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BOUGHT WITH
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NEHA B HOV BS Ok ,
CHARLES MINOT,

3 OF SOMERVILLE,
(Class of 1828, )

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OF THE

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NOT OBSERVED IN THE BRITISH ISLES.

BY:

CHAREES SROBERDT BREE) MDs E-Z:S; .

Senior Physician to the Essex and Colchester Hospital.

Author of “Species Not Transmutable,’ “Lower Forms of Life,” “An Haxposition of Fallacies in the
Hypothesis of Mr. Darwin,” d&e., &e.

SECOND EDITION, ENLARGED.

VOT TINE

* Join voices all ye living souls; ye birds
That singing up to heaven-gate ascend
Bear on your wings and in your notes His praise.”
MILTON’S PARADISE Lost.

o)
EO ND ON:
GEORGE BELL AND SONS, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.

M DCCC LXxV.

COINTTIBINIES Ole IIGUE JRE! SOUL OMIT E,

PAGE
Searlet Bullfinch : : 5 : : 6 : 5 : 6 1
Rosy Bullfinch : : 5 : : 3 5 . : 5 9
Desert Trumpeter Bullfinch : Alcs : : : : : 13
Crimson-winged Grosbeak ‘ : : : : : : : 23
Serin Finch a as , ; : ; F : B : : 25
Citril Finch. 3 : : : : : : : : ; 30
Snow Finch : : : : : : ; : : é 34
Alpine Serin Finch (no plato) : 5 ; : : : : 3
Holboll’s Redpole : : 5 ; : : : 5 6 : 40
Rock Sparrow : : : : ; ; : : 5 0 43
Italian House Sparrow : : : : : : ; : 2 49
Spanish Sparrow. : : : : : : : : 52
White-rumped Teo teske: . : : 2 : : : : 56
Lilford’s Woodpecker : : ; 3 3 : ; : : 60
Middle Spotted Woodpecker ; : ; : : : : : 62
Three-toed Woodpecker . : ; 5 3 ‘ é 5 : 66
Grey Woodpecker : 5 : : He : 5 : : 69
Sharpe’s Green Woodpecker . : : : : 5 : : 74
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater : : ; ; : 5 ; : : 76
Black-and-White Kingfisher . : ; ; : : : ‘ 79
Mouse-coloured Swift . 5 ; ‘ 5 : ; 6 5 ; 82
Oriental Chimney Swallow : : : ; : : ; A 85
Rufous Swallow : : : : ; : ; : : : 88
Crag Swallow : : 5 : ; ‘ ‘ : : : 96
Russet-necked Nightjar 5 5 : : : : 2 : : 100
Egyptian Turtle Dove : ‘ 5 4 : : : : ; 106
Caucasian Snow Partridge . : : : : : 5 : ; dglet

Hazel Grouse . : : : : ‘ . - : F : 11155

iv CONTENTS.

PAGE

Spitzbergen Ptarmigan : : : : : : : : : 121
Willow Ptarmigan . : 5 ; : : : : : i 125
Pin-tailed Sand Grouse ; . 4 : 5 : ‘ : : 131
Sand Grouse . : : ' : : : : : : : 135
Francolin . : : j : : : : : , : ; 139
Greek Partridge ; ; 4 : : : : : : 147
Black-winged Pratincole (no Abe ) ‘ 4 : : 3 : ; 153
Ruffed Bustard é : : ; : : ; ; : : 155
Asiatic Golden Plover : : : : ; ; : : as 160
Social Plover . A : ‘ : ; j , ‘ : : 162
White-tailed Plover . s : : Seas ; : : ; 165
Spur-winged Plover : : é ; é : , d : 168
Egyptian Plover : : : : : : : : al
Asiatic Dotterel ; : : . . : ; : : 174

Mongolian Ringed Plover (no ales : ; ; : ; : : 179

BIRDS OF EUROPE,

NOG OBSERVEDISIN Sethe BI RERISE sislens:

GRANIVOR.
Family FRINGILLIDA. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Carpopacus. (Haup.)

Generic Characters.—Bill short, conico-convex, and thick at the base, the
sides inflated and bulging, tumid and compressed at tip,—longer than that
of Pyrrhula. Commissure sinuated, or with a notch near the base. First
three primaries longest, and subequal. ‘Tail distinctly furcate. Feet robust;
claws well curved.

SCARLET BULLFINCH.

Carpodacus erythrinus.

Carpodacus erythrinus, Gray. Kaup. BONAPARTE. DUBOIS.
Pyrrhula erythrina, TEMMINCK. BREE; 1st. edition.
Loxta erythrina, PALLAS. GMELIN.
Lirythrospiza erythrina, BONAPARTE.
Pyrrhulinota rosecolor,
rosea et erythrina, HopGson.
Lrythrothorax rubifrons, BREHM.
Loxta cardinalis, BESEKE NEC LINNAUS.
‘¢ obscura, GMELIN. 9?
kringilla flammea, RETZIUS.
$s zncertla, Risso.
Pyrrhula sinaica, MiuHie; Orn. Griech.
Bouvreuil Cramois’, OF THE FRENCH.
Brand Rosengimpel, Or THE GERMANS.

WOlbiGg Mio BR

bo

SCARLET BULLFINCH.

Specific Characters—Rump red or ash-coloured; abdomen pure white.
The first primary equal in length to the third, and shorter than the second.
Length five inches and a half; carpus to tip three inches and a half;
expanse of wing ten to eleven inches; the closed wing reaches to two
inches and a half of the length of the tail; tarsus nine to ten lines;
middle toe seven lines, and its claw three lines; hinder toe four lines, and
its claw three lines.—NAUMANN.

Tue Bullfinches are a beautiful race of birds, and how much soever
our own British species is valued for this quality in our eyes, it is
perhaps surpassed by the subjects of the present and following notice,
which have however been placed by Kaup and modern writers in the
genus Carpodacus, a small group of birds characterized, according to
the late Mr. Blyth, by having the bill midway between the true
Bullfinches and the Linnets, and the males by being more or less tinged
with rosy and becoming crimson in the breeding plumage. ‘The
females are streaked with brown, and have no yellow in their plumage.

The Scarlet Bullfinch inhabits the regions of the arctic circle, in
the north of Europe and Asia. It is found in Sweden, Norway,
Finland, Russia, and Siberia, more particularly near the Rivers Volga,
Samara, Oder, and Selenga. It occurs solitarily in Courland and in
Poland; and Naumann especially mentions having found it in the
summer of 1816, on Sylt, one of the islands on the west coast of
Jutland. It occurs accidentally in France, Belgium, Switzerland,
Italy, and Central Germany, and has been captured at Hesse, on the
Rhine. Degland mentions that individuals have been shot at Abbe-
ville, at Tournai, in the neighbourhood of Milan, and on the Swiss
Alps; and Nordmann tells us, in the ‘‘Faune Pontique,” that it
comes regularly in spring into the Botanic Gardens at Odessa, either
singly or in pairs, and that it is common in the provinces situated
to the east of the Black Sea. It is mentioned by Count Miihle as
occurring in Greece, under the name of Pyrrhula sinaica. It occurs
in India and China.

During the summer it is essentially a northern bird, but in the
autumn it migrates southwards. If it stays the winter, it is found
more especially in the neighbourhood of dwellings, where it can be
sheltered among the shrubs. It is very fond of moist situations, and
is frequently found among the bushes on the banks of rivers, lakes,
and ponds, where it may be seen on the willows or reeds.

In the ‘“Richesses Ornithologiques du Midi de la France,” by
Jaubert and Barthelemy la Pommeraye, there is a very interesting
description of this bird, which is an occasional straggler into France,

SCARLET BULLIINCH.

co

and from this I will make some extracts. I do this the more
willingly, as their remarks refer to a bird about which much uncer-
tainty has existed up to modern days, I mean the Pringilla incerta
of Risso. Mr. Dresser, in his “Birds of Europe,” maintains that
the birds taken in England and baptized F. incerta, are merely hybrids
between the Common Linnet and the Greenfinch, but that the real
F’. incerta is the female of Carpodacus erythrinus. Mr. Dresser states
that neither Mr. Gould nor myself had alluded to this bird. Mr. D.
is, however, mistaken. If he will refer to my book, vol. iii., p. 119,
he will find the following note:—‘ Fringilla incerta, Risso, (Chlorospiza
éncerta, Bonaparte,) is only the young of Pyrrhula erythrina.” The
young birds being very like the adult females, both have probably
passed as P. incerta.

“The history of this bird,” says M. Jaubert, “‘is certainly one of
the most singular that we have given in this work. Described in
1788 by Gmelin, and after having successively passed from one genus
to another, we find it in 1853 perfectly fixed on the one hand with
the Bullfinches, of which it has all the characters, and on the other
with the Grosbeaks, where the inattention of authors had till these
days maintained it. Singular fortune for a type contained in nearly
all collections. M. Degland, in the first instance, having discovered
a Bullfinch in a young Chlorospiza incerta, constituted it, but not
without hesitation, his Pyrrhula incerta (Orn. Eur., t. 11, p. 540),
which produced a sharp admonition from Prince Charles Bonaparte.
Could there be any reason for M. Degland to claim later a priority so
lightly accorded by the Prince in the ‘Revue de Zoologie,’ 1854, on a
question in which the author had only confirmed the existence of a
species which I upset definitely some months later, by showing the
identity of Chlorospiza incerta, Bonaparte, with Erythrospiza erythrina,
Bonaparte? I am supported by the following reasons: 1. Between the
two birds there does not exist a single distinctive character to separate
them. Accidental variations of the beak are of no importance when
we compare a series of individuals. 2. The female of the adult Scarlet
Bullfinch is identical with that of Chlorospiza incerta kept in a cage.
Their eggs are the same. 8. The young resemble each other. 4. We
have seen accidentally the bird assume the green when at liberty, and
the red in captivity. 5. The adult Chlorospiza incerta is never seen
in the fields; it is the child of our aviaries. 6. Analogy between this
phenomenon of captivity and that which takes place among the species
which take in the same red colour in confinement. 7. Lastly, the
native country of F. ¢emcerta is unknown. It is now a decided question.”

We believe the opinion which was arrived at by M. Jaubert was

A SCARLET BULLFINCH.

the correct one. It has been held by ornithologists ever since. The
omission of the name among my synonymes in the first edition was
purely accidental.

Dr. Schrenck thinks “that the specimens killed on the Amoor are
more splendidly coloured than those from China, the Altai Mountains,
and Europe. ‘Those from Kamtschatka are hardly inferior in the
brilliancy of the colours. ‘The female from the Amoorland has the
well-known dull olive brown plumage tinged with green, particularly
on the rump and back, and more so than in the representations of
Bonaparte and Schlegel. The Scarlet Bullfinch is spread over the
whole of Siberia to Kamtschatka, as recorded by Gmelin, Stiller,
Pallas, Kittlitz, and Middendorff, also appears in the Amoorland, and
there nests in the thick willow plots of the lower and often bog
islands of the Amoor River. It breeds there the beginning of June.”

Naumann has given a very complete account of the bird, from which
I have gathered the following :—“ For several years, in the early spring,
a pair of these birds were seen near Breslau, among the willows and
reeds of a swampy district. The male and female were always near
together, and the former sung gaily. They were both killed at a
single shot, but the female was not found. The male is now in the
museum at Berlin. Later another pair were also shot.

“This bird does not, according to my observation, like large thick
woods. I have seen it where there were none at all, namely, at Sylt,
in Jutland. In one part of this island there are no other species of
trees but small thorn bushes.

“In the northern narrow part of the island, where, between high
sand downs, a narrow creek runs into the land, is a little thicket
surrounded by a low earthen wall, in which is the renowned duck
decoy. The ponds, canals, and the decoy man’s house are all sur-
rounded by alder trees and thorn bushes. ‘There is also a thick reed
bank, about ten feet high, which is all the protection that the
neighbouring downs receive from the devastating north-west storms.
Altogether it is not more than a hundred paces in circuit. The wood
is quite stunted, yet it is, for such a neighbourhood, a very interesting
spot; and for me it became still more so when I myself met with the
Scarlet Bullfinch, which I had never seen before in its free state.
The male came to within fifteen paces, into a thorn bush, and sang.
It allowed itself to be observed freely, without any marks of fear.
The female was not to be seen, nor the young, which had already
(June 7th.) left the nest. The old decoy man, who chiefly dwelt
there, knew of the nest, and took me to it, assuring me that these
birds had for many years bred there, and that they were not rare in

SCARLET BULLFINCH. 5

the island. That they also bred in the elder and meadow thorn
bushes near the house, and were pleasant-singing cage-birds. After
much seeking we found no more, but we discovered the Common
Linnet, for which they may probably have been mistaken by the decoy
man.”

“The Scarlet Bullfinch is very confiding towards man, being not at
all shy. ‘The singing male remains in the open, like the Linnet,
upon the points or tips of bushes, and flies away hke a shot when
disturbed. Its call is a clear, piping, high tone, similar to ‘ticke,
ticke, tuk,’ twice repeated in a clear and perceptible manner. When
a part of the song has been uttered, as far as my observation extends,
the whole tone is varied into a long cadence.”

“When with my friends Von Woldick and Boie I last approached
this celebrated decoy, at Sylt, I heard the song at a considerable
distance, and I drew their attention to it, that there might be no
mistake. ‘The resemblance of the song to some of the notes of the
Reed Bunting, as well as those of the Linnet, is a remarkable fact.
Both these latter birds live in its neighbourhood. It is a very
agreeable, loud, long, and, with many slight pauses, unbroken song;
and it is so characteristic, that an ear like mine, which from earliest
youth has been accustomed to observe the song of birds, can dis-
tinguish it in the far distance. In a neighbourhood where little can
escape the eye, the beautifully-plumaged songster was easily recognised
and, as we did not like to shoot it, we placed ourselves at a short
distance, where, unseen, we were able to observe it for a considerable
time. It may be an agreeable cage-bird, but in confinement the red
plumage turns into a permanent yellowish green.”

Herr Meves, in his Journey in North Russia, before alluded to,
remarks of this bird:—‘‘I heard its joyful song first on my way to
Schliisselburg. ‘The best notes may be described as something lke
‘hvitt-tvy-tvoi,’ “hvyitt-tvoi,’ with other variations towards the close of
the song. I met with it also near Ladoga and Onega. I shot some
specimens which were on the upper parts a dark olive, with streaks
of grey in the older birds. In the breeding dress the grey shaft
spots were of a lighter colour. In June the red was dull, but in
August bright. The eggs, four in a nest, were of a bluish green,
with grey brown points, 21.5 by 15 millemetres; the least was 20 by
14 millemetres. In some others the ground-colour was decidedly leaden.
The egg from Moscow was more rounded, 19.5 by 15.5 millemetres;
and three from Dauria, June 17th., 1867, measured 19 by 15.5 mille-
metres: they were bluish grey ground-colour, with large dark brown
spots.” The above is a good deal condensed in translation.

6 SCARLET BULLFINCHE.

Salvadori (“Fauna d'Italia”) writes: —“‘This species is very rare in
Italy. It is sometimes found in Liguria, Venetia, Nizzardo, and
Lombardy. I believe it has never been found in Rome, in Southern
Italy, or in Tuscany. It does not appear to me that the individual
recorded by Bruscoli (Acts of Italian Society, 1841, p. 374,) belongs
to this species, though Temminck, Degland, and Malherbe say that
it is found in Sicily, but they doubt if it has ever been captured
there. According to Schembri, two individuals have been taken in
Malta. I believe that adult males have never been taken in Italy,
but always young birds, unless the individual taken in the mountains
of Ortu, in Lombardy, December, 1842, was an adult. This bird was
announced by Balsamo Crivelli under the name of Pyrrhula erythrina.
It is a native of Northern Asia, from whence it emigrates in great
numbers to India. It is also common in European Russia. De Filippi
found it common in Persia. ‘There is no longer any doubt that F.
incerta, Risso, is a variety of this species, which was proved by
rearing young birds. I have seen several individuals sufficiently
modified to be thought distinct, two of them kept by Segnor de
Negri in Geneva. One of these had been in a cage for five years,
and only in the third year had taken the yellow, almost golden
colour on the front of the neck and top of the head.”

Doderlein says of this bird:—‘‘This species has been known up to
this time as C. tncertus. It is very rare in Sicily. It was first called
Fringilla olivacea by Rafinesque, when he saw it in the neighbour-
hood of Palermo in 1810, which was its first name. Risso observed
it after in the neighbourhood, and called it F. incerta in 1826.
Later still it was noticed by Professor Calvi and the Marquis of
Durazzo near Geneva, by Verany at Nice, by P. Roux at Marseilles,
and by Malherbe in the Pyrenees, and contemporaneously it was
described and figured by Bonaparte in his splendid work the ‘Fauna
Italica.’ More recently, in March, 1835, other individuals were taken
at Lavagno, (Perini), and in October, 1846, at Tamai, in Friuli; a
specimen was kept alive for many years by Cantarini, and by Nardo
at Venice. Perini announces the capture of two individuals, adult
females, one in 1850 in the mountains of Valdagno, and another in
1856 in the Veronese territory, to which he adds a third taken in
1857 at Calcinati, in Bergamasco. ‘Two individuals were procured
alive in 1864 by Segnor Negri at Geneva. It appears then that
this bird must be ranked among the birds of Italy and Sicily.”

The Scarlet Bullfinch lives upon various kinds of seeds, more
especially, according to Dubois, those of an oily nature, as well as
those of the elm or alder. Naumann also suggests that it feeds upon

\
=
a \ 2
.
1, SCARLET BULLPINCH.
2. DESERT ‘TRUMPETER BULLPIN
zi ; . at

SCARLET BULLFINCH. 7

the seeds of the reeds, among which it likes to live. ‘The same
authority informs us that it nests among the woody plantations in
the neighbourhood of St. Petersburg. Jaubert says it will also eat
insects.

The nest is formed of wool, dry grass stalks, and twigs, and lined.
with feathers and horse-hair. It lays five or six eggs, hight green,
spotted at the larger end with small black dots.

Brehm, in Biideker’s work upon European eggs, has the following
notice of the nidification of this bird:—‘‘'They nest in the thick woods
and bushes of Siberia, in Lausatia, in the neighbourhood of Galitz,
in Galicia, and in Poland—near Warsaw, where it is found in swampy
situations overgrown with alder trees. Once, in June, it was met
with, paired, in Renthendorf. The nest is placed in a bush, and 1s
made of moss, sticks, dry twigs, and sheep’s wool, and is lined with
hair and wool. ‘The eggs are a lively blue green in colour, more
or less marked with black or brownish dots and spots on the larger
end. ‘They are inclined to pear-shape in form, without, like the other
Bullfinches, being swollen in the middle.”

‘The male in breeding plumage has the small feathers in the nostrils
and around the neck, of a dull rose-colour; the base of all the
feathers, as well as a narrow streak along the shafts, of a brown red;
rump, sides of the head, throat, front of neck, and chest, of a bright
or rose crimson; belly and abdomen of a pure white; back and wing
coverts ashy brown, tinged with a little red towards the extremity or
tips of the feathers; quill feathers of both wings and tail blackish
brown, bordered with reddish; tail forked, beak and feet brown.

The female has all the upper parts of an olive brown. Wing
coverts tipped with white, forming two bands across the wing.
Primaries and tail feathers darker olive brown; secondaries shghtly
bordered with white. Throat and cheeks regularly spotted with
brown; front of neck and all the under parts of a greyish white,
marked with large longitudinal spots of dark brown; middle of belly
without spots. It is stated that the male adopts in winter the plumage
of the female.—(Temminck.) ;

‘he young males are not red in the first year; they have a remote
similarity to the female of our Linnets, but are distinguished from
them by having more of a greenish tint pervading the whole plumage,
especially through the yellowish borders of the wing feathers; the
head, under part of the neck, back, and shoulders, as well as the
wing coverts, are brown grey, but something brighter on the borders
of those feathers which are of a greenish colour; rump dirty yellow
green; the dirty white throat has down its sides small brownish

8 SCARLET BULLFINCH.

feathers, which become larger on the upper part of the breast, where
the ground is also brownish, but on the sides is shaded into brownish
grey; belly and under wing feathers dirty white, without spots; the
dark brown wing feathers have on the outer side a yellow greenish
bordering, which makes them brighter; beak and feet are like those
of the old male, but of a brighter colour, namely a dirty yellowish
or brown yellowish flesh-colour, the tips of the claws being dark
brown.—( Naumann.)

In the first part of the Bulletin of the Imperial Society of Natu-
ralists of Moscow, for the year 1860, there is an article by Alexander
von Nordmann, upon the birds of Finland and Lapland, in which
he states that P. erythrina is very common in Southern Finland,
which was not the case, according to the testimony of his father,
thirty years ago. It builds every year in the Botanical Gardens at
Helsingfors, in the tops of the maple and Carangana sibirica. It
arrives at Helsingfors in the middle of May, and the young are
fledged by the 25th. of June. ‘The nest is made loosely of twigs.
The eggs are white, with a few blackish red spots at the large end.
The voice of the bird is loud and flute-lke, easily recognised again
when once heard. It has a call-cry similar to our Greenfinch.—(See
Golbiss¢ January, SO ego -alslles)

The male figure of my bird is from a specimen in my own col-
lection, sent to me by Moeschler of Herrnhut; it was killed on the
Volga. The female was kindly lent me by Lord Lilford. The egg
is also in my own collection, and was sent to me by Dr. Meves of
Stockholm. I have also another, taken by Dr. Dybowski in Siberia.
Both these eggs are a lively blue green, with black spots at the
larger end. Bideker’s figure and description in the first edition were
similar, showing the above account of the egg by M. Alexander von
Nordmann to be absolutely incorrect. It is recorded by Herr Collett
as breeding at Polmak, on the ‘ana.

The bird has also been figured by Gould, B. of E., pl. 206; Dubois,
Oiseaux de la Belgique, pl. 117, (male and female;) Naumann,
Natur. der Vogel Deutsch., pl. 113, (male and female;) Dresser, B.
of E., (male and female.)

moyen
v

ROSY BULLIINCH. 9

GRANIVOR.
Family FRINGILLIDA. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Carpropvacus. (Kaup.)

ROSY BULLFINCH.

Carpodacus roseus.

Carpodacus roseus, Kaup. BONAPARTE.
Pyrrhula rosea, TEMMINCK. BREE; 1st. Edition.
aC OG NAUMANN stam .0" GOULD b. Ol He apl2or.
Passer roseus, PAWWAS ZOOSt a t.a42e
Fringilla rosea, PALLAS AND AUTHORS.
Propasser roseus, Gray; Hand List, No. 7522.
Bouvreutl-rose, OF THE FRENCH.
Swbirischer Rosengimpel, Or THE GERMANS.
Moineau rose, Or Patias; Voyage Appendix.

Specific Characters—The vertex red, with silver-white spots; throat also
mottled with crimson and white; rump crimson or yellowish white; two
transverse bands of white across the wings. Length five inches and a half,
French, (Temminck,) six inches and a half, German, (Naumann;) expanse
of wings eleven inches and a half; length of somewhat notched and forked
tail two inches and five eighths. The wing does not reach to half the
length of the tail; the club-shaped beak five and a half lines; tarsus three
quarters of an inch; middle claw and toe seven lines; hinder toe and claw
rather over six lines; legs and toes covered with scales —(NAUMANN.)

Tue Rosy Bullfinch is described by Naumann as the most beautiful
of our Northern European birds. Closely allied to the last species, it
yet differs from it in size and ornamentation. Its beak is quite dif-
ferent, being narrower and more pointed, having more the character
of that of the true Finches. ‘The measurements also of the two species,

VOL. IV. ©

10 ROSY BULLFINCH,

which I have taken from Naumann, shew very important structural
differences.

The Rosy Bullfinch is found in Northern Asia, principally in Siberia
—on the banks of the rivers Uda, Selenga, etc., visiting in the winter
the eastern parts of the south of Europe, and occasionally it has been
captured in Hungary. It has also, but very rarely, been seen in the
north-east of Germany. It has also been included by Professor Blasius
among the list of birds captured in Heligoland.

Very little is known of the natural history of this bird. This may
in a great measure arise from its being very frequently mistaken for
the last. Pallas says, however, that even in Siberia it is rare and
solitary, occurring on the Uda and Selenga rivers among the willows.
Schrenck confirms this, and further observes that in summer it moyes
northwards to the banks of the Lena. He did not observe it in the
Amoor in summer. It came in the autumn about the middle of October.
He shot one as early as September 22nd. They came in small flocks.
Naumann senior saw it free once only, and then was not acquainted
with its name for several years after. ‘Temminck, in the first edition
of his ** Manual,’ confounded it with the Scarlet Bullfinch.

The Rosy Bullfinch likes to live in bushes which grow near water,
and occasionally comes into gardens, accompanied by the Snow Bunting.
It feeds upon all common seeds, according to Naumann, and on the
kernels of various berries. About its propagation nothing is known.

The adult male has the top of the head rose; forehead and throat
of a silvery and shining white; vertex, neck, and body of a very
bright crimson red, with the feathers of the back and scapularies black
in the centre; two bands of a rosy white on the wings, of which the
coverts are edged with dirty white; cheeks, lower part and sides of
neck, and chest, crimson red; belly and under tail coverts rosy white;
primaries and tail quills brown, edged with rose on the outside; beak
and feet clear brown.

The following is Dr. Schrenck’s account of the female:—“It is true
that Bonaparte and Schlegel figure the nominally full-grown female of
P. rosea without the slightest sprinkling of red. This must be the
young female, for Pallas describes the old female as having on the
throat, neck, rump, and particularly the forehead, a stronger or weaker
cinnabar red flush or sprinkling, which is confirmed in the specimens
from the Amoor, as well as one in our museum from Western Siberia.
In all these a very visible reddish flush extends over the throat
and upper part of the breast, paling down more.and more on the
abdomen, and even to the under tail coverts. On the upper parts
this flush is particularly marked towards the forehead, on the crown

ROSY BULLFINCH. 11

of the head, and on the rump, and in paler shades on the otherwise
reddish yellow edges of the feathers on the back and the lesser wing
coverts. ‘The specimens vary in this matter according to age, and
probably also from climate and other influences. So also the red in
our specimens from the Amoorland, although exactly distributed as in
the bird from Western Siberia, is yet paler and more of cinnabar
than rose-colour, as in the latter.”

In the young before the first moult the entire plumage is of a
reddish grey, longitudinally spotted with brown; with two bands of
reddish yellow on the wig, and the rump yellowish. After the first
moult a little white appears on the forehead, and the red becomes
more brilliant while the spots disappear: thus the specimen described
by Pallas as having white only on the forehead, and with its plumage
browner, must have been a young bird after moulting.—(Temminck.)

The following is from Naumann’s account of this bird, which I
insert to make my description as complete as possible. I quote from
the above accurate observer’s beautiful work on the ‘Birds of Ger-
many,” a work, which I may take this opportunity of saying, is, in
my opinion, both for full and elaborate description, and for the beauty
and natural expression of its illustrations, perhaps unrivalled in orni-
thological literature—‘‘'The size is that of a Mountain Finch, and
larger than the Common Linnet, but in contour it somewhat resembles
them both. ‘The beak is reddish grey, the root of the superior mandible
being yellowish; the round nostrils are ornamented with stiff small
feathers, and the iris is rust brown. The brownish yellow feet are
tolerably strong and robust; the claws, not very large, but sharp, are
dark brown at the tip, but have otherwise the colour of the feet.

‘““The old male has two distinct characters of plumage,—brown, and
a splendid carmine red; and the last, with which the whole bird seems
to be suffused, makes it one of the most beautiful of northern birds.
The head and neck are carmine red, with a brown grey sparkling
through it, so that the feathers (like, in fact, those of the whole bird,)
are more or less dark, having a ground of grey and white, and the
red colouring only taking possession of the tips or edges of the feathers.
On the temples, the hinder part of the head, the throat, to the middle
of the breast, and the rump, this colouring is the brightest, a deep
brilliant rose red; and on the sides of the breast dark brown arrow-
shaped spots on a whitish ground, becoming larger on the flanks, with,
on this part of the body, a yellow white tinge; the belly and under
wing coverts are white, with rosy red borders. ‘There is one peculi-
arity to be noticed, namely, that in this northern bird, as well as in
the male of Pyrrhula longicauda, 'Temminck, which is the Loxia sibirica

9

12 ROSY BULLFINCH.

of Pallas, the feathers of the vertex and throat have a silvery scaly
appearance, and the barbs of the feathers, as well as their points,
have a bright shining white colour. ‘The shoulders and upper part of
the back are dark brown, spotted with red streaks; the dark brown
feathers of this part have borders of carmine red; the greater feathers
of the shoulders have also white borders. All the wing feathers have
a dull dark brown ground; the lesser wing feathers carmine red borders,
the greater, broad white borders, with rosy red tips. The greater
wing coverts rosy red borders with white tips, forming two oblique
borders of white across the wings. The upper tail coverts bright
red, with dark brown arrow-spots, and the darker brown tail feathers,
of which the outermost are merely somewhat lighter, have rosy red
borders; the underneath wing and tail feathers are lhght brown
grey; the under wing coverts dirty white, spotted with brown, having,
at the edges, a tinge of rosy red.

“Tn the autumn plumage, the borders of the wing and tail feathers
are broader, shading into a brownish white, and in the back and
shoulder the red bordered feathers have besides brownish white edges.
The splendid red is there also darker, and acquires its brilliancy by
degrees under the influence of air and sun.

“Probably the young male is not so beautifully red, and in the
first year perhaps not at all so as in the preceding species, (P. ery-
thrina,) and the females of both are certainly very similar. I have
only seen two male stuffed specimens of this splendid bird to examine
and compare with P. erythrina and P. purpurea, the Bouvreil violet
de la Caroline of Brisson.”

Of its nidification nothing is known.

It has been figured by Pallas, Zoog., t. 42; Gould, B. of E., 207;
Naumann, B. of E., t. 118; Bonaparte, Lox, t. 19-20.

ey
TD

CONN

1 yA
Eee

One deat

nee}
SON Ny
Yen

TS

HONIATIONG AHLAIdNOUL LUAsaa

DESERT TRUMPETER BULLFINCH.

GRANIVOR.

Family FRINGILLIDA. (Bonaparte. )
Genus Carpopacus. (Kaup.)

DESERT TRUMPETER BULLFINCH.

Carpodacus githagineus.

Pyrrhula githaginea,
66 66

66 6é

66

payreaudaet,
Fringilla githaginea,
ss thebaica,
Erythrospiza githaginea,
Carpodacus payreaudaet,
Bucanetes githagineus,
66 66
Serinus githagineus,
Erythrothorax githaginea,
Bouvreutl-rose,
Trompeter gimpel,
Papageien gimpel,
Rosen gimpel,
Egyptscher rosen-gimpel,

TEMMINCK. Rovx.

Botte; Naumannia, 1858, p. 369.
BreEE; rst. Edition.

Aupouin; Descr. Egypt. Zool.
LICHTENSTEIN.

Hempricu; Sched. Mus. Berolin.
BONAPARTE.

Gray; Gen. of Birds.

CaBanis; Mus. Hein., p. 164.
Gray; Hand List, No. 7523.
GLOGER.

Cur. L. BREHM.

OF THE FRENCH.

CABANIS.

C. L. BREHM.

A. BREHM.

SCHLEGEL.

13

Specific Characters—The small feathers all round the base of the beak
rose carmine; rump, external borders of the primaries, and abdomen a most
delicately beautiful rose pink; no transverse bands across the wings; the

first quill feather the longest in the wing.

Length five inches and a half;

from carpus to tip three inches and three eighths; the tip of the wing
reaching, when closed, within one third of an inch of the end of the
tail. Tail two inches and three eighths long; tarsus three quarters of an
inch; beak from gape five eighths of an inch; height of beak five twelfths
of an inch; circumference of beak at base one inch.

14 DESERT TRUMPETER BULLFINCH.

Tuts elegant bird is a native of Africa, and has only been known
to occur in Europe with certainty in Provence, ‘Tuscany, and the
Grecian Archipelago. It is found however at Malta, the bird figured
in the “Icones Fauna Italica” having been captured there, and I have
a specimen sent me from that island by Dr. Leith Adams. It is seen
in the island from December to March, and its designation “The
Trumpeter,” is derived from its Maltese name ‘‘Trumbettier.”’ It is
mentioned by Captain Loche among the birds observed by him in

b]

Algeria, and is especially found in Nubia and Syria. In Morocco it
is recorded by Mr. C. F. Tyndhill Drake, (“‘Ibis,” 1869, p. 152,) who
remarks it was so tame that it would fly into his room and pick up
stray crumbs from within a few. inches of the mattress on which he
was lying. He did not observe it anywhere else, except a few at
Mogador. The Rev. Canon Tristram (“Ibis,” 1868,) states “it is not
uncommon in the deserts near Beersheba.” A long and interesting
account of its residence and habits in the Canary Islands, from which
the following history is principally taken, is given by Dr. C. Bolle, in
““Naumannia,” for 1858, pp. 369-393; and in Cabanis’ “Journal fiir
Ornithologie,” for 1859, p. 469, a further account of it is given by
Chalihl Effendi, as it was found by him in the desert regions of the
north-east of Africa, on the banks of the Nile, in Upper Egypt, in
the oases of Nubia, where it occurs in large flocks, and in Arabia
Petrea.

Salvadori (“Fauna d’Italia”) says:—“Its home is Upper Egypt. It
appears from time to time in Italy. Nearly every year some individuals
are captured in Malta, generally from October to March, (Wright,)
which is a very singular statement, since it appears that in this season
they ought to be goimg away into regions nearer the equator, and
before that towards the north. It has been said that it is not impro-
bable some may be seen in Sicily. Once it was found in Tuscany
by Savi, who, in a letter which he wrote to me, January 17th., 1869,
informed me that he believed he was the first to find it in Italy, as
in 1839 he took in the spring a fine male with lime twigs not far
from Pisa, in a place called Sagainaja. It lived for five years in a
cage, and was soon domesticated. Its habitual whistle was similar to
a boy’s small wooden trumpet. It moulted regularly in summer, but
never changed its livery.”

Bonaparte, who had a living bird, thus describes its habits in the
“Fauna Italica.”—‘‘It was very gentle, placid, and domestic, and very
sociable with the other birds, sparrows, etc., which came round its
cage, picking up the fallen grain, and when they flew away it en-

DESERT TRUMPETER BULLFINCH. 15

deavoured with its characteristic trumpet-like voice to bring them back
again. Ordinarily it uses another note, which we cannot pronounce
otherwise than by the syllable ‘ghe,’ five or six times repeated with
vibrations. It lays four or five eggs of a sea-green colour, with reddish
brown spots and points arranged in a corona near the larger extremity.
It nests in the clefts of rocks.”

Doderlein remarks of this bird, “This is a very elegant species,
originally from Africa, which only appears in Italy as an accidental
passenger. As it is sometimes taken in Malta, it would not be im-
probable that some individuals might be taken on the adjacent coast
of Sicily. Malherbe certainly asserts that some arrive there, and I
saw a specimen in the collection of the University of Titania, which
appears to have been taken in the neighbourhood of that city. We
want more proof.”

Dr. C. Bolle’s monograph is a model of this kind of descriptive
natural history, going into full particulars of all the habits and nidi-
fication of a most interesting bird, hitherto generally dismissed by
authors with the brief remark, “Ses mewrs, ses habitudes, son regime
et sa propagation sont inconnus.”

In the early part of his account, Dr. Bolle reprobates the system of
name-making in modern days; the present bird being classed by
various authors as an Hmberiza, a Fringilla, Pyrrhula, Carpodacus,
Erythrospiza, Erythrothorax, Serinus, or Bucanetes!

I have placed it with the two last in the genus Oarpodacus.

It is truly, as Dr. Bolle remarks, a bird of the Sahara. He writes
about it as follows:—~Far beyond the other side of the fruitful coast-
line of North Africa, which borders southwards the Mediterranean Sea,
the cultivated fields of the Arabs are surrounded by a margin of desert,
where a new unexplored kingdom, with a scanty but strange world
of plants and animals, comes into view. Silence, as of the grave,
reigns supreme in the terrible Sahara, where the sea of sand has its
waves agitated by the poisonous breath of the Simoon. Through this
run the routes of the caravans, and its palm-shaded oases and wady’s,
which during the falls of winter are flooded with water, and are
adorned with thickets of mimose and tamarisks.”

It was in the two Canary Islands, Lanzarote and Fuertaventura,
which appear to have been divided from the Sahara by the sea, and
bear the character of scenery above described, that Dr. Bolle found
the Desert Trumpeter in great abundance, and where his observations
upon its habits were made.

“Whoever,” says Dr. Bolle, “wishes to know the dwelling-place of
P. githaginea, must not expect to follow me, as when I described the

16 DESERT TRUMPETER BULLFINCH.

wild Canary bird, into the glades of the Hesperides, through hollows
rich in flowers, and bordered with woods of laurel. The Fortunate
Islands are in no way similar to the evergreen colour in which they
appear to travellers who pass these land-marks of navigation in the
height of summer.

“The Desert Trumpeter is found most plentifully in Lanzarote and
Fuertaventura, and most sparingly in the great Canary Island. I found
it in fact spread over the whole eastern part of the Canary Islands,
and have reason to believe that it may inhabit the more western parts
also.

“On the Ist. of April, 1856, I found it in an excursion to Caldeca
von Bandama, on the high road which leads from Ciudad de las
Palmas to the Vegas, and welcomed it joyfully as an old acquaintance
one comes upon unexpectedly. It is seen, but less plentifully, in the
neighbourhood of the principal town, but at the time of migration it
appears in great numbers in the harbour, Puerta de la Luz. I have
also observed it in the districts of Jinamar, Carrizal, and Juan Grande,
and nowhere more abundantly than in Arguineguin, where it frequents
in flocks the tombs and ruins of a town which at one time had been
plundered by the Spaniards, which now covers a cape or promontory
with rocks and grottoes, and fig-trees in the background, and com-
mands an incomparable panorama over the sea towards the Peak of
Teneriffe.

“Tt also breeds in the islands of the western group, since the thick
growth of wood has driven it back there, but it has not been seen
hitherto on Teneriffe, Gomera, Palma, or Ferro.”

“The country inhabited by the Desert ‘Trumpeter must above all
things be without trees, and in the hot regions of the sunny coast.
It prefers stony places, where in the noon-day the wind trembles over
burning stones, and by the glimmer and reflected light of which the
traveller is almost blinded. Only a little grass grows in summer between
the parched and bleached yellow stones; and here and there at wide
intervals the low bushes of the taybayba, (Euphorbia balsamifera, )
or the thorny prenanthes, only eaten by the dromedary, spring up.
Here the ‘Trumpeter lives—a Bullfinch with the manners of a Stone-
chat. It is always found in sociable little groups, when the cares of
the breeding-season do not keep it solitary. The cheerful little bird
dances from stone to stone, or glides about near the ground, but
seldom can our sight follow it far into the landscape, for the reddish
grey feathers of the old bird mix as closely with the colours of the
stones and leafless stems and twigs of ELuphorbia, as the isabelle of the
young does with the pale yellow of the sand or chalk.

DESERT TRUMPETER BULLFINCH. 17

“We should soon lose it if its voice, which is one of its most
striking peculiarities, did not guide us to it. Listen! A note like
that of a small trumpet trembles through the air, and vibrates con-
tinuously; and if we are very attentive we shall hear just before and
just after it two gentle light notes ringing like silver bells through
the still desert, or the almost imperceptible, chords of an harmonium
played by unseen hands. Again it changes, and this time its notes
resemble the deep croak of the green frog of the Canaries, but less
coarse, hastily repeated one after another, and which the little bird
will itself answer with almost similar but weaker sounds, like a ven-
triloquist, as though they came from the far distance. Nothing is more
difficult than to describe in language the notes of birds. They must
be heard to be appreciated, and no one would expect to hear so
remarkable a song from a bird in such a locality. The above trumpet-
lke tones, often ending in a succession of crowing and humming,
distinguishes the habitat of these birds. They live almost so completely
in the uninhabitable country around, that they are always joyfully
welcome, and listened for attentively when silent. They are as the
melancholy voices of the desert, or as the Djuns of the solitude.
‘Vox clamantis in deserto.’

“The Desert Trumpeter does not appear frequently on the steep
rocky hills, at least I have only once met with it in such a situation,
and that was in April, 1802. It is much more partial to the black
lava stream of the desert, which, full of gaping rents and chasms,
hardly permits a blade of grass to become green. It never settles on
a tree or bush like the Stonechat. In inhabited districts they are
rather shy, yet where, as in Handia and nearly all the south of Fuer-
taventura, the silence and solitude of the desert is unbroken, they
are very confiding, especially the young, which, when we meet with
them unexpectedly seated on a stone, will peer with their little brilliant
eyes quite into one’s face.
~“They feed entirely, or almost so, on the seeds either of grasses,
which are found like a mealy kind of bread in their stomachs when
killed, or the oily seeds of composite and cruciferous plants, which
they shell like other Finches, by moving them most carefully backwards
and forwards between the mandibles of their strong beak. They will
also eat tender young leaves. ‘They cannot long dispense with water,
and often must fly some miles daily to get it. Their presence in the
desert is always a good omen for the thirsty traveller. I have con-
stantly seen them flying to drink in flocks. They drink much at a
time in long draughts, between which they lift up their heads. After
drinking they are very fond of bathing. I have never seen them

Wile Iie D

18 DESERT TRUMPETER BULLIINCH.

roll about in the dust like Sparrows. ‘The breeding-time begins in
March, and like those of most true desert birds, the nest is well
concealed, and with such foresight, that it can hardly ever be found.

“T have never succeeded in discovering one, though I have many
times sought in vain, ‘as did Brehm in Egypt, who writes ‘In the
month of March P. githaginea is in breeding-plumage, but I have
never succeeded in discovering any more about it. ‘The masses of rock
on both sides of the Nile form a very favourable nesting-place, but
they extend so much that the naturalist cannot pursue his object with
any good result.’

“TI know, however, from the goatherds of Fuertaventura, that the
Moros, as they are called there, build in crevices under large over-
hanging stones upon the ground. The nest has a tolerably strong
texture, and is woven with the coarse straw of the desert grass, and
lined within with great feathers, mostly of the ostrich and bustard, as
well as the wool of the camel and hair of the goat. The number of
eggs is from three to five. They certainly breed twice, if not more
frequently. The second moult takes place in July. Individuals quite
tired have been seen by fishermen flying over the arm of the sea and
the islands of the coast. These journeys shew why it appears yearly
in Malta as a bird of passage, as this island makes the direct line
from the Western Sahara and Canary Islands to the deserts of the
Syrte, bordering on the Mediterranean.

““The Desert Trumpeter does not appear to have many enemies in
its native home, as with the exception of the wild cat and a few
stoats, it has no four-footed foes. The Horned Owl can scarcely find
it under the flat stones, and in the cliffs which protect it. It has only
to beware of the Kite, (Milvus regalis. )”

Dr. Bolle was a long time before he could keep them alive in con-
finement, but he at length succeeded, and he gives a most interesting
account of their habits. He says they are peaceful and gentle, very
tame and sociable with each other, or with other birds. ‘The male
bird sings in the late autumn and winter. They love company, and
constantly call to one another. He kept his birds in a room with
plenty of light, and when the lamp was brought in they began their
song. ‘The tone is sometimes clear and beautiful, but with a short
trumpet, or a prolonged drony or quaking sound, which appears to be
the key-note of their song, and to which is often added various
modulated tones, sometimes resembling the purring of a cat. The
‘ka, ka, ka,’ which they constantly repeat, answers, as a rule, one
much deeper, softer, and shorter. Rarely they may be heard uttering
a low chattering, like the little parrot; they will also cackle like the

DESERT TRUMPETER BULLIFINCH. 19

hen, ‘kekek, kekeck,’ three or four times in succession. ‘Their alarm
note is a loud ‘schak, schaok.’ When hunted and caught they shriek
with anguish. ‘Their notes are almost without exception so full and
expressive, that we wonder how such a small creature can produce
them. The female has not the trumpeting tone so loud as the male
as Im spring.”

“In confinement the first egg was laid on the 24th. of April. They
are four in number, rather large for the bird, pale sea-green, or lighter,
with small spots and points of reddish brown, thinner at the smaller
end, and forming at the larger end a kind of crown or wreath.”

