0~,U(o K ^«7 FOR THE PEOPLE FOK EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ' &-] OQ THE IBIS QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY. OSBERT SALVIN, M.A., F.L.S , F.Z.S., &c. I^^^^^^^^H - ^ k;- "^^^^^^^^^^^^^i^^^^ '^^" VOL. I. 1871. THIRD SEEIES. Ibidis aii.spicio noviis incipit Ibidis oi-do ! L 0 X D 0 X : JOHN VAN VOORST, 1 PATERNOSTER ROW. 1871. PlUNXJil} BV TAYLOK A^D FKANCIS, KET) LION COntT, FLEET STEEET PREFACE. It was not witliout hesitation that, in compliance with the request of my valued friend and predecessor Professor Newton, I offered my services as Editor of a Third Series of this Journal, when he from pressure of other engagements was obliged to re- sign the post. I felt considerable diffidence in my powers to carry on ' The Ibis ' with ability at all equal to that which has supported it during the twelve years of its existence. Though I trust that fewer defects will be found in future Volumes, I still hope that the present one may not be considered unworthy of those that have appeared before it. My best thanks are due for the assistance I have received from many quarters ; but to Mr. Sclater I owe a special debt for cordial and ready help, of which I have not hesitated very frequently to avail myself. O. S. 32 The Grove, Boltons, London. September 1871. BEITISH OIINITHOLOGISTS' UNION. 1871. [An asterisk indicates an Original Member.] Date of Election. 1870. Andkew Anderson ; Futtehgurh, North- West Provinces, India. 1864. J. H. Barneby-Ltjtley, M.A. ; Brockhampton, Herefordshire. 1870. Sir Victor Brooke, Bart. ; Colebrooke, Fermanagh, Ireland. 1871. A. Basil Brooke; Colebrooke, Fermanagh, Ireland. 1866. HJEJfRY Buckley, F.Z.S. ; Edgbaston, Birmingham. 1868. Thomas Edward Buckley, B.A., F.Z.S. ; Westwood House, Beverley. 1866. Arthur William Crichton, B.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; Broadward Hall, Salop. 1865. Henry Eeles Dresser, F.Z.S. ; The Firs, South Norwood, Surrey. 1858.*Henry Maurice Drummond-Hay, C.M.Z.S., Lieutenant-Colo- nel, Royal Perth Rifles ; Seggieden, Perth. 1870. Daniel Giraud Elliot, F.Z.S. ; New York. 1866. Henry John Elwes, F.Z.S., late Captain, Scots Fusilier Guards ; 41 Portman Square, London. 1858.*Thomas Campbell Eyton, F.Z.S. ; Eyton Hall, Salop. 1867. George Gooch Fowler, B.A. ; Gunton HaU, SuiFolk. 1865. Rev. Henry Elliott Fox, B.A. ; 22 Cornmarket, Oxford. 1858.*Frederick DuCane Godman, F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; 55 Lowndes Square, London. 1858.*Percy Sanden Godman, B.A., C.M.Z.S. ; Borregaard, Sarps- borg, Norway, 1871. Robert Gray ; 2 Lawrence Place, Downan HiU, Glasgow. 1858.*JonN Henry Gurney, F.Z.S. ; Marldon, Devon. Date of Election. 1870. John Heney GtmNEY, Jun., F.Z.S. ; 2 Beta Place, Alpha Road, London. 1868. James Edmund Hakting, F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; 24 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London. 1858.*Ilev. William Henry Hawker, M.A., F.Z.S. ; Ashford, Petersfield, Sussex. 1868. Rev. Herbert 8. Hawkos, M.A. ; Beyton Rectory, Suffolk. 1858.*WiLFRiD HuDLESTON HuDLESTON, M.A., F.Z.S. ; 23 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, London. 1869. Allatj Octayian Hume, C.B. ; Commissioner of Imperial Cus- toms, Agra, India. 1870. Leonard Howard Irby, Major, 74th (Highlander) Regiment. 1864. Thomas C. Jerdon, F.Z.S., Retired Deputy Inspector of Hos- pitals, Madras. 1870. Hon. Hedworth Hylton-Jollifee ; Heath House, Peters- field, Sussex. 1858.*ARTnuR Edward Knox, M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; Trotton House, Petersfield, Sussex. 1858.*Right Hon. Thomas Lyttleton, Lord Lilford, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. ; Lilford Hall, Oundle, Northants. 1870. C. H. T. Marshall, F.Z.S. ; Captain, Bengal Stafi" Corps. 1870. G. F. L. Marshall, F.Z.S. ; Royal (Bengal) Engineers. 1864. Alexander Goodman More, F.L.S. «S:c. ; 3 Botanic View, Glasnevin, Dublin. 1858.*Edward Clough Newcome ; Feltvvell Hall, Norfolk. 1858.*Alfred Newton, M.A., F.R.S., F.L.S., V.P.Z.S.; Professor of Zoology in the University of Cambridge. 1858.*Edward Newton, M.A., F.L.S., C.M.Z.S., Colonial Secretary, Mauritius. 1871. Reginald Carew-Pole, Lieutenant, Royal Navy; Yovilton, Ilchester. 1858.*JoHN William Powlett-Orde, F.Z.S., late Captain, 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment ; Auehnaba House, Loch Gilp Head, N. B. 1868. E. J. Rhodes ; Exchequer and Audit Department, Somerset House. 1865. George Dawson Rowley, M.A., F.Z.S. ; Chichester House, Brighton. 1858.*OsBERT Salvin, M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. ; 32 The Grove, Boltons, London. Date of Election. 1870. How.vKD Saunbers, F.Z.S. ; 7 RadnorPlace,Hyde Park, London. 1858.*Philip Ltjtley Sclater, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., &e. ; 44 Elvas- ton Place, Queen's Gate, London, W. 1871. E. B. SnARPE, F.L.S., Libr. Z.S. ; Tower House, Caversham Road, London. 1870. G. Ernest Shelley, F.Z.S., late Captain, ScotsFusilier Guards ; Avington, Winchester. 1865. Eov. Charles William Shepherd, M.A., F.Z.S. ; Trotters- cliffe, Kent. 1864. Eev. Alfred Charles Smith, M.A. ; Yatesbury Rectory, wnts. 1867. Roavland M. Sperling, F.Z.S., Commander, Royal Navy. 1864. Henry Stevenson, F.L.S.; Un thank's Road, Norwich. 1868. Hamon Styleman Le Strange, F.Z.S., Her Majesty's Lega- tion, Washington. 1858.*Edward Cavendish Taylor, M.A., F.Z.S. ; Oxford and Cam- bridge Club, London. 1864. George Cavendish Taylor, F.Z.S. ; 42 Elvaston Place, London . 1858.*Rev. Henry Baker Tristram, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., &c., Hon. Canon of Durham, Greatham Vicarage, West Hartlepool, Durham. 1864. Henry Morris Upcher, F.Z.S. ; Sherriugham Hall, Norfolk. 1864. Right Hon. Arthur Viscount Walden, F.R.S., F.L.S., Pres. Z.S. ; Walden Cottage, Chislehurst, Kent. 1871. E. Percival Wright, M.D., F.L.S., F.Z.S., Professor of Bo- tany in the University of Dublin. Extra-Ordinary Members. ] 860. Edward Blyth, Hon. Memb. As. Soc. 1860. Alfred Russel Wallace, F.Z.S. ; Holly House, Tanner Street, Barking. Honorary Members. 1860. Professor Spencer F. Baird, Assistant Secretary to the Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 1860. Doctor Eduard Baldamus, Moritzwinger, No. 7, Halle a. S. 1860. Doctor Jean Cabanis, Erster Custos am koniglichen Mu- seum der Friedrich-WiUielm's Universitat zu Berlin. 1860. Doctor Gustav Hartlaub, Bremen. Dat.- of Klectiou. 1860. Edgak Leopold Layard, F.Z.S. 1869. August von Pelzeln, Gustos am. k.-k. zoologischen Cubinetc in Wien. 1860. Professor J. IIeinhaedt, Kongelige Naturhistoriskc Museum i KJbbenhavn. 1862. Robert Swinuoe, F.Z.S., F.R.G.S., Her Majesty's Consul at Ningpo, China. 1860. Jules Pierre Verreaux, Aide-Naturalistc du Museum d'Histoirc Naturelle a Paris. CONTENTS OF VOL. L— THIRD SERIES. (1871.) NuMBEK I., January. Page I. A Revision of the Species of the Fringilliue Genus Sper- mopUla. By P. L. Sclater, M.A., Ph.D., P.R.S. (Plates I. and II.) 1 II. Stray Notes on Ornithology in India. No. VI. By Allan Hume, C.B 23 III. Contributions to the Ornithology of Egypt. By Captain U. E. Shelley, F.R.G.S., F.G.S., &c 38 IV. A List of the Birds of Southern Spain. By Howard Saundeks, F.Z.S. , . 54 V. On the Ornithology of Algeria. By J. H. Gukney, Jun., E.Z.S. (Plate III.) 68 VI. On the Psittaciche of Central America. By Osbeet Salvin, M.A., E.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. (Plate IV.) 86 VII. Descriptions of Two new Species of African Birds. By R. B. Sharpe, F.L.S., Libr. Z.S 100 VIII. Letters, Announcements, &c. : — Annoimcement with reference to notices of recent Ornitho- logical Publications 102 Letters from Mr. J. H. Gurney, Mr. Layard, Mr. Tristram, Mr. Home, Mr. Orde, and Viscount Walden 103 Number II., April IX. Notes on some of the Birds of the United States of Co- lumbia. By Claude W. Wyatt. (Plate V.) 113 Page X. Contributions to the Ornithology of Egypt. By Captain G. E. Shelley, E.R.G.S., F.G.S., &c. [Continued from page 5-1.] 131 XI. Additional Notes on the Birds of the Territory of the Trans-Vaal liepublic. By Thomas Aykes. (Communicated by John Henry Gukney.) 147 XII. Observations on Dr. Stoliczka's " Contributions to Ma- layan Ornithology." By Arthuk Viscount Walden, P.Z.S. (Plate VI.) 158 XIII. On the Land-birds of Juan Fernandez. By P. L. ScLATER, M.A., Ph.D., F.Ii.S. (Plate VII.) 178 XIV. On the Coraciidce of the Ethiopian Region. By E. B. Shakpe, F.L.S., Libr. Z.S., &c. (Plate VIII.) 184 XV. Description of an apparently new Bird of the Genus Eurystomus with a List of the known Species. By D. G. Elliot, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c 203 XVI. A List of the Birds of Southern Spain. By Howard Satjnders, F.Z.S. [Continued from page 68.] 205 XVII. Notes on South-African Ornithology. By E. L. Lay- ARD, F.Z.S 225 XVIII. Notes on some Passerine Birds, chiefly Palearctic. By the Rev. H. B. Tristram, LL.D., F.R.S 231 XIX. Supplementary Notes to 'The Birds of India.' By T. C. Jerdon, F.Z.S., Retired Deputy Inspector-General of Madras • 234 XX. Letters, Announcements, &c. : — Letters from Mr. J. H. Gurney, Count Salvadori, Prof. A. Newton, and Mr. Lawrence 247 Announcements &c. : — Giebel's ' Ornithologischer Thesau- rus,' Stevenson's ' Birds of Norfolk,' Mr. Meyer's arrival in Celebes, Mr. Godman's visit to Madeira and the Canary Islands, Mr. Swinhoe's return to China 251 CONTENTS. XI Number III., July. Page XXI. Additional Notes on the Birds of the Territory of the Trans- Vaal Republic. By Thomas Atres, (Communicated by John Henry GuuNEY.) [Concluded from page 157.] (Plate IX.) 253 XXII. On the Coraclidce of the Ethiopian Region. By R. B. Sharpe, F.L.S., Libr. Z.S., &c. [Concluded from page 203,] 270 XXIII. On the Ornithology of Algeria. By J. H. Gurney, Jun., f .Z.S. [Concluded from page 86.] 289 XXIV. Notes on Birds from the Province of Sao Paulo, Bra- zil. By J. F. Hamilton 301 XXV. Contributions to the Ornithology of Egypt. By Cap- tain G. E. Shelley, F.R.G.S., F.G.S., &c. . [Concluded from page 147.] 309 XXVI. Notes on some of the Birds of the United States of Columbia. By Claude W. Wyatt. [Continued from page 131.] 319 XXVII. Supplementary Notes to ' The Birds of India.' By T. C. Jerdon, F.Z.S., Retired Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals, Madras. [Continued from page 247.] (Plate X.) . 335 XXVIII. Remarks on the Avifauna of the Sandwich Islands. By P. L. ScLATER, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., &c 356 XXIX. Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Annouuce- meuts, &c. : — Letters from Prof. Reinhardt, Lieut.-Col. E. Delme Radcliflfe, Mr. J. C. Melliss, and Mr. G. N. Lawrence ; Editorial Remarks on Mr. Lawrence's Letter ; ' Travels ' of Mr. T. T. Cooper ; Ex- tract from a Letter of Dr. J. Anderson ; Recent additions to the Zoological Society's Aviaries 362 Number IV., October. XXX. Notes on some of the Birds of the United States of Columbia. By Claude W. Wyatt. [Concluded from page 335.] 373 XXXT, A List of the Birds of Southern Spain. By Howard Saunders, F.Z.S. [Concluded from page 225.] 384 rage XXXII. On a now Genus and Species of Bird belonging to the Family Frinrfillidce. By D. G. Elliot, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. (Plate XI.) 402 XXXITI. Stray Notes on Ornithology in India. By Allan Hume, C.B. No. VII .'.... 40:^ XXXIV. On Seven new or lately described Species of African Birds. By R. B. Sharpe, F.L.S., Libr. Z.S. (Plate XII.) .414 XXXV. Index of the Ornithological Literature of 1870. By OsBERT Salvin, M.A., F.L.S., &c., and P. L. Sclater, M.A., Ph.D., F.II.S., &c 417 Index 485 PLATES IN VOL. L THIRD SERIES. Page {Fig. 1. Spermophila nigro-rufa S 6 Fig. 2. 2 6 Fig. 3. pileata c^ 5 II, ' f Figs. 1, 2. Spermopliila aurita d 14 1 Fig. 3. ocellata S* 14 III. Parus ledoucii 86 IV. Conurus finschi 91 V. Map of U. S. of Columbia, showing Mr. Wyatt's route . . 113 yj I Fig. 1. Criniger gularis 169 I Fig. 2. phaeocephalus 169 yyy J Fig. 1. AuserGtes fernandezianus 179 1 Fig. 2. Oxyurus masafuerae 180 VIII. Distinctive characters of African Coraciidae . . . .186 IX. Ardea rufiventris 265 X. Cypselus infumatus 355 XI. Dolospingus nuchalis 402 XII. Scotopelia ussheri 414 * Miscalled on Plate 9 . ERRATA ET CORRIGENDA. Page Line 97, 24, After Finseh (1. c.) insert the latter. 136, 11, for Benisouef read Beuisooef. 13G, 12, for Beuisouef read Benisooef. 140, 31, for Benisouef read Benisooef. 249, 21 , for Spitzbergen read Spitsbergen. 290, last but one, for ahyssmica read cristata. 293, 1 1, for ten read two. 4.59, 17, ior Neu-Yorpo7nmern read NeH-Vorpo)?i7iu:rn. THE IBIS. THIRD SERIES. No. I. JANUARY 1871. I. — A Revision of the Species of the Fringilline Gemis Spei'mo- phila. By P. L. Sclater, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S. {Plates I. & II.) Up to the present time the best, and, indeed, it may be said the only authority worth referring to on the American Finches of the genus Spermophila has been Bonaparte^s ' Conspectus Gene- rum Avium.' In that well-known work this and the allied genera of Fringillidse are treated of with unusual accuracy, and short but, in most cases, sufficient diagnoses are added to the synonyms of the different species. In my ' Catalogue of Ame- rican Birds ' I have relied mainly upon Bonaparte's arrange- ment of the genus Spermophila, merely altering the order to a certain extent, and including among the true Spermophilce the species which Bonaparte has placed in the second division of his genus Sporophila {I. c. p. 499). Since the publication of my Catalogue I have added not incon- siderably to my collection of these Finches, and during the leisure hours of the past summer have bestowed a good dealjDf pains upon the examination of the 80 specimens of which it now consists. I have also taken the opportunity of a visit to Paris to look through the examples of this genus in the French Na- tional Collection, amongst which are several of Bonaparte's types. Mr. G. N. Lawrence, of New York, has most kindly assisted me in this matter by the loan of a series of 22 speci- SER. III. VOL. I. B 2 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Genus Spermophila. mens of this genus from his private collection, amongst which are the types of several recently described species ; and the authorities of the Smithsonian Institution, with their accustomed liberality, have likewise transmitted to me the whole of their examples of Spermophila for my examination. Under these favourable circumstances I have been able to effect a revision of the species of this rather obscure genus of Fringillidse, which, I think, may be not unacceptable to Natu- ralists. First I propose to treat of the species actually known to me from inspection. These are 24 in number — of all of which I am so fortunate as to possess specimens. Secondly I give some short notices of described species which have not yet come under my examination. And lastly I will say a few words about the geographical distribution of the genus. I. Revision of the species of Spermophila known to the author. Following Bonaparte's idea, we may divide the Spermophilce into two groups — the Pyrrhomelance, of which the colours are principally rufous and black, and the Leucomelana, in which they are white and black. To the latter section I append, as already done in my Catalogue of American birds, the species placed by Bonaparte in the second section of his genus Sporophila, as although in some of them the bill is much stouter than in the typical Spermophilce, in others this is not the case; and this little group of species is certainly more naturally placed here than with the Orijzobori {i. e. Sporophilce, Bonaparte nee Cabanis). The eight species of Spermophilce pyri'homelame known to me may be divided as follows : — Clavis Spermophilinarmn pyr>-homekmrirut)i. a. subtus unicolores, rufae aut cinnamomeje. , ., . ( subtus inibro-fusca 1. minuta. n. pileo cinereo s , , „ I subtus ochraceo-fusca .... 2. hypoxantha. t- v. pileo nigro. a. interscapiilio concolori. I subtus cinnamomea 3. nigro-aicrantia. I subtus lactescenti-alba . . 4. pileata. b''. intenscapulio nigro 5. niyro-rufa. b. subtus tufa, nigro torquata 6. torqueola. c. subtus plumbea, medialiter castanea 7. castaneivenfris. d. subtus alba, gutture rufo 8. telascu. Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Genus Spermophila. 3 1. Spermophila minuta. Loxia minuta, Liun. S. N. i. 307. Pyrrhula nmiuta, Vieill. Enc. Meth. p. 10.26. Sporophila minuta, Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 150. Spermophila minuta, Gray, Gen. p. 386; Bp. Consp. p. 495 ; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1855, p. 160, et Cat. A. B. p. 104; Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 352 ; Lawr. Ann. L. N. Y. vii. p. 333. Bouvreuil a ventre roux de Cayenne, BufF. PI. Enl. 319. fig. 2. Loxia fusciventer, Bodd. Spermophila fu^civentris, Gray, Gen. p. 386 ; Jard. Ann. X. H. XX. p. 333 (1847). Fuscescenti-cinerea : alis caudaque nigricantibus, speculo alari albo : uropygio et corpore subtus testaceo-rubris : long tota 3-7 poll.; ala^2*l ; caudse 1'6. Fem. olivaceo-fusca : alis caudaque obscurioribus : subtus pallide ochracea, ventre albescente. Hab. Cayenne {Mv^. P.L.S.) ; Venezuela {Levraud); Trinidad {Mus. Smiths.); Tobago {Kirk); Bogota {Mus. P.L.S.) ; Panama {Mc Leannan) . Of this species I have examples from Cayenne, Tobago, and New Gi-anada (Bogota). Mr. Lawrence's collection contains specimens of both sexes from Panama, and the Smithsonian series one, " received from Trinidad," where, however, as it is found in Tobago, it would be nearly sure to occur. In the Paris Museum are skins of this Spermophila transmitted from Caracas by M. Levraud. I have never seen examples of this bird from any part of the Amazonian region or from Brazil; nor did Natterer obtain it ; so that it probably does not occur in these countries. In Southern Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay its place is taken by the next species, S. hypoxantha. To the latter species also (fol- lowing V. Pelzeln) I am inclined to refer D^Orbigny's S. minuta from Bolivia, though the only specimens of D'Orbigny's in the Paris Museum which I could find were not quite adult, and seemed to me rather dubious. 2. Spermophila hypoxantha. Pico grueso pardo y canela, xVzar. Apunt. i. p. 444. Pyrrhula minuta, Lafr. et D'Orb. Syn. Av. p. 87. 4 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Genus Spermophila. Fringilla hypoxantha, Licht. in Mus. Berol. Sporophila hypoxantha, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 150; Burra. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 249 (partim). Spermophila hypoxantha, Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 225. Plumbea : alis caudaque nigricantibus fusco marginatis : speculo alari albo : uropygio et corpore subtus cinnamomeis : long. tota 3*7, alse 2"1, caudse 2*6. Fern, olivaceo-fusca ; alis caudaque obscurioribus : subtus ochracea, ventre pallidiore. Hah. Paraguay (y^^rcrra); Bolivia, Chiquitos(i>'Or5.); S.Brazil, Curytiba (Natt.); Monte Video {Mm. Berol.). The southern representative of S. minuta is a very closely allied species, to be distinguished mainly, if not entirely, by the clear plumbeous colour of the upper plumage, and the cinna- momeous tinge of the red below. In the latter character a Bogota skin of S. minuta is somewhat intermediate between the two forms. My pair of S. hypoxantha are Nattererian specimens collected at Curytiba in 1820. The Smithsonian collection contains a female obtained in Paraguay during Capt. Page's ex- pedition. 3. Spermophila nigro-aurantia. Bouvreuil de I'isle Bourbon, Buff. PI. Enl. 204, fig. 1. Loxia nigro-aurantia, Bodd. Sperm, nigro-aurantia, Gray, Gen. p. 386. Loxia aurantia, Gm. S. N. i. p. 853. Pyrrhula pyrrhomelas, Vieill. Enc. Meth. p. 1027. Pyrrhula capistrata, Vig. Zool. Journ. iii. p. 273. Loxia brevirostris, Spix, Av. Bras. i. p. 47, pi. 49. f. 1, 2. Spermophila rubiginosa, Sw. Class, ii. p. 294. Spermophila pyrrhomelas. Gray, Gen. p. 386; Bp. Consp. p. 495. Sporophila aurantia. Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 151 ; Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 250. Spermophila aurantia, Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 104; Pelz. Orn. Bras, p. 226. Loxia f rater cuius, Cuv. in Mus. Par. {partim). Cinnamomeo-rubra : pileo, alis et cauda nigris : speculo alari albo: long, tota 38, alse 2'1, caudse 1'2. Fem. fusca, alis caudaque nigricantibus : speculo alari albo : subtus dilutior. Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Genus Spermophila. 5 Hah. Southern Brazil, Bahia (^Mc/terer), Rio {Mus. P.L.S.), S. Paulo, Araguay and Matto-dentro {Natt.). This appears to be a common species in collections from Bahia and Rio. I have a pair from the latter locality ; and in the Smithsonian collection are two males from Bahia, whence I have also seen many other skins. Natterer collected numerous examples of this Spermophila in various localities in the provinces of S. Paulo, Goyaz, and Matto-dentro. It was found feeding among the grasses in the campos and at the borders of the streams. There are two mounted specimens in the Paris Museum marked as types of " Loxia fraterculus, Cuvier.^^ One of them is of this species ; the other belongs to S. pileata. 4i. Spermophila pileata. (Plate I. fig. 3.) Sporophila mitrata, Licht. Nomencl. p. 46 (descr. nulla). Sporophila alaudina, Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 251. Loxia fraterculus, Cuv. in Mus. Par. (partim). Spermophila pileata, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 607 ; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 226. Lactescenti-alba, cinnamomeo vix tincta, interscapulio obscure variegato : pileo, alis et cauda nigris, his fusco marginatis : speculo alari albo : rostro nigro : long, tota 3*8, alse 2'1, caudse 1*2. Fern, olivaceo-fusca, alis caudaque obscuriori- bus : subtus ochracea, ventre pallidiore. Hab. Brasil. merid., prov. S. Paulo (Natt.) ; Monte Video {Mus. Berol.) This species only difi"ers from the preceding in the cinnan}on colour of the body being replaced by a pale milky white; but I am not aware of the existence of intermediate forms. Natterer obtained many specimens of it in various parts of the province of S. Paulo. In 1864 I described it from one of his skins, whicn is still the only specimen of this species in my collection. Ac- cording to Burmeister it is the Sp. mitrata of Lichtenstein in Mus. Berol. But Burmeister is quite in error in referring it to S. alaudina, Lafr. et D'Orb., that name, as I have ascertained by reference to the types, having been bestowed upon immature examples of S. telasco. 6 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Genus Spermophila. 5. Spermophila nigro-rufa. (Plate I. figs. 1, 2.) Pyrrhula nigro-rufa, Lafr. et D^Orb. Syn. Av. p. 87. Sporophila nigro-rufa, Cab. Mus. Heiii. p. 150. Spermophila nigro-rufa, Gray, Gen. p. 386; Bp. Consp. i. p. 495; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 226. Cinuamomeo-rufa ; pileo, interscapulio, alls et caucla nigris, his fusco marginatis : speculo alari albo : rostro pallide corneo : long, tota 3*5, alse 2'0, caudse 1"5. Fern. Cineraceo-fusca, alis caudaque nigricantibus fusco limbatis : subtus pallide ochracea. Uah. Bolivia, Chiquitos {D'Orb.); Brasil. merid., Matto- grosso {Natt.). This bird is most like S. nigro-aurantia, but is at once recog- nizable by its black upper back. D'Orbiguy obtained it in the Bolivian province of Chiquitos, and Natterer in the campos of Mattogrosso. My specimens are from Natterer's duplicates. I have compared them with D'Orbigny's types. 6. Spermophila torqueola. Spermophila torqueola, Bp. Consp. p. 495 ; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 303; et Cat. A. B. p. 105. Sporophila ochropyga, Cab. Journ. f. Orn. 1861, p. 5. " Spermophila atriceps, Baird," Lawr. Ann. L. N. Y. viii. p. 479. Nigra : plaga utrinque cervicali et speculo alari albis : dorso postico et corpore toto subtus pallide rufis; fascia sub- gutturali nigra : rostro corneo, pedibus fuscis : long, tota 3*5, alse 2*2, caudse 2"0. Fern. Fuscescenti-olivacea, alis caudaque obscurioribus : subtus valde dilutior, ochraceo perfusa. Hab. Western Mexico, Oaxaca {Boucard), Mazatlan [Xan- ^Ms),Tepic [Grayson). This Spermophila was first shortly characterized by Bona- parte, in his ' Conspectus,^ from a specimen stated to be in the Berlin Museum. This I have never seen; but I have compared my skins with a marked example in the French National Col- lection. From the Smithsonian and Mr. Lawrence I have received for examination the types of S. atriceps collected at Mazatlan and Tepic by Mr. Xantus and Col. Grayson. These Ibis 1871, PI. I 4 i 1 Mft^NHaniiirtunp /^,I SPERMOPHILA NICRO-RUFA.i . 2 _- — ?• 3 _ PILFATA.S. Mr. P. L. Sclater un the Genus Sperniophila. 7 I have no hesitation in regarding as immature males of S, tor- queola, an adult of which was also obtained by Col. Grayson at Tepic. They differ only in the brown back ; but one specimen in my collection is clearly intermediate ; and I have another, still younger, specimen with the back brown, and the black on the head and chest-band only just appearing, which renders the series complete. S. torqueola seems to be a western species. I have never seen it in collections from Vera Cruz and the eastern sea-board. 7. Spermophila castaneiventris. Sporophila castaneiventris, Cab. in Schomb. Guian. iii. p. 679. Spermophila castaneiventris, Bp. Consp. p. 495 ; Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1866, p. 181, 1869, p. 597; Pdz. Orn. Bras. p. 225; Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 104. Plumbea : alis caudaque nigricantibus ; speculo alari albo : subtus paulo dilutior, niedialiter omnino castanea : long, tota 3 '6, alse 2*0, caudse 1"5. Fern. Fuscescenti-olivacea, alis caudaque nigricantibus : subtus dilutior, ochraceo perfusa. Hah. Guiana (Schomb.) ; Rio Negro and Rio Madeira [Natt.) ; Eastern Peru, Lower Ucayali {Bartlett), Pebas [Hauxivell] ; New Granada, Bogota [Lewy in Mus. Paris). 8. Spermophila telasco. Spermophila telasco. Less. Voy. Coq. Ois. p. 663, 1. 16, fig. 2 ; Bp. Consp. i. p. 496; Scl. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 147; Gray, Gen. p. 386. Sporophila telasco. Cat. Mus. Hein. i. p. 150. Pyrrhula alaudina, Lafr. et D'Orb. Syn. A v. p. 83. . Spermophila alaudina, Bp. Consp. i. p. 496. Fuscesceuti-cinerea, fusco obsolete variegata ; uropygio albi- cante : alis caudaque nigris ochraceo limbatis : speculo alari et remigibus ad basin albis : subtus alba, macula gulari castanea : long, tota 3*8, alse 2"1, caudse 1-6. Fern. mari similis sed macula gulari nulla. Hab. Peruvia occ, Lima [Nation), Tacna {D'Orb.). Mus. P. L. S. Smithson, (ex Lima, Church). The only examples I possess of this species arc those obtained 8 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Genus Spermophila. near Lima by Prof. Nation, of which I have spoken P. Z. S. 1869, p. 147. There is a single specimen (female or young) in the Smithsonian collection from the same locality. On ex- amining the types of S. alaudina in the Jardin des Plantes, I found that they were undistinguishable from the females and young of S. telasco, so that I regard these two names as synonyms. The sixteen species of the black-and-white division of the Spermophila known to me may be arranged thus : — Clavis Spermophilinarum leucomelanarum. a. guttui'e albo : fascia pectorali nigra : a. interscapulio cinereo 9. albiyularis. h'. interscapulio nigrj. a", macula anteociilari alba 10. coUaria. b". macula anteoculari nulla. a'", tectricibus alarum albo marginatis. j torque coUari perfecto 11. moreleti. \ torque collari imperfecto 12. lineata. h'". tectricibus alarum immarginatis . . 13. opkthalmica. h. gutture nigro : fascia pectorali nigra 14. c<^rulescms. c. gutture nigi'o ; fascia pectorali nulla. a', m-opygio albo. i pectore albo 15. lineola. I pectore nigi'o, albo ocellato 16. ocellata. b'. urcpygio nigi-o. I macula cervicali utrinque alba 17. aurita. I macula cervicali nulla 18. luctuosa. c'. uropygio olivaceo 19. gutturalis. d. coi-pore toto subtus nigro 20. corvina. e. corpore toto subtus albo. i coi-pore supra nigro 21, bicolor. I corpore supra cinereo 22. hypoletica. f. coi"pore subtus cinereo, ventre medio albo. j rostro flavo 23. yrisea. I rostro nigi'o 24. plumbea. 9. Spermophila albigularis. Loxia albigularis, Spix, Av. Bras. i. p. 46, tab. 60. figs. 1, 2. Spermophila albigularis, Gray, Gen. p. 386 ; Bp. Consp. i. p. 497. Sporophila albigularis. Cab. Mus. Hcin. i. p. 149 ; Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 243. Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Genus Spermophila. 9 Cinerea : fronte^ capitis lateribus, alis et cauda nigricantibus ; speculo alari albo : subtus alba, torque pectorali nigro, late- ribus cineraceo indutis : rostro rubro : long, tota 4*2, alae 2-25, caudse 1-75. Hab. Brasil. mer. or., Bahia {Wucherer). This is rather a scarce species, but is of occasional occurrence in collections from Bahia. The only skin in my possession was sent to me by Dr. Wucherer of that city. 10. Spermophila collaria. Loxia collaria, Linn. S. N. i. p. 305. Spermophila collaria, Gray, Gen. B. p. 386. Sporophila collaria, Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 246. Gi'os-bec appelle la Nonette, BuflF. PI. Bnl. 393. fig. 3, unde Loxia cucullata, Bodd. Spermophila cucullata, Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 103 ; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 223. Gros-bec d' Angola, Buff. PI. Enl. 659, unde Loxia collaris, Bodd. Loxia americana, Gm. S. N. i. p. 863. Spermophila americana, Bp. Consp. i. 496. Sporophila americana, Cab. in Schomb. Guian. iii. p. 678, et Mus. Hein. p. 150. Loxia pectoralis, Lath. Ind. Orn. p. i. 390. Fringilla pectoralis, Licht. Doubl. p. 26. Sporophila pectoralis, Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 247. Spermophila lafresnayi, Bp, Consp. i. p. 495 (c? jr.). Fico grueso cejete blanca, Azara, Apunt. i. p. 448. Coccothraustes melanocephala, Vieill. N. D. xiii. p. 542, et Enc. Meth. p. 1013. Spermophila melanocephala, Gray, Gen. p. 386; Hartl. Ind. Az. p. 9. Pyrrhula melanocephala, Lafr. et D'Orb . Av. Syn. i. p. 85. Fringilla atricapilla. Max. Beitr. iii. p. 569. Spermophila atricapilla, Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 223. Cinerea : pileo, interscapulio, alis et cauda nigris ; alis cinereo limbatis, speculo alari et macula utrinque anteoculari albis : subtus alba, interdum fulvo lavata; torque subgutturali nigro: rostro robusto corneo : long, tota 5*0, alse 2'4, 10 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Genus Spermophila. caudse 2"2. Fem. fusca, alis ct cauda nigricantibus : subtus pallide ochraceo-albicans. Hab. Brit. Guiana {Schoinb.) ; Wood region of S. E. Brazil {Max.) ; Rio Parana and Cuyaba {Natt.) ; Paraguay [Az.) ; Bolivia, Moxos and Guarayos {jyOrb.). I have only been able to recognize one species under the various synonyms given above ; but my series of specimens is not very large, and it is possible there may be two allied forms con- founded under the present head. Herr v. Pelzeln (Orn. Bras, p. 223.) keeps S. cucullata and S. atricapilla distinct, remarking that the latter differs in the greater part of its body beneath being white, and perhaps in its rather larger size. I have one of Natterer's Cuyaba skins of the former species; and on com- paring it with an example from Bio (which would certainly be S. atricapilla of Max.), I find that it is decidedly larger (not smaller), and has the belly suffused with fulvous. But the dif- ferences are not such as would induce me to separate the two birds specifically. I have examined a marked specimen of S. lafresnaiji of Bona- parte in the Paris Museum. It appears to me to be only a young male of the present species. 