with a black under surface to those with a white one (Oliver 1955). A similar situation occurs in P. carunculatus chalconotus (G. R. Gray)! in that breeding populations in New Zealand and associated islands have “two distinct colour phases’ (Oliver 1955). The variation in plumage of the New Zealand and the eastern African cormorants indicates that at times it is no simple matter to separate species within the genus Pha/acrocorax. 1 See footnote at end of text. 106 The nature of the selective pressures which might establish and affect these variants in eastern African cormorants is obscure. Interesting questions arise. For example, a variety of birds which prey on aquatic animals, e.g. fulmars, boobies, herons, egrets and skuas, exhibit light and dark phases; the main- tenance of these different forms has been ascribed to different efficiency in different feeding situations (Simmons 1972). Is this also a factor in the case of black/white-necked cormorants of eastern Africa? Also, why are the black- necked forms concentrated largely in western Uganda and eastern Zaire? Is this darker stock a relic of colder, wetter periods in the past when carbo in Africa may have been like the black-necked populations of carbo in the Palearctic of today? Furthermore, why do most carbo in sub-Saharan Africa today have white necks? Did possession of white plumage on the neck evolve largely as an advantageous response to heat stress at the nesting colonies as our studies in Ethiopia suggest (Jeflord & Urban in prep.)? It is clear that the resolution of these questions requires much more detailed data on the distribution of the various forms and on their juvenile and breeding plumages, and the correlation of these data with environmental factors and the biology of the birds. It seems equally clear to us that based on such information as is now available, there is no justification for removing /ucidus from the species P. carbo nor for describing the black-necked form as the subspecies patricki. We acknowledge with thanks the financial support of African Wildlife Leadership Foundation, Haile Sellassie I University, National Geographic Society and University of Miami’s Department of Biology and Maytag Chair of Ornithology. We are most grateful to the Chapman Fund of the American Museum of Natural History for financial support which enabled the second author to observe cormorants in the Kazinga Channel and sur- rounding areas, to the National Research Council of Uganda for permission to do so, and to Dr. S. K. Eltringham, Dr. D. E. Pomeroy, and many mem- bers of the Uganda National Parks for much assistance in Uganda. 1 We follow Peters’s (1931) specific and subspecific classification in which the species melanoleucos is divided into two subspecies, me/anoleucos melanoleucos and melanoleucos brevirostris (Gould). Oliver (1955) however lists me/anoleucos and brevirostris as separate species or in his words ‘semispecies’. Also he separates Peters’s (1931) P. carunculatus chalconotus into two forms or ‘semispecies’, P. huttoni and P. chalconotus. References: Chapin, J. P. 1932. The birds of the Belgian Congo. Part I. Bu//. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 65:75 ; Se linaehh: K. 1961. Contribution a l’etude des vertebres terrestres en Afrique tropicale. Exploration du Parc National Albert et du Parc National de la Kagera. Fasc. 1. Inst. Parcs Nat. du Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi. Lippens, L. 1938. Les oiseaux aquatiques du Kivu. Le Gerfaut 28: 1-196. Oliver, W. R. B. 1955. New Zealand birds, 2nd ed. Wellington, N.Z.: A. H. & A. W. Reed. Peters, J. L. 1931. Check-list of birds of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. Reichenow, A. 1892a. Zur Vogelfauna des Victoria Njansa. Journ. Ornith. 40: 1-Go. — 1892b. Bericht tiber die Dezember-Sitzung. Journ. Ornith. 40: 129-134 Sharpe, R. B. & Ogilvie-Grant, W. R. 1898. Catalogue of the birds in the British Museum 26. London: Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist. ). Simmons, K. E. L. 1972. Some adaptive features of seabird plumage types. Brit. Birds 65: 465-479, 510-521. White, C. M. N. 1965. A revised check list of African non-passerine birds. Lusaka: Govern- ment Printer. Williams, J. G. 1966. A new cormorant from Uganda. Bw//. Brit. Orn. Cl. 86: 48-50. 107 Relative Biomass of Ethiopian and Palaearctic Passerines in West Kenya Habitats by Peter L. Britton Received 4th February, 1974 The problem of the accommodation in Africa of vast numbers of sibeines from the Palearctic region has attracted considerable attention during the last two decades, mainly through work and stimulus of the late R. E. Moreau. The various carefully considered estimates given by Moreau (1972) for the total mean number of migrants supported by sub-Saharan Africa range from 1600 millions to 3750 millions. Impressive though these figures are, they represent only one or two birds per hectare in the approximately 20 million km? involved, assuming a uniform distribution throughout the reception area. It is now well known that African evergreen forest (except the edges) and montane areas are mainly avoided by migrants, so that favoured habitats would be expected to contain a far greater density; and the geographical distribution of migrants in Africa is far from uniform, with the northern tropics receiving far more species than areas further south. Pearson (1972) found as many as 75 wintering Palearctic passerines per hectare in lake side vegetation near Kampala, southern Uganda, but as few as 2 — 5 birds per hectare in cultivated bush away from the lake. Morel (1968) estimated only one or two wintering Palearctic passerines per hectare in Senegal thornbush. Moreau (1972) has shown that about 20 per cent of the African non-forest avifauna consists of immigrant species. Bearing in mind that there are virtually no granivorous species involved in the immigrant avifauna, the figure is increased, for example to 26 per cent of the non-granivorous, non- forest avifauna in the northern tropics. The data in Morel (1968), for Senegal, yield a still higher figure, with 35 per cent of all species in his study area of Palaearctic origin. Such an analysis by species is far from satisfactory in assessing the impact of the immigrant avifauna, and Moreau had to admit that “‘of the comparative numbers of individuals we know nothing’. And referring to the figure of 26 per cent above: “with no knowledge of the number of individuals involved it would of course not be justifiable to conclude that in this part of Africa one quarter of the food available other than grain is diverted to the migrants”’. As residents of western Kenya from September 1968 to December 1972, my wife and I netted and ringed large numbers of birds in various west Kenya habitats. Some of these data permit valid estimates to be made of the relative numbers of Ethiopian and Palaearctic passerines. Data from netting are preferred to visual counts, since estimates are more objective and avoid the conspicuousness factor. Naturally, some species avoid capture more readily than others, and species which normally forage more than about 3 m from the ground are seldom captured. In forest habitats it is evident that only forest undergrowth birds are sampled using this technique, but this is not a serious problem in the other habitats discussed, there being comparatively little vegetation above net height. A large number of Palaearctic passerines are ringed annually in East Africa, but most are captured in such a way that no useful comparisons with Ethiopian species can be made. In the main, sites known to be especially prolific in migrant species at a particular time are worked, but there is virtually no netting between May and August. For valid comparisons there must be no such Palaearctic bias. Between September 1971 and November 1972, a census was conducted in 108 four habitats in Siaya District, Central Nyanza, mainly using mist-nets, but also counting birds present in the study plot. One visit a month over the fifteen-month period was made to each plot. The same nets were set in the same sites within each plot on each visit, and were set for the first four hours of daylight each time. All mornings were calm, and dry so that any variation in totals captured as a result of varying weather conditions was minimal. With nets set only once in a month, net shyness did not apparently reduce totals (see Table 1). Three of the plots were one hectare in size, but the more open acacia area was two hectares. The quantity of netting used in each area was the same (300ft., ca.gom). Table 1 shows monthly passerine captures; Table 2 shows the totals of species recorded during the study period, visually or otherwise; Table 3 shows passerine captures in October-Novem- ber, when Palaearctic migrants were on southward passage; and Table 4 shows winter data, for December—January only, including data from forest areas (see below). Granivorous species (taken to include all Fringillidae, Estrildidae, Ploceidae) are excluded from Tables 3 and 4. Biomass data are based on individual weights of all birds caught, recorded on Pesola spring balances. Drawing on the census results two longer papers are in preparation on detailed aspects of the papyrus and savanna avifaunas. It is evident from Tables 1—4 that, of the four habitats worked, the thicket and acacia habitats are the most important for Palaearctic migrants. But even here, counts or estimates of Palaearctic passerines per hectare, aerial feeders excluded, never exceeded 30 birds at times of passage, 15 birds in winter. Large stands of Cyperus papryrus form a remarkably homogenous habitat with a highly specialized resident avifauna and an extremely low avian species diversity index (Britton in prep.). Palaearctic species feed along the edges but hardly penetrate the interior. The six birds netted in papyrus in December 1971 were feeding in an area which had been cleared and planted with cabbages during an exceptionally dry period. These figures are atypical and are excluded from Table 4, in which only three of the study plots are included. The habitat termed cultivation in Tables 1-4 is a heterogeneous habitat, which includes overgrown farmland, remnant thicket and streamside vegetation. It is especially rich in granivorous species. The two habitats favoured by Palaearctic species are: (a) thicket, mainly secondary growth but impenetrable, including about 30 per cent introduced Lantana camara, intermixed with indigenous vege- tation; altitude 1450 m. Eighty per cent of vegetation is 3-4 m high with only occasional trees as high as 6 m. Apart from the Lantana, dominants are Vangueria acutiloba, Combretum molle, C. binderianum, Albizia coriaria, Bridelia micrantha, Vitex doniana. V. fischeri, and others. (b) well-grazed, seasonally inundated Acacia seya/ savanna, altitude 1200 m. Trees up to 4-5 m but seldom taller than 2-5 m, with a density ranging from about 35 to 65 trees per 1000 m?. Moreau (1970) and Pearson (1972) have mentioned the importance of introduced Lantana berries as a food for Palaearctic migrants in Africa, in particular for the Garden Warbler Sy/vza borin. During October and Novem- ber, 60 per cent of non-granivorous birds (50 per cent of biomass) in the thicket plot were of Palaearctic origin (see Table 3). Virtually all were S. borin and their faeces contained little else except Lantana berries. In December and January the percentage of Palaearctic birds was reduced to 27 per cent (25 per cent of biomass), also mainly S. borin (Table 4). December- January figures for other habitats, including forest undergrowth, range from 2 to 19 per cent of individuals, 1 to 11 per cent of biomass (Table 4). 109g 61 th vy [0,1 Si Cz or Ol Ol €1 Qz [er4 raf cI ce Qz VI vz C1 ZZ ZI SI rat gl II ov I W Ind LY Ol z €1 91 W C1 gf ZI a d cl Zi ee Iz IZ OI (4 Cz O7 Il 91 Li N 61 gz rao f ji Li Li O 1z ez LY Ol Si 9I S sa1oeds a1}D1¥aKeg soiseds snosoatueis-uoN satseds [Ty soisads onorvarleg soisads snosoatuvsy3-uON sopads [TV saiseds snosearyeg soioads snoyOATuLy3-UON - soroeds [TV soiseds a0Ivavleg saioods snoyoATuvIS-uON saiseds [TV s}ojd Apnjs ezueAyy [ezyUa5D Inoj UT soinjdeo sursossed ATqUOWW lL ATEaViL snshdeg uoneanyny BIOvOy WYTY_L. LIO Acacia seyal savanna is an important habitat for passage migrants but it provides regular winter quarters for only the Whinchat Saxico/a rubetra (one or two per hectare). October-November figures for this habitat in Table 3 are inflated by a large catch of aerial feeding Swallows Hirundo rustica and Sand Martins R/paria riparia, so that Palaearctic species account for 52 per cent of non-granivorous birds (44 per cent of biomass). Concentrations of feeding hirundines are not normally found in this plot, but even in their absence the percentage of Palaearctic birds caught can be large when a “fall” of migrants is involved. For example, morning catches were made in this habitat, but outside the study plot, on 9th November 1969 and 22nd March 1971: of 27 non-granivorous passerines caught on the first date, 16 were of Palaearctic origin (11 species), forming 59 per cent of the total (46 per cent of biomass); and of 9 non-granivorous passerines caught on the last date, 7 were of Palaearctic origin (5 species), forming 78 per cent of the total (83 per cent of biomass). These figures contrast with only 4 per cent of the October— November catch in papyrus only 1 km away (Table 3). Yet, considering species rather than individuals, the papyrus plot has the highest percentage of Palaearctic birds (Table z). Data from other habitats were collected in a less systematic manner, without any special effort to catch Palaearctic birds. Table 4 includes data from Kakamega Forest, 50 km east of the study area, and from three sites on Mt. Elgon, 150 km north of the study area. Nets at Kakamega were set along forest paths and captures do not include any edge element, but Elgon sites TABLE 2 Totals of passerine species recorded in four Central Nyanza study plots in fifteen monthly visits. Palaearctic species as % of non- Non-granivorous _ Palaearctic granivorous All species species species species Thicket (area 1 ha) 48 39 9 23 Acacia (2 ha) 64 43 II 26 Cultivation (1 ha) 71 42 8 19 Papyrus (1 ha) 48 30 9 30 TABLE 3 Palaearctic passerine captures on four Central Nyanza study plots in October-November Thicket Acacia Cultivation Papyrus Total Hirundo rustica 15 15 Riparia riparia 8 8 Motacilla flava I I _ Muscicapa striata I I Ficedula albicollis I I Lanius cristatus 3 3 Saxicola rubetra 4 4 Sylvia borin 27 2 8 I 38 S. atricapilla I I Acrocephalus scirpaceus I I 2 Phylloscopus trachilus I I Total of Palaearctic birds 29 34 10 2 75 Total of non-granivorous birds 48 66 39 50 Biomass (g) of Palaearctic birds 535 578 178 30 Biomass (g) of non-granivorous birds 1062 1291 903 829 Palaearctic birds as % of total 60 52 26 4 Palaearctic biomass as % of total 50 44 20 4 were often at the edge. The number of Palaearctic birds at Kakamega (2 per cent) would certainly increase if edge areas were worked; but it is doubtful whether figures would be as high as on Mt. Elgon at much higher altitudes (10-12 per cent). Forest undergrowth above about 1500 m provides winter quarters for only the Blackcap Sy/via atricapilla, which accounts for virtually the whole Palaearctic catch in these areas. Lake Nakuru in Kenya’s Rift Valley, some 150 km south-east of the study area, provides a further comparison. The data in Table 5 refer to December 1968 when the lake level was high. Nets were set for thirteen days at the lake edge, in sedges and grassland with scattered small acacia trees, and were hardly closed except at night. Hirundines formed 81 per cent of the total passerine catch, and two species of Palaearctic hirundines alone formed 49 TABLE 4 West Kenya habitats as winter quarters for Palaearctic passerines, December—January data only Thicket Acacia Cultivation Kakamega Mt. Elgon forest forest (1700m) 2400m 2500m 2800m Sylvia borin 7 2 S. atricapilla 3 8 5 f20 Acrocephalus palustris I A. schoenobaenus I Phylloscopus trochilus 2 Saxicola rubetra 4 Phoenicurus phoenicurus 1 Motacilla flava I Total of Palaearctic birds 8 5 4 2 IO 5 20 Total of non- granivorous birds 30 | 21 146 100 47 161 Biomass (g) of Palaearctic birds 149 78 56 nb 156 86 371 Biomass (g) of non- granivorous birds 602 729 651 4022 2099 986 3652 Palaearctic birds as % of total 27 18 19 2 10 II 12 Palaearctic biomass as % of total 25 II 9 I 7 9 10 TABLE’5 Lake edge at Nakuru as a winter habitat for Palaearctic passerines December 1968 data only. Palaearctic species No. Biomass (g) Hirundo rustica 235 4151 Riparia riparia 49 614 Moticilla flava 58 947 Phylloscopus trochilus 6 | 50 Lanius cristatus . 3 76 Muscicapa striata I 14 Acrocephalus schoenobaenus I TL Total 353 5863 Ethiopian species Riparia paludicola 184 1806 Other non-granivorous species 43 959 Total 227 2765 Palaearctic birds as % of total 60 68 Palaearctic hirundines as % of total ; 49 55 Riparia paludicola as °%, of total 32 21 Hirundines as % of total 81 76 Palaearctic hirundines as % of hirundines 61 73 112 per cent of the catch. Palaearctic passerines as a whole formed 60 per cent of the catch (68 per cent of biomass). The vast majority of these Palaearctic birds were either Swallows, Sand Martins or Yellow Wagtails Motacilla flava, probably mainly wintering birds. As such, these figures are remarkably high, especially bearing in mind that figures for non-passerines (mainly waders) would likely show a far greater percentage of Palaearctic individuals. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS Moreau (1972) has shown that about 20 per cent of the African non-forest avifauna consists of Palaearctic immigrant species, but there is no estimate available of the comparative numbers of individuals. Data obtained from systematic netting in various west Kenya habitats permit valid estimates to be made. Only non-granivorous passerines are considered. During the passage months of October and November, Palaearctic passerines (mainly Sy/vza borin) constitute 50 per cent of the avian biomass in Lantana thickets; and the percentage (various species) may be still greater in Acacia seyal savanna, though on average it is much less if aerial feeding hirundines are excluded. In overgrown cultivation the figure is 20 per cent, and in papyrus swamp only 4 per cent. Considering species only, papyrus has the greatest proportion of Palaearctic birds (30 per cent), which illustrates how misleading figures based on species rather than individuals can be in assessing the impact of the immigrant avifauna. As a wintering area, Lantana thickets are again important, with Palaearctic Species accounting for 25 per cent of the avian biomass, against figures of I-11 per cent in other habitats, including forest undergrowth. Away from the edges, forest undergrowth and papyrus swamp provide haven for virtually no Palaearctic birds. The further inevitable destruction and frag- mentation of forest and swamp habitats will increase the feeding oppor- tunities for Palaearctic migrants, and favour the further dissemination of obnoxious plants like Lantana camara. A sample from Lake Nakuru in December 1968 is included, taken when the lake level was high, and assumed to refer to wintering birds. In lake edge sedges and grassland, Palaearctic species accounted for 68 per cent of the avian biomass, almost entirely H7rundo rustica, Riparia riparia and Motacilla flava. References : Moreau, R. E. 1970. Changes in Africa as a wintering area for Palaearctic birds. Bird Study 17: 95-104. — 1972. The Palaearctic—African bird migration systems. London & New York: Academic Press. Morel, G. 1968. Contribution a la synécologie des oiseaux du Sahel sénégalais. Mem. OLRS.T.R.O.M, -20. Pearson, D. J. 1972. The wintering and migration of Palaearctic passerines at Kampala, southern Uganda. /bis 114: 43-Go. On the validity and range of Lamprotornis corruscus mandanus Van Someten, 1921 by P. A. Clancey Received 21st March, 1974 Van Someren (1921) was the first to demostrate that the glossy starling Lamprotornis corruscus Nordmann, 1835: Galgenbosch, near Thornhill, eastern Cape, is polytypic when he proposed L. ¢. mandanus (van Someren), 113 1921: Manda Island, coastal Kenya, on the basis of small size. Sclater (1924- 1930) admitted mandamus, giving its southern range limits as the lower Zambesi R. In 1952, I pointed out (Clancey 1952) that north-eastern Zulu- land specimens appeared to be inseparable from mandanus from East Africa, but in my own Casalogue (Clancey 1965-1966) I admitted only. the nominate subspecies as occurring in the South African Sub-Region. Mackworth-Praed _ & Grant (1955). recognise all four described subspecies : LL COPPFRSCHS, VASE: mandanus, L. c. jombeni and L. c..vaughani, showing mandanus as ranging south to the littoral of northern, Mocambique. Amadon (1956: 1962) synonymized with nominate corruscus both. mandanus and Van Someren’s later second men- sural race L. c. jombeni (van Someren), 1931: Jombent Hills, north-east of Mt. Kenya, Kenya, admitting only corruscus and the insular L. ¢. vaughani (Banner- man), 1936: Pemba Island, Tanzania. During a recent working visit to the National Museum of Rhodesia, Bulawayo, the Keeper of Ornithology, Mr. M. P. Stuart Irwin, mentioned to me that Blackbellied Starlings breeding in the Haroni—Lusitu area of south- eastern Rhodesia were certainly not the same as those of the eastern Cape (topotypical of L. ¢. corruscus). | have now investigated this matter with a reasonable panel of material which reveals that L. c. mandanus is a valid race with an immense range, extending from the Juba R., in Somalia, south to Zululand (Ngoye Forest) in South Africa (confirming my tentative findings of 1952), and that L. ¢. corruscus is restricted to the south-eastern and eastern Cape and Natal. The size parameter cannot be employed satisfactorily unless one has adequate series of both adult and immature (pre-basic) birds and the sexing of the specimens is beyond reproach. I mention this because much of TABLE 1 The wing-length variable in adults of three subspecies of Lamprotornis corruscus Nordmann Population Sex Nec Range M ~§.D. Lamprotornis corruscus corruscus Eastern Cape 3 II 113*5-119 115 °8 1°85 mm 2 6 108-111 109-2 1 +36 Pondoland 3 9 113°5-118 EL53 1-80 2 7 107°*5—110 108-3 i 1S Natal 3g 8 III-117°5 115 °3 2°75 2 8 LOR 5 Fae 108 °9 1°74 Lamprotornis corruscus mandanus Zululand (Ngoye) 3 5 109-113 III-O 1°58 mm 2 2 106, 106°5 Sul do Save a 7 109-113 110-2 1°98 Q 6 104-107 105°8 ee ae Manica e Sofala oi es 107 *5—-112 II0-O 2°04 2 I 105 Eastern Rhodesia 3 8 I0g*5-112 IIO°5 0+82 fe) ee Tanzania 3 4 108-112 1I0°2 7% Q seat Kenya (coast and Tana R.) 3 12 107*5—113 109 °5 bE? 55 Q IO 102-106 104°! 1s (0) Lamprotornis corruscus jombeni Kenya (highland) (after 3 5 116-121 I19:0 2°74 mm Van Someren 1932) The extremely conservative nature of the wing-length ranges and close similarity of the means in L. c. corruscus and L. c. mandanus will be noticed. 114 Amadon’s material was unsexed and he clearly did not differentiate between adults and those in immature plumage when formulating his conclusions. In this starling immature (pre-basic) males are smaller than adults, equalling in size adult females, while immatures of the latter are substantially smaller than their respective adults. In arriving at my conclusions I have taken care to sort out the material into age classes. Specimens of adults in immaculate plumage from the Juba R. and the coast of Kenya, south as far as the Ngoye Forest, Mtunzini district, Zululand, show no differences of subspecific import..Males of this assemblage of popu- lations have the flattened wings 107-5~-113. females 102-107 mm (see Table 1), the males with the ventral surface below the Chessylite Blue (Ridgway 1912, pl. xx) plastron medially washed with metallic violet and heavily burn- ished with antique gold sheen. South of Zululand, in Natal, the Transkeian Territories and the south-eastern and eastern Cape, size in adults increases markedly, thus: wings of fj (111) 113+5-119, 99 108-112 mm. The male with.a wing as low as 111 mm. is from the Natal population, and reveals the influence of the presence of the small eastern littoral mandanus in adjacent Zululand. Ventrally the large-sized southern males show extensive matt black over the medio-ventral plane, with reduced metallic violet overlay, the gold sheen restricted to the lateral surfaces and _ flanks. Females show no obvious colour differences not consonant with wear or individual variation. Despite opinion to the contrary, L. ¢. mandanus is a perfectly valid subspecies, but is not restricted to East Africa, and requires to have its established range extended south to Zululand in the Republic of South Africa. The littoral populations of the Blackbellied Starling ranging from south- western Somalia to the south-eastern Cape may therefore be arranged in two subspecies on the basis of the following summarized characters: (a) Lamprotornis corruscus corruscus 53 wings in adults 113-5—-119, 99 108-112 mm. Male with venter below plastron medially matt black with some violet gloss and washed laterally with antique gold sheen. Ranges from the south-eastern and eastern Cape to Natal. (b) Lamprotornis corruscus mandanus $3 wings in adults 107-5—113, 99 102-107 mm. Male with venter below the plastron medially overlaid with metallic violet and heavily burnished with gold sheen. Ranges from south-western Somalia (Juba R.) and Kenya on the Tana R. and coast, to the mainland coast, Zanzibar and Mafia in Tanzania, Mogambique, eastern Rhodesia, eastern Swaziland (Lebombo Mts.) and Zululand. I have not seen any of the limited available material of L. c. jombeni, but judging by the wing-lengths of adult males given by van Someren (1932) it is even larger on average than the nominate subspecies, and is stated by its describer to be “rather brighter” in colour facies than L. c. mandanus. Its range is restricted to the eastern highlands of Kenya on Mt. Kenya and the neighbouring Jombeni Hills. L. ¢. vaughani is restricted to the island of Pemba, and differs from mandanus in having the crown bluish violet rather than green or greenish blue. | Acknowledgements: For the organising of loans of additional material from the collections of the East London Museum and the National Museum of Rhodesia, Bulawayo, I am grateful to Mr. C. D. Quickelberge and Mr. . M. P. Stuart Irwin. 115 References: Amadon, D. 1956. Remarks on the ee Family Sturnidae. Amer. Mus. Novit., 1803: 260/27 — 1962. Family Sturnidae in the continuation of Peters’ Check-list of Birds of the World, I Glance: ?. A. 1952. A systematic account of the Birds collected on the Natal Museum Expedition to the Lebombo Mountains and Tongaland, July, 1952. Asn. Natal Mus., Ta): 206s 267. — 1965-1966. A Cane of Birds of the South African Sub-Region. Durban Mus. Novit., 7 (13): 550. Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1955. African Handbook of Birds, Series I, Vol. 2: 7oo, 7o1. London: Longmans. Ridgway, R. 1912. Color Standards and Color Nomenclature. Washington. Sclater, W. L. 1924-1930. Systema Avium Aethiopicarum, (2): 660. Van Someren, V. G. L. 1921. Descriptions of new East African forms. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, AI: 124. — 1932. Birds of Kenya and Uganda, being addenda and corrigenda to my previous paper in Novitates Zoologicae X XIX, 1922. Novit. Zool. 37: 315. Notes on birds from the southern Sudan Dy tO BOave Received 22nd March, 1974 I returned to the Sudan in November 1954 and was there until December 1955. During that period it was not possible to do any collecting and very little field work, except at Bussere (7°32’N, 28°00’E) where I had a certain amount of free time at irregular intervals for watching birds and keeping field notes. There was then some chance that a second edition of Bzrds of the Sudan (Cave & Macdonald 1955) would be produced and new information be inclu- ded in it. As this has not proved possible, items of special interest have been extracted here from my field note-book and the whole book has been lodged in the library of the Sub-department of Ornithology, British Museum (Nat. Hist.) at Tring. Great care was taken over identifications and any doubt was expressed in the field-note book. I am grateful to Mrs. B. P. Hall for some help at that time in checking identifications in the Bird Room from the descriptions in my notes, and for assistance now in preparing this paper. Numbers and nomenclature follow Cave & Macdonald 1955, except that Charadrius forbesi Forbes’s Plover is new to the Sudan and should be inserted as 182(b). 182(b) Charadrius forbesi Forbes’s Plover Bussere 29 March—3 September. The first pair of this rare plover to be recorded in the Sudan was seen on a sandbank in the river in March. From July to 3 September up to four birds were seen at various times in three different localities, all ironstone clearings with short grass and anthills, alongside the Negolima road and the old road to Wau at Km Post 281 and between Km Posts 274 and 275. I assumed they had been breeding there although I had not seen any when I had visited these ironstone patches from time to time between March and July. Possibly if they were breeding they had kept to longer grass outside the clearings. The only possible young bird seen was one on 3 July which had no red round the eye and a yellowish instead of a red bill. I returned to these sites several times later in September without seeing them so presume they had then moved south. The discovery of this plover in the Sudan is not unexpected since it is known from the Ubangi-Shari and Lake Albert. 116 547 ‘ 781 783 819 827 844 850 Cercomela familiaris. Red-tailed Cercomela Bussere 11 July. A pair seen on an ironstone outcrop on the road to Ngolima. A slight but not unexpected extension of range. Chalcomitra amethystina. Amethyst Sunbird Okaru (4°31’N, 32°10’E), 3,500 ft., 26-28 January. A pair were seen at an old weavers’ nest on several occasions, the female apparently feeding young, though no food was visible in her bill. Recorded previously in the Sudan only from the Didinga Mts between 5,000 and 7,000 ft. Ploceus heuglini Heuglin’s Weaver Bussere. Between 13~—17 April in a small colony in ironstone woodland the males were displaying, shivering their tails and sometimes twinkling their wings: they also bit off leaves and let them drop to the ground. At intervals copulation took place on a branch outside the nest. At the end of April the nest site was found to be deserted. On 27 September another small colony was found nearby where birds were constructing nests. One was almost completed between two visits at 09.30 and 16.30 hrs. All nests in both colonies were associated with hornets’ nests. This weaver seems to be commoner than previously supposed (Cave & Macdonald 1955). Ploceus vitellinus Vitelline Masked Weaver Bussere. Nesting in trees overlooking the garden pool and seen feeding young on 17 November. This species and P. heuglini (above) are regarded as members of a superspecies by Hall & Moreau (1970). These records show there is clearly some overlap in their breeding ranges, though possibly with ecological segregation, P. heuglini occupying drier and taller woodland. Clytospiza monteiri Brown Twinspot Bussere 31 May, 2 June, 19 October. One or two seen in the garden. Not previously recorded in the Sudan from so far north. Mandingoa nitidula Green Twinspot Okaru, 3,500 ft., 26 January. One bird was seen flying from thick cover on one side of the khor to the other. Only previously recorded in the Sudan from 7,000 ft. in the Dongotona Mts, but found at lower altitudes elsewhere. Nesocharis capistrata Olive-back Bussere 2—4 June. A pair seen in trees overlooking a pool in the garden. Thus in similar habitat as that in which the species has been found in Uganda (Ziegler 1971). Another slight northward extension of range in the Sudan. Hypochera nigeriae Green Indigo-bird Between 2-15 September several indigo-birds were seen in the gardens and along the river which appeared to be this form, having brown wings and tail and a greenish sheen. On 13 November one was shot nearby which had these characters. The most likely host species for these birds seemed to be Lagonosticta senegala which was common along the river, though two other firefinches, L. rufopicta and L. nigricollis occurred in the ironstone woodlands. In Nigeria Payne (1973) found that mgeriae -type indigo-birds mimic- ked (and so presumably were parasitic on) L. rubricata, which has not been recorded in the Sudan except in the extreme south. References: Cave, F. O. & Macdonald, J. D. 1955. Birds of the Sudan. Edinburgh & London. 1Ty Hall, B. P. & Moreau, R. E. 1970. Ax atlas of speciation in African passerine birds. London: Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. Payne, R. 1973. Behaviour, mimetic songs and song dialects, and relationships of the parasitic indigobirds (Vdua) of Africa. Orn. Monogr. Amer. Orn. Union No. 11. Ziegler, A. P. 1971. Habitat and breeding of the Grey-headed Olive-back Nesocharis capistrata in northern Uganda. /bis 113: 238-240. Geographic variation in the Rufous-tailed Foliage-gleaner Philydor ruficaudatus, with notes on plumages by Kenneth C.. Parkes Recewed 3rd April, 1974 Current ornithological literature recognizes two subspecies of Philydor ruficaudatus, a medium-sized furnariid widely distributed in the northern half of South America east of the Andes. These are P. r. flavipectus Phelps & Gilliard, ascribed to a few localities in southeastern Venezuela and the Serra Tapirapecd, Brazil, just over the Venezuelan frontier; and P. r. ruficaudatus (D’Orbigny & Lafresnaye), the remainder of the range of the species including one Venezuelan locality (base of Mount Duida) (Phelps & Phelps 1963: 68-69). ee ance Museum of Natural History (CM) recently received two Ecuadorean specimens of this species on exchange with Occidental College. When these were compared to our Brazilian material it was immediately obvious that they were subspecifically different, although from areas now included in the range of the nominate race. The CM series was therefore taken for direct compari- sons to the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), where the type of flavipectus is deposited. Phelps & Gilliard (1941: 4) described their “Phylidor’ [sic] ruficaudatus flavipectus as “Similar to P. ruficaudatus but less grayish below, with a bright yellowish wash on underparts, especially throat which is brightly washed with Mustard Yellow [of Ridgway 1912] instead of pale Straw Yellow. Under wing-coverts and axillaries more ochraceous, less buffy. Sides of chest and flanks more yellowish olive, less grayish olive’’. I was able to examine the holotype and two paratypes of this form at AMNH. Specimens ascribed to ruficaudatus at AMNH were the same as those listed by Phelps & Gilliard (1941: 5), to which were added CM specimens as follows: eastern Amazonian Brazil (Santarém, Obidos, Villa Braga, Miritituba), 10; southwestern Amazonian Brazil (Rio Purts), 3; eastern Ecuador, 2z. The type locality of ruficaudatus is Yuracares, Chaparé District, Dept. of Cochabamba. This locality is in the lowlands of west-central Bolivia, in the drainage of the Rio Mamoré. I have examined two Bolivian specimens: that from the Cochabamba lowlands listed by Phelps & Gilliard, and the type of Anabazaenops immaculatus Allen, from an uncertain locality in northern Bolivia. These specimens are inseparable from one from Mato Grosso, and from the CM series from eastern Amazonian Brazil. All of these birds are thus referable to the nominate race. In the northeastern corner of the range of the species, the ventral colour becomes brighter, yellower, less greyish as the range of flavipectus is ap- proached (Belém region of Brazil—Cayenne—Mt. Duida, Venezuela). The range ascribed to flavipectus by its authors seems to require its being almost completely surrounded by nominate ruficaudatus, the area at the base of Mount 118 Duida, said to be the only Venezuelan locality for ruficaudatus, is less than 200 km from localities ascribed to flavipectus. It does in fact appear that south- eastern Venezuela is a centre of differentiation in this species, as manifested in the characters given in the description of flavipectus. The influence of this centre, however, extends well beyond the limited range given for that race. When compared with Bolivian ruficandatus, the two Mount Duida specimens are seen to be much closer to flavipectus, and I would so identify them. Those from the Guianas and the Belém region of northeastern Brazil are best considered flavipectus—ruficaudatus intergrades. Remaining to be discussed are the birds of the western portion of the species’ range, from Colombia south to Peru. Those of Ecuador and Peru clearly belong to a distinctive but unrecognized third subspecies. In rufi- caudatus the barbs of the breast feathers have narrow dark edges (visible under a hand lens), and the bases of these feathers are dark grey. The webs of the abdominal and (especially) flank feathers are darker and duller than their shafts. The net result is an appearance of broad blurred streaks of pale yellow and dull olivaceous brown on the breast, narrow yellowish streaks on a dull olivaceous yellow background on the abdomen, and similar streaks on a dull olivaceous brown background on the flanks. In the birds of Ecuador and Peru the breast feather barbs are a uniform pale yellow without dark edges, and the bases of the breast feathers are pale grey (thus not “showing through” the yellow overlapping feathers, as do the darker feather bases of the eastern birds). There is little contrast between the shafts and webs of the abdominal and flank feathers. The net result is an appearance of uniform pale yellow underparts, with a greater contrast between the pale yellow medial area and the olivaceous flanks; the latter are rather paler and yellower than in ruficaudatus. The yellow of the throat of the western birds is about the same as that of ruficaudatus, but that of the breast is paler and purer. It follows that there is a more noticeable contrast between the throat and the breast in western birds than in eastern. In addition, the dark bases of the throat feathers of ruficaudatus result in a spotted appearance, especially when the yellow terminal portions are worn and do not wholly overlap the feathers below. The feather bases of the throat in the western birds are pale, and the throat appears uniformly yellow. The feather pigmentation of flavipectus is presumably distributed similarly to that of ruficaudatus, as the same ventrally streaked appearance characterizes both races (I did not examine flavipectus feathers with the hand lens). According to the synonomy presented by Cory & Hellmayr (1925: 208), the earliest available name based on material from within the range of this unstreaked race is Philydor subflavescens Cabanis (1873), type locality Monterico, Dept. Ayacucho, Peru. Although this type locality is assurance that the name applies to the population under discussion, further evidence is afforded by the wording of Cabanis’s description, even though he did not compare his new species with ruficaudatus: “Der Superciliarstreif und die ganze Unterseite sind matt hellgelb. Das Gelb ist an der Kehle am reinsten, sonst aber mit Olivengrau untermischt, besonders an den Weichen und dem After vor- herrschend schmutzig olivengrau”. The three CM specimens from the Rio Purus in southwestern Brazil must be considered intergrades between ruficaudatus and subflavescens. The blurred streaking of the underparts typical of the former race is present but less obvious, and the throat is distinctly richer yellow than the breast, as in the latter race. I have not seen specimens from Bolivia from as far west as the 119 Rio Beni (Gyldenstolpe 1945: 157), but would expect these, too, to show the influence of subflavescens. I have seen eight specimens from Colombia, at the northwestern corner of the species’ range. Five of these are native “Bogota” skins of unknown provenance, presumably from the tropical zone east of the eastern Andes, the only area in Colombia known to be inhabited by this species. These are nearest subflavescens, but average somewhat less pure yellow (=more grey) below. Two from the Sierra de Macarena are unstreaked like subflavescens, and match the greyest of the “Bogota” specimens in colour of underparts. A single specimen from Villavicencio is remarkably similar to the Rio Purts birds—yellower than true ruficaudatus and more streaked below than true subflavescens. It is likely that intergradation between subflavescens and flavipectus takes place in easternmost Colombia, but I have seen no specimens from this region. ce & Hellmayr (1925: 208, footnote) stated: “The birds with deep ochraceous superciliaries and sides of the head, brownish back, rufous-edged upper tail-coverts, and deeper buffy underparts constitute the juvenile plumage. Birds in which the ochraceous superciliaries persist after the juven- ile molt (first annual plumage?) have been separated as P. ewophrys.”” Neither the CM nor AMNH collections contain a specimen of P. ruficaudatus in full juvenal plumage. The youngest specimen examined is AMNH 524243, “Dalmas, East Ecuador” (no other data). It was apparently completing the last stages of the first prebasic moult (“juvenile molt”? of Cory & Hellmayr); the under tail-coverts are of the fluffy texture typical of the juvenal plumage in Passeriformes. Active body moult was present only on the flanks, where the old feathers, of a rather whitish buff, were being replaced by darker, more olivaceous feathers. This does not accord with Cory & Hellmayr’s characteri- zation of the “‘deeper buffy underparts” of the juvenal plumage. In this speci- men, rectrices R3, R4, Rs and L6 are short (growing). The full-length rectrices show no wear at the tip; in fact, several bear remnants of the natal down. The facial plumage is of the first basic plumage (presumably the ‘“‘first annual” of Cory & Hellmayr), and is indeed of the deep ochraceous type. Lacking a younger specimen, I cannot confirm that the superciliaries and face are of this colour in the juvenal plumage, but in any case Cory & Hellmayr’s use of the word “‘persist”’ is misleading, as the juvenal feathers in this area are replaced, not retained, at the first prebasic moult. AMNH 524242, with the same data, is similar but farther advanced in body moult; the plumage is very fresh, and no sheathed feathers were found. A// of the rectrices, on the other hand, are sheathed, and their relative lengths are the same as in a full-grown tail, indicating simultaneous growth. This does not represent the replacement of an accidently lost tail, as the growing rectrices bear wisps of natal down at the tips. These two specimens illustrate an unusual moult pattern in that the first prebasic body moult has been com- pleted, or nearly so, before the completion of growth of the juvenal tail. Growth of the first generation of rectrices in most birds is simultaneous as in AMNH 524242 rather than irregular as in 524243 (the tail moult of adults of this species is of the expected centrifugal type). The timing of the first prebasic body moult with respect to the growth of the juvenal rectrices shown by the two specimens cited is not necessarily typical of Philydor, AMNH 256108, P. erythrocercus subfulvus (Boca Lagarto Cocha, Ecuador, 20 January 1926), is in full juvenal plumage (although with sheathed first basic feathers just through the skin on face and back); its juvenal rectrices are full grown. 120 It is likely that the true juvenal plumage is very short-lived in Phi/ydor, as there appear to be so few specimens that even demonstrate stages of its replacement. AMNH 256108, cited above, is the only specimen of any species of Philydor in full juvenal plumage found in either the AMNH or CM collections. With so few known immature birds, it seemed desirable to confirm Cory & Hellmayr’s statement that the specimens with rich ochraceous faces do indeed represent an age class rather than a colour morph. This is confirmed by such specimens as AMNH 179429 (Rio Suno, Ecuador, 12 February 1923), in which rich ochraceous-buff cheek feathers are being replaced by the paler and greener feathers of the definitive (‘‘adult’’) plumage. First-year birds do not differ from older ones in colour except on the face, as described. They may also be recognized, however, by rectrix shape. The juvenal rectrices, which are not replaced at the first prebasic moult (indeed, may still be growing during this moult, as shown above), are pointed at the tip; the definitive rectrices are quite rounded except for the central pair, which may be acuminate at the very tip. The recognizable races of Philydor ruficaudatus may be summarized as follows :— P. r. ruficaudatus (D’Orbigny & Lafresnaye). Underparts dull in colour, with blurred streaks. Eastern Bolivia north to Amazonian Brazil. P. r. flavipectus Phelps & Gilliard. Brighter, more yellowish underparts, also streaked. Southeastern Venezuela, intergrading with rwficaudatus in the Guianas and easternmost Amazonian Brazil. P.r. subflavescens Cabanis. Paler yellow below (throat contrasting with breast) ; unstreaked. Peru and Ecuador east of the Andes. Intergrades with rwf- caudatus in southwestern Amazonian Brazil and probably northwestern Bolivia. Colombian populations are near this form but probably intergrade eastwards with flavipectus and possibly also with ruficaudatus. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am grateful to Dr. John William Hardy, formerly Director of the Moore Laboratory of Zoology, Occidental College, for arranging the exchange with that institution whereby CM obtained Ecuadorean specimens, and to the authorities of AMNH for use of their facilities. References: Cabanis, J. 1873. Neue peruanische Vogel des Herrn C. Jelski. Journ. Ornith. 21: 64-68. Cory, C. B. & Hellmayr, C. E. 1925. Catalogue of birds of the Americas and the adjacent islands. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool. 13(4) (publ. 234): 390 pp. Gyldenstolpe, N. 1945. A contribution to the birds of northern Bolivia. Kungl. Svensk. Vetensk. Handl. 23: 1-300. pene W. H. & Gilliard, E. T. 1941. Seventeen new birds from Venezuela. Amer. Mus. ovit. 1153. Phelps, W. H. & Phelps, W. H., Jr., 1963. Lista de las aves de Venezuela con su distri- bucion. Part 2, Passeriformes (2nd ed.). Bol. Soc. Venez. Cienc. Nat. 24(104 & 105). Ridgway, R. 1912. ‘Color standards and nomenclature. Washington, D. C.: author. Status of the genus Sauropatis (Alcedinidae) by D. T. Holyoak Received 28th March, 1974 Mukherjee & Dasgupta (1973) have advocated resurrecting the genus Sauropatis but without making suggestions for the generic allocation of most species of Halcyon (sensu Peters 1945), whose classification would conse- quently be affected. Apparently such suggestions were lacking because the authors were not able to examine many of the species concerned. 121 Having now had an opportunity of examining specimens of all species of Halcyon as defined by Peters, other than HZ. miyakoensis, I conclude that there are good reasons for not splitting the genus in the way advocated. Examina- tion of other Ha/cyon spp. shows that only the characters of bill-colour and wing-shape cited by Mukherjee & Dasgupta are unique to the species they advocate we keep ina restricted Halcyon. Various combinations of their other characters are present in a number of species which seem closer to H. sancta than to H1. senegalensis on the bulk of characters considered together. Halcyon of Peters’s list could equally well be split on the basis of many other characters besides bill-colour, bill shape and wing-shape, producing equally arbitrary classifications. Revision of the limits of such a large and difficult genus as Ha/cyon requires study of as many characters as possible in all of the known forms and it is clearly insufficient to compare only two type species. If such further study did show a genus to contain two or more groups of forms that are phylo- genetically and morphologically distinct, caution would still seem desirable in advocating changes in classification, bearing in mind that generic limits ate largely matters of convenience. References: Mukherjee, A. K. & Dasgupta, J. M. 1973. On the taxonomic status of the genus Sauropatis Cabanis & Heine (family Alcedinidae). Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 93: 79-81. Peters, J. L. 1945. Check-list of Birds of the world 5. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press. On the occurrence of the Great White Egret Egretta alba in the Persian Gulf region by M. D. Gallagher Received 14th May, 1974 INTRODUCTION Two medium-sized wholly white egrets occur on the Arabian hele of the Persian Gulf, the Little Egret Fgretta garzetta, a winter visitor, and the white phase of the Reef ‘Heron E. gularis, which is resident and migratory. Since 1966 there have been a number of sight records of larger white egrets both on these shores and also on the shores of Oman and Masirah Island, but they have been discounted because of Meinertzhagen’s (1954) statement that no specimen of the Great White Egret EF. alba had come out of Arabia, and because of the supposed difficulty in seeing the characteristic black soles and toes, as well as the difficulty in identifying this species on size alone unless in direct comparison with the smaller egrets. This note is therefore to put on record the discovery of an old specimen of the nominate race of the Great White Egret from Arabia, which was overlooked by Meinertzhagen; the identification of a recent specimen from the Persian Gulf, assigned to the Asiatic race modesta, and the examination of another bird in the hand: and a summary of the sight records to date. SIGHT RECORDS My own observations between 1969 and 1973 and those of other reliable observers, given to me or to Mrs. F. E. Warr in personal communications, strongly suggest that Great White Egrets are regular but uncommon winter visitors to the southern shores of the Persian Gulf and southwards to the shores of Oman and Masirah Island, between September and April and occasionally in some other months. At least along the Arabian coast of the Persian Gulf they have been recorded annually. W727 Starting from the north, there are records of three having been seen at Kuwait in January and two in March 1968 (V.A.D. Sales). One was seen on Abu Ali Island (Saudi Arabia) by Mrs. L. Johansen in November 1971, but none at Bahrain during the 1968-72 period. However, at Qatar P. G. Jones saw one in November 1970, remarking that it was similar in size to a Grey Heron Ardea cinerea standing nearby. Along the north-eastern, Batinah, coast of Oman they have been seen between 14 August and 14 April, and singles as late as 23 May (M. St. C. Baddeley) and 10 June (M. P. Searle). One was found dead on 17 October 1970 (D. Shepherd). On Masirah Island one was reported on 13 November 1970, seen in company with Grey Heron and Reef Heron (M. J. Strickland), and another on 1 February 1973 (R. J. Parker). All these reports were of pure white birds with blackish feet, often seen at close range when the birds flew, and with clear yellow or orange-yellow bills (as opposed to the darker or “dirty” yellow bill of a Reef Heron); in one, the tibia was noted as yellowish. From my own observations I would also characterize the Great White Egret as noticeably bulkier, slower but also more graceful than the Reef Heron. Four, feeding near Sharjah in December 1969, walked slowly in the shallow water of the creek, often raising the feet clear of the surface so that the black soles and toes showed, and occasionally stabbing forward with the bill. One flapped and hopped after prey, but in a manner quite unlike that of the Reef Heron: the movements were always slower and more deliberate. Another, near Muscat in December 1970, stood with a Grey Heron, its head and neck stretched obliquely forward, when the top of its head seemed about level with that of the heron; it quite obviously dwarfed three Reef Herons nearby. Two more I saw in a pool within 50 metres of the road near Ras al Khaimah, near Sharjah again, in September 1972, were clearly large birds with bright orange bills. In the light of these records, it is of interest that D. A. Scott (pers. comm.) reports F. a/ba as quite common in winter in some of the wetlands and along the south coast of Iran; 250 were counted by aerial survey on 8 January 1973 between Khamir (55° 30’ E) and Bandar Abbas (56° 20’ E), and 113'0n 9/10 January 1973 between Bandar Abbas and the Pakistan border. Those on the coast were in a habitat identical in appearance to the creeks, mud flats and mangrove areas along the south coast of the Persian Gulf; Scott remarks that it is strange that the species has not been noticed more frequently in these Arabian localities. | | S PECIMENS Since the differences between the nominate and eastern races of Great White Heron are largely ones of size, it is impossible to be certain which race has been seen most often in the area under consideration, but there is now evidence from actual specimens that both races occur. Egretta alba alba (Linnaeus) During a search in the British Museum for Arabian material Mrs. Wart (pers. comm.) found one male E. a. a/ba from Muscat collected by Jayakar on 21 February 1890, BM Reg. No. 1898—5—16—13 (a duplication of BM 1891— 2—1—40). It is listed by Sharpe & Ogilvie-Grant (1898: 270) and is thus the first recorded skin from Arabia. Bates (1940) had noted the existence of this specimen, which was presumably missed by Meinertzhagen. Mr. G. S. Cowles and I measured nine other skins of a/ba in the British Museum collection, none in full breeding plumage. The Muscat bird, which is not in breeding plumage, is distinctly small in comparison, but all measure- ments are greater than modesta, except the bill, and all are within the known range for a/ba (Witherby e¢ a/. 1958: 139; Ali & Ripley 1968: 69). The 123 measurements of all specimens measured, including the old Muscat specimen and the two new specimens of the eastern race, are set out in the Table. E.. a. alba breeds nearest Arabia in Turkey and possibly in parts of Iran. It occurs in Iraq as a winter visitor and on passage (Ticehurst 1922; Allouse 1953; and Hite & Etchécopar, 1970); in the Iranian region (Vaurie 1965; D. A. Scott pers. comm.), including Persian Baluchistan, where one ¢ was collected in April 1800, with the measurements: wing 8 in (457 mm), bill 5 (127), tarsus 8 (203) (Blanford 1876: 295); and as a rare winter strageler to West Pakistan and Uttar Pradesh (Ali & Ripley 1968: 69). It is of interest that two instances are recorded of EF. a/ba (presumably the nominate race) reaching south of the Sahara (Moreau 1972); the Muscat specimen is thus not the only example from the Tropics, and it may represent a small but regular autumn movement along the eastern Arabian coast. Egretta alba modesta (J. E. Gray) On 7 February 1971, Mrs. Warr found a dead white egret near Umm al Qawain, 21 miles north east of Sharjah, on the Arabian coast of the Persian Gulf, at approximately 25° 30’ N, 55° 35’ E. This she preserved, sexed as female, and sent to the British Museum (Natural History), where it is now deposited (BM Reg. No. 1973.5.1.) and where G. S. Cowles identified it as Exgretta alba modesta in non-breeding plumage. Previously, a freshly shot bird was examined by R. G. Griffiths at Sharjah on 17 September 1968; he told me that it was at least three feet in length, with wing 330 mm, bill approximately roo mm, and tarsus 140 mm, measurements which would also indicate FE. a. modesta. E.. a. modesta ts recorded from India and Ceylon, through eastern Asia east to Australia and New Zealand, wintering to the south and east of its range (Vaurie 1965; Ali & Ripley 1968). Mrs. Warr’s specimen is the first Great TABLE Comparative measurements of a sample of non-breeding specimens of Egretta alba alba and all specimens in breeding plumage of Fgretta alba modesta and Egretta intermedia intermedia in the British Museum (Natural History) collection, and of the three particular specimens from Arabia discussed in the paper. All measurements in millimetres (bills measured from end of feathering to tip). Sample and sex Wing Tail Bill Tarsus E. a. alba 653 438-455 157-184 T24--l 37 182-206 Av. (446) (170) (129) (198) 3 29 414-425 147-152 122 178-192 Avy. (420) (158) (122, two only) (185) Muscat spec. 3 (1890) 412 155 et 181 E. a. modesta 43d 362-377 +—« 136-148 IO9Q-114 156-167 12 99 334-377 122-145 95-116 138-170 4 unsexed 322-355 126-137 102-107 138-153 range 322-377 122-148 95-116 138-170 Av. (354) (133) (105) (151) Umm al Qawain spec. 2 (1971) 338 T32 109 145 Sharjah spec. unsexed (1968) E5330 — Cc. 100 c. 140 E. 1. intermedia 733d 294-317 95-124 73-89 109-124 7H 291-295 III—116 72-74 103-113 II unsexed 287-315 106-126 68-77 103-118 range 287-317 - 95-126 68-89 103-124 Av. (301) (113) (75°5) (111) White Egret obtained in the Persian Gulf and the first known record of this race west of India. The most westerly specimens previously in the British Museum collection are one from Karachi, dated October; two from Ajmer (26° 27’ N, 74° 42’ E), dated December and January; five from Delhi dated June, and one October; and one from Mhow near Indore, dated December. There are several more from the far east, and also from the Maldive Islands, including Gan, in the Indian Ocean. Ali & Ripley (1968: 70) state that in females there is an overlap or near overlap in measurements between modesta and E. 7. intermedia so that ra . identifying individual examples in non-breeding plumage is not always satisfactory, and in some cases even impossible’. Cowles and I there- fore measured all specimens of modesfa and EF. 7. intermedia in breeding plumage in the collection at the British Museum (Natural History), and on comparison (see Table) found that (with the exception of two labelled intermedia but the measurements and build of which indicate that they are in fact modesta) the specimens are easily separable by their measurements and by the appearance of the bill and tarsus, which in /n/ermedia are distinctly shorter and more slender than in modesta. Both the Umm al Qawain and the Sharjah birds fall conclusively within the range of modes/a and outside the ranges of E. 7. intermedia and E. a. alba. Ali & Ripley (/oc. cit.) reach the general conclusion that modesta is usually distinguishable from 7ntermedia by having a wing length of over 350 mm and tarsus of over 160 mm. However, they themselves list specimens of modesfa in which these measurements are as small as 337 mm and 136 mm, respectively, and the British Museum sample measured (see Table) supports the view that 320 mm and 135 mm would be realistic minima for the wing and tarsus length of the larger species. Egretta intermedia intermedia (Wagler) In view of the unexpected occurrence of F. a. modesta so far west and the admittedly small difference in size between smaller specimens and the largest recorded specimens of EF. 7. intermedia, it is perhaps just possible that the latter also occasionally reaches Oman or the Persian Gulf. It occurs through- out India, Ceylon and other parts of southern and eastern Asia, where it is resident in some areas and nomadic or migratory in others (Ali & Ripley 1968). It has not yet been recorded from the Mekran coast, but the possibility of its occurrence certainly needs to be borne in mind in the light of the fre- quent records of the larger species in recent years. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am indebted to Mrs. F. E. Warr for information about the specimens and her researches in the British Museum (Natural History), and to Mr. G. S. Cowles for assistance and comment during the examination of museum material and during the preparation of this note. Dr. W. R. P. Bourne made helpful criticisms of an earlier draft, Mr. D. Goodwin advised a useful line of enquiry, Dr. D. A. Scott kindly provided his Iranian records, and Mr. T. D. Rogers, Mr. R. H. Daly and Major W. A. C. Griffiths helped in other ways. I am also grateful to the many observers mentioned who supplied details of their records, and to Miss J. C. Gallagher who typed the draft. References: Ali, Salim & Ripley, S. D. 1968. The Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan Vol. 1. Bombay, London & New York: OUP. Allouse, B. E. 1953. The Avifauna of Iraq. /rag Nat. Hist. Mus. Publ. 3. Bates, G. L. 1940. Unpublished typescript “Birds of Arabia’. British Museum (Natural History), London. Blanford, W. T. 1876. Eastern Persia. Vol. 11, Zoology and Geology. London: Macmillan. 125 Hue, F. & Etchécopar, R. D. 1970. Les Oiseaux du Proche et du Moyen Orient. Paris. Editions N. Boubée. Meinertzhagen, R. 1954. Birds of Arabia. London & Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd. Moreau, R. E. 1972. The Palaearctic - African Bird Migration Systems. London & New York: Academic Press. Sharpe, R. B. & Ogilvie-Grant, W. R. 1898. Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum. Vol. 26. Ticehurst, C. B. 1922. The Birds of Mesopotamia. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 28(3): 335. Vaurie, C. 1965. The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna. Non-Passeriformes. London: Gurney & Jackson. Witherby, H. F., et a/. 1958 (1940). The Handbook of British Birds Vol. 1. London: Witherby. The races of the European Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus by L. Hl. Brown Received 21st June, 1974 Circaetus gallicus has been regarded by some systematists as a species comprising nominate C. g. gallicus and two African races, C. g. beaudouini, Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle and C’. g. pectoralis, the Black-breasted Snake Eagle; others have regarded the three forms as separate species, C. gallicus, C. beaudouini and C. pectoralis. Mackworth Praed & Grant (1962; Birds of the Southern third of Africa; Vol. 1: 165) state ““We see no justification for considering the last named a race of the Palearctic Short-toed Eagle C7rcaetus gallicus (Gmelin)’. The same view is taken by White (1965. A revised check-list of African non- passerine birds. Lusaka: Government Printer), Benson e¢ a/. (1971; The birds — of Zambia: Collins; London) and McLachlan & Liversidge (1972; Birds of South Africa; Cape Town). These authors therefore disagree with J. L. . Peters ef a/. (1931; Check-list of Birds of the World; Vol. 1: 270) and Meinertz- hagen (1951; /bis 93: 452). Brown & Amadon (1969; Hawks, Eagles and Falcons of the World; London and New York) accepted the view of Peters and Meinertzhagen that all three forms were races of one species, basing their opinion, additionally, on one known case of interbreeding between the two African races and on careful examination of available skins in the British Museum and the American Museum of Natural History. Adults of the gallicus, beaudouini and pectoralis forms are rather distinct, though all have field characters in common. In ga//cus the throat and upper breast are brown, the feathers basally white, so that it appears streaky. The lower breast and belly are white rather broadly barred brown, but in some specimens the barring is almost absent. In beaudowni the upper breast is solid darker grey-brown, contrasting clearly with the rest of the underside which is white crossed with numerous narrow brown barrs; again, some specimens ate more sparsely barred than others. In pecforalis the upper breast is dark grey, darker than in beaudouim, and the rest of the underside pure white. All have white underwings in flight, crossed on the quills by 3-4 narrow blackish bars. Obvious intermediates between the three forms are apparently not available in collections, though some specimens in the British Museum suggest that intermediates between beaudouini and pectoralis might occur. This is probable since the two forms interbreed in Western Kenya and individuals with sparse narrow bars on the white underside have been seen in the same area. The immature plumages are less well known, that of ga//icus being like the adult but paler; that of beaudouini apparently much paler at first, almost white on head and neck, becoming bright brown above and below later; and that of pectoralis dark brown above, rufous or cinnamon below, the feathers of the underside having white bases. The downy young of all three forms are pure 126 white. Presumably, the distinctions in adult and immature plumage are the reason for regarding the three forms as distinct species rather than races of one species C. gallicus. In the field the habits of all three forms are similar. They are birds of open savannas or grass plains, sometimes deserts or, in Europe, heathlands, hunting as much from hovering and soaring flight as from perches; all three regularly hover and are the largest raptors to do so. The voices of all other Circaetus species resemble that of the Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus in being loud, raucous and crowing in tone; (e.g. “kok-kok-kok-kok-kaaauw” in C. cinereus and “schaaaa-aw”’ in Terathopius). In contrast, the voices of ga/licus, beaudouini, and pectoralis are all rather mellow liquid whistles, not very loud, e.g. “hu-opp’’, “pice-ou’’, “klueee-oo” and, in display at the nest, a melodious ““woodlayoo-weeeu-weeeu-weeeu”’ accompanied by raising the wings. All three forms are normally rather silent, but all have been heard by me to utter similar calls, usually in soaring display or at the nest. Beandouini has been recorded from Uganda by Voous (1966; /bis 108: 627) and the normally migrant ga/licus from N. Kenya by Owre & Paulson (1968; Bull. B.O.C. 88: 151). Between 1953 and 1956 I observed the beaudonini form quite commonly in Nyanza Province, W. Kenya, and I have since seen one as far east as the Mwea Plains, E. of Mt. Kenya. Other observers have recorded beaudouini in recent years in W. Kenya (Britton, Mann, /» /i/7.); and it was also recorded in western Ethiopia in 1965 (Urban & Brown 1969; A checklist of Ethiopian birds; Addis Ababa). The ranges of all three can there- fore be contiguous or overlapping; and at least the resident African forms can be expected to form pairs and interbreed near the boundaries of their . ranges. This they do. One definite case of interbreeding between the beandouini and pectoralis forms, apparently overlooked or ignored by Mackworth-Praed & Grant, Benson ef a/. and others, has already been recorded (Brown 1955; Fagles; Michael Joseph, London). On 25.10.53 a pair, of which the male was a typical pectoralis and the female a typical barred beaudouini were seen at a nest on top of a Euphorbia on Raboor Island, Kavirondo Gulf, Lake Victoria. They were obviously paired, and by 20.12.53 had laid. In 11 hours watching on three days thereafter, only the barred beaudouini female was observed incubating, and she was twice fed by the pecfora/is male with snakes, rising to expose the single white egg each time. This nest still contained an egg on 3.1.54 but had failed by 18.2.54. Two other, different, beaudouini type birds were seen on the same island in the same period. On 12.12.54 two adults, both beaudouini types, were seen at the same nest, performing a nuptial display with much calling and wing spreading; they did not, however, lay an egg. These records clearly show that beaudouini type snake eagles are not uncommon in Western Kenya, and that they may mate and interbreed with pectoralis type birds. Since 1955, further evidence that all three forms may form mixed pairs has come to light, as follows :— (i) a mixed pair, of which the female was a typical narrow-barred beaun- douini type, and the male a sparsely barred ga//icus type were seen near Bahr Dar, Ethiopia on 12.3.65, by myself and my wife; they were perched side by side on top of a tree but unfortunately flew before a camera could be brought to bear. This record is the basis for extending the range of beaudouini to Me Ethiopia in Urban & Brown (op. cit.). (ii) another mixed beaudouini/gallicus pair were seen by me and several sthiet observers in the same locality on 8.2.74. The female was again a beaudouini type and was photographed by J. Hunter Sutherland. The male was a nearly 127 unbarred gallicus type which displayed overhead, calling and dipping in flight above the female. They were clearly paired; and it is of interest that they were seen only a few hundred yards from the site of the 1965 record. (iii) At Lake Abiata, Ethiopia, on 5.2.74 a mixed pair composed of a typical dark-breasted male pectoral/is and a perfectly typical broadly-barred gallicus type female were seen soaring together for about ten minutes. Again, they appeared paired, though it was not certain that they were breeding. These records suggest that the ga//icus form may not only migrate to but may also breed in tropical Africa; certainly it forms mixed pairs with both other forms. Conclusive evidence of interbreeding must depend on dis- covery of nests with mixed pairs in attendance, as in the one definite case already recorded in 1955. Mixed pairs have now been seen, however, of all possible combinations, ga/licus/beaudouini (2), gallicus|pectoralis, and pectoralis| beaudouim: (breeding). I suggest therefore that there are no longer good grounds for regarding the three forms as separate species, particularly in view of the similarities of voice and other field habits; and that the view of Peters ef a/. that pectoralis and beaudouini ate races of the normally Palearctic gallicus is cortect. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclatute: Opinions In continuation of Bul/. Brit. Orn. Cl. 92, 1972: 172; and by permission of the International Trust for Zoological Nomenclatute, the fol ah nN is quoted as an extract from an Opinion publis ential as Nomencl. affecting birds: OPINION 999 (Bull. Zool. Nomencl. 30 (2), 1973: Plautus Brunnich, 1772 (Aves): suppressed under the plenary powers (1) Under the plenary powers the generic name P/autus Brunnich, 1772, 1s hereby suppressed for the purposes of the Law of Priority but not for those of the Law of Homonymy. (2) The following generic names are placed on the Official List of Generic Names in Zoology with the Name Numbers specified: (a)eAl/e Link, 1807 (gender: feminine), type-species, by monotypy, A/a alle Linnaeus, 1758 (Name No. 1979); (b) Prnguinus Bonnaterre, 1791 (gender: masculine), type-species, by designation by Ogilvie-Grant, 1898, Alca impennis Linnaeus, 1758 (Name No. 1980). (3) The following specific names are hereby placed on the Official List of Specific Names in Zoology with the Name Numbers specified: (a) alle Linnaeus, 1758, as published in the binomen A/ca alle (type-species of Ale Link, 1807) (Name No. 2501); (D) impennis Linnaeus, 1758, as published in the ceils Alca impennis (type-species of Pinguinus Bonnaterre, 1791) (Name No. 2502). (4) The following generic names are hereby placed on the Official Index of Rejected and Invalid Generic Names in Zoology with the Name Numbers specified: (a) Plautus Klein, 1760 (published in a non-binominal work) (Name No. 2008); (b) Plauius Gunnerus, 1761 (published in a non-binominal work) (Name No. 2009); (c) Plotus Gunnerus, 1761 (published in a non-binominal work) (Name No. 2010); (d) Plautus Brunnich, 1772 (as suppressed under the plenary powers in (1) above) (Name No. 2011). che Committee J. H. Elgood (Chairman) P. Hogg (Vice-Chairman) Sit Hugh Elliott, Bt., 0.3.£. (Editor) R. E. F. Peal (Hon. Secretary) M. St. J. Sugg (Hon. Treasurer) J. H. R. Boswall Dr. C. J. O. Harrison C. J. Mead Lt.-Col. J. R. Neighbour CONTRIBUTORS Contributions are not restricted to members of the Club. They should be addressed personally to the Editor, Sir Hugh Elliott, 173 Woodstock Road, Oxford. 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Changes of address and other correspondence regarding membership should be sent to the Hon. Treasurer. SUBSCRIPTION TO BULLE ETIN The Bulletin may be purchased by non-members annually for £3.50 (payable in advance) or per copy 90p (index free), payable to the Hon. Treasurer. CORRESPONDENCE Other correspondence should be addressed to the Hon. Secretary, R. E. F. Peal, 24 Creighton Avenue, London N10 1NU. Published by the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB and printed by The Caxton and Holmesdale Press, 104 London Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. Bulletinof the |. * "1, ' ? s \e ~O British Ornithologists’ Club Edited by HUGH F. £.- ELLIOTT Volume 94 No. 4 December 1974 Committee J. H. Elgood (Chairman) P. Hogg (Vice-Chairman) Sir Hugh Elliott, Bt., 0.3.£. (Editor) : R. E. F. Peal (Hon. Secretary) : M. St. J. Sugg (Hon. Treasurer) J. H. R. Boswall ——— Dr. C. J. O. Harrison C. J. Mead Lt.-Col. J. R. Neighbour Bulletin of the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Vol. 94 No. 4 Published: 20 December, 1974 The six hundred and nineteenth meeting of the Club was held at the Cafe Royal, 68 Regent Street, London, W.1, on Tuesday, 17th September, 1974 at 7 p.m. Chairman: Mr. J. H. Elgood, M.A.; present 26 members and 16 guests. The speaker was Mr. Jeffery Boswall who, after an amusing introduction, - showed the colour sound film “‘The private life of the Jackass (Magellanic) Penguin” (Spheniscus magellanicus), which he had directed and produced for the BBC Natural History Unit. He afterwards added some comments and answered questions on its biology and behaviour. The six hundred and ninety-first meeting of the Club was held at the Cafe Royal, 68 Regent Street, London, W.1, on Tuesday, 19th November, 1974. Chairman: Mr. J. H. Elgood; present 22 members and ro guests. Mr. P. J. Conder, who had most kindly agreed at very short notice to replace the advertised speaker (regretfully prevented from attending), addressed the Club on “Do birdwatchers understand conservation?”, which led to a short but interesting discussion. { Annual General Meeting The eighty-second Annual General Meeting of the British Ornithologsts’ Club was resumed at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, 17th September, 1974 at the Cafe Royal, 68 Regent Street, London, W.1, having been adjourned on 14th May 1974, until that time, for consideration of the Accounts for 1973. Eleven members were present. Apologies for absence were received from Mr. P. Tate. In the absence of Mr. P. Tate, the Honorary Treasurer presented the Accounts for 1973 (see Bu//. Brit. Orn. C/. 94: 41-4 and below). He pointed out that in 1973 there was a deficit on Income and Expenditure Account of £119 against a surplus in 1972 of £132. However sales of back-numbers of the Bulletin in 1972 were exceptionally large at £410; in 1973 they were £185 and in 1974 were expected to be between {100 and £200. Income tax in respect of Deeds of Covenant had not been recovered in 1973 and no pro- vision for the amount recoverable had been made. Judging from the accounts for the two previous years, about {70 would probably be recover- able. Mr. J. H. R. Boswall proposed and Dr. J. F. Monk seconded that the Accounts for 1973 be adopted and this was carried unanimously. The meeting closed at 6.15 p.m. 129 60.06¢F 00.$gI ++ AyaaoyD 3 Ajradord—sosuedxy 5597 TOY ol. 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H. Elgood in the chair. Ten members were present. The Chairman explained that it had been necessary to call the meeting to consider raising the annual subscription because of the steep rise in costs being experienced by the Club. The Honorary Treasurer stated that printing charges, which were the Club’s major item of expenditure, had risen by over 48% since the annual subscription had been increased to {2 10s. with effect from 1st January, 1971. He considered that without a further rise in the subscription of £1 or 40%, a substantial deficit in 1975 would be inevitable. The charge for subscription to the Bulletin by non-members had already been raised by the Committee from £3-50 tof{4-50 a year, with effect from 1st January, 1975. In the course of discussion Dr. J. F. Monk queried whether the amount suggested, £1, would be sufficient to avoid the need for a further subscription increase within a year or two. However, it was generally agreed that, in view of the uncertainty of the rate of inflation, it would be better not to raise the subscription more than immediately necessary, despite the work involved in making changes. The Chairman moved the following resolution, which had been proposed by the Committee as a Special Resolution and of which due notice had been given— That with effect from 1st January, 1975 the annual subscription for — members shall be £3- 50 and that Rule (4) shall be amended accordingly. This was carried unanimously. The meeting closed at 6.30 p.m. The occurrence of the Giant Snipe Gallinago undulata in Surinam by F’. Haverschmidt Received 31st October 1974 The Giant Snipe of South America is the largest of all the snipes and, except for its size, is remarkably like the Common Snipe Gal/inago gallinago in colouration and markings, but it differs from other snipe in having barred primaries and secondaries. It shows certain similarities to the woodcock, such as large the large bill which is very thick at the base (Tuck 1972). Two taces are recognised, the nominate wxdulata in Colombia west and east of the Andes, Venezuela, the Guyanas and the upper Rio Branco region of Brazil, and the larger giganteain southern'Brazil, Paraguay, probably Uruguay and doubtfully Argentina (Hellmayr and Conover 1948, Meyer de Schauen- see 1966). The Giant Snipe has long been known from Surinam but during my residence from 1946-1968 I could assemble only five sight records in June, October and January—March (Haverschmidt 1968). On two more recent visits, however, October 1972 to March 1973 and November 1973 to April 1974, I found that it regularly occurs, though only in small numbers, and I collected a series of seven specimens. 132 Tuck (/oc. cit.) states that in Venezuela the Giant Snipe seems to prefer swamps at all seasons. In a swamp in the llanos at Cafio Maniapure, where between 15 and 21 March, 1970, six specimens were collected, the vegetation consisted mostly of aquatic grasses and shrubbery of about 1° 5 metres in height, in which small openings in the high cover provided feeding places. Chubb (1916) relates that in Guyana the species occurred in swampy pastures and swampy parts of savannas, and Young (1926) found it from February to June in the coastal area of Guyana in young cane or grasses. In Surinam I found the snipe in quite a different habitat on the savannas near Zanderij airport about 45 km due south of Paramaribo. These savannas have a sandy soil, completely covered with short grass and also dotted everywhere with small dense bushes and low shrubs. I observed the Giant Fig. 1 Dry savanna habitat of Gallinago undulata at Zanderij, Surinam. December 1973. Snipe exclusively on quite dry ground covered with savanna herbage to a height of about 50 cm (Fig. 1). Nevertheless, here are some low-lying areas in the savannas which become waterlogged during the rainy season with patches of open ankle-deep water. In these wet areas the Paraguayan Snipe (Gallinago gallinago paraguiae) was quite common, but I never found undulata. Bird life is poor in the dry grassland frequented by the Giant Snipe. The only breeding birds were: Common Ground Dove Co/umbigallina passerina, the Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna and the Grassland Sparrow Myospiza humeralis. The scattered bushes also housed the Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus and the shrubs the Black-faced Tanager Schistochlamys melanopis. The Giant Snipe only flew when almost trodden upon, in sharp contrast to Common Snipe which takes wing at a much greater distance. When flushed undulata utters, once or twice, a harsh, two-syllabled ““kek-kek’’, flies at a low speed a short distance, always avoiding the bushes and shrubbery, and alights again in the grass. I never saw more than two birds in a day, | be ie) nevet saw them active or feeding, and I had the impression that they were simply roosting. It seems likely that they become active only at nightfall, making their way to wetter places to feed, as has been observed elsewhere. Natterer (according to von Pelzeln 1871) heard on several occasions during bright nights in the Rio Branco region of Brazil their loud call high in the air, described as a three-syllabled ‘‘or-a- paz’ ’ and he remarks that the local population said that the call sounded like ‘“‘buen esta”. Whether the Giant Snipe “‘bleats” or “drums” like various other snipe is not yet known, but Tuck (/oc. cit.) remarks that the outer tail-feathers (the tail has 14 feathers) are relatively narrow (5-7 mm.), progressively widening towards the centre, and that it is likely that they are used for some sort of bleating display like that of Gallinago hardwicki as recorded by Reynolds (1935) in the Cape Horn region. eae little is known about the breeding habits of the Giant Snipe. The eggs of the nominate race are apparently unknown and Schénwetter (1967) only describes those of the race grgantea. I am convinced that undulata does breed in Surinam, nothwithstanding the fact that I never succeeded in finding a nest. Although specimens collected by me in January 1973 were in non-breeding condition, jg shot on 25 February and again on 15 December 1973 had enlarged testes, and a 2 collected on 9 January 1974 had eggs of the size of a pea in its oviduct, so that laying was obviously approaching. I always marked the place where I flushed one of these snipe, but never observed one in the same spot on later visits. My records are: 2 January 1973, 1 (coll.); 4 January, 1; 5 January, 1 7 January, 2; 14 January, 2 (1 coll.); 28 January, 1 (coll.); 4 February, 2 (1 coll.); 11 February, 1; 25 February, 2 (1 coll.); 3 December, 1; 6 December, 2; 11 December, 1; 15 December, 2 (1 coll.); 9 January 1974, 2 (1 coll.) and 30 January, 1. All the specimens are in the Leiden Museum. Measurements: the wing length of four fd is: 157, 161, 162 and 162 mm, of one 9 164 mm. All are within the size range of undulata as quoted by Mrs. Meinertzhagen (1926), namely—two gg 158, 165 mm, two 99 both 164 mm and three unsexed 155-165 mm (as compared with givantea: one g 176 mm, and six unsexed 169-179 mm. Weight: I know of only one previous record of the weight of wudulata, a 2 from Venezuela which weighed 282-2 g (Tuck 1972). The weights of my specimens were: five males gg 270, 276, 288, 315 and 320, and two 09 341 and 362. None of them showed any sign of fat. Colour of the soft parts: iris brown, bill brown, feet lead colour, nails black. References: Chubb, C. 1916. The Birds of British Guiana. Vol. 1. London: Quaritch. Haverschmidt, F. 1968. Birds of Surinam. Edinburgh and London: Oliver & Boyd. Hellmayr, C. & Conover, B. 1948. Catalogue of birds of the Americas and adjacent islands. Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Zool. 13, Pt. I (2): 158-160. Meinertzhagen, A. 1926. A review of the Subfamily Scolopacinae. Part I. The Snipes and Semi-woodcocks. /bis 12 (11): 511-512 Meyer de Schauensee, R. 1966. The species of birds of South America and their distribution. Narberth: Livingston. Pelzeln, A. von. 1871. Zur Ornithologie Brasiliens. Wien: Pichler. Reynolds, P. W. 1935. Notes on the birds of Cape Horn. /bis 13 (5): 87-88. Schénwetter, M. 1967. Handbuch der Ooolgie. Bd. 1. Berlin: Akademie Verlag. Tuck, L. M. 1972. The Snipes. Ottawa: Canadian Wildlife Service. Young, C. G. 1928. A contribution to the ornithology of the coastland of British Guiana. Ibis 12 (4): 772. 134 Weights and perching habits of birds at Port Moresby, Papua, New Guinea by J. H. Elgood Received 9th October 1974 During a visit to the University of Papua New Guinea at Port Moresby from late February to early July 1974, it was possible to collect data that may be of some interest in view of the paucity of information, particularly in English journals, on birds of that area. The combination of regular teaching duties and reduced mobility, due more to increasing years than to lack of transport facilities, made continuous or distant observations im- possible. The Campus at U.P.N.G. is in a wide valley between low hills, which, because their steepness has limited urban development, have largely retained unbroken savanna vegetation, whereas the valley floor has become greatly modified through human activity in recent years. Port Moresby lies in a rain shadow so that savanna is at least partly natural, though dry season firing of the grass is clearly an important factor; it comprises a light cover of trees, largely Eucalyptus spp., interspersed with patches of sago-palms Cycas spp., while the grass is predominantly Kangaroo Grass, Themeda sp. In most years the rains cease about the end of April and drying winds facilitate grass burning, but in 1974 the rains persisted, on a reduced scale, until after my departure so that the area remained consistently verdant. The development of the University during the last eight years has involved the construction of massive concrete buildings, the formation of an extensive staff housing area with gardens, an inter-connecting road system and large areas of closely mown grass, mainly as playing fields. A few streams traverse the valley floor, bordered by gallery forest, but for the most part undeveloped areas support savanna in which Eucalyptus confertiflora is dominant. Mainly by mist-netting, the live weights listed below in Table I were determined. A notable feature of this mist-netting in comparison with that undertaken on University campuses in Nigeria (Ibadan, Lagos and Zaria) was the extremely low rate of capture. One 4o ft. six-shelf net captured only two birds, both Cracticus mentalis, in two months of continuous flying, an equally low rate of bat capture making it quite unnecessary to furl the net at night. The weight records include those of two local hand captures and of a number of specimens collected for the University Museum. Table I gives the live (or just shot) weights of fifty-two birds belonging to twenty- five species. In most cases the sexes were not determined, though some were clearly juveniles, as indicated. Nomenclature and order follow that of Rand & Gilliard 1967. The most interesting feature of this Table is the diversity of weights, indicative of different feeding habits, in members of the same family: Alcedinidae (Daceloninae) 105-0 43:0 40:0 32°9 Campephagidae GEG) 730" 24r2 Muscicapinae igh IG Napa ls es Se Co Mt Meliphagidae 144°6 20°21: 15°6 In the kingfishers, no specimen of the Blue-winged Kookaburra, Dacelo leachii was captured but it must be at least twice as heavy as D. gaudichand (105 g). The nearly tenfold difference between the honeyeater Me/iphaga 135 flavescens (15:6 g) and the friar bird Philemon novaeguineae (144°6 g), two of the commoner Meliphagidae in the Ewalypius savanna around Port Moresby, is most remarkable. TABLE 1 NON-PASSERINES. Nycticorax caledonicus juv. 315 Geopelia striata 46°43 47°23 47:0: mean 46-7 Trichoglossus haematodus 1195 1032 mean III Centropus phasianus 280 Dacelo gaudichaud 105 Halcyon macleayii 43°0 Halcyon sancta 30°8; 34:9: mean 32:9 Tanysiptera galatea juv. 40:0 Merops ornatus LO pees mean 23°1 PASSERINES. ; Lalage sueurii 25°8 5; 20°7 2; 26:2 f mean 24:2 Coracina papuensis Tax 093.76: mean 73 Coracina novaehollandiae gI Cisticola exilis aedes whe ds mean 7°3 Rhipidura leucophrys 21'O Monarcha melanopsis palo) Microeca leucophaea T4053 .12°0% mean 13:0 Microeca flavigaster yey Colluricincla harmonica 73 Artamus leucorhynchus 36 A plonis cantoroides adults 48:725 7°45 51-2¢ mean 52°4 -JUVS. 47°03 §0°2; 42°1; 47°83 45°2: mean 46°5 Oriolus szalayi 99 Cracticus mentalis O72; 88°75, 85:0; 100: mean 95-0 Corvus orru 555 Meliphaga flavescens L§<5; 16-65)04°8: mean 15:6 — Meliphaga analoga 20°2 Philemon novaeguineae Lonchura caniceps 144°1; 145°03 mean 144'6 8:1 The number of birds utilising man-made perches, particularly electricity cables, was such a striking feature of the area that from mid-April to the end of June records of the type of perch utilised were kept, and the results are given in Table II. Eight types of perch are distinguished, of which the first four, ““Bare Trees”, “Leafy Trees”, “Shrubs” and “Grass” are regarded as natural while “Wires’’, “Buildings” and “‘Fences & Posts” are clearly man- made. The last category ““Ground” is somewhat ambiguous, since most of the birds quoted in this category were in fact met either on roads or their verges. Only species with a minimum of five encounters are considered. Although the total numbers of perchings recorded give some indication of relative abundance, it must be pointed out that only non-flying birds were counted. Such species as Trichoglossus haematodus, Hirundo tabitica, Merops ornatus and Corvus orru were observed far more frequently in flight than perched while Co/localza vanikoriensis was never met perched (and is therefore not included in Table II) but was quite commonly seen in flight. On the other hand the inclusion of sightings on the ground gives a better idea of the abundance of some species, for example the ground figures for Geopelia striata and Lalage sueurii. In any case the numbers quoted for natural situations and the ground will include some individuals that are feeding rather than just perching, whereas man-made situations will offer little opportunity for food, only a watch point. Again, it is fully appreciated that birds are most conspicuous when perched on wires, least so in leafy trees: the figures given 136 cannot therefore claim to be more than an indication of relative abundance and many species will perch more often in leafy trees than they are credited with doing. One case in point is the Wood Swallow, Artamus leucorhynchus, which almost always perches on exposed sites, wires or bare trees, but moves to roost in leafy trees. Just before dusk quite large numbers, between fifty and a hundred, were sometimes detected, closely packed and touching one another, just inside the canopy of tall trees. But such roosting counts have been omitted from the data in Table II and so also have those for a mixed roost of the two orioles Orio/us szalayi and Sphecotheres vieilloti and glossy starling Ap/onis cantoroides. TABLE :2 Perching situations: Percentage utilisations Species (8 Total Bare Leafy Shrubs Grass Wires Posts/ Build- Gnd. Enco- trees trees fences ings unters Alccipiter sp.