The male bird has the top of the head and nape ashy grey. The
back more or less brownish ash-grey, with reddish edges to the feathers;
the greater wing coverts pale brownish, edged with rosy red; the
primaries are a glossy hair-brown, with their outer edges fringed with
rosy pink, their tips being bordered (the first three slightly, the rest
more broadly,) with creamy white; in the secondaries the outer border
is the broadest, and the cream-colour is more deeply tinged with rosy
pink; the tail is emarginate, and the feathers present the same deep
brown colour, broadly edged with cream-colour and rosy red, as the
wing feathers, so that when the wings are closed, they form, with the
tail, a pleasing striped appearance. All the under parts (more or less),
the under tail coverts, feathers round the beak, and rump are rosy
red, mingled on the crop and abdomen with grey.

Dr. Bolle says that when old, the males have the scapularies speckled
with red, and that this colour is much deeper on the back. In autumn
the male is less beautiful,—the red is less remarkable, and the ashy
grey above, changes into a dull grey brown, on which account, after
moulting for the first time, they have a strongly marbled appearance.
In this stage a reddish shade on the back is above all perceptible.
The beak is a rosy coral colour, which Dr. Bolle says gives it in the
distance the appearance of an exotic bird. Tarsi and feet rose; iris
brownish black.

The female is above brownish grey, but that colour is lost in the
clearer tints below, which from the throat downwards, become exclu-
sively whitish. The upper part of the wings reddish grey. On the
throat and immediately under the beak clear rose; tail rosy red;
scapularies edged with rosy red. ‘The greater wing coverts and tail
feathers like the male, only smaller, and the rose less marked; under
tail coverts pale reddish grey; feet paler rose than the male. No
bands across the wings of either sex.

The plumage of the young differs somewhat from that of the
adult. When it leaves the nest it is clear light colour, or dull

20 PYRRAULINA.

isabelle yellow, which Dr. Bolle says Degland wrongly ascribes to
the female. This colour goes downwards from the throat without any
streaks, and gradually blends into whitish; there is no trace of red,
not even on the almost isabelle yellow tint. The under tail coverts
are yellowish; greater and lesser wing coverts, wings, and tail have
a darkish brown colour, with a speckled grey yellow on both edges;
beak and feet flesh-colour.—(Bolle.)

My figure of this bird is from a male in my own collection. It
was sent to me by Dr. Leith Adams, and was killed in December at
Malta. The egg is from a specimen sent me by the Rev. Canon
Tristram.

The bird has also been figured by Temminck et Laugier, planche
color, 400, figs. 1 and 2; Roux, Ornith. Prov., vol. 1i., supp. plate 73,
bis, young male in autumn plumage; Gould, B. of E., pl. 208; Bona-
parte, Lox., t. 33.

The following have been by various authors admitted. into the
European list of Pyrrhuline :—

1.—Pyrrhula coccinea, Selys.—The Greater Bullfinch, (Bouvreuil
ponceau of the French,) differs in nothing whatever from the Common
Bullfinch except in size, and having rather more white on the rump,
and the band of this colour across the wings being rather broader.
We are informed by Dubois (Oiseaux de la Belgique, p. 125,) that
it never mixes with the common species. It was first introduced as
a distinct race by Vieillot, Dict., 1817, and after by M. le Baron
Selys-Longchamps, in his “Faune Belge.” Schlegel, however, in his
“Revue Critique,” 1844, declined to admit it as a distinct species,
having never seen it in nature. De Selys himself only corisidered it
as a local race of the Common Bullfinch. Degland admits it into his
“Ornithologie Européenne,” with the following remarks:—“‘'The size
of the Bouwvreuil ponceau is constantly larger than that of the common
species; there is a difference in the proportions of their wing pri-
maries, in the strength of their note, and it is certain that they
always flock separately.”

Bonaparte, who admits it into his “Conspectus Avium Europearum,”
1850, and in his “Critique,” p. 27, makes the following remarks about
it:—“I would not answer for this not beimg in reality a constant race
or species, evidently that which Graba would have represented in his
work upon northern birds.”

Lastly, Dubois admits it as a distinct species, under the designation
of Pyrrhula coccinea, Leisler, and remarks upon it:—‘‘This bird is in

PYRRHULINA. 21

many respects like the Waxen Chatterer, appearing only from time
to time. Sometimes it is not seen for several years, and then shows
itself in great numbers. These Bullfinches have their periodical
migrations, and unite together sometimes in large, and at other times
in small flocks before starting. They have been seen in Belgium in
1836, 1840, 1846, and 1850; but in the autumn of 1855 there was
such a number taken, that they might have been bought by the
dozen at the game-dealers. Our learned naturalist, M. le Baron
Selys-Longchamps, had the honour of being the first to figure this
bird in his “‘Faune Belge,” and other naturalists have followed his
example. This Bullfinch has been long known as the Great Bullfinch
among bird-catchers. Naturalists have confounded it with the Common,
although from its size it ought to form a separate species, and it is
never known to join the Common Bullfinch when they assemble for
their periodical migrations. It is distinguished by a more brilliant
red and greater development of the white mark on the rump. ‘The
species, according to all appearances, belongs to the north of Europe,
but as it has always been confounded with the Common Bullfinch,
it is not possible to assign it a fixed locality.”

The late Mr. Wheelwright sent me specimens of this bird shot in
Lapland. It is a large form of Pyrrhula vulgaris.

2.—Carpodacus longicauda, Temminck, P. sibiricus, Pallas——This
bird was stated by Temminck to have been captured in Hungary,
and it is admitted into the European list by Keyserling and Blasius.
It is however rejected by Schlegel, Degland, and Bonaparte. There
does not appear any authentic account of its occurrence in Europe.
It inhabits Eastern Siberia and the Altai Mountains.

3.—Carpodacus caucasica, Pallas, Loria rubicilla, Guldenstadt, is
admitted into the European list by Keyserling and Blasius, Schlegel,
and Bonaparte. The latter says of it:—‘‘The Loxia rubicilla of Gul-
denstadt is a Carpodacus; but it is much more strongly formed than
erythrina, with which in other respects it has less affinity than with
P. roseus, which is also much smaller.” He then alludes to a female
in the collection of M. de Selys, about the authenticity of which there
is some doubt.

Degland also remarks of this bird, “This genus (Coccothraustes)
was established by Brisson, and only includes our Hawfinch. The
Count de Keyserling, Professor Blasius, and M. Schlegel place in
this genus the C. caucasicus of Pallas, Lozxia rubicilla, Guldenstadt.
But this bird was only known to the latter naturalist; it resembles
in size, form, and coloration the Pine Bunting; it is not certain that
it belongs to the genus Coccothraustes, and as it is only taken in

22 PYRRHULINA.

the Caucasus, I do not include it in this catalogue, and must refer
for a description to the ‘Revue’ of M. Schlegel, p. 79.” This des-
cription is that of Guldenstadt, and is very clear and minute.

It appears to be intermediate between the Pine Bullfinch and the
Hawfinch, of a soft red colour, variegated with white and grey. It
is indigenous to the Caucasian Alps, delighting in the cold regions
frequented by the Pine Bunting, especially the beds of gravelly
rivers, where it feeds on the berries of the Aippophoes rhamnoides.
It assembles in flocks, and imitates the notes of the Bullfinch. There
is scarcely any difference in the sexes.

“The top of the head, throat, underneath the neck, and chest,
intense red, marbled with white acutely triangular spots and streaks;
abdomen and under tail coverts weak rose, watered with white; tail
feathers below rosy-fuscous. Neck above and back greyish, with a
rosy tinge; tail feathers above rosy-fuscous. The base of all the
feathers which he em stu, and which constitute the greater part of all
the plumage, is intensely grey. ‘The closed wing is an inch shorter
than the tail; the primaries and tail feathers are fuscous, indistinctly
margined with rose; the axillary quills colour of the back. The
tail is three inches and six lines long; the twelve tail feathers
brassy-black, the tip of each external margin white, the rest shaded
with rose. The thighs are feathered to the knee, and grey; the
tarsus and toes, of which there are three before and one behind, of
a black colour; claws incurved, acuminate, black, equal anteriorly,
the hind one longest. Length eight inches, of wings four inches
nine lines, tarsus one inch one line, middle toe nine lines, hind toe
five lines.”

Figured by Guldenstadt, Nov. Comm. Petr., xix., pl. 12.

I have thought it right to give a translation of the principal part
of Guldenstadt’s diagnosis of this bird, and regret that I have not a
specimen to figure. Although confined as it is to neutral ground, its
claims to European rank are very slight.

aaa

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CRIMSON-WINGE GROSBHRAK.

CRIMSON-WINGHED GROSBIAK.

bo
Go

GRANIVORZ.
Family FRINGILLIDAI. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Frineitia. (Linneus. )

Generic Characters.—Beak short, strong, convex, straight, and conic; superior
mandible dilated, slightly bent at the point; the upper part depressed.
Nostrils basal, round, placed near the forehead, behind the horny elevation
of the swollen part of the beak, partly hid by the feathers of the forehead.
Tarsi shorter than the middle toe. The two or three first wing primaries
tapering, the third or fourth the longest.

CRIMSON-WINGED GROSBEAK.

Fringilla coccothraustes phonicoptera.

Kringilla rhodoptera, LICHTENSTEIN.
Montifringilla sanguinea, GOULD.
Lrythrospiza phenicoptera et
Rhodopechys phenicoptera, BONAPARTE.
Rhodopechys phanicoptera, CABANIS.
ce phenicoptere, LocuHeE.
fe Sanguineus, Gray; Hand List, No. 7528.

Specific Characters—Top of the head in the male black; the first two
thirds of the outer web of all the primaries, except the first, the feathers
round the eyes, and the upper tail coverts, rich crimson. Length seven
inches; carpus to tip four inches and three tenths; tarsus ten lines; tail
two inches and three fifths; beak seven lines; circumference of beak at
base one inch and a half.

Tuis beautiful species is closely allied to the Desert Trumpeter,
Pyrrhula githaginea. It has been included with it and Fringilla
obsoleta, by Lichtenstein, in the genus Erythrospiza, in which arrange-
ment he was followed by Bonaparte. Subsequently Cabanis placed this

24: CRIMSON-WINGED GROSBEHAK.

bird in a new genus, that of Rhodopechys, in which he was also
followed by the versatile Prince of Canino. It differs, however, from
the Bullfinches in the size and form of the beak, and belongs, I
think more strictly to the genus Coccothraustes, although here again
the form of the wing is different.

Bonaparte says of it in his ‘Conspectus Avium Europearum,” p.
28:—* This elegant Erythrospiza phcenicoptera, which does not differ
from the Fringilla sanguinea of Gould, from the confines of Persia
and Circassia, claims its place in the ornithology of Europe, which it
can always ensure by a few movements of its wings. It is essentially
sedentary, only changing from plains to mountains.”

In addition to the above places, Erzeroum may be mentioned more
particularly as a locality, in the neighbourhood of which place it is
found in flocks of five or six. It occurs also in the southern parts
of Africa.

In its habits it very much resembles P. githaginea, living among
rocks and stones in the desert, and feeding upon seeds.

The male in breeding plumage has the top of the head black; the
nape, back, scapularies, and wing coverts rich chesnut brown, cheeks,
throat, and flanks, being a brown of a lighter shade. Wings black,
with the first two thirds of all the primaries, except the first, rich
crimson, the secondaries being broadly tipped with very pure white;
upper tail coverts crimson; tail black, with the exception of the most
external on each side, which are pure white; all the other quills more
or less tipped with white. The feathers surrounding the eyes crimson;
the crop and abdomen fawn-colour, with the feathers covering the
thighs white; under parts of the wings at the shoulders bordered with
crimson; the rest of the upper part white, below slaty brown; tail,
when closed, white, being covered by the two external feathers. Feet
brown; beak yellow.

The female has the upper part of the head brown, with all the other
upper parts different shades of the same colour, only a slight vestige
of the crimson colour of male being perceptible; the primaries and
secondaries dark brown, the former slightly edged with crimson, and
the latter tipped with dirty yellow. ‘Throat, cheeks, crop, and flanks
nutmeg brown; abdomen dirty-mottled white and brown.

The figures of this beautiful bird are from specimens kindly sent
me by Mr. Gould. The male is from Erzeroum. The female was also
shot in the breeding season.

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SERIN |FINCH.

SERIN FINCH. 25

GRANIVOR.
Family FRINGILLIDA. (Bonaparte. )
Genus Frineitua. ( Linneus.)

SERIN FINCH.

Fringilla serinus.

Fringilla serinus, LINNZUS. ‘TEMMINCK.
Pyrrhula serinus, SCHLEGEL. DEGLAND.

a BY KEYSERLING ET BLASIUS.
Serinus flavescens, GOULD. BONAPARTE.

“ . brumalts, STRICKLAND.

‘¢ hortulanus, Kocu.

“© meridionalis et islandicus, BONAPARTE.
Serin Finch, LATHAM; Syn., vol. ili, p. 296.
Serin cint, Cr THE FRENCH.
Gemeiner griingimpel or girlitz, OF THE GERMANS.
Verzellino, SAVI.
Raperino, Verdolini, Serino ad’ Italia, STOR.
Crespolino, OF THE TUSCANS.

Specific Characters.—The back olivaceous, marked with longitudinal blackish
spots; vertex pale olivaceous yellow; primaries and tail feathers dusky brown.
Length four inches and a half; carpus to tip two inches and seven eighths;
tarsus nine lines; beak four lines.

Tue Serin Finch is an inhabitant of Southern Europe. It is found
plentifully in Spain, the south of France, in Italy, Greece, in that
part of Switzerland which borders on Italy, and more rarely in the
south and south-west of Germany. It is also found in Central Ger-
mafiy, in the north of France, and in Holland; but Naumann says it
is not found in the north of Germany. According to Faber, it has
been found and killed between 66° and 67° of north latitude. It has

NADibe, Ne 1D

26 SHRIN FINCH.

also been found in the Hertz Mountains, and, according to Bechstein,
it is often seen in Thuringia. Dr. Leith Adams informs me that it is
an autumn visitor at Malta, is common in Sicily, and very common
in Smyrna. Naumann remarks as worthy of notice that the Serin
Finch is not equally plentiful in the same country, and Schinz
writes to him that he has never procured it in the Canton of Zurich,
though they are common a four hours’ journey out of it. They are
said to be plentiful in the neighbourhood of Heidelberg and Offenbach, -
but in the country between very rare. Count Miihle says it is very
common in Greece, in company with Finches and Linnets, and that
its colours are in that country very bright. Captain Loche includes
it among the birds of Algeria; and Mr. Salvin (‘‘Ibis,” vol. i., p. 313,)
says that it is common about the olive-groves of Sousa, in the neigh-
bourhood of Turin, but rare in the more elevated and mountainous
parts of the Eastern Atlas.

A special interest attaches to this bird in consequence of its having
been recently captured in England, but as it has not hitherto been
figured as a British bird, it comes into my list. The account of this
capture will be found related by Mr. Bond, in the ‘‘Zoologist” for
1860, p. 7105. One specimen was said to have been caught in a clap-
net on the 20th. of June, 1859, near Brighton; and a second near
London, in October, 1859, shortly after a severe storm. Mr. Rowley
also (“‘Ibis,” January, 1861,) alludes to other specimens having been
taken near Brighton.

The Serin Finch is generally a migratory bird, quitting its summer
and breeding ground in October, and returning the following March;
“but in the mild climate of the Rhine, Naumann tells us it remains
all the year round.

It lives most frequently in fruit-gardens, orchards, or avenues of
walnut or nut-trees, and vineyards; more rarely in oak and beech
woods, and loves to dwell among willows and alders, on the banks of
brooks and rivers, as well as in garden-trees in the middle of villages
or near buildings. Naumann, from whom I am now quoting, further
remarks that wherever it lives im summer, it makes itself known by
its restless habits, and its custom of always singing on the summit of
the tree tops, from which it often flies down to the roofs of buildings.
In autumn it is more retired, but remains long on the thick tree
tops.

It seeks its food principally on the ground, on which account it is
often seen there, but never very far from trees and bushes, and “still
less in the open fields. It does not seem to like fir or pine woods.
In its movements it is very lively and active, springing from branch

SHRIN FINCH. 27

to branch, very much like the Siskin or Common Linnet, and it wil-
lingly associates with these birds, particularly the Siskin. They are
generally seen in pairs or small flocks, and the pairs do not seem to
separate during the whole year, but “‘cling to each other with the
utmost affection and tenderness.” If one is accidentally separated from
the other, they call assiduously until they are again united.

The male is very lively in the beautiful spring weather, and sings
continually from the tops of the trees, and delights especially in flying
from one to the other, sometimes soaring and sometimes fluttering
aloft, and flying straight down again like the Tree Pipit. In its usual
flight it resembles the Siskin, moving quickly from place to place,
and uttering its peculiar note, which has been compared to that of the
Siskin, the Goldfinch, and Canary-bird. The song has much variation,
and may be heard at the breeding-place all day long, and from March
till far into August. It is a favourite cage-bird, assorting by choice
with Siskins, Goldfinches, and Canaries, and it may, like these birds,
be taught many performances.

Like other Finches, the Serin feeds on seeds, especially those grown
in gardens, and it prefers the oleaginous to the farinaceous. Naumann
mentions particularly cabbage, hemp, and poppy, rape, turnip, radish,
and lettuce seed, for which it lays contributions on the cultivator,
and for which it is doubtless often shot and trapped. The wild seeds
which it seems to prefer, are dandelion, hawk cabbage, chicory, the
grasses, and even, when driven to it, oats. In autumn it seeks its
food among the alders and birches.

Its nest is much more frequently found on fruit and walnut-trees
than on beech, oak, or alder. It is im position more lke the nest
of the Goldfinch than the Linnet, placed in a forked bough, not very
high, or in the lowest branches; in bushes and dwarf fruit trees, but
not in low bushes. The nest is sometimes like that of the Goldfinch,
at others more like the Greenfinches, but smaller, very narrow,
rounded, and lined with more skill than the latter. It is formed of
small roots, woven together with old twigs, which are, however, some-
times wanting. ‘The inside is tolerably deep, and made soft and warm
with feathers, and generally a large quantity of horse-hair, and single
pigs’ bristles, which secure a smooth resting-place for the eggs, and
make, as Naumann justly remarks, one of the prettiest of nests.

The eggs are about the size of the Siskins’, but shorter and rounder,
very tender-shelled, and in colour resembling the Linnets’, having a
ground of greenish white, with solitary dots and short streaks of a
dull or dark blood red, or reddish brown, forming a kind of wreath
oftentimes round the larger end. They sit fourteen days, and this

28 SHRIN FINCH.

duty is performed entirely by the female, while the male often feeds
her most tenderly from his crop.

Salvadori (Fauna d'Italia) writes of this bird:—“< Fringilla serina
makes its nest upon trees a short distance from the ground. The nest
is constructed externally of dry sticks, and soft roots and wool internally.
The eggs, in number from four to five, are whitish, with brown and
rosy spots on the obtuse end.”

The late lamented Mr. Edward Tuck, of Wallington Rectory, near
Baldock, Hertfordshire, who took a great interest in the progress of
my work, wrote to me an account of his observations of this bird in
the south of France, and promised to send me the nest and eggs.
The fatal disease, however, which took him to the sunny climate of
the south of France, has since then terminated fatally; and it is with
a melancholy interest I record an extract from one of his letters, which
displayed not only considerable knowledge of natural history, but
powers of observation, which would, had he been spared, have done
much good to the science in the pursuit of which he was so fond.
The letter is dated June 15th., 1859:—

“T have lately returned from Cannes, where I passed several months
of the winter; but I am sorry to say have met with very little
indeed in the ornithological way. ...Provence is generally a very dry
and barren country, and you only find birds in the valleys, on the
borders of streams. With regard, however, to the Serin Finch, PF.
serinus, I found that some wintered in Provence. I heard the song
two or three times in December, and obtained a specimen in January.
They begin to sing again about the middle of February. By the middle
of March their numbers had greatly increased by arrivals, and they
were extremely abundant all along the edges of the pine woods, with
which all the higher ground of the country is covered. They evidently
frequented the borders of cultivated ground more than the interior of
the wood. The males were then in full song. From the middle of
March the numbers gradually lessened till there were only some pairs
left here and there breeding.

“They build chiefly in gardens, more so than in pine woods. The
nest is always on a pine or cedar, from six to sixteen feet from the
ground. On the 14th. of April I saw some young Serins out of the
nest, but they could not fly; and on the 26th. I took a nest containing
only two fresh eggs. On my way home, I stayed some days at Fon-
tainebleau. I certainly did not hear these birds there, though the
gardens round the palace seemed suitable for them, and I was shewn
the skin of one said to have been obtained there. The Serin Finch
is not found in Madeira. I have seen it at Cintra, near Lisbon, in
June, but they are never numerous there then.” |

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In Biideker’s work upon European eggs, I find the following remarks
about this bird by Brehm:—‘‘The Serin Finch inhabits the south of
Europe, Asia Minor, and North Africa. In Germany it removes in
a remarkable manner towards the north. I saw it at Nuremberg in
1830, and for three years at Jena and Dresden. It comes into the
south of Germany during the first fortnight in April. The half-bowl-
formed nest is made of grass and stalks of plants, and lined with
feathers and hairs. Many also use the catkins of the willow upon
the under layer, whilst others are made almost entirely of rootlets,
and some build almost exclusively of the clustering blossoms of the
chesnuts. It lays in May five eggs, which are similar to those of
F. citrinella in size and markings. ‘The ground-colour is pale green,
having at the narrow end faint reddish grey spots, in the middle
brown, while, at the greater end, the small streaks and dots are black
brown.”

Savi’s interesting account does not differ from those I have given.
It appears in Tuscany in flocks in April.

The male in breeding plumage has all the upper parts olivaceous,
with longitudinal black markings; the vertex, throat, crop, and an
imperfect collar round the neck, greenish yellow; the nape mottled
yellow and olivaceous; the lower part of the body and flanks dirty
white, the latter being marked with longitudinal brown spots. The
wings are crossed with two narrow yellowish white bands. Primaries
and tail quills brown, bordered lightly with dirty white; the rump is
clear canary yellow; beak horn brown above, whitish below; feet and
iris brown. In autumn the colours are less pure.

The female has less yellow in its plumage than the male, more black
above, and more brown spots below.

Before the first moult the young are variegated with grey and yel-
lowish, with elongated brown markings.

My figures of the bird and its egg are from specimens in my own
collection.

The bird has also been figured by Buffon, pl. enl. 658, (male;) Roux,
Ornith. Provence, pl. 94, (male and female;) Bouteille, Ornith. du
Dauph., pl. 34, fig. 4; Gould, B. of E., pl. 195; Temminck, Atlas du
Manuel; Vieillot, Galerie des Oiseaux, pl. 62, et Faune Franc., pl. 38,
fig. 1; Naumann, Vogel Deutsch., vol. v, pl. 123.

Say

Pipes

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Se

CITRIL FINCH. 31

in those parts of Asia and Africa which abut on the European border.
Captain Loche says it occurs only accidentally in Algeria.

Thus limited to the southern parts of Europe, the Citril Finch is
nevertheless a true Alpine bird, livmg not only among the smaller
hills, but frequenting the highest Alpine Mountains as far as the
arboreal region extends. It is found, says Naumann, in the upper
dark forests which are broken here and there by open plains overgrown
with grass, and rocky precipices. Count Miihle says it is rare in
Greece everywhere except in the mountains. Lord Lilford (Ibis, 1860)
says the Citril Finch is ‘common in Corfu and Epirus in summer.”

Salvadori (Fauna d’Italia) writes of this bird, ‘In spite of all
Malherbe has asserted about finding this bird in Sicily, it has been
denied by Doderlein and Benoit. Cara says it has been found in
Sardinia, where I think I may affirm decidedly that it has never
occurred. In high Italy it has been observed in Piedmont, Lombardy,
Venetia, and the Tyrol, and comes there regularly every year. The
noble Ernest Tarati wrote to me that at his seat in Lombardy he has
taken eight or ten individuals in the space of twelve years, and always
in September.

“According to Durazzo it ought to arrive sometimes in Liguria,
especially on the eastern coasts. It has never, according to Doderlein,
been observed in Modena. Bettoni and other Venetian authors affirm
that it sometimes nests in Lombardy and Venice, but this is not well
ascertained. In the Tyrol, according to Althammer, it is only found
irregularly in its passage. According to Bailley (Orn., p. 213) it lives
stationary among the mountains of Savoy and upon the southern slopes
of Moncenisio, and, according to Riva (Orn. Tran., p. 291), upon the
Swiss Alps. According to Bailley, it has a mild and confiding dispo-
sition. It lives in the pine forests, from which it often descends in
the severe parts of winter. It feeds on seeds and buds. It nests
upon the thick foliaged trees, and especially upon the fir trees. ‘The
nest is made externally of lichens, moss, and dried sticks, intertwined
with spider-webs, and internally with soft filaments and horse-hair.
The eggs, in number from five to six, are of a clear blue, with obscure
spots and points scattered over.”

Doderlein (op. cit.) says of this bird, “This species is very rare in
central Italy. It is generally confined to the thick alpine groves, and
is never seen in the plains. It seems that it has never been noticed in
the Modenese territory; at the same time specimen-hunters in the moun-
tains would have agreed to note its presence or absence. According
to. Malherbe, Z/ venturone sometimes appears near Messina in winter,
and also more frequently near Palermo. When I have been in Sicily

23 CITRIL FINCH.

I have never happened to meet with it, nor do I know from others
that it has occurred there. It is a question whether it occurs in
Sardinia.”

The following account of its habits is from Naumann:—It is a
cheerful restless little bird, very active in its movements, and somewhat
shy. It seems always full of joy, and is constantly heard even in bad
weather, or in the middle of alpine snow and storms. It is never
known to stay long in the same place; and appears in constant motion,
turning its tail from side to side, hopping or fluttermg among the
boughs of the trees, or on the earth when it seeks its food; its spring
is quick, its deportment fearless. In all this its affinity with the
Siskin is remarkable. It resembles it also in its flight, especially that
of passage. It seems alike indifferent to weather or temperature, and
only departs from its mountain home, when the ground is frozen, and
there is a deficiency of food.

Its note is a gentle piping, described by some as ‘gu,’ by others as
‘qjiul’ or ‘qjiub.’ This call is heard frequently as it flies or imme-
diately after settling. The song of the male is variously described.
Bechstein compares it to that of the Canary bird, but says it is not
so shrill—something between a Canary bird and Tree Pipit. Schinz
compares it to the song of the Siskin. It is really a loud, clear,
pleasant song, which may be constantly heard at the breeding-season,
from March to September. The female also sings a little, but not so
loud as the male. .

Many agreeable qualities combine to make the male Citril Finch a
favourite cage-bird, and it is kept by amateurs in great numbers. It
becomes domesticated quickly, is easily tamed, and not difficult to keep
even for a long time. It feeds principally on the seeds of firs or
pines, and on those of many alpine plants, and also destroys buds and
blossoms, though probably it does this, hike the Goldfinch, in search
of insect larve. In confinement it is fed, like other Finches, on poppy
or hemp seed, but with the last it gets too fat, which must not con-
sequently be made its principal food.

It nests in the mountains of the countries above named, in the
Tyrol, and in many places in Switzerland on the southern Alpine
chain. The nest is sometimes placed in the thick stumpy alpine firs
or other pine trees, sometimes under the roofs of the herdsmen’s
cottages. It is cup-shaped, and very well and skilfully woven together.
It is made of dry grass, with moss and twigs more or less intertwined,
is tolerably smooth on the outside, and very beautifully lined with
many hairs of various animals, small feathers, and husks of the poppy.

The eggs are four or five in number, and in form and colour very

CITRIL FINCH. 30

similar to those of the Goldfinch. They are, however, much smaller.
The ground-colour greenish blue, with variously-sized dots of reddish
grey and blood red, chiefly at the larger end.

According to M. Crespon, it will breed with the Serin Finch.

The male in breeding plumage has the top of the head and back
olive green; nape and sides of throat grey; rump, throat, and all the
under parts citron yellow; wings and tail dark brown; the primaries
lightly and the secondaries broadly tipped with ashy white; two oblique
bars of olive green across the wings. Beak brown; feet reddish; iris
clear brown.

The female has the plumage browner, with less of yellow below,
and the wing bars are whitish.

According to Degland the young before the first moult have the
upper parts of a russet grey, with a longitudinal black spot in the
centre of each feather; the inferior parts russet white, with a number
of brown spots, distinct, but less pronounced on the middle of the
abdomen; wings of a blackish grey, with the coverts broadly bordered
and tipped with light yellow ochre, forming two transverse bands,
one on the middle, the other on the lesser coverts; primaries brown,
bordered and tipped with grey; tail quills equally brown, bordered
and tipped with ashy white.

My figure of this bird is from a specimen sent me by Canon
Tristram. ‘The egg is from my own collection. It was taken in the
Canton Uri in Switzerland, and sent me by the late Herr Seidensacher.

The bird has also been figured by Temminck, Atlas; Vieillot, Faune
Franc., pl. 40; Roux, Ornith. Prov., pl. 90, (male;) Naumann, Vogel
Deutsch., pl. 124; Bouteille, Ornith. du Dauph., pl. 35, f. 3; Gould, "8.
of E., ae 198.

AVON Gis UW, EF

34 SNOW FINCH.

GRANIVOR.
Family FRINGILLIDA. (Bonaparte. )
Genus Frineitia. ( Linneus. )

SNOW FINCH.

Fringla nivalis.

Fringilla nivalis, BRISSON.
cs saxatilis, ; Koc#.
Passer alpicola, PALLAS.
Plectrophanes fringilloides, Bote.
Chlorospiza nivalis, Kaup.
Montifringilla nivalis, BREHM. BONAPARTE. GRAy, Hand
Sty NOm 256
Pinson de Netge des Alpes, OF THE FRENCH.
Alpen Schneefink, OF THE GERMANS.

Specific Characters—Wing coverts, the chief part of the secondary quills,
and all the tail feathers, with the exception of the two middle ones, of a
pure white. Length six inches and two fifths.

Tur Snow Finch is an inhabitant of the highest mountains of
Southern Europe, namely,—Switzerland, south of France, the Pyrenees,
the Apennines, and the Caucasus. It is found also in the Tyrolese
Alps, and occasionally, while on its passage to the north, in Thuringia
and Anhalt. In the north of Europe it is rare. It has, however,
been taken in Sweden according to Nilsson, though he only mentions
a single capture: and it is equally rare in Siberia. It occurs in the
high mountains of Persia, and is found in North America. Dr. Leith
Adams informs me that it is common about Candahar, so that it has
a wide and extensive range. In Switzerland it is found in the highest
mountains in the regions of everlasting snow, descending to the lower

‘ 7
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HONIG MONS

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SNOW FINCH. 30

parts only when driven by storms; and in the spring of the year it is
found in the higher alpine valleys. In summer it still prefers the most
desolate places, where it is seldom disturbed by its enemy, man; such
as the Usfernthal, the desert regions of the Gumsel and the Simplon,
and in the neighbourhood of the convent of St. Bernard, where it is
found all the year.

Salvadori (Fauna d'Italia) writes, “ Fringilla nivalis remains stationary,
and nests on the summits of the Alps and the Apennines, from which
it descends in winter to the borders, but never into the plains. It has
not been observed in Sicily, Sardinia, nor Malta. Upon the Apennines
I do not know that it has ever been seen lower than central Italy,
where I have found it upon the mountains of Ascolano, (Ibis, 1864,
p- 128,) and Tristam on the Apennines between Bologna and Tuscany,
(Ibis, 1863, p. 362.)”

According to Savi, the inhabitants of the houses on the summit of
Monceniso must capture many of these birds which fly in their neigh-
bourhood, and pick up the fallen grain from the roads, having in
fact all the habits of the Common Sparrow. In the mountains of
Ascolano, on the contrary, they live in desert places. They nest
among fissures of the rocks as well as the holes of the houses. The
eggs, in number from four to five, are of a pallid green colour, with
a rosy very indistinct spot. (The colour is white, each end being
more or less pointed, and the very few rosy spots now and then
observed are distinct enough, but far between.—C. R. B.)

Doderlein (op. cit.) says that this bird only occurs in Modena during
severe winters, and then only accidentally. It has never occurred to
his knowledge in Sicily.

Naumann says that the Swiss naturalists consider there are two
species or permanent varieties, one living always in the Swiss moun-
tains, the other in the south of Germany; but he does not agree with
this opinion, considering the idea has originated in the well-known
migratory habits of the bird.

The Snow Finch lives during summer, and in a great part of the
year where no trees grow; it is therefore seen on the ground, stones,
and walls or roofs of buildings. It is a cheerful, restless, and vigorous
bird, resembling in its habits the Mountain Finch and Chaflfinch, and
like them it runs and hops on the ground, and has a similar flight,
in which its beautiful plumage is well displayed. It is generally con-
sidered a very shy bird, but the Swiss naturalists say that in their
mountains it is less wild, though ever cautious. It is sociable with its
kind, and is seldom seen alone, except during the breeding-season.
When startled, it flies up high in the air, and seems to go far away,

36 SNOW FINCH.

but it usually makes a circuit and returns to the same spot, where it
settles upon the ground.

Its call, which is heard during flight, is a peculiar piping, short,
broken note, compared by Schinz to the syllables ‘tri, tri, tri.’ Bech-
stein says that its call is a loud and elear ‘kip, kip,’ lke that of the
Crossbill. It will also in confinement sing the notes of the Mountain
Finch, and it is not easily tamed.

It lives upon seeds and insects, preferring of the first those that are
oily, and of the latter beetles and grasshoppers, moths, etc. In winter
its food is by necessity confined to the seeds of alpine plants—fir and
pine trees, and, like our Sparrows and Finches, it may be seen feeding
among the dung of horses, and it will even in inclement seasons
venture into the cloisters of St. Bernard to pick up grains of rice or
anything it can get. Schinz tells us they are always in good con-
dition and very fat im summer. In confinement they will do well on
rape and hemp seeds, but will also eat those of the fir, which they
seem to like much. They also feed upon the seeds of several grasses.

The Snow Finch breeds only in the highest regions of the highest
mountains, where the growth of wood has ceased, and near those
dreary and desolate spots where the snow has never melted since the
mountain was upheaved from the bowels of the earth. Yet it hath
pleased Him, without whose knowledge not a Sparrow falleth to the
ground, to locate here one of the most beautiful of His created things;
and as the weary traveller seeks among these wild and inhospitable
regions the records of a past history in the world—and is full of that
deep and indescribable feeling which the sublimity of such a solitude
creates within his mind—he is charmed and delighted by the chirp
or the flutter of this lonely denizen of the Alps, which proclaims to
him by its presence there—by its adaptation to its existence—by its
distinct. individuality—that it had a special creation and a special
position assigned to it in the great scheme of nature.

The nest of the Snow Finch is placed on the rocks, between stones,
in fissures of the rocks, or in holes, as well as in the balconies and
under the roofs of the hospitals of the great St. Bernard and the
Simplon. It begins to build in May, and has probably only one
brood in the year. The nest is made of dry grass, stalks, and moss,
and lined inside with feathers or hairs. It contains from four to five
eggs, which are very similar to those of other Finches. ‘The ground-
colour is pure white, with an occasional minute brown dot.

The young are fed upon insects, and are taken off into the snow,
even to the highest regions, by the old birds.

The male in breeding plumage has the top of the head and neck

SNOW FINCH. 37

of an ashy colour, running into bluish; back and scapularies brown,
shaded with russet on the borders of the feathers; upper tail coverts
partly white and partly black, with their edges russet; the inferior
parts are white, washed with ash on the crop and neck, with a large
black spot on the throat; abdomen white; under tail coverts white,
with some brown spots at their extremity. Wings black, with a large
white longitudinal band formed by the’ wing coverts and the greatest
part of the secondary quills; the primaries bordered on the outside,
and tipped with russet grey; the two middle tail feathers black, bor-
dered with russet grey; the others white, tipped with a slight black
spot bordered with russet; the most external feather on each side
entirely white; beak black; feet and iris brown. .

In autumn the colours of the male are browner above, the black
mark on the neck less extended, and the borders of the feathers which
form it ashy; beak yellowish, and the feet of a darker brown.

The female does not differ from the male, except by the ash-coloured
head, which runs into russet, and the absence of the black mark on
the neck.

The young before their first moult are above and on the sides of
the head and nape of an ashy brown, with the feathers broadly bor-
dered with russet; back and scapularies brown, with the feathers
bordered with red; front and sides of the neck ashy white; crop,
abdomen, and under tail coverts of a russet white; the white feathers
of the wings and tail washed with an ochreous red on their borders;
the black feathers of the same parts bordered and tipped with russet;
beak saffron yellow; feet russet brown.—(Degland.)

The egg is from my own collection. It was taken on St. Gothard,
June 20th., 1867, and sent to me by Dr. Meves, of Stockholm.

Figured also by Buffon, Brisson, Wilson, Temminck, etc. By Roux,
Ornith. Prov., pl. 89, Gmale in winter plumage;) Bouteille, Ornith. du
Dauph., pl. 35, fig. 1; Naumann, Vogel Deutschlands, pl. 117; Gould,
Ibe Os Weg joule Iew).

ALPINE SERIN FINCH.

ioe)
(e)

GRANIVOR.
Family FRINGILLIDA. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Frinettita. (Linneus. )

ALPINE SERIN FINCH.

Fringilla pusilla.

Fringilla pusilla, GMELIN.

se aurtfrons, BLASIUS.

ef rubtfrons, Hay.

gs parvirostris, GMELIN; in M.S.
Passer pusillus, PALLAS.

Serinus pusillus,
Pyrrhula pusilla,
Metoponia pusilla,
Moineau des Alpes,

BRANDT. BONAPARTE.
DEGLAND. DE SELYys.
Gray; H. L., No. 7200.
OF THE FRENCH.

Alpensperling, OF THE GERMANS.

Specific Characters—Rump grey, spotted with blackish; abdomen dirty
white; primaries bordered with yellow in the adult, and with white in the
young. Length about four inches and a half.—DEGLAND.

THis species is said by Pallas to be common in the Caucasus and
the borders of the Caspian Sea, to which it goes im spring from the
high mountains in common with fringilla nivalis and Sylvia erythro-
gastra, which come down in winter from the alpine regions of Persia.

The followmg is the description given by Pallas:—‘‘ Forehead
testaceous red; vertex black. Neck and back grey, with the middle
of the feathers fuscous; abdomen and under tail coverts white. Feet
black; beak fuscous.”

The above description is thought by De Selys-Longchamps to apply
only to the young in the winter plumage. In the “Revue de

ALPINE SHERIN FINCH. 39

Zoologie” for 1847, page 120, this distinguished naturalist has given
the following more extended diagnosis of the adult bird:—Top of
the head, auditory region, and throat, of a dull black, with the
forehead of a bright and lively red; nape, upper parts of the body,
and upper tail coverts, grey; the centre of the feathers blackish,
having the borders of a saffron yellow or grey white; the parts
below dirty white, with longitudinal blackish spots on the flanks
and under tail coverts, the whole irregularly washed with saffron
yellow; wings blackish, the lesser coverts broadly bordered with
saffron yellow; primaries slightly bordered with this colour, and the
secondaries with grey white; tail blackish, with the end lightly
bordered with grey white; beak brown; feet black.

Figured by Pallas, Zoog., 1811-31, vol. ii., p. 28.

I have not a specimen or good drawing of this bird, which I
therefore am sorry to say cannot be figured.

AQ) HOLBOLL’S RHEDPOLE.

GRANIVOR.
Family FRINGILLIDA. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Frinettna. ( Linneus.)

HOLBOLL’S REDPOLKE.

Fringilla holboelli.

fringilla holboellr, BREHM.
se canescens, DE Setys; Faune Belge.
ue He SCHLEGEL; Revue.
40 borealis, TEMMINCK; Man., 1835.
es ee KEYSERLING AND Briasius; Die
Wirbelthiere Europa’s.
Linarta canescens, GOULD. DEGLAND.
cs holboellr, BREHM.
Acanthis holbollit, BONAPARTE.
Aeiothus holboellt, CABANIS.
Carduelis holboelliz, DUBOIS.
Siserin Grisatre, OF THE FRENCH.
Grauer Leinfink, OF THE GERMANS.

Specific Characters—Rump pure white in all seasons, except in the breeding
season, when it has in the male a rose-red tint; tail six cents and a half,
equal about to two inches and three fifths. Length five inches and three
fifths—DEGLAND.

Tuer Lesser and Mealy Redpoles are included in our British lists,
both of them being frequently taken in this country. Mr. Gould has,
however, figured a variety in his “Birds of Europe,” which is con-
sidered by some to be only a variety of F. borealis; and Mr. Morris,
in his “‘ History of British Birds,” has figured the Mealy Redpole
under Gould’s name of Linarva canescens.

As long ago, however, as 1842, M. de Selys-Longchamps, in his
“Faune Belge,” p. 73, remarked that “#. borealis must not be con-

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5 a an

TL ©) Aly 15} @) ty Wy PAS) AR AD) 1D) te) (6) ay Ad:

HOLBOLL’S REDPOLE. 41

founded with F. canescens, which differs always from it, in that the
whole rump is of a pure white above, but it has a much stronger
make, a very long tail, and the ground colour of the plumage white,
tinted with brown.”

This species inhabits Greenland, and is found occasionally in Belgium
and the north of France.

M. Dubois, in his “ Planches Colorées des Oiseaux de la Belgique,”
a work which I have before had occasion to speak of with favour,
has the following notice of this bird, which I take the liberty, with
the author’s kind permission, to transcribe:—‘‘'The Tarn d’Holboll
is very rare, and we have only very vague and very imperfect
accounts about it. We are ignorant of its true country. It is only
known that it comes from the north, and that it appears in Germany
and Belgium. Nothing is known about the habits and nidification
of this bird, but they probably do not differ from other species of
the same genus. It is distinguished from its congeners by the body
and beak being stronger, and the greater length of the wings.
Many naturalists have made a special genus for this Tarin and the
two other European species, but we cannot admit this distinction, as
these Tarins do not differ in anything but the colour of the
plumage......The figures are taken from two specimens in the
collection of M. de Selys-Longchamps.”

The male has the vertex and forehead blood-red; upper parts of
neck and body whitish, with longitudinal blackish marks; rump, front
of neck, and chest, rose-red; rest of the under parts white; ear
coverts and throat black; ‘primaries and tail feathers brown, edged
with pure white; beak yellow below and brown above; feet and iris
brown. The female is like the male, but without red on the neck
or chest; the lower part of the body white, with brown streaks on
the sides.

Male and female in winter have the ground colour of the plumage
white, tinted with brown; rump pure white, and the black of the ear
coverts and throat dull. The young before the first moult are un-
known.—(Degland.)

My figure is taken from the male in Dubois’ plate, which I have
selected as being a good drawing of the specimen referred to in De

Sely’s collection.
It has also been figured by Gould, Birds of Europe, 193?

The following members of the genus Fringilla require a word or
two of notice:—
Ola Livi G

42 HOLBOLL’S REDPOLE.

Fringilla incerta, Risso, (Chlorospiza incerta, Bonaparte,) is only the
young or female of Pyrrhula erythrina.

Fringilla brevirostris is not considered by Mr. Gould to belong to
the European fauna, all the specimens which have fallen under his
notice having been captured in Asia.

Ree ic
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“MOUAVdS WOO"

ROCK SPARROW. 43

GRANIVOR&.
Family FRINGILLIDA. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Passzer. ( Brisson.)

Generic Characters.—Beak short, slightly convex, and curved at the tip,
the border of the upper mandible slightly overlapping the inferior. Wings
medium size, the second primary the longest. Tarsi nearly as long as the
middle toe; claws sharp and curved; tail nearly square, and of medium
size.

ROCK SPARROW.

Passer petrona.

Passer petronia, SCHLEGEL. DEGLAND.
<¢ ssylvestris, BRISSON.
fringilla petronia, LINNZus. GMELIN. LATHAM.

ce ce

KEYSERLING AND BLASIUS.
TEMMINCK. SCHINZ. NAUMANN.

ee ce

Coccothraustes petronia, CuviER. LESSON.
Petronia rupesires, BONAPARTE.

a diredema, MULLER.
Moineau Soulcie, OF THE FRENCH.
Steinsperling, OF THE GERMANS.
Passera Lagia, SAVI.

Ring Sparrow, Foolish, Speckled,
and White-tailed Sparrow, LATHAM.

Specific Characters—The tail is large; each of the tail feathers, except
‘the two middle, marked with a round patch of white on the extremity of
the inner web; under tail coverts fawn-colour, with a round patch of white
at the extremity of each feather. In the adult there is a band of yellow
across the neck anteriorly. Length six inches; carpus to tip of wing four
inches; tail two inches and a half; tarsus nine lines; beak eight lines
long, and one inch and a fifth in circumference at its base.

4d ROCK SPARROW.