11. Spermophila moreleti. Spermophila moreleti, Bp. Consp. p. 497 ; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1856, p. 302, et 1859, pp. 365, 378, Cat. A. B. p. 105; Sclat. et Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 17; Salvin, Ibis, 1859, p. 468, Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 150; Baird, B. N. Am. p. 506. Sporophila moreleti, Cab. Journ. f. Orn. 1861, p. 4, Mus. Hein. i. p. 150. Spermophila albogularis, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. v. p. 124. Supra nigra, uropygio speculo alari et tectricum alarium margi- nibus albis : subtus alba, torque jugulari nigro : rostro nigro : long, tota 3*8, alse 2, caudse 1'2. Fem. Olivacea, alis et Cauda obscuris, tectricum marginibus rufescentibus : rostro pallido. Hab. Texsis {Lawrence) ; New Leon, Mexico (Co^^c/^); Southern Mexico {Salle et Botteri) ; Guatemala {Salvin) ; Honduras {Whitely). Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Genus Spermophila. 11 12. Spermophila lineata. Loxia lineata, Gm. S. N. i. p. 858. Sporophila lineata, Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 245. Spermophila lineata, Sclater, Cat. A. B. p. 104. Loxia leucopterygia, Spix, Av. Bras. i. p. 45, pi. 58. f. 3. Fico grueso negro y bianco, Azara, Apunt. i. p. 458. Pyrrhula leucoptera, Vieill. Enc. Meth. p. 998. Spermophila leucopterygia, Gray, Gen. p. 386 ; Bp. Consp. p. 496. Pyrrhula misya, Vieill. Ois. Chant, p. 75, t. 46. Spermophila mysia, Bp. Consp. p. 496 ; Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 104. Supra nigra : uropygio, speculo alari et tectrieum marginibus albis : subtus alba, torque pectorali imperfecto nigro : rostro nigro : long, tota 4*5, alse 2*4, caudse 2*0. Fern. Brunnescenti-olivacea, alis et cauda obscurioribus ; subtus dilutior, ventre ochracescente. Hah. Guiana et Cayenne [Mus. F. L. S.) ; Para {Wallace). In my ' Catalogue ' I have kept S. lineata and S. mysia di- stinct, but, upon reexamination, find the individuals which I referred to those two supposed species inseparable; and I be- lieve the two terms to be synonymous. Spix^s figure of Fyrrhula leucopterygia evidently represents the same species. I have followed other authors in referring Azara^s Fico grueso negro y bianco (unde Fyrrh. leucoptera, Vieill.) to this species ; but I have not yet met with specimens of it from anywhere near Azara's locality, and am rather uncertain whether his description may not refer to some other bird. 13. Spermophila ophthalmica. Spermophila ophthalmica, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1860, pp. 276, 293, et Cat. A. B. p. 103. Nigra : uropygio, speculo alari et puncto suboculari albis : subtus alba, torque subgutturali angusto nigro : rostro nigro: long, tota 4*2, alse 2-2, caudse 1'7. Fern. Murino- brunnea, alis caudaque obscuris, colore dorsi marginatis : subtus ochraceo-albescens, ventre imo puriore. Hab. Reipubl. ^^quator. reg. Occident., Esmeraldas et Ba- bahoyo {Fraser), Guayaquil {Mus. Smithson.). 12 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Geims Spermophila. Obs. Proxima Sp. lineatce, sed torque jugulari perfecto, alarum tectricibus omnino nigris, et crassitie minore distin- guenda. I am a little doubtful about this species, which, upon com- parison of a larger series, may be found to be scarcely separable from the preceding. Besides Eraser's skins, upon which this Spermophila was originally established, I have before me a skin from Guayaquil, belonging to the Smithsonian Institution, which agrees exactly with the types. 14. Spermophila CiERULEscENs. Pyrrhula carulescens, Vieill. E. M. p. 1023. Spermophila carulescens, Gray, Gen. p. 386 ; Bp. Consp. p. 498; Sclater, Cat. A. B. p. 104. Pyrrhula nigricollis, Vieill. E. M. p. 1027. Sperm, nigricollis, Bp. Consp. i. p. 498; Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 104. Pico grueso gargantilla, Az. Apunt. i. p. 452, no. 125. Fringilla leucopogon, Max. Beitr. iii. p. 572. Fringilla ornata, Licht. p. 26. Pyrrhula ornata, Lafr. et D'Orb. Syn. Av. p. 86. Spermophila ornata, Hartl. Ind. Az. p. 9 ; Bp. Consp. i. p. 497; Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 632; Pelz. Orn. Bras, p. 224. Sporophila ornata, Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 149; Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 243. Spermophila nigrigularis, Gould, Zool. Voy. Beagle, iii. p. 88. Supra ciuerca, pileo prgecipue ad frontem nigricante : subtus alba, gula media utrinque albo marginata et torque jugu- lari nigris : rostro pallide flavo ; long, tota, 4'5, alse 2*3, caudse 2. Fern. Olivacea, alis caudaque obscuris, olivaceo limbatis : subtus valde ddutior, ochraceo pei-fusa, gula et ventre medio albicantibus. Hab. Brazil, Matto-dentro, San Paulo and Mattogrosso [Natt.), environs of Rio, very common {Burm.), Minas Geraes {Burm.), Paraguay {Azara) ; Bolivia {D'Orb.); Buenos Ayres {Hudson) . The two skins referred in my catalogue to S. carulescens Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Genus Spermophila. 13 and S. nigricollis are certainly identical. I have lately also ex- amined the types of these two species {Pyrrhula carulescens and P. nigricollis of Vieillot), which are still in the Paris Museum. Pyrrhula coerulescens is quite identical with the ordinary Brazi- lian form of this bird. The type of P. nigricollis differs a little, particularly in having a slight yellowish tinge on the belly, but is, I fully believe, merely a not quite mature individual of the same species. The specimens of this bird which I have seen from Buenos Ayres {S. nigrigularis, Gould = /S. ornata, Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 682) have the head not quite so black as in most Brazilian skins, and the back slightly suffused with olivaceous. "When tirst met with in Mr. Hudson's series, their identity with the Brazilian form was not recognized. Natterer collected a large series of this Spermophila in various parts of S. Paulo, Bio, and Mattogrosso, whence it extends into Bolivia and the Argentine Republic, but does not appear to go further north. 15. Spermophila lineola. Loxia lineola, Linn. S. N. i. p. 304. Pyrrhula crispa, Vieill. Ois. Chant, p. 76, pi. 47. Spermophila lineola, Bp. Consp. p. 497 ; Pelz. Orn. Bras, p. 224; Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 252; Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 104. Pyrrhula lineola, Lafr. et D'Orb. Syn. Av. p. 86. P. bouvronides, Less. Tr. d'Orn. p. 450. Spermophila bouvronides, Bp. Consp. i. p. 497 ; et Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 104. Sporophila lineola, Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 150; Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 248. Sericeo-nigra, uropygio, speculo alari et (interdum) striga verti- cali albis : subtus alba, gutture nigro, albo utrinque margi- nata: rostro nigro: long, tota 4-0, alse 2-3, caudse 1*8. Fern. Olivaceo-fusca, alis et cauda obscuris, dorsi colore lirabatis : subtus ochracea, abdomine medio albicante. Hab. Cayenne {Mus. P.L. S.); Rio Negro [Natt.); E. Peru, Pebas {Cast, et Dev.); Venezuela {Goering); Trinidad {P. L. S.); 14 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Genus Spermophila. Bolivia, Chiquitos et Guarayos (D'Orb.); Mattogrosso {Natt.); S. E. Brazil, Bahia [Wucherer); Paraguay {Mus. Smiths.). In my ^ Catalogue ' I followed Bonaparte in keeping S. bou- vronides distinct from the present species, on account of the ab- sence of the vertical stripe. This, however, seems to be an ac- cidental variation^. In one skin from Trinidad before me it is not present; in a second it is only just apparent. In a third from Venezuela it is well developed. A skin in the Smithsonian col- lection, from the Parana (Rio Vermejo), agrees very well with ordinary Cayenne specimens, showing that this species has a wide distribution. 16. Spermophila ocellata. (PI. 11. fig. 3.) Spermophila ocellata^ Sclater et Salv. P. Z. S. 1866, p, 181 ; et P. Z. S. 1869, p. 253. Sericeo-nigra : uropygio speculo alari et (interdum) striga ver- tical albis : subtus alba ; gutture nigro utrinque albo mar- ginato : pectore nigro, albo ocellato : long, tota 4*0, alse 2*3, caudse 1*8. Fern. Olivaceo-fusca, alis caudaque obscuris, dorsi colore limbatis : subtus ochracea, ventre albican te ; rostro pallido. Hab. Amazonia superior, Nauta {Bartlett); Venezuela, prope lacum de Valencia [Goering). Obs. — Forsan Sp. lineoke mera varietas, sed pectore ocellato primo visu sane diversa. 17. Spermophila aurita. (Plate II. figs. 1 and 2.) Spermophila aurit a, Bp. Consp. i. p. 495 (1850); Lawr. Ann. L.N. Y. vii. p. 333. Sjjermophila semicollaris, Lawr. Ann. L. N. Y. viii. p. 10; Sol. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 352 ; Salvin, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 189. Spermophila hicksii, Lawr. Ann. L. N. Y. viii. p. 170. Spermophila fortipes, Lawr. Ann. L. N. Y. viii. p. 171. Spermophila collaris, Lawr. Ann. L. N. Y. viii. p. 176. Sporophila hoffmanni, Cab. Journ. f. O. 1861, p. 506. Nigra : speculo alari, plaga utrinque cervicali (interdum semi- torquem forinante) et ventre medio albis : rostro nigro : long, tota 4-0, altB2-l, caudae 1-8. Fem. Olivacea, alis cau- * Cf. V. Pelzeln, Orn. Bras. p. 224. Ibis. 1871. Pl.II. M feNHauihatrticif ^z^r. 1 . 2 . SP E R M 0 PH 1 LA AU Ri TA 5 . i Mr. P. L. Sclatev on the Genus Spermophila. 15 daque obscui-ioribus, dorsi colore limbatis : subtus dilutior, flavicans, tectricibus subalaribus albis. Hob. Panama {M' Cleannan) ; western coast of New Granada, Buenaventura {Hicks); Veragna (^rce); Costarica (Hoffmann). I have nine males and three females of this bird before me, amongst which are the types of S. semicollaris, S. hicksii, S. for- tipes, and S. collaris of Mr. Lawrence. I have likewise examined a large series from Panama and Chiriqui in the collection of Salvin and Godman, There is much variation in the amount of the white on the throat and neck collar ; but I am unable to di- stinguish more than one species amongst them all. This must bear Bonaparte's name aurita, as the typical example oi S. aurita in Mus. Paris clearly belongs to it, though the locality (Brazil) attributed to it in the ' Conspectus ' is no doubt erroneous. It is difficult to distinguish the female of this species from the corresponding sex of S. corvina. 18. Spermophila luctuosa. Spermojjhila luctuosa, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1843, p. 291 ; Gray, Gen. p. 386 ; Bp. Consp. p. 497 ; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1855, p. 160^ et 1858, pp. 72, 455 ; ej. Cat. A. B. p. 105 ; Scl. et Salv. P. Z. s' 1869, p. 597. Sporophila luctuosa, Tsch. Faun. Per. p. 221 ; Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 150. Nigra : speculo magno alari et abdomine medio albis : rostro pallide flavo : pedibus nigris : long, tota 3"8_, alse 2*2, caudse 1'5. Fern. Fuscescenti-olivacea, alis caudaque nigris dorsi colore limbatis ; subtus valde dilutior ; ventre medio albi- cante, rostro-plumbeo. Hab. Nov. Granada int., Bogota {Mus. P.L.S.); Beipubl. JE- quator. reg. oriental, ad fl. Napo {Mus. Smiths.); Peruvia orient, Cosnipata ( Whitely) . 19. Spermophila gutturalis. Fringilla gutturalis, Licht. Doubl. p. 26. Frinqilla melanocephala, Max^ Beitr. iii. p. 577. Loxia plebeia, Spix, Av. Bras. ii. p. 46, pi. 60. f. 3. Phonipara gutturalis, Bp. Consp. p. 494 ; Lawr. Ann. L. N. Y. vii. p. 298. 16 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Genvs Spevmophila. Spermophila gutturalis, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1855, p. 160, et 1860, p. 293; Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 352; Pelz. Orn. Bras, p. 225 ; Sclat. Cat. A. B. p. 105. Sporophila gutturalis, Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 149 ; Biirm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 244. Spermophila olivaceo-flava, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1843, p. 291, et 1846, p. 207 ; Scl. P. Z. S. 1855, p. 160. Olivacea : pileo antico, capitis lateribus et gutture toto ad me- dium pectus nigris : abdomine et tectricibus subalaribus flavicantibus : rostro pallide flavo : long. tota4'3, alae 2'25, caudse 1*8. Fern. Olivacea, capite concolori : subtus dilu- tior, abdomine et subalaribus flavicantibus. Hah. Brasil. merid. Rio {Burm.); Goyaz et Cuyaba {Natt.); Rio Negro {Natt.); Bogota (Lafr.); Western Ecuador {Fraser); Panama {M'Cleannan). This Spermophila has a wide range in South America. I can- not distinguish skins from Panama, Western Ecuador, Bogota, Para, aud Rio now before me. Natterer, as will be seen from my list of localities, met with it still further south. 20. Spermophila coevina. Spermophila corvina, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 379, et Cat. A. B. p. 105; Sclat. et Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 33; Law. Ann. L. N. Y.viii.p, 179. Spermophila badiiventris, Lawr. Ann. L. N. Y. viii. p. 171 ; Baird, Trans. Acad. Chicago, i. p. 319, t. xxviii. fig. 3. Nigra unicolor : speculo alari et subalaribus albis : rostro et pedibus nigris : long, tota 4-2, al?e 2-2, caudse I'll. Fern. Saturate olivacea, alis caudaque obscuris, dorsi colore lim- batis : subtus dilutior, paullum flavescens, subalaribus albis. Hab. Mexico merid., Oaxaca {Boucard); Guatemala (Salvin); Honduras {Whitely) ; Nicaragua (Kennicott) ; Costa Rica {Carmiol et Arce); Panama {M'Cleannan). This seems to be a common species throughout Centi^al America from Southern Mexico to Panama. I have always expected to find an earlier name for it than my own, but have not yet succeeded in doing so. Prof. Baird has most kindly sent me the type of 5. badiiventris for examination ; but 1 am unable to see in this specimen any- Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Genus Spermophila. 17 thing more than a slight variety of the present species. Some of the feathers of the belly are narrowly edged with ferruginous ; but this may be only a remnant of the immature plumage. 21. Spermophila bicolor. Pyrrhula bicolor, Lafr. et D'Orb. Syn. Av. i. p. 86 ; D'Orb. Voy. Ois. t. 50. f. 1 . Spermophila bicolor, Gray, Gen. p. 386. Sporophila bicolor, Bp. Consp. p. 499 ; Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 103. Nigra, speculo alari albo : subtus alba : rostro robusto, rubro : long, tota 5-3, alse 2-5, caudse 2*2. Fern. Fusca, alis cau- daque obscurioribus : subtus alba, subrufescens. Hab. Bolivia, Moxos {D'Orb.). Mus. Paris. This is rather a rare species. Besides the five specimens in the Paris Museum (all obtained by D'Orbigny), I have only seen two. These are both males, in my own collection. The dia- gnosis of the female is from one of D'Orbigny^s examples. 22. Spermophila hypoleuca. Fringilla hypoleuca, Licht. Doubl. p. 26. Spermophila hypoleuca, Bp. Consp. i. p. 497 ; Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 103 ; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 223. Sporophila hypoleuca, Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 149 ; Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 241. Pyrrhulea cinereola, Temm. PI. Col. 11. f. 1. Frinyilla rufirostris, Max. Beitr. iii. p. 581. Cinerea ; speculo alari albo ; subtus alba : rostro robusto, rubro ; long, tota 4-5, alse 2*3, caudse 2*0. Fem. Fusca, alis cau- daque obscurioribus : subtus subrufescens, medialiter dilu- tior : rostro corneo. Hab. S.E. Brazil, Campos (^wm.); B'dh\?L{Wucherer); S.Paulo, Goyaz et Cuyaba {Natt.). This Finch is by no means uncommon in collections fi'om Bahia, and appears to be widely diffused in South - eastern Brazil. Temminck's figure (PL Col, 11. f. 1) certainly repre- sents this species ; but Bonaparte's diagnosis of Sporophila cinereola (Consp. p. 499) seems to have been intended for S. grisea. SEK. III. VOL. I. C 18 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Genus Spevnio])liila. 23. Spermophila grisea. Gros-bec de Virginie, Buff. PI. Enl. 393. fig. 1. Loxia grisea, Gm. S. N. p. 857. Spermophila grisea, G. R. Gray, Gen. of B. p. 386. Sporophila intermedia, Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 149. Spermophila intermedia, Sclater, Cat. Am. B. p. 103. Sporophila ci7iereola,'Bp. Consp. i. p. 499, Spermophila cinerea, Lawrence, Ann. L. N. Y. vii. p. 474. Spermophila schistacea, Lawrence, ibid. viii. p. 10. Hab. Cayenne {Mus. P. L. S.); Venezuela (CV/6.); Trinidad {Mus. G. N. L.); Bogota {Mus. P. L. S.); Panama {Mc Leannan); Chiriqui {Arce). Obscure grisea, speculo alari (interdum vix distinguendo) albo : subtus dilutior, pectore medio cum ventre et crisso albis : rostro flavo : long, tota 4'0, alee 2'5, caudse 1'6. Fern. Fuscescenti-olivacea, subtus dilutior : ventre medio albi- cante : rostro corneo. In my ' Catalogue ' I have called this bird Spermophila in- termedia, following Cabanis. I am now of opinion that it is the bird represented in the * PI. Enl.^ as the Gros-bec de Virginie (PI. Enl. 393. fig. 1), and that it should therefore be called Sper- mophila grisea (ex Loxia grisea, Gm.), a very appropriate name for it. Buffon has in several other instances given Virginia as a locality for species which are really from Cayenne ; and there is no other American bird, so far as I am aware, with which his figure and description agree so nearly. I have six skins of tliis Spermophila in my collection, from Cayenne, Venezuela, Bogota, and Chiriqui. Mr. Lawrence has kindly lent me two others from Trinidad and Panama, the latter being typical of his S. schistacea (olim S. cinerea). In Mr. Lawrence's Panama skin there is a small whitish patch on each side of the throat, and this is also slightly apparent in my Ver- agua skin, but not in those before me from other localities. This, however, is in my opinion much too feeble a character to warrant the specific distinction of birds which otherwise agree with one another. 24. Spermophila plumbea. Fringilla plumbea, ]Max. Beitr. iii. p. 579. Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Genus Speruiophilft. 19 Sporophila plumbea, Cah. Mus. Hein. p. 149; Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 243. Spermophila plumbea, Pelz. Oru. Bras. p. 223 ; Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 103. Pyrrhula vetula, Natt. M.S. Spermophila cinerea, Lafr. et D'Orb. Syn. Av. p. 85 ; Gray, Gen. p. 386. Plumbea, alls caudaque nigricantibus : speculo alari et rectricum fascia basali albis : rostro nigro: subtus valde dilutior, ventre albo : long, tota 4-0, alse 2-5, caudse 70. Fem. cineraceo- olivacea, alls et cauda nigricantibus : subtus albida, ochra- ceo induta : rostro corueo. Hab. Brasil. prov. S. Paolo et Matto-grosso {Natt.) ; Bolivia {D'Orb.); Nov. Granada int. [Mus. S.-G.) ; Cayenne {Mus. G. N.L.). I have a pair of Nattererian skins of this species from Ytarare (S. Paulo). The male agrees very well with a Bogota skin in Salvin and Godman^s collection, and one from Cayenne belong- ing to Mr. Lawence. S, plumbea may be at once distinguished from the preceding species by its black bill, and more nearly uniform and whiter colour below. II. Remarks on other described species of Spermophila, not known to the author. Although, as it will be seen by the preceding synopsis, I have succeeded in reducing the number of supposed Spermophila not inconsiderably, there remains a rather formidable residuum of described species, which I have not been able to identify. Some of them, such as those recently characterized by Herr v. Pelzeln, are no doubt authentic ; but most of the others are probably synonyms of some of the twenty-four species already spoken of. 1. Spermophila caboclinho. Spermophila caboclinho, Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 224 et p. 331. " Mas jr. et fem. coloribus fem. Sp. ornatce similes, sed remigum basi latius alba et tectricibus alarum nis-ris colore dorsi lim- batis." Hab. Rio [Natt). c 2 20 Mr. P. L. Sclatcr on the Genus Sperniophila. 2. Spkrmophila cinnamomea. Pyrrhula cinnamomea, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1819, p. 99. Sporophila cinnamomea, Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 150, Spermophila cinnamomea, Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 226 ; G. R. Gray, G. of B. ii. p. 386. Similis ^p. minuto, sed omiiino brunneo-cinnainomea, pileo cinereo : remigibus rectricibusque nigricantibus griseo niarginatis, speculo alari albo {Up-). Hub. Rio Grande {Lafr.) : Rio Araguay {Natt.). 3. Spermophila falcirostris. Pyrrhula falcirosMs, Tenim. PI. Col. ii. fig. 1. Fringilla falcirostris, Max. Beitr. iii. p. 584. Spermophila falcirostris. Gray, Gen. ii. p. 386. Sporophila olivascens, Licht. Nomencl. p. 45 (?). Hah. Wood-region near Babia {Burm,). This would appear to be the female of a species allied to S^. hypoxantha likewise occur in Paraguay. In Bolivia D'Orbigny obtained examples of S. hypoxantha, S. nigro-rufa, S. collaria, S. ccerulescens, S. lineola, S. bicolor, and S. plumbea. Of these, S. hyjioxantha, S. nigro-rufa, and 8. cce- rulescens belong to the Brazilian subfauna, while 8. lineola, S. collaria, and S. plumbea are birds of wide distribution. But S. bicolor, so far as is hitherto recorded, seems to have only been met with in the Bolivian pi'ovince of Moxos, and is therefore more sti'ictly an Amazonian species. II. — Stray Notes on Ornithology in India. By Allan Hume,C.B. No. VI. On certain new or uwecorded Bii-ds. In a letter, which appeared at page 355 of ' The Ibis ' for July 1869, I mentioned having submitted for examination to M. 24 Mr. A. llanic on Indian Ornithology. Jules Verreaux a small box of bird-skins containing, as I consi- dered, numerous species, either altogether new, or new to our Indian avifauna. I gave names at the time to several of these species, but was well aware that they would hardly be accepted as undoubted additions to our avifauna until, due comparison having been made in European museums, my views received the confirmation of European ornithologists. This necessary comparison has now been made at the Museum of the Jardin des Plantes, by M. Verreaux, aided in some in- stances by M. Gerbe; and I now hasten to give a brief summary of its results. ft 9 bis^. Falco atriceps, nobis. ("Rough notes," part. i. p. 58.) No satisfactory conclusion seems to me to have yet been come to with regard to this species. Dr. Jerdon, who has seen nearly a hundred specimens of F. peregrinator, dead and alive, is positive that it is not that species. I myself have now had an oppor- tunity of examining numerous specimens of this species in many different stages of plumage, and agree with Dr. Jerdon. M. Verreaux remarks— "I have most carefully compared your Falcon with all those known to me ; and my first idea that it was F. melanogenys of Gould appears to have been correct. In Australia I myself have killed several specimens similar to yours ; and you may therefore feel certain that this latter is really an example of F. melanogenys." Per contra, F. melanogenys from Australia, of which I now possess two specimens, male and female, appears to be a considerably larger bird ; moreover my friend Major Delme-Radcliffe, who has kept both F. melano- genys and F. atriceps alive, and who has probably paid more attention to live Falcons than any one now living, positively affirms that F. melanogenys is a decidedly larger bird. In his * The numbers are those of Dr. Jerdon's work. Where the bird was not included by him, I have given it as his or ter of the number of that species which it appeared to follow most conveniently. I have pre- tixed tt to those species which I consider altogether new, and t to those the occurrence of which in India I have been, I believe, the first to establish. Mr. A. Hume on Indian Ornithology. 25 opinion, F. atriceps is a mere modification of F. peregrinator, not deserving specific separation. On the whole, it appears to me, with more examples before me than I formerly had, that Falco atriceps is a good species. ft 24 bis. AcciPiTER melaschistus, nobis. ("Rough Notes," part i. p. 128.) I sent an adult female and a young male of this species to M. Verreaux, who remarks, " I have compared these two Accipiters with all those I could find either in our Museum or elsewhere, and I must tell you that I believe the species to be new. No doubt the female, in some respects, presents a striking resem- blance to certain specimens of onr Accipiter nisus ; but there are still, it seems to me, diflferences sufficient to warrant a separation. As to the young male, it differs widely from the young of our common species. What strikes me as the most conspicuous difference is the comparative shortness of the tarsi. I think, therefore, you may fairly describe the species as new." 44 bis. BuTEO desertorum. 45. BUTEG FEROX. The different species of Buzzards inhabiting the Old World certainly require careful reconsideration. I hope that my re- marks in Part ii. of my " Rough Notes " will throw some light upon the subject. In the meantime, to refer to the specimens sent to M. Verreaux, which were three in number. One from the Punjab, of a very deep smoky brown colour, mingled beneath on the throat and breast with dull rufous, and having on the tail seven conspicuous, well-defined, transverse white bars. This I believed at the time to be new, and designated B . fuliginosus ^ . The other two, from the Himalayas, belonged to the species usually identified with B. vulgaris ; but from this I felt con- vinced they differed materially. Alluding to the first, M. Ver- reaux says, " Your Buzzard appears to me to be new." Mr. Gurney also, who saw this same specimen in Paris, remarks {in epist.) that it appears to him to be new to science. [* This name has already been used for a Mexican and CTuatenialan Buz- zard. Cf. Scl. Trans. Z. S. iv. p. 267, pi' 02.— Ed.] 26 ]\Ir. A. Hume on Indian Ornithulugy. Since sending home this specimen, I have procured numerous others ; and I now entertain no doubt that (as pointed out in Part ii. of my " Rough notes ") this smoky-coloured, white- barred-tailed Buzzard is a stage of B.ferox. As regards the other two Buzzards, M. Verreaux remarks, "I have great diffi- culty in not considering all your three specimens as belonging to one and the same species, notwitlistanding the differences in plumage and in the extent to which the tarsi are feathered. Dif- ferences in this latter respect are also often noticeable in our common Buzzard of France. At any rate, one thing seems to me certain, that the lighter of the two birds is the adult, and the darker the young one. I enclose a note, prepared by one of my friends in regard to various differences which exist between your specimens and numerous specimens procured at certain seasons of the year on the Bosphorus by M. Alleon.^^ He adds, " Possibly the lighter-coloured of the three speci- mens may be merely a stage of Buteo feroxP My own convic- tion now is that this lighter-coloured specimen is one stage of Buteo desertorum ; but I am bound to remark that as my already large series of both these supposed species [B.ferox and B. deser- torum) increases, I am more and more inclined to suspect, not that they are identical (typical examples of each differ most conspi- cuously), but that intermediate forms occur, and that in some parts of Asia they either interbreed or else have never become truly distinct. 80. Glaucidium brodiei. I sent to Paris what I considered to be a new species of Pigmy Owl. M. Verreaux decides that it is only an old bird of the above species. It is remarkable for having the whole head, nape, back, and scapulars entirely spotless brown, thus presenting a totally different appearance from the specimens commonly met with. t 99 bis. BuTALis grisola, Linn. This is another addition to our avifauna ; T obtained a specimen from Jodhpoor in a collection kindly sent me by Dr. King. I at once noticed that it was new to us in India, but felt much puzzled where to place it. M. Verreaux remarks of the specimen sent him, " This is Butalis grisola, a very common species in Europe, Mr. A. Hume on Indian Ornitholugy. 27 Asia, and Africa. Blyth indicates it in his Catalogue of the Calcutta Museum, page 75. I received it many years ago from India, and always considered it identical with the European species.''^ With reference to the above, it is necessary to point out that the specimens noted in Blyth's Catalogue were obtained from England, and that neither Mr. Blyth, Dr. Jerdon, nor, so far as I know, any other of our Indian ornithologists were aware of its occurrence in India. 323. Erythrosterna leucura. I sent a male and female of the bird usually referred to this species, which occurs throughout Upper and Central India. Having compared them with European specimens which I pos- sess, and also with Gould's and Breeds figures, I concluded that they were the true E. parva, while I considered the eastern race which I have received from Tipperah, and which appeared to me to present certain slight differences, to be the £. leucura of Gmelin, Latham, and Blyth. M. Verreaux, however, says in re- gard to the male, " After all the comparisons that I have made, I cannot make your bird out to be anything else than E. leucura ; I may note that exactly similar specimens have been received from Siberia.'' In regard to the female, he says, " I think your bird is a female oiE.parva, with European specimens of which it precisely agrees." He adds, " M. Gerbe considers this to be the female of the foregoing, in which case it would be E. leucura." It appears to me somewhat doubtful whether E. leucura is really distinct from E. parva. Most certainly, the distinctions pointed out by Mr. Blyth do not hold good wdth regard to many of our Upper-Indian specimens ; and it will be observed that an experienced ornithologist like M. Verreaux felt disposed to refer the male to one species and the female to the other. 