* _ — —- a 29 — — 7x ‘ Rallus philippensis — — — — — — — 100 7 Geopelia humeralis 33 67 -- = — —- — — 6 Geopelia striata 12 4 — —- 14 _ — JO. 232 Trichoglossus haematodus 8 92 a — == —- — — 94 Cacomantis variolosus 25 75 — = —- -— = os 16 Centropus phasianinus —- 7 9 II — I — 72 71 Dacelo leachii 27 50 — -= 23 — — — 76 Hal-yon macleayii 39 — — —- 17 44 — — 18 ‘Halcyon sancta 7 16 3 — 6o 14 — 107 Merops ornatus 29 27 5 — II 16 -— 121i 87 Eurystomus orientalis 87 — — — 13 — — ca 8 Hirundo tahitica 63 —- — — 13 a 24 — 75 Lalage su-urii 3 46 — — _- — --- Sir hos Corazina novaehollandiae II 74 _ -— 7 7 — ethos L255; Coracina papuensis 41 55 4 —- -— — -- 22 Saxicola caprata II 8 44 — 26 — — II 27 Malurus alboscapularis —— -— “= 70 20 — — 10 10 Cisticola exilis 9 — —- 54 37 = — 48 Rhipidura leucophrys 7 5 5 3 12 6 12 50 102 Microeca flavigaster 62 29. — — 9 =e TA 77 Microeca leucophaea 53 12 5 2 7 5 = 14 62 Colluricincla harmonica II 86 — — 3 — — — 28 Artamus leucorhynchus 30 3 — — 67 — = = 126 Aplonis cantoroides 35 5 6 —- 54 a — — 87 Mina dumonti 64 36 — —- — _ oo = 22 Oriolus szalayi 4 96 — — — — — = 59 Sphecotheres vieilloti I 99 — — = a= — 75 Cracticus mentalis 25 66 = = 9 a a st Corvus orru 32 16 — — — — 52 25 Chlamydera cerviniventris — 100 _ — — — 21 _ Nectarinia jugularis a 6 60 14 14 6 = a 15 Meliphaga flavescens 23 74 _ —- — — =e 49 Philemon novaeguineae 17 83 — — — — ae — 55 Lonchura caniceps 2 I I 59 3 22 — L200 S47 Lonchura castaneothorax 20 3 — 77 _ a= — ss 35 otals 36 30 29 IO 8 21 9 2 13 ve 83 80 28 22 58 25 6 36 * Probably A. fasciatus, in all sightings. A few features of Table II may be picked out. The Fawn-breasted Bower- bird Chlamydera cerviniventris, although not very common, was only observed E57 (except in flight) perching within the canopy of leafy trees and is the only bird exclusive to that situation. The only other species found exclusively in one perching situation (the ground, not surprisingly), is the Banded Land Rail Ra//us philippensis, where five of the seven encounters were on dry roadsides. By contrast only the Willie Wagtail RAipzdura leucophrys was encountered in all eight types of perching situation, though 50% of the encounters were on the ground. Species showing a marked preference (more than 50° of encounters) for bare trees are Hirundo tahitica, Microeca flavigaster, M. leucophaea and Mina dumonti (the first three insectivores, taking prey in flight); for leafy trees Trichoglossus haematodus, Cacomantis variolosus, Coracina novaehollandiae, C. papuensis, Colluricincla harmonica, Oriolus szalayi, S phecotheres vieilloti, Cracticus mentalis, Chlamydera cerviniventris, Meliphaga flavescens and Philemon novaeguineae (all essentially canopy feeders) ; for shrubs only Nectarinia jusularis; for grass Malurus alboscapularis, Cisticola exilis and the two gramini- vores Lonchura caniceps and L. castaneothorax. As for man-made situations no species show preference for buildings, or posts and fences, but three, Halcyon sancta, Aplonis cantoroides and Artamus leucorhynchus (of rather mixed feeding habits) show a preference for overhead wires and almost 60%, of all the species involved utilise them to some extent. Species showing preference for the ground are Accipiter sp., Geopelia striata, Centropus phasianinus, Rallus philippensis, Lalage sueurii and Corvus orru, all of which are ground feeders to some extent, the Accipiter appearing to be somewhat of a scavenger of road- casualty toads, rather like Mi/vus migrans in Africa. It is noteworthy that, with the possible exception of Me/iphaga flavescens, all the leafy tree perchers have particularly loud voices, the only other really noisy species being Dacelo leachii, with which in any case exactly 50% of encounters were in this situation. It is also worth noting that Hzrundo tahitica, in contrast to swallows elsewhere, prefers to perch on bare trees — rather than wires, but was not infrequently seen on buildings, notably on the struts supporting an open roof over the University Forum. Table II contains five pairs of congeneric species and the number of times _each one of a pair was sighted certainly gives a good indication of relative abundance in the study area. Perching differences are also well reflected’ by the figures. Thus, of the two Geopelia species, bumeralis is much less common and does not appear on roadsides like striata but tends to remain concealed in leafy trees. Ha/ycon sancta, migrant from Australia and New Zealand where overhead wires will have been part of its environment for a long period, has a distinct preference for this situation, while macleayii prefers a lower petch like a fence. Both Coracina novaehollandiae and Microeca leucophaea appear more catholic in their choice of perches than their congeners C. papuensis and M. flavigaster, while a Mannikin perched in a bare tree was much mote likely to be L. castaneothorax than L. caniceps. Finally, it may be remarked that the study revealed that, with the possible exception of the semi-natural ground situation, overhead wires were the only man-made perches which could be considered as a substantial attrac- tion for the birds of the campus and its surroundings. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I should like to thank the Inter-University Council for making possible my visit to Port Moresby; Prof. Lamb and his staff of the Biology Depart- ment, University of Papua New Guinea, for help and facilities while there; and Sir Hugh Elliott for helpful criticism of a first draft of this paper. 138 The characters and range of Pogoniulus chrysoconus extoni (Layard), 1871 by P. A. Clancey Received 22nd April 1974 The races of the small barbet Pogoniulus chrysoconus (Temminck) of the savannas of Ethiopian Africa were considered by Grant (1915), Sclater (1924), Macdonald (1938), Chapin (1939) and White (1965). Mackworth- Praed and Grant (1955) dealt with the eastern and southern races, Clancey (1961) reviewed the variation evident in the southern African populations in some detail, and the local situation in Zambia and Rhodesia was con- sidered by Irwin and Benson (1967). The arrangements of White and Mackworth-Praed & Grant are based on the conclusions of Macdonald, checked against British Museum and other material, while Sclater followed Grant. Ross (1970), in his recent interesting exercise on the southern African populations of both P. chrysoconus and P. pusillus (Dumont), demonstrates that a proportion of the South African population of the former has the coronal patch orange-yellow or bright orange as opposed to yellow, and that there is a distributional hiatus between the southern population and those occurring on the Rhodesian plateau, west to northern South-West Africa and Angola. These findings suggested to me that the current wide application of the name Barbatula extoni Layard, 1871: Kanye, south-eastern Botswana, to the populations of this barbet occurring as far north as the plateau of Angola (Traylor 1963), Zambia (Benson ef a/. 1971), south- eastern Zaire, and western and southern Tanzania (Mackworth-Praed & Grant, /oc. cit.) was almost certainly incorrect and that the subspecies P. c. extoni was probably best restricted to south-eastern Botswana, the Transvaal south of the Limpopo R. valley, and north-western Orange Free State. Through the courtesy of Dr. A. C. Kemp, Ornithologist of the Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, I have been able to examine in the Durban Museum a series of one hundred Transvaal specimens of P. chrysoconus collected since 1960 by Mr. O. P. M. Prozesky, forming part of the extensive material commented on by Ross. Careful study of this long series in conjuncticn with the skins in the Durban Museum shows conclusively that P. ¢. extoni requires to be restricted to south-eastern Botswana at Kanye and Gaborone, the Transvaal and the north-western Orange Free State. These southern popula- tions of P. chrysoconus differ markedly in series from samples of the popula- tions occurring along the Mogambique littoral in being much larger, with wings of $2 61-67, versus 55-6o-5 mm (see also Table I below), blacker above with the dark interstices over the dorsal head confluent, the frontal patch orange-yellow or orange in a proportion of specimens, and in being more o]ivaceous dusky below. Compared with material of the plateau popu- lations from Rhodesia, west to South-West Africa and Angola they show no statistically significant difference in size, but differ appreciably on colour characters, exhibiting criteria comparable to those enumerated in the comparison with Mocambique littoral birds. With the restriction of the use of the name exsoni to the plateau popula- tion occurring south of ¢. 23° S., the paler populations with broader and whiter dorsal streaking, a more glaucous coloured rump and much lighter ventral surfaces present further north in southern Africa (north of ¢. 21° S.) make it necessary to use the name P. c. rhodesiae Grant, 1915: Chambezi nee Valley, north-eastern Zambia. When recognised by workers, rhodesiae has been generally utilised for the populations of high rainfall regimes extending from the plateau of Angola, east across the northern half of Zambia and the Katanga (Zaire) to northern Malawi and western and southern Tanzania. Chapin (1939) mentions it as ranging to the Ruzizi Valley. In my revision of the southern African populations I brought the range of rhodesiae south to the miombo biome of Rhodesia. While it is possible to demonstrate that the xeric elements present in southern Angola and northern South-West Africa, east to the Caprivi Strip, northern Botswana and the western edge of Rhodesia are ventrally paler than Zambian topotypes of rhodesiae, I believe that the essential facts of the variation are not lost by merging the several xeric populations grouped by me in ex/on/ in 1961, in an enlarged subspecies rhodesiae. P. c. extoni as here interpreted was scarcely represented in collections when I discussed the species fourteen years ago, and its characters as defined in this note were not appreciated on the basis of the small and unagtstacl ony samples then available. The characters and ranges of the subspecies forming the extoni group of forms will now stand as follows: (a) Pogoniulus chrysoconus extoni (Layard), 1871: Kanye, south-eastern Bots- wana Frontal patch chrome or light cadmium yellow to more orange and even flame scarlet; upper-parts sooty black, coarsely streaked with greenish white, the head-top often almost wholly sooty black; rump dull greenish. Below, with throat Sea-foam Green (Ridgway, 1912, pl. xxxi), the breast buffish Reed Yellow (pl. xxx). Size large: 21 f2 from south-western Transvaal with wings 61-67 mm. Range: South-eastern Botswana, the Transvaal south of 23° S. lat., and north-western Orange Free State. Note: Of the Transvaal samples studied 20 per cent had the frontal patch markedly orange or pale scarlet. TABLE I The wing-length variable in Transvaal samples of Pogoniulus chrysoconus extont Localities n range mM SD 3? S.W. Transvaal: Barberspan, Groot Marico, Zeerust, Swartruggens, Rustenburg, etc. 21 61-67 63-7 1°64 Northam 7 62-67 64:0 2°07 Derdepoort 12 61-5—66 63-1 1°34 Ellisras 7 61-5—-67°5 64:2 2:00 Magaliesberg 17 63-67 64:9 1°44 Hartebeestpoort Dam TAD 61°5—67°5 64:0 1°92 Hanglipberg 10 61-66 63°8 1°65 S.E. Transvaal: Nelspruit, Malelane, Barberton, etc. 10 60-65 62°8 12 Kruger National Park 4 59-64'5 61-5 | The drop in size shown by the south-eastern Transvaal and Kruger National Park samples should be noticed. The single Kruger National Park specimen with a wing as low as 59 mm (T.M. No. 35,813) likewise exhibits the pale ventral colouration of the Mccambique littoral race, P. c. dryas. (b) Pogoniulus chrysoconus rhodesiae Grant, 1915: Chambezi Valley, north- eastern Zambia Frontal patch deep chrome yellow. Upper-parts paler than in ex‘onz, the streaking whiter and broader, and head-top always broadly streaked white; 140 rump paler and more glaucous. Below much paler; throat Martius Yellow (pl. iv), and breast about Massicot Yellow (pl. xvi) or more buffy. Wings with brighter yellow surfaces. Size ranging smaller: wings of 20 J? from Rhodesia and Zambia 61-66, m. 62°6, SD 1°43 mm. Range: Angola and northern South-West Africa, east to the Caprivi Strip, northern and north-eastern Botswana, the plateau of Rhodesia, Zambia, the Katanga (Zaire), northern Malawi, and western and south-western Tanzania, thence north to the Ruzizi Valley. (c) Pogoniulus chrysoconus dryas Clancey and Lawson, 1961: Panda, Inham- bane, Mocambique Similar to rhodesiae above, but on the underside paler over the throat, this merging insensibly into the lighter breast which exhibits little or no buffish overlay. Size much smaller: wings of 12 JQ 55—60°5, m. 58°4, SD 1°88 mm. Range: Mocambique, northern Rhodesia west to about the Kariba Basin, southern Malawi, and Southern Province, Tanzania. Taken at Nuanedzi, Kruger National Park, eastern Transvaal, on one occasion (24 November 1960). (d) Baile: chrysoconus mayri White, 1946: Dundo, Lunda, Angola. Generally with less starkly whitish streaking to the dorsum than in the case of rhodesiae. Below, with the throat slightly deeper yellow and the breast more overlaid with yellowish buff or ochraceous. Size as in dryas: wings of $2 55—Go mm (from original description). Range: The Kasai, Zaire, and Lunda district, Angola. References: Benson, C. W., Brooke, R. K., Dowsett, R. J. & Irwin, M. P. S. 1971. Birds of Zambia. London and Lusaka: 174, 175. Chapin, J. P. 1939. Birds of the Belgian Congo. Bu//. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 75: 497-499. Clancey, P. A. 1961. Polytypic variation in the South African populations of the Yellow- fronted Tinker Barbet Pogoniulus chrysoconus (Temminck). Durban Mus. Novit. €(6): 80-85. Grant, C. H. B. 1915. On a Collection of Birds from British East Africa and Uganda, presented to the British Museum by Capt. G. P. Cosens. Ibis, roth ser., 3(3): 444-447. Macdonald, J. D. 1938. The Races and Distribution of Pogoniulus chrysoconus. Ibis, 14th ser., 2(2): 346-348. Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1955. Birds of Eastern and North Eastern Africa. London, 1: 725-727. Ridgeway, R. 1912. Color Standards and Color Nomenclature. Washington. Ross, G. J. B. 1970. The specific status and distribution of Pogoniulus pusillus (Dumont) and Pogoniulus chrysoconus (Temminck) in southern Africa. Ostrich 41(3): 200-204. Sclater, W. L. 1924. Systema Avium Aethiopicarum, London, 1: 281. Traylor, M. A. 1963. Check-list of Angolan Birds. Pub. Cult. Comp. Diaman. Angola Lisboa, 61: 104. White, C M. N. 1965. Revised Check List of African Non-Passerine Birds, Lusaka: 268, 269. Another specimen of Neodrepanis hypoxantha by C. W. Benson Received 24th August 1974 Salomonsen (1965: 108-110) gave an account of the nine specimens of this species, originally distinguished by him (1933), or subsequently, from those of the better known N. coruscans Sharpe. A tenth was reported by Benson (1971: 3). Tristram (1889: 212) listed a g specimen of N. coruscans from east of Antananarivo (=Tananarive), collected by W. D. Cowan in July 1881. Its 141 particulars were similar to those given by Salomonsen (1933) for the type of N. hypoxantha, also a g. Canon Tristram’s collections are in the Merseyside County Museums (formerly City of Liverpool Museums). I have had the loan of the specimen, and there is no doubt that, as I had suspected, it belongs to N. hypoxantha, not coruscans. One of the characters distinguishing hypoxantha from coruscans is its shorter bill. Unfortunately the tip of the bill of Tristiam’s specimen has been broken oft. Nevertheless, the immaculate bright yellow underparts and the attenuated shape of the outermost primary clearly show it to be an example of hypoxantha. As reported by Benson (1971: 3), the g hypoxantha in the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge, is in full breeding dress, and with bare skin on the sides of the head, encircling the eye, apparently fully developed. It is unfortunate that it bears no locality or date of collection, although according to the remarks by Salomonsen (1965: 110) with regard to a seasonal change of plumage, it was most probably coliected in October or November. The three specimens in the British Museum (Natural History), Tring, consist of a g and a 9 collected by Cowan east of Tananarive in July 1881, which constituted the only material available to Salomonsen (1933), and a second 4, collected by L. Lavauden in August 1929 at Fito, eastern Madagascar, and mentioned in Salomonsen’s later paper (1965: 109). Unlike the ¢g in Liverpool and Cambridge, the two in Tring do not have entirely immaculate yellow underparts, even though this is the initial impression. The feathers of the chin to chest in fact have inconspicuous olive tips. This applies too to the 9, in which the shafts of the feathers of this region are also mostly olive. The July ¢ in Tring has the upperparts mainly olive, although there are some metallic blue feathers on the mantle downwards. The August ¢ is more advanced into breeding dress, although the crown and mantle are still mainly olive. The Liverpool specimen, although dated as early as July, has olive confined to the crown. The Cam- bridge specimen (undated) shows no olive at all, and is the only one examined which has bare skin on the sides of the head. It should be emphasised that the Liverpool and Cambridge specimens, unlike those in Tring, lack any sign of olive tips to the feathers of the chin to chest (except for slight traces on one side, only, in the Liverpool one). This would appear to represent a difference between the breeding and off- season plumages of the male, additional to the presence of bare skin on the sides of the head and wholly blue upperparts. Presumably the inconspicuous olive tips are not lost by abrasion but in the course of the moult from the off-season to the breeding dress. Milon ef a/. (1973: 184) regard N. hypoxantha merely as a subspecies of coruscans. However, they probably had not seen a specimen of hypoxantha none apparently exists in France, nor could I find one during a visit to the O.R.S.T.O.M. museum in Tananarive in November 1972). In fact differences in structure and colour are such that it is impossible to believe that the two forms can be conspecific. In any case in all probability they are sympatric: Fito, where Lavauden collected hypoxantha, is between Maroantsetra and Fanova, from both of which there are specimens of coruscans in Tring (for map, see Rand, 1936: 147). Indeed, it is surprising that hypoxantha was not recognised eatlier. So distinguished a worker as Gadow (1884: 2) for example, obviously confused the two species. Using the two specimens of bypoxantha collected by Cowan, 142 he described the 3 and 9 of coruscans as having underparts “‘vivid yellow’’, and considered the type of coruscans to be immature. In fact, it is approaching full breeding plumage, olive on the upperparts only being apparent on the crown. It is undated, but might have been collected in August (the sequence of plumage in the two species, as discussed by Salomonsen, 1965, would appear to be very similar). Salomonsen felt certain that hypoxantha still survived. Reduction of the forests of eastern Madagascar continues, but one cannot but believe that hypoxantha is indeed still there. It is a species presumably associated with dense evergreen forest, the predominant habitat (originally at least) at Fito, for example. Some forest species are extremely elusive, which is probably the case with hypoxantha, and it may also be uncommon. Similar considerations seem to apply to two other species of eastern Madagascar, almost certainly also forest dwellers, viz. Phy//astrephus tenebrosus (Stresemann) and Newtonia fanovanae Gyldenstolpe. Like Neodrepanis hypoxantha, they were not found by the Mission Zoologique Franco-Anglo-Américaine 4 Mada- gascar, although it was in the field for about two years (Rand, 1936: 143). Newtonia fanovanae, an extremely distinct species, is still only known from the type, and P. senebrosus from some five specimens collected about 1925 (Rand, 1936: 431, 453; Benson, in prep.). Incidentally, Milon e¢ a/. (1973: 198) seem to regard the latter as merely a subspecies of P. madagascariensis (Gmelin), but it is certainly a valid species, its nearest relative P. yosterops (Sharpe). Thus there are these three species in eastern Madagascar which probably all still survive, but escape notice, due probably to the nature of their habitat and their sparseness. Rand himself (in Greenway, 1967: 28) also believed that N. hypoxantha would be found again. There should be no difficulty in distinguishing it from coruscans in life, without recourse to collecting, assuming that a reasonable view can be obtained, since at all seasons the underparts are a vivid, immaculate yellow, in contrast to the variegated appearance in coruscans. Milon e¢ al. suggest that the g of hypoxantha is also distinguishable from that of coruscans by its non-metallic greenish blue upperparts, but in fact they are a very similar metallic blue in both species. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iam most grateful to P. J. Morgan, Keeper of Vertebrate Zoology, for the loan of the specimen of Neodrepanis hypoxantha in the Merseyside County Museums, Liverpool; and to R. Wagstaffe for advice and assistance in general. References: Benson, C. W. 1971. The Cambridge collection from the Malagasy Region (part II). Bw//. Brit. Orn. Cl. 91: 1-7. Gadow, H. 1884. Catalogue of birds in the British Museum 9. London: Trustees. Greenway, J. C. 1967. Extinct and vanishing birds of the world. Revised ed’n. New York: Dover Publications. Milon, Ph., Petter, J.-J., & Randrianasolo, G. 1973. Faune de Madagascar 35. Oiseaux. Tananarive: O.R.S.T.O.M.; Paris: C.N.R.S. Rand, A. L. 1936. The distribution and habits of Madagascar birds. Ba//. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 72(5): 143-499. Salomonsen, F. 1933. Neodrepanis hypoxantha, sp. nov. Bull. Brit. Orn. C/. 53: 182-183. — 1965. Notes on the Sunbird-Asitys (Neodrepanis). Oiseau et R.F.O. 35 (No. Spéc.): 103-IIT. Tristram, H. B. 1889. Catalogue of a collection of birds. Durham: “‘Advertiser’’. 143 Some questionable records of Celebes birds by C. M. N. White Received 29th October 1974 Dr. Charles Hose resided in Sarawak as a civil servant from 1884 to 1907, making extensive zoological collections including many bird skins. Much of his material seems to have been disposed of commercially, bearing printed labels which do not appear to have been written and attached in the field. These were common practices at that time. In 1895 he and his collectors visited the Minahassa region of north Celebes where he collected mammals and birds. He later (1903: 77-117) published a list of the birds collected. It included four species not otherwise known from Celebes, one of them, Dicaeum hosei, having been described as new by Sharpe in 1897. This note questions the provenance of these species. In his paper Hose states that he arrived at Menado on 2 October and that his visit to Celebes lasted two months. However almost all the listed speci- mens are dated September to November so that his arrival must have been up to a month earlier. Yet, in recording Macrocephalon maleo he gives the date as 11 February, adding “this specimen I procured myself”. Some rodents from his collection are dated 11 January according to Musser (1970, Amer. Mus. Novit. 2440: 27). All this indicates that the labels were not written in the field: one suspects that the date 11 really refers to the month November but was later interpreted as referring to the day of different months. It is curious that Hose himself did not notice these anomalies when writing his paper. He also lists a few specimens from Sangihe and Talaut islands obtained in October and one in November, but gives no information of how these were collected midway in his field work; nor does he explain how he and his col- lectors travelled between Borneo and Celebes. The bulk of the birds collected undoubtedly came from Celebes and were correctly labelled, but the above facts show how careless subsequent labelling could have permitted specimens from other sources to have been included in the Celebes collection. Comment can now be made on the questionable species. Dicaeum hosez. Hose lists three specimens. Stresemann (1940: 53) has shown that the type and another specimen are D. cruentatum nigrimentum, common in Borneo and evidently mislabelled, whilst the third was from Celebes and is D. nehrkorni, wrongly identified. This was the first indication that birds of alien provenance had been added to the Celebes collection but Stresemann did not follow up his discovery by querying other species. Rhipidura javanica nigritorquis. Hose lists one male from Menado. This subspecies is widespread in the Philippines including Palawan and Sulu Islands. Although Stresemann (1940: 86) commented that this was perhaps a completely new extension of range, another error in labelling seems more plausible. The subspecies does not occur in Borneo but Hose and his col- lectors may have called at Palawan or the Sulu Islands on their way to Celebes ot Hose might have received a specimen from his friend A. H. Everett, who collected in the Philippines and Borneo during frequent breaks in his career as a civil servant in Sarawak. There seems no reason to suppose that this species might occur as a vagrant, and the record is too doubtful to justify including the species in the list of birds of Celebes. Eudynamys scolopacea chinensis. Hose lists one female from Likupang. Stresemann (1941: 84) comments that it agrees with examples from southern 144 China and must have been a vagrant which may have reached Celebes via the Philippines. There are however no records from the Philippines of F. s. chinensis as an occasional migrant, although it has been recorded from Malaya, Natuna Islands and Sarawak. The Celebes specimen may be a genuine vagrant but it seems unsafe to accept it as such in view of the history of anomalous specimens in Hose’s collection. Fregata andrewsi. Hose lists two females under the name F’. aquila. At that time four species were confused under the latter name. Lowe (1924: 306) lists one of these specimens and identifies it as F. andrewsi. Peters (1931: 95) includes Celebes in the range of the latter, presumably following Lowe. Stresemann makes no reference to F. andrewsi. in Celebes. He probably overlooked Lowe’s re-identification of one of the specimens, and assumed that all old Indonesian records of F. aguila are really referable to F. minor. F. andrewsi occurs at times on the coast of Sarawak and Smythies (1960: 124) reports that seven specimens have been collected there. A large marine bird of this type could no doubt wander to Celebes, and if there were no other questionable birds in Hose’s collection from Celebes, the record would probably be acceptable. But since the coast of Sarawak is perhaps the only locality where this species has been regularly recorded away from its breeding places, there is a strong element of doubt about the origin of the Celebes specimens. In questioning the provenance of these birds in Hose’s collection from Celebes, it should be added that I have no knowledge of any similar problems relating to his large collections made in Borneo. Most of the collection from Celebes was clearly correctly labelled, but there was an error in the case of Dicaeum hosei, and almost certainly in the three further cases discussed above. References: Hose, C, 1903. List of Birds collected in Northern Celebes. Ornis xii (1) 77-117. Lowe, P. R. 1924. Some notes on the Fregatidae. Novit. Zoolog. 31: 299-313. Peters, J. L. 1931. Check List of Birds of the World, 1. Harvard U.P. Smythies, B. B. 1960. The Birds of Borneo. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd. Stresemann, E. 1940, 1941, Die Végel von Celehes. Journ. Ornith. 88: 1-135; 89: 1-102. Undescribed land birds from the Cook Islands, Pacific Ocean by D. T. Holyoak Received 19th August 1974 During a survey of the birds of the Cook Islands from July-September 1973, the birds of the islands of Atiu, Mitiaro, Mauke and Mangaia were investigated for the first time. Series of seven land birds that apparently represent undescribed forms were collected. This paper gives descriptions of these forms, in advance of a fuller report on their biology and that of the _ other birds seen. The specimens collected will be lodged in the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., excepting one paratype of each new form given to the British Museum (Natural History). Ptilinopus rarotongensis goodyini subsp. nov. | Description. Adult 3 and @ (sexes similar): differ from P. rarotongensis of 145 Rarotonga, described by Hartlaub & Finsch (1871), in having only a few orange feather tips in the centre of the belly instead of a much larger patch of carmine-red; otherwise very similar. Although only four specimens from Rarotonga were available for comparison, all with the carmine-red patch on the belly, this feature was also noticed on other birds watched at close range on Rarotonga which were not collected. Type. 3 with enlarged testes, Atiu, Cook Islands, 14 September 1973. Collected by D. T. Holyoak, field no. 188. Measurements of type. Wing 134, tail 86, exposed culmen 11, tarsus 22 mm. Material examined. Besides the type, two §¢ with enlarged testes collected at the same locality, 4 September; one 3 with enlarged testes, two 99 with ovae a little enlarged, and one unsexed bird collected at the same locality, 14 September; a g and 9 both with enlarged gonads collected at the same locality, 15 September. These all agree with the type in colouration; their measurements are: dg, wing 132, 133, 134, 138, tail 84-5, 87°5, 87-5, 89°5, culmen 9:5, 10, 11, I1, tarsus 24, 25, 25, 253 29, wing 129, 131, one moulting, tail 82, 84, 85, culmen 10°5, 10°5, Io°5, tarsus 23°5, 24°5, 25; umsexed, wing 128, tail 85, culmen 11, tarsus 25-5 mm. Name. Named for Derek Goodwin in recognition of his work on pigeons. Notes. P. r. goodwini was common almost everywhere there were trees on Atiu, including the makatea region, lowlands inside the wakatea and higher up in the middle of the island. Collocalia sawtelli sp. nov. Description. Adult 3 and © (sexes similar): ear coverts, forehead, crown and nape black with slight green gloss; mantle, back and rump blackish- brown; shorter upper tail coverts grey-brown with light grey-brown feather bases that are partly exposed; longer upper tail coverts and rectrices blackish- brown to black; wing coverts black with slight green gloss; remiges black with hidden areas blackish-brown; whole underside of body brown-grey; underwing coverts and underside of remiges blackish-brown. Soft part colours (recorded one day after collecting): bill black, iris blackish-brown to black; legs and feet dark grey-pink or blackish-pink, claws black. Type. 2 with small gonads collected in nesting cave, Annataketake Cave, Atiu, Cook Islands, 4 September 1973. Collected by D. T. Holyoak, field number 173. Measurements of type. Wing 120, tail 55, exposed culmen 4:1, tarsus 9°0 mm. Material examined. In addition to the type, two §¢ and four 9° collected at the same locality the same day, and one @ collected at the same locality on 15 September 1973. Measurements: gg, wing 117°5, 118, tail 53, 54°5, culmen 4:1, 4°8, tarsus 9:1, 9°6; 99, wing 115°5, 118, 118°5, 118°5, 119, tail 53, 55, 55°5, 56 (one missing), culmen 3:7, 3:9, 4:0, 4°1, 4°1, tarsus 9:0, 9°T, 9°2, 9°4, 9°6 mm. Name. Named for Mr. Gordon H. Sawtell, Secretary of the Premier’s Department of the Government of the Cook Islands, who told me of this bird soon after my arrival in the Cook Islands and later gave valuable assist- ance in visiting Atiu and the Annataketake Cave. Notes. This swiftlet is very similar in appearance to C. /ewcophaea of the Society and Marquesas Islands, although it is slightly darker than specimens of C. leucophaea leucophaea from Tahiti. However, whereas C. /eucophaea nests 146 in shallow caves and under overhangs of rocky crags and does not echo- locate, C. sawte//i nests in the total darkness of deep caves and echo-locates with rapid, loud clicks. Nests of C. /ewcophaea are bulky structures built mainly of mosses whereas those of C. saw¢elli are shallow cups of dry stems and leaves glued together with saliva which never hardens. As deep caves offering nest sites in total darkness are available to both subspecies of C. leucophaea, in Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands, but are not used (Holyoak 1974 and in press) it seems best to accord, C. saw¢e/li specific status. Halcyon ruficollaris sp. nov. Description. Adult 3 and 9 (sexes nearly alike). Forehead, crown and back of head blue-green with a few buff feathers at sides of forehead; ear coverts light turquoise; superciliary stripe buff, shading to orange-buff behind the eye; lores and cheeks blackish with turquoise feather tips; nape and upper mantle orange-buff, with narrow black half-collar across nape; lower mantle and back blue-green; rump, upper tail coverts and wing coverts deep turquoise; outer primaries black, other remiges black with deep blue outer webs; rectrices deep blue above, blackish beneath and on concealed areas; underside of body entirely white, except for an orange-buff suffusion across upper breast; this band is more distinct in the 9 specimen than any of the 3g; under wing coverts white; underside of flight feathers blackish-grey. The type and another 3 (no. 123) have narrow tips of pale buff to the median, greater and primary wing coverts that are lacking in the other specimens; these feathers have abraded tips and are probably retained from the im- mature plumage. Soft part colours (recorded day after collecting): bill black with pale pink or greyish base on the underside; iris blackish-brown; legs and feet blackish- grey, soles of feet light yellow to yellowish flesh-colour. Closer to H. ‘uta than to any other species, H. ruficollaris is orange-buff on the forehead, nape, superculium and upper breast where H. twfa is white. It also has a generally wider tip to the bill than “w/a and other Polynesian species of Halcyon. Type. 3 with slightly enlaged testes, Mangaia, Cook Islands, 24 August 1973. Collected by D. T. Holyoak, field no. 124. Measurements of type. Wing 97, tail 80, culmen from anterior edge of nostril 30-6, width of culmen at anterior edge of nostril 13-4, tarsus 17-0 mm. Material examined. Besides the type, two 3g and one @ collected on Mangaia on the same date, and an unsexed mounted specimen from Mangaia borrowed from the Cook Islands Museum, where it has been for perhaps fifty years. Measurements: $3, wing 97:5, 99, tail 77:5, 77°5, culmen from nostril 29-9, 30:5, culmen width at nostril 13-0, 13-2, tarsus 17°2, 17°33 2, wing 1o1, tail 79, culmen from nostril 30-5, culmen width at nostril 14:0, tarsus 17-9; unsexed specimen, wing 99, tail 79:5, culmen from nostril 30-4, tarsus 18-0 mm. Name. The name refers to the most distinctive feature of the species. Notes. | found ruficollaris fairly common in the wooded makatea region at the north end of Mangaia, and also heard several in groves of trees inland. The usual call is a series of mewing, whistling cries, each consisting of a short note followed by a longer one: ki-wow ki-wow ki-wow ki-wow. A few softer chuckling notes were also heard. These calls differ from the noisy chattering of H. ¢w/a on Atiu and Mauke and in the Leeward Society Islands (Holyoak 1974). 147 Halycon tuta atiu subsp. nov. Description. Adult 3 and © (sexes similar): top of head white with a buff tinge, excepting a patch of blue-green feathers in middle of hind crown that extends on to middle of upper nape, and a variable number of small blue- green spots on feather tips of mid-crown; lores blackish; feathers around eye and stripe extending back from eye dull blue; lower nape and upper mantle white tinged buff with narrow black half-collar around nape; lower mantle, back, rump, upper tail coverts and wing dull blue-green to deep cobalt (varying individually); exposed upper parts of remiges and rectrices deep blue-green to deep cobalt, undersides and hidden parts blackish; underparts and underwing coverts entirely white, with faint buffy suffusion on breast and belly. Colours of soft parts: bill black, except base of mandible which has a large patch of light grey-pink below; iris blackish-brown; legs and feet dark grey to blackish-grey, soles of feet yellow-grey. Immature ¢: differs from adult in having forehead white with heavy streaks of blackish-brown; entire crown blackish-brown with dull blue feather tips and narrow buff streaks; supercilium pale buff; feathers of rump and upper tail coverts edged buff; wing coverts duller with narrow white fringes; underparts, especially flanks, with heavier buff suffusion. Soft part colours as in adult. Immature 2 not examined. Adults differ from those of other populations of H. ‘w/a in having the crown mainly white, not blue-green with white confined to the forehead and supercilium. Similarly, the immature ¢ has more extensive light streak- ing on the forehead and crown. Type. 3 with enlarged testes, Atiu, Cook Islands, 15 September 1973. Collected by D. T. Holyoak, field no. 198. Measurements of type. Wing 103°5, tail 77, culmen from anterior edge of nostril 31-7, width of culmen at anterior edge of nostril 12:5, tarsus 16-5 mm. Material examined. In addition to the type, five were collected in the same locality, one on 4 September, one on 14 September and three on 15 Septem- ber. Measurements: 33, wing 94:5, 99, tail 72, 77, culmen from nostril 30°1, 31:0, width of culmen 12:7, 12:8, tarsus 16, 16; 99, wing 98, 98:5, 100, tail 70°5, 70°5, 73:5, culmen from nostril 31°6, 32°5 (one damaged), width of culmen 13°3 (two damaged), tarsus 16, 16-5, 17 mm. Notes. Common in the wooded makatea region of Atiu and in groves of trees inland. Halcyon tuta mauke subsp. nov. Description. Adult 3 and ? (sexes similar): resemble Hascyon tuta popula- tions of Raiatea, Bora Bora and Huahine in the Leeward Society Islands, but differ in having a buffy wash on the white feathers of forehead, super- cilium, sides of neck, mantle, breast, belly and flanks, that is absent or much fainter in those populations. Colours of soft parts: bill black with pale grey or grey-pink underside to all but tip of lower mandible; iris blackish-brown; legs and feet dark grey to black, soles of feet dull yellow. Immature J as immature from Leeward Society Islands, except for a stronger orange-buff suffusion on forehead, supercilium, sides of neck, mantle, belly, flanks, tips of rump feathers and fringes to wing coverts. 148 Soft part colours as in adult. Immature 9 not examined. Type. Adult 2 with small gonads, Mauke, Cook Islands, 28 August 1973. Collected by D. T. Holyoak, field no. 140. Measurements of type. Wing 99, tail 73-5, culmen from anterior edge of nostril 29:8, width of culmen at anterior edge of nostril 12-1, tarsus 16 mm. Material examined. In addition to the type, eight other specimens collected at the same locality on the same day. Measurements: 39, wing 93:5, 96, 97, tail 69, 70-5, (one abraded), culmen from nostril 30-4, 30°7, 30°7, width of culmen 11-6, 12°3, 13-0, tarsus 16, 16, 17 ; 99, wing 95, 97; 98°5, 98°5, 99, tail 71, 71, 72, 72°5, 74, culmen from nostril 28-9, 29:6, 30°2, 30°6, (one damaged), width of culmen 12:2, 12:2, 12°4, 12°5, 12°6, tarsus 16, 16, 16, 16:5, 16-5 mm. Noves. Common wherever there are trees on Mauke. The specimens of H. tata mauke and H. tuta atin were compared with large series of all other Polynesian kingfishers, and with specimens or descriptions of all other species of the genus Ha/cyon. Acrocephalus vaughani kerearako subsp. nov. Description. Adult 3 (adult 2 not collected): forehead, crown and nape uniform dark olive, shading to olive on mantle, and olive with tawny suffusion on back and rump; upper tail coverts light yellow-brown; rectrices dark brown, with narrow pale grey tips and narrow olive fringes that soon abrade; feathers around eye light yellow, extending forwards to nostril and backwards a little from the eye to form a short superciliary stripe; cheeks olive; chin, throat and breast pale yellow, shading to light yellow with tawny wash on belly and flanks; thigh feathers pale yellow-brown; under tail coverts pale yellow; remiges dark grey-brown, fringed pale brown on outer webs of primaries, olive on outer webs of secondaries, with pale grey fringes to inner webs and narrow pale grey tips to all but innermost secondaries; wing coverts olive with tawny suffusion; underwing coverts pale yellow. Soft part colours (recorded one day after collecting): bill blackish with all but tip of lower mandible pink; inside of bill orange; iris dark brown to blackish-brown; legs and feet light blue-grey to blue-grey, soles of feet yellowish. Type. Male with slightly enlarged testes, Mangaia, Cook Islands, 24 August 1973. Collected by D. T. Holyoak, field no. 132. Measurements of type. Wing 76-5, tail 79:5, exposed culmen 16-1, tarsus 27°38 mm. Material examined. Besides the type, two old unsexed specimens from Mangaia loaned by the Cook Islands Museum, Rarotonga, seven other 33 collected on the same day as the type at the same locality and another unsexed bird collected then and preserved in spirit. Measurements (exclud- ing spirit specimen): §g, wing, 76, 76, 76, 76, 77:5, 78, 78, tail 76-5, 78, 78, 78°5, 79, 79°5, 79°5, exposed culmen 15-6, 15-6, 16-0, 16-2, 17°3, (two damaged), tarsus 27-7, 27°7; 28-1, 28-1, 28°1, 28-3, 28-9; unsexed, wing 76:5, 78-5, tail 76-5, 78-5, exposed culmen 15:0, 16-8, tarsus 27-5, 28-6 mm. Name. ‘Kerearako’ is the name by which this warbler is known to the people of Mangaia. Nozes. Plentiful in the trees and bushes in and around the makatea region of Mangaia, and perhaps also in bushy areas of the interior. Acrocephalus 149 vaughani was hitherto known from Rimitara in the Austral Islands (A. ». rimitarae), Pitcairn Island (A. v. vaughani) and Henderson Island (A. v. saiz), these forms having been described by Murphy & Mathews (1929). From these forms A. v. kerearako and the form from Mitiaro described below differ strikingly in showing no tendency to albinism, in having much heavier yellow lipoid pigmentation producing yellow underparts and olive upperparts, and in measurements. Acrocephalus vanghani kaoko subsp. nov. Description. Adult 3 and Q (sexes similar): slightly larger than A. ». kerearako, differing in having entire upperparts and fringes to remiges and rectrices duller, with only slight tawny tinge on back and rump: underparts paler yellow, with indistinct streaking of light grey-brown present on throat and breast; sides of breast, flanks and sides of belly more or less suffused with light brown; thigh feathers light brown. Soft part colours as in A. v. Rerearako. Type. $ with enlarged testes, Mitiaro, Cook Islands, 17 September 1973. Collected by D. T. Holyoak, field no. 2T3 Measurements of type. Wing 80, tail 76, exposed culmen 17-6, tarsus 28-3 mm. Material examined. Besides the type, five gg, two 99 and two unsexed birds collected the same day at the same locality. Measurements: gg, wing 78, 78, 80, 80, 80, tail 75:5, 76, 78-5 (two damaged), exposed culmen 16:5, 16°7, 17°6, 18:7 (one damaged), tarsus 26-5, 26-8, 27°5, 28:6, 28-8; 99, wing 76, 78°5, tail 69, 74, exposed culmen 16-5, 17°1, tarsus 27-4, 27°8; unsexed, wing 79, 79°5, tail 73, 74, exposed culmen 17-6 (one broken), tarsus 27-2, 28°5 mm. Name. ‘Kaoko’ is the name by which this warbler is known to the people of Mitiaro. Notes. Abundant in trees, bushes and tall herbaceous vegetation in all parts of Mitiaro. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Cook Islands survey was made possible by funding from the Inter- national Council for Bird Preservation and the Smithsonian Institution; collecting equipment was kindly loaned by the British Museum (Natural History). A grant from the Frank M. Chapman Fund of the American Museum of Natural History assisted the preparation of this preliminary report. Space forbids me thanking by name all those who helped me in the Cook Islands, although my appreciation is great. I am especially indebted for vatious assistance to—Miss P. Barclay-Smith, Dr. W. R. P. Bourne, Mr. & Mrs. D. Clarke, Mr. & Mrs. B. Dundas, The Hon. A. R. Henry, Mrs. D. M. Holyoak, Mr. W. B. King, Mr. G. H. Sawtell, Dr. D. W. Snow and Dr. K. Wodzicki. References: Hartlaub, G. & Finsch, O. 1871. Ona collection of birds from Savai and Rarotonga islands in the Pacific. Proc. Zool. Soc. London (1871): 28-29. Holyoak, D. T. 1974. Les oiseaux des Iles Société. L’Otseau ¢» R.F.O. 44. — in press. Les Oiseaux des Iles Marquises. L’Ozseau ¢> R.F.O. Murphy, R. C. & Mathews, G. M. 1929. Birds collected during the Whitney South Sea Expedition. VI. Am. Mus. Novit. 350. 150 Further expansion of the Fieldfare in the Rumanian Carpathians by Dan Munteanu Received 30th Augusi 1974 In a short paper published nine years ago (Munteanu, 1966) I reported finding the Fieldfare Turdus pilaris as a breeding bird in the north-eastern part of the East Carpathians of Rumania, namely at Manastirea Humorului (Humor Monastery), locality No. 1 in the map Fig. 1. wm ems Figure 1. Breeding localities of Turdus pilaris in Rumania. Since then, nests and birds in juvenile plumage have been found both at the Humor Monastery and elsewhere in northern Rumania as follows (1968— 1971): at Radauti (2) and Vatra Dornei (3), in parks and cemeteries (as previously noted by me in 1971); Al. Filipascu (1973) also recorded several pairs in the above mentioned localities and, in addition, observed the species during summer at Pojorita (4) and Lucina (5); I. Béres (1973 a, 1973 b) succeeded in finding nests in the Maramures Depression, at Sighetul Mar- matiei (6) and Ieud (7); and finally, I. Korodi Gal tells me that he has recently seen juvenile specimens at Arcalia (8) near Bistrita-Nasaud. In view of these records, it can be concluded that the Fieldfare is now widespread over the entire northern part of the Rumanian Carpathians as well as such lower-lying neighbouring areas as the Suceava Plateau (Radauti, 300 ma.s.l.) and, probably, also the Bistrita Hills, (Arcalia, 320 m). Moreover, the southward expansion of range along this ‘“‘ecological channel” of the Carpathians is seemingly continuing as, on 3 July 1973, I found a pair with three fledglings at Borzont (9) in the Guirgeu Depression, Harghita District, at 720 m altitude, in sallows bordering the river Mures. I had investigated that area the preceding year (1972) without result, so that 1973 can be definitely stated as the year of colonization. 151i Analysing the data accumulated in the last few years, one can add that in the Rumanian Carpathians the species has not been found breeding in forests but only in heterogeneous tree vegetation (often within man-made biotopes or even towns). There are four principal types of habitat, namely: (1) parks and cemeteries where Norway spruce is predominant (Radauti, Vatra Dornei); (ii) Scots pine plantations (Lucina, Pojorita); (iii) orchards (Humor Monastery, Ieud); and (iv) riverside coppices of sallows and/or poplars (Sighetul Marmatiei, Borzont). All the places mentioned are situated at a rather low altitude (between 270 m at Sighetul Marmatiei and 820 m at - Vatra Dornei) and even when in mountainous country are always in the valleys or depressions. As for breeding phenology, it has been ascertained that the eggs are usually laid between 20 April and 13 May but occasionally later, and that the young usually fledge between 22 May and 20 June, although fledglings from later clutches have been noted right at the end of June. References: Béres, I. 1973 (a). Dovezi documentate privind cuibaritul sturzului de iarna (Turdus pilaris LL.) in depresiunea Maramuresului. Rev. muzeelor, 10(3): 230-232. — 1973 (b). Sturzul de iarna isi extinde arealul in Maramures. Vin. pesc. sportiv., 10: 21. Filipascu, A. 1973. Consideratiuni asupra avifaunei de la Lucina (jud. Suceava). St. com. ocrot. nat., Suceava, 3: 215-220. Munteanu, D. 1966. The Fieldfare Turdus pilaris L. breeding in northern Rumania. Bull. BOG 86, 0 LiL 72s — 1971. Date privind migratia si cuibaritul cocosarului (Turdus pilaris) in Romania. S7. com. Muz. st. nat., Bacau: 255-265. On the material evidence of Hieraaetus pennatus in southern Africa by BR. K. Brooke Received 16th September 1974 The occurence of the Booted Eagle Hiieraaetus pennatus (Gmelin) in southern Africa has been known for 150 years. It was studied by Donnelly (1966) whose work was overlooked by Moreau (1972), perhaps through the relative obscurity of its place of publication. We now know that it breeds in the Cape Province (Martin & Martin, 1974, and in press for Bokmakierie) but believe that the majority of birds collected or seen in southern Africa are of palaearctic origin. It does not seem to be possible to distinguish palaearctic and southern Ethiopian breeding birds on morphological characters and, indeed this is not to be expected if H. pennatus has only been breeding in the Cape Province for a few hundred years. Following work on Aguila mipalensis and A. pomarina (Brooke ef a/., 1972), most specimens of HZ. pennatus held in southern African museums have now been critically examined and this paper reports the findings. In addition, the nomenclature and distribution of subspecies are considered and, in the concluding section of the paper, the data on food taken by the species in southern Africa are reviwed. TAXONOMY AND NOMENCLATURE Figure 1 in Brooke e¢ a/. (1972) shows that eagles placed in H7eraaetus Kaup, 1844, with genotype Falco pennatus Gmelin, 1788, have relatively longer hind claws (over 105 % of the length of the culmen) than those placed 152 Aquila Brisson 1760 with genotype Falco chrysaetos L., 1758, whose hind- claws are 80 — 105 & of the length of the culmen. This had been accepted by many authorities, e.g. recently Vaurie (1963) and Brown & Amadon (1968), despite difficulties of definition. It is accepted here. Hartert (1914) gave a full synonymy for H/. pennatus in which he recog- nised no races. Since then, H/. p. harterti Stegmann, 1935; Kyakhta, south- western Transbaikalia, Siberia, has been described. It appears from Vaurie (1963) and Dementiev & Gladkov (1966) that the breeding range is disjunct, the main area being from extreme southwestern Europe to the Turkmen S.S.R. and the second area being around Lake Baikal. There is a clinal increase in wing length from west to east according to these authors and also in the proportion of dark to pale phase birds. Since the Baikal region birds are absolutely longer winged than those of western Europe (Table tc), two races can be admitted. The type-locality of the species can either be regarded as France since the name is based on Brisson who wrote on French birds (Vaurie, 1963) or as Hungary as proposed by Grant & Mackworth-Praed (1934). It does not affect the argument of this paper but I believe that Vaurie (1963) is the better author to follow in respect of the type-locality of the species and thus of the nominate race. TABLE 1 A. Data on specimens of Hieraaetus pennatus peannatus examined. All measurements in mm. Hind Wing Culmen claw ’ Date Piace Sex Age length Iength Tlength Phase Museum rO.5.33.. Aisab, S.W.A. 3 ad. 345 20 23 dark “MLE. 24.2.09 Umtamvuna R., C.P./Natal boundary ) ad. 375 22 25 pale T.M.P. 29.12.14 Krugersdorp, Transvaal 2 ad. 425 26 31 pale "EE. 28.11.15 Pretoria, Transvaal 2 ad. 410 26 29 pale T.M.P R4vere sk fetoria 2 ad. 380 25 28 pale T.M.P g4.12.07,.. Vtybure, C.P, Q ad. 410 25 30 pale T.M.P 14.10.29 Golden Valley, CP. oO? | “ad. 400 25 28 pale A.M.G n.d. Aliwal North GP. o2? ad 400 24 29 pale A.M.G n.d. Transvaal og? ad B85 i oad 27 dark T.M.P 19.8.37 Klipfontein, are 3 imm 345 21 25 dark © NEP s 5.9.61 Griquatown, CP; 2 imm 380 22 25 pale E.LM. Ejatiet2 Mataticle, C.P.. “9 imm 400 26 31 pale T.M.P. n.d. Transvaal of? =imm 400 24 30 pale Bs 2 4:13 Durban, Natal 39? juv. 405 24 29 pale D.M. —.9.03 “Rhodesia” of? = juv 380 24 29 pale TENS S 31.10.07. Bulawayo, Rhodesia. of? = — 370 24 oF pale N.M.B. n.d. Selukwe? Rhodesia. 2 — — — — pale N.M.B. n.d. Natal? oa — — — dark N.M. PMB. (n.d. Roumania og juv. 330 22 25 pale TEP, B. Summary of measurements of birds of undoubted sex. Wing length Culmen length Hind claw length 3S 345, 345 20, 21 23, 25 22-26 av. (7) 24:6 153 22 375-425 av. (7) 397 25-31 av. (7) 28-4 : C. Measurements from literature. Wing length Culmen length Source FL. p. pennatus SS 352-378 (361) Brown & Amadon 1968 353-390 (11: 369) 21-24 (27:23 +1) Glutz et a/. 1971 352-386 Vaurie 1963 22 375-403 (391) Brown & Amadon 1968 380-428 (11: 409) 24-26 (25 :0) Glutz e¢ a/. 1971. 355-411 Vaurie 1963 H., p. milvoides SS 388-395 Brown & Amadon 1968 380-395 (388) Vaurie 1963 370-412 Ali & Ripley 1968 QQ 405-435 (420) — Brown & Amadon 1968 405-43 5 Vaurie 1963 385-423 Ali & Ripley 1968 D. Abbreviations ad. = adult as defined in the last paragraph of Distribution A.M.G. = Albany Museum, Grahamstown Po = Cape Province D.M. = Durban Museum E.L.M. = East London Museum imm. = immature juv. = juvenal n.d. = no date N.M.B. = National Museum of Rhodesia, Bulawayo N.M.PMB = Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg Rhod. = Rhodesia S.W.A. = South West Africa MP. = Transvaal Museum, Pretoria data not available ‘East of the Caspian Sea birds are longer winged and intermediate in size between west European birds and those of the Baikal region. They provided the type of HZ. p. albipectus (Severtzov), 1873: Turkmen S.S.R. They are placed in HZ. p. milvoides (Jerdon), 1839, by Dementiev & Gladkov (1966) since their range is essentially continuous with birds to the west, whereas there is a big break to the east, it seems better to place Turkmen birds with the nominate race and admit clinal increase in wing length to the east adumbrating the condition found after the gap in distribution in the Baikal region. Dor the Baikal birds there are two names for consideration: Spizaetus milvoides Jerdon, 1839: Tiruchirapalli, Madras State, India, and HZ. p. harterti Stegmann, 1935: Transbaikalia. Vaurie (1963) has supported the use of the first and Brown & Amadon (1968) the seond. The use of hartertz for Baikal region birds is unambiguous, but mz/voides, although based on a specimen taken in winter quarters, surely came from the Baikal region. This is sug- gested by the eastern situation of the type-locality (Tiruchirapalli) and the fact that Jerdon (1862), who by then had accepted that it was a synonym of pennatus, gives the wing-length as males 420, females 435 mm which falls into the upper range of measurements for Baikal region birds (Table 1c). It would appear that Ali & Ripley (1968) erred in not recognising mz/voides or its synonym harterti and that their measurements, quoted under wz/vordes in Table 1c, are a composite of both races. Presumably eastern segments of nominate pennatus as herein defined winter in India as well as milvoides. Whether the birds which breed in extreme northern India should be placed in nominate pennatus still needs to be determined by those who have access to such material as may be available. However, it does seem clear from the 154 measurements in Table 1 that only 17. p. pennatus occurs in southern Africa; in any case, few Baikal region birds are believed to winter in Africa. In the synonymy of 17. pennatus Hartert (1914) cited two names used by Andrew Smith for South African birds: Morphninus albescens 1830: 115 (with a query) and Bufaefes lessonii 1834: 287. An examination of Smith (1830, 1834) does not convince me that he was discussing A. pennatus under these names. His description of M. a/bescens is of a bird c.80 cm long with a heavily barred tail, whereas 7. pennatus is just over 50 cm long and has an essentially unbarred tail. B. /essonii is described as having the upper shoulder (carpal joint) feathers margined with brown-white and the under shoulders feathers white spotted with black which is not true of H. pennatus. It seems to me that Smith’s M. albescens is based on a juvenal Spizaetus (Stephanoaetus) coronatus L., 1766, as Layard (1867) held; it is the right size, has a well barred tail and the other characters Smith gave. Similarly, it seems that his B. /essonii is based on an adult H. dubius (Smith), 1830, as he himself on the next page (Smith 1834: 288) and Roberts (1936) held, since this is the only southern African eagle which has the shoulder pattern he describes. The corollary is that Clanwilliam and Outeniqua, long regarded as localities from which H. pennatus had been collected (Donelly, 1966), must be excised from the list of acceptably reported localities. IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIMENS It appears from the measurements given in Brooke ef a/. (1972) and in Table 1 that while there is overlap in wing-measurements between H. pennatus and the larger Aguila wahlbergi, specimens may always be separated by the fact that in H/. pennatus the chord of the hind claw is at least 3 mm larger than the chord of the culmen taken from the front of the cere whereas in A. wahlbergi these measurements are virtually identical. Critical study of Transvaal Museum specimens showed that two specimens of H/. pennatus had been determined as A. wah/bergi. The old determinations had been used by Brooke (1966) in building his argument for the migratory behaviour of A. wahblbergi. The fact that they are H. pennatus strengthens his case, which is now widely accepted, e.g. by Snelling (1971), because it involves the deletion of the only May record he gave and also of an August record and the only one from the Cape Province. The July record in Brooke (1966) is in fact of a fledgling just out of the nest and is discussed in Brooke (1972). Similarly the chord of the hind claw serves to distinguish HZ. pennatus from the larger H1. spilogaster: in H. pennatus it does not exceed 31 mm whereas it does not fall below 34 mm in HZ. spi/ogaster. | agree with Dr. A. C. Kemp (in Litt.) who points out that pale phase HY. pennatus may be distinguished from immature H. spilogaster by the following plumage characters :— pennatus has a streaked throat whereas spz/ogaster has not; pennatus has obsolete barring in the rectrices whereas it is well developed in spilogaster; _ pennatus has dark scapulars contrasting with the paler back whereas they _ are concolorous in spz/ogaster; pennatus has plain scapulars, upper wing coverts and tertials whereas they are mottled in spz/ogaster. ; I am unable to agree with Porter (1970) that immature pale phase birds are either more gingery below or have paler sides to the face. A study of specimens aged on moult characters (no moult of the primaries, descending, jumbled) shows this to be purely individual variation and that there seem to be no plumage characters for use as ageing criteria. 15) MOULT Adults showing active moult of the primaries and rectrices have been taken in November, December and February. The immatures taken on 19 August, 5 September and 17 November show interrupted moult of the primaries, as do adults taken on 10 May, 14 October and 14 February, though the May and February birds are still growing rectrices. Brooke (in prep.) will show that it is normal for southern African eagles to stop moulting their primaries in winter and to resume in October or thereabouts. The April juvenile from Durban has started its postjuvenal moult on the head but has yet to drop a primary. ; One adult showed the three centre mode of rectrix moult as expected (Brooke e¢ a/., 1972) but others seem to show a jumbled mode. The question needs further study to see what is the normal mode for adult A. pennatus. Standard modes for the moult of the primaries hold good, i.e. simple descending in immatures and jumbled in adults. DISTRIBUTION Moreau (1972) remarks on how widely but thinly AZ. p. pennatus is dis- tributed in the Ethiopian region during the northern winter. Regrettably, he and Backhurst e¢ a/. (1973) overlooked the perhaps obscure paper by Donnelly (1966) which suggests that it is by no means rare in southern Africa. It is clear from the ecological characteristics of the localities of the specimens examined that H1. pennatus occurs throughout southern Africa except, possibly, in evergreen forest and that it does not shun arid regions where trees are few and far between. Donnelly (1966) had to rely on data provided by other museums and the literature as well as on personal knowledge. This lead to minor weaknesses for which this pioneering study is not to be blamed when dealing with a species which is often misidentified both in museum and the field. Thus reference has already been made to the labelling of two very dark phase H. pennatus in the Transvaal Museum collection as A. wahlbersgi. If the details of Donelly’s (1966) presentation are not always correct, no major conclusions are affected, but the following corrections may be noted. The Selukwe specimen in the National Museum, Bulawayo, has been kept in a cage or aviary and had its wings clipped: its date (October 1952) and provenance must be regarded as uncertain though, no doubt, it was trapped near Selukwe. As already explained the Clanwilliam and Outeniqua records are not acceptable. Donnelly overlooked the record in Sauer & Sauer (1960) of a road casualty at Sukses in South West Africa, the old records from that country in Rudebeck (1963), and the Rhodesian records in Chubb (1909). The Chibisa which he was unable to trace is Mbewe in the Chikwawa District of Malawi (see the Atlas to Reichenow’s Die Vogel Afrikas). The Durban Museum’s copy of Sharpe (1884) has annotations on specimens examined by A. D. Millar. In respect of HY. pennatus he saw two Durban taken specimens: an unsexed pale phase bird taken on 18 January 1900 and juvenal female on 14 June 1897. These specimens no longer survive. I am uneasy about the 1946 record from Willow Grange, near Estcourt in Natal (West, Wright & Symons, 1964, and cited via Clancey, 1964, by Donnelly, op. cit.). There is a specimen identified as H/. pennatus from there dated November 1955 in the Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg, which is an undoubted A. wah/bergi on measurements (wing 425, culmen 25, claw 25 mm). The Willow Grange record is only acceptable on the assumption that 1946 is not a /apsus for 1955 by West et a/. (1964). 156 The specimen from “Rhodesia” in the Transvaal Museum was collected by J. van O. Marais whose collection was bought by that museum. Subse- quently, in 1914, Austin Roberts had access to Marais’s diary and wrote additional labels which give different particulars, doubtless more accurate, from those on the original labels made when the collection was purchased Most of the specimens are labelled “Sept. 03 Rhodesia’. At that time Rhodesia covered all of what is now Zambia as well as Rhodesia in the modern sense. However, the supplementary labels show that certain speci- mens were obtained in German East Africa, i.e. Tanzania. I believe that despite the original labelling the whole of Marais’s collection was obtained in Tanzania since a number of forms he obtained have their southern limits of distribution in that country, e.g. Crinifer leucogaster, C. personata leopold., Trachyphonus e. erythrocephalus, Tricholaema lacrymosum and T. diadematum massaicum. \, therefore, believe that the specimen of H. pennatus referred to by Donnelly (1966) was obtained in Tanzania and, since it is a first year bird, probably later than September (see below). This is the second record of a specimen from Tanzania (Backhurst e/ a/., 1973). According to Dementiev & Gladkov (1966), the majority of 7. pennatus are present in the U.S.S.R. between April and September. Porter (1970) adds that peak movement across the Mediterranean Sea is in the first two weeks of April and the middle two weeks of September. This means that palaearctic breeding birds could only be present in southern Africa between November and February, allowing a month each way for the migratory journey. Since birds have been collected here outside the midsummer months (Table 1) it appears that some are resident or overwinter. Three of the ten dated records for east Africa are of overwintering birds (Backhurst e/ a/., 1973). It will be noted that the May bird from Asab is an adult (Table 1). By an adult I mean an eagle showing the jumbled mode of moult in the primaries as discussed in Brooke e¢ a/. (1972). An immature bird is one showing a simple descending mode of moult in the primaries and a juvenile is a bird which has yet to moult a primary even if the postjuvenal moult of the contour feathers has started. A fledgling is a bird able to fly but still under the care of its parents and a nestling is a bird which has yet to fly the first time from its nest. FOOD RECORDS Nothing specific on the food of HY. pennatus is recorded in the southern African literature save domestic chicken eating by the Umtamvuna River bird (Davies 1910). I have seen two birds in company with M. m. migrans taking termite alates on the wing at Karoi in January and one with A. nipalensis, etc. doing likewise near Bulawayo in November: this is the basis for its inclusion in the list of occasional termitivores in Brooke e¢ a/. (1972). Incidentally, H. pennatus in southern Africa is not normally gregarious except when joining in termite alate feasts and on migration (Donnelly 1966). PF. V. Tuer (pers. comm.) watched one capture a Laughing Dove Strepropelia Senegalensis in the Famona suburb of Bulawayo in March. B. G. Donnelly (x litt.) saw one capture a Feral Pigeon Columba livia at 1400 hrs in the middle of Bulawayo in February. Mrs. P. Lorber (pers. comm.) observed one robbing a nest (with nestlings?) of the White-crowned Shrike Exrocephalus anguiti- mens in the Wankie National Park in January. H. A. Fry records on the label of the Krugersdorp specimen that it was “killed while eating a chicken”. According to Glutz e¢ a/. (1971) and Dementiev & Gladkov (1966) it is primarily an eater of birds, to a lesser extent of rodents and other small _ mammals and to a limited extent of reptiles. D7 Jerdon (1862) supported by Ali & Ripley (1968) makes the point that Milvus spp. are often wrongly accused of taking domestic chickens when the culprit is the very similar looking dark phase H1. pennatus. 'This could well apply also to some records of kites taking chickens in Africa. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am obliged to Mr. B. G. Donnelly for his help and interest in this enquiry and for making his working file for his 1966 paper available for my use. J am obliged for facilities for study to Mr. M. P. Stuart Irwin of the National Museum of Rhodesia in Bulawayo and also for data to Dr. A. C. Kemp of the Transvaal Museum in Pretoria, Dr. A. J. Pringle of the Natal Museum in Pietermaritzburg, Mr..C. Quickelberge of the East London Museum and Mr. C. Jacot-Guillarmod of the Albany Museum in Grahamstown. I am obliged to Mr. P. A. Clancey, Director of the Durban Museum for stimu- lating discussions and commenting on a draft of this paper. Mr. P. G. H. Frost kindly drew my attention to Chubb (1909). References: Ali, S. & Ripley, S. D. 1968. Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan, vol. 1. Bombay: Oxford University Press. Backhurst, G. C., Britton, P. L. & Mann, C. F. 1973. The less common palaearctic migrant birds of Kenya and Tanzania. Journ. E. Afr. Nat. Hist. Soc., 140. Brooke, R. K. 1966. Distribution and breeding notes on the birds of the central frontier of Rhodesia and Mocambique. Aun. Natal Mus. 18: 429-453. — 1972. An out of season breeding record of Aquila wahlbergi from Zambia. Bull. Brit. Orn. C192 97. Brooke, R. K. Grobler, J. H., Irwin, M. P. S. & Steyn, P. 1972. A study of the migratory eagles Aquila nipalensis and A. pomarina (Aves: Accipitridae) in southern Africa, with comparative notes on other large raptors. Occ. Pap. Natn. Mus. Rhod. Bs: 61-114. Brown, L. H. & Amadon, D. 1968. Eagles, hawks and falcons of the world, vol. 2. London: Country Life Books. Chubb, E. C. 1909. On the birds of Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia, /bis pp. 140-172. Clancey, P. A. 1964. The birds of Natal and Zululand. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd. Dementiev, G. P. & Gladkov, N. A. 1966. The birds of the Soviet Union, vol. 1. Jerusalem: — Israel Program Scientific Translations. Donnelly, B. G. 1966. The range of the Booted Eagle Aquila pennata (Gmelin) in southern Africa, with a note on field indentification. Ann. Cape Prov. Museums. 5: 109-115. Glutz von Blotzheim, U.N., Bauer, K. M. & Bezzel, E. 1971. Handbuch der Vogel mittel- europas, vol. 4. Frankfurt-am-Main: Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft. Grant, C. H. B. & Mackworth-Praed, C. W. 1934. Notes on type localities. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 44: 109-111. Hartert, E. 1914. Die Vogel der paldarktischen Fauna, vol. 2. Berlin: Friedlander & Sohn. Jerdon, T. C. 1862. The birds of India, vol. 1. Calcutta: Author. Layard, E. L. 1867. The birds of South Africa. Cape Town: Juta. é Mattin, J. E. & Martin, R. 1974. Booted Eagle breeding in the south-western Cape Pro- vince. Bokmakierie 26: 21-22. Moreau, R. E. 1972. The palaearctic| African bird migration systems. London: Academic Press. Porter, R. F. 1970. Studies of less familiar birds 61 Booted Eagle. Brit. Birds 63: 333-337. Roberts, A. 1936. Some unpublished field notes made by Dr. (Sir) Andrew Smith. Ayn. Transv. Mus. 18: 271-323. Rudebeck, G. 1963. 4. Birds of Prey (Falconiformes). S. Afr. Anim. Life, 9: 418-453. Sauer, E. G. F. & Sauer, E. 1960. Zugvégel aus der palaarktischen und afrikanischen Region in Sudwestaftika. Bonn. Zool. Beitr. 11: 40-86. Sharpe, R. B. 1884. The birds of South Africa. London: Quaritch. Smith, A. 1830. A description of the birds inhabiting the south of Africa. S. Afr. Quart. Journ, 1: 105-120. Per Willughby Soc. reprint, 1880. — 1834. African zoology. S. Afr. Quart. Journ. 3: 273-288. Per Willoughby Soc. reprint, 1880. Snelling, J. C. 1971. Some information obtained from marking large raptors in the Kruger National Park, Republic of South Africa. Ostrich Suppl. 8: 415-427. Vaurie, C. 1963. The birds of the palaearctic fauna, vol. 2. London: H. F. & G. Witherby. West, O. Wright, F. B. & Symons, G. 1964. The birds of Weenen County, Natal. S. Afr. Avif. Ser. 14. 158 a ees . i es ili i i Ni el Taxonomic notes on the Serpent-eagles of the genus Spélornis by Dean Amadon Received 12th August 1974 The variability of the Oriental serpent-eagles of the genus Spi/ornis is evident from the fact that about 25 taxa are recognised in the genus, most of them races of a single species, chee/a. The various forms and their distribution will be set forth in the second edition of volume one of Peters’ ““Check-List of the Birds of the World”, Order Falconiformes, by E. Stresemann, edited by Amadon. Meanwhile one may use the listing in Brown and Amadon (1969: 357-365), but with the emendations made below and, for Philippine forms, by Parkes (1973: 16). The only place where two species of Spr/ornis are generally believed to occur sympatrically, is in the Andaman Islands. Meise (1939), however, argued that the two forms in question, long called Spélornis elgint and Spilornis cheela davisoni, are colour phases of one and the same form, which would then become Spilornis cheela elgini with davisoni as a synonym. Strese- mann (1959) dismissed Meise’s conclusion rather peremptorily, following examination of material in the British Museum (N.H.). Reconsideration of the Andeman serpent-eagles seemed desirable, in part as an aid in evaluating certain other members of the genus. A. L. Butler (1899: 685) wrote of his field experience with Spi/ornis elgini in the Andamans: “It frequents clearings in the forest, hill sides with scattered trees, etc., and is less often met with in the mangrove swamps than Spilornis cheela davisoni, being much less partial to crabs than that species”. Butler thus assumed that two species are present, and, while noting some ecological and spatial separation between them, found that it was not complete. Indeed, two birds of this size could not be fully isolated from one another on such small islands. In many instances of double “invasions” or double colonization followed by sympatry, the two resulting species differ in size, often markedly so. This _is to be expected when two closely related species are thrown into direct competition. Surprisingly the two Andaman Island species of Spélornis, if species they are, are not very different in size. Meise said they overlap com- pletely in measurements, while Stresemann mentioned only color and pattern. If “‘e/gzni” and “‘davisoni” are identical in size one would have to regard this as a strong supporting argument for Meise’s contention that they are phases of one and the same form. This is particularly true because great size variation does occur in Spilornis elsewhere. Casual inspection of the five specimens of “e/gini” and two of “davisoni” in the American Museum of Natural History suggested that the latter is larger. Measurement of wing lengths seemed to confirm this: : " elgini” —3 Sod 369, 373, 375; 2 unsexed 362, 372 mm. davisoni” —2 33 378, 386 mm. More measurements were desirable, and I am greatly indebted to Dr. David Snow for sending me the wing lengths of specimens in the British Museum, where they have no fewer than 30 “‘elgini” and 16 “davisoni”. In Spilornis, females average somewhat larger than males. As is so often the case, however, some of the available measurements are from un-sexed and others from apparently mis-sexed specimens. As to age, Stresemann (1959) found that two types of immature (but not adult) plumages occur in the genus. In one, E59 the immature differs from the adult, as in many other hawks, by being paler and streaked rather than barred or spotted ventrally. In the other kind the immature plumage closely resembles that of the adult. In most forms of the genus the immatures are of one type or the other; in a few both types occur as non-intergrading morphs. In e/g7mi the immatures resemble the adults, while in davisoni they are pale below with a few streaks, quite unlike the old birds. ' This distinction, if correct, would make it doubtful that elgini and davisoni can be morphs of a single form. For present purposes, since it is difficult to tell immature from adult “e/gznz”’, the measurements of all fully grown birds were included. To compensate for this, the wing lengths of fully grown immatures of davisoni were also averaged in with those of adults. There is undoubtedly increased variation in measurements as a result of this and perhaps some distortion. Both samples are heterogeneous, however, and hence marked differences ought to be evident. Also, I note that the two largest of the “‘davisoni” are a “male” with wing 405 and an immature “female” with wing 412 mm. The combined measurements are: 35 ‘“elgini” 348-384, average 364 mm. 18 “davisoni” 367-412, average 386 mm. Only four of the 18 “‘davisoni”? measure 375 or less and of these, two are in immature plumage; while only six of the 35 “‘e/gzu”? measure 375 or mote, and three of these six are exactly 375 mm. A simple Chi Square test based upon the number of specimens in the two samples measuring 375 mm and more, versus those measuring less than 375 mm, gave an X? value of more than 32 and a P value of under 0-005, indicating that the samples differ. Thus, I don’t think there can be any doubt that “‘davzsonz”’ is, on average, a larger bird than “‘e/gmi”’. In carefully sexed adult specimens there might be no overlap at all, sex for sex. As for colour and pattern, Stuart-Baker (1928: 96) keyed out e/gini as follows: “Pale wing bars next to tip of quills much narrower than dark band on either side’’, as contrasted with davsoni (and all the mainland races), in which the opposite is true. Stuart-Baker was not concerned with the numerous forms of Spr/ornis in the East Indies and Philippines, but even when these are all included, e/gini is separable on the character mentioned from all except a few individuals of the Philippine form spz/onotus and perhaps of one or two other heavily pigmented forms such as &nabaluensis of Borneo. Moreover, the general tone of “e/gini” is much darker than “davesonz’’; the latter resembles in that respect some of the mainland forms such as bur- manicus. The earlier conclusion that there are two sympatric species of Spé/ornis in the Andamans was apparently correct. Of the two, “‘e/gzni” is in all respects more divergent from mainland stock, while “davisoni” arrived later and, one might almost say from Butler’s observations, has hardly more than obtained a toehold in the coastal areas. It is still very similar to mainland races. Hence the two forms should be called, as ha> usually been done, Spilornis elgini and Spilornis cheela davisoni. ; One publication which did follow Meise by listing only one species of Spilornis from the Andamans is Ripley’s (1961: 61-62) “Synopsis” of Indian birds in which he cited Meise’s paper but not Stresemann’s. A few years later Ali and Ripley (1968: 333-334) still listed davisoni as a synonym of elgini, but included the Andamans in the range of Spélornis cheela burmanicus! 160 This is not a slip, for they say of e/g/ni that it occurs less in the mangrove zone than does burmanicus. This confusion does bring up the question of whether davisoni is separable from the mainland race burmanicus. My material is scanty but davisoni, if nothing else, is considerably smaller than burmanicus and may be assumed to be a valid race. VARIATION IN BORNEO Are there any other areas in which two species of Spr/ornis occur sym- patrically? Borneo is a possibility. As Stresemann (1959) said, the serpent- eagles of that great island are “Eine harte Nuss . . . zu knacken”. Three forms seem to be recognisable; incidentally the same three recognised by Peters (1931: 272-273). 1. Spilornis cheela richmondi Swann, type locality southwestern Borneo. This is a small, pale race of southern Borneo. Mayr (1938: 12) wrote: “This race is much smaller than pallidus from Sarawak and north Borneo, Our speci- mens from south Borneo (only fresh feathers compared) are lighter, not darker, than such of pa//idus. The tail band varies from 32-52 mm in rich- mondi and 39-55 in pallidus, averaging in the smaller richmond? somewhat smaller (in proportion with the smaller tail) . . . wing lengths, 3¢ 324, 332, So 360". £9 Spilornis cheela pallidus Walden, type locality Sarawak. Northern Borneo except the higher mountains. Belying its name, pa//idus is darker than richmondi, with which it doubtless intergrades. Mayr gave wing lengths of pallidus as 3 356, 358; 2 392. Snow (7m /itt.) measured a dark coloured female from Sandakan with wing 375 mm. Stresemann mentioned two very small, immature specimens, wing 303, 303 mm, from Sarawak; one of them named raja by Sharpe (1893). Theyare probably individual variants, or the small size is the result of immaturity, for it seems most unlikely that “raja” is a dimunitive, rare species, sympatric with pallidus. 3. Spilornis (cheela) kinabaluensis W. L. Sclater, described from Mt. Kina- balu, northern Borneo, but now said to have been recorded also from Mts. Dulit and Murud in neighbouring Sarawak. From darker specimens of pallidus the form kinabaluensis differs mainly in having the throat and sides of the face black, not gray. It may average a little larger, as do so many altitudinal forms. I have seen only one specimen, but the wing measure- ments of a few, supplied in part by L. L. Short and D. Snow, are as follows: SS; 372, 372, 380; QO 390, 400. Pendlebury and Chasen (1932: 25) wrote of this form as follows: “The peculiar form of Serpent-eagle inhabiting Kinabalu (Spz/ornis cheela kina- baluensis) also [like some species they had just mentioned] occurs sporadically at 8,000 feet although its normal zone is lower—about 3,000-6,000 feet. In the lowlands of Borneo a smaller and paler form of the same species is found, S. ¢. pallidus. At the higher levels of the mountain Armabaluensis, of course, entirely replaces pa//idus, but it is tolerably certain that on occasions the two forms must be found together at about 3,000 feet. From a point of vantage at 5,900 feet we watched a pair of kinabaluensis sail past and after circling round continue down into the valley and descend to at least 3,000 feet. Perhaps like some other species that can be separated into high and low level forms on this mountain the two races are now physiologically intolerant of each other even when they meet and mingle, as they certainly appear to do at the peripheries of their ranges”. The fact that &/maba/uensis occuts on a 161 few scattered peaks, with pa//idus occupying all the intervening lowlands and foothills, might, I suppose, suggest that it is a species. We have two specimens of pallidus collected for Dr. Tom Harrisson on the Kelabit Plateau, Sarawak at 3,600 and 3,800 feet respectively. They show no intergradation in colour with &7nabaluensis, nor have intergrades been reported. Nevertheless, material remains scanty and it is difficult to believe that two eagles with such trifling differences do not interbreed. Pendlebury and Chasen, despite the speculations quoted above, continued to regard kinabaluensis as a race of cheela and so do I, but place the species name in parentheses to indicate some doubt, thus Spslornis (cheela) kina- baluensis. In addition to e/gm of the Andaman Islands, which we know to be a species, and k7nabaluensis of Borneo, which may be, there are a number of other forms of Spz/ornis which are so distinct that they may be species. Among them are several from the Andaman-Nicobar-West Sumatran chain of islands. They vary so much among themselves as to suggest that most of them are independent offshoots of mainland stock. For example A/ossi of Great Nicobar Island is extremely small and pale in colour; but abbott: of Simeulce (Simalur) Island is medium sized but very dark and mottled. In other areas one finds rufipectus of Celebes and spi/onotus of the Philippines, both so distinct that they have often been regarded as species. There would seem to be little doubt that some of these well differentiated taxa are species, especially when we remember that some of them seem to be as distinct as e/gzmz. One hesitates, however, to set up as species six or eight forms which most authors in recent years have treated as subspecies of Spilornis cheela. To list them as species, moreover, would be to obscure to some extent the fact that in the Andamans, and only there, do we have two sympatric and hence indubitable species. I therefore recommend that the very distinct entities mentioned be continued as subspecies of chee/a, but, as with Ainabaluensis, with the use of parentheses around the species name, to indicate possible species status. It is in some cases debatable as to whether a form warrants this distinction, but I think at least the following do: Spilornis (cheela) minimus—Central Nicobar Islands; Spilornis (cheela) klossi—Great Nicobar Island; Spilornis (cheela) abbotti—Simeulue, West Sumatran Islands; Spilornis (cheela) asturinus = salvadorii—Nias, West Sumatran Islands; Spilornis (cheela) sipora—Mentawai group, West Sumatran Islands; Spilornis (cheela) spilonotus—Philippine Islands, in part. If a species, panayensis, but not palawanensis, would be a race of it. The Palawan birds, as so often, are allied to Malayasian forms. Spilornis (cheela) rufipectus—Celebes. (If a species, su/aensis of the nearby Sula Islands is a race). In his discussion of one of the forms of Spz/ornis of the West Sumatran Islands, Ripley (1944: 326) wrote: “In its colouration szpora shows a close relationship to the black-cheeked strain of Spz/ornis which continues south- ward with bido of Java, baweanus of Bawean, and rufipectus of Celebes” (Aina- baluensis of Borneo is another). Perhaps this is the case, but there are other equally distinct forms, even in the West Sumatran Islands themselves, in which the cheeks and throat are not black; among them abbott: and e/gzmz. There is no doubt that the genus has extended its range, now here, now there, and that e/gini certainly, and kinabaluensis and some of the others listed above, probably, represent an earlier wave of expansion. But the unequal rates of 162 evolution among the various isolated populations and the fairly recent geological changes in the area render it impossible to work out the history of the genus exactly. 7 SUMMARY Evidence is summarised to show that Spz/ornis elgini and Spilornis cheela davisoni of the Andaman Islands are sympatric, non-interbreeding species, and not phases of a single form. This is the only instance of sympatry in Spz/ornis, unless further study shows that A/nabaluensis of the mountains of Borneo is a species overlapping slightly S. chee/a pallidus of the lowlands. The listing Spz/ornis (cheela) kinabaluensis is recommended, the parenthesis indicating subspecies status, but with reservations. The same is recommended for half a dozen forms of Sp7/ornis, which are so distinct that they may be, or have been called, species, but which are from localities, where, unlike the Andamans, there is no direct evidence whether they would interbreed freely with other forms of the genus. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am indebted to Dr. Lester L. Short for suggestions and for examination of specimens and to Drs. Paul Slud and David Snow for the loan or examina- tion of specimens. References: Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D. 1968. Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan. Bombay, London: Oxford. Brown, L. H. and Amadon, D. 1968. Hawks, eagles and falcons of the world. London, New York: Hamlyn, McGraw-Hill. Butler, A. L. 1899. Birds of the Andamans and Nicobars. Jour. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 12: 684-696. Mayr, E. 1938. Notes on a collection of birds from south Borneo. Bu//. Raffles Mus. 14: 1-46. Meise, W. 1939. Ueber die Schlangenadler der Gattung Spi/ornis Gray. Jour. f. Orn. 87: 65-74. Parkes, K. 1973. Annotated list of the birds of Leyte Island, Philippines. Nemouria 11: 73 pp. Pendlebury, H. M. and F. N. Chasen. 1932. Zoological Expedition to Mount Kinabalu British North Borneo (1929). Jour. Fed. Malay States Museums 42: 1-38. Peters, J. L. 1931. Check-list of the birds of the world, 1. Cambridge, U.S.: Harvard. - Ripley, S. D. 1944. The bird fauna of the West Sumatran Islands. Bu//. Mus. Comp. Zool. 94: 305-430. Ripley, S. D. 1961. Synopsis of birds of India and Pakistan. Bombay Natural History Society. Sharpe, R. B. 1893. Description of a new Spi/ornis from Borneo. Ibis: 552-553. Stresemann, E. 1959. Gliederung der Schlangenadler — Gattung Spi/ornis. Vierteljahbrsch. Naturfor. Ges. Zurich. 