Tue genus Passer is well marked, and has been established ever
since ornithology was a science. Notices of it may be found in the
writings of Gesner, Willoughby, Aldrovandus, and Ray, and it was
finally determined by Brisson, in his ‘‘Ornithologie,” published in
1760. Cuvier suggested the name of Pyrgyta instead, and im some
few works he has been followed, very much against the true interests
of science. Bonaparte, following Schlegel and others, adopts Brisson’s
genus with some restrictions, and with his usual fondness for con-
verting specific into generic names, he has followed Kaup by placing
the subject of the present notice in a separate genus under the name
of Petronia rupestris.

The Rock Sparrow is an inhabitant of the warm and temperate
regions of Europe, namely, Spain, the south of France, Sardinia, and
the whole of Italy. In the south of France it is very common in
Anjou, the Pyrenees, and the Basses Alps. It is found occasionally
in Lorraine, and several individuals are stated by Degland to have
been captured in the neighbourhood of Paris, and one female at Lille,
in October, 1839. It is rare in the north of France and Switzerland,
and is only occasionally found solitary in the west and south of Ger-
many, viz., the Rhinegau, Wetherau, and several other places on the
Rhine. Naumann says it has been shot in Thuringia, but not, to his
knowledge, in Anhalt. It is included in Savi’s “Birds of Tuscany,”
but it does not appear to be a common bird there. Count Mihle
says that it is solitary in the whole of Greece on the bare stone walls,
and very plentiful throughout the Grecian Islands. Lord Lilford, in
his description of birds observed by him in the Ionian Islands, (‘‘Ibis,”’
vol. ii., p. 137,) says that he observed several of these birds in the
Acrocerannian Mountains, in May, 1857, and in Montenegro in August
of the same year. It was found by Captain Loche in the three pro-
vinces of Algeria; and is included by Mr. Tristram in his lst of the
birds of Southern Palestine, where it is observed everywhere on the
bare stony hills. Dr. Leith Adams informs me that it is very common
in Sicily, occasionally visits Malta in the spring, and is abundant in
Affghanistan.

Salvadori (Fauna d'Italia) writes, “‘This species is found throughout
Italy. I have seen many individuals in April, in Sardinia, near Seni.
According to Cara it nests there. It is also stationary and nests in
Sicily. According to Bettoni it does not nest in Lombardy, which
statement is doubtful, while it certainly nests in Piedmont. A young
bird just from the nest killed in Piedmont is preserved in the Museum
of Turin. It appears in Malta accidentally (Wright). It inhabits

ROCK SPARROW. 45

mountainous places, and it may be seen not rarely in the meadows
and upon the wooded rocks. At the approach of winter it leaves the
western part of Italy, and collects in the south. In the autumn
many arrive in the north. ‘They build in the holes of trees. The
nest resembles that of the House Sparrow’s. ‘The eggs, in number
from five to six, are whitish, yellowish, or even rosy colour, covered
with brown spots, which are sometimes collected in a corona at the
obtuse end.”

Doderlein says of this bird that it is rather abundant in the moun-
tains of Modena, especially during the time of passage. It generally
lives near houses, and nests in the holes of trees. In the autumn the
young and those which descend from the Alps emigrate to the south.
Rarely an individual or so remain in the mountains during the winter,
but come down into the plains when the snows are very heavy.

According to Naumann, to whose invaluable work I am indebted
for most of the following information, it is a stationary bird in mild
climates and a migratory one in cold countries. They associate in
small flocks rather than greater multitudes, which are at all events
never seen in Germany. In the Rhinegau, especially near Wiesbaden,
they are observed in autumn on fruit trees by the sides of the roads,
and in corn-fields, in flocks. Brehm mentions flocks of about ten.
They choose mountainous places for their residence, where, among
rocks and ruins they love to dwell. In winter they mix with other
birds, and are seen about the roads and villages, but it does not
appear that they visit farm-yards. In autumn they are found in stubble-
fields. They appear to avoid level land. At night they sleep in holes
of walls and ruins, always choosing a hole with a very narrow entrance,
and shew their sociable qualities by selecting places near each other.
Brehm records having seen three of them enter the same hole.

Its habits are entirely those of the Sparrow, and nothing can justify
that reckless disregard of close affinities by which it has been sepa-
rated from that genus. Though resembling most in its habits those
of our House Sparrow, it differs from it altogether in one thing,—it
is more distrustful of man, and is generally a very shy bird, flying
away upon the approach of danger, and keeping a good look-out
against it. Its movements on the ground are like those of other
Sparrows, but it is more active and brisker. In its flight it is com-
pared by Brehm to the Crossbill. They are very sociable among
each other, with the exception of certain quarrels which take place
like those of the House Sparrow, and their tone of voice is similar.

Leisler records having seen large flocks of the Rock Sparrow in the
Rhinegau, in 1803, where they were making a House Sparrow-like

AG ROCK SPARROW.

chattermg among the trees. The manner of the bird is crafty, and
it frequently moves its wings with a quick short movement. They
are very sensitive to the cold of winter, and many are found dead
during the season in the holes of trees.

The usual note is a homely croak, similar to the call of the Mountain
Finch. Brehm says it may be represented by ‘qjiwit,’ and that it is
similar to that of the Goldfinch, and very different from that of the
Linnets and Siskin. One note serves as a warning cry, another invites
to settle, and a third is the signal for flight. A young bird begins to
pipe early, and has a note like that of the Canary bird, in addition
to the ‘qjiwit.’ When it fears danger or its nest is approached it
calls out like the other Sparrows. Brehm compares the song to that
of the Reed Bunting, which is not saying much for it, but it is not
without melody.

In confinement the Rock Sparrow is very tame and sociable with
its kindred. Brehm brought up a young bird which was very con-
fiding in its manner to him. It would feed out of his hand, and let
him know by a cry or a look when it wanted food. It sung before
it was full-grown, and was heard constantly in October, being loudest
when the other birds were singing. Leisler informs us that he brought
up a young bird, which was very docile and an excellent mimic,
having, among other qualifications of this kind, learned to imitate,
much to his master’s annoyance, the cry of his Marmot. ‘This bird,
however, did not seem inclined to sing when people were in the
room, but it was nevertheless very tame, comical in its habits, and
mischievous.

The Rock Sparrow feeds on seeds of various kinds, insects and
their larve, especially beetles, grasshoppers, and Naumann adds, I
am sorry to say, cherries. Large grains of sand are often found
mixed with the food in the stomach. It frequents ploughed fields,
meadows, and roads, after corn-seeds, especially oats, which it seems
to like best of the cereals. It is also a berry feeder. It lives in
early summer on insects; and feeds its young, like the rest of its
family, upon caterpillars and other larve, together with beetles,
grasshoppers, and moths, all of which it removes from the cultivated
lands, very much to the benefit of the farmer, who rewards its
relations for the same service in this country with a dose of poison.
Naumann, however, expatiates upon the fondness of the Rock Sparrow
for cherries, in search of which it will lead its young into orchards,
giving them the fleshy part, and then cracking the stone for the
kernel with its strong beak. When it catches large insects it bites
off the head, wings, and legs, and eats the body in small pieces.

ROCK SPARROW. 47

It differs from other Sparrows in preferring oily to farinaceous seeds.

The Rock Sparrow nests in the Rhine country, in the neighbourhood
of Weisbaden especially. They build in high fruit trees, or in the
holes of ruins of old castles and watch-towers. They pick out a
narrow and deep fissure in the walls, generally pretty high up; they
never build in woods. They will return year after year to the same
hole, and, like other Sparrows, young and old sleep in them together.
The nest is like that of the House Sparrow; there is a great heap
of straw and stalks of grass, with fine rootlets and other fibres of
plants, old rags, and thread, and it is lined with hair, worsted, wool,
and feathers in abundance. It is always placed so deeply in the
hole that the materials cannot be seen outside.

It appears from the authority of Brehm that they only lay two or
three eggs. Naumann, however, thinks this is a local peculiarity and
not general. The eggs are very similar to those of the House Sparrow,
but larger, and equally as various. The ground colour is a cloudy
white, with ash-grey and brown dots marked over with streaks and
spots, through which much of the ground colour appears. Those
slightly marked have often greater spots, others mostly small streaks
running over them, and the markings are generally most numerous
at the larger end. The grey marking varies into brighter and darker,
and the brown changes from yellowish to reddish grey brown, and
even almost into blackish brown or slate-colour.

They appear only to breed once in the year. The old birds are
very anxious about their young, and are in great distress when any-
one approaches the nest which contains them, and are very careful
watchers.

The male in breeding plumage has the head light brown, with two
darker bands on each side; all the upper parts more or less of the
same tint, marked with longitudinal patches of darker brown, the
borders of the feathers being lighter; rump and under tail coverts
light brown, the feathers tipped with white; throat, crop, and abdomen
tawny white, with grey and brown spots; a yellow band separates the
throat from the crop; sides of the head and neck ash-colour, with a
brown band beneath the eye, and a white broad line separating the
eyebrow from a similar band on the head. Wings the same colour
as the back, with the coverts tipped with russet grey; the primaries
brown, with a white patch on the middle of each outer web, except
the first, and more marked on the second and third; tail feathers
brown, and terminated, except the two middle ones, with a round
white spot on the inner web. Beak brown above, yellowish below;
feet russet; iris brown.

ROCK SPARROW.

ed
(0/4)

The male in autumn has the general tints browner; the black
spots and the whitish ones above larger; the scapularies, wing coverts,
and. primaries tipped with whitish; the under parts with the longi-
tudinal brown spots larger and darker.

The female differs very little from the male; the yellow mark on
the neck is not so distinct, and all the other colours less lively.

The young before the first moult resemble the female, without the
yellow mark on the neck. Degland says this mark is lost in confinement.

My figure of this bird is from a specimen kindly sent me by Mr.
Tristram, marked “ Bethlehem, 31st. March, 1850.” The egg is from
my own collection. It was taken in the Basse Alps, and is marked
“‘Barcollonetta.” It was sent to me by Dr. Meves of Stockholm.

The bird has also been figured by Buffon, pl. enl. 225, under the
name of Moineau de bois ou Soulcie; Roux, Ornith. Prov., pl. 75 and
76, (male and female;) Naumann, Vogel Deutsch, pl. 116, (male and
female;) Bouteille, Ornith. du Dauph, pl. 33, f. 1, but not a good
figure; Gould, B. of E., pl. 186.

EER ONC KS SeBvAL RRO M Wi:

B22 et AGTH IAN EO US) Si PeA ROW. Be IP AN IND ILS dee IS} LEM aN inh Inb (0) WAVE

ITALIAN HOUSE SPARROW. 49

GRANIVOR.
Family FRINGILLIDZ. (Bonaparte. )
Genus Passer. ( Brisson.)

ITALIAN HOUSE SPARROW.

Passer domesticus cisalpinus.

Passer domesticus eisalpinus, SCHLEGEL.
os fs var. B, KEYSERLING ET BLASIUS.
Ce 77a; BONAPARTE. Gray; Hand List,
No. 7269.
coe 2alicus. DEGLAND.
Fringilla cisalpina, TEMMINCK.
Pyrgita ttalie, VIEILLOT.
Moineau cisalpin, OF THE FRENCH.
Ltalianischer Haussperling, OF THE GERMANS.
Passera reale, SAVI.
5 capannaja, STOR.

Characters of Variation—Back light chesnut and black; top of the head
and nape maroon or brown; flanks unicolorous; the first primary is longer
than the third, and very nearly as long as the second, which is slightly
the longest in the wing; wings reach more than half way down the tail.
Length about six inches.

Ir is impossible to resist the fact that the present is only a per-
manent variety of the Domestic Sparrow. I have endeavoured with
the greatest care, by a comparison of specimens, to detect any real
specific difference, but without success. The Italian bird differs from
the Domestic Sparrow in some unimportant yet permanent colouration,
and the wings extend further down the tail when closed. ‘There is
also a slight difference in the second primary, which is relatively to

VOL. IV. H

0 ITALIAN HOUSE SPARROW.

or

the first and second longer than in the Domestic Sparrow. But there
are the same general dimensions precisely; the flanks and abdomen
are of the same unicolorous dull grey; the black markings on the
throat and crop are of the same character, and defined by the white
of the cheeks and side of the neck with a similar sharp and distinct
outline. The habits too are precisely similar, and it is only as a
variety under the name given it by Schlegel, that I admit it into this
work.

The Cisalpine Sparrow replaces the common type throughout the
whole of Sicily. It is found during its migration in the south of
France, and has been noticed by Strickland as occurring in Smyrna.
Dr. Leith Adams also informs me that it occurs in Malta, and that it
is said to breed with the following species. Its habits and propagation
are precisely similar to those of the House Sparrow. It builds its
nest in the same places, and of the same form, and the six eggs
which it lays are similar in size, shape, and colouration to those of
our well-known bird.

Salvadori (Fauna d’Italia) writes, ‘“The museum of Turin possesses
two individuals .quite alike of a beautiful variety of Passer, which
have the throat and the upper part of the chest of a beautiful chesnut
colour. This species in Italy takes the place of Passer domesticus of
the rest of Europe. It is very common in all Italy; less so in Corsica
and Malta, where it replaces Passer salicarius. Many authors have
affirmed that this species is found in Sicily, which is not true according
to Doderlein, confirmed by Benoit, of Messina.”

Doderlein says of this bird, “This is merely a variety of the Domestic
Sparrow, and is very abundant in the territories of Modena and
Reggiaro. They have become almost domestic. They lay two or
three times yearly, placing the nest by preference under the roofs of
houses, in holes of walls, and in nests abandoned by the Swallow,
and more rarely upon trees near buildings. They never emigrate. It
varies much in its plumage: some become nearly albinos—iron-coloured
and dark, as may be seen in the Museum of the University of
Modena.”

Mr. Tristram remarks, (Ibis, vol. i., p. 293,) “In its habits this
Sparrow agrees exactly with our own, inhabiting the roofs of houses
and the rafters of sheds in preference to the more distant groves and
gardens. I never found it in great communities at a distance from
buildings; but wherever man dwells in the desert there it is found his
constant companion. Probably there are frequent instances of hybrids
in the gardens where both species may be found together.”

The differences between the two birds having been expressed in the

ITALIAN HOUSE SPARROW. 51

characters of variation at the head of this notice, a more detailed
description is unnecessary.

My figure of this bird is from a specimen sent me by Mr. Canon
Tristram. The egg is from my own collection. It was taken in Italy,
and sent me by Moeschler.

It has been figured also by Roux and Gould.

52 SPANISH SPARROW.

GRANIVOR.
Family FRINGILLIDZA. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Passer. ( Brisson. )

SPANISH SPARROW.

Passer salicarius.

Passer salicarius, VIEILLOT.
Fringilla hispaniolensts, TEMMINCK.

ee sardoa, SAVI.
Passer domesticus salicartus, KEYSERLING ET BLASIUS.
Motneau a pottrine norr, OF THE FRENCH.
Schwarszbristiger Sperling, OF THE GERMANS.
Passera sarda, SAVI.

Specific Characters—Top of the head deep chesnut or maroon; back |
black, with longitudinal streaks of cream-colour; flanks thickly spotted with
black on a dirty white ground. The first primary the longest in the wing,
but nearly equalled by the second and third, and all of them longer than
the fourth. Length about six inches; carpus to tip three inches; tarsus

nine lines; middle toe and claw eleven lines; beak six lines; tail two inches
and a half.

THE Spanish Sparrow has very strong structural affinities with the
House Sparrow, but its ornamentation and habits are so decidedly
different that I think there can be no doubt of its specific distinction.
Professor Blasius has, however, made it a variety only of the Passer
domesticus.

The Spanish Sparrow is, as its name implies, an inhabitant of
Spain, but it is also common in the south of Europe generally, par-
ticularly in Sardinia, Sicily, and Italy. Count Miihle says it is very
rare in Greece, but when found it is not in company with the
Domestic Sparrow, from which he considers it quite distinct. Dr.

“"MOUUH VAS HSINVWdS

SPANISH SPARROW. 53

Leith Adams informs me that it is the commonest bird in the island
of Malta, and breeds in the walls of the forts and houses. Dr. Adams
also mentions having shot and seen it in confinement with a yellowish
black bill, and lighter tinge of plumage, but in no way distinct. It
is also said in Malta to breed with P. cisalpina, and that a hybrid
is produced, but Dr. Adams has not been able to confirm this state-
ment. Dr. Adams further adds, “I have seen specimens in collections
made in the Western or Trans-Indus portion of the Punjaub, where
it is known by the name of ‘Cabool Sparrow.’ I do not think it is
found further eastward.”

Salvadori (Fauna d’Italia) says, “This species is very common in
Sardinia, Sicily, Malta, and, according to Savi, also in Corsica. It
is not impossible that it may be found in the extreme southern part
of Italy, as it can easily cross over from Sicily, but I have not
succeeded in being quite certain of it. In Malta, according to
Wright, it is found in company with P. Italie, which is there a
common species; and he does not think the two really distinct, and
refers to the authority of Jardine, which appears to me incomprehensible,
it never having occurred to me to confound the P. salicicolus of
Sardinia with P. Italic. I think that in Malta no other species
exists except salicicolus, as in Sardinia and Sicily, and that Wright’s
individuals, showing the passage from one into the other, are pro-
bably only the perfectly adult P. salicicolus, whilst Doderlein affirms
that all the individuals in Sicily called P. Stalie are the adult
salicicolus. It has the same habits as P. Italie.”

Doderlein says of this bird:—‘‘This species or race is indigenous
in the southern countries of Europe, and is characterized by its
maroon colour, and the black spots on its sides—the wing fascia
blackish white. It represents the preceding species, F. ttaliw, in
the greater part, if not the whole of Sicily. It is not common at
Palermo, where it is a good deal shot down. It is very rare in
Modena, nevertheless there are localities where it is plentiful. Its
habits are similar to those of the preceding. It builds in the
crevices of mountain rocks, as well as trees, etc. It is not so easily
domesticated as P. ttalice.”

It seems very common in Africa. Captain Loche met with it in
the three provinces of Algeria. Mr. Tristram has recorded it as
abundant in Northern, and Mr. Salvin in Eastern Africa.—(‘‘ Ibis,”
vol. i.) Mr. Tristram also includes it in his list of the birds of
Palestine, and Mr. E.C. Taylor says that it is abundant in Egypt,
frequenting the open country in large flocks, and roosting in trees.

I shall take the liberty of quoting Mr. Tristram’s and Mr. Salvin’s

- 54 SPANISH SPARROW.

very interesting remarks, from the work above alluded to. Mr. Tristram
says, ““The Spanish Sparrow, of which the Arab name is Zaouch, is
abundant in vast flocks wherever there is moisture, and especially
among the reeds in the salt marshes. At Waregla and Tuggart,
where the salt lakes are never dry, the noise of these birds is
perfectly deafening, and a hundred may be, and I am told have
been, brought down at a shot. Its habits are certainly very different
from those of its familiar congener here, though in boldness and activity
it rivals him. I am not acquainted with this bird in Spain; but in
Africa, as a general rule, it does not affect the habitations of men,
and always breeds near water, in vast colonies of many thousands.”
—(Page 293.)

Mr. Salvin says in his ‘Five Months Bird-nesting in the Eastern
Atlas,” (“Ibis,” vol.1., p. 814:)—*The Spanish Sparrow is found in
great numbers during the breeding season, among the tamarisk thickets
on the Chemora, and in the high sedge at Zana. The Arabs destroy
the nests, eggs, and young wherever they find them, as their great
numbers do much damage to the crops of corn. The nests are
placed as thickly as they can stand, the whole colony, consisting of
perhaps one hundred pairs, occupying only five or six trees. The
noise and ceaseless chattering proceeding from one of these ‘Sparrow
towns’ can easily be imagined; and, guided by the sound alone, one
may walk directly to the spot for a considerable distance. One
Sunday morning four Arabs came to our tents, and gravely sitting
down in a row, opened the hoods of their burnouses, and displayed
eight hundred or a thousand Sparrow eggs, which they arranged in
four heaps before them, and remained in their sitting posture, con-
templating them with evident satisfaction. We were rather taken by
surprise, but selected the best for our collections, reserving the rest
for omelettes.”

I have received the male and female of the bird which Dr. Leith
Adams says is very common in Malta, and which he has labelled
Passer salicarius, Vieillot. Upon close comparison I could not dis-
cover any real specific differences between these skins and our Common
House Sparrow, FP. domesticus. I wrote this to Dr. L. Adams, and
in reply that gentleman remarks:—‘‘In the absence of specimens for
comparison, my impressions have always been that our Sparrow in
Malta is a true type, or else a variety of the Passer salicarius of
Vieillot, and Sir W. Jardine, to whom several type specimens were
sent, says the same. I have, however, since you wrote, made a
very long series, and sent it by a friend to Mr. Sclater, requesting
he will make particular enquiry into the subject, and publish his

SPANISH SPARROW.

Or
faba ¢

views in the ‘Ibis.’ It is very curious in such a central place as
Malta, where so many naturalists have touched, that we should be
still in doubt as to the common Sparrow of the island.”

Brehm, in Biideker’s “ European Eggs,” says of this bird:—“It lays
from four to six eggs, which are somewhat smaller than those of the
House Sparrow, bluish or greenish white, like those of the Italian
Sparrow, often very dark at the thick end; generally oval, but some-
times much lengthened.”

The male in spring plumage has the top of the head and the
nape dark chesnut brown; back black, streaked with cream-colour;
upper tail coverts olivaceous brown; cheeks and superciliary ridge
pure white; throat and upper part of breast deep black, while the
lower parts of the breast and flanks are thickly spotted with large
black markings on a white ground; middle of the abdomen and under
tail coverts dirty white. The wings with a broad band of white
across them, formed by the tips of the lesser coverts, and there is a
similar band above the carpus, extending from the cheeks; the lesser
coverts are same colour as the top of the head and nape, the others
broadly bordered with russet. Tail olivaceous brown, with the feathers
slightly bordered with ash-colour; beak black; feet reddish; iris brown.

In autumn the male has the feathers of the neck and crop bordered
with ash, like the Domestic Sparrow, and the white of the cheeks
also more ash-coloured.

The female has the head, top of neck, and body grey brown, with
the feathers of the scapularies and the quills of the wings, fringed
along their borders with yellowish; below, the colour is dirty white,
with faint spots of brown in front of the neck and crop, and the
flanks of a russet and ashy tint; beak brownish above, yellowish below.

The young before the first moult resemble the female, only the
tints are paler, and the commissures of the beak soft and yellow.

My drawing of this bird is from a specimen kindly sent me by Mr.
Canon Tristram. It is marked ‘ Rhodes, April 19, 1858.” The egg
is from my own collection, and was taken by Kriiper near Smyrna.

It has also been figured by Roux, Ornith. Proy., pl. 84, (adult male;)
Gouldiyb. of b= pl. 180.

on
[or

WHITE-RUMPED WOODPECKER.

ZYGODACTYLI.
Family PICIDA. (Bonaparte. )
Genus Pious. (Linnceus.)

Generic Characters.—Beak strong, cuneiform, or rounded, and grooved
above, about as long as the head, straight, and pointed; nostrils open, oval,
more or less hid by the setaceous feathers which cover the base of the beak.
Tongue very mobile, capable of being projected from the mouth, armed
with small sharp needle-like processes bent backwards and horny towards
the tip. Feet robust and short, with three or four toes; claws arched, com-
pressed, and pointed, formed for climbing. Wings elongated, the bastard
quill short, the third and fourth the longest. Tail composed of quills having
stiff and elastic shafts, ten or twelve in number, and serving as a prop in
climbing.

WHITE-RUMPED WOODPECKER.

Picus leuconotus.

Picus leuconotus,
6 6é

MEYER AND WOLFF, 1810.
TEMMINCK, 1820. BECHSTEIN.

“© leuconothus, VIEL.
«< polonicus, BREHM.
“« syriacus, TACZANOUSKI.
“¢ leuconotos BREHM.
2

Dendrodromus leuconotus,
Pic varié a dos blane,
Werssruckiger Buntsprecht,
Picchio vario Massimo,

Gray; Hand List, No. 8552.
OF THE FRENCH.

OF THE GERMANS.

STOR.

Specific Characters.—Plumage varied; the rump white, and the upper tail
coverts crimson and white. Length ten inches and three quarters; from
carpal joint to tip of wing five inches and a half; tarsus one inch; beak
(upper mandible) one inch and two fifths; tail three inches and a half.

WHITE-RUMPED WOODPECKER. 57

Tue White-rumped Woodpecker is an inhabitant of the most northern
parts of Europe and Siberia. It is not rare in Russia, Poland, and
Prussia, extending through Esthonia, Courland, and Finland. It is
sometimes found in Silesia, and occasionally in the western and southern
parts of Germany. One individual is recorded as having been shot in
the Pyrenees, by M. Ernest Dalaybe. It is included in the birds of
Greece, by Count Miihle and Dr. Lindermayer. Mr. Wheelwright
writes me word that it is spread over Scandinavia, but appears to be
more common in the midland districts. ‘They do not, however, breed
with us, but in the thick fir forests of North Wermerland. It breeds
also in Gothland, but is a rare winter migrant to Scania. It seems
to prefer level tracts to stony rises. It is by no means shy, and often
comes in winter about the wood fences round the houses; but in the
forest it is generally seen high up on the top of dead trees. In
manners and habits it resembles the Greater Spotted Woodpecker, and
the cry is much the same. Nilsson says that they are seen generally
in families in the autumn and winter. ‘This I cannot corroborate. I
never met, in our forest, in winter, more than two together, but if
you shot one its partner was never far off. ‘They breed very commonly
in Smaland. It has not been identified in Denmark.” It has occurred
accidentally in the Hebrides, and Gould figures and describes it in
his Birds of Great Britain.

Salvadori (Fauna d’Italia) writes of this bird, “ Bonaparte is said to
have been the first to announce this Woodpecker among the Italian
species. It is very rare in Italy. When found it occurs in the alpine
groves, where it is stationary and nests. It has been especially
observed in the Tyrolese Alps, but it is not difficult to believe that
it may be found throughout the whole alpine region. Sometimes an
individual may be found wandering from its usual habitat. One was
killed some years ago in the groves of Castel Nuovo, in the valley
of Ciana in the Tuscan marshes. It is preserved in the Museum at
Pisa. ‘Two other males I have seen in the collection of De Negri, of
Geneva, and both were taken in Liguria in the winter of 1863. We
must not omit to state that P. lewconotus is said to be common in
Corsica, which was affirmed by Gené, and repeated to me by Cay:
Comba, who was with Gené in Corsica, and it is also referred to by
Malherbe, upon the authority of the Baron de Selys-Longchamps. It
is not creditable to science that we know scarcely anything about the
ornithology of Corsica, and it seems to me that the statement of Gené
requires confirmation, since it is very singular that it should exist in
Corsica, and not be found in the neighbouring Sardinia. ‘This Wood-
pecker is common in Hungary, Silesia, Poland, and Scandinavia.”

VOL. IV. I

58 WHITE-RUMPED WOODPECKER.

In Germany the White-rumped Woodpecker is both migratory and
stationary. In the late autumn or winter it is found in the great
forests, and comes thence into the neighbourhood of houses, fruit
gardens, villages, or even towns, where it dwells very confidingly.

On the wing it is very like our Greater Spotted Woodpecker, and
its voice differs but little from that of any of its allied species. It
feeds upon insects found under the bark, maggots, caterpillars, and other
larve. Like the Grey Woodpecker it is also very fond of ants and
their eggs. Naumann says that one was shot in Silesia which was
supposed to have been killing the bees from the hive, but, as none
of these imsects were found in the stomach, we may, I think, fairly
enter a verdict of ‘not guilty” on this count.

The White-rumped Woodpecker builds, like its congener, in the holes
of trees, particularly oaks. It lays four or five clear white shining
eggs.

Although I have specimens kindly sent me by Mr. Wheelwright, I
will let that gentleman speak for himself, as his description is drawn up
from birds recently killed. Male; length ten inches and three quarters;
expanse of wing seventeen inches; tail beyond the wings. Head above,
carmine red; forehead white, with a brown tinge. Around, and at
the back of the eyes, a large white spot, and another below on the
sides of the neck; throat white. From the under mandible a black
streak extends backwards under the eyes, and becoming broader at the
back of the ears, passes down the sides of the throat to the breast.
Breast white, with a greenish yellow tinge, and having, as well as
the flanks, longitudinal streaks of black; belly and under tail coverts
red. Neck above, top of back, and lesser wing coverts glossy black;
the middle and lower part of back white; outer half of greater wing
coverts white; the secondaries transversely barred with black and white,
which arises from a series of white round spots, placed on the edges
of each web at regular intervals, a similar effect being produced by
the same means on the primaries, giving a barred appearance to the
whole wing when closed. ‘The first primary is about the same length
as the sixth, and both are much shorter than the intervening four.
Upper tail feathers and coverts coal black; the under ones cream-
colour, barred with black, and becoming rufous at the tip. Iris nut
brown; beak horn blue; legs lead grey. |

The female has the head glossy black above; forehead white, tinged
with rusty brown. The rest like the male, but more dull. ‘The colours
of both, especially the male, brighter with age.

My figures of this bird and its egg are from specimens sent me by
Mr. Wheelwright from Sweden.

1 WHITE-RUMPED WOODPECKER.

2 MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKSR.

3. THREE-TOED WOODPECKER.

4. GREY WOODPECKER.

5. SHARPH’S GREEN WOODPECKER,

NN

fai

bone
1
a0
,

WHITH-RUMPED WOODPECKER. 59

The bird has also been figured by Bechstein, Naturg. Deutsch., vol.
i, pl. 25, figs. 1 and 2, (male and female;) Stor, Degli. Ucc., vol. ii,
pl. 169, (old male; Meyer, Vogel Deut., vol. i, pl. 11, Gmale and
female ;) Naumann, Vog. Deutsch., pl. 135, (male and female;) Gould,
B. of E., pl. 228; Malherbe, Picide, pl. 23, figs. 1 and 2, (male and
female;) Dresser, Birds of Europe, (male and female.)

60 LILFORD’S WOODPECKER.

ZYGODACTYLI.
Family PICIDAI. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Picus. (Linneus.)

LILFORD’S WOODPECKER.
Picus Lilfordi.
Picus Lilfordt, DrReEsSER; B. of E.

Speerfic Characters—Top of the head a rich crimson, whereas that of P.
leuconotus is scarlet. ‘Those parts which are white in the latter are yellowish
in the present species. Lower back and rump barred with black and white.

Tuts bird, which has been erected into a species by Mr. Dresser,
is very similar to its congener the White-rumped Woodpecker, but
I think they are sufficiently distinct to require a separate notice.

This bird was discovered by Lord Lilford, a most zealous naturalist,
to whom I beg to offer my extreme thanks for his great kindness in
assisting me with specimens for this work. I have the pleasure of
figuring the identical bird from which the species was determined,
marked “‘Valley of Viana, Epirus, March 5, 1857.”

Lord Lilford remarks of this bird, in Dresser’s ‘‘ Birds of Europe:”’—
““T met with this species in the high woods in the Valley of Viana,
near Butrinto, in Epirus, in the winter of 1857. It is not uncommon
there, but very difficult to approach. The note of this bird at that
season very much resembles that of Picus major—a loud single “twit,”
repeated at short intervals. I never heard it produce the jarring noise
so often heard from the greater and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers.”

According to Lindermayer it is rare in Greece. Dr. Kriiper says,
“it is more common on Mount Olympus than anywhere else, but is
found both on the mountains and plains of Greece, being occasionally
met with at Lake Venchori, and on Mount Parnassus,”

T ou Ay jo

LILFORD'S WOODPECKER. 61

It is impossible at present to define the geographical limits of this
species, as it is so often confounded with P. lewconotus.

In habits and nidification it doubtless is similar to its congener.

A male bird sent to me by Lord Lilford, marked March 5, 1857,
and which is figured, has the top of the head a bright crimson,
dotted with: olive brown; nape and upper back black; rump barred
black and white. Wings black, with six white bands to the end of
the secondaries. Primaries dark brownish black, dotted on their outer
web with white spots, and on the base of the inner webs with larger
white spots. The third true primary the longest. Throat, neck, and
upper chest yellowish white; moustache black. Abdomen yellowish
white, with longitudinal streaks of black. Under tail coverts and
lower abdomen vermilion. Under wing dark grey with white spots.
Length ten inches; wing five inches and a half; tail three inches and
a half; tarsus one inch; upper mandible 1.7; lower mandible 1.6.

This bird has been figured and described by Mr. Dresser, in his
“Birds of Europe,” by whom also the species was determined.

62 MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

ZYGODACTYLI.
Family PICIDAE. ( Brisson.)
Genus Picus. (Linneus.)

MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

Picus medius.

Picus medtus, LINNZUS.
SSCL ALUES: BRISSON.
“< cynedus, PALLAS.
Dendrocoptes medius, Grav; Hand List, No. 8555.
Pic varié a téte rouge, OF THE FRENCH.
Mittlerer Buntspecht, OF THE GERMANS.
Picchio rosso mezzano, SAVI.

Specific Characters—Plumage varied; rump black; under tail coverts red;
flanks rose-colour, with longitudinal streaks of black. . Head carmine red in
both sexes. Length eight inches and a half; expanse of wing fifteen inches.
Tail three inches and a half.

Tue Middle Spotted Woodpecker is found generally in those parts
of Southern Europe, with the exception of Great Britain, which are
inhabited by the Greater Spotted. In Sweden it is found in the
south, and is even more common in Skania than its congeners major
and minor. It is not found in Finland or Esthonia, but in Prussia
Proper occasional specimens have been captured. It is very common
in some parts of Germany, and tolerably plentiful in Switzerland,
Italy, and France. It is plentiful in some parts of Siberia, and is
met with all the year round in Denmark. It occurs only accidentally
in Holland. I have a young female which was shot by Mr. C.
Farman at Shitantjvek, in Bulgaria, in June, 1866.

Salvadori (Fauna d’[talia) writes of this bird:—“‘ Preus medius is
also rare in Italy, but less so than P. leuconotus. I only possess

\

MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 63

one individual found by me in the market of Pisa, and Savi has
one from the plantations of S. Fiora, and one from the Vale of
Cecina. Althammer and Perini say that it is rare in the Tyrol and
Veronese. According to Monti it is not often seen in Comasco.
Risso says it is stationary upon the Maritime Alps. It is not found
in Malta and Sardinia, and probably is equally unknown in Sicily.
As I have verified, the P. medius of Mina and Doderlein is no other
than the young of P. major, which at that age has, like P. medvus,
the red vertex, which leads those who are not well cognizant of the
distinctive characters easily to confound it with the other.”

This species has been thought by some ornithologists to be the
young or only a variety of Picus major. But they are very distinct
both in ornamentation and habits.

The female has the occiput and vertex red, as well as the male,
which is not the case with P. major. P.medius never remains long
in pine woods, where P. major loves to dwell. It is a more active
bird, and will adroitly avoid any dispute leading to a fight with that
bird; but it will give battle to one of its own species. Its voice is
similar, but its call-note weaker.

The Middle Spotted Woodpecker dwells among the thickest foliage
of the highest trees, particularly oaks, elms, and aspens. It is not
often found on the ground, but like its congeners is generally seen
scaling trees, which it will ascend to the top bough and perch there.
Its habitation is in the highest hole it can find, and it will continue
to use the same tree for years if not driven away. It is a most
assiduous “‘tapper,” and may often be seen on the under side of a
decayed bough working away; the entrance hole turned towards the
ground.

It is a very handsome bird, perhaps the most so of all the European
Woodpeckers. It is restless but not shy, and in pairing and breeding
seasons very incautious. It can make good use of its legs in hopping
on the ground, or from branch to branch. It has a whirring wavy
flight, and appears on the wing a slenderer bird than its ally the
Greater Spotted.

Naumann says that this bird will feed not only on insects but also
upon many tree-seeds, and to assist in digesting them it may be seen
picking up particles of gravel at the base of the tree. It is not
content with the insects it finds under the bark, but will split off
entire pieces, and crush the rotten wood beneath into holes, in its
search for wood-feeding larve, such as Sirex, Cerambyx, Bostrychus,
Forficula, etc. It never seems to suffer for want of food during the
winter; it is generally in good condition, but never fat. It is very

64 MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

fond of nuts, and will carry them like a Tomtit into the fork of
some near tree, and crack them: it generally swallows the kernels
whole, and will eat acorns and beech nuts in the same way. Naumann
further tells us that it is a fruit-stealer, and will rob cherry trees,
not so much however for the fruit pulp as the kernels of the stones,
and that it will also split open fir-cones, and feed on the seeds when
it cannot get better food. It does not affect the neighbourhood of
water, is not often seen to drink, and still more rarely to bathe. Its
stomach is larger than that of the other Woodpeckers.

It nests in woods, and sometimes in fruit gardens, which are over-
hung by woods of thick foliage. In the end of March or April
they repair to their breeding places, which are easily betrayed by
their restless habits and cries. Very soon (I am quoting Naumann)
the male is seen chasing his mate from tree to tree, and among the
boughs—or two males are observed having a battle royal—from which
they frequently fly to swing from the highest summit of the trees. They
now either call to their mates with a clear bright voice, or whirr
against their rival. ‘Their nesting place is thus easy to discover, as
also the tree by the debris at the bottom, but the hole is generally
hid from view, and not so easily found. It is not often less than twenty
feet from the ground, and very often as high as sixty feet. The
entrance hole is quite round, not larger than is actually necessary,
and appears from below so small that few people would believe it
belonged to this bird. It is widened inside in the form of a ball,
and extends downwards from the entrance seven to ten inches—seldom
more.

The eggs are laid on fine wood shavings under the walls of the
very prettily-worked entrance hole. They are generally five or six
in number, sometimes seven. They resemble those of the Greater
Spotted, but are much smaller, oval in shape, tender shelled, and of
enamelled whiteness. They are hatched in fifteen days, male and
female sitting alternately, and the young, in Naumann’s own words,
are “blind, ugly, helpless, thick-headed,” having, like other young
Woodpeckers, a cartilaginous knob upon the corner of the beak. When
full fledged they fly round the tree in circles, until they gradually
separate into twos and threes. The old birds display great affection
for their young.

Mr. Wheelwright describes the old male from freshly killed speci-
mens as follows:—Forehead grey; vertex and occiput carmine red.
Throat, sides of the head, and neck, white, with a black band which
commences at the gape, and gradually broadening, forms a triangular
spot on the side of the neck. Back of the neck, back, and rump

MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 65

black; shoulders white; wings black, with white spots in pairs on
both webs of the primaries and secondaries; breast white, with a
yellowish, and the belly white, with a reddish tinge, with longitudinal
black streaks along the sides of both; under tail coverts carmine
red. The side tail feathers at the end white, with black transverse
bands; the four middle feathers quite black; iris brown, encircled
with a whitish ring; beak shorter, more compressed and weaker than
in P. major; lead-coloured at the root, bluish black at the tip.

The female differs from the male only in having the colours of the
head less bright, and the streak from the gape greyish and more
indistinct.

The young male much resembles the female.

My figure of this bird is from the skin of a male shot in Asia
Minor on February 28rd., 1866, by Mr. Robson, and which came into
my possession with Mr. Farman’s collection; that of the egg is from
Skania, Sweden, sent me by Mr. Wheelwright.

This bird has also been figured by Buffon, pl. enl. 611; Vieillot,
Dict., pl. 26; Roux, Ornith. Proy., pl. 61, (adult male;) Naumann,
Vogel Deutsch., pl. 186, (male and female;) Gould, B. of E., pl. 230;
Sepp, Nederl. Vog., vol. iv., pl. 637, (male;) Stor, Deg. Ucc., pl. 166,
(male,) as Prcchio vario sarto; Malherbe, Picide pero, 6 and 7;
Dresser, B. of E.

Vi Olliemelivas K

66 THREE-TOED WOODPECKER.

ZYGODACTYLI. .
Family PICIDZ. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Picus. (Linneus.)

THREE-TOED WOODPECKER.

Picus tridactylus.

Picus tridactylus, . LINNAUS.

Picoides tridactylus, LACEPEDE; Mem. del. Inst., 1799.
ss di DRESSER; Birds of Europe.
“europaeus, LESSON.

“alpinus et montanus, BREHM.

Picus ertssoleucus, BRANDT.

“< Leucopygus, SUNDEVAL.

Apternus crissoleucus et
Kamtchatkensis, BONAPARTE.

Dreizehiger specht, OF THE GERMANS.

Tretaaet Speile, OF THE NORWEGIANS.

Tretaig Hackspett, OF THE SWEDES.

Specific Characters—Only three toes, which distinguish it at once. Crest
of male yellow. General plumage black and white.

I HAVE been requested by a distinguished British ornithologist to
introduce this bird on the grounds that there is really not the slightest
proof beyond the statement of Donovan for including it in the English
fauna. Mr. Robert Gray alludes to the subject in his “Birds of the
West of Scotland,” merely stating that no specimen since the days of
Donovan has occurred in Scotland; and Mr. Dresser is equally decisive
in his “Birds of Europe.” I have therefore no hesitation in including
it in my book.

The Three-toed Woodpecker is a truly northern bird, being found
principally in Scandinavia, Siberia, Carpathia, Russia, Switzerland, the

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THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. 67

Tyrol, Austria, and the Amoor region. It has also occurred in Sals-
burg, Savoy, Bohemia, Galicia, and Poland.

In a private letter the late Mr. Wheelwright writes to me,—This
bird, the Three-toed Woodpecker, is scarcely so common anywhere in
Sweden as any of the others; but in Lapland it is the commonest of
all the species. It comes into Wermerland in the winter, but does not
I think breed with us. It has never been seen in Scania, although
it has once been shot in Denmark. It is not shy, and prefers level
to rocky woods. In the winter all the Woodpeckers in our forests
secrete themselves by day in holes of trees. In all the Woodpeckers
the colours appear to grow more distinct with age.”

In his “Ten Years in Sweden,” he further remarks, “It is common
during the breeding-season from the north of Wermerland up to at
least Torneo Lapland. In the winter they wander further south. I
have remarked that they are most partial to such forests as have been
destroyed by bush fire. Very common in Finland. Appears to have
been admitted into the British fauna on extremely doubtful authority.
I never found more than four eggs in one nest. In Lapland they go
to nest the latest of all the Woodpeckers in June.”

The following I take from Dresser’s “Birds of Europe,” now in
course of publication:—“< Although possessing one toe less than the
other species of Woodpeckers, this bird is an equally agile climber,
and is indeed if anything more adroit in its movements than many of
its congeners. Wherever the fire has devastated a portion of the forest,
there it may be looked for, as the insects which frequent the scathed
trees form its chief food. Especially during the bright clear winter
mornings its busy tapping may be heard; and the number of insects
devoured by one bird is almost incredible.

“In its movements it is quick and active, and will rapidly move in
a spiral direction up a tree, carefully examining every likely place in
search of its food, and then suddenly flying to another tree, will con-
tinue its search with the greatest assiduity. When there is a scarcity
of insect food, it will at times feed on berries, but only when driven
to do so from a failure of its usual support. ‘The nest is like that of
the Greater Spotted Woodpecker—a hole made by the bird itself, and
on the bottom of the nest-hole it deposits its eggs, generally from four
to six in number.”

A series of eggs in Dresser’s collection, obtained in Torneo Lapland,
measure from 22 by 4% to $4 by § of an inch, and are pure glossy
white in colour. In shape they resemble those of the Middle Spotted
Woodpecker.

“Dr. Rey tells us that he has measured twenty eggs of this bird

68 THREHE-TOED WOODPECKER.

from Muonio, Lapland, the average of which is 24.2 by 18.6 millemetres,
the longest measuring 26.0 by 19, and the smallest 22.5 by 18.75
millemetres. ‘The breeding time is from the dth. to the 15th. of June,
and the number of eggs four or five.”

A fine male of this species sent to me by the late Mr. Wheelwright,
is 82 inches long, from carpus to tip 4,8, beak 1,5, tarsus ,8; crown
of the head yellow, with the spotted plumage below seen through;
forehead spotted black and white; nape and large moustache black ;
wings deep brown black above. ‘The primaries deep brown black, with
four white spots on each web, the outer going near to point, those
on the inner larger and more basal. In the secondaries these spots
are continued, those on the inner web the largest; scapularies long,
with white spots on the inner webs only, the outermost being tipped
with a large white spot. Back white in the middle, black on the
sides. Rump black, spotted with white. ‘Tail black and pointed, the
two outermost black, with broad rufous bars; chin, throat, and neck
white; abdomen white, with a series of black streaks on the flanks.
The under wing covered, except the tip, with oval white spots. The
female has the forehead and crown of the head white, with black
longitudinal streaks. Rest as in male. It is the smallest of the two
birds.