483 bis. Pratincola rubicola. I have long suspected that we have in India two distinct races of Stonechat, the larger absolutely identical with the Euro- pean, the smaller doubtfully separable as P. indica. This seems to me to explain much of the discussion that has taken place as to whether our Indian bird is or is not distinct from the 28 Mv. A. Hume on Indian Ornithologrj. European. Some observers, with typical examples of the smaller race before them, have contended for the distinctness of the Indian bird, while others, whose experience has lain chiefly amongst the larger race, equally energetically hold the opposite view. It is the old story of the Chameleon ; both parties are right, and also to a certain extent wrong. That two different types are met with in India, the one identical with the European form, the other differing, as pointed out by Mr. Blyth, from any specimens to be met with in Northern Europe, at any rate, hardly, I think, admits of a doubt ; but at the same time, with a very large series from all parts of India before me, I am very doubtful whether this latter form is entitled to specific rank. Every possible gradation in size and colour between it and the typical P. rubicola is met with. As a rule, I have noticed that, while both races are to be found in the breeding-season through- out the Himalayas, the cold-weather visitants to the plains of India belong chiefly to the smaller or P. indica type. I do not mean to say that the larger does not occur even in Central India; but more than nine-tenths of the series belonging to the larger form that I possess were obtained in the Himalayas. I sent M. Verreaux home two of the Himalayan birds ; and the following are his remarks on the subject : — '' With the best inclination to do so, I find amongst the large number of specimens before me so many differences in particular birds, and so many gradations to your two specimens, that I cannot make up my mind to con- sider them different from our P. rubicola of Europe. We have here, nevertheless, specimens from India which bear the name of P. indica, which are really different ; but yours are not like these." Doubtless these different ones belong to the smaller race. 485 bis. PRA.TINCOLA RUBETRA. In regard to the specimen of this species which I sent him, M. Verreaux remarks, "Your bird, while appearing to be un- doubtedly P. rubetra, is in all respects similar to specimens from Africa, which (especially those from Senegal) always appear to be paler than the European ones. In this, as in many other species, one must make allowances for climate : you could not separate your Indian birds as a distinct species ; but if the pale Mr. A. Hume on Indian Ornitlioloyij. ^9 colour is constant, it is worthy of notice, and of some scientific interest/^ 491. Saxicola saltatrix, Menetries. I had long been certain that the bird described by Dr. Jerdon as S. cenanthe, of which I had numerous specimens, ought properly to be referred either to >S^. saltatrix (which is identical with Motacilla stapazina, Pall. Zoogr. vol. i. p. 447) or to S. isabellina, Riipp. Zool. Atl. t. 28. f. 2 ; but I had grave doubts to which of the two our Indian bird really belonged, and also respecting the distinctness of these two species. M. Verreaux, after carefully examining my specimens, assures me that ours are undoubtedly S. saltatrix, and that he has recently received specimens from Siberia which are absolutely identical with ours. tt 491 bis. Saxicola kingi'^, sp. nov. This is another species new either to science or to our Indian avifauna, which I picked out of a collection of birds formed in * Saxicola kiiu/i, sp.nov. (female, liilled at Jodlipoor, October 29, 18G8). Dimensions. — Length 6-5, expanse 11 '.S, tail from vent 2-3; wings when closed reach to within 1-05 of end of tail. Wing .3-7; the third primary is the longest, the second 0'25, and the first 2-0 shorter than the third. The tail is perfectly square. Bill, length at front 0-58. Tarsus 1-02. Foot, greatest length l'2e5, greatest width 0-G; mid toe, to root of claw, 0'64, its claw (straight) 0'21 ; hind toe, to root of claw, 0-28, its claw (straight) 0-25 ; outer toe, to root of claw, 0-42, its claw (straight) 0-11 ; inner toe, to root of claw, 0*4, its claw (straight) 0'12. Description. — Legs and feet black ; bill black ; irides dark brown. Plumage. — A dark grey line fi'om the gape to and under the eve, a broad, slightly greyish- white line from the nostrils over the eye. Ear-coverts silliy rufescent brown ; forehead greyish brown ; crown, occiput, nape, back, and scapulars nearly uniform gi'ey earthy brown, very slightly tinged with rufescent towards the rump ; rump and upper tail-coverts bright rufous fawn; tail-feathers bright feiTuginous, with a subter- minal blackish brown band extending over both webs, and a narrow tipping of rufous white, which jets in at the shafts for about the tenth of an inch. The dark baud is about 1'2 broad on the centre tail-feathers, about 0-7 on the feathers next to the centre, and 0-45 on the exteraal ones. Tlie tertiaries and most of the coverts are hair-brown, broadly margined with pale rufescent; the winglet, primaries and secondaries, and primary greater coverts are a slightly darker hair-brown, very nar- rowly tipped with white, and some of them, the secondaries especially. 30 Mr. A. Hume on Indian Ornithology. the neighbourhood of Jodhpoor by my friend Dr. King, who most kindly allowed me to select any specimens required for ray museum. I knew that it was new to India; but, with the mul- titude of little-known African species in view, I hesitated to describe it until it had been examined in Europe. M. Verreaux remarks in regard to it, " I have sought for this species not only in collections but also in all the ornithological works I could think of, and have failed to find it, though I remember a similar specimen having passed through my hands when I was resident in South Africa, which specimen I had received from my friend Captain Latouche, who was living in India, and who had killed it himself; but it is so long ago that I cannot remember exactly when or whei'e it was procured. ^^ Of course this is merely negative evidence; but considering M. Verreaux^s gi'cat famili- arity with this genus, and the opportunities at his command for identifying the species, if previously described, it is presumably new, and I designate it as above. t 492 ter. Aedon familiaris, Menetries, Bp. Consp. Av. vol. i. p. 286. Si/lvia familiai'is, Menetries, Zool. du Caucase, 1832, p. 32. Whether this species is really distinct from A. galactodes, Temm., or not, is a matter which depends on individual concep- tions of what constitutes a species. In adopting Menetries' name, all I wish to signify is that the form occurring in Western India most nearly approaches that of Southern Russia and Greece, and has less resemblance to the more richly coloured type of Western Europe and Northern Africa. M. Verreaux remarks, " After examining a great number of specimens, I could well suppose that this form is nothing more than A. very naiTowly margined ^\^tll pale rufescent. The cliin and upper throat white, with a faint creamy tinge. The sides of the neck behind and below the ear-coverts grey, gTeyish white, and gi-eyish brown, blending on the one side into the colour of the throat, and on the other into that of the back of the neck. The breast and upper abdomen are a very pale rufescent brown, all the tips of the feathers being paler. The centre of the abdo- men and vent slightly rufescent white ; flanks rufescent fawn ; lower tail-coverts somewhat pale buff; wing-lining and axillaries pure white. Mr. A. Hume on Indian Ornitliology. 31 (jaladudes modified by the effects of climate. I should recom- mend you to consider your species as belonging to this latter, noticing, however, the peculiarity of coloration, because certain specimens which I have received from India exhibited the rich rufous colouring characteristic oi A. galactodes." Here, again, it is necessary to note that, though M. Verreaux appears to have been aware of the fact, no English ornithologist had noticed the occur- rence of this species in India until I noted it in the pages of 'The Ibis.' t 513 ter. Lusciola akahige, Temm., Bon. Consp. vol. i. p. 295; PI. Col. 571, &c. With regard to a young bird which I procured not far from Nyneetal, in Kumaon, on the 10th September 1866, which Dr. Jerdon thought might be the young of some species of Niltava, and which I was inclined to refer to Cyornis, M. Verreaux re- marks, " After careful comparison, I am compelled to refer this young bird to Rubicula akahige; and this is not an isolated in- stance of Japanese species occasionally occurring in India.'' It is to be presumed that M. Verreaux's identification is correct, in which case this species also must be added to our avifauna. ft 517 bis. ACROCEPHALUS MACRORHYNCHUS*, Sp. nov. In 'The Ibis' for 1869, p. 357, I provisionally classed this bird * Acrocephalus macrorhynchns, sp. nov. Dimensions. — Length o-O. "Wing 2'3, first primary excessively minute, fourtli primary the longest, third 005, second 0-12, first 0-4 shorter than the fourth. Tail 2'2, much rounded; exterior tail-feathers 0'48 shorter than central ones ; all the tail-feathers much pointed. Tarsus 0-85 ; mid toe and claw Owo ; hind toe and claw 0-53, of which the claw is 0-29. Bill, at front, 0-55, from gape OwB, width at gape 0-25, length of gonys 0'4, height at front 0-08. The hill is much depressed, the culmen-ridge well marked. Description. — Bill, upper mandible dark brown. Legs and feet slightly olivaceous brown ; claws, which are moderately curved and much compressed, pale bro%vn. Plumage :— Whole upper surface (except quills and tail-feathers, which are hair-brown) rich olive-brown ; cheeks and ear-coverts mingled buffy white and olive-brown ; chin, throat, middle of abdomen creamy or dingy yellowish white ; the rest of the lower parts more decidedly tinged with pale dingy mifescent brown, the tarsal plumes being very rufous; the wing-lining nearly pure white, .slightly tinged yellowish towards the edge of the wing. 32 Mr. A. Hume o?i Indian Ornithology. as a P/iT/llopneuste, remarking that it would have to be generically separated. On reexamining the specimen, I do not doubt that it is one of the Calamoherpinee, and may for the present be placed amongst the Acrocephali, although it will, I believe, ultimately have to form the type of a new genus. M. Verreaux furnishes the following remarks: — "Except as regards the size, this species much resembles Arundinax olivaceus ; it certainly is not a Phyllopneuste, and has none of the characters of that genus, while it has those of the Calamoherpime. I have never seen this bird before ; it is not contained in our Museum ; and I have not been able to find any notice of it anywhere. I think you may describe it as new.^' I obtained this species in the Sut- ledge Valley, in the interior of the Himalayas, not far from Rampoor. 581. Sylvia orphea. It has been a matter much disputed amongst ornithologists in India whether the species we here have is identical with S. orphea of Europe, or whether it is entitled to specific separation under the name of S. jerdoni. M. Verreaux, after a careful comparison, considers our bird to be the veritable S. orphea. t 582 bis. Sylvia cinerea, Lath. Amongst the birds collected by Dr. King at Aboo 1 observed one, under date 24th September 1868, which appeared to me not to be referable to either of the three species of Sylvia or Curruca described by Dr. Jerdon. It was one, too, which re- minded me more of our common Whitethroat than any of these three species, of which I have many specimens from different parts of India. M. Verreaux pronounces it to be S. cinerea. It no doubt differs slightly from the English specimens I possess ; but M. Verreaux remarks that he has observed similar slight variations, seasonal or individual, in the European bird, which is extremely common even in the gardens of Paris, and he does not think that this Indian specimen can possibly be separated from the European species. t 583 bis. Sylvia delicatula, Hartl. I was not certain whether the specimens referred by me to Mr. A. Hume on Indian Ornithology . 33 this species, and collected for mc in Bhawulpoor by Captain Marshal], had been correctly identified. M. Verreaux has kindly compared them with specimens from Abyssinia and Egypt, and can discover, he says, no difference. t 583 ter. Iduna salicaria, Pall., nee L. Sylvia caligata, Licht. Lusciola caligata, Keys, et Bl. Iduna caligata, Gr., Bon. Consp. Av. p. 295. This is another novelty to our Indian avifauna. I picked it out as unlike any thing I had seen, and forwarded it to M. Ver- reaux. Unfortunately the specimen has not been returned to me ; and therefore I cannot now be certain out of which of two large collections, one made in the interior of the Himalayas and the other in Western India, it was derived. M, Verreaux says, "After most careful comparison with several specimens from Siberia and Dauria, I cannot see that your bird differs from them in any respect. It is the Iduna salicaria." Since writing the above, I have heard that Mr. Tristram iden- tifies this species with Phyllupneuste rama. In this he may be correct ; but I beg to point out that the bird sent by me to M. Verreaux was not P. rama, and that both he and I have for years been so thoroughly familiar with this latter species that any mis- take on this point is impossible. Mr. Tristram goes, I believe, by the British-Museum specimen of /. scita. Who knows that this specimen is correctly named*? If it be so, how can M. Verreaux have named an altogether different species S. caligata vel scita ? Where is the type specimen of /. scita ? This seems to be a matter worthy of further inquiry. 593. BUDYTES VIRIDIS. In a late number of ' The Ibis ' I expressed my conviction that B. melanucephalus and B. cinereocapillus were merely forms of this species. I had sent home long previously several speci- mens of our Indian birds to M. Verreaux with the view of ascertaining whether what I called jB. cinereocapillus and B. me- lanocephalus were really identical with the European forms to [* Cf. Gray, Hand-List, p. 209, wJiere all the above names are placed as synonyms of I. caliyata, Liclit. ; and the only localities cited are C. and S.E. Europe, Russia, Siberia. — Ed.] SER. III. VOL. I. D 34 Mr. A. Hume un Indian Ornithology. which these names have been assigned. JM. Verreaux and M. Gerbe, after due comparison, have decided that our Indian birds ^re undoubtedly identical ; and in a postscript M. Verreaux says, " After a fresh and careful reexamination with my friend M. Gerbe, we have come to the conclusion that B. viridis is only the yonng of B. cinereocapillus and B. melanocephulus." This is very nearly my own conclusion ; all I am as yet uncertain of is, whether B. viridis is the young or only a seasonal stage of the others : that B. viridis changes into B. cinereocapillus and B. cinereocapillus into B. melanocephalus , the series in my museum proves beyond the possibility of a doubt; but whether tbis change takes place yearly, or only once in the bird's life, is a question that I have not yet been able to solve. Further, I may add that M. Gerbe seems disposed to consider B. flatus a form of B. cinereocapillus ; none of the specimens, however, obtained by me appear quite to correspond with this latter, while I possess innumerable specimens of typical B. viridis, cinereocajjillus, and melanocephalus, and all possible intermediate gradations; and therefore, for the present, I am inclined to believe that B.flavus is either a distinct species or, at any rate, a distinguishable race which does not extend to India. 594 BUDYTES CITREOLUS. Lord Walden is right, and I am wrong, in regard to this species. I sent M. Verreaux specimens of the larger Cashmere and northern Indian form, which I conceived to be B. aureocapillus. These M. Verreaux pronounces to be unquestionably B. citreolus, Pallas, and he remarks : — " Yours are excessively old birds, in nuptial plumage, such as we often receive from India, and more rarely from Siberia.'' The second species to which I referred (Ibis, 1870, p. 142), and which is much smaller in every way (and I have adults in full breeding-plumage of both males and females), must either be B. calcaratus, Hodg., or else new. Hodgson's description is noted as being found at p. 190, vol. xix. of ' Asiatic Researches,' a volume which I have as yet been unable to procure. Probably Lord Walden can, from the dimensions which I gave, decide whether the smaller bird is B. calcaratus or not ; it prol)ably is so, as all my specimens Mr. A. Hume on Indian Ornithology. 35 have been derived from Bebar, Assam^ and Darjeeling. Should it prove to be really new, I would name it after Mr, R. M. Adam, who first sent me numerous specimens in various stages of plumage from Tirhoot. 597. PiPASTES ARBOREUS. In a late number of ' The Ibis ' I mentioned that, in my opinion, Pipastes agilis, maculatus, and arborens were one and the same species. Previously to writing this I had sent home specimens picked out by Dr. Jerdon from my collection as typical maculatus and typical arboreus, the one being of a greener tint everywhere, the other browner or yellower. I have an enormous series of this species from all parts of India, southern and northern, plains and hills ; and I think I can safely say that they one and all unquestionably belong to the same species as the two typical forms which were sent home. In reference to these M. Verreaux furnishes the following remarks: — "The careful comparisons that I have made prove that your birds are both nothing more than Anthus arboreus, a species very common with us here, I had already in my possession a large number of specimens of these birds from India ; and I had already come to the same conclusion as you have done, that all are referable to this species. This is another of those birds which undergo con- siderable local modifications according to climate and country.-" 602. Agrodroma campestris. Our Indian specimens of this bird appeared to me to differ somewhat from specimens received from Europe, especially in the entire absence of spots. M. Verreaux, while confirming the identity of the species, remarks that the absence of the spots is due to advancing age, and that the same is sometimes observable in old European specimens, and is by means uncommon in those from Northern Africa. 605. Anthus cervinus. Having no European specimens to compare with, and feeling by no means satisfied of the distinctness of the supposed A. rosaceus, I sent a good typical specimen of our Indian form to M, Verreaux, pointing out that A. rosaceus was said to differ in D 2 36 Mr. A. Hume on Indian Ornithuloy ij . its primrose-coloured axillaries. In reply, he remarks, " This Anthus appears to be ^. rufigularis [this is Brehm's name for cervinus']. I have received already many similar speci- mens from India, and others from the Amoor, which do not differ in any respect from European or Algerian ones." I think that the question of the distinctness of A. cervinus and A. rosaceus requires reconsideration. t605 bis. Anthus pratensis. Although I felt little doubts that the specimens I had pro- cured belonged to this species, I sent one for comparison with European specimens to M. Verreaux, who says, " In this bird, as in many others received from warm climates, there appears to have been some slight modification in tint; but it is im- possible to consider it distinct from Anthus pratensis. In- dependent of climatal changes, you must be aware that this class of bird is subject to material variations in plumage according to season and age." t605 ter. Anthus spinoletta, Lmn. ; A. aquaticus, Bechst. PI. Enl. 661, 2. Two specimens of this species (the one sent me from Mooltan, where it was killed in February by Capt. Marshall, and the other obtained by me from Kotegurh, in the Himalayas, in December) were submitted by me to M. Verreaux. This gen- tleman says that I have correctly identified this species, and remarks that he has long known of the occurrence of this species in India. No English writer, however, had, I believe, previously recorded its existence here. It is purely a cold- weather visitant with us. t695 bis. Ploceus megabhynchus?*, nob,, vide Ibis, 1869, p. 356. With regard to this supposed species M. Verreaux remarks, * Ploceus mefiarhynchns, sp. nov. ? Dimensions. Length 6-2 ; wing 2-9o ; tail 2-3 ; bill at front 0-7, from gape 0-84, height at front 0'24; tarsus OOO, mid toe and claw 1-0, hind toe and claw 078. Description. Legs, feet, and claws fleshy brown : bill pinkish brown, whitisli on lower surface of under mandibh^. Phnnatjc. (Winter I'Ikiiukjc) Luics rufescent : liuiul. cheeks, ear- Mr. A. Hume on Indian Ornithology. 37 " I cannot but consider this identical with P.flaviceps, Cuv, nee S\v., a bird very common, and varying a good deal in length and size of bill." Dr. Jerdon and myself compared a couple of birds of this supposed new species with specimens of P. baya, manyar, and bengalensis. It certainly does not pertain to either of the three species known as such in India ; but this by no means settles the question. The synonymy of this group re- quires elucidation. Biyth identifies P. manyar, Horsf., with striatus, Blyth, and flariceps, Sw. ; but Bonaparte, whom Ver- reaux follows, identifies tnanyar with hypoxantkus, and striatus with Jiaviceps, Cuv. It is therefore possible that the species described by Jerdon as P. manyar, Horsf., may be hypoxantkus, Daud. ; but this seems very unlikely, as Mr. Blyth was well ac- quainted with this species. Or, again, Bonaparte may be wrong- in uniting striatus, Blyth, with P. jiaviceps, Cuv., in which case my supposed new species may be the true P. Jiaviceps. Under any circumstances this bird is new to our Indian avifauna, and is quite distinct from either of the three species described by Dr. Jerdon under Nos. 694, 695, and 696, pages 343 et seq. t916 bis. Embekiza stkiolata. I have already given an account in a separate paper of the nidification of this species. I only sent specimens home in order coverts, and nape slightly rufous olivaceous brown ; the feathers of the forehead and crown with iU-defiiied central dark-brown streaks, and traces of the same on the feathers of the nape. Upper back and scapulars somewhat paler and less rufous brown, broadly and conspicuously centred with dark hair-brown. Lower back and rump the same pale slightly rufous olivaceous brown, unstreaked ; upper tail-coverts similar, but with ill-defined hair-brown centres. Tail hair-brown, the feathers narrowly tipped and margined with pale rufescent. Wing-coverts and tertiaries deep hair-brown, broadly margined with pale rufous fawn; primaries and secondaries paler hair-broAvn, very narrowly margined with the same colour. Chin, throat, middle of abdomen, vent, and lower tail-coverts almost pm-e white, with only the faintest creamy tinge ; the rest of the lower parts a duU rufous fawn, somewhat rufescent on the breast, sides, and flanks. The tail is much rounded ; the lateral tail-feathers being from 0-37 to 0-4 shorter than the central ones. The specimens I possess were procured in Uecembtr, in the Kumaou Terai, not far from Kala- doongee. 38 Capt. G. E. Shelley on Egijptian Ornitholorjy. to make certain that there was no mistake as to the name. M. Verreaux remarks, *' I consider this bird to be certainly E. striolata. After comparing your specimens with numerous others from different localities, I do not see my way to make a second species. Doubtless the wings in your specimens appear to be slightly longer, and the coloration of the upper parts is somewhat darker; but you are well aware that allowance must always be made for slight differences which species inhabiting different climates exhibit. Considerable changes, as I have often observed, result from differences of food and temperature." t720 bis. Emberiza schcenicola. M. Verreaux confirms my identification of this species. 766 bis. Alauda arvensis. A speciuien of a Skylark sent me from near Lahore by Capt. C. H. T. Marshall appeared to me to be precisely identical with the European species. I sent it to M. Verreaux, who remarks, " This, as you rightly conjectured, is Alauda arvensis. I have compared it with more than a hundred European specimens, and cannot discover the slightest difference." III. — Contributions to the Ornithology of Egypt. By Captain G. E. Shelley, F.R.G.S., F.G.S., &c. I VISITED Egypt upon two occasions, and in all spent about six months in the country, during which time I devoted myself chiefly to collecting birds, my observations upon which I make the subject of the following notes. During my first visit I col- lected from the 30th of January up to the 9th of April, 1868, and on the second occasion from the 10th of February until the 10th of May, 1870, and brought home upwards of 500 speci- mens, including more than 150 species. I also identified for certain 30 other species, skins of which I did not preserve. Owing to my having on both occasions been in Egypt at about the same season of the year, I missed obtaining some of the birds which I should probably otherwise have met with; but from the lateness of my stay, after the Nile was clear of its ordinary Capt. G. E. Shelley on Egyptian Ornithology . 39 tourists, I obtained many species which are not generally found in collections from Egypt. I only travelled in Nubia on iny second visit, when I spent a fortnight in that country. As in six months it was impossible to make a complete col- lection, and as I omitted to obtain many of the more ordinary species, I have drawn from all the most authentic sources to complete the present catalogue of the birds that are found between the Mediterranean and the second Cataract. I have carefully avoided the insertion of any species upon which, it appears to me, that there is any doubt, as for instance, Haliaetus albicilla and several others, which I can only find the locality Egypt given to in Mr. G. R. Gray's 'Hand-list of Birds.' I have, however, inserted Gypaetus barbatus, Milvus migrans, and Ibis religiosus, which may well be doubted as Egyptian species from any observations which have yet been made upon them, although a further knowledge of the avifauna of these regions will probably decide their right to a place in the present list. 1. Gypaetus barbatus (L.). Bearded Vulture. Dr. A. L. Adams (Ibis, 1864, p. 8) mentions having met with this bird at the Pyramids. I know of no other instance of its having been seen in Egypt. While we cannot well doubt that the Bearded Vulture has been observed in Egypt, we may yet feel very uncertain whether the specimen seen by Dr. Adams was really a true G. barbatus (Linn.), or belonged to the species which inhabits Abyssinia, G. nudipes, Brehm*. 2. VuLTUR MONACHus, L. Black Vulture. By no means abundant in Egypt, but to be met with occa- sionally on the sandbanks or in company with flocks of Gyps fulvus. 3. Gyps fulvus (Gm.). Griffon. I met with several hundreds of these birds at Edfos, round the body of a dead Camel, and saw small flocks of them on several other occasions. I observed a pair towards the end of April * [Qu. G. ineridionalis, Keys, et Bias. Cf. Finsch, Trans. Z. S. vii. p. 200.— Ed.] 40 Capt. G. E. Shelley on Egyptian Omithuloyy. in the mountains of Aboo Fayde, where they were probably breeding. 4. Neophron percnopterus (L.). Egyptian Vulture. Abundant throughout Egypt, where they may be daily seen feeding in pairs or in flocks, seeking ofFal round the villages, or slaking their thirst upon the opposite mudbanks. The irides in the young are brown, changing with age to deep crimson. The skin of the face in the adult is yellow, legs flesh- colour. It appears that this species does not obtain its full plumage and crimson irides until the fourth year*. 5. BuTEO VULGARIS, Bcchst. Common Buzzard. By no means common in Egypt. We only shot this bird once, in an acacia wood near Benisooef. 6. BuTEG DESERTORUM, Daud. African Buzzard. It is highly probable that this bird is to be found in Egypt ; but I do not know of any authentic instance of its having been captured there. I believe that I saw one in Nubia perched upon a small rocky island, some 40 yards from our boat, as we sailed by before a strong breeze. 7. BuTEG FERGx, Gui. Long-lcggcd Buzzard. I only met with a single specimen this year, although in 1868 it was very abundant, being rarely absent from any field where Quail were numerous. It is a lazy bird, seldom flying far even after being shot at, but soon alighting again upon some mound or heap of maize-stalks, whence it watches the fields. Spe- cimens vary considerably in size and colouring. A very fine bird which I killed near Kom Ombos diff'ered from any I had ])revi()usly seen in having the tail brown and distinctly barred. They breed in Egypt in April. 8. Aquila imperialis, Bechst. Imperial Eagle. This bird I believe to be more plentiful in Lower than in Upper Egypt, * Natiu-al History and Arcliseology of the Nile Valley and Maltese Islands, by Mr. A. L. Adams, p. 104. Capt. G. E. Shelley on Egyptian Ornithulagy. 41 9. Aquila n^via (Gm.). Spotted Eagle. In winter this Eagle is very abundant in Egypt, which appears to be its favourite quarters at that season ; but I believe it does not remain there to breed. 10. Aquila pennata (Gm.). Booted Eagle. In 1868 I first met with this bird, in the Acacia woods near Benisooef, toward the end of March, where we killed three and saw several others. These birds, like Buteoferox, are very partial to fields where Quail abound. On my second visit to Egypt I did not meet with it. 11. CiRCAETUs GALLicus (Gm.). Short-toed Eagle. Tolerably plentiful throughout Egypt and Nubia. In 1868 I shot one of these birds on the Memnonium at Thebes, when it disgorged a snake two feet long. 12. Pandion haliaetus (L.). Osprey. Very generally to be met with among the rocks which approach close to the river, or ou the neighbouring sandbanks, both in Egypt and Nubia. 13. Falco peregrinus, L. Peregrine Falcon. Ranges throughout Egypt and Nubia, but is not very plen- tiful. 14. Falco barbarus, L. Barbary Falcon. I saw a pair of Falcons, which I believe to have belonged to this species, near Edfoo, and on the following day I shot a hand- some male specimen on a sandbank near El Kab. This bird is admirably figured (Ibis, 1859, p. 184). 15. Falco lanarius, L. Lanner Falcon. This is the most abundant of the large Falcons in Egypt. It breeds annually in the Pyramids. I obtained an immature specimen at Kom Ombos, in brown plumage, somewhat resembling F.jugger of India. The two centre tail-feathers were without a spot ; but it differed in the upper part of the chest being strongly marked with brown, and the top of the head being very pale inclining to rufous towards the back. Total length 17^ inches. Cere and eyelids pale green- ish yellow, legs slaty yellow. It was a female, by dissection. 42 Capt. G. E. Shelley on Egrjptian Ornitholuyy. 16. Falco saker, Schl. Saker Falcou. By no means abundant. I only met with it twice in Egj^pt, and shot the specimen on each occasion. 