104: 208-213. Stuart-Baker, E. C. 1928. Fauna of British India, 2nd ed’n., 5. London: Taylor and Francis. Geographical variation in Lophophorus sclateri by G. W. H. Davison Received 30th August 1974 The three species of Monals, Lophophorus, ate so similar that it is clear they share a common ancestry. Probably a single population was fragmented during the Pleistocene glaciations into several groups which evolved to specific level. A basis for the plumage differences between species may have been provided by clinal variation in the ancestral species; there are two clues to this. The three species are now distributed in a west to east fashion in the order Lophophorus impejanus, L. sclateri, L. lhuysii: the tail colour of males is 163 seen to be light cinnamon, dark brown, and black, respectively; while the rump colour of females varies from brown in L. zmpejanus, through dull greyish (western L. scl/ateri) and lightly-barred white (eastern L. sc/ater7) to pure white in L. /huysi. Published records suggest that four or more distinct populations of L. sclateri existed at least until the mid-1950s: (i) around Lo La, Tibet; (ii) Pome and the Po Yigrong, Tibet; (411) Mishmi Hills and north Burma border; and (iv) Myitkyina, Burma, and adjacent parts of north-western Yunnan. Probably the first and second of these populations are confluent. Their present status is unknown, there having been no sight records for some years, but it is assumed that the species is dangerously rare. Combined data from specimens in the British Museum, American Museum of Natural History and Smithsonian Institution indicate that the Myitkyina/Yunnan population is worthy of subspecific recognition. By contrast, typical speci- mens from the Mishmi Hills, Arunachal Pradesh (formerly N.E.F.A.), agree in plumage with more westerly populations. Variation in the plumage of male L. sclateri was first noted by Ali & Ripley (1948), who suggested that western birds were less streaked on the rump than those from the east. Specimens do give an indication of this but it is a character difficult to define quantitatively. Lophophorus sclateri orientalis, sabsp. nov. Description: In the male the terminal white tail band, measured along the shaft of the central tail feathers, is much narrower than that of western birds, while the culmen measured from the feathers averages a little shorter. The dark shaft-streaks on the back extend less far down the rump but the indi- vidual streaks are wider, averaging 2 mm wide as against 1-3 mm for western birds. The female is paler than the type, with an off-white rump barred with dark grey. The dark chocolate colour of the secondaries is much invaded by rufous-buff; on the neck the markings are larger and paler and on the breast the barring is wider and more distinct, less blurred by speckling and irregu- larities. The female’s bill also is shorter. Type: 3 adult, collected in 1925 by M. West in Myitkyina District, north- east Burma. In British Museum (Natural History), registered number 1928.7.14.4. Wing 308, culmen 31-5, tail band 17 mm. Distribution: A restricted area in the Chimili Pass and Myitkyina District, north-east Burma, from the upper Irrawady eastwards into north-west Yunnan around Tengyueh and the Schweli-Salween watershed. Measurements : Tail band (mm) Culmen (mm) Poe. Sclarerz 633 20 — 28 (25°5) R205 05575 1 Signs) Pi ee i 32° 5 = 350 (fae) L. s. orientalis 953 10°5 — 20-(16-2) 31 — 34 (32°3) 3 = 28-5 — 30°5 (29-3) Material: Eight males and four females of the species in the British Museum, of which four males and one female are ascribed to L. 5. orientalis. Data on seven males and two females in the American Museum of Natural History and Smithsonian Institution. Acknowledgements: 1am grateful to John Farrand, Jr. and Michel Desfayes for supplying data on skins in American collections, and to S. Dillon Ripley for his comments. Reference: Ali, S. & Ripley, S. D. 1948. The birds of the Mishmi Hills. 7. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 48: I-37. 164 On the biology of Monticola imerinus (Hartlaub) by T. Farkas Received on 28th September 1974 BREEDING RANGE, HABITAT, GENERAL HABITS This paper is mainly based on field observations made between the 6 and 18 January 1970. They are supplemented by experience with a male and a female bird, both hand reared and kept for two years in captivity, and by investigation of specimens in the American and British Museum of Natural History collections. Delacour (1932) and Rand (1936) give the breeding range of this endemic Rock Thrush as strictly confined to the south-western sub-desert strip of Madagascar. For this reason, as the Rev. O. Appert has pointed it out (pers. comm.), its specific name (cf. Hartlaub, 1860, p. 97) is misleading because this bird does not occur in any area inhabited by the Imerina tribe. In fact, imerinus suddenly becomes common just south of the Onylahy River estuary (itself c. 30 km S. of Tulear), and is abundant in all suitable habitats from there down the coast as far as Cape St. Marie. Thence towards Fort Dauphin the limits of its range can as yet only be guessed. Inland its range seems limited generally by the availability of a certain type of habitat, indicated in the following paragraph. In my experience, /merinus occurs exclusively where there are loosely connected groups of low to medium high (up to 4 m) shrubs interspersed with a few Euphorbia stenoclada. This semi-open type of cover is found mostly on the sandy soils of dry grassland or dune, where the ground is often bare. Some herbaceous vegetation occurs in the open spaces between the shrubs, but may be heavily grazed down by cattle and sheep, particularly in the vicinity of fishing villages. I have never found smerinus in forest or in any other kind of dense and tall vegetation, a fact which perhaps explains its very local occurrence north of Tulear as far as its probable northern limit around Morombe, where Exphorbia stenoclada becomes dominant, forming a dense stand with thick undergrowth. The habitat, and also feeding and perching habits of /merinus are reminis- cent of those of M. brevipes in the dry south-western region of theAfrican continent; when undisturbed, the species is mostly quite confident, perching on a bush-top, quite often a solitary one in an open patch, although the hedges round a fruit- or vegetable-plot and bushes on the seashore are also pteferred vantage points. Only when disturbed does it take refuge in thicker bush or retire among the branches of an Euphorbia, the spines of which give excellent protection against any enemy. On the other hand, when moving around on the ground among tide-line debris, ‘werinus shows a surprising similarity to the Bluethroat Luscinia svecica cyanecula. In the heat of the day, it retreats into the bush, perching on low branches just above the ground. It still emerges to catch its prey in the nearest open space, returning with it quickly to the shelter. With afternoon, when the heat has somewhat de- creased, it appears again on its regular perches in the open. There are no rocks in the habitat, but when feeding the bird sometimes uses small termite- heaps or pieces of limestone just poking out of the soil as look-out posts. BREEDING The rainy season in this driest and hottest corner of Madagascar lasts from December to February only. Juvenile specimens in the museum col- lections, taken when barely out of nest, are dated February and March. 165 Assuming that breeding must therefore be connected with the onset of the rains, I made my first visit to the sub-desert in January and duly found nesting in progress. In the coastal scrub between Soalara and Anakao (about 25 km south of Tulear), 12 nests were discovered in a few days, all of them within a kilometre of my camp on the dunes. Five contained eggs in various stages of incubation, in one there were two newly-hatched young and one egg, which was hatched the next morning, four were just com- pleted but without eggs, and from two the young had recently flown. All Fig. 1. Euphorbia stenoclada nest-site near tide-line. the nests, except one, which had been built among the terminal twigs beneath the umbrella of a bush, were in E. stenoclada, in two cases the euphorbia being a solitary tree on open ground and in one case just above the tide-line (Fig. 1). The nest is well-constructed and strong, but in place of the very thick basc typical of M. sharpei (Farkas 1973), is suspended among 166 branches 1-5 to 3 m up, although always supported below by a twig. It is made of lichens, some moss and other fibrous material, strengthened with feathers (in several cases those of domestic fowl), bits of snake skin and twiglets. In one nest a few pieces of linen and cotton thread were also seen. The cup is about 3 cm deep and 8 cm wide at the rim, and is well lined with fine rootlets and some feathers. Both in its construction and site, the nest is therefore a remarkable adaptation by a Rock Thrush to the exceptional con- ditions of its sub-desert habitat. The eggs are plain turquoise; a clutch of 3 (the normal number) measured: 22°§ X 13, 23 X 13°5 and 23 x 14 mm. Only females were seen incubating and sometimes being fed by the males. The average size of defended territory seems to be not more than a hectare and centred on the nest. The males, however, often trespassed some distance outside their own territories but crossed those of other pairs swiftly and silently without evoking any re- action. A male marks his territory by a simple but conspicuous display flight, accompanied by song. He flies up steeply from a perch with closed tail, slightly fluffed out plumage and slowly-beating wings to about 20-30 m, circles for a second or two and descends in a shallow dive to another perch. This display was sometimes seen even at noontime, when the heat seemed almost unbearable, and is very like the similarly simple display flight of M. solitarius or M. bensoni, rather than the more elaborate one of M. saxatilis or M. explorator. DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG The newly hatched /merinus has a vivid yellow skin and very light grey down, legs and bill ivory and gape bright yellow. It takes some 50 days for the bill to turn dark brown; the legs darken somewhat sooner, only the soles remaining ivory in the female and turning pale yellow in the male. During the first month the gape of the female becomes pale white whilst that of the male remains yellow for life. Fledged young differ not only in colour but also in their slighter build and more oblong head from the young of M. sharpei. On leaving the nest a hand-reared male weighed 26 and the female 24:5 g. The eyelids started to open on the roth day and by the 14th begging has become entirely visually directed. Begging behaviour is identical with that of M. sharpei, except for wing-fluttering, which is “symmetrical” up to the 17th day but then begins to be “asymmetrical” and is completely so within a week: this as I have learned from E. N. Panov (Moscow Univ.; pers. comm.) also happens with the young of M. solitarius longirostris. Attempted preening was first observed on the roth and the first head-scratching (in- direct) on the 15th day. The hand-reared young had left the nest on the 18th day but returned to it to rest for several days; it was noticeable that the first time they were on the ground, they immediately adopted the adult mode of hopping rather than walking. They first attempted to pick up food from the ground on the 2oth day, but begging on a declining scale continued till the Goth day. The juvenile (Fig. 2) has pale whitish apical tips to the dorsal feathers and pale grey almost white underparts due to the feathers being more broadly tipped, although the tips are thinly edged with darker colour, which gives a fine scaly appearance. By the time the young leave the nest, the sexes can _ already be distinguished, males having slate-grey rectrices, pale rufous upper tail-coverts and somewhat darker throat and breast (becoming slate grey in the adult). About the 30th day when the axillaries and under wing-coverts 167 begin to grow, those of the male are rufous and of the female pale whitish. Finally, the proximal parts of the male’s light-edged slate grey rectrices always have a few, irregular-shaped pale rufous spots concealed by the tail-coverts. On the other hand the female’s rectrices are pale sandy coloured, with the two median feathers darker, and although the upper tail-coverts can have a few pale rufous tips, in my experience this is an irregular feature. Fig. 2. Juvenile ¢ and 2 Monticola imerinus. In both sexes the rectrices of the young are pointed and somewhat narrower than the adult’s, a quite unusual feature in Monticola but found, for example, in Luscinia svecica cyanecula (Mayaud, 1938). This similarity and others mentioned later could have been attributed to convergence but for the analysis undertaken by Panov and Bulatova (1972), who found “a great similarity of karyotypes ... in the genera Oenanthe, Saxicola, Monticola and an approximation to them in Cyanosylvia svecica’’. Development of the juvenile dress was completed about the goth day in the hand-reared birds and on the 55th day they indulged in a thorough bath, an activity seldom observed in later life. The first moult started after 90 days, at first only slowly on the shoulders and flanks, and was completed by about the 150th day. Except for the pointed tail-feathers, sub-adult females are almost indistinguishable from the adult; in males, however, immaturity is indicated not only by the previously mentioned pale rufous spots on the pointed rectrices, but also by the fact that in the moult although the upper tail-coverts are normally replaced by pale slate blue ones, some of them can retain pale rufous apical edges. However, this has been seen not only in the subadult, but even in a three-year o]d male. | Adults moult once a year in March—April; there is practically no difference between the post-breeding and nuptial plumage, except that the very narrow pale apical edges to the feathers of breast and mantle wear off. 168 VOCALISATION AND BEHAVIOUR PATTERNS Begging in very young nestlings is at first accompanied by a thin piping, which develops by the 16th day into the definitive begging call—“‘sreee”’. A shortened but equally thin “sett” call was heard after the young left the nest, repeated endlessly and apparently serving to maintain contact, until the family breaks up with the awakening of aggression between the young. A higher pitched “tock” note, often briefly but rapidly repeated, denotes excitement and warning, and was first heard on the 34th day, about the same time as the call-note, which is again a thin quiet one, “veed”. A soft rattling ““kk-kjerr-ekk-ekk” scolding is uttered (often as part of the song) by rival males or annoyed females. The subsong (almost inaudible to human ears) was first produced on the 19th day by the hand-reared male, but not till the 38th by the female, by which time the male was already well practised; it remained of a low volume in both sexes. A similarly low volume characterises the “rehearsed” song: this started to develop after the 80th day, when the first motif-like sounds and some gutteral notes (cf. M. sharpe/) appeared in the subsong of the male. On the goth day the first primitive melody was heard from the male and duly developed into primary song, but it was not until, seven months later, about the 300th day, that the first complete melodies were produced. The song in M. imerinus is functionally similar to that of M. sharpe/, that is for territory, courtship and signal purposes. All these types of song, though stronger than the “rehearsal” version, are decidedly weak for a Rock Thrush. In fact, they sound very strange for this genus, especially the terri- tory song which is a hurried mixture of rattling, chirping and squeaking. As such it would be better suited to a Reed Warbler or Bluethroat ! The signal song (often heard from peacefully perching males) and the courtship song have somewhat more resemblance to those of other Rock Thrushes. Finally, at least the rehearsed and territory songs incorporate imitations of other species, although not easily detectable because of the low volume, for example the imitation of the call of Oenanthe monticola, which I first heard from my hand-reared male on the 280th day. Probably because the slate grey of the rectrices has very little impact as a signal, the ¢ /merinus never spreads its tail in intention movements and dis- plays. Twitching of folded wings and tail, on the other hand, are similar to those observed in M. sharpez, but head-tossing is modified and nearer to that of M. explorator. In courtship the neck is stretched out and the head is either swung slowly laterally or turned slightly around its axis. A greeting ceremony was seen in the hand-reared birds as early as the goth day: with all the feathers depressed, the male stretched his neck towards the female and sang with slightly opened bill and slowly swinging head. The first threatening posture (when another bird landed on the top of the cage) was recorded on the 13 2nd day for the male and two days later for the female; with feathers depressed on head and breast, but slightly bristled on mantle and abdomen, they took up a motionless, somewhat crouching position and stared at their opponents. Finally, about the zooth day, the self-advertising posture was first shown: with all feathers depressed and upright stance the male slightly shivered his wings and twitched his tail as with half-open beak he uttered the courtship song. : ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This fourth study of Madagascar thrushes was covered by a grant from the Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund of the American Museum of Natural History. During my field work, I enjoyed the hospitality of the Marine 169 Biological Station of the Tananarive University at Tulear. I have had valuable support from Mr. C. W. Benson and from Dr. P. Griveaud of O.R.S.T.O.M., Tananarive, who went out of his way in helping me overcome the difficult | transport problems involved in an expedition to south-western Madagascar. To all of them I herewith extend my grateful thanks. SUMMARY The adaptations of the Madagascar Rock Thrush Monticola imerinus to conditions in its habitat, and its dependence on Euphorbia stenoclada, ate described. The breeding behaviour and the development of the young, partly based on observation of two hand-reared birds, are shown to be in many respects intermediate between those of the rock- and of the wood- inhabiting members of the genus and also, in some ways, suggest an affinity to Luscinia svecica cyanecula. References: Delacour, J. 1932. Les oiseaux de la Mission Zoologique Francc-Anglo-Americain a Madagascar. L’Ozseau (nouv. ser.) 2: 1-96. Farkas, T. ie The biology and a new subspecies of Monticola sharpei. Bull. B.O.C. 93(4): 145-15 Hartlaub, es 1860. Systematische Uebersicht der Voegel Madagascars. II. Journ. Ornith. 8: S1—-1T2, Mayaud, N: 1938. La Gorge Bleu a miroir en France. A/auda 10(1—2): 116-136. Panov, E. N. & Bulatova, N.Sh. 1972. A comparative analysis of karyotypes of 18 species from the family Turdidae (in Russian with English summary). Zoo/. J. Acad. Sci. U.S.S.R. 51(9): 1371-1380. Rand, A. L. 1936. The distribution and habits of Madagascar birds. Bu//. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 72(5): 143-499. Bird weights from Angola by W. B. J. Dean Received 27th June 1974 The following weights are of birds collected in Angola mainly north of the Cuanza River. Also included are several species which occur in the drier southern region of Angola and which are either endemic or little known in terms of weight data. Birds were collected at the following localities and dates: Guilherme Capelo area, Cabinda. ¢. 5°13’S., 12°10’E., August. Quicama, Luanda. ¢. 9°20’S., 13°21’E., August. Salazar, Cuanza Norte. ¢c. 9°18’S., 14°54’E., August. Cangandala area, Malanje. c. 9°44'S., 16°48'E., August. Quibala area, Cuanza Sul. ¢. 10°48’S., 14°59’E., July. Negola, Huila, Cis 20 x » 14 aac oF , September. Sa da Bandeira, Huila. c. 14 °53'5-5 3 °30'E., September, October. Humbe, Huila. ¢c. 16°40’S., 14°55’E., September. Rocadas, Cunene. ¢. 16°43’S., 15 o1’E., September. ‘In the species list which follows I have given the species, a number de- noting locality and date according to the above list, sex and weight of the bird in grammes, taken to the nearest tenth of a gramme for birds below 20 g. The status of the bird is adult and non-breeding unless otherwise stated (imm. for immature and br. for breeding) The nomenclature and order follows Traylor (1963). Podica senegalensis albipectus. 1. 3 627, 2 338 Poicephalus meyeri. 6. 3 (amm.) 124 Poicephalus ruppelli. 7. 2 120 Cosmetornis vexillarius. 4. 3 (br.) 76 CPW ALAY Po 170 Colius castonotus. 2. (not sexed) 50 Ceryle maxima gigantea. 1. 2 370 Ceryle rudis. 1. 33’s 70, 78, 80, 86, 86 Halcyon leucocephala. 4. 3 46; 2 (br.) 57 Halcyon senegalensis. 1. 3 49 Halcyon chelicuti. 2. 3 413 7.2 43 Phoeniculus purpureus. 6. 3 (imm.) 67 Tockus fasciatus. 1. $3 280, 286; 99 243, 248; 2 (imm.) 2333 3. d 316 Tockus bradfieldi. 8. 29 204, 198 Tockus pallidirostris. 6. 3 266 Bycanistes sharpii. 1.2 5003 3. 5 710. Bucorvus leadbeateri. 9. 2 3100 Pogoniulus leucolaima. 3.2 14°6 Prodotiscus insignis. 3. 3 (imm.) 10 Thripias xantholophus. 3.2 55 Petrochelidon rufigula. 5 (not sexed) 15°9 Coracina pectoralis. 6. 3 49 Oriolus auratus. 6.2 71 Salpornis spilonota. 6. 3 (br.) 16 Turdoides jardinei. 6. 3 70 Turdoides leucopygius. 6. 3 (imm.) 71 Andropadus virens. 3. 3 2532 23 Chlorocichla falkensteini. 3. (not sexed) 34, 37 Cossypha (Xenocopsychus) ansorgei. 7. 3 (br.) 36 Prinia bairdii. 3.2 14°1 Cisticola bulliens. 2. 3 17°532 14°73 Cisticola brachyptera. 1. 3 8-6; 9 8-4 Camaroptera superciliaris. 3. 3 (inm.) 11-1 Apalis flavida. 2. (not sexed) 8-8 Eremomela badiceps. 3. (not sexed) 11-2 Sylvietta virens. 1. 3 7°7 Sylvietta rufescens ansorgei. 2. (not sexed) 11° 3 Pedilorhynchus comitatus. 1. 3 203; 3.2 14°3 Stizorhina fraser. 3. 3 33 Flyliota flavigaster. 7. (not sexed) 11-7 Bias musicus. 3.2 30 Batis minulla. 2. 3 10°43; 2 10 Dyaphorophyia castanea. 3. 3 1332 14°3 Platysteira albifrons. 2. 3 11°+7 Platysteira peltata. 3.2 16+1 Elminia longicauda. 3.2 9 Prionops plumata. 6. 3 33 Prionops netzii. 6. $ (imm.) 49 Telophorus bocagei. 3. 3 28 Lanius souzae. 6. 2 (br.) 33 (see Dean 1974) Neocichla gutturalis. 6. 33 64, 72; 2 64 Nectarinia seimundi. 3. (not sexed) 7:1 Nectarinia olivacea. 3. $ 11; 2 10 Nectarinia verticalis. 3. 3 14°5 Nectarinia fuliginosa. 1. 3 (br.) 11°6 Nectarinia chloropygia. 3. 3 7°13 3 (imm.) 6-4 Nectarinia superba. 3. 3 18;2 15°4 Plocepasser rufoscapulatus. 6. 33 43, 48 171 Ploceus nigerrimus. 3. 3 41 Pholidornis rushiae. 3.2 6 Spermophaga ruficapilla. 3. 3 25; 2 23 Nigrita canicapilla. 3. 3 19; 92 19, 18° 3 Nigrita bicolor. 3. (not sexed) 11-2 Nigrita fusconota. 3.2 9°1 Estrilda melpoda. 3. 3 8-9 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am grateful to the Peabody Museum of Yale University for the oppor- tunity to make these notes; the Angolan Veterinary Services for granting collecting permits; and Dr. A. A. da Rosa Pinto for some help with the collecting. : References : Dean, W. R. J. 1974. Breeding and Distributional Notes on Some Angolian Birds, Durban Mus. Novit. 10: 109-125. Traylor, M. A. 1963. Check-list of Angolan birds. Publ. Cult. Comp. Diam. Angola 61. High density breeding of the Red-necked falcon Falco chicquera in Zambia by |. F. BR. Colebrook- Robjent & T. O. Osborne Received 29th May 1974 In assessing what is known of African birds of prey, Brown (1970) classifies the Red-necked Falcon as “little known”. What follows is a summary of our breeding notes for 1973 in Zambia. The sub-species occurring in Zambia and north of the Zambezi is Falco chicquera ruficollis. A brief review of the Fa/co spp. of Zambia is given by Benson ef a/. (1971); F. chicquera is one of the seven species proved to breed in Zambia, but only one, the Lanner FP. biarmicus, is at all generally distributed. Only four breeding records are quoted for chicquera, one each for May, July, August and September. The fullest account of the habits of the species that we can trace is by Ali & Ripley (1968) for the nominate race in India. BREEDING HABITAT We have found two rather different breeding habitats, neither exactly cotresponding to some recorded for other races, e.g. for horsbrughi—along dry river beds with large trees—or for nominate chicquera—densely foliaged branches of a mango or peepul tree. . ., often close to a village (Ali & Ripley 1968). ” Habitat A: Dry thorn tree savannah with isolated palms Borassus aegyptium not associated with water (e.g. near Choma, Mazabuka and Lochinvar, where palms are used exclusively for nest sites and pairs are widely scattered and local). At the Mazabuka site there were four eggs on 18 August and near Choma the same number on 26 August. At another site near Choma, 6 km from the previous nest, an immature 9 laid her first egg on 4 September and only one more. All three nests were in the bases of palm fronds at heights of 11, 11°5 and 14:5 m, respectively. At Lochinvar two nests were found 16-5 and 155 m up in palms at woodland edge or among scrubby trees, about 12-5 km apart. One had four eggs on 24 August, the other a full clutch of three on — 7 September. | 172 Habitat B: Near water on the Kafue Flats, north of Lochinvar; flood plain, separated from the woodland on higher ground by a belt of Termi- taria grassland. Stick nests of the Pied Crow Corvus albus, built in Acacia albida ot Borassus palms are invariably taken over; between 30 August and 5 October we located eight such nests in a remarkably confined area. Details as follows: TABLE. 1 Falco chicquera nests, Nampongwe—Kafue confluence No. Date Site Egg measute- Notes ments (in mm) I 30 Aug. acacia ay RD Set Io m up in old crow’s nest. Eggs AR 22 998A collected (fresh). The 3rd egg of the AIO. XK ° 32°7 replacement c/3 was laid on 19 Sept. 40°8 X 32:1 in new crow’s nest in same tree. 2 ag acacia 410 X 32:6 9°5 m up in old crow’s nest. 409 X 33°2 A075 “KR 202 40°l X 32°6 3 >> acacia 45°1. X 31°6 10 m up in old crow’s nest. Eggs 44°8 X 32°5 collected (hard set). Replacement 44°4 X 31°9 c/3 laid by 24 Sept. in same nest. 42°6 X 32:8 Nest tree (preferred to palms in the vicinity) was in a permanent fishing village (see Figs. 1 and 2). 4 24 Sept palm ? II M up; not inspected. 5 a palm Ae X30 4°8 m up in old crow’s nest attached Az*O XK 335 to underside of occupied nest of 41°8 X 31°6 Haliaaetus vocifer. 40°7 X 31°9 6 * acacia 41°6 X 31-0 4°5 m up in old crow’s nest. Eggs 40'9 X 30°9 obviously well incubated. 40°6 X 31-0 7 palm ? 8 m up; not inspected. 8 5 Oct. acacia 4 young, c. 9-10 days old. As indicated in the sketch-map (Fig. 3) the eight nests discovered were on or near the Kafue and in fairly close proximity, distances between adjacent sites ranging from 1-3 to 3-2 km and an average of 2:05 km. The flood plain is here ¢. 979 m a.s.l., the few trees usually growing on slightly higher ground, usually near the river bank or oxbow pools. The average size of the home ranges centred on each nest works out at 5*5 km?. : DISCUSSION Like other falcons this species does not build its own nest, in the strict sense, but lays its eggs either in the bases of palm fronds or in the nests of other species (in our experience always the crow C. a/bus): either old (usually) | or new nests are utilised, in the latter case the crows being dispossessed just before egg-laying. When palms are selected the eggs are laid inside the broadened base of a living frond next to the heart of the palm, on bents or palm fibres roughly scraped together. Ali & Ripley imply that in India this species often builds its own nest, but as Brown & Amadon (1968) remark this would be so unusual as to need confirmation. _ Eggs. Normally four, sometimes three and once two only (laid by an immature bird). They are oval to rather long oval in shape and variable in colour: shell whitish, usually obscured by pinky or yellowish-brown, un- glossed, texture rather chalky, variously smeared, spotted or blotched with rather dull brick reddish-brown. Their general appearance is mottled or _ stippled, but as incubation progresses they bleach and fade rapidly (Brown & Amadon 1968). Nearly all eggs are more or less stained by the excreta Es which commonly fouls more than half the nest. Occasionally an egg is markedly dissimilar to the rest of the clutch; one such was pale pinkish, only very lightly stippled and dotted purplish-pink and noticeably lighter | than the other, more typical eggs. Wolfe (1938) describing his eggs of F.c. chicquera makes the point that they do not resemble those of the Merlin | Falco columbarius, a sapposedly close relative. The latter, as well summarised ewe ae eRe ee Figures 1 and 2. Falco chicquera nest site No. 3, Kafue River, Zambia and the clutch of four eggs in an ex-Pied Crow’s Corvus albus nest at site No. 2. 27°18 27° 20' aT 22! os 15°43" an 15°43! nla hal Us BN js*4s'H 15°4s! 27° 13! 27° 20! 27° 22! 0 3 C 4 Km. Figure 3. Location of Falco chicquera nest-sites in the Kafue River floodplain, in the vicinity and mainly below the junction of the Nampongwe tributary. by Jourdain (in Witherby e¢ a/. 1943), are generally darker, smoother and (usually) rounder. In our view the eggs of the Red-necked Falcon more closely resemble those of the hobby group, differing only from the “typical” hobbies’ such as cavier7, subbuteo or the Australian /ongipennis in their greater variation and normally more chalky appearance. All three races of chicquera commonly lay four eggs, whereas hobbies of about the same size usually lay only three. Over 80 years ago Hume, quoting Anderson (see Oates, E. W. ed., 1890), made the same point, comparing the eggs of the Indian race with those of F. subbuteo. Ali & Ripley (loc. cit.) give the average size of 120 eggs of F. c. chiquera as 42°4 X 31:1 mm (from Stuart Baker). McLachlan & Liversidge (1970) give the average of four eggs of F. c. horsbrughi as 43-4 < 33:3 mm. Brown & Amadon (1968) combine both African races and quote the average of 10 eggs as 42°0 X 32:7 mm. Both the two last-mentioned works overlooked a short note by Malherbe (1963), in which four eggs of horsbrughi from the Transvaal are described, measuring 44-4 31°33 43°1 X 31°83 42°5 X 31°8 and 42-3 x 31:3 mm. Incidentally, these had been laid in July also in an old Pied crow’s nest and in a thorn tree. Our average of 45 eggs of rujicollis is 42-0 X 32°0, Max. 45°1 X 31°6 and 42°5 X 33:4 and min. 39:4 x 31:2 and 39:5 xX 30°9 mm. Like other falcons the red-necked regularly re-lays if the original clutch is lost, but only three eggs at the second attempt. In the one case that was accurately determined the replacement clutch was completed in 19 days and hatched 33 days later. Malherbe gives an estimated incubation period of 32-33 days; maximum 34 days. One of us (T.O.O.) accurately recorded the fledging period at one nest, which was 37 days. References: Ali, S. & Ripley, S. D..1968. Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan. Bombay, London & New York: O.U.P. P75 Benson, C. W., Brooke, R. K., Dowsett, R. J. & Irwin, M. P.S. 1971. The birds of Zambia London: Collins. Brown, L. & Amadon, D. 1968. Eagles, hawks and falcons of the world. London: Country Life Books. Brown, L. 1970. African birds of prey. London: Collins. McLachlan, G. R. & Liversidge, R. 1970. Roberts Birds of South Africa, Central News Agency, Cape Town. Malherbe, A. P. 1963. Notes on birds of prey and some others at Boshoek, north of Rustenburg during a rodent plague. Ostrich 34: 95. Oates, E. W. ed., 1890. Hume’s Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds. Taylor and Francis, London. Witherby, H. F., Jourdain, F. C. R., Ticehurst, N. F. & Tucker, B. W. 194% Gev. ‘ed.), The handbook of British birds. London: Witherby. Wolfe, L. R. 1938. Eggs of the Falconiformes. Oo/logists’ Record, Dec.: 83. Arie | \ 24 DECI9O74 | IN BRIEF tS PURCHAsE (a) Little Gull Larus minutus south of the In the note on a record of Larus minutus in Angola (Bull. B.O.C. 94: a it is surmised that this is the first record of the species south of the Canary Islands. However, in the Appendix of R. E. Moreau’s The Palaearctic- African Bird Migration Systems (1972), compiled by the late K. D. Smith, records from Sierra Leone and from Lagos, Nigeria, are listed (p. 292). 30 August 1974 G. Je Orcel (b) Finfoot Podica senegalensis in Ethiopia In A checklist of the birds of Ethiopia (1971), Urban and Brown were only able to include this species on the basis of three recent sight records (p. 42). It may therefore be of interest that excellent views of a finfoot were obtained on 27 March 1974, at the Blue Nile bridge, Bahar Dar (Lake Tana), for about 15-20 minutes. It was first noticed near rushes along the bank, swam out to feed round some rocks in the middle of the river, climbed out to preen for about 7 minutes, and then continued feeding until observations had to be suspended. 16 September 1974 Mrs. S. Sassoon (c) Buff-breasted sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis in Africa Field (1974, Bull. B.O.C. 94: 77) states that his sighting of the Nearctic Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis (Vieillot) in Sierra Leone on 11 and 15 November 1973 is the first record for Africa; this is incorrect although it would appear to be the first for the Ethiopian region. Hopson & Hopson (1974), recording an example of this species at Lake Rudolf, Kenya, on 8 December 1973, draw attention to two previous African re- cords from Egypt and Tunisia given by Etchécopar & Hiie (1964); thus Field’s record becomes the third for Africa. References: Rtchécopar, R. D. & Hue, F. 1964. Les oiseaux du nord de |’Afrique. Boubée, Paris. Hopson, A. J. & J. 1974. A Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis at Kerio Bay, Lake Rudolf. FANHS Bua//. 1974: 17-18. G. C. Backhurst 176 ‘ 3 ii aba? a a . os e ; ee aC Pa ne Yaad Hort ee et eave dul cy. my Faktio. it te Planehon Wy’ 2% : Hom 2 Adults 30 * Opt Zon0 hb betpys od biiods sarhh an neat} Sa ah Ba hamioais bng. sarc ae ay’ a bnn/< — ~~ M4 Pee ero ens 2 beiqsoue odvylab. 3rovesiy een ASB Ress weet) Rporini 6) 0 oo 110 r98 biti). metrqurgan . mn * < a eretst eee Sean A ~ ‘ iy iiss : i x Wes page? dai: wy By 2% dininefas lotird OY Sviso Os megliriy enol hi SINE 10 SyHG SI Siar bt ra a 40. ibe ‘nab aonb 10 emmitias) To bo:igposh rigs vs SihSediteon Ari neder bent a. y We cs 8 - ‘ee AYIA LAS SA 1) Ada Badin us} oe ube! | :) + srry rd ; { (2 “ Wis ol A sbsaguion: IGE Sh TL de a pte >t" J hn th.< 7 : B rower spaopseie bas (9 sloV) wes sewnll ot palo) banlgal SE AHT sow gor In (> Biaditis Asa8 beiurwnl) cutoee a? +s. ~ a “ey pa » - wn ig rie 7 Thea ttl, agi! 9 SK ot Suter alodsicns 4 And ‘on by te 7 om 7» 4 @ ae stiessrd nohk ay os y092 od flu verti “ost tisha rend He CUC . i ot 2 ,* x" IO te hoe. oor + onl’ Lrrot picts ese usitsha “8 potas MIWA otal Se aM; Politic: 2.65 Nhs re honor ye Le Wonbere szotbhe ice waste : “f Seeman $3 han ‘ogee: PAROD Rssio yn bi panes 4) Bedi elteg Tab iaare baeaa'T ors mira ST Vornsunsaue. 1 BS ahaisy ag ay sigderts Mi Ron xe bewnelyaasey oe] ; y traf: } Uk t Red A FL» inal f mn Dy wl od)y« beta Sse? 93> rev St Spar 2: Moripbe eaSbni egret meh pe baaiedo “ad Vii e5iue! Alar t ARAB: en La A; , ia bigs SER alte bik eynbesm dui io aie Saige es. ote rn if iva Os Sige 9c a De oath wD ‘- r ‘ owe = fa “5 ia : “ * me ‘ l ONG i rid ; : 4 A ir > lila mat eae ence ~ eh at aman aha hey ; nia ei eho ioUriwno HetitaHs epee) > : pve oie ‘ i ttl nant ! a pet ae 4 v ee i eee veteat ay iit iid. broke ned ayn gos isi pate - bh Ye, lectonery yu EK {4 Ti ta EN Aly 12 noe bid anh : As BS Pi socbo rmhiw moavoyt} Teas Yuri nr: | +f aieiaty bie bs Hives zi mMveqals & soln POT MQOP ES 1iahs. WOR FH 0 Pt Pav i nF 8 Soe vt id Bat Peel isbescmicll bias mn te FM, wise tm Ee ig: 4 ne) ' iiodne=s), hI Me} Ai sa « + oF : tah (9 ' ee yey% ! eaves is) 25030 + iv 974 ie ele) , ae 2 us Ta f 4 Pet Olas “ ms ba has a , 7- ‘ r. Le. } Mm bas ¥. £ ey 1920 Dr. A. LANDsBOROUGH THOMSON C. R. STONER N. B. KINNEAR Dr. G. CARMICHAEL Low Lt.-Col. W. P. C. TENISON Capt. C. H. B. Granr W. E. CLEGG C. W. MackwortH-PRAED Maj. A. G. L. SLADEN Miss E. P. LEACH Honorary Secretaries 1935-1938 1938-1940 1940-1943 1943-1945 1945-1947 1947 1947-1949 Miss G. M. RHODEs N. J. P. WADLEY Miss E. Forster Dr. J. G. HARRISON C. J. O. HARRISON M. W. WoopcocKk D. R. CALDER Rs ESPYPEaAL Honorary Treasurers 1935-1936 1936-1942 1942-1949 C. N. WALTER P.crare M. St. J. SuGG 1949-1950 1950-1960 1960-1962 1962-1964 1964-1965 1965-1969 1969-1971 197I- 1950-1962 1962-1974 1974- vi LIST OF AUTHORS AND CONTENTS ACCOUNTS, 1974 i? So ae ays a -. 42-43 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (83rd) a Jn - Bh ioe .. 89-90 ASPINWALL, D. R. A record of an overwintering Oenanthe oenanthe from Lusaka, Zambia .. 46-48 BaTTEn, I. A. Lesser Crested Terns in the Gambia .. 4 - oe: 56 .. 127-128 BENson, C. W. and Exxiiorr, HueGu F. I. The Pemba Island trace of the African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro .. .. 59-62 See also ERARD Bonpb, GORMAN M. The Correct Spelling of Jerdon’s Generic Name for the Thickbilled Warbler 50-51 BoswaLL, JEFFERY and DAwson, RODNEY Spring notes on the birds of southern Montenegro with special reference to wetlands... ne 2, bs Si 2 “if ct se a’ 4-15 Brooke, R. K. Cotyle paludibula Risppell, 1835 .. : = ee ~- 90-91 The avian type-locality Umvuli River, Matabeleland — ae By bs gI The taxonomic relationshup of Buteo rufofuscus and B. augur ae Wi hyo ey: Bruce, Murray D. Some overlooked and doubtful records of birds from Timor = .. II7-118 Okinawa bird notes : a ont “ ant as .. 1§4-157 Notes on birds of Amami Oshima te re te ‘ge be .. 158-160 BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE Opinion tort = 3 a ie sg: ff. vhs = B, 40 Opinions 1028 and 1036 ts a ue ty 25 ses ea 176 Burron, P. J. K: Passerine bird weights from Panama and Columbia, with some notes on “‘soft-_ part’ colours... 3 x as re oe oe i: .. 82-86 See also FoxALL Cassets, K. A. H. and Exriorr, H. F. I. An undescribed display of the Red-crested Korhaan Lophotis ruficrista .. T16-117 Cxiapp, RoGER B. and K1nc, WARREN B. Status of the Kokikokiko Acrocephalus aequinoctialis .. ne ve 8 2-3 CoLEBROOK-ROBJENT, J. F. R. and SrEYN, PETER On the nest and eggs of the Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter minullus .. 142-147 Coston, P. R. Occurrence of the Western rae Calidris mauri at Lake Baikal U.S.S.R. 141-142 CoMMITTEE, 1974 REPORT OF .. I-2 Dawson, RoDNEY See BoswALL Dean, W.R. J. See VERNON DE Naurots, R. The Grey Heron of the Banc d’Arguin (Mauritania) Ardea cinerea monicae .. 135-140 Der Naurots, R. and Wotrers, H. E. The affinities of the Sao Tomé Weaver Textor Grandis (Gray, 1844) .. .. 122-126 DICKERMAN, ROBERT W. New Subspecies of Caprimulgus sericocaudatus from the Amazon River Basin 18-19 DicKkINson, E. C. The identity of Ninox scutulata Raffles .. Le ms ae ant .. IO4-105 Excoop, J. H. An address on “The Quelea problem” .. = aa 4 I An illustrated address on the birds of Papua New Guinea .. a i 41 Malimbus ibadanensis: a fresh statement of biology and status om .. 78-80 Eriiotr, Hues F. 1. See BENSON, also CASsELS ErARD, C. and BENson, C. W. The race of the African Finfoot Podica senegalensis (Vieillot) in Ethiopia .. 147-148 vii FEARE, C. J. Further migrant birds in the Seychelles. . a S a of. .. 48-50 Fitter, R. S. R. An address on “The work of the Survival Service Commission and the problem of extinction’’.. aN ei S beg iT bs 4 89 Fyevpsa, J. A downy chick of the Little Crake Porzana parva taken in Spain, with notes on its diagnostic features vi ed 7 by +e 4 jay” Saree Foxa.., I. and Burron, P. J. K. Notes on the nesting of the White-cheeked Touraco Turacus leucotis {ue C27 Frost, Perer G. H. The systematic position of the shia ematon partridge uukaigiiae madagas- cariensis (Scopoli) 5s - : sai ae i .. 64-68 Fay, C.ck: An undescribed form of Merops orientalis a ~ by - ». 133-135 GARGETT, VALERIE Association between Redwinged Starlings iiainei te morio and Klip- springers Oreotragus oreotragus .. i : ~ of ae .. I19-120 Gries, L. G. The dawn song of the Grey-backed Eremomela Eremomela pusilla +. 9492=93 Harrison, C. J. O. The taxonomic status of Milne-Edward’s fossil Sulids - oe Oa A te-examination of the extinct Pleistocene Stork Palaeociconia australis ~. | 94-96 The pair bond in Excalfactoria .. mn ch ve A 128 Empheresula: new name for Parasula Harrison 1975 - ~ ae 175 Harvey, W. G. The habitat preferences of different colour morphs of Egretta a on the Tanzanian coast . I7I-172 HAVERSCHMIDT, F. Food of Giant Snipe Ga/linago undulata th ”~ ft a = 39 More Bird Records from Surinam 74-77 The occurrence and the habitat of the Pale-bellied Mourner Rlytipterna immundain Surinam... i he ee iy é .. 140-141 Ho.yoak, D. T. and Turpau tr, J. re Introduced tanagers on Tahiti, Society Islands wm ‘ - Rs 106 Horner, KENNETH O. and WATSON, GeEorGE E. First records of Bimaculated Lark Me/anocorypha bimaculata from Cyprus .. 126-127 INGELs, J. Notes on the Pauraque NVyctidromus albicollis in French Guiana st .. 115-116 Jackson, P. F. R. Goliath heron Ardea goliath in the Sunderbans, W. Bengal .. %. .. 39-40 Kinc, WARREN B. See CLApp Isonsxy, F.C. A new subspecies of the Long- eee Warbler, Trichocichla bei Reichenow, from Vanua Levu, Fiji 98-101 LouetTre, M. A Fruit-bat as prey of the African Hawk-Eagle ae + his ok 72-1 73 Marcuanr, J. H See PRATER MAUERSBERGER, G. The first records of the Mongolian Plover, Charadrius mongolus Pallas, for Mongolia ay ee ie e cae pa! iC’ = .. 131-133 MEapD, C. J. Variation in some characters of three palaearctic Certhia species... 2.00 1 30-39 MeEpway, Lorp An illustrated address on the Ornithology of the New Hebrides... #3 129 MEEs, G. F. Status of Ardea novaehollandiae in the Lesser Sunda Islands .. 1 oe 128 MorGan, P. J. A catalogued specimen of Coua delalandei Sa ar eae in rive D side County Museums, Liverpool .. .. 62-64 Vill NIELSEN, BENT Pors Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis in Gambia ay ap a .» 80-81 Norton, W. J. E. Notes on the birds of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia .. 109-115 Otson, Srorrs L. Geographic variation and other notes on Basi/euterus leucoblepharus (Patulidae) 101-104 OREEL, G. J. On the reported occurrence of the Slender-billed Gull Larus genei in Tanzania 175-176 ORENSTEIN, RONALD I. Observations and comments on two stteam-adapted birds of Papua New Guinea .. = os ce ue 3 on fh HH .. 161-165 PARKES, KENNETH C. The Amazonian Antshrike Thamnophilus amazonicus in French Guiana, with notes on nomenclature of the species soy Birds of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, ‘Colombia: corrections and clarifications .. e Ke Sy Bos 4a » a .. 173-175 PERRINS, C. M. An illustrated address on bird habitats in northern and central Australia .. 4I Prater, A. J. and MarcuHant, J. H. Primary moult of Tringa brevipes and T. incana .. a i Je .. 120-122 PRIGOGINE, A. The status of Estrilda kandti and Estrilda atricapilla graueri .. a .. 15-18 SELLAR, Patrick J. An address on the cay and Pe a of the British papi. of Wildlife Sounds .. 129 SmiTH, A. P. Grey-headed lapwing Vanellus cinereus in Brunei and Sarawak ... is 40 Snow, D. W. The classification of the manakins . . 20-27 An illustrated address on the preparation of the atlas of African non- passerines oA? Bs : ad ie $2 tt a #3 41 SOMADIKARTA, S. An unrecorded specimen of Collocalia papuensis Rand .. ‘3 Ze ..41,44-45 STEYN, PETER See CoLEBROOK-ROBJENT STORER, ROBERT W. The Status of the Least Grebe in Argentina... ss Re = .. 148-151 THIBAULT, J.-C. See HoLtyoak THOMSON, SiR LANDSBOROUGH An illustrated address on the avifauna of the Australasian Region .. a 41 URBAN, Emit K. Weights and longevity of some birds from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia .. .. 96-98 VERNON, C. J. and DEAN, W. R. J. On the systematic position of Pholidornis rushiae a ay i2 3 20 Watters, MicHAcEt P. The status of Eos goodfellowi 2 a Grant? ak bn He a .. 129-131 WATSON, GEORGE E. See HorNER WuiteE, C. M.N. The status of darters in Wallacea #2 SE - Bh i Lint $7459 Further notes on birds of Wallacea oe Mf re iy a .. 106-109 The problem of the cassowary in Seran > .. 165-170 The identity of Carpophaga intermedia Meyer & Wiglesworth — rr .. I7O-I71 Wo tters, H. E. See DE NAvUROIS Woop, BRIAN Observations on the Adamawa Turtle Dove .. oe eR ch .. 68-73 WooDALL, PETER F. A bill deformity in Richard’s Pipit and the Serine of M dei .. 45-46 The Garganey Anas querquedula in Rhodesia .. . we! 86-88 ix INDEX TO SCIENTIFIC NAMES (Compiled by C. W. Benson with the assistance of Mrs. M. Hawksley) All generic and specific names (of birds only) are indexed. Subspecific names are included only if new and are also indexed in bold print under the generic and the specific names. abessynicus, Cypselus 40 alpestris, Eremophila 11 Acanthis cannabina 14 alpina, Calidris 10 Accipiter badius 142-145 altera, Corapipo 84 — brevipes 9 aluco, Strix 11 — gentilis 9, 158 amaurotis, Hypsipetes 156, 159 — minullus 142-146 amazonicus, Thamnophilus 55-57 — tufiventris 143, 176 americana, Sporophila 86 — tachiro 59-61 americanus, Podiceps 149 Accipiter tachiro pembaensis, subsp. Ammoperdix griseogularis 64-65 nov. 60-61 — heyi 64 Acrocephalus 50 Ampelion rubrocristatus 112 — aequinoctialis 2 analis, Formicarius 84 — arundinaceus 12 Anaplectes melanotis 79 — palustris 12 — rubriceps 91 — schoenobaenus 12 Anas acuta 8, 87, 155 — scirpaceus 12 — clypeata 8 Actitis hypoleucos 155, 159 — crecca 8, 155 acuta, Anas 8, 87, 155 — erythrorhyncha 87 acutipennis, Chordeiles 74 — penelope 8 adansoni, Excalfactoria 128 — platyrhynchos 8, 155 adspersus, Francolinus 64 — poecilorhyncha 155 Aechmophorus major 149 — querquedula 8, 49, 86 aedon, Phragmaticola 50 — strepera 8, 155 —, Troglodytes 85 angolensis, Oryzoborus 86 Aegithalos caudatus 13 Anhima cornuta 74 aenea, Ducula 170-171 Anhinga anhinga 58 aequinoctialis, Acrocephalus 2 — melanogaster 57-58 aeruginosus, Circus 9, 158 — novaehollandiae 58 aethereus, Phaethon 49 — tufa 58 afer, Francolinus 64 anhinga, Anhinga 58 —, Pternistes 176 Anser anser 8 affinis, Cyanocorax 85, 113 anser, Anser 8 africanus, Phalacrocorax 137 Anthoscopus caroli 20 ahantensis, Francolinus 64-66 — minutus 20 Alauda arvensis 11 Anthreptes 118 alba, Calidris 10 Anthus campestris 12 —, KEgretta 5, 8, 154 — hodgsoni 159 —, Motacilla 12 — lutescens 85 —, Tyto1t, 81 — mnovaeseelandiae 45 albicilla, Haliaeetus 9 — pratensis 46 albicollis, Ficedula 13 — trivialis 12 —, Nyctidromus 115 Antilophia 24 —, Saltator 86 Antrostomus 18 albifrons, Sterna 11, 80, 127, 155 apiaster, Merops 11 Alcedo atthis 11 apivorus, Pernis 9 Alectoris barbara 64 apricaria, Pluvialis 9 — graeca 9, 64 Apus apus 11 — rufa 64-65 — melba 11 alexandrinus, Charadrius 9, 132 — pallidus 11 alienus, Sitagroides 124 apus, Apus II Allocotopterus 23-24 aquaticus, Rallus 9, 82 Alopochelidon 91 Aquila chrysaetos 9 Aquila heliaca 9 — pomarina 9 — verreauxil 153 Aratinga pertinax 74, 76 atborea, Lullula 11 atchboldi, Petroica 164 Ardea australis 107 — cinerea 5, 8, 135-139, 157 — goliath 39 — mnovaehollandiae 128 — purpurea 5, 8, 49 Ardeola idae 49 — talloides 8 ardesiaca, Hydranassa 172 argentatus, Larus 10 atistotelis, Phalacrocorax 8, 54 atquata, Numenius 49 Artremon aurantiirostris 86 atuensis, Casuarius 168 arundinaceus, Acrocephalus 12 Arundinax olivaceus 50 arvensis, Alauda 11 arvernensis, Parasula 53 —, Sula 51-52, 175 asiaticus, Charadrius 49 Asio otus 11 Asthenes wyatti 112 Astur 60 ater, Parus 13 Athene noctua 11 — scutulata 104-105 atra, Fulica 9 atricapilla, Estrilda 15-17 —, Sylvia 12 atricapillus, Donacobius 85 atricaudus, Myiobius 84 atrocaudata, Terpsiphone 160 atronitens, Xenopipo 140 atthis, Alcedo 11 Attila spadiceus 84 augur, Buteo 152-153 aura, Cathartes 112 aurantiacus, Manacus 26 aurantiirostris, Arremon 86 aurantiivertex, Heterocercus 26 aureola, Pipra 23 aurifrons, Neopelma 26 auroreus, Phoenicurus 156 australis, Ardea 107 —, Eopsaltria 164 —, Hyliota 91 —, Palaeociconia 94-95 —, Prophororhacus 94 axillaris, Myrmotherula 84 ayresi, Sharpia 91 Aythya ferina 8 — fuligula 9 — nyroca 9 badius, Accipiter 142-145 baglafecht, Ploceus 97 bakkamoena, Otus 157 barbara, Alectoris 64 barbatus, Gypaetus 9 Bartramia longicauda 74 Basileuterus basilicus 114, 174 — cinereicollis 174 — conspicillatus 114, 174 — cornatus 103 — griseiceps 103 — leucoblepharus 101-103 Basileuterus leucoblepharus lemurum, subsp. nov. 102-103 Basileuterus leucophrys 103 — tivularis 86, 103 basilicus, Basileuterus 114, 174 bassanus, Morus 52-53 bengalensis, Sterna 80-81, 127 bennetti, Casuarius 166 biarmicus, Falco 9 —, Panurus 13 bicarunculatus, Casuarius 168-169 bicolor, Gymnopithys 84 bimaculata, Melanocorypha 126-127 bonelli, Phylloscopus 12-13 borin, Sylvia 12 bornea, Eos 129-130 Botautrus stellaris 8 brachydactyla, Certhia 13, 30-38 bresilius, Ramphocelus 106 brevipes, Accipiter 9 —, Tringa 120-122 bruijni, Grallina 161-165 Bubo bubo 11 bubo, Bubo 11 Bubulcus ibis 8, 154 bulocki, Merops 134-135 Buphagus 119-120 Burhinus oedicnemus 10 Butastur indicus 158 Buteo augur 152-153 — buteo 9 — jakal 152-153 — rufofuscus 152-153 buteo, Buteo 9 Cacicus cela 85 — uropygialis 85 caeruleus, Elanus 143 —, Parus 13 calandra, Emberiza 13 —, Melanocorypha 11, 126 Calandrella cinerea 11 Calidris alba 10 — alpina to — canutus 10 — ferruginea to — maurfi 141-142 — minuta 10 — tuficollis 142 — temminckii 10 calipareus, Podiceps 149 campestris, Anthus 12 Campylorhamphus trochilirostris 83 candei, Manacus 26 canescens, Eremomela 93 canicollis, Serinus 97 cannabina, Acanthis 14 canorus, Cuculus 11 cantillans, Sylvia 12 canus, Picus 11 canutus, Calidris 10 capensis, Zonotrichia 114 capito, Tregellasia 164 Caprimulgus europaeus 11 — sericocaudatus 18-19 Caprimulgus sericocaudatus mengeli, subsp. nov. 19 carbo, Phalacrocorax 8, 52 carbonaria, Diglossa 114 Cardinalis cardinalis 106 cardinalis, Cardinalis 106 —, Richmondena 106 Carduelis carduelis 14 — chloris 14 carduelis, Carduelis 14 caroli, Anthoscopus 20 Carpophaga intermedia 170-171 caryocatactes, Nucifraga 14 caspia, Hydroprogne 10 Cassidix mexicanus 85 cassinii, Mitrospingus 86 castanea, Dendroica 85 Casuarius aruensis 168 — bennetti 166 — bicarunculatus 168-169 — casuarius 165-169 — unappendiculatus 169 casuarius, Casuarius 165-169 —, Struthio 166 Cathartes aura 112 caudacutus, Hirundapus 159 caudata, Chiroxiphia 26 caudatus, Aegithalos 13 cayana, Tangara 77 cayanensis, Myiozetetes 84 cayennensis, Columba 74 cela, Cacicus 85 Cercomela sordida 96 Cercotrichas galactotes 13 Certhia brachydactyla 13, 30-39 — familiaris 13, 30-38 — nipalensis 30-39 cetti, Cettia 12 Cettia cetti 12 — diphone 157, 159 Chaimarrornis 161 chalybea, Progne 84 Charadrius alexandrinus 9, 132 — asiaticus 49 — dubius 9, 132 — leschenaultii 132 — mongolus 131-132 xi Charadrius veredus 132 chilensis, Podiceps 151 chinensis, Excalfactoria 64-65, 128 Chiroxiphia 21, 25 — caudata 26 — lanceolata 26, 84 — linearis 26 — pareola 26 Chlidonias hybrida 10 — leucopterus 10, 50 — niger Io chloris, Carduelis 14 —, Piprites 23, 25 Chlorophanes spiza 86 Chloropipo 21, 24 — flavicapilla 26 — holochlora 26 — unicolor 23, 26 — uniformis 26 chloropus, Gallinula 9, 157 Chlorostilbon mellisugus 75 Chlorothraupis olivacea 86 chocolatina, Melaenornis 97 Chordeiles acutipennis 74 chrysaetos, Aquila 9 chrysater, Icterus 85, 113 chrysocephalum, Neopelma 26 chrysolaus, Turdus 159 cia, Emberiza 14 Cichlornis 101 Ciconia ciconia 8 — malthus 95 — nigra 8 ciconia, Ciconia 8 Cinclodes 114 = fuseus 112 Cinclus 161 — cinclus 12 — leucocephalus 113 cinclus, Cinclus 12 cinerea, Ardea 5, 8, 135-139, 157 —, Calandrella 11 —, Motacilla 12, 50, 156, 159 cinereiceps, Thamnophilus 56 cinereicollis, Basileuterus 174 cinereus, Parus 118 —, Vanellus 4o cinnamomea, Pyrrhomyias 113 cinnamomeus, Pachyrhamphus 84 Circaetus gallicus 9 Circus aeruginosus 9, 158 — cyaneus 158 cirlus, Emberiza 14 citrocephalus, Larus 176 Cisticola juncidis 157, 159 citrea, Protonotaria 85 citrinella, Emberiza 13 cluniei, Trichocichla too—1o1 clypeata, Anas 8 Cnemarchus erythropygius 113 Coccothraustes coccothraustes 14 xii coccothraustes, Coccothraustes 14 coelebs, Fringilla 14 Coeligena phalerata 112 colchicus, Phasianus 9, 64—65 collaris, Prunella 12 Collocalia esculenta 44 fuciphaga 44 papuensis 41, 44 vanikorensis 44 collurio, Lanius 12 collybita, Phylloscopus 12 Colonia colonus 84 colonus, Colonia 84 Columba cayennensis 74 guinea 72 janthina 157, 159 livia 11, 155, 159 oenas II palumbus 11, 69 Colymbus dominicus 151 comata, Hemiprocne 118 communis, Sylvia 12 concinna, Ducula 170-171 concolor, Neospiza 123 conspicillatus, Basileuterus 114, 174 coqui, Francolinus 64 Coracias garrulus 11 Corapipo 24 altera 84 gutturalis 26 leucorrhoa 26 cotax, Corvus 14 cornuta, Anhima 74 coronata, Pipra 84 coronatus, Basileuterus 103 corone, Corvus 14 Corvus corax 14 corone 14 macrorhynchos 157, 160 monedula 14 Cossypha semirufa 96 Coturnix coturnix 9, 64-65 delegorguei 64-67 coturnix, Coturnix 9, 64-65 Cotyle minor 90 paludibula 90-91 Coua delalandei 62-63 crecca, Anas 8, 155 Crex crex 9, 49 crex, Crex 9, 49 crispus, Pelecanus 5, 8 cristata, Galerida 11 —, Palaeociconia 94-95 cristatus, Podiceps 8 cucullatus, Hyphantornis 122 —, Ploceus 80 —, Textor 122-126 Cuculus canorus 11 curruca, Sylvia 12 curvirostris, Loxia 14 cyanea, Passerina 86 cyaneus, Circus 158 Cyanocompsa cyanoides 86 Cyanocorax affinis 85, 113 cyanogenia, Eos 130 cyanoides, Cyanocompsa 86 cyanoleuca, Grallina 162-163 —, Notiochelidon 113 Cyanomitra newtoni 123 Cygnus cygnus 137 olor 137 cygnus, Cygnus 137 Cypselus abessynicus 40 galilejensis 40 dactylatra, Sula 117, 175 daurica, Hirundo 11 decaocto, Streptopelia 11 Deconychura longicauda 83 decumanus, Psarocolius 85, 113 deiroleucus, Falco 74 delalandei, Coua 62-63 delegorguei, Coturnix 64-67 Delichon urbica 11 deliciosus, Machaeropterus 26 Dendrocincla fuliginosa 83 homochroa 83 Dendrocopos 118 kizuki 156 leucotos I1 major II medius I1 minor II Dendrocygna viduata 87 Dendroica castanea 85 Diglossa carbonaria 114 dimidiatus, Ramphocelus 86, 106 diphone, Cettia 157, 159 divaricatus, Pericrocotus 156 domesticus, Passer 14 dominica, Pluvialis 155 dominicus, Colymbus 151 Podiceps 149 —, Tachybaptus 148-151 Donacobius atricapillus 85 Dreptes thomensis 123 Dryocopus lineatus 75 dubius, Charadrius 9, 132 Ducula aenea 170-171 concinna 170-171 pickeringi 171 Dupetor flavicollis 106-107 ecaudatus, Terathopius 153 Eeretta alba 5, 8, 154 eulophotes 155 garzetta 5, 8, 49, 154-155, 171-172 gularis 137 intermedia 154-155 sacra 155, 158, 171 Elaenia ruficeps 140 Elaenus caeruleus 143 Emberiza calandra 13 — cia4 — cirlus 14 — citrinella 13 — hortulana 14, 50 — melanocephala 14 — schoeniclus 14 — spodocephala 160 Empheresula 175 Enicurus 161, 163 Eopsaltria australis 164 — georgiana 164 Eos borneo 129-130 — cyanogenia 130 — goodfellowi 129-131 — histrio 130 — reticulata 130 — rubra 129 — semilarvata 130 — squamata 130 epops, Upupa 11 erckelii, Francolinus 64 Eremiornis 101 Eremomela canescens 93 — gregalis 93 — pusilla 92-93 — scotops 93 Eremophila alpestris 11 Erithacus komadori 156, 159 — tubecula 13 erythrocephala, Pipra 84 erythrogaster, Malimbus 78 erythropus, Tringa 10 erythtropygius, Cnemarchus 113 —, Myiotheretes 113 —, Picus 28 erythrorhyncha, Anas 87 erythrurus, Terenotriccus 84 esculenta, Collocalia 44 Estrilda atricapilla 15-17 — kandti 15-17 — mnonnula 15-17 Eucometis penicillata 86 Eugerygone rubra 164 eulophotes, Egretta 155 Eupodotis senegalensis 117 eurizonoides, Rallina 158 europaea, Sitta 13 europaeus, Caprimulgus 11 Eurystomus glaucurus 50 Excalfactoria 67 — adansoni 128 — chinensis 64-65, 128 exilis, Falco 176 exsul, Myrmeciza 84 falcinellus, Limicola 122 —, Plegadis 5, 8 Falco biarmicus 9 — deiroleucus 74 — exilis 176 Xili Falco longipennis 118 — maumanni 9 — peregrinus 9, 158 — rufofuscus 153 — subbuteo 9, 48, 118 — tinnunculus 9, 155 — vespertinus 9 familiaris, Certhia 13, 30-39 fasciatoventris, Thryothorus 85 ferina, Aythya 8 ferox, Myiarchus 84 ferruginea, Calidris 10 Ficedula albicollis 13 — hypoleuca 13 — marcissina 160 — parva 13 filicauda, Pipra 27 —, Teleonema 23, 27 flava, Motacilla 12 flavicapilla, Chloropipo 26 flavicollis, Dupetor 106-107 flavivertex, Heterocercus 26 —, Myioborus 114 Florisuga mellivora 75 Fluvicola pica 84 Formicarius analis 84 Formicivora grisea 140 formosae, Treron 155, 159 formosus, Oporornis 85 Forpus passerinus 74 Francolinus adspersus 64 — afer 64 — ahantensis 64-66 — coqui 64 — erckelii 64 — francolinus 64-66 — lathami 64—66 — natalensis 64 — pondocerianus 64 — shelleyi 91 — squamatus 64 francolinus, Francolinus 64-66 Fregata 54 Fringilla coelebs 14 fucata, Hirundo 91 fuciphaga, Collocalia 44 Fulica atra 9 fuliginosa, Dendrocincla 83 fuliginosus, Rhyacornis 161 fuligula, Aythya 9 fulviventris, Myrmotherula 83 fulvus, Gyps 9 fuscater, Turdus 113 fuscus, Cinclodes 112 —, Larus 175 gabar, Melierax 144 galactotes, Cercotrichas 13 Galerida cristata 11 galilejensis, Cypselus 40 galinieri, Parophasma 97 gallicus, Circaetus 9 Gallinago gallinago 108 — megala 109, 155 — stenura 109 — undulata 39 gallinago, Gallinago 108 Gallinula chloropus 9, 157 Garrulus glandarius 14 — lidthi 158, 160 garrulus, Coracias 11 garzetta, Egretta 5, 8, 49, 154-155, 17I- Tgf2 Gelochelidon nilotica 10, 81, 127, 175 genei, Larus 175 gentilis, Accipiter 9, 158 georgiana, Eopsaltria 164 gilvus, Mimus 77 glandarius, Garrulus 14 Glareola maldivarum 49 — pratincola Io, 49 glareola, Tringa 10, 49, 155 glaucurus, Eurystomus 50 Glyphorhynchus spirurus 83 goisagi, Gorsachius 108 goliath, Ardea 39 goodfellowi, Eos 129-131 Gorsachius goisagi 108 — kutteri 107 — melanolophus 107-108 Gracula 118 graculus, Pyrrhocorax 6, 14 graeca, Alectoris 9, 64 Grallaria perspicillata 84 Grallina 163-164 — bruijni 161-165 — cyanoleuca 162-163 grandis, Textor 122-126 gregalis, Eremomela 93 grisea, Formicivora 140 griseiceps, Basileuterus 103 —, Hemipipo 23 —, Piprites 22-23, 25 eriseisticta, Muscicapa 157 griseogularis, Ammoperdix 64-65 gryphus, Vultur 111 guainumbi, Polytmus 75 guatemalensis, Sclerurus 83 guinea, Columba 72 gularis, Egretta 137 guttatus, Xiphorhynchus 83 gutturalis, Corapipo 26 Gymnocichla nudiceps 84 Gymnopithys bicolor 84 Gymnostinops montezuma 85 Gypaetus barbatus 9 Gyps fulvus 9 haematodus, Trichoglossus 154, 156 Haematopus ostralegus 9 Haliaeetus albicilla 9 haliaetus, Pandion 9, 108 xiv heliaca, Aquila 9 Hemipipo chloris 23 — griseiceps 23 Hemiprocne comata 118 — longipennis 118 — mystacea 118 Henicorhina leucosticta 85 Hermosionis 94 Heterocercus 21, 24 — aurantiivertex 26 — flavivertex 26 — linteatus 26 heyi, Ammoperdix 64 Hieraaetus pennatus 9 — spilogaster 173 Himantopus himantopus to himantopus, Himantopus to Hippolais icterina 12 — olivetorum 12 — pallida 12 Hirundapus caudacutus 159 Hirundo daurica 11 — fucata 91 — paludicola 90 — riparia 91 — rupestris 11 — rustica II, 156, 159 — tahitica 156, 159 hirundo, Sterna 11 hispanica, Oenanthe 13 hispaniolensis, Passer 14 histrio, Eos 130 hodgsoni, Anthus 159 holochlora, Chloropipo 26 homochroa, Dendrocincla 83 hortensis, Sylvia 12 hortulana, Emberiza 14, 50 hybrida, Chlidonias 10 Hydranassa ardesiaca 172 Hydroprogne caspia 10 — tschegrava 80, 127 Hyliota australis 91 Hyloctistes subulatus 83 Hylophylax naevioides 84 Hypermegethes 122 Hyphantornis cucullatus 122 — jamesoni 91 Hyphanturgus 125 — melanogaster 123 — nigricollis 123 hypoleuca, Ficedula 13 hypoleucos, Actitis 155, 159 —, Tringa 10, 48 hypopyrrha, Streptopelia 68, 73 Hypsipetes amaurotis 156, 159 ibadanensis, Malimbus 78-80 ibis, Bubulcus 8, 154 icterina, Hippolais 12 icteronotus, Ramphocelus 86 Icterus chrysater 85, 113 xV Icterus spurius 85 idae, Ardeola 49 ignicapillus, Regulus 13 Ilicura 24 immunda, Rhytipterna 140 incana, Tringa 120-122 indicus, Butastur 158 intermedia, Carpophaga 170-171 —, Egretta 154-155 Ixobrychus minutus 8 Jabiru 95 jacarina, Volatinia 114 jakal, Buteo 152-153 jamesoni, Hyphantornis 91 janthina, Columba 157, 159 japonica, Zosterops 156-157, 160 juncidis, Cisticola 157, 159 Jynx torquilla 11 kandti, Estrilda 15-17 kizuki, Dendrocopos 156 komadori, Erithacus 156, 159 kutteri, Gorsachius 107 Lagonosticta senegala 97 Lamprotornis ornatus 123 splendidus 123 lanceolata, Chiroxiphia 26, 84 Laniisoma 22 lanioides, Lipaugus 25 Lanius collurio 12 minor 12 senator 12 lapponica, Limosa 159 Larus argentatus 10 cirrocephalus 176 fuscus 175 genei 175 minutus 10 ridibundus 10, 175-176 lathami, Francolinus 64-66 latirostris, Muscicapa 157 Leistes militaris 85 lemurum, Basileuterus 102-103 Lepidocolaptes souleyetii 83 Leptoptilos 95 lepturus, Phaethon 49 leschenaultii, Charadrius 132 leucoblepharus, Basileuterus 101-103 leucocephalus, Cinclus 113 leucogaster, Sula 118 leucophrys, Basileuterus 103 —, Mecocerculus 113 leucops, Tregellasia 164 Leucopsar rothschildi 28 leucopterus, Chlidonias 10, 50 leucorodia, Platalea 5, 8, 137, 139 leucorrhoa, Corapipo 26 leucosticta, Henicorhina 85 leucotis, Tauraco 27, 29 leucotis, Thryothorus 76-77, 85 Turacus 27, 29 leucotos, Dendrocopos 11 lidthi, Garrulus 158, 160 Limicola falcinellus 122 Limosa lapponica 159 limosa 10, 155 limosa, Limosa 10, 155 linearis, Chiroxiphia 26 lineatus, Dryocopus 75 linteatus, Heterocercus 26 Lipaugus 22 lanioides 25 vociferans 25 livia, Columba 11, 155, 159 Locustella naevia 12 longicauda, Bartramia 74 , Deconychura 83 longipennis, Falco 118 —, Hemiprocne 118 Lophotis ruficrista 116-117 Loxia curvirostra 14 luctuosus, Tachyphonus 86 ludovicianus, Pheucticus 114 lugens, Streptopelia 73, 96 lugubris, Parus 13 Lullula arborea 11 Luscinia megarhynchos 13 lutescens, Anthus 85 lydekkeri, Prociconia 94 Machaeropterus 23, 24 deliciosus 26 pyrocephalus 26 regulus 26 macrocephala, Petroica 164 macrorhynchos, Corvus 157, 160 macroura, Vidua 97 macularia, Tringa 122 maculatus, Myiodynastes 84 madagascariensis, Margaroperdix 64-68 128 > , Numenius 155 major, Aechmophorus 149 Dendrocopos 11 —, Parus 13, 118, 156-157, 160 —, Taraba 83 maldivarum, Glareola 49 Malimbus erythrogaster 78 ibadanensis 78-80 rubricollis 80 scutatus 80 malthus, Ciconia 95 Manacus 21, 24-25 aurantiacus 26 candei 26 manacus 26 vitellinus 26, 84 Margaroperdix madagascariensis 64-68, 128 Masius 25 mauri, Calidris 141-142 maxima, Sterna 80, 127 maximus, Saltator 86 mcleannani, Phaenostictus 84 Mecocerculus leucophrys 113 medius, Dendrocopos 11 megala, Gallinago 109, 155 Megalurulus 1o1 megarhynchos, Luscinia 13 Megarhynchus pitangua 76, 84 Melaenornis chocolatina 97 melancholicus, Tyrannus 113 melanocephala, Emberiza 14 —, Sylvia 12 melanocephalus, Textor 125—126 Melanocorypha bimaculata 126-127 — calandra 11, 126 melanogaster, Anhinga 57-58 —, Hyphanturgus 123 melanolophus, Gorsachius 107-108 melanopis, Schistochlamys 77 melanotis, Anaplectes 79 melanotus, Sarkidiornis 87 melanurus, Ramphocaenus 85 melba, Apus 11 Melierax gabar 144 mellisugus, Chlorostilbon 75 mellivora, Florisuga 75 mengeli, Caprimulgus 19 mentalis, Pipra 84 Merops apiaster 11 — bulocki 134-135 — oftientalis 133-134 — superciliosus 50 merula, Turdus 13 mexicanus, Cassidix 85 —, Onychorhynchus 84 Microeca 164 Microsula 51 — pygmaca 53 migrans, Milvus 9 militaris, Leistes 85 Milvus migrans 9 Mimus gilvus 77 miniatus, Myioborus 114 minor, Cotyle 90 —, Dendrocopos 11 —, Lanius 12 —, Platalea 155 minullus, Accipiter 142-146 minuta, Calidris 10 minutus, Anthoscopus 20 —, Ixobrychus 8 > —, Larus Io —, Xenops 83 Mionectes olivaceus 84 Mitrospingus cassinti 86 Monachella 162-164 — mulleriana 161 monedula, Corvus 14 mongolus, Charadrius 131-132 Xvi montanus, Passer 157, 160 montezuma, Gymnostinops 85 Monticola saxatilis 13 — solitarius 13, 157, 159 Moreno-Merceratia 94 morio, Onychognathus 119-120 Morus 54 — bassanus 52-53 Motacilla alba 12 — cinerea 12, 50, 156, 159 — flava 12 mulleriana, Monachella 161 muraria, Tichodroma 13 Musicicapa griseisticta 157 — latirostris 157 — sibirica 154, 157 — striata 13, 48 Muscivora tyrannus 75, 84 Myiarchus ferox 84 — swainsoni 76 Mycteria 94-95 Myiobius 22 — atricaudus 84 Myioborus flavivertex 114 — miniatus 114 Myiodynastes maculatus 84 Myiotheretes erythropygius 113 Myiozetetes cayanensis 84 Myrmeciza exsul 84 Myrmotherula axillaris 84 — fulviventris 83 — surinamensis 83 mystacea, Hemiprocne 118 mystaceus, Platyrinchus 84 naevia, Locustella 12 naevioides, Hylophylax 84 narcissina, Ficedula 160 natalensis, Francolinus 64 naumanni, Falco 9 nebularia, Tringa 10, 155 Nectarinia tacazze 97 — venusta 97 Neopelma 24 — aurifrons 26 — chrysocephalum 26 — pallescens 26 — sulphureiventer 26 Neophron percnopterus 9 Neopipo 21, 24 Neospiza concolor 123 neumayer, Sitta 13 newtoni, Cyanomitra 123 niger, Chlidonias 10 nigra, Ciconia 8 nigricapillus, Thryothorus 85 nigriceps, Thamnophilus 83 nigricollis, Hyphanturgus 123 —, Podiceps 8 Nigrita 79 nilotica, Gelochelidon 10, 81, 127, 175 Ninox scutulata 104-105 nipalensis, Certhia 30-39 nisoria, Sylvia 12 noctua, Athene 11 noguchii, Sapheopipo 154, 156 nonnula, Estrilda 15-17 Notiochelidon cyanoleuca 113 novaehollandiae, Anhinga 58 —, Ardea 128 novaeseelandiae, Anthus 45 noveboracensis, Seiurus 85 Nucifraga caryocatactes 14 nudiceps, Gymnocichla 84 Numenius arquata 49 — madagascariensis 155 Nycticorax nycticorax 5, 8, 158 nycticorax, Nycticorax 5, 8, 158 Nyctidromus albicollis 115 nyroca, Aythya 9 ochropus, Tringa 10, 155 ochruros, Phoenicurus 13 Ochthoeca rufipectoralis 113 oedicnemus, Burhinus 10 Oenanthe hispanica 13 — oenanthe 13, 46-48, 50 — pileata 47-48 oenanthe, Oenanthe 13, 46-48, 50 oenas, Columba 11 oleaginea, Pipromorpha 84 olivacea, Chlorothraupis 86 —, Phragmaticola 50 —, Piranga 106 olivaczum, Oncostoma 84 olivaceus, Arundinax 50 —, Mionectes 84 —, Rhynchocyclus 84 —, Turdus 97 olivetorum, Hippolais 12 olor, Cygnus 137 Oncostoma olivaceum 84 onocrotalus, Pelecanus 5, 137 Onychognathus morio 119-120 Onychorhynchus mexicanus 84 Oporornis formosus 85 — philadelphia 86 orientalis, Merops 133-134 —, Streptopelia 157, 159 Oriolus oriolus 14 oriolus, Oriolus 14 ornatus, Lamprotornis 123 Ortygocichla 1o1 otyzivora, Scaphidura 85, 113 Oryzoborus angolensis 86 ostralegus, Haematopus 9 Otus bakkamoena 157 — scops II otus, Asio 11 Pachyrhamphus cinnamomeus 84 Palaeociconia australis 94-95 XVil Palaeociconia cristata 94—95 Palaeosula stocktoni 54 pallescens, Neopelma 26 pallida, Hippolais 12 pallidus, Apus 11 —, Turdus 157-159 paludibula, Cotyle 90-91 paludicola, Hirundo 90 —, Riparia 90-91 palumbus, Columba 11, 69 palustris, Acrocephalus 12 —, Parus 13 Pandion haliaetus 9, 108 Panurus biarmicus 13 papuensis, Collocalia 41, 44 Parasula, gen. nov. 51 Parasula 51, 175 — arvernensis 53 pareola, Chiroxiphia 26 Parophasma galinieri 97 Parus ater 13 — caeruleus 13 — cinereus 118 — lugubris 13 — major 13, 118, 156-157, 160 — palustris 13 — timorensis 118 — varius 157, 160 parva, Ficedula 13 —, Porzana 81-82 Passer domesticus 14 — hispaniolensis 14 — montanus 157, 160 — swainsonil 97 Passerina cyanea 86 passerinus, Forpus 74 Patagornis 95 Pelecanus 54 — cfispus 5, 8 — onocrotalus 5, 137 pembaensis, Accipiter 60-61 pendulinus, Remiz 13 penelope, Anas 8 penicillata, Eucometis 86 pennatus, Hieraaetus 9 percnopterus, Neophron 9 Perdix perdix 9, 64-65 perdix, Perdix 9, 64-65 peregrina, Vermivora 85 peregrinus, Falco 9, 158 Pericrocotus divaricatus 156 Pernis apivorus 9 perspicillata, Grallaria 84 pertinax, Aratinga 74, 76 Petroica archboldi 164 — macrocephala 164 Petronia petronia 14 petronia, Petronia 14 Phaenostictus mcleannani 84 Phaeoprogne tapera 76 Phaeothlypis 103 Phaethon 54 — aethereus 49 — lepturus 49 Phalacrocorax 52, 138 — africanus 137 — aristotelis 8, 54 — carbo 8, 52 — pygmaeus 5, 8 phalerata, Coeligena 112 Phasianus colchicus 9, 64—65 Pheucticus ludovicianus 114 philadelphia, Oporornis 86 Philomachus pugnax 10, 49 philomelos, Turdus 13 Phoenicopterus ruber 49 phoenicius, Tachyphonus 77, 140 Phoenicurus auroreus 156 — _ ochruros 13 — phoenicurus 13 phoenicurus, Phoenicurus 13 Pholidornis rushiae 20 Phragmaticola aedon 50 — olivacea 50 Phrygilus 112 — unicolor 114 Phylloscopus bonelli 12-13 — collybita 12 — sibilatrix 12-13 — trochilus 12 Pica pica 14 pica, Fluvicola 84 —, Pica 14 pickeringi, Ducula 171 Piculus rubiginosus 112 Picus canus I1 — erythropygius 28 — viridis 11 picus, Xiphorhynchus 83 pileata, Oenanthe 47—48 pileatus, Piprites 23, 25 Pipra 21, 25-26 — aureola 23 — coronata 84 — erythrocephala 84 — filicauda 27 — mentalis 84 — pipra 27 pipra, Pipra 27 Piprites 21, 23, 24 — chloris 23, 25 — griseiceps 22-23, 25 — pileatus 23, 25 Pipromorpha oleaginea 84 Piranga olivacea 106 pitangua, Megarhynchus 76, 84 Platalea leucorodia 5, 8, 137, 139 — minor 155 platyrhynchos, Anas 8, 155 Platyrinchus mystaceus 84 Plegadis falcinellus 5, 8 XViil Ploceus baglafecht 97 — cucullatus 80 — xanthops 91 plumbea, Polioptila 85 Pluvialis apricaria 9 — dominica 155 — squatarola 10, 74, 157 Podica senegalensis 147-148 Podiceps americanus 149 — calipareus 149 — chilensis 151 — ctistatus 8 — dominicus 149 — nigricollis 8 — rfollandi 149 — speciosus 150-151 Poecilodryas 164 poecilorhyncha, Anas 155 Polioptila plumbea 85 Poliospiza rufobrunnea 123 Polytmus guainumbi 75 — theresiae 75 Pomareopsis 163 pomarina, Aquila 9 pondocerianus, Francolinus 64 Porzana patva 81-82 — porzana 9, 82 — pusilla 9, 81-82 porzana, Porzana 9, 82 pratensis, Anthus 46 pratincola, Glareola 10, 49 ptinceps, Textor 123 ; Prociconia lydekkeri 94 Progne chalybea 84 Prophalacrocorax, gen. nov. 51-52 Prophalacrocorax ronzoni 52 Prophororhacus australis 94 Protonotaria citrea 85 Prunella collaris 12 Psarocolius decumanus 85, 113 Pseudosula, gen. nov. 53 Pseudosula pygmaea 53 Pseudosulidae, fam. nov. 53 Pternistes afer 176 Ptilochoris 22 Ptiloris 163 pugnax, Philomachus 10, 49 punctatus, Thamnophilus 83 purpurata, Querula 84 purpurea, Ardea 5, 8, 49 pusilla, Eremomela 92-93 —, Porzana 9, 81-82 pygmaea, Microsula 53 —, Pseudosula 53 —; Sula 51, 53 pygmaeus, Phalacrocorax 5, 8 pyrocephalus, Machaeropterus 26 Pyrrhocorax graculus 6, 14 Pyrrhomyias 114 — cinnamomea 113 querquedula, Anas 8, 49, 86 Querula purpurata 84 radjah, Tadorna 118 Rallina eurizinoides 158 ralloides, Ardeola 8 Rallus aquaticus 9, 82 Ramphocaenus melanurus 85 Ramphocelus bresilius 106 — dimidiatus 86, 106 — icteronotus 86 Regulus ignicapillus 13 regulus, Machaeropterus 26 Remiz pendulinus 13 reticulata, Eos 130 Rhinomyias 118 Rhipidura 164 Rhyacornis fuliginosus 161 Rhynchocyclus olivaceus 84 Rhytipterna immunda 140 Richmondena cardinalis 106 ridibundus, Larus 10, 175-176 Riparia paludicola 90-91 — fiparia 11, 90 riparia, Hirundo 91 —, Riparia 11, 90 rivularis, Basileuterus 86, 103 Rollandia rolland 148 rolland, Rollandia 148 rollandi, Podiceps 149 ronzoni, Prophalacrocorax 52 —, Sula 51-52 rothschildi, Leucopsar 28 rubecula, Erithacus 13 ruber, Phoenicopterus 49 rubetra, Saxicola 13 rubiginosus, Piculus 112 rubra, Eos 129 —, Eugerygone 164 rubriceps, Anaplectes 91 rubricollis, Malimbus 80 rubrocristatus, Ampelion 112 rufa, Alectoris 64-65 —, Anhinga 58 —, Trichocichla 98-101 ruficeps, Elaenia 140 ruficollis, Calidris 142 —, Tachybaptus 8 —, Thamnophilus 55-57 ruficrista, Lophotis 116-117 rufipectoralis, Ochthoeca 113 rufiventris, Accipiter 143, 176 rufobrunnea, Poliospiza 123 rufofuscus, Buteo 152-153 —, Falco 153 rupestris, Hirundo 11 rushiae, Pholidornis 20 rustica, Hirundo 11, 156, 159 sacra, Egretta 155, 158, 171 Saltator albicollis 86 xix Saltator maximus 86 sanctithomae, Thomasophantes 123 sandvicensis, Sterna 10, 80, 127 Sapayoa 21, 22, 24 Sapheopipo noguchii 154, 156 Sarkidiornis melanotus 87 saxatilis, Monticola 13 Saxicola rubetra 13 — torquata 13 Scaphidura oryzivora 85, 113 Schiffornis 21-22, 24-26 — turdinus 25 — vifescens 25 Schistochlamys melanopis 77 schoeniclus, Emberiza 14 schoenobaenus, Acrocephalus 12 scirpaceus, Acrocephalus 12 Sclerurus guatemalensis 83 scops, Otus 11 scotops, Eremomela 93 scutulata, Athene 104-105 —, Ninox 104-105 —, Strix 104 scutatus, Malimbus 80 Seiurus noveboracensis 85 semifasciata, Tityra 84, 113 semilarvata, Eos 130 semirufa, Cossypha 96 senator, Lanius 12 senegala, Lagonosticta 97 senegalensis, Eupodotis 117 —, Podica 147-148 —, Streptopelia 73 sericocaudatus, Caprimulgus 18-19 Serinus canicollis 97 — serinus 14 — striolatus 97 — tristriatus 97 serinus, Serinus 14 Serpophaga 164 Sharpia ayresi 91 shelleyi, Francolinus 91 sibilator, Sirystes 84 sibilatrix, Phylloscopus 12-13 sibirica, Muscicapa 154, 157 sieboldii, Treron 155, 159 Sirystes sibilator 84 Sitagroides alienus 124 Sitta europaea 13 — meumayer 13 solitarius, Monticola 13, 157, 159 sordida, Cercomela 96 souleyetii, Lepidocolaptes 83 spadiceus, Attila 84 speciosus, Podiceps 150-151 spilogaster, Hieraaetus 173 spirurus, Glyphorhynchus 83 spiza, Chlorophanes 86 splendidus, Lamprotornis 123 spodocephalus, Emberiza 160 Sporophila americana 86 spurius, Icterus 85 squamata, Eos 130 squamatus, Francolinus 64 squatarola, Pluvialis 10, 74, 157 stagnatilis, Tringa 10 stellaris, Botaurus 8 stenura, Gallinago 109 Sterna albifrons 11, 80, 127, 155 — bengalensis 80-81, 127 — hirundo 11 — maxima 80, 127 — sandvicensis 10, 80, 127 stocktoni, Palaeosula 54 stolzmanni, Tyranneutes 26 strepera, Anas 8, 155 Streptopelia decaocto 11 — hypopyrrha 68, 73 .. — lugens 73, 96 — oftientalis 157, 159 — senegalensis 73 — turtur 11, 69, 73 — vinacea 72 striata, Muscicapa 13, 48 striolatus, Serinus 97 Strix aluco 11 — scutulata 104 Struthio casuarius 166 Sturnus vulgaris 14 subbuteo, Falco 9, 48, 118 subulatus, Hyloctistes 83 Sula arvernensis 51-52, 175 — dactylatra 117, 175 — leucogaster 118 — pygmaea 51, 53 — ronzoni 51-52 — sula 54, 118 — varfiegata 53 sula, Sula 54, 118 sulphureiventer, Neopelma 26 superciliosus, Merops 50 surinamensis, Myrmotherula 83 swainsoni, Myiarchus 76 swainsonii, Passer 97 Sylvia atricapilla 12 — borin 12 — cantillans 12 — communis 12 — curffuca 12 — hottensis 12 — melanocephala 12 — nisoria 12 Symplectes 125 tacazze, Nectarinia 97 tachiro, Accipiter 59-61 Tachybaptus dominicus 148-151 — tuficollis 8 Tachyphonus luctuosus 86 — phoenicius 77, 140 Tadorna radjah 118 tahitica, Hirundo 156, 159 xx Tangata cayana 77 tapera, Phaeoprogne 76 Taraba major 83 Tauraco leucotis 27, 29 Teleonema filicauda 23, 27 temminckii, Calidris 10 Terathopius ecaudatus 153 terek, Tringa 122 Terenotriccus 22 — erythrurus 84 Terpsiphone 118 — atrocaudata 160 Textor cucullatus 122-126 — grandis 122-126 — melanocephalus 125-126 — princeps 123 — velatus 123-124, 126 Thamnophilus amazonicus 55-57 — cinereiceps 56 — nigriceps 83 — punctatus 83 — tuficollis 55-57 theresiae, Polytmus 75 Thomasophantes sanctithomae 123 thomensis, Dreptes 123 Thryothorus fasciatoventris 85 — leucotis 76-77, 85 — nigricapillus 85 Tichodroma muratia 13 timorensis, Parus 118 tinnunculus, Falco 9, 155 Tityra semifasciata 84, 113 torquata, Saxicola 13 torquilla, Jynx 11 totanus, Tringa 10 Tregellasia capito 164 — leucops 164 Treron formosae 155, 159 — sieboldii 155, 159 Trichocichla rufa 98-101 Trichocichla rufa cluniei, subsp. nov. IOO-IO1 Trichoglossus haematodus 154, 156 Tringa brevipes 120-122 — erythropus 10 — glareola 10, 49, 155 — hypoleucos to, 48 — imcana 120-122 — macularia 122 — nebularia 10, 155 — ochropus 10, 155 — stagnatilis 10 — tetek 122 — totanus 10 tristriatus, Serinus 97 trivialis, Anthus 12 trochilirostris, Campylorhamphus 83 trochilus, Phylloscopus 12 Troglodytes aedon 85 — troglodytes 12 troglodytes, Troglodytes 12 tschegrava, Hydroprogne 80, 127 Turacus leucotis 27, 29 turdinus, Schiffornis 25 Turdus chrysolaus 159 — fuscater 113 — merula 13 — olivaceus 97 — pallidus 157-159 — philomelos 13 — viscivorus 13 turtur, Streptopelia 11, 69, 73 Tyranneutes 24 — stolzmanni 26 — virescens 26 Tyrannus melancholicus 113 tyrannus, Muscivora 75, 84 Tyto alba 11, 81 unappendiculatus, Casuarius 169 undulata, Gallinago 39 unicolor, Chloropipo 23, 26 —, Phrygilus 114 uniformis, Chloropipo 26 Upupa epops 11 urbica, Delichon 11 uropygialis, Cacicus 85 Vanellus cinereus 40 — vanellus to vanellus, Vanellus 1o vanikorensis, Collocalia 44 variegata, Sula 53 varius, Parus 157, 160 Xxi velatus, Textor 123-124, 126 venusta, Nectarinia 97 veredus, Charadrius 132 Vermivora peregrina 85 verreauxii, Aquila 153 vespertinus, Falco 9 Vidua macroura 97 viduata, Dendrocygna 87 vinacea, Streptopelia 72 virescens, Schiffornis 25 —, Tyranneutes 26 viridis, Picus 11 viscivorus, Turdus 13 vitellinus, Manacus 26, 84 vociferans, Lipaugus 25 Volatinia jacarina 114 vulgaris, Sturnus 14 Vultur gryphus 111 wagleri, Zarhynchus 85 wyatti, Asthenes 112 xanthops, Ploceus 91 Xenopipo 24 — atronitens 140 Xenops minutus 83 Xiphorhynchus guttatus 83 — picus 83 Zarhynchus wagleri 85 Zonotrichia capensis 114 Zosterops japonica 156-157, 160 Corrigenda p. 26, line. 16: ‘Machaeropterus’, not ‘Machseropterus’ p. 27, line 4o: ‘/eucotis’, not ‘lencotis’ p. 39, line 42: ‘F. Haverschmidt’, not “G. Haverschmidt’ . 85, line 1: ‘Cyanocorax’, not ‘Cyanocrocorax’ P- 5, DA > wy: p. 85, line 41: ‘Cacicus cela’, not “Cacius cela’ p. 113, line 8: ‘orinomus’, not “erinomus’ p. 113, line 37: “cacozelus’, not “cacolelus’ . 113, line 42: ‘Psarocolius’, not ‘Psaracolius’ p 3, 4 > p. 155, line 18: ‘poecilorhyncha’, not ‘peocilorhyncha’ p. 157, line 7: ‘Muscicapa’, not “Musicapa’ af - oy The Caxton & Hol esda Vis Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club Edited by HUGH. F. I. ELLIOTT. Volume 95 No. 1 March 1975 The Annual General Meeting of the Club will be held at the Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, London W.1 on Tuesday, 2zoth May, 1975 at 6 p.m. AGENDA 1. Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting. 2. Minutes of the Special General Meeting held on 19th November, 1974. 3. Report of the Committee (including Bulletin matters) and Accounts for 1974. 4. Election of Officers :— (a) The Committee proposes Dr. J. F. Monk, p.m., as Editor vice Sir Hugh Elliott, Bt., 0.8.£., M.A., who will be resigning towards the end of the year. (b) The Committee proposes that Mr. M. St. J. Sugg, m.a., be re-elected Honorary Treasurer. (c) The Committee eee that Mr. R. E. F. Peal be re-elected Honorary Secre- tary. (d) The Committee proposes Mr. C. E. Wheeler to serve on the Committee vice Mr. C. J. Mead, who retires by rotation. (ec) The Committee proposes Mrs. J. D. Bradley to serve on the Committee vice Lieut.-Colonel J. R. Neighbour, who has resigned. 5. Any other business of which notice shall have been given in accordance with Rule (7): 6. The following resolutions to amend the Rules of the Club will be proposed by the Committee as special resolutions in terms of Rule (14): Resolution 1 That Rule (4) be hereby amended by the deletion of the first two sentences and the substitution in place thereof of the following sentences :— Any member of the British Ornithologists’ Union may become a member of the Club on payment to the Treasurer of the annual subscription. The first subscription of a Member who joins in October, November or December shall cover his member- ship until 31st, December in the following year. The rate of subscription for Members shall be decided by the Committee. A Member who ceases to be a member of the British Ornithologists’ Union shall also cease to be a Member of the Club unless the Committee shall consider it is in the interests of the Club to permit him to remain a Member of the Club. Resolution 2 That Rule (10) be hereby amended by the deletion of the words:— as soon as possible after each Meeting. Resolution 3 That Rule (12) be hereby deleted and in a alate thereof the following Rule be hereby adopted :— (12) Subject to the terms of any bequest or gift, any stocks, shares, other securities, money or other property (whether real or personal) from time to time belonging to the Club may be vested in trustees for the Club if the Club shall by a special resolution so decide. Such special resolution shall appoint Trustees and shall specify the trusts under which the property is to be held. By Order of the Committee, RONALD E. F. PEAL, Honorary Secretary. SHR VE ON [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] Bulletin of the 2>.,..... BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Vol. 95 No. 1 ais Published : 20 March, 1975 The six hundred and ninety-second meeting of the Club was held at the Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, London, W.1, on Tuesday 21st January 1975, at 7 p.m. Chairman: Mr. J. H. Elgood, m.A., present 12 members and 3 guests. The Chairman addressed the Club on “The Quelea problem’’, with par- ticular reference to the current state of knowledge of Oxelea quelea biology and consequential trends in the approach to and techniques used in its control. The talk was illustrated by slides and led to a lively discussion. Forthcoming Meetings : Tuesday, zoth May, Café Royal, 6.30 for 7 p.m.: an Australasian evening (New Guinea, New Zealand, Australia); speakers: J. H. Elgood, Sir Lands- borough Thomson, Dr. C. M. Perrins. Tuesday, 15th July, Imperial College, Exhibition Road, $.W.7, buffet supper 7 p.m.: R. S. R. Fitter on “The work of the Survival Service Com- mission and the problem ‘of extinction”’. Tuesday, 16th September, Café Royal, 6.30 for 7 p.m.: Lord Medway on “Ornithology of tne New Hebrides”’. Report of the Committee for 1974 During the year five meetings were held at the Café Royal, and the sixth, in July, was at Imperial College, South Kensington, with speakers before and after a buffet supper (costing {2-10 a head overall). Attendances totalled 204, the highest since 1965 (when 8 ordinary meetings were held). The Café Royal is central and conveniently accessible by public transport, while the dinner compares well for cost (at present £2-85 inclusive of V.A.T. and service) and quality with any other suitable venue in the vicinity. Nevertheless, in view of changing economic conditions the Committee would be glad to hear the views and suggestions of members about meetings, either at the Annual General Meeting or by letter. In 1974, 26 new members joined, a net gain of 10 since there were 9 resignations and the Committee must record with deep regret the deaths of 7 members, Mr. C. W. Mackworth-Praed, 0.8.£. (Hon. Secretary and Treasurer 1922-23 and 1929-35, Hon. Treasurer 1935-1936, Vice-Chairman 1945-1946 and Chairman 1956-1959), Col. the Rt. Rev. Mgr. F. O. Cave, O.B.E., M.C., Miss J. M. Ferrier, Col. P. R. Foulkes-Roberts, M.c., Miss M. V. Gilbert, Mr. J. M. D. MacKenzie and Professor E. Schouteden. Eleven new non-member subscriptions to the Bu//etin were also received during the year and unremitting efforts continued to get all payments up to date and at the correct rate. At the end of the year 243 members and 122 non-member subscribers had paid in full and, in accordance with Rule (10), were entitled to receive the Bulletin. In view of the possibility of error, arising from the stricter application of this rule made necessary by rising costs, any paid up member who fails to receive his entitlement is asked to inform the Hon. Treasurer immediately so that the matter can be rectified. The size of the Bulletin was again 176 pages and the quality and variety of papers offered have been well maintained. Mr. C. W. Benson completed five [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] 2 _ years of distinguished editorship with the June number and was succeeded by Sir Hugh Elliott. The time from acceptance of a paper to publication is still normally between 3 and 5 months, although papers of the requisite standard by non-members occasionally have to be declined, or deferred with the consent of the authors, because of pressure of space. An increase of 48°% in printing costs necessitated the calling of a Special General Meeting on 19th November 1974, at which approval was given to raising the member’s subscription from {2-50 to £3-50 from 1st January, 1975; also the Committee decided that the rate for non-member subscribers should be increased from £3-50 to {4:50 from the same date. Notice has been received of a further increase of 124% in printing costs from 1st January 1975 and the Committee has initiated a study of further possible economies to meet the situation. The audited accounts for 1974 are not yet available but will be tabled at the Annual General Meeting and published in a later number of the Bulletin. Explanatory Note on Amendments to the Rules to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting The main changes to be proposed are that the Committee should be em- powered to fix the annual subscription for members and that members should be permitted, at the discretion of the Committee, to remain Club members even if they cease to be members of the British Ornithologists’ Union. High rates of inflation make it impossible to plan as far ahead as used to be prac- ticable and it is becoming increasingly common for a Society to give its Committee power to decide the subscription rates. Other changes are that the first subscription paid by a new member joining in the last quarter of the year shall cover also the following calendar year, to remove the link between meetings and publication dates for the Bulletin and to replace Rule (12), so that subject to the terms of a bequest or gift, property of the Club may not, without reference to members be placed in trust beyond the control of the Club. Status of the Kokikokiko Acrocephalus aequinoctialis by Roger B. Clapp and Warren B. King Received 7th November 1974 The Kokikokiko or Line Island Warbler is known to have occurred on three of the Line Islands of the central Pacific—Washington, Fanning and Christ- mas. The taxonomic status of two populations, Acrocephalus aequinoctialis aequinoctialis, the smaller form on Christmas Island, and A. a. pistor, the larger form on Fanning Island, is relatively well known as a result of early collec- tions. Until recently the bird on Washington was known only from a single specimen collected by Harold Kirby during the summer of 1924. Wetmore (1925) compared this specimen with one taken by Kirby on Fanning in 1924 and considered them identical, but concluded that it would be wise ‘“‘to secure a small series from each of the two islands in question for more critical comparison .. .” Later, Murphy & Mathews (1929) compared the Washington bird with two birds taken on Fanning by Stanley C. Ball and with the one collected there by Kirby. The authors concluded that the bird was “intermediate in size between the subspecies aequinoctialis and pistor... [and] probably represents a third race, confined to Washington Island .. .” During the mid- and late 1960s all three islands were visited by expeditions of the Smithsonian Institution’s Pacific Ocean Biological Survey Program ee a a a ee eS ee 3 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] (POBSP). A series of ten specimens of the warbler was collected on Washing- ton, and twelve birds were taken on Christmas. Wing chord and bill length (from nostril) of specimens in the POBSP series (housed in the National Museum of Natural History) and of specimens in the American Museum of Natural History were compared (Table 1). Mean wing length and bill length of males from Washington are significantly (Student’s t test, p< -o1) greater than those lengths in males from Christmas. A similar relationship holds for females from Washington and Christmas. The males from Fanning also have a significantly (p< -o1) greater mean wing length and bill length than the Christmas males. The means of the two measurements for males from Washington and Fanning are not significantly different, however. TABLE I Comparison of Measurements of the Kokikokiko on Washington, Fanning and Christmas Islands. Wing Bill from Nostril n x and sy range n x and sy range Washington gd 8 80°1641°17 74:2-83°3 6 12:72 +21. If'9-13°5 Washington 92 5 75°43+ °80 73:9-77°2 4 12°23+ +19 11°7-12'6 Fanning TERME Sl fr aay 9 Mi ane 0 an (2 a: 3 2-134 +27 ~11°6-12"4 Christmas 66 16 73°334+ +53 '70°5-77°8 16 t0:90+ +08 t10°4-11°6 Christmas O2 11 7o'85+ +78 68-0-77°8 Ir r0'87+ +09 10°4-11°5 Differences in plumage coloration among the three populations do not appear to exist. Some specimens have considerably more white on the tip of the tail and on the margins of the back feathers than others but these differences appear to be largely the result of wear or may be safely ascribed to individual variation. We conclude that the populations from both Fanning and Washington belong to the race pis/or. Recently Bakus (1967) suggested that the population on Fanning is extinct, basing his conclusion both on information from residents of the island and on his inability to find any warblers during a visit from June through August 1963. We may add that POBSP personnel visited the island four times in the period from March 1964 through December 1967 but never found this species. Estimates, admittedly crude were made of the warbler populations of Christmas and Washington by POBSP personnel on a number of surveys. Christmas was visited 11 times between March 1964 and January 1968, but only two surveys were of sufficient duration to provide meaningful estimates. Our data suggest that the population is 300 to 4oo birds. Estimates of the population on Washington are based on five visits made between March 1964 and December 1967. They vary from less than a hundred to a perhaps unreasonably large estimate of 2,000 birds. It is probably safe to assume that the Washington population is of the order of several hundred birds. This is paper no. 109 of the Smithsonian Institution’s Pacific Ocean Biological Survey Program. References: Bakus, G. J. 1967. Changes in the avifauna of Fanning Island, central Pacific, between 1924 and 1963. Condor 69: 207-209. Murphy, R. C. & Mathews, G. M. 1929. Birds collected during the Whitney South Sea Expedition. V1. Amer. "Mus. Novit. 350: I-21. _ Wetmore, A. 1925. A note on the Fanning Island Warbler. Condor 27: 212. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] 4 Spring notes on the birds of southern Montenegro with special reference to wetlands by Jeffery Boswall and Rodney Dawson 12th November 1974 INTRODUCTION Observations were made in southern Montenegro, Yugoslavia, between 27 April and 10 May 1974, with the assistance on two days of V. F. Vasic, and, throughout the period, of a party comprising Mrs. E. M. Barrett, D. P. Bayes, Miss E. L. Bell, T. A. Blanche, Mrs. Rita Cook, Dr. and Mrs. D. W. Dawson, and B. C. Peachey. They were supplemented by observations made from 4 to 17 May by Mr. and Mrs. Alan G. Channer and G. Davies; and from 4 to 18 May by Dr. D. A. Gunn. Some records made in 1967, from 6-17 May, by B. C. Peachey are included. The area investigated was mainly along the coast from the village of Petrovac to the Albanian border and thence inland, to wetland localities. In addition, lowland scrub and dry cultivation, small towns and villages, areas of limestone outcrop and scrubby or bare hillsides up to about 700 metres were briefly examined. Only one visit to higher elevations was made, when A. G. Channer and G. Davies on 13 May in Lovcen national park reached about 1,500 m (the highest peak, Stirovnik, is 1,749. m). All localities men- tioned are shown in the sketch map, Fig. 1. c, HERCEGOVINA - 2 Si / (e) . aA TLS aaa Sg O MONTELNE GRO Kotor = ( boveen f NATIONAL fistsh \ cy eo Gorevici AS8B4 a, : Brsalskj Polok r ry Sait, eloganjiege Ulciny CO" LP. 0d KC we giver ce] i KILOMETRES Fig. 1. Sketch-map of southern Montenegro. 