My figures of this bird and its egg are from specimens sent me by
the late Mr. Wheelwright.

It has also been figured by Donovan; Gould, B. of E.; Dresser, B.

of E., male and female; and others.

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GREY WOODPECKER. 69

ZYGODACTYLI.
Family GECININA. (G. R. Gray.)
Genus Gecinus. ( Bove.)

Generic Characters —Bill widened slightly in its whole length, compressed
at the tip; upper mandible thickened at the base, with one or more slightly
elevated lines (representing the lateral ridge) close to the culmen, which
is slightly arched; gongs very short; wings moderate; anterior and versatile
toes nearly equal; hinder part of head with a narrow pointed crest; neck
thick; tail rather long and wedge-shaped.

GREY WOODPECKER.

Gecinus canus.

Gecinus canus, BorE. BONAPARTE. GRAy; Hand List,
No. 8677.
Picus canus, GMELIN, 1788.
“ viridus norvegicus, BRISSON, 1709.
¢ norvegicus, ; LATHAM, 1790.
‘¢ -viridicanus, MEYER AND WOLFF.
Pie vert Cendre, OF THE FRENCH.
Grauer Griinspecht, OF THE GERMANS.
Picchio verde di Norvegia, STOR.

Specifie Characters—Plumage green, with the top of the head grey and
the forehead crimson; only the middle feathers of the tail having transverse
bands across them. Length from tip of beak to end of tail eleven inches;
from carpal joint to tip of wing five inches and a half; tarsus one inch;
middle toe and claw one inch and a quarter; tail four inches; beak one
inch and a half.

Tus bird is essentially an inhabitant of the northern parts of
Europe. It occurs in Norway and the north of Sweden, being only

70 GREY WOODPECKER.

found in the southern parts of this country accidentally. It also occurs
in Russia and Finland, but Mr. Wheelwright informs me that it has
not been observed by the Swedish naturalists in Lapland. It is some-
times found in Switzerland, near Zurich, and occasionally in France,
but never, according to Temminck, in Holland. It is found acci-
dentally in Denmark. It is rare in the south of Germany, but in the
north is more plentiful than R. virddis. It is in this country (Germany)
a bird of passage, leaving in October, and returning to breed in March.
It is mentioned by Count Mihle and Dr. Lindermayer among the
rarer birds of Greece. According to Temminck it is also found in
America and the north of Asia, but it is not included in Bonaparte’s
list of the birds of the former; nor is the latter given as a locality by
the same or other modern authorities.

Salvadori (Fauna d’Italia) writes of this species, “It is found only
along the Alpine region, but in no place is it so common as it is in
some parts of Switzerland, Germany, Norway, and Russia. It is
stationary but rare in the Tyrol, occurs accidentally in the Veronese,
where it is said to have been twice found by Perini. ‘Two individuals
taken in the Alps, in the valley of Lanzo, have been preserved in the
Museum of Turin. It is also accidental in the maritime Alps, and
from time to time is taken in Liguria. Risso, Durazzo, Althammer,
and Perini are the only Italian authors who mention this species.”

I am indebted to Naumann’s “ Naturgeschichte des Vogel Deutsch-
lands” for most of the information contained in the notices of this and
the following species of Woodpecker.

In winter the Grey Woodpecker chooses a locality for its residence
which is solitary, and as much as possible unobtruded upon by man.
Each bird seems to have its own hunting-ground, over which it roams
regularly day by day. It is generally to be found on the same trees,
and if it meets in its territory with the Green Woodpecker, a battle
royal is sure to ensue, in which the former, being the weakest, always
gets the worst. We may therefore fairly assume, according to the
Darwinian code, that it is gradually becoming exterminated. But we
have no evidence of this, nor any marks of a happily directed diver-
gence of form in the Green Woodpecker to give plausibility to such
a supposition.

“The trees and bushes,’ says Naumann, “about my residence are
always hunted over by a Green Woodpecker, which, when driven away
by a shot in autumn, is replaced by another later. Once a female
Grey Woodpecker came within the above hunting-ground in March;
but it became restless, did not consort with the Green Woodpecker,
and called unto itself a mate. Another time a male Grey-head came

GREY WOODPECKER. 71

and disputed the rights of territorial ownership with the Green. A
terrible battle ensued, which ended in the death of the intruder.”

“For a number of years I have known a pair of Grey Woodpeckers
inhabit a large wood about two miles from my residence. They prefer
leafy trees to pines, and woods in grassy mountains well watered by
rivers have more charms for them than the hill-side or the mountain
forest.”

The Grey Woodpecker, like our own, loves to dwell where there _
are plenty of old oaks, beeches, aspens, or elms standing out in their
own solitary and picturesque beauty. It will remain in the same
neighbourhood so long as it can obtain its favourite food—ants. When
they fail it takes its departure, and does not return. It is often seen
on or about old willow stumps near woods. It also comes into the
gardens of villages or towns in winter, but does not cling to buildings.
It remains, Naumann tells us, much longer, and is seen more frequently
on the ground than the Green Woodpecker, and when frightened from
thence, it will fly away and suspend itself from a high tree, or take
up its position on the top of the same, in which it differs considerably
from the Green. At night it takes refuge in the holes of trees, to
which it retires, like other Woodpeckers, with great. caution in the
late twilight.

Naumann tells us that the Grey Woodpecker is a lively, cheerful,
and impudent fellow; cautious and crafty withal, but not so shy as
P. viridis. It is very restless, and always either seeking its food, or
flying very adroitly among the trees. It rarely, however, taps upon
them like the ‘‘ Woodpecker tapping” of our own country, but it has
equal skill in chiseling out holes for its nest or nightly habitation.
It is very quarrelsome and jealous about its food, and is not by any
means to be allured from this by any artificial knocking or “‘tree
tapping.” It is less shy in the breeding season, and more frequently
seen on the tops of high trees than the other Woodpeckers, where it
sits crosswise, sunning and pluming itself, and making its whereabouts
easily discovered by its call.

It flies like the Green species, and its voice is very much the same,
but rings in the ear more agreeably, while the tone is less shrill and
sharp. It is heard from March to June, especially in the pairing
season, and in the beautiful mornings of the bright sunny spring. ‘The
note consists of a full-toned syllable, ‘klii, klih, klih, klyh, klyh, kluk,
klik, klik, klik,’ sinking deeper each time, so that the end is much
fuller than the beginning thereof. ‘The time is slower than that of the
Green Woodpecker, and the tone fuller and less sharp, and an obser-
vant ear can easily distinguish one from the other. The male sometimes

72 GREY WOODPECKER.

also makes a whizzing noise as it sits on a hard branch on the summit
of a tree, violently hammering the same, so that the tone is brought
out as ‘érrrr,’ but shorter than the other allied species. ‘This noise is
only heard in the bird under consideration during the pairing season,
or when the female is sitting.

The Grey Woodpecker lives principally upon ants, when it can get
them. When they fail it eats bark beetles, various larve, and, rarely,
elderberries. Among ants, Mormica rubra and fusca are its favourites,
and the abundance of these insects generally determines the choice
of a summer residence. ‘he young are fed with the eggs or pupe.
In summer it lives on no other food, and in winter, it knows where
to look for them.

The nest is formed about the beginning of May, in the holes of
trees, especially oak. ‘They are not so careful in the choice of a
situation as the Black or Green Woodpecker. It is generally m a
tree easy to climb, and not very high up. ‘Lhe eggs are six in
number, and yery like those of the Green Woodpecker. ‘They are,
however, considerably smaller, and more pear-shaped in form. ‘The
egg shell is of the finest grain—tender and thin, so that when fresh,
the yolks shine through the peculiarly clear and enamel-polished white.
This effect is destroyed by incubation. The male and female sit by
turns, and are so fearless that they will almost permit themselves to
be caught at this time. The young remain a long time in the nest,
and are fed by the old ones some time after they leave it. The
whole family may be seen flying about the forest together.

Mr. Wheelwright describes a freshly-killed male as follows:—Fore-
head carmine red; a black streak from the nostrils to the eye, and a
similar one on the side of the throat from the under mandible. Head
and neck ash grey, with small longitudinal blackish streaks or spots
on the crown of the head. Back and wing coverts green; rump
shining greenish yellow; all the under parts of the body pale ash
grey, with a faint green tinge. Wing feathers dark brown, with
transverse white spots on the inner web, and similar, but smaller ones
on the outer web. ‘Tail feathers blackish green of one colour, with
the exception of the two middle ones, which are marked with indis-
tinct transverse bars. Beak thinner than that of P. viridis, bluish
brown, having the root of the under mandible greenish yellow. Iris
red; legs grey green. Length twelve inches; carpus to tip six inches
and one eighth; tail five inches.

The female has no red on the forehead, which is replaced by small
brown spots; the green on the back has an ashy grey tinge.

The bird figured is a young one of the year, sent me with the

GREY WOODPECKER. 3

ege by Mr. Wheelwright, of Gardsjé, Sweden. ‘The difference in
dimensions are those between fresh and dry skins.

It has also been figured by Edwards, pl. 65, (young male;)
Naumann, Vogel Deutsch., pl. 135, (male and female;) Sepp. Nederl.
Vogel, page 389, (female;) Stor, Degl. Ucc., vol. ii, pl. 177 (female;)
Meyer, Vogel Deutsch., pl. 22, (male and female;) Roux, Ornith. Proy.,
pl. 59, (male and female;) Bouteille, Orn. du Dauph, supplement, fig.
4; Gould, B. of E., pl. 227; Malherbe, Picide, pl. 81; Dresser, Birds
of Europe.

ViOle LV: I

74 SHARPE'S GREEN WOODPECKER.

ZYGODACTYLI.
Family PICIDAs. (Bonaparte. )
Genus Grcinus. ( Bore.)

SHARPE’S GREEN WOODPECKER.

Gecinus Sharpet.

Gecinus Sharpet, SAUNDERS; PB. Z..S:,. 0872, Pasar
S Sharpi, DRESSER; Birds of Europe, pl. 123.
cs viridis, Or AUTHORS.

Specific Characters—Male: sides of the head grey; moustache of the
male entirely crimson; yellow on the rump deeper than in G. viridis.
Female with the moustache black. No superciliary black streak in either
sex. Length of male and female presented me by Lord Lilford twelve
inches; beak one inch and six eighths; carpus to tip, in male six inches,
in female six inches and three eighths; tail four inches; tarsus one inch
and one eighth.

Tuis bird is the representative of our Green Woodpecker in
Central and Southern Spain, and was first separated from that bird
by Mr. Howard Saunders in the P. Z. 8. for 1872, p. 153. The
following is the short notice given by that gentleman:—

“When my friends Messrs. Sharpe and Dresser were describing the
Green Woodpecker (Gecinus viridis) in the ‘Birds of Europe,’ I lent
them a specimen from Granada, Spain, which Mr. Sharpe at once
perceived was not true G. viridis. But for a time and in the absence
of a series we were disposed to refer it to G. Vaillantic (Malherbe,
Picid., vol. i1., p. 122, pl. 82.) I immediately exerted myself to obtain
specimens of this bird from different parts of Spain; and I have now
before me a series from four very distinct localities, all however
south of the Sierra de la Guadarrama, which will probably prove

i}
one eee

SHARPE'S GREEN WOODPECKER. 75

to be in this case, as in several others, the dividing line between
the northern and southern resident avifauna.

“These specimens, agreeing amongst themselves, differ so strikingly
from both G. viridis and Gt. Vaillanti that there can be little doubt
of their belonging to a new and hitherto undescribed species, which
I propose to call Gecinus Sharpet, sp. nov., after my friend Mr. R.
B. Shape, to whom the credit of discriminating it is entirely due.”

I have given the specific characters above. Mr. Saunders continues:—

“This species is principally distinguishable from G'. viridis by the
grey face, and by the absence of the black streak over the eye in
both sexes. Minor points of difference are the brilliant crimson
moustache in the adult male, instead of lake on a black ground as
in G. viridis, and the deep chrome yellow on the rump in both
sexes. In G. Vaillant the moustache of the male is black, and
never red, according to Malherbe (op. cit.); and in the female the
crimson does not extend beyond the occiput, whereas in the present
species it pervades the whole of the crown.”

This bird affords a good example of slight, probably climatic
differences of plumage giving a bird the title of ‘being distinct.” It
is only, however, a variety of the well-known Green Woodpecker,
which it replaces in Central and Southern Spain. It has no claim
whatever to distinct specific distinction. Into what it may be evolved
in course of time it is impossible to say.

The egg, Mr. Saunders says, is always smaller than that of G. viridis.
Its habits are, however, precisely the same.

By the kindness of Lord Lilford I am able to figure the male .
and female and egg from my own collection.

Figured by Dresser in his “ Birds of Europe.”

76 BLUE-CHEEKED BEHE-EATER.

ORDER VII.—ALCYONES.
Family MEROPIDA. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Mrrors. (Linneus.)

Generic Characters——Beak middle sized, sharp edged, pointed, and slightly
curved, the summit elevated and entire. Nostrils, basal, lateral, ovoid, and
open, the opening hidden by having feathers directed forward. Feet with
the tarsus short; of the three toes in front the most external is united up
to the second articulation of the middle toe, and this with the internal up
to the first articulation; the hind toe broad at its base; claws—that of the
hind toe the smallest. Wings—the first primary very short, the second the

longest in the wing.

BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER.

Merops persica.

Merops persica, PALI ASS Vioye,. 147710.
“< savignyt, CUVIER. SWAINSON.
“eg yptius, FORSKAHLL.
<< ruficollis, VIEILLOT.

“< superciliosus, RUPPELL.

Guépier Savigny, LE VAILLANT.

Guepier meridional, OF THE FRENCH.

Sudlicher Bienenfresser, OF THE GERMANS.

Llue-cheeked Bee-eater, SWAINSON..

Specific Characters.—Throat yellow; upper part of neck anteriorly, russet
red; upper plumage various shades of green; superciliary ridge and a band
below the eyes turquoise blue. The two middle tail feathers much longer
than the others. Length from tip of beak to end of long tail feathers
twelve inches; carpus to tip, five inches and three quarters; tarsus half an
inch; beak one inch and three quarters; tail six inches.

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BLUEH-CHEEKED BEE-HATER. Hh

Tue Blue-cheeked Bee-eater is an inhabitant of Persia and Egypt,
being found especially on the borders of the Caspian Sea. It extends
along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea through Tripoli, Algeria,
and along the Atlantic coast as far as Senegal; while, eastward, it
ranges, according to Dr. Leith Adams, into the North-west of India,
where it is not uncommon. Deputy Surgeon-General Stewart informs
me that he procured a specimen at Kurrachee, January, 1862. “It
was in a flock of seven or eight, which I at first took for MW. philip-
pinus, which it resembles in size and on the wing, although it is not
I think so handsome a bird.”

As might be expected, it is occasionally found on the European
side of the Mediterranean, where, however, it occurs only accidentally.
It was introduced into the European list by Bonaparte, from two
specimens which were killed in the neighbourhood of Genes. It is
also included by Count Miihle among the birds of Greece, while
Dr. Leith Adams informs me that it is found (but rarely) in that
neutral territory, Malta. It is recorded (“Ibis,” vol. i., p. 27,) by
the Rev. Canon Tristram as occurring in the valley of the Jordan in
Southern Palestine; and Dr. Heuglin says it appears in large flocks
on the Somali coast of the Red Sea.—(Ibid, vol. 1. p. 340.)

Salvadori (Fauna d'Italia) says:—‘‘'This Bee-eater is accidental in
Italy. The first individuals were observed in Liguria. Durazzo says
that in a flock of Bee-eaters into which he fired in 1834, two indi-
viduals, male and female, fell of this rare Italian species. The first
I possess, and the other belongs to the Marquis Costa de Chamberry.
These individuals have been described and figured in the ‘Fauna
Italica’ by the Prince of Canino. Lo Schembri records a Maltese
specimen taken in 1840. Finally, Malherbe says that it appears
accidentally in Sicily, having seen one taken in the neighbourhood
of Palermo, which however is doubted by Benoit and Doderlein. It
is an inhabitant of Africa and Asia.”

In its habits the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater resembles the better-known
species in our own fauna, Merops apiaster.

The male and female have the forehead marked by a white band;
above the eye is a band of turquoise blue, with a similar one below,
which is, however, slightly mingled with white feathers; from the
angle of the beak straight through the eye is a band of dark green.
All the upper parts of the body green, more vivid on the rump,
and from thence shading off along the long tail feathers into green
russet, while the tips are black. ‘The wing primaries dark green,
with the most internal part of the broad inner web dusky brown,

~

78 _ BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER.,

shading off into black towards the tip; under wing coverts and flanks
a rich chesnut, like the chest, while the rest of the under parts of
the wing, and those of the tail, are glossy hair brown. Throat
yellow, going off into a darker chesnut on the crop; sides of the
neck, abdomen, and under tail coverts, vivid Scheeles green; beak
black; feet horn brown.

Temminck notices two varieties in his ‘Manual,’ fourth part, 1840,
p- 651. The var. A, are specimens from Senegal, which, he says,
differ in some of the tints of plumage, by having the two middle
tail feathers longer, and by having shorter wings—differences which
are seriously recommended to species makers. ‘This variety has been
figured by Bonaparte, in his ‘Fauna Italica,” and by Le Vaillant, pl.
6, bis.

The other variety, B, which is that which I have figured, from
Nubia and Egypt, has less blue in the green of the upper plumage,
the middle tail feathers are rather shorter, and the wings. slightly
longer, reaching near to the end of the lateral tail feathers. This is
Le Vaillant’s Gwepier, pl.6. In my specimen, which was kindly sent
me by Mr. Tristram, and marked “ Kgypt,” the wings, when closed,
do not reach to within an inch of the end of the lateral tail feathers.

There is still another variety found in Japan, the Merops javanicum
of Horsfield, which is, however, easily distinguished by its bright
blue rump.

According to Bonaparte, Merops persica of Pallas is different from
the Merops savignyt of Swainson, a statement which it is impossible
to admit for a moment. The bird I have figured is in all particulars
precisely the bird described by Swainson as MM. savignyt, the Blue-
cheeked Bee-eater, “Birds of Africa,” vol. ii., p. 77, pl. 7.

Figured by Le Vaillant, Hist. Nat. Promer, pl. 6 et 6 bis; Swainson,
Birds of Africa, vol. 11., pl. 7; Bonaparte, Fauna Italica, pl. 25, fig. 1.

yg
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Al

BLACK-AND-WHITE KINGFISHER. 79

ALCYONES.
Family ALCEDINIDA.. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Atcepo. (Linneus.)

Generic Characters—Beak long, straight, quadrangular, pointed, sharp
edged, and very rarely depressed. Nostrils basal, lateral, obliquely pierced,
and almost entirely closed by a naked membrane. Feet short, naked
above the knee; three toes in front, the exterior of which is joined to
the middle toe as far as the second articulation, and this with the inside
toe as far as the first articulation. Hind toe broad at its base, and its
claw the smallest. First and second wing primaries shorter than the third,
which is the longest in the wing.

BLACK-AND-WHITE KINGFISHER.

Alcedo rudis.

Alcedo rudis, LINNZUS.

“* ispida ex albo et nigra varia, BRIsSoN.

“< aspida bicincta et bitorquale, SWAINSON.

“< _ cerylevaria, STRICKLAND.
Ceryle rudis, Boiz. BONAPARTE.
Martin-pecheur pie, OF THE FRENCH.
Geschackler Eisvogel, OF THE GERMANS.

Specific Characters—Feathers of the occiput long and pointed; tail with
a broad black band, tipped with white at its end; a broad black band
across the crop, interrupted in the middle. Length from tip of beak to
end of tail eleven inches and a half; from carpal joint to tip of wing five
inches and a half; tail two inches and a half; beak two inches and a half;
tarsus one third of an inch; middle toe and claw one inch.

Tuis bird is only an accidental visitor to the European shores.
It has been observed in Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Spain; generally

80 BLACK-AND-WHITE KINGFISHER.

near the coast, on the European borders of the Mediterranean. In
Africa it is most plentiful at the Cape and in Egypt. Swainson
considered the Senegal species as distinct, and described it in his
“Birds of Africa,” under the name of Jspida bicinta, the Double-
collared Kingfisher. It is found rarely, and only accidentally, in
Algeria. One specimen only was seen by Mr. Tristram near Jordan,
in Southern Palestine. It is stated by Mr. Taylor, in his Egyptian
Reminiscences, (“Ibis,” vol. i., p. 47,) to be abundant all the way
from Alexandria to the First Cataract. In Asia we find it occurring
in Turkey, Persia, India, and China, and Mr. Savile Reid informs
me that it breeds in the Bermudas. Deputy Surgeon-General
Stewart informs me that this bird is ‘‘a common species all over
India, the Himalayas excepted. It is the only Kingfisher I know
which does not seize its prey from a fixed perch, but hovers over
it like some of the Terns or the Kestrel. I have several times dug
down to its nest, in the mud banks of rivers. Eggs four or five,
white and roundish.”

In its habits it resembles the other Kingfishers. Mr. Taylor (op.
cit.) says it is very tame and familiar in Egypt. “The food seems
to be entirely fish. I have often watched it hovering over a shallow
pool of water, and every now and then darting down and catching
fishes, sometimes as much as three or four inches in length. This
bird breeds in holes in the banks of the Nile.”

In the colony of Natal, Mr. Gurney (“‘Ibis,” vol. 1., p. 246,) informs
us that ‘it frequents the lakes and rivers near the coast; not found
in the interior. This bird hovers over the water before darting
down, and if not successful flies on further, and hovers again; having
caught a fish it flies to a bough or a post to swallow it.”

Mr. Swinhoe also, in his very interesting paper on the Ornithology
of Amoy, (“‘Ibis,” vol. i., p. 49,) says that it 1s “‘very common on
the river, where it is to be found at all seasons; it poises on the
wing at a height above the water, and drops suddenly down to
catch its prey. I have however seen it strike obliquely, when flying
close to the surface of the water.”

Like other Kingfishers this bird makes a nest in the holes of
banks of rivers, and lays four or five eggs, which are white, glossy,
and nearly round.

The plumage of the Black-and-White Kingfisher is very difficult
to describe minutely, as almost each feather, as Swainson remarks, is
varied in a different manner.

The male in breeding plumage has the crown of the head and its
erest black, with longitudinal streaks of white; all the rest of the

l1 BLACK-AND-WHITE KINGFISHER.
2 RUFOUS SWALLOW. 3&8 CRAG SWALLOW.

4 RUSSET-NECKED NIGHTJAR.

BLACK-AND-WHITE KINGFISHER. 81

upper parts are a mottled black and white; primaries and tail black
and white; the white line which springs from each nostril is “carried
over the eye and ears, and is lost in the variegated feathers of the
crest.” All the under parts are pure glossy white, with a broad belt
of deep glossy black across the chest, narrowed or interrupted in the
centre; the flanks thinly striped with black. The iris, beak, and
feet black.

According to Degland the female is rather less, has more white in
the plumage, the black collar less extended, and sometimes there is
a second, which may probably have caused Swainson to describe the
Senegal species as distinct. He certainly gives no separate distinction
of the sexes.

Before the first moult, the white of the upper parts is less pure,
with a number of black dashes; the black collar on the chest is only
faintly indicated by black spots; the beak is sensibly shorter than in
the adult.

My figure of this bird is from a specimen in my own collection.
The egg is from the Rey. Canon Tristram.

It has been figured by Buffon, pl. enl. 62, young, 716, adult male;
and Gould, Bb. of E., plate 62.

The Smyrna Kingfisher, figured in the first edition, is omitted in
this, as I can find no authentic instance recorded of its occurrence
in Europe, as surmised without any good authority by Swainson and
Professor Blasius, who stated the European Turkish Isles as one of
its habitats.

VOL. IV. S

oO
we

MOUSE-COLOURED SWIFT.

ORDER VIII.—CHELIDONES.
Family HIRUNDINIDA. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Cypsetus. ILuicer.

Generte Characters—Wings with the first quill equal to second or the
second longest; tail emarginate or forked; tarsus feathered in front at all
events; toes and claws nearly equal, short, robust; hallux directed inwards
and forwards—not opposable.

MOUSE-COLOURED SWIFT.

Cypselus pallidus.

Cypselus pallidus, SHELLY; @LD1S, sO70,n Deed ase

= DRESSER; B. of Europe, 1875.

as apus, L. WEBB AND BERTHELOT; Orn. Cau.,
Da 233 sare Veo Me TNiNe)

de MUTINUS, BREHM; 1855.

sc murartus, VERN. Harcourt; An. and Mag. Nat.
Hist., fer 2, p. 437, 1855. (/Vec TEMM.)

sé apus, HeEvuGt.in; Syst. Uebers. Nord. Ost.

Africus, p. 16, 1856. (/Vec LINN.)

Speetfic Characters.—C. Cypselo apoda affinis, sed minor; pallide grisescenti-
brunneus, gutture toto albo; pectore inferiore obsoleta albo marginato. Long.
tot. 6.5, ala 6.5, caudz 2.8, poll angl.—SHELLY.

Tuis species of Swift has for a long time been confused with the
Common Swift, but it is, I believe, a good species, replacing the well-
known C. apus as a rule.

We are indebted to Captain Shelly for the first determination of
this bird in the “Ibis,” for 1870, p. 445, and I therefore with pleasure

quote the following from the article in which this species is described.

ean

‘ Se}
. ges eis ;

MOUSE-COLOURED SWIFT. 83

*T have been for some time convinced that the Common Swift of
Egyyt forms an entirely distinct species from the well-known C. apus,
under which name it has been included in the various lists of Egyptian
birds. First it differs materially in the very pale brown of the entire
body, and in the greater extent of the white on the throat. These
constitute the most striking characters whereby it may be distinguished
from C. apus. Furthermore the feet are smaller; indeed the bird is
altogether smaller in bulk.

“T believe that C. apus seldom appears in Egypt. I could never
detail a dark specimen, though I paid particular attention to the species,
in order to confute the opinion of several naturalists at home, who
were inclined to consider the Egyptian species identical with C. apus.
If therefore I saw any bird out of the hundreds flying about me,
which appeared to be a trifle darker than ordinary, I immediately shot
it; but on every occasion the bird thus obtained turned out to be C.
pallidus.

“Again several ornithologists were inclined at first to put down any
Egyptian specimen as the young of C. apus; but it is impossible for
that opinion to be correct, since I have shot C. pallidus as late as
the 3rd. of May, and as early as the 12th. of February. Comparing
my specimens with the young of C. apus, the colour of the latter is
very much darker, and all the feathers have distinct white margins.”

Lieutenant-Colonel Irby, in his recent work upon the ornithology
of the Straits of Gibraltar, throws further light upon this bird, which
he calls the ‘‘Mouse-coloured Swift,”? in which I have followed him,
as it is always advisable in naming birds to adopt some peculiarity
which they possess. He says, “This Swift is found near Tangier on
passage, crossing to Europe in April and May. Some remain to breed;
but it is the least common of the family, being seen alone or in pairs
in company with C. apus, which circumstance makes it difficult to dis-
tinguish them. I found a pair in July, 1861, nesting in company
with some House Martins; the nest was simply an old nest of that
Martin, which the Swifts had appropriated, and contained two eggs
of the usual Cypselus shape, their longitudinal circumference being
64.66 millemetres.’—Favier.

“Though Favier says they are difficult to distinguish from the
Common Swift, I cannot say so myself, but rather the contrary. They
are occasionally seen near Gibraltar, and are said to arrive at Tangier
somewhat earlier than the Common Swift, though I could see no
difference in the time of their arrivals. asily noticed on the wing
by their light colour, they mix both with the Common and White-

bellied Swifts.

84 MOUSE-COLOURED SWIFT.

“Tn May, 1874, when near Vejer with two ornithologizing friends,
we found this species to be more abundant than C. apus, while curi-
ously enough at Algeciraz (where, as mentioned, there are countless
swarms of Common Swifts) I never could detect one single C. pallidus.”

Two birds, male ‘and female, kindly sent me by Col. Irby, marked
7th. May, 1874, Casa Vieja, Andalucia, have the following characters:
—Male: has all the upper parts mouse-colour, with the ends of the
primaries. black, and all the other feathers lightly edged with white;
forehead and cheeks lighter. Throat white; all the rest of the lower
parts more brown, with the feathers more strongly edged with white.
Tail deeply forked, an inch shorter than the long primaries. Under
wing coverts greyish, with a series of cross lines of white on the
shoulder. Rest of wing and under tail luteous dark brown. Length
63, inches. Wing from carpus to tip six inches. ‘Tarsus, which is
thickly feathered, one inch. |

The female is larger, but in other respects does not differ from the
male. Length nearly seven inches. Wing from carpus six inches and
a half.

This bird has been figured by Mr. Dresser, B. of E., but the egg
is, I believe, unknown to science. It is doubtless very similar to that
of C. apus.

On
as i

A nv oi

ORIENTAL CHIMNEY swa.uuc

ORIENTAL CHIMNEY SWALLOW. 85

CHELIDONES.
Family HIRUNDINIDH. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Hirunpo. (Linneus.)

Genertc Characters.—Beak very short, very much depressed, and broad at
the base; upper mandible curved downwards at the point. Feet short, with
three toes in front entirely divided, or united at the base only by a short
membrane; claws much curved; wings long and pointed.

ORIENTAL CHIMNEY SWALLOW.

Flirundo rustica, var. savignyt.

Hirundo savignyt, LEAcH. STEPHENS.

ce rustica orientalis, SCHLEGEL.

f cahirica, LICHTENSTEIN; Cat., 1823.

oe rlocouri?, Aupovuin; Des. de l’Egp., vol. 13.

ae botssonneauti?, TEMMINCK; Man. 3, p. 652.

Cecropis savignyt, Bore; Isis, 1828, p. 316.
Etirondelle de cheminée orientale, OF THE FRENCH.
Ostliche Rauchschwalbe, OF THE GERMANS.

Diagnostic Characters—Under parts of the body, from the crop to the
base of the tail, of a dark chesnut. Length six inches; carpus to tip four
inches; tail from base to end of lateral feather three inches; tarsus five
lines; beak from gape to end of upper mandible seven lines.

Tuts ‘“ permanent variety” of our English Swallow is found princi-
pally in Macedonia, Egypt, and Eastern Siberia. It is very common in
Egypt, but is only found accidentally. in Europe,—Spain and Greece
being the localities noted by Temminck, Miihle, Lindermayer, etc.

Professor Blasius, in “‘ Naumannia,” 1859, p. 204, has a paper upon
this bird, which I will transcribe nearly entire, as it not only expresses

86 ORIENTAL CHIMNEY SWALLOW.

all we know about it, but contains some useful remarks upon the difficult
question of ‘‘species.”—

“At a meeting in Céthea we learned through Olph-Galliard, that H.
cahirica, Licht., was taken by Nager-Donaziens, at St. Gothard, and the
specimen was exhibited. Later Laudamman Nager wrote to me that
this is there the only Chimney Swallow, and that during the spring
passage it is sometimes caught by boys with the hand. I also received
specimens which did not differ in intensity of colour from African
specimens. We may reasonably express surprise at an Egyptian species
coming to St. Gothard, particularly so regularly according to Andermatt.
In the following spring Baldamus found this bird breeding and pairing
with H. rustica in Diebzig, and I have one of these specimens now in
my possession. In the present spring (1859) I have also seen these
Swallows breeding in Brunswick, and paired with the common JH.
rustica. Many specimens were brighter than the Egyptian H. cahirica ;
otherwise they resembled them. From other sources I have received
intelligence that among Chimney Swallows individuals with red brown
under sides have been found breeding.

Under these circumstances we can still affirm that this bird has been
taken at St. Gothard; but it is not so clear that it is the only kind of
Chimney Swallow which is found there. Dr. Gléger says that the
very dark red House Swallow is very common in Sardinia, and also in
Eastern Siberia, where, according to Pallas, the Chimney Swallow has a
remarkably rust-coloured under side. As the different coloured birds
pair together, and as in the same nest there are to be found from normal
coloured parents—both colours—it is evident that the varieties blend
one with another, and as there is very little difference in the forms and
habits, so it is not well to maintain that there is a difference of species.
But how is this question to be viewed? For example, as to climatic
varieties ? Our northern climate has under some circumstances produced
the African form! No one can satisfactorily maintain that our northern
dark rust-coloured Chimney Swallow was originally bred from the
African! Nor can any one connect the one in the climate of Egypt with
that in Eastern Siberia; far less can we deduce from the casual fact of
the varieties pairing together, that the rust-colour of the Egyptian or
Siberian Chimney Swallow is due to physical causes. ‘The name climatic
variety is only an arbitrary distinction.”

“Or races? But races can only be comprehended with certainty
within the same limits as climatic varieties. ‘The young will without any
intermediate form go back to that of the parents. Nature does not carry
out this idea precisely.”

“Perhaps sub-species? The comprehension of sub-species is so little

ORIENTAL CHIMNEY SWALLOW. 87

established in theory, and is so variably demonstrated in practice, that it
gives no bounds to capriciousness.”

“In short, are local forms one and the same species? But is not that
a name without all philosophical or physiological consideration? Perhaps
all the better if philosophy or physiology stood on weak ground. A
distinction founded on fact is at least remembered by a matter of fact.*
Would it not be advisable to make this matter of fact certain before we
dispute about an idea? ‘To do this we must know where the white and
rust-coloured Swallows are known to dwell distinctly. How far, and in
what statistic relation, the one form extends into the territory of the other,
and in what relation there is a proportion between the two forms. We
might then help each other to solve this riddle, and then we shall have
no difficulty in being certain about the name.”

This paper I think clearly establishes the fact of the identity of the
variety which is the subject of the present notice with the Chimney
Swallow. They breed together. Their habits and nidification are
similar. They only differ in the colour of the abdominal plumage, in
having a brighter black on the back, and perhaps a broader black collar
round the neck.

The specimen sent me by the Rev. Canon Tristram, which I have
figured, and the measurements of which I have given in my diagnosis,
was killed in January, 1860, in Egypt, by W. C. P. Medlycott, Esq.

The plumage above is glossy black; below dark chesnut, with a broad
black collar round the neck. Each of the tail feathers has a white spot
on its inner web, giving the appearance of a crescentic band when viewed
from beneath.

It has also been figured by Audouin, in plate 4, fig 4, of his ‘‘ Expedi-
tion to Egypt.”” The drawings in this work were done by M. Savigny,
after whom Stephens, in his edition of ‘‘Shaw’s Zoology,” named the bird.

* IT append the German text of this passage :—“Oder enlich gar Localformen ein
und derselben art? Aber ist das nicht ein Name ohne alle tiefere philosophische
oder physiologische Bedeutung? Vielleicht um so besser, wenn die Philosophie
oder Physiologie auf schwachen Fussen steht. Hine thatsichliche Bezeichnung
erinnert doch wenigstens an einen Thatbestand.”

RUFOUS .SWALLOW.

CHELIDONES.
Family HIRUNDINIDA. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Hirunpo. (Linneus.)

RUFOUS SWALLOW.
Efirundo rufula.

Lirundo rufula, TEMMINCK; Man., 3rd. Ed., p. 298, (excluding
synonymes.)

SCHINZ; Europ. Faun., vol. i., p. 250,
(excluding synonymes.)

SCHLEGEL; Revue, 1844,*p..18 and 51.

DecLianp; Ornith. Eur., No. 155, the male.

CreEspon; Faun. Meérid., vol. i.; p. 309, the
male.

BONAPARTE; Rev. Crit., pp. 46 and 47. List
of birds, (portion) No. 59. Conspect.,
p- 339, (excluding the synonyme of Riippell.)

JAUBERT; Rev. Zool., 1854, p. 261, the adult
only.

Der SELys-LonGcHAmpes; Bulletin de
L’Academie de Bruxelles, vol. 22, part 2,

Den25:

es ee NauMANN; Vog., pl. 383, fig. 4.

cou daumoa, LINNZUS. Savi; Orn. Tosc. BREE; first ed.
os cahtrica, DODERLEIN.

SV alpesires. PaLias; Voyages, Appendix, vol. viii., p. 66,

Lamarck’s Edition.
MALHERBE; Faune Orn. Sicile, (excluding
synonymes. )
BonaApaARTE; Intr. Faun. Ital.
KEYSERLING ET Buiasius; Die Wirbelthiere,
No. 201, (portion.)
capensis, Durazzo; Uce. Lig.) No: 45:

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RUFOUS SWALLOW. 89

FHirondelle Rousseline,

rousse, or rufuline, OF THE FRENCH.
Rothliche Schwalbe, OF THE GERMANS.
Rondine di Siberia, SAVI.
FTirondelle de Daurie, LAMARCK; in Translation of the Voyages of
Pallas.

Specific Characters—Medium size. Top of the head, back, wings, and
tail black; the outer tail feathers for the most part faintly spotted with
white; nape rufous, not striated; rump pale rufous, passing into whitish
posteriorly; below the cheeks, and under wing coverts, russet, with very
narrow brown striz, which are however absent in the anal region; the
posterior half of the under tail coverts black; feet moderate size. Length
about seven inches; closed wings four inches and four fifths; external tail
feathers four inches; tarsi half an inch; posterior toe (without claw) six
tenths of an inch; posterior claw about a quarter of an inch.

Tuts bird has been confounded with several others. It was first
noticed in modern days by Savi, in 1831, in the “ Ornitologia Toscana,”
Appendix to vol. i., p. 201, as Hirundo daurica, Lin.—the Rondine
di Siberia. It was afterwards introduced as a European bird in the
second edition of Temminck’s Manual, as identical with Htrundo
capensis of Gmelin, from which however it is clearly distinct.
Temminck proposed for it the name of rufuda, which it retained
through the many scientific difficulties it encountered after his time.
Temminck’s reasons for the change of name are hardly defensible.
He thought that it was not right to use the word capensis for a
European species, and he therefore translated the word rousseline,
given to the Cape bird by Le Vaillant, into rufwla. The next
difficulty it had to encounter was from the Prince of Canino, who,
after adopting the name of Temminck in his “List,” in 1838, applied
the name alpestris in his “Catalogo degli Uccelli Europei,” in 1522.
In his “Revue Critique de ’Ouvrage de Docteur Degland sur les
Oiseaux d’Europe,” in 1850, he further adds to the confusion by
describing it as a miniature Mirundo senegalensis, although it is at
once distinguished from that bird by the black apex of the under
tail coverts. He also united it with another distinct bird, the H.
melanocrissa, of Riippell. Schlegel, in his “Revue Critique des
Oiseaux d’EKurope,” of 1844, was the first to notice the confusion of
the true H. rufula of Sicily with its congeners, namely, H. capensis,
HT. alpestris, (daurica,) H. senegalensis, aid H. striolata.

Keyserling and Blasius, in “Die Wirbelthiere Europas,” 1840,

VOL. IV. N

90 RUFOUS SWALLOW.

describe as a European species the H. alpestris of Pallas, and iden-
tify it with Hl. rufula. Schinz, following Temminck, confounds A.
rufula with H. capensis; while Degland, in his ‘‘ Ornithologie
Europeenne,’ in 1849, describes the male bird with the omission of
the important character of the termination in black of the inferior
tail coverts; but for the female he again falls back, and gives a
description of H. capensis, in which mistake he is followed by M.
Crespon, in the ‘‘Faune Meridionale.”’

Gould figures Hi. senegalensis for H. rufula. Lesson, in his “'Traité
Ornithologie,” 1831, confounds rufula with both senegalensis and
capensis. Riippell figures HZ. melanocrissa for the first time, in 1845,
in his ‘‘Systematische Ubersicht der Vogels Nord-Ost Africa;” and
Bonaparte at once claims this bird as H. rufula. After which we
cannot wonder that Blyth, Sykes, Hodgson, and Gray should more
or less have confounded its synonymes.

M. de Selys-Longchamps has removed all this confusion by an
admirable memoir upon the Swallows, in the work which I have
referred to in the specific characters. I am indebted to this memoir
for most of what I have to say about H. rufula.

The Rufous Swallow has been observed in Greece, on the Italian
shores of the Mediterranean, and in the south of France. It is not
observed in the two latter countries commonly, but accidentally on
its passage in April or May, in couples or flocks more or less large.
It has been frequently observed in Sicily. At Messina, according to
Luigi Benoit and Cantraine, it was common in 1832. The Marquis
Durazzo has recorded its appearance at Genoa; M. Crespon, at Nimes;
M. Jaubert, at Marseilles. According to Lunel it nested in the
neighbourhood of Avignon, in 1845 and 1846. He describes the
eggs as white, with small reddish spots and points, which formed a
zone at the greater end, which indicates that he did not get the
egg of H. daurica. M. Jaubert has also observed it at Montpellier,
and M. Malherbe in the Cote-d’or and the Dréme.

Salvadori (Fauna d’Italia) writes of this bird:—‘ Rare in Italy, but
nearly every year some individuals are taken in Liguria. Also it is
not very rare near Messina. Benoit says that in 1832 a great many
birds of this species were confounded during the passage with the
Common Swallow. Savi records one individual taken in Tuscany,
where this Swallow was seen before he observed its being figured in
Gerini’s “Storia degli Uccelli.” In the Museum of Turin there is a
specimen which was taken in the neighbourhood of that city on
May 2nd., 1832. According to Wright, it is rare in Malta. It has
been observed by Heuglin in Egypt, Nubia, and high parts of

RUFOUS SWALLOW. on

Abyssinia. It is wrongly named by him ‘alpestris,’ which name
belongs to a nearly allied species of Eastern Asia. ‘This species has
the same habits as the Common Swallow. According to Gerbe a
pair nested near Avignon. The eggs were white, covered with rosy
points, more numerous and disposed in a circle near the larger ex-
tremity. In form and dimensions it does not differ from those of the
Common Swallow. It would be interesting to know if it is truly
stated that some individuals of this species nested upon the cornices
of the ancient temple of Segesta in Sicily. I consider that the bird
called by Doderlein H. cahirica ought to be referred to this species.”

Deputy Surgeon-General Stewart thus writes to me about the bird,
“In January, 1872, near Belgauni, in the Southern Mahratta Country,
I saw a very large swarm of this Swallow. I was walking along the
road in the early morning, and the telegraph wire was covered for
the space of more than a mile, (I measured it), more or less thickly
with them, while numbers on the wing were flittmg about their
comrades. They had probably rested there all night. I cannot
guess or attempt to estimate their numbers, but I never saw so
many birds of any kind together before.”

Mr. Tristram remarks, (Ibis, vol. 1., p. 26,) “Hl. rufula appears to be
the Common Swallow of the Holy Land. I cannot be sure that I saw H.
rustica at all, though possibly it might not yet (April) have returned from
the south.”

De Selys (op. cit.) remarks about its real country as follows:—“The
question was formerly asked from whence came our Domestic Swallows?
It is now known they pass the winter in Africa; but this question may be
still asked with good reason as to Hl. rufula. From whence does it
depart, and what is its true country? No ornithologist has yet (1855)
been able to answer this question. We only know the bird from its
accidental appearance on the shores of the Mediterranean. Those who
took it for H. daurica, (H. alpestris, Pall.,) thought it came from
Siberia, and this presumption might be justified by the simultaneous
appearance in the same parts of the Mediterranean of many Siberian
birds, such as Emberiza rustica, E. aureola, E. pityornus, E. pusilla,
Accentor calliope, etc.; but if rufula is very nearly allied to daurica,
there is still a difference between them; nor has it yet been found in
Russia, or upon the coasts of the Black Sea. Prince Bonaparte seemed
to have settled the question, by claiming its identity with H. melano-
crissa of Abyssinia, but unfortunately we have seen that they are
distinct.” }

“ H. rufula being as we may say intermediate between H. daurica and
HI. melanocrissa, I am led to believe, in the absence of further proof,

92 RUFOUS SWALLOW.

that its home must be one of the mountainous countries situated between
Egypt and India, probably the mountains in the south of Armenia
or Persia. I exclude for the present the hypothesis of Barbary, as
it has not yet been met with in Algeria or Spain.”

“As far as we know of HA. rufula, and until we can in a more
positive manner determine the differences which age may introduce
between this species and its congeners, it is distinguished from JZ.
daurica by the exceedingly fine brown streaks on the inferior parts
of the body, by the larger russet collar, and by the russet of the
rump, which passes decidedly into a whitish tint posteriorly.

“Tt is distinguished from melanocrissa by the presence at all ages
of the streaks on the under parts; by the absence of the anal russet
border; by the less deep russet of the collar; by the brighter red
on the rump passing into white posteriorly; and by the whitish spot
which almost always is found on the external tail feather.”