17. Falco subbuteo, L. Hobby. Dr. Heuglin (Ibis, I860, p. 408j mentions that he killed an old bird of this species at Sioot in June 1852, and believes that it is to be found there all the year through. I have no other evidence for including this bird in my Egyptian list. 18. Falco eleonor^. Gene. Eleonora Falcon. Dr. Heuglin (Ibis, i860, p. 408) writes of this bird, '' Rare, and only as a migratory bird in Nubia." It has no other claims that I know of to a place in the present list. 19. Falco concolor, Temm. Dr. Heuglin says (Ibis, 1860, p. 409), in speaking of this bird under the name of F. horus (Heugl.), " I have rarely ob- served, this species in the rocky deserts of Egypt and Nubia. A. Brehm has described a young specimen of this species killed by myself in August 1852 near the so-called 'Fossil Forest,' at the Mokatam Mountains." 20. Falco .esalon, L. Mei-liu. Very abundant in spring in nearly every thick Acacia clump, especially near Benisooef, where I have seen as many as thirty in one day, yet I have never met with a female specimen in Egypt. This great preponderance of males, which has been remarked by others before me*, leads me to believe that it rarely, if ever, breeds in Egypt, although I have seen it as late as the beginning of April, but not paired at that season. 21. Erythropus VESPERTINUS (L.). Orangc-lcgged Hobby. Dr. Heuglin (Ibis, 1861, p. 72) says that numerous flocks of this bird are often seen during the spring and autumn in Lower Egypt, and that single specimens are occasionally met with in Upper Egypt and Nubia, but that sometimes sevei-al years pass without a single specimen being obtained. * E. C. Taylor, Ibis, 1859, p. 45. Capt. G. E. Shelley on Egyptian Ornithology. 43 22. TiNNUNCULUs ALAUDARius, (Gm.). Kestrel. By far the most abundant Hawk in Egypt. On one occasion we saw at least one hundred in a single clump of Palm trees, attracted there, no doubt, by the Locusts which were passing in dense continuous clouds beneath them. These flights of Locusts spread this year (1870) throughout the country, clearing whole districts of every green crop as they passed. 23. TiNNUNCULUs CENCHRis (Naum.). Lesser Kestrel. 1 only shot this bird once ; this was towards the end of March, near Benisooef. Dr. Heuglin (Ibis, 1861, p. 72) states that the Lesser Kestrel ranges throughout Egypt and Nubia, and is very common during the spring in Lower Egypt, especially round Alexandria. 24. MiLvus iEGYPTius, Gm. Parasitic Kite. This is a very common bird in Egypt, where it frequents every village or place where there is a chance of its obtaining filth. It is extremely curious and audacious in search of its food, often following the sportsman for a considerable distance ; but I never observed it capture even a wounded bird, although I have seen it occasionally swoop at them. Having one day shot a Kite upon a sandbank, I was soon sur- rounded by about thirty others approaching from all points of the horizon, although previously I had not seen one of them ; when I stood up they kept out of shot, but as soon as I sat down by the dead bird, they circled round close over head. I have also often attracted them by sitting down and placing my hand- kerchief before me, and occasionally moving it. They begin breeding in March, usually selecting an Acacia tree near some village. Their nest appears invariably to contain some piece of old rag. 25. MiLVUs MIGRANS (Bodd.) . Black Kite. I entirely agree with Mr. E. C. Taylor, that the number of individuals of this species cannot be compared with those of the last; for while M. cegyptius is undoubtedly extremely plentiful in Egypt, I have never been able to obtain any conclusive evi- dence of this bird having been killed in Egypt at all. Many black-billed specimens which we shot, the most doubtful of 44 Capt. G. E. Shelley on Egyptian Ornithology. which I brought home, were simply immature birds, and may therefore have belonged to either species. The bill of the young M. (sgyptius is black, and changes to yellow with age. This has been satisfactorily shown by three live specimens which Mr. Cavendish Taylor brought back from Egypt, and which are now in the Zoological Society's Gardens. So a black bill is not alone a criterion of the species to which such Kites belong. Dr. A. L. Adams states (Ibis, 18G4, p. 9) that this is the most abundant Kite iu Egypt, which is undoubtedly an error, probably arising from .his having considered all the black- billed Kites he saw as belonging to this species. 26. Elanus melanopterus (Daud.). Black - shouldered Hawk. This Hawk is very abundant throughout Egypt, and by no means shy. It generally frequents the Acacia trees, but T have rarely seen more than a pair in the same clump. They begin breeding in February. On the I2th of March, at Golosaneh, we found one of their nests containing four young birds; it was placed near the top of a tall Acacia in the midst of a clump of those trees. The young were of a pale ash-colour, considerably darker on the back and top of the head, where the feathers were mostly tipped with brown ; the chest was of a pale brown. On the 19th of April I obtained a handsome young bird in fine immature plumage : it differs from the adult in the grey feathers of the back and head being tipped with white, and in the soft brown shade upon the chest, where the centres of some of the feathers are marked with longitudinal spots of rufous brown. The irides of this specimen were hazel, while in the adult they are of a brilliant red-currant colour, and in the nest- lings of a dark brown. In 1868 I found two nests, each containing four eggs, which I have already noticed (Ibis, 1870, p. 150). During my last tour I found two more of these nests, one near Sioot, on the 17th of ]\Iarch, in a scattered Acacia clump. The nest, like the former ones, was placed near the top of the tree, and contained one egg very similar to the paler ones taken in 18G8, but of a rather more painted nppearancc. The other nest I took at Capt. G. E. Shelley on Egyptian Ornithology. 45 Uendera on the 25th of March, where I found it in a low Acacia tree about twelve feet from the ground ; it contained four hard-set eggs. The nest of this bird is rather carefully constructed of sticks and reeds, and is smoothly lined with dried leaves of the sugar-cane. 27. AsTUR PALUMBARius (L.). Goshawk. We shot a fine female specimen of this bird at Benisooef on the 24th of March, 1868. Tiiis is, I believe, the first notice of a Goshawk having been shot in Egypt. 28. AcciPiTER Nisus (L.). Sparrow-Hawk. Very abundant throughout Egypt and Nubia. 29. Circus ^ruginosus (L.). Marsh Harrier. Met with throughout Egypt and Nubia, but far most abun- dant in the Delta. I cannot pass over this species without a remark upon a fine series of seven specimens which I brought back, in the many varied stages of adult plumage with grey wings and tail, all of which proved to be males by dissection, from which it would appear that the females do not so readily attain that peculiar stage of plumage, if they do so at all. My specimens vary extremely among themselves : one has the head and chest cream-colour marked with longitudinal spots of rufous brown, and is an extremely handsome pale specimen from Da- mietta. Another one, from Nubia, is of a general dark brown colour, head and shoulders varied with buff, tail entirely grey, and wings well marked with the same colour, the under part of the wiiig of a deep brown very sparingly marked with buff, while in my other six specimens the same part of the wing varies from pure white to very pale cinereous brown. My Nubian specimen was a diseased bird, as shown by the legs and bill, and may con- sequently have attained its peculiar plumage from an imperfect moult, which has caused it only to assume the grey tail and wings, while the rest of its plumage has remained nearly the same as in the immature bird., 30. Circus cyaneus (L.). IIcn-Harrier. This is the least common of the three species of Harriers in- 4G Capt. G. E. Shelley on Egyptian OrnitJiuhgy. eluded in the present list. It is most frequently met with, in company with C. pallidus, in rows of Acacia trees. 31. Circus pallidus, Sykes. Pale-chested Harrier. This is the most plentiful of all the Harriers in Upper Egypt. I shot several small immature birds of this species, which at first I was inclined to consider as belonging to C. cineraceus ; and similar specimens have probably caused others to include Montagu's Harrier among the birds of Egypt. These specimens have the whole of the under part of a nearly uniform pale cine- reous brown, with the upper tail-coverts pure white. They may be most easily recognized by the length of the wing being shorter in proportion to the bird than it is in C. cineraceus. 32. Athene meridionalis, Risso. Southern Little Owl. This little Owl is extremely plentiful throughout Egypt, fre- quenting alike both trees and rocks, but more especially the small clumps of trees which surround the water-wheels so abundant throughout Egypt. It breeds in March. 33. Bubo ascalaphus, Sav. Egyptian Eagle Owl. This handsome Owl is very generally distributed throughout Egypt and Nubia. It breeds in March. 31'. Scops zorca (Gm.). Scops Owl. The only Egyptian specimen of this Owl which I have seen was shot by Mr. E. Cavendish Taylor last April, at Alexandria, where he tells me that it is not uncommon. 35. Otus vulgaris, Flem. Long-eared Owl. This Owl is sparingly distributed throughout Egypt. 36. Otus brachyotus (L.). Short-eared Owl. This is probably the only one of the six species of Owl found in Egypt that does not remain throughout the year. 37. Strix flammea, L. Barn-Owl. Tolerably abundant throughout Egypt. 38. Caprimulgus europ^us, L, Goatsucker. Dr. Von Heuglin, in his ' Ornithologic Nordost-Afiika's,' says that this bird passes through Egypt on its way south in Capt. G. E. Shelley on E(/?jpiian Ornithology. 47 August^ and is found on its return passage in Lower Egypt in March and April. 39. Caprimulgus isabellinus, Temm. This bird is not very plentiful in Egypt. On my first visit I observed several birds of this species at How flitting over the water at sunset. This year I shot the only specimen I saw, in a field of rough herbage opposite Aboofayda. Mr. S. S. Allen mentions (Ibis, 1864, p. 236) that he disco- vered two distinct varieties, one much darker than the other, and thinks it probable that C. europceus is also found here. 40. Cypselus apus (L.). Common Swift. This is not the common Swift in Egypt, nor do I know of any authentic instance of its having been captured in that country. The C. apus of other Egyptian lists probably in eveiy instance refers to the next species {C. pallidus), which is an extremely abundant bird in the country, and is the only species to be met with up to the end of April, C. apus, which is abundant throughout Africa and Palestine, must, it appears to me, be found in Egypt ; and for that reason I now include it in the present list. 41. Cypselus pallidus, G. E. Shelley. I named and described this species (Ibis, 1870, p. 445). It has long been included in Egyptian lists as C. apus, from which bird it differs in its rather smaller size, whiter throat and gene- rally paler colour, which latter character suggested the name C. pallidus as appropriate. I never met with any other Swift in Egypt; but the present species is extremely abundant through- out the country, arriving in February. It may be distinguished from C. apus at a considerable distance ; and when I first shot it I did not believe it to be identical with that bird. When I returned I found that Mr. E. C. Taylor agreed in my views, which made me particularly careful on revisiting Egypt to procure more spe- cimens ; and I watched in vain among the many that I daily saw for one dark specimen. In habits it appears to agree entirely with C. apus. It was not, apparently, breeding up to tlie 3rd of May, when I last shot it. Major Irby has procured this species from Tangiers, where, he says, it arrives before C. apus. 48 Capt. G. E. Shelley on Egyptian Ornithology. 42. Cypselus parvus, Licht. Dr. Heuglin in his ' Ornithology of North- East Africa/ p. 144, mentions this bird as found in southern Egypt and Nubia. 43. Merops apiaster, L. Common Bee-eater. Arrives in Egypt about the 10th of April, and is then very plentifully distributed in flocks throughout the country. 44. Merops persicus. Pall. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater. This bird visits Egypt about a fortnight earlier than the last species, which it resembles in size, habits, and cry ; yet I have never met with both species in one flock. I observed them once towards evening alight in such immense numbers upon a sand- bank that it looked almost as green as meadow-land. They, however, appear generally to roost at night in the Acacia trees. 45. Merops viridissimus, Svv, This beautiful little Bee-eater I did not meet with until I reached Golosaneh, in the beginning of March, although I had spent the previous month in the Delta. When I was up the Nile before, I first came across this species in the same locality towards the end of January, from which I am inclined to con- sider Golosaneh its most northern winter limit. It is most beautiful to watch these birds, their plumage glistening in the sun as they fly from one tall Palm tree to another, their out- stretched wings showing the orange underneath like an illumi- nated transparency. They are very abundant throughout Middle and Upper Egypt ; but T only met with one specimen in Nubia. 46. CoRACiAS GARRULA, L. Boller. The Roller is only a bird of passage in Egypt, arriving about the end of April on its way north. We first met with it at Koos on the 26th of Api'il ; and two days later I killed three out of a party of four that I saw at Dendera. They were invariably in pairs. 47. Alcedo ispida, L. Common Kingfisher. Very abundant in the Delta, and occasionally met with throughout the whole extent of Egypt. Personally I have seen it three times above Cairo, at Sioot, Koos, and Thebes. Capt. G. E. Shelley on Egyptian Ornithology. 49 As I knew that A. bengalensis, a very closely allied species, was to be found in Egypt, I brought back five specimens, all of which, however, proved to belong to the present species, though of a very constant small type. I include the measure- ments, as some may like to compare them with those given by Mr, Sharpe in his Monograph of the Kingfishers, part 9. Total length in inches 6-97, bill from 1-50 to 1-56, wing in all five specimens 2*97. 48. Alcedo bengalensis, Gm. Mr. Lord brought home a specimen of this bird v/hich he killed at Shoobra near Cairo, and which has been described by Mr. Sharpe in his Monograph of the Kingfishers, part 9. 49. Ceryle rudis (L.). Black and white Kingfisher. This bird is very evenly distributed throughout Egypt and Nubia, and may be daily seen perched upon some steep bank, or on a bough which has fallen into the water, or else hovering with beak directed downwards over the stream, into which it darts boldly after its finny prey. If unsuccessful, it goes through the performance again and again. At other times it flies slowly, close over the surface of the water. It begins breeding about the end of March, laying its eggs in deep holes, which it drills in the steep river-bank. 50. Upupa epops, L. Hoopoe. This bird is extremely plentiful throughout Egypt and Nubia, frequenting the neighbourhood of villages, where it may be daily seen perched upon a mud wall or bough singing its simple song of " Poop, Poop, Poop," or else strutting along the ground with dignified gait, stopping here and there to drive its beak into the earth after its insect food. Mr. E. C. Taylor (Ibis, 1867, p. 56) states that he procurer eggs and young in March. 51. CucuLUS CANORUS, L. Common Cuckoo. Rai-e in Egypt. I only remember having heard this bird on two occasions. I shot one on the 6th of April near Memphis. It does not winter in Egypt. SER. III. VOL. I. E 50 Capt. G. E. Shelley on Egyptian OrnithohKjy. 52. CoccYSTES GLANDARius (L.) . Great Spotted Cuckoo. This graceful bird is very abundant throughout Egypt in the spring, always frequenting the Acacia trees. About half of those that I saw were in immature plumage even as late as May. They are by no means shy, and will often sit motionless on a bough while one walks beneath the tree. Their cry is rough and peculiar. They breed at the same time as the Hooded Crow, invariably selecting a nest of that species in which to deposit their eggs. 53. Centropus ^GYPTius (Gm.). Strait-heeled Coucal. Rare. Mr. E. C. Taylor obtained one specimen in the Delta ; and I have seen it in other collections from the Nile. This species must not be confounded with C. sptiegalensis, its West- African representative, from which it chiefly differs in its rather larger size, and in being much less rufous on the back. 54. YuNX TORQUiLLA, L. Wryucck. I only shot this bird once (at Memphis, on the 9th of April), though it is not uncommon as a bird of passage. 55. TuRDUS Musicus, L. Song Thrush. To be met with throughout Egypt, but far most abundantly in the Delta. 56. TuRDUs MERULA, L. Common Blackbird. By no means common in Egypt. I met with one specimen in the Delta, and a pair a few miles north of Benisooef; 57. Petrocincla saxatilis (L.). Rock-Thrush. Travels north in April, and evinces a strong partiality for Arab burying-grounds (Ibis, 1864, p. 238) . Mr. E. C. Taylor found it common at Damietta in April. 58. Petrocincla cyanea (L.). Blue Thrush. We frequently met with this species wherever there were rocks, except in Nubia, where I did not observe it, although I have no doubt that it is not uncommon there, as it certainly ranges throughout the entire length of Egypt, and breeds in the country. 59. Pycnonotus arsinoe (Licht.). This bird appears to be abundant in pairs among the Palm Capt. G. E. Shelley on Egyptian Ornithology. 51 trees which are interspersed with the houses of the Nubian village of Wady-Halfeh. Mr. Smith, in his ' Attractions of the Nile/ vol. ii. p. 222, gives a very good description of its habits, under the title of Ixos ohscurus. Dr. A. L. Adams (Ibis, 1864, p. 20) mentions Wady-Halfeh as probably its most northern limit on the Nile ; this conclusion I think is hasty, as it is abundant there in winter ; yet I know of no instance of its having been killed in other parts of Nubia or in Egypt. 60. Crateropus acacia, Riipp. Bush Babbler. This bird is well named ; for it appeal's to keep exclusively to the thickest Acacia bushes, among the thorny and tangled boughs, over which it creeps, while it keeps up an incessant babbling cry, which is rather pleasing, and when once heard cannot be mis- taken for the note of any other bird. I met with it on both my visits to the island immediately below the rapids of the first Cataract, and saw a flock of four of these birds in Nubia. In the beginning of April I found two nests, probably of this bird, on the island immediately below the first Cataract. In con- struction and size they closely resembled the nest of our Common Blackbird, They were almost entirely built of a coarse grass which grows abundantly in Egypt — and were on each occasion placed in thick Acacia bushes, about 5 or 6 feet fx'om the ground. There were no eggs in either nest. 61. Oriolus galbula, L. Golden Oriole. The Golden Oriole arrives in Egypt about the 20th of April, but does not remain there to breed. I shot my first specimen out of a flock of six at Edfoo on the 21st of April, and after that met with them daily among the thicker-foliaged trees. 62. Saxicola cenanthe (L.). Common Wheatear. This well-known Chat does not remain in Egypt during the winter. It appeared to me to be the most abundant and widely distributed Chat of any, being equally at home in Nubia and on the shores of the Meditei'ranean. 63. Saxicola saltatrix, Menetr. M^uetries Wheatear. Abundant throughout Egypt. It has frequently been mistaken for the female S. cenanthe, from its plumage being somewhat e2 52 Capt. G. E. Shelley on Egyptian Ornitholugy. similar ; but it is a larger bird, and the bill is stouter in propor- tion to its size. The sexes are similar in plumage. 64. Saxicol V AURiTA, Temm., var. lihica, Hempr. & Ehr. This Wheatear, like S. euryrnelcbna, is a non-resident in Egypt, arriving there in March, where it frequents the cultivated por- tions of the country. 65. Saxicola eurymel^na, Hempr. & Ehr. This is the common Egyptian form of S. stapazina, from which it chiefly differs in the greater extent of black on the throat. It is tolerably abundant, frequenting the cultivated land, especially in the neighbourhood of cotton-plantations, which offer it a favourable retreat when pursued. It arrives in Egypt in March. QQ. Saxicola xanthomel^na, Hempr. & Ehr. Mr. E. C. Taylor obtained the only specimen of this bird 1 know of from Egypt. It is very closely allied to the last species, from which it differs in the absence of black feathers on the forehead, and in the crown of the head and back being more yellow and brighter in colour. C)7. Saxicola deserti, Riipp. Desert Chat. This species is resident in Egypt throughout the winter. 68. Saxicola homochroa, Tristr. Mr. E. C. Taylor shot one of these rare Chats near Cairo. This species was first described by the Rev. H. 13. Tristram (Ibis, 1859, p. 59). 69. Saxicola lugens, Licbt. Mourning Chat. Mr. E. C. Taylor says (Ibis, 1867, p. 60) "This is the most abundant of all the Chats near Cairo in the winter." Personally I only met with it on two occasions, in the desert near Cairo and among the rocks near El Kab. The sexes are alike in plumage. 70. Saxicola monacha, Riipp. We came across a small colony of these birds at El Kab, where we obtained a male and female in full breeding-plumage on the 26th of February. I never met with another specimen during either of my tours, althotigh I believe it remains in the country Capt. G. E. Shelley on Egyptian Ornithology. 53 throughout the year. It frequents the more barren and rocky districts. The sexes are very different in plumage. 71. Saxicola leucopygia, Brehm. S. leucocephala, Brehm. These birds undoubtedly belong to the same species. They are first met with by the Nile tourist at Assouan^ and on enter- ing Nubia become exti'emely abundant. As early as April I saw several young birds, all black-headed, two of which I shot, in company with their undoubted parents, white-headed birds, of which I likewise killed two. It is comparatively rare to meet with a purely black-headed specimen, most having one or more white feathers on the crown. I have shot them with the black and white feathers mixed in nearly equal proportions. I never saw a black -headed bird paired with a white-headed one ; but Mr. E. Cavendish Taylor tells me that he has observed them together : the rarity of such an occurrence may I think be explained by their choosing their mates the first year, and consequently pairs being of the same age. These birds are only shot in Egypt by the Nile tourists — that is, killed before the inonth of April, in the early part of the breeding-season. Now, if a white-headed specimen is shot, its mate would probably not pair again until the traveller had left the country; and should it select for its future partner a black- headed bird, that bird by the following year, before it can be observed by the ornithologist, will have gained the white head ; and consequently it must be extremely rare to observe black- headed and white-headed birds paired. On account of the rare occurrence of birds of this species being paired while in their different plumages, I am led to consider that the white head is attained after the first breeding-season. In conclusion, I propose that the name Saxicola leucocephala be erased from our lists of species, as only applicable to birds of a certain age, and that that of Saxicola leucopygia be made to include them all. Otherwise, while the parent bird might be " leucocephala,'' the young one from its nest would be " leuco- pygia:' 54 Mr. H. Saunders un the Birds of Southern Spain. 72. Pratincola RUBicoLA (L.). Stone Chat. This bird is very plentiful in the Delta, but comparatively scarce in other parts of Egypt, although it may occasionally be met with in Nubia. 73. Pratincola rubetra (L.). Whin Chat. I have shot this bird both in Egypt and Nubia, but it is by no means abundant. [To be continued.] IV. — A List of the Birds of Southern Spain. By Howard Saunders, F.Z.S. It was originally my intention to limit the following remarks to the ornithology of the Spanish provinces of Andalucia and Murcia; but having observed some interesting birds during a recent visit to the east coast and to the Balearic Islands, I have been tempted to extend my notes so as to include all species which occur south of 40° N. latitude, a line which passes through Aranjuez. I am principally acquainted with the birds of Anda- lucia, where I passed portions of the years 1867, 1868, and 1869 ; in the latter year I left at the end of April. I have, however, had the benefit of the later experiences of Lord Lilford, who did not leave that province till June of last year, and who has in the kindest manner supplemented my notes with much valu- able information. Occasionally availing myself of the local lists mentioned below, I have carefully omitted every species therein recorded of the occurrence of which I do not feel certain. At the same time I have added remarks on some species stated to occur in Spain, and on others which one might reasonably expect to find there, though this probability must not stand for sufficient proof of tbeir actual presence. I have inserted no Spanish names, except those which I have ascertained for myself; others, for the most part Castilianized forms of scientific names, may be found in the local lists, but their admission would be of little benefit. As a rule the names employed are those in use in Andalucia ; but in a few cases I have added the Murcian, Valencian, and Mallorquin ones where Mr. H. Saunders on the Birds of Southern Spain. 55 I thought they might be of use, and when I could guarantee their correctness. There is a strong similarity between many of the local terms employed on the east coast and in the Balearic Islands, and those of Sardinia and Sicily. The Lists I possess are the following : — Catalogo metodico de las Aves observadas en una gran parte de la provincia de Murcia, por Don Angel Guirao, &c. &c. Madrid 1859, wvth the author's manuscript additions in my copy to 18G7. One of the very best lists, containing valuable, but alas ! too scanty information. Catalogo de las Aves de la Albufera (de Valencia), por Don Ignacio Vidal, &c. &c. Published in the Memorias de la Real Academia de Ciencias, torn. iv. Madrid 1856. Correct as to species, but terribly poor in details. The Museum at Valencia contains decidedly the best local collection in Spain. Catalogo de las Aves observadas in las Islas Baleares, por Don F. Barcelo y Combis &c. &c. This useful list for local names has been compiled by a highly intelligent Professor, who has had the advantage of the acquaintance of Herr A. von Homeyer. He is, however, no longer Professor of Natural History; and at the present moment there are not above a dozen decent speci- mens of birds in the Palma Museum, which ten years ago pos- sessed a good collection. Catalogo de las Aves observadas en algunas provincias de Andalucia, por Don Antonio Machado. Sevilla, 1854. A pro- visional list, to which the author promised a supplement, in which the Waders especially were to be treated. This promise was never fulfilled ; and the attractions of politics having proved superior to those of science, the author has his reward in being now Governor of Seville. Catalogo de las Aves observadas en Andalucia, por Don Victor Lopez-Seoane y Fardo Montenegro, 1860. This list principally treats of the ornithology of Granada, and contains more details than any other ; but some palpable errors disfigure its pages, and destroy confidence in several species therein enumerated. The author, who appears to have been acquainted with one or both of the Brehms, is referred to as Seoane, his full title being somewhat lengthy. 50 Mr. H. Saimders on the Birds of Southern Spain. All these, however, are merely lists, giving little information beyond stating that a bird is common or rare. It unfortunately happens in Spain that one Professor or " Catedratico " is ap- pointed to the whole department of Natural Science — Zoology, Botany, Geology, and other 'ologics, at which he works in cycles ; and it was my misfortune to find, wherever I went, that the Pro- fessor had finished his "ornithological cycle" some ten or even twenty years previously, and was in consequence by no means well posted up in that branch. On the other hand they, and, indeed, all Spaniards, are most desirous of affording any assist- ance in their power; and I can never be sufficiently grateful for the kindness I have experienced in all parts of the Peninsula and in the Balearic Islands, especial thanks being due to Don Angel Guirao, of Murcia, and to the Otero family at Seville. I have endeavoured to avoid sweUing tiie bulk of the present list by the repetition of any details already given in * The Ibis,' 1869, pp. 170 and 397. I am well aware of its many imper- fections ; but I trust it may be of some use to future visitors to Spain, and the more omissions they discover the better I shall be pleased. 1. VuLTUR ciNEREUS. " Buitre negro.'' By no means rare throughout Andalucia, nesting in pine trees in the forests of Segura, also near Utrera. All the eggs taken in Spain are much suffused with colour, many being as strongly marked as those of Neophron percnopterus. I have nothing to add to Lord Lilford's account of the nesting of this species in the Castiles. It is resident in Mallorca, where I observed it. 2. Gyps fulvus. " Buitre franciscano." This is the common Vulture of the country, breeding in small colonies in every mountain-range. It lays early in March, as I found some young birds in the first week of April. The eggs (usually one, but occasionally two) have seldom any genuine marking ; but I know of a colony of six where the eggs are always somewhat spotted and streaked. Both the above species are indiscriminately called " Buitres," pronounced " Butres " by the peasants. Mr. H. Saunders on the Birds of Southern Spain. 