5 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)) Montenegro, the smallest of the six republics of Yugoslavia, is roughly diamond-shaped and about 190 km from north to south and 170 km from west to east. Baedeker (1964) quoted the population and area as 476,000 and §,331 square miles, equivalent to about 35 people to 10 km’. The most recent work specifically devoted to Montenegrin birds would appear to be that ot Reiser and von Fuehrer (1896); the latter also later published (1900-1901) a paper described by Ticehurst & Whistler (1932) as “listing 256 species from the boundary region of Montenegro and Albania, but most ot the records are from the Montenegrin side”. Although Ticehurst & Whistler (0p. cit.) and Whistler (1936) specifically dealt with Albania, they also visited Montenegro, as now politically defined, from 24 April to 11 May, 1929, including the south. The only other zoth century references in English to the birds of the area appear to be by Lodge (1908), Thorpe ef a/. (1934) and Lind ef a/. (1962). However, some pertinent data from neighbouring regions of Yugoslavia are to be found in Sage (1964, 1966) and Géroudet (1965). Mote recently, in their check-list of Yugoslav birds, Matvejev and Vasic (1973) indicate the status of species in the various republics and sub-divisions thereof, including southern Montenegro. Their list shows that 168 species are known and 16 believed to breed (or to have bred) in the south-western sector, i.e. the Adriatic coast and hinterland. Along most of the 100 km of coastline the mountains sweep down to the sea, but are bounded on the south-east by the largest lake in the Balkans, Lake Skadar, about 40,000 ha in extent, of which rather less than half is in Albania. It is a “category A” wetland according to the Project MAR classification (Olney 1965). Stojkovic and Vasic (1968) review its birds and their environ- ment in detail and Ivanovic (1970) lists the birds. It is the home, incidentally, not of the White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus, as reported by Olney (op. cit.) but of the Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus. The lake’s longest axis is 44 km and the Bojana River flows from it about 30 km to the sea. The Bojana has a number of small tributaries, including one from Lake Sas, lying just inside Yugoslavia, which is about 1 x 4 km and bordered by Phragmites: at its eastern end there is a colony of Grey Herons Ardea cinerea, Purple Herons Ardea purpurea, Great White Egrets FEgretta alba, Little Egrets FEgretta garzetta, Night Herons Nycticorax nycticorax and Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia. V.F. Vasic (pers. comm.) says that in July 1970, the colony was also tenanted by Pygmy Cormorants Phalacrocorax pygmaeus and Glossy Ibises Plegadis falcinellus. At the mouth of the Bojana is Ada, a triangular island of alluvium and sand, with 3 km sides. The eastern one faces Albania and no doubt for this reason there was no lodging for visitors until 1973. In 1974, the island was still unspoilt, offering a natural progression of habitats from open sandy shore to quite tall forest. Zoganje Lake to the south of Sas is connected by the Melina River with the sea, south-east of the town of Ulcinj. The lake is smaller than it once was, its outer fringes on three sides having been converted into salt-pans. The “Zoganje River” referred to in the systematic list is a narrow fast-running stream flowing between the Ulcinj—Krute road and Zoganje village. Only 2-4 km inland from Petrovac is a peak 776 m above sea level. The lower slopes are wooded with a variety of broad-leaved and some coniferous trees. There are olive groves, fig trees and some vineyards and vegetables (Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] 6 Fig. 2. Lake Sas. Fig. 3. Zoganje Lake. are grown on the few tiny flat areas or on terraces. Chickens are kept, sheep and goats herded in small flocks and cows usually tethered singly. Donkeys are still used for transport. However, along the coast the tourist industry has caused a decline in traditional ways of life and inland the factories of Titograd lure people from the land. As a result neglected terraces are reverting to a more natural habitat for birds. Tree cover above about 750 m is sparse. The dramatic gorge of Brsatski Potok can be entered from the coast road ~ 6 km north-west of the town of Bar and below a 884 metre peak. Vasic (1969) — found 41 species nesting in the gorge, including the Alpine Chough Pyrrho- — corax graculus at only 200 m above and 2 km from the sea. : 7 (Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] 4 Fig. 5. Limestone hills at c. 600 m above Petrovac. SYSTEMATIC LIST In general all records have been checked against the details as to status, seasonality and distribution given in the list of Yugoslav birds by Matvejev and Vasic (1973). Without this work our observations would have been very difficult to evaluate, especially as details of distribution given by these authors differ in a significant proportion of species from those in Voous (1960) and in Peterson and others (1974). Species known by them to breed or to have bred in southern Montenegro are marked (*) and for the sake of completenses those not seen by us are included Unproven but probable breeders are denoted (?*). Our records are based on positive identifications unless otherwise indicated. Vernacular and scientific names, and order of species, follow Peterson ef a/. (1974). (Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)} 8 *Tachybaptus ruficoliis. Little Grebe—L. Skadar, c.4 on 29.1V. family party 5.V., one ot two calling 8.V.; L. Sas, 4 on 30.1V ; small lake just north of Bojana estuary, 1 on 29.1V. ?*Podiceps nigricollis. Black-necked Gtrebe—L. Sas, 1, probably 2, on 30.1V., possibly breeding birds. Mouth of River Melina, 1 on 4.V and 6.V. * Podiceps cristatus. Great Crested Grebe—L. Sas, 2 on 30.1V; several, 2 nests, L. Skadar, several dates. * Pelecanus crispus. Dalmatian Pelican—L. Skadar, 1 on 29.I1V, 6 (near Podhum) on 8.V, 4 ot 5 on 9.V and 7 on 11.V. Known to breed on Skadar: c.50 adults and 24 young at nesting site near Albanian border in 1972 (Kempf & Wersinger 1974). * Phalacrocorax carbo. Cormorant—L. Sas, c.10 fishing on 30.1V, 2 on 3.V; L. Skadar, where known to breed, 1 on 5 and 8.V. Phalacrocorax aristotelis. Shag—3 over the sea off Ulcinj, 15.V. * Phalacrocorax pygmaeus. Pygmy Cormorant—Plentiful on L. Skadar, several dates; L. Sas, sevetal 30.1V, 3.V; Bojana estuary, several 20.1V, 4 and 10.V; Ulcinj salt-pans, 3 flying overt on 6.V. Believed by V. F. Vasic (pers. comm.) to have nested at L. Sas in July 1970. About t00 pairs nesting, L. Skadar, 1972 (Kempf & Wersinger 1974). * Botaurus stellaris. Bittern—None seen or heard. *Ixobrychus minutus. Little Bittern—1 on 28.1V, 2g¢ and 12 on 5.V, 8 unsexed on 7.V, Buljarica Marsh; L. Skadar, 1 on 8.V. * Nycticorax nycticorax. Night Heron—Probably several pairs nesting, L. Sas, 30.1V; one imm. near Bojana estuary, 4.V. In 1967, B. C. Peachey saw an adult at Buljarica Marsh and species nests on L. Skadar between Plavnica and Podhum (Kempf & Wersinger 1974). * Ardeola ralloides. Squacco Heron—Seen almost daily in suitable habitats, e.g. Buljarica Marsh; L. Skadar; L. Sas (possibly nesting): north of Bar; Melina River; Zoganje lake. Bubulcus ibis. Cattle Egret—None seen. Matvejev and Vasic (1973, p.18) question whether Thorpe and others (1936) correctly determined this species at L. Skadar in 1934 and yet, only five or six years earlier, Ticehurst & Whistler (1929) described Little Egrets, Squacco Herons and Cattle Egrets as all “fairly common at Plavnica, on the Scutari Lake”. Vasic (pers. comm.) believes that they too may have been mistaken. | * Egretta alba. Great White Egret—L. Skadar, 1 on 11.V; eastern L. Sas, 2 on 16.V. In July 1970, Vasic (pers. comm.) also saw this species at the eastern end of Sas and presumed they wete nesting, and this is probably the locality where Lodge (1908) photographed the species at a teed nest in 1906, having in the same year also found numbets nesting in the tops of a tall willow clump west of Plavnica on Skadar. In 1907 he found a reed-nesting colony at a locality presumed to be L. Zoganje. The species must almost certainly be rarer than for- mertly. 3 * Feretta garzetta. Little Egret—Seen almost daily in suitable habitats, e.g. Buljarica Marsh (c.14 on 5.V); L. Skadar; L. Sas; Bojana estuary; Melina River mouth; and Zoganje L. Several paits apparently nesting in mixed colony, L. Sas, 30.1V. * Ardea cinerea. Grey Heron—Nest with half-grown young in the mixed colony, L. Sas, 30.1V. Individual birds seen Bojana estuary, 30.IV and 4.V; and over Ulcinj salt-pans, 6.V. Frequently seen, L. Skadar, where in 1972, Kempf & Wersinger (1974) estimated 25-35 prs. in the principal colony. * Ardea purpurea. Purple Heron—Buljarica Marsh, 2 on 28.1V, an imm. on 5 and 6.V and 2 on 14.V. L. Skadar, several 29.[V, and other dates. Zoganje Lake, 1 on 6.V. Also represen- ted in the mixed colony at L. Sas on 30.IV. Kempf & Wersinger (1974) report nesting on Skadar between Plavnica and Podhum. *Ciconia ciconia. White Stork—None seen. ?*Ciconia nigra. Black Stork—None seen. * Platalea leucorodia. Spoonbill—Water-bird colony at L. Sas probably included at least 10 nesting pairs on 30.1V. * Plegadis falcinellus. Glossy Ibis—L. Skadar, 3 on 29.1V; L. Sas, where breeding suspected in 1970 (Vasic, pets. comm.), 30 on 3.V; Bojana estuary, c.55 on 4.V, but only 5 on 10.V; Ulcinj salt-pans, one on 15.V. * Anser anser. Gtaylag Goose—None seen. * Anas platyrhynchos. Mallard—Buljarica Marsh, pair on 28.1V; Bojana estuary, pair on 29.1V; south-east of Ulcinj, pair on 7.V; L. Skadar, 3 on 8.V. * Anas crecca. Teal—None seen. Anas strepera. Gadwall—L. Skadar, c.10 on 29.1V. Anas penelope. Wigeon—L. Skadar, pair on 20.1V. were presumably on passage; previously recorded in May in Yugoslavia only as “‘vagrants’’. ?* Anas acuta. Pintail—Zoganje L., 18 on 6.V, also probably on migration. * Anas querquedula, Garganey—Buljarica Marsh, 7 on 28.1V, 2 paits on 7.V; south-east of Ulcinj, 4.0n 4.V; Zoganje L., 4 on 6.V; L. Skadar, one on 8.V. Probably all migrants. * Anas clypeata. Shoveler—Zoganje L., 2gd on 6.V could indicate breeding. 2* Aythya ferina. Pochard—L. Skadar, 3 (sex not noted) on 29.1V and one 2 on 11.V. ~~ 9 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] * Aythya nyroca. Ferruginous Duck—A pair and a single, 4.V, south-east of Ulcinj. 2* Aythya fuligula. Tufted Duck—One 3, L. Skadar, 8.V; recorded there before 1896 (Matvejev & Vasic 1973) and also seen by Lind e¢. a/. (1962) 8-22 May 1959, but not in 1960 by Benson (1962), and never proved to breed. On the other hand, at the Albanian end of Skadar, Ticehurst & Whistler (1932) found the species common and many in pairs on 20 April, and added that they were known to breed. Pandion haliaetus. Osprey—L. Skadar, singles on 5 and 8.V. Pernis apivorus. Honey Buzzard—Singles on 7.V, Buljarica Marsh, and 16.V_ Petrovac. Milvus migrans. Black Kite—One, Buljarica Marsh, 7.V. * Accipiter gentilis. Goshawk—One, Buljarica Marsh, 28.1V. * Accipiter brevipes. Levant Sparrowhawk—Two identified by A. G. Channer and G. Davies over Petrovac on 12.V. * Buteo buteo. Buzzard—One near Petrovac, 28.1V, 3 on 7.V and one at 7oo m above Petro- vac, 8.V; L. Sas, one 3.V; L. Skadar, one 11.V; one halfway between Budva and Cetinje, 15.0: * Hieraaetus pennatus. Booted Eagle—None seen. * Aquila pomarina. Lesset Spotted Eagle—Two, almost certainly of this species, near Bojana estuaty, on 29.1V and one positively identified there on 4.V. * Aquila heliaca. Imperial Eagle—One considered to be of this species seen from road c.700 m above Petrovac, 14.V. * Aquila chrysaetos. Golden Eagle—None seen. * Haliaeetus albicilla. White-tailed Eagle—None seen, though believed still to breed at L. Skadar. * Neophron percnopterus. Egyptian Vulture—L. Sas, 3 on 30.1V, one on 6.V; L. Skadar, one on 11.V. B. C. Peachey noted one over Petrovac on 10 May 1967. * Gypaetus barbatus. Lammergeier—None seen. * Gyps fulvus. Griffon Vulture—None seen. *Circaetus gallicus. Short-toed Eagle—L. Sas, 1 imm. 3.V; south-east of Ulcinj. 1 ad. 4.V. *Circus aeruginosus. Marsh Harrier—Buljarica Marsh, pair 28.1V, 2 5.V; L. Sas, pair seen 30.1V and 3 and 16.V, evidently nesting; one, north-east of Skadar, 8.V. * Falco biarmicus. Lanner—South-east of Ulcinj, one 7.V; near Tozi, 3 on 9.V. 3 seen by B. C. Peachey in 1967, on 10.V, above Petrovac. * Falco peregrinus. Peregrine—Also recorded by Peachey in 1967, on 8.V, and seen this time over the town on 13.V: an imm. at L. Skadar on 13.V. * Falco subbuteo. Hobby—Singles Buljarica Marsh, 28.1V, Skadar, 30.IV and Sas, 3.V: two south-west of Ulcinj, 6.V; singles, again, over Petrovac 9 and 16.V. Falco vespertinus. Red-footed Falcon—Ad. ¢ Buljarica Marsh, 7.V, another near Ulcinj and 3 plus a tst-summer ¢ at Ulcinj salt works, on 15.V. * Falco naumanni. Lesser Kestrel—None seen. * Falco tinnunculus. Kestrel—Seen almost daily near Petrovac and on several dates, L. Skadar ; one, L. Sas, 30.1V; one hunting over rubbish tip s.w. of Petrovac, several dates; one, hillside 700 m above Petrovac, 8.V; 2 near Ulcinj, 15.V and pair Lovcen N.P., 13.V. * Alectoris graeca. Rock Partridge—Seen by Peachey on 10.V.1967 on bare slope above Petrovac at c.500 m., but none found in 1974. *Perdix perdix. Partridge—None seen. *Coturnix coturnix. Quail—One flushed on hill above Petrovac, 29.[V and 2 heard near L. | Sas, 16.V. *Phasianus colchicus. Pheasant—Seen and heard near Petrovac on several dates; Bojana estuary, calling on 29.1V. * Rallus aquaticus. Water Rail—None seen in 1974, but one noted by Peachey .on 13.V.1967 in the Buljarica Marsh. *Porzana porzana. Spotted Crake—None seen. 2* Porzana pusilla. Baillon’s Crake—None seen. *Crex crex. Corncrake—None seen or heard. * Gallinula chloropus. Moorhen—L. Skadar, several on several dates; L. Sas, one 3.V; Buljarica Marsh, 2 on 5.V. *Fulica atra. Coot—L. Skadar, rather common and nesting; L. Sas, several 30.1V and 3.V. 2* Flaematopus ostralegus. Oystercatcher—Buljarica Bay, singles 27, 28 and 30.IV; south-east of Ulcinj, one 29.IV, two 7.V; Bojana estuary, 3 on 4.V; Zoganje L., 8 on 6.V. No indi- cation of nesting. *Charadrius dubius. Little Ringed Plover—Two on, Ada island, 29.1V, possibly breeding; several on Bojana estuary, 29.1V and one, L. Sas, 30.1V. *Charadrius alexandrinus. Kentish Plover—Bojana estuary, 6 on 29.1V; Ulcinj salt-pans, 7 on 6.V; Ada island, 3 on 10.V. Pluvialis apricaria. Golden Plover—One of the northern form in full summer plumage on shore at Ulcinj, 15.V. (Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] 10 Pluvialis squatarola. Grey Plover—Zoganje L., 3 on 6.V and 12 on 15.V. *Vanellus vanellus. Lapwing—Apparently suitable habitats, but none seen. Calidris minuta. Little Stint—8 L. Skadar and 2 Bojana estuary, 29.1V; Ulcinj salt-pans, c.210 on 6.V and c.30, 15.V. Previously classified as a “‘vagrant” in Yugoslavia in May. Calidris temminckii. Temmminck’s Stint—z2 positively identified by Dawson & Peachey at Ulcinj salt-pans, 6.V, seem to be the first recorded in Montenegro, though species has been noted in transit elsewhere in Yugoslavia in May. Calidris alpina. Dunlin—Ulcinj salt-pans, c.50 on 15.V. Calidris ferruginea. Curlew Sandpiper—zg9.IV, one L. Skadar, and 3, Bojana estuary; near Petrovac, singles 5 and 6.V; Zoganje L., 14 on 16.V; all in partial or full summer plumage. Calidris canutus.,Knot—One in partial summer plumage, clearly seen by D. A. Gunn at Buljarica, 14.V; a new record for Montenegro, though the species is classed as a May vagrant and autumn transient elsewhere in Yugoslavia. Calidris alba. Sanderling—z in winter plumage Budva beach, 6.V (A. G. Channer and G. Davies) ; one in winter and one in intermediate dress, Bojana estuary, 10.V (R. Dawson and others) ; and 8 in winter plumage on shore near Ulcinj, 15.V (D. A. Gunn). These also seem to be first records for Montenegro, though the species has been noted elsewhere in Yugo- slavia on spring and autumn passage. Philomachus pugnax. Ruff—Ulcinj salt-pans, c.40 on 15.V. Tringa erythropus. Spotted Redshank—Zoganje L., 4 on 6.V and 2 on 15.V, all in summer dress. Previously classed as only a vagrant in May throughout Yugoslavia. *Tringa totanus. Redshank—Bojana estuary, one 29.1V; Ulcinj salt-pans, one 15.V. Tringa stagnatilis. Marsh Sandpiper—Zoganje L., two on 6 and 15.V. Tringa nebularia. Greenshank—L. Skadar, one 29.1V. Tringa ochropus. Green Sandpiper—Bojana River, one 29.IV. Tringa glareola. Wood Sandpiper—Singles near Petrovac, 28.I[V and north of Bar, 3.V; 14 _ south-east of Ulcinj on 4.V and still 12, 7.V; Zoganje L., 3 on 6.V. : *Tringa hypoleucos. Common Sandpiper—Buljarica Marsh, one 28.IV, 3 on 5.V, 2 on 8.V; Bojana River, 3 on 29.1V; Ulcinj salt-pans, one 6.V. ?*Limosa limosa. Black-tailed Godwit—Only one, on Bojana estuary 29.1V, no doubt on ~ passage. Himantopus himantopus. Black-winged Stilt—Zoganje L., 2 on 6 and 15.V. * Burbinus oedicnemus. Stone Curlew—At least 6 in apparently very suitable nesting habitat, Ada island, 29.1V; two near Tuzi, 8.V,—also a possible nesting habitat. One on shore at Ulcinj, 15.V. * Glareola pratincola, Pratincole—At least 25 on Ada island, 29.1V, behaving as if intending to nest, but only 4 seen there on 10 May. The sole record of nesting in southern Montenegro _ was at this locality in 1895, except that Lodge (1908) saw a few pratincoles on sandy flats — near the Bojana River (presumably on the Montenegrin side) in late May or early June 1906, and found a broken egg-shell. We also saw c.6 south-east of Ulcinj on 7.V and 13 plus3 more on the salt-pans, 15.V. Larus minutus. Little Gull—North of Bar, 1 imm. 4.V.; L. Skadar, c.6 imm. on 5.V, toon 8.V (near Virpazar) and 1 imm. on 11.V; 16 imm. and 1 ad. in flooded field near Melina salt-works and c.15 more imm. on Zoganje L., 6.V; and 4 imm. at Ulcinj salt-pans, 15.V. Previously classed as only a vagrant in Yugoslavia in May. y Larus ridibundus. Black-headed Gull—Fairly common. L. Skadar, 29.1V, 5.V and 8.V, © mostly imm.; Zoganje L., 6 imm. on 6.V. Except in breeding areas in northern Yugoslavia, previously classed as a vagrant in April/May. * Larus argentatus. Herring Gull—Seen daily on coast and Lakes Skadar and Sas, max. of 40 at a time, but generally by no means numerous. No evidence of breeding. * Chlidonias niger. Black Tern—Almost daily on Buljarica Marsh, L. Skadar, Bojana estuary, north of Bar, south-east of Ulcinj and Zoganje L., max. numbers (scores) east of Podhum, 8.V, and apparently about to nest in some Skadar localities. 2* Chlidonias leucopterus. White-winged Black Tern—Buljarica Marsh, one 28.1V; L. Skadar, two 29.1V and 8.V; Ulcinj salt-pans, one 15.V. Nesting was suspected on Skadar in 1968 and 1969 (Matvejev and Vasic 1973). ?*Chiidonias hybrida. Whiskered Tern—None seen. Possibly nested on L. Skadar, 1966 (Matvejev & Vasic 1973). Gelochelidon nilotica. Gull-billed Tern—One, north of Bar, 4.V. ?* Hydroprogne caspia. Caspian Tern—Only one seen, L. Sas, 30.1V. May have nested, L. — Skadar, 1965-1969. In late May, or early June, 1906, Lodge (1906) saw “a large colony of Caspian Terns” but could find no eggs, on the same Bojana River site as the pratincoles (q.v.). 7 Sterna sandvicensis. Sandwich Tern—Bojana ‘estuary, 6 on 29.1V; L. Skadar, 2 on 11.V. Described as a vagrant to Yugoslavia, though frequently recorded on coast (Vasic, pers. — comm.). II [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] *Sterna hirundo. Common Tern—Several, L. Skadar, 29.1V, 8.V and 11.V, and possibly nesting at N.E. point of the Lake. *Sterna albifrons. Little Tern—Zoganje L., 4 on 6.V. *Columba palumbus. Woodpigeon—One, Petrovac, 9.V. * Columba oenas. Stock Dove—None seen. * Columba livia. Rock Dove—Feral birds, Petrovac, all dates. One, L. Skadar, 8.V, more like the wild type. *Streptopelia decaocto. Collared Dove—One, 6 and 7.V near Petrovac; heard at Budva, 6.V and two seen 10.V. *Streptopelia turtur. Turtle Dove—Seen daily in good numbers, and up to six together, evidently migrating. Neck patch, as closely observed, was pale blue and black not white and black. * Cuculus canorus. Cackoo—Calling almost every day, from sea-level to 700 m. *Tyto alba. Barn Owl—None seen. * Bubo bubo. Eagle Owl—One in flooded thick woodland near Bojana estuary, 29.IV. * Asio otus. Long-eared Owl—None seen. *Otus scops. Scops Owl—Calling in vicinity of Petrovac. _ * Athene noctua. Little Owl—Near Zoganje village, pair 3.V; near Ulcinj, one 15.V; near Krute, one 16.V. * Strix aluco. Veway Owl—Near Kotor, 4.V. * Caprimulgus eurspaeus. Nightjar—One on road s. of Petrovac, 29.1V; 3 flushed from beach, Buljarica, 5.V; one dead on road near Petrovac, 6.V. * Apus apus. Switt—Seen almost daily in small numbers with Apus melba near Petrovac, and in very large numbers on 7.V. * Apus pallidus. Pallid Swift—Two clearly identified (D. A. Gunn), with Apus apus, near Petrovac 5.V. Has not nested in s. Montenegro since 1902 (Matvejev & Vasic 1973) and there are very few records for Yugoslavia as a whole (Vasic pers. comm.). * Apus melba. Alpine Swift—Daily at Petrovac and many other localities, sometimes in hundreds. * Alcedo atthis. Kingfisher—Singles, L. Skadar, 29.[V; Bojana estuary, 29.IV and, carrying food, 7.V; L. Sas, 30.1V and 3.V; and Melina estuary, 4.V. * Merops apiaster. Bee-eater—Buljarica, 3 on 6.V; numerous south-east of Ulcinj, 7.V; c.12 near the Ada island ferry, 10.V, and 4 crossing the Titograd plain, 8.V. *Coracias garrulus. Roller—South-east of Ulcinj, one 29.1V, 4 on 4.V, 10 on 7.V and one 10.V; near Tuzi, one 9.V; and near Kotor, 2 on 10.V. * Upupa epops. Hoopoe—One neat mouth of Bojana estuary, 29.1V; Petrovac, two 4.V and 7.V ; Buljarica Marsh, one 5 and 8.V; L. Skadar, two 8.V; and S.E. of Ulcinj, two 7.V. *Tynx torquilla. \/ryneck—None seen. * Picus viridis. Green Woodpecker—Heard near Petrovac. 2* Picus canus. Grey-headed Woodpecker—None seen, though cerns ts by B. C. Peachey in beechwood 700 m above Petrovac, on 10.V.67. * Dendrocopos major. Great Spotted Woodpecker—None seen, thon recorded in 1967 by B. C. Peachey in same area as previous species. * Dendrocopos medius. Middle Spotted Woodpecker—None seen. * Dendrocopos leucotos. White-backed Woodpecker—None seen. * Dendrocopos minor. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker—One in A/nus woodland near Bojana estuary. 10.V. * Calandrella cinerea. Short-toed Lark—On coast near Petrovac, 28. IV, not far from Buljarica Bay where 3 were seen on 8.V.67 by B. C. Peachey. Also on plains S.E. of Titograd, 14.V. * Melanocorypha calandra. Calandra Lark—Same locality near Titograd as previous species, 8, 9 and 14.V, and also noted by Peachey on 8.V.67 at Buljarica Bay. * Eremophila alpestris. Shore Lark—None seen at the low to medium altitudes visited. * Galerida cristata. Crested Lark—Several, Ada Island, 29.I1V and 10.V, and N.W. of Bojana estuary, 4.V; S.E. of Ulcinj, 2 on 7.V; and near Tuzi, 2 on 19.V. Also noted in 1967 by Peachey, same place and date as the Calandra. *T ullula arborea. Woodlark—None seen. * Alauda arvensis. Skylark—None seen. * Riparia riparia. Sand Martin—Most days from 28.1V; large numbers Buljarica Marsh, 5.V, and Ulcinj salt-pans 6.V. No sign of local nesting. * Hirundo rupestris. Crag Martin—Several near Zoganje, 30.1V and 3.V; one by railway tunnel near Virpazar, 5.V; and fairly common Lovcen NP. * Hirundo rustica. Swallow—Daily, mostly on migration but also prospecting for nest sites. * Hirundo daurica, Red-rumped Swallow—A few near Zoganje, 30.[V and 3.V; 2 pairs, L. Sas lodge, 16.V. _* Delichon urbica. House Martin—Daily from 27.I[V, when some already at nest sites, and still building 10-16.V. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] 12 * Anthus campestris. Tawny Pipit—S.E. of Titograd, one 8.V; Buljatica, two 5.V and one 8.V (same day of month as noted by Peachey in 1967). * Anthus trivialis. Tree Pipit—Singles, Petrovac, 29.1V and 2.V. * Motacilla flava. Almost daily on migtation, in parties of up to 50. Races identified were Blue-headed flava, Ashy-headed c7nereocupilla and Black-headed fe/degg. Variations of fe/degg in this region are illustrated by H. Grdnvold in Ticehurst & Whistler (1932). * Motacilla cinerea. Grey Wagtail—One singing, Zoganje River, 30.IV and 3.V, in suitable nesting habitat. . * Motacilla alba. White Wagtail—Almost daily and carrying food at Buljarica 8.V., and Cetinje 13.V. *Tanius collurio. Red-backed Shrike—One or two g¢ daily from 28.IV, increasing to at least 12; first 9 on 8.V, and higher proportion of 99 by 10.V; all believed to be on passage. *T anius senator. Woodchat Shrike—Almost daily, in numbers suggesting migration up to about 10.V, then fewer; one in song 7.V. *T_anius minor. Lesset Grey Shrike—S.E. of Ulcinj, 2 on 7.V, 7 on 10.V; Kotor, 4 on 10.V; Tuzi, two 8.V. * Cinclus cinclus. Dipper—None seen. *Troglodytes troglodytes. Wren—None seen. * Prunella collaris. Alpine Accentor—None seen. *Cettia cetti. Cetti’s Warbler—Heard daily, sea level to 700 m. Locustella naevia. Grasshopper Warbler—Singing, Buljarica Marsh, 8.V (D. A. Gunn), but presumed migrant. * Acrocephalus schoenobaenus. Sedge Warbler—Also in song though doubtless on passage, north of Bar, 3.V. Acrocephalus palustris. Marsh Warbler—Possible author of song coming from bush in marshy area, Buljarica, 14.V. * Acrocephalus scirpaceus. Reed Warbler—Buljarica Marsh, one on 5 and 8.V. * Acrocephalus arundinaceus. Great Reed Warbler—Heard and seen commonly in the Phrag- mites at L. Sas, Ulcinj salt-pans, Melina and Bojana estuaries, Buljarica Marsh, and near Virpazar, L. Skadar. * Hippolais icterina. Icterine Warbler—Ada island, one 29.IV, in song. * Hippolais olivetorum. Olive-tree Warbler—One near Petrovac, 16.V. * Hippolais pallida. Olivaceous Warbler—Two, Bojana estuary, 29.[1V; one south-east of Ulcinj, 7.V; one, Buljarica, 8.V; and 4, Petrovac, 14.V, all in song. Syhia nisoria. Barred Warbler—One near L. Sas, 16.V. —* Sylvia hortensis. Orphean Warbler—Singing near Petrovac, 28.1V, 2, 3, 5 and 8.V., and partly completed nest found 5.V. Sylia borin. Garden Warbler—Seen and/or heard, 2, 3, 6 and 7.V, Petrovac; one near Virpazar, 11.V; presumably migrants. * Sylvia atricapilla, Blackcap—Singing, Petrovac, 28, 29.1V, 1-3, 5, 7 and 10.V.; also Ada island, 29.1V and at 7oo m above Petrovac, 8.V. * Sylvia communis. Whitethroat—Almost daily often in good numbers, particularly 28.1V to 4.V, and mostly on migration; song more often uttered from perch than in flight. * Sylvia curruca. Lesser Whitethroat—Above Petrovac at 600 m, one on 29.1V and pair on 12.V; one singing, Lovcen NP, 13.V. *Sylvia melanocephala. Sardinian Warbler—Often seen near Petrovac. * Sylvia cantillans. Subalpine Warbler—Daily in most habitats, and in song. Completed, but eggless, nest 7.V. Local population has the breast of a noticeably vinous shade, though not as dark as that of a Dartford Warbler Sy/via undata. * Phylloscopus collybita, Chiffchaff—Heard at 7oo m above Petrovac, 29.1V, 7.V, 8.V; com- mon Lovcen NP, 13.V. * Phylloscotus bonelli, Bortelli’s Warbler—At least 5, heard and seen in oaks in one small area N.W. of Petrovac, 6, 8 and 10.V, were noticeably yellowish rather than grey on head and throat, and looked if anything slightly smaller than nearby Willow Warblers P. trochilus. But the yellow leading edge of the closed wing and wing patch were well seen, though the lighter rump only once. Notes made at the time of the song read—“‘A simple brief trill of about 2 seconds’ duration, more gentle than the song of the Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix which it initially recalled, but without the Wood Warbler’s accelerando and explosive quality. Occasionally .. . preceded by a few introductory notes, and once or twice followed by two alternating very high-pitched notes of Regulus quality’’. Occasionally the Willow Warbler-like ‘“‘hou-eet” note was heard, but more frequently the birds used a note written down at the time as a quiet “weet weet’’, or “too too”’. The yellow on the underparts was strictly limited to the chin and throat and did not extend onto the sides of the upper breast as in the Wood Warbler. The bone//i breeding in southern Montenegro, and also in Hercegovina, Macedonia and south-east Serbia is attributed to the race Ph.b. orientalis by Matvejev & Vasic (1973), but orientalis according to ee _ ee Se 13 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] Vaurie (1959) is “similar to nominate bone//i but distinctly greycr above, underwing and axillaries paler yellow...” Bannerman & Bannerman (1971) say of orientalis that “‘the chin and throat... havea faint yellowish tinge in autumn, but only in autumn’’. Géroudet (1973) refers to those seen in Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey as less silvery white on the underside of the body, and duller and greyer than nominate bone//i, but does not mention yellow. Nevertheless we think it likely that the ““weet weet” or “too too” we heard corresponds with calls Géroudet found diagnostic of orientalis and that for this reason as well as on the grounds of geography our birds were P/.b. orientalis. Phylloscotus sibilatrix. “Wood Warbler—Heard and seen, Ada island, 29.I1V and 10.V, pre- sumably in transit. * Regulus ignicatillus. Firecrest—None seen. * Ficedula albicollis. Collared Flycatcher—A probable 2 near Petrovac, 4.V (A. G. Channer & G. Davies). Ticehurst & Whistler (1932) thought the female distinguishable from that of F, hypoleuca “even in the field, by the much greyer upper parts’. In 1967, above Petrovac at 700 m, ag was noted by Peachey on 10.V. Ficedula parva. Red-breasted Flycatcher—A 2, 5 and 6.V, Petrovac and a J on the hills 600 m above the town, also on 6.V. ?* Muscicapa striata. Spotted Flycatcher—Daily and obviously on migration, most numerous from 5.V onwards. *Saxicola rubetra. Whinchat—Daily records of a particularly well-marked passage, from sea- level to 700 m in ones, twos and up to six together. *Saxicola torquata. Stonechat—None seen in 1974; Peachey saw a ¢ immediately S. of Buljarica Marsh in mid-May 1967. *Oenanthe oenanthe. Wheatear—Single birds seen most days. *Oe0nanthe hispanica. Black-eared Wheatear—Birds of both phases at L. Sas, Petrovac and hills above it, Buljarica Marsh, N.E. shore of L. Skadar, etc. * Cercotrichas galactotes. Rafous Bush Chat—None seen; probably too early. * Monticola saxatilis. Rock Thrush—None seen. * Monticola solitarius. Blue Rock Thrush—In suitable habitats from sea level to at least 600 m, as far inland as Zoganje . * Phoenicurus ochruros. Black Redstart—2 3¢ (one in song) and 2 2° in or near Lovcen NP, a * Phoenicurus phoenicurus. Redstart—Petrovac area, 2 fg 28.1V andi 5.V. Erithacus rubecula. Robin—One found dead, Petrovac, 27.IV; one singing, Virpazar, 11.V; 2 singing, Lovcen NP, 13.V. ; *T uscinia megarhynchos. Nightingale—Heard daily, if not hourly, in suitable habitats. *Turdus merula. Blackbitd—Seen and/or heard, Petrovac, most days and especially at 600— 700 m on 8 and 9.V; also Lovcen NP, 13.V. Turdus philomelos. Song Thrush—Petrovac, one 3V. *Turdus viscivorus. Mistle Thrush—None seen. ?*Panurus biarmicus. Bearded Reedling—None seen. “In the process of extinction in Yugoslavia” (Matvejev & Vasic 1973). * Aegithalos caudatus. Long-tailed Tit—Heard near Bojana estuary, 29.1V and family with 8 newly-fledged young 4.V; also one, 3.V, near Zoganje River. ?* Parus palustris. Marsh Tit—None seen. *Parus lugubris. Sombre Tit—Petrovac, 2 on 1.V and one, Zoganje valley, 3rd May; one 4 km N.W. of the town on 8.V; Zoganje valley, one 3.V; and Brsatski Gorge, one or possibly two, 12.V. Parus ater. Coal Tit—One in pines and suitable nesting habitat, Lovcen NP entrance, 13.V. * Parus caeruleus. Blue Tit—On hills above Petrovac, c. 600 m, on 29.IV, 7, 8 and 14.V., and nearer town on 9.V; pair near entrance to Brsatski gorge, 12.V; and one, Lovcen NP, 13.V. *Parus major. Great Tit—Daily in good numbers sea-level to 700 m; 4 nests located, one with fully feathered young on 5.V; first young on wing c. 12.V. * Remiz pendulinus. Penduline Tit—Heard and seen in riverine scrub, Bojana River, 29.IV, 4 and 10.V., presumably nesting. 2*Sitta europaea. Nuthatch—None seen. *Sitta neumayer. Rock Nuthatch—From just above sea level (L. Sas) to about 600 m above Petrovac; seen carrying food 7.V. Tichodroma muraria. W/allcreepet—None seen, but known to be present in Brsatski Gorge (Vasic 1969 and, pers. comm., 1974), where it must surely nest though not listed as a S. Montenegrin breeding species by Matvejev & Vasic (1973). *Certhia familiaris. Treecreeper—None seen. *Certhia brachydactyla. Short-toed Treecreeper—One seen and heard above Petrovac, 29.1V; a few singing in oaks near Brsatski gorge, 12.V. * Emberiza calandra. Corn Bunting—Seen and heard most days in coastal zone. * Emberiza citrinella. Yellowhammer—None seen. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] 14 * Emberiza cia. Rock Bunting—Zoganje River, one on 3.IV; a pair and one individual at 600-700 m above Petrovac, 7.V, anda dg atc. 500 mon 13.V. * Emberiza hortulana. Ortolan Bunting—One in song c. 700 m above Petrovac, on 29.1V and 8 and 9.V. * Emberiza cirlus. Cit| Bunting—Common in coastal habitats and up to 700 m; song often heard and a g carrying nest material, 12.V. : * Emberiza melanocephala. Black-headed Bunting—First seen, a singing g, Petrovac, and another g on N.E. shore of Skadar on 8.V. Thereafter soon common up to 700 m, though first 2 not seen till 16.V., at Petrovac. * Emberiza schoeniclus. Reed Bunting—One heard, River Melina, 6.V. *Fringilla coelebs. Chafinch—At sea level round Petrovac, but more prevalent at higher altitudes above town, to at least 7oo m. *Serinus serinus. Setin—3, Petrovac, 4.V and one on 6.V. *Carduelis chloris. Greenfinch—Often singing, Petrovac area and other suitable habitats. *Carduelis carduelis. Goldfinch—Common, often in song, in most habitats up to 700 m. * Acanthis cannabina. Linnet—Small flock at 7oo m above Petrovac, 29.1V, and one at c. 600 m, 7.V; two, Buljarica, 8.V; and several S.E. of Ulcinj, 4.V. * Loxia curvirostra. Crossbill—None seen. * Coccothraustes coccothraustes. Hawfinch—Almost daily, Petrovac area; carrying food, 7.V; also Brsatski gorge, 12.V. * Passer domesticus. House Sparrow—Daily round human habitations. At Petrovac also breeds in trees, including olives and cypress, and still collecting nesting material 30.IV. *Passer hispaniolensis. Spanish Sparrow—d¢ seen: Petrovac, one with domesticus, 27.1V, two, 9.V, one 3 km to the south-east, 28.1V and 5.V; one, again with many domesticus, just E. of Ulcinj, 28.1V; and one, Virpazar, 11.V. In addition, a colony of about 50 pairs of sparrows . in cypress at entrance to Ulcinj salt-works were mostly Aispaniolensis, as were colonies of c.20 pairs each in two buildings. Matvejev & Vasic (1973) list breeding localities but over- looked Ticehurst & Whistler’s 1929 observation of a “small flock pairing and fighting in the cultivated Tivat plain’. They quote Benson ef a/. (1962) as having found the species near Skadar but the correct reference is to Lind e¢ a/. (1962), who identified Aispaniolensis at Plavnica between 8 and 22.V.1959. The species seems to be expanding its range northwards into Montenegro (V. F. Vasic, pers. comm.). Petronia petronia. Rock Spatrow—One heard and seen at Virpazar, on a cliff top, 15.V. Apparently the first record in Montenegro this century and, although on the northern edge of its Balkan range, perhaps breeding. Sturnus vulgaris. Starling—One heard, Petrovac, 6.V; 3 on wites near Kunje, 16.V. *Oriolus oriolus. Golden Oriole—Petrovac area, pair 28.1V, 2 :7.V, pair 8.V and 3 on 9.V; a 3S, Bojana estuary, 29.1V and again on 4.V; 3, Buljarica Marsh, 5.V. * Garrulus glandarius. Jay—One, Zoganje valley, 3.V; two in woods 700 m above Petrovac, 8.V, and one on 13.V; two near Gorovici, 11.V; and two between Budva and Cetinje, 13.V. * Pica pica. Magpie—Seen daily in good numbers. * Nucifraga caryocatactes. Nutcracker—None seen. * Pyrrhocorax graculus. Alpine Chough—At c. 7oo m above Petrovac, over 50 on 7.V and 13 on 8.V; Lovcen NP, 11 on 13.V and c.50 on same day 10 km to the west; and 6 in Brsatski gorge, 15.V. *Corvus monedula,. Jackdaw—Almost daily, particularly in towns such as Ulcinj and Vir- pazar, and in farming areas. Carrying nesting material into Jarge barn at Ulcinj salt-works, 6.V; also on rocky cliffs, Zoganje valley, 30.1V and 3.V. *Corvus corone cornix. Hooded Crow—Daily in most habitats, singly or in pairs; picking up food from water surface, Skadar, 8.V. *Corvus corax. Raven—Petrovac, one 5.V. and two on 10, 14 and 15.V (one apparently catrying food); one near Virpazar, 11.V. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We are grateful to V. F. — “Voki” — Vasic for helpful guidance in the field with identification, localities worth visiting and background information: also to others mentioned in the introduction who allowed us to use their observations. Miss Wendy Dickson kindly typed the paper (twice). Generous help was given by Michael Smart of the I.W.R.B. in translating Kempf and Wersinger (1974) and Géroudet (1965) and by Lesley Broome in translating — Géroudet (1973). Several of those named made useful comments on earlier — drafts and we are also indebted to Miss Dorothy Vincent, librarian of the Edward Grey Institute, Oxford, and to Robin J. Prytherch for the map. ’ 15 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] Jeffery Boswall’s visit to Yugoslavia was made possible by a grace-term leave grant from the BBC; the generosity of Stuart Wyton is particularly acknowledged. Particular thanks are also due to Sir Hugh Elliott for re- ducing an earlier more discursive draft to manageable proportions. References: Baedeker, Karl. 1964. Yugoslavia. Allen & Unwin, London. Bannerman, D. & W. M. 1971. Handbook of the Birds of Cyprus. Oliver & Boyd. Edinburgh. Benson, S. 1962. Birds seen in Yugoslavia (B): May 8th—19th, 1960. Larus 14: 192-194. Fuerher, L. Von, 1900-1901. Beitrage zur Ornis Montenegros und des angrenzenden Gebietes von Nordalbanien. Orn. Jahrh. 11: 165-189; 12: 1-20 and 41-79. — 1934. Supplement to the Orrnis of Montenegro and Albania. /bis 4 (Series 13): 172. Géroudet, P. 1965. Apercus ornithologiques sur la Yougoslavie: VII La basse Neretva et PHutovo Blata. Nos Oiseaux 28: 4-15. — 1973. Notes sur le Pouillot de Bonelli oriental, sa distribution et sa voix. L’Oiseaux 43 (1): 75-78 Ivanovic, B. 1970. Neka ornitoloska zapazanja na Skadarskom jezeru. Larus 21-22: 137- 160, Kempf, C. & Wersinger, M. 1974. Notes ornithologiques sur le Deransko Jezero, le lac Scutatri (Yougoslavie). L’Oiseau et R.F.O. 44: 53-57 Lind, Pamela B. e¢ a/. 1962. Birds seen in Yugoslavia (A): May 8th-22nd, 1959. Larus 14: 190-192. Lodge, R. B. 1908. Bird-hunting through Wild Europe. London. Matvejev, S. D. & Vasic, V. F. 1973. Catalogus Faunae Jugoslaviae IV (3): Aves. Ljubljana. Olney, P. J. S. 1965. Project Mar: List of European and North African wetlands of international importance. 1.U.C.N., Morges. Peterson, R. T., et a/. 1974. A Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe. 31d edition. Collins, London. Reiser, O. & Fuehrer, L. Von, 1896. Materialien zu einer Ornis Balkanica IV: Montenegro. Vienna. Sage, B. 1964. Notes on the birds of the Lower Neretva Valley, Yugoslavia. Ardea 3-4: 202-232. — 1966. Récentes observations ornithologiques au lac Prespa, Macédoine (Yougoslavie). Alauda 34: 45-54, 120-132. Stojkovic, Z. & Vasic, V. F. 1968. Zonation in bird life of the north shore of Skadar Lake. (Serbian with English summary). Agriculture and Forestry 14 (3): 59-73 Thorpe, W. H., et a/. 1936. Notes on the birds of Lake Ochrid, Malik and Prespa and | adjacent parts of Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece. bis 12 (series 5): §57—5 80. Ticehurst, C. B. & Whistler, H. 1929. A Spring Tour through Yugoslavia. /bis (series 12) 5: 655-689. — 1932. On the ornithology of Albania. /bis (series 13) 2: 40-93. Vaurie, C. 1959. The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna: Passeriformes. Witherby, London. Vasic, V. F. 1969. The bird life features of the Gorge of Brsatski Potok. (Serbian). Kniga Plenarnih Referator in Povzetkov III Kongres Biologov Jugoslavije 280-281. Voous, K. 1960. Adlas of European Birds. Nelson, London. Whistler, H. 1936. Further observations from Albania. /bis 6 (Thirteenth series): 335-356. The status of Estrilda kandti and Estrilda atricapilla graueri by A. Prigogine Received 29th October 1974 Reichenow (1902) described a specimen collected by Kandt near lake Kivu as Estrilda kandti. Some yeats later Neumann (1908) published the descrip- tion of E’strilda atricapilla graueri with Mt. Sabinyo as type locality. Since the type of Aandti is a very young bird which, moreover, has been conserved in alcohol (Reichenow 1902), authorities were unable to agree, until the publi- cation of Chapin’s Birds of the Belgian Congo (1954), whether kandti is a juvenile of EF. atricapilla or a juvenile of FE. nonnula. Reichenow (1912) had in fact already raised the question whether Aandti is a juvenile of &raueri. Sclatet (1930) and Jackson (1938) considered graueri as synonymous [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] 16 with kandti. Yet all recent specialists, such as Chapin (1954) and White (2963), ate of the opinion that kandti is a juvenile of nonnula and that graueri is a valid subspecies of atricapilla. At the request of Gyldenstolpe, Neumann examined the type of Aandti, but did not come to a definite conclusion: ‘“‘The scarlet is bright as in nonnula, while the belly and the under tail-coverts are dark and go in the line of graueri” (Neumann quoted by Gyldenstolpe 1924). Yet, taking into con- sideration the description of the underparts of kandti (pale sepia brown, lighter on the belly which is isabel brown), Grant & Mackworth-Praed (1945) concluded, without seeing the type, that kandti must be a young EF. nonnula. Finally, some years later, Grote examined the type of Aandtz. Since its under- parts were light brownish, Grote did not believe it could possibly belong to the species atricapilla (Grote quoted by Chapin 1954). He stated at the same time that the two co-types were undoubtedly xonnula. While working on the populations of FE. atricapilla in the Republic of Zaire (Prigogine, in press), | had the opportunity to examine the type of kandti sent very kindly on loan to Tervuren by Dr. G. Mauersberger. Hoping to settle this problem I compared this type first with very young E. x. nonnula and £:. atricapilla avakubi and, later, with young graueri sent on loan by the American Museum of Natural History. The type of Randti is a very young specimen as could already be inferred from the measurements of the wing (40 mm) and tail (23 mm) given by Reichenow (1902, 1904/5). Owing to the bad condition of this specimen, I did not take new measurements. The head is brownish black (black in the ~ original description), the upperparts of a uniform sepia brown, the chest and the belly light sepia brown becoming darker on the abdomen. The upper and the under tail-coverts are no longer present. Bannerman (1949: 352) has already drawn attention to the fact that 1m- mature FE. nonnula have a mantle and back almost grey-brown with hardly any indication of barring, while the mantle and back of immature Z£. a. atricapilla are sooty-brown with a faint indication of barring (Bannerman 1949: 355). In reality, the difference is much more striking in very young birds. As may be seen from Table 1, the youngest individuals of E. nonnula have a uniform back without any barring. The underparts are white with only a light wash of brown, the under tail-coverts light brownish grey. Only at a more advanced age, when the length of the wing has reached 45-47 mm and the tail 39-43 mm, does the barring start to appear on the upperparts, first on the primaries and then on the back. On the contrary, even the youngest specimens of EF. atricapilla avakubi, with a very short tail, already show con- spicuous barring on the back. The underparts are brownish-grey, the under tail-coverts black or blackish-grey. For FE. atricapilla graueri, Chapin (1954) described the juvenal plumage as smoky brown on the back, the lower breast and abdomen, but he did not mention the presence of batting on the back. Very young graneri do not seem to exist in collections, but the four juveniles examined (see Table 1), though — already at an advanced age, have no conspicuous barring on the back, in contrast with avakubi (and probably nominate atracapilla). | The type of kandti also has the back of a uniform brown and its colour ~ matches exactly the back colour of graueri, while young nonnula have the back more greenish grey, less warm. The throat of Aandti has a brownish wash, — that of graueri is grey to whitish grey. The lower part of the belly is dark sepia — brown in kandti, while it is blackish brown in graneri. To sum up, the under- ~ parts of juvenile graueri are a shade darker than the type of Aandti, but this 17 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] small difference is due to the very young age of kandti. In any case, the underparts of nonnula are quite different, being white with a brownish wash, the lower beily and the flanks light brownish grey and distinctly less dark than those of Aandti. 1 also asked Mr. P. Devillers, Institut royal des Sciences Naturelles, Brussels, to compare the type of Aandti with the series of young nonnula and graueri and he agreed that kandi has close resemblance to graueri and not to nonnula. Therefore I conclude that kandti is a juvenile of graveri and that, since kandi is the earlier name, graveri must be considered a synonym of kandti. I am most grateful to Dr. G. Mauersberger for the loan of the type of kandti and to Mr. J. Farrand for the loan of the specimens of graver/ in juvenal plumage. I also am indebted to Mr. P. Devillers who repeated the comparison and kindly read the manuscript. TABLE I Comparison of young birds of FE. africapilla avakubi and E. atricapilla graueri with E.n. nonnula Under Species Sex Locality Wing Tail Upperparts Underptarts tail-coverts En. nonnuila’ 2 Lundjulu 41 19 uniform white buff light brownishgrey S$ Lundjulu 41 20 idem idem iden. 2 Kakanda 42 21 idem idem idem o. Butembo 42 — idem idem idem 2 Lutunguru 45 39 faint indication idem idem of barring on wings 2 Kamituga 46 43 indication of idem idem barring on back 3g Lutunguru 47 40 idem idem idem 2 Kakanda AT 42 uniform idem idem Ea. avakubi 2 Kamituga 40 18 barring well light black visible brownish grey 3d Ikela 42 23 barring visible idem blackish grey o Yokambo 43 26 idem idem black 2 Luluabourg 43 28 barring well grey with idem visible faint indi- cation of barring on belly o Ikela 43 42 barring visible light idem brownish grey with faint indication of barring on belly 3 Bolafa 46 42 barring well idem kiackish grey visible Ea. graueri =~ Mulu 42 41 faint indication brown blackish of barring brown Q@ Nyemilima 45 41 |} back uniform, idem idem but barring ( visible on sides o Mikeno 43 42 ) of nape idem idem 9 Kandashomwa 44 45 uniform idem idem References: Bannerman, D. A. 1949. The birds of tropical West Africa. Vol. 7. London: Crown Agents. Chapin, J. P. 1954. The birds of the Belgian Congo. Vol. 4. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 75B. . Grant, C. H. B. & Mackworth-Praed, C. W. 1945. On the status of Estrilda kandti Rei- chenow. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 45: 31. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 18 Gyldenstolpe, N. 1924. Zoological results of the Swedish expedition to central Africa 1921. Vertebrata. I. Birds. Kungl. Svenska Vetenskapsakad. Handl. (3), vol. 1, No. 3. Jackson, Sir F. 1938. The birds of Kenya Colony and the Uganda Protectorate. Vol. 3. London: Gurney and Jackson. Neumann, O. 1908. [ Estrilda atricapilla graueri, subsp. n.). Bull. Erit. Orn. Cl. 21: 55. Prigogine, A. In press. Les populations de Estrilda atricapilla (Verreaux) de I Afrique centrale et description d’une nouvelle race. Rev. Zool. afr. Reichenow, A. 1902. Neue afrikanische Arten. Orn. Monatsber. 10: 184-185. — 1904/5. Die Vogel Afrikas. Vol. 3. Neadamm: Neumann. — 1912. Die Vogelfauna des Mittelafrikanischen Seengebietes. Wiss. Ergebn. Deutsch. Zentral-Afrika-Exped. 1907-1908. Vol. 3. Leipzig. Sclater, W. L. 1930. Systema avium Aethiopicarum. Part 2. London. White, C. M. N. 1963. A revised check list of African flycatchers, etc. Lusaka: Govt. Printer. New Subspecies of Caprimulgus sericocaudatus from the Amazon River Basin by Robert W. Dickerman Received 13th November 1974 The Silky-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus sericocaudatus 1s an exceedingly rare species in North American ornithological collections. It is represented by only six specimens from Misiones Province of Argentina; two from south- eastern Brazil (Sao Paulo and Curitiba); and the two specimens, on which the species was described, from the Rivioli (Massena) Collection, labeled only South America. De Schauensee (1970) also included Paraguay (Capitan Meza, alto Parana) in the range of the species, but I have not been able to locate (nor could he provide me with) the reference to this locality. The population of the Amazon basin is represented by a specimen from Santarem, Brazil and one from Yarinacocha in Amazonian Peru. Recently Dr. Hannalore E. Hinsch made a collection of birds at the Insti- tuto Veterinario de Investigaciones Tropicales y de Alturas 59 km east of Pucallpa, Loreto, Peru, while carrying out a survey for arthropod-borne viruses. The birds were shipped frozen to New York where they were prepared and identified by the author to provide voucher specimens for study. Included was a single specimen of this species. Upon comparison of this individual with the three specimens available in the American Museum of Natural History, differences were noted and thus the above enumerated material was assembled (except for the two specimens of the type series). The characters noted proved consistent, and comparisons of representative birds with the type series in the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia immediately indicated that the name sericocaudatus was not based upon birds from the Amazon basin, and that population awaited description. However, first it was necessary to restrict the type locality of the nominate form. Stone (1899) compiled a list of the types in the Academy and cited the bird upon which the description was based (No. 21,905) as the type and it bears a type label although it was not so designated in the original description. Cory (1919) gave the range as “‘southeastern Brazil, Bahia, southwards”. Mr. R. M. de Schaeunsee (in conversation) informed me that most early collec- tions from southeastern Brazil were exported from Bahia or Rio de Janiero. The species was not recorded from the state of Bahia by Olivero M de O. Pinto (1935). As first revisor of the species, I suggest restricting the type locality of Caprimulgus (Antrostomus) sericocaudatus (Cassin) 1849 to the vicinity of Rio de Janiero, Brazil, that being a probably source of the type 19 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] material closest to the range of the species as indicated by presently available specimens. It should be noted that Cory, and de Schauensee (/oc. cit) were in error in citing the publication date for the species as 1848. The original description bears the date 30 October 1849 and was correctly cited by Stone (/oc. cit.) and Peters (1940). The population of the Amazon River Basin may now be described as: Caprimulgus sericocaudatus mengeli subsp. nov. Diagnosis: Smaller (see Table) and darker, more sooty, than the nominate form. TABLE Measurements of Caprimulgus sericocaudatus wing tail males Semales males females sericocaudatus 177-182 167-184 144-148 136-147 179°4 175°8 146°4 141°4 (n=5) (n=5) (n=5) (n=5) mengeli 157 & 163 156 124 & 127 116* * Tail apparently retained from first basic plumage. Type: American Museum of Natural History, no. 811079, adult male, collected by Hannalore E. Hinsch, on 15th November 1972 at Instituto Veterinario de Investigaciones Tropicales y de Alturas, 59 km east of Pucallpa, Loreto Department, Peru. Original field number HEH-A-506. Range: Amazon River basin. Material: Besides the type, a g from Yarinacocha, Peru, and a 9 from Santarem, Brazil. Name: With great satisfaction I name this form for Dr. Robert M. Mengel, student of Caprimulgids and friend. Notes: De Schauensee (1970) has described the female plumage of the species. The “young” bird mentioned in the original description is in reality another adult male with a slight difference in wing formula. The only female of mengeli is the Santerem specimen, which appears to be an immature. Its rectrices are narrower and more rounded and are only diffusely tipped with buff as compared to those of the other available apparently adult females. | ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Iam grateful to the curators of the Los Angeles County Museum, Carnegie Museum, Field Museum of Natural History and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia for loaning material or for allowing me to examine specimens in their care. References: Cassin, J. 1849. Descriptions of new species of the family caprimulgidae, specimens of which are in the collections of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 4: 236-239. Cory, C. B. 1919. Catalogue of birds of the Americas, Part II, No. 2. Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Pub. 197, Zool. Series XIII. De Schauensee, R. M. 1970. A guide to the birds of South America. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd. Pinto, Oliver M. de O. 1935. Aves. da Bahia. Rev. Mus. Paul. (XIX), 19: 1-326. Peters, James L. 1940. Check-list of birds of the world 4: 1-291. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard ‘Univ. Press. Stone, W. 1899. A study of the type specimens of birds in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, with a brief history of the collection. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 51:5 91. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 20 On the systematic position of Pholdornis rushiae by C. J. Vernon and W. BR. J. Dean Received 20th August 1974 The systematic position of Pholidornis rushiae as its colloquial name of Tiny Tit-Weaver rather suggests, is so uncertain that Hall & Moreau (1970) do not even place it in a family and “‘purely for convenience” put it between the Sittidae and the Nectariniidae. Prior to this the species has been variously placed in no fewer than seven different families, as noted by Traylor (1968: 389), who was equally doubtful and left it in a genus incertae sedis. In August 1973, in coffee-forest near Salazar, Angola (9° 18’ S, 14° 54’ E.), observations were made on the species which have allowed some further deductions to be made about its relationships. P. rushiae was found in small flocks of up to seven birds, which formed cohesive units independent of other species. They fed amongst the leaf and flower buds of canopy trees. Often they would hammer at twigs, in the manner of a woodpecker, and even hang beneath a twig to do so. In such instances they may have been taking sessile scale-insects, Coccidae, which have been previously recorded as a food item (Bannerman 1953, ‘Chapin 1954). The birds had a twittering contact call and direct flight, observa- tions which also accord with those of earlier observers (Bannerman 1953, Chapin 1954, Serle 1965). One party of seven P. rushiae included two juveniles. The juvenile plumage lacks the streaking of that of the adults (see also Serle 1965). The young were fed by at least four of the adults, and importuned them with a low sibilant note and quivering of wings. Calls, social behaviour, flight, feeding behaviour, size and juvenile plumage all resembled those of the penduline-tits Anthoscopus caroli and A. minutus. Published descriptions of its nest, roosting and breeding behaviour (Chapin 1954, Serle 1965) also fit with the penduline-tits. In contrast, we could see little resemblance to any sunbird, waxbill or weaver which are among the families to which it has been attributed. We suggest that P. rushiae be regarded as either a member of the Remizidae or a remarkable case of convergence with that family. We are grateful to the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale Univer- sity, for the opportunity to make these observations. References : ens D. A. 1953. The birds of tropical West Africa, 11. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh. Chapin, ]. P. 1954. The birds of the Belgian Congo, 4. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. His. 75A. Hall, B. P. & Moreau, R. E. 1970. An “Atlas of speciation in African Passerine Birds. British Museum, London. Serle, W. co A third contribution to the ornithology of the British Cameroons Ibis 107: 230-24 Traylor, M. A. 368. In Check-list of birds of the World, 14, R. A. Paynter, Jr., ed. Cambridge Mass.: Mus. Comp. Zool. The classification of the manakins by D. W. Snow Received 26th November 1974 No substantial advance can be made in the classification of the manakins (Pipridae) until detailed anatomical studies have been made of all the genera and the displays and social organisation of the many little known species 21 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] have been studied in the field. Analysis of egg-white proteins of the more atypical genera would also be very desirable, but since the nests of some of them have never been found this is not likely to be a practicable method for a very long time. In the circumstances it may seen umprofitable to discuss the classification of the family, but the forthcoming publication of volume 8 of Peters’s Check-list of birds of the world has necessitated a revision of it, in an attempt to establish a sequence of genera and species in accordance with the best available evidence. The late J. T. Zimmer prepared a manuscript of the Pipridae for Peters’s Check-list, which was edited and amended by James Bond in 1957. This forms the basis for the treatment to be adopted in the forthcoming volume, and in particular for the recognition of subspecies, unless subsequent research has necessitated modification. The further revision that has been necessary has mainly been at the species level or above. The object of the present paper is to discuss the problems that have arisen in the course of this revision, and to explain the reasons for the Check-/’st treatment. The discussion follows the same lines as a previous paper on the classification of the related family Cotingidae (Snow 1973), but the general points made in that paper will not be repeated. THE LIMITS OF THE FAMILY PIPRIDAE The typical manakins (Manacus, Pipra, Chiroxiphia and a few smaller genera) are a well-defined group. They are small forest-living birds, sexually highly dimorphic, with elaborate courtship displays in the males (reviews in Snow 1963, Sick 1967). In addition to the typical manakins, however, a number of more or less atypical genera have been allocated to the family, in some cases with doubtful justification. The main problem has always been how to separate the manakins from the Cotingidae and Tyrannidae, or indeed whether they should be separated. Since Sclater (1888), one of the main bases for separating them has been their foot structure and the form of their tarsal scutellation. Ridgway (1907) laid particular importance on these characters, which may be summarised as follows :— Pipridae Tarsus exaspidean; second phalanx of outer toe wholly united with that of the middle toe. Cotingidae Tarsal scutellation of various types, but never exaspidean; second phalanx of outer and middle toes not united. Tyrannidae Tarsus exaspidean; neither outer nor inner toe united to middle toe by more than the basal part of the first phalanx. The difficulty has been that a too rigid application of these criteria leads to the probable misplacement of a few genera; but no better criteria have been suggested, and recent anatomical studies have shown great variability within all three families, so that it is unlikely that clear-cut morphological criteria will be found. As regards the manakins, a classification based primarily on foot structure leads to the inclusion of a number of genera that differ markedly from the typical manakins. Some of the aberrant genera are very little known (e.g. Chloropipo, Neopipo, Heterocercus), and there is no reason not to follow the usual classification. Three genera, however, are especially problematical: S se ane Sapayoa and Piprites. Schiffornis Sclater (1888), Hellmayr Ess and Meyer de Schauensee (1966) all placed Schiffornis in the Pipridae. Its foot structure and tarsal scutellation are [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 225 typically piprine, according to the definition given above. In other respects it is very unlike the typical manakins, and in recognition of this Sclater placed it in a separate subfamily (with four other genera of which one, P#zlochoris (= Laniisoma), is now placed in the Cotingidae), and Meyer de Schauensee noted that its family status is uncertain. Schifformis has several morphological characters different from those of typical manakins: a compressed, distinctly notched upper mandible, fairly long, strong tarsi, a longish tail, and dull plumage with the sexes alike. Recently Ames (1971) has found that its sytingeal structure is quite different from that of any other manakins studied, being apparently quite like that of the cotingid genus Lipaugus. Perhaps as a consequence, its voice is much more musical than is usual for a manakin. The nest is also quite unlike a typical manakin’s (Wetmore 1972). In its social organisation (males emancipated from the nest, spending most of their time advertising themselves vocally, probably within mutually exclusive terri- tories—Skutch 1969, pers. obs.) it has parallels within both the manakins and the cotingas, as well as the tyrant-flycatchers. Further study may show that Schiffornis should be placed in the Cotingidae. It is perhaps even more likely that it will show that the traditional division of the manakin-cotinga-flycatcher complex into three families cannot be maintained. Meanwhile, it seems best to retain Schzffornzs in the Pipridae, simply because there is no convincing evidence that it is more closely related to either of the other families. Sapayoa Little new light has been thrown on this puzzling genus since Hartert (1903) originally described it. His tentative allocation of it to the Pipridae in spite of several anomalous characters was presumably influenced by the fact that it has a typically piprine foot structure. Recently Wetmore (1972) has discussed it further, and has reported a peculiarity of the dorsal feather tract. In default of conclusive evidence, Wetmore provisionally retained the genus in the Pipridae, and it is intended to follow the same course in Peters’s Check- list. Piprites This genus differs in several ways from the typical manakins. The outer toe is wholly free, or nearly so, from the middle toe, the beak is parine in shape, and the wing feathers have pale terminal spots, forming bars, much more like a tyrannid than a manakin. Ames (1971) found that the cartilagin- ous structure of the syrinx “‘is reminiscent of that in the small tyrannids Myiobius and Terenotriccus, while the musculature differs only in being narrower’. Slud (1964) reports that the voice of P. griseiceps in Costa Rica is flycatcher-like and that its general behaviour is very unlike that of a manakin ; he found it only in mixed foraging parties in the company of antwrens and other insectivorous birds. It seems likely that further research will confirm that P7prites is nearer to the tyrant-flycatchers than to the manakins; but until then it seems best to follow the usual practice and retain the genus in the Pipridae, while indicating that its removal may eventually prove necessary. RECOGNITION OF GENERA Most piprid genera are so distinct (at least in the males) thet there has been general agreement about their recognition. A few genera, however, are controversial, either because they contain one’ species that is very distinct from the others or because they are apparently very close to some other genus The debated genera are the following. tt te De et ; | 23 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] Allocotopterus There seems little doubt that this genus is closely related to Machaeropterus. The two genera are allopatric, A//ocofopterus apparently representing a well- marked derivative of Machaeropterus stock that evolved in isolation west of the Andes. In both genera the secondary feathers are extraordinarily modified in the adult males. Hellmayr (1929) considered the nature of the modifications to be the “principal point of distinction” between the genera; he nevertheless questioned the propriety of recognising A//ocotopterus. In fact, the way in which the secondaries are modified is not so different in the two genera, though the modification is more extreme in A//ocotopferus. In both, there is a gradual increase in the modification from s1 to s7, s7 showing the extreme degree of thickening of the shaft; s8 is modified less and in a different way, and this modification progressively decreases in sg and sto. In other manakin genera there are cases where feather modifications of adult males vary markedly within an undoubted superspecies. For this reason, and also because it is preferable to use generic groupings as an indication of relationships rather than as a means of emphasising differences, it seems best to merge AV/ocotopterus with Machaeropterus. Chloropipo Hellmayr (1929) and later authors have questioned the allocation of C. unicolor to this genus. C. wnicolor is sexually dimorphic, unlike the other members of the genus, and shows some structural differences. No detailed study has been made of any species of CA/oropipo, and until this has been done it would be premature to split the genus. If C. wnicofor were removed, a new monotypic genus would have to be set up. Piprites P. pileatus is very distinct from the two other species, ch/oris and griseiceps. It shows the beak characters of this genus in much less marked degree, it is sexually dimorphic, and its plumage is of quite different colour (mainly brown instead of green). Its distribution in the coastal region of southeast Brazil, where it may overlap with the widespread P. ch/oris, suggests an early isolate from the main P/prifes stock. In many other genera of birds rather well differentiated species are found in the southeast Brazilian coastal region, where at some time in the past the forests evidently underwent a long period of isolation from the main Amazonian forest. P. ch/oris presumably spread into southeast Brazil and adjacent areas from the Amazonian region at a much later date. Hemipipo is available as a generic name for the green forms (ch/oris and griseiceps), but there are insufficient grounds for splitting this small group of species, which are probably monophyletic. Teleonema The affinity of Te/eonema with Pipra has long been recognised, the genus being based only on the elongated wire-like tail feathers of the adult male. Recently Haffer (1970) has shown that 7. fi/cauda is in fact a member of the Pipra aureola superspecies. Clearly, the modification of the tail feathers in the male, as so often in cases of this sort, does not indicate any wide genetic divergence, and 7¢e/eonema should no longer be recognised. THE SEQUENCE OF GENERA The general principle followed in Peters’ Check-/ist is to proceed from the more unspecialised or “primitive”? genera to the more specialised. Such a sequence has been adopted for the Cotingidae (Snow 1973), and for con- sistency should be followed for the Pipridae too, although it must be stressed [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] 24 that unspecialised means only “lacking the extreme sexual dimorphism, accompanied by elaborate displays, that characterises the typical manakins”’. Previous classifications have not followed such a sequence. Sclatet’s sequence (1888) followed directly from his key, which resulted in allied genera being separated by others more distantly related. Ridgway’s sequence (1907), based on a different key, was also unnatural. Hellmayr (1929) began the family with the atypical Pzprites, continued with the typical, specialised manakins in a sequence that separated some genera that are probably closely related, and ended with the atypical Schiffornis, Sapayoa, and finally Neopelma and Heterocercus, neither of which is as problematical as Schiffornis and Sapayoa. Zimmer (MS) followed Hellmayr exactly. Meyer de Schauensee (1966) adopted quite a different sequence, beginning with the typical mana- kins in as natural an order as possible and ending with the unspecialised genera and those whose allocation to the family is questionable. The sequence to be used in Peters’s Check-/ist follows. It may be noted that it is logically close to Meyer de Schauensee’s sequence, but the order is reversed. Schiffornis Sapayoa Piprites Neopipo Chloropipo Xeno pi po Antilophia T yranneutes Neopelma Heterocercus Machaeropterus Manacus Corapipo Thcura Allocation to the Pipridae uncertain. The sequence of these genera is arbitrary; all show some affinity to the cotingas or tyrant-flycatchers and are unspecialised in the direction taken by the typical manakins.. Unspecialised manakins, lacking sexual dimorphism in plumage or, if sexually dimorphic, with mainly black male plumage. Male plumage (black, with scarlet head and back) suggests affinity with Pzpra, but behaviour (Sick 1967) suggests that the resemblance may be convergent and that the genus should not be placed among the specialised manakins. Its neculiar range, unique in the manakins (tableland of south- central Brazil), also suggests that the genus may be primi- tive. This region is a geologically very ancient land-area, where a number of primitive plant and animal forms have survived, probably from a period ante-dating the forma- tion of the lowland Amazonian forests (Haffer 1974). Unspecialised manakins with little sexual dimorphism in plumage (olive-green, with golden crown feathers), showing some similarity in displays. Isolated genus with no obvious affinities. Inter-generic hybrid with Pzpra recorded (Parkes 1961), but significance of this in assessing relationship vis-a-vis other genera impossible to judge. Includes AV/ocotopterus (see above). This and the following genera constitute the “typical” or specialised manakins, with pronounced sexual dimorphism and (where anything is known of behaviour) elaborate courtship displays. Thickened shafts of secondaries and choice of display perches (vertical saplings near ground) suggest affinity between Manacus and Machaeropterus. Black and white male plumage with prominent white throat, display perches near ground, and mechanical wing noises, suggest affinity with Manacus. A genus without obvious affinities. : . 4 25 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] Masius A genus without obvious affinities. Chiroxiphia Probably closest to Pipra, as suggested by common display elements. Pipra With Manacus and Chiroxiphia the most widespread and successful manakin group, far exceeding in diversity of species and so given the culminating place in the sequence. SPECIES AND SUPERSPECIES The main problem for classification at the species level is the one en- countered in any attempt to decide species limits in tropical continental avifaunas, namely the numerous cases in which closely related forms replace one another in adjacent areas, little or nothing being known of the degree of their relationship or of the interactions, behavioural and ecological, that occur at the borderline. The problem has already been discussed with refer- ence to the Cotingidae (Snow 1973); here it need only be said that when two or more closely related forms of manakins replace one another sharply at the borders of their ranges, with no sign of intergradation, it is intended to treat them as separate species. In nearly all such cases the most obvious differences between the two forms are in the plumage of the males, which is presumably used in display; this suggests that some degree of reproductive isolation exists. The presumption is that each form is preventing the other from pene- trating its range through behavioural or ecological incompatibility. It must be recognised that the decision to treat such forms as separate species rather than as subspecies is sometimes arbitrary, especially when the details of distribution are not well known. Subspecies would be expected to intergrade resulting in clinal variation. Good species, on the other hand might be expected to be ecologically and behaviourally compatible and so to spread into each other’s ranges. The fact is, however, that many South American bird populations have reached an intermediate stage of speciation. Once the decision has been made to. give specific status to distinct but closely related forms that replace one another geographically, species limits in the Pipridae can in most cases be readily determined. Groups of closely related allopatric species can be treated as superspecies (a term useful in geographical and evolutionary analysis, but without formal nomenclatural status). The following list deals with all such cases in the Pipridae. Schiffornis S. virescens and S. turdinus form a superspecies, the former replacing the latter in southeast Brazil and neighbouring areas of Paraguay. Where the ranges of the two species approach one another, in Baia, Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo, virescens inhabits montane and /wrdinus lowland forest. A very similar situation obtains for other species pairs that consist of a widespread Amazonian species and one with a restricted range in southeast Brazil (e.g. Lipaugus vociferans and L. lanioides). It is not known whether their ranges are kept separate by active exclusion of each from the range of the other, or whether different habitat and altitude preferences simply prevent them from coming into contact. Piprites P. chloris and P. griseiceps form a superspecies. P. chloris and P. pileatus may be sympatric in southeast Brazil; their known ranges approach one another closely, but they have not been ‘collected at exactly the same place. In any case P. pileatus is so distinct from the other two that it cannot be considered a member of the same superspecies. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] 26 Chloropipo C. flavicapilla C. holochlora and C. uniformis form a superspecies. C. unicolor is very distinct (see p. 23) and its range, though poorly known, apparently lies within that of C. holochlora. Clearly it cannot be included in the same superspecies. Tyranneutes I. virescens and T. stolzmanni, the only members of the genus, form a superspecies. Neopelma Though the situation in central Brazil needs clarification, it seems that the four species (chrysocephalum, sulphureiventer, pallescens and aurifrons) replace one another geographically and form a superspecies. Fleterocercus The three species (flavivertex, linteatus and aurantiuvertex) replace one another geographically and form a superspecies. Machseropterus M. regulus and M. pyrocephalus apparently replace one another geographic- ally but in a complex fashion which cannot be understood without more locality records. In particular, the situation in northern Peru needs to be examined. Both species have been recorded from Moyobamba, San Martin, but in such mountainous country they may well have been collected at very different altitudes. They almost certainly comprise a superspecies. MM. deliciosus 1s much more distinct and, though it is clearly the representative of the group west of the Andes, should probably not be included in the same superspecies. Manacus Four species have been recognised (candei, aurantiacus, vitellinus and manacus), manacus being widespread in South America and the other three having more restricted ranges in Central and extreme north-western South America. The careful analysis by Haffer (1967) has, however, shown that hybridisation occurs in several areas where the ranges of the different forms meet; the courtship displays of manacus and vitellinus are identical or nearly so. It seems that none of the north-western forms has achieved full specific status. Haffer uses the term “‘semispecies” to described the situation, but for formal listing in Peters’s Check-list they will have to be given subspecific Status. Corapipo C. leucorrhoa Ke Cs gutturalis, the only members of the genus form a superspecies. Chiroxiphia The four species (/inearis, lanceolata, pareola and caudata) replace one another geographically and form a superspecies. C’. caudata, of eastern Brazil, is less closely related to the others than they are to one another. Where its range abuts on that of C. pareo/a it is found in montane forests and pareo/a in the lowlands, a situation similar to that in Schiffornis. (q.v.). Pipra Haffer (1970) has fully discussed the three superspecies into which 15 of the 16 species may be grouped. His treatment will be followed in Peters’s Check-list and need not be repeated here. The red- and orange-capped forms comprise one superspecies, the blue- and opalescent-capped forms another superspecies, and the orange-headed forms with white in wings and tail — eset ee ee eee ee ee eee 27 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] (including P. filicauda, formerly placed in the genus Te/eonema) a third super- species. These three groups embrace all the species of Pipra except for the white-capped P. pipra which has no close relative. SUMMARY 3 The classification of the manakins Pipridae is discussed at the generic and specific levels, primarily to explain the treatment to be adopted in the forth- coming Vol. 8 of Peters’s Check-list of birds of the world. \n all the polytypic genera, closely related but distinct forms replace one another geographically usually with no evidence of intergradation. Such forms will be treated as species, a procedure that is recognised as somewhat arbitrary. The paper ends with a list and brief discussion of the 12 superspecies (groups of closely related, allopatric species) which may be recognised in the family. References: Ames, P. L. 1971. The morphology of the syrinx in passerine birds. Bu//. Peabody Mus. Nat. Hist. 37: 1-194. Haffer, J. 1967. Speciation in Colombian forest birds west of the Andes. Amer. Mus. Novit. 2294. — 1970. Art-Entstehung bei einigen Waldvogeln Amazoniens. /. Orn. 111: 285-331. — 1974. Avian speciation in tropical South America. Publ. Nuttall Orn. Club No. 14. Hartert, E. 1903. On a remarkable new oligomyodian genus and species from Ecuador. Novit. Zool. 10: 117-118. Hellmayr, C. E. 1929. Catalogue of birds of the Americas, Part VI. Fie/d Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool, Ser. 13: 1-258. Meyer de Schauensee, R. 1966. The species of birds of South America. Narberth, Pa.: Living- ston Publ. Co. Parkes, K. C. 1961. Intergeneric hybrids in the family Pipridae. Condor 63: 145-150. Ridgway, R. 1907. The birds of North and Middle America. Part IV. Bu//. U.S. Nat. Mus. 50: 1-973. Sclater, P. L. 1888. Catalogue of the birds of the British Museum. Vol. 14. London: British Museum. Sick, H. 1967. Courtship behavior of manakins (Pipridae). Living Bird 6: 5-22. Skutch, A. F. 1969. Life histories of Central American birds HI. Pac. Coast Avifauna 35: I-580. Slud, P. 1964. The birds of Costa Rica. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 128: 1-430. Snow, D. W. 1963. The evolution of manakin displays. Proc. 13 /nt. Orn. Congr.: 553-561. — 1973. The classification of the Cotingidae (Aves). Brevoria 409. Wetmore, A. 1972. The birds of the Republic of Panama. Part 3. Smiths. Misc. Coll. 150: 1-631. Notes on the nesting of the White-cheeked Touraco luracus lencotis by I. Foxall and P. J. K. Burton Received 20th December 1974 The captive breeding of the White-cheeked Touraco (Tauraco /eucotis) has been described by Everitt (1965) and the present account of an unsuccessful nesting in captivity gives additional information on behaviour and includes detailed descriptions of the nestlings. BEHAVIOUR The breeding pair were purchased as adults early in 1974, and were liberated into an aviary with attached shelter. This contains two branches for perching and two small holly bushes in the front corners, underplanted with small clumps of ground laurel. A nine-foot high section of a felled Lawson Cypress was erected in the well-lit shelter, and it was in this that the nesting attempts took place. A nesting tray was placed in the cypress, and furnished with some small twigs, but this was completely ignored. The [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] “28 cypress had been cut some six months before nesting began (in early June), and although still green, its twigs were dry and brittle. Other twigs were supplied, but the nest was almost totally composed of twigs removed from the cypress itself. In contrast to the fragile structure described by Everitt, the nest was a substantial one, approximately eight to nine inches in diameter and four inches thick at the centre. It was of a shallow saucer-like shape, and initially well concealed, situated about seven feet above the ground. Another point of difference from Everitt’s observations was that only the male was ever seen building or repairing the nest; the nest used by Everitt’s birds was built entirely by the female. In this breeding pair, the sexes can be distinguished by bill colour, the male’s being deeper red, while the female’s is distinctly more orange, a difference most marked during the period of attempted breeding. The male’s crest is slightly longer and decidely bushier. However, data on specimen labels in the British Museum (Natural History) seem to indicate that bill colour would be unreliable as a general guide. Mating was never observed, but as early as 30 March the male was seen feeding the female by regurgitation. The usual pattern of behaviour is for the female to fly to a position slightly below the male, and crane her head up and back, whereupon the male invariably responds immediately by feeding her. Vigorous chases were observed a number of times, and the female might well have been injured were it not for the presence of the small clumps of ground laurel, into which she dived when hard pressed, remaining there, crouched motionless, for some considerable time. The male also chased the other occupants of the aviary, a pair of Rothschild’s Grackles (Leucopsar rothschildt) and a Red-rumped Green Woodpecker (Picus erythropygius), antil they were removed. Another male White-cheeked Touraco was introduced into a neighbouring aviary, where he was visible to the breeding male. On one occasion, the latter was seen to approach as close as possible, bow low on the perch, and extend the wings forwards and outwards; whilst holding this position for a few seconds, he emitted a long-drawn out pigeon-like “whooooo’’. Other calls used include a quick repeated “kek, kek, kek...” used as a flight call by both sexes, and a call used only by the male, mainly during the breeding period. This was a protracted and rather variable series of cackles, des- cending in pitch at the end, thus: “KUK kuk kuk KUK kuk kuk KUK kukukukukuk’’. Up to the time of writing (December 1974), five nesting attempts have been made, in early June, mid-July, late August, late September and mid- October. Each time, a clutch of two eggs was laid, off-white in colour and rather coarse textured ; one egg measured was 45 mm by 32 mm in size. Both birds shared incubation. Although detailed observations were not made, changes were apparently frequent, roughly hourly during day time. When first seen each day at 0800, the male was always incubating. Part of the change-over — — ritual was once seen, when the male approached the female carrying a small twig in his bill. He offered this to the female, giving a low chuckling call, and then dropped it, reaching up to break off another which the female then accepted and placed on the nest. During the course of the several breeding attempts, the area immediately around the nest became quite denuded of cover, possibly due to such behaviour. The two most accurate estimates made indicate a fairly reliable figure of 23 days as the incubation period. Incubation apparently commences with the first egg. For the first three attempts, both birds sat very tight, and only on © ee i a a ee | — Se 29 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] two occasions were both observed off the nest. They even allowed a hand to be placed underneath them without moving, though the bill was widely opened in threat. During the last two attempts, both birds seemed more unsettled, and the female was reluctant to incubate, only doing so when chased by the male. The egg shells were very thin on both these occasions, probably due to a dietary deficiency, and one broke in each case, which might have contributed to the bird’s unease. NESTLINGS One of us (PJKB) recently completed the task of illustrating a wide range of nestlings for forthcoming publications. The experience revealed how very inadequate most descriptions of nestlings actually are. The best available for nestling Musophagidae are those given by Moreau (1938), Van Someren (1956) and Everitt (1965). However, none of these are as detailed as could be wished, and the following notes on 7. /ecof/s nestlings may help to remedy this deficiency. Four nestlings were found soon after death and in good condition, and these are now in the collections of the British Museum (Natural History). Their ages were approximately 8-10 days; 4 days; 3 days; and 1 day. The eldest appears to have been retarded during development, and is little different from the 4 day old one. The following description of the youngest utilises the colour nomenclature of Ridgway (1912): There is a dense cover of silky neossoptile down, which largely conceals the spaces between the pterylae and varies in length from about 6 to 12 mm. The bill is similar in shape to the adult’s, but shallower, and less strongly hooked at the tip. The down is uniformly “fuscous” in colour, very slightly paler below; apart from the bill and legs, the whole appearance strongly recalls the chicks of many rails. There is a small bare area on the lores and around the eye, for which only a small slit is present. This bare skin is “tea green”; the rest of the body skin, where visible, is “shell pink’’. The bill is “grenadine pink”; the anterior third of the maxilla tip, and the extreme tip and anterior half of the tomium of the mandible are black, and there is a small white egg tooth. The inside of mouth and bill are basically “peach red’, the many fine papillae paler, while the more posterior parts of the palate and pharynx are “light brownish vinaceous”’. The tongue is “pale flesh” shading to “‘pale salmon” at the base. Tarsi and toes are “light russet-vinaceous”’, somewhat paler on the posterior surface of the tarsi and the undersides of the toes; the claws are “fuscous’”’. The older nestlings are similar, but the 4-day old and 8-10 day old indi- viduals have the bill paler, “flesh pink”, and also noticeably deeper at the base, with a smaller, rounder nostril. The nestlings have tiny wing claws, approximately 1 mm long and almost white in colour, on the alula. Dissection of the youngest nestling reveals that the large os uncinatum characteristic of the Musophagidae (see Burton 1970) is already well developed. References: Burton, P. J. K. 1970. Some observations on the os uncinatum in the Musophagidae. Ostrich, Sup. 8: 7-13. Everitt, C. 1965. Breeding the White-cheeked Touraco. Avicult. Mag. 71(1): 24-27. Moreau, R. E. 1938. Some aspects of the Musophagidae. /bis 100: 67-112, 238-270. Ridgway, R. 1912. Color standards and color nomenclature. Washington, D.C.: published by the author. Van Someren, V. G. L. 1956. Blue-crested Plantain Eater. Fie/diana Zool. 38: 164-174. [Bull. B.O.C. 19954 95(1)] 30 Vatiation in some characters of three palaearctic Certhia species by C. J. Mead Received 6th November 1974 The purpose of this paper is to record and discuss some aspects of variation discovered for three species of Certhia from specimens available at the British Museum (Natural History) and the Liverpool Museum. All Palearctic specimens of Certhia brachydactyla, C. familiaris and C. nipalensis were measured as follows :-— Wing-length. A stopped mm rule was used to take the maximum chord measurement. The primaries were flattened and straightened and the length recorded to the nearest mm. Bill-length. The length from tip to skull, measured above the bill using - vernier callipers, was recorded to the nearest 0-1 mm. Claw-length. The distance from the edge of the scale above the hind- claw to the claw’s tip was recorded to 0-1 mm using the vernier callipers. In addition the British Museum specimens also had the bill-width, measured just behind the nostrils, and the degree of (or lack of) a pale margin on the distal edge of the largest feather of the alula recorded. The scoring for this last character was as follows: +3 Very distinct margin —3 Very distinct break in margin +2 Distinct margin —2 Distinct break in margin +1 Indistinct margin —1 Indistinct break in margin o Impossible to decide whether the margin was continuous or not. All the measurements were taken by CJM and immediately recorded, with details from the label, by B. R. Watmough, who was also responsible for scoring the alula feather. Although the birds were examined over a period of about nine weeks checks did not reveal any systematic bias within or between measuring sessions. Check measurements taken by BRW also generally agreed closely with CJM’s. Skins with broken, missing or mis-shapen bills or claws only had measurements recorded for those parts which appeared normal. Very long (or short) bills and claws which appeared to be normal in shape are included in the figures. Since retraps of live birds caught for ringing have shown that juveniles continue to grow both bill and claw for several weeks after fledging particular attention was paid to specimens from late summer and early autumn. Measurements are not included in the main figures of birds labelled as juveniles, of birds still showing growth of wing feathers or of birds which retained the typically soft and fluffy under-tail coverts ot juvenile plumage. This investigation was prompted by reports that Certhia brachydactyla may — be present in southern England. It seemed of crucial importance, for the assessment of these reports, that as large as possible a series of measurements of both species should be available. This aspect of identification will be dealt with elsewhere and the problems of comparing measurements of live birds with museum specimens and of measurements taken by different people will — 31 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(2)] Figures I and II identify the areas and the numbers of specimens available for Certhia brachydactyla and C. familiaris (and nipalensis) respectively. The two letter codes are inter- preted beside each map. IR: Ireland SC: Scotland EW: England and Wales SN: Sweden and Norway SB: Southern Baltic AD: Adriatic CO: Corsica HO: hodgsoni MA: = mandellii NI: nipalensis KH: khamensis TS: tianschanica (JA: japonica—not shown) NA: North Africa WI: West Iberia EI: East Iberia SF: Southern France MF: Mid France NF: Northern France GP: Germany and Poland AD: Adriatic CY: Cyprus TU: Turkey then also prove relevant. For the purpose of the present survey, however, specimens were identified by considering a combination of— a) the locality of collection; b) the identification on the label; and c) comparison with the wide range of other skins available. The specimens were divided, by area of origin, within Europe, north Africa and Asia Minor. The Asiatic specimens of familiaris were categorised by race (japonica from Japan and sianschanica from Tian Shan correspond with definite geographical areas), except that Certhia nipalensis is treated as a mono- typic species. Only categories containing five or more specimens 77 fofo have been considered. The two maps, Figures I and I, for brachydactyla and famil- iaris respectively, show the areas covered by and the number of specimens available for each category. The code letters, explained in the captions, correspond to those used in the other Figures to identify the categories. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] i oR Figure III: wing, bill and claw lengths (mm) and sample sizes of Certhia specimens from the areas shown in Figs. I and II. Large dot shows mean, small dots two standard errors each side and the line extends one standard deviation above and below the mean. All specimens from each area are included (cf. Figs. IV and V for sexed skins). 72 e WING 68 6 6 62 of | 58 23 21 tty CLAW 33 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)j Figure IV: wing, bill and claw lengths (mm) and sample sizes of Certhia specimens sexed as $¢ from the areas shown in Figs I and II. Samples of five or more shown like those on Fig. II, otherwise large dots show means for samples of two to four and small dots single sexed skins. mc OO 68 | : : | 7 eth 5 tee nee : | CLAW [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] ie Figure V: wing, bill and claw lengths (mm) and sample sizes of Certhia specimens sexed as 22 from the areas shown in Figs. I and II. Samples of five or more shown like those on Fig. II, otherwise large dots show means for samples of two to four and small dots single sexed skins. : . 70; WING Q Q 68 66 x pe 23 {tay oa, oe 17 15 . i 11 CLAW 10 35 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] Figures III, 1V and V summarise the measurements of wing, bill and claw length for all the specimens, for males and for females respectively. The figures above the area/racial code letters indicate the size of the sample available for wing-length measurement (bill and claw samples may be smaller). Figure VI shows, below, the bill-width and, above, the percentage of each population (with sample size) showing different scores for the largest alula feather. In Figures III-1V the ten left-hand columns all refer to brachydactyla, then come four columns for fami/iaris in Britain and four in Europe, and the six right-hand columns refer to the Asiatic familiaris|/nipalensis populations. In figure VII the mean measurements of males are expressed as a percent- age of the mean for females. The line extending from the dot, marking the mean, towards zero covers the 95 °% confidence limit for this statistic using Student’s t-test. The sample sizes are given for each sex—a broken bill on a female brachydactyla from north Africa accounts for the lack of an NA entry under “bill”. Figure VI: below, bill-width (mm), just behind the nostrils (mean, two standard errors and standard deviation as in Fig. II1); above, the percentages of the different scores on the alula margin. Double solid dots indicate birds with distinct breaks in the margin, single solid dots an indistinct break, single open dots an indistinct margin, double open dots distinct margins and the crossed section indeterminate birds. The figures below the plots show the sample sizes in each case. ALULA Be 40 i /\ x ay ue 0 BILL WIDTH 100 80 60 {Buil. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] Jn 36 Figure VII: the percentage ot sexual dimorphism in wing, bill and claw length for those populations of Certhia brachydactyla and C. familiaris with at least five specimens of each sex available. The position of the dot shows the percentage by which male mean measurements — exceed (or are less than) female means and the solid line shows the 95 % confidence limit (extending towards zero). Maximum samples available for each sex are shown above the code letters identifying the area of origin of the specimens. brachydactyla familiaris WING _ | 10 | ROM ANZ lS : 12 8 1S 21 SB oe 2 2) ee at ee te ae 29 M1 6 2254/6 210. Soe NA WI El MF AD CY IR SC EWSN CO HO MA O SN yh O20 OF EN Reo” & J i & fh 37 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(1)] DISCUSSION As will be seen from the sample sizes given in Figs. III, IV and V varying numbers of the specimens were unsexed and sexed: the sex ratios varied from 934: no9? to 339: 699. This could affect the overall mean for a cate- gory and it would have been most satisfactoy to have considered variation amongst males only but too few specimens were available. However, com- parison of the three Figures will show that the relationships implied by sexed specimens are, in general, confirmed by the overall means. The comments which follow, on the three main measurements, cover Figs. HI, IV and V taken together. Wing-length The longest-winged brachydactyla population is in north Africa but other- wise there is little variation within this species apart from the difference between WI and EI (significant with P Y \\ Lil, lye, Ci % ON q, Z 7 Top: The pre-copulatory bowing display of the Adamawa Turtle Dove. The male (on the left) is shown with head at the top of its bobbing movement. Bottom: The penguin display. standing along the branch, lowering his body until crouched almost hori- zontally, with raised neck feathers. In this position he begins a rapid up and down movement of his head, and each time this is lowered utters a short crooa note. The result is a rhythmic series of notes, crooa-crooa-crooa-crooa, in time with his bowing display. 2) At first the female seemingly ignores his behaviour, then begins to pace up and down the branch in front of the male. She eventually raises her head on extended neck and approaches him closely. As the two birds meet, both 7I [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(2)] assume a more vertical posture, with necks stretched. Bill scissoring follows, in which Both birds occasionally open the bill. 3) Scissoring is broken off by the female, who then crouches across the branch in front of the male in invitation, with feathers loosened and wings slightly lowered. 4) The male mounts, raising his wings as he does so. As copulation is completed he flufts his throat feathers and flaps his wings vigorously, even- tually dismounting by unbalancing backwards off the female, and flying back to the branch beside her. 5) Both birds, side by side on the branch, assume a vertical posture and pirouette slightly until more or less facing one another. Each raises its head skywards and then back, so that the head is eventually laid far back between the shoulders, with bill tucked in and chest feathers raised. During this display (the penguin display), which is equally intense in both sexes, a harsh rattling call is uttered, reminiscent of the sound made by rapidly indrawn breath. This particular call was never heard in any other context. 6) The penguin display is very brief, lasting no more than 3 or 4 seconds, and is followed by an extended bout of allo-preening, usually initiated by the female. Both birds gradually settle into a resting position, side by side, and either preen one another or themselves. They may remain like this for up to half an hour before parting. This full sequence of display was not always followed and on several occasions the female induced copulation by merely billing briefly with the male, as soon as he joined her on the display branch, and then squatting in invitation. On these occasions the male did not perform his bowing display, though the penguin display and an extended bout of allo-preening always followed copulation. Sometimes, after such a brief initial bout of billing by the female, the male would be hesitant to respond and would false preen and defer mounting until encouraged by further billing and squatting by his mate. On 24 November a female Adamawa Turtle Dove was disturbed from its nest in a dense clump of Bougainvillea. The nest itself was about two metres from the ground and consisted of a thin, flat, loosely-woven platform of slender twigs, about 15 cm in overall diameter; in fact of typical Columbi- form construction. It was empty and, although carefully undisturbed subsequently, it was not reoccupied. The following day I found a further two nests of very similar construction in a small Mango tree within the territory of one of the other pairs in the garden, which were clearly old nests belonging to this species. One of these _ was of fairly recent construction and in good repair, though it did not appear to have been used. The second was much older and falling apart. They were respectively 4 and 5 m above the ground, the total height of the tree being only 7 m, with a crown diameter of 4 m. On 28 November this pair began the construction of a further nest in a fork of the same Mango tree, about 4 m above the ground. At any one time only one bird of the pair engaged on collection of nest material, though I have records of both male and female doing so. Most of the twigs used in the construction were collected from the ground within 20 m of the tree, though on occasion material was also collected from the crowns of nearby Monterey Cypresses. The woody inflorescences of Mango, which littered the ground in profusion, were also utilised, though apparently more sturdy _ material was preferred. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(2)] 72 Construction continued spasmodically and material was still being added on 16 December, though by now the nest appeared complete and the female spent much time sitting on it. During the morning of 17 December she laid one egg, which was pure white and of typical elliptical shape. When I next inspected the nest on 26 December it was empty, though there were no remains of eggs to indicate what predator may have been involved. I observed a bird building a nest in a Mango tree some 30 m away from this unsuccessful nest on 30 January but it was not completed. The bird involved in this construction was apparently carrying material to a nest site not occupied by its mate, since, when I climbed the tree between visits by the building bird in order to locate the nest, I did not flush a second bird from the tree. Such behaviour is apparently extremely unusual among doves. No further new nests were located during my stay in Vom. THE ANNUAL CYCLE Woods (1967) has suggested that the Adamawa Turtle Dove breeds throughout the year, though in view of the highly seasonal nature of its environment this would seem surprising. I found nests in construction or use on 24 November, from 28 November to 18 December, and on 30/31 January. Nests with eggs or young are recorded by Lang (1966) on 28-30 November, _ by Smith (1966) on 23 September, 24 September, 30 October and 3 Novem- ber, and by Woods (1967) on 15—28 March. Breeding records are therefore lacking for the months of April to August, which is the rainy season on the Jos Plateau. During this season one would expect food to be less plentiful for granivorous ground-feeding birds because of the germination of seeds and rapid growth of concealing herbaceous vegetation promoted by the rains. I have, moreover, noted a corresponding seasonality in territorial behaviour. Up to mid-March I rarely saw more than two or three Adamawa Turtle Doves in close association with one another. Breeding birds invariably fed alone or as a pair. I always found them feeding on the ground in areas of short grass or only sparse vegetation, though often this was beneath trees, and I cannot definitely say that they do not also feed in the canopy. When feeding they maintain a slow forewards movement, pecking items from the ground in front of themselves as they move. Small seeds appear to form the bulk of the items taken, though even at close range through binoculars I found it difficult to determine these items with certainty. In late March and throughout April and May birds showed an increasing tendency to congregate in particularly favourable feeding areas, often in association with Speckled Pigeons Columba guinea and Vinaceous Doves Streptopelia vinacea. When disturbed the three species would fly off separately, and the Adamawa Turtle Doves usually did so as a flock, often flying some distance to cover in a compact group, and perching there in close association with one another. They usually returned to feed also in groups of several birds. The largest such association I encountered contained over 60 indi- viduals and 30 together was a common sight, Birds in these flocks were ob- served to be in wing and tail moult, and one mist-netted from a flock on 19 _ April was found to be replacing primary 7 and retrices 3 and 5 (numbered — centrifugally) and secondary 3 (numbered centripetally). | The available evidence therefore points to a marked seasonal cycle in this species, with a protracted breeding season from perhaps August to March, ~ followed by a period of moult during which the birds flock, and a cessation — 73 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(2)] of breeding in the first part of the rainy season from April to July. A similar cycle is apparent for other doves at Vom (Smith 1962, 1966, pers. obs.) and probably applies throughout West African savannas according to the local timing of wet and dry seasons. TAXONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS OF S/repfopelia hypopyrrha Goodwin (1970) considers the Adamawa Turtle Dove to be somewhat intermediate between and closely related to Streptopelia turtur and S. /ugens, possibly conspecific with the latter. He classes all three within one super- species. My observations on S. hypopyrrha tend to confirm this classification. Certainly this species and S. ‘urfur must be very closely related since they have many close similarities in behaviour and voice. As far as I am aware they are the only two S¢repfopelia species in which the penguin display has been recorded, although a very similar display is described for the Laughing Dove S. senegalensis. The most frequently used song of S. hypopyrrha is extremely similar to the nest call of S. /vr/ur, though deeper in tone. As the latter moults in African winter quarters, it seems likely that this event occurs simultaneously in both species. S. dugens, with which I am unfamiliar in the field, is in appearance extremely similar to S. hypopyrrha and undoubtedly both have a common origin. It would be extremely interesting to know if it exhibits an annual cycle, in its less highly seasonal East African range, which corresponds in timing to that of S. hypopyrrha. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My residence at Vom was made possible through the kindness or Dr. and Mrs. A. Rogerson, who provided me with accommodation at their home throughout my stay. During that time I was in receipt of a grant from the Natural Environment Research Council, to whom I am also indebted. Derek Goodwin read and made many helpful comments on earlier drafts of this paper. SUMMARY The breeding behaviour of the Adamawa Turtle Dove at Vom, in central Nigeria, is discussed, and descriptions given of territorial and nesting behaviour, song and display. A seasonal cycle of activity is postulated for this species, with breeding activity largely confined to the dry season. Moult takes place at the end of the dry season, when the birds flock, and breeding does not resume until late in the ensuing wet season. In many respects this species is closely similar to the European Turtle Dove, and its taxonomic position is briefly discussed. References: Bannerman, D. A. 1953. The birds of west and equatorial Africa. Vol. 2. Edinburgh & London. Goodwin, D. 1970. Pigeons and Doves of the World. 2nd ed. London. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.). Lang, J. R. 1966. Egg of Adamawan Turtle Dove. Bull. Niger. Orn. Soc. 3: 46. Smith, V. W. 1962. Some birds which breed near Vom, northern Nigeria. Niger. Field 27: 4-34. Smith, V. W. 1966. Breeding records for the Plateau Province over 3,000 feet, 1957-1966. Bull, Niger. Orn. Soc. 3: 81. Woods, P. J. E. 1967. Some notes on the birds of the Kigom Hills on the western edge of the Jos Plateau (over 3,000 feet). Bu//. Niger. Orn. Soc. 4: 30. (Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(2)| 74 More Bird Records from Surinam by F. Haverschmidt Received 17th March, 1975 This paper contains a number of bird records collected by me in Surinam during two visits in 1972/1973 and 1973/1974 and follows up my previous paper (Haverschmidt 1972). I paid special attention to breeding birds and the records presented here give either an extension to the breeding seasons mentioned in my Birds of Surinam (Haverschmidt 1968) or pertain to species whose nests have been but seldom found. Falco deiroleucus, Orange-breasted Falcon. This fine Falcon is widely spread in Surinam but not numerous. Four specimens were obtained and the follow- ing is a list of sight records: 30 Nov. 1958 one near Paramaribo, 11 Oct. 1964 one neat Phedra, 13 Nov. 1964 a pair on the Coppename River, 28 Feb. 1965 one near Kraka and one near Rama, 13 Mar. 1965 one in my garden near Paramaribo, 26 Jan., 17 Feb. and 8 Mar. 1967 apparently the same immature bird near Paramaribo, 1 June 1967 one near Blackawatra, 14 Nov. 1967 one neat Leonsberg and 28 Nov. 1972 one near Paramaribo. Anhima cornuta, Horned Screamer. This rare bird is only known from matshes behind the coast line near the mouth of the Maroni River in the east of the country. It was collected and observed in this region more thana — century ago by Kappler (Haverschmidt 1973). It still occurs, as on 1 July © 1966 a group of 7 birds were seen and one was shot by a hunter, who showed _ me its remains. Pluvialis squatarola, Grey Plover. A regular and fairly numerous visitor on the coast. On 28 Nov. 1973, however, I collected a male on a savanna near Zandetrij about 60 km from the coast. I had never before seen the species so far inland. Bartramia longicauda, Upland Plover. As reported earlier (Haverschmidt 1966) the Upland Plover is regularly present in Surinam during the northern winter. On 6 Dec., 11 and 28 Dec. 1973 and 15 Jan. 1974, one or two birds were present on the savanna near Zanderij and a 3 was collected on 11 Dec. ~ Between 28 Jan. and 25 Feb. 1974, about half a dozen frequented an area of — low grass on a house building project in Ma Retraite and Tourtonne planta- tions near Paramaribo. They sometimes even walked on the sand of newly built streets. A $ was collected on 11 Feb. Columba cayennensis, Pale-vented Pigeon. On 15 Dec. 1973, I found a nest — with the usual single egg in a prickly palm near Zanderij. hs i a. eh ee Aratinga pertinax, Brown-throated Parakeet. Three nests were found by — flushing sitting birds from holes in arboreal termite nests on the savanna near Zanderij on 7, 10 and 22 Feb. 1974, but to avoid destroying them their — contents were not inspected. Forpus passerinus, Green-rumped Parakeet. On 14 Nov. 1969, a pate was nesting in a tree-hole near Leonsberg. When the 9 was inside, the § clung head downwards to the entrance for a long time. The species was noted | feeding on sunflower seeds. Chordeiles acutipennis, Lesser Nighthawk. This is quite a common breeding — bird on the savanna near Zanderij. I found three “nests” with the usual single _, egg on 25 Feb. 1973 and 15 and 20 Jan. 1974, a nestling not yet able to fly on 15 Dec. 1973 and one just fluttering on 28 Dec. 1973. In the last two cases” ia 45 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(2)] the 9 was still in attendance. The December / January nests were rather close together in an area of about 100 x 100 metres. Lesser Nighthawks roost during the day not on the ground but on horizontal branches of trees, often quite a number together in a small area and, at Zanderij, at a distance from their breeding areas. If one is flushed from the ground it is a sign that it has an egg or a nestling. The greyish egg blends perfectly with the sand and is difficult to see. Some years ago the species frequented large gardens with trees in the southern part of Paramaribo, where during 1967, two birds roosted during the day on horizontal branches of a tree in the garden of the Surinam Museum and were present all through the year. To be quite sure of their identity I collected one on 22 April 1967, which proved to be a 3 in non-breeding condition. A suitable breeding area is not present in the neigh- bourhood and I have no idea whether or where these birds nested. The possibility exists that they bred on flat roofs of some large houses in the neighbourhood. Florisuga mellivora, White-necked Jacobin. This hummingbird was extremely numerous in Feb. 1973 and 1974 at the edge of savanna woodland near Zanderij. They frequented the red “flowers” of a liane Norantea guianensis (Marceraviaceae). Chlorostilbon mellisugus, Blue-tailed Emerald. Quite numerous in Dec. 1972, on an open field near Paramaribo where it frequented the rosy flowers of the dense and low thicket of Sesamum indicum (Pedaliaceae), a non-indigenous plant in Surinam. Only adult $3 were seen. Polytmus guainumbi, White-tailed Goldenthroat. I found two nests of this marsh-loving humming bird on 21 Feb. and 27 Feb. 1974. As usual both were in the fork of a low shrub, not in the least concealed, in knee-deep water of a freshwater marsh near Paramaribo. Neither contained eggs but the 99 sat on the rim of the nest for hours at a stretch. Both nests were still empty on my last visit on 11 March. A nest with two eggs had been found in a similar habitat on 3 Feb. 1968. From 13 Dec. 1973 to 26 Feb. 1974 a male frequented daily at about 5 p.m. the red flowers of Russelia equisetiformis (Scrophulariaceae), a common garden plant in Surinam, in a garden on the outskirts of Paramaribo. Polytmus theresiae. Green-tailed Goldenthroat. A typical hummingbird of the sandy savannas. As stated in my book there is some wandering into the coastal region during January and February. On 28 Feb. 1973, I captured a female in a garden on the outskirts of Paramaribo. Dryocopus lineatus, Lineated Woodpecker. An occupied nest-hole was in a dead tree on the road near Powakka from 16 Jan. to 5 Mar. 1974. Muscivora tyrannus, Fork-tailed Flycatcher. On 20 Jan. 1974, I saw a single bird on an open savanna near Zanderij, which I collected. It proved to be aQ in non-breeding condition of the race monachus. This is my third record of monachus in northern Surinam and the second for January which is a period of the year in which I have never found the nominate race syrannus, which does not as a rule appear before the last part of March and usually in flocks (in 1974 they were not yet present when I left the country in the first days of April). Renssen (1974) found this species breeding on the Sipalawini savanna in the south of Surinam near the Brazilian border, where he collected a female with a fully developed egg in its oviduct on 17 Jan. 1970. Though he does not mention this, it belonged to the race monachus as did a 3 with greatly [Ball, B.O.G. 7975-95(2)] 76 enlarged testes collected by Dr. G. F. Mees in the same area on 31 Jan. 1966. It is interesting that vagrant monachus in northern Surinam where they certainly do not nest, have been recorded during the period when the species is breeding in the south. Megarhynchus pitangua, Boat-billed Flycatcher. On 26 Jan. 1973 and 6 Mar. 1974, I found nests—the usual open cup of sticks—in trees on the savanna at Zanderij, but both were inaccessible. Myiarchus swainsoni, Swainson’s Flycatcher. On 31 Dec. 1972 and again on 6 Feb. 1973, single 53 were collected in savanna bush near Zanderij; I have now seven specimens collected in January, February, July, September, October and December in northern Surinam, none of which were in breeding condition. Phaeoprogne tapera, Brown-chested Martin. Found nesting on 19 Noy. 1972, in an old nest-hole of the Brown-throated Parakeet (Aratinga pertinax) in an arboreal termite nest in a low tree (Curavella americana) on a savanna neat Zanderij (Fig. 1). The nest, which was lined with a few pieces of dead grass and a few feathers, contained three almost are fledged abe Fig. 1. Nest of Phaeoprogne tapera in an old nesthole of Aratinga tertinax in an arboreal termite nest. Zanderij, 19.x1.72. Thryothorus leucotis, Buff-breasted Wren. On 19 Dec. 1973 and 18 Feb. 1974, I found nests at about 14 m height in a prickly palm near Phedra. Each contained two eggs. The nests were untidy elongated balls of dead grasses with a side entrance (Fig. 2) and were lined with the same material. “4 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(2)] » * ie "he ‘ woe i Th %: j « ot 3 3 > . 2 P - GO ty -_ Ff m » & f aa : et e + pe & aio Ss * 2 Fig. 2. Nest of Thryothorus leucotis in a prickly palm. Phedra, 18.ii.74. Mimus gilvus, Tropical Mockingbird. On 5 Jan. 1973, I found a nest with five eggs ina low shrub on a savanna near Zandertj. The usual clutch is only two eggs. Tangara cayana, Rufous-crowned Tanager. A common breeding bird on the savannas near Zanderij. Three nests were found in low trees (Curatella americana) on 18 Jan. and 6 Feb. 1973 (each with two eggs) and on 6 Mar. 1974 (a single incubated egg). Lachyphonus phoenicius, Red-shouldered Tanager. Common on the savannas near Zanderij where it nests on the ground often at the foot of a small bush. Two such nests each with two eggs were found in short grass on 10 Feb. 1974. The eggs measured: 20 X 15-7 mm (w. 2:7 gr) and 20:7 X 15-5 mm (wae 7) OL); 21-4 <14-8-mm (w. 2-9 gr) and 20 XX 16-3 mm (w..3 gf). Schistochlamys melanopis, Black-faced Tanager. I am now certain that the nest and eggs attributed to this species in my book were wrongly identified, as the eggs were far too large for this species. On 13 Jan. 1974, I flushed from almost under my feet a bird of this species from its nest on a savanna neat Zanderij. The nest was an open cup of dry grasses, lined with the same material, in a low shrub in the grassland about 40 cm above the ground. The two eggs were greyish white thickly covered with dark brown streaks and blotches. They measured 21:8 & 15-8 mm (w. 2°8 gr) and 22:9x 16 mm Cw 3)" 1 or). References: Haverschmidt, F. 1966. The migration and wintering of the Upland Plover in Surinam. Wilson Bulletin 78: 319-320. — 1968. Birds of Surinam. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd. — 1972. Bird Records from Surinam. Bull. Brit. Orn. C7. 92: 49-53. — 1973. August Kappler als ornithologischer Sammler und Beobachter in Surinam von 1836-1879. Stuttearter Beitrdge zur Naturkunde 260: 15. Renssen, T. A. 1974. New Breeding records from Surinam. Ardea 62: 125. [Bull. B.O.C. 7975: 95(2)] 78 Malimbus ibadanensis: a fresh statement of biology and status by J. Fl. Elgood Received 21st March, 1975 Introduction. Since the account of Malimbus ibadanensis as a new species (Elgood 1958) some new data have been obtained that warrant publication. Moreau (1958), in a postcript to his discussion of the evolution of the genus Matimbus, regarded the species as very probably valid and dismissed, by inference, a postulated hybrid origin. Hall & Moreau (1962) included M. ibadenensis in their study of African rare birds on the grounds of the then very limited area known distribution; rare being defined in this context as apply- ing to those birds occupying an area of less than 3,000 sq. miles (=8,000 sq. km). In their passerine Atlas, Hall & Moreau (1970) allied AZ. shadanensis with M. erythrogaster, known only east of the Niger, to form a superspecies ; a view which must be regarded as very probably correct. Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1973), though according it full specific treatment, state that ibadanensis occuts only in the immediate neighbourhood of Ibadan and that virtually nothing is known of its breeding habits. This paper presents what is now known of the species and thereby corrects certain aspects and enlarges upon others. Morphology. In Elgood (1958)’s description the type female was figured with no more than a red throat bridle, but it was stated in the text that field observation had already suggested that other females might have a much wider red area than the one originally collected. All subsequently collected females have, in fact, confirmed this belief: all have possessed a broad red “bib” leaving only a black facial mask similar to that of the male. The collection of several further specimens makes it possible to tabulate standard measurements as follows :-— Wing Tal Bill Weight Type 3 93 mm 53 mm 21 mm a 5 further og 87"6=99°O.") §2°3-5 578 20+ 82225) "Zon p— Aa so: Type ¢ 90 53 ze eo 6 further 9° 84° 7-970. SOrs jaa TO 8-21 3a eso: ae It is clear that the male is slightly larger and heavier than the female. Range and Status. The species has now been reliably reported from the following localities :— Ife, 70 km east (and slightly north) of Ibadan —mistnetted; breeding Olokemeji, 40 km almost due west of Ibadan —sight record Ilaro, 110 km south-west of Ibadan —breeding Iperu, 60 km south-south-west of Ibadan —sight record These localities suggest an area of occupancy for the species in excess of 12,000 sq. km, some 50°% greater than that quoted by Hall & Moreau (1962) in their definition of a “‘rare’’ species. In 60 visits to Gambari Forest, 25 km south of Ibadan, the species was encountered 11 times (Elgood, in press) showing it to be locally not uncommon. This comparative frequency made the collection of additional specimens feasible. All recent observation suggests that the species is best described as a — forest edge species, despite the original specimens having been collected in ~ Ar I ea Pe . es a : 79 [ Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(2)] an Ibadan garden. Elgood & Sibley (1964) regarded Ibadan as located at the interface of forest and savanna and the species has been somewhat incorrectly called a bird of open country (Mackworth-Praed & Grant 1973). With the exception of Ife all the new localities are in forested areas southward of Ibadan and there is more relict forest around Ife than around Ibadan. There is therefore no real case for regarding sbadanensis as markedly less of a forest species than its congeners. Unless one follows White (1963) in placing “ Anaplectes melanotis’ within the genus Malimbus, all other Malimbus spp. are forest birds. It may be remarked that the potential range of the species is likely to be limited longitudinally by the lower Niger River and the Dahomey Gap, some 500 km apart; its known latitudinal limits amount to about 120 km, so that it could occupy an area of about 60,000 sq. km. Breeding. There have been two series of observations of breeding activity that have considerably extended our knowledge: the first at Ibadan where observation was started by myself and continued after my departure on annual leave by the late W. M. L. Bispham, formerly of Ibadan University; the second at Ilaro, where important observations were made by J. A. Button, at that time teaching at Egoado College, Ilaro. Both nesting activi- ties were subjected in all to many hours of observation. Significant Ibadan observations can be summarised thus :— Two contiguous nests, being built by the same male, were noted in a large Albizzia sp. tree. The nests were inaccessible near the tip of one of the lowest branches, at a height of about 15 m from the ground. Three other unoccupied nests were adjacent: two were clearly those of other ploceids, the third probably that of an estrilidid (?/Vgrita sp.). Very close to the /badanensis nests was an active nest of the wasp Po/7stes sp. 16 June 62 (the date of discovery): one nest was globular, the egg chamber alone constructed, the other had a short entrance tunnel; 3 seen to work on both nests, adding to the fabric of the egg chamber of the first and extending the entrance tunnel of the second. 19 June: ® seen lining the second now clearly selected and more advanced nest. 25 June: utilized nest now had an entrance tunnel 20-25 cm long; in early afternoon 2 remained so long in the nest (around 4 hour) that laying was inferred. 11 July: both 3 and @ carrying food into the nest; sounds of hatch- | ling just audible, (subsequently these noises suggested more than one young). 25 July: both sexes still feeding young; entrance tunnel had become _ very tagged, almost detached from the egg chamber; adults now entered the egg chamber directly through a hole in the base of the tunnel and not along its length. 26 July: head of a juvenile visible in remains of the tunnel base. 27 July: no sign of birds, either adults or juveniles. | These data suggest incubation and fledgling periods of about two weeks each, as would be expected for passerine birds of this size. The other nest was worked on sporadically by the g throughout incubation, until feeding demands of the fledglings occupied him fully. Possibly it might have been _ called into use had nesting activity been unsuccessful in the main nest—in short, a reserve nest. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(2)] 80 The main Ilaro observations are summarised below :— ; 25 June 65: = nest under construction noted in small dead tree at 10 m from 7 ground. 4 27 June: egg chamber completed, 3 extending entrance tunnel, 2 — within egg chamber, lining it with material passed in to her — by 3. | | 5 July: © within egg chamber for protracted period—laying inferred. 26 July: young in nest being fed by parents; attempt to reach nest foiled when observer was stung by unidentified flying hymenopterous insects. 3 Sept. : activity resumed at same nest, § repairing it; second brood inferred. 4 Sept.: Despite attention of hymenopterous insects, the nest was successfully investigated; 2 brooding a single egg (23 mm x 15 mm, pale greenish white ground colour, sparingly marked with small irregular spots of dark brown with a few lilac shell markings, embryo already half developed). No exact information is available on the materials of nest construction but the Ibadan birds were seen to strip Oil Palm leaves in the manner familiar in Ploceus cucullatus. Tendrils of some climbing plant were also utilised, — possibly from Paullinia pinnata, which is known to form much of the main | fabric of the nest ot Malimbus rubricollis in the Ibadan area. A nest of zbadanensis has also been noted at Ife (R. Farmer, pers. comm.) with an entrance tunnel of more than 30 cm, though this is still rather shorter than that of M. scutatus, which may reach 50 cm. Clearly the nest is of the type described by Crook (1960) as “‘retort shaped”’. There are many records of family parties with two juveniles. Clearly clutch — size can be c/1 or c/2. In comparison with other Ploceidae it is likely some- times to be c/3, but so far this has not been demonstrated. References: Crook, J. H. 1960. Nest ks aid coastruction in certain West African Weaver-birds. Lbis 102: I-25. Elgood, J. H. 1958. A new species of Malimbus. Ibis 100: 621-4. Elgood, J. H. & Sibley, F. C. 1964. The tropical forest edge avifauna of Ibadan, Nigeria. Ibis 106: 221-248. Hall, B. P. & Moreau, R. E. 1962. A study of the rare birds of Africa, Bull. B.M. (Nat. Hist.) Vol. 8 No. 7 Hall, B. P. & Noe R. BE. 1970. An Alas of Speciation in African passerine birds. London: ‘Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.). Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1973. African handbook of birds. Series 111 Birds of West Centtal & Western Africa. Vol. Il. London: Longmans, Green & Co. Moreau, R. E. 1958. The Malimbus spp. as an evolutionary problem. Rev. Zool. et Bot. Africaines 57: 243-55. IN BRIEF Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis in Gambia 2 ¥ In Janaury 1974, a party of Danish ornithologists watched about 25 birds of this species at Cape St. Mary, as they fed in company with S. sandvicensis. Both species were also seen resting on a sandbank with Hydroprogne tschegrava, Sterna maxima and S. albifrons. They were seen later in the season by other 81 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(2)] Danish and also Swedish parties, the latter noting two off the coast at Kar- tung near the border with Casamance. So they apparently stayed all winter. Returning in November/December 1974, we again met Crested Terns at Cape St. Mary, accompanied by the same species as previously plus one addition (a few Gelochelidon nilotica). It therefore seems likely that Gambia is a regular wintering area, though the species was not mentioned by Praed & Grant (Birds of West Central and Western Africa. Vol. 1, Longmans, 1970). Vaurie (Birds of the Palearctic Fauna Vol. 2, Witherby, 1965) described bengalensis as a scarce breeding bird in Tunisia and Libya and this was repeated by Etchécopar & Hiie (Birds of North Africa, Oliver & Boyd, 1967), who added that the winter quarters of this population were unknown. The observations in successive winter seasons on the Gambian coast, where the presence of the species had pre- viously been overlooked, may therefore provide the answer. 19 February 1975 Bent Pors Nielsen A downy chick of the Little Crake Porzana parva taken in Spain, with notes on its diagnostic features by J. Fjeldsa Received 22nd March, 1975 In our collections at the Zoological Museum of Copenhagen, we possess a specimen of a downy chick labelled “‘Porzana pusilla, Las Marismas, Spain, 7 June 1967”, which on examination has proved to be Porzana parva. This is of particular interest since, although Jourdain, who visited the Marismas in 1906-07, supposed that parva was breeding, he had no proof; Dr. J. A. Valverde doubted whether the supposition was correct. In recent years, the species has only been seen occasionally in Spain during the breeding season, in contrast to Baillon’s crake P. pusi//a, which is a regular if not numerous breeding species. The Copenhagen specimen was collected by Mr. Ib Trap-Lind from the nestsite of a barn owl 7 y/o a/ba in a farmhouse near the marshes. Also found at the site were the corpses of 11 adult Baillon’s crakes, three decomposed crake-chicks, the fresh chick collected, four larger chicks probably of moor- hens, a passerine bird, seven rodents, a frog and a lizard. The chick collected was assumed to be pusi//a on the basis of the eleven adults of that species at the nestsite (Trap-Lind pers. comm.). The chick was preserved in alcohol but has now been freeze-dried. It may be a fortnight old, being 85 mm in length with a 22 mm tarsus. The down is plain black with a slight green lustre, more seal-brown on the belly. Feathers emerging under the down on the thighs are creamy with a pale drab tip. The down is sparse and bare skin is visible around the ears, lower eyelid and hind-crown. Only the distal third of the 9-4 mm bill is curved dorsally and its colour is pinkish white with a more vinaceous grey tip; the corner of the mandible, the proximal third of the lower mandible and the keel as far as the gonys ate blackish. The feet are deep brownish drab. Soft part colours were not noted at the time of collection. These features correspond quite well with those of one skinned specimen of parva examined, with Plate 5 in Glutz von Blotzheim ef a/. (1973), which (Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(2)] 82 was based on live and freshly dead specimens and colour transparencies, with a colour plate and six photographs of chicks of varying ages in Heinroth & Heinroth (1931), and with descriptions and drawings in Szabo (1970). Some differences must nevertheless be noted, as well as the much more marked differences from the skins of the two pusilla chicks examined. Thus the down on the anterior crown and above the eyes of the chick is very dense, as shown in Glutz von Blotzheim’s Plate. The bill is longer than that of Baillon’s chicks which, according to Szabo, have a strikingly short, strongly curved, bony white bill with, at most, some slight grey shade at the corner. Similarly the bill is described by Glutz von Blotzheim as white or wax-yellow and no indication is given in his text or Plate of a darker colora- tion at the base of the bill; not is there any sign of it in the two skins of pusilla which I studied. On the other hand, the bill of the young parva, which is at first creamy or pinkish white, becomes gradually greyer with a black base; in the illustrations of all three of the works quoted this dark coloration is indicated and can also be seen in the parva skin examined. A further point of difference, as indicated by Glutz von Blotzheim (op. cit., Plate 4, p. 435-6) is that the white thigh feathers in the first juvenal plumage of pusi//a already show fuscous black, irregular, transverse mottling. This is lacking in the specimen under discussion, in which the thigh feathers have a much lighter and unvariegated appearance: I do not believe that this can be attributed to changes caused by the preservation of the chick in alcohol, since no such changes can be detected in other specimens preserved in that way. Finally, I. should perhaps mention that the first primary has not yet emerged in the specimen, which is a pity since the shaft colour of this feather is diagnostic. Also, the chicks of other rails, known to breed in the area where the specimen was collected, can be definitely ruled out: at the age at which it is similar in size a water rail Ra//us aquaticus chick has a much longer bill with a black tip, and that of the Spotted Crake Porzana porzana is com- pletely different in colour (as will be shown by Fjeldsa, in. prep., Plate 18). The conclusion that the 1967 specimen is attributable to Porzana parva and indicates at least occasional breeding of the species in the region of the Marismas, is therefore now beyond doubt. References: Fjeldsa, J., in prep. Hlandbook of the young of European preococial birds. Glutz von Blotzheim, U. N., Bauer, K. M. & Bezzel, E. 1973. Handbuch der Vogel Mittel- europeas. Akad. Verlag.: "Frankfurt a. M. Vol. 53 699 pp. Heinroth, O. & Heinroth, M. 1931. Die Vogel Mitteleuropas. Hugo Bermuhlerverlag: Berlin-Lichterfelde, Vol. 4: 127 pp. Szabo, L. V. 1970. Vergleichende Untersuchungen der Brutverhaltnisse der drei Porzana- atten in Ungarn. Aguila 76-77: 73-115. Passerine bird weights from Panama and Colombia, with some notes on ‘soft-part’ colours by P. J. K. Burton Recewed 29th March, 1975 This paper is the sequel to an earlier one (Burton 1973) which detailed the weights of non-passerine birds collected during the British Trans-Americas Expedition, 1971-72. For convenience, details of methods and locality co- ordinates are repeated here. 7 an Rese os 83 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(2)] The specimens were all preserved in fluid as anatomical material. Most have been left intact, and for these sex is given only for species showing clear cut sex differences in external features. In a few cases, specimens have been sexed by dissection; this is indicated in the text by the abbreviation “‘diss”’. All weights were taken immediately after death using Pesola balances, and are givenin grammes. “Soft part”’ colours were also recorded immediately after death, and these are given in the case of species for which adequate details are not available in the literature. The majority of these are oscines, as the soft-part colours of most sub-oscines are thoroughly covered by Wet- more (1972). Subspecific identities are mentioned in a few cases where they appear to be of particular relevance. A few of the birds included are wintering nearctic species. In all 286 weights of 92 species are listed. Co-ordinates for the localities mentioned are as follows: C.I.M. (Military Instruction Centre, near Pacora), 9° 8’ N. 79° 15’ W.; Rio Espave (Bayano Valley) 9° 15’ N., 78° 45’ W.; La Palma, 8° 24’ N., 78° 9’ W.; Jaque, 7° 29’ N., 78° 7’ W.; Rio Jaque, 7° 30’ N., 78° 5’ W.; El Real, 8° 7’ N., 77° 45’ W.; Pinogana (Rio Tuira), 8° 8’ N., 77° 39’ W.; Boca de Paya (Rio Tuira), 7° 56’ N., 77° 32’ W.; Rio Paya, approximately 7° 56’ N., 77° 27’ W.; Cerro Pirre, 7° 57’ N., 77° 45’ W.; Sautata (lower Atrato valley), 7° 51’N., 77° 8’ W.; Cienagas de Tumarado (Atrato swamp), approximately 7° 50’ N., 76° 58’ W.; Rio Perancho (Atrato swamp), approximately 7° 43’ N., 77° 10’ W. The three last localities are in Colombia, the remainder in Panama. Dendrocincla fuliginosa: 38, 40, 44, 47, Rio Espave, January. Dendrocincla homochroa: 48, Rio Espave, January. Deconychura longicauda: 22, Rio Espave, January. Glyphorhynchus spirurus: 14°2, 14°3, Rio Espave, January; 14°5, Jaque, February; 11 +8, 13:0, 13 *2, 14-0, Cerro Pirre, March. iphorhynchus picus: 40, Rio Perancho, March. Xiphorhynchus guttatus: 51, C.1.M., January; 41, 52, Rio Espave, January; 47, 52, El Real, February/March. The races of this widely distributed species vary con- siderably in size. These records refer to the race X, g. nanus. Lepidocolaptes souleyetii: 23 +8, 25:0, 26-2, Boca de Paya, February. Campylorhamphus trochilirostris: 36, 38, Rio Espave, January. Ayloctistes subulatus: 35, March 14th, Cerro Pirre. This specimen has been provisionally determined by R. de Schauensee as H. 5. cordobae, a race known only from a small number of specimens taken in Darien and North-western Colombia. Cerro Pirre, is a new locality for the species, whose other race in Panama (/7, 5. virgatus) is only known from the western half of the Republic. Xenops minutus: 11-0, Rio Espave, January. Sclerurus guatemalensis: 30-0, 32-0, Rio Espave, January; 36-0, Jaque, February; 29-0, Cerro Pirre, March. Taraba major: 65 (3), 64 (2), El Real, March. Thamnophilus nigriceps: 83 21 +8, 22-8, 92 21-8, 21-9, Rio Espave, January; 5 23:0, 2 26 -2, El Real, February/March. The 3 from El Real had the iris very dark brown, bill entirely black, bill lining grey, mouth and tongue pink, tarsus, toes and claws blue-grey, buffish on the underside of the toes. Thamnophilus punctatus: $3 21-0, 22°0, 26°3, 2 22:0, Rio Espave, January; J 24:3, Jaque, February; g 20-0, Boca de Paya, February; 2 21 -o, Cerro Pirre, March. Myrmotherula surinamensis: 3 10-0, Boca de Paya, February. Myrmotherula fulviventris: 3 10 -0,2.7°6, Rio Espave, January; 29 8 -o, 9:2, Cerro Pirre, March. The 9 from the Rio Espave had the iris dark brown; Wetmore (1972) records a light orange iris for a 9. (Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(2)] . 84 Myrmotherula axillaris: 3 8-0, Rio Espave, January; g 7-0, Cerro Pirre, March. Gymnocichla nudiceps: 3S 32, 33, 35, imm. g 27-9, 9° 27, 28, 31, Rio Espave, January; — imm. 2 21, Boca da Paya, February. A female from the Rio Espave had the bate — skin around the eye pale cobalt blue, bill black, with the tomia grey distally, bill _ lining greenish, shading to orange inside the mouth, tongue praise anteriorly and orange at the base, legs and feet grey. Myrmeciza exsul: 83 24°8, 26-3, 28, 92 24, 27, Rio Espave, Januaty; g 22:5, 9 28, Cerro Pirre, March. The birds from the Rio Espave belong to the subspecies M.e. niglarus, and those from Cerro Pirre are M. e. cassini. Gynnopithys bicolor (=leucaspis; see Wetmore 1972): 27-4, 27°8, 28, 28, 29, 31, Rio Espave, January; 25 °7, 26, 29, 29, Cerro Pirre, March. Fiylophylax naevioides: 3 15 °8, 92 16, 16:2, Rio Espave, January; 3d 15-9, Cerro Pirre, March. | Phaenostictus mcleannani: 46, Rio Espave, January; 44, 42, Cerro Pirre, March. Formicarius analis: 60, 60-0, Rio Espave, January. Grallaria perspicillata: 37, Certo Pirre, 11th March. Attila spadiceus: 35, 36, 37, 45, Rio Espave, January; 36, Cerro Pirre, March. Pachyrhamphus cinnamomeus: 20, 20°5, Rio Espave, January; 21, Boca de Paya, Feb- ruary; 20°3, El Real, March. Tityra semifasciata: 71, Boca de Paya, February. Ouerula purpurata: 2, 94, Rio Espave, January; g 122, Jaque, February; 9 111, El Real, March; 2 ror, Cerro Pirre, March. Pipra mentalis: 33 13 °4, 15 °5,imm. 9 (diss.) 12 -8, 2 (diss.) 14:0, Rio Espave, January. This appears to be the most easterly locality recorded for the species in the Bayano valley, although its range may extend somewhat further east on the Caribbean and Pacific slopes. It is absent from Darien proper. Pipra erythrocephala: 2 (diss.) 10-9, Cerro Pirre, March. Pipra coronata: 3 8-8, 2° (diss.) 10, 10°3, 11:2, Jaque, February. A female had the iris . deep red, maxilla dark grey, paler along the tomium, mandible paler grey, inside mouth and tongue pink, tip of tongue yellowish, legs and feet dark grey, under- sides of toes paler, brownish. Chiroxiphia lanceolata: § 20°5, C.1.M., January. Corapipo altera (see Wetmore 1972): 5 9°5, 2 (diss.) 13 -5, Cerro Pitre, 11th Match. The 2 had an almost fully formed egg in the oviduct. Manacus vitellinus: 2 16, Rio Espave, January; 3 13 °8, Jaque, February. Colonia colonus: 14:7, Rio Espave, January; 16-5, Boca de Paya, February. Flwicola pica: 15 -8, Cienagas de Tumarodo, March. Sirystes sibilator: 32, Cerro Pirre, March. Muscivora tyrannus: 26 +7, 27:0, 27 °2, 28-3, 28-9, 31-0, C.I.M., January. Myiodynastes maculatus: 40, 42, 43, El Real, February. Megarhynchus pitangua: 67, Rio Jaque, February. Myiozetetes cayanensis: 25 +7, 25 °8, Rio Espave, January; 28, El Real, March. Myiarchus ferox: 34, Rio Perancho, March. See Burton (1973). Terenotriccus erythrurus: 6 +3, 6°8, Rio Espave, January. Myiobius atricaudus: 10 +2, Rio Espave, January. Onychorhynchus mexicanus: 9 20, Rio Espave, January. Platyrinchus mystaceus: 8 +2, 8-8, Cerro Pirre, March. Rhynchocyclus olivaceus: 19 +8, 21, 21 +2, 23, Rio Espave, January. Oncostoma olivaceum: 5 +9, El Real, March. Mionectes olivaceus: 13+5, 14°4, 15 ‘0, 15 *2, 16, Rio Espave, January; 14:8, 15 -2, Cerro — u | Pirre, March. oe Pitromorpha oleaginea: 9 +2, 9°6, 98,99, 10°6, 11 °8; Rio Espave, January. Progne chalybea: 33 44, 40, C.1.M., January. 85 [ Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(2)] Cyanocrocorax affinis: 194, C.I.M., January; 222, Rio Espave, January; 203, El Real, March. Soft part colours recorded for one specimen are: iris pale yellow; bill black, inside mouth pale pink, tongue orange; legs, feet and claws dark grey, underside of toes dull yellowish. In another specimen, the colours were the same, but inside the mouth was dull grey, and the tongue was pink. Thryothorus fasciatoventris: 3 (diss.) 28, Rio Espave, January; ¢ (diss.) 21-4, El Real, March. The male had the iris rufous brown, maxilla black, mandible grey, the tomia of both dull pink, inside mouth grey, the tongue black with white edges, legs feet and claws dark grey, the underside of the toes dull yellow. Thryothorus nigricapillus: 23-8, Rio Espave, January; 19, 21°5, 21-8, Jaque, February; 17°7, 22, Boca de Paya, February. The specimen from Rio Espave had the iris very dark brown, maxilla black, mandible greenish-grey, yellow at the base, legs and feet lead grey, claws brown-grey, underside of toes pale brown. Thryothorus leucotis: 33 18-0, 20°6, 20°8, 23, 9¢ 16-0, 17-0, 19 °5, El Real, March. Troglodytes aedon: 14°0, 14°0, 14°0, 14°2, C.I.M., January. Henicorhina leucosticta: 15 +2, Cerro Pirre, March. Donacobius atricapi!lus: 3 (diss.) 42, $9 (diss.) 31, 34, Santata, March. Ramphocaenus melanurus: 9:0, Rio Espave, January; 11-0, Jaque, February. The bird from Rio Espave had the iris dark brown, bill dark brown, but paler, flesh- coloured, on the tomia and gonys, and at the base. The linings of maxilla and mandible were violet grey, tongue and inside of mouth pink, tarsus and toes slate grey, claws pinkish grey, the undersides of the toes pale green. Polioptila plumbea: 5 9, C.1.M., January. Iris very dark brown, bill black, basal half of the mandible dark blue-grey, tarsus and toes very dark grey. Anthus lutescens: 13-0, 13°5, C.I.M., January. One specimen had a dark brown iris, bill brownish grey with pale pink tomia and mandible base, tarsus and toes pale yellowish brown. Scaphidura oryzivora: $3 227, 228, 233, 242, 22 156, 167, Pinogana, February. Zarhynchus wagleri: 3 206, La Palma, February; J 229, El Real, February. Psarocolius decumanus: 3 320, El Real, March; 3 370, Cerro Pirre, March; ¢ 174, Rio Espave, January. The female had the iris bright cobalt, bill cream, inside mouth and tongue pale pink, tarsi and toes black, the undersides of the toes pale olive. Gymnostinops montezuma: 3 430, 2, 254, Rio Paya, February; ¢ 210, El Real, March. The male from Rio Paya had the iris medium brown, bill black with vermilion tip, lining of maxilla and mandible also black with vermilion tip, inside mouth black, tongue pale grey, frontal shield vermilioa, bare orbital skin and wattles bright cobalt blue, tarsi and toes black, the soles pale dirty brown. The female from the same locality had similar soft part colours, but the palate was somewhat paler than the rest of the jet black mouth and bill lining, and the frontal shield was duller. Cacius cela: $3, 119, 121, El Real, March. Cacicus uropygialis: 3, 61, Rio Jaque, February. Iris pale blue, bill pale yellow, lining of maxilla and mandible yellow, inside mouth blue grey, tarsi, toes and claws black, underside of toes dark olive. Cassidix mexicanus: 2, 119, La Palma, February. Icterus spurius: 1st yeat J, 20°7, El Real, March. Icterus chrysater: 83 42, 43, Rio Espave, January. Iris dark brown, bill black, the basal third of the mandible pale grey, inside mouth and tongue pinkish grey, tarsi and _ toes blue grey, underside of toes pale olive buff. Leistes militaris: 33, 43, 45, 46, 46, 2 37, El Real. February/March. Protonotaria citrea: 12 +7, Jaque, February; 13 -5, Boca de Paya, February; 12-4, El Real, Match. _ Vermivora peregrina: 7 °5, Jaque, February. Dendroica castanea: 10 °8, Rio Espave, January. Seiurus noveboracensis: 16-0, Rio Espave, January; 13°5, 14, 15 °2, Boca de Paya, February; 13-2, 14°3, 15 -3, El Real, February/March. Oporornis formosus: 13.+5, Rio Espave, January. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(2)] 86 Oporornis thiladelphia: 9-5, 9 °6, 9-7, 9°8, 10, 10, El. Real, February/March. Basileuterus rivularis: 12 +5, 13 *6, 15 *8, Boca de Paya, February; 14-0, 15 °3, Cerro Pirte, March. Chlorophanes spiza: 3 17 °8, Jaque, February. Iris deep ted, bill yellow, black along the culmen, and to below the nostril at the base of the maxilla. Bill lining yellow, inside mouth pinkish grey, tongue yellow, dull pink at the base. Tarsi and toes grey, undersides of toes olive buff. Ramphocelus dimidiatus: $3, 23 +8, 24°8, 25 °7,¢9 24:2, 26°8, 26-8, El Real, February/ Match. Ramphoceius icteronotus: 3 35, Rio Espave, January; ¢ 31, El Real, March. Chlorothraupis olivacea: 36, 39, 41, Cerro Pitre, March. A specimen had the iris burnt sienna, maxilla black with blue grey tomium and lining, mandible and its lining blue grey, inside mouth and tongue dull pink, tarsi and toes lead grey, claws grey, tipped whitish, undersides of toes olive green. Tachyphonus luctuosus: 3 13 +8, El Real, March. Exucometis penicillata: 31, Rio Espave, January. Mitrostingus cassinii: 37, 39, Jaque, February; 32, 37, Cerro Pirre, March. A specimen from Jaque had pale grey iris, maxilla almost black, with pale tomium, mandible paler, greyish, bill linings, inside mouth and tongue grey, tarsi and toes dark grey, undersides of toes dirty buff. Saltator maximus: 43, 44, El Real, Match. Saltator albicollis: 37, Rio Espave, January. Cyanocompsa cyanoides: 33 28, 29, 31, 32, $2 28, 29, 31, Rio Espava, January; 3g 26, 28, Cerro Pitre, March. Passerina cyanea: 33 26, 28, Cerro Pirre, March. Sporophila americana: 83 9°5, 9°5, 10°0,¢ 10°5, C.L.M., January; gg 10:0, 10-0, El Real, March. Oryzoborus angolensis: 99 11-7, 13 °8, C.I.M., January; g 11-8, El Real, March. Arremon aurantiirostris: 29, 30, Rio Espave, January; 33, Jaque, February; 31, Boca de Paya, February. ae A specimen from Rio Espave had a brown iris, bill bright coral-red, inside mouth and tongue pink, tarsi and toes pink, undersides of toes paler, inner and hind claws orange, middle and outer claws brownish. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My thanks are due to the British Trans-Americas Expedition 1971-72 for the many facilities placed at my disposal. Many other people helped in various ways, and I am especially grateful to Dr. E. Mendez, Dr. R. Meyer de Schauen- see and Dr. A. Wetmore for valuable advice and information. References: ; a Burton, P. J. K. 1963. Non passerine bird weights from Panama and Colombia. Bull. Brit. | Orn. Cl. 93: 116-118. ae | Wetmore, A. 1972. The Birds of the Republic of Panama. Part 3. Smiths. Misc. Collus.150 | z The Garganey Anas querquedula in Rhodesia Fe | by Peter F’. Woodall 4 Received 11th April, 1975 The Garganey, Anas querquedula Linnaeus, is a Palaearctic migrant which | breeds from the Atlantic to the Pacific and is highly migratory, partly to | southern Asia but also in very large numbers to Africa. In West Africa, north | 0 of about 13° N, it is very common and widespread; in the east few penetrate | hee south beyond morthern Tanganyika (Moreau 1972: 221). at 87 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(2)] A female Garganey (weighing 357 g) was collected on 11 November 1973 from a large dam at United Farm, 17° 51’ S., 30° 50’ E., near Salisbury. Large numbers of other waterfowl, mainly Red-billed Teal Axas erythrorhyncha, Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos and White-faced Tree Duck Dendro- cygna viduata were also present. No other Garganey were seen, but they could have been overlooked if in small numbers. Although Garganey have been shot before in Rhodesia (Kennedy 1947, Smithers 1950), this is apparently the only Rhodesian specimen extant. It is now in the National Museum, Bulawayo and substantiates sight records of Garganey made elsewhere in Rhodesia in the 1973~—74 season (Irwin 1974, Vernon 1974). Irwin (1974), reporting the first material record of Pintail Anas acuta for Rhodesia, suggested that some Palaearctic duck may have been forced south of their present normal wintering grounds by the progressive series of droughts in the northern semi-arid savanna belt (Sahel) of Africa (Winstanley 1973). Reports of Garganey from Rhodesia would seem to support this suggestion. TABLE Records of Garganey in Rhodesia and rainfall in the Sahel Mean °% of normal ) Piped Reference Season Locality rainfall in the Sahel* | Kennedy (1947) 1945/46 Gwebi Flats, nr. Salisbury 70 Smithers (1950) 1948/49 M’Phoengs, Bulalima Mangwe 60 Smithers (1950) 1948/49 Halsteads Ranch, Bembesi 60 Brooke (1974) 1952/53 Borrowdale, Salisbury 130 Talbot (1970) 1969/70 ~=—- Aisleby, Bulawayo 75 Tree (1973) 1972/73, Lake McIlwaine, Salisbury 65 Tree (1973) 1972/73 Rainham Dam, Salisbury 65 Irwin (1974) 1973/74 Portwe Estate, nr. Turk Mine — Vernon (1974) 1973/74 Sable Park, nr. Que Que — this record 1973/74 United Farm, Salisbury — * Rainfall data (estimated to the nearest 5 °%) have been taken from Winstanley ef a/. (1974) who presented a graph showing the mean percentage of normal (1931-60) May—October rainfall at Nouakchott, Atar (Mauritania, Gao, Tessalit (Mali), Agades (Niger), and Khartoum (Sudan) representing the Sahel region, south of the Sahara. Comparable figures were not available for 1973, but Winstanley (1974) indicates that it was again well below normal in this region. A summary of literature records is presented in the Table and in general there seems to be a fairly good correlation between low rainfall in the Sahel region and the presence of Garganey in Rhodesia. It is particularly striking that the early records from 1945/46 and 1948/49, both coincide with nadirs in the rainfall. The 1950s were periods of above average rainfall in the Sahel, so Brooke’s (1974) record for 1952/53 must be regarded as an exception to this suggestion. Rainfall in the early 1960s fluctuated about the normal level but since 1968 it has been consistently below normal and this corresponds with the more recent Garganey records. Other factors such as the rainfall pattern in Rhodesia itself should probably be taken into account but, in view of the limited number of records available, the more simple correlation seems adequate. The majority of records are of one or two birds, but Kennedy (1947) cited the Hon. T. H. W. Beadle who saw, “four flights, each 150-200 strong”’ at [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(2)] 88 the time he collected the specimens. Dowsett (in a footnote to Irwin [1974]) reported more that 100 Garganey from Lochinvar, Zambia, in 1973/74, so on some occasions larger numbers will come this far south. Smithers ef a/. (1957: 32) and Clancey (1967: 49) suggested that Garganey might be regular annual visitors in small numbers to southern Africa. However, there seems to be no evidence for its regular occurrence and it seems unlikely that this species would have been unreported for over a decade from Rhodesia at a time of increasing wildfowl counts and observations. I am very grateful to Mr. R. Beale for allowing me to attend his shoots and for presenting this specimen to the National Museum of Rhodesia; to r Mr. M. P. S. Irwin, who provided valuable assistance; and to Dr. T. K. 7 McCarthy for criticising a draft of this paper. - References : ; Brooke, R. 1974. A Salisbury Garganey. Honeyguide. 77: 43. 4 Clancey, P. A. 1967. Gamebirds of Southern Africa. Cape Town: Purnell. F Irwin, M. P. S. 1974. The Pintail Anas acuta in Rhodesia. Bull. Brit, Orn. Cl. 94: 56-57. 4 Kennedy, J. 1947. Garganey in Southern Rhodesia. /bis 89: 519. ¥ Moteau, R. E. 1972. The Palaearctic-African bird migration systems. London & New York: ; Academic Press. . 4 Smithers, R. H. N. 1950. Garganey in Southern Rhodesia. /bis 92: 146. ; Smithers, R. H. N., Irwin, M. P. S. & Patterson, M. L. 1957. A check list of the birds of .~ Southern Rhodesia. Salisbury: Rhodesian Ornithological Society. 3 Talbot, J. 1970. (Letter to the editor). Hloneyguide 63: 33. ; Tree, A. J. 1973. Birds on Lake McIlwaine. Honeyguide 76: 32-35. 4 Vernon, C. J. 1974. Garganey at Sable Park. Hloneyguide 77: 43. — Winstanley, D. 1973. Rainfall patterns and general atmospheric circulation. Nature 245: 190-194. ; q _- os ae rainfall forecasting in West Africa. Nature 284: 464. # Winstanley, D., Spencer, R. & Williamson, K. 1974. Where have all the Whitethroats gone? Bird Study 21: 1-14. ; 4 ae Committee J. H. Elgood (Chairman) P. Hogg (Vice-Chairman) Sir Hugh Elliott (drtor) R. E. F. Peal (Hon. Secretary) M. St. J. Sugg (Hon. Treasurer) J. H. R. Boswall Mrs, J. D. Bradley Dr. C, J. O. Harrison C. E. 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Published by the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB and printed by The Caxton and Holmesdale Press, 104 London Road Sevenoaks Kent. ae a *4CP i975 , Bulletin of the | *.. British Ornithologists’ Club Edited by HUGH F. I. ELLIOTT Volume 95 No.3 September 1975 Committee J. H. Elgood (Chairman) P. Hogg (Vice-Chairman) , Sit Hugh Elliott (Editor) R. E. F. Peal (Hon. Secretary) M. St. J. Sugg (Hon. Treasurer) J. H. R. Boswall Mrs. J. D. Bradley Dr. C. J. O. Harrison C. E. Wheeler a [Bull B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] Bulletin of the i sa BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Vol. 95 No.3 Published: 20 September, 1975 The six hundred and ninety-fifth meeting of the Club was held at Imperial College, London, S.W.7, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday 15th July 1975 with a buffet supper. Chairman: Prof. J. H. Elgood; present 12 members and nine guests. Mr. R. S. R. Fitter spoke on “The work of the Survival Service Com- mission and the problem of extinction” and an interesting discussion fol- lowed. Forthcoming Meetings: Tuesday, 18th November 1975, Senior Common Room, South Side, Imperial College, South Kensington; entrance—south side of Prince’s Gardens, S.W.7. (off Exhibition Road and N. of Victoria & Albert Museum) at 6.30 p.m. for 7 p.m.; Patrick J. Sellar on “An Ornithological selection from the new British Library of Wildlife Sounds”, illustrated by tape recordings. Dinner, cost £3-25 (including service and V.A.T.); cheques should be sent to the Hon. Secretary before the meeting. Tuesday, zoth January 1976 at 6.30 p.m. for 7 p.m. Dr Janet Kear will speak on “Living Museums (zoos) are worthwhile; but are re-introductions to the wild?” Tuesday, 16th March 1976 at 6.30 p.m. for 7 p.m. Dr. C. J. O. Harrison will speak on “Eggs”. The May meeting will be the seven-hundredth meeting of the Club and there will be a short symposium on African birds. The attention of members is drawn to the change of place for the meeting on 18th November 1975. The venue for the 1976 meetings will be announced Jater. Annual General Meeting The eighty-third Annual General Meeting of the British Ornithologists’ Club was held at the Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, London, W.1, on Tuesday 2oth May 1975 at 6 p.m. with Prof. J. H. Elgood, m.A., in the chair. Twelve members were present. rr The minutes of the eighty-second Annual General Meeting (Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 94: 41-42, 129) and of the Special General Meeting held on 19th November 1974 (Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 94: 132) were approved and signed. The Chairman presented the Report of the Committee for 1974 and the Hon. Treasurer ptesented the Accounts for 1974. The Hon. Treasurer explained that the amount of income tax recovered was about double that which would normally be received, as in 1974 the sums due in respect of two years had been received. Subscriptions received in 1974 in- cluded substantial amounts in respect of previous years and the sales of back-numbers of the Bulletin were abnormally large. The surplus on the year of £434 was, unfortunately, attributable solely to these exceptional factors. The Editor reported that the supply of good papers from all parts of the world had been keeping up well. The time from receipt of a paper to publication was currently three to six months. On the proposal of the Chairman, the Report and Accounts were received and adopted unanimously. The Chairman thanked Sir Hugh Elliott for his services as Editor and for handling the stock and sales of back-numbers of the Bulletin. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] go There being no nominations additional to those of the Committee, the following were declared elected:— Editor: Dr. J. F. Monk, p.m. (vice Sir Hugh Elliott, from whom he will take over at the end of the year). Hon. Secretary: Mr. R. E. F. Peal (te-elected). Hon. Treasurer: Mr. M. St. J. Sugg (re-elected). Committee: Mrs. J. D. Bradley and Mr. C. E. Wheeler (vice Mr. C. J. Mead and Lieut. Col. J. R. Neighbour). The following resolutions to amend the Clubs’ Rules, proposed by the Committee as special resolutions, were considered and were passed unanimously :— Resolution 1 That Rule (4) be hereby amended by the deletion of the first two sentences and the substi- tution in place thereof of the following sentences :— Any member of the British Ornithologists’ Union may become a member of the Club on payment to the Treasurer of the annual subscription. The first subscription of a Member who joins in October, November or December shall cover his member- ship until 31st December in the following year. The rate of subscription for Members shall be decided by the Committee. A Member who ceases to be a Member of the British Ornithologists’ Union shall also cease to be a member of the Club unless the Committee shall consider it is in the interests of the Club to permit him to remain a Member of the Club. Resolution 2 That Rule (10) be hereby amended by the deletion of the words :— as soon as possible after each Meeting. Resolution 3 be ta (12) be tees deleted aes in place thereof the following Rule be hereby adopte (12) Subject to the terms of any bequest or gift, any stocks, shares, other securities, money of other property (whether real or personal) from time to time belonging to the Club may be vested in trustees for the Club if the Club shall by a special resolution so decide. Such special resolution shall appoint Trustees and shall specify the trusts under which the property is to be held. The meeting closed at 6.25 p.m. Cotyle paludibula Ruppell, 1835 by R. K. Brooke Received 3rd April, 1975 In 1835, Riippell proposed the binomen Coftyle paludibula in his Neue Wirb. Fauna Abyssinien on p. 106, with a type locality in the Gondar Province of Ethiopia. He again used the name in his, 1845, Syst. ubers. Vog. N.-O. Afrika’s p. 25. It has not been used since in his sense. In 1862, Heuglin used the name in Journ. f. Orn. 10: 38, where it is a junior subjective synonym of Riparia riparia riparia (L.). Sharpe & Wyatt (1894, Monogr. Hirund. p. 1) said that Riippell’s C. paludibula was a lapsus for Hirundo paludicola Vieillot, 1817, and that Cabanis’s Cotyle minor (1850, Mus. Hein. 1: 49) with type locality ‘north- eastern Africa, subsequently restricted to Dongola, Sudan, by Reichenow (1920, Journ. f. Orn. 68: 88), was the proper name for the northeast African subspecies of Riparia paludicola (Vieillot). This view has been followed ever since by those who have mentioned the African subspecies of R. paludicola. However, it seems clear from Riippell’s re-use of his pa/udibula that its creation was deliberate and that it cannot be dismissed as a lapsus. It is the earliest available name for the subspecies usually known as minor of Cabanis and it should be restored and used by those who have occasion to mention this sub-species of R. paludicola. 91 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] It would be possible to seek the formal suppression of pa/udibula on the grounds that it has not been used for over 50 years, but I do not consider that priority should be dispossessed by stability in the case of subspecific names of interest only to a few specialists perfectly capable of understanding and replacing a junior name by its senior synonym. The position is different where a subspecific name has been used in more than one sense and confusion would be caused by its use in a new sense. Stability of specific and generic names is of interest to a greater number of zoologists and others than is stability of subspecific names and in such cases it may indeed be undesirable to replace a well known name by its senior synonym. As for the genus Cosy/e Boie, 1826, I have pointed out (1974, Durban Mus. Novit. 10(9): 133) that its genotype is Hirundo fucata Temminck of South America and that this species is also the genotype of A/opochelidon Ridgway, 1903. I have since applied to the International Commission for the supression of Cotyle Boie, 1826, on the grounds of disuse and confusion with Cosi/e Boie, 1822, with genotype Hirundo riparia L. This will have the effect of conserving A/opochelidon which has been widely used in the South American literature. I consider that in future the northeast African populations of the Brown- throated Sand Martin should be referred to as Riparia paludicola paludibula (Rippell) 1835, not as R. p. minor (Cabanis) 1850. The avian type-locality Umvuli River, Matabeleland by R. K. Brooke Received 23rd May, 1975 A type-locality of an animal which is given as a named river is never satis- factory since all but the shortest streams pass through a variety of habitats and altitudes. The question that arises in the student’s mind is whereabouts along that river was the type collected. The Umvuli River, Matabeleland, was discussed by Brooke in, 1972, Hloneyguide 71: 1316, in his account of J. S. Jameson’s exploration and collecting trip into what is now Rhodesia. The official spelling of the river name is Umfuli and it lies in Mashonaland, not Matabeleland. Brooke showed that Jameson made his main camp at Hartley Hills, a small group of low hills at 18°11’S, 30°15’E or c. 5 km north of the Umfuli River in the Hartley District, and that he left Thomas Ayres there to collect birds while he and F. C. Selous went on a trip north and northwest to explore the country and to hunt big game. He also showed that all the geographical co-ordinates given by Shelley (1882, /bis p. 236 ff.) in his report on Jameson’s bird collection were for points far to the east of where Jameson and his party travelled and camped. Four taxa were proposed on material collected by Ayres for Jameson on the Umfuli R. I here propose to restrict the type-locality of all four to Hartley Hills, Umfuli River, Rhodesia. The taxa concerned are:— Hyliota australis Shelley, 1882, [bis p. 258; Sharpia ayresi Shelley, 1882, [bis p. 353—a junior subjective synonym of Anaplectes rubriceps rubriceps (Sundevall) 1850; Francolinus shelleyi Ogilvie-Grant, 1890, /bis p. 348; and Hyphantornis jamesoni Sharpe, 1890, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. 13: 447-4 race of Ploceus xanthops (Hartlaub) 1862. [Bull. B.O.C..1975: 95(3)] 92 The dawn song of the Grey-backed Eremomela Eremomela pusilla by L. G. Grimes Received 21st March, 1975 In West Africa the Grey-backed Eremomela Evemomela pusilla occurs in the belt of dry savanna woodland extending from Senegal to western areas of Cameroun. Its distribution extends via the Dahomey gap to the Accra Plains where it is well distributed in the more wooded areas. Under “‘song”’ all handbooks on the birds of West Africa in fact describe the call (Fig. 1), which is usually associated with foraging parties, and which may be heard throughout the year and at any time of the day. Bates (1930) describes it as a “‘sharp toned chittering noise as if the bird is shivering with the cold”. In addition, however, the male Grey-backed Eremomela has a genuine song, a monotonous chipping, which it only sings at dawn, which is quite prolonged, often lasting from 10-15 minutes or more, and which has moderate carrying power of up to 60 m. It consists of the repetition of one phrase which is made up of three notes each of short duration (Fig. 2). Each phrase lasts about 6 Hz 5 0 10 SEC. Figure 1. Diagrammatic sound spectrogram of the foraging call, usually described as the “song” of Eremomela pusilla in handbooks on West African birds. Recorded at Legon, Ghana, on 11 February 1974. Produced on a Kay Sonograph operating in the wide band mode. / Hl | if I] / Peer | Sy Ae ee ever Te A, ee 0 lO SEC. Figure 2. Diagrammatic sound spectrogram of the dawn song of Evremomela pusilla recorded on 3 March 1974 at Legon, Ghana. Produced on the Kay Sonograph operating in the wide band mode. 113m sec. and these are repeated at a rate of about 139 per minute. The human ear cannot resolve the first two notes in a phrase and consequently each phrase is heard as a double note. At Legon (5-63°N, 0-19°W), Ghana, males sing the dawn song from January to early September, prior to and 93 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] during their breeding season, using a perch in the shrub or on the tree used for the night roost. They may remain in the same shrub throughout the morning’s singing period or else move to others nearby and continue sing- ing. The birds start singing before light and, more often than not, can still be seen only as silhouettes when they stop; as they then leave the roost im- mediately, identification is impossible. As a result the Legon birds had to be netted before they were identified. Before the dawn song ceases, other eremomelas may be using the foraging calls. Based on distribution patterns, Hall & Moreau (1970: 195) have suggested that the four eremomelas LE. scoops, E. canescens, E. pusilla, and E. gregalis have evolved from an immediate common ancestor, the superspecies E. scotops. If this is correct and if there are vocal repertoires that have resisted modification with time, one would expect (see Lanyon 1969: 306) that these would be common to all present-day allopatric forms that comprised the superspecies. Significantly a dawn song has been described for FE. scotops by Benson (1940: 627) and his information on the song agrees well with my description for pusilla. C. W. Benson only heard scotops singing from mid- August to October just prior to and during its breeding season. He found that males sang incessantly from a song perch in the very early morning, and he describes the song as a two noted call. Spectrographic analysis reveals that the first note is really two and cannot be resolved by the ear. The duration of each phrase (166 m sec.) is slightly longer than for pusi//a but the repetition rate of the phrases (144/min) is approximately the same. Although the magnitude of the slope of the frequency/time profiles of the second and third notes of a phrase are about the same in both species (slightly larger in pusi//a), it is negative in scofops and positive in pusilla. As might be anticipated a playback of the song of scofops produced no response in a singing pusi//a. The similarities between the dawn songs of pusi//a and scotops suggest that it may be a vocal repertoire that has changed little with time after the four populations of the superspecies FE. scotops had become isolated from each other. A dawn song similar to that described for pusi//a would, therefore, be expected in canescens and gregalis during and prior to their breeding seasons. No one has yet recognised such songs, but this may simply reflect the tendency of most ornithologists only to begin their activities when there is sufficient light to identify birds, by which time the Eremomela dawn songs, if they exist, would have finished. It is hoped that this note will encourage ornithologists resident in areas whete canescens and gregalis occur to determine whether these species have dawn songs similar to pusi//a and scotops and, thereby, add support to Hall & Moreau’s suggestion. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am most grateful to R. Stjernstedt for supplying me with a recent recording he has made in Zambia of the dawn song of scofops, and to Dr. J. Monk for commenting on the original script. References: Bates, G. L. 1930. Handbook of the birds of West Africa. London: Bale & Danielsson Ltd. Benson, C. W. 1940. Further notes on Nyasaland Birds (with particular reference to those of the Northern Province). Zbis 83: 583-629. Hall, B. P. & Moreau, R. E. 1970. An Aflas of Speciation in African Passerine Birds: London: British Museum (Nat. Hist.). Lanyon, W. E. 1969. Vocal Characters and Avian Systematics. In Bird Vocalisations (Edit. R. A. Hinde). Cambridge University Press. [Bul/. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] 94 A te-examination of the extinct Pleistocene Stork Palaeociconia australis by C. J. O. Harrison Received 7th March, 1975 SUMMARY There has been confusion over the name of this species, it having been used for both the stork and some phorusrhacids. The valid name of the stork is Pataeociconia australis Lydekker 1891, Prociconia lydekkeri Ameghino 1891 being a synonym. In addition to the two syntypical tarsometatarsal specimens a distal end of a femur from the same deposits is also referred to this species. The three specimens most resemble the bones of Mycteria but the femur differs in having a large fibular groove in the present species. It is suggested that its monotypic status should be retained, but the possibility of close affinity with Mycteria noted. THE VALIDITY OF THE NAME In 1889, F. P. Moreno gave the name Pa/aeociconia australis to two ends of tarsometatarsi of a large stork from the Upper Pleistocene cave deposits of Lagoa Santa, Minas Geraes, Brazil. The specimens were in the collection of the British Museum (Natural History). The name was, however, a nomen nudum. In 1891 Lydekker figured one of the syntypes and gave a diagnosis, using the name Palaeociconia australis Moreno. In the same year Moreno and Mercerat used this name for some bones collected in the Miocene deposits (Upper Pliocene according to Brodkorb 1967) at Monte Hermoso, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, and used Palacociconia cristata for some material from Santa Cruz formation in Argentina. Later in the same year (December, vide Brodkorb 1963), Ameghino proposed the name Prociconia lydekkeri as a new name for Palaeociconia australis. Lambrecht (1933) used Pa/aeociconia for the stork, treating Prociconia as a synonym. He pointed out that Moreno and Mercerat’s specimens were not from storks but from phorusrhacids and transferred them to his Telmato- formes; P. australis in the Family Hermosionidae and genus Hermosionis Rovereto 1914, and P. cristata in a new genus Moreno-Merceratia. Brodkorb (1963), however, used Prociconia lydekkeri Ameghino as the name of the stork, tegarded Palaeociconia australis Moreno and Mercerat 1891 as a synonym of Prophororhacus australis, in the family Cariamidae (Brodkorb 1967), but retained Palaeociconia cristata in the Phorusrhacidae, erecting the subfamily Palaeociconiinae for it. The name used for the stork will tages depend on the relative priority of the use of the name Pa/acociconia by Lydekker and by Moreno and Mer- cerat. According to Brodkorb (1967) the date of Moreno and Mercerat’s publication of the name is “May to August 5th,” 1891, the text being pub- lished in May and the plates in August (Brodkorb, pers. comm.). Brodkorb (pers. comm.) quotes 25th April as the publication date of Lydekker’s catalogue and inscriptions on the flyleaves of some copies in the libraries of the British Museum (Natural History) indicate that it was prior to 2nd May. Lydekker’s description therefore constitutes a validation of the name, and Palaeociconia australis Lydekker 1891 is the correct name for the Pleistocene stork, a conclusion with which Brodkorb (pers. comm.) also concurs after 95 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] recent reappraisal of the data. Since the name as used by Moreno and Mercerat for their Palaeociconia australis had been relegated to synonymy no change of name is involved in that instance but a new generic and subfamilial name is required for what was Palaeociconia cristata. Patagornis Moreno and Mercerat 1891 is available for the latter. THE MATERIAL The type material of the species consists of two syntypes, a distal end of a left tarsometatarsus, B.M.N.H. no. 18879, and a proximal end of a right tarsometatarsus, B.M.N.H. no. 18878. Both are from Pleistocene cave deposits of Lagoa Santa, Minas Geraes, Brazil and were purchased with the Claussen Collection in 1842 (according to Lydekker [1891] in text, but the date is given as 1845 in the introduction). The collection also contains a distal end of a left femur, B.M.N.H. no. 12878, from the same deposits and collection. This bone is froma stork, of the right size to be referred to the other material. The distal end of the tarsometatarsus is broken across irregularly a little proximal to the facet for the rst digit. Lydekker (1891) states that the troch- leae are “somewhat imperfect’. At present the flanges are worn away, particularly on the anterior and posterior aspects, and unless further damage has occurred since they were described the woodcut in Lydekker’s work would appear to show some speculative reconstruction. Brodkorb (1963, footnote) comments that this species has been referred to Jabiru, without adequate evidence, by Patterson and Kraglievich (1960); he suggests with reference to Lydekker’s woodcut that the species should be compared with C7conia malthus. The specimens have been recompared with recent ciconiid material and with illustrations and descriptions of fossil material. The distal end of the tarsometatareus shows an arrangement of the trochleae which might be referable to Mycteria, Jabiru or Leptoptilos but the worn ends of the trochleae make detailed comparison impossible. It is not very similar to the distal end of the tarsometatarsus of C7conia. The proximal ends of tarso- metatarsi differ only slightly in the various genera, but both Ciconia and Leptoptilos show a more abrupt termination of the hypotarsus distally, and the specimen is more similar to Jabiru and Mycteria. The distal end of the femur has not previously been available for com- parison. It is large, but it resembles that of Mycteria in having a narrow rotular groove, and an internal condyle with a broad flat posterior surface and relatively narrow from anterior to posterior. It differs from all the specimens examined in its wide and shallow fibular groove, the external side of the external condyle projecting further at its posterior edge. On present evidence the species therefore shows close affinity to Mycteria save in the fibular groove of the femur, but more material might reveal further differences. It seems preferable to retain it in its present monotypic genus but to note its apparent affinities. The measurements of the material are—Dystal tarsometatarsus. Length of specimen to trochlea for 4th digit 55-2, to trochlea for 3rd digit 56-9, to trochlea for 2nd digit 53-9 (these measurements are to worn surfaces); distal width 28:6; intertrochlear notch to distal end of distal foramen 7-0; length of facet for 1st digit 14:9; proximal width of shaft 14-4, thickness of shaft 8-3 mm. Proximal tarsometatarsus. Length of specimen 100-5; distal width of shaft 12°3, thickness of shaft 13-4; distal width of anterior groove 6-5; greatest [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] 96 proximal width 26-9; greatest proximal thickness, intercotylar prominence to hypotarsus 26-6; width of hypotarsus 15-1. Femur. Length of specimen 15-9; width of shaft just proximal to distal head 17:2, thickness 15°5; greatest width across head 32:4; anterior/ posterior thickness of internal condyle 20:5, of external condyle 26:8; width of rotular groove 9:9; width of popliteal area 15-3; external width to fibular condyle 23:2 mm. References: Ameghino, F. 1891. Enumeracién de las Aves Fosiles de la Republica Argentina. Rev. Argentina Hist. nat. 1: 441-453. Brodkotb, P. 1963, 1967. Catalogue of Fossil Birds, pts. 1 & 3. Bull. Fla. St. Mus. Biol. Sci. 7: 179-293, & 11: 99-220. Lambrecht, K. 1933. Hlandbuch der Palaeornithologie. Berlin: Borntraeget. Lydekker, R.t i Catalogue of Fossil birds in the British Museum (Natural History). London: B. M. (N. H.) Motreno, F. P. 1889. Breve tesena de los progresos del Museo La Plata, durante el segundo semestre de 1888. Bol. Mus. La Plata: 30. Moteno, F. P. & Mercerat, A. 1891. Catalogue des oiseaux fossiles de la République Argentina. Ann. Mus. La Plata, Palaeont. Argent. 1. Patterson, B. & Kraglievich, J. L. 1960. Sistematicas y nomenclatura de las Aves Foror- racoideas de Plioceno Argentina. Publ. Mus. Cienc. nat. Mar del Plata 1: 1-51. Weights and longevity of some birds from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia by Emil K. Urban Received 20th May, 1975 Although weights of birds from several areas of Africa have been published in recent years (see Britton 1970, Dean 1974), weights of birds from Ethiopia are not recorded in the literature except where they appear in some reports on collections of birds from Ethiopia (see Urban 1970). The longevity of African birds is poorly known and of Ethiopian birds is unknown. From January—June 1968, the author placed coloured rings on the legs of 340 birds mist-netted in the garden of his home (Mesfin Harar Road-Northern Munci- pality Building district, approximately 8,700 feet or about 2,600 metres) in Addis Ababa (9°02’N, 38°47’E). Dates of subsequent sightings were recor- ded until January 1975. Listed below, to supplement the current ringing programme of Ash (1975) in Ethiopia, are weights (in grammes) of the birds netted and dates of sightings of marked birds and known ages of some of them. Since the author did not spend large blocks of time searching for the birds in the garden, the number of sightings and their dates do not necessarily indicate relative abundance and specific monthly occurrence. Streptopelia lugens. 