Since the above was written by M. de Selys, we have further
accounts of this bird, which not only verify his prognostication as
to the true country, but appear to remove all doubts as to the
identity of H. rufula and H. daurica. I allude to the observations
of Mr. Tristram, before noticed, that it entirely takes the place
of HT. rustica in the Holy Land and in Egypt. Also to the still
more important and interesting account given of HZ. rufula by Mr.
Simpson, (Ibis, vol. u., p. 288,) where he describes it as inhabiting
Missolonghi and Southern Aitolia, and further gives some most interesting
accounts of its nidification in Western Greece, in the same volume,
p. 386. Mr. Simpson describes the egg as white, which is further
proof of the identity of this bird with H. daurica.

M. Ed. de Selys-Longchamps has very kindly sent me his Grecian
specimen, which I have had very carefully figured; and through the
kindness of Mr. Tristram, I am also able to figure one of the eggs
taken by Mr. Simpson in Greece. M. De Selys accompanied the
specimen with some valuable remarks, from which I extract the
following :—

-“As to Hirundo rufula, my statements are quite verified as to its
country being the mountains of Eastern Asia, since Mr. Tristram
(Ibis, vol. i1., p, 27,) indicates it as the Common Swallow in the Holy
Land. It must, however, be added to this that it inhabits Greece
regularly, and not accidentally. (Ibis, Oct., 1860, p. 386, Mr.
Simpson.) This observer gives valuable information in saying the
eggs are quite white, like those of H. urbica: It is then more than
probable that M. Lunel made a mistake when he said they were
spotted. ‘This discovery as to the eggs and that of its true country,

RUFOUS SWALLOW. 93

confirm me in my belief that this species is identical with daurica, as
I had before supposed. I have in reality received from Siberia
specimens of daurica which have the nuchal collar complete, and as
to the brown streaks below the body being more or less marked,
they are no doubt so according to age, of which I have proof in its
congener, melanocrissa. ‘The name of daurica ought to stand with the
addition of a very doubtful race, which may be called rufula—H.
rufula?

“Edward Newton’s Swallow, (Ibis, 1859, p. 462,) seen between
Cairo and Alexandria, in Egypt, was probably Hl. melanocrissa. M.
Jaubert, of Marseilles, has, I believe, figured and described in his
work, ‘Richesses Ornithologiques, etc.’ the H. rufula of Marseilles.
The work being at my country residence, I cannot quote it with
certainty at this moment. My mounted specimen is without indication
Ol Sexnts

In Mr. Simpson’s very interesting account of some of the Birds of
Western Greece, (Ibis, vol. u., p. 386,) I extract the following about
the nesting of H. daurica:—‘ H. rufula (daurica) is still more
singular in its nidification, always fixing its nest under a cave or pro-
jecting slab of rock. In the little Klissoura, and throughout the
precipices of Aracynthus, there are plenty of these caves, in former
times a convenient refuge for the Klephtsas; they are now for shepherds
tending their flocks during the winter months. This eccentric Swallow,
not satisfied with having a good dry cave all to himself, must needs
construct a long passage to his nest; thus giving it the shape of a
retort, with the upper part cut away, and the remaining portion glued
underneath a flat surface. The entrance is narrow, but the passage
gradually widens till it finally opens into a sort of chamber, very
warmly lined with feathers; here the little fellow and his mate are
sure to be most snugly tucked in just after sundown, when they cannot
see to catch any more insects. Escape therefore is impossible when a
ruthless ornithologist wishes to capture the pair for the sake of
identifying their eggs. No more than one pair ever seem to occupy a
cave, though the remains of previous nests could occasionally be traced
on the roof. ‘The same pair appear to return year after year, and their
nest, unless injured by shepherd boys during the winter, will merely
require a little touching up to render it again habitable. The fact
of the same birds returning was proved by these caves being
untenanted, where the pair had been captured during the preceding
year. Several nests with eggs were found towards the end of May
and beginning of June, 1859. Four seems about the complement;
they are quite white, much resembling eggs of A. urbica, which could
be well passed off for them in collections.

94, RUFOUS SWALLOW.

«“A curious circumstance in connection with one of these nests
occurred to Dr. Kriiper and myself, in a cave at the entrance to the
little Klissoura. F'astened to the roof of this cave, (which was on
the face of a low cliff, and not easy of access,) we espied a very good
nest of H. rufula, (daurica) upon which Dr. Kriper proceeded to
operate with a penknife, whilst I placed my hand over the mouth of
the passage. Presently something that felt cold, like a dog’s nose,
began rubbing against the palm. On withdrawing the hand a thick
snake poked his head out of the aperture, looked around for awhile,
and then popped in again. He was in very good quarters, and
evidently intended to take a lease of the premises, which just suited
him, as he could coil himself up in the bulb of the retort, with his
head and neck stretched out along the passage, in readiness for an
emergency. We soon had him sprawling on the floor of the cave,
when it became apparent that he had swallowed a full-grown young
Swallow; the other three being in all probability destined for a
similar fate. The sensations of those wretched little victims, lying in
such close contact with their horrible enemy, must have been some-
what akin to those of Ulysses and his companion in the cave of
Polyphemus. In the destruction of the nest two of them made their
escape; the fourth was captured and preserved by Kriiper, together
with the first, which, on being cut out of the body of the snake, was
found to be very little injured as a specimen. ‘The walls of the cave
were smooth and nearly perpendicular; the roof at least seven feet
above the floor, and no cracks visible; how then could this monster
have wriggled himself into such a well-stocked larder?”

Mr. Simpson further informs us that every European species
of Hirundo and Cypsela (except, perhaps, H. riparia,) may be
found breeding in Mount Aracynthus. Hirundo rupestris is the only
Swallow which winters in Greece.

The late Mr. Gray, in his “Hand List,” gives this bird as the
HT. rufula of Temminck, while to the Siberian bird, (the A. alpestris
of Pallas,) he assigns the name of H. daurica. I see no reason
whatever to alter the text of my first edition, but to make it quite
clear that the bird I have described, and whose habits have been so
well described by Mr. Simpson in Greece, is the same bird as is
described by Pallas as H. alpestris and by Linneus as H. daurica. I
will quote the description of Pallas in full, from the appendix to
Lamarck’s edition of the Voyages, volume viii., p. 66:—

“No. 66. Hirundo alpestris, Hirundo daurica, Spicil. Zoolog. (Hiron-
delle de Daourie.) Magnitudo suprar hir. domesticum, rostrumque
paulo latius. Color verticis inter alas vaseos alarum, tectricamque

RUFOUS SWALLOW. 95

caudz chalybeato aterrimus. Area utrinque triangularis, ob oculis ad
nucham tempora occupans, ferruginea; he spius aree in cervice
confluent. Uropygium ad medium feré usque dorsum pallidé ferru-
gineum. Subtus corpus sordidé albet, rhachibus lineariter nigris
striatum. Subcaudales apice atre. Cauda atra, nitida, maximé forci-
pata; rectrices quatuor mediz subequales extima presertim senioribus
longissima, plerumque notata interius maculi alba, oblonga. Pedes
inter congeneres majusculi fusci.

““Nidulatur in rupibus elatis et speluncis montanis ad _ altaicus,
Sibirieque relique Alpes rarissime in edificiis desertis. Midus maximus,
hemisphericus, tuberculis limosis eleganter purissiméque exstructus,
sine ullo gramine admixto; canalis ad aliquot pollices 4 nido extensus
pro aditu.”

The following description is taken from the specimen sent to me by
M. de Selys-Longchamps.

Hi. rufula has the top of the head and back metallic black; wings
and tail dull black; cheeks and auditory region yellowish grey; nape
and lateral parts of the. occiput russet; rump tawny red, passing into
yellowish white on the posterior half; throat, chest, abdomen, under
tail and wing coverts, whitish, washed with russet, especially on the
chest and flanks, and finely striated with brown, more distinct on the
crop and throat; the terminal moiety of the under tail coverts well-
defined metallic black; beak and feet blackish, the latter slender. The
external tail feathers have almost always on their inner barb a small,
whitish, oval spot, not well defined, and placed slightly in advance
of the base of the feather, which is covered by the inferior coverts.
M. de Selys informs us that M. Jaubert has a specimen which has a
well-marked white spot on one of the great tail feathers, while the
other is quite black.

As I have before mentioned, I am indebted to M. Kd. de Selys-
Longchamps for the Grecian specimen which I have figured. I return
him my very best thanks for this obligation. The egg is from my
own collection, taken by Dr. Kriiper near Smyrna. It is quite white,
larger and rounder than that of H. urbica in the next compartment.

It has also been figured by Jaubert, Rich. Orn.; Dresser, B. of E.

96 CRAG SWALLOW.

CHELIDONES.
Family HIRUNDINIDZ. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Hirunpo. (Linneus.)

CRAG SWALLOW,

Elirundo rupestris.

Firundo rupestris, SCOPOLI; 1768.

ie montana et rupestrts, GMELIN; 1788.
Cotyle rupestris, Boizt. BONAPARTE.
Piyonoprogne rupestris, BONAPARTE.
Flirondelle de rocher, OF THE FRENCH.
Felsenschwalbe, OF THE GERMANS.
Rondine montana, SAVI.

Specific Characters.—Upper parts ash grey, more or less dark according to
age; primaries dark smoky brown; tail dark brown, the two upper and
two most external tail feathers unicolorous; all the others having a large
round white spot on the inner web. Length from tip of beak to end of
long wings when closed six inches and a half; from carpus to tip five
inches; tarsus five lines; beak seven lines; tail two inches and a half.

THE Crag Swallow inhabits Sicily, Sardinia, the Alps and Pyrenees,
the north of Africa, and the eastern parts of Asia. It is also found in
the Apennines, and in Tuscany, in Greece, and the Ionian Islands, and
I have specimens from Malta, sent me by my friend Dr. Leith Adams.
We have also records of its appearance in Egypt and the rocks
bordering the Chiffa, in Algeria. In India, Dr. Leith Adams informs
me that it is generally distributed over the Nilghiris Mountains, in
Madras, and on certain parts of the Western Himalayas. In the Epirus
we are informed by Lord Lilford, (Ibis, vol. i1., p. 234,) it is common
and resident, “haunting the high and precipitous mountains of the

CRAG SWALLOW. 97

interior in summer, and coming down to the coast during the winter
months.” In the same Journal (vol. 1., p. 46,) Mr. Taylor informs
us that it ‘is the most abundant of the Swallows above Cairo. “TI
found a nest of this species on the 25th. of January, in the grottoes of
Ben-Hassan, containing two eggs nearly ready to hatch. Both nest
and eggs much resembled those of the Common Swallow.”

In his “Vogel Griechenlands,” p. p. 118, Lindermayer says, “ HZ.
rupestris is a resident bird in Greece, and found plentifully in the
low neighbourhoods in winter, flying in large flocks over the swamps
and the low level grounds near the sea. In summer it is only seen
in the high mountains. I have in the early days of March, 1845,
killed many specimens in the mountains of Athens. riper found a
nest with eggs in Akarnania and on Parnassus.”

Salvadori (Fauna d’Italia) writes of this bird:—‘This species loves
mountains and rocks. Sometimes it establishes itself near the sea.
It is found only in some places in spring, where it nests, and leaves
in the autumn, although in other situations it is to be found in
winter. Mogeridge (Ibis, 1863, p. 233 et seq.,) gives a long account
of a colony which lived all the winter near the bridge S’hingi, on
the road from Nice to Geneva. I myself have found it stationary
in Sardinia, having seen numbers fly in January near the grotto of
Colombi, on the Cape of S’Elia. In February many occupy the grotto
of Oridda, near Domus Novas. In the beginning of April I have seen
them on the road from Oghastra, in the neighbourhood of Flumendosa,
and later, about the middle of April, about Capoterra, near the rivulet,
where it was collecting mud to make its nest. It is rather common
and stationary in many places in Sicily (Doderlein). It has been
observed by Savi in various localities of the Tuscan Apennines; by
Durazzo and Gigholi in Liguria; by myself near Ascoli, in the Apen-
nines, and in the mountains along the Clusone, in the Province of
Pinerolo. In all the above-mentioned localities it is only found during
summer, and therefore we cannot doubt its migratory habits, as Tristram
seems inclined to do. Though not mentioned in the fauna of Costa,
there is nevertheless no doubt but that it is found in the Neapolitan
territories. It is also stationary in Malta, but probably it is also a
passenger, since Schembri asserts that it passes over that island in
April and September. Cara affirms that when the other Swallows
are gone, this may be often scen flying in the streets of Caghari.
It nests in the sides of rocks and in grottoes. The eggs generally
five, white scattered over with obscure rusty spots, having a tinge of
rose-colour.”’

Count Miihle, in his “ Beitrage Zur Ornithologie Griechenlands,”

VO aelve 0)

98 CRAG SWALLOW.

page 81, says,—‘In summer H. alpestris is only seen on high
mountains, such as Taygetus, Cita, Velugi, etc. In cold clear winter
days it first approaches human dwellings, and extends solitarily among
them, and is seen in waving flights over the towns, which resemble
much more the Bee-eater than the Swallow. Here they pass the
winter, for I have shot them plentifully in the end of December.”

From Degland I take the following:—‘ H. alpestris is sufficiently
common in Switzerland, in Savoy, and in the Pyrenees. I have
received it from Bagnerre-di-Bigorre and Grenoble. M. Gerbe informs
me that it is abundant in the department of the Basses-Alpes, near
Moustiers, and in the Var among some of the high mountain rocks
which border the River Argent. M. Crespon reports it from the
department of Gard; and it is seen in its passage in some other spots
in Provence, Languedoc, Anjou, and the department of Isére. It
builds among the clefts in the anfractuosities of the rocks, making a
nest of tempered clay, small straws, and feathers. It lays five or six
white eggs, spotted with red, dark rust, or brown.”

“This species flies more slowly than its congeners, and always in
regions most elevated. It almost always seeks its food in an undulatory
flight above the rocks it inhabits. It arrives in Italy and in the
south of France before the other Swallows,‘and leaves last. M. Gerbe
thinks that some individuals hybernate in certain parts of Piedmont,
near the borders of France; because when the winter is not severe,
it is not rare to see them in the months of January and February
flying above the mouth of the Var, and at Nice above the river which
passes through that city. As this species moults before it emigrates,
which is peculiar to it, M. Gerbe also suggests that those individuals
which appear in a season where generally they are not seen again,
are the young ones of the last brood, and that a retarded moult has
obliged them to remain in our climate.”

Deputy Surgeon-General Stewart writes to me that he has procured
it at all seasons at Simla and Mussoorie, North-West Himalayas, and
in winter in the Valley of the Dhoon, at the foot of those mountains.
Jerdon restricts its habitat to the Nilgirries and South-East Himalayas,
*“Darjelong.”’

The male and female have the upper plumage ash grey, with the
wings and tail darker. ‘Throat light fawn, gradually becoming darker
on the chest and abdomen; under wing coverts dark smoky brown;
under tail coverts hair brown; the tail feathers, with the exception of
the two median, and the two external, have an oval white spot on
their inner web; beak blackish; iris hazel, or, according to M. Roux
and M. Crespon, gold-colour.

CRAG SWALLOW. 99

According to Degland, the young before the first moult have the
feathers of the upper parts bordered with russet; those of the inferior
parts of a yellow russet, and the throat spotted with brown on a white
ground.

My figure is after a specimen kindly sent me by the Rev. Canon
Tristram, marked “‘ Kedron, near the Dead Sea, March, 1858.” The
egg is from my own collection. It was taken in Switzerland by M.
Fairmaire, and was sent to me by M. Nager-Donaziens, of Unsern.

The bird has also been figured by Naumann, pl. 146; Vieillot,
Faun. Fr., pl. 89; Roux, Ornith. Provence, pl. 142; Bouteille, Ornith.
du Dauph; pl. 38, f. 6; Gould, B. of E., pl. 56.

100 RUSSET-NECKED NIGHTJAR.

CHELIDONES.
Family CAPRIMULGID:. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Caprimuteus. ( Linneus.)

Generic Characters—Beak very short, flexible, depressed, slightly curved,
and cleft to beyond the eyes; superior mandible hooked at the point; fur-
nished with stiff bristly hairs directed forwards. Nostrils basal, large, closed
by a membrane, and partly covered by the feathers of the forehead. Feet
with three toes in front and one behind; the anterior toes united as far as
the first articulation by a membrane; the hind toe reversible; claws short,
except that of the middle toe, which is long and serrated, so as to form a
comb. ‘Tail rounded or forked, composed of ten quills. Wings long; first
primary shorter than the second, which is the longest.

RUSSET-NECKED NIGHTJAR.

Caprimulgus ruficollis.

Caprimulgus ruficollis, TEMMINCK.

ih rufitorques, VIEILLOT.

a6 forquatus, BreHM. Gray, H.L., No. 614.
Scofornis trimaculatus, SwaInson; Birds of Africa, vol. ii.
Eugoulevent a collier roux, Or THE FRENCH.
Lalsbandziegenmelker, OF THE GERMANS.

Specific Characters—A collar of russet extending from the cheeks round
the back of the neck, and joining on each side in front to a white spot
on the throat; first primary shorter than the third. Plumage having a
general rufous tint. Length twelve inches; carpus to tip eight inches;
tarsus one inch; middle toe one inch; claw pectinated. Beak from gape
fourteen lines; breadth at base one inch; tail six inches and a half.

Tur Red, or, as I prefer calling it, the Russet-necked Nightjar, is
a native of Africa, being occasionally found in various parts of Europe.

UVC LHOIN GHAOUN-LASSN?

RUSSET-NECKED NIGHTJAR. 101

The south of Spain and France, namely, Provence, Marseilles, Nimes,
and Montpellier, are recorded as its European localities. To these,
through the kindness of Dr. Leith Adams, I am able to add Malta,
where a specimen was obtained by Charles Augustus Wright, Esq.,
from whose notes I copy the following:—

“Tn the spring of this year (1861) a native birdstuffer sent me word
of a curious Goat-sucker having been shot a few days previous, (in the
middle of May,) at Emtalitep, a valley situate on the southern coast
of this island. When I saw it the bird had already been set up, but
the skin was quite fresh, and there is no doubt about its being a fine
specimen of Caprimulgus ruficollis. x * In addition to the
localities given by Degland, I know it is included in an unpublished
list of Egyptian birds in my possession, compiled from various sources
by Mr. W. C. Medlycott. As far as my information extends, it has
never been known to visit Sicily, or any part of Italy, except Nice,
where it has been occasionally met with. ‘There appears to be no
previous record of its capture in Malta. I am glad to say that the
subject of this notice passed into my possession, and now occupies a
conspicuous place among my birds of Malta. C. ruficollis may be easily
distinguished from C. ewropeus, by its larger size, general rufous
colouring, different proportionate length of primaries, two large white
spots on the throat, and the reddish collar from which it derives its
name. C. ewropeus is a very common bird in Malta during the vernal
and autumnal migrations. Before the capture of this species, C. ruji-
collis, was unknown as a Maltese visitor.” A second instance of the
occurrence of this bird in Malta is recorded in the “Ibis” for 1865,
p- 464, by Mr. Wright.

C. ruficollis is apparently a rare and local bird in Europe, except
Spain. It is not mentioned by Mr. Salvin, in his interesting ‘‘ Five
Months’ Bird-nesting in the Eastern Atlas,” nor in Lord Lilford’s
‘“Notes upon the Birds of the Ionian Islands,” published in the “Ibis.”’
Neither is it mentioned by Count Miihle, or Dr. Lindermayer, as a
visitor to Greece. It is included by the Rev. A. C. Smith in the
“Birds of Portugal,” ‘Ibis,’ 1868, p. 449.

In Mr. Tristram’s “Notes from Eastern Algeria,” however, I find
the following, (Ibis, vol. ii, p. 374:)—“‘As evening drew near the
Red-necked Goat-sucker, (Caprimulgus ruficollis,) flitted about the glades,
and the note of the Scops-Eared Owl floated on the air, with its
plaintive ‘Maroof, maroof,’ from which it derives its local appellation.”
It is also mentioned by Captain Loche as inhabiting the three provinces
of Algeria.

Dr. D. Antonio Machado, in his “Catalogo de las Aves observadas

102 RUSSET-NECKED NIGHTJAR.

en Algunas provincias de Andalucia, Sevilla, 1851,” says of this bird,
—‘It inhabits the woody flat ground of the mountains; it appears in
spring, and leaves again in October: very common. It has no nest,
but places its eggs in hollows in the ground, or under the shelter of
some shrub. It frequents the roads where there is much horse or
mule traffic, and the vulgar notion is that it feeds upon the dung
which it finds there; but itis much more probable that it is in search
of the beetles which live among it, and which are its principal food.”

In Spain, the capture or occurrence of this bird is recorded several
times by Lord Lilford (Ibis, 1866, pp. 180 and 379.) It is readily,
he informs us, distinguished from C. europcus, by its size and the
general lighter colour.

Mr. Howard Saunders, (Ibis, 1871, p. 67,) writes of this bird in
Southern Spain:—“ Arrives in May, and is always to be found in the
pine woods near Seville. The eggs, two in number, are as a rule a
a trifle larger than those of the preceding species (europeus;) but
they vary so much that unidentified specimens are valueless. This
species enjoys the same evil reputation for sucking the teats of goats
and cows; but I never yet found a Spanish peasant who was idiot
enough to class it with the Hawks as many of our English gamekeepers
do its congener.”

In the same volume of the “Ibis,” Mr. J. H. Gurney, Junr., in his
paper on the “Ornithology of Algeria” p. 73, remarks of this bird:—
“On the 8th. of April at Guelt el Stel I saw three birds, which I
suppose were of this species. They were evidently preying upon
young locusts, with which the ground was so perfectly covered in
places as to be black at a little distance. I saw them (apparently)
pick up several insects from the ground. The previous evening a
specimen had been given me at Air el Ibel, where the coach stopped.
A sportsman brought it in alive, remarking that it was the only thing
he had shot.”

In the “Ibis” for 1872, Mr. F. Du Cane Gadman, in his paper
on the “‘ Migratory Birds of Madeira and the Canaries,” p. 169, remarks:
—C. ruficollis, mentioned by Webb and Berthelot, as of accidental
occurrence, though Bolle seems to consider it a regular summer visitant.
The latter observer says it breeds in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura,
and therefore ought to be included among the recognized birds of the
Canaries. It is probable it does not extend to the western islands.
I did not see it myself. Vernon Harcourt, on the authority of Mr.
Hinter, gives C. ewropoeus as an occasional straggler in Madeira.”

Mr. Savile Reid, from whom I have the eggs, informs me that it is
the commoner of the two Goatsuckers at Gibraltar.

RUSSET-NECKED NIGHTJAR. 103

Salvadori, “Fauna d’ Italia,” says, “One individual was shot at
Inthahless, on the south-west of Malta, towards the end of May, 1860,
and preserved by Mr. Wright. A second on May 12th., 1865.”

I have ventured to place among the synonymes of this bird that
of Scotornis trimaculatus, as it agrees in every important particular
-with the description given by Swainson of that bird, in his “ History
of the Birds of Africa,’—‘‘Jardine’s Naturalists’ Library,” vol. viii.,
p. 70:—Singularly enough, Mr. Swainson seems to have overlooked the
fact that the European Nightjar has three spots on the zzner web of
the three first primaries, and has claimed for his bird this exclusive
character. Mr. Swainson gives eleven inches as the length of his bird,
which is rather shorter than that of C. ruficollis, but the other and
more important dimensions are the same.

There is another point of difference which I cannot help thinking
is accidental. Mr. 8S. says, “The first primary quill is half an inch
shorter than the second and third, which are of equal length, and
the longest, while the fourth is an inch shorter, and the fifth is one
and one fourth inches shorter than the fourth.”

If the end of the above passage is transposed, and read, ‘“ While
the fourth is an inch and a quarter shorter, and the fifth one inch
shorter than the fourth,” the whole will apply with perfect exactitude,
like every other part of the description, to C. ruficollis.

I have no account to offer of the nourishment, habits, and nesting
of this bird. But they are not likely I think to differ much from its
European and closely-allied congener. There is the same wide mouth,
with its array of bristles, and the same comb to clean them with on
the claw of its middle toe. What a beautiful adaptive provision is this
comb. Looked at through a lens, the teeth of the comb are seen to
be placed with perfect regularity, and are admirably adapted to their
evident use—to clean the bristles, an act which Dr. Maclean tells me
he has actually seen performed by our Goat-sucker. The bristles are
required as a fence for the large mouth, out of which otherwise many
an insect would slip away. But the bristles get clogged up, and the
God who made this bird has provided it with as perfect a comb to
clean them with, as is to be found on the table of any lady in Europe!
I should like to know how such a provision could have been given by

“natural selection,” or “variation,”

or by any other “aid to theory,”
which Mr. Darwin or Dr. Asa Gray would assign as the means by
which this beautiful adaptation was produced? ‘To imagine that this
comb on the claw of the long middle toe is an accidental variation, is
to surrender common sense. Still more absurd would be the inference

that such a variation could have been produced by successive steps

104 RUSSET-NECKED NIGHTJAR.

through a long series of years. The bristles and the comb have a
distinct relation to each other. ‘They are parts of the organic structure
of the being. Did they vary separately or simultaneously? Were they
produced independently or in distinct relation to each other? How
much more good would the Reviewers of Darwin do by going into
questions like these, rather than giving us long and very often unin-
telligible and dull dissertations, in which fine writing is more aimed at
than sound science. The physiological part of the question, evidently
the most important, they seldom or never touch.

The prevailing tint of the upper plumage is grey, more vr less tinged
with rufous, which is the prevailing colour of the wings and all the
inferior parts. The head has the sides grey, with a broad band of
rufous, and dark brown longitudinal spots between. The nape is
composed of the rufous collar which gives the bird its name. Back
and upper tail coverts and feathers grey, barred and striated irregularly
with rufous and dark brown. The scapularies and upper wing coverts
light rufous, mingled with grey and rich dark brown. The lesser
wing coverts, primaries, and secondaries, deep chesnut, barred with
darker brown. ‘The first three primaries have a large white oval spot
on their inner web, each spot from the first being slightly nearer the
tip of the feathers. The other primaries are tipped with grey, and
more deeply bordered at the ends with the same colour darker.

The first primary is about half an inch shorter than the second and
third, which are longest. The fourth is an inch shorter than the first,
and the fifth one inch shorter than the fourth. Throat, cheeks, and
chest, light rufous, with a large white spot on the former; abdomen
still lighter rufous, finely barred with brown; under tail coverts fawn-
colour. When closed the tail is grey above, divided into a cup-within-
cup pattern, the intervals of which at the sides are fawn-colour; below
the tail is fawn-colour, thickly barred with dark blackish brown, and
terminating with white; the three lateral feathers on each side have
this character above and below, while the rest are dark mottled brown,
tipped and edged with fawn-colour. Beak black; feet and iris brown.

My figure is froma specimen sent me by the Rev. Canon Tristram,
marked “‘Bojhar Forest, 29th. May, 1856.” The egg is from one in
my own collection, taken near Seville by Mr. Howard Saunders.

It has also been figured by Vieillot, Faun. Franc., pl. 62, iMag, | 2G
Roux, Ornith. Provence, pl. 148; Gould, B. of E., pl. 52. A specimen
is recorded by Mr. Hancock as having been captured at Killingworth,
near Newcastle, on the 6th. of October, 1856, and in consequence it
has been figured by Mr. Gould in his “Birds of Great Britain,” but
it has no title whatever to be classed among British Birds.

CAPRIMULGUS CLIMATURUS. 105

Caprimulgus climaturus, the African Long-tailed Nightjar, is men-
tioned to me in a letter by M. Dubois, of Brussels, as having been
accidentally captured in Europe.

Mr. Swainson has separated the Nightjars into two groups. In that
for which he retains the name of Caprimulgus, the two lateral toes
of the foot are of the same length; in the other the inner toe is longer
than the outer, and these he has classed under the generic name
Scotornis, and it is to this group that Caprimulgus climaturus belongs.
It is here I think that classifiers err. There is no family so well
marked asa family as the Nightjars. In colour they so much resemble
each other, that it is impossible to designate by this character alone
one species from another. Why then divide the genus? Because some
few members of the family have a slight difference in the lateral toes,
surely we have no right to complicate their terminology by dividing
the genus! So long as their structure, habits, and ornamentation are
similar, a slight deviation in the length of a toe is, with all deference
to Mr. Swainson, insufficient to constitute generic distinction.

The claims of C. climaturus as a European species are, I think, too
slight to justify me in introducing it into this work, further than by
the present notice. It is not included in the Hand List of Gray as
European.

Foot of Russet-necked Nightjar, slightly enlarged,

VOL. IY. Ee

106 EGYPTIAN TURTLE DOVE.

OrpER LX.—COLUMB&.
Family COLUMBIDZ. (Leech. )
Genus Turtur. (Selby.)

Generic Characters.—Bill slender, very slightly arched at the tip; the two
first quills graduated, second and third longest; tail rather long, generally
rounded; toes long and slender; claws slightly curved.

EGYPTIAN TURTLE DOVE.

Turtur senegalensis.

Turtur senegalensis, LinNZuS. BONAPARTE.
sé ag Gray; H. L. No. 9317.
Columba egyptiaca, LATHAM. BREE, rst. ed.
s cambayensis, TEMMINCK.
gs maculicollts, WAGLER; Syst. Avium.
Tourterelle @ Egypte, OF THE FRENCH.
Aig yptische Turteltaube, OF THE GERMANS.

Specifie Characters.—External border of the wings black; the upper and
- middle four tail feathers unicolorous; the most lateral ashy at their base,
black in the middle, and bluish white at their distal ends; no black and
blue collar on the neck. Length nine inches and a half; carpus to tip
five inches and a half; tail four inches and a half; tarsus nine lines;
middle toe and claw one inch; beak eleven lines.

N.B.—The above measurements are from the dry skin of the female
specimen which is figured.

Greece is the European locality of the Egyptian Turtle Dove, and
Asia and Africa its real home. Its name is derived from its frequent
occurrence in Kgypt; but it is also recorded as an inhabitant of Turkey
by Degland, and of the Sahara in Algeria by Captain Loche.

Hine
if

i
fi

area

pit

Te Gs yg Te) a NIN RE (OP 5h Ob TH IBNO) WE ay,

2 CAUCASIAN “SINIOW ~ PAA TR DIG Hn. 38. HAZBHL GROUSE.

EGYPTIAN TURTLE DOVE. 107

Count Miihle, in his “Ornithologie Griechenlands,” says, “I have
shot this pretty Dove many times in summer, when drinking with the
Common Turtle Dove, but until the last year I had not regarded it
as a distinct species.”

Dr. Lindermayer, writing as late as 1860, in his “‘ Vogel Griechen-
lands,” says that he has not hitherto found it; but he has had the
eggs sent to him which he had mistaken for those of the Bee-eater,
until after due inquiry he was set right upon this point by the
Baron Kénig-Warthausen. The eggs came from Attila. He from this
inferred that the Egyptian Dove arrives about the same time as the
Common Turtle Dove, breeds at the same places, and goes away with
it, by reason of which Lindermayer considers it has been so little
noticed. Erhardt does not include it in his list, nor has Kriper
discovered the eggs. There cannot however be any doubt about its
occurrence in Greece, because Miihle’s description of the bird is very
exact.

The male and female have the head, neck, and throat, a beautiful
pink, or flesh-colour, with the feathers under the base of the beak
pure white. ‘There is a distinct collar between the throat and the
chest of pinky russet, which goes only to the nape, where it becomes
blended with the colour of the back. From the nape to the rump,
and to the edges of the wing coverts on each side, the colour is a
rich lustrous russet brown, the scapularies being entirely of this colour,
while in those parts at the sides which verge upon the wing coverts,
the feathers are each bordered with a brighter russet. Primaries,
rump, and upper tail feathers hair brown; upper wing coverts slate
grey, lower dark brown; crop and chest a more vinous or darker
flesh-colour than the head; abdomen and under tail coverts cream-colour;
flanks and under wing coverts slate grey; under part of primaries ight
brown; under part of tail black at the base, then white, while the
grey tips of the other feathers are seen beyond.

I find marked on the label of my specimen tarsi and feet flesh-
colour; irides yellow; bill, bluish black, blue at base.

My figure is a female from a specimen sent me by the Rev. Canon
Tristram, marked ‘‘Benyan, Dec. Ist., 1856.” The egg is also from
a specimen sent me by the same gentleman, marked “V. R., 1857.”

It has also been figured by Temminck, in his celebrated work upon

Pigeons, pl. 40.

Turtur gelastis, Temminck.—This is only considered a variety of
the Common Turtle Dove—a larger bird with a redder-coloured ab-

108 TURTUR GELASTIS.

domen. It has occurred in the south of Sweden; and Mr. Sclater
tells us, “Ibis,” July, 1861, that we may expect some day to see it
in England. Without, therefore, in the absence of specimens, giving
a figure, I will record here all we know about the bird.

The following is Nilsson’s account, copied, translated, and kindly
sent me by Mr. Wheelwright:—‘‘'The old bird about thirteen to four-
teen inches long; wing from carpal joint eight inches. On the sides
of the neck a black spot with four white transverse streaks. Wings
above blackish, with broad rusty red edges to the feathers, which give
these parts a scaly appearance. Tail rounded, black, with a broad
whitish grey tip, the web of the outer feathers grey, the middle
nearly free from the light tips. Back and upper parts blue; head
and breast whitish grey, with a rusty tinge, especially in the breast;
under tail coverts bluish white.-—Stockholm Museum.

Young. Tail black, with a broad white tip, which is absent on
the middle feathers; wings, etc., dark brown, with rusty yellow tips.
Black spots on the sides of the neck scarcely visible-——Stockholm
Museum.

This Dove, which was formerly only known in Japan, has of late
years been met within Sweden. In December, 1842, a young example
was purchased in Stockholm in a load of other birds from Herjeddalei,
where it was caught in the autumn. An older specimen was sent down
alive by a ship-builder, named J. Peterson, of Piteo, to the Stockholm
Museum. It was caught in a forest tract a mile and a half Swedish
from the town. It was kept alive in Stockholm some time, but died
December 20th., 1853, and is now preserved in the Museum as one
of the rarest and most handsome of Swedish birds. According to
Professor Sundevall, the note exactly resembles that of the Turtle Dove,
(consequently not laughing, as the name would imply,) and the general
appearance of the two birds is so similar, that were it not for the size
it might easily be taken for a large variety of C. turtur. Professor
Sundevall imagines that besides Japan it inhabits North-Eastern Asia,
and that the yearling bird, which was caught in Herjeddalei, was
hatched in the above-named province or in Lapland. In its native
country it appears to inhabit rocky mountainous tracts.”

Dr. Leopold Von Schrenck, in his “Reisen und Forschungen im
Amur Lande,” Vol. 1, Part 9, 1854-6, page 390, has a long account
of this bird, from which I extract the following:—‘'This is only a
geographical variety of C. turtur, distinguished by its greater size and
by its darker colouring. The Amur Lande species resembles mark for
mark the C. turfur, and in the tone of its colouring most resembles the

description given in the “Fauna Japonica,” especially the wings, tail

TURTUR GELASTIS. 109

feathers, and upper parts; the under parts are brighter than in C.
turtur, and the lower breast is of a clear vinous reddish, without
the yellowish tint; round the neck and upper part of the breast
there is less brownish, and more vinous reddish grey colouring.
The under tail coverts and the tips of the tail feathers are in all
our specimens grey, and certainly in spring of a somewhat darker
bluish ash grey; in the latter part of summer, on the contrary, they
are shaded into a greyish white.

‘“We also find in the young of TZ. gelastis the characteristic
markings of TZ. turtur, namely, white on the tail and under tail
coverts passing into grey, and on the belly into vinous red. Besides
this J. gelastis has all the distinctive marks of the young Turtle
Dove, especially on the throat and crop down to the breast, where
the colour is grey brown, with rusty yellow edges to the feathers,
without the glossy appearance; also on the primaries and secondaries
towards the end the edges are broad rust brown, and the upper
tail coverts, as well as the two middle tail feathers, have a slight
rust brownish tip to each feather, passing into bluish grey borders
in the middle of the feathers.

“Tn the next plumage the young birds have the iris two colours,
in a sharply-defined ring; the inner part brown, and the outer
yellowish. Beak bluish grey; feet violet grey. In the old bird in
summer I have found the iris had its outer border in a slender
whitish ring, and the inner part red; beak violet grey, especially
towards the base; feet violet red.”

Dr. Schrenck then discusses the opinions of other writers upon the
specific difference of this bird. Temminck and Schlegel refer to the
larger size of gelastis, and the former to the shorter ¢ad and longer
wing. Middendorff also notices the larger size of the body, while
Pallas is of opinion that the same difference as exists between the two
in size, may equally be observed between the Russo-European and
the Dauritian examples of C. wnas and C. livia.

The following is Dr. Schrenck’s table of dimensions of the Amur
bird:—Male.—Length of closed wings seven inches three lines, tail
five inches, beak seven lines and a half, tarsi eleven lines and a half,
middle toe (without claw) one inch, claw of middle toe three lines
and a half. Female.—Length of closed wings six inches eleven lines,
tail four inches ten lines, beak seven lines and a half, tarsi eleven
lines and a half, middle toe (without claw) one inch, claw of middle
toe three lines. Young.—Length of closed wings seven inches, tail four
inches eleven lines, tarsi one inch, middle toe (without claw) one inch
one line and a half, claw of middle toe three lines and a half.

110 TURTUR GELASTIS.

On the whole, I think we may give C. gelastis to Mr. Darwin as a
transitional variety. I will not, however, apologise for making a
further extract from Dr. Schrenck’s interesting notice.

Dr. Schrenck goes on to remark that the Turtle Dove has spread
along the shores of the Pacific Ocean to Dauria, and in larger
numbers eastward to the Stanowvi Mountains and to the coasts of the
Ochotsk Sea, (according to Middendorff,) to the neighbouring country
of the Amoor, and (according to Temminck) to Japan, where it
assumes its largest form, and has the same variety of colours which
have been described in C. gelastis. “In the Amoor I found C. gelas-
tis very common, as well at the mouths of the rivers as also further
outwards, and on the Ussuri. It is also found, according to the
testimony of the natives, on the Island of Sachalin. On the Amoor it
remains in the hazel woods, as well as among evergreens and willow
bushes on the islands, and, as far as I have been able to observe,
in the neighbourhood of water. I have often seen them a short
distance from the river, on the level sand and pebbles, between light
willow branches, sitting in pairs, or in small companies of four to six.
At first I thought they repaired to such places only to drink or pick
up small stones and coarse grains of sand, but the specimens which I
shot shew me that they find their food there as well. I found} the
crop filled with Phrygane, which is found abundantly, and of various
kinds on the Amoor. I am not aware that this has ever been observed
as the food of our Turtle Doves in Europe.

“Quite early in the spring this Turtle Dove appears on the Amoor.
At the Nikolajev Posten I found them in the spring of 1855, the end
of April; and it also appeared at the mouth of the river about the
8th. (20th.) of May, when the bushes were covered with ice, and
there was still much snow in the forest.

“The moulting begins among the old birds in the latter half of
August, much later among the young ones, probably not until the old
ones have completed their change.

“This Dove plays an important part in the religious ceremonies of ©
the inhabitants of the Amoor, as does also the Cuckoo.”

Further details of this interesting part of his subject Dr. Schrenck
reserves for another part of the great work which is now throwing so
much light upon the history of this interesting country.

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TOHCIMLUVd MONS NVISVOOVO

CAUCASIAN SNOW PARTRIDGE. if

CLASS—AVES. i
Division II].—AUTOPHAGI.

The young of which can more or less feed themselves from birth.

Orper X.—GALLIN A.
Family PERDICIDA. (Bonaparte.)
Genus 'TETRAO-GALLUS. (Gray.)

Generic Characters.—Beak much shorter than the head, broad at its base;
upper mandible arched near the point, compressed, the commissure waved
or undulated. Nostrils pierced in a semicircle at the base of a swollen
cere, and surrounded by the feathers of the forehead. Wings subacute,
the second and third primaries being the longest; tail large and rounded.
Tarsi short and stubby, equal in length to the third toe, broadly shielded

with scales; toes united by a slight membrane; the hind toe is short, and
does not touch the ground; claws middle sized.

CAUCASIAN SNOW PARTRIDGE.

Tetrao-gallus caucasicus.

Tetrao-gallus caucasicus, Gray. BONAPARTE. SCHLEGEL.
Ke casplus, Gray; No. 9814.

Tetrao caucasicus, PALEAS+)ZOO8.,, p= 70, No. 225.

Tetraogalle du Caucase, Or THE FRENCH.

Kaukasisches Alpenhuhn, OF THE GERMANS.

Specifie Characters—Upper plumage grey. The feathers of the upper wing
coverts and middle of the back broadly bordered with ochreous brown on
their outer web. The long feathers of the flanks edged on both webs
with still darker ochreous brown. Front of the neck marked with the
brown horse-shoe, like the Grey Partridge. Length twenty-one inches and
a half; carpus to tip eleven inches; tarsus and middle toe and claw each

two inches and a half; beak one inch and a half long, and circumference
at base two inches.

112 CAUCASIAN SNOW PARTRIDGE.

AccorDING to modern views of classification we have now arrived
at the second great division of the class Aves. The first division
comprises all those birds, the young of which require attention in
the nest from their parents, before they arrive at maturity in wing
and lintb. Hence they are called Heterophagi—those the young of
which cannot feed themselves. We have gone through this sub-class,
and have arrived at the second, or Awtophagi—those the young of
which can more or less feed themselves from birth. The former
sub-class comprises the Raptores, Passeres, Scansores, and Columbide ;
the latter the Rasores, Cursores, Grallatores, and Natatores.

The arrangement is, I think, a good one. It is founded on a
great natural division in the plan of development in birds, and which
is beautifully adapted to the “circumstances of their existence.”

For this species and four or five others known as “Snow Partridges”
or “Snow Pheasants,” Dr. Gray has established the genus Tetrao-
gallus, signifying that it is intermediate between the Grouse and
Pheasant or Partridge. I think, however, that the subject of the
present notice might have very well stood at the head of the genus
Perdiz, \eading us from Phasianus to the Francolins, and thence to
the typical Partridges. As, however, it is the rule among ornithol-
ogists to group birds of similar structure and habits under a number
of different genera, it is not for me to complain.

The Caucasian Snow Partridge inhabits that neutral ground, half of
which is in Europe, and the other in Asia--the Caucasian Range.
As its name implies, it is found there among the wild and desolate
mountains which are covered with perpetual snow. It is therefore
difficult of access, and we find very little recorded of its habits or
nidification.

The Snow Partridge, living on neutral ground, must of course be
classed among those birds more or less common to the continents—
Europe and Asia.

Mr. Gould, in his “Birds of Asia,” mentions that he was informed
by Prince Charles Bonaparte, that ‘“‘there were reasons for believing
that this bird occurs within the confines of Europe; he did not, how-
ever, mention the locality in which it has been observed.”

But surely if the bird is found in the Caucasus, or, as one of its
names implies, on the borders of the Caspian, its European locality is
sufficiently indicated. Mr. Gould further remarks “I had also been
told by an officer of one of Her Majesty’s surveying ships employed
in the Mediterranean, whose name I cannot recollect, that he himself
had observed a bird of this form among the mountains in the island

CAUCASIAN SNOW PARTRIDGE, 113

of Candia, where, however, it was very rare, and only to be seen on
the peaks of the hills; as this is a point of some interest in the history
of this genus, I would beg to direct the attention of travellers to
the subject.”

Mr. Gould also inserts an extract furnished him by Mr. G. R.
Gray, taken from one of the St. Petersburgh “Transactions,” which is
as follows:—

“This species builds on the highest summits of the rocky mountains
of the Caucasus; it prefers altogether the regions of snow, which it
never quits; thus when we desired to acclimatize the young chickens
of this Partridge on the plains of Kahetia, they did but survive the
spring.

It runs on the rocks of the ledges of precipices with great agility,
and rises with a cry on the least danger, so that the most skilful
sportsman cannot approach within shot, except under cover or mists.

They live in societies of from six to ten individuals, becoming the
inseparable companions of the goat, on the excrement of which they
feed during the winter months.

In autumn it grows very fat, and its flesh resembles that of the
Common Partridge. In the crop of this gallinaceous bird I have found
a great quantity of sand and of small stones, mixed with all kinds
of seeds of alpine plants.”

In the “Ibis,” vol. i, p. 116, the Editor gives an extract from
the journey of one Herr Kotschy into the Cilician Taurus in Asia
Minor, in which this bird is incidentally mentioned as being found
in company with the steimbock on the Taurus Mountains. He calls
it “a noble bird with a fine sounding call.” As this is more than
half way from the Caucasus to Candia the statement adds strength
to that of Mr. Gould.