57 3. Neophron PERCNOPTERUS. "Alimocha," "Grajo bianco;" "Abanto," in Sierra Nevada; near Seville, "Rejilero." Comnion, except in winter, when but few remain in the country. The 10th of April is the earliest date on which I have found eggs, which are generally two in number. During the breeding-time I never saw an immature bird in the mountains ; nor amongst the hundreds which frequent the cattle-pens in the plains (called rejiles, whence the name rejilero) did I ever find any but birds of the first or second year. 4. Gypaetus barbatus. " Aguila bai-buda/' " Quebranta- huesos." One or two pairs may be found in every range of mountains ; but the species is most abundant in the Sierra Nevada. I never failed to see it every day I passed the Gaitanes range, about twenty miles from Malaga, whence I received a nestling half in down, taken on the 4th of May, 1869. This year a live one was sent me, which is now in the Zoological Society's Gardens. In the Institute at Granada are two birds of the year, which, according to the Curator, were captured at night upon the nest, having probably returned to roost there. The Rev. A. C. Smith, in his " Notes on the Birds of Portugal" (Ibis, 1868, p. 434), appears to be under the misapprehension that the term Pica-osso, applied to V. cinereus, belongs properly to the present species. Pica-osso means a "^^ bone-picker," an excellent name for a Vulture, whereas '^ Quebranta-huesos " is emphatically a "bone-smasher," a term which would be utterly misapplied to a Vulture, but singularly appropriate to the Lsemmergeyer, whose smashing proclivities have been well known since the days of ^Eschylus *. This species often lays but one egg; still two fertile eggs are by no means uncommon. The young bird is covered with sooty-brown down, lighter on flanks, and darker on head and throat. 5. Falco peregrinus. " Halcon." Common throughout the country, breeding in every mountain- range. Specimens in my collection are fully as large as any from more northern localities. [Cf. Ibis, I860, p. 282.— Ed.] 58 Mv. H. Saunders on the Birds of Southern Spain. 6. Falco lanarius. Under the synonym of F. feldegii this species is mentioned by Don Angel Guirao as having occurred near Murcia, and by Lopez-Seoane as being in the Museum at Granada ; but I have not seen either of these specimens. The former was sent to Madrid, where I searched for it in vain, as I have also in two successive years for the latter. " I have myself seen a large true Falcon which was not a Peregrine," to quote a letter of Lord Lilford's respecting one which he saw near Lomo del Grullo in May 1869. Still I had omitted this species, until within the last few weeks I received evidence of its having been obtained near Utrera. In the Museum of Jerez are the remains of a Falcon which, fi'om its general appearance, ruddy nape, and large feet, I take to be F. harbarus. Unfortunately, this bird having been kept in captivity for some time, its tail and wings became dirty and ragged. This offended the eye of the Curator, who thereupon rounded them neatly off with a pair of scissors ! 7. Hypotriorchis eleonor^. Although I felt certain that I had seen a pair of this species near Seville in April 1869, 1 was not enabled to identify it posi- tively until this year, when on the 19th and 20th of jMay I found it in great abundance at the Island of Dragonera, off the west of Mallorca. This rock, for it is little more, is in appearance very similar to Gibraltar, though of somewhat less elevation, being only 1180 feet from the level of the sea to the base of the lighthouse, which is perched on the summit. As the Falcons fly very high, it is not easy to obtain specimens ; for, though they hawk for food over the sloping side of the rock, it would require a prolonged stay to get a shot with a chance of the bird falling on land. When sitting with my legs dangling over the preci- pice, a little below the highest peak, these birds passed back- wards and forwards within a few yards, as thick as Swallows on a summer's evening. They were in both the uniform sooty, and also in Hobby-like plumage, in about equal numbers ; many of the latter, from their size, I judged to be females. One of the fishermen informed me that he had once found a clutch of three Mr. H. Saunders on the Birds of Southern Spain. 59 eggs, which he described correctly, and which of course he had eaten ; but the majority of the nests, placed in the holes of the sheer precipice, are perfectly inaccessible, so much does the upper part overhang. The Rock-Pigeons {Columba livia), of which there were great numbers, did not show the slightest fear of these Falcons. The fishermen call them " Esparver." 8. Hypotriorchis suBBUTEo. " Alcotan." This species does not appear to be very numerous, though generally distributed. Lord Lilford informed me that it was certainly nesting in the pine woods of Coria in May ; and this year I received the eggs from that locality. 9. Hypotriorchis jEsalon. Not uncommon in winter, 10. Erythropus vespertinus. This occasional visitor is more often obtained on the eastern coast than elsewhere; but years often elapse without a specimen being seen. I never met with it during any of my visits. 11. TiNNUNCULUs ALAUDARius. " Cemicalo," " Pi'imiUa.^^ Abundant everywhere, breeding in great numbers in the woods, as well as in the crevices of old buildings, especially churches. I fancy that there is either an intermediate race, or that this species and T. cenchris interbreed, as I took a white-clawed bird off hard-set eggs in the Cathedral of Seville on May 16th, when the latter had scarcely begun to lay its very distinct eggs ; in length of wing this female is identical with specimens from other localities. 12. TiNNUNcuLus CENCHRIS. " Primilla." The majority arrive in March and April ; but some remain in Andalucia all the winter. The birds swarm about old buildings ; and hundreds may be seen any summer's evening in Seville hovering round the statue of Faith which crowns the Giralda. It is a somewhat late breeder; for on the 16th of May I had difficulty in obtaining a complete clutch of eggs. 13. Elanus melanopterus. A rare visitant, of which I possess an adult male shot near CO Mr. H. Saunders on the Birds of Southern Spain. Seville in April; it is also mentioned by Seoane as having occurred near Granada. 14. Pandion HALI.EETUS. " Aguila pescadora." I have frequently observed the Osprey near Malaga in winter, also at Gibraltar, where Lord Lilford informed me that he found the nest in June 1869, in a crag overhanging the sea, and di- stinctly saw with a glass both young and parent birds. 1 was therefore not surprised at finding its nest on the 20th May of this year on the aforesaid Island of Dragonera. It was a huge structure, nearly three feet thick, placed on a projecting crag some 700 feet above the sea. The female was evidently sitting close; for she settled down on the nest whilst we were gazing at it ; and as half an hour previously I had shot a young female of that year, it is probable that in southern countries two broods are some- times reared. From recently received information I think it may also nest in the w^oods of the Goto de Donana near the sea-coast. 15. Perxis APivoRUs. "Gavilan;" Valencian, " Pilctero.^' Very abundant in ]\Iay on the passage northwards, the regu- larity in the date of its appearance being remarkable. On the 9th of May 18G8, a friend in the Gaitanes, who possessed a stuffed specimen which he saw me examining, observed that they were just due ; and the very next day at noon, as we were return- ing from taking the young of Aquila honelli, many hundreds passed over. On referring to an old note-book I find that on the evening of 9th' May, 1863, whilst walking out to Europa Point at Gibraltar, I observed many hundreds crossing the Strait, and, having a powerful glass, I could make them out distinctly. Roosting that night in the Cork wood, they would be due in the Gaitanes as near noon on 10th May as possible ! I never heard of its breeding. 16. CiRCAJiTUs GALLicus. *' Aguila melion." Abundant in winter in the marshes, and by far the commonest breeder in the wooded districts, where it invariably selects a tree for its nest, wherein it deposits one large white egg. 17. IIali^etus albicilla. Rare : I saw one specimen obtained near Cadiz in winter. Mr. H. Saunders on the Bii-ds of Southern Spain. 61 18. Aquila fulva. " Aguila real/' Breeds in every mountain-raoge. In the Sierra Nevada it is considered the commonest of the large Raptores. I know of one eyry in the Gaitanes, and observed the species in Mallorca. 19. Aquila imperialis. '' Aguila Imperial." "Aguila real" is the usual name near Seville, where it is tolerably abundant, nesting in the trees of the Cotos del Rey and Doiiana. All the adult Spanish specimens I have exa- mined, amounting to about a score, have more white in the feathers covering the carpal joints, and less on the scapulars, than average specimens from Eastern Europe. 20. Aquila n^vioides. Undoubted Spanish specimens have been so named by Mr. J. H. Gurney and other high authorities; and until quite re- cently (Ibis, 1869, p. 402) I fully believed that the tawny- coloured birds existing in many Spanish museums, as well as in Lord Lilford's, my own, and other collections in this country, belonged to this species. But now, whilst by no means denying the occurrence of true A. riavioides in Spain, I am convinced by the inspection of a large series that these cafe-au-lait-coloured birds are simply A. impeinalis in immature plumage. There are now before me six specimens, presenting every gradation of plumage, from pale-tawny up to adults with white shoulders, all of which, allowing for sex, agree in their dimensions — whilst they one and all differ materially from A. ncevioides from Abys- sinia, and from four adult specimens of A. clanga (generally admitted to be the same) shot off their nests in Southern Russia. In these, and in the three living specimens of A. ncevioides in the Zoological Gardens, the closed wings almost reach to the extremity of the tail ; but in adult A. imperialis, alive or in skin, and in these tawny birds, the tail extends far beyond the tips of the folded wings, and the general dimensions are also larger. Major Irby broached the idea of their being identical with A. imperialis in July last ; but at that time I had not before me so complete a series, nor had I then been able to examine their sterna, as I have since done, finding they do not differ appre- ciably from those of true A. imperialis. With regard to the 62 Mr. H. Saunders on the Birds of Southern Spain. young A. imperialis obtained from the nest in 1869, Lord Lil- ford writes to me, " They are much as they were, and, though they have moulted very clean, show no signs of the spotted plumage which I have always thought was their second stage." But I have no proof that A. inqjerialis is spotted in its second stage ; and, again, diet and the absence of the blazing sun of Andalucia may have affected, or at least retarded, the develop- ment of what, in Spain, is probably the second year's plumage. I believe that A. imperialis assumes a lighter plumage after emerging from that of the first year, and gradually passes into the full brown-black of the adult ; and as a proof of this, an undisputed specimen now before me with a good deal of white on the shoulders exhibits an orange-tawny breast richly streaked with black, like that of an immature A. bonellii. And in further corroboration I would observe that, with a high price put upon any " tawny Eagle " shot from the nest, neither our Andalucian collectors nor the veteran Manuel de la Torre, of Madrid, have as yet succeeded in obtaining a single specimen in the act of incubation. 21. Aquila n.evia, I never obtained this species, which is of rare occurrence, espe- cially in western Spain. Lord Lilford reminds me of a specimen which once existed in the Museum of Seville, and I have a dim recollection of one at Jerez ; but at any rate there is a fine example in the spotted plumage in the Valencia Museum. 22. Aquila BONELLII. "Aguila blancuzca," adult; ''Aguila perdicera." The commonest rock-breeding Eagle in the country, descend- ing to the marshes in winter. Its food appears to consist prin- cipally of rabbits and, to judge from the feathers I found in a nest with young, of Partridges, Quail, Sand-grouse, and Little Bustard. The original lining of the nest is usually dry grass, " esparto," in a word. The eggs, never more than two, often but one, are almost colourless. 23. Aquila PENNATA. " Aguilucho," " Aguila calzada." This species, though generally distributed over the wooded portions of the country, is more abundant in the Castiles than Mr. H. Saunders on the Birds of Southern Spain. 63 in Andalucia. I have invariably found it nesting in trees, lining its nest with green boughs, generally of the white elm, as de- scribed by Lord Lilford in 'The Ibis^ for 1866, to whose admi- rable account I have nothing to add. It is a very fearless bird, sitting remarkably close ; and this year a female, at which I had had a snap shot, returned to her nest within a quarter of an hour, although Agapo was engaged at a Kite^s nest within 150 yards. I was, of course, lying in wait, and easily obtained her on putting her off the nest a second time. I have before me an adult male, and a female in immature brown plumage, shot when feeding their young near Granada. One of the nestlings, which, from its size, is probably a male, has a light-coloured breast like the adult male ; and the other, pro- bably a female, is dark coffee-coloured, like the mother. This difference in the plumage of nestlings has never, I believe, been previously observed in any of the raptorial birds of Europe, though well known to occur in Archibuteo sancti-johannis. This is Buteo lagopus of Machado's and Seoaue's lists ! 24. Buteo vulgaris. '^Pella." Breeds in the wooded districts, and appears to be tolerably abundant. 25. Buteo cirtensis. Mr. J. H. Gurney has decided that a young male in my col- lection belongs to this species, which is probably not uncommon, but is confounded with the preceding. 26. MiLVUs REGALis. " Milauo real." Not rare, but by no means so abundant as the next species. All the eggs of my own taking are both large and richly blotched, and different from the ordinary type, but they were most strictly identified in every instance. The nest is even more fantastically decorated (dirty rags, bones, bits of old shoes, and portions of wasps' nests) than that oiM.ater; and Shakespeare's warning*, " Where the Kite builds look to lesser linen," is still of practical value in Spain, though, alas ! out of date in England. * Winter's Tale, Act iv. Sc. 2. [Ooth. Woll. § 313.— Ed.] 64 Mr. H. Saunders on the Birds of Southern Spain. 27. MiLVUs ATER. " Milano Negro." This species, which does not remain throughout the winter, breeds a full fortnight later than the preceding, and the first week in May a patch of wood of an acre or two will certainly yield upwards of a score of eggs, it being a sociable bird. Even when nesting somewhat apart, it has always a colony of Spanish Sparrows to keep it company. The usual number of eggs is two. 28. AsTUR PALUMBARius. " Azor," " Gavilau." Eare in Andalucia; but in the pine forests of the Segura it is not uncommon, and specimens are to be seen in most Museums. 29. AcciPiTER Nisus. "Gavilan," "Cernicalo," Valen. "Esparver." Generally distributed, breeding in the wooded hills, especially near Granada, whence I have obtained eggs. 30. Circus iERUGiNOsus. " Milano," " Arpella." Abundant all over Spain, it positively swarms in the marshes of the Guadalquivir. Specimens in my collection, selected fi'om a large series, run somewhat smaller and darker than the average from Northern and Eastern Europe. 31. Circus cyaneus. " Cenizo." By no means so abundant in the south as the preceding, chiefly occurring in winter. 32. Circus cineraceus. " Cenizo." Resident throughout the year, and tolerably numerous. The generality of males in my series are dark, and two are absolutely black ; they are also smaller than specimens from the north. I can find no confirmation of Dr. Breeds statement, probably copied from Degland, that Circus pallidus occurs plentifully in Spain. I never saw a specimen, even in the east of that country, or the Balearic Islands. 33. Strix flammea. "Lechuza." Resident throughout the year, and common everywhere. 34. Syrnium aluco. Not uncommon in the higher wooded districts ; but I neither saw nor heard it in the Cotos. Mr. H. Saunders on the Birds of Southern Spain. 65 35. Athene noctua. " Mochuelo." This species is generally distributed, and resident. I never saw A, meridionalis in any part of Spain. 36. Bubo maximus. " Buho grande." Resident in every mountain-range. I often saw this species in the Gaitanes, and obtained three young ones from a nest there. 37. Otus vulgaris. " Carabo." Generally distributed in suitable localities, where it breeds. I have a nestling from Granada. 38. Otus brachyotus. " Carabo/' Not uncommon in winter. 39. Otus capensis. The first specimen of which I have positive information was obtained near Utrera in November 1867. Lord Lilford writes as follows : " Major Irby found this bird in marshy ground near Casavieja, not far from Vejer, in October 1868, and there only. He obtained several specimens, two of which (one living) are in my possession.'^ But the first notice of this bird's occurrence in Spain at all occurs in ' Naumannia,' 1852, translated in Bree's Birds of Europe, vol. i. pp. 134, 135. 40. Ephialtes scops. " Corneta," " Cu-cu." Very abundant everywhere ; and its clear ringing "Kiew" may be heard all night long, even in the centre of Seville. It breeds in holes of trees, notably the olive, in May, and possibly in holes of walls. 41. Jynx TORQUiLLA. " Hormiguero," " Torcccuello.'' Abundant in spring and autumn. Some remain to breed, as I found its nest at Aranjuez. 42. Gecinus viridis. ^* Pito real," " Carpintero.'' Especially abundant in the cork woods of the Cotos, where it breeds ; also in the Tagus valley. 43. Gecinus canus. " Carpintero.'' I did not identify this species in the flesh ; but I have seen SER. III. VOL. I. F 66 Mr. H. Saunders on the Birds of Southern Spain. specimens, and believe it to be common, taking the place of the last mentioned in the higher woods. 44. PiCUS MAJOR. Generally distributed ; but the only place where I found its nest was near Aranjuez in May 1870. 45. PiCUS MEDIUS. Guirao considers this species even more abundant in IMurcia than Gecinus viridis, especially in the Pine woods of the Sierras de Espuna and de la Pila. I never obtained it myself, but have handled specimens. 46. PiCUS MINOR. I only observed this bird once at Aranjuez, where it was evi- dently breeding, in May. It is in most collections. 47. CucuLus CANORUS. " Cucu.'^ Abundant during the spring passage ; but though I once shot a female on 30th April, the largest egg in whose ovary was the size of a pea, yet 1 never found it laying in Andalucia, nor in- deed anywhere else in Spain. Machado, in his list, goes so far as to assert that he never could obtain the bird ! 48. OxYLOPHUs GLANDARius. " Cucu rcal,'^ " Cucu del mono." I have obtained this species as early as ]\Iarch 2nd; and a female shot 6th April had an egg ready for exclusion. It is by no means so abundant near Seville as it is near Aranjuez ; in both places it prefers the nest of the Common Magpie {Pica melanoleuca) in which to deposit its eggs. 49. CoRACiAS GARRULA. " Carrauco," " Carlanco." Generally arrives early in April, when it swarms throughout the country, breeding in holes of trees, walls, old towers, and also in banks, like the next species, but never in colonies. I once saw a small flock near Jaen on the 13th March, an un- usually early arrival. The stomachs of those I examined con- tained remains of grasshoppers, the thigh-cases of which, having turned the colour of slightly tarnished silver, rather puzzled me at first sight. The brain of this bird is remarkably small. Mr. H. Saunders on the Birds of Southern Spain. 67 50. Merops apiaster. *' Abejaruco." Arrives early in April ; but I did not find eggs before the middle of May. Almost every bank is tunnelled with their nests ; and in the plains they burrow diagonally in the level ground like rabbits. Sacks full are brought into the markets of Seville and Cordova, where, after plucking, they are sold as "Tordos/' a general name for Starlings, Thrushes, &c.; and at the " Fonda de Paris " some dozen were one day served up in a pie, the crops containing their insect food being left in, as an improvement, I suppose. The proprietor had that day refused my offer of a fine female Bustard {Otis tarda) as being "muy basta'^ (very coarse) ; and this want of discrimination called forth some observations " not at all to his advantage." 51. Alcedo ispida. " Martin pescador." Resident, but not very numerous. Degland gives Spain as one of the countries in which Ceryle rudis has been obtained ; but I have no knowledge of the existence of any authentic specimen. 52. Upupa epops. ''Abubilla;" Valenc. "Put-put." First arrival noticed on 17th March ; leaves in October. The eggs are not deposited till the end of April or beginning of May. It is abundant everywhere. 53. Caprimulgus europ^us. I have only obtained one specimen ; but Lord Lilford had several brought to him at Seville in jNIay, and considers it commoner there than in the Castiles. 54. Caprimulgus ruficollis. " Zamaya," " Engana-pas- tores," '' Chota-cabras." 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 trifle larger than those of the preceding species ; 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. f2 68 Mr. J. H. Gurney, Jun., on the Ornithology of Algeria. For the benefit of any one who may refer to Machado's list, I may obsei've that the whole of the description at p. 16, under the head of C. europceus, has by a typographical error been sepa- rated from Hirundo urbica, to which it evidently applies. 55. Cypselus melba. "Avion." Arrives in ]\Iarch, and breeds in colonies in the mountains, notably near Alora. 56. Cypselus APUS. " Avion ; ^' Valencian, " Falsia." Abundant in spring and summer. [To be continued.] V. — On the Ornithology of Algeria. By J. H. Gurney, Jan., F.Z.S. On the 25th of January, 1870, 1 disembarked at Oran, the chief town of the western province of Algeria, and a few days after- wards moved on in a coasting -steamer to Algiers. Before setting out for the Sahara, I devoted a month to collecting in the Tell"^, principally in the vicinity of Blida and Miliana -, and it was not until the 1st of March that I finally started for the interior. The first caravanserai, properly so called, is Bougzout; the second is Ain-Oussera ; the third, Guelt el Stel. The water at all these places is barely drinkable. On the 22nd of March I arrived at Laghouat, the last French outpost, the first oasis of the Sahara, a picturesque spot by reason of its tall Palms. To the northward stretch plains as far as Djelpha. Rocky moun- tain-ridges protect this oasis from the wind, which frequently blows the sand in overwhelming clouds. On the 9th of April I started for the Mzab country. My camel unfortunately took fright the first night at some Ravens, and deserted me, so that for ten days I was without arsenical soap. But it is not necessary to recount all the incidents of the * I cannot better define " the Tell " than in the words of Dr. Tristram. He calls it ''the coni- wing 2^, tail 3. Female : — Total length 5| inches ; iris red, bill bright bluish scarlet, tarsi and feet dusky. The first of these pretty birds which I met with I shot in the Mariqua district, amongst som every thick cover; and I afterwards found them plentiful all along the Limpopo : they are generally in pairs, but sometimes three or four may be seen together. All the Estreldce are pretty nearly alike in their general move- ments, and eat similar food. 115. (L. 389.) EsTRELDA ERYTHRONOTA (Vicill.). Black- cheeked Finch. Male : — Total length 5 inches, bill -^, tarsus \^, wing 2, tail 2yV ; ii'is red. I only met with these Finches on the Limpopo, amongst the low scrub which abounds there in some parts. They were found in companies. Mr. T. Ayres on Trans- Vaal Ornithology. 257 116. (L. 393.) EsTRELDA SQUAMiFRONS (Smith). Scaly-fea- thered Finch. Total length 4 inches^ bill -j^, tarsus -^, wing 2\, tail If. These curious little birds are gregarious, but not common in the districts I visited ; I found them on the Limpopo, but never in the open country. When seen they were actively hopping about the low thorn bushes; and in March last I found them building amongst similar bushes about the Hartz river. The nest is placed amongst the thorny twigs of the bush, a few feet from the ground, and is composed outwardly of thin grass stalks, the ends roughly protruding in all directions ; it is thickly and very warmly lined with the soft silky down of a species of Asclepia, and is of much the same shape as the nest of Estrelda astrild, but with a more prolonged entrance, which gives the nest the appearance of a retort placed horizontally in the bush, with the neck inclining slightly downwards. The eggs are five in number, of a greenish white, much blotched with umber-brown, especially towards the thicker end, and sometimes much marked with brown lines. 117. (L. 387.) Estrelda MINIMA (Vieill.). Amadavat Finch. Total length 3f inches, bill -^, tarsus -^, wing 2, tail ly^ ; iris red, bill red, dusky on the ridge. This tiny bird is found in small companies, but cannot be called plentiful. The females far exceed the males in number. The note is soft but guttural. 118. (L. 444.) Crithagra chrysopyga. Swains. Golden- rumped Grossbeak, Male -.—Total lengih 4| inches, bill y'V; tarsus ^, wing 2 , tail Ifl; iris dusky, upper mandible of bill dusky, under man- dible pale, tarsi and feet light ash-colour. Of this species I only found one company, consisting of five individuals, which I met with amongst the low thorns in the Mariqua district. [This species seems to me to be certainly distinct, notwith- standing the high authority to the contrary of Drs. Finsch and Hartlaub, who at p. 455 of their recent work on the ' Birds of East Africa ' treat it as simply a race of C. butyracea, not enti- tled to specific separation.— J. H. G.] 258 Mr. T. Ayres on Trans- Vaal Ornitholoyy. 119. (L. 407.) Passer diffusa. Smith. Southern Grey- headed Sparrow. Male : — Total length Q\ inches, bill fV;> tarsus H, wing 3^, tail 2i. During our visit to the bush, we met with this Sparrow, though but sparsely. It feeds upon grass-seeds ; and its note resembles the " chissick " of the common English Sparrow. [I agree with the opinion expressed by Mr. Sharpe (P. Z. S. 1870, p. 143) as to the specific distinctness of this Sparrow. — J. H. G.] 120. (L. 422.) Pyrrhulauda australis, Smith. Southern Finch Lark. I found two nests of this bird, one in March, the other in April ; each nest contained only two eggs, which, in one instance, were somewhat incubated. One of these nests I found at Mamusa, on the Hartz river, the other near BloemhofF, on a tributary of the Vaal river. The nest of this species is placed on the ground under shel- ter of a clump of weed or grass. It is roughly constructed of coarse grass, slightly lined with fine roots ; both the nests which I found were situated within twenty yards of water. The egg is white, much spotted with light sepia-brown. 121. (L. 420.) Pyrrhulauda smitiii, Bon. Smithes Pinch- Lark. Total length 5| inches, bill f]-, wing 3i, tarsus |, tail 1|. We found these birds frequenting the open glades along the banks of the Limpopo in companies consisting of sometimes as many as fifty individuals. They were feeding on grass-seeds after the manner of Finches. [I have followed Drs. Finsch and Hartlaub (Birds of East Africa, pp. 467, 468) in treating this species as distinct from its more northern ally P. leucotis. — J. II. G.] 122. (L.410.) FRiNGiLLARiArLAVivENTRis(Viei]l.). African Yellow-bellied Bunting. Male: — Total length 6 inches, wiug 3j, tarsus |, tail 2|. We found this species rather common in some parts adjoining the Limpopo ; its fiight and habits are those of a Bunting. Mr. T. Ayrcs on Trans- Vaal Ornitkulogy. 25i> 123. (L. 412.) FkIxNgillaria impetuani, Smith. South African Lark-like Bunting. Total length 5^ inches, bill ^, wing 2|, tail 2f . I have only obtained one specimen of this Bunting, which was procured in the bare open countiy. 124. Megalophonus n^evius, Strick. Dark-streaked Lark. Male : — Total length 6 inches, bill \\, wing 3f , tarsus ^, tail 2i; iris very light brown, bill, upper mandible dusky, under mandible pale, tarsi and feet pale. I found these Larks in the Mariqua district, frequenting the open glades at the commencement of the thicker bush, but in the latter I did not notice them. When disturbed, they gene- rally flew from the ground on to the nearest bush. [I have examined, in the Museum of Zoology at Cambridge, the type specimen o{ Alauda navia of Strickland (Contr. to Orn. 1852, p. 152), and find it identical with Mr. Ayres^s Trans- Vaal specimen. — J. H. G.] 125. (L. 431.) Megalophonus chenianus (Smith). Lata- koo Lark. Total length 'oh inches, bill -jSg-; iris dark brown. This species is found in the Mariqua district, where bush and glade are pretty equally distributed. 126. (L. 428.) Megalophonus planicola, Licht. Plain- loving Lark. Total length 7| inches, bill yf, tarsus li, wing 3|, tail 3 ; iris light hazel, upper mandible dusky, under mandible pale, tarsi and feet pale. These Larks frequent principally the open country, and are tolerably plentiful to the west of Potchefstroom, between the Hartz and Vaal rivers. They are found singly or in pairs, and are fond of sitting on any low bush to sun themselves, at the same time uttering a rather loud whistle, pretty constantly re- peated. 127. (L. 447.) CoLius ERYTHiiopus, Gmel. White-backed Coly. I met with these Colics in pairs in February, in lat. 27"^ 30', 260 Mr. T. Ayres on Trans- Vaal Omitholugij. and long. 26°, but found no nests. They do not occur about Potchefstroom. 128. BucERos FLAViRosTRis, Rupp. Yellow-billed Horn- bill. Male :— Total length 21 inches, bill 3^, tarsus 2, wing 8^, tail 8^ ; iris tawny yellow, bare skin round the edge dark pink, bill bright yellow with brown margins. This Hornbill feeds principally on fruits ; it is tolerably plen- tiful throughout the bush-country, and is mostly found in small companies. 129. (L. 455 & 457.) Buceros nasutus, Linn. Nasique Hornbill. Immature: — Total length 18 inches, bill 2|, tarsus 1|, wing 8, tail 8;| ; upper mandible tawny white, except the tip, which, with the lower mandible, is reddish brown. This species is common along the Limpopo ; and I have also received it from the Megaliesberg, a range of wooded mountains about seventy miles from Potchefstroom. Like the preceding species, this Hornbill is a fruit-eater, lives in small companies, and has a dipping flight. I was much surprised to find one of these birds, perched on the top of a tall tree, singing very prettily, with the voice of a Thrush ; I could scarcely believe my ears until I had watched the bird for a considerable time ; at last he flew away and the woods were again silent. 130. (L. 469.) Trachyphonus cafer (Vieill.). Le Vail- lant's Barbet. Male: — Total length 9^- inches, bill IfV, tarsus 1:^, wing 4^, tail 3| ; bill pale green ; stomach contained insects and fruits. The specimen sent is the only one I have met with ; it was shot by a friend amongst the trees on the banks of the Limpopo, and appears to have been solitary. [This specimen is the original of the beautiful plate of this species recently published by the Messrs. Marshall in their monograph of the Capitonida. — J. H. G.] Mr. T. Ayres 07i Trans- Vaal Ornithology/. 