5 (sexes undetermined) 156-1-299:0 (av. 193°3). A Pink-breasted Dove marked on 21 January 1968 was seen in Hebma March, April and May 1968. Cercomela sordida. 1 sex ? 20:0. This Hill-Chat was seen only briefly between 27 January 1968 when it was captured and 8 February 1968. Cossypha semirufa. 7 (sexes undetermined) 22:5-31-0 (26-9). A Rippell’s Robin-Chat marked on 6 January 1968 with a white ring on the right leg and a yellow/black ring on the left leg was seen on 7 February and 6 April 1968; another marked on 6 January 1968 with a white ring on the right leg and an orange/black ring on the left leg was seen on 12 and 13 October 1968. 97 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] Individuals with white rings on the right leg but none on the left leg were seen within 50-100 metres of where they were captured in January 1968 on 24 November 1968, 2 December 1971, 28 May 1972, and 2 February and 21 December 1973. Because the birds marked in 1968 were adult and hence at least one year old, the Ruippell’s Robin-Chat seen in December 1973 was seven years old or older. Turdus olivaceus. 15 (sexes undetermined) 54:7-81-0 (65-9). An Olive Thrush marked on 27 January 1968 was recaptured in February, April and June 1968 and seen in October and November of the same year. Parophasma galinieri. 1 sex ? 21-5. An Abyssinian Catbird marked on 20 January 1968 was seen four times, all within 20 metres of where it was captured, on 12 October and 29 November 1968 and 24 and 28 October 1973. Based on the 28 October 1973 observation, this catbird was at least six years old. Melaenornis chocolatina. 3 (sexes undetermined) 21-5—22-5 (21-0). One Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher marked on 4 February 1968 was seen in April, May and last on 14 August 1968. Nectarinia venusta. 1 male 6-8. This variable Sunbird, captured on 17 June 1968, was not seen after its release on the same day. Nectarinia tacazze. 10 males 13+ 5—18-6 (15-9), 9 females 10-0—15-1 (13-8). A male Tacazze Sunbird in adult plumage was marked on 28 February 1968 and seen within 50 metres of where it was captured on 5 March, 5 May, 6 May, 14 August, 12 October, 24 November and 29 December 1968; on 26 September 1971; on 7 October 1972; on 29 April and 16 and 25 September 1973; and on 12 October 1974. Based on the 12 October 1974 record, when the bird was photographed, it was at least eight years old. Also, a female marked in January 1968 was seen in February, March, April, August and October of the same year. Serinus canicollis. 1 sex ? 4:0. This Yellow-crowned Canary, captured on 6 April 1968, was not seen after its release on the same day. Serinus striolatus. 16 (sexes undetermined) 18-9-26-5 (21-0). One Streaky Seed-eater marked on 4 January 1968 was seen in February and April of the same year. Serinus tristriatus. 125 (sexes undetermined) 12-2-19-4 (15°5). A Brown- rumped Seed-eater with a ring of undetermined colour was seen in the garden on 10 October 1971 and hence was probably at least four years old. Marked individuals were seen in all months of the year except in July and September. Vidua macroura. 1 female ? 11-4. This Pin-tailed Whydah, captured on 16 March 1968, was not seen after its release on the same day. Lagonosticta senegala. 4 males 7: 3-12:3 (9:8), 9 females 8-1-10°5 (9:2). One Red-billed Fire-Finch, marked on 6 January 1968, was seen again only on 27 January and 7 February 1968. Ploceus baglafecht. 112 (some not sexed) 25 -5—36-3 (31:6); of these 22 were definite males 26-6-35-8 (33:1), 16 definite females 28-5-35-9 (31:0). A female Baglafecht Weaver, marked on 7 January 1968, was seen on 29 November 1970, when it probably was at least four years old. Other marked birds were seen in February, March, April, May, August, October and December 1968. Passer swainsonii. 20 (sexes undetermined) 27:°3-35-2 (31-6). Three Swainson’s Sparrows marked in January and February 1968 were seen in April, May and June of the same year. I acknowledge with thanks the Department of Biology of the Haile [Bull, B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] 98 Sellassie I University (now The National University) for use of facilities during my tenure there from 1964-1975, the Department of Wildlife Ecology of the University of Wisconsin (Madison) where I prepared this paper, and L. L. Urban, K. L. Urban, T. G. Jefford and I. L. Gibson for their assistance in the study. References: Ash, J. S. 1975. Bird-ringing in Ethiopia, 1969-1974. NAMRU-5 Special Mimeographed Repott. Brien. P. L. 1970. Some non-passerine bird weights from East Africa. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. gO: 142-144, 152-154. Dean, W. R. J. 1974. Bird weights from Angola. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 94: 170-172. Urban, E. K. 1970. Bibliography of the avifauna of Ethiopia. Haile Sellassie I University Press, Addis Ababa. A new subspecies of the Long-legged Warbler, Trichocichla rufa Reichenow, from Vanua Levu, Fiji by F’. C. Kinsky Received sth May, 1975 The species Trichocichla rufa was described by Reichenow (1890) from three specimens bought in 1890 by the Museum of Natural History, Berlin, from “Linnaea”’ Naturalists, Berlin. The Holotype is held in the collection of the Museum of Natural History, Berlin, No. 28360 and the locality on its label confirms its published origin as being the Island of Viti Levu. No collecting date, sex, or collector’s name are noted on the label. The two Paratypes were given in exchange to the American Museum of Natural History, New York, and to the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, respectively (G. Mauersberger, zn /i#t.). The American Museum of Natural History now holds two specimens of Trichocichla rufa in its collections. No. 265220 (one of the above mentioned Paratypes) is a somewhat damaged specimen and as in the Holotype no collecting date, sex, or collector’s name are mentioned on the label. Only the locality, Viti Levu, Fiji, is given for this specimen. The second specimen, in excellent condition, is No. 589049, a male, collected 14 November 1894, Suva (Viti Levu), Fiji, by C. M. Woodford (J. Bull, za /#z.). Mayr (1945) gives the following description of Trichocichla rufa: ““Datk rufous brown above with a conspicuous white, posteriorly buff eye-stripe. Middle of throat and breast white; sides and abdomen rufous brown. Iris and bill brown”. He also points out that the species is known from Viti Levu only, has not been found during the past 50 years and is now possibly extinct. There are no further published records of this species known to me. Colour photographs of the Holotype and of the American Museum of Natural History specimen No. 589049 were kindly supplied to me for com- parative purposes by Dr. G. Mauersberger and Mr. J. Bull, respectively. The white, posteriorly buff, superciliary stripe is clearly visible on these photo- graphs (Pl. 1a), as well as the white “middle of throat”’, as described by Mayr (Pl. 2a). However, the amount of white on the breast looks different in the two specimens. The breast of the Holotype seems to be uniformly light rufous brown, while in the AMNH 589049 specimen it is only the upper breast which is pale although strongly blotched with rufous brown (Pl. 2a). At the present time a comprehensive survey of the avifauna of the Fiji archipelago is being undertaken jointly by the National Museum of New 99 (Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] Plate 1. Trichocichla rufa, adult males to show contrasting superciliary stripe and throat colour: a. T. rufa rufa AMNH 589049; b. TT. rufa cluniei sabsp. nov. Holotype. (a..is photo by AMNH and b. by Mr. T. Ulyatt, National Museum N.Z.). Zealand, Wellington, and the Fiji Museum, Suva. Taveuni Island, western Viti Levu and Vatulele Island were visited during 1972 and 1973, and the central parts of the Island of Vanua Levu were surveyed during June and eatly July, 1974. On 10 June 1974, a Long-legged Warbler was collected in a mistnet in thick rain forest on the southern slopes of the Delanacau Mountain Range in west-central Vanua Levu. The bird was strikingly [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] 100 different in plumage colour to published descriptions of the species T7icho- cichla rufa Reichenow. After comparison with colour photographs of two of the three specimens listed above I now consider that the new specimen is conspecific with Trichocichla rufa, but must be considered as a distinct sub- species on both geographical and plumage grounds. Plate 2. Trichocichla rufa, adult males, to show contrasting amounts of white on underparts; a. T. rufa rufa AMNH 589049; b. T. rufa cluniei subsp. nov. Holotype. (a. is photo by AMNH and b. by Mr. T. Ulyatt, National Museum N.Z.), Measurements of three specimens of Trichocichla rufa Specimen: Date: Locality: Sex Bill Tarsus Toe Wing Tail Holotype Berlin 28360 ? Viti Levu ? 175 30°5 26-0 81:0 82°5 Paratype AMNH 265220 ? Viti Levu ? 15°0 32°0 24°0 76:0 7125" Fiji AMNH 589049 14.11.1894 Suva 3 16°0 31°O 23°5 705 72*5 Fiji *Tail badly worn Trichocichla rufa cluniei subsp. nov. Diagnosis: Adult male, upper parts including head, nape, back, rump and upper tail coverts uniformly dark rufous brown. Long, graduated tail dark rufous brown, faintly but densely barred with darker brown. Upper wing coverts, primaries and secondaries dark rufous brown with lighter rufous edges to outer veins of proximal secondaries. Broad white superciliary stripe extending from base of bill to nape, including upper eyelid (Pl. 1b). Entire chin, throat and centre of breast and abdomen white (Pl. 2b). Sides of breast and abdomen including flanks, vent and under tail coverts bright rufous brown. Culmen dark slate grey, lower mandible a contrasting light grey horn. Iris dark hazel, tarsi and toes light pinkish buff. 101 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] Differs from the nominate subspecies T. rufa rufa by the entirely white superciliary stripe and throat, and the white continuing in an unbroken wide stripe from the throat to the lower abdomen. Female unknown. Distribution: Dense rain forest of central Vanua Levu, Fiji. Type: Adult 3 with enlarged testes, Nabauloa Creek area, southern slopes of Delancau Mountain Range (c. 300m. above sea level), Vanua Levu, Fiji, 10 June 1974, collected by F. C. Kinsky; National Museum of New Zealand 18520. Measurements of type: Calmen 17-4 mm, Tarsus 30-5 mm, Toe incl. claw 24°5 mm, Wing 76:5 mm, Tail 73 mm, Total length 180 mm, Weight 35¢. Remarks: Only one specimen was collected in an area of undisturbed rain forest with dense and tangled undergrowth and a thick knee-high ground cover of ferns. The mistnet (3 xX 12 m) was set at ground level. A second specimen was seen in an area of similar habitat approximately one-and-a-half to two miles distant. No calls were heard. The species has not previously been reported from Vanua Levu. Despite Mayr’s comments (1933: 4) I have used the genus Trichocichla Reichenow for this species. However, this is done without prejudice as I realise that the status of 7richocich/a is uncertain and its relationship to the apparently closely similar genera Ortygocich/a (New Britain), Cichlornis (New Hebrides), Megalurulus (New Caledonia) and possibly Eremiornis (Australia), of the subfamily Sylviinae, are unknown. Name: This new subspecies is named after Mr. Fergus Clunie, Assistant Director, Fiji Museum, Suva, in recognition of his valuable assistance throughout the continuing joint National Museum of New Zealand—Fiji Museum project. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express my sincere thanks to Dr. G. Mauersberger, Natural History Museum, Berlin, and Mr. J. Bull, American Museum of Natural History, New York, for all the help they have given me by supplying colour photographs, measurements and information concerning the specimens of Trichocichla rufa in their respective museum collections. My thanks are also due to Dr. E. Mayr, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, for his helpful comments and encouragement. References: Mayr, E. 1933. Birds collected during the Whitney South Sea Expedition. XXII, Three new genera from Polynesia and Melanesia, American Museum INovitates, No. 590°. — 1945. Birds of the Southwest Pacific. The Macmillan Company, New York. 316 pp., three plates, 16 figs. Reichenow, A. 1890. Vorlaufiges iiber eine neue Gattung und Art von den Fidschi-Inseln. Journal fur Ornithologie., Vol. 38: 489. Geographic variation and other notes on Basileuterus leucoblepharus (Patulidac) by Storrs L. Olson Received 27th May, 1975 The White-browed Warbler, Basz/euterus leucoblepharus (Vieillot) 1817, occurs in southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northern and central Argen- tina. Vieillot based his name on “El Contramaestre” of Azara and the type locality of the species has been accepted as “‘Paraguay”’. At one time Hellmayr [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] 102 (1921) recognized the populations in Brazil as a distinct race under the name superciliosus Swainson 1837. This was said to be smaller and paler than the nominate race. Hellmayr (1935) later concluded that the distinction between these forms was not valid. At present, no races of B. /eucoblepharus are admitted. The discovery in the collections of the National Museum of Natural History (USNM) of a specimen of B. /eucoblepharus from Uruguay that was markedly different from the rest of our small sample prompted me to assemble a larger series for comparison. This included 19 specimens from Brazil, 6 from Paraguay, 13 from Uruguay, and 64 from Argentina (Chaco, 2; Misiones, 28; Corrientes, 34). No specimens were available from the Argentine states of Formosa, Entre Rios, Santa Fe, and Buenos Aires, where the species also occurs (Olrog 1963). I agree with Hellmayr (1935) that the race superciliosus is untenable. However, the above series indicates that within the small country of Uruguay B. leucoblepharus exhibits greater geographic variation than is to be found in the remainder of the species’ range. The series from Uruguay is too small to determine patterns of variation within the country with any certainty, but two specimens from the Cerro de Animas are so distinct that they unquestion- ably merit subspecific recognition at this time. Basileuterus leucoblepharus lemurum subsp. nov. Description: Much darker than /excoblepharus, with yellow pigments greatly diminished. Underparts almost totally suffused with dark grey, leaving only a small area of white in the midline of the belly and a much reduced white area on the throat. Under wing coverts and carpal joints dark greenish, with only slight yellow margins. Feathers of crissum almost entirely dark, with slight pale yellowish or whitish margins. Bill distinctly longer and heavier than in the nominate race as indicated below: Table Bill length (mm) from anterior of nostril in Basileuterus leucoblepharus n range mean 5.d. B. 1. leucoblepharus 18 6:9-8:0 7°57 32 B. leucoblepharus subsp. 9 7°1-8:0 7°54 "24 (Uruguay) B. 1. lemurum 2 8:2; 8-3 —- — Distribution: Known so far only from the Cerro de Animas, Maldonado, Uruguay. Type: USNM 473565, sex unknown, Cerro de Animas, Depto. Maldonado, Uruguay; collected 14 June 1959 by J. Cuello. Measurements of type: culmen from anterior of nostril 8-35 mm, wing chord 68, tail 62-7, tarsus 25:4, middle toe with claw 18:2. Paratype: Topotypical male, AMNH 786105, collected 3 November 1962 by J. Cuello. Material examined: as detailed in paragraph 2 of this paper. Etymology: Latin, /emures (gen. pl. /emurum), ghosts of the departed, shades ... in allusion to the type locality (Sp. animas, souls). Remarks: This form is distinguishable at a glance from typical /eucoble- pharus, which is much whiter below and has clear yellow underwing coverts and crissum. The few other specimens of this species from Uruguay are recognizably distinct from the nominate form but are not so divergent as the two assigned here to /emurum. The best series of these consists of six from 103 [Bull, B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] Cerro Largo, Rio Negro (AMNH 802181-6) collected in March 1969. Three from Quebrada de los Cuervos (FMNH 64709-11) are somewhat foxed, while two from Rocha (USNM 284045, 285184) are in rather poorer con- dition. None of these 11 specimens is as dark or as long-billed as /emurum, but all are darker and less yellowish than typical /eucoblepharus. The colour of the crissum is extremely variable, as seen particularly in the series from Rio Negro, and ranges from very pale, almost white, to yellowish with dark centres to the feathers. None has the crissum as dark as in /emurum or clear yellow as in typical birds. Certain specimens from Corrientes, Argentina, show a tendency towards such variation in the colour of the crissum but are otherwise much lighter than Uruguayan birds. Five specimens from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (AMNH), are somewhat darker overall than nominate leucoblepharus, probably reflecting some genetic influence from the dark birds to the south. B. 1. lemurum is as yet known only from a range of low hills in the south- easternmost part of Uruguay. A larger series of specimens is needed before the nature of variation in B. /eucoblepharus in the rest of the country can be assessed. It may prove possible to recognize additional forms. It seems rather remarkable that such pronounced differentiation in this species should be observed in Uruguay, which is a small, ecologically rather uniform area, not known to be particularly conducive to the processes of subspeciation. Relationships of the species: Mostly on the basis of voice and the bird’s ground-dwelling behaviour, Basileuterus leucoblepharus has been considered related to the Basileuterus rivularis group (Meyer de Schauensee 1966; Lowery & Monroe 1968). The latter authors have maintained this group in a separate genus, Phaeothlypis Todd 1929, but retained /eucoblepharus in the genus Basileuterus. Meyer de Schauensee (1966), probably following Hellmayr (1921), suggested that B. /eucoblepharus may be only subspecifically distinct from the rare species B. /eucophrys of Brazil. Differences in colouration and pattern, the long rounded tail, much greater size, and broad flattened bill of B., leucophrys readily distinguish this form at the specific level from B. /eucoble- pharus (which has a slender, terete bill) and clearly ally it with the B. rivularis group. It should be noted that Lowery & Monroe (1960: 75) have erred in saying that B. /eycophrys “‘has the tail decidedly longer than the wing”’, since its length is actually equal to or slightly less than that of the wing. Their suggestion that B. /eucophrys “may not be a parulid” can therefore be dis- counted. It is clear, at least on morphological grounds, that B. /eucoblepharus is not particularly closely related to the B. rivularis group, including B. /excophrys. Rather, its closest relative, as noted by Todd (1929) and Hellmayr (1935), appears to be the widely disjunct species B. griseiceps of northeastern Venez- uela, which is identical in bill shape, proportions and colour pattern, and differs only in having the underparts wholly yellow instead of white. Else- whete in the genus, this difference is accounted to be of no more than subspecific value, as for example in B. coronatus in which there are both white- bellied and yellow-bellied races. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS For their consideration in lending specimens I am grateful to Dean Amadon and John Farrand, Jr., American Museum of Natural History (AMNH); Charles G. Sibley, Peabody Museum of Natural History Yale University; David W. Snow, British Museum (Natural History); Melvin A. [ Bull, B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] 104 Traylor, Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH); Kenneth C. Parkes, Carnegie Museum of Natural History; and Frank B. Gill, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. To Mr. Farrand and Dr. Parkes I am further indebted for their critical comments on the manuscript. References: Hellmayr, C. E. 1921. Review of the birds collected by Alcide D’Orbigny. Part II. Nov. Zool, 28: 230-276. — 1935. Catalogue of birds of the Americas. Part VIII. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool. Ser. 13: I-541. Lowery, G. H. & Monroe, B. L. Jr. 1968. Parulidae. Jn R. A. Paynter, Jr., ed. Check-list of Birds of the World. Vol. 14. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. Meyer de Schauensee, R. 1966. The species of birds of South America and their distribution. Narberth, Pennsylvania: Livingston. Olrog, C. C. 1963. Lista _y distribucion de las aves Argentinas. Opera Lilloana TX. Tucuman: Universidad Nacional. Todd, W. E. C. 1929. A revision of the wood-watbler genus Basileuterus and its allies. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 74(7): 1-95. The identity of Ninox scutulata Raffles by E.. C. Dickinson Received 20th May, 1975 Foremost of several problems surrounding the nomenclature of the Brown Hawk Owl Ninox scutulata has been the identity of the type specimen of the typical race. Recently Mees (1970) has strongly established the case for treating Sumatran residents, rather than visitors, as nominate scutulaia. If no more tangible evidence of the identity of Rafles’s type existed than has already been presented, the application of scu/u/ata to the resident race could still be upset should an undoubted type specimen come to light that belonged to the migrant form. More tangible evidence does however exist. As listed in Horsfield & Moore (1854), the museum of the Hon. East India Co. received a specimen from Sir Stamford Raffles in 1820 and a drawing in 1821—the year before the form was described. There appears to be no contesting that scutu/ata was based upon the specimen depicted. The drawing eventually reached the India Office Library in London and thanks to Mrs. Archer of that Library and Mrs. Woods, the Librarian of the Bird Room, British Museum (Nat. Hist.), Tring, it has been possible to trace it. The drawing is bound into Volume IV of “Natural History Drawings from the collection of Sir Stamford Raffles”. This volume contains drawings Nos. 537 through 670 and the drawing in question is No. 545 in this series. It also bears No. 64—presumably an older number and the title Athene scutulata Raffles (Raffles described the species as Strix scutulata). A photographic reproduction of this plate appears opposite. Incidentally, Vaurie (1960) argued that “‘the description given by Raffles for his scuéulata is not diagnostic ...”. Be this as it may the drawing is clearly of the resident form. Apart from differences in measurements between the two traces Robinson (1917), dealing with Malayan birds, isolated two dis- tinctions in appearance which may be paraphrased as follows :— Malayan migrants resident birds —head “capped-looking”’ Not capped-looking —underparts conspicuous white Stripes below less stripes below conspicuous 105 [Bull, B.O.C. 1975:°95(3)] On the facts it can be concluded that scw/u/afa is indeed correctly applied to Sumatran/Malayan residents. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In the final form this note owes much of its clarity to very useful comments from Lord Medway, Dr. G. F. Mees, Dr. K. C. Parkes and Dr. D. R. Wells. References: Horsfield, T. & Moore, R. 1854. A Catalogue of the Birds in the Museum of the Hon. East- India Company. London; 2 vols. Mees, G. F. 1970. Notes on some birds from the island of Formosa (Taiwan). Zoo/. Meded. 40 (20): 285-304, Robinson, H. C. 1917. On a collection of birds from Pulau Langkawi and other islands on the north-west coast of the Malay Peninsula. J. Fed. Malay States Mus. 7 (3): 129-191. Vaurie, C. 1960. Systematic Notes on Palearctic Birds. No. 43. Strigidae: The Genera O/us, Aegolius, Ninox and Tyto. Am. Mus. Novit., 2021: 1-19. (Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] 106 Introduced tanagers on Tahiti, Society Islands by D. T. Holyoak and J.-Cl. Thibault Received 20th July, 1975 Bruner (1972: 125) records that on Tahiti “‘ Rzchmondena cardinalis, the well known Richmond Cardinal of the Southeastern United States . . . in recent years has been confined to the districts of Punaauia, Paea and the more remote parts of the district of Tautira’’. There have been no other reports of cardinals on Tahiti, despite much recent fieldwork in the districts mentioned (Holyoak 1974, Thibault 1974). However, black-and-red coloured tanagers have been observed repeatedly by J.-Cl. T. in the Punaauia, Paea and Taravao districts of the island. A recent photograph by Claud Rives (soon to be published in a popular book by Thibault & Rives) shows that the species concerned is the Crimson- backed Tanager Ramphocelus dimidiatus. It is true that Thibault & Thibault (1973), Holyoak (1974) and Thibault (1974) were previously under the impression, in the light of various reports they had received, that the species involved was the Scarlet Tanager Pzranga olivacea, a mistake that probably arose through some confusion of R. dimidiatus with Ramphocelus bresilius, the latter species usually being known as “Scarlet Tanager” in English avicultural literature. The distribution of the “Richmond Cardinal” reported by Bruner partly coincides with the records of R. dimidiatus, nor does he make mention of any tanager. It thus seems possible that, despite the very considerable differences between the two species, the birds he recorded as cardinals were in fact tanagers. In our view, Piranga ofivacea should therefore be removed from the list of birds of the south-east Pacific, and Cardinalis (= Richmondena) cardinalis should also be removed unless clear evidence is produced of its occurrence on Tahiti. References: Bruner, P. L. 1972. Birds of French Polynesia. Honolulu: Bernice P. Bishop Museum. Holyoak, D. T. 1974. Les oiseaux des iles de la Société. Oiseau Rev. fr. Orn. 44: 1-27, 153-184. 5 4 Thibault, J.-Cl. 1974. Le peuplement avien des iles de la Société (Polynésie). Papeete, Tahiti: special report of Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Antenne de Tahiti & Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes. Thibault, J.-Cl. & Rives, Cl. (in press). Oiseaux de Tahiti. Papeete, Tahiti: Les Editions du Pacifique. Thibault, J.-Cl. & Thibault, B. 1973. Liste préliminaire des oiseaux de Polynésie orientale. Oiseaux Rev. fr. Orn. 43: 55-74. Further notes on birds of Wallacea by C. M. N. White Received 16th June, 1975 The four notes which follow result from a continuing study of the birds of Wallacea which, it is hoped, will lead to a modern Check List of the birds of that area. Dupetor flavicollis The Black Bittern has a range extending from India and China to the Solomon Islands and Australia. There is however a marked area of dis- continuity between the Asiatic and Australasian populations, in which the 107 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)) species is absent or apparently a non-breeding migrant. This break includes much of Wallacea. Nominate flavicollis is believed to be a non-breeding migrant in Malaya (King e¢ a/. 1975: 50) and only known as a winter migrant in Borneo. It has been recorded breeding very rarely in west Java in May. Meyer & Wiglesworth (1898: 861) noted that specimens from Talaut, Siao and north Celebes were collected between October and March and might be winter migrants, but reported also an immature from south-west Celebes in July indicative of possible breeding there. Since then a few more examples have been collected in north-central and south-east Celebes and at Kalidupa, Tukang Besi islands, all between December and March. Apart from the July record it thus seems likely that flavico//is is only a winter migrant to Celebes and adjacent islands. Australasian gou/di has a very extensive range from Australia to New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago and west into Wallacea (Batjan, Halma- hera, Morotai, Kei Islands, Seran, Ambon, Buru). Unlike the Asiatic form, gouldi is extremely variable with black and rufous phases common in parts of its range, including Wallacea. Curiously melanistic birds have also been reported from Sangihe between Talaut and north Celebes. As explained above the nominate form would be expected at this locality and only as a winter visitor. An outlying population of gox/di may exist at Sangihe, but it is per- haps more likely that the black phase birds attributed to that locality are Moluccan specimens with incorrect localities. Meyer & Wiglesworth had two attributed to Sangihe: one lacked data but was said to be from that island whilst the other came from the dealer Bruijn at Ternate, and was said by his assistant Laglaize to have come from Sangihe. Until authentic melanistic birds from that locality are available, such specimens should perhaps be regarded as of doubtful provenance. In southern Wallacea from Lombok through the Lesser Sundas and the South-West Islands the species is not recorded apart from Timor. Lesson in 1831 described a specimen as Ardea australis “du Voyage de Peron’’. This example was collected during the Baudin expedition which visited Timor in 1801 and 1803. The only recent Timor record is a female collected by Stein in 1932. It was discussed by Mayr (1945: 4-5) who tentatively recognised australis because this Timor bird had a bill 3 mm. shorter than any other examined and was a rather pale rufous dorsally, though he admitted that the differences were small. It seems likely that he adopted this course because otherwise australis would have to replace gou/di, antedating it by twenty five years. It seems very likely that the Timor birds were only casual migrants from Australia and do not represent a distinct breeding population. Little weight can be given to the minor differences in Stein’s specimen in view of the great variation in gould. The discontinuity in Wallacea between Asiatic and Australasian populations of the Black Bittern is worth stressing because this pattern is found with a number of species common to southern Asia and Australia. Gorsachius melanolophus White (1973: 175-176) in reviewing the status of night herons in Wallacea stated that the Malayan Night Heron, G. me/anolophus, had not been recorded there. This statement overlooked the fact that Meyer & Wiglesworth (1898: 848-850) recorded it from Esang, Talaut Islands, under the name G. &x/feri, now regarded as a form of me/anolophus. The record has been overlooked since it was published and the locality was not mentioned by Peters (1931: [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] 108 117). An adult, a semi-adult and an immature bitd were obtained in late October 1894. It is not certain, however, whether they represent an isolated breeding population at this locality. Smythies (1960: 131) considered it an occasional visitor in Sarawak and North Borneo, as did Gore (1968: 171) in the latter locality. A straggler was recorded from Palau over a century ago (Baker 1951: 90). They may well have been post-breeding vagrants from the Philippines since eggs were found by Whitehead in Palawan on 27 June. The identification seems satisfactory as the axillaries were described as white with dark bars: this according to Rand & Rabor (1960: 414) distinguishes G. melanolophus from G. goisagi in all plumages (the latter having them barred black and rufous). Pandion haliaetus Ospreys occurring in Wallacea are currently indentified as P. 4. me/villensis extending to northern Australia and Solomon Islands, and doubtfully distinct from P. h. cristatus by smaller size (Brown & Amadon 1968: 196). Macdonald (1973: 114) does not recognise me/villensis, and Goodwin (in Hall 1974: 56) points out that the measurements of the two forms overlap considerably, and that Peters was probably wise in not recognising me/vz/lensis. I have assembled wing measurements of thirty-one specimens from Wallacea. The wings of twelve males are 413-439 mm, rather longer on average than the range for melvillensis, which is given by Brown & Amadon as 384—428 but about the same in length as those of ¢ristatus males, given as 426-431. I do not regard © melvillensis as recognisable. Ospreys are widespread in Wallacea in Celebes and adjacent islands and in the Moluccas but records from the Lesser Sundas are very few (only Lombok and Sumba) do that it may be very sparse there. Meyer & Wiglesworth (1898 : 89) gave details of twenty birds from Celebes, Sangihe, Talaut and Banggai and commented on the presence of some very large birds with wings of 470 and 495 mm which they thought were migrants of the nominate Palaearctic Aaliaetus. This is very likely as the nominate form is known to winter in the Philippines and Borneo. Dr. Siegfried Eck has vety kindly given me information on the material still in the Staatliches Museum fiir Tierkunde, Dresden, which was used by Meyer & Wiglesworth. Only eight specimens remain, all with the pale head of ¢r/status and the largest, from north Celebes, with a wing of 465 mm. The birds from Sangihe listed by Meyer & Wiglesworth with wings 470 and 495 mm, may well have been Palaearctic migrants, but would need to be examined again if in fact they still exist. It should be noted that the crown in cristatus is not always pure white and some dark brown spots may be present. Gallinago gallinago | White (1975 : 37-39) reviewed the occurrence in Wallacea of migrant Pala- earctic waders, either wintering or on passage to Australia, and drew attention to a few others which might occur. One of these can now be added to the list. In the British Museum (Natural History) is a female Ga//inago Lallinago from Batjan obtained by A. R. Wallace and with registered number 73.§-12.2292. It had been duly recorded by Sharpe as specimen h7 when he wrote volume 24 of the Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum but was overlooked by Hartert (1903) when he listed the birds of Batjan, and sub- sequently by van Bemmel (1948). Iam grateful to Mr. I. C. J. Galbraith for confirming that the specimen is still in existence and has been correctly 109 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)) identified. It is presumably only a vagrant in Wallacea, for Smythies (1960: 207) reported that in Borneo its occurrence was irregular. Coomans de Ruiter (1948: 191) gave details of snipe shot in two seasons in southern Celebes, comprising fifty-one G. mega/a and six G. stenura. References: Baker, Rollin H. 1951. The Avifauna of Micronesia, its Origin, Evolution and Distribution. Univ. Kansas Publ. Museum Nat. Hist. 3(1): 1-359 Brown, L. & Amadon, D. 1968. Eagles, hawks and falcons of the world. London: Country Life Books. Coomans de Ruiter, L. & Maurenbrecher, L. L. A. 1948. Stadsvogels van Makassar (Zuid- Celebes). Ardea 36: 163-198. Gore, M. E. J. 1968. A Check-list of the birds of Sabah, Borneo. /bis 110: 165-196. Hall, B. P. (Ed.) 1974. Birds of the Harold Hall Australian Expeditions. London: British Museum (Natural History). Hartert, E. 1903. The birds of Batjan. Novit. zoolog. 10: 43-64. King, Ben, Woodock, M. & Dickinson, E. C. 1975. A Field- Guide to the Birds of South- East Asia. London: Collins. Macdonald, J. D. 1973. Birds of Australia. London: Witherby. Mayr, E. 1945. Notes on the birds of Northern Melanesia 1. Amer. Mus. Novit. no. 1294. Meyer, A. B. & Wiglesworth, L. W. 1898. The birds of Celebes and the neighbouring islands. Berlin: Friedlander. Peters, >): L. 1932. Check List of Birds of the World. 1. Harvard U.P. Rand, Austin L. & Rabor, Dioscoro S. 1960. Birds of the Philippine Islands: Siquijor, Mount Malindang, Bohol and Samar. Fieldiana: Zoology 35, NO. 7: 221-441. Smythies, B. E. 1960. The Birds of Borneo. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd. van Bemmel, A. C. V. 1948. A faunal list of the birds of the Moluccan Islands. Treubia 19: 323-402. White, C. M. N. 1973. Night Herons in Wallacea. Bu//. Br. Orn. Cl. 93: 175-176. — 1975. Migration of Palaearctic waders in Wallacea. Emu 75: 37-39. Notes on the birds of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia by W. J. E. Norton Received 2nd May, 1974 INTRODUCTION These notes comprise field observations made between 12 January and 5 February 1974, on the RAF Mountaineering Association’s expedition of which I was a civilian member. No specimens were taken and opportunities for field observations were limited, most of the time being spent at altitudes of 14,600’ and above where birds were extremely scarce, while the few days spent in the lower valleys were generally associated with long and arduous marches. Nevertheless, because the avifauna of this isolated range has special features of interest but has received little attention in the last 50 years, and because of the wide span of altitude covered on foot (2,700’—-19,000’), some of our observations may be of interest as supplementing earlier work. Of particular concern to us was the status of the Andean Condor: the presence of a colony of these birds was one of the principal reasons why the Colombian authorities have declared the high-altitude zone a National Park. In preparing these notes I have referred mainly to the paper by Todd & Carriker (1922), which is still regarded as the most authoritative work on the bird life of the region. They give a fascinating account of the geological evolution of the range, which is important for an understanding of its fauna. In brief, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is a glaciated granite group com- prising the highest peaks in Colombia and also the highest coastal range in [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] 110 the world, rising directly from the shores of the Caribbean. It has something of the character of an island, 50-100 miles breadth, but in origin is the wester- ly remnant of a very old range whose eastern extremity may still be seen in the Venezuelan coastal range, 400 miles to the east: the intervening heights have largely disappeared under the sea, except where they still emerge as the low- lying Dutch Antilles. The Andes, whose easterly arm in Colombia (the Sierra de Perija) is a mere 20 miles away at one point, are of much mote recent formation, at one time linking the Venezuelan Coast Range to the main Andean system. In the Tertiary, when the evolution of birds was at its zenith, the montane species originating from some centre probably far to the south, spread via this link to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, then a peninsula cut off except to the east. Later the link was severed by erosion, bringing the evolutionary forces of isolation into play. In the final phase, land links to west and south were established, leading to an infusion of lowland species, a process that is still continuing to-day. To these origins, according to Todd, all the special features of the Sierra avifauna are attributable :— 1. Inacountry with an unparallelled diversity of bird species, it has the relatively impoverished character of an island and the number of species falls off more sharply with altitude; 2. it has developed a number of highly peculiar forms, with no less than 14 indigenous species and a larger number of differentiated subspecies ; 3. the birds have a notable affinity to those of the Venezuelan Andes and Coast Range far to the east and south-east and a marked dissimilarity to the much closer eastern Colombian Andes species. These features may be seen in varying degree in the four altitudinal life zones. As might be expected the Tropical Zone (up to 5,500’) has the richest and least differentiated avifauna. At the other extreme, the Paramo or Alpine Zone (11,500’ to the snowline at around 16,000’) is so small in extent that completely isolated forms have had little chance to develop. Thus all the endemic forms belong to the two intervening forest zones, the Subtropical (or cloud forest) (5,500’-8,500’) and the Temperate Zone above it. Regrett- ably, from an ornithological standpoint, those were the altitude zones in which the expedition spent the least time. The approach match, starting on 12 January, began at Atanquez (2,700’, some 17 miles north of the provincial capital, Valledupar), crossed two ridges to the village of Donachui (4,800’ in the Upper Tropical Zone) and finally 20 miles up the Donachui valley (to which most of the records refer) to our base camp at 14,600’ near Lake Naboba, from which and from various higher camps we climbed the main peaks. We returned by the same route reaching Atanquez on 6 February. In the lower valleys and up to an elevation of 6,500’ in the Donachui valley, there is much cultivation and deforestation has left many slopes bare, though some sizeable remnants of forest survive. Further up, the forest is more continuous, cultivation minimal and between 9,000’ and 10,000’ there is a wealth of flowering shrubs, attractive to hummingbirds and flower- piercers. From 10,000’, the forest thins out, although stunted trees and shrubs, including that extraordinary plant Espeletia mereiifolia, an indigenous species but belonging to a genus of the Compositae which is very typical of the Andean paramo, straggle to nearly 13,000’. Above that the vegetation is truly alpine but scree predominates and there are a remarkable number of It [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] lakes of glacial origin; the snow line in the dry months of January and Feb- ruary varies between 15,000’ and 17,000’, but can be somewhat lower at other seasons. It was clear that in these southern valleys the life zones (which may vary locally by as much as 2,000’) run high and I have reflected this in the altitudes quoted, which are the maximum recognized. The Donachui valley, for example, has an almost exclusively Tropical fauna, though in altitude a considerable section would normally correspond to the Lower sub-Tropical Zone. The systematic list which follows includes only some 26 species, on which special points of interest—whether of geographical or altitudinal distribution, behaviour or status—were noted. They include all the distinct Santa Marta species or subspecies on the grounds that, even if there are no new data, evidence of their survival is bound to be of some interest in a country which has already lost several hundred bird forms through deforestation and other human activities (Lehmann 1970). Another 11 species were recorded on the expedition and, inevitably, there were another 6~10 species which were not satisfactorily identified. In the following specific notes the classification and nomenclature used by Meyer de Schauensee (1964) have been followed. SYSTEMATIC LIST Vultur gryphus, Andean Condor. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta sup- ports one of the few surviving populations in Colombia of this increasingly rare species, long persecuted both by trophy hunters and farmers. Curiously, it is not mentioned by Todd, but its status is now certainly of lively concern to the conservation authorities in Colombia. Our observations suggested that there are at least two distinct small colonies in the Sierra, in the main group of peaks at 14,000’—17,000’ and, unusually, in the lower valleys some 20-25 miles to the south-east at about 6,000’—7,000’. In the high peaks we saw condors almost daily, their hunting range ex- tending over the whole eight miles from Pico Simmons in the west to Pico Codazzi in the east, and from the upper reaches of the northern valleys to the south of El Guardian peak. On 11 out of 15 days spent at such altitudes, I saw from one to three condors, and the many sightings by others included one of 4 and one of 5 birds. A juvenile was seen on four occasions, on half of which it was in the company of two adults, suggesting a first-year bird (Porter 1969). Thus the total population cannot be less than 5 and is probably somewhat more. Times and localities of appearances were in general un- predictable, though in the absence of thermals condors were seldom if ever seen in the early or late hours of the day; many sightings were from our base camp, not surprisingly, in view of its central position. The birds seemed to favour certain minor summits, around 16,500’-17,000’, presumably as good lookout posts. We obtained no clear evidence of nesting activity, but on the evening of 24 January, a repeated raven-like croak was heard from a craggy slope above the base camp, a quarter from which condors sometimes ap- peared, and as no other large birds were to be seen at that altitude, it seems possible this was the “tok-tok-tok” note, made in courtship display as recorded in captive birds (Brown & Amadon 1968), although the evidence from captive birds also suggests that this is a time of year when young should be being fed at the nest. We never actually saw condors feeding, but the main food supply must clearly be casualties in the small parties of feral cattle which roam the paramo up to 16,000’: one clean-picked carcase was [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)| 112 noted, as well as several skulls from such carcases placed on prominent rocks by local Indians. There are also a few sheep about and one deer was spotted on the screes at 14,000’, probably a White-tailed deer Odocotleus virginianus. The evidence for the other, lower, population was the sighting of 1 to 3 condors gliding at about 6,000’ over the lower Donachui or Guatapuri valleys, a few miles above their confluence, on 6 out of 8 days spent there. None were ever noticed in the intervening 20 miles and 7,000’ of altitude between this locality and the haunts of the higher population. There were at least 4 birds in this group, including another presumed first-year immature accompanying two adults. A pair frequenting a small cliff overlooking Donachui village could have been nesting. The lower area is well-settled and it is gratifying that the condors seem able to survive in such proximity to man. It is true that Olivares (1970) casts doubts on condors that descend from high haunts to approach sheep corrals and occasionally find an aban- doned lamb, being able to subsist in lower areas once these are “heavily populated and farmed”’; but assuming we are right that a low level population survives and the birds we saw were not foragers from the peaks, there is a possibility that there could be other similar populations in the Sierra, though competition with Turkey Vultures may be a factor of uncertain significance. Cathartes aura, Turkey Vulture. Recorded by Todd as “more abundant in the higher than the lower altitudes”, but my impression was exactly the opposite, the vultures being abundant in the plains but only one or two pairs being noted in the mountains around 6,000’. As already noted competition with condors may be a factor. Coeligena phalerata, White-tailed Starfrontlet. One of the Santa Marta endemics: one probably a not fully mature 3, was noted at 10,000’ at the upper limit of closed forest and of the species’ normal altitude range as recorded by Todd. Piculus rubiginosus alleni, Golden-olive Woodpecker. An indigenous sub- species only once seen at 5,000’ near Donachui village. Cinclodes fuscus, Bar-winged Cinclodes. Resembling a small eye-browed Song Thrush, only less common than the Plumbeous Finch in the paramo at 12,000’-16,500’ and often seen singly though Todd says “always occurs in pairs”. Like the finch it was notably tame and its loud trilling was a regular dawn sound near the base camp. My observations did not bear out Todd’s statement that it “evidently feeds entirely on aquatic insects”, though it was generally seen near water and behaving rather like a Dipper as its name implies. I watched one at over 15,000’ foraging on patches of bare often muddy earth among glacial debris, flying from one such patch, which was quite dry, with what looked like a sizeable grub in its beak. A newly fledged juvenile was noted at 13,000’ on 3 February, the only evidence of nesting. Asthenes wyatti sanctaemartae, Streak-backed Spinetail or Canastero. Todd remarked on this rather than C7nclodes as being the second commonest bird in the paramo, after Phrygilus, from 10,000’~15,000’ but straggling down as low as 8,000’. I found it much less common, sighting single birds or pairs on half a dozen occasions only and in the much narrower range of 14,000’—15,500’. It was also much shier than the other two species, never like them scavenging in the camps although frequenting their neighbourhood and uttering a rather similar trill to that of C7inclodes. Ampelion rubrocristatus, Red-crested Cotinga. Several at 10,000’—10,500’, bearing out Todd’s observation that they are usually found in scattered trees not forest. The crest-raising does not seem to have been recorded: a pre- 113 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] sumed § alighting on a tree near another, presumably a 9, (the sexes are alike), briefly erected its crest, with startling effect as the small tuft on the nape of this subdued blue-grey bird was suddenly transformed into a splendid hoopoe-like, serrated crimson crest. No other signs of courtship were, however, noted. Tityra semifasciata, Masked Tityra. A party in a tree at Donachui (4,800’) uttered very strange calls like the deep croaking of a bull-frog. Cnemarchus (=Myiotheretes) erythropygius erinomus, Red-rumped Rush- tyrant. An indigenous subspecies, noted twice in well-watered meadowland among the highest scattered trees at 12,200’. Ochthoeca rufipectoralis poliogastra, Rufous-breasted Chat-tyrant. Another local subspecies, seen on about four occasions, usually in scattered scrub as noted by Todd, at 10,000’—11,000’. Call note “‘tchick-tchick” and behaviour like English Robin. Tyrannus melancholicus, Tropical Kingbird. This common Tropical Zone species was seen up to 6,500’, though Todd gives 5,000’ as its upper limit. Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea assimilis, Cinnamon Flycatcher. A very distinct local subspecies, which is almost entirely bright rufous, apart from a few dusky wing feathers, and lacks the green crown and back and black tail of the typical Andean form. A party of 3 or 4 were moving, warbler-like, through cloud-forest at 6,800’ (near the species’ upper limit according to Todd) in company with several Yellow-crowned Redstarts. Mecocerculus leucophrys montensis, White-throated Tyrannulet. Local race; a small party observed in isolated scrub at 11,200. Notiochelidon cyanolenca, Blue-and-white Swallow. Parties were hawking over open sections of the Donachui valley from 4,800’—11,500’, the latter rather higher than any observed by Todd. He only noted it perching and nesting in rock crevices, but I saw a pair which appeared to be nesting under the eaves of a mud-brick building in Donachui village (4,800’). Cinclus leucocephalus rivularis, White-capped Dipper. A local race distinctive enough to be accorded specific status by Todd. It has much less white, especially on the underparts, than the Andean form and Todd regarded it as a bird of the Temperate Zone, though he saw it at both higher and lower altitudes. I noted the species in 4 or 5 places on the Donachui river from 10,000’—13,000’, i.e. well into the paramo zone. The call note sounded rather lower-pitched than that of the European Dipper. Turdus fuscater cacolelus, Great Thrush. A local race, occurring from 5,000’— 12,000’, according to Todd, in open grassy places with scattered shrubs and stunted trees. I never saw it below 10,000’, but it was common from there up to 14,000’ and at the higher levels frequented paramo virtually devoid of all scrub cover. Psaracolius decumanus, Crested Oropendula. Quite common in cultivation up to 5,500’; a party of 20 frequenting banana clumps and forest fringes round Donachui were notably active in the hour before dusk, sometimes consorting with a few Giant Cowbirds Scaphidura oryzivora (which is known to parasitise their nesting colonies) or Black-chested Jays C'yanocorax affinis. Icterus chrysater, Yellow-backed Oriole. This species is, surprisingly, not mentioned by Todd and, perhaps because of that omission, also said to be absent from the Santa Marta region by Meyer de Schauensee (1964 and again 1971). I found it quite a common and conspicuous inhabitant of the Tropical Zone from Atanquez upwards, extending into the Sub-Tropical up to 6,500’. Favouring mixed cultivation with adequate tree and shrub cover, a party of [ Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] 114 10, for example, was regularly to be seen round Donachui village, their loud, not unmelodious, but monotonous song (two phrases, not always sung together: one rising up the scale, the other a double-note repeated several times) being very characteristic of the region. A possible explanation is that the oriole is one of the lowland forms from the south and west, which has invaded the region since Todd’s time 50 years ago. when he remarked that such an invasion was still in progress. Myioborus miniatus sanctaemartae, Slate-throated Redstart. An indigenous subspecies, distinguished by its uniform golden yellow underparts (the Andean is ochraceous on the upper breast, and the Central American is red). It was observed only once at 5,000’ in open forest, though described by Todd as common. Myioborus flavivertex, Yellow-ctowned Redstart. An endemic species, seen once with Cinnamon Flycatchers Pyrrhomyias as mentioned under that species, and once, a single bird, at 9,000’, in well-forested parts of the valley. Todd did not find it common either. Basileuterus conspicillatus (=basilicus), Santa Marta or White-lored Warbler. Again an endemic species of wood warbler, of which one only was noted in cultivation at Donachui village, although this species unlike the last was said by Todd to be “‘abundant”’ in the forest at a similar altitude (c. 5,000’). Diglossa carbonaria nocticolor, Coal-black Flower-piercer. Also recorded as abundant by Todd, but I only noted single birds on two occasions, flitting from bush to bush near the upper limit of forest at 10,000’. Pheucticus ludovicianus, Rose-breasted Grosbeak. This was the only winter- ing North American migrant seen, 3 or 4 frequenting cultivation near Donachui. One 3 seen was in full winter plumage on 14 January and another ¢ seen next day was in full summer plumage. Volatinia jacarina, Blue-black Grassquit. Not seen by Todd over 2,000’, though he refers to an earlier specimen from 5,000’, much the same level as that at which I found several near Donachui village. Phrygilus unicolor nivarius, Plaumbeous Finch. This local subspecies was, as previously noted, the commonest bird of the higher paramo. It was to be seen, singly, in pairs or in very small parties, wherever there was significant vegetation from 13,000’—15,000’, and still commonly in the more vegetated zone down to 11,500’, often in apparently amicable association with the insectivorous and therefore non-competing C7uclodes. In marked contrast to Todd who describes it as very shy, I found it exceptionally tame, a frequent scavenger at our high camps and hopping very close to humans. I heard what I took to be a song, a Greenfinch-like “wheeze”’ once uttered from the top of a prominent boulder; a thin piping was the normal call note. Feeding ona nine-inch high grass and on the stems of a small white-petalled flower, growing in five-inch high clusters, was noted. Zonotrichia capensis, Rufous-collared Sparrow. Properly a bird of the Temperate Zone, but it has a wide range and I noted a pair on the highest isolated bush in the Donachui valley, at 13,800’ in the Paramo Zone. How- ever, though agreeing with Todd that it avoids forest and is essentially a scattered bushland species, I did not find it in the abundance to which he refers. The song was heard on 17 January (at 13,000’) and on 3 February. References: Brown, L. & Amadon, D. 1968. Eagles, Hawks and Falcons of the World. London: Countty Life. 115 [Bull, B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] Lehmann, F. C. & Olivares, Antonio, O. F. M. 1970. Contributions on the Colombian avifauna in The Avifauna of Northern Latin America: Proceedings of a Symposium a "4 the Smithsonian Institution in April 1966. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology o 26, Meyer de Schauensee, R. 1964. The Birds of Colombia. Wynnewood: Livingston. — 1971. A Guide to the Birds of South America, Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd Porter, R. F. 1969. The Andean Condor. In Gooders, J. (Ed.) Birds of the World. Vol. 1: London: IPC Magazines. Todd, W. E. C. & Carricker, M. A. 1922. The Birds of the Santa Marta Region of Colombia: a study in altitudinal distribution. Amn. Carnegie Mus. 14: 1-611. Notes on the Pauraque Nyctédromus albicollis in French Guiana by J. Ingels Received 19th June, 1975 The Pauraque is common in tropical America from southern United States to Paraguay and northern Argentina, and from Ecuador and Peru to Brazil, the Guianas and Trinidad. It exhibits a great ecological tolerance, its habitat ranging from woodland edges and clearings in heavy rainforest to cultivated country or semi-arid regions (Skutch 1972). Extensive accounts of its habits have been given by Bent (1940) and Skutch (1972), and further information by Haverschmidt (1968), Wetmore (1968) and ffrench (1973). The subspecies Nyctidromus albicollis albicollis is one of the commonest of the Caprimulgidae in Guyana and Surinam (Davis 1953; Haverschmidt 1955a and 1955b). In French Guiana, however, although collected in the past, it was not included in a recent collection of 120 species described by Berlioz (1962), and its nesting has never been recorded. The occurrence of the species and discovery of a ‘nest’ between 24 August and 4 September 1974 in the coastal savannas near Kourou are therefore of interest. Driving along forest or thicket-bordered roads in the neighbourhood of Kourou, e.g. along Route N1, especially between Tonate and the airport Rochambeau, and along the Route du Dégrad Saramaka, one regularly saw the shining orange-red of Pauraque’s eyes reflected in the headlights. The birds would often wait until the car was almost upon them before flying off, thus making identification fairly easy, especially of males with their white wing and tail markings. In three hours or about 150-180 km of night driving, at least 11 Pauraques were thus noted. The Pauraque normally breeds in the dry season, no doubt because a ground-nesting species is likely to lose eggs or young in heavy rains, al- though occasionally broods have been found in the wet season. Skutch (1972), analysing the nesting data north of approximately 5°N latitude, found that Pauraques breed from February to June. In southern latitudes, nesting takes place from July to January (Mitchell 1957). In Surinam nests have been found from March to October, illustrating the transitional character of the breeding season (Haverschmidt 1968). The rainfall for French Guiana has a “southern” character, with the succession of dry and rainy seasons resembling closely that around Belém in the Amazon delta (Pinto 1953); the main dry season is from July to Novem- ber, and a shorter less pronounced one in February and March. It was not surprising therefore, to find a “‘nest” with one egg on 24 August 1974. The discovery was made when an incubating female was flushed at 0925 in the [Bull, B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] 116 morning, froma site on the edge of a clearing in primary forest on the left bank of the Kourou river, about 500 m downstream from the Dégrad Saramaka. In this clearing, which was bordered on one side by the Kourou river, about 20 x 30 m? of undergrowth and small trees had been cut down, leaving only larger shade trees. Each weekend, a “carbet”’ (primitive shelter) built in the clearing was occupied by a family. The single ege of the pauraque lay on a layer of dead leaves and litter, approximately 1 m from the edge of the clearing, with no indication of any nest building. Around the site, the forest floor was partly covered with a ground-creeping herb. The site was therefore quite typical for this capri- sulgid. Two days later (26 August), when I returned to the clearing, I found the egg unattended. I learnt that over the weekend, the clearing had been continuously occupied and it seems possible that the disturbance had caused the Pauraques to desert. After photographing the site, I collected the egg. One end is slightly more pointed than the other; ground colour pinkish buff, with light blotches and spots of brown, buff and lilac concentrated around the blunt end; measurements 29:8 x 20-8 mm, well within those of eggs of this subspecies collected in Surinam (31:1-29:1 X 21:8—20°5 mm; Haver- schmidt 1968). The egg was slightly incubated, indicating that it had been laid within the week from 19 to 24 August, and that the clutch was complete. In the northern part of its range two eggs seem more normal (Bent 1940; Skutch 1972; Wetmore 1968; Smithe 1966), whereas in the eastern part one egg only is the general rule (ffrench 1973; Haverschmidt 1955; Pinto 1953; Mitchell 1957). References: Bent, A. C. 1940. Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds and their Allies. Part 1. Dover Publications, Inc., New York. Berlioz, J. 1962. Etude d’une collection d’oiseaux de Guyane frangaise. Bull. Mus, Nat. Hist. 34(2): 131-143. Davis, T. A. W. 1953. An outline of the ecology and breeding seasons of birds of the lowland forest region of British Guiana. [bis 95: 450-467. firench, R. 1973. A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and T: obago. Livingston Publishing Cy., Wynnewood (Pennsylvania). Haverschmidt, F. 1955a. Notes on Surinam breeding birds. Ardea: 43: 137-144. — 1955b. Nightjars on roads at night. /bis 97: 371-372. — 1968. Birds of Surinam, Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh. Mitchell, M. H. 1957. Observations on birds of southeastern Brazil. University of Toronto Press, Toronto. Pinto O. 1953. Sobre a colecao C. Estevao de peles, ninhos e oves das aves de Belém, (Para). Pap. Avuls. Dep. Zool. S. Paulo. 11: 111-222. Skutch, A. F. 1972. Studies of Tropical American Birds. Publ. Nutt. Orn. Club No. 10. Smithe, F. B. 1966. The Birds of Tikal. Natural History Press, New York. Wetmore, A. 1968. The Birds of the Republic of Panama. Patt 2. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington. An undescribed display of the Red-crested Korhaan Lophotis ruficrista by K. A. H. Cassels and H. F. I. Elliott Received 27th July, 1975 Although a note, on which this short paper is based, was made at the time and the incident was also recorded on 8 mm colour film, no account of it has yet been published nor have we been able to trace a description of any similar per- formance by an African bustard, although Archer & Godman (1937) record 117 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] what may have been an ambulatory display of the same type on the part of a White-bellied Korhaan Expodotis senegalensis. On the other hand the spec- tacular aerial display of Lophotis ruficrista is well-known (Roberts 1940; Prozesky 1970; Newman (Ed.) 1971). On the morning of 28 October 1971, just after the first storms of the rainy season, K.A.H.C. when a mile from Okaukeujo Camp on the way to the South Gate of Etosha National Park, $.W. Africa, noticed a male Red-crested Korhaan close to the road, its crest raised and very eye-catching, so turned and stopped his vehicle to watch it. Suddenly a rhythmic clicking began (presumably the same as the rhythmic bill snapping recorded in aerial display, but without the accompanying ventriloqual whistle) and the bird began to perform in a very particular manner. It circled a bush with the nearside wing drooping and the offside wing raised, the body level but twisted so that the back was displayed to the centre of the circle. Circling in this flattened position induced a regular limping gait and exactly synchronised with this was the metallic clicking, apparently made with the bill. On each circuit the bird would stop at the same point on the left of the circle, as viewed from the car, and stare at the centre of the clump of bush, then take about four slow steps backwards, raise his crest to the maximum and set off again on another circuit. The performance went on for three to four minutes and had a very peculiar mesmeric, almost sinister quality, perhaps equivalent to the “‘secre- tive manner” in which the White-bellied Korhaan watched by Archer (oP. c/?.) performed its ambulation, which also involved moving around as well as through patches of bush. On this occasion, however, no female was observed, although the display must surely have had a territorial significance. References: Archer, G. & Godman, E. M. 1937. The birds of British Somaliland and the Gulf of Aden. London: Gurney & Jackson. Newman, K. (Ed.) 1971. Birdlife in Southern Africa. Johannesburg: Purnell. Prozesky, O. P. M. 1970. A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa, London: Collins. Roberts, A. 1940. The Birds of South Africa. London: Witherby. Some overlooked and doubtful records of birds from Timor by Murray D. Bruce Received 7th May, 1974 A review of the literature of Timor’s avifauna has revealed three records not listed by Mayr (1944), two requiring confirmation, and two records of Bacelar (1958) considered herein to be of doubtful validity. Unfortunately under present conditions, it has proved impossible to check the relevant material in the Museum Bocage, Lisbon, nor have attempts to obtain information from the Museum authorities been successful (G. F. Mees 7m “itt.). Sula dactylatra personata, Masked Gannet. Recorded by Cabanis & Reiche- now (1876: 329) and listed by Hellmayr (1916: 104). This species would probably be classed as a vagrant to the Lesser Sunda Islands, but for the discovery of a breeding colony on Gunung Api (van Bemmel & Hoogerwerf 1940; C. M. N. White pers. comm.). Additional field work may show it to be [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] 118 more widespread in this area, as are Su/a sua and S. /eucogaster, both of which also breed on Gunung Api. Tadorna radjah, White-headed Shelduck. There is a sight record by Forbes (1885: 453) of this unmistakable species, which is found to the north in the Moluccas and south in Australia (Delacour 1966: 243). It may be a strageler onto the small lakes of Portuguese Timor. Falco s. subbuteo, Hobby. The normal eastern limits of its winter range in Asia are Burma and S. E. China (Vaurie 1965: 225), with one old record of a straggler to Java (Mees 1971) and one for Timor (Bacelar 1958). As certain plumages of F. subbuteo and fF. longipennis are quite similar, they could be easily confused (Mees xz /t.). F. longzpennis is known by several records from Timor. Hemiprocne c. comata, White-whiskered Tree Swift. Recorded by Bacelar (1958) but “no Hlemiprocne is known to occur on Timor, and if one occurted, H., comata would be less likely, on grounds of its known distribution, than 1. mystacea and F1. longipennis” (Mees in Uitt.). The nearest part of this tree swift’s range is Borneo. ‘The possibility of mislabelling of the single specimen seems likely. Parus major, Great Tit. Recorded by Sousa (1883) as ““Parus cinereus’; a “Parus timorensis’ was observed to be “not uncommon” by Forbes (1885: 459). Hellmayr did not see a specimen from Timor (1914: 40). P. m. cinerus is recorded from Java to the neighbouring islands of Alor and Sumba (Snow 1967: 107). Although the latter islands are the eastern limit of a number of Asian genera, e.g. Dendrocopos, Rhinomyias, Terpsiphone, Anthreptes and Gracula, the possibility of Parus occurring on Timor should not be ruled out entirely. If it does occur, it is probably rare and localised. A similar situation is that of the rare and local P. . sarawacensis of Borneo, discovered in the 1880s and not seen again until 1956 (Smythies 1968: 478). ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am grateful to Dr. G. F. Mees for discussing the doubtful records of Falco subbuteo and Hemiprocne comata. References: Bacelar, A. 1958. Aves de Timor no Museu Bocage. Rev. Portug. Zool. e Biol. Ger. 1: 363- 84. Benitel A.C. V. van & Hoogerwerf, A. 1940. The birds of Goenoeng Api. Treubia 17: 421-472. Cabanis, J. & Reichenow, A. 1876. Uebersicht der auf der Expedition Sr. Maj. Schiff Gazelle gesammelten Vogel. Journ f. Orn. 24: 319-330. Delacour, J. 1966. The waterfowl of the world. Vol. 1. London: Country Life. Forbes, H. O. 1885. A naturalist’s wanderings in the Eastern Archipelago, etc., London: sel! Low & Co. Hellmayr, C. E. 1914. Die Avifauna von Timor. Jn C. B. Haniel (ed.). Zoologie von Timor 1: I-112, — 1916. Weiteres zur Avifauna von Timor. Novit .Zool. 23: 96-111. Mayr, E. 1944. The birds of Timor and Sumba, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 83: 123-194. Mees, G. F. 1971. Systematic and faunistic Se on birds from Borneo and Java, with new records. Zool. Meded. 45 (21): 225-24 Smythies, B. E. 1968. The birds of Borneo. 2nd di “London: Oliver & Boyd. Snow, D. W. 1967. Family Paridae, pp. 7o-124. Jn R. A. Paynter, Jr. pay Check-list of birds of the world. Vol. 12. Cambridge: Mus. Comp. Zool. Sousa, J. A. 1883. Uma colecgao de Aves de Timor. Bol. Soc. Geog. Lisb. 9: 453-459. ) Vaurie, C. 1965. The birds of the Palearctic Fauna. Non-passerines. London: H. F, & G. Witherby. 119 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] Association between Redwinged Starlings Onychognathus morio and Klipspringers Oreotragus oreotragus by Valerie Gargett Received 20th May, 1975 Three records, spanning ten years and 20° of latitude, occur in the literature, of Redwinged Starlings Onychognathus morio perching on and pecking Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus; two are for Kenya and one for the Matopos, Rhodesia (Hatton 1963; Lee 1963, 1972; Angwin 1971). (A fourth record, from northern Tanzania, has been published by Gordon 1974—Ed.). The behaviour of the starlings in each case was similar to that of oxpeckers Buphagus spp. and the Klipspringers appeared fully accustomed to it. The assumption was that ticks or other parasites were being removed and eaten by the birds. An unpublished manuscript lodged at the National Museum, Bulawayo, Rhodesia, describes in detail another such incident observed on 25 October 1970 in the Matopos Game Park, when one male Redwinged Starling appeared to be removing and eating bloated ticks from a group of four Klipspringer for about 15 minutes (Bean in MS). The writer suggested that the starlings were occupying a vacant niche because oxpeckers do not occur in the Matopos although the area supports much game and is heavily infested with ticks. The evidence, however, perhaps points to a slightly different conclusion. On six occasions I have watched a pair of Redwinged Starlings climbing over Klipspringer in different localities in the Matopos as follows:— 15 September 1970, 15.40 hrs.; 23 October 1970, 10.30; 17 August 1971, 12.15; 10 May 1972, 11.55; 28 February 1973, 13.10; 28 February 1975, 17.25. On each occasion the Klipspringers were standing or lying on boulders in full view. On the first, they had been noticed over half an hour before the star- lings flew on to them. The standing male Klipspringer received the most attention from both starlings, twice shaking his head when both birds were on it so that they flew off momentarily, and once flicking his tail when a bird perched on it. The birds worked over both animals for some 12 minutes, probing into the ears, under the tails and bellies and over the foreheads, even hopping backwards down the muzzle to peck round an eye. Their actions suggested they were removing and swallowing ticks, as described by Bean (op. cit.), although this could not be positively confirmed even with the aid of binoculars. These records suggest that where Klipspringers and Redwinged Starlings share the same habitat, the starlings not infrequently exploit this food source, particularly perhaps during their breeding season, and that the association may well provide a significant supplement to their diet. Redwinged Starlings are common in all areas of the Matopos, whether in flocks or as nesting pairs. All the records quoted from Kenya and Rhodesia, however, refer to pairs, apart from Bean’s, which refers to a single bird. Although there are both small and large antelope in the Matopos National Park, including Sable Aippotragus miger, Reedbuck Redunca arundinum, Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus, Impala Aepyceros melampus, Duiker Sylicapra grimmia, Steenbuck Raphicerus campestris and Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus, the Park staff have never observed starlings perching on them, and there are apparently no published records of Redwinged Starlings on large mammals. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] 120 Redwinged Starlings and Klipspringers do, of course, frequent the same rocky habitats where Buphagus spp. would not be expected to occur. In Zam- bia oxpeckers avoid smaller antelopes such as members of the Cephalophinae and Neotraginae and even the somewhat larger Reduncinae (Benson ef a/. 1971: 303), and this seems to apply generally elsewhere and certainly in Rhodesia. The relationship between Redwinged Starlings and Klipspringers could thus have developed quite independently in different areas. Unlike the oxpecker, O. morio has no special adaptations for feeding on mammals. However, the claws of many African Sturnidae are strongly curved, and this is certainly noticeable in O. morzo, so that perhaps these members of the family are conveniently pre-adapted to exploit a niche which is similar to but different from that exploited by the oxpecker. At the same time it does suggest how the more specialised Buphagus first evolved. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am indebted to M. P. Stuart Irwin for suggesting that this note be written and for helpful additions to a first draft. References: Angwin, D. 1971. Redwing Starlings and Klipspringers. E.A.N.H.S. Bull. November: 182-183. Bean, A. Ce Redwing Starlings feeding on Klipspringers. Unpub. Ms, National Museum, Bulawayo. Benson, C. W., Brooke, R. K., Dowsett, R. J. & Stuart Irwin, M. P. 1971. The Birds of Zambia. Collins, London. Gordon, H. M. 1974. Klipspringer in association with Red-winged Starling. E.A.N.A.S. Bull, November: 149. Hatton, J. 1963. Some notes from the National Parks. Hloneyguide 42: 16. Lee, H. J. 1963. Use of a live perch by Red-winged Starlings Onychognathus morio (Linn.) Journ. E:. Afr. Nat. Hist. Soc. 24 (2): 75. — 1972. Letters to the Editor. Red-winged Starlings and Klipspringer. E.A.N.H.S. Bull., March: 50. Primary moult of Tringa brevipes and I’. incana A. J. Prater and J. 1. Marchant Received 14th July, 1975 INTRODUCTION Bent (1929), who was subsequently quoted by Dement’ev & Gladkov (1951), has described the plumage sequence and moult patterns for the Grey-rumped Sandpiper 777nga brevipes and the Wandering Tattler 7. zncana. Witherby e¢ a/. (1940) also described the moult of 7. zwcana. No other accounts of their moult can be traced. In brief, they are all in agreement that primary moult of adults takes place mainly between October and January (sometimes February); also no mention is made that first winter birds moult the primaries. During the preparation of an ageing guide to Palaearctic and Nearctic waders we examined the study skins of these two species for plumage characters in the British Museum, Natural History, at Tring. The state of moult of each bird was noted and it was realised that certain features of primary moult had not been recorded previously. No differences were found between the patterns of moult of the two species and therefore in view of the small sample size of moulting birds (seven immature and 12 adult T. brevipes and 15 immature and nine adult 7. zacana) they were considered together. Primaries are numbered descendently. 121 [Bull, B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] Table 1 Primary moult of Tringa incana and T. brevipes (a) Adults number with Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. all old 8 7 I I ° o Oo O ° moulting fo) I 2 6 I 2 7 2 fe) all new fe) fe) O° fe) ) ) 2 Io 12 Avg. moult score fe) oT 4. & (41) 32 48 49 50 (b) Immatures First winter First summer late winter Aug.—Dec. Jan-Mar. Apr—June July-Sept. undated all old 55 2 O° fe) ° inner old outer new or moulting fe) 2 I 7 3 inner new or moulting middle old outer new fe) Z, I Q 2 RESULTS Adults: Table 1a presents a summary of the adult moult pattern. Primary moult commences in late September or October (one bird had just started at the end of September) and almost the entire population is moulting between November and late January. By early February, however, some birds have completed growth of the outer primary; the earliest date for this being 6th February. By March most birds have completed moult, although one col- lected on 17th March was still growing the outer two primaries in each wing. All adults in April had completed primary moult and were subsequently moulting the body feathers into summer plumage. From the state of wear of the primaries in birds completing moult and from the pattern of growing feathers in other birds it was clear that some individuals (5 out of 21) had suspended moult during the early winter (November/December), the point of suspension varying from primary 3 to 7. Immatures: Table 1b summarises the data available. All specimens taken after December showed partial primary moult, the timing of which was variable, for while the earliest had just started on 8 January another had not started on 3 February. The first birds to have completed growth of their outer primaries had done so by mid-March but many others had completed much later, some not until the middle of August. The extent of renewal is variable but proceeds descendently from the middle of the primaries. In birds with symmetrical moult, growth started with primary 4 (twice), 5 (3 times), 6 (7 times), and 7 (5 times). Five birds had asymmetrical growth starting at primaries 4/5 (3 times) and 3/4 and 4/6 on single occasions. In addition to moulting the outer primaries many first year birds (8/22) had renewed also at least one of their inner primaries (also moulted descendently). Active moult may therefore occur at two centres in the primaries. There were indi- cations from two birds that the pattern may be even more complex and vari- able than so far described; one had not renewed any outer primaries and the other had completely renewed all primaries, although in the latter the pattern of doing so (by moulting descendently from inner and midwing centres) is different from that of the adults and leads to a different pattern of wear. DISCUSSION Although the pattern of moult observed in adult 7. brevipes and I. incana if similar to that already described, the partial primary moult of first wintes birds does not seem to have been recorded before. Full primary moult or [Bull, B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] 122 waders in their first winter has been known for many years, e.g. T. macularia (Bent, 1929). The phenomenon of moulting the outer primaries has only recently been described in several waders (mainly 7ringa spp.) wintering in East and South Africa (Pearson 1974: Tree 1974); it has not been recorded from many species elsewhere, although our studies have shown that it occurs in Limicola falcinellus (some of which, like T. brevipes and T. incana, winter in the western Pacific). The reason for this moulting pattern might appear to be the considerable wear to which the outer primaries of trans- equatorial migrant waders, particularly in immature birds, are usually prone. Many other species, however, which become just as worn as 7’. brevipes and si incana, do not undertake a primary moult, e.g. 7. zerek. The “new-old- new” pattern of the primaries of many immatures in late winter does not seem to have been observed before for any species of wader. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank Dr. D. W. Snow for permission to examine the specimens in the British Museum, Natural History at Tring and H. B. Ginn for commenting on a draft of this paper. References: | Bent, A. C. 1929. Life Histories of North American Shorebirds. Vol. 2, Washington. Dement’ev, G. P. & Gladkoy, N. A. 1951. Birds of the Soviet Union. Vol. 3. Pearson, D. J. 1974. The timing of wing moult in some Palaearctic waders wintering in East Aftica. Bull. B.T.O. Wader S tudy Group 12: 6-12, cyclostyled. Tree, A. J. 1974. The use of primary moult in ageing the 6-15 month age class of some Palaearctic waders. Safring 3: 21-24 Witherby, e¢ a/. 1940. The Handbook of British Birds. Vol. 1V. London: Witherby. The affinities of the Sao Tomé Weaver Textor Grandis (Gray, 1844) by BR. de Naurots and H. E. Wolters Received 8th July, 1975 Endemic to Sao Tomé, the Giant Weaver-bird Textor grandis is fairly abund- ant and distributed throughout the Island’s forests from low altitudes up to about 1,300-1,500 m. As noted by C. Weiss, its discoverer (in Hartlaub 1857), it does not nest in palm trees. This remarkable Weaver is usually placed near Textor cucullatus, although Reichenow (1903) erected the monotypic genus Hypermegethes for it; this name, however, is an objective synonym of Ay- phantornis Gray, 1884. G. E. Shelley wrote (1905: 431): “In habits it closely resembles Hy- phantornis cucullatus, its common representative on the West African coast’’. Authors generally seem to have followed this opinion of Shelley oem the affinities of 7. grandis, e.g. R. E. Moreau, who said (1960: 319): “ grandis ...is... clearly very close to cucullatus. Tt has every appearance of being an insular derivative of this polytypic species, which is distributed over most of the Ethiopian Region and has everywhere a nondescript female”. But, although there exists an undeniable relationship between 7. grandis and the cucullatus group, the affinity appears to be not so close as has been thought by most authors in the past. There are not only important differences in morphology, but also in ecology and breeding behaviour, as has been noted by one of us (R. de N.) in the field. Since several ‘‘double colonizations”’ (in the sense of colonizations from presumably common ancestral stock) have taken place in the Gulf of Guinea 123 [ Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] Islands, for example Polospiza rufobrunnea and the now extinct Neospiza concolor (Naurois in preparation), Lamprotornis ornatus and L. splendidus on Principe, and perhaps also “Cyanomitra’’ newtoni and Dreptes thomensis (Amadon 1953) on S40 Tomé, it is only logical to consider, in the first place, whether 7. grandis may be the derivative of any of the other Ploceinae existing in the Archipelago. The small island of Annobon is not inhabited by any Weaverbird, and Principe has only one, viz. Textor princeps (Bonapartte), a yellow and brown species, without any extensive black coloration, which, for our purposes, can be disregarded at once. The much larger Fernando Po Island is inhabited by three species of Weavers: Hyphanturgus m. melanogaster (Shelley 1887), which, because of its “colonial” habits and altogether different colouring does not need to be considered here; HY. nigricollis po (Hatrtert 1907); and 7. c. cucullatus (Miller 1776). H/. nigricollis like T. grandis does not nest in colonies, and its back is yellowish green; but it is to be found mainly in the lower, more or less cultivated parts of the country, in ecological conditions which are not all the same as those in which grandis lives (Eisen- traut 1973). It builds a suspended nest with a rather long entrance tube, which differs greatly from the nest of grandis. Moreover, the colour-pattern of its head (in males and females) differs strikingly from the uniformly black head (nape and throat included) of the Sio Tomé Weaver. The case of 7. cucullatus will be discussed below. However, it may be noted here that in Fernando Po this bird is quite typical of, if a little smaller than, the nominate race, with a very well delimited black “V” on its bright yellow back. Sio Tomé itself, apart from 7. grandis, has 3 Ploceine species :— 1) Thomasophantes sanctithomae (Hartlaub, 1848), a forest-dwelling bird, with habits of its own and a peculiar nest; also has a rather aberrant colouring and plumage pattern for a ploceine: it obviously has nothing to do with any Textor sensu stricto. 2) TLextor velatus peixotoi (Frade & Naurois, 1964) a savanna bird living only in the northern part of the Island, which closely resembles 7. v. katangae and has a green back; its nest is suspended and neatly woven, and it breeds singly, or at most two or three pairs associate for nesting in the same tree. 3) Lextor (cucullatus) nigriceps (Layatd 1867): breeds in the mangroves of the North, where two colonies have been recently discovered (Naurois in preparation); and takes the place of 7. ¢. cucullatus of Fernando Po and the West African mainland savannas. Thus, among the Ploceine weavers of the islands in the Gulf of Guinea, three forms only, 7. velatus, T. (cucullatus) nigriceps and T. ¢. cucullatus, could possibly be regarded as representatives, in the savanna of Sio Tomé, of the same stock as that from which 7. grandis, in the forest, might have branched. But in order to decide whether 7. grandis is in fact at all closely related to one of the above-mentioned savanna weavers, we should consider to what extent the species in question are similar in pattern and behaviour and whether, in spite of pronouncedly divergent evolution, there are any significant traits clearly betraying a common origin. For instance, the two Lamprotornis of Principe, splendidus and ornatus, ate similar enough to be certain that the second, a good endemic species, has branched off the evolutionary line that has given rise to the first one. The case of Poliospiza rufobrunnea and Neospiza concolor, both very well marked endemic forms (the second being highly differentiated, although one of us (H.E.W.) prefers not to separate it generic- ally from Po/iospiza), is a still more convincing example of two lines stem- ming from an unknown primitive ancestor. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] 124 Nothing as definite can be found in the group of Ploceine Weavers in the Gulf of Guinea. T. velatus peixotoi is a poorly marked subspecies; and T. (c). nigriceps is little (if at all) different from the southern African nigriceps. Both are evidently rather recent colonists. I. grandis, on the contrary, must be the product of a long process of speciation, having become the “giant”? among the Weaver-birds. Unfortunately, in these weavers, similarities and differences are of so unequal a value and are so much intermingled, that they are of little help in tracing any possible ancestral relationships. T. grandis nests singly and in this regard is nearer to ve/atus than to the fully “colonial”? cucullatus and nigriceps. On the other hand, although all four forms build “‘kidney-shaped”’ nests (in the sense of Crook 1963) the enormous ball made by grandis with its rather untidy external surface looks more like the wigriceps nest, although it lacks even the shortest protruding entrance tunnel. All four nests are provided with a “ceiling”’ and an inside-lining, but only the three smaller and lighter birds attach their nests to down-hanging twiglets, as especially ve/atus does and less regularly T. c. cucullatus ; the latter, however, may use (as in Senegal) stems of reeds, which are not down- hanging (Naurois in preparation). T. grandis, on the other hand, uses multi- branching forks in such a manner that the rigid twigs are laced into the outer layer and the whole structure is supported from below and fixed, instead of being freely suspended in the air. In fact the nest is so well hidden in the depth of the foliage, that watching courtship and display becomes nearly impossible. Morphological comparisons also reveal contrasts. The heads are wholly black in grandis and cucullatus (incl. nigriceps), whereas the black colour covers only the sides of the face and throat in ve/atus. Conversely the backs of grandis and velatus are green, whereas they are yellow and black (with two very different patterns) in cucullatus and nigriceps. The admixture of chestnut may also be noticed: it is of a deep colour on breast and collar of grandis, resem- bling the more or less dense wash around the “‘bib” of cucullatus, but there is no corresponding coloration in nigriceps and velatus. It is difficult to decide which of these features is most important for reproductive isolation. Is it the black mask whose effect is enhanced in agonistic postures by contrast with the yellow back, or is it the colour and the pattern of the back, when males ate hanging upside-down from twigs or from the nest, not only displaying for expected females, but also, in mixed colonies, exhibiting their specific identity to birds of other kinds? All the components of these breeding activities have been analysed in thorough detail by J. H. Crook (1962) and N. E. Collias and E. C. Collias (1971), but to a great extent these authors have concentrated upon intra-specific relations. What is crucial in the present inquiry are the signals, such as calls (outside the scope of this paper), and the colour-pattern or behavioural designs that have an inter-specific function: being inherited, they are the essential tests in a phylogenetical investigation. As no satisfactory results concerning the affinity of 7. grandis could be arrived at by the foregoing comparisons, it seemed necessary to extend them to other Ploceine Weavers of Africa. Excluding species with thoroughly different colour-patterns (in either sex) and types of nesting, are there any solitary nesting forms with kidney-shaped nests, black heads and green backs (with some admixture of chestnut), that have a closer similarity to T. grandis? Strictly speaking we have found none, but there are at least two species deserving consideration. The first of these is the little known Sitagroides alienus (Sharpe 1902) which in spite of its much smaller size, has some similarity with 7. grandis, being an inhabitant of moist forest and a pe —————— —_—_— i ee ————— ee 125 [Bull, B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] solitary nesting bird, black on the head, chestnut on the breast and a dull, deep green on the back. But according to the descriptions we have read, its nests seem to be of a shape and texture that would differ profoundly from the one described above for 7. grandis, and one of us (Wolters 1970) has expressed the view, that this weaver, placed in the genus Hyphanturgus by Chapin (1954), may eventually prove to be closer to Symplecfes, a genus very different indeed from 7. grandis. The second and last species to consider is Textor melanocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758), whose range in the West African savanna extends south to forested districts and to gallery forest in southern Nigeria. Exploring the Niger Valley at Onitsha, W. Serle (1957) noted it as “... nesting on a sandbank in mid- stream, 2 or 3 pairs at a place in the straggling Mimosa bushes. On 15 May at one such colony of three nests two held two young each and one a fresh egg... On 24 May, at another colony of three nests one held young and the others clutches of two and three respectively .. . ” This quotation refers to the poorly differentiated form 7. m. capitalis. Colonial nesting seems to be the general rule in this species, but we learn that there are other reports of very small breeding units: thus Chapin (1954) speaks of 7. melanocephalus some- where in Zaire, very possibly in the Lake Kivu area “nesting in small groups on tall reeds and . . . bushes or small trees not far from water’’. In short, T. melanocephalus appears to be a weaver that is not everywhere strictly “colonial”. Moreover, its nest is kidney-shaped with a ceiling, and its plum- age-pattern includes characters that are diagnostic for 7. grandis: black head, green back and some chestnut on upper-breast. Among the forms possibly allied to grandis it therefore seems to be the closest. This conclusion is, to a certain extent, supported by two further con- siderations : (1) The eggs of 7. grandis (1 or 2 in number) are of a rather pale blue, completely unspotted (not yellowish white, as erroneously stated by Bocage, 1891 and 1903, p. 80, probably as a consequence of some confusion among the items sent from Sao Tomé to Lisbon by Francisco Newton). The eggs of Table 1 Dimensions (measurements by R. de N.; males only) Wing (W) Tarsus (T) Tail (Q) 7/W OW T. grandis 111-115 (113) 29-35 (32) 64-72 (69) 0-26-0+ 315 0- 55-0: 65 (8 to 10 specimens) (0-285) (0-61) T. ¢. cucullatus -: = — — 0- 58-0- 605 Fernando Po 85-86 (85-5) 50-52 (50-5) (0-59) (6 spec.) Cameroun 86-90 (88) —— 49-54 (51) a 0:56-0-615 (6 spec.) (0-58) Nigeria 86-102 (90-5) 24-27 (25:5) -- 0- 255-0: 295 — (10 spec.) (0-28) Ghana, Liberia 82-91 (87) 22-26 (24-5) o 0- 25-0: 305 — (12 spec.) (0-28) T. ¢. bobndorffi 80-91 (87) 21-23 (22) 49-54 (51) 0- 23-0- 285 0- 55-0: 66 (9 spec.) (0-25) (0-585) T. c. femininus 89-92 (91) 21-23 (22) 50-52-5 (51) 0- 23-0- 26 0-54-0-58 (6 spec.) (0-24) (0- 56) T. c. frobenii 87-91 (89-5) 21-22 (21:5) 50-51 (50-5) 0- 235-0- 25 0-555-0:575 (7 spec.) (0-24) (0-56) T. melanocephalus 68-73-5 (70:6) — 40-46 (42-5) — 0-585-0- 605 capitalis (0- 60) (7 spec.) T. m. melanocephalus 75+ 5-79 (77) = 46-5-49-5 (48-5) — 0- 605-0: 65 (5 spec.) (0-63) T. melanocephalus 73-76 (74) 23-27 (25) 42-48 (45) 0-315-0- 34 0:575-0- 635 duboisi (0-33) (0- 605) (5 spec.) T. melanocephalus 75:5;76 24; 25 49; 50 0: 32;0-33 0:655;0-665 fischeri (0- 66) (2 spec.) [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] 126 T. cucullatus (2 ot 3 in number) are sometimes unspotted, but more generally finely dotted on a variable white to blue or greenish-blue ground. The eggs of T. velatus are white or blue, finely speckled with red-brown, very rarely of a uniform yellowish white colour. Much more generally unspotted are the eges of T. melanocephalus, although they also are very variable in colour: grey, dull green or deep brown. (2) Proportions. In spite of the insufficiency of the material we have been able to examine, we are inclined to believe that it supports a relationship between 7. grandis and T. melanocephalus. As shown in Table 1 nothing definite can be deduced from the values for tarsus/wing ratio (very much the same for T. grandis and T. ¢. cucullatus, less so for melanocephalus). As fat as the tail/wing ratio is concerned, 7. grandis is intermediate between cucullatus and melanocephalus, but the figures are identical for grandis and the two geo- eraphically nearest forms of me/anocephalus: T. m. capitalis from Nigeria and 1’. m. duboisi from the Congo region. SUMMARY Textor grandis, the Giant Weaver of the Island of Sao Tomé, has usually been considered a very close relative of 7. cucullatus. A comparison of T. grandis with other Ploceine weavers of the islands in the Gulf of Guinea and of some similar species of the neighbouring mainland suggests that T. melanocephalus may be the closest relative of T. grandis. References: Amadon, D. 1953. Avian systematics and evolution in the Gulf of Guinea. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 100(3): 393-451. Bocage,'J. V. Barboza du (1903). Contribution a la Faune des quatre iles du Golfe de Guineé. J. Sci. Ac. Lisboa, Set. 2, vol. 7: 25-29. Chapin, J. P. 1954. The Birds of the Belgian Congo, Part 4. Bull. Amer. Mus, Nat. Hist. 75 B. Crook, J. 1960. Nest form and construction in certain West African Weaver birds. /b7s 102: I-25. Collias, N. E. & Collias, E. C. 1971. The Ecology and Behaviour of the Spotted Weaver- Bird in the Kruger National Park. Koedoe 14: 1-17. Eisentraut, M. 1973. Die Wirbeltierfauna von Fernando Po und Westkamerun. Bonner zool. Monogr. 3. Frade, E. & Memaic R. de (1964). Une nouvelle sous-espéce de Tisserin Ploceus velatus peixotoi. Garcia de Orta 12(4): 621-626. Hartlaub, G. 1857. System der Ornithologie Westafrikas. Bremen. Moreau, R. E. 1960. Conspectus and classification of the Ploceine Weaver-birds. /bis 102: 298-321. Serle, W. 1957. A contribution to the ornithology of the Eastern Region of Nigeria. [bis 99: 371-418; 628-685. Shelley, G. E. 1905. The Birds of Africa. Vol. IV, Part 1. London Wolters, H. E. 1970. On the generic classification of the Weaver-Birds of the Malimbus- Ploceus group. Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam. Soc. 23(3): 369-391. First records of Bimaculated Lark Me/anocorypha bimaculata from Cyprus by Kenneth O. Horner and George E.. Watson Received 14th July, 1975 Two Melanocorypha larks captured on 31 March 1968, are M. bimaculata not M. calandra as reported by the Palaearctic Migratory Bird Survey to Stagg (1968) and constitute the first records of the Bimaculated Lark from Cyprus. M. calandra is a commonly recorded resident below the 1000 foot contour on the eastern and central MesaGria Plain but scarcer in the southern coastal region. It is a migrant in other areas (Neophytou ef a/. 1970, 1971). No 127 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] Calandra Larks were among more than 25,000 birds trapped by professional limers in Paralimni (35° o1’ N, 33° 59’ E) in the spring 1968. The specimens were prepared in the field as a skin (USNM 549688) and a pickle (USNM 539307). The skinned specimen had small testes, is decidedly rufous, and agrees in colour with two females collected in early June from Djebel Sanyn, Lebanon, identified by Vaurie (1951) as M. b. rufescens. This race breeds on the nearby Anatolian plateau, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq (Vaurie 1959) and is said to winter in Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia (Moreau 1972). The pickle lacks the rufous pigmentation of M. b. rufescens specimens and is darker brown than one March and two May male specimens from Dow Rud, Iran, identified by Vaurie (1951) as M. b. bimaculata. This specimen was fixed in formalin and transferred to 70° ethyl alcohol in the field and stored in alcohol in the museum, but it is unlikely that such treatment would have affected its melanin pigments (A. H. Brush pers. comm.). The nominate race breeds from Transcaucasia to southern Iran (Vaurie 1959) and is admitted as wintering in Sudan (Moreau 1972). No comparative spring material is available from the northern portion of its range. The occurrence of two races of a species new to the Cyprus avifauna in the spring of 1968, raises the question whether the Bimaculated Lark is a chance vagrant on Cyprus or whether it has just been overlooked by collectors and observers. All Calandra Lark specimens from Cyprus in museums should be re-examined and, in future, observers should look for calandra-like larks that lack the conspicuous white trailing edge on the secondaries. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We are grateful to Mr. John Farrand, Jr., for calling our attention to the identification of the skin specimen, and to the curators at the American Museum of Natural History for the loan of specimens, Our Cyprus specimens were collected with partial funding from the Smithsonian Foreign Currency Program and co-operation with the Cyprus government and local inhabitants of Paralimni. Financial support during the preparation of this note was provided by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and the Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund. References: Neophytou, P., Cole, L. R. & Flint, P. R. 1971. Sightings, 1970. rs¢ Bird Report 1970 Cyprus Orn. Soc.: 1-77. Neophytou, P., Cole, L. R., Flint, P. R. & Charalambides, M. Sightings, 1971. 2nd Bird Report 1971 Cyprus Orn. Soc.: 1-101. Moteau, R. E. 1972. The Palaearctic-African bird migration systems. London: Academic Press Inc. Stagg, A. J. 1968. Bird liming in Cyprus. Bird Report Cyprus Orn. Soc. No. 15: 23-25. Vaurie, C. 1951. A study of Asiatic larks. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 97: 481-484. — 1959. The birds of the Palaearctic fauna: Passeriformes. London: Witherby. IN BRIEF (a) Lesser Crested Terns in the Gambia In view of the note by Nielsen (Bu//. B.O.C. 95: 80-81) on observations during 1974 of Sterna bengalensis at Cape St. Mary and also at Kartung near the southern border of the Gambia, it is worth recording that A. G. Verrall and I saw 28 birds of this species in a large flock of terns on the other side of the Gambia River, near the village of Barra, on 2 February 1974. Other accom- panying species comprised Sterna maxima, S. sandvicensis (but no S. albifrons), Hydroprogne tschegrava and Gelochelidon nilotica. Nielsen does not mention that [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(3)] 128 Lesser Crested Terns have been recorded passing south over Morocco during the autumn, but he is doubtless correct in suggesting that the Gambian coast provides at least part of the previously unknown winter quarters of North African populations. 21 June 1975 I. A. Batten (b) The pair-bond in Excalfactoria Frost, discussing the affinities of Margaroperdix madagascariensis (Bull. B.O.C. 95: 67) states without reference or further comment that Excalfactoria is polygynous. I have intermittently studied the behaviour of Painted Quail E. chinensis under aviary conditions (Harrison, Restall & Trollope 1965, Avicult. Mag. 71: 127-130 and Harrison Avicult. Mag. 71: 176-184 (1965); 74: 7-10 and 83-84 (1968); and 79: 137-139 (1973)) and am convinced that this species is normally monogamous. It appears to have a strong and persistent pair-bond and the male attends the female closely and takes a full share in the care of the young. When I put an additional female with a pair, she was persistently attacked by the paired female and had to be removed. I am aware that in large enclosures with a plentiful supply of food two females are sometimes kept with a single male and that both may produce fertile eggs, but I suspect that this would not usually occur under natural conditions, and did it occur might not lead to successful breeding by both females. Enforced polygyny has been recorded under captive conditions with a number of non-passerine and passerine birds which are normally monogamous. In the circumstances it would be interest- ing to know if polygyny has ever been proven in either Excalfactoria chinensis ot £. adansoni under natural conditions. 1 July 1975 C. JoO. Harrison ‘ (c) Status of Ardea novaehollandiae in the ° *' © 903 Lesser Sunda Islands pete White (Bull. B.O.C. 94: 9-11) argued that in ““Wallacea”’ (the islands between the Sunda and Sahul shelves) this species is probably represente y non-breeding migrants from Australia. While he may be correct where the Moluccan Islands are concerned, he appears to have overlooked that Ver- heijen (Ardea 52: 194-201) listed the species as a breeding bird on Flores. Verheijen did not supply much supporting information, but his collection, now in the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, contains two eggs from Flores, one collected at Benteng Djawa in July-August 1957, measuring 44°1 X 34:2 mm, weighing 1691 mg, and one collected at Dampek, 11 July 1958, 47°6 X 33°5 mm, 1940 mg. tie Moteover, in 1969, Verheijen, when visiting Roti island, found Ardea novaehollandiae the commonest heron, nesting close to villages. A cl/4 col- lected at Namo-Dale, 16 March 1969, measures 46-2 X 35°2, 46°6 X 35-1, 45°9 X 36°1, 43°7 x 36:1 mm, weights in the same sequence 1941, 1912, 1934 and 1822 mg. A very small pullus was also collected in the same locality on 23 March. Publication of these details, and also of a paper by me on the birds he collected, has been much delayed by circumstances beyond our control, but Verheijen’s paper is now in press (Zool. Meded.). It is thus clear that at least on some of the Lesser Sunda Islands this heron breeds commonly. It is worth adding that, apart from Roti and the islands listed by White and also by Van Bemmel (T7venbia 19: 323-402), our collection contains mounted specimens from Leti (g, 7 June 1866), Ambon (9, 17 May 1865) and Ceram (unsexed, 9 Sept. 1873). 4 July 1975 G. F. Mees Pitan: Arror Cig Se aa . se HT tbe, ye Re sb. vi ar sas 4 f ie 7" yf } Cain bs ime hy pa” ears a yet apa sclera en F.Aitigs Sethe! efties re aye Dies ite . ms i) -» 4 4 sab ure Blaser tee 42: BR auth alate tars ned ‘ ' 7 or. ee. ‘ ree’ 3, reste, kis a fe be a sage herty ‘Sieh ceRiSe sear S91. hb). aN fs ‘tt ah - va? Silt ra es oe Shortie Th Gee Reet ~ ; 4 é Dis © ww r ‘ Paenlal eR rs sf rez 578 . : y »pihey te | Beh Meath ver oe se) etary alten ti uncie Pi wind. net ~ Pe “ mi 4 w ~ od . icpininst Sidi fe yo ae ose enntizitegin. fe 7 * . . a =i . gd Th eee, ths Jas i ‘ md ds ti te. JAF iets: ae ‘ ’ mi Be : Jd <> 464); be ho tJ aE es , , ; Susy poids. for Set 259 30 Sere vist: 2 Oe Daickh ohn te kk (oe ae ee se I ty f ie ti 3 sy PEI Levante a ee Oe 8) oe Bayt Dh) . v3 bi cshend : ; erat ae le ee wry yeaa 3 motrin: {2s bee iris ee ae aaa ey hy aight ie heoma its speed Vth aady Erte}. + lows babi 3 Sedna ae sg at fee A Cet? td scm dp pana wan. ebay Cis te oar TEM PLUAYY. 2234 Be pe a: a URS PALA AEE SA | ae Es peas Nee i ix. 4b Fy, vaio ond) hire, f howsinibiss Mistideurpie OT noah Bed Le bh? rag ! Kt) es TS 0 Ag | 7 . ' . ey" Bese ee sao (age Aandi al acl ot Gerrits ger erste: |) 4 oe - * * - - - . - 7 . uae ATS Pt ae at ALORA Sa! Ai real ae Be de Ver, Le rl af ON : % 4 - f syn r re a at. act F cat } “ . 4 ‘ s ¥ - e.* « - — ¢ } ‘ a 7 yr ri wp’ {) : F a f ‘ iy a* op, yp uy 5 » s n iy “Ws a’ t . SiPie aera ‘ H » ‘ac3 bh 7 ‘ i ? ; : F ; ie gg be 5 ad ORE FUCA aR rae I : 44 : wal, Sar ees c3 Si) saat a oe Lb iit ae Pe. 500 bet oe LE “hie. Sos ¥t tis teh i ; Monlsael esinenteracy Worhinn tle jain nc astiies MRCP bette Ee, ef cee | i ol ; Pieter 4 ; sid ; roe: Rca datouitay bers attest Ay. 49 (levi N J LP Seay % ‘ ar ve le .* . ' Re hy 5 a] F he’ ecto 4 ct » ; Cet + ; * deabnnes 22% ; } ; CESS SIMs : j > ¢ A io pearrry hee Cy OU SO Ceo s th) Diss ‘tps ia e3! Petieic A 3! - Beihae bm 3 wclch 4-i di! o Angee (3 eee ibe iit 4s ae Ah awn EWA RS - = Ty Se ¥ ev TRIE Ada es foe ys eae NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS Papers, whether by Club Members or by non-members, should be sent to the Editor, Sir Hugh Elliott, 173 Woodstock Road, Oxford, and are accepted on the understanding that they are offered solely for publication in the Bulletin. They should be typed on one side of the paper, with double-spacing and a wide margin, and submitted in duplicate. Scientific nomenclature and the style and lay-out of papers and of Refer- ences should conform with usage in this or recent issues of the Bulletin, unless a departure is explained and justified. Photographic illustrations although welcome can only be accepted if the contributor is willing to pay for their reproduction. 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Sugg (Hon. Treasurer) J. H. R. Boswall Mrs. J. D. Bradley Dr. C. J. O. Harrison C. E. Wheeler 129 [Bull, B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] : PEt {07 Bulletin of the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' CLUB Vol.95 No. 4 Published: 20 December, 1975 The six hundred and ninety-sixth meeting of the Club was held at Imperial College, London, $.W.7 at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, 16th September, 1975. Chairman: Prof. J. H. Elgood; present 23 members and 13 guests. Lord Medway spoke on the Ornithology of the New Hebrides, describing his own observations there and giving a synthesis of the other information available on the avifauna of the area, illustrating his address with slides. The six hundred and ninety-seventh meeting of the Club was held at Imperial College, London, S.W.7 at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, 18th November, 1975. Chairman: Prof. J. H. Elgood; present 17 members and 4 guests. Mr. Patrick J. Sellar described the origins and purposes of the British Library of Wildlife Sounds. He then played a number of tape recordings from their archives of particular scientific interest and illustrative of the range of their material. Forthcoming Meetings: Tuesday, 2oth January, 1976 at 6.30 p.m. for 7 p.m. at The Goat tavern 3 Stafford Street, London W.1 (between Old Bond Street and Dover Street, near Green Park tube station). Dr. Janet Kear will speak on “Living Museums (Zoos) are worthwhile but are re-introductions to the wild?” The cost of dinner is {2-10 (including service and V.A.T.) and cheques must be sent to the Hon. Secretary before the meeting. Tuesday, 9th March, 1976 at 6.30 p.m. for 7 p.m., also at The Goat tavern, 3 Stafford Street, W.1. Cheques for the cost of dinner ({2-10 a head) must be sent to the Hon. Secretary before the meeting. Please note that the date of this meeting has had to be changed from 16th March, 1976. Tuesday, 4th May, 1976 (seven hundredth meeting of the Club). A short symposium on African birds, at which the speakers will include Mrs. B. P. Hall, Sir Hugh Elliott, Bt., o.B.z. and Mr. C. W. Benson, 0.3.£. The status of Eos goodfellowi Ogilvie-Grant by Michael P. Walters Received 13th August 1975 Ogilvie-Grant (1907) described this ‘“‘species” of lory from two living speci- mens brought back from Obi in the Moluccas by Walter Goodfellow. The skins of these birds were apparently not preserved, but Ogilvie-Grant described them as being most like Fos bornea (at that time known as £. rubra) “but with the ear-coverts lavender-blue and the back and thighs purplish-blue”. One of the birds had the feathers of the middle of the breast [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 130 deeply edged with blue while the other has these parts uniform red. No-one else appears ever to have seen any specimens of this bird. The genus Fos is fairly well distributed over the Moluccan and West Papuan area, occupying all the principal islands and consisting of what would seem to be two “younger” species, E. bornea and E. squamata with their subspecies, occupying the centre of the area; three “‘older’’ species occutring on small groups of islands on the periphery of the area—E. cyanogenia, E. reticulata and E. histrio; and E. semilarvata which occuts in the mountains of Ceram (or Seran), the lowlands of which are occupied by a race of FE. bornea. This is the only instance where two species are known for certain to occupy the same island. The island of Obi, where the specimens of E. goodfellowi were collected, is occupied by E. squamata obiensis an endemic race. Holyoak (1970) sought to identify E. goodfellowi with juveniles of E. bornea, which he examined in the collection of the British Museum (Natural History), and this identification is repeated by Forshaw (1973) without further com- ment. Siebers (1930) also expressed the same opinion. All appear to have ovetlooked the obvious fact that E. bornea is not known to occur on Obi. The important features in the description of EF. goodfellowi are that it has bluish eat-coverts and blue on the belly, which is a characteristic of juveniles of E. bornea. However, these characteristics are also present in E. semilarvata, and the blue-violet ear-coverts are present in adults of all members of the genus except bornea and squamata. This suggests that it is an earlier pattern and that F. bornea has retained in the juvenile what is in effect an earlier plumage of the group. To accept FE. goodfellowi as merely a juvenile of FE. bornea would require that one accepted the existence of a hitherto unknown population of bornea on Obi, possibly in the mountains (the highest peak on Obi is nearly 6,000 ft.). This population, separated by a greater stretch of sea than any other population of the species, would probably represent a distinct race, for which the name Eos bornea goodfellowi would be available. While it is possible that E. squamata bears the same relation to E. bornea on Obi as E. bornea does to E. semilarvata on Ceram, a more reasonable suggestion would be that F. goodfellowi is an old (possibly extinct?) species living in a similar situation to, and possibly related to FE. semilarvata. An examination of the specimens in the British Museum (Natural History) on which Holyoak bases his identification suggests to me that FE. goodfelloni is not a juvenile of FE. bornea. Ogilvie-Grant in his original description distinguishes between the two birds he saw; one had the ear-coverts and the belly blue; the other, which he supposed to be the older bird, had no blue on the belly. This suggests that in F. goodfellowi the blue belly is a juvenile characteristic which disappears upon maturity. If goodfe//oni were an immature bornea one would expect the blue on the belly of bornea to disappear before the blue on the ear coverts, but in the specimens examined by Holyoak this does not appear to be so. One of these (from the Kei Islands) has distinct lavender-blue ear-coverts and a fair number of violet feathers on the belly; another (from the Aru Islands) has only slightly less violet on the belly but the lavender tips to the ear-coverts are so faint as to be barely discernible, and I do not think would be visible unless the bird were in the hand. Further- mote, these juveniles have a great deal of brown on the belly as well as blue, in fact on the skins discussed above the brown is more obvious than the blue. This brown colouring is a characteristic of juvenile Eos but neither Holyoak 131 [Bull, B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] nor Ogilvie-Grant comment upon it. Had there been any brown on the live E. goodfellowi it seems unlikely that Ogilvie-Grant would have failed to notice it and realise that this signified immaturity. It might be useful at this point to note the existence of various other specimens of /os in the museum’s collection, besides the one from the Aru Islands noticed by Holyoak, which were stated to have been collected on islands where the species does not normally occur. These anomalies are generally attributed to errors by the collector as to which island the specimen came from (which is possible), but no one seems to have considered the possibility that these were simply accidental vagrants on the “‘wrong” island. If this is so, then there is just a possibility that the specimens of Eos goodfellowi were not native to Obi after all, but the fact that there were two of them in the same place and time makes this seem unlikely. However, until further specimens can be obtained, the true status of F. goodfelloni can never be proved. References: Forshaw, J. M. 1973. Parrots of the World. Melbourne. Holyoak, D. T. 1970. The status of Fos goodfellowi. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 90: 91. Ogilvie-Grant, W. R. 1907. Eos goodfellowi sp. nov. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 19: 102. Siebers, H. C. 1930. Fauna Buruana, Aves. Treubia 7, suppl. The first records of the Mongolian Plover, Charadrius mongolus Pallas, for Mongolia by G. Mauersberger Received 26th August 1975 Peter Simon Pallas has described, in his famous report on the expedition undertaken by him, from 1771 to 1773, across Siberia (“Reise durch ver- schiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reiches’’, vol. III, 1776, p. 700), a plover which he named wmongolus, expressing by this epithet his belief that it breeds in Mongolia. He discovered this bird between 28 and 31 May 1772, on the Tarey-nor, a vast area of salt marshes (once a lake) several miles south of Kulussutai, where he obtained “‘many rare and new birds” (¢hid. p. 220). Kulussutai lies in south-eastern Transbaikalia at about 50° 15’ N, 115° 40’ E, some 40 kilometres north of the Mongolian border. Ridgway (1919) has correctly fixed it as the restricted type locality. Though Pallas states that he found the plover not uncommon, but solitary, “‘around salt lakes toward the border of Mongolia” (p. 700: circa lacos salsos versus Mongoliae fines), he is not likely, judging from his itinerary, to have met with it elsewhere. More- over, in his text, he does not mention any further encounter. However, none of his records can be from Mongolia (then a Chinese province) since he did not cross the border, which has remained stable since the Treaty of Nerchinsk (signed in 1689). Pallas turned back on 5 June and reached the shore of Lake Baikal.on 8 July 1772. Nevertheless, several ornithologists have listed this plover for Mongolia (the Mongolian People’s Republic of to-day). The last to claim this are, to my knowledge, Hartert (1920), Peters (1934), and Gladkov (1951). On the other hand, Kozlova (1930), Vaurie (1964, 1965), Piechocki (1968) and Zevegmid et a/. (1974), who give the most recent list of vertebrate species recorded for the Mongolian People’s Republic, do not even mention the [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 132 species. This is strange enough as members of the east Siberian populations (nominate mongolus and stegmanni), which winter in South East Asia, might be expected to occur on migration at least in eastern Mongolia. The two records from Tarey-nor in south-eastern Transbaikalia, the westernmost of all, confirm this. Many years after Pallas, on 12 May 1856, G. Radde (1863) saw a flock of about 50 Mongolian Plovers in the same locality where the species, apparently, has never been found since. On 12 June 1972, I watched a male of this species in a salt marsh in the Gobi desert about 25 km north-east of the Gobian Altai and 30 km north- west of Dalandzadgad (at c. 43° 40’ N 104° 10’ E). The plover could be determined as to subspecies, as it had the wholly black forehead characteristic of C. m. atrifrons. So, no less than 200 years (and a fortnight) had elapsed for Pallas’ assumption that the species is “perhaps more frequent in the Mon- golian desert more to the south and on the alpine plain of the Gobi’ (Zoo- graphia Rosso-asiatica 2, p. 137) to be substantiated, though my record applied to a different subspecies. This is, evidently, not a casual occurrence. D. Forster, Leipzig, reported (in itt.) that he had seen in the same locality (somewhat earlier, on 24 to 28 May 1968) what likewise appeared to be Mongolian Plovers of this subspecies. He describes the birds as lacking the black throat line and having black fore- heads with only a small white spot on either side. These features and the distinct sexual dimorphism clearly indicate atrifrons. Forster and L. Georgi, who kindly left me their notes for publication, encountered about five paits on rather bare patches in the rubble steppe. However, he failed to see any there in late July 1971, nor had I met with them in early June 1969. But if it is a regularly breeding bird in this locality, it would considerably extend the known range of the afrifrons-group and, thus, narrow the gap between the two subspecies. Nominate wongolus breeds in the Stanovoi and Verkhoyansk ranges in eastern Siberia (but not in the Yablonovoi as stated by Gladkov 1951). On Gladkov’s map the range of mongolus is extended westward to the north-eastern Baikal area. This is, in the text, erroneously based on Steg- mann (1936), who, in fact, does not record mongolus (but morinellus). The northernmost points at which afrifrons had ever previously been found were Lake Kuku-nor and the upper Sining-ho valley in the Nan Shan range (Stresemann e¢ a/. 1938). The Gobian locality is about 810 km further north (and about 1150 km south-west of the type locality of the species). On Cheng’s (1955) map, however, the northern limit of atrifrons runs up to about Hami. Judging from the ecological data given by Gladkov 1951, Kozlova 1961, Meinertzhagen 1927, Schafer 1938 and Stresemann ef a/. 1938, nesting in the Gobi is not impossible. Whereas nominate mongolus and stegmanni breed in the alpine tundra, pamirensis and atrifrons are known to nest in mountain steppes, rubble-covered high valleys (Turkestan), bleak desert steppes and slopes (High Tibet), gravel banks (Kuku-nor), riverside marshes at altitudes of 3900 up to 4500 m (Ladak and Kashmir), and dry edges of salt marshes (Tian Shan). This latter habitat corresponds to the site where I saw the bird. At that site, one pair each of Charadrius dubius and C’.. alexandrinus wete obviously nesting. The adjacent desert steppe was inhabited by a few pairs of C’.. leschenaultii. Moreover, I saw an adult (white-headed) male of C. veredus. Thus, no less than five Charadrius species occur together here. It must be stated, nevertheless, that the form described by Pallas has not been recorded for Mongolia as yet. 133 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] References: Cheng, Tso-Hsin 1955. A Distributional List of Chinese Birds. 1. Non-Passeriformes. Peking. Gladkov, N. A. 1951. Order Limicolae. In Dementiev, G. P. & Gladkov (eds.), The Birds of the Soviet Union. Vol. III. Moscow. Hartert, E. 1920. Die Vogel der taldarktischen Fauna, vol. 3. Berlin: Friedlander & Sohn. Kozlova, EB, V. 1930. The birds of south-west Transbaikalia, northern Mongolia, and central Gobi. Leningrad: Acad. Sci. USSR. — 1961. Charadriiformes, Suborder Limicolae. Fauna of the USSR, Birds, vol. I/1/2. Moscow & Leningrad: Acad. Sci. USSR. Meinertzhagen, R. 1927. Systematic Results of Birds collected at high altitudes in Ladak and Sikkim. Pt. II. /bis 12(3): 571-633 Peters, J. L. 1934. Check-list of Birds of the World, vol. Il. Cambridge (Mass.): Harvard University Press. Piechocki, R. 1968. Beitrage zur Avifauna der Mongolei. Teil I. Non-Passeriformes. Mitt. Zool. Mus. Berlin 44: 149-292. Radde, G. 1863. Reisen in Suden von Ost-Sibirien in den Jahren 1855-1859, incl. in vol. Il, Die Festlands-Ornis des sudostlichen Sibiriens. St. Petersburg. a R. 1919. The Birds of North and Middle America. Pt. VIII. Bu//. US Nat. Mus. Schafer, E. 1938. Ornithologische Ergebnisse zweier Forschungsreisen nach Tibet. J. Orn. 86, "Sondetheft. Stegmann, B. 1936. Die Vogel des nérdlichen Baikal. J. Orn. 84: 58-139. Stresemann, E., Meise, W. & Schénwetter, M. 1938. Aves Beickianae. /. Orn. 86: 171-221. Vaurie, C. 1964. A survey of the birds of Mongolia. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 127/3: 103-14 — 1965. The birds of the Palearctic fauna. London: Witherby. Zevegmid, D., Stubbe, M. & Dawaa, N. 1974. Das neue mongolische Jagdgesetz vom 6. Januar 1972, die Naturschutzgebiete und Wirbeltierarten der MVR. Arch. Natur- schutz u. Landschaftsforsch 14: 3-36. An undescribed form of Merops orientalis by C. H. Fry Received 25th October 1975 Peters (1945) recognized eight subspecies of the palaeotropical bec-eater Merops orientalis, and Vaurie (1959) seven. The species is overall green, except for contrasting facial pattern and black pectoral band—features that vary tacially as they do in most other Merops species. Oriental populations of M. orientalis have verditer throats, Arabian ones Prussian blue throats (and foreheads), and the two African races have throats concolorous with the rest of the plumage, bronzy green in M. 0. viridissimus (Senegal to Eritrea) and moss green in M. 0. cleopatra (lower Nile valley). At least 11 specimens in the collection of 85 skins of viridissimus at the British Museum (Natural History), Tring, have yellow or yellowish throats, a plumage which I have’figured (Fry 1969 Fig. 9) but have not otherwise remarked upon. In some of the specimens the chin and throat are a clear bright yellow, delineated by the narrow black pectoral band and black eye mask and in sharp contrast with the green crown and breast. Yet I can find no reference to this character in the literature, where the throat is always given as concolorous with the rest of the green plumage. Yellow throated specimens at Tring are as follows. (a) Chin and throat clear mustard yellow, separated from the black pectoral band by 1 mm of green and from the black mask by 3 mm of green and blue: 1 Unsexed Jebel Ain, 14 January 1914 (B.M. Reg. No. 1919.12.17.869) 2 92 Khartoum, 7 January 1904 (1905.12.25.234) 3 Sinkat, Red Sea Province, 20 March 1914 (1919.12.17.867) [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 134 (b) Chin and throat markedly yellower than breast, but with green wash rather than clear yellow: 4 6 Khartoum, 11 January 1904 (1905.12.25.235) 5 & Khartoum, — February 1903 (1916.9.20.861) 6 Jebel Ain, 13 February 1914 (1923.8.7.5856) 7 & Kamisa, Sennar Province, 22 December 1913 (1919.12.17.870) 8 Juvenile J Juga Juga (15 miles NE of El Fasher), 6 May 1920 (1920.12. 22.168) & Kosheh, Nubia, 9 March 1900 (1905.6.4.21) Gi Chin, throat and breast yellowish green (pectoral band black): ro. © Archei, Ennedi, 17 October 1957 (1958.24.2) Li. ® Massawa, Eritrea, 13 December 1953 (1954.26.13) All of these localities are shown in Fig. 1 except Kosheh, which cannot be located. Nubia is a poorly demarcated area north of 8° N and east of 30° E. In addition, a 2 from Gassam, Senegal, 14 September 1907 (1939.12.9.3133) appears to have a pale yellow throat and the pectoral band very narrow and blueish-black; but it is an unusually prepared-skin in which these features are difficult to assess. o Figure 1. . The distribution of Merops orientalis viridissimus. Small dots, records from the literature and personal observation; large dots, Tring Museum skin localities; encircled dots, yellow-throated specimens. Stipple: dry woodlands and steppe (after Keay 1959). The southernmost record of M. 0. cleopatra, on the Nile, is marked by C. None of 35 skins of MZ. 0. cleopatra has a yellow or yellowish throat. Ignoring the atypical Gassam skin, all the yellow-throated specimens of M. o. viridissimus occur east of longitude 20° Eand within the range 14°-19° N (Fig. 1) (Kosheh may be further south). Ten of the skins are adults taken in December to March and they appear to be in nuptial plumage. From what little is known the breeding season appears to be March to July (Lynes 1925, Fry 1973). “Normal” green-throated birds have been collected at some of the same localities, e.g. Jebel Ain and Khartoum, most of such specimens being outwith the breeding season. The evidence suggests that there is a taxon of Merops orientalis separable from viridissimus and cleopatra, found in the eastern sub-Sahara north of the dry Acacia zone (Keay 1959), and distinguished by the possession of yellow throats at least about the breeding season. Since, however, no other Merops species adopts nuptial plumage differing from the off-season plumage, the possibility remains that these yellow-throated birds are a morph (comparable with the yellow-throated morph “‘boles/avski”’ of the ted throated Merops 135 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95§(4)] bulocki), for which reason it is unwise on the present evidence to name a new subspecies. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Mapping of localities in Fig. 1 was greatly facilitated by Mrs. B. P. Hall’s privately-circulated gazetteer of African bird localities, and I am most grateful to her for letting me have the use of it. I am also indebted to the staff at the Tring Museum for their courtesy and assistance. References: Fry, C. H. 1969. The evolution and systematics of bee-eaters (Meropidae). /bis 111: 557- 592. — 1973. The biology of African bee-eaters. Living Bird 11: 75-112. Keay, R. W. J. (Ed.) 1959. Vegetation Map of Africa. OUP, London. Lynes, H. 1925. On the birds of north and central Darfur, pt. 4. Zbis 12 (1): 344-416. Peters, J. L. 1945. Check-list of birds of the world, Vol. 5. Cambridge, Mass. Vautie, C. 1959. Systematic notes on Palearctic birds. No. 38 Alcedinidae, Meropidae Upupidae and Apodidae. Am. Mus. Novit. 1971: 1-25. The Grey Heron of the Banc d’Arguin (Mauritania) Ardea cinerea monicae by R. De Naurois Received 1st September 1975 The presence of large numbers of herons at the Banc d’Arguin had been mentioned in Gruvel & Chudeau (1909-1911, see Naurois 1959), but evi- dence of nesting was obtained for the first time by Dr. Tixerant in the beginning of August 1957: chicks and some eggs. The species was identified by R. de Naurois on 3 March 1959 and fresh eggs were found on 30 April of the same year. The distribution, ecology and ethology of this population have since been studied by: R. de Naurois (1959, 1969); J. Dragesco (1961); Ch. Jouanin & F. Roux (1963), who named the subspecies monicae; W. von Westerhagen (1970); G. Gandrille and J. Trotignon (1973). The herons nest only on Arel, on West Kiaone and East Kiaone islets and, since 1968 or 1969, on Cheddit. North of the Banc d’Arguin, Ardea cinerea breeds in small numbers in Tunisia, but not in Morocco nor in the Spanish Sahara. South of the Banc no nesting takes place either in the extensive lagoons of the Aftout-es-Saheli (along the coast of S.W. Mauritania) or in the inundation zone of the Sénégal River. Thus the Banc d’Arguin breeding population is quite isolated from the European and North African ones to the north, and still more so from Red Sea and Asiatic ones to the east. _ Details of the environment and breeding cycle have been published elsewhere (Naurois 1969), so the present paper is confined to a review of the reasons which led to the recognition of the new race monicae, followed by a few observations about the posturing and nesting habits of these herons, some remarks kindly contributed by Mr. G. S. Cowles, about their osteology, and, finally, a discussion of some of the implications. PLUMAGE AND MORPHOLOGY When I first saw these Mauritanian herons from far away on 3 March 1959, I was struck by the brilliant white colouring of the face, neck and underparts. I was not acquainted at that time with the African fauna and thought I was perhaps meeting with a tropical form unknown to me. Later, G. Morel and F. Roux, when investigating the marshy areas of the Sénégal Delta, saw Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 136 both typical European Grey Herons on migration and birds of the Mauti- tanian form; in order to ascertain their identification they collected a specimen, and from then on found that they were able to distinguish at a glance, at distances of up to a few hundred metres, the Banc d’Arguin birds from the migrants originating from a long way further north (Morel & Roux 1966). In describing the Mauritanian race monicae Jouanin & Roux (1963) had made particular reference to the whitish race A. c. jouyi Clark, which is found in the Far East but is connected with the European A. ¢. cinerae by inter- mediate forms in the Near East. They summarized the grounds for recog- nizing a new subspecies as follows: ‘*... on a découvert a extreme occident de son habitatat une popu- lation... qui, par ses caractéres de coloration, est plus proche des jeuyz d’Extreme-Orient que de la race nominale européenne. Et dans ce cas il n’est pas question d’un gradient continu de dépigmentation . . . Les hérons cendrés des cotes mauritaniennes représentent un stade beaucoup plus poussé.. .” In these circumstances, it is a pity that we have so far failed to find in the collections we have been able to examine (at Tring and Paris) any specimens of Grey Heron from possible breeding places (on bare, rocky islets) in the Red Sea. If indeed breeding populations exist in that area as reported by Nicoll (Meinertzhagen 1930), it would be most interesting to see whether they have affinities with ~onicae or with the eastern subspecies. Dimensions: Four breeding adults of monicae have been collected and examined; but measurements are available for two specimens only. The corresponding figures for A. ¢. cinerea as indicated in the Handbook of British Birds (Witherby et a/. 1939) are quoted and also the wing-measurement for A. ¢. jouyi. A. ¢. monicae Al. ¢. cinerea Wing 395, 422 Ct) *qia470 (for jouyi 435-470) Tail 146, 148 155-175 Tarsus 144, 170 135-165 Culmen P2E a 35 100-125 It thus appears that wings and tails of the two Mauritanian birds are definitely shorter than their European counterparts. But, of course, no firm conclusion can be drawn from so little data. POSTURES Although Mauritanian Herons are extremely shy it is possible, on the West Kiaone Islet, to keep them under observation without disturbing them. The islet, 1 km long, 130 m wide and 10 m high, emerges from the ocean like a vessel. The upper surface, which is nearly horizontal and 3 m thick, lies on a deposit of much softer limestone which gets continually eroded under the combined action of spray and wind. As a consequence, the summit platform tends to collapse around its edges, forming a small cliff 3 m high, below which a scree-like slope covered with large flat blocks, stones and gravel extends down to the shore. By climbing the scree and then (where possible) the rock- face, one can emerge at platform level and get a view of the nesting birds without being detected by them. It was by following this procedure that I was able to observe something rather striking. Except when bending down over their nests, which are on the 137 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] ground, to feed their chicks, the Herons s/retched their necks upright. It is well known in Europe that a “bird on nest stands up and responds (as part of nuptial ceremony) with a stretching posture, in which head and neck are extended in straight line upwards, then brought backwards and downwards” (Witherby ef a/. op. cit., p. 127). But in Mauritania the stretching of the neck is not part of a ritual. It might be argued that, being so wary and having seen or heard the approach of a boat, the Herons were simply maintaining for a long time a posture indicating suspicion or fear. But this seems improbable and, moreover, it is apparently contradicted by another observation which I made in the Zoological Garden at Nouadhibou (ex Port-Etienne, Mauri- tania), where two examples of A. ¢. cinerea and A. cinerea monicae, respectively, were kept in captivity in different cages and out of sight of one another. The neck of the first was always in an S-bend, the neck of the second being equally invariably stretched stiffly upwards in exactly the same posture noted in the birds 100 km to the south on their breeding and feeding grounds. It was all very reminiscent of the normal difference of posture between Cygnus olor and C. cygnus. It is worth noting that Grey Herons in Egypt and the northern Red Sea, as described by Meinertzhagen (1930, p. 440—“‘ .. . neck often erect on ground”), may well tend to adopt much the same posture as their Mauritanian congeners. More observations and comparisons are needed. NESTING On the Kiaone and Arel Islets Ardea cinerea monicae nests on the bare ground, from which small stones and dust may have been just slightly removed by scratching, and around which a circlet of bones (mainly derived from casualties among the nearby breeding Pe/ecanus onocrotalus) and of ribbons of dried Zoszera is collected together. On the Cheddit Islet, some 50 km south and in a less desert-like environment, von Westerhagen (1970, p. 214) discovered a rather small colony of Herons whose nests had been placed, like those of Egretta gularis and Platalea leucorodia, on Salicornia ot Suaeda tufts. At first sight, there was nothing surprising in such nesting habits, the isles being nothing else than a continuation of the Saharan desert into the shallow waters of the Banc d’Arguin. However, in the light of my discoveries, one problem arose. On the rocky islands (Kiaone, Arel), why was there that circlet of bones and vegetable matter around the eggs or chicks? Was it just a sort of survival of the usual habit of building nests on trees or among reeds, having the result of facilitating the location and identification of the nest by each occupant. Or, as discussed by Naurois (1969, p. 247), had the heaps of odd items the advantage of weakening the total reflected radiation from the shining surface of the sand and stones? Whatever the solution, it later became clear that the use of bare ground (Kiaone and Arel) or of low halophile bushes (Cheddit) did not offer the only possibility of nesting, faute de mieux, for the herons. Between the Kiaone and Cheddit islets lies the island of Tidra, 30 km long from north to south, at the northern end of which, not more than a few kilometres from Kiaone, there is a relict mangrove of Avicennia africana P. Beauv., 2 or 3 km? in extent (first discovered by F. Roux and investigated by Naurois & Roux, 1965). Here, on trees 3 ot 4 m high, I discovered old nests made of sticks, about 2 m above sea-level at high tide, which could be attributed only to Phalacrocorax afri- canus ot Egretta gularis (see Nautois, 1969, p. 81-82). In 1970, G. Gandrille and J. Trotignon, making another visit to this interesting amphibian milieu, [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 138 found colonies of Phalacrocorax in full operation (1973). The Avicennia branches would certainly have been strong enough to support not only cormorant nests but also the heavier nests of the herons, if the latter had chosen to use them. I have thus come to the following conclusion. Although Ardea cinerea monicae habitually feeds over the whole 500-800 km? of mud flats and Zostera ““meadows’’, for nesting purposes it does at times use the carpet of low vegetation in the south (lat. 19° 30’) but prefers to nest on the bare ground in the north (lat. 20°) and avoids the trees which are available near the centre of this stretch of coast. I do not know of any exactly parallel example of this kind of adaptation in the nominal form of the Grey Heron. OSTEOLOGICAL NOTE Contributed by G. S. Cowles I have been able to examine the skeleton of Ardea cinerea monicae from the collections of the Paris Museum, and have compared it with nine specimens of Ardea c. cinerea in the osteological collection of the British Museum (Nat. Hist.). The cervical and thoracic vertebrae of A. ¢. monicae show no marked differences from those of A. ¢. cinerea and there appears to be no special osteological features to account for the difference in stance observed by R. de Naurois. Possibly a myological study of the neck region would be of interest. Other bones from the skeleton show no significant differences in the osteological characters between the two subspecies, with the exception of the tarsometatarsus, which is more robust and a little longer in A. ¢. momnicae:— Tarsometatarsus AL, ¢. cinerea A. ¢. monicae Total length I4I*5 — 165-5 (152 mm) 167 mm Lateral width midway along length 5-3 — 6-7 (6-0 mm) 7 mm Dorsolateral width midway along length 4°6— 5-8 (5-1 mm) 6-2 mm Lateral width at proximal end 13°5 — 16:2 (14:6 mm) 14:7 mm Lateral width at distal end 13°§ — 15-3 (14°4 mm) 14°7 mm DISCUSSION Ardea cinerea monicae was described as a well marked subspecies mainly on the basis of its colouring. It may be added that the characteristics it shows in postures and breeding habits, although still needing further study in the field and comparison with Asiatic subspecies, reinforce its distinctiveness, while the appreciably thicker tarsometatarsus indicated by Mr. Cowles’s examination is also to be noted. The question to be considered in this concluding section is whether these traits can be tentatively interpreted as adaptations to a very special environment. Conditions where this Heron lives are at one and the same time inter- tropical, arid and maritime, that is to say they differ strikingly from those which prevail on lagoons, lakes or riverbanks at more temperate latitudes or in more continental regions. Along the Mauritanian coast vast stretches of shallow water are exposed both to intense insolation and to almost continu- ous agitation by the trade-winds, while the islets and shores are almost completely devoid of vegetation. Consequently, the herons are unable to 139 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] find any proper shelter or concealment, are, on the contrary, exposed all day to the glare of the sun and can always be sighted from far away by predators, including human beings. These factors may well account for their wariness and posturing, as well as for their choice of isolated, bare rocky islets for nesting. It still remains surprising and unexplained that they seem to avoid the belt of Avicennia trees in the north of the Tidra Island. The tidal currents of the Baie d’Arguin are not negligible and the waves and winds are often strong, sometimes very strong. Physically, therefore, the herons are subject to pressures that they would not encounter if their feeding grounds were situated in lagoons and channels between reeds. This has perhaps favoured the rather more robust osteological and muscular features to which attention has been drawn. Taken together all the peculiarities suggest that the process of adaptation has lasted for a fairly long time and cannot have taken place very recently. In that sense it is clear that Ardea cinerea monicae is an older form than, for example, Platalea leucorodia balsaci Naurois & Roux (1974). The Mauritanian Spoonbill is little differentiated morphologically and ethologically from the European P. /. /eucorodia, and could well have been forced to leave the lakes of the interior of the Sahara by quite recent climatic changes (i.e. since the “climatic optimum” of five or six thousand years ago). On the other hand, one is led to assume that the Mauritanian Heron has been a much longer term inhabitant of a coastal zone, which once differed only in having a more densely developed mangrove belt than now. A possible objection to any such hypothesis is that, on the one hand, it suggests that Ardea cinerea monicae has been restricted to the particular part of the Saharan coastal waters, where ample possibilities exist for both feeding and nesting, but, on the other hand, the climatic vicissitudes of the Pleisto- cene must have caused alternate northward or southward shifts of temperature zones and zpso facto the flora and fauna, which as a consequence could have ousted the herons several times from the limited area needed for their evolution. But this is improbable for at least two reasons. First, the regulative effect of the oceanic water mass must have lessened the amplitude of the climatic oscillations and the trade-winds, even if they were subject to some modifications in strength and direction, could not have altogether ceased to produce upwellings along the continental shelf. Secondly, since the herons had at their disposal an area of shallow water 180 km long and 20 to 40 km wide, they were free to move according to local conditions, the upwelling always furnishing sufficient food at one point or another between the Baie du Lévrier (21° 10’N) and Cape Timris (19° 23’ N) and islets in the north (Pelicans Islet and others in the Baie d’Arguin) or in the south (around Tidra) alternately providing the indispensable security against predators, particu- larly Canis aureus and Hyaena. Hence, survival possibilities must have been fairly stable. References : Dragesco, J. 1961. Observations éthologiques sur les oiseaux du Banc d’Arguin. A/lauda 29: 81-98. Gandrille, G. & Trotignon, J. 1973. Prospection post-estivale au Banc d’Arguin (Mauri- tanie). Alauda 41 (1-2): 129-159. Jouanin, C. & Roux, F. 1963. Une race nouvelle de Héron Cendré Ardea cinerea monicae. O.R.F.O. 33 (2): 103-106. Meinterzhagen, R. 1930. Nicoll’s Birds of Egypt. London: Rees. Motel, G. & Roux, F. 1966. Données nouvelles sur l’Avifaune du Sénégal. O.R.F.O. 32: 28-56. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 140 Naurois, R. de, 1959. Premiéres recherches sur l’Avifaune des Iles du Banc d’Arguin. Alauda 27: 241-308. — 1969. Peuplements et Cycles de reproduction des Oiseaux de la Cote Occidentale d’ Afrique, du Cap Barbas (Sahara Espagnol) a la frontiére de la République de Guinée. Mémoires du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, Vol. LVI; 312 pages. Naurois, R. de, & Roux, F. 1965. Les mangroves d’ Avicennia les plus septentrionales de la Cote Occidentale d’Afrique. Bull. Inst. Fr. Afr. Noire XXVII A. (3): 843-854. von Westerhagen, W. 1970. Uber die Brutvogel der Banc d’Arguin (Mauretanien), J. Orn. III (H. 2): 206-236. Witherby, H. G. e¢ al. 1939. The Handbook of British Birds. Vol. 11. London: Witherby. The occurrence and the habitat of the Pale-bellied Mourner Rhytipterna immunda in Surinam by F’. Haverschmidt Received 30th August 1975 The Pale-bellied Mourner is known from only a few and widely separated localities in tropical South America and still is very rare in collections (Lan- yon & Fry 1972). As reported earlier (Haverschmidt 1954, 1968), I found it regularly on the savannas neat Zanderij, about 50 km south of Paramaribo, Surinam. In the period 1952-1973, I collected 10 specimens in that area, one in January, one in April, one in June, two in August, three in September and two in Novem- ber. Moreover, I have a sight record dated 23 September 1953, in savanna on the hills south of Albina on the left bank of the Maroni River, in the east of the country, while Dr. G. F. Mees collected a male on 31st October 1972, in savanna near Powakka about 10 km south-west of my locality near Zandetij. It therefore seems that the species may be not so rare as is generally sup- posed but, according to my experience in Surinam, it does have a rather restricted habitat. At Zanderij it lives at the edge and in the lower part of tall and dense bushes growing to a height of about 5—6 metres on sandy ground and interspersed with patches of open sand supporting a sparse vegetation of savanna grass (Fig. 1). The bushes form a rather narrow strip between open savanna and tall savanna forest, the demarcation between bush and forest being very sharp. This habitat matches the “cerradao”, the Brazilian term for the closed woodland between savanna and forest (Fry 1970). Birdlife is poor in these bushes, but apart from Rhytipterna two other species are quite charactersitic of the habitat: the most numerous is the Rufous-crowned Elaenia E/aenia ruficeps, while the Black Manakin Xenopipo atronitens is less common. I never found either of them in any other habitat in Surinam. In addition, in the undergrowth lives the White-fringed Antwren Formicivora grisea, while the outer fringe of the bushes adjoining the open savanna is the favoured habitat of the Red-shouldered Tanager Tachyphonus phanicius which invariably nests on the ground and often at the foot of a shrub. I never succeeded in finding the nest of Rhytipterna immunda, which is still unknown, but two males collected on 17 September and 2 November had greatly enlarged testes as had the male collected by Dr. Mees on 31 October, so that it is likely that the breeding season in Surinam is in the long dry season. The weight of my 10 specimens was: eight males 25-30 grams (average 28-7) and two females both 25 grams. ———————————————S-_-” - - - © 141 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] Habitat of Rhytipterna immunda, Zanderij, Surinam, December 1973. References: Fry, C. H. 1970. Ecological distribution of birds in Northeastern Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Ann. Acad. Brasi. Cienc. 42: 275-318. Haverschmidt, F. 1954. Rhytipterna immunda in Surinam. Auk 71: 326-327. — 1968. Birds of Surinam. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd. Lanyon, W. E. & Fry, C.H. 1973. Range and affinity of the Pale-Bellied Mourner (Rhytip- terna immunda). Auk 90: 672-674. Occurrence of the Western Sandpiper Ca/idris mauri at Lake Baikal U.S.S.R. by P. R. Colston Received 12th September 1975 Amongst a large collection of Charadriiformes presented to the British Museum by Henry Seebohm in 1892, is a typical specimen of Caldris mauri (B.M. Reg. No. 1892.8.1.27) still retaining most of its summer plumage. It was collected on 6th September 1869, at Kultuk, in Irkutsk Province [ Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 142 (51° 45’ N, 103° 44’ E), which lies on the S.W. shore of Lake Baikal. The bird was originally identified as a Red-necked Stint C. raficollis, and apparently had not been critically re-examined. The main part of the breeding range of C. mauri consists of the coastal tundras of Alaska, where it nests from the delta of the Yukon River to Point Barrow and on Nunivak island. An early reference by Nelson (1887) to its occurrence on the northeast coast of Siberia is cited by Dement’ ev e¢ a/. (1951) However it was Portenko who firmly established the first breeding records on the Chukotski Peninsula, so that this species was finally added to the avifauna of the U.S.S.R. The A.O.U. Checklist gives the wintering range of C. mauri as from the coast of California, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic coast from North Carolina, south to the Antilles, Central America, Venezuela and Peru. Its presence at Lake Baikal in the autumn suggests that some of the Siberian birds may winter in South East Asia. I have, however, been unable to trace any other passage records in either spring or autumn or wintering records of this species in the U.S.S.R., or indeed from the coastal areas to the south of Lake Baikal in S.E. Asia. There is one interesting record of a bird of this species in breeding plumage near Hobart, Tasmania, in September 1969 (Condon 1975). The evidence to date thus strongly suggests that the small population of Western Sandpipers breeding in north-eastern Siberia winters along the coasts of the U.S.A. and South America. I should like to thank Dr. D. W. Snow for confirming my identification of the specimen. References: American Ornithologists’ Union. 1957. Check-list of North American birds. Fifth Edition. oe aa 1975. Check-list of the birds of Australia, 1. INNon-Passerines. Melbourne: R Dement’ev, G. P. & Gladkov, N. A. 1951. The birds of the Soviet Union. Moscow: Soviet- skaya Nauka. Vaurie, C. 1965. The birds of the palearctic fauna. Non-Passerines. London: H. F. and G. Witherby. On the nest and eggs of the Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter minullus by J. F. RB. Colebrook-Robjent and Peter Steyn Received 6th September 1975 INTRODUCTION Liversidge in his important paper on the Little Sparrowhawk Adcciptier minullus (1962) in South Africa was the first to suggest that some collectors had mis-identified spotted eggs of the Little-banded Goshawk (or Shikra) Accipiter badius for the present species. Since then one of us (Steyn 1972) recorded only unmarked white eggs of A. minullus in Rhodesia. A number of standard works of reference are inconsistent when describing the eggs of A. minullus: 1. ‘Eggs three, greenish white, either plain or blotched with grey and brown; about 35 x 26 mm, larger in the south” (Mackworth-Praed & Grant 1962). 2. “Eggs... probably about 27 x 18 mm, but much larger measurements are quoted” (Mackworth-Praed & Grant 1970). 3. “Eggs... greenish white, two or three to the clutch. Average (38) 36-5 x 29°3 mm” (McLachlan & Liversidge 1970). 143 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 4. Winterbottom (1971) virtually repeats this, but the blotched egg attributed to A. minullus on Plate 6 passes without comment. 5. Brown & Amadon (1968) take their description of the eggs from McLachlan & Liversidge (1970). 6. A recent publication devoted almost entirely to describing the eggs of African birds (James 1970) adds further uncertainty. Therein clutches of one to three are given, all spotted and blotched, averaging (9) 38-3 x 30°8 mm. Our separate experiences with nesting A. minu/lus in the field are similar to Liversidge (1962) and this has led us to conduct an inquiry into the matter of egg colour and size. A questionnaire was sent to several ornitholo- gists likely to have knowledge of A. minullus nests. They were asked to supply details of all nests they had found (if any) including notes on con- struction and lining and a full description of eggs (clutch size, whether spotted or unmarked and measurements). They were also required to give similar details concerning nests and eggs of A. badius, the species most often confused with A. minullus in the field. At the same time all museums in southern Africa were asked to supply descriptions and measurements of A. minullus eggs in their collections. What follows is a summary of the answers. Observers. Out of 25 questionnaires sent we received 17 replies. Of these 14 admitted having personal field experience of breeding A. badius, but only seven had also found nests of A. minullus. In addition we were supplied with information concerning nests and eggs of A. minullus from two other observers who had not been sent the questionnaire. As expected, all eggs of A, minullus were described as white and unmarked and those of A. badius as more or less spotted. Significant details of nest construction will be sum- marized below. All records of A. minullus nests with eggs are given in Table I. Museums. Five Natural History museums in Africa claim to possess eggs of A. minullus, viz:— Durban Museum: Six eggs (c/1, c/1, c/4) all blotched, ranging from 36-3 X 30°6to 40-7 X 30 mm. Natal Museum: One egg, white unmarked; 37-8 x 28-4 mm. Queen Victoria Museum: Nine eggs, previously referred to (James 1970). Transvaal Museum: Twenty-eight eggs (2/1, 4/2, 6/3), 27 of which are described as “‘marked” ranging in size from 34:6 X 28-6to 39-8 X 30-7mm. One egg is white, unmarked and measures 34-0 X 28:2 mm. Umtali Museum: The oological collection here is part of the private collection of D. C. H. Plowes. There is one c/2z, white and unmarked, measuring 35:8 X 27:1 and 35-0 X 27:2 mm. In addition, the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology has one un- marked (but nest-stained) egg of A. minullus collected by V. G. L. van Someren in Kenya. One of us (J.C-R.) personally examined the nine alleged eggs of A. minullus in the Queen Victoria Museum, Salisbury. He was fortunate in being helped in this task by R. D. Jeffery who has a wide experience of nesting birds of prey. We found that one c/3 and one c/1 are apparently eggs of A. rujfiventris, another c/3 is likely A. badius, the remaining two eggs are difficult to deter- mine, but could be singles of A. badius and Elanus caeruleus. In the light of the discovery of these errors we have rejected all spotted eggs attributed to A. minullus in museum collections, a decision supported by recent evidence in the field by several independent observers. The five [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 144 unmarked eggs previously noted have been accepted by us and are included in Table 1. A third source is the $.A.O.S. Nest Record Card (N.R.C.) collection. We are indebted to Dr. J. M. Winterbottom for copying out all the 47 nest records referring to A. minullus; 18 of these are rejected as many are obvious errors for A. badius and others were doubtful. Fourteen are “possible”, but are regrettably unusable due to lack of detail. The remaining 16 are con- sidered authentic and the information thereon is summarized with our own. Nests. The nests of A. minullus are typically placed in upper forks of main branches, often high up and less variable in choice of site than A. badius. Typical situations are illustrated in Benson & White (1957) and Steyn (1972). However, one of us (J.C-R.), found a nest placed in a crotch of the main trunk of a gum tree, not near the top. A variety of trees are used for breeding, according to habitat, not necessarily in the vicinity of river valleys. Planta- tions of exotic gums Excalyptus spp. are a favourite habitat if these are sufficiently mature as records show from South Africa, Rhodesia and Zambia (Liversidge 1962; Colebrook-Robjent, unpubl. and N.R.C.). Curiously, this species is not one of the many raptors recorded utilizing gum trees by Smith (1974). The nests themselves vary considerably and fairly stout sticks may be used in the base. A nest 7 m up in a Mfuti Brachystegia bohmi in Zambia was not small (J. C-R.). The deep substantial base was covered with cobwebs (as in Melierax gabar) and may possibly have been built on the foundation of a nest of that species. The diameter of the cup in this case was 13 cm. Steyn (1972) gives 18 cm for the width of one of his nests. Many nests, however, are much lighter affairs and such descriptions as “flimsy and almost transparent” are common (Dr. C. R. Saunders pers comm; N.R.C. and our own experience). Characteristically, the nests are lined with very fine twigs and usually with at least a few green leaves (Plate 1a). The lack of any mention of lining in several records may be attributable to the oversight or non-agility on the part of observers. This is equally true of nest descriptions of A. badius where more frequently than otherwise no lining is recorded. The equally characteristic chips of bark lining used by A. badius was pointed out long ago by that cateful observer Rev. A. H. Paget-Wilkes (in Swann, 1924-36) and we can confirm that all nests of A. badius found by us have had these chips of bark in the lining (Plate 1b). As pointed out by Steyn (1973) this is a useful distinction between the nests of these two small accipiters. Eggs. Nearly always two; occasionally only a single egg is incubated, whilst clutches of three are very rare, only two incidents being known to us (see Table 1). Eggs are invariably unmarked white, sometimes tinged greenish when fresh and as incubation progresses, becoming nest-stained. Authentic spotted eggs of A. minullus are unknown to us and we have rejected all such records. Should an observer find a supposed nest of A. minullus containing spotted eggs we urge that the fullest possible proof be obtained before the record is published. The average size of 43 authentic eggs is found to be 34:8 X 28-1 mm, max: 37:8 X 28:4 and 37°3 X 31:6; min: 32:6 x 27:0 and 35:0 Xx 26:9 mm. This is significantly smaller than the 38 eggs averaging 36-5 x 29-3 mm quoted by McLachlan & Liversidge, which measurements appear to have been taken from incorrectly identified material in museum collections. Indeed, these erroneous figures are very close to the average of 59 eggs of A. badius (36-8 Xx 29:4) from the same source. We have measurements of a further 94 eggs of A. badius (1/4, 16/3, [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] PLATE I(a) Nest of Accipiter minullus showing white eggs, the fine sticks of the central depression and a few green leaves as lining. 4 Photos : Peter Steyn PLATE 1(b) Nest of Accipiter badius showing marked eggs and bark lining. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 146 20/2, 2/1) from South Africa, Rhodesia, Zambia and Malawi which average 37°0 X 29:6 mm. TABLE 1 White, unmarked eggs of Accipiter minullus 36.0 X 28.2 c/2 16.11.69 Zambia J. CR. 35-3 X 27-9 f 3A AZT 1 of c/2 18.9.70 Zambia J. CR. 3570 27 2 c/2 5.11.61 Rhodesia P.-S: 34.8 X 28.0 3522 KX 29-7 c/2 3.10.62 Rhodesia | eS 35:0, %- 26. 5 33x Sion e2Ge © c/2 12.10.61 Rhodesia W. W. Howells 33-1 X 2830 ZA dg TO c/2 27.11.66 Rhodesia W. W. Howells 34a See 2750 ; 335 § 0.28.0 c/2 1.10.— Rhodesia R. D. Jeffery 3 sega 237 20 3500 xX <27.1 c/2 21.10.52 Rhodesia D. C. H. Plowes 3510 < 2722 3740, X, 2030 c/2 15.10.50 Rhodesia C. R. Saunders 35-0 X 27.0 36.5. X22876 c/2 25.11.60 Rhodesia C. R. Saunders 35.7 X 28.6 3450 KD c/2 8.10.57 Rhodesia A. W. Wrage 330 728.6 3728 X 28.4 c/I —.—.96 South Africa F. W. FitzSimons SRO Ke 2002 c/I 29.11.34 South Africa F. Streeter 365K 27LC c/2 10.11.36 South Africa H. Pohl Beh A 27 | 2329°X 29.0 c/2 17-11-39 South Africa H. Pohl 33-0 X 27-9 4 36.6. X28 5 c/1 28.9.40 South Africa H. Pohl 35) Oe Kua 2Oin c/2 17.10.40 South Africa H. Pohl 32 (G.422770 35.8 X 29.9 c/3 7.10.46 South Africa H. Pohl 34.3 X 28.7 3402 °X 28.27 34.24. 2ON5 c/3 2.11.46 South Africa H. Pohl 34.0" X27 38 33.12 Xu 2e.3 35.6 X 27.8 c/2 15.9.69 South Africa H. Pohl 33.8. X 26 53 34.6 28.28 c/2 5-11.55 South Africa R. Liversidge 34.0 X 28.6 36. 3X, 28 x2 c/2 Balt .50 South Africa R. Liversidge 35-6 X 29.4 3B MC Tes G c/t —.10.19 Kenya V. G. L. van Someren ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We are greatly indebted to the following who answered our questionnaire and supplied us with information to write this paper: Dr. Dean Amadon, P. J. Ashton (Albany Museum), C. W. Benson, Mrs. Hazel Britton (East African Natural History Society; Nest Record Cards), R. K. Brooke (Durban Museum & Art Gallery), P. J. Buys (State Museum, Windhoek), A. B. Daneel, W. R. J. Dean, R. J. Dowsett, Sir Hugh Elliott, P. J. Ginn, W. W. Howells, H. D. Jackson (Umtali Museum), R. D. Jeffery, Dr. A. C. Kemp (Transvaal Museum), Lloyd Kiff (Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology), Dr. R. Liversidge (Alexander McGregor Memorial Museum), Mrs. Pat Lorber (Rhodesian Ornithological Society; Nest Record Cards), A. N. B. Masterson, R. Moore, B. V. Neuby-Varty, Capt. C. R. S. Pitman, 147 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] Dr. J. A. Pringle (Natal Museum), C. D. Quickelberge (East London Museum), A. van Reenan, Dr. C. R. Saunders, Rev. Dr. W. Serle, Dr. B. R. Stuckenberg (Natal Museum), C. J. Vernon, Dr. J. M. Winterbottom (South African Museum and South African Ornithological Society; Nest Record Cards) and Col. L. R. Wolfe. References: Benson, C. W. & White, C. M. N. 1957. Checklist of the birds of Northern Rhodesia. Lusaka, The Govt. Printer. a me & Amadon, D. 1968. Eagles, hawks and falcons of the world. London: Country Life ooks. James, H. W. 1970. Catalogue of the birds eggs in the collection of the National Museums of Rhodesia. Trustees Nat. Mus. of Rhod., Salisbury. Liversidge, R. 1962. The breeding of the Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter minullus. Ibis 104: 399-406. Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1962. Birds of the southern third of Africa. African handbook of birds. Series II, Vol. I. London: Longmans. — 1970. Birds of west central and western Africa. African handbook of birds. Series III, Vol. I London: Longman. McLachlan, G. R. & Liversidge, R. 1970. Roberts Birds of South Africa. Third ed. Trustees John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. Smith, K. D. 1974. The utilization of gum trees by birds in Africa. Jbis. 116: 155 :164. Steyn, P. 1972. The Little Sparrowhawk at home. Bokmakierie. 24 (1): 13-16. — 1973. Observations at a Little Banded Goshawk’s nest. Ostrich. 44: 140-141. Swann, H. K. 1924-36. Monograph of birds of prey. London: Wheldon & Wesley. Winterbottom, J. M. 1971. Priest's eggs of southern African birds. Revised ed. Johannesburg: Winchester Press. The race of the African Finfoot Podica senegalensis (Vieillot) in Ethiopia by C. Evrard and C. W. Benson Received 25th October 1975 The occurrence of Podica senegalensis in Ethiopia was recorded for the first time, near Bahar Dar, on the south side of Lake Tana, as recently as 1966 (Benson & Schiiz 1967). This, and two further sight records, from the Rift Valley and the south-west of the territory, were duly covered by Urban & Brown (1971), who considered it as probably resident, as it may reasonably be assumed to be throughout its range. Further records from near Bahar Dar are given by Sassoon (1974) and by Erard (1974). The latter collected the only specimen so far known from Ethiopia, now in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris. Due to a paucity of comparative material, he was unable to comment on its racial status. It was therefore lent to Benson for comparison with the material in the British Museum (Natural History), Tring, in which there are 55 specimens, representative of all the races recognised by White (1965). The Ethiopian specimen was sexed as a male, and has wing-length 209 mm; it weighed 550 g. Although its testes were somewhat enlarged (10 x 4 mm), it is not fully adult, still retaining some buff on the chest, with only a little bottle-green on the mantle, and white spotting on the upperparts as a whole still only sparse (compare with the description in Bannerman 1931). Also, although the feet were already “orange’’, the bill was “noir”, instead of mainly red, with only the culmen sepia, as in adults. It has a well developed white lateral neck stripe, and indeed in colour it cannot be distinguished from P. 5s. senegalensis ot P. s. petersii Hartlaub. The only difference between these forms is in size. Thus White gives the wing-length of the male of petersii as 220-252 as against 186-215 mm in the nominate form, likewise of [Bull, B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 148 the female 184-215 as against 163-183 mm. The sexing of the Ethiopian specimen is unquestionable, and was determined by Erard personally. Accordingly it can be placed with P. s. senegalensis. In both this form and petersii the adult male has the throat grey, and the fact that the Ethiopian specimen has the throat white can be attributed to its immaturity. No material was available in Tring from north-eastern Zaire or Uganda, although according to Chapin (1954) and White (1965) the small P. s. senegalensis ranges as far eastward as this region. The barrier to its extension into western Ethiopia would be relatively slight, whereas that across the subdesert steppe and even desert of northern Kenya (Keay 1959), with a complete lack of suitable habitat (perennial rivers with wooded banks), would be much more formidable. Certainly specimens from the highlands of Kenya, downwards to the mouth of the Tana River, and north-eastern Tanzania (Amani) are larger than any of P. 5. senegalensis, according to wing- lengths in mm from material in Tring and including also two Kenya males of P. 5s. somereni Chapin measured by Chapin (1954) :— GS 220, 225, 231, 232, 235 QO 192, 192 References: Bannerman, D. A. 1931. The birds of tropical West Africa 2. London: Crown Agents. Benson, C. W. & Schiiz, E. 1967. The African Finfoot in Ethiopia. Bul/. Brit. Orn. Cl. 87: 149-150. Chapa a P. 1954. Races of the African Finfoot (Aves, Heliornithidae). Amer. Mus. Novit. 1659. Erard, C. 1974. Notes faunistiques et systématiques sur quelques oiseaux d’Ethiopie. Bonn Zool. Beitr. 25: 76-86. Keay, R. W. J. (Ed.). 1959. Vegetation map of Africa. London: Oxford University Press. Sassoon, M. 1974. Finfoot Podica senegalensis in Ethiopia. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 94: 176. Urban, E. K. & Brown, L. H. 1971. A checklist of the birds of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: Haile Sellassie I University Press. Wale, C.M.N. 1965. A revised checklist of African non-passerine birds. Lusaka: Government rinter. The Status of the Least Grebe in Argentina by Robert W. Storer Received 29th August 1975 According to most, if not all, standard works, the range of the Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus) is said to extend south to Patagonia (e.g. Hellmayr & Conover, 1948: 23; Meyer de Schauensee, 1970: 10). This is in marked con- trast to the experience of recent observers, including Alexander Wetmore, Jorge R. Navas, Claes C. Olrog, Milton W. Weller, Philip S. Humphrey, Frank B. Gill, and myself, who have failed to find this species even as far south as Buenos Aires Province. Furthermore, a search of the collections of the major museums in North America, the British Museum (Natural History), the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, the Museo de La Plata and the Instituto Miguel Lillo has failed to produce a single specimen from as far south as Buenos Aires. This discrepancy prompted a critical assessment of the records from central and southern Argentina. As far as I can determine, the occurrence of the Least Grebe as far south as Buenos Aires Province is not substantiated. The reports in the literature apparently resulted from confusion of the Least Grebe with Rolland’s Grebe (Rollandia rolland chilensis). In winter plumage, the two are quite similar in size and general colouration, but adults of ché/ensis are readily identifiable in any plumage by the red iris and the black (or brown) and white plumes on 149 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] the side of the head. In addition, specimens can be identified by the characters of the primaries and tarsal scutellation described by Wetmore (1926: 43). The Least Grebe was first reported from Patagonia by Durnford, who visited the Chubut Valley from 31 October to 29 November, 1876, and from 5 September 1877 to 20 April 1878. In the report of his first visit, (18774: 45), he lists two species of grebe: Podiceps calipareus [=occipitalis| and “‘Podiceps rollandi’’. He collected two of the former, which I have examined in the British Museum, and he reported the latter to be “common in almost every pool and ditch in the valley”. In the report of his second visit (1878), he states (p. 389) that he “thought it advisable to go through the whole list of birds again”, and marked with an asterisk those species mentioned in the earlier account. In the second list (p. 405) are three grebes: Aechmophorus [=Podiceps| major, Podiceps calipareus (with an asterisk), and Tachybaptes (sic) dominicus (without an asterisk). Of the last, he merely says ‘‘Resident, and common in lagoons in the valleys of the Chupat, the Sengelen, and the Sengel”’. It is possible that he omitted to mention ro//and in the second paper, but I think it is almost certain that either he changed his mind about the identity of the common small grebe of the region or that the editors (Salvin & Sclater) changed the name of the species in the manuscript. (Sclater, at that time an authority on South American birds, appears to have confused the two species.) There is little doubt that Durnford referred to ro/land chilensis as “‘dominicus’’ in his two papers on the birds of the Buenos Aires region (1876: 1877b). On page 203 of the latter, he says of “Tachybaptes dominicus .. . Resident and common in lagoons and ‘arroyos’. The female is not quite so brightly coloured as the male, and the elongated feathers on the head are shorter in that sex”. The reference to the “‘elongated feathers” can only apply to ro//and as must the idea of the male being more brightly coloured. It is significant that ro//and is not mentioned in either paper, although a skin of ro//and taken by Durnford at Chirilcay, Buenos Aires Province, is correctly listed as ““Podiceps americanus’, a synonym of chilensis, by Ogilvie-Grant (in Sharpe & Ogilvie-Grant, 1898: 526), who listed no specimens of dominicus from Argentina. According to Dr. D. W. Snow (iz itt.), this bird, which I have also examined, is still in the British Museum. The data, in what is presumably Durnford’s hand, include the identification “Podiceps dominicus’’. The incorrect identification on the label has not been changed. Another skin of ro//and in breeding plumage, collected in June, 1876, at Lujan Bridge, Buenos Aires Province, was also misidentified on the label as dominicus. Like Durnford’s bird, this was correctly identified by Ogilvie-Grant (loc. cit.). The two other original reports of dominicus from Chubut are also unsatis- factory. In his report on a collection made by Gerling in western Chubut, Lynch Arribalzaga (1902: 159) remarked, under Podiceps dominicus, that Gerling obtained eggs of a grebe from Lago General Paz and that probably they were of this species, because Burmeister observed it in 1887 on a nearby lake in the valley of Carrenleufi. Burmeister evidently did not collect this species in Chubut and, as will be shown later, confused it with ro//and. These three unsatisfactory records appear to be the basis for all subsequent reports of the Least Grebe in Patagonia. Two reports of the Least Grebe from Buenos Aires Province are clearly in error. Withington (1888: 473) listed a specimen from Lomas de Zamora identified by Sclater as dominicus but did not mention ro//and. I have examined what is undoubtedly this specimen, a male ro//and in winter plumage (Brit. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 150 Mus. No. 92.6.29.48) collected by Withington at Lomas de Zamora on 17 April 1887. This bird also was correctly listed by Ogilvie-Grant (oc. cit.). Ina list of specimens taken at Estancia Espartillar, Buenos Aires Province, by A. H. Holland and examined by P. L. Sclater (Holland, 1890: 425) dominicus is included but ro//and is not. In a subsequent report on the collection, Holland (1892: 214) lists ro//and as “fairly common throughout the year”’ and dominicus as “common throughout the year’, but no specimens are listed. Holland states that the specimens on which this paper was based were “in neatly every case . . . submitted to Mr. Sclater for identification”. Two specimens which I have examined at the British Museum (Nos. 97.11.14.204 & 205), collected by Holland at Est. Espartillar in 1888 and 1890, are a male and female ro//and chilensis in winter plumage. Dr. Snow has kindly checked these speciments and reports (z# /izt.) that No. 204 was earlier identified as rolland and No. 205 as dominicus. White (1882: 629) reported collecting a female “dominicus” at Punta Lara, Buenos Aires Province, on 23 February 1881, and also reported a specimen of rolland from Alto Parana, Misiones. I have not been able to locate these specimens and consider the record of dominicus suspect, at least until the specimen can be found and its identity determined. Similarly, the pair collected on 13 December 1898, by Gibson near Cape San Antonio, Buenos Aires Province, and reported by him (1920: 86) to be in the Buenos Aires Museum are not there or were misidentified, for Navas (zn /tt.) says that there are no specimens of dominicus from Buenos Aires Province in that collection or in that of the Museo de La Plata. Gibson also gave a sight record for a pair of dominicus with young at the same place on 25 February, 1900. As Gibson was a long-time resident of the area and knew the abundant ro/land well, it is possible that these records are valid; still, they were made at a time when the two species were generally confused by ornithologists. Finally, there is the specimen taken in May, 1873, at Isla de Baradero, Buenos Aires Province, on which Enrique Lynch Arribalzaga based his description of Podiceps speciosus. 1 have been unable to locate this specimen and know of no one who has seen it. The original description was copied and republished by Wetmore (1926: 44), who referred it to domimicus, basing his decision on a note published in E/ Naturalista Argentino, Tomo I, Entr. 2a, February 1, 1878, p. 63, presumably by its editors, Felix Lynch Arri- balzaga and Eduardo Ladislao Holmberg. According to this note, the describer declared that he had made an error and that the specimen on which his description was based was an adult male of dominicus in breeding plumage. The note concludes with the statement that Dr. Burmeister agreed that Podiceps speciosus did not differ from P. dominicus. (I am indebted to Dr. Wetmore for sending me a copy of this note.) On comparing the original description of speciosus with skins of dominicus and chilensis, | was surprised to find that it could only apply to an adult of the latter in winter plumage. Some of the critical points which apply to chi/ensis and not to dominicus are the small crest, the chestnut-bordered feathers on the crown, back and wing coverts, the white ear coverts streaked with dark, the white sides of the head, the wing pattern, the light cinnamon underparts with a silvery reflection, and the carmine iris. Thus, until a valid specimen record can be found, the occurrence of the Least Grebe in Buenos Aires Province should be considered hypo- thetical. Among the more than 700 specimens of Least Grebe which I have ex- amined in collections in the United States and Canada, I have found but 12 151 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] from Argentina. In addition, Jorge R. Navas has sent me data for seven specimens in the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales and two in the Museo de La Plata, and Claes C. Olrog for 10 specimens in the Instituto Miguel Lillo. The 31 specimens are from Jujuy (2), Salta (14), Formosa (8), Misiones (2), Tucuman (2), Santiago del Estero (2) and San Luis (1). Olrog (in litt.) reports seeing Least Grebes in Salta, Jujuy, Tucuman, Santiago del Estero, Chaco, and northern Santa Fe but never “‘south of subtropical north- central Argentina”. Thus, with the exception of one specimen in the Museo de La Plata from Concaran, San Luis, all specimen records, and Olrog’s observations, are from north of Latitude 30° S, presumably the southern border of the species’ normal range. According to Olrog, Least Grebes are migratory in Argentina, hence, from time to time they may be expected to appear further south. Because of the change in allocation of the name Podiceps speciosus Lynch Arribalzaga, it becomes a synonym of Podiceps chilensis Lesson. The oldest valid name for the South American subspecies of the Least Grebe appears to be Colymbus dominicus brachyrhynchus Chapman (Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. . 12: 255, Dec. 23, 1899—type locality, Chapada, Matto Grosso, Brazil), and that race should be called Tachybaptus dominicus brachyrhynchus (Chapman). My reasons for placing this species in the genus Tachybaptus with the Old World dabchicks will be published elsewhere. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am grateful to Jorge R. Navas, Claes C. Olrog, David W. Snow, and Alexander Wetmore for important information, without which this note could not have been written, to Eugene Eisenmann, John Farrand, Jr., Joseph G. Strauch, Jr. and Gustaaf Van Vliet for independently checking the description of P. speciosus against specimens, and to the curators of the many collections in which I have been permitted to examine specimens of Least and Rolland’s grebes. References: Durnford, H. 1876. Ornithological Notes from the Neighbourhood of Buenos Ayres. lbis: 157-166. — 1877a. Notes on some Birds observed in the Chuput Valley, Patagonia, and in the neighbouring District. /bis: 27-46. — 1877b. Notes on the Birds of the Province of Buenos Ayres. /bis: 166-203. 1878. Notes on the Birds of Central Patagonia. /bis: 389-406. Ribena, E. 1920. Further Ornithological Notes from the Neighbourhood of Cape San Antonio, Province of Buenos Ayres. Part III. /bis: 1-97. Hellmayr, C. BL & Conover, B. 1948. Catalogue of Birds of the Americas and the Adjacent Islands. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool. Ser., 13, pt. 1, no. 2. Holland, A. H. 1890. On some Birds of the Argentine Republic. With notes by P. L. Sclater. Jbis: 424-428. — afo2. Short Notes on the Birds of the Estancia Espartilla, Argentine Republic. /bis: 193-214 Lynch Arribalzaga, E. 1902. Apuntes Ornitologicos. Il Aves del Chubut occidental colectadas u observadas por el Sr. Guillermo F. Gerling. Anal. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires, 8: 158-168. Meyer de Schauensee, R. 1970. A Guide to the Birds of South America. Wynnewood, Penn- sylvania. Shiite: R. B. & Ogilvie-Grant, W. R. 1898. Catalogue of the Plataleae, Herodiones, Stegano- podes, Pygopodes, Alcae and I mpennes in the Collection of the British Museum. London. Wetmore, A. 1926. ee on the Birds of Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Chile. U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 13 White, E. W. 1882. Notes ok 1 Birds collected in the Argentine Republic. With Notes by P. L. Sclater. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1882: 591-629. Withington, F. 1888. On the Birds of Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic. Ibis: 461-473. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 152 The taxonomic relationship of Buteo rufofuscus and B. augur by RB. K. Brooke Received 8th September 1975 Sclater (1918) placed Falco (Buteo) augur Riippell, 1836, as a race of B. rufo- fuscus (Forster), 1798, without discussion, while proposing a new form which he called B. jakal archeri, B. jakal (Daudin), 1800, being a junior synonym of B. rufofuscus. Sclater’s unargued decision has been followed since without, as far as I can ascertain, any discussion other than by Swann (1930) who rejected Sclater’s view. Since Swann’s work is not readily available it seems desirable to quote his remarks on p. 386— “Tam unable to agree with W. Sclater that this species ([augur]) is a form of Buteo rufofuscus. Although there are two phases in the present bird, white-bellied and black-bellied, neither has the least resemblance to the normal adult plumage of B. rufofuscus and it is only melanistic examples of the latter bird that can resemble the melanistic phase of B. augur, but melanism has nothing to do with specific identity.” I agree with Swann’s remarks as far as they go. TABLE Measurements in millimetres and weights in grams of Buseo rufofuscus and B. augur by sex and age classes wing length culmen from cere hind claw weight A. B. rufofuscus ad. gs 400-455 24-31 24-31 av. wee 421, s.d. 15-4 av. (13) 26-7, s.d. 2:0 av. (15) 27-4, s.d. 1:9 ad. 2° 420-455 25-30 25-32 av. ise 442, s.d. 12:5 av. (13) 28-1, s.d. 1-4 av. (13) 29-9, s.d. 1-8 ad. overall 390-455 24-31 24-32 av. Cu 429, s.d. 18:0 av. (37) 27-2, s.d. 1-8 av. (37) 28-4, s.d. 2:1 imm. overall 395-4 24-28 25-30 av. (3 421, s.d. 19-0 av. (10) 26-1, s.d. 1:4 av. (12) 27-4, s.d. 1:9 juv. overall 400-450 24-29 26-31 av. (9) 432, s.d. 17-3 av. (9) 26:7, s.d. 1-7 av. (10) 28-8, s.d. 1-4 Brown and Amadon (1968) give— 3d 393-410 (401) 22 423-444 (432) 1530 Swann (1930) gives— 3s 400-430 2 455 B. 3B. augur augur ad. go 395-450 25-28 25-30 710 av. me 420, s.d. 15-8 av. (15) 26-3, s.d. 1:2 av. a 26-5, s.d. 1:6 ad. 9° 430: 28-30 28-30 1190 av. ® 8, s.d. 10-7 av. (6) 29-2, s.d.0-8 av. 0) 28-9; sid: 1-1. ad. overall 395-4 25-30 5-3 av. @) 428, s.d. 16:8 av. (24) 27-2, s.d. 1:7 ai eae 27:5, s.d. 1:8. imm, overall 395-4 24-28 av. 6) a s.d. 23:8 av. (5) 26:0, s.d. 1-6 av. 8) 27-0, s.d. 2:9 juv. 29 420, 425 26, 27 Dil oen Brown & ims (1968) give— od 880-1160 99 435-466 1097-1303 Swann (1930) gives— 3d 400-428 29 435-475 Verheyen (1953) gives— 1246 406 99 425, 450 B. rufofuscus and augur are essentially the same size (see Table) and allo- patric. This does not by itself suffice to make them conspecific or even closely related phylogenetically. It strongly indicates that their autecologies are very similar and that this prevents their coexistence on the same ground. An examination of the pictures in Brown & Amadon (1968) which show virtually all members of the worldwide complex of Buteo forms does not | 153 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] reveal any species whose plumage pattern resembles that of adult B. rufo- fuscus with its brick red breast between a dark grey-brown throat and abdo- men whereas a number of forms, mostly in the new world resemble more or less closely B. augur with its dark throat and uniform pale breast and abdomen. The juvenal plumage of B. rufofuscus is similar to that of most juvenals in the genus which merely shows that the Fa/co rufofuscus of Forster has been correctly transferred to Buseo Lacépéde, 1799. Their calls are remarkably dissimilar (e.g. Brown & Amadon 1968). Their flight silhouettes are not identical: augur has a relatively straight trailing edge to the wing whereas rufofuscus has the innermost secondaries and the tertials shorter than the central secondaries so that the trailing edge of the wing comes into the body at an acute angle. A similar but more obvious silhouette is found in Aguila verreauxti Lesson which shares with B. rufofuscus, though to a more marked degree, the habit of hunting by slipping around the sharp corners of crags to surprise its prey. There is no record of a hybrid or intergrade between augur and rufofuscus where their ranges abut in the Transvaal and South West Africa. It seems to me that the foregoing points are better explained by regarding B. rufofuscus as a monotypic species of uncertain position within its genus. It appears that B. 7. archeri Sclater, 1918, which I have not seen, is a redder version of B. augur (Riippell), 1836, (see Brown & Amadon 1968), and cor- rectly placed as a race thereof in the combination Buteo augur archeri. In east Africa but not in Rhodesia a melanistic morph is found in B. augur. Brown & Amadon (1968) point out that in forested areas this morph provides some 50% of the individuals present. Following a suggestion to me by P. A. Clancey, I would explain this situation by postulating three races of B. augur during the last glaciation: white bellied birds “augur” in southeast Africa, black bellied birds in the forested areas of east Africa, red bellied birds “‘archeri” in Somalia. After the end of the last glaciation the increasing warmth and aridity of the climate allowed white bellied birds to move into the range of the black bellied ones and since the latter had not had time to achieve reproductive isolation a mixed population appeared with the white bellied birds generally predominant in numbers and particularly so in drier areas of east Africa. I believe that many morphs with a geographical locus within the overall range of their species are to be explained as subspecies in process of extinction, a process which theoretically should be common, cf. the discussion of geographic polymorphism in North American birds by Mayr & Short (1970, p. 89). Brown & Amadon (1968) give the impression that male B. a. augur are very short winged with a maximum measurement of 405 mm. If this is not a misprint for 450 mm, I would point out that east African males are not shorter winged than Rhodesian ones. The Durban Museum has three adult males from Kenya sexed personally by J. G. Williams and their wing lengths are 420, 430 and 445 mm. The greater male standard deviations given in the Table show that there isa tendency for female B. rufofuscus to be sexed as male and a greater tendency for this to happen in B. augur. Friedmann (1930) in discussing Terathopius ecaudatus (Daudin) remarks that African skinners often sex female raptors as males since they often have two apparently functional ovaries which are then confused with the two testes. This situation means that the sexual dimorphism in the characters measured is, in fact, greater than the figures suggest. However, I do not believe that measurement of these characters permits the sexing of specimens in the absence of other data and feel it would be unwise [Bull. B.O.C. 7975: 95(4)] 154 at this stage to reclassify all alleged males above a certain size as females. Although the panel is a small one, there is no suggestion that juvenals have not completed the growth of their wings, culmens and hind claws about the time they leave the nest. Thus juvenal specimens may properly be included in overall figures when desired. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am obliged to Mr. M. P. S. Irwin of the National Museum of Rhodesia in Bulawayo, Mr. C. Jacot-Guillarmod of the Albany Museum in Grahams- town and Dr. A. C. Kemp of the Transvaal Museum in Pretoria for facilities for study of the collections in their charges. I am indebted to Sir Hugh Elliott for his critique of an earlier version of this contribution. References: Brown, L. H. & Amadon, D. 1968. Eagles, hawks and falcons of the world, 2. Country Life Books, Feltham. Friedmann, H. 1930. Birds collected by the Childs Frick expedition to Ethiopia and Kenya Colony. Bull. U.S. Nain. Mus. 153, patt 1. Mayr, E. & Short, L. L. 1970. Species taxa of North American birds. Publ. Nuttall Orn. Cl. No. 9 Sclater, W. at 1918. A new form of buzzard from Somaliland. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 39: 17-18. Swann, H. K. 1930. A monograph of the birds of prey, 1. Wheldon & Wesley, London. Verheyen, R. 1953. Exploration du Parc National del’ Upemba 19 oiseaux. Inst. Parcs. Natn. Congo Belge, Brussels. Okinawa bird notes by Murray D. Bruce Received 13th October 1975 Short (1973a) recorded his observations from a visit to Okinawa, in February 1972, during his studies there of the Okinawa Woodpecker Sapheopipo noguchii (1973b). The present paper supplements information contained there- in and is based on my visits to Okinawa from 27 March to 1 April and 7 to 10 April 1975; the intervening period was spent on Amami Oshima (Bruce 1975). Lo the general references covering Okinawa given by Short (1973a, b) may be added two of interest, Ono (1953) and Arakaki (1975). I recorded 51 species, 21 of them observed by Short (on eight of which some additional notes are included below, the remaining 13 being listed at the end of the paper). Six species listed are not recorded for the island by the Ornithological Society of Japan (OSJ) (1974); four of these were previously known from Okinawa (Arakaki op. ci¢.; in prep.; pers. comm.); the other two represent a new record, with one eatlier, doubtful sighting by Mr. H. Arakaki (Mus- cicapa sibirica), and an apparently established but unrecorded feral colony of Trichoglossus haematodus around Naha. In comparison with Amami Oshima, there is far less forest remaining on Okinawa and most of it is found in the north of the island (cf. Okinawa Pref. Govt. 1974). SYSTEMATIC LIST Bubulcus ibis: one, Hentona; two, Okuma, on northwest coast; rice paddies. Egretta alba: 35+, Manko, south of Naha; estuarine area. Egretta intermedia: one, Manko; six, Okuma. Egretta garzetta: 75+, Manko; one, Okuma; small numbers along west coast. 155 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] Egretta eulophotes: one, Okuma, associating with EF. intermedia and E. garzetta. Not listed for Okinawa by OSJ (1974: 32), but possibly recorded at least once previously (H. Arakaki pers. comm.). I separated this bird from E. garzetta by the yellow of the bill, especially of the lower mandible, and the shorter, darker legs; but with only a hint of the characteristic lanceolate crest plumes. However, a closer approach to the bird, in good light, although the sky was overcast, confirmed the last-mentioned character. The OS] listed three recent sight records of this rare species for Japan, where it is con- sidered a straggler. Its specialized ecology (Murton 1972) suggests that the individual identified at Okuma may have been attracted by the presence of other egrets. The area, near the coast, featured open fields, interspersed with rice paddies. Egretta sacra: white phase: one, Senaga, southwest coast; one, south of Nago, central-west coast; dark phase: one, Hentona; one near Nago. Platalea minor: one, Senaga; coastal marsh. Not listed for Okinawa by OSJ (1974: 37), but first recorded by Arakaki in 1973 (1975: 90, 119). Anas platyrhynchos: six, Manko. Anas peocilorhyncha: ten, Manko. Anas crecca: four, Manko. Anas strepera: one, Manko. Not listed for Okinawa by OSJ (1974: 51) and apparently recorded for the first time in 1975 (H. Arakaki pers. comm.). Anas acuta: six, Manko. Not listed for Okinawa by OSJ (1974: 52), but previously recorded (Arakaki 1975: 57, 119). Falco tinnunculus: one near Hentona, flying over a field. Listed only as a sight record for Okinawa by OSJ (1974: 79) and illustrated in Arakaki (1975 : 0). Pluvialis dominica: one, Senaga; three south of Hentona. INumenius madagascariensis: two, Nago Bay. Limosa limosa: six, Senaga. In the Ryu Kyus it is only known from Okin- awa (sight records) and Ishigaki (OSJ 1974: 121). Actitis hypoleucos: five, Nago Bay; two, Hentona; one, Naha. Tringa nebularia: 20+-, Senaga. Tringa ochropus: one, Chinen, southeast coast. Tringa glareola: 37, Okuma. Gallinago megala: 84+-, Okuma. Sterna albifrons: 12, Senaga. Columba livia: fairly common around Naha. Treron sieboldii: four, Yonaha Mountain; forest canopy. Not listed for the Ryu Kyu Islands by OSJ (1974: 162), but recorded from Okinawa by Short (1973a) and Arakaki (1975: 28, 122); also from Amami Oshima (Bruce 1975). Treron formosae: small numbers, Yonaha Mountain. Two observed facing each other in a tree on separate branches about one metre apart. Both birds moved their downward pointing tails slowly up and down through an arc of about 40°. The first bird (male?) bowed forward, holding the head in a lowered, almost horizontal, position during the tail-wagging behaviour. The second bird suddenly stopped the tail movements while the first bird con- tinued, retaining the head in a bowing posture. After a further 15 seconds the first bird also stopped. The two birds then remained motionless and quiet for a few minutes before flying to another tree. During the display the wings [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 156 were held against the body, no movement of the bill was noted and no calls heard. The displays of 77veron species are very little known, but the vertical tail-wagging movements apparently replace the wing twitching behaviour of typical pigeons and are probably characteristic of the group (Goodwin 1970). Trichoglossus haematodus : a small feral population of this lorikeet is apparently established in the Naha area. Single birds seen and heard twice in Naha and a flock of about ten flew overhead near Senaga. Not mentioned in OSJ (1974). The origin of the birds and date of introduction are undetermined (H. Arakaki pers. comm.); probably escaped captive birds. Sapheopipo noguchii: two or three seen and heard in the Yonaha Mountain area. I visited one of the areas covered by Short (1973b) during his wood- pecker studies, where I heard calls and drumming and briefly observed one bird. Mr. Arakaki pointed out two recent foraging sites, which were photo- graphed; both well hacked rotting stumps. In discussing the conservation of Sapheopipo, Short predicted that the reversion of Okinawa to Japan (May 1972) might have adverse effects on the population through increased habitat destruction. In the three year period that has elapsed since then, I can, however, report that the situation has improved in the Yonaha area. Wood- cutting activities have virtually ceased, some of the forested areas adjacent to the preserve are to be maintained for the conservation of this endangered woodpecker and its numbers in the Yonaha area may have slightly increased with the decreasing amount of human disturbance of the habitat (H. Arakaki & R. Gakiya pers. comm.). Short estimated the total population as from 20 to as many as 6o pairs. Unfortunately, feral pigs were found to be seriously damaging potential ground foraging sites. Dendrocopos kizuki: one, possibly two, Yonaha Mountain. The one briefly observed was in a forested ravine at about mid-canopy level. It was part of a small mixed foraging flock, which also included Zosterops japonica (6+), Parus major (3+-) and Pericrocotus divaricatus (2). Such flocking behaviour is apparently typical of this species on Okinawa during its foraging activities (H. Arakaki pers. comm.). Yamashina (1961: 131) noted its mixing with tits (Parus spp.) in the non-breeding season. Hirundo rustica: small numbers from Senaga to near Hentona. Hirundo tahitica: two each at Naha, near Nago and Hentona. Short (197384) recorded this species as common, but noted no H. rustica at that time. Short also stated that this species does not occur in Taiwan. However, it has been recotded there (Severinghaus, et a/. 1970; pers. obs.). Motacilla cinerea: several, along western coast. Pericrocotus divaricatus: 6+, Yonaha Mountain. In outer branches of trees; often calling, both perched and in flight. Fypsipetes amaurotis: Short (1973a) noted this species as common in the dense vegetation of woods, but it is also quite common in towns and else- where. Erithacus komadori: common, Yonaha Mountain. Variations of the song types transcribed by Short (1973a) were noted as—“‘see-ert, see-ert, see-see- see’; ““peet, peet, tsee, teeoo-teeoo-teeoo”’ ; ““tseee, tsece, tseee’’. The first two having a thin, warbled quality and the third being very high pitched. Phoenicurus auroreus: one heard, Yonaha Mountain, where also listed by Short (1973a) and more recently identified by Arakaki. Call noted as a series of high-pitched notes, almost metallic in tone, with the last two notes shorter and closer together, “‘veet... veet...veet...veet...tse-er... tse-er”. 157 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] Cettia diphone: common in wooded areas. Short (1973a) described only one “simple song” for this bird. Two heard by me on Yonaha Mountain were transcribed as follows: “wit-see tik, chip-chip-chip’’, clear, warbled notes repeated, sometimes with slight variations, for nearly 45 seconds; “‘w7t-chew, wit-chew, chi-chi-chi, tsip tsip tsip”, softer in tone than the preceding and usually only heard once or twice in succession. Musicapa sibirica: one, Yonaha Mountain, in the forest under-storey of a ravine near a small creek. Not listed for Okinawa by OSJ (1974: 275), but at least one previous, though questionable, sighting (H. Arakaki pers. comm.). I was previously familiar with M. /atirostris and M. griseisticta from the Philippines, the two species with which M. szbirica may be confused in the field. I identified it by the dark blackish upperparts and the faint streaking on the breast, clearly observed when the bird briefly hopped onto a well lit portion of a branch; M. J/atirosiris is a lighter brownish above and /M. griseisticta has more prominent streaking below (cf. Yamashina 1961: 94). In the Ryu Kyu Islands all three species are known by only a few records. On Okinawa, M. /atirostris, though not listed there by OSJ (1974: 277), has been recorded occasionally (H. Arakaki pers. comm.). Corvus macrorhynchos: Short (1973a) only recorded a few at Yonaha Mountain, but I noted it as fairly common and widespread. ADDITIONAL SPECIES RECORDED Ardea cinerea, Gallinula chloropus, Pluvialis squatarola, Columba janthina, Streptopelia orientalis, Otus bakkamoena, Monticola solitarius, Turdus pallidus, Cisticola juncidis, Parus varius, P. major, Zosterops japonica, Passer montanus. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am especially indebted to Mr. Hideo Arakaki of the Conservation Sec- tion, Okinawa Prefecture Government, Japan for his invaluable assistance with field work on Okinawa and also the provision of various facilities and services during my time on the island and particularly for translating parts of his published work. Mr. Ryosei Gakiya kindly permitted me to visit private forest areas in the Yonaha region. I am most grateful to these and others, notably Mr. Nortitaka Ichida of the Wildbirds Society of Japan, for their assistance. Dr. S. L. Olson kindly criticized the manuscript. References: Arakaki, H. 1975. Nature of Okinawa: The birds. Shinsei. 128pp. (In Japanese). — Inprep. A list of the birds of the Okinawa Prefecture. (In Japanese). Bruce, M. D. 1975. Notes on birds of Amami Oshima. Bu//. Brit. Orn. Club 95(4): 158-160. Goodwin, D. 1970. Pigeons and doves of the world. 2nd ed. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.), Publ. 663: vi + 446pp. Mutton, R. tae. The ecology and status of Swinhoe’s Egret, with notes on other herons in southeastern China. Biol. Conserv. 4(2): 89-96. Okinawa Pref. Govt. 1974. Forestry in Okinawa. Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry. opp. (In Japanese). Ono, M. 1953. A list of the birds of Okinawa. Ryukyu Forestry Experimental Institute. 27pp. Ornithological Society of Japan, The, 1974. Check-list of Japanese birds. 5th ed. Tokyo: Gakken Co. Severinghaus, S. R., Kang, K. & Alexander, P. S. 1970. A guide to the birds of Taiwan. Taipei: China Post. xxi + 130pp. Short, L. L. 1973a. Notes on Okinawan birds and Ryukyu Island zoogeography. [bis 115: 264-267. — aah. pines relationships and conservation of the Okinawa Woodpecker. Wilson Bull. 85: 5-20. Pashanbicia: Y. Birds in Japan. A field guide. Tokyo: Tokyo News Service Ltd. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 158 Notes on birds of Amami Oshima by Murray D. Bruce Received 13th October 1975 I visited Amami Oshima (718-44 km?), the largest of the northern Ryu Kyu Islands of Japan, during 1 to 7 April 1975, principally to study the Amami Jay Garrulus lidthi, endemic to the area (Bruce in prep.). Since Hachisuka & Udagawa’s report in 1953, information on the avifauna has been very limited and I have therefore summarised my notes of the species observed. I re- corded 36 species, including five not listed by the Ornithological Society of Japan (OSJ) (1974). Amami Oshima, situated about 380 km south of Kyushu, southern Japan, is still fairly well forested (84% as of 21 March 1971, Kagoshima Pref. Govt., 1971: 175); the dominant forest types being pines and “shz” (particularly species of Castanopsis, Pasania (Lithocarpus) and Quercus; cf. Hatusima & Amano 1967). The island is quite hilly, with the higher areas (up to 695 metres) in the south, and the airport located on the northeastern peninsula. I travelled from the main town of Naze, in the north-central part of the island, south to Asato and along the southern coastal area through Sumiyo to Shinokawa, Yui, Kunetsu, Koniya and Seisui in the southeast. I returned along the northern side of the island, stopping near Yuwan in the southwest and Kinsakubaru Reserve, near Naze. SYSTEMATIC LIST Egretta sacra: one, Naze; one, Kunetsu (both dark phase). Nycticorax nycticorax: one flushed from a small stream at dawn near Seisui, others heard. Accipiter gentilis: three in tree tops of forest edge along roadside near Kunetsu. Two were together and the other was further along. Not listed for Amami, but recorded from Ishigaki by OSJ (1974: 66). Also recorded from Okinawa and Zamami (H. Arakaki pers. comm.). Butastur indicus: one ot two, Seisui; one, Asato. The bird at Seisui was observed to swoop at an Amami Jay (Bruce in prep.). Circus cyaneus: one neat Naze; two near Yuwan. Circus aeruginosus: one perched on a pole at Shinokawa, and later observed flying low over an open field. Not listed for Amami, but recorded from the southern Ryu Kyus (Miyako south) by OS] (1974: 75); also recorded from Okinawa (H. Arakaki pers comm.). Easily separated from C. cyaneus in flight by the absence of white on the rump (cf. Yamashina 1961: 140). Both species also occur together in the Ryu Kyus on Ishigaki and Iriomote (OSJ 1974: 74-75); also Okinawa (H. Arakaki pers. comm.). Falco peregrinus: one, Seisui; one, Asato. Rallina eurizonoides: one heard at Seisui; call identified later by Mr. H. Arakaki. I transcribed the call as a thin, nasal ‘kw-uk, ku-uk, Ru-ukR...?. Ali & Ripley (1969: 156) recorded various calls, with a “kek-kek, kek-kek, .. .” type seeming most similar to the call I noted, but not repeated for as long. As it was just after dawn, the bird was presumably terminating its calling from the previous night. The locality was in overgrown fields near a small creek. Not recorded for Amami but only the southern Yaeyama group by OSJ (1974: 91). Also recorded from Okinawa (Short 1973) and the Daito Islands (H. Arakaki pers. comm.). There has been some confusion regarding the orthography of the specific appellation of this rail. The form “‘eurzzonordes”’ 159 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] follows the original description by Lafresnaye (1845), as used by OSJ (loc. cit.). The use of the incorrect form, “euryzonoides”, undoubtedly originated from Sharpe (1894: 78). Limosa lapponica: one, Yui, feeding on a muddy area near the road. I flushed it to be sure; the barred upper tail was distinctive. Not listed for Amami, but recorded from Okinawa, Miyako and Ishigaki, with two sub- species noted for the latter island (baveri and menzbieri), by OSJ (1974: 121). Actitis hypoleucos: one, Naze; one, Kunetsu; two, Asato. The Asato birds were feeding from rocks in a small river, where one was seen to regurgitate an item it had swallowed. Columba janthina: one, neat Naze. It flew over a road between two forested areas on a ridge east of the town. Columba livia: common in Naze; also small numbers in other towns and villages. Streptopelia orientalis: fairly common in the lowlands. Treron sieboldii: two birds of this species were flushed in thick forests at Seisui. They were generally pale greenish in coloration, revealing in flight the yellowish of the upper breast and purplish of the wing coverts, in contrast to the general dark green of 7. formosae (cf. Arakaki 1975: 29-30). OSJ (1974: 162) do not record this species for the Ryu Kyu Islands. Goodwin (1970: 325) included the Ryu Kyus on his range map of the species and Short (1973) recorded it from Okinawa. Treron formosae: small flocks of 6-8 at Asato and Seisui. Its long, drawn- out, deep, mournful whistles were heard a number of times at Seisvi. The calls sounded like extended versions of the mournful notes of T. steboldii (Goodwin /oc. cit.). One flock of 8 at Asato kept in a tight group as the birds flew from one tree to another to feed. Hirundapus caudacutus: one over a field near the airport. Hirundo rustica: small numbers at Seisui and Sumiyo. Hirundo tahitica: small numbers at Naze; one, Asato; one near Yuwan. Motacilla cinerea: small numbers at Seisui, Asato and Naze. Anthus hodgsoni: one flushed from a field at Seisui. Hypsipetes amaurotis: common and widespread. Erithacus komadori: fairly common and widespread. It tends to keep low in the undergrowth of forest, forest edge and near recent and old clearings. Short (1973) recorded two main song types, and these were often heard, as well as variations (Bruce 1975). A male observed at Seisui hopped along a thick branch keeping its tail held downward, and only occasionally flicking it to the more characteristic upward position of robins. Monticola solitarius: one, Seisui; five, Naze area. All but one were males. Turdus chrysolaus: six, Koniya, in a small flock with 7. pallidus; one neat Yuwan. Turdus pallidus: fairly common in forest, forest edge and clearings. At Koniya, four in a small flock with 7. chryso/laus. One, near Naze, observed noisily turning over leaves at the base of a stump, occasionally plucking an item of food. Its foraging was so intensive that I was able to approach it quite closely before it flew off, always keeping close to the ground, from which I usually flushed the species. Cettia diphone: fairly common in forest edge and grassy second growth. Its singular chipping notes were often heard at Seisui, quite a contrast to the songs I heard on Okinawa (Bruce 1975). Cisticola juncidis: one ot two, Seisui. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 160 Ficedula narcissina: one female, Seisui. Terpsiphone atrocaudata: Kinsakubaru Reserve: call heard attributed to this species, a loud, clear, ascending series of whistled notes, confirmed later by a recording (cf. Yamashina 1961: 93). I briefly observed what was probably the short-tailed female of this species flying through the fairly dense forest canopy. ire varius: two, probably more, Seisui; one, Naze. Apparently as com- mon as P. major, but it is a more secretive species, preferring the thicker undergrowth of forest and forest edge. Parus major: common and widespread. Often observed feeding in small bushes and the outer branches of trees. Also noted singing from exposed branches, especially early in the morning. Zosterops japonica: common and widespread. Popular as a cage bird and often locally trapped. Emberiza spodocephala: two, possibly three, near Naze. Passer montanus: common in towns and villages. Garrulus lidthi: common and widespread; the most conspicuous and dominant element of the avifauna. Its grating calls were often heard and although usually encountered in forest areas, it occurs in all types of habitats. A more detailed account of this interesting species will appear elsewhere (Bruce in prep.). Corvus macrorhynchos: common and widespread. A flock of 56 observed ovethead at Seisui; 30+ observed on the beach at Koniya. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special thanks to the Oshima Branch Office Forestry Section of the Kagoshima Prefecture Government of Japan through its director, Mr. Itsuo Funakawa, and his staff, particularly Messrs. Yasuhiro Takasaki and Mitsut- eru Miyuki; also Messrs. Isao Sato, Tadahito Tanaka and Osamu Toyama for invaluable assistance during field work. Mr. Miyuki also assisted with accommodation arrangements and acted as an interpreter for me and I am indebted to him for this. Mr. Hideo Arakaki of the Forestry Office of Naha Okinawa, kindly initiated arrangements on Amami for me and I benefited from discussions of the Ryu Kyu avifauna with him. Dr. S. L. Olson kindly criticized the manuscript. References: Ali, S. & Ripley, S. D. 1969. Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan, etc. Vol. 2. London: Oxford Univ. Press. Atakaki, H. 1975. Nature of Okinawa: The birds. Shinsei. 128pp. (In Japanese). Bruce, M.D. 1975. Okinawa bird notes. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 95(4): 154-157. Goodwin, D. 1970. Pigeons and doves of the world, 2nd ed. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist. ), Publ. 663: vi+ 446. pp pepe ae 9 & Udagawa, T. 1953. Contribution to the ornithology of the Ryu Kyu Islands. Quart. Journ. Taiwan Mus. 6 (3-4): 141-279. Hatusima, S. & Amano, T. 1967. Flora of Okinawa. Rev. ed. Okinawa Assoc. Biol. Educ. 218pp. Kagoshima Pref. Govt. (Oshima Branch Office), 1971. General description of the Amami Islands. (In Japanese). Lafresnaye, M. de. 1845. Description de quelques nouveaux oiseaux de l’Inde. Rev. Zoo/. 8: 367-369. Ousinblogies Society of Japan, The, 1974. Check-list of Japanese birds. 5th ed. Tokyo: Gakken Co. Sharpe, R. B. 1894. Catalogue of birds in the British Museum. Vol. 23, London: British Museum. Short, L. L. 1973. Notes on Okinawan birds and Ryukyu Island zoogeography. [bis 115: 264-267. Yamashina, Y. 1961. Birds in Japan. A field guide, Tokyo: Tokyo News Service Ltd. 161 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] Observations and comments on two stream-adapted birds of Papua New Guinea by Ronald I. Orenstein Received roth November 1975 During a brief visit to Papua New Guinea in October 1973, I made obser- vations on the Riverine Flycatcher Monachella mulleriana (Muscicapinae) and the Torrent-lark Gra/lina (Pomareopsis) bruijni (Grallinidae). These two species are found almost entirely along the beds of fast-flowing streams, where they fill the niche occupied by such birds as dippers (C7ne/us), forktails (Enicurus) and water redstarts (Chaimarrornis and Rhyacornis) in other parts of the world. Only scraps of information have been recorded on the be- haviour of the Papuan birds (Diamond 1972; Mayr & Gilliard 1954; Mayr & de Schauensee 1939; Rand & Gilliard 1967; Mackay 1970). I was inter- ested in whether they shared features characteristic of stream birds in other areas—specifically tail-wagging or similar activity, and high-pitched or other- wise penetrating vocalisations. Elsewhere (Orenstein in prep., a) I will be attempting to interpret these behaviours on a worldwide scale; however, as the paper cited is very general in its coverage, | am presenting summaries of my field observations on the Papuan stream birds here. I observed Riverine Flycatchers along two streams in the foothills of the Astrolabe Mountains near Port Moresby: the Goldie River, on the Kokoda Trail near Uberi (10 October), and Ei Creek in the Sogeri area (11-12 October). Torrent-larks were also present on Ei Creek and I briefly observed a pair of them on Mount Kaindi, near Wau, on 18 October. Monachella mulleriana On the Goldie River, I watched a party of two adult and two immature Riverine Flycatchers, presumably a family group. The river at this point was about 13 m wide, with a rippling flow interrupted by scattered large boulders. The birds perched on rocks, on limbs up to 5 m over the water, or on a cable- car wire stretched across the river. They foraged by aerial flycatching, and at times flew several metres from the bank. The bulk of their time, however, was spent on or above the river bed. They called frequently—a high-pitched, thin and penetrating ‘tee-tee-tit’, the number of notes varying from one to six. This call, often given in flight, was far-carrying and easily heard over the background noise of the waters. In fact, so similar in this respect is the call to that of other stream birds (e.g. the Plumbeous Water Redstart Rhya- cornis fuliginosus—pets. obs.) that I was able to locate the species by voice before I ever saw one. While perched, particularly on rocks, the birds frequently gave a single bob of the tail, cocking it up through a shallow angle and returning it to a resting position. A shallow tail-bob was often given just after landing. If two birds sat together, they would tail-bob alternately. I observed the two immatures sitting side by side, facing opposite directions and giving alternate tail-bobs several times in succession. In this context the tail-bob almost certainly serves as some sort of contact or reinforcement signal between members of a group. The tail was not fanned during bobbing. On Ei Creek, a stream quite similar in appearance and dimensions to the Goldie River, I observed a group of two adults and one immature on 11 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 162 October. Their behaviour was similar to that of the Goldie River birds. They indulged in frequent tail-bobbing, with the wings folded either above or below the tail. On 12 October I found either the same party or an adjacent one, now with four birds; the fourth bird was probably an immature, but it was not well seen. They often sat motionless, usually on a rock in midstream but at times on a branch. Tail-bobbing was performed primarily on landing or as part of the display described above, in which two birds sat together, usually facing opposite ways, and alternately gave single tail-bobs. These flycatchers are extremely conspicuous against the dark background of the stream. The grey of the back is not very noticeable in the field, the birds appearing entirely black and white. In flight over the stream, the white of the body almost gleams. The immatures differed from the adults in having pink legs, black lores and eye-stripe, and a dusky crown streaked with white. Immatures on the Goldie River showed no trace of the large white supra- loral spot; the immature at Ei Creek was just beginning to develop it. Grallina bruijni A male Torrent-lark was observed, though at a considerable distance, for several minutes along Ei Creek on the morning of 11 October, on the same stretch as that occupied by the party of Monachella. The two species often approached one another closely, with no observed interactions between them. On the afternoon of 12 October I watched the female at closer range for about 30 minutes in the same area. This species is very much a miniature of the Australian Mudlark Gra/lina cyanolewca in its posture, body shape and strutting gait. Both sexes foraged methodically over the rocks of the stream bed, apparently taking prey both from the rocks and the surface of the water. Although where possible they would lean down from a rock to the water’s edge, they showed no hesitation in entering the water at least to belly level (contra Rand & Gilliard 1967). Both birds eventually flew off upstream with a slow, buoyant flight; the male short-cutting across a bend, but the female following the course of the creek at the same point. In addition the female made several short fluttering flights from boulder to boulder, its white rump and shoulder-patches flashing conspicuously. Both sexes kept up a continual tail-wagging while exploring the stream bed, to such an extent as to give the tail almost a life of its own. The male appeared to move its tail up and down through a shallow angle; this activity was kept up even when the bird paused to preen. The female’s tail-wagging appeared more complex, though I should point out that it was observed at much closer range. Its tail was more often moved from side to side, through an angle of about 30°, than vertically. At times the tail was moved in a flattened circle, the result of simultaneous horizontal and vertical movements. Side-to-side tail-wagging was usually performed with the tail slightly depressed, rendering the moving, white rump more conspicuous. Once, upon landing, the bird gave three especially vigorous side-to-side wags, followed by two or three vertical ones. Vertical tail-wagging on its own, however, was neither as frequent nor as vigorous as the horizontal movements. I heard no vocalisations from the female. However, the male called several times, a nasal, buzzy ‘k-zaaat’, not as piercing as the call of Monachella but still audible over the noise of the stream. Accompanying each call was a striking display: the bird raised its head, pointing the bill upwards, and quickly spread its broad wings to their full extent, holding them aligned vertically with the underside facing anteriorly. The wings were closed on 163 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] completion of the call. This display, vaguely reminiscent of that of a Riflebird (Ptiloris sp.) (Gilliard 1969), presumably renders the white shoulder patches most conspicuous when the bird is viewed from behind. However, the bird always faced me when calling (certainly fortuitously); even though the underside of the wing is wholly black, I still found this wing-flash most arresting. Diamond (1972) noted an apparently similar display given by a bird facing two others. The pair of birds seen briefly at Wau called with a harsh ‘kzzt’? when flushed from a tiny rivulet. DISCUSSION Both the Riverine Flycatcher and the Torrent-lark possess behaviours similar to those of many other stream-adapted species. In addition, the highly conspicuous, black and white plumage of these birds is reminiscent of Enicurus and other occupants of rushing streams. Elsewhere, (Orenstein in prep., a). I will discuss the adaptive significance of such features. Here it is sufficient to say that the observations cited support the contention that contrasting plumage, tail-wagging or similar behaviour, and penetrating calls are universal, or nearly so, in birds of rushing waters, and that they together represent adaptive responses to stream conditions. Primarily, they act as advertising or contact signals adapted to overcome the difficulty of intraspecific communication against the background noise of their environ- ment. It is difficult to interpret the alternate tail-bobbing of Monachell/a or the exaggerated wing-flash accompanying vocalisation in Gra/l/ina as anything other than such an advertising or contact display. In the case of the “‘song- display” of the Torrent-lark there is probably an aggressive or territorial component, although the display observed by Diamond (Joc. cit.) was apparently between members of a family group. Diamond does not say whether or not any vocalisation accompanied this display. In any case, the “song-display” is considerably more exaggerated than any such display in its congener, the Australian Mudlark (Gra//ina cyanoleuca), a species I ob- served repeatedly during two years in Australia. In a probably homologous territorial display, the Australian species raises its wings but may not open them fully, if at all (Robinson 1947). G. cyanolewca is not a bird of rushing streams; it does not wag its tail as does G. bruijni. Tail-bobbing in the Riverine Flycatcher may be more important for contact between members of a family group than as a territorial signal. There is some evidence that this species may be social. Diamond (op. cit.) records groups of up to eight birds. However, my observations lead me to suspect that these may be expanded family groups, which probably defend territories against adjacent groups. Strong territoriality is the rule in stream birds (Orenstein in prep., a). Further study is necessary to establish the nature of the social structure in this species. Whatever the nature of intraspecific territoriality in the Riverine Flycatcher and the Torrent-lark, it is interesting to note that the two species can coexist on the same stretch of stream. However, they differ considerably in both size and foraging technique, and there is unlikely to be much competition between them. My observations of the Torrent-lark make it very difficult for me to regard this species as generically separable from Grallina cyanoleuca, although many authors (including Rand & Gilliard 1967) have placed it in a monotypic genus, Pomareopsis. In almost every way it resembles the Australian bird, the major exceptions being in those behaviours—e.g. tail-wagging—which are specific adaptations to a stream habitat. Other differences, such as the [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 164 considerable size difference between the two species and the rather more marked sexual dimorphism of G. brwijni, seem inadequate for generic separation. The considerable difference between the male and female Torrent- larks with respect to the amount of black on the underparts may be correlated with the rearing aspect of the song display. I follow Amadon (1950) and Diamond (1972) in including the Torrent-lark in Gra/ina, and regard the two species of this genus as probably closely related. In any case, the tail- wagging behaviour of G. bruijni, a specific adaptation to stream conditions, cannot be used as evidence to ally Gra/ina with the Motacillidae, whatever other reasons there may be for making such an association (cf. Chapman 1974). Monachella is not as obviously allied to any other single species. Most authorities have placed it within the complex of Australasian “robins”’ (e.g. Petroica, Eopsaltria, Tregellasia, Poecilodryas) and the closely related Micreeca (Diamond 1972, Mathews 1930, Mayr 1941, Rand & Gilliard 1967). This complex includes the most terrestrial of the Australasian flycatchers (with the exception of some Rhipidura spp.), and one species, Petroica archboldi, is a bird of barren rocks above the treeline. The alternate tail-bobbing of Monachella is vaguely reminiscent of alternate wing-flash displays I have observed between members of a pair in Petroica macrocephala and the probably related LExugerygone rubra (Orenstein in prep., b). There has not been any consensus, however, as to exactly which genus of robins is closest to Mona- chella. In plumage pattern it is most closely approached by the two species of Tregellasia, a genus sometimes included in Fopsaltria (Macdonald 1973) and obviously closely allied to it. ZT. capito has large pale supraloral spots, and a crown otherwise notably darker than the rest of the upperparts; in 7. /eucops the crown is almost black and the supraloral markings are white and con- siderably expanded in area. An increase in contrast between the crown, wings and tail of the 77ege//asia plumage, coupled with a loss of yellows and greens, would produce a pattern quite similar to that of Momnachella. The legs of both Trege//lasia spp. are pale, variously recorded as yellow or flesh colour, as are those of the immature Monachella observed by me (Iredale, 1956, records the leg colour of immature Monachella as “‘ashy”’ but other details of his description of this bird are incorrect.) The light rump of Monachella is similar to that in some forms of Fopsaltria australis. The Eopsaltria complex includes one other species which has lost all yellow or green colour, the greyish FE. georgiana of Western Australia. If Monachella was indeed derived from a stock close to Eopsaltria and particularly Trege//asia, its development of a pied plumage supports the contention that such a pattern is adaptive to stream conditions (Orenstein in prep., a), a statement not specifically sup- ported by the two Grallina spp. A similar trend is shown by the neotropical tyrannid genus Serpophaga (Smith 1971). The chief morphological differences between Monachella and Fopsaltria are a broader bill, longer wings and shorter tarsi in the former genus. These rather swallow-like features may also be regarded as adaptations to foraging in the open conditions of a stream bed; the shorter, rather weaker tarsi also reflect the loss of the widespread habit in Eopsaltria and Tregellasia of perching on the sides of tree trunks. I therefore consider it probable that Monachella is fairly close to Eopsaltria in the broad sense, including Trege//asia, with its distinctive features explainable as adaptations to its unusual habitat; however, in the absence of agreement among recent workers as to generic limits within this complex, and bearing in mind the greater degree of divergence between Monachella and its probable 165 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] allies compared with Grallina bruijni, 1 prefer to retain the Riverine Flycatcher in a monotypic genus. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My visit to New Guinea was arranged as part of the 1973 meeting of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists’ Union. I am particularly grateful to A. Layton, who directed me to the Goldie River and Ei Creek areas, and to L. W. Filewood. The name “Riverine Flycatcher” was taken from a list of proposed names for Papuan birds prepared by R. D. Schodde. Murray Bruce and Diane De Steven read early drafts of this note. The manuscript was read by Robert W. Storer. References: Amadon, D. 1950. Australian mud nest builders. Emu 50: 123-127. Chapman, G. 1974. Recent observations on the family Grallinidae and comments on its taxonomy. 16th Int. Ornith. Congr. Abstracts: 107. Diamond, J. M. 1972. Avifauna of the eastern highlands of New Guinea. Pub/, Nuttall Ornith. Club 12: 1-438. Gilliard, E. T. 1969. Birds of Paradise and Bower Birds. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson. Iredale, T. 1956. Birds of New Guinea. Vol. 2. Melbourne: Georgian House. Macdonald, J. D. 1973. Birds of Australia. Sydney: A. H. and A. W. Reed. Mackay, R. D. 1970. The birds of Port Moresby amd District. Nelson: Melbourne. Mathews, G. M. 1930. Systema Avium Australasianarum. vy. 2. London: British Ornith. Union. Mayr, E. 1941. List of New Guinea Birds. New York: Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. Mayr, E. & Gilliard, E. T. 1954. Birds of central New Guinea. Results of the American Museum of Natural History expeditions to New Guinea in 1950 and 1952. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 103(4): 311-374. Mayr, E. & Meyer de Schauensee, R. 1939. Zoological results of the Denison—Crockett South Pacific Expedition for the Acadamy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 1937- 1938. Part iv. Birds from northwest New Guinea. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 91: 97- 144. Orenstein, R. I. in prep., a. Convergent evolution in stream-adapted birds. — in prep., b. Notes on Eugerygone. Rand, A. L. & Gilliard, E. T. 1967. Handbook of New Guinea Birds. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson. Robinson, A. 1947. Magpie-larks—a study in behaviour. Part 3. Emu 47: 11-28 (see also plate 10, p. 153). Smith, W. J. 1971. Behavioral characteristics of serpophagine tyrannids. Condor 73(3): 259-286. The problem of the cassowary in Seran by C. M. N. White Received 2nd August 1975 The cassowary Casuarius casuarius, inhabits New Guinea, the Aru Islands, and north Queensland, Australia, all localities lying on the Sahul Shelf and linked by land during the Pleistocene lowerings of ocean levels. It also occurs on the island of Seran in Wallacea, which does not lie on the Sahul Shelf, is separated by about a hundred miles of deep sea from the nearest point in New Guinea, and was never linked by land during the lowering of ocean levels, though the water gap would have been slightly narrowed. Mayr (1940: 1-4) commented, in a brief taxonomic review of the cassowaries—“‘It is somewhat difficult to understand how a cassowary should have come across to Seran, Moluccas, without changing more from its New Guinea relatives than it has. I consider it distinctly possible that the Seran cassowary is nothing but a descendent of captive cassowaries probably imported from the Onin peninsula of New Guinea. The close trade connections between the [Bull, B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 166 natives of Seran and of that part of New Guinea are well established”. The suggestion thus put forward has not been subsequently discussed. Cracraft (1974) argued that flightlessness evolved once only in the sub- order Ratiti, and stated that Australia began drifting north from East Antarctica in the Eocene at about 40-45 m.y. ago. This was considerably later than the separation of the Ratites in Africa and South America. On this view the ancestors of cassowaries could not have been capable of flight when the Australian continent reached its present position relative to Seran. There is no evidence that Seran ever formed part of the drifting Australian conti- nent, and Mayr (1944: 165-166) pointed out objections to the postulating of land connections for which no geological evidence exists. Subsequently Mayr (1945: 1) commenting on the presence of Casuarius bennetti in New Britain, wrote ““Cassowaries are good swimmers, and there is little doubt that bennetti reached New Britain by swimming. Naturally the chances for the success of such colonisations are very slight, particularly since a pair must have bridged this water gap simultaneously”. The same hypothesis might be applied to the cassowaries in Seran. But evidence for possible introduction of C. casuarius in Seran by way of mercantile activities is considerable, and is examined here. In a later note it will be shown that mercantile activities could also account for the presence of C’.. bennetti in New Britain. Linnaeus named Struthio casuarius in 1758. Cassowaries had been known and traded for some centuries earlier both to Asia and to Europe. Salvadori (1882: 481) noted that the first live cassowary reached Europe in 1597, brought by Dutch sailors who had acquired it in Java, where it was said to have been brought from Banda. Stresemann (1914: 36—42) outlined some of the history of trade in cassowaries through which they were made known in Java, Sumatra, Malaya and even China, as early as the fourteenth century. He himself saw a young cassowaty in a street in Ambon, and a local sailing vessel off south Buru with ten young birds on board. But the original sources of cassowaries traded to Asia and Europe were not known, and Linnaeus gave as localities ‘Asia, Sumatra, Molucca, Banda’. He was evidently not familiar with the writings of F. Valentyn in 1726, where Seran is mentioned as a known locality, and the Aru Islands as a reputed locality. Salvadori (1882) recognised that among the Linnaean localities only Seran in south Moluccas was inhabited by cassowaries, and Rothschild (1900: 115) restricted the type locality of C. casuarius to Seran. In the light of what is now known of early trade in eastern Indonesia, there is however no reason to suppose that all the cassowaries traded either prior or subsequent to Linnaeus must have come only from Seran. Some could have come from the Aru Islands and New Guinea. Ellen & Glover (1974: 36-42) reported that the development of trade in the Indonesian Archipelago has generally been ascribed to the period of change in the region during the twelfth century, with most of the traders Javanese. They also referred to a seventeenth century Dutch account of these traders going to the Moluccas, Ambon, Seran and Aru Islands, and obtaining commodities from New Guinea brought chiefly by people of Goram. They cited evidence that the people of McCluer Gulf area, West Irian (about a hundred miles from Seran) were in direct trading contact with the Moluccas and politically dependent on them even before the development of the Javanese mercantile contacts in the twelfth century. It can be noted that in that part of New Guinea there is a considerable area of wild nutmeg, probably ee eee 167 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] an old introduction by Moluccan settlers whose descendents still live in the Fakfak district. Wild nutmegs were traded through Ambon as part of this early commerce (Brookfield & Hart 1971: 157). I am grateful to Dr. Roy Ellen, an anthropologist who has recently done field work in Seran, for the comment (7# /i/t). “sometimes the Nuaulu will domesticate young casso- waries, but they are either slaughtered or escape before they are adult”. To summarise the foregoing data: by the twelfth century and to some extent even earlier trade links in Indonesia involved contact with New Guinea, the Aru Islands and Seran. Cassowaries were traded in the course of these mercantile activities, and could thus have easily established a feral population of escaped birds in Seran. By coincidence a recent observer in Seran recorded that domesticated cassowaries sometimes escape. Thus there is ample evidence that Seran cassowaries could have reached the island through human agency. If Seran cassowaries are descendents of escaped captive birds, they should not represent a taxonomically distinct form although current taxonomy treats nominate casuarius as confined to Seran. Unfortunately it seems impossible to ascertain what if any characters distinguish the Seran birds. Almost all adult cassowaries in museums labelled as from Seran are com- pletely devoid of data to show that they actually came from that locality. The specimens in question were originally imported alive by dealers or came from zoological gardens. In the British Museum (Natural History) there are two mounted birds from the Rothschild Bequest marked “Taken in Ceram’. One came from the Zoological Gardens, Antwerp, the other lacks any further information. Rothschild’s approach to the taxonomy of cassowaries was to set up a number of phenotypes which he believed to represent distinct taxa, and to assign supposed localities to them. I consider that the label “Taken in Ceram’ merely indicates that these two birds correspond to Rothschild’s conception of Seran birds, and are of little value. Dr. G. F. Mees has kindly informed me that there are several cassowaries in the Leiden Museum supposedly from Seran but “they are either without information as to exact provenance or came to us through zoological gar- dens”. Van Bemmel (1948) indicated that specimens from Seran exist in the Museum Bogoriense in Java. Dr. S. Somadikarta has kindly informed me that these consist of two examples on exhibition and without data. The only adults unquestionably from Seran which I have traced are the two obtained by Beccari in 1874 and described by Salvadori (1882: 479-484). He stated that Seran birds were very similar to those of north Queensland, but smaller and with the bare neck skin more violet blue, less azure. He aiso adds that Sclater had given these differences in 1868, based on birds in the London Zoological Gardens. Sclater may have had genuine Queensland birds but the others would have been imported alive and merely attributed to Seran. Salvadori considered that Seran cassowaries and those from Queensland have two separate wattles on the foreneck lying close together in contrast to other forms with either a single bifid wattle or two well separated wattles. Mayr (1940) based his review mainly on the literature and followed Salva- dori in relying on the morphology of the wattles. My examination of skins in the British Museum shows that the supposed distinction between two separate but adjacent wattles and a single bifid wattle is inexact. All birds supposedly distinguished in this way normally have a single bifid wattle with the depth of the division individually variable. This is true of Queensland birds and specimens attributed to Seran and to the Aru Islands. I am grateful [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 168 to Dr. R. Schodde (CSIRO, Canberra) for the information that all the material of C. casuarius which he has examined from north Queensland and New Guinea has “a single deeply forked or bifid wattle”. This confirms my examination of skins. The many mounted birds, mostly from the Rothschild Bequest, have the bare head and neck modelled in plaster, and the original condition cannot be verified. It is unlikely that Seran cassowaries are descendants of birds imported from Queensland. Whilst trade links in the past indicate that they could have originated from the Onin peninsula, New Guinea, it would be unwise to conclude that they did, because there is as yet no information that C. caswarius occurs there. This is a poorly known part of New Guinea. On the other hand they might well have originated from Aru Island birds. As already noted Valentyn was familiar with trade in cassowaries and had heard that some cassowaries came from the Aru Islands. When A. R. Wallace visited the Aru Islands in 1857, he reported that cassowaries were not uncommon there, and that numbers of young birds were brought to Dobbo and quickly became domesticated (cited by Salvadori 1882). Both these facts indicate that the Aru Islands were specifically involved in trading live cassowaries. Quite a number of cassowaries in the British Museum received from Zoological gardens are supposed to have been acquired in the Aru Islands. Although a few specimens from the Aru Islands with reliable data exist in museums they fail to indicate clearly any distinctive characters for the birds from these islands. A semi-adult obtained by von Rosenberg in Wammer had two well separated wattles: Schlegel identified it as C. bicarunculatus, but added that the wattles were not as widely separated as in the published figure of the latter, and that the specimen could be named C. aruensis if considered a distinct form. An adult collected by Beccari in Wokan had a single bifid wattle. Mayr (1940) called Aru Island birds C. ¢. aruensis Schlegel but gave no diagnosis and mentioned only these two. There are others in the British Museum which suggest that a single deeply divided wattle is more typical of Aru Island birds. They include two immatures collected during the voyage of the Challenger (1873-76); an adult, mounted bird brought alive from Wokan to Rothschild by Caley Webster; and a skin labelled “taken at Wokan Sound, July 1914”. There ate also mounted birds and skins of the bird described by Rothschild as C. ¢. violicollis because the lower side of the neck is magenta instead of scarlet. Rothschild believed that these came from Trangan Island because he thought that Wammer and Wokan were each inhabited by different forms. Most of the v7olicollis lack any authentic data to prove that they came from the Aru Islands. But Rothschild (1912: 50) reported that Kiihn had sent him a coloured sketch and a skin of a bird collected on Trangan, and that the sketch agreed with violicollis. Like Mayr (1940) I believe it very unlikely that C. casuarius varies from one island to another in the Aru group, since the water gaps between the main islands are very narrow and shallow. The cassowaries living there are clearly variable in characters. A single deeply divided wattle seems to be most usual but specimens have been collected with only a shallow bifurcation and with the wattles widely displaced laterally. The single deeply divided wattle corresponds to Salvadori’s two wattles lying close together, and as stated earlier I am not convinced that a clear line can be drawn between this and a mote shallow bifurcation. The widely displaced more lateral separate wattles present a different question. Very few such birds have been found and none have any acceptable locality data apart from the bird from Wammer, Aru 169 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] Islands, which may not be typical. Warren (1956) stated that the British Museum possessed the type of bicarunculatus and four others from the Roths- child Bequest, one not typical. Another is in the Cambridge University Zoological Museum where C. W. Benson has kindly confirmed its existence and informed me that the bases of the wattles are separated by 87 mm. Although Mayr (1940) recognised these birds as C. ¢. bicarunculatus and thought that their unknown home might be in the western Vogelkop, several collectors have worked in the Vogelkop subsequently without finding C. casuarius, and A. Hoogerwerf (7m /itt.) has kindly informed me that he found no evidence of C. casuarius in the Vogelkop during his residence there. C. unappendiculatus is known from the west and north Vogelkop, however, and if Diamond (1972: 39) is followed in considering this and C’.. casuarius as allospecies, the latter is not to be expected in the Vogelkop. Whilst the status of C. bicarunculatus still remains uncertain, it should not be overlooked that a rare abnormal displacement of the wattles rather than geographical variation may account for bicarunculatus. Variation in the colour of the bare head and neck in cassowaries is still very imperfectly understood. It seems that in the Aru Islands the rugose skin of the lower side of the neck may be either scarlet or magenta, and that this variation is individual rather than geographical. It is unlikely to be seasonal or due to age, as no instances of captive cassowaries changing in this respect have been reported. Salvadori described this area in his Seran birds as ““rubro-violacea”’ which agrees quite well with the Aru Island birds. To summarise: No distinctive taxonomic characters can be established to separate Seran cassowaries from those of the Aru Islands. The latter are very variable and material known to have come from Seran is very scanty. If as is probable the Seran birds are feral descendents of imported captive birds, they are likely, on existing evidence, to have originated in the Aru Islands. In the present, most unsatisfactory, taxonomy of C. casuarius, a first step towards improvement would be to treat nominate C’. caswarius as applicable to birds of both Seran and the Aru Islands. It would also, I believe, be desirable to regard C.. bicarunculatus as based on birds of uncertain taxonomic status rather than as a formal subspecies of C. casuarius. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In addition to those thanked in the text for comments and information I am particularly grateful to Dr. D. W. Snow and Mr. I. C. J. Galbraith for the facilities which I enjoyed at Tring when examining cassowaries in the British Museum (Natural History). References: Brookfield, H. C. & Hart, D. 1971. Melanesia. London: Methuen. Cracraft, J. 1974. Phylogeny and evolution of the Ratite birds. /bis 116: 494-521. Diamond, J. M. 1972. Avifauna of the eastern highlands of New Guinea. Publ. Nuttall Orni- thological Club no, 12. Ellen, R. F. & Glover, L. C. 1974. Pottery manufacture and trade in the Central Moluccas, Indonesia: the modern situation and the historical implications. Man (N.S.) 9: 353-379. Mayr, E. 1940. Birds collected during the Whitney South Sea expedition 41. Notes on New Guinea birds 6. Amer. Mus. Novit. no. 1056. — 1944. The birds of Timor and Sumba. Bul]. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 83: Part 2. — 1945. Birds collected during the Whitney South Sea expedition 55. Notes on the birds of northern Melanesia 1. Amer. Mus. Novit. no. 1294. Rothschild, W. 1900. A monograph of the genus Caswarius. Trans. Zool. Soc. London. 15: 109-148. — od Communication on cassowaries. Bul]. Brit. Orn. Cl. 29: 50-52. Salvadori, T. 1882. Ornithologia della Papuasia e delle Molucche. 3: 473-501. Torino. [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 170 Stresemann, E. 1914. Die végel von Seran. Novit. zoolog. 21: 25-153. Valentyn, F. 1726. Oud en Nieuw Ost-Indien, Derde Deel (Geschiedenissen en Zaaken van Amboina, Banda, enz.) Verhandeling der Vogelen van Amboina: 297-235. Dordrecht & Amsterdam. Van Bemmel, A. C. V. 1948. A faunal list of the birds of the Moluccan Islands. Treubia 19: 323-402. Warren, R. L. M. 1956. Notes on specimens and illustrations of cassowaries, mainly in the British Museum. Aun. Mag. Nat. Hist. Ser. 12, 9: 753-773. Theidentity of Carpophaga intermedia Meyer & Wiglesworth by C. M. N. White Received 23rd September 1975 Meyer & Wiglesworth, in 1894, described a new Imperial Pigeon as Carpo- phaga intermedia, basing it upon a single specimen from Kabruang in the Talaut Islands. Later (1898: 619-620) they discussed a series of seven examples from the type locality and from Karkellang. They pointed out that they had specimens of Ducula concinna from the same islands, and emphasised that the affinities of zntermedia were with Ducula aenea. Hartert (1898: 91) reported specimens of concinna and intermedia from Lirung, Talaut Islands: he stated that intermedia was most closely related to D. aenea. Geographical variation in D. concinna is insignificant; in D. aenea it is some- times pronounced. But the two species can be easily distinguished by the junction of the frontal feathers with the culmen. In D. concinna the frontal feathers narrow to a point at the culmen: in D. aenea the base of the culmen divides the frontal feathers, which narrow on either side of it. Siebers (1930: 180, fig 5) illustrates this difference. In this respect intermedia agrees with D. aenea. Meyer & Wiglesworth noted this, and recent examination has con- firmed the fact. For reasons unknown, Peters (1937: 45) listed intermedia as a subspecies of D. concinna, giving the distribution as Talaut Islands, yet, immediately below, included Talaut Islands in the distribution of nominate concinna. This anomaly seems to have escaped correction. Specimens in the American Museum of Natural History have for years been identified as D. concinna intermedia. Goodwin (1960: 1967) made no reference to intermedia, but I am grateful to him for informing me (zm 477.) that there appear to be no specimens of either D. concinna or of D. aenea from Talaut Islands in the British Museum (Natural History), and that he probably accepted Peters’ arrangement as correct. Iam very grateful to Mrs. M. LeCroy for information about the specimens of intermedia in the American Museum, New York, and am equally grateful for information about those in the Staatliches Museum fiir Tierkunde, Dresden, to Mr. Siegfried Eck, Keeper of the mammal and bird collections there. Both have provided very full documentation and agree that intermedia is a form of D. aenea. Only three of the original seven specimens at Dresden still survive and the type has been missing since 1945. It is now possible to redefine D. aenea intermedia in comparison with nominate aenea to the north in the Philippines, and with D. a. paulina in Celebes to the south of the Talaut Islands. Intermedia \acks the rusty red nuchal patch present in paulina: the back is a dull metallic blue and green with a grey bloom, less bright and irridescent than in aenea, and still less so than the strongly metallic copper and green of paulina: the under tail coverts are a dark mahogany brown, not dark chestnut: the underside of the tail is black, not brown with a yellowish cast: the feet are dusky with a red hue (Meyer & Wiglesworth), black in skins (LeCroy), ————— I7I [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] not red fading to yellow in skins: the vinous suffusion of the underside is lighter than in pau/ina: intermedia is larger as shown by the following wing measurements. paulina 30: Celebes 207-235 mm. aenea many Philippine birds (Parkes 1965) 220-252 mm. intermedia 5 AMNH 256-271 mm. 7 (Meyer & Wiglesworth) Peters (1937: 47) included Talaut Islands in the distribution of D. aenea paulina. This is certainly incorrect, for paulina has not been found there. It has, however, been collected on a number of small islands just north of the Celebes (Talissi, Lembeh, Banka, Manado tua, Mantehage). Possibly these were confused with Talaut Islands. It is worth noting that at the end of the last century three not very dis- similar Imperial Pigeons were found sympatrically in the Talaut Islands, D. aenea, D. concinna and D. pickeringi. It seems advisable to note that this was eighty years ago, for much environmental change may have happened since then in these small islands. References: Goodwin, D. 1960. Taxonomy of the genus Ducula. [bis 102: 526-5 — 10967. Pigeons and doves of the world. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). Hartert, E. 1898. List of a collection of birds from the island of Lirung or Salibabu, the largest of the Talaut group. Novit. zoolog. 5: 89-91 Meyer, A. B. & Wiglesworth, L. W. 1898. The birds of Celebes and the neighbouring islands. Berlin: Friedlander. Parkes, K. C. 1965. A small collection of birds from the island of Buad, Phillipines. Annals Carnegie Mus, 38: 49-65. Peters, J. L. 1937. Check List of Birds of the World. 3. Harvard U.P. Siebers, H. C. 1930. Fauna Buruana: Aves. Treubia 7 (Suppl.): 165-303. The habitat preferences of different colour morphs of Egretia garzetta on the Tanzanian coast by W. G. Harvey Received 10th November 1975 Holyoak (1973: Jbis 115: 419-420) showed that there were significant differences in the morph ratios in populations of Egretfa sacra on different Polynesian islands and that these differences were related to the sand colour of the beaches; with significantly more white herons feeding on light coral beaches. The closely related Egretta garzetta is the commonest littoral feeding heron in the Dar es Salaam area of Tanzania. It feeds on white coral sand flats (there is no dark sand in this area), on eroded coral platforms, in creek estuaries in the mangroves, in brackish lagoons and in man made saltpans. Both light and dark morphs occur and in more than three years observation, from August 1970 to November 1973, I estimated that dark morphs accounted for between 25% and 30% of the total population in the area. Dark morphs vaty in shade from dark slate grey to pale lavender grey, although the palest grey morphs have only been observed in small numbers between May and September and may be birds of the year. During the period of my observations I noticed a tendency for the dark morphs to be more numerous in the mangroves and along creek edges and [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] ps for white morphs to far outnumber them on the open white coral sandflats. Unfortunately I did not make regular counts but Table 1 summarises the results of what counts I did make. TABLE Feeding area No. of Counts No, white No.dark Y,white % dark Msimbazi sandflats 6 185 55 77 23 Msasani sandflats and lagoon 3 144 II 93 7 Kunduchi mangroves 5 16 104 1328 86.7 Msasani mangroves 3 30 50 Ee a 62.5 Msimbazi sandflats are an area of open white coral sandflats and counts were made monthly from May to August and in October and November. There is a small area of muddy creek included and here the dark morphs were concentrated. Msasani sandflats were also an area of open white coral sand in a bay. The brackish lagoon included in the counts was used as a tide roost by herons from the sandflats. Counts were made twice in October and once in March. The Kunduchi mangroves are a large area of mangrove woodland and scrub with associated muddy creeks and salt workings. The mud is very dark grey. Counts were made monthly from April to July and in October. The Msasani mangroves are a much more limited area, close to the brackish lagoon, of largely cut down mangrove scrub with associated muddy shallows and creeks. Counts were made in November and December. The counts confirm that there is a significant difference in colour morph ratios related to feeding habitats. White morphs clearly favour open feeding situations with shallow pools and white coral sand. Dark morphs clearly favour more shaded localities, where the mud is darker, particularly among mangroves and their associated pools and creeks. It is unlikely that, nowadays, healthy Egretta garzetta are preyed upon by anything in the Dar es Salaam area but in the fairly recent past rapacious mammals such as hyenas, jackals, leopards and large mongooses could have been regular predators. The habitat preferences of the different colour morphs may therefore represent protective adaptation. Certainly the dark morphs are much less conspicuous in the mangroves than the white morphs and much more conspicuous on the open flats where a large scattered flock of white morphs can seem to disappear in the bright light within a short range. All Egretta garzetta feed wading in shallow water but I have noticed one difference in feeding techniques of the different morphs. When feeding in relatively open habitats the dark morphs will often raise their wings to shade the water when fishing but I have never seen white morphs, which are much more numerous in open habitats, behaving thus. This fishing technique is most highly developed in another dark heron, Hydranassa ardesiaca, which occurs in very small numbers in the same area and like dark morph Egretta farzetta favours mangroves and muddy creeks and avoids open sandflats. A Fruit-bat as prey of the African Hawk-Eagle by M. Louette Received 2nd September 1975 During investigations at Koza (10° 52’ N, 13° 53’ E) for the Belgian F.K.F.O. Project No. 955 (Zoological Study of Cameroun), on 17 September 1974, a large roost of Eidolon helvum (Chiroptera) was detected in a tree in the middle 173 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] of the town. The tree was also being used as a roost by two specimens of African Hawk-Eagle Hieraaetus spilogaster, which rather remarkably did not move when we stood below them. One of the birds was shot and the other then flew off about 30 metres, but returned almost immediately to the tree and settled again in it. People in Koza told us that the eagles had been frequenting the tree for quite a long time. The specimen collected, which proved to be a female, has been deposited in the Koninklijk Museum voor Midden-Afrika in Tervuren. It is almost adult, although still showing some rufous on the under-wing, the thighs and around the black spots of the underside. The total weight of the bird was 1750 grams, more than the maximum (1662 g) recorded up to now, ac- cording to Brown & Amadon (1968). The other measurements fall well within the range for the species (all measurements in mm): Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen from cere Hind claw 454 258 107 33 39 Moult details were recorded as follows: Primaries (from centre) 1-8 new; 9 = 1/3 (growing); 10 = old. The ovaries showed no signs of enlargement. A fair amount of fat was present around the intestines. The stomach contained large pieces of flesh, together with bits of skin and a complete hind leg which could be identified as those of Eidolon helvum. The hunting methods and food of the African Hawk-eagle have been recently summarised by Steyn (1975), who makes no mention of any species of bat having been recorded among its prey. However, he does point out that the prey is very varied and remarks that “‘any eagle will tend to harvest a locally abundant and easily secured species”’. Nevertheless, the hunting technique of literally sharing a roost with its prey and presumably just picking off a bat now and again when hungry, can only be considered very extraordinary for an eagle which is usually described as a bold and dashing hunter. That the technique was rewarding is proved by the bird’s weight and deposition of fat, although it could also be said to have caused a fatal loss of normal vigilance in the presence of humans. References: Brown, L. H. & Amadon, D. 1968. Eagles, Hawks and Falcons of the World. Country Life Books, Feltham. Steyn, P. 1975. Observation on the African Hawk-Eagle. Ostrich 46: 87-105. Birds of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia : corrections and clarifications by Kenneth C.. Parkes Received 4th November 1975 W. J. E. Norton (1975) has provided some valuable field notes on the birds of the isolated Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia. Un- fortunately his paper contains several minor errors and one major mis- conception, which I propose to correct in this note. Norton naturally relied heavily upon the paper by Todd & Carriker (1922), the standard work on the birds of the Santa Marta region, and makes frequent comparisons between his own data and those presented by Todd & Carriker. After his initial citation of the paper, however, Norton uses only Todd’s name. It is obvious that Norton overlooked the introductory [ Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 174 portions of this book, as he consistently credits field observations to Todd, employing such phrases as ‘““Not seen by Todd over 2,000’.”’ As is made clear on pp. 4-5 of Todd & Carriker’s book, the field work and collecting were done entirely by Carriker, with Todd having been responsible for the technical portion of the joint paper (taxonomy, nomenclature, bibliography, and the theoretical discussion of life-zones). Mr. Todd (with whom I shared an office from 1953 until his death in 1969 at the age of 95) never visited any part of South or Central America, fearing the recurrence of the malaria that he had contracted as a young man in Washington, D.C. (see Parkes, 1970). M. A. Carriker, with whom I frequently corresponded but never met, as he resided in Colombia, died in 1965. He was perhaps the most productive collector of neotropical birds of the first half of the twentieth century, having begun in Costa Rica in 1902 and continued almost until his death. He was far more than a mere professional collector, however, as his meticulous field notes in the Santa Marta book attest. He published a substantial number of ornitho- logical papers in his own name, and in his later years became an expert on the Mallophaga. Mr. Todd would have been the first to insist that this correction be published in order to give Carriker full credit for the field observations in the joint Santa Marta paper. There are a few misspellings or typographical errors in names in Norton’s paper. On p. 113, for “‘erinomus” read orinomus; for “cacolelus”’ read cacozelus; for “Psaracolius” read Psarocolius. In the references (p. 115), for ““Carricker”’ read Carriker. More serious, however, is what I have been informed was an editorial confusion, which led to the listing, on p. 114, of ““Bastleuterus conspicillatus (=basilicus), Santa Marta or White-lored Warbler.” This usage appears to imply that basz/icus is a synonym of conspicil/latus. In point of fact, the two endemic Santa Marta species of Basz/euterus are quite different, and probably not closely related within the genus. The Santa Marta Warbler (B. basilicus) has a sharply defined black and white head pattern, and is found in the Lower Temperate Zone between about 8,600 and 9,000 feet according to Todd & Carriker. The White-lored Warbler (B. conspicillatus) has a dark grey face, white lores, and a yellow or orange crown patch bordered with black (like many other Basé/euterus). It is a bird of the Upper Tropical and Lower Subtropical zones between 2,500 and 7,000 feet, and is presumably the species seen by Norton at Donachui (4,800’) and correctly identified by him as such. Both of the two published coloured figures of B. basilicus (Todd & Carriker 1922: pl. VI; Griscom e¢ a/., 1957: pl. 34) err in indicating the presence of a bright yellow central crown stripe. In only a single specimen of the type series of basilicus is the crown stripe faintly tinged with yellow: in the others it is white or greyish white. B. conspicillatus was not figured or mentioned by Griscom ef a/., presumably because they followed Hellmayr (1935) in con- sidering it to be a race of B. cinereicollis. Meyer de Schauensee (1964) gave specific rank to conspicillatus, but later (1966) combined it with B. coronatus rather than with B. cinereicollis. Lowery & Monroe (1968) recognized conspicillatus as a full species, placed between B. cinereicollis and B. coronatus. None of these authors has suggested that B. basi/icus is conspecific or synony- mous with B. conspicillatus. References: Griscom, L. e¢ a/. 1957. The warblers of America. New York: Devin-Adaitr. Hellmayr, C. E. 1935. Catalogue of birds of the Americas... [etc.]. Part VIII. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool. Ser. 13: 1-§41. 175 [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] Lowery, G. H. Jr. & Monroe, B. L. Jr. 1968. Parulidae. Jn R. A. Paynter, Jr., ed. Check-list of birds of the world. Vol. 14. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. Meyer de Schauensee, R. 1964. The birds of Colombia. Narberth, Pennsylvania: Livingston. — 1966. The species of birds of South America and their distribution. Narberth, Pennsylvania: Livingston. Norton, W. J. E. 1975. Notes on the birds of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. Bull, Brit. Orn. Cl. 95: 109-115. Parkes, K. C. 1970. In memoriam: Walter Edmond Clyde Todd. Auk 87: 635-649. Todd, W. E. C. & Carriker, M. A. Jr. 1922. The birds of the Santa Marta region of Colom- bia: a study in altitudinal distribution. Ann. Carnegie Mus. 14: 3-611. IN BRIEF (a) Empberesula: new name for Parasula Hattison 1975 I proposed (Harrison 1975, Bull. Brit. Orn. C7. 95(3): 53) Parasula as a new generic name for Sw/a arvernensis Milne-Edwards 1867, which is a fossil seabird of the Upper Oligocene. Dr. K. C. Parkes has drawn to my attention the fact that this name is preoccupied by Parasula Mathews 1913, proposed as a new generic name for Sw/a dactylatra. Milne-Edwards’s specimen therefore requires another name and I propose Empheresu/a as a new generic name for the species. The name is formed from the Greek empheres (=resembling, like) and the existing generic name Sw/a. 17 September, 1975 C. J. O. Harrison (b) On the reported occurrence of the Slender-billed Gull Larus genei in Tanzania In view of the uncertainties attaching to some of the recent records of Larus genet and the Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus in East Africa (see, for example, C. H. Fry & J. Horne, EANHS Bull. 1972: 138-139, the identification of an adult Slender-billed Gull Larus genei observed on 28 March 1971 on the lakeshore in Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania, by G. E. Watson (1971: Bull. Brit. Orn. C7. 91(6): 167) seems to need further consideration. As stated by the observer, it would constitute the first record of this species in East Africa (cf. G. C. Backhurst, P. L. Britton & C. F. Mann 1973: J/ FE. Africa nat. Hist. Soc. natn. Mus. 140: 15). Since that date the occurrence of ridibundus has been confirmed by the observation of individuals in full or partial breeding dress (e.g. Fry e¢ a/. /oc. cit.), but the occurrence of gene? apparently remains problematical (cf. L. H. Brown: EANHS Bull. 1973: 39-40). After considering the evidence in support of Watson’s sight record of genet, \ feel that the inclusion of this species in the avifauna of Tanzania must still be regarded as doubtful for the following reasons. His description of the bird does not, in my view, exclude the possibility that it was in fact an ex- ample of ridibundus. In non-breeding plumage ridibundus can have the dark auticular spot very much reduced or even absent, so that the head looks white. Furthermore, the “proud erect bearing” and slimness of head and neck which were noted are somewhat unreliable criteria for separating genez from ridibundus, especially as they could only be compared with the Lesser Black-back Larus fuscus and Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica which were also present, both of which species in any case have a fundamentally different [Bull. B.O.C. 1975: 95(4)] 176 build. In certain circumstances (as, for instance, when an observer is ap- proaching), ridibundus can to some extent exhibit the two features mentioned. Finally, the wing-pattern on which conclusive reliance was placed is, of coutse, very difficult to distinguish with certainty from that of ridibundus. Wing-pattern was, however, no doubt sufficient to eliminate confusion with the Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus, another species which has been observed frequently on Lake Manyara between April and November (H.F.I. Elliott pers. comm.) and in which, incidentally, non-breeding birds may also have an almost completely white head (G. R. McLachlan & R. Liversidge, 1970. Roberts Birds of South Africa, p. 199). I am indebted to G. C. Backhurst, H. *n I. Elliott ane): Wattel for com- ments on earlier drafts of this note. be 24 September, 1975 _ Seng GJ. Oneel Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature : Opinions In continuation of Bu//. Brit. Orn. Cl. 95, 1975: 40, and by permission of the International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature, the following Rulings are quoted as extracts from Opinions published in Bull. Zool. Nomencl. affecting birds: OPINION 1028 (Bill. Zool. Nomencl. 31(4), 1974: 186) Falco exilis ‘Temminck, 1830 (Aves) suppressed under the plenary powers— (1) Under the plenary powers the specific name exz/7s Temminck, 1830, as published in the binomen Falco exilis, is hereby suppressed for the purposes of the Law of Priority but not for those of the Law of Homonymy. (2) The specific name rufiventris Smith, 1830, as published in the binomen Accipiter rufiventris, is hereby placed on the Official List of Specific Names in Zoology with the Name Number 2537. (3) The specific name exz/is Temminck, 1830, as published in the binomen Falco exilis and suppressed in (1) above, is hereby placed on the Official Index of Rejected and Invalid Specific Names in Zoology, with the Name Number 998. OPINION 1036 (Bull. Zool. Nomencl. 32(2), 1975: 101) Pternistes afer vat. angolensis Bocage, 1893 (Aves) ruled a /apsus calami for Pternistes afer vat. benguellensis Bocage, 1893— (1) It is hereby ruled that the subspecific name angolensis Bocage, 1893, as published in the combination Prernistes afer var. angolensis, is a lapsus calami for the subspecific name benguellensis Bocage, 1893, as published in the combination Prernistes afer var. benguellensis and that as such it has no status in zoological nomenclature. (2) The subspecific name angolensis Bocage, 1893, as published in the combination Prernistes afer var. angolensis, declared in (1) above to have no status in zoological nomenclature, is hereby placed on the Official Index of Rejected and Invalid Specific Names in Zoology, with the Name Number 1002. 5 1s SS Na Aa ¢ 3 ke > aeeae + a tp eae ts fk 4 ota i i Ce ane fF aa re Dis aie Me i) ASO LS AS SS ipek tater a Rt te bn Ree a fe > ig F ; af pi iat . i ath beats De AS oy m hd aye SRE bs ys} PAT 4 ae § pw as y Lae rip % ‘ i « WEE a ;* mS eR > : - ke on = ei Lae nN oat % ‘> , :: - - i? : ht eae * Ad 5 ae MSP k im bP GCS z J ; - * . re - fe aeeiaanl sip. 3 Pegg: | Teeek oguy A arhomde rebut deagcubiant 9 abs a ~~ : * “1 i ik oe oat) - id Fees ee oh! Bi Laeig 38 17 Tt eS ie hi see oar mi ete Te oh ot a ; i A “ > . nie : -. Sites NisEt are Pe GT Rea ie) Mca gh etn Wee e : rere “ eee Bsr. : i 4 Met Fela BE Besheebrntce)A5pehd ees! Lar: Seen, Righaaro Ioibasieen ed ROA ai is s 7 =, -! ' ee *% 3 fia Me PG hDTS OP UT AT Bs Gt eat SRS eaehy a a “e3 - ' * duel edt " ee a SIS TS pc RRA SD ae BORD Reiss mete hmedarh ae sate aire). en ay eee ae y get fed ) at . y oe poate ist ; 7 Ci a71 Ko ca : ) 5s . Aste ite i, a ; ; > : P > ‘ - rae ESS ain Buse ye dates PPO al VIS} ay Sear St a BE ee VES ED Ares cet: goth , A ; ‘ 2 : a 6) PRUUA Ro Yer A: nn a Be ¢ . ai 4 . Sel tl | sate Pel As Geyser ta, - iu eeu > me By % ’ a . + - Ses BHT E ATS: MO Te HY a at UE te? oo 7 7 f >. i } G; 5; f° f8 v4 i} ih aie rae ’ - ‘+ a i . - ah iat 3 idtigils ate feviz} va? t4 beta SPP . j ss a ed a ALi ; . te Ms b> Be fait ahi Sieh 5) aed her: Ppa See ipernity, ° bs stat So, oi ¢ ’ z este PiGp-a: ae MS baiweh D4 42. ly a ' pe) abe ger OTe s...23 “ret, For y ; bie ert ay ; a . $ % Fe Lagi dio Sent deat at ae OO? RL eet teenie tee Ey od Fait > ahh ae —: r . ; rie! at se Pe in ulcrtaaie dae ieaiy tir cum: bearish ve ea sz “i Big 3 a adi cig PE MSE th 8 i's A he he ee ee i on Mass Ts at 05 th e {is rae a here f eden”? 4 re Bi dais? «e oT ST ae! the ’ § . aE ' he vidas Sein “asa! be I Bea ETE Ae ES SGT HR By Sa a 390 A Maren DANG 3) nian Thee SP TSE ER Hee TEE Te Pa ‘i avec ra dul bhue Poyrtenieece Parrcuby riseties arrda yeh bres: Wisse at : ee : te ad et i pat : : sees WEL: iB rapa NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS Papers, whether by Club Members or by non-members, should be sent to the Editor, Dr. J. F. Monk, The Glebe Cottage, Goring, Reading RG8 9AP, and are accepted on the understanding that they are offered solely for publication in the Bulletin. They should be typed on one side of the paper, with double- spacing and a wide margin, and submitted in duplicate. 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