The male has the top and sides of the head and nape what I
have called Partridge grey. Scapularies and all the rest of the upper
parts the same colour, finely dotted with light brown, and marked
on the wing coverts with broad longitudinal markings of what I may
also call Partridge brown, being similar to the well-known horse-shoe
colour of our Grey Partridge. Primaries of pure white, with about
an inch and a half of their distal extremities dull brown; the
secondaries having their general colour the same, but the brown
parts larger, and the outer web the same dotted grey as the upper
parts. Throat and sides of the neck white, the two parts being
separated by a broad band of Partridge brown, forming a double
horse-shoe of that colour. From this double horse-shoe to nearly the
middle of the abdomen, is a broad band of three inches and a half,

VOL. IV. Q

114 CAUCASIAN SNOW PARTRIDGE.

of colours apparently borrowed from the French Red-legged Partridge,
but not so distinct, being dirty white with black transverse markings
across the feathers; the rest of the abdomen grey brown. The long
feathers of the flanks a lighter grey, broadly edged with the charac-
teristic brown above described. Under tail coverts white; tail feathers
rufous below, and the same colour above, but thickly spotted with
small black dots. Beak horn-colour; the strong thickly scaled tarsi
and toes reddish brown; the claws strong and obtuse. In my specimen,
which is a male, and obtained by Mr. Tristram from Circassia, there
is no vestige of a spur.

The egg is from a specimen in my own collection, which was sent
to me by Mr. Schliiter, of Halle.

The bird has also been figured by Gould in his magnificent work,
the Birds of Asia.

) (OFS 1a,

RO

T

(

HAZEUL

HAZEL GROUSE. 115

GALLIN &.
Family TETRAONIDA. (Bonaparte.)
Genus Trerrao. (Linneus.)

Generic Characters —Beak short, strong, naked at the base; superior
mandible arched, convex, and curved from its origin. Nares basal, half
covered by an arched membrane, hidden by the forward feathers of the
forehead; eyebrows naked, garnished by red papilla. Feet with three
toes in front; united as far as the first articulation; one toe behind, short:
the edges of all pectinated. Tarsi feathered to the toes, and often even
to the claws. Tail composed of sixteen or eighteen feathers. Wings short;
the first primary short, the second shorter than the third, fourth, and
fifth, which are the longest.

HAZEL GROUSE.

Tetrao bonasia.

Tetrao bonasia, LINNZUS, 1766.
Gallina corylorum, ALDROVANDUS, 1599.
Bonasia, BRISSON, 1760.
Bonasia sylvestris, BONAPARTE, 1838.
a betulina, SALVADORI.
Tetrastes bonasta, KEYSERLING ET BLASIUS, 1840.
3 europaea, GOULD.
Se betulina, SCOPonr, GRAV He La gse2.
Gelinotte commune, OF THE FRENCH.
Gemeines Huselhuhn, OF THE GERMANS.
Francolino di Montz, SAVI.
LTyerpe, OF THE SWEDES.

Specific Characters.—Feathers of vertex ‘elongated; tail round, with a black
fascia tipped with grey on all the lateral feathers; inferior parts of the
tarsi and the toes naked; throat black in the male, yellow in the female.
Length thirteen inches and a half; from carpal joint to tip of wing six
inches and a half; tail six inches; tarsi one inch; beak nine lines.

116 HAZEL GROUSE.

Tue Hazel Grouse is an inhabitant of many of the heathery or
woody mountains and plains of Kurope. It occurs in the north of
Sweden and Norway, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, the
Alps, Savoy, Verona, the, Tyrol and Siberia as far as the River
Lena. In France it is pecially found among the Pyrenees, the
mountains of the Vosges, the Dauphiné, and the Ardennes. It does
not occur in Greece nor Holland, and is not noticed in Dr. Machado’s
list of the birds of Andalusia. Dr. Schrenck includes it in the birds
of Amoor Land.

Salvadori (Fauna d’Italia) writes of this bird:—‘‘Is found upon the
Alps. It was formerly sufficiently numerous as to cover during its
passage nearly all the Alpine regions. It is more rare now. It still
lives upon the Venetian and Lombardian Alps, in the Tyrol, and
probably also in Ticino. It was found many years ago on the Alps
of Piedmont, but I now doubt whether it has not been destroyed.
According to Risso it has also been found in the maritime Alps near
Nice. It inhabits the groves of pine, fir, and birch trees. It feeds
upon buds, berries, seeds, and insects. It nests under the boughs,
in a small cavity, into which it places grass bents, roots, and leaves.
It lays from ten to fifteen eggs, of a yellowish rosy colour, with
brown spots and points.

“The name of Francolino, given to this species in many places,
has led to the erroneous belief that it is the true Francolino, which
it is not. There are various individuals brought over in the flesh
with many others by Signor Cirio in the Museum of Turin. In
these specimens the general tint is so decidedly ash-coloured as to
make me doubt whether they do not belong to a species distinct
from that of our Alps, in which the general tint is decidedly reddish
or rosy. Brehm has already given this species from Russia as dis-
tinct, under the name of Bonasva sylvestris, (Handbuch Vog. Deutsch.,
p. 514, pl. 25, fig. 2.)”

The late Mr. Wheelwright, of Gadsjé, in Sweden, living in the
land of Grouse, has obligingly favoured me with some notes about
this and the next species: such information, coming from the fountain
head, always being most acceptable.

“The Hjerpe has never been met with in the south of Sweden, but
is found in the woods of Dahl and in the south-west coast of Bohus
Land. It is tolerably common in Oster Gothland. It is rare around
Stockholm, but common in the more northerly parts; (Nilsson remarks
that this appears the more strange since the same bird comes in
numbers into Germany and eyen France. He thinks that if it were

HAZEL GROUSE. 117

introduced it would thrive in the rocky wooded tracts of North
Scania.)

“The Hazel Grouse does not go so high up the fell sides as the
Capercaillie or Black Grouse, and it disappears from the Norwegian
fells long before we have reached the limits of the frost. | According
to Herr Von Wright, it is found up as high as Kengis, (67° 10’,)
and even as high as Mounioniska. It is common in most parts of
Wermerland.”

“Tt frequents old thick forests, as well as young plantations of birch
and pine mixed, and I think this is much owing to the season of the
year. With us it is generally found in old fir forests with stony rises,
and often at the foot of rocks in the aln and birch woods. In summer
they appear to frequent leafy plantations, and with the fall of the leaf
they withdraw into the fir forests, where they remain through the
winter, only making occasional migrations into the nearest birch woods
to feed on the catkins of the birch, which at this season forms their
principal, and, I think, their only nourishment, for I never by any
chance find any fir shoots in their crops, as I do in those of the
Capercaillie. ‘They appear always to be on the ground, and only fly
up into a fir-tree when they are flushed. Their flight is noisy and
bustling, and they never go far. I never find them by any chance in
the open, like the Black Grouse.”

“‘They live in a state of monogamy, and with us the pairing takes
place about the same time as that of the Capercaillie or Black Grouse.
The note is a soft rather melancholy pipe, which can be readily imi-
tated by a Hjerpe whistle made of bone or quill. The call-note
rather resembles ‘li, hy, titititi-ti.2 The note of the male is stronger
than that of the female. By this note, which we always hear from
the ground, the sexes carry on their spring conversation, and in the
autumn the mother uses the same kind of language to her young. As
soon as the pairing is over the sexes divide. The males keep then
single, and you never see three or four together. ‘The female lays as
many as from nine to twelve pale yellow brown-spotted eggs, in a
hole in the moss on the ground. She makes no nest. She hatches
the eggs by herself, and has all the care of the young. As soon as
the young can fly, the male comes back to them, and the whole
family live together during the autumn and winter. ‘They remain
throughout the year in those woods in which they take up their
abode. I never saw more than one family together in our forests,
though in Finland they are said to pack. In the beginning of April
they separate into pairs, and the breeding season begins, although I
never took a nest in Wermerland till the middle of May.

118 HAZEL GROUSE.

“Tn the north they are considered the most delicate of forest
game, but they afford little sport to the real sportsman, as we
generally shoot them from the perch. I think they are more shy
and retired in their habits than any other of the Grouse.”

“The beak is black, thick, and convex; upper mandible the
longest. First primary shorter than the eighth, second shorter than
the sixth; third, fourth, and fifth alike, and longest. Tail somewhat
rounded. ‘The crown feathers, which, in the male especially, are long,
can be raised into a kind of crest. Over the eye is a small naked
red spot, with small warts on the upper edge, but no comb. Tarsi
generally only half, but sometimes three fourths covered with grey,
soft, hairy feathers; the naked part grey brown, covered with divided
half rings. Toes grey brown, covered with half rings, and on the
sides with scales, under which they are fringed with combed teeth;
claws pale brown.”

“Tt varies much in size. From the northern tracts the male is
generally from fourteen inches to fourteen inches and a half long;
extent of wings twenty inches; tail four inches and six eighths,
extending beyond the wings three inches and a half; tarsus one inch
and a half.” The above is Swedish measure, in which the inch is a
quarter of an eighth shorter than ours, and, I have no doubt, refers
to freshly-killed specimens. The dimensions in my diagnosis are those
of a fine male sent me by Mr. Wheelwright, which is figured.

“Head above, neck, and part of the back brown or grey brown,
with black transverse streaks; shoulders rusty brown, with black spots,
and in the outer edge a long white streak. Wing coverts grey
brown, with white spots; back and rump ash grey, marked with
longitudinal black streaks and small black points; chin and throat pure
black, with a white edging. Behind the nostrils a white spot, and a
small one behind the eye. Front of neck rusty brown, with a black
streak before the white edge of each feather. This black streak and
the white edge is broader on the breast and belly, on which account
it appears white with black or brown red transverse spots. On the
sides the red brown colour is more apparent. Wing primaries dark
brown, speckled on the outer web with rusty yellow and brown.
Secondaries same, with rusty yellow edges on the tips. ‘Tail feathers
black, speckled with ash grey, and a pure black band before the tip,
which is pale ash grey, often speckled with black. ‘The two middle
feathers speckled with brown and black, and marked with seven or
eight confused black and ash grey transverse bands. Ivis, in a freshly-
killed specimen, brownish.”

“Summer dress. The feathers on the head and neck are much

HAZEL GROUSE. 119

shorter than in winter; chin and throat are rather brown than black.”

‘“‘The female is from an inch to an inch and a half shorter than
the male, and has a rusty yellow (not black) throat. Between the
beak and the eye a red brown (not white) spot. Otherwise resembles
the male.

“Accidental varieties occur with paler colour, so that they are only
brownish where the usual colour is black. According to Nilsson this
is the Tetrao canus, the original of which is preserved in the Stockholm
Museum.”

I have thought right to give Mr. Wheelwright’s account in full.
With the bird before me I have been able to verify the correctness
of the description. Mr. W. himself, if at all on any point in doubt,
referred to Nilsson’s excellent history of these birds in the “Fauna
Skania.” To use his own words,—“‘I have referred in part to Nilsson,
and verified his remarks by my own experience.”

From the north-west of Europe it is interesting to follow this bird
into the far-off north-east of Asia, where it was found in great plenty
by Dr. L. Von Schrenck. The account is so interesting as it regards
the geographical distribution of this species, that I will add a trans-
lation of Dr. Schrenck’s notice, from his ‘Reisen und Forschungen
in Amur Land.”

“The Hazel Grouse of the Amoor Land entirely agrees with that
of Siberia and the west of Europe, except in having a greater proportion
of ashy grey, and underneath the feathers more rusty brown; the
whole length of the back is of a clear ashy grey, with fine dark bands
and pointed marks across; the shoulders are partly rusty brown, and
there is also a little upon the upper and under wing coverts; also
round the crop there is a rusty brown among the black and white
streaks. At the side of the breast there is a lively rust-colour, which,
however, is very scanty, and rapidly passes into a lighter shade.

“The Hazel Grouse is found in the whole of Amoor Land as far
as I know it, from the southern coast of the Ochotsk Sea to the Bay
of Hadshi, and on the island Sachalin, as well as at the mouth of
the Amoor to the sources of the river in Dauria. Everywhere, and
at all seasons of the year, it is the most common of the feathered
tribe. Scarcely any locality can be named where it is not found, yet
it appears principally in the north of the Amoor, on the borders of
rivers in the mixed forests of birch, aspen, poplar, alder, and willow
bushes, and in the south principally in the light-foliaged woods and
the underwood which grows along the rocky banks of the rivers.
Not unfrequently, also, I have met with it in winter and summer on
the willow-grown islands, or on such shores as those of the Amoor,

120 HAZEL GROUSE.

Gorin, and Ussuri. In as great numbers did I find the Hazel Grouse
in the wildest parts of the Amoor Land, where it was by no means
shy. In the Nikolajev Posten, and on the River Tyrny, in Sachalin,
I have been able to shoot several times at a pair of individuals in a
tree before the others flew away. In Sachalin, and on the Gorin, they
flew up before us and kept in acircuit round about us. In summer,
when the noise of our movements roused them, they often settled down
on a tree close by the river, enabling us to shoot them from our
hiding-places. ‘They were among the daily contents of our game-bag
in the Amoor Land, where, as well as in the Bay of Hadschi and
the snow-fields of Sachalin, they gave us as good sport as in the light
and sunny oak hedges on the Ussuri.

“In the summer of 1855 I found a nest with eggs on the borders
of the Lake of Kidsi. It was in a fir wood, at the foot of a tree,
concealed in the moss and brushwood. The eggs were of the usual
dark yellow, with many brown spots and points, and were hatched
on the 14th. of June. On the 28th. of July I met with a family just
fledged at Pachale, near the mouth of the Gorin, im the leafy under-
wood of a pine forest. The moulting of the Hazel Grouse takes place
at Nikolajev Posten in August and September. On the 23rd. of August
I found the moulting far advanced, and every wing and tail feather
freshly grown. It was quite concluded on the Ist. of October.”

My figures of this bird and its egg are from specimens sent me
from Sweden by Mr. Wheelwright.

The bird has also been figured by Aldrovandus, Ornith., pl. 82;
Stor, Degli Uccelli, pl. 238, (male;) Buffon, pl. enl., 474-479; Roux,
Ornith. Prov., pl. 254; Bouteille, Ornith. du Dauph, pl. 41; Naumann,
Vogel Deutsch., pl. 158; Gould, B. of E., pl. 251.

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PTARMIGAN.

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SPITZBERGEN PTARMIGAN. 121

GALLIN &.
Family TETRAONIDA. (Bonaparte.)
Genus Lagopus. (Linneeus.)

Generic Characters —Beak conic and curved; nasal groove densely clothed
with feathers. Tarsi and feet plumed. Tail of sixteen to eighteen feathers.
They moult twice a year, becoming white in winter, when they are gre-
garious or monogamous.

SPITZBERGEN PTARMIGAN.

Lagopus hemileucurus.

Lagopus hemileucurus, (Goris 12s Asay Welt, Job ovis
rs ¢ DreEssER; B. of Europe.
ms iu EVANS AND STURGE; Ibis, 1859.
a a GOR, Grav: Hand List:
vi hyperboreus, Exxiott; Monograph of the Tetraonide.
cs hyperborea, MALMGREN; Journ. fiir Orn., 1865.
5 alpina var. hyperborea, GAIMARD; Voyages en Scandinavia,
Atlas, livr. 38, plate (no description.)
f mutus, G. R. Gray; 1844, List of Birds in the
British Museum.
Se alpinus var. hyperboreus, SUNDEVALL.
Tetrao lagopus, Ross.
“alpinus, TORELL; Bidrag till Spitzbergen.
Ice Bird, MARTEN.

Specific Characters—Tail white at the base and tip; from the central
white bar to the end black, tipped with white, and the two central and
two outer feathers broadly edged with white. General plumage above golden
buff, mottled with black in autumn. Quills in winter have a dark median
stripe.

VOL. IV. R

122 SPITZBERGEN PTARMIGAN.

THe Ptarmigan of Spitzbergen seems to be distinct from our own,
and I therefore accord it a place in my book. Its history is short. —
In 1858 Mr. Gould gave a description of the bird in the P. Z. &.,
p- 354. Since then it has had various opinions expressed upon its
character as a species oras a mere variety of Lagopus rupestris. Professor
Newton, Sundevall, Von Heuglin, Elliott, the late Mr. Evans, and
lastly Mr. Dresser have held various opinions. At first in doubt,
Professor Newton is, I believe I may now say, convinced of its
distinctness, while the rest seem to have no doubt, and Mr. Dresser
founds his opinion upon structural differences in the colour and
markings of the tail. We will look into the statements made.

First, Mr. Gould, in P. Z. S., 1858, thus describes the female in
summer plumage:—“‘As is the case with all other Ptarmigans in their
summer plumage, the primaries are white, in this species most of the
secondaries and the wing coverts are also white; the remainder of
the plumage is rayed with black and ochreous yellow, the black
predominating on the upper surface, while the feathers of the flanks
are beautifully and equally barred with these two colours; feet white,
the nails jet black, and the bill brown. Total length about sixteen
inches, wing eight inches and a half, tail five inches and a half, tarsus
one inch and three quarters.”

Professor Newton, in the Ibis for 1865, p. 502, gives a very good
account of this bird, but ends by doubting whether it be distinct or
not from Lagopus rupestris. The Ibis for 1871 contains a further
communication from the Professor, in which he concurs that the
species is a good one. Mr. Dresser has no doubt upon the subject;
and I believe I may say that most naturalists are of the same opinion.

From Professor Newton’s first paper in the Ibis I copy the
following:—“'The Ptarmigan in Spitzbergen is not a common bird,
though it has been met with in several localities on the north and
west coasts. Marten found his ‘Ice Bird’ (if that is to be referred
to this species,) on the shore of the English Bay, where Lord
Dufferin (‘Letters from High Latitudes,’ p. 316,) subsequently mentions
his having met with two or three dozen and killing sixteen. Parry’s
party found it in Hecla Cove. Professor Sundevall, who accompanied
the French Expedition of 1858, obtained the example which was the
subject of Herr Von Wright’s figure, and is now in the Stockholm
Museum, in Bell Sound. Messrs. Evans and Strange describe it as
being in 1855 rather numerous and breeding in Coal Bay, where my
companions last year searched for it in vain. Dr. Malmgren, in his
former voyage, found it in Wide Bay, Brandywine Bay, and Loom

l SPITZBERGEN PTARMIGAN.

2 WILLOW PTARMIGAN, 3 PIN-TAILED SAND GROUSE:

4 SAND GROUSE.

SPITZBERGEN PTARMIGAN. 123

Bay, and, as I have before mentioned, obtained the specimen I saw
with him far up the North Fjord of Ice Sound.”

*“One of the two eggs from the only nest found by Messrs. Evans
and Strange was kindly presented to me. It is rather small for the
general size of the bird when compared with others of the genus,
measuring 1.65 by 1.22 inches, but of course is thoroughly Lagopiden
in character. I do not think any other eggs of this bird have been
brought from Spitzbergen.”

Messrs. Evans and Strange (Ibis, 1859, p. 169,) thus describe their
discovery of this bird:—‘‘ During the time we lay here we made many
excursions along the shores of this fjord, but the depth of the now
melting snow prevented us from going any distance inland. On one
occasion, after ascending about two-thirds of a high mountain, we
shot a few birds, including a brace of Ptarmigan. We afterwards
found these birds very abundant, and exceedingly tame; but most
unfortunately, as it turned out, only preserved the skin of one (a
female) specimen. This has since been submitted to Mr. Gould, and
that celebrated ornithologist has described it as new under the title
of Lagopus hemileucurus. It is therefore unnecessary for us to give
a detailed account of this new European bird; we need only say
that it can be at once distinguished from the Common Ptarmigan of
Great Britain and Scandinavia by its larger size, which fully equals
that of the Willow Grouse (ZL. albus, Bonaparte,) and from this again
by its tail, the basal half of which is white. The general plumage
of the female in summer much resembles that of the female Common
Ptarmigan at the same time. All the males we saw were still in the
winter dress, though their white feathers had become very dirty; but
the females had changed. In the same neighbourhood one of us
found a nest of this bird, if nest it could be called, being formed
only of a few long stems of dry grass, bent down in a trench-lke
hollow in the barren fjeld (or high table-land), where the snow had
been thawed, or perhaps been blown away, which latter might have
been the case, so bleak and exposed was the situation. There were
two eggs, which resemble those of others of the genus. One of them
measures 1.6 inch in length by 1.22 in transverse diameter.”

The following is Professor Newton’s second letter to the Ibis for
1871, p. 249:—“On a former occasion I expressed a belief that the
Lagopus of Spitzbergen, first described by Mr. Gould under the name
of L. hemileucurus, was identical with L. rupestris. I now state that
I have much doubt on that point, and that I am inclined to recog-
nize its distinctness. Hofrath Von Heuglin has within the last few
days kindly sent for my inspection some birds’ skins collected by him

124 SPITZBERGEN PTARMIGAN.

in that country last year. Among these are three specimens of Lagopus,
and on comparing them with a tolerably good series of examples of
L. rupestris from Greenland (ZL. reinhardti), and Iceland (L. island-
orum), I find that the rectrices of all the Spitzbergen birds are so
much variegated with white, as fully to deserve the name applied to
them by Mr. Gould, while those of rupestris are invariably black,
except in some cases at the tip. Furthermore one of the Spitzbergen
birds marked ‘male’ by Herr Von Heuglin, though apparently fully
coloured on the breast and back, is of a very different shade from
any male of ZL. rupestris that I remember having seen. Under these
circumstances, I think that it is quite possible that Z. hemileucurus is
entitled to specific rank, though it is certainly more nearly allied to
DL. rupestris than to L. alpinus.”

A male specimen, kindly lent to me by Professor Newton, of the
University of Cambridge, and belonging to the museum there, marked
“A. KE. Eaton, M.A., Trinity,” has the head, neck, and cheeks mottled
with rufous and brown; on the back two shades of brown with white
feathers; wing with the primaries and secondaries white. Tail coverts
white; tail black and brown and white feathers; breast black and
brown. Abdomen white. Feet clothed with white to the toes. Inner
part of wings white. Length seventeen inches, wing eight inches and
a half, tarsus one inch and a half.

The skin from which my figure is taken belongs to the Museum
of the University of Cambridge. It was shot by Mr. Eaton, who
presented it to the University.

The egg is from an admirable drawing made for Professor Newton at
Cambridge by Mr. Rippon from the unique egg in the united collection
of Professor Newton and his brother Edward. In sending to me
this drawing the Professor remarks, “It is a most faithful portrait,
and the colours are as accurate as is the shape of the markings.” I
need not say that the thanks of the oological world are due to
Professor Newton for thus giving us a fac-simile of this rare and
beautiful egg.

This bird has also been figured by Dresser in autumn plumage,
which is much more golden.

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WILLOW PTARMIGAN. 125

GALLIN &.
Family TETRAONIDA. (Bonaparte.)
Genus Lagorus. (Linneus.)

WILLOW PTARMIGAN.

Lagopus saliceti.

Lagopus salieett, SWAINSON.
Tetrao salicett, TemMMINCK. BREE; rst. Ed.
‘lagopus, LINNAZUS.
So alouss GMELIN.
<< subalpina, NILSSON.
Lagopus albus, BoNAPARTE. Gray, H. L., 9835.
Lagopede des saules, Or THE FRENCH.
Morast-Schneehuhn, OF THE GERMANS.
Dal Ripa, SWEDISH.
Dalrypa skogsrypa, NoRSK.
Mezakana, FINNISH.
Riefsak, LAPP.
_ Willow Grouse, Or AUTHORS.

Specific Charaeters.—The primaries, abdomen, and feet white in the adult
in all seasons. Tail square, of fourteen feathers, and always black. First
primary one inch and three eighths shorter than the second, which is two
eighths of an inch shorter than the third, which is equal to the fourth,
and longest, the fifth always longer than the second. Length of male
fifteen inches and a half; expanse of wing twenty-four to twenty-five inches;
from carpus to tip eight inches; tail five inches, extending beyond the closed
wings about three inches; beak, from forehead, seven eighths of an inch,
—from nasal furrow half an inch; breadth of that part of beak three eighths
of an inch; tarsi one inch and a half; middle toe one inch and a half;
hind toe half an inch. No black mark from the gape through the eye.
The female varies from half an inch to an inch shorter than the male.

126 WILLOW PTARMIGAN.

Tuer Willow Ptarmigan is an inhabitant of the north of both Europe
and America. It home is, however, more especially in Sweden and
Norway, Lapland and Greenland.

In Sweden and Norway it occupies much the same position as the
Red Grouse does in our own country. A question was raised in the
*Zoologist,” in 1858, as to the specific identity of the two birds, by
Mr. Norman, of Hull, and an intersting discussion ensued, which,
however, appeared to go against such a supposition. In the present
day it is more difficult than ever to define the character of species.
Grant says that “species mongers” have been destroyed for ever by
the all-powerful wand of Mr. Darwin. I for one, however, refuse to
submit to a dogma of this kind, and will take the liberty of considering
the Tetrao salicett as a species perfectly distinct from that of T.
scoticus. Its affinities are more with the Ptarmigan than with the
Red Grouse, but it is distinct from both. The late Mr. H. Doubleday
endorses my opinion. See some excellent remarks by that gentleman
in the “ Zoologist,” for May, 1875.

Much as I was indebted to Mr Wheelwright for his notes about
the Hazel Grouse, I am still more obliged to him for the very valuable
account with which he has favoured me of the present bird. Living
as he does in their own country, Mr. W.’s experience is valuable, and
his well-known contributions to natural history entitle his remarks to
our respect. Like the last contribution the present one is filled up
where deficient from Nilsson.

“The Willow Grouse is found in Scandinavia, from the very north
of Finmark down to about 60° north latitude. They are met with
in North Wermerland throughout the whole year, but never further
south than Lake Fryken, unless indeed they are driven down by snow,
when an odd one may even occasionally be shot in Bohus Land and
Upland. They are not met with near Christiana in the summer.

They never go up to the real fells or such rocks as rise above the
limits of vegetation. When we go down from the fell tops we find
the Dal Ripa first in that region which is clothed with willow bushes
and fell birch, (Betula nana,) and especially in the lower tracts,
where the birch (Betula alba,) first appears and forms low forests.
Below this we rarely meet with them, and only when the young can
fly.

In this above-mentioned sub-alpine region the Dal Ripa in summer
is usually found in valleys, mostly by the side of the little becks or
mountain streams which run among the bushes and thickets. You
always find them in pairs or families with the male and female together.
You not only find them, according to Nilsson, in the interior of the

WILLOW PTARMIGAN. 127

country, but even on the coasts and islands. They crouch among the
dwarf birch, willow, or heather, and rarely rise till you nearly tread
on them. Sometimes, however, they rise very wild, and in the spring
and autumn appear to be most shy. ‘They almost always are on the
ground, and very rarely perch in a tree; but although I have myself
seen on more than one occasion the Willow Grouse, when frightened,
perch in the birch trees, it is so rare an occurrence that many deny it.
Their flight to me appears exactly to resemble that of the Red Grouse,
and as they fly they utter a loud cackle which much resembles
‘errackackackkah. They do not generally fly far, and when they
settle they usually utter the note of. ‘kawau, kawau.’ ‘The female
generally rises silently, or with a faint ‘hjan, hjan.” As soon as the
young birds are hatched you see the families together; and in the
breeding season the male is never far from the nest where the old
female is sitting. As winter comes on they pack, and deep snow and
hard frost sometimes drive them down into the regions that lie below
the fells.

They pair about the end of May, but sometimes as early as April.
At about one in the morning the male commences his love song with
a loud ‘prrr-pack-prrr,’ and a deeper ‘kawau, kawau.’ The female
answers with a finer ‘hjan, hjan,’ and the two draw together, and the
male is very easily shot now by the poacher, who is hidden behind a
rock or bush, and decoys him within shot by an imitation of the
call-note of the female. The bird comes on by short flights, and runs
within shot, sometimes stands still, raises up his tail spread out like a
fan, flaps his wings against his legs, throws his neck back, and
answers with his hoarse ‘kawau, kawau.’

The female lays ten or twelve eggs, without any nest, in the
heather, but generally under a bush, or by the stump of an old fir.
The male keeps watch while she is sitting to drive away any birds
of prey that may approach the spot, and so bold is he at this time
that he has even been seen to drive away a fox. After they are
hatched, both the old ones attend the covey. When the young ones
are frightened up they scream out much like young chickens, and
separate themselves among the bushes or heather, and then sit so
close that they can be easily picked up by the hand.

In the summer the food of the Dal Ripa consists principally of
the blades or leaves of several plants, such as Salix herbacea,
Vaccinum myrtillus (the blaeberry), and the young leaves or sprouts
of several species of willow, and especially the seed of the Polygonum
viviparum, which on this account is in Norway called Ripa Grass.
In autumn they principally live on berries, and in the winter on

128 WILLOW PTARMIGAN.

birch knots, and the stalks of the blaeberry bushes. In spring their
chief food consists of birch knots.

Although no doubt Willow Grouse would afford as good sport to
the shooter as the Red Grouse, scarcely any one ever shoots them
here in a fair manner, and they are principally taken in snares in
the winter, and sent down frozen to the different towns for sale;
and some idea of this traffic may be formed by the fact that a single
dealer in one of the northern provinces, according to Nilsson, during
one winter when the birds were plentiful, sent off about fifty thousand
Dal Ripa.

Beak black, short, thick, and convex; upper mandible tolerably
blunt, and a little longer than the lower, (but out of a great many
which I have examined scarcely two are alike.) Iris dark brown;
eyelids covered with down, the edges brown. Over the eye in the
male a large half-round vermilion spot covered with small warts, and
fringed upwards with a red comb, three or four millemetres high,
dentated at the edges. This spot and comb is smaller and paler in
the female, and in both sexes is most apparent in the breeding
season. ‘The claws vary in form and colour at different seasons; in
winter they are long, of an even breadth, tolerably straight, thin,
concave beneath, white, and only brown at the roots. In summer
they are shorter, oblong, oval, and flat (not concave) underneath.
They are shed in July or August.

The old male in summer dress.—Head, neck, breast, and sides, red
brown, sometimes chesnut, with black spots, especially on the top of
the head and back of the neck, sometimes even with black transverse
streaks or wavy lines on the breast; under chin for the most part
black, with a white spot on each side. The eyelid white, and some-
times a white spot over the nostrils. Back, shoulders, over rump,
upper tail coverts, and the innermost wing feathers, as well as the
middle coverts, black, transversely speckled with rusty yellow or red
brown lines. ‘The smaller wing coverts, most of the wing feathers,
belly, thighs, and legs, white; the six first primaries with brown
shafts. Tail feathers—the fourteen black, with white feathers on the
tips, which are broadest on the middle ones; the two feathers which
lie over them and their coverts speckled with black and red brown.
The under tail coverts red brown, speckled with black, and marked
with a streak in front of the white edge at the end; tarsi in front
and toes on the inner half covered with dirty white hair-like feathers ;
tarsi behind and the front part of the toes naked.

Female in summer.—Head, neck, breast, and sides, rusty yellow,
with black spots or transverse streaks; these are especially thick on

WILLOW PTARMIGAN. 129

the upper parts, so that the head above and sometimes the back of
the neck appears black, with rusty yellow spots. Back, shoulders,
upper tail coverts, and the two or four middle tail feathers, black,
and speckled with rusty yellow or pale yellow transverse streaks;
belly, wings, tail, and legs as in the male; under tail coverts pure white.

The male in summer dress differs from the female on account of its
rather larger body and black chin, which in the female is rusty
yellow; red brown colour on the neck and breast, where the female
has only rusty yellow and black, and by the altogether different under
tail coverts. Sometimes the red brown in the male is so dark as to
appear nearly chesnut, or black brown in very old males, but in the
younger birds the colour is lighter yellowish red brown, like the
female, so that the head and neck above are black, with small red
brown spots. Throat, sides of the head, front of the neck, and
breast, yellowish brown, with small black, transverse streaks; but the
female is always distinguished from the male through many or few
red brown feathers on the throat and breast. It is according to
Nilsson’s experience that the males are more seldom met with in pure
summer dress than the females. Both moult in July and August,
when the speckled feathers are shed and others come in their places;
and Liljeborg notices that this species even has an autumn dress with
finer rusty yellow watering.

The young, just before the autumnal moult, from specimens taken
from the 9th. to the 16th. of July, about six or seven inches long;
beak brown; claws grey; the naked pale red spot over the eyes has
already obtained its little dentated comb; legs covered with dirty
grey brown hair-like feathers down to the very claws. Head above
brown red, with a black spot on the crown, and a _ brown streak
along the back of the neck. The upper parts of the body speckled
with red brown and black, with white spots on the shoulders; breast
and sides rusty yellow, with black transverse bands. Wing feathers
grey brown, the outer finely—the inner ones more thickly—speckled
with rusty yellow. Tail with black and rusty yellow wavy transverse
streaks.

By degrees the young become like the mother, as the brown wing
feathers in August are changed for white, and the black tail feathers
shoot out. The white wing feathers grow in this manner:—The outer
ones of the first and second order come at one time; the third and
fourth brown wing feathers are shed last in the young birds, generally
after the middle of August. In this or the foregoing month the old
birds shed their tail and wing feathers, and in the same or beginning
of the next month the horny covering on the claws.

VOL. IV. S

130 WILLOW PTARMIGAN.

Male and female in winter dress.—Beak black; eye spot smaller
and paler; the fourteen tail feathers black, with white edges on the
ends, very broad on the middle ones. The shafts of the five or six
first wing feathers brown. For the rest the whole of the plumage
is snow white; tarsi and toes thickly covered with bushy feathers,
like hair, which, similar to the foot of a hare, lie even on the sole of
the foot.

The transition from summer to winter dress takes place at different
times in different places and seasons, but generally in September and
October. In the middle of the last-named month we see some white
Ripa, and some speckled, on account of some of the summer feathers
remaining. In the end of April or May the spring moult takes place,
and even in the beginning of June we find occasionally winter feathers
remaining. -During the period of transition we see speckled birds
with more or less white feathers among the speckled ones.

The spring moult comes on in this way:—The coloured feathers first
appear on the head and neck, next on the back, last on the breast;
and this tallies exactly with Hearne’s observations in North America.”

My figure of this bird is that of a female shot by Mr. Wheelwright
from the nest in June, 1860. It is therefore in the real breeding
plumage. The egg figured was taken out of her nest at the same
time.

The bird has also been figured by Buffon, pl. enl. 129, (female
in breeding plumage, f. 2 head of female taking on the breeding dress;)
Bouteille, Ornith. du Dauph,, pl. 42, f. 1; Naumann, Vogel. Deutsch.,
pl. 159; Temminck, Pig. et Gall., vol. iii., pl. 11, figs. 1, 2, 3; Frisch,
pl. 110 et 111, (in winter plumage, and commencement of moult;)
Gould, B. of E., pl. 256; Dresser, B. of E., in winter dress.

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PIN-TAILED SAND GROUSE. 131

GALLIN&. .
Family TETRAONIDZL. (Bonaparte.)
Genus Prerocies. (Lemminck.)

Generte Oharacters—Beak medium sized, compressed, slender in some
species; upper mandible straight, but curved near the point; nostrils basal,
half closed by a membrane, covered by the feathers of the forehead, open
below. Feet with short toes, the under one hardly developed and articulated
high up the tarsus; the three front toes united to the first articulation,
and edged with a membrane; the front of the tarsi covered with small
very short feathers, the rest naked. Claws very short, the hind one sharp
edged, those in front obtuse. Tail conical; in some species the two middle
feathers are elongated in a thread-like manner. Wings long, terminated in
a point, the first primary the longest.

PIN-TAILED SAND GROUSE.

Pterocles alchata.

Prerocles alchata, STEPHENS.

ee selartus, TEMMINCK.
Tetrao alchata, LINNZUS.

“ ecaudacutus, GMELIN.

soem CHATC. PALLAS.
Preroculus alchata, Grav; He 2467.
nas cata, VIEILLOT.
Ganga cata, Or THE FRENCH.
Chata-Flughuhn, OF THE GERMANS.
La Grandule, SAVI.

Specifie Characters—Tail conical, and the two middle feathers prolonged
to a thin point. A broad rufous band bordered with black, darker in the
male, separates the chesnut-coloured throat from the pure white abdomen.
Length, from tip of beak to the end of the long, thin, tail feathers thirteen

132 PIN-TAILED SAND GROUSH.

inches, the latter extending three inches beyond the shorter feathers of the
tail. From carpus to the end of the long pointed wing eight inches and
a half; beak eight lines; tarsi one inch and one fifth; middle toe and claw
one inch.

Tuts most elegant and beautiful of birds claims Spain and the
Pyrenees as its principal European locality, for which reason it was
named by Brisson La Gelinote des Pyrenees. It is also found in
Sicily and the Levant, the plains of Crau in Provence, and accidentally
in the northern parts of France. Its real home, however, is in the
sandy, plains of Africa and Asia, where it ranges from the three
provinces of Algeria, through the Great Sahara, to Egypt, Syria,
Persia, and thence to the burning sands of India, being common, as
Dr. Leith Adams informs me, in Afghanistan.

Salvadori (Fauna @ Italia) writes:—“Temminck says this bird is
common in Sicily and the Neapolitan States, but it has not been
observed by Costa and others, and we may be quite certain it does
not occur in the latter. Doderlein is inclined to believe that it
does not occur in Sicily, but considering that several specimens are
preserved in the almost exclusively local museums of Catania, Messina,
and Syracuse, though not known exactly whence they came, the
probabilities are in favour of their having been captured in Sicily,
the more so as Doderlein tells us that Cupani gives a plate of it in
his ‘Panphiton siculune.’ According to Schembri various individuals
were taken in Malta in 1843, but it does not appear, according to
Wright, to have been captured there at any other time. Risso says
it has been taken accidentally about Nice, where it is not difficult to
believe that it may wander from the sterile lands of the Carmargue,
in the neighbouring province. Verany confirms Risso’s statement by
stating that a specimen was captured near Nice in mid-winter.—(Atti.
Scieuz. Ital. Firewze, 1841, p. 314.) It does not appear that this
species has been found elsewhere in Italy.”

Deputy Surgeon-General Stewart informs me that he has seen
specimens of this bird which were shot in the desert east of Deesa,
Bombay Presidency, from which locality were also brought in the same
collection examples of P. arenarius, P. exustus, and P. fasciatus.

In Eastern Africa we are informed by Mr. Salvin, (Lbis, vol. i, p.
352,) that he only found this bird in the extensive sandy plains,—
the Harakta. In the north of Africa, however, Canon Tristram (Lbis,
vol. u, p. 70,) says that it is far more abundant, and continues to
occur in yast flocks in winter, in the M’zab and Touarick, where the
next described species, P. arenarius, is not found.

PIN-TAILED SAND GROUSE. 133

The Pin-tail Sand Grouse occurs in sandy plains and uncultivated
grounds, avoiding as much as possible the habitations of men. M.
Crespon however tells us that he succeeded in taming it in confinement,
and he had specimens in his aviary for several years, and even bred
them. The male appeared very attentive to its mate, whose voice it
readily responded to in syllables resembling ‘kaak, kaak, kaak, ka,
ligiis Tein

In the desert, however, it is very wild. Canon Tristram says,
‘‘except during the breeding-season it is very difficult of approach;
and when packed in winter it is vain to attempt to get a second
shot, unless well mounted. Its flight is stronger and more vigorous
than its congeners; and its sharp-pointed long wings give it all the
appearance of a Plover. It is very garrulous when on the ground,
and often betrays itself by its call-note, long before it can be dis-
tinguished by the eye from the surrounding sand.”

According to Eversmann its voice resembles that of Ravens and
Crows. It makes no nest, but scrapes a hole in the sand, in which,
Mr. Salvin tells us, it deposits only three eggs, which are laid
in May, and the young are hatched in about the second week of
June. Degland says it lays four or five, Temminck two or three
eggs. The egg is described by Canon Tristram as perfectly elliptical
in all the five species he possesses of the genus Péerocles. It is of
a much richer fawn-colour than that of P. arenarius, “ covered and
sometimes zoned with large maroon-red blotches.”

Canon Tristram says that the Pin-tail Sand Grouse is very bad
eating, the flesh, like that of its congener, being both poor and
dry. Mr. E.C. Taylor, however, does battle upon this point, (Ibis,
vol. ii., p. 199,) where he says that it all depends upon the cook,
and that in Egypt he found the two species of Sand Grouse, P.
exustus and P. senegalensis, “very good eating, the flesh of the thigh
especially being peculiarly white and tender. However our Dragoman
was an artist of no ordinary culinary skill.”

It is almost a pity, however to talk about anything so sensuous
as a dinner off a bird so beautiful as the Pin-tailed Sand Grouse.
Canon Tristram, whose experience as a practical ornithologist is very
great, says, “I think, on close inspection, there is scarcely a bird in
nature which surpasses the male P. alchata in richness of colouring
or delicacy of pencilling”—a fact which I am sure my artist will
verify with his usual skill.

The adult male has the head, nape, and back, a beautiful rich
dead olive green, more or less shaded with darker, each feather being
edged narrowly with black or blackish. The upper tail coverts rich

134 PIN-TAILED SAND GROUSE.

fawn, finely barred and pencilled transversely with black. The greater
wing coverts lighter olive green, with a more decidedly marked black
border, while the lesser wing coverts are of a rich maroon, distinctly
bordered with white. Primaries grey, with black glossy shafts;
secondaries grey, bordered with white; tertiaries dark brown, with
white inner webs, and also distinctly edged with white. Tail feathers
grey, barred with dusky, and shaded with fawn-colour on the outer
web, while the extremity of each feather for about half an inch is
pure white; the long filiform middle tail feathers partaking of the
olive green colours of the back, while below they share with this
aspect of the tail feathers their rich dark brown. Side of the head
and a band across the crop, upwards of an inch broad, rich dark
fawn-colour, the latter being edged above and below by a line of
black, which separates it above from the light olive greenish brown
neck, and below from the pure white of the abdomen, flanks, and
under tail coverts; shewing in a marked manner the sharply-defined
colours in contrast, which gives to this bird a peculiarly beautiful
appearance. ‘The throat is black, sometimes, as in my specimen,
which is in autumn plumage, mottled with white. The tarsi are
thickly clothed with short white feathers, which, like the colours of
the other parts, are sharply contrasted where they terminate with the
horny brown of the toes; beak horny brown; claws black.

The female differs from the male considerably. The head, nape,
back, and upper tail coverts, are clearly barred with black and fawn-
colour, broader on the back, and narrower but more thickly on the
tail coverts. The throat is white, the collar round the neck lighter
and more mottled with brown, while the band across the crop between
the two black lines is much broader, and lighter in colour. The side
of the head is mottled like the back of the head and neck. The
white tips to the tail feathers are smaller, and the finely-extended
middle tail feathers rather shorter. In other respects like the male.

The young of the year resemble the female, but are smaller. The
crop shaded with greyish and russet, with spots and brown zigzags.

My figures of the male and female of this bird are from specimens
kindly sent me by Canon ‘Tristram. The egg is from a specimen
in my own collection: it was taken in Spain, and was sent to me
by Moeschler.

It has also been figured by Brisson, Ornithologia, vol. i., pl. 19,
male and female; Buffon, pl. enl. 505 male, and 506 female; Roux,
Ornith. Prov., pl. 247, adult male, pl. 248, fig. i. female adult, fig. i1.
head of female of the year; pl. 249, fig. i. young just after leaving
nest, and ii. male of year; Gould, pl. 258.

ASNOUD AGNYVS

SAND GROUSE. 13:

GALLIN &.
Family TETRAONIDH. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Prerocies. ( Temminck.)

SAND GROUSE.

Pterocles arenarius.

Prerocles arenarius, TEMMINCK. Gray; H._L., 9457.
Tetrao arenarius, PALLAS.

Perdix aragontiea, LATHAM.

Aonas arenarius, VIEDLLOL.

Ganga unibande, Or THE FRENCH.
Ringel-flughuhn, Or THE GERMANS.

Ganga, SAVI.

Speeifie Charaefers—Only one band across the thorax; abdomen black.
Tail wedge-shaped, and without any elongation of the middle feathers.
Length of male thirteen inches; carpus to tip nine inches; beak eight
lines; tarsus one inch and a quarter.