261 131. (L. 463 & 464.) Laimodon leucomelas (Bodd.). Red- fronted Barbet. Total length 6 inches, bill ff, tarsus {i, wing 3^, tail 1| ; iris dusky, bill black. These birds appear to feed entirely upon fruits, and are by no means common with us ; they principally inhabit thorn trees. 132. (L. 471.) Dendrobates namaquus, Licht. Double- Moustache Woodpecker. [Mr. Ayres forwarded a female of this species, but without any notes as to its habits. — J. H. G.] 133. (L. 499.) OxYLOPHUs melanoleucus (Lath.). African Black and White Cuckoo. The specimen sent, a male, was shot at Potchefstroom. 134. Centropus senegalensis (Linn.). Senegal Spur-heel Cuckoo. I shot the specimen sent amongst some dense underwood on the Limpopo ; it was the only one I saw. 135. (L. 511.) TuRTUR senegalensis (Linn.). Laughing Dove. These Doves are common in the Mariqua district; and many may be seen together hunting for wheat or other grains amongst the chaff and straw on the threshing-floors of the farms in the neighbourhood of the bush. I have found but one nest of this bird, the egg from which I now send ; it is pure white, rather glossy, and equally obtuse at either end. The nest was composed of a few twigs, and placed on the horizontal branch of a low thorn tree growing on the banks of a stream. 136. (L.508.) CEna CAPENsis(Linn.). Long-tailed Cape-Dove. This species is generally distributed throughout the whole country. 137. (L. 526.) Francolinus LEVAiLLANTi, Temm. Le Vail- lant's Francolin. These birds breed amongst rough grass in dry situations, but not far from water ; the eggs are spotted throughout with dark 262 Mr. T. Ayres on Trans- Vaal Ornitholorjy. brown on a rather dark tawny ground. It is rather a short egg, abruptly pointed at the small end. Size 1^ by 1^ inch. [Mr. Ayres did not forward a skin of this Francolin, but transmitted its eggs to the Rev. H. B. Tristram, who informs me that they agree exactly with some which he had previously received from Mr. Layard. — J. H. G.] 138. (L. 53.2.) CoTURNix histrionica, Hartl. Harlequin Quail. Total length 6^ inches, bill f^j-j tarsus 1^, wing 3|, tail 1^ ; iris dark hazel. The two specimens sent were shot by me in the open glades along the banks of the Mariqua river, the only place where I have met with them. Their flight resembled that of C dady- lisonans. 139. (L. 538.) Pterocles variegatus, Burch. Variegated Sand-Grouse. Female : — Total length lOj inches, bill j\, wing 6| ; bare skin round the eye ashy, bill black. I found these birds tolerably plentiful in June and July along the Limpopo and Mariqua ; but though they were often in pairs I did not succeed in finding their eggs. These and the other Sand- Grouse of this district arc dry and very tough if cooked fresh, but if kept for nearly a week become tender and well flavoured. 140. (L. 535.) Pterocles tachypetes, Temra. Namaqua Sand-Grouse. Female: — Length lOg inches, bill f^;, tarsus 1, wing 7^, tail 3|; iris dusky, eyelid yellow, bill ash-colour, feet light ash-colour. I shot the first of these birds on 10th May, on bare open country between Potchefstroom and Marico, and subsequently found them, though not very plentifully, throughout the whole of my journey along the river Limpopo. When approached they do not run, but squat close to the ground until they think it prudent to be off", when they rise with a noisy rapid beat of their wings. Their flight, like that of other Sand-Grouse, is extremely rapid. Mr. T. Ayres on Trans- Vaal Ornithuloyy. 263 141. (L. 5-16.) EupoDOTis ruficrista (Smith), Rufous- crested Bustard. Male: — Total length 19 inches; iris dark brown, upper mandible of bill dusky, under mandible pale yellow. I met with these Bustards, but not plentifully, throughout the Marico bush ; they appear to be solitary in their habits, lie close, and rise very silently. In the evening they utter a me- lancholy note, " goo, goo " often and slowly repeated. When I first heard this note, I thought it must be that of some Owl; but on cautiously approaching, up flew a fine cock Bustard, the skin of which I now send. 142. (L. 555.) Glareola nordmanni, Fischer. Black- winged Pratincole. This species is occasionally plentiful about Potchefstroom, but at uncertain intervals. Large flights occurred in that neigh- bourhood last February. 143. (L. 552.) CuRsoRius bicinctus, Temm. Double- banded Courser. These birds frequent open ground, and are to be found, though not plentifully, about six miles from Potchefstroom down the Mov iriver, and thence right away down theVaal. 144. (L. 554.) CuRSORius chalcopterus, Temm. Bronze- winged Courser. I obtained a single specimen in January, on the banks of the Bhinoster river. 145. (L. 570.) Eudromias AsiATicus (Pall.), Caspian Dot- terel. iWtt/t^ :— Total length 8j inches, bill 1^, tarsus 1|, wing If, tail 2| ; iris dusky, bill black, tarsi and feet yellowish ash- colour. One day as I was trudging down to the river, to have an afternoon^s fishing, I found four of these Plovers on the open flats outside Potchefstroom. They had somewhat the appearance of Burchell's Courser when on the ground, but did not run so fast. They ran and then suddenly stopped, with their bodies 264) Mr. T. Ayres on Trans- Vaul Ornithuluyy. horizontal^ ready for flight, and, bemg much the colour of the ground, were not easily seen. Tiiey uttered a short " chuck ^^ whilst rising. I bagged two at one shot. On a subsequent occasion I saw two others, which I did not obtain. [Both specimens sent were in the non-breeding plumage usual in South-African examples of this Plover. — J. H. G.] 146. (L. 575.) Balearica REGULORUM (Licht.). Southern Crowned Crane. Male :— Total length 42 inches, bill 3, tarsus 9, wing 22|, tail 10^ ; iris light ash-colour, bill black, tarsi and feet black. These handsome Cranes are generally, though sparsely, dis- tributed over the country, and have much the same habits as the Stanley Cranes, with which they occasionally associate, as flocks of each may be seen feeding together on the banks of the Vaal river below Bloemhoff". [A supposed nest of this Crane which contained five white eggs was recorded by me on the authority of Mr. Ayres in ' The Ibis^ for 1868, p. 256; but a subsequent note by Mr. Layard in * The Ibis ' for 1869, p. 376, seems to render it doubtful whether these eggs were correctly identified ; and further facts as to the nidificatiou of this species are therefore desirable. — J. II. G.] 147. (L. 580, L. 582.) Ardea ardesiaca, Wagl. Lesser African Schistaceous Heron. Male : — Total length 20 inches, bill from gape 3, tarsus S^, wing 9g, tail 3 ; bill black, tarsi and feet dark greenish-yel- low, bare parts of thighs ashy. I have only obtained two specimens of this Heron, one of which was shot by my brother in April 1869, in the swamp near Potchefstroom, and the other was also shot by a friend of mine in the same locality. The flight of this species somewhat resembles that of Ardea purpurea. [There can, I think, be no doubt that Ardea flavimana of Sundevall, as well as Ardea calceolata of Du Bus, are synony- mous with this species; the descriptions of Du Bus and of Sundevall, and the plate given by the former author, agree well with the specimen obtained by Mr. Ayres in April 1869, except X ISfr. T. Ayres on Trans-Vaal Ornithology. 265 that the latter has the throat and chin of a rufous maroon colour, which is probably the remains of the immature dress, as the other specimen sent by Mr. Ayres, the sex of which was not ascer- tained, but which bears the appearance of being a younger bird, has the whole of the under plumage from the chin to the under tail-coverts inclusive, and also the thighs, more or less tinged with rufous maroon, interspersed with a few worn feathers of a whitish hue, and especially white on the shaft. Both the maroon tint and the intermingled white plumage are especially noticeable in this specimen, on the lower part of the front of the neck, where some of the lanceolate feathers are schistaceous on their outer, and rufous on their inner webs. — J. H. G.] 148. Ardea rufiventris, Sundev. Rufous-bellied Heron. Plate IX. Jffl/e:— Total length 19i inches, bill 3, tarsus 2^, wing 8|, tail 3^ ; iris bright yellow, feet and bare part of the thighs yel- low, tarsi pale, basal half of the bill nearly white, the remain- der black, with the tip of the under mandible yellow, bare skin round the eye pale yellow. Female: — Total length 19 inches, bill 2^, tarsus 2|, wing 8, tail 2f ; iris yellow, bill yellowish, upper mandible dusky brown, skin round the eye yellow. These Herons are shy and exceedingly scarce here ; three or four are sometimes seen together. They fly rapidly, and settle on the reeds. The stomachs of those sent contained frogs. [As this rare and beautiful Heron has, I believe, never been figured, the accompanying plate (PI. IX.), taken from the pair sent by Mr. A-yies, will be useful in identifying future specimens. I may add that the description of Ardea semiriifa, Schlegel, as given in the 'Museum des Pays-Bas,' Ardese, p. 35, leads to the belief that it is founded on an individual of the present species. — J. H. G.] 149. (L. 593.) Scopus umbretta, Gmel. Umbrette. Mr. Layard's description of the nidification of this species is excellent ; and I can add nothing to it, except that the inside of the nest is neatly plastered with mud, and that either from this cause, or from the bird's muddy feet, the eggs are often very dirty. 266 Mr. T. Ayres on Trans-Vaal Ornitholoyij. 150. (L. G03.) Falcinellus igneus (Gmel.). Glossy Ibis. These birds are scarce in this part of the country, and also vei-y shy and difficult to approach. They frequent swamps, generally in pairs, and on being disturbed circle up to a great height in the air, and then go right away to some other favourite marsh. 151. (L. 605.) Geronticus hagedasii (Vieill.). Ilagcdash Ibis. This Ibis is very scarce in the Trans-Vaal, the specimen sent was a solitary male, shot by me last December amongst the thorn trees on the banks of the Vaal river. 152. (L. 640.) Gallinula CHLOROPUs (Linn.). European Water-Hen. The specimen sent was shot amongst the rushes on the banks of the river, close to Potchefstroom. 153. (L. 647.) Sarkidiornis africanus, Eyton. African Black-backed Goose. This Goose I shot last summer at a lagoon on Loup-spruit, about six miles from Potchefstroom. It is the only one I have ever met with ; and I had great trouble to get it, as, after being shot, it flew into the spruit, dived, and died on the opposite bank. 154. (L. 651.) Casarca cana (Gmel.), South-African Shell-Duck. The three specimens sent were killed by my brother on a lagoon in the Free State; but birds of t^-\ species also occur on this side the Vaal, where I have seen tl '?Q^^-^^^^'^ never been able to get at them. n^^^ [Both sexes of this species have an osseous j^rocuberance on the carpal joint, like that in Chenalopex cegyptiacas, but covered with feathers.— J. H. G.] 155. (L. 659.) Nyroca brunnea, Eyton. South-African Nyroca Duck. This species is to be found on the lagoon at Loup-spruit, where a few years since it was plentiful, but has lately become much more scarce. Mr. T. Ayres on Trans- Vaal Ornithologij . 267 156. Sterna leucoptera, Teinm. White-winged Tci-n. Total length IQJ- inches, bill IfV, wing Sg, tail 3.] ; iris brown, bill black, tarsi and feet bright red. . The specimen sent was a solitary bird shot on 26th June, 1869, whilst hovering over the marsh near Potchefstroom. [This specimen appears to be an adult bird, partially (but not fully) attired in breeding-plumage. J. H. G.] 157. Sterna fissipes, Linn. Black Tern. This Tern was killed in the month of December, at the lagoon at Loup-spruit, from a large flock which was apparently engaged in catching insects on the wing, and which, after being- shot at, wheeled round and round in a body to an immense height, and then sailed away. The flight of these Terns was unsteady, like that of many of the Gulls, as if the wings were too large for the body. [The specimen sent appears to be a bird of the year. —J. H. G.] [I add some remarks on Trans-Vaal birds already mentioned in Mr. Ayres's notes, published in * The Ibis,' for 1869, p. 286 et seq.—3. H. G.] 22. TuRDUs DECKENi, Cab. Decken's Thrush. [The Thrush which Mr. Ayres referred to in his notes pub- lished in ' The Ibis ' for 1869, p. 292, and which I there iden- tified with Tiirdus olivaceus, Linn., proves on closer examination to be T. deckeni, Cab. The true T. olivaceus occurs in Natal ; but I have not seen it from Trans-Vaal.- "'H. G.I 36. (L. 4^^j^^j. |.|jg , HAGRA FLAVIVENTRIS, Gmcl. YclloW- bellied Gross- ^.t^. [At p. 295 of the paper above referred to, is another incor- rect identification which I am desirous to rectify. The species there recorded as Crithagra butijracea, Linn., is in reality C.Jla- viventris, Gmel. I am indebted to the kindness of Mr.R.B. Sharpe for the follow- ing synonymy of this species, furnished to him by Dr. Finsch : — Crithagra flaviventris (Gmel.). ,, Jhiva, Swains. 268 Mr. T. Ayres on Trans-Vaal Ornithology. Crithayra striyilata, Swains. „ butyracea, Gray et Bp. nee Linn. — J. H. G.] 38. (L. 423.) Megalophonus rufipileus (Vieill.). Fas- ciolated Lark. Total length 5|, bill xi, wing 3, tarsus 1^, tail 2\ ; iris light tawny^ bill pale, with the ridge dusky, tarsi and feet pale dusky. These Larks are only found on the open plains, extending from Potchefstroom to the bush at Mariqua ; they are generally two or three together, and lie so exceedingly close that they can often be knocked down with a stick. [Brachonyx jiyrrhonotha, Smith, and Aluuda fascioluta, Sun- devall, appear to me to be synonyms of this species, which, in 'The Ibis^ for 1869, p. 295, I erroneously referred to its nearly allied but more southern congener, M. apicatus (Vieill.). I have to thank Mr. E. L. Layard for his kindness in pointing out this error. — J. H. G.] 39. (L. 435.) Certhilauda garrula, Smith. Garrulous Lark. I found a nest of this Lark at Mamusa, at some little distance from the river ; it was placed under a tuft of grass, and was com- posed of rough grass outwardly, lined with roots of fine grass, and partially arched over with the rough grass of which the outer portion of the nest was constructed. It contained two eggs, one of which was larger than the other; and though I left the nest for two days after finding it, no more eggs were laid. [The llev. H. B. Tristram, to whom these eggs were sent by Mr. Ayres, informs me that he believes the larger one to be the egg of one of the South-African Cuckoos. — J. H, G. 48. (L. 537.) Pterocles gutturalis. Smith. Sombre Sand-Grouse. Female: — Total length V2h inches, bill ly-^, tarsus 1|, wing 8, tail 3|. I found these birds about the river Limpopo in June; they were in flocks which apparently consisted entirely of females. I killed four out of a flight at one shot, with dust-shot, all of which were hen birds. A few of them were breeding ; and I Mr. T. Ayres on Trans-Vaal Ornitholofjy. 209 found their eggs, three in number, laid on the bare ground amongst the grass, without the sHghtest appearance of a nest, at no great distance from the water. The size of the egg is Ijf inch by 1t%; the ground-colour dusky-tawny marked with lines and blotches of umber, espe- cially towards the base of the egg, where these marks form an encircling zone. 49, (L. 536.) Pterocles bicinctus, Temm. Double-banded Sand-Grouse. Male : — Total length IQi inches, bill \^ ; iris dusky, feet yellowish. Next to P. gutturalis, this is the most plentiful of the Sand- Grouse found near the Limpopo. The greater number of those we saw there in June were in flocks, but some few had paired and were breeding. The eggs, three or four in number, are laid on the bare ground amongst the short grass, and the hen bii'd will almost allow herself to be trodden on before she will rise. The size of the egg is 1^^ inch by |f ; ground-colour brownish-pink, spotted and blotched all over, but more parti- cularly at the thicker end, with a lighter tint of the same colour. 53. (L. 551.) CuRSORius rufus, Gould. Burcbell's Courser. This species is common about Potchefstroom, in flocks, in winter. [I cannot concur in the opinion expressed by Mr. Layard in 'The Ibis^ for 1869, p. 375, that this species is identical with C. senegalensis, Licht. ; the latter is a somewhat smaller bird, with much less white on the secondary feathers of the wing, and with no grey on the occiput. — J. H. G.] 57. (L. 574.) Anthropoides stanleyanus, Vigors. Stan- ley Crane. Ma/e:— Total length 47 inches, bill 4|, tarsus 10|, wing 23; iris dusky, bill, tarsi, and feet black. These Cranes are not at all uncommon in this country. In the summer months they are generally seen in pairs, stalking about the open flats in search of insects ; in winter they con- gregate in certain localities and live sociably together. One SER. III. VOL. I, u 270 Mr. R. B. Sharjx; on the of these spots is on the Movi river, about ten miles above its junction -with the Vaal river, and another is on the banks of the Vaal river, about twenty miles below BloemhoflP. These birds feed on seeds and roots as well as on insects ; and their flesh is not at all bad eating; slices from the breast fried with butter are scarcely to be distinguished in taste from excellent beef. Blue Cranes (as this species is locally called) sometimes rise to an immense height in the air, uttering their peculiar loud guttural note. When on the ground they frequently amuse themselves by dancing round each other with wings extended, bowing and scraping to each other in a most absurd manner, not a little curious to see. 61. (L. 601.) Anastomus lamelligerus, Temm. African Anastomus. Female : — Total length 30| inches, bill 6, wing 15^, tarsus 6, tail 8f ; iris double, the inner ring pale yellow, the outer dusky, bill dusky, basal half whitish, and conspicuous when the bird is freshly killed. This curious bird was shot by my brother on the 6th Febru- ar}^, 1869, in a swamp within a mile of Potchefstroora. It was a solitary bird, and before it was shot had been observed several days feeding in the swamp and alighting on the neighbouring trees; its stomach contained all the soft parts of Crabs well broken up. A few days after it was shot, five others were seen to fly over the town at a great height. This species only occurs as a visitor in this part of the country. XXII. — On the Coraciidse of the Ethiopian Region, By R. B. Sharpe, F.L.S., Libr. Z.S., &c. [Coucluded from page 203.] Genus 2. Eurystomus. Type. Eurystomus, Vieill. Analyse, p. 37 (1816) . . E. orientalis. Colaris, Cuv. Regne Anim. i. p. 401 (1817) . . E. orientalis. Cornopio, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. ii. p. 119 (1860) E. afer. Coraciidae of the Ethiopian Regiun. 271 Clavis sjx'cicriitn. a. macula gulari nulla : corpore subtiis concolori. a', major: saturate violaceo-lilacinus 1. (jlaucwus. h' . minor: rubescenti-lilacinus 2. ufer. h. macula gulari magna cyauea 3. gularis. 1. EURYSTOMUS GLAUCURUS. Le Rolls de Madagascar, Buff. PI. Enl. 501. Coracias glaucurus, P. L. S. Miill. Syst. Nat. Suppl. p. 86 (1776, ex Buff.). Eurystomus glaucurus, Gray, Handb. of B. i. p. 7Q (1869); Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 397. Coracias madagascariensis, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 379 (1788, ex Buff.). Le Grand Rolle violet, Levaill. Rolliers, pi. 34 (1806). Eurystomus madagascariensis, Gray, Gen. of B. i. p. 62 (1845) ; Bonap. Consp. Vol. Anis. p. 7 (1854) ; Hartl. Faun. Madag. p. 27 (1861) ; Roch & E. Newt. Ibis, 1862, p. 270; E. Newt. Ibis, 1863, p. 341 ; Verr. in Vin. Voy. Madag. Ann. B. (1865) ; Schl. Mus. Pays-Bas, Coraces, p. 143 (1867) ; Grand. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1867, p. 354; Schl. & Poll. Faun. Madag. Ois. p. 103 (1868). Colaris madagascariensis, Cuv. Regne Anim. p. 401 (1817) ; Reich. Handb. Merop. p. 56, t. ccccxxviii. fig. 3200 (1852). Cornopio madagascariensis. Cab. & Hein. Mus. Ilein. ii. p. 119(1860). Eurystomus violaceus, Vieill. N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xxix. p. 426 (1819) ; Miiller, J. f. Oru. 1855, p. 6. Colaris violaceus, Wagl. Syst. Av. Colaris, no. 1 (1827). General plumage lilac-brown, beautifully glossed with violet ; the least wing-coverts, skirting the edge of the wing, and the greater coverts deep ultramarine, the innermost ones inclining to cobalt ; quills black, externally washed with ultramarine, the inner web cobalt on the under surface, the secondaries dusky at the base, the innermost ones lilac-brown, like the scapulars, with which in colour they blend ; lower portion of the rump and upper tail-coverts dull cobalt ; tail for the most part cobalt, more glossy but not so rich on the under surface, the middle feathers u 2 272 Mr. 11. B. Sharpe. on the duller and inclining to black, the whole of the feathers black at the tip, forming a broad black bar along the end of the tail ; lower portion of the abdomen and under tail-coverts bright co- balt ; thighs lilac-brown washed with cobalt ; bill yellow ; feet brown. Hab. Madagascar {Newton, Pollen 65- Van Dam, Crossley) ; Nossi-be, Nossi-falie ( Verger) ; Pemba {Bojer) ; Mozambique (Bianconi) . Drs, Finsch and Hartlaub are inclined to consider the present species to be only a large race of Eurystomus afer, inasmuch as they find that specimens of the last-named Roller from Gaboon, measuring 11^ inches in length, equal specimens from Mada- gascar; an example collected by Bojer in Pemba, an island lying off the Zanzibar coast, was scarcely larger than large specimens of E. afer ; and the bird obtained by Bianconi in Mozambique is also referable to E. glaucurus. The measurements given by the above-named authors favour this view ; and it would therefore appear that a ruddy Eurystomus is widely distri- buted in Western and Eastern Africa, varying in size according to locality, and reaching its maximum development in Mada- gascar. Not having specimens to examine from all the localities neces- sary for the correct determination of this question, I follow the above-named authors in supposing E. glaucurus to occur on the east coast of Africa. Pollen and Van Dam state that the bird in- habits the interior of Madagascar, and only appears on the west and east coasts of the island in October, whereas Bojer shot his specimen in Pemba on the 24th of August, 1824. If MM. Pollen and Van Dam are right in what they say, it is unlikely that the Pemba bird can be E. glaucurus; but their statement is hardly conclusive, and it is more likely that, instead of in- habiting the interior of Madagascar during the season when it was not observed by these naturalists, it really passes the time in Africa and migrates to Madagascar in October. This would account for its occurrence in Pemba, Reunion, and in Mozam- bique. Thus it may be probable that the large specimens of Eurystomus found in Africa are really E. glaucurus and not E. afer ; and I must say that I consider these species sufficiently Coraciidge of the Ethiopian Region. 273 distinct both as regards colour and size, as exemplified by a series in my own collection. Messrs. Pollen and Van Dam (/. c.) have given a good account of the habits of the Madagascar Roller : — " We have observed and killed this beautiful bird in Mada- gascar, especially in the vicinity of the forests of Syrangene. It was more particularly in this locality that we had an opportunity of studying its habits and economy. In Madagascar it inhabits by preference those parts of the country where the natives have cut down and burnt parts of the forest for the purpose of sowing their rice. In these open places these birds may almost daily be seen perched on the branches of a dead tree ; and at intervals is heard their loud and disagreeable cry, sara-roc-roc-roc. It is for this reason that the bird is known to the Autancars by the name of Sararoc, whilst the Sakalave give it the name of Fitili-rarats, which signifies ' bird of thunder/ because these birds only make their appearance in the western part of Madagascar at the com- mencement of October, when the hurricanes which usher in the winter or bad season begin. Their flight much resembles that of a Wagtail. In flying they have the habit of often closing their wings against their body, which gives them the appearance of being about to fall. They are often seen gathered in parties on a dead branch, squeezing one against the other ; and they seem then as if they were stuck together. These birds nest and lay their eggs in the month of October. We are certain of this, because on one occasion we killed a female ready to lay an egg, and in preparing the skin we found a perfectly developed egg, about the size of that of a Bantam hen, of a pure white colour. At this season the male may be seen caressing the female, in the same way as a Pigeon. Their principal food consists of grass- hoppers, crickets, coleoptera, as well as some kinds of fruits and grain. It is wonderful to see with what dexterity this bird darts from a branch on to the insects, which they always catch in full flight. From the quantity they devour daily they must be placed in the category of useful birds. In captivity they eat voraciously cooked rice as well as bananas. Wc believe that it would be possible to make a charming cage-bird of this Roller ; by bring- ing it up from the nestling, and by cutting part of the liga- 27'4 Mr. 11. B. Sbarpe on the ment of the tongue, it would easily learn to pronounce some words and to whistle little airs. Nevertheless it would never do to allow it liberty; for we were assured that it kills little birds with which it is placed. When one is wounded by a shot, it defends itself with blows of its beak, and, like the Owls, it elevates at the same time the feathers of the head and ears. These birds are very active, and from morn to eve make a great noise with their disagreeable croaking. They live in pairs or in little bands of from six to twelve individuals near the houses of the inhabitants. In the north of Madagascar, as well as on the west and east coasts, they never arrive before the first days of October. At this time they live in pairs, nest, and lay ; and it is at this season that they sometimes visit the island of Reunion. It consequently appears that this bird inhabits the interior of Madagascar from the month of May to that of October, while it is found from October to April on the eastern and western sides of the island. Our friend Jules Verger has observed it at the same time of year in the islands of Nossi-be and Nossi-falie.^^ The description is taken from a nicely preserved skin in my collection, lately procured in Madagascar by Mr. Alfred Crossley. 2. EURYSTOMUS AFER. African Roller, Lath. Gen. Syn. p. 86 (1787). Coracias afra, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. p. 172 (1790). Eurystomus afra, Staph. Gen. Zo'ol. xiii. p. 97 (1826) ; Gi'ay, Gen. of B. i. p. 62 (1845) ; Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 168 (1850) ; Antin. Cat. Ucc. p. 27 (1865). Eurijstomus afer, Gray, Cat. Fiss. Brit. Mus, p. 32 (1848) ; Strickl. P. Z. S. 1850, p. 216 ; Hartl. Beitr. Orn. Westafr. p. 17 (1852) ; Bonap. Consp. Vol. Anis. p. 7 (1854) ; Hartl. J. f. 0. 1853, p. 399; Verr. Rev. et Mag. Zool. 1855, p. 414; Miill. J.f.O. 1855, p. 6; Hartl. Orn. Westafr. p. 28 (1857); Cass. Proc. Phil. Acad. 1859, p. 33; Hartl. J.f.O. 1861, p. 104; Kirk, Ibis, 1864, p. 324; Schl. Mu^. Pays-Bas, Coraces, p. 142 (1867) ; Heugl. J. f. 0. 1868, p. 322 ; id. Orn. N. O. Afr. i. p. 169 (1869); Gray, Hand-1. of B. i.p. 76 (1869); Sharpe, Ibis, 1889, p. 193; Bocage, Jorn. Acad. Lisb. 1870, p. 339; Blanf. Coraciidse of the Ethiopian Region. 275 Geol. & Zool. of Abyss, p. 330 (1870) ; Finscli, Trans. Zool. Son. vii. p. 220 (1870). Coracias africana, Shaw & Nodd. Nat. Misc. xi. pi. 401 (1799). Le Petit Rolle violet, Lavaill. Rolliers, pi. 35 (1806). Eurystomus purpurascens, Vieill. N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xxix. p. 427 (1819) ; Bonn, et Vieill. Ene. Meth. ii. p. 872 (1823) ; Bouap. Consp. Vol. Anis. p. 7 (1854). Colaris purpurascens, Wagl. Syst, Av. Colaris, no. 2 (1827). Colaris viridis, Wagl. Syst. Av. Colaris, no. 5 (1827) ; Reich. Handb. Merop. p. 57 (1852). Eurystomus viridis. Gray, Gen. of B. i. p. 62 (1845) ; Bonap. Consp. Gen, Av. i. p. 168 (1850) ; Hartl. Beitr. Orn. Westafr. p. 17 (1852); id. J. f. O. 1853, p. 399; Miill. J. f. 0. 1855, p. 7. Eurystomus rubescens, Vieill. N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xxix. p. 426 (1819); Bonn, et Vieill Enc. Meth. ii. p. 871 (1823); Sw. Birds of W. Afr. ii. p. 112 (1837). Eurystomus orientalis (nee Linn.), Riipp. Syst. Uebers. p. 23 (1845); Heugl. Syst. Uebers. p. 17 (1856). Colaris afra, Cuv. Regne Anim. i. p. 401 (1817); ReioJi. Handb. Merop. p. 56, t. ccccxxxviii. figs. 3201, 3202 (1852). Cornojjio afer, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. Th. ii. p. 119 (1860) ; Cab. in Von der Decken's Reise, iii. p. 34 (1869). Adult. General colour pale lilac-bvown, with a distinct lilac gloss ; the least wing-coverts, bordering the edge of the wing, and the greater coverts deep ultramarine, the inner ones inclining to cobalt; quills black, externally washed with ultramarine, the outer web of the primaries inclining to cobalt ; the under sur- face of the wing greyish black glossed with cobalt; upper tail- coverts dull cobalt ; tail silvery cobalt, inclining to white on the inner web, the middle feathers brown washed with blue, the ex- tremities of all the feathers banded with black, more narrowly on the outer ones ; under tail-coverts cobalt ; iris olivaceous ; legs pale yellowish olive; bill deep yellow. {Blanford.) Young. Similar to the adult, but has the underside washed with pale thalassine-blue from the breast downwards, the lower flanks being entirely blue ; the wing-coverts pale greyish-brown, and all the rest of the plumage very much duller. 276 i\lr. K. B. Sharpe on the Hab. North Eastern Africa. Abyssinia {Riippel/, Heuglin); Bogos Land {Blanford, Jesse) ; Senaar, Fazoglu, Kordofan [Heuglin]', Gazelle River (Ardinori). Eastern Africa. Uza- ramo {Speke) ; Zambesi {Kirk). Western Africa. Senegambia [Mus. Lugd.) ; River Gambia {Mus. R. B. S.); Casamanze, Bissao {Verreaux) ; Accra {Ussher); Sacconde, Rio Boutry {Pel); Ga- boon {Verreaux) ; Ogobai River {Du Chaillu); Angola {Toulson, Monteiro) . Dr. Finsch, in his lately published paper on the Abyssinian collection of Mr. Jesse, writes : — " The North-Eastern African specimens are larger than West- ern ; but thex-e are intermediate forms in specimens from East Africa, which are also larger, and nearly as big as the Mada- gascarian E. madagascariensis, Gm. The latter has been pro- cured at Mozambique, and seems to be scarcely distinguishable as a species.'^ Verreaux (/. c.) notices that the race from Ga- boon, although not differing from Senegambian specimens in coloration, is nearly a quarter as large again, but he considers it to be only a larger race. . Hartlaub (/. c.) says, " a local race of this species from Gaboon is distinguished by its somewhat brighter colour and by its larger dimensions. I have examined specimens 11^ inches in length.