Tur Sand Grouse inhabits the south of Europe, more especially
Spain. It occurs also in Sicily, and occasionally in Italy and
Germany; more rarely still in New Russia and the Caucasus. It is
found only accidentally and as a straggler in Greece. Like the pre-
ceding species it is a bird of the desert, and is at home in the sandy
plains of Northern Africa and Eastern Asia. In the Eastern Atlas
Mr. Salvin tells us it occurs in the same localities as P. alchata, but
is also found about Djendeli and Madracen, where that bird is not
found. Canon Tristram says that though less abundant than alchata
P. arenarius occurs universally throughout the Sahara, excepting
in the extreme south, where it is replaced by P. senegalus. Dr.
Leith Adams informs me that it occurs plentifully in Persia, Afghan-

136 SAND GROUSE.

istan, and Northern India, where it is known to English sportsmen
either as Sand Grouse or Rock Pigeon. He further adds, “It fre-
quents dry arid wastes, and is usually met with in flocks; although
in request as a game bird its flesh is tough, and devoid of good
flavour. The call is a rough guttural sound, resembling ‘tuturuk’
repeated.”

The following interesting account of the Sand Grouse is taken from
Canon Tristram’s paper on the “Ornithology of Northern Africa,”
(Ibis, vol. ii, p. 69:)— There is much of the Plover character in the
flight and manner of this tribe; and the first time I observed a covey
on wing I took them for some large Plovers until within shot. The
flocks of this species are generally smaller than those of its congener,
though all the class appear to be more or less gregarious, even in the
breeding season, several generally nesting close to each other. The
P. arenarius is not so wary as P. alchata, perhaps from its upper
plumage assimilating more closely to the sand in colour; but when
alarmed. it crouches to the ground, carefully concealing its dark breast,
and does not take wing until approached very closely. Then it
suddenly rises to a considerable height, and flies often to a great
distance. These birds chiefly feed towards sunset, when their call-note,
resembling that of a Partridge, may be heard incessantly until after
dusk. As if to shew that in some respects they are a link between
Galline and Columbide, they never lay more than three eggs, this
being the invariable number of the genus. These are of a character
most unlike that of any other gallinaceous bird with which I am
acquainted, being extremely elongated, compressed in the centre, and
exactly the same size at each end—in fact perfectly elliptical. The
eggs are placed two in a line, and the third lengthways outside them,
in a depression in the sand without any nest. ‘The bird in sitting,
as I have observed, lies on one side spreading out one wing to cover
the eggs, thus presenting a grotesque lop-sided appearance; but it isa
posture for which the deep keel of her sternum admirably adapts her.”

“The flesh of the Sand Grouse is extremely white, but very poor
and dry without any flavour. We never discovered any mode of
cooking by which it could be rendered tasty, or even palatable. I
have seen both the common species thrive while in captivity, and
almost domesticated in the courtyards of Arabs’ houses.”

The egg which I have figured is one taken by Canon Tristram, and
kindly sent to me. It measures one inch and nine tenths long, and
four inches and one tenth round the middle.

Colonel Irby, in a valuable paper in the “Ibis,” vol. ii., p. 230,
on the “Birds observed in Oudh and Kumaon,” says that two or

b)

SAND GROUSE. 137

three large flocks of P. arenarius were seen near Hurdue in January,
1860, and many killed. He quite confirms the statements of Dr. Leith
Adams and Canon Tristram, about the uneatable character of the Sand
Grouse. “Both species,” says Colonel Irby, “‘of the Indian Sand
Grouse which I have tasted are uneatable, and in this respect certainly
tend to confirm what the natives say ‘that they live upon sand.’”

Without of course falling in with the native statement above made,
it is quite clear from Mr. Taylor’s note, as quoted in the last notice,
that difference of food has much to do (as well as the skilful Drago-
man) in making the flesh of these birds eatable.

The adult male has the top and sides of the head and nape russet
grey. The back and upper tail coverts have a mottled appearance,
representing a series of spots of a sandy ochreous colour surrounded
by a ring of black. If a separate feather is examined, it will be
found that the extremity is ochreous, and the base paler, the two
colours being separated by a dusky band. ‘The wing coverts are the
same, but are terminated with rich ochreous, which gives a broad
band of that colour across the wing. The long strong pointed wing,
which when closed extends beyond the tail, has the primaries dark
grey with glossy black shafts, the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth
slightly bordered at their distal ends with light russet. Secondaries
unicolorous smoky grey, lightly bordered with white.

The throat and sides of the neck are occupied by a broad dark
ochreous-coloured collar, faintly shewn at the nape, and bordered in
front below with a broad black band; the neck and crop have a
slight lavender tint, gradually going off into the mottled russet of
the back; this is separated from the pink coloured feathers of the
upper part of the abdomen by a narrow well-defined black band,
edged with white, which goes right across the thorax; the middle and
lower part of the abdomen and flanks are brown black with a tinge
of sepia. Under tail coverts white; tail feathers, below and above,
russet, bordered with black and tipped with white, except the two
middle ones. ‘Tarsi covered with smaller pink feathers in front, and
with a kind of shagreen skin behind, which is continuous with that
on the soles of the feet. The beak bluish horn-colour. Feet yellow.

The female differs from the male, in having the upper parts of a
light fawn-colour, thickly pencilled with black in transverse strie.
Lighter and fewer bands on the wing coverts, which terminate with
ochreous yellow, but much paler than in the male; throat and under
wing coverts yellowish white, the breast in colour and markings like
that of a hen Pheasant, amd the black line, which is broader than
in the male, is succeeded by a band of about half an inch wide of

VOL. IV. at

138 SAND GROUSE.

yellowish white. The rest of the abdomen black. Under tail coverts
whiter. ;

My figures, male and female, are from specimens kindly sent to
me by Canon Tristram; they are marked Laghouat, November 1856,
and therefore in winter plumage.

The bird has also been figured by Temminck and Laugier, pl. col.
354 and 360; Gould, Birds of Europe, pl. 257; and Naumann, pl. 153.

Of the beautiful and elegant Three-toed Sand Grouse, Syrrhaptes
paradoxus, an excellent figure and description has been given in the
“This,” vol. u., p. 105, by Mr. Moore, the keeper of the Free, Public,
and Derby Museum, Liverpool. This paper was read at the meeting
of the British Association at Aberdeen, in 1859. It records the
appearance of this bird for the first time in Great Britain. One
specimen was shot in Wales, out of a flock of three, on July 9th.,
1859. Another was captured in Norfolk about the same time, and
is recorded by Mr. Currie, (“‘Ibis,” vol. i., p. 472.) A third specimen
was shot near Hebro, in Jutland, on the 23rd. of July, 1859; and a
pair were observed in the Dunes near Leyden, one of which was
shot, in September, 1859.

As there is a full account of the capture of this bird, and its history,
with a plate by Wolf, executed in the first rate style of excellence
for which the “Ibis” is justly celebrated, I do not feel called upon to
include it in this work. If any bird has been seen in Europe for the
first time, and not figured, it will still fall to my net, though observed
in these isles. I regret not to have the opportunity of including in
my work the beautiful Syrrhaptes paradoxus, so called from the
entire absence of a spur or hind toe, and also remarkable for the
aberrant character of the beak.

Since the first edition of this work was published, a remarkable
invasion of Great Britain was made by this bird. This was in 1863,
and a complete history of this irruption, and the localities of almost
all the birds captured, somewhere about one hundred and fifty, is
given by Professor Newton in the “Ibis”’ for 1854. I am able to
add one more to the list, which would come in at No. 66*. This bird
was killed at Pelden, and was kindly presented to me by Mr. Carter,
of Little Wigborough, and with the three others shot in the county
is now in my collection. According to Dr. Gustavus Radde, who has
given a long account of this bird in his ‘Reisen in Suden von Ost
Siberien,” 1861, with plates of the bird and its egg, it is subject to
sudden movements on a very large scale. We appear to have had
such a movement in 1863.

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FRANCOLIN. 139

GALLIN &.
Family PERDICIDAI. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Prerpix. (Brisson. )

Generic Characters—Beak short, compressed, strong, naked at the base;
superior mandible arched, convex, and much curved near the point. Nostrils
basal, lateral, half closed by a membrane, arched, and naked. Feet with
three toes in front and one behind, those in front united by a membrane
up to the first articulation. Tail composed of fourteen to eighteen feathers,
short, wedge-shaped, and turned towards the ground. Wings short, the
three first primaries the shortest, the fourth and fifth the longest, the fifth
generally the longest.

FRANCOLIN.
Perdiz francolinus.

Perdix francolinus, LATHAM. TEMMINCK. VIEILLOT.

G se CuvIER. LESSON. SCHINZ.
os a SCHLEGEL.
Lrancolinus, BRISSON.
Tetrao francolinus, LINNZUS.
Francolinus vulgarts, STEPHENS. BONAPARTE.
Chetopus francolinus, SWAINSON.

Aftagen francolinus,
Francolin a collier roux,
Gemeines Spornfeldhahn,
Francolino,

KEYSERLING ET BLASIUS.
OF THE FRENCH.
OF THE GERMANS.
OF THE ITALIANS.

Specific Characters—Upper tail coverts and tail beautifully marked with
black and white, (male,) or with broader bands of grey and white, (female.)
A red collar round the neck of the male, bordered on the back below
with another band of black feathers and round white spots. Under tail
coverts in both sexes dark red. Length of male thirteen inches; wing
from carpus six inches; tarsus two inches; middle toe and claw one inch
and three quarters; beak one inch and three tenths. Female eleven inches
and a half long.

140 FRANCOLIN.

Tue Francolin was once common in the south of Europe, especially
in Sicily and Cyprus. From thence it ranges through the whole
of Asia, and the vast prairies and marshes of the north of Africa.
The Francolin is, however, becoming a rare bird in Europe. Savi
tells us that in the sixteenth century they were common, as game
birds, im Tuscany, and that special laws were enacted by the Tuscan
princes for their preservation. Now, however, they are only recorded
very rarely there; Savi himself has never met with a specimen,
although he has known sportsmen who have killed them in their
youth.

In the “Ibis” for 1862, p. 352, there is a long and interesting
letter from Lord Lilford, stating his belief that the Francolin is no
longer found in Europe, except the doubtful European island of
Cyprus. In reference to this correspondence, I now publish the
opinions of Messrs. Salvadori and Doderlein, which show, I think, that
Lord Lilford was mistaken, and that up to 1870, at least, this bird
existed in Sicily.

Salvadori (Fauna d’Italia) writes:—‘The Francolin is at present
nearly extinct in Italy. Not many years ago it was sufficiently
common in the southern plains of Sicily, and particularly in the
neighbourhood of Castelvetrano, Partanna, Sciacca, Licata, Terranova,
Caltagirone, Miselmeri, S. Guiseppe di Mortelli, and in similar localities
of Madonie. Besides, according to Doderlein, King Ferdinand of
Naples in 1800 introduced it, and it became rather numerous in
the demesnes of the royal villa, La Favorita, on the borders of the
Monte Pellegrino, near Palermo. But being persecuted by immoderate
shooting, so as to even kill the females when sitting on their eggs,
the numbers diminished gradually, and at last only a few remained
in a restricted circle between Licata, Terranova, Butera, and Calta-
girone.” It is to be feared that there are now [Salvadori wrote in
1872] none living there, since Doderlein, from whom these notices are
taken, having purposely visited Terranova in 1870, could not find
one individual, and from his researches the results are that at the
end of 1865 some individuals were killed at Christmas near Suero
and Buterra, by people who were invited by the Prince Monteleone,
the proprietor of these grounds. Afterwards some others were killed
on the property of Falconara, near ‘Terranova, and perhaps the last
surviving one in the autumn of 1869. I think it is not yet possible
to be quite certain of its extinction in Sicily, as the date of the
last capture is too recent, and it therefore appears to me that those
who have proclaimed its extinction in Sicily have been too hasty.

“The Francolin was also formerly found in the hunting grounds

FRANOOLIN. 141

of the Princes of Tuscany; and Savi, in 1829, wrote that he had
spoken with old hunters worthy of faith, who had assured him they
had killed Francolini in the neighbourhood of the park of Artimino
a little before they were entirely destroyed. It does not, however,
appear that the Francolin, according to the ‘Storia degli Uccelli,’ vol.
iii., p. 14, was indigenous, but had been imported. The name of
Francolin proclaims the freedom of its life. Protected by vigorous
game laws, it is not improbable that it was imported into Tuscany
from Sicily. Doderlein says that the Dukes of Tuscany brought
several couple from Sicily, to acclimatize them in the hunting grounds
of Etruria. I do not know where Doderlein has got this information.
He attributes it, but erroneously, to Savi. ‘Temminck says at first
that the Francolin was found in Naples, Sardinia, and Malta; but
later, in vol. iii. of the ‘Manual,’ p. 332, he corrects his first assertion,
saying expressly that it is not found either in Sardinia or the Nea-
politan States. In fact it has not been found in Sardinia, either by
Cetti, Cesa, Lord Lilford, or myself. According to Lord Lilford, it
was imported from Sicily into the Neapolitan territories, but not into
the royal preserves, where it has been since entirely destroyed.
Finally, it is not found in Malta; neither Schembri nor Wright
mention it, and as Lord Lilford observes, it is not probable that it
has ever existed there on account of the local conditions not being
favourable. Benoit says that in the southern parts of Sicily, and
probably in the plains which extend between Caltagirone and Terra-
nova, this bird exists, but in consequence of excessive hunting at all
times it becomes more rare from day to day.”

Doderlein says of this bird:—“‘If the Tetraontde are indigenous
in the Alpine and German woods, the Francolin represents them in
the southern plains of Sicily. This very beautiful bird, years back,
lived in great abundance in the orchards and marshy plains of Sicily,
and particularly in the neighbourhood of Castelvetrano, of Partanna,
of Sciacca, of Licata, of Terranova, of Caltagirone, of Miselmeri, of
St. Guiseppe di Mortelli, and in similar localities; more than any-
where else in the Villa Favorita, on the sides of Monte Pellegrino,
introduced there in 1800 by King Ferdinand, who was passionately
fond of the chase. Such was the quantity in the island that the
Dukes of Tuscany took away several couples, to acclimatize them in
the private hunting grounds of Etruria. ‘They were, however, so
much persecuted on account of the excellency of their flesh and
their easy capture, that, owing to the abuse of shooters, who did not
even spare the female, they became almost entirely destroyed. And
so it was that in ten or twelve years from that time they were

142 FRANCOLIN.

confined to a restricted zone between Licata, Terranova, Butara, and
Caltagirone, from which a few individuals strayed as far as Partanna.
And so from year to year they became fewer and fewer. Some
years, in fact, I could not provide a single example for the orni-
thological collection of the museum of Palermo, and it was only in
1865 that I obtained from Count Terero an old skin killed on his
grounds. More recently another pair of skins came from my cor-
respondent Girgenti, obtained a few years back from the neighbourhood
of Terranova: Three years ago, Mr. Howard Saunders, a distinguished
English ornithologist, when he returned to England, believed himself
authorised to declare in an article inserted in the ‘Ibis,’ that the
race of Francolin was extinct in the island. In contradiction to such
an assertion, other ornithologists, among whom were Salvadori and
myself, sustained the opinion that though nearly extinct, some indi-
viduals still lived in Terranova. The species only appearing at the
time of breeding, some specimens might in all probability escape the
persecution of the gun. As the question put in these terms might
be verified, I decided to place myself at Terranova, as much to
study the zoological conditions of this magnificent region as to resolve
the question of the Francolin. I must confess that I did not kill
the bird with my own hands, but from all the information I obtained
I arrived at this conclusion. First, that up to 1865 some specimens
were taken annually between Suaro and Butera, which were stuffed
with odoriferous herbs, and sent to the Christmas feast of the Prince
Monteleone o Pignatelli, who was the proprietor of this fertile country.
Secondly, later the species were reduced to a very rare individual
which was killed from time to time in the Falconara, near Terranova,
which property was recently acquired by the Baron Bordonaro,
where, in the autumn of 1869, perhaps, in fact the last individual
was taken, and eaten at a dinner in ‘Terranova. ‘This fact was
attested to me by~the Prefect, and many hunters in the country. It
was also announced to me by Professor Tacchani, who had placed
himself there to notice the eclipse of 1870. Thirdly, that owing to
the extreme rarity of this bird, the Captain of the Garde Champétre
of Terranova, Don Diego Nuvarra, took the trouble to send me at
Palermo during the current year one or two individuals of the .
desired species.”’

“It results therefore from all this that the Francolin, though very
rare, still existed up to the autumn of 1869 in some of the southern
parts of the island, and that even now they are not exterminated,
unless within an infinitely short period.

“As to the habits of this bird, I do not know how to indicate

FRANCOLIN. 145

them better than by transcribing a letter written by M. Benoit about
1840 in his clever ornithological work upon Sicily—a work which
has unfortunately become very rare. ‘The Francolin,’ he says, ‘lives
in the humid parts of plains, or in the proximity to rivers, and
among reeds. ‘They only occur in couples in breeding time. Except
at that epoch they are separated far from each other, living singly.’
Though divers authors assert that they perch on trees, Benoit denies
it, and says he has always seen them on the ground, and even
when persecuted they do not perch on trees—a fact affirmed to me
by all the hunters of these countries. It has an extensive flight, but
being a heavy body, it follows that it may easily be taken by
perseverance. Nevertheless it is naturally wild, and difficult to
domesticate. The note which the male bird utters in the breeding
season, either at break of day or in the evening, resembles ‘tre,
tre-tre-tre,’ with a tone sufficiently changing. From this song the
poor people say it puts its own price on its head of three. Sicilian
Cel:

“The Francolin makes its nest under birches and other bushes,
scooping out the ground a little, and filling it with dry leaves, hay,
and straw. ‘The female lays from ten to fourteen eggs, about the
size of the Common Partridge, of a white colour, with obscure spots.*
The young at the end of October have already acquired the beautiful
plumage of the old bird; the breast is less sprinkled with white spots.

“Tt is needless to add that this bird does not even exist in Sardinia.”
—Benoit, ‘Orn. Sic.,’ p..118.

The Francolin lives, like other Partridges, in coveys, and remains
constant to the locality where it is bred. It loves humid woods and
marshy grounds, and, according to Savi and other writers, it perches
on trees during the night. M. Malherbe, however, denies that the
Francolin perches. He says it lives solitarily in Sicily, in moist
plains near a brook, or in the middle of a bed of rushes; that it
keeps much on the ground, but will fly a good distance when
hunted, and its capture requires skill and perseverance. The natural
timidity of the bird makes it difficult to tame in confinement.

In India the Francolin or Black Partridge is very common. Colonel
Irby (“Ibis,” vol. i., p. 236,) says:—‘ This handsome Partridge is
found in great numbers in all grass jungles near water, and is par-
ticularly numerous on the banks of the Gogra, Choka, and other large
rivers. Good sport is to be had with them in November, in the halde
or turmeric fields. This Partridge was common in Kumaon in April,
May, and June. Its call was to be heard wherever there was any

* But see next page.

144, FRANCOLIN.

cultivation.”” He further adds, when describing the Grey Partridge,
(Perdix ponticeriana,) that its flesh is dry, and scarcely eatable,
being a degree worse than that of the Black Partridge, or Francolin.

M. Malherbe, however, says that in Sicily it is “un gibier
exquis,” and that it is so much sought after at all seasons, that it is
becoming more and more rare. Colonel Irby says that in India the
Francolin will take refuge in trees when flushed, but rarely.

The Francolin nests on the ground underneath some bush, where
it scrapes a hollow, which it fills with dried leaves and stalks, and in
this nest it deposits from ten to fourteen eggs, which are of a pale
grey yellow or white, and either uncolorous or having large
brownish, almost invisible spots marked upon them.

From a paper on the nidification of European birds in ‘ Nau-
mannia,” for 1853, p. 419, by Baldamus, I translate the following
about the egg of the Francolin:—‘‘Two eggs in my collection and
many others in the Paris collections, from Cyprus, differ materially
from that figured by Thienemann, pl. 7, fig. 8. This figure has
the length, and almost the breadth of one figured as Perdix
sazatalis. Figs. 5, a, 6, which Thienemann figures of the Francolin’s
egg, is forty millemetres long, and twenty-nine millemetres broad,
(saxatalis being forty by thirty.) This in my opinion is too large.
My specimens are much more nearly the size of those of P. cinerea.
In the grain of the shell they also resemble the egg of P. petrosa.
They have a somewhat granular surface and an isabelle white ground
colour, and no spots.”

The following are the measurments given by Baldamus of the five
European Partridges, and the dimensions of their eggs:—Perdix
greca, (saxatals.)—Length of bird from thirty-two to thirty-five
centimetres; egg, greater diameter from forty-three to forty-five
millemetres, lesser from twenty-two to twenty-three millemetres. P.
petrosa, (Barbary in British lists.)—Bird, thirty-one to thirty-two
centimetres; egg, greater diameter thirty-nine to forty-one millemetres,
lesser twenty-nine to thirty-one millemetres. P. rubra, (Red-leg.)—
Bird, thirty to thirty-one centimetres; egg, greater diameter forty to
forty-one millemetres, lesser thirty to thirty millemetres and a half.
P. cinerea, (Grey Partridge.)—Bird, thirty centimetres; egg, greater
diameter thirty-three to thirty-five millemetres, lesser twenty-five to
twenty-six millemetres. P. francolinus.——Bird, thirty centimetres;
ege, greater diameter thirty-three to thirty-four millemetres, lesser
twenty-five to twenty-six millemetres.*

* Ten millemetres are one centimetre, and to bring centimetres into English
inches, multiply by two and divide by five.

ER AWN ClOMueI ON:

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FRANCOLIN. 145

The male has the top of the head and nape a light rufous, with -
longitudinal stripes of black; forehead and sides of the head, with
the exception of a large oval patch of white extending from the eyes
backwards, black. The dark rufous collar of the neck having some
of its feathers tipped with an oval black spot with white edges, and
a broader band of black feathers marked conspicuously with pure
white round spots, occupy the upper part of the back; below these
bands the scapularies are well marked out with dark brown feathers,
broadly edged with light rufous; the rest of the back, upper tail
coverts, and tail feathers, most delicately pencilled with transverse
zigzag lines of black and white. The upper wing coverts are marked
out like the scapularies, while the long tertials are richly marked
with light rufous transverse bands, on a black brown ground, the
rufous more distinct on the outer webs. The primaries and
secondaries rich rufous, with transverse bands or spots of dusky
brown, more or less distinct. ‘The throat and breast are pitchy
black, separated by the rich dark rufous collar round the neck; the
sides of the chest and all the lower part of the abdomen black,
with oval white spots, which become larger on the flanks and shaded
with rufous; bottom of abdomen light red, edged with white, while
the rich rufous of the neck is repeated on the feathers of the under
tail coverts, which are also fringed with white. The feathers on the
thighs are barred with black and white, mingled with pencillings of
rufous. Tail below dark brown, with their basal halves barred with
white. Beak black; legs and feet orange red; tarsi armed with a
spur.

The female is a much plainer-marked bird. The forehead, and a
faint trace on the back of the neck, red; top of the head hair brown,
with darker longitudinal shades; scapularies and wing coverts dark
brown, with light brown edges; the rest of the back and upper tail
coverts “partridge grey,” beautifully marked and pencilled with darker
transverse bands of brown and white. Primaries black brown, with
russet spots and transverse bands; the secondaries marked in the same
way, but the colours lighter, and the bands broader. ‘The throat
creamy white, going off into yellow on the neck; sides of the head
rufous, finely spotted with black about the ear coverts; chest and
abdomen cream white, with triangular bars of black, and more or less
tinged with rufous on the sides and flanks; lower part of abdomen
dirty white; under tail coverts dark rich russet, with slight bars of
black and yellow, and covered on their basal aspect on each side by
two or three feathers of a yellowish white, barred with black; tail

feathers dark brown, lightly barred with wavy bands of white.
VOL. IV. U

146 _- FRANCOLIN.

The young after the first moult resemble the adult. The males
haye the spur rudimentary.

My drawings of these birds, male and female, are from specimens
procured by Canon Tristram, in Cyprus. The egg is from a specimen
in my own collection. It was taken in Cyprus, and sent to me by
Herr Moeschler.

The bird has been figured by Brisson, pl. 27, fig. 2, (although this
generally accurate observer has omitted to give the spur on the tarsus

of his figure, which is a male); Buffon, pl. enl. 147, (male and female;)
and Gould, Birds of Europe, pl. 259.

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tiREEK PARTRIDGE. 147

GALLIN &.
Family PERDICIDZ:. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Caccasis. (Haup.)

Generic Characters.—Bill somewhat lengthened, stout, red; tarsi of male
with a blunt spur, red; tail of twelve to fourteen feathers, not quite
concealed by the upper tail coverts; a small nude patch behind the eye;
plumage not mottled.

GREEK PARTRIDGE.

Caccabis greeca.

Caccabis greca, BONAPARTE. GRAY; H. List, No. 9803.
Perdix greca, GESNER; Icones Avium, p. 64, 1553.

a sé BRISSON, 1760. BREE; first edition.

SG UY LINNZuS. VIEILLOT.

SISCCALULES. MEYER ET WOLFF.
Bartavelle Grecque, OF THE FRENCH.
Stein-rothehahn, Rot-hahn,

or Weltsch-Raeb-hahn, OF THE GERMANS.

Coturnice, OF THE ITALIANS.

Specific Characters—Throat and upper part of the fore-neck white or
cream-coloured, which is separated from the unicolorous dove-coloured cross
by a black band, broader at the sides, which extends from each eye. The
central tail feathers extend for three quarters of an inch beyond the under
tail coverts. Length thirteen inches and a half to fifteen inches; wing from
carpus six inches and a half; tarsus two inches, middle toe and claw rather
longer; beak three quarters of an inch.

Tue bird which I have now to notice has been well known for
three hundred years as Perdix greca, or the Greek Partridge. It is
closely allied to the Red-leg, or French Partridge, but is at once

148 GREEK PARTRIDGE.

distinguished by its larger size, and by the absence of the mottled
plumage below the black mark in the neck. The older ornithologists
—Gesner, Willughby, and Belloni—acknowledged this affinity by
designating Perdix greca as Perdix major or Rufa major; while
Ray, Linneus, and Albin all referred it to Perdix rufa, the latter
even figuring the Red-legged Partridge for this bird. In the present
day we do not find ornithologists confounding the two birds, as
they are universally considered specifically distinct. There are,
however, other varieties or races which are thought by modern
naturalists as probably distinct also. Canon Tristram has sent me two
skins, one from the Morea, a male, which may be considered
typical; and another, a female, a smaller bird with a rufous throat,
which was obtained from Crete. But I cannot, after careful ex-
amination, find anything which age, or sex, or difference of food
might not account for. Canon Tristram says he thinks they represent
two distinct species, one inhabiting the hills, the other the plains. .
Doderlein (op. cit.) says of this bird, “The Greek Partridge arrives
accidentally, rarely in the Modenese Apennines. In October, 1852,
after a violent storm, an abandoned bird was picked up near Rotetlia,
which I was able to acquire and to place in the Museum of the
University, under the name of Perdix sazatilis. Some years later two
other specimens, either of this bird or P. rubra, were killed in the
neighbourhood of Saltino, in the Valley of Secchia, one of which was
given to me and the other was eaten. More recently Tonguoli had
another, taken upon the hills in the snowy winter of 1870. This
species is therefore very rare and accidental in Modena, and only
appears after extraordinary atmospherical commotion, coming probably
from Liguria, where it is indigenous. On the contrary, this Partridge
is very common in Sicily, especially on the steep mountains of Madonie,
Petralia, Corleone, Caltagirone, Alcamo, Carini, S. Vito, and Briolo,
and all the chains of Iblei, as also in certain valleys and interior
plains of the island. In spite of the immense consumption which takes
place in all times and seasons it multiplies and propagates quickly,
and in certain localities it is so common as to be sold at a very low
price. (Benoit.) In some districts the peasants are said to take the
eges from the nests for domestic purposes. A white variety, with
eyes, beak, and feet rosy like this bird, lives among the mountains.
According to Salvadori it is probable this bird occurs in Sardinia.”
Salvadori (Fauna d’ Italia) writes:—“Perdiz sazatilis differs from
the true P. greca (Brisson,) chukar, (Gould,) principally by two
characters. In the latter the throat is white with a fulvous tint,
-especially on the lower part. In the former the throat is entirely

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GREEK PARTRIDGE. 149

white. Besides in P. greeca the small feathers which cover the nares
are white and not black; whilst the black on the forehead is not joimed
by a black band to the base of the lower mandible. P. greca is
common in a great part of Istria, and in the middle of Europe east-
wards. P. sazatilis is found in all the mountainous parts of Italy—
on the Alps, on the Apennines, and on the mountains of Sicily. It
is not found in Sardinia nor Malta. Savi doubts if it occurs in ‘Tus-
cany, but it is quite certain that it is found there, though rarely.
(Benvenuti, Ibis, 1864, p. 228.) It is also found rarely in Modena.

According to Professor Doderlein:—‘‘ P. saxatilis prefers to live in
places of difficult access among sharp rocks. I have found it in the
mountains of Ascalano, in Central Italy, where they live in the same
localities with the Red-leg (P. rubra). ‘They nest under bushes, and
also among the rocks. ‘The eggs, from twelve to sixteen in number,
are yellowish or reddish, with brown or fulvous spots and points. It
appears that in some parts of Sicily there exists an albino race of
this Partridge, which has been mentioned by Doderlein and other
authors, but it does not appear that the albino form is always
complete; some individuals being met with in which the white runs
into ash-colour, and others which are spotted or shaded with white
and ash-colour. Though I have said this bird is not found in
Sardinia, I ought to add that I have been told of a Partridge larger
than Petrosa, which is now and then met with near the northern part
of that island. As I am assured that it is found in the neighbouring
island Corsica, it is not difficult for me to believe that it may occur
in the north of Sardinia.”

Dr. Leith Adams writes me word he is quite confident that the
Perdiz chukar (Gray) of India is identical with this bird. I will
give an abstract of his letter:—“These two are identical. P. chukar
frequents the Himalayas from Nepaul to the mountains of Persia in
the west. I have seen and examined specimens from all these
countries including Afghanistan and Chinese Tartary. P. greca is
common on the hills and mountains of south-eastern Europe. It is
a common bird during the winter months in the markets of Constan-
tinople, where I procured several specimens, which I have carefully
compared with Himalayan specimens of P. chukar, and I cannot
observe any difference. Mr. Blyth, (T. A. S., xvii, p. 93,) states
that ‘“P. greca only differs from P. chukar of the Himalayas,
Afghanistan, &c., in having a purely white throat, and in the
ferruginous of the ear coverts being less marked.’ According to my
experience (having examined many skins) these points, although
pretty general, are not universal in the birds killed in Turkey. I

150 GRHEK PARTRIDGE.

have seen several exactly similar in all respects with P. chukar.”

According to this opinion the smaller of the two birds sent me by
Canon Tristram from Crete, is equal to the P. chukar of Gray; and
it follows, I think, if this is so, that P. greca and P. chukar are
one and the same species, for surely we cannot maintain for a
moment that the difference of colour in the throat is sufficient to
constitute specific difference. Canon ‘Tristram, however, does not
consider that his smaller specimen is sufficiently deep rufous, for he
remarks,—‘‘I never saw the white throat from India, or the rufous
one from Western Europe. Turkey and Syria are debatable ground
held by both varieties.”

I have not been able to get a Swiss skin for comparison. As
‘anon Tristram observes, however, the question is one of “‘race,” or
of eastern and western varieties of the same species. M. Bouteille,
as quoted by M. Degland, has succeeded in obtaining a_ hybrid
between P. greca and P. rubra, the males being more like the
former, the females more like the latter. Both had the black collar
of the Greek Partridge and the black spots which follow it in the
French Partridge, but smaller and less numerous. The feathers on
the flanks of the male were more like those of greca, in the female
more like rubra.

The Greek Partridge is found, as its name implies, in Greece and
the islands of the Archipelago, in Italy, Sicily, Switzerland, and
Turkey. Thence it spreads into Syria, being replaced in Persia and
India by the form known as P. chukar. It is found in some parts
of Germany and France, and among the mountains of the Jura, the
Alps, and the Pyrenees. Specimens from Japan are, according to
Temminck, exactly like those found in Europe. Lord Lilford,
(‘‘Ibis,” vol. ii, p. 238,) says it is the Common Partridge of the
Epirus and the Ionian Islands, but is not very abundant in Corfu,
where it is only met with on the ridge of San Salvador. He further
remarks:—‘‘The Greek Partridge haunts the stony hill sides, never,
as far as my own observation goes, descending to the plain. It is
not easy to make a good bag of these birds, even in localities where
they are numerous, as the coveys disperse on being disturbed, and
on alighting each bird takes a line of its own, and sets off running
to the nearest covert, which, in these parts generally consists of thick
evergreen shrubs, from which it is very difficult to flush them. In
the Ionian Islands they are most abundant in Cephalonia, Santa
Maura, Kalumo, Petula, Arkudi, and Meganisi. The flesh of this
species is, to my taste, far superior to that of either of its congeners,
P. rubra or P. petrosa.”

GREEK PARTRIDGE. 151

The habit above mentioned by Lord Lilford, of frequenting stony
and rocky places, is doubtless the reason why Meyer thought it
right to alter the name of this bird, from that which it had possessed
for centuries, to that of Perdiz sazatilis, a most uncalled-for and
unjustifiable innovation.

Modern systematists have separated this bird, with the ‘ Red-legged
Partridge” and others from Perdiz, and placed them in the genus
Caccabis, instituted for them by Kaup in 1829. Gray, in his
“Hand List,” places no less than four sub-families, including the
Quails and one hundred and fifteen species, between the Grey Par-
tridge and the well-known “Frenchman” of our manors. Its
affinities are certainly more with the Tetrao-galline than with the
Perdicide, and I have therefore adopted Kaup’s generic name.

The Greek Partridge scrapes a hole near a rock or stone, which it
fills with stalks and leaves, and in this it lays from ten to twenty
eggs, which are somewhat larger than those of P. rubra. The shell
is hard and shining, and is either unspotted pale yellow, or brownish
yellow with violet brown dots and spots, according to Bideker. ‘The
shape of the egg is oval. Nidification commences in May, and the
female sits twenty-three days.

The adult male has all the upper plumage dove-coloured grey,
with a beautiful shade of purplish glossy pink on the scapularies and
sides of the chest. The primaries are of a rich brown, with a light
brown patch near the end of the quill on the third to the ninth
inclusive, gradually getting smaller; the second, third, fourth, and
fifth primaries are about equal, and the longest in the wing. Head,
throat, and chest have been described in the specific diagnosis.
Centre of the abdomen presents a conical surface of rich fawn-
colour, flanked above on each side by beautifully-marked feathers
of a pure dove-coloured grey, with a bar of light fawn-colour
between two other transverse bars of rich umber brown, at the end
of each feather: these latter markings being broader on the sides of
the abdomen, and narrower on the flanks proper. Under tail coverts
russet; tail feathers rich dark russet. The margin of the eyes, iris,
and beak, a beautiful red; legs and feet same colour, but paler;
bottom of the feet dirty yellow; the tarsus of the male is furnished
with a well-developed, but obtuse spur, situated about the middle.

The female resembles the male, but is smaller and without spurs;
the grey is less lively; there is less white on the throat; and the
black band and the markings on the flanks are smaller.

The young after the first moult are more grey, and less shaded
with pink above, and are pencilled and spotted irregularly with
brown and whitish.

152 GREEK PARTRIDGE.

In some varieties the white is less pure, or even fawn-coloured.

My figures of this bird are from specimens kindly sent me by Canon
Tristram. The male bird with white throat, the typical P. gre@ca, is
from the Morea. The female bird with the rufous throat, which I
have figured for comparison, is from Crete. It is the bird before
alluded to. ‘The egg is figured from one in my own collection.

The bird has also been figured by Brisson, Ornith., pl. 23, f. 1;
Buffon, pl. enl. 231; Roux, Ornith. Prov., pl. 259; Naumann, pl. 164;
Bouteille, Ornith. du Dauph., pl. 42, fig. 2; Gould, B. of E.; Tem-
minck, Atlas du Manuel; Vieillot, Faun. Franc., pl. 109; Bonaparte,
Fauna Ital.

BLACK-WINGED PRATINCOLE. 153

OrpER XI.—ALECTORIDES.
Family GLAREOLIDA. (Bonaparte.)
Genus GLAREOLA.

Generic. Characters —Beak short, convex, compressed towards the point;
the upper mandible curved the distal half of its length, without being
notched. Nostrils basal, lateral, and obliquely pierced. Legs bare for a
short space above the knee; tarsi long and rather slender; three toes in
front and one behind, the middle one being united to the exterior by a
short membrane; the interior toe free, the posterior toe articulated upon

the tarsus. Wings very long, the first primary much longer than the others.
Tail forked.

BLACK-WINGED PRATINCOLE.

Glareola melanoptera.

Glareola pratincola, BAREAS? ZOORe) ROSS. NS.,a1ls,, 9150; Doge
oe melanoptera, NorDMANN; Bull. Soc. Imp. Nat. Mosc.,
1942 epi Zeuipae sla.
oe nordmannt, FISCHER. tom. cit.
“ pallastz, ‘““BRUCH.” SCHLEGEL; Rev. Crit. p. 91, 1844.

Specific Characters.—The under wing coverts of a uniform smoky black.
Length (French measure) nine inches six lines; wings three inches eight
lines ; external tail feathers three inches eight lines; middle tail feathers two
inches three lines; tarsus one inch five lines; middle toe eight lines; claw
of middle toe three lines; beak from gape ten lines; depth of two mandibles,
' through the nostrils, two lines and a half—ScCHLEGEL.

Tuts bird, which is considered specifically distinct from the Pratincole
of the British lists, is found in Greece and Bessarabia more plentifully
than its congener. According to Pallas, who first described the
species in his “ Zoographia,” it is very common from April to the

VOL. Iv. x

154 BLACK-WINGED PRATINCOLE.

autumn in the deserts of Tartary, from the Volga to the Irtin. To
the eastward it is found in Asia Minor, Arabia, and Persia, while
southwards it penetrates for some considerable distance into Africa.
Hartlaub includes it amongst the birds of West Africa, and both
Verreaux and Du Chaillu have reported it from the Gaboon; Anderson
found it in Damaraland on the South West. On the East coast it
has been met with by various authorities in Egypt, Nubia, Red
Sea shore, Zambesi, Natal, and Cape Colony.

Schlegel, in his “Revue,” p. 91, gives a lengthened account of
this bird, in which he says it is at once distinguished from G.
pratincola (Linneus) by the following characters:—The beak is
thinner, shorter, and more curved; the tarsi are longer, and the toes
shorter; the tail is shorter, and it only has the extremities of the
elongated feathers black; the throat is white, and the wings under-
neath are of a uniform smoky black, while in G. pratincola these
parts are of a lively russet brown. This latter characteristic led
Professor Nordmann to call it Glareola melanoptera, while Fischer the
same year, out of compliment to his colleague, named it G.
nordmannt.

Pallas states that it is always found in small flocks, congregating
more numerously after the breeding-season. It never frequents water,
but is always found in arid and especially salt plains, where it seeks
grasshoppers and other insects.

It runs as fast as a Plover, and is equally afraid of man. It flies
away when flushed, uttering the cry ‘tirik-tirik, lke a Tern. It
migrates early to the south.

It differs so little in plumage from the well-known Pratincole,
that I have not thought it necessary to give a figure, and I have
stated all the points in which it diverges structurally or ornamentally
from that bird. .

It is figured by Pallas, Zoog., pl. 2; by Nordmann in the Bulletin
of Moscow, 1842, pl. 2, and an excellent plate of the species will
be found in the Ibis for 1868, (plate viii.,) in illustration of a
paper by Mr. J. H. Gurney, entitled, “Notes on Mr. Layard’s
‘Birds of South Africa.’ ”

The egg has been described by Mr. Harting (P.Z.8., 1874, p.
454) from specimens received from Southern Russia through Herr ©
Moeschler.

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RUFFED BUSTARD. 155

Orver XIT.—CURSORES.
Family OTIDIDA:. (Bonaparte. )
Genus Otts. (Linneeus.)

Generte Characters—Beak shorter, or not exceeding the length of the
head, straight, conic, compressed, the point of the upper mandible curved.
Nostrils oval, open, lateral, and a little removed from the base. Feet long,
naked above the knee. Three toes, all in front, short, united at the base,
and bordered with a membrane. Wings moderate, the first quill half the
length of, and the second rather shorter than the third, which is the longest

in the wing.

RUFFED BUSTARD.

Otis houbara.

Otis houbara, et rhaad, GMELIN.
Psophia undulata, JACQUIN.
Chlamydotis houbara, LESSON.
Floubara undulata, BONAPARTE.

cs houbara, Gray; Hand List.
Outarde houbara, Or THE FRENCH.
Kragentrappe, OF THE GERMANS.

Specific Characters—Beak long and much depressed at the base; a crest
of white feathers on the vertex, and a long and strong mass of brownish
black and white feathers hanging as a pendant from the back of the neck
on each side. Length twenty-four inches; from carpus to tip fourteen inches;
tarsus four inches; middle toe two inches; beak two inches and one tenth.

Tue Ruffed Bustard,. or, as it was also called by Latham, the
Undulated Trumpeter, is only an accidental visitor in Europe. It is
however found wandering from its African home into Spain, Portugal,

156 RUFFED BUSTARD.

Silesia, Dalmatia, Turkey, Greece, Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium.
It is found especially in the north of Africa, being common in plains
between the mountains and the coast in the neighbourhood of Tripoli,
Tunis, and Constantine. Canon Tristram says it occurs throughout
the Sahara, but becomes rare in the south, though most abundant
about the Dayats, and to the edge of the Chebkha M’zab. It is also
found in Arabia.

Salvadori (Fauna d’ Italia) writes of this bird:—“‘ Wright says (Ibis,
1864, p. 140,) that about twenty years ago a male bird was taken in
Malta during a tempest. Also not very far from Rome two females
were killed, one during the latter part of November, 1869, and the
other on the following 16th. of December. At this time strong south
winds prevailed. The first was given to the Zoological Museum of
the University of Rome; the other is preserved in the collection of
Maximillian Lezzani, an enthusiastic ornithologist. Bonaparte supposes
that the Houbara may have been captured in Sicily, and Mr. Saunders,
and more recently Professor Doderlein, mention an individual preserved in
the Museum of Syracuse, as having been taken in that neighbourhood.”

In the first volume of the ‘‘Ibis,” page 284, Canon Tristram has
given a most interesting account of the Houbara, or, as Temminck
tells us we ought to spell it, the Hubara Bustard, and he has gone
at some length into details of Falconry as pursued by the Arabs. I
need make no apology for quoting the following long extract from this
graphic and interesting description. ‘The Saker Falcon, which the
writer says is found more in the desert, and the Lanner Falcon, (Ibis,
vol. i., p. 284,) are those which are chiefly used by the Arab sportsmen;
and they prize them so highly that £40 was offered in vain for a live
specimen.

“The Arab Sheiks,” he says, “pursue the sport of Falconry with
all the zeal, skill, and science of the ‘noble mysterie’ of our ancestors.
The villein who presumed to raise his head against the king’s deer
was not more certain of condign punishment from the Norman, than
the plebeian Sehaur who should dare to cast a hawk in the Sahara.
No Aga or Sheik of high degree ever moves for war, business, or
pleasure unattended by his falconers, who are his confidential lieu-
tenants. The care of three Falcons is considered sufficient employment
for one falconer with an assistant; and on the march one or two of
these important personages follow, mounted immediately behind the
Sheik, with a hooded Falcon on the wrist, and one perched on each
shoulder. The Houbara Bustard is the favourite quarry; but Eagles,
Kites, Sand Grouse, (and in the case of the Saker Falcon, the gazelle,)
afford equal sport to the huntsman.

RUFFED BUSTARD. 157

“When a Bustard is descried, the whole calvalcade instantly halt;
the Hawk on the wrist is transferred to the hand of his master, who,
attended by his falconers alone, instantly sets off, and unhooding his
bird, throws him from his wrist towards the Bustard. Much skill is
exercised in drawing the attention of the Falcon to the Bustard before
it rises. Should it unfortunately take wing before its pursuer has
poised herself above it, an ill-trained or impetuous bird is very apt
to strike it in the air. This, according to the view of your desert
connoisseur, is a most unpardonable and unsportsman-like offence, to
be punished with death. A skilful Hawk will at once rise to a con-
siderable height, thence swooping down, make feints until the Bustard
takes to its legs instead of its wings. The Falcon then poises herself
over it, while a second is flung off the wrist, and the two together
give chase, the speed of the Houbara being such that a fleet Arab
can scarcely keep up with the pursuit.

“The poor bird runs along, aiding its speed by a_ perpetual
fanning with its wings, its head stretched forward like a Corncrake’s,
and its conspicuous black and white ruff folded closely back over its
neck—a _ pitiable contrast to the proud fellow who was lately
strutting with head erect, elevated crest, and expanded ruff,
challenging all comers. The pursuers hang over him—only a few
yards above him; and at each effort he makes to take wing, swoop
down with a feint. It is considered the excellency of a Falcon to
make these feints at a quarry until it is nearly exhausted, when the
fatal swoop is made, and the bird imstantly drops, struck dead by
the hind claw having pierced its spine. This manner of hawking is
probably practised both to afford more prolonged excitement to the
horseman, but chiefly from the mode of self-defence adopted by the
Houbara, and which I have had various opportunities of observing
myself. As the Hawk approaches, the Houbara ejects both from
the mouth and vent a slimy fluid. A well-trained bird eludes this
shower by repeated feints until the quarry’s supply of moisture is
exhausted; an impatient one rushes in and gets his feathers and
whole plumage so bedaubed, that his flight is materially impeded,
and his swoop, when made, is irresolute.”

“With a leash of Falcons, two Haggards, and a Tiercel Saker, I
have known three Houbaras and a Sand Grouse or two captured in
a day, and the chase was terminated merely on account of the
fatigue of the horses. I was never actually present at the chase of
the gazelle, but it is very commonly practised, and I have seen a
gazelle brought into camp that had been so taken. ‘This sport,
however, requires more birds, and is very dangerous to the Falcons,

158 RUFFED BUSTARD.

who frequently impale themselves on the horns of their prey. It is
not uncommon for both pursuer and victim to fall dead at one
mutual stroke.” d

The Ruffed Bustard, like the rest of the family, is a shy bird,
frequenting the wild desert, and rarely coming near a human
dwelling, or where it is likely to meet with an enemy. In the
spring the males have grand battles with each other for the possession
of the females, asserting and maintaming their right to have a
plurality of wives, in which combats the older birds are generally
victorious.

The females scrape a hole in the sand, in which, says Canon Tristram,
they lay three, sometimes only two, eggs. They will desert the nest
if it is disturbed during incubation. Degland and some other writers
give five as the maximum number of eggs. The young when born
are covered with down, and immediately, like other gallinaceous birds,
follow their mother in search of food.

The Bustard is both granivorous and insectivorous. According to
some authors they will feed also upon frogs, toads, and lizards;
and M. Jules Verreaux informs us that in Africa he has often seen
them kill and eat snakes. In the combat they principally make use
of their wings, killing their prey by violent blows.

The male has the top of the head white, the feathers being
prolonged into a crest, which is bordered on each side by elongated
feathers of a russet brown, spotted with black. Sides of the head,
throat, and upper part of the neck, and nape, grey, the last being
partly hidden by the elongated feathers of the crest. From the back
of the neck extends on each side long stiff feathers, above black,
below white, forming a ruff. The rest of the upper parts, namely,
scapularies, back, upper wing and tail coverts, and upper tail feathers,
russet brown, barred and crossed with darker brown; the tints
varying from light brown on the back to greyish brown on _ the
shoulders and lower part of the wing coverts, and to dark russet on
the upper tail feathers; primaries, the first four white, with about
four inches and a half of the distal extremities of the first two, and
three inches of the third and fourth black brown; the outer web of
the first spotted cream-colour; the rest of the primaries dark brown
black, tipped with white; secondaries dark brown black. Lower part
of the neck, abdomen, and under wing coverts, pure white, the
shoulders russet and brown; under tail coverts whitish, with dots
and zigzags of russet and brown on the distal half. ‘Tail feathers
below cream-colour, shaded with russet, and marked with brown
spots, and barred with three broad black bands; above they are

RUFFED BUSTARD. 159

barred alternately with black and dark russet; the end light cream-
colour. Beak brownish grey; feet greenish; iris colourless.

The female differs but little from the male. It is rather smaller,
and the colours are less lively. According to De _ Fontaine,
(“Memoires de 1’ Academie des Sciences,”) she carries like him a
crest and a ruff; but Temminck says she has neither; the head and
top of the neck whitish, starred with brown spots; the feathers of
the ruff are short and silky; the front of the neck russet, with
small spots and zigzags of brown.

According to Degland, the young males have the feathers of the
crest shorter, with delicate ash-coloured streaks, and russet towards
their extremities; the black and white feathers of the ruff of equal
length, varied with brown and whitish; back and wings isabelle red,
varied with brown zigzags and black spots; front of the neck russet,
also varied with brown zigzags.

My figures of this bird and its egg are from specimens kindly
sent me by Canon Tristram. The former, from the Sahara, is marked
June 7th., 1856.

The species has been figured by Naumann, pl. 170, and Gould,
pl. 268

160 ASIATIO GOLDEN PLOVER.

OrvER XIII.—GRALLATORES.
Family CHARADRIIDZA. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Cuaraprivus. (Linneus.)

Generic Characters —Bill shorter than the head, slender, straight, com-
pressed at its base, and swollen at its point; nasal furrow prolonged for
two thirds of its length. Nostrils basal, lateral, linear, longitudinally cleft
in the membrane of the furrow. Feet long, or of moderate length, slender;
three toes all in front, the outer toe slightly connected at the base to the
middle toe by a membrane; the inner one free. ‘Tail slightly rounded or
square. Wings moderate,—the first quill slightly shorter than the second,
which is the longest in the wing.

ASIATIC GOLDEN PLOVER.

Charadrius fulvus.

Charadrius fulvus, GMELIN; Syst. Nat. i., p. 687, (1788.)
es pluvialis, PALLAS; Zoog. Ross. As., i1., p. 1405s)
cs os JARDINE; Ill. Orn., pl. 85, (1830.)
a pluvialis orientalis, SCHLEGEL; Faun. Japon., p. 106, (1842.)
Pluvialis longipes, ““TEMMINCK.” BONAPARTE; Compt. Rend.,
18565 p. 417.

Specific Characters—Always to be distinguished from pluvdalis by its smaller
size, comparatively longer legs, and grey instead of white axillaries.

Tus very distinct species of Golden Plover, an inhabitant of Asia,
the Malay Archipelago, Australia, and New Zealand, comes occasionally
within the European limits. It has been observed at Heligoland,
(c.f. Ibis, 1862, p. 71,) and is seen in Malta every second or third
year, generally early in spring, and not in company with pluvialis,
but solitarily or in pairs.

In the “Ibis” for 1865, Mr. Wright, the zealous naturalist of the
island of Malta, writes, “I have to record the capture of a second

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iv Sw

ASITATIC GOLDEN PLOVER. 161

specimen of this denizen of Asia, which, always excepting that extra-
ordinary rendezvous for exotic and little-known species—Heligoland, is
the only spot in Europe in which it has hitherto been found. This
example was shot in May, 1861, and consequently it was in summer
plumage; and before handling it I mistook it for a small specimen of
C. pluvialis in bad condition. It was possessed by a Maltese bird-
stuffer, merely on account of its being in a state of plumage not
noticed before in this island, the common Golden Plover, its close
ally, being known here only in its winter dress.”

* * * «The legs and toes of C. longipes are more slender, and
the general appearance is smaller, the head is considerably smaller,
and especially remarkable in being much narrower across the tip.”

According to Mr. Swinhoe, (Ibis, 1863, p. 404,) this species is
common near Canton, and passes the summer there. In Formosa it
remains all the year round, breeding in great abundance on the south-
west marshy plains. ‘The eggs, four in number, are laid in a loose
nest of dried grasses and fibres placed in a hollow. ‘They are of a
yellowish grey ground-colour, blotched and spotted with deep blackish
sepia, and have occasional obsolete purplish grey spots. They do not
vary much in size, are narrowed near the end, and measure 1.5 by
il imehes.

The specimen from which my figure is taken was kindly sent to me
. by Mr. Harting. It is a female, and was obtained at Hakodadi, Japan,
October 3rd., 1865, by Mr. H. Whitely.. The length of the bird in
the flesh was nine inches and two eighths, and of the wing six inches
and a half. In the skin the tarsus is exactly one inch and three
fifths long. Bill one inch. It has the top of the head, neck, back,
and upper tail feathers distinctly marked with black and fulvous yellow.
Wing feathers black, edged with white on their inner borders. ‘Throat
white. Cheeks, sides of neck, and all under parts more or less mottled
with indistinct yellow and brown; axillaries grey, like the rest of
the under wing; under tail coverts white. Tail feathers grey, with
fulvous markings.

Coloured figures of this species will be found in Jardine’s “ Tllus-
trations of Ornithology,” 1830, pl. 85; in Temminck and Schlegel’s
“Fauna Japonica,” 1842, pl. 62; in Gould’s “Birds of Australia,” fol.
vi., pl. 13; and in Sharpe and Dresser’s recently published “Birds of
Europe.”

WONG Ic Y

162 SOCIAL PLOVER.

GRALLATORES.
Family CHARADRITDA. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Cuarusia. ( Bonaparte.)

Generie Characters.—Bill stronger than in the restricted genus Vanellus;
head not crested; plumage ashy; wings moderate; no spur on the carpus;
tarsi moderately long; toes four, as in Vanellus.

SOCIAL PLOVER.

Chetusia gregaria.

Chetusia gregaria, BonAPARTE; Icon. Faun. Ital. pl., (1832-41.)
Vanellus gregartus, Virion; Dict: dist Nat.

“< keptuschka, TremMMINCK; Man. d’Orn. iv., p. 360, (1820.)
Charadrius gregarius, PALLAS; YReIse;)1., p. 450, date)

cf ventralis, “WAGLER,” Gray, and HAarpw., Ill. Ind.
Orn., pl., (1829.) Mec WAGLER.

Tringa fasciata, GMELIN; Syst. Nat. i., p. 671, (1788.)

‘© heptuschka, GMELIN; op. cit.
Vanneau pluvier socral, OF THE FRENCH.

Geseliger Regenpfeiferkiebietz, OF THE GERMANS.

Speerfie Characters—Upper plumage greyish brown; superciliary streak,
occiput, sides of head, throat, under tail coverts, and lateral tail feathers,
pure white; no crest, or spurs on the wings. Length twelve to thirteen
inches; wing, from carpus to tip, seven inches and a half to eight inches;
tarsus two inches; middle toe one inch and a quarter; naked part of
thigh one inch; bill one inch and a quarter.

Tue Social or Gregarious Plover is an Asiatic species, which is
found also inhabiting the southern parts of Russia, especially the
swampy plains on the borders of the Volga, from whence it wanders
to the Crimea, and occasionally into Poland. Its appearance in other

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SOCIAL PLOVER. 163

parts of Europe is accidental. It has, however, occurred in Hungary,
Dalmatia, Germany, and Italy. Mr. Saunders thinks he saw a
specimen of this bird in February, 1868, hanging up in the market
at Cadiz, in a semi-putrid state, so that it would have been impos-
sible to preserve it. (See the Ibis, 1871, p. 386.) Pallas met with
it in great. numbers at Jaik and Samara, on the Volga. It has also
been found in Persia, Syria, and Sinai. M. Nordmann says that he
has no doubt it nests in the south of Russia, and Temminck re-affirms
this; but neither adduces any instance of a nest having been found.

Dr. Leith Adams informs me that he found the Social Plover
pretty common in the Punjab; and Captain (now Colonel) Irby
includes it in his list of birds observed in Oudh and Kumaon. In
India it is known as the Keptusca or Cawnpore Sandpiper: I quote
his own words, (‘“‘Ibis,” 1861, p. 238.)—“Exceedingly common
on open sandy plains, in January, February, and March. Never
seen alone, but in flocks of from six to upwards of fifty. When
on the ground they appear at first sight very like the Golden
Plover, but upon taking wing they resemble Sarciophorus bilobus or
Lobivanellus cinereus, shewing a great deal of white in the wings,
but flying close to the ground, unlike the other Plovers.”

There is not much known with certainty about the nidification
and habits of the Social Plover. Its egg has been in collections only
during the last two or three years. It is said, however, to con-
gregate in large flocks in Chinese Tartary and Southern Russia,
and to breed in companies more or less numerous, lke our well
known Lapwing. The egg, according to Biideker, is like that of
the Lapwing, but not difficult to distinguish. It is larger and more
swollen in shape, and the ground colouring is a clear greenish,
often passing, towards the larger end, into reddish yellow. It is
covered with brown and blackish. brown spots, which are of a
roundish or semicircular shape.

The adult male has the top of the head, a line from the gape
through the eyes, the primaries, lower part of abdomen, and a
band across the end of the tail, black; a band round the vertex,
throat, under wing and tail coverts, and secondary quill feathers,
white, the latter having small patches of liver brown on their outer
webs at the end; nape, scapulars, back, and upper wing and tail
coverts, grey brown; sides of the head and neck fawn-colour; chest
and crop smoky brown, terminating in deep black below the abdomen,
which black again terminates in feathers strongly marked with liver
brown; flanks white; tail white, with a black band near the end, the
most lateral feather being pure white; bill, legs, and feet black.

164 SOCIAL PLOVER.

The female resembles the male, but the tints are less pure, and
more diffused, particularly the under parts.

The young of the year, according to Degland, have the top of
the head grey brown, bordered with russet; wing coverts and wings
olive brown, with lighter brown borders; forehead and superciliary
streak very bright buff; throat white; sides of the head, neck, and
crop, spotted like the wing coverts; abdomen pure white, the rest as
in adults. This description fairly corresponds with specimens of the
young in the collection of Mr. Harting. ,

My figure is taken from a specimen from the Volga, sent me by
Canon Tristram. The egg is in my own collection; it was taken in
South Russia, and sent to me by Herr Moeschler. I have also a
series taken by Herr Glitsch in South Russia.

The species has been figured by Bonaparte, Faun. Ital., pl. 41;
and Gould, Birds of Europe, pl. 292.

Mr. Harting informs me that Gray and Hardwick’s plate, in their
“Illustrations of Indian Ornithology,” of the “Black-sided Sandpiper”
of Latham, which they identify with Charadrius ventralis of Wagler,
is referable to the present species, and that Charadrius ventralis of
Wagler is the Indian Spur-winged Plover. The latter, however, is
figured on another plate in the same work, and there correctly
designated. By some confusion the authors have figured two very
different species under the same name.

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WHITE-TAILED PLOVER.

WHITE-TAILED PLOVER. 165

GRALLATORES.
Family CHARADRIIDA. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Cuamtusia. ( Bonaparte.)

WHITE-TAILED PLOVER.

Chetusia leucura.

Chetusia leucura, ‘‘LICHTENSTEIN.’ EVERSMAN; Reise Bokh.,

Detisizor 18232)

os flavipes, ' Savieny; Descrip. de l’ Egypte, t. 6, fig. 2.
(1825.)

is villotaet, AUDOUIN; op. cit.

es flavipes, WriGuT; Ibis, 1865, pl. 10. Gray; Hand
List, No. 9956.

cs aralensts, EVERSMAN; Bull. Mosc., xxvi., p. 2, p. 497.

s grallarius, LEsson;, Draite d’ Orn, p. 542, (1831.)

Speeific Characters.—Head, neck, breast, and upper portions of the plumage
vinous grey. Primaries black; secondaries white. Chin and _ tail white.
Legs and feet yellow. Eye large; iris hazel; eyelids red. Length eleven
inches; wing from carpus to tip seven inches. ‘Tarsus three inches; middle
toe one inch and three tenths. Bill one inch and three tenths. ‘Tail three
inches and two tenths. |

Turis bird was first noticed in Europe at Montpellier, im the south
of France, (see Crespon, ‘“Faune Meridionale,” (1844,) and Jaubert,
“Rich. Orn. Midi France,” p. 452,) and is known to breed in South
Russia, in the neighbourhood of Sarepta (see ‘‘Revue et Mag. de
Zoologie,” third series, 1874, p. 235.) It is therefore a welcome addition
to our list.

Mr. Charles A. Wright, C.M.Z.S., in the “Ibis” for 1865, p. 459,
in his second Appendix to the Birds of Malta and Gozo, has the
following observations:—‘‘On the 18th. of October, 1864, in one of my

166 WHITE-TAILED PLOVER.

frequent visits to the game stalls in the Malta market, my attention
was struck by a strange-looking bird, which was offered me for sale
as a Cream-coloured Courser—a somewhat rare visitor, but of which
I had picked up in the course of several years from the same stall
one or two specimens, and a few others from other sources. This it
certainly was not. On consulting such books as I had at hand I
could find nothing answering to it in Bree’s “Birds of Europe,”
or Degland’s “Ornithologie Européenne,” and being sure it did not
belong to any species hitherto observed in England, I was altogether
at a loss to know what it was. The short description in the “ Ibis”
for 1859, (pp. 52-58,) of Vanellus leucurus, given by Mr. E. C. Taylor
in his “Ornithological Reminiscences of Egypt,” to which I subsequently
referred, was sufficient to satisfy me that I was in possession of one
of those birds so rare in European collections that Mr. Taylor observes
there is but one unnamed footless specimen in the British Museum;
and in the Paris Museum at the Jardin des Plantes he could not find
it at all. It was, he adds, perhaps the rarest species which he and his
party met with in Egypt, though in an extensive tract of marshy country,
a few miles south-west of Thebes, it was abundant, and several were
shot. In confirmation of this I am told that a gentleman who returned
to Egypt this winter, met with a good many near Thebes during his
visit last year.”

In the “Richesses Ornithologiques du Midi de la France” of MM.
Jaubert and Barthelemy-Lapommeraye, p. 452, is an account of the
capture of a second specimen at Montpellier. This specimen is in
the collection of M. Doumet at Cette.

According to Von Heuglin, it is only a passenger through North-
east Africa and Central and Southern India.

The following I extract from Jerdon’s “Birds of India:”—‘The
White-tailed Lapwing is a rare bird in India. I procured it only
once, on the margin of the large lake at Bhopal, in Central India,
in December, where it occurred in small flocks. My attention was
first called to it by its peculiar cry. Blyth procured one specimen
from the Calcutta Bazaar; it was once procured in the Dehra Doon,
and no other record of its occurrence in India is noted. It is how-
ever stated not to be rare in Affghanistan, where it is called Chirie.
Out of India it is chiefly known as an inhabitant of Northern Africa,
and it is said to be abundant in marshes near Thebes. At the time
that Canon Tristram published his account of its occurrence there, it
was stated by him to be rare in European Museums; only one bad
specimen existing in the British Museum, and none in that of Paris.”
Not much is known about its nidification, but I learn from Mr.

WHITE-TAILED PLOVER. 167

Harting that an interesting article from M. Vian on the breeding of
this bird in European Russia is published in the “Revue et Magazin
de Zoologie” for 1874.

Through the kindness of Mr. Harting I am enabled to describe and
figure a male bird in that gentleman’s collection. It was shot in
Egypt by Captain Shelley on the 21st. of February, 1870.

This bird has the crown of the head brown, shading off to lighter
on the nape, cheek, and sides of neck. The back is a bronzy isabel.
Tail coverts darker brown; the tail beg pure white. The wing has
the primaries pitch black, their extreme ends being very faintly
edged with lighter; the first three primaries are nearly equal, the
second the longest. ‘The secondaries are pure white, the first four
being more or less tipped with dark brown: this gives the conspicuous
white band on the wing. The wing coverts are isabel, edged with
black; the long secondaries, going to nearly the middle of the tail,
isabel brown, tipped with white. The shoulders are white, with here
and there a black feather. Under wing coverts pure white. Chin
whitish; breast light brown; abdomen dusky; under tail coverts and
lower abdomen tawny; flanks white. Legs and feet yellow.

I have the pleasure of figuring also, for I believe the first time, an
egg, the drawing of which was made for this work by Dr. von

Heuglin.

168 SPUR-WINGED PLOVER.

GRALLATORES.
Family CHARADRITDA:. (Bonaparte. )
Genus HorLorrerRws.

Generte Characters—Wings furnished with a long and _ stout, slightly
curved, horny spur, present at all seasons; no hind toe; otherwise as in
Vanellus.—BONAPARTE.

SPUR-WINGED PLOVER.

Hoplopterus spinosus.

Charadrius spinosus, Linnaus; Syst. Nat. i., p. 256, (1766.)
Vanellus melasomus, SWAINSON; Birds W. Afr. ii., p. 237, (1837.)
Hoplopterus spinosus, BONAPARTE; List, (1838,) p. 46.

& és Keys. ET Bras.; Wirbelth. Eur., (1840.)
Pluvier arm€ commun, Or THE FRENCH.
Gemeiner Spornkiebrerz, OF THE GERMANS.

Specific Characters.—Forehead and crown black, the feathers of the
occiput elongated into a crest; throat, breast and upper portion of the
abdomen, distal half of tail and primaries black; sides of face and neck,
as also the nape, lower part of abdomen, and basal half of tail pure white.
Dorsal plumage and wing coverts hair brown, inclining to ashy grey, a
sharp strong spur on each carpal joint. Length eleven inches; wing
from carpal joint eight inches; tarsus two inches and a half; bill one
inch and one fifth; tail three inches and a half.

Tue European localities of the Spur-winged Plover are Turkey,
Greece, Russia, and occasionally Sicily and Malta. M. Nordmann
records having shot a male out of a_ flock of eight or ten, near
Odessa, in 1837, in company with a large flock of the Sociable
Plover, Chetusia gregaria. In Africa it has a wide range. It is
very common in Senegal, whence it derives the name given to it

IM-aUNnds

SPUR-WINGED PLOVER. 169

by Brisson. Mr. Taylor (Ibis, vol. i, p. 58,) says it is about the
commonest bird in Egypt, and very tame. I do not find it included
in Captain Loche’s “Catalogue of the Avifauna of Algeria.” In Asia
we have it recorded by Canon ‘Tristram, in his “Notes on Birds
Observed in Southern Palestine,” (Ibis, vol. i, p. 36,) two specimens
having been seen on the banks of the Jordan.

Temminck suggests the probability of the Spur-winged Plover
breeding in the south of Russia, but I am not aware of any nests
having been found there.

The egg which I have figured was taken by Canon Tristram himself,
at Boulac, Egypt, who has kindly added the following remark from
his notes:—“I took the nest of Vanellus spinosus, in a field on
the hill opposite Boulac, on March Ist., 1858. The field was
fallow, and the four eggs laid after the manner of the Lapwings,
on the bare ground, in a slight depression. The bird, which had
not begun to sit, ran a few yards straight from her eggs, and then,
after the manner of the Lapwing, feigned lameness, and vociferously
repeated its shrill note, which is much more sharp and harsh than
that of our Lapwing. Finding that I continued to search about the
spot where I had first detected her, she took to her wings, and
kept tumbling over head just in front of me; and in a few minutes
was joined by her mate, who: vehemently seconded her efforts to draw
me onwards.

“The habits of this bird in every respect resemble those of its
English congener; but it is more easy of approach, probably from
being less persecuted. It is one of the most abundant birds on the
cultivated banks of the Nile, several pairs being found in every
field.”

I copy the following from Bideker:—“The nest is placed in a
hole in the sand, either in an island or field. It lays from three to
six eggs: these are one inch three lines long, and about an inch
broad. The ground-colour, difficult to describe, is mixed up with
green, grey, and yellow. ‘This ground-colour is covered with. black
and dark brown spots, which only at the point leave the ground-
colour free, while they entirely cover the thick end. ‘The bird
leaves the nest at the approach of man, with shrill screams, and
flies, like the Lapwing, round the intruder. In some nests I found
damp earth in layers between the eggs, or covered with it to conceal
them. The young birds resemble the old ones, even in their nest
plumage.”

Captain Shelley has detailed the breeding habits of this species in
his ‘‘ Birds of Egypt,” p. 232; and some further remarks on the subject

VOL. IV. Z

170 SPUR-WINGED PLOVER.

will be found in a paper by Mr. Harting, “On the Eggs of Little-
known Limicole,” published in the Proceedings of the Zoological
Society, 1874, p. 406.

The Spur-winged Plover has the top of the head, throat, neck,
abdomen, primary wing feathers, and end of tail black; sides of the
head, nape, rump, under wing and tail coverts, shoulders, and lower
part of abdomen pure white; back and wing coverts light brown;
beak and feet black; iris deep red. ‘The plumage is alike in both
sexes.

Dr. Leith Adams (Ibis, 1864, p. 29,) identifies this species, and not
the next (Pluvianus cegyptius), with the Trochilus of Herodotus; and
Mr. Stafford Allen, who had similar opportunities of studying the
species in Egypt (c. f. tom. cit., p. 240), agrees with him.

Mr. E. C. Taylor, however, (Ibis, 1859, p. 52,) maintains that
Pluvianus egyptius is the species referred to (vide infra), and Mr.
Harting thinks there is little doubt that he is right; since “the friend
of the crocodile” is more likely to have been the smaller species
which frequents the shoals and sand-flats, than the larger bird which
is more frequently found in the cultivated parts of the country.

My figure of the bird is taken from a specimen killed in Egypt,
in March, 1858, kindly sent me by Canon Tristram. The egg has
been already referred to.

The species has been figured by Brisson, vol. v., pl. 7, fig. 2;
Savigny, Egypte, pl. 6, fig. 3; Gould, B. of E., pl. 293; Swainson,
IBEW; Adria, pl: 26) and others:

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; ,

EGYPTIAN PLOVER. 171

GRALLATORES.
Family CHARADRIIDA. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Piuvianus. ( Veeillot. )

Generic Characters—Bill thick at base, compressed towards the middle,
pointed, superior mandible slightly arched, inferior straight; nostrils oblong,
covered with a membrane. Three slender toes, directed forward, united
at their base by a small membrane. No hind toe. The first quill feather
the longest of all. The middle claw with the inner edge dilated and finely
serrated.— VIEILLOT.

EGYPTIAN PLOVER.

Pluvianus cegyptius.

Charadrius eg yptius, HiasseLouisT; Reise, 311, (1752.-)
oe os Linnaus; Syst. Nat., i., p. 254, (1766.)
melanocephalus, GMELIN; Syst. Nat., i., p. 692, (1788.)
a chlorocephalus, Wansiaeacfours (Cail Onigh, joll, 222324,
Pluvianus eg yptius, HARTLAUB; Ornith. West Africas, p. 209.
se as Gray; Hand List, No. 10035.
Cursor charadrioides, WAGLER; Syst. Av., No. 6, (1827.)
Ammoptila charadrioides, SWAINSON; Classification of Birds,
p. 364, (1837.)
Cheilodromas melanocephalus, RiprELL; Mus. Senkenb., ii., p. 208.
Pluvian melanocephale, OF THE FRENCH.

Specific Characters.—Forehead, crown, nape, centre of back, and pectoral
band black; superciliary streak and chin white; breast, flanks, and under
tail coverts pale buffy white. Primaries black, each feather medially and
broadly marked on both webs with white; secondaries white, with the
apex black; scapulars nearly as long as the longest primary. Length
from tip of bill to end of tail nine inches; wing five inches and three
fifths; tail two inches and seven tenths. Bill from forehead three fifths,

from rictus four fifths of an inch; tarsus one inch and three fifths; middle
toe and claw one inch.

172 EHGYPTIAN PLOVER.

Tue Egyptian, or Black-headed Plover inhabits north, north-east, and
north-west Africa, and is occasionally found in Europe. Degland says
that it has been captured in the south of France; and M. Crespon, in
the “Faune Meridionale,” mentions a female having been killed by
M. Lebrun, in Herault, on the 20th. of November, 1840. Hartlaub gives
Spain as a locality. In the “Zoologist” for 1853, p. 4096, Mr. Gurney
has recorded its accidental occurrence so far north as Sweden, where
a specimen was shot by an Englishman near Stockholm.

There is no doubt, however, that it is extremely rare as a
European species, and I only introduce it as an accidental visitor,
and because it ought to be well known to ornithologists, should it
turn up more frequently in the south of Europe.

Mr. E. Cavenish Taylor informs me it is very common in Egypt;
where, however, it confines itself to the shores and sand banks of
the Nile, from which it seems to derive its food. Captain Loche
says it occurs only accidentally in Algeria. A specimen was shot
by Mr. Herschel in the Jordan Valley, as recorded in the “Ibis,”
1862, p. 279.

Mr. Taylor says that he generally found it paired in the months
of December and January. It was very tame, and when it rose
uttered a loud shrill note, from which both it and Ch. spinosus
are called by the Arabs Zic Zac. The flesh dark coloured, and not |
very good eating.

In the “Ibis,” vol. i, p. 52, Mr. Taylor, in his “ Reminiscence
of Egypt,” has the following note about this bird:—“I did not see
this very pretty species below Cairo, but above I found it very
numerous. Irides dark brown; legs and feet pale blue; toes three
in number. This bird enjoys the credit of being the ¢trochilos of
Herodotus, which he mentions as living on such terms of intimacy
with the crocodile. ‘The account which that veracious historian
gives of the entente cordiale between these apparently ill-assorted allies,
is as follows:—‘As the crocodile lives chiefly on the river, it has
the inside of its mouth constantly covered with leeches; hence it
happens that while all other birds and beasts avoid it, with the
trochilos it lives- at peace, since it owes much to that bird; for the
crocodile, when he leaves the water, and comes out upon the land,
is in the habit of lying with his mouth wide open, facing the
western breeze; at such times the ¢rochilos goes into his mouth and
devours the leeches. This benefits the crocodile, who is pleased,
and takes care not to hurt the ¢trochilos.—Herod. book ii, end of
chap. viii. As a matter of fact I seldom saw a crocodile on land
without seeing a Pluvianus cegyptius near him.”

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EGYPTIAN PLOVER. 173

The following is from Biideker:—‘‘This inhabitant of Egypt has
also been shot on the Guadalquiver,* and in other places in the
south of Europe. It breeds on the sandy islands of the Nile. It
scratches a hole in the sand or gravel, and lays four eggs therein.
These are very difficult to find, as the vigilant bird, when it observes
the approach of man, covers them over before it leaves the nest.
The shell is of a dull glaze-red yellow ground colour, with violet
grey spots and chesnut brown dots, streaks, and waves, all seen
apparently underneath the surface; a species of marking which, as
well as the size, though not in the form, brings them near the eggs
of Charadrius cantianus, (Kentish Plover.) In Sennaar it is often
seen near a crocodile, and is hence called ‘crocodile guard.’

The egg has recently been figured by Mr. Harting, (P.Z.S., 1874,
p. 456, pl. Ix, fig. 2,) from a specimen found on a sand-bank near
Damietta by Mr. J. H. Cochrane, who shot the old bird in May,
1862.

The male and female have in winter the top and_ sides of the
head and cheeks, the nape, back, a band round the chest, base
and tips of the wing feathers, glossy black; the scapularies, wing
and tail coverts, and the feathers of the tail, clear slate grey; a band
over the eyes, going round the occiput; the throat, under wing
coverts, edge of pectoral black band, flanks, end of tail feathers,
and distal half of primaries, except the first, (which is entirely
black,) pure white; chest, crop, abdomen, thighs, and under tail
coverts, clear russet. Beak black; feet and legs green.

The young, according to Degland, (Orn. Europ., vol. ii., p. 87,)
have the top of the head, top and sides of the neck, russet grey;
back and scapularies isabelle, with reflections of greenish purple;
forehead and throat dirty white; crop and top of abdomen of a vinous
tint, shaded with violet; under tail coverts clear fawn-colour; small
wing coverts like the back, the greater ones ash or whitish, having
a black spot and tipped with white; primaries deep black; secondaries
and tail feathers pure white; beak black; iris brown; legs yellow.
The above description is taken from two female specimens, one killed
in Egypt, and the other in France.

I am indebted to Mr. E. Cavendish Taylor for the specimen from
which my figure has been taken. It was killed in Egypt, in January,
1854. ‘The egg is copied from Bideker.

* Mr. Howard Saunders says this must be a mistake. He has been unable
to find any authority for the occurrence of this species in any part of Spain.

174 ASIATIC DOTTERETL.

GRALLATORES.
Family CHARADRIIDE. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus Eupromias. (Bove. )

Generic Characters.—Bill shorter than the head, slender, compressed and
soft at the base, dilated and hardened at the extremity, which is slightly
decurved. Nasal furrow extending for two thirds of the length; nostrils
basal and linear. Wings long and pointed, the first primary the longest.
Tail long and rounded, or with the two central rectrices elongated. ‘Tarsus
long and slender, scutellated (not reticulated, as in Charadrius). Dorsal
plumage plain, or more or less uniformly coloured. A pectoral or abdominal
band of a red or black colour, sometimes both.

ASIATIC DOTTEREL.

Kudromias asiaticus.

Eudromias asiaticus, Keys. ET Bras.; Wirbelth. E., p. 268.
‘s cs G. R. Grav; List B. Mus., 1844.
a se Hervuein; Syst. Uebers. Vog. N. O. Afr.,
Pp. 57, 1856.

sf ae HARTING; Ibis, 1870, p. 202, pl. v.
Charadrius astaticus et caspius, PALLAS; Reise et Zoogr. R. A.

ss e it LATHAM. GMELIN. SCHLEGEL.

¢ jugularis, _ WacterR; Syst. Avium, fol. 5, p. 5, No. 39.

a es Demiporr ; Voyage Ross. Merid. ili., p. 233.

$F damarensts, STRICKLAND; Contrib. Orn., 1851.

oo gigas, ‘““BREHM.” BONAPARTE; uf infra.
Morinellus caspius, BONAPARTE; Comp. Rend., 1856, p. 417.
Cirripedesmus astaticus, GouLp; Handb. B. Australia, il., p. 229,

1865.
Morinellus casptus, DEGLAND AND GERBE; Orn. Eur., ii.,

Denlg2 o07/.

ASIATIC DOTTEREL. 175

Specific Characters —Shaft of first primary white; the next white from the
eentre; brown at the base. Upper part of plumage of a uniform olive
brown, with clear edges to the feathers. Forehead and superciliary ridge
white, tinged with rufous.. Upper chest dark rufous brown, with a border
below of blackish feathers. Length seven inches; wing from carpus five
inches and two tenths; tail two inches; tarsus one inch and four fifths;
bill one inch.

We are indebted for almost all we know about this bird to an
excellent monograph by Mr. Harting in the “Ibis” for 1870, from
which article most of what follows is taken.

This bird has a wide range, being found in Northern China
(Swinhoe), Tartary, and the shores of the Caspian Sea (Pallas),
Russia (Radde), Odessa (Nordmann), Heligoland (Blasius), Altai
Mountains (Mus. Brit.), Palestine, Bay of Acre (Tristram), Red Sea
Shore (Heuglin), Abyssinia (Blanford), South Africa (Von Horstock),
Colesburg, Cape Colony (Layard), Damaraland (Andersson), Orange
River (Verreaux), Algoa Bay (Mus. Brit.).

“The specimens of E. astaticus, which were procured by Pallas
about the salt lakes in the southern deserts of Tartary were all in
full summer plumage, and the birds were not in flocks; whence it may
be inferred it was here discovered in its breeding haunts.”

“No subsequent traveller, however, in these regions has yet established
the fact, and the eggs still (1870) remain undescribed. Like other
species of Limzcolw, this Plover, impelled by curious instinct, migrates
southward at the approach of winter; and the observations of modern
naturalists show that it has a very extensive range. Its usual line of
migration appears to be the Red Sea shore and Abyssinia to South
and South-west Africa. Nevertheless stragglers from the main body
are occasionally carried out of their course, and are found considerably
westward of this line. Hence it is that this species has come to be
included in the European avifauna. Specimens procured in Russia,
on the shores of the Caspian Sea, are in the Museum at St. Peters-
burg and the British Museum.”

‘“*Professor Nordmann states (Voy. Démid. Russ. Mérid., iti., p. 233,)
that in April, 1836, a single example was obtained near Odessa. The
furthest point westward at which this species has been found is Heli-
goland, where a solitary example was killed on the 16th. of November,
1850, for which remarkable fact we have the authority of Professor
Blasius, (Ibis, 1862,) who, referring to the specimen in the collection
of Herr Giitke, observes that it is a young bird, which undoubtedly
belongs to this species, and not to C. pyrrhothoraz, Temminck. It

176 ASIATIC DOTTEREL.

is therefore quite possible that on some future occasion this bird may
occur in England.”’

I find in an excellent paper by Mr. J. Cordeaux on the Birds
obtained by Mr. Gitke in Heligoland, (Ibis, 1875, April, p. 185,)
that a second specimen was captured in that island on May 19th.,
1859—an old male in summer plumage. Canon Tristram shot a
specimen near Acre in winter, “where C. pyrrothorax was pretty
common.” (Ibis, 1868, p. 323.)

Mr. Blanford, who accompanied the expedition to Abyssinia, brought
home two young birds, which Mr. Harting says belong to this species,
and in his “Geology and Zoology of Abyssinia,” the former naturalist
remarks, p. 429, “Apparently less abundant than Mdicnemus affinis on
the coast. I shot some specimens inland at Rairo in Habab in August.
They were in flocks on open grassy ground.”

The late Mr. J. C. Andersson remarks (Birds of Damaraland, edited
by Mr. J. H. Gurney, p. 271,) “Small flocks of this Plover may at
times be seen in Damaraland, but it is never common and very shy.
All my Damara specimens were procured at Objimbinque, in the moist
bed of the river Swakoss.”

“The iris is very dark brown, the ring round the eyes black, the
legs yellow, and the toes dusky.”

“Individual specimens differ a good deal in size; but there is no
marked distinction in the dimensions of the sexes. The largest adult
specimen I obtained measured eight inches in length, the smallest
seven.”

Mr. Layard, in his ‘Birds of South Africa,” says that he obtained
specimens near Colesberg, where they are found in flocks of fifteen
or twenty very far away from water. ‘They were scarce, and only
seen after showers of rain, which bring out small coleoptera, etc., on
which they seem to feed and get very fat.

Mr. Harting further remarks, “M. Verreaux found this species on
the Orange River, and a specimen from Algoa Bay in the British
Museum. Other examples procured in South Africa by Von Horstock
are in the British Museum.”

“Tt is not included by Rippell in his ‘Systematische Uebersicht der
Vogel Nord. Ost. Africas.’’’

Von Heuglin, in his “Vogel Nord. Ost. Africas,” has the following
about this bird, under the head of Charadrius damarensis :—‘ Young
birds, and in winter plumage, are above a duller and more sooty
grey, also the whole crop and upper parts of the breast, the feathers
of which are somewhat lighter at the edge, and foremost parts of the
crown of the head, (not however of the white forehead,) are clearly

ASIATIO DOTTEREL. 177

and finely bordered with a fallow shade; the white part of the face
sprinkled with pale grey; the white markings of the edges of the
secondary wing feathers wanting.

“T have met with small flocks of this Dotterel on the northern
coasts of Egypt and in the Gulf of Suez here and there during winter,
but I have no skin to prove the fact.

“In the morasses of East Kordofan, on the lower White and on the
Blue Nile, on the rain-beds of the province of Ivsalabat, and along
the shore of the Tana Lake in Abyssinia we found also red rusty-
necked Plovers during the months of April and May, in the most
splendid plumage. In the autumn young birds of the same sort which,
according to the descriptions of Pallas and Wagler, can neither be
assigned to Charadrius asiaticus nor to C. mongolicus. I called the
species in my systematic list drawn up in Africa, Charadrius rujficollis.
It belongs however to Charadrius damarensis, Strickland, which is
specifically distinguished by the shorter wings and tarsi, the white
colour of the outer edge of the six to ten minor wing feathers, and
the white axillary feathers from C. asiaticus, Pallas. I indeed received
this species, called by him C. aszaticus, in April at Adowa. Blanford
obtained it in August at Samhar and at Massowah. It lives in pairs
and small companies on sand-banks, on forest brooks, old dry lakes,
and clefts of rocks, as well as on pasture lands. It is probably a
resident bird in North-east Africa.”

There can be no doubt but that the bird thus described by Heuglin
is that of this notice. Strickland’s name, it will be seen, is one of
the synonymes.

By the kindness of Mr. Harting I am able to describe and figure
a male bird from Andersson’s collection. It was shot at Knysna on
January 3l1st., 1866. ‘This bird has the head, nape, and all the upper
parts of the body olive brown; primaries black; the first with the entire
shaft white; second with half the shaft white, as seen from above.
Secondaries long, extending with the primaries beyond the end of the
tail. Cheeks, forehead, eyebrows, sides of the face, and throat white.
A broad belt of rufous extends across the breast, the lowest feathers
of which are tipped with dark umber brown. Abdomen and under
tail coverts white. Tail with the outer feather on each side smoke®
grey, the others darker in colour as they approach the middle; axillary
feathers white. Wings underneath dark grey, with the primary shafts
white. Legs and toes of a greenish grey colour, middle and outer
toes partly united at base. :

There is a communication in the June number of the P.Z.S. for
1875, from Mr. Dresser, in which I find that that gentleman had

VOL. Iv. 2A

178 ASTATIC DOTTEREL.

forestalled me with Mr. Schluter, of Halle, in the matter of the egg
of this bird. Mr. Dresser thus describes the egg, which, however, is
not, as he suggests, unknown to science, inasmuch as Von Heuglin
informed me two years ago that a specimen had passed through his
hands.

“This egg,’ says Mr. Dresser, “which I now exhibit somewhat
resembles those of Hudromias morinellus, but is darker and rather more
green in tinge of ground colour than the general run of those eggs,
beside being much less spotted and more oval in shape. It is, as
will be seen, warm buff, with the faintest greenish tinge, and sparingly
spotted with black, the markings being comparatively small, and not
large blotches as in those of H. morinellus. In size it measures 1.25
by 1.075 inches, and is oval in shape, very slightly tapering towards
one end. It is especially interesting to obtain not only the egg but
the bird itself from the locality where it was originally described.”

Mr. Dresser says that his specimens of the bird prove Mr. Harting’s
description and figure to be correct, in contradiction to the doubt
thrown on the matter by Dr. Otto Finsch (Ibis, 1872, p. 144), who
considered that Mr. Harting’s E. asvaticus should stand as C. damarensis,
a bird originally described by Strickland in the ‘Contributions to
Ornithology,” and that Mr. Harting’s E. veredus is the Charadrius
astaticus of Pallas, a conclusion in which I cannot now concur.

Mr. Dresser doubts whether the bird is correctly included in the
genus Hudromias, because the sexes do not differ in plumage; but, as
Mr. Harting says, the difference observable in the sexes of Hudromias
is only a difference of intensity of colour, and not of the colour itself,
or the disposition of it. The similarity of the eggs, also, is, I think,
an additional proof that Mr. Harting is right. I therefore do not
change the designation which he has given to this species.

It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the kindness of Mr.
Dresser in entrusting me with his rare and almost unique egg of this
bird for illustration; and ornithologists I feel sure will join in this
vote of thanks.

This bird will be found figured by Mr. Harting in the “Ibis,”
1870, plate v.

MONGOLIAN RINGED PLOVER. 179

GRALLATORES.
Family CHARADRIIDAI. ( Bonaparte.)
Genus A‘GIALITIS.

MONGOLIAN RINGED PLOVER.

Agialitis mongolicus.

Charadrius mongolus, PAG EAST WINCISe,: Iil-se Den 7OOsmilu7s71 Ol
a mongolicus, PALLAS 3 Zoogr. Ross. AS.,:i1., p. 130; 1S 11.
Ss ruficolls, Cuvier; Mus. Paris.
“ cantianus, HorsFIELD; Trans. Linn. Soc., xili.,
De 187, 1820.
Aegialitis pyrrhothorax, Keys. ET Bras.; Wirb. Eur., p. 70, 1840.
2 mongolicus, HartTinG; Ibis, 1870, p. 384.
Pluvier a collier roux, OF THE FRENCH.
Kragen-Regenpfetfer, OF THE GERMANS.

Specific Characters.—Above a grey brown, with the forehead maroon, more
or less dark; across the breast a broad belt of red; the last tail feather
but one grey on the outside, white on the inner web, and terminated by
a large brown spot. Length seven inches. Bill seven tenths. Wing from
carpus five inches. ‘Tarsus one inch and three tenths.

Tuts Plover, of which Mr. Harting has given a very complete
account in the “Ibis,” (1870, p.p. 384-392,) has a very wide range,
extending over Mongolia, Siberia, Amurland, India, China, Java,
Malay Archipelago, and Australia. Canon Tristram met with it in
Palestine, at the mouth of the Kishon; and Von Heuglin has
recorded it from Kordofan, in the Danakil Country. It was intro-
duced into the European list by Temminck, in consequence of a
specimen having been shot in the neighbourhood of St. Petersburg,
and was first figured by Gould in his “Birds of Europe.” I think,

180 MONGOLIAN RINGED PLOVER.

however, that although the species is a good one, its claims to a
position in the European fauna are so slight, that it ought to be
erased from the list; and I shall merely refer my readers to Gould’s
figure, and the specific diagnosis above, in case they should meet with
it again in the confines of Europe. Its history and geographical
range will be found fully detailed in Mr. Harting’s paper above

referred to.

END OF VOL. IV.

B. Fawcett, Engraver and Printer, Driffield.

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