^' On the other hand Cassin (/, c.) remarks that the spe- cimens sent by DuCliaillu from the Ogobai river were "rather smaller than specimens from Sierra Leone." This confirms my impression, hinted at in the account of E. glaucurus, that that species occurs in Gaboon, and that its range extends across the continent of Africa, whence it migrates into Madagascar. In Gaboon, M. Verreaux informs me that the present species is a bird of passage, only remaining to breed, as his hunter had procured young birds newly fledged. It affects marshy places, and feeds on insects, seizing them in flight like a Bee- eater. It is found in little troops of twenty or thirty. They retire to the tops of high trees during the heat of the day and night, always going to the tops of the trees, where they are con- cealed by the foliage. The female only diff'ers from the male in size ; it appears to be a little larger. The young are duller in colour, but assume the brilliant coloration of the adult at the Coraciidse of the Ethiopian Region. 277 second moult. In the old birds the bill is of a brilliant golden colour, the iris brownish red, and the feet greyish blue. Dr. von Heuglin observes : — " This beautiful species is probably not a resident in N.E. Africa. It generally inhabits the wooded country ; and we met with it at Sakah, in the Bogos country, in the Abyssinian low- lauds, Senar, Kordofan, and on the White Nile. According to Antinori it appears in the Djur country between the middle of April and middle of May. During the rainy season (June to September) we found it commoner in the Bogos country than in any other part of Africa we visited, and procured there in July fledged young. "In its habits it is very Roller-like, as also in its loud note. It frequents in pairs the dead tops of the high timber along the watercourses and at the edges of open wood, generally higher than the Common Roller. It catches insects from its resting- place with ease, particularly coleoptera and grasshoppers. In spite of its compact figure and heavy appearance, the flight is swift, and it will follow a passing butterfly with great dexterity. In the pairing-season the males are very noisy and quarrelsome, and they often fight in the air, and perform also peculiar aerial evolutions. When not pursued they are not very shy, but when closely followed are very suspicious. Speke procured a female at Uzaramo in October, in which was an egg ready for exclusion." The following note is extracted from Mr. Blanford's work (/. c). He says it is " a noisy bird, with a swift hawk-like flight, with all the usual habits of a Roller, but keeping rather more to high trees than the two other species, and perhaps x-ather more given to ' rolling ' from side to side when flying. It often hawks locusts and other insects in the air. E. afer was only met with in the subtropical region of the Upper Lebka and Anseba valleys. It there abounded in company with the other two Rollers." Mr. Jesse's notes on the present species are as follows : — " Iris dark brown, beak Icmou-yellow or chrome-colour. This bird is an active, noisy individual, and during the breeding- season, like the Missel-Thrush at home, drives all intruders from the neighbourhood, even Kites, Vultures, and Eagles. Its flight is singularly rapid and hawk-like, though without, so far as I 278 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the saw, the characteristic rolling motion observed in that of Cura- cias ahyssinica and Coracias pilosa. I have seen these birds {E. afer) in company with C. pilosa and Caprimulyus inornatus hawking the ants which fly in the gloaming. It was procured and observed only at Kokai, on the Lebka, and on the Anseba, in July and August, where it was plentiful." Dr. Kirk (Ibis, 1864, p. 724) found it in the Zambesi to be local, and observed rarely near Tete. Frequent in the river- valley at Chibisa, on the river Shire. Its habits resemble those of Coracias caudata. My description is taken from a Gambian skin in my collec- tion. Abyssinian examples, of which I have two from Kokai, brought home by Mr. W. Jesse, are a little larger and have stouter bills ; otherwise I can see no difference. 3. EURYSTOMUS GULARIS. Le Petit Rolls violet a gorge bleue, Levaill. Rolliers, pi. 36 (1806). Eurystomus gularis, Vieill. N. Diet. D'Hist. Nat. xxix. p. 246 1819) ; Bonn, et Vieill. Enc. Meth. ii. p. 827 (1823); Jard. & Selby, 111. of Orn. ii. pi. 409; Gray. Gen. of B. i. p. 62 (1845); id. Cat. Fiss. Brit. Mus. p. 33 (1848) ; Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 168 (1850) ; id. Consp. Vol. Anis. p. 7 (1854) ; Hartl. J, f. 0. 1853, p. 400 ; Verr. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1855, p. 415 ; Miill. J. f. 0. 1855, p. 7; Hartl. Orn. W. Afr. p. 29 (1857) ; Cass. Proc. Phil. Acad. 1859, p. 33; Hartl. J. f. O. 1861, p. 104; Schl. Mus. Pays.-Bas, Coraces, p. 143 (1867); Gray, Hand-1. of B. i. p. 76 (1869). Colaris gularis, Wagl. Syst. Av. Colaris, no. 3 (1827) ; Reich. Handb. Merop. p. 57, t. ccccxxxviii. fig. 3203 (1852). Cornopio gularis, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Ilein. ii. p. 119, note (1860). Eurystomus collaris, Vig. Zool. Journ. v. p. 273 (1832). General plumage dark chestnut, with a lilac gloss ; least wing- coverts, bordering the edge of the wing, ultramai-ine, slightly washed with chestnut ; primary coverts and most of the greater coverts deep ultramarine; primaries black, externally washed with ultramarine, the inner web cobalt on the underside ; secondaries black at the base, but for the most part chestnut. Coraciiiloe of the Ethiopian Region. 279 like the scapulars, with which they blend; upper tail-coverts black, slightly edged with cobalt and tinged with rufous; tail- feathers cobalt, inclining to whitish on the inner web ; middle feathers black, as also a broad bar at the extremity of the tail and the outer web of the external tail-feathers ; chin dark chest- nut ; throat brilliant cobalt ; under wing- and tail-coverts chest- nut, like the rest of the body, the latter tipped with black. Hab. West Africa. Galam [Verreaux) ; Grand Bassam ( Verreaux) ; Fantee ( Ussher) ; llio Boutry [Pel) ; Gaboon [Port- man, Gujon, Walker) ; Ogobai river {Du Chaillu). By some unaccountable mistake this species of Roller was for a long time considered to be an inhabitant of New Guinea ; but it is now well known to be a native of Western Africa only. Here its range seems to be very limited ; for it is doubtful if it extends so high as Senegal, which locality is given as one of its haunts by Dr. Hartlanb, who indicates examples in the Leyden Museum as the authority for the statement. In Prof. Schlegel's recently published catalogue, however, no mention is made of Senegambian specimens. The only notice of its habits, that I am aware of, has been published by MM. Verreaux. They state that at Grand Bassam it is only a passing visitant. Its habits are similar to those of the foregoing bird, and it is fond of tumbling in the air. It is rarer than any of the other Rollers, especially in the locality above mentioned, which is not its true home. I have received specimens from Governor Ussher from Fantee, and from Mr. Walker from Gaboon; but not many have come to hand. My description is taken from a Gaboon specimen, collected by Mr. R. B. N. Walker. The specimens from Fantee are pre- cisely similar. Subfam. II. Brachypteracian^. Conspectus generwn BrachypAeracianarmn. a. Rostrum a rictu meusuratiim tarsum supe- rans 1. JBrachyjiteracias. h. Tarsus longissimus, rostri longitudiuem multo superans a'. Alee miilto lougiores qiiam cauda .... 2. Geobiastes. h'. Alge caudal lougitudiuem fere aequantes 3. Atelunds. 280 Mr. R. B. Shaipe on the Genus. 1. Brachypteracias. Type. Brachyj)teracias, Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1834^ pi. 31 B. leptusumus. Chlorojnjgia, Swains. Classif. of B. ii. p. 333(1837) B. leptosumus. Brachypteracias leptosomus. Colaris leptosomus, Less. lUustr. de Zool. pi. 20 (1832). Brachypteracias leptosomus, Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1834, Ois. pi. 31 ; Gray, Gen. of B. i. p. 61 (1845) ; id. Cat. Fiss. Brit. Mus. p. 35 (1848) ; Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 166 (1850) ; Reich. Handb. Merop. p. 53, t. ccccxxxvi. ligs. 3191-92 (1852) ; Bonap. Consp. Vol. Anis. p. 7 (1854) ; Hartl. Journ. f. Orn. 1860, p. 83 (1860) ; id. Orn. Madag. p. 28 (1861) ; E. Newt. Ibis, 1863, p. 341 ; Verr. in Vins. Voy. Madag. Ann. B. (1865) ; Grand. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1867, p. 354; Schl. & Poll. Faun. Madag. p. 158 (18G8) ; Gray, Hand-1. of B. i. p. 77 (1869) ; Sharpe, P. Z. S.:(1870), p. 398. Brachypteracias collaris, Pucker. Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 199. Chloropygia leptosomus, Swains. Classif. of B. ii. p. 333 (1837). Head and neck chestnut-brown, everywhere suffused with a beautiful plum-coloured gloss ; a parting from the base of the bill up the middle of the head and lores reddish brown, the latter extending backwards over the eye and developing into a slight white eye-brow ; cheeks and ear-coverts dark chestnut, spotted and banded with white ; back and scapulars dull green, some- what mixed with brown ; lower portion of the back, rump, and upper tail-coverts green, inclining in some lights to cobalt ; least wing-coverts, bordering the edge of the wing, green ; rest of the wing-coverts brown, everywhere banded at the tip with two lines of dark green, enclosing a rather broader one of white ; quills brown, white at the base of the inner web ; the primaries externally margined with fulvous, becoming white towards the tip ; secondaries broadly washed with fulvous brown on the outer web, and with greenish on the inner web, especially those near the back, which blend with the scapulars; tail for the most part coppery brown, the two middle feathers entirely of this colour and glossed with greenish, all the other feathers Coraciitlse of the Ethiopian Region. 281 with a broad purplish-black band near the extremity, which is white, this latter colour being dashed with violet ; feathers of the throat chestnut, the centre of each being much paler and inclining to fulvous towards the tip, which is obscurely white, giving a striped appearance; a broad crescent-shaped band across the breast, extending on each side on to the sides of the neck, white, slightly washed with pale chestnut; upper part of the breast banded alternately with white, chestnut, and black, the latter colour disappeai-ing on the sides of the body, which are banded with chestnut and white only, the flanks tinged with greenish ; middle of the abdomen and under tail-coverts creamy white ; thighs brown, washed with greenish and narrowly banded with white ; under wing-coverts white, slightly mottled with brown ; bill horny black, becoming yellowish towards the tip, Hab. Madagascar [Cvossley). I regret to say that nothing is known respecting the habits of this very rare bird. Mr. Crossley informed me that he never actually killed a specimen of it himself, but that the one in my collection from which the above description has been taken, was brought to him by the natives, who informed him that it was a night-feeding bird, and procured its food on the ground. The remains of parth on the bill of the bird in question seemed to vouch for the accuracy of this statement. Genus 2. Geobiastes. Geobiastes squamigerus. Brachypteracias squamigera, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1838, p. 224 ; Pucher. Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 193; Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 166 (1850) ; Grand. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1867, p. 354 ; Schl. Mus. Pays-Bas, Coraces, p. 138 (1867) ; Schl. & Poll. Faun. Madag. p. 158 (1868) ; Gray. Hand-1. of B. i. p. 77 (1869). Atelornis squamigera, Des Murs, Iconogr. Ornith. pi. xxxix. (1846) ; Reich. Handb. Merop. p. 53, t. ccccxxxvi. fig. 3194 (1852) ; Bonap. Consp. Vol. Anis. p. 7 (1854) ; Ilartl. J. f. 0. 1860, p. 84; id. Faun. Madag. p. 28 (1861); Verr. in Vins. Voy. Madag. Ann. B. (1865). Head black down the centre ; sides of the head and neck and the breast white tinged with fulvous, and everywhere so mottled 282 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the with black as to produce a scaly appearance ; lores, ear-coverts, cheeks, and throat more distinctly tinged with buff, and not so prominently scaled ; a line of black extends from the eye backwards to the nape, and another from the lower part of the eye, below the ear-coverts ; back of the ueck and upper portion of the back very rich bay; interscapular region olive-green, marked with little silvery bands here and there, this appearance being caused by the tips of some of the feathers being white, with a narrow band of black on each side ; scapulars a little brighter green, with a faint indication of a silvery bar here and there ; least wing-coverts bordering the edge of the wing dull reddish brown ; rest of the wing-coverts olive-green tinged with brown, the external ones marked with fulvous white, the innermost ones barred towards the tip with white, edged with green on each side, and margined with black on the outer edge ; primary coverts black ; quills black, pale brown towards the tip, the inner web white at the base, the outer web of the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th primaries also white, forming a small alar bar; the secondaries outwardly washed with grass-green, the inner ones washed with olive- brown and blending with the scapulars; lower portion of the back and rump grass-green ; tail particoloured, greenish at the base except on the outer web, which is cobalt, a broad band of coppery bay extends across the tail, followed by one of black and by another one of pale blue along the extremity of the tail-feathers, the two middle feathers greenish, but tinged with copper-colour towards the extremity of the feathers ; lower portion of the breast and belly bufFy white, the Hanks brownish and everywhere mottled with black and white cross bars ; the centre of the abdomen unmottled ; under wing-coverts reddish brown mixed with white, and a line of pure white feathers run- ning along the radials ; bill dark horny brown ; feet pale fleshy brown, yellow at the tarsal joint. Young. Entirely reddish, but darker on the head, neck, and interscapulary region. On all these parts the feathers are black at the base ; but on the chin their basal portion is white. Above the eye and the forehead there are little transverse bands of dark tinged with rufous white, and brown ; and a little below the eye there is a small black spot. In the region of the chest the Coraciidse of the Ethiopian Region. 283 lateral portions are of a rufous colour less pronouuced than on the head and upper part of the neck; and on the feathers of the central portion there are bands of white tinged with rufous and brown. On the flanks some, but very few, are coloured in the last-named manner; the rest is smoky brown tinged with rufous. The abdomen is downy white. The coloration of the quills pre- sents nothing peculiar; but the wing-coverts are darker green, more mixed with rufous and brown than in the more adult spe- cimens, and the spot at the apex is composed of two bands, the lower one brownish black, the upper one white tinged with rufous, and encircled above and below with brownish black. The back is deep olive-brown. All over the present specimen the feathers are downy and fluffy ; the upper mandible is dark brown, the lower one horny yellow. [Puchei-an, I. c.) Hub. Madagascar [Crossley). Nothing has been recorded concerning the habits of this Ground Roller. Mr. Crossley procured the specimen now in my collection from the natives, who said that it was a night- feeding bird like Brachypteracias. Genus 3. Atelornis. Type. Atelornis, Puchcr. Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 200 . A. pittoides. Corapitta, Bonap. Consp. Vol. Anis. p. 7 (1854) A. pittoides. Atelornis pittoides. Brachypteracias pittoides, Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1834, t. 32; Gray, Gen. of B. i. p. 61 (1845) ; id. Cat. Fiss. Brit. Mus. p. 35 (1848) ; Bonap, Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 166 (1850) ; Schl. Mus. Pays-Bas, Coraces, p. 138 (1867) ; Grand. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1867, p. 354; Schl. & Poll. Faun. Madag. p. 158 (1868) ; Gray, Hand-1. of B. i. p. 77 (1869). Atelornis pittoides, Vxicher. Uev. Zool. 1846, p. 200; Reich. Handb. Merop. p. 53, t. ccccxxxvi. fig. 3193 (1852) ; Hartl. J. f. 0. 1860, p. 84; Hartl. Orn. Madag. p. 28 (1861) ; Roch & E. Newt. Ibis, 1862, p. 271 ; E. Newt. I-bis, 1863, p. 341 ; Verr. in Vins. Voy. Madag. Ann. B. (1865); Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 398. Corapitta pittoides, Bonap. Consp. Vol. Anis. p. 7 (1854), 284 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the Head very deep cobalt, a little brighter over the eye, and the superciliary feathers minutely spotted veith white, developing into a narrow white eyebrow above the eye and over the ear- coverts j lores, cheeks, and ear-coverts deep black ; back of the neck and upper part of the back chestnut-brown ; lower portion of the back grass-green, somewhat tinged with olive on the upper tail-coverts ; wing-coverts bright grass-green, the outer row of the greater coverts w^ashed with cobalt ; primary coverts black ; quills black, becoming brown towards the tip, white at the base of the inner web, and the basal half of the outer web of all the primaries, except the external one, white, showing a conspicuous alar bar; the secondaries towards the extremity washed with grass-green, the outermost with a slight tinge of blue towards the base, and the innermost tinged with olive-green like the scapulars ; all the tail deep cobalt, except the two middle fea- thers, which are olive-brown ; entire throat creamy white, on each side bordered by a triangular patch of cobalt-blue feathers ; sides of the neck beyond this blue patch rich bay; breast and flanks bay, duller on the latter ; centre of the belly and under tail-coverts creamy white, the latter marked with brown ; under wing-coverts whitish tinged with buff; bill black; feet fleshy brown. Hab. Madagascar {E. Newton, Crossley). Messrs. Roch and Newton (/. c.) give the following note : — " It was getting dark as we approached Alanamasaotra on our journey up, when we saw several of these birds run across the path ; one of them was shot by Dr. Roch. On our return we saw one again ; but it was only in the dusk of the evening. It is singular that such a brightly coloured species should only appear at nightfall, as it would seem alone to do. They have a very peculiar manner of jerking their tails when they alight on a branch. So far as we observed, they always keep very near the ground, and are probably ground-feeders." Of this species M. Grandidier observes (/. c.) : — "This bird lives in the forests, being found generally on the ground and solitary ; it has very little strength in its flight, and only perches on the lowest branches." Mr. Crossley, who sent home a good many specimens of this Coraciidae of the Ethiopian Region. 285 bird, procured them near Nossi Vola and Saralalan, where it was called by the natives Vorun Seak. He gives a note: — "Iris brown. Quite local.'^ Subfamily III. Leptosomin^. Genus 1. Leptosoma. Type. Leptosomus, Vieill. Enc. Meth. p. 1342 (1823) . L. discolor ( 6 ). Crombus, Reich. Handb. Merop. p. 51 (1852) . L. discolor ( $ ). Leptosoma discolor. Cuculus madagascariensis major, Briss. Orn. iv. p. 160, pi. xv. figs. 1, 2 (1760). Le Grand Coucou de Madagascar, Buff. PI. Enl. 587, 588. African Cuckoo, Lath. Gen. Syn. i. pt. ii. p. 332 (1782). Cuculus afer, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 419 (1788, ex Lath.) ; Lath. Ind. Orn. i. p. 217 (1790). Cuculus discolor, Herm. Affin. Anim. Tabl. p. 186 (1777). Le Vouroug Driou, Levaill. Ois. d'Afr. v. pi. 226, 227 ; Sundev. Kritik om Levaill. p. 49 (1857). Bucco africanus, Steph. Gen. Zool. ix. p. 25 (1815). Leptosomus viridis, Vieill. Enc. Meth. iii. p. 1342 (1823) ; Swains. Classif. of B. ii. p. 333 (1837). Leptosomus afer, Steph. Gen. Zool. xiv, p. 207 (1826) ; Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 96 (1850) ; Hartl. J. f. 0. 1860, p. Ill ; id. Orn. Madag. p. 63 (1861) ; Verr. in Vins. Voy. Madag. Ann. B. (1865). Leptosoma afra, Bonap. Consp. Vol. Zyg. p. 13 (1854). Leptosomus crombec. Less. Traite d'Orn. p. 134 (1831). Crombus madagascariensis, Reich. Handb. Merop. p. 52, t. ccccxxxv. fig. 3190 (1852). Leptosoma discolor, Scl. P. Z. S. 1865, p. 682 ; A. Newt. P. Z. S. 1865, p. 834 ; Grand. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1867, p. 354 ; Schl. & Poll. Faun. Madag. p. 157 (1868) ; Gray, Hand-1. of B. i. p. 77 (1869) ; Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 398. Male. Crown of the head, which has a lanceolate crest, dull plumbeous glossed with metallic green and copper ; lores, cheeks, and a collar round the back of the neck cinereous ; entire back, ser. III. — vol. I. X 286 Mr. R. B. Sharpc on the scapulars, and least wing-coverts glossy green, tinged everywhere with shining coppery red ; greater wing-coverts entirely of the last-named colour; primary-coverts dull bluish green; quills greyish black, the inner web white at the base, the external web glossed with green, as also the secondaries, which have the outer web coppery red like the scapulars ; tail greyish black strongly glossed with metallic green and slightly with coppery red ; entire under surface cinereous, becoming white on the abdomen and under wing- and tail-coverts ; bill dark plumbeous ; feet orange- brown. Female. General colour of the plumage rufous brown, barred on the sides of the head and back of the neck with glossy black ; crown of the head for the most part black ; entire back brown, spotted with fulvous and everywhere glossed with dull green and coppery red shades; wing-coverts black, spotted with chestnut, glossed with coppery red ; quills greyish black, white at the base of the inner web ; secondaries barred and margined with chest- nut, glossed with coppery red; tail brown, becoming black towards the tip, which is slightly edged with rufous; under surface of the body pale fawn-colour, everywhere spotted with glossy greenish black before the apex of the feather, which is white; bill horn-brown ; feet orange-brown. Hab. Madagascar [E. Newton, Grandidier, Crossley) ; Mayotte {Pollen and Van Dam) ; Johanna I. [Sclater). M. Grandidier (/. c.) says that the name given to this species in the Vetsimarak district of Madagascar is Kiroumho, and in the Sakalave district Treo-Treo, the last name being derived from the melancholy cry that the bird utters. The iris, he says, is clear brown, the feet deep yellow, and the species is found in the north-east, north-west, and south-west parts of Madagascar. " The Courols " he adds, " live in bands of ten or twelve indi- viduals on the borders of woods. As soon as one of these birds is knocked over with a shot, all the others place themselves at a little distance off or hover round the hunter, so that sometimes one may kill as many as ten in less than a quarter of an hour. The young male has the plumage of the female ; and it is on the feathers of the head and on the wing-coverts that the first change in coloration commences." Coraciidse of the Ethiopian Region. 287 Messrs. S. Roch and E. Newton write as follows : — " We saw this bird from near Tamatave up to the end of the forest-country. It has a peculiar habit of playing in the air above the forest for some time over the same place^ ascending almost perpendicularly, as it were by a jump, to a great height, and descending again in a curve nearly to the top of the trees, by almost closing its wings, at the same time uttering a whistle so like an Eagle's that it was for a long time doubted by us whether the bird that performed this wonderful freak was not a Raptorial. However, after having several times watched it with our glasses, we satisfied ourselves that it was this species. Whilst one bird was thus playing, another would frequently answer its cry from a tree hard by." The following habits have been noted by Messrs. Pollen and Van Dam : — " The natives of the north-west of Madagascar give this bird the name of Cyrombo. It has the curious habit of hovering in the air and uttering a very loud note, striking its wings against its body as it calls. This cry, resembling the syllables tu-hou, tu-hou, tu-hou, goes on increasing in force. Nowhere have we found this bird in greater numbers than in the forests in the neighbourhood of the bays of Boeny and Jongony in the south- western portion of the island of Mayotte. The racket that they make during the whole journey is truly wearisome. Although very active as criers, these birds are lazy and stupid ; as soon as they are perched on the branch of a tree, they remain, so to speak, immovable and in perpendicular position, so that it is easy to see them and knock them over. When seen in this po- sition they look like birds impaled. We suppose that they live in polygamy, because one always sees three times as many males as females ; often we have seen three males in company with one single female, and all allowed themselves to be killed one after the other. In fact, when one is killed, the others do not fly away, but content themselves with merely moving from one branch to another. These birds live principally on grasshoppers, but they devour also Chameleons and Lizards, which gives to their flesh a disagreeable odour, like that we observe in the common Cuckoo. In preparing these birds we often found them covered X 2 288 On the Coraciidse of the Ethiopian Regi i z 2 1 o 1 Subregio Madagas- cariensis. •jbosbSbpbj^ iK * * * * * § 1 t CO •BiqniBSauag * * * * * • •auoarj ■Bjjatg :tc •aa^uBqsy * * •a»^uBj * * •pUB^SI ,830UUJ * •SBuaoqx '^JS * •uooq^r) * -** •BpSuy * * II •odraBAQ * \ •puBfj bjeoibq; * * * ■iaopo 9dB0 *** •i^^n: * * * i •izaqtnBZ * * •anbiqniBzojt * •jBqiznB2 * 1 J 1} •Boujv 'a F-i;n30 * * •puBTf n^tnog * •BOPJV -WK * * : * if ■Biq'BJY * I \ C 3 ' s- li 3«r D 6 i 1 1 o 3 J Mr. J. H. Gurney, Jan., on the Ornithology of Algeria. 289 with a species of large parasite of the family of the Ornithomyi^, of a dirty green colour. We were never able to study the pro- pagation of this bird ; but while in Mayotte we saw an individual make a nest of rushes in the hole of a great 'Badamier* {Ter- minalia cappa) . These birds when they cry puflF out the throat so that this portion of the body has the appearance of a pendent bag. When wounded they erect the feathers of the forehead and ears as well as those of the throat, all the while distributing well-aimed blows with the beak. The Cyrombo plays a great part in the chants and religious recitations of the Malagash natives. The French colonists of Mayotte call this bird the ' Parrot.' It is common at Madagascar and Mayotte, and has, XXIII. — On the Ornithology of Algeria. By J. H. GuRNEY, Jun., F.Z.S. [Concluded from page 86.] 79. Melanocorypha calandra (Linn.). Calandra Lark. Occurs in large flocks up to the middle of March. This species is very common at Ain-Oussera and Bougzoul ; but I never met with any among the Larks in the Algiers market. It is quite unknown in the Mzab. The underside of the wing, which in the Crested Lark is pink, is black in the Calandra; and this, joined to its large size, renders it conspicuous wherever it is found. 80. Calandrellabrachydactyla (Leisl.). Short-toed Lark. Once seen at Laghouat. 81. Calandrella reboudia, Loche. Reboud's Lark. Common in flocks about Ain-Oussera. 82. Ammomaneslusitanica (Gmel.): A. isabel Una (Tcmm.). Desert-Lark. At Laghouat and thence as far as Gardaia this inconspicuous bird was met with on bare stony plains, where one would only expect to find Chats, and less commonly on hill-sides. Its 290 Mr. J. II. Guruey, Jan., on the Ornithology of Ahjeria. habits certainly resemble those of the Chats, except that it perches less on stones, and runs much more ; and in particular it bears no resemblance to the genera Calandrella, Alauda, and Galerida, with which it is usually associated. Its flight is far from swift, and often very undulating; as it descends, after poising itself a few moments in the air, its quivering wings bend slightly forwards, and its body seems to sink ; but these manoeuvres are doubtless confined to the spring. It has a pleasing song, although its notes are weak. Length 5| to 6| inches ; expanse 13 inches. Food small black and yellow seeds and flies. 83. Ammomanes regulus, Bp. I only shot one specimen of this species, in the Mzab. It comes exceedingly close to A. pallida (Cab.); but I am confirmed in referring it to this species by Dr. Tristram. 84. Otocorys bilopha (Temm.). Desert Horned Lark. This was in some respects the most interesting bird which I met with in the course of my rambles ; and I regret that I was prevented from bringing home a specimen. It was only met with at Tilremt, halfway between Laghouat and Gardaia. 85. Galerida cristata (L.). Crested Lark. Having, at my father's suggestion, compared Crested Larks from Algiers and Blida with Spanish examples in Mr. Saunders's collection, and others from dificrent parts of Europe, the Al- gerian bird is found to have darker plumage, a smaller crest, a smaller and diff'erently shaped bill, and a more rufous rump. The black of the tail is also much stronger and deeper. 86. Galerida abyssinica, Bp. Abyssinian Crested Lark. Found in the Sahara, and identified for me by Dr. Tristram. 87. Galerida macrorhyncha, Tristr. : Megalophonus ran- doni, Loche. Long-billed Crested Lark. I first remarked this species at Ain-Oussera (where Capt. Loche obtained it) on the 12th of IMarch, at which time they were paired. It seems to be confined, like the Calandra, to level plains, whereas Galerida abyssinica is found in the hills. They walk with the crest up ; and when one has been on the ground, Mr. J. H. Gurney, Jun., on the Ornithology of Algeria. 291 I have observed it often look upwards at its mate in the sky, singing as it mounted. Of those I shot^ one had been feeding upon caterpillars an inch in length; the gizzard of another glittered with the bright wings of small beetles. There appears to be a sexual difference not hitherto noticed, viz. that the female is smaller than the male, and much darker. 88. Alauda arvensis (Linn.). Skylark. Common. Mr. Salvin, however, mentions that it is rare in the Salt-lake country. (Ibis, i. p. 314.) 89. Certhilauda desertorum (Stanley). Bifasciated Lark. A little south of Laghouat. 90. Emberiza miliaria, Linn. Common Bunting. Common. 91. Emberiza cirlus, Linn. Cirl Bunting. Not uncoznnion. 92. Emberiza cia, Linn. Meadow-Bunting. Seen amongst the hills in the small valleys formed by every stream of water (oftenest near a road) ; not actually in flocks, but several in the same valley. 93. Fringillaria sahar^, Bp. House-Bunting. I think every house in Gardaia is tenanted by a pair of House- Buntings. They are equally common in the other Mzab cities. A nest in the inner court at Berryan w^as upon some plaster in a large square hole. It contained one young one, yellow about the gape, and covered with a whitish down. It was a shallow nest, made of the thin twigs of firewood, and lined with hair. The hen generally flew to it from the edge of the opposite wall. I often watched her preening herself. She liked to sit on the edge of something, and let her tail hang down, which, from constant contact with the floor, was very dirty. She usually began by puffing out every feather until she resembled a ball divided by a deep line down the middle of the breast, into w^hich slie thrust her beak. When the lower parts were finished, she would preen the back, especially underneath the wing, between the scapular feathers. This is probably the attitude in which 292 Mr. J. H. Gurncy, Jun., on the Ornithology of Algeria. they sleep. Scratching her head with her foot, or scraping her bill against the mortar, concluded her toilet, which occupied from three to five minutes. As I afterwards found other nests, I was able to make further observations. I think the eggs must be deposited in March, as in most instances the young had been hatched off. Judging from the one at Berryan, which had flown when I returned to that place on the last day of the month, the young remain in the nest at least twenty-one days. On the 23rd of April I saw a nestling full-grown and able to feed itself, which must have been hatched about the 1st. The eggs are rather like Sparrows* eggs, but rounder. I only got three ; Dr. Tristram did not get any ; and there are none in the Museum at Algiers. The nest is generally, but not always, placed in a hole, and is composed of twigs or little sticks, and lined with hair, with sometimes the addition of wool or a bit of cotton. On one occasion two were found together, which probably belonged to the same bii'd, as one of them was unfinished. The young are less noisy than Sparrows. The female brings them food about every ten minutes ; and they never chirp except when they see her. I never could detect any thing in her beak, or see on what she fed them, although I watched the operation often ; so I do not doubt that she reproduces what she has eaten for the benefit of her callow offspring. Until the young leave the nest the male takes no share in feeding them. The female bears away the fseces. The males sing much the loudest ; indeed the females never do more than twitter ; but the cock pours forth a lively strain during the season of incubation. They are as tame as Robins. Frequently one would hop upon our carpet, to search for fragments of couscous, scrutinizing us within a few feet with his dark brown trustful eye. They are nearly omni- vorous. I caught one in a trap baited with grain, and saw another nibbling green carrot-leaf; and once the female, at Berryan, made her appearance with a large fly, which was not swallowed without a great effort and after much mastication. They used to drink out of our goatskin, fluttering and clinging to the wall for the moisture which had oozed through. Half circles of accumulated droppings under the rafters showed where they roosted. For a few seconds before settling down for the Mr. J. H. Gurney, Jan., on the Ornithology of Algeria. 293 night I used to see them hovering perpendicularly, with quivering wings and tail brought forward ; and this was the only time at which there was any thing characteristic about their flight. 94. Passer domesticus (Linn.). Sparrow. Neither Dr. Tristram nor Mr. Salvin mentions the Common Sparrow ; but I found it abundant in the Mzab, at Laghouat, and also in the Tell. I cannot say that I ever saw the Cisal- pine, though I examined a great many Sparrows with my tele- scope and in the market at the Place de Chatres in Algiers. 95. Passer salicicola, Vieill. Spanish Sparrow. I shot ten near Blida. 96. Fringilla spodiogena, Bp. Algerian Chaffinch. Common. 97. LiNOTA CANNABiNA (Linn.). Common Linnet. Common. 98. Serinus hortulorum, Koch. Serin. I found the Serin much less common at Blida than at Algiers, where some were seen consorting with Linnets, or singing from the bough of a fir tree, in a low, clear, continuous strain. In winter the notes of two together are like the twittering of a flock of Linnets. Their song being by no means loud, they are much kept as cage-birds. 99. Carduelis elegans (Steph.). Goldfinch. The Goldfinch is quite the commonest bird in many parts of the Tell; it abounds wherever there are thistles. I found a very formidable species of tick on some which I shot at Blida. 100. CoccoTHRAUSTES VULGARIS, Stcph. Hawfiuch. At Oued el AUeg and Miliana. 101. Chlorospiza aurantiiventris (Cab.). Algerian Greenfinch. I think that though the extremes of C. chloris and C. auran- tiiventris may be widely different, they run into each other so much that it is impossible to draw the line, and that the latter name will have to sink into a synonym. At Miliana, where they 291 Mr. J. H. Gunicy, Jun., on tho. Ornithology of Algeria. were plentiful and quite tame (often entering within the walls of the town), there were always some dull-coloured individuals in a flock, far duller than many British ones which I have seen. 10.2. Cakpodacus GITH.4GINEUS (Temm.). Vinous Grosbeak. The favourite resorts of this Grosbeak are gravelly steppes, quite destitute of trees, or rocky ground at the base of the hills where nothing grows except the coarsest grass. In such places its trumpet note may be listened for and generally heard ; and the author of the strange cadence be seen running like a Calen- drella reboudia upon the ground — seldom singly, for the Vinous Grosbeak is gregarious long after it has paired. Seated on the edge of a boulder, I have seen them (in April) apparently feed- ing one another. They eat the heads of a small green plant and grass-seeds. The bill is splendid coral-red ; and the hairs at the base of the bill are red also in good male specimens. 103. Sturnus vulgaris, Linn. Starling. Winter visitant. 104^. Pica mauritanica, Malh. Algerian Magpie. Tilremt and Medea. I was several times shown Algerian Jays [Garrulus atricapillits) in cages. With regard to Garrulus minor (Loche, Cat. p. 52; id. Expl. Sc. v. p. 122), it would appear, judging from the type specimen in the Algiers Museum, to be only a small variety of the Common Jay. No second specimen appears to have been obtained ; but there is an egg in the Museum. 105. CoRvus CORAX, Linn. Raven. Breeding in society at Tilremt. 106. Picus minor, Linn. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Wood of Oued el AUeg. 107. JuNx TORQUiLLA, Liuu. Wryncck. At Bouffarik and, 1 believe, also at Tilremt. 108. CucuLUS CANORUS, Linn. Cuckoo. A summer visitant, but less common than in England. 109. CoLUMBA PALUMBUS, Liuu. Kiug-Dovc. Algiers. Mr. J. 11. Gurney, Jun., on the Ornithology of Algeria. 295 110. CoLUMBA LI VIA, Linu. Rock-Dove. Common in the Mzab, and very easy to shoot, and not nearly so diflScult to skin as some Pigeons. I almost invariably ob- served them in pairs on the rocks close to the gardens, but not actually in the Palm trees, where all the Doves were. I observed some dark-coloured varieties among these Clifl-pigeons at Bo- ghari, doubtless caused by domestic ones which had wandered away to breed with them. One specimen was shot which, in the colour of the lower part of the back, approximated to Co- lumba schimperi. It was probably the variety which is included in the 'Exploration Sc. d'Algerie,' ii. p. Ill, under the title of Columba turricola (Bonap.). 111. TuRTUR AURiTUs. Turtlcdovc. I found this Dove associating with the next species, but not so numerous ; perhaps it was only on passage. 112. TuRTUR ^GYPTiACus (Tcmm.) . Egyptian Turtledove. The Egyptian Turtledove swarmed in the Palm-gardens at Gardaia. Six were sometimes in the crest of one Palm. There were many also in the town, upon the flat roofs of the houses. They have a stiff-necked appearance, from never looking in any direction but downwards. Perhaps from constantly sitting in the underpart of the crest of the Palm they have acquired a habit of always pointing their bills to the earth. They gene- rally sit as close to the stem as possible. They did not appear to me to be in pairs. The natives do not molest them, although they eat their corn — not because Pigeons are sacred, as in some countries (Russia, for instance), but because they do not think them worth powder and shot. When their crops have become distended with food, their flight is shghtly heavy ; yet it always is graceful ; and when high in air, it is as rapid, direct, and power- ful as that of the most migratory of its congeners. In merely passing from one house to another, it gathers impetus to ascend two or three feet after its wings have ceased to move (which is always before alighting). This Turtledove coos but little, and not loudly, swelling out the feathers of the breast in the usual way. The iris consists of two circles — one brown, the other speckled grey. 296 Mr. J. H. Gurney, Jun., on the Ornithology of Algeria. 113. Pterocles arenarius (Pall.). Sand-Grouse. The north of the Sahara*. 114. Caccabis petrosa (Gmel). Barbary Partridge. A friend of mine and two companions killed upwards of 70 brace of this Partridge in one day in Oran. The bird seems never to be found in the plains, and is almost unknown in the Sahara, where I only saw one pair ; and Dr. Tristram also met with one covey in the Wed W^o.. They pair in February, and feed on the green leaves of plants. The cock weighs nearly \\ lb. ; the hen does not weigh quite 1 lb. ; she has, besides, no knob on the inner side of the tarsus, and the scapulars are much fewer, and the legs a much paler red than in the cock. The eyelids are orange. 115. CoTURNix COMMUNIS, Bouu. Quail. Quails would be more plentiful in Algeria if they were not so much sought after. La chasse is opened from the 20th of March to the 15th of April, principally for their benefit ; and no doubt great numbers are annually killed. I generally found them paired — which surprised me, as they were migrating. 116. TuRNix SYLVATiCA (Dcsf.). Audalusiau Quail. * At the Algiers market. 117. HouBARA UNDULATA (Bp.). Houbara Bustard. The Arabs trapped me several Houbaras, and once a young Gazelle. The traps are placed among plants called " Calpha.^^ The specimens thus obtained varied in weight from 2^ lbs. to upwards of 3^ lbs. The roots of the feathers are a bright pink, as in some specimens of Otis tarda t but I failed to find any trace of the pouch which exists in some males of that species. I brought six eggs home, four of which are now in Prof. Newton's collec- tion. It may be worth mentioning that the English, French, and Arab names for this Bustard are nearly the same. Mr. Drake mentions that " Hobar " is the name for Otis arabs in Morocco (Ibis, 1869, 150) ; and by the natives of India it is given to Otis macqueeni, as I learn from Mr. Marshall. 118. Otis tetrax, Linn. Little Bustard. French name, Poule de Carthage. * The term " Perdrix anglaise " is applied (verj^ erroneously^ by Freuch colouists to the Piu-tailed Sand-Grouse (P. sctarius). Mr. J, H. Gurney, Jun., on the Ornithologtj of Algeria. 297 These Bustards fly slowly, with outstretched necks and wings bent upwards, very unlike the last species. 119. Grus cinerea, Bechst. Crane. One evening at Bougzoul, as I was driving with the mas- ter of the caravanserai, we saw eight Cranes marching abreast across the plain in the grey twilight. We guided the cart nearly to within gunshot, when they all ran together, with their heads up, and, without uttering any call, slowly sailed away, to seek safer quarters in the adjoining marsh. 120. Ardea bubulcus, Sav. BufF-backed Heron. Only one was observed in the Sahara ; but at Oued el Alleg upwards of forty were feeding among the cattle. It being February, none of them had buff backs, and at a distance they might have been taken for tame Pigeons. The cows seemed to regard them as the crocodiles of Egypt are said to regard Charadrius melanocephalus, of which latter species, by the by, I saw a specimen at Boghari said to have been killed in Algeria. 121. CicoNiA ALBA, Bcchst. White Stork. As early as the 15th of February I noticed a Stork feeding in a marsh at Oued el Alleg (river of leeches), and got within 50 yards. It stooped as it walked, but now and then held its head up boldly. When it flew it stretched its head and neck out to their fullest extent. I was informed that this was the day on which they usually returned to Medea, where a pair were repairing a nest on one of two chimneys at the gable end of a house on the 1st of the following month. The nest was small, and so much exposed to the wind that a mass of sticks had fallen on to the lower roof of an adjoining house ; but the instinct of the Storks did not lead them to use this material again. The Stork leaves its nest with a spring, getting quite clear before it ventures to expand its huge wings. It does not draw in its legs, which are so long that they exceed the tail by nearly 12 inches. Its feet appear to touch when it is flying ; but when it is just about to alight they are parted widely. Both sexes clap the bill, but never without first throwing back the head. 122. Phcenicopterus antiquorum, Temm. Phcenicopterus roseus, Pall. Flamingo. 298 Mr. J. H. Gurncy, Jim., on the Ornithology of Algeria. At Bougzoul an Arab brought mc an adult female Flamingo which had only just been killed. The beak would not open to more than li inch. The interior of the upper mandible was almost like whalebone. Iris yellow, red on the outside. It had a brackish smell, and weighed 6i lbs. A male would perhaps, have weighed more. Expanse 5 feet. Expanse of web 5 inches. Wings not reaching quite to the end of tail. Axillaries bright red, in number 12. 123. (Edicnemus crepitans, Temm. Thick-knee. A fine specimen in the Algiers market about the end of February. 124. Vanellus cristatus, Meyer. Lapwing. Dr. Tristram observed that not even a straggler remained in Algeria after March (Ibis, 1860, p. 79). 125. Charadrius pluvialis, Linn. Golden Plover. Not very common. 126. Charadrius morinellus (Linn.). Dotterel. Common at Ain-Oussera. Some which were shot on the 13th of March, had just begun to assume the summer plumage. 127. -^gialitis minor (Meyer.) Little Ringed Plover. The Little Ringed Plover was pretty common at Laghouat, generally alone, or at most in pairs, beside smaller and drier " chotts " than its congener the Kentish Plover frequented. Both species run with great celerity on sand or shingle, stop- ping about every half dozen yards to bow the head, and emitting a shrill whistle. The eye is dark brown, and the eyelids yellow. 128. iEGiALiTis cantiana (Lath.). Kentish Plover. At Laghouat. 129. ToTANUs ocHROPUS (Temm.). Green Sandpiper. I only shot one in the Tell ; but further south they became common, and they might even be said to be numerous at Lag- houat. I cannot help thinking that they breed in Algeria. There were at least twenty couple in the Laghouat marsh up to April 9th, and probably much later. There are, indeed, few trees at Laghouat except Date-palms ; but there seems no good Mr. J. H. Gurncy, Jun.j on the Ornithology of Algeria. 299 reason why they should not sometimes forsake their arboreal habits. Most of them were in pairs ; but I admit that is not evidence, as many migratory birds are known to pair " en route." They fly high, with a shrill whistling cry, which is sometimes also emitted on the ground. 130. ToTANUS GLAREOLA, Gm. Wood-Sandpipcr. In the same localities as the last ; but whether resident or only on passage, I am unable to say. The legs in this species are of a yellowish olive-colour. They remained in flocks up to the time I left for the Mzab, consorting with the Green Sand- pipers. Neither species is shy ; but the Wood Sandpiper is the tamer of the two. 131. ToTANUS HYPOLEUCus (Linn.). Common Sandpiper. At Laghouat and in the Mzab. 132. ScoLOPAX RUSTicoLA, Linn, Woodcock. In the market at Algiers. 133. Gallinago scolopacina, Bp. Snipe. Common. 134. Gallinago gallinula (Linn.). Jack Snipe. In the market at Algiers I saw a Jack Snipe*. 135. Crex PRATENsis (Bcchst.). Corncrake. I found one about the end of February in the market at Algiers. 136. PoRZANA MARUETTA, Leach. Spotted Crake. At Laghouat; not mentioned by Dr. Tristram or Mr. Salvin. 137. PoRZANA PYGM^A (Naum.). Baillon's Crake. I shot one at Laghouat. My father remarked that it differed from European specimens in having the thi'oat nearly white. 138. Anas clypeata, Linn. Shoveller. In the market at Algiers. 139. Anas crecca, Linn. Teal. At Bougzoul. * Dr. Tristram mentions the Stilt (Himantopns candidus, Bonn.) as breeding at Laghouat (Ibis, 18G0, p. 79) ; but the Zouaves there, who had a tame one, considered it a great rarity, never having seen such a bird before. Probably since Dr. Tristram's time Stilts have forsaken that place. 300 Mr. J. H. Gurney, Jun., on the Ornithology of Algeria. 140. Anas acuta, Linn. Once in the market. Pintail. 141. Larus RiDiBUNDUs, Linn. Black-headed Gull. As Black-headed Gulls were very numerous in the harbour of Algiers in February, I was surprised to find that they had all left on my return from the Sahara in the spring. I conclude they had gone to Halloula, or some other lake. Although modern researches have decided that some birds migrate laterally [i.e. from south-east to north-west, or vice versa) the majority of our vernal migrants come to England from due south. Hence Northern Africa is peculiarly interesting to the British ornithologist. North even of the great Atlas chain, countless Willow- Wrens and Blackcaps throng every hedge- row. I think it is no exaggeration to say that I saw enough of these two species to account for the multitudes which annually quit Great Britain ; but, with a few such exceptions, our birds of passage go further south than the Atlas. Towards the end of April I began to notice Philomela luscinia, Phylloscopus sibi- latrix, Anthus arboreus, Muscicapa atricapilla, Turtur auritus, restlessly pressing northward. The same birds are migratory in the two countries; and it was interesting to observe how nearly they preserved the same order of precedence inter se. The difference in the time of their arrival is in many instances inconsiderable, as will be seen from the following comparative table. It would require a number of observations, extending over a series of years, before we could use such data to get at the speed at which they travel. Algeria. England, House Martin Feb. 17, 1870. April 18, 1870 Swallow . . . „ 19, „ J? 4, „ Hoopoe . . . March 13, „ , 16, „ Tree-Pipit . . . „ 18, „ , 4, „ Sand-Martin . . „ 22, „ , 1, „ Sedge-Warbler' . „ 24, „ , 21, „ Redstart . . . „ 27, „ , 6, „ Nightingale . . „ 31, „ , 8, „ Whitethroat . . April 1, „ , 19, „ jena. England. 11, „ May 18, 23, „ „ 18, 24, „ June 15, 25, „ May 2-i, Mr. J. F. Hamilton on Brazilian Birds. 301 A Turtledove . . . April Wood -Wren ... „ Spotted Flycatcher . „ Roller The above dates for England have been noted in Devonshire, or taken from the ' Field ^ newspaper by my father, who also in- forms me that, according to that journal, the Swallow was first observed at Naples on the 28th of March, at Toulouse on the 29th, and at Florence on the 31st. XXIV. — Notes on Birds from the Province of Sao Paulo, Brazil. By J. F. Hamilton. Having spent part of the spring of 1869 in the south of Brazil, and made a small collection of birds from that locality, I think that some notes which I took may not prove uninteresting to the readers of * The Ibis.' It may be well in the first place to give some idea of the cha- racter of the country. From Santos, the port where I landed, a level space of marshy ground, covered by trees, extends for a distance of about eight miles from the sea. At the end of this the mountain-range or Serra do Mar ascends rather steeply to a height of about 2500 feet, which is the elevation of the greater part of the Province of Sao Paulo. The Serra is covered by a dense forest, which extends for a distance of about twenty miles from the top ; beyond this, for at Jeast forty miles, the country is of a very open character, alternating between undu- lating campos and small patches of forest ; further westward it is more mountainous, and the woods which clothe the Serra extend further from the top. About 100 miles west of Sao Paulo is the town of Itapetininga ; the distance between it and the woods of the Serra is about thirty miles, the country being very open and rather hilly. There is a good deal of partially cleared land at the edge of the forest, bordering on the campos, and also some extent of marshy ground ; here the greater part of my collection was formed ; a ieyf birds were also procured near Sao Paulo. The birds mentioned in the following notes, with the exception SER. III. VOL. I. Y 302 Mr. J. F. Hamilton on Brazilian Birds. of Colaptes campestris, of which I did not preserve a spe- cimen, have been identified by Mr. Salvin, to whom my best thanks are due. 1. TURDUS LEUCOMELAS, Vleill. Common about the open campos round Sao Paulo, especially where there are a few clumps of bushes. I noticed it several times feeding on marshy ground. 2. Parula pitiayumi (Vieill.). Found at the tops of trees about twenty feet high in the neighbourhood of Sao Paulo. 3. Basileuterus vermivorus (Vieill.). Tolerably common, and not at all shy ; they will follow any one along a path for a considerable distance, hopping from log to log, and never remaining more than a few seconds in the same place. They do not seem at all to frequent the depths of the forests^ but affect the edges of clearings, creeping about among the stems of the fallen trees. I never saw one perched on a tree at any height from the ground. 4. VlREOSYLVIA ACxILIS (Licht.). Tolerably common in the gardens of Sao Paulo. 5. Certhiola chloropyga, Cab. Observed in the Botanical Gardens at Sao Paulo, creeping about at the tree-tops, and peering into the crevices in the bark and at the bases of leaves. 6. EUPHONIA VIOLACEA (L.) . Two specimens were shot off some low bushes standing in an open space of ground. 7. EuPHONiA PECTORALis (Lath.). This species I noticed in bushes, about five or ten feet from the ground. 8. Calliste festiva (Shaw). I met with this species at the top of the Serra south of Sao Paulo along the line of railroad, and also south of Itapetininga. They were in small flocks at a height of from five to ten feet Mr. J. F. Hamilton on Brazilian Birds. 303 from the ground, in thick tangled bushes, and were not at all shy, allowing me to procure several specimens out of one flock. 9. Tanagra cyanoptera, Vieill. Found at the tops of tall trees ; also common to the south of Sao Paulo. 10. Tanagra ornata, Sparrm. Frequents orange-orchards. 11. Tachyphonus coronatus (Vieill.). This bird frequents the thick undergrowth, hopping about among fallen trunks of trees. I have seen them, in company with other small birds, following migratory bands of Ants. 12. Spermophila c^rulescens (Vieill.). I procured one specimen from a small flock in the neighbour- hood of Sao Paulo. 13. Zonotrichia pileata (Bodd.). Common in some of the gardens round Sao Paulo, and also met with about farm-buildings generally throughout the province. 14. Pseudoleistes viridis (Gm.). I found this bird common on the open campos a short distance from Itapetininga. They associate in small flocks of about twenty, settling on the ground together and walking about in search of food. I found them often perched upon low bushes about a foot from the ground. They seem generally to prefer being in the neighbourhood of some clump of treeS; to which they fly when alarmed, clustering thickly together. 15. Aphobus chopi, Vieill. I only met with this species in the evening, just before sunset, when a flock usually came and settled on the orange-trees sur- rounding the house where I was staying; and after remaining there a few minutes, during which time many of them sang very sweetly, they proceeded towards their roosting-place, stopping here and there to rest on any exposed tree, which they often fairly blackened by their numbers. y2 304 Mr. J. F. Hamilton 07i Brazilian Birds. 16. Cyanocorax azureus, Temni, Found generally at the outskirts of the forests bordering on the open campos. They seem particularly fond of perching on the naked limbs of the Pinon tree, which grows to an immense height, with only a few branches just at the top. In such situations they are frequently to be found towards sunset in company with the Toucan, the harsh notes of the two combined producing a most discordant sound. 17. Leptoxyura cinnamomea (Gm.). Shot off a Cactus plant growing on the edge of a ditch near Sao Paulo. There were about a dozen together. 18. XiPHOCOLAPTES ALRICOLLIS (Vieill.). Not very common. One that I shot was creeping up the base of a large tree about a foot from the bottom ; it had pre- viously been climbing about amongst some fallen logs. 19. Thamnophilus guttatus, Vieill. Not at all common. The few that I saw were generally at a height of from fifteen to twenty feet from the ground, and they do not seem at all to frequent the thick undergrowth. One that was shot remained clinging to the tree by one foot after it was dead, and had to be shaken down. 20. Cnipolegus cyaneirostris (Vieill.). I only saw one, which was creeping about among the lower branches of a tree overhanging some water. 21. Copurus colonus, Vieill. Of frequent occurrence. One might generally be seen on the topmost naked branch of any tree that stood in tolerably open ground, from which it would dart upon any passing insect, returning to its post in true Flycatcher-fashion. 22. Orchilus auricularis (Vieill,). Occasionally seen hopping about in very thick shrubs. 23. PiTANGUS SULPHURATUS (L.). These birds may be seen in almost every open space of ground where there are a few clumps of low trees, especially in the neighbourhood of water or any marshy ground. They are Mr. J. F. Hamilton un Brazilian Birds. 305 generally to be found perched upon the top of a low bush, from which they pounce down upon any insect they may see on the ground. I found them very troublesome when trying to shoot birds that frequented marshy ground, as some were generally perched upon a low bush at the edge of the marsh, and on my approach they set up their loud cry, which had the effect of frightening away all birds that were in the neighbourhood. When passing from one bush to another they fly in a very un- dulating manner. Their cry very much resembles the words bem-te-vi (I see you well), by which name they are known to the Brazilians. 24. Chiroxiphia caudata (Shaw). Tolerably common and well distributed over the country. I saw it both near Itapetininga, and in the woods of the Serra south of Sao Paulo. The natives call them Fandango birds, and say that they are in the habit of performing a dance: one perches upon a branch, and the others arrange themselves in a circle round it, dancing up and down on their perches to the music sung by the centre one. A female I preserved has the same plumage as the young male — red on the head, with the back greenish blue. Von Pelzelu (Oru. Bras. p. 129, note) remarks the same of* an old female collected by Natterer m the same neighbourhood as mine, two months later in the year. 25. Chiromach^ris gutturosa (Desm.). The first intimation given of the presence of one of these birds is a sharp whirring sound very like that of a child^s small wooden rattle, followed by two or three sharp snaps ; the bird itself may then be seen creeping among the branches, stretching out its neck to seize some insect, and ever and anon darting off in pursuit of some passing fly. They do not, however, return to the same post like Flycatchers, but after a successful pursuit, perch upon the nearest branch and resume their search over the tree. They are generally to be found on trees of thick growth, as they do not seem ever to take long flights. 26. Ilicura militaris (Shaw). This bird is rather rarer than the last, and has very much the same habits. I found both forming a part of the large flocks 306 Mr. J. F. Hamilton on Brazilian Birds. of birds of almost every description that at certain periods of the year traverse the forests^ passing over the same ground day after day at almost precisely the same hour. 27. Ampelio cucullata (Sw.), The hollow and rather mournful note of this bird is frequently the only sound that one hears in passing through the depth of the forest, especially at midday, when almost every creature is silent. The bird itself, however, is not very easily noticed, as it remains almost motionless on its perch. I have found them both high up in trees and amongst thick tangled bushes ; they are remarkably tame, allowing any one to approach within a few feet without moving. 28. Chasmorhynchus nudicollis (Vieill.). There is certainly very little resemblance in the note of this bird to the sound of a church-bell ; it is far more like the ring- ing sound produced by a blacksmith striking his forge; indeed in some parts of the province of Sao Paulo it is called "ferreiro^'*. 1 did not find it common anywhere, and never saw two to- gether. 29. Pyroderus scutatus (Shaw). Common in the thick w^oods. I found them to be generally solitary except when feeding, when they were sometimes met with in company with the Bell-bird and Toucan in flocks of about half a dozen. At these times they were generally at the tops of the trees ; when by themselves, I generally found them about half- way up. Often when walking through the woods I have been startled by one of them flying out just in front of me, crossing the path and remaining at a distance of about twenty feet in the wood on the other side, where it would stop looking at me with stupid curiosity. When feeding, I never heard it utter any cry ; but at other times its note is very much like the sound produced by a person breathing loudly. 30. CeRYLE AMERICANA (Gm.). Found several times round shallow pools, especially when the banks were well wooded. I saw them several times perched on logs projecting a few feet out of the water. * [C/. Tuis 18oo, p. 93.— Ed.] Mr. J. F. Hamilton on Brazilian Birds. 307 31. Trogon atricollis, Vieill. Distributed pretty generally throughout the forests, but not abundant in any one locality. It seems to be of rather solitary habits, as I never saw two together. 32. Thalurania glaucopis (Gm.). By far the commonest Humming-bird in the district. They seem rather fond of water, being most numerous in the vicinity of a stream. I watched one for some time bathing; it was perched on a small twig overhanging a brook, and every now and then darted down to the surface of the water, hovering